The Standard - 2015 March 12 - Thursday

CYAN MAGENTA YELLOW BLACK VOL. XXIX  NO. 28  3 Sections 32 Pages P18  THURSDAY: MARCH 12, 2015  www.manilastandardtoday.com  mst@mstandardtoday.com

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MILF coddled Marwan, says Cayetano

MMDA warns of even worse traffic

PALACE ALLY QUITS CONGRESS Next page

Protest. Members of the group Migrante slam President Benigno Aquino III near Malacañang’s Gate 7 on Wednesday for the death of Filipino worker Joven Esteva, who was executed in Saudi Arabia on Monday for killing his employer in 2007. DANNY PATA

Ventura’s early works

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PNoy ally quits House seat

By Maricel V. Cruz and Joyce Pangco Pañares

AKBAYAN party-list Rep. Walden Bello said Wednesday he would resign as a member of the House of Representatives, withdrawing his support for President Benigno Aquino III over his poor handling of the Mamasapano incident in which 44 police commandos were killed.

Petition.

Embattled Makati Mayor Junjun Binay told reporters on Wednesday he had filed a petition to stop the Ombudsman from implementing its six-month suspension on him. DANNy PAtA

Ombudsman suspends Makati mayor

By Nelson Flores and Macon Ramos-Araneta THE Office of the Ombudsman on Wednesday suspended Makati City Mayor Jejomar Erwin Binay Jr. and several other persons while they are being investigated for the alleged overpricing of the Makati City Hall Building II. The suspension order was issued nearly a week after a special panel of investigators from the Ombudsman filed a complaint against Vice President Jejomar Binay, his son the mayor and 22 others over allegations of overpricing in the construction of the Makati parking building.

Mayor Binay challenged his suspension before the Court of Appeals, asking it to issue a temporary restraining order against the Ombudsman.

“I will exhaust all available remedies. I will continue discharging my duties as mayor until all legal remedies have been respected. While I may belong to the opposition, I am still entitled to my rights like any Filipino citizen,” the mayor said.

He also denounced the haste with which the Ombudsman issued its order, calling it a “special express suspension.” The mayor’s sister, Senator Nancy Binay, accused President Benigno Aquino III of using the Ombudsman as a tool to get back at his perceived enemies, and said the suspension of her brother was part of “Oplan Nognog,” a campaign to smear the Vice President, who plans to run for president in 2016.

A spokesman for the Vice President, Rico Quicho, also questioned the speed with which the suspension order was handed down. “While we respect the decision to issue a preventive suspension order against Mayor Jejomar Erwin S. Binay, we pray that the Office of the Ombudsman will not allow itself to fall victim to the machinations of

those with political ambitions,” Quicho said in a statement.

“Mayor Binay, the Vice President and the other respondents would face the suspension and the complaint knowing that it is against a well-oiled government machinery that would stop at nothing to persecute and prevent the political opposition from running in the upcoming election.”

The filing of the complaint last week paved the way for the Ombudsman to start its preliminary investigation against the Binays and 22 others for malversation, falsification, graft and violation of the procurement law in connection with the construction of the building. The Vice President was included in the complaint since he started the construction of the parking building in 2007, when he was still mayor of Makati.

The Ombudsman investigators started their probe after Renato Bondal and Nicholas Enciso VI accused the Vice President of committing plunder in connection with the construction of the parking building, a charge the Binays have denied.

Bondial and Enciso said the construction of the building worth P1.56 billion was overpriced, citing National Statistics Office construction data that estimated the average cost of the building that year was only P245.6 million.

The allegations of overpricing became the subject of an investigation by the Senate Blue Ribbon Committee, which the Binays said was aimed at damaging the Vice President, who has consistently led opinion polls for the 2016 presidential elections.

In their probe, Ombudsman investigators claimed that the respondents awarded the P11.9million contract for the design and architectural services to MANA Architecture and Interior Design Company without a public bidding.

They added that payment for the contract was released to MANA even without the deliverables made. The first two phases of the construction of the building also proceeded without a detailed engineering plan, contrary to procurement rules, the investigators said. The complaint also said that Hilmarc Construction, the contractor, was awarded the contract despite irregularities and the use falsified documents.

The complaint also covered former city administrator Marjorie de Veyra; City Legal Officer Pio Kenneth Dasal, City Budget Officer Lorenza Amores, former Central Planning Management Office (CPMO) chief Virginia Hernandez; former city engineer Mario Badillo; former city accountant Leonila Querijero, former acting city accountant Raydes Pestaño; City Accountant Cecilio Lim III, acting City Accountant Eleno Mendoza; city treasurer Nelia Barlis, CPMO engineers Arnel Cadangan, Emerito Magat and Connie Consulta, CPMO Chief Line Dela Peña; Bids and Awards Committee (BAC) Secretariat Heads Giovanni Condes and Manolito Uyaco; Technical Working Group chairman Rodel Nayve; BAC member Ulysses Orienza; General Services Department (GSD) OIC Gerardo San Gabriel; GSD staff member Norman Flores, as well as private respondents Orlando Mateo of MANA and Efren Canlas of Hilmarc’s Construction Corp. Except for the Vice President, the respondents will also be administratively investigated for grave misconduct, serious dishonesty and conduct prejudicial to the best interest of the service, with the possibility of being suspended from government pending administrative adjudication.

Senate President Franklin Drilon said the Makati mayor should follow the suspension

order.

“Our colleagues here in the Senate accepted the suspension as part of the process,” said Drilon, referring to Senators Juan Ponce Enrile, Jinggoy Estrada and Ramon Revilla Jr., who are facing trial before the Sandiganbayan in connection with the pork barrel scam. Senator Antonio Trillanes IV, one of the senators investigating the alleged overpricing in Makati, said the suspension was a legal and moral victory because it proves that there is a basis in the allegations against the Binays.

He said it was “welcome news” for all those who were with them in the fight to weed out the corrupt.

The Senate Blue Ribbon subcommittee, of which Trillanes is a part, will resume its hearings on allegations of other anomalies in Makati City today.

Mayor Binay said his family was being singled out for persecution. “There is really special treatment for the Binays. Special Senate hearings. A special COA audit. A special panel of the Ombudsman. And now, a special express suspension,” he said.

Binay said the action of the Ombudsman was no longer surprising, given that the special panel of investigators includes prosecutors affiliated with lawyers associated with Interior Secretary Manuel Roxas II, the Vice President’s political rival. Binay supporters trooped to City Hall Wednesday to denounce what they called the unjust persecution of the Binay family. The Palace on Wednesday said it respected the decision of the Office of the Ombudsman.

“It is the decision of the Ombudsman, an independent body, and part of their normative procedure,” presidential spokesman Edwin Lacierda said in a text message. – With Joel E. Zurbano and Sara Susanne D. Fabunan

“I am withdrawing support from the President because I can no longer support a president who is washing his hands of responsibility of a mission he planned and executed. I am withdrawing support because I can no longer support a president engaged in a brazen cover-up of his role in the Mamasapano tragedy. I am withdrawing support because I cannot support a man whose behavior is a disgrace to the presidency,” Bello said.

House leaders adjourned the session early Wednesday, however, preventing Bello from delivering a privilege speech on his decision to bolt the administration coalition.

Bello said he was disappointed with the early adjournment of the session, but said he will resign next week as party representative of Akbayan while remaining a member of the group. “As fas as my future in Congress, I think our code of conduct as a party is that I cannot continue to represent an organization with which I have major policy disagreement such as on the question of support for the administration . So I have given notice of my intention to resign as Akbayan representative though I will remain in the party,” Bello said.

Bello heads the House committee on overseas workers affairs and is vice chairman of the House committee agriculture and food. The Palace shrugged off Bello’s resignation, describing it as an isolated case. Presidential spokesman Edwin Lacierda said the Palace did not expect more allies to withdraw support from the President. “Represenative Bello’s decision to withdraw is his own.

My understanding is that Representative Bello’s statements are not that of Akbayan,” he added.

Speaker Feliciano Belmonte Jr. also played down Bello’s resignation, saying his action was “not unusual.”

“It is not unusual. He has made conclusions in the past that are different from the conclusions of others. He is entitled to it,” Belmonte said.

Belmonte also said there was no need for a loyalty check among its allies in the House over the growing discontent over President Aquino’s handling of the Mamasapano case.

“Actions would speak louder than loyalty check,” Belmonte said. Belmonte also pointed out that Bello’s action was not a loss to the House majority bloc.

“Considering that more than 92 percent of everybody in Congress belongs to the majority, it doesn’t really matter if one or two drop out,” Belmonte said.

Bello drew the ire of President Aquino when he started to criticize the President’s handling of the affairs of state, particularly during the controversy over the Disbursement Acceleration Program, parts of which were struck down by the Supreme Court as unconstitutional. At one point, the President even dared Bello to run for president if he thought his views on how to run the government were correct. Akbayan was part of Aquino’s Liberal Party-led coalition that ran in the 2013 polls.

Fellow Akbayan party-list Rep. Barry Gutierrez said Akbayan has “to give serious consideration” to the statement made by

Bello. “Well, obviously coming from our senior representative in Congress, we have to give serious consideration to the statement made by Representative Walden.

I haven’t had the chance to talk to him since his interview appeared... but we will definitely take up his statement in the appropriate party deliberation as soon as possible,” Gutierrez said.

Gutierrez added: “I personally feel very strongly that he should stay and I think the party leadership shares this statement. But just the same, his expressed desire will undergo the appropriate party processes for serious consideration.”

Isabela Rep. Rodolfo Albano III, a member of the House minority bloc, said Bello’s move proved “the President is losing his allies.”

United Nationalist Alliance interim president and Navotas Rep. Toby Tiangco said Bello should resigned and withdrawn his support for the President a long time ago.

“He realized only now that many of the things that this administration is doing are illegal?

I knew that a long time ago, and he should have listened to me,” Tiangco said.

House Deputy Majority Leader and Quezon City Rep. Jorge Banal, however, said Bello’s move was expected.

“I guess we’ve all seen it coming.

His rants against Pnoy (Aquino) and this administration are well documented by media because he was portrayed as an ally of Malacanang with an independent perspective. I wish my colleague, former Palace ally” Represenative Bello, well,” Banal said.

Senate President Franklin Drilon said he expected Akbayan to continue being a “valued ally” of the Liberal Party. “Rep. Walden Bello belongs to Akbayan, and our alliance is with Akbayan. He is the partylist representative, but the matter of alliance is with the party, and not with him, personally,” Drilon said.

He said Bello is free to criticize the President and his administration, or anybody.

The leftist youth group Anakbayan said Bello’s move was an indication of a deepening crisis in the ruling coalition. The group’s chairman, Vencer Crisostomo, said Bello’s withdrawal of support only showed the people’s disgust over Aquino’s “corrupt and antipeople” rule.

He also said it also exposed Akabayan as a lapdog that was subservient to “yellow politics.”

In his privilege speech, copies of which were handed to the press, Bello explained why he was leaving the ruling coalition. “During the last few weeks, we have seen how the Mamasapano encounter has shaken the foundations of the administration. Many of those who consider themselves allies of the President have witnessed how the legacy of reforms initiated by the administration has been threatened by the manner in which the President has handled the question of responsibility. We have been especially concerned by the threat posed to the Bangsa Moro Basic Law by the deadly questions surrounding the fatal mission that resulted in the deaths of 44 SAF policemen, 18 Bangsa Moro militants, and four civilians. — With Macon Ramos-Araneta

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Belmonte agrees to resume House quiz By maricel V. Cruz and Francisco Tuyay SPEAKER Feliciano Belmonte Jr. finally agreed to re-open the House of Representatives’ probe into the Mamasapano incident as police officials privy to the investigation huddled in Camp Crame Wednesday evening amid fears that they may not release it today as scheduled.

The possible delay emerged as Camp Crame sources said some members of the Philippine National Police board of inquiry raised unspecified concerns while it was being routed for concurrence so the officials had to hold an unannounced closed-door meeting at press time.

A delay in the release of the BOI report may also affect the House probe because Belmonte said he was expecting to receive the BOI report today as scheduled.

“I asked them to give me a copy and they told me (it would be ready by) Thursday,” Belmonte told reporters after he announced that he would be willing to allow a re-opening of the House probe when Congress resumes its sessions in May after going on recess on March 20.

Belmonte also reminded police officials that he wanted an unexpurgated copy of the BOI report itself.

“Because what would it mean if that will still have to go to Malacanang?

That it will be sanitized? Of course, I want the real probe results,” the Speaker added.

Belmonte had earlier said that it was not necessary to re-open the House hearings because of the ongoing BOI probe although he acknowledged that congressmen may still have questions about the report.

“At most, we want clarificatory questions that were not raised,” Belmonte said. “But it would be foolish to ask the same questions. [If that’s the case,} we would only be looking for publicity.”

The submission of the BOI report was delayed thrice but BOI chairman, Director Benjamin Magalong, clarified that it was only because of the voluminous documents the board had to go through.

Meanwhile, PNP acting chief Deputy Director General Leonardo Espinosa denied that he had prohibited former Special Action Force director Getulio Napenas from speaking to the media about the case.

“First of all, I would never do that. It’s up to your discernment whether you say something or not. You can ask General Napenas himself,” Espina told reporters.

Tight watch. The First Mechanized Brigade in Guindulongan, Maguindanao, secures the road leading to other municipalities in the province as a result of the military’s ongoing operation against Muslim terrorists. Omar mangOrsi

MILF coddled Marwan, Cayetano tells Senate By macon r. araneta

THE Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) has repeatedly violated the terms of its peace agreement with the government, including the coddling of Malaysian terrorist Zulkifli bin Hir alias Marwan, Senator Alan Peter Cayetano said Wednesday.

In a privilege speech, Cayetano said Commander Wahid tundoc of the 118th Base Command of the MILF helped protect Marwan, even though one of the conditions of the peace agreement was that the MILF renounce terrorism.

Cayetano said this also proved the

MILF had links to international terrorist groups. international terrorists.

Marwan was killed in the Jan. 25 clash in Mamapasano town in Maguindano in an operation in which 44 Special Action Force police commandos were killed by Muslim rebels, including MILF fighters. Cayetano said he received reports that Marwan was living in a hut that belonged to slain MILF commander Ustadz Bagindali, in the middle of an MILF community.

He said Marwan was a devout Muslim who prayed everyday at the mosque, so it was impossible that the MILF did not know he was there. Police have tagged Marwan as a Jemaah Islamiyah terrorist, who made and delivered bombs to several terrorist groups, including the Abu Sayaff.

He also trained various groups how to build bombs. A police report also tagged Marwan as a close associate of Azahari Husin, a fellow Malaysian terrorist. Both were believed to be the masterminds behind the 2002 Bali bombing that killed 202 civilians.

“But who is Commander Wahid Tundok? Commander Wahid Tundok s one of the most senior and excellent fighters of the MILF. He has many cases like multiple murder, arson, robbery and other crimes. Commander Wahid Tundok is the commander ng 118th Base Command of the MILF,” Cayetano said.

He said Tundok was arrested by the police on Febr. 23, 2014 but was released three days later because of the efforts of the government peace panel.

Cayetano also pinpointed to Commander Tundok and his men as among the initial suspects in the massacre of the 44 SAF commandos. He said this was contrary to the claim of Secretary Teresita Deles, presidential adviser on the peace process, and chief peace negotiator Miriam CoronelFerrer that Tuldok was the one who reported the Mamasapano “misencounter” and brokered the ceasefire between the SAF members and unidentified armed men.

“If indeed it was true that he helped in the ceasefire, why did he refuse to

be interviewed by the board of inquiry of the Philippine National Police, which probed the incident? Why? There are questions that Commander Tundok cannot answer like, for example, who was supporting and helping and protecting the terrorist Marwan?” said Cayetano.

Cayetano said Commander Tundok cannot answer these questions because he was one of the MILF commanders helping and protecting Marwan. He said the exchange of emails between Marwan and his brother that Cayetano earlier released to the media showed the MILF’s ties with terrorists, and that Tundok was helping Marwan—telling him where to buy weapons and warning him of imminent attacks by government troops.

Cayetano said Tundok also warned Marwan that US drones were spying on their camps.

Cayetano said the MILF also failed to negotiate in good faith by building up its armory of weapons and recruiting fighters while talking peace with the government. – With maricel V. Cruz

AFP extends anti-BIFF offensive yet again

By Florante s. solmerin

Blessing. The Philippine National Police lined up 55 new vans for a ceremonial blessing in Camp Crame on Wednesday before their distribution to different units. manny PalmerO

THE Armed Forces of the Philippines again extended for another three days its offensive against the Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters which has so far resulted in the death of 96 BIFF rebels and six government troops, the military reported on Wednesday.

AFP spokesperson Lt. Col. Harold Cabunoc said AFP chief General Gregorio Pio Catapang Jr. ordered the third extension of the offensive that has already lasted for nine days and caused injury to 31 government troops and “more than a hundred” rebels.

Cabunoc said the extension was requested by Major General Edmundo Pangilinan, commander of the Army’s Sixth Infantry Division.

“We will continue the relentless

pursuit operations against the lawless armed groups until they are effectively neutralized and unable to conduct atrocities against civilian communities,” Pangilinan said.

Air and ground attacks supported by artillery fires have killed 25 more combatants as battle rages between the military and beleaguered lawless Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters (BIFF) and their terrorist cohorts in some parts of Maguindanao.

“Twenty-five people were killed in the series of firefights in various areas in Maguindanao since late afternoon yesterday,” military Public Affairs Office (PAO) chief Lieutenant Colonel Harold Cabunoc said Wednesday.

Cabunoc said the fighting are in the boundaries of Datu Salibo and Datu Piang and in Barangay Pusao,

Sharif Saidona Mustapha and government troops are supported by four MD520 attack helicopters and artillery units.

“As of today, the troops accounted 23 enemies killed among the BIFF bandits who were engaged by the troops in the swampy areas of Datu Piang and Datu Salibu towns,” Cabunoc said.

The government fatalities included two Marines who were killed in clearing operations at the area called, SPMS (Salvu, Pagatin, Mamasapano and Shariff Aguak) Box on Tuesday, according to the Army’s Sixth Infantry Division.

“The pursuit operations were still ongoing in the marshland where the bandits split into small groups. Sporadic clashes erupted in the area at 10 a.m. today,” Cabunoc said.

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Pagasa sees drier days, less rain

By Rio N. Araja

FILIPINOS should brace for drier conditions and below-normal rainfall due to the weak El Niño episode over the Pacific Ocean, the weather bureau said Wednesday.

Vicente Malano, officer in charge of the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration, said the phenomenon will bring about lower rainfall until July but the situation should improve by August.

“It will be drier than the

normal dry,” Melano told reporters.

He made his statement even as Agriculture Secretary Proceso Alcala on Wednesday ordered all his department’s regional offices, bureaus and attached agencies to be prepared for El Niño.

He said he was hoping for a minimal effect on the major crops as the initial reports from the field showed that the harvesting of rice and corn crops started as early as last month.

“Field validation is ongoing and the DA will come up with figures at the soonest possible time,” Alcala said.

Melano said below-normal rainfall will persist this month in most parts of the country, but “some areas will experience the same rainfall amount in April and the large areas in May due to the northeast monsoon.”

“June will expect a better

rainfall condition,” Melano said.

“On the other hand, there will be more rain over the western section of the country in July, but near-normal to above-normal rainfall could only be felt in August.”

As early as November 2014, many parts of the country had already been experiencing less than the normal amount of rainfall, Melano said.

Anthony Joseph Lucero, Pagasa’s officer in charge of the Climate Monitoring and Prediction Section, said El Niño may not last longer, but Metro Manila will not be

spared from the dry spell.

Still, Maximo Peralta, officer in charge of Pagasa’s Hydrometeorology Division, said Angat Dam would still be capable of supplying 97 percent of Metro Manila’s water needs despite the dry spell.

Lucero said the power supply in the country will hardly be affected by the dry spell. by the impact of the El Niño event, Lucero said.

“We must be happy that the phenomenon came during the dry season and not during the wet season,” Lucero said.

With Anna Leah E. Gonzales

Estrada may seek 2nd term as mayor

Forecast. Anthony Joseph Lucero, officer in charge of the weather bureau’s climate monitoring and prediction section, points to the parts of the country that will be affected by the El Nino phenomenon. MANNY PALMERO

7 of 10 Filipinos consider selves poor SEVEN in 10 Filipinos have rated themselves as poor and had difficulty meeting their basic expenses in the past three months, a survey from Ibon Foundation showed.

The survey, conducted from Jan. 19 to 30, showed that 65 percent of the 1,501 respondents saw their families as poor.

Most of the respondents (59 percent) also believed that their livelihood has not improved compared to a year ago, while 21 percent said their livelihood became worse.

“Asked how their family met household expenses in the past three months, 59 percent said they had difficulty in paying for electricity, 53.6 percent said that they had difficulty in buying enough food, and 50.8 percent said they had difficulty

buying medicines or paying for medical treatment,” Ibon Foundation said.

“Many Filipinos also said that they had difficulty in paying for their children’s schooling (38.6 percent), for transportation (41 percent), and for water (38.9 percent).”

The survey was conducted across various sectors in 16 regions, with a multi-stage probability sampling and a margin of error of plus or minus three percent.

Presidential spokesman Edwin Lacierda acknowledged that combating poverty takes time.

“Ibon knows and every economist knows that the fight against poverty is a sustained fight that requires sustained intervention and it takes decades,” Lacierda said.

“Our government continues and will continue to fight poverty and evidenced of that is our poverty alleviation intervention programs,” he added.

Earlier, the National Economic and Development Authority admitted that poverty has worsened in the first half of 2014, citing high food prices and the lingering effects of super typhoon Yolanda as reasons.

Data from the Annual Poverty Indicators Survey showed poverty incidence among individuals rose to 25.8 percent from 24.6 percent for the same period in 2013.

Poverty incidence among families also increased to 20 percent from 18.8 percent for the first half of 2013.

The poverty figures did not include data for Batanes, because

it had fewer than 100 sample households, and Leyte, as no survey was conducted because of Yolanda.

To make the figures comparable, the Philippine Statistics Authority also excluded the poverty statistics for the two provinces in 2013.

But per capita income in the first semester of 2014 was higher by 6.4 percent than in 2013, NEDA director general Arsenio Balisacan said.

Ten out of the 17 regions experienced double-digit increases in their poverty thresholds.

The highest was observed in Region VIII with 14.2 percent, due to the lingering effects of typhoon Yolanda, followed by Metro Manila with 13.5 percent as it had to face the highest rice prices for the period.

With Rio N. Araja

MANILA Mayor Joseph Estrada said Wednesday he was considering seeking reelection in the 2016 elections should Vice Mayor Isko Moreno decide to run for a higher post.

But Bambi Purisima, his media officer, said Estrada could still change his mind and decide not to seek reelection.

“That’s what he said today, but he can still change his mind,” Purisima said in a text message.

She made her statement even as the Supreme Court on Wednesday sustained its decision upholding Estrada’s eligibility to run for Manila mayor in the 2013 elections.

The high court denied the motion filed by former Manila Mayor Alfredo Lim seeking to disqualify Estrada.

Meanwhile, Manila Vice Mayor Isko Moreno on Wednesday said it was too early to talk politics when asked about his political plans after Estrada announced he might be seeking a reelection.

Estrada said he will seek a re-election in 2016 to continue his program to restore Manila into its previous glory.

He said it would be a great challenge to bring Manila back to its former glory after the huge amount of debts allegedly left by its past leaders.

Estrada made the pronouncement barely a week after the Supreme Court affirmed its earlier ruling dismissing the disqualification case filed against him by Lim’s legal counsel Alicia Vidal.

Estrada said he had no other plans but to seek re-election as Manila mayor, adding he would no longer aspire for the presidential post.

“Wala na. Tapos na ako roon. Ang gusto ko ngayon ay maibalik natin ang image of Manila as the Pearl of the Orient,” he said.

“Gustong tumakbo ni Isko sa Senado o Congress dahil last term nya na as Vice Mayor,” Erap said. “I will support him if he seeks a higher post.”

Macon Ramos-Araneta

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Doctor’s order. Doctors, nurses and other health workers join other sectors in calling for the resignation of President Benigno “Noynoy” Aquino III for his failure to treat the various ills that plague the nation during a press-conference in Quezon City. MANNY PALMERO

De Lima twits Clooney over ‘persecution’ raps

By Rey E. Requejo

Justice secretary Leila de Lima has debunked the allegation of international human rights lawyer Amal Alamuddin-clooney, wife of actor George clooney, that former President and now Pampanga Rep. Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo is politically being persecuted by the Aquino administration.

“Arroyo’s fate is a judicial matter,” de Lima said on Wednesday.

De Lima also disputed the arguments raised by Mrs. Clooney in seeking the intervention of the United Nations to pressure the governmet to release the former president from detention over humanitarian reasons.

De Lima bewailed the filing

of the case against the Philippine government before the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights last month over alleged inhuman treatment on Arroyo as a “flamboyant gesture” that “only reflects the paucity of (Arroyo’s) cries of political persecution.”

Brace for traffic jam on Edsa, other roads

By Joel E. Zurbano THE government has warned motorists of unusually heavy traffic on major roads of Metro Manila which will be repaired starting next week.

This developed after a meeting was held among officials of the Metro Manila Development Authority and Department of Public Works and Highways, and members of the Metro Manila Council Wednesday in Makati City.

Affected areas include Ayala Bridge in Manila, Magallanes Interchange in Makati City and portions of Epifanio delos Santos Avenue, the MMDA said.

On March 21, the DPWH will start upgrading the structural integrity of Ayala Bridge, which will also elevated by 1.75 meters to give more space for barges passing along the Pasig River.

The MMDA gave the go-signal for the bridge project after the DPWH National Capital Region Office discussed with the agency and the city government of Manila the rerouting plan for motorists to be affected by the road works.

De Lima stressed that the complaint against the Philippine government before the UN body is based on a wrong premise.

Although the government has not officially received a notice of the UN complaint, the Justice Secretary said that Mrs. Clooney, who volunteered to lawyer for Arroyo, could be barking up the wrong tree in impleading the executive department when the cases against the former leader are pending with the courts.

In defending the Aquino administration, De Lima explained that the continued detention of Arroyo is by virtue of an order issued in Nov. 2013 by the First Division of the Sandiganbayan, which is hearing the plunder charges

MOPC forum guest.

Supreme Court Chief Justice Ma. Lourdes Sereno will be the guest speaker at the Judiciary Forum organized by the Manila Overseas Press Club on March 19 (Thursday) at the InterContinental Manila Hotel in Makati City. Sereno will also administer the oath of office of the 2015 officers and Board of Governors of the MOPC led by STAR columnist Babe Romualdez as president and BizNews Asia editor Tony Lopez as chairman. The chief justice is expected to discuss judicial reforms and other issues that impact on the country today. A no-holdsbarred open forum with a select panel of journalists will follow the keynote speech. For inquiries, contact the MOPC Secretariat at 994-6738.

against her over the alleged misuse of P366 million ($8.2 million) from the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO) during her term.

