The Standard - 2015 April 22 - Wednesday

VOL. XXIX  NO. 66  3 Sections 32 Pages P18  WEDNESDAY : APRIL 22, 2015  www.manilastandardtoday.com  editorial@thestandard.com.ph

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Appeals court starts probe of bribery

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Sea crisis turns into name-calling

HIGH COURT: SMARTMATIC DEAL ALL WET Next page

Downpour. Walls of rain slammed into Kamuning and other places in Quezon City on Tuesday afternoon, surprising pedestrians who, before the downpour, had been wilting in the sweltering heat. MANNY PALMERO

‘Pacmania’ sweeps the country

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Tagaytay’s Green Houses

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Smartmatic contract voided

By Rey E. Requejo

THE Supreme Court on Tuesday junked the government’s P268.8 million contract with Smartmatic-TIM to repair and refurbish vote counting machines to be used in next year’s elections, saying the Commission on Elections (Comelec) failed to justify negotiating a deal in lieu of holding a public bidding.

Joint maneuvers. US Marines practice firing their mortars during an amphibious landing exercise on a beach at San Antonio

in Zambales on April 21 as part of the annual Philippine-US joint maneuvers some 220 kilometers east of the Scarborough Shoal in the South China Sea. AFP

Aquino’s satisfaction rating plunges anew

By Sandy Araneta THE net satisfaction rating of the Aquino administration dropped to a record low during the first quarter, the latest survey by the Social Weather Stations (SWS) revealed Tuesday.

The survey, conducted from March 20 to 23, gave the administration a “moderate” net satisfaction rating of +19 (percent satisfied minus percent dissatisfied), a 15-point drop from its “good” rating of +34 during the fourth quarter of 2014.

In this quarter, 48 percent or less than half of the survey’s 1,200 respondents said they were satisfied with the administration while 29 percent said they were dissatisfied. Some 23 percent said they were undecided.

The decline in satisfaction ratings was tue in all socio-economic classes, SWS said, with more than 10-point drops across all groups and two regions.

The sharpest drop in net satisfaction came from Class ABC, which showed a 22-point decline. Satisfaction among Class E respondents fell 16 points and among Class D respondents, 14 points.

The net satisfaction rating in Metro Manila was unchanged at +21, but dropped two grades in the Balance of Luzon, falling 27 points to only +8 from +35 in the previous quarter.

The administration’s rating stayed “good” in the Visayas, moving up to +34 from +31 in the previous quarter, but net satisfaction in Mindanao fell one grade from “good” to “moderate,” or down 17 points to +26 from +43.

The SWS also surveyed respondents on 20 specific issues.

Among the 20 issues, the Aquino administration was rated “very bad” in resolving the Maguindanao massacre with justice (-50).

It was also rated “poor” on two issues: in ensuring that no family will ever be

hungry (-11), and ensuring oil firms don’t take advantage of oil prices (-13).

The Aquino administration was rated “good” in five issues: helping victims of disasters (+42), helping the poor (+34), promoting the welfare of overseas Filipino workers (+34), protecting the environment (+32), and foreign relations (+30).

The Aquino administration was rated “moderate” in five issues: preparing for climate change (+29), defending the country’s territorial rights (+22), telling the truth to the people (+15), restoring peace to Mindanao (+12), and providing jobs (+11).

The Aquino administration was rated “neutral” in seven issues: fighting crime (+9), rehabilitating areas damaged by conflict in with Muslim rebels in Mindanao (+7), fighting terrorism (+6), eradicating graft and corruption (+2), reconciliation with Communist rebels (-3), reconciliation with Muslim

rebels (-3), and fighting inflation (-8).

The survey was conducted using face-to-face interviews with 1,200 adults natiowide – 300 each in Metro Manila, Balance of Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao. The margin of error is 3 percent for national percentages and 6 percent for regional totals.

A Palace spokesman said the latest findings showed that the administration can still imrprove its performance.

“We are aware that there is significant room for improvement and that we need to continually ascertain the sentiments of our bosses, the Filipino people,” Coloma said.

Deputy presidential spokesperson Abigail Valte said President Benigno Aquino III was more concerned with leaving a legacy of good governance that getting good ratings on surveys.

With Maricel V. Cruz and Macon Ramos-Araneta

The decision leaves the poll body with less than a year to find and commission a new service provider to repair about 80,000 precinct count optical scan (PCOS) machines before the May 9, 2016 elections.

During its en banc session in Baguio City, the justices voted unanimously to grant the consolidated petitions filed by poll watchdog Automated Elections System (AES) Watch led by Auxilliary Bishop of Manila Broderick Pabillo and Integrated Bar of the Philippines (IBP).

The Court agreed with the petitioners that the Comelec committed a grave abuse of discretion in approving the deal, which was signed by chairman Sixto Brillantes Jr. just before he retired in February.

The Court said the Comelec failed to justify why it resorted to direct contracting instead of holding a public bidding as required by the Government Procurement Reform Act. The justices also said the Comelec’s claims that a bidding was impratical were “not supported by independently verifiable data” and that the warranty extension was “in reality a circumvention of the procurement law,” said Supreme Court spokesman Theodore Te. As a result of the ruling, all amounts paid to Smartmatic-TIM under the contract should be returned to the government, Te said.

He said the ruling would take effect immediately.

In their consolidated petitions, AES and IBP argued that the award of the contract to Smartmatic violated the procurement law because the Comelec did not conduct a public bidding as required.

They argued too that the refurbishment and repair of PCOS machines fall under the definition of the term “procurement” under the law, and that the direct contracting method chosen by Comelec was not justified under the

same law.

In opting to approve Smartmatic’s extended warrant proposal, the Comelec said it did not have enough time before the 2016 elections to conduct a public bidding.

The Comelec also said it was too risky to give the contract to a third party, given the “highly technical nature of the refurbishment and repairs of the machines.”

But the petitioners argued that the tight schedule in the run-up to next year’s elections was no reason to dispense with the conduct of a public bidding under the law.

The justices of the Supreme Court agreed.

A Palace spokesperson declined to comment on the Supreme Court ruling.

“We defer to Comelec for comment on that issue,” said deputy presidential spokesperson Abigail Valte, during a press briefing.

The president of Smartmatic, Cesar Flores, said his company would file a motion for reconsideration, and said the negotiated contract was the best deal for the country.

“We find it significant that the honorable court is of the opinion that direct contracting as a manner of procurement is not instrinsically unconstitutional. We note with encouragement that the Court merely takes issues with procedural matters which we are confident the procuring entity, Comelec, can easily remedy,” Flores said in his statement.

Comelec spokesman James Jimenez declined to comment until he had seen the entire text of the Court decision.

He said, however, that the poll body has been prepared for a negative ruling and has been putting contingency measures in place.

He did not elaborate.

In a separate interview, former Comelec commissioner Gregorio Larrazabal said that the Comelec should now reevaluate their timeline. – With Sandy Araneta and Sara Susanne D. Fabunan

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Name-calling mars sea dispute THE quarrel between the Philippines and China over the disputed territories in the South China Sea turned into a war of words on Tuesday, with the Philippines calling China “a big-time squatter” as a result of its reclamation in the area and a Chinese mouthpiece calling the Philippines a “cute little submissive” of the United States.

Armed Forces spokesman Joselito Kakilala said China was not only stealing territory but also eliminating the maritime food chain systems of the present and next generations of Filipinos.

“These artificial walls of sand that China is building eliminates centuries-old pristine coral reefs in our exclusive economic zone,” Kakilala said.

“It spells not only environmental disaster in relation to climate change but also denies the livelihood of the next generation of Filipinos.”

Kakilala said the most hard hit by the maritime destruction caused by China were the tens of millions of Filipino fishermen who depend on fishing.

“Our fishing industry will be adversely affected because we’ve no more coral reefs and fishing grounds to depend on,” Kakilala said.

On Monday, Armed Forces Chief chief Gregorio Pio Catapang Jr. urged China to stop its aggressive reclamation on the Spratly Islands, saying it was violating the Declaration of Conduct that Manila and Beijing—including Taiwan, Vietnam, Brunei and Malaysia— had signed.

“China’s massive reclamation activities are causing irreversible and widespread damage to the biodiversity and ecological balance of the West Philippine Sea,” Catapang said.

“China’s claim that its activities have not caused damage to the ecological environment in this area is not acceptable.

“For example, the destruction of 300 acres of coral reef systems resulting from the reclamation is estimated to lead to economic losses to coastal states valued at $100 million annually.”

But a Chinese tabloid with close ties to the ruling Communist Party said the Philippines was nothing more than the “cute little submissive” of the United States, criticizing Manila for its military exercises with Washington.

The English-language editorial came a day after the Philippines launched giant 10-day war games with the US and Australia, partly aimed as a warning shot to Beijing amid competing claims in the South China Sea, home to vital shipping routes.

“Of all the countries involved in territorial disputes in the South China Sea, the Philippines is the one with the most tricks up its sleeves, but none of its tricks work,” the Global Times said.

Florante S. Solmerin, with AFP

Kartini Day. Filipino drug convict and death row prisoner Mary Jane Veloso, 30, clad in traditional Indonesian attire, is seen during a program celebrating Kartini Day in honor of Indonesian national hero and women’s rights activist Raden Kartini at Yogyakarta prison on April 21. AFP

China: No need for Asean involvement ‘Convening security council not necessary’

A CHINESE official said Tuesday the South China Sea was not an issue between China and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations—and in response to Malacañang’s statement that it would raise China’s reclamation activities in that area in the coming Asean meeting.

“I want to underscore that the South China Sea issue is not an issue between China and Asean,” Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Hong Lei said.

“The Chinese side is always against the attempt of few countries to damage the friendly relationship of cooperation between China and Asean by making use of the South China Sea issue.

“We are committed to working with Asean countries to fully implement the “dual-track

approach” in handling and addressing the South China Sea issue and jointly uphold peace and stability of the South China Sea.” Hong made his statement even as three senators supported Aquino’s move to take up the issue of China’s reclamation in South China Sea with other Asean leaders when they meet in Kuala Lumpur next week.

In the House, lawmakers protested what they described as China’s aggressiveness over its claim to the South China Sea. Senators Bam Aquino, Aquilino Pimentel III and Ferdinand Marcos Jr. said it was only right that President Aquino should raise the Philippines’ territorial dispute with China with the community of nations.

“This is not only a Philippine issue but a global and regional issue,” Aquino said.

Pimentel said the Philippines should call its allies and appeal to China to look at the legal processes in international tribunals.

“The President should summon the Chinese ambassador to protest,” Marcos said.

Reps. Jonathan de la Cruz, Silvestre Bello III, Albee Benitez and Barry Gutierrez said the Philippines should find a way to compel China to respect the claims of the other countries over the South China Sea. Hong said China was committed to upholding peace and stability in the disputed South China Sea. Vito Barcelo, Macon RamosAraneta and Maricel V. Cruz

BBL supporters. The Organization of Tiruray Tribe and Lambangian Conference representing the Indigenous Peoples gather at the Quezon City Memorial Circle to support the Bangsamoro Basic Law. MAnny PALMero

PRESIDENT Benigno Aquino III sees no need to convene the National Security Council (NSC) to map out plans in the face of China’s growing aggression in the West Philippine Sea, a spokesman said Tuesday.

“Whoever is necessary in the discussion on the disputes in the West Philippine Sea are always called to the security cluster meetings. In fact, they should all be there because it is the security cluster,” said deputy presidential spokesperson Abigail Valte.

“At this time, the President does not see any need really to convene the NSC,” she added.

Senator Francis Escudero on Monday urged the President to convene the council to bring all key players into the loop.

The NSC is the principal advisory body, composed of Cabinet members, lawmakers and former presidents, on the proper coordination and integration of plans and policies affecting national security.

President Aquino has never convened the NSC since coming to power in 2010.

The NSC consists of two distinct bodies, the council proper and the NSC secretariat.

The council proper is a collegial body chaired by the President.

It includes concerned officials of the Cabinet and Congress, as members, as well as other government officials and private citizens who may be invited by the President. Sandy Araneta

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3 justices back off Makati TRO case

By Rey E. Requejo THREE more magistrates of the Supreme Court inhibited themselves from hearing the Ombudsman’s petition assailing the Court of Appeals decision to stop the preventive suspension order issued against Makati Mayor Jejomar Erwin “Junjun” Binay Jr. SC spokesman Theodore Te said Associate Justice Presbitero Velasco Jr., Arturo Brion and Francis Jardeleza also recused themselves from the case after Associate Justice Diosdado Peralta inhibited himself before the first oral argument.

The three justices made the decision before the SC resumed its oral arguments on the case yesterday afternoon in Baguio City, despite their participation in the earlier open court hearing last Tuesday, April 14.

Te did not state the reasons why the three SC justices recused themselves, but he explained that inhibition was discretionary and voluntary on the part of the magistrates.

An SC insider disclosed that Velasco opted to inhibit from the case apparently for consistency, as he had earlier recused himself in the graft case involving former Makati City Mayor Elenita Binay, mother of Junjun Binay, when the case reached the high court.

For his part, Jardeleza inhibited himself apparently because he served as Deputy Ombudsman for Luzon under the watch of Ombudsman Conchita CarpioMorales, who is now the petitioner in the case assailing the CA ruling.

Korean pop stars. Korean celebrities Seo Young Hee, U-Kiss and Laboum arrived at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport Terminal 1 on Tuesday for

a free concert at the Mall of Asia Music Hall in Pasay City to launch the reality TV show “Kispinoy,” a talent search for young and talented Filipino K-Pop performers. PNA/ Avito C. DAlAN

CA launches bribery probe

By Rey E. Requejo

THE Court of Appeals has ordered its ethics and special concerns committee to investigate allegations that two of its magistrates each accepted P25 million in exchange for a temporary restraining order and a writ of preliminary injunction in favor fo Makati City Jejomar Erwin “Junjun” Binay Jr. CA Presiding Justice Andres Reyes Jr. gave the committee, chaired by Associate Justice Mariflor Punzalan-Castillo, 30 days probe the claim as the Supreme Court clarified that while the high court was reserving its disciplinary power over the judiciary, it would let the CA probe the charges.

“They will investigate it first,” SC spokesman

Theodore Te told reporters on Tuesday.

Te said he was not aware of the parameters of the CA investigation, but noted that the high court was aware of the order of Reyes. “Let’s just wait what the CA presiding justice will do.”

Reyes ordered the probe after Senator Antonio Trillanes IV accused Associate Justices Jose Reyes Jr. and Francisco Acosta of receiving P20 million each to issue a TRO the six-month suspension the Ombudsman meted on Binay last March 16.

Trillanes also claimed Reyes and Acosta received an additional P5 million each after the issuance of a writ of preliminary injunction to permanently stop Binay’s suspension.

The lawmaker claimed that lawyer Pancho Villaraza, who is supposedly supporting the presidential campaign of Vice President Jejomar Binay, Mayor Binay’s father, allegedly facilitated these “transactions”.

The justices and Villaraza’s camp have all denied the accusations.

Meanwhile, the Court of Appeals acted on Binay’s contempt petition against Trillanes and raffled his petition to the appellate court’s 18th

division.

In his petition last April 16, Binay asked the CA to cite the senator in indirect contempt and impose maximum penalty under the law for such offense.

Through lawyers led by Claro Certeza, Binay claimed Trillanes destroyed the integrity and authority of the courts with his accusation that members of the CA’s sixth division were bribed into issuing the temporary restraining order and writ of preliminary injunction.

On Monday, the leader of the 40,000-strong Integrated Bar of the Philippines objected to a supposed Senate plan to investigate Trillanes’ allegations of bribery because the power to supervise and discipline members of the judiciary belonged to the Supreme Court alone.

“The plan of the Senate to push through with the investigation is a circumvention of the Constitution. In the first place, what would be the purpose of the investigation?” said IBP president Vicente Joyas, who was disputed the claim of Senate President Franklin Drilon that the judiciary is not exempted from Senate investigations.

Trains, weather rile commuters

By Joel E. Zurbano and Darwin G. Amojelar THOUSANDS of commuters were stranded and endured long lines at Metro Rail Transit-3 stations for almost an hour on Tuesday when six trains stopped operating purportedly due an to air-conditioning malfunction.

In a radio interview, Renato San Jose, MRT-3 director for operations, said they decided to limit and control the numbers of passengers because six of their trains experienced air-conditioning problems.

But commuters were confronted with more difficulties as traffic was congested because of unusually heavy rain with hail storm in some areas of Quezon City.

PAGASA rainfall forecaster Jaime Bordales said the hailstorm experienced in some parts of Quezon City is due to the effects of thunderstorms.

“The hailstorm started in Rizal area, then in Antipolo then it was experienced in Marikina, Quezon (cities) and the province of Bulacan,” he told the Philippines News Agency.

A hail or a hailstorm is a form of solid precipitation consisting of balls or irregular lumps of ice.

“This is an isolated case and this can be experienced in a thunderstorm cloud or technically, in cumulonimbus clouds. The hail storm is unpredictable. We can’t even predict the movement of clouds.

A hail storm can happen any-

time,” Bordales saud, adding that no tropical cyclone or even weather disturbance is within the Philippine Area of Responsibility.

But the thunderstorms brought heavy rains in some part of Metro Manila which experienced flooding, according to the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority.

San Jose, however, said the MRT service at all stations remain operational yesterday despite the problems. He added eight trains were operational as of 2 p.m.

He also said they want the railway system maintenance provider to be penalized for the said problems.

Reports showed that about 10,000 passengers were affected by the glitches.

Earth Day rally. Environmental advocates from the EcoWaste Coalition

march to Mendiola Bridge near Malacañang Palace in Manila on Tuesday for the observance of Earth Day. The group is also protesting alleged moves by some lawmakers to lift the incineration ban. EY ACASio

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HK official sparks outrage

By Vito Barcelo and Maricel Cruz

The Philippine Consulate General in Hong Kong on Tuesday expressed concern about a Chinese official’s unfortunate choice of words in describing domestic helpers including Filipinos in the former British colony.

The Consulate General in a statement expressed belief that this is not reflective of the general sentiments of the Hong kong community at large.

Filipino lawmakers, meanwhile, took turns lambasting the Hk cabinet member, regina Ip, and demanding an apology from her.

The Department of Foreign affairs said that Hong kong is home to more than 173,000 Filipinos working in Hong kong as household service workers.

They have left their loved ones back home to earn a decent living taking care of Hong kong families. This, in turn, has engendered positive impact on both the quality of life of the families concerned as well as the economy of Hong kong as a whole, the statement added.

The DFa said that discrimination should have no place in any society, most especially Hong kong, which prides itself as asia’s World City. a member of the government’s executive Council or cabinet, Ip described Filipina domestic helpers as marriage wreckers.

Ip told how jilted expatriate wives had complained to her that their maids had led their husbands astray.

“I have received com-

plaints from expatriate women... that Filipina domestic helpers seduce their husbands,” Ip said.

“I could only tell them that under the current laws it is quite difficult to regulate,” she said. eman Villanueva of the Hong kong-based asian Migrants’ Co-ordinating Body, said Ip should be banned from entering the philippines.

“It is racist to stereotype a particular nationality,” said Villanueva. party-list rep. roy Se-

neres demanded Ip to first explain why many Filipinas in her country have become victims of sexual molestation and other forms of violence.

Marikina rep. Miro Quimbo for his part pressed for an apology, saying that Ip had made offensive and unfair remarks against Filipina domestics.”They have made a sacrifice by leaving their families behind to be in Jong kong to take care of some other family’s kids,” he said.

Cayetano threatens zero fund for LTO

Drought resistant. Farmers and children in Kabacan, North Cotabato harvest palay on Monday, April 20. Their neighboring rice fields along with more than 2,400 hectares of rice and 22,000 hectares of corn in North Cotabato have already been destroyed by the El Nino drought. OMAR MANgORSi

OIC bid to unify Moros lauded

By Maricel V. Cruz and Macon Ramos Speaker Feliciano Belmonte Jr. on Tuesday welcomed the ‘determined efforts’ of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation to bridge the gap between the Moro National Liberation Front and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front.

“We are elated that you will have the chance to talk to the MNLF and the MILF. It is the only way we have to include all major parties and sectors in Mindanao to make the peace process all-inclusive,” Belmonte said in a statement.

Belmonte assured the OIC delegation led by Secretary-General Iyad ameen Madani that “We will now proceed with and give due importance to the consideration of the Bangsamoro Basic Law come resumption of sessions in May.” at the upper chamber, Senator Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. said the Senate would asked the MNLF to join the deliberation on the draft law.

Marcos said detained MNLF

chairman Nur Misuari will be invited although he remained at large after the siege of Zamboanga City.

The lawmaker said he (Misuari) can send his representatives to take part in the public hearings.

For his part, Madani expressed the full and continuing support of the OIC for the peace process and the proposed Bangsamoro Basic Law. “The OIC is very much close to the peace process. We are here to show support to the peace process,” Madani told Speaker Belmonte who was accompanied by members of the House of representatives from Mindanao.

The OIC leader expressed concern that if the BBL is “diluted beyond recognition,” the resulting frustrations and disappointments could breed more violence and radicalization in the affected areas.

“The Bangsamoro Basic Law is the best alternative,” Madani said, adding, however, that the OIC respects the vital role of the philippine congress relative to the consideration of the proposed BBL.

Supply lack. Two men deliver several gallons of water for their customers in Tondo, Manila on Tuesday April 21, 2015. According One.Org , 768 million people worldwide lack access to clean drinking water while 2.8 people have no access to proper sanitation. DANNY PATA

SeNaTe Majority Leader alan peter Cayetano vowed a zero budget for the Land Transportation Office in 2016 if the agency would not heed his call for a 30-day moratorium on the implementation of its “no plate, no travel” policy.

Cayetano stressed that nothing will be lost from the LTO and the government within the 30day moratorium while waiting for the supply of plates and reviewing the system of car registration.

“Threatening vehicle owners with stiff penalties for a problem LTO created is grossly unfair and must stop,” said Cayetano. at the same time, he said the moratorium will give the LTO enough time to set its house in order by fully servicing backlogs of vehicle owners and car dealers.”

He noted that the taxpayers deserve real change by providing their plates immediately because that’s what government service is all about.

“We remind the LTO that it collected more than p17.16 billion in 2013, and p11 billion collected from road User’s Tax,” Cayetano said.

He said the failure of DOTC and LTO to serve their mandated tasks is inexcusable and unacceptable, yet they have the temerity to invoke the law penalizing victims of their inefficiency.

The senator earlier filed Senate resolution number 1288 to investigate the delay involving the supply of car plates and driver’s licenses and pointed to the continued embarrassing inefficiency of the LTO.

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Curious onlooker. A Filipino goes fishing with the US Navy amphibious transport dock ship USS Green Bay (LPD-20) serving as backdrop. The US warship is taking part in the expanded war games between the United States and the Philippines. AFP

Law expands Sandigan, speeds up case disposal

By Sandy Araneta

President Benigno Aquino iii has signed a law expanding the sandiganbayan and enabling it to speed up disposition of highprofile cases such as those involving former president Gloria Arroyo, Janet Lim napoles and lawmakers accused in pork barrel scam.

Under the law (RA No. 10660)signed by Aquino on April 16, 2015, the anti-graft court will have two more divisions with six more justices, or three for each additional divisions.

Deputy Presidential Spokesperson Abigail Valte

said that the new law also requires only two justices to form a quorum, instead of three justices, thus expediting the disposal of cases.

“The old PD 1606 stated that three justices shall constitute a quorum for session in each division. Now, a

quorum shall be constituted by two members. So, this will effectively speed things up in terms of deliberations and hearing of the cases before it,” said Valte.

Valte said that what really matter in these cases is a faster disposition. “You can get from the Sandiganbayan their actual workload, but to add more divisions means that you are adding more justices to share in the workload of the Sandiganbayan. And that, hopefully, will result in the faster disposition of cases that are pending before the Sandiganbayan,” said Valte.

“Also, in the old law, it says

that quorum of three--each division has three members. So, if there is one absent, they cannot do business and they cannot hear the cases that are pending before them,” said Valte.

“And, of course, you cannot avoid absences in certain cases. This new amendment will allow two sitting justices to still conduct the court’s business in the absence of the third member. That will make things faster as well,” Valte said.

Valte said the new law may have a direct impact on highprofile cases currently pending at the Sandiganbayan like the pork barrel scam cases

and the PCSO graft and plunder case against former President Arroyo, only in “generalities not in specifics.”

Valte said that the appointment of the additional six justices for the two additional divisions will also go through the same process.

Meanwhile, Malacanang reacted to the appeal of Arroyo for a house arrest. Valte said, “whether the position of the prosecution will be relaxed is something that is entirely up to them and we will leave it to the Supreme Court on how to dispose of that particular motion from the camp of Mrs. Arroyo.”

Cebu-Negros oil deal voided

By Rey E. Requejo

Crowd-drawer. Street actor performing mime in Baguio City attracts a gaggle of visitors. DAVID CHAN

The Supreme Court nullified the contract signed between the government and an oil exploration company allowing the exploration, development and exploitation of petroleum resources within Tañon Strait situated between the islands of Negros and Cebu. in a decision, the SC through Associate Justice Teresita Leonardo de-Castro ruled that while the government is allowed to enter into a service contract under the 1987 Constitution, service contract No. 46 signed on December 21, 2004 by the Department of energy (DOe) and Japan Petroleum exploration Co. Ltd. (Japex) for oil exploration and exploration and drilling in a 2,850 kilometer area offshore of

Tanon Strait failed to comply with the safeguards under Section 2, Article Xii of the Constitution.

