The Standard - 2015 March 24 - Tuesday

CYAN MAGENTA YELLOW BLACK VOL. XXIX  NO. 40  4 Sections 40 Pages P18  TUESDAY : MARCH 24, 2015  www.manilastandardtoday.com  editorial@thestandard.com.ph

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Pemberton plea bid rejected

PH officials praise Lee Kuan Yew

SENATORS REBUKE RIGHTS BODY CHIEF Next page

118 and counting. Members of the airborne force stand at attention during the 118th founding anniversary of the Philippine Army on Monday. DANNY PATA

Filipinos shine in Disneyland

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Hot teams fight for their lives

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PNP awards medals to probers of Mamasapano incident

By Francisco Tuyay

Briefing. President Benigno Aquino III chats with South Luzon Tollway chairman and San Miguel Corp. president Ramon Ang during a briefing on the South Luzon Expressway-Toll Road 4 in Tiaong, Quezon, on Monday. Malacañang Photo Bureau

Senators slam rights agency’s statements

By Macon Ramos-Araneta and Maricel V. Cruz

SENATORS Grace Poe and Francis Escudero debunked Monday the assertions of Human Rights Commissioner Loretta Ann P. Rosales that the Senate findings on the Mamasapano operation in which 44 police commandos were killed was driven by emotions.

The Senate report, which was signed by 20 senators, found that President Benigno Aquino III was ultimately responsible for the Mamasapano fiasco that claimed the lives of 66 people, including 44 Special Action Force (SAF) commandos, 17 Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) fighters and five civilians.

In a text message to reporters Monday, Poe said “the committee report was based primarily on the testimonies of resource persons given under oath, as well as documents and reports submitted officially.

The executive summary of the report cites testimony of 37 resource persons during five public hearings and five executive sessions, and 4,300 documents presented to her committee.

Reacting to Rosales’ rejection of the term “massacre” to describe the Mamasapano incident, Poe said this referred

to “the excessive force and ignominy which attended the finishing touches inflicted on the SAF troopers when they were already gravely injured but breathing as they lay defenseless on the Mamasapano cornfields.”

“A contrary view of the CHR chairman notwithstanding, we welcome her submission of the CHR report on its own investigation of the incident which may still be considered on amendments,” Poe added.

Escudero, on the other hand, rebuked Rosales for implying that only civilians have human rights.

“I do not know where Chairperson Rosales is coming from,” said Escudero..

“But I have one question for her: Don’t police and soldiers have human rights that are covered by the commission? Are civilians the only ones with human rights?” he asked.

He also insisted that what happened was clearly a massacre.

The dictionary defines massacre as “the act or an instance of killing a number of usually helpless or unresisting human beings under circumstances of atrocity or cruelty.”

“That’s exactly how it happened to our SAF men in Mamasapano, unless our CHR defines it in another [way],” Escudero said.

Senator Juan Edgardo Angara, acknowledged that emotions had a role in the report, but said it was fair and objective.

“We’re just human, and all the senators have different perceptions on the what happened, he said. “It’s difficult to say that we should not be emotional about those killed.”

Senator Antonio Trillanes IV said that emotion might have crept into the

writing of the draft report.

“Probably, they wanted to present other things that would make people happy and the media people happy.

But as I said, we’re not here for that.

We’re not here to entertain everyone,” said Trillanes, a staunch defender of President Aquino.

Over the weekend, Rosales assailed the Senate report, saying it was “mostly based on emotions rather than an objective interpretation of facts.”

She also said calling the incident a “massacre” was “excessive.”

Twenty senators signed the 129page draft report of Poe’s committee, which led the investigation together with Escudero’s finance committee and the peace, unification and reconciliation committee, chaired Senator Teofisto Guingona III. Thirteen of the 20 senators have expressed reservations and manifested their intent to propose amendments, strong recommendations and to supplement the report with their own opinions on the outcome of the Senate probe.

In the House, administration and opposition lawmakers alike slammed Rosales for her “insensitive remarks.”

1-BAP party-list Rep. Silvestre Bello III, a member of the House minority, dismissed Rosales’ claims as “fatuous and senseless.”

“Her comments have no basis in law and facts,” Bello said. “To my mind, the Senate, [and even the Philippine National Police-Board of Inquiry] reports are more exhaustive,” Bello said.

Bello said Rosales’ appreciation of the Senate report did not seem to help in the quest for justice for the Fallen 44 and their families.

“She should stick to her mandate:

protection of human rights,” Bello, a former peace negotiator and former Justice secretary, said.

Isabela Rep. Rodolfo Albano III, also an opposition member, said the public could not expect any statement from Rosales critical of the government because she belongs to the Akbayan partylist, an ally of the administration.

Abakada party-list Rep. Jonathan de la Cruz, a member of the House independent minority bloc, defended the Senate findings.

“I do not know where Chair [Rosales] got her facts or whether she has really read the Senate report. But from our own reading, it is clear that the Senate got the facts straight, stripped away the non-essentials of the findings, and conclusions were unemotionally stated and respectful, even specially the part about President Aquino’s role and accountability,” de la Cruz said.

De la Cruz said Rosales’ assessment of the Senate report and her siding with the MILF and the government peace panel were the result of her being “blinded by her attachment to the powers that be... and the demagogic peace at all costs mantra.”

Administration allies, Reps. Gary Alejano of Magdalo party-list and Albee Benitez of Negros Occidental expressed disgust over Rosales’ apparent bias.

Alejano said that in the past, even when soldiers were beheaded by Muslim rebels, the CHR never complained about human rights violations.

Benitez chided Rosales for objecting to the word “massacre.”

“Twenty-six soldiers shot in the head at close range. What do you call that?” he said.

DESPITE receiving a browbeating from Malacañang, the leadership of the Philippine National Police awarded the officials who made up the Board of Inquiry for their “invaluable service” in investigating the January 25 Mamasapano clash.

The PNP awarded the Medalya ng Pambihirang Paglilingkod (Special Service Medal) to BOI chairman and Criminal Investigation and Detection Group chief Director Benjamin Magalong.

The same award was received by BOI vice chairman Catalino Rodriguez and member Chief Supt. John Sosito.

Malacañang earlier slammed the BOI report for “introducing innuendos and resorting to speculations” to reach some of its conclusions.

Presidential spokesman Edwin Lacierda took exception to the BOI’s findings that President Benigno Aquino III violated the chain of command in dealing with former Special Action Force head Dir. Getulio Napeñas instead of coordinating with acting PNP head Deputy Director General Leonardo Espina.

Lacierda said since the PNP is civilian in nature, there is no chain of command for the President to violate to begin with.

The Palace official also questioned the “lack of due process” after the BOI failed to get the side of the President on the Mamasapano issue.

Despite the dressing down from the Palace, Espina still decided to award the officials behind the BOI report.

The PNP gave the Medalya ng Kasanayan (Efficiency Medal) to 13 other members of the board “for exceptionally meritorious and invaluable service” which helped in ferreting out the Mamasapano debacle.

The awardees included Sr. Supt.

Robert Po, chairman of operational audit team, Sr. Supt. Ronald dela Rosa, Sr. Supt. Cesar Hawthorne Binag, Sr. Supt. Benigno Durana, Chief Insp. David Joy Duarte, Insp.

Helen dela Cruz, Sr. Supt. Rudy Lacadin, Supt. Danilo Macerin, Supt. Arthur Bisnar, Supt. Angeles Geñorga Jr., Supt. Marlon Tayaba, Supt. Niño David Rabaya, and Atty.

Virgilio Pablico.

Earlier, former police chief and senator Panfilo Lacson defended the BOI, saying the board merely “stated the facts and evidence as they gathered them.”

“I don’t see any innuendos and speculations in their report,” Lacson said.

Lacson, an ally of the President, said the administration was using a very restrictive definition of armed forces in claiming that the PNP has no chain of command.

“Under our Constitution, it states that the President shall be the commander in chief of all armed forces of the Philippines.

The words armed forces were not capitalized precisely because the Constitution was not referring to the Armed Forces of the Philippines. Isn’t the Philippine National Police, while civilian in nature, an armed force?” he said.

In his posts on Twitter, Lacson congratulated the BOI and Magalong for a job well done.

“A message to PDir Magalong: Your career ends when you retire; your character stays until the day you die. You can’t go wrong with the truth.” read one of Lacson’s tweets.

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PH officials praise Lee, ‘Father of Singapore’

By Sandy araneta and Vito Barcelo THE country’s top leaders mourned the death of Lee Kuan Yew of Singapore, one of world leaders most esteemed by Filipinos, who passed away in Singapore before dawn Monday at the age of 91. Story on Page B8 “As the Singaporean people mourn the passing of Lee Kuan Yew, the Filipino people join them in honoring a statesman who can justifiably be called the Founding Father of the Republic of Singapore,” Malacañang said in a statement read by Deputy Presidential Spokesperson Abigail Valte.

“Throughout his long life, as prime minister and senior minister, Lee demonstrated an unswerving devotion to his country, turning it into a state that would be an exemplar of efficient, modern, and honest governance. The development of Singapore has earned it the respect of nations and peoples, including the tens of thousands of Filipinos who work there and visit the country,” Valte said.

“The President, in joining the Filipino people in expressing the solidarity of the Philippines with Singapore at this time of mourning, extends his personal condolences to Prime Minister Lee HsienLoong,” she also said.

“An era has passed, one upon which Singaporeans can look back on with deep pride and a sense of accomplishment,” said Valte.

Vice President Jejomar Binay also condoled with the family of the Singaproean statesman.

“I offer my deepest condolences to the Lee family and join the people of Singapore in mourning the loss of its first Prime Minister, VP Binay said in a statement.

For his part, Binay said Lee was the architect of modern Singapore, who shaped his country into one of the most prosperous countries in the world.

“I have always admired the late Prime Minister and the Singapore success story.

His political will and pragmatic approach to governance was my inspiration in rebuilding Makati after the 1986 EDSA Revolution from a bankrupt municipality to the country’s premier city providing unparalleled social services to its constituents,” Binay said.

He is a dedicated public servant and a well respected leader. The success of Singapore is but a testament to his decades of remarkable public service, Binay added.

The Department of Foreign Affairs said the Philippines joins the Singaporean people in mourning the passing of their first Prime Minister and Minister Mentor Lee Kuan Yew.

Too small. Members of the left-leaning group Kilusang Mayo Uno or May First Movement protest outside the Labor Department in Intramuros, Manila, to denounce the 15-peso wage increase for wage earners in Metro Manila that they say is too small. DaNNy PaTa

Aquino: My critics are lying about my health PRESIDENT Benigno Aquino III accused his “persistent critics” of spreading lies about his health to reduce the value of his endorsement for the 2016 elections.

In a speech delivered during his visit in Tiaong, Quezon, to attend a briefing on a new toll road

project, Aquino said his critics were spreading these rumors to further their own agenda.

“You have probably heard different versions of the rumor that began spreading midnight Friday and into Saturday that I collapsed in Malacañang, that I was seriously ill, or that I was in the ICU. Then when they saw I was fine on Saturday, they said we spread the rumors ourselves to gain public sympathy.

For those who were taken in, here is a reminder: we have nothing to gain from rumors,” the President said in Filipino.

He attacked his critics for spreading lies that have no basis but only create angst, chaos and confusion in the minds of the public.

These same critics, he added, only want to grab power and return the country to the old corrupt system of government.

During his speech, the President also cited his administration’s accomplishments, particularly in improving the economy.

He cited the reduction in the backlog of classrooms, school chairs and textbooks, and played

up the government’s massive dole program, the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino that he said benefited 96,101 poor households in the province of Quezon.

He also said the coverage rate for PhilHealth, the state-run health insurance company, in Quezon had reached 84.5 percent, or almost 1.8 million residents.

In terms of infrastructure, Aquino pointed to the start of the P13.1 billion South Luzon Expressway-Toll Road 4 project, a briefing for which he had just attended. – Sandy araneta

3 Filipino teenagers killed in Sabah immigration drive

New knight. From left, Leyte Rep. Ferdinand Martin Romualdez and his son Andrew (standing, center) pose with Don Conrado Escudero and Italian Ambassador to the Philippines Massimo Rosligno, Ramon Cardenas (standing, extreme left) and trader Jose “Pepe” Rodriguez. Escudero was installed as the new Knight to the Sovereign Order of Malta during a ceremony held at the Asuncion Chapel in Villa Escudero in Tiaong, Quezon. Ver NoVeNo

THREE Filipino teenagers were killed during immigration operations by the Eastern Sabah Security Command against undocumented persons on Saturday, the Philippine embassy in Malaysia said.

ESSCom secretariat division director Newmond Tibin idenitifed the victims as Nordin Akang, 16, Lahudin Nasir, 17, and Alex Nasir, 18, of Kampung Bakau, Lahad Datu.

Newmond, however, denied that the three Filipinos were killed after being sprayed with gas during a crackdown at the Lahad Datu market.

He said the victims drowned while attempting to evade arrest.

“On seeing ESSCom personnel, many ran helter skelter and the three men were believed to be hiding under the market. The three victims who were found drowned were sent to Lahad Datu hospital and at about 12 noon, ESSCom was informed the three men

drowned while trying to evade arrest in the operation in the fish market area,” Newmond said in a statement.

The Philippine embassy, for its part, said a three-person team has already been dispatched to Lahad Datu to look into the deaths.

“The Philippine embassy is deeply concerned about this turn of events, and even as the cause of the deaths of the three Filipinos, two of whom are minors, are being investigated, the embassy calls for humane treatment of undocumented individuals, including the manner by which operations are conducted,” the embassy statement read.

The team has asked ESSCom officials for a full and impartial investigation.

Lahad Datu was the site of a 2013 standoff between Malaysia’s security forces and claimants of Sabah from Tawi-tawi, led by the brother of the late Sulu Sultan Jamalul Kiram III.

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Laude kin reject plea bargain proposal

By Rey E. Requejo

THE family of slain transgender Filipino Jennifer Laude on Monday rejected a plea bargain deal in the murder case against US Marine Lance Corporal Joseph Scott Pemberton.

Search for justice.

US Marine Joseph Scott Pemberton (right) enters an Olongapo City courthouse to attend his trial for the murder of transgender Jeffrey Laude.

AFP

‘Jinggoy bail trial to taking forever’

By Rio N. Araja THE petition for bail filed by Senator Jinggoy Estrada in connection with the plunder and graft charges he is facing could take at least two years to decide, a Sandiganbayan justice said Monday.

Fifth Division Associate Justice Roland Jurado joked that Estrada’s bail petition could take very long to resolve at the pace the hearings were going.

“I tell you, the [bail] case will take two years. We are still in the process of hearing the side of the Anti-Money Laundering Council,” Jurado told Estrada’s lawyers and

the prosecutors when council investigator Orlando Negradas was about to present the council’s evidence.

Jurado, along with Alexander Gesmundo and Maria Teresa Dolores Estoesta—the two other associate justices of the Fifth Division—requested the defense and the prosecution to find ways to speed up the bail hearing.

Mounting objections and arguments prompted the anti-graft court to order Estrada’s camp and the prosecution to agree on some stipulations that could help speed up the hearings.

Justice Undersecretary Jose

Justiniano agreed with the antigraft court that the case could not move forward without both parties agreeing to some arrangement.

The defense lawyers tried to prevent Negradas from testifying, but Negradas was able to take the witness stand to reveal the council’s alleged findings on the money-laundering activities and questionable bank transactions of Estrada and his dummies.

Estrada slammed the slow progress in his bail petition after Monday’s hearing and blamed the prosecution for the delay in the proceedings.

As the Olongapo City regional trial court started its trial proper, Laude’s mother Julita and sister Malou went to the Justice Department to denounce the public prosecutors’ exclusion of their family from the negotiation on the agreement.

“What we are fighting for is murder and not to downgrade the case.

What they did to my child was gruesome. Just because we are poor doesn’t mean we can’t fight for justice,” Julita, accompanied by lawyer Harry Roque Jr., told reporters.

“What we want is to see Pemberton in jail. I never said I would agree [to the plea bargain]. What I only said was that if we would be given even one million dollars, that would not be enough for us.”

Roque claimed it was Olongapo City Prosecutor Emilie delos Santos who was pushing for the P21million settlement with Pemberton’s camp without consulting the victim’s family.

“She was pushing for the plea bargain—that she would allow Pemberton to plead guilty to homicide but the civil aspect of the case will proceed,” Roque said.

“That’s not possible because the civil aspect is deemed instituted to the criminal case.

Laude’s family raised the issue on the plea bargain deal with Justice Secretary Leila de Lima.

In a two-page letter, the Laudes accused fiscal delos Santos of block-

ing Roque’s participation in the case conferences.

“First of all, as far as we know, we have the right under the Constitution to choose our own lawyer in whatever cases we face,” the Laude family said in the letter.

“This is why we don’t understand why the current public prosecutor does not allow our lawyer to defend us and make sure justice for the killing of Jennifer Laude would be served.”

As a result, the Laudes asked De Lima to replace delos Santos and the other members of the Justice Department panel handling the murder case.

Delos Santos denied pushing for a P21-million plea bargain deal in the case. She said court records would prove there was no truth to the accusation that she was the one who pushed for the plea bargaining deal in exchange for a lesser crime of homicide for Pemberton.

Roque said the Laude family had “consistently rejected” the offer.

“The death [of Jennifer] was attended by cruelty, abuse of superior authority and treachery,” Roque said.

“We want to see Pemberton’s conviction where he will be sentenced to life imprisonment rather than 12 years or 20 years in prison with the possibility of a release and a possibility that it will be spent in the US.”

Newly-found plant to be named after Pope Francis A DOCTOR at the University of Santo Tomas has named a newly discovered flowering plant that is said to cure critical illnesses after Pope Francis.

Grecebio Jonathan Alejandro named the plant after Francis to express gratitude for his visit to UST, Asia’s oldest university, on Jan. 18.

The Hedyotis papafranciscoi Alejandro was discovered in Mt. Madia-as in Antique, and it is said to cure some cancers, fever, rheumatism and malaria.

So far, the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines has yet to comment on this development.

UST is also holding a papal exhibit that will run until March 28 at the lobby of its main building.

The “Thomasian Scientists’ Expression of Love” exhibit will feature new plant species, organisms and bacteria discovered by UST’s faculty members and students.

Meanwhile, UST’s College of Science has found two other newly characterized Philippine organisms: Phyllostica francisci, sp. nov., a novel fungal endophyte with potential bio-active metabolites that can be useful in drug discovery, and vBEpopefrancis, a new bacteriophage isolate that is a potential alternative to conventional therapy in bacterial infections.

UST’s searchers are scientists Dr. Thomas Edison de la Cruz, Carlo Chris Apurillo, Donna May Papa, Paola Bianca Buiser and Delia Ontengco. Sara Susanne D. Fabunan

Double flag-raising. Makati Mayor JunJun Binay is joined by his sister and Senator Nancy Binay in leading the flag raising ceremony at the Makati City Hall. Nearby, Vice Mayor Romulo Peña, who wants to take over city hall, led a simultaneous rite. EY ACASIO

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Oil prices shed P1.10 amid global supply glut OIL companies reduced pump prices by as much as P1.10 per liter effective Tuesday to reflect the declining world oil prices amid the rising oil stockpile in the US. Pilipinas Shell Petroleum Corp and Seaoil Philippines cut pump prices by P1.10 per liter for gasoline, P0.95 per liter for diesel and P0.90 per liter for kerosene.

Petron Corp., meanwhile cut gasoline by P1.10 per liter, diesel by P1 per liter and kerosene by P0.90 per liter.

The Energy department said a weak US retail sales report for February also hung over the oil market.

Last March 17, most of the oil companies rolled back their prices of gasoline

by P0.50 to P0.55 per liter, diesel by P0.85 per liter and kerosene by P1.10 per liter.

Prior to the price cut, diesel sells from P26.35 to P32.65 per liter while gasoline sells from P38.37 to P43.92 per liter. Prices vary depending on the brand, location of the station, market forces, among others. Alena Mae S. Flores

Kickin’ Alive @25 in PH ‘Art capital’ THE Angono Private High School (APHS) Class of 1990 will celebrate its 25th (Silver) Anniversary on March 28, 2015 at the APHS New Site campus in Barangay, PagAsa, Binangonan, Rizal.

The theme for this once in a lifetime event is Kickin’ Alive @25 and guests who are invited to grace the occasion include celebrities like crooner Anthony Castelo and “Mark M,” who is more popularly known as the “man with 60 voices.”

Angono Mayor Gerardo Calderon will be the guest of honor and speaker. Also invited to attend are local government and police officials in the province, along with former and active APHS teachers. For inquiries, you may contact Zoraida Noble-Ilaga at 09278740248.

Army turns 118. Defense Secretary Voltaire

Gazmin troops the line along with Lt Gen. Hernando Iriberri, commanding general of the Philippine Army, during the 118th anniversary of Philippine Army at Fort Bonifacio held on Monday March 23. DANNY PATA.

Standoff disrupts services in Makati

By Joel E. Zurbano

THE standoff over Makati City has disrupted the delivery of services as department heads and council members refuse to honor the memos signed and issued by Vice Mayor Romulo Pena, who is locked in a legal battle for control of the city against the incumbent Mayor Junjun Binay.

On Monday, Binay Binay led the regular morning flag raising ceremony at the new Makati City Hall, while Pena held the ceremony at the old city hall.

City Hall personnel expressed fear of delay in payment of salaries because of the leadership dispute, saying most of them are ordinary employees who depend on their pay for their family’s daily sustenance.

Majority of the city’s workforce are also Makati residents.

The employees, who expressed support for Binay, denounced officials of the Department of Interior and Local Government who wrote a letter to the Land Bank of the Philippines identifying Vice Mayor “Kid” Pena as the authorized signatory on fund disbursements.

“The DILG has clearly overstepped its bounds, to the detriment of city government employees and our families. Because of its recent actions, we now face the bleak prospect of going

hungry and bereft of basic necessities should there be delays in the release of our salaries,” they said.

At least 2,000 Binay supporters trooped to the city hall quadrangle and attended the flag raising ceremony while a number of Pena followers, wearing white shirts, brought white balloons.

Pena said he was unfazed by Binay supporters and insisted he was merely following the DILG order to take over the post of Binay, who had secured a Court of Appeals’ temporary restraining order to stop the Ombudsman from enforcing the suspensio against him.

Pena denied he wa taking over the city hall.

“They should first verify that information and think the capability of the person to do such thing,” said Pena, who expressed intention to hold a dialogue with Binay to break the deadlock.

Binay remains in his office and insists he is the duly elected mayor of the city.

On Monday, the camp of Binay thanked Department of Justice Secretary Leila De Lima for clarifying that her legal opinion on the issue about the TRO was merely an advise and not a ruling.

In a statement, De Lima said her legal opinion should not be considered as a ruling that needed to be obeyed by everyone. “It does not purport to adjudicate or bind anyone. It is an opinion. It is advisory in nature.”

Makati City Councilor and city spokesperson Mayeth Casal-Uy said there was no reason for DILG Secretary Mar Roxas and Pena to insist that Pena is the acting city mayor.

“Secretary De Lima has spoken. She was merely giving advice. It was just her opinion and so it does not change the ruling of the court,” Uy said.

Defense sets P1.6b-project bidding

By Florante S. Solmerin THE Department of National Defense has begun the bidding processes for at least P1.6 billion worth of projects for the Armed Forces of the Philippines even as the House of Representatives is set to probe the controversy behind the anomalous multiple biddings of the P1.2 billion worth of refurbished helicopters.

On Monday, the Special Bids and Awards Committee 1 being chaired by Undersecretary Fernando Manalo held a prebid conference for the supply and delivery of 3 brand new Multi-Purpose Attack Craft at Camp Aguinaldo in Quezon City.

The MPAC Acquisition Project (Lot 1-Platform) for the Navy is worth P270 million. BAC could not be reached for feedback on what transpired during the prebid conference.

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Manalo’s committee, who was currently embroiled in the alleged anomalous transaction of still uncompleted delivery of refurbished 21 Huey contract, set the opening of bids on April 6 for the MPAC project.

The project is equipped with Mission Essential Equipment and Initial Integrated Logistics (ILS) packages.

The MEE package composed of day/night electronic navigation system, communications suite, safety-of-life-at-sea (SOLAS) equipment, propulsion system, and seamanship/ shiphandling equipment and gears.

“The craft shall be built in-country and in accordance with the approved technical specifications of the Philippine Navy ,” the SBAC1 said.

Phase II (Lot 2) of the project is the installation of missile system which the committee did not indicate if it will be bidded out or will be negotiated.

Workers’ inn. To address the problem of lack of shelter for the huge number of transients

who arrive in Metro Manila daily, MMDA Chairman Francis Tolentino launches the Workers Inn formerly Guapotel on Monday March 23 at Bonifacio Drive, Port Area Manila. DANNY PATA.

