The Standard - 2015 March 23 - Monday

CYAN MAGENTA YELLOW BLACK VOL. XXIX  NO. 39  3 Sections 32 Pages P18  MONDAY : MARCH 23, 2015  www.manilastandardtoday.com  editorial@thestandard.com.ph

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Singapore’s Lee getting weaker

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Bongbong thinking of running

RIGHTS AGENCY: NO MASSACRE Next page

Quick relief. A woman enjoys the water overflowing from the disused but still watery reservoir called Wawa Dam in Montalban, Rizal. The Philippines on Sunday observed World Water Day, a global event that focuses on finding access to clean and safe water. AFP

Globe 1st to offer new Galaxy

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RoS bags top seed with win

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Etta goes against Poe report

By Sandy araneta and Rey E. Requejo

THE Commission on Human Rights on Sunday assailed the Senate report on the covert Mamasapano operation in which 44 police commandos were killed, saying it was wrong to call it a massacre, and that “emotion rather than objectivity prevailed in the articulation of its findings.”

‘Not enough.’ The workers who attended a mass at the Iglesia Filipina Independiente posted their sentiments over what they thought was an insulting 15-peso wage increase announced recently. DaNNy Pata

Palace: Aquino still enjoys House support

By Sandy araneta THE Palace said Sunday President Benigno Aquino III still enjoys the support of his allies in the House of Represenatives, despite a call for it to resume the investigation of the Mamasapano operation in which 44 police commandos died at the hands of Muslim rebels.

A Senate investigation last week said the President became ultimately responsible for the Mamasapano operation when he allowed his friend, suspended Philippine National Police (PNP) chief Alan Purisima, to participate in the operation to capture or kill two high-level terrorists.

On state-run dzRB, Communications Secretary Herminio Coloma said the President is confident he still enjoys the support of his allies in Congress, despite reports that 120 members of the House had signed a resolution calling for a resumption of the probe.

At the same time, Coloma said the President continues to listen to the sentiments of the Filipino people, and that his handling of the Mamasapano incident was based on what would best serve the national interest.

Coloma’s radio statements came after Vice President Jejomar Binay said that a public apology might help the President recover public confidence in the wake of the Mamasapano debacle.

Coloma said they fully understand

that many were not amenable to the explanations made by President Aquino on his involvement in the Mamasapano incident.

He also said they know that emotions remain high since the bereaved families of the slain SAF commandos are still mourning their dead.

The Palace official said the administration is ready to give additional information and continues to explain to the public, not only about the Mamasapano incident, but also important issues the nation is facing.

Coloma said the government is open to all suggestions from Filipino citizens on how to improve of the programs of the administration.

He added that the Palace would await a request for information from the House regarding is investigation of the Mamasapano incident.

Coloma also said the Armed Forces, which earlier launched an all-out offensive against the Bangsamoro Islamic Liberation Front, would observe a ceasefire in view of the graduation ceremonies in some schools in affected areas of Mindanao.

He said he had no information on how long the ceasefire would last.

Coloma also said the Department of Social Welfare and Development was moving to help civilians displaced by the recent fighting in Mindanao.

A staunch ally of President Aquino, Senator Antonio Trillanes IV on Sunday

lambasted the Palace for its mishandling of the Mamasapano incident, but insisted that the President was not to blame for the deaths of the 44 police commandos.

“On the part of Malacanang, it was a failed handling right from the very start,” Trillanes said.

The senator criticized the nationwide addresses of the President, which he said raised more questions and created further confusion.

In fact, he said, they fuled public outrage over the botched secret operation to capture or kill Malaysian terrorist Zulkifli bin Hir alias Marwan and Filipino bomb expert Basit Usman.

Trillanes said the non-appearance of the President at the arrival rites for the fallen policemen at the Villamor Air Base was also a mistake.

“That was very simple, and yet he failed to do it,” Trillanes said.

He also said the President failed to issue a statement on his role in the planning of Operation Exodus to either the Senate panel or the police board of inquiry that were investigating the incident.

Trillanes also acknowledged that it was wrong for the President to meet with members of the police board of inquiry after they released their report, saying this might be seen as a sign that nobody should go against the President.

“So all of these shortcomings were already there. But if we go back to the question if the President

“While the commission commiserates with the families of the victims and acknowledges that the killing of the Fallen 44 was unjustified, categorizing the incident as a ‘massacre’ is excessive,” said the commission’s chairwoman, Loretta Ann P. Rosales.

“The mere use of high-powered firearms and mortars does not automatically equate to cruelty, inasmuch as it was not clearly established who, between the MILF (Moro Islamic Liberation Front) and BIFF (Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters), used what,” Rosales said.

“Moreover, this characterization also overlooks the fact that the SAF (Special Action Force) were armed, albeit outgunned. In other words, although their situation was dire, the SAF were not necessarily ‘helpless or unresisting,’” she said.

Rosales’ statement did not touch on autopsy findings that some of the police commandos had been shot n the head at close range, and that some were stripped of their body armor before being shot, suggesting that they were helpless when the Muslim rebels killed them.

Instead, Rosales defended the MILF and the government peace panel, and took the senators to task for criticizing them.

“The Senate report trivializes the maturity with which the MILF has chosen to deal with the situation,” Rosales said, noting that it had forged ahead anyway with the signing the protocol on the decommissioning of weapons and forces.

She also said the senators were mistaken in equating the MILF’s actions to insincerity in the peace process.

“The inability of the MILF leadership to control a few elements... has nothing to do with its sincerity in entering into peace negotiations. The actions of a few rogue members cannot and should not be interpreted as the actions of the whole,” she said.

Rosales also said she was dismayed by the senators’ characterization of the Office of the Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process (OPAPP) as “suffering an excess of optimism” that blinded them from negotiating a fair deal for the government in the Bangsamoro Basic Law (BBL), which has come under increasing attack in Congress over provisions that are said to be unconstitutional.

But Rosales said no court has passed judgment yet on the draft law, and that it was still in Congress so that lawmakers could review its provisions.

“Internal conflicts take time to resolve,” Rosales said. “In El Salvador, it took 12 years of fighting before the government and the Frente Faribundo Martí de Liberación Nacional managed to enter into the Chapultepec agreement.

In Northern Ireland, two decades of violence preceded the signing of the Belfast agreement. The complexity of the situation in Mindanao is no different.”

Rosales also attacked the senators for failing to highlight the welfare of civilians who died in the firefight.

“One must not overlook the fact that, outside of the Fallen 44, there were five civilians and 17 MILF casualties, resulting in the death of a total of 66 Filipinos, including a child of 8 years of age,” she said.

The left-wing Bagong Alyansang Makabayan tore into Rosales for her statement.

“It is hardly surprising that Aquino’s ally from Akbayan is defending him... Rosales shouldn’t be lawyering for the President as she is the head of an independent commission,” the group’s secretarygeneral, Renato Reyes, said.

In a speech Sunday, Justice Secretary Leila de Lima again shielded the President from liability in the Mamasapano incident, and insisting that there was no chain of command to violate in the Philippine National Police (PNP) because it is a civilian, not a military agency.

But she also said the President may have made “an error of judgment” in putting his trust in his good friend, the suspended PNP chief Alan Purisima.

“The President... has, time and again admitted that his mistake may have been to trust the wrong people, who ended up giving him inaccurate, if not outrightly false, information,” she said.

“But that is an error in judgment that one can only know from hindsight. As we all know, hindsight is 50-50 [sic], and it is so easy to play armchair President these days,” De Lima added.

De Lima, noting the difference between military and civilian organizations, said the President could not be held criminally liable for violating the chain of command in the PNP, a civilian agency.

“I mention this distinction not to minimize or lessen the President’s command responsibility in either scenario, if, when we speak of ‘command responsibility’ we speak of accountability. The President is, of course, accountable. No question about it,” she said.

Speaking at a Rotary Club function in Manila, De Lima again asked the public not to be so quick to judge the President, despite the damaging conclusions of the police board of inquiry and the Senate.

“The President should not be judged that easily because this President is a very responsible person and he has the interest of our country at heart,” she said.

The Palace said Sunday there was no need to create yet another fact-finding body to conduct an independent investigation, a move supported by some of the President’s allies in the Senate.

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‘Economy to suffer from crisis in Makati’

By Vito Barcelo and Rey E. Requejo THE camp of Makati Mayor Erwin “Junjun” Binay warned that the continued political tensions in Makati will ultimately affect the Philippine economy and put the Aquino Administration in a bad light.

Binay spokesperson Joey Salgado said the continuing situation in Makati brings bad images to the Philippine economy because of politics.

“It is worrying about the negative perception being created in the minds of foreign investors by this situation where the executive department, the interior secretary no less, is impeding services and will fully violating an order of the court for political purposes.

What signal does that send to foreign investors?” Salgado said.

“We all know how important Makati is to the Philippine economy, being the country’s financial center,” he said, adding that the ongoing standoff could seriously undermine the country’s economic gains.

But that did prevent Justice Secretary Leila de Lima from assailing the propriety of the Court of Appeals’ issuance of temporary restraining order stopping Binay’s preventive suspension pending a preliminary investigation on corruption charges.

Speaking before the Rotary International district conference last Friday, De Lima questioned the validity of issuance of TRO by the appellate court, which she earlier described “moot and academic” since the act sought to be restrained has already been implemented.

De Lima stressed that the CA has no authority to stop actions of the Ombudsman, unless the anti-graft body acted with grave abuse of discretion.

The justice secretary claimed that the TRO issued by the appellate court was “undue interference” to the mandate of the Ombudsman to investigate corruption charges against government officials.

“Courts are not supposed to interfere unless the office of the Ombudsman acted without jurisdiction or with grave abuse of discretion amounting to lack or excess of jurisdiction,” De Lima pointed out.

She cited Section 14 of Republic Act 6770 (Ombudsman Act), which prohibits issuance of injunctions like TRO by any court that would delay an investigation being conducted.

Commotion. Security men try to control the crowds near the back door entrance to the Makati City Hall after unconfirmed reports said Vice Mayor Kid Peña’s men would be attempting to enter the main building today. Ey ACAsio

Bongbong admits he’s eyeing presidential run

By Macon Ramos-Araneta

SENATOR Ferdinand Marcos Jr. said Saturday he is considering a run for the presidency in 2016.

In an interview over radio dzMM, Marcos said although seeking reelection as a senator was his “default setting,” there were calls for him to run for president.

“Many have been saying that I should run (for President). I listen to all of them, and I’m happy for their strong support. So, we will thoroughly study everything,” Marcos said.

The only son of the late President Ferdinand Marcos and Ilocos Norte Rep. Imelda Marcos, Senator Marcos

had kept silent on any plan to run for President.

In her birthday celebration last year, Mrs. Marcos said she dreamed of returning to Malacañang with her son becoming president.

The senator said he has seen the presidency from different sides, while most people just see the grandeur and power.

“I saw my father at the end of the day and at the beginning of the day, the kind of problems he had to face.

The kind of very serious sacrifices you have to make if you want to become a good president,” he said.

Marcos said anybody can be a president, but noe everyone can be a good one. There is no use in becoming president if you cannot be a good one, he added.

The Nacionalista Party senator told dzMM that he was going to be

a candidate for 2016, but it was as yet unclear for which position.

“But we have a saying that luck is only being ready when opportunity presents itself. This means one should be ready for luck. So I will make myself the luckiest to the best of my ability,” he said.

Anticipating questions about his graduation from Oxford, Marcos said he would go to London over the Holy Week to collect his records to put an end to the controversy.

“Slowly, I am addressing these concerns. I already got my file from La Salle, that’s for my high school.

I will get everything so that when questioned again, I can show them the papers, and there’s no need for me to explain,” he said.

He also said he expects some people will take it against him for being the son of the martial law

strongman.

“We cannot change history, and we really cannot change what actually happened,” the senator said. “You can’t say this happened, and this did not happen. It would just be easy to prove my father accomplished many things, and there were significant developments in the country when he was President,” he said.

“Now, if there are personal issues or whatever it is, that’s a different matter. But as a President, I cannot perhaps turn my back on the record of my father. Also, I have always been saying that whatever opinions you have about my father, I think that can no longer be changed, regardless of what I may say or do. So the record of my father will stand. My father does not need help to explain his record. History speaks for itself,” he added.

Palace supports giving free Wi-Fi all over the country By sandy Araneta

Unfriendly skies. This photograph of the Metro Manila skyline as seen from a passenger airline shows the polluted haze that envelops the metropolis on a near-permanent basis.

MALACAÑANG yesterday expressed support to the plan of the Department of Science and Technology to provide free wifi internet in public places in the country.

The Free Wi-Fi Internet Access in Public Places project of the Department of Science and Technology’s Information and Communications Technology Office to bring Internet connectivity to class 4, 5, and 6 municipalities in the country recently got a three billion peso upgrade from the Senate and will be a nationwide project.

Originally, the Project was designed to cover only town plazas of 748 class 4, 5 and 6 municipalities, with a budget of 334 million pesos. Last week’s budget deliberations in the Senate upgraded the project to have nationwide coverage.

The project is now designed to provide not only free Wi-Fi in town plazas in municipalities, but also including transport terminals (train, sea and air), school yards, hospital lobbies, national government agencies, public parks and local government unit offices.

Secretary Herminio Coloma Jr., head

of the Presidential Communications Operations Office, said during yesterday’s radio program “Pilipinas! Pilipinas!” hosted

by Albert Sebastian and Efren Montano on DZRB (Radyo ng Bayan), expressed Malacanang’s support for the project.

According to the DOST website, World Bank studies showed that for every 10 percent increase in broadband connectivity results in a 1.38 percent increase in Gross Domestic Product (GDP).

Undersecretary Louis Casambre of the DOST-ICT Office, said “any increase in Internet connectivity through “Free Wi-Fi Internet Access in Public Places” will jump start economic development by giving access to e-Commerce, e-Learning, and eGovernment tools to beneficiaries…”

These can increase their incomes and pushing their economic status upwards across the nation, especially those belonging in the countryside, said Casambre.

Casambre also added that most of the countryside is in a “vicious cycle” where most citizens are unable to afford broadband Internet giving little to no incentive for private sector Internet Service Providers to invest in the necessary network infrastructure.

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Beating the heat. Kids in Road 10 in Tondo, Manila beat the heat using inflatable pools on Sunday. DANNY PATA

Operations vs BIFF will go on, Catapang vows THE military offensives against the members of the Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters, Jemaah-Islamiyah-linked groups and other terrorist groups will continue until they are arrested or neutralized, an official said Sunday.

“The security forces will continue to conduct military operations against the terrorist BIFF and their cohorts in their communities,” Armed Forces Chief Gregorio Pio Catapang Jr. said.

He made his statement even as another official said the 120,000 people displaced by the Army’s offensive against the Muslim insurgents would soon be allowed to return home now that the violence had eased.

“We will determine which areas will be safe for the evacuees to go back in the areas already cleared of the Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom

Fighters,” regional military spokeswoman Captain Joan Petinglay said.

The military in Maguindanao in February launched an all-out operation against the BIFF, a small insurgent group fighting to set up an Islamic state in the south. It rejects a peace pact signed by the much larger Moro Islamic Liberation Front from which the BIFF split.

The UN refugee agency has warned that more than 120,000 people have fled their homes in the south due to the fighting.

Several non-government organizations have been calling for a

For want of import papers, 44 pigeons exterminated AIRPORT veterinarians destroyed 44 homing pigeons from The Netherlands on Saturday for not having clearances from the Bureau of Animal Industry, an official said Sunday.

Head veterinarian Cristina Betito said the pigeons arrived on March 7, but those had to be destroyed because they came from a country in Europe where an outbreak of Avian flu had taken place.

Even the pigeons’ crates were burned to avoid the spread of

any diseases, Betito said.

She said birds and poultry products from abroad were temporarily banned from entering the Philippines because of the country’s National Avian Influenza Protection Program.

Betito said a veterinarian found the 44 pigeons at the Miascor warehouse after those were offloaded from a Qatar Airways flight without sanitary and phyto-sanitary clearances from the Bureau of Animal Industry. Eric B. Apolonio

ceasefire between the military and the BIFF and other terrorist groups because of the increasing number of displaced people in Mindanao.

But the military says it might scale down its operation against the Muslim insurgents but will not stop it to avoid giving the insurgents breathing space.

“We have gained the momentum in this fight against lawlessness and we will never abandon our constitutional mandate to protect the people from bandits, criminals and terrorists,” Catapang said.

“As of today, March 21, we have accounted for 139 killed, 53 wounded and 12 arrested BIFF members,” he said.

Earlier, Catapang and Interior Secretary Manuel Roxas II declared the BIFF a terrorist group for coddling the terrorist Usman and his foreign JI cohorts who were said to have been

behind the bombings in Mindanao.

Meanwhile, Catapang said they will facilitate the conduct of joint graduation ceremonies for the schools in the areas that have been affected by the military operations against the BIFF. “We are considering a proposal to identify a safe area where the joint graduation ceremonies can be conducted,” Catapang said.

“We need to discuss and take collective decisions together with our partners like the LGUs [local government units], the PNP [Philippine National Police] and DEPED [Department of Education].

“We would like to see school children flocking to schools in pursuit of education and better lives.

We are delighted to see them finish school and receive their diplomas and recognition.”

Florante S. Solmerin, with AFP

Against privatization.

Members of a militant group stage a protest against the privatization of water resources on National Water Day during a press-conference in Quezon City Sunday. MANNY PALMERO

Lawmaker hits lack of funding for education A CONGRESSMAN chided President Benigno Aquino III for failing to fulfill his promise to set up P29 billion Tertiary Education Stabilization Fund to support in part some 72,000 faculty and non-teaching personnel from the private sector who will affected by the full implementation of the K to 12 program next year.

“This remains a promise until now. There is no funding commitment yet from the Department of Budget and Management,” Alliance of Concerned Teachers party-list Rep. Antonio Tinio said during the Suspend K to 12 Alliance Forum held over the weekend.

“Many people will really lose their jobs under the K to 12,” he added.

Of the total amount, P10 billion will be allotted for to compensate teachers from the private sector who will be displaced during the first two years of implementation of the program.

Tinio said P12 billion will be used to support the higher educational studies of the private school teachers who will be retained.

Tinio said at least 57,000 teachers from different private universities and colleges stand to lose their jobs since there will be no new freshmen next year.

These teachers who will be displaced will receive P30,000 monthly from the stabilization fund until they get another job.

The government plans to give P15,000 monthly to non-teaching personnel who will lose their jobs in private institutions until they get another employment, Tinio said.

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‘Filipinos world’s 5th happiest’

By Sandy Araneta FIlIPINOS should rejoice being voted the 5th happiest country to live in, a Malacanang official said on Sunday.

Secretary Herminio Coloma Jr., head of the Presidential Communications Operations Office, said on DZBB that a UN survey ranked the Philippines among the happiest countries in the world. The survey was released on the United Nations’ International Day of Happiness last Friday.

After researchers of performance-management consulting firm gallup surveyed adults in 143 countries in 2014, they compiled a Positive Experience Index that showed the Philippines as the fifth country in the world with the highest Positive Experience Index Score. The country got a score of 80, Coloma said citing the UN survey.

The report also said Paraguay topped the survey with a score of 89.

Second place are Colombia, Ecuador and guatemala which all got a score of 84.

Honduras, Panama and Venezuela are third on the list with a score of 82.

The report also showed that Costa Rica, El Salvador and Nicaragua got 81, and are fourth place.

The index score of the world is 71.

The report cited that researchers of gallup interviewed 1,000 adults aged 15 and older in each country to reflect on their overall state the day before the survey.

Respondents were asked if they had experienced positive feelings of respect, laughter and enlightenment.

“Did they feel well rested?

Were they treated with respect? Did they smile or laugh a lot? Did they learn something interesting?,” were asked the respondents, according to the report. These are the things that make life worth living but which the gDP does not measure, the report said.

Grateful. Leyte Rep.Ferdinand Martin G. Romualdez (left) hands a plaque of recognition to Integrated Bar of the Philippines national president Vicente Joyas for helping victims of typhoon Yolanda in Tacloban City and other parts of Leyte. VER NoVENo

Solon seeks review of migration policy

By Macon Araneta

Senator Juan edgardo angara has filed a resolution seeking to re-examine the government’s migration policies following the public outcry for more protection to Filipino workers overseas.

In Senate Resolution No. 1242, Angara also wants to look into the existing labor laws and regulations amid continuing abuses experienced by migrant workers.

“It has been two decades since the execution of Flor Contemplacion in Singapore for allegedly killing a co-

worker and a young boy. This caused a national trauma that compelled both the executive and legislative to enact legislation protecting OFWs worldwide,” he said.

Angara is the acting chairman of the Senate committee on labor, employment and human resources de-

velopment since the panel chairman Senator Jinggoy Estrada is under detention on plunder charges.

Angara cited a Department of Foreign Affairs document showing that majority of OFWs facing death penalty were involved in drug-related cases. The number of such cases has reached 88 as of March this year from 80 in 2013.

Senator Aquilino Pimentel III also filed Senate Resolution No. 1226 asking the Senate Committee on Justice and Human Rights, which he chairs, to investigate the reported cases of OFWs who are facing the death sentence.

Pimentel said adequate legal assistance must be provided to those

charged with crimes punishable by death to save them from the death row and uphold the “right to life” of every human being.

The DFA also said that there were 1,135 human trafficking cases in 2013 from 1,029 in 2012.

An average of 1,600 illegal recruitment cases were handled by Philippine Overseas Employment Administration from 2007 to 2011.

This is an indication that every year, thousands of hopeful Filipinos are victimized by illegal recruiters while the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration handled an average of more than 50,000 cases on-site annually from 2009 to 2013.

Earth Hour 2015 intended to combat climate change

Hosed down. Fire fighters try to contain a grass fire along Roxas Boulevard in Don Galo, Parañaque City on Sunday, March 22, 2015. The nation marks fire prevention month in CYAN MAGENTA YELLOW BLACK

MAlACAñANg, expressing its support for the upcoming celebration of Earth Hour, has urged Filipinos nationwide to simultaneously switch off electricity for an hour on March 28, 2015.

Secretary Herminio Coloma Jr. head of the Presidential Communications Operations Office, said the Philippines will be joining the world in celebrating Earth Hour 2015.

“We encourage our people to participate in Earth Hour 2015 by voluntarily switching off all lights for

one hour from 8:30 to 9:30 in the evening on Saturday, March 28. In so doing, Filipinos will be showing their solidarity with the rest of the world in efforts to combat climate change, thereby promoting a cleaner, healthier and greener world,” Coloma said.

According to local organizers, the main switch-off will be held at the Quezon City Memorial Circle.

Earth Hour is a worldwide grassroots movement of the World Wide Fund to unite people to take action for the planet, Coloma said.

Coloma said this year’s global tagline for Earth Hour is “Use Your Power to Change Climate Change.”

The Philippines has been championing the switch-off for Earth Hour since 2008 and has topped participation records from 2009 to 2013, thus earning the title of “Earth Hour Hero Country,” Coloma said.

This year, Earth Hour Philippines will be donating portable solar lamps to off-grid communities to help them to safely and economically light up their homes. SANDY ARANETA

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180 lumads in Agusan evacuate gay Bunawan Brook Multi-Purpose Hall.

There is some government food supply ration but lacking because LGU of Bunawan town can’t justif y to release funds because of problem of determination if the evacuation was caused by natural or man-made calamities since they are NPA rebels induced ” Borces added.

Borces claimed that every time the military’s COPD workers visited their homes to assess the insurgency situation, residents told them that the rebels were also organizing

By Alvin T. Guanzon BUTUAN CITY- One hundred eighty (180) Lumads have left their homes anew for fear of being caught in the crossfire between the military and NPA rebels in the area where three brothers – Phillip, Philims and Philjohn Poloyapoy—were abducted, of which one (Philjohn) was later found dead.

Capt. Joselito Borces, spokesman of the 75th IB Philippine Army said Sunday that the evacuees were from two sitios of Barangay Bunawan Brooks, Bunawan, Agusan del Sur and that New People’s Army and al-

lied groups told them to evacuate to prevent them from talking to the Community Organizing for Peace and Development of the Armed Forces of the Philippines.

“The evacuees are now staying at Baran-

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vacant houses, community cooperatives, chapels and multipurpose halls were also the reasons why the IPs are leaving their homes.

She added that the evacuees started leaving their homes on February 3, 2015.

Meanwhile, KARAPATAN Agusan del Sur said evacuees told them that soldiers remained in theior communities and living in the houses they vacated.

Only this week, some 1,000 Lumad evacuees from 14 tribal communities in San Luis, Agusan del Sur returned to their homes after a dialogue organized by

Agusan del Sur Governor Eddie Bong Plaza and San Luis mayor Ronald Corvera March 19.

The evacuees decried their situation in the evacuation center given the slow pace of government help.

“We felt as if there is no Philippine government existing due no DWSD, DOH, Dep Ed and other government agencies like TESDA helping as in our day to day lives to overcome poverty at least.

Personnel of these government agencies should not just stay in their airconditioned offices,” said Datu Jumong, one of the tribal leaders.

Message of Thanks

Notice of Dissolution of Jobin & Jobin Incorporated Notice is hereby given of the dissolution of JOBIN & JOBIN INCORPORATED as of December 31, 2012. Any party who has interest in this regard may give notice thereof at:

the communities.

COPD soldiers are supposed to help build peace confidence measures, assess socio-economic situation in the communities like how government can help improve delivery of basic social services on health, education, livelihood, improve agriculture productivity.

“It is the insurgency problem that make communities poorer,” he said.

But Human Rights group Karapatan-Caraga Secretary General Elaisa Pangilinan said that military occupation of private and public areas in the community, including

We, the family of the late Engr. Fernando M. De Castro Jr. who peacefully passed away in the grace of our Lord last January 20, 2015 at the age of 82 wish to express our heartfelt gratitude and sincerest appreciation to all who offered masses and prayers, sent flowers and messages of sympathy and who in countless ways, condoled with and comforted us in our hour of bereavement. ( T N S - M A R 2 3, 3 0 /A PR 6, 2 015)

( T N S - M A R 2 3 , 3 0 /A PR 6, 2 015)

Annex B; Proposed Petition Notice for the Renewal of Permit for Propagation PETITION NOTICE FOR PERMIT RENEWAL PROPOSAL FOR THE RENEWAL OF THE PERMIT FOR PROPAGATION OF Bt11 CORN 1.

2.

Name of Applicant: SYNGENTA Philippines, Inc. Address/Telephone & Facsimile Nos./ E-Mail Address 12/F Two World Square, Upper McKinley Road McKinley Town Center, Fort Bonifacio, Taguig City 1630 Philippines Tel. +63 2 3702100; Fax +63 2 8569260; E-mail: http://www.syngenta.com.ph

3.

Name of Responsible Officer/Authorized Representative Duong Ba Cau, President and Commercial Unit Head, Philippines Felipe S. dela Cruz, Jr., Regulatory Affairs Manager, Seeds Philippines

4.

Description of the Regulated Article for Propagation Bt11 corn was obtained by transforming initial parent corn lines with plasmid pZ01502, containing cry1A(b) and pat genes through protoplast transformation/regeneration system. The truncated cry1a(b) gene encodes the Btk protein which confers resistance to Lepidopteran insects upon ingestion. The pat gene encodes the enzyme pat that inactivates phosphinothricin, giving Bt11 corn the tolerance to glufosinate ammonium herbicide.

5.

Countries Where Regulated Article Has Been Approved, Its Approved Uses and Year/s of Approval.

Bt11 corn is approved for cultivation in the USA (1996), Argentina (2001), Brazil (2008), Canada (1996), Colombia (2008), Japan (1996), Paraguay (2012), Philippines (2005, renewed 2010), Republic of South Africa (2003) and Uruguay (2004).

It is approved for food use in the USA (1996), Argentina (2001), Australia (2001), Belarus (2011), Brazil (2008), Canada (1996), China (2004), Colombia (2009), European Union (1998), Indonesia (2011), Japan (1996), Kazakhstan (2011), Malaysia (2012), Mexico (2007), New Zealand (2001), Paraguay (2012), Philippines (2003; renewed 2008), Russian Federation (2003), South Africa (2002), South Korea (2003), Switzerland (1998), Taiwan (2004), Uruguay (2004), and Vietnam (2014).

It is approved for feed use in the USA (1996), Argentina (2001), Brazil (2008), Canada (1996), China (2004), Colombia (2008), European Union (1998), Japan (1996), Malaysia (2012), Mexico (2007), Paraguay (2012), Philippines (2003; renewed 2008), Russian Federation (2006), South Africa (2002), South Korea (2006), Switzerland (1998), Turkey (2011), Uruguay (2004), and Vietnam (2014).

6.

Narrative Explanation Why the Regulated Article Is As Safe As Its Conventional Counterpart, Including Presence or Absence of Any Adverse Effects Based on compositional/nutritional analyses, allergenicity and toxicity studies specifically conducted to assess its safety and from data currently available from the scientific literature, Bt11 corn is substantially equivalent to and as safe as conventional corn. It is essentially the same as its conventional counterpart, except for its built in resistance to Asiatic corn borer (ACB) and glufosinate tolerance. It passed the scrutiny of the regulatory agencies in many countries that granted biosafety approvals for Bt11. No adverse effects had been reported to date.

Field trials conducted to determine efficacy of Bt11 to ACB showed the same diversity of insects in Bt11 and conventional corn plots, except for the absence of ACB and its damage in Bt11 plants. These results demonstrated that Bt11 is specific to ACB and does not harm non-target organisms. In fact, higher populations of beneficial insects like coccinellids, spiders and others were recorded in Bt11 corn fields.

Similarly, Bt11 corn has been shown to be as safe as the conventional varieties in commercial fields in the Philippines. Continuous arthropod monitoring in Bt11 and non-Bt11 commercial fields since 2005 showed the same diversity of non-target organisms, including beneficial insects. Reports of these observations are regularly submitted to BPI post approval monitoring team. In other cultivation countries where Bt11 has been approved for cultivation since 1996, no safety concerns have been reported. Any measures for waste disposal and treatment of Bt11 corn and derived products are the same as those for other conventional products.

7.

Summary of Experiences in the Philippines on the Regulated Article, Including (a) Presence or Absence of Any Adverse Effects, (b) Data on Commercial Planting, and (c) Use Prior to its commercialization, Bt11 corn was tested extensively at multiple locations in the field in a broad range of environments around the world, including the Philippines.

Utilization and planting of Bt11 corn in the Philippines since 2005 has been safe for human and animal health. It is also safe to non-target insects. The human and environmental safety of Bt crops is supported by the long history of safe use for Bt microbial pesticides around the world. The possible development of resistance of Asiatic corn borer (ACB) to Bt corn is currently mitigated by the implementation of a scientifically sound and practical Insect Resistance Management (IRM) strategy. Overall, Bt11 corn is an environmentally sustainable and economical way for growers to control ACB and protect yield and grain quality.

Syngenta’s Bt11 corn was granted propagation approval by BPI on April 14, 2005 and renewed on April 23, 2010. The conditions for approval that it should meet the recommended IRM strategy including the submission of monitoring reports on farmer education in IRM and seed adoption, and monitoring of insect resistance development of ACB, non-target organisms (NTOs) and corn diseases have been fully complied with.