“The Executive is not involved in either the prosecution or judicial determination of Arroyo’s plunder case. The prosecutor in said case is the Ombudsman, an independent constitutional office. On the other hand, the Sandiganbayan, as part of the Judiciary, is under the Supreme Court,” she said.

De Lima, who also served as chairperson of the Commission on Human Rights during the Arroyo administration, said there seems to be need to remind Clooney of the workings of the Philippine criminal justice system.

House won’t freeze K-12

By Maricel V. Cruz SPEAkER Feliciano Belmonte Jr. on Wednesday rejected the proposal to suspend the implementation of the k to 12 education program.

Belmonte’s statement came even as the joint House committees on basic education and on higher education conducted its probe of the Education department’s preparedness to implement the k to 12 program.

DepEd Secretary Armin Luistro, during the hearing, expressed confidence that the k to 12 program could be implemented.

Belmonte rebuffed calls to suspend the k to 12 program, including that of the request of Pasig City Rep. Roman Romulo for the DepEd to come up with a feasibility study, otherwise its should not be implemented.

“We have given them the law and it cannot be suspended anyway just like that; we have to go through the process. Based on discussions, I think they are on the right track,” Belmonte said.

Belmonte expressed belief that DepEd can implement the ambitious educational reform program.

“I don’t think everybody will be able to say that I am ready 100 percent, but I think they are substantially ready. They will have to learn from any errors that can happen. I think there are inevitably some initial glitches, but I’m very confident they are up to their job,” Belmonte said.

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Aquino: Intensify efforts vs criminality

By Sara Susanne Fabunan

President Benigno Aquino iii has ordered the Philippine national Police to intensify efforts against criminality in the country, a Palace official said on Wednesday.

The president’s order came following the release of a latest survey by the Social Weather Stations (SWS) which said that some four million Filipinos fell victim to common crimes in the last quarter of 2014.

“President Aquino has directed the PNP to intenERRORS & OMISSIONS

sify its campaign against criminality, with priority to gun use control, to forestall the commission of crimes against persons and property,” Presidential communication secretary Herminio Coloma Jr. said in a text message.

Coloma assured the public

that the Aquino administration is determined to ensure the safety of the Filipinos.

“This is premised on government’s ability to maintain peace and order in the barangays,” he added.

Based on the latest SWS survey which was taken from November 27 to December 1 among 1,800 adult Filipinos, 6.7 percent or 4-million families claimed to had been fallen vitimc to common crimes, with an average of 12 crimes for every 10 victimized families. Of this figure, 6.2 percent or 1.4-million Filipino families lost house-

hold items and properties to thieves, while 0.7 percent or 153,000 had said that members of their families were hurt by physical violence in the past six months.

Although the figure this quarter is lower than the previous period, families expressed fears of living in their neighborhood, particularly because of the presence of drug addicts.

The fear of being victimized by drug addicts stood at 52 percent in the new survey, a record high and a fivepoint leap from 47 percent in 2013.

Shell, Chevron to abide by SC ruling on Pandacan oil depot PiliPiNAS Shell Petroleum Corp. and Chevron (formerly Caltex Philippines) on Wednesday issued separate statements saying they would abide by the ruling of the Supreme Court on the removal of the oil depot in Pandacan, Manila.

Shell said it would study the implication of the latest Supreme Court decision and review the options available to the company.

Raissa R. Bautista, Chevron manager for policy, government and public affairs, for her part, said the company has yet to receive a copy of the decision and clarified that “what we filed was a simple Motion for Clarification, not a Motion for Reconsideration. Finally, we will comply with the final ruling of the Supreme Court on this issue.”

The Supreme Court deci-

sion rendered last November requires the Big Three oil companies to remove their oil depot facilities from Pandacan, and not merely to cease operations. in an en banc session, the SC issued the clarification even as it dismissed the motion for reconsideration filed by Pilipinas Shell Petroleum and stressed that the relocation deadline stays, Acting on the clarification sought by Chevron, the SC explained that there are overwhelming reasons stated in its previous ruling to support the pronouncement of the Court that the very nature of depots has no place in a densely populated area.

Petron Corp. did not issue a statement as of press time although the company has already said that it has been slowly moving its operations out of the Pandacan depot. Alena Flores

EXTRAJUDICIAL SETTLEMENT OF ESTATE

In Classified Ads section must be brought to our attention the very day the advertisement is published. We will not be responsible for any incorrect ads not reported to us immediately.

Notice is hereby given that the estate of the late MA. RUBY LL. CANO was selfadjudicated to her sole heir CARINA LL. CANO as per Doc. No. 60; Page No. 12; Book No. XIV, Series of 2015 before Notary Public Atty. Arthur A. Sy. (TNS-MAR. 5, 12 & 19, 2015)

(TNS-MAR. 9/10/11/12/13, 2015)

Republic of the Philippines

DEPARTMENT OF FINANCE Roxas Boulevard Corner Pablo Ocampo, Sr. Street Manila 1004

REQUEST FOR EXPRESSION OF INTEREST FOR THE PROCUREMENT OF CONSULTANT WRITER FOR THE PHILIPPINE EXTRACTIVE INDUSTRIES TRANSPARENCY INITIATIVE (PH-EITI) 1.

The Department of Finance (DOF), through the General Appropriations Act for CY 2015, intends to apply the sum of Two Million Pesos (P2,000,000.00), being the Approved Budget for the Contract (ABC), to payments under the contract for Consultant Writer for the Philippine Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (PH-EITI). Bids received in excess of the ABC shall be automatically rejected at the opening of the financial proposals.

2.

The Procuring Entity’s Bids and Awards Committee (BAC) now calls for the submission of eligibility documents for the procurement of consulting services for the Project. Interested consultants must submit their eligibility documents on or before March 20, 2015, 9:45 am at the th BAC Secretariat, 7 Floor EDPC Building, BSP Complex, Roxas Blvd., Malate, Manila. Applications for eligibility will be evaluated based on a non-discretionary “pass/fail” criterion.

3.

The BAC shall draw up the short list of consultants from those who have submitted eligibility documents and have been determined as eligible in accordance with the provisions of Republic Act No. 9184 (R.A. No. 9184), otherwise known as the “Government Procurement Reform Act”, and its Implementing Rules and Regulations (IRR). The short list shall consist of at least one (1) prospective bidder who will be entitled to submit bids. The criteria and rating system for short listing are: I. II. III.

Applicable Experience Quality of Personnel to be Assigned Capacity to Execute the Consultancy Project Total

– 30% – 20% – 50% – 100%

4.

Bidding will be conducted through open competitive bidding procedures using nondiscretionary “pass/fail” criterion as specified in the IRR of R.A. No. 9184. Bidding is restricted to Filipino citizens/sole proprietorships, partnerships, or organizations with at least sixty percent (60%) interest or outstanding capital stock belonging to citizens of the Philippines.

5.

The Procuring Entity shall evaluate bids using the Quality Based Evaluation /Selection (QBE/QBS) procedure. The criteria and rating system for the evaluation of bids shall be provided in the Instructions to Bidders.

6.

The contract shall be completed within a period of six (6) months, from April 2015 to September 2015.

7.

The Procuring Entity reserves the right to reject any and all bids, annul the bidding process, or not award the contract at any time prior to contract award, without thereby incurring any liability to the affected bidder or bidders.

8.

For further information, please refer to: Atty. Marie Gay Alessandra V. Ordones National Coordinator PH-EITI Tel. No. 525-0487

(TNS-Mar. 12, 2015)

(SGD.) GIL S. BELTRAN Undersecretary and Chairman Bids and Awards Committee

Students of San Joaquin Central School in Palo, Leyte happily wave to visitors durinig the formal turn over of their new school building built and donated by USAID Rebuild.

USAID turns over new school building USAiD Rebuild, represented

by Chief of Party Marc Barrera, turned over a climate-resilient school building at San Joaquin Central School in Palo, leyte Province.

The six-classroom project, which includes classroom furniture and teaching kits, will benefit over 400 students and teachers. it is part of the U.S. Government’s larger effort to construct and furnish more than 200 classrooms in Tacloban City and leyte Province, which will benefit approximately 30,000 students.

Department of Education OiC Assistant Regional Director Atty.

Roan Orevia received the project on behalf of the Government of the Philippines.

Also present at the turn over

ceremonies were USAiD Development Assistance Specialist/ USAiD Rebuild COR Ma. Teresa S. Robielos, Department of Education Superintendent for the leyte Division Ronilo Al Firmo and San Joaquin Central School Principal liberato Cobacha.

USAiD Development Assistance Specialist/USAiD Rebuild COR Ma. Teresa S. Robielos, USAiD Rebuild Chief of Party Marc Barrera, San Joaquin Central School Principal liberato Cobacha.

Meanwhile, 40 newly rehabilitated and re-stocked sari-sari stores were turned over to microentrepreneurs in Tacloban City whose means of livelihood were affected by Typhoon Yolanda.

These are among the 1,000 stores that will be built, rehabilitated,

and restocked with inventory by USAiD in partnership with private companies Coca-Cola and Procter & Gamble (P&G).

The event, which was held at the U.S.-funded transitional shelter site established by USAiD and Catholic Relief Services (CRS) in Barangay. Utap, Tacloban City, was attended by Tacloban City Mayor Alfred S. Romualdez, Department of Trade and industry Regional Director Cynthia Nierras, USAiD Development Assistance Specialist Ma. Teresa Robielos, USAiD Rebuild Chief of Party Marc Barrera, CRS Program Manager Holly Fuller, Coca-Cola Philippines VP for Public Affairs Atty.

Adel Tamano and P&G Country Brand Manager Anna legarda.

Mel Caspe

CYAN MAGENTA YELLOW BLACK T H U R S D AY : M A R C H 1 2 , 2 0 1 5

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NEWS

mst.daydesk@gmail.com

IN BRIEF Solon bats for windmills in Mindanao

Rice festival. Tadian, Mt. Province Mayor Anthony Wooden, clad in a colorful ethnic dress, winnows rice grains as part of the activities in the annual Harvest Festival held in his locality. DAVID C. LEPROZO JR.

7th

Surigao, Agusan jail raids yield drugs paraphernalia

By Alvin Guanzon

BUTUAN CITY—Illegal drugs paraphernalia such as lighters and needle and empty plastic sachets, mobile phones and an Apple Ipod were seized from eight inmates in detention cells in Surigao City and Agusan del Norte on separate inspections held March 7 and 9.

In Surigao City last March 7, a surprise inspection conducted at around 8 a.m. by Surigao City Police operatives headed by Po-

lice Senior Inspector Joel Caba found the illegal drug shabu from three inmates.

Senior Inspector Joel

Cabales, the head of Surigao City Police Intelligence Division, identified the three inmates as Edgar Go Sulla, 32, Rex Dela Torre Galleon, 28, and Roy Gabuya Alburo, 31.

Seized from Alburo were two sachets containing shabu residues, a black Nokia mobile phone with charger, a black Alcatel brand mobile phone and an Apple Ipod.

Galleon, on the other hand, yielded 16 strips of aluminum foil, lighters, a plastic

sachet containing suspected shabu; two sachets of shabu residues, five needles, two mobile phones and a charger.

Confiscated from inmate Sulla were one bundle of transparent sachets and a sachet containing suspected shabu.

Charges of violation of R.A. 9165 or the Dangerous Drugs Act of 1995 were filed against the three Surigao inmates.

Over at the Agusan del Norte Provincial Jail situated here in Barangay Libertad, Butuan City,

a surprise inspection under Oplan Greyhound conducted

by Provincial Jail authorities seized illegal drugs paraphernalia, lighters and empty sachets from five inmates.

Provincial Jail Warden Fermin Antenorio identified the inmates as Joseph Ryan Chua, 32, who is facing Murder charges; Rolly Maalat, 29, also charged with murder cases, John Rey Mangadlao, 31, Eduardo Alonde, and Dante Jagumbong, 35.

Yolanda survivor tops ‘Kabayan’ outstanding student search

By Ronald O. Reyes SCHOOLMATES and friends can’t help but admire Rachelle V. Llones, 16, a graduating student at Palo National High School in Palo, Leyte after she was chosen as one of the 9th Kabayan-Ten Outstanding Public School Students (TOPS) award winners for 2015.

“I am very proud of her. She is a role model to us,” said Rogellyn Lima, a school mate of Llones.

Llones said that being able to survive from super typhoon Yolanda which levelled their town last November 8, 2013 has taught her how to overcome her own fears and challenges.

“I put my trust in God. I am very thankful that my family were saved during Yolanda.

That was already enough for me. Being selected as one of the outstanding public school

students in the country is another miracle that happened to me,” said Llones, who is also this year’s class valedictorian in their SPED class of 35 students garnering an average grade of 95.52.

“She’s very talented. I am happy and proud of her,” said Jessica Logronio, her classroom adviser.

Aside from being the president of the Supreme Student Government (SSG), Llones is also an award-wining campus journalist and an UPCAT (University of the Philippines College Admission Test) passer.

At school, her friends describe her as “smart yet unassuming student.”

“I want to become an accountant,” Llones said.

“I reminded her to study hard so she can help her parents. Good education is always the key to her success in

life,” added Socorro Ausa, the school principal.

Just like most of the students in public schools, Llones came from a poor family.

Her father, Domingo, is a carpenter while her mother, Mariafe, is a plain housewife.

She has two other siblings.

“I am thankful to Kabayan Foundation for including me as one of their awardees. This is such a humbling experience,” said Llones, who is the winner for the Visayas regions on academic excellence awards.

Llones said the other finalists from Visayas also came from Yolanda-hit communities.

“They asked me about my experiences during Yolanda and the visit of Pope Francis.

I told them about how I and my family were able to cope up with the typhoon and how

Rachelle Llones of Palo, Leyte, a Yolanda survivor, was chosen as one of Kabayan-Ten Outstanding Public School Students (TOPS) awardees for 2015. RONALD REYES

blessed we were that Pope Francis came to see our town,” Llones said, recalling her interview and her story of cour-

age on how they managed to live in the already-crumbling Barangay Hall and chapel after the storm.

BONGAO, Tawi-Tawi—Rep. Nur Jaafar of Tawi-Tawi has proposed the construction of windmills—a power generation project in appropriate areas of Mindanao—to help ease the power shortage in the country’s second largest island region.

“The project will augment Mindanao’s energy needs and accelerate countryside development in the area,” Jaafar explained in House Bill No. 1262, adding that “wind power, as an alternative to fossil fuels, is plentiful, renewable, widely distributed , clean and produces no greenhouse gas emissions during operation. It also uses very little land area.”

Jaafar cited the Bangui Windmills in Ilocos Norte constructed in 2005 which now provides 40 percent of the province’s power requirement even as he noted that the P2 billion Italian–government funded wind power project of 48 megawatts in Oriental Mindoro has reportedly lowered the area’s electrical consumption by as low as P6.50 per kilowatt.

A. Perez Rimando

Lumads, other groups unite LEADERS on ten indigenous organizations, along with Muslim and Christian human rights advocates planted mahogany seedlings on March 5 (Thursday) as a symbol of their unity in the European Union-funded project “Healing the Hurt” “This act symbolizes the strong foundation of our collaboration in this project,” said Sr. Ma. Famita Somogod, MSM, the sub-regional coordinator of the Rural Missionaries of the Philippines-Northern Mindanao Sub-Region (RMP-NMR).

“We need to be united to heal the wounds that have been wrought in our hearts and minds by years of being pitted against each other— especially against our Lumad brothers and sisters who have fought hard to retain their traditions and culture. This is the core of our project.” Somogod said. Lance Baconguis

Red Cross helps build homes in Leyte IN ITS continuing recovery and rehabilitation efforts in areas of the Philippines affected by super typhoon Yolanda in 2013, the Philippine Red Cross said it had assisted in the repair and construction of homes for the survivors.

“We build their houses because we believe that it is in the home that hopes will spark which we aim to spread to everyone,” said PRC Secretary General Gwendolyn Pang.

The PRC sent out the third batch of more than 152,000 corrugated galvanized iron (CGI) sheets for Palawan, Iloilo, Tacloban, and Cebu.

“Our shelter program continues with the shipment of these CGI sheets which will be used to build more homes for survivors of typhoon Yolanda,” said PRC Chairman Richard Gordon. Robbie Pangilinan

A8

opinion [ EDI TORI A L ]

Blaming leo WHAt must it be like to be one Getulio napeñas, the former chief of the Special Action Force of the Philippine national Police, who has the power to make a fool out of a sitting Philippine president?

President Benigno Aquino III said in a speech before a coterie of religious leaders on Monday: “Binola nya ako!” referring to napeñas’ supposed assurances that all was well on the ground in Mamasapano, Maguindanao on January 25.

Forty-four SAF commandos were killed in that operation.

What a cunning, diabolical man napenas must be.

So intimidating is a man who could fool the President that the public could not reconcile him with the one it saw in the Senate and House hearings a few days after the death of the 44. the napeñas who attended those hearings shed tears for his men, was unassuming and straightforward as he told his story, and admitted he was under the impression that his former boss, PnP Director General Alan Purisima, was in charge.

It was not difficult to believe him. After all, Purisima, suspended by the Ombudsman at that time for graft and corruption charges, even called him to a meeting at President Aquino’s residence at Bahay Pangarap. now it seems napeñas may have other things to cry about. He is being set up as the fall guy, with no less than Mr. Aquino himself shaming him as “tatangatanga,” and one who turned the mission into Mission Impossible. President Aquino said napenas entertained “wishful thinking as opposed to reality” and threatened him with insubordination and other charges. this is the same President whose phone was off that fateful morning and who idled away for precious hours before asking for more details of the operation. this is the President who responds to a simple question through convoluted speech, who calls his critics attention seekers, and who presents himself as a one-man investigative body that crucified one man, kept silent about the glaring presence of his friend Purisima in the whole operation, and absolved himself of all responsibility for what happened in Maguindanao—even at the expense of admitting he was the type of leader who could be fooled. this is the man who in 2010 successfully packaged himself as a beacon of righteousness, an enemy of the corrupt and the dishonest.

Still, our joke of a President may be correct on one thing about napeñas, after all—that part about wishful thinking. napeñas may have believed that his life would be fair, that he would be rewarded for his hard work, leadership and compassion for his men, and that his commander in chief is a man of integrity, a genuine leader.

At worst, this leader is a bald faced liar who will do anything to save his skin.

At best, he is so incompetent that he would allow himself to be “misled” and “misinformed” and whine about it. So heaven help us.

Bello’s principles lowdown jojo a. roBles On hindsight, Akbayan Rep. Walden Bello had no choice but to resign from the House of Representatives. As I wrote just last week, Bello simply had to go, after he was bitch-slapped (figuratively, of course) by Malacanang spokesman Abigail Valte, who reduced the congressman’s complaint about the President “managing information” on the Mamasapano massacre to a question of whether or not he was really an ally of Aquino’s.

Last year, of course, Bello was also put in Malacanang’s doghouse by the President himself, after the

Akbayan lawmaker decried the famous “double standard” employed

by Aquino. Bello, who calls himself “a principled ally” of the administration, decried the political persecution of Vice President Jejomar Binay, while Aquino’s associates who were involved in the pork barrel scandal got off scot-free. “[Bello] had several complaints,” Aquino said last year, in reaction to Bello’s charges. “And perhaps my suggestion to him is if he thinks his point of view is the only one that is correct, then he might want to consider running for the presidency in 2016.”

Bello was an important enough ally last year to merit a reply from Aquino himself. But now that he has accused the President of managing the news and masterminding a coverup of the encounter that led to the killing of 44 Special Action

Force commandos last Jan. 25, the job of putting him in his place was left to the woman they call Lady Gaga; Bello, if only because he is now considered to be on Valte’s level, already had more than enough reason to quit.

But seriously, the bigger issue was addressed yesterday by Senate Franklin Drilon, who said that the left-leaning Akbayan remains “a valued ally” of the administration and the ruling Liberal Party. I don’t really know why Drilon has appointed himself the spokesman of Akbayan, which has its own pool of voluble mouthpieces, but the Senate chief must have been affected enough by Bello’s resignation that he felt he had to reassure his friend the President that the resigned congressman’s party was still following the “tuwid na daan.”

Akbayan itself, while thanking Bello for serving as the party’s representative in Congress, issued

give Bello credit for having the courage of his conviction that aquino mishandled the mamasapano encounter.

a statement that was notable for its schizophrenia. While the party said that there is “more to be gained from staying in the coalition [with the administration] than by leaving it at this conjuncture [sic],” it added that it was calling on Aquino to “exact full accountability from all

responsible actors in the Mamasapano incident, including himself.” *** As I’ve already written, Akbayan – whose members are known as the “house Communists” of the Aquino administration – is deeply divided on the issue of continuing its support for the President in the aftermath of the Mamasapano massacre. At least one prominent party member, who holds a top position in the current government, I was informed, is also on the verge of joining Bello by quitting her post.

Of course, there are also those in the party who remain steadfast in their commitment to support Aquino, like presidential assistant on political affairs Ronald Llamas and his close associate and Akbayan chairman Risa Hontiveros. However, as the official statement of the party on Bello’s resignation implies, a significant number agree with the resigned congressman that the Presi-

T h u R S d aY : M a R c h 1 2 , 2 0 1 5

OPINION adellechua@gmail.com

adelle chua EDITOR

A9

VIEw fROm malcOm aTTy. haRRy ROquE jR.

Treason?

dent should allow the chips to fall where they may and not merely be concerned with escaping responsibility in the case of the “Fallen 44.”

But give Bello credit for having the courage of his conviction that Aquino mishandled the Mamasapano encounter and is now hell-bent on engineering a cover-up operation to save himself. I don’t remember any case of a member of Congress since its restoration in 1988 who willingly resigned his or her position.

And by resigning, Bello proved that, yes, there really are principled people who supported Aquino but who have now decided that they can do so no more. Not all of Akbayan – and certainly not all of Aquino’s

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original supporters – are as politically calculating as the party’s statement implies, staying on simply because there is “more to be gained” by staying allied with the President than by denouncing him.

Finally, what Bello’s resignation tells us is just how little Aquino values advice that goes against his own belief system or that questions his apparent infallibility. Or, to follow Valte’s line of reasoning, how the President performs his usual reductio ad absurdum that those who are not with him must surely be against him.

And Aquino’s rant against Bello when the latter accused him of employing a double standard last year is echoed in a common de-

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fense used by his Yellow adherents, who routinely put down critics with the irrational tactic of demanding that they become President first before they can have the right to question their Yellow idol’s supposed wisdom.

“Perhaps when [Bello] is already the President, then he can run the country according to his vision,” Aquino said of Bello’s complaints. “But for now, I believe I am doing what needs to be done.”

Bello certainly doesn’t believe that Aquino became incapable of error after he was elected President. Even if that seems to be what Akbayan, Drilon and all the other opportunistic, self-serving sycophants of Aquino profess.

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It was interesting that former Assemblyman and Governor Homobono Adaza recently filed a criminal complaint for treason against PNoy and the members of the Philippine peace panel. treason is defined as the “act of levying war against the Philippines or adhering to its enemies, giving them aid or comfort within the Philippine Islands or elsewhere”. According to Bono, the fact that the President and the members of the peace panel entered into an agreement with the Moro Islamic Liberation Front which would for all instances, create a sub-state in violation of the ponencia of now Ombudsman Conchita Carpio-Morales in the case of North Cotobato vs Peace Panel, is an act of treason.

While I agree that the Bangsamoro Basic Law is contrary to the Constitution and that its proponents are traitors to the Republic, I do not think the complaint for treason will prosper. this is because treason, in jurisprudence, is a crime committed in times only of an international armed conflict. the act of levying war must be against the Republic of the Philippines at a time when it is at war with a foreign enemy. this is why the only convictions we have for this crime were against those who fought with or collaborated with the Japanese during World War two.

Does this mean though that P Noy and the rest of the proponents of the BBL have no criminal culpability?

Certainly not. the MILF as a domestic armed group is guilty of rebellion for “rising publicly and taking arms against the Government for the purpose of removing from the allegiance to said Government or its laws, the territory of the Philippine Islands or any part thereof ”. Certainly, their use of arms for the purpose of establishing an independent state is the classic crime of rebellion. What is the criminal liability of those who will aid or abet those engaged in the crime of rebellion?

Well, the Revised Penal Code punishes not only those who lead and directly participate in the rebellion, but also those who conspire to commit the crime.

Moreover, the law also punishes public officers or employees who have failed to resist a rebellion by all the means in their power. Perhaps, this is how we can hold Ging Deles et al responsible for their loyalty to the MILF. And while I think that Bono’s complaint for treason will not stand, it is still my hope that the Ombudsman will nonetheless file the correct charges against those who have betrayed the Republic.

Continued on A11 Rolando G. Estabillo Publisher Rolando G. Jojo Estabillo Publisher A. Robles Editor-in-Chief Jojo A.L.Robles Editor-in-Chief Ramonchito Tomeldan Managing Editor Ramonchito L. Tomeldan Managing Editor Chin Wong/Ray S. Eñano Associate Editors Chin Wong/RayJoel S. Eñano Associate Editors P. Palacios News Editor Francis Lagniton CityCity Editor Francis Lagniton Editor Arman Armero Senior Deskman Arman Armero Senior Deskman Romel Leo J. Mendez Art Director A. Estonilo Senior Deskman Roberto Cabrera Chief Romel J. Mendez ArtPhotographer Director Roberto Cabrera Chief Photographer

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OPINION adellechua@gmail.com

A crisis of credibility IF you start with a lie, you will end up with a big web of lies until you get emil P. caught in it. jurAdo This is precisely what’s happening to President Aquino who continues to disown responsibility for the slaughter of 44 police commandos by a combined force of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front and its breakaway Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters plus a motely group of armed villagers.

Amid cries for justice and accountability by the families of the Fallen 44, the President’s spokesmen say that there is nothing the President should be sorry for. After all, there are eight simultaneous investigations going on. That should settle the issues of justice and accountability, shouldn’t it?

A few days ago, President Aquino in a prayer meeting with Protestant and evangelical leaders made a soliloquy about what happened in Mamasapano. He blamed everything on sacked PNP-SAF Commander Napenas, as if Napenas did it all by himself.

Santa Banana, the President didn’t even mention anything about the role of resigned police chief Alan Purisima, his former bodyguard and good friend. He did not say that Purisima was on top of Oplan Exodus when he was already under suspension for corruption by the Ombudsman.

At this point, nobody believes the President anymore. My gulay Mr. Aquino is undergoing a crisis of credibility!

