The Standard - 2015 May 03 - Sunday

S U N D AY : M AY 0 3 : 2 0 1 5

BAMBINA OLIVARES WISE EDITOR

g l w e e ke n d @ g m a i l . c o m

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VOL. XXIX  NO. 75  3 Sections  24 Pages  P18  SUNDAY, MAY 3, 2015  www.manilastandardtoday.com  editorial@thestandard.com.ph

LABAN MANNY

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Laban Manny The fight of his life

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Moro lawyers score BBL as ‘blasphemous’

THE FIGHT OF HIS LIFE #LABANMANNY

ARUM: NO ESCAPE FOR MAYWEATHER

Next page

MAKING THE WEIGHT. Undefeated American boxing champion Floyd Mayweather Jr. and Philippine boxing icon Manny Pacquiao pose after tipping the scales during the official weigh-in held on Friday (Saturday in Manila), at the MGM Grand Garden Hotel in Las Vegas, Nevada. Mayweather and Pacquiao face each other today in the much-awaited clash dubbed as the “Fight of the Century,” for the unified welterweight crown. AFP

QUAKE DESTROYS NEPAL HERITAGE SITES

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FOREIGNERS SNAP UP PH CONDO UNITS

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news

editorial@thestandard.com.ph

Caption head. Nepalese civilians and police personnel clear rubble at the Narayan temple in Kathmandu on May 2, 2015, one week after a 7.8 magnitude earthquake which struck the Himalayan nation on April 25. Desperate survivors living at ground zero of Nepal’s earthquake felt abandoned to their fate after losing their loved ones and livelihoods in a disaster that has claimed more than 6,300 lives. AFP

ARUM SAYS YOU’LL SEE THE BEST PACQUIAO EVER BRITAIN HAS NEW PRINCESS LONDON – A crowd of curious onlookers and royal superfans erupted in cheers outside a London hospital on Saturday after the announcement that Prince William’s wife Kate had given birth to a princess.

The news about the British royal family’s latest arrival was belted out by a lavishly-dressed town crier on the steps of the Lindo Wing of St Mary’s hospital where Kate was admitted earlier Saturday.

“What an amazing day!”

Sadie Moran, a 45-year-old wrapped in a British Union Jack flag, told AFP. “It’s like a memory of princess Diana,” said Moran, referring to William’s late mother, who died in a car crash in 1997 and is still much-loved in Britain.

Diana gave birth to William and his brother Harry in the same hospital.

Michelle Lassiter, a charity worker who travelled from the town of Guildford near London had been waiting from the early morning in a fold-up chair.

“It’s fabulous news, it’s a girl! And born so quickly!

It’s wonderful news,” the

55-year-old said.

“I’ve been on standby all week just in case!”

Lassiter said that her family and friends thought she was “batty”, but added: “It’s history in the making. I hope to see them as they come out onto the steps.”

Terry Hutt, an 80-year-old in a Union Jack suit was one of around a dozen royalists who have remained camped out outside the hospital for nearly two weeks.

He said the birth was “marvellous”.

“I’m very happy for them.

I think that’s nice to have a girl... Diana would be proud, very very proud.

Margaret Tyler, 71, who wore a Union Jack jacket with a Diana badge pinned on the lapel, also remembered Diana.

“I’m so pleased, and that was quite quick!”

“William wanted a girl and Diana wanted a girl.

I think its just nice for George to have a little sister,” she said.

Ahead of the announcement, Davina Johnson, 34, a new mother, came out of the clinic into the street in her slippers and dressing gown,

wearing the plastic hospital tag on her wrist.

“They came to do the ward rounds this morning and said ‘Kate’s here’. So I rushed down,” said Johnson, who has been in the central London hospital for the past week after giving birth prematurely.

“The other mums are just as excited as I am. The maternity ward is packed to capacity. Everybody is talking about it. Everybody is buzzing about it.”

“We share the same midwives and, although they’re all very professional, I bet they’re hoping to be on that shift,” she said.

Among the onlookers were tourists looking to bring home a special memory from their holidays.

“We heard it on the news that she’s in labour and we wanted to see,” said Tiina Hamalanen, a 51-year-old from Finland, who was taking photos on her smartphone of the lines of dozens of photographers.

“It wasn’t part of our (holiday) plans but we realised that it might happen so it’s very exciting for us to be here at this moment.” - AFP

By Ronnie Nathanielsz

TOP Rank promoter Bob Arum believes fights fans will see the best Manny Pacquiao ever even as he joined his prized possession and celebrated trainer Freddie Roach in expressing supreme confidence so much so that they don’t see any escape for undefeated pound for pound No.1 Floyd Mayweather Jr. A smiling, supremely relaxed and confident Pacquiao, his spirits lifted by the thunderous cheers he received from fans at a jampacked MGM Grand at the official weigh-in today where Mayweather was often booed, tipped the scales at 145 pounds while Mayweather came in one pound heavier.

Arum told The Standard that Pacquiao was “in great, great shape and I have never seen him before as relaxed as he is now and supremely confident. Freddie and Manny are not just blowing smoke, they have a game plan on how they are going to attack Mayweather and win the fight.”

The astute promoter who handled Mayweather for ten years said he knows Floyd struggles with southpaws but he has “never faced the hardest punching southpaw in Pacquuao.”

He noted that Pacquiao at the weigh in was “a smiling, happy person who looked like he is going to a party. He feels no pressure.

“He has used his spirituality to alleviate him from any pressure.

His spirituality has taken over Manny’s life and has made him not only a better person but a

better athlete.”

Arum, who had the opportunity to watch Pacquiao train more than ever before because he now has a house in Los Angeles said “he (Pacquiao) looks faster now than I have ever seen him and he’s punching harder than before.”

The Top Rank promoter said “this fight has elevated him to a new plateau nd you may see the best Manny Pacquiao ever. I really don’t see any escape for Mayweather, that’s why its been six years to make the fight. The truth is Manny always wanted to do this fight but Floyd came up with all sorts of excuses, “ as he pointed out that when it comes to boxing he is avery smarty guy although he may “not be so smart when it comes to how he spends his money or how he talks.”

At the same time, Arum pointed out that “Manny is not stupid when it comes to boxing and while Mayweather is a great tactician the fight will be determined by who is better.

“I don’t think Floyd has the answer to Manny for the way he is going to attack.”

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NEWS

editorial@thestandard.com.ph

bbl scored as ‘blasphemous’

By Francisco Tuyay

LIKE many lawyers in Visayas and Luzon, Moro lawyers asserted on Saturday their support for peace in their strife-torn homeland, but cannot in good conscience support the Bangsamoro Basic Law being proposed by the government because of some questionable provisions.

According to the Muslim Bar Association of the Philippines (Musbarap), headed by Maranao Sultan Dr. Firdausi Abbas, part of the proposed BBL may even be considered “blasphemous” by mufti’s and other Islamic scholars.

“As Moros and as Muslims, we cannot support the said legislative proposal,” Abbas said, reiterating the position the Musbarap expressed in a meeting with Moro Islamic Liberation Front officials, led Mohagher Iqbal, during a meeting in Pasig City last week.

Other Musbarap members at the meeting were secretary general Ombra Jainal, vice president Dalidig Sumndad and Region X chairman Jamil Matalam. The MILF members present were Ambassador Akmad Sakkam, Sulu Rep. Asani Tammang and lawyer Raysa Jajurie.

“The discussion was spirited but friendly and the participants thanked each other and agreed to pursue the cause of the Bangsa Moro,” Abbas said.

Abbas said Musbarap considered as “blasphemous” provision in the BBL which provides that the sources of Shariah law are Al-Quran (The Koran), Al-Sunnah (Prophetic traditions), A-Qiyas (Analogy) and Al-Ijima (Consensus).

“Among others means there could be other sources of Shariah.

A decision of the Supreme Court or an opinion of the President could therefore be also sources of Shari’ah. This is simply outrageous,” Abbas said.

“Furthermore the Sunnah or Hadith must be interpreted as Sayings, Preachings and Traditions of the Prophet Mohammad (PBUP) and not simply as prophetic traditions because there are numerous beloved prophets in Islam. Furthermore, it is not Ijima but Ijma and Ijma must precede Qiyas,” he added According to the Moro lawyers, customs and traditions can be a reference but not as a source, pointing out that Imam Shafei originally did not accept Qiyas as a source and insisted that only the Quran, Sunnah of the Prophet Mohammed (PBUP) and Ijma can be sources but later relented.

The Moro lawyers also questioned a fundamental definition of Bangsamoro people as spelled out in BBL’s Article II, Section 1.

Lake of life. a growing number of tourists have been arriving at lake danao in ormoc city, which supplies a third of the water needs of at least seven towns in leyte, including tacloban city. MEL CASPE

basit usman reported wounded stay out

By Sara D. Fabunan of mount bulusan - phivolcs SECURITY forces are now confirming reports that suspected terrorist Abdul Basit Usman was shot and wounded during an encounter with Marines in Central Mindanao, deputy presidential spokesperson Abigail Valte said on Saturday.

“We have received report saying that he was wounded during an encounter, but we are still in the process of confirming this,” Valte said in a radio interview over state-owned Radyo ng Bayan.

Usman, believed to be a member of the Abu Sayyaf Group, has been the subject of a police and military manhunt after he escaped the ill-fated Special Action Force operation in Mamasapano, Maguindanao last January 25.

Security forces believe Usman escaped to Basilan and

sought refuge with Abu Sayyaf leader Furuji Indama after the Mamasapano incident, but the government, Valte said, is still verifying the report.

“I have been in touch with the Department of National Defense and they are still undertaking to confirm the report,” Valte noted.

The Mamasapano incident resulted in the killing of Malaysian terrorist Zulkifli bin Hir, but also resulted in the death of 44 SAF commandos and spurred public suspicions on the proposed Bangsamoro Basic Law (BBL).

The BBL will embody the peace agreement signed by the Philippine government and the MILF in March last year, which aims to end the decades-old conflict in Mindanao.

Meanwhile, Undersecretary for Bangsamoro Affairs of the Office

of the Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process Jose Lorena said that the proposed BBL is designed to address the clamor for a genuine autonomy in Mindanao, and not as an appeasement to any revolutionary group.

“The BBL is not for MILF (Moro Islamic Liberation Front) alone.

BBL should be equated with meaningful autonomy, which is to capture the articulation not only of the Moro fronts but the Muslims in Southern Philippines,” Lorena said.

“I would like to underscore that the Bangsamoro Basic Law, in what form it may be passed should be intended to build meaningful and effective institutions in order to make autonomy efficient and effective in addressing the aspirations of the Bangsamoro people for good governance,” he added.

Dangerous Bulusan. mount bulusan appears beautiful even with steam coming of its crater, but volcanologists reiterated on saturday that it remains dangerous and people should stay out.

THE Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology advised municipal leaders of the towns of Juban and Irosin in Sorsogon to strictly enforce the ban on entry into the fourkilometer Permanent Danger Zone around Bulusan volcano, saying more eruptions could follow Friday’s steam and ash explosion.

Bulusan, one of the country’s most active volcanoes, erupted at 8:09 a.m. on Friday and while Phivolcs resident volcanologist Ed Laguerta called the outburst “minor,” he said they were “closely monitoring the activity if it will escalate in the coming days.”

He said ash from Friday’s explosion drifted towards the villages of Puting Sapa and Sangayon in Juban town and in Cogon, Gulang-Gulang and Tinampo villages of Irosin town.

Phivolcs warned residents in valleys and along water channels to be alert against sedimentladen stream and lahar flows in the event of heavy and prolonged rainfall.

It also advised civil aviation authorities to advise pilots against flying close to the volcano’s summit to avoid danger from possible eruptions.

Although Phivolcs did not raise its alert level in Bulusan, the government assured the public that all concerned agencies are now closely monitoring developments at Mount Bulusan.

S U N D AY, M AY 3 , 2 0 1 5

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OPINION

ADELLE CHUA EDITOR

lettertotheeditor@thestandard.com.ph

OPINION

CHASING HAPPY ADELLE CHUA

MIRACLES AND OTHER ATTRIBUTIONS

[ EDI TORI A L ]

THE UNIFIERS WHO says Filipinos cannot get their act together and act in unity?

Today is probably one of the best examples. Practically everyone will be watching the boxing match between Manny Pacquiao and Floyd Mayweather Jr., rooting for the socalled People’s Champ who has inspired many by his grit, perseverance and hard work in his sport.

This fight has been long anticipated, and because the Philippine boxer is up against somebody who is bigger and who has never lost a fight in his career, he is deemed the underdog. And how we love underdogs.

We imagine there will be few people on the streets Sunday morning, and even fewer crimes committed. These occasions are equalizers: the lawbreakers and the law-abiding, the educated and the unschooled, the gainfully employed, the desperately looking and the ones taking life in stride—they will all be rooting for the boy who was so poor he had to escape his life in Mindanao and live on the kindness of strangers as he set out to be a master in his field.

Whatever the result, Pacquiao has done it again—brought together Filipinos of every persuasion and political color on the same page, with the same fervent wish: to see him win.

A 30-year-old overseas Filipino worker from Nueva Ecija achieved the same feat last week, albeit under vastly different circumstances.

Mary Jane Veloso, who had been found guilty of drug trafficking in Indonesia, almost faced the firing squad in the early hours of Wednesday. She was one of the so-called Bali Nine up for execution that day, but in the end only eight were shot. She was granted a temporary reprieve, taken out of execution island and brought back to the prison where she had spent the past five years. Miracle, answered prayer, grace, or a logical outcome of the last-minute turn of events, what is important is that she lives for now and has been given a rare chance to prove her innocence.

In those crucial days and hours before the scheduled killing, Filipinos again showed how powerful concerted action was. No less than Veloso’s family, who had returned to the Philippines after learning of the stay and reuniting with her when they had expected to bring her home in a coffin, thanked the Filipino people for their unrelenting support and compassion. Online social media sites were filled with updates, news reports and calls to action. In front of the Indonesian Embassy in Makati City, Filipinos gathered, holding a vigil and never abandoning hope. The rest stayed tuned, prayed and hoped as well.

Chances are, however, the unifying effects will be fleeting. Whatever happens in Nevada today, we will go back to our usual ways, divided and intolerant, spending more energy arguing rather than getting things done. Make no mistake about it, too: Veloso is still on death row, and there are numerous other Filipinos on death row in other countries. Many more will still take insane risks to earn money or trust those bent on manipulating them.

Perhaps sometime soon, Filipinos will find themselves united for far longer, and far more substantially, than an overnight vigil or a few hours of spectatorship.

SLEEPING SAINT JOSEPH ARE WE THERE YET? BONG C. AUSTERO A DEAR friend gifted me with an image of a sleeping Saint Joseph recently. She was quite pleased with her present because she said she had difficulty sourcing the image—apparently, it’s one of the most in demand religious images in the country today, thanks to Pope Francis who provided a moving

testimony during his visit last January on the supposed ability of the image to grant wishes.

According to dear Lolo Kiko, whenever he found himself in a fix, he would write whatever was troubling him on a piece of paper and slip it under the image of the sleeping saint for the saint to “dream” about.

I thanked my friend profusely for her thoughtfulness.

What I didn’t have the heart to tell her was that I actually already have three other sleeping Saint Josephs all given to me

last month during my birthday.

I truly and deeply appreciated each of the four images given to me; they occupy special places in our house and in my office. I must admit, though, that I did wonder what the gifts meant: did my friends think I am in desperate need of a wishing factory? (In case you are one of those who are still in search of an image of a sleeping Saint Joseph, it’s not actually that difficult to find anymore. Most religious stores in major malls already sell them; in fact, they

A5

With the new and growing popularity of the sleeping Saint Joseph, I hope there will come a time when images of saints are no longer depicted in idealized forms but in ways that make them more “relatable.”

can actually be bought in stalls around major churches such as Baclaran and Quiapo). Did anyone really think Filipino entrepreneurs would let go of a business opportunity? Of course it was just a matter of time before images of the sleeping Saint Joseph would find their way into stores and homes. They are quite pricey at this time though, probably because the demand is still high and the novelty is still fresh.

