The Standard - 2015 May 04 - Monday

VOL. XXIX  NO. 76  3 Sections  32 Pages  P18  MONDAY, MAY 4, 2015  www.manilastandardtoday.com  editorial@thestandard.com.ph

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‘Money’ keeps cash box ringing

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Pacquiao says he felt he won

MILITARY DEFUSES BOMBER USMAN Next page

Not enough. Floyd Mayweather Jr. ducks under a flurry of punches from Manny Pacquiao Sunday during their “Fight of the Century” match Sunday at the MGM Grand Garden Hotel in Las Vegas, Nevada. Mayweather beat Pacquiao via a unanimous decision for the unified welterweight crown. Story on Page 16. AFP

United back in a big way

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Love begins tonight

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Soldiers kill bomb maker Usman

By Florante S. Solmerin

BOMB MAKER Basit Usman was killed when his group encountered fighters of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front before noon Sunday in Guindolongan town in Maguindanao, an official said.

Three-day visitor. Japanese Coast Guard vessel PLH22 Yashima docks at the Manila South Harbor on Sunday to join the three-day Joint Maritime Law Enforcement Exercise with the Philippine Coast Guard. Danny Pata

BBL without 1996 peace pact bound to fail

By Francisco Tuyay THE Bangsamoro Basic Law is “bound to fail” even if it’s approved unless it is merged with the 1996 final peace agreement between the government and the Moro National Liberation Front, a senior peace negotiator said on Sunday.

The official, who asked not to be named, said the Organization of Islamic Conference or OIC remained supportive of the full implementation of the Jakarta accord with the MNLF. The 1996 peace agreement led to the creation of the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao, which will be replaced by a new Bangsamoro authority once the BBL is passed.

But as far as the OIC is concerned, the agreement with the MNLF remains superior to the BBL, which would implement the peace pact between the government and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front.

“In so far as the resolutions of all of the OIC meetings in the past, they were all supportive of the Jakarta peace accord,” the negotiator said.

“Without the MNLF, the negotiations [with the MILF] will amount to nothing.”

The negotiator made his statement even as Senate President Franklin Drilon said the passage of a constitutional, fair and inclusive BBL would be the top priority one Congress resumed its plenary sessions today.

“It will receive a special legislative attention in the coming weeks,” Drilon said.

“We will devote extra time and effort to ensure the passage of the BBL.” Drilon said they would immediately calendar the BBL for discussion once the committee on local governments led by Senator Ferdinand Marcos Jr. submitted its report on the BBL to the Senate.

In Malacañang, Communications Secretary Herminio Coloma Jr. said the Palace was still hopeful the Senate and the House of Representative would approve the BBL. “We have high expectations that they will listen to the President and the emerging public’s sentiments,” Coloma said.

“A lot of people are agreeing and supporting this call to support the BBL.” In his visit to the Philippines last month, OIC secretary-general Ameen Madani underscored the importance of “converging” the peace processes

with the MILF and the MNLF. The convergence is being spearheaded by the Bangsamoro Coordination Forum formed in 2010 at the initiative of the OIC. “We pushed for the reviving, reinvigorating of the Forum,” Madani said.

“We think it provides an excellent stage for all sides to communicate to express their views. We are optimistic that this Forum is reducing the gap between the different views.”

Madani said both the MILF and the MNLF were expected to meet again at the Council of Foreign Ministers’ meeting in Kuwait on May 28.

The source said the provisions in the BBL only mirrored what had already been spelled out in the peace pact with the MNLF. “There should be one peace accord because you are dealing exactly with the same people, the same geographical situation and the same power,” the negotiator said.

“The OIC wants only one entity to talk with, but they would not give up the MNLF because they were the ones who supported the 1996 final peace agreement.” With Macon RamosAraneta and Sandy Araneta

“Yes, Usman is dead, It’s confirmed,” said the high-ranking intelligence officer who asked not be named because he is not authorized to speak on the matter.

But Maguindanao Police Chief Nickson Muksan said Usman was killed by members of the MILF in Muti village in Guindulungan town.

The United States government had offered a $1- million bounty for Usman’s capture.

Armed Forces spokesman Brig. Gen. Joselito Kakilala said the General Headquarters was still verifying the report on Usman’s death.

“We’re still getting verification and confirmation on the ground,” Kakilala said.

The intelligence officer said two comrades of Usman were also killed in the encounter that happened at 11:30 am in Mote village near Camp Afdal.

The MILF group that encountered Usman’s group reportedly was led by a Commander Marlboro under the 106th Base Command.

Usman and Amin Baco alias Jihad, a Malaysian terrorist, and four other “foreignlooking terrorists” were able to escape from a raid of their lair by the Special Action Force of the Philippine National Police on Jan. 25, which resulted in the death of Malaysian terrorist Zulkifli Abdhir alias Marwan in Mamasapano town. Marwan then had a $5-million bounty for his capture from the US government.

The raid, however, also led to the killing of 44 SAF men when MILF fighters aided by fighters from its faction, the Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters, and private armed groups ambushed the withdraw-

ing police commandos.

The 12-hour firefight walloped the 54th Special Action Company that had only one survivor because no reinforcements came to aid it.

The MILF claimed 17 of their fighters were killed as well as three civilians.

Usman and his men escaped during the raid. There were even reports that he was “seriously wounded” and being carried on a stretcher by his men.

They were initially taken and protected by the group of Mahammad Ali Tambako who was later captured along with five of his men by government forces.

The PNP’s Board of Inquiry, the Senate and Department of Justice concluded in their probes that the incident was a massacre because the majority of the wounded commandos were still alive when they were finished off by the rebels.

The commando’s mission also created animosity between the PNP officials involved in the botched “Oplan Exodus” and the military ground commanders because the commandos did not coordinate with them.

The sacked SAF director who implemented the Exodus, Police Director Getulio Napeñas, blamed Maj. Gen. Edmundo Pangilinan, commander of the Army’s 6th Infantry Division, for not firing the requested artillery that could have minimized the commandos’ casualties.

President Benigno Aquino III was largely blamed for the debacle and for allowing suspended PNP chief Gen. Alan Purisima handle the mission instead of PNP Officer-in Charge Deputy Director General Leonardo Espina.

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Defeat’s agony hits Pacman fans BOXING fans cried foul and groaned in bitter disappointment on Sunday as national hero Manny Pacquiao lost to American rival Floyd Mayweather in the “fight of the century.”

Filipinos filled gymnasiums, cinemas and bars as the nation stopped for Pacquiao’s battle with Mayweather in Las Vegas, which he lost in a unanimous points decision.

A devastated Pacquiao said immediately afterwards that he thought he had won, and many at home agreed with him as they lashed out at the judges while heaping praise on their inspiration.

“Pacquiao was cheated.

Mayweather didn’t land a single solid punch,” cable television technician Romeo Rivera, 41, said.

Rivera was among thousands of mostly poor people who had gathered in the main public square

of Manila’s Marikina suburb to watch the battle on a giant screen mounted on the back of a flat-bed truck.