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3 out of 5 Pinoys are in favor of divorce

By Sara Susanne D. Fabunan

Three out of five Filipinos are in favor of legalizing divorce in the Philippines according to a survey result that has prompted a senior bishop warn such a move would destroy the sanctity of marriage.

Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines Vicar for Marriage Tribunal Archbishop-emeritus Oscar Cruz said that the country does not need to legalize divorce since there are other provisions of the law where couples can nullify their union.

Cruz enumerated three provision under the Family Code of the Philippines; one, is legal separation; two, annulment of marriage; and three, marriage nullity.

“If the government will still pass the divorce despite all these remedies, the question why get married at all?,” Cruz said.

“If you can legally separate, have annulment or nullify your marriage, what is marriage for? Let’s live together and that’s it, without any expenses with lawyers etc,” said Cruz, who has been handling marriage cases for 45 years.

Cruz admitted that he is aware that President Benigno Aquino III made instructions to the Congressmen to pass proposals such as population control, divorce, same-sex marriage into laws.

Cruz said that the grounds for divorce are adultery or infidelity; violence and abandonment.

He said he feared that, if these were the only grounds

for divorce, couples can purposely committed this against their partner in case they feel like divorcing him or her.

Cruz lamented that with these grounds, marriage becomes “less and less valuable” and the number one victim of this legal separations are the children.

Based on the latest SWS survey which was conducted from November 27 to December 1, from the 60-percent of adult Filipinos who agreed with legalizing divorce, 38 percent “strongly” agreed and 22 percent “somewhat” in favor of divorce.

Only 29 percent disagreed, out of those not in favor; eight percent “somewhat” disagreed” and 21 percent “strongly” rejected legalizing divorce in the country.

“Public support for legalization of divorce for irreconcilably separated couples grew to a clear majority of 60 percent in December 2014, from a plurality of 50 percent in March 2011 and a split opinion of 43-44 percent in May 2005,” the survey stated.

The poll agency has presented respondents with the statement, “Married couples who have already separated and cannot reconcile anymore should be allowed to divorce so that they can get legally married again”.

Amid the looming power supply crisis, Roberto Verzola launches his “Crossing Over “Energy Transition To Renewable Electricity” Book at the University Hotel in UP Diliman, with Akbayan spokesperson Risa Hontiveros among those who attended the book launching event. MANNY PALMERO

39 OFWs home from Libya, 126 others arriving

By Vito Barcelo AT LeAST 39 Filipino workers from war-torn Libya arrived in the country on Monday while another 126 Filipino workers would be repatriated within this week, the Department of Foreign Affairs said on Monday.

The first batch arrived on board flight QR926 in NAIA Terminal 1 while another batch of repatriates will also arrive on March 24 .These arrivals will bring the total number of Filipino repatriates from Libya to 4,414 since May 2014.,” the DFA said.

The Philippine embassy in Tripoli

led by Charge d’Affaires Adel Cruz facilitated the repatriation of the OFWs and personally accompanied the OFWs out of Libya and into Tunisia. embassy representatives in Tripoli and Tunisia provided for the repatriates’ accommodations and basic necessities and extended consular and airport assistance before they left for Manila on March 22.

Cruz said they are currently finalizing the flight details of the other batches of Filipino repatriates.

More Filipinos are expected to sign up for mandatory repatriation after Foreign Affairs Secretary Albert F. del Rosario made the renewed call to remain-

ing Filipinos in Libya to return home.

Meanwhile, some 4,000 Filipinos still remain in Libya despite repeated calls from the embassy to join the repatriation operations.

The DFA and the RP embassy in Tripoli urged the remaining Filipinos in Libya to avail themselves of the mandatory repatriation offer as soon as possible, before it becomes more difficult to repatriate them due to the continued deterioration of the security in the country.

The DFA also appeals to the nextof-kin of the remaining Filipinos in Libya to encourage them to return home to the Philippines.

Drug informers reap rewards PDEA Director General Arturo Cacdac congratulates one of the ten informants of the operation Private Eye, an intensified campaign against big-time drug pushers and operators during the awarding ceremony held at the PDEA Headquarters in Quezon city on Monday.

MANNY PALMERO

THe use of illegal drugs in the country has worsened despite the intensified campaign of the government to eliminate the menace even as more and more informants are flooding the list of the Philippine Drug enforcement Agency (PDeA), each emboldened by the prospects of being able to cash in on information.

The PDeA on Monday said 10 more informants under its so-called “Private eye” received a total amount of P4.6 million in cash rewards for helping the agency unmask illegal drug operators thriving in their communities.

PDeA Director Arturo Cacdac Jr. named those who received the reward by their codenames Axcel, Noy, Tolendoy, Paulo, Abel, Brix, Coleen Sarmiento, Cold Ice, Ice, and Jun. The PDeA uses codenames of its informants for their safety and security.

They also wear masks in front of cameras during awarding of the reward money.

“The ten informants wore masks during the ceremony in order to protect their identity. All information we receive through OPe are being handled with utmost confidentiality,” Cacdac said.

“Jun” received the biggest reward of P1,929,889.61 for the dismantling of a large-scale clandestine shabu laboratory, the seizure of 260.25 kilograms of shabu, and 24 kilograms of ephedrine, the arrest of five suspects during the implementation of a search warrant in Barangay Newagac, Gattaran, Cagayan on February 26, 2015.

But until now, the PDeA is not disclosing people behind and those coddling the operation of the shabu lab.

“Ice” received P693,130.34 cash award for the seizure of 38.65 kilograms of shabu and the arrest of one drug personality during an airport operation in Barangay Sto. Niño, Parañaque City on January 5, 2015.

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NEWS

editorial@thestandard.com.ph

SLEX project to boost trade PRESIDENT Benigno Aquino III said the development of the P13.1-billion Southern Luzon Expressway-Toll Road 4 (SLEX-TR4) extension project is proof of private sector confidence in the government.

“The project will speed up transportation and bring progress in Metro Manila and neighboring provinces,” the President said Monday during a project briefing in Tiaong, Quezon Province. SLEX-TR4 is expected to boost trade, commerce and tourism in Re-

gions IV and V. The SLEX-TR4 is a four-lane, 58-kilometer project that would link Sto. Tomas, Batangas to Lucena, Quezon. It is expected to cut the travel time between the two places to just one hour from the usual four hours.

Aquino cited the initiatives of

the South Luzon Tollway Corporation and the Department of Transportation and Communications – Toll Regulatory Board.

Malacanang said the SLEXTR4 is the latest project in SMC’s infrastructure portfolio, which already includes the Tarlac-Pangasinan-La Union Expressway, the elevated Skyway system and the Skyway Stage 3 project, the NAIA Expressway project, the existing SLEX, and the recently upgraded and expanded Southern Tagalog Arterial Road or STAR Tollway.

The project is divided into five sections: Sto. Tomas, Batangas to Makban, Laguna (10.58 km); Makban to San Pablo, Laguna (12.2 km); San Pablo, Laguna to Tiaong, Quezon (8.1 km); Tiaong to Candelaria, Quezon (14.4 km); and Candelaria to Lucena City (12.31 km).

The SLTC said it is eyeing mid-2017 for the completion of the first section from Sto. Tomas to Makban, and 2019 for the completion of the entire project.

The President was welcomed

by Public Works and Highways

Secretary Rogelio Singson, Agriculture Secretary Proceso Alcala, Congressman Vicente Alcala of Quezon Province’s Second District, Tiaong Mayor Ramon Preza, Toll Regulatory Board Executive Director Edmund Reyes, San Miguel Corporation (SMC) Chief Operating Officer and South Luzon Tollway Corporation (SLTC) Chairman Ramon Ang, and Citra Metro Manila Tollways Corporation President and Chief Executive Officer Shadik Wahono. Sandy Araneta

German doctors give free surgery

Wartime masks. Mayor Pablo Ortega arranges a Romanian M85 Gas Mask, one of his collections of World War II memorabilia, at World War II Exhibit at the City Hall of San Fernando, La Union. CHRISTINE JUNIO

Prosecutor, driver survive ambush in Bulacan

Fighting germs. Students at Exodus Elementary School in Cainta, Rizal line up to wash their hands at the Aqua Tower installed by Amcor Tobacco Packaging Philippines.

A SAN Jose Del Monte City prosecutor and his driver survived a broaddaylight ambush by at least four armed men Monday morning in Baragay Sta. Rita Matanda, San Miguel, Bulacan. Fiscal Antonio Buan, 61, and his driver, Obet Castillo, 51, sustained gunshot wounds on the lower right and left extremities and on the head, respectively. They were rushed to the Bulacan Medical Center for treatment.

Buan’s daughter Maria, who was also in the vehicle, was unscathed.

The victims were on board a silver Toyota Innova (SKW-402) travelling along the Cagayan Valley Road going to Malolos City at around 7:15 a.m. when their assailants opened fire, according to provincial police director Senior Superintendent Ferdinand Divina.

The investigation report of Police

Officer Merwin Mendez said: “The four suspects riding tandem on motorcycles positioned themselves on the shoulder lane of the road. After the shooting, all the suspects rushed to board on a waiting black Hyundai Tucson with plate ending 17 and fled towards the direction of San Rafael town.”

The police recovered the two abandoned motorcycles and 26 pieces of spent shells for caliber .45 pistol.

A caliber Colt .45 pistol (Serial Number 2807953) with loaded magazine of 8 bullets, 50 pieces of spare live ammunition for said caliber and 6 slugs for cal. 45 were also recovered from the victims’ car.

Mendez said they were still waiting for the talk to the victims for identification of suspects and possible leads.

Florante S. Solmerin

LINGAYEN, Pangasinan—Sixty-three indigent patients of the Pangasinan Provincial Hospital in Bolingit, San Carlos City were operated on for free by doctors of Interplast Germany on March 16-19.

Dr. Med Christian Loehlein, head of the Germany-based nonprofit, said plastic surgeries conducted at the PPH surgical room included palatoplasty (cleft lip and cleft palate surgery), hernioplasty, throidectomy , tonsillectomy and hemithroidectomy.

Surgeons Tomas Mueller, Lei Li, Eva Godewehr and anesthesiologists Sven Berges and Loehlein performed the operations.

More surgeries will be conducted from March 26-April 1, completing the ten-day medical mission.

Patients eligible for the free surgery were screened on February 28.

They may return for free follow-up consultation and medicines in hospitals owned and managed by the provincial government.

Marie Ambat, a 48-year-old mother of two from Cabilaoan, Laoac who underwent cholecystectomy (removal of gallstone) thanked the Interplast Germany for her free surgery.

She said if not for the surgical mission, she would still be suffering from cholelithiasis (presence of gall stone in gall bladder).

“Agpaspasalamat ak ken ni Governor Espino ta adu iti matul-tulungan na nga narigat gapo iti medical mission,” (Nagpapasalamat ako kay Governor Espino at marami syang natutulungan na mahihirap sa pamamagitan ng medical mission), she added.

Cristina Palaganas Bustillo, a resident of Tebeng, Dagupan City, thanked the German doctors and hospital personnel of PPH for attending to the medical needs of her daughter, Criscila, a 10-year-old who underwent palatoplasty.

“Maganda po sa amin ang programang ito kasi na-ilibre sya.

Maganda po ang pagka-opera sa kanya,” Bustillo said.

The mission is a joint project of Interplast Germany and the provincial government of Pangasinan. A series of medical missions by various local and international medical organizations in partnership with the provincial government has been lined up to cater to the medical needs of indigent Pangasinenses. Dexter A. See

A8

opinion [ EDI TORI A L ]

Leaders in contrast SINgAPORE’S founder Lee Kuan Yew died Monday at the age of 91.

Many disagree on Lee’s manner of leadership. The island state’s leader, says a report, was “renowned for his sharp tongue, quick wit and contrioversial remarks.”

More than that, his governing style was far from the democratic ideal that nost prosperous Western nations hold ideal. He emphasized respect for elders and the law, hard work, and the recognition that the needs of society must transcend the individual’s.

The lines between ruler and subject were clear. In short, Lee ruled Singapore with a firm – albeit purposeful -- hand. He was often accused of curtailing citizen’s rights and interfering in their private lives.

He had always been without remorse for this leadership style. “If I had not done that, we would not be here today,” the late leader once famously said.

Where there is consensus is on the fact that Lee did his country a lot of good, and that this week, the world lost one of its greatest leaders.

The results would best speak for themselves. High stability, high savings, low corruption, low crime rate, virtually no homelessness. Indeed, from being a “fairly dilapidated town” in the 1960s, Singapore is what it is today because of Lee. More than the success story of the nation, remarkable was Lee’s ability to step back extricate his person from his handiwork. He never presented himself as the savior of his country. He never had the illusion that nobody else could continue the work when his time was up.

He most certainly never complained about how difficult his job was.

In contrast, we here in the Philippines suffer our chief executive’s whining every blessed day. This time he says that his critics are stepping up the tirades so they can dismiss his accomplishments and diminish his endorsement power for the 2016 elections.

This President is ignorant of the fact that nobody else needs to diminish his endorsement power; he is doing an excellent job of it by himself.

Mr. Aquino’s trust and popularity ratings suffered a steep drop this month after the public became familiar with what happened in Mamasapano, Maguindanao and witnessed his bungled response to demands for an explanation.

He also assails those who are spreading rumors about his poor health; he called his critics enemies of the straight path.

We can only shake our heads at how this brand of leadership has brought the country no closer to its dream of inclusive growth. While officials crow about credit rating upgrades and nominal gDP growth, more filipinos consider themselves poorer.

The lack of visible results may have been more acceptable if there were a character to galvanize the people and inspire us to overcome difficulties.

But no. We have, instead, a scion of a political family who thinks he can never do wrong and who believes everybody who does not agree with him is out to bring him down.

Cheap stunt Lowdown jojo a. robLes If IT looks like a setup, it probably is. But I’d really like to know who dreamed up that cheap PR stunt that involved President Noynoy Aquino supposedly collapsing and cracking his head, thereby requiring stitches on his shiny bald pate – and hinting darkly of serious concerns about his health.

The alleged incident did not only elicit a quick reply from Aquino himself, it also allowed

him to body-slam his critics – who had not weighed in yet on the matter – and to talk about the efficacy of his endorsement in next year’s election. How Aquino hitting his head ended up being a question of the efficacy of his endorsing candidacies is just one of those non sequiturs that the current President is famous for.

One friend who is as confounded by the whole stunt as I was, initially, put it succinctly: Aquino did not collapse, but his administration is on the verge of doing so.

As far as I can make out, this whole non-issue of Aquino’s collapse started with a broad-

cast reporter’s tweet about the incident, complete with a denial from one of his estimable spokesmen, Edwin “Dawende” Lacierda. (Dawende, by the way, is Lacierda’s cutesy Twitter handle and not some libelous nickname I invented for him.)

Then the President, who took nearly a week to speak in public about the Mamasapano incident, came out with guns blazing during the same weekend that the reporter’s tweet was posted. And boy, did Aquino make hay about an issue that, in all likelihood, his own publicists dreamed up.

“Those who believe reports like these, our elders advise: Don’t be misled by gossips,” he said during the ceremonies for

if the President makes such a big deal about a reporter’s unverified tweet, you can bet that this thing is not what it seems to be.

the opening of a new portion of the South Luzon Expressway.

“Should we trust the enemies of the straight path whose extreme and irresponsible desire is to sow confusion and conflict?”

If the President makes such a big deal about a clueless reporter’s indiscreet and unverified tweet, commenting on it during a totally unrelated event, you can bet that this thing is not what it seems to be. My guess is, Aquino and his propaganda minions are test-driving a new propaganda strategy intended to gain sympathy for a President, who is beset on all sides by salivating critics who want nothing better that to see him fail to complete his term.

But like the revival by his sister of reports about his supposedly steamy love life, this time involving the newly-crowned Binibining Pilipinas-Universe title-holder, I think this gimmick isn’t going to gain the traction that the palace propaganda

T u e S d aY : M a R c h 24 , 2 0 1 5

OPINION lettertotheeditor@thestandard.com.ph

adelle chua EDITOR

A9

EAGLE EYES DEAN TONY LA VIÑA

Xavier University honored

geniuses think that it will. Aquino is just too deeply enmeshed in problems of his own creation to be rescued by such obvious stunts intended to gain him sympathy and win back the people’s affection.

Of course, if Aquino continues to subsist on his unhealthy diet of Marlboro Lights, regular Coke and pork rind chicharon morning, noon and night, people will always wonder about his health. it’s just sad that in his desperation to improve his plummeting ratings and his diminishing

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endorsement power, he has to resort to such pathetic publicity stunts. *** The death of longtime former singaporean Prime Minister Lee Kuan Yew, the acknowledged “father of modern singapore,” elicits mixed feelings amongst politically-aware Filipinos.

On the one hand, Filipinos are very much aware (and envious) of how Lee single-mindedly brought a backwater Third World port and impoverished island-nation to elite economic status; on the other, we also recall both the

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Flor Contemplacion execution two decades ago and the late strongman’s remark that what ails this country is “too much democracy.”

But not a lot of Filipinos know that Lee is personally responsible for the building of the world-class General santos City airport, which the singaporean leader conceived as a quickreaction point for American forces that could come to the city-state’s aid, in case the “Malay sea” that surrounded singapore threatened to wash over it.

Continued on A11

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This Thursday, March 26, 2015, Xavier University (XU) will be honoring secretary Teresita “Ging” Quintos-Deles, Professor Miriam Coronel-Ferrer, and Mr. Mohagher iqbal during its annual commencement exercises. Under the circumstances, however, it is this Jesuit university in Cagayan de Oro, of which i am an alumnus and a member of its Board of Trustees, which is honored by their acceptance of their respective awards – the Masterson Award for Coronel-Ferrer and iqbal, a doctorate honoris causa for Deles.

Miriam Coronel-Ferrer is the first woman appointed as chairperson of the government negotiating panel for the peace talks in Mindanao. she is known for her exemplary contributions to peace and conflict studies, international humanitarian law, and comparative politics. As early as the 1990s, she has been writing intensively on the government’s peace thrusts, including the 1996 peace agreement and advanced academic work comparing the movements in the Cordillera to the Mindanao movements for autonomy. Prof. Coronel-Ferrer has been recognized for her competent and harmonious management of the peace process. i have known iye Coronel-Ferrer for decades. i actually taught her briefly, in the early 1990s, as a freshman law student at UP College of Law. That was before she decided that political science and peace advocacy were her calling. As a colleague at the University of the Philippines when i was teaching there and as a fellow peace advocate, i can attest to her brilliance, patriotism, and commitment. The attacks against her, for incompetence and treason, are ridiculous and eminently unfair.

According to the citation of Xavier University: “With her passion and heart for human rights, women empowerment, and peace-building, she is a worthy inspiration to the present and future generations as we look forward to a more peaceful and progressive Philippines.. For her exemplary contributions to peace-building and conflict management in our country and as a champion of human rights, Xavier University is pleased and honored to confer the Fr. William F Masterson sJ Award to Miriam Coronel-Ferrer.”

The Masterson Award is named after one of the most influential Jesuits in the history of the Philippine Province. Fr. Masterson was famous for buying the Loyola property of the Jesuits and for moving the Ateneo de Manila to Katipunan Avenue, Quezon City from Padre Faura, Manila. he was supposedly “exiled” to Xavier University in Cagayan de Oro where he founded its famous 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

T U E S D AY : M A R C H 24 , 2 0 1 5

A10

OPINION lettertotheeditor@thestandard.com.ph

Clowns in the government IN the wake of so much pain, anguish and indignation over the Mamasapano Emil p. slaughter of 44 police jURAdO commandos, especially so with a President who refuses to apologize even as he is ultimately responsible for what happened, what the people need is some comic relief.

First came Senator Antonio Trillanes’ annoucement of his bid for the vice presidency in 2016. It was a joke, since we all know that the “yellow-tainted” brain of the senator needs a healthy dose of reality check. Trillanes has consistenly been at the bottom of the totem pole in all surveys.

What takes the cake, quoting from The New Standard’s Sunday editorial, was Trillanes’ follow-up statement that “the people are not ready for a Trillanes presidency.” Huh? Are the people ready for a Trillanes vice presidency? I don’t think so!

What has Trillanes done except for two failed coup attempts during the Arroyo administration? And what has he done now under the Aquino administration?

In the 16th, I repeat 16th, hearing of the Yellow Ribbon sub-committee on alleged corruption committed

by Vice President Jojo Binay when he was a mayor of Makati, Trillanes, together with Senator Alan Peter Cayetano, hasn’t proven anything against the Binays that can stand in a court of law.

Now comes another clown in the person of Human Rights Commission Chairperson Etta Rosales who assailed both the Philippine National Police Board of Inquiry and the Senate reports. She claimed that the Mamasapano clash was not a massacre.

So, what was it, when autopsy reports show that the PNP-Special Action Force commandos were shot at close range? Some were stripped of their body armor, suggesting that they were helpless when the Moro rebels killed them.

If it was not a massacre, what was it, then? A walk in the park?

What riles me more is that Rosales has become more a lawyer and a sympathizer of the Moro rebels than a protector of human rights. And to think we already have peace negotiators Miriam Coronel-Ferrer and peace adviser Teresita Deles lawyering for the Moro rebels, willing to give the rebels what they want!

The Aquino administration may be lacking in brains, competence, honesty and integrity. What it has are clowns. **** Regardless of whether or not the PNP, as a civilian institution, has a chain of command, the president remains accountable for what happened in Mamasapano.

The people also want to know whether the President committed an unlawful act, punishable by law, when he put his friend, former PNP Director General Alan Purisima on top of Oplan Exodus despite the latter’s suspension by the Office of the Ombudsman.

Purisima’s culpability is that it is clear that he usurped authority. PNP Director General Leonardo Espina was PNP OIC at that time.

I believe that Mr. Aquino committed an unlawful act.

An Executive Order issued by then-President Fidel Ramos, founder of the PNP-SAF when he was head of the Philippine Constabulary and the Integrated National Police, defines the chain of command of the PNP and other executive departments.

De Lima may argue otherwise, but she cannot go against an existing EO. In fact, some lawyers and legal experts are thinking of filing a case against President Aquino when he steps down next year. **** There is a standoff at the city of Makati between Mayor Junjun Binay and acting Mayor Romulo “Kid” Pena.

This boils down to which among the two has the rule of law on his side.

The Office of the Ombudsman suspended Binay but the Court of Appeals issued a temporary restraining order on this suspension. Still, Justice Secretary Leila

TO THE pOiNT

it’s about the fit ANY astute observer of political events in this country will tell you that the recent BONG C. activities of Davao AUSTERO Mayor Rodrigo Duterte and Senator Ferdinand Marcos Jr are attempts to test public reception to a potential presidential bid.

What they are doing is “floating” their names as possible presidentiables; in short, announcing their interest in being shortlisted for the highest post in the land.

Duterte has embarked on what he calls “listening tour” - doing the rounds of key cities in Mindanao and the Visayas, purportedly to discuss federalism. Marcos has been unsuccessfully trying to package himself as a thought leader in various critical national issues. Senators Antonio Trillanes and Alan Peter Cayetano have been preening like peacocks in heat and howling like monkeys engaged in a territorial squabble. Of course we’ve already known that Vice President Jejomar Binay and local governments secretary Mar Roxas are already out there in the starting line, heckling and trying to disqualify each other.

The messages they are putting out there may be conflicting – it would seem as if they alternate between playing coy and being assertive, blowing hot and cold, being gentlemanly and boorish, apparently depending on which side of the bed they woke up on for that day.

Let us make no mistake about it, though: They are seriously putting themselves out there as possible candidates for the presidency.

This is both good news and bad news. A discussion on possible successors to Benigno S. Aquino in 2016 will hopefully neutralize the persistent demand of certain sectors to change the leadership of the country now – barely a year before the next presidential election. In fact, a review of the qualifications of the putative successors might make spook those aggressively calling for Aquino’s immediate resignation – my goodness, look at the pitiful bunch of clowns that are positioning themselves as possible successors. Furthermore, this might just galvanize critical sectors to actively explore alternatives. Surely, there are other more qualified, more trustworthy, better leaders out there?

This is my problem with the many groups who have

many things to say about the way things are in this country. Everyone is a critic who demands accountability and performance from our leaders; hardly anyone talks about what really needs to be done and the roles they can and must play to make things better. If we really come to think about it, the more proactive course of action is to ensure that we develop, and consequently, elect the right leaders for the right posts at the right time. If we don’t want a repeat of the blunders of the current and previous presidents, then we just have to stop electing the same types of people and using the same processes that catapulted them into office.

Our problem is that we keep on installing people in leadership positions even when they clearly lack the competencies required to effectively fulfill the mandates of the position. Worse, we tend to equate personality traits with abilities; just because a person is the progeny of morally upright people we immediately conclude that he or she will become a moral leader.

We also have this predilection for making shortcuts in judging the overall qualification of a person often by merely focusing on one key accomplishment. For instance, many conclude that because a major has shown exemplary political will in running after drug pushers and criminals in his city he will be very effective in cleaning up the whole country of drugs and criminality.