I am not a very religious person although I do believe in the power of

Published Monday to Sunday by Philippine Manila Standard Publishing Inc. at 6/F Universal Re Building, 106 Paseo de Roxas, corner Perea St., Legaspi Village, Makati City.

Telephone numbers 832-5554, 832-5556, 832-5558 (connecting all departments), (Editorial), 832-5546, (Advertising), 832-

faith and prayers. I was also reared by a grandmother who was a devout Catholic and who was a devotee of several saints. Thus, I could actually distinguish Saint Joseph from, say, Saint Anthony of Padua – two saints that carry the image of an infant Jesus in their arms. Aside from differences in the colors of their vestments, Saint Joseph has always been pictured with facial hair while Saint Anthony, unfortunately, has always seemed in desperate need of hair growing products. Until the recent

5550. P.O. Box 2933, Manila Central Post Office, Manila. Website: www. manilastandardtoday.com E-mail: contact@thestandard.com.ph

MST ONLINE

can be accessed at: www.manilastandardtoday.com

MEMBER

PPI

Philippine Press Institute The National Association of Philippine Newspapers

papal visit, I’ve never really thought saints could be pictured in poses other than either standing up, kneeling, or sitting down. How does one pray to someone who is sleeping or busy doing something else?

Just last weekend, at the wedding of a friend’s daughter at the Santuario de San Jose in Greenhills, we found a life-sized image of a sleeping Saint Joseph in one corner of the church. I can tell you that the image is really best appreciated in Continued on A6 miniature form.

“A MIRACLE!” People exclaim this when something previously thought impossible, or highly improbable, does take place.

We saw a few miracles this week.

Foremost is the stay of the execution of Filipina domestic Mary Jane Veloso in Indonesia. She had said her final goodbyes. There was a coffin waiting for her. Family members had expected to see her next inside a box.

Filipinos as a nation did pray hard that Veloso be given more time to prove her innocence— she claims she is only a victim, not a drug courier. She was duped by somebody whom she trusted, and later on, was not given ample opportunity to explain her case.

There were vigils outside the Indonesian embassy. Petitions to save her life were circulated online. Our top government officials did what they could given the limited time available.

Many went to bed Tuesday night expecting news of the actual execution when they woke up the following morning.

But Mary Jane lived. Out of the nine scheduled to be shot by firing squad, only eight left the island in their pre-assigned coffins. She was given a temporary reprieve after a human rights group talked to the Indonesian President and implored his mercy: Mary Jane was a victim of trafficking. *** In November 2013, residents of an island barangay in Concepcion, Iloilo heard that a powerful typhoon called Yolanda was headed in their direction and that it had wrought utter devastation in other places earlier in the day. They gathered in the middle of the island, bringing everything of importance to them, and huddled near the church. At the hour of danger, they saw a massive cloud being parted in the middle by a great white light. There was devastation in the island but no casualties, and Baliguian was soon referred to as “miracle island.”

Many other anecdotes point us to miracles: an illness cured, a reversal of fortune, a change of heart, or survival of tragic events like an earthquake or a car crash. The change observed is so drastic that attributing everything to logical cause and effect is not enough.

Hearing about miracles in this day and age can elicit different reactions from different people.

Continued on A6 Rolando G. Estabillo Jojo A. Robles Ramonchito L. Tomeldan Chin Wong/Ray S. Eñano Francis Lagniton Joyce Pangco Pañares Adelle Chua Romel J. Mendez Roberto Cabrera

Publisher Editor-in-Chief Managing Editor Associate Editors News Editor City Editor Senior Deskman Art Director Chief Photographer

S U N D AY, M AY 3 , 2 0 1 5

A4

OPINION

ADELLE CHUA EDITOR

lettertotheeditor@thestandard.com.ph

OPINION

CHASING HAPPY ADELLE CHUA

MIRACLES AND OTHER ATTRIBUTIONS

[ EDI TORI A L ]

THE UNIFIERS WHO says Filipinos cannot get their act together and act in unity?

Today is probably one of the best examples. Practically everyone will be watching the boxing match between Manny Pacquiao and Floyd Mayweather Jr., rooting for the socalled People’s Champ who has inspired many by his grit, perseverance and hard work in his sport.

This fight has been long anticipated, and because the Philippine boxer is up against somebody who is bigger and who has never lost a fight in his career, he is deemed the underdog. And how we love underdogs.

We imagine there will be few people on the streets Sunday morning, and even fewer crimes committed. These occasions are equalizers: the lawbreakers and the law-abiding, the educated and the unschooled, the gainfully employed, the desperately looking and the ones taking life in stride—they will all be rooting for the boy who was so poor he had to escape his life in Mindanao and live on the kindness of strangers as he set out to be a master in his field.

Whatever the result, Pacquiao has done it again—brought together Filipinos of every persuasion and political color on the same page, with the same fervent wish: to see him win.

A 30-year-old overseas Filipino worker from Nueva Ecija achieved the same feat last week, albeit under vastly different circumstances.

Mary Jane Veloso, who had been found guilty of drug trafficking in Indonesia, almost faced the firing squad in the early hours of Wednesday. She was one of the so-called Bali Nine up for execution that day, but in the end only eight were shot. She was granted a temporary reprieve, taken out of execution island and brought back to the prison where she had spent the past five years. Miracle, answered prayer, grace, or a logical outcome of the last-minute turn of events, what is important is that she lives for now and has been given a rare chance to prove her innocence.

In those crucial days and hours before the scheduled killing, Filipinos again showed how powerful concerted action was. No less than Veloso’s family, who had returned to the Philippines after learning of the stay and reuniting with her when they had expected to bring her home in a coffin, thanked the Filipino people for their unrelenting support and compassion. Online social media sites were filled with updates, news reports and calls to action. In front of the Indonesian Embassy in Makati City, Filipinos gathered, holding a vigil and never abandoning hope. The rest stayed tuned, prayed and hoped as well.

Chances are, however, the unifying effects will be fleeting. Whatever happens in Nevada today, we will go back to our usual ways, divided and intolerant, spending more energy arguing rather than getting things done. Make no mistake about it, too: Veloso is still on death row, and there are numerous other Filipinos on death row in other countries. Many more will still take insane risks to earn money or trust those bent on manipulating them.

Perhaps sometime soon, Filipinos will find themselves united for far longer, and far more substantially, than an overnight vigil or a few hours of spectatorship.

SLEEPING SAINT JOSEPH ARE WE THERE YET? BONG C. AUSTERO A DEAR friend gifted me with an image of a sleeping Saint Joseph recently. She was quite pleased with her present because she said she had difficulty sourcing the image—apparently, it’s one of the most in demand religious images in the country today, thanks to Pope Francis who provided a moving

testimony during his visit last January on the supposed ability of the image to grant wishes.

According to dear Lolo Kiko, whenever he found himself in a fix, he would write whatever was troubling him on a piece of paper and slip it under the image of the sleeping saint for the saint to “dream” about.

I thanked my friend profusely for her thoughtfulness.

What I didn’t have the heart to tell her was that I actually already have three other sleeping Saint Josephs all given to me

last month during my birthday.

I truly and deeply appreciated each of the four images given to me; they occupy special places in our house and in my office. I must admit, though, that I did wonder what the gifts meant: did my friends think I am in desperate need of a wishing factory? (In case you are one of those who are still in search of an image of a sleeping Saint Joseph, it’s not actually that difficult to find anymore. Most religious stores in major malls already sell them; in fact, they

A5

With the new and growing popularity of the sleeping Saint Joseph, I hope there will come a time when images of saints are no longer depicted in idealized forms but in ways that make them more “relatable.”

can actually be bought in stalls around major churches such as Baclaran and Quiapo). Did anyone really think Filipino entrepreneurs would let go of a business opportunity? Of course it was just a matter of time before images of the sleeping Saint Joseph would find their way into stores and homes. They are quite pricey at this time though, probably because the demand is still high and the novelty is still fresh.

I am not a very religious person although I do believe in the power of

Published Monday to Sunday by Philippine Manila Standard Publishing Inc. at 6/F Universal Re Building, 106 Paseo de Roxas, corner Perea St., Legaspi Village, Makati City.

Telephone numbers 832-5554, 832-5556, 832-5558 (connecting all departments), (Editorial), 832-5546, (Advertising), 832-

faith and prayers. I was also reared by a grandmother who was a devout Catholic and who was a devotee of several saints. Thus, I could actually distinguish Saint Joseph from, say, Saint Anthony of Padua – two saints that carry the image of an infant Jesus in their arms. Aside from differences in the colors of their vestments, Saint Joseph has always been pictured with facial hair while Saint Anthony, unfortunately, has always seemed in desperate need of hair growing products. Until the recent

5550. P.O. Box 2933, Manila Central Post Office, Manila. Website: www. manilastandardtoday.com E-mail: contact@thestandard.com.ph

MST ONLINE

can be accessed at: www.manilastandardtoday.com

MEMBER

PPI

Philippine Press Institute The National Association of Philippine Newspapers

papal visit, I’ve never really thought saints could be pictured in poses other than either standing up, kneeling, or sitting down. How does one pray to someone who is sleeping or busy doing something else?

Just last weekend, at the wedding of a friend’s daughter at the Santuario de San Jose in Greenhills, we found a life-sized image of a sleeping Saint Joseph in one corner of the church. I can tell you that the image is really best appreciated in Continued on A6 miniature form.

“A MIRACLE!” People exclaim this when something previously thought impossible, or highly improbable, does take place.

We saw a few miracles this week.

Foremost is the stay of the execution of Filipina domestic Mary Jane Veloso in Indonesia. She had said her final goodbyes. There was a coffin waiting for her. Family members had expected to see her next inside a box.

Filipinos as a nation did pray hard that Veloso be given more time to prove her innocence— she claims she is only a victim, not a drug courier. She was duped by somebody whom she trusted, and later on, was not given ample opportunity to explain her case.

There were vigils outside the Indonesian embassy. Petitions to save her life were circulated online. Our top government officials did what they could given the limited time available.

Many went to bed Tuesday night expecting news of the actual execution when they woke up the following morning.

But Mary Jane lived. Out of the nine scheduled to be shot by firing squad, only eight left the island in their pre-assigned coffins. She was given a temporary reprieve after a human rights group talked to the Indonesian President and implored his mercy: Mary Jane was a victim of trafficking. *** In November 2013, residents of an island barangay in Concepcion, Iloilo heard that a powerful typhoon called Yolanda was headed in their direction and that it had wrought utter devastation in other places earlier in the day. They gathered in the middle of the island, bringing everything of importance to them, and huddled near the church. At the hour of danger, they saw a massive cloud being parted in the middle by a great white light. There was devastation in the island but no casualties, and Baliguian was soon referred to as “miracle island.”

Many other anecdotes point us to miracles: an illness cured, a reversal of fortune, a change of heart, or survival of tragic events like an earthquake or a car crash. The change observed is so drastic that attributing everything to logical cause and effect is not enough.

Hearing about miracles in this day and age can elicit different reactions from different people.

Continued on A6 Rolando G. Estabillo Jojo A. Robles Ramonchito L. Tomeldan Chin Wong/Ray S. Eñano Francis Lagniton Joyce Pangco Pañares Adelle Chua Romel J. Mendez Roberto Cabrera

Publisher Editor-in-Chief Managing Editor Associate Editors News Editor City Editor Senior Deskman Art Director Chief Photographer

S U N D AY, M AY 3 , 2 0 1 5

A6

OPINION

lettertotheeditor@thestandard.com.ph

What Is ChIna’s navy DoIng In thE MEDItErranEan?

By Noah Feldman

Why is China announcing joint naval exercises with Russia in the Mediterranean, so far from home? There’s a global answer connected to the new cool war and China’s interest in responding to U.S. initiatives in the Pacific. But there’s also a more revealing local answer arriving from the nature of China’s growing involvement in the Middle East and North Africa.

The global geopolitical explanation for the exercises, expected this month, is certainly interesting and distinctive.

China’s military and security aims are primarily focused on the Pacific, and it can’t reasonably hope to compete with the U.S. or European powers in their own backyards. yet China gains symbolic value from presenting itself as an increasingly global power. A naval exercise in the Mediterranean— even one on a very small scale—is the kind of thing great powers do. The announcement is therefore useful to communicate China’s seriousness and commitment to this rise. It may be even more valuable within China, where President Xi Jinping is nurturing an increasingly nationalist strain of pride under the slogan of the “Chinese dream.”

Seen in this light, the Chinese-Russian exercises also look like a symbolic response to U.S. efforts to strengthen security relationships with China’s Asian neighbors. Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe’s recent visit to Washington is a case in point. Abe has begun a genuine discussion within Japan about whether to amend the pacifist Constitution, transforming the country’s selfdefense force into something more like a standard military.

The impetus for this change is China’s increasing security threat to its Asian neighbors—and a nagging uncertainty on the part of Japanese about whether the U.S. would go to war to defend Japan in a pinch. Abe’s visit is part of an attempt by the Barack Obama administration to reassure the Japanese, but also to implicitly to lend credibility to Abe’s defense initiatives.

Sleeping... From A5 But what got us transfixed in one side of the Church was an unusual image of the Virgin Mother.

It was a life-sized image of Mary nursing an infant Jesus, her right breast and nipple fully exposed.

The inscription at the foot of the image said it was an image of the Nuestra Senora de la Leche. I thought of a friend who had just given birth but was having difficulty breastfeeding her baby; she said her body just didn’t seem to be producing enough milk to satiate her child. I offered a prayer asking the breastfeeding saint to help my breastfeeding friend. But

It’s worth noticing that this military positioning on both sides, even if symbolic, coexists with close economic cooperation between China and both Japan and the U.S. if this seems unusual, that’s because it is: The chief feature of the cool war is the coexistence of strategic competition and economic cooperation. One reason China can get away with a little minor saber rattling in the Mediterranean—alongside Vladimir Putin’s belligerent Russia—is that it won’t affect China’s economic partnerships with anyone, including the U.S. or European powers. That’s just the way the new cool war game is played. yet this geopolitical angle doesn’t necessarily explain why the Mediterranean. Naval exercises almost anywhere could’ve expressed the same thing, perhaps even more strongly, because China’s naval assets in the Mediterranean aren’t particularly significant.

The better explanation for why the Mediterranean is much more local. China has twice in recent years had to send its ships to rescue and evacuate significant numbers of Chinese workers who fell into danger as a result of regional instability. The first time was in Libya, where 35,800 Chinese workers had to be evacuated after the 2011 uprising and subsequent bombing campaign to bring down Muammar Qaddafi. The second time was in late March and early April, when Chinese ships helped offload several hundred Chinese workers from yemen as the situation there further deteriorated and Saudi airstrikes escalated.

These episodes brought home China’s evolving role in the Middle East and North Africa. So far, Chinese policy makers have shown no interest in inheriting the traditional U.S. role of maintaining hegemony in the Middle East to create stability and facilitate the flow of oil. however, China has to some degree included the Middle East in its strategy of building infrastructure projects in less-developed countries and establishing substantial settlements of Chinese workers there.

In sub-Saharan Africa, the point of this strategy is to build government-

a friend who found me in front of the image couldn’t help but snicker and joked about how the image could become favorite saint of virile young men. Of course breastfeeding is one of the most powerful natural phenomena in the world; every mammal in the animal kingdom practices breastfeeding. Unfortunately, malice does exist in the mind rather than in the object of one’s attention.