In the southern port city of Zamboanga, loud boos echoed inside an army gymnasium where thousands of soldiers and their relatives watched Pacquiao given just the sixth defeat of his career.

“The decision was unfair.

From the start, the commentators were for Manny. Everyone is disappointed,” Lt. Col. Noel Precioso said as others nearby expressed similar sentiments.

Even the nation’s military chief, Gen. Gregorio Catapang, weighed in with emotional comments

immediately afterwards.

“I think the decision was not fair. Like Manny said, he thought he was ahead with points. Both fought carefully but Manny was more aggressive. He was hitting Floyd,” Catapang said.

On social media, popular television host and swimsuit model Georgina Wilson expressed outrage to her 2.76 million Twitter followers: “Mayweather did nothing !!!!!!!!!!!!! Such a joke!!!!!!!!!!!!!”

Pacquiao, 36, is a unifying figure in a country beset by grinding poverty, natural calamities and corruption.

His rags-to-riches story, from high school dropout to millionaire world boxing champion in an unprecedented eight weight divisions, is a huge source of hope and pride in the Philippines.

His fights throughout his career have caused the nation to grind to a halt, with nearly everyone stopping to watch them. Famously, even crime has dropped to nearly nothing during Pacquiao fights.

President Benigno Aquino III said before the Mayweather clash that Pacquiao, who has recorded 57 victories and two draws in his career, was an “inspiration for every Filipino.”

Presidential spokesman Edwin Lacierda said immediately after the loss that it had not diminished Pacquiao’s standing.

“Pacquiao is truly the People’s Champ. He fought for respect, not points. He won the hearts of the world,” Lacierda said in a statement.

Echoing the sentiments of many, Vice President Jejomar Binay said Pacquiao would still

return home a hero.

“Manny’s life story lifts the spirit of every Filipino who struggle daily to rise from adversity. His humility and faith is an inspiration to all of us,” he said.

Pacquiao leveraged his boxing popularity to get elected to the House of Representatives in 2010 and he has said he may run for president in the future.

Pacquiao is also a coveted endorser of international and local brands, making him currently the highest taxpayer in the Philippines.

And with the fight against Mayweather widely believed to be the most lucrative in boxing history with revenues of $400 million, Pacquiao is set to return home with far deeper pockets despite having been vanquished.

AFP

Pacquiao can still be proud, says President

By Macon R. Araneta and Sandy Araneta

Where the people were. Fans watch a live telecast of the welterweight unification bout between Manny Pacquiao and Floyd Mayweather at a plaza in Marikina City. AFP

Cable providers wilt on demand THE stunning demand for pay-per-view telecasts of the Manny Pacquiao-Floyd Mayweather mega-fight had providers struggling to meet it on Saturday (Sunday morning, Manila time).

The start time for the pay-per-view telecast, which included two undercard bouts, had come and gone in the United States and complaints had surfaced on Twitter, that in some areas cable providers were unable to deliver the show.

The scale of the problem was enough to have telecasters Showtime and HBO hold up the main event for about 45 minutes.

Problems ranged from issues with ordering, to pixellated screens, to screens going to black after the broadcast had started.

“We are aware of the issue impacting the Mayweather vs. Pacquiao feed,” US cable provider Charter Communications tweeted.

“We are working to resolve as soon as possible.” – AFP

Where they weren’t. There

were no vehicles to be seen along Roxas boulevard during the fight of Manny Pacquiao on Sunday.DANNY PATA

MALACANANG said Sunday that Filipinos can still be proud despite the l boxing champ Manny Pacquiao’s loss to American boxer Floyd Mayweather.

“Filipinos can hold their heads up high: our national pride, congressman Manny Pacquiao, did us all proud when he stood his ground against one of the best boxers of our time, Floyd Mayweather,” said Communications Secretary Herminio Coloma Jr., in a statement issued after the PacquioaMayweather fight in Las Vegas, USA. “President Aquino reiterates his thanks to Manny for serving as an inspiration to every Filipino in overcoming the daily challenges in the pursuit of a better life and future,” Coloma said.

“We will continue to be proud that we have a People’s Champ in Manny Pacquiao who exemplifies skill, strength and courage. He is a worthy exemplar that the Filipino is able to compete in the global arena --- for as long as there is a level playing field,”he added.

Coloma expressed the hope that Pacquiao would now be able to spend more time with his family and maintain his health.

Before the fight, Coloma said President Benigno Aquino III was one with the Filipino nation in praying for a Pacquiao victory.

In going into the ring, Pacquiao carried the “unified goal and hope of the Filipino people in all corners of the world” to win the greatest fight of his career, and exemplify the refusal of Filipinos to surrender in any fight, he said.

“In every punch that Many throws, the Filipinos will shout out for him,” he said, thanking Pacquiao for being an inspiration to all his countrymen.

Vice President Jejomar C. Binay said the life of Pacquiao lifts the spirit of every Filipino who struggles daily to rise from adversity.

“His humility and faith is an inspiration to all of us,” Binay said.

“On this day, he showed that we, Filipinos, are ready to face and rise from any challenges,” he added.

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‘Does PH want to be a job agency?’

By Macon Araneta “dO we really want to become the world’s employment agency?” this was the question raised by senator Juan edgardo “sonny” Angara, who urged the government to provide local employment and higherpaying jobs to Filipinos to dissuade them from working abroad.

Angara said majority of Filipinos prefer to work in the Philippines, but are discouraged by the lack of jobs and low pay. “the cost of Filipinos working overseas is higher than we think,” said Angara, acting chairman of the senate committee on labor, employment and human resources development.

He cited records from the department of Foreign Affairs (dFA) which showed that Filipino victims of human trafficking totaled 1,135 in 2013, while the number of Overseas Filipino Workers facing the death penalty, mostly for drugrelated cases, has reached a total of 88 as of March this year.

He said an average of 1,600 illegal recruitment cases were handled by the Philippine Overseas employment Administration (POeA) from 2007 to 2011, while the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA) handled an average of more than 50,000 cases on-site annually from 2009 to 2013.

“Our labor force grows almost one million every year, and this number cannot be absorbed by available jobs here in the country, forcing Filipinos to seek better-paying jobs abroad to support their families despite the risk of abuse and exploitation,” said Angara.

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Young fans. Children watch a live telecast of the welterweight unification bout between Manny Pacquiao and Floyd Mayweather at a plaza in Marikina City Sunday. Millions of boxing fans groaned in disappointment on May 3 as national hero Pacquiao lost to Mayweather in the “fight of the century”. AFP

Palace: We’re aiding OFWs

By Sandy Araneta

The government is giving assistance to Filipinos who are now on death row, including legal assistance and appeals through diplomatic channels, as well as to their families, Malacanang said Sunday. there are a total of 88 Filipino nationals now facing the death penalty in different countries. the latest to have a temporary reprieve from the death penalty is convicted illegal drugs smuggler Mary Jane Veloso, 30, now in indonesia.

Veloso was supposed to be executed by firing squad in indonesia last April 28, but was given a stay of execution by the indonesian government through efforts made by the Philippine government.