What we need to do is fix the system. We need to put in place frameworks that help voters appreciate the responsibilities of key national positions and consequently, the key competencies that candidates must have to be able to perform them. We need to ensure that those aspiring for critical positions such as the presidency go through a fair and rigorous assessment so that voters see through the sheen created by clever positioning and packaging. We need to debunk the many myths perpetuated by traditional politicians about themselves that legitimize political dynasties.

And more importantly, we need to start promoting a more inclusive approach to identifying and developing leaders, allowing community leaders and non-politicians equal access to elective positions.

We can continue to elect leaders on a whim and then waste time and effort recalling them from office or we can invest in efforts to identify, develop, and elect the right people for the right posts.

de Lima, Interior Secretary Manuel Roxas II and Ombudsman Conchita Carpio Morales say that since the TRO was issued in the afternoon, and Pena had already taken his oath as mayor, the TRO did not restrain the suspension order and the oathtaking of Pena because these took place in the morning.

Santa Banana, is the rule of law now a matter of timing?

A TRO preserves the status quo, quoting from San Beda Dean of Graduate School of Law Fr. Ranhilio Aquino. This means that when a court of law issues a TRO, the status quo is maintained whether or not a suspension order came earlier or that a vice mayor has taken his oath office. The time element is immaterial.

A TRO is precisely issued by a court of law to prevent abuses by the state. It is a lawful exercise of judicial authority. As lawyers, De Lima and the Ombudsman should realize this. To trivalize TROs would send a chilling effect to the judicial authority of the courts.

In the case of Makati, the sooner the appellate court rules on this case, the better. Makati is the financial center of the Philippines. Foreign investors may see this as unfavorable to business. **** Senator Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos is eyeing the presidency in 2016. There’s really nothing wrong with that since Bongbong is one of the few senators doing well. In fact, the more candidates there are for the presidency, the merrier. The electorate must be given choices.

Vice President Jejomar Binay is still perceived as the

presidential hopeful to beat in next year’s elections, according to poll surveys. But nothing is for sure until election day. Binay himself has said that he may opt to have the Liberal Party presumptive presidential bet, Mar Roxas, as his running mate.

While it’s still more than a year before the May 2016 polls, a lot of things can still happen. Significantly, Davao Mayor Rodrigo Duterte, according to surveys, is now No. 3, along with former President and Manila Mayor Erap Estrada.

All these mean that there will be more than three presidential candidates in 2016. There could possibly be even five. **** A balikbayan, upon arrival in the Philippines, asks: What is happening to our country? Problems seems to be never-ending.

He cites the debate on whether or not President Aquino is culpable for the slaughter of 44 police commandos in Mamasapano. He complains about the daily traffic nightmare, the frequency of MRT3 glitches, the anticipated daily power outages in Manila, and the frequency of crime as reported by television newscasts.

While this balikbayan is glad that the Philippines has been rated as the 5th happiest country worldwide, he is not too happy when told by his driver that upon registration of his car at a Land Transportation Office branch, the driver was told to return in two weeks for the stickers and the plate.

ARE WE THERE YET?

At least, there is no shortage of comic relief in this administration.

T u e S d aY : M a R c h 24 , 2 0 1 5

OPINION

adelle chua EDITOR

lettertotheeditor@thestandard.com.ph

HAIL TO THE CHAIR VICTOR AVECILLA

UnconstitUtional and illegal city ordinances

The power of chartered cities to enact ordinances is limited. An ordinance must not violate the Constitution or an existing law, and it cannot be enforced outside the territory of the city.

Simple-minded councilors think that the more ordinances they propose, the better it is for the city. The smarter councilors know that there is a right time for legislation, and there is a right time not to legislate.

Many city legislatures have enacted ordinances ostensibly to protect the environment but are unconstitutional or illegal. Worse, some of these ordinances are designed to favor certain businesses with close ties to the city leadership.

Several cities in Metropolitan Manila have ordinances banning the use of plastic materials in the secondary packaging of groceries and dry goods in their territories. The term “secondary packaging” refers to the bags or containers in which groceries are placed after they are paid for at the check-out counter in supermarkets, grocery stores, and similar establishments. Under the ordinances, stores must pack the purchased groceries, etc. inside non-plastic bags or containers, such as paper bags and bags made of fiber.

It is claimed that these ordinances aim to prevent flooding because after the plastic bags and containers are eventually thrown in the garbage, they end up clogging the drainage systems in the city.

These ordinances ban any and all types of plastic bags and containers, whether or not they are made of bio-degradable material, i.e., material which easily decomposes into harmless particles.

The failure of these ordinances to dis-

tinguish between bio-degradable plastic bags and containers and those which are not constitutes a violation of Republic Act No. 9003, or the Ecological Solid Waste Management Act of 2000. This statute prohibits the use of plastic bags and containers as secondary packaging if they are not bio-degradable. Its clear import is that the use of bio-degradable plastic bags or containers is authorized.

Since the use of bio-degradable plastic bags and containers as secondary packaging materials is authorized under Republic Act No. 9003, their use cannot be outlawed by a mere city ordinance. As stated earlier, local government units do not have the power to amend, modify, or repeal any statute enacted by the national legislature.

The validity of a city ordinance which violates a law may be challenged in court by any resident of the city concerned, or by any person with an interest in the sale and distribution of bio-degradable plastic products. Thus, persons or business ventures with investments in bio-degradable packaging materials have good reason to question these ordinances before the Supreme Court.

By outlawing any and all forms of plastic bags and containers for secondary packaging, these ordinances force supermarkets, grocery stores, and similar establishments to use paper bags. Since paper comes from wood, the large-scale use of paper bags will lead to more deforestation in the countryside, which is bad news for the environment. Therefore, prohibiting the use of bio-degradable plastic bags and containers is harmful to the environment. The manufacture and use of bio-degradable packaging materi-

Xavier... From A9

dialogues and negotiations for peace in Mindanao, for his untiring work towards a negotiated political solution that eschews the ways of extremism and terrorism, and for his unflinching and heartfelt service to bring peace and progress to our country, Xavier University is pleased and honored to confer the Fr William F Masterson SJ Award to Mohagher Iqbal.”

Finally, XU will be recognizing Secretary Teresita “Ging” Quintos-Deles for her lifetime work. A personal friend for 33 years (she was my wife’s first boss in Manila and was one of two principal sponsors for our wedding), Secretary Deles has always been prominent in peace advocacy. A builder of citizen organizations, she founded Social Development Index, co-founded PILIPINA and the Coalition for Peace, and was the first executive director of the Gaston Z Ortigas Peace Institute. In 2011, we recognized her at the Ateneo School of Government by awarding her the Metrobank Foundation Professorial Chair for Public Service and Governance Award.

Our citation points out that Secretary Deles, who leads an exceptionally competent and dedicated team, with both veteran and young peace workers, at the Office of the Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process (OPAPP), “is an emblem of commitment and dedication for others, a woman who fights for equality and leads the country to secure peace towards development and sustainable social change”.

The XU citation concludes: “In recognition of her exceptional and remarkable contributions as a trustworthy public servant and strong-willed pioneer in the development sector of the Philippines, her sincere heart for the welfare of women, the poor, and the marginalized, but most of all, for her work in peace building in the country and

College of Agriculture and the influential Southeast Asia Rural Social Leadership Institute (SEARSOLIN). It is XU’s principal award for those who have contributed most to sustainable development and social justice.

Prof. Coronel-Ferrer will share the Masterson Award with Mr. Mohagher Iqbal, Chairman of the Bangsamoro Transition Commission and chief negotiator of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF). Mr. Iqbal is as Mindanawon as I am, or even more. He is certainly a Filipino citizen and definitely not a Malaysian as some has maliciously accused him of.

He is a native of Datu Odin Sinsuat, Maguindanao and obtained both his bachelor’s and master’s degrees in Political Science at Manuel Quezon University. He became a revolutionary in 1972 when he joined the Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF).

Subsequently, in 1977, he decided to join the MILF which he now serves as member of its Central Committee.

I know Mr. Iqbal professionally because of my assignment during the last year of the Arroyo administration as a government peace negotiator. From the many meetings I engaged with, I was able to observe the man, I can say that here is a leader of immense courage, with the highest integrity, and practical wisdom. A devoted Muslim and a warrior who transformed to being a peace champion, Iqbal is a statesman we can definitely trust and work with. His dignified behavior in the congressional and senate hearings speaks loudly and shames many of us, According to the citation of Xavier University: “For his conscientious and patient efforts to engage in democratic

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als is a better alternative to the further food, not meat, is it.

Even if a local government unit has denudation of our forests.

It has also been reported that some the power to enact an ordinance which councilors behind these ordinances have promotes public health, that power cansubstantial investments in the paper bag not be exercised arbitrarily or indiscrimmanufacturing business, or receive com- inately. The Constitution authorizes the missions from the owners of these busi- courts to annul ordinances enacted with grave abuse of discretion. nesses.

Without a sound and proven medical * * * * * The Quezon City government is con- and scientific basis for a weekly prohibisidering enacting an ordinance pro- tion against the consumption of meat, hibiting the consumption of meat in the proposed ban suffers from legal inrestaurants, schools, and public offices firmity. * * * * * throughout the city every Monday. ProA Quezon City ordinance requires ponents of this measure say that outlawing the consumption of meat once a week major business establishments in the city promotes health because diners will be to provide parking facilities for bicycles. compelled to eat healthy foods like veg- The supposed rationale for the ordietables and non-meat foodstuffs instead. nance is to encourage more people to While the objective of promoting use bicycles in the city, instead of motor health is laudable, the measure itself is vehicles which pollute the air with their emissions. legally unsound.

This is one of those many times when There is no conclusive scientific finding that the consumption of meat is haz- the Quezon City Council put the cart beardous to health. Scientific journals show fore the horse in a case of obvious lack of that many experts are divided on this issue. foresight.

Before enacting an ordinance to There are some arguments that only the fat of the meat is bad for health. Others argue promote cycling on city streets, the city that it is in the way the meat is cooked, and council should come out with regulathat boiled or steamed meat is better than tions governing the use of bicycles in city roads. First, bicycles should not use fried meat or barbecue.

Some say that too much meat is bad busy roads; their slow pace obstructs for the body. Of course, but then again, the smooth flow of motor vehicle traftoo much of anything, including power, fic. Next, minors should not be allowed to use bicycles on these roads. Also, cyis bad.

Outlawing the consumption of meat clists must be required to use the same on Mondays does not necessarily mean protective headgear used by motorcycle that people will resort to healthier alter- drivers. Moreover, cyclists must follow natives. Some may even turn to harm- traffic rules and regulations like everyful foodstuffs like instant noodles, pro- one else who uses the roads. Finally, the cessed snacks, and junk food. If there is rules must be codified for better dissemiany food which out to be banned, junk nation and compliance. especially in Mindanao, it is Xavier University’s high honor and gratitude to bestow the Doctor in Humanities, honoris causa to Secretary Teresita “Ging” Quintos-Deles.”

These university awards were decided in a meeting of the XU Board of Trustees last November 29, 2014. I was absent in that meeting because of the climate change negotiations in Lima, Peru, but I wholeheartedly supported the decision.

And after Mamasapano, and even as the attacks against these peace workers escalated, I joined the members of the XU board in voting unanimously to stay the course. I acknowledged that some in our community, including a few alumni, are upset about this but there can be no wavering in our commitment for peace and support for those who work hard and sacrifice a lot to make it happen.

I echo the words of XU President Fr. Roberto Yap, SJ: “Xavier University (XU) wished to honor these three leaders who have courageously walked the arduous way of peace and to salute them for their conscientious and patient efforts to engage in democratic dialogue and negotiations for peace in Mindanao . . . Xavier wanted to walk with these three leaders in the long journey to a just and lasting peace. By conferring these awards during the 2015 commencement exercises, Xavier hoped to inspire her graduates to be brave and bold and not be afraid to walk the demanding but necessary path of peace in our troubled island of Mindanao.”

I will definitely not be afraid this Thursday to walk with these champions of peace who will honor by their presence the university I love.

Facebook page: Dean Tony La Vina Twitter: tonylav

Cheap... From A9 It was Lee who lobbied the Americans to fund and build General Santos airport at a time when the United States still had military bases in the Philippines; the US eventually built the airport, but for purposes of its own which had to do with its plans to focus on Mindanao and to have as little to do with the national government in Manila (which kicked out its bases) as possible.

But it is to Lee’s credit that, because he was always looking beyond his own state’s borders and thinking about regional repercussions of all his actions, GenSan airport exists today.

Would that we, in the future, elect a leader with such foresight and crossborder vision.

But it wouldn’t be such a bad idea to name the GenSan airport after the man who conceived it, never mind if he was the head of state of another country. Hey, if the government can bring back the name of Clark airfield (which was named after an obscure, low-level American serviceman who never even set foot in the Philippines) to erase the name of Diosdado Macapagal, it can honor a great statesman and leader who set the bar for righteous rulers in this neck of the woods – and who dreamed up the airport, as well.

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SPORTS sports@thestandard.com.ph

Djokovic captures 50 career win th

INDIAN WELLS—Novak Djokovic leaned back in his chair in the hot sun, took a drink of water, and couldn’t stop his hands from shaking.

The world number one had just double faulted three times to lose a second-set tiebreaker to world number two Roger Federer in the Indian Wells championship game on Sunday.

“I managed to overcome the frustration of handing that tiebreak to him with three double faults in crucial moments,” said Djokovic, who went on to win the match in three sets for his 50th career singles ATP Tour title. “We are all human. We all fall under pressure.”

The Serbian tennis star and now back-to-back Indian Wells Masters champion described the

victory as a roller-coaster of emotions.

It’s all in a day’s work for the world’s elite tennis players and Djokovic is no different. Against Federer he went from the shaking hands episode to smashing a racquet in anger in the third set, to the euphoria of beating his biggest rival on one of the biggest stages in tennis.

“I managed to regroup,” he said. “But that is sport. Those things happen under pressure sometimes.

“Knowing I was close to victory, making three double faults, the pressure, it was all part of it.

But I managed to calm down and get calmer kind of movement in the third set.”

As for the racquet-smashing incident, he says he once again had a heart-to-heart discussion during the changeover with himself.

“When I finished with what I have done I just told myself, ‘OK, this is it. Let it go.’ Now I have to refocus and stand up in a minute and play my best.”

Djokovic said when he goes through those moments—when he really feels the pressure getting to him—he reminds himself of the bigger picture.

“I don’t think that these challenges that I go through are actually harming me or that I find that is a burden on my back,” he said. “It is a privilege because I earned it. I earned the position to be in.” AFP

Best Center clinics on THE award-winning BEST Center, sponsored by Milo, opens its full summer schedule with its basketball and volleyball clinics beginning April 6.

Ateneo starts the summer basketball clinics rolling with Monday and Thursday classes in Preparatory Levels 1 to 6.

University of Perpetual Help also opens its basketball classes for Levels 1 to 3 from April 6 to 30.

Starmall in Alabang gets its turn on April 7 to May 1 for students enrolled in Levels 1 to 4 every Wednesday and Thursday.

Amoranto Sports Complex also hosts students enrolled in Levels 1-4 on the same dates.

April 8 to May 2 are reserved for students enrolled

in Wednesday and Saturday classes at the Malate Catholic School for Levels 1 to 4. Xavier School will also host students in Levels 1 to 3 on Wednesdays and Saturdays.

Sunday classes are scheduled at the Lancaster New City for students in Levels 1 and 2.

BEST Center founder and president Nic Jorge, a former national player and coach, also announced volleyball clinics will start on April 6 and will run until the 30th for Monday and Thursday classes in Starmall Alabang.

Inquiries can be made at telephones 411-6260 and 3723065/66; E-mail bestcenterspors@gmail.com; or through Facebook: best center sports inc.

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

BPI BIOSAFETY PR 013

PUBLIC INFORMATION SHEET FOR PROPAGATION PROPOSAL FOR THE PROPAGATION OF Bt11 x TC1507 x GA21 Stack Corn 1.

Applicant’s Name, Address, Telephone Number, Facsimile Number, E-Mail Address (Please contact this address for more information) 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: http://www.syngenta.com

2.

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

3.

Description of the Regulated Article for Propagation Bt11 x TC1507 x GA21 is a stack hybrid developed by conventionally crossing Bt11, TC1507 and GA21 corn. Bt11, TC1507 and GA21 are transgenic corn events developed through modern biotechnology.

Event Bt11 corn contains the Cry1Ab gene isolated from Bacillus thuringiensis var. kurstaki and encodes the Cry1Ab protein, which is toxic to the Asiatic corn borer (ACB) upon ingestion but is harmless to other insects, humans and animals.

The Cry1Ab acts by selectively binding to specific sites localized on the brush border midgut epithelium of susceptible species. Following binding, cation-specific pores are formed that disrupt midgut ion flow and thereby cause paralysis and death.

Event Bt11 corn also contains the pat gene cloned from the soil microorganism Streptomyces viridochromogenes strain that encodes the enzyme phosphinothricin-N-synthethase acetyltransferase (PAT), which detoxifies glufosinate ammonium, the active ingredient in the herbicide Basta®. Glufosinate ammonium inhibits the glutamate synthetase in plants, resulting in an accumulation of ammonia in plant tissues leading to its death. Plants expressing the pat gene are protected from the herbicide glufosinate.

Event TC1507 corn contains the cry1F gene from Bacillus thuringiensis var aizawai. It produces the Cry1F protein that when ingested by the insect, acts by selectively binding to specific sites on the lining of the midgut of susceptible insects.

Following binding, pores are formed that disrupt midgut ion flow, causing gut paralysis and eventual death due to bacterial sepsis.

Event TC1507 also produces the PAT protein from S. viridochromogenes which provides tolerance to glufosinateammonium herbicide.

Event GA21 corn contains a modified 5-enolpyruvylshikimate-3-phosphate synthase (mepsps) gene derived from corn. It confers the mEPSPS protein which enables the plant to tolerate the herbicide glyphosate.

Bt11, TC1507 and GA21 have approval for food, feed and processing and for propagation from the Bureau of Plant Industry (BPI).

4.

If to be imported, Country (ies) of Origin of the Regulated Article Argentina

5.

Brief Summary of Potential Effects on Human and Animal Health and the Environment 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, TC1507 corn and GA21 corn are substantially equivalent to and is as safe as conventional corn. It is essentially the same as its conventional counterpart, except for its built-in resistance to corn borer and tolerance to glyphosate herbicide. In addition, studies have shown that they do not pose risk nor cause harm to non-target insects, animals and humans.

6.

Brief Summary of Potential Benefits The use of Bt11 x TC1507 x GA21 stack corn hybrid with dual mode of resistance to Asiatic corn borer (ACB) and tolerance to glyphosate herbicide will provide a viable option for the control of ACB and weed management in commercial corn production areas in the Philippines.

This stack technology will provide farmers, farming environment and society with options for: a. reduced use of insecticide to control ACB and other Lepidopteran insect pests; b. cost-effective post-emergent weed control strategy; c. less exposure to dangerous insecticide; and d. lower insecticide contamination of the environment

7.

Countries Where Approvals Have Been Granted (for FFP; for Propagation) Bt11 x TC1507 x GA21 is approved for cultivation in Argentina (2014) and for use as food and feed in Argentina (2014) and Philippines (2014).

For additional information on the proposed propagation, please contact: 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: http://www.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. 24, 2015)

Cage champs. Members of the De La Salle-Zobel team, including Champ Arejola, Gavin Legaspi, Santi Sauler, Dwyne Miranda, Waki Espina and Kio Favis, are shown after beating Marist School, 33-32, in the final of the 9-under division in the Metropolitan Schools Sports Association held recently at Xavier School gym in San Juan.

Thunder roar to 40th win OKLAHOMA CITY—Oklahoma City star guard Russell Westbrook’s 10th triple-double of the NBA season powered the Thunder to a 93-75 romp over visiting Miami on Sunday for its third consecutive win.

NBA scoring leader Westbrook only managed 12 points on 5-of-16 shooting. But he matched a career-high with 17 assists and grabbed 10 rebounds as the Thunder improved to 4030, moving three games ahead of New Orleans for the eighth and final Western Conference playoff berth.

Still missing injured 2014 NBA Most Valuable Player Kevin Durant, the Thunder were led by 27 points from Enes Kanter.

Mitch McGary scored 14 points while Anthony Morrow added 12 and Dion Waiters and Steven Adams each contributed 10.

“It was a balanced attack on both ends of the floor,” Thunder coach Scott Brooks said.

The Heat fell to 32-37, seventh in the Eastern Conference but only two games ahead of ninth-place Indiana in the fight for the final playoff positions in the East.

Miami’s three-game win streak was halted. The Heat shot only 39.5 percent for the game and trailed for the final three quarters.

Hassan Whiteside scored 13 points to lead Miami while Dwyane Wade, Goran Dragic and Mario Chalmers each added 12.

The Thunder pulled away in the fourth quarter, stretching a 66-60 edge with a 27-11 run for the biggest margin of the game at 93-71.

In Milwaukee, LeBron James scored 28 points, pulled down 10 rebounds, passed out six assists and made five steals Sun-

day to spark the Cleveland Cavaliers to a 108-90 NBA victory at Milwaukee.

J.R. Smith added 23 points and Kyrie Irving contributed 20 points and seven assists for the Cavaliers, who won their third game in a row and seventh in eight starts to stand 46-26 on the season, second in the Eastern Conference.

Michael Carter-Williams scored a team-high 19 points for Milwaukee, but the Bucks slid to 34-36 with their sixth loss in a row.

Khris Middleton and Giannis Antetokounmpo each had 15 points for the Bucks.

Down 53-44 at half-time, the Cavaliers made a 14-6 run sparked by Irving to pull close.

James scored six points in a row late in the quarter and Iman Shumpert’s jumper put Cleveland ahead 75-73 entering the fourth quarter. AFP

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sports sports@thestandard.com.ph

Young Filipina athlete shines in the US

The New Jersey Lady Titans, with Ella Fajardo in the middle, are shown at the Amateur Athletic Union.

Stuart leads newbies in PH athletics’ team

By Peter Atencio

FIVE new faces, who made a good impression in the 2015 Philippine National Open Invitational Athletics Championships held at the Laguna Sports Complex in Sta. Cruz, Laguna, will likely make the cut for the national team.

Led by Fil-American Caleb Stuart, who is expected to make the grade following his impressive performances in three field events, others who would most likely suit for the national team include FilAmericans long jumper Donovant Arriola and sprinter Brandon Thomas, relay specialist Johan Caido and high jumper Manuel Lasangue Jr. Their fate will be known once the national coaching staff is through with their evaluation process.

Stuart racked up three gold medals in the final day of the meet, capping his impressive

stint by heaving 48.17 meters in the discus throw, which was six meters better than the 42.72 of Sean Santamina, who settled for the silver.

The former varsity at the University of California-Riverside earlier plucked the gold in the men’s shot put in 16.52 meters before smashing the national record in the men’s hammer throw with a 64.81-meter heave.

That throw surpassed the national record posted

by Arniel Ferrera in 2013 Vietiane Southeast Asian Games (61.61 meters) and is way better than the current

SEA Games mark of reigning champon Tantipong Phetchaiya (62.23).

Stuart’s shot put mark, on the other hand, nearly broke the 2013 SEA Games bronze medal standard of 16.85, which is owned by Chatchawal Polyiam of Thailand.

In the discus throw, Stuart’s heave was but a few meters less than the SEA Games bronze medal mark of Indonesia’s Hermanto (51.96 meters).

National coaches, headed by Dario Darosas, are set to discuss if Stuart can compete in all three events in the Games.

Arriola, meanwhile, is being eyed to see action in the long jump after he cleared 7.59 meters, which was only four centimeters less than Henry Dagmil’s national mark of 7.99 meters. It was better than Pham Van Lam’s 7.53-meter bronzemedal mark in the 2013 SEA Games.

Thomas, on the other hand, completed the 100-meter dash in 10.8 seconds, which was

Stuart

close to the 10.45 second national record of Ralph Soguilon in 2007 and near the bronze-medal performance of Muhammad Amirudin Jamal of Singapore (10.55 seconds).

Meanwhile, University of Baguio’s Johan Caido, who finished fourth in the 400-meter run (47.62 seconds) earned a spot in the 4X400 meter relay with teammates Archand Bagsit, Edgardo Alejano and Ryan Bigyan.

A YOUNG Filipina athlete is making waves in the basketball scene in the US. Third grader Ella Patrice Fajardo is one of the best basketball players not only in her school’s varsity team, Transfiguration Academy Tigers, but also in the whole state, playing for the top-ranking team New Jersey Lady Titans in the Amateur Athletic Union.

Standing a little over five feet, Ella has competed in national leagues in various states, earning trophies as MVP along the way.