Thus, I also thought of the many religious women from various Catholic associations who would probably find the image of the breastfeeding mother unacceptable. After all, the Virgin Mother is supposed to be the epitome of

to-government relationships and keep steady the flow of raw materials that China needs to grow economically. Chinese political influence is primarily an adjunct to business interests. In Libya, the strategy accounted for the Chinese presence. A comparable number of Chinese workers probably still exists in Algeri—perhaps 40,000—and there are Chinese workers elsewhere in the region, although exact numbers are difficult to ascertain.

Over time, China’s increasing presence in the region will shift China’s interest in the Mediterranean. Large business investments will drive a national interest in, you guessed it, stability. Instability is what caused China to have to evacuate workers, which is the local reason China now has a naval presence in the Mediterranean. But over the long term, a more significant Chinese naval presence could be used to help create stability—not just to rescue Chinese workers when instability comes.

What I’m proposing is that China is at the very early stages of Middle Eastern mission creep—and that its Mediterranean naval exercises are a leading indicator of how that creep will proceed. Once a country is a great power, and once the country is prepared to boast of its naval presence in a region, strategic logic requires that force to be able to accomplish strategic objectives.

Right now, China’s Mediterranean fleet (if you can call it that) is doing rescue.

Eventually it will need to do more than that, or else it’ll become a symbol of Chinese weakness, rather than growing Chinese strength.

The day when China becomes an important Middle Eastern power is still some time away. Much will depend on the trajectory of Iran, a Chinese ally that’s rising in the region even as it continues to face challenges to the regime’s legitimacy at home.

But when a history of China’s rise in the region is written, it’ll have a page for these naval exercises. As China will learn, asserting its presence has benefits—but also comes with some significant costs. Bloomberg

purity.

There is some logic in the assertion of feminists that the Virgin Mother must have been a very strong, perhaps even muscled woman. She was exposed to very hard work and based on stories of the Bible, also did a lot of strenuous activities. Imagining her as a woman who breastfed, did work in the field, or carried heavy load would not diminish her worth as an object of worship. In much the same way, the image of a sleeping Saint Joseph is actually quite logical. he was a man who was content with being relegated to the sidelines; someone who knew his place and performed his role

silently and without question.

With the new and growing popularity of the sleeping Saint Joseph, I hope there will come a time when images of saints are no longer depicted in idealized forms but in ways that make them more “relatable.” I look forward to a time, for instance, when images of the Virgin Mother are no longer bedecked in jewels and when saints are no longer made to wear princely vestments complete with sequins and elaborate embroidery. The frills are not really necessary particularly when one’s faith is strong enough to enable him to see beyond the allure of man-made images.

Miracles... From A5 If you are religious, a “miracle” validates your faith in the awesome powers of your god. “Storming the heavens with prayers” is another common phrase. The belief is that just like a child who wants something from her parents— candy, perhaps, or a new pair of shoes—we can pester, (okay, beseech) God with prayers so that he would eventually give in to our request. Among Catholics, there is even a patron saint for impossible/ desperate causes —Saint Jude, whose feast day falls on October 28.

Even if you are not affiliated with any religion, you can still take comfort in “miracles.” Just say you sent a quiet message, not to any god or interceding saint in particular, but to the Universe.

The Universe can still respond and you would see your wish coming true. Some would call it grace, or serendipity.

Some kids these days, for instance, have a fixation with 11:11.

If you happen to look at your watch, in the morning or at night, and see these four 1s together, close your eyes and utter what you wish for. Feel how badly you want this wish granted. The same goes when one sees a “shooting star” or even a fallen eyelash. Put it on your palm, close your eyes, make a wish, then blow. yet others, the strict logicians, will refuse to attribute anything to any god or universe or even silly superstition. To them, everything that happens can be explained. No miracles, no coincidences, no serendipity even. For example, the 11th-hour reprieve granted to Mary Jane is an aggregate consequence of many things: intercession of the President and Vice President, the meeting with the rights group, the surrender of the alleged trafficker. That nobody on that island died when thousands in other places did may be attributed to the level of disaster preparedness of the local government; the great white light could be the eye of the storm.

Our finite minds will not always be able to know everything that happens and explain every phenomenon. But whether we attribute extraordinary events and simple everyday wishes to the workings of an almighty god, a universe that lets everything fall into perfect place, coincidence, superstition, mathematics of chance, or cold, hard logic, we will never know for sure what it is, anyway.

So why not go with whatever attribution we feel most comfortable with, without assailing others for having their own interpretation of events? For all we know, we can all be right—or all be wrong. adellechua@gmail.com

S U N D AY : m AY 3 , 2 0 1 5

A7

NEWS editorial@thestandard.com.ph

PINAYS DENIED RH SERVICES—UN

By Vito Barcelo

An internAtionAl human rights group denounced the Philippine government for denying the full range of reproductive health services for thousands of Filipino women, including universal and affordable modern contraceptives.

The United Nations Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women (U.N. CEDAW) said the Philippines is in a “human rights crisis” where tens of thousands of Filipino women are victimized every year, at least a thousand of them die from unsafe, often crude, procedures.

“The Philippine government was directly responsible for

the crisis and for violating the rights of these women by failing to address the effects of the abortion ban,” according to the UN CEDAW. “Criminalization of abortion has not prevented abortion in the Philippines, but it has made it extremely unsafe,” it said.

Nancy Northup, the center’s president, said in a statement that Manila “has created a dire human rights crisis” with hun-

dreds of thousands of women resorting to unsafe abortion “to protect their health, their families and their livelihood.

Yet, the government sits idly by, refusing to tackle the issue or reform the policies that exacerbate it.”

The group specifically criticizes the government for failing to prioritize women’s human rights over religious ideology and cultural stereotypes, which has led to widespread discrimination against women and hindered access to sexual and reproductive health information and services.

It also expressed concern about current funding restrictions on modern contraceptives in Manila City and called for the decriminalization of abor-

tion in cases of rape, incest, when the health or life of the woman is at risk, and in cases of severe fetal impairments.

“Religious ideology and gender stereotypes should play no role in whether a woman can get the reproductive health care and information she needs,” she said.

“For decades, the Filipino government has denied millions of women the ability to control their fertility, health, and lives, and this report makes clear that this is a gross violation of women’s fundamental human rights.”

“The Filipino government must immediately work to enforce policies that guarantee women’s access to reproductive health services and recog-

nize their right to safe and legal abortion.”

Despite passing the Reproductive Health Law in 2012, the Filipino government’s longstanding hostility towards modern contraception contributed to an estimated 610,000 illegal abortions in 2012, according to the Guttmacher Institute.

In November 2012, designated members from U.N. CEDAW traveled to the Philippines to conduct the inquiry after the Center for Reproductive Rights and other NGOs raised concerns over the human rights violations women in the country were facing mainly due to Executive Order 003, which effectively banned women’s access to modern contraceptives in Manila City.

InvItatIon to BId no. 090 Const. of GaCo nIP - Phase Iv The National Irrigation Administration, through the General Appropriation Act of 2015 intends to apply the sum of Six Million Seventy-Three Thousand Nine Hundred Twenty & 00/100 PESOS (PHP6,073,920.00) being the Approved Budget for the Contract (ABC) to payments under the contract for the Const. Of Gaco NIP - Phase IV with Contract No R1-ISIMO-15-04-090. Bids received in excess of the ABC shall be automatically rejected at bid opening.

1.

The National Irrigation Administration now invites bids for the Const. Of Gaco NIP Phase IV under FUND 101. The project is located in Cabugao, Ilocos Sur with the following description of work: I. II. III. IV. V.

Mob./Demob Canalization Canal Structures Project Facilities (Perimeter Fence) Service Road

Completion of the Works is required within Two Hundred Ten (210) calendar days.

2.

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

3.

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

4.

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

mall operator in Marilao, Bulacan. DaNNY PaTa

5.

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

SUBIC LOCATOR: TWO EXECS ‘ABUSIVE’

6.

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

7.

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

8.

Bids must be delivered on or before 10:00 AM, May 21, 2015 at the address below.

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

9.

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

searchers. Thousands of college graduates try their luck at a job fair sprearheaded by a shopping

By arman armero SUBIC BAY FREEPORT—A listed locator in this free port has filed criminal and administrative complaints against two senior officials of Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority at the Ombudsman for Luzon, Office of Ombudsman, Quezon City.

In a seven-page complaint affidavit, complainant Fahrenheit Co. Ltd. (FCL) represented by its general manager, president and CEO Isagani Cabrera, is charging Jerome Marvin Martinez, general manager of SBMA Seaport Department, and Charo Peñaflor, section chief of the Billing Section of the said department.

Matinez and Peñaflor were charged in connection with their violation of Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act (RA 3019), Ombudsman Act of 1989 (RA 6770), and the Code of Conduct and Ethical Standards for Public Officials and Employees (RA 6713).

The affidavit enumerates four administrative violations com-

mitted by Martinez and Peñaflor, such as: dishonesty, gross misconduct, grave abuse of authority and oppression.

The violations allegedly arise after the SBMA Seaport Department imposed on December 4, 2014 port charges against Fahrenheit in the amount of P777,187 and US$32,500 supposedly incurred prior to November 13, 2014 when Martinez issued Fahrenheit a certification of “Zero Accountability” with the Seaport Department; and imposing port charges against vessel that was still in custodial egis.

The port charges include four items, including Lease at Kipping’s Point (June 2014 to October 2014), Storage Fee at Yellow Lane (Nov.1 to Dec. 1, 2014 ), Vessel charges from Glenn Ocean Support (March 1 to Nov. 30, 2014 ) and Vessel charges for the two fenders (Aug. 12 to Oct. 21, 2014 ).

FCL noted that it was not leasing as it had no lease at Kipping’s Point. Instead, it was Glenn Defense Marine Asia Phils., a sepa-

rate entity who was leasing the area from SBMA. FCL bought Ocean Support from GDMAP but it remained under custodia egis of the Olongapo City RTC-75 until June 9, 2014 and the Makati RTC-148 until February 27, 2015 .

However, in January 27 and March 12, 2015 , FCL again received statements of accounts from Martinez amounting to P1.23 million and US$67,596, and P780,407 and US$67,062, respectively, for the said same items. An additional item, vessel charges for 20 fenders (Aug. 12 to Oct. 21, 2014 ) was listed for January 27 statement of accounts.

FCL through its counsel, appealed for port charges supposedly incurred prior to November 13, 2014 . However, instead of correcting his alleged flip-flopping decisions or explain the port charges in question, Martinez tossed the matter to SBMA Legal Department which forced the FCL to pay the “inexistent” port charges to avoid harassment from the respondents.

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

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

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

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

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

For further information, please refer to:

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

Noted: (Sgd.) JOHN N. CELESTE, DPA Regional Manager A (TS-May 3, 2015)

A8

SUNDAY: MAY 3, 2015

editorial@the standard.com.ph

job crisis worsens, solon chides Pnoy

By Maricel V. Cruz

A pArty-list lawmaker on saturday decried the “massive youth unemployment” in the country even as he chided the Aquino administration for perpetuating its “labor export policy.”

Citing the Philippine Statistical Authority’s January 2015 Labor Force Survey released last March 12, Kabataan party-list Rep. Terry Ridon said about 4.1 million Filipinos are unemployed as of January 2015.

Of the unemployed, the age group 15 to 24 years comprised 47.3 percent or about 2

million, while the age group 25 to 34, 31.6 percent or about 1.3 million, Ridon said citing the data.

Taken together, Ridon said about 3.3 million youths aged 15-34 are unemployed as of January. The PSA also noted that one in five unemployed Filipinos is a college graduate, he added.

“We have to consider that these are conservative government figures that do not consider those who work part-time or work from home as unemployed. Still, the figures as they are reveal the worsening jobs crisis in the country, especially in the ranks of the youth,” Ridon said.

“Coupled with depressed wages and the soaring cost of living, this worsening jobs crisis results in widening poverty in the country,” he added.

Ridon cited the the lack of national industries and the worsening state of agricul-

ture are some of the main reasons why the nation cannot create jobs.

“Instead of creating jobs in the country, the government vastly relies on its extant labor export policy, which drives millions of Filipinos abroad to find jobs. This policy is further intensified by the implementation of the K to 12 program, which is fundamentally designed to produce skilled workers for export,” the youth lawmaker explained.

“This is the very situation that drove thousands like Mary Jane Veloso to desperation, forcing them to rely on human traffickers just to escape the cycle of poverty. In a way, we are a nation of Mary Janes.

Her story is a story common to our generation. And unless fundamental changes are implemented, more Filipinos will be victimized, more youths will be driven to desperation,” pointed out.

GUN-FOR-HIRE LEADER NABBED IN CAVITE POLICe arrested a suspected leader of a gun- for-hire group operating in Cavite, his policeman brother and three others in two separate raids on Friday.

Police Director Benjamin Magalong, chief of the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group, said the arrested suspects were Brgy Captain Ronald Francisco, leader of the ONAT group, his brother PO3 Rogelio Francisco and three unnamed suspects.

The arrest of the Francisco brothers also led to the capture of a cache of firearms in their residences on the strength of a search warrant issued by Judge Agripino Morga for violation of RA 10591 against Francisco, the village chief.

Magalong said Francisco attempted to fire his cal. 45 pistol against a member of the arresting team of the Special Action Force (SAF) who fired back, hitting the suspect in the right arm.

Francisco was rushed to the Bautista Hospital for treatment and was subsequently transferred to the PNP Hosiptal in Camp Crame.

Francisco, the cop, yielded several pistols and ammunition when the police raided his house.

Magalong said the ONAT group was responsible for the killing of several people from 2014 until last week.

Investigators have yet to find out the other members of the ONAT group and their accomplices.

Francisco Tuyay, Florante Solmerin

pnr woes traCed to ‘negleCt’

By Joel e. Zurbano GROSS negligence on the part of the Philippine National Railway caused a train to derail in Makati City last Wednesday, result ing in the injury to at least 30 people, according to the Train Riders Network.

“We believe that the root cause of the derailment is due to the decades of government neglect of the PNR. The line receives very minimal investment and subsidies from the national government. Most of the funds made available barely cover the operation of the line, leaving no funds for expansion, modernization and rehabilitation and resulting in it’s current motley state,” said James Relativo, TReN spokesman.

Relativo said while the PNR sought a P11.1 billion budget from the government last year to repair trains and upgrade facilities along its dilapidated Bicol Line, the government only gave the line a measly P2.2 billion for its budget for year 2015.

He added the Department of Transportation and Communication estimated the cost of full rehabilitation of the PNR at P300 billion.

DOTC Secretary Joseph emilio Abaya announced last year that they are going to let the private sector fund the P300-billion rehabilitation of the PNR. “Lack of government funding and continued neglect resulted in the deteriorating quality of services, overcrowding of coaches, and a plethora of safety issues. What is apparent, however, is the state’s abandonment of their obligation and the contribution of privatization to the incident,” Relativo said.

At present, the agency plans to double the PNR train fares to generate much needed revenue.

Last Wednesday, Train 1507 was carrying about 300 passengers on its way to Alabang in Muntinlupa City when the incident happened between the stations of edsa-Magallanes and Nichols in Taguig City around 4 p.m.

B1

SUNDAY: MAY 3, 2015

Roderick T. dela Cruz EDITOR business@thestandard.com.ph extrastory2000@gmail.com

BUSINESS WEALTHY foreigners are buying

condominium units in the Philippines, with some of them snagging entire floors of high-end residential buildings, as a form of investment, says Abigail Tabuchi-Sumida, who has discovered a new industry out of this real estate trend.

Sumida, a charming Filipino-Japanese entrepreneur who leads companies engaged in consultancy, real estate marketing and restaurant businesses, says foreign buyers of condominium units in the country are away most of the time, leaving their condo units idle for months, if not years.