Our monitoring data on Bt11 commercial cultivation from 2005 to 2014 which were submitted to BPI showed the following conclusions: • No harmful effects on animals and human were reported • No incidence or report of ACB resistance development • No reported effect on NTOs. In fact, higher populations of beneficial insects like coccinellids, spiders and others were recorded in Bt11 corn fields Syngenta’s Bt11 corn is currently commercialized as stack product Bt11 x GA21 and implements the 90:10 bag-in-a-bag (BIB) refuge strategy in the field.

8.

Reasons Why a Renewal of the Existing Permit Should Be Granted • Increase in adoption of Bt corn plantings in the Philippines since 2005; providing effective control of ACB resulting to increased income to Filipino farmers due to higher yield and improved grain quality • No reported biosafety issue or incidents under commercial scale planting from 2005 to 2014 which proved the safety of Bt11 corn to the environment and supporting the granting of BPI propagation approval • Strict compliance to establish Insect Resistance Management (IRM) in compliance with MC2 S2014 • Paraguay was added to the list of Bt11 propagating countries. No reported biosafety issue in all other cultivating countries worldwide. No negative impacts on the environment or human health have been reported during these releases

For additional information on the proposed propagation, please contact: Duong Ba Cau/Felipe S. dela Cruz, Jr. Syngenta Philippines, Inc. 12/F Two World Square, #22 Upper McKinley Road McKinley Town Center, Fort Bonifacio, Taguig City 1630 Philippines Tel. No. +63 2 3702100; Fax No. +63 2 8569260 E-mail address: ba_cau.duong@syngenta.com felipe.dela_cruz@syngenta.com The public is hereby invited to submit their comments on the proposed renewal of permit for propagation, within fifteen (15 days from the date of publication, to: Director Bureau of Plant Industry San Andres, Malate, Manila Telephone Number 525-7857 Fax Number 521-7650 E-Mail bpibiotechsecretariat@yahoo.com Approved for Publication: (SGD.) DANTE V. FIDEL OIC-Director Bureau of Plant Industry

(TNS-MAR. 23, 2015)

A living cultural landscape. The rice terraces made it to the UNESCO World Heritage List in December 1995. TEDDY PELAEZ

Ecija mayor finally unseated PANTABANGAN, Nueva Ecija — After a five-month stand-off at the municipal hall, the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) dismissed last Thursday incumbent Mayor Lucio Uera for grave misconduct and grave abuse of authority for illegally suspending and terminating some 40 permanent employees of the municipal hall here nine years ago.

The dismissal order, dated March 13,2015, was issued by DILG Region 3 director Florida M. Dijan and was served at the municipal hall by Dr. Abraham A. Pascua, DILG assistant regional director and concurrent DILG provincial director for Nueva Ecija and DILG regional legal officer, lawyer Myron C. Cunanan.

Uera’s aide, Gerardo Sator, refused to accept the dismissal order, prompting Pascua and Cunanan to record the proceeding in the log book of the mayor’s office.

Pascua and Cunanan also served separate orders - both signed by Dijan - for Vice Mayor Ruben Huerta and Uera’s nephew, first Councilor Vincent M. Uera to assume the post of mayor and vice mayor, respectively.

Huerta, a former three-term mayor and the younger Uera, received their assumption orders themselves.

Copies of Dijan’s triple orders were furnished the offices of Panadero, Morales, DILG Resident Ombudsman, lawyer Hilario Favila Jr. and Nueva Ecija Gov. Aurelio Umali.

Dijan’s three orders were the offshoot of a March 11,2015 memorandum of DILG Undersecretary Austere Panadero endorsing to her office the November 6, 2014 order of the Office of the Ombudsman which was approved last February 6 by Ombudsman Conchita Carpio-Morales imposing on Uera the administrative penalty of dismissal from the service.

Dijan said with the Ombudsman’s ruling, there is no more legal impediment for the implementation of the June 10, 2013 joint resolution.

The administrative case stemmed from a complaint filed by Antonio Capia and 43 other employees in March 2005 accusing Uera of unjustly suspending and terminating their services.

A separate criminal case for violations of Republic Act 3019, also known as the Anti-Graft and Cor-

rupt Practices Act and Republic Act 6713, otherwise known as the Code of Ethical Conduct for Government Officials and Employees for the same complaint has been resolved by the Ombudsman in favor of the employees. Morales approved a resolution last October 3 denying his instant motion for reconsideration and recommending the filing of an information against Uera before the Sandiganbayan after finding probable cause to indict him for graft.

In their complaint, the dismissed employees said that they were about to report to work as permanent employees of the municipality on January 3, 2005 when they were barred entry into the municipal hall by Uera’s alleged “goons.” They claimed their daily time records (DTRs) and personal belongings were confiscated.

Because they could not report to the municipal hall, they said they went instead to the Sangguniang Bayan building where Uera’s rival, Romeo Borja Sr. was holding office after he was proclaimed winner in an electoral protest he filed against Uera in connection with the 2004 elections. FERDIE G. DOMINGO

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A7

news

editorial@thestandard.com.ph

Passage of ‘green bills’ urged

By Ronald O. Reyes

“Why did you turn your back on me?” this poster by the bridge over a stream in Cebu would have asked if it could talk. For World Water Day, almost 100 individuals from several organizations joined activities to promote the cleanup of rivers and streams. RALPH PIEZAS

Tuba IPs give consent to four hydro plants TUBA, Benguet – Indigenous peoples in this town gave their free and prior informed consent (FPIC) for the establishment of four mini-hydro power plants in two barangays.

The plants will maximize the potential of available water resources to produce additional renewable power for the Luzon grid.

The consent of the Tuba indigenous peoples to the renewable power projects was made official in a memorandum of agreement signed between their representatives and Goldlink Global Energy Corporation, a local hydro power developer based in the municipality.

Three of the mini-hydro power plants with an estimated power output of 9 megawatts will be built in Barangay Tadiangan. The fourth, with a projected power output of 3

megawatts, will be constructed in Barangay Nangalisan.

Mayor Florencio Bentres said the municipal government welcomed the decision of the indigenous peoples to support the put up of the hydro plants, saying that they made sure that the affected indigenous cultural communities will not be shortchanged by the project.

“We respect the decision of the affected indigenous peoples. We also support the project because we consider it as environmentallyfriendly as it is a run-off-river type of development,” Bentres said.

The mayor added that the four

mini-hydro power plants would contribute to the local economy by providing added employment for qualified local residents, increased sources of livelihood for the people and increase in the revenues to be generated.

The plants will be environmentally-friendly because the local power corporation, in partnership with the indigenous cultural communities, will be engaged in activities to significantly improve the state of the forest reservations surrounding the power plants.

The communities hosting the operation of the four power plants will receive a share of one centavo per kilowatt-hour apart from the business and real property taxes to be paid by the local power corporation to the local government and the national wealth tax from the national government.

Tuba currently hosts the

power plants of the Hydroelectric Development Corporation and the city-owned Asin minihydro plants. The city-owned power plants have not been operational since October 2013 after the energy department ruled that they were not authorized to operate due to the absence of a certificate of compliance, which must be issued by the Energy Regulatory Commission (ERC), the power industry’s regulating agency.

Under the provisions of Republic Act (RA) 8371 or the Indigenous Peoples Rights Act (IPRA), individuals or corporations interested to develop, exploit and utilize the country’s rich natural resources must first secure the free and prior informed consent of indigenous peoples and communities who would be directly affected by their projects.

Dexter A. Sese

AT LEAsT four environmental groups have called on for the approval of National Land Use Act, Forest Resources Bill, Alternative Minerals Management Bill and the Protected Areas Act – collectively known as green bills.

The groups say the country is bracing for more extreme climate change events like droughts from another El Nino, and stronger typhoons.

In a statement signed by Forest Resources Bill Network, Green Convergence, Alyansa Tigil Mina, and Ecological society of the Philippines, the groups urged legislators and political leaders to fast tract the passage of said bills.

“As the world celebrates the International Day of Forests, the Philippine forest cover drops 22.8% or 6.84 million hectares according to the latest data from the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) 2012 Forest Facts and Figures,” according to Lodel D. Magbanua, convenor of Forest Resources Bill Network.

“The United Nations Forest and Agriculture Organization reported that the country lose forest at an average rate of about 54,750 hectares per year between 1990 and 2010. While Conservation International issued a report in 2011 saying, only seven percent of Philippine forests remain intact,” Forest Resources Bill Network added.

Citing various studies, Forest Resources Bill Network recommended “forest restoration to increase forest cover in municipalities, private and public lands included, by at least 40% (Cruz, 2011) to 54 %(sajise et al, 1996) to sustain basic ecological processes.”

Bulacan court okays recall proceedings vs governor MALOLOs CITY —The Bulacan Regional Trial Court has dismissed the petition seeking to stop the Comelec from validation of signatures and thumb marks in connection with the recall proceedings filed against Bulacan Gov. Wilhelmino syAlvarado.

In a resolution issued late Friday afternoon, Branch 83 RTC Judge Guillermo P. Agloro also lifted the

temporary restraining order he issued March 6 to stop the validation of the signatures and thumb marks.

The validation had been originally scheduled for March 9 to 23.

The new schedule is from March 18 to April 1.

Elections Officers in the 21 municipalities and the cities of Malolos, Meycauayan and san Jose Del Monte are set to resume today the much-

delayed validation process to determine the authenticity of 319,707 petitioners who signed the recall-petition initiated by former provincial administrator Perlita Mendoza.

The latest decision of Judge Agloro drew varied reactions over the weekend especially from the lawyers of Gov. Alvarado. They described the March 20 resolution as tolerating the continued

violation of Alvarado’s right to due process as guaranteed by the Constitution.

Atty. Pete Principe said in a radio interview that they would continue to question the legality of the Comelec’s validation process for wanton violation of sections 15, 16 and 17 of Comelec Resolution 7505 (governing rules on all recall elections) regarding the service, posting and

publication of the main “petition for recall”.

Principe reiterated their stand that the governor was deprived of his basic right to due process when the Bulacan Provincial Election supervisor, through their own admission, failed to observe the proper procedures in the service, posting of the recall-petition including the publication of the “petition” in a newspaper of general circulation in the

province.

Alvarado’s lawyer also disclosed that they would still pursue the indirect contempt charges filed against the EOs of Malolos and Plaridel and their staff who violated the TRO issued by Judge Agloro despite the dismissal of the injunction case. They claimed that the TRO was valid and effective when it was violated by the respondent-Comelec officers.

Orlan L. Mauricio

M O N D AY : M A R c h 2 3 , 2 0 1 5

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opinion lettertotheeditor@thestandard.com.ph

opinion

Battles Big and small

PeRHAPS on the strength of name recognition, the ruling liberal Party has included Justice Secretary leila de lima in its list of possible senatorial candidates for 2016. de lima is publicly ambivalent about the idea, but she wears her ambition as obviously as the scarves she favors.

After all, how else can we explain her constant and spirited defense of President Benigno Aquino III, even on his most legally indefensible actions?

When the police board of inquiry found that the President was responsible for violating the chain of command in the covert Mamasapano operation in which 44 police commandos were killed, de lima immediately sprang to his defense, saying he could not be held liable for this because the chain of command applied only to military organizations, not to civilian agencies such as the Philippine National Police.

In so doing, she brushed aside executive Order No. 226 on the rule of command responsibility particularly in law enforcement agencies, issued by then President Fidel Ramos in 1995, which has never been amended or repealed.

“There is a chain of command in the Philippine National Police and it also applies to other agencies... even in the corporate world, there is a chain of command. A commander is responsible for what his subordinate does or fails to do,” Ramos said.

But Secretary de lima insisted that Ramos was “confused” and offered only what amounted to her opinion as a rejoinder.

“Can you imagine now the entire civilian bureaucracy adopting this chain of command concept? That would make us here in the executive branch just like the military. I don’t agree with that,” she said.

She also insisted that the President violated no law when he involved his close friend, suspended PNP chief Alan Purisima, in the covert police operation, even though he was suspended at the time on allegations of corruption. de lima then appealed to the public not to be too hasty in judging the President despite the damaging findings of the police board of inquiry and the Senate panel that also found Mr. Aquino ultimately responsible for the debacle.

“This President is a very responsible person and he has the interest of our country at heart,” she said, adding that it would be “unfair” to prejudge the President on the basis of the findings of the two investigating bodies.

This appeal for fairness is rich with irony, given de lima’s penchant for throwing away all such notions when going after the President’s political enemies with hammer and tongs. She even defied a direct order from the Supreme Court on Mr. Aquino’s behalf when he wanted his predecessor arrested in 2011.

Nor did fairness come into play in her first major act as Justice secretary, when she meekly stood by as the President threw out her recommendations on the luneta hostage crisis to protect his friends and political allies who were responsible for the mess.

Perhaps it is Secretary de lima who is confused. As one lawyer observed in this publication, as attorney general of the Republic of the Philippines by virtue of her position as secretary of Justice, de lima is the legal counsel of the government, not of Mr. Aquino.

Now more than ever, when the Senate has been debased by sycophants and the unqualified, we need men and women of independent thought who are unafraid to do what is right. We don’t need another presidential lapdog in the Senate. We already have Senator Antonio Trillanes IV. Surely we can do better.

pensées fr. rAnhilio cAllAngAn Aquino IMMedIATely after the department of the Interior and local Government announced that it was ignoring the temporary restraining order that issued from the Court of Appeals in favor of Junjun Binay, I posted the following on my Facebook wall: “Whoever the personalities may be and whatever may be the issue involved, a TRO is an im-

mediate, provisional relief issuing from the court that stays the heavy hand of the State. I am amazed at the dIlG claim that despite a TRO from the Court of Appeals, Mayor Binay remains suspended. To that, my only reaction is HUH? (It could have been ruder!) Well, of course, this is not the first time it happens.

We have seen it before: an official of the executive branch thumbing her nose at a TRO of the Supreme Court. The point is that whether or not the suspension order has been served, whether or not the

A9

pAsTor Apollo quiBoloy

Mr. Aquino’s lAwyer

Vice-Mayor has taken his oath as Acting Mayor—all this is immaterial. None of this makes of the TRO functus officio. If that were so, every TRO could be made futile by the expedient of having the putative successor take an oath immediately after the service of the suspension order. The TRO does not stop the service of the order of suspension, nor does it stay the oath-taking of the ViceMayor. It stays the suspension of Binay, and if so, for as long as the order of suspension subsists, the TRO has efficacy.” My post antedated by many days the announcement of the IBP’s position as well as of other legal scholars.

I ride no bandwagon, nor do I maintain positions only because

eDiTor

pluMBline

[ EDI TORI A L ]

RestRaints and logic

ADELLE chuA

This is not an argument for Junjun Binay.

they count numerous partisans.

Before Antonio Nachura became a member of the Supreme Court, he was one of San Beda College’s notables in constitutional law. On the Court, he remained sage-in-residence on constitutional law matters. Here,

in part, is what he wrote in Garcia v. Court of Appeals (2009): “While we do not entirely blame the CA for being too cautious in not granting any injunctive relief without first considering the counter-arguments of the opposing parties, it would have been more prudent for it to have, at the very least, on account of the extreme urgency of the matter and the seriousness of the issues raised in the certiorari petition, issued a TRO while it awaits the respective comments of the respondents and while it judiciously contemplates on whether or not to issue a writ of preliminary injunction. Verily, the basic purpose of the restraining order is to preserve the status quo un-

til the hearing of the application for preliminary injunction. It is a preservative remedy for the protection of substantive rights and interests.

At this point we must emphasize that the suspension from office of an elective official, whether as a preventive measure or as a penalty, will undeservedly deprive the electorate of the services of the person they have conscientiously chosen and voted into office.”

We have here an authoritative answer to several questions raised. Can an or-

Standard TODAY Manila

Published Monday to Sunday by Kamahalan Publishing Corporation at 2 nd Floor PJI Building, Railroad corner 20th Streets, Port Area, Manila. Telephone numbers 521-8507 (connecting all departments), (Editorial), 521-5581, (Editorial Fax) 521-7381 (Advertising), 521-8507 (MIS) 521-5591 (Sales and Distribution/Subscription) and

der of preventive suspension issued by the Ombudsman be enjoined? The clear answer is in the affirmative. Once issued, what is a TRO’s effect on the order of suspension? It preserves the status quo until the hearing on the application for a writ of preliminary inunction. It is a preservative remedy. What public interest is thereby served by enjoining an order of preventive suspension? The choice by the electorate of the persons who serve in public office. This the catechism on TROs vis-à-vis preventive suspension.

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cyAn MAgenTA yellow BlAcK

I cannot consider seriously the proposition that the brilliant minds in dIlG and dOJ have not read this decision, and that is what alarms me more. For if they are cognizant of the doctrine—as I am sure they are—then the only explanation for the intractability displayed before the entire nation is plain and simple but unforgiveable arrogance born of shameful and shameless obsequiousness!

This is not an argument for Junjun Binay. It is an argument for writs of Continued on A11

MST Management, Inc. Philip G. Romualdez Arnold C. Liong Former Chief Justice Reynato S. Puno Jocelyn F. Domingo Ron Ryan S. Buguis

Chairman President & Chief Executive Officer Board Member & Chief Legal Adviser Director of Operations Finance Officer

Ma. Editha D. Angeles Advertising Manager Anita F. Grefal Treasury Manager Edgar M. Valmorida Circulation Manager

A MeMBeR of the “commentariat” explains the Filipinos anger toward the Mamasapano tragedy as an expression of their vigilance and their maturity in exacting accountability from their leaders.

Granted that indeed it is, then this socalled maturity is displayed selectively. The will to rage against things foul and unfair is something that we do discriminately.

We finesse our right to complain. We can go overboard in protesting things which incense us but we overlook the far many things which inconvenience us.

There is a dichotomy on the way we show our displeasure. National issues depicted in burning headlines rile us. But those nearer our homes, in our backyards, we ignore. The farther an issue is from us, the braver we become.

This selectiveness is evident in Mamasapano. We gnash our teeth, rightly so, over the 44 lives lost. But the civilians who died, who are also deserving of our sympathy, are largely forgotten.

We zero in on the President’s role on that tragic day in January. But if you read the BOI and Senate reports, there is a rollcall there of individuals whose failure to do their jobs led to the loss of the mission or lives.

We are scandalized by stealing in other cities, but we turn a blind eye to our barangay captain’s newfound and flaunted wealth.

We pound the dashboard of our car when we hear a radio commentator narrate yet another robbery of public money.

But when a traffic enforcer flags us down, we dutifully hand over our license – with a crisp ube bill .

We sign online petitions to pass the FOI bill and harangue congressmen who don’t support it yet when we’re given the runaround in the labyrinth of one public office, we comply meekly as a lamb.

We don’t vote for this politician because his record does not impress us yet we invite him as ninong to our wedding, and when he acceded he’s rewarded with top billing in the invitations we print.

We protest when our OFWs are required to pay additional fees but when they return home for a short vacation to rest their tired bodies, we pester them for free drinks, harass them for loans, as if income from hard labor abroad is a lottery winning subject to obligatory “balato”.

We object to the importation of a couple of containers of recyclable junk but the pile of uncollected garbage down our street annoys us no longer.

We are worried over the pollution up in the Himalayas and the flotsam of garbage 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 J. Mendez Art Director Leo A. Estonilo Senior Deskman Roberto Cabrera Chief Romel J. Mendez ArtPhotographer Director Roberto Cabrera Chief Photographer

M O N D AY : M A R c h 2 3 , 2 0 1 5

A8

opinion lettertotheeditor@thestandard.com.ph

opinion

Battles Big and small

PeRHAPS on the strength of name recognition, the ruling liberal Party has included Justice Secretary leila de lima in its list of possible senatorial candidates for 2016. de lima is publicly ambivalent about the idea, but she wears her ambition as obviously as the scarves she favors.

After all, how else can we explain her constant and spirited defense of President Benigno Aquino III, even on his most legally indefensible actions?

When the police board of inquiry found that the President was responsible for violating the chain of command in the covert Mamasapano operation in which 44 police commandos were killed, de lima immediately sprang to his defense, saying he could not be held liable for this because the chain of command applied only to military organizations, not to civilian agencies such as the Philippine National Police.

In so doing, she brushed aside executive Order No. 226 on the rule of command responsibility particularly in law enforcement agencies, issued by then President Fidel Ramos in 1995, which has never been amended or repealed.

“There is a chain of command in the Philippine National Police and it also applies to other agencies... even in the corporate world, there is a chain of command. A commander is responsible for what his subordinate does or fails to do,” Ramos said.

But Secretary de lima insisted that Ramos was “confused” and offered only what amounted to her opinion as a rejoinder.

“Can you imagine now the entire civilian bureaucracy adopting this chain of command concept? That would make us here in the executive branch just like the military. I don’t agree with that,” she said.

She also insisted that the President violated no law when he involved his close friend, suspended PNP chief Alan Purisima, in the covert police operation, even though he was suspended at the time on allegations of corruption. de lima then appealed to the public not to be too hasty in judging the President despite the damaging findings of the police board of inquiry and the Senate panel that also found Mr. Aquino ultimately responsible for the debacle.

“This President is a very responsible person and he has the interest of our country at heart,” she said, adding that it would be “unfair” to prejudge the President on the basis of the findings of the two investigating bodies.

This appeal for fairness is rich with irony, given de lima’s penchant for throwing away all such notions when going after the President’s political enemies with hammer and tongs. She even defied a direct order from the Supreme Court on Mr. Aquino’s behalf when he wanted his predecessor arrested in 2011.

Nor did fairness come into play in her first major act as Justice secretary, when she meekly stood by as the President threw out her recommendations on the luneta hostage crisis to protect his friends and political allies who were responsible for the mess.

Perhaps it is Secretary de lima who is confused. As one lawyer observed in this publication, as attorney general of the Republic of the Philippines by virtue of her position as secretary of Justice, de lima is the legal counsel of the government, not of Mr. Aquino.

Now more than ever, when the Senate has been debased by sycophants and the unqualified, we need men and women of independent thought who are unafraid to do what is right. We don’t need another presidential lapdog in the Senate. We already have Senator Antonio Trillanes IV. Surely we can do better.

pensées fr. rAnhilio cAllAngAn Aquino IMMedIATely after the department of the Interior and local Government announced that it was ignoring the temporary restraining order that issued from the Court of Appeals in favor of Junjun Binay, I posted the following on my Facebook wall: “Whoever the personalities may be and whatever may be the issue involved, a TRO is an im-

mediate, provisional relief issuing from the court that stays the heavy hand of the State. I am amazed at the dIlG claim that despite a TRO from the Court of Appeals, Mayor Binay remains suspended. To that, my only reaction is HUH? (It could have been ruder!) Well, of course, this is not the first time it happens.

We have seen it before: an official of the executive branch thumbing her nose at a TRO of the Supreme Court. The point is that whether or not the suspension order has been served, whether or not the

A9

pAsTor Apollo quiBoloy

Mr. Aquino’s lAwyer

Vice-Mayor has taken his oath as Acting Mayor—all this is immaterial. None of this makes of the TRO functus officio. If that were so, every TRO could be made futile by the expedient of having the putative successor take an oath immediately after the service of the suspension order. The TRO does not stop the service of the order of suspension, nor does it stay the oath-taking of the ViceMayor. It stays the suspension of Binay, and if so, for as long as the order of suspension subsists, the TRO has efficacy.” My post antedated by many days the announcement of the IBP’s position as well as of other legal scholars.

I ride no bandwagon, nor do I maintain positions only because

eDiTor

pluMBline

[ EDI TORI A L ]

RestRaints and logic

ADELLE chuA

This is not an argument for Junjun Binay.

they count numerous partisans.

Before Antonio Nachura became a member of the Supreme Court, he was one of San Beda College’s notables in constitutional law. On the Court, he remained sage-in-residence on constitutional law matters. Here,

in part, is what he wrote in Garcia v. Court of Appeals (2009): “While we do not entirely blame the CA for being too cautious in not granting any injunctive relief without first considering the counter-arguments of the opposing parties, it would have been more prudent for it to have, at the very least, on account of the extreme urgency of the matter and the seriousness of the issues raised in the certiorari petition, issued a TRO while it awaits the respective comments of the respondents and while it judiciously contemplates on whether or not to issue a writ of preliminary injunction. Verily, the basic purpose of the restraining order is to preserve the status quo un-

til the hearing of the application for preliminary injunction. It is a preservative remedy for the protection of substantive rights and interests.

At this point we must emphasize that the suspension from office of an elective official, whether as a preventive measure or as a penalty, will undeservedly deprive the electorate of the services of the person they have conscientiously chosen and voted into office.”

We have here an authoritative answer to several questions raised. Can an or-

Standard TODAY Manila

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der of preventive suspension issued by the Ombudsman be enjoined? The clear answer is in the affirmative. Once issued, what is a TRO’s effect on the order of suspension? It preserves the status quo until the hearing on the application for a writ of preliminary inunction. It is a preservative remedy. What public interest is thereby served by enjoining an order of preventive suspension? The choice by the electorate of the persons who serve in public office. This the catechism on TROs vis-à-vis preventive suspension.

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I cannot consider seriously the proposition that the brilliant minds in dIlG and dOJ have not read this decision, and that is what alarms me more. For if they are cognizant of the doctrine—as I am sure they are—then the only explanation for the intractability displayed before the entire nation is plain and simple but unforgiveable arrogance born of shameful and shameless obsequiousness!

This is not an argument for Junjun Binay. It is an argument for writs of Continued on A11

MST Management, Inc. Philip G. Romualdez Arnold C. Liong Former Chief Justice Reynato S. Puno Jocelyn F. Domingo Ron Ryan S. Buguis

Chairman President & Chief Executive Officer Board Member & Chief Legal Adviser Director of Operations Finance Officer

Ma. Editha D. Angeles Advertising Manager Anita F. Grefal Treasury Manager Edgar M. Valmorida Circulation Manager

A MeMBeR of the “commentariat” explains the Filipinos anger toward the Mamasapano tragedy as an expression of their vigilance and their maturity in exacting accountability from their leaders.

Granted that indeed it is, then this socalled maturity is displayed selectively. The will to rage against things foul and unfair is something that we do discriminately.

We finesse our right to complain. We can go overboard in protesting things which incense us but we overlook the far many things which inconvenience us.

There is a dichotomy on the way we show our displeasure. National issues depicted in burning headlines rile us. But those nearer our homes, in our backyards, we ignore. The farther an issue is from us, the braver we become.

This selectiveness is evident in Mamasapano. We gnash our teeth, rightly so, over the 44 lives lost. But the civilians who died, who are also deserving of our sympathy, are largely forgotten.

We zero in on the President’s role on that tragic day in January. But if you read the BOI and Senate reports, there is a rollcall there of individuals whose failure to do their jobs led to the loss of the mission or lives.

We are scandalized by stealing in other cities, but we turn a blind eye to our barangay captain’s newfound and flaunted wealth.

We pound the dashboard of our car when we hear a radio commentator narrate yet another robbery of public money.

But when a traffic enforcer flags us down, we dutifully hand over our license – with a crisp ube bill .

We sign online petitions to pass the FOI bill and harangue congressmen who don’t support it yet when we’re given the runaround in the labyrinth of one public office, we comply meekly as a lamb.

We don’t vote for this politician because his record does not impress us yet we invite him as ninong to our wedding, and when he acceded he’s rewarded with top billing in the invitations we print.

We protest when our OFWs are required to pay additional fees but when they return home for a short vacation to rest their tired bodies, we pester them for free drinks, harass them for loans, as if income from hard labor abroad is a lottery winning subject to obligatory “balato”.

We object to the importation of a couple of containers of recyclable junk but the pile of uncollected garbage down our street annoys us no longer.

We are worried over the pollution up in the Himalayas and the flotsam of garbage 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 J. Mendez Art Director Leo A. Estonilo Senior Deskman Roberto Cabrera Chief Romel J. Mendez ArtPhotographer Director Roberto Cabrera Chief Photographer

MONDAY: MARCH 23, 2015

A10

OPINION lettertotheeditor@thestandard.com.ph

ADD YEARS TO YOUR LIFE OUT OF THE BOX RITA LINDA V. JIMENO

TWO unconnected events of the past two weeks made me look seriously into what adds years to one’s

life.

I attended the 91st birthday celebration of a woman who is complete, happy and accomplished in every sense of these words. At 91, Nelia T. Gonzalez, whom I fondly call Tita Kumare (as she was a principal sponsor in my daughter’s wedding) is the picture of life, happiness, and nearly everything one may associate with being young. She still sends, and promptly responds to, text messages and attends meetings of the many organizations she belongs to as a director and officer, the most prominent of which are the Philippine Constitution Association and the Manila Overseas Press Club. Her memory is sharp as ever, even reminding people she is with of forthcoming activities and things that need to be done. One can only wonder in awe, what could her secret of longevity and mental alertness be?

On the other hand, a sister of a good friend of mine, who had hoped to live to 80 passed on at the fairly young age of 69 about two weeks ago. She too was intelligent, loved life, and had worthwhile advocacies. The basic distinction I saw between the lifestyles of these two women is that Nelia T. Gonzalez is surrounded by family and friends. My friend’s sister was unmarried and lived alone.

In many studies, it was found that family and social ties prolong life significantly. In an article by BeWell publications, which included an interview with Cecile Andrews, author and a former scholar affiliated with the Clayman Institute for Gender Research, it said that in our crazy society, social ties are pretty far down on our “to do” lists. Yet, connection to others is turning out to be more important than we thought. Studies indicate that social capital is one of the biggest predictors for health, happiness, and longevity. The problem is, the article said, we often do not recognize the importance of social connection. Our culture values hard work, success, and wealth, so it’s no surprise some of us do not set aside enough time for social ties when we think security lies in material things rather than other people.

Associate Clinical Professors of Psychiatry at Harvard Medical School, Olds and Schwartz, argue in The Lonely American that loneliness is often mistaken for depression. Instead of connecting with others, we consume a pill. Being lonely is outside of our individualistic world view so we don’t even see it as a problem.

Harvard’s Robert Putnam writes about social capital in his book, Bowling Alone, and shows how social ties are important for personal wellbeing. Putnam says—to emphasize his point— that if you don’t belong to a group and you join one now, you’ll cut your chance of dying in half for the next year. And when you join a group, he adds, do more than just send in your dues. Come together with people face to face, volunteer for committees or agree to work on projects. By the same token, organizations shouldn’t just hold dull meetings. They need to have parties as well

TURF AND TERRITORY AS OF this writing, the city of Makati has two mayors. The Ombudsman suspended ADELLE Mayor Junjun Binay CHUA but the Court of Appeals issued a temporary restraining order on the suspension. Thus, Binay claims status quo.

The Department of Justice says otherwise. Before the CA could hand down its decision,Makati City Vice Mayor Romulo “Kid” Pena was sworn into office.

Therefore, the TRO was moot and academic. It was not able to achieve its purpose of restraining the Ombudsman’s order. Thus, Pena says he is mayor.

Such turf battles are not at all new to us. How many city hall dramas have we witnessed, where an incumbent official, suddenly suspended or declared not the winner after all, has refused to stand down claiming political persecution? How many “rightful” officials have struggled to take their place?