At only 8 years old, Ella has already been spotted by one of the most respected players in the Women’s National Basketball Association. Original Los Angeles Sparks guard Tamecka Dixon conducts training sessions with the young Pinay because of her promising talent and skill in the sport.

Though she was born and raised in New Jersey, Ella still credits the premiere sports clinic, Basketball Efficiency and Scientific Training Center, for her growth in the sport. Over the years, her family travels all the way from the US back to the Philippines to undergo rigorous training at the award-winning sports clinic. Despite the serious coaching in the US, Ella still sees her BEST Center training as the most vital aspect in her improvement.

She attributed the things she learned in BEST Center as a significant part of her success, relating how BEST Center’s focus on scientific approach helped her become a good player. “In the US, they don’t teach the little things that can help you in your game. The drills make you a good player, but it’s the small details that win the game,” shared the basketball prodigy.

Ella recently graduated in Level 3 and will be back this year to complete the basketball program. She is clearly on her way towards her dream of becoming the first Filipina basketball player in the NBA. To know more information about BEST Center sports clinics, call their hotlines 4116260, 3723066 and 372-3065 or email bestcentersports@gmail.com. You may also visit BEST Center Sports Inc. on Facebook.

Forum to discuss Shakey’s V-League THE coming First Conference of the highly popular Shakey’s V-League will be exclusively talked about in today’s session of the Philippine Sportswriters Association Forum at Shakey’s Malate.

Officials of the organizing Sports Vision lead the guests in the 10:30 a.m. public sports program aired live over DZSR Sports Radio 918 and presented by San Miguel Corp., Accel, Shakey’s, and the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation.

TM Football kicks off festivals in Iloilo REACHING out to various underprivileged communities to provide young talents nationwide the venue to hone their skills, the TM Football Para Sa Bayan recently went underway with its football festival in Iloilo City, spearheaded by no less than Globe ambassador, sports director and coach Emelio “Chieffy” Caligdong.

The said football festival attracted hundreds of youth from the townsfolk of Barotac Nuevo in the said city, where Caligdong traces his roots, as well as from neighboring barangays.

Aside from letting the football newbies aged 6 to 15 discover and enjoy the sport, the event also provided the opportunity to in-

crease their level of play through a 7-side tournament format under the supervision of the former Philippine Azkals team captain and midfielder.

It also enabled the mass market prepaid brand TM to reach out to more of its publics in rolling out relevant programs, particularly the successful grassroots football program of Globe Telecom, which for three years now has largely helped underserved Filipino youth to tap their full potential and harness their skills, particularly through football.

“We are pleased that TM Football Para Sa Bayan is starting to positively impact the lives of Filipino youth nationwide, especially

the underprivileged here in Iloilo.

Bringing a wonderful head start to those who will be the future of this nation provides our brand a dimension of genuinely serving our countrymen even through sports,” said TM Portfolio and Brand Management Director Trina Sebastian.

“I am honored to work closely with TM Football Para sa Bayan, in so far as guiding our youth to discover their calling through a sport closest to my heart. It is with high hopes that by joining in the festivals and doing good in football, we would be able to encourage them to stay in school and have a better chance for a brighter future,” remarked Caligdong.

Former PH Azkals star and Globe ambassador Chieffy Caligdong leads the first leg of the TM Football Para sa Bayan football festival.

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SPORTS sports@thestandard.com.ph

Bacolod sends most number of campers to Jr. NBA event

By Reuel Vidal BACOLOD CITY—The Bacolod JrNBA/JrWNBA Presented by Alaska Regional Selection Camp, held at the St. John’s Institute in Bacolod City last weekend, sent the most numbers of qualifiers to the National Training Camp.

Fourteen young players met the strict standard of the selection committee led by Chris Sumner and will participate in the national camp to be held April 24 to 26 at the Mall of Asia Arena.

The 10 boys include: Ralph Allen Cagalawan, 14; Christian Perigua, 13; Kent Dentin Esperagazo, 14; John Dexter Gigantana, 13 and Andy John Villamer, 14 of Tay Tung High School; Andrei Lechoncito, 12; Daniel Coo, 13; Nicholas Steven

Pura, 12 and Kurt Coloso, 14 of St. John’s Institute and Kurt Jan Aparri of Christ the King College.

The girls are Karla Sheen Cotejo,13, of Bacolod City College; Dyna Sicil Nieves, 13, of University of Negros Occidental-Recoletos; Luisa Martina de la Paz, 13, of University of St. La Salle and Rodnie Mae Hodilena of Luis Hervias National High School.

The 14 qualifiers topped a field of 370 participants aged 10-14 years from all over Western Visayas.

There will be two more Regional Selection Camps to be held at the University of the Immaculate Conception in Davao on Mar. 28 and 29 and at the PICC Forum, CCP Complex on April 11 and 12.

Boys and girls, who wish to join the selection camps may still register at www. jrnba.asia/philippines. The program is free.

Qualifiers from the Regional Selection Camps will join the National Training Camp at the SM Mall of Asia April 24-26 where the 2015 JrNBA/JrWNBA Presented

by Alaska all-star teams and national coaches will named.

The basis for selection included not just basketball skills but also if the players possessed the STAR values of Sportsmanship, Teamwork, (positive) Attitude and Respect.

The participants in the Bacolod were given vitals tests, skills challenges and basketball drills on the first day of the selection camp.

The Top 40 players with the

JrNBA/JrWNBA Presented by Alaska Head Coach Chris Sumner (right) joins the qualifiers to the national camp (from left) John Dexter Gigantana, Andrei Lechoncito , Ralph Calagawan , Kurt Coloso , Kurt Jan Aparri, Daniel Coo, Andy John Villamer , Kent Dentin Esparazo, Christian Perugia, and Nicholas Steven Pura. The girls include, from left: Rodnie Mae Hodilena, Luisa Martina De La Paz, Dyna Sicil Nieves and Karla Sheen Cotejo.

highest vitals test and skills challenges scores on Day 1 returned for more intense drills and basketball team exercises on Day 2.

The players competed in lively scrimmages to complete the final selection process. The coaches then selected the most skilled basketball

players who also exemplified the JrNBA/JrWNBA core values of Sportsmanship, Teamwork, a positive Attitude and Respect.

Adamson, UP start title series ADAMSON University stakes its unbeaten record as the defending fourtime champions battle University of the Philippines today in the championship round of the University Athletic Association of the Philippines Season 77 softball tournament at the Rizal Memorial Baseball Stadium.

Holding a thrice-to-beat advantage for sweeping the double-round eliminations, the Lady Falcons, who are on a 60-game roll, need only to win twice to capture their fifth straight title and the 14th overall.

The title series will start at 9 a.m.

Lady Maroons coach Kiko Diaz is hoping that his troops will play their A-game to post one of the biggest upsets in league history “We are prepared to beat Adamson,” said Diaz. “If Adamson wins, we give it to them, but we will do our darnedest best to win.”

Republic of the Philippines Office of the President NATIONAL IRRIGATION ADMINISTRATION (PAMBANSANG PANGASIWAAN NG PATUBIG) Region 8, Tacloban City Office Address: Website:

NIA Road, Marasbaras Tacloban City, Philippines www.nia.gov.ph

INVITATION TO BID No. 04-2015

Office Address: Website:

NIA Road, Marasbaras Tacloban City, Philippines www.nia.gov.ph

Telefax No. (632) 323-7596 TIN 000-916-415

Duration

1.

BIGRIS Contract #04-2015 – Improvement of Irrigation Facilities of Balire South RIS, Macarthur, Leyte

4,980,733.36

240 cd

2.

BIGRIS Contract #05-2015 – Improvement of Irrigation Facilities of Balire North RIS, Macarthur, Leyte

1,002,453.30

180 cd

3.

BIGRIS Contract #06-2015 – Improvement of Irrigation Facilities of Ibawon RIS, Macarthur, Leyte

2,023,214.99

180 cd

4.

MPBRIS Contract #10-2015 – Improvement of Irrigation Facilities of Pongso RIS, Barugo, Leyte

6,986,248.50

240 cd

5.

MPBRIS Contract #11-2015 – Improvement of Irrigation Facilities of Bao RIS, Ormoc City

5,967,954.70

240 cd

6.

MPBRIS Contract #12-2015 – Improvement of Irrigation Facilities of Bao RIS, Ormoc City

2,576,296.20

180 cd

The Prospective Bidders should have completed, within five (5) years from the date of submission and receipt of bids, a contract similar to the Project whose value must be at least fifty percent (50%) of the ABC. 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 (R.A. 9184), otherwise known as the “Government procurement Reform Act”.

Prospective Bidders are not allowed to participate if they have negative slippage in their on-going contracts. Individuals with Special Power of Attorney (SPA) are not allowed to transact and participate in the procurement utilizing another construction firm. The pre-bid conference shall be open only for those who have purchased the Bid documents. No more sale of bid documents after pre-bidding conference in order for the bidders to submit a highly technical and educated bid.

The schedule of BAC activities are as follows: Schedule

The National Irrigation Administration (NIA), Biliran-Leyte del Norte-Leyte del Sur Irrigation Management Office, Marasbaras, Tacloban City through the General Appropriations Act (GAA) 2015 intends to apply the sum corresponding to the Approved Budget for the Contract (ABC), to payment for the following contracts listed hereunder.

The National Irrigation Administration (NIA) now invites bids for:

Approved Budget for Contract (Php)

BAC Activities

Time

Issuance of Bid Documents

Starting March 18, 2015

8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.

2.

Pre-bid Conference

March 25, 2015

10:00 a.m.

3.

Receipt and Opening of Bids

April 07, 2015

2:00 p.m.

Item/Description 1. BNLSL-LCB-13-2015 – Repair/Improvement of Canal System of Lucsoon-Lico CIS, Naval, Biliran.

2. BNLSL-LCB-16-2015 – Construction of Diversion Works, Canal, Farm Level and Road System of Palaraw CIS, Leyte, Leyte.

3. BNLSL-LCB-17-2015 – Repair/Improvement of Diversion Works and Canal System of Bagombong CIS/Lower Iyusan CIS, Almeria, Biliran.

Duration

6,036,124.40

120 cd

7,684,880.12

120 cd

6,036,123.42

120 cd

Bidding will be conducted in accordance with relevant procedures for open competitive bidding as specified in the IRR of RA 9184. Bids received in excess of ABC shall be automatically rejected at bid opening. The contract shall be awarded to the Lowest Calculated Responsive Bidder (LCRB) who was determined as such during post-qualification.

Interested bidders may submit a Letter of Intent together with the Class “A” documents addressed to the Chairman, Bids and Awards Committee, NIA, Biliran-Leyte del NorteLeyte del Sur Irrigation Management Office, Marasbaras, Tacloban City.

The schedules of BAC activities are as follows: BAC Activities

Schedule

Time

1. Issuance of Bid Documents 2. Pre-Bid Conference 3. Receipt and Opening of Bids

Starting March 18, 2015 March 25, 2015 April 6, 2015

8:00 a.m to 5:00 p.m 10:00 a.m.

2:00 p.m.

A complete set of Bidding Documents may be purchased by the interested bidders from the address above and upon payment of a non-refundable fee of P10,000.00 to the Cashier.

NIA reserves the right to accept or reject any bid, to annul the bidding process, and to reject at any time prior to contract award, without thereby incurring any liability to the affected bidder or bidders.

CATHERINE G. MACANIP National Irrigation Administration Marasbaras, Tacloban City (053) 323-6210

The NIA reserves the right to accept or reject any bid, to annul the bidding process, and to reject all bids at any time prior to contract award, without thereby incurring any liability to the affected bidder or bidders.

(SGD.) GLORIA A. SEVILLA BAC Chairman

(Sgd.) CATHERINE G. MACANIP BAC Chairman Noted: (Sgd.) PEDRO C. RUBIO, JR. Division Manager, IMO

Noted:

CYAN MAGENTA YELLOW BLACK

Approved Budget

For further information, please refer to:

The BAC will issue a complete set of Bidding Documents to eligible bidders from the address above and upon payment of non-refundable amount of P5,000.00 for ABC below 5M & P10,000.00 for ABC above 5M to the Cashier.

(SGD.) ROMEO G. QUIZA Regional Manager

Game Today (Rizal Memorial Baseball Stadium) 9 a.m. • AdU vs vs UP (softball finals)

INVITATION TO BID

The National Irrigation Administration (NIA), Region 8, Marasbaras, Tacloban City through its Bids and Awards Committee (BAC), hereby invites Domestic Contractors, registered with and classified by the Philippine Contractors Accreditation Board (PCAB), to bid for the hereunder contracts. Bids received in excess of ABC shall be automatically rejected at bid opening.

1.

elimination-round campaign.

Game 2 of the league’s final event for Season 77 is scheduled on Thursday at 9 a.m. also at the Rizal ballpark.

Republic of the Philippines Office of the President NATIONAL IRRIGATION ADMINISTRATION (PAMBANSANG PANGASIWAAN NG PATUBIG) Region 8, Tacloban City

Telefax No. (632) 323-7596 TIN 000-916-415

Item/Description

UP, which last won in 2008, clinched the second championship berth with an abbreviated 9-1 victory over University of Santo Tomas in their do-or-die playoff last Sunday.

The Ana Santiago-mentored Lady Falcons are coming off a long 13-day break after registering another perfect

(TNS-MAR. 24, 2015)

(TNS-MAR. 24, 2015)

PH volley team starts training THE newly-formed national women’s under-23 team should be able to find its form when it plunges into training next week.

Sammy Acaylar, one of the two coaches tasked to handle the squad, said this after the national coaching staff finally assembled the roster of the squad seeing action in the Asian 23 Women’s Volleyball Championship.

“There are many players who have committed. Now, we can schedule practices,” said Acaylar, as they get ready to get the team together at the Blue Eagle gym in Katipunan, Quezon City.

He said the formation of the team will be a good test and a chance to find out how strong the squad is.

The training regimen will be followed by a scheduled tournament in Japan against the finest teams in Asia.

A pair of reigning Most Valuable Players, Alyssa Valdez of UAAP champion Ateneo de Manila and National Collegiate Athletic Association MVP Grethcel Soltones of San Sebastian College are among the top candidates for the squad, which is also coached by Roger Gorayeb. Peter Atencio

CYAN MAGENTA YELLOW BLACK T U E S D AY : M A R C H 24 , 2 0 1 5

A15

SPORTS sports@thestandard.com.ph

Loreto KOs South African in Round 1, keeps crown

By Ronnie Nathanielsz

INTERNATIONAL Boxing Organization light flyweight champion Rey “Hitman” Loreto, short on training but full of heart, scored a brutal first-round knockout over former champion and hometown favorite Nkosinathi Joyi in South Africa late Sunday (Manila time).

The rematch had been postponed twice before, the second time last Feb. 28 when Loreto underwent surgery for a swollen appendix, which drastically cut down on his sparring and training regimen as he recovered from the surgery.

But as broadcast journalist and former North Cotabato governor Manny Pinol reported, nobody

gave Loreto a chance to win, especially with two South African judges, as well as a South African referee. But they didn’t reckon with the Filipino southpaw’s courageous heart and a string faith in God. The noisy hometown fans, who chanted a Zuku war song, was quickly silenced as Loreto came charging out from the opening bell

and with about one minute and 30 seconds into the round, nailed Joyi with a crunching right hook, followed by a left uppercut that dropped the former Olympian and two-time world champion for a mandatory count.

In an email to the Standard/ Viva Sports, Pinol reported it was obvious that Joyi was badly hurt and as referee Nyangiwe motioned the two fighters to resume action, Loreto stepped forward and ripped a combination to the head.

As Joyi slumped almost motionless in the neutral corner, the referee didn’t even bother to count and waved the fight off.

When it was over, the 24-year-old Loreto shouted: “Thank you Lord.”

With the win, Loreto improved to 20-13 with 12 knockouts and proved that his stunning third-round knockout to win the title in Monte Carlo last Feb. 12 was no fluke.

Loreto’s trainer Joven Jorda and manager Brico Santig wanted him not to go ahead with the title defense until he had completely recovered from surgery, but he didn’t want the fight postponed because he wanted to earn so he could finish the little house he was building in Davao City.

Loreto and his handlers are scheduled to arrive in Manila today, in time to receive his award as one of the world champions at the 15th Annual “Flash” Elorde Banquet of Champions in Manila Hotel.

Quick ending. Rey Loreto stands over challenger Nkosinathi Joyi, who he beat on a stoppage in the first round of their title fight in Mdantsane yesterday. MARK ANDREWS

Petalcorin adds Australian award to Elorde title WORLD Boxing Association light flyweight Interim champion Randy “Razor” Petalcorin won an award from the Australian National Boxing Federation for winning the title last year in Shanghai, China with a rousing seventh-round TKO over Panama’s Walter Tello.

Petalcorin’s award was accepted on his behalf by his co-manager and multi-titled Australian promoter Peter Maniatis, who

LOTTO RESULTS

thanked Ultratune CEO Sean Buckley and the Sanman Gym of the Manangquil brothers of General Santos City.

Petalcorin and IBO light flyweight champion Rey Loreto, who scored a brutal first-round knockout in a rematch with South Africa’s former world champion Nkosinathi Joyi on Sunday, will be honored as the “Boxers of the Year” in 2014 at the Flash Elorde

6/55 00-00-00-00-00-00 P0.0 M+ 6/45 00-00-00-00-00-00 P0.0 M+ 4 DIGITS 00-00-00-00 3 DIGITS 00-00-00 2 EZ2 00-00 CYAN MAGENTA YELLOW BLACK

Annual Awards on Wednesday.

The 23-year-old Filipino southpaw has a record of 22-1-1 with 17 knockouts and is coming off backto-back TKO victories over Thailand’s Samransak Singmanasak.

Petalcorin won via third-round TKO to capture the Pan Asia Boxing Association title on Nov. 8, 2013, when referee Tony Moretta called a halt at 1:14 of the round to save Singmanasak from further

punishment, while in a rematch on March 28, 2014, he won by a second-round TKO in a scheduled 10-round bout with referee Chris Abnderson stopping the bout at 1:04 of the round.

Petalcorin is scheduled to defend his title in Beijing on April 24 against China’s Ma Yi Ming, the 34-year-old southpaw slugger with a record of 12-5 with 7 knockouts.

Ronnie Nathanielsz

PRISAA coverage.

GMA Network Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Atty. Felipe L. Gozon (right) and Private Schools Athletic Association National Chairman Dr. Emmanuel Y. Angeles recently signed a Memorandum of Agreement for the official coverage of the 2015 PRISAA National Games on April 10 to 16, 2015 in Iloilo City.

Alex Compton is a class act REY JOBLE

THE LINK

YOU normally see Alex Compton so animated while coaching the Alaska Aces in the PBA. The Compton that we know is lively, never misses the chance to instruct his players on the sidelines or holler against the referees in Filipino when he is contesting a call.

He would blurt: “Ref, kanina pa ‘yun” or “ref, pumito ka naman” so fluently, which usually brings a smile to basketball fans sitting near the players’ bench.

But on Sunday night, when his Alaska Aces played the Talk ‘N Text Tropang Texters, the Compton that showed up was more vocal and ready to face whatever challenge was thrown at him, even from a bigger, mean-looking TNT import Ivan Johnson.

What made Compton suddenly change his persona?

Maybe, Johnson must have said something nasty that didn’t sound pleasing to Compton’s ear.

Suddenly, there was Compton, usually the picture of a perfect gentlemen and one of the “coolest” coaches around, getting into the mix after Johnson and his player, Alaska forward Calvin Abueva got into a verbal tussle after a particular play.

Compton was so angry it was difficult to reconcile the eversmiling coach and one-time coffee creamer endorser to the one who literally gave the TNT import a verbal lashing.

While Compton rarely loses his cool, Johnson seems to be a magnet for trouble.

During his stint with the Atlanta Hawks in 2011, Johnson was sent home and fined by his team for an undisclosed amount due to conduct detrimental to his team.

In one of his team’s games, against the Boston Celtics the following year, he was also fined by the NBA for making an obscene gesture to a fan.

So it was possible that Johnson, given his history for instigating trouble, had said something “unsavory” that caused Compton to lose his temper.

“He was cursing me and accusing me of trying to send guys to hit him,” Compton told sportswriters.

Minutes, later however, Compton managed to cool down and was back to his old likable and humble self.

He immediately went to the Commissioner’s Office after the game to apologize not only to the officials, but also to Johnson, even if it was clear that he was not entirely at fault.

“At the end of the game, I didn’t act the way that I should have.

That’s really the bottom line,” said Compton. “I don’t curse, I’m not a fighter and if I was, he would squash me in about 10 seconds. It’s a poor weight class. So I’m sorry to the whole PBA fans, the Talk ‘N Text organization. I’ve got to be better than that.”

Compton’s humility makes him a class act, and certainly one that should be emulated by other coaches and players in the PBA. Because at the end of the day, the game of basketball is just that —a game to be played passionately, but with an equal dose of respect, fairness and sportsmanship.

CYAN MAGENTA YELLOW BLACK T U E S D AY : m A r c h 24 , 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

3 teams fight to stay alive

By Jeric Lopez

THE league’s hottest team will try to keep the fire going, while three others will battle for their dear lives in the homestretch of the elimination round of the 2015 Philippine Basketball Association Commissioner’s Cup. Riding high on a five-game who are already safely in the winning streak, NLEX (6-4), quarterfinals and currently already assured of a Top 6 tied for fourth, the Energy finish, wants to keep its run Colas, the Batang Pier and going and gain momentum the Beermen are in dire need heading to the of a win today as Games Tuesday quar ter f inals they try to boost (Smart Araneta Coliseum) when it faces 4:15 p.m. • Barako Bull their chances of vs. NLEX fading Barako making the bus 7 p.m. • San Miguel Bull (4-6) at 4:15 heading to the vs. GlobalPort p.m. at the Smart next round as Araneta Coliseum today. only eight teams will make it.

In the second game, As of now, six teams are desperate teams GlobalPort assured of berths in the (4-6) and San Miguel (3-7) quarterfinals, namely Rain fight for for survival when or Shine, Talk ‘N Text, they clash at 7 p.m.

Purefoods, NLEX, Meralco Unlike the Road Warriors, and Barangay Ginebra.

CYAN MAGENTA YELLOW BLACK

The last two slots, the No. 7 and 8 spots, are being contested by five teams, namely GlobalPort, Barako Bull, Alaska (4-6), Kia (4-7) and San Miguel (3-7). All five still have a shot at making it depending on the results of their final elimination games as the quotient system will come into play in case of ties and/or multiple ties when the dust settles.

Whoever loses among the Batang Pier, the Energy Colas and the Beermen will have a bleaker chance of making it.

Blackwater (2-8) is the lone team eliminated thus far and three more will join it for an early vacation.

After a 0-3 and 1-4 starts in the conference, the red-hot NLEX aims for its sixth straight victory when it plays Barako Bull as it wants to maintain its momentum.

50th career win. Novak Djokovic of Serbia poses for photographers after defeating Roger Federer of Switzerland during the final on Day 14 of the BNP Paribas Open at the Indian Wells Tennis Garden in Indian Wells, California. It was his 50th career win. (Story on A12) AFP

CYAN MAGENTA YELLOW BLACK

B1

TUESDAY: MARCH 24, 2015

RAY S. EÑANO EDITOR

RODERICK T. DELA CRUZ ASSISTANT EDITOR

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

BUSINESS

Manila court okays PWU corporate rehab

By Jenniffer B. Austria

THE Manila regional trial court approved the petition of the Benitez family for the corporate rehabilitation of the Philippine Women’s University, a legal process that will avert the turnover of the school’s properties to STI Holdings Inc. of businessman Eusebio Tanco.

Manila RTC presiding judge Rainelda Estacio-Montesa issued a commencement order dated March 20, 2015, after finding that the involuntary rehabilitation of PWU filed by petitioner-creditor Helena Benitez was “sufficient in form and in substance.”

The RTC also issued a stay order suspending all actions or petitions in court for the

CYAN MAGENTA YELLOW BLACK

enforcement of all claims against the PWU. STI Holdings earlier said it was declared the winning bidder on two PWU properties in Manila in a foreclosure auction conducted by the Manila RTC on March 18. STI said it won the auctions involving the extrajudicial foreclosures of PWU’s properties along Taft Avenue in

Malate, Manila, where the PWU school is located, and another lot in Pilar Hidalgo Lim Street in Malate registered in the name of PWU. The Benitez family said the latest court order on PWU’s corporate rehabilitation prohibited the school from selling, encumbering, transferring or disposing any of its properties, except in the ordinary course of business and barred the company from making any payment on its outstanding liabilities.

The Benitez group said in a statement the court order in effect invalidated the auction of PWU properties which was won

by STI Holdings on March 18, when it bid uncontested after it filed for foreclosure of the PWU campuses in Taft Avenue and Indiana Street in Manila.

The court appointed Miguel Hernandez as the rehabilitation receiver for PWU. PWU media director Lydia Benitez Brown said it was now up to the court to determine a reasonable amount for settlement of all PWU’s obligations to creditors.

