The Standard - 2015 April 08 - Wednesday

VOL. XXIX  NO. 52  3 Sections 32 Pages P18  WEDNESDAY : APRIL 8, 2015  www.manilastandardtoday.com  editorial@thestandard.com.ph

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Trillanes: Bribes given in Binay case

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War games set amid sea row

AQUINO SLAMS FALSE ALLIES Next page

New bridge up north. President Benigno Aquino III graces the inauguration of the Lullutan Bridge in Lullutan village in Ilagan, Isabela, on Tuesday. The P772.9-million, 500.6-meter bridge is considered one of the longest bridges crossing the Cagayan River. MALACAÑANG PHOTO BUREAU

The kitchen as the new luxury hub

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Coach K cements legacy

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The hearings continue. The House of Representatives on Tuesday resumed the hearings on the Mamasapano incident in which 44 police commandos were killed on Jan. 25 by fighters of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front and Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters. Manny PalMero

PNoy warns against false allies ...as partisans dominate probe

By Maricel V. Cruz PRESIDENT Benigno Aquino III’s allies in the House crushed attempts by opposition lawmakers Tuesday to invite the Chief Executive to a hearing to answer questions relating to the covert operation in Mamasapano in which 44 police commandos were killed.

When the hearings into the Mamasapano debacle resumed, Bayan Muna party-list Rep. Neri Colmenares moved that the President be invited to Congress to tell everything he knew about the ill-fated operation.

“This is a very reasonable motion. I hope our members in the majority will not put this to a vote,” Colmenares said.

Colmenares also demanded that the 20 questions prepared by the Makabayan bloc in the House be sent to the President.

With Palace allies dominating the panel, however, Colmenares’ motion was voted down.

Reps. Elpidio Barzaga, Jr. of Cavite City and Rodolfo Farinas of Ilocos Norte said it was not legally tenable for Aquino to attend the House hearings.

Barzaga, who was deputized

by Speaker Feliciano Belmonte, Jr., said inviting the President to Congress was of “transcendental importance.”

“It would create far reaching consequences which would affect the very foundation of our democracy, and the separtaion of powers among the three branches of government,” Barzaga said.

Should Congress compel the President to attend the House hearings, then Congress “would be the most powerful body,” he said, creating a “dangerous precedent.”

Farinas said the President could only be made to answer questions directed to him through an impeachment pro-

ceeding.

Another staunch Aquino ally, Caloocan Rep. Edgar Erice, said the opposition merely wanted to humiliate the President.

Members of the leftist Makabayan bloc slammed the majority decision.

“It is deplorable that the majority big guns in the Mamasapano hearing acted like President Aquino’s lawyers and defenders at the expense of truth and accountability,” Colmenares said.

“This is not a court proceeding and President Aquino is just being invited or urged to at least answer the 20 questions raised. We will still persevere in the hearing to prove that it is only President Aquino who can answer our questions on his responsibilities and accountabilities,” Colmenares added.

Bayan Muna Rep. Carlos Zarate said that President Aquino’s spin-doctors must now be very pleased that the “yellowwashing” of the Mamasapano bloody debacle continues with the refusal of the House majority to even send formal written questions to the President.

“Only the President can personally and officially answer the 20 questions raised by the Makabayan bloc and no one else. We are challenging then President Aquino to voluntarily answer those questions under oath. Otherwise, his so-called commitment to seek the truth is empty and a lie,” Zarate said.

Kabataan party-list Rep. Terry Ridon said that Aquino’s absence “bodes ill for the outcome of the investigation.”

“The point here is that the House leadership has not even tried to invite the President, when it is very clear that his testimony is vital to ferret out the truth,” Ridon said.

Ridon alo slammed Barzaga for

warning of the “far-reaching consequences” inviting the President would have.

“How can the President’s presence in a formal congressional investigation endanger the pillars of democracy?

Isn’t the separation of powers there for each branch to provide checks and balances in the functions of the other branches?

“Representative Barzaga and the administration stalwarts are just clearly doing the dirty work of saving the President’s neck in today’s hearing. Clearly, they don’t want the process of exacting the truth to proceed with ease. If we want to ferret out new details today, we need to launch a staunch table battle,” Ridon said.

The legislator also castigated President Aquino for not voluntarily appearing before the joint House panels.

“Aquino’s passive response to our open invitation for him to personally participate in today’s hearing speaks volumes of his character as leader and commander-in-chief. This is like a second chance for him, but he remains hardheaded. For him, he’s above everyone, even Congress.”

Ridon said Aquino could have opted to answer the Makabayan bloc’s questions in writing.

“But his royal highness Mr. Aquino did not even dignify even one of our 20 questions with an answer. What a President indeed.”

A presidential spokesman said there was no need for the President to address the 20 questions since the House had turned down a proposal to send them on to the Palace.

“According to two reports I’ve read, they have actually voted it down,” said Communications Secretary Herminio Coloma Jr. “So, for us, we don’t have to discuss this any more.”

— With Sandy aranheta

By Sandy araneta

WITH his performance ratings plunging to their lowest levels, President Benigno Aquino III on Tuesday warned the public and his allies not to be fooled by twofaced people who represent themselves as supporters of his administration.

In a speech during the inauguration of the P772.9 million Lullutan Bridge in Ilagan City, Isabela, the President once again slammed his critics who pretend to be his supporters.

“I’d like to recall what is being asked of me always: Who will continue all of these projects if you are gone? I told them, my bosses, I believe in you. You will continue these. And I know you will not be fooled by those who try to represent themselves as our allies, but who are clearly twofaced,” the President said in Filipino.

As he cited several projects and programs under his administration, Aquino said Filipinos know how to look into the past to avoid making the same mistakes.

Aquino said there are only 450 days left in his administration and he is more determined to continue pushing for national development.

Aquino also said he is confident that the people will choose a new leader who will continue the “righteous path” that he championed when he ran for office five years ago.

The President credited the Filipino people for bringing about change in the country.

If the people are pleased with the country’s transformation, he added, then they must continue supporting good governance.

During the inauguration, Public Works and Highways Secretary Rogelio Singson said the bridge used to be a spillway that was destroyed by a typhoon some 20 years ago.

He apologized for the one-year delay in the construction of the 50-meter Lullutan Bridge, explaining that the government

ran into a number of problems while building it.

The Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) has allocated P8.1 billion for Isabela from 2011 to 2015, he said, and the government will continue to improve Isabela’s national roads and build more farm-to-market roads in the province.

The bridge, considered as one of the longest bridges to cross the Cagayan River, connects Barangay Camalagui 1 and Barangay Lullutan, both in Ilagan.

When the bridge was destroyed in 1995, residents had to use barges to transport their agricultural products to markets in Ilagan.

Also during the inauguration, President Aquino led the granting of financial assistance to 73 boatmen displaced by the construction of the Lullutan Bridge.

Each boatman, who used to ferry people and goods when the bridge was not yet completed, received P20,000 from the President.

Also present at the event were Isabela Governor Faustino Dy III, Isabela District 1 Rep. Rodolfo Albano III, and Ilagan City Mayor Jose Marie Diaz.

In the Palace, Communications Secretary Herminio Coloma Jr. dismissed criticism from researchers for comparing the results of the SWS survey with those from an earlier Pulse Asia survey, and for concluding that these showed the President was recovering from the fallout of the Mamasapano incident in which 44 police commandos were killed in a botched covert operation that he sanctioned.

He said disagreements over the interpretation of the survyes was “part of the democratic dialogue.”

Earlier, political campaign strategist Malou Tiquia, founder and general manager of Publicus Asia Inc., was quoted as saying Aquino’s seemingly better ratings in the latest SWS survey should not be compared with those released by Pulse Asia a few weeks ago.

“To say that SWS captured a correction on the dip is wrong because the questions asked were different. You cannot compare apples and oranges in the case of what is being measured,” Tiquia told GMA News Online.

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‘Fictitious’ MILF leadership hit

By Maricel V. Cruz

THE government has been forging a peace agreement not only with foreign nationals but also with “fictitious and non-existent” people,” House Deputy Majority Leader and Davao City Rep. Karlo Alexei Nograles said Tuesday.

He made the statement during the resumption of the House hearing on the Mamasapano incident, with government peace negotiator Miriam Coronel Ferrer admitting that the name Mohagher Iqbal, the name that the head of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front’s negotiating panel had been using, was not his real name.

“Mohagher Iqbal is a nom de guerre and Mohagher Iqbal is the official name that has been used in negotiations ever since the negotiations with the Philippine government started in 1997,” Ferrer told the House joint committees on public order and peace, reconciliation and unity.

“He has his own name by which he was born.”

But Zamboanga City Rep. Celso Lobregat was dismayed over Iqbal’s absence during the resumption of th hearing on the Mamasapano incident that resulted in the killing of 44 police commandos.

“We are very displeased. They are showing a very antagonistic stand in the House of Representatives,” Lobregat said.

Basilan Rep. Hadjiman Hataman-Salliman, chairman of the House committee on peace, reconciliation and unity, said the joint panel hearing on the Mamasapano incident sent an invitation to Iqbal but got no reply.

Ferrer’s statement came after Nograles inquired on the full and real name of Iqbal.

Apart from refusing to give the real name of Iqbal, Ferrer also evaded answering Nograles’ other questions inquiry on Iqbal, such as the names written on the passport and voter’s identification card of the MILF leader whom the government peace panel has been negotiating with.

“I think that question belongs to Mr Iqbal, not to me,” Ferrer in response to Nograles.

Nograles said the use of alias in any public transaction or public document was illegal and prohibited by Article 178 of the Revised Penal Code and the Anti-Alias Law under Commonwealth Act 142 as amended by Republic Act 6085.

“He must affix his real or original name and the use of names or aliases or pseudonyms is punishable,” Nograles said.

Iqbal earlier responded to the criticisms by saying that he owned a Philippine passport, and that the allegation that he was carrying a Malaysian passport was “baseless.”

Nograles had earlier found it disturbing that, apart from entering into a peace agreement with foreign nationals, the government had also been dealing with people carrying fictitious names.

Injunction. Makati Mayor Junjun Binay holds up a copy of the Court of Appeals’ injunction stopping the Ombudsman from suspending him and

15 other Makati officials for six months over the allegedly overpriced Makati City Hall Building II. With him is his lawyer Claro Certeza. Danny Pata

Trillanes: Bribes given to clear Junjun Comelec

By Macon r. araneta, to consider rey e. requejo and Joel e. Zurbano using new poll system SENATOR Antonio Trillanes IV accused Court of Appeals justices Tuesday of taking a bribe to issue a preliminary injunction against the Office of the Ombudsman to stop it from carrying out the suspension of Makati Mayor Jejomar Erwin Binay Jr. “I will not give you any figure right now,” said Trillanes, who would say only that a huge amount of money changed hands.

He added that the justices involved in the decision should pray that Vice President Jejomar Binay, the mayor’s father, wins the presidency in May 2016, or they would face charges.

Earlier this week, the CA’s 6th Division led by Justice Jose Reyes Jr. issued a write of preliminary injunction against the Office of the Ombudsman and the Interior and

Local Government Department.

The other members of the division, Justices Francisco Acosta and Eduardo Peralta Jr., concurred.

The appellate court’s order stopped the Ombudsman and the DILG from enforcing the Ombudsman’s March 10 order suspending Binay for six months.

They were also directed to preserve and respect the status quo before the issuance of the preventive suspension order.

At the same time, the Makati mayor was ordered to post a P500,000 bond.

Trillanes and Senator Alan Peter Cayetano, who both have presidential ambitions, have led the investigation against Vice President Binay, who has led all opinion polls for the 2016 presidential race.

Trillanes said there was “nothing to debate” about the suspension, since it was just the minesterial part of the Ombudsman’s job.

He said the mayor was able to

get an injunction due to “grease money” from the Binays.

He also potshots at lawyers who will demand to see the evidence.

“The time will come—we will expose them,” Trillanes said.

He also threatened to divulge the identities of those who acted as fronts to give the bribe money.

“Eventually, we will come out with that,” said Trillanes, who said the Binays took advantage of the “pera-pera” system in the country’s justice system.

Trillanes said Vice President Binay was the biggest problem the country will face, calling the Binays a “syndicate family.”

Once Binay becomes President, graft and corrupt involving his family will become more extensive, he said.

“They will abuse and rape the country. At present, they are raping the country and we are showing it to the public. So we need to expose them,” said Trillanes.

Call to step down. Protesters gathered in front of Congress on Tuesday during the resumption of the hearings on the Mamasapano incident to demand that President Benigno Aquino III step down. Manny PalMero

By Sara Susanne D. Fabunan THE Commission on Elections has finally agreed to look into the proposed system it has repeatedly rejected in the past to be used for the coming local and national elections in 2016.

The agency made the decision in case the Precinct Count Optcal Scan or PCOS machines are not used for the 2016 elections.

Comelec spokesman James Jimenez said the agency had invited former commissioner Gus Lagman to present on Friday the Transparent and Credible Election System or TCrES, an automated election system that the latter have been pushing since 2010.

TCREST is a system in which individiuals vote manually but the result is transmitted electronically.

“The system, like he said, is still in line with the definition of automated, but up to this point we don’t share the same interpretation,” Jimenez said.

“But like I said, no stone will be unturned.

We will hear the position of Commissioner Lagman. This will be his opportunity to finally and formally present his idea on what to do with TCrES and we are looking forward to that.”

Jimenez said the presentation of Lagman and fellow IT experts will be made before the Comelec sitting as a group.

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Sandigan junks GMA plea to end plunder trial

By Rio N. Araja

Farm as art. A vegetable farmer (below, right) is dwarfed by vegetable patches that appear to have been laid out artistically in Mountain Province. DAVID CHAN

BIR won’t postpone electronic tax returns

By Jennifer Ambanta and Macon R. Araneta

THE Bureau of Internal Revenues said Tuesday it will not postpone the implementation of its Electronic Filing and Payment System (eFPS) despite requests from business groups and small businessmen.

“Filing was from January 2 until April 15. No, I am not moving it,” BIR Commissioner Kim Henares said in reply to complaints that taxpayers could not file their returns because the tax agency’s computer system is always down.

Even Sen. Bam Aquino called on the BIR to at least defer the imposition of penalties covered by the eFPS or Electronic BIR Forms (eBIRForms) because of the short transition period the agency pro-

vided in moving to the new system.

But Henares pointed out that it has been some time since the agency started implementing the eFPS and large taxpayers who have been complying with the system since 2002 while government bidders and suppliers and brokers and importers have been doing the same since 2009.

Small business owner Roma Agsalud said she and other entrepreneurs are already trying to settle

their taxes through the new system ahead of the April 10 deadline.

“Many taxpayers are already trying to settle their taxes as early as now to beat April 10 deadline and avoid penalty,” Agsalud said in a post on social media. “But they won’t accept normal handwritten forms.

They want the e-forms now.” “[But] that BIR website is always down. Even if you ask ITs from their office, they admit they can’t access their own websites as well,” she said. “When you ask what you should do since their websites are down, they will say you should just pay the penalty.”

Henares confirmed that businesses will have to pay penalties if they fail to submit their tax returns via e-filing even if the BIR website crashed on the last day of filing.

“If our system is down, we will

know and we will normally give an advisory that they can submit manually and then they can submit online within a certain period,” she said.

“But, of course, if they all submit at the deadline and our system slows down and they are unable to file then they will be penalized,” she said.

“If they fail to make the deadline because they choose to file on the last day, knowing a lot of people will be filing on the last day, then this is not force majeure anymore,” Henares added.

Henares also said that the BIR have upgraded its bandwidth from 15 mbps to 60 mbps to make sure it can accommodate more tax payers.

“We increased our bandwidth precisely because we know that despite our campaigns to file early, tax payers will still wait for the last minute,” she said.

THE Sandiganbayan has rejected the bid of former President and now Pampanga Rep. Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo to end the trial of the plunder suit she is facing in connection with her alleged misuse of a P366-million fund of the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office.

The anti-graft court’s First Division rejected the plea filed by Arroyo through her lawyers Jose Flaminiano and Hector Laurence Arroyo and ordered the trial to proceed.

But the former President will file a motion for reconsideration to challenge the court’s decision within 15 days upon its receipt, Laurence Arroyo said.

“We are optimistic we can change the minds of the justices,” Laurence Arroyo said.

“We believe there are some contentions that they have not seen in resolving our demurrer. There are issues and points that the Sandiganbayan needs to be clarified.

“We haven’t received a copy of the resolution yet. I just heard over the radio the report of the denial of the demurrer. We will definitely file a motion for reconsideration.”

Laurence Arroyo said Mrs. Arroy was already aware of the Sandiganbayan’s ruling and of her lawyers’ plan to file a motion for reconsideration.

“We remain hopeful that we can yet persuade the court that the prosecution failed to meet its burden of proving beyond reasonable doubt the elements of plunder and the existence of a conspiracy,” Laurence Arroyo said in a statement.

“The reported acquittal of the other accused weakens even more the prosecution’s conspiracy theory.”

The First Division had granted the similar pleadings filed by four of Mrs. Arroyo’s co-accused: former Commission on Audit chairman Reynaldo Villar and Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office ex-board members Manuel Morato, Raymundo Roquero and Jose Taruc V, who were earlier granted bail for their provisional liberty.

Zambo town mayor abducted SECURITY forces are scrambling to determine the whereabouts of Mayor Gemma Adana of Naga, Zamboanga Sibugay who was abducted from her home while she was having dinner with her family on Monday evening.

Zamboanga Sibugay provincial police chief Senior Supt. Jose Bayani Gucela said police and miltiary units are tracking down gunmen who apparently dragged Adana from her home to a nearby beach and forced her into a boat that sped to open waters.

Western Mindanao Command spokesperson Capt. Rowena Muyuela said that they have al-

ready deployed the 17th Special Forces Company and the Naval Special Operations Unit to help police pursue the abductors and recover Adana.

The authorities still could not determine the motive for the abduction, but they are not discounting the possibility that it have something to do with the graft charges that were filed against Adana and several other town officials.

Adana and four other town officials were charged with corruption before the Ombudsman only last month in connection with the alleged anomalous purchase of heavy equipment

in 2007 even as it exonerated several others.

Adana was charged along with town officials Roland Grijalvo, Felix Timsan, Emmanuel Enteria and Jonathan Cartagena.

They reportedly facilitated the irregular procurement of heavy equipment from CVCK Trading in 2007.

The Ombudsman said Adana and the four officials committed procurement violations in the acquisition of a road roller and road grader by changing the technical specifications of the equipment without complying with the requirements of the Government Procurement Reform Act.

Moro war hero. As the country prepares to celebrate Araw ng Kagitingan (Day of Valor) on April 9, a tourist checks out a bust of Moro war hero Salipada Pendatun, who led the guerrilla war against Japanese invaders in Cotabato during World War II. Pendatun later became Cotabato governor, congressman and senator. DANNY PATA

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Mock assault. Philippines and US Marines ride on boats during a beach assault exercise facing the South China Sea in San Antonio, Zambales province on May 9, 2014. Scores of US and Filipino marines launched mock assaults on a South China Sea beach in the Philippines on May 9 in war games aimed at honing the allies’ combat skills. AFP

War games set amid sea row THE United States and the Philippines will double the size of their annual war games this month, with some exercises to be staged close to a South China Sea flashpoint, the Filipino military said Monday.

The 10-day exercises between the long-time allies will be held as fears grow in the Philippines that China is seeking to take control of the strategically vital and resource-rich sea.

Nearly 12,000 soldiers will be involved in this year’s edition in several locations in the Philippines, including a naval station directly facing the disputed waters, military spokesman Lieutenant Colonel harold Cabunoc said.

That number, which includes 6,600 American troops, compares with a total of 5,500 soldiers who participated in last year’s

Balikatan (shoulder-toshoulder) exercises, Cabunoc said. he emphasised the expanded war games highlighted the deepening military alliance between the Philippines and its former colonial ruler.

“The higher strength of Balikatan 2015 for this year only reflects the Philippines’ and the United States’ growing commitment to enhance our capability to conduct joint military and non-military activities,” Cabunoc told AFP. he said the decision to expand the numbers involved in the games was not directed

at China, which claims nearly all of the South China Sea, even waters and reefs close to Southeast Asian nations and far from its nearest major landmass. however, part of the exercises will be held from Zambales naval base, which is located 220 kilometers (137 miles) east of Scarborough Shoal in the South China Sea. The shoal is a rich fishing ground within the Philippines’ exclusive economic zone but has been controlled by China since 2012.

The Balikatan exercises, which start on April 20, will also be held on the central island of Panay, Palawan in the southwest and a former American airbase north of Manila.

Cabunoc said the exercises involved maritime security and disaster response drills,

as well as civic projects.

Spokespeople for the US and Chinese embassies in Manila were unavailable for comment on Monday.

The Philippines has repeatedly protested at China’s increasingly assertive actions in the South China Sea and has sought closer military ties with the United States in an effort to counter it.

The US and Philippines signed an agreement last year that will allow a larger American military presence in the Philippines. however it has not yet been implemented, as the Supreme Court is hearing challenges to it from antiUS groups.

Aside from the Philippines, Vietnam, Malaysia, Brunei and Taiwan also have competing claims to parts of the South China Sea. AFP

Survey firms must name sponsors—SC

By Rey E. Requejo The Supreme Court has affirmed the legality of the resolution issued by the Commission on elections in 2013 requiring survey firms to submit the names of all commissioners and payors of surveys published during the campaign period for the last national elections. however, the high court nullified a portion of Comelec Resolution No. 9674 that allows the prosecution of those behind the survey groups for violation of Republic Act No. 9006 or the Fair elections Act for failure to comply with the

Comelec’s directive, Court spokesperson Theodore Te said in a media briefing.

“Wherefore, the petition is partially granted: (1) Comelec Resolution No. 9674 is upheld; (2) respondent Comelec is enjoined from prosecuting petitioners for their supposed violation of Comelec Resolution No. 9674 in respect of their nonsubmission of the names of all commissioners and payors, including subscribers, of surveys published during the campaign period for the 2013 elections,” stated the SC resolution, which was issued after the justices held their en

banc session in Baguio City yesterday.

On July 26, 2013, the Social Weather Station (SWS) and Pulse Asia Inc. filed a petition before the high court assailing the legality of Comelec Resolution No. 9674 for having been issued beyond its authority.

The two survey firms stressed that the resolution, in requiring the submission of information on subscribers, is in excess of what the Fair elections Act requires.

According to them, the resolution transgresses the Fair elections Act in making itself executory immediately after publication.

They also asserted that the resolution violated the nonimpairment of contracts clause of the Constitution, and was enforced in violation of their right to due process.

They claimed that the Comelec resolution violated Section 10, Article III of the Constitution as it allegedly impairs their existing contracts with third parties.

Then Comelec chairman Sixto Brillantes Jr. earlier explained that the new rule on surveys was created to enable the poll body to have oversight over pre-election surveys that affect public opinion in the run-up to the elections.

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Free tuition in Caloocan attracts long lines

Plea for Jane. The parents and two sons of death convict Mary Jane Veloso joined by supporters hold a picket in front of the Department of Foreign Affairs building to press for a review of her case by the Indonesian Supreme Court. EY ACASIO

Indonesia reviews case of Pinay convict

By Vito Barcelo

The case of convicted Filipina drug mule will be taken up by the Indonesian Supreme Court in a judicial review, the Department of Foreign Affairs said.

The Indonesian court said a panel of judges would be appointed this week to review the case of Filipina domestic worker Mary Jane Fiesta Veloso, a process which can take up to three months.

Veloso was sentenced to death in 2010 for attempting to smuggle 2.6

kilograms of heroin from Malaysia to Yogyakarta.

She maintains she was deceived and did not know that drugs were in her luggage.

In a press briefing, lawyer Noel Fernandez, special assistant at the DFA’s migrant workers affairs of-

fice, said Veloso, who is facing execution in Indonesia will not be executed until all legal procedures are completed.

The Philippine government has asked Indonesian court for a second judicial review of Veloso’s case after Jakarta’s Supreme Court denied the Filipino’s petition for reconsideration.

The Philippine government is seeking to commute Veloso’s death sentence to life imprisonment.

“Our guidance is the public pronouncement of the Indonesian government that they

would address all legal issues first,” he said.

“That’s the public assurance of Indonesia Attorney General that they would let the legal process continue until all legal process is concluded,” he added.

Indonesian courts have consistently said they will execute all 10 drug felons at the same time, while the review is expected to take months.

Under Indonesian laws, all death penalty cases are subject to judicial review despite a Supreme Court ruling.

Bigger slice of taxes for LGUs pushed

By Macon R. Araneta SeNATOr Aquilino “Koko” Pimentel lll has renewed his call for bipartisan support for the approval of his proposed measure to give local government units (LGUs) their rightful share of national taxes.

Known as the “Bigger Pie, Bigger Slice” bill, Pimentel said the measure seeks to change the limited internal revenue allocations (IrAs) of LGUs into the expanded and bigger shares in the national taxes (SNTs). he said the change would give LGUs a larger share of 50 percent from the current 40

percent of the total tax collections that would include both revenues collected by the Bureau of Internal revenue and the Bureau of Customs. he said the new formula means more available funds for more benefits and better services made available to more people, and envisioned to result in more positive quality of life changes in the lives of more Filipinos. “hating kapatid,” said Pimentel of the proposed 5050 sharing formula between the national government the LGUs in keeping with the constitutional mandate to give LGUs an equitable share from the national wealth.

Liberators’ Week. Filipino World War II veterans salute in front of a memorial during a ceremony to remember fallen heroes of World War II at Corregidor island in Cavite, Manila Bay on April 7, 2015. The ceremony was held as part of the week-long commemoration dubbed “Veterans’ Week” and 70th anniversary of Philippine liberation. AFP

MOre than a kilometer-long line was formed by aspiring freshmen from dawn up to the opening of the registrar’s office at the two new campuses of the University of Caloocan City, yesterday and today, as more than 5,000 students daily are trying to be among the first batch of the free tuition fee beneficiaries of the city government.

According to Caloocan City Mayor Oscar Malapitan, the long lines from midnight to mornings are beyond his expectation “and this made me realize that college education is indeed considered the highest priority for family members”.

“The free tuition fees, new buildings and facilities, high rate of board passers, improved academic standards, all these have contributed to the popular clamor for students to enroll at UCC,” Malapitan explained.

According to UCC president Dr. Marilyn De Jesus, there are only 6,000 slots for incoming freshmen but there are about 5,000 applicants daily, “so expect that the entrance exams will be very competitive”.

“Our schedule for submission of requirements for the entrance exams will be from April 6 to June 19. 2015. After the processing of their documents, applicants will get their exam schedule. If they pass the exam, then they will be given their enrollment schedule”, de Jesus added.

Malapitan said that a number of applicants are from the private schools. “I take notice of this because UCC’s facilities and standards are now at par, or even way above those of the private colleges and universities.”

The mayor explained that UCC has now two 5-storey buildings in two new campuses (edsa campus and Congressional campus) with 48 classrooms each, elevators, hotel-type comfort rooms, event centers, computer rooms. Jun David

Mindoro lawmaker suspended on graft charges The Sandiganbayan’s Fourth Division on Tuesday imposed a 90-day preventive suspension against Oriental Mindoro rep.

Paulino Salvador Leachon and the city engineer of Calapan City for alleged violation of the AntiGraft and Corrupt Practices Act. The anti-graft court directed Leachon to stop exercising his legislative function while serving his 90-day suspension.

Also ordered by the court is the temporary suspension of all his benefits such as monthly salary and allowances.

The decision, signed by Associate Justices Jose hernandez, Alex Quiroz and Maria Cristina Cornejo, instructed house Speaker Feliciano Belmonte Jr. to enforce the suspension upon receipt of the order.

Also ordered suspended was Benjamin Acedera, city engineer of Calapan City. The mayor of Calapan City is likewise instructed to immediately impose the order.

Both Leachon and Acedera were accused of using five dump trucks owned by the city government to haul sand for one Juan Vinas without payment of the corresponding rentals to the prejudice of the city government.

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Puerto Princesa recall must be held on or before May 8 The Supreme Court reminded the Commission on elections that manual recall elections in Puerto Princesa City must be held on or before May 8 this year.

Former Puerto Princesa City information officer Al Roben Goh initiated the recall petition against Mayor Lucilo Bayron in March 2014.

Goh claimed Bayron had lost the trust and confidence of the people due to gross violation of the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act and the

Code of Conduct and Ethical Standards for Public Officials.