Section 2, Article Xii of the Constitution requires that service contract be authorized by a general law signed by the President, and reported to Congress.

“The Court noted that while there is a general law on exploration, Presidential Decree No. 87, which remains in effect, SC-46 was entered into in 2004 only between the Department of energy and Japex and was signed only by the thenSecretary of energy and not by the President,” the Court ruled.

“The Court also noted that SC-46 was never submitted to Congress. For these reasons, SC-46 violated the Constitution and is unconstitutional,” the SC added.

Anti-graft campaign in full blast PReSiDeNT Aquino is steadfast in his campaign against graft and corruption despite the fact that one of his allies has been found guilty of corrupt practices, according to a Palace official.

The tough stance of the chief executive isn’t diminished even after a guilty verdict was handed down on Oriental Mindoro Governor Alfonso Umali, Jr., a member of the ruling party. “in our view, it does not diminish the President’s tough stance on anti-corruption. if you are asking me what’s the next step should be, then we leave it up to the legal team of Governor Umali to plot his next steps. There are legal remedies available to him under the law,” said Deputy Presidential Spokesperson Abigail Valte.

“And, in fact, just to point out that, you know, people always say that under the Aquino administration, it is only your enemies that gets subjected to court procedure. in this particular case, it shows that, you know, it’s not the case,” Valte said.

Umali, the treasurer of President Aquino’s Liberal Party, has been sentenced by the Sandiganbayan to a maximum of 10 years in prison for illegally facilitating a P2.5 million loan to a ship owner in 1994.

Umali is serving his third and final term as governor.

Apart from Umali, former Oriental Mindoro Representative Rodolfo Valencia and former Board Member Romualdo Bawasanta guilty of violating Republic Act No. 3019, or the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act. Sandy Araneta

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Hagedorn files candidacy for recall FORMER Puerto Princesa City mayor Edward S. Hagedorn on Tuesday filed his certificate of candidacy for mayor in the coming May 8 recall election.

Hagedorn filed his COC at the city Comelec backed by thousands of supporters wearing red t-shirts.

These supporters formed a line from the national highway to the Comelec office at the city coliseum.

Hagedorn was accompanied by his wife Ellen, his brother Douglas, congressional representative of the province’s third district, Alroben Go, main petitioner of the recall elections, and allies in the city council.

Hagedorn came out of the Comelec office holding his COC and waved it in front of the crowd: “It’s finally over, Marami ang nagsasabi na hindi matutuloy ang recall pero heto na tayo at nagkamali sila. Mas malakas ang sigaw ng taong bayan para sa pagbabago.(Many have said that this recall election would not be held at all but we are all here. They were wrong. The people’s clamor for change is stronger.”

The recall election on May 8 is a culmination of more than a year of bitter legal and extra legal battles from the city streets to the Comelec, House of Repesentatives and the Supreme Court. The camp of incumbent Mayor Lucilo had tried to thwart the recall petition filed by Goh, lead convenor of the Puerto Princesa Yes to Recall Movement.

The recall petition was prompted by the resurgence of criminality: rampant illegal drug distribution and abuse, illegal gambling, heinous crimes like the unsolved rape-murder of two minors and brazen riding in tandem slayings; a slump in tourism revenues which caused closure of tourism-related businesses; unemployment and violations of environmental protection laws.

Goh cited the fact that the city had been free of drugs and illegal gambling for nearly two decades before the incumbent mayor took office.

Falling backwards. A boy wearing a recyclable life vest is about to swim in the waters off the south reclamation road in Cebu City. RALPH PIEZAS

Justice Secretary sacks Sablayan prison head

By Rey E. Requejo JuSTICE Secretary Leila De Lima has ordered the relief of Supt.

Resurrecion Puno, head of the Sablayan prison and penal farm in Occidental Mindoro, after convicted drug lord Ruben Tiu was caught in the act of selling over a kilo of shabu outside the prison facility last Friday.

Tiu was escorted by jail guard Ahrbe Duron.

De Lima said Puno would also be subjected to administrative investigation over the incident.

The Justice Secretary said she was particularly puzzled at how Tiu was able to run his illegal drug business while inside the prison and why he was allowed to go out of the facility.

De Lima said she believes that Duron would have not aided Tiu without possible knowledge of higher-ups.

The Sablayan prison farm is under the Bureau of Corrections, which is under the administrative supervision of the Department of Justice (DOJ).

Tiu was already charged before the DOJ last Monday for viola-

tion of Section 5 (Sale of Dangerous Drugs) of Republic Act 9165 (Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act) while Duron with violation of Section 26 in relation to Section 5 (Conspiracy to Sell Dangerous Drugs) of RA 9165 and Article 223 (Conniving and Consenting to Evasion) of the Revised Penal Code.

Tiu was arrested in a buy-bust operation last Friday on a highway, which was just two kilometers away from the Mindoro penal colony.

The NBI agents were able to confiscate more than 1 kilo-

gram of methamphetamine or shabu with a street value of P1 million.

NBI director Virgilio Mendez disclosed that Tiu attempted to bribe the arresting agents with P15 million for them to immediately bring him back to the penal colony and to keep the incident to themselves.

The NBI officers rejected the offer.

Mendez said that Tiu confessed during tactical interrogation that he received his supply of shabu from the New Bilibid Prisons.

Rido kills eight in Lanao Sur

By Francisco Tuyay

House to house. A Maranao merchant from Tacurong Cty offers a variety of native products to a woman in Kidapawan City. GEONARRI SOLMERANO

THE death of a businessman in Lanao del Sur is believed to have sparked an ambush, killing eight people and injuring 12 others, at the outskirts of Lumbaca unayan in the same province about 4:30 p.m. Sunday.

Military reports identified four of the eight victims as Ali Luminog Raado, 30, businessman and resident of Brgy Calalon, Lumbaca-unayan Lanao del Sur; Sampa Limama, Ounda Buat and Nashrodin Piang, all residents of Brgy Beta, Tubaran, also of the same province.

The dead also included a 10-year old child who died while being treated at the Northern Mindanao Medical Center for a bullet wound on the head.

Col. Aude Mungao, Public Affairs Chief of the Army’s 1st Infantry Division, said that the incident was

sparked by an attack on businessman Raado and his wife Diamond Macagaga Raado. They were shot by three M-16 armalite-wielding suspects identified as Cader Darimbang, Opao and a certain Licapao in the victinity of Brgy Lumbac.

Raado was killed on the spot while his wife suffered a gun shot wound to the knee.

Two hours after the shooting, the brother of the victim identified as Bocary Raado along with other companions stood on a checkpoint along the highway in the vicinity of Proper Beta of same municipality.

When a 16-wheeler truck from Marawi City enroute to Brgy. Lumbac Dilausan, where the shooting incident took place, Bocary attempted to flag it down. When the driver refused to stop, Raado opened fire on the passengers.

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

A8

OPINION

ADELLE CHUA EDITOR

lettertotheeditor@thestandard.com.ph

OPINION

BACK CHANNEL ALEJANDRO DEL ROSARIO

EXPERIENCE

[ EDI TORI A L ]

OBVIOUSLY aimed at stopping the surge of Senator Grace Poe in the poll surveys, Vice President Jejomar Binay made a pointed remark that voters should not elect a “newbie” or someone inexperienced to the Presidency.

Someone should really be advising the Vice President on what he says publicly or it could boomerang on him. While no one can argue against a candidate for the highest office in the land having public service experience, the Veep might have unwittingly taken a dig at the late former President Corazon Aquino.

In deference to the dead, it’s would be circumspect not to talk about Mrs. Aquino’s six-year watch. Thrust to the presidency by the 1986 People Power at EDSA, one of Cory Aquino’s first acts was to fill up positions for her revolutionary government. Among the first she appointed was one Jejomar Binay as officer-in-charge of Makati. The rest is history: Binay, his wife Elenita and their son Erwin Jun Jun succeeded each other as Makati mayor for decades to keep the country’s richest city in their grip.

LEGISLATIVE OVERREACH SENATE President Franklin Drilon’s declaration this week that Congress may investigate allegations of corruption in the judiciary is a prime example of legislative overreach supported by little else than political posturing.

Predictably, Drilon cited the oft-used excuse that such an investigation would be in aid of legislation, to determine how best to reduce corruption in the courts through new or amended laws.

Drilon’s declaration was ironic, given as it was in response to a call by Senator Antonio Trillanes IV, who has proven time and again that he is ready to abuse his power and position and to prostitute Senate proceedings to tar and feather his political opponents without sufficient evidence, then use the same hearings to dig up dirt against his unfortunate targets.

Were the 18 Blue Ribbon subcommittee hearings to date led by Trillanes against Vice President Jejomar Binay truly and honestly in aid of legislation? Or are the hearings being conducted simply to enable Trillanes to realize his oftstated objective of putting the Vice President behind bars?

In justifying his decision, Drilon said court officials are not above the law, but acknowledged that the Senate may not compel judges and justices to appear before its hearings.

By asserting the his chamber’s power to investigate judges, however, Drilon is putting senators above the law.

The president of the Integrated Bar of the Philippines (IBP), the national organization of some 40,000 lawyers, said that under the law, it is the Supreme Court that should investigate judges alleged to be involved in corruption.

This, said IBP president Vicente Joyas, is part of the constitutionally mandated separation of powers. Any attempt by the Senate to conduct an investigation would be a violation of the Constitution, the IBP president added.

At the same time, Drilon’s statement that judges and justices may not be compelled to appear before the Senate raises the inevitable question: Why then launch an investigation in the first place?

In the case of Trillanes, there can be no doubt about the true objective.

Clearly, the senator wants to do as he has done countless times before: bully Senate witnesses—in this case, associate justices of the Court of Appeals—into embarrassing public admissions or denials that he will then challenge them to prove. On the other hand, if the justices refuse to attend the hearings, Trillanes will use this to publicly humiliate them, and to accuse them of having something to hide. The hearings can then go on with the senator’s questionable witnesses— some of whom have been shown to lie under oath—to present the one-sided picture that Trillanes wants to paint.

How all this aids legislation is a mystery that the overreaching Senate President must address.

‘LALIM NG HUGOT’ LOWDOWN JOJO A. ROBLES

THAT was quite a feat of research pulled off by Malacañang yesterday to rebuff the call of Senator Francis “Chiz” Escudero to convene the National Security Council in light of the escalating tensions between China and the Philippines over the Kalayaan Island Group, formerly known as the

A9

Spratlys. Malalim ang hugot, as they say these days on the street.

Palace spokeswoman Abigail Valte said that there was no need to convene the highest security advisory body because the Cabinet security cluster already regularly discusses the concerns about Chinese encroachment in the West Philippine Sea. The palace cited Executive Order 330 that created the NSC way back in 1950 during the Quirino administra-

tion and EO 155, issued in 1955 by the government of President Ramon Magsaysay, as if to show that it really knows what it’s talking about when it refused to convene the advisory body.

The two fifties-era presidential orders enumerated the people who should compose the NSC, which includes the highest officials of the Executive and Congress involved in national defense concerns. The Web site of the NSC itself is

Grace Poe is probably the most sought-after vice presidential running mate for 2016, but she may just surprise everyone by running for president.

third order on the constitution and functions of the advisory body which issued in December Aquino will be was 1986 by then-President damned before Corazon Aquino. Then the NSC Web page falls he convenes the silent, as if no further NSC, even if the presidential edicts were issued since Cory’s time Chinese get from until today.

But as usual, the govRecto Bank to ernment of President Noynoy Aquino is lying.

Recto Avenue.

There is a fourth order, Number 34, issued in September 2001, further reorganizing the NSC, apparently the source of this time including as members of the body this information.

The site includes a “past Presidents of the

Philippines, and such other government officials and private citizens as the President may appoint or designate from time to time.”

Of course, the order was issued by then-President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo, which probably explains why her EO is never mentioned even by the NSC itself. The other reason has to do with the aversion of Aquino (the current one)

Standard TODAY Manila

to anything having to do with his predecessors, whether they were never jailed, were formerly jailed or are still languishing in jail.

In fact, as Valte admitted, Aquino has never convened the NSC in the past five years of his term. Left unsaid was the insinuation that Aquino will never convene the body as long as he is President.

As far as I can recall, the

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

last time the NSC was convened was in 2009, during the Arroyo administration’s preparations for the coming 2010 elections, which Aquino won; among those who attended that Arroyo-era NSC meeting was former President Joseph Estrada, who had by then already forgiven Arroyo for throwing him in jail. (The oth-

The Binay family political dynasty has gone from local politics in Makati to national with the father as Vice President, daughters Abigail in the House of Representatives and Nancy in the Senate. If the patriarch is elected President in 2016, the Binays would complete their ambition of being the country’s most powerful family. Congresswoman Abigail has given us a glimpse of how a Binay presidency would be.

“We will not forgive our critics and political enemies if our father becomes President,” said Abigail quick to add it’s not political vendetta. But being unforgiving is only a shade of gray from vindictiveness.

She made special mention of Senator Sonny Trillanes who in the Senate hearing tried to show how Vice President Binay’s wealth of experience was allegedly parlayed into unexplained wealth.

Allegations of widespread corruption in the Binay administration of Makati are with the Office of the Ombudsman

Continued on A11

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

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 2 2 , 2 0 1 5

A8

OPINION

ADELLE CHUA EDITOR

lettertotheeditor@thestandard.com.ph

OPINION

BACK CHANNEL ALEJANDRO DEL ROSARIO

EXPERIENCE

[ EDI TORI A L ]

OBVIOUSLY aimed at stopping the surge of Senator Grace Poe in the poll surveys, Vice President Jejomar Binay made a pointed remark that voters should not elect a “newbie” or someone inexperienced to the Presidency.

Someone should really be advising the Vice President on what he says publicly or it could boomerang on him. While no one can argue against a candidate for the highest office in the land having public service experience, the Veep might have unwittingly taken a dig at the late former President Corazon Aquino.

In deference to the dead, it’s would be circumspect not to talk about Mrs. Aquino’s six-year watch. Thrust to the presidency by the 1986 People Power at EDSA, one of Cory Aquino’s first acts was to fill up positions for her revolutionary government. Among the first she appointed was one Jejomar Binay as officer-in-charge of Makati. The rest is history: Binay, his wife Elenita and their son Erwin Jun Jun succeeded each other as Makati mayor for decades to keep the country’s richest city in their grip.

LEGISLATIVE OVERREACH SENATE President Franklin Drilon’s declaration this week that Congress may investigate allegations of corruption in the judiciary is a prime example of legislative overreach supported by little else than political posturing.

Predictably, Drilon cited the oft-used excuse that such an investigation would be in aid of legislation, to determine how best to reduce corruption in the courts through new or amended laws.

Drilon’s declaration was ironic, given as it was in response to a call by Senator Antonio Trillanes IV, who has proven time and again that he is ready to abuse his power and position and to prostitute Senate proceedings to tar and feather his political opponents without sufficient evidence, then use the same hearings to dig up dirt against his unfortunate targets.

Were the 18 Blue Ribbon subcommittee hearings to date led by Trillanes against Vice President Jejomar Binay truly and honestly in aid of legislation? Or are the hearings being conducted simply to enable Trillanes to realize his oftstated objective of putting the Vice President behind bars?

In justifying his decision, Drilon said court officials are not above the law, but acknowledged that the Senate may not compel judges and justices to appear before its hearings.

By asserting the his chamber’s power to investigate judges, however, Drilon is putting senators above the law.

The president of the Integrated Bar of the Philippines (IBP), the national organization of some 40,000 lawyers, said that under the law, it is the Supreme Court that should investigate judges alleged to be involved in corruption.

This, said IBP president Vicente Joyas, is part of the constitutionally mandated separation of powers. Any attempt by the Senate to conduct an investigation would be a violation of the Constitution, the IBP president added.

At the same time, Drilon’s statement that judges and justices may not be compelled to appear before the Senate raises the inevitable question: Why then launch an investigation in the first place?

In the case of Trillanes, there can be no doubt about the true objective.

Clearly, the senator wants to do as he has done countless times before: bully Senate witnesses—in this case, associate justices of the Court of Appeals—into embarrassing public admissions or denials that he will then challenge them to prove. On the other hand, if the justices refuse to attend the hearings, Trillanes will use this to publicly humiliate them, and to accuse them of having something to hide. The hearings can then go on with the senator’s questionable witnesses— some of whom have been shown to lie under oath—to present the one-sided picture that Trillanes wants to paint.

How all this aids legislation is a mystery that the overreaching Senate President must address.

‘LALIM NG HUGOT’ LOWDOWN JOJO A. ROBLES

THAT was quite a feat of research pulled off by Malacañang yesterday to rebuff the call of Senator Francis “Chiz” Escudero to convene the National Security Council in light of the escalating tensions between China and the Philippines over the Kalayaan Island Group, formerly known as the

A9

Spratlys. Malalim ang hugot, as they say these days on the street.

Palace spokeswoman Abigail Valte said that there was no need to convene the highest security advisory body because the Cabinet security cluster already regularly discusses the concerns about Chinese encroachment in the West Philippine Sea. The palace cited Executive Order 330 that created the NSC way back in 1950 during the Quirino administra-

tion and EO 155, issued in 1955 by the government of President Ramon Magsaysay, as if to show that it really knows what it’s talking about when it refused to convene the advisory body.

The two fifties-era presidential orders enumerated the people who should compose the NSC, which includes the highest officials of the Executive and Congress involved in national defense concerns. The Web site of the NSC itself is

Grace Poe is probably the most sought-after vice presidential running mate for 2016, but she may just surprise everyone by running for president.

third order on the constitution and functions of the advisory body which issued in December Aquino will be was 1986 by then-President damned before Corazon Aquino. Then the NSC Web page falls he convenes the silent, as if no further NSC, even if the presidential edicts were issued since Cory’s time Chinese get from until today.

But as usual, the govRecto Bank to ernment of President Noynoy Aquino is lying.

Recto Avenue.

There is a fourth order, Number 34, issued in September 2001, further reorganizing the NSC, apparently the source of this time including as members of the body this information.

The site includes a “past Presidents of the

Philippines, and such other government officials and private citizens as the President may appoint or designate from time to time.”

Of course, the order was issued by then-President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo, which probably explains why her EO is never mentioned even by the NSC itself. The other reason has to do with the aversion of Aquino (the current one)

Standard TODAY Manila

to anything having to do with his predecessors, whether they were never jailed, were formerly jailed or are still languishing in jail.

In fact, as Valte admitted, Aquino has never convened the NSC in the past five years of his term. Left unsaid was the insinuation that Aquino will never convene the body as long as he is President.

As far as I can recall, the

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

last time the NSC was convened was in 2009, during the Arroyo administration’s preparations for the coming 2010 elections, which Aquino won; among those who attended that Arroyo-era NSC meeting was former President Joseph Estrada, who had by then already forgiven Arroyo for throwing him in jail. (The oth-

The Binay family political dynasty has gone from local politics in Makati to national with the father as Vice President, daughters Abigail in the House of Representatives and Nancy in the Senate. If the patriarch is elected President in 2016, the Binays would complete their ambition of being the country’s most powerful family. Congresswoman Abigail has given us a glimpse of how a Binay presidency would be.

“We will not forgive our critics and political enemies if our father becomes President,” said Abigail quick to add it’s not political vendetta. But being unforgiving is only a shade of gray from vindictiveness.

She made special mention of Senator Sonny Trillanes who in the Senate hearing tried to show how Vice President Binay’s wealth of experience was allegedly parlayed into unexplained wealth.

Allegations of widespread corruption in the Binay administration of Makati are with the Office of the Ombudsman

Continued on A11

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

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 2 2 , 2 0 1 5

A10

OPINION

lettertotheeditor@thestandard.com.ph

MY 65 YEARS AS A JOURNALIST (2) Continued from yesterday

TO THE POINT

I RECALL that EMIL P. we alighted at the JURADO old Hotel Filipina along Padre Faura at the corner of Roxas Boulevard, and I was taken to a suite where a fat, tobacco-smoking man sat. He told me to sit down in front of him.

The man told me that he was a friend of one of the Monetary Board members I had implicated in my exposé; and that he only wanted me to present his side in the newspaper. “Yes sir, of course, I will,” I said.

The fat man, whom I later recognized as somebody from Cavite who had killed someone else along Dasmarinas Street, told me just to wait for their press release, and that I had to stay at the hotel suite meantime.

It was already midnight and I could not even call my wife – she must have been so worried that night. At around 6 o’clock the next day, some other men came and gave me the press release where a Monetary Board member explained his side.

Truth to tell, I was so scared, I was so scared I did I did not sleep a wink that night. not sleep a wink that As soon as I night. was released that morning, I went home explaining everything to my worried-sick wife. I called up my elder brother Wilie, who said that they would take me to thenPresident Ramon Magsaysay. When I explained everything to the President, who read all about it, he asked me if I could name three who could take the place of the three Monetary Board members I exposed. I said yes.

I recall naming the late Jimmy Velasquez, UP Professor Vicente Sinco and Agriculture Secretary Amado Dalisay, all known for their independence of mind, probity and integrity.

I was told that security men from the Armed Forces of the Philippines would be assigned to guard me, my wife and children. As you all know, having security guards at all times, even to accompany you to the toilet, is no picnic. I had to pay for their meals and give them accommodations. Those were trying moments for my children who had to have security in school and especially my wife, who has a lady security to accompany her even to the restroom.

But, it was all worth it, I suppose because of my exposé, I was given a special award for my journalism work by the Stanvac oil company. I still have that plaque hanging in my memorabilia room. *** In all, I spent 17 years at the defunct Philippines Herald as business editor, then as editorial director and columnist. But I got restless and wanted more challenge.

Thus, when my good friend the late Bobby Benedicto asked me if I would accept a job at Channel 9 along Roxas Boulevard set up by his Kanlaon Broadcasting System (KBS), I readily accepted his offer. I became director for public affairs. ABS-CBN of the Lopezes as then was going strong, and so was Channel 5 of the Roceses, and The Manila Times.

Channel 7, then run by Boby Stewart was no challenge though, not until the Gozons, Duavits

OF BAGS AND BIRTH IN THE course of writing about very high unemployment,” Fung the Philippine Economic Zone noted.

VIRTUAL Authority, which is celebrating The Angeles site is now the REALITY its 20th year this year, I came main factory (with more than across some very interesting and 5,000 workers) and the biggest TONY outstanding locators – in terms of Superl’s four factories in the LOPEZ of transfer of technology, signifiPhilippines, all of which are in cance of products being produced, Pampanga. With Superl’s investand volume of employment. ments of $8 million, the four facOne such locator is Superl Philippines, a subsid- tories produce 220,000 bags a month and exporting iary of Superl, one of the world’s biggest makers of them to the world. The project is registered with designer handbags. It is headed here by Alex Fung, PEZA for tax incentives. He finds PEZA clean. “I its executive director and good friend of the Hong haven’t encountered any corruption,” Fung says.

Kong-based founder.

Fung is amazed at the easy availability of skilled In less than three years, Superl has become the big- English-speaking workers in Pampanga and neargest employer in Pampanga, home province of among by provinces. “Within a 3-minute drive from the the biggest landowning and feudalistic families in main factory, there are three universities – Holy the Philippines. Pampanga is also the birthplace of Angel, Angeles University Foundation, and Fatima the original guerilla movement, the Hukbalahap. University,” he observes, “they produce more graduAlong with Tarlac, birthplace of the communist New ates than we want for work.” Of the company’s some People’s Army, Pampanga has hosted the longest 8,316 employees, 600 are office workers. It is recruitcommunist insurgency in the Philippines. ing feverishly. “Their efficiency is a lot lower than Today, Pampanga is experiencing a rebirth and China’s,” Fung volunteers, but they are catching up giving its educated young a future. Thanks to inves- very fast. “In bag making, it is not just how good you tors like Superl, which now employs in the province, do it, but how fast you do it.” over 8,300 workers, “all direct, no contractual, emProduction began in March 2012 with just 200 ployees.” Fung promises to increase its local work workers. With 8,300 workers at this writing, Superl force to 12,000 before 2015 is over. has P90 million a month in payroll. Last year, it paid Superl makes many of the fashion world’s most P608 million in payroll and exported $71 million coveted designer handbags—Coach, Tory Burch, worth of bags.

Kate Spade, JC Couture, Charles Keith, Mark Jacobs, “When I first came to the (Angeles) industrial site, Kipling, to name some. Did you know that some of it was very quiet. Now at 7:30 every morning, there is so-called French or Italian-made designer bags are a traffic jam. People, vehicles, and vendors are fightmade in the Philippines? The quality is the same, if ing their way in,” relates Fung. not better.

Superl exports have exploded dramatically, from In 2011, Fung’s company decided not to put its $1.8 million in 2012 to $27.38 million in 2013, and to eggs in just one basket -- China, where Superl has 10 a record $71.25 million in 2014, with 5,284 workers. plants.