In all this, supporters have provided the needed emotional touch. These are the people,usually the masses, who throw their full support behind their leader and are not bashful in their adulation. They love their captain/ mayor/ governor, congressman, they say. Their leader has been so good to them. He or she has always been accessible, always ready to help in time of need.

Look at all the good things he or she has done. Therefore, the official deserves to stay in office.

The politicians themselves feed this hero-worship.

They are grateful for the people’s support. What better way to show their appreciation than by providing free food and drinks? And some entertainment, as they camp out on the municipal/ city hall grounds. Bring on the Zumba!

(This, while forgetting to tell their supporters to clean up afterwards.)

The fierce loyalty does not just extend to one person, either. Often, the spouse, children and other family members are accorded the same reverence given to the main political figure. Actually, these relatives may already be occupying prominent positions in the administration.

CHASING HAPPY

This is not a commentary on the strength or weakness of the case filed against the Makati mayor, the validity of the suspension order and the TRO, or whether it is a political maneuver of their opponents. We will let the legal experts do that. What I am saying is, as a people governed by the political elite, this is how we roll.

This, too, is not a criticism solely of the well-entrenched family that is the Binays. Oh no – Makati is only one LGU. All across the country, the same thing happens. A family controls or at least wields considerable influence in a certain locality. How else have scions who have no other credential but their famous family names gotten into positions of great importance?

The Constitution on the surface seems to have a low opinion of political dynasties. I say “on the surface” because it leaves the crucial task of coming up with a law to make this possible to the same lawmakers who are themselves products of dynasties. Convenient, isn’t it?

This would not have been a problem if the decision to perpetuate dynasties arose from the people’s informed, enlightened decision. This is, after all, a free country where people can elect whomever they wish to govern them – provided they are given viable options.

Unfortunately, many of the prominent families are well aware that an enlightened voting population may translate to the demise of their “reign”. As it is, they deliberately keep the people in the dark, blinding them with goodwill when all the things they provide are taken out of taxpayers’ money to begin with. They make the people believe that their families are such royalty that they and only they can lay claim to the right to serve, when it’s actually a privilege.

We have a term for this – political patronage.

Until when will Filipino voters be taken hostage by the mentality that the best leaders are the ones who do us favors? When will we realize that the ideal leaders are those who enable and empower us to do things for ourselves?

When will these elite families recognize that entitlement is a vice and that if they wish to impose their last names on us, they should first prove themselves worthy, one family member at a time? adellechua@gmail.com

as conduct business in an interestThis finding was consistent reing manner. gardless of age, gender, or health Some studies have shown that status and for all causes of death. social ties may actually result in The study found that in terms of reduced incidence of colds and An expert believes long life, strong social ties can flu. Another research says that the that the importance be as important as losing weight number of friends one has corre- of social relationships if you are obese and getting aclates with longer life. Still other tive if you are sedentary. Thus, needs to be added studies have found that people Mann said, ‘‘the importance of to the list of public have better survival rates for dissocial relationships needs to be health concerns. eases when they have family and added to the list of public health social support. concerns.

In an article by Denise Mann of The book, The Loss of HappiWebMD Health News, she said, ness in Market Democracies, by “good friends and family can do Robert E. Lane, Professor Emerimore than make life worth living. These rela- tus of Political Science at Yale, brings together tionships can actually add years to your life.” much of the research done on social capital over A new study, she said, shows that people with the last several years. It shows how social ties many close friends and family around them will not only affect our personal health, but also our likely live a lot longer than lonesome people. The societal health. He observes that as prosperity protective effect of having lots of healthy and in a society increases, social solidarity decreasfulfilling relationships is comparable to that of es. Happiness not only declines, people become quitting smoking, the authors of the study state. more distrustful of each other as well as of their Mann said in her article that researchers ana- political institutions. Lane stresses that we must lyzed 148 studies that examined the effect of so- alter our priorities; we must increase our levels cial relationships and death risk. Together, these of companionship even at the risk of reducing studies included 308,849 people who were fol- our income. lowed for about 7.5 years on average. The results showed that people were 50 per cent more likely Email: ritalindaj@gmail.com Visit: www.jito be alive if they had strong social relationships. menolaw.com.ph

M O N d aY : M a R c h 2 3 , 2 0 1 5

OPINION

adelle chua EDITOR

lettertotheeditor@thestandard.com.ph

A11

China’s plaCe in the new world eConomiC order Bloomberg editorial Competition between the world’s two greatest economic powers is both inevitable and (for the most part) beneficial. This is the case even when China and the U.S. are arguing over control of increasingly obsolescent international financial institutions.

China’s effort to start the new Asian infrastructure investment Bank grows more popular by the day, despite U.S. resistance to the idea. The question is no longer whether the bank will fulfill an unmet need, but how best to ensure that it contributes to Asian growth -- and, not incidentally, draws China more deeply into the global financial order. now that the U.K. and several other european countries have joined the bank, holdouts such as Australia and South Korea are

almost certain to jump in. This counts as a soft-power victory for China over the U.S., which reportedly lobbied allies not to sign up. But Washington largely has itself to blame. For years, the U.S. has called on China to bind itself to international norms and financial institutions -- without making room for it to do so. Congress persists in blocking efforts to dilute U.S. dominance of the World Bank or to increase China’s voting share at the international monetary Fund, which stands at less than 4 percent, compared with almost 17 percent for the U.S. That’s not to say the U.K. and others have joined the new bank out of altruism; London is clearly eager to establish itself as the main offshore trading hub for the renminbi. And the economic rationale for the bank—in an era when the World Bank itself is facing something of an existential

it is clear then what the crisis consists in, and it is far more court that any citizen should be nettlesome than Binay and pena able to count on and call upon jostling for the same office space. when the heavy arm of the State The delicate calibration of the is poised against him. if the separate but coordinate powers mayor of makati has committed of the three branches of governa crime, as it is alleged hysteri- ment has gone awry under a recally that he has, the prosecution gime that has always trumpeted will establish his guilt and he will its righteousness. And if some receive his just deserts. But the unsung genius should once more power to temporarily restrain protest that the rule of Law does government action is a lawful not mean rule by judges, it most exercise of judicial authority, one certainly does, insofar as the apthat binds all agencies, offices plication of law to a specific case and instrumentalities of govern- goes, because that is exactly the ment. it causes alarm bells to go definition of judicial power. oboff when the very branch of gov- viously, if one prefers to “think ernment tasked with executing out of the box” that is otra cosa, the laws chooses which orders of because one is either championcourt to obey and which to cava- ing constitutional amendment or lierly disregard. The proverbial revolution! i do remember quite vividly ‘chilling effect’ comes not only upon the nation, but on all who though that the jack-in-thewould wish to transact with the box that kept springing out the nation and with our government. box—eager to jump out of the There is no greater disincentive box at every opportunity—was to foreign investment than an a clown. And of clowns in the unpredictable, dysfunctional le- nation’s life, we are quite amply gal system. The ponderous tomes stocked! and kilometric rules of procedure we have are for naught when a rannie_aquino@sanbeda.edu.ph simple tro is snubbed on the rannie_aquino@csu.edu.ph rannie_aquino@yahoo.com highest levels.

RESTRAInTS... From A9

#FAiLoCrACy

crisis and the global market for private capital is robust -- may be diminishing. nevertheless, the region has huge infrastructure needs -- up to $800 billion worth every year, according to a much-cited study from the Asian Development Bank. American opposition to any new source of financing looks churlish and hypocritical.

Concerns that a Chinese-dominated institution might encourage lowered lending standards are overstated. if China wanted to hand out dodgy loans to buy loyalty, it could easily continue to do so on a bilateral basis. But that practice has largely backfired; Beijing faces souring debts from myanmar to Sri Lanka to Ukraine. The whole point of working through a multilateral organization is for China to gain global legitimacy for its largess.

At this point, with much left to

be decided about the new bank’s governance and lending practices, it should be advantageous to have U.S. allies at the table. to begin, they should work to ensure that decisions are made by consensus and collaboration. Given that China is expected to contribute almost 50 percent of the new bank’s funds, it will no doubt expect to carry a prevailing influence. But european members will very quickly face pressure at home to pull out if the bank backs controversial projects against their wishes.

Then there’s the question of which best practices the new bank should adopt. While several of these are being rethought even within existing international development banks, at least two should be non-negotiable: The new bank should adopt the debt sustainability framework promoted by the imF and World

Bank to prevent developing nations from taking on unsustainable debt loads. And it should commit to competitive tendering and universal access in procurement, to avoid the perception that its loans are meant to funnel business to Chinese companies. none of this requires that the U.S. or Japan join the new bank.

(Domestic politics in both countries would make that impossible in any case.) But if those countries are concerned about China’s increasing influence, they could do much more to strengthen the institutions they already dominate. American officials should be pushing harder, for example, to carry out financial reforms that would bolster the Asian Development Bank’s ability to lend. if the U.S. really doesn’t want other nations following China’s lead, it will have to offer a stronger alternative.

Bloomberg

BATTLES... From A9

plant a tuber.

We are worried if a celebrity is sick, and when she tries to bait a million of sympathy clicks from her torrent of selfies we oblige her with a “like”, but we give no attention to the huddled masses in charity wards of a public hospital near us.

When we encounter a tearjerker of a gripe in social media on how a biker who figured in an accident was left unattended in a hospital, we join in the heckling , and yet when a helmet-less friend of ours overtakes us on his chrome two-wheeler we give him a thumbs up .

We steam in traffic, we endure long train queues, yet we see only the expensive solutions and not the commonsensical ones like may be car flow would improve if that festering pothole is covered, that streets are not used as parking lots, and kuligligs do not counterflow.

We gripe when a state university tries to adjust its rock-bottom p600 total tuition fee per semester to p900 , and we plot our moves over coffee that costs p100 a cup and beer priced at p200 a bucket.

There are many issues there that we casually ignore but just the same are deserving of our mamasapano-like vigilance and involvement. if citizen feedback on mamasapano had humbled the powerful, and moved them to be more responsive to what the sovereign wants, then just imagine if a fraction of the interest and outrage shown is applied on issues though not controversial are important nonetheless .

But this power should not be on the realm of complaining only, not just limited to badgering those who owe us their industry, but it can be harnessed by us , by us directly doing what must be done, because the action of one, multiplied many times, becomes the accomplishment of all.

Civic spirit cannot be compartmentalized. it is not attached to a switch . it must be “on” at all times. So whether is an unattended pothole on the street or highway robbery on a road project , it must get the equal attention from us. it is always good to wage great fights. But don’t forget the small battles that must be won.

on the shores Antartica, yet daily we pass by a river whose toxic smell assaults our sense of smell but never our sense to complain.

We replace our FB profile with a “Je suis Charlie” banner and then proceed to rain hate messages on those who don’t share our faith or fidelity to causes.

We preach religious tolerance, but when a lady draped in burqa or a man with a turban enters an eatery we are in, we sear them with our unpolite stares while unkindly stereotyping them as affiliates of some middle east groups causing mayhem.

We love farmers because who doesn’t, but when they raise prices a little bit so they can partly recover their loss, we agree with some loudmouth who agitates for price control.

We cry a river if onion prices go up, as if a bulb had been rubbed on our eyes, and yet we don’t pause to think for while that maybe one way of driving the cartel out of business is to place soil in that empty can of milk and

ChonG ArDiviLLA

M O N DAY : M A RCH 2 3 , 2 0 1 5

A12

SPORTS sports@thestandard.com.ph

Nash retires after 18 seasons LOS ANGELES—Steve Nash, a two-time NBA Most Valuable Player, announced his retirement Saturday after having missed the entire season for the Los Angeles Lakers due to a nagging back injury.

Nationwide cage event. Proponents of the 2015 Barkadahan Basketbolista ni Senador Trillanes, headed by David Ong, project manager, and Coach Johny Tam, project director, are shown with the senator. A total of 6,000 players are expected to join the nationwide event, slated from March to June, and is supported by Joe Boxer, Burlington Socks, Grandsports, J&E International Freight Forwarding, Fronte Motors, Firm Builders, Inc., Gen&Sports Contractor and Canary.

“I’m retiring from basketball. Thanks for all the love through the years,” the 41-year-old Canadian posted on his Twitter page, along with a link to an essay on the Players Tribune website explaining his decision.

Nash, the son of an English father and Welsh mother born in South Africa just 18 months before his family moved to Canada, became a US college star at Santa Clara and was selected 15th overall in the 1996 NBA Draft by the Phoenix Suns.

The Suns traded Nash to Dallas in 1998 and he played six seasons for the Mavericks, taking NBA Most Valuable Player honors in the 2004-05 and 2005-06 seasons and establishing himself NASH as one of the top point guards and assist men in the league.

Phoenix signed him to a free agent deal in 2004 and he stayed with the Suns until joining the Lakers in 2012.

Nash, a five-time NBA season assists leader

known for accuracy at the free throw line and as a 3-point shooter, announced last October he would not play this season after doctors advised him to sit out because of lingering back pain.

“The greatest gift has been to be completely immersed in my passion and striving for something I loved so much -- visualizing a ladder, climbing up to my heroes,” Nash said in his farewell essay. “The obsession became my best friend. I talked to her, cherished her, fought with her and got knocked on my ass by her.

“And that is what I’m most thankful for in my career. In my entire life, in some ways. Obviously, I value my kids and my family more than the game, but in some ways having this friend — this ever-present pursuit — has made me who I am, taught me and tested me, and given me a mission that feels irreplaceable. I am so thankful. I’ve learned so many invaluable lessons about myself and about life. And of course I still have so much to learn.

Another incredible gift.” AFP

Federer, Djokovic in finals InvItatIon to BId no. 065

InvItatIon to B InvItatIon toIdBn Ido.n072 o. 072 Rest ehaB of L aBuan CIsCIs R./R est./R ehaB of LaBuan

InvItatIon B-C Id no. 065 Constn of of stas.ta Lto andon nIs Constn .uCIa LuCIa -Candon nIs

The National Irrigation Administration, through the General Appropriation Act of 2015 intends to apply The National Irrigation Administration, through the General Appropriation Act of 2015 intends to apply the sum of Six Two Two Hundred Sixty-Five Thousand FourFour Hundred Twenty-Seven & 56/100 the sum ofMillion Six Million Hundred Sixty-Five Thousand Hundred Twenty-Seven & 56/100 PESOS (PHP6,265,427.56) beingbeing the Approved Budget for the (ABC) to payments underunder the the PESOS (PHP6,265,427.56) the Approved Budget forContract the Contract (ABC) to payments contract for the of Labuan CIS with No R1-PIMO-15-03-072.

Bids Bids received in in contract forRest./Rehab the Rest./Rehab of Labuan CIS Contract with Contract No R1-PIMO-15-03-072. received excess of the ABC shall be automatically rejected at bid opening. excess of the ABC shall be automatically rejected at bid opening.

The The National Irrigation Administration, through the General Appropriation Act of intends to to National Irrigation Administration, through the General Appropriation Act2015 of 2015 intends applyapply the sum of Six Six Hundred FiftyFifty Thousand & 00/100 PESOS (PHP6,650,000.00) the sum of Million Six Million Six Hundred Thousand & 00/100 PESOS (PHP6,650,000.00) beingbeing the Approved Budget for the Contract (ABC) to payments under the contract for the Constn the Approved Budget for the Contract (ABC) to payments under the contract for the Constn of Sta. Lucia-Candon NIS with Contract No R1-ISIMO-15-03-065.

Bids Bids received in excess of theof the of Sta. Lucia-Candon NIS with Contract No R1-ISIMO-15-03-065. received in excess ABCABC shallshall be automatically rejected at bidatopening. be automatically rejected bid opening.

1.

National Irrigation Administration now now invites bids bids for the of Labuan 1.The The National Irrigation Administration invites for Rest./Rehab the Rest./Rehab of Labuan CIS under FUND 101. 101.

The project is located in San Pangasinan with the CIS under FUND The project is located in Quintin, San Quintin, Pangasinan withfollowing the following description of work: description of work:

1.

I. Structures I. Canal Canal Structures II. II.Canal Lining Canal Lining III. III.Supply and and Delivery of 7hp Water Cooled, V-belt driven diesel engine Supply Delivery of 7hp Water Cooled, V-belt driven diesel engine w/at w/at leastleast 22002200 RPMRPM Coupled w/3”w/3” diam.

X 50XTDH self self priming water pump Coupled diam.

50 TDH priming water pump 22002200 RPMRPM discharge capacity mounted on aon common steelsteel basebase w/ complete discharge capacity mounted a common w/ complete accessories accessories IV. IV.Supply and Delivery of 2 1/2” diam.x60mts. commercial P.E. P.E. Discharge Supply and Delivery of 2 1/2” diam.x60mts. commercial Discharge PipePipe

I. Canalization I. Canalization A. Canal Lining @ Lateral “E” @ 0+008-Sta. 0+560 A. Canal Lining @ Lateral “E”Sta. @ Sta. 0+008-Sta. 0+560 II. Canal Structures II. Canal Structures Completion of theofWorks is required within One One Hundred Eighty (180)(180) calendar days.

Completion the Works is required within Hundred Eighty calendar days.

2.

mustmust havehave an experience of having completed, a single contract that is similar 2.Bidder Bidder an experience of having completed, a single contract that is similar to the to betobid, mustmust be atbeleast 50%50% of the The The description of anof an to contract the contract be bid, at least of ABC. the ABC. description eligible bidder is contained in the Bidding Documents, particularly, in Section II, II, eligible bidder is contained in the Bidding Documents, particularly, in Section Instructions to Bidders.

Instructions to Bidders.

3.

will will be conducted through openopen competitive bidding procedures usingusing 3.Bidding Bidding be conducted through competitive bidding procedures non-discretionary pass/fail criterion as specified in the Rules and and non-discretionary pass/fail criterion as specified in Implementing the Implementing Rules Regulations (IRR) of Republic Act 9184 (RA 9184), otherwise known as Regulations (IRR) of Republic Act 9184 (RA 9184), otherwise known the as the “Government Procurement Reform Act”.

Bidding is restricted to Filipino citizens/sole “Government Procurement Reform Act”. Bidding is restricted to Filipino citizens/sole proprietorships, partnerships, or organizations with with at least seventy five percent (75%) proprietorships, partnerships, or organizations at least seventy five percent (75%) interest or outstanding capital stockstock belonging to citizens of the interest or outstanding capital belonging to citizens ofPhilippines. the Philippines.

4.

bidders may may obtain further information fromfrom National Irrigation 4.Interested Interested bidders obtain further information National Irrigation Administration, Urdaneta City,City, Pangasinan (office of the BACBAC Secretariat) and and Administration, Urdaneta Pangasinan (office ofHead, the Head, Secretariat) inspect the Bidding Documents fromfrom 8:008:00 A.M A.M to 5:00 PM: PM: inspect the Bidding Documents to 5:00

5.

set of Bidding Documents may may be purchased by interested Bidders fromfrom 5.A complete A complete set of Bidding Documents be purchased by interested Bidders the above address and upon payment at the of a non-refundable fee for the above address and upon payment atNIA the Cashier NIA Cashier of a non-refundable fee for the Bidding Documents in the amount of SEVEN THOUSAND PESOS (Php7,000.00). the Bidding Documents in the amount of SEVEN THOUSAND PESOS (Php7,000.00).

Completion of theofWorks is required within One One Hundred Twenty (120)(120) calendar days.days.

Completion the Works is required within Hundred Twenty calendar 2.

mustmust havehave an experience of having completed, a single contract that is similar to to 2.Bidder Bidder an experience of having completed, a single contract that is similar the contract to betobid, be atbe least 50% 50% of the The The description of anofeligible the contract be must bid, must at least of ABC. the ABC. description an eligible bidder is contained in theinBidding Documents, particularly, in Section II, Instructions to to bidder is contained the Bidding Documents, particularly, in Section II, Instructions Bidders.

Bidders.

3.

will be through openopen competitive bidding procedures usingusing non-non3.Bidding Bidding will conducted be conducted through competitive bidding procedures discretionary pass/fail criterion as specified in theinImplementing Rules and Regulations discretionary pass/fail criterion as specified the Implementing Rules and Regulations (IRR)(IRR) of Republic Act 9184 (RA 9184), otherwise known as the Procurement of Republic Act 9184 (RA 9184), otherwise known as“Government the “Government Procurement Reform Act”.Act”.

Bidding is restricted to Filipino citizens/sole proprietorships, partnerships, Reform Bidding is restricted to Filipino citizens/sole proprietorships, partnerships, or organizations with with at least Seventy-Five percent (75%) interest or outstanding capital or organizations at least Seventy-Five percent (75%) interest or outstanding capital stockstock belonging to citizens of theofPhilippines. belonging to citizens the Philippines.

4.

bidders may may obtain further information from from National Irrigation Administration, 4.Interested Interested bidders obtain further information National Irrigation Administration, Urdaneta City, City, Pangasinan (office of theofHead, BACBAC Secretariat) and inspect the Bidding Urdaneta Pangasinan (office the Head, Secretariat) and inspect the Bidding Documents from from 8:00 8:00 A.M A.M to 5:00 PM: PM: Documents to 5:00

5.

set ofset Bidding Documents may may be purchased by interested Bidders from from the the 5.A complete A complete of Bidding Documents be purchased by interested Bidders above address and upon payment at the Cashier of a of non-refundable fee for above address and upon payment at NIA the NIA Cashier a non-refundable feethe for the Bidding Documents in the amount of SIX THOUSAND PESOS (Php6,000.00).

Bidding Documents in the amount of SIX THOUSAND PESOS (Php6,000.00).

6.

6.

& Availability of bidding documents is from the first day day of advertisement/ 6.Issuance Issuance & Availability of bidding documents is from the first of advertisement/ Posting of Invitation to Bid/ Request for Expression of interest until until submission and and Posting of Invitation to Bid/ Request for Expression of interest submission receipt of bids. receipt of bids.

& Availability of bidding documents is from the first day of 6.Issuance Issuance & Availability of bidding documents is from the first dayadvertisement/ of advertisement/ Posting of Invitation to Bid/ Request for Expression of interest until until submission and and Posting of Invitation to Bid/ Request for Expression of interest submission receipt of bids. receipt of bids.

7.

7.

National Irrigation Administration will hold a Pre-Bid Conference on March 7.The The National Irrigation Administration will hold a Pre-Bid Conference on March 26, 2015, 2:002:00 PM at Office Conference Room, Urdaneta City, City, 26, 2015, PMthe at NIA-Regional the NIA-Regional Office Conference Room, Urdaneta Pangasinan which shallshall be open to allto interested parties who who havehave purchased the Bidding Pangasinan which be open all interested parties purchased the Bidding Documents.

Documents.

National Irrigation Administration will hold a Pre-Bid Conference on March 7.The The National Irrigation Administration will hold a Pre-Bid Conference on March 26, 2015, 2:002:00 PM at Office Conference Room, Urdaneta City,City, 26, 2015, PMthe at NIA-Regional the NIA-Regional Office Conference Room, Urdaneta Pangasinan which shall be open to all interested parties who have purchased the the Pangasinan which shall be open to all interested parties who have purchased Bidding Documents.

Bidding Documents.

8.

mustmust be delivered on oronbefore 2:002:00 PM, PM, AprilApril 8, 2015 at the below.

8.Bids Bids be delivered or before 8, 2015 at address the address below.

Opening of Bids will immediately follow in theinpresence of the representatives Opening of Bids will immediately follow the presence ofbidders’ the bidders’ representatives who who choose to attend at the I Conference Room, Bayaoas, Urdaneta City, City, choose to attend atNIA-Region the NIA-Region I Conference Room, Bayaoas, Urdaneta Pangasinan.

Late Late bids bids shallshall not be Pangasinan. notaccepted. be accepted.

mustmust be delivered on oronbefore 2:002:00 PM, PM, AprilApril 7, 2015 at the below.

8.Bids Bids be delivered or before 7, 2015 at address the address below.

Opening of Bids will immediately follow in theinpresence of theofbidders’ representatives Opening of Bids will immediately follow the presence the bidders’ representatives who who choose to attend at the NIA-Region I Conference Room, Bayaoas, Urdaneta City,City, choose to attend at the NIA-Region I Conference Room, Bayaoas, Urdaneta Pangasinan.

Late Late bids bids shallshall not be Pangasinan. notaccepted. be accepted.

9.

National Irrigation Administration shallshall not allow contractors to participate in in 9.The The National Irrigation Administration not allow contractors to participate the procurement of civil works with with at least 15% 15% negative slippage on their on-going the procurement of civil works at least negative slippage on their on-going NIA NIA Contracts at the of advertisement or posting in the Website Contracts at time the time of advertisement or posting in PhilGEPS/NIA the PhilGEPS/NIA Website of the to Bid with with RuleRule X, Sec. 34.334.3 (b) (ii) of Invitation the Invitation to in Bidaccordance in accordance X, Sec. (b)of(ii)the of Revised the Revised Implementing Rules & Regulation of Republic Act No. Hence, affidavit stating Implementing Rules & Regulation of Republic Act 9184.

No. 9184.

Hence, affidavit stating with with at least 15% 15% negative slippage is required as evidence. at least negative slippage is required as evidence.

8.

9.

National Irrigation Administration shallshall not allow contractors to participate in the 9.The The National Irrigation Administration not allow contractors to participate in the procurement of civil works with with at least 15% 15% negative slippage on their on-going NIA NIA procurement of civil works at least negative slippage on their on-going Contracts at the time of advertisement or posting in the PhilGEPS/NIA Website of the Contracts at the time of advertisement or posting in the PhilGEPS/NIA Website of the Invitation to BidtoinBid accordance with Rule X, Sec. 34.3 34.3 (b) (ii)(b)of(ii) theofRevised Implementing Invitation in accordance with Rule X, Sec. the Revised Implementing Rules & Regulation of Republic Act No. Hence, affidavit stating with with at least 15% 15% Rules & Regulation of Republic Act 9184.

No. 9184.

Hence, affidavit stating at least negative slippage is required as evidence. negative slippage is required as evidence.

10. 10.

All bids mustmust be accompanied by a by bidasecurity in any the forms and in All bids be accompanied bid security in of any ofacceptable the acceptable forms and in the amount stated in ITB 18. 18. the amount stated in Clause ITB Clause

10. 10.

All bids mustmust be accompanied by a by bidasecurity in any theofacceptable formsforms and in thein the All bids be accompanied bid security in of any the acceptable and amount stated in ITB 18. 18. amount stated in Clause ITB Clause

11. 11.

Special Power of Attorney (SPA) shallshall no longer be allowed in the of of Special Power of Attorney (SPA) no longer be allowed in procurement the procurement projects within the Agency. projects within the Agency.

11. 11.

Special Power of Attorney (SPA) shallshall no longer be allowed in theinprocurement of projects Special Power of Attorney (SPA) no longer be allowed the procurement of projects within the Agency. within the Agency.

12. 12.

All bids mustmust be accompanied by abyCertificate of Site Inspection issued by the All bids be accompanied a Certificate of Site Inspection issued by the implementing office. implementing office.

12. 12.

All bids mustmust be accompanied by abyCertificate of Site Inspection issued by the All bids be accompanied a Certificate of Site Inspection issued by the implementing office. implementing office.

13. 13.

The National Irrigation Administration reserves the right to reject bids,bids, declare a failure The National Irrigation Administration reserves the right to reject declare a failure of bidding, and and not to the contract without incurring any liability if theif funds/ of bidding, notaward to award the contract without incurring any liability the funds/ allotment for the to betobid withheld or reduced through no fault of itsof its allotment forproject the project behas bid been has been withheld or reduced through no fault own.own.

13. 13.

The National Irrigation Administration reserves the right to reject bids,bids, declare a failure of of The National Irrigation Administration reserves the right to reject declare a failure bidding, and not award the contract without incurring any liability if theiffunds/allotment for for bidding, andtonot to award the contract without incurring any liability the funds/allotment the project to beto bid withheld or reduced through no fault of its of own. the project behas bidbeen has been withheld or reduced through no fault its own.

14. 14.

Awarding of Contract shallshall be held in abeyance priorprior to receipt of the Budget Awarding of Contract be held in abeyance to receipt of Agency the Agency Budget Matrix (ABM) or Special Allotment Release Order (SARO) for the of theofproject.

Matrix (ABM) or Special Allotment Release Order (SARO) forfull thecost full cost the project.

For further information, please referrefer to: to: For further information, please

National Irrigation Administration now now invites bids bids for the of Sta. Lucia1.The The National Irrigation Administration invites for Constn the Constn of Sta. LuciaCandon NIS under FUND 101. 101.

The project is located in Sta. Lucia, Ilocos Sur with the the Candon NIS under FUND The project is located in Sta. Lucia, Ilocos Sur with following description of work: following description of work:

ENGR. MYRNA C. MARTINEZ - Head BACBAC Secretariat ENGR. MYRNA C. MARTINEZ - Head Secretariat NIA-Regional Office No. 1 NIA-Regional Office No. 1 Barangay Bayaoas, Urdaneta City, City, Pangasinan Barangay Bayaoas, Urdaneta Pangasinan Telefax No: 632-1435 Telefax No: 632-1435 E-mail address: niaengineeing@yahoo.com E-mail address: niaengineeing@yahoo.com

Noted: Noted: (SGD.) JOHN N. CELESTE, DPADPA (SGD.) JOHN N. CELESTE, Regional Manager A A Regional Manager (TNS-MAR. 23, 2015) (TNS-MAR. 23, 2015)

(SGD.) FRIDA L. NIDOY (SGD.) FRIDA L. NIDOY BACBAC Chairman Chairman

14. 14.

Awarding of Contract shallshall be held in abeyance priorprior to receipt of the Budget Awarding of Contract be held in abeyance to receipt ofAgency the Agency Budget Matrix (ABM) or Special Allotment Release Order (SARO) for the of the Matrix (ABM) or Special Allotment Release Order (SARO) for full the cost full cost of the project. project.

For further information, please referrefer to: to: For further information, please

ENGR. MYRNA C. MARTINEZ - Head BACBAC Secretariat ENGR. MYRNA C. MARTINEZ - Head Secretariat NIA-Regional Office No. 1 NIA-Regional Office No. 1 Barangay Bayaoas, Urdaneta City, Pangasinan Barangay Bayaoas, Urdaneta City, Pangasinan Telefax No: 632-1435 Telefax No: 632-1435 E-mail address: niaengineeing@yahoo.com E-mail address: niaengineeing@yahoo.com

Noted: Noted: (SGD.) JOHN N. CELESTE, DPADPA (SGD.) JOHN N. CELESTE, Regional Manager A A Regional Manager (TNS-MAR. 23, 2015) (TNS-MAR. 23, 2015)

(SGD.) FRIDA L. NIDOY (SGD.) FRIDA L. NIDOY BACBAC Chairman Chairman

INDIAN WELLS—Roger Federer roared into the final of the ATP Indian Wells Masters Saturday where he will face Novak Djokovic in a blockbuster showdown between the world’s top two players.

Federer’s remarkable run at Indian Wells continued with a 7-5, 6-4 demolition of Canada’s Milos Raonic in the semi-finals.