Who can believe that Napenas acted by himself?

And what about Purisima, who was under suspension? Why did they meet at Bahay Pangarap to map out the plan to neutralize the terrorists? Does’t that confirm the role of the President, the PNP Commander-in-Chief?

Santa Banana, when a president admits that he was deceived and was misinformed by a police officer, he in fact is admitting that he is a weak leader.

Since we can no longer expect the truth from the PNP Board of Inquiry after the President heaped the blame on Napenas, and since the House of Representatives, ruled by lackeys and lapdogs of Malacanang, has terminated its investigations and hearings, and since Justice Secretary Leila de Lima can no longer pursue justice and charge members of the MILF for the Mamasapano carnage, truth has become the biggest victim.

That’s the double tragedy. *** When Justice Secretary De Lima met with the MILF leaders, she asked for a copy of the investigation of the Moro rebels. Santa Banana, would you believe that the MILF leadership told her to secure a copy from Malaysia, the facilitator of the Comprehensive Peace Agreement on the Bangsamoro?

So is Malaysia now involved in the continuing war of the Moro rebels against the Philippine government? Do the Moro rebels now owe their allegiance to the Malaysian government?

That’s why I believe the Moro rebels cannot be trusted anymore. My gulay, this is treason! And to think that government negotiator Miriam Coronel Ferrer and peace adviser Teresita Deles are lawyering for them!

How can government trust the MILF which has taken advantage of the ceasefire to recruit and train more rebels? My gulay, records show they even have a factory that manufactures high powered firearms.

And who do you think supplies them their firearms?

The very fact that Mohager Iqbal revealed to the Senate that until the peace deal is fully implemented, the MILF continues to remain a “revolutionary” organization at war, says a lot. How can we trust the MILF? *** Enact the BBL or else we go back to war with the Moro rebels. This is in effect was the clear message

to the Point

in defense of nApeñAs THE prayer meeting in Malacañang not. This decision should have come duty provided President Aquino the chance from the tactical commander, Police cAlls to present the detailed results of his Supt. Raymond Train. The river crossown “investigation” on Mamasapano. ing took a lot longer than originally florencio planned but in the professional appreHis conclusion: That the death of the fiAnzA 44 SAF personnel was all the fault of ciation of Train, he believed that even Police Director Getulio Napeñas. with fewer men, the mission could still That so-called prayer meeting was in fact a gathering be accomplished and did not recommend to Napeñas of the faithful in an attempt to shore up the deteriorat- that the mission be aborted. And to remind the public ing political fortunes of the President. The effort failed once again, the mission was accomplished. It was not because although the assembly was choreographed what the President termed as mission impossible. well, the President once again strayed from the script.

It was during the withdrawal phase when the SAF Instead, he meandered to the point of belittling, insult- encountered elements from the BIFF and MILF that ing and questioning the professionalism of Napeñas in the situation developed differently. Should the Presia vain attempt to wash his hands of any responsibil- dent blame this on Napeñas? Most certainly not. Anyity. That was below the belt. He even used terms like thing could happen in combat operations. The unexsituational awareness to elaborate on his analysis. This pected can happen regardless of who is in command. is from a man who has never commanded a squad in It is during this phase that there are certainly legiticombat in all his life. mate questions to be asked. One is why the rest of the With all due respect to the President, he is hardly SAF consisting of 300 men or more together with part competent to conduct a professional investigation on of Army reinforcing elements were unable to penetrate the Mamasapano encounter. He should have left this to and provide more help to the besieged SAF elements. the Philippine National Police Board of Inquiry whose The other question is why no aggressive effort was objectivity is now compromised by his “findings”. Who made to provide artillery or air support. It seems that will now believe in the fairness and objectivity of the initiative was totally absent from many senior officials BOI report? Can the current membership of the BOI on January 25. who are all active serving PNP officers afford to conThe latter question is important because of the lintradict the findings of their boss, the President? gering impression in the minds of the public that there I hope for the sake of the integrity of the PNP as seems to have been an order to limit the reinforcement an institution that they would be equal to this diffi- effort so as not to endanger the peace process. This cult challenge. In the Presidents’ denunciations of also meant sacrificing the lives of the SAF personnel.

Napeñas, he was more talkative and animated than The President mocked Napeñas for not having what usual. Whether he realized it or, not however, his being he termed as situational awareness. But he also commore verbose also debunked his accusations against his mitted many glaring shortcomings. Since he knew all chosen scapegoat, Napeñas. He said that he was con- about the operation, why did he not direct and supertinuously fooled by Napeñas. In the five days of Senate vise the Army to provide aggressive reinforcements? hearings, Napeñas was the only resource person who What were his exact orders to the Army? The Presicame out as honest and forthright. He tried to answer dent in his diatribe was selective in what he said and all questions frankly and honestly. He did not put the did not say. blame on others in order to save himself.

Many questions remain unanswered. Foremost of In the President’s own words, the communications these questions is why the President continued to use between him and Napeñas were through Purisima. It Purisima as his point man after the Ombudsman suswas not therefore possible for Napeñas to have lied re- pended him. Why did he not insist on prior coordinapeatedly to him. On the contrary, as Police Supt. Ray- tion if he felt strongly about it when even his friend mond Train said in his statement submitted to the BOI, Purisima joined Napeñas and Train in saying that the he and Napeñas insisted to the President that they were Army be informed only when the mission was under not in favor of informing the Army about the opera- way? He did not also say why he completely omitted tion before it was launched because of the danger of mentioning Purisima when he already said that Puricomprising it. If the President was adamant about sima lied to him. His performance last Monday simply prior coordination, he should have overruled Purisima compounded his problems. Now, his communication and Napeñas. He did not. At the very least, he knew people are again trying to correct the mistake. This is that the Purisima and Napeñas were against provid- too late. What the President must do now is to submit ing the Army with advanced info. If this decision was his own sworn statement as regards his participation wrong, then he shares the blame. or submit himself for questioning so that once and for He also said that Napeñas could have aborted the all, the public will know exactly the extent of his paroperation. The President is in no position to question ticipation. Let them be the judge instead of him being whether the operation should have been aborted or so petty on Napeñas. of Malacanang when the President called leaders of the House of Representatives to Malacanang to push for the BBL, despite all its constitutional infirmities and questionable provisions. And true to form, Speaker Sonny Belmonte and House Majority Leader Neptali Gonzales jumped. They may as well have asked: from which floor, Mr. President?

This brings to fore the question: Will the passage of the BBL, even if revised and amended to conform with the Constitution, assure us of final peace in Mindanao?

Lest I am misunderstood, I’m all for peace there.

My wife is from Cagayan De Oro City, and she lived in Zamboanga City and Cotabato City. In fact, I married her in Cotabato City.

I know the culture and history of the Moros, who were never subjugated by the Spaniards, nor the Americans, much less the Japanese. Many of the Moros don’t believe they are Filipinos since they blame the Christian Filipinos for taking advantage of them, and that the

government contributed to their poverty.

That’s the reason they formed the Moro National Liberation Front under their charismatic and educated leader Nur Misuari. Years after, a new group of Maguindanaoans calling itself MILF broke away from the MNLF. This is because Maguindanaons don’t like to be headed by a Tausog, like Misuari from Sulu.

Even if Congress revises and improves the BBL in its form and substance, I believe it will still be contested in the Supreme Court.

What then if the Supreme Court thumbs it down? Will the MILF as a revolutionary organization go to war?

Final peace in Mindanao? Not with the BIFF, not with another splinter groups, the Justice Islamic Movement, not for the MNLF, which by way is already splintered into three factions, and certainly not with the Sultanate of Sulu and Abu Sayyaf Group, and not with many other fully-armed private armies specializing in extortion and kidnapping.

At this point, nobody believes the President anymore.

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OPINION adellechua@gmail.com

mInORITy REpORT

Revisiting the AFP ModeRnizAtion PRogRAM

adelle chua EDITOR

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Treason... From A9

In this regard, the ombudsman could act against Deles et DanIlO al motu propio and without a suaREz formal complaint. This becomes more imperative given her poTwo headlines caught my eye this week: worse, they may even eventually fully deny of the AFP. And while we waste hard-earned nencia of the Supreme Court first was the defective choppers bought for us use of the sea in these areas by using it as taxpayers’ money due to opportunists and decision that struck down the P1.2 billion and second, that of China con- a staging area for military operations against profiteers and further burden limited deMoA-AD, precursor of the structing military bases in six different reef the country. fense funds by buying overused hardware at BBL, as unconstitutional. Certainly, the executive’s insistence areas inside the Philippine Exclusive EcoIt is also not unlikely that both the oc- inflated prices, our national security and teron the BBL, which restates nomic Zone (EEZ) at the west Philippine cupied and remaining un-occupied island/ ritory are desecrated, our troops needlessly provisions already declared unSea (wPS). islets in the KIG/wPS are in serious risk of gambling their lives in the line of fire. constitutional by the court, also Both items struck me because as one of being taken over if the Philippines does not we as a nation should put aside personal amounts to the felony of insubthe principal authors of the Armed Forces of do anything about it. For this reason, it dis- profit to push our national agenda. These ordination to judicial orders. the Philippines (AFP) Modernization Law heartens me that the spirit of the AFPML is two latest news items coming out at the same what did the ombudsman (AFPML), I am very uncomfortable with the not being followed as we have originally con- time should be enough to make heads roll. say in her ponencia against fact that we are losing out on our efforts to ceived it. I distinctly remember that during I hope our leadership makes a strong statethe MoA-AD, which were disregarded by those pushing communicate credible deterrence to support the drafting of the Implementing Rules and ment against profiteering in our AFP. Those for the BBL? our territorial defense objectives against Regulations (IRR) for the AFPML, I openly who use hostilities as an excuse to raid our well, the ombudsman would be aggressors because our AFPML declared that this law should not be politi- national coffers are downright unpatriotic was clear that neither the is apparently being mismanaged. If this is cized. If you politicize the modernization and should be tagged as enemies of state.

President nor her negotiators true, our “new” platforms, equipment and of the AFP, you not only endanger national while hundreds of our soldiers are killed or could commit that neither the weapons systems are being procured with- security, you also needlessly waste taxpayer’s wounded, these profiteers maybe quietly setConstitution nor our laws will out due diligence resulting in defective or money. This point was very clear to all of ting themselves up to rake in tens of millions be amended to accommodate the peace agreement. As ruled sub-standard assets making their way into us then and when congress was finalizing in profits through the AFP modernization by then Justice Carpio- Morales: the programmed acquisitions of the AFP the law and IRR on the AFPML, we made program.

“Given the limited nature of the Modernization Program. it a point that the procurement of military To quote Franklin Roosevelt referring President’s authority to propose This is made more relevant when viewed hardware will not fall under an oversight to similar circumstances during America’s constitutional amendments, in the current context that Philippine-occu- Committee in order to depoliticize the pro- fight in the Second world war: “I don’t want she cannot guarantee to any pied islands in the wPS remain poorly forti- curement and for our uniformed personnel to see a single war millionaire created in the third party that the required fied, and our territorial defense capabilities to select the best hardware for our troops to United States as a result of this world disasamendments will eventually be put in place, nor even be are expected to remain low in the near to support our national security objectives. ter”. well, neither do we here in the Philipsubmitted to a plebiscite. The medium term. And as the second news item Yet instead, we continue to have news pines. If these allegations are true and if our most she could do is submit these mentioned implies, countries who are ag- reports of our troops suffering losses and boys are dying, or their missions fail because proposals as recommendations gressively pursuing their territorial claims in being outgunned due to malfunctioning or of defective and sub-standard equipment, either to Congress or the people, the wPS, like China, will in all probability sub-standard equipment that have been ac- then this is tantamount to treason and those in whom constituent powers are continue to exploit the resources in the EEZ. quired as part of the modernization program accountable should be charged accordingly. vested”.

The parliamentary form of government provided in the BBL already requires an amendment of the Constitution. This is because what is currently provided by our Charter is that “Congress shall enact an organic act for each autonomous region…. consisting of the executive and legislative the author and in perpetuity full copyright and all other worldwide rights and copyright assembly, both of which shall be pOp gOEs after his death…the moral intellectual property rights over all past winning works was elective”. There is no Executive in a ThE wORlD parliamentary form of government rights shall not be assignable or over such work(s), as well as already included in the 2014 and its Chief Minister is not elected all intellectual property rights rules, something that slipped subject to license.” jEnny by the people but by members of In RA 8293’s Sec. 193, over the Contestant’s previous under the writers’ radar then.

ORTuOsTE the parliament.

It’s unlikely that the among the “moral rights” Palanca Award prize – winning In any case, the fact that THE writers’ beehive is buzzing is the requirement “that the work(s) if any, (collectively, Foundation has any intention to the BBL establishes a sub-state with news about the revised authorship of the works be the “work(s)”), and waives hand authors a raw deal, but it in breach of the Constitution and of the decision of the rules for the 2015 Carlos attributed to [the author]” and all moral rights over all his looks like there was some overSupreme Court, is apparent Palanca Memorial Awards that the author’s name “as far or her Palanca Award prize- eager tweaking of the rules. in its provisions granting the for Literature, the oldest and as practicable, be indicated in winning work(s) in favor of the I have won a Palanca Award entity its own maritime zones, most prestigious recognition a prominent way on the copies, Sponsor.” and deeply appreciate the honor its own bill of rights, police program for creative writers and in connection with the Not only will the Foundation and prestige it bestows (at least force, Civil Service Commission, today.

Commission on Audit, and have the moral rights to the in the public eye—we writers public use of his work.”

Commission of Human Rights.

The Foundation, as the The author also has work – this when the IPC states know the truth, that we’re only All these are clear indicia of a contest sponsor, has every right moral rights to alter their that moral rights are perpetual as good as our last work), but sovereign state, which cannot to change its rules as it sees work, withhold it from and “shall not be assignable” the new rules are worrisome exist in our current unitary form fit, and they have done so the publication, object to any - they will also claim “all and could make some writers of government. In one case, our past several years. After all, no sort of modification or “other intellectual property rights” reconsider entering this year’s Supreme Court said that in a unitary state, “local governments one is being forced to join the derogatory action” in relation to over the author’s previous contest. can only be an intra sovereign contest.

There’s nothing to stop their work, and “to restrain the Palanca Award-winning works subdivision of one sovereign However, it is disturbing use of his name” in connection in what looks like a bid to people from joining under these nation, it cannot be an imperium that some of the new rules with a work not their own or a retroactively assert a type of circumstances; it’s an individual in imperio. Local government in seem to confer advantages “distorted version” of it. control they did not seek in decision to make. Many write such a system can only mean a to the sponsor that may be measure of decentralization of pieces specifically for this Under 2015 Palanca Awards previous years. the function of government”. considered unfair to the author, Rule No. 21 (posted on their Granted, the phrase contest, hoping for a shot at what is very clear is that one of which is the waiver of the website), these moral rights “concurrent and non-exclusive” literary glory. It’s up to the the BBL will establish an author’s moral rights over their would be handed over to the means the author still holds the writer to weigh their chances independent state within the work.

Foundation, so that in theory same rights as well. But let’s say of winning or placing, and the Republic of the Philippines.

Republic Act No. 10372 they may alter the author’s work, the author refuses to allow a pros and cons of abiding by The bottom line is this: Bono (2012), The Intellectual publish it without attribution, publisher to include their work these rules should their entry may be wrong in filing treason against P Noy, Deles et al. He Property Code (IPC), which and perform other related acts: in an anthology; the publisher receive an award. is however, infinitely correct amends some provisions of “21. … In the case of a could then approach the only read the fine print first. in wanting that all those who the Code’s earlier incarnation, winning work or works, the Foundation for the same thing. Caveat emptor. have proven to be disloyal to the RA No. 8293, provides in Sec. Contestant *** further grants Some writers point out Republic should be punished 198, “Term of Moral Rights” and assigns to the Sponsor that it’s the waiver of moral Facebook: Jenny Ortuoste, for their acts. Let’s hope the that the right of an author… the concurrent and non- rights that is a new rule this Twitter: @jennyortuoste, ombudsman agrees with him shall last during the lifetime of exclusive right to exercise the year, while the assignment of Blog: http://jennyo.net as well.

the PAlAncA AwARds: chAnging the Rules

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SPORTS sports@thestandard.com.ph

Cavs give Mavs a terrible beating DALLAS—LeBron James had game highs of 27 points and eight assists Tuesday, powering the Cleveland Cavaliers to a 127-94 victory over Dallas, their largest-ever win over the Mavericks.

The four-time NBA Most Valuable Player also grabbed seven rebounds as the Cavaliers improved to 41-25, second in the Eastern Conference and one game ahead of Chicago for the Central division lead.

Dallas had won five meetings in a row with the Cavaliers and eight of their past nine games against Cleveland.

Kyrie Irving scored 22 points for the Cavaliers while Kevin Love

added 21 points and a game-high 14 rebounds.

J.R. Smith contributed 21 points and Russian big man Ti mofey Mozgov netted 17 points for Cleveland.

Chandler Parsons led the Mavericks with 18 points while

Monta Ellis had 17 and German star Dirk Nowitzki had 13 points.

The Mavericks fell to 4125, just ahead of defending champion San Antonio in the fight for sixth in the Western Conference.

The Cavaliers next visit San Antonio on Thursday, the first time James will visit the Spurs since l a s t year’s NBA F i -

nals, when he and his thenteammates at Miami lost to the Texas club.

Meanwhile, Miami Heat center Hassan Whiteside was suspended one game without pay Tuesday by the NBA for elbowing Boston Celtics center Kelly Olynyk in the back of the neck.

The violation took place with 2:45 remaining in the third quarter of Boston’s 10090 victory at Miami on Monday.

Whiteside guarded Olynyk near the free throw line and when he turned and moved toward the basket, Whiteside elbowed him in the back

of the neck. Whiteside then charged at Olynyk and threw him to the floor.

The incident drew a flagrant foul call on the play and Whiteside was ejected from the game after scoring seven points and grabbing nine rebounds in 21 minutes.

Whiteside will serve his ban on Wednesday when the Heat play host to the Brooklyn Nets.

At 28-35, the Heat are one loss behind Indiana and Charlotte for the final two playoff spots in the Eastern Conference and only two games ahead of the Nets and Boston.

AFP

Auto Review Olympics set

By Randy Caluag BASKETBALL and volleyball take center-stage when the second leg of the Auto Review Road Safety Olympics blasts off on March 21 at the Rizal Memorial Coliseum.

Six teams composed of Mazda Philippines, Bridgestone Tires, Metro Manila Development Authority , Chevrolet, University of Santo Tomas and a guest team representing the media are seeing action in the wholeday activity, while guest schools from the University Athletic Association of the Philippines and the National Collegiate Athletic Association will show their wares in the cheer-leading exhibitions and road safety slogan chants.

Playing an active participation in the day-long event are road safety stakeholders from the government and motoring sectors, including Isuzu Philippines, Mitsubishi Motors and Toyota Motors Phils.

With the theme “Road Safety: Everybody’s Responsibility,” Auto Review conducted its initial leg of the advocacy event last January at the SM By The Bay at the

LeBron James (right) of the Cleveland Cavaliers takes a shot against the Dallas Mavericks’ Dirk Nowitzki at the American Airlines Center in Dallas, Texas.

The Cavaliers won, 12794. AFP

Mall of Asia, with the support of Metro Manila Development Authority, Philippine Global Road Safety Partnership, Automotive Association of the Philippines, DILG, PNP, DPWH, Red Cross, Philippine Coast Guard, Roadhouse Manila BayAGC Flat Glass Phils., and the Electric Vehicle Association of the Philippines.

“We thought of something different, so we came up with this event to drive home the message of road safety and courtesy. People love sports and to our belief, it can very well mix with the promotion of road safety as everyone’s responsibility,” said Ron delos Reyes, producer-host of Auto Review, one of the country’s longest-running motoring shows on TV, when he guested at the Philippine Sportswriters Association on Tuesday at the Shakey’s in Malate.

In that first leg, over 300 participants composed mostly of traffic enforcers, played beach volleyball, tug-of-war and an amazing race-type of road safety trivia challenge in a whole-day event that centered on the promotion of courtesy for motorists, pedestrians and other road users.

Fun run to support SAF’s 44 families set March 15 EVERYTHING is all set for the holding of “ONE RUN: Run as ONE for SAF 44 Families,” which will happen on March 15, according to Upsilon Sigma Phi Alumni Association President Atty. Jesse Andres.

“The run was conceptualized specifically to place focus once again on the real victims of the Mamasapano tragedy and support the continued unity of the Philippine National Police and the Armed Forces of the Philippines,” said Andres.

Upsilon Sigma Phi has partnered with Rotary Club District 3780 in the staging of the event.

Rotary Club District Governor and SAF founder Party list Rep. Samuel Pagbilao said he agreed with the purpose of the activity and that they have moved their rotary members to throw in their full support to the run that will immediately benefit the SAF 44 families.

The run will kick off beside the People Power Monument at 5 a.m. and

see its way through Camp Aguinaldo and Camp Crame.

“We in the AFP fully support this activity to show our solidarity with the PNP. We are one in protecting the citizens and we thank the private sector organizers for creating this to also show that we are all concerned for the welfare of the families of our policemen and soldiers,” AFP Chief of Staff General Gregorio Catapang said.

RunforChange Inc. President Eric Pasion indicated

that over 2,000 runners have initially committed to participate in the run that features 3K, 5K and 10K

distances.

“We did this so that the whole family can join in the activity. We also low-

ered the registration fees to P500 for all categories so it is affordable to all,” said Pasion.

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sports sports@thestandard.com.ph

Hope sweeps San Agustin, bags crown

CKSC earns “10-peat.” The Chiang Kai Shek College Blazing Dragons earned an unprecedented 10th straight championship in the recent 12th Baden Powell Cup Basketball Tournament 2015 after convincingly sweeping the best-of-three championship series against Philadelphia High School, 69-53, in the first game, and 79-45 in the second. Mentored by Herbert Cuenca and Chester Kevin Sy, the Blazing Dragons first won the BP Cup way back in 2006 and had never relinquished the title since then. CKSC’s Julius Floyd Capati also took the most valuable player of the tournament award, while teammates Mike Jericho Mojica and Jonathan Co both made it to the Mythical Five selection. The team is supported by Lamps and Lights, DC Trio, Steelhaus Marketing, CGTI Romblon, New Maxima Tire Supply, New Empire Printing, Sing Merchandising, Chinoy TV, and Red Champs Fabric Center.

Superliga draft today

By Peter Atencio

TWO talented Filipino American spikers will be around when the Philippine Superliga holds its Annual Rookie Draft today at the third level of the SM Aura in Taguig City.

They will join local bets, who are also seeking slots for participating teams seeking to improve their respective rosters in the PSL All-Filipino Conference on March 22 at the Mall of Asia Arena.

Setter Iris Tolenada is tipped to be a top overall pick with her impressive background, after becoming the first player from San Francisco State University to win

the Most Valuable Player award in the highly competitive California Collegiate Athletic Association.

The drafting will start at 4 p.m., with Taguig City Mayor Lani Cayetano as host, together with Cong. Lino Cayetano and SM Management.

Another expected high pick will be Alexa Micek, an open hitter from North Carolina State.

The 23-year-old Micek has a brother, Cole, who is one of the prized recruits of the Ateneo Blue Eagles men’s basketball team in the University Athletic Association of the Philippines.

Among the local spikers seeking top draft positions are middle blocker Angeli Araneta of University of the Philippines, libero Rica Enclona and open hitter Therese Veronas of College of Saint Benilde, and middle blocker Desiree Dadang and open hitter Rizza Mandapat of National University.

Libero Denise Lazaro of Ateneo is also in the mix, giving her legions of fans something to cheer for.

“Unlike last year when Dindin

Santiago and Aby Marano were clear-cut favorites, this year’s draft is full of suspense as team managers and coaches are keeping their cards close to their chests,” said PSL president Ramon “Tats” Suzara.

Philips Gold (formerly Mane ‘N Tail) owns the top overall pick, while Foton, Cignal, Shopinas, Via Mare and Grand Prix champion Petron will be picking next. The same draft order will be followed in the second round.

Other names in the draft pool are setters Djanel Cheng of Saint Benilde, Diane Ticar of Arellano University and Ivy Perez of NU as well as open hitter Samantha Dawson of Far Eastern University.

DanceSports national tourney on Saturday THE DanceSport Council of the Philippines will hold the 2015 DSCPI 1st Quarter Ranking and Competition at the Philsports Multi-Purpose Arena, Pasig City on Saturday.

DSCPI President Becky Garcia said there are 246 DanceSport athletes all over the Philippines competing in the ranking competition, supported by Philippine Sports Commission, Philippine Olympic Committee,

Flawless, Vitug Beach Resort, Retro DCGFM 105.9, Studio 116, Studio AK, Caruso RistoranteItaliano, Spaziale Splendy, Mercedes Benz and The Greenery Bulacan.

Seven World DanceSport Federation licensed adjudicators Dr. Tin Hung “Rainbow” Ho from Hong Kong, Luis Alberto Pereira from Macau, Anantapat Siripatnapakul from Thailand, Kiyotaka Uzaki from Japan, John Alan Winter from Denmark, Mary Yeh from

Chinese Taipei and Johnny Lekens from Belgium will adjudicate this competition with the help of the Philippines’ Genice Marquez, Michael Mendoza and Emmanuel Reyes.

Tickets are available at the DanceSport Training Center, Philsports Complex, Meralco Avenue, Pasig City and at the entrance of the Philsports Multi-Purpose Arena on March 14. For other inquiries, call Anna or Lorien at 637-2314.

HOPE Christian High School banked on Most Valuable Player Justine Dorog in sweeping Colegio San Agustin Makati, 25-14, 25-16, 25-18, to win the 17-Under Competitive Division crown of the Milo-sponsored Women’s Volleyball League over the weekend at the San Beda gym.

Dorog received support from teammates Mae Angelina Basarte, who was adjudged best setter, and from Maria Lina Isabel Molde, who was named best spiker, in this event organized by the award winning Best Center for 19 years now.

King’s Montessori School ripped Holy Family School, 25-16, 25-14, for third place.

The championship matches were witnessed by Best Center founder Nic Jorge, a former national coach, as well as former national player Mozzy Ravena, Genevieve Casugod and Christine Agno of Far Eastern U and Princess Gaiser of UP-- a Best Center graduate and once the best libero of the WVL. La Salle College of Antipolo scuttled St. Paul College-Makati, 25-18, 2521, 25-16, for the 17-Under Developmental Division title, while Espiritu Santo Parochial School defeated St. Scholastica’s CollegeA, 25-15, 25-17, for third place.

The 13-Under Competitive Division crown went to Colegio San AgustinMakati after it beat Escuela de Sophia, 25-23, 21-25, 25-18, while King’s Montessori School copped third place with a 25-7, 2522 win over St. Scholastica’s College.