With workers more than doubling this year, export Labor costs in China have doubled in the last five growth can only be phenomenal. years, negating whatever appeal it has as the world’s About the only complaint of Fung is the lack of a manufacturing hub. Also, the Chinese have the habit mature supply chain in the Philippines. He says: “In of going on a short vacation and never coming back, China, if we want something, we make a telephone resulting in factory turnover of 30 to 40 percent. call and it will be delivered in the afternoon. In the Alex went around Southeast Asia – Vietnam, Philippines, if you want something, you have to wait Burma, Cambodia, and later the Philippines. In the for a very, very long time, or call China.” first three countries, he found the people were eiAlex finds Filipinos warm, friendly, happy, and ther not as friendly as the Filipinos or their shipping helpful. “If you want something, they will help you,” schedules not as good as in Manila. he says. He wonders why the Philippines produces It all began when Alex walked into the Philippine the best skilled workers for the world when the counconsulate in Hong Kong one day in late 2011. The fe- try itself needs all these workers for it to develop. male commercial attaché there set up an appointment On a personal note, may I share with our readfor him at the Department of Trade and Industry in ers another good news, a milestone event – the birth Manila during his first trip to the Philippines. of my sixth grandchild, the second child and son of Initially, Fung looked at Subic and Clark. At Ciara Lopez, my youngest child, and Mike Galang, Clark, he says, he talked to one official after another, her husband. My newest grandson is Ignacio or with each official, adding a “layer”, which confused “Nacho”. He was born at 2:14 a.m. of April 20, 2015, and disappointed him. at St Luke’s Taguig. He weighs 7.6 lbs, slightly heaviThen he came upon an abandoned ceramic factory er than his kuya, Rafa, who weighed 7.29 lbs at birth with 3.62 hectares of land in Angeles City, Pampanga. on August 18, 2012.

He talked to its owners, the Nepomucenos, one of Nacho looks exactly like his elder brother. Rafa, Pampanga’s most prominent and biggest landowning for his part, is growing to be a very intelligent and families. He offered the Nepomucenos a win-win- precocious child. He has a way with people, proving win deal – for Superl, for them, and for Pampanga. that at an early age, emotional intelligence manifests Alex promised to create 3,000 jobs within one year itself. if the site were offered to him. “The community has biznewsasia@gmail.com

and Jimenezes bought out Stewart and his wife, who was really the founder of the network.

So, I joined the Benedictos’ radio-television network, not knowing that on Sept. 21 midnight, Martial Law would be proclaimed by President Marcos.

With the proclamation of Martial Law, press freedom was not only curtailed; it was suppressed. I knew and realized this because I was President of the Manila Overseas Press Club at that time.

I was appointed by Marcos as a member of the Media Advisory Council (MAC) in charge of foreign media; Rey Pedroche was in charge of radio and television.

MAC was a powerful agency at that time, giving permits to the reopening of radio and television not only in Metro Manila but na-

tionwide. The Council’s chairman, Primitivo Mijares, was the big cheese getting orders directly from Marcos. Pedroche and I just said “yes” to everything Mijares, who was also columnist of the Daily Express, said. He was a real Marcos crony.

When the Benedicto KBS radio and television network took over the ABS-CBN building in Quezon City, I had several talk shows on air, and had a daily radio commentary.

With the censorship of the press ongoing, I thought of an idea to escape censorship in broadcast. With the permission of Benedicto and then KBS general manager, Buddy Tan, I formed the Kapisanan ng mga Brodcasters as Pilipinas (KBP) to undergo self-censorship. It worked and I became the first KBP president.

Continued tomorrow

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

OPINION lettertotheeditor@thestandard.com.ph

EARTH DAY AMID THE SCOURGE OF CLIMATE CHANGE

By Heherson T. Alvarez TODAY is the celebration of Earth Day, organized through the initiative of Sen. Gaylord Nelson of Wisconsin in 1970.

Since then, 45 years ago, countries of the world united to celebrate Earth Day to protect the abundance and promote the beauty of the Earth.

Today, however, Earth Day has become an observance of all 194 countries to save Mother Earth from ultimate disaster – climate change - unless mankind can reduce and finally remove Carbon Dioxide (CO2) and other greenhouse gases (GHGs) from the atmosphere.

Since 200 years ago, when man started to use machines, we have been burning fossil fuels – coal and oil – to produce electricity for our development and comfort. The process of producing electricity has produced CO2, methane, black carbon from diesel, and other GHGs which last for at least 150 years in the atmosphere.

From the report of the United Nations science body, the Intergovernmental

Lalim... From A9 er living former President, Fidel Ramos, had also been invited by Arroyo to attend but was unable to make it for reasons that I fail to remember.)

These days, of course, Arroyo cannot make it to an NSC meeting even if she were invited, because she is still imprisoned and cannot even make it to her own home, as her supporters have been demanding. Erap is just a couple of stone’s throws away from Malacañang at Manila City Hall, but is treated as something of political and policy leper by a geniuses in the palace.

Ramos will likely snub an invite, as well, because he still remembers that when he once advised Aquino in public, he was told to send a memo. Besides, I don’t think Aquino will appreciate the fact that Ramos, if he gets over his anger over the insult, will probably arrive wearing a

#FAILOCRACY

EvEryman Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), there is now a concentration of 3,100 billion metric tons of GHGs in the atmosphere that brought about the overheating of the Earth to 1.3˚C higher than before the industrial revolution.

This overheating of the Earth is the cause of melting of the North Pole and the South Pole, the rising of the oceans, and severe and more frequent typhoons and storms, including the widespread vector-borne diseases – dengue and malaria – of which there is currently an alarming increase in the number of cases in the Philippines.

Unless we reduce CO2, the heating will continue and if it reaches 2˚C, mankind cannot stop this heating anymore. An overheated Earth will see the gradual death of corrals and reduction of fish life – the principal source of protein for the human brain. It could mean the gradual destruction of human civilization.

“Tagaligtas” beret as founder of the PNP Special Action Force apart from his usual glassless rims. *** But Escudero is not the only official in the current administration to call for the convening of the NSC – and to be rebuffed for making the call. Only last February, Vice President Jejomar Binay made a similar suggestion to the government that he also serves as Cabinet member, to plan government action in case hostilities with the Moro Islamic Liberation Front resume as a result of the Mamasapano massacre and the non-passage of the Bangsamoro Basic Law in Congress.

Needless to say, Binay is not a member of the Cabinet cluster that Valte is talking about, even if the person holding the second-highest post has been named to the NSC since the original 1950 Quirino order.

Executive Order number 43 is-

Earth Day must be a consciousness awakening to protect life, to reduce CO2, to reduce the overheating of the Earth.

To avoid climate catastrophe, governments, communities, individuals, must all join hands to reduce CO2.

Rapid carbon cuts are the only way to stop severe impact of climate change.

We reduce CO2 by using more clean and renewable sources of energy. We reduce GHGs by managing our garbage, by reducing wasteful and excessive consumption, by managing our excessive lifestyle. Governments should promote a dramatic shift in policy to use alternative fuels systematically.

Earth Day must be a celebration to protect human life and to save future generations from the destructive impacts of climate change due to the overheating of the Earth.

Earth Day must be a day to raise consciousness to save Mother Earth.

Former Senator Heherson Alvarez is a commissioner of the Climate Change Commission.

sued in 2011 by Aquino, which has to do with the creation of Cabinet clusters to address specific concerns, says that only the Executive Secretary, and the secretaries of interior and local government, foreign affairs, defense and justice, the national security adviser and the presidential adviser on the peace process belong to the cluster on security, justice and peace.

The Arroyo order on the NSC was never superseded. But I guess Aquino will be damned before he convenes it, even if, to paraphrase his words, the Chinese get from Recto Bank to Recto Avenue.

But that’s how Aquino rolls.

He’s still thinking petty politics, even if possibly the biggest threat to national security and sovereignty is banging on the door – and convinced that only he and his closest, most clueless friends can solve every possible crisis that comes our way.

ADELLE CHUA EDITOR

A11

Experience... From A9 but have yet to be proven. Nonetheless, the Senate Blue Ribbon Committee public hearings steered by the CayetanoPimentel-Trillanes triumvirate have taken their toll on Binay’s run for the presidency.

The Vice President’s public acceptance rating in the latest Social Weather Stations survey has dropped to 36 percent followed by the “inexperienced” Grace Poe who’s closing in at 31 percent.

Interior Secretary Mar Roxas and Davao City Mayor Rodrigo Duterte are tied at third place with 15 per cent of voter preference in the SWS poll.

Probably tired of waiting for Aquino to anoint him, Interior Secretary Mar Roxas for the first time last week said he wants to be the ruling Liberal Party’s presidential bet in 2016.That puts PNoy in a spot; he now has to nominate the Mar who stepped aside so he could run for President in 2010. It’s the only decent thing to do. Mar would certainly need the party’s political machinery to win but being endorsed by the outgoing President would be more of a curse than a blessing. We wish him well and that his poll ratings would climb once he’s officially declared LP presidential candidate.

Roxas—per Binay’s requirement for experience—has the credentials: DILG Secretary, former Senator, former Trade Secretary, investment banker, Wharton School of Business graduate, and so far untainted by any hint of official malfeasance.

This is not a brief for Mar Roxas but just to cite his experience and preparedness for the presidency—requisites Binay himself said are musts for the awesome job.

Binay, meanwhile, has not found a suitable nor willing vice presidential teammate in his presidential bid. He has floated the names of businessman Manny V.Pangilinan, Senator Poe, including Pag-Ibig Fund Administrator Darlene Berberabe. So far, there are no takers.

Grace Poe has not yet expressed her interest in seeking higher office. Obviously she does not want to draw fire from her rivals. This early, her “inexperience” (although she was not directly mentioned in Binay’s remarks) has already given her a taste of flak to come once she declares before the October deadline for the filing of certificates of candidacy. As a surprise topnotcher in the 2013 senatorial elections, her term of office is up to 2019.

Ms. Poe is in a win-win situation; she can run for president and if unsuccessful could still stay on as senator.

She is probably the most sought-after vice presidential running mate for 2016.

Binay wants her; the LPs are courting her so she could give Roxas’ bid a boost; her name is being touted for a Ping LacsonPoe ticket; and would certainly make a formidable tandem with Duterte.

But the lady might surprise everyone by going for the presidency herself.

CHONG ARDIVILLA

A12

we dn e s day : a p ri l 2 2 , 2 0 1 5

sports sports@thestandard.com.ph

Watson, Nick making final Brit Open stint LONDON—Golfing greats Tom Watson and Nick Faldo are both set to make their final British Open appearance at this year’s edition of the sport’s oldest major at St Andrews, it was announced Monday.

Watson, a five-times British Open champion who came within a whisker of winning a sixth title at the age of 59 in 2009 before losing a play-off at Turnberry, has been granted a special exemption from organisers the Royal and Ancient to play in this year’s edition of a tournament first staged in 1860.

The American’s appearance at the ‘home of golf’ in July come 40 years after he won his first British Open title at Carnoustie, another Scottish course.

For Faldo, Britain’s most successful golfer with six major titles to his name, the 2015 British Open also signals an anniversary as it will be 25 years since he won the second of his three Open titles on the celebrated Old Course at St Andrews. AFP

Tebow signs with Eagles PHILADELPHIA—Tim Tebow, who hasn’t played in the National Football League for more than two years, signed a one-year contract with the Philadelphia Eagles, the NFL team announced on Monday.

With the start of the NFL regular season still over four months away, Tebow becomes one of five quarterbacks on the Eagles’ roster, joining Sam Bradford, Mark Sanchez, Matt Barkley and G.J. Kinne.

The 27-year-old Tebow worked out with the Eagles last month.

He joined the team for offseason workouts this week. He has been working as a television analyst while trying to land a job with a team. Tebow played two seasons for the Denver Broncos from 201011 and last appeared in the NFL for the New York Jets in 2012. He joined the New England Patriots in June 2013 but was cut two months later before the beginning of the regular season.

Jimmy Butler (21) of the Chicago Bulls celebrates in Game 2 of the Eastern Conference Quarterfinals against the Milwaukee Bucks during the NBA Playoffs at the United Center in Chicago, Illinois. Butler scored a career playoff high of 31 points to lift the Bulls to a 91-82 win. AFP

Butler gives Bulls 2-0 lead CHICAGO—Jimmy Butler scored a playoff career high of 31 points as the Chicago Bulls took a 2-0 first round playoff series lead with a 91-82 win over the Milwaukee Bucks on Monday.

Butler scored 14 of his game high points in the fourth quarter for the Bulls, who maintained home court advantage in the best-ofseven Eastern Conference series.

“So far so good,” Bulls Pau Gasol said. “We just played two games and won both of them.

Rebounding is a key factor, especially this time of year. We have to keep working on it.”

Bulls guard Derrick Rose added 15 points and nine assists after being held scoreless in the first half.

Rose added nine assists and seven re-

bounds. Gasol had 11 points, 16 rebounds and four blocks, and Joakim Noah tallied a game-high 19 rebounds for the Bulls, who have won eight of the last nine against their Central Division rival.

“A lot of my scoring goes to (my teammates) for drawing so much attention,” Butler said.

In the night contest, Klay Thompson scored 12 of Golden State’s final 16 points to carry the Warriors past the New Orleans Pelicans in game two of their Western Conference series.

Guard Khris Middleton paced the Milwaukee attack with 22 points. Guard Michael Carter-Williams added 12 points for the Bucks, who were outscored 20-8 down the stretch.

“We’re going to fight to get this series back to even and protect our home court,” Middleton said of the series switching to Milwaukee’s arena.

- Butler steps up in the fourth -

After the Bulls fell behind 74-71 early in the fourth quarter, Butler took control. He carried the Bulls on his back, scoring 14 points in the fourth quarter, including nine points during a 13-0 run that put Chicago up by 10.

Bucks coach Jason Kidd said they had no answer for Butler.

“I thought we played a pretty good game on the road, giving ourselves an opportunity to win,” Kidd said. “Butler was a one-man show in being able to shoot the three and also get to the basket. We’ve got to get open shots and finish at the rim. We missed a lot of bunnies in the paint.”

Milwaukee center Zaza Pachulia picked up his second technical foul in a 1:12 span and was ejected after he got tangled up with Nikola Mirotic going for a loose ball.

“This is the playoffs and it’s going to be physical,” Kidd said. “Nothing more. Nothing less. Both teams are playing to win.” AFP

Nicdao rules Tanduay golfest TANDUAY Distillers, Inc. celebrated its 161st year in style in a successful golf tournament via the second Tanduay Chairman Kap in honor of its Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Dr. Lucio “El Kapitan” Tan last Friday at the Wack Wack Golf and Country Club.

Youthful TDI President Lucio “Bong” Tan Jr. was ecstatic as families, friends and supporters of the company showed up in full force to put a fitting end to the rich, one-day affair topped by Rupert Nicdao.

“We in TDI extend our deepest gratitude to all for your continued presence in all our endeavors, including this invitational golf tournament that is more of a big family affair than a competition.

Here’s to our past triumphs and to more success both in business, family and friendship,” said Tan, who laid down TDI President Lucio “Bong” Tan Jr. hits the ceremonial tee signaling the start of the 2nd Tan- the foundation to what is now an anduay Chairman Kap in honor of the firm’s Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Dr. Lucio “El nual tradition of citing “El Kapitan,” Dr. Kapitan” Tan. Tanduay also celebrated its 161st year.

Tan’s revered moniker in the industry.

Major winners in the System 36 format event were Rupert Nicdao, Henson Tan and Wilbert Tan in Class A; Mark Gabriel, Ken Tee and Willy Tee-Ten in Class B; Gilbert Go, Peter Sy and Calvin Kohchet-Chua in Class C; Vidal Querol, Fred de Vera and Noel Caballes in Seniors; and Agnes Chung and Velma Sy in the Ladies’ Division.

For the LT Family division, Wilson Young was overall champion, while Lucio Tan Jr. and Johnny Ubaldo were the lowest gross scorers; Joseph Chua, Everest Bungay and Martin Reyes won Class A; Arnel Chung, Bobit Dobles and Joven Hernandez took Class B; Jose Solquillo, Ranel Viana and Vicente Co clinched Class C; and Cesar Santos, Ramon Zafra and Jimmy Bautista topped the Seniors’ division.

All winners received prizes, plus specially made Tanduay barrel trophies.

Another highlight of the event was the raffle draw of items and cash prizes.

we dn e s day : a p ri l 2 2 , 2 0 1 5

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sports sports@thestandard.com.ph

Volcanoes eye Asian rugby title THE Philippine Volcanoes set out to win the Asian Rugby Championship Division 1 crown, hoping to bank on homefield advantage and crowd support to strike gold in the four-nation meet slated May 6 and 9 at the new Philippine Sports Stadium in Bulacan.

The top-ranked team in the competition, the Volcanoes battle the Singaporeans on opening day at 4 p.m. while Sri Lanka and Kazakhstan mix it up at 2 p.m.

Winners in the opening day will advance to the championship match set three days later while the losers will dispute bronze.

“Although we’re currently the top seeds in Division 1, this will by no means be a walk in the park.” Matt Cullen, director of Rugby for the Philippine Rugby Football Union said during yesterday’s PSA Forum at Shakey’s Malate.

“This is the first time that Division 1 will feature four teams that were all formerly part of the top 5 Elite Division, making this a highly competitive group. The other teams will be just as ready to take that crown,” he added.

The ARC is the premiere 15-aside tournament in Asia, taking over the Asian 5 Nations. Under the restructured tourney, the Elite Division has been trimmed from five nations to three – Japan, Hong Kong and South Korea – while No. 4 Phl and No. 5 Sri Lanka went to Division 1.

“Unlike two year ago when we’re ranked no. 4, we’re ranked first now in ARC Division 1 and we’re hosting with the view off winning the tournament,” said Cullen.

For this campaign, the Volcanoes have called up overseas-based pros like Oliver Saunders and his brothers Matthew and Ben, Justin Coveney, Alex Aronson and Gareth Holgate.

The Volcanoes are also leaning on their 16th man - the home crowd - at the 25,000-seater PSS.

Atty. Dondon Bagatsing (right), Commissioner of the Philracom, announces the staging of the Triple Crown Series on May 17 during his appearance at the PSA Forum. He is joined by (from left) Matt Cullen, director of Rugby for the Philippine Rugby Football Union, 7’s captain Jake Robrigado and PRFU marketing head Mike Bolante. EY ACASIO

Triple Crown series kicks off May 17 NEWLY APPOINTED Philippine Racing Commission Commissioner Atty.

Dondon Bagatsing on Tuesday said that for a sport to get the support of both the public and the media, it must have unsullied integrity.

“Integrity is an essential in all sports, and it is no different in horseracing, most especially in horse-racing,” said Bagatsing at the Philippine Sportswriters Association (PSA) Forum aired live over DZSR Sports Radio 918 and presented by San Miguel Corporation, Accel, Shakey’s, and the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation.

“This way, the betting public will get their money’s worth,” added Bagatsing, who also announced that the

Philracom-backed Triple Crown series for elite 3YO Thoroughbreds will kick off on May 17 at the Manila Jockey Club’s San Lazaro Leisure Park in Carmona, Cavite, over 1,500 meters.

Among the expected contenders are last year’s juvenile standouts Princess Ella, Hook Shot, Sky Hook, Driven, Cat’s Express, and Miss Brulay.

The second leg will be on June 14 at the Philippine Racing Club’s Santa Ana Park in Naic, Cavite, over 1,800 meters, and the last leg on July 12 at the Metro Manila Turf Club’s Metro Turf Racecourse in Malvar, Batangas, will be a grueling 2,000-meter endurance run.

The three-leg series is patterned after the United States Triple Crown, with its three legs comprised of the

Kentucky Derby (running on May 2 this year), the Preakness Stakes, and the Belmont Stakes, also with progressively longer distances.

All three legs of last year’s Philracom Triple Crown were won by Emmanuel Santos’s colt Kid Molave (Into Mischief x Unsaid), earning a P500,000 bonus from Philracom for his rare feat.

The series was launched in 1978, with Native Gift winning the first two legs and Majority Rule denying him the sweep.

There have been only ten Triple Crown champions since then: Fair and Square in 1981, Skywalker (1983), Time Master (1987), Magic Showtime (1988), Sun Dancer (1989), Strong Material (1996), Real Top (1998), Silver Story (2001), Hagdang Bato (2012), and Kid Molave (2014).

Finix Corp. wins 2 international awards in health, fitness THE Finix Corporation reinforced its position as a leader in the fitness industry with two important awards the company received from Precor, one of the world’s leading fitness equipment manufacturers preferred by fitness facilities, hotels and individual exercisers in over 90 countries.

The awards, Best in Marketing and Best in Service, were given by Precor AsiaPacific to The Finix Corporation team, which attended the International Health and Raquet Sports Association’s 34th Annual Internation-

al Convention and Trade Show, a world-class exhibition of health and fitness products and services from over 70 countries. It was held last March at the Los Angeles Convention Center in Los Angeles, California.

The Finix Corporation was recognized for its aggressive efforts in promoting not only the products and services it offers across multiple media channels, but also in putting forward the importance of health and fitness to a wider audience. In addition, it also won the Best in Service award for

being the first company to implement an IPTV installation for Precor in Asia, which can be found at the Crown Tower, a six-star hotel located in the City of Dreams Manila. This project covered the entire process from testing to rigorous documentation and installation that is now being used as a standard at Precor.

Other highlights of the trade show and convention were the Precor Annual Sales Seminar held at the Nokia Theater that served as the launch pad for the AMT Team Fit, a trainer-led fit-

ness program designed for small groups of exercisers; the debut of the new Smith Machine from Precor and the introduction of Hoist’s RS-1408 Prone Leg Curl machine as well as the different options for their Motion Cage and other strength machines.

Guests were also treated to a live NBA game between Los Angeles Lakers and the New York Knicks.

The Finix Corp. is one of the pioneers in providing the latest top-of-the-line exercise machines to a wide spectrum of the local market

for the last 20 years.

To know more The Finix Corporation, visit its showrooms located at 420 Francisco Legaspi St., Maybunga, Pasig City; 2nd Floor Serendra, Fort Bonifacio Global City; and 12 Adolfo C. Fick Building, Hernan Cortes St. corner S. Cabahug St., Ayala Access Rd., Madaue City, Cebu.

Visit their branches nearest you or call(02)9151698 to 99, (02)552-1588 and (032)236-5473. Also check www.finixcorp.com Juanchit Jose, GM of The Finix out Corporation, holds the com- and www.facebook.com/ finixcorp. pany’s two awards.

R2 Apex school opens April 27 Participants in the last Milo R2 Apex running school are shown here.

THE MILO R2 APEX Running School, the country’s biggest and full program scientific running and fitness camp for adults, will open on April 27 to July 18 at the SM MOA by the Bay, Bonifacio Global City and Quezon City Memorial Circle.

Participants can choose among the following categories -- depending on the distance and fitness level. MetaFit Fitness 5K group, 10k group, 21k group or the 42k group.

For further details con-

tact the organizers at 09065126609 or visitwww. coachjimsaret.ph.

This elite program is headed by Coach Jim Saret and Coach Toni Saret, head of the Philippine Olympic Committee Strength and Conditioning Program for all National Athletes.

From injury prevention, training, core, strength, endurance, speed and power training, the 36 session program will cover everything to hone the runner’s skills.

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

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SPORTS sports@thestandard.com.ph

So grabs solo lead

By Peter Atencio

FILIPINO grandmaster Wesley So continued his winning ways in the fourth round of Shamkir Chess 2015 in Azerbaijan.

He coasted to his third victory in four games at the expense of lowestranked GM Rauf Mamedov.

Threatening with a kingside passed pawn push to the seventh rank, So won in 39 moves of a Sicilian Dragon.

So took the solo lead 3.5 points out of a possible four and he is now trailed by World champion Magnus Carlsen of Norway.

Carlsen moved to second with three points following a draw with Michael Adams of England in 38 moves of a Ruy Lopez.

Five-time world champion Viswanathan Anand drew with old foe Vladimir Kramnik of Russia in 38 moves of a Slav Defense.

Kramnik, who has only one victory besides three draws, remained in sole third position on 2.5 points.

Anand remained on joint fourth spot on two points along with Maxime Vachier-Lagrave of France.

Anish Giri of Holland, Fabiano Caruana of Italy, Shakhriyar Mamedyarov of Azerbaijan and Mamedov shared sixth spot on 1.5 points.

Spanish coaches hold clinics SPANISH coaches Daniel Randavurum and Mario Escuer are in the country to hold clinics for kids and coaches within the next two months.

They shared their knowledge with around 80 kids and 25 coaches last Sunday at the Rizal Memorial Football Stadium under the Goooal! Football Clinic program.

Their visit here was made possible with the help of Fundacion Santiago in the Philippines, and the Real Madrid Foundation in Spain.

Chaco Molina, executive director of Fundacion Santiago, said the coaches are around to help set up a two-week football training clinic.

Molina was with a Randavurum and Escuer and Real Madrid sports executive Luis Fernandez.

Republic of the Philippines Office of the President National Irrigation Administration (PAMBANSANG PANGASIWAAN NG PATUBIG) Office Address: Telephone Nos.: Email Address:

Tambubong, San Rafael, Bulacan (044) 766-2467, 766-4839, 816-6808 nia03@yahoo.com

Charles Hong blasts out of a sandtrap.

Hong seeks repeat at Sherwood CHARLES Hong hopes to flaunt the form he showed in last year’s feat but faces a more formidable challenge this time with a host of foreign players, including three Asian Development Tour winners, firming up the cast in the ICTSI Sherwood Hills Classic which fires off today at Sherwood Hills Golf Club in Cavite.

Premium will be on shotmaking although the power-hitting Hong used a combination of superb short game and steady putting in thwarting the young Micah Shin and annexing a two-stroke victory in last year’s all-Filipino staging of the P3.5 million event sponsored

by International Container Terminal Services, Inc. But with the event serving as

the eighth leg of this year’s ADT, the Asian Tour’s farm league, a number of international players are vying in the 72-hole championship, making it doubly difficult for Hong to score a repeat and the country’s top guns hard-pressed to keep the crown at home.