Bayron was accused of incompetence, deriliction of duties, emotional immaturity, and intellectual dishonesty.

The Comelec had earlier said it did not have funds to conduct a recall election, but it was reversed by the Supreme

Court which ordered the poll body to immediately conduct a recall poll against Bayron.

Out of the 32,418 signatures attached to the recall petition against the incumbent, the Comelec declared last week that 22,326 were valid.

The Supreme Court had earlier dismissed a petition from Bayron

to stop recall proceedings.

Section 74 of the Local Government Code provides that “no recall shall take place within one year immediately preceding a regular local election”.

The next national and local elections is on May 9, 2016.

Sara Susanne Fabunan, Rey E. Requejo

Crossing the Cagayan River. The P772.924-million Lullutan Bridge in Ilagan, Isabela, cost has a loading capacity of 20 tons and is made of 14-span structural steel girders with reinforced concrete slab. Gil Nartea / Malacañang Photo Bureau

Anti-human trafficking conference begins today

By Ronald O. Reyes TACLOBAN CITY—At least 15 municipal mayors together with social workers and community leaders in Eastern Visayas will gather here starting Wednesday for a two-day Anti-Trafficking in Persons Summit.

Maria Salome Ujano, national coordinator of Philippines Against Child Trafficking, said that solving human trafficking issues in the country needs multi-agency efforts particularly if dealing with powerful and influential offenders.

“Psycho-social support to the victims is very important considering the lack in number of social workers in our local government units and counseling is least of their priority,” Ujano told reporters in a press conference.

Participants of the summit will be from towns in the region covered by the 222-kilometer Samar Secondary National Roads Development Project. This is funded by a $214 million grant from the American government through the Millennium Challenge Corporation.

The towns include Hinabangan and Paranas in Samar, Borongan, Maydolong, Balangkayan, Llorente, Hernani, General MacArthur, Sulat, Taft, San Julian, Quinapondan, Salcedo, Mercedes and Guiuan in Eastern Samar.

The event is organized by Millennium Challenge Account-Philippines (MCA-P) and PACT.

School in Antique gets four-room building PANDAN, Antique—BDO Foundation and US-Philippines Society turned over new two-storey, fourclassroom building to school officials, teachers and students of Pandan Central School at the inauguration in Antique on March 25. The school was damaged in November 2013 when Super Typhoon Haiyan barreled the eastern Visayan seaboard.

The donated building is typhoonresilient, built in accordance with design approved by the Department of Education. It is furnished with armchairs and teachers’-desk-andchair sets (manufactured by persons with disability), blackboards and wall fans.

Work on the school building started in November 2014 after the formal signing of the Memorandum of Agreement between BDO Founda-

tion (BDOF) and Washington-based non-profit organization, U.S.-Philippines Society.

The partnership assisted this school owing to its high standards of education and its special education (SPED) curriculum. It is also home to one of the heritage Gabaldon School Buildings built by the Thomasites during the American period.

BDO Foundation is the corporate foundation of BDO Unibank, the largest bank in the Philippines. The US-Philippines Society is a non-profit and non-partisan, based in Washington D.C, organized to broaden and expand USPhilippines relations. The Society sponsored a benefit concert entitled “After the Storm,” last June to raise funds for post-typhoon Yolanda recovery in the Visayas.

New building for Yolanda-battered school. BDO Foundation and US-Philippines Society turned over a new two-storey, four-classroom building to school officials, teachers and students of Pandan Central School in Antique.

W E D n E s D Ay: A P R I L 8 , 2 0 1 5

A8

opinion lettertotheeditor@thestandard.com.ph

opinion THE deeper this administration sinks into a quagmire of its own creation, the more it becomes apparent that the nation is in the hands of leaders who are either intellectually dishonest or completely out of touch with reality.

In his Easter message, President Benigno Aquino III talked up the achievements of the economy, without acknowledging that ordinary Filipinos do not benefit one whit from the 110 times that the stock exchange set a record.

He also urged Filipinos to set aside fear and anger and to choose instead to end the cycle of poverty and violence in Mindanao, but did not say that the Bangsamoro Basic Law that he supports not only violates the Constitution, but also puts the rest of the country at a disadvantage.

The President’s unspoken advice was that we should set aside our anger over the deaths of 44 police commandos in Mamasapano at the hands of Muslim rebels from the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF), with which this government is talking peace.

In one throwaway phrase, the President also suggests we set aside our outrage that this government’s so-called peace negotiators are more interested in appeasing the MILF than protecting the national interest, such that they rush to the defense of the rebels and forget that 44 brave men lost their lives simply for trying to enforce the law.

Finally, the President is also asking us to set aside our anger that he irresponsibly allowed his good friend, suspended police chief Alan Purisima, to run the covert Mamasapano operation without coordinating with the Armed Forces for proper backup—then lied to cover up their role when the bodies began to pile up.

But Filipinos did not forget or forgive.

The latest Social Weather Stations survey, in fact, gives President Aquino his lowest net satisfaction rating to date, at 11 percent, with only 47 percent of Filipinos satisfied with his performance (down from 63 percent in December) as opposed to 36 percent who were dissatisfied (up from 24 percent in December).

The decline in the President’s satisfaction ratings, attributed to the Mamasapano incident, was evident across all geographical areas and income groups.

But taking a page from his boss, a Palace spokesman sought to put a positive spin on the SWS survey, saying that it reflected an increase from the Pulse Asia poll conducted three weeks earlier.

“It is possible that, having gathered more information about current events— and having been able to know and understand better the President’s position on the Mamasapano incident—the people gave the President a higher satisfaction rating in the SWS survey (47 percent) than the performance approval rating that he obtained in the Pulse Asia survey (38 percent),” the spokesman said, blithely setting aside the cardinal rule in research that says you must compare apples only to apples, and never to oranges.

But this was just another pathetic attempt to apply lipstick on a pig that has grown increasingly rank with the piles of manure that this government keeps shoveling our way.

Mar’s loyalty LowDown jojo a.

RobLEs tHere was a time when Mar roxas appeared to be on the right side of history, despite his foul mouth. Now he just sounds like a puppet and a particularly ill-tempered guard dog of Noynoy Aquino, as lost as his former running mate but with a lot less gravitas and credibility than even his increasingly unpopular boss.

Indeed, that was quite a show

A9

Praying for Pnoy

Lipstick on a pig

target” process. roxas, who claims to not have been told about anything of the events of Jan. 25, could not resist standing up and testifying that the former Special Action Force chief ’s belief that the President agreed to the plan not to inform the military beforehand by not responding when he was told about it was totally wrong.

Understand, roxas was not even at Bahay Pangarap in the Malacanang compound on Jan. 9, when the scheme was hatched. the privilege of being in on the operation to get the terrorist Marwan was only

EDitoR

back cHannEL aLEjanDRo DEL RosaRio

[ EDI TORI A L ]

of canine devotion put up by roxas yesterday for his boss. roxas gamely put up a defense for Aquino against all comers at the resumption of the House probe of the Mamasapano massacre, regardless of the fact that he was kept in the dark about the whole incident from soup to nuts, as they say.

Yes, that was roxas, the lineal and titular head of the Philippine National Police as secretary of the Department of the Interior and Local Government, contradicting Director Getulio Napenas’ interpretation of the “time on

ADELLE chuA

if Roxas wants to go down with his former running mate, i say let him.

granted to Napenas, best presidential buddy Alan Purisima and one other police official who is so far below on the palace pecking order that giving

him the same status as roxas would be absolutely laughable.

And yes, that was also roxas yesterday, saying that we should all move on from the massacre. to bolster his call for moving on, roxas also said that fully P76 million has been released to the families of the Fallen 44, as if putting a peso value on their loss was going to facilitate the process.

But I’m not really surprised with what roxas did yesterday, having already concluded that he has let the opportunity pass to prove that he is his own man – and to stand for something other than blind loyalty – as far as the Mamasapano incident is concerned. And roxas was not

only left out of the whole operation, he is now willingly helping in the vast palace-contrived conspiracy to cover up the truth in defense of Aquino.

(It’s truly pathetic that while roxas came to the House ready to defend Aquino, we learn from Napenas during the same hearing yesterday that the President himself ordered that the DILG secretary be kept out of the loop.

But this latest insult apparently failed to make even a small dent on roxas’ sense of purpose.)

Standard TODAY Manila

roxas should have immediately resigned after the massacre, but he didn’t.

Now he is no better than any of the Congress allies of Aquino who are valiantly attempting to help him clean up the mess that the President has made.

But instead of resigning, roxas took it upon himself to immediately defend Aquino by declaring the incident a “misencounter.” And it’s been downhill from there ever since.

I don’t know what benefit roxas thinks he will get by jostling with the trillaneses

527-2057 (Credit and Collection). Fax numbers: 521-8340 (Advertising) 5275550. P.O. Box 2933, Manilaand Central 6406 P.O. Box 2933, Manila Post(Subscription).

Office, Manila.

Website: www.

Central Post Office, Manila.

Website: www. manilastandardtoday.com E-mail: manilastandardtoday.com E-mail: mst@ contact@thestandard.com.ph PublishedMonday MondaytotoSunday Sundaybyby Philippine manilastandardtoday.com Published Kamahalan ndInc. at 6/F Manila Standard Publishing Publishing Corporation at 2 Floor PJI canbe beaccessed accessedat: at: Universal Re Building, 106 Paseo Roxas, can Building, Railroad corner 20th de Streets, www.manilastandardtoday.com ONLINE www.manilastandardtoday.com corner PereaManila.

St., Legaspi Village, Makati City. ONLINE Port Area, Telephone numbers MEMBER Telephone(connecting numbers 832-5554, 832-5556, MEMBER 521-8507 all departments), Philippine Press Institute 832-5558521-5581, (connecting all departments), (Editorial), (Editorial Fax) 521-7381 Philippine Press Institute The National Association (Advertising), 521-8507(Advertising), (MIS) 521-5591 (Editorial), 832-5546, 832The National Association of Philippine Newspapers of Philippine Newspapers (Sales and Distribution/Subscription) and

MST MST

PPI PPI

and erices of this world for the role of biggest suck-up and defender of the post-Mamasapano Aquino. All I know is, roxas must know in his heart that Aquino – with no help from him – bungled the whole operation, a bungling that roxas is now expected to help clean up to save a President who is, for all intents and purposes, beyond redemption.

Friendship and a sense of gratitude simply cannot explain it. But if roxas wants to go down with his former running mate, I say let him.

Continued on A11

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

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

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

At the onset of Holy Week last Wednesday, President Benigno S. Aquino III intoned he would be praying for those nurturing “intense hate” against him. this, after he met with his spiritual advisers who suggested he should take time to reflect and relieve his stress from the presidency.

As usual, Aquino took it the wrong way. Instead, PNoy took another swipe at his detractors-- his perceived legions of haters whom he said he would be praying for. Actually, it’s the other way around; it’s Aquino who has so much hatred in his heart for people who don’t agree with him. the people are also praying for you, Mr. President. We pray that you find enlightenment, humility and above all, wisdom, to lead this country and veer it away from the perilous path to which you have taken it. Yes, Mr. President your so-called straight path is leading us straight to the precipice and not the promised land of your campaign slogan “kung walang corrupt, walang mahirap.”

Despite filing charges and detaining a former president, three senators, some former congressmen and officials, the Aquino administration has failed to curb corruption since there are still so many Filipinos hungry, homeless and unemployed. Nothing much has changed except for the rich getting richer and the poor getting poorer. the people are also intensely praying you succeed in the remaining 15 months of your ebbing presidency.

We were hoping, Mr. President, that the Holy Week will bring peace in your heart and that you be blessed with a clearer mind to bind this deeply divided country towards national reconciliation.

You are not hated, Mr. President. We just hate the things you do wrong that are injurious to the well-being of the nation and its interests: Sabah, slow response on Yolanda relief, Mamasapano, coddling of corrupt Comelec officials and favoring friends, etc.

The least or his only legacy If President Aquino wants to pull the peace process from the jaws of defeat, he can still do it by calling for a constitutional convention that would place the welfare of the people of Mindanao and the Muslim minority at the top of the agenda. this is a better option than the peace summit he proposed to review the flawed Bangsamoro Basic Law which violates the Constitution. this can be the least or his only legacy before his term ends on June 30, 2016.

While an election of delegates to the Continued on A11 Rolando G. Estabillo Publisher Rolando G. Estabillo Publisher Jojo A. Robles Editor-in-Chief Jojo A. Robles Editor-in-Chief Ramonchito L. Tomeldan Managing Editor Ramonchito L. Tomeldan Managing Editor Chin Wong/Ray S. Eñano Associate Editors Chin Wong/Ray S. Eñano Associate Editors P. Palacios News Editor FrancisJoel Lagniton News Editor Francis Lagniton Editor Joyce Pangco Pañares CityCity Editor Arman Armero Senior Deskman Adelle Chua Senior Deskman Leo A. Estonilo Senior Deskman Romel J. Mendez Art Director Romel J. Mendez ArtPhotographer Director Roberto Cabrera Chief Roberto Cabrera Chief Photographer

W E D n E s D Ay: A P R I L 8 , 2 0 1 5

A8

opinion lettertotheeditor@thestandard.com.ph

opinion THE deeper this administration sinks into a quagmire of its own creation, the more it becomes apparent that the nation is in the hands of leaders who are either intellectually dishonest or completely out of touch with reality.

In his Easter message, President Benigno Aquino III talked up the achievements of the economy, without acknowledging that ordinary Filipinos do not benefit one whit from the 110 times that the stock exchange set a record.

He also urged Filipinos to set aside fear and anger and to choose instead to end the cycle of poverty and violence in Mindanao, but did not say that the Bangsamoro Basic Law that he supports not only violates the Constitution, but also puts the rest of the country at a disadvantage.

The President’s unspoken advice was that we should set aside our anger over the deaths of 44 police commandos in Mamasapano at the hands of Muslim rebels from the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF), with which this government is talking peace.

In one throwaway phrase, the President also suggests we set aside our outrage that this government’s so-called peace negotiators are more interested in appeasing the MILF than protecting the national interest, such that they rush to the defense of the rebels and forget that 44 brave men lost their lives simply for trying to enforce the law.

Finally, the President is also asking us to set aside our anger that he irresponsibly allowed his good friend, suspended police chief Alan Purisima, to run the covert Mamasapano operation without coordinating with the Armed Forces for proper backup—then lied to cover up their role when the bodies began to pile up.

But Filipinos did not forget or forgive.

The latest Social Weather Stations survey, in fact, gives President Aquino his lowest net satisfaction rating to date, at 11 percent, with only 47 percent of Filipinos satisfied with his performance (down from 63 percent in December) as opposed to 36 percent who were dissatisfied (up from 24 percent in December).

The decline in the President’s satisfaction ratings, attributed to the Mamasapano incident, was evident across all geographical areas and income groups.

But taking a page from his boss, a Palace spokesman sought to put a positive spin on the SWS survey, saying that it reflected an increase from the Pulse Asia poll conducted three weeks earlier.

“It is possible that, having gathered more information about current events— and having been able to know and understand better the President’s position on the Mamasapano incident—the people gave the President a higher satisfaction rating in the SWS survey (47 percent) than the performance approval rating that he obtained in the Pulse Asia survey (38 percent),” the spokesman said, blithely setting aside the cardinal rule in research that says you must compare apples only to apples, and never to oranges.

But this was just another pathetic attempt to apply lipstick on a pig that has grown increasingly rank with the piles of manure that this government keeps shoveling our way.

Mar’s loyalty LowDown jojo a.

RobLEs tHere was a time when Mar roxas appeared to be on the right side of history, despite his foul mouth. Now he just sounds like a puppet and a particularly ill-tempered guard dog of Noynoy Aquino, as lost as his former running mate but with a lot less gravitas and credibility than even his increasingly unpopular boss.

Indeed, that was quite a show

A9

Praying for Pnoy

Lipstick on a pig

target” process. roxas, who claims to not have been told about anything of the events of Jan. 25, could not resist standing up and testifying that the former Special Action Force chief ’s belief that the President agreed to the plan not to inform the military beforehand by not responding when he was told about it was totally wrong.

Understand, roxas was not even at Bahay Pangarap in the Malacanang compound on Jan. 9, when the scheme was hatched. the privilege of being in on the operation to get the terrorist Marwan was only

EDitoR

back cHannEL aLEjanDRo DEL RosaRio

[ EDI TORI A L ]

of canine devotion put up by roxas yesterday for his boss. roxas gamely put up a defense for Aquino against all comers at the resumption of the House probe of the Mamasapano massacre, regardless of the fact that he was kept in the dark about the whole incident from soup to nuts, as they say.

Yes, that was roxas, the lineal and titular head of the Philippine National Police as secretary of the Department of the Interior and Local Government, contradicting Director Getulio Napenas’ interpretation of the “time on

ADELLE chuA

if Roxas wants to go down with his former running mate, i say let him.

granted to Napenas, best presidential buddy Alan Purisima and one other police official who is so far below on the palace pecking order that giving

him the same status as roxas would be absolutely laughable.

And yes, that was also roxas yesterday, saying that we should all move on from the massacre. to bolster his call for moving on, roxas also said that fully P76 million has been released to the families of the Fallen 44, as if putting a peso value on their loss was going to facilitate the process.

But I’m not really surprised with what roxas did yesterday, having already concluded that he has let the opportunity pass to prove that he is his own man – and to stand for something other than blind loyalty – as far as the Mamasapano incident is concerned. And roxas was not

only left out of the whole operation, he is now willingly helping in the vast palace-contrived conspiracy to cover up the truth in defense of Aquino.

(It’s truly pathetic that while roxas came to the House ready to defend Aquino, we learn from Napenas during the same hearing yesterday that the President himself ordered that the DILG secretary be kept out of the loop.

But this latest insult apparently failed to make even a small dent on roxas’ sense of purpose.)

Standard TODAY Manila

roxas should have immediately resigned after the massacre, but he didn’t.

Now he is no better than any of the Congress allies of Aquino who are valiantly attempting to help him clean up the mess that the President has made.

But instead of resigning, roxas took it upon himself to immediately defend Aquino by declaring the incident a “misencounter.” And it’s been downhill from there ever since.

I don’t know what benefit roxas thinks he will get by jostling with the trillaneses

527-2057 (Credit and Collection). Fax numbers: 521-8340 (Advertising) 5275550. P.O. Box 2933, Manilaand Central 6406 P.O. Box 2933, Manila Post(Subscription).

Office, Manila.

Website: www.

Central Post Office, Manila.

Website: www. manilastandardtoday.com E-mail: manilastandardtoday.com E-mail: mst@ contact@thestandard.com.ph PublishedMonday MondaytotoSunday Sundaybyby Philippine manilastandardtoday.com Published Kamahalan ndInc. at 6/F Manila Standard Publishing Publishing Corporation at 2 Floor PJI canbe beaccessed accessedat: at: Universal Re Building, 106 Paseo Roxas, can Building, Railroad corner 20th de Streets, www.manilastandardtoday.com ONLINE www.manilastandardtoday.com corner PereaManila.

St., Legaspi Village, Makati City. ONLINE Port Area, Telephone numbers MEMBER Telephone(connecting numbers 832-5554, 832-5556, MEMBER 521-8507 all departments), Philippine Press Institute 832-5558521-5581, (connecting all departments), (Editorial), (Editorial Fax) 521-7381 Philippine Press Institute The National Association (Advertising), 521-8507(Advertising), (MIS) 521-5591 (Editorial), 832-5546, 832The National Association of Philippine Newspapers of Philippine Newspapers (Sales and Distribution/Subscription) and

MST MST

PPI PPI

and erices of this world for the role of biggest suck-up and defender of the post-Mamasapano Aquino. All I know is, roxas must know in his heart that Aquino – with no help from him – bungled the whole operation, a bungling that roxas is now expected to help clean up to save a President who is, for all intents and purposes, beyond redemption.

Friendship and a sense of gratitude simply cannot explain it. But if roxas wants to go down with his former running mate, I say let him.

Continued on A11

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

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

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

At the onset of Holy Week last Wednesday, President Benigno S. Aquino III intoned he would be praying for those nurturing “intense hate” against him. this, after he met with his spiritual advisers who suggested he should take time to reflect and relieve his stress from the presidency.

As usual, Aquino took it the wrong way. Instead, PNoy took another swipe at his detractors-- his perceived legions of haters whom he said he would be praying for. Actually, it’s the other way around; it’s Aquino who has so much hatred in his heart for people who don’t agree with him. the people are also praying for you, Mr. President. We pray that you find enlightenment, humility and above all, wisdom, to lead this country and veer it away from the perilous path to which you have taken it. Yes, Mr. President your so-called straight path is leading us straight to the precipice and not the promised land of your campaign slogan “kung walang corrupt, walang mahirap.”

Despite filing charges and detaining a former president, three senators, some former congressmen and officials, the Aquino administration has failed to curb corruption since there are still so many Filipinos hungry, homeless and unemployed. Nothing much has changed except for the rich getting richer and the poor getting poorer. the people are also intensely praying you succeed in the remaining 15 months of your ebbing presidency.

We were hoping, Mr. President, that the Holy Week will bring peace in your heart and that you be blessed with a clearer mind to bind this deeply divided country towards national reconciliation.

You are not hated, Mr. President. We just hate the things you do wrong that are injurious to the well-being of the nation and its interests: Sabah, slow response on Yolanda relief, Mamasapano, coddling of corrupt Comelec officials and favoring friends, etc.

The least or his only legacy If President Aquino wants to pull the peace process from the jaws of defeat, he can still do it by calling for a constitutional convention that would place the welfare of the people of Mindanao and the Muslim minority at the top of the agenda. this is a better option than the peace summit he proposed to review the flawed Bangsamoro Basic Law which violates the Constitution. this can be the least or his only legacy before his term ends on June 30, 2016.

While an election of delegates to the Continued on A11 Rolando G. Estabillo Publisher Rolando G. Estabillo Publisher Jojo A. Robles Editor-in-Chief Jojo A. Robles Editor-in-Chief Ramonchito L. Tomeldan Managing Editor Ramonchito L. Tomeldan Managing Editor Chin Wong/Ray S. Eñano Associate Editors Chin Wong/Ray S. Eñano Associate Editors P. Palacios News Editor FrancisJoel Lagniton News Editor Francis Lagniton Editor Joyce Pangco Pañares CityCity Editor Arman Armero Senior Deskman Adelle Chua Senior Deskman Leo A. Estonilo Senior Deskman Romel J. Mendez Art Director Romel J. Mendez ArtPhotographer Director Roberto Cabrera Chief Roberto Cabrera Chief Photographer

a10 BCDA violAtes the lAw

W e d n e s d ay: a P R I L 8 , 2 0 1 5

OPINION

lettertotheeditor@thestandard.com.ph

top tAxpAyers THe biggest taxpayer in the Philippines is not a mega tycoon or a super taipan. He is boxer Manny Pacquiao. He paid P163.84 million in income taxes in 2013, per the Bureau of Internal revenue’s Top 500 Individual Taxpayers List for the year. Since the highest tax bracket is 32 percent, a P163.84-million tax implies that Pacman earned P512 million in 2013.

Common sense dictates that the richer you are, the more taxes you pay. Wealth comes from income. Both wealth and income are subject to tax.

However, the Philippines’ richest people are not exactly the biggest taxpayers. The BIr is running after Manny Pacquiao and not after the multi-billionaires. BIr wants to collect P3.3 billion from the eight-division boxing champion, the biggest tax case filed by the state against any individual.

Maybe, the BIr drew inspiration from the Sports Illustrated’s world’s best paid athletes for 2013. Floyd Mayweather tops, with $90 million in earnings. Pacquiao is not in the Top Ten. Floyd and Pacman square off in the fight of the century on May 2, with 40 percent of the purse – the richest in boxing history -- going to the Filipino.

The BIr 2013 largest individual taxpayers list is remarkable for the lies it conveys and for the verities it fails to uncover.

For instance, there are more entertainers and media men in the 2013 BIr 500 biggest taxpayers list than there are tycoons and taipans known for their fabulous, if not stupendous wealth.

The entertainers and mediamen paid far more taxes than the billionaires did.

The top taxpayers in 2013 are: 1. Pacquiao P163.84 million, 2. Juanito Alcantara P99.6 million, 3. lawyer estelito Mendoza P73.18 million, 4. reynaldo Chico P67.34 million, 5. property and gambling taipan Andrew Tan P67.18 million, 6. rCBC President Lorenzo Tan P60.89 million, 7. auto tycoon-politician Pepito Alvarez P55.62 million, 8. drug retail queen Vivian Que Azcona P51.61 million, 9.

Meralco President Oscar reyes P51.44 million, 10. Insular Life CeO Vicente Ayllon P50.08 million; 11. ronaldo romero Soliman P46.63 million; 12.

SMC Vice Chair and President ramon S. Ang P46.47 million; 13. banker Lauro Baja P45.19 million; 14. actor Piolo Pascual P42.53 million; 15. actor John Lloyd Cruz P41.97 million; 16. tv host Kris Aquino P40.48 million; 17. First Holdings CeO Federico r. Lopez P39.89 million; 18. Victor Angeles P39.76 million; 19.

Sharon Cuneta P39 million; and 20. Willie revillame P38.3 million.

Of the 20, only Andrew Tan is a veritable dollar billionaire. He was the Philippines’ fourth richest in 2014

by Forbes with wealth of $5.1 billion.

Pepito Alvarez is a peso billionaire as is SMC’s rSA but they are not in the Forbes’ 2014 25 richest. rSA is No. 32 richest with estimated wealth of $380 million, per Forbes. No. 8 biggest taxpayer Vivian Azcona is No. 18 in wealth, per Forbes, with $935 million.

Five of the 20 biggest taxpayers are celebrity entertainers – Pacquiao, Piolo Pascual, John Lloyd, Sharon, and Willie. One dollar billionaire (Tan) vs. five entertainers – the math simply is amazing.

It is not that the billionaires do not pay taxes. They

THere’S a clear to the attempt to have point Congress enact the Bangsamoro Basic emil p.

Law at all costs. jurado President Aquino claims that without the BBL, there will be war between the government and the Moro rebels and that soon we will be counting body bags of policemen and soldiers. Peace negotiators Miriam Coronel Ferrer and peace adviser Teresita Deles echoed what the President said.

Not content in echoing the President’s grim forecast of war, Ferrer and Deles have become mouthpieces of the MILF. On cue, the Malaysian government warned us that failure to enact the BBL would result in the exodus of Filipino Muslims from Mindanao to Sabah. It urged Sabah authorities to enhance its monitoring of migrants from Mindanao.

The MILF itself warned that it would not accept a watered-down version of the BBL. recall the statement of MILF peace negotiator Mohagher Iqbal (if that’s his real name in the first place) that the MILF remains a revolutionary organization still at war with the government.

Are they trying to blackmail us into having a constitutionally infirm law? Ano sila, sinusuwerte? *** The blame game started by the President for what happened in Mamasapano must be a contagious affliction that even Palace spokesmen are playing it.

Palace spokesman Sonny Coloma blames media for the plumetting trust and satisfaction ratings of the President. According to the Social Weather Stations, this is the lowest rating since he assumed office in 2010.

I could not help but laught at Coloma’s claim the people must have been convinced by the glaring headlines that the President broke the chain-of-command.

Of all people, Sonny must know that media is just the messenger and we in media only report what’s happening.

If anybody has to be blamed for the decline in the President’s ratings, perhaps he should look at the mirror. He is a stubborn man who cannot accept his mistakes. When a leader cannot apologize for his wrongdoing, it shows lack of character.

The President should also realize that whomever he endorses as his candidate for 2016 will go down with him. Soon, he will be seeing more and more of his followers jumping over the political fence. *** The decision of the Court of Appeals in granting the suspension order against Makati Mayor Junjun Binay an “indefinite” temporary restraining order was not unexpected. As a lawyer myself, I could not see how a court TrO could be rendered ineffective simply because it came later in the afternoon, after Interior Secretary Mar roxas served the suspension order against Binay by the Ombudsman, and that Vice Mayor romulo “Kid” Pena had already been sworn into office.

A TrO is issued by the cour as a preventive measure to ensure a status quo or prevent harm being done.

Thus, it is now incumbent on the part of the DILG and acting Mayor Pena to follow the rule of law.

As for Pena, he should revert to his former status as fact that the Arbitration Board said that the BCDA vice mayor until the merits of the case against Binay must first pay CJHDevo P1.421 billion before vacating CJH. That ruling puts BCDA on the defensive since are resolved by the courts.