The Benitez group claimed PWU owed STI only P448 million since 2011. STI, however, is demanding payment of nearly P1 billion from PWU, including loans acquired from BDO Unibank Inc. worth P223 million in 2011, a loan of P198 million to Unlad, as well as additional funds it invested to pay for salaries and wages, utilities, repair leaks, fix campus flooding and retirement pay, upgrade of laboratory facilities and other operational expenses.

PSE ComPoSitE indEx Closing March 23, 2015

8000 7500 6840 7500 6180

7000

5520

6500

4860

6000 4200 3860 5500

7,840.49 22.11

PESo-dollar ratE

Closing MARCH 23, 2015 45 44

P44.790 CLOSE

43 42 41

HIGH P44.775 LOW P44.850 AVERAGE P44.821 VOLUME 542.100M

P508.00-P728.00 LPG/11-kg tank P38.37-P43.92 Unleaded Gasoline P26.35-P32.65 Diesel P36.75-P43.42 Kerosene P23.70-P24.40 Auto LPG

oPriCES il P today

TUESDAY: MARCH 24, 2015

B2

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

MST BuSineSS Daily STockS Review Monday, March 23, 2015

52 Weeks

Previous

High Low

STOCKS

2.7 75.3 99.4 105.2 63 2.3 4.2 19.6 31.6 22.5 2.95 890 1.01 92.9 1.65 30.5 75 99 140 392 59 146.8 1700 130 2.8

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

42.6 6.1 1.66 2.3 17.98 113 148 17.2 15.8 56.8 4.57 39.5 14 12.98 8.15 12.34 17 27.1 90.5 27 0.014 15.74 9.4 0.98 199.8 10.98 79 5.2 30 90 14.7 317 6.49 5.37 14.48 7.5 14.5 7.03

1.55 63.5 67.5 82.5 50 1.9 1.1 14.5 23.2 6.84 1.75 625 0.175 69.35 1.2 20.45 58 76 119 276 41.5 105.1 1281 116 2.25

Close 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

Low

FINANCIAL 6.24 6 70.4 68.3 118.40 117.00 102.00 100.10 47 46.9 2.29 2.27 2.44 2.39 16.84 16.56 25.1 24.8 8.47 8.27 1.68 1.68 741.00 741.00 0.480 0.435 95.8 94.15 0.95 0.94 18.44 18.40 31.50 31.00 80.15 79.95 95.20 95.10 340.8 335 46 45.7 713.1 171.2 1420.00 1420.00 69.50 68.75 3.03 3.02 INDUSTRIAL 45.85 45.15 1.65 1.62 1.1 1.05 2.12 2.1 8.31 8.1 79 56 90.00 90.00 19.48 19.02 24 21.8 65.75 63.2 1.94 1.79 12.34 11.82 21.250 20.1 11.56 11.20 8.30 8.16 9.93 9.80 25.3 22.5 29.7 29.2 102.6 101.5 14.36 14.06 0.4700 0.4600 14.74 14.70 6.83 6.7 0.640 0.610 213.00 211.20 9.75 9.68 35.50 35.00 2.6 2.6 26.65 26.3 28.9 28.35 7.850 7.810 272.00 269.40 4.05 4.00 4.16 4.15 10.22 9.96 5.25 5.25 11.50 10.88 3.99 3.86 2.89 2.87 2.85 2.06 5.91 5.86 2.9 2.88 6.25 6.2 205 208 1.72 1.7 0.183 0.167 1.52 1.45 2.24 2.22 221.8 218.6 0.72 0.7 21.05 21.00 1.54 1.51 HOLDING FIRMS 0.475 0.460 56.95 55.55 27.10 26.80 7.06 7.03 1.74 1.61 2.68 2.62 2.62 2.56 778 769.5 9.22 8.98 15.40 15.20 4.69 4.50 0.335 0.315 1319 1297 6.31 6.20 71.90 70.15 8.83 8.6 0.82 0.72 15.9 15.34 0.69 0.67 4.94 4.86 5.1 5 0.0400 0.0400 1.620 1.410 0.750 0.730 69.75 68.00 2.80 2.80 910.00 898.00 1.29 1.21 0.97 0.97 105.00 100.00 0.4800 0.4350 0.2410 0.2400 0.330 0.320 PROPERTY 9.050 8.880 10.02 10.02 0.94 0.93

Close

%

Net Foreign

Change Volume

Trade/Buying

6 70.4 118.40 101.10 46.9 2.27 2.39 16.56 24.8 8.30 1.68 741.00 0.455 95.55 0.95 18.40 31.50 80.00 95.20 335.2 45.7 171.8 1420.00 69.05 3.02

0.00 0.43 1.02 0.60 -0.11 0.00 -2.05 -0.84 -1.00 0.00 0.00 2.92 -4.21 0.42 1.06 0.11 1.45 0.06 -0.31 -1.64 -0.65 -0.69 2.53 -0.14 -0.33

331,200 27,440 2,033,440 342,980 53,400 81,740 48,000 5,200 94,800 17,300 1,000 90 1,980,000 6,902,680 71,000 51,300 2,300 24,290 1,210 20,670 17,300 108,380 1,750 16,450 28,000

45.2 1.65 1.1 2.11 8.18 59.9 90.00 19.48 24 65.7 1.8 11.92 20.150 11.44 8.30 9.85 24.5 29.5 102.3 14.10 0.4700 14.74 6.73 0.610 211.60 9.69 35.05 2.6 26.4 28.9 7.810 270.00 4.01 4.15 10.12 5.25 11.34 3.97 2.88 2.85 5.90 2.9 6.2 208 1.72 0.173 1.45 2.22 218.8 0.72 21.00 1.51

0.00 -0.60 1.85 0.00 0.37 6.96 5.88 2.53 9.09 -0.15 -4.76 -2.30 -3.59 0.53 1.34 -0.51 4.70 1.37 -0.20 0.28 0.00 0.27 1.36 -1.61 -1.31 -0.31 0.14 0.00 1.15 0.00 -0.51 -0.37 -1.23 -0.24 1.71 0.00 -0.87 -0.50 0.00 50.00 0.00 0.69 0.00 0.97 1.78 0.58 -2.03 -0.45 -0.55 1.41 -1.41 0.00

4,250,700 23,000 881,000 574,000 39,300 610 10 493,900 868,000 11,990 139,000 276,900 7,375,900 3,378,600 19,888,900 326,400 523,100 1,395,900 362,410 37,500 230,000 10,900 1,135,100 308,000 505,080 2,597,200 6,700 10,000 1,478,600 717,200 132,600 248,480 37,000 1,996,000 1,586,400 200 21,800 554,000 461,000 10,421,000 8,563,300 22,000 11,600 1,750 158,000 2,140,000 61,000 878,000 1,246,220 387,000 700 104,000

0.470 56.40 26.90 7.06 1.74 2.62 2.6 770 9 15.40 4.55 0.330 1302 6.30 71.60 8.81 0.77 15.74 0.69 4.94 5 0.0400 1.620 0.730 68.50 2.80 900.00 1.29 0.97 100.00 0.4750 0.2400 0.325

1.08 1.17 0.00 0.71 0.00 0.38 1.56 0.00 -1.53 1.32 1.11 4.76 -0.46 0.32 1.92 0.11 5.48 -1.63 1.47 1.65 -1.96 0.00 20.90 0.00 0.81 0.00 -0.22 4.03 2.11 -4.67 2.15 -1.23 -1.52

550,000 549,030 9,847,100 54,200 17,000 55,000 29,000 242,780 3,495,200 2,272,900 70,000 1,720,000 303,555 270,900 3,781,820 3,533,100 6,354,000 4,792,100 679,000 12,248,000 45,000 500,000 102,000 96,000 712,290 50,000 798,500 77,000 20,000 540,038 17,270,000 630,000 68,000

8.950 10.02 0.94

0.79 0.20 0.00

3,535,300 2,000 216,000

60,000.00 1,055,687.50 21,979,683.00 9,095,007.00 -47,000.00 67,896.00 -1,927,535.00

181,000.00 233,651,970.50

52 Weeks

Previous

High Low

STOCKS

35.3 6.15 6.1 2 2.51 1.5 0.201 0.98 1.09 0.370 2.25 1.77 1.6 4.88 0.180 0.470 0.74 4.45 24.8 2.06 3.6 19.62 1.02 6.66 1.96 6.5

23.7 4.41 5 1.22 1.21 0.97 0.068 0.47 0.87 0.175 1.22 1.18 1.19 2.75 0.070 0.325 0.4 2.5 18.72 1.45 2.9 14.1 0.58 3.05 0.87 4.37

3.25 43.7 1.09 12.46 14 0.1640 4.05 71 12.3 3.28 9 1700 2008 9.04 2.02 118.9 18.4 12.5 0.017 0.0653 2.2800 9.67 2.2 4.32 1.97 2.45 14.46 0.62 1.040 22.8 6.6 18 107 11.3 3486 0.710 2.01 48.5 74

1.55 27 0.59 10 8.28 0.0960 2.97 44.8 10.14 1.99 4 1080 1580 7.12 1.2 94.4 5 8.72 0.012 0.026 1.560 5.82 1.1 1.9 0.485 1.42 10.14 0.35 0.36 14.54 5.2 8.8 81 4.39 2572 0.250 0.26 32.2 48

Close

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

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

High

Low

Close

37.85 4.3 5.18 0.96 1.25 1.01 0.145 0.455 0.900 0.200 1.50 1.80 1.52 5.46 0.127 0.3400 0.4850 7.44 28.95 1.77 3.16 20.20 0.84 7.41 1.040 7.500

%

Net Foreign

Change Volume

Trade/Buying

37.95 37.50 37.60 4.31 4.26 4.26 5.26 5.12 5.26 0.97 0.95 0.96 1.21 1.21 1.21 1.01 1.01 1.01 0.152 0.145 0.152 0.480 0.470 0.480 0.900 0.900 0.900 0.201 0.201 0.201 1.54 1.49 1.50 1.82 1.78 1.78 1.57 1.53 1.55 5.51 5.3 5.4 0.128 0.121 0.127 0.3400 0.3400 0.3400 0.5000 0.4450 0.4800 7.43 7.29 7.35 30.70 28.85 30.55 1.79 1.77 1.79 3.16 3.15 3.16 20.20 20.20 19.90 0.86 0.84 0.85 7.28 7.28 7.28 1.050 1.030 1.030 7.460 7.350 7.420 SERVICES 6.75 7.4 6.21 7.4 61.4 63 62 62.75 0.700 0.700 0.690 0.690 14.48 14.48 14 14.02 10.80 10.78 10.50 10.62 0.1100 0.1110 0.1100 0.1100 3.94 3.95 3.87 3.9 86.05 87.2 86.35 86.35 10.6 10.6 10.6 10.6 1.77 1.79 1.72 1.79 7.08 7.40 7.08 7.33 995 1000 830 1000 1940 1975 1940 1973 6.66 6.67 6.53 6.62 1.57 1.57 1.57 1.57 112.6 112.7 111.6 112 7.00 7.00 7.00 7.00 11.84 11.8 11.34 11.8 0.015 0.015 0.014 0.014 0.295 0.295 0.275 0.275 1.2800 1.3400 1.2800 1.2900 8.70 8.70 8.78 8.67 1.47 1.4 1.31 1.4 2.29 2.29 2.29 2.29 0.680 0.700 0.700 0.700 1.99 1.99 1.97 1.99 9.3 9.3 8.95 9 0.36 0.365 0.355 0.365 0.500 0.500 0.480 0.500 18.04 18.04 18.04 18.04 4.70 4.60 4.56 4.56 9.01 9.01 9.01 9.01 109.00 107.90 107.90 107.90 13.76 1376.00 13.42 13.76 2810.00 2840.00 2812.00 2828.00 0.600 0.600 0.590 0.600 1.560 1.600 1.540 1.550 40.20 40.70 39.90 40.20 89.00 89.50 87.55 88.70 10.40 10.80 10.40 10.68 0.74 0.74 0.73 0.73 7.08 7.3 7.11 7.11 0.360 0.345 0.345 0.345 1.400 1.390 1.400 1.480 MINING & OIL 0.0056 0.0056 0.0055 0.0055 9.06 9.25 9.05 9.10 0.260 0.265 0.260 0.260 1.14 1.14 1.1 1.1 0.88 0.89 0.88 0.89 8.76 8.76 8.19 8.33 2.41 2.44 2.35 2.35 0.360 0.465 0.360 0.465 0.236 0.238 0.232 0.233 0.244 0.250 0.244 0.244 0.0150 0.0150 0.0140 0.0150 5.14 5.25 5.18 5.23 27.5 28.45 28 28.15 4.17 4.27 4 4.1 0.7300 0.7800 0.7300 0.7600 2.150 2.150 2.080 2.080 0.0120 0.0130 0.0120 0.0130 0.0140 0.0150 0.0140 0.0150 7.62 7.82 7.63 7.65 2.49 2.64 2.5 2.54 0.016 0.016 0.015 0.016 159.50 159.50 157.90 159.00 4.08 4.18 4.01 4.05 0.0100 0.0110 0.0110 0.0110 PREFERRED 65 65.5 64.5 64.6 510 515.5 510 510 118 110.5 110.5 110.5 114.2 120 114.2 114.2 506 506 506 506 6.35 6.3 6.23 6.3 108.9 110 109 110 1075 1085 1080 1085 1040 1040 1037 1040 76.05 76.1 75.85 76.1 84 84.5 83.05 84.5 WARRANTS & BONDS 3.940 4.040 3.880 3.900 SME 7.82 7.85 7.75 7.79 78.25 79.65 77.3 78.5 10 10.44 10.04 10.38 EXCHANGE TRADED FUNDS 127 127.5 127 127.5

-0.66 -0.93 1.54 0.00 -3.20 0.00 4.83 5.49 0.00 0.50 0.00 -1.11 1.97 -1.10 0.00 0.00 -1.03 -1.21 5.53 1.13 0.00 0.00 1.19 -1.75 -0.96 -1.07

3,502,800 1,969,000 986,400 7,445,000 9,000 30,000 12,920,000 780,000 1 40,000 892,000 8,679,000 1,619,000 72,372,200 4,830,000 40,000 330,000 451,600 5,307,700 273,000 114,000 16,238,600 1,304,000 2,200 47,000 25,531,500

-67,761,875.00 2,490,470.00 -525,000.00 1,403,100.00

9.63 2.20 -1.43 -3.18 -1.67 0.00 -1.02 0.35 0.00 1.13 3.53 0.50 1.70 -0.60 0.00 -0.53 0.00 -0.34 -6.67 -6.78 0.78 0.00 -4.76 0.00 2.94 0.00 -3.23 2.82 0.00 0.00 -2.98 0.00 -1.01 0.00 0.64 0.00 -0.64 0.00 -0.34 2.69 -1.35 0.42 -4.17 -5.41

1,995,900 6,840 349,000 540,700 7,803,500 5,630,000 78,000 906,040 1,100 263,000 803,500 2,310 67,090 315,300 121,000 717,430 100 24,800 700,000 29,470,000 874,200 115,500 87,000 4,000 21,000 55,000 6,396,000 670,000 1,487,000 24,100 27,000 100 20 294,000 236,095 918,000 4,539,000 2,195,000 564,980 7,802,900 798,000 1,199,000 0 73,000

-1.79 0.44 0.00 -3.51 1.14 -4.91 -2.49 29.17 -1.27 0.00 0.00 1.75 2.36 -1.68 4.11 -3.26 8.33 7.14 0.39 2.01 0.00 -0.31 -0.74 10.00

329,000,000 1,240,900 -13,650.00 730,000 546,000 2,250.00 426,000 52,800.00 635,100 -48,640.00 4,649,000 66,020,000 273,500.00 6,950,000 11,000 30,200,000 406,800 2,000,100 -23,276,775.00 10,658,000 -1,087,500.00 939,000 -76,000.00 881,000 31,700,000 81,900,000 1,711,100 -9,568,141.00 490,000 13,300,000 967,540 30,308,274.00 141,000 800,000

-0.62 0.00 -6.36 0.00 0.00 -0.79 1.01 0.93 0.00 0.07 0.60

213,610 4,710 17,000 33,630 3,000 65,200 22,200 595 1,160 176,780 63,660

-1.02

94,000

-0.38 0.32 3.80

387,300 57,420 2,368,500

0.39

1,420

-745,700.00 4,611,500.00 -2,110,218.00

MST Aboitiz Power Corp.

Agrinurture Inc. Alliance Tuna Intl Inc. Alsons Cons.

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

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

Lafarge Rep Liberty Flour LMG Chemicals 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’ 4.88 RFM Corporation 1.65 Roxas and Co. 2.28 Roxas Holdings 210 San Miguel’Pure Foods `B’ 1.7 Splash Corporation 0.102 Swift Foods, Inc. 1.6 TKC Steel Corp.

1.37 Trans-Asia Oil 111.3 Universal Robina 0.550 Vitarich Corp.

9.01 Vivant Corp.

1.33 Vulcan Ind’l.

45.2 1.66 1.08 2.11 8.15 56 85.00 19 22 65.8 1.89 12.2 20.900 11.38 8.19 9.90 23.4 29.1 102.5 14.06 0.4700 14.70 6.64 0.620 214.40 9.72 35.00 2.6 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 2.88 6.2 206 1.69 0.172 1.48 2.23 220 0.71 21.30 1.51

0.7 61.6 31.85 7.39 2.7 3.29 2.05 747 11.34 84 5.34 0.23 1060 7.1 59.8 6.55 0.9 19.9 0.75 5.4 5.35 0.0550 2.31 0.84 88 3.5 866 2.2 1.39 156 0.285 0.245 0.510

0.46 45.75 21.95 6.3 1.550 1.8 1.04 508 7.470 47.25 4 0.144 706 5.3 36.7 3.95 0.58 12.96 0.580 4.06 4.5 0.027 1.23 0.355 54.5 1.5 680 1.04 0.85 58.05 0.158 0.150 0.295

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

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

Lodestar Invt. Holdg.Corp.

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

Minerales Industrias Corp.

Pacifica `A’ Prime Media Hldg Prime Orion 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 7.01 1.74 2.61 2.56 770 9.14 15.20 4.50 0.315 1308 6.28 70.25 8.8 0.73 16 0.68 4.86 5.1 0.0400 1.340 0.730 67.95 2.80 902.00 1.24 0.95 104.90 0.4650 0.2430 0.330

9.03 26.95 1.99

5.51 12 0.99

8990 HLDG 8.880 Anchor Land Holdings Inc. 10.00 A. Brown Co., Inc. 0.94

6.68 7.86 8.1 275 2.25 0.191 2.5 2.68 188.6 1.3 26 2.17

High

31.75 2.51 0.88 1.25 9.58 40.2 15 14.6 9.82 21.5 0.82 17.3 5.98 9.05 4.25 8.68 8.61 12.2 48.9 16 0.0097 12.8 2.05 0.32 150.8 8.55 48.5 2.8 20.35 12 10.1 246 3.37 4 11.56 5 9.94 4.33

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

SHARES 12,223,830 97,528,940 72,773,866 169,553,616 83,139,670 586,874,487 1,024,909,049

930,834.00

-383,236.00

-335,000.00 -714,335.00 375,125.00 1,175,300.00 -133,865.00

0.87 11.46 0.435 1.6

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

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

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

Manila Bulletin Manila Jockey Melco Crown MG Holdings NOW Corp.

Pacific Online Sys. Corp.

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

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

1.04 Yehey

0.0086 17.24 0.325 1.2 1.73 10.98

0.0028 11.48 0.225 0.5 0.76 4.93

28,350.00 -239,033,725.00 1,157,138.00 70,520,467.00 -13,169,542.00

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

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

39,341,726.00

44.1

26.3

18,350,240.00

118 116 511 9.04

101 102 480 6.76

77.3 81.85

74.2 75

2.42

0.0010 LR Warrant

10.96 35

2.4 7.74

Double Dragon IRipple E-Business Intl Xurpas

119.6

94

First Metro ETF

-14,617,125.00

-2,387,508.00 -1,276,500.00

-419,448.00 67,596,810.00 -30,386,504.00 82,665,792.00 -1,015,084.00 907,070.00 -13,565,780.00 -16,388,204.00 -439,972.00 73,600.00

486,759.00

-63,754,890.00 5,793,830.00

3,162,005.00 -10,088,830.00 -667,126.00 -6,739,786.00

-6,117,410.00 899,952.00 730,600.00

-76,060.00 321,022.00 570.00

74,212,422.00 -21,600.00

-16,725,913.50 48,483,270.00

4,466,750.00 -4,687,110.00 199,970.00

85,400.00

-8,321,750.50 -105,985,490.00

16,780.00 -11,293,918.00

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

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

TA Petroleum United Paragon ABS-CBN Holdings Corp.

Ayala Corp. Pref `B1’ First Gen F First Gen G GLOBE PREF P GMA Holdings Inc. MWIDE PREF PCOR-Preferred B PF Pref 2 SMC Preferred A SMC Preferred C

T op g ainerS VALUE 975,562,611.55 1,436,754,886.42 2,784,696,311.2568 1,277,775,624.99 1,953,531,722.57 370,685,609.278 8,831,040,453.0648

STOCKS

FINANCIAL 1,841.73 (UP) 7.00 INDUSTRIAL 12,655.32 (DOWN) 17.74 HOLDING FIRMS 7,001.77 (UP) 25.04 PROPERTY 3,145.71 (DOWN) 2.06 SERVICES 2,111.89 (UP) 4.76 MINING & OIL 15,919.30 (UP) 56.48 PSEI 7,840.49 (UP) 22.11 All Shares Index 4,537.78 (UP) 8.47 Gainers: 91; Losers: 81; Unchanged: 51; Total: 223

-73,000.00 51,330,690.00

-198,550.00 88,094,202.00

-20,441,595.00 19,705.00

753,298.00 10,456,960.00

3,544,155.00 5,300.00 36,990.00 15,538,400.00

-6,280.00 -34,418,347.00

108,700.00

258,390.00 -78,400.00 -98,500.00 -7,175,136.00

240,120.00 -901.00

-790,432.00 7,173,990.00 76,110.00 -26,817,520.00 -2,602,930.00 -9,300,944.00 -3,554,755.00

-8,983,589.50

11,420.00

-2,158,081.00 -473,385.00

31,200.00 36,871.50 -3,549,398.00

T op L oSerS Close (P)

Change (%)

STOCKS

Close (P)

Change (%)

Pryce Corp. `A'

2.85

50.00

Island Info

0.275

-6.78

Geograce Res. Phil. Inc.

0.465

29.17

IP E-Game Ventures Inc.

0.014

-6.67

Prime Media Hldg

1.620

20.90

First Gen F

110.5

-6.36

United Paragon

0.0110

10.00

Yehey

1.400

-5.41

2GO Group'

7.4

9.63

Dizon

8.33

-4.91

Cirtek Holdings (Chips)

24

9.09

Lorenzo Shipping

1.4

-4.76

Oriental Pet. `A'

0.0130

8.33

Da Vinci Capital

1.8

-4.76

Oriental Pet. `B'

0.0150

7.14

Top Frontier

100.00

-4.67

Bogo Medelin

59.9

6.96

MEDCO Holdings

0.455

-4.21

C. Azuc De Tarlac

90.00

5.88

Waterfront Phils.

0.345

-4.17

TUESDAY: MARCH 24, 2015

B3

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

PAL set to acquire 5 planes for $250m

Solar lighting.

Volunteers from Pepsi Philippines launched a mission to light up homes and streets in Barangay New Kawayan, Tacloban City which is inhabited by typhoon Yolanda survivors. Pepsi installed 76 solar bottle house lights and 23 solar street lights, benefitting 76 households in New Kawayan resettlement. Shown are Pepsi volunteers installing a solar street light under the watchful eye of Liter of Light project head Illac Diaz III.

By Darwin G. Amojelar

FLAG carrier Philippine Airlines will spend $280 million this year to purchase five new aircraft and spare parts, its top executive said Monday.

PAL president and chief operating officer Jaime Bautista said the 2015 capital expenditures would be used to purchase five Airbus A321s worth $250 million and spare parts worth $30 million.

“The two aircraft is through sale and lease which we have already finalized, while the remaining three aircraft is finance lease, so we will borrow money from financial institutions,” Bautista said.

The company plans to secure loans amounting to $250 million to finance the capex. “Our board of directors have already approved the financing,” Bautista said.

The flag carrier, which has a market value of about $3.4 billion, expects the delivery of the five new A321s from Airbus until June this year.

The airline led by tycoon Lucio Tan earlier secured consent from Airbus to defer the delivery of 33 aircraft orders to 2024, from the original schedule of 2020.

Before Tan regained control of PAL, the San Miguel Corp.led management had ordered 64

aircraft from Airbus, with a list price of $7 billion under a fleet modernization program.

These include 44 single-aisle A321s and 20 wide body A330s.