Arie Irawan actually spoiled the locals’ bid last week when he captured the ICTSI Eagle Ridge Invitational title via a four-shot romp over Miguel Tabuena.

Irawan, one of Malaysia’s rising stars, will not be around to shoot for another crown but the likes of Hsieh Chi-hsien of Taiwan, Wilson Choo of Malaysia and Panuwat Muenlek of Thailand are in the roster, all primed up for a second ADT win this year.

Choo topped the ADT Langkawi Championship last February, Muenlek ruled the ADT Terengganu Championship last month, while Hsieh snatched the Yeangder ADT title via a fourhole playoff two weeks ago and surged to the top for the ADT Order of Merit rankings.

“I just need to do what I’m doing and I hope I can hang around the leaderboard and then we’ll see what happens,” said Hong, also raring to atone for his failed bid at Eagle Ridge where he missed the cut by one stroke.

“The missed cut doesn’t bother me that much. Everyone misses cuts at some point and it was for me last week. But it doesn’t change anything from me,” he added.

Telefax No. (044) 766-2467 TIN No. 000-979-570-000

InvItatIon to BId RehaBIlItatIon of angat afteRBay RegulatoR dam Package 8-SuPPly and delIveRy of vehIcleS and SuPPoRt SeRvIceS InvItatIon to BId no. nIaR3–2015-aaRd-Bane-8 1.

The National Irrigation Administration (NIA) – Region III, through funds transferred by the Metropolitan Waterworks and Sewerage System (MWSS) to NIA under a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) between NIA and MWSS, intends to apply the sum of Five Million Four Hundred Fifty Thousand Pesos (P 5,450,000.00) being the Approved Budget for Contract (ABC) to payments under the contract for Rehabilitation of Angat Afterbay Regulator Dam, Package 8 – Supply and Delivery of Vehicles and Support Services broken down as follows : Approved Budget for the Contract (ABC)

DESCRIPTION Lot 1 – Vehicles Three (3) units Utility Vehicle, 4 x 2

Php 5,145,000.00

Lot 2 – Support Services Five (5) units Motorcycle, 125 cc

Php305,000.00 TOTAL

Php 5,450,000.00

Bids received in excess of the ABC shall be automatically rejected at bid opening.

2.

The NIA-Region 3now invites bids for the Rehabilitation of Angat Afterbay Regulator Dam, Package 8-Supply and Delivery of Vehicles and Support Services located in Brgy. Tambubong, San Rafael, Bulacan.

3.

Delivery of goods is required within 60calendar days.

4.

Bidders should have completed single largest contract prior from the date of submission and receipt of bids, a contract similar to the project with a value of at least 50% of the ABC. The description of an eligible bidder is contained in the Bidding Documents, particularly in Section II, Instruction to Bidders.

5.

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

6.

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.

7.

Interested bidders may obtain further information from NIA-Region 3 and inspect the Bidding Documents at the Office of the BAC Secretariat, NIA-Region 3,Tambubong, San Rafael, Bulacan from 8:00 A.M to 4:00 P.M., Monday to Friday.

A complete set of Bidding Documents may be purchased by interested bidder on April 23, 2015from the above address, Office of the BAC Secretariat and payment at the NIA-Region 3 Cashier of a non-refundable fee for the bidding documents in the following amount: ITEMS Lot 1 – Vehicles Three (3) units Utility Vehicle, 4 x 2

Ceremonial serve. Toby’s Sports officials (from left) Rod Claudio, President of Sports Resources Inc. and Wilson; Toby Claudio, President of Toby’s Sports; and Philippine Tennis Association officer Chris Cuarto, hit the ceremonial serve opening the 14th Toby’s Sports Annual Summer Tennis Festival at the Rizal Memorial Tennis Center Courts. More than 400 participants have already registered in the competition.

Amount of Bid Documents (non-refundable)

Previous net winners stamp class

Php 10,000.00

Lot 2 – Support Services Five (5) units Motorcycle, 125 cc

Php 500.00 TOTAL

Php 10,500.00

It may also download free of charge from the website of the Philippine Government Electronic Procurement System (PhilGEPS) and the NIA-Region 3 website, provided that bidder shall pay the non-refundable fee for the Bidding Documents not later than the submission of its bid.

8.

The NIA-Region 3 will hold a Pre-Bid Conference on April 29, 2015, 10:00 AM at the Conference Room, NIA – Region 3, Tambubong, San Rafael, Bulacan which shall be opened only to all interested parties who have purchased the Bidding Documents.

9.

Bids must be delivered on or before 10:00 AM, May 11, 2015, at the Conference Room, NIA – Region 3, Tambubong, San Rafael, Bulacan. Opening of bids will immediately follow in the presence of the bidders’ representatives who choose to attend. Late bids shall not be accepted. All bids must be accompanied by a bid security in any of the acceptable forms and in the amount stated in ITB Clause 18.

10.

Bidders shall warrant that all items to be delivered are new, branded and free from any defects.

11.

The NIA – Region 3 reserves the right to accept or reject any bid, to annul the bidding process, and to reject all bids at any time prior to contract award, without thereby incurring any liability to the affected bidder or bidders.

12.

For further information, please refer to:

The Chairman Bids and Awards Committee Office of the Engineering & Operations Division National Irrigation Administration – Region 3 Tambubong, San Rafael, Bulacan Telephone/Fax No. (044) 766 - 4839

(SGD.) VIRGILIO J. ILAO Chairman, Bids and Awards Committee

CYAN MAGENTA YELLOW BLACK

(TS-APR. 22, 2015)

AGE-GROUP tennis is going strong in the Mindanao area with Cebuana Lhuillier completing back-to-back legs in Polomolok, South Cotabato and Molave, Zamboanga del Sur, with new and old faces emerging winners in both legs.

“We have always believed that a strong and sustained age-group series will be the key to discovering new young tennis talents in the provinces. This is the reason why Cebuana Lhuillier has been supporting this nationwide and yearround, age-group series for the last 10 years,” said Cebuana Lhuillier President /Chief Executive Officer

and PHILTA Chairman Jean Henri Lhuillier, an active supporter of sports in the Philippines.

The girls’ side saw three previous leg winners in Ozamiz City repeating in Zamboanga del Sur as Sydney Ezra Enriquez from Zamboanga del Norte, and Jan Marie Anghag and Immaville Gervacio, both representing Ozamiz, taking the titles in the 12-under, 14-under and 18-under age groups, respectively, even as Lorraine Grace Barola won the 16-under crown over Gervacio.

Lanao del Norte’s Mart Clarence Cabahug won over multi-titled

Clyde Mari Casino in straight sets to win the 18-under title, while Jose Ma. Pague, a consistent winner in the series, added the 16-under boys’ crown to his collection, beating Andrei Cuevas also in two sets.

Visiting Mark Nicole Suson from Cebu went home with the 14-under title; Alexis Ocabo from Sibugay, Zamboanga was extended to three sets by Brent Sigmond Cortes in the 12-under finals; and Oroquieta ‘s bet Nash Agustines edged out Asian Carbonilla to win the 10-under crown in the Group 2 tournament hosted by the Molave Lawn Tennis Club.

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

A15

SPORTS sports@thestandard.com.ph

Elasto Painters shoot for sizeable 3-1 lead

By Jeric Lopez

DEFENSE is something that Rain or Shine coach Yeng Guiao and Talk ‘N Text mentor Jong Uichico continue to preach.

And shackling the enemy will be a priority when the Elasto Painters and the Texters clash in Game 4 of the their heated bestof-seven titular showdown in the 2015 Philippine Basketball Association Commissioner’s Cup, with the Painters looking for a commanding 3-1 series lead.

Gametime is set at 7 p.m. at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.

Prior to the game, the top in-

dividual performers in the tournament will also be recognized such as the Best Player of the Conference and Best Import.

For one team, defense was the key in winning the series’ last two games and gaining a vital upperhand. For the other, it’s the lack thereof that sealed its doom.

The Elasto Painters took Game 3 and grabbed a 2-1 lead after dominating the Tropang Texters,

109-97, last Sunday.

Guiao credited his team’s defense for their success, saying it will continue to be the key for the Painters as they try to move to within a win away from a possible second championship for the franchise. ‘’We’re playing fantastic defense. We can attribute our wins to our team effort on defense,’’ said Guiao. ‘’Talk ‘N Text is an explosive team and we elevated our level of playing defense to counter that and we need to continue doing that to keep on winning and move closer to the championship.’’

For Uichico, it’s the exact opposite. He has been very vocal about

Game Today (Finals, Game 4 Smart Araneta Coliseum) 7 p.m. • Talk ‘N Text vs. Rain or Shine

his team’s lackluster defense even in the Texters’ Game 1 win. He knows his wards’ defense needs to tighten up on the Rain or Shine onslaught if they want to get back in the series. ‘’We just give them too many points. We’re giving up a lot of points and that’s hurting us a lot.

We just have to get the job done on defense,’’ said Uichico.

He has a point. Talk ‘N Text allowed Rain or Shine to score 100 points or more in Games 2 and 3, and that spelled doom for Uichico’s squad.

Army rips Baguio, zeroes in on semis POWERHOUSE Army flexed just enough muscle to put away Baguio’s token challenge as it fashioned out a 25-7, 25-17, 25-10 romp yesterday to close in on a semifinal berth in the Shakey’s V-League Season 12-Open Conference at The Arena in San Juan City.

The Lady Troopers had a virtual workout against one of the league’s three newcomers with coach Rico de Guzman cashing in on the chance to try new combinations and plays using all his 14 players in notching their fourth win in five games.

“We had a chance to use all my players in this game and experiment on some plays,” said de Guzman, who steered the Lady Troopers past the Cagayan Valley Lady Rising Suns in last year’s final of this conference sponsored by Shakey’s.

Dindin Santiago-Manabat and Honey Rose Tubino rammed in 13 and 10 hits, respectively, despite playing for two sets as the Lady Troopers came through with 45 points on attacks, nearly tripling the paltry 16-kill effort by the Summer Spikers.

Jovelyn Gonzaga also made her return from an ankle injury and made six points in a two-set stint while Rachel Ann Daquis chipped in seven markers and Genie Sabas, Joanne Bunag, Mary Jean Balse, Carmina Aganon and Michelle Carolino each had four hits for the Lady Troopers.

Army is now just half a game behind the Alyssa Valdez-led PLDT Home Ultera, which shows the way with four straight victories in the tournament presented by PLDT Home Ultera and backed by Mikasa and Accel.

Paul Lee of Rain or Shine (right), shown here losing the ball to the quick hands of TNT’s Ranidel de Ocampo, will again be a marked man.

Pacquiao tells fans: Don’t worry

By Ronnie Nathanielsz AN unbelievably upbeat eightdivision world champion Manny Pacquiao told his millions of fans around the world: “Don’t be nervous. Relax. I’ll do the fighting.”

Pacquiao, who had, what ABS-CBN reporter Dyan Castillejo told the Standard/boxingmirror.com, “was a really good run at Griffith Park” yesterday morning appeared in “great physical condition, looks great and is super upbeat.”

“I have to be a warrior in the

CYAN MAGENTA YELLOW BLACK

ring and fight like it is the last fight of my life. I need to fight every round like each round is the last round of my life,” Boxing Scene quoted Pacquiao as saying.

He said that for the past five years, this is the fight he had dreamed of. “Now that the fight is a reality, I am going to prove that it was worth the wait.”

Pacquiao and trainer Freddie Roach both believe he will be in the same peak condition when he put on a devastating performance against Oscar De La Hoya and Miguel Cotto.

“The plan is simple, attack and pressure,” said Pacquiao.

“To win the fight, I must win each round. And to win each round, I must overwhelm him with speed, punch volume and power. If an opportunity to knock Floyd out presents itself, I will take advantage of it.”

Pacquiao concluded that he knows what it takes to beat Mayweather and said he had no doubt he would win on May 2 (May 3 in Manila). “This is the Manny Pacquiao Floyd will face. It’s time for Floyd to lose,” he said.

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

P0.0 M+ P0.0 M+

Magnetism wins PCSO maiden race NINE elite runners raced over HE HOARSE WHISPERER 1,400 meters, but when the dust cleared, RMR Equine’s Magnetism was declared the winner of the Apr. 18 Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office Special Maiden Race for 3YO at Metro Turf Racecourse.

Sprinter Whoopee led for most of the race, followed off-the-pace three lengths behind by Agila. Manilenya, the trial race winner, ran in third with Rafa’s Girl in fourth.

Magnetism, a stayer, hung back and it wasn’t till the far turn that his jockey Jeffril Zarate urged his mount forward to fight for the lead, which he wrested from Whoopee at the top of the stretch.

Magnetism hit the wire five lengths ahead of second placer Agila. Third place was taken by Manilenya, and Whoopee was fourth. The time for the race was 1:26.2 (13-22-25.4-27.8).

RMR Equine owner Mayor Leonardo “Sandy” Javier Jr. received the winning owner’s trophy as well as the breeder’s plaque.

Magnetism is by Elysium Fields out of Aurora’s Charm.

With Javier at the awarding ceremony were Zarate and winning trainer Ruben Tupas, and they received their trophies from members of the PCSO Racing Committee —Desoto Tupas, Orlando Malaca, Daniel Valmonte, and myself—and PCSO officials Gerry Rojas and Ariel de Ocampo.

The next PCSO event is another 3YO Open on May 16 at the Manila Jockey Club’s San Lazaro Leisure Park, followed by the PCSO Silver Cup on June 21 at Metro Turf. *** This early on, American Pharaoh looks likely to be the favorite in the Kentucky Derby at 2-1 odds. Jockey Steve Cauthen called him “a freak”, doubtless after the horse’s victories in the G1 Arkansas Derby, G1 Front Runner Stakes, and G2 Rebel Stakes.

At 9-2 is Dortmund, winner of the G1 Santa Anita Stakes and G2 San Felipe Stakes. Carpe Diem, who won the G1 Blue Grass Stakes and G2 Tampa Bay Derby and placed second in the G1 Breeder’s Cup Juvenile, is at 6-1.

Among the longshots I’m interested in is El Kabeir. At 25-1, he caught my eye after it was recently announced that his rider will be Calvin Borel, better known to fans as “Borail” after proving himself a master at guiding his mounts along the rail for a groundsaving ride.

He’s one of my favorite jockeys after he scored that monumental upset with Mine That Bird in the 2009 Kentucky Derby. Racing in mud at the back of the pack, Borel managed to duplicate the technique he perfected aboard Street Sense when they won the 2007 Kentucky Derby by hugging the rail and winning by six lengths to reign as the second-biggest upset winner in the history of the race.

This year’s field looks wide open, although there is no official lineup yet. Run on the first Saturday of May each year, the Kentucky Derby is one of the sport’s iconic races, and our eyes will always be turned to Churchill Downs on that day, the Mecca of racing fans all over the world. *** Facebook: Gogirl Racing, Twitter: @gogirlracing, Blog: http://jennyo.net JENNY ORTUOSTE

T

CYAN MAGENTA YELLOW BLACK

A16

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

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

Pacmania sweeps PH sports MANNY Pacquiao’s face is on shirts, dolls and postage stamps, his life story is playing in movie houses and millions are getting ready to party as the Philippine boxing hero’s “fight of the century” nears.

Pacmania is sweeping the Southeast Asian nation of 100 million people ahead of the May 2 Las Vegas bout against unbeaten Floyd Mayweather to decide who is the best boxer of their generation. (See related story on A15) “The mood is upbeat. Of course, it’s the fight of the century,” Manila film producer Lucky Blanco told AFP. Blanco is a co-producer of the Pacquiao film: “Kid Kulafu”, now showing at scores of theatres across the country and a high-profile scene-setter for the world’s richest fight.

For many, the 36-year-old Pacquiao, winner of an unprecedented eight world championships in different weight divisions, symbolises their hope of escaping the grinding poverty that afflicts one in four of his countrymen.

The movie tells the story of the runaway high school dropout who, years before becoming a ring legend, sold doughnuts on the streets and stacked shelves with “Vino Kulafu”, a cheap Chinese wine brand.

Years later, as he became one of the world’s richest sportsmen and one of the most famous Filipinos, a Manila television network would give the left-hander another name: “The National Fist”.

Pacmania always sweeps the Philippines ahead of his fights, but the intensity dropped in recent years after Pacquiao lost an unprecedented two straight bouts.

He then had three wins, reviving excitement and hopes Pacquiao still has what it takes to be the world’s best.

But Mayweather is the opponent his fans have always wanted him to fight.

Souvenir frenzy Millions of Filipinos will don Pacman paraphernalia to cheer their idol on live television screens during the fight, which will take place on a Sunday morning in the Philippines.

Baseball caps, T-shirts, $68 boxing gloves signed

by Pacman himself, and $565 vinyl dolls of Pacquiao boxing against the Disney character Mickey Mouse are flying off shelves.

“On fight day everyone wants to be seen wearing something that will symbolise their support,” Joy Saransate, manager of a Pacquiao-owned Team Pacquiao memorabilia shop in Manila, told AFP. Government agencies have even been swept up in Pacmania, with the state postal authority this week releasing half a million stamps of a fighting Pacquiao.

“This... is a fitting tribute to his exceptional character and ability that truly unites the nation whenever he fights,” postmaster-general Josie de la Cruz said.

Pacquiao, a sometime actor, politician and professional basketball player on the side, also released a video last week of a new song: “I Will Fight for the Philippines”, to be used for his ring entrance in Las Vegas, that is getting widespread publicity in the media.

Whetted by saturation newspaper and television coverage, and primed by training clips fed through his official social media sites, Filipinos are clearing their schedules to make sure they will be able to watch the fight.

It will be shown live on pay-per-view television, while local networks also struck an unprecedented deal to air it without ads and on a slightly-delayed basis on free television.

However, in keeping with tradition throughout his career, many Filipinos will prefer to watch the fight in public places, including at gyms and parks across the country or in restaurants and watering holes. AFP

Hong seeks repeat at Sherwood turn to A14

CYAN MAGENTA YELLOW BLACK

A woman poses in front of a poster of Philippine boxing icon Manny Pacquiao at a store in Manila.

Manny Pacquiao’s face is on shirts, dolls and postage stamps, his name is on caps (inset), his life story is playing in movie houses and millions are getting ready to party as the Philippine boxing hero’s “Fight of the Century” nears. AFP

Butler gives Bulls 2-0 lead turn to A12

CYAN MAGENTA YELLOW BLACK WEDNESDAY: APRIL 22, 2015

RAY S. EÑANO EDITOR

RODERICK T. DELA CRUZ ASSISTANT EDITOR

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

PSe c omPoSite

BUSINESS

index

Closing April 21, 2015

8500 8000 7500 7000 6500 6000

B1

7,864.94 18.33

PeSo-dollar rate

Closing APRIL 21, 2015 46

P44.265

45

CLOSE

44 43 42

HIGH P44.230 LOW P44.330 AVERAGE P44.290 VOLUME 585.100M

P500.00-P650.00 LPG/11-kg tank P38.95-P44.55 Unleaded Gasoline P27.70-P31.00 Diesel

o

il P PriceS today

P35.35-P41.98 Kerosene P23.70-P24.40 Auto LPG Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas Tuesday, April 21, 2015

F o r e i g n e x c h a n g e r at e Currency

Unit

US Dollar

Peso

United States

Dollar

1.000000

44.2300

Japan

Yen

0.008386

0.3709

UK

Pound

1.490000

65.9027

Hong Kong

Dollar

0.129032

5.7071

Switzerland

Franc

1.045588

46.2464

Canada

Dollar

0.817394

36.1533

Singapore

Dollar

0.741565

Australia

Dollar

0.771903

34.1413

Bahrain

Dinar

2.652520

117.3210

Saudi Arabia

Rial

0.266667

32.7994

11.7947

Brunei

Dollar

0.738825

32.6782

Indonesia

Rupiah

0.000078

0.0034

Thailand

Baht

0.030893

1.3664

UAE

Dirham

0.272257

12.0419

Euro

Euro

1.073900

47.4986

Korea

Won

0.000925

0.0409

China

Yuan

0.161251

7.1321

India

Rupee

0.015853

0.7012

Malaysia

Ringgit

0.276243

12.2182

New Zealand

Dollar

0.765814

33.8720

Taiwan

Dollar

0.032216

1.4249 Source: PDS Bridge

Robot receptionist. A customer looks at humanoid robot “Aiko Chihira”, developed by Toshiba Corp., standing at an information desk inside an Isetan Mitsukoshi Holdings Ltd. Mitsukoshi department store in Tokyo, Japan. Prime Minister Shinzo Abe hopes to achieve a “robot revolution” as part of his growth strategy for a nation that’s facing a shrinking workforce and declining population. BLOOMBERG

Manila Water told to cut rates

By Anna Leah E. Gonzales

AN arbitration panel of the International Chamber of Commerce has ordered east zone concessionaire Manila Water Co. to reduce its tariff by 11 percent and barred the company from passing on corporate taxes to consumers.

Manila Water said in a statement the appeals panel ordered the company to reduce the P25.07 per cubic meter average basic charge by 11.05 percent. The reduction translates into P2.77 per cubic meter over a three-year period starting 2015.

The decision differed substantially from the December 2014 ruling of an appeals panel handling the

separate arbitration case of west zone concessionaire Maynilad Water Services, which was allowed to increase its tariff, including passing on the income tax burden to consumers.

The appeals panel upheld Maynilad’s rate rebasing adjustment which called for an increase in its basic charge by an average of P3.06 per cubic meter from the current

basic rate.

MWSS however deferred the ruling on new water rates, pending a decision on a similar case involving Manila Water.

Manila Water said the new rate rabasing adjustment would be negative P1.66 per cubic meter in 2015; negative P0.55 per cubic meter in 2016 and negative P0.55 per cubic meter in 2017.

Separately, a consumer price index adjustment of 4.19 percent will also be made to the basic water charge in 2015, equivalent to P1.08 per cubic meter.

Manila Water said annual CPI adjustments would continue to be made consistent with the company’s concession agreement with Metropolitan Waterworks and Sewerage System.

Data from Manila Water showed that for customers consuming 10 cubic meter per month, the new monthly rates would be P134, down by P4 from P138. Those who consume 20 cubic meters monthly see their month bill go down by P5 to P296 from P 304 while those who consume 30 cubic meters per month will pay P603, instead of P 618.

“The appeals panel decided that the corporate income tax should be excluded from the cash flows used for the determination of tariffs. This was a result of their finding that the company is a public utility,” Manila Water said.

The arbitration case arose from the decision of the MWSS to reduce the current basic charge of Manila Water by 29.47 percent or an average of negative P7.24 per cubic meter for

PH poised to become a trillion-dollar economy

By Jennifer Ambanta THE Philippine economy will likely double in terms of overall size, reaching over $1 trillion by 2029, according to a US-based think tank.

IHS Asia Pacific chief economist Rajiv Biswas said the Philippines had the capacity to transform its economy into a trillion-dollar ($1.05 trillion) market, if it continued to expand at an average rate of 5.5 percent annually over the 2016-2020 period.

IHS said GDP per capita in the Philippines would rise from around $3,000 in 2015 to around $6,000 by 2024.

“This has considerable impli-

CYAN MAGENTA YELLOW BLACK

cations for the size of the Philippines consumer economy. These significant increases in per capita GDP will create one of Asean’s largest consumer markets of the future, as the middle class rapidly expands over time,” Biswas said.

“This will help to attract foreign direct investment by multinationals into the Philippines manufacturing and services industry,” he said.

IHS also said the gross domestic product of the Philippines might rise from $310 billion in 2015 to $500 billion by 2020.

It said over the short term, the Philippine economy would expand by 6.4 percent in 2015 and 5.6 percent in 2016.

The projected figures are below

the government’s seven to eight percent growth target for this year and next.

IHS said real consumer spending growth was forecast to remain strong, growing at 5.2 percent per year in 2015 and 2016.

Biswas said the Philippine economy’s rapidly growing business process outsourcing sector and the strong flow of remittances from Filipinos overseas would drive the growth of the economy.

“While the current growth drivers of the Philippines are the IT-BPO industry and the strong and stable remittances of the overseas Filipino workers, the long-term outlook for the future development of the Philippines

will be heavily dependent on the ability to make the manufacturing sector more competitive and to mobilize both foreign and domestic investment flows into the manufacturing sector,” he said.

“This will require considerable improvement of the business climate, with the Philippines still ranked very low globally on the World Bank’s Ease of Doing Business rankings,” Biswas said.

IHS said a key priority for the Philippines is attract greater foreign direct investments into the manufacturing sector, in order to boost employment growth and make the Philippines a competitive Asean manufacturing export hub.

the 2013-2017 rate rebasing period.

“While the arbitration decision resolved specific issues raised

by Manila Water, we are deeply concerned about the finding that Manila Water is a public utility,” said Manila Water president and chief executive Gerardo Abaza, Jr. Ablaza said the ruling differed significantly from the government’s original representation during the 1997 bidding for private sector participation in the operation of MWSS, where Manila Water was supposed to be an agent and contractor of MWSS, which would continue to be the public utility.

“This decision fundamentally changes the concession agreement.

We will study the full implications of now being characterized as a public utility. We will actively work with government towards ensuring the sustainability of excellent service to east zone customers under this new arrangement,” said Ablaza.

MWSS said that it would partially implement the arbitral award with respect to other items not related to corporate income tax.

MWSS said this would translate into a rate adjustment of P0.64 per cubic meter, or 2.11 percent of Maynilad’s 2012 average basic charge of P30.28 per cubic meter.