Insofar as the petition of the Ombudsman filed at the it must pay CJHDevco first before the Camp can be Supreme Court is concerned, that remains to be seen. vacated.

Now comes Casanova, himself a lawyer, and his arOnly the Supreme Court can decide it. Personally, I beray of BCDA lawyers threatening locators, unit ownlieve the Supreme Court cannot intervene in this case. ers and sub-lessees who entered into *** contracts for a 50-year lease that they I don’t know what Bases Conversion could be evicted if they do not assign and Development Authority (BCDA) their contracts with BCDA. I don’t president Arnel Casanova and his Don’t Casanova and know where Casanova studied his law lawyers are trying to prove when they threaten all locators, units owners and his lawyers realize they since eviction of possessors in good sub-lessees at Camp John Hay, who could go to jail for what faith can only be evicted without a court order! had entered into contracts with the they are doing?

Another threat of Casanova: Camp John Hay Development Corp.

Assign to BCDA contracts with to enter into a Deed of Assignment CJHDevco so that the agency would with BCDA and sue CJHDevco. respect it, and then sue CJHDevco to The argument seems to lie on the

are just tax-savvy. They employ an army of accountants and lawyers Virtual to exploit loopholes in the tax laws, reality which are many. Also, their holding companies holding their wealth tony are listed companies. When you buy lopez and sell listed stocks, there is only a tax of .25 percent. (one fourth of one percent).

The tycoons draw income as stock which are not subject to capital gains tax (if the company is listed), or as cash dividends which are subject to final withholding tax of 20 percent. Having been taxed, the dividend income is not declared in the income tax return.

This may change with the tax year 2015. The BIr requires all income to be declared by individual tax filers, even if such income had been subject to a final withholding tax or was not taxed under the law. The additional reporting requirement has been postponed at least four times, thanks to pressure from the country’s business elite.

In 2014, Forbes listed the richest Filipinos. They are in order of wealth: 1. Henry Sy Sr., $12.7 billion; 2.

Lucio Tan $6.1 billion; 3. enrique razon Jr. $5.2 billion; 4. Andrew Tan $5.1 billion; 5. John Gokongwei Jr. $4.9 billion; 6. David Consunji $3.9 billion; 7. George Ty $3.7 billion; 8. Aboitiz family $3.6 billion; 9. Jaime Zobel de Ayala $3.4 billion; 10. Tony Tan Caktiong $2 billion; 11. robert Coyiuto Jr. $1.8 billion; 12. Lucio Co and Susan Co $1.7 billion; 13. emilio Yap $1.5 billion; 14.

Manuel Villar $1.5 billion; 15. Iñigo and Mercedes Zobel $1.2 billion; 16. Alfredo Yao $1 billion; 17. Andrew Gotianun $955 million; 18. Vivian Que Azcona $935 million; 19. eduardo Cojuangco Jr. $870 million; 20.

Beatrice Campos $825 million; 21. ricardo Po family $770 million; 22. Oscar Lopez $700 million; 23. Alfonso Yuchengco $685 million; 24. roberto Ongpin $680 million; 25. Betty Ang $670 million; 26. Dean Lao $625 million; 27. Manuel Zamora $620 million; 28. Carlos Chan $550 million; 29. Jorge Araneta $510 million; 30. Mariano Tan Jr. $445 million; 31. edgar Sia $390 million; 32. ramon Ang $380 million; 33. Michael romero $375 million; 34. Concepcion family $320 million; 35. Philip Ang $315 million; 36.

Frederick Dy $310 million; 37. Luis Virata $300 million; 38. Alfredo ramos $260 million; 39. Wilfred Steven Uytengsu Jr. $235 million; 40. Tomas Alcantara $250 million; 41. Jose Antonio $240 million; 42. Bienvenido Tantoco Sr. $235 million; 43. Jacinto Ng $230 million; 44. Gilberto Duavit $200 million; 45. Menardo Jimenez $195 million; 46. eric recto $190 million; 47. Walter Brown $183 million; 48.

Felipe Gozon $182 million; 49. P. J. Lhuillier $180 million; and Juliette romualdez $170 million.

Of the first 50 dollar billionaires and richest families listed by Forbes in 2014, only eight made it to the BIr’s top 50 taxpayers ranking –1. Andrew Tan, 5th largest taxpayer; 2. Vivian Que Azcona, 8th; 3. SMC President ramon S. Ang, 12th; 4. cousins Justo Aboitiz Ortiz and erramon Aboitiz, 21st and 22nd; 5. brothers Jaime Augusto Zobel de Ayala and Fernando Zobel de Ayala, 26th and 32nd; 6. Oscar Lopez, 34th, 7. George Ty, 40th; and 8. container terminal and casino king enrique razon Jr., 50th largest taxpayer.

biznewsasia@gmail.com seek refund from the P1.421 billion which BCDA is supposed to pay CJHDevco.

Let’s rewind a bit and look at the facts of the case.

Locators, unit owners and sub-lessees that entered into contracts with CJHDevco are all strangers to the BCDA-CJHDevco controversy and not parties to it. Under the law, they are possessors in good faith and cannot be deprived of their property under the Constitution.

The Deed of Assignment the BCDA is seeking is actually a ploy to evict locators, unit owners and sublessees from their properties, since they will be confirming the legal position of the BCDA. Aside from this, BCDA cannot ensure fulfillment of their promise not to evict locators, unit owners and sub-lessees.

More importantly, with this Deed, BCDA cannot dispose of public property without public bidding.

Santa Banana, Casanova and the BCDA board can go to jail for acts contrary to law! Don’t they realize this?

W E D N E S D AY: A P R I L 8 , 2 0 1 5

OPINION

ADELLE CHUA EDITOR

lettertotheeditor@thestandard.com.ph

OUR PASSION

By Nelson Flores THE suffering that the Lord Jesus endured two millennia ago should remind us that we have an obligation to change our ways to show gratitude for his unending grace and our acceptance of his life-giving gifts, that of redemption and liberation from sin and oppression.

Lest we become truly lost and then perish, we have to seek God’s light as our nation is now in darkness deep in the wilderness. We are fast approaching the abyss.

Only through God’s light and our total obedience to him shall we find the way that would lead us to the path of liberation. Only through his mercy shall we find the wisdom to make the right choices that would make our nation proud.

Our republic is being torn inside out by forces within and beyond our control. As a nation we are under siege by foreign powers from north to south, knowingly or unknowingly abetted by an incompetent political leadership by the banks of the Pasig River.

We are denied the full benefits of our aquatic resources in the north, west and southern portions of our archipelagic country as the seas in these areas are regularly raided by bigger and better equipped fishing boats from Taiwan, People’s Republic of China (PROC), Japan and Vietnam to the detriment of our fishing folks in small rickety bancas. We are lucky we have no neighbor in the east otherwise, I am sure, the seas or should I say ocean in that area would also be under siege.

Even our territorial domains are now overtly under threat from PROC, as it already occupied a number of resourcerich islets in the West Philippine Sea, and Malaysia which is patiently trying to pry Mindanao from our republic through its proxies, the Moro Islamic Liberation Front and the Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters.

Mar’s..From A9 *** In the meantime, Aquino has once again called for a virtual loyalty check when he urged the people to be wary of those who claim to be his allies but who are, in actual fact, “two-faced.”

The statement is obviously a demand for the people who have gotten favors from him before that he is now about to collect from them, as he circles his wagons and counts the noses of those who remain faithful to him.

#FAILOCRACY

EVERYMAN We are trotting from one crisis to another, both man made and natural. The national situation is aggravated by the political leadership of someone who gives more weight to cars than his constituents, his barkadas than the bosses he is supposed to serve and his boring lovelife than the pressing issues of the day i.e.

Mamasapano massacre, MRT-LRT crisis, port congestion, etc...

We have a Neo-liberal economic system widening the chasm between the haves and the have-nots as it is motivated by greed, a system creating more and more hard working poor and fewer non-working rich as it is propelled by idolatrous laziness, a mallcentered system where the poor people have been dis-empowered and an export system that commodifies people as it is bereft of humanity. To prove this last point, allow me to remind everyone that our number one export is labor. In fact, it is the remittances of these laborers that keeps our unsustainable economy afloat.

Our environment is constantly under assault causing mayhem, death and destruction to thousands. We have denuded our mountain ranges causing flash floods in low lying and heavily populated areas, mined our minerals like it is a limitless resource, used our water basins dry, polluted our land, sea and air without regard to the consequences or thought of the future. We have been living off this earth like parasites and not the co-makers or stewards that we are supposed to be. We forget that we are just passing tenants in this world. We cannot own that which would own us in the end.

Perhaps all we need to do is take a long and close look on our major thoroughfares like EDSA, Commonwealth Avenue or Marcos Highway to witness first-hand the state of our nation. The condition of our

streets and what happens in it is a reflection of our State and selves.

For most of us, the presence of our government in the streets is an accident and like the people we encounter in it, we can be described typically as selfish, individualist, reckless, opportunistic, inconsiderate, law-breaking, impatient, transactional etc. The poor condition of our thoroughfares brings out mostly the bad and mean in us. Yes, there are still many good folks out there but the fact is that they are obviously overwhelmed and paralyzed by the absence of government and the bullying of the bad ones. Hence, we are where we are today.

In short, we have lost our bearings.

We have substituted God with the icons of modernity like the gadgets were are dying to possess. We have become idolaters. Neo-liberalism is now the new religion, the malls are the new churches, the sales representatives and managers are the new priests and bishops while the business owners are the new theologians.

More than ever, we are now connected and wired; ironically, we are more alone and empty. We prefer to spend more time malling or fiddling our favorite gadgets than bond with our families and friends in a park. We now live more for the gadgets we want to buy than the lives we want to live. This is idolatry in its purest sense.

Unfortunately, what is true for the individual is the same for the collective.

Unless we heed the commandment to have no other gods before the real God, we will continue on our dangerous path. Christ has set the example for us to follow. His life is a cordial invitation to us so we can be in the light again.

Unfortunately, the invitation, although universal, is RSVP. We have to confirm our acceptance of the invitation, not just through the motions of undergoing the rituals like praying or worshiping but by living our faith like Christ.

This is classic Aquino, a President who always has to check if people are loyal to him above any consideration, like, say, to the country or to the people. And like his earlier suggestion for people to wear his trademark yellow ribbon on their chests as a sign of loyalty, I expect Aquino to keep asking his partisans in the coming days to pledge their loyalty to him and to prove it by standing by him at this time, when he most needs it.

Let other Presidents say that, when

they have fallen into disfavor and become severely crippled political waterfowl, they will just put their nose to the grindstone and do the best work that they can regardless. Aquino will always revert to his now-famous siege mentality when he feels threatened and demand that his loyalists gather around him in his defense.

In Aquino’s world, it’s always him and his allies against everybody else.

Nothing else matters.

A11

Praying..From A9 constitutional convention should be held, a number of seats can be allocated to the best minds in the Muslim community like Jaafar Ghazalie and Mohagher Iqbal, to ensure a just, equitable representation of the Moro interests.

The marginalized Nur Misuari of the Moro National Liberation Front also must be brought back into the fold of the law and included as a designated delegate. Nur certainly can contribute much in the forging of a new Constitution.

While they are at it, the convention delegates might as well draft an enabling law to abolish political dynasties and amend to liberalize the country’s economic investment laws.

Limiting foreign investment to 40-60 has not resulted in local businessmen sharing with workers and the poor the wealth accruing from their favored status. Contractual hiring by commercial establishments is an outrageous practice driven by greed for huge profits.

Valte fumes at PAL Deputy presidential spokesperson Abigail Valte is fuming mad at Philippine Airlines for her delayed flight to Cagayan de Oro. Like most Filipinos who flock to airports, piers and bus terminals during the Holy Week travel madness, Valte slammed PAL’s ground personnel for being inefficient.

In fairness to the Palace official, she did not rant in her Twitter but merely decried the inefficiency of the PAL supervisor. Ms. Valte has a point when she complained why the supervisor at the check-in desk let some 20 latecomers jump the line so they can make it to another flight.

“It’s not fair to us passengers who come in two hours early to check in,” said Valte.

Why didn’t PAL assign the latecomers to another desk so as not to further delay the people already in line?

I thought her President was making the rounds of airports, sea ports and bus terminals to make sure all is well for the traveling public. Perhaps the President spent too much time inspecting the bus terminal at the Araneta Center in Cubao for the usual photo-op. We have such a hard-working president he’s probably the only head of state in the world who inspects airports and bus stations. Yet his Secretary of Transportation cannot fix the frequent breakdown of the Metro Rail Transit.

CHONG ARDIVILLA

WE DN E S DAY : A P RI L 8 , 2 0 1 5

A12 UST back as overall champion

By Peter Atencio UNIVERSITY of Santo Tomas is back as overall champion at the close of the 77th University Athletic Association of the Philippines season.

This was made possible after La Salle missed the titles in women’s softball and in women’s volleyball.

UST earned a total of 283 points after bagging the championships in women’s beach volleyball, men’s and women’s judo, women’s athletics, and men’s taekwondo.

It was UST’s 40th overall title.

La Salle, which won it in 2012 and 2013, emerged runner-up with 280 points and got a big chunk of points when its athletes ruled men’s chess, men’s and women’s table tennis, landed second in baseball and men’s football.

University of the Philippines got 236 for third place, while Ateneo was fourth with 216.

Far Eastern University ranked fifth with 197, while National University settled for sixth with 187.

More Thais join hunt in ladies’ golf THAIS Saraporn Chamchoi and Wichanee Meechai signed up for the ICTSI Splendido Ladies Invitational along with four others, guaranteeing a spirited battle for the crown with the local aces and other foreign bets in the P500,000 event beginning today at Splendido Taal Golf Club in Tagaytay.

Chamchoi, a Ladies European Tour veteran, and Meechai, a Ladies Asian Golf Tour campaigner were actually set to see action on the Ladies Philippine Golf Tour last year but called off their stints at the last minute although compatriot Amolkan Phalajivin pulled through with a victory over the country’s top player Cyna Rodriguez in this event last year.

Inspired by Phalajivin’s breakthrough win, Chamchoi and Meechai, along with Pattaranakrueang Supakchaya, Pennapa Pulsawath, Tiranan Yoopan and Walailak Satarak made themselves available for this week’s tournament, all upbeat of their chances in the 54-hole event organized by Pilipinas Golf Tournaments, Inc. They all hope for a strong start on a challenging windraked course although the heat factor at this time of the year could also affect each player’s bearing and title aspirations, particularly in the final day.

SPORTS sports@thestandard.com.ph

Coach K cements legacy with Duke’s title victory

Justise Winslow of the Duke Blue Devils celebrates after his team defeated the Wisconsin Badgers during the NCAA Men’s Final Four National Championship at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis, Indiana. Duke won, 68-63. AFP

By Jeric Lopez

MIKE Krzyzewski, better known as ‘’Coach K’’, is arguably the best collegiate basketball coach in the last 30 years and he just showed why.

Krzyzewski further cemented his already rich coaching legacy after he led Duke University to the 2015 National Championship again in the NCAA Division I Men’s Basketball Tournament past University of Wisconsin, 68-63, in a come-from-behind victory in Indianapolis.

The Blue Devils’ endgame poise allowed them to hoist

another trophy as they were able to outscore the Badgers by 14 points in the last 13 minutes to take the championship.

The legendary tactician now owns five national titles, all for the Blue Devils (1991, 1992, 2001, 2010 and now 2015), which made him the second winningest coach in tournament history, next to the legendary

John Wooden of UCLA who captured 10 crowns back in the 1960s until the 70s.

His popularity still shines as he remains the most popular Blue Devil in the school’s prestigious basketball program despite all the big names he guided.

The 68-year-old coaching wizard have been offered multiple coaching posts in the National Basketball Association. But he declined as he opted to stay where he thrives most—running the Blue Devils’ basketball show. He is now on his 35th year as Duke’s mentor and if this championship is an indication, it seems that he doesn’t plan on slowing down any time soon.

Krzyzewski, who also guided Team USA to gold in the last two Olympics in 2008 and 2012, have done it all in the collegiate ranks and this added accomplishment enriched his coaching legacy further.

From handling the likes of Danny Ferry, Johnny Dawkins and Jay Bilas in the 80s to the likes of Grant Hill, Christian Laettner and Bobby Hurley in the early 90s; Jay Williams, Shane Battier, Carlos Boozer and Luol Deng in the early 2000s all the way to the likes of Shelden Williams, JJ Redick, Kyrie Irving, Jabari Parker and now projected top pick Jahlil Okafor, Krzyzeski’s fingerprints are evidently all

over the place as the pioneer of the continuous success of Duke’s program.

What makes this Duke victory a bit sweeter is that the team was not the overall tournament favorite despite being one of the four No. 1 seeds.

It was top overall seed University of Kentucky, which also boasts of one of the best programs in tournament history, that was favored. It reached an unprecedented record of 38-0 on its way to the Final Four, but was shockingly tripped by Wisconsin, 71-64, in their semis encounter as the pressure of probably finishing the season undefeated proved to be too much to overcome.

Movie hopes to inspire Pacman

By Randy Caluag

PAQUIAO

BEFORE Pacman, the People’s Champ, there was Kid Kulafu.

Two weeks before his megabuck bout with undefeated American champion Floyd Mayweather, Manny Paquiao gets a tribute of sorts when a movie about his childhood, is shown in cinemas all over the country.

Produced by ABS-CBN’s Star Cinema and Ten17 Productions, the movie hopes to pump Paquiao up and rally the entire Filipino nation going into the final days of his biggest fight in the ring on May 2 in Las Vegas.

“With or without Mayweather, Manny is already an accomplished boxer. Eight division titles would prove that. But if this film will help Manny to be more motivated as he goes up against Floyd, we’re happy to be part of it,” said director Paul Soriano.

Soriano said he spent a lot of time with Pacquiao trying

to absorb the boxing champ’s thoughts and make the movie as realistic as it can get. For two years, the young, dynamic director and his team worked on researching the details about the people involved in Paquiao’s early years.

Then, they began filming that took a full year to finish, most of the scenes were taken right where it happened--Mindanao-back when the young Paquiao was a victim of constant bullying in school, collecting used bottles for a living and a struggling amateur pug.

Starring the young Paquiao is Buboy Villar, who underwent three months of boxing training under fight director Erwin Tagle, an accomplished Mixed Martial Artist and fight instructor.

“It was not just the acting. We had to transform Buboy to move and fight like Pacquio in the scenes. In this movie, Pacquio

is reminded how and why he started. To give him enough reason why he has to win big against Floyd and complete the story of his life,” said Tagle.

The movie is aptly entitled Kid Kulafu, the nickname given to Pacquiao when as a frail, young fighter, he has already shown tremendous power on his left fist.

Kulafu was a comic character, who was considered as the local Tarzan, the famous American hero of the jungle. The name was picked up as a brand by a local wine company and on its packaging was a picture of a wellchiseled body of a man, depicting strength and vigor.

Apparently, this brand of wine came into the mind of Paquiao’s first boxing coach--his uncle Sardo Dapidran portrayed by Cesar Montano, who gave gave him that moniker. Thus, Kid Kulafu was born.

The rest, as they say, is history.

WE DN E S DAY : A P RI L 8 , 2 0 1 5

A13

SPORTS sports@thestandard.com.ph

PH tracksters ready for SEA Games

By Peter Atencio

TEAM Philippines will do better in the coming Southeast Asian Games in Singapore.

Philippine Amateur Track and Field Association president Philip Ella Juico said he is optimistic of this after Team Philippines finished second overall in the 77th Singapore Open Track and Field Championships at the Singapore Sports Hub. “I’m very optimistic that all will go well. Some of our athletes who are gold-medal prospects were not there, but we will do well,” said Juico.

Team Philippines won six gold medals of the 12 gold medals at stake, and added four silvers and three bronze medals to finish behind Indonesia.

The encouraging result prompted the coaching staff, led by Dario Darosas, to declare that the national team could easily exceed their performance in the 2013 SEA Games, where it won six golds, four silvers and four bronzes to place fourth overall.

Their optimism was also boosted by the upbeat projection of researcher Andrew Pirie, a consultant hired by the Philippine Sports Commission.

The coaches said that in the coming SEA Games in Singapore, the gold medals could come from Edgardo Alejan, who bagged two gold medals in the recent Singapore Open. Alejan took the gold in the 400-meter run and bagged another gold in the 4x400-meter relays, alongside Joan Caido, Jesson Cid and Archand Christian Bagsit.

The 29-year-old Alejan reached the finish line in 47.18 seconds in the 400-meter run, which was better than teammate Archand Christian Bagsit’s gold-clinching 47.22-second clocking in the 2013 Southeast Asian Games.

Alejan also bettered his silvermedal finish of 47.28 in the 2015 National Open and his silvermedal time of 47.45 seconds in the 2013 SEA Games.

Marestella Torres, meanwhile, cleared 6.42 meters on her fourth try for the silver, with teammate Kat Kay Santos taking the bronze in 6.4 meters.

Torres’ leap was 5 cms short of the 6.47-meter leap she performed in the 2015 National Open, but was 18 cms better than the 6.24-meter posted by Thitima Muangjan of Thailand in the SEA Games two years ago.

Steeplechase runner Christopher Ulboc and pole vaulter Ernest John Obiena also had impressive showings, with Ulboc topping the 3000-meter event 8:56.8, which was 5 seconds off his 9:01.59 mark when he won the gold in the Myanmar Games and Obiena nearly eclipsing the Philippine men’s pole vault record of 5.2 meters, which he set last year.

The mark was higher the 5.15 meters which his Thai rival Kreeta Sintawacheewa posted when he won the SEA Games gold in 2013.

Participants in last year’s Taekwondo Summer School are expected to undergo the same learning and training sessions.

Taekwondo classes lure thousands THOUSANDS of martial arts enthusiasts plunge into regular learning and training sessions for the next three months with the staging of the 2015 SMART/ MVP Sports Foundation Taekwondo Summer Class all over the country.

Organized by the Philippine Taekwondo Association, the program – as well as the registration -- started last Monday (April 6) in all PTA affiliates and branches in Metro Manila, regions 1 to 12,

CAR, ARMM and CARAGA. It will end on June 6.

The PTA -- a member of the World Taekwondo Federation, the Philippine Olympic Committee and the Philippine Sports Commission – has been holding the program annually to help improve the participants’ health, mind and body.

Practicioners in the sport normally improve their physical condition and alertness and learn to protect themselves

against all odds. In fact, knowledge in unarmed defense is considered to be a lot better than acquiring a deadly weapon.

By joining the taekwondo class, a participant will not only develop special skills and discipline, but also improve his personality.

This year, new students will be shown the modern electronic system used in the Olympics, Asian Games and Southeast Asian Games called the Protective Scoring System (PSS)

and Electronic Scoring System (ESS) to make them understand that every competition is done under accurate and fair scoring.

The program is also supported by regular sports backers PLDT, Meralco, POC, PSC and Milo.

Interested parties may contact Philippine Taekwondo Association at tel. nos. 5220518, 522-0519, 524-0457 or email:philtaekwondo@gmail. com/philtkd@gmail.com.

Hernandez wins 2 more medals Army, PLDT YOUTH bowler Enzo Hernandez hauled two more medals for Team Philippines in the last day of the 18th Asian Youth Tenpin Bowling Championships recently at the Complexo Desportivo Internacional do Cotai Bowling Centre in Macau, China.

Hernandez, 18, harvested his second silver medal by placing second in the Boys’ All-Events’ Division after accumulating 4156 total pin falls behind gold-medal winner Muhd Rafiq Ismail of Malaysia, who posted 4443. Javier Tan of Singapore settled for the bronze with 4142.

Hernandez settled for his second bronze medal, after placing third in the Boys’ Masters Event.

He was the Top 2 seed before the stepladder finals, but lost to Indonesia’s Billy Islam during the first match, 216-256. Islam, however, lost to Muhd Rafiq Ismail of Malaysia in the gold medal-match, 183-203, to end up with a silver medal.

The week-long campaign of the Philippine Youth Team, under the tutelage of coaches Jojo Canare and Boy Florencio,

was supported by the Philippine Sports Commission, the Philippine Bowling Congress, US Polo Association and Cebuana Lhuillier.

Earlier, Hernandez grabbed his first silver medal in the Boys’ Singles’ Event highlighted by a perfect game. He played alongside Ivan Malig and settled for the bronze medal in the Boys’

Doubles Event of the competition participated by 15 Asian countries.

Team Philippines went home with two silvers and two bronze medals and finished fifth in the medal tally. Malaysia took home the most number of medals in the competition with 8, capped

by Muhd Rafiq Ismail’s four gold medals.

Enzo Hernandez (left) with coach Jojo Canare

blast rivals Games tomorrow 9 a.m. – Air Force vs Cignal 11 a.m. – Cagayan vs Cavite

PHILIPPINE Army pulled off a tough four-set victory over Instituto Estetico Manila while PLDT Home Ultera overpowered Cavite in three as they joined opening day winner Cagayan Valley in the early lead in the Spikers’ Turf at The Arena in San Juan yesterday.

The Troopers drew big games from skipper Ian Depamaylo, Patrick Rojas and Benjaylo Davide and setter Manolo Refugia as they outlasted the Volley Masters in a duel of power hits, quick plays and blocks, scoring a 25-16, 22-25, 26-24, 25-19 victory and serving notice of their title bid in the inaugural event presented by PLDT Home Ultera.

Depamaylo unloaded 14 hits, including 12 on attacks, while Labide and Rojas turned in 12 points apiece. Antonio Torres and Gregorio Dolor chipped in eight markers each for the Troopers, who edged the Volley Masters in spikes, 51-49, blocks, 10-9, and service aces, 4-3.

CYAN MAGENTA YELLOW BLACK W E D N E S D AY : A P R I L 8 , 2 0 1 5

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SPORTS sports@thestandard.com.ph

Meralco sinks Navy in V-League CHARLEEN Cruz flaunted her spiking and blocking skills as Meralco swept Navy, 25-20, 2521, 25-21, to join Cagayan Valley and PLDT Home Ultera in the early lead in the Shakey’s V-League Season 12-Open Conference elims at The Arena in San Juan City yesterday.

Army, with Rachel Ann Daquis fir- She is what our team needs,” said ing 16 hits, posted a more impressive Meralco coach Brian Esquivel. win later in the day, pummeling FourThe Power Spikers smashed a total bees-Perpetual Help, 25-8, 25-10, 25- of 38 kills and had nine blocks while 11, to force a four-way tie for the lead. producing an impressive 12-ace effort Honey Royse Tubino also scored nine behind Morada’s six and Mercado’s two. points against the very same team she It was Meralco’s first win since loshelped power to multiple NCAA vol- ing all its eight matches in the last ley crowns. year’s Reinforced ConGames tomorrow Cruz punched in ference won by Cagayeight kills and came 2 p.m. • Fourbees vs Coast Guard an Valley.

4 p.m. • Cagayan vs Baguio through with five Veteran Norie Diaz blocks and finished and Jolina Labiano with 15 hits to lead the Power Spikers to fired eight hits apiece while team the straight-set win. Maica Morada and captain Lilet Mabbayad had seven Aby Marano combined for 25 points points for the Lady Sailors, who while skipper Stephanie Mercado made 31 kills but just got two blocks added eight, including two blocks, as and three aces to fall to 1-1 in the Meralco foiled Navy’s bid for a second season-opening conference of the straight win after a 26-24, 25-14, 25-18 league where it all started. victory over Coast Guard last Sunday.

Fourbees-Perpetual, meanwhile, Rookie setter Angela Legacio also dropped to 0-2. shone for Meralco as the top playmakThe Meralco-Navy clash will be er from NCAA champion Arellano shown on GMA News TV Channel University put up 35 excellent sets to 11 starting at 1 p.m. today with the anchor the team’s romp in the event Army-Fourbees duel, being played presented by PLDT Home Ultera and at presstime, to be telecast tomorbacked by Mikasa and Accel. row, according to the organizing “She’s a great addition to the team. Sports Vision. " T h i s i s t o i n f o r m t h e p u b l i c t h a t t h e d i r e c t o r s o f Inte rA si a O ut s o urc e I nc . fo r ye ar 2 015 to 2 016 , ar e t h e fo ll ow in g: 1.

2.

3.

4.

5.

R A M O N R . ATAY D E ; LO U R D E S Q . R O S A L E S ; D E O G R A C I A S R A M O N R . O LV I N A , J R .; R A FA E L J . C O S M E ; a n d L E S L I E J O H N M AY.