She decided to talk to the foreign owners of the condo units and broached the idea of her company managing the units for short-term and long-term lease in exchange for rental dividend. Her proposal was warmly accepted, and the result is Versailles Stay, the first brand of rental management for high-end residences in the Philippines.

“We offer to manage the properties that they will purchase. Because they are not here, no one will maintain

FOREIGNERS SNAP UP PH CONDO UNITS

the units, no one will pay taxes and the association dues on time. That’s why Versailles Stay was born,” she says. “I think we are the first.”

“We just put a name for the service that we want to offer, which is rental management and property care. We have decided to use the name Versailles Stay. This is a new concept, a new market,” she says.

Sumida describes Versailles Stay as a rental management solution for fully furnished, high-quality residences offering dependable property care for unit owners and developers and value-for-money, convenient stay for guests.

On what makes Versailles Stay different from the services offered by online booking agencies, Sumida says: “We have presence in the building. Versailles Stay is in the building to take care of guests 24/7. If you book online, then you go to that property by yourself, nobody would assist you. Nobody will offer services like we do. We are there to really face the clients who book. With Versailles Stay, we have security. It is the presence,” she says.

Sumida is the chairman of Versailles Stay, a partnership between her company, CapitaRise Property Management Inc. and FPD Global Integrated Services Inc., which is led by Joel Perez.

Perez, who serves as the president of Versailles Stay, says a lot of Asian nationals, especially Singaporeans and Japanese are investing in the Philippines’ real estate, because prices here are just a fraction of what they pay in their own countries. He says Versailles Stay aims to help these foreign unit owners to earn from their idle real estate investments.

“Why would they invest, if there is no return on investment? For some projects, the agents would promise to help in leasing. But we provide a more organized approach,” Perez says.

Both Sumida and Perez are experts in the real estate sector.

A graduate of Mass Communication, Sumida has honed her skills in personalized customer relations, administration, human resource and finance. Aside from CapitaRise, her other companies include TMS Global Consultancy Philippines Inc., InShock Philippines, Magosaburo and Mago Wine Lounge.

Sumida’s newest project is the Versailles Stay at One Central, a high-end residential building at the corner of Gil Puyat Ave., H.V. Dela Costa and Geronimo Streets in Salcedo Village, Makati City. Versailles Stay at One Central has

Versailles Stay chairman Abigail Tabuchi-Sumida

We offer to manage the properties that foreigners purchase. around 10 multi-tasking employees, she says.

She says the business concept is to have Versailles Stay as the overall brand that can be put up in more than one building. “Versailles Stay is not tied up to the structure. We can move Versailles Stay to any high-residential building that offers amenities and services as good as One Central,” she says. “Versailles Stay acts as a bridge to enable foreign investors to have access to residential suites of high-end buildings. We help foreign investors buy properties in high-end condominium developments.”

One Central, a project of Megaworld Corp., allowed Versailles Stay to have its own lobby in the building, a gym, game area, kids’ center, mini-theater, function rooms and access to the swimming pool.

One Central has a total of 705 units, with 200 units

already being managed by Capitarise Property Management Inc. Of the 200 units, 50 units are now run as short-term accommodation facilities under Versailles Stay, while the other 150 units are for long-term lease.

“We manage 200 units, but only 50 of the 200 are being operated as dailies or short-term rents. The others are being leased out, for one year to two years,” he says.

Perez says the Versailles Stay serves the interest of developers, unit owners and guests.

“Because of Versailles Stay, the developer has an easy time to sell units to prospective buyers. The units that we manage here are owned 100-percent by foreigners. Then, we manage these units. We take care of servicing their association dues.

On top of that, we deploy our staff in the lobby as well to make sure those who come to us are guided and introduced properly. In a sense, we serve as a sort of second line of defense for the developer. We provide extra security for them,” he says.

“On the unit owners side, why would they buy here in the Philippines, when the most number of times they would probably visit is twice a year? We make sure that we furnish the units. We maintain the units. Most importantly, we find tenants for the units. They benefit from recurring rental dividend. Actually, all they have to do is just wait every month for the rental dividend,” says Perez.

He says Versailles Stay takes care of furnishing and maintaining the units, as well as locating renters to occupy the rooms.

CONTINUED ON B3

SUNDAY: MAY 3, 2015

B2

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

Sofitel Philippine Plaza chefs team up with Filipino celebrity chefs.

SOFITEL CHEFS BRING BACK FILIPINO HEIRLOOM RECIPES

WORLD-CLASS chefs at the five-star Sofitel Philippine

Plaza Manila have teamed up with the best homegrown chefs to bring back the country’s rich culinary traditions and heirloom recipes in celebration of Mother’s Day and Father’s Day. “It is an honor and pleasure for us here at Sofitel to be given the opportunity to reinterpret and share with everyone what is special with these family dishes,” says Bettina Arguelles, the restaurant operations chef at Sofitel’s Spiral buffet restaurant.

Chef Bettina, who handles French cuisine, says the partnership aims to celebrate Mother’s Day on May 10 and Father’s Day on June 21 with 32 of the best Filipino family dishes.

“Every year, Mother’s Day is a special occasion that we celebrate. For each year, we try to do something special for this event. This year, we are proud to have as a concept prominent families sharing with us their heritage and legacy in terms of food and cuisine,” says Chef Bettina.

“Even for us chefs, we started from the home. Everything that inspired us, from the type of cuisines that we do and the food that we eat started from our background at home,” she says.

Chef Bettina says “food is related to the emotions and the memories that we have.”

“We want to honor our mothers on Mother’s Day. For this year, we have prominent Filipino families in Filipino cuisines. We have Suzette Montinola, Nina Daza-Puyat, Mia Manuel, Ariel Manuel, Judy Ann Santos, Sandy Daza. I have my beginnings reading their mother’s [Nora Daza] cook book. That is a very inspiring moment to meet them,” she says.

“I remember as a child when we had family occasions. These families are very influential in the way Filipino food and

special cuisines have gained importance today,” says Chef Bettina.

The six featured chefs of families from rich culinary traditions have agreed to share their heirloom recipes, which will be presented through Spiral touch of magic.

Chefs Nina Daza Puyat, Mia Manuel, Suzette Montinola and Judy Ann Santos will share their recipes on Mother’s Day weekend while celebrity chefs Sandy Daza and Ariel Manuel add a twist to Spiral’s selection of culinary delights on Father’s Day weekend.

Reinterpreting the heirloom recipes are Sofitel’s executive Chef Denis Vecchiato, Chef Bettina, executive pastry Chef Edgardo Butawan, Indian Chef Halim Ali Khan, Japanese Chef Hiromi Yonekawa, Thai Chef Romeo Malate and Chef de parties Filipino kitchen Rexsan Abarquez.

Chef Mia Manuel is the one behind the former Lolo Dad’s Café. Her recipes are inspired by family vacations in France and dishes passed on by her mother, Dr. Maria Lim-Ayuyao, the youngest daughter of World War II hero, General Vicente Lim. For Mother’s Day, Chef Mia Manuel shares dishes such as stewed lamb leg with dried mangoes, gravlax and cream cheesecake and brune butter cupcake with lemon cream icing.

Chef Suzette Montinola says her grandmother Doña Ramona “Tita Moning” Hernandez-Legarda influenced her passion for cooking which comes with a heavy Spanish influence. Among these age-old dishes that she will share for the

Mother’ Day selection are whole-baked lapu-lapu, bread and butter pudding and Tita Moning’s beef osso buco gremolata.

The Daza family has been a household name in the Filipino culinary world with heavy influences from Nina Daza-Puyat’s mother, Nora Daza whose legacy helped shape Filipino cuisine. Her personal travels add flavor to rich selection of recipes such as French onion tartelettes, portobello mushroom fries and chicken relleno with griblet gravy.

Judy Ann Santos highlights Filipino comfort food that her children enjoy with her flavorful rendition of chicken binakol, beef kaldereta and ginataang mais.

These recipes will be the highlight of

Mother’s Day weekend celebration at Sofitel Spiral on May 8 to 10, 2015.

Meanwhile, Chef Ariel Manuel, a consistent Chef of the Year awardee, and Chef Sandy Daza will share their culinary delights on Father’s Day weekend from June 19 to 21.

Chef Manuel’s trips in France, Italy and Spain have influenced his selection including roasted quail with maple, beef salpicao with mustard and stewed lamb leg with dried mangoes. Chef Sandy, the host of television show FoodPrints with Sandy Daza, will share his rendition of crispy chicken in hoisin sauce, beef burgundy and spicy chicken in coconut milk. RTD

Culinary delights on display at Sofitel’s Spiral buffet restaurant.

SUNDAY: MAY 3, 2015

B3

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

FOREIGNERS SNAG PH CONDO UNITS FROM B1

started third quarter of last year. We opened with only 10 units. A month later, we added another 10, and a month later, another 10. Now, we have 50 units. The last 10 units were added this month. The average take-up right now is 40 to 50 percent. Our target number of inventory is 100 in this building alone, maybe by the third quarter this year. It really depends on take-up,” he says.

Perez says they are in talks with other unit owners to join the Versailles Stay’s pool. “Now that we are in operation, the unit owners that are not in the pool started talking to us. They started asking us, if they can also join the pool. Right now, our priority is the first group of people who talked to us. Later on, depending on demand, we can entertain them,” he says.

Sumida says with the success of Versailles Stay at One Central, the company plans to expand in Makati and other commercial business districts, including Fort Bonifacio, Cebu and Davao.

“We plan to go regional. We will go to Cebu and Davao. We will be having a couple of more buildings here in CBD,” she says. “It depends on the amenities, the location and the quality of the building. We just don’t go in any type of building. We have to analyze and review these things.”

“I am targeting 1,500 units within five years,” Sumida says. Roderick T. dela Cruz

Perez says guests at Versailles Stay have the option for short to mid-term billeting in prime locations, complete with services and amenities that simulate a hotel stay, at affordable rates. He says guests will find their stay convenient and affordable.

“Business people looking for affordable, yet secure place to stay, come here. At the end of the day, 90 percent or 80 percent of the time, they hold their businesses outside. Seldom do they spend time inside the unit. So why spend so much money with accommodation? With us, they do not only save money, but they also can avail of conveniences, like amenities.”

“Our rates are very, very affordable. We represent affordable luxury. Our rates compared to luxury serviced apartments in Makati are just one third of their published rates,” says Perez.

Versailles Stay signed a minimum of threeyear contracts with unit owners, who allowed the company to redesign the units, based on its own standards Sumida says the company invests a lot in improving the units. “When they turn over a unit to us, it is just livable with the normal walls and appliances. But if we want to lease it out for shortterm or long term and we simulate a hotel, we have to do a nice interior of the room, make it all uniform with the beds, decorations, rags, curtains, everything.

We professionalize everything here,” she says.

“Right now, we have InvItatIon to BId no. 092 50 units owned by R est./RehaB. of sta. LucIa-candon nIs different owners. We have an agreement The National Irrigation Administration, through the General Appropriation Act of 2015 intends to apply the sum of Seven Million One Hundred Twenty-Five Thousand & 00/100 PESOS for us to manage, (PHP7,125,000.00) being the Approved Budget for the Contract (ABC) to payments under the contract for the Rest./Rehab. Of Sta. Lucia-Candon NIS with Contract No R1-ISIMO-15-04-092. operate and maintain Bids received in excess of the ABC shall be automatically rejected at bid opening. their properties,” says 1. The National Irrigation Administration now invites bids for the Rest./Rehab. Of Sta. Sumida. She clarifies Lucia-Candon NIS under FUND 101. The project is located in Sta. Lucia, Ilocos Sur with the following description of work: that Versailles does not run the units as a hotel.

I. Canalization A. Canal Lining @ Lateral “C-1” & MFD @ M.C. & Lateral “H” “We just lease it out III. Canal Structures A. MTO & THRESHER X-ING for short-term, longterm accommodation.

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

It is like leasing. We 2. Bidder must have an experience of having completed, a single contract that is similar to the contract to be bid, must be at least 50% of the ABC. The description of an eligible simulate hotel, but we bidder is contained in the Bidding Documents, particularly, in Section II, Instructions are not a hotel. We have to Bidders. very, very low rates.”

3. Bidding will be conducted through open competitive bidding procedures using nondiscretionary pass/fail criterion as specified in the Implementing Rules and Regulations Perez says under the (IRR) of Republic Act 9184 (RA 9184), otherwise known as the “Government contract, unit owners Procurement Reform Act”. Bidding is restricted to Filipino citizens/sole proprietorships, partnerships, or organizations with at least seventy five percent (75%) interest or receive a minimum outstanding capital stock belonging to citizens of the Philippines. guaranteed rent in 4. Interested bidders may obtain further information from National Irrigation Administration, Urdaneta City, Pangasinan (office of the Head, BAC Secretariat) and inspect the the first year. “But Bidding Documents from 8:00 A.M to 5:00 PM: we also have to offer 5.

A complete set of Bidding Documents may be purchased by interested Bidders from the a kicker, which is a above address and upon payment at the NIA Cashier of a non-refundable fee for the Bidding Documents in the amount of SEVEN THOUSAND PESOS (Php7,000.00). variable component on top of the minimum 6. Issuance & Availability of bidding documents is from the first day of advertisement/ Posting of Invitation to Bid/ Request for Expression of interest until submission and guaranteed rent and the receipt of bids. kicker depends on the 7. The National Irrigation Administration will hold a Pre-Bid Conference on May 7, 2015, occupancy rate. If the 2:00 PM at the NIA-Regional Office Conference Room, Urdaneta City, Pangasinan which shall be open to all interested parties who have purchased the Bidding occupancy is high, their Documents. variable component is 8. Bids must be delivered on or before 10:00 AM, May 21, 2015 at the address below.

Opening of Bids will immediately follow in the presence of the bidders’ representatives also high. Regardless who choose to attend at the NIA-Region I Conference Room, Bayaoas, Urdaneta City, of occupancy, it will Pangasinan. Late bids shall not be accepted. not go down below 9. The National Irrigation Administration shall not allow contractors to participate in the procurement of civil works with at least 15% negative slippage on their on-going what we committed to NIA Contracts at the time of advertisement or posting in the PhilGEPS/NIA Website them under minimum of the Invitation to Bid in accordance with Rule X, Sec. 34.3 (b) (ii) of the Revised Implementing Rules & Regulation of Republic Act No. 9184. Hence, affidavit stating guarantee,” he says. with at least 15% negative slippage is required as evidence.

Perez says an over10. All bids must be accompanied by a bid security in any of the acceptable forms and in the amount stated in ITB Clause 18. night accommodation at Versailles Stay ranges 11. Special Power of Attorney (SPA) shall no longer be allowed in the procurement of projects within the Agency. from P4,000 to P5,000, 12.

All bids must be accompanied by a Certificate of Site Inspection issued by the inclusive of breakfast implementing office. and WiFi connection.

13. The National Irrigation Administration reserves the right to reject bids, declare a failure Food is served by Maof bidding, and not to award the contract without incurring any liability if the funds/ allotment for the project to be bid has been withheld or reduced through no fault of its nila Catering, which is own. the exclusive meal pro14. Awarding of Contract shall be held in abeyance prior to receipt of the Agency Budget vider of Cebu Pacific Matrix (ABM) or Special Allotment Release Order (SARO) for the full cost of the project. and Air Asia.

For further information, please refer to: “We even give discounts.

Forty ENGR. MYRNA C. MARTINEZ - Head BAC Secretariat NIA-Regional Office No. 1 percent of our clients Barangay Bayaoas, Urdaneta City, Pangasinan Telefax No: 632-1435 right now is corporate, E-mail address: niaengineeing@yahoo.com 40 percent, walk in. The rest are online travel (Sgd.) FRIDA L. NIDOY BAC Chairman agents,” he says.