SSC Stags join PBA D-League

By Peter Atencio THE new coach of the San Sebastian College Stags wants to give six holdovers of the team a chance to stay in shape for the 91st National Collegiate Athletic Association cagefest.

Stags’ coach Rodney Santos is letting his wards suit up for the SSC-Liver Marin squad in coming Philippine Basketball Association D-League Foundation Cup, which starts today at the Ynares Sports Arena in Pasig City.

“I want them to have a great workout para tuluy-tuloy na,” said Santos, who took the place of Topex Robinson.

Skipper Jamil Ortuoste will banner the Marin cagers with collegiate teammates Bradwin Guinto, Mike Calisaan, Jerick Fabian, Jeff Santos and Ryan Costelo. Graduates Leo de Vera, Bobby Balucanag and Jovit de la Cruz will also be around with Choi Ignacio, Jansen Rios, Joseph Ambohot, Moy Abad and Jhygrus Laude.

SSC Liver-Marin, which was formed only two weeks ago, hopes to be competitive in the

coming season of the D-League tournament.

They will debut against the AMA University Titans at 1 p.m.

Santos, who was known as “The Slasher” during his Philippine Basketball Association days, said he only has modest goals for the team.

“This conference, I just want them to make it to the Top 6. Masaya na ako,” said Santos.

Santos, will have former Barangay Ginebra star Bal David as one of his assistant coaches.

David will also join him in handling the Stags.

He played for the San Sebastian Staglets from 1988 to 1991 and figured in one title conquest on his last year as a high school player.

With the Stags, he was around from 1991 to 1994, becoming part of the team that won a crown on his final year in college.

Opting to turn pro, instead of staying with the Stags on his final playing year in the NCAA, Santos was drafted second overall by Purefoods in the 1996 draft and went to play for many teams in the PBA and until he retired in 2009.

Seminar vs performance-enhancing drugs. Southeast Asia Regional AntiDoping Organization Director General Gobinathan Nair speaks about the problem of using performance-enhancing drugs during the “The National Anti-Doping Summit: Awareness and Commitment Campaign on Anti-Doping,” jointly organized recently by the Philippine Center for Sports Medicine, headed by Dr. Alejandro Pineda Jr. and UNILAB laboratory at the Bayanihan Center in Pasig City.

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SPORTS sports@thestandard.com.ph

Aces arrest 3-game slide

By Jeric lopez

FINALLY getting some of its groove back, Alaska methodically tore Blackwater apart, 82-68, to gain a crucial win and break a three-game skid in the homestretch of the 2015 Philippine Basketball Association elimination round at the Ynares Sports Center in Antipolo City last night.

After failing to list a win in lay-up. Alaska then carFriday his first three games, Dami- (SmartGames Araneta Coliseum) ried a 60-49 lead into the on James was finally able to final 12 minutes.

4:15 p.m. • Meralco vs. Barako Bull deliver for Alaska, pouring Though Blackwater re7 p.m. • San Miguel in game-highs of 29 points, mained within striking disvs. Rain or Shine including 9-of-13 from the tance, from seven to 13 points foul line, to go with 22 rebounds. for most part, Alaska, however, kept its foe It was a much-needed win for the at bay by key baskets every time there was Aces as it kept them in the hunt for a sign of threat from the Elite. a quarterfinals berth with a 3-5 card, Dondon Hontiveros knocked down just half-a-game behind No. 8 Kia. all of his three triples in the payoff period The setback stung for the Elite as preventing Blackwater from getting close, their chance of gaining a spot in the while helping maintain Alaska’s safe disnext round became even more bleak tance until the victory was secured. with a 2-7 slate.

Banchero added 12 points off the Alaska coach Alex Compton said bench, while Ping Exciminiano had there’s a lot more work to do for his Aces 10 markers. if they want to make the quarterfinals.

Marcus Douthit led Blackwater ‘’We’re still far from the top. We’ve got with his team-high 21 points but he to keep playing better,’’ said Compton. only managed six in the second half.

It was a wire-to-wire game for Alaska The scores: as it never trailed the entire contest. The Alaska 82—James 29, Banchero 12, Aces zoomed to a sizeable 34-21 spread Exciminiano 10, Hontiveros 9, Abuemidway in the second period before va 7, Manuel 5, Thoss 4, Espinas 3, Jacarrying a 41-33 advantage into the half. zul 3, Eman 0, Baguio 0, Dela Cruz 0.

In the third, the Aces used an 8-0 Blackwater 68—Douthit 21, Reyes spurt to build a more comfortable 11, Gamalinda 11, Laure 8, Heruela 58-45 cushion at the 2:12 mark of 5, Salvacion 5, Faundo 4, Bulawan 2, the period after Chris Banchero’s Golla1, Erram 0, Celiz 0, Acuna 0.

Department of Education REGION IV-A CALABARZON Gate 2 Karangalan Village Cainta, Rizal INVITATION TO BID Supply & Delivery of athletic uniforms for the 2015 Palarong Pambansa 1.

The Department of Education, Region IV-A, through its Bids and Awards Committee (BAC) now invites bids for the supply & delivery of athletic uniforms for the 2015 Palarong Pambansa to be held at Tagum City, Davao del Norte on May 3 -10, 2015. Bids received in excess of the ABC shall be automatically rejected at bid opening.

The Approved Burdget fbr the Contract (ABC) Php1,978,400.00

2.

Bidding will be conducted through open competitive bidding procedures using a non-discretionary “pass/fail” criterion as specified in the Implementing Rules and Regulations (lRR) of Republic Act (RA) 9184, otherwise known as the “Government Procurement Reform Act”.

3.

Bidding is open to all interested bidders, whether local or foreign, subject to the conditions for eligibility, provided in the IRR of RA 9184.

4.

Interested bidders may obtain further information from the Department of Education Region IV-A (supply office) and inspect the Bidding Documents at the address given below during Monday to Friday from 8:00 to 4:00 p.m.

A complete set of Bidding Documents may be purchased by the interested Bidders starting on March 12, 2015 from the address below and upon payment of nonrefundable fee for the Bidding Documents in the amount of Five Thousand Pesos (5,000.00) Only.

5.

6.

The Department of Education, Region lV-A will hold a Pre-Bid Conference on March 16, 2015 at 10:00 in the morning to be held at the Conference Room of DepED Region IV-A, Gate 2 Karangalan Village, Cainta, Rizal, which shall be open to all interested parties who have purchased the Bidding Documents Bids rnust be delivered to the address stated herein on or before March 26, 2015 at 10:00 a.m. All Bids must be accompanied by a bid security in any of the acceptable forms and in the amount stated in ITB Clause18.

7.

Bid opening shall be on. March 26, 2015 at 10:00 a.m. at the Conference Room of DepED Region lV-A, Gate 2 Karangalan Village, Cainta, Rizal. Bids will be opened in the presence of the Bidders’ representatives who choose to attend at the address stated above.

Late bids shall not be accepted.

8.

The Department of Education, Region IV-A reserves the right to accept or reject any bid, to annul the bidding process, and to reject all bids at any time prior to contract award, without thereby incurring any liability to the affected bidder or bidders.

(SGD.) ANN GERALYN T. PELIAS Chief Administrative Office BAC Chairman

(TNS-Mar. 12, 2015)

CYAN MAGENTA YELLOW BLACK

LTdL rookie Caleb Ewan of Orica Greenedge (extreme right) makes his final push to the finish line, winning Stage 3 from Gerik to Tanah Merah. RAMON BOADO

Ewan seizes 1st win outside of Australia TANAH MERAH—Caleb Ewan registered his first professional win outside of his native Australia in dramatic circumstances, taking the overall lead in the 20th edition of Le Tour de Langkawi after a sprint from a group of 40 to win Stage 3 from Gerik to Tanah Merah today.

The Orica Greenedge rider, 21, made a strong effort to stay in a chase group that proved to be decisive at the end of the day, as they crested the summit of Titiwangsa after two tough categorized climbs, and then found no match from the sprinters that stayed with him as he brushed aside MTN-Qhubeka’s Youcef Reguigui to second spot and Colombia’s Leonardo Duque finished third.

Ewan wrested both the leads in the general and points classifications from Astana’s Andrea Guardini, who suffered across the summits of both climbs of the day to struggle home more than 24 minutes behind the

stage winner’s group.

“I saw Guardini suffer, so I did all I could to stay in that chase group.

He was dropped and then as we descended I knew we had a good chance of catching the breakaway that had gone earlier,” said Ewan.

The five-man breakaway of United Healthcare’s Kiel Reijnen, MTN Qhubeka’s Natnael Berhane, BretagneSeche Environnement’s Frederic Brun and the Skydive Dubai duo of Francisco Mancebo and Soufiane Haddi had moved ahead of the peloton before the first climb up a category 2 summit in Gerik.

That saw Reijnen sweep top points in both that and the category 1 summit at Titiwangsa to put a big gap of 19 points between himself and second placed Berhane in the mountains classification. Reijnen said he is now looking to take the red jersey to the finish in Kuala Lumpur on Sunday, in what he describes as the biggest race of his career to date.

Republic of the Philippines

DEPARTMENT OF FINANCE

Roxas Boulevard Corner Pablo Ocampo, Sr. Street Manila 1004

DEPARTMENT ORDER NO. 028-2015 06 March 2015 SUBJECT:

EXEMPTION OF AIRLINE COMPANIES GRANTED WITH CONGRESSIONAL FRANCHISE FROM DEPARTMENT ORDER NO. 12-2014, AS AMENDED

BY DO NO. 18¬2014, COVERING SPECIFIC IMPORTATIONS

Section 1. Airline companies granted Congressional franchises may be exempted from obtaining the Importers Clearance Certificate (ICC) from the Bureau of Internal Revenue prescribed under Department Order (DO) No. 12-2014, as amended by DO No. 18-2014, on specific importations of aircraft, equipment, machinery and spare parts, on the basis of overriding and paramount public policy, public safety and public necessity considerations.

Section 2. The entities identified above are still required to submit documentary requirements imposed by the Bureau of Customs for accreditation and must remain compliant with other existing regulations.

Section 3. Any availment of the exemption provided in this Order shall be accompanied by a certification from Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines on the necessity of the importation in view of public safety.

Section 4. The Commissioner of Customs shall only grant the exemption upon compliance with the rules above set forth. He shall thereafter cause the monthly submission to this Department of a report on every importation allowed.

Section 5. All orders, circulars, memoranda, issuances contrary to or inconsistent herewith are hereby revoked and/or modified, and all concerned shall be guided accordingly.

Section 6. This Department Order shall take effect immediately.

By authority of the Secretary:

(TNS-MAR. 12, 2015)

CARLO A. CARAG Undersecretary/Officer-in-Charge

Casimero needs TV support

By Ronnie Nathanielsz UNLESS a Philippine television network provides all-out support for the title bout of former International Boxing Federation light flyweight champion Johnreil Casimero in his mandatory shot against champion Amnat Ruenroeng of Thailand, the bout will almost certainly be held in Thailand with all the risks involved.

“I wish a TV network will support Casimero so the fight could he held in the Philippines,” Casimero’s co-promoter and international matchmaker Sampson Lewkowicz told the New Standard /Viva Sports. “We need the support of the right people (to make this happen).”

TV5 of businessmansportsman Manny Pangilinan supported Casimero’s light flyweight title fight when he defeated Luis Lazarte in a fight that was marred by a riot after it was stopped in the 10th round and Casimero was awarded a TKO victory.

Lewkowicz said he and his Filipino counterpart Sammy Gello-ani want to give Casimero a chance to fight for a second world title before his hometown fans.

He also commended Casimero for his positive influence over Marvin “Marvelous” Sonsona, who has learned from him and become a more dedicated and mature fighter.

CYAN MAGENTA YELLOW BLACK T H U R S D AY : M A R C H 1 2 , 2 0 1 5

A15

SPORTS sports@thestandard.com.ph

Monaco wins 2015 Slava Memorial Cup SYLVIA LOPEZ ALEJANDRO

MONACO (Pierre Zimmermann, Henri Fissore, Jean-Charles Allavena, Fulvio Fantoni, Franck Multon, Claudio Nunes) won the 2015 Slava Memorial Cup in Moscow (Russia).

In the final match Monaco defeated Vitas (Vytautas Vainikonis, Wojtek Olanski, Lotan Fisher, Ron Schwartz, Bohuslav Gerulsky, Jerzy Skyzypczak) by 69-53-5.

From the Neapolitan magazine an account of what the Slava Cup it is one the greatest European bridge tournaments.

This event is in memory of Slava Grinuk (1970-1999). Four years ago Vladimir Ivanov told Neapolitan Club the story: “He was an ordinary bridge player from Moscow. He died young of cancer, and his friends, who were not bridge players, decided that the best thing they could do to commemorate him was to establish an annual tournament bearing his name. They were rather wealthy to they sponsored the event. It started as a small Russian tournament, but in few years became an international event. Now it is the most prestigious tournament held in Russian. The touching part of the story that those guys are still sponsoring it despite the fact that they don’t know the first thing about bridge.”

DOUBLE WIN The last week of February became an auspicious week for me bridgewise.

Two a row first place win. Special thanks to my partners who together we won: To my partner, Ms. Margaret Kwok, who has been on a winning streak, we won at the Alejandro Duplicate Game on February 24, 2015 To my partner, Ms. Ayesha Fuchs at the Cambridge Club game on February 26, 2015.

Results of the winners of the Alejandro Duplicate game, February 24, 2015 Sylvia Alejandro-Margaret Kwok Hiranthi Samarasingha-Nalin Samarasingha Harumi Ieda-Ching Holley At the Cambridge Club on February 26, 2015 Sylvia Alejandro-Ayesha Fuchs John McPhedren-Nena Ramirez Hiranthi Samarasingha-Nalin Samarasingha SALUTE TO MRS. SALUD S. TESORO My special thanks extended to Forbes Park Governor Ms. Isabel S. Tesoro for gifting me the Philippine issue of the stamp honoring her mother.

“Dear Beng, Hail and I wholeheartedly join the salute to your mother, Mrs. Salud S. Tesoro whose 1915 Birth centenary is this year.

The Philippine issue of the stamp honoring your mom as the Mother of Philippine Handicraft is without doubt underscores her achievement. Her success far from being just any old store, Tesoro’s essential part of the Philippine cultural terrain.

When I worked for Philippine Airlines and traveled extensively for PAL as a representative with the Philippine delegation to negotiate the bilateral air agreements with other countries, I unfailingly brought as gifts from Tesoro’s to showcase our pride in the Philippine products—by Tesoro.

More power to your family for sustaining for 70 years and going forward, TESORO’s Mission to showcase the best of the Philippines.

I share our love for our country.

Mabuhay Philippines!”

Comments to: sylvia.alejandro@ yahoo.com

CYAN MAGENTA YELLOW BLACK

Piccio ties Hwang for lead; JRo fumbles SYMETRA Tour campaigner Mia Piccio birdied two of the last five holes to fire a four-under 68 and catch Korean Hwang Ye-nah at the helm as fancied Jennifer Rosales wavered and Dottie Ardina floundered at the start of the $75,000 ICTSI Ladies Open at Southlinks Golf Club in Las Pinas yesterday.

Hwang, 21, actually sizzled at the back and early at the front in one of the early flights but blew a six-under card with a double-bogey mishap on the par-4 ninth, settling for two 34s, later matched by Piccio, who took the cudgels for the hosts after two of the local aces struggled

on the par-72 layout which still proved daunting in a wind-less but rain-hit day.

Amateur Princess Superal also showed the kind of stuff she’s made of, rebounding from a two-over card after four holes with four birdies in an eight-hole stretch from No. 6, her backside 33 netting her a twounder 70 for joint third with American Tiffany Tavee, a playoff loser to Thai Nontaya Srisawang in Taiwan LPGA’s third leg last month, who snapped a run of pars with birdies on No. 4 and on the difficult No. 9 for a bogey-free 34-36.

Yuka Saso, the 13-year-old gem

of a find and member of the ICTSIThe Country Club amateur squad, hit four birdies to buck a doublebogey and bogey mishaps for a 71 for joint fifth with Taiwanese pro Yeh Hsin-ning, who gunned down five birdies but stumbled with two bogeys and a double-bogey.

Rosales actually stayed within striking distance at 72 but not after dropping two strokes on the last four holes, hampering the two-time LPGA Tour winner’s charge that took off with birdies on Nos. 2 and 4.

“I was a bit unlucky in the closing holes. I’ll just try to bounce back tomorrow (today) and hope-

fully I will play better,” said Rosales, who also bogeyed No. 9 but birdied the par-3 12 before salvaging a bogey on No. 15 off the hazard and muffing a five-footer on the 18th.

Like Rosales, reigning back-toback LPGA Order of Merit champion Cyna Rodriguez blew a threeunder card with a double-bogey on No. 13 and a last-hole bogey, falling to joint seventh with Korean Kang Ji-won, Thai Muangkhumsakul Kanphanitnan, Malaysian Aretha Pan and the former five-time Philippine Ladies Open champion in the event presented by Champion Infinity and sponsored by ICTSI.

Ateneo closes in on title Game Today (MOA Arena) 3:30 p.m. Ateneo vs La Salle (Game 2)

By Peter Atencio

ALYSSA Valdez and Julia Morado led defending champion Ateneo to several key plays in the final set as the Green Spikers pulled off a 25-18, 25-19, 25-19 stopping of La Salle yesterday at the Araneta Coliseum.

Symetra Tour campaigner Mia Piccio joined Korean Hwang Ye-nah at the top as fancied Jennifer Rosales (inset) wavered at the start of the $75,000 ICTSI Ladies Open.

Sonsona ready to slug it out in Vegas

By Robbie Pangilinan MARVELOUS Marvin Sonsona is ready to slug it out in Las Vegas on May 2 to defending his NABF featherweight belt against Puerto Rican Jayson Velez.

Two-time Manager of the Year awardee Al Haymon, Sonsona’s new manager, is yet to announce if the former World Boxing Organization super flyweight champion will fight in the undercard of the much-awaited megafight between Manny Pacquiao and

Floyd Mayweather Jr. Sonsona (19-1-1, 15 KOs), is the first Filipino to sign a contract with Haymon, who is regarded as one of the most powerful and influential figures in boxing.

The more than 170 boxers under Haymon include Floyd Mayweather, Amir Khan, Danny Garcia, and Adonis Stevenson.

“We’re all excited and nervous for the fight, I am confident that Sonsona is in good shape,” said Haymon.

The 24-year-old Filipino boxer is indeed in good hands, training with

Sugar Shane Mosley and Roy Jones Jr. at the latter’s gym in Las Vegas.

He also continues to work with trainer Jun Agrabio, Sampson Boxing stablemate and fellow former world champion John Riel Casimero, and strength and conditioning coach Angel Heredia.

Sonsona was ranked second by the WBC, fifth by the WBA, fourth by the IBF and 12th by the WBO. The match against Velez (ranked third by the WBC) is the final elimination where the winner will face champion Jhonny Gonzalez.

Their efforts pushed the thrice-tobeat Lady Eagles a win closer to the crown in the 77th University Athletic Association of the Philippines women’s volleyball tournament.

Valdez, who led with 25 points, including 22 on spikes, struck with a running spike, while Morado came through with a drop shot handing Ateneo a decisive 22-18 lead.

Injury once again struck for the Lady Green Spikers’ ranks as they tried to stay in the thick of the fight when Camille Cruz hurt her left knee while going for an attack at the net after landing badly on the floor.

Ateneo took this as a cue and got the next point off Jorella de Jesus’s service ace, 24-19.

The Lady Eagles now own the distinction of having the longest winning streak in a season after notching their 15th straight win. They can claim their second straight crown if they score another win on Saturday.

The last time a championship sweep happened was in Season 74 when La Salle came up with a 14-0 record in the eliminations.

La Salle, with injured ace spiker Ara Galang watching from the bench in crutches, drew 10 points from Cyd Demecillo, while Galang’s substitute Christine Soyud had 8.

The 21-year-old Valdez struck with nine points right in the first set as Ateneo came away with a 25-19 lead.

“Coach Tai (Bundit) emphasized teamwork. Maganda rin and distribution ng bola ni Jia (Morado) at ako naman ay hindi rin masyadong naka-score dahil nabantayan ang gitna namin,” said Valdez.

In the second set, Valdez scored four big points on a placement shot to the left side, a block, a drop shot and a backline spike which gave Ateneo an 8-14 advantage.

Morente’s ace then handed Ateneo a 20-15 advantage.

“I told them to play happy, and if they play happy, they will win,” said Ateneo coach Anusorn Bundit.

CYAN MAGENTA YELLOW BLACK T H U R S D AY : M A R C H 1 2 , 2 0 1 5

A16

RIERA U. MALL ARI EDITOR

REUEL VIDAL A S S I S TA N T E D I T O R

sports@thestandard.com.ph

SPORTS

Filipino ring icon Manny Pacquiao chats with his promoter Bob Arum during a break in his training session with Freddie Roach.

Pacman brushes pain aside

By Ronnie Nathanielsz

ON the eve of the lone press conference promoting his mega-fight with Floyd Mayweather Jr., Manny Pacquiao looked great and far from someone allegedly suffering from cramps in his workout with Freddie Roach at the Wild Card Gym.

Pacquiao himself admitted there was some pain, but brushed it aside, saying there was nothing to worry about.

The eight-division world champion joins the undefeated, pound-for- pound No. 1 at the Nokia Theater in Los Angeles in a lone press conference to be telecast live by ABS-CBN and ANC beginning at 4 a.m. on Thursday.

Longtime adviser Michael Konz denied a report that Pacquiao suffered cramps, while jogging at Griffith Park on Tuesday (Manila time), while

Pacquiao is expected to begin sparring sometime next week as two of his sparring partners will arrive in Los Angeles on Sunday.

In the past, both Pacquiao and Mayweather have conducted worldwide press tours to promote their fights, but this time, the LA

ABCS-CBN reporter Dyan Castillejo, who spoke to the Filipino ring icon, said it was only some pain he suffered when suddenly running uphill.

“Manny didn’t suffer from cramps and he’s fine. Training was great,” Koncz told the New Standard/Viva Sports.

But Pacquiao himself admitted there was some pain, but brushed it aside, saying there was nothing to worry about.

Cavs give Mavs a terrible beating TURN TO A12

CYAN MAGENTA YELLOW BLACK

Press Conference will be the only one before the week of the fight and is not open to the public, but only to accredited media.

Dyan Castillejo will be on site for ABS-CBN, while TJ Manotoc will host the show in Manila with this reporter joining him.

Josh Slagter of mlive.com, who helps cover Mayweather, reported that ESPN SportsCenter’s Lidsay Czarniak will anchor the coverage from the network’s studio in LA, and boxing analyst Teddy Atlas will join her in studio.

Meantime, Pacquiao’s aggressive style, speed and power are expected to prevail in the multi-million dollar fight, according to Miguel Cotto, who has fought both men, losing by a 12th-round TKO to the Filipino in 2009 before giving

Piccio, Hwang tied for golf lead TURN TO A15

Mayweather a hard time when he battled him to a 12-round unanimous decision loss in 2012.

Cotto, in a story by boxingscene.com, based on ESPN’s First Take via GMA News said: “I’ve been working with Freddie Roach for my last two fights and I know what he’s capable of doing with Manny.

I think he’s going to get Manny through Floyd Mayweather’s mistakes. Manny is going to take advantage of Floyd’s mistakes.

I’m rooting for Manny.”

Cotto added: “The explosiveness and quickness of Manny is going to have a big impact on Floyd’s performance.

The explosiveness will be a big advantage. Pacquiao can move from point to point in less than a second.”

LOTTO RESULTS

6/55 00-00-00-00-00-00 P0 M+ 6/45 00-00-00-00-00-00 P0 M 4 DIGITS 0-0-0-0 3 DIGITS 0-0-0 2 EZ2 0-0

CYAN MAGENTA YELLOW BLACK THURSDAY: MARCH 12, 2015

RAY S. EÑANO EDITOR

RODERICK T. DELA CRUZ ASSISTANT EDITOR

business@manilastandardtoday.com extrastory2000@gmail.com

BUSINESS

B1

Remittance tieup.

Bank of Commerce signed a partnership with Land Bank of the Philippines to allow migrant Filipino workers to send money to their families through the partners and correspondents of both banks. Shown signing the agreement are (from left) Bank of Commerce operations group head and executive vice president Carmelita Araneta, Landbank branch banking sector head and executive vice president Jocelyn Cabreza and Bank of Commerce international operations division head and first vice president Alfredo Ayson.

PSe comPoSite index Closing March11, 2015

8000 7500 6840 7500 6180

7000

5520

6500

4860

6000 4200 3860 5500

7,790.7 37.78

PeSo-dollar rate

Closing MARCH 11, 2015 45

P44.340

44

CLOSE

NEW METROPOLIS IN PAMPANGA

IFC backs Clark City

By Othel V. Campos

STATE-OWNED Bases Conversion and

43 42 41

HIGH P44.295 LOW P44.375 AVERAGE P44.343 VOLUME775.400M

P508.00-P728.00 LPG/11-kg tank P37.80-P43.35 Unleaded Gasoline P27.90-P31.20 Diesel

oPriceS il P today

P35.40-P39.15 Kerosene

Development Authority said it is in talks with International Finance Corp., the private sector investment arm of the World Bank, to assist in developing the plans for the Clark Green City project.

The Clark Green City project, which covers some 9,450 hectares in Tarlac and Pampanga, is envisioned to be the country’s largest property development.

Clark Green City aims to be

a modern metropolis with a mix of residential, commercial, agro-industrial, institutional and information technology developments that will follow green standards, such as green

building codes, low-carbon footprint and respect for the ecosystem.

IFC will work with the BCDA in determining the business case for key utility services, such as power generation, power distribution, water supply distribution and sewerage services and solid waste management.

The need for a new metropolis is driven by a growing population and the rapid urbanization of Metro Manila, BCDA, the developer of the project, said.