Defending champ Djokovic was equally dominant earlier in the day with a convincing 6-2, 6-3 win over world number four Andy Murray.

“It is going to be quite physical out there,” Federer said of Sunday’s final. “I think we played five times last year and then now this would be the second time this year. We have played each other a bunch now.”

The two also met in last year’s Indian Wells final which Djokovic won 3-6, 6-3, 7-6 (7/3).

The ageless Federer has been in top form the past two weeks in the California desert and a win on Sunday would avenge last year’s heartbreaking loss.

“I think last year’s final was great,” said Federer. “We both played very well. Came down to the wire. I didn’t get off to a good start to the breaker and then he ran away with it.

“After losing by so little last year I was quite disappointed, even though I was happy with how I was playing. AFP

Stenson grabs lead ORLANDO—Sweden’s thirdranked Henrik Stenson went four-under on the last four holes to grab a two-stroke lead after Saturday’s third round of the Arnold Palmer Invitational while Rory McIlroy’s charge fizzled.

Stenson sank a 13-foot birdie putt at 15, eagled the par-5 16th with a 20-foot putt and dropped his approach inches from the cup at 18 for a tap-in birdie to finish a six-under par 66 and stand on 16-under 200 at the $6.3 million US PGA Tour event.

“Pretty nice way to finish,” Stenson said. “What I’ve done has put me in a nice position but it has got to be done all over again tomorrow. I’ve got to go out there and keep the same mindset.” AFP

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SPORTS sports@thestandard.com.ph

Salvacion brods on collision course in net meet

SIBLINGS Luis and Patrick Salvacion posted a pair of straight-set victories to lead the quarterfinal cast in the boys’ 12-and-under category even as unranked Marco Sardea stunned second seed Lance Gnilo in the premier class in the Lucena leg of the Palawan PawnshopPalawan Express Pera Padala regional age group presented by at the Ouans Resort Tennis Courts in Quezon over the weekend.

The top seeded Luis toppled Andreiy Masongsong, 6-0, 6-1, to set a Last 8 clash with Pepito Roman, who upset No. 8 Caleb Gnilo, 6-3, 6-1; while the fifth-ranked Patrick beat Ivan Aguiba, 6-4, 6-1, to arrange a quarters duel with Magnus Gnilo, who eased past Doie Mayol, 6-4, 6-2, in the upper bracket.

Others who advanced were No. 2 Jose Thomas Bernardo and No. 6 Ron Amper, who blanked Renz Magabo and Julius Elma, 6-0, 6-0, respectively; seventh seed Lawrence Baria and Daniel Alpajora.

Luis Salvacion also booked a semis spot in the 10-unisex with a 4-0, 4-1 romp over Raphael Layson but will have his hands full against top seed Bernardo, who also posted a similar 4-0, 4-1 win over Caleb Gnilo.

Sardea, meanwhile, provided the spark in the boys’ 18-U class by upending Lance Gnilo, 6-1, 6-1, while Kenneth Iporac also upset No. 5 Vryan de Asis, 6-1, 6-1, in the upper half of the draw of the Group 3 tournament sponsored

by Palawan Pawnshop and organized by Philta headed by Paranaque Mayor Edwin Olivarez.

Unseeded Nicko Manosca also shocked No. 2 Lance Gnilo, 6-4, 7-5, to barge into the U-16 quarters that included Khryz Bunag, Franklin Valderama, Ranz Javier, Domini Rolle, RJ Virrey and Jibril Perpetua.

Meanwhlie, Kaye Alcala trounced Maylani Borbor, 6-2, 6-2, while Michaela Tadiosa snatched a 1-6, 6-1, 10-5 victory over Jhazmin Rigon to lead the quarters cast in the girls’ 18-U category. Alcala also made it to the Last 8 group in 16-U with a 6-0, 6-2 vicotry over Andrea Lagar, joining the tough cast that includes Denise Bernardo, Yvonne Magno Reisha Nillasca, Gaby Zoleta, Romabel Tabernilla and Rigon.

Pacman spars 7 rounds; Mayweather zaps Judah

By Ronnie Nathanielsz MANNY Pacquiao, the eight-division world champion, sparred seven rounds with three different sparring partners at the Wild Card Gym yesterday, while undefeated pound-for-pound No. 1 Floyd Mayweather Jr. reportedly zapped former world champion Zab Judah in a sparring session at the Mayweather gym in Las Vegas.

Pacquiao sparred two rounds each with 21-year-old lightweight Kenneth “Bossman” Simms Jr. (5-0, 2 KOs) of Chicago, and 31-year-old Dierry Jean (28-1, 20 KOs), who moved from Haiti to Montreal, Canada when he was 10 years old and reportedly fights like Mayweather.

The third sparring partner, whose name trainer Freddie Roach couldn’t remember, is from Las Vegas and is likely the so-called secret sparring

partner reportedly from the Mayweather Gym. ABS-CBN’s Dyan Castillejo told the Standard/Viva Sports that according to Roach, Pacquiao’s timing was not perfect.

Roach also revealed that Pacquiao would do more sprints around the oval and lessen his running uphill.

PAQUIAO Castillejo reported that when Pacquiao went jogging and worked out at watch Manny train.

When he returned to his home for the Pan Pacific Park, there was a huge breakfast, he was visited by Philippine crowd of Filipinos who showed up to

InvItatIon to BId no. 062 Rest./RehaB of aguIng-PolIPol- BInacud cIs The National Irrigation Administration, through the General Appropriation Act of 2015 intends to apply the sum of Six Million Six Hundred Fifty Thousand & 00/100 PESOS (PHP6,650,000.00) being the Approved Budget for the Contract (ABC) to payments under the contract for the Rest./ Rehab of Aguing-Polipol- Binacud CIS with Contract No R1-ISIMO-15-03-062. Bids received in excess of the ABC shall be automatically rejected at bid opening.

1.

InvItatIon to BId no. 064 Rest./RehaB of Recudo duyayat cIs (Phase II) The National Irrigation Administration, through the General Appropriation Act of 2015 intends to apply the sum of Nine Million Five Hundred Thousand & 00/100 PESOS (PHP9,500,000.00) being the Approved Budget for the Contract (ABC) to payments under the contract for the Rest./ Rehab of Recudo Duyayat CIS (Phase II) with Contract No R1-ISIMO-15-03-064. Bids received in excess of the ABC shall be automatically rejected at bid opening.

1.

The National Irrigation Administration now invites bids for the Rest./Rehab of AguingPolipol- Binacud CIS under FUND 101. The project is located in Sinait, Ilocos Sur with the following description of work: I. Diversion Works II. Canalization III. Canal Structures

3.

4.

Completion of the Works is required within One Hundred Eighty (180) calendar days.

Bidder must have an experience of having completed, a single contract that is similar to the contract to be bid, must be at least 50% of the ABC. The description of an eligible bidder is contained in the Bidding Documents, particularly, in Section II, Instructions to Bidders.

3.

Bidding will be conducted through open competitive bidding procedures using nondiscretionary pass/fail criterion as specified in the Implementing Rules and Regulations (IRR) of Republic Act 9184 (RA 9184), otherwise known as the “Government Procurement Reform Act”. Bidding is restricted to Filipino citizens/sole proprietorships, partnerships, or organizations with at least seventy five percent (75%) interest or outstanding capital stock belonging to citizens of the Philippines.

Bidding will be conducted through open competitive bidding procedures using non-discretionary pass/fail criterion as specified in the Implementing Rules and Regulations (IRR) of Republic Act 9184 (RA 9184), otherwise known as the “Government Procurement Reform Act”. Bidding is restricted to Filipino citizens/sole proprietorships, partnerships, or organizations with at least seventy five percent (75%) interest or outstanding capital stock belonging to citizens of the Philippines.

4.

Interested bidders may obtain further information from National Irrigation Administration, Urdaneta City, Pangasinan (office of the Head, BAC Secretariat) and inspect the Bidding Documents from 8:00 A.M to 5:00 PM:

Interested bidders may obtain further information from National Irrigation Administration, Urdaneta City, Pangasinan (office of the Head, BAC Secretariat) and inspect the Bidding Documents from 8:00 A.M to 5:00 PM:

5.

A complete set of Bidding Documents may be purchased by interested Bidders from the above address and upon payment at the NIA Cashier of a non-refundable fee for the Bidding Documents in the amount of TEN THOUSAND PESOS (Php10,000.00).

6.

Issuance & Availability of bidding documents is from the first day of advertisement/ Posting of Invitation to Bid/ Request for Expression of interest until submission and receipt of bids.

7.

The National Irrigation Administration will hold a Pre-Bid Conference on March 26, 2015, 2:00 PM at the NIA-Regional Office Conference Room, Urdaneta City, Pangasinan which shall be open to all interested parties who have purchased the Bidding Documents.

8.

Bids must be delivered on or before 2:00 PM, April 7, 2015 at the address below. Opening of Bids will immediately follow in the presence of the bidders’ representatives who choose to attend at the NIA-Region I Conference Room, Bayaoas, Urdaneta City, Pangasinan. Late bids shall not be accepted.

9.

The National Irrigation Administration shall not allow contractors to participate in the procurement of civil works with at least 15% negative slippage on their ongoing NIA Contracts at the time of advertisement or posting in the PhilGEPS/NIA Website of the Invitation to Bid in accordance with Rule X, Sec. 34.3 (b) (ii) of the Revised Implementing Rules & Regulation of Republic Act No. 9184. Hence, affidavit stating with at least 15% negative slippage is required as evidence.

10.

All bids must be accompanied by a bid security in any of the acceptable forms and in the amount stated in ITB Clause 18.

11.

Special Power of Attorney (SPA) shall no longer be allowed in the procurement of projects within the Agency.

12.

All bids must be accompanied by a Certificate of Site Inspection issued by the implementing office.

13.

The National Irrigation Administration reserves the right to reject bids, declare a failure of bidding, and not to award the contract without incurring any liability if the funds/allotment for the project to be bid has been withheld or reduced through no fault of its own.

14.

Awarding of Contract shall be held in abeyance prior to receipt of the Agency Budget Matrix (ABM) or Special Allotment Release Order (SARO) for the full cost of the project.

Bidder must have an experience of having completed, a single contract that is similar to the contract to be bid, must be at least 50% of the ABC. The description of an eligible bidder is contained in the Bidding Documents, particularly, in Section II, Instructions to Bidders.

5.

A complete set of Bidding Documents may be purchased by interested Bidders from the above address and upon payment at the NIA Cashier of a non-refundable fee for the Bidding Documents in the amount of SEVEN THOUSAND PESOS (Php7,000.00).

6.

Issuance & Availability of bidding documents is from the first day of advertisement/ Posting of Invitation to Bid/ Request for Expression of interest until submission and receipt of bids.

7.

The National Irrigation Administration will hold a Pre-Bid Conference on March 26, 2015, 2:00 PM at the NIA-Regional Office Conference Room, Urdaneta City, Pangasinan which shall be open to all interested parties who have purchased the Bidding Documents.

8.

Bids must be delivered on or before 2:00 PM, April 7, 2015 at the address below.

Opening of Bids will immediately follow in the presence of the bidders’ representatives who choose to attend at the NIA-Region I Conference Room, Bayaoas, Urdaneta City, Pangasinan. Late bids shall not be accepted.

9.

The National Irrigation Administration shall not allow contractors to participate in the procurement of civil works with at least 15% negative slippage on their on-going NIA Contracts at the time of advertisement or posting in the PhilGEPS/NIA Website of the Invitation to Bid in accordance with Rule X, Sec. 34.3 (b) (ii) of the Revised Implementing Rules & Regulation of Republic Act No. 9184. Hence, affidavit stating with at least 15% negative slippage is required as evidence.

10. All bids must be accompanied by a bid security in any of the acceptable forms and in the amount stated in ITB Clause 18.

11.

Special Power of Attorney (SPA) shall no longer be allowed in the procurement of projects within the Agency.

12. All bids must be accompanied by a Certificate of Site Inspection issued by the implementing office.

13. The National Irrigation Administration reserves the right to reject bids, declare a failure of bidding, and not to award the contract without incurring any liability if the funds/ allotment for the project to be bid has been withheld or reduced through no fault of its own.

14. Awarding of Contract shall be held in abeyance prior to receipt of the Agency Budget Matrix (ABM) or Special Allotment Release Order (SARO) for the full cost of the project.

For further information, please refer to:

For further information, please refer to:

The National Irrigation Administration now invites bids for the Rest./Rehab of Recudo Duyayat CIS (Phase II) under FUND 101. The project is located in Sinait, Ilocos Sur with the following description of work: I. Canalization A. Canal Lining II. Canal Structures

2.

Completion of the Works is required within One Hundred Eighty (180) calendar days.

2.

basketball great and an avid Pacquiao fan, former senator Robert Jaworski.

Meantime, Mayweather’s uncle Jeff Mayweather told Mlive.com that Floyd sparred three, five-minute rounds with former world champion, southpaw Judah, and “beat the sh_t out if him. By the second round, Judah had nothing left.”

Jeff said Floyd let Judah off the hook since he has a fight coming up, but “messed his eye up.”

Strength and conditioning coach Alex Ariza, who is now working with Mayweather after his services were terminated by Team Pacquiao, said everything is looking good and that Mayweather is “mentally taking this to another level. He is serious and looking sharper and stronger.”

ENGR. MYRNA C. MARTINEZ - Head BAC Secretariat NIA-Regional Office No. 1 Barangay Bayaoas, Urdaneta City, Pangasinan Telefax No: 632-1435 E-mail address: niaengineeing@yahoo.com

Noted:

ENGR. MYRNA C. MARTINEZ - Head BAC Secretariat NIA-Regional Office No. 1 Barangay Bayaoas, Urdaneta City, Pangasinan Telefax No: 632-1435 E-mail address: niaengineeing@yahoo.com

(SGD.) FRIDA L. NIDOY BAC Chairman

Noted:

(SGD.) JOHN N. CELESTE, DPA

Regional Manager A

(TNS-MAR. 23, 2015)

(SGD.) JOHN N. CELESTE, DPA Regional Manager A (TNS-MAR. 23, 2015)

(SGD.) FRIDA L. NIDOY BAC Chairman

CYAN MAGENTA YELLOW BLACK

M O N DAY : M A RCH 2 3 , 2 0 1 5

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SPORTS sports@thestandard.com.ph

PH archers 3 in Asia rd

By Peter Atencio

THE Philippines, led by Amaya Paz-Cojuangco, beat rivals from India to finish a decent third in the 2015 Asia Cup Archery Championships in Bangkok, Thailand.

Paz-Cojuangco, the wife of Tarlac vice governor Kit Cojuangco, led the Philippine national team to two golds and a silver when action ended at the Huamak field.

According to results released online, the 29-year-old Paz-Cojuangco and teammates Jennifer Chan and Andrea Robles powered the national women’s

compound team to a gold after beating India, 224-223.

After taking a bye in the first round, the Filipinas put away Hong Kong, 224220, in the quarterfinals, then hurdled Southeast Asian rivals Indonesia, 221210 in the semifinals.

The 29-year-old Paz-Cojuangco earlier teamed up with Jeff Adriano for the

mixed team gold, to go with a silver in the individual competitions.

India, led by Asian Games veterans Jyothi Venam and Vikas Rajam, and Genung Tekseng, took the top honors with a 3-2-1 gold-silver-bronze finish.

Chinese Taipei was second with its 2-1-2 haul.

In the early days of the meet, Adriano and Paz-Cojuangco prevailed in a pressure-packed contest against Venam and Rajam, 155-153, in the last end of a 4-arrow match during a finals shootoff for the mixed compound gold.

UP softbelles force finals duel with Adamson UNIVERSITY of the Philippines had a huge six-run fifth inning to hack out an abbreviated 9-1 win over University of Santo Tomas and force a championship duel with undefeated Adamson University yesterday in the UAAP Season 77 softball tournament at the Rizal Memorial Baseball Stadium.

Isabelle Mendoza hit a three-run homer in the fifth inning to give the Lady Maroons a big cushion and held off the Tigresses in their last at-bat to clinch the remaining slot in the Finals.

The opener is scheduled at 9 a.m. tomorrow, with the Lady Falcons holding a thrice-

Game tomorrow (Rizal Memorial Baseball Stadium) 9 a.m. – AdU vs vs UP (softball finals) to-beat incentive after sweeping the 12-game eliminations.

“UP is already a winner. We want to clinch a Finals slot with Adamson and we met our objective,” said long-time coach Kiko Diaz.

The Lady Maroons have assured of their best finish in the sport since the 2010-11 season, where they placed second to the Lady

Falcons, who won the first of four consecutive championships.

UP, which last ruled in 2008 with a powerhouse roster led by Alex Zuluaga, broke a 1-1 standoff in the fourth after Chantel Bongat scored a RBI to send DC and Dennise Cruz home.

UST’s lone run came from Christine Palma in the second inning to the the lead.

The Tigresses, who finished third, failed to follow up last Friday’s 7-2 victory over the Lady Maroons which forced the semi- PBA Smash PH’s Peter Gabriel Magnaye (left) and Paul Jeffinals decider. ferson Vivas display their medals, trophies and prizes.

InvItatIon to BId no. 061

InvItatIon to BId no. 060 Rest./RehaB of suyo-tagudIn-sta. CRuz nIs (RepRIotIzatIon) The National Irrigation Administration, through the General Appropriation Act of 2015 intends to apply the sum of Thirty-Eight Million & 00/100 PESOS (PHP38,000,000.00) being the Approved Budget for the Contract (ABC) to payments under the contract for the Rest./Rehab of SuyoTagudin-Sta. Cruz NIS (Repriotization) with Contract No R1-ISIMO-15-03-060. Bids received in excess of the ABC shall be automatically rejected at bid opening.

1.

Rest./RehaB of suyo-tagudIn-sta. CRuz nIs The National Irrigation Administration, through the General Appropriation Act of 2015 intends to apply the sum of Fourteen Million Two Hundred Fifty Thousand & 00/100 PESOS (PHP14,250,000.00) being the Approved Budget for the Contract (ABC) to payments under the contract for the Rest./ Rehab of Suyo-Tagudin-Sta. Cruz NIS with Contract No R1-ISIMO-15-03-061. Bids received in excess of the ABC shall be automatically rejected at bid opening.

The National Irrigation Administration now invites bids for the Rest./Rehab of SuyoTagudin-Sta. Cruz NIS (Repriotization) under FUND 101. The project is located in Suyo, Ilocos Sur with the following description of work: I A.

The National Irrigation Administration now invites bids for the Rest./Rehab of SuyoTagudin-Sta. Cruz NIS under FUND 101. The project is located in Suyo, Ilocos Sur with the following description of work:

1.

I. Diversion Works A. Protection Works @ u/s of dam II. Canalization A. Canal Lining @ Sta.0+453 to 0+812 Lat. “C” of South Lateral III. Canal Structures

Diversion Works Construction of Upper Diversion Dam @ Suyo, Ilocos Sur

Completion of the Works is required within Two Hundred Seventy (270) calendar days.

2.

3.

4.

5.

Bidder must have an experience of having completed, a single contract that is similar to the contract to be bid, must be at least 50% of the ABC. The description of an eligible bidder is contained in the Bidding Documents, particularly, in Section II, Instructions to Bidders.

Bidder must have an experience of having completed, a single contract that is similar to the contract to be bid, must be at least 50% of the ABC. The description of an eligible bidder is contained in the Bidding Documents, particularly, in Section II, Instructions to Bidders.

3.

Interested bidders may obtain further information from National Irrigation Administration, Urdaneta City, Pangasinan (office of the Head, BAC Secretariat) and inspect the Bidding Documents from 8:00 A.M to 5:00 PM:

Bidding will be conducted through open competitive bidding procedures using non-discretionary pass/fail criterion as specified in the Implementing Rules and Regulations (IRR) of Republic Act 9184 (RA 9184), otherwise known as the “Government Procurement Reform Act”. Bidding is restricted to Filipino citizens/sole proprietorships, partnerships, or organizations with at least seventy five percent (75%) interest or outstanding capital stock belonging to citizens of the Philippines.

4.

A complete set of Bidding Documents may be purchased by interested Bidders from the above address and upon payment at the NIA Cashier of a non-refundable fee for the Bidding Documents in the amount of THIRTY-EIGHT THOUSAND PESOS (Php38,000.00).

Interested bidders may obtain further information from National Irrigation Administration, Urdaneta City, Pangasinan (office of the Head, BAC Secretariat) and inspect the Bidding Documents from 8:00 A.M to 5:00 PM:

5.

A complete set of Bidding Documents may be purchased by interested Bidders from the above address and upon payment at the NIA Cashier of a non-refundable fee for the Bidding Documents in the amount of FOURTEEN THOUSAND PESOS (Php14,000.00).

6.

Issuance & Availability of bidding documents is from the first day of advertisement/ Posting of Invitation to Bid/ Request for Expression of interest until submission and receipt of bids.

7.

The National Irrigation Administration will hold a Pre-Bid Conference on March 26, 2015, 2:00 PM at the NIA-Regional Office Conference Room, Urdaneta City, Pangasinan which shall be open to all interested parties who have purchased the Bidding Documents.

8.

Bids must be delivered on or before 10:00 AM, April 7, 2015 at the address below.

Opening of Bids will immediately follow in the presence of the bidders’ representatives who choose to attend at the NIA-Region I Conference Room, Bayaoas, Urdaneta City, Pangasinan. Late bids shall not be accepted.

9.

The National Irrigation Administration shall not allow contractors to participate in the procurement of civil works with at least 15% negative slippage on their on-going NIA Contracts at the time of advertisement or posting in the PhilGEPS/NIA Website of the Invitation to Bid in accordance with Rule X, Sec. 34.3 (b) (ii) of the Revised Implementing Rules & Regulation of Republic Act No. 9184. Hence, affidavit stating with at least 15% negative slippage is required as evidence.

10.

All bids must be accompanied by a bid security in any of the acceptable forms and in the amount stated in ITB Clause 18.

11.

Special Power of Attorney (SPA) shall no longer be allowed in the procurement of projects within the Agency.

12.

All bids must be accompanied by a Certificate of Site Inspection issued by the implementing office.

13.

The National Irrigation Administration reserves the right to reject bids, declare a failure of bidding, and not to award the contract without incurring any liability if the funds/allotment for the project to be bid has been withheld or reduced through no fault of its own.

14.

Awarding of Contract shall be held in abeyance prior to receipt of the Agency Budget Matrix (ABM) or Special Allotment Release Order (SARO) for the full cost of the project.

Bidding will be conducted through open competitive bidding procedures using nondiscretionary pass/fail criterion as specified in the Implementing Rules and Regulations (IRR) of Republic Act 9184 (RA 9184), otherwise known as the “Government Procurement Reform Act”. Bidding is restricted to Filipino citizens/sole proprietorships, partnerships, or organizations with at least seventy five percent (75%) interest or outstanding capital stock belonging to citizens of the Philippines.

6.

Issuance & Availability of bidding documents is from the first day of advertisement/Posting of Invitation to Bid/ Request for Expression of interest until submission and receipt of bids.

7.

The National Irrigation Administration will hold a Pre-Bid Conference on March 26, 2015, 2:00 PM at the NIA-Regional Office Conference Room, Urdaneta City, Pangasinan which shall be open to all interested parties who have purchased the Bidding Documents.

8.

Bids must be delivered on or before 10:00 AM, April 7, 2015 at the address below. Opening of Bids will immediately follow in the presence of the bidders’ representatives who choose to attend at the NIA-Region I Conference Room, Bayaoas, Urdaneta City, Pangasinan.

Late bids shall not be accepted.

9.

Completion of the Works is required within One Hundred Fifty (150) calendar days.

2.

The National Irrigation Administration shall not allow contractors to participate in the procurement of civil works with at least 15% negative slippage on their on-going NIA Contracts at the time of advertisement or posting in the PhilGEPS/NIA Website of the Invitation to Bid in accordance with Rule X, Sec. 34.3 (b) (ii) of the Revised Implementing Rules & Regulation of Republic Act No. 9184. Hence, affidavit stating with at least 15% negative slippage is required as evidence.

10. All bids must be accompanied by a bid security in any of the acceptable forms and in the amount stated in ITB Clause 18.

11. Special Power of Attorney (SPA) shall no longer be allowed in the procurement of projects within the Agency.

12. All bids must be accompanied by a Certificate of Site Inspection issued by the implementing office.

13. The National Irrigation Administration reserves the right to reject bids, declare a failure of bidding, and not to award the contract without incurring any liability if the funds/allotment for the project to be bid has been withheld or reduced through no fault of its own.

14. Awarding of Contract shall be held in abeyance prior to receipt of the Agency Budget Matrix (ABM) or Special Allotment Release Order (SARO) for the full cost of the project.

For further information, please refer to:

ENGR. MYRNA C. MARTINEZ - Head BAC Secretariat NIA-Regional Office No. 1 Barangay Bayaoas, Urdaneta City, Pangasinan Telefax No: 632-1435 E-mail address: niaengineeing@yahoo.com

Noted: (SGD.) JOHN N. CELESTE, DPA Regional Manager A (TNS-MAR. 23, 2015)

CYAN MAGENTA YELLOW BLACK

For further information, please refer to:

(SGD.) FRIDA L. NIDOY BAC Chairman Noted:

ENGR. MYRNA C. MARTINEZ - Head BAC Secretariat NIA-Regional Office No. 1 Barangay Bayaoas, Urdaneta City, Pangasinan Telefax No: 632-1435 E-mail address: niaengineeing@yahoo.com (SGD.) FRIDA L. NIDOY BAC Chairman (SGD.) JOHN N. CELESTE, DPA

Regional Manager A

(TNS-MAR. 23, 2015)

Doubles title to Vivas, Magnaye PHILIPPINE Badminton Association Smash Pilipinas pair Peter Gabriel Magnaye and Paul Jefferson Vivas claimed their third straight men’s open doubles title in the 8th Prima Pasta Badminton Open Championship recently at the Powersmash court in Makati City.

Vivas and Magnaye, winners of last year’s Swiss Open men’s doubles title in Switzerland, trounced Philip Joper Escueta and Ronel Estanislao in the championship round, 21-19, 21-9, to pocket their third straight men’s doubles crown since 2013.

In the women’s doubles open event supported also by Smart and Babolat, Eleanor Christine Inlayo and Alyssa Ysabel Leonardo beat the tandem of Anna Patricia Barredo and Thea Marie Pomar, 21-17, 21-17, to clinch the crown.

The competition was supported by Babolat and SMART Communications, through the MVP Sports Foundation, Boysen Paints, Morning Star Milling, Mabz Builders, ILO Construction, Monolith Construction, Monocrete Construction, Pioneer Insurance, Promax, Regent Foods Corp., Vitwater, Unilever, Del Monte Fit N’ Right and powered

by Forthright Events.

m o n day : m a rc h 2 3 , 2 0 1 5

A15

SPORTS sports@thestandard.com.ph

Fil-Am captures 3rd gold in National Open FIL-AM bet Caleb Stuart came up with a better than expected finish on the last day of the 2015 the Philippine National Open-Invitational Athletics Championships at the Laguna Sports Complex in Sta. Cruz, Laguna.

Stuart came up with a 3-gold sweep, coming up with his third gold medal when he was no longer expecting another one to come his way.

He heaved a 48.17-meter performance in the discus throw, which was six meters ahead of the throw of Sean Santamina, who came up with 42.72 meters, but was still short of the current national

mark of 52.10 meters.

John Albert Mantua of Jose Rizal University settled for the bronze in 39.1 meters.

It was Stuart’s third gold after earlier topping the hammer throw and the shot put.

“It was a great experience and I’m happy with my performance. I was only concentrating on my two other events and I was hardly preparing in the dis-

cus throw,” said Stuart.

Because of his feat, Stuart now plans to join three events in the Singapore SEA Games, instead of just two.

Meanwhile, 19-year-old Ernest John Obiena cleared 5 meters in the men’s pole vault to claim the gold. He then missed his bid to break the 5.20-m national record after he fouled out on his attempts.

“Malambot na ang pole. Kailangan na bumili ng bagong pole na mahaba at matigas dahil malakas na ang approach ko,” said Obiena.

The first and only national record to fall during the fourday meet was in the 110-meter

Villanueva tops ‘Atleta’ aquathlon

hurdles, where Francis Medina ran 14.23 seconds, better than the 14.52-second record in the ASEAN School Games last December.

SEAG gold medalist Archand Christian Bagsit topped the 200m run in 21.72 seconds.

This allowed him to become double-gold medalist in this four-day meet organized by the Philippine Amateur Track and Field Association and supported by Laguna Governor Ramil Hernandez.

Bagsit’s first gold was in the 400m run.

Mervin Guarte claimed the gold in the 1,500m run in 3:54.58. Peter Atencio

Laguna Gov. Ramil Hernandez (left) and athletics’ chief Philip Juico talks to mediamen during the Philippine National Open-Invitational Athletics Championships. Inset shows Fil-American Caleb Stuart, who won his third gold in the meet. ROMAN PROSPERO

Pru Life eyes football for better life FOOTBALLERS for a Better Life, a series of football tournaments and clinics backed up by Pru Life UK Philippines, got off to a great start when it was launched in Barotac, Nuevo, Iloilo last March 7 and 8.

Almost a thousand kids from the Visayas and Mindanao participated in the weekend football festival in Barotac, which is considered the nation’s football capital.

Different teams from Barotac, South Cotabato, Iloilo City, Capiz, Boracay, and other areas battled it out in five age categories (6-8, 9-10, 11-2, 13-14, Under 16) and the ladies’ open category.

Former Azkal team captain Chieffy Caligdong conducted these events, together with British coach Chris Thomas, who is the Grassroots Development Program Director of Pru Life UK’s Football for a Better Life.

The tournaments for the 6-8, 9-10, and 1112 age groups were held on March 7, while the 13-14 and Under 16 and ladies’ open matches were held on March 8. A clinic for selected

talents ages 9-11 was conducted on March 8

by Coach Christ Thomas, as well. Hundreds of spectators from Barotac and the nearby areas flocked to field in the Barotac Plaza to watch the games.

This 2015 marks the second year that Pru Life UK Philippines is giving its all out support to the development of football in the country.

“We’ve seen very good results the past year with the participation of the U12 team in international tournaments,” says Belle Tiongco, Chief Marketing Officer of Pru Life UK Philippines. “There are a lot of youth in our country who are very talented in football.

Given the proper training, we believe that they have what it takes to bring the Philippines to the World Cup.” Football For a Better Life will be conducted in nine more places from March to November this year.

The next leg will be held today and tomorrow at the CDC Parade Grounds in Clark, Mabalacat, Pampanga.

UNIVERSITY of the Philippines tanker Andrea Villanueva took line honors in one of the many memorable moments in yesterday’s 1st Atleta Ako Women’s Aquathlon at the Philsports in Pasig City.

Villanueva banked on her strength in the swim leg to erect a comfortable lead that stood as her cushion as she struggled in the run stage.

“My swimming was okay, but I got tired in the run. Overall, I’m happy with my performance because this is a special race open only for females,” said Villanueva, who negotiated the 500m swim and 6k run standard distance in 39 minutes and 38 seconds for the gold medal in the 18-24 age class.