MWSS chief regulator Joel Yu said MWSS also expected to settle the issue of whether or not the concessionaire should pass its income tax to consumers.

“MWSS will bring the decision to a close by bringing it to the appropriate court of law. There’s a need to settle this. The corporate tax issue remains unsettled. I hope it will go directly to the Supreme Court. We would like to have a closure,” Yu said.

WEDNESDAY: APRIL 22, 2015

B2

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

MST BuSineSS Daily STockS Review Tuesday, april 21, 2015

52 Weeks

Previous

High Low

STOCKS

7.88 75.3 124.4 104 63 2.49 4.2 18.48 31.6 9.5 890 1.01 99.4 1.46 30.5 75 94.95 137 361.2 59 174.8 127.9

2.5 66 84.6 84.5 45.8 1.97 2.03 12.02 23.55 6.3 625 0.225 78 0.9 18.02 58 76.5 95 276 45 107.6 66

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

MEDCO Holdings Metrobank Natl. Reinsurance Corp.

PB Bank Phil Bank of Comm Phil. National Bank Phil. Savings Bank PSE Inc. RCBC `A’ Security Bank Union Bank

7.7 70.75 117.00 107.00 46.2 2.37 2.15 15.2 22.5 8.51 787.00 0.395 97.2 0.99 18.30 30.70 77.50 95 325 46 160.1 69.50

35.6 1.6 1.04 1.41 7.92 32 14.6 62.5 10.08 29.15 1.04 10.72 8.44 9.79 5.43 9.54 1.06 8.61 18.06 67.9 0.0076 13.24 3.12 0.395 168 8.65 34.1 2.3 1.63 16 24.4 16.2 7.62 250.2 3.87 9 9.94 3.03 2.22 1 4.72 201.6 4.1 1.67 0.122 1.02 2.01 143.4 4.28 0.670 1.39

Aboitiz Power Corp.

Agrinurture Inc. Alliance Tuna Intl Inc. Alsons Cons.

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

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

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

Petron Corporation Phinma Corporation Phoenix Petroleum Phils.

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

Splash Corporation Swift Foods, Inc. TKC Steel Corp.

Trans-Asia Oil Universal Robina Victorias Milling Vitarich Corp.

Vulcan Ind’l.

42 1.67 1.09 2 11.5 92.95 18.44 185 34.95 62.5 1.77 13.24 18.600 11.48 7.72 9.52 1.79 17.6 28.5 92.8 0.4400 14.18 6 0.590 212.00 9.46 36.65 2.68 2.52 54.05 27.3 24.5 7.600 265.00 4.08 9.79 11.58 4.02 2.40 3.01 4.91 199.1 4.5 1.68 0.166 1.30 2.13 216.6 4.5 0.68 1.44

0.7 59.2 31.85 2.16 7.39 2.27 3.4 3.35 800 11.06 84 5.14 0.66 1380 6.68 72.6 5.29 9.25 0.9 18.9 0.73 5.53 6.55 0.0670 0.84 87 3.5 934 2.2 156 0.710 0.435 0.510

0.45 48.1 20.85 1.6 6.62 1.210 1.4 1.6 600 7.390 14.18 4.25 0.144 818 5.3 46.6 3 4.43 0.59 12 0.580 4.22 4.5 0.036 0.450 66.7 1.5 709.5 1.13 85.2 0.200 0.173 0.310

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

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

Lodestar Invt. Holdg.Corp.

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

Minerales Industrias Corp.

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

0.470 57.00 24.15 1.35 7.10 1.56 0.28 0.28 780 8.09 15.60 4.47 0.275 1243 6.12 72.00 5.5 8.65 0.81 15.7 0.65 4.85 5.11 0.0390 0.780 69.55 2.82 930.00 1.21 100.30 0.3850 0.2240 0.310

10.5 1.99 2.07 0.375 40 6.15

6.01 0.91 1.29 0.192 29.1 4.1

8990 HLDG A. Brown Co., Inc. Araneta Prop `A’ Arthaland Corp.

Ayala Land `B’ Belle Corp. `A’

8.490 0.85 1.290 0.255 39.65 4.12

47 5 1.66 2.36 15.3 148 20.6 125 32 65.8 4.57 23.35 21.6 12.98 9.13 12.34 2.89 17 31.8 109 0.820 15.3 9.4 0.98 241 12.5 79 3.95 4 45.45 33.9 90 13.98 292.4 5.25 13.04 14.5 7.03 3.4 4.5 6.68 253 5.5 3.28 0.315 2.5 2.68 226.6 5.5 1.3 2.17

Close

High

Low

FINANCIAL 7.95 7.5 70.8 70.75 117.50 115.70 106.90 105.00 46.2 46 2.39 2.36 2.15 2.06 15.2 14.5 22.9 22.25 8.40 7.20 780.00 777.00 0.440 0.400 97.5 96.5 1.01 1 18.50 18.12 30.75 30.75 77.95 76.00 95.05 92.05 330 320.2 47.7 46 164 159 69.50 68.85 INDUSTRIAL 42.7 41.9 1.67 1.5 1.1 1.08 2.01 1.99 11.62 11.3 92.95 87.00 18.92 18.5 199 199 35 33.65 62.75 61.5 1.76 1.73 13.48 13.24 19.500 18.7 11.48 11.16 7.99 7.76 9.61 9.52 1.82 1.78 18.2 17.1 28.9 27.75 95 92.05 0.4500 0.4500 14.18 14.06 6.28 6 0.590 0.590 216.00 211.80 9.47 9.43 36.85 36.50 2.56 2.55 2.52 2.51 54.00 52.00 27 25.9 24.95 24.3 7.600 7.550 266.80 262.80 4.18 4.02 9.80 9.68 11.54 11.30 4.05 4.00 2.40 2.36 3.15 2.55 5.10 4.95 200 199 4.4 4.4 1.69 1.67 0.166 0.166 1.34 1.34 2.15 2.09 220 217.6 4.54 4.49 0.67 0.66 1.45 1.44 HOLDING FIRMS 0.470 0.450 58.00 57.00 24.80 24.30 1.35 1.35 7.12 7.10 1.60 1.60 0.28 0.26 0.28 0.28 794 761 8.25 8.06 15.50 14.24 4.40 4.30 0.285 0.270 1267 1218 6.20 6.20 72.80 71.55 5.5 5.5 8.79 8.64 0.84 0.79 15.76 14.94 0.64 0.64 4.86 4.68 5.1 5 0.0410 0.0410 0.960 0.800 70.00 69.00 2.83 2.83 944.50 905.00 1.20 1.17 100.30 100.20 0.3900 0.3700 0.2380 0.2080 0.315 0.310 PROPERTY 8.800 8.490 0.85 0.83 1.300 1.280 0.260 0.260 40.00 39.55 4.18 4

Close

%

Net Foreign

Change Volume

Trade/Buying

7.85 70.8 116.40 105.20 46.05 2.36 2.15 15 22.35 7.71 777.00 0.430 97.1 1.01 18.16 30.75 76.90 95 328 46.85 159.2 69.00

1.95 0.07 -0.51 -1.68 -0.32 -0.42 0.00 -1.32 -0.67 -9.40 -1.27 8.86 -0.10 2.02 -0.77 0.16 -0.77 0.00 0.92 1.85 -0.56 -0.72

38,600 9,160 5,046,410 851,890 291,800 5,000 134,000 437,500 309,200 74,100 560 1,060,000 3,104,890 497,000 13,900 1,400 180,280 2,250 700 236,300 576,460 18,300

42 1.67 1.1 2 11.52 87.00 18.92 199 35 62.75 1.73 13.38 19.480 11.40 7.83 9.60 1.82 17.6 27.8 93 0.4500 14.06 6.1 0.590 216.00 9.47 36.50 2.55 2.52 53.90 26.25 24.8 7.600 264.80 4.02 9.70 11.32 4.00 2.36 2.7 5.10 199.2 4.4 1.68 0.166 1.34 2.10 218.6 4.5 0.66 1.45

0.00 0.00 0.92 0.00 0.17 -6.40 2.60 7.57 0.14 0.40 -2.26 1.06 4.73 -0.70 1.42 0.84 1.68 0.00 -2.46 0.22 2.27 -0.85 1.67 0.00 1.89 0.11 -0.41 -4.85 0.00 -0.28 -3.85 1.22 0.00 -0.08 -1.47 -0.92 -2.25 -0.50 -1.67 -10.30 3.87 0.05 -2.22 0.00 0.00 3.08 -1.41 0.92 0.00 -2.94 0.69

2,023,800 219,000 874,000 814,000 14,300 200 109,000 20 323,800 398,680 83,000 86,900 10,970,600 3,458,600 30,301,200 93,800 24,000 180,100 4,909,100 168,420 20,000 7,500 76,200 24,000 718,900 130,600 2,800 13,000 12,000 1,670 2,677,700 152,800 960,500 92,000 449,000 2,545,700 9,100 356,000 678,000 2,568,000 2,250,000 126,010 2,000 301,000 30,000 11,000 1,530,000 2,835,440 41,000 1,012,000 2,000

0.470 57.85 24.65 1.35 7.10 1.60 0.26 0.28 770 8.07 14.46 4.30 0.280 1230 6.20 71.90 5.5 8.69 0.81 14.98 0.64 4.83 5.05 0.0410 0.920 69.50 2.83 918.00 1.17 100.30 0.3850 0.2280 0.310

0.00 1.49 2.07 0.00 0.00 2.56 -7.14 0.00 -1.28 -0.25 -7.31 -3.80 1.82 -1.05 1.31 -0.14 0.00 0.46 0.00 -4.59 -1.54 -0.41 -1.08 5.13 17.95 -0.07 0.35 -1.29 -3.31 0.00 0.00 1.79 0.00

1,340,000 721,890 11,181,900 60,000 105,200 3,000 310,000 100,000 551,840 2,123,500 19,552,400 166,000 2,070,000 417,065 100 1,697,320 200 538,500 416,000 7,844,100 152,000 25,064,000 78,000 1,300,000 44,613,000 510,340 1,000 232,230 201,000 650 4,150,000 2,170,000 400,000

8.770 0.83 1.290 0.265 39.90 4

3.30 -2.35 0.00 3.92 0.63 -2.91

91,800 1,053,000 172,000 990,000 5,755,000 4,687,000

79,450.00 626,939.50 -134,991,640.00 -47,134,589.00 18,400.00 10,500.00 -1,756,500.00 807,810.00 436,050.00 15,700.00 126,213,088.00

52 Weeks

Previous

High Low

STOCKS

Close

5.4 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 3.6 20.6 1.02 7.56 1.96 8.59

4.96 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 3.08 15.08 0.69 3.38 1 5.69

Cebu Holdings Century Property City & Land Dev. Cityland Dev. `A’ Crown Equities Inc. Cyber Bay Corp.

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

Phil. Realty `A’ Primex Corp.

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

10.5 66 1.44 1.09 12.46 15.82 0.1460 4.61 99.1 9 1700 2090 8.41 1.97 119.5 7 12.5 0.017 0.8200 2.2800 5.93 12.28 2.85 2.2 3.2 1.97 2.46 15.2 0.62 22.8 6.41 110.2 14 3486 0.710 2.28 48.5 90.1 11.6 0.87 10.2 0.490 1.6

1.97 32.5 1 0.6 10 9.61 0.0770 2.95 46.55 5.88 830 1600 5.95 1.36 105 3.01 8.72 0.012 0.036 1.200 2.34 6.5 1.69 1.1 2 0.490 1.8 8.7 0.34 14.54 3 79 4.39 2726 0.380 0.32 31.45 60.55 7.59 0.63 6.45 0.305 1.04

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

Cebu Air Inc. (5J) DFNN Inc. FEUI Globe Telecom GMA Network Inc. Harbor Star I.C.T.S.I. Imperial Res. `A’ IPeople Inc. `A’ IP E-Game Ventures Inc. Island Info ISM Communications Jackstones Leisure & Resorts Liberty Telecom Lorenzo Shipping Macroasia Corp.

Manila Bulletin Manila Jockey Melco Crown MG Holdings Pacific Online Sys. Corp.

PAL Holdings Inc. Phil. Seven Corp.

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

Yehey

0.0098 17.24 25 12.7 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 7.67 12.88 0.040 10.42 420 9 0.016

0.0043 8.65 9.43 6.5 0.61 0.78 5.99 1.08 0.330 0.2130 0.2160 0.014 0.014 3.660 20.2 2.11 0.365 1.54 5.4 7.26 0.015 2.27 115.9 3.67 0.0100

Abra Mining Atlas Cons. `A’ Atok-Big Wedge `A’ Benguet Corp `A’ Century Peak Metals Hldgs Coal Asia Dizon Ferronickel Geograce Res. Phil. Inc. Lepanto `A’ Lepanto `B’ Manila Mining `A’ Manila Mining `B’ Marcventures Hldgs., Inc. Nickelasia Nihao Mineral Resources Omico Oriental Peninsula Res. Petroenergy Res. Corp.

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

TA Petroleum United Paragon

70 525 120 515 8.21 12.28 111

33 500 101.5 480 5.88 6.5 101

1047 76.9 84.8

1011 74.2 75

ABS-CBN Holdings Corp.

Ayala Corp. Pref ‘B2’ First Gen G GLOBE PREF P GMA Holdings Inc. Leisure and Resort MWIDE PREF PCOR-Preferred B PF Pref 2 SMC Preferred A SMC Preferred C

6.98

0.8900 LR Warrant

10.96 15 88 12.88

2.4 3.5 13.5 5.95

130.7

105.6 First Metro ETF

High

Low

Close

5.19 0.92 1.25 1.04 0.154 0.450 0.880 0.201 1.41 1.81 1.44 5.49 0.124 0.3450 0.5100 7.28 29.45 1.76 3.40 19.06 0.8 7.15 1.060 7.960

%

Net Foreign

Change Volume

Trade/Buying

5.24 5.12 5.2 0.93 0.91 0.92 1.32 1.22 1.22 1.04 1.04 1.04 0.157 0.154 0.155 0.485 0.450 0.470 0.880 0.880 0.880 0.201 0.193 0.193 1.43 1.39 1.40 1.83 1.77 1.78 1.40 1.39 1.40 5.42 5.27 5.3 0.126 0.122 0.122 0.3600 0.3300 0.3500 0.4700 0.4600 0.4700 7.34 7.21 7.21 30.00 29.40 29.70 1.78 1.76 1.76 3.30 3.20 3.20 19.40 19.18 19.30 0.8 0.77 0.8 7.24 7.13 7.24 1.060 1.040 1.040 7.940 7.800 7.870 SERVICES 6.31 7.15 6.4 6.72 61.5 62 61.45 61.45 1.04 1.1 1.03 1.03 0.680 0.690 0.680 0.690 12.52 13 12.5 12.5 11.14 11.44 11.20 11.34 0.1120 0.1160 0.1120 0.1120 3.37 3.34 3.3 3.3 81 82 81 81.65 7.08 7.04 7.00 7.00 995 995 995 995 2196 2246 2160 2180 6.51 6.46 6.25 6.25 1.47 1.54 1.45 1.54 106.3 108 106 106.4 7.90 7.90 7.90 7.90 11.1 12.5 12 12 0.014 0.014 0.014 0.014 0.225 0.227 0.225 0.225 1.2600 1.2500 1.2500 1.2500 2.74 2.76 2.55 2.55 8.58 8.80 8.61 8.79 2.08 2.00 2.00 2.00 1.3 1.3 1.3 1.3 2.29 2.27 2.27 2.27 0.680 0.690 0.680 0.680 1.99 2 1.99 2 9.65 9.88 9.6 9.62 0.360 0.365 0.360 0.360 18.4 18.4 18.4 18.4 4.55 4.50 4.50 4.50 110.00 112.00 110.00 112.00 14.46 14.58 14.40 14.56 2912.00 2912.00 2882.00 2902.00 0.610 0.610 0.600 0.610 1.570 1.590 1.550 1.570 39.00 39.30 39.00 39.30 83.00 84.50 82.80 84.00 9.50 9.65 9.50 9.52 0.67 0.67 0.67 0.67 6.74 6.72 6.5 6.68 0.350 0.355 0.335 0.355 1.310 1.310 1.310 1.310 MINING & OIL 0.0057 0.0057 0.0055 0.0057 8.00 8.07 7.02 8.04 11.10 16.50 11.10 12.50 6.9800 7.0000 7.0000 7.0000 1.1 1.09 1.07 1.07 0.89 0.91 0.88 0.89 8.09 8.28 8.00 8.09 1.88 1.92 1.88 1.92 0.385 0.390 0.375 0.380 0.230 0.230 0.229 0.230 0.243 0.243 0.237 0.243 0.0140 0.0140 0.0130 0.0140 0.0150 0.0160 0.0140 0.0160 4.16 4.25 4.16 4.2 20 20.5 19.96 20.1 3.78 3.84 3.77 3.8 0.7300 0.7300 0.7300 0.7300 2.100 2.140 2.100 2.100 5.50 5.52 5.45 5.50 6.41 6.92 6.42 6.62 0.016 0.016 0.015 0.015 2 2.03 1.94 1.95 160.50 163.20 160.50 160.70 4.18 4.29 4.18 4.28 0.0110 0.0110 0.0100 0.0110 PREFERRED 63.75 64.2 62.2 63.3 522 525 525 525 118 120 120 120 525 511 511 511 6.3 6.29 6.14 6.14 1.09 1.08 1.07 1.07 111 111 110 110 1100 1100 1100 1100 1050 1045 1045 1045 76.25 76.35 76.1 76.1 85.4 85.5 85.45 85.5 WARRANTS & BONDS 3.950 4.000 3.850 3.890 SME 8.95 9.16 8.87 8.9 8.9 9.1 7 8.3 72.85 72.75 68.1 72.75 8.94 8.9 8.4 8.58 EXCHANGE TRADED FUNDS 127.9 128.5 127.4 127.8

0.19 0.00 -2.40 0.00 0.65 4.44 0.00 -3.98 -0.71 -1.66 -2.78 -3.46 -1.61 1.45 -7.84 -0.96 0.85 0.00 -5.88 1.26 0.00 1.26 -1.89 -1.13

367,500 4,416,000 237,000 15,000 9,450,000 8,100,000 221,000 570,000 2,062,000 20,263,000 280,000 22,872,400 200,000 1,920,000 75,000 102,800 3,162,000 52,000 20,000 14,368,900 1,625,000 7,000 205,000 7,859,800

6.50 -0.08 -0.96 1.47 -0.16 1.80 0.00 -2.08 0.80 -1.13 0.00 -0.73 -3.99 4.76 0.09 0.00 8.11 0.00 0.00 -0.79 -6.93 2.45 -3.85 0.00 -0.87 0.00 0.50 -0.31 0.00 0.00 -1.10 1.82 0.69 -0.34 0.00 0.00 0.77 1.20 0.21 0.00 -0.89 1.43 0.00

653,300 14,370 775,000 208,000 39,600 9,741,800 19,600,000 1,564,000 338,600 29,700 30 75,225 577,300 67,000 1,780,220 1,000 46,500 7,200,000 2,970,000 111,000 189,000 142,500 7,000 3,000 1,764,000 3,000 200,000 2,141,100 130,000 11,500 39,000 2,190 271,100 59,565 857,000 46,733,000 1,996,800 813,470 1,257,900 401,000 1,444,000 640,000 20,000

0.00 0.50 12.61 0.29 -2.73 0.00 0.00 2.13 -1.30 0.00 0.00 0.00 6.67 0.96 0.50 0.53 0.00 0.00 0.00 3.28 -6.25 -2.50 0.12 2.39 0.00

183,000,000 94,200 249,481.00 38,100 211,100 552,000 52,000 55,500 24,150.00 5,811,000 476,680.00 3,490,000 8,930,000 60,000 4,860.00 5,000,000 201,000,000 -30,000.00 939,000 -2,466,980.00 3,211,100 3,109,610.00 2,172,000 -38,100.00 10,000 376,000 -73,800.00 100,300 0.00 897,800 -215,275.00 158,600,000 60,000.00 705,000 19,500.00 408,780 -5,729,676.00 430,000 0.00 30,000,000

-0.71 0.57 1.69 -2.67 -2.54 -1.83 -0.90 0.00 -0.48 -0.20 0.12

339,580 10 100 500 39,900 451,000 430 900 865 67,450 34,340

-1.52

158,000

-32,000.00

-0.56 -6.74 -0.14 -4.03

705,100 45,700 2,790 4,312,200

695,717.00

-0.08

10,690

1,281.00

-397,440.00

-63,800.00 0.00 -1,633,260.00 -15,758,550.00 -51,741,803.00

MST

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

SHARES 12,891,303 74,856,702 129,194,971 111,221,632 105,921,052 606,269,438 1,045,431,578

-1,098,144.50

-198,000.00 -1,770,650.00 -5,154,781.00 -628,010.50

16,954,960.00 -254,160.00 -103,550.00 -88,440.00 0.00 1,169,648.00

6,980,790.00

943,168.00 -3,298,962.00 9,769,822.00 21,011,325.00 -50,841.00

7,040.00 -10,095,885.00 4,113,681.00

-21,090.00 4,306.00

-14,008,480.00

28,765,065.00

-9,120.00 3,837,890.00 369,440.00 -13,664,578.00

285,600.00

712,270.00 14,917,994.00

83,500.00

0.00 397,038,686.00 134,000.00

2,750,728.00 -6,402,165.00 -28,400.00

-48,073,365.00 9,677,385.00 -35,686,596.00

0.00 -143,090,030.00

12,203,775.50 -294,746.00 -5,740.00 9,450,648.00

58,605,360.00

-245,630.00 -6,685,202.00 884,750.00

0.00 10,500.00 0.00 64,430.00 248,650.00 90,472,060.00 372,680.00

Double Dragon Makati Fin. Corp.

IRipple E-Business Intl Xurpas

T op g ainerS VALUE 1,126,569,777.35 1,767,050,792.20 2,249,465,746.31 859,428,812.04 981,279,221.02 178,731,882.403 7,208,152,018.82

STOCKS

FINANCIAL 1,839.61 (down) 12.33 INDUSTRIAL 12,352.86 (up) 60.05 HOLDING FIRMS 6,932.81 (down) 56.54 PROPERTY 3,177.66 (up) 15.64 SERVICES 2,130.51 (up) 0.11 MINING & OIL 14,438.83 (up) 69.75 PSEI 7,846.94 (down) 18.33 All Shares Index 4,486.08 (down) 8.09 Gainers: 77 Losers: 92; Unchanged: 52; Total: 221

41,350,275.00

-37,513,944.00

-16,974,854.00 -132,600.00

-690.00 430,000.00 37,971,514.00 -1,650,000.00 -6,878,294.00

3,670,470.00 -74,158,302.00

-20,480.00

1,049,760.00

0.00

-298,500.00 15,974,326.00 36,000.00

165,320.00 431,140.00 -5,968,640.00 -1,940,610.00 -10,352,260.00 40,700,603.00 1,171,167.00 -2,781,528.00 0.00

-17,526.00

-36,331.00

-2,286,960.00

2,476,358.00

T op L oSerS Close (P)

Change (%)

STOCKS

Close (P)

Change (%)

Prime Orion

0.920

17.95

Pryce Corp. `A'

2.7

Atok-Big Wedge `A'

12.50

12.61

Filipino Fund Inc.

7.71

-10.30 -9.40

MEDCO Holdings

0.430

8.86

Phil. Realty `A'

0.4700

-7.84

IPeople Inc. `A'

12

8.11

DMCI Holdings

14.46

-7.31

Chemphil

199

7.57

ATN Holdings A

0.26

-7.14

Manila Mining `B'

0.0160

6.67

Jackstones

2.55

-6.93

2GO Group'

6.72

6.50

Makati Fin. Corp.

8.3

-6.74

Pacifica `A'

0.0410

5.13

C. Azuc De Tarlac

87.00

-6.40

Harbor Star

1.54

4.76

Philodrill Corp. `A'

0.015

-6.25

DNL Industries Inc.

19.480

4.73

Shang Properties Inc.

3.20

-5.88

WEDNESDAY: APRIL 22, 2015

B3

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

Govt approves new Philex mine

By Anna Leah E. Gonzales

THE government has approved the declaration of mining project feasibility of Silangan mine, allowing operator Philex Mining Corp. to proceed with the development of the $1.2-billion gold and copper project in Mindanao.

Travel rewards. China Banking Corp. teamed up with Philippine Airlines to give China Bank credit cardholders the option to convert

their rewards points into Mabuhay Miles. With the China Bank-PAL collaboration, China Bank credit cardholders will earn one rewards point for every P25 card spend. Shown sealing the partnership are (from left) PAL executive vice president Stuart Lim, PAL president and chief operating officer Jaime Bautista, China Bank president and chief executive Ricardo Chua and China Bank executive vice president William Whang.

Four groups bidding for Leyte plants’ output

By Alena Mae S. Flores FOUR groups have expressed interest to become the independent power producer administrator of the bulk energy of the Unified Leyte geothermal power plants, the agency in charge of selling the government’s power assets said Tuesday.

The Power Sector Assets and Liabilities Management Corp. identified the interested groups as PC Power Corp., Therma Central Visayas Inc., Trans-Asia Oil and Energy Development Corp. and Unified Leyte Geothermal Energy Inc. PSALM president Emmanuel Ledesma Jr. said the payment of the participation fee and execution of confidentiality for the Unified Leyte bulk energy contract lapsed on March 30.