Noted: Perez says Versailles (Sgd.) JOHN N. CELESTE, DPA Stay started operation Regional Manager A (TS-May 3, 2015) in August 2014. “We

A standard unit at Versailles Stay-One Central in Makati City.

InvItatIon to BId no. 095 Rest./RehaB. of anduyan cIs The National Irrigation Administration, through the General Appropriation Act of 2015 intends to apply the sum of Nine Million Forty-Six Thousand Three Hundred Eighty-One & 53/100 PESOS (PHP9,046,381.53) being the Approved Budget for the Contract (ABC) to payments under the contract for the Rest./Rehab. Of Anduyan CIS with Contract No R1-LUIMO-15-04-095. Bids received in excess of the ABC shall be automatically rejected at bid opening.

1.

The National Irrigation Administration now invites bids for the Rest./Rehab. Of Anduyan CIS under FUND 101. The project is located in Tubao, La Union with the following description of work: I. Diversion Works II. Canalization III. Canal Structures Completion of the Works is required within One Hundred Eighty (180) calendar days.

2.

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

3.

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

4.

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

5.

A complete set of Bidding Documents may be purchased by interested Bidders from the above address and upon payment at the NIA Cashier of a non-refundable fee for the Bidding Documents in the amount of NINE THOUSAND PESOS (Php9,000.00).

6.

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

7.

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

8.

Bids must be delivered on or before 2:00 PM, May 21, 2015 at the address below.

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

9.

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

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

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

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

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

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

For further information, please refer to: ENGR. MYRNA C. MARTINEZ - Head BAC Secretariat NIA-Regional Office No. 1 Barangay Bayaoas, Urdaneta City, Pangasinan Telefax No: 632-1435 E-mail address: niaengineeing@yahoo.com (Sgd.) FRIDA L. NIDOY BAC Chairman Noted: (Sgd.) JOHN N. CELESTE, DPA Regional Manager A (TS-May 3, 2015)

B4

WORLD A HINDU devotee offers prayers in front of a statue of Hindu diety Kaal Bhairab in the Durbar Square neighbourhood of Kathmandu on May 2, 2015. One week on from Nepal’s deadliest quake in over 80 years, hopes of detecting more signs of life among the ruins of the capital Kathmandu had all but disappeared. AFP

QUAKE DESTROYS

NEPAL HERITAGE SITES US REJECTS CHINA’S OFFER OVER DISPUTED ISLANDS THE United States on Friday swiftly rejected a suggestion by a top Chinese military official who said that disputed South China Sea islands could be used for international rescue and relief operations.

Beijing has been roundly criticized by the West for construction work on islands in the South China Sea, including the building of an airstrip and other structures.

The Wall Street Journal and other US news organizations, citing a report on the Chinese Defense Ministry website, said Admiral Wu Shengli made the offer to his US counterpart, Admiral Jonathan Greenert, in a video conference.

Wu said China’s reclamation work on the disputed islands “will not threaten freedom of navigation and overflight” and will enhance the capacity for weather forecasting, maritime search and rescue and other public goods, and help to protect international maritime security, The Journal said, quoting the Chinese defense ministry report.

“We welcome international organizations, the US and relevant countries to use these facilities, when conditions are ripe, to conduct cooperation on humanitarian rescue and disaster relief,” the Chinese admiral was quoted as saying.

State Department acting deputy spokesman Jeff Rathke said Washington was not interested. AFP

SUJAN Shrestha says it breaks his heart to look at the piles of rubble that are all that remain of the ancient Nepalese temples where he has worshipped all his life.

The 28-year-old shopkeeper grew up in a house just off Patan Durbar Square, a spectacular World Heritage site in the quakehit Kathmandu Valley packed with ornately-carved Hindu temples, statues and a royal palace.

“We were always told that a big one was coming, but I never imagined that it would be this devastating,” he said as he looked over the ruined square where he used to sell pashminas to tourists.

“I cannot believe that those temples collapsed, this place looks incomplete without them. It breaks my heart when I look around.”

The 7.8-magnitude earthquake that hit on April 25 has devastated the Himalayan nation’s rich cultural heritage and left the Kathmandu Valley’s three former royal squares in ruins.

The squares, which date back to when the valley was divided into three Hindu kingdoms, are at the heart of local life as well as being a huge draw to a country that relies heavily on tourist dollars.

“The quake left an impact on 90 percent of our heritage sites. It is difficult to value the loss,” said Bhesh Narayan Dahal, the director general of the Department of Archaeology.

“The very next day after the earthquake, a team was deployed to assess the damage and make an inventory of what was found.

“Our concern is to not let any antiquity or items of value to leave the site. Our teams are working to keep a record and collect details.”

The UN’s culture agency UNESCO said the damage to the three squares in Kathmandu, Patan and Bhaktapur—all world heritage sites —was “absolutely dramatic”.

“We are in contact with the government and pushing them very hard to protect these sites and not to increase this damage now,” said Christian Manhart, head of UNESCO in Nepal.

‘Nature’s war on us’ In Patan Durbar Square on Friday, 500 Nepalese police officers

and soldiers were combing through the rubble to try to salvage what they could for reconstruction.

“We worked all yesterday and have been working since early this morning... This is our heritage, and we have to protect it,” police deputy superintendent Prakash Sharma told AFP on the square.

As soldiers stacked bricks and surveyed the scene from huge piles of rubble, local people— many of them elderly men and women in traditional Nepalese costume—gathered behind a rope hastily erected to keep them off the usually bustling square.

To one side, people lined up with buckets to collect water from the ornate stone taps of a traditional Nepalese step well that appeared to have survived the devastation. AFP

NAZARBAYEV SCORES LANDSLIDE RE-ELECTION

China’s President Xi Jinping (center) attends a plenary session during the Asian Africa Conference in Jakarta on April 22, 2015. Asian and African leaders have gathered in Indonesia this week to mark 60 years since a landmark conference that helped forge a common identity among emerging states, but analysts say big-power rivalries will overshadow proclamations of solidarity. AFP

ASTANA—Kazakhstan President Nursultan Nazarbayev has scored an overwhelming 97.7 percent reelection win in the recent April 26 snap polls he called a few months back. Voter turnout was reportedly the highest in Kazakhstan history.

Nazarbayev has been president since Kazakhstan became independent after the breakup of the former Union of Soviet Socialist Republics (USSR) over two decades ago. His impressive re-election is attributed to the many successes of his sovereign government.

The reelectionist Nazarbayev easily steam-rollered his two other rivals—Communist People’s Party of Kazakhstan bet Turgun Syzdykov Turgun Syzdykov who polled 1.6% and Abelgazi Kusainov of the Association of Trade Unions of Kazakhstan who garnered a token 0.7% of the votes.

Observers note that for the first time the candidates espoused strikingly different platforms of government.

Nursultan Nazarbayev platform focuses on economic reforms.It includes public policies of medium and long-term development of the last few years, notably its “Nurly Zhol—The way forward program with an anti-crisis thrust. It formed the basis of his campaign promises.

His program involves government’s policies designed to massively create jobs through infrastructure projects, including roads. Kazakhstan plans to leverage its geopolitical position to become a “bridge” for the transport of goods between China and Europe; gradually restructure the economy and weaken the socalled Dutch disease which makes the government dependent on only a few revenue sources. Today, more than 30% of Kazakhstans budget depends on oil exports income. AFP

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WORLD editorial@thestandard.com.ph

‘justice for freddie gray’ new yorkers march to demand police reform S everal hundred people protested in New York on Friday demanding police reform and justice for the african-american man who died from injuries sustained in custody in Baltimore.

The demonstration came as six Baltimore police officers were charged over the death of 25-year-old Freddie Gray, after days of riots and protests in cities along the US East Coast.

Gray’s death has again shone a damning light on what critics say is overzealous police tactics, particularly in dealing with black americans.

“Justice for Freddie Gray,” “black and brown lives matter” and “disarm the NYpD” were emblazoned on placards that protesters held aloft in Union Square, in the center of Manhattan, as police helicopters buzzed overhead. a large number of police officers also looked on. “it’s not just Baltimore, it’s everywhere

in this country. i think people are realizing what’s going on,” said “aJ,” a 21-year-old student from New Jersey. “it’s good to see people going out to demonstrate. we need justice reform and a way to push for that is protesting on the streets.” police made 143 arrests on wednesday when protests erupted in New York over Gray’s death.

Obama denOunces attacks On press freedOm US prESiDENT Barack Obama on Friday denounced attacks against media around the world, receiving three journalists from countries that “severely restrict” freedom of the press.

Obama’s comments come two days after a report by the human rights group Freedom house said that press freedom around the world has plummeted to the worst level in a decade, with the United States and China among the countries tightening the noose.

“Unfortunately, in too many places around the world, a free press is under attack by governments that want to avoid the truth or mistrust the ability of citizens to make their own decisions,” Obama said in the presence of Vietnamese blogger Dieu Cay, the russian journalist Fatima Tlisova and Ethiopian journalist Lily Mengesha.

“Journalists are harassed, sometimes even killed. independent outlets are shut down. Dissent is silenced. and freedom of expression is stifled.”

Two days before world press Freedom Day, Obama praised the role of journalists who “give all of us, as citizens, the chance to know the truth about our countries, ourselves, our governments.

“That makes us better. it makes us stronger. it gives voice to the voiceless, exposes injustice, and holds leaders like me accountable.” AFP

this march 9, 2015 us navy handout photo shows the guided-missile destroyer uss farragut (ddG 99) departing homeport at naval station Mayport in Florida to support the Theodore Roosevelt Carrier Strike Group. Iranian military ships fired across the bow of a Marshall Islands-flagged cargo vessel in the strategic Strait of Hormuz on April 28, 2015 and forced it to head to Iranian territory, US officials said. The cargo ship had last made a stop at the Red Sea port of Jeddah, on the Saudi Arabian coast, according to the website maritimetraffic.com, and was sailing through the strait into Gulf waters. the us military’s central command heard the distress call and ordered a naval destroyer, the uss farragut, to the area. AFP

us warships ready vs iran’s harrasment US warShipS protecting american-flagged ships in the Strait of hormuz may extend assistance to other countries’ vessels, officials said Friday, after reports of iranian forces harassing shipping.

The expanded US naval presence is intended to signal to iran that washington is ready to safeguard shipping along the vital corridor, even at a moment of delicate diplomacy with Tehran over its nuclear program, experts said.

american warships started “accompanying” US-flagged vessels in the Strait of hormuz on Thursday in response to two incidents in less than a week in which commercial vessels were coerced or harassed by iran’s revolutionary Guards.

Defense Secretary ashton Carter approved the operation and “this is going to continue for an indefinite period of time,” pentagon spokesman Colonel Steven warren said.

us president barack Obama (center) talks with ethiopian journalist simegnish “Lily” mengesha (right) and vietnamese journalist dieu cay (left) during a round table with persecuted journalist for world press freedom day at the white house in washington, dc, may 1, 2015. AFP

US Central Command, which oversees forces in the Middle East, said it was possible the assistance could be offered to other merchant ships sailing through the maritime chokepoint, a crucial route for the world’s oil.

“Our current plans are for accompanying US-flagged ships, although there are discussions with other nations to include their vessels as well,” Central Command spokesman Colonel patrick ryder told reporters.

Officials did not say what other countries might take up the offer.

The USS Farragut, a guidedmissile destroyer, and three coastal patrol craft—the Thunderbolt, the Firebolt and the Typhoon— are operating in the area.

The high profile naval presence was a response to the seizure of a Marshall islands-flagged container vessel the Maersk Tigris on Tuesday by iran’s revolutionary Guards, who fired warning shots at the ship. and last week, pentagon officials said a US-flagged ship was “harassed” by iranian patrol boats. iranian authorities said the Maersk Tigris was confiscated over a commercial dispute. But analysts were skeptical of the explanation and speculated it could

be related to Tehran’s proxy war with america’s Gulf arab allies in Yemen. whatever Tehran’s motive, said alireza Nader, an author and analyst at the raND Corporation think tank “the US had to demonstrate that the waters of the strait are secure and open to international shipping -- whether iran intended to send a message or not.”

The tension in the Gulf coincides with a diplomatic push by major powers for a deal to curtail iran’s nuclear activities before a June 30 deadline.

The prospect of an accord has alarmed Saudi arabia and other pro-US allies in the Gulf.

“The rest of the Middle East, Saudi arabia especially, is worried that if there is a nuclear deal and sanctions are eased on iran, they (the iranians) would act more aggressively in the persian Gulf and beyond,” Nader told aFp. The stepped-up naval role in the Gulf is a way to show that the United States “is serious about guaranteeing security in the region despite the nuclear deal.” in washington, republican lawmakers said iran’s actions underline the need to closely review the terms of any nuclear deal. AFP

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B6

SHOWBITZ

EDITOR

isahred @ gmail.com

...ARE TALKING ABOUT

PEOPLE MANNY PACQUIAO

It is still fascinating how this boxing champ makes millions of Filipinos stay in one place whenever he enters the ring.

The world stops literally. More than our pronounced interest in the sport, Manny is a symbol of hope to many Filipinos both rich and poor. Affluent people try to associate themselves with Pacman and join his bandwagon while the impoverished ones use him as an inspiration - a true story of a Cinderella man.

...ARE NOT TALKING ABOUT

In this part of the world, a May-December love affair is still a big taboo hence people were shocked when news about her alleged romance with Gerald Anderson spread like wildfire. Fans couldn’t believe when Janice’s pal Boy Abunda even gave his opinion on the supposed love affair on national TV almost validating their hunches that it was Janice who caused Gerald and Maja Salavador’s break up. What else can we say but “Haba ng hair mo, gurl!”

Janice de Belen and rumored boyfriend Gerald Anderson

SOLENN HEUSSAFF

She has tried many things to surprise people. She has tried acting, then hosting and even singing. Now she’s trying to sell herself as an author promoting her book cowritten by her bff, Georgina Wilson. But none of her previous efforts impressed people until we discovered what Solenn does outside her showbiz endeavors. The 29-year-old occasional model has been an art student since her childhood, and, boy, she paints really well. She deserves to have an exhibit in a big venue.

Solenn Heussaff

CROSSWORD PUZZLE 84 85 86 87

ANSWER FOR PREVIOUS PUZZLE 50 51 52 53 57 59 60 61 62 63 64 65 66 67 68 69 72 73 74 75 76 79 80

Forty-niner’s quest Turkey — forest or gauge Take — — view of Self-guided tour?

(2 wds.)

Potter’s need Asks a question Ski instructors Raised a brood Kind of pad Holy terrors Director — Lee Saloon sign (2 wds.)

Loosen, as a grip I-beam lifter Outback marsupial Ms. Lupino RN assistants Removes snow Empty space Thin, as air Let know (2 wds.)

Liquidates (2 wds.)

88 91 92 93 95 96 97 98 99 101 102 103 104 105 106 107 108 109 111 112 114 117 118 119 124 126 128 130 131 132 134 136 137 138 139 140 141 142 143 144

Petruchio’s bride Fresco Erik the Red’s son One — — customer Decadent Nepal neighbor Kind of citizenship Unflinching Fair grade Peace and quiet Jiffies Colorful percher Embraced Estimate Goose’s call Sausage sizzler Earthenware pot Coup d’— Confers knighthood Green vegetable Turner and Koppel Butler of fiction Swedish name I thought — never leave!

H. Rider Haggard novel Massen of “Tokyo Rose” Kind of mail or food Cagey fellows?

Puts a strain on Secular Pamplona’s place Shaggy blossom Mukluk wearer — Khan Protozoan’s “legs” Goes kaput Ben, of “Bonanza” Hero’s horse Mr. Musburger Sen. Kefauver Malicious gossip Comics pooch Papyrus, for one Flat broke

JANNO GIBBS

It’s been a long time since the washedup singer-host came out with a new record that’s why we could no longer remember the last time he promoted his music. Just so you know, Janno has just released a new album, and a new music video, too. The new album traces its roots from R&B with a touch of novelty. The finished product? One word – disappointing.