A large field of 240 participants joined the race organized

by BikeKing headed by Raul Cuevas, supported by Atleta Ako and presented by Philippine Sports Commission, thru their Women In Sports program under commissioner Akiko Thomson-Guevara.

“I’m happy to see participants as young as seven years old to as old as 70 competing in one race.

I’m looking forward to doing this again with the organizers,” said Thomson-Guevara, who joined Atleta Ako owner Cecil Hufana in presenting the medals during the awarding ceremony.

Among those who topped their age category was former national duathlon champion Kaye Lopez, who clocked at 40:37 for the gold medal in the 30-34 class, in this event also backed by Klean Kanteen, Certified Calm, Arena, Neutrogena, Robinsons Supermarket, Del Monte, Rexona, Comark, Merrel, Crayola, Gatorade, Peak Form Manila and David’s Solon.

“The last time I competed a regular race was during 2007 so I had managed my expectations,” said Lopez. “I want to congratulate the organizers for holding this race because it will truly help inspire women to achieve what they want to achieve not only in sports but also in life,” added Lopez.

Donaire ready for fight

By Ronnie Nathanielsz FIVE-DIVISION world champion Nonito “The Filipino Flash” Donaire had a good workout Sunday morning in Alabang, saying later he is “very ready and happy” about his condition for his return to the ring against Brazil’s William Prado on the blockbuster “Pinoy Pride 30” fight card at the Smart Araneta Coliseum on March 28.

Donaire revealed he is currently at 130 pounds, which is his projected weight at this point and he should have no problem making the 122-pound limit at the official weigh-in on March 27.

He said the intense sparring at the ALA Gym last week, made it easier going down in weight from a high of around 140 pounds before training camp began.

Donaire told the Standard/Viva Sports that sparring was very good

against tough Japanese bantamweight Ryo Akaho, promising Mark “Magnifico Magsayo and Roli Gesta.

He said he sparred anywhere between 10 to 12 rounds and it put him in top shape for his showdown with Prado.

“I am a man on a mission,” said Donaire, who is looking to redeem himself from the sixth-round beating at the hands of the bigger featherweight super champion Nicholas Walters and is determined to make a statement as he once again chases another world title.

The two other leading ALA fighters on one of the biggest most exciting fight cards in years, longest-reigning Filipino world champion, WBO light flyweight king Donnie Nietes and IBF Intercontinental junior featherweight/super bantamweight champion Prince Albert Pagara are in tip top condition.

CYAN MAGENTA YELLOW BLACK M O N DAY : M A RCH 2 3 , 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

Man-mountain PJ Ramos (left) of KIA moves the ball away from Rain or Shine’s Paul Lee and JR Quinahan in a PBA game won by the Painters, 119-99. NUKI SABIO

Painters claim no. 1 seed

By Jeric Lopez

RAIN or Shine will be the top seed heading into the quarterfinals.

The Elasto Painters assured themselves of a twice-to-beat incentive in the next phase after they easily crushed Kia Motors, 119-99, to claim the No. 1 seed in the 2015 Philippine Basketball Association Commissioners’ Cup yesterday at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.

Wayne Chism led the balanced attack of the Elasto Painters by hitting six triples on his way to a teamhigh 28 points and 12 rebounds, while Raymund Almazan came up big with 16 points on 6-of-9 shooting, to go with nine rebounds.

Paul Lee added 14 points and Chris Tiu and Ryan Arana each had

Games Tuesday

(Smart Araneta Coliseum): 4:15 p.m. - Barako vs NLEX 7 p.m. - SMB vs GlobalPort 13 more.

Rain or Shine tied Purefoods at the top as they both finished their elimination-round campaigns at 8-3, while Talk ‘N Text, currently at 7-3, can join the two if it wins against Alaska.

But even in case of a three-way tie between these three, the Elasto Painters will still become the No. 1 seed because of a superior quotient.

They will have a twice-to-beat advantage against the No. 8 seed in the next round. ‘’We already got a twice-to-beat advantage now and that’s what we’re looking for,’’ said Rain or Shine coach Yeng Guiao, who drew a 66 humongous points from his bench. ‘’No. 1 is good in the standings, but this twice-to-beat advantage is the most important thing for us. We don’t mind who we play.’’

As for the Carnival, it will now play the waiting game to see if it moves forward to the playoffs. It ended its campaign at 4-7, its fate depending on the results of the remaining games of the other teams, like the Aces, Barako Bull and GlobalPort, which are also vying for a spot in the top eight.

Currently, Kia is at 10th place.

PACMAN SPARS FOR 7 ROUNDS TURN TO A13

CYAN MAGENTA YELLOW BLACK

NASH RETIRES AFTER 18 SEASONS TURN TO A12

Led by Chism, Rain or Shine opened up a huge 57-33 cushion over the Carnival in the second quarter and never looked back from there.

Clicking on all cylinders, the Elasto Painters outscored Kia, 4120, in the second frame to put up 71 points at the half, compared to the Carnival’s 46.

Kia outscored Rain or Shine, 3421, in the third period to trim its deficit to a manageable 92-80. The Carnival even went on to slice the gap to just eight points, 96-88, with 8:33 remaining after Reil Cervantes’ fadeaway, but that’s the closest Kia got.

The Elasto Painters, who converted a whopping 15 treys, answered swiftly with an 11-4 run, capped

by Almazan’s three-point play to restore order and put the game to

rest as they were back ahead by 15 points, 107-92, with only 5:35 left.

PJ Ramos once again dominated with a game-high 45 points and 21 rebounds, but his efforts weren’t enough to lift Kia. ‘’We had problems with Ramos, but we were able to limit the contributions of the Kia locals,’’ said Guiao.

The scores: Rain or Shine 119 — Chism 28, Almazan 16, Lee 14, Tiu 13, Arana 13, Norwood 10, Belga 8, Tang 7, Jericho Cruz 4, Chan 4, Quinahan 2, Uyloan 0, Ibanes 0.

Kia 99 — Ramos 45, Revilla 15, Dehesa 10, Cervantes 9, Ighalo 8, Cawaling 2, Thiele 2, Alvarez 2, Pascual 2, Yee 2, Avenido 2, Buensuceso 0, Bartolo 0.

Quarters: 30-26; 71-46; 92-80; 119-99.

LOTTO RESULTS

6/49 00-00-00-00-00-0

P16M

3 DIGITS 0-0-0 2 EZ2 0-0

CYAN MAGENTA YELLOW BLACK

B1

MONDAY: MARCH 23, 2015

RAY S. EÑANO EDITOR

RODERICK T. DELA CRUZ ASSISTANT EDITOR

business@thestandard.com.ph extrastory2000@gmail.com

BUSINESS PSe comPoSite index Prime Orion anniversary.

Prime Orion Philippines Inc., which has interests in real estate and property management, non-life insurance, IT consulting services, held a special bell ringing ceremony at the Philippine Stock Exchange to celebrate its 25th listing anniversary. Shown during the anniversary are (from left) Orion Solutions Inc. business unit head Jerdy Augusto, Prime Orion legal manager Alvin Pagayatan, business and financial planning manager and investor relations officer Victor Rafael, assistant vice president for human resources Edwin Silang, chief finance officer and treasurer Ronald Sugapong, chief legal counsel, corporate secretary and compliance officer Daisy Parker, president and chief executive Yuen Po Seng, PSE president and chief executive Hans Sicat, chief operating officer Roel Refran, Prime Orion assistant corporate secretary and VP for legal group Ma. Rhodora Dela Cuesta, Tutuban Properties Inc. VP for marketing Sylvia Tecson, OMI Land Title Services sales and marketing head Maryann Victoria Recinto and FLT Prime Insurance Corp. general manager Amado Mauleon.

Mitsubishi investing additional P5b in PH

By Othel V. Campos

MITSUBISHI Motors Philippines Corp. is investing another P3.5 billion to P5 billion to upgrade its production capacity and create a new vehicle platform in the Philippines.

“This [plan] will be triggered once the EO [executive order] on cars industry manufacturing is finally approved and release.

For now, we’re still playing by the ear. We follow what our Japanese investors say,” MMPC executive vice president for overall

operations Orlando Alvarez said over the weekend.

The investment will also include the establishment of a P2billion stamping facility, which the company disclosed earlier.

Production of door panels and car hood will soon be localized as soon as intended investments for the specific process are released.

Proceeds from the sale of its manufacturing facility in Cainta, Rizal will be used to partly fund

PH lifts ban on Japan poultry

By Anna Leah E. Gonzales THE Agriculture Department said it has lifted the nearly one-year ban on the importation of domestic and wild birds and their products including poultry meat, day-old chicks and eggs, from Japan.

Agriculture Secretary Proceso Alcala ordered the temporary import ban on April 14, 2014, following an outbreak of the high pathogenic avian influenza virus, or bird flu, in Kuma-gun, Taragi-machi, Kumamoto, Japan.

Alcala said the import ban aimed to protect the health of the

B3 CYAN MAGENTA YELLOW BLACK

public and the country’s poultry population.

Alcala said based on the official report submitted by the Office Internationale des Epizooties, the HPAI event in Kumamoto, Japan had been resolved.

OIE is an inter-governmental organization whose functions include informing governments of the occurrence of animal diseases and of ways to control these diseases.

“Based on the evaluation of the Bureau of Animal Industry, the risk of contamination from importing poultry and poultry

DoF relaxes rules on aircraft imports

products from Japan is negligible,” Alcala said.

The Philippines remains free from the highly contagious avian influenza microbe.

The country has managed to maintain its bird-flu free status since the virus afflicted Asian countries in 2003 and affected the poultry of neighboring nations such as Vietnam.

The Agriculture Department also imposed a temporary ban on poultry and bird imports from Oregon in the United States early this year as a precautionary measure against avian influenza.

B4

the proposed new investment.

Alvarez said the P5 billion new investment would complete the company’s P10-billion investment program.

The company earlier spent P5 billion for the acquisition of the Ford plant in Sta. Rosa City, Laguna.

The company said it was looking at manufacturing either an Asian utility vehicle or a small car in the country if the government would provide the needed assistance to the automotive industry.

“We have all the necessary preparations taken care of. It’s just a matter of the category, although we are seriously considering small car. The market for small cars is growing,” said Alvarez.

Mitsubishi also plans to upgrade equipment to further improve assembly process and quality and make it at par with other Mitsubishi Motor assembly plants.

It installed at the new plant in Laguna an advanced automated plastic parts paint robot capable of multi-color painting, the firstof-its-kind in the Philippines.

The company will also set up a sophisticated body measuring machine that provides high degree of consistency for all locally-assembled models.

Meralco to finalize gas bid

Closing March 20, 2015

8000 7500 6840 7500 6180

7000

5520

6500

4860

6000 4200 3860 5500

7,818.38 3.83

PeSo-dollar rate

Closing MARCH 20, 2015 45

P44.815

44

CLOSE

43 42 41

HIGH P44.790 LOW P44.850 AVERAGE P44.831 VOLUME 655.200M

P508.00-P728.00 LPG/11-kg tank P38.37-P43.92 Unleaded Gasoline P26.35-P32.65 Diesel

oPriceS il P today

P36.75-P43.42 Kerosene P23.70-P24.40 Auto LPG Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas Friday, March 20, 2015

F oreign e xchange r ate Currency

Unit

US Dollar Peso

United States

Dollar

1.000000

44.6610

Japan

Yen

0.008277

0.3697

UK

Pound

1.473800

65.8214

Hong Kong

Dollar

0.128878

5.7558

Switzerland

Franc

1.009693

45.0939

Canada

Dollar

0.785793

35.0943

Singapore

Dollar

0.720929

32.1974

Australia

Dollar

0.763825

34.1132

Bahrain

Dinar

2.652520

118.4642

Saudi Arabia

Rial

0.266638

11.9083

Brunei

Dollar

0.718339

32.0817

Indonesia

Rupiah

0.000077

0.0034

Thailand

Baht

0.030553

1.3645

UAE

Dirham

0.272257

12.1593

Euro

Euro

1.065000

47.5640

Korea

Won

0.000892

0.0398

China

Yuan

0.161392

7.2079

India

Rupee

0.015985

0.7139

Malaysia

Ringgit

0.270088

12.0624

New Zealand

Dollar

0.738716

32.9918

Taiwan

Dollar

0.031773

1.4190 Source: PDS Bridge

MONDAY: MARCH 23, 2015

B2

BUSINESS business@thestandard.com.ph extrastory2000@gmail.com

MST BuSineSS Weekly STockS RevieW STOCKS

MARCH 16-20,2015 Close Volume

AG Finance Asia United Bank Banco de Oro Unibank Inc. Bank of PI China Bank BDO Leasing & Fin. Inc. Bright Kindle Resources COL Financial Eastwest Bank Filipino Fund Inc. I-Remit Inc. Manulife Fin. Corp.

MEDCO Holdings Metrobank Natl Reinsurance Corp.

PB Bank Phil Bank of Comm Phil. National Bank Phil. Savings Bank PSE Inc. RCBC `A’ Security Bank Sun Life Financial Union Bank Vantage Equities

6 70.1 117.20 100.50 46.95 2.27 2.44 16.7 25.05 8.30 1.68 720.00 0.475 95.15 0.94 18.38 31.05 79.95 95.50 340.8 46 173 1385.00 69.15 3.03

Aboitiz Power Corp.

Agrinurture Inc. Alliance Tuna Intl Inc. Alsons Cons.

Asiabest Group Bogo Medellin C. Azuc De Tarlac Century Food Chemphil Cirtek Holdings (Chips) Concepcion Da Vinci Capital Del Monte DNL Industries Inc. Emperador Energy Devt. Corp. (EDC) EEI Euro-Med Lab. Federal Res. Inv. Group First Gen Corp.

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

Lafarge Rep Liberty Flour LMG Chemicals Mabuhay Vinyl Corp.

Macay Holdings Manila Water Co. Inc. Maxs Group Megawide Mla. Elect. Co `A’ Panasonic Mfg Phil. Corp.

Pepsi-Cola Products Phil.

Petron Corporation Phil H2O Phinma Corporation Phoenix Petroleum Phils.

Phoenix Semiconductor Pryce Corp. `A’ RFM Corporation Roxas Holdings San Miguel’Pure Foods `B’ SPC Power Corp.

Splash Corporation Swift Foods, Inc. TKC Steel Corp.

Trans-Asia Oil Universal Robina Victorias Milling Vitarich Corp.

Vulcan Ind’l.

45.2 1.66 1.08 2.11 8.15 56 85.00 19 100 22 65.8 1.89 12.2 20.900 11.38 8.19 9.90 1.3 23.4 29.1 102.5 14.06 0.4700 14.70 6.64 0.620 214.40 9.72 35.00 2.6 2.41 52.00 26.1 28.9 7.850 271.00 4.06 4.16 9.95 5.25 11.44 3.99 2.88 1.9 5.90 6.2 206 4.51 1.69 0.172 1.48 2.23 220 4.5 0.71 1.51

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

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

Lodestar Invt. Holdg.Corp.

Mabuhay Holdings `A’ Metro Pacific Inv. Corp.

Minerales Industrias Corp.

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

0.465 55.75 26.90 1.40 7.01 1.74 2.61 2.56 770 9.14 15.20 3.15 4.50 0.315 1308 6.28 70.25 4.82 8.8 0.73 16 0.68 4.86 5.1 0.0400 1.340 0.730 2.43 67.95 2.80 902.00 1.24 0.95 104.90 0.4650 0.2430 0.330

8990 HLDG

8.880

Value

Close

FINANCIAL 6,432,830.00 8,028,731.00 4,868,638,847.00 566,423,930.00 16,745,625.00 151,280.00 792,760.00 4,384,150.00 163,230,240.00 940,583 39,990.00 482,150.00 3,886,770.00 1,730,032,709.00 5,292,130.00 4,309,514.00 787,941.00 96,348,064.00 1,193,024.00 12,591,378.00 56,099,590.00 771,846,773.00 2,261,605.00 4,890,266.00 809,890.00 INDUSTRIAL 27,578,000 1,264,663,550.00 131,980 210,626.00 2,225,000 2,422,910.00 16,757,780 30,891,280.00 127,800 1,041,044.00 9,430 478,734.00 110 9,350.00 2,307,100 43,404,828.00 220 22,000.00 2,291,200 50,146,675.00 6,526,296 86,726,260.00 1,842,000 3,414,790.00 2,689,100 34,546,688.00 36,599,300 766,091,645.00 45,129,300 518,399,362.00 252,656,200 2,087,246,898.00 15,296,900 149,826,036.00 41,000 53,520.00 2,167,400 49,974,772.00 13,836,200 407,263,165.00 2,443,710 250,817,275.00 40,900 577,960.00 910,000 422,350.00 36,300 529,266.00 3,751,600 24,858,299.00 2,324,000 1,453,760.00 4,157,990 884,654,255.00 15,906,400 155,743,359.00 7,000 253,505.00 95,000 243,850.00 64,000 154,840.00 63,650.00 1,270 34,906,500 310,185,090.00 4,182,700 120,233,280.00 8,044,100 64,508,278.00 -4,860,696 394,465,008.00 27,000 112,870.00 18,787,000 78,182,380.00 21,898,700 222,005,858.00 17,800 91,260.00 414,700 4,791,686.00 2,471,000 9,563,350.00 6,369,000 18,183,750.00 20,855,000 43,478,950.00 5,135,100 22,767,443.00 21,600 135,200.00 392,162 7,332,058.00 1,000 4,510.00 4,238,000 7,187,990.00 67,090,000 11,976,560.00 208,000 306,580.00 7,508,000 16,750,370.00 10,749,900 2,331,279,362.00 973,000 4,378,500.00 2,657,000 1,912,570.00 3,642,280 1,859,050.00 HOLDING FIRMS 830,000 383,650.00 7,239,630 410,873,216.00 61,500,000 1,646,199,045.00 194,000 259,450.00 315,200 2,235,750.00 343,000 585,500.00 1,400,000 3,644,100.00 99,000 268,140.00 610,712,365 2,608,652,800.00 12,729,400 116,845,102.00 31,824,200 485,624,054.00 3,000 9,450.00 222,000 1,039,750.00 21,165,300 212,688,790.00 333,922,215 1,108,061,120.00 1,199,900 7,461,611.00 20,074,940 1,369,820,456.00 10,200 49,239.00 55,066,200 467,340,114.00 2,964,000 2,121,700.00 14,220,600 226,084,486.00 12,254,000 8,071,660.00 171,793,000 832,086,330.00 371,000 1,871,638.00 5,100,000 204,000.00 70,000 94,450.00 3,900,000 2,796,570.00 124,000 302,050.00 17,629,070 1,201,795,013.00 54,000 151,060.00 2,043,920 1,846,305,145.00 647,680 543,341.00 313,000 306,470.00 115,280 14,540,015.00 131,677,000 67,808,240.00 6,782,500 2,475,540.00 730,000 232,550.00 PROPERTY 21,157,000 190,080,564.00 980,804 114,890 14,514,530 6,843,190 355,300 230,680 333,000 262,800 6,532,500 113,500 23,000 670 7,794,000 18,628,240 5,554,000 234,100 983,400 1,196,710 12,510 36,080 1,218,600 4,549,120 1,660 70,580 264,000

MARCH 9-13,2015 Volume Value

6.72 70 114.50 100.00 47.05 2.36 2.40 16.6 25.25 8.84 1.70 720.00 0.520 92.5 0.98 18.50 31.50 82.00 95.20 352.4 46 163 1350.00 69.50 3.08

2,515,000 230,330 592,879,965 10,459,690 234,300 380,000 859,000 2,976,700 3,269,000 539,917 38,000 750 4,053,000 37,604,260 333,000 495,500 61,800 275,630 10,140 85,420 1,094,800 5,388,130 385 169,030 933,000

14,930,690.00 15,969,221.00 1,740,502,977.00 1,049,740,295.00 11,046,155.00 861,750.00 2,100,750.00 49,052,180.00 79,771,370.00 1,526,883 65,990.00 544,900.00 2,123,870.00 3,532,693,844.00 340,950.00 9,133,770.00 1,956,335.00 22,635,208.00 966,544.00 30,475,744.00 50,643,140.00 907,657,561.00 517,430.00 11,757,792.00 2,880,090.00

45.9 1.69 1.1 2.09 8.27 50.2 87.00 19

12,748,000 264,000 2,226,000 13,226,000 25,700 40 940 655,600

581,406,265.00 452,230.00 2,436,760.00 27,438,950.00 213,486.00 2,008.00 76,430.00 12,399,012.00

22 59 1.81 11.92 20.300 11.68 8.45 9.80 1.43 19.62 29.6 103.9 14.08 0.4850 14.76 6.67 0.610 210.80 10.1 38.00 2.68

2,860,700 261,100 1,238,000 4,380,300 27,975,500 47,418,300 202,312,500 9,216,000 34,000 731,800 27,144,900 3,606,290 70,400 838,000 306,100 1,892,400 235,000 47,672,588 4,006,300 8,600 119,000

62,088,425.00 15,241,808.00 2,233,250.00 44,013,988.00 571,414,678.00 544,945,626.00 1,720,089,412.00 91,826,003.00 48,620.00 13,873,224.00 809,701,185.00 341,260,495.00 992,708.00 404,165.00 4,551,674.00 12,709,584.00 143,410.00 431,083,228.00 40,448,116.00 322,845.00 314,430.00

52.50 27.5 29 8.050 280.00 4.23 4.54 10.58 5.2 11.68 3.95 2.91

3,850 18,090,500 4,097,900 596,100 914,400 10,000 1,198,000 10,902,400 657,100 1,375,300 2,834,000 7,858,000

199,445.00 473,547,550.00 116,003,825.00 4,814,434.00 252,278,842.00 42,300.00 5,467,860.00 114,358,550.00 3,659,453.00 16,164,234.00 11,169,390.00 22,822,620.00

5.90 6.5 205 4.49 1.78 0.191 1.52 2.27 217.6 4.68 0.73 1.54

3,682,400 753,100 62,270 53,000 2,323,000 79,096,720 1,833,000 9,170,000 9,427,110 284,000 2,009,110 2,302,000

21,793,686.00 4,882,030.00 12,782,172.00 238,200.00 4,003,160.00 14,126,830.00 2,797,140.00 20,793,990.00 2,036,566,628.00 1,281,240.00 1,189,032.00 3,526,920.00

0.475 57.00 26.10

1,540,000 5,484,390 70,841,100

722,650.00 318,851,862.00 1,781,778,625.00

7.17 1.73 2.73 2.9 758 9.3 15.40 3.15 4.81 0.405 1330 6.30 65.00

340,400 811,000 1,592,000 51,000 2,729,620 19,153,600 39,176,500 4,000 713,000 88,410,000 646,605 47,700 8,150,260

2,423,459.00 1,286,340.00 4,241,450.00 145,320.00 2,037,960,280.00 177,487,539.00 604,569,850.00 12,600.00 3,372,530.00 37,742,250.00 1,142,636,435.00 304,733.00 534,584,912.00

9 0.72 16 0.64 4.89 5.28 0.0410

24,857,400 6,054,530 9,885,800 13,275,000 241,711,000 432,200 14,500,000

225,740,823.00 4,091,590.00 159,057,344.00 8,167,240.00 1,170,498,450.00 2,269,532.00 593,400.00

0.720 2.41 73.00 2.80 920.00 1.28 0.99 103.00 0.5900 0.2650 0.325

2,191,000 59,000 640,730 3 1,061,670 835,000 441,000 78,520 73,998,860 25,290,000 2,840,000

1,555,120.00 142,020.00 47,498,486.00 30,000.00 967,885,390.00 1,038,150.00 413,290.00 8,227,157.00 22,742,432.00 6,650,100.00 914,500.00

9.760

6,200,500

63,152,650.00

STOCKS

MARCH 16-20,2015 Close Volume

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

Ayala Land `B’ Belle Corp. `A’ Cebu Holdings Cebu Prop. `A’ Cebu Prop. `B’ Centennial City City & Land Dev. Cityland Dev. `A’ Crown Equities Inc. Cyber Bay Corp.

Empire East Land Ever Gotesco Global-Estate Filinvest Land,Inc. Interport `A’ Megaworld Corp.

Megaworld Prop.

MRC Allied Ind. Phil. Estates Corp.

Phil. Realty `A’ 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

10.00 0.94 1.310 0.245 37.85 4.3 5.18 5.6 6.2 0.96 1.25 1.01 0.145 0.455 0.900 0.200 1.50 1.80 1.52 5.46 5.5 0.127 0.3400 0.4850 7.44 28.95 1.77 3.16 20.20 0.84 7.41 1.040 7.500

2GO Group ABS-CBN Acesite Hotel APC Group, Inc. Asian Terminals Inc. Berjaya Phils. Inc. Bloomberry Boulevard Holdings Calata Corp.

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

Discovery World DFNN Inc. FEUI Globe Telecom GMA Network Inc. Grand Plaza Hotel 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 Liberty Telecom Lorenzo Shipping Macroasia Corp.

Manila Bulletin Manila Jockey Melco Crown MG Holdings NOW Corp.

Pacific Online Sys. Corp.

PAL Holdings Inc. Paxys Inc. Phil. Racing Club Phil. Seven Corp.

Philweb.Com Inc. PLDT Common PremiereHorizon Premium Leisure Puregold Robinsons Retail SSI Group STI Holdings Transpacific Broadcast Travellers Waterfront Phils.

Yehey

6.75 61.4 1.07 0.700 14.48 26.95 10.80 0.1100 3.94 86.05 10.6 1.77 7.08 995 1940 6.66 29.95 1.57 112.6 7.00 11.84 0.015 0.295 1.2800 2.68 8.70 2.00 1.47 2.29 0.680 1.99 9.3 0.36 0.500 18.04 4.70 3.12 9.01 108.00 13.76 2810.00 0.600 1.560 40.20 89.00 10.40 0.74 1.85 7.08 0.360 1.480

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

Benguet Corp `A’ Benguet Corp `B’ 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

0.0056 2.98 9.06 10.80 0.260 7.1200 6.9800 1.14 0.88 8.76 2.41 0.360 0.236 0.244 0.0150 0.0160 5.14 27.5 4.17 0.7300 2.150 0.0120 0.0150 5.85 7.62 2.49 0.016 159.50 4.08 0.0100

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 & Resort Pref.

MWIDE PREF PCOR-Preferred A PCOR-Preferred B PF Pref 2 SMC Preferred A SMC Preferred B SMC Preferred C

65 510 520 118 114.2 506 6.35 1.08 108.9 1070 1075 1040 76.05 84 84

Leisure & Resort Warr.