Tan’s LT Group reacquired a 49-percent stake of San Miguel in PAL at a cost of $1 billion in September 2014. San Miguel bought its stake in the flag carrier from Tan for $500 million in 2012.

PAL and unit PAL Express had 73 aircraft as of end-February.

PALex had 13 A320-200, two A330-300 and four Q300/ DHC8-300, while PAL had six Boeing 777-300ER, six A340-300, 13 A330-300, 10 A320-200 and 14 A3210231.

PAL Holdings posted a comprehensive loss of P192.3 million in the July-September last year, down 82.5 percent from P1.09-billion loss in the same three-month period a year earlier.

Revenue amounted to P25.03 billion, up by 38.9 percent from P18.02 billion previously.

Passenger revenue climbed to P19.77 billion from P14.51 billion in 2013, while cargo revenue climbed 39 percent year-on-year to P2.22 billion.

Market rises; RLC, Globe climb STOCKS advanced for the third day, following rallies on Wall Street and in Europe, while Asian markets extended a six-month high.

The Philippine Stock Exchange index, the 30-company benchmark, rose 22 points, or 0.3 percent, to close at 7,840.49 on Monday. It was now up 8.4 percent since the start of the year.

The heavier index, representing all shares, gained 8 points, or 0.2 percent, to settle at 4,537.78 on a value turnover of P8.8 billion.

Gainers outnumbered losers, 91 to 81, while 51 issues were unchanged.

Property developer Robinsons Land Corp. rose 5.5 percent to P30.55 to become the biggest gainer among the 20 most active stocks. JG Summit Holdings Inc., the holding company of tycoon John Gokongwei, added 1.9 percent to settle at P71.60.

Globe Telecom Inc., the second

largest mobile phone provider, rose 1.7 percent to P1,973.

Geothermal power producer Energy Development Corp. picked up 1.3 percent to P8.30.

Meanwhile, Asian stocks were mostly higher Monday. Tokyo ended 0.99 percent higher, adding 194.14 points, to 19,754.36 while in late trade, Hong Kong was up 0.32 percent and Shanghai surged 1.03 percent, marking a ninth straight gain.

Seoul was flat, dipping 0.65 points to 2,036.59 and Sydney eased 0.32 percent, or 19.4 points, to 5,956.1.

With few catalysts to drive business early in the week, investors took their lead from their US counterparts who have been cheered by the Fed’s dovish comments on rates.

While the central bank on Wednesday opened the door for a rise this year, it said there

were still weaknesses in the US economy, including low inflation and soft manufacturing. The news sent global shares soaring and the dollar tumbling.

In New York on Friday, the Dow jumped 0.94 percent, the S&P 500 climbed 0.90 percent and the Nasdaq added 0.68 percent to end above 5,000 points for the first time since March 2000 and for only the fourth time ever.

European markets also surged, helped by Greece’s promise to submit fresh bailout reform plans. London’s FTSE closed above 7,000 points for the first time in its history, while the Paris CAC 40 is at levels not seen since early 2008.

In currency trading on Monday, the dollar bought 119.86 yen in afternoon trade, down from 120.11 yen in New York and well off the 120.71 yen in Tokyo earlier Friday. With Bloomberg, AFP

SSI Group’s 2014 profit grew 63% to P1b on store expansion

By Jenniffer B. Austria SSI Group Inc.of the Tantoco family, the country’ largest specialty store retailer, said unaudited net income grew 63 percent in 2014 to P998.7 million from P613.7 million in 2013 on aggressive rollout of new stores.

SSI said in a disclosure to the stock exchange unaudited revenues increased 19 percent in 2014 to P15.2 billion from 2013, with sales in the fourth quarter rising 26 percent to P5.2 billion.

SSI Group opened 126 stores, with total retail space of 35,500 square meters last year.

The aggressive rollout of new stores enabled the company to increase the retail footprint by 36 percent.

“2014 was a landmark year for SSI, as we executed our largest store expansion program to date,” SSI Group president Anton Huang said.

“We continue to leverage on a brand portfolio that resonates with consumers, on the availability of prime retail space, and on evolving consumption patterns and consumer tastes. We expect that these factors will continue to drive our performance in 2015,” he said.

The group had 106 brands in

2014 was a landmark year for SSI, as we executed the largest store expansion program to date.

its portfolio and was operating 723 specialty stores covering 134,000 square meters of retail space, as well as 90 FamilyMart convenience stores as of end2014.

SSI Group said it planned to

add 37,000 square meters of retail space in 2015 and 2016 to support the acquisition of new brands.

Huang said the SSI Group would add 21,000 square meters of retail space involving 130 new stores this year and another 16,000 square meters of retail space next year.

The group is also currently in the final stage of negotiations to acquire three to four new international brands to be introduced in the domestic market.

Huang said for the convenience store business, FamilyMart would end 2015 with 150 to 160 stores as it

aimed to become a strong second in the convenience store industry.

SSI Group currently has more than 100 international brands in the Philippines, including Hermès, Prada, Gucci, Burberry, Salvatore Ferragamo, Lacoste, Michael Kors, Kate Spade, Gap, Old Navy, Zara, Stradivarius, Bershka, Aeropostale, Samsonite, Nine West, Payless Shoe Source, Beauty Bar, Marks and Spencer, Pottery Barn and TWG. The company raised P5.2 billion through an initial public offering at the Philippine Stock Exchange in November last year.

T U E S D AY : M A R C H 24 , 2 0 1 5

B4

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

San Miguel spending P13b to extend SLEx

By Darwin G. Amojelar

CONGLOMERATE San Miguel Corp. said Monday it plans to spend P13.1 billion to extend the South Luzon Expressway from Sto. Tomas Batangas to Lucena, Quezon province.

South Luzon Tollways Corp., a unit of San Miguel, said in a statement it expected to start the 58-kilometer SLEX-Toll Road 4 phase in less than a year.

The project is divided into five sections. Section 1 covers Sto. Tomas, Batangas to Macban, Laguna (10.58 kms); Macban, Laguna to San Pablo, Laguna (12.2 kms); San Pablo, Laguna to Tiaong, Quezon (8.1 kms); Tiaong to Candelaria, Quezon (14.4 kms) and Candelaria to Lucena City, Quezon (12.31-kms).

SLTC said it planned to complete the first section from Santo Tomas to Macban by mid-2017

and the entire project by 2019.

The four-lane, expressway project is seen to make travel to and from Southern Tagalog provinces such as Batangas, Laguna, Quezon and the Bicol region faster and safer.

The project is expected to cut travel time between Sto. Tomas and Lucena to just one hour from the usual four hours.

“We look at infrastructure as an opportunity to participate in the growth of our country. Quality infrastructure will change and impact lives,” San Miguel president and chief operating officer Ramon Ang said.

“The tollway will help encourage new investments across these regions. Land values will appreciate; new businesses will emerge. Because of the new roads, progress will be brought to the towns and barangays. And we are happy that we are in a position to contribute,” he added.

Ang said the company in the next few years planned to invest about P168 billion to construct modern tollroads and highways at par with those in neighboring Asian countries.

SLEX-Toll Road 4 is the latest project in San Miguel’s infrastructure portfolio, which already includes the Tarlac-Pangasinan-La Union Expressway, the at-grade and elevated Skyway system and Skyway Stage 3, the NAIA Expressway, the existing SLEX, and the recently upgraded and expanded Southern Tagalog Arterial Road, or STAR Tollway.

Veggie funds. Agriculture Assistant Secretary Leandro Gazmin (second from left) and High Value Crops Development Program director Jennifer Remoquillo (left) award to Roxas Mayor Benedict Calderon (second from right) a P5.7-million check in support to the municipality’s initiative on the production of vegetables and other produce. The fund, awarded under the Productivity Enhancement of Vegetable Project of the Agriculture Department and the local government of Roxas during the Ist Pinakbet Festival held at the Isabela Agri-Pinoy Trading Center on March 17, 2015, will be used for the procurement of high-yielding seeds and other inputs, development of farm sites, and enhancement of existing production areas. Also in photo is Isabela Governor Faustino Dy III.

Meralco eyes pre-paid service expansion

By Alena Mae S. Flores MANILA Electric Co., the country’s biggest electricity retailer, is expanding its prepaid service by an additional 100,000 customers on top of the existing 40,000 under a commercial pilot program.

Alfredo Panlilio, senior vice president and head of customer retail service and corporate communication of Meralco, said Monday the company was waiting final approval on the rules from the Energy Regulatory Commission “We have been on commer-

cial pilot since last year,” Panlilio said. “We want to finish it [rollout of the 40,000 customers] if not June, by the end of the year the latest. I’m pushing my team that by midyear, we have completed the 40,000 so that once there is approval, we can go commercial immediately.”

Panlilio said Meralco had asked approval for the rollout of an additional 100,000 prepaid electricity meters from the regulator.

He said the expansion followed the strong interest from government agencies such as the National Housing Authority and

the Philippine National Police.

“NHA is talking about 30,000 to 40,000 as soon as possible.

PNP is interested,” Panlilio said.

The official said the commercial rollout of prepaid electricity for the entire franchise area of Meralco was expected to be completed in the next two to three years.

“A lot of cities want to do prepaid. Quezon City, Las Piñas, Cainta, Mandaluyong,” Panlilio said, adding Meralco had studied the density of the population and segment of the market before implementing prepaid electricity service.

Software freedom IT all started in 1980 with a paper jam.

CHIN WONG Richard Stallman, a 27-yearold programmer at the time with MIT’s Artificial Intelligence Lab, wanted to modify the software that drove the new Xerox 9700 laser printer to get it to send out an electronic alert over the network every time the paper jammed so that somebody could walk over to it and fix the problem. When he was denied access to the source code, Stallman recalls, this set him thinking about how software should be shared freely so that users could modify it to suit their needs.

This notion grew stronger when AT&T began selling copies of the Unix operating system without the source code, transforming what it had developed collaboratively with researchers and students from several universities around the world, into a commercial and proprietary product. This angered many programmers, including Stallman, who saw proprietary software as a way for commercial companies to control and lock in their customers.

In 1985, Stallman crystalized and expanded these ideas in the GNU Manifesto, a landmark document published in the March issue of Dr. Dobb’s Journal of Software Tools. Today, 30 years to the month, the ideas in Stallman’s manifesto continue to provide the philosophical underpinnings for a vibrant community that makes Free and Open Source Software (FOSS) possible.

In his manifesto (http://www.gnu.org/gnu/manifesto.html), Stallman outlined the features of GNU, a Unix-compatible operating system that he would write and give away for free. (GNU is a recursive acronymn that stands for Gnu’s Not Unix.)

In one section of the manifesto, Stallman explained why all computer users would benefit from free software.

“Once GNU is written, everyone will be able to obtain good system software free, just like air.

“This means much more than just saving everyone the price of a Unix license. It means that much wasteful duplication of system programming effort will be avoided. This effort can go instead into advancing the state of the art.

“Complete system sources will be available to everyone. As a result, a user who needs changes in the system will always be free to make them himself, or hire any available programmer or company to make them for him. Users will no longer be at the mercy of one programmer or company which owns the sources and is in sole position to make changes.

“Schools will be able to provide a much more educational environment by encouraging all students to study and improve the system code. Harvard’s computer lab used to have the policy that no program could be installed on the system if its sources were not on public display, and upheld it by actually refusing to install certain programs. I was very much inspired by this.

“Finally, the overhead of considering who owns the system software and what one is or is not entitled to do with it will be lifted.

“Arrangements to make people pay for using a program, including licensing of copies, always incur a tremendous cost to society through the cumbersome mechanisms necessary to figure out how much... a person must pay for. And only a police state can force everyone to obey them....

“Copying all or parts of a program is as natural to a programmer as breathing, and as productive. It ought to be as free.”

Thanks to ideas such as these and their impact on thousands of developers over the last three decades, I can fire up my Linux computer at home today and use LibreOffice instead of MS Office, Gimp instead of Adobe Photoshop, Thunderbird instead of MS Outlook and VLC instead of Windows Media Player, all for free without having to worry about buying a license. It is truly liberating.

Thirty years after the manifesto appeared in print, the New Yorker commemorated its publication and explored its impact on the software industry through an excellent article (http://nyr. kr/1FxIZCB) by Maria Bustillos, which finds that Stallman, now 62, is still very much a fee software activist.

Stallman’s influence with developers, who know him by his initials RMS, remains immense, Bustillos writes.

“When I asked around about him, many people spoke of him as one might of a beloved but eccentric and prickly uncle,” she writes.

“They would roll their eyes a bit, then hasten to add, as more than one did, ‘But he’s right about most things.’ I told Stallman that I’d spoken with several developers who venerate his work, and who had even said that without it the course of their lives might have been altered. But they don’t seem to do what you say, I observed; they all have iPhones. ‘I don’t understand that either,’ he said. ‘If they don’t realize that they need to defend their freedom, soon they won’t have any.’”

Digital life

Column archives and blog at: http://www.chinwong.com

CYAN MAGENTA YELLOW BLACK

CYAN MAGENTA YELLOW BLACK

B6

TUESDAY: MARCH 24, 2015

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

Rio Tuba lime plant completed

By Anna Leah E. Gonzales

UNICHAMP Mineral Philippines Inc. has completed the construction of a $24-million lime manufacturing plant on an eight-hectare site at the Rio Tuba Economic Processing Zone in Rio Tuba, Bataraza, Palawan province.

Unichamp Philippines, a unit of the Unichamp Group of Malaysia, built the Rio Tuba plant that will supply high-quality quicklime and milk lime to Coral Bay Nickel Corp., a unit of Sumitomi Metal Mining Co. of Japan.

Unichamp did not disclose details of the plant. Earlier reports said it could produce approximately 135,000 tons of quicklime and 170,000 tons of lime milk a year.

Construction of the plant started in the first quarter of 2013 and was fully completed by the third quarter of last year.

Unichamp said CBNC had relied on imported slaked lime from overseas suppliers prior to the establishment of the plant.

Quicklime and milk lime are made from natural limestone produced by Rio Tuba Nickel Mining Corp.

Industrial lime products are used in the neutralization process for environmental treatment, soil treatment in agriculture industry, soil stabilization for road construction, water treatment for the production of potable water, steel production, sugar refinery and paper industry.

Unichamp said the plant’s ability to supply locally produced high quality industrial lime products would help eliminate the reliance on imports and reduce the foreign currency outflow of the country.

“CBNC spends tens of millions in buying limestone. This facility is a big revenue saver for the country. Also, power consumption will not be a problem because in a lime business, consumption power is negligible. We use petroleum coke [petcoke], a derivative of petroleum refinery,” said Unichamp Executive Chairman Daniel Lim.

COSCO regional service. Adriatic Gate Container Terminal, the container handling facility

of International Container Terminal Services Inc. in the Port of Rijeka, Croatia, launched China Ocean Shipping Co.’s Adriatic–Greece–Turkey service when COSCO selected AGCT as the first port of call of the service. The maiden call of Contship Eco on February 24 marked the AGCT launch. The service, which directly connects Rijeka with Greek and Turkish ports, also links the Northern Adriatic ports with Piraeus, Greece. COSCO is China’s largest enterprise specializing in global shipping, modern logistics and ship building and repairing.

In BrIef Ayala spent P9b for infra THE infrastructure unit of conglomerate Ayala Corp. has invested P9 billion in Philippine rail projects under the government’s public private partnership program.

Ayala said in a disclosure to the Philippine Stock Exchange AC Infra Holdings Corp.’s total equity investment commitment for the LRT Line 1 Cavite Extension Project amounted to P8.5 billion at end-December last year.

AC Infra owns 50 percent of the shares of Light Rail Manila Holdings that resulted in a 35-percent interest in Light Rail Manila Corp. , which earlier won the bidding for the P64.9-billion LRT1 Cavite Extension, one of the PPP projects.

Metro Pacific Investments Corp, through Metro Pacific Light Rail Corp. owns 55 percent of LRMC and Macquarie Infrastructure Holdings (Philippines) Inc. holds 10 percent.

LRMC will assume the operations and maintenance of the existing 20-kilometer LRT1, and construct the 11.7-kilometer extension of the rail line southward from the Baclaran station to Bacoor, Cavite. Darwin G. Amojelar

Maynilad sewage plant MAYNILAD Water Services Inc. said Monday it awarded the contract to build its P1.044-billion sewage treatment plan) in Cupang, Muntinlupa City to the J.E. Manalo-Degremont Consortium.

Maynilad said in a statement J.E. Manalo would provide the civil works while Degremont will extend the technology for the facility.

The Cupang STP is expected to provide wastewater services toover 58,000 households from Barangays Alabang,

Bayanan, Buli, Cupang, Putatan and Sucat in Muntinlupa City.

The facility is designed to treat up to 46 million liters of wastewater per day, and will help clear the Laguna Lake.

The Cupang STP is one of six wastewater facilities funded by Maynilad’s $137.5-million loan from the World Bank for the development and improvement of wastewater services in the West Zone. Anna Leah E. Gonzales

Robinsons Retail nets P3.6b ROBINSONS Retail Holdings Inc., the retail arm of the Gokongwei Group, said net income attributable to equity holders of the parent company in 2014 rose 29.5 percent to P3.56 billon from P2.75 billion in 2013, driven by higher income from operations and interest income.

Robinsons Retail said in a disclosure to the stock exchange net sales in 2014 jumped 19.5 percent to P80 billion from P67.25 billion in 2013, boosted by additional sales contribution from 263 new stores opened in 2014, as well as the full-year sales contribution from 152 stores opened in 2013.

The company also posted same store sales growth of 3.6 percent in 2014, higher than the 2.6 percent increase in 2013.

Robinsons Retail operated 1,327 stores as of end 2014 from 1,064 stores as of end 2013.

The new stores opened in 2014 enabled the company to expand its total gross floor area by 18.6 percent year on year, or on track with the company’s target.

“It has been a good year for Robinsons Retail for exceeding our like-for-like sales as well as expansion if gross floor area targets. Our sales hit the P80-billion mark for the first time while same store sales growth was strong despite intense competition,” Robinsons Retail president and chief operating officer Robina Gokongwei-Pe said.

Jenniffer B. Austria

Guarding consumers against deception 2 LATE in 2014, I wrote a column in which I called the attention RUDY ROMERO of the Secretary of Trade and Industry to the substandard consumer protection services of his Department, suggested that Filipino consumers were not getting the protection that the law granted them and proposed that Secretary Gregory Domingo got his consumer-protection people together and read them the Riot Act. My dissatisfaction and frustration arose from the case of a friend of mine, who felt cheated and shortchanged by a fitness-first company which offered a promo benefit that turned out to be unavailable.

My friend tried to reason with the company but that did not get anywhere. In point of fact, the manager of the establishment, a foreigner, became arrogant. Frustrated and angry, my friend turned to the Consumer Protection Division of the Department of Trade and Industry. That decision proved to be the start of Harrowing Experience No. 2.

The Consumer Protection staff acted like the word ‘urgency’ was not in their vocabulary. They shuffled around their office--this is in Trafalgar Building in Makati City’s De la Costa St.--passed papers from desk to desk and generally behaved like consumer protection was something that could wait until manana. When the respondent of my friend’s complaint failed to make an appearance at a scheduled conference, it received a mere slap on the wrist.

That is when my friend turned to me for counsel and help. I told her that perhaps Secretary Domingo did not know what his Consumer Protection people were not doing and should be given a chance to find out and initiate corrective measures. And that’s exactly what I did on my friend’s behalf: bring the matter to the Secretary’s attention.

That appeared to have done the trick. A few weeks later a decision emerged from Fair Trade and Enforcement Bureau on my friend’s administrative case for the fitness-first company’s violation of the Consumer Protection Act of the Philippines, specifically the Act’s sales promotion provisions.

Before getting to the Wherefore part of its decision, the Fair Trade and Enforcement Bureau posed a number of questions. “Assuming for the sake of argument,” the Bureau said, “that there were indeed terms and conditions other than those reflected in the ‘Bring A Friend’ poster, where were those terms and conditions written?” The Bureau elaborated: “The respondent cannot just make up terms and conditions as it goes along, in order for clients to be not deceived or misled... and material facts must be revealed.”

For good measure the Bureau added: “Evidently the respondent’s advertisement was misleading... (I)t stated that the complainant could “Bring a Friend” without any concrete qualifications or conditions [as to] who to bring.”

The decision, in its dispositive portion, found the fitness-first company liable for violation of the Deceptive Sales Acts and Practices (provisions), particularly for its deceptive, false and misleading advertisement.

In the end, things ended well, for the DTI did the right thing. But did my friend stop there? She did not.

Since the arrogant manager was a foreigner, she decided to check her status at the Department of Labor and Employment--do Filipinos need foreigners to manage fitness establishments?--and at the Bureau of Immigration. Bingo, the foreigner was working without a working visa. She was forthwith deported to New Zealand.

My friend scored two victories: one for consumer protection and one for protection of Filipino professionals from foreign professionals working illegally in this country.

BUSINESS CLASS

E-mail: rudyromero777@yahoo.com

NOT IC E TO T H E PU BL IC

This is to inform the public that APRIL CHARMAINE C.ESPINOSA (effectiveMarch 12,2015), whose picture appear above, ceased to be Chief Administrator and is no longer connected with Artikulo Uno Productions, Inc. A ny t r a n s a c t i o n s e n t e r e d i n t o by t h e s a i d p e r s o n o n b e h a l f o f t h e Ar tikulo Uno Productions, Inc. shall not be honored by the said c o m p a n y. ( T N S - M a r 2 4 , 2 0 15 )

t u e s D aY : M a r c H 24 , 2 0 1 5

WORLD

cesar barrioquinto EDITOR

editorial@thestandard.com.ph

B7

Pinball paradise lives on in Budapest BUDAPEST—Glistening signs, flashing lights and non-stop tinkling lure scores of tourists in Budapest to Europe’s largest pinball museum, where a passionate collector is bent on reviving the once-popular pastime.

In the basement of a nondescript apartment house, Balazs Palfi displays a unique collection of over 140 working machines that has turned into pilgrimage site for pinball enthusiasts.

“Video games cannot replace them,” insisted the 42-year-old Hungarian on a busy Saturday in his museum. “Since the 1990s, pinball machines have disappeared from most bars. But there is now a renaissance of pinball culture.

“From bars and pubs, the pinball scene moved to museums and collectors,” he told AFP. Launched less than a year ago, Palfi’s museum became a quick success.

Open to the public five days a week, it has become a top attraction in Hungary’s capital, according to the popular travel website Tripadvisor.

Most machines are usually available, and visitors are encouraged to play as long as they want for an eight euro ($9) entrance fee.

On busy weeks an average 400 people show up, losing themselves in the maze of games and mesmerized for hours. More than half of the visitors are foreigners.

“We don’t have them anymore in England, it is a retro thing,” enthused one visitor who identified herself as Kim. A Canadian tourist shrieked with delight, saying: “Oh my God, I have not played ‘The Simpsons’ since I was a kid!”

The oldest piece in the collection dates back to 1871, when the ball had to make its way though dozens of pins on a wooden board.

Flashing vintage machines from the 1980s and 1990s feature popular rock bands like Guns N’ Roses and ACDC or movies like “Indiana Jones” or “Star Wars”. Horror and space themes notably are in vogue, with tourists and hipsters flocking to the noisy cave-like setting.

A handful of arcade games, such as “Space Invaders” or “Mortal Kombat” are also available.

Only a fifth of the machines were bought in Hungary. The rest Palfi located and shipped from 16 different countries, including the United States, Belgium and France.

Hungary itself never produced pinball machines. The only known game in Hungarian was adapted from a Spanish game and is called “Mesevonat” (Tale Train) and is on display at the museum. AFP

March for dignity. Demonstrators take part in an anti-austerity demonstration dubbed “the Marches for Dignity 22-M” in Madrid on March 21.

Tens of thousands of people from all over Spain rallied in Madrid, many of them after several days’ march to demand “Bread, work, housing and dignity” on the eve of regional elections in Andalusia considered a test to social unrest. AFP

Officials warn of new terror threat to France PARIS—The threat of a jihadist attack in France has reached a level “without precedent” and new attacks are inevitable, according to top counter-terrorism officials “The threat is permanent,” said one high-level official in the defense ministry, speaking on condition of anonymity.

“Not one day goes by without an alert, the discovery of a network trying to send people to Syria or Iraq, or an intervention [by the security services].

“The number of targets has exploded. There are two or three thousand, maybe four thousand, people identified or suspected of evil intentions.”

Nor are they all amateurs, the source added, and many are highly educated.”They are pros, not dropouts,” he said.

Defense ministry specialists say the jihadists “use the best encryption and

concealment techniques” and that security services are “playing catch-up”.

“Every time we get our hands on a network, we see they are each using seven or eight SIM cards, changing them constantly. And the most cunning don’t go near phones at all -- they use messengers.”

The biggest concerns relate to the estimated 200 individuals who have returned from training or fighting in areas held by the Islamic State group in Iraq and Syria.