“regarding the measures taken by the government, led by the department of Foreign Affairs, all our foreign posts including embassies and consulate offices, are tasked to deliver possible support under the Atn (assistance to nationals) program. this includes giving legal assistance and making appeals through diplomatic channels,” said secretary Herminio Coloma Jr., during an interview over state-run radio station dZrB. “On the preventive side, the government is conducting extensive education and information campaigns led by the department of Labor and employment and agencies under it. they are coordinating with the Philippine information Agency and with government media organizations,” Coloma also said.

Coloma said there are 88 Filipino nationals now facing the death penalty, based on data given by the dFA through Assistant secretary Charles Jose, the dFA spokesperson.

As of March 10, 2015, Coloma said the break-

down of these cases are as follows: Kingdom of saudi Arabia, 28; Kuwait, 1; China, 21; indonesia, 1; Malaysia, 34; thailand, 1; and the United states of America, 2.

Coloma said that according to the dFA, all death row cases are on appeal. the cases involved murder, drug trafficking, rape and theft.

Jose had said that Filipinos facing the death penalty in China have been given a two-year reprieve during which they may have their sentence commuted to life imprisonment for good behavior.

He also named the Filipino in Kuwait as Jakatla Pawa and the Filipino in thailand as Mark Alvin Antonio. reports said, since 2010, seven Filipinos have been executed, most of them in China. in 2011, sally Ordinario-Villanueva, ramon Credo and elizabeth Batain were executed through lethal injection in China for drug trafficking.

Aquino goes on visit to Canada President Benigno Aquino iii is scheduled to leave for Canada this week together with some members of the Cabinet for a three-day state visit to strengthen economic and diplomatic relations between the Philippines and Canada. the visit is upon the invitation of Canadian Governor General david Johnston, said Communications secretary Herminio Coloma Jr. during an interview sunday over state-run radio station dZrB. “this is also the first state visit of a President of the Philippines to Canada since President Fidel V. ramos’ visit 18 years ago in 1997,” Coloma said.

Aquino and Canadian Prime Minister stephen Harper will witness the signing of a number of agreements that would strengthen the ties between the

two nations in labor cooperation, development assistance and infrastructure development, Coloma also said.

Around 700,000 Filipinos are now residing in Canada.

Canada is also the Philippines’ 21st biggest trading partner and its sixth biggest source of tourist visitors, he said.

Last year, Canada cited the Philippines as the “country of focus” for development assistance and a priority emerging market for Canadian overseas trade and investment, Coloma said. the President and his delegation will also go to Chicago in the United states for a one-day working visit, during which he will meet businessmen planning to invest in the Philippines, as well as members of the Filipino community, said Coloma. Sandy Araneta

Cheers for Pacman. Leyte Rep. Ferdinand Martin Romualdez cheers with thousands of Manny Paquiao fans at the Tacloban City Astrodome during the Paquiao vs Mayweather fight.

Romualdez provided free live viewing for residents of Tacloban and other municipalities of the first district of Leyte. Ver NoVeNo

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P2.4b lost to Metro gridlock

By Rio N. Araja

THE gridlock in Metro Manila is costing P2.4 billion a day, and could go up to P6 billion a day by 2030 if the traffic situation is not addressed properly, according to studies.

Citing the studies done by the Japan International Cooperation Agency, along with the Department of Environment and Natural Resources, the University of the Philippines said 70 to 80 percent of air pollution in the metro is caused by motor vehicles, and only 20-30 percent caused by emissions from industries and other stationary sources.

The study entitled “When the Road Becomes a Parking Lot: Take a Hard Look at Metro Manila’s Traffic” traced the gridlock to “too many vehicles.”

According to UP, “monsoon rains, road repairs, road mishaps, annual holidays and even a single misbehaving private or public utility vehicle can turn our roads into a virtual park-

ing lot, while lines of people waiting to catch a ride on the MRT-3 snake down all the way to the sidewalks, and crowds of commuters spill over onto the middle of the street.”

“Sheer numbers matter,” it said.

Out of the 7.69 million motorized vehicles registered with the Land Transportation Office in 2013, 2.101 million of these ply the streets of the National Capital Region.

“And while this number is rising at an average annual rate of 2.13 percent, the number of commuters reaches well into the millions, space --particularly road space -- remains a limited resource,” according to the university’s article posted on its official website.

Too many cars on the road has lessened the effectivity of the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority’s number-coding scheme, otherwise called the Unified Vehicular Volume Reduction Program.

Because of this, Dr, Jose Regin Regidor of the university’s National Center for Transportation Studies Urban and Regional Systems Analysis/Transportation and the Environment Group also initiated a study to evaluate the cost-efficiency of the UVVRP and its cor-

relation to economic losses due to traffic.

Regidor said commuters and passengers have adjusted their travel time to avoid the hours covered under the number-coding scheme, which often has resulted in more congestion during the non-enforcement hours.

Vehicle owners have shifted to public transport on the day their vehicles are banned to travel, while others have bought new cars, he said.

“This phenomenon did not happen overnight. Instead, it started when some well-off people purchased new cars and discarded their old ones. These second-hand cars became available on the market, and were snapped up by people with smaller budgets, who in turn, sold their even older cars to others,” he said.

“Note that in this cycle, very few vehicles, if any, are actually retired, considering this country has no retirement policy for old vehicles. The end result is that there are more cars on the roads and consequently, more severe and more frequent congestion is experienced,” Regidor’s study read.

Even the number of motorcycles is significantly rising, Regidor said.

Heavy toll. Traffic jam along Edsa has been exacting a heavy toll on the economy, says a study. File photo by MANNy PAlMERo

Measure against age bias A LAWMAkER is pushing for the early passage of a measure prohibiting employers, labor contractors and labor organizations from discriminating against any individual due to age.

Rep. Susan A. Yap of Tarlac authored House Bill 411, which ensures that a person is not denied a job, an equal chance of training, or a promotion because of age.

The bill is being considered for approval by the House Committee on Labor and Employment chaired by Rep. karlo Alexei B. Nograles of Davao City.

According to Yap, the bill seeks to promote a positive attitude about the contributions that older people can make to society.

The Tarlac solon said the bill provides for sanctions to the employers, labor contractors and labor organizations that discriminate against employees or job seekers on account of their age in all the aspects of employment - recruitment, employment terms and conditions, promotions and transfers, training and dismissals.

Under the measure, it shall be unlawful for an employer to fail or refuse to hire or to discharge any individual or discriminate against any individual with respect to his or her compensation, terms, conditions, or privileges of employment, because of such individual’s age.

Kid back-riders banned in QC THE Quezon City Council and Mayor Herbert Bautista have approved a measure seeking to ensure the safety of every child-back rider on a motorcycle.

The 36-member council passed Ordinance No. SP-2395 banning any motorcycle rider from transporting a childback rider within any roads in the city “unless allowable under this measure.”

A young passenger must be wearing a standard protective helmet, can rest his or her feet on the footrest of the motorcycle, can hold on and embrace the waist of the motorcycle driver, and must be mentally capable to appreciate the need to hold on to the rider-driver, Bautista said.