3.940

Double Dragon Ripple E-Business Intl Xurpas

7.82 78.25 10

First Metro ETF

127

Value

10,000 100,000.00 8,440,000 8,362,420.00 251,000 334,090.00 1,970,000 513,800.00 76,310,600 2,867,297,625.00 8,894,000 38,439,940.00 774,600 3,970,472.00 40,000 226,175.00 6,000 38,040.00 19,217,000 18,485,720.00 55,000 68,750.00 251,000 251,010.00 34,670,000 5,063,720.00 6,350,000 -34,300.00 511,000 684,020.00 7,660,000 1,564,810.00 24,304,000 37,427,700.00 173,664,000 315,295,810.00 4,981,000 7,650,820.00 341,385,700 1,874,521,926.00 283,051,647 193,936,493.00 21,570,000 2,756,530.00 1,700,000 579,650.00 1,280,000 592,150.00 3,107,600 23,446,160.00 10,693,800 312,891,330.00 3,484,000 6,132,730.00 28,000 88,790.00 62,834,500 768,636,765.00 27,805,820 21,848,560.00 42,101,600 306,265,926.00 838,000 862,390.00 64,255,300 476,131,582.00 SERVICES 9,085,700 72,270,437.00 289,740 17,712,075.00 1,889,000 2,046,680.00 4,454,600 2,922,415.00 562,800 7,884,230.00 700 18,865 91,781,900 958,898,101.00 74,930,000 8,274,120.00 2,152,000 8,469,070.00 4,354,660 372,655,388.00 5,200 56,484.00 86,000 143,070 1,044,000 7,062,554.00 2,070 2,003,875.00 375,885 732,963,240.00 1,061,100 7,129,595.00 100 2,995.00 1,901,310 620,381.00 9,672,410 1,081,723,928.00 58,300 358,104 66,600 780,046.00 163,500,000 2,355,600.00 240,250,000 73,295,400.00 3,592,000 4,687,160.00 609,000 1,566,970.00 3,193,300 16,028,853.00 597,000 1,194,730.00 286,000 404,380.00 132,000 291,990.00 984,000 677,010.00 147,000 289,670.00 45,839,100 437,008,096.00 3,140,000 1,123,300.00 1,845,000 1,084,400.00 34,200 616,928.00 151,000 700,280 595,000 1,932,170.00 600 5,406.00 1,720 185,188.00 7,418,800 100,018,722.00 1,361,130 4,079,286,490.00 10,519,000 6,175,120.00 78,088,000 118,950,810.00 11,792,200 475,536,535.00 6,939,850 605,102,482.00 34,287,000 357,923,516.00 7,435,000 5,427,110.00 24,000 45,340.00 11,952,400 85,512,285.00 3,170,000 1,113,900.00 2,845,000 4,321,220.00 MINING & OIL 3,085,000,000 17,614,000.00 321,000 936,660.00 2,910,200 26,686,434.00 2,600 28,080.00 550,000 144,150.00 59,400 421,218.00 86,600 605,918.00 7,907,000 8,785,040.00 3,162,400 7,204,500.00 1,086,000 53,142,348.00 251,051,000 582,873,420.00 3,580,000 1,259,650.00 86,660,000 20,555,320.00 7,360,000 1,818,850.00 253,100,000 3,730,700.00 13,600,000 206,000.00 5,809,600 31,163,955.00 17,512,900 482,890,185.00 62,436,000 241,584,320.00 1,738,000 1,288,180.00 4,423,000 9,630,460.00 73,000,000 1,613,000.00 3,000,000 45,000.00 4,800 28,080.00 6,412,500 49,143,414.00 6,651,000 18,561,550.00 142,400,000 2,147,200.00 8,592,370 1,366,651,432.00 289,000 1,190,260.00 21,500,000 219,000.00 PREFERRED 1,466,100 92,249,118.00 11,920 6,087,775.00 46,160 24,070,930 10 1,180.00 29,370 3,376,027.00 10,380 5,265,620.00 1,243,000 8,196,825.00 3,753,000 4,061,960 148,700 16,125,980.00 11,995 12,814,000.00 17,320 18,545,725.00 21,325 22,087,190.00 477,470 36,328,512.00 205,450 17,233,916.00 680,060 56,850,418.00 WARRANTS & BONDS 2,566,110 6,069,754.00 SME 2,574,000 20,386,828.00 203,400 15,520,553.00 21,547,800 222,666,519.00 EXCHANGE TRADED FUNDS 199,410 25,142,340.00

Close

MARCH 9-13,2015 Volume Value

10.28 1.03 1.340 0.275 37.45 4.4 5.1

3,000 1,820,000 1,368,000 5,900,000 51,806,600 10,370,000 127,400

30,280.00 1,888,820.00 1,819,740.00 1,670,700.00 1,955,600,465.00 45,504,350.00 643,954.00

0.97 1.25 1.00 0.151 0.475 0.900 0.214 1.62 1.80 1.50 5.63 5.5 0.125 0.3600 0.4900 7.4 28.50 1.76 3.21 19.80 0.94 7.29 1.060 7.500

35,867,000 75,000 604,000 111,300,000 3,680,000 4,867,000 3,020,000 7,637,000 154,390,000 3,614,000 120,861,800 78,354,400 20,490,000 1,266,000 3,000 10,691,482 14,770,100 1,530,000 406,000 52,981,000 61,718,000 28,707,900 1,781,000 39,697,900

34,031,310.00 91,680.00 604,560.00 17,315,320.00 1,742,450.00 4,380,310.00 652,560.00 12,274,700.00 275,444,250.00 5,388,040.00 674,492,028.00 433,832,729.00 2,578,920.00 603,550.00 1,470.00 17,201,546.00 415,903,910.00 2,341,025.00 1,299,170.00 1,048,682,600.00 60,394,480.00 206,589,287.00 1,847,060.00 297,517,529.00

9.9 63.8 1.09 0.690 14

14,054,600 108,010 1,000 1,962,000 1,795,700

133,660,320.00 6,918,359.00 1,090.00 1,349,570.00 23,380,302.00

10.58 0.1090 4.08 87.5 10.94 1.66 6.42 1000 1943 6.83

47,925,800 203,300,000 5,129,360 39,667,247 15,100 55,333 45,700 1,955 244,340 3,500,300

508,465,176.00 22,418,400.00 10,719,110.00 204,532,247.00 164,188.00 97,280 293,976.00 1,960,100.00 473,821,005.00 23,727,799.00

1.59 111.5 4.21 11.9 0.014 0.330 1.3300 2.69 9.08 2.00 1.5 2.28 0.690 1.97 10.18 0.365 0.520 18.02 4.55 3.33

1,530,000 7,884,260 2,000 183,000 84,400,000 394,350,000 3,323,000 380,000 2,889,000 205,100 2,151,000 309,000 708,040 378,000 96,147,394 4,310,000 946,000 53,800 227,000 709,000

2,477,090.00 889,842,290.00 8,420 2,175,648.00 1,181,800.00 124,275,650.00 4,448,130.00 1,053,160.00 26,367,807.00 295,794.00 3,425,290.00 685,780.00 499,440.00 746,740.00 443,417,103.00 1,561,300.00 486,160.00 968,282.00 1,024,840 2,586,410.00

105.00 13.80 2950.00 0.600 1.590 41.75 87.00 10.80 0.72 1.9 7.35 0.365 1.420

826,960 14,057,600 715,160 4,622,230 65,576,000 19,641,200 8,733,760 110,646,606 16,822,000 57,000 7,827,300 3,873,950 58,000

86,776,401.00 192,028,846.00 2,182,769,420.00 2,547,882.00 106,937,850.00 810,918,670.00 553,064,895.00 239,280,538.00 7,695,660.00 109,920.00 58,273,544.00 1,441,703.00 80,150.00

0.0061 2.98 9.46 10.82 0.260 7.0200 7.0100 1.11 0.95 8.00 2.52 0.350 0.245 0.255 0.0140 0.0150 5.7 28 3.8 0.7600 2.300 0.0140 0.0140 5.85 7.86 3 0.016 156.00 4.39 0.0110

5,906,000,000 584,000 953,700 800 16,650,000 29,100 11,100 10,148,000 8,452,000 328,900 594,860,000 4,610,000 86,060,000 22,100,000 353,200,000 249,400,000 5,105,200 17,603,400 32,882,000 2,646,000 2,057,970 83,500,000 15,622,000 38,500 7,610,600 5,407,000 765,600,000 317,574,913 702,000 83,800,000

36,008,000.00 1,683,100.00 9,185,935.00 8,656.00 4,360,450.00 207,004.00 78,162.00 11,143,700.00 7,964,800.00 2,405,113.00 1,557,465,050.00 1,597,250.00 21,411,470.00 5,541,550.00 4,974,100.00 3,741,200.00 29,105,876.00 496,752,240.00 116,254,990.00 1,958,430.00 3,993,562.00 1,080,800.00 234,100.00 215,199.00 60,588,383.00 17,702,420.00 11,609,400.00 448,274,993.00 3,048,580.00 959,200.00

65.7 512 520 110 114.1 508.5 6.79 1.06 108.5 1050 1065 1039 76.7 82 83.5

1,383,090 36,690 16,190 32,000 68,550 8,480,130 1,107,200 11,827,000 172,100 1,980 11,585 31,400 295,080 268,822 913,070

90,462,544.00 18,713,000.00 8,421,660 3,578,200.00 7,840,100.00 7,257,915.00 7,503,048.00 12,800,880 18,550,842.00 2,059,550.00 12,400,490.00 32,185,190.00 22,572,920.00 5,009,256.00 75,754,036.00

4.020

1,225,000

4,929,480.00

7.8 71.05 11.1

1,777,700 13,190 7,084,700

13,804,616.00 899,143.00 79,670,800.00

126.9

50,870

6,431,418.00

MST WEEKLY MOST TRADED STOCKS

Abra Mining Ayala Corp `A’ Megaworld Corp.

GT Capital Megaworld Prop.

Manila Mining `A’ Energy Devt. Corp. (EDC) Ferronickel Island Info Filinvest Land,Inc.

VOLUME 3,085,000,000 610,712,365 341,385,700 333,922,215 283,051,647 253,100,000 252,656,200 251,051,000 240,250,000 173,664,000

STOCKS Banco de Oro Unibank Inc. PLDT Common Ayala Land `B’ Ayala Corp `A’ Universal Robina Energy Devt. Corp. (EDC) Megaworld Corp.

SM Investments Inc. Metrobank Alliance Global Inc.

VALUE 4,868,638,847.00 4,079,286,490.00 2,867,297,625.00 2,608,652,800.00 2,331,279,362.00 2,087,246,898.00 1,874,521,926.00 1,846,305,145.00 1,730,032,709.00 1,646,199,045.00

MONDAY: MARCH 23, 2015

B3

BUSINESS business@thestandard.com.ph extrastory2000@gmail.com

DoF relaxes rules on aircraft imports Willie sells Wil Tower Mall

WHETHER it is due to his reported heavy losses from gambling or not, comebacking controversial television host Willie Revillame has quietly sold his commercial complex called Wil Tower Mall near ABS-CBN headquarters along Mother Ignacia Street in Quezon City to Vista Land Lifescapes Inc. of the Villar group.

Vista Land president Manuel Paolo Villar confirmed the sale, when asked about the status of the four-story commercial complex beside Wil Tower, a two- tower, high-rise development of Vista Land’s high-rise unit Vista Residences. The deal was consummated late last year.

Villar said the commercial building, which opened in 2013, would soon be rebranded as Vista Place.

While the Vista Land owns the twin-tower development, the mall complex used to be owned by Revillame, prior to the reported transaction.

As the entertainment personality does not have expertise in running a mall, Revillame reportedly decided to sell the business to the Villar group, which has been a long-time supporter of his past TV shows.

Villar did not disclose additional details about the transaction in deference to Revillame. Jenniffer B. Austria

LBC Express eyes backdoor listing IF YOU could not get through the front door, try the backdoor… backdoor listing that is.

Could this be the principle being adopted by LBC Express Inc., which is reportedly looking for a listed shell company that it could use as a backdoor listing vehicle, after itwithdrew its initial public offering application with the Securities and Exchange Commission in the middle of 2014.

Industry sources said LBC Express, one of the country’s leading couriers and freight forwarding services firms owned by the Araneta family, was now considering a backdoor listing, on concerns it would not be able to raise capital through the straight IPO, as its application might not be approved by corporate regulators.

So why is LBC Express having a hard time getting its planned IPO approved by regulators? Apparently, it had something to do with its affiliation with LBC Development Bank, a thrift bank also owned by the Araneta group, which was closed down in 2011.

LBC Express earlier planned to raise P7.7 billion from the planned sale of up to 286.956 million in primary and secondary shares, with an overallotment option for another 43.043 million shares at an offer price of up to P21.16 apiece.

But in a letter to the SEC in July 2014, LBC Express said it was withdrawing the plan to generate funds through the equities market, as it explored other options to raise capital.

One of the companies reportedly being considered by LBC Express as a backdoor listing vehicle has recently denied it was being acquired by shareholders of a listed property developer.

Jenniffer B. Austria

By Jennifer Ambanta

THE Finance Department has eased the rules on importation of new aircraft and parts, as airline companies announced massive refleeting programs over the next several years.

Finance Undersecretary Carlo Carag issued Department Order No. 28-2015, exempting airline companies from the coverage of DO 12-2014 and DO 18-2014.

Under the new order, airline companies granted congressional franchise would be exempted from obtaining the importers clearance certificate from the Bureau of Internal Revenue.

“The exemptions will be on specific importation of aircraft, equipment, machinery and spare parts, on the basis of overriding and paramount public policy, public safety and public necessity

considerations,” the agency said in the order signed March 6.

The airline companies, however, are still required to submit documentary requirements imposed by the Bureau of Customs for accreditation and must remain compliant with other existing regulations.

It said the availment of the exemption should be accompanied by a certification from Civil Aviation of the Philippines on the necessity of the importation in view of pubic safety.

The agency said the Customs

commissioner should only grant the exemption upon compliance with the rules. “He shall thereafter cause the monthly submission of this department of a report on every importation allowed,” it said.

Airline companies such as Philippine Airlines and Cebu Air Inc. earlier announced plans to purchase modern aircraft to support their route expansion in the United States, Europe and the Middle East.

Finance officials could not be reached for comment over the weekend on the impact of the new regulation of tax collection.

Data from the Bureau of the Treasury showed the Bureau of Customs collected P369.314 billion in 2014, falling short of the P408.097-billion target.

Collections, however, increased 21.1 percent year-on-year from P304.926 billion recorded in 2013.

Jica visit. Japan International Cooperation Agency delegates led by vice president Tochiyuki Kuronayagi

(right) paid a courtesy call on Economic Planning Secretary and National Economic and Development Authority director-general Arsenio Balisacan (left) on March 5 at the Neda Building in Pasig City. Kuronayagi expressed Jica’s desire to contribute to the country’s peace building efforts and its willingness to participate in the Bangsamoro Development Plan and in the formation of the Bangsamoro Project Management Office.

Market seen trading sideways amid the lack of positive leads

By Jenniffer B. Austria STOCKS are expected to move sideways this week, as investors appear tentative on their investment decisions until more positive catalysts come up.

Accord Capital Equities Corp. trader Justino Calaycay said certain technical indicators had caused “worries” over the short term, including the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas’ policy-setting meeting on Thursday.

“While the consensus appears

to be that regulators will leave rates unchanged, we should be equally conscious of how they will incorporate the prospects of a change in US interest rates by mid-year into the outlook,” Calaycay said.

Regina Capital Development Corp. managing director Luis Limlingan said the market’s sideways movement might prevail over the next two weeks.

“It is more likely that the market will retain its sideways trend for the next one to two weeks at

least, as technical readings have shown more neutrality than the previous week’s level. Due to this, we retain our hold recommendation,” Limlingan said.

The benchmark Philippine Stock Exchange index last week gained 0.1 percent to close at 7,818.38, while the all-share index rose 0.35 percent to 4,529.31.

“The local market mimicked the behavior of Wall Street during the week–nervous in the early part on concerns that the US Fed may signal an earlier increase

in interest rates and relieved by Thursday on announcement from the Fed that rates won’t increase in April,” RCBC Securities research head Raul Ruiz said.

Among the sectors, the financial, holding firms and property subindices ended in the green, increasing by 1.8 percent, 0.38 percent and 0.50 percent respectively, while industrial, services and mining and oil were in the red, declining 0.73 percent, 2.4 percent and 0.70 percent, respectively.

Overseas investors were net

buyers by P353.5 million last week, as total foreign buying reached P30.23 billion, while overseas selling amounted to P29.88 billion.

The average daily turnover improved to P11.01 billion from P8.8 billion in the previous week.

Top gainers last week were Pryce Corp., which jumped 660 percent to P1.90; Imperial Resources Inc. “A” shares which climbed 66.2 percent to P7; and Grand Plaza Hotel Corp., which advanced 23.7 percent to P29.95.

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BUSINESS

Airport fee row. A visibly irked Sen. Cynthia Villar (right), chairman of the Senate committee on government enterprises, confronts Manila International Airport Authority general manager Jose Angel Honrado. The airport regulator refused to accede to a Senate resolution in which 20 senators appealed to recall a directive integrating the P550 airport terminal fee to the airline tickets of all international passengers, including migrant Filipino workers. She questioned Honrado on the issuance of the contested MIAA order without conducting public consultation or public hearings. She maintains the act violates the 1995 Migrant Workers’ Act that exempts workers from paying the P550 terminal fee.

Meralco to finalize gas bid

By Alena Mae S. Flores

MERALCO PowerGen Corp., a unit Manila Electric Co., will make a final investment decision on its planned $2-billion 1,500-megawatt integrated natural gas facility in Luzon within the year.

Meralco PowerGen is in talks with Osaka Gas of Japan for a joint venture in the planned liquefied natural gas project.

Meralco chairman Manuel Pangilinan said talks with the

prospective partner were ongoing while the feasibility study had yet to be conducted.

“We’ll find out before the end of the year if it’s a go,” Pangilinan said.

Pangilinan said the parties were

looking at an integrated natural gas facility that included both an LNG terminal and power plant.

“It would have to be... you need a gassification plant because we need to import gas. There is no more gas from Malampaya for the size of the plant. So there will be a gassification facility and a power plant,” he said.

The regasification facility will convert the imported LNG to natural gas for delivery to the power plant.

He said Meralco would likely take a 60 percent stake in the

project while Osaka Gas would own 40 percent, if plans pushed through.

Pangilinan earlier said Osaka Gas, a leading liquefied natural gas supplier in Japan, wanted to build a natural gas power plant in the Philippines.

“They [Osaka Gas] want to build a gas [power] plant in the Philippines, [with] around 1,200 to 1,500 MW with Meralco,” Pangilinan said.

“They are keen to look at it.

They are keen to invest in the Philippines,” he said.

He said the natural gas plant “might be done in phases, but it is up to 1,500 MW.” He said the capital cost for an LNG plant “is not that much expensive than coal.”

“The capex [capital expenditure] is actually lower than a coal plant per megawatt, but the problem is the higher cost of power,” he said.

Pangilinan said he expected the project to materialize in the next three to five years, although the two companies had yet to inspect the proposed site.

Tantoco’s SSI Group bares expansion plan Century Pacific set to sell

By Jenniffer B. Austria shares to fund acquisitions SSI Group Inc., a specialty retailer owned by the Tantoco family, said it plans to add 37,000 square meters of retail space in 2015 and 2016 to support the acquisition of new brands for expansion.

SSI Group president Anton Huang said in an interview at the sidelines of a forum sponsored by online stock brokerage firm COL Financial the company was on the final stages of negotiations to acquire three to four new international brands to be introduced in the domestic market.

The new international brands, which could be launched in the local market late this year or in the first half of 2016, are mostly involved in fashion accessories.

Huang said the SSI Group this year would add 21,000 square meters of retail stores involving

130 new stores and another 16,000 square meters of retail space in 2016.

Huang said the company remained bullish about the retail industry given the increasing consumer consumption and robust real estate expansion across the country.

Huang said the company in

Retailer set to acquire 4 new international brands.

2015 expanded its top line by 19 percent while sales in the fourth quarter jumped by 26 percent.

On the convenience store business, Huang said the company

opened on Feb. 28 its 100th FamilyMart store in the country.

The company plans to increase its outlets to 150 to 160 this year on aggressive store expansion and franchising.

Huang said there was strong demand for franchising of FamilyMart stores after the company launching of the franchising concept last year.

“We now have 15 different franchisees and more being processed,” Huang said.

Given the aggressive rollout of FamilyMart outlets, Huang said the company was aiming to be the second biggest convenience store in the country.

FamilyMart is the third biggest player in the domestic convenience store industry, which is currently being dominated by 7-Eleven of Philippine Seven Corp. and Ministop of Robinsons Retail Holdings Inc. and Mitsubishi Corp.

CENTURY Pacific Food Inc., the country’s largest canned food company, said it may sell more shares in the market to fund potential acquisitions and improve the liquidity of the stock.

Century Pacific investor relations head Giovanna Vera said in a forum sponsored by online stockbrokerage firm COL Financial the company was looking for acquisitions and possible expansion to new markets, which would entail funding through a share sale.

“So we are working on couple of projects in terms of entering new markets both organically or by acquisition. Hopefully if one of those things progresses faster, then will pursue the opportunity and the same raise more shares to improve the liquidity of the stock,” Vera said.

She said there was room for the company to sell more shares after floating just the minimum volume of 10 percent when it went public in May last year.

Vera said the company remained looking for possible acquisitions, especially in the canned food business.

“We think we have a good track record in terms of acquiring and that strategy has not changed. Consolidation play will be the easiest for us and the preferred strategy. Anything in canned format we will be interested to look at,” Vera said.

Century Pacific aims to increase its footprint in other markets in United States and Middle East and hopes to penetrate Europe.

Jenniffer B. Austria

M O N D AY : M A R C H 2 3 , 2 0 1 5

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BUSINESS business@thestandard.com.ph extrastory2000@gmail.com

Traders still back passage of BBL LOCAL businessmen still supports the Bangsamoro Basic Law but conceded the Mamapasano incident may delay the passage of the bill.

“That way it is now, the approval [process] of BBL may even outlive the present administration. Many issues may crop up that will delay its passage. There is also the proposal to change the composition of the peace panel,” Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry president Alfredo Yao said.

He said the development plans for the entire Mindanao were pushed back, including planned investments in agriculture, pending the approval of a legislation that would support progress even in conflict areas.

Local businessmen supports a review of the BBL to ensure it is proactive and will protect and uphold the interest of Mindanao as a political and economic region.

“I’m not saying that the BBL is wrong, but surely it will undergo the scrutiny, not only by business people but by legislators and the civic groups. The slaying incident have aroused the interest on the BBL,” Yao said.

Another group of businessmen earlier expressed support for the Bangsamoro peace process, saying there was no other alternative to guarantee the aspirations of the Bangsamoro people. It said the passage of the Bangsamoro Basic Law was a crucial component in the overall peace in Mindanao.

The Makati Business Club has appealed to the Aquino administration and all parties involved to put the peace process back on track at the earliest time possible.

“While I fully support putting the peace process back on track as early as possible, with the hope of still passing the Bangsamoro Basic Law and implementing the required referendum in the next 16 months, I share the pessimism of many that the prevailing environment and the shortage of time may no longer allow this to be done,” MBC chairman Ramon del Rosario said.

Othel V. Campos

BCDA offers to aid John Hay investors

By Othel V. Campos

STATE-OWNED Bases Conversion and Development Authority has created a desk to assist all sub-lessees, sub-locators and buyers at the Camp John Hay economic zone in Baguio City to guide them and protect their investments.

BCDA president and chief executive Arnel Paciano Casanova said the desk would provide legal assistance to the sub-lessees, sub-locators and buyers so that they can exercise their rights to protect their investment in Camp John Hay. “We will provide them with

the necessary information and documents they need so that they are well-informed and could come up with a prudent decision to protect their rights and interests,” Casanova said.

“We recognize the fact that they were misled into signing a 50-year lease contract instead

of 25 years, and that due to the CJHDevCo’s [Camp John Hay Development Corp.} continuing disinformation campaign, the more we need to help these CJHDevCo’s victims,” he added.

BCDA legal head Peter Paul Andrew Flores said the new office aimed to answer and clarify queries from sub-lessees, sublocators and buyers.

“We understand their [sublessees, sub-locators and buyers] predicament in this ongoing legal tussle. We are duty bound as a public servant to inform and update them,” he said.

The BCDA and CJHDevCo filed before the Baguio Regional Trial Court a petition for judicial

confirmation that will pave the way for the implementation of the ruling of Philippine Dispute Resolution Center Inc. The arbitration body ordered the BCDA to return the 50-year lease payment to CJHDevCo amounting to P1.42 billion.

CJHDevCo, meanwhile, was ordered to vacate the leased premises and promptly deliver the property in good and tenantable condition to the BCDA. Sub-lessees, sub-locators and buyers are encouraged to get in touch with John Hay Management Corp. manager for special economic zone administration Zaldy Bello at the JHMC corporate office in Camp John Hay.

Resorts World award.

Resorts World Manila, the country’s premier lifestyle destination, bagged its first Philippine Quill Award for the company’s corporate social responsibility initiative--Livelihood and Employment Assistance Program, in a ceremony held March 9, 2015 at the Crowne Plaza Galleria Manila. Shown (from left) are Resorts World public relations officer Joy Andrade, CSR senior associate Mark Julius Meneses, chief integrated marketing officer Martin Paz, corporate communications director Owen Cammayo and PR associate Kristine Mae Bernardo.

Ecop readies 36th meeting, to discuss jobs, income gap

Cultural exchange. Muntinlupa Mayor Jaime Fresnedi and Ibara, Kojokan senior high school

principal Morita Mowa sign an agreement for the cultural exchange of selected students from both countries in strengthening goodwill and understanding last March 6. Fresnedi aspires to take a step forward in boosting international ties for the upcoming Asean integration. Shown (from left) are: KSHS principal Morita Mowa, MSHS principal Eden Binaday, Ichiro Osawa, human resource department chief Glenda Zamora, Mayor Fresnedi, Deputy City Administrator RJ Smith, Muntinlupa international relations office head Marissa Ronggavilla and Muntinlupa public information office chief Tez Valencia-Navarro.

THE Employers Confederation of the Philippines has set its sights on job and wealth creation to provide for a sustainable economy when it holds its 36th National Conference of Employees May 14 to 15 at the Marriott Hotel, Manila, Ecop assistant corporate secretary and membership chairman Federico Marquez Jr. said over the weekend Marquez, senior vice president and human resources head of St. Luke’s Medical Center, said relevant topics had been arrayed for what he deemed the most significant challenge for the Philippine economy today--jobless growth and widening income gap.

For this reason ,the conference whose theme was “The Ultimate Challenge: Creating More Wealth, Creating More Jobs,” aims to chart the path toward better opportunities for both employers and employees through wealth creation and job abundance which are the fundamental elements of economic progress said Marquez.

Various experts have been invited to the 36th ECOP conference to discuss relevant topics such as opportunities and strategies for job creation and poverty reduction, preserving development gains amid regional economic changes, and ensuring inclusive growth through enhanced employment and employability.

Marquez , who has a first-hand view of the employment situation, said in a truly sustainable economy, job opportunities abound with the workforce enjoying a spectrum of employment options while employers are focused on creating more jobs that are relevant and resilient.

MONDAY: MARCH 23, 2015

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BUSINESS business@thestandard.com.ph extrastory2000@gmail.com

Current account hits record

By Julito G. Rada

CURRENT account, one of the major components of the balance of payments, posted a record surplus of $12.6 billion in 2014, up 10.5 percent from the $11.4-billion surplus in 2013, Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas said over the weekend.

The figure also exceeded the Bangko Sentral’s current account surplus target of $6.6 billion for 2014.

“This was mainly due to the narrowing of the trade-in-goods deficit and to gains in the primary and secondary income accounts,” Bangko Sentral said in a statement.

The trade-in-goods deficit narrowed 10.3 percent to $15.9 billion from $17.7 billion, as the 7.3-percent growth in

merchandise exports outpaced the 2.3-percent increase in merchandise imports.

Exports of goods totaled $47.8 billion in 2014, as all major commodity groups saw yearon-year increases, except for petroleum and sugar products.

“Growth in total exports was boosted largely by higher shipments of manufactured products, which rose by 6.7

percent to reach $38.3 billion.

Goods imports amounted to $63.6 billion, attributed to increments in purchases of consumer goods [14.4 percent] and raw materials and intermediate goods [by 3.9 percent],” Bangko Sentral said.

Net receipts in trade-inservices fell 30.5 percent to $4.9 billion in 2014 from $7 billion in 2013. The decline resulted largely from increased net payments for travel and transport services by 63.9 percent and 8 percent, respectively, combined with decreased net receipts from technical, trade-related and other business services.

Net receipts in the primary income account reached $1.1 billion, higher by 11.9 percent than the $957 million a year ago.

This was due to the 7.4-percent

InvItatIon to BId no. 075 Rest./RehaB of MasalIp RIs The National Irrigation Administration, through the General Appropriation Act of 2015 intends to apply the sum of Fifteen Million Nine Hundred Thirty-Seven Thousand Seven Hundred Seventy-Four & 34/100 PESOS (PHP15,937,774.34) being the Approved Budget for the Contract (ABC) to payments under the contract for the Rest./Rehab of Masalip RIS with Contract No R1-LUIMO-15-03-075. Bids received in excess of the ABC shall be automatically rejected at bid opening.

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InvItatIon to BId no. 074 Rest./RehaB of aMBuRayan RIs The National Irrigation Administration, through the General Appropriation Act of 2015 intends to apply the sum of Eleven Million Nine Hundred Eighty-Eight Thousand Seven Hundred FiftySix & 42/100 PESOS (PHP11,988,756.42) being the Approved Budget for the Contract (ABC) to payments under the contract for the Rest./Rehab of Amburayan RIS with Contract No R1LUIMO-15-03-074. Bids received in excess of the ABC shall be automatically rejected at bid opening.

The National Irrigation Administration now invites bids for the Rest./Rehab of Masalip RIS under FUND 101. The project is located in Agoo, La Union with the following description of work: I. Diversion Works II. Canalization III. Canal Structures IV. Drainage Facilities V. Terminal Facilities A. Turn out Completion of the Works is required within Three Hundred (300) calendar days.

Bidder must have an experience of having completed, a single contract that is similar to the contract to be bid, must be at least 50% of the ABC. The description of an eligible bidder is contained in the Bidding Documents, particularly, in Section II, Instructions to Bidders.

Bidding will be conducted through open competitive bidding procedures using nondiscretionary pass/fail criterion as specified in the Implementing Rules and Regulations (IRR) of Republic Act 9184 (RA 9184), otherwise known as the “Government Procurement Reform Act”. Bidding is restricted to Filipino citizens/sole proprietorships, partnerships, or organizations with at least Seventy-Five percent (75%) interest or outstanding capital stock belonging to citizens of the Philippines.

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The National Irrigation Administration now invites bids for the Rest./Rehab of Amburayan RIS under FUND 101. The project is located in Sudipen, La Union with the following description of work: I. Canalization II. Terminal Facilities A. Turn out Completion of the Works is required within Three Hundred (300) calendar days.

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Bidder must have an experience of having completed, a single contract that is similar to the contract to be bid, must be at least 50% of the ABC. The description of an eligible bidder is contained in the Bidding Documents, particularly, in Section II, Instructions to Bidders.

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Bidding will be conducted through open competitive bidding procedures using non-discretionary pass/fail criterion as specified in the Implementing Rules and Regulations (IRR) of Republic Act 9184 (RA 9184), otherwise known as the “Government Procurement Reform Act”. Bidding is restricted to Filipino citizens/sole proprietorships, partnerships, or organizations with at least Seventy-Five percent (75%) interest or outstanding capital stock belonging to citizens of the Philippines.

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Interested bidders may obtain further information from National Irrigation Administration, Urdaneta City, Pangasinan (office of the Head, BAC Secretariat) and inspect the Bidding Documents from 8:00 A.M to 5:00 PM:

Interested bidders may obtain further information from National Irrigation Administration, Urdaneta City, Pangasinan (office of the Head, BAC Secretariat) and inspect the Bidding Documents from 8:00 A.M to 5:00 PM:

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A complete set of Bidding Documents may be purchased by interested Bidders from the above address and upon payment at the NIA Cashier of a non-refundable fee for the Bidding Documents in the amount of SIXTEEN THOUSAND PESOS (Php16,000.00).

A complete set of Bidding Documents may be purchased by interested Bidders from the above address and upon payment at the NIA Cashier of a non-refundable fee for the Bidding Documents in the amount of TWELVE THOUSAND PESOS (Php12,000.00).

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Issuance & Availability of bidding documents is from the first day of advertisement/ Posting of Invitation to Bid/ Request for Expression of interest until submission and receipt of bids.

Issuance & Availability of bidding documents is from the first day of advertisement/ Posting of Invitation to Bid/ Request for Expression of interest until submission and receipt of bids.

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The National Irrigation Administration will hold a Pre-Bid Conference on March 26, 2015, 2:00 PM at the NIA-Regional Office Conference Room, Urdaneta City, Pangasinan which shall be open to all interested parties who have purchased the Bidding Documents.

The National Irrigation Administration will hold a Pre-Bid Conference on March 26, 2015, 2:00 PM at the NIA-Regional Office Conference Room, Urdaneta City, Pangasinan which shall be open to all interested parties who have purchased the Bidding Documents.

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Bids must be delivered on or before 2:00 PM, April 10, 2015 at the address below.

Opening of Bids will immediately follow in the presence of the bidders’ representatives who choose to attend at the NIA-Region I Conference Room, Bayaoas, Urdaneta City, Pangasinan. Late bids shall not be accepted.

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The National Irrigation Administration shall not allow contractors to participate in the procurement of civil works with at least 15% negative slippage on their on-going NIA Contracts at the time of advertisement or posting in the PhilGEPS/NIA Website of the Invitation to Bid in accordance with Rule X, Sec. 34.3 (b) (ii) of the Revised Implementing Rules & Regulation of Republic Act No. 9184. Hence, affidavit stating with at least 15% negative slippage is required as evidence.

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All bids must be accompanied by a bid security in any of the acceptable forms and in the amount stated in ITB Clause 18.

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Bids must be delivered on or before 2:00 PM, April 10, 2015 at the address below.

Opening of Bids will immediately follow in the presence of the bidders’ representatives who choose to attend at the NIA-Region I Conference Room, Bayaoas, Urdaneta City, Pangasinan. Late bids shall not be accepted.

The National Irrigation Administration shall not allow contractors to participate in the procurement of civil works with at least 15% negative slippage on their on-going NIA Contracts at the time of advertisement or posting in the PhilGEPS/NIA Website of the Invitation to Bid in accordance with Rule X, Sec. 34.3 (b) (ii) of the Revised Implementing Rules & Regulation of Republic Act No. 9184. Hence, affidavit stating with at least 15% negative slippage is required as evidence.

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All bids must be accompanied by a bid security in any of the acceptable forms and in the amount stated in ITB Clause 18.

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Special Power of Attorney (SPA) shall no longer be allowed in the procurement of projects within the Agency.

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Special Power of Attorney (SPA) shall no longer be allowed in the procurement of projects within the Agency.

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All bids must be accompanied by a Certificate of Site Inspection issued by the implementing office.

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All bids must be accompanied by a Certificate of Site Inspection issued by the implementing office.

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The National Irrigation Administration reserves the right to reject bids, declare a failure of bidding, and not to award the contract without incurring any liability if the funds/allotment for the project to be bid has been withheld or reduced through no fault of its own.