I n a c c o r d a n c e w i t h l a w, t h e b o a r d o f d i r e c t o r s s h a l l h o l d o f f i c e f o r o n e (1) y e a r u n t i l t h e i r s u c c e s s o r s a r e e l e c t e d and qualified.

M r. M a y h a d b e e n c h o s e n a s t h e 5 t h d i r e c t o r o f t h e C o m p a n y, a p o s i t i o n p r e v i o u s l y h e l d b y M r. R a y m o n d E r n e s t C r a ke .

M o r e o v e r, I n t e rA s i a O u t s o u r c e I n c . w i s h e s t o i n f o r m t h e p u b l i c t h a t M s . R O S E M A R I E M A L AT E N O B L E Z A h a d b e e n a p p o i n t e d a s Tr e a s u r e r o f t h e C o m p a n y. M r. D E O G R A C I A S R A M O N R . O LV I N A , J R . w a s t h e i m m e d i a t e l y p r e c e d i n g Tr e a s u r e r o f I n t e rA s i a O u t s o u r c e I n c ." ( T S - A P R . 8 , 2 015 )

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.

PHILRACOM meets GAB. Newly-appointed officials of the Philippine Racing Commission met last week with officials of the Games and Amusements Board. Both agencies are under the Office of the President; Philracom supervises horseracing while GAB oversees other professional sports and horseracing betting.

Shown here are,from Philracom, Chairman Andrew A. Sanchez (front, center) and Commissioner lawyer Ramon S. Bagatsing Jr. (front left); and with them is GAB Commissioner Matthew Gaston (front right) representing GAB Chairman Juan Ramon Guanzon. Also with them are, (back, left to right) from GAB, Estela Nimedez, Horse Racing and Betting Supervision Officer; Ofelina Artugue, Administration and Finance Officer; and lawyer Ermar Benitez, Chief, Legal Division; from Philracom, Commissioner lawyer Wilfredo de Ungria and Executive Director veterinarian Andrew Buencamino.

Republic of the Philippines REGIONAL TRIAL COURT National Capital Judicial Region B r a n c h 9 9 , Q u e z o n C i t y, M e t r o M a n i l a

DISPOSAL COMMITTEE NOTICE OF PUBLIC AUCTION The Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP), through its Disposal Committee, invites bidders to participate in the public auction for the sale on an “as-is-where-is basis” of the following lots: Lot No.

Item Description

Floor Price

1

Various scrap materials, i.e., various cable wires and scrap metals, induction motors, evaporator coil and compressor

PhP239,000.00

2

Various scrap materials/metals, evaporator coils, AHU Filters and other scrap metals

PhP93,100.00

3

Various scrap materials/metals, i.e., galvanized iron, aluminum sheets, deformed bar, aluminum T-runner and aluminum tube

PhP42,105.00

IN RE: PETITION FOR JUDICIAL RECOGNITION OF FOREIGN D I V O R C E A N D D E C L A R AT I O N O F C A PAC I T Y T O R E M A R R Y U N D E R A R T I C L E 2 6 , FA M I LY C O D E O F T H E PHILIPPINES. CIVIL CASE No. R - Q Z N -14 -119 4 9 - C V FOR: Enforcement of Foreign Judgment G L A DY S C O N C E P C I O N R E Y E S , P e t i t i o n e r. x- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -x

ORDER

The schedule of activities is as follows: 1.

Inspection by Bidders of the Properties for Disposal

- 14 (Tue.) and 15 (Wed.) April 2015 9:00 a.m. to 10:00 a.m.

2.

Pre-bid Conference (after the inspection)

- 14 and 15 April 2015 11:00 a.m. to 12:00 noon

3.

Issuance of Bid Documents (after the Pre-bid Conference) Administrative Services Department (ASD), Room 109, Ground Floor, Five-storey Building, BSP Main Complex, A. Mabini cor. P. Ocampo, Sr. Streets, Malate, Manila

- Starting 14 April 2015 upon payment of a non refundable fee of Two Hundred Pesos (PhP200.00)

Opening of Bids ASD Conference Room, Room 109, Ground Floor, Five-storey Building, BSP Main Complex, A. Mabini cor. P. Ocampo, Sr. Streets, Malate, Manila

- 21 April 2015 (Tue.) 10:00 a.m

4.

The BSP reserves the right to accept or reject any bid, to declare the bidding a failure, to annul the bidding process, and to reject all bids at any time prior to award of contract, without thereby incurring any liability to the bidders. Furthermore,the BSP reserves the right to waive any minor defect or formality and to accept the proposal most advantageous to the Bank.

(SGD.) ESTRELLITA C. BERBANO Chairperson (TS-APR. 8, 2015)

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Filed by Petitioner through c ounsel is a verif ied Petition for J u d ic ia l R ec o g ni ti o n of F o r ei g n D ivo r c e and D ec lar ati o n of C a pac i t y to R emar r y U nder A r tic le 2 6 of the Fam i ly C o de, p r ay ing t hat af te r due h e ar ing an d p re s e nt at i o n of all t h e re quire d d o c um e nt s, an o r de r b e i s sue d: 1) re c o gnizin g t h e di vo c e de c re e duly i s sue d by t h e J apane s e aut h o r it i e s an d t hus re c o gnizing t h e s am e as w it h f ull fo rc e an d ef fe c t up o n p et it i o ne r ; 2) dire c t in g t h e Lo c al Ci v il Re gi st r y of Pas ay Cit y an d t h e N at i o nal S t at i st i c s O f f i c e 1 to ann ot ate up o n t h e re c o r ds of t h e mar r iag e c o nt r ac t b et we e n J apane s e M as ahir o O i shi an d p et it i o ne r, t hat t h e s ai d m ar r iag e had alre ady b e e n s e r ve d by v ir tue of t h e ju di c ially re c o gnize d fo r e i gn di vo rc e; 3) de c lar ing t h e p et it i o ne r w it h l e g al c apac it y to re m ar r y pur suant to t h e p r ov i si o ns of t h e s e c o n d par agr ap h of S e c t i o n 2 6 of t h e Family C o de of t h e Philip p ine s an d; 4) re c o gnizing t h e duly e nte re d agre e m e nt b et we e n J apane s e M as ahir o O i shi an d p et it i o ne r t hat t h e c usto dy ove r t h e ir c hil d N at suko Reye s O i shi shall b e w it h t h e Filip in o m ot h e r.

WHEREFORE, f inding the Petition to be suf f icient in for m and substance, the Cour t ORDERS as follows: 1.) L e t t h i s c a s e b e s e t f o r h e a r i n g o n M a y 4 , 2 0 15 a t 8 :3 0 i n t h e m o r n i n g a t R o o m 210 , 2 n d F l o o r, H a l l o f J u s t i c e B u i l d i n g , Q u e z o n C i t y, o n w h i c h d a t e , p l a c e and time, any interested person is directed to appear a n d s h o w c a u s e , i f a n y, w h y t h i s p e t i t i o n s h o u l d n o t b e g r a n t e d; 2 .) L e t t h i s O r d e r b e p u b l i s h e d i n a n e w s p a p e r o f g e n e r a l c i r c u l a t i o n , o n c e a w e e k f o r t h r e e (3) c o n s e c u t i v e w e e k s , t o b e c h o s e n b y r a f f l e p u r s u a n t t o P. D. 10 7 9 , a t the expense of the petitioner; 3 .) P e t i t i o n e r i s o r d e r e d t o s e n d b y r e g i s t e r e d mail copies of the Petition, Order of hearing and its publication to MASAHIRO OISHI at his last known address and to submit to this Cour t proof of compliance t h e r e w i t h; 4 .) P e t i t i o n e r i s l i ke w i s e o r d e r e d t o f u r n i s h c o p y o f t h e p et it i o n an d t hi s inst ant O r de r to t h e O f f i c e of t h e S o li c ito r G e ne r al, t h e O f f i c e of t h e Cit y Pr o s e c uto r of Q uezo n Cit y, as we ll as t h e Philip p ine S t at i st i c s Aut h o r it y an d t h e Ci v il Re gi st r ar G e ne r al, fo r t h e ir info r m at i o n an d ap p r o p r iate ac t i o n an d fo r p et it i o ne r to sub mit p r o of of suc h s e r v i c e o n o r b efo re t h e date of h e ar in g.

S O O R D E R E D. Q u e z o n C i t y, M e t r o M a n i l a , D e c e m b e r 2 2 , 2 014 . ( S g d .) M A . R I TA A . B A S C O S S A R A B I A Presiding Judge ___________________ 1

Presently known as the Philippine Statistics Authority ( T S - M A R . 2 5 /A P R 1 & 8 , 2 015 )

Summer prize bonanza

THE Philippine Racing Commission (Philracom) launched an inHE HOARSE WHISPERER centivized Summer Racing Festival program as a strategy to maintain or increase the number of entries in regular races.

“We have observed,” said Philracom Chairman Andrew A. Sanchez, “that during the summer months, sales are reduced due to fewer horses participating in racemeets.”

Summer is when horses are regularly spelled (generally, this means being sent to the ranches for vacation); this reduces the available horse population for racing.

In addition, high temperatures may cause epistaxis (nosebleeds) in horses. To reduce the incidence of this, horseowners and trainers opt to run their horses in fewer races or spell them for the entirety or part of the summer.

However, fewer entries may mean fewer races on the card and smaller field sizes, making races less interesting for aficionados.

“To entice owners to run their horses,” said Sanchez, “Philracom will be providing an added prize of P20,000 to the winners of races under this program.”

In Philracom’s Resolution No. 11-15 dated 25 March 2015, included in the Summer Racing Festival, which will run from April 7 to May 15, are class-division races, three each day from Tuesday to Friday, and four each Saturday and Sunday, for a total of twenty races each week.

Races picked for the Summer Racing Festival will no longer be placed under Philracom’s regular incentive program, which provides an added prize of P5,000 to the winner of class-division races.

Under the regular incentive program are four classdivision races each weekday from Tuesday to Friday and five each Saturday and Sunday.

Also as part of its Summer Racing Festival, Philracom is sponsoring a 1,300-meter 3YO Condition Race on April 12 at Santa Ana Park in Naic, Cavite, with a prize of P300,000 allocated from first to fourth places.

Philippine Racing Club, Inc. (PRCI), owner and operator of Santa Ana Park, in support of Philracom’s initiative, will be providing an additional prize of P15,000 to the winner of races held at its track that are not included in the Philracom Summer Racing Festival program.

PRCI Executive Vice-President and Chief Operating Officer Allan V. Abesamis, in a letter to Philracom, said that they will place 73 Santa Ana Park races from April 11 to May 13 under their incentive program, and release a total of nearly P1.1 million in added prize money from for this purpose.

For this program, priority will be given to free handicapped races.

With these generous offers from Philracom and PRCI, will the other two tracks—Manila Jockey Club and Metro Turf Racecourse—follow suit and come up with their own summer incentive schemes?

Even with just the added prizes from Philracom and PRCI, race participants are already looking at a prize bonanza this summer—will this be enough enticement for them to run their horses?

Concerns as to the health of horses and jockeys may be partially addressed by the usual practice of moving the races to an hour or two later on weekend afternoons, avoiding the worst heat of day. *** Facebook: Gogirl Racing, Twitter: @gogirlracing, Blog: http://jennyo.net JENNY ORTUOSTE

T

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SPORTS sports@thestandard.com.ph

Pro league’s COO post unappealing to prospects?

By Dennis Principe IS the Chief Operating Officer position being offered by the PBA to select basketball personalities turning out to be an unappealing job?

Sources contacted by The Standard revealed that a few but illustrious names have begged off from being considered for the gig.

Three of them, current Meralco executive Ryan Gregorio and brothers Ogie Chito Narvasa have politely declined the offer.

The trio, however, were still reportedly interviewed

by Global Executive Solutions Group, the supposed head hunter tasked to scour the basketball landscape in pinpointing the strongest candidates for the job.

Another source said there were 16 other names, who were interviewed by GESG the last few weeks.

Among them were former PBA player Vince Hizon, Atty. Ariel Magno, TV analyst Charlie Cuna, current PBA Executive Director Ricky Santos, former PBL and UAAP Commissioner Andy Jao and even current Talk ‘N Text player Danny Siegle.

Hizon, a former Ginebra standout, is the current commissioner of the fledgling Filsports Basketball Association, while Magno was the longtime lawyer of the defunct Sta. Lucia Realty. Santos and Jao are reportedly frontrunners for the job.

“In tomorrow’s board meeting, the board may come up with a list of at least seven names, who will be seriously considered,” said the source.

The league is set to name its first COO, who will also be the game commissioner after the board of governors created the position of Chief Executive Officer and President in its aim to establish a corporate image.

The CEO/President role was first offered to resigned commissioner Chito Salud, who eventually accepted the post after contemplating on it for weeks.

Meantime, a ranking official of one team said the COO position should be a tempting job as the personality who will soon be named will be in a great position to be the successor of the CEO/ President.

“Sa rule ng succession, being the number two man, he will have the first crack at becoming the next CEO because Chito Salud won’t be there naman forever,” said one source.

CYAN MAGENTA YELLOW BLACK

PBA to honor its 40 Greatest Players today

By Jeric Lopez

FORTY years.

The Philippine Basketball Association, Asia’s first play-for-pay league, is celebrating this milestone by having an anniversary special and honoring its chosen 40 greatest players tonight at Resorts World Manila in Pasay City.

The highlight of the event will be the citing of the 40 greatest players in league history as well as some media men, who made their mark and helped the league gain popularity.

Those players, who will be

awarded are the league’s initial 25 greatest players, namely Johnny Abarrientos, Bogs Adornado, Ato Agustin, Francis Arnaiz, Ricardo Brown, Allan Caidic, Hector Calma, Philip Cezar, Atoy Co, Jerry

Codinera, Kenneth Duremdes, Bernie Fabiosa, Ramon Fernandez, Danny Florencio, Abet Guidaben, Freddie Hubalde, Robert Jaworski, Jojo Lastimosa, Lim Eng Beng, Samboy Lim, Ronnie Magsanoc, Vergel Meneses, Manny Paner, Alvin Patrimonio, Benjie Paras.

They will be joined by the 15 new additions that will complete the tally of 40 best, namely James Yap, Mark Caguioa, Danny Ildefonso, Willie Miller, Jayjay Helterbrand, Asi Taulava, Eric Menk, Kelly Williams, Arwind Santos, Jimmy Alapag, Chito Loyzaga, Mark Pingris, Jayson Castro, Kerby Raymundo and Marlou Aquino.

Centennial, Jelik clash again at regatta tilt

Participants of the past Commodores’ Cup Regatta race to the finish.

Little League PH gets support LITTLE League Philippines, one of the largest youth sports programs in the country, has found a perfect partner in Mister Donut, which will support LLP’s extensive grassroots program in the years to come.

The first 25 greats were already given citation back in 2000 during the league’s 25th anniversary, while the added 15 legends were named after thorough deliberation last December. ‘’We will pay tribute to these distinguished men—the 40 players who have been instrumental in shaping the PBA into what it is today,’’ said PBA commissioner Chito Salud.

Five veteran PBA reporters will also be commended for their contributions to the league and they are: Ding Marcelo of the Manila Bulletin, Jun Engracia and Ernie Gonzales of the Inquirer, SCOOP president Eddie Alinea and Lito Tacujan of The Philippine Star.

Jolly Gomez, Little League Baseball Philippines, Inc. administrator, announced the partnership along with Mister Donut assistant brand manager Cherrilyn Jane Sace during the Philippine Sportswriters Association Forum at

Little League Baseball PH administrator Jolly Gomez discusses the LLP’s grassroots program at the PSA Forum. He is joined here by Cherrilyn Jane Sace, Assistant Brand Manager of Mister Donut. SONNY ESPIRTU

Shakey’s Malate.

The partnership comes at a perfect time as Little League International celebrates its 75th year, and Mister Donut its 60th year worldwide.

Little League Philippines has several projects on tap this year, starting off with the Philippine Series National Championships, which will be held in Iloilo from April 19 to 26.

Gomez, also a commissioner with the Philippine Sports Commission, said it’s the first time in 15 years that the event will be staged in the Visayas, the last one hosted by Bacolod.

Iloilo has won the national championship in the major and junior softball divisions the past two years, prompting local officials headed by Gov. Arthur Defensor and representatives of the De-

partment of Education to push for the hosting.

To accommodate the Luzon-based teams that don’t have enough resources to go to Iloilo, the LLP has put up an elimination tournament that will end on Sunday in Marikina.

Mister Donut will provide the champion team the means to compete in Iloilo through its Corporate Social Responsibility program.

“It’s all about teaching kids the values of teamwork, discipline and sportsmanship.

Mister Donut is looking for a bigger involvement in the community. Our biggest market is about the children and we want to focus on that,” said Sace in the weekly session presented

by San Miguel Corp., Accel, Shakey’s, and the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corp.

SUBIC BAY FREEPORT ZONE— Centennial III skippered by businessman Judes Echauz, who bagged the recent Standard Insurance Boracay Cup Regatta, nosing out Hong Kong’s Jelik captained

by Frank Pong, will clash anew with its rival today during the start of the eighth Commodores’ Cup Regatta 2015 here.

Reichel/Pugh 75-designed Jelik is the IRC Racing division defending champion and will be challenged by 2013 champion Karakoa of Ray Ordoveza, another Hong Kong entry TP 52-made Free Fire, commandeered by San Chan and the 52-foot Centennial III. The boat, captained by Echauz, finally bagged the overall title in an international event--the Standard Insurance Subic Bay to Boracay Race 2015 last month, after several second-place finishes in the past.

In the IRC Cruiser division, four local sail boats will vie, led by Selma Star of Jun Avecilla, Bruce Farr 1104 34-designed Rags skippered by Alan Burrell, Selma of former Navotas congressman Ricky Sandoval and Sydney 46-type Centennial II of Martin Tanco.

Organizing committee administrators Zed Avecilla and Jie Comablicer said there five entries have joined in the PY Cruising Class, led by Australia’s Kerida, skippered by Garry Kingshott, Hong Kong’s Helena commandeered by Simon Pickering, and the three sail boats from the Philippines--Alexa of Eric Jurado, S&S 36-designed Irresistible, captained by Harry Taylor and Sorcerer of Austin Chamberlain.

The five-day inshore races are organized by the Saturday Afternoon Gentlemen Sailing Club, in cooperation with The Lighthouse Marina Resort and Philippine Sailing Association, in conjunction with the PLDT Alpha Enterprise, Asian Yachting Grand Prix, Standard Insurance and the Department of Tourism.

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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

Tiger excites with superb Masters’ practice round AUGUSTA—Tiger Woods thrilled Masters fans with a strong practice round Monday at Augusta National, solid chips and approach shots signaling a return to form by the 14-time major champion.

Woods, who missed last year’s Masters due to back surgery, excited spectators with a late-afternoon practice round alongside long-time pal Mark O’Meara.

“I felt good and it was nice to get out here,” Woods said. “But the course was a little bit faster than when we played last week.”

Woods, who has sunk to 111th in the world rankings, made his first public shotmaking display since withdrawing from Torrey Pines after only 11 holes in February with back issues and a woeful short game.

“The last two months has been a process for me but I’m in a good place now,” Woods said. “It’s progression. I felt like I had to get my game into a spot where I could compete to win a golf tournament and it is finally there.”

Woods arrived by plane Monday afternoon from Florida and went directly to Augusta Nation-

al’s practice chipping area, where he hit about 70 shots with no sign of the prior horrid form, and driving range, where he spent slightly under an hour.

During the workout, comfortable-looking Woods appeared to be listening to music, dancing at times, and was smiling and relaxed, sharing hugs with former swing coach Sean Foley, past British Open winner Darren Clarke and O’Meara.

“It was good to catch up with Mark again,” Woods said. “We text each other all the time, so it felt like old times out there. I miss him.”

Woods’ casual manner and successful shotmaking harkened back to the form that made Woods a four-time Masters winner, his most recent green jacket victory coming 10 years ago.

He has not won a major title since the 2008 US Open as he chases the record 18 majors won

by Jack Nicklaus.

His manner was a sharp contrast to recent struggles in a 13-month span where he has managed only three 72-hole finishes.

After sending his first tee shot well left into pine trees near the ad-

jacent ninth fairway, Woods blasted over the trees to five feet from the cup for a birdie and practiced his chipping on the hole as well.

“My chipping is fine and today was good as I wanted to test out some wedges,” Woods said.

“That was why I was chipping a little bit more.”

Woods put his approach at the par-5 second 30 feet from the cup but missed an eagle putt. At the third he chipped within inches of the cup. At the par-3 fourth his stopped his tee shot 10 feet from the cup.

At the seventh Woods put his approach three feet from the cup.

At nine, he chipped to 20 feet and sank the long par putt.

“Don’t ever underestimate Tiger Woods,” O’Meara said. “I saw some good signs out there.”

World number one Rory McIlroy, who would complete a career Grand Slam and win his third major in a row by capturing his first green jacket on Sunday, practiced Monday alongside two amateur debutantes, reigning British Amateur champion Bradley Neil of Scotland and American Byron Meth, the US Public Links champion. AFP

Tiger Woods of the United States hits an approach shot during a practice round prior to the start of the 2015 Masters Tournament at Augusta National Golf Club in Augusta, Georgia. AFP

Pacman gets 2 new sparmates

By Ronnie Nathanielsz

AS eight-division world champion Manny Pacquiao enters the sixth week of training for his battle with undefeated pound-for-pound king Floyd Mayweather Jr., his celebrated trainer Freddie Roach has decided to bring in two new sparring partners to add to the mix and give the Filipino icon different looks as he nears peak form for his May 2 date with destiny.

There was no indication as to who the new sparring partners were, but they will join unbeaten 21-year-old Kenneth “Bossman”

Simms Jr. and UFC fighter Dashon Johnson, who bore the brunt of 29 rounds of sparring last week, with the exchanges

Coach K cements legacy TURN TO A12

CYAN MAGENTA YELLOW BLACK

picking up as the week wore on.

Roach himself said last Saturday’s 10 rounds of sparring was the best so far as Pacquiao and Simms went toeto-toe in some furious exchanges, with the pride of the Philippines showing tremendous hand-speed and excellent footwork.

On Monday, after his usual morning run at Griffith Park, Pacquiao went through his regular routine at the locked-down Wild Card Gym, highlighted by 10 rounds on the punch-mitts.

As the days roll on, even Pacquiao has decided to stop giving interviews, which have taken up his time, to focus sharply

Jelik, Centennial clash again TURN TO A15

on the battle up front.

ABS-CBN’s Dyan Castillejo told the Standard/boxingmirror. com that Pacquiao and his family attended Easter Sunday church services before having lunch at a Japanese restaurant, joined by his family and members of Team Pacquiao.

Later on Sunday, he shot a music video for his new entrance song “Lalaban na.”

Meanwhile, Pacquiao’s former sparring partner, Russian Ruslan Provodnikov, who is known as the Siberian Rocky, has been working under well-known strength and conditioning coach Nick Curson.

The coach also works with some of the top fighters from the ALA Gym, including WBO light flyweight champion Donnie Nietes and IBF challenger Milan Melindo.

Curson told the Standard/ boxingmirror.com that Ruslan, who is trained by Freddie Roach’s Filipino assistant Marvin Somodio at the Wild Card Gym in Los Angeles, “looks better than ever.”

Curson, however, didn’t wish to make a prediction on the outcome of the fight against Argentine’s Lucas Matthysse, who has a record of 34 knockouts in 36 wins, with 3 losses.

LOTTO RESULTS

6/49 00-00-00-00-00-00 6/42 00-00-00-00-00-00 6 DIGITS 0-0-0-0-0-0 3 DIGITS 0-0-0 2 EZ2 0-0

CYAN MAGENTA YELLOW BLACK

B1

WEDNESDAY: APRIL 8, 2015

RAY S. EÑANO EDITOR

RODERICK T. DELA CRUZ ASSISTANT EDITOR

business@thestandardtoday.com.ph extrastory2000@gmail.com

BUSINESS

Guimaras mango. Trade Undersecretary for industry promotion Ponciano Manalo Jr. (left), along with (from right) Bureau of Domestic Trade Promotion director Rhodora Leaño, Trade Undersecretary for consumer protection Victorio Mario Dimagiba and Dimagiba’s wife Cecila, hold Guimaras mangoes displayed and sold by Fresco Fresh Mango at the National Food Fair at the Megatrade Halls 1 to 3 of SM Megamall in Mandaluyong City. Guimaras mango is one of the Philippines’ specialized products being evaluated for a geographical indication seal. Fresco Fresh Mango is one of the 150 exhibitors that participated in the food fair from March 25 to 29.

Inflation rate eases to 2.4% PSe comPoSite index Closing April 7, 2015

By Jennifer Ambanta

INFLATION rate in March eased to 2.4 percent from 2.5 percent in February, giving the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas flexibility to keep current interest rates steady.

8500 8000 7500 7000 6500 6000

8,098.68 44.94

PeSo-dollar rate

Closing APRIL 7, 2015 46

P44.480

45

CLOSE

44 43 42

HIGH P44.450 LOW P44.525 AVERAGE P44.484 VOLUME 722.400M

P508.00-P728.00 LPG/11-kg tank P37.27-P42.82 Unleaded Gasoline P27.40-P31.70 Diesel

oPriceS il P today

The March inflation was also slower than the 3.5-percent price increase recorded a year ago and brought the average inflation in the first quarter to 2.4 percent, well within the Bangko Sentral’s target range of 2 percent to 4 percent for 2015.

“At the moment, the view is that the stance of monetary policy remains appropriate, but we are ready to make adjustments as and if warranted,” Bangko Sentral Governor Amando Tetangco Jr. said in a text message Tuesday.

Data from the Philippines

By Julito G. Rada

P23.70-P24.40 Auto LPG

THE country’s gross international reserves slightly decreased to $80.4 billion at the end of March this year from $80.8 billion in end-February due mainly to the government’s settlement of maturing foreign exchange obligations, the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas said on Tuesday.

“The GIR level can cover 10.5 months’ worth of imports of goods

F oreign e xchange r ate Currency

Unit

US Dollar

Peso

United States

Dollar

1.000000

44.3990

Japan

Yen

0.008372

0.3717

UK

Pound

1.489200

66.1190

Hong Kong

Dollar

0.128994

5.7272

Switzerland

Franc

1.043950

46.3503

Canada

Dollar

0.801475

35.5847

Singapore

Dollar

0.738443

Australia

Dollar

0.766518

34.0326

Bahrain

Dinar

2.652590

117.7723

32.7861

Saudi Arabia

Rial

0.266596

11.8366

Brunei

Dollar

0.735727

32.6655

Indonesia

Rupiah

0.000077

0.0034

Thailand

Baht

0.030774

1.3663

UAE

Dirham

0.272257

12.0879

Euro

Euro

1.094400

48.5903

Korea

Won

0.000923

0.0410

China

Yuan

0.161421

7.1669

India

Rupee

0.016085

0.7142

Malaysia

Ringgit

0.275482

12.2311

New Zealand

Dollar

0.760977

Taiwan

Dollar

0.032375

33.7866 1.4374 Source: PDS Bridge

CYAN MAGENTA YELLOW BLACK

Balisacan said a relatively stable peso, given the country’s strong external position on the back of strong remittances, rising business process outsourcing earnings, foreign direct investments, ample international reserves and manageable level of external debt had contributed to stable domestic prices.

“The continuing decline in international oil prices is also a positive development for the country considering our dependence on imported oil,” he said.

De La Salle University -School of Economics Professor Angelo Taningco said he was optimistic the government would be able to contain inflation at a low level.

“I think the inflation rate will remain low and within the BSP’s target,” he said.

International reserves slightly fall to $80.4b

P35.40-P39.15 Kerosene

Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas Tuesday, April 7, 2015

Statistics Authority showed prices of housing, water, electricity, gas and other fuels, transport and communication posted negative annual rates in March.

The National Economic and Development Authority said lower food prices, especially rice and meat, also pulled down the headline inflation during the month.

“The easing annual growth rate of rice prices was supported by favorable total rice stocks inventory. Food inflation could have been

lower if not for the relatively higher prices of vegetables and fish, which is due in part to the likely shift in consumers’ preferences given the onset of the Lenten season,” said Economic Planning Secretary and Neda director-general Arsenio Balisacan.

Core inflation, which excludes selected volatile food and energy prices, inched up to 2.7 percent in March 2015 from 2.5 percent in February, although this was slower than 2.8 percent registered in the same month last year. It averaged 2.5 percent in the first three months this year.