“They have lost all inhibitions about violence,” said another top counter-terrorism official, also speaking on condition of anonymity.

Security services place them under the tightest possible surveillance, but

resources are limited and the authorities are also painfully aware that militants may wait years before acting.

That was the case with the Kouachi brothers who carried out the attack on Charlie Hebdo satirical magazine in January.

They had long-standing links to jihadist networks in Paris, and one had traveled to Yemen for training back in 2011, but they had gradually fallen off the radar of security services after laying low for several years.

Officials also fear that competition between militant groups may drive them to ever-more brutal acts.

“Al-Qaeda needs to restore its prestige and will try to compete with IS with complex and major actions,” said the official.

He highlighted the threat from an Al-Qaeda sub-group known as Khorasan, which is still thought to be planning a major airline attack.

One of Khorasan’s key members is a French explosives expert, David Dru-

geon, who is thought to have survived an attempted assassination by a US drone strike last year.

That compares with the more conventional military threat posed by IS, the official said, “which is in the process of training commandos and sending them onto our territory with highquality equipment”.

Since the attacks in Paris in January that left 17 dead, France has been on the highest possible alert with thousands of police and troops deployed at sensitive sites, such as media headquarters and synagogues.

But counter-terrorism officials say this will do little to prevent an attack.

Unveiling new surveillance laws on Thursday, Prime Minister Manuel Valls said the jihadist threat was “constantly evolving,” emanating as much from groups based abroad as from individuals present on French soil.

“The problem is not to know if there will be a new attack,” said Valls. “It is to know when and where.” AFP

Indonesia detains alleged IS recruiters

Statement on Iran. United States Secretary of State John Kerry arrives at the International Olympic Museum to tour the museum and to deliver a statement about the recently concluded round of negotiations with Iran over their nuclear program at the in Lausanne, Switzerland, on March 21. Kerry said world powers were “united” in their nuclear talks with Iran amid speculation of splits with France and stressed he would not “rush” into a bad deal. AFP

JAKARTA—Indonesian anti-terror police have arrested five men who allegedly arranged for a group of mostly women and children to try and enter Syria to join the Islamic State group, an official said.

The 11 children, four women and one man, detained in the Turkish border town of Gaziantep, are the latest example of Indonesians heading to battlegrounds in the Middle East.

Fears have been growing about the influence of IS in Indonesia, which is the world’s most populous Muslimmajority nation and has long struggled with Islamic militancy. Hundreds of Indonesians are feared to have joined the jihadists.

In a series of raids in and around Jakarta at the weekend, elite anti-terror police rounded up the five men, who

are suspected of helping the 16 people who were recently caught.

The men are accused of involvement in “coaching, guidance, and recruitment of sympathizers of IS to depart to Iraq and Syria... and the collection and distribution of funds for the activities of IS volunteers in Indonesia,” said national police spokesman Rikwanto, who goes by one name, late Sunday.

Four were charged specifically with helping arrange documents for the group to depart for Turkey, as well as previously helping another 21 Indonesians who went to join IS. One of the suspects faced a separate charge of urging people to join IS on his website, as well as creating and uploading a video online of children being trained by the jihadists.

Police did not name any of the suspects.

They also confiscated items including nine mobile phones, eight million rupiah ($600) and $5,300 in US dollars.

The 16 recently arrested are still in detention in Turkey.

Jakarta has already banned support for IS, which controls vast swathes of territory in Iraq and Syria, although experts have called on authorities to take further steps to stop the flow of fighters.

Indonesia has waged a crackdown on Islamic militant groups for more than a decade following attacks on Western targets, including the 2002 Bali bombings that killed 202 people.

The campaign has been credited with weakening key networks. AFP

T U E S D AY : M A R C H 24 , 2 0 1 5

B8

CESAR bARRioqUinTo EDITOR

editorial@thestandard.com.ph

world

Singapore in mourning for Lee SINGAPORE—Singapore plunged into mourning and world leaders united in tribute Monday after the death of Lee Kuan Yew, the iron-fisted politician who forged a prosperous citystate out of unpromising beginnings.

Meeting set on Greece’s borrowing problems BERLIN—The leaders of debt-wracked Greece and economic powerhouse Germany meet in Berlin Monday after weeks of bad feeling over Athens’s borrowing woes, bitter wartime memories and an offensive hand gesture.

German Chancellor Angela Merkel will receive Greece’s radical left-wing Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras, who has blamed her insistence on tough austerity for his country’s “humanitarian crisis” of poverty and mass unemployment.

Spain’s Economy Minister Luis de Guindos turned the screw on Athens another notch Sunday by insisting that it will not receive any money until it implements all its proposed reforms.

Merkel also insists that if cashstrapped Greece wants more bailout loans, the biggest share of which is financed by Germany, it must accept the bitter medicine of cuts and reforms.

Talking to the Greek newspaper Kathimerini ahead of the visit, Tsipras said the meeting with Merkel would be an opportunity to talk “without the pressure of any negotiation”.

“It’s important because we will be able to talk about topics which are damaging Europe, and about how to improve relations between our two countries,” he said.

“In this meeting two worlds will collide,” said Hajo Funke, political scientist with Berlin’s Free University.

“There is the political world of Greece, where a left-wing government faces a society in collapse, (of) societal decay... as grave as anything we have seen in western Europe since 1945,” he told AFP. “The other world is a content country that is dominant in Europe, Germany, which worries about maintaining its economic happiness, and which is now being asked to help the other, under conditions it doesn’t fully understand.”

As tensions have flared, bitter historical memories have resurfaced, with Tsipras’s government reviving reparation claims for the Nazi occupation of Greece in World War II—an issue which Berlin considers settled. AFP

Tribute. A man pays his respects at the tribute area at Singapore General Hospital following the death

of former prime minister Lee Kuan Yew (pictured top C) in Singapore on March 23. Singapore’s first prime minister, one of the towering figures of post-colonial Asian politics, died at the age of 91 on March 23 in hospital, the government said. AFP

His son, Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong, issued a statement before dawn announcing the passing of his 91-year-old father at Singapore General Hospital following a long illness.

He declared seven days of national mourning until the former leader is cremated on March 29.

“He fought for our independence, built a nation where there was none, and made us proud to be Singaporeans. We won’t see another like him,” the prime minister said in an emotional televised address.

Onlookers chanted “Mr Lee, Mr Lee” as a white hearse carrying his remains entered the Istana state complex at midday for a two-day private family wake before lying in state at Parliament House.

At the entrance, Singaporeans, some teary-eyed, left personal tributes and signed a condolence board.

US President Barack Obama led world leaders in hailing Lee, who turned a small territory lacking its own natural resources into a world player in finance, trading and shipping—all the while with a heavy political grip that was long decried by rights campaigners.

“He was a true giant of history who will be remembered for generations to come as the father of modern Singapore and as one of the great strategists of Asian affairs,” Obama said in a statement.

China lauded Lee’s “historic contributions” to their relationship after the Communist leadership embarked on dramatic economic reforms from 1978.

President Xi Jinping said Lee was “widely respected by the international community as a strategist and a statesman”.

Tributes also came in from a host of international leaders including UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon and the prime ministers of Malaysia, Britain, Japan and Australia.

Lee, whose health rapidly deteriorated after his wife of 63 years, Kwa Geok Choo, died in 2010, was in hospital for nearly seven weeks with severe pneumonia.

Two years before he died, Lee revealed that he had signed an advance medical directive instructing doctors not to use any life-sustaining treatment if he could not be resuscitated. AFP

Fight to make Gabon a gorrilla haven

Before the session. The head of the Atomic Energy Organization of Iran Ali Akbar Salehi (2nd L) walks outside with members of his delegation before a negotiating session with the United States and the European Union over Iran’s nuclear program in Lausanne on March 20. Marathon talks towards an Iran nuclear deal picked up pace as US President Barack Obama appealed to Tehran to seize an “historic” opportunity and begin a “brighter future”. AFP

LASTOURVILLE—Hearing the dreaded sound of human footsteps, three enormous gorillas jump down from the branches of central Gabon’s lush rain forests and rush off into the distance.

To photographer and wildlife lover Max Hurdebourcq, who spends half his year living alone in the heart of west Africa’s tropical rain forest, the gorillas’ fearless flight is a positive sign that things are changing.

“That was great contact! They didn’t shriek, and that means they aren’t too bothered by our presence here,” the Frenchman beamed.

Hurdebourcq has been working in Gabon for seven years, mending relations between gorillas and humans

by protecting the primates’ natural habitat.

In 2008, he knew “very little about Africa” when he traveled to Gabon on a reporting trip to a 600,000-hectare timber project in eastern Gabon, the Equatorial Woods Company or CEB, most of whose shares are owned by the Swiss company Precious Woods.

He saw elephants, buffaloes, antelopes, chimpanzees and gorillas’ everyday lives disrupted by the logging company.

“I wondered how they [the animals] adapted to the noise of the machines, and to the roads that were being built around their natural habitat,” Hurdebourcq said.

Enraged by what he saw, he decid-

ed to leave everything behind and to found the Bambidie Gorilla Project.

Now, the gorilla defender works around the clock to help save a species of primate that is less well known than its relatives in Rwanda, Uganda and the Democratic Republic of Congo.

Eighty percent of oil-rich Gabon is covered by rain forest, much of which is split up by timber processing licenses.

Only 11 percent of the country’s territory is classed as national park.

Seven years of hard work in tough conditions have allowed Hurdebourcq to understand the behavior and movement patterns of gorillas, whose survival is under constant threat because of deforestation and the bush meat trade. AFP

T U E S D AY : M A R C H 24 : 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 T R AV EL

SHINING BRIGHT

Filipino talents find their light at Hong Kong Disneyland

BY BERNADETTE LUNAS Filipinos are a talented lot. In a coliseum, on television, in a quaint bistro, on YouTube, on the street, there is always a Pinoy performing for an awed audience. The world is our stage, perhaps, and our nation’s love for entertainment has taken many of us to different parts of the world, one of which is Hong Kong Disneyland.

Disneyland will always be a special and magical place, regardless of your age. But Filipinos have the closest affinity with the 10-year-old resort and theme park in Hong Kong: for one thing, it’s the closest to our country, and another, many of its cast and crew are Pinoys. Continued on C3

C1

T U E S D AY : M A R C H 24 : 2 0 1 5

C2

LIFE

BAMBINA OLIVARES WISE EDITOR

g l w e e ke n d @ g m a i l . c o m

CHEERS TO THE CLASS OF 2015!

Stay in and dine in at premier hotels in the Metro

Aristotle once said: “The roots of education are bitter, but the fruit is sweet.” After years of working hard to get a diploma, graduates deserve a fantastic treat to celebrate this remarkable milestone. So make sure that the fruit is sweet as you indulge in the special promos of premier hotels to salute the Class of 2015.

RIGHTFUL RESPITE

Once the commencement exercise is over, head on to the B Hotel at Ayala Alabang for a well-deserved staycation with family and friends.

For the whole month of March, the hotel offers a discounted price when you book two rooms overnight or one room for a two-night stay.

B Hotel’s graduation package includes daily buffet breakfast and standard amenities like welcome drinks at the Vue Bar, complimentary use of gym facilities, unlimited broadband Internet access, daily local newspaper, and two bottles of mineral water (replenished daily). Should the graduate/s and his companions wish to visit nearby commercial and financial districts, the package also comes with shuttle service. Rate for a Standard Room is P7,000nett and P11,000nett for the Penthouse Suite.

For inquiries, call 828-8181, email info@thebhotel.com, or visit their website at www.thebellevue.com

DIPLOMA FOR DINNER

Graduates are the star at Discovery Suites in Ortigas as it spreads a feast to celebrate their achievement until April 15.

Show your ID or Certificate of Graduation at the Restaurant 5 to get a complimentary buffet lunch featuring the best of Pan-Asian cuisine. The graduate should be accompanied by at least one guest.

The restaurant is open daily from 12:00 noon to 2:30 pm and the buffet is priced at P895+.

Over at the 22nd floor, diners of multi-awarded 22 Prime will be feted with a complimentary Soup of the Day as well as a special Graduation Cake for every order of the restaurant’s signature Tomahawk Steak—a mouth-watering 850-gram USDA Prime Angus Bone-In Ribeye steak--priced at P4,000+. 22 Prime is open daily for lunch and dinner.

For inquires and reservations, please call Discovery Suites at (02) 7198888 or e-mail dsrsvn@discovery.com.ph

A FIVE-STAR VACATION

A five-star effort to graduate deserves a five-star staycation at The Bellevue Manila. A special reward awaits graduates ad their loved ones as the premier hotel in the Southern Metro offers its irresistible Room Promo for the whole month of March. Celebrate this remarkable milestone and book two rooms or two nights stay complete with amazing inclusions like daily buffet breakfast, welcome drinks at Vue Bar, complimentary use of swimming pool and gym facilities, unlimited broadband internet access in room, shuttle service to nearby commercial areas and financial districts, and more for only P9,500nett in a Deluxe Room (Main Wing) and P10,500nett in a Deluxe Room (Tower Wing).

For inquiries, call (02) 771-8181 or email tbmnl@thebellevue.com

DIPLOMAS & DISCOUNTS

Super Bowl of China, Nanbantei of Tokyo and Wild West Roadhouse Grill give discounts to dining graduates Who says your diploma can only get you a job? At some restaurants, when you show any proof of graduation, you would get discounted food, too!

Treat yourself, your friends, and loved ones with sumptuous meals--dumplings, yakitori, and steak, anyone?-and bring them over to Super Bowl of China, Nanbantei of Tokyo, and Wild West Roadhouse Grill.

Graduates only need to show their valid school ID to avail the 10 percent discount on all meals at Super Bowl of China. Feast on the restaurant’s Yang Chow Fried Rice, Crispy Noodles with Braised Beef, Hong Kong Style Spicy Shrimp, Seafood Chopsuey, Lechon Macau with hoisin sauce, and Dimsum Combination Platter, among others.

A school ID or any proof or graduation will give you 15 percent discount on yakitori dishes and more at Nanbantei of Tokyo. For an instance, the Bestsellers Platter consisting of 21 sticks of assorted Aspara Maki, Tebasaki, Pork Garlic Yaki, Shiso Maki, Negima, Corn, and Poteto Maki, is now only P743.25. That means savings of more than P135.

Graduates who fancy to party with ribs and steaks can head to Wild West Roadhouse Grill which also offers 15 percent discount.

Check out the The Great Ribeye, the restaurant’s most popular steak. It’s 12 ounces or 340 grams of the choicest U.S. ribeye steak, seasoned with herbs and garlic, and served with fresh vegetable and mashed potatoes on the side.

Super Bowl of China is located at SM Mall of Asia (556-0583), SM Megamall Atrium (687-7767), and Festival Supermall Alabang (809-8968). Nanbantei of Tokyo is located at Bonifacio High Street (621-3224 to 25) and Greenbelt 3 (757-4130). Wild West Roadhouse Grill is loocated at Shangri-La Plaza in Mandaluyong City (655-3023) and Bonifacio High Street (856-1547).

WHERE DO BROKEN HEARTS GO?

BY ED BIADO

Without a doubt, the sleeper Valentine hit is one of the most influential Philippine movies in recent memory. As the topgrossing local indie film of all time, the unconventional romcom inspired the travel-upthe-mountains trend among Filipino millennials, the demographic that most relate to the movie’s central characters.

Mace and Anthony (Angelica Panganiban and JM de Guzman respectively) met at the airport in Rome and were booked on the same flight back to Manila. Both struggling to let go of their emotional baggage, the pair quickly bonded and ended up spending more time together than initially expected. The movie throws in plenty of activities that brokenhearted Pinoys indulge in, such as watching John Lloyd Cruz tearjerkers, singing breakup songs at karaoke bars, drinking beer on the sidewalk and spontaneous trips to Baguio.

Then, director and writer Antoinette Jadaone takes it one step further by bringing her leads to Sagada.

This destination in the Mountain Province is famous for its hanging coffins and other tourist draws like caves, nature hikes and, at least for those in the know, “organic substances.” But Jadaone seems to be telling us that the harsh cold climate of the locale, particularly the

picturesque Mt. Kiltepan, is perfect for soul-searching and mending a broken heart.

Due to the movie’s popularity, travel communities started organizing Tadhana tours. Friends of this writer who went to Sagada’s Gaia Cafe & Crafts, where the film’s “kilig” sequence was set, say that the establishment has been swarming with people trying to have their own moments (that is, attempting to recreate the now-iconic scene. Photos posted online show that Mt. Kiltepan has an even bigger crowd.

This is probably why the more adventurous are taking their mountaintop soul-searching somewhere else. Another of February’s most popular destinations turned out to be Mt. Pulag, Luzon’s highest peak and the third highest mountain in the country. Need proof of its popularity? Scroll through your social media friends and for sure, you’ll find more than a few whose display pictures are selfies taken atop the mountain.

Mt. Pulag, shared by Benguet, Ifugao and Nueva Viscaya, is famous for its awe-inspiring sea of clouds at dawn. The peak boasts near-freezing temperatures during the first two months of the year, making the trip a truly exceptional one.

So to answer the leading question of this story: Broken hearts go to places where the mercury registers so low that it numbs the pain, where it’s colder than your ex’s heart, or where Ate Tonette says we should go.

Mt Pulag

Mt Kiltepan

Gala Cafe & Crafts

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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

All-Filipino cast members perform ‘Find Your Light,’ Hong Kong Disneyland’s tailor-made campaign for Filipinos. (Front row, from left): Choreographer Jaime del Prado, lead vocalist Rochelle ‘Raki’ Vega, musical director and composer Rony Fortich, and backup vocalist Gian Magdangal.

Jaime del Prado

David Lightbody, HKDL director for Entertainment Gian Magdangal and Costuming

SHINING BRIGHT From C1

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ilipino performers and crew dominate Hong Kong Disneyland. With a diverse range of cast from over 30 countries, Filipinos currently hold major roles in live shows onstage and behind-the-scenes. “[Filipinos] are a very strong and important contingent,” says Hong Kong Disneyland director for entertainment and costuming David Lightbody.

The continuously growing number of Filipinos in the theme park is not just because we are the best at singing or dancing, but because, according to Lightbody, who’s worked in the entertainment and theater industry for over 20 years, Filipino performers have a special quality in how they perform.

“It’s the approach to work: great, amazing commitment and dedication to the work,” enthuses Lightbody. He continues, “There’s an inner passion and it’s a happy passion, the kind that bursts out in their performances.”

In recognition of the instrumental role of Filipino talents in the theme park, and in a bid to attract more guests and more performers from the Philippines, Hong Kong Disneyland launched a campaign made by Filipinos for Filipinos.

A SONG OF PRIDE

“Find Your Light” is a song inspired by many Filipino talents following their dreams and finding a place to shine at HKDL. It was composed by the theme park’s musical director and proud Pinoy Rony Fortich.

As someone who understands the message HKDL aims to convey, Fortich—who has been with HK Disneyland three months before it opened--”felt awesome” and “couldn’t be happier” when he was commissioned to write a “cool tribute for all Filipinos who work here and Filipino guests who come over.”

The song, which features English and Filipino lyrics, is based on the theater term “find your light,” which is used to ask the performers onstage to stand where the light is.

“It’s a great term to show how Filipinos can shine abroad in what they’re good at,” explains Fortich.

Raki Vega

After three weeks of writing the lyrics and playing the piano to come up with a memorable melody, Fortich was able to mix the Disney and Pinoy flavors into the song. It has a strong and catchy tune that is a trademark Disney sound, injected with OPM beat.

“When I was writing the song, I would listen to a lot of OPM, kind of everything from ‘70s disco to ‘80s and ‘90s,” he shares.

As for the lyrics, the message urges everyone to come up, perform, and show their Disney side. “It tells how you can be happy performing and by performing, we could get somewhere and have a good time.”

Throughout composing “Find Your Light,” Fortich kept in mind the Filipino spirit and mentality. “How much they enjoy having fun, how we can get through a crisis and still find way to smile.”

He adds, “I only hope that if I write a song and feel good about it, and makes me wanna dance and tap my feet and sing along, that other Filipinos would also feel the same way.

And I hope it translates to all of our guests.”

The song was then recorded in the Philippines with Filipino musicians, and the

SWEET SALUTE TO GRADUATES Celebrate and congratulate the sweet success of 2015 graduates with saccharine treats specially made with them in mind.

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omplete the celebration with a Diploma Cake from the world’s most beloved ice cream brand, Baskin-Robbins. This special cake features a cap and diploma in bright shades of blue and white with touches of yellow. The cake can also be customized with a personalized message or a choice of the graduates’ favorite ice cream and cake flavor combination.

Baskin-Robbins’ Diploma cake is available at Central Square, Bonifacio Global City; Ayala Fairview Terraces; and Greenbelt 5, Makati.

Or if you know someone who’s going to march this year and loves One Direction, why not get him or her the all-new One Direction chocolate bars from Villa del Conte. These limited edition confectioneries let everyone take home a photo of their

Rony Fortich

favorite 1D members including Harry and Niall in a dark chocolate with salted caramel variant, as well as Liam, Louis, and Zayn in milk chocolate with cereal flavor. For a complete bar of happiness, there’s also a 1D group shot design available in a milk chocolate bar with hazelnut chips.

If the graduate is not a fan of the group, convert him/her with the help of these limited-edition chocolates with an album and some photos, too! These are also perfect for anyone who loves 1D, graduating or not.

To get these satisfying treats, visit Villa del Conte stores at Greenbelt 5, Century City Mall, Shangri-la Mall, Resorts World, Alabang Town Center, and Robinson’s Magnolia. For bulk orders, contact 893-2575 or 621-6101.

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final product was arranged by musical director and arranger Marvin Querido.

To give justice to the song, Fortich tapped HKDL vocalist Rochelle “Raki” Vega to be the lead singer along with 45 all-Filipino cast members. Raki at first couldn’t believe Fortich chose her.

“I asked Rony, ‘Why me?’ Why he chose me?” recalls Raki. She adds, “I felt pressured because it’s a big task singing a Disney song, a Filipino song at that!”

But Fortich didn’t need a long explanation to prove Raki is the perfect choice, because according to him, she has the right mix of attitude and talent.

“Raki is the perfect person to sing the song and to really know what it means,” he emphasizes.

True enough, Raki feels the same way.

“Every word in the song matters to me kasi parang story din ‘to ng buhay ko (because it tells the story of my life). ‘Find Your Light’ is an anthem for me, an anthem for Filipinos fulfilling their dreams in their own way here at Disneyland,” she says.

Raki plays the lead role of “Bebe” and “Tarzan Singer” in The Golden Mickey’s Show. Prior to joining HKDL in October 2010, she was involved in the musical theater scene in the Philippines. She also recorded two full-length albums: “Streisand Classics,” released in the Philippines in 2008 and “Raki Vega Sings Streisand,” released in Indonesia in 2010.

Others may know her as the grand prize winner of the “Born Diva” reality singing competition in 2004.

She may be rich in experience; Raki admits it’s a challenge to sing a song written for Filipinos.

“Kasi iba talaga kapag mag-perform ka sa Filipinos, may kaunting kaba sa totoo lang, kasi alam na magaling kumilatis ang Filipino (It’s different when performing for Filipinos, honestly it’s a bit intimidating because Filipinos are known to be discriminating). Appreciative yet marunong makinig (knows how to listen),” shares Raki.

Notwithstanding the pressure, Raki, whose dream role is to perform in the West End Theater, sings with her whole heart.

“Every time I sing a song, iniisip ko (I think of) all the past experiences I had in the Philippines: doing the albums, my Born Diva time, and all the competitions.”

She says she just gives her all in every performance, a common quality of Pinoy cast members at HKDL. “We always give more than what is expected from us,” says Raki.

Five years in the theme park, Raki believes she has yet to find her light. “But I think finding that light for me is finding my truth. The training I get here in Disneyland is integral to my growth as an artist both professionally and personally,” she concludes.

Turn to next page

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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

CELEBRATE IN STYLE WITH SM HOME While the holidays give us a lot of occasions for home entertaining, the celebrations go beyond the season. After all, we all love get-togethers – birthdays, family reunions, intimate dinners with friends, feting business associates, and more.

The good news is that you can set up fun and stylish tablescapes at home with a little help from SM Home’s innovative pieces. There are buffet servers for a wine and cheese night, hor d’ouvre dishes for creative canapés, salad servers for healthy starters, and three dip servers for chips and nachos. Desserts become even more delicious delightful with cake and cupcake stands, and chocolate fondue fountains. Here are some modern home entertaining tips from SM Home.

The new ‘Disney’s Paint the Night’ parade is an interactive light show unique to Hong Kong Disneyland

• SET A CENTERPIECE ON THE TABLE. A centerpiece doesn’t have to be in the center.

Try setting it off to one side – this asymmetry works especially with buffets staged against a wall or window.

• GO HIGH. To keep it interesting and stagy, try to use height such as tiered cake plates and dessert servers. Put the highest serving dish at the center and go down from there. The more you stack and layer, the more room you can create and it is easier for your guests to reach in.