The National Irrigation Administration reserves the right to reject bids, declare a failure of bidding, and not to award the contract without incurring any liability if the funds/ allotment for the project to be bid has been withheld or reduced through no fault of its own.

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Awarding of Contract shall be held in abeyance prior to receipt of the Agency Budget Matrix (ABM) or Special Allotment Release Order (SARO) for the full cost of the project.

Awarding of Contract shall be held in abeyance prior to receipt of the Agency Budget Matrix (ABM) or Special Allotment Release Order (SARO) for the full cost of the project.

For further information, please refer to:

For further information, please refer to:

current account surplus.

“The net outflows in the financial account stemmed from the increased net outflows in other investments and the reversal of portfolio and direct investments from net inflows to net outflows,” Bangko Sentral said.

The country’s gross international reserves declined 4.4 percent to $79.5 billion as of end-December 2014 from the $83.2 billion a year ago.

Meanwhile, BoP in February 2015 posted a surplus of $985 million, well above the $345 million recorded in same month last year.

This brought the country’s BoP position in the first two months of the year to a $1.121-billion surplus, from a deficit of $4.135 billion a year ago.

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expansion in receipts from compensation of overseas Filipino workers to $7.4 billion.

BoP summarizes the country’s financial transactions with the rest of the world, with a deficit indicating that foreign exchange payments outstrip receipts and a surplus, the reverse.

Persistent surpluses help build up the country’s gross international reserves, an ample supply of which supports value of the peso and keeps domestic inflation at bay.

The BoP position in 2014 recorded a deficit of $2.9 billion, a reversal of the $5.1-billion surplus in 2013. The deficit resulted from the marked increase in net outflows in the financial account despite the continued improvement in the

ENGR. MYRNA C. MARTINEZ - Head BAC Secretariat NIA-Regional Office No. 1 Barangay Bayaoas, Urdaneta City, Pangasinan Telefax No: 632-1435 E-mail address: niaengineeing@yahoo.com

Noted: (SGD.) JOHN N. CELESTE, DPA Regional Manager A (TNS-MAR. 23, 2015)

(SGD.) FRIDA L. NIDOY BAC Chairman

ENGR. MYRNA C. MARTINEZ - Head BAC Secretariat NIA-Regional Office No. 1 Barangay Bayaoas, Urdaneta City, Pangasinan Telefax No: 632-1435 E-mail address: niaengineeing@yahoo.com

Noted: (SGD.) JOHN N. CELESTE, DPA Regional Manager A (TNS-MAR. 23, 2015)

(SGD.) FRIDA L. NIDOY BAC Chairman

PPA’s profit up 15% to P4.3b

By Alena Mae S. Flores STATE-RUN Philippine Ports Authority said net income in 2014 grew 15 percent from a year ago, despite the Manila port congestion last year.

PPA said in a statement net income after tax reached P4.26 billion in 2014, up from P3.70 billion posted in 2013.

The agency said the figure was also higher by 16 percent than the 2014 target of P3.67 billion.

Gross revenues increased 13.5 percent in 2014 to P12.57 billion from P11.07 billion a year ago. Port revenues posted the biggest increase of 25 percent in 2014 to P12.46 billion from P9.99 billion in 2013. It was also higher by 20 percent than the target port revenues of P10.41 billion.

The fund management income, the other source of gross revenues, declined 16 percent to P103.21 million from P122.50 million due to lower interest rates.

“The considerable increases in almost all aspects of the revenue generation process of the agency can be attributed primarily to the increase in traffic volume at the ports despite the congestion issue involving the Manila ports,” PPA general manager Juan Sta. Ana said.

M O N D AY : M A R C H 2 3 , 2 0 1 5

WORLD

CESAR BARRIOQUINTO EDITOR

editorial@thestandard.com.ph

B7

Warning over climate change BEIJING-China’s top weather official has issued a stark warning on climate change, saying that rising temperatures could have “huge impacts” on the world’s most populous country, state media reported Sunday.

Protest in Tokyo. A protester holds a placard to criticize Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe during a rally in Tokyo on March 22. Several thousand people took part in the rally to denounce Abe’s administration. AFP

One step ahead in style in Tokyo TOKYO—Feminine glamor may turn the most heads at fashion weeks in New York or Paris, but in Tokyo it is the style-conscious men who set the sartorial trends.

From sharp futurism to wool-and-denim casuals, the finale of Tokyo Fashion Week put the spotlight largely on menswear, aiming to promote the most dynamic area of Japanese clothes design.

“What happens here is probably the future of men’s fashion,” said Antonio Cristaudo from Pitti Immagine, a collection of fashion industry events in Italy.

“There’s individuality, they want to be different,” he told AFP. “It’s important for all the fashion world to see what’s happening in Japan.”

Such innovation is nowhere more evident than on the streets of Tokyo, from the vintage and skater styles of Ura-Hara to the slick suits of the Marunouchi business district.

With sharp tailoring and eye-catching accessories, from hats and bags to shiny shoes, the get-up of Tokyo gents is striking to the firsttime visitor.

“The menswear is just so much more exciting than womens wear here,” said Misha Janette, an American fashion journalist based in Tokyo, who suggested the tendency for women to cover up meant their clothes could be “a bit shapeless”.

For the men, meanwhile, “it’s OK to do your hair, be into fashion, use skincare,” Janette said. “They like to be proper in Japan.”

Although Tokyo’s dandies shine at home and start trends that travel abroad, the success of Japan’s own designers has been limited overseas. AFP

Global climate change will reduce crop yields, lead to “ecological degradation” and create unstable river flows, Xinhua news agency quoted Zheng Guoguang, chief of China’s Meteorological Administration, as saying.

“As the world warms, risks of climate change and climate disasters to China could become

more grave,” Zheng said.

China is the world’s largest source of carbon dioxide emissions which cause climate change. Beijing has said it aims for those emissions to peak “around 2030”.

Temperature increases in China over the past century have been more extreme than global averages, Zheng added.

He described climate change as a “serious threat” to several Chinese mega-projects including the vast Three Gorges Dam, a railway connecting Tibet with northwest China, and a huge scheme to divert water from the country’s south to its dry north.

Zheng called for China to take a “low-carbon development path.”

But Xinhua also quoted him as saying that the potential for wind and solar energy was “limited”, without giving further details.

Republic of the Philippines Office of the President National Irrigation Administration

Republic of the Philippines Province of Bataan City of Balanga BIDS AND AWARDS COMMITTEE OFFICE INVITATION TO BID The Provincial Government of Bataan, through the General Fund28 intends to apply the below listed procurement w/ corresponding Approved Budget of the Contract (ABC). Bids received in excess ofthe ABC shall be automatically rejected at bid opening.

Name of Project 1.

Supply & Delivery of materials needed for (1) asphalt patching of road at Barangay Landing, Pilar, Bataan (2) asphalt patching of road at Tuyo Vicinal Balanga City (3) asphalt overlaying of road at Sitio Bane Cataning Balanga City (4) repair of Brgy. Road at Zamora Dinalupihan, Bataan (5) asphalt overlay at Brgy. Camachile, Orion, Bataan (6) asphalt patching of Road at Gov. E. Pascual Rd., Orani, Bataan

(PAMBANSANG PANGASIWAAN NG PATUBIG) UPPER PAMPANGA RIVER INTEGRATED IRRIGATION SYSTEM Dam & Reservoir Division

Office Address: Telephone Nos.: Website:

NO. GOODS-028-2015

Package No.

Bidding will be conducted through open competitive bidding procedures using nondiscretionary pass/fail criterion as specific in the implementing Rules and Regulations (IRR) of Republic Act 9184 (RA 9184), otherwise known as the “Government Procurement Reform Act”.

500,000 and below

1,000.00

More than 1 Million up to 5 Million

5.000.00

More than 5 Million up to 10 Million

10.000.00

More than 10 Million up to 50 Million

25.000.00

More than 50 Million up to 500 Million

50,000.00

More than 500 Million

75.000.00

The Provincial Government of Bataan will hold a Pre-Bid Conference on March 27, 2015 at 10:00 A.M. at Provincial BAC Office, PEO Capitol Compound, Balanga City, Bataan, which shall be open only to all interested parties who have purchased the Bidding Documents.

Contract Duration

Amount of Bid Document (Php)

5,658,422.00

180 CD

6,000.00

DRD-CO-05-2015

Concreting of Tanauan Spillway Road (1.826 km)Works along Masiway Dam Access Road

18,891,827.00

180 CD

20,000.00

3,696,237.00

180 CD

4,000.00

Pantabangan Dam Complex

Slope Protection Works along Masiway Dam Access Road

The National Irrigation Administration - Upper Pampanga River Integrated Irrigation Systems, Dam and Reservoir Division (NIA-UPRIIS, DRD), now invites bids for contract for REHABILITATION WORKS AT PANTABANGAN DAM COMPLEX (INFRA). Bidders must have an experience of having completed at least one (1) contract that is similar to the contract to be bid, and whose value, adjusted to the current prices using NSO consumer price indices, must be at least fifty percent (50%) of the ABC to be bid. The description of an eligible bidder is contained in the Bidding Documents, particularly, in Section II. Instruction to Bidders.

3.

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

Bidding is restricted to Filipino citizens/sole proprietorships, partnerships, or organizations with at least seventy five percent (75%) interest or outstanding capital stock belonging to citizens of the Philippines.

4.

Interested bidders may obtain further information from National Irrigation Administration - Upper Pampanga River Integrated Irrigation Systems, Dam and Reservoir Division (NIA-UPRIIS, DRD) and inspect the Bidding Documents at the address given below from 8:00 A.M. to 5:00 P.M., Monday to Friday.

5.

A complete set of Bidding Documents may be purchased by interested Bidders from the address below and upon payment of a nonrefundable fee for the Bidding Documents in the amount specified above It may also be downloaded free of charge from the website of the Philippine Government Electronic Procurement System (PhilGEPS) and the website of the Procuring Entity, provided that bidders shall pay the fee for the Bidding Documents not later that the submission of their bids.

6.

The National Irrigation Administration - Upper Pampanga River Integrated Irrigation Systems, Dam and Reservoir Division (NIA-UPRIIS, DRD) will hold a Pre-Bid Conference on April 1, 2015@ 9:00 A.M. at NIA-UPRIIS, DAM & RESERVOIR DIVISION Conference Room, Fatima, Pantabangan, which shall be open to all interested parties.

7.

Bids must be delivered to the address above on or before April 13, 2015 @ 12:00 Noon at NIA-UPRIIS, DAM & RESERVOIR DIVISION, Fatima , Pantabangan, N.E.. All bids must be accompanied by a bid security in any of the acceptable forms and in the amount stated in ITB Clause 18.

Bids must be delivered on or before April 10, 2015 at 2:00 p.m. At Provincial BAC Office, PEO Capitol Compound, Balanga City, Bataan. All bids must be accompanied by a bid security in any of the acceptable forms and in the amount stated on IRR of RA 9184.

Bids will be opened in the presence of the bidders’ representatives who choose to attend opening of Bids at Bataan BAC Office. Late bids shall not be accepted.

APPROVED BUDGET

2.

500.00

More than 500.000 up to 1 Million

Location

Replacement of Hydraulic Pipes at Gate Chamber (Middle Portion )

DRD-CO-06-2015

Interested bidders may obtain further information from Office of Bataan Bids & Awards Committee and inspect the Bidding Documents from 8:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. at the same office.

Maximum Cost of Bidding Documents (in Philippine Peso)

Package No. Name of Project

DRDCO-04-2015

The Provincial Government of Bataan now invites bids for the above listed Procurement.

Delivery of goods is required on or before the maturity date stipulated on contract. Bidders should have completed, within Ten (10) years from the date of submission and receipt of bids, a contract similar to the Project. The description of an eligible bidder is contained in the Bidding Documents, particularly, in Section ll. Instructions to Bidders

Approved Budget for the Contract

Telefax No. (044) 958-9787 TIN No. 916-415-022

The National Irrigation Administration - Upper Pampanga River Integrated Irrigation Systems, Dam and Reservoir Division (NIA-UPRIIS, DRD), through the Capital Outlay 2015 intends to apply the sum of Php 28,246,486.00 being the Approved Budget for the Contract (ABC) to payments under the following contracts. Bids received in excess of the ABC shall be automatically rejected at bid opening.

=P= 3,129,540.00

Bid documents will be available only to eligible bidders upon payment of a non-refundable amount of using standard rates approved by GPPB as stated on their Resolution No. 04-2012 listed below.

Pantabangan, Nueva Ecija

Fatima, Pantabangan, N.E. (044) 958-9787 drd.upriis@yahoo.com

INVITATION TO BID No. DRD-CO-01-2015 1.

Approved Budget of the Contract (ABC)

Bidding is open to all interested bidders, whether local or foreign, subject to the conditions for eligibility provided in the Implementing Rules and Regulations (IRR) of Republic Act (RA) 9184, otherwise known as the “Government Procurement Reform Act”.

China and the US, which together produce around 45 percent of the world’s carbon dioxide, will be key to ensuring a global deal on reducing emissions after 2020 at a Paris summit later this year.

China’s ruling Communist party has for decades emphasized economic growth, which has caused demand for energy— especially coal—to skyrocket.

Coal use in China grew by an average of nine percent each year from 2000 to 2010, according to the US Energy Information Administration.

Beijing has pushed alternatives to coal use in the face of public anger at widespread smog. But some schemes -- such as facilities which convert coal into gas -- have been criticized by environmentalists as resulting in greater carbon emissions. AFP

Bids will be opened in the presence of the company’s owner / general manager who choose to attend at the address below. Late bids shall not be accepted.

8.

The complete schedule of activities is listed, as follows: ACTIVITIES

DATE AND TIME

In case of the above dates is declared a special Non-Working Holidays, it will automatically reset on the next working days.

1.) Pre-Bid Conference 2.) Issuance of Bid Documents

March 23, 2015 – April 13, 2015

Other necessary information deemed relevant by the Provincial Government of Bataan Activities Schedule l. Advertisement/Posting of Invitation to Bid March 20 - 26, 2015 2. Eligibility Check Refer to date of Opening of Bids 3. Issuance and availability of Bidding Documents March 20- April 10, 2015 4. Request for Clarification April 1, 2015 5. Opening of Bids April 1, 2015

3.) Deadline of Submission of Bids

April 13, 2015; 12:00PM

9.

The Provincial Government of Bataan 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.

For further information, please refer to: Name : Engr. ERNESTO D. PONCE, Ph.D. Chairperson, Bids and Awards Committee for INFRA Office : IFFWSDO Section Address : NIA-UPRIIS, Dam & Reservoir Division Fatima, Pantabangan, Nueva Ecija Telephone No. : (044)-958-9787

For further information, please refer to: Engr. Josephine R. Valenzuela Provincial BAC / PEO Bataan Provincial BAC / PEO Office, Capitol Compound Balanga City, Bataan 047-237-9316 bac@bataan.gov.ph (Sgd). ENRICO T. YUZON BAC Chairman (TNS-MAR. 23, 2015)

April 01, 2015; 9:00 AM

4.) Opening of Bids April 13, 2015; 2:00PM .

The National Irrigation Administration - Upper Pampanga River Integrated Irrigation Systems, Dam and Reservoir Division (NIA-UPRIIS, DRD) 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.

Approved by: (SGD.) ERNESTO D. PONCE BAC Chairman-Infra Noted by: (SGD.) CRISTINO C. CASTILLO Division Manager-DRD (TNS-MAR. 23, 2015)

(SGD.) REYNALDO D. PUNO Department Manager-UPRIIS

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CesAR bARRiOquiNtO EDITOR

editorial@thestandard.com.ph

world

World Water Day. An Indian Sikh devotee drinks water distributed by volunteers on World Water Day at the Sikh Shrine Golden temple in Amritsar on March 22. A new UN report launched in New Delhi on March 20 ahead of World Water Day on March 22 warned of an urgent need to manage the world’s water more sustainably and highlight the problem of groundwater over-extraction, particularly in India and China. AFP

Yemen on edge of civil war Singapore’s Lee weakens further SINGAPORE—The health condition of Singapore’s founding leader Lee Kuan Yew weakened further on Sunday as he battles severe pneumonia in hospital, the government said.

The 91-year-old, one of Asia’s towering post-colonial leaders, has been in the Singapore General Hospital for more than six weeks and is being aided by mechanical ventilation, a form of life support.

“Mr Lee Kuan Yew has weakened further today,” said a statement from the office of his son, Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong, who visited him in hospital.

The government earlier said the patriarch was critically ill.

Hundreds of floral tributes and cards dedicated to Lee have piled up outside the

hospital as Singaporeans displayed affection for the Britisheducated lawyer who steered the city-state to prosperity but is also criticized for his ironfisted rule.

Singapore media reported that the prime minister mingled early Sunday with wellwishers outside the hospital block where his father was being cared for under tight security.

The elder Lee was prime minister from 1959, when colonial ruler Britain granted Singapore self-rule, to 1990. He led Singapore to independence in 1965 after a brief and stormy union with Malaysia.

He stepped down as prime minister in favor of his deputy Goh Chok Tong, who in turn handed the reins to Lee’s eldest child in 2004. AFP

ADEN—The United States said it had evacuated all its staff from Yemen, whose embattled president has appealed for “urgent intervention” by the UN Security Council as attacks by Iran-backed rebels bring his country nearer to civil war.

“Due to the deteriorating security situation in Yemen, the US government has temporarily relocated its remaining personnel out of Yemen,” State Department spokesman Jeff Rathke said in a statement.

The evacuation comes after several suicide bombings claimed by the Islamic State group killed 142 people in Sanaa on Friday, with the jihadists seeking to exploit the chaos gripping the country.

The impoverished nation is torn between a north controlled by Iran-backed Shiite Huthi rebels and a south dominated by allies of President Abedrabbo Mansour Hadi, who fled house arrest in Sanaa

to Aden in February.

The UN Security Council is to hold an emergency meeting Sunday following Hadi’s appeal.

In his letter to the Council, Hadi denounced “the criminal acts of the Huthi militias and their allies,” saying they “not only threaten peace in Yemen but the regional and international peace and security.”

“I urge for your urgent intervention in all available means to stop this aggression that is aimed at undermining the legitimate authority, the fragmentation of Yemen and its peace and stability,” Hadi wrote.

Yemen has been torn by un-

rest since ex-strongman Ali Abdullah Saleh stepped down in early 2012 after a year-long popular uprising against him, with powerful armed groups sidelining the government since.

The country is now on the brink of civil war, with a deepening political impasse and an increasingly explicit territorial division along sectarian lines, with rising violence between the Huthi and Sunni tribes and Al-Qaeda.

Washington late Friday pulled out troops from the Al-Anad airbase in southern Yemen amid fighting involving Al-Qaeda militants nearby which left at least 29 dead.

The US would “continue to actively monitor terrorist threats emanating from Yemen and have capabilities postured in the area to address them,” Rathke said.

Yemen has acknowledged that US personnel gathering intelligence for drone strikes on Al-Qaeda are deployed at Al-Anad.

Hadi pledged Saturday to fight Iranian influence in his country, accusing the Huthis of importing Tehran’s ideology.

The Huthis, who seized Sanaa in September, vowed to take further “revolutionary steps” following Friday’s blasts.

In his first televised speech since he fled to Aden from house arrest in Sanaa, Hadi said he would ensure that “the Yemeni republic flag will fly on the Marran mountain in (the Huthi militia’s northern stronghold) Saada, instead of the Iranian flag”.

“The Iranian Twelver (Shiism) pattern that has been agreed upon between the Huthis and those who support them will not be accepted by Yemenis, whether Zaidi (Shiites) or Shafite (Sunnis),” he said.

The Huthis belong to the Zaidi offshoot of Shiite Islam. They are believed to have converted to Twelver Shiism, which is followed by Iran, but insist that Tehran does not meddle in Yemeni affairs. AFP

Police find colleagues during raid on brothel

In Austin. Zella Day is shown onstage during the PANDORA Discovery Den SXSW on March 21 in Austin, Texas. AFP

NEW DELHI—Police in eastern India were left redfaced when a raid on a sex district discovered four of their own along with a convicted murderer whom they were supposed to be guarding, a report said Sunday.

The four constables had been tasked with transporting the murderer from a jail in the underdevel-

oped state of Jharkhand to hospital for a check-up, the Hindustan Times reported.

But the officers decided to make a 206-kilometer detour to visit the red-light area in the town of Asansol across the border in West Bengal state, the newspaper said.

West Bengal police rounded up the four as part of the raid although

the murderer managed to escape—and then made his own way back to jail in Koderma city in Jharkhand, the paper said.

“We have ordered a probe and suspended the four policemen until further notice,” Jharkhand director general of police D.K Pandey told the newspaper.

Jharkhand, one of India’s poorest states which is grap-

pling with a Maoist insurgency, has seen several security lapses in recent years.

Thirteen prisoners escaped from custody in December in Jharkhand by throwing chili powder at their guards. Police shot dead two more of the prisoners during the getaway, staged as they were being transported back to a jail.

AFP

M O N D AY : M A R C H 2 3 : 2 0 1 5

BAMBINA OLIVARES WISE EDITOR

g l w e e ke n d @ g m a i l . c o m

LIFE

C1

TECH

GALAXY QUEST GLOBE TELECOM FIRST TO OFFER SAMSUNG GALAXY S6 AND GALAXY S6 EDGE

Globe Telecom, through its premier postpaid brand Globe Platinum, is the first Philippine telco to bring the Samsung Galaxy S6 and S6 Edge to Filipino consumers by giving its Platinum members an exclusive sneak peak of Samsung’s latest smartphone devices.

In partnership with Samsung Electronics, Globe Platinum recently hosted an exclusive viewing of the newest Samsung smartphones to its customers at its Globe store in Power Plant Mall. Continued on C2 Glamorous butlers led members to the Platinum Lounge in the Globe store.

M O N D AY : M A R C H 2 3 : 2 0 1 5

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LIFE

BAMBINA OLIVARES WISE EDITOR

g l w e e ke n d @ g m a i l . c o m

TECH

GALAXY QUEST From C1

"Globe Platinum is not just about giving customers the best connectivity, but it’s also about providing wonderful experiences that reaffirm our commitment in making customers our top priority. As such, we worked with Samsung to bring their highly anticipated smartphones first in the country, the Samsung Galaxy S6 and S6 Edge, to ensure we give our premier customers the privilege of being the firstto-see and the first-to-experience,” said Globe vice president for Platinum and Roaming Business Coco Domingo.

During the exclusive viewing, Globe Platinum and Platinum Elite members were treated to a private demonstration of the Galaxy S6 and S6 Edge devices. Globe Platinum and Platinum Elite customers who wanted to reserve a unit could already selected the variant of their choice even before actual availability of the said units to all Filipino consumers.

The event kicked off with ambassadors greeting Platinum members as they arrived on site. After which, Platinum members were ushered to the Platinum Lounge in the Globe store where the recently flownin units of the Galaxy S6 and S6 Edge were waiting to be viewed.

Some of the Galaxy S6 and S6 Edge features that Platinum members fancied were the innovative design and glass-like metal finish of both variants as well as the remarkable 5.1” OHD Super AMOLED capacitive touchscreen display. Other S6 and S6 Edge highlights are the advanced photo technology powered by 16-megapixel rear and 5-megapixel front cameras as well as the fast-charging battery with wireless charging capabilities.

Succeeding legs of the exclusive viewing event will be held in Globe stores at the Alabang Town Center on March 21-22 and SM North EDSA on March 28-29.

Platinum and Platinum Elite members may pre-order until April 17.

Like precious jewels, the S6 and S6 Edge were placed in velvet boxes and revealed exclusively to Globe Platinum and Platinum Elite members.

Postpaid subscribers could upgrade to a Platinum or Platinum Elite plan to get a chance to view and reserve the S6 and S6 Edge.

The private and exclusive viewing is only one of the many great perks of being a member of Globe Platinum.

Once inside the Platinum Lounge, a Samsung Expert and a Platinum Relationship Manager took members through the features of the phone and the Globe Platinum Plans it will come with.

Platinum and Platinum Elite members who missed the first viewing can catch the succeeding legs in Globe Stores at the Alabang Town Center on March 2122 and SM North EDSA on March 28-29.

As a most special privilege, Platinum and Platinum Elite members get a first and premium experience of the Samsung S6 and S6 Edge.

GADGETS FOR GRADUATES:

Mobile devices to help incoming employees to take on the corporate world

O

ver half a million college graduates are expected to enter the workforce this year. With knowledge, right set of skills, good attitude, and confidence, it shouldn’t be hard for someone fresh out of school to stand out from a pool of jobseekers.

But in the data-centric corporate world, with all the office processes and programs being utilized, new graduates need to be tech-savvy. Hence, diploma is best paired with the right devices.

Fortunately, Lenovo has developed devices to make the school-to-work life transition easier.

“New graduates should invest in flexible and portable devices with security features to better cope in the IT-driven workplace.

As the No. 1 in PCs and the No. 1 in the PC+Tablet category, Lenovo has been in-

novating solutions like the Yoga Tablet 2, ThinkPad 8, Yoga Tablet 2 Pro, and Yoga 3 Pro to help new members of the workforce take on the corporate worldís challenges by storm,” said Lenovo Philippines country general manager Michael Ngan.

FOR WORK AND PLAY Several devices have been developed to blur the gap between work and play. Lucky for neophyte employees, they’re entering the era of Choose Your Own Device work environments. Multi-modes like the Yoga Tablet 2, Yoga Tablet 2 Pro, and Yoga 3 Pro which incorporate different usage modes in a single unit have become the popular choice due to their adaptability.

The Yoga Tablet 2 and Yoga Tablet 2 Pro’s Hold and Tilt modes allow young professionals to better read and review

digital content like work emails and office documents. The tablets can also be used in Stand mode for presentation purposes during meetings, or as an entertainment device for watching movies at lunch. The Hang mode offers a hands-free way to view reports, freeing professionalsí hands to do other tasks. The Yoga Tablet 2 Pro also features a built-in Pico projector and an 8-watt JBL sound system with a subwoofer to instantly impress clients.

The Yoga 3 Pro also boasts of four usage modes (tent, stand, laptop and tablet) and built-in apps that automatically launch depending on the selected mode.

SVELTE BUT SUPERIOR A professionalís gadget choice can add a douse of superiority and professionalism in his overall image. After all, gadgets to-

day have become indispensable accessories that complete the professionalís look. Portable gadgets like the ThinkPad 8 offer productivity features in a small form factor that can conveniently fit into a handbag. Sleek and compact, the ThinkPad 8 houses 128GB of internal storage, a bright 1920x1200 display, and the latest Intel Bay Trail Quad Core processor, creating a powerful and lasting impression during meetings.

Small details like the Yoga 3 Proís new watchband hinge made from 800 pieces of steel and aluminum also add a touch of elegance and classiness to oneís professional style. The device is also light and slim, at just 12.8 mm and 1.19 kg, so professionals can easily bring it along with them to client calls.

FUNCTIONAL AND SECURED Work today involves crafting presentations, developing business reports, and working on Excel spreadsheets. To be on top of the game, professionals need gadgets that possess superior content creation capabilities. The lightweight ThinkPad 8 is flexible enough to be converted into a PC via a USB 3.0 dock or monitor, enabling executives to create documents easily.With additional features like TPM 2.0, Mobile Device Management, Workplace Join, and an auto-triggered VPN function, the ThinkPad 8 offers enhanced security levels, so employees wonít have to worry about data safety.

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LIFE

BAMBINA OLIVARES WISE EDITOR

g l w e e ke n d @ g m a i l . c o m

C3

BASELWORLD GETS ‘SMART’

BY ED BIADO

Each year, the world’s leading watch and jewelry brands gather in the city of Basel, Switzerland, for the Baselworld Watch and Jewellery Show. The annual trade show is usually highlighted by unveiling of exclusive and limited-edition models that attract discerning consumers with exquisite craftsmanship and excellence in traditional analog horology.

But this year, almost every new product reveal was overshadowed by the presence of two unlikely brads, Google and Intel, which partnered with TAG Heuer to create an upcoming smartwatch. Interestingly, the powerhouse trio simply announced the collaboration and had nothing else to show for it—no details, expected features, design plans—but still managed to steal the show and get everybody buzzing. In fact, the yet-to-exist connected watch is already being hailed by some outlets as one of the best smartwatches of Baselworld 2015. We’ll see if they’re right when the piece launches by the end of the year.

The good news for smartwatch followers is that the elite, sometimes reclusive, often traditionalist luxury timepiece makers are finally embracing modern technology and are coming

out with models with smart features.

Are smartwatches the future of the watch industry? Maybe not entirely, but they’re definitely part of that future.

Bulgari’s bid is the Diagono Magnesium, an “intelligent watch concept” that focuses on security. The tech is expected to be used for smartphone activation, door and electronic lock unlocking, and alarm systems. With enabled near field communication, the piece will also allow contactless payments.

Meanwhile, Breitling’s rugged B55 Connected is an aviator watch that integrates a variety of aviation features and functions, including alarms, time zones, chronographs and an electronic tachometer. Made for the modern pilot (or aviation enthusiast), the watch will reportedly cost $8,000.

With a brushed matte steel case, white dial, sapphire crystal and soft leather strap, the Mondaine Helvetica No1 Smart is a beautiful timepiece that the brand categorizes as a “horological smartwatch.” The only indication of its connectedness is the sub-dial at the six-o’clock position, which is an analog representation of the digital fitness- and activity-tracking data also found on a connected phone or tablet.

Similarly designed are the Horological Smartwatches from Frederique Constant and Alpina. Just like the Mondaine, these two are actually luxury activity trackers in analog form and not full-featured smart wearable devices.

EYES ON THE ROAD

Japanese driving eyewear comes to the Philippines

P

aris Miki Inc., Japan’s largest optical chain store with more than 800 stores established around the world recently launched the newest top-of-the-line driving eyewear brand TAGAI. This new brand offers the best options in driving eyewear to consumers here in the Philippines.

TAGAI, which in Japanese means TAG = fold and AI = love, has been developed to help drivers here in the country conquer the road safely. These glases are created using the latest in polarity technology and designed to meet the standard requirements for eye protection, visual aptitude optimization, and performance enhancement for drivers, especially professional auto racers, while ensuring they’re up-to-date with latest fashion and style.

LENSES With more than 80 years of experience in enhancing our vision, TAGAI manufacturer Paris Miki is proud to release the Diurnal and Nocturnal Lenses. The unique experience of crystal-like lenses made in Japan.

lenses are difficult to crack and will not easily come off. These anti-reflective lenses can diffuse reflection or glare coming from the road or that from a car’s dashboard even when it is raining to make driving stress-free.

NOCTURNAL ® LENSES (night lenses) These lenses’ innovative features include: Selective glare reduction from oncoming vehicles’ headlights or mirror reflections, higher contrast through an easy diffusion of reflection by reducing short wavelength, and clearer and brighter vision in the dark for a safer driving experience at night. Cut 99.9 percent of UV, multi coat.

FRAMES TAGAI has two frame designs, the TAGAI (α) ALPHA and TAGAI (β) BETA. These designs were made based on the two most significant factors for its endorser F1 Japanese racer Kamui Kobayashi which to protect his eyes while being stylish and trendy.