The ordinance states that a violator will be slapped with a fine of P1,000 for the first offense, P2,000 for the second offense and P5,000 for the third and succeeding offenses.

The ordinance actually discourages

bikers from allowing small children to ride motorcycles, he noted.

A motorcycle ride is a relatively unsafe mode of transportation for the riders, most especially small children,” said Councilor Melencio Castelo Jr., the ordinance’s principal author.

Citing a study done by Safe kids Philippines, a non-government organization working to prevent child injuries, he said at least 35,000 Filipino children are victims of road mishaps every year, most of which are motorcycle-related accidents.

A small child can hardly reach the motorcycle pegs and has short arms that cannot wrap around the waist of the driver that always result in an unsafe and uncomfortable ride.

“To prevent the occurrence of road accidents involving children, the city must regulate the transporting of children by motorcycle,” Castelo said.

Rio Araja

Pleasure cruise. Father and mother take their children to a cruise along the seawall of Manila

Bay. Ey AcAsio

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US assured of reforms to stop IPR violations

By Sara Fabunan President Benigno s. Aquino iii has assured the country’s biggest donor—the United states— that it will pursue reforms aimed at eradicating or curbing violations of intellectual property rights.

Presidential deputy spokesperson Abigail Valte relayed the Philippine position after having managed managed to r e main off the special 301 report, the global watchlist of iPr violator -countries.

“We got word that the Us trade representative, the special 301 report that they issue yearly, says that the Philippines has stayed off the iPr watchlist,” Valte said. the Philippines was freed from the watchlist in 2014, the first time since 1989.

“And we were removed from this list for the first time in 25 years from last year,” Valte stressed. the Ustr said the Philippines has been removed from the watch list due to its enactment of “a series of significant legislative and regulatory reforms to enhance” iPr protection and enforcement in the country.

“Although significant challenges remain, the commitment of Philippine authorities and the results achieved merit this change in status. the United states will continue to engage with the Philippines to address unresolved and future challenges,” the report said.

Valte said the report cited that the reason why the country is no longer included from the watchlist because of its administrative enforcement reforms which resulted in streamlined procedures, enhanced interagency cooperation, and more enforcement efforts including increased seizure of pirated and counterfeit goods.

PCSO donation. Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office Chairman Erineo “Ayong” S. Maliksi (third from left) hands the symbolic key of a brand

new ambulance to Davao City Mayor Rodrigo Duterte (4th from left) during a simple ceremony held at the Marco Polo Hotel in the city. With them are (left to right), from PCSO, Director Francisco G. Joaquin III, Vice-Chairman and General Manager Jose Ferdinand M. Rojas II, and Directors Mabel V. Mamba, Betty B. Nantes, and Bem Noel. JOSEPH MUEGO

Court stops mining bid

By Rey E. Requejo

The Court of Appeals has junked the petition of MacroAsia Corporation to conduct mining operation in 1,113.98 hectares in Sitio Linao, Brooke’s Point, Palawan. in an 18-page decision, the CA’s special 16th division through Associate Justice danton Bueser upheld the validity of the resolution issued by the national Commission on indigenous Peoples denying MacroAsia’s application for issuance of a certification precondition necessary for the latter to proceed with the extraction activities at Brooke’s Point. the appellate court sided with the nCiP that “exploration” and “mining operation and devel-

opment” are separate activities, although related, that must undergo separate processes.

“By failure to conduct a separate field based on investigation on the part of MacroAsia prior to the extraction stage of its mining operation, the nCiP, thus, correctly denied MacroAsia’s application for issuance of certification precondition,” the CA stressed. it can be recalled that on december 1, 2005, a Mineral Production sharing Agreement

(MPsA) was executed between the department of environment and natural resources and MacroAsia covering barangays Maasin, Mambalot and ipilan. the primary purpose of the sharing greement was “to provide for the national exploration, development and commercial utilization of certain nickel, chromite, iron and other associated mineral deposits existing within the contract area.” the nCiP subsequently issued a compliance certificate in favor of MacroAsia. in 2006, MacroAsia proceeded with the mining exploration activities and discovered and identified more than 80 million tons of nickel laterite deposits. thus, the mining firm applied for permits, licenses and clear-

ances for the next phase of the mining cycle, which is extraction activities.

MacroAsia also had to secure the certification precondition for nCiP aside from the environmental Compliance Certificate (eCC).

On April 28, 2010, the nCiP Free and Prior informed Consent (FPiC) team recommended the issuance of the certification for precondition, noting the overwhelming approval of the Palawan tribes and the directly affected areas of the mining operations. despite the findings of the FPiC team as well as the concurrence of the nCiP Validation team, the nCiP en banc denied MacroAsia’s application for certification for precondition.

OFWs contracts in local dialects

Skills olympics. Toyota Motor Philippines School of Technology concluded the 2015 Skills

Olympics as part of its 2nd Foundation Day Celebration. With the theme “Strengthening Fundamentals in Pursuit of Excellence,” TMP Tech celebrated its humble achievements in its two years of operations through various activities that promote skills excellence and foster creativity and camaraderie among students and employees. As highlight of the event, the Skills Olympics exhibited the school’s high level of training and the students’ technical expertise in automotive servicing. From left: TMP Tech technical director Loreto San Pedro, NC III champion Jamil Hembra, NC II champion Christian Paul Acosta, NC I champion Kevin John Katayama, and TMP Tech training program coordinators Joel Llanes and Ernesto Almazora.

the house committee on overseas workers affairs has approved a proposal to require all recruitment agencies, labor providers and direct-hiring employers of Filipino workers to provide a parallel translation in Filipino or in any of the major Philippine dialects of the employment contracts that the worker will sign before their deployment abroad. the committee approved the proposal embodied in house Bill 4836 authored by rep. Juan Johnny r. revilla of the OFW Family party list before Congress adjourned session last March. revilla explained that most OFWs do not understand the content of the contracts they sign which are written in english or other foreign languages. “thus, it is necessary to translate the contract in Filipino or in the dialect they understand to protect their interest,” said revilla. revilla said the translation of the employment contract into a language with which the OFW is familiar with, would avoid misunderstanding or doubt about the term of the contract. “there have been many cases of misunderstanding, misinterpretation, confusion and

eventual conflict between recruitment agencies or employment agencies, labor providers or direct hiring foreign employers and OFWs on issues of their condition of employment as stated in the employment contracts which only provide an english text and the language of the host country,” he said. revilla, vice chairman of the Committee on Metro Manila development, said that an OFW, who is not well versed in the english, is usually at a disadvantage because the employment contracts are usually interpreted in the language that an OFW has difficulty understanding. he proposed that the translation of employment contract shall include the condition of the OFW’s employment, the compensation and benefits, period of employment, working hours, health and safety issues, among others. house Bill 4856 mandates all recruitment agencies, employment agencies, labor providers or direct-hiring foreign employers to provide a to provide a parallel translation in Filipino or in any of the major Philippine regional of indigenous Languages, of the employment contracts that the OFWs will sign before their deployment abroad.