IFC recently worked on the Clark Water project with Clark Development Corp., the Agriculture Department and

Smart top taxpayer in 2013—BIR

P23.70-P24.40 Auto LPG

By Jennifer Ambanta

Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas Wednesday, March 11, 2015

F oreign e xchange r ate Currency

Unit

US Dollar

Peso

United States

Dollar

1.000000

44.2630

Japan

Yen

0.008259

0.3656

UK

Pound

1.506800

66.6955

Hong Kong

Dollar

0.128878

5.7045

Switzerland

Franc

1.001001

44.3073

Canada

Dollar

0.788519

34.9022

Singapore

Dollar

0.719942

31.8668

Australia

Dollar

0.772320

34.1852

Bahrain

Dinar

2.652450

117.4054

Saudi Arabia

Rial

0.266660

11.8032

Brunei

Dollar

0.717360

31.7525

Indonesia

Rupiah

0.000077

0.0034

Thailand

Baht

0.030590

1.3540

UAE

Dirham

0.272257

12.0509

Euro

Euro

1.070000

47.3614

Korea

Won

0.000897

0.0397

China

Yuan

0.159693

7.0685

India

Rupee

0.015958

0.7063

Malaysia

Ringgit

0.271961

12.0378

New Zealand

Dollar

0.736594

32.6039

Taiwan

Dollar

0.031729

1.4044 Source: PDS Bridge

CYAN MAGENTA YELLOW BLACK

SMART Communications Inc. emerged as the biggest corporate taxpayer in 2013, the Bureau of Internal Revenue said Wednesday The BIR said Smart paid P10.891 billion in taxes in 2013, up 37 percent from P7.937 billion in 2012.

Retailer Manila Electric Company, the top tax payer in 2012, was relegated to the second

B3

spot, paying P9.69 billion in 2013, or 3.7 percent higher than P9.345 billion in 2012.

San Miguel Brewery was the third biggest taxpayer with P4.879 billion, while Nestle Philippines Inc. ranked fourth with P4.810 billion.

Both companies paid higher taxes in 2013 compared with their 2012 obligations, which amounted to P5.083 billion and P5.311 billion, respectively.

The fifth and sixth spots

URC merges with plastic unit

were occupied by Malampaya natural gas partners Chevron Malampaya LLC and Shell Philippines Exploration B.V. The two companies paid lower taxes of P4.516 billion and P4.483 billion in 2013, respectively.

Chevron Malampaya paid 26.70 percent less than P6.161 billion it paid in 2012, while Shell Philippines remitted P24.61 percent lower than P5.947 billion the year before.

B6

Land Bank of the Philippines for the grains central project.

It has been providing advisory services on public-private partnership in the Philippines since 1996, including the privatization of the Metropolitan Water and Sewerage System concessions, and has been active in facilitating private investments in off-grid generation in Marinduque, Romblon, Tablas, Masbate and Basilan.

BCDA earlier said Aecom, an American engineering and architectural design company, won the open competition for the best optimized design for Clark Green City’s conceptual master development plan.

Aecom’s design bested four other designs submitted by top international and Filipino architectural companies for the Clark Green City project.

Aecom’s optimized design for Clark Green City projected some 1.12 million residents and 800,000 workers.

“The design provides a complete mix of uses. It creates economic vibrancy and at the same time balances it with natural sustainability,” said BCDA president and chief executive Arnel Casanova, who headed the panel of judges for the competition.

PH car hub to spur production

THURSDAY: MARCH 12, 2015

B2

BUSINESS business@manilastandardtoday.com extrastory2000@gmail.com

MST BuSineSS Daily STockS Review Wednesday, March 11, 2015

52 Weeks

Previous

High Low

STOCKS

2.7 75.3 99.4 105.2 63 2.3 4.2 19.6 31.6 22.5 2.95 1.01 92.9 30.5 75 99 140 392 59 146.8 1700 130 2.8

AG Finance Asia United Bank

42.6 6.1 1.66 2.3 17.98 17.2 15.8 56.8 4.57 39.5 14 12.98 8.15 12.34 17 27.1 90.5 27 0.014 15.74 9.4 199.8 10.98 79 5.2 30 90 14.7 317 5.37 14.48 7.5 14.5 7.03

Close

High

1.55 63.5 67.5 82.5 50 1.9 1.1 14.5 23.2 6.84 1.75 0.175 69.35 20.45 58 76 119 276 41.5 105.1 1281 116 2.25

6.09 70.1 Banco de Oro Unibank Inc. 114.20 Bank of PI 100.90 China Bank 47 BDO Leasing & Fin. INc. 2.28 Bright Kindle Resources 2.50 COL Financial 16.7 Eastwest Bank 25.5 Filipino Fund Inc. 8.09 I-Remit Inc. 1.79 MEDCO Holdings 0.520 Metrobank 94.1 PB Bank 18.50 Phil Bank of Comm 31.70 Phil. National Bank 83.50 Phil. Savings Bank 95.30 PSE Inc. 358 RCBC `A’ 46.25 Security Bank 170.8 Sun Life Financial 1355.00 Union Bank 70.00 Vantage Equities 3.1

31.75 2.51 0.88 1.25 9.58 14.6 9.82 21.5 0.82 17.3 5.98 9.05 4.25 8.68 8.61 12.2 48.9 16 0.0097 12.8 2.05 150.8 8.55 48.5 2.8 20.35 12 10.1 246 4 11.56 5 9.94 4.33

Aboitiz Power Corp.

Agrinurture Inc. Alliance Tuna Intl Inc. Alsons Cons.

Asiabest Group Century Food Cirtek Holdings (Chips) Concepcion Da Vinci Capital Del Monte DNL Industries Inc. Emperador Energy Devt. Corp. (EDC) EEI Federal Res. Inv. Group First Gen Corp.

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

Lafarge Rep Liberty Flour LMG Chemicals Manila Water Co. Inc. Maxs Group Megawide Mla. Elect. Co `A’ Pepsi-Cola Products Phil.

Petron Corporation Phil H2O Phinma Corporation Phoenix Petroleum Phils.

Phoenix Semiconductor RFM Corporation Roxas Holdings

FINANCIAL 6.2 5.5 70.3 68.1 113.90 113.30 99.50 97.90 47.2 47 2.27 2.25 2.49 2.46 16.7 16.5 25.4 25 8.40 8.00 1.79 1.79 0.530 0.510 94.15 93.75 18.50 18.32 31.85 31.00 83.50 82.00 95.45 95.20 358 352.8 46.3 46.1 170.8 165.8 1350.00 1350.00 70.00 69.50 3.08 3.06 INDUSTRIAL 45.65 45.25 1.7 1.66 1.12 1.1 2.07 2.05 8.34 8.15 18.9 18.76 22.05 21.65 60.5 57.5 1.81 1.78 12.38 11.24 20.800 20 11.18 11.06 8.60 8.32 10.34 9.84 18.1 17.82 30.3 29.35 106 101.1 14.78 14.08 0.5000 0.4800 15.00 14.76 6.71 6.6 216.80 214.00 10.22 10.02 38.10 38.05 2.65 2.65 26.9 25.75 28.5 27.65 8.090 8.030 275.80 274.20 4.57 4.49 10.50 10.38 5.9 5.4 11.98 11.40 4.00 3.93 2.92 2.87 6.08 5.88 6.6 6.49 207 205.8 1.76 1.7 0.194 0.185 1.53 1.53 2.29 2.25 216 213.8 4.68 4.5 0.73 0.72 21.30 21.30 7.00 1.53 HOLDING FIRMS 0.470 0.465 58.60 57.50 25.20 24.40 7.15 7.05 1.59 1.55 2.73 2.58 747 733 9.38 9.14 15.50 15.22 4.75 4.60 0.480 0.405 1263 1248 6.43 6.40 65.60 64.75 9.2 8.87 0.7 0.69 16.2 16 0.6 0.58 4.93 4.86 5.27 5.23 0.0410 0.0400 0.720 0.710 2.55 2.4 75.75 74.05 911.00 900.50 1.24 1.20 105.20 105.00 0.6300 0.5800 0.2750 0.2600 0.325 0.320 PROPERTY 10.400 10.260 10.00 10.00 1.05 1.03 1.300 1.300 0.285 0.265 37.75 37.20 4.42 4.3 5.07 5.02 0.94 0.93 1.01 1.00 0.162 0.155 0.470 0.470

Close

%

Net Foreign

Change Volume

Trade/Buying

6 69.5 113.90 99.30 47.05 2.25 2.47 16.6 25.05 8.20 1.79 0.520 93.85 18.46 31.00 82.00 95.20 354.8 46.15 165.8 1350.00 69.50 3.08

-1.48 -0.86 -0.26 -1.59 0.11 -1.32 -1.20 -0.60 -1.76 1.36 0.00 0.00 -0.27 -0.22 -2.21 -1.80 -0.10 -0.89 -0.22 -2.93 -0.37 -0.71 -0.65

392,300 84,990 2,618,600 665,250 45,100 34,000 80,000 1,540,500 1,139,200 80,000 1,000 869,000 4,669,390 67,100 41,300 24,190 1,050 26,130 231,600 277,490 20 16,100 67,000

45.4 1.67 1.1 2.07 8.3 18.8 22.05 59.95 1.8 11.34 20.000 11.12 8.32 9.88 18 29.85 101.1 14.08 0.4800 14.76 6.67 214.00 10.04 38.05 2.65 26.7 27.65 8.030 275.00 4.57 10.42 5.75 11.90 3.95 2.90 5.92 6.5 205.8 1.7 0.185 1.53 2.27 215 4.5 0.73 21.30 1.53

0.00 -4.57 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.23 4.26 1.69 -10.71 -3.61 -0.36 -4.37 -4.45 0.00 -2.29 -4.62 -0.28 -4.00 -1.60 -0.60 -1.38 -1.18 -0.13 1.92 4.50 -4.16 -0.74 0.00 0.00 -0.76 4.55 2.59 -1.25 0.35 0.17 0.46 -0.58 -3.41 -3.14 -1.92 -0.87 0.00 0.00 0.00 1.43 -1.29

2,379,100 73,000 262,000 566,000 300 105,300 698,000 27,860 113,000 1,355,000 6,610,400 4,558,300 66,129,100 2,696,700 131,000 11,881,700 983,250 15,600 58,000 4,500 685,400 333,100 1,239,100 1,200 49,000 3,178,500 1,660,500 51,200 111,450 122,000 1,850,000 149,300 452,500 197,000 953,000 1,132,100 611,200 7,660 1,738,000 14,070,000 53,000 1,493,000 1,543,130 113,000 379,000 100 369,000

0.470 58.60 25.20 7.05 1.55 2.73 745 9.14 15.40 4.72 0.420 1260 6.40 65.00 8.88 0.69 16.02 0.6 4.88 5.27 0.0400 0.710 2.55 74.05 908.50 1.20 105.10 0.5900 0.2650 0.325

0.00 0.00 2.02 -1.26 -3.13 -0.36 0.54 -2.04 0.13 1.51 2.44 -0.87 -0.31 -1.44 -2.95 0.00 0.12 -1.64 -1.01 0.38 -4.76 -1.39 6.25 -0.54 -0.60 -3.23 -0.38 -1.67 3.92 1.56

60,000 1,676,940 13,901,500 1,400 143,000 1,174,000 389,140 2,990,900 9,913,100 330,000 63,060,000 267,970 31,000 2,169,220 6,203,200 123,000 1,639,400 2,393,000 27,865,000 119,000 10,000,000 562,000 47,000 41,750 375,040 136,000 10,440 15,252,000 13,690,000 1,420,000

10.300 10.00 1.04 1.300 0.265 37.75 4.4 5.02 0.94 1.00 0.157 0.470

-0.96 -2.72 -0.95 0.78 -3.64 0.53 -0.45 -0.99 2.17 0.00 -2.48 -1.05

373,600 2,000 217,000 350,000 310,000 11,479,300 4,650,000 59,400 3,802,000 11,000 7,460,000 1,310,000

-33,000.00 717,387.00 116,794,912.00 -12,586,620.50 24,900.00 24,814,350.00 -2,951,795.00 -52,179 5,680,001.50 333,364.00

52 Weeks

Previous

High Low

STOCKS

1.09 0.370 2.25 1.77 1.6 5.3 0.180 0.470 4.45 24.8 2.06 3.6 19.62 1.02 6.66 1.96 6.5

0.87 0.175 1.22 1.18 1.19 3.12 0.070 0.325 2.5 18.72 1.45 2.9 14.1 0.58 3.05 0.87 4.37

3.25 43.7 1.09 12.46 14 0.1640 4.05 71 12.3 3.28 9 1700 2008 9.04 2.02 118.9 18.4 12.5 0.017 0.0653 2.2800 6.99 9.67 2.2 4.32 1.97 2.45 14.46 0.62 1.040 22.8 6.6 2.85 11.3 3486 0.710 2.01 48.5 74

1.55 27 0.59 10 8.28 0.0960 2.97 44.8 10.14 1.99 4 1080 1580 7.12 1.2 94.4 5 8.72 0.012 0.026 1.560 1.95 5.82 1.1 1.9 0.485 1.42 10.14 0.35 0.36 14.54 5.2 1.85 4.39 2572 0.250 0.26 32.2 48

Close

Empire East Land Ever Gotesco Global-Estate Filinvest Land,Inc. Interport `A’ Megaworld MRC Allied Ind. Phil. Estates Corp.

Primex Corp.

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

High

Low

Close

0.900 0.215 1.63 1.79 1.50 5.52 0.125 0.3600 7.25 27.95 1.78 3.21 19.70 0.98 7.28 1.060 7.500

%

Net Foreign

Change Volume

Trade/Buying

0.900 0.900 0.900 0.234 0.224 0.234 1.63 1.60 1.61 1.79 1.74 1.76 1.48 1.46 1.46 5.54 5.44 5.5 0.131 0.125 0.129 0.3750 0.3600 0.3700 7.31 7.2 7.21 28.75 27.40 27.45 1.78 1.75 1.75 3.20 3.17 3.20 19.58 19.20 19.30 0.98 0.96 0.97 7.29 7.29 7.29 1.050 1.030 1.030 7.590 7.480 7.500 SERVICES 10.32 10.36 8.41 8.43 64.5 64.5 63.9 64.4 0.690 0.690 0.680 0.690 12.8 12.88 12.6 12.88 10.70 10.62 10.40 10.44 0.1110 0.1120 0.1100 0.1100 4.09 4.3 4.09 4.14 88.7 90.2 86 86 10.88 10.94 10.94 10.94 1.67 1.8 1.8 1.8 6.50 6.48 6.39 6.39 1010 1020 1020 1020 1939 1955 1910 1939 6.85 6.87 6.55 6.85 1.62 1.63 1.58 1.58 113 113.4 112.5 113.2 4.01 4.21 4.21 4.21 11.86 11.14 11.14 11.14 0.015 0.014 0.014 0.014 0.310 0.325 0.305 0.305 1.3500 1.3600 1.3200 1.3500 2.76 2.77 2.73 2.73 9.19 9.22 9.13 9.15 1.68 1.7 1.62 1.69 2.26 2.25 2.20 2.20 0.700 0.700 0.700 0.700 2 2 1.95 1.95 10.7 10.78 10.6 10.64 0.375 0.365 0.360 0.365 0.510 0.510 0.510 0.510 18 18 17.98 18 4.45 4.60 4.45 4.45 3.45 3.76 3.3 3.5 13.84 13.85 13.70 13.80 3092.00 3100.00 3088.00 3092.00 0.590 0.600 0.590 0.590 1.640 1.660 1.580 1.580 42.00 42.00 41.10 41.20 86.15 87.25 86.00 86.70 10.84 10.80 10.60 10.62 0.73 0.73 0.71 0.73 1.94 1.95 1.9 1.9 7.57 7.5 7.35 7.4 0.380 0.390 0.365 0.380 1.400 1.400 1.400 1.400 MINING & OIL 0.0061 0.0062 0.0060 0.0062 2.89 2.90 2.89 2.90 9.73 9.78 9.69 9.70 0.265 0.275 0.270 0.275 7.1400 7.1400 7.02 7.0200 1.1 1.11 1.07 1.09 0.94 0.95 0.93 0.94 7.65 7.72 7.51 7.68 2.69 2.69 2.6 2.62 0.350 0.350 0.340 0.350 0.250 0.250 0.248 0.249 0.250 0.250 0.250 0.250 0.0150 0.0150 0.0140 0.0150 0.0150 0.0150 0.0150 0.0150 5.71 5.73 5.68 5.68 28.3 28.2 27.55 27.9 3.35 3.37 3.3 3.35 0.7300 0.7300 0.7300 0.7300 2.310 2.350 2.300 2.300 0.0130 0.0140 0.0130 0.0130 0.0140 0.0140 0.0140 0.0140 5.85 5.84 5.84 5.84 8.05 8.05 7.93 7.93 3.3 3.44 3.1 3.12 0.015 0.016 0.015 0.016 161.70 161.30 158.40 159.80 4.29 4.44 4.2 4.25 0.0120 0.0120 0.0110 0.0110 PREFERRED 66 66.05 65 65 508.5 510 510 510 519.5 522 519.5 519.5 112 110 110 110 114 116 114 114.1 510 510 508 510 6.75 6.73 6.68 6.72 1.09 1.08 1.07 1.08 107.5 107.5 107.5 107.5 1035 1035 1031 1031 1065 1070 1065 1065 76.75 76.75 76.1 76.7 81 81 81 81 82.7 82.7 82.2 82.2 2 1.8 1.8 1.8 WARRANTS & BONDS 4.050 4.060 4.000 4.020 SME 7.85 7.85 7.75 7.8 71.7 71 69 69 11.3 11.2 11.08 11.12 EXCHANGE TRADED FUNDS 126.4 126.5 126.1 126.1

0.00 8.84 -1.23 -1.68 -2.67 -0.36 3.20 2.78 -0.55 -1.79 -1.69 -0.31 -2.03 -1.02 0.14 -2.83 0.00

394,000 240,000 2,162,000 27,079,000 41,000 35,979,900 2,540,000 1,010,000 453,400 1,847,300 432,000 11,000 9,431,800 2,187,000 12,000 16,000 3,808,100

-18.31 -0.16 0.00 0.63 -2.43 -0.90 1.22 -3.04 0.55 7.78 -1.69 0.99 0.00 0.00 -2.47 0.18 4.99 -6.07 -6.67 -1.61 0.00 -1.09 -0.44 0.60 -2.65 0.00 -2.50 -0.56 -2.67 0.00 0.00 0.00 1.45 -0.29 0.00 0.00 -3.66 -1.90 0.64 -2.03 0.00 -2.06 -2.25 0.00 0.00

1,719,400 19,700 727,000 3,200 18,571,100 10,820,000 334,000 1,440,650 700 11,000 9,000 50 62,765 1,239,600 295,000 470,870 2,000 4,300 16,700,000 87,640,000 432,000 66,000 622,300 117,000 62,000 117,000 98,000 9,479,200 220,000 202,000 30,500 17,000 224,000 43,400 157,675 1,611,000 9,823,000 3,916,500 623,660 5,868,200 3,471,000 41,000 1,321,900 2,400,000 1,000

1.64 0.35 -0.31 3.77 -1.68 -0.91 0.00 0.39 -2.60 0.00 -0.40 0.00 0.00 0.00 -0.53 -1.41 0.00 0.00 -0.43 0.00 0.00 -0.17 -1.49 -5.45 6.67 -1.18 -0.93 -8.33

997,000,000 13,000 142,100 5,824.00 450,000 16,500 755,000 398,650.00 1,502,000 21,400 261,061,000 131,888,530.00 710,000 11,210,000 800,000 400,000 1,000,000 172,400 -51,120.00 3,966,200 -28,885,990.00 1,644,000 231,600.00 541,000 158,000 24,500,000 13,100,000 2,000 2,652,200 67,203.00 1,173,000 1,594,600.00 49,600,000 52,100.00 613,810 -26,003,852.00 26,000 5,800,000

-1.52 0.29 0.00 -1.79 0.09 0.00 -0.44 -0.92 0.00 -0.39 0.00 -0.07 0.00 -0.60 -10.00

274,060 1,090 8,710 100 30,350 700 116,200 350,000 1,000 1,050 580 116,400 38,000 152,870 2,000

-0.74

411,000

-0.64 -3.77 -1.59

246,800 850 603,800

-0.24

12,510

320,000.00 -1,237,200.00 -32,842,080.00 3,920.00 1,015,920.00 2,920,770.00 70,790.00 -83,160,670.00

MST 4.88 2.28 210 1.7 0.102 1.6 1.37 111.3 1.58 0.550 9.01 1.33

Splash Corporation Swift Foods, Inc. TKC Steel Corp.

Trans-Asia Oil Universal Robina Victorias Milling Vitarich Corp.

Vivant Corp.

Vulcan Ind’l.

45.4 1.75 1.1 2.07 8.3 18.8 22 57.5 1.77 12.7 20.750 11.16 8.70 10.34 18 30.55 106 14.12 0.5000 15.00 6.71 217.00 10.16 38.10 2.6 25.55 28.85 8.090 275.00 4.57 10.50 5.5 11.60 4.00 2.89 5.91 6.47 207 1.76 0.191 1.56 2.29 215 4.5 0.73 21.00 1.55

0.7 61.6 31.85 7.39 2.7 3.29 747 11.34 84 5.34 0.23 1060 7.1 59.8 6.55 0.9 19.9 0.75 5.4 5.35 0.0550 0.84 2.9 88 866 2.2 156 0.285 0.245 0.510

0.46 45.75 21.95 6.3 1.550 1.8 508 7.470 47.25 4 0.144 706 5.3 36.7 3.95 0.58 12.96 0.580 4.06 4.5 0.027 0.355 2.36 54.5 680 1.04 58.05 0.158 0.150 0.295

Abacus Cons. `A’ Aboitiz Equity Alliance Global Inc. Anscor `A’ Asia Amalgamated A ATN Holdings A Ayala Corp `A’ Cosco Capital DMCI Holdings Filinvest Dev. Corp.

Forum Pacific GT Capital House of Inv. JG Summit Holdings Lopez Holdings Corp.

Lodestar Invt. Holdg.Corp.

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

Minerales Industrias Corp.

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

0.470 58.60 24.70 7.14 1.60 2.74 741 9.33 15.38 4.65 0.410 1271 6.42 65.95 9.15 0.69 16 0.61 4.93 5.25 0.0420 0.720 2.4 74.45 914.00 1.24 105.50 0.6000 0.2550 0.320

9.03 26.95 1.99 2.07 0.375 35.3 6.15 6.1 2 1.5 0.201 0.98

5.51 12 0.99 1 0.185 23.7 4.41 5 1.22 0.97 0.068 0.47

8990 HLDG 10.400 Anchor Land Holdings Inc. 10.28 A. Brown Co., Inc. 1.05 Araneta Prop `A’ 1.290 Arthaland Corp.

0.275 Ayala Land `B’ 37.55 Belle Corp. `A’ 4.42 Cebu Holdings 5.07 Century Property 0.92 Cityland Dev. `A’ 1.00 Crown Equities Inc. 0.161 Cyber Bay Corp.

0.475

6.68 8.1 275 2.25 0.191 2.5 2.68 188.6 5.5 1.3 26 2.17

Low

San Miguel’Pure Foods `B’

Trading Summary FINANCIAL INDUSTRIAL HOLDING FIRMS PROPERTY SERVICES MINING & OIL GRAND TOTAL

SHARES 12,972,501 131,229,192 176,376,356 118,727,059 182,219,051 1,379,762,944 2,002,151,063

-565,564.50

-7,344,132.00 -4,315,040.00 -3,594,728.00

30,663,735.00 -86,840.00

1,516,964.00

518,403.50

-2,921,308.00 -18,975,265.00 27,690,628.00 -216,897,976.00 -10,834,872.00

-90,784,580.00 -18,569,909.00 -215,704.00 23,240.00 -38,072,676.00 -357,244.00

50,659,975.00 -1,560,550.00 -147,930.00 3,461,970.00 -31,550.00 -3,792.00 -1,032,484.00 23,700.00 -115,200.00 -144,311.00

-305,122.00 31,100.00

-83,204,324.00 184,500.00

-12,893,374.00 102,977,975.00

129,347,860.00 -6,291,036.00 1,160,198.00 52,250.00 543,950.00 -63,115,165.00

-56,655,407.50 11,747,705.00 -15,400.00 4,180,356.00

42,310,490.00

-213,000.00

-2,108,681.00 49,680,205.00

-651,624.00 -61,000.00

-251,692.00

0.87 2.95 11.46 0.435 1.6

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

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

Discovery World DFNN Inc. FEUI Globe Telecom GMA Network Inc. Harbor Star I.C.T.S.I. Imperial Res. `A’ IPeople Inc. `A’ IP E-Game Ventures Inc. Island Info ISM Communications Jackstones Leisure & Resorts Lorenzo Shipping Macroasia Corp.

Manila Bulletin Manila Jockey Melco Crown MG Holdings NOW Corp.

Pacific Online Sys. Corp.

PAL Holdings Inc. Paxys Inc. Philweb.Com Inc. PLDT Common PremiereHorizon Premium Leisure Puregold Robinsons RTL SSI Group 0.59 STI Holdings 1.68 Transpacific Broadcast 7.78 Travellers 0.305 Waterfront Phils.

1.04 Yehey

0.0086 5.45 17.24 0.325 12.8 1.2 1.73 10.98

0.0028 1.72 11.48 0.225 6.2 0.5 0.76 4.93

0.46 0.455 0.730 0.024 0.026 8.2 48.85 3.35 1.030 3.06 0.021 0.023 7.67 12.88 10.42 0.042 420 9 0.016

0.385 0.3000 0.2950 0.012 0.014 1.960 14.22 1.47 0.220 1.24 0.016 0.017 4.02 7.8 6.5 0.031 123 4.3 0.0087

44.1

26.3

60 118 116 511 9.04 9.67

30 101 102 480 6.76 5.82

77.3 78.95 81.85 1.34

74.2 74.5 75 1

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

Benguet Corp `A’

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

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

TA Petroleum United Paragon

ABS-CBN Holdings Corp.

Ayala Corp. Pref `B1’ Ayala Corp. Pref ‘B2’ First Gen F First Gen G GLOBE PREF P GMA Holdings Inc. Leisure and Resort MWIDE PREF PCOR-Preferred A PCOR-Preferred B SMC Preferred A SMC Preferred B SMC Preferred C Swift Pref

130,000.00 -8,400.00 79,810,710.00 10,583,770.00 -147,204.00 2,790,300.00

2.42

0.0010 LR Warrant

10.96 35

2.4 7.74

-32,200.00 -352,500.00

Double Dragon IRipple E-Business Intl Xurpas

119.6

94

First Metro ETF

T op g ainerS VALUE 940,854,378.74 2,011,059,770.8 2,034,210,360.81 1,019,910,125.53 1,551,651,032.753 1,037,969,250.877 8,605,666,707.507

STOCKS

FINANCIAL 1,793.96 (DOWN) 17.54 INDUSTRIAL 12,641.79 (DOWN) 135.13 HOLDING FIRMS 6,880.93 (DOWN) 20.08 PROPERTY 3,105.12 (DOWN) 15.41 SERVICES 2,210.59 (DOWN) 6.73 MINING & OIL 16,126.3 (DOWN) 153.6 PSEI 7,790.7 (DOWN) 37.78 All Shares Index 4,523.62 (D0WN) 30.15 Gainers: 45; Losers: 130; Unchanged: 47; Total: 222

-11,793,237.00 170,075.00

-3,450.00 11,340.00 -32,044,270.00 -775,000.00 12,420.00 -39,089,015.50 -3,600.00 63,479,255.00 49,280.00 4,912,778.00

-216,800.00 -9,380.00 530,946.00

-192,730.00 -2,914,008.00

7,360.00

-55,794,970.00 -42,000.00 524,610.00 -140,469,955.00 -10,152,961.50 -15,385,758.00 -1,956,400.00 -4,992,926.00

-552,032.00

-95,128.00 107,000.00

-3,397,540.00

244,604.00

T op L oSerS Close (P)

Change (%)

STOCKS

Close (P)

Change (%)

Ever Gotesco

0.234

8.84

2GO Group'

8.43

-18.31

Discovery World

1.8

7.78

Del Monte

11.34

-10.71

Philodrill Corp. `A'

0.016

6.67

Swift Pref

1.8

-10.00

Republic Glass 'A'

2.55

6.25

United Paragon

0.0110

-8.33

Imperial Res. `A'

4.21

4.99

IP E-Game Ventures Inc.