“These investor groups

have previously participated in PSALM’s previous bidding exercises, and some of them have actually won, so we are quite happy with the turnout of prospective bidders,” Ledesma said.

Six investor groups originally submitted letters of interest before the March 24 deadline, including the four companies along with Coal Asia Holdings Inc. and Masinloc Power Partners Co. Ltd. The two interested parties did not pursue the next stage of the bidding process, which is the submission of confidentiality agreement and payment of participation fee.

PSALM said it would hold the pre-bid conference for prospective bidders on May 6.

The bidding and bid evaluation for the Unified Leyte bulk energy contract

We are quite happy with the turnout of prospective bidders.

administrator is on Aug. 12.

The Unified Leyte Geothermal Power plant consists of the 125-megawatt Upper Mahiao, 232.5-MW Malitbog, 180-MW Mahanagdong power plants and the 51-MW optimization plants.

The geothermal plants are covered by power purchase agreements between the National Power Corp. and Energy

Development Corp.

Unified Leyte Geothermal, owned by the Lopez Group, tendered a bid of P215 million for the bulk energy and emerged as the highest bidder, but decided to withdraw, citing the damage sustained by the plants from typhoon Yolanda in November 2013.

The government expects to generate $3.2 billion from the remaining 1,600 megawatts of unprivatized power assets, PSALM said earlier.

Ledesma said the 1,600 MW unprivatized assets represented 20 percent of the total power assets owned by the government.

PSALM uses proceeds from the privatization for debt prepayment, regular payment of debts and independent power producer obligations as well as payment of other privatizationrelated expenses.

Philex said in a disclosure to the stock exchange the Mines and Geosciences Bureau of the Environment Department approved the DMPF in an order signed on April 21.

Silangan project is located in Surigao del Norte province in the northern part of Mindanao.

It combines the development of Boyongan and Bayugo deposits, which are comprised of gold, copper and silver.

The Silangan mine, the next major project of Philex after Padcal mine in Benguet province, has estimated reserves of 5 billion pounds of copper and 9 million ounces of gold over a 25-year mine life.

“This office has determined that Silangan Mindanao Mining Company Inc. has substantially complied with the pertinent requirements for the approval of a DMPF,” said MGB director Leo Jasareno.

Jasareno said the requirements included the sworn DMPF, mining project feasibility study and environmental compliance certificate, three-year development and utilization work program and environmental protection and enhancement program.

The documents also included final mine rehabilitation and decommissioning plan, proof of technical competence and financial capability and prior approval of endorsement of the project by the province of Surigao del Norte, municipalities of Placer, Sison and Tagana-an and barangays covered.

“The 3YWP, FS, EPEP and FMRDP are now undergoing final evaluation by the mining tenements management division, technical committee on mining feasibility studies and contingent liability and rehabilitation fund steering committee,” Jasareno said.

Stock market declines on lingering concern over Greece

STOCKS fell for the second day, on lingering concern that Greece will struggle to meet its debt obligations.

The Philippine Stock Exchange index, the 30-company benchmark, shed 18 points, or 0.2 percent, to close at 7,846.94 Tuesday. The benchmark was still up 8.5 percent since the start of the year.

The heavier index, representing all shares, also lost 8 points, or 0.2 percent, to settle at 4,486.08, on value turnover

of P7.2 billion. Losers outnumbered gainers, 92 to 77, while 52 issues were unchanged.

Chemical producer D&L Industries Inc. emerged as the biggest gainer among the 20 most active stocks, as it climbed 4.7 percent to P19.48. Alliance Global Group Inc., the holding company of tycoon Andrew Tan, added 2.1 percent to close at P24.65.

Jollibee Foods Corp., the largest fastfood chain operator, gained 1.9 percent to P216 while

power producer Energy Development Corp. rose 1.4 percent to P7.83.

Meanwhile, Asian markets on Tuesday followed a positive lead from Wall Street, while the euro retreated as investors keep a cautious eye on Europe as Greece struggles to pay its debts.

Tokyo jumped 1.40 percent, or 274.60 points, to finish at 19,909.09 and Shanghai rallied 1.82 percent, or 76.55 points, to 4,293.62, while Hong Kong surged 2.04 percent in late trade.

Sydney gained 0.67 percent, or 39.2 points, to 5,872.3 but Seoul was marginally lower, edging down 1.92 points to 2,144.79.

The gains reversed some of the losses suffered on Monday, partly on fears about Greece’s future in the eurozone as Athens tries to secure billions of euros in bailout cash to pay its enormous debts.

With creditors refusing to extend a repayment deadline while also haggling over its bailout

reforms, the Greek government has ordered all public agencies to hand over their financial reserves.

“With this act, the government hopes to cover urgent needs of the state amounting to three billion euros for the next 15 days,” said a decree, which still needs adoption by the parliament.

The euro fell in foreign exchange markets Tuesday, buying $1.0681 and 127.60 yen against $1.0741 and 128.05 yen on Wall Street. With AFP, Bloomberg

B4

BUSINESS

Korean firm bags Cebu BRT Aerospace industry seen to earn $1b

By Othel V. Campos THE Philippine aerospace industry expects to generate $1 billion in revenues this year, up by 25 percent from $800 million in 2014.

“All projections depend on the assemblers whether they assemble more planes. There are three million parts and we’re building some of them. If everything will grow as expected, then we’ll also grow,” Aerospace Industries Association of the Philippines president John Lee said in an interview.

He said the forecast revenue would be on top of the contribution of another group in the maintenance, repair and operations sector in the Philippines.

“But there is a newly formed MRO group. These companies are really big and we expect that their revenues will be big as well, bigger than tier 2 manufacturers like us,” he said.

The Philippines has three of the world’s largest MRO providers, including Lufthansa Technik Philippines, Singapore Engineering Philippines and Hong Kong’s Metrojet Engineering.

Lufthansa Technik is a joint venture between Philippine Airlines’s affiliate MacroAsia Corp. and Lufthansa group of Germany while Singapore Engineering in Clark International Airport caters to wide-bodied aircraft.

Metrojet is the second MRO locator in Clark, occupying three hectares in the former US military base.

Lee said earlier the Philippine aerospace industry aimed to be the region’s hub for aircraft interior market.

He said the industry was counting on government support to help foreign aerospace companies to set up operations in the Philippines.

Lee said opportunities would be bigger, when going into the original equipment manufacturing and assembly as American and European assemblers had over ten years of backlog in aircraft production.

Asia is currently the biggest buyer of aircraft, accounting for 37 percent of the global market and the Philippines would like to capitalize on this, according to the group.

By Darwin G Amojelar

A KOREAN company has bagged a contract from the Transportation Department to design and supervise the construction of the P9-billion bus rapid transit project in Cebu province.

Transportation Department spokesman Michael Arthur Sagcal said the agency awarded the detailed engineering, design and construction supervision contract for the 23-kilometer Cebu BRT system to Kunhwa Engineering & Consulting Co. Ltd. Kunhwa’s field of specializa-

tion includes road and transportation engineering, water supply and wastewater disposal river engineering and water resource development, dam and hydropower development, harbor and coastal engineering, urban and regional planning as well as other related works.

It also provides complete servic-

es while supervising construction, ranging form preliminary investigations and feasibility studies to planning and detailed designs.

Sagcal said the design and consultancy contract would be funded by a $2.9-million loan from the World Bank, while P67.8 million would be the counterpart fund from the Philippine government.

The Philippines earlier secured a $114-million loan from World Bank to finance the construction of the Cebu BRT. The project would entail building segregated BRT bus-ways from Bulacao to Ayala, with a link to the South Road Property, a feeder service between Ayala

and Talamban with signal priority, 33 stations to service 330,000 people per day in 2015, 176 buses, an area stop light control for the entire Cebu City and a central transport control room.

Once completed, the project can field 433,000 individual trips per day, resulting in savings of 25 minutes of travel time and P7.50 in fares.

Compared with a rail service, a BRT would cost 5 to 10 percent lower and would take less time of 2 years to construct.

The Transportation Department will implement the project, which is scheduled to start commercial operations by 2018.

Harvest festival.

The Camarines Norte Lowland Rainfed Research Station, operated by The Agriculture Department’s regional field office 5, held a colorful harvest festival in Barangay Calasgasan, Daet, Camarines Norte, where the agency introduced two new varieties of pineapple, aside from Queen Pineapple. The two new varieties, Ulam and MD-2 hybrid pineapple from Davao and Bukidnon were tested under the soils and climatic conditions of Camarines Norte using different production methods. Shown are participants of the harvest festival, showing the newly harvested pineapples.

Century Properties spending P20b in Palawan

By Jenniffer B. Austria CENTURY Properties Group Inc., a property developer led by Ambassador Jose Antonio, said it will spend P20 billion over the next 10 years to develop a resort in Palawan province.

Century Properties said in a disclosure to the stock exchange it signed a memorandum of agreement to acquire 56 hectares to develop a beachfront lifestyle destination in the town of San Vicente in the northwestern part of Palawan.

“We have long identified tourism as a structural growth area for the Philippine economy and as such we are very pleased to announce

the purchase of this development site in San Vicente, Palawan,” said Antonio, who serves as Century Properties chairman.

“We have been able to purchase an exceptional block of land and are confident that given Century Properties’ long track record of delivering innovative branded real estate, we will be able to unlock the very significant longterm potential from this site,” he said.

Antonio said phase 1 of the project would involve a capital spending of P1.5 billion annually over the next three to five years.

Century Properties said the pace and timing of subsequent phases would be driven by the

take-up of the sale of hotel villas and the residential investment properties, which would form a significant part of the returns from the project.

“Given the exceptional potential of the site and the relatively low capital intensity inherent in the low rise nature of this type of development, we will be able to focus on the long-term margin maximization of this project,” Antonio said.

San Vicenter, with a total land area of 146,294 hectares, is 140 times larger than Boracay Island in Panay.

One of its crown jewels is the Long Beach, a 14.7-kilometer stretch of immaculate sand and

water that is four times the length of Boracay’s white beach.

San Vicente has its own airport, with a new two-kilometer runway and terminal that are projected to be completed in 2015.

The completion of airport project will enable regional carriers to fly directly to San Vicente.

“On their completion the roads and airport infrastructure will be a major catalyst to the growth of Palawan and San Vicente as prime tourist destinations, facilitating larger regional and global arrivals to the Philippines,” said Century Properties Hospitality Inc. chief operating officer Tim Hallett.

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

B5

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

Earth’s good corporate citizens HAPPY Hour joins Filipinos in celebrating Philippines’ Earth Day and takes this opportunity to hail those who are doing their bit to take care of this planet, the only home we have. As Environment Secretary Ramon Paje Jr. keeps saying, taking care of the environment is not the sole responsibility of the government —it’s everyone’s business, actually.

We’re happy to note that more and more companies are integrating good corporate citizenship in their strategy and objectives, recognizing the importance of strengthening relationships with the communities they operate in. One such company is Republic Chemicals Industries (manufacturer of the Pioneer line of adhesives) and its Pioneer Group Foundation that is spearheading the “Coral REEFurbishment” project in partnership with Boracay Foundation.

Scheduled this weekend (April 25 to 26 at Station 3 in Boracay), the project seeks volunteers who love the beach and are also passionate about preserving the environment. The project aims to elevate awareness about the importance of coral reef restoration, with Boracay as a target since reports indicate that the corals in the area are already in distress and in need of rehabilitation.

According to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration of the US Department of Commerce, coral reefs are some of the most diverse and valuable ecosystems on earth, supporting thousands of fish species and millions of undiscovered organisms. Protecting and preserving coral reefs also saves the lives of Filipinos (and their families) who depend on fishing for their livelihood.

The Boracay Foundation has been addressing the problem of coral depletion by collecting, nursing and then transplanting damaged corals as part of its Coastal Resource Management initiative. Various methods of transplanting corals have been tried, among them the use of nails, plastic cable ties and bamboo rods but interestingly, the use of epoxy – specifically the EpoxyClay Aqua – was found to be the most effective as it also resulted in higher success and survival rates for the corals. In 2014, Republic Cement donated 3,600 packs of Pioneer EpoxyClay Aqua to support the advocacy, and this year, it is launching the Coral REEFurbishment project on a bigger scale to give volunteers an opportunity to take part in this worthy cause.

Volunteers (18 and above) can help in three ways: by taking part in the coastal cleanup which will take place along the Boracay shoreline; by attaching collected damaged coral fragments to the nursery; and by participating in underwater coral transplantation which is only open to certified divers. Dive volunteers are advised to schedule their flights accordingly to have enough time to adjust to the altitude change. Dive gear can be rented on-site. All volunteers are required to register on-site.

Fortune 100 firm turns over rebuilt school School children in Guiuan, Eastern Samar are ready to face the coming school year thanks to Honeywell, a Fortune 100 diversified technology and manufacturing company that spearheaded efforts to rebuild a school facility that was destroyed by typhoon Yolanda. Named the Ngolos Honeywell Elementary School, executives from Honeywell, its corporate citizenship initiative Honeywell Hometown Solutions and international relief agency Operation USA were joined by local government officials led by Guiuan mayor Christopher Sheen Gonzales and principal Esperanza Requierdos at the recent turnover of the new facility.

The Ngolos Honeywell Elementary School is more than 6,000 square feet and serves 250 students and eight teachers from grades 1 to 6. The facility includes eight classrooms, an administrative office, two bathrooms, a playground and a basketball court. Honeywell will continue to support the project through a fiveyear agreement. The school was designed to withstand winds up to 155 miles (250 kilometers) per hour and has also been designated as an evacuation center for the residents of Barangay Ngolos in the event of an emergency or natural disaster.

Honeywell employees have been generous in helping victims of natural disasters such as wildfires, flooding, tornadoes including those affected by Hurricane Sandy in the US and the earthquake and tsunami in Japan.

Doing development differently The Asia Foundation’s Philippines office will host the “Doing Development Differently” workshop in collaboration with the UK’s Overseas Development Institute slated on April 27 to 28. The event brings together development agencies and practitioners from the Philippines, Asia, Africa, and Europe to share practical lessons and insights, country experiences and innovative development practices. The Manila event is a follow-up to the first Doing Development Differently workshop held at Harvard University in October.

The Manila workshop will explore innovative ways to use this approach in practice, and help development agencies draw insights from examples like the Philippines and apply these lessons in other contexts. Beyond the Philippines, the event will feature participants from Asian countries, including Indonesia, Myanmar, and Vietnam sharing practical experiences in line with the innovative and adaptive themes central to the Doing Development Differently manifesto that now has over 400 signatories that include leading development thinkers from 60 countries.

Presenters include the Foundation’s Philippines Program Director of Economic Reform and Development Entrepreneurship Jaime Faustino and development experts from the Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, UK Department for International Development, World Bank, Belgian Development Agency, Oxfam, the National Development Planning Ministry of Indonesia. (Follow discussions from the two-day Manila event at (#DifferentDev).

••• 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!

AirAsia-Sodexo deal. Low-cost carrier AirAsia Philippines has signed a partnership agreement with

Sodexo, the leading provider of preferred gift certificates in the Philippines, to allow travelers to enjoy the convenience of paying for their AirAsia seats and products using Sodexo Premium Passes. Shown signing the partnership deal in Pasay City are (from left) AirAsia Philippines head of finance Franz Lopez, AirAsia Philippines head of commercial Gerard Penaflor, Sodexo benefits and rewards chief executive Jerome Lemouchoux and Sodexo affiliation director Gerardo Austria.

EDC seeks arbitration against UK contractor

By Alena Mae S. Flores

BACMAN Geother-

“BGI initiated the arbitration in order to enforce its rights under the contract, following a favorable determination by the engineer that sums are owed by Weir to BGI,” EDC. BGI appointed Parsons Brinckerhoff Philippines Inc. as the engineer pursuant to the contract.

The Bacman geothermal

mal Inc., a whollyowned unit of power producer Energy Development Corp., has filed a request for arbitration of its dispute against contractor Weir Engineering Services Ltd. of the United Kingdom before the International

By Jennifer Ambanta Court of Arbitration.

plants are composed of three units, including 55-megawatt unit 1, 60-MW unit 2 and 20MW unit 3.

The plants all use steam supplied by EDC, the country’s largest geothermal producer.

EDC earlier settled its claims against Siemens Inc. of Germany for the technical problems encountered by the plants.

Govt rejects offers for 10-year bonds

Bacman Geothermal, the owner and operator of the Bacon-Manito geothermal power plants in Bicol region, hired Weir Engineering to repair the steam turbine of the power plants in 2012.

Weir earlier filed a case with the Construction Industry Arbitration Commission in relation to unpaid balance of the contract price.

EDC said in a disclosure to the stock exchange its own request sought the payment in Bacman Geothermal’s favor of $8.8 million, excluding interest, on account of Weir’s breaches of the contract for works.

These works included completion of works on steam turbine and generator of units 1, 2 and 3 as stipulated in the contract dated March 29, 2012.

Bacman Geothermal engaged Weir to carry out rehabilitation works on steam turbine, generator and rotor installations in three existing powergenerating units at its BaconManito geothermal power plants.

THE Bureau of the Treasury on Tuesday rejected bids for P25 billion worth of bonds with 10-year tenor to prevent borrowing cost from rising.

Bid rates ranged from 3.585 percent to 3.698 percent and averaged 3.659 percent, or 40.9 basis points higher than the coupon rate.

Finance Department chief economist Gil Beltran said the rates were much higher than the government’s threshold.

The yield on the existing securities was unchanged in the secondary market at 3.56 percent, prices from Tradition Financial Services show.

The average bid yield “was significantly higher than the 3.568 percent average rate observed in the secondary market,” according to a statement from the Treasury after the auction. “The bureau also benefits from a strong cash position due to consecutive years of belowtarget spending.”

“We think it is higher than what we are supposed to accept,” Beltran said. “It is higher than the secondary market rates.”

A February sale for the same amount of the bonds also failed as the government sought to cap borrowing costs. With Bloomberg

Bankard offers 0% installment CONVERTING straight purchases to 0 percent installment all-year round is now possible with RCBC Bankard.

RCBC Bankard said with the Unli 0-percent installment feature, cardholders needed not worry about paying immediately for every purchase they made because they could convert every transaction to 0 percent installment for three months at any given time of the year.

“With no limitation on the purchase amount or the number of

times they can avail of the feature, cardholders are able to manage their funds better and keep within their budget,” RCBC Bankard said.

“Moreover, they do not have to worry whether or not the merchant allows installment purchases.

All they have to do is charge the purchase to their RCBC Bankard then call RCBC Bankard’s Customer Service number at 888-1888 or 888-1883 and request that their purchase be converted to 0 percent installment,” it said.

WEDNESDAY: APRIL 22, 2015

B6

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

Wind mills in Aklan set to start operations

By Alena Mae S. Flores

NABAS, Aklan—PetroWind Energy Inc. said it expects to start the commercial operations of the first phase of the Nabas wind project, adding 36 megawatts to the Visayas power grid by the middle of the year.

PetroWind vice president Francisco Delfin Jr. told reporters commissioning of the project had already started, with an initial eight turbines delivering power to the Visayas grid since March 24.

“Then starting [Wednesday] and up to the end of May, one by one, the remaining 10 turbines will be commissioned and will be connected and dispatching power to the grid,” Delfin said.

“As each turbine is connected to the substation, we will put them online for a two-month testing,” he said.

Each turbine, 78 meters in height, has a capacity of 2 MW. Gameza of Spain supplied and erected the wind turbines on a mountainous area in Nabas and Malay towns.

“We expect this to be done by late June or early July,” Delfin said.

The project, however, has yet to receive its certificate of compliance from the Energy Regulatory Commission it to avail of the feed-in tariff of P8.53 per kilowatt-hour.

“Last Friday, we received DoE nomination for FIT eligibility that we are 80-percent electromechanically completed,” he said.

National Grid Corporation of the Philippines earlier issued of a provisional certificate of approval to connect the wind project to generate power for purposes of

testing and commissioning.

PetroWind is currently developing the 36-MW phase one of the Nabas wind power project.

A possible 14-MW expansion is subject to regulatory approval.

PetroWind is owned by listed PetroEnergy Resources Corp. through wholly-owned subsidiary PetroGreen Energy Corp. (with 40 percent), Singapore-based CapAsia Asean Wind Holdings Cooperatief U.V. (40 percent) and EEI Power Corp. (20 percent).

The dispatch of power to the grid on March 24 was made from the first batch of wind generators consisting of the eight generators with a gross capacity of 16 MW. PetroWind président Milagros Reyes said the first dispatch of power to the Visayas grid was a big milestone for the company and Aklan province.

“This is the first export of power from the province of Aklan that is sourced from renewable energy.

Thus far, the Nabas wind power project is the single investment in renewable energy in Aklan province that has been able to successfully dispatch power to the grid,” Reyes said.

She said the timing of the dispatch of power was perfect “considering that this is the season when power demand is highest in the Panay area.”

Alveo spending P16b in Bonifacio

By Jenniffer B. Austria ALVEO Land Inc., the upscale residential arm of property developer Ayala Land Inc., said it will spend P16 billion to transform a 2.3-hectare property in Bonifacio Global City in Taguig into a new mixed-use district.

Alveo Land division manager for project development Anton Sanchez said in a news briefing the new district, located at the crossroads of 32nd Street and 11th Avenue, would have three office buildings, one residential tower and a shopping mall.

Sanchez said for the residential component, Alveo Land would invest P4 billion to build Park Triangle Residences.

The condominium tower will offer 616 units, with unit sizes

ranging from 36 square meters to 232 square meters and priced from P6.5 million to P44 million per unit.

The 49-story tower is slated for completion by 2021.

Alveo Land expects to generate P8 billion in sales from the residential development.

“Park Triangle Residences, the latest residential offering of Alveo Land in BGC, will offer yet another bold and unique living experience for its target market. It will be anchored on providing convergent living at the prominent address of BGC, where everything is within reach,” Sanchez said.

The condominium building will be on top of a five-story mall, with 23,000 square meters of gross leasable space, which would open by the second quarter of 2018.

The mall will offer premium retail and specialty food concepts along with a supermarket, top global fashion brands and retail power centers.

The new lifestyle center will be anchored by Kidzania Manila, the local site for the globally popular children’s role-playing center, which will open in the first half of 2015.

“Park Triangle Residences will be the only property in BGC to have direct access to an Ayala mall through access lobbies at the ground floor and the fourth floor,” said Sanchez.

The company launched the first office tower called Park Triangle Corporate Plaza last year.

Two more office buildings are set to rise within the district.

The there office buildings will offer a total of 120,000 square meters of gross floor area.

El Niño dry spell likely to build up inflationary pressures

By Julito G. Rada THE onset of the El Niño dry spell will likely cause higher consumer prices in the coming months, ING Bank Manila senior economist Joey Cuyegkeng said in a report Tuesday.

“Upward price pressures could intensify as El Nino’s impact expands. Reports in southern and central Philippines confirm that drought is intensifying and is already affecting agriculture production,” Cuyegkeng said.

The Philippine Atmospheric Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration officially declared a dry spell mostly in Mindanao and

in some parts of Luzon and Visayas.

In Luzon, the areas which are experiencing lower-than-usual rainfall are Abra, Benguet, Ifugao, Kalinga, Apayao, Ilocos Norte, Ilocos Sur, La Union, Batanes, Pampanga, Tarlac, Zambales, and Palawan.

Cuyegkeng said the imposition of value-added tax on refined sugar and adjustments in government utility tariff rates would also create upward price pressures.

“Offsetting this are relatively abundant rice stocks and the cut in the suggested retail price of chicken. Oil prices in Asia has been rising in the past two weeks and posted a four-month

Upward price pressures could intensify as El Nino’s impact expands.

high last week,” he said.

Cuyegkeng said he also expected oil prices to gradually rise in the coming months.

“The monetary accommodation in China, the more favorable economic activity in Europe, geopolitical risks and moderation in US oil

production may see a sustained gradual increase in oil prices,” he said.

Cuyegkeng said inflation expectations would likely remain within the target range of 2 percent to 4 percent from 2015 until 2017.

“This provides BSP [Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas] leeway to adjust policy settings as needed.

Delays in the timing of the Fed rate hike enhance such leeway,” he said.

The BSP said the current monetary policy stance remained appropriate after inflation rate in March decelerated to 2.4 percent from 2.5 percent in February.

The March inflation of 2.4

percent fell within the BSP’s forecast range of 2.1 percent to 2.9 percent for the month.

The March inflation brought the average inflation in the first three months of 2015 to 2.4 percent, which was significantly lower than the average 4 percent in the same period last year.

The Bangko Sentral, in its Monetary Board’s meeting on March 26, kept the benchmark interest rates steady at 4 percent for overnight borrowing and 6 percent for overnight lending.

The Bangko Sentral set an inflation rate target of 2 percent to 4 percent for 2015 to 2018.

These targets were lower than the 2014 goal of 3 percent to 5 percent.

W e d n e s d ay : a P r i L 2 2 , 2 0 1 5

B7 ‘Bookkeeper of Auschwitz’ goes on trial WORLD

cesar barrioquinto EDITOR

editorial@thestandard.com.ph

LU EN EBU RG, Germany—A former Nazi death camp officer dubbed the “bookkeeper of Auschwitz” went on trial in Germany Tuesday, with almost 70 Holocaust survivors and victims’ relatives at the court.

Oskar Groening, 93, is being tried in the northern city of Lueneburg on 300,000 counts of “accessory to murder” charges for deported Hungarian Jews who were sent to the gas chambers, and faces up to 15 years in jail.