“Inflation remained low and stable in the first three months of the year in line with expectations over the policy horizon, which is likely to support consumption growth,” said Balisacan.

B3

and payments of services and income.

It is also equivalent to 4.9 times the country’s short-term external debt based on original maturity and 3.9 times based on residual maturity,” the Bangko Sentral said.

Short-term debt based on residual maturity refers to outstanding external debt with original maturity of one year or less, plus principal payments on medium- and longterm loans of the public and private sectors falling due within the next 12

Stock index breaches 8,100

B4

months.

The central bank also cited the revaluation adjustments in its gold holdings and foreign currency-denominated reserves.

These were partially offset by the government’s net foreign currency deposits and the Bangko Sentral’s foreign exchange operations and income from investment abroad.

Data showed that the Bangko Sentral’s gold holdings as of endMarch declined to $7.4 billion

Globe revenue to top P100b

from $7.6 billion in February.

Foreign investments dropped to $70.4 billion from $70.9 billion, while foreign exchange improved to $839 million from $520 million as of end-February.

Net international reserves, which refer to the difference between the Bangko Sentral’s GIR and total short-term liabilities, also decreased to $80.4 billion compared to the end-February NIR of $80.8 billion.

B6

Zambales mining ban lifted

WEDNESDAY: APRIL 8, 2015

B2

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

MST BuSineSS Daily STockS Review Tuesday, april 7, 2015

52 Weeks

Previous

High Low

STOCKS

Close

7.88 75.3 124.4 104 63 2.49 4.2 4 18.48 31.6 9.5 0.92 2.95 99.4 1.46 30.5 75 94.95 137 361.2 59 174.8 1700 127.9 3.26

2.5 66 84.6 84.5 45.8 1.97 2.03 8.7 12.02 23.55 6.3 0.74 1.75 78 0.9 18.02 58 76.5 95 276 45 107.6 1200 66 2.65

AG Finance 7.02 Asia United Bank 71.3 Banco de Oro Unibank Inc. 121.00 Bank of PI 102.30 China Bank 46.65 BDO Leasing & Fin. INc. 2.33 Bright Kindle Resources 2.25 Citystate Savings 10 COL Financial 16.5 Eastwest Bank 24.5 Filipino Fund Inc. 9.07 First Abacus 0.8 I-Remit Inc. 1.71 Metrobank 99.8 Natl. Reinsurance Corp. 0.96 PB Bank 18.40 Phil Bank of Comm 31.00 Phil. National Bank 76.15 Phil. Savings Bank 95.45 PSE Inc. 324.6 RCBC `A’ 45.2 177 Security Bank Sun Life Financial 1385.00 Union Bank 69.45 Vantage Equities 3.1

47 5 1.66 2.36 15.3 113 148 20.6 125 32 65.8 4.57 23.35 21.6 12.98 9.13 12.34 2.89 17 31.8 109 20.75 0.820 15.3 9.4 0.98 241 12.5 3.95 4 33.9 90 13.98 292.4 5 5.25 13.04 14.5 7.03 3.4 4.5 6.68 8.1 253 3.28 0.315 2.5 2.68 226.6 5.5 1.3 2.17

35.6 Aboitiz Power Corp. 44.75 1.6 Agrinurture Inc. 1.65 1.04 Alliance Tuna Intl Inc. 1.1 1.41 Alsons Cons.

2.03 7.92 Asiabest Group 12.02 40.3 Bogo Medelin 48.8 32 C. Azuc De Tarlac 87.05 14.6 Century Food 20 62.5 Chemphil 150 10.08 Cirtek Holdings (Chips) 31.1 29.15 Concepcion 59.1 1.04 Da Vinci Capital 1.79 10.72 Del Monte 11.68 8.44 DNL Industries Inc. 20.150 9.79 Emperador 11.62 5.43 Energy Devt. Corp. (EDC) 8.29 9.54 EEI 9.45 1.06 Euro-Med Lab 2.2 8.61 Federal Res. Inv. Group19.28 18.06 First Gen Corp.

30.95 67.9 First Holdings ‘A’ 96.5 Ginebra San Miguel Inc. 14.96 14 0.0076 Greenergy 0.4600 13.24 Holcim Philippines Inc. 14.50 3.12 Integ. Micro-Electronics 6.53 0.395 Ionics Inc 0.640 168 Jollibee Foods Corp. 220.00 8.65 Lafarge Rep 9.23 2.3 LMG Chemicals 2.57 1.63 Mabuhay Vinyl 2.41 24.4 Manila Water Co. Inc. 27.1 16.2 Maxs Group 26.3 7.62 Megawide 7.850 250.2 Mla. Elect. Co `A’ 266.00 3.37 Panasonic Mfg Phil. Corp. 4.16 3.87 Pepsi-Cola Products Phil. 4.1 9 Petron Corporation 9.88 9.94 Phinma Corporation 11.48 3.03 Phoenix Petroleum Phils. 4.13 2.22 Phoenix Semiconductor 2.55 1 Pryce Corp. `A’ 3.6 4.72 RFM Corporation 5.13 6 Roxas Holdings 6.5 201.6 San Miguel’Pure Foods `B’ 203.4 1.67 Splash Corporation 1.7 0.122 Swift Foods, Inc. 0.172 1.02 TKC Steel Corp.

1.23 2.01 Trans-Asia Oil 2.24 143.4 Universal Robina 230 4.28 Victorias Milling 4.5 0.670 Vitarich Corp.

0.7 1.39 Vulcan Ind’l.

1.46

High

Low

Close

%

Net Foreign

Change Volume

Trade/Buying

FINANCIAL 7.28 7.06 71.3 68.75 122.50 119.10 103.00 101.00 46.9 46.4 2.34 2.28 2.28 2.15 9.5 9.5 16.6 16.5 24.8 24.4 9.07 8.71 0.72 0.72 1.70 1.69 100 97.55 0.99 0.97 18.42 18.38 31.00 31.00 76.20 75.50 95.40 95.00 332 325 45.75 45.2 179.1 175.2 1405.00 1360.00 69.45 69.00 3.14 3.1

7.24 3.13 70.95 -0.49 119.90 -0.91 102.00 -0.29 46.6 -0.11 2.28 -2.15 2.25 0.00 9.5 -5.00 16.5 0.00 24.4 -0.41 9.06 -0.11 0.72 -10.00 1.69 -1.17 99 -0.80 0.97 1.04 18.40 0.00 31.00 0.00 75.50 -0.85 95.00 -0.47 330 1.66 45.7 1.11 176 -0.56 1360.00 -1.81 69.10 -0.50 3.1 0.00

50,400 23,980 2,137,100 1,195,410 50,600 81,000 140,000 300 14,100 292,700 51,600 39,000 59,000 3,117,640 77,000 69,900 500 683,270 3,410 25,120 3,201,400 315,080 140 51,940 12,000

INDUSTRIAL 45.8 44.7 1.7 1.65 1.1 1.01 2.07 2.03 12.5 12 50 50 87.05 87.05 20.1 19.98 225 212 34.5 31.2 59.5 59.1 1.85 1.78 12.2 11.78 20.150 19.2 11.62 11.50 8.44 8.29 9.69 9.64 2.58 2.23 19.28 18.2 30.95 30.2 101 96.5 15.28 14.94 0.4700 0.4550 14.58 14.32 6.53 6.15 0.640 0.600 225.00 220.00 9.65 9.25 2.7 2.5 2.41 2.41 27.15 26.7 26.3 24.3 7.850 7.750 266.80 264.40 3.84 3.82 4.1 4.06 9.95 9.75 11.70 11.48 4.16 4.01 2.60 2.55 3.59 3.05 5.10 4.98 6.55 6.28 209 203.2 1.7 1.64 0.172 0.169 1.30 1.23 2.26 2.24 232 228.8 4.5 4.5 0.71 0.69 1.47 1.42

45.25 1.65 1.1 2.04 12.4 50 87.05 20 225 34.5 59.2 1.85 12.18 19.320 11.60 8.38 9.67 2.35 18.2 30.5 99 15.20 0.4700 14.32 6.2 0.600 224.00 9.3 2.68 2.41 26.7 25.25 7.820 265.00 3.83 4.09 9.79 11.50 4.16 2.59 3.25 4.99 6.33 203.2 1.66 0.170 1.23 2.25 230 4.5 0.71 1.47

1.12 0.00 0.00 0.49 3.16 2.46 0.00 0.00 50.00 10.93 0.17 3.35 4.28 -4.12 -0.17 1.09 2.33 6.82 -5.60 -1.45 2.59 1.60 2.17 -1.24 -5.05 -6.25 1.82 0.76 4.28 0.00 -1.48 -3.99 -0.38 -0.38 -7.93 -0.24 -0.91 0.17 0.73 1.57 -9.72 -2.73 -2.62 -0.10 -2.35 -1.16 0.00 0.45 0.00 0.00 1.43 0.68

2,028,100 20,502,115.00 11,000 2,029,000 4,486,000 41,000.00 71,600 27,900 0.00 300 235,700 0.00 4,420 -13,350.00 352,100 -244,075.00 143,130 1,250,965.00 39,000 1,780.00 412,700 3,223,730.00 10,881,400 7,528,732.00 1,745,600 -610,792.00 14,730,500 -53,659,052.00 738,800 163,885.00 1,641,000 133,680.00 304,500 -18,600.00 2,128,500 -7,832,545.00 222,510 10,598,415.00 19,000 -45,000.00 20,000 34,400 -40,824.00 3,106,300 475,630.00 2,303,000 342,000.00 977,670 -17,677,420.00 588,400 -1,500,072.00 116,000 3,000 328,900 -1,715,170.00 2,244,000 -358,355.00 373,500 -766,413.00 628,910 -44,730,134.00 26,000 309,000 -372,190.00 1,385,600 366,400.00 30,100 99,280.00 593,000 20,150.00 950,000 4,550,000 1,497,600 -4,605,644.00 34,300 9,060 -1,167,384.00 189,000 7,290,000 31,000 1,203,000 -22,400.00 1,181,630 34,091,608.00 71,000 76,500.00 976,000 70,000.00 4,985,000 7,250.00

0.470 58.00 27.00 1.38 7.05 1.85 2.98 2.9 800.5 8.7 15.50 4.48 0.325 1346

0.00 -0.09 0.00 -3.50 -0.70 2.78 -0.67 -3.33 0.06 -0.91 -0.64 0.22 1.56 -2.46

460,000 813,750 39,302,743.50 11,569,700 29,255,375.00 49,000 150,200 6,300.00 6,000 701,000 40,000 316,890 81,092,680.00 5,734,000 34,180,980.00 2,115,500 3,825,972.00 100,000 1,240,000 1 7 0 , 7 8 5

74.50 8.8 0.81 16.84 0.64 4.84 5.2 0.0400 1.370 0.750 2.5 67.80 2.93 947.50 1.23 0.91 100.10 0.3950 0.2450 0.200

1.02 3.04 2.53 2.81 -3.03 0.21 2.97 0.00 -14.38 -3.85 0.81 -0.29 -0.68 2.54 2.50 -2.15 -1.57 -4.82 2.94 -36.51

2,839,870 104,316,927.50 953,300 5,984,756.00 5,847,000 4,937,500 4,513,164.00 629,000 25,774,000 -31,194,390.00 15,000 4,000,000 2,000 6,376,000 151,200.00 25,000 181,610 -7,265,626.50 15,000 541,460 55,390,935.00 3,000 130,000 3,100 0.00 11,110,000 105,300.00 1,640,000 4,650,000

1,117,083.50 -29,488,855.00 -8,761,550.00 149,680.00 4,560.00 166,650.00 -1,682,795.00 -108,720 -3,390.00 120,488,624.00

52 Weeks

Previous

High Low 1.54 1.97 1.48 0.201 0.98 1.09 0.305 2.25 1.87 1.8 5.73 0.180 0.470 0.72 8.54 31.8 2.29 20.6 1.02 7.56 1.96 8.59

0.89 1.1 0.97 0.083 0.445 0.85 0.188 1.4 1.42 1.19 4.13 0.090 0.325 0.39 2.57 21.35 1.64 15.08 0.69 3.38 1 5.69

10.5 66 1.44 1.09 12.46 15.82 0.1460 4.61 99.1 12.3 9 1700 2090 8.41 1.97 119.5 0.017 0.8200 2.2800 5.93 12.28 2.85 3.2 1.97 2.46 15.2 0.62 1.040 22.8 6.41 4 18 110.2 14 3486 0.710 2.28 48.5 90.1 11.6 0.87 10.2 0.490 1.6

STOCKS

Close

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 MRC Allied Ind. Phil. Estates Corp.

Phil. Realty `A’ Primex Corp.

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

High 0.94 1.21 1.01 0.151 0.450 0.900 0.207 1.50 1.88 1.49 5.59 0.128 0.3550 0.5300 7.8 30.05 1.76 20.40 0.83 7.45 1.090 8.290

Low

Close

%

Net Foreign

Change Volume

Trade/Buying

0.95 1.21 1.01 0.149 0.450 0.900 0.197 1.49 1.89 1.47 5.66 0.129 0.3550 0.5000 7.94 29.95 1.76 21.05 0.83 7.47 1.100 8.250

1.06 0.00 0.00 -1.32 0.00 0.00 -4.83 -0.67 0.53 -1.34 1.25 0.78 0.00 -5.66 1.79 -0.33 0.00 3.19 0.00 0.27 0.92 -0.48

2,232,000 198,560.00 46,000 -27,830.00 6,000 -1,000.00 4,810,000 61,190.00 1,210,000 450,000.00 217,000 1,800,000 50,960.00 2,175,000 -2,947,380.00 16,723,000 9,323,460.00 482,000 -214,500.00 46,216,800 4,896,814.00 13,530,000 194,180.00 1,620,000 121,000 210,100 -116,550.00 1,191,600 -20,468,080.00 151,000 104,900.00 15,938,700 -17,255,290.00 2,164,000 19,793,100 332,000 4,724,600 -10,915,527.00

1.97 2GO Group’ 6.99 32.5 ABS-CBN 61.45 1 Acesite Hotel 1.12 0.6 APC Group, Inc. 0.700 10 Asian Terminals Inc. 14 9.61 Bloomberry 11.20 0.0770 Boulevard Holdings 0.1150 2.95 Calata Corp.

3.8 46.55 Cebu Air Inc. (5J) 85.5 10.14 Centro Esc. Univ.

10.02 5.88 DFNN Inc. 6.97 830 FEUI 981 1600 Globe Telecom 2140 5.95 GMA Network Inc. 6.77 1.36 Harbor Star 1.54 105 I.C.T.S.I. 107.6 0.012 IP E-Game Ventures Inc. 0.014 0.036 Island Info 0.241 1.200 ISM Communications 1.2300 2.34 Jackstones 2.92 6.5 Leisure & Resorts 8.60 1.69 Liberty Telecom 2.05 2 Macroasia Corp.

2.20 0.490 Manila Bulletin 0.680 1.8 Manila Jockey 1.85 8.7 Melco Crown 9.62 0.34 MG Holdings 0.360 0.37 NOW Corp.

0.500 14.54 Pacific Online Sys. Corp. 18.38 3 PAL Holdings Inc. 4.50 2.28 Paxys Inc. 3.04 8.8 Phil. Racing Club 9.01 79 Phil. Seven Corp.

111.00 4.39 Philweb.Com Inc. 13.56 2726 PLDT Common 2928.00 0.380 PremiereHorizon 0.600 0.32 Premium Leisure 1.620 31.45 Puregold 41.45 60.55 Robinsons RTL 84.20 7.59 SSI Group 10.14 0.63 STI Holdings 0.69 6.45 Travellers 6.45 0.305 Waterfront Phils.

0.360 1.410 1.04 Yehey

0.95 0.93 1.21 1.21 1.01 1.00 0.152 0.148 0.450 0.445 0.900 0.880 0.197 0.195 1.50 1.49 1.92 1.88 1.48 1.43 5.75 5.59 0.130 0.125 0.3550 0.3350 0.5300 0.5000 8 7.77 30.10 29.75 1.78 1.75 21.35 20.55 0.85 0.82 7.61 7.35 1.100 1.080 8.280 8.210 SERVICES 7.01 6.7 61.8 61.2 1.1 1.08 0.710 0.690 14 14 11.40 11.18 0.1170 0.1150 3.8 3.7 86 84.95 10.06 10.02 7.01 7.00 985 980 2250 2120 6.80 6.30 1.56 1.54 108 107.6 0.014 0.014 0.244 0.230 1.2700 1.2100 3.03 2.85 8.60 8.45 2.03 2.00 2.11 2.07 0.690 0.680 1.95 1.9 10.16 9.66 0.365 0.355 0.500 0.490 18.38 18.38 4.50 4.44 3 3 9 9 111.00 111.00 13.76 13.48 2946.00 2924.00 0.620 0.600 1.700 1.620 41.50 40.50 85.00 83.80 10.10 9.80 0.69 0.68 6.71 6.45 0.370 0.330 1.320 1.390

6.85 61.25 1.08 0.690 14 11.18 0.1150 3.74 85.2 10.06 7.00 980 2210 6.53 1.54 108 0.014 0.234 1.2700 2.94 8.58 2.01 2.07 0.690 1.95 10.08 0.365 0.490 18.38 4.46 3 9 111.00 13.76 2936.00 0.600 1.680 41.50 84.00 9.85 0.69 6.66 0.360 1.390

-2.00 -0.33 -3.57 -1.43 0.00 -0.18 0.00 -1.58 -0.35 0.40 0.43 -0.10 3.27 -3.55 0.00 0.37 0.00 -2.90 3.25 0.68 -0.23 -1.95 -5.91 1.47 5.41 4.78 1.39 -2.00 0.00 -0.89 -1.32 -0.11 0.00 1.47 0.27 0.00 3.70 0.12 -0.24 -2.86 0.00 3.26 0.00 -1.42

175,300 48,290 131,000 1,787,000 -692,300.00 57,900 252,000.00 13,440,500 47,929,578.00 27,700,000 -116,000.00 87,000 571,780 -28,491,056.50 9,700 52,000 60 52,965 73,286,870.00 424,600 268,000 -184,800.00 1,508,840 -6,236,017.00 26,500,000 8,050,000 63,830.00 286,000 21,000 466,500 47,000 30,000 129,000 69,000 4,708,100 25,464,704.00 140,000 5,000 5,900 49,000 2,000 5,400 10 870,100 712,302.00 102,555 154,417,430.00 4,706,000 -115,900.00 28,702,000 -4,157,490.00 1,357,000 -9,419,940.00 959,520 -9,889,902.00 9,947,300 -11,350,860.00 1,594,000 164,030.00 2,562,000 -9,432,737.00 1,740,000 5,000

0.0098 5.45 17.24 0.330 12.7 12.8 1.2 1.73 10.98 4.2 0.48 0.455 0.475 0.023 0.026 8.2 49.2 4.27 1.030 3.06 0.020 0.021 7.67 12.88 10.42 0.040 420 9 0.016

0.0043 Abra Mining 0.0056 1.72 Apex `A’ 2.80 8.65 Atlas Cons. `A’ 8.75 0.236 Basic Energy Corp.

0.260 6.5 Benguet Corp `A’ 7.1600 6.98 Benguet Corp `B’ 6.9800 0.61 Century Peak Metals Hldgs 1.07 0.78 Coal Asia 0.92 5.99 Dizon 8.08 1.08 Ferronickel 2.09 0.330 Geograce Res. Phil. Inc. 0.380 0.2130 Lepanto `A’ 0.231 0.2160 Lepanto `B’ 0.243 0.014 Manila Mining `A’ 0.0140 0.014 Manila Mining `B’ 0.0160 3.660 Marcventures Hldgs., Inc. 4.92 20.2 Nickelasia 23.85 2.11 Nihao Mineral Resources 3.98 0.365 Omico 0.7400 1.54 Oriental Peninsula Res. 2.200 0.012 Oriental Pet. `A’ 0.0130 0.013 Oriental Pet. `B’ 0.0140 5.4 Petroenergy Res. Corp. 5.86 7.26 Philex `A’ 7.29 2.27 PhilexPetroleum 2.44 0.015 Philodrill Corp. `A’ 0.016 115.9 Semirara Corp.

168.00 3.67 TA Petroleum 4.08 0.0100 United Paragon 0.0110

MINING & OIL 0.0056 0.0055 2.80 2.78 8.80 8.72 0.260 0.260 7.0000 6.75 6.9800 6.9800 1.08 1.05 0.93 0.91 8.41 8.03 2.31 2.1 0.390 0.375 0.234 0.230 0.238 0.238 0.0140 0.0140 0.0160 0.0140 4.95 4.75 24.35 23.85 4.08 3.99 0.7400 0.7300 2.240 2.180 0.0130 0.0130 0.0140 0.0140 5.89 5.86 7.39 7.29 2.47 2.42 0.016 0.015 169.60 167.40 4.08 4.06 0.0120 0.0100

0.0055 2.80 8.75 0.260 7.0000 6.9800 1.08 0.93 8.16 2.3 0.375 0.231 0.238 0.0140 0.0160 4.9 23.95 4.02 0.7300 2.200 0.0130 0.0140 5.89 7.32 2.44 0.016 167.40 4.06 0.0120

-1.79 0.00 0.00 0.00 -2.23 0.00 0.93 1.09 0.99 10.05 -1.32 0.00 -2.06 0.00 0.00 -0.41 0.42 1.01 -1.35 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.51 0.41 0.00 0.00 -0.36 -0.49 9.09

639,000,000 299,600 168,500 757,247.00 610,000 217,500 90,500 762,000 588,000 66,100 -8,922.00 43,433,0006,530,170.00 2,300,000 3,890,000 70,000 22,700,000 83,200,000-30,900.00 1,289,000 24,550.00 7,955,700 -14,203,895.00 4,166,000 16,220.00 800,000 631,000 97,530.00 44,600,000 1,600,000 17,600 46,948.00 778,800 -2,637,285.00 421,000 21,900,00015,000.00 360,640 42,113,246.00 105,000 1,186,400,000

70 553 525 120 8.21 12.28 111 1060

33 490 500 101.5 5.88 6.5 101 997

PREFERRED 63.4 61.05 515 515 523 523 115.5 115.2 6.4 6.4 1.07 1.07 109 109 1080 1080 1100 1100 1047 1046 76 75.85 83 80.55 85 84.8 1.8 1.8

63.4 515 523 115.2 6.4 1.07 109 1080 1100 1046 75.9 80.55 84.9 1.8

2.26 0.98 0.00 0.00 -0.78 -0.93 0.18 -0.92 0.00 0.00 0.00 -2.95 0.12 0.00

17,340 20 8,000 3,000 64,500 1,000,000 2,630 300 110 51,420 120,740 20,300 151,210 48,000

3.850

0.79

157,000

8.59 71.7 9.65

-2.94 4.22 0.00

801,000 85,493.00 2,940 5,768,600 16,408,360.00

0.61

33,180

MST

0.7 0.45 Abacus Cons. `A’ 0.470 59.2 48.1 Aboitiz Equity 58.05 31.85 20.85 Alliance Global Inc. 27.00 2.16 1.6 Anglo Holdings A 1.43 7.39 6.62 Anscor `A’ 7.10 2.27 1.210 Asia Amalgamated A 1.80 3.4 1.4 ATN Holdings A 3.00 3.35 1.6 ATN Holdings B 3 800 600 Ayala Corp `A’ 800 11.06 7.390 Cosco Capital 8.78 84 14.18 DMCI Holdings 15.60 5.14 4.25 Filinvest Dev. Corp.

4.47 0.66 0.144 Forum Pacific 0.320 1380 818 GT Capital 1380 -133,696,355.00 72.6 46.6 JG Summit Holdings 73.75 9.25 4.43 Lopez Holdings Corp. 8.54 0.9 0.59 Lodestar Invt. Holdg.Corp. 0.79 18.9 12 LT Group 16.38 0.73 0.580 Mabuhay Holdings `A’ 0.66 5.53 4.22 Metro Pacific Inv. Corp. 4.83 6.55 4.5 Minerales Industrias Corp. 5.05 0.0670 0.036 Pacifica `A’ 0.0400 2.31 1.23 Prime Media Hldg 1.600 0.84 0.450 Prime Orion 0.780 2.99 2.26 Republic Glass ‘A’ 2.48 87 66.7 San Miguel Corp `A’ 68.00 3.5 1.5 Seafront `A’ 2.95 934 709.5 SM Investments Inc. 924.00 2.2 1.13 Solid Group Inc. 1.20 1.39 0.93 South China Res. Inc. 0.93 156 85.2 Top Frontier 101.70 0.710 0.200 Unioil Res. & Hldgs 0.4150 0.435 0.173 Wellex Industries 0.2380 0.510 0.310 Zeus Holdings 0.315 10.5 1.99 0.375 40 6.15 5.4

6.01 0.91 0.192 29.1 4.1 4.96

8990 HLDG A. Brown Co., Inc. Arthaland Corp.

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

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

SHARES 13,543,347 78,403,423 99,174,632 171,640,074 140,627,924 2,071,519,774 2,581,514,894

8.700 0.94 0.250 39.65 4.2 5.1

HOLDING FIRMS 0.470 0.460 58.80 57.95 27.60 26.90 1.39 1.35 7.14 7.00 1.85 1.85 3.00 2.89 3 2.9 804.5 799.5 8.85 8.7 15.78 15.40 4.60 4.47 0.330 0.320 1382 1335 76.00 8.84 0.85 16.88 0.67 4.88 5.2 0.0400 1.370 0.780 2.5 68.00 2.93 964.00 1.23 0.92 102.00 0.4250 0.2500 0.320

73.50 8.54 0.79 16.48 0.64 4.81 5.05 0.0400 1.370 0.750 2.48 67.60 2.81 928.00 1.23 0.91 100.10 0.3850 0.2350 0.315

PROPERTY 8.900 8.600 0.95 0.91 0.240 0.240 40.15 39.60 4.33 4.15 5.21 5.09

8.650 0.91 0.240 40.00 4.15 5.2

-0.57 -3.19 -4.00 0.88 -1.19 1.96

92,100.00

-42,651,906.50 142,963.00 7,796,330.00 913,200.00 -31,094,386.00 -48,405.00

1,446,200 -355,287.00 2,669,000 2,760.00 350,000 12,000.00 16,597,600 303,439,995.00 10,001,000 -28,403,270.00 981,100 -4,183,485.00

1047 76.9 78.95 84.8 1.34

ABS-CBN Holdings Corp. 62 Ayala Corp. Pref `B1’ 510 Ayala Corp. Pref ‘B2’ 523 First Gen G 115.2 GMA Holdings Inc. 6.45 Leisure and Resort 1.08 MWIDE PREF 108.8 PCOR-Preferred A 1090 PCOR-Preferred B 1100 1011 PF Pref 2 1046 74.2 SMC Preferred A 75.9 74.5 SMC Preferred B 83 75 SMC Preferred C 84.8 1 Swift Pref 1.8

6.98

0.8900LR Warrant

10.96 88 12.88

2.4 13.5 5.95

130.7

105.6 First Metro ETF

WARRANTS & BONDS 3.900 3.750 SME Double Dragon 8.85 8.86 8.59 IRipple E-Business Intl 68.8 74.4 68 Xurpas 9.65 9.7 9.23 3.820

EXCHANGE TRADED FUNDS 130.7 132.1 130.5 131.5

T op g ainerS VALUE 1,150,287,662.024 1,462,766,111.208 2,322,864,349.84 1,746,210,739.22 1,167,551,256.296 440,552,971.656 8,356,968,672.248

STOCKS

FINANCIAL 1,866.11 (down) 10.20 INDUSTRIAL 12,871.06 (up) 26.68 HOLDING FIRMS 7,227.60 (up) 51.88 PROPERTY 3,292.31 (up) 41.28 SERVICES 2,159.39 (up) 13.09 MINING & OIL 15,540.83 (down) 12.84 PSEI 8,098.68 (up) 44.94 All Shares Index 4,628.79 (up) 21.71 Gainers: 83; Losers: 96; Unchanged: 52; Total: 231

678,841.00

-6,424,188.50 -1,640,672.00 -6,269,816.00

T op L oSerS Close (P)

Change (%)

STOCKS

Close (P)

Change (%)

Chemphil

225

50.00

First Abacus

0.72

-10.00

Cirtek Holdings (Chips)

34.5

10.93

Pryce Corp. `A'

3.25

-9.72

Ferronickel

2.3

10.05

Panasonic Mfg Phil. Corp.