• PLAN OUT what dishes and serving utensils you are going to use for the food on your buffet table.

Arrange them logically- start with entrees, side dishes, vegetables and salads at the end. Also, make sure you have small plates next to each dish for the utensils to rest on.

• PUT THE CUTLERY AT THE END. Roll the utensils inside a napkin, and store them in a decorative basket. This allows guests to move from the line more quickly and keeps everyone from touching others’ utensils while grabbing their own.

SHINING BRIGHT From C3

SUCCESS STORY AND SUCCESS IN THE MAKING

HKDL also produced a music video for “Find Your Light” to showcase the talented Filipino cast members led by Raki. The video, which was posted on YouTube on January 18, already has 40,000+ views as of this writing.

It was choreographed by park choreographer and fellow Filipino Jaime del Prado.

“I was very excited when Rony made me listen to the song and when they showed to me the storyboard,” says del Prado.

Because the campaign is for Pinoy and the music has Pinoy flavor (“very Manila sound”), del Prado introduced familiar Filipino steps to the choreography of the music video.

“If you watch the video, you will notice there’s one section where they make a Gary V. move in “Hataw Na.” That for me made it very Pinoy,” he notes.

Overall, del Prado says the experience was exciting and fulfilling for him and for all the Filipino cast members.

“The performers in the music video were excited because our friends and families will see us. For our families back home to see us working with our family (HKDL) here, it’s fulfilling for us,” he enthuses.

On top of this campaign, del Prado is already a Disneyland success story worth telling.

“I first came here as a show dancer for Lion King and everything else is history,” he recalls.

Since he joined HKDL in 2005 as performer/Dance Captain for the “Festival of The Lion King” show, del Prado has held several positions including Stage Manager of Theater Operations, Parade Operations, and Entertainment Atmosphere Operations, where he was responsible for training new cast members and ensuring show quality.

Aside from “Find Your Light,” he recently co-choreographed the brand new attraction in the theme park, the “Disney’s Paint the Night Parade.”

Also a part of “Find Your Light” production and a Pinoy talent finding his light in Disneyland is singer and actor Gian Magdangal.

Magdangal, who used to be a household name in variety shows and starred in TV series here in the Philippines, joined the park in October 2014 when his contracts here were not renewed.

“I get to do what I love doing, and that is to perform. Nung nawala yung opportunity na yun [in Manila], yun pa rin ang gusto kong gawin (It’s still the thing I want to do even when I no longer had that opportunity in Manila),” intimates Magdangal.

He plays Captain Shang, one of the major roles in “The Golden Mickey Show.”

“There’s only a handful of people who get to do what they love doing and make it as an occupation. That’s

something I’m really grateful and thankful for,” he enthuses.

But more than his love for performing, it was a father’s decision for him to move to Hong Kong and try his luck at Disneyland.

“I saw this as a really good opportunity to provide for myself and my son.

Masaya dito, maganda yung trabaho, (It is fun here, the job is great) and most importantly, I can send my kid to school comfortably,” shares Magdangal.

• MAKE IT EASY AND PUT THE FOOD IN INDIVIDUAL SERVINGS. Put anything in individual cups- like individual servings of mousse or individual shooters of soups. This is convenient for your guest to reach in and snag one without going through the whole line.

• ADD FINISHING TOUCHES TO YOUR BUFFET. Add some flowers and put it on votive cups or flank a pair of candlesticks. Garnish your platter with greens to make it more appealing.

Create your own tablescapes with SM Home’s Buffet Server Collection, available at the SM Home section at all SM Stores.

Make your own cheese and fruits platter with this Borgonovo Palladio cake stand.

NEW ATTRACTIONS

As Filipinos and all guests from across the globe embark on their journey at HKDL, they can explore the three newly launched themed lands in the park: the Asia-exclusive Toy Story Land, bear-y thrilling Grizzly Gulch, and the mystical Mystic Point. The latest additions to Disney Princesses are already here, too! Meet, greet, and take your photos with Queen Elsa and Princess Anna (don’t forget Olaf).

Join the festivities and change the costumes of performers at the new “Disney’s Paint the Night” parade.

This light show, which is unique to HKDL, transports guests into a world of luminous and interactive fun, complete with delightful music, dynamic dances, seven floats (Tinker Bell, Monsters, Inc., Cars, The Little Mermaid, Belle, Toy Story, and Mickey and Friends), and colorful costumes made of over 740,000 LED lights that guests can customize using the Made with Magic Paint Brush.

Dip in your slices of fruits and pastries with melted chocolate from this Dessert Fondue set.

CYAN MAGENTA YELLOW BLACK

Tattoo offers exclusive content for its new home broadband plans High-speedbroadband technology powers wonderful experience at home Globe Telecom, through its home broadband brand Tattoo, has unveiled its latest roster of broadband plans for new customers with a strong bid to attract more customers and further grow its customer base.

With the new broadband plans, customers get exclusive access to a portfolio of entertainment content which allows them to watch movies and basketball games, as well as stream music at the comfort of their homes.

As an online entertainment service provider, HOOQ boasts of an extensive content library

with thousands of movies, television episodes and shows available for users to watch, including titles from partners Sony Pictures and Warner Bros.

Entertainment. With Spotify, the world’s most popular music streaming service, customers get the best music experience with access to over 20 million songs. On the other hand,

CYAN MAGENTA YELLOW BLACK

the NBA League Pass allows customers to watch basketballgames along with highlights, stats and other features.

“We recognize today’s shift to the digital lifestyle and we want our customers to be part of this revolution by offering them a suite of plans that give them access to entertainment content such as HOOQ, Spotify, and the NBA League Pass. With our new home broadband plans, we are transforming the home into an ultimate entertainment hub as family members get the best home internet and entertainment experience in one package,” Globe Senior Vice President for Consumer Broadband Business Gilbert Simpao said.

For as low as Plan 1099, Tattoo customers get an exclusive access to Spotify while exclusive access to HOOQ begins with Plan 1299.

Combined access to HOOQ and Spotify or

NBA starts with Plan 1599 while access to HOOQ, Spotify and NBA begins with Plan 1999 and above.All Tattoo home broadband plans come with minimum speeds of at least 1 Mbps up to 15 Mbps, bundled with free landline, free unlimited calls to Globe and TM, and free Wi-Fi modem.

Each plan also comes with a data allowance representing varying types of usage for a home broadband customer. The data allocation ranges between 10GB and 15GB for light to moderate users, 20GB to 30 GB for more frequent users and 50 GB to 70 GB for heavy users.

“We believe the data allocation of the Tattoo home broadband plans accurately reflects the typical usage profile of our customers. These plans were formulated precisely to meet the broadband internet requirement of our customers whether they are light, moderate or heavy users,” Simpao stressed. As an example, a monthly data allocation of 15GB under Plan 1299, recommended for light users, allows customers to watch up to 20 movies on HOOQ and stream up to 2000 songs on Spotify, he said.

Still, customers who exceed their data allowance may avail of Tattoo home volume boost at P50/1GB, P200/5GB and P300/10GB, ensuring they have data connectivity at consistent speeds. To help customers determine their actual data usage, Tattoo Home is implementing a three-month program for wired customers where they will be given an additional 50GB on top of their base plan data allowance.

The additional data allocation will allow customers to rightsize their broadband data plan according to their actual data consumption. Customers under the program will receive text or email notifications once they breach 50%, 80% and 100% of their base data allowance.

Existing customers will continue to enjoy their currentsubscriptions with no changes.

They may also opt to upgrade to the new Tattoo Home Broadband Plans to get exclusive access to Tattoo’s exclusive suite of entertainment content comprising of HOOQ, Spotify and NBA.

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SHOWBITZ

ISAH V. RED EDITOR

isahred @ gmail.com

RYAN AGONCILLO IS THE NEW FACE OF PANADOL

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ctor/TV host Ryan Agoncillo has a new role to play. He inked recenly with GlaxoSmithKline (GSK), the global leading healthcare company, to be the face behind its pain killer product, Panadol.

As the company commits itself on improving the quality of human life by enabling people to do more, feel better and live longer with (paracetamol) Panadol® as the world’s trusted pain reliever, sold in more than 85 countries, Agoncillo likewise vows to strengthen’s Filipino’s trust in the brand.

Panadol with Optizorb® is a type of paracetamol caplet that works five times faster than regular formulation. It contains the same amount of paracetamol (500 mg) found in Panadol, so you can feel confident in its ability to relieve pain such as headache and fever.

“Seven out of 10 Filipinos suffer from regular headaches. The time wasted on dealing with this kind of pain should have been better spent on more important things like quality time with the family,” says Jeoffrey Yulo, General Manager – Consumer Healthcare, GSK Philippines. “This dilemma encourages GSK to continue providing a fast and effective solution like Panadol to pain sufferers. What makes Panadol with Optizorb® truly different from other branded and generic paracetamol products is that it is the only product to contain Optizorb®, which has rev-

olutionized the way paracetamol tablets are dispersed in the body, so it allows paracetamol to reach the bloodstream more quickly and be carried to where it acts to fight pain, five times faster.”

This year, Panadol brings more focus to help take away the pain for faster recovery and more super moments with the ones you love.

Bringing this life-affirming message to the fore is father/athlete/ host Ryan Agoncillo, together with his son Lucho. Ryan is known to be a dedicated father to his children – Yohan and Lucho – and spends as much time as he can with his family.

As a sportsman who is into motorcycles and triathlons, Ryan is no stranger to aches and pain. But he doesn’t let any kind of discomfort like headache get in the way of a quality time with his equally energetic son, making their moments together pain-free. But whenever pain or headache strikes, he puts his trust on Panadol. And like a true superhero, he has the power of quick recovery in the eyes of his son.

“My family is my top priority.

Even if I get busy with work and my other pursuits, I make sure that I get to spend quality with my wife and my kids. But, sometimes, because of my workload, I suffer from terrible headaches,” Ryan relates. “Fortunately, there’s Panadol. It offers fast relief to make my super moments with my family pain-free! Indeed, when pain is gone, life takes its place.”

CROSSWORD PUZZLE 41 43 44 45 46 48 50 51 54 55 57 61 62 63 64 ANSWER FOR PREVIOUS PUZZLE ACROSS 1 Wild guess 5 Italian food 10 Floating platform 14 Happy — 15 Goddesses’ statues 16 Screenwriter James — 17 Mrs. Lennon 18 Ducky lawn?

(2 wds.)

20 Seal a tub 22 Storm warnings

23 25 26 27 28 32 33 35 36 37 38 39

Foulard kin Type of appeal Damsel Snow boot “— — Excited” Altar area Gauzy material Natural eyewash — au vin Race the engine Lead balloon Disagreeable task

65 66

Flowed back Mince Tibet explorer Alexandra David- — “Norma —” Game one Port near Algiers College treasurer Molds Brain parts Nail pro Footnote abbr.

(2 wds.)

Revival shout Hair tint Martha of dental ads Turn state’s evidence Degas or Cayce Luncheon salad

DOWN 1 Retiring 2 As well as 3 Puffin kin 4 Heavy fabric 5 Sharp-tasting 6 Teen bane 7 Overcharge, slangily 8 RN’s knack 9 With suspicion 10 Cheese dish 11 Culture dish goo

The Executives

COFFEE, TEA, AND ALL THAT JAZZ AT THE SHANG

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ruly a destination of life’s exquisite pleasures, Shangri-La Plaza presents a treat for the senses with Coffee, Tea, and All That Jazz at the Shang, a festival that fetes the divine goodness of our beloved beverages and its perfect partners – book, music and everything else.

Until March 29, the East Atrium of the Shangri-La Plaza’s East Wing transforms into a promenade,like a Parisian al fresco café with participating coffee or coffee-maker brands offer mall guests with brews and other related products.

Well-known coffee and tea brands Figaro Café, Espressamente Illy, Starbucks, Di Bella by Cravings Group, Rustan’s Department Store, Crabtree & Evelyn, National Bookstore, Powerbooks, D&K Kitchen Essentials, True Value, Astrovision, 26th Bistro and The Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf are among the participants. The Philippine Barista and Coffee Academy, Inc. also talked on brewing methods on March 21.

The Brass Munkeys performed on the first day of the festival. Among the highlights were Latte Art and Brewing Methods Demonstrations for guests.

Coffee, Tea, and All That Jazz at the Shang has a lineup of demonstrations, talks, and interactive activities to highlight and for guests to appreciate tea and coffee offerings. Learn about Espresso Roasting, Latte Art, Brewing Methods, Baking & Coffee Pairing, while browsing through the exhibits and product displays.

With coffee, enjoy soulful jazz. Moira de la Torre performed on March 21, The Executives on March 22, Cara Manglapus hits the stage on March 28, rounded off by Vince Lahora on March 29.

TUESDAY, MARCH 24, 2015

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Gala Hardy’s dairymaid Day- — paint Hail, to Caesar Ness’ quarry Daring Liniment Georgia city Annapolis frosh Saudi city Flying — Buy by mail Kind of sprawl Inclined Exam smudge Skeptic Banquet finale Before, in combos Camcorder button — nova Fitness centers Prefix for “sphere” Yemeni port Ding-a- — (airhead) Eliminate Letter after sigma Author — Rand Meadow

Coffee, Tea and All that Jazz at the Shang features performances by The Executives, Moira de la Torre, and Cara Manglapus

Moira de la Torre

Cara Manglapus

“Coffee, Tea, and All That Jazz at the Shang is our way of indulging our patrons’ love for beverages. With the best coffee, tea, and complementary brands housed at the Shang, we look forward to giving our mall guests a truly pleasurable experience in this festival,” says Shangri-La Plaza Executive Vice President and General Manager Lala Fojas.

T U E S D AY : M A R C H 24 : 2 0 1 5

SHOWBITZ

ISAH V. RED EDITOR

isahred @ gmail.com

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FROM KAPAMILYA TO KAPATID, NOW KAPUSO From C8

Willy Revillame is now with Kapuso network. He signed a blocktimer’s deal with, from left GMA Executive Vice President and CFO Felipe S. Yalong; Atty. Alfonso Reyno, Jr.; GMA Chairman and CEO Atty. Felipe L. Gozon; GMA President and COO Gilberto R. Duavit, Jr.; and Atty. King Reyno)

Cesca Litton and Miko Halili hosts CNN Philipines’ Sports Desk

Benedict Cumberbatch Star in Frankenstein

DOCUMENTARY ON BILLIONAIRE ACCUSED OF MURDER ON HBO

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he groundbreaking HBO documentary series The Jinx: The Life and Deaths of Robert Durst premieres April 1 on HBO Signature and HBO GO. Robert Durst, scion of NY’s billionaire real estate family has been accused of three murders over the past 30 years, but never convicted.

Brilliant and reclusive, he has not spoken publicly – until now.

The Jinx: The Life And Deaths Of Robert Durst tracks Durst’s strange history against the backdrop of unimaginable wealth and privilege, exposes long-buried information discovered during their seven-year investigation of a series of unsolved crimes, and was made with the co-

operation of the man suspected of being at its center.

The six-part HBO documentary series premieres over three consecutive nights from April 1 to 3 at 10pm on HBO SIGNATURE and on HBO GO. Long suspected in the notorious 1982 disappearance of his beautiful young wife, Kathie, in New York, Durst continued to raise suspicion with the unsolved 2000 murder of Susan Berman (his confidante, thought to be a key witness in the investigation into the case of Durst’s missing wife) in Beverly Hills, as well as the subsequent murder and dismemberment of neighbor Morris Black in Galveston, Texas. Durst has consistently maintained his innocence, and remained a free man.

This unprecedented documentary event tracks Jarecki as he develops a unique relationship with Durst following the release of Jarecki’s 2010 film, “All Good Things,” a narrative feature about

Willie Revillame is finally back on the small screen after years of rumored compulsion to gambling to while away his time that he’s gotten used to clowning around on a game show set for TV. GMA Network agreed to take the show host who left ABS-CBN years ago and joined TV5 in the hope of re-establishing himself as a viable brand on television. Unfortunately, he failed.

This time, he will try to raise his own flag on a different channel, and the people will be waiting if he’d finally succeed.

It’s a block-time deal, says GMA Network management, with Revillame’s own WBR Entertainment Productions, Inc. after both parties signed last Friday, March 20, the airtime agreement for Revillame’s variety program Wowowin on GMA-7 every Sunday beginning April 26.

“We are pleased to have Willie Revillame’s program in the Network.

Willie has a very large following.

Through our partnership with WBR Entertainment, GMA Network will be a part of the long awaited return of Willie Revillame on television,” says GMA Network Chairman and CEO Atty. Felipe L. Gozon.

“We are very grateful and glad to have our program WOWOWIN shown (sic) in GMA Network, the no. 1 TV station in the country.

We will see to it that we deserve the trust (sic) reposed on us by GMA Network,” says WBR’s Revillame.

HHHHH CNN Philippines’ Sports Desk is a thirty-minute show destination for everything related to sports - from the NBA, PBA, Gilas Pilipinas, UAAP, golf, football, baseball, boxing, among many others. Discussions, in-depth analysis, and news on games, sporting events, scores, trends, and even global happenings are provided to keep the roster of topics fresh and entertaining for its viewers. Mico Halili and Cesca Litton co-anchor the show.

Catch the live interviews with special guests, hottest topics, sports controversies, and latest buzz on

Durst’s life starring Ryan Gosling and Kirsten Dunst. During exclusive interviews with Jarecki that were initiated by Durst himself, he talks with startling candor, revealing secrets of a case that has baffled authorities for three decades.

In addition to footage drawn from more than 20 hours’-worth of interviews with Durst, the series features a cast of fascinating characters from Durst’s life, among them: his current wife, Debrah Lee Charatan; former Westchester County district attorney Jeanine Pirro, who reopened the investigation; members of the secretive Durst family; and Durst’s legal dream team, including legendary Texas lawyer Dick DeGuerin.

The documentary is the result of nearly a decade of research by the filmmakers, who have unearthed thousands of pages of hidden documents, police files, key witnesses, never-before-seen footage and private prison recordings.

Sports Desk at 10:00 PM, Monday to Friday only on CNN Philippines HHHHH Cebuanos had the rare opportunity to watch acclaimed actor Benedict Cumberbatch in special screening of National Theatre Live’s (NTL) Frankenstein, as the British Embassy’s GREAT campaign went to SM City Cebu.

In this joint project of the British Embassy and SM City Cebu, film enthusiasts watched the live broadcast on March 13 at 7:30 p.m. at SM City Cebu’s Cinema 1.

Directed by Academy Award winner Danny Boyle (Trainspotting, Slumdog Millionaire), Frankenstein features breakout star Cumberbatch (12 Years A Slave, Star Trek: Into Darkness) and Jonny Lee Miller (Trainspotting, Mansfield Park) alternating roles as Victor Frankenstein and his creation.

H.E. British Ambassador Asif Ahmad said, “We are delighted to partner with SM City Cebu to bring this production of Frankenstein for the very first time in the Philippines,” he says. “This performance from the world-renowned National Theatre is a great showcase of the creativity and talent that the UK offers. I’m sure that seeing this performance will encourage you to visit the UK and experience the vibrant live theatre scene and range of creativity in the great cities of the United Kingdom.”

NTL’s Frankenstein was a sell-out hit at the National Theatre, and the broadcast has since become an international sensation, experienced by almost half a million people in cinemas around the world.

This was the second collaboration of the British Embassy and SM on the National Theater Live project. The first one, the live broadcast of William Shakespeare’s Macbeth starring Kenneth Branagh at SM Aura Premier in 2013, drew a record crowd.

The screening was part of the GREAT campaign spearheaded by the British Embassy Manila to bring the best of British business and culture to the Philippines.

Robert Durst is finally arrested for murder.

The journey has been documented in a documentary to be shown on HBO

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T U E S D AY : M A R C H 24 : 2 0 1 5

ISAH V. RED EDITOR

isahred @ gmail.com

SHOWBITZ

‘SATURDAY NIGHT FEVER’ IN MANIL A

The iconic pose that made John Travolta an international superstar after Saturday night fever

★★★★★ Atlantis Theatrical Entertainment and its casting agency based in New York, Tara Rubin Casting announced that Brandon ISAH V. RED Rubendall, original cast member of U2’s Bono and The Edge’s Spider-man: Turn The iconic disco film Saturday Night Fe- Off The Dark” on Broadway and recurver’s is now a musical. And it’s coming ring principal dancer for pop superstars to Manila.

Madonna, Beyonce, and Jennifer LoThe stage version features, of course, pez, will step into the dancing shoes of the music of The Bee Gees. the ‘70s disco icon Tony Manero in SatAtlantis Theatrical Entertainment urday Night Fever.

Group (ATEG) is bringing the musical Playing opposite Rubendall is Jenna on Philippine and Asian stages.

Rubaii, Green Day’s American Idiot Saturday Night Fever’s 2015 Asian (U.S. and International Tour) alum, who Tour, its first in eight years comes on the will breathe life into the role of Stephaheels of the show’s current UK Tour. It nie Mangano, a young office workerwill to kick off at The Theatre, Solaire turned-dance partner of Brooklyn’s local Resort and Casino (ASEANA Avenue, discotheque habitué Tony.

Paranaque City, Manila), on July 3 unThe two were in Manila, Thursday, til the 26th and performances in Kuala and met with members of the press.

Lumpur (Sept. 1 to 15), and Singapore “Coincidentally, on the same week (Sept. 25 to Oct.11) will follow suit.

I was auditioning for the role of Tony, In close coordination with the Robert ‘the film, was playing on TV,” recalled Stigwood Organization, whose founder Rubendall. “After I watched it, I couldn’t produced the film and its various stage in- believe I had never seen the movie uncarnations from 1998 to present, ATEG’s til then and how much I related to the Resident Director Bobby Garcia reveals, role of [the emotionally immature] Tony “We’re using a brand new script [originally [played by John Travolta]. written by Nan Knighton, in collabora“I felt like I was basically watching mytion with Arlene Phillips, Paul Nicholas, self in the movie. Because of how much and Robert Stigwood] that brings back a I’ve connected to the role, I was so calm lot of the grittiness and the coming of age and confident in the auditions, which is in a tough world aspect of the movie. It’s probably why I ended up getting it…and edgy and exciting. It’s a completely re-con- the fact that I love disco music!” ceptualized production.”

Rubendall added, “That role was writOn board this production, Garcia dis- ten for me! I have to play that role.” closes that ATEG, which has broadcast Ecstatic on bagging the role of Stephamoguls Bobby Barreiro and Tony Tuvi- nie, Rubaii, who is no stranger to discoera as partners, has assembled a formida- themed musicals having been part of ble, first-rate creative team—representing Broadway Legend Tommy Tune’s new some of the finest talents musical Fifty Four Forever in West End, Broadway, –inspired by the infamous and Asian Theater. Its New York night club Stupowerhouse creative team dio 54—feels perfectly We’re using a include Tony Awardgood in the arms of her brand new script winning scenic designer new leading man, Ruben[originally written dall, whom she shared a David Gallo, choreographer Vince Pesce, light- by Nan Knighton, in rarely luxurious amount collaboration with of time studying scenes ing designer Paul Miller, costume designer Eric Arlene Phillips, Paul from the musical during Pineda, musical direc- Nicholas, and Robert the auditions’ final calltor Ceejay Javier), and back in New York.

Stigwood] that Garcia himself, who will brings back a lot of “Our director, Bobby direct the production, Garcia, spent a generous the grittiness and whose 20-strong cast were amount of time working the coming of age in with us on the material chosen through casting director Tara Rubin from a tough world aspect during the audition proof the movie. It’s separate auditions first cess, which you don’t get edgy and exciting. often. That also made held in Manila and later in New York City. me feel so comfortable It’s a completely “We have a first-rate re-conceptualized in the room with my creative team and have scene partner, Brandon,” production assembled an amazing Rubaii said. “We had – Bobby Garcia cast. I think the quality such a good time togethof the show will speak for er. It was so fun reading itself once it’s up on its the scenes. We were so feet,” says Garcia. willing to play the char“ATEG has been chosen for the high acters of Tony and Stephanie!” standard it has achieved with some of She added, “Our director has been the best Broadway shows,” says Patrick very focused on finding the truth in Bywalski, deputy chairman of The Robert these characters and in the story, which Stigwood Organization. “The first-class is really beautiful. creative team ATEG has assembled for this “So many times you get musicals like never-before-seen, revamped production this that are so famous for their music or of SNF in Asia will surely deliver a thrilling film adaptations, and it just becomes a experience. So bring the white suit out and ‘fluffy,’ ‘fun’ piece. Of course, this musiyour boogie shoes.” cal will be plenty of fun, but there’s also a beautiful journey that these characters take--it’s a snapshot of young lives durRubendall and Jennai breathe life to the ing this specific generation. I think it’s iconic Tony and important to honor that.”

Stephanie of the disco

SIMPLY RED

film set in the 70s

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