Given the advanced age of most German war crimes suspects, Groening is expected to be among the last to face justice, 70 years after the liberation of the concentration camps at the end of World War II. Media interest in the trial of the frail widower, who entered court using a Zimmer frame, is intense, with Auschwitz survivors set to appear as witnesses or co-plaintiffs.

The bespectacled Groening appeared calm as he took his seat in the courtroom wearing a white striped shirt and a beige sleeveless sweater.

“To me he is a murderer because he was part of the system of mass murder,” said Romanian-born Auschwitz survivor and co-plaintiff Eva Kor, 81.

“This may be our last chance to get information on Auschwitz from one of the perpetrators,” US citizen Kor, who lost her parents and two siblings in Auschwitz, told Bild daily.

“To me this is not about a jail term for him, but about researching and dealing with the crime.”

More than 100 coplaintiffs, their lawyers and some 60 reporters watched the trial via a live video link in another building near the court in Lueneburg, which is near the northern city of Hamburg.

Prosecutors claim Groening served as a bookkeeper who sorted and counted the money taken from those killed, collecting cash in different currencies from across Europe.

AFP

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

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

Website:

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

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

Website:

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

INVITATION TO BID No. 08-2015

INVITATION TO BID No. 07-2015

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

Approved Budget for Contract (Php)

Item/Description PIP Contract #01-2015 – Preparatory Works for CLMC, Pinipisakan Irrigation Project, Catubig, Northern Samar

26,656,905.54

280 cd

2.

PIP Contract #02-2015 – Preparatory Works for CLMC, Pinipisakan Irrigation Project, Catubig, Northern Samar

26,624,054.82

280 cd

3.

Bulao IP Contract #01-2015 – Construction of Supplemental Canal of Bulao Irrigation Project, Las Navas, Northern Samar

4,873,425.21

180 cd

Calbiga IP Contract #01-2015 – Construction of Canal & Canal Structures of Calbiga Irrigation Project, Calbiga, Samar

12,579,983.98

240 cd

The Prospective Bidders should have completed, within five (5) years from the date of submission and receipt of bids, a contract similar to the Project whose value must be at least fifty percent (50%) of the ABC. Bidding will be conducted through open competitive bidding procedures using non-discretionary pass/fail criterion as specified in the Implementing Rules and Regulations (IRR) of republic Act 9184 (R.A. 9184), otherwise known as the “Government procurement Reform Act”.

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

The schedule of BAC activities are as follows: BAC Activities

Schedule

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

Duration

1.

4.

Time

1.

Issuance of Bid Documents

Starting April 17, 2015

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

2.

Pre-bid Conference

April 24, 2015

10:00 a.m.

3.

Receipt and Opening of Bids

May 6, 2015

2:00 p.m.

BIGRIS Contract #07-2015 – Construction of Checkgates, Concrete Canal Lining & Canal Structures at Gibuga RIS. Macarthur, Leyte

9,736,046.60

270 cd

2.

MPBRIS Contract #08-2015 – Construction of Canal Lining at Mainit RIS, Alangalang, Leyte

6,510,056.33

210 cd

3.

MPBRIS Contract #09-2015 – Construction of Canal Lining at Mainit RIS, Alangalang, Leyte

8,318,883.86

210 cd

4. BTRIS Contract #24-2015 – Construction of Check Structure, Canal Lining & Structures of BN RIS, Tanauan, Leyte

4,358,872.78

180 cd

5. BTRIS Contract #25-2015 – Repair of Protection Dike, Const. of Canal Lining & Structures of BN RIS, Tanauan, Leyte

7,634,618.11

240 cd

560,115.65

90 cd

6.

BTRIS Contract #26-2015 – Fabrication/ Installation of Steelgates of BN RIS, Tanauan, Leyte

The Prospective Bidders should have completed, within five (5) years from the date of submission and receipt of bids, a contract similar to the Project whose value must be at least fifty percent (50%) of the ABC. Bidding will be conducted through open competitive bidding procedures using non-discretionary pass/fail criterion as specified in the Implementing Rules and Regulations (IRR) of republic Act 9184 (R.A. 9184), otherwise known as the “Government procurement Reform Act”.

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

BAC Activities

(SGD.) GLORIA A. SEVILLA BAC Chairman

Noted: (SGD.) ROMEO G. QUIZA Regional Manager

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

2.

Pre-bid Conference

April 24, 2015

10:00 a.m.

3.

Receipt and Opening of Bids

May 5, 2015

2:00 p.m.

The BAC will issue a complete set of Bidding Documents to eligible bidders from the address above and upon payment of non-refundable amount of P1,000.00 for package no. 6, P5,000.00 for package no.

4, P10,000.00 for package no. 1, 2, 3 & 5 to the Cashier.

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

(SGD.) GLORIA A. SEVILLA BAC Chairman

Noted: (SGD.) ROMEO G. QUIZA Regional Manager

Republic of the Philippines

Catbalogan City

Office Address: Email Address: nia.wsimo@yahoo.com TIN: 000-916-415-010

NO. 03-2015

The National Irrigation Administration (NIA), Interim Eastern-Western Samar Irrigation Management Office, Catbalogan City through its Bids and Awards Committee (BAC), hereby invites Domestic Contractors, registered with and classified by the Philippine Contractors Accreditation Board (PCAB), to bid for the hereunder contracts. Bids received in excess of the ABC shall be automatically rejected at bid opening.

Duration

Cost of Bidding Documents

1.

WESIMO Contract No. 01-2015 Construction of Diversion Works

6,800,114.42

180 cd

P10,000.00

2.

WESIMO Contract No. 02-2015 Construction of Diversion Works

7,452,120.98

180 cd

P10,000.00

The Prospective Bidders should have completed, within five (5) years from the date of submission and receipt of bids, a contract similar to the Project whose value must be at least fifty percent (50%) of the ABC. Bidding will be conducted through open competitive bidding procedures using non-discretionary pass/ fail criterion as specified in the Implementing Rules and Regulations (IRR) of Republic Act 9184 (R.A. 9184) otherwise known as the “Government Procurement Reform Act”.

The prospective bidders must secure an Affidavit of Site Inspection before the purchase of bid documents.

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

The Schedule of BAC Activities are as follows: BAC Activities

Schedule

Time

Starting April 20, 2015

8:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.

April 27, 2015

10:00 a.m.

May 7, 2015

10:00 a.m.

2. Pre-bid Conference 3. Receipt and Opening of Bids

Website:

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

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

INVITATION TO BID No. 06-2015

INVITATION TO BID

Appr oved Budget for the Contract (Php)

(TS-APR. 22, 2015)

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

INTERIM EASTERN-WESTERN SAMAR IRRIGATION MANAGEMENT OFFICE DA Compound, Brgy. Guindapunan Catbalogan, City of Samar (055) 251-2818 www.nia.gov.ph

Time

Starting April 17, 2015

National Irrigation Administration (PAMBANSANG PANGASIWAAN NG PATUBIG)

1. Issuance of Bid Documents

Schedule

Issuance of Bid Documents

(TS-APR. 22, 2015)

ITEM / DESCRIPTION

Duration

1.

1.

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

Telefax.: Website:

Approved Budget for Contract (Php)

Item/Description

The schedule of BAC activities are as follows:

The BAC will issue a complete set of Bidding Documents to eligible bidders from the address above and upon payment of non-refundable amount of P5,000.00 for package no. 3, P15,000.00 for package no. 4 and P20,000.00 for package no. 1 & 2 to the Cashier.

Office Address:

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

The BAC will issue a complete set of Bidding Documents to eligible bidders from the address above and upon payment of non-refundable amount of Php10,000.00 to the Cashier.

For qualified / eligible bidders, please take note that after qualified bidders has been determined, we prefer cash bond/cashier’s or manager’s check with the amount equivalent to two (2%) percent of the ABC of the contract as Bid Security.

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

(SGD) RIZALINA B. GALLARDE BAC Chairman Noted:

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

Approved Budget for Contract (Php)

Item/Description

Duration

1. BTRIS Contract #19-2015 – Construction of Canal Lining, Canal Structures & Terminal Facilities of Lower Binahaan RIS, Tanauan, Leyte

5,906,037.84

240 cd

2.

BTRIS Contract #20-2015 – Construction of Canal Lining & Terminal Facilities of Lower Binahaan RIS, Tanauan, Leyte

7,852,677.72

280 cd

3.

BTRIS Contract #21-2015 – Construction of Terminal Facilities of Lower Binahaan RIS, Tanauan, Leyte

1,927,989.88

180 cd

4.

BTRIS Contract #22-2015 – Construction of Canal Lining & and Canal Structures of Binahaan South RIS, Tanauan, Leyte

5,066,534.47

240 cd

5.

BTRIS Contract #23-2015 – Repair of Protection Dike, Const. of Canal Lining & Struc. of Binahaan South RIS, Tanauan, Leyte

3,756,331.72

180 cd

The Prospective Bidders should have completed, within five (5) years from the date of submission and receipt of bids, a contract similar to the Project whose value must be at least fifty percent (50%) of the ABC. Bidding will be conducted through open competitive bidding procedures using non-discretionary pass/fail criterion as specified in the Implementing Rules and Regulations (IRR) of republic Act 9184 (R.A. 9184), otherwise known as the “Government procurement Reform Act”.

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

The schedule of BAC activities are as follows: BAC Activities

Schedule

Time

Issuance of Bid Documents

Starting April 1, 2015

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

2.

Pre-bid Conference

April 10, 2015

10:00 a.m.

3.

Receipt and Opening of Bids

April 22, 2015

2:00 p.m.

1.

The BAC will issue a complete set of Bidding Documents to eligible bidders from the address above and upon payment of non-refundable amount of P5,000.00 for package no. 3 & 5, P10,000.00 for package no. 1, 2 & 4 to the Cashier.

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

(SGD.) GLORIA A. SEVILLA BAC Chairman

Noted: (SGD.) ROMEO G. QUIZA Regional Manager

(SGD) ALEJANDRO C. CULIBAR, D.M. Officer In-Charge (TS-APR. 22, 2015)

(TS-APR. 22, 2015)

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

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CESAR BARRIOQUINTO EDITOR

editorial@thestandard.com.ph

WORLD

A world of flowers. An Israeli girl picks Ranunculus flowers in a cultivated field in the southern Israeli Kibbutz of Nir Yitzhak, located along the Israeli-Gaza Strip border, on April 20.

The flower bulbs will be mostly exported to Europe. AFP

US monitoring Iran vessels SANAA—A US aircraft carrier was headed to the Arabian Sea Tuesday as Washington said it was monitoring Iranian vessels suspected of carrying weapons to Huthi rebels in Yemen in violation of a UN embargo.

The US Navy said it was sending the USS Theodore Roosevelt and guided-missile cruiser USS Normandy “to ensure the vital shipping lanes in the region remain open and safe”.

The deployment brings to nine the number of US war-

ships in the area.

The Iranian convoy is composed of nine ships, including two patrol boats, a senior US defense official told AFP, saying its exact destination was unknown.

Pentagon spokesman Colonel Steven Warren denied

reports the US warships have orders to intercept the Iranian vessels.

Strategically located on key shipping routes and bordering oil-rich Saudi Arabia, Yemen was plunged into chaos last year when the Iran-backed Shiite rebels seized the capital Sanaa.

A coalition of Sunni Arab nations led by Saudi Arabia launched an air campaign against the rebels last month, vowing to restore the authority of President Abedrabbo Mansour Hadi,

who fled to Riyadh as the rebels advanced on his southern refuge Aden.

The United States says it is not taking part directly in the strikes, but is providing intelligence and logistical support.

US officials said that if an interception of the Iranian vessels proved necessary, it would likely be carried out by warships of the Saudi-led coalition.

One said the convoy had passed through the Strait of Hormuz to leave the Gulf

and was now headed west, potentially towards Yemen.

Saudi-led warplanes pressed their air strikes against the rebels and their allies in the security forces overnight as the civilian death toll from a Monday raid on a missile depot in the capital rose to 38.

A further 532 people were wounded when the twin strikes sparked powerful explosions that flattened nearby houses, medics said.

The base belongs to the missile brigade of the elite

Republican Guard, which remains loyal to former president Ali Abdullah Saleh who has been accused of siding with the Huthis in their fight against Hadi’s forces.

Rebel spokesman Mohammed Abdulsalam slammed the “barbaric crime” insisting on his Facebook page that the “aggression will only unite the Yemeni people.”

A Saudi spokesman made no comment at a Monday media briefing.

AFP

Korean PM resigns over scandal

Cherry blossoms. People walk along blossoming cherry trees on April 20 at the cemetery of Bispebjerg in Copenhagen, Denmark. AFP

SEOUL—South Korean Prime Minister Lee WanKoo was left in political limbo Tuesday after offering to resign over a scandal involving bribery allegations against senior members of President Park Geun-Hye’s administration.

Park is currently on a trip to Latin America and a presidential spokeswoman said she would formally decide on whether to accept the resignation when she returned next week.

“I find it regrettable. I also feel sympathy for the agony of the prime minister,” the president said in a written statement from

Lima after being informed of Lee’s offer.

Lee, who has only been in the job for two months, tendered his resignation late Monday after the main opposition party said it would seek his impeachment.

Lee’s office said he had reported to work Tuesday morning.

The prime minister is a largely symbolic post in South Korea, where power is concentrated in the executive.

But under Park, it has proved to be a job that is both difficult to secure and equally tough to hold on to.

The president’s first ever

nominee withdrew after allegations about his past, and her initial prime minister was Chung HongWon, who then resigned after the April 2014 Sewol ferry disaster.

Two successive Park nominees to replace Chung withdrew their candidacies— again because of allegations of past wrongdoing—and the job finally went to Lee, who now looks almost certain to step down.

The current scandal was triggered by the suicide earlier this month of Sung Wan-Jong, the former head of a bankrupt construction company.

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

TAGAYTAY’S GREEN HOUSES F Tagô by Mañosa offers tranquility and harmony with nature

BY MAAN D’ASIS PAMARAN

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ilipino tradition dictates that at some point, the ancestors of most Manileños lived in a bahay kubo. That iconic nipa hut structure has since been reimagined

by Architect Bobby Mañosa, who used this as inspiration for his landmark works such as the San Miguel offices in Ortigas, the EDSA Shrine, the Coconut Palace and the structures at the Amanpulo Resort.

The second generation of Mañosas is carrying on the family tradition by creating noteworthy abodes, still based on that basic architectural framework via Manosa Properties Inc. (MPI).

One of their biggest projects to date is Tagô, an idyllic residential community located in a quiet spot in Tagaytay City.

There are two types of houses at the property, and they both feature an airy, open-plan design that incorporates distinctive bahay kubo elements that the multi-awarded Mañosa legacy is known for. Conceptualized to be very exclusive, the Tagô development is made up of 12 Ara-al homes and 40 Adobe homes, with each house having its own design, to follow the slope of the land and its orientation to the sun. The 240-sqm Adobe homes occupy 250-sqm lots while the larger 300-sqm Ara-al homes sit on lots that range from 350 – 400 sqm in size. Both homes have 2 storeys with three bedrooms and a maids room.

“My father is our consultant for the project. He has seen our plans and has given his inputs,” shares Dino Mañosa, MPI CEO. “The signature staircase with señorita steps, the banggerahan, which is used for the natural drying of dishes, as well as Mañosa-designed wooden wall lamps and other accessories provide classic Filipino touches. “The banggerahan that is traditionally inspired by the ones found at the bahay kubo is a standard for all Mañosa homes. The difference from the oldstyle banggerahan is that we built ours with modern materials such as stainless steel,” he adds. Continued on C2

C2

W E D N E S D AY : A P R I L 2 2 : 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

TAGAYTAY’S GREEN HOUSES From C1

A

long with following the basic outline that is suited for the Philippine climate, every Mañosa design is intrinsic with a deep respect and love for the land. “We like to leave a lot of open space and not consume every buildable square meter,” says Dino. Tagô is therefore master-planned to make the most of the raw natural beauty that surrounds it and is consciously limited to only 52 homes to provide a secure and close-knit community environment. Even the landscaping is purposeful – more than just ornamentals, there are edibles such as herbs and vegetables incorporated in the greenery.

With a view to building authentic Filipino ancestral homes intended to span multiple generations, the development uses locally-sourced sustainable materials and native design elements wherever possible. Bamboo, coconut, mat weaving, native stones, recycled lumber and a mix of farmed and reclaimed wood are used in as building materials and also in the interiors.

The residences boast of other environmentfriendly features, which is why it has garnered a Berde Certification. Private gardens and landscaping are painstakingly planned to use plants that are edible and endemic to the area. High ceilings, deep overhangs, wide windows and an unobstructed center space are elements that allow for cross-ventilation and abundant natural light, minimizing the need for electrically-powered cooling and lighting.

As the homes are designed for the ultimate in weekend rest and relaxation, homeowners can enjoy unique community management services made available through a tie-up with the nearby Nurture Wellness Village. Their homes can be cleaned before and after their stay and regular garden maintenance or assistance in meal services while the family is in residence may also be arranged. One can also call to book one of the spa’s signature Filipino-themed spa treatments.

Cost is less of a concern with the fractional ownership arrangements for Tagô, where a property is owned and shared by more than one person through a legally divided title deed. “One of the most common concerns when purchasing a second home is that the amount of time spent in it doesn’t justify the significant investment required to purchase and maintain it. This problem is solved when ownership and occupancy can be divided and shared. With fractional ownership, usage rights as well as maintenance and upkeep, can be divided equitably,” Dino explains.

For more information about owning your own Mañosa home in Tagaytay, visit www.manosaproperties.com

ARCHITECT PALAFOX RECOGNIZED AS FELLOW IN REAL ESTATE MANAGEMENT

The Philippine Council of Real Estate Educators (PhilCORE), in cooperation with the Philippine chapter of the Fédération Internationale de Administrateurs de Biens et Conseils Immobiliers (FIABCI), has unanimously chosen Architect Felino “Jun” Palafox Jr. as a Fellow in Real Estate Management for his significant contribution in the profession.

In conjunction with the 19th FIABCI Asia Pacific Regional Secretariat Summit at the Manila Marriott Hotel, the conferment was held on April 17 during the FIABCI-Philippines Property and Real Estate Awards Night.

Architect Palafox has practiced architecture and planning for more than four decades and has collaborated with some of the best designers, leaders and developers in the world. He led and managed his firm Palafox Associates in the planning of more than 16 billion square meters of land and the design and architecture of more than 12 million square meters of building floor area in 38 countries. The firm has also received more than 200 awards

and recognitions in the past 25 years, most notably as the first Filipino architectural firm included in the Top 500 Architectural Firms in the World of the London-based World Architecture Magazine in 1999, the only Southeast Asian architectural firm included in the list. For 2012, Palafox Associates ranks 89th in the list of the world’s largest practices and Top 8 in Leisure projects.

BCI Asia has awarded Palafox Associates BCI Asia’s Market Leader in Architecture in the Philippines since 2005. In 2014, Palafox Associates organized its five architectural studios into Palafox Architecture Group, Inc. He has also been a recipient of several local and international awards, most notably as Ambassador for Peace from the Inter-religious and International Federation for World Peace given in New York, Outstanding Professional Awardee for 2012 by Superbrands, Most Outstanding Architect given by the City of Manila, a Gusi Peace Prize 2011 Laureate for Architecture with Global Excellence and International Urban Planning, and consistently in-

cluded in BizNews Asia’s The Best of the Best. He was also the former president of the Management Association of the Philippines (MAP) and past president of the Philippine Institute of Environmental Planners (PIEP). He is a Fellow of both the Chicago-based Council on Tall Buildings of Urban Habitat (CTBUH) and the United Architects of the Philippines. He is also an international member of organizations like the American Planning Association, American Institute of Architects, Urban Land Institute, and US Green Building Council, among others.

Architect Palafox holds a degree in Architecture from the University of Santo Tomas, a Masters degree in Urban and Regional Planning from the University of the Philippines, and a diploma in Advanced Management Development Program in real estate from Harvard University’s Graduate School of Design. He has lectured in Harvard University, MIT, and in 18 other countries in Asia, Europe, and North America. His extensive travels allowed him to observe 1,000 cities in 63 countries.

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LIFE

BAMBINA OLIVARES WISE EDITOR

g l w e e ke n d @ g m a i l . c o m

C3

LUXURY SHOPPING DISTRICTS ALL OVER THE WORLD

BY ED BIADO

We all know about Champs-Élysées, Rodeo Drive and Madison Avenue. However, in cities that are not Paris, Beverly Hills and New York, how versed are you in luxury-shopping geography? Here are eight districts you may not (but definitely should) know about.

Mink Mile – The “prestigious section” of Bloor Street in Toronto, Canada is the most expensive place in the country to lease retail space, making it perfect for high-end brands. While most luxury labels are clustered in this area, plenty of mid-market players have also set up shop there, especially since the mid-2000s.

Via Montenapoleone – This upscale shopping street in Milan, Italy is the most important area of the Milan fashion district of Quadrilatero della moda. It has everything from readyto-wear to jewelry to bespoke goods and services, including the most recognizable names in the fashion industry.

Avenida Presidente Masaryk – Called Mexico City’s most fashionable urban shopping street, this thoroughfare is found in the affluent Polanco neighborhood, which boasts some of the most expensive real estate in the city. Aside from luxury boutiques, the area boasts premium restaurants, bars and cafes.

Königsallee – Translated as “King’s Avenue,” this boulevard in Dusseldorf is the busiest and most upscale shopping street in Germany. Not only is it home to luxury fashion brands, it also has audio electronics and posh hotels.

Victoria Quarter – The upmarket shopping hub in Leeds, England is where plenty of luxury brands put up their first out-of-London stores.

The three blocks of arcades are noted for their architecture of mosaics and marble.

Collins Street – Melbourne, Australia’s traditional main street is also its most prestigious one, being the place where high-end retailers have flocked to.

Rows of beautiful Victorian-era buildings in the area have been converted to retail spaces for brands such as Louis Vuitton.

Massimiliano Giornetti and Dolly van den Akker

MASSIMILIANO GIORNETTI RECEIVES THE MARIE CLAIRE PRIX DE LA MODE FOR “BEST FASHION HOUSE” Massimiliano Giornetti, Creative Director of Salvatore Ferragamo, was awarded the Marie Claire Netherlands Prix De La Mode for the category “Best Fashion House” in Amsterdam.

The ceremony took place in the fabulous Rijksmuseum that re-opened its doors in April 2013 after an incredible restoration that lasted 10 years. Nearly three million guests visited the museum since the re-opening.

A gala dinner for 120 international guests followed the award ceremony.

Ginza – Tokyo, Japan’s Ginza district is home to numerous high-end department stores, boutiques, restaurants and coffee shops. It is said to be the area with the highest concentration of western shops, being home to most fashion labels’ flagship stores.

Rue Oscar Freire – Named after the forensic medicine professor who helped develop the city’s first morgue, this tree-lined street in Sao Paolo, Brazil houses Louis Vuitton, Armani, Dior, Montblanc, Cartier, MaxMara, Zegna, Tommy Hilfiger, Marc Jacobs and Gant, alongside local labels such as Havaianas, Carlos Miele, Alexandre Herchcovitz and Gloria Coelho.

Massimiliano Giornetti and Wim Pijbes, General Director of Rijksmuseum

Massimiliano Giornetti and Claudia Straatmans, Marie Claire Netherlands Editor In Chief

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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

Serta® Naturel™ Collection. One of Serta’s newest exclusive collections that focuses on health and well-being. The Naturel™ Collection has been developed using new and innovative technology like the HeavenlyFEEL™ Viscotech Foam and the Belgium Knit which make this collection more ergonomic. The HeavenlyFEEL™ Viscotech Foam has the ability to return to its natural shape faster than the previously used memory foam while the Natural Fit™ Belgium Knit will enhance the comfort of the mattress, providing soft yet elastic surface.

iSolitaire™ from Serta® iPedic™ Collection is made of the finest materials blending a touch of classic and modern design. The smart combination of pocket on pocket technology, Super Pillow Top® and latex layer works correspondently with memory foam for a rejuvenating sleep.

OFF TO DREAMLAND Serta Makes its Debut in the Philippines through Crate & Barrel

F

ret no more, a peaceful sleep awaits.

Crate & Barrel has just revealed that from April 29th, it will begin exclusively stocking Serta mattresses in the country.

Serta is today the number one mattress manufacturer in the United States, and one of the most recognized home furnishing brands in the marketplace. Many prestigious hotel chains - the Hilton, the Conrad Venetian Macao, to name a few - rely on Serta to guarantee that their wellheeled guests get to sleep on one of the most luxurious mattresses available in the market today.

Crate & Barrel will carry quite an extensive range of Serta mattresses, including the Naturel and Perfect Spine Collections that focus on health and well-being. According to Serta’s Head of PR and Marketing Communications, “Everyone deserves to have well-being, a healthy balance of the mind, body and spirit, having a balance between work, place, rest and sleep.”

Also in-store will be the iPedic Collection, consisting of iPosture,

iPrestige, iSolitaire and iSplendor, each with unique features designed to promote comfort and health.

Even more specific are the mattresses in the Perfect Spine Collection, which is all about “The Pursuit of Well-Being.” These firm mattresses are ergonomically engineered to address spine problems, with the Spine Support Foam that support the backbone for a healthier, pain-free sleep.

This collection includes Compact, X-Treme and Pure mattresses.

Serta, based in Illinois, USA, enjoys the accolade of being called the world’s best mattress maker. Committed to quality and continuous innovation for over 80 years, Serta has, since 2011, has been named the best-selling mattress brand based on an independent survey conducted by Furniture Today Magazine, America’s number one furniture magazine.