DEREK RAMSAY

JANICE DE BELEN

ACROSS 1 “Kundun” setting 6 Blouse ruffle 11 Burglar’s “key” 15 Dally with 20 Casual wear 21 From day one (Lat.) (2 wds.)

22 Marine birds 24 Ragtime’s — Blake 25 Famous last words 26 Informal party 27 “Me And Bobby —” 28 Lend — — 29 Plunder 31 Actress — Lotte 33 Trumpet or bugle 34 Box-score info 35 Pilots’ instruments 37 Clingy fabric 39 Big bang ltrs.

41 Witty — West 42 Linda of “Dynasty” 43 Dry as dust 44 Roof support 46 Road rally

ISAH V. RED

The hunk actor-host has just signed a three-year exclusive contract with TV5. This renewal of ties secures Derek’s future without having any successful project or television show.

Derek’s business model is very clear to us - he still wins whether or not people watch his shows. Thanks to the multi-million contract with his mother network.

Janno Gibbs

JOEY DE LEON Derek Ramsay

Joey de Leon

The comedian called his critics “mga bobo” when apparently they didn’t get what he meant when he posted a tweet about the disaster in Nepal that claimed thousands of lives. Some replied, slamming him for being insensitive and disrespectful to those who perished in the quake. In response to them, the apologetic Joey said he just condoled and it’s not his fault if his critics didn’t understand his joke.

Regardless of his intention, his play on words is downright inappropriate. We hope he’s intelligent enough to realize that.

TV5 News head Luchi Cruz-Valdes is Golden Dove's Broadcaster of the Year

LUCHI CRUZVALDES NAMED BROADCASTER OF THE YEAR

TV5 has once again proven its mettle in the news and information front as its very own News5 head, Luchi Cruz-Valdes, bagged the prestigious Ka Doroy Broadcaster of the Year Award at the recently held 23rd Golden Dove Awards of the Kapisanan ng mga Brodkaster ng Pilipinas (KBP).

A recipient of top local and international awards in her illustrious career as a broadcast journalist, Cruz-Valdes also took home the Best Newscaster award for TV5’s primetime newscast Aksyon On top of Cruz Valdes’ win as Ka Doroy Broadcaster of the Year (her second time to be conferred the honor as she also received the said top award in the KBP Golden Dove Awards of 2001), TV5 also won the awards for Best Newscast for its late evening newscast Aksyon Tonite” Best Documentary Program for Yaman ng Bayan: Lupa, Best Special Program for Diskargado, Best Actor for Comedy Program for Ogie Alcasid, and Best Public Service Program Host for its resident legal analyst and radio host Atty. Mel Sta. Maria.

SUNDAY, MAY 03, 2015

DOWN 1 Alpaca kin 2 Blood-related 3 Sidestep 4 Egyptian peninsula 5 Gather 6 Pickle 7 Chisholm Trail town 8 Large dogs 9 Pizzeria musts 10 Whig opponent 11 Moon buggy 12 Rex Stout’s flower 13 Gold brick 14 Antlered ruminant 15 Luaus 16 Fontanne’s husband 17 Skyscraper part (hyph.)

18 Lasso 19 Concise 23 Guards 30 Totally lacking 32 Tire center 36 Pool cover 38 Touch of frost 40 Creatures of habit?

43 Friendly nation 44 Preference 45 Gullible person 46 French impressionist 47 Slate 48 Get equal billing 49 Sundance Kid’s girl 51 Toolbox item 52 Chestnuts and bays 54 Dingy 55 Isle near Mull 56 High NCO ranking 58 Gym iteration 59 Memorable first 60 Shrimp 63 Terra firma

64 67 68 69 70 71 73 74 75 77 78 79 80 81

Grill D’Artagnan prop Turf grabber Pack member Fossil fuel JAMA readers Diet Less polluted Hat attachment Be very frugal — chance Ice and Rubik’s Oceans “Becket” actor

82 83 85 86 88 89 90 91 92 93 94 96

Thwarted Lenses of an insect eye Thick of things Fortune Canyon reply Know somehow Took a spill Pick up the tab Wildlife refuges Mr. in Bombay Slope Never stops yakking

97 98 100 101 102 103 106 107 110 111 112 113 114 115

Weeps loudly Approved — es Salaam A few thou Rusted-out ships Try to find Huge racket Ringing up Cheap lodging Molecule cores Plugged away Stun with noise Hushed Vietnam capital

116 Bedroom community 118 Agreed 119 Congo, formerly 120 Stage 121 Upper-crust 122 Ticked off 123 Not polite 125 Berlin article 127 Traffic clogger 129 Toxic wastes, briefly 133 Lime cooler 135 Dined on

S U N D AY : M AY 0 3 : 2 0 1 5

SHOWBITZ

ISAH V. RED EDITOR

isahred @ gmail.com

B7

Today, fans of Manny Pacquiao will watch him try to win over Floyd Mayweather, Jr at various viewing venues most especially at SM and WM Cinemas.

But those who'd rather stay at home can watch the fight on GMA 7.

PACQUIAO- MAYWEATHER BEST SEEN LIVE ON BIG SCREEN From C8

H

ave a Pacquiao-Mayweather experience in the country’s largest movie screens at SM Cinema and WM Cinemas on May 3.

With high definition imagery, earthshattering surround sound, and hundreds of energetic fans cheering with you, you can experience the biggest fight in boxing history in the country’s best viewing venue.

With SM Cinema theaters being widely available nationwide, patrons need not look anywhere else to watch the heart pounding action between Pacquiao and Mayweather.

As this is once in a lifetime experience, SM Cinema is offering its customers choices to watch the fight. You have HD Cinemas, IMAX theatres, and Director’s Club Cinemas.

HD Cinemas render higher viewing qual-

ity, while IMAX theaters offer the largest and most unique screening experience with its widened and curved display. IMAX creates an immersive experience no matter where you’re seated. For fans who prefer to watch the Pacquiao -Mayweather fight closest to the comfort of their home, the Director’s Club Cinema is an intimate, deluxe theater with plush and reclining armchairs. All Director’s Club Cinema branches across the metro will also have the option to add on a buffet treat onto their ticket purchase for only P250 per head.

With high definition quality, plush seating amenities, freshly popped snacks, and a live audience that mimics the astounding crowd ambience of the Las Vegas match, SM Cinema theaters are truly the best venue to watch this historic boxing match.

Watch and feel the thrill of the biggest boxing match of the century only at SM Cinema and Walter Mart Cinemas! Grab your tickets now at www.smcinema.com, www.smtickets.com, or visit any SM Ticket and WM Cinemas branch nationwide ★★★★★ As a prelude to the most-awaited boxing match in history, GMA Network, in cooperation with Solar Entertainment Corporation, will air the HBO special Mayweather/ Pacquiao: At Last today.

The special airs exclusively on free TV at 8:30 a.m. nationwide on GMA-7, as its primer for the fight dubbed Pacquiao vs.

Mayweather: Battle for Greatness.

The HBO documentary features Manny “Pacman” Pacquiao and Floyd “The

Money” Mayweather’s respective careers as they rose to become two of the greatest pound-for-pound fighters in the world.

Along with insights from the two fighters, the hour-long special also follows the years of negotiations and speculation surrounding the most-demanded fight, until at last, the two finally face off in the ring for the unified WBC World Welterweight, WBO World Welterweight, and WBA Super World Welterweight titles.

Watch the HBO special Mayweather/ Pacquiao: At Last before Pacquiao vs. Mayweather: Battle for Greatness on GMA-7.

The exclusive live blow-by-blow coverage of Pacquiao vs. Mayweather: Battle for Greatness will be heard nationwide on DZBB, Barangay LS and all RGMA stations.

Ruru Madrid says Aiai de las Alas is his inspiration

AIAI INSPIRES RURU MADRID TAKE ONE

BY GLEN REGONDOLA Young actor Ruru Madrid admits Ai Ai de las Alas inspires him. They are together in GMA Network’s Let The Love Begin in which he plays the eldest child of AiAi (DJ Jeni).

At the press conference for the series Madrid had nothing but good words for his newfound ‘nanay.’

“Sobrang chill, sobrang gaang kasama ni Ai Ai. Kahit offcam, matatawa ka po, e. Sobrang ano po siya, parang turing sa iyo ay parang tunay na anak talaga. Kaya, sobrang saya ko po talaga, “ he said.

Was he intimated by her presence?

The 17-year-old newbie replied, “Noong una, medyo kinabahan po ako, kasi Ai Ai de las Alas nga. So, yung expectations ko, ganun kataas. Pero, siguro po, sinabi ko po sa sarili ko na kung ma-intimidate ako, baka hindi ko maibigay ang best ko sa bawat eksena. I thought of doing my best dito para ‘wag mangyari ang ganun.”

On the other hand, AiAi said the same thing of Ruru. She was vocal in saying that the Kapuso actor has so much depth, despite his age and the few years of experience in the industry. ★★★★★ Are James Reid and Nadine Lustre reluctant lovers?

Despite prodding from all quarters, the two maintains they are just friends, and a love team, no more, no less.

In our recent encounter with them at the press conference of their latest flick, Para sa Hopeless Romantic, they seemed inseparable, but, true enough, they lacked the ‘”sweetness” of a romantic pair.

When asked if there’s no way for them to level up their friendship into something more profound, James told the press, “As Andi (Eigenmann) said, the relationships that go through showbiz never work. Our friendship is great, why spoil it? We’ve said before, that it’s work, we’re focused on our careers, and we’re happy with just being friends.”

On why their love team is a hit, Nadine has this to say, “I don’t know, it just works. When people ask kung bakit gusto kami ng fans, we don’t know where it’s coming from. But, really, we’re both happy that they’re still there, they follow us.”

As to the working relationship, director Andoy Ranay revealed the couple was more comfortable with each other and more engaging in this movie, unlike before during the filming of Dairy Ng Panget and Talk Back And You’re Dead.

Ranay directed the two movies of the “JaDine” love team.

“Sa Diary, awkward pa sila since they’re still getting to know each other. Nahihiya pa sila sa isa’t isa. Sa Talk Back, mas kilala na nila ang isa’t isa, so mas relaxed na. But now, sa Para Sa Hopeless Romantic, they really know each other so well, so mas comfortable na sila sa isa’t isa. Mas madaling idirek. Walang hesitations kahit sa romantic scenes kaya mas intense na ang kanilang chemistry, at ako mismo ay kinikilig sa kanila.”

James Reid and Nadine Lustre are just the best of friends. No romance involved between them

S U N D AY : M AY 0 3 : 2 0 1 5

B8

ISAH V. RED EDITOR

isahred @ gmail.com

SHOWBITZ

Nora Aunor, Senator Loren Legarda, and director Brilliante Mendoza are Cannesbound for the film Taklub

LOREN & BRILLANTE TEAM UP FOR ‘TAKLUB’ SIMPLY RED ISAH V. RED Senator Loren Legarda and 2009 Cannes best director Brillante Mendoza’s latest collaboration to promote disaster risk reduction (DRR) will be screened in this year’s Le Festival International du Film de Cannes.

The more than two-hour long Taklub, a feature film starring Nora Aunor, has been selected to be in the official selection under Un Certain Regard , a section of the 68th Cannes International Film Festival, which will be held from May 13 to 24.

Legarda and Mendoza have worked together in the past in documentaries on environmental protection, climate change adaptation and DRR. “Following the disaster caused by Super typhoon Yolanda, I thought we had to do something to further raise awareness on the need to be prepared for disasters and build resilience,” said Legarda, UN Champion for Disaster Risk Reduction and Climate Change Adaptation for Asia-Pacific After producing several documentaries (Buhos, Ligtas, Philippine Marine Biodiversity, and Antique: Coral Restoration Program) together, Legarda and Mendoza thought that a full-length film could be an effective medium to mainstream disaster prevention and preparedness.

“Sometimes you have to ignite emotions so that people would remember a lesson in life. There are a lot of lessons to be learned in the tragedy that was caused by Super typhoon Yolanda and that is what Direk Brillante shows in Taklub,”says Legarda.

“What amazes me is his brilliance, his creativity. I am impressed with the way Direk Brillante combined drama and DRR (disaster risk reduction). In fact, the

film features DRR measures such as early warning systems, mangrove reforestation, preemptive evacuation, and designating no-build zones. We are bringing not only our best director and artists in Cannes, but also these lessons on preparedness and resilience, which hopefully would be heeded,” she added.

Taklub tackles stories of Yolanda survivors and how they try to cope with the tragedy through faith, hope and letting go.

Meanwhile, Nora Aunor, who worked with Mendoza in Thy Womb (2012) that won for her the Bisato d’ Oro (Best Actress) at the Venice Film Festival and several awards for Mendoza including the Golden Lion nomination for Best Director at the same festival, says she is glad to be in the film. Mendoza said Aunor immediately said “yes” when he pitched to her the project.

Aunor plays one of the survivors of the typhoon that decimated Tacloban. The story focuses on her search for her three lost children who all were swallowed by the storm surge that enveloped the city.

In the vernacular, Aunor says, “I could feel the survivors grief as they scoured every corner of the city looking for signs or clues of their missing loved ones. I hope help for the survivors wouldn’t stop even if it has been several years since Tacloban had been devastated. The pain of those people who survived the nightmare will continue to haunt them.”

Legarda is glad that Aunor has lent her talent as an actor to this project that she hopes would make more people aware of the vulnerability of the Philippines to natural calamities, most especially typhoons.

The film was produced by the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) in cooperation with the Presidential Communications Operations Office-Philippine Information Agency (PCOO-PIA) Continued on C7

Scenes from the film Taklub directed by Brillante Mendoza and starring Nora Aunor

Following the disaster caused by Super typhoon Yolanda, I thought we had to do something to further raise awareness on the need to be prepared for disasters and build resilience - Senator Loren Legarda

S U N D AY : M AY 0 3 : 2 0 1 5

BAMBINA OLIVARES WISE EDITOR

g l w e e ke n d @ g m a i l . c o m

C1

LABAN MANNY THE FIGHT OF HIS LIFE #LABANMANNY

SUNDAY : M AY 03 : 2015

C2

LIFE

BAMBINA OLIVARES WISE E D I TOR

glweekend @ gmail.com

WHY

FLOYD MAYWEATHER WILL WIN

BY RICK OLIVARES

O

n Sunday afternoon, May 3, the country will either be in a state of jubilation or deep down in the doldrums. The fighting pride of the Philippines, Manny “Pacman” Pacquiao, will have finally faced off with his arch rival, Floyd “Money” Mayweather, in what has been hyped as the “battle for greatness”. Who is going to win it?

Boxing analysts, armchair critics, and legendary fighters from Muhammad Ali to Lennox Lewis have all weighed in on the fight of the century and there is nothing more to say. Some favor Manny, others favor Floyd. The trash talk between the two fighters themselves has reached a crescendo where the only thing left for them to do is step into the squared ring and let their fists punctuate what has already been said.

Off the record, we have also heard through the grapevine that the result has already been predetermined, with the pair set up for a USD400 million per fight moneymaking trilogy. But without anything to substantiate this, let’s not get into the nitty-gritty of boxing’s ugly side.

Discounting these rumors, the general consensus seems to be this: the heart feels that Manny will win while the mind says it will be Floyd. No surprises there considering Pacman has endeared himself to fans with his humility while Money has lived up to his moniker and grown his empire through his shrewd and calculating ways. Can an aggressive slugger like Manny with blemishes on his record upset Floyd the undefeated defensive counter puncher?

Heart and mind aside, anything can happen in boxing.