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Ponzi firm faces estafa raps

By Dexter A. See

LA TRINIDAD, Benguet— The operator of a company that reportedly folded up after duping its investors of over P2.3 million was charged with multiple estafa charges before the provincial prosecutor’s office.

The 19 complainants, mostly from Mankayan and Buguias towns, said they were enticed to invest in Three Angels General Merchandise managed by Herminia Sulik-ap Pagaduan after they were promised high returns on their investments and after other investors showed them the checks of their payouts.

They took these as indications that the company, which started operating in the past quarter of 2014, was legitimate.

The filing of the charges was facilitated by combined elements of the AntiInvestment Scam Task Force, organized to go after dozens of companies operating in the region offering Ponzi schemes to lure people into investing their hardearned money.

The Anti-Investment Scam Task Force is composed of representatives from the Secuties and Exchange Commission, Department of Trade and Industry, National Bureau of Investigation and the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group in the Cordillera.

Under the company’s scheme, investors are promised a 25 percent monthly interest on their money plus P500 worth

of free items every pay out.

The complainants decided to file the estafa charges against the company after they could no longer contact its officials and after its offices closed without warning.

Lawyer Annie Gonzales Tesoro, director of the Baguio-based Securities and Exchange Commission, said people who are victimized by companies offering Ponzi schemes should immediately seek the assistance of the task force.

Aside from Three Angels, Ponzi scheme firms that have already closed operations include Stiforp Trading along Magsaysay Avenue and Buena Dinero along Mabini Street while some 21 DTI and SEC-registered companies offering high interests on supposed investments are now being investigated.

Luxury in a lake. Lake Danao in Ormoc City supplies 30 percent of potable water to at least seven towns in Leyte. The 148 hectares of freshwater, a sanctuary for carp, tilapia, eel and clams, is also a resort where visitors can spend the night in floating cottages. MEL CASPE

Eastern Visayas workers receive increase

By Ronald O. Reyes TACLOBAN CITY— Private-sector workers in typhoon Yolanda-weary Eastern Visayas will receive salary increases based on the new wage structure implemented effective May 1, Labor Day. According to Section 1 of the Wage Order No. RB VIII-18 released to the media by Regional Tripartite Wages and Productivity Board under the Department of Labor and Employment, “upon the effectivity of this wage order, the fifteen pesos (Php15.00) Cost of Living Allowance prescribed under Wage Order No. RB VIII-16 shall be integrated into the basic pay.”

“Further, all workers in Retail and Service Sector employing 10 workers and below shall receive an additional Six pesos (Php 6.00) increase in the basic pay.

Furthermore, all workers in the private sector in Eastern Visayas receiving the basic wage rates prescribed herein shall continue to receive Seven pesos (Php7.00) coast of living allowance in Wage Order No. RB VIII017,” said in the order.

“And finally, all workers in the non-plantation sector of the Sugar Industry shall receive an additional wage adjustment of Fourteen pesos and fifty centavos (Php14.50) which shall be granted in two trances: Seven pesos and fifty centavos (Php7.50) upon effectivity; and, Seven pesos (Php7.00) on May 1, 2015,” it added.

The amounts mentioned will be applied to workers’ daily rates.

UP historian: Baguio is second most devastated city in WWII BAGUIO CITY—The summer capital was the second most devastated city in the country during the hostilities between the Japanese Imperial Army and Filipino and American guerrilla forces in World War II, a history expert said here.

Dr. Ricardo Jose, a professor of the University of the Philippines DilimanDepartment of History, said Manila sustained the heaviest devastation during the three-year war but Baguio owns the distinction of where the war started on December 8, 1941 and where the war ended on September 3, 1945.

Jose said Baguio could have not been heavily devastated in the war if the Americans listened to the reports of Filipino guerrillas in the late 1944 that Japanese soldiers were moved back by Gen. Tomoyoki Yamashita to the northern part outside the city.

“Despite reports that Japanese soldiers were already moving back to the northeastern parts of the city, American warplanes continued to bomb the city that contributed to the city suffering from heavy damages. The city could have been spared from damages if the Americans listened to the guerrilla reports on the ground that Japanese soldiers were moving outside the city,” Jose stressed.

He said at the start of the war, two presidents were in the city, former President Manuel L. Quezon and Sergio Osmena.

On December 8, 1941, 18 Japanese warplanes, which was earlier perceived as American warplanes to protect the city, came to the city and started dropping bombs with the Camp John Hay gate as its target. That was the only time that President Quezon believed that the war in the Asia-Pacific started.

Harvest dance. Men from Sabangan town perform a traditional dance during the Lang-ay festival in Bontoc, Mountain Province. DAVID CHAN

A8

OPINION [ EDI TORI A L ]

UNSEEMLY UNSEEMLY is the best word to describe how the administration rushed to take credit for the stay of execution granted by Indonesia to convicted drug trafficker Mary Jane Veloso last week.

Even if the last-minute efforts by President Benigno Aquino III and his Cabinet to save Veloso did make a difference, the Palace would have done better to simply keep quiet and let the public decide how much they did.

But modesty and statesmanship have never been this administration’s strong suit, so a Cabinet member rushed to fill the news cycle on Wednesday with a minute-byminute account of what the President did to save Veloso’s life, mere hours after her execution was suspended.

The narrative—that the President had approved approaching the Indonesians with a new legal angle—seemed plausible. Veloso, the Indonesians were told, would be needed to testify against her recruiter, who duped her into smuggling 2.6 kilos of heroin into Indonesia, where she was arrested in 2009. This argument gained credence when the recruiter turned herself over to police one day before Veloso’s scheduled execution.

But the Cabinet secretary who announced the stay of execution seemed all too eager to dramatically play up how Mr. Aquino broke with protocol to pass that proposal on to Indonesian President Joko Widodo just hours before she was scheduled to face the firing squad.

The shameful attempt to hog the limelight stumbled on two inconvenient developments.

First, the Indonesian government itself confirmed that it was the efforts of an Indonesian human rights group that swayed Widodo into granting Veloso’s stay of execution.

“President Jokowi hears and heeds the voice of human rights activists who continue to accompany him in performing his constitutional duties.”

Anis Hidayah, executive director of Migrant Care Indonesia, said she had met on Tuesday afternoon with Widodo, who unexpectedly asked about Veloso’s case.

In that meeting, she tearfully told Widodo that Veloso was a victim of human trafficking, just like the many Indonesian migrant workers abroad who were on death row for serving as drug couriers. She also told the Indonesian president that Veloso’s recruiter had already surrendered.

“If we kill the victims and tomorrow we find new evidence, how can we be responsible for this, after the execution?” she told Widodo, who seemed to take her words to heart.

Even more damaging to the administration, Veloso’s family flew home the next day and tore into the administration for grabbing credit for her stay of execution.

Veloso’s mother called the President a liar and blamed his administration for waiting too long to help her daughter.

In an apparent reference to Aquino, she said: “He is telling the whole world that he helped save my daughter’s life. That is not true.”