3.83

-7.93

United Paragon

0.0120

9.09

Ionics Inc

0.600

-6.25

Euro-Med Lab

2.35

6.82

Macroasia Corp.

2.07

-5.91

Manila Jockey

1.95

5.41

Phil. Realty `A'

0.5000

-5.66

Melco Crown

10.08

4.78

Federal Res. Inv. Group

18.2

-5.60

Del Monte

12.18

4.28

Integ. Micro-Electronics

6.2

-5.05

LMG Chemicals

2.68

4.28

Citystate Savings

9.5

-5.00

IRipple E-Business Intl

71.7

4.22

Ever Gotesco

0.197

-4.83

WEDNESDAY: APRIL8, 2015

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

Stock index breaches 8,100 STOCKS rose for the eighth day, sending the benchmark index past the 8,100-point level for the first time, following the positive lead from Wall Street and Asian markets.

Best company. Cognizant has won the Philippines’ coveted International ICT Awards for “Best Company of the Year” and “Best Emerging IT-BPM Company for Healthcare”. Cognizant was honored with the “Best Company of the Year” award for being an inspirational role model for the Information Technology and Business Process Management industry and the wider business community in the Philippines. Shown receiving the awards are are Cognizant Philippines country head Prabhakar Bisen (center) along with other awardees and Bb. Pilipinas-Universe Pia Wurtzbach (third from left).

Asset sale cuts Napocor’s debt by 42% to P699b

By Alena Mae S. Flores POWER Sector Assets and Liabilities Management Corp. said Tuesday the privatization program reduced the debt it assumed from National Power Corp. by 42 percent to P698.9 billion as of end-2014 from P1.2 trillion in 2000.

“Broken down, the figure consists of principal amount of P830.7 billion as of 2000, and interest amounting to P373 billion. PSALM has reduced the principal by 30 percent [P248.5 billion] to P582.2 billion and likewise decreased the interest payable by 69 percent [P256.3 billion]. The remaining interest until the debt maturity still amounts to about P116.7 billion,” PSALM president Emmanuel Ledesma Jr. said in a statement.

PSALM manages the assets and liabilities of Napocor as

mandated by the Electric Power Industry Reform Act of 2001.

Ledesma said PSALM’s privatization program generated P916.2 billion as of end-2014. Of the total privatization proceeds, P420.1 billion was paid to PSALM while P471.5 billion remained to be collected.

The balance of P24.6 billion accounted for the reduction due to foreign exchange fluctuations and contractual adjustments.

Ledesma said the recent addition to the privatization proceeds came from the payment for the 218- megawatt Angat hydroelectric power plant, which PSALM turned over to Korea Water Resources Corp. on Oct. 31, 2014 and the 153.1-MW Naga power plant, which was turned over to SPC Power Corp. on Sept.

25, 2014.

“The completion of these privatization activities generated P21 billion for the government.

The energy privatization program generated P916.2 billion in proceeds as of end-2014.

PSALM received P20 billion from K-Water and P1.1 billion from SPC,” Ledesma said.

“Given the P698.9-billion outstanding financial obligations and the P471.5-billion privatization receivables, PSALM estimates a funding shortfall of P227.4 billion for its remaining obligations,” he said.

Ledesma said other power assets in PSALM’s current

portfolio which were up for privatization could help in the liquidation of its financial obligations. These plants include the Agus-Pulangui hydropower complex, Power Barges 101 to 104, the Malaya thermal power plant; and the decommissioned Sucat thermal power plant.

PSALM is also scheduled to privatize the energy outputs of independent power producer plants, including the Unified Leyte geothermal plant (for the plant’s bulk energy) slated in August; the Mindanao coalfired thermal power plant in September; and the CalirayaBotocan-Kalayaan hydropower plants.

PSALM in December 2014 also turned over the management of energy outputs of the Unified Leyte (strips of energy) and Mindanao I and II geothermal plants to winning IPP administrators.

The Philippine Stock Exchange index, the 30-company benchmark, hit an intra-day high of 8,136.97, before closing at 8,098.68 Tuesday, up by 44 points, or 0.6 percent, from the previous day. The index was up 12 percent since the start of the year.

The heavier index, representing all shares, also rose 21 points, or 0.5 percent, to settle at 4,628.79, on a value turnover of P8.4 billion. Losers outnumbered gainers, 96 to 83, while 52 issues were unchanged.

SM Investments Corp., the holding company of tycoon Henry Sy, climbed 2.8 percent to P949.50, while property unit SM Prime Holdings Inc. advanced 2.7 percent to P20.95.

Miner Nickel Asia Corp. gained 1.5 percent to P24.20. Fastfood chain operator Jollibee Foods Corp. added 1.3 percent to close at P222.80.

Meanwhile, Asian markets advanced Tuesday as most reopened after a long holiday weekend, in their first reaction to soft US jobs data that has dampened expectations of an early US interest rate rise.

Wall Street provided a positive lead Monday as comments from a Federal Reserve official suggested any increase would likely be slow, while investors await the release of minutes from the bank’s latest meeting.

Tokyo rose 1.25 percent as the yen eased against the dollar. The Nikkei added 242.56 points to 19,640.54.

Sydney added 0.46 percent, or 27.4 points, to 5,926.0, although it pared early gains after the Reserve Bank of Australia disappointed many investors by holding off on an interest rate cut.

Seoul was flat, edging up 0.60 points to 2,047.03, but Samsung ended lower despite predicting better than expected first-quarter profits. Shanghai had surged 1.75 percent by the afternoon.

Hong Kong was closed for a public holiday. With AFP

Guam Visitors Bureau expands market reach in Luzon THE Guam Visitors Bureau said it continues to gain ground in the Philippines as it promotes Guam as an ideal destination for Filipinos.

The bureau’s Philippine representative office participated in The Travel Mart Philippines business-tobusiness travel trade events held at Dusit Thani Manila and SMX Davao on March 2 and 4, respectively.

A key economic driver for the US island territory, GVB has been at the forefront of promoting Guam to different markets around the world, mainly in Japan, Korea, China and Russia.

The Philippines is considered as an emerging market, as reflected in the sustained increase of the annual visitor arrivals from the Philippines.

The bureau said it actively

promoted Guam for its dutyfree shopping, scenic beaches, rich culture, tasteful cuisine and sporting events.

It recently announced its 2015 calendar of events that highlighted the destination’s unique selling points during a press event led general manager Nathan Denight.

With each event catering to the varying taste of its markets, Denight said he was confident

in attracting more tourists to the island, especially from emerging markets during the low seasons.

GVB said this year, it expected to continue to attract more sporting enthusiasts to Guam with an extensive lineup of sporting competitions, highlighted by its Guam International Marathon and Ko’Ko’ Road Race.

GVB said while it continued to diversify its market, it was also

maintaining efforts to promote Guam for existing proposition that appeal to tourists such as shopping, which coincides with Guam’s duty-free shopping and the annual Shop Guam Festival.

Over 300 agents were participated in the two-day B2B event, which allowed NTOs and foreign tour operators to touch-base and network with Philippine based travel agencies and companies.

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BUSINESS

Globe revenue to top P100b Power outlook closely watched

By Alena Mae S. Flores THE Energy Department said Tuesday it is actively monitoring the power situation in June and July as power plants go on maintenance shutdown amid the forecasted prolonged El Niño weather phenomenon.

Energy Secretary Carlos Jericho Petilla said the power situation during the dry months had been mitigated by the slightly lower temperature.

“The DoE has a running fourweek estimate which we update regularly. So far, with the temperature not as high as anticipated, and with people cooperating by saving power, Luzon seems okay,” Petilla said.

Petilla said government’s efforts of urging the private sector to put up capacity in time for the dry season had paid off as several power plants resumed operation.

The 135-megawatt coal power plant of South Luzon Thermal Energy Corp. in Calaca, Batangas province is the latest power project to go onstream in time to meet the increased demand in the dry months.

The energy chief said the government had long warned that the power situation during the dry months would be “fragile.”

“Should we let our guard down?

No. We are still watching out for June and even July. We are dealing with the weather here, which is so unpredictable because we asked the power plants to move their scheduled maintenance to June and July,” Petilla said.

“What if summer will be shorter or the hot weather will go beyond the summer months?” he asked.

He said May was historically the hottest month that the government must prepare for. Power demand in Luzon hit more than 8,000 MW in May last year against this year’s 8,004 MW and the capacity of 9,487 MW in the Luzon grid.

Petilla also added prices at the Wholesale Electricity Spot Market had been stable to date, although Manila Electric Co. anticipated higher power rates due to the shift to liquid fuel by natural gas plants. The Malampaya field went on a maintenance shutdown from March 15 to April 14, cutting off natural gas supply.

By Darwin G. Amojelar

GLOBE Telecom Inc. expects revenue to reach over P100 billion in 2015 as it aims to sustain market leadership.

“It would definitely happen and hopefully it would be much more than P100 billon in 2015,” Ernest Cu, president and chief executive of Globe, told reporters after the annual stockholders’ meeting.

The telecommunications company, owned by conglomerate Ayala Corp., last year posted a consolidated service revenue of P99 billion, up 9 percent from P90.5 billion in 2013.

The company’s core net income

grew 25 percent to P14.5 billion, driven by the solid performance of its business segments amid sustained demand for data connectivity in its mobile and broadband businesses.

“The numbers reveal that we have already gained foothold in leadership in the local telco industry.

We plan to sustain our momentum for the long haul as our driving force to continuously provide Filipinos with innovative products and

services that will cater to their digital lifestyle,” Cu said.

Globe claimed it was the leading mobile brand in the market with a 32.9-percent share, followed by Smart at 28.2 percent; Talk ‘N Text, 16.8 percent; Sun Cellular, 11.1 percent and Touch Mobile, 10.8 percent.

“Against mounting odds, we maintained a defiant and fighting stance against a longtime industry giant to achieve a phenomenal financial feat.

From being a challenger brand, Globe has successfully waged a revolution in all fronts, from digital, technological and business, all the way to our corporate culture as well as making our financial

growth sustainable in the long run,” Cu said.

Reacting to Globe’s statement, Philippine Long Distance Telephone Co. said Smart remained the number one mobile service provider in the country in terms of both subscriber base and revenues.

PLDT said Smart and Sun combined had the largest subscriber base at 72.8 million subscribers. The two wireless units also posted combined revenues of P114.5 billion as of end-2014, about 47 percent higher than competition, giving the company’s “wireless group the strong and undisputed number one position in the mobile industry.”

Didipio award. OceanaGold (Philippines) Inc. received an ISO 14001:2004 for its Environmental Management System achievement.

OceanaGold obtained the certificate for the adherence of its Didipio Mine in Kasibu, Nueva Vizcaya to the best practice of environmental regulation and commitment to responsible management and environmental impact. Shown receving the award are (from left) external relations manager Christopher Capistrano, mining manager Craig Fawcett, commercial manager Russell Graham, general manager David Way, environment manager Jason Magdaong, group safety manager Greg Scanlan, and OceanaGold Sustainable Agroforestry Inc. head Cyril Cortez and manager Lucy Exconde.

Trans-Asia Petroleum seeks offshore investments

By Alena Mae S. Flores TRANS-ASIA Petroleum Corp., the exploration unit of Trans-Asia Oil and Energy Development Corp., is looking for investment opportunities in Australasia that includes Australia, New Zealand, New Guinea and neighboring islands in the Pacific Ocean Raymundo Reyes Jr., TransAsia Petroleum executive vice president, told reporters at the sidelines of the stockholders’ meeting that any fund raising this year would depend on investment opportunities available.

“We’re actively looking at opportunities in the region so if we find some, we will have to

spend,” Reyes said, adding TransAsia Petroleum might buy into existing oil and gas exploration fields.

Reyes said the company tapped a consultancy group to “engage in shortlist opportunities.”

“That study will take at least two months. After that we will have to do detailed review,” he said.

Trans-Asia Petroleum president Francisco Viray told reporters the oil and gas company was unfazed by the low world oil prices.

“We intend to stay in the business. We just have to adjust out strategies and expenditures, depending on the movements of fuel prices. We just have to

be aware of it if there’s a need to change or tweak strategies in oder to survive,” he said.

The price of oil plunged by 50 percent to around $50 per barrel within a period of six months, the biggest drop in the past six years.

Viray said the low oil prices, however, had resulted in the reduction in the cost of equipment, materials and supplies used in the industry.

He said upstream companies like Trans-Asia Petroleum might take advantage of the opportunity to lower exploration and production costs.

Viray said the company might acquire petroleum assets at values much less than what they were when the price of oil was

high.

“We are looking at assets that are near production outside the Philippines. We are also looking at the advantage of low price of oil on other assets that we are wanting to invest in,” Viray said.

He echoed the statement of Reyes that the company was looking at investment in petroleum assets that are in “early or pre-production stage.”

He said the company was studying opportunities under the Philippine Energy Contracting Round 5.

“Usually, we come up with at least one partner. Or if not, we can do it by ourselves because it’s still in the early stages,” Viray said.

W E D N E S D AY : A P R I L 8 , 2 0 1 5

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

Gloria Arroyo case; The Innocence Project EASTER Sunday marked the 68th birthday former president Gloria Macapagal Arroyo, spent quietly with her family at the Veterans Memorial Medical Center where she continues to be under hospital arrest. Notwithstanding the fact that many of the cases filed against the former president have been dismissed, among them plunder and graft cases like the diversion of Overseas Workers Welfare Administration funds to Philhealth, the fertilizer fund scam (Joc-joc joke!) and a couple more plunder and graft charges, it’s fairly evident even to the most dimwitted person on this planet that Arroyo will not be allowed to go on bail or even be placed under house arrest as long as BS Aquino is president.

Former representative Mikey Arroyo’s accusation about the BS Aquino administration politicizing his mother’s case is not very farfetched because FPGMA is a convenient target whenever the president’s approval ratings popularity ratings nosedive, with the recent results from the Social Weather Stations showing an all-time low of 11 percent for his net satisfaction rating, registering a hefty drop of 28 percent from December where he obtained a 39 percent net satisfaction rating. Of course, the president and his loyal mouthpieces can always blame the media for his tanking numbers and castigate members of the press for reporting about the Mamasapano massacre, making a big deal out of his “no-show” during the arrival honors for the Fallen 44, etc. etc.

An online article from The Filipino Scribe put it very well when it asked, “Gloria Arroyo remains detained, but where’s the smoking gun?” The article puts into context recalls the electoral sabotage case that was first used to put her under detention, which has nothing to do with the protest filed by the camp of the late “Da King” Fernando Poe Jr. for the 2004 presidential elections, but of conniving with then Maguindanao governor Andal Ampatuan Sr. to rig the 2007 senatorial election results to make (Arroyo) administration candidate Migz Zubiri win.

The judge handling the case granted bail to Arroyo in 2012 due to weak evidence, and this decision was upheld by the Court of Appeals recently, saying that evidence of guilt is not strong which makes the grant of bail a matter of right. Naturally, the BS Aquino administration will keep on finding ways to ensure that the former president, obviously ill judging from her photos showing her with a Miami J collar, will stay under hospital arrest. We seriously doubt if Amal Alamuddin Clooney will be able to do much anything to improve the circumstances of her client. Even if the UN decides in Arroyo’s favor, the government is not compelled to follow, if our information is correct.

At the rate things are going, Mrs. Arroyo will most likely not see her wish to be out of hospital arrest next Easter. It’s little consolation of course that her condition in detention is much better than other prisoners who are languishing in jail, too poor to afford a lawyer even if they are truly innocent of the crimes they are accused of committing. What’s even worse is when they were merely fall guys, victimized by prosecutors or policemen looking for some patsy to pin the blame on.

Imagine spending the most productive years of your life in prison despite being innocent—and then suddenly told you’re free after decades in prison? In the US, The Innocence Project was started to reform the criminal justice system and prevent future injustice.

The objective primarily is to exonerate individuals who have been wrongfully convicted of crimes through DNA testing. Last month, a man who spent almost 20 years in prison for abduction and rape was finally freed following new DNA testing on evidence that proved he was not the one of the two men who committed the crimes (based on bodily fluids collected as evidence). Had this new evidence not been submitted, the man would have spent 55 years in jail for the crime of rape that he had not committed.

What’s disturbing about it is the discovery that the former State Attorney had a track record of wrongful convictions, with his men gaining notoriety for disregarding DNA evidence. One of them even said, “The taxpayers don’t pay us for intellectual curiosity. They pay us to get convictions.” One of the prisoners who was eventually freed and declared innocent of the crime of raping and murdering an 11-year-old girl sued the state and won $20 million for the 20 years he spent in prison. But as the guy said, he still would prefer the 20 years back instead of the money.

Here at home though, we haven’t heard of any restitution made for wrongful convictions and unjust detention, like this woman who spent 18 years in prison for committing the crime of vagrancy, which should have merited only 30 days in jail. What a bummer.

••• For comments, reactions, photos, stories and related concerns, readers may email to happyhourtoday2012@yahoo.com. You may also visit and like our Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/ happyhourmanilastandard. We’d be very happy to hear from you.

Cheers!

New SSS office. Around 7,600 members of the Social Security System in Cagayan de Oro City now have easier and more convenient access to SSS services with the opening of the new SSS Lapasan office, the 30th full-service SSS branch in Mindanao. Located at the ground floor of the Market City building in Agora Complex, SSS Lapasan branch is expected to attract 50 percent more potential members in the eastern part of Cagayan de Oro City. At the branch blessing ceremonies are (foreground, from left) SSS Lapasan branch head Valentine Viajar-Aunzo, SSS senior vice president for Visayas-Mindanao Group Eddie Jara, Cagayan De Oro City Mayor Oscar Moreno, SSS assistant VP and officer in charge for Northern Mindanao division Edwin Alo, and SSS president and chief executive Emilio de Quiros Jr.

SMC, JG Summit bid for PH airports

By Darwin G. Amojelar

FIVE groups have expressed interest to join the auction for contracts to build regional airports estimated at a combined cost of P108.2 billion under the government’s public private partnership scheme, the Transportation and Communications Department said Tuesday.

The Transport department identified the Metro Pacific Investments Corp. and JG Summit Holdings Inc. group, San Miguel Corp., Aboitiz Group, GMRMegawide and Philippine Skylanders Inc. as those that bought bid documents on the five regional airports.

The five provincial airports included in the PPP bundle are the P20.26-billion Bacolod-Silay International Airport and the P30.4-billion Iloilo International Airport for package 1, and the P14.62-billion Laguindingan Airport, P2.34-billion New Bohol (Panglao) Airport and P40.57billion Davao International Airport under the package 2.

Transportation Undersecretary Rene Limcaoco said the prospective bidders can bid for only package or bid for both but “the policy is that you can only win one regional airport bundle.”

Under the proposed conces-

sion for the five airport projects, the private sector proponent should take over the operations and maintenance, and undertake immediate expansion of the passenger terminal building, apron, other airside and landside facilities and any capacity augmentation of the airport that may be required to cater to future demand throughout the contractual term.

The agency said the qualification documents submission and opening date was set on May 18, while the notice of award may be

issued on March 2016.

Earlier, the government bid out the contract for the Mactan Cebu International Airport Project, which was won by the MegawideGMR Infrastructure consortium.

The P17.5-billion Mactan Airport project includes the construction of a new passenger terminal and renovation of the existing one, as well as the provision of new commercial facilities.

The expansion will increase the passenger capacity to 12.5 million a year.

Ford’s sales rose 40% in the 1st three months

By Othel V. Campos FORD Philippines said Tuesday sales in the first three months of 2015 rose 43 percent to 5,273 units, after sales in March jumped 40 percent to a record 1,877 units.

Ford Philippines managing director Kay Hart said the record March sales was driven by the strong demand for the Ranger, Fiesta and Ford’s leading SUV lineup in the Philippines.

“Our momentum in the first quarter is being driven by our full lineup of global Ford vehicles that is allowing us to become a brand of choice for Filipinos. We continue to make progress on our One Ford plan, and together with our dealer partners, we remain firmly committed to providing the very best customer and ownership experience,” she said.

The EcoSport urban SUV attracted customers in March with sales of 763 units, its best monthly performance since being launched in Philippines one year ago. Year-to-date sales of the SUV model reached 2,157 units, making it Ford’s best-selling unit in the first quarter.

“The EcoSport’s combination of sporty design, smart technologies and sensible value proposition have truly helped to create its own space in the market, and we are thankful for the tremendous response by our customers since launching this compact SUV a year ago,” said Hart.

Ford Ranger, the best-selling pickup truck in the Philippines in 2014, kept its momentum in March with sales rising 41 percent to 792 units.

First-quarter sales of the Ranger increased 27 percent to 2,058 units on strong demand.

WEDNESDAY: APRIL 8, 2015

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

Zambales mining ban lifted

By Anna Leah E. Gonzales

THE Mines and Geosciences Bureau regional office in Central Luzon has temporarily lifted the suspension order imposed on the operations of three nickel mining companies in Zambales province.

MGB Region 3 issued the suspension order in July 2014 against lnl Archipelago Minerals Inc., BenguetCorp Nickel Mines Inc. and Eramen Mineral Inc. in response to complaints by local residents about alleged nickel siltation of river systems, farmlands, fishponds and seashores.

MGB said while it lifted the suspension order, the three mining companies should still comply with certain mitigating measures and environmental compliance.

It said these included the construction of an alternative mine haulage road, full payment of claims for compensation of the damaged fishponds, sediment flux monitoring, and rehabilitating the adversely affected river systems and the inactive mining areas to address the issue of large disturbed mining area.

MGB said the companies should also implement a systematic mining method, such as observation of proper benching, bench slopes

stabilization and safety berms.

“All extracted minerals [nickel ores] should be transferred to a well-engineered stockpile area at the mine site,” MGB said.

MGB said the mining companies should also maintain and enhance existing environmental structures, observe road safety standard during hauling, maintain and

The three mining companies should still comply with certain mitigating measures and environmental compliance.

repair the existing hauling road currently being utilized from the mine site to national highway to port and mitigate the dust generation and mud accumulation during hauling.

“The involved mining companies were also required to submit periodic reports on the implementation of the abovementioned recommendations,” MGB said.

Republic of the Philippines Province of Ilocos Sur Municipality of Narvacan BIDS AND AWARDS COMMITTEE INVITATION TO BID THE MUNICIPALITY OF NARVACAN, through its Bids and Awards Committee (BAC), invites contractors registered with and classified by the Philippine Contractors Accreditation Board (PCAB) to bid for the hereunder contract: Name of Contract: Location: Brief Description:

Approved Budget for the Contract (ABC): Contract Duration: Source of Fund:

Construction of Flood Control/Seawall/ Storm Drainage Canal Narvacan, Ilocos Sur Construction of Gabion Baskets/Stone Masonry Flood Control, Reinforced Concrete Revetment Seawall, Storm Drainage Canal P 13,907,897.00 300 Calendar Days R.A. 7171 (Municipal Share)

Prospective bidders should possess a valid PCAB License applicable to the contract, have completed a similar contract with a value of at least 50% of the ABC, and have key personnel and equipment (listed in the eligibility forms) available for the prosecution of the contract. The BAC will use non-discretionary pass/fail criteria in the Eligibility Check/ Screening as well as the Preliminary Examination of Bids. The BAC will conduct post qualification on the lowest calculated bid.

All particulars relative to Eligibility Statement and Screening, Bid Security, Performance Security, Pre-Bidding Conference, Evaluation of Bids, Post Qualification and Award of Contract shall be governed by the pertinent provisions of RA 9184 and its Implementing Rules and Regulations (IRR).

The schedule of BAC activities are as follows: BAC Activities / 1. Issuance of Eligibility Documents / 2. Issuance & availability of Bidding Documents / 3. Pre-bid Conference / 4. Receipt and Opening of Bids (includes submission of Eligibility Requirements and Eligibility Check) / 5. Bid Evaluation / 6. Post Qualification / 7. Approval of BAC Resolution/ Issuance of Notice of Award / 8. Contract Preparation and Signing / 9. Approval of Contract / 10. Issuance of Notice to Proceed /

Schedule April 08-25, 2015 April 08-25, 2015 April 15, 2015 – 2:30 PM/BAC Office April 28, 2015 2:30 PM/BAC Office April 29, 2015 April 30, 2015 May 01, 2015 May 04, 2015 May 05, 2015 May 06, 2015

The BAC will issue prospective bidders Eligibility Forms and Bidding Documents at the Office of the BAC Chairman, Narvacan, Ilocos Sur, upon their payment of a non refundable amount of P 15,000.00 to the Municipal Treasurer’s Office, Narvacan, Ilocos Sur. The Local Government Unit of Narvacan, Ilocos Sur assumes no responsibility whatsoever to compensate or indemnify bidders for any expense incurred in the preparation of their bids.

April 08, 2015 (SGD)ELEUTERIO G. INES BAC Chairman

NOTED:

(TS-APR. 8, 2015)

(SGD)ZURIEL S. ZARAGOZA Municipal Mayor

Farmers forum. Candon City Mayor Ericson Singson (left) and Ilocos Sur 2nd District Representative Eric Singson (center) hand over the plaque of appreciation to Office of the Presidential Assistant for Food Security and Agricultural Modernization Secretary Francis Pangilinan after delivering the keynote speech for 1,500 Ilocano farmers during the Farmers’ Forum in Candon City on March 26.

Third Asian bank coming to PH

By Julito G. Rada THE Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas approved the application of another Asian bank to expand in the Philippines, after it accepted the application of Shinhan Bank of Korea and Sumitomo Mitsui Banking Corp. of Japan.

Bangko Sentral Deputy Governor Nestor Espenilla Jr. said at the sidelines of an event in Makati City Tuesday the bank regulator would formally announce the name of the foreign bank later this week.

“Another foreign bank was approved by the Monetary Board to expand here … We are going to make an announcement this week after the bank made its own official announcement,” Espenilla said.

“We are going to let them make the announcement first because it is a listed firm in that country,” Espenilla said.

Espenilla did not mention the name of the bank but confirmed it was another Asian bank.

Shinhan Bank, which is headquartered in Seoul, became the second Asian bank whose application was approved by Bangko Sentral this year. The first one was the Sumitomo Mitsui Banking Corp., which is a multinational banking and financial services company based in Tokyo.

Espenilla earlier said Bangko Sentral received applications filed by several Asian banks planning

to expand operations in the Philippines.

Espenilla said in March two Asian banks had formally submitted their applications with the regulator while five more Asian banks were in “the process of completing the needed requirements” for application.

Espenilla said more foreign banks were expected to show interest to expand in the country, after the policy-making Monetary Board of the Bangko Sentral approved the implementing rules and regulations of Republic Act 10641, which allows the further entry of foreign banks into the country.

With the approval of the IRR, more foreign banks can now apply to operate in the Philippines either as a branch or as a wholly-owned subsidiary.

RA 10641 amended RA 7721, which was passed into law in May 1994.

Bangko Sentral Governor Amando Tetangco Jr. earlier said implementing the new law came at an opportune time because foreign banks could be vehicles to attract more foreign direct investments into the country.

He said this also happened at a time when the country attained investment-grade rating while also preparing for Asean regional integration.

The new law allows foreign banks to acquire up to 100 percent of the voting stock of an existing domestic bank.

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WORLD

CESAR BARRIOQUINTO EDITOR

editorial@thestandard.com.ph

Attacks terrify Tanzania albinos DAR ES SALAAM— Their limbs hacked off and babies and children abducted or killed, albinos in Tanzania live in fear of another horrific spate of attacks against them ahead of elections in October.

Albino body parts are boiled up in foul human potions for witchcraft in the east African nation, and reports of killings have increased as local politicians order their spells in the belief that the expensive brews will secure poll victory.

“Local political leaders believe in the power of witchdoctors and think that it could help them to win elections,” said Vicky Ntetema, director of Under The Same Sun, an organization defending the rights of albinos in Tanzania.

With an entire corpse selling for as much as $75,000 (70,000 euros), Ntetema claims the high price is an indication that “some political and economic elites” could be involved in albino murders.

In one recent attack, a six-year-old albino boy’s hand was chopped off with a machete and his mother assaulted as she tried to protect him.

At least 76 albinos have been murdered since 2000 with their dismembered body parts selling for hundreds of dollars, according to United Nations experts.

A further 34 albinos have survived after having parts of their bodies hacked off, and grave robbers have dug up at least 15 more albinos, seeking buried limbs and bodies.