0.014

-6.67

Phil H2O

5.75

4.55

IPeople Inc. `A'

11.14

-6.07

Manila Water Co. Inc.

26.7

4.50

PhilexPetroleum

3.12

-5.45

Concepcion

59.95

4.26

Pacifica `A'

0.0400

-4.76

Wellex Industries

0.2650

3.92

First Holdings 'A'

101.1

-4.62

Basic Energy Corp.

0.275

3.77

Agrinurture Inc.

1.67

-4.57

THURSDAY: MARCH 12, 2015

B3

BUSINESS business@manilastandardtoday.com extrastory2000@gmail.com

URC merges with plastic unit

By Jenniffer B. Austria

UNIVERSAL Robina Corp., the biggest

snack food maker, said it will merge with wholly-owned plastic packaging supplier CFC Clubhouse Property Inc. URC said in a disclosure to the stock exchange its board approved the merger with CFC Clubhouse with the former emerging as the surviving entity.

“The proposed merger is expected to benefit URC in the reduction of expenses through the economies of scale, centralized administration and greater efficiency,” URC said.

CFC Clubhouse is one of the major suppliers of flexible packaging materials for URC’s snacks and beverages division.

With an authorised capital stock of P500 million, CFC Clubhouse started commercial production in April 2007. Its manufacturing plant in Batangas has an annual rated capacity of 12,000 tons producing various packaging

material combinations, The company is currently expanding its capacity to accommodate an increase in URC’s demand for dry laminated and extruded wrappers.

The company by October this year will commission a new production plant with an annual capacity of 12,000 tons. It aims to be the leading manufacturer of packaging materials in the region.

URC, a unit of JG Summit Holdings Inc. of tycoon John Gokongwei, is one of the largest branded consumer food and beverage product companies in the Philippines and has a significant and growing presence in the Asean markets.

It is engaged in a wide range of

food-related businesses, including the manufacture and distribution of branded consumer foods. It is also in sugar and flour milling and refining and in agro industrial businesses of farms, mainly hogs and animal feed milling and related products.

URC increased its net income by 12.5 percent to P3.21 billion in the first quarter of its fiscal year covering the period OctoberDecember 2014 from P2.86 billion year-on-year.

First quarter consolidated sale of goods and services increased 18.7 percent to P26.95 billion from P22.7 billion on strong sales of branded consumer foods, both in the domestic and international markets.

For its fiscal year 2015.

URC expects a 20 percent revenue growth this year on the sustained growth of the branded food business. It closed unchanged Wednesday at P215 per share.

The company earlier said it was spending P9 billion this year to expand domestic and international businesses. The capital expenditures is higher than the previous year’s P7.7 billion.

URC said it would allot P6.5 billion for installation of new lines to expand capacities in the snackfoods and beverage businesses in the Philippines, new lines for beverage, snacks and candy products in Vietnam and expansion of wafer and snack lines in Thailand and Indonesia.

Del Monte registers lower loss of $2.2m

CANNED fruit producer Del Monte Pacific Ltd. registered a narrower net loss $2.2 million in the third quarter of fiscal year covering the period November 2014 to January 2015 from $6.4 million year-on-year.

Del Monte said acquisitionrelated expenses to hampered the company’s profitability.

Del Monte said in a disclosure to the stock exchange thirdquarter sales reached $637.6 million, including $511 million from recently-acquired Del Monte Foods Inc. Del Monte posted a net loss of $23.9 million for the ninemonth period ending Jan. 31, 2015, a reversal from a yearago profit of $6.5 million.

The group incurred higher interest expense as a result of the long-term loan to acquire DMFI and the short-term bridge financing.

Del Monte will repay approximately $150 million of short-term bridge financing using the proceeds from the recently-concluded right offering and extended $350 million worth of short-term bridge financing for up to two years.

“We are encouraged by the strong support of our shareholders to the rights offer which was oversubscribed.

Deleveraging DMPL’s balance sheet and undertaking an international offering of perpetual securities when market conditions improve remain a key priority,” Del Monte chief executive and managing director Joselito Campos Jr. “We look forward to sustaining our growth in the coming quarters, as we execute against proven strategies and new growth driven initiatives,” he added.

DMFI chief executive Nils Lommerin said the company was on track to deliver future growth.

Jenniffer B. Austria

Mobile award. G-Xchange Inc. president and chief executive Xavier Marzan (second from left) and Mercy Corps senior director for program technology Jeff Wishnie (leftmost) receive an award on behalf of BPI Globe BanKO, whose emergency e-transfer platform TabangKO won Best Use of Mobile in Emergency and Humanitarian Situations at the 20th Global Mobile Awards held in Barcelona, Spain. BanKO’s emergency transfer program provided the means to directly and efficiently send out much needed financial assistance to 25,000 families in communities and islands affected by super typhoon Yolanda in the Visayas.

Stocks retreat; Bloomberry, SM Prime down THE stock market fell Wednesday on increasing expectations the US Federal Reserve will hike interest rates in the summer, while another weak data release from China added to selling pressure.

The Philippine Stock Exchange Index lost 37.78 points, or 0.5 percent, to 7,790.70 on a value turnover of P8.3 billion. Losers overwhelmed gainers, 130 to 45, with 47 issues unchanged.

Nickel miner Global Ferronickel Holdings Inc. dropped 2.6 percent to P2.62, while Energy Deveopment Corp., the biggest producer of steam energy and wind power, tumbled 4.4 percent to P8.32. First Gen Corp., the EDC’s parent, fell 2.3 perrcent to P29.85.

Bloomberry Resorts Corp. of tycoon Enrique Razon Jr., which operates a casino on a reclaimed part of Manila Bay, dropped 2.4

percent to P10.44, while SM Prime Holdings Inc. of retail tycoon Henry Sy declined 2 percent to P19.30.

JG Summit Holdings Inc. of retail and airline tycoon John Gokongwei lost 1.4 percent to P65, while unit Cebu Air Inc., the largest budget carrier, sank 3 percent to P86.

The likelihood of a Fed hike, coupled with the European Central Bank’s new bond-buying stimulus program and fears over Greece, meanwhile, sent the dollar surging against the yen and towards parity with the euro.

In afternoon trade, Shanghai reversed early gains to sit 0.12 percent lower, while Hong Kong was down 0.50 percent.

Sydney lost 0.53 percent, or 31.0 points, to 5,793.2 and Seoul was off 0.20 percent, or 3.94 points, at 1,980.83.

However, Tokyo ended 0.31

percent, or 58.41 points, higher at 18.723,52.

Wall Street provided another negative lead as investors bet on a Fed rate rise sooner rather than later, with some predicting a move in June after Friday’s data showing a surge in US jobs creation in February.

The Dow tumbled 1.85 percent, the S&P 500 fell 1.70 percent and the Nasdaq lost 1.67 percent.

The jobs report ramped up dollar buying, which had already been strong owing to a string of upbeat indicators in recent weeks as well as monetary easing in the eurozone and Japan.

In Japanese trade Wednesday, the greenback was at 121.25 yen, compared with 121.07 yen late in New York. At one point Tuesday it broke above 122.00 yen for the first time since late 2007.

Adding to yen weakness has been a raft of poor data out

of Japan, which has heaped pressure on the country’s central bank to further easing monetary policy.

The greenback also surged against the euro after the ECB kicked off its own bond-buying scheme, known as quantitative easing (QE), in a drive to fight off deflation.

Worries about Greece’s tense talks due Wednesday over its bailout provisions are also sapping the euro.

The euro bought $1.0694 compared with $1.0698 in US trade, where it fell through $1.07 for the first time in 12 years.

The single currency was also at 129.66 yen against 129.53 yen.

“This is not a time to stick your neck out and get too aggressive,” Ted Weisberg, president of Seaport Securities Corp. in New York, told Bloomberg TV. With AFP

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BUSINESS

Megaworld awards. Property developer Megaworld Corp., in celebration of its 25th year, bagged 12 coveted awards at the prestigious 13th Philippine Quill Awards held Monday night at the Crowne Plaza Galleria Manila, making it the most awarded real estate company during the awards night. Receiving the awards are (from left) Megaworld Lifestyle Malls head of marketing and business development TefelPesigan-Valentino, corporate communications and advertising head Kim Sta. Maria, public relations and communications head Harold Geronimo, chief operating officer Lourdes Gutierrez-Alfonso, first vice-president and head of commercial division Kevin Tan, senior vice president Jericho Go, Megaworld Foundation president Francis Canuto and Megaworld Foundation executive director Danilo Madlansakay.

Aboitiz’s net profit dips 13% DHL allots P150m to expand operation

By Othel V. Campos DHL Express Philippines is spending at least P150 million to build and expand service centers and point of sales branches nationwide.

“We are preparing for increased traffic not only in Clark but in the entire country as well. Business in 2014 was good and we can only hope for better business in 2015,” said DHL Express Philippines country manager Nurhayati Abdullah.

He said the company was spending P30 million for a new DHL Express service center in Clark, Pampanga.

The Clark service center, covering a total of 1,000 square meters, is designed to optimize processes with increased handling capacity.

It will serve the logistics need as well the growing demand for trade of customers based in the

North Luzon area. North Luzon is a gateway to Manila for many industries such as electronics, semiconductors, agriculture and manufacturing.

The company is also investing P78 million in a service center in Las Pinas, covering 2,500 square meters, to serve clients in the south.

“We used to co-share with another company. Now, we are building our own and this is a big one,” Abdullah said.

A third project is the P42-million landing facility upgrading project at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport.

The company currently has eight dedicated full customer service facilities and 195 point of sales located inside shopping malls or commercial areas.

Abdullah said the company continued to expand through its partnership with the Philippine Post Office and its partner W Express Philippines.

By Alena Mae S. Flores

ABOITIZ Equity Ventures Inc., the holding

company of the Aboitiz family, said net income in 2014 fell 13 percent to P18.4 billion from P21 billion in 2013, on lower earnings contributions from the power and banking businesses.

Aboitiz Equity said adjusting for non-recurring items, core net income dropped 15 percent last year to P17.9 billion from a year ago.

Power accounted for 71 percent of net income, followed by banking, food and land development, with income contributions of 18 percent, 7 percent and 4 percent, respectively.

It said despite the decline in net income last year, it expected this year new growth opportunities from infrastructure investments, which became the fifth leg of its business.

“Our strategic growth plans remain intact as we pursue to further strengthen and expand our businesses, keeping pace with the country’s economic growth,” said Aboitiz Equity president and chief executive Erramon Aboitiz.

The company is eyeing more

public-private partnership projects and recently formed the consortium Trident Infrastructure and Development Corp., along with Ayala Land Inc., SM Prime Holdings Inc. and Megaworld Corp. to vie for the P123.8-billion Laguna Lakeshore Expressway and Dike Project, the government’s biggest PPP project.

The company, through a joint venture with JV Angeles Construction Corp., was also awarded the contract to develop a 300-million-liter-per-day bulk water supply project to support Davao City’s growing needs.

Aboitiz Power Corp., the power unit of the group, recorded a 10-percent decline in net income to P16.7 billion from P18.6 billion. The company registered a non-recurring loss of P135.6 million in 2014 (versus last year’s loss of P1.547 billion), due to

the revaluation of consolidated dollar-denominated loans and placements.

Aboitiz Power said adjusting for the one-offs, core net income in 2014 amounted to P16.8 billion, down by 16 percent year on year.

Aboitiz Power said it would continue its expansion plan, by allotting P52 billion in capital expenditures this year, in line with commitment to increase capacity by over 2,000 MW in the next five years.

“In the next five years we intend to increase our beneficial capacity by approximately 2,000 MW, providing reliable and competitive power meeting the economy’s increasing energy demands. We will build renewable power where it makes sense and will always remain resolute in protecting the environment and the interests of our host communities,” Aboitiz said.

UnionBank’s income contribution in 2014 decreased 21 percent to P3.2 billion from P4.1 billion in 2013, due to the drop in other income by 35 percent to P8.2 billion, brought by the exceptional level of trading gains earned the previous year.

PSALM opens bidding for Leyte geothermal plant contracts POWER Sector Assets and Liabilities Management Corp. has opened the bidding for the independent power producer administrator of the bulk capacity of the Unified Leyte geothermal power plants.

PSALM, in a published invitation

to bid, said interested parties should submit letters of interest by March 24.

The agency, in charge of privatizing the assets of state-run National Power Corp., said the bidding procedures would be issued from March 30 to April 15. The pre-bid

conference is set on May 6 while the bid submission deadline is on Aug. 12 at 12 noon.

PSALM president Emmanuel Ledesma Jr. earlier said the independent power producer contracts up for bidding were slated

in the second semester.

PSALM privatized the bulk energy of the Unified Leyte Power Plants in November 2013, but the privatization process came to a halt because of the damage suffered by plants from typhoon Yolanda.

Unified Leyte Geothermal owned by the Lopez Group tendered a bid of P215 million for the bulk energy and emerged as the highest bidder, but decided to withdraw from the deal, because of the damage sustained by the plants. Alena Mae S. Flores

T H U R S D AY : M A R C H 1 2 , 2 0 1 5

BUSINESS business@manilastandardtoday.com extrastory2000@gmail.com

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John Hay simmers; ABS-CBN lays off CAMP John Hay in Baguio City has now RAY S. EÑANO become restive, far from the investor and tourist haven designed by planners.

The 118 companies companies operating inside the Camp John Hay Special Economic Zone in Baguio City, as well as owners of 85 residential structures and the 384-room Manor Hotel in the ecozone, are caught in a tug-of-war between the Bases Conversion and Development Authority and controversial businessman Robert John Sobrepeña.

But the arbitral decision handed down by Philippine Dispute Resolution Center Inc. is clear. The ruling rescinded the principal lease agreement between the state and Sobrepeña’s Camp John Hay Development Corp., or CJHDevCo, and ordered the private company to vacate the entire Camp John Hay. The ruling also ordered BCDA to return to CJHDevCo P1.42 billion, which CJHDevCo paid to the agency as lease payments, following the nullification of the deal.

BCDA president and chief Arnel Paciano Casanova has urged right buyers and sub-lessees of Camp John Hay to ask for refunds from CJHDevCo, saying the company was avoiding its liability in lease contracts. Casanova advised locators and sub-lessees in Camp John Hay to seek legal counsel to ensure their rights and interests would be protected.

Casanova’s advice was more of a warning, as he reminded the affected parties on Sobrepeña’s past business failures.

“The last thing we want to happen is for their contracts to be a worthless piece of paper like what happened with the College Assurance Plan,” Casanova said, referring the pre-need educational insurance company of Sobrepeña.

CJHDevCo is owned and managed by Fil-Estate Corp. headed

by Sobrepeña, who also controlled and managed CAP and Metro Rail Transit Development Corp. CAP defaulted on its obligations to thousands of plan holders.

All rights buyers, sub-locators, hotel unit owners and sub-lessees, according to Casanova, should not believe they were not affected by the recent decision PDRCI. “Simply put, CJHDevCo will be refunded the entire amount [P1.42 billion] it paid to the BCDA, but there seems to be no action on the side of CJHDevCo to refund the buyers and sub-lessees,” Casanova said.

He said the only way for the CJHDevCo’s “victims” to recover their investments and protect their interests was to lay claim to P1.42 billion. “Since the original contract was rescinded, it will affect all current lease contracts. They need to cooperate with us since their contracts are considered fraudulent,” he said.

The nullification of the lease agreement covers sub-lessees accounting for about 75 percent of the original lessees, as well as owners of residential units that may be called into question. Casanova said the BCDA had no knowledge on the nature of the contracts or agreements the sub-lessees signed with CJHDevCo. PDRCI also ordered CJHDevCo “to vacate the leased premises and promptly deliver the leased property, inclusive of all new constructions and permanent improvements introduced during the term of the lease as reckoned from the execution of the original lease agreement to [BCDA] in good and tenantable condition in all respects, reasonable wear and tear excepted.”

CJHDevCo, meanwhile, has sought a judicial confirmation before the Regional Trial Court of Baguio City to pave the way for the implementation of CJHDevCo’s exit in Camp John Hay. The filing of the judicial confirmation will enable the Baguio RTC to issue a writ of execution to enforce the turnover of the property.

Generous TV package ABS-CBN Corp., the biggest broadcasting company, in the Philippines is dangling a handsome severance package to its television news staff.

The grapevine said nearly 100 staff, including editors, desk, camera men and newscasters, are biting the offer. ABS-CBN offered a threemonth pay for every year of service, which could reach over P1 million for some of the staff.

ABS-CBN confirmed the layoff, but declined to reveal the details.

ABS-CBN Corporate Affairs and Public Relations chief Kane Choa issued the folllowing statement to this paper: “ABS-CBN Corporation has recently conducted a review of its business processes to improve its operational efficiency and, on the basis of its findings, decided to adopt measures that resulted in the redundancy of some positions. Those affected were provided generous separation packages beyond what is required by law and above industry standards to help them prepare for new endeavors after their employment with ABS-CBN.” One of the new endeavors for the departing staff is CNN Philippines, which will soon be aired over the free TV channel owned and operated

by Nine Media Corp. (formerly Solar Television Network) and Radio Philippines Network as the main content provider.

Nine Media obtained a license from US-based Turner Broadcasting System to air CNN Philippines.

Nine Media is owned by the ALC Group of Companies of Ambassador Antonio Cabangon Chua and several private stockholders.

E-mail: rayenano@yahoo.com

First Metro office. First Metro Investment Corp. subsidiaries First Metro Asset Management Inc. and First Metro Securities Brokerage Corp. held the blessing of their reconstructed office space at the 18th floor of the PSBank Center along Paseo de Roxas Avenue in Makati City. Shown cutting the ceremonial ribbon are (from left) FAMI president Augusto Cosio Jr., PSBank president Vicente Cuna Jr., First Metro Securities independent director Philip Soliven, First Metro president Roberto Juanchito Dispo and First Metro Securities president Gonzalo Ordoñez.

Govt gets $900m from Malampaya

By Alena Mae S. Flores

THE Malampaya consortium led by Shell

Philippines Exploration B.V. remitted $900 million to the national government, representing royalties from the Malampaya deep water gas-to-power project in 2014.

The royalties were lower than the average $1-billion annual payment to the government due to the lower oil prices, which started to decline in the last quarter of 2014, Spex said.

The Malampaya consortium has turned over $8.5 billion to the national government from the start of the project in 2001.

“Last year, it was around $900 million. It was based on

the pricing of oil and gas which had an impact on pricing,” Spex managing director Sebastian Quinones said.

The Malampaya consortium is composed of Spex, Chevron LLC and state-owned PNOC Exploration Corp.

The Malampaya natural gas field in northwest Palawan powers three power plants with a combined capacity of 2,700

megawatts. The natural gas field is projected to be depleted by 2024.

Energy Secretary Carlos Jericho Petilla earlier said the Malampaya fund still had P100 billion that could be used to fund energy-related projects.

Petilla said the Malampaya fund should only be utilized for energy projects, under Section 8 of Presidential Decree 910.

He said President Aquino spent about P15 billion from the Malampaya fund for projects such as the P4-billion allocation for the diesel power generator sets for Mindanao and P2 billion for the Pantawid Pasado program.

He said President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo spent some P20 billion out of the Malampaya funds.

2016 Palaro emerges as tourism event LEGAZPI CITY—The 2016 Palarong Pambansa will likely become a sports tourism event with Albay hosting it on May 3 to 9.

President Benigno Aquino III, who visited Albay last year, pledged to support the province’s bid to host the 2016 Palaro and plan to convert it into a memorable and meaningful sports tourism engagement.

A sports-tourism event assures athletes fame and glory and promises memorable touristic adventures, while the host province derives hefty tourism revenues.

President Aquino approved a P700-million budget for Albay’s Palaro hosting, half of which

was already released for the preparations of sports facilities, among them the construction of the Albay Sports complex in Guinobatan town, the games’ main venue.

The facility will have an international standard oval track and a grandstand that could accommodate thousands of spectators.

Albay Gov. Joey Salceda said the provincial government would also put up a P150-million equity on top of the budget approved by the President.

About 15,000-member athletic delegations from the country’s 17 regions are expected to join the 2016 Palaro.

The players’ friends, families and other visitors who will come to watch the games are expected to spend money while in Albay that will help fuel the local economy.

Albay will not just focus on tourism revenue gains alone.

Team Albay’s records in the Palaro has helped the Bicol regional team to better ranking, climbing from 12th in 2013 in Dumaguete to 9th in the 2014 Laguna national games, where Albay contributed five of the nine golds earned by the region in the games.

Albay hopes to sustain its sports gains and fare well in the 2015 Palarong Pambansa in Tagum on May 3 to 9, in preparation for the 2016 hosting.

THURSDAY: MARCH 12, 2015

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BUSINESS business@manilastandardtoday.com extrastory2000@gmail.com

PH car hub to spur production

By Karl Lester M. Yap and Siegfrid Alegado

THE Philippines will offer tax breaks to as many

as three automakers as one of Asia’s fastest growing economies aims to become a regional production hub.

President Benigno Aquino is set to issue an order implementing the Comprehensive Automotive Resurgence Strategy program, or CARS, “within this year,” Trade Secretary Gregory Domingo said in an interview in his office in Manila Tuesday.

“The car industry’s supply chain feeds into other industries, and we think that becoming a regional hub will help fill our gaps in manufacturing,” said Domingo.

The Philippines is seeking to

meet minimum production levels to qualify for the incentives, Domingo said, declining to specify exact amounts as officials still are discussing details. The government has considered annual output of 40,000 vehicles fully built in the country to qualify for benefits.

Infrastructure improvements Easing infrastructure logjams also will be essential to spurring more auto production. “If the intention is to start exporting, you need good quality ports and

rose 66 percent to $6.2 billion last year, the central bank said. In 2013, Thailand had $12.6 billion of FDI while Vietnam attracted $8.9 billion.

Finding a niche “We can’t compete head on with the likes of Thailand, which is so far ahead of the curve in terms of car production,” Domingo said.

“The vision is to find a niche for the region, a mass producer of a model that is not produced in Thailand,” he said.

While Philippine manufacturing has diversified into medical devices, parts for aircrafts and motorbikes, and oil and gas platforms, the nation lacks the medium-sized “inbetween” products such as cars and refrigerators, Domingo said.

New car plant. President Aquino (above, right) views the locallyassembled cars displayed at the Mitsubishi Gallery during the Mitsubishi Motors Philippines Corp.’s Sta. Rosa plant inauguration at Greenfield Automotive Park Special Economic Zone in Sta. Rosa City, Laguna on Jan. 29, 2015. Mitsubishi Motors Corp. chairman of the board and chief operating officer Osamu Masuko, MMPC president and chief executive Hikosaburo Shibata and Trade Secretary Gregory Domingo tour and inspect the plant (left photo). replicate Thailand’s success in building its auto industry, betting that a young workforce and its biggest economic boom since the 1950s will lure companies such as Volkswagen AG. Aquino, who steps down in June 2016, is raising spending on roads and airports to a record this year to lure more foreign direct investment and bolster growth to as much as 8 percent this year and next.

“Government support will be a factor in determining further investment and future plant expansion,” said Rommel Gutierrez, a spokesman for Toyota Motor Corp. in Manila.

An incentive program will “benefit both the government and private sector, if it’s feasibly administered,” said Gutierrez, who is also president of the Chamber of Automotive Manufacturers of the Philippines Inc. Car companies will need to

roads, and that needs to move in tandem with offering incentives,” said Rahul Bajoria, a Singaporebased regional economist at Barclays Plc. The auto industry accounted for about 3.6 percent of the Philippine economy in 2011, according to a study by Ramon Vicente Kabigting, executive director of the Philippine Automotive Competitiveness Council Inc. The CARS program is intended to save as much as $17 billion in import costs by 2022.

The Philippines lost to Thailand in 1996 when General Motors Co. chose its neighbor for a $750-million car factory even as the company was offered fewer incentives. Philippine officials had tried to woo GM by offering free land for the plant to boost the country’s auto industry.

Philippine manufacturing expanded an average 9.2 percent in 2013 and 2014, while net FDI

The Philippines probably is “no longer a competitive place for automakers,” said Jessada Thongpak, an analyst with IHS Automotive in Bangkok. The nation will produce 90,000 light vehicles this year, compared with 2.14 million in Thailand and 1.3 million in Indonesia, IHS projects.

Japanese companies are very interested in the Philippine auto road map, Japan Chamber of Commerce and Industry chairman Akio Mimura said in February. Aquino met with officials from Volkswagen in September during a trip to Europe, offering the Philippines as an Asian production base.

“We want serious players who really have an intent to make us a regional manufacturing base,” Domingo said. “We want a bigger commitment because they’ll be forced to bring their supply chain, and that will really boost our manufacturing.” Bloomberg

Buildings should fly clean flags RUDY ROMERO

BUSINESS CLASS AMONG the first things that an observant visitor to any American city notices are the American flags fluttering on flagpoles of public and private buildings.

Although there is no law that mandates edifices to fly the national flag, most prominent buildings have flagpoles from which the Stars and Stripes proudly flies.

Not only do most major American buildings fly the American flag, but they also fly flags that are clean and respectable-looking. The handsomeness of the Stars and Stripes makes the entire spectacle truly pleasing to the eye.

By contrast, few buildings in Philippine cities fly the national flag. Only buildings housing big corporations do so. Every public building should fly the flag, but this is not the case. There are numerous government edifices that do not appear as such because of the absence of a Philippine flag flying outside them. It is bad enough that most Philippine buildings--public as well as private--do not fly the national flag. What is worse is that in those instances where a flag is flying, the flag is almost always dirty and unrespectable looking, even embarrassing. The red, white and blue of the flag are discolored and its fabric appears close to being reduced to tatters. One gets the impression that government agencies and private business establishments think that it is enough to fly a Philippine flag, no matter how disgraceful-looking. This attitude, if true, is a great mistake.