Just ask Manny himself who was taking control of his fourth encounter with Juan Manuel Márquez before the Mexican unleashed that ferocious hook felt by Filipinos around the world. Not even Mommy D’s voodoo could do anything about that decisive KO punch. But today, three years after that heart-wrenching loss, Manny is given an opportunity to bow out of his boxing career on the highest of notes.

My 12-year old asked me why on earth anybody would want to watch Sunday’s fight when, in his words, it is just about “two guys beating the crap out of each other”. A valid point from the eyes of an innocent boy that left me pondering. In the context of Manny’s story to date, and more so in the grand scheme of things, the words of a certain Rocky Balboa later came to mind.

In the sixth installment of Sylvester Stallone’s movie franchise, the titular character says to his guileless son: “The world ain’t all sunshine and rainbows. You, me, or nobody is going to hit as hard as life. But it ain’t how you’re hit, it’s about how you can get hit and keep moving forward. That’s how winning is done.”

Win or lose, Manny has already validated Sly’s words in and out of the ring and proven himself a winner as a pugilist. Boxing is not for everyone but I will still get back to my own son with a similar explanation to his query after the fight, and hopefully he will at least see the sport as an exciting metaphor for life.

In the meantime, thank you, Manny, for being an inspiration to us all in so many ways. The heart and soul of a nation are right behind you.

Now go beat the crap out of Floyd.

Ali. And I think just because Floyd knows fear at this point, he is preparing for it like he should.

He knows he is in the fight of his life. Most likely, this is it for both fighters. A fight to close out their celebrated careers. This isn’t when he sent Ricky Hatton to the canvass in 2007. Even a loss at the point didn’t mean it’s all over. This is a legacy fight. He’s 47-0.

He has to be smart when fighting Pacquiao.

Let that over-eagerness of the Filipino make him careless when he wades in. He will wait for Pacquiao to make that mistake then take his chances.

But that isn’t going to be easy because he hasn’t fought anyone as fast or maybe faster than him.

He may have diverged from his pre-fight trash talking but for my money, he will go to his routine come fight time. If he can win those rounds that is money in the bank in the eyes of judges.

That style will force Manny to go for the kill and try to knock him down to earn serious points.

When fighters press forward in desperation that usually makes them susceptible to mistakes. It is in his best interests to prolong the fight. Make it go the distance.

If Floyd can do that then he will have won his greatest victory.

MANNY PACQUIAO WILL WIN

WHY

LIFE

ACCORDING TO MANNY AND SLY

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here’s this line from Marvel Comics’ “Daredevil” where scribe Frank Miller (Sin City, 300) once wrote, “A man without hope is a man without fear.”

The once-fearless Floyd Mayweather Jr. now knows fear. And I think that is good because he will make him even more of a canny fighter.

Nevertheless, when have you known Floyd Mayweather Jr. to be all business? His pre-fight routine consists of a lot of trash talking. But once inside the ring, Money is more of a calm and thinking fighter. One who prefers to be tactical in his fight pattern. One who thinks with his head before letting his fists do the talking.

Brains and skill is how he has amassed that spotless fight record.

Now for the first time in his professional career (at least not for quite some time), he’s calm before the fight.

After years of taunting Manny Pacquiao from a distance, that distance has closed to an arm’s length away. And Money is uncannily silent. He has opted to keep quiet and train. The only thing that he has said that has gotten a lot of media mileage is that he is the greatest of all time eliciting even a response from the great Muhammad

BY RICK OLIVARES

T

his is the one fight that he has been looking forward to in the past five years. Short of calling Floyd Mayweather Jr. out WWE-style, Pacman has looked forward to this. In the intervening years, he has had to endure taunts and accusations about PED use, not to mention being repeatedly frustrated at stop-starts in fight negotiations. Now the fight is on and Pacquiao is like a kid in a toy store.

Following the two unexpected losses to Timothy Bradley and Juan Manuel Marquez, Manny’s been fed fighters remotely in his class. I thought that they were to get him in the winning groove again to feel good and confident once more.

In a turn of previous fight protocol where it would be trainer Freddie Roach weighing his own knock out predictions, it is Pacquiao who has been taunting and throwing verbal jabs at Mayweather this time around. You never heard this from Manny before.

If Mayweather is hoping that Manny’s many distractions from commercial shoots to playing in the PBA and how work as a congressman as well as age slow him down, then he is mistaken.

Manny is used to this work rate outside the ring.

He is bristling with confidence. He used to be like a shark that glided in quietly for the kill. Now, that predator’s fin is up and sailing at breakneck speed towards Money and a chance to put his name back among the sport’s greatest. Pacman lost some of that with back-to-back losses but right now, this match is for their everlasting legacy.

I wrote before Pacquiao’s fourth fight with

Marquez that he shouldn’t have agreed to the fight because he was fighting a man who had nothing to lose and whose daily dose of motivation was that he was robbed several times.

Heck, Marquez would have fought for free. All he wanted was redemption. And he got it. In spades as Pacquiao kissed the canvas in embarrassing fashion.

Now, Manny reminds me of that time when Michael Jordan was whistling on his way to Game 3 during the 1998 NBA Finals. The Utah Jazz split their road games in Chicago and looked confident to be going back home. But if you followed Jordan throughout his career, you would have noted that he was even more comfortable on the road with fewer distractions. Hence, the whistling. He relished the challenge. What home crowd? He swished that game winner for the ages.

And I get that feeling from Pacquiao.

He’s excited. He’s happy. He’s been looking forward to this for quite some time now.

Manny has that rare combination of power, speed, and volume punching. While he hasn’t knocked out anyone in a while, his foes have always come away battered from those fists of fury. And Mayweather can sting, then walk away then wade in for a flurry before disengaging. Try to frustrate Manny with a catch-me-ifyou-can fight plan. It is in Manny’s best interests to end the fight early as he tends to slow down in the later rounds.

Manny? He’s the smiling assassin. He’ll knock you on your butt but help you up. Floyd has never faced a force of nature of this sort.

SUNDAY : M AY 03 : 2015

LIFE

BAMBINA OLIVARES WISE E D I TOR

glweekend @ gmail.com

C3

POUND POUND FOR

MANNY PACQUIAO VS FLOYD MAYWEATHER, JR PACMAN THE MEXICUTIONER

NICKNAMES

MONEY PRETTY BOY

Dapidaran

MIDDLE NAME

Joy

A Jack Russell Terrier named Pacman

PET

A Poodle named Izzy

Beverly Hills Mansion 10,000 square feet

MANSION MANIA

Big Boy Mansion in Las Vegas 20,000 square feet

Daddy ate his pet dog

DADDY ISSUES

Daddy shot his pet dog

Threatened with tax evasion

CRIMINAL RECORD

Served time for domestic abuse

Lalaban Ako Para sa Pilipino

THEME SONG

Believe Me

Liam Neeson Mark Wahlberg Sylvester Stallone

CELEBRITY SUPPORTERS

50 Cent Justin Bieber P. Diddy

Jimmy Kimmel

LATE NIGHT TV FAN

Bill Maher

TRUE AMBITION

To pummel the s—t out of Manny Pacquiao and remain the undefeated champion

President of the Philippines

★

BREAKFAST OF CHAMPIONS ★

Load up on protein, bring on the carbs. To be a champion, you have to eat like one. But what constitutes a Breakfast of Champions?

CHEF BRYAN SALARZON, MARRIOTT CAFE Steak and eggs, definitely, but with a twist. Perfect for athletes of individuals who want to jump-start their day. Our take on this classic offers a perfect balance of protein, carbohydrates and nutrientpacked vegetables. It is composed of beef medallion with red wine sauce, poached egg with hollandaise sauce, potato hash, three-colored organic baby carrots and micro-greens.

MARRIOTT CAFÉ G/F Marriott Manila, Newport City (02) 9889999

CHEF PHILIPPE AGNESE, CROWN SUITES, CITY OF DREAMS MANILA At the Crown Suites at City of Dreams Manila, guests can enjoy premium 24-hour in-room dining, which includes a hearty breakfast that is not only appetizing and prepared with utmost care and attention, but also served by dedicated butlers.

I propose a continental breakfast with an assortment of homemade breads and rolls; European fruit preserves and farmfresh butter; yogurt; exotic fruits platter; fresh fruit juices. Then, comes a three farm eggs omelette with your choice of: aspara-

gus, peppers, tomato, onion, mushrooms, cooked leg ham, smoked salmon, green chili, and cheddar cheese, plus blueberries with honey, yogurt, and granola. I have chosen these as I know they are made with premium ingredients and by a team of skilled chefs, which is the least a Champion deserves and should be treated with.

CROWN SUITES City of Dreams, Aseana Avenue, Paranaque City (02) 8008080

ABBA NAPA, MANAM Our tribute to the People’s Champ is a one-punch wonder: the University Fried Rice. It’s a complete rice bowl dish with tapa, eggs and garlic fried rice that’s truly ‘malinamnam.’ This bestselling dish from Manam is pure Filipino comfort food made for every juan! And it comes in not one but 3 knockout sizes to choose from.

MANAM Greenbelt 3, Ayala Center, Makati City (02) 6250515

KATE ANZANI, GUSTO A big protein boost early in the morning is what we would receommend. The protein breakfast is composed of a mortadella ham and Gouda cheese sandwich, baked bean cocotte, crisp bacon and hash browns.

GUSTO CAFÉ W. Geonzon Street, Cebu City (32) 2388335

CARMINA DEL ROSARIO, CATERER, THE CRAZY COOK I’m based in Davao and my husband’s family also has relatives in Saranggani. So I’d make a warm bowl of Lugaw/Congee with crunchy Saranggani tinapa flakes and itlog na maalat. carminadelrosario@gmail.com

SUNDAY : M AY 03 : 2015

C4

★

LIFE

BAMBINA OLIVARES WISE E D I TOR

glweekend @ gmail.com

FIGHT STYLE

★

There is a certain humility in Manny Pacquiao’s fashion choices.

He strikes us as an easy-going kind of guy, someone who cares more about his comfort, rather than style. The outfit consists of a simple Balenciaga shirt under a Tim Coppens bomber jacket with joggers and sneakers also from Tim. Among all our brands, we gravitated towards Tim Coppens — the brand is luxe sportswear but remains discreet, quite fitting for Manny. We see him wearing this out to brunch with his family after training or to the airport in between flights.

Tim Coppens

Balenciaga

Tim Coppens Tim Coppens

. r O e v A o I e U k a C m a PAQ d e e n s n o i p m a h c Even R E H T A E W Y A M

drobe r a w e ut th o k c i p er. d , to l e o h m e l m t e ted ti e et F u m p s m i o d he un er of H t g o a t n n i a nder e , PR M t o n h o t c o L each ano n M r u d t e o k t ERS We as V I N U rom items f

Balenciaga Tim Coppens

Lanvin

Floyd Mayweather seems like the the type of guy who wouldn’t mind wearing something with “attitude”. Often seen casually dressed in a T-shirt and baseball cap, we decided to keep his outfit cool and relaxed. Made up of a printed Lanvin sweater and navy joggers from Tim Coppens, we dressed it up with a black Lanvin jacket and a Balenciaga sneaker in a bold blue color. We see him wearing this to an NBA game followed by a night out with friends.

Lanvin

UNIVERS at One Rockwell, Makati City PHOTOS BY REVOLI CORTEZ

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METRO MANILA: Citimotors, Inc. – Las Piñas 875-1704 / 875-1745 • Citimotors, Inc. – Makati (Main) 892-0331 to 42 • Citimotors Alabang, Inc. 659-3161 to 63 • DCT Holdings Corp. - Balintawak 330-8901 to 05 • Diamond Greenhills, Inc. 727-0352 to 55 • Diamond Marcos Highway, Inc. 645-4801 to 05 • Diamond Motor Corp. – Quezon Avenue 372-3901 to 15 • Diamond Motor Corp. – Valle Verde 671-9590 to 94 • Diamond Service Satellite Corp. (DSSC) 418-2945 / 935-3731 to 32 • Peak Motors – Jose Abad Santos 708-2965 to 68 • Peak Motors – Manila Bay 846-4581 to 82 / 697-8001 to 02 • Union Motor Corp – Kalookan 364-2061 to 69 • Union Motor Corp – Paco (Main) 563-8481 to 85 / 563-8461 • LUZON: AMCAR Automotive Corp. - Sta. Rosa, Laguna (02) 420-8057 to 58 / (049) 541-1259 • BSGMI – Calamba (02)861-0730 • Caleb Motor Corp. – Naga City (02) 250-8057 / (054) 811-6119 /473-4977 • Carworld, Inc. – Malolos (044) 791-2405 to 06 • Carworld, Inc. – Marilao (044) 711-2895 to 97 • Carworld, Inc. – San Fernando, Pampanga (Main) (045) 963-1111 / (047) 222-3743 • Carworld, Inc. - Subic (047) 250-0808 • Carworld, Inc. – Tarlac City, Tarlac (045) 982-5551 to 52 • Evolander Motor Corp. – Taytay 470-0777 / 571-5881 • Freeway Motor Sales of Baliuag Corp. (044) 673-4083 to 85 • Freeway Motor Sales of Cabanatuan Corp. (Main) (044) 463-1391 / 463-8390 • Freeway Motor Sales of Cabanatuan Corp. – Isabela (078) 682-8401 / 305-0579 • Jabez Motor Corp. – Dasmariñas (046) 416-5968 / 850-0119 / 416-5966 • Maximotors - Palawan (048) 433-0171 • Motorplaza, Inc. – Baguio (074) 300-3571 / 422-7615 • Motorplaza, Inc. – Calasiao (075) 653-0174 / 653-0156 • Motorplaza, Inc. – La Union (072) 603-0747 / 603-0603 • Motorplaza, Inc. – Urdaneta (075) 568-3312 / 656-1001 • NAMCO – Laoag (077) 677-8888 • SFM Sales Corp. – Lipa (043) 756-5522 • SFM Sales Corp. – San Pablo (Main) (049) 562-0690 to 91 • VISAYAS: Avescor Motors, Inc. – Iloilo (033) 337-4455 / 337-6486 to 87 • Avescor Motors of Bacolod (034) 435-2111 to 14 • Fast Autoworld Phils. Corp. – Cebu South (032) 261-8385 / 261-7355 / 261-7126 • Fast Autoworld Phils. Corp. – Dumaguete (035) 419-9194 • Fast Autoworld Phils. Corp. – Mandaue (Main) (032) 345-1233 / 420-5777 • Fast Autoworld Phils. Corp. – Tacloban (053) 325-3876 • Fast Autoworld Phils. Corp. – Tagbilaran (038) 412-2661/ 412-5815 • MINDANAO: Fast Autoworld Phils. Corp. – Butuan (085) 341-1162 • Fast Autoworld Phils. Corp. – Cagayan de Oro (088) 855-1546 / 855-5394 • Fast Autoworld Phils. Corp. – Ozamiz (088) 521-2351 / 521-1115 to 16 • Karasia, Inc – Bajada (Main) (082) 222-1111 to 14 • Karasia, Inc – Tagum (63 84) 655-0107 • Mindanao Integrated Commercial Enterprises, Inc. - General Santos (083) 302-0586 to 87 • Zamboanga Motors, Inc. - Zamboanga (062) 991-2199 / 991-2138

SUNDAY : M AY 03 : 2015

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SPORTS sports@ thestand ard .com.ph

WILL REFEREE, JUDGE ATONE FOR ‘SINS’ AGAINST

PACQUIAO?

★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★

T

oday’s “Fight of the Century” between pound-for-pound claimants Manny Pacquiao and Floyd Mayweather Jr. may be a chance for referee Kenny Bayless and judge Burt Clements to atone for a previous mistake that, in a lot of ways, tainted their otherwise esteemed careers.