On April 29, 2015, visit Crate & Barrel on the 4th level of Mega Fashion Hall at SM Megamall and enjoy a one-day 20% off all Serta products and Crate & Barrel’s select bedding and linen collection.

iPosture™, which is part of the Serta® iPedic™ Collection, is the ideal mattress to maintain a healthy and strong backbone. It has spine support foam, provides firm comfort and elegant design. Its support features include 5-zone pocket spring and foam encasement.

Serta® Perfect Spine™ Collection. “The Pursuit of Well-Being,” is what this collection is all about. These firm mattresses with the Spine Support Foam will support your backbone for healthier sleep offering solutions for those with ergonomics and spine problems.

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

SHOWBITZ isahred @ gmail.com

ISAH V. RED EDITOR

C5

Singer-songwriter-arranger-conductor Ryan Cayabyab, also the executive director of Philip, announced the 12 finalists in the ongoing songwriting contest

TOP 12 FINALISTS OF 2015 SONGWRITING CONTEST

O

n its 4th year, the Philippine Popular Music Festival celebrates the diversity of Filipino music as it announces its Top 12 finalists covering varying genres and themes.

The final cut has been chosen from about 2500 songs including entries from Filipino songwriters based not only in the Philippines but from other parts of the world including Australia, Canada, the Middle East, other South East Asian countries and various states in the U.S. One of them can be the next big Filipino songwriter.

What makes this year’s edition of the country’s premier songwriting competition different is that the Top 12 is a strong mix of familiar names and promising newcomers.

Among them are five previous Philpop finalists (Thyro Alfaro and Yumi Lacsamana, Paul Armesin, Davey Langit, Lara Maigue and Soc Villanueva) that include a previous grand prize winner (Thyro and Yumi) and a former runner-up (Soc Villanueva) returning to the finals for the third time.

One of them (Melchor Magno, Jr.) made it to the finals with his very first entry in Philpop’s fouryear history while six others (Gino Gonzalez Cruz and Jeff Arcilla, Ned Esguerra, Johannes Daniel Garcia, Ramiro Mataro, Melvin Joseph Morallos and Mark Villar) have submitted entries in past Philpop editions but have only made it to the finals this time.

One entry (Armesin’s “Tanging Pag-asa Ko”) is a gospel tune intended to be sung a capella, another (Esguerra’s “For The Rest of My Life”) has an old standard, torchy feel to

it. At least four (Garcia’s “Edge of the World”, Magno, Jr.’s “Musikaw”, Mataro’s “Walang Hanggan”, and Villar’s “Sa Ibang Mundo”) were acknowledged by their creators as partly influenced by the emerging EDM (electronic dance music) genre.

While love remains a pervasive theme, several entries have unusual takes on the subject. One entry (Villanueva’s “Kilig”) uses food as a metaphor for spicing up a relationship.

Another (Thyro & Yumi’s “Triangulo”) is about a love triangle from three different viewpoints.

There’s also a quirky tune (Langit’s “Paratingin Mo Naman Siya”) that depicts a single individual “left behind” by friends who have either recently married or are already starting families; a piano-based ballad (Maigue’s “Nasaan”) that “cinematically” depicts the longing for a lost love; and a song (Morallos’ “I Owe You My Heart”) that was written with a little help from the songwriter’s wife and baby.

As unusual subjects go, there’s even one (“Apat Na Buwang Pasko”

by Cruz and Arcilla) humorously tackles one’s disdain over the lengthy Christmas celebration in the country.

“True to Philpop’s rallying cry of ‘Loud and Proud’, this year’s batch of Philpop finalists represents a diverse collection of engaging songs that will resonate loudly with fans of Filipino music long after the competition is over,” declared master composer and Philpop Executive Director Ryan Cayabyab.

These entries will be performed by interpreters selected by the songwriters during PhilPOP 2015’s grand finals night scheduled on July 25. The grand prize winner will re-

ceive P1 million in cash while two runners-up will get P500,000 and P250,000 respectively. A special Spinnr People’s Choice Award will be given to the most popular entry as determined by votes via Spinnr.

Philpop is presented by Smart and Spinnr, the country’s biggest music portal, and co-presented

by Maynilad, Meralco, and PLDT Home. It is also supported by NLEX, Sun Cellular, Metro Pacific Investments, TV5,Sony, VIVA Communications, VIVA Records, Pinoy Box Office, Pinas FM, Radio Republic, MTV Pinoy, Philippine Star, InterAksyon and Pep.ph.

What makes this year’s edition of the country’s premier songwriting competition different is that the Top 12 is a strong mix of familiar names and promising newcomers

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SHOWBITZ

EDITOR

isahred @ gmail.com

AIFFA’S LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT AWARD FOR AUNOR

A

t the 2nd ASEAN International Film Festival and Awards (AIFFA) at the Borneo Convention Center in Kuching, Sarawak, Malaysia on April 11, Nora Aunor was honored with a Lifetime Achievement Award.

Bestowed for her sterling acting career that spans over five decades, the ASEAN Lifetime Achievement Award tops the eight lifetime achievement awards that Aunor has received from the different local award giving bodies, the most for any Filipino actors.

Aunor, in a black and off-white Filipiniana dress, shared the limelight with Hong Kong-born action superstar Jackie Chan who was feted with the ASEAN Inspiration Award for his magnificent rise to fame in world cinema. Malaysian actress Michelle Yeoh of the Oscar-winning Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon and the first recipient of the

AIFFA’s Lifetime Achievement Award in 2013 greeted Aunor during the awards ceremony.

Chan, 61, played small roles when he was five-years old in the late 50’s. Aunor was an aspiring singer in local singing competitions then. Chan worked as a stuntman in Bruce Lee’s Fist of Fury and Enter the Dragon before he became a box office star in the actioncomedy Drunken Master in 1978. Chan and Aunor teaming up in an international movie would be an instant hit if it ever materializes.

“More awards and films, more support coming from the government, films that value society, films that raise social awareness, films that still excite us to be in the darkness of movie theaters,” Aunor said in her acceptance speech, mirroring her vast experience and deep understanding of the world of movienmaking. – Eton B. Concepcion / Photo by Mell Navarro.

NEW ‘ACTION-CON’ EMOTICONS

Superstar Nora Aunor is honored with a Lifetime Achievement Award at the Asean International Film Festival in Sarawak, Malaysia, Fellow awardee, Hong Kong action star Jackie Chan greets the Filipino actress

FAMILY- SIZED HOME ENTERTAINMENT

T

rust the brilliant movers behind PLDT HOME to come up with a regular stream of trademark launches to ensure excellence in home-based entertainment where family connections are not only strengthened but celebrated as well.

Remember it is PLDT HOME that introduced TVolution, Telpad and more cutting-edge services including movies on demand, the best home entertainment service which already included live channels running on broadband and movie on demand offers. These products and services have beome milestone upon milestone in home entertainment and have been helping every member of the Filipino family to connect to each other.

Just recently, the leading broadband services provider PLDT HOME DSL launched Triple Play in partnership with Cignal Digital TV (Cignal), the country’s No. 1 pay TV provider. Triple Play is a three-in-one product bundle, which gives subscribers the reliable family-sized connection of PLDT HOME DSL, Cignal Digital TV access, and PLDT Landline service.

With Triple Play now available to PLDT HOME DSL subscriptions, subscribers can watch up to over 100 digital TV channels from Cignal, including NBA Premium TV

and Cignal exclusive channel Disney XD. Existing PLDT HOME Plan 1299 subscribers only need to add P400 to upgrade to Triple Play while new subscribers can avail of this bundle for as low as P1699.

“High-speed internet has drastically changed the way people access their favorite multi-media content,” PLDT Executive Vice President and Head of Home Business Ariel P. Fermin said.

“As the first Telco to offer digital TV over broadband early last year, the introduction of Triple Play on PLDT HOME DSL will allow more of our subscribers to access digital channels from Cignal using their family-sized connection, This strategic partnership will help us level up home entertainment for our subscribers as we provide the strongest connections at home,” Fermin added.

Subscribers who sign up for or upgrade to a PLDT HOME DSL Triple Play bundle until April 24 can watch the highly anticipated Pacquiao-Mayweather match in digital quality on May 3 via Cignal Pay per View for free.

“Rooting for our very own boxing hero is an experience best shared with the family,” PLDT Vice President and Head of HOME Marketing Gary Dujali added.

CROSSWORD PUZZLE 42 43 44 45 48 52 55 56 57 58 60 61 62 63 64 65

24 26 27 28 30 33 34 37 38 39 40 41

Roman naturalist Zeus’ shield Urge Athens rival Bar sing-along Hiker’s aid (2 wds.)

Ryan or Whitman — spumante Gallop or canter — sanctum Dregs Bronte governess Fishing net Attention getter Watches Pop-up item

DOWN 1 Hologram maker 2 Paris school (2 wds.)

3 Mr. Goldfinger Alter a ship’s course 4 Fr. holy woman Shakes awake 5 Plant books Stout 6 Waterfall Finish pie crust 7 Toss Perfume holders 8 Run in neutral Tikal dwellers 9 Hung-jury result Useful hint 10 Get ready Eight, to Livy (2 wds.)

“Bolero” composer 11 Clay pots Europe-Asia range 12 Chuck Berry tune Afire 13 Faculty heads Annoys 22 Suffix for press

ANSWER FOR PREVIOUS PUZZLE ACROSS 1 Dog owner’s buy 6 Carpentry wedge 10 Tasty 14 Sharp, as hearing 15 BMW rival 16 She, to Marie 17 More ticked off 18 WWW addresses 19 “Betsy’s Wedding” star 20 Yale athlete 21 Tokyo travel option

ISAH V. RED

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Back-fence yowlers Moon ring Underground chambers Bread grains TV knob Here, in Le Havre Legal rep.

Ankle-length Cycle starter Fleming of 007 fame Pilot a ferry Calibrates anew Bone below the elbow Nix Not give up Studio renter Puppy noise Cut too short Pretends to be Gambling stakes Moss and Capshaw “— vincit amor” Wails White bird “Big-mouth” Martha Heavy mud Opposite of “paleo”

“Whatever viewing screen they choose – whether it’s the TV, laptop or the PLDT HOME Telpad – it’s certainly going to be a fun, action-packed bonding moment at home with Triple Play.”

To enjoy digital quality viewing of the Pacquiao-Mayweather match and the array of Cignal channels at home through PLDT HOME DSL Triple Play, log on to pldthome.com for more details.

PLDT Executive Vice President and Head of Home Business Ariel P. Fermin

KakaoTalk users will find chatting more enjoyable with “Action-cons,” a never-before-seen brand of emoticons that fill the chat room with eye-popping animated sequences, presenting an immersive, multi-step emoticon experience.

The multi-platform texting app’s first action-con collection, “TouchTouch Adorable Mozzi” by artist Yun-hwa Baek, shows Mozzi the cat expressing a range of emotions and movement.

“KakaoTalk Emoticons” Plus Friend, a Convenient, newly launched channel gives users updates on new items, as well as exclusive offers on free and paid digital items.

KakaoTalk has always been about that goes beyond text communication, and actioncons offer yet another innovative form of expression and connection. And through the ‘KakaoTalk Emoticons Plus Friend,’ users will be able to learn more about the emoticons and characters they love, in addition to exclusive deals and offers.

As of April 21st, “TouchTouch Adorable Mozzi” can be purchased in-app through the Google Play Store. Action-cons are compatible with the following KakaoTalk versions: Android 4.8.0 and iOS 4.6.1, and Windows 2.0.4; Desktop for Mac 1.5.3 versions.

KakaoTalk’s Emoticon plus

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SHOWBITZ

ISAH V. RED EDITOR

isahred @ gmail.com

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GMA’S HOLY WEEK PROGRAMMING LEADS NATIONWIDE RATINGS

Darren Espanto celebrates his birthday with a concert at the Arena, Mall of Asia

G

MA’s Holy Week programming leads nationwide ratings Viewers took to GMA as they sought meaningmeaning ful programs during the Lenten Season.

From inspirational dradra mas to true-to-life tales of sacrifice, GMA prepre sented various Lenten specials and religious programs together with award-winning documentaries and movies in hopes of touching the hearts and lives of viewers.

During the Holy Week, GMA-7 emerged as the preferred TV network among local channels as it reigned supreme in National Urban TV Audience Measurement (NUTAM), Urban Luzon and Mega Manila ratings.

According to overnight data from the industry’s widely-trusted ratings service provider Nielsen TV Audience Measurement, GMA ruled over its closest rival from March 30 to April 5 (Holy Monday to Easter Sunday) in NUTAM with an average household audience share of 37.2 percent against ABS-CBN’s 31.1 percent.

GMA also asserted its dominance across the viewer rich areas of Urban Luzon and Mega Manila for the entire Holy Week.

GMA recorded 40.9 percent in Urban Luzon versus ABS-CBN’s 27.1 percent; while in Mega Manila, GMA scored 42.9 percent, higher than ABS-CBN’s 23.9 percent.

The Kapuso Network registered an even bigger margin over ABS-CBN from April 2 to 5 (Maundy Thursday to Easter Sunday).

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In NUTAM, GMA recorded 38.6 percent, registering a commanding 10.4 lead over ABSCBN’s 28.2 percent.

GMA similarly won in Urban Luzon and Mega Manila as it posted 42 percent and 43.6 percent, respectively while ABS-CBN trailed behind with only 24.7 percent and 21.7 percent.

More entries from GMA also figured in the lists of top-rating shows (including specials) in NUTAM, Urban Luzon and Mega Manila with the Holy Week special, The Ten Commandments, grabbing the top spot across all areas. **** As runner-up in ABS-CBN’s The Voice Kids, Darren Espanto has been working non-stop that includes guest appearances, shows here and abroad and a solo debut album released late last year.

The very young singer says it’s indeed a blessing to him.

Now, known as the “Total Performer,” Espanto will further showcase his dance moves and vocal prowess as he turns a year older via a concert entitled Darren Espanto D Birthday Concert” on May 29 8p.m. at Mall of Asia Arena.

His special guests include The Voice of the Philippines Season 1 Grand Champion Mitoy Yonting, Season 2 Grand Champion Jason Dy, Season 2 runner-up Alisah Bonaobra and host/ actor Robi Domingo plus other surprise guests.

Expect Darren to perform songs from his selftitled album which features the singles “In Love Ako Sa ‘Yo” and “Stuck” under MCA Music plus more surprise numbers and performances.

“I’m so excited to finally perform solo at MOA Arena and hope all Darrenatics will get to watch. There will be lots of surprises in store for everyone,” Darren said.

Tickets are available at P4,230 for VIP, P3,700 for Patron, P2,640 for Lower Box, P1,270 for Upper Box and P430 for General Admission at SM Tickets at 4702222 or smtickets.com.

For VVIP tickets worth P4,760, contact Liza Ong through mobile - 09989741153 or through email - liza.ong@umusic.com.

“Darren Espanto D Birthday Concert” is presented by Talk N’ Text, Spinnr and MCA Music.

Darren, the album is now out under MCA Music (Universal Music Philippines) on CDs at Astroplus and Odyssey outlets. It is also available through digital downloads via spinnr. ph and iTunes and streaming via spinnr.ph, Deezer and Spotify.

For bookings and inquiries, please contact Sammy Samaniego at (632) 9162504 local 107, (0920) 9682991, (0917) 8565174 or email sammy.samaniego@umusic.com. For more information about Darren, log on to www. facebook.com/mcamusic.

The Voice of the Philippines champion Mitoy Yonting lends his vocal talents as guest in Espanto’s concert

KIM CHIU’S MR. RIGHT WITHOUT WANG 2

BY NICKIE WANG Hasn’t Kim Chiu found the love of her life? The perfect guy who she can call the icing on her cupcake?

Well, Kim’s love life may have been a hot topic but this question is not going down as another juicy detail of her romantic escapade. It’s just part of the song called “Mr. Right,” a single from her sophomore album that also features an updated version of “Crazy Love,” the single eleased eight years ago.

You read it right, her fans have finally convinced her to come up with a follow-up record to her debut album titled Gwa Ai Di released in 2007 and has turned gold.

According to the chinky-eyed actress, she did not write any of the songs in the new album but Star Music gave her the liberty to choose which song would be included in the final track listing.

In “Mr. Right,” the 25-year-old star posts questions intended to a person who is bringing joy and happy ending to her

movie-like life. The music video, which features Xian Lim, is set in a cupcake shop where Kim plays the role of a waitress who is just looking for Mr. Right. Her love interest turns out to be an equally shy and nerdy guy played by her current onscreen partner.

Star Music has not released the music video yet hence the growing anticipation to see the finished product is building up.

More so when Kim recently announced that she has just finished shooting for another music video shot entirely in Subic.

This video brings the summer feel as it features Kim in bikini tops and short skirts.

Indeed, Kim is really stepping up her game for the entertainment of her fans, but is the album really worth the wait?

Kim describes her new album as “light, cool and easy.” And the songs stay true to that description given that the lyric is very juvenile. It no longer matches Kim’s age as a matter of fact.

Kim is a lot of things (she is an actress, an endorser and a dancer) but a singer is not one of them. That, without even listening to the album, will tell you how the vocals, or lack thereof, makes it as nothing but a good souvenir item to all Kim Chiu fans. Their

number is good enough to make this new album turn Gold or surpass the sales of its predecessor. Then again, having a second album doesn’t make one a legitimate recording star. Only blind patriotism will make Kim pass as a recording artist.

BEST-SELLING CD Maybe Kim Chiu’s brave attempt at recording music again was inspired by Daniel Padilla’s recent success. The “teen king,” who’s turning 20 years old this week, has just received the double-Platinum certification for his album billed I Heart You, which was released in April last year.

Daniel now has three double-Platinum record awards under his belt. And that happened amid continuous criticism on how terrible he is as a singer.

The sales milestone of Daniel’s third studio album was announced on Instagram by Roxy Santos, Star Records In-House Record Producer. He is the same person who announced that Kim’s album launch was sold out.

Meanwhile, Christian Bautista’s Soundtrack album that came out in November 2014 also received a

Kim Chiu releases second album

Is Xian Lim not Kim’s Mr. Right?

certification from Philippine Association of the Record Industry (PARI).

The crooner, known for his distinctive and pleasant vocals, managed to sell 7,500 copies of his latest album enough to receive the Gold record award. To date, the album is one of Christian’s worst performing albums.

His Outbound (2011) and X-Plus (2012) didn’t manage to even get certified by PARI. For comparison, his debut album released in 2004 was 4x Platinum and his 2010 Christmas album was certified Diamond.

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ISAH V. RED EDITOR

isahred @ gmail.com

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TEEN QUEEN KATHRYN’S BEST VERSION SIMPLY RED ISAH V. RED Being in show business since she was just a kid is a tough challenge.

What makes Kathryn Bernardo shine bright in a very competitive industry are the good things that she surrounds herself with.

She is one of the today’s most in-demand television and movie stars, “Teen Queen” Kathryn says her love for the craft allows her to deliver outstanding performances. She also adds that if you put your focus on to something, nothing is impossible.

“If you love what you do, magre-reflect ‘yun sa work mo. As long as you want something, strive for it, walang imposible,” says Kathryn.

Coming from the success of her movie Crazy Beautiful You, the Teen Queen was recently named brand ambassador for OraCare Mouthrinse, giving a face to the brand’s newest campaign “It’s Real Good for Me.” She is perfect for the brand because she is a self-confessed “OC” when it comes to her hygiene, especially her oral health. The 19-year-old actress says that the reason she accepted the project right away is because she really trusts the brand, which is now on its 10th year in the market.

“When the project was first pitched to me, I was super happy kasi nga trustworthy ‘yung brand lalo na’t gawa ‘to ng Pascual Lab,” the teen actress says. “I’m excited to do other projects with the OraCare team kasi ang super bait nila.”

The brand’s newest campaign with Kathryn aims to inspire the younger generation to be conscious about their oral hygiene as early as possible and adopt the habit of choosing things that will be good for them. It will provide them with that extra boost of confidence to achieve more awesome things in life. “Parang ngang OraCare is the mouthwash for our generation – it’s convenient to use, walang hassle gamitin dahil walang sting yet very effective. It’s modern and trendy.”

At an early age, Kathryn knows what she wants and what’s good

for her -- things that will help her achieve her dreams. That said, here’s a list of eight real good things for Kathryn:

GOOD BOOK :BOOKS BY NICHOLAS SPARKS The teen actress says that Sparks tops the list of her favorite authors because he is a very detailed narrator and a moving storyteller. She cites The Last Song as her favorite in Sparks’ vast book collection because it didn’t just focus on romance, but also on family relationships, specifically father-daughter love.

GOOD FOOD : PIZZA AND CHICKEN! If there’s anything she can eat all day, Kathryn would definitely choose pizza and chicken. “They are my favorites! They’re like my comfort food!” says the teen actress.

GOOD WORKOUT : CORE EXERCISE As one of the most sought-after teen stars today, Kathryn has to maintain her good physique and make sure that she keeps her health always at its best. She says that she enjoys core exercise because it improves her balance and stability and it’s easy to set up anytime, anywhere.

GOOD ANIMAL : DOGS After a taxing day, just seeing her dogs makes Kathryn forget about a long day’s work. “Their presence lightens up everything!”

GOOD MUSIC : JACK JOHNSON’S MUSIC The Teen Queen says that Johnson’s songs are light and easy, which makes her feel good every day. “His music speaks to me! His songs are light and easy and they always make me feel good everyday,” says the Teen Queen.

GOOD PLACE – LOS ANGELES The City of Angels is among the favorite places that Kathryn loves to go to because she finds it very chill and laid back, allowing her to reflect and relax.

GOOD ROLE MODEL : HER MOM The Pangako Sa’Yo star owes her

success to people around her especially her mom who is there through thick and thin. “She’s my rock! My mom is a very strong woman and I idolize her for that.”

GOOD MOUTHWASH : ORACARE What Kathryn loves about OraCare is that it doesn’t have alcohol and the burning sensation and strong aftertaste – giving her a pleasurable gargling experience. Apart from that, she is confident that OraCare provides her real mouth clean despite its water-like taste. It is because OraCare’s active ingredient, Stabilized Chlorine Dioxide, effectively kills bad bacteria and neutralizes volatile sulfur compounds – the main culprit behind strong mouth odors – giving her the real mouth clean she needs everyday.

“OraCare is my choice because it boosts my confidence, allowing me to be the best that I can be. It’s real good for me!” Kathryn states.

Like the teen star, everyone can choose to surround themselves with only good things that will help them become better individuals.

So, take it from the teen queen and start choosing what’s good for you.

OraCare Mouthrinse, made

by Pascual Laboratories, Inc., is available at leading supermarkets and drugstores nationwide. It comes in three variants—Regular, Cool and Merrymint.

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She is perfect for the brand because she is a self-confessed “OC” when it comes to her hygiene, especially her oral health. The 19-yearold actress says that the reason she accepted the project right away is because she really trusts the brand, which is now on its 10th year in the market

(1) Teen Queen Kathryn Bernardo is the newest brand ambassador of OraCare Mouthrinse (2) The “Crazy Beautiful You” star says that OraCare is real good for her because it gives her an extra-dose of confidence. (3) Teen star Kathryn Bernardo says that what she loves most about OraCare is it doesn’t have that stingy feeling whenever you gargle.

(4) Kathryn Bernardo is the face of OraCare’s newest campaign “It’s Real Good For Me,” which aims to inspire younger generation to be mindful of their oral health as early as possible. (5) PascualLab’s Marketing Manager Riza Sacay welcomes Kathryn Bernardo to the awesome OraCare family. (6) Teen Queen Kathryn Bernardo is introduced as the newest brand ambassador of OraCare Mouthrinse. (7) Teen Queen Kathryn Bernardo says she’s delighted to be the newest face of the brand, adding that OraCare Mouthrinse is real good for her. (8) Kathryn Bernardo shares her list of eight good things that makes her be the best version of herself last April 17 at the 55 Events Place, Tomas Morato, Quezon City. (9) The three (From L-R: OraCare Brand Manager Guia Talag, Teen Queen Kathryn Bernardo, and oral care expert Dr. Nancy Brillo). (10) Teen star Kathryn Bernardo says that what she loves most about OraCare is it doesn’t have that stingy feeling whenever you gargle. (11) Teen star Kathryn Bernardo says that what she loves most about OraCare is it doesn’t have that stingy feeling whenever you gargle. (12) OraCare Brand Manager Guia Talag and Teen Queen Kathryn Bernardo during the launch of the brand’s newest campaign “It’s Real Good For Me” last April 17 at the 55 Events Place, Tomas Morato, Quezon City.

(13) Kathryn Bernardo says that her OraCare family are so welcoming, which makes her look forward with their future projects together. (From Left) Senior Brand Manager Cathy Reyes, OraCare Brand Manager Guia Talag, Teen Queen Kathryn Bernado, and PascualLab’s Marketing Manager Riza Sacay). (14) OraCare Mouthrinse is awarded a Guinness World Record for Most Number of People Simultaneously Gargling with Mouthwash after beating Ontario, Canada’s former record. (From L-R: Senior Brand Manager Cathy Reyes, OraCare Brand Manager Guia Talag, Teen Queen Kathryn Bernado, History Channel’s representative Jacquem Ruby and PascualLab’s Marketing Manager Riza Sacay). (15) Kathryn Bernardo calls the winners of eight good things trivia game during OraCare’s Press Conference at the 55 Events Place, Tomas Morato, Quezon City last April 17.