If a building, public or private, cannot fly a clean and respectable-looking Philippine flag, it would be better if it did not fly one at all. Not only is a dirty and tattered flag an insult to the community, but it is also unpleasing to the eye.

When I drive along the streets and avenues of this country’s major cities, especially Metro Manila, I take note of the buildings that fly clean and decent-looking flags. Some private establishments are good citizens in this regard.

The Ayala Group of Companies is one such organization, with Bank of the Philippine Islands offices displaying handsome Philippine flags that are replaced regularly. Unfortunately, Ayala is only one of a small number of large business organizations that attach importance to flying Philippine flags outside their offices. One would expect all of the four-star and five-star hotels to do honor to the national flag, but I have noted that not all of them do.

Given the impact of urban pollution, a new flag probably has a life expectancy of two months.

After that period, it is dirty, discolored and close to falling apart. At that point it should not be allowed to continue flying. It will then have become an embarrassment.

How much would it cost a private establishment to fly continuously good-looking Philippine flags outside their offices? Not much, I dare say. But the return on such a modest outlay in terms of national pride, urban beauty and personal satisfaction is many times greater.

Seeing the nation’s emblem fluttering in the breeze in our cities and towns is a very pleasurable and inspiring thing. Owners of this country’s private establishments should give their countrymen the opportunity to unceasingly enjoy that spectacle.

But if an establishment cannot fly a clean Philippine flag, it should, to repeat, not fly one at all.

E-mail: rudyromero777@yahoo.com

t H u r s D aY : M a r c H 1 2 , 2 0 1 5

WORLD

cesar barrioquinto EDITOR

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Whales start their song off Antarctica SYDNEY—A team of Australian and New Zealand researchers has tracked scores of blue whales off Antarctica, eavesdropping as the world’s largest animals began their rumbling song, which can be detected 750 kilometers away.

During the six-week Australia-New Zealand Antarctic Ecosystem Voyage to the Southern Ocean, which returned Wednesday, the Antarctic marine scientists listened for the low moans of the endangered whales, and then tracked them to their feeding grounds.

The scientists were able to identify 58 individual blue whales and record more than 40,000 calls during the voyage, which aimed to help estimate the population size of the endangered animals and their movements.

But at first there was very little of the song, making those on board anxious about whether they would be able to study the animals.

“What actually was remarkable this time was that very early on in the voyage there were very few calls and that made us nervous,” the Australian Antarctic Division’s Mike Double said.

“And then it was like flicking a switch. We didn’t change any of our equipment and then suddenly the whales were calling. And then we were getting large numbers of calls and that allowed us to detect them.”

Double thinks the animals were in the area all along, just not making any noise.

“All of a sudden it [the song] is really ramped up and we don’t really know why that occurs—it may be linked to the start of the breeding season or it might be associated with foraging,” he told AFP after the voyage returned to the New Zealand capital Wellington.

Double said the expedition had been hoping to see a small number of the blue whales and was thrilled when they came across about 80 in a small area after traveling a long way with no sightings.

He said it was possible there were more than 100 in the 100-kilometer by 150-kilometer area, adding that researchers were intrigued as to what had brought the animals there.

They had noted their foodstuff krill was “really tightly aggregated into very dense swarms”.

“And we didn’t really see that in other areas throughout the voyage,” he said.

The voyage was a collaboration between Antarctica New Zealand, the New Zealand National Institute of Water and Atmospheric Research and the Australian Antarctic Division. AFP

A view of the crowd as Justin Bieber performs at the 11th Annual Desert Smash Hosted By Will Ferrell Benefiting Cancer For College at La Quinta Resort and Club on March 10 in La Quinta, California. AFP

Chopper crash probe starts VILLA CASTELLI, Argentina—French air investigators headed Wednesday to Argentina to probe a collision between two helicopters which killed ten people, including three of France’s best-known sports personalities, as they took part in a reality TV show.

The two French officials will join Argentine investigators who are already combing through the wreckage, looking for clues to what caused the helicopters to smash into each other shortly after takeoff in the rugged mountains of La Rioja province.

The crash on Monday killed Olympic champion swimmer Camille Muffat, yachtswoman Florence Arthaud and Olympic boxer Alexis Vastine, as well as five French TV crew members and two Argentine pilots.

Emergency workers removed the victims’ remains from the wreckage near the small northwestern town of Villa Castelli on Tuesday and took them to the morgue in the provincial capital, about 300 kilometers (200

miles) from the crash site.

The victims’ bodies were burnt beyond recognition, provincial security secretary Luis Cesar Angulo told AFP. There were no survivors in the crash, which authorities said happened in good weather.

French prosecutors have opened a manslaughter investigation—standard procedure when a French citizen dies abroad.

“Dropped”, which was to air on French channel TF1 later this year, involved eight sports stars being dropped in the wild for a survival contest.

Video taken from the ground showed the two helicopters flying extremely close together, then their rotors clipping and both aircraft plummeting to the ground.

Franck Firmin-Guion, head of Adventure Line Productions (ALP) that is making the show, said: “Suddenly, (one of the helicopters) swerved off course and hit the other one.”

It was the worst accident in the history of reality television.

French President Francois Hollande led the tributes, expressing his “immense sadness.”

Muffat, 25, won three medals at the 2012 London Olympics, including gold in the 400-meter freestyle, sealing her status as one of the best swimmers in French history.

She shocked the sporting world in June last year by announcing her re-

tirement at the age of 24, saying she was exhausted by the long hours of training and wanted to pursue new challenges.

Arthaud, 57, was considered one of the best sailors in the world, and conquered what had then been a maledominated sport. Her titles included the 1990 Route du Rhum, the most prestigious transatlantic solo race.

Vastine, 28, won a bronze medal at the Beijing Olympics in 2008 in the light welterweight category.

His death came just two months after his 21-year-old sister was killed in a car crash.

Muffat’s former coach Fabrice Pellerin told French radio station RTL: “What’s hard is to reconcile the image I have of Camille—who was unsinkable—with what happened.”

The swimmer’s partner, William Forgues, said she had been excited about appearing in the show.

“She was loving it,” he told AFP. “She was hoping not to go out first to be able to continue, to go on to another magical destination.”

In the southern French city of Nice, where Muffat lived, mourners lit candles beneath a large poster of a smiling Muffat wearing her three medals that was hung outside city hall.

At dusk, hundreds of people gathered in a public park to pay tribute to the swimmer.

A tearful tribute was also held for Vastine in his hometown in Norman-

dy.

Paris Saint-Germain players plan to wear black armbands in their Champions League match against Chelsea on Wednesday.

Participants in “Dropped” were taken blindfolded into “inhospitable environments” and given 72 hours to get to a place where they could charge a cellphone, said the mayor of Villa Castelli, Andres Navarrete.

Other sports stars taking part -none of them involved in the accident -- were former France and Arsenal football star Sylvain Wiltord, Olympic champion swimmer Alain Bernard, cyclist Jeannie Longo, snowboarder Anne-Flore Marxer and figure skater Philippe Candeloro.

Production company ALP said it would immediately halt filming and repatriate the teams.

ALP was involved in another French reality TV accident in 2013, when a contestant in the survival show “Koh-Lanta” died of a heart attack in Cambodia and a doctor on the crew then committed suicide.

France’s consul general in Argentina, Raphael Trannoy, who visited the morgue where the bodies were taken on Tuesday, told AFP: “Our aim is to do what we can to get those who want to return to France home as soon as possible, but we have to respect local legal procedures because witnesses are likely to be questioned by investigators.” AFP

US condemns ‘reign of terror’ in Crimea

This undated handout photo received on March 11 shows a blue whale in Southern Ocean as a team of Australian and New Zealand scientists tracked scores of blue whales off Antarctica, listening in as the world’s largest animals suddenly began their rumbling song. AFP

WASH I NGTON—T he top US diplomat for Europe declared Tuesday that Crimea and parts of eastern Ukraine were subject to a “reign of terror”, blaming Russia for a conflict that has claimed thousands of lives.

“Even as Ukraine is building a peaceful, democratic, independent nation across 93 percent of its territory, Crimea and parts of eastern Ukraine are suffering a reign of terror,” Assistant Secretary of State Victoria Nuland told the Senate Foreign Relations Committee.

“Today Crimea re-

mains under illegal occupation and human rights abuses are the norm, not the exception, for many at risk groups there,” she said of the Black Sea peninsula annexed by Russia a year ago.

Nuland cited Crimea’s minority Crimean Tatars and Ukrainians who refuse to give up their passports for Russian documents as well as gays among those at risk of persecution.

Meanwhile, in eastern Ukraine, where a ceasefire between government forces and pro-Russian separatists is largely holding, “Russia and its

separatist puppets” had unleashed “unspeakable violence”, Nuland said.

Nuland called the insurgency a “manufactured conflict” directed by the Kremlin, which had sent “hundreds of young Russians ... to fight and die there.”

Her broadside came as British Foreign Secretary Philip Hammond said Moscow’s “aggressive behaviour” showed it had “the potential to pose the single greatest threat” to British security.

In a speech at British defence think-tank RUSI, Hammond accused Russian President Vladimir

Putin of “subverting” international rules which keep the peace between nations and said Putin’s actions in Crimea and eastern Ukraine also undermined the security of other former Soviet states.

NATO forces are preparing for a major exercise in the Baltic states of Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania, on Russia’s western doorstep.

US military officials said the deployment of some 3,000 troops had begun for the three-month Operation Atlantic Resolve, following the Russian annexation of Crimea. AFP

T H U R S D AY : M A R C H 1 2 , 2 0 1 5

B8

CeSAR bARRioqUinTo EDITOR

mst.daydesk@gmail.com

world

Deadly tsunami remembered SHICHIGAHAMA, Japan—Japan marked the fourth anniversary Wednesday of the quaketsunami disaster that swept away thousands of people and sparked a nuclear crisis, a tragedy that has left visible scars on the landscape and continues to wreak misery for many.

People pray for the victims of the 2011 quake-tsunami disaster at a cenotaph in the coastal area of Arahama district in Sendai, Miyagi Prefecture, on March 11. Japan on March 11 marked the fourth anniversary of the quake-tsunami disaster that swept away thousands of people and sparked a nuclear crisis, a tragedy that has left visible scars on the landscape and continues to wreak misery for many. AFP

Flight attendant sues airline over ‘nut rage’ incident SEOUL—A flight attendant targeted by a former Korean Air vice president during a now infamous “nut rage” tantrum has filed a civil lawsuit against the jailed executive and the airline.

Kim Do-Hee’s lawyers said the suit filed on Tuesday in New York sought compensation for the verbal and physical attack unleashed on their client by Cho Hyun-Ah—also known as Heather Cho. Cho, who is the daughter of Korean Air’s chairman, was sentenced to one year in jail last month after being found guilty of safety breaches and assaulting cabin staff.

The main charge related to her decision to force a taxiing New YorkSeoul Korean Air flight to return to its departure gate on December 5.

Cho had insisted on expelling the chief purser from the plane after taking exception to being served macadamia nuts in a bag, rather than a bowl.

The civil lawsuit alleges that Cho attacked, threatened and screamed obscenities at Kim, and then pressured her to cover up the incident by lying to government regulators.

“The evidence in this case will demonstrate that Heather Cho’s actions were not only humiliating,

degrading and damaging to Ms Kim, but were also emblematic of Ms Cho’s unbridled arrogance and disturbing sense of entitlement,” the law firms Weinstein Law Firm PLLC and Kobre & Kim LLP said in an emailed joint statement.

The statement said the incident had caused “extensive damage” to Kim’s career, reputation, and emotional well-being.

Both Cho and Korean Air were named as defendants.

The airline declined to comment, saying it had received no communication from Kim’s lawyers.

Cho’s behavior triggered a huge

public backlash in South Korea, where it was seen as emblematic of a generation of spoiled and arrogant offspring of owners of the giant family-run conglomerates, or “chaebols”, that dominate the national economy.

The case generated international headlines and became something of a national embarrassment, with South Korean media commentators suggesting Cho had shamed the country.

Cho, who resigned her executive post with Korean Air before her trial, has appealed against her conviction. AFP

Remembrance ceremonies were held in towns and cities around the disaster zone and in Tokyo, where Emperor Akihito and Empress Michiko led tributes to those who died in Japan’s worst peace-time disaster.

Television footage showed victims and volunteers joining their hands in prayer near the shell of a tsunamihit building in the northeastern port town of Minamisanriku, one of the many stark reminders of the destruction.

A national minute of silence followed the wail of tsunami alarm sirens at 2:46 pm (0546 GMT), the exact moment a 9.0-magnitude undersea quake hit.

Its gigantic force unleashed a towering wall of water that traveled at the speed of a jet plane to the coast. Within minutes, communities were turned to matchwood, and whole families drowned.

“The situation surrounding disaster victims remains severe,” the emperor told the ceremony.

“It is important to continue making efforts to build a safer land without forgetting this lesson.”

The National Police Agency said a total of 15,891 people are confirmed to have died in the disaster, with another 2,584 still listed as missing. Human remains are still occasionally found.

For thousands of relatives, the absence of a body to mourn makes the process of moving on much harder, and some continue to carry out their own physical search.

“Somebody needs to do this, walking along the shore,” said Takayuki Ueno, who at the weekend combed a desolate winter beach for the bones of his three-year-old son. AFP

Australia warned of ‘human tsunami’ JAKARTA—An Indonesian minister has warned a “human tsunami” of asylum-seekers could be unleashed on Australia in retaliation if Canberra keeps pressing for clemency for two Australian drug smugglers on death row, as ties between the neighbors fray.

Several foreigners are due to be executed for drug-related crimes with Australia among countries pleading with Indonesian President Joko Widodo to show mercy to their citizens.

They include Australians Andrew Chan and Myuran Sukumaran, as well as a Frenchman, Brazilian, three Nigerians and convicts from the Philippines and Ghana.

Australia’s repeated calls for clemency have included comments by Prime Minister Tony Abbott that appeared to tie his country’s aid donations to the pair’s fate.

But the bid caused great offense in Indonesia.

Indonesian Security Minister Tedjo Edhy Purdijatno said this week that his country could release a “human tsunami” of asylum-seekers in retaliation.

“Indonesia has done a lot in preventing illegal migrants from other countries from going to Australia,” he was quoted as saying by Indonesian media.

“If Canberra keeps acting this way, Jakarta will certainly release migrants

wanting to go to Australia.

“There are over 10,000 currently in Indonesia. If they are released and we let them go to Australia, it will be like a human tsunami.”

Australia has struggled for years to stem a rising tide of asylum-seekers trying to reach its shores, often from transit hubs in Indonesia.

Many have died making the hazardous journey in crammed, rickety boats, normally after paying huge fees to people-smugglers.

Abbott last month said Jakarta should remember the $1 billion of assistance sent from Australia in the aftermath of the 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami, which killed around 220,000 people. AFP

French Overseas Territories Minister George Pau-Langevin (C) shares a light moment with residents on March 10 on the island of Tubuai, south of Tahiti, on her first official visit to the Indian Ocean territory. AFP

T H U R S D AY : M A R C H 1 2 : 2 0 1 5

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BAMBINA OLIVARES WISE EDITOR

g l w e e ke n d @ g m a i l . c o m

LIFE

C U LT U R E

ONCE UPON A TIME A Collector Shares Ronald Ventura’s Early Works

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Ayala Museum welcomes the summer season with a new exhibition entitled Ronald Ventura: Big and Small, Joel Mendez, MD Collection, featuring early works by the region’s most sought-after contemporary artist today.

Considered by many to be the most exciting artist to emerge from the Philippines in the beginning of the 21st century—a view intensified after his stately painting Grayground fetched a record-breaking 1.1 million USD at the 2011 Sotheby’s auction in Hong Kong—Ventura is first and foremost admired for his technical mastery of the classical human figure. Continued on C2

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E D I TOR

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ONCE UPON A TIME

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BAMBINA OLIVARES WISE

he works featured in Big and Small include over a hundred male and female nude paintings and anatomical studies dating as early as 1998 until the mid2000s from the collection of physician and gallery owner Joel Mendez, MD. Ventura’s dramatization of the human form is apparent regardless of the size of his canvas, hence the title of exhibition.

Marking a very early period in Ventura’s career, the collection, in the truest sense, strips his art off its characteristic potpourri of imagery and reveals what lies at its very foundation: the human body and its language. Art critic Alice Guillermo makes note of this in the book Realities: Ronald Ventura when she said “the basis of his art is his mastery of anatomy, so that having gone through

C U LT U R E

the entire gamut of male and female nudes in all postures, stances, and attitudes, he has assumed the capability of distorting the human body, clothed or unclothed, or of morphing it in the most unexpected ways.”

Ronald Ventura: Big and Small, Joel Mendez, MD Collection is presented under Ayala Museum’s Collector Series exhibition program, which aims to expand the understanding and appreciation of local and international art by providing the opportunity to view artworks that are usually not seen in public, especially a body of work of a single artist whom a collector admires.

The show will run from March 17 to April 26, 2015 at the Ayala Museum Ground Floor Gallery. For inquiries, visit www.ayalamuseum.org or call 759 82 88 or email hello@ayalamuseum.org. /mje.030215

JONATHAN OLAZO TACKLES THE WEIGHT OF EXPECTATION IN EXHIBIT Galleria Duemila presents “Children and the Weight of Expectation”, a solo exhibition

by Jonathan Olazo, which features a mix of wall-bound paintings and a stimulating fusion of artistic media and formats.

Olazo’s latest suite of works wield and merge an array of materials and formats such as oil and acrylic on canvas, assembled objects in wood, aluminum, ready-made industrial materials, and photography related media.

His output pushes forward through and attempts to preserve William C. Seitz’s 1961 commentary on assemblage as, “all forms of composite art and modes of juxtaposition.”

Referencing Robert Rauschenberg’s colossal work “The ¼ Mile or 2 Furlong Piece”, the artist situates his work to a rich possibility of dialogue between the bespoke and the readymade, painting and sculpture, and between the act of painting and the reproducibility of images.

“Children and the Weight of Expectation” is now open and will run until March 29, 2015 at Galleria Duemila located at 210 Loring Street, 1300 Pasay City. For more information, call +632 831 9990; Telefax no. +632 833 9815, or email them at gduemila@gmail.com

SYMPHONY OF REMEMBRANCE On Friday, March 13th, a special concert will take place, commemorating the 70 years since the Viennese conductor Herbert Zipper led the Manila Symphony Orchestra (MSO) in its first post-war concert. The venue then was a roofless, bombed-out Santa Cruz Church, one of the many casualties of a particularly vicious fight to the death between American and Japanese forces that saw the once beautiful city of Manila reduced to rubble.

Zipper raised his baton in that historic concert, and his orchestra picked up their instruments to begin Beethoven's Symphony, "Eroica", followed by Dvorak's "New World." The pieces were chosen to honor those who had recently died and to make us strive for a world that would make us free to think, live and love life once more.

While we mustn't live in the past, the past must never be forgotten.

The Battle for Manila was a crucial moment in our nation's history; the Japanese occupation was particularly brutal, and the ensuing destruction was enough to drive an entire people to despair, yet we

Filipinos rose, free and united, to rebuild our city and reclaim our lives.

This concert honors and celebrates that. It also pays homage to Zipper, who himself had endured the horrors of Dachau before being saved by family connections. Fleeing to Manila, he was reunited with his girlfriend Trudle Dubsky, whom he later married. He assumed the directorship of the MSO. The happiness was not to last; the couple soon found themselves interred at the notorious University of Santo Tomas Japanese Internment Camp.

At the end of the war, he gathered the remaining orchestra survivors and, accompanied by American military musicians, performed that historic post-war concert, comforting, inspiring and ultimately uplifting weary, battle-scarred souls.

The very same program will be performed at the Meralco Auditorium on Friday March 13th, at 8:00 pm. Tickets are priced at P700 (students pay P200). For information, call 631-1231 local 187. All proceeds go to the Manila Symphony Orchestra.

THURSDAY : M ARCH 12 : 2015

LIFE

BAMBINA OLIVARES WISE E D I TOR

glweekend @ gmail.com

THE AMAZING WORLD OF MODERN B MOVIES

BY ED BIADO

ATM (2012)

Josh Peck stars in this horror thriller about three friends trapped in an ATM booth due to fear of a sinister hooded man outside.

It’s pure suspension of disbelief all throughout.

Back when theaters were showing double features, everybody knew what a B movie was. Now that motion pictures are no longer shown in pairs, the term “B movie” has entered a vast gray area, making the category a mysterious part of modern cinema. They’re not quire mainstream but not quite indie or arthouse. They attempt to be good and glossy, but often fail miserably.

THE DIVIDE (2012)

With no explanation whatsoever about what exactly is going on, this post-apocalyptic horror and/or psychological thriller is sleazy, dirty and really bad. The acting’s quite good, though, thanks to some familiar faces including Milo Ventimiglia and Michael Eklund.

In classic exploitation fashion, this movie is nothing but a vehicle to showcase mixed martial artist Gina Carano’s fighting skills and an excuse to get Cam Gigandet shirtless.

THE SCRIBBLER (2014)

Katie Cassidy, Eliza Dushku, Michelle Trachtenberg and Kunal Nayyar are just some of the recognizable actors in this super-campy thriller about mental asylum patients. Think Requiem of a Dream but more WTF, nonsensical and with no hint of irony at all.

YOU CAN JUDGE A BOOK

BY ITS COVER

Milla Jovovich, who plays a woman with prosopagnosia, and Julian McMahon are competent actors. But there’s no way they could have possibly have saved this “crime drama horror thriller” mishmash from the disaster that it was.

LEFT BEHIND (2014)

With a 2-percent Rotten Tomatoes rating, this is a movie that Nicolas Cage and Chad Michael Murray would probably prefer to exclude from their CVs. It’s so bad, you’d think that the scenes are direct lifts and splices from the dramatization parts of a YouTube documentary.

BOUND (2015)

This year, Charisma Carpenter topbills a Fifty Shades of Grey knockoff. Fifty Shades was bad enough. This tongue-in-cheek retort isn’t promising to be any better.

65TH PALANCA AWARDS NOW ACCEPTING ENTRIES

Filipinas Heritage Library’s lecture and exhibition on book covers

They say “Never judge a book by its cover,” but the Printed Word series begs to differ with its “Never Say ‘Never Judge a Book by Its Cover’” lecture and exhibition presented by Filipinas Heritage Library.

Headed by Prof. May Jurilla, PhD, the lecture will tackle the brief history and function of book covers, from the medieval to contemporary period. It will be held on March 14, 2015, Saturday, 3pm at the 2/F of the Ayala Museum.

To learn more about book covers, an accompanying exhibit curated by Dr. Jurilla will run at the Ayala Museum until Mar. 21. Included on display is an edition of Flora de Filipinas, a full-colored illustrated study on Philippine flora by Augustinian priest and botanist Manuel Blanco, as well as other iconic books from FHLís Rare Books Collection, Roderick Hall Collection, and Pedro Ortiz Armengol Collection, that help trace the history of cover production in the Philippines.

Prof. Jurilla holds a PhD on Philippine book history from the School of Oriental and African Studies, University of London, giving her the distinction of being the first Filipino book historian in the country. She is currently an Associate Professor at Department of English and Comparative Literature at the University of the Philippines in Diliman.

Tickets are P300 for adults and P150 for students, senior citizens, Ayala Group of Companies employees and members of Filipinas Heritage Library and Ayala Museum. Lecture fees include admission to the museum exhibitions. For more information, please email asklibrarian@filipinaslibrary.org.ph or call (02) 759-8288 loc. 45 or 36.

FACES IN THE CROWD (2011)

However, some of them hit that sweet spot between good and bad. Others fall into the bad side so deeply, they’ve transcended definitions. Here, you’ll find passable and so-bad-it’s-good examples of B movies from this decade that you should watch with your BFFs. After all, laugh-crying with secondhand embarrassment should never be a solitary activity.

IN THE BLOOD (2014)

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Heads up to seasoned and aspiring writers!

T

he Carlos Palanca Foundation, Inc. (CPF) is now accepting entries to the 65th season of the Carlos Palanca Memorial Awards for Literature, also called Palanca Awards.

For the 65th installment of the awardgiving body for Literature, the Novel and Nobela categories are open. Both categories are offered only every two years. Only unpublished or unreproduced works, as in have not been communicated to the public, subject of public performance, or published, may be entered in the contest.

The complete list of categories for the 65th Palanca Awards is as follows: • Novel and Nobela categories • English Division – Short Story, Short Story for Children, Essay, Poetry, Poetry Written for Children, One-act Play, and Full-length Play; • Filipino Division – Maikling Kuwento, Maikling Kuwentong Pambata, Sanaysay, Tula, Tula para sa mga Bata, Dulang May Isang Yugto, Dulang Ganap ang Haba, at Dulang Pampelikula; • Regional Languages Division – Short Story-Cebuano, Short Story-Hiligaynon, and Short Story-Ilokano.

Students 18 years old and below are also encouraged to participate in the Kabataan Essay and Kabataan Sanaysay categories. This year’s Kabataan Division theme is, “How

can Philippine literature cultivate national unity?” for the English category and “Paano mapag-iisa ng ating literatura ang ating bansa?” for the Filipino category.

Interested participants may submit only one entry per category. Contest rules and forms are available at any of the Palanca Foundation offices listed below, or may be downloaded from the official CPMA website at www.palancaawards.com.ph.

Entries may be submitted through any of the following means: (1) through the official CPMA website, (2) by mail, or (3) directly to the Palanca Foundation offices, either at Unit 603, 6th Floor Park Trade Centre Bldg., 1716 Investment Drive, Madrigal Business Park, Ayala Alabang, Muntinlupa City or at Unit 3G, OPL Bldg., 100 C. Palanca St., Legaspi Village, Makati City.

Winners will be awarded at a special ceremony to be held on September 1, 2015.

Participants may contact the CPMA Administrator Mrs. Leslie Layoso through the website or at (632) 511-0003; +639108878552, or +639255560457 for assistance.

Established in 1950, the Palanca Awards honors the legacy of businessman and philanthropist Don Carlos Palanca Sr., a staunch supporter of education and literature. The Palanca Awards aims to develop Philippine Literature by providing incentives for writers to craft their most outstanding literary works and by being a treasury of these literary gems.

T H U R S D AY : M A R C H 1 2 : 2 0 1 5

C4

LIFE

BAMBINA OLIVARES WISE EDITOR

g l w e e ke n d @ g m a i l . c o m

NOW SHOWING A GUIDE TO WHAT’S ON AT THE CINEMA THIS WEEK

BIRDMAN

KIDNAPPING FREDDY HEINEKEN

Michael Keaton plays Riggan Thomson, a washed up Hollywood actor famous for playing the superhero Birdman in the ‘90s, who attempts to recover himself, his career, and his family as he writes, directs, and stars in a Broadway play.