With Veloso’s life still on the line, her family has very little reason to lie. On the other hand, the politicians, from the President on down, have much to gain from minimizing the fallout from their own inaction and for playing up their role in the last-minute efforts to save Veloso.

Whom will the public believe?

THE PEACE COUNCIL SAYS YES? PENSÉES FR. RANHILIO CALLANGAN AQUINO THE Citizen’s Peace Council asked the House of Representatives, it was reported, to approve the draft Bangsamoro Basic Law. This, despite the very serious reservations expressed by different resource persons both chambers had called upon to express their views. Now, the endorse-

ment was not entirely surprising, considering that the members of the council were hand-picked by Malacañang, and none of them was really a staunch and vocal opponent of the BBL. In other words, the Palace conscripted allies and, not unexpectedly, got allies’ support.

But say what you will against BBL—and I have much to say against it—one thing that cannot and should not be said is that retired Chief Justice Hilario Davide Jr. was bought,

bribed, promised incentives and rewards for delivering a vote of confidence. I know Hilario Davide, Jr. At the time I was the full-time head of the Academic Office of the Philippine Judicial Academy, he was the incumbent Chief Justice. There were many occasions that he requested my assistance for various projects.

It was because of him that the Graduate School of Law of San Beda College and the Philippine Judicial Academy are engaged with each other in a consortium. He is a man with a simple heart, who delights in the simple things of life.

Never did I catch in him a hint of greed or avarice. One thing is sure: You did not trifle with

I grant the possibility that he honestly believes the BBL to be constitutional. After all, in Former Chief Justice deciding about propositions Davide is not one of law, one does not have the to accept bribes, ease and facility of the correunwarranted incentives spondence theory: check the proposition against the facts. or undue favors.

One makes inferences from the contested proposition and checks for coherence with othhim and, in several respects, he er propositions of law beyond was unflappable. But he was question. Sometimes, this is never arrogant. And of this, called the coherence test. At I am absolutely certain: He is other times, one checks for the not one to accept bribes, un- practicability and legal acceptwarranted incentives or undue ability of the entailments of a proposition in issue. Good favors.

It is precisely because of the men therefore may differ in the retired Chief Justice’s stature positions they take in respect that he was the right man to to recondite constitutional ishead the peace council—and sues without compromising

A8

MROSNDDAY AY: :AMPAY THU R I L42, 32,021051 5

OPINION

A9

ADELLE CHUA CHUA ADELLE CHUA ADELLE ORR EEDDIITTO

M O N D AY, A P R I L 2 7, 2 0 1 5 lettertotheeditor@thestandard.com.ph lettertotheeditor@thestandard.com.ph

OPINION

EDITOR

VIEW FROM PLUMBLINE MALCOM PASTOR

ATTY. HARRY APOLLO QUIBOLOY ROQUE JR.

OUR HAS OUR OVERSEAS COMMISSION FIGHTING ON HUMAN WORKERS RIGHTS MADE A DIFFERENCE?

[ EDI TORI A L ]

SEVILLA’S GENIE

SOMEONE once dubbed Manny PacEMBLEMATIC of the hypocrisy and mismanagement quiao as an OFW – an overseas fightthat have become the hallmarks of this administration, ing worker. the chief of the Bureau of Customs, John Phillip And he is, if mere locale of where he Sevilla, resigned last week with disturbing allegations of political pressure and attempts to turn his agency earns his paycheck is the basis. He’s a into a milking cow to raise campaign funds for favored 140-pound export whose power to candidates in the 2016 elections. open up wallets for pricey pay-perSevilla was the third Customs commissioner HANOI, Vietnam—I am in the capital of view hasn’t waned even places where to leave the agency under the administration of Vietnam as long a resource person in a semiboxing has been on the ropes.

President Benigno Aquino III, who has made the fight narAlthough on “National Human $5 Rights Comhis projected million per against corruption the touchstone of his leadership. missions: the Region” minute Experiences paycheck infrom boxing’s richest Sevilla’s two predecessors had left the bureau amid sponsored by themoney that all 10 Konrad Adenaer Stiffight is twice the milallegations of corruption, tarnishing Mr. Aquino’s claims tung. accepted Filipino the invitation because of lion Ioverseas Workers send of good governance. Sevilla took over in December 2013 ahome long in an desirehour, the to evaluatecongressman the affectivity of who with the promise of cleaning up what is widely perceived our own Commission of Human Rights moonlights as a pugilist still deserves the as the most corrupt agency in the bureaucracy. since its establishment through the 1987 “fighting worker” moniker .

That promise came crashing down less than two Constitution years ago. This But let us28not forget that invitation each one years later with Sevilla’s resignation. finally gave me to the opportunity to finalof our OFWs deserves the overseas In announcing his resignation, Sevilla said he was ly conduct this long-delayed study. fighting worker label, too . being pressured to appoint certain people to “very The starting point to be the very They may not havehasrich-as-Colossus sensitive” positions ahead of the 2016 elections, and high of the thathave the wages,expectations but day in and daypeople out, they admitted that he could not finish the job of ending CHR will help promote and protect huto rely on a bag of prizefighter’s guts corruption at the bureau. man rights in the country whendespite they to earn a living in places where “I don’t compromise on morality,” the resigning created it in the they Constitution itself.their Its the inhospitality, hope to earn Customs chief said. “The law is clear on what is first head, Chairperson Mary Bautista, place in the sun. allowed and [what is] not.” should be credited for for rights, safeguarding the Our OFWs fight for dignity, In its first statement following the resignation, the independence of the constitutional body for respect, in protracted battles which are Palace conspicuously ignored Sevilla’s allegations, from politicalbyinterference.

Congress then not clocked three-minute rounds, but and simply announced his replacement, a person took the appointment of the Chair and long hours that last for years. comments on FB posts—manythe of Commissioners BBL, underscored theCommission moral right from the private sector with extensive interests of the They to itsdodge discriminathem betray the pathetic ignorance of be a have State to integrity.

None of in several brokerage-related companies. A Palace should submitted for conformation tion, sidestep prejudice, and duck PENSÉES behind them. But again, they to are the these points of social justicebigotry theory spokesman assured the public that there would be Commission on Appointments. inifworkplaces where there’s noaddressed referee to red flags that invite close scrutiny,Rightfully and moral theology were no conflict of interest, as the new Customs chief, so, the Supreme Court ruled FR. RANHILIO call unfair blows. only because, in their sheer irratioby the posted comments.

The Alberto D. Lina, would divest himself of his interest that Chairperson Bautista and her comForbishops fear were ofwere losing jobs, manypublic have CALLANGAN nality, they sound the alarm to the in his brokerage company—but said nothing of his reminded that missioners notrather among those learned to roll withwere the punches, or evade AQUINO holdings in at least 10 other corporations. intellectual bankruptcy that makes officers whose appointments needed consome priests pedophiles.

They below-the-belt whacks.

The announcement did little to engender firmation Congress.