Sengerema Simon, a 28-year-old man with albinism, was forced to flee his village in Tanzania’s northern Tabora region fearing he would be attacked and cooked.

“In the village, I often heard people just call me ‘the albino’, then one day men I did not know called me by my name, saying they were going to do business... I was very scared,” he told AFP. Unemployed, he now ekes out a living in the commercial capital Dar es Salaam with help from the Tanzania Albinism Society.

Albinism is a hereditary genetic condition which causes a total absence of pigmentation in the skin, hair and eyes. AFP

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West Bank refugees look up JALAZON REFUGEE CAMP—Nael al-Sharif is working on an extension to his property in the Jalazon refugee camp in the Israeli-occupied West Bank. But he is not building outwards—instead he’s expanding upwards.

In many of the Palestinian camps, which have evolved down the decades into densely populated areas teeming with narrow alleyways, families that cannot afford to buy new land simply add floors to existing property.

Sharif, 43, says his two-story home is too small for his entire family of around 30 people, so he is looking to add

another two floors.

“We’re suffering from an enormous housing problem,” he tells AFP. “We’re practically sleeping on top of each other -- my six sons share one single room, and me, my wife and two other children sleep in another.

“So we decided to build two more floors.

I can’t afford any more

land outside the camp.”

With growing concerns about safety in the ever-expanding camps, the UN agency for Palestinian refugees or UNRWA has banned construction beyond two floors on foundations not designed to support tall buildings.

An UNRWA spokesman confirmed the prohibition, saying the agency does not provide aid to home owners who break the rule.

“Over the years, these camps have transformed from temporary ‘tent cities’ into hyper-congested masses of multi-story buildings with narrow alleys, characterized by high

InvItatIon to BId for the Supply and delIvery of three (3) lotS ConStruCtIon / hardware MaterIalS and ServICeS for repaIr and MaIntenanCe under ItB no. 03-34-2015 The Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation (PAGCOR) is inviting all interested bidders in its forthcoming public bidding for the Supply and Delivery of Three (3) Lots Construction / Hardware Materials and Services for Repair and Maintenance under ITB No. 03-34-2015:

Lot

Description

Approved Budget for the Contract (ABC) (VAT Exclusive, Zero Rated Transaction)

Delivery

1

612,941.60

2

Supply and Delivery of Lumber Materials

181,102.00

3

Supply and Delivery of Various Painting Materials

55,928.55

TOTAL ABC FOR THE PROJECT

Source of Funds: Internally Funded

Within Thirty (30) calendar days from the effectivity date specified in the Notice to Proceed or upon advice of the end-user

Eight Hundred Forty Nine Thousand Nine Hundred Seventy Two Pesos and 15/100 (PhP849,972.15) VAT Exclusive, Zero-Rated Transaction.

refugee camps in the West Bank.

Established in 1949 on 25 hectares (62 acres) of land, it was originally home to 2,500 people.

Today, Jalazon’s population numbers 14,000, officials at the camp say.

Located next to the Bet El Jewish settlement, it is the scene of near daily clashes between youngsters and Israeli troops with the army keeping a close eye on the camp’s perimeter fence.

Although its population has grown, the camp has not. This has caused a severe housing shortage, prompting residents to build the only way they can— upwards, in a chaotic

fashion and without architectural input.

“Housing is a big problem here,” says 60-year-old Khadija Dawud whose threestorey home is crammed with 63 family members.

“We can’t buy land outside the camp because we can’t afford it.”

Mahmud Mubarak, who heads the local committee which runs Jalazon, confirms that people are building upwards because they cannot afford new land.

“In 1950, UNRWA built one room and a kitchen for each family of five, and two rooms and a kitchen for each family larger than that,” he said. AFP

INVITATION TO BID FOR THE SUPPLY AND DELIVERY OF THREE (3) LOTS VARIOUS I.T. EQUIPMENT FOR THE CORPORATE DEPARTMENTS’ REQUIREMENTS FOR CY 2015 (BATCH 1) UNDER ITB NO. 03-33-2015 The Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation (PAGCOR) is inviting all interested bidders in its forthcoming public bidding for the Supply and Delivery of Three (3) Lots Various I.T. Equipment for the Corporate Departments’ Requirements for CY2015 (Batch 1) under ITB No. 03-33-2015.

Brief Description

Schedule

(PhP) Supply and Delivery of Various Construction and Hardware Materials

concentrations of poverty and extreme overcrowding,” the agency says on its website.

“The camps are considered to be among the densest urban environments in the world, but because camp structures were built for temporary use, over the decades the buildings have become overcrowded, critically substandard and in many cases life-threatening,” UNRWA says.

But the ban has had little effect, with residents saying they have no choice but to look to the sky.

Jalazon, seven kilometers north of the West Bank city of Ramallah, is one of 18 UN-run

Delivery Schedule Approved Budget for the Contract (ABC):

Lot 1 - Supply and Delivery of Various Branded Computers and Peripherals; Lot 2- Supply and Delivery of Branded Laptop and Wireless Mouse; and Lot 3 - Supply and Delivery of High-End Printer and Mid-range Scanner with Scanning Solution.

Within thirty (30) calendar days from the effectivity date specified in the Notice to Proceed.

The total ABC is Two Million Five Hundred Seventy Thousand Two Hundred Pesos (PhP2,570,200.00), VAT Exclusive, Zero-Rated Transaction.

The ABC for each lot are as follows: Lot 1: Two Million Seventy-Two Thousand Eight Hundred Pesos (PhP2,072,800.00), VAT Exclusive, Zero-Rated Transaction; Lot 2: One Hundred Twenty-Four Thousand Two Hundred Pesos (PhP124,200.00), VAT Exclusive, Zero-Rated Transaction; and

Source of Funds:

Lot 3: Three Hundred Seventy-Three Thousand Two Hundred Pesos (PhP373,200.00), VAT Exclusive, Zero-Rated Transaction.

Internally Funded

NOTE: Bidders may bid on one or all of the lots.

Note: Bidder may bid on any or all lots.

Bidders should have completed, within the last three (3) years before the date of submission and receipt of bids, a contract similar to the Project. The description of an eligible bidder is contained in the Bidding Documents, particularly, in Section II. Instructions to Bidders. Bidding will be conducted through open competitive bidding procedures using a non-discretionary “pass/fail” criterion as specified in the Implementing Rules and Regulations (IRR) of Republic Act (RA) 9184, otherwise known as the “Government Procurement Reform Act”.

Bidders should have completed, within the last three (3) years before the date of submission and receipt of bids, a contract similar to the Project. The description of an eligible bidder is contained in the Bidding Documents, particularly, in Section II. Instructions to Bidders. Bidding will be conducted through open competitive bidding procedures using a non-discretionary “pass/fail” criterion as specified in the Implementing Rules and Regulations (IRR) of Republic Act (RA) 9184, otherwise known as the “Government Procurement Reform Act”.

Bidding is restricted to Filipino citizens/sole proprietorships, partnerships, or organizations with at least sixty percent (60%) interest or outstanding capital stock belonging to citizens of the Philippines, and to citizens or organizations of a country the laws or regulations of which grant similar rights or privileges to Filipino citizens, pursuant to RA 5183 and subject to Commonwealth Act 138.

Bidding is restricted to Filipino citizens/sole proprietorships, partnerships, or organizations with at least sixty percent (60%) interest or outstanding capital stock belonging to citizens of the Philippines, and to citizens or organizations of a country the laws or regulations of which grant similar rights or privileges to Filipino citizens, pursuant to RA 5183 and subject to Commonwealth Act 138.

All particulars relative to Pre-Bid Conference, Evaluation of Bids, Post-Qualification and Award of Contract shall be governed by the pertinent provisions of R.A. 9184 and its IRR.

All particulars relative to the Pre-Bid Conference, Detailed Evaluation of Bids, Post-Qualification and Award of Contract shall be governed by the pertinent provisions of R.A. 9184 and its IRR.

The schedule of activities is listed, as follows:

The schedule of activities is listed, as follows:

Activities 1.

2.

3.

4.

Issuance of the Bidding Documents Pre-Bid Conference Deadline for the Submission and Receipt of Bids Opening and Preliminary Examination of Bids

Schedule April 8, 2015 (Wed) to April 28, 2015 (Tue) April 14, 2015 (Tue), 10:00 a.m April 28, 2015 (Tue), 3:00 p.m.

April 28, 2015 (Tue), 3:00 p.m. onwards

Complete details of the project are indicated in the bidding documents which will be available to prospective bidders at the Bids and Awards Services Department (BASD), upon payment of the nonrefundable bidding fee based on the following matrix: Approved Budget for the Contract

Cost of Bidding Documents (in Philippine Pesos)

500,000.00 and below More than 500,000.00 up to 1 Million

500.00 1,000.00

Activities 1. Issuance of the Bidding Documents 2. Pre-Bid Conference 3. Deadline forthe Submission and Receipt of Bids 4. Opening and Preliminary Examination of Bids

Schedule April 8, 2015 (Wed) to April 28, 2015 (Tue) April 16, 2015 (Thu), 10:00am April 28, 2015 (Tue), 10:00am April 28, 2015 (Tue), 10:00am onwards

Complete details of the project are indicated in the bidding documents which will be available to prospective bidders at the Bids and Awards Services Department (BASD), upon payment of the non-refundable bidding based on the following matrix from the address below: Approved Budget for the Contract 500,000.00 and below More than 500,000.00 up to 1 Million More than 1 Million up to 5 Million

Cost of Bidding Documents (in Philippine Pesos) 500.00 1,000.00 5,000.00

Prospective bidders may also download the Bidding Documents free of charge from the following websites: www.PAGCOR.ph and www.philgeps.net and may be allowed to submit bids provided that bidders pay the non-refundable bidding fee not later than the date of the submission of bids. The Pre-bid Conference is open to all interested bidders. Prospective bidders should present to PAGCOR’s Cashier at the Sixth (6th) Floor, PAGCOR Corporate Office, M.H. del Pilar cor. Pedro Gil Sts., Malate, Manila either the Bidding Fee Slip which may be secured from the Bids and Awards Services Department (BASD) or a copy of this ITB in effecting payment for the Bidding Documents. All Bids must be accompanied by a bid security in any of the acceptable forms and in the amount stated in ITB Clause 18.

Prospective bidders may also download the Bidding Documents free of charge from the following websites: www.pagcor.ph and www.philgeps.gov.ph and may be allowed to submit bids provided that bidders shall pay the non-refundable bidding fee not later than the date of the submission of bids. The Pre-bid Conference is open to all prospective bidders. Prospective bidders should present to PAGCOR’s Cashier located at the Sixth (6th) Floor, PAGCOR Corporate Office, M.H. del Pilar Street corner Pedro Gil Street, Malate, Manila either the Bidding Fee Slip which may be secured from the BASD or a copy of this ITB in effecting payment for the Bidding Documents. All bids must be accompanied by a bid security in any of the acceptable forms and in the amount stated in ITB Clause 18.

PAGCOR assumes no responsibility whatsoever to compensate or indemnify bidders for any expenses incurred in the preparation of their bids.

PAGCOR assumes no responsibility whatsoever to compensate or indemnify bidders for any expenses incurred in the preparation of their bids.

In accordance with Government Procurement Policy Board (GPPB) Circular 06-2005 - Tie-Breaking Method, the Bids and Awards Committee (BAC) 1 shall use a non-discretionary and non-discriminatory measure based on sheer luck or chance, which is “DRAW LOTS,” in the event that two or more bidders have been post-qualified and determined as the bidder having the Lowest Calculated Responsive Bid (LCRB) to determine the final LCRB, based on the following procedures:

In accordance with Government Procurement Policy Board (GPPB) Circular 06-2005 - TieBreaking Method, the Bids and Awards Committee (BAC) 2 shall use a non-discretionary and nondiscriminatory measure based on sheer luck or chance, which is “DRAW LOTS,” in the event that two or more bidders have been post-qualified and determined as the bidder having the Lowest Calculated Responsive Bid (LCRB) to determine the final bidder having the LCRB, based on the following procedures:

1.

In alphabetical order, the bidders shall pick one rolled paper.

2.

The lucky bidder who would pick the paper with a “CONGRATULATIONS” remark shall be declared as the final bidder having the LCRB and recommended for award of the contract.

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

Please address all communications to the Bids and Awards Committee thru the BASD, Room 203, Second Floor, PAGCOR House, 1330 Roxas Boulevard, Ermita, Manila, Tel No.: 524-3911, 521-1542 local 223/571/617.

(SGD.) RODERICK R. CONSOLACION Chairperson Bids and awards Committee (BaC) 1

(ts-aPr. 8, 2015)

1. In alphabetical order, the bidders shall pick one rolled paper.

2. The lucky bidder who would pick the paper with a “CONGRATULATIONS” remark shall be declared as the final bidder having the LCRB and recommended for award of the contract.

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

Please address all communications to the Bids and Awards Committee thru the BASD, Room 203, Second (2nd) Floor, PAGCOR House, 1330 Roxas Boulevard, Ermita, Manila, Tel Nos.: 524-3911, 336-6906, 523-0577 and 521-1542 locals 223/617.

(SGD) LIZETTE F. MORTEL Chairperson Bids and awards Committee (BaC) 2

(ts-aPr. 8, 2015)

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B8

cESAR bARRIoquINto EDITOR

editorial@thestandard.com.ph

world

Harry in Canberra. Britain’s Prince Harry emerges into the rain with Australian War Memorial chairman Ken Doolan (L) and Governor General Peter Cosgrove (R) after laying a wreath at the Australian War Memorial in Canberra on April 06. Harry arrived in Canberra ahead of a one-month attachment with the Australian Army, as he moves towards his retirement from the British military. AFP

Fears as Malaysia passes terror law KUALA LUMPUR—Malaysia’s parliament on Tuesday passed a tough anti-terrorism law meant to nip emerging signs of Islamic militancy in the bud, but which opponents denounced as a harsh blow for civil rights.

The Prevention of Terrorism Act allows authorities to detain terrorism suspects without charge, and the political opposition as well as legal and rights groups had urged its withdrawal.

“It introduces long-term detention without trial, is open to abuse and is a grievous blow to democracy,” opposition lawmaker N. Surendran said.

Authorities have expressed increasing alarm in the wake of the Islamic State (IS) group’s bloody jihad in Syria, which police say has drawn dozens of recruits from traditionally moderate, Muslim-majority Malaysia.

On Monday, police said 17 people, including two who recently returned from Syria, had been arrested on

suspicion of plotting terror attacks in the capital Kuala Lumpur. No further details were given.

The legislation was passed after midnight, following 15 hours of debate, according to media reports.

Its passage was not in doubt due to the ruling regime’s majority in parliament.

The terrorism act has heightened worries in Malaysia over a deepening crackdown on civil liberties launched by the government in the wake of a 2013 election setback.

The ruling United Malays National Organisation (UMNO) has been in charge since 1957, but faces possible defeat at the hands of an opposition that has campaigned against government corruption and alleged abuse of power.

Dozens of government critics, including opposition politicians, academics, activists, and journalists, have been hit with sedition or other charges after criticising the regime. AFP

Jury to decide bomber’s fate BOSTON—The fate of Boston bomber Dzhokhar Tsarnaev will be entrusted to jurors Tuesday when they start deliberating the guilt of the 21-year-old American accused of carrying out the deadly 2013 attacks.

Three people were killed and 264 others wounded in the twin blasts at the city’s marathon, the worst attack in the United States since the September 11, 2001 attacks on New York, Washington and Pennsylvania.

Government prosecutors portrayed the Muslim immigrant, who became a US citizen in 2012, as a callous terrorist who carried out the bombings to bring holy

war to the northeastern US city and punish the United States.

Tsarnaev’s lawyers admit that he planted one of the bombs, but have portrayed him as a feckless accomplice, bullied or manipulated into taking part by his more radical elder brother.

From Tuesday, the jury must decide whether Tsarnaev is guilty on 30 counts related to the April 15, 2013

attacks, and the subsequent murder of a police officer, a car jacking and a shootout with police while on the run.

Seventeen of those charges carry the possibility of the death penalty.

The first stage of the onemonth trial wrapped up Monday with closing statements from the government and the defense, and lengthy jury instructions from federal Judge George O’Toole.

If Tsarnaev is convicted, the trial will enter a second stage, when the jury determines whether he should be executed or spend the rest of his life behind bars without parole—the only sentencing options available.

Prosecutors spent four weeks building their case, calling 92 witnesses in an effort to paint Tsarnaev as an active and willing bomber alongside his elder brother, who was killed by police while on the run.

“He wanted to terrorize this country. He wanted to punish America for what it was doing to his people,” assistant US attorney Aloke Chakravarty told the court in an emotional closing statement on Monday.

“That day they felt they were soldiers, that they were mujahideen and they were bringing their battle to Boston,” added Chakravarty.

They portrayed a cold,

callous killer -- a marijuanasmoking, laid-back student who had recently failed a number of exams and become an avid reader of the Islamist literature that investigators found on his computer.

They claimed he was selfradicalized as early as high school, plotted the attacks up to a year in advance and was influenced by the teachings of US-Yemen cleric Anwar al-Awlaki, who was killed in a drone strike in 2011.

The prosecution showed the jury photographs and videos, filling the court with the screams of victims, the sight of blood, and the

panic, fear and chaos after the bombings.

“This was a cold, calculated terrorist act. It was intentional. It was bloodthirsty,” said Chakravarty.

Prosecutors say the brothers carried out the attacks as partners to avenge the deaths of fellow Muslims overseas after learning how to build pressure-cooker bombs through Al-Qaeda Englishlanguage magazine “Inspire.”

He emphasized the appalling injuries that killed eight-year-old Martin Richard, Krystle Campbell, 29, and Lingzi Lu, 23, and the murder of police officer Sean Collier, who was shot five times. AFP

Selfies are bad, says Prince Harry SYDNEY—Prince Harry has warned Australians against taking a “selfie” with him during his onemonth stint Down Under, saying he much prefers normal photographs.

The 30-year-old British prince was warmly received by hundreds of fans in Canberra on Monday, including one teenage girl who wanted to have a photograph of herself with him in the background.

“No, I hate selfies,” the popular royal said in the one scheduled public event of his month in Australia, during which he will be

embedded with Australian soldiers in Sydney, Darwin and Perth.

“Seriously! You need to get out of it. I know you’re young but selfies are bad,” he added. “Just take a normal photograph”.

Lauren Rosewarne, a University of Melbourne social media expert, said the prince’s comments should be seen as “words of wisdom” for young people leaving indelible electronic footprints with their social media postings.

“Young people need to be reminded as many times as possible that what you put

online stays online, even if you delete it,” she told AFP. “He knows probably better than anyone... how these images will never go away.”

The prince may also have been warning of the aesthetic failings of selfies, a photograph a person takes of themselves, typically with a smartphone and often shared over social media, Rosewarne said.

The prince, who spent two tours in Afghanistan flying helicopters with the British Army, is in Australia for a month-long mission before he retires from the army in June. AFP

Crash site. French gendarmes and investigators work on March 26 in the scattered debris on the crash site of the Germanwings Airbus A320 that crashed in the French Alps above the southeastern town of Seyne. The young co-pilot of the doomed Germanwings flight that crashed on March 24 appears to have “deliberately” crashed the plane into the French Alps after locking his captain out of the cockpit, but is not believed to be part of a terrorist plot, French officials said on March 26. AFP

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BAMBINA OLIVARES WISE EDITOR

g l w e e ke n d @ g m a i l . c o m

LIFE

C1

KITCHEN CONFIDENTIAL

The kitchen as the new luxury hub in the home

A

s design-focused in-home luxury is becoming a logical component in cosmopolitan living spaces around the world, Italian brand Boffi—a name synonymous to excellence in design and production—comes as an esteemed leading provider. Combining novel functionality with sleek aesthetics, Boffi’s kitchen, bathroom and wardrobe systems have become a symbol of true elegance among discerning clients who understand the real definition of luxury—inspiring.

Boffi has impressed the international market with its sophisticated system innovations.

These award-winning product designs – a mix of elegant finishes and luxe materials -- led to the creation of classy, trendsetting designer solutions.

AWARD-WINNING DESIGNS AND INNOVATIONS

The CTline is designed by Victor Vasilev. It is reminiscent of a city skyline as the name suggests and it can be used as a wall decor or storage system.

The Boffi range includes Kitchen, Bathroom and Wardrobe Systems. The latter was introduced in 2010 with the launch of the Solferino model.

In the following years, the product category has been expanded with other lines (Saint Germain,

Brompton Shelving System, among others) to provide the architects with different tools to project individualized spaces.

Apart from smart home solutions, the brand also offers accessories and furnishing pieces to complement the “service” areas (kitchen and bath) and complete the Boffi style.

Boffi is the only kitchen manufacturer awarded with Compass d’Oro Alla Carrier, a prestigious Italian design award, in 1995 for its contributions to design. Under the leadership of Piero Lissoni as art director, Boffi has worked with worldrenowned designers such as Antonio Citterio, Naoto Fukasawa, Patricia Urquiola, Joe Colombo, Luigi Massoni, Giulio Gianturco and Norbert Wangen to deliver products that “impress and inspire.”

“Boffi products are ‘created to enrich life’. Its competitive edge is grounded on the following strategic principles: Continuous research, collaboration with international designers who enrich the brand value with their cultural background and experience; Wide range of offerings, mixability of pieces, flexibility in production (able to customize the collections Continued on C2

C2

W E D N E S D AY : A P R I L 8 : 2 0 1 5

LIFE

BAMBINA OLIVARES WISE EDITOR

g l w e e ke n d @ g m a i l . c o m

KITCHEN CONFIDENTIAL FROM C1

to satisfy any customer request in terms of size, project and use of materials); and Internationalization (Boffi systems are distributed in more than 50 countries providing the same offer and experience).

BOFFI OPENS BOFFI STUDIO MANILA

Manila is now officially one of the locations of the prestigious Boffi concept stores in the world.. Located at the Ground Floor of The Residences at Greenbelt, San Lorenzo Tower in Esperanza Street, Makati City, the new Boffi Studio serves as a valuable resource for architects, designers, as well as clients as it will showcase the brand’s full product line.

The showroom will feature some of the brand’s most iconic and successful lines- from the simple and warm Aprile kitchen, to the industrial looking Xila; to the space smart K14 and K20; for the bathroom, the subtle and graceful Sabbia bathtub to the high-impact Pipe shower; for systems, the Anthea partition systems to the St. Germain walk-in closet.

Present at the launch were Boffi top executives led by CEO Roberto Gavazzi, Niccolo Gavazzi (Asia-Pacific Director) and Daniela Borgonovo (Export Manager), as well as Focus Global, Inc. management Stephen Sy (President), Loli Sy (Vice President), and Aline Lopez (Assistant Vice President for Home Furnishings).

The showroom, with an interior design that carries the brand’s distinct elegant personality, follows the guidelines as defined by Piero Lissoni (art director) and Boffi’s design team, to ensure consistency with the Boffi style and philosophy.

“The display selection has been adapted to the shop size and the characteristics of the location. In fact, each shop/location has its own “personality” which we try to respect and emphasize with the showroom design we suggest. Visitors still get the full Boffi experience, with all five senses engaged to appreciate and understand Boffi’s distinct style,” says Bice Marceca, Boffi Communications Manager.

“We study markets and in the last years, we have been keeping an eye on the Philippines as we heard the market was becoming more and more interesting. However, for us it is more important to find the right people than the big market. Of course a growing market like the Philippines is interesting, but we decided to start something here when we met Focus Global, because of their competence and passion, and understanding of what Boffi is and how to represent this brand,” Nicolo Gavazzi concludes.

Boffi is exclusively distributed locally by Focus Global Inc., the Philippine specialist in premium home furnishings which also brought to local shores prestigious brands such as Ethan Allen, Siematic, Sub-Zero, Wolf, Miele, Tempur Dornbracht, Villeroy & Boch and B&B Italia. Boffi showroom is located at the Ground Floor, San Lorenzo Tower, The Residences at Greenbelt, Esperanza St., Makati City.

The Boffi Studio at the ground floor of The Residences at Greenbelt in Makati City

The K14 kitchen in Titanium Metallic Lacquer finish designed by Norbert Wangen. This kitchen is best known for its patented wedged countertop for a “floating” look and handleless cabinets with a 30 degree profile for the doors.

The Aprile Kitchen in Wood 3D door panels and Walnut color finish designed by Piero Lissoni

Xila Kitchen in Black Anodised Aluminum finish designed by Luigi Massoni

THE CHEVRON COLLECTION Explore our new Chevron Collection. Furniture pieces made entirely of black and white stone inlay. The collection features console tables, nesting tables, cocktail tables, benches and nightables.

See the collection at the Blue Carreon Home Store or visit our website at www. bluecarreonhome.com You can also shop online at shop.bluecarreonhome.com Blue Carreon Home Store at Century City Mall

W E D N E S D AY : A P R I L 8 : 2 0 1 5

LIFE

BAMBINA OLIVARES WISE EDITOR

g l w e e ke n d @ g m a i l . c o m

C3

THE HENNESSY 250 TOUR

Hennessy invites leading contemporary artists for a travelling exhibition:

H

ennessy marked the official inauguration of the Hennessy 250 Tour at the Zaha Hadid Opera House in Guangzhou, China. The Hennessy 250 Tour is conceived as a hybrid cultural event, a travelling exhibition occupying more than 12,000 square feet (1,200 square metres) of gallery space, combined with original live performances. It offers a 360 ° perspective on the Maison’s past, present and future as rendered in carte blanche creations and performances by a selection of internationally recognised contemporary artists.

STAFF MEALS & ACCUSATIONS OF DISCRIMINATION

BY ED BIADO I don’t understand why Maggie Wilson’s rant about Balesin Island Club’s “yaya meals” ignited such a huge firestorm. As a member of the luxury island resort, she had every right to complain about the things that displeased her in terms of the establishment’s service, facilities and amenities. It is also her privilege to air her opinions in public. She supposedly finds the availability of a separate menu for nannies “offensive.” That’s her opinion.

What I find interesting about the whole fiasco is the reaction from the public and the media. Most stories only reported on the fact that Balesin has “yaya meals” and Wilson is not having any of it. They failed to mention that special meals for staff are not uncommon, leading the public to believe that the practice is unique to Balesin and that it’s “discriminatory.”

A cursory Google search will reveal that other resorts, regardless of exclusivity, offer similar schemes. Here are a couple of examples: Portulano Dive Resort in Bauan, Batangas has special meals for nannies and drivers at a rate of 20 percent lower than the standard package. Virgin Beach Resort in Laiya serves the same for P275 per head. Regular adults, on the other hand, have to pay P1,600.

Entertainment news blog CHISMS.net confirms this by getting insider information from an unnamed resort. “The resort manager said that it is not a common practice but there are guests who wants a more affordable meal for their yayas and drivers and they have no choice but to offer a cheaper alternative or the yayas and drivers will go hungry. They call it budget meals,” the blog says.

(Side note: Most resorts—and restaurants, for that matter—also serve kiddie meals, which can be argued as having the same function as other kinds of budget meals. Is that discrimination against children?)

And we have to remember a few things: (1) members of a family’s staff are not prohibited from ordering food from the regular menu—they are simply presented with an alternative; (2) if it’s a high-end restaurant, they might not be familiar with the items on the menu and giving them something recognizable works in their favor; and (3) it should be understandable that some families do not want (or cannot afford) to spend a lot on the meals of their household help on vacations or even at home.

The point is, it’s not an “unspoken dirty little secret,” as some online outlets recklessly claim. It’s always been out there and it certainly isn’t a discriminatory practice. From a legal standpoint, there is no issue at all. On the morning show Unang Hirit, the program’s resident lawyer Gaby Concepcion says that having “yaya meals” does not violate the Labor Code and “is actually a very, very decent option.”

THE HENNESSY 250 TOUR: FEATURED ARTISTS

In keeping with a creative heritage that is as much material as immaterial, The Hennessy 250 Tour showcases leading contemporary artists whose works and installations evoke the Maison’s legacy and expertise. Orchestrated by art curator Hervé Mikaeloff in collaboration with scenographer Nathalie Crinière and Hennessy heritage expert Raphaël Gérard, the Hennessy 250 Tour exhibition is divided into six chapters, each illustrated by the work of one or several artists. These include: • Charles Sandison, whose mirrored installation illustrates “A Tale of Two Families”, the Hennessys and their Master Blenders, the Fillioux, dynasties that have been intertwined for seven generations.