Bayless was chosen over equally proficient referees Jay Nady and Tony Weeks to be the fight’s third man in the ring, while Clements was named a judge, together with Dave Moretti and Glenn Feldman.

Clements was the same official, who erred during the first match between Pacquiao and bitter Mexican rival Juan Manuel Marquez nearly 11 years ago at the MGM Grand Garden in Las Vegas, Nevada.

Pacquiao, who was then vying for the World Boxing Association and International Boxing Federation featherweight crowns of Marquez, floored the Mexican champion three times in the opening round of their 12-round title fight held in Marquez got to keep his crown after the match ended in a split draw when judge John Stewart scored the bout 115-110 for Pacquiao, while Guy Jutras had it 115-110 for Marquez.

Clements penned it 113-113.

Controversy kicked in when it was discovered that Clements had a 10-7 score instead of the supposed 10-6 in that first round, where Pacquiao scored three knockdowns.

Under the 10-point must system, an automatic point deduction must be given for every knockdown scored in a round.

Had Clements tallied that fateful round correctly (10-6), Pacquiao would have won that first fight against Marquez via split decision and grabbed the WBA and IBF 126b belts from the Mexican.

To his credit, Clements admitted that his faux pas was an honest mistake and that he had no intention of ruining Pacquiao’s chances that night.

“It used to be that a three-knockdown round was 10-7. I take full responsibility.

Had I been aware, I would have scored it 10-6,” said Clements.

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Clements’ blunder, however, did not make him idle as the Reno native gained countless more meaty assignments from then on, up to the present.

Among the marquee bouts where Clements was assigned since that scoring snafu were fights that involved Mayweather against Marquez, Saul Alvarez and Ricky Hatton.

Meantime, Bayless has officiated seven fights involving Pacquiao, but two of those matches had lapses that could have led to unfavorable results for the Filipino boxing sensation.

When Pacquiao fought Mexican Erik Morales in their rematch, the Filipino caught his opponent with a hard left in the second round. The punch wobbled Morales, who then grabbed the ropes to maintain his balance.

Under the universal rules in boxing, a knockdown is considered once a boxer holds on to the ropes after getting hit by a punch.

In the sixth canto, Pacquiao again caught Morales with a solid blow. The Mexican appeared to be going down, but was able to keep his balance once more when he backed inadvertently into Bayless.

Pacquiao eventually stopped Morales in the 10th round, but a look at the official score cards revealed that Morales was still very much into the fight, scoring wise. Two judges had it 87-84, while the third, 86-85.

Bayless again got added flak when he ruled Pacquiao’s slip a knockdown during the Filipino champion’s match against Shane Mosley.

In the 10th round, Mosley was on the attack when Pacquiao fell, and the replay showed it was clearly caused by a push.

“It was a call I missed. I already whispered it to Pacquiao,” said Bayless.

It seems that Bayless and Clements are in perfect positions to prove their worth after Pacquiao’s trainer Freddie Roach expressed his satisfaction in the selection of officials.

“I have a favorite referee, Bayless – but he seems to favor Mayweather a little, bit but I think that this fight is so big – all we want is a fair fight. I think we can get that,” said Roach.

With a Philippine flag in the background, ring icon Manny Pacquiao trains for his fight against Floyd Mayweather, Jr. RUPERT WENDELL ALINEA

WHY FLOYD IS MAKING MORE MONEY THAN PACMAN

BY DENNIS PRINCIPE

I Floyd Mayweather, Jr. flashes a $300-million smile. AFP

f you study the supposed marketability of Manny Pacquiao and Floyd Mayweather, Jr., you would probably think that the fighting congressman must have earned more than the very selective undefeated American champion.

Consider this: Manny Pacquiao (57-5-2, 38 by knockouts) has fought 17 times more than Mayweather (47-0, 26 KOs).

When it comes to marquee

fights, Pacquiao still had more Pay-Per-View bouts than Mayweather, who took a few years of respite in his 19-year career that limited him to 47 bouts overall.

The 36-year-old Pacquiao was involved in 18 PPV bouts, while the 38-year-old Mayweather headlined 13 PPV matches.

Overall, Pacquiao sold 13,258,000 American households, while Mayweather attracted

14,420,000 buys, a difference of 1,162,000 or $56,938,000, at an average price of $49 per household.

But based on CelebrityNetworth. com, a website that reports the total assets and financial status of celebrities, Mayweather’s estimated net worth is $300 million, compared to Pacquiao’s $110 Million.

In 2014, Mayweather topped Forbes’ list of highest-paid athletes in the world when he collect-

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Manny Pacquiao (right) and Floyd Mayweather, Jr. display the WBC Diamond Belt that will be awarded to their winner of their “Fight of the Century.” AFP

sales, but also from what people eat, drink and see in the venue.

There is a so-called “Mayweather business model,” wherein his outfit rents an entity to promote his fights at a flat fee.

Mayweather, the promoter, will then rent the venue, which in effect makes him the sole recipient of all the revenues earned from merchandising, ticket sales and concessions.

Showtime’s vice president and general manager of sports and event programming, Stephen Espinoza, once told former New York Times sportswriter Timothy Smith in an interview that Mayweather

Mayweather having more money than Pacquiao may be largely due to the Filipino multi-division champion’s generosity to his family, friends and entourage.

had a clear vision of how he would like to control his career, both in and out of the squared circle.

“It’s the recognition early in his career that he wanted and needed to control his own marketing and image and how his events were presented. The second is he had the ability to make it big, extravagant and loud and eye-catching,” said Espinoza.

Surprisingly, Espinoza said that Mayweather’s knack for utilizing the power of social media can also be attributed to his marketing success.

“That has contributed to his visibility and his popularity. That was not a tool that Oscar De La Hoya or Mike Tyson had at their fingertips for promotion. Being able to utilize that is a major plus.

Among current athletes and entertainers, there isn’t anyone better than Floyd in creating attention in traditional media and social media,” said Espinoza.

To date, Mayweather has around 5.5 million twitter followers, while Pacquiao has gathered 1.6 million.

To some, Mayweather may be living an extravagant lifestyle, but in reality, he is actually living within his means.

Pacquiao, meantime, seems already contented with letting Top Rank, Inc., the promotional outfit where he is under contract as one of Bob Arum’s fighters, control the business aspect of his boxing career.

It is ironic that Pacquiao is called “Pacman,” when Mayweather is the one who will gobble up most of the earnings of their projected $400-million megafight come May 2 in Las Vegas.

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ed $105 million in prize money alone. In that same list, Pacquiao earned a mere $41.8 million.

The figures look deceiving if we consider Mayweather’s assumed penchant for buying signature items, luxury vehicles and an extravagant home.

A report that came out of USA today stated that Mayweather bought 100 cars from one single dealer, Towbin Motocars. Sixteen of those cars were Rolls Royces, while three were Bugattis.

Pacquiao, meantime, was more “modest” as he purchased only two luxury cars to date, a Ferrari 458 Italia and a Mercedez-Benz SL550.

“We never know when Floyd will get the bug for car shopping,” said one of the executives at the dealership. “It could be in the middle of the day or it could be in the middle of the night. One time, he came in at 2 a.m. and bought a couple of cars.”

Mayweather having more money than Pacquiao may be largely due to the Filipino multidivision champion’s generosity to his family, friends and entourage.

For his upcoming bout against Mayweather, Pacquiao admitted that he is spending $5 million for tickets alone, which will all be distributed to his family, friends and hangers-on.

But what separates Mayweather from Pacquiao by a mile, in terms of keeping more dough in the bank is the American’s ability to maximize every potential earnings he can get.

Under a Mayweather Promotions deal, the man who calls himself “Money” collects his share not only from PPV buys and ticket

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Manny Pacquiao waves to an adoring crowd at the Mandalay Bay Convention Center. AFP

MAYWEATHER

NEVER WANTED TO FIGHT PACQUIAO

BY DENNIS PRINCIPE

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top executive of Golden Boy Promotions revealed that their former promotional partner Floyd Mayweather, Jr. never wanted to fight Manny Pacquiao.

GBP vice president for matchmaking Eric Gomez told The Standard in an exclusive telephone interview that countless times in the past, Mayweather has avoided any discussion about him fighting the Filipino boxing sensation.

“He didn’t want Manny. He didn’t want to talk about it. He didn’t want to hear it. He never wanted it. That’s why it took so long,” said Gomez.

For almost a decade, Golden Boy and Mayweather promotions worked on countless marquee pay-per-view fights until the two went on their separate ways last year.

Gomez believes Mayweather is being forced to take this fight, noting that after completing four of his six-fight deal with Showtime, the television network continues to lose money.

And for CBS Corporation President and CEO Les Moonves get involved in trying to make the Mayweather-Pacquiao happen says a lot about the company’s disappointment.

“Showtime got tired of losing money. When did you have the CEO of CBS Sports and Showtime get involved in doing a fight? He (Moonves) got involved personally because they got tired of losing money. He really pushed it and that was the key. He really forced him (Mayweather) to do the fight,” said Gomez.

Mayweather has now teamed up with Top Rank Inc. in promoting what is believed to be the biggest fight in the history of boxing once the American champion collides with Pacquiao this weekend in Las Vegas.

Gomez believes Pacquiao’s style will pose serious problems for Mayweather, who remains unbeaten in 47 fights largely because of his remarkable ability to avoid punches.

“We can argue for hours about their skills, their strengths and weaknesses. But you can never measure a fighter’s heart. And Manny has wanted this fight for seven or eight years. And Floyd has avoided this fight. I don’t think Floyd wanted this fight,” said Gomez. “I think he was pressured to doing this fight. He has been pushed into it and his back is against the wall. Floyd’s going to have his hands full. It’s going to be a very interesting fight. My heart is with Manny and I hope he wins.”

Taking sporting thrills to the next level Resorts World Manila delivers ‘Sports Essentials’

S

ports and competition are engrained in Filipino culture. From the sheer physicality of boxing, the focus and precision of darts, the sleek and suave moves in billiards, the cerebral approach to golf, and the overall sportsmanship in basketball, Pinoys know what each discipline brings to the table and whole-heartedly subscribe to it.

More than just mediocre fans, we wear our hearts on our sleeves and go all out for our teams and even more so for local athletes competing for glory abroad. Thus is the story of every sport-loving Juan, ‘Never say die’, ‘Filipino pride’, ‘Puso’. This is precisely why we all crave world-class competition. It puts our talents in perspective and pushes us to raise the bar for current and future generations.

Loving local through and through, the country’s premier lifestyle hub Resorts World Manila (RWM) pushes its advocacy to ‘Champion the Filipino’, highlighting the talents of local athletes in top flight play. By hosting world-class sporting events and through the help of industry partners, RWM puts itself in a position to promote sportsmanship and high-level competition.

World-class Dreams on Course Greens Last November 2014, RWM, together with the Asian Tour and 918.com, hosted the 2nd RWM Masters at the Manila Southwoods Golf & Country Club. Riding the momentum of the inaugural RWM Masters, which went down as one of the most exciting battles ever seen on the Asian Tour, the tournament’s second installment delivered unequalled golfing thrills for fans and players alike.

Up against some of the world’s best including local golf aces Miguel Tabuena, Antonio Lascuna, and three-time Asian Tour winner Angelo Que, Mardan Mamat of Singapore ended a twoyear title drought by romping to a commanding six-shot victory. The 47-year-old veteran completed a stylish wire-to wire victory with a final round of three-under-par 69. His winning total of 20-underpar 268 sealed his fourth Asian Tour success and second in the Philippines.

From a prize fund of US$750,000 in 2013, the event upped the ante by offering a record prize fund of US$1 million.

As the richest Asian Tour tilt in the Philippines, the RWM Masters has created a positive impact on the landscape of professional golf in the country.

East Meets West Last April, RWM set the stage for the best women pool artists

(Left to right) Asian Tour Chief Executive Officer Mike Kerr, Manila Southwoods Golf & Country Club Chairman Bob Sobrepeña, 2014 Resorts World Manila Masters champion Mardan Mamat, and Resorts World Manila Chief Operating Officer Stephen Reilly.

Singapore’s Mardan Mamat during the 2nd RWM Masters held last November 2014 at the Manila Southwoods Golf & Country Club.

RWM’s NBA All-Star Weekend Experience winners Nestor Ng Jr. (left) and Walken Li (right) inside the players dugout at the Barclays Center, home of the Brooklyn Nets.

Participants and organizers of the 2nd AM8.com Queen’s Cup held last April at The Plaza inside RWM’s Newport Mall. Team East prevailed over Team West with the inspired play of local hero Rubilen Amit.

to shine when it hosted the 2015 AM8.com Queen’s Cup. Held recently at The Plaza in RWM’s Newport Mall, the tournament produced some thrilling billiards action to the delight of pool enthusiasts and fans of the game.

Pitting the world’s elite women’s pool players against each other, the AM8.com Queen’s Cup is a race-to-10 team 10-ball tournament similar to the Ryder Cup in golf or Davis Cup in tennis. This year’s tournament featured professional pool players from different countries all over the world under their respective East and West banners.

The three-day match-up saw South Korea’s Eunji Park, Taiwan’s Jennifer Chen, and China’s Siming Chen play alongside skipper and local pool hero Rubilen Amit for Team East. While Team West was composed of Billiard Congress of America (BCA) Hall of Famers Ewa Laurance of Sweden and Karen Corr of Northern Ireland’s, as well as Americans Jennifer Barretta and Vivian Villareal.

Team East successfully defended its title because of the inspired play of Amit. The

two-time world champion was instrumental in the team’s three deciding games which capped off with the tournament clinching one-on-one victory over USA’s Villareal.

The Best of Basketball Establishing its identity as a global brand, RWM entered a new phase in bringing international sports tourism to the country when it reached an agreement with the NBA last year. Since then, the partnership has been able to provide basketball-crazed Filipino fans additional opportunities to experience the world’s top professional basketball league with exclusive access to NBA happenings within the integrated resort.

To date, the property has been home to NBA stars DeMar DeRozan of the Toronto Raptors, Wesley Johnson of the Los Angeles Lakers, NBA legend and former coach Avery Johnson, as well as the famous Laker Girls during their respective Philippine tours. RWM has also welcomed former NBA MVPs Kobe Bryant

On Point. RWM is set to host this summer’s biggest darts tilt, the ‘Game of Throws’ Open Darts Tournament.

and Derrick Rose when they visited the country and conducted interview sessions at Maxims Hotel and Marriot Hotel Manila respectively.

Recently, it was rising star Nerlens Noel of the Philadelphia 76ers and women’s basketball great Ruth Riley who benefitted from RWM’s signature hospitality at House Manila during their visit as part of the Jr. NBA/Jr. WNBA Philippines 2015 National Training Camps.

Apart from hosting topflight stars within the property, RWM also offers unforgettable NBA experiences by flying lucky members stateside to catch NBA regular season and playoff games live as well as all access passes to major NBA events like the 2015 All-Star Game festivities at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn and at the Madison Square Garden in New York.

Game of Throws RWM stays on point as it hosts a high-stakes open darts tournament dubbed ‘Game of

Throws’. From May 8 to 9, RWM invites amateurs and pros to fasten their flights and sharpen their sights to the tune of a Php250,000 total prize pool.

Set to take place at The Plaza in RWM’s Newport Mall, the twoday event expects to draw over 400 of the country’s top players all vying for the title as well as bragging rights for this summer’s biggest darts tournament.

RWM’s ‘Game of Throws’ Open Darts Tournament is an official National Darts Federation of the Philippines (NDFP) ranking event and follows the governing body’s rules and regulations.

By welcoming the biggest names in sports, hosting worldclass competition, and taking members to experience nonstop sporting thrills, RWM goes through great lengths to provide guests with sports essentials that no one else can provide.

For more information on RWM events visit www.rwmanila. com or call the Tourist/Visitor Hotline at (02) 908-8833.