Thisit insulated the werebyalso told that was shameFIRST, a disclaimer. One national And many, literally, end up black-andconfidence. chair and thebeen Commission ful formembers them to of have involved daily, through an online post, atblue,by employers who despite would living be in Are we expected to believe that Sevilla’s replacement from political interference. in the Pajero scandal. It tributed to me the statement that glitzy condos retain their cavemen menwould truly divest himself of all his lucrative The Constitution enumerates powless bothersome merely to the laugh off the Chief Justice had, in effect, pretality. business interests to take a job in the government ers ofsuch the Commission.

These include the obvious illogicality, but if this judged the Binay case by her line of Butisthe nastiest cuts not We can and oughtpower in an administration with only a year left? Or is his to investigate, the are power issue how our countrymen, ortoainflictgood questioning at the oral argument. ed in their new surroundings.

The one appointment part of efforts that Sevilla resisted to summons, cite in contempt andbetter, power to part of them, reason (or, fail to raise the bar of I made no such statement. Somedelivered the home hurts make sure the ruling party stays in power after 2016? ask assistance fromway anyfrom branch of governto doallso!), that demonstration of one did call me up however for public discourse and most.aHere, Aquino’s first Customs commissioner, who ment. we have obstacle in dreadful wanta serious in thoughtfulness an interview on the subject. I gave Loneliness is hard to down, resigned under a cloud of suspicion when 2,000 task evaluating theknock performance of set more stringentthe andofreasonability should makedeus him onIy curt replies though he spite FB and social media connectivity. container vans vanished from the bureau in 2011, the Commission.

For while the courts and fearful of democracy’s future instandards for theGuilt did attempt, by leading questions, feelings can’t be assuaged by was a close associate of Lina.

DOJ whose performance may prevails, be meadeed.

When irrationality to make me agree with him on money remittance.

The weaknesses Lina was also Customs chief during the previous sured in terms of case disposal and/ or its exchange in public anything frightful is possible! of this assessment—an enticement I long-distance canonly never be administration, before he left abruptly as part of the conviction rate,parenting the CHR can investiTracing in broad strokes the hisspaces. steadfastly resisted. I made clear: compensated by a high-definition camera “Hyatt 10” Cabinet members who abandoned the gate but has no power to prosecute. tory of the condonation doctrine in I did not think it was right for me in aInlaptop screen.

Arroyo government over an election-related scandal the case of Carino Ivs.pointed Commission of this jurisdiction, out that to comment on on-going proceedWeit can tally

remittances, compute in 2005, and who now hold considerable influence in Human Rights, the Supreme Court defined has been in our jurisprudence for ings. What I did, however, was theirfull share to the Gross Nationalover Product, the Aquino administration. the extent of now—carried the Commissions’ invessome time from write a Facebook post on the docso we can exalt the monetary contribuAdministration allies in the Senate have been fulsome tigative powers: “The function of receiving it impossible for a genuine democ- American jurisprudence, and that it trine of condonation. Justice Adolf tions actually of Bagong Bayanis. in their praise for Sevilla, but have shown none of their evidence and has ascertaining therefrom the racy to long endure.

When Archroots in our democratic surveys show that Aquino’s poll surveyof data withhaswas dismissive elections undiminished.

Azcuna thedisfirst to comment: tions—no matter how telling and chambers Congress at its their integrity!

And G. off Last year, OFWs’ personal remittancusualremains eagerness to with launchHilario a congressional investigation facts of a controversy is not a judicial funcbishop Soc Villegas issued a state- convictions. I was not advocating thought thattoI had captured numbers are continuing toafter plumb statements about just continuing Theinto reality, survey after survey allegations oflittle corruption in the of Customs, es toproperly the motherland soared to nearly tion, speaking.ofTo be piece considered reasonable these might bedraft that an almost posal to debate theHe issue.

Davide, Jr., I as have doubt thatBureau ment on the BBL, the perpetuation this of juthe doctrine succinctly.

He agreed particularly since such a probe might expose “friendly $27 billion, up from $25.3 billion a year such, the faculty of receiving evidence and new, unfamiliar depths despite his do the work of governance, Comhas shown, is that Aquino is just deadline. To set deadIn this respect, I find disturbing self-imposed common this was in fact the case. comment was: “Bakit risprudence. I was however arguing with my analysis that the doctrine forces” rather than political opponents. making factual conclusions in a controverbefore. efforts, I expect the campaign to munications Secretary Herminio barely keeping his head above the that no na matter the ang sim- that it was not unreasonable and I hope, however, that the members the announcement about deadlines. lines is to insinuate nakikiaalam naman has that its roots in our there can be no doubtand that Sevilla mustnow be says sy Ifmust bya the authority the real amount third higher further intensify.

Coloma “there is understanding waters ofBut negative acceptability bahan dito?”.

Nowhere hadbe inaccompanied fact been isconsistently aplingering doubts, the measure will be was there In his powerful study on Insight, of Congress do not abdicate their encouraged—or compelled—to name names and of popular sovereignty.

That note of of applying the law to those factual concluthan

the data captured by the Bangko There Isisit all no option for significant room for improvement passed. popularity.

And nor there is nothing anya other serious analysis of the argu- plied by the High Court. The comcharade then—gothe Jesuit philosopher-theologian powerprovide to inquire, restrain thema detailed account of what he knows. His failure sions to the endformal that thechannels, controversy I consider priceless!

Sentral from as may Filireally.

Butadvanced, history and the ment no serious examiand... [a]Lonergan need to concurrence, continually ascerthat can do, it seems, to reverse ments I got labeled me a lackey of ingextended through the motions of asking for Bernard writes is Aquino, selveshe the inquiry tofrom do sodebate. would be Let a betrayal of the morality he claims be decided or determined authoritatively, The nextthat day, one I wrote an pinos abroad are wont to send money nation and rebuttal of the reasons the Binays, a fraud, a charlatan— “stickiness” of the popular perceptain the needs of our people. ” the trend. led to his the resignation, the public vowedno more finally andfriends, definitively, to such apexperts’ opinions, conducting hearsure he when relevant be thorough, debateand robust and service article for this quespaper—and earned a through then subject what they plowed Nothing more than peals an pathetic actually, ifashilarious, betion that he isadduced. a failure as President What seems hell-bent on It istosignificant Malacanang uphold whenthat he took office at the Bureau of Customs. or modes of review may be prolotHow of flak it. preI do not mind the back in 2014 could be in the neighborings, dialoguing with community tions canAquino be asked. dofor you spirited.

The Citizen’s Peace Council attack on bishops and priests. The cause they were attacks on me, not are against him. doing is to continue making public seems to have abandoned the stratIn opening his mouth about corruption and vided by law. billion This function, to repeat, the criticism, I am alarmed that the hoodon of $35 . In stark leaders?

In fact, it has correctly been which but there will does not and cannot stand in for the dict the month on Archbishop, in a personal my argument. contrast Iofsee no reason why Aquino’s num- capacity, appearances that he is still egy ofinfluence pretending to ignore re- Mr. peddling in thethe bureau, Sevilla hasto prove Commission does not have. ” kind I got is symptomatic a more That amount , my finger-math says, is asked how the citizen’s council could cease to be relevant questions on the Legislature.