• Pierrick Sorin, who illustrates the time-honored rituals of Terroir (Land) and Savoir-faire through a “vitrine optique”, a piece of optical theater in which the video artist also stars. Short films about the art and craft of

making Hennessy Cognac accompany this installation.

• Pioneers in hip hop, street art and design, including Futura, Os Gemeos, Shepard Fairey, Jean-Michel Othoniel, Arik Levy and Tom Dixon, whose recent collaborations appear in the “Inspired Encounters” room. 20th-century advertising posters recall Hennessy’s support of top illustrators.

• Tony Oursler, who offers an exploration of the little-known rituals and century-old dialogue which unite the Tasting Committee. In this mysterious installation of poetry and sound, the flow of liquid serves as a metaphor for an unbroken legacy.

• Anton Corbijn, whose portrait gallery reveals Hennessy’s true soul by capturing the personality and energy of the people, past and present, without whom Hennessy would not be the legend it is today.

• Constance Guisset, whose panoramic stage is an interactive, modular installation that guides visitors from “Here to There”; featuring life performances and video artworks by artists from every destination country, including Yang Yongliang (China), Olga Kisseleva (Russia), Dineo Seshee Bopape (South Africa), Daniel Arsham (USA), and Laurent Pernot (France).

• In a cosmic epilogue, Xavier Veilhan captures the Maison’s history in a mysterious carbon fiber vessel, an archetypal image of infinity that speaks to past and present while looking to the future.

A trove of archival materials, portraits, and films recount the Hennessy family’s global adven-

ture and its connection with great moments throughout History, such as General La Fayette’s departure for America. These treasures include documents signed by illustrious figures such as Talleyrand and Alexandre Dumas.

Original live performances will highlight every stop on The Hennessy 250 Tour: these once-in-a-lifetime shows starring local artists were created specially for this moment to illustrate Hennessy’s philosophy of blending influences and cultures.

These real-time events demonstrate the Hennessy tradition of openness to the world and the powerful bonds that have always existed between the Maison and the countries where it is present.

“Ever since Richard Hennessy founded the Maison in 1765, and throughout the seven generations that followed, Hennessy has forged its reputation by always looking forward, by being engaged with and passionate about the avantgarde, by cultivating deep ties with faraway countries and cultures and by thinking globally before that notion was invented,” observes Bernard Peillon, chairman and CEO of the Maison Hennessy.

From March through September 2015, The Hennessy 250 Tour will touch down in iconic landmarks in five cities chosen for their significant historical and cultural affinities with the Maison Hennessy.

Destinations include the Zaha Hadid Opera House in Guangzhou, China (March); the New Manege in Moscow, Russia (May); Lincoln Center in New York, USA (July); the Circa Gallery in Johannesburg, South Africa (August); and at an as-yet undisclosed location in Paris, France (September).

UNLOCK THE FUTURE

100% Swiss, 100% Security, 100% Luxury, 0% Gadget: Diagono Magnesium, A “Wrist – Vault” watch and the first “Concept Watch” to guarantee total security of personal information “The new Diagono Magnesium intelligent Watch perfectly embodies Bulgari duality in the landscape of luxury watchmaking with its Italian origins, epitomized by Leonardo da Vinci, both a scientist and an artist, and allowing Bulgari to fuse in a unique way contemporary and edgy timeless Italian design together with the best of Swiss watchmaking mechanical know-how and the most advanced Swiss technologies such as the WISeKey’s. When some Brands play smart disposable or obsolescent gadgets watches we propose wise luxury timeless watches!” declared Jean-Christophe Babin, President of Bulgari Group.

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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

RISE TO THE OCCASION

A new style in living to Rise WORDS AND IMAGES BY MAE GIANINA C. PASCUAL

N

oMa or “North Makati” is the most creative and vibrant hub in the city of Makati, a place very much suited to young hipsters and artists. It has slowly turned into a pivot for music, arts, fashion and even unique culinary explorations. Exhibits, art galleries, street events here are creating a culture of art expression, while watering holes slowly emerge piquing the interests of many epicureans.

This is a unique location Shang Properties Inc., the country’s premier luxury property developer, has chosen for their new upcoming estate named The Rise Makati, which is soon to rise in 2018.

The Rise Makati holds a world-class architecture with combined efforts of Philippine and Hongkong based development companies. Situated just north of Ayala Avenue along Malugay St., it is perfectly set in a dynamic community known for its interesting mix of galleries, dining spots, indie music venues and novel retail finds.

Apart from the urban setup, The Rise is an eight-minute walk from the Makati Central Business District, a quick swing to the corporate world of Makati suitable for those who also work in and around the area and a place for those who simply want to live in the heart of Makati. For the soon-to-be-residents of the new estate, it’s a win-win situation getting the best of both urban and corporate living.

Today, Filipino individuals as young as in the mid-20’s are slowly becoming more interested in investing to real estate properties. As Mike Arroyo, the Rise Makati Recruitment and Training Head quotes, it is not true that most investors who buy properties such as condominiums are foreigners. At least 70-80% of property consumers are locals who decide to devote their money in big investments such as real estate.

For condo buyers, everyone has the option to use the property for own usage, or opt to have it leased especially now that the concept of renting out through the use of travel platforms such as AirBnb, deal websites and alike have sprouted serving travellers around the globe who are in for a short vacation or foreign expats who come for a quick work-related stay. Being able to

invest in real estate properties is also a big advantage for those who’d want a big return one day, shall they wish to flip and sell it when the market value has spiked.

Shang Properties Marketing Manager, Milen Treichler also shares, gone are the days when most people choose to buy landed properties over condo units. A lot of architects and interior designers nowadays are able to create a kind of condo living that gives the most out of life. Natureintegrated environment, space-efficient rooms and amenities that serve up well to residents’ exclusive lifestyle.

Last March 19, 2015, a guided tour featuring The Rise show suite and select establishments around North Makati kicked off to appreciate and know what it’s like to live in a city without the hustle and bustle and the comfort of having unique establishments around. Headed by Xandra Rocha, guests were guided to enjoy an authentic Swiss cooking at Chesa Bianca Swiss Restaurant, a French-Japanese dessert treat at Patisserie Bebe Rouge, silkscreen sessions with Team Manila at Suez and Zapote Gallery and relaxing cocktails at Speakeasy to finish off the tour. All of these establishments are in close proximity, even a walking distance from The Rise.

The Rise Makati is a tower with 59-storey residential units and 2-storey commercial area with 51 retail shops and restaurants.

The tri-concave architecture shows three main sections, the North Wing with a view of the Manila skyline, West Wing which has a view of Manila Bay and Central Business District of Makati, and East Wing which captures a sight of Bonifacio Global City. The property is equipped with worldclass amenities: The Nest lounge area, The Hangout Lounge area, The Workshop lounge area, main and kiddie pools, fully equipped gym, pilates/yoga room, changing room/sauna, function rooms, children play area, billiard room, library, karaoke rooms/home cinema, floating loungers, sun deck, poolside lounge, jogging trails, garden area, BBQ area.

For more information, interested parties may contact +632 THE RISE (8437473), email sales@therisemakati.com or visit the or show suite at 4th Avenue corner Rizal Drive at The Fort.

One-bedroom and two-bedroom units

Japanese-owned French pastry shop, Patisserie Bebe Rouge

Speakeasy cocktail bar

Comprehensive model of The Rise Makati with world-class amenities such as lounge areas, swimming pools, gym, playground, and jogging trails.

The Rise Makati is a three-winged condominium brought by Shang Properites, Inc., an affiliate of Shangri-La Hotels and Resorts worldwide, and Kerry Properties Limited, one of Hong Kong’s largest property investment and development companies.

Silk-screen lessons at Team Manila’s hub, Suez and Zapote Gallery

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ISAH V. RED EDITOR

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BRITT ROBERTSON

FIGHTS FOR LOVE IN ‘THE LONGEST RIDE’

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ove requires sacrifice...always – an unforgettable quote from The Longest Ride’s trailer starring talented rising actors Scott Eastwood and Britt Robertson who play lovers with different backgrounds trying to fight for the love that binds them.

Based on the best-selling Nicholas Sparks tome of the same title The Longest Ride is an epic drama interweaving two love stories, linked across the decades. In 1940 Ruth (Oona Chaplin) a beautiful Austrian immigrant in America, meets Ira, (Jack Huston), a local man working in the family’s clothing store and they fall in love. In present day North Carolina, Sophia (Robertson), an art history student falls for Luke (Eastwood), a bull rider.

Luke and Sophia rescue a man who is severely injured in a car crash. It turns out to be Ira, now an elderly widower (Alan Alda). Sophia befriends Ira and learns about his extraordinary life and marriage to Ruth.

Finding actors who could bring the vivid characters to life on film was a challenge, but one that the filmmakers were excited to accept. “Scott Eastwood

The film is about choices, choosing to be with the person you love if he or she means enough to you.

It makes you think about your own life and the kind of people you want to be with

was one of our initial top five for the role of Luke,” says Sparks. “We bantered around a lot of different names, but Scott was always there. When we brought him in, Scott proved to be just what we were looking for. He looks like a leading man, and had a good understanding of the characters.”

The filmmakers tapped Britt Robertson to play Sophia because, says producer Marty Bowen, “With a love story, women want to put themselves into the lead actress’ shoes. You have to be beautiful but accessible at the same time, and that’s an unusual marriage of characteristics.

“Britt is captivating and she can change an entire scene in just a moment,” Bowen continues. “She feels a scene’s subtext. It’s instinctual.”

Robertson has always been drawn to Sparks’ work, and especially to his depiction of the character she would portray on film. “I love that Sophia is passionate about art and how driven she is to succeed. I was drawn to the fact that Sophia was so goal oriented at such a young age.”

Britt Robertson, notes that she was “drawn to Scott’s different qualities.

He’s a guy’s guy who’s also vulnerable, sweet, and a bit shy. When we filmed a scene where Luke and Sophia go on a date, it was amazing to see all the different colors Scott brought to the role.”

“A lot of the movie centers on the work involved in a relationship. That is what we’re talking about in the scene we are filming right now [at Luke’s family ranch]. The film is about choices, choosing to be with the person you love if he or she means enough to you.

It makes you think about your own life and the kind of people you want to be with. George (Tillman Jr.) has been with his wife for years and years and he is always saying to us that the film is about sacrifice, how in a relationship you have to sacrifice for each other. It’s about give and take, and that’s often a really hard thing,” concludes Robertson on the film’s theme.

The Longest Ride opens April 15 in cinemas nationwide from 20th Century Fox distributed by Warner Bros.

CINEMA ONE ORIGINALS FILM IN 33 THEATRES IN US

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or film writer-director Antoinette Jadaone, Cinema One Originals’ That Thing Called Tadhana is her “dream project.” She describes it as “more than 10 years’ worth of love stories, heartaches, heartbreaks, bitterness, and acceptance.”

That dream won the prestigious 2014 Don Carlos Palanca

Britt Robertson and Scott Eastwood play lovers in the film version of Nicholas Sparks’ novel The Longest Ride opening on April 15 nationwide

That Thing Called Tadhana with JM De Guzman and Angelika Panganiban is now being screened in 33 theatres across the US

Memorial Awards for Literature, a P2-million grant from Cinema One Originals, sold-out screenings at the 2014 Cinema One Originals Film Festival last year, Best Actress Awards for Angelica Panganiban at said filmfest and at the 13th Gawad Tanglaw (tied with Nora Aunor for Dementia),

and Audience Choice and Champion Bughaw for Full-Length Feature awards apart from being nominated as Best Picture also at the 2014 Cinema One Originals filmfest.

But what went beyond Jadaone’s dreams was that her P2-million film grossed over P120 million in the Philippines in less than three weeks, making it the most successful Cinema One Originals film release.

Moreover, it is now being screened internationally through TFC@theMovies which will bring it to 33 theaters in the U.S. Starring Panganiban and JM de Guzman as Mace Castillo and Anthony Lagdameo, respectively, and joined

by Joem Bascon, the film - which takes viewers from a chance meeting between Mace and Anthony at the airport in Rome to their impromptu adventure to Baguio and Sagada as they converse about broken hearts - has become so popular among moviegoers that a 4-day Tadhana Tour of Baguio and Sagada was even offered by a travel group.

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SHOWBITZ

EDITOR

isahred @ gmail.com Rabon Bohnisch at Talarak Conservation Center

‘SILICON VALLEY’ SECOND SEASON PREMIERES ON HBO On April 15 and for two weeks thereafter, HBO Asia will release the first episode of the new season of Silicon Valley on www.hboasia.com and www.youtube.com/HBOAsia for audiences in 19 Asian territories, non-subscribers included, to watch for free.

This follows the company’s recent announcement of HBO and Cinemax Originals to simulcast in Asia same time as the U.S., starting April 13, with the new seasons of Game Of Thrones, Silicon Valley and Veep.

The 10-episode second season of Silicon Valley premieres on April 13 at 10 a.m. (, immediately after the worldwide premiere of Gaame of Thrones, with a same day encore at 10 p.m.

The HBO comedy series will also be available on HBO GO on the same day and HBO On Demand from April 20.

The Emmy® and Golden Globe® nominated Silicon Valley takes comic look at the modern-day epicenter of the high-tech gold rush, where the people most qualified to succeed are the least capable of handling success.

After taking the tech world by storm last season at TechCrunch Disrupt, Richard and rest of the Pied Piper team – Erlich, Jared, Dinesh and Gilfoyle – look ahead to a bright and profitable future. But their success may be in jeopardy, thanks to big changes at Raviga, the company created by Peter Gregory, and Nucleus, the competing compression platform launched by Hooli CEO, Gavin Belson.

A collaboration between Mike Judge and Alec Berg, who each directed five episodes, series regulars on Silicon Valley include Thomas Middleditch as Richard Hendricks; T.J. Miller as Erlich; Josh Brener as Big Head; Martin Starr as Gilfoyle; Kumail Nanjiani as Dinesh; Zach Woods as Jared; Amanda Crew as Monica; Matt Ross as Gavin Belson; Suzanne Cryer, who joins the cast as Raviga managing partner Laurie Bream; and Jimmy O. Yang as Jian-Yang.

Guest star Ben Feldman returns as Ron LaFlamme; new guest stars include Chris Diamantopoulos as Russ Hanneman and Alice Wetterlund as Carla.

HBO’s Silicon Valley season 2 premieres this month on all of the channel’s platforms

Bohnisch andPeter Gazdik with DENR’s Ramon Paje

The delegation looking over the map of Negros Occidental

CZECHS TO SUPPORT ENDANGERED SPECIES PROTECTION

F

ollowing the working visit of the Czech Parliament’s Committee of Environment to the Philippines early this month, Committee Chairman Robin Böhnisch confirmed further Czech support for the protection and preservation of endemic species in the country.

During the Committee’s meeting with Department of Environment and Natural Resources Secretary Ramon Paje on March 17, Böhnisch especially noted that „as the Philippines is an important global hotspot for biodiversity, we are committed to supporting endangered species conservation here.“ The Czech delegation composed of Chairman Böhnisch and three members of the environment committee travelled to Negros Occidental, met with the local authorities and visited environment-related facilities.

They were also able to visit the Talarak Rescue and Conservation Breeding Center in Kabancalan City, one of the beneficiaries of the Czech development project grants given by the Czech Embassy in Manila.

The Talarak Rescue and Conservation Breeding Center was established in 2008 with the participation of Czech zoologist Pavel Hospodářský. The center has been successful in breeding many endangered species of Philippine

CROSSWORD PUZZLE 46 48 49 50 52 53 57 61 62 64 65 66 67 68 69 70

ANSWER FOR PREVIOUS PUZZLE ACROSS 1 A wife of Jacob 5 Like a mouse 10 Freshwater catch 14 Sanskrit dialect 15 Jaded 16 Hairy twin 17 Sportscaster — Gumbel 18 Poe’s middle name 19 Large African lake 20 Moors 22 Gridders, often

ISAH V. RED

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Hound’s track Dirty place Sly tactics Alley from Moo Coffee-break treat Clearly set out Canvas and masts Goofs Pitched in Concept The chills Uttered loudly — de plume Starfleet journals Exhilarating Gooey mass

DOWN 1 Links org.

2 Bring home 3 He played Obi-Wan 4 Field event (2 wds.)

5 Ski lifts (hyph.)

6 Pandora’s boxful 7 “Bien” opposite 8 Baroness Karen 9 Tough fabric 10 Call silently 11 Tennis great 12 German industrial region 13 Lather 21 Make a choice

WEDNESDAY APRIL 8, 2015

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Cricket sound Ogles Kind of committee (2 wds.)

Coon cat origin Poker deck Beginning Like a frontier piano Survey findings Prize money Tries out Kind of meditation Consume Rock climber’s gear Dropping suddenly Bangs and creaks Floor covering Type of orchard Hen Real bargain Thus Kin of the Twist Kind of straits Grass stalk Archaeology find Fictional sub commander Huff and puff Width of a cir.

birds and animals in general, becoming famous for breeding the critically endangered Walden’s Hornbill (locally know as Talarak) as one of only three places in the world.

The center also breeds the critically endangered Visayan Warty Pig as well as the Negros Bleeding Heart Pigeon and the Philippine Spotted Deer. Talarak Foundation is dully accredited as a DENR Rescue Center for confiscated endagered animals and as a Conservation Breeding Center for Philippine endemics. Just last year, Talarak Foundation President Fernando Gutierrez signed a new contract with Czech Ambassador Jaroslav Olša, Jr., assuring the foundation substantial financial support for the protection of endangered bird species in the country.

The Talarak Foundation is just one of the environmental projects that the Czech Republic has been supporting in the Philippines. Another similar Czechoperated and funded endeavor is the Tarsius Project in Bohol which consists of Czech experts who have been actively working for conservation and research of the Philippine Tarsier since 2009.

The recent visit of the Committee for Environment of the Czech Parliament is in line with the Czech endeavor to further deepen the already established Czech-Philippines environmental activities.

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ISAH V. RED EDITOR

isahred @ gmail.com

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DONGYAN, FIRST TIME TO LEAD A MALL SHOW

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resh from the festive celebration of Araw ng Dabaw, Kapuso Primetime King Dingdong Dantes immediately returned to Pari ‘Koy taping on March 18. Overwhelmed by the reception in Davao, he expressed his enjoyment and gratitude.

During the mall show at the Activity Center of Abreeza Mall, Kapuso Davaoeños were unable to contain their excitement and happiness as they watched their idol, for the very first time on one stage with his wife, Marian Rivera.

In spite of his hectic schedule of tapings and several regional shows, Dingdong still manages to make time for the things he really loves, one of which is motorcycle riding. In fact, he just received his 2nd Runner-up trophy under Celebrity Class of Ducati Riders at the 12th Annual Golden Wheel Awards, which was held at Samsung Hall, SM Aura, Taguig City. The said award-giving body is actually considered the “Oscars” of Philippine Motorsports.

Meanwhile in Pari ‘Koy, Father Kokoy (Dingdong) remains hopeful for the people of Barangay Pinagpala. He believes that

From C8

their wrong doings could still be corrected.

He continues to see the good side of each of them despite the immorality that surrounds them.

Pari ‘Koy airs weeknights after 24 Oras on GMA Telebabad.

HHHHH Filipinos can now get a copy of their favorite Kapuso programs anytime, anywhere via the online shopping site Lazada.

Avid fans of the period drama series Amaya, the hit Telebabad program My Husband’s Lover, and GMA Films’ Just One Summer can now purchase the complete sets of these shows and movie by visiting www.lazada.com.ph/gma-records/.

Also available are GMA News and Public Affairs documentaries The Best of Reporter’s Notebook and I-Witness, political drama Bayan Ko, and historical drama series Katipunan.

Lazada offers free shipping and delivery of your favorite records and videos right to your doorstep. Payments may be done online or paid in cash upon delivery (COD).

Visit GMANetwork.com for more updates.

Seeing double: While re-enacting Magic’s Television Commercial with a John Lloyd stand-in, BS Financial Management Student Charina Nuynuyan screams in surprise and delight when she finds the real deal standing beside her.

HHHHH Magic Man John Lloyd Cruz has struck again, this time kicking off the third wave of the Magic Moments campaign in the City of Pines, Baguio City.

The Magic Fun Fair set foot at the University of Baguio, where students enjoyed fair-themed game booths. Students enjoyed games such as Spill the Magic Coating, Go Fish Magic Junior, Magic Tic-Tac-Chips, Magic Wheel of Creams and of course, everyone’s favorite, the Magic Selfie with Lloydie booth wherein they could bring home printouts of their snapshots with the Magic Man’s life-sized standee.

The fair became even livelier as the Acting Acting Lang booth opened its floors to students who bravely took the challenge of re-enacting Magic’s Anticipation Television Commercial. Complete with vibrant costumes, props, and cast standins, the search for the day’s best actress was on as fearless females played the role of the TVC’s main character. Little did one of the participants know, she was up for more than just bragging rights of being the day’s leading lady.

Dingdong Dantes takes his role in Pari Koy seriously

Expecting that a stand-in for John Lloyd Cruz would appear at the end of the stint, 20-year old Charina Nuynuyan screamed in surprise as she came face-to-face with the actual Magic Man. To add to the already-magical moment, JLC awarded Charina with a Magic Valentine Shopping Spree worth P50,000 of Robinsons gift certificates. In Robinsons Supermarket on Session Road, a lucky mommy-grocer also got the shock of her life when, after being made to wait for a free product, the Magic Man appeared out of nowhere to personally replenish the stocks. Aside from meeting the matinee idol, the mom of two, Mary Jane S. Salvador of Gabriela Silang, Baguio City, also received a Magic Valentine Package consisting of an overnight stay, dinner for two and a spa package.

More Magic Moments await lucky, unsuspecting targets as the team continues to go around the country to spread more cheer. Witness how our lucky winners were surprised by the Magic Man and like the official Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/magiccracker.

GMA shows now on DVD available at Lazada

RTL CBS ENTERTAINMENT HD AIRS ‘BRITAIN’S GOT TALENT’ SEASON 9

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TL CBS Entertainment HD announced it will bring Britain’s Got Talent Season 9 to Asia. Britain’s Got Talent is the originator of the international Got Talent franchise and is one of the biggest television talent competitions in the world. First and exclusive on RTL CBS Entertainment HD, Britain’s Got Talent will air as live via satellite from the U.K. every Sunday starting April 12 at 10:30am (9:30am JKT/BKK) with a primetime encore at 9:00pm.

Simon Cowell, Amanda Holden, Alesha Dixon and David Walliams are returning to the Britain’s Got Talent judging panel. Hosts Ant & Dec are also back to guide the audience through the weird, wacky and wonderful talents auditioning. The show is open to any performer of any age, from any background, with any talent all they need is a skill and star quality, which they think will impress. Anything goes - from comedians to contortionists, dancers to drag acts and acrobats to animals.

Britain’s Got Talent Season 8 winner Collabro has gone on to achieve amazing success, securing a No. 1 hit with the debut album, Stars.

They were crowned in front of a peak audience of nearly 14 million. The band has also started touring alongside fellow Season 8 finalist Lucy Kay, who released her debut album, Fantasia, last year, which shot straight to the top of the Classical Album Charts in the U.K. Other success stories from last series include musical duo Bars & Melody whose single, “Hopeful,” reached no. 5 in the U.K. charts in July 2014, and swing band Jack Pack, who are due to release their debut album this year.

The show has created a host of stars over the years. To date, Susan Boyle has sold more than 23 million records worldwide, Diversity have had five sell-out nationwide tours in the U.K., Paul Potts has secured 27 platinum records worldwide and Pudsey the dog even starred in his own movie.

Simon Cowell, Amanda Holden, Alesha Dixon and David Walliams return as judges in Britain’s Got Talent 9

C8 Arnold Clavo, Best Morning Show Host

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ISAH V. RED EDITOR

isahred @ gmail.com

SHOWBITZ

Jessica Soho, Best Magazine Show Host

Ryzza Mae Dizon, Best Child Performner

KAPUSO PROGRAMS WIN PARAGALA AWARDS

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MA Network and its talents won a total of 14 awards, most of which were back-to-back awardees, at the 2nd Paragala Central Luzon Media Awards at the Holy Angel University in Angeles in Pampanga.

GMA News’ Jessica Soho led the list of Kapuso awardees when she won Best News Program Female Anchor for GMA News TV’s flagship newscast State of the Nation with Jessica Soho and Best Magazine Show Host for Kapuso Mo, Jessica Soho (KMJS), which, in turn, was named Best Magazine Show. Soho and KMJS were also given the same recognitions last year.

Also winning for the second consecutive year were GMA’s primetime newscast 24 Oras (Best News Program); co-anchor Mike Enriquez (Best News Program Male Anchor); and Enriquez’ hard-hitting public affairs program Imbestigador (Best Investigative Program).

Awarded their second Pagarala citations as well were Arnold Clavio (Best Morning Show Host for Unang Hirit); I-Witness (Best Documentary Program); Bubble Gang (Best Gag Show); and Eugene Domingo (Best Game Show Host).

Earning the students’ nod this year were the bio-documentary Tunay na Buhay (Best Public Affairs Talk Show); Celebrity Bluff (Best Game Show); Pepito Manaloto (Best Sitcom); and Ryzza Mae Dizon (Best Child Performer for her performance in the movie My Little Bossings).

Launched last year, the Paragala Central Luzon Media Awards was initiated by the Communicators’ League of Holy Angel University in Pampanga in partnership with various academic institutions in Central Luzon.

An estimated 30,000 respondents from these institutions participated in the search for the country’s best TV programs and personalities.

SIMPLY RED ISAH V. RED

Paragala Central Luzon Media Awards was initiated by the Communicators’ League of Holy Angel University in Pampanga in partnership with various academic institutions in Central Luzon ★★★★★ Globe Telecom led the industry in mobile data business with revenues and data traffic growing faster than competition, on the back of its partnerships with global players and better network experience to provide compelling content that enrich the Filipino digital lifestyle.

Mobile browsing and other data revenues reached P14.3 billion in 2014, up 23 percent from P11.6 billion in the previous year. In comparison, mobile Internet revenues for the PLDT Group were at P8.1 billion from P5.0 billion in 2013, giving Globe a clear edge with 64 percent revenue market share.

In 2014, the Globe network carried significantly higher data traffic at 87,000 tera-

Launching the partnership are , from left, Warner Bros. Digital Distribution Vice President for Business Strategy Anuraj Shavantha Goonetilleke, HOOQ CEO Peter Bithos, Globe Telecom President and CEO Ernest Cu, Globe Telecom Senior Advisor for Consumer Business Dan Horan, and Sony Pictures Executive Vice President for Networks George Chung-Chi Chien.

bytes of data, increasing 270 percent from the previous year because of a significant surge in mobile browsing activity and higher smartphone adoption among its customers.

With its network modernization, Globe has greater capacity for data traffic that translates to better experience for its customers. The PLDT Group registered 48,000 terabytes of data, a 167 percent growth year-on-year.

Driving the growth of its mobile data business were the telco’s partnerships with global content providers to enrich the customer experience amid the growing propensity for multimedia applications on their devices.

Globe has partnered with Google, Facebook, Viber, Spotify, NBA and recently, online entertainment service HOOQ to structure offers that aim to further seed mobile data adoption among its customers.

“Today, Globe is in the best position to take advantage of the growing consumer appetite for quality digital content as the purveyor of the Filipino digital lifestyle. As the demand for data continues to drive our growth, we remain steadfast in our strategy to build the most appropriate portfolio of mobile data offers to cater to our customers’ evolving digital needs,” said Dan Horan, Globe senior advisor for Consumer Business Group.

Globe has also partnered with Wattpad to deliver access to crowd-sourced content to its customers. It also launched PisoMall last year, which allows customers to watch and stream snack-size videos for P1.

“We believe that this business model is the most appropriate path for us to meet the changing needs of our customers as the world of data becomes more pervasive in their lives. With the growing adoption to more connected devices, Globe expects its mobile data business to create deep revenue streams for the company in both the near and long-term period. The growing demand for mobile data services is a key driver for growth for Globe in 2015 amid growing affordability of a variety of smartphones in the market,” Horan added.

Sustaining its digital roadmap for 2015, Globe unveiled its partnership with HOOQ to enable access to thousands of movies and TV shows from international and local content providers. Filipinos can access over 10,000 movies and TV shows including titles from Sony, Warner Bros., ABS-CBN, GMA Network, Regal Entertainment, and Viva Communications across their computers, smartphones and tablets. Continued on C7

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