• TAGAI (α) ALPHA The versatile designs of the TAGAI α ALPHA collection introduces 12 eyeDIURNAL® LENSES (day lenses) wear masterpieces created to suit a vaLens which let you enjoy seeing perfectly riety of fashion tastes for almost any while having fun driving. Two coatings occasion using four frame designs in are available for your choice: dark grey and meticulously selected color mixes. gold mirror.

• Dark grey (anti reflection coat), transmit- • TAGAI (β) BETA tance 16.2 percent, degree of polarization The dynamic TAGAI (β) BETA collection takes pride in 12 models of unique99.2 percent, cut 99.9 percent of UV ly crafted outdoor eyewear in four frame • Gold mirror (anti reflection coat), designs to bring out energetic and pastransmittance 13.5 percent, degree of sionate fashion styles founded on Japan’s polarization 99.2 percent, cut 99.9 pertechnology in producing highly durable cent of UV and adaptive optical masterpieces.

Using the original manufacturing method of lenses with the integration of the fusion method of polarizing film For more information about the TAGAI and lenses, Diurnal Lenses were crafted driving eyewear collections, visit website to be thin and highly durable. These www.tagai.co

BOUTIQUE AIRLINE OFFERS SUMMER PROMO Fly to Coron, Palawan this summer as Skyjet Airlines, Manila’s first boutique airline, offers an irresistible promo for 2015.

The summer promo starts at P3,378 and will be available on March 27, 2015 to beat the 100 days of summer season.

Skyjet Airlines relaunched their direct flights from Ninoy Aquino International Airport Terminal 4 to the paradise of Coron, Palawan.

“Our aircraft, an 80-seater jet, which specialty is landing on short runways, is also used by the British Royal Family as well as many dignitaries around the world,” says Skyjet president Dino Reyes-Chua.

“It is one of the safest jets in the world,” he adds.

Skyjet is also innovating in the industry by introducing the concept of boutique airline and affordable rates. Unlike most domestic flights, check-in baggage allowance and travel insurance are already part of Skyjet’s ticket cost. Meals are also served on board with no extra charge.

For more information, cal (02) 863-1333; 0917-8631333; 0908-8631333. Or visit www.skyjet air.com

CHEVRON BOOSTS E-BLOTTER SYSTEM OF BATANGAS POLICE

Chevron Philippines, Inc. and Chevron Holdings Inc., in partnership with the American Chamber Foundation Philippines Inc., donated computers and printers to the municipal police in San Pascual, Batangas

to reinforce its e-blotter system.

The e-blotter system is part of the improved Crime Incident Reporting System (CIRS) of the Philippine National Police.

Using the computer units, police officers in San Pascual can

now carry out a more seamless and secured documentation of crime reports.

“We used to store all subpoenas, warrant files, rogues gallery, and blotter records in just one computer. Thanks to

Chevron, and the computers donated, we can now store more files and transmit reports to our headquarters faster,” said Manuel Maligaya, police senior inspector, San Pascual municipal police.

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LIFE

BAMBINA OLIVARES WISE EDITOR

g l w e e ke n d @ g m a i l . c o m

1

FOR PARTY ANIMALS ONLY

BOB ZOZOBRADO

BEAUTY & THE BEST When John Keats wrote, “A thing of beauty is a joy forever…,” he probably had last week’s events in mind, as everything I had in my social calendar showcased such characteristic and I’ve been feeling good the entire week.

I consider myself lucky to have had the opportunity to bask in such pleasurable environment in these gatherings.

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LPU’S MR. & MS. CITHM The College of International Tourism and Hospitality Management (CITHM) of the Lyceum of the Philippines University (LPU)-Manila Campus held this annual search last week at the jampacked Star Theater of the CCP Complex.

It was the first time the university or any of its colleges held an event outside the campus.

Students of an Events Management Class in CITHM handled the pageant and they took care of every single detail needed to make it a tremendous success. In fact, I thought a professional Events Handler was hired to stage the colorful extravaganza. Everything ran so smoothly. Small wonder it did, because the students were led by the statuesque, gracious and excellence-driven Tourism student and Student Council President Teresa Tugade, a beauty in her own right, having been recently proclaimed the Ms. LPU 2015.

There were ten female and ten male candidates vying for the title. I enjoyed having been asked

to sit as one of the judges, together with Globe Sales Manager Jam de la Cruz, First Stop’s Arnel Stinson, Chef Jonathan Jota of Vikings Luxury Buffet, Professor James Marshall of LPU’s College of Business Administration, and Ms. LPU 2015 1st Runner-up Jamie Joy Imson. I must hasten to add, though. that I had a hard time choosing the best. The entire line-up seemed like they were already the best-looking group of young students anybody could ever put together.

But, we had to do our job and choose the best.

After the usual Q&A portion, a couple emerged as winners---Ivan Policarpio and Allyssa Padilla, both Cruise Line students. They were crowned by last year’s winners, Tourism students Julia Monroy and Cedric Martiniano It certainly was an evening of beauties, in an event handled by the best bunch of student movers-and-shakers any university would be proud to have!

1 The Pageant started with a kaleidoscope of colorful costumes 2 Ivan Policarpio and Allyssa Padilla 3 Julia Monroy and Cedric Martiniano 4 College Secretary Reyman Gapas, Dean Beth Aragon and Chairperson Gerald crowd around statuesque Ms. LPU 2015 Teresa Tugade 5 Me, with co-Judges Arnel Stinson and Chef Jonathan Jota 6 Me, with co-Judge Jam de la Cruz 7 Another Judge was Ms. LPU 2015 First Runner-up Jamie Joy Imson 8 Some of the gorgeous ladies competing for the title

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PERSONALITY OF THE WEEK

BELO BEAUTIFUL

A respected entrepreneur in the beauty industry, Belo Medical Group Chief Executive Officer and founder Dr. Vicki Belo shared her expertise with the employees of the American Chamber of Commerce in the Philippines (AmCham) in a talk entitled, Reinventing the Workforce Value.

Held at the association’s Makati headquarters and organized by the AmCham Health and Wellness Committee, the seminar focused on how beauty creates more opportunities and “the importance of being gorgeous in a professional setting.”

Naturally, she also talked about the products and services her clinics provide, the most popular of which are the ZO Skin Health, Belo Collagen Drink and the Belo Herbal Diet Pills.

1 Dr. Vicki Belo and Peter Lau 2 AmCham Chairman and Director Don Felbaum, Dr. Vicki Belo and AmCham Executive Director Ebb Hinchliffe 3 Belo Medical Group Development Manager Doris Jimenez and Dorothy Espiritu 4 AmCham’s Janica Gaisano, Carol Singson, Froland Tajale and JV Pimentel

It was a delight to break bread last week with GSIS President and General Manager Robert G. Vergara, and learning of the agency’s rapid growth under his watch.

Its total assets increased by 16% to P910.4 Billion in 2014 compared to that of the previous year, and its total revenues, by 72% to P231.5 Billion in 2014, against that of the previous year.

GSIS now has 1.44 Million members, more than 400,000 pensioners, and has more than 4000 satellite locations all GSIS President and General Manager over the country. It was recently awarded Robert G. Vergara the Citizen’s Satisfaction Center Seal of Excellence by the Civil Service Commission for its exemplary frontline service---they now process a loan within a week, and retirement benefits, within 3 months. Not bad for an agency which used to be the butt of criticism and the source of horror stories by its members just 3 years ago.

There is this talk that Mr. Vergara is the highest-paid government employee in the country. Although he was mum about it when “cornered” by a colleague, he did give us tips on how to invest our hard-earned savings wisely. Frankly, I don’t mind heaping the taxes I paid for on a government employee who does his job very well, efficiently and honestly.

YOUR MONDAY CHUCKLE

:-D

For feedback, I’m at bobzozobrad@gmail.com

PUPIL: “Ma’am, would you punish me for something I didn’t do?”

TEACHER: “Of course not.”

PUPIL: “Good, because I didn’t do my homework.”

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SHOWBITZ

ISAH V. RED EDITOR

isahred @ gmail.com

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SM CINEMAS SCREEN NEW INDIE FILMS

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inag Maynila, the country’s newest independent film festival, showcases quality and thought provoking movies from young Filipino filmmakers until tomorrow March 24 at selected SM Cinemas.

These include designated theaters at SM Megamall, SM North EDSA, SM Manila, SM Fairview, SM Southmall, the SM Mall of Asia, and SM Aura Premier, where the red carpet opening ceremonies was held.

Conceptualized and spearheaded by CEO and Founder Wilson Tieng, together with internationally acclaimed film director Brillante Mendoza as Festival Director, Sinag Maynila gives grants to independent filmmakers so they can develop their individual material to a full-length film.

As a festival that seeks to inspire, educate, and enlighten the viewing public, Sinag Maynila features films that reflect Filipino culture, while presenting social issues deserving of discussion among audiences here and abroad.

For the inaugural year of Sinag Maynila, both Tieng and Mendoza personally handpicked five of the country’s reputable independent filmmakers with whom they collaborated in producing this year’s selection of definitive films.

“We don’t want just to produce films,” says Mendoza. “We want to produce good films. Gusto naming panonoorin ninyo hindi lang isa kundi lahat ng limang pelikula.”

For Tieng, the festival “does not only up the ante. Working with Brillante Mendoza, we hope to give our homegrown filmmakers the chance to tell the stories of Filipinos in the most compelling visual narrative possible.”

Tieng commends the five feature films “for showing great promise of high recognition not just locally but in international film festivals as well.”

Balut Country, a film by Paul Sta. Ana (Oros), follows the journey of Jun, an heir to the duck farm left to him by his late father.

He must decide whether to sell the property to secure his future, or spare the land’s loyal caretakers of inevitable displacement.

Rocco Nacino, Ronnie Quizon, Angela Cortez, Nanette Inventor, and Vincent Magbanua star in this film.

Bambanti, a film by Zig Dulay (Huling Halik, M), questions the prejudice of the rich towards the poor when a son of a house helper is suspected to have stolen the employer’s missing gold watch. It stars Alessandra de Rossi, Micko Laurente, Julio Diaz, Shamaine Buencamino, and Lui Manansala.

Imbisibol, a film by Lawrence Fajardo (Amok, Posas), follows the lives of four Filipino migrant workers in Japan who amidst their individual struggles, are suddenly caught together in an even more complex game of hide and seek where staying invisible is the only way to survive. Allen Dizon, Bernardo Bernardo, Ces Quesada, and JM de Guzman topbill this film.

Ninja Party, a film by Jim Libiran (Suntok sa Buwan, Happyland, Tribu) is a coming of age story of two teenage students in an elite school who find themselves in a compromising situation when they get involved in a secret debauchery. The cast includes Annicka Dolonius, Julz Savard, Bea Galvez, Odette Khan, Teresa Loyzaga, and Denise Marasigan.

Swap, a film by Remton Zuasola (To Siomai Love, Ang Damgo ni Eleuteria, Soap Opera) takes us to the internal conflict of a young father, torn between solving a crime and committing another crime when one day his only son is kidnapped and the criminals demand him to steal another kid in exchange for his son’s life. Publio Briones, Ramon Bagatsing, Jesus Mendoza, and Genica Ines Mijares star in this film.

Sinag Maynila is a partnership between Solar Entertainment and Centerstage Productions with support from SM Cinema and SM Aura Premier, and the Film Development Council of the Philippines (FDCP).

CAN PIA WURTZBACK BREAK FILIPINAS’ LOSING STREAK IN BEAUTY PAGEANTS?

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or model-actress Pia Alonzo Wurtzbach, the old adage “try and try until you succeed” may have beeb true after she was named Bb. Pilipinas-Universe 2015 at the Smart Araneta Coliseum two Sundays ago. On her third and last chance at winning a beauty title, the 25-year-old FilGerman beauty was visibly stunned and shaken as outgoing title-holder Mary Jean Lastimosa, herself a third-time candidate, placed the crown on her head.

This year’s Bb. Pipilipinas winners with Stella Marquez Amanita

Imbisibol by Lawrence Fajardo Balut Country by Paul Sta. Ana

Swap by Remton Zuasola

Bambanti by Zig Dulay Ninja Party by Jim Libiran

Sinag Maynila CEO and Founder Wilson Tieng and Festival Director Brillante Mendoza

Wurtzback was a runner up in 2013 and semi-finalist in 2014.

Janicel Lubina, a heavy favorite for the top title, took the Bb. Pilipinas-International 2015 title after being adjudged best in swimsuit and best in evening gown. The 19-year-old, former Miss Bikini Philippines and runner up to Megan Young in Miss World Philippines 2013, is a living Cinderella having once worked as a maid in her province of Palawan.

Wurtzbach, a Culinary Arts graduate from Cagayan de Oro City, nailed the question and answer when she was asked about her thoughts on Internet censorship by Congresswoman Leni Robredo. “I think that we should be careful with what we post online, especially our thoughts and our opinions, that we don’t hurt anybody, especially selfies. We have to be careful with what we post, with our bodies and our faces. So always think before you click,” Wurtzbach answered in English, learning from experience when she answered in Filipino in last year’s pageant. Giving her autograph backstage after her win, Wurtzbach said, “I can’t believe it, now I am signing autographs.”

Lubina gave a simple answer to the question “What is more important, a successful career or a happy home?” also from Robredo. “We can have both. We can’t let challenges change our life. I want to pursue my education to have a happy life.”

Other winners were Bb. Pilipinas – Intercontinental Christi Lyn McGarry, Bb. Pilipinas – Supranational Rogelie Catacutan and Bb. Pilipinas – Tourism International Ann Lorraine Colis.

The big question now is, will Wurtzback and the other girls break last year’s losing streak of the Filipino girls in the various beauty contests?

How long was it when the Philippines brought home the Miss Universe crown?

In the last years, most of the girls sent by Stella Marquez Araneta to the pageant almost but didn’t quite get the title. And this situation has even made some beauty pageant observers clamor for changes in how the local pageant is administered.

It will be a heavy burden for all these girls when they set foot in their respective pageants, because the thought of losing can haunt them while they are trying to make a good impression to the organizers and eventually the judges.

The board of judges, led by Justiuce Secretary Leila de Lima and BPCI director Stella Marquez Araneta, also included Kiefer Ravena, Vice Ganda, Sofitel general manager Bernd Schneider, Sarah Meier, COO of Robinsons Frederick Go, AFP Chief of Staff General Gregorio Catapang, Jr., French Ambassador Gilles Garachon, Ambassador of Chile Luis Lillo and Camarines Sur Represantive LEni Robredo. –Eton B. Concepcion

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SHOWBITZ

EDITOR

isahred @ gmail.com

Kristoffer Martin dismisses rumors he is the third person behind the Jake Vargas and Bea Binene break up

EYE CANDIES: SETTING A HIGH BAR IN

THE CONTEMPORARY MUSIC SCENE

It’s over for Bea Binene and Jake Vargas

Kristoffer Martin sheds light on the rumor that he is allegedly the main culprit for the recent split-up of JOSEPH PETER Bea Binene and Jake Vargas.

GONZALES “Honestly, that’s funny,” he says. “Of course, there’s no truth to it! Bea is just a friend.”

Speculations arose when it was reported that they were doing mountain-climbing together.

“That’s right! I wouldn’t deny that. But I don’t see anything wrong if Bea and I do the said activity together. It’s our common passion. And we’re not alone by ourselves. We’re with other friends.

For the record, we haven’t really gotten out as in twosome. It’s always with a group.”

According to the good-looking Kapuso star, it’s impossible for him to become the third party in the couple’s break-up.

“Bea and Jake are both my friends. I appeal to those who made these all up to please spare me from the controversy. I don’t want my name to be dragged into the picture. As I’ve said, I have nothing to do with it.

“They have their reason why their relationship ended and they’re the only ones who can answer that. Personally, I hate to be a third party and ruin a relationship because I also don’t want that to happen to me!”

How’s his friendship with Bea amid the hot rumor?

“We’re good actually. We’re not affected mainly because we know the truth. Bea and I just laugh it off. We’ve been friends for so long, dating back to our Tween Hearts days. It’s surprising that it’s only now that we’re being linked romantically to each other. Definitely, we won’t let this malicious rumor get into our friendship,” avers Kristoffer.

In fact, given the opportunity, the competent lad is open to the idea of doing a project with Bea. “Sure! We’ve worked together before in some GMA shows and it was nice, very smooth-sailing. Working with friends on the set is always a pleasant ex-

perience. And one more thing, it depends on the management. I’m in no position to choose who my leading lady would be.”

Asked about his love life, Kristoffer admits he’s got none at present.

“Well, it’s my choice! Actually, it’s been awhile since I really wanted to focus on my showbiz career as well as my studies. I’m not in a hurry. I’m certain that the right girl for me will come at the right time…”

There are talks that he and Joyce Ching already reconciled.

“That’s pure baloney! Nothing like that happened.

Joyce and I are strictly friends at this point. We have the same perspective: career is on top of our priorities. Our working relationship is fine because we’re on the same page, so to speak,” ends Kristoffer.

HHHHH Gabby Eigenmann admits he is quite nervous to be back in a villain role in the latest Kapuso prime time soap Pari Koy headlined by Dingdong Dantes.

“I think it’s just normal because my last project before this was Dading in which I was the titular role. It was a huge role for me and I got accustomed already to people calling me Dading when I’m outside. So now that I’m back as a contravida, I’m afraid that viewers will hate me again. Ha-haha!” he states.

But the award-winning actor has no issue going back to a mean character after breathing life to a good one.

“Dading is unforgettable. It’s one role of a lifetime and I’m proud that it became a top-rater during its run. With Pari Koy, it’s a welcome thing for me. I’m known as a character actor. I want to do a variety of roles on screen. For me, it’s simply challenging.”

He worked with Dingdong in Endless Love.

“That’s right! That was years ago. And I was Marian Rivera’s tormentor there. I believe I was effective because many of their fans got angry with me then. But I believe that they’ve also matured at this point. They know that I’m just doing my job,” explains Gabby.

CROSSWORD PUZZLE 44 45 47 49 50 53 55

ANSWER FOR PREVIOUS PUZZLE ACROSS 1 MGM workplace 4 Mild acid 9 — Lobos of pop music 12 Man of the haus 13 Dickens’ — Heep 14 Laptop picture 16 Prefix for “logical” 17 Biscayne Bay city 18 Filmmaker — Riefenstahl 19 Tall cactus

ISAH V. RED

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Dover locale Chamonix’s Mont — “Purple Rain” singer Rough fabric Non-earthling Senior Ms. Drescher Confer upon Off — — tangent Potpourri Pinch Not fem.

57 61 62 64 65 66 67 68 69 70

“Ick!” Trackster — Owens Invisible swimmer (var.)

Couch Go-betweens After Meows, maybe (2 wds.)

Sells out Queue Cratchits’ dinner “Da” opposite Swing around Emulate a dragonfly Treaty member — and yang “Mission” starter Wash against, as waves

DOWN 1 Helen of Troy’s mother 2 West Coast st.

3 Hot water 4 Unfair shake (2 wds.)

5 Sky hunter 6 Estuary 7 Poet’s foot 8 Bird’s forte 9 Cheerful, as a voice

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Globe feature Part of SST Not hers Dice throw Bedside noise Vexation Venezuela capital Derrick arm Humerus neighbor Vitamin amts.

Rangy Bungle Technical sch.

Carpenter’s jaws Fencing blade Vision Bounce Snack bar Perpetual Natural elevs.

Nasty laughs Boring tools With merriment The blahs Peer Gynt creator Koh-i- — diamond Auel heroine Shrill bark Pig’s digs Zoologist’s eggs

During these times when music groups are a dime a dozen, what will set one act apart from the rest is its uniqueness. While the majority may boast of common offerings, one outstanding group may enthrall the public with its A-1 qualities like vocal prowess, distinct style, versatility, talent and beauty all rolled into one. Such is the case of Eye Candies.

Formed in 2008, this all-girl band has successfully made waves both in the local and international music scenes. Over the years, they were able to conquer not just the hearts of fellow Filipinos but foreigners as well. While they held regular gigs in popular entertainment spots in Manila like Hard Rock Café and Hooters Makati, the group also embarked on triumphant concerttours in some of the world’s key cities like Dubai and Bahrain in UAE, Tokyo and Yokohama in Japan, and Ipoh, Penang and Kuala Lumpur in Malaysia.

As proof of their popularity, the alluring members of this sing-anddance band also graced the pages of some of the country’s renowned magazines like, Gadget, Chalk and FHM. They also made boob tube appearances via Flippish TV and UsapangLalaki which received warm reception. Up to this very day, Eye Candies continue to make their presence felt here and abroad. A staple of corporate functions, private events and out-of-town shows, the band also soars higher in foreign shores.

Eye Candies is composed mainly of group leader-vocalist Nestle Garcia, a TV host, disc jockey and prime cover girl for men’s magazines (like FHM), Twix or Mary Anne Aceron, vocalist and one of the band’s pioneer members and Skittles or Sheila Marie Dopeno, vocalist and whose Terpsichorean skills earned her the tag as the group’s Dancing Princess. Meanwhile, new members Kitkat (Marie AntonetteCation), vocalist, Mallows (Elaiza Nicole Hernandez), vocalist and Kisses (Eloise Espano), vocalist, complete the line-up.

Interestingly, acting as Eye Candies’ back-up rhythm section are Allan Clark Senara (back-up vocalist), Andrew Santos (keyboardist), Ronald Yamat (guitarist), Edward Alfonso (drummer), and Vincent Collado (bassist). They perfectly complement Eye Candies in their live performances with their smooth and flawless musical accompaniment.

If durability, longevity and staying power are to be used as major success parameters for musical bands these days, Eye Candies will surely pass it with flying colors.

The show band Eye Candies can make your eyes roll in delight when they perform

M O N D AY : M A R C H 2 3 : 2 0 1 5

SHOWBITZ

ISAH V. RED EDITOR

isahred @ gmail.com

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Miguel Antonio signed with BMBX for career development

ALEX GONZAGA RELEASES ALBUM From C8

KID FROM DAVAO SIGNS WITH APL. DE AP’S COMPANY

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avao City-born Miguel An- and songwriter David Foster. His tonio Vedanaigam (Nov. 9, video entry caught Foster’s eye. He 2000) who now lives in Sin- competed as one of the finalists gapore after his parents de- and eventually became the winner cided to relocate is the new talent of of Born To Sing Asia. Following his BMBX (pronounced Boombox) to victory, Miguel made even bigger pursue a professional singing career. news when he was selected by FosBMBX is a new Southeast Asian- ter to perform at the David Foster based content and artist develop- & Friends concert in Singapore that ment and brand marketing compa- same year.

Miguel launched his first Extendny, featuring the curatorial talent of Grammy award winning producer ed Play (EP) What is Christmas to You in 2012, at Livewire, Marina Bay Apl.de.ap of the Black Eyed Peas.

His father Samuel Vedanaigam Sands. The debut album with four owns an infrastructure technology tracks featured covers of Jackson business, and his Filipina mother is 5’s “Give Love on Christmas Day”, Katherine Pinon, a former dance David Meece’s “We are the Reason”, instructor. The eldest of four and “O Holy Night” and an original song the only son, Miguel attends Anglo- “What is Christmas to You?” by SinChinese School Independent (ACSI) gaporean songwriter Karen Lim. Miguel was first introduced to as a Secondary one student. He has three sisters – Isabella Maria, Gabri- Apl.de.ap in 2012 at a private event in Singapore. They re-connected in ella Salome and Mikaela Ray. Miguel loves singing since he May 2014 and Miguel was invited was young but no one in his family to perform at Rebuild! Philippines knew of this hidden talent until he became champion in 2010 at a singing competition organized by Qifa Primary School in Singapore. A family friend posted a YouTube video of his win on Facebook, which instantly became viral with him singing “I Dreamed A Dream” from the musical Les Miserables.

In 2011, Miguel participated in a cross-continental talent search contest, Born To Sing by awardwinning music producer Antonio with famous hit maker David Foster

a benefit concert for the victims of super-typhoon Yolanda, held at the Greek Theatre in Los Angeles, USA. He joined international artists from various music genres and sang an inspiring cover of Billy Joel’s “Piano Man” as well as “Hope of One Voice”, an original song written by a respectable Singaporean entrepreneur, Elim Chew of 77th Street and Cat Ong. His dream is to become a prolific singing artist, an inspiration that is very much influenced by his all-time favorite legendary icon – Michael Jackson. He remains an ardent fan of Elvis Presley, The Beatles, Celine Dion, Michael Bolton, and Steve Perry.

Miguel enjoys diverse music genres across classical, rock music, opera and also croons effortlessly in different languages - Chinese, Hindu, Italian and Tagalog, a skill that he combines with the power of good memory.

Miguel is training under Australian Amanda Colliver, a professional voice coach.

He also plays the piano as well as the guitar and started to write his own songs. While managing his time between school and a budding music career, he enjoys a game of basketball, skating and go fishing. As he begins a new chapter of his life as a professional singing artist, Miguel looks forward to bringing his passion to new heights on the path of an already amazing musical journey.

So, she’s no longer just a TV host or a comedian. Just like her older sister Toni, Alex Gonzaga is now a recording star.

She just launched I am Alex G on the Star Music label.

“My album is just like me–fun yet fierce. I just don’t want people to discover that I can sing. I want them to enjoy and connect to the songs so much that they can sing along with me,” says Alex who admits that her idol Taylor Swift was a major influence in her music.

“Taylor Swift was my inspiration while doing the album. Just like her, I want to perform songs that will uplift the spirit of others,” she said. “Incidentally, I felt that ‘Taylor Swift magic’ the first time I heard my now favorite track in my album titled “Panaginip Lang.” It’s very upbeat, has strong recall and it’s a quick mood upper.”

With her debut album released, a first major concert happening in April at the Araneta Coliseum, and a series on prime time, Inday Bote, Alex has nothing but gratitude in her heart.

“All these things that are happening to me now were just once part of my dreams. But through the help of many people who gave me opportunities to share my talents and with the strong support of my fans, I am now here living my dreams. I will forever be thankful to all of them,” Alex says.

The album has six tracks – “Di Ko Akalain,” “Alam Mo Na ‘Yan,” “Boyfriend,” “Break Na Tayo!,” “Goodbye Kiss” and the single “Panaginip Lang.” All six tracks have minus-one versions.

The album is now available nationwide for only P199.

Digital tracks can also be downloaded worldwide via online music stores like iTunes and Mymusicstore.com.ph.

For more information, visit Starmusic.ph or follow Star Music’s official social media accounts at Facebook. com/starrecordsphil, Twitter.com/starrecordsph and Instagram.com/Starmusicph.

HHHHH This month’s On China, CNN examines China’s sophisticated Internet censorship system. Known as the Great Firewall, it’s designed to control the world’s largest Internet population. It blocks and filters massive amounts of data that is deemed counter to the country’s interests, from sensitive topics like Tiananmen “Tank Man”, to useful business tools like Gmail. Citing a need to protect its “Internet Sovereignty”, China’s leaders are adamant they have the final say on what data flows in and out the country’s borders.

CNN’s Kristie Lu Stout sits down with The Sinocism China Newsletter’s Bill Bishop, Google’s former Head of Free Expression Lokman Tsui, and Amnesty International’s Roseann Rife. They discuss why Beijing is compelled to keep such a tight grip on cyberspace and how Western tech firms should assess the risk and opportunity of working in China.

In Manila, On China airs on Thursday March 26 at 4:30 on CNN International

Kristie Lou Stout of CNN International discusses with guests in On China the topic of Internet censorship

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ISAH V. RED EDITOR

isahred @ gmail.com

SHOWBITZ I am proud to be a Barretto no matter what. There is no family like us, a very controversial family -Julia Barretto

Debutante with Iñigo Pascual

JULIA BARRETTO’S

GLITZY DEBUT SIMPLY RED ISAH V. RED She finally stepped out of her comfort zone and now ready to live her life in the real world of adulthood.

Julia Barretto celebrated her muchawaited simple yet elegant debut on March 10 at Rizal Ballroom, Makati Shangri-La Hotel with her family and friends in and out of showbiz.

The star-studded event was attended by Julia’s closest family and friends – Richard Gomez and Congresswoman Lucy Torres with daughter Juliana, Edu Manzano, the Gutierrez family (Eddie, Annabelle, Ruffa, and Raymond), the Pangilinan Family (Maricel Laxa, Anthony Pangilinan with children), KC Concepcion, Atty.

Lorna Kapunan, Joy Ortega, Karen Davila, Pops Fernandez, Ben Chan, Aiza Seguerra, Liza Dino, Julia entartains her guests including Megan Young, Ruffa Guttierrez, Kim Chiu, and Enrique Gil

Billy Crawford Coleen Garcia, Bella Padilla, Danita Paner, Nadine Lustre , James Reid, Liz and Laureen Uy, Daniel Matsunaga, Edu Manzano, Ben Chan, Directors Andoy Ranay, Jojo Saguin, and Wenn Deramas, celebrity photographers Mark Nicdao and BJ Pascual, designers Edwin Tan and Pepsi Herrera , Iza Calzado and many more.

Star Magic artists were in full force headed by Julia’s fellow “It Girls”, Janella Salvador, Liza Soberano, and Kathryn Bernardo, Miss World Megan Young, Enchong Dee, Rayver Cruz, Sam Concepcion, Alex Gonzaga, Pokwang, Erich Gonzales, Enrique Gil, and Kim Chiu.

From the preparations to the actual program, Julia’s star-studded birthday celebration showed how she lives as “Just Julia”. In a ravishing red ball gown made by Michael Cinco, Julia became a modern-day princess, surprising everyone when she entered

the room accompanied by a song played by the ABS-CBN Philharmonic Orchestra. The program started with a personal favorite song “Somewhere Over the rainbow” sang by KZ Tandingan.

The Barretto family gave their full support on Julia’s special day. Apart from her grandparents Miguel and Inday Barretto, two of the highlights that night were the attendance of Julia’s father, Dennis Padilla and her aunt Claudine Barretto.

Dennis Padilla was the first among guys who gave Julia 18 roses.

He was followed by Julia’s relatives and friends including Inigo Pascual who was her last dance. The latter surprised the debutant with his own rendition of “When You Say Nothing at All” and ”The Way You Look Tonight”. The night was still young when Jed Madela sang “Go the Distance” and “Treasure”.

Julia’s friends and family wished her more success in her career, life and love. They say she was just like a candle that glows even in

darker places. Teary-eyed Julia felt overwhelmed as her Tita Claudine delivered her wish for her to shine and bloom to be a wonderful lady.

“You are our princess now and soon you’ll be a queen. I Love You so much” Claudine said.

Emotional Marjorie Barretto thanked Julia for being the “instrument of peace” in their family and made her speech short. Klarisse De Guzman sang “Make You Feel My Love” that Marjorie dedicated to Julia.

“To my very controversial family, I am proud to be a Barretto no matter what. There is no family like us. I am so, so happy to see you all here tonight. I am so glad that this night holds the reconciliation, Thank you Lord, Party to that!” the debutante said as the program ended.

Julia Barretto’s birthday celebration, JustJulia Beautiful@18 will be aired onMarch 29 oin ABS-CBN Sunday’s Best after Gandang Gabi Vice. Continued on C7