At best, whatever may be discussed the necessity of inclusivewere the posts of Prof.

Jemy Gatlet the the surveys genie outwhich of the show bottle,an and working, no amountvery of much It the is this lack budget. of prosecutorial powers would in control andthatbers sults of insidious malady is lethal to improve in the coming half national ness,the warned against equating peace dula of the University of Asia and conducted consultations it BBL? Onenow can do democracy: this only if intolerance one de- have the recommendation of theorcouncil is employers doubletalk from in him his former the possessor of game-changing en- for dissent! irreversible decline his popularin Mindanao with the passage of cides not to entertain further quesjust one among several materials the Continued can put it back in.

Continued is good reason to ignore Continued on on A11 A11 Continued on on A10 A10 If subsequent ity. Where once the palace shrugged dorsement powers.There

THE REAL THREAT

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A10 IS DEATH PENALTY A DETERRENT? GIVING credit where it is due, the Aquino administration scored RITA LINDA a win for pleading V. JIMENO with President Joko Widodo of Indonesia to spare Mary Jane Veloso’s life and to turn her into a state witness instead. It makes sense after all that Mary Jane, who was clearly a victim of a drug syndicate, be given a chance to expose the people behind the illegal trade rather than be silenced forever.

This is one strong argument against the capital punishment. It is irreversible. If a person is wrongly convicted and put to death, there is no way he can be brought back. Amnesty International correctly said that execution is the ultimate, irrevocable punishment and the risk of executing an innocent person can never be eliminated. Since 1973, for example, 150 US prisoners who have been sent to the death row have later been exonerated while others were executed despite serious doubts about their guilt.

Another argument against the death penalty is that it is often Capital punishment used in countries with is irreversible. skewed or deeply unfair legal systems, Amnesty International said, citing the “top” three countries that execute: China, Iran and Iraq. These countries, the international organization said, impose death sentences after unfair trials. Many death sentences are issued after “confessions” that have been obtained through torture. The imposition of the death penalty is also often discriminatory. The poor, those who belong to a racial, ethnic or religious minority or marginalized groups who have less access to legal resources to defend themselves, are often the ones sent to the death row. Some countries have executed people although they were under 18 when the crime was committed; others use the death penalty even against people who suffer from mental problems.

The death sentence is often used as a political tool, too.

Authorities in some countries, such as Iran and Sudan, use it to punish political opponents.

The capital punishment is still meted in about one-third of the countries of the world, according to Amnesty International, by any of these means: lethal injection, electrocution, beheading, hanging, shooting a convict on his head or by firing squad.

Countries who execute commonly claim that the death penalty is a way to deter people from committing crime.

But is there scientific basis in this? This claim has been repeatedly discredited, and there is no evidence that the death penalty is any more effective in reducing crime than imprisonment.

A new study published in the Journal of Adolescent Health concerning the failure of deterrence in drug use, medical experts commented that the capital punishment has also failed to deter crime. Dr. Jonathan Groner, an associate professor at Ohio State University College of Medicine, said that the psychological mind-set of the criminal is such that he is not able to consider consequences at the time of the crime. Most crimes are crimes of passion that are done in situations involving intense excitement or emotion. People who commit these crimes are not in a normal state of mind—they do not consider the consequences in a logical way, Groner observed.

Countries who impose the death penalty for drug trafficking may argue that the illegal drugs trade is not a crime of passion and therefore may be deterred by capital punishment. It would be good for these countries to realize that persons who are usually apprehended as drug mules and sentenced to death are not the moneyed and powerful people behind the drug syndicates. The drug mules, themselves, are victims who often come from impoverished

OUT OF THE BOX

MONDAY: MAY 4, 2015

OPINION lettertotheeditor@thestandard.com.ph

A LITTLE DISRUPTION, BIG ECONOMIC SHOCKS

By Noah Smith SOMETIMES a piece of macroeconomics research is so cool I just have to write about it. A new working paper by Daron Acemoglu, Ufuk Akcigit, and William Kerr is one of those papers.

Time and again, you have heard the critics of macroeconomics say that the economy is too complex to model with math—especially the straightforward kind of math used in most of macro. Most macro models lump all consumers into one giant superconsumer, all companies into one giant supercompany and so forth. Even themodels that differentiate people and companies tend to do so only in a limited way—limiting the economy to two types of people, for example, or having people differ only in their level of wealth.

This frustrates a lot of people. The economy isn’t just some simple machine that takes in labor and capital and spits out dollars of gross domestic product, right?

It’s a complex web of business relationships, inputs and outputs, expectations and interactions. Blogger Arnold Kling, for example, has criticized the idea of the economy as a “GDP factory,” and urged us to think about “patterns of sustainable specialization and trade,” or PSST. There are a couple of reasons we would really like a PSST or network-based macro model. First of all, it would solve the problem of what causes recessions. Currently, we have very little idea of what tips economies from boom over to bust—there is usually no big obvious change in productivity, technology or government policy at the beginning of a recession. If the economy is a fragile complex system, it might only take a small shock to send the whole thing into convulsions. A second reason is that modeling the complex guts of the economy would give us a lot more data to look at—instead of just thinking about aggregates like national consumption and investment, we could look at the pattern of how recessions spread from company to company or region to region.

The problem—as any macroeconomist would tell you—is that actually modeling PSST with math is really, really hard. But without the concrete language of mathematical theory, you’re left just waving your hands, relying on intuition or anecdotes, or (at best) subjective interpretations of empirical studies.

People have wanted to model the economy as a system of moving parts for a while now. John Long and Charles Plosser took a stab at it back in the 1980s. Their basic idea was to model the economy as a system of inputs and outputs, with linkages connecting the pieces—kind of like a

THE... From A9 claims to rest its recommendation on in so short a time!

It hardly matters for me what you call the entity that emerges from the BBL. Its advocates will certainly shun the term “sub-state”, acknowledging how dangerously close “sub-state” is to “state”. What is, to me, the gravamen of the case against the BBL is the extent to which national powers can be delegated (abdicated, even) in favor of a political

subdivision.

While judicial review provides a check against unconstitutionality and against the grave abuse of discretion, it shuns questions of policy, including appropriateness and soundness.

And while my doubts (that are by no means unique to me) have to do with matters truly justiciable, there are also policy debates on BBL, and these, only Congress can address. For notwithstanding the breadth of judicial review, there remains a meaningful dis-

families with little education. They are often those who do not understand what they are being made to do and what the consequences of their act would be. They are put to death when caught yet, they are the ones who can name names and expose how the illegal trade is carried out.

Executing one drug mule after another is hardly the solution to the drug problem plaguing the world. For as long as there are people mired in poverty and are willing to clutch at straws to survive, there will always be drug mules. The strategy suggested by the Aquino administra-

bunch of balls connected by sticks. Acemoglu et al. use a somewhat updated version of this model, adding linkages between different regions.

What the authors then do is to look at the pattern of how economic disturbances propagate throughout the industrial and regional network. They examine several types of disturbances such as changes in