R-13

R-13 An action drama film that tells the story of the planning, execution, aftermath, and ultimate downfall of the kidnappers of beer tycoon Alfred “Freddy” Heineken (Anthony Hopkins).

KINGSMAN: THE SECRET SERVICE

CINDERELLA

PG Relive the fairy tale about Ella/ Cinderella (Lily James) who finds herself at the mercy of her wicked stepmother, Lady Tremaine (Cate Blanchett) and stepsisters (Holliday Grainger and Sophie McShera) after her father (Ben Chaplin) passed away. But her fortune will change when she meets her Fairy Godmother (Helena Bonham Carter) who will help her win the heart of Prince Charming (Richard Madden)

R-16 A spy action comedy film based on the comic book The Secret Service, it follows the recruitment and training of an unrefined street kid Gary “Eggsy” Unwin (Taron Egerton) into a secret spy organization just as a global threat emerges led by a twisted tech genius.

RUN ALL NIGHT

R-16 In one night, aging hitman and mobster Jimmy Conlon (Liam Neeson) is forced to take on his long-time best friend and former boss Shawn Maguire (Ed Harris) to protect his estranged son Mike (Joel Kinnaman) and his family.

CHAPPIE

R-13 An American science fiction film about the police droid, Chappie (Sharlto Copley), stolen and reprogrammed to be the first robot that can think and feel for himself in a world where crime is patrolled by a mechanized police force.

SERENA

R-16 An American-French drama film based on the 2008 novel of the same name, it tells the story of George Pemberton (Bradley Cooper) as he struggles to maintain the future of his timber empire when he learned his wife Serena (Jennifer Lawrence) cannot bear children.

CRAZY BEAUTIFUL YOU

PG A spoiled and rebellious young girl, Jackie (Kathryn Bernardo) is forced to tag along with her mom on a medical mission in Tarlac where she meets Kiko (Daniel Padilla) who shows her the other side of life.

THE COBBLER

PG A shoe repairman in a New York shop, Max Simkin (Adam Sandler) stumbles upon a magical heirloom that allows him to step into the lives of his customers and see the world through their eyes.

DRAGON BLADE

R-13 Jackie Chan plays Huo An, the commander of the Protection Squad of the Western Regions of the Han Dynasty who was framed and enslaved by his crooked superior Yinpo (Choi Siwon) for a crime he didn’t commit.

Soon thereafter, he meets Roman general Lucius (John Cusack) who escapes to China after rescuing the Prince, and the pair forms an alliance.

THE LAZARUS EFFECT

R-13 A group of medical professionals have successfully brought back to life a dead colleague, Zoe (Olivia Wilde), using a serum code-named Lazarus they have discovered. But after she displayed unusual abilities, they’ve realized that their attempt to resurrect the dead may have opened the door to evil.

FIFTY SHADES OF GREY

R-18 An erotic romance novel from the first installment of the Fifty Shades trilogy, the film traces the life and adventures of Anastasia Steele (Dakota Johnson) after she met young business magnate, Christian Grey (Jamie Dornan) who introduced to her BDSM.

FOCUS

R-13 Veteran con man Nicky (Will Smith) teaches and falls in love for novice con artist Jess (Margot Robbie), but breaks up with her when she gets too close. Three years later, the two meets in Buenos Aires working separate but equally elaborate cons with the same target.

GANGNAM BLUES (R-16)

R-16 A South Korean noir action film set in the ‘70s, during the height of political corruption, that tells the story of childhood friends Kim Jong-dae (Lee Min-ho) and Baek Yong-ki (Kim Rae-won) who got involved in violent clashes and were separated only to meet three years later where Jong-dae lives as an honest man and Yong-ki a member of Seoul’s most powerful gang.

SCAN THE ICON TO CONNECT TO SURESEATS. COM AND CLICK THE CITY

THE REWRITE

R-13 Keith Michaels (Hugh Grant), a washed-up British screenwriter who won an Oscar in 1998, begins teaching a screenwriting course at Binghamton University in New York where he meets and falls in love with single mother Holly Carpenter (Marisa Tomei).

UNFINISHED BUSINESS

R-16 A small-business owner, Daniel Trunkman (Vince Vaughn) goes on a routine business trip with his two associates (Tom Wilkinson and Dave Franco) that turns to an unimaginable excursion that includes unplanned stops at a massive sex fetish event and a global economic summit.

WILDCARD

R-16 Nick Wild (Jason Statham) is a recovering gambling addict and a bodyguard in Las Vegas who finds himself into the criminal underworld when he fought back against gangster Danny DeMarco (Milo Ventimiglia) who abused his friend Holly (Dominik Garcia-Lorido).

T H U R S D AY : M A R C H 1 2 : 2 0 1 5

SHOWBITZ isahred @ gmail.com

ISAH V. RED EDITOR

C5

MAX COLLINS ON BEING A SEXY COVER GIRL

BY LEO BUKAS

H

EY, guys! The long wait is over! Max Collins finally takes her clothes off, not all, of course, for FHM’s 15th anniversary issu this month.

It almost didn’t happen, ‘though. Due to her hectic shooting schedule for the GMA afternoon series Kailan Ba Tama Ang Mali with Empress Schuck, Dion Ignacio, and Geoff Eigenmann, Max almost backed off from the offer because she felt she wasn’t getting enough gym time to have the kind of body for the magazine.

“I honestly thought I needed more preparation to be more credible as a covergirl, so what I did was I try to eat less and I try to workout as much as possible. Tapos two meals na lang ako in a day, puro fruit and vegetables lang, walang meat. Then, nagyoga din ako, mga two times.

“I was really worried about my weight, but I said okey lang siguro kasi makikita din ng tao yung totoong ako, you know, there’s all type of beauty naman, hindi naman lahat super-payat, hindi naman lahat is kitang-kita ang abs,” she reveals when asked about the little preparation she had.

That aside, Max enthused that the photo shoot for the men’s magazine was an entirely out-of-the-box experience she ever had.

“You may not believe this but, I was really nervous, sobra, kasi first time kong mag-shoot ng sexy! I thought it was gonna be just a piece of cake, pero mahirap pala!

“What kept me going, really was the way the shoot staff treated me. Nasorpresa ako kasi sobrang bait nilang lahat...super nice... hindi put on para lang umokey na ako so the photographer can get on with the sexy shoot.

That made me feel really comfortable. Kaya naging fun and memorable yung experience kong ‘yon!” Max explained.

So, what made it difficult being a pin-up girl? Max giggled and said, “Ang pinamamahirap na part was when Doc Marlon (the

Saab Magalona is Dove’s new brand ambassador

photograher) cut my dress. Nauna muna yung slit, eh, medyo mataas na, so sabi ko, okey lang yan kasi slit lang naman. And then, doon sa may neckline, ginupit na, as you can see in the cover. Sabi ko, wait, hindi pupuwede kasi may wire, he said okey lang yan, tapos hinila niya. Bumaba yung damit ko and I was just holding it up and that’s the product (referring to the cover). Yan yung kinalabasan.”

Since she started baring her body in a magazine does this signal the start of a major career shift to going sexy bigtime?

“Siguro daring in a sense na this is me as a more mature woman, hindi na ako bata, I’m up for more challenges. And it’s a new year, parang new me na rin siguro, pero depende pa rin po sa project, kung maganda naman, I’m up for doing sexy roles or more mature roles.

“I feel really lucky to be an FHM cover girl and not just one of its cover girls, but their 15th anniversary cover girl, so it’s really an honor. I may not be as sexy as the other girls who landed on the cover, but I’m just really thankful because I was considered as sexy,” the actress said.

Word went around that her parents didn’t like the idea at all; that they were distraught when she finally went on with it. She explained, “My mom worried a lot at first, but ngayong nakita niya ‘yung result, nagustuhan niya, maganda naman daw yung kinalabasan kaya happy na rin ako.”

FHM Team Editor Allan Madrilejos said that there had been public clamor for Max to be on the cover.

Max on the other hand revealed, “I think four years na ata nila akong nililigawan.

Bata pa ako no’n, eh. Parang hindi pa time.

But when they approached me again and my management, we thought na wow it’s a great opportunity and I’m really lucky na ako ‘yung napili.”

After years of eluding the offer, Max Collins finally gives in to FHM for sexy poses and one on the cover

SUMMER READY SAAB For Saab Magalona, summer is all about having fun under the sun. It’s about being carefree and adventurous with family and friends.

“Summer is the perfect time of the year to go out and travel so I get summer ready by mostly planning my trips,” Saab said.

Definitely with the season fast approaching, new travel plans are set to begin. Now is the perfect time to plan beach trips with friends and family to take advantage of the many adventures that the season for some fun under the sun offers.

To be ready for the summer, not only do we plan on what to do and where to go but we also put a lot of effort in looking our best. Most go on diets or clock in hours at the gym, wanting to get that beach body. But for some, especially women, no matter how confident they might

be with their body, still feel uncomfortable with their underarms.

Saab says that ladies should be worry-free so they can have a more meaningful summer and with Dove, ladies can definitely wave their hands up in the air with confidence!

This summer, Dove gives ladies a chance to become worry-free and adventurous while looking their best with the Dove Summer-Ready promo! Simply purchase a Dove Summer-Ready Box and get a chance to win weekly prizes such as sleeveless tops from Bayo or the grand prize of and a trip for three to El Nido, Palawan.

The Dove Summer-Ready promo will run until April 20, 2015. For more details on the Dove Summer Ready promo, visit facebook.com/ doveph

T H U R S D AY : M A R C H 1 2 : 2 0 1 5

C6

SHOWBITZ

EDITOR

isahred @ gmail.com

CNNGO EXPLORES HO CHI MINH

BLAST FROM THE PAST

C

atch rock’s legendary group perform its greatest hits when Crosby, Stills & Nash (CSN) visits Manila for an evening of soft-rock songs and beautiful harmonies during a concert on March 16, 8 pm, at the Smart Araneta Coliseum in Cubao, Quezon City.

The historic one-night musical event from Ovation Productions, dubbed An Evening With Crosby, Stills & Nash, is part of the legendary American trio’s 2015 Asian tour that also includes several key cities in Japan as well as Singapore.

It is expected to draw a huge turnout of rock fans, mostly baby boomers lured by the sound of the legendary act considered as rock’s first super group and widely credited for some of the most enduring songs and wonderful harmonies of the 1970s.

Concert-goers will experience an exciting blast from the past as the powerhouse folk rock group presents its fabulous collection of close, high harmonies and soft rock songs, such as “Suite: Judy Blue Eyes,” “Marrakesh Express,” “Woodstock,” “Our House,” “Teach Your Children,” “Long Time Gone” and “Carry On.” Other classic hits in its song list include “Just A Song Before I Go,” “Wooden Ships,” “Almost Cut My Hair” and “Love The One You’re With.”

Composed of David Crosby (vocals, guitar), Stephen Stills (vocals, guitar, keyboards) and Graham Nash (vocals, guitar), Crosby, Stills & Nash brought harmony to the forefront of popular music with its unique threepart vocal blend that turned out hit songs that sold millions of albums and were imitated throughout the 1970s.

Crosby, Stills & Nash as they are now, and when they were country rock’s sensation in the 80s

Moreover, with its emphasis on singing and songwriting above all else, it contributed to the evolution of the singer-songwriter movement during that era.

Born out of famous groups that placed a premium on harmony, Crosby, Stills & Nash boasted impressive individual credentials before its three members came together in 1969: Crosby sang and played rhythm guitar with The Byrds, Stills was a mainstay of Buffalo Springfield, while Nash provided the high harmonies that helped make pop sensation of The Hollies.

Stills and Crosby began writing songs together in 1968 after Buffalo Springfield broke up (The Byrds already split up a year earlier) until they were joined soon thereafter by Nash who had just quit The Hollies. The trio performed together for the first time at the Los Angeles home of Cass Elliot of the Mamas and Papas.

The three made an instant impact on the music industry in 1968 by helping steer rock to a more contemplative, song-oriented place with its classic debut album simply titled, Crosby, Stills & Nash early in the summer of 1969, a few months before the Woodstock Festival, where it played its first-ever concert as a trio.

The album quickly attained the stature of a mega-hit as it yielded such classics as “Suite: Judy Blue Eyes,” “Wooden Ships” and “Long Time Gone.” It was followed a year later by Déjà vu, a more eclectic and electric endeavor brought

CROSSWORD PUZZLE 45 46 48 50 51 52 56 60 61 63

ANSWER FOR PREVIOUS PUZZLE ACROSS 1 Give a big smile 5 Brains, maybe 10 Volvo rival 14 Fully qualified 15 Tatum or Ryan 16 “Swan Lake” attire 17 Raucous diver 18 Edge past 19 Blissful spot 20 Worked clay 22 Kennel noise 24 Pipe bowl, maybe

ISAH V. RED

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Mountain pass Park amenity Duds Sere Early Teutons Hog food Cowboy’s sweetie Minuscule Hydrocarbon suffix Mediterranean landmark Very very

64 65 66 67 68 69

Urn homophone Wanes Voted in Peace offering Auto’s tankful Makes a pit stop Smudged “It was — — mistake!”

Exaggerated King Mongkut’s nanny Smelting waste Lost cause Barge Glass square Smacks a mosquito Bored response

DOWN 1 Stop short 2 Poet’s black 3 Lotion additive 4 Threatened 5 Oats holder (2 wds.)

6 Novelist — Bagnold 7 Rainbow band 8 Actress Tyne — 9 Horses pull them 10 Treeless plains 11 Car import 12 Pharaoh’s god

about by the addition of the rhythm section of Dallas Taylor and Greg Reeves.

In 1977, CSN went on to release an album that yielded a Top Ten hit with Nash’s Just A Song Before I Go, while Daylight Again (1982) produced another Nash-penned hit, “Wasted On The Way.” While each member has pursued a solo career – with Crosby and Nash teaming up as a duo for most of the ‘70s – Crosby, Stills & Nash has increasingly become an artistic home base for the trio.

In 1977, Crosby, Stills & Nash released the quadruple platinum, “CSN” which included “Just A Song Before I Go” (No. 7, 1977), followed the following summer by a tour as an acoustic trio.

In 1982, it released Daylight Again, for which Stills wrote most of the songs, and toured arenas once more It became a Top Ten LP and boasted two Top 20 singles “Wasted On The Way” (No. 9) and “Southern Cross” (No. 18). In 1989, Crosby, Stills and Nash reconvened as a trio for 1990’s “Live It Up” (No. 58).

David Crosby, Stephen Stills and Graham Nash have been inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame twice – first with CSN and later with The Byrds, Buffalo Springfield and The Hollies, respectively.

They have also been inducted into the Songwriter’s Hall of Fame in recognition of their achievements as a group with CSN and as individual members doing solo acts.

An Evening With Crosby, Stills & Nash is presented by Ovation Productions.

Tickets are available at all Ticketnet outlets and online at www.ticketnet. com.ph

THURSDAY, MARCH 12, 2015

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Keg tap Wall Street figure Links goal Roll with a hole Teed off Pottery ovens Utters a dismal cry That place Wide-awake Metaphysical poet Pace Lunar New Year Ease Disconnects North African port Sheer joy Fair-hiring abbr.

Sense organ Rough file First name in jazz Eggy dessert Natural crystals Recital piece Ancient empire Plenty, previously Curfew for Dracula Double helix

This month CNNGo sets its sights on Saigon. Now known as Ho Chi Minh City, the city is in the middle of balancing a growing economy with an intense desire to hold onto its history. CNNGo kicks off the journey on the back of a bike with Vietnam Vespa Adventures, which allows passengers to see snapshots of local life and tucked away hot spots.

Then CNNGo meets up with local rapper Suboi who proudly takes CNNGo to her favorite places that have hints of old Saigon including an incredible family-style meal at Cuc Gach Wuan.

No trip to Vietnam is complete without appreciating the complex history of the country, and that’s where historian Tim Doling comes in. He explains the changing face of Ho Chi Minh City and shows CNNGo a hidden part of history in the middle of the city.

Finally, CNNGo takes a quick trip down to the island of Con Dao, one of the newest tourist destinations in Vietnam. While the island may have a dark past with many revolutionaries imprisoned there during the French occupation, it also boasts breathtaking beaches.

CNNGo is a monthly 30-minute show featuring a unique take on global destinations, bringing views from genuine insiders on what gives dynamic cities in Asia and beyond their distinctive buzz. Whether you’re a local, a business or leisure visitor, or even just a cultural voyeur, CNNGo delivers the best of each city by those who know it best.

More information on the show, extended interviews and additional interactive content is available at http://travel.cnn.com/gotravel Watch CNNGO at 1:30 pm on Saturday and at 8:30 p.m. on Sunday on CNN International.

CNNGO brings viewers to the sights and sounds of Ho Chi Minh in Vietnam

T H U R S D AY : M A R C H 1 2 : 2 0 1 5

SHOWBITZ

ISAH V. RED EDITOR

isahred @ gmail.com

C7

From C8

WELCOME BACK, MAJA

M

aja Salvador is back as the brand ambassador of Sisters Sanitary Napkins and Pantyliners.

Megasoft Company owners, the husband-wife tandem of Emilio and Aileen Go who welcomed Salvador with an elaborate dinner for the members of enterainment press last week at a popular Chinese restaurant in Greenhills.

The Gos were very happy that Salvador agreed to be back as endorser and signed a new contract with the brand.

This coincided with the launch of additional product lines of the company that Cherub Baby Care, Grand Adult Diaper, Twins Lampein-Comfort Baby Diaper, Super Twins Premium Baby Diaper, and the new Fasclean Laundry Powder.

Along with the new products is the new campaign strategy fors Sisters Sanitary Napkin and Pantyliners. This time, Megasoft is launching a Web ad campaign with social media now as the rising tool to promote everyt consumer product.

There will be an omnibus campaign on social media for Sisters Sanitary Napkin and Pantyliners for the loyal users of Sisters.

During the photo and video shoot of Big Boy Productions for Sisters, the staff and crew were very vocal how Maja Salvador was very cooperative.

“We made the right decision to get Maja to endorse Sisters Sanitary Napkin and Pantyliners again. She’s perfect for the productd. We trust her capacity and capability bilang isang grown-up girl at bilang isang aktres. We salute her attitude and simplicity, which we are looking for in an endorser. She’s adorable.

With that pleasant personality, are you surprised why the company loves her? She’s easy to work with, and she doesn’t complain even if the shoot runs up to the wee hours the following day. Now, I see why she

Maja Salvador is back as Sisters endorser.

She was presented to the press by Aileen Go at dinner with members of the press

is blessed. We admire her for that,” Aileen Go said.

Sisters Sanitary Napkin and Pantyliners with Maja Salvador will have a provincial tour this year.

Follow Sisters Sanitary Napkin and Pantyliners on Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook @sisters_ph .

HHHHH Mental Arithmetic is the new method to make children discover the beauty of numbers and how they are applied in real life. Anthony Esguerra was amazed at how children barely out of

their bubble-gum chewing stage are able to calculate long arithmetic problems with big numbers with astounding speed and accuracy.

“I was in Singapore with my wife Anna and we werein this CMA Math Olympiad. We could not believe what we saw. How was that possible? How were able to do rapid and precise calculations? I was thinking if children in the Philippines were able to do that, perhaps the country would be as progressive as Singapore,” he thought.

That’s the reason he brought CMA Mental Arithmetic to the Philippines in 2011. Esguerra left his job in Singapore and put up CMA in the country.

“Our vision is to equip future leaders of out nation, one child at a time.

I believe CMA is the best educational foundation our students need. CMA trains with emphasis on mental arithmetic with the goal of developing fully the students’ brains, enabling them to think harder, faster, sharper, and preparing them to compete globally,” Esguerra explained during the 3rd CMA Mental Arithmetic National Competition at SMX Convention Center in Pasay on the first day of March. The participants came from CMA’s 15 branches across the archipelago.

Master Tai Chiang Ching, the man who founded CMA, was in town to lend moral support to the growing population of young math wizards in the country.

The children competed in three categories: Abacus Mental Arithmetic, Mental Arithmetic, and Aural Mental Arithmetic. The top 10 students in the competitin will compete in Singapore during the 8th Mental Abacus Arithmetic International Olympiad 2015.

CMA was born in Taiwan in 1984.

The participants in the 3rd CMA Mental Arithmetic National Competition

CMA Mental Arithmetic officers led by its President and CEO Anthony Esguerra (left); Vice President for marketing Mark Chin (third from right); Shirley Peh, CMA Philippines Director (second from right), Ariel Ronato, corporate secretary (right) with Guest of Honor CMA Founder Master Tai Chiang Chin (second from left); Tai Candy, daughter of Master Tai (third from left); Chuck Tai (center) son of Master Tai

CMA students are serious calculating the arithmetic problems during the CMA Mental Arithmetic National Competion

Film director Paul Soriano makes it a point to de-stress at Karada to stay focus

DIRECTOR PAUL SORIANO’S SECRET TO STAYING FOCUSED

S

taying out of the limelight and staying focused are two things director Paul Soriano has done successfully despite his stature as a sought-after director.

Paul credits healthy work-life balance and his discovery of the ancient Japanese body alignment technique, Karada, a wellness center with roots in Japan that specializes in the age-old tradition of restoring the body’s inner balance through muscle and bone alignment.

Paul, who learned of Karada through his mom as recommended by his aunt, recalls the first time he tried the treatment at the Karada Body Therapy Center.

“After a session at Karada, I instantly felt recharged and energized. The therapists are very specific to the kind of treatment your body needs which is why I like it so much,” says the 33-year-old film director, who recently got engaged to his long-time girlfriend, actress Toni Gonzaga.

As someone who spends long hours behind the camera, stress is something Paul is exposed to everyday. His schedule is mostly divided between several meetings to brainstorm with the pre-production team and actual production work, which can be anything from producing, executing and directing TV commercials and feature films.

Hitting the greens, therefore, has become the young director’s diversion, which he says helps him clear his mind and allows new ideas to come in. “Playing golf once or twice a week really improves my focus and creativity,” he shares. Outside the golf course, he also finds time to shoot hoops or watch his favorite movies, either at home or in theaters. “Sometimes, a day is good enough for me to recharge and get ready for the next project.”

Paul looks forward to a trip to the Karada Body Therapy Center once or twice a month to have the AP Balance treatment, short for Atlas and Pelvis Balance. This technique was originally developed by KARADA using the combined principles of Chiropractic, Seitai and Judoseifuku. It targets the atlas (neck and shoulders), and the pelvis area by realigning the pelvic position to its natural state resulting to improved posture and balance as well as noticeable relief from back pains.

“I usually tell the therapist what’s bothering me at that specific time and they instantly apply their treatment. After the session, the pain and discomfort are gone. They know exactly what they’re doing and are well trained,” he says.

Aside from the AP Balance, the wellness center also offers a choice list of Body Treatments (BT) and a combination of AP & BT for the full Karada experience. Prior to treatment, an expertly trained therapist will make an assessment of the client’s present condition including any limitations in mobility, after which a recommendation will be given as to what treatment is required to correct the problem. Finally, the Karada therapist will hand over and explain a rationale that details the cause of the problem based on the lifestyle information provided during assessment A Karada treatment can last anywhere from 20 minutes (Energizer), 45 minutes (Therapeutic) to 60-90 minutes (The Bliss), perfect for clients with varying schedules and lifestyles.

“The industry I’m in is very demanding and hectic so making my body well taken care of really helps me and adds to the quality of my work,” he notes.

Karada Body Therapy Center has branches at the new Glorietta Wing in Ayala, Makati (02) 5538731; Greenbelt Radissons in Legaspi Village, Makati (02) 8437425; Greenbelt 1, Legaspi Village, Makati; Serendra in Bonifacio High Street (02) 8236716; Unit 205B Fox Square Bldg. 53 Connecticut St. Northeast Greenhills, San Juan City (02) 5108946 and at the 2nd Floor Westgate Hub Filinvest City, Alabang (02) 8941575.

C8

T H U R S D AY : M A R C H 1 2 : 2 0 1 5

ISAH V. RED EDITOR

isahred @ gmail.com

SHOWBITZ

It is an intense love story involving brothers, who will be separated by hatred and guilt, and their common love for a woman who brings the two back together

A new drama series about two brothers played by Jericho Rosales and Paulo Avelino in love with the same woman, Maja Salvador, premieres on ABS-CBN this month. The series also features Edu Manzano and Carmina Villarroel

TWO BROTHERS, ONE WOMAN IN

‘BRIDGES OF LOVE’

Is this for real, brothers falling for the same woman? Perhaps it is, otherwise ABS-CBN won’t even think of producing a drama series revolving around two brothers competing for the attention of one woman.

That’s what Bridges of Love is all about. Says the writers of the series, “It is an intense love story involving brothers, who will be separated by hatred and guilt, and their common love for a woman who will bridge them together.”

They call it a “story like no other.” Or, how many times did networks call their other series a story like no other?

Anyway Bridges of Love is about Gael (Jericho Rosales) and Carlos (Paulo Avelino). They are separated by an unfortunate tragedy, despite their vow to be of by each other side, come what may.

Separated by guilt and hatred, Gael and Carlos will come around and thanks to their love for Mia (Maja Salvador), a vivacious club dancer who happens to be Gael’s greatest love and the woman who completed Carlos’ broken heart.

Will their love for Mia be the ultimate test to Gael and Carlos’ fractured brotherhood? In the end, will love bring them together, or will it create a wide gap that will make them be farther apart permanently?

Aside from Gael, Carlos, and Mia, the series also unravels the mysterious lives of the powerful businessman, Lorenzo Antonio (Edu Manzano) who is the

SIMPLY RED ISAH V. RED

adoptive parent of Carlos, and Alexa Meyers (Carmina Villarroel), a woman driven to power, and unparalleled glamor with yearnings of being loved again.

★★★★★ This marks the return of Edu Manzano to the Kapamilya lot after exploring what other networks could offer him.

From ABS-CBN he moved to GMA Network where he was underutilized for the most part of his contract. Well, at that time he didn’t want to be in a daily soap opera, so the network had no other choice but give him assignment as program host first in a morning show and then a game show.

Manzano and the Kapuso seem not cut out for each other, so the former moved to the Kapatid network, and by some coincidence where Wilma Galvante was the chief content officer.

In the short run, Manzano wasn’t meant to be a Kapatid for long he left TV5 to rejoin his Kapamilya friends. This time he was willing to go back to the grind of shooting for a nightly drama series.

With him in Bridges of Love were former Kapuso talents Antoinette Taus and Lito Pimentel. He will also be working with Max Eigenmann, Maureen Mauricio, John Manalo, Janus del Prado, William Lorenzo, Joross Gamboa, and Malou de Guzman.

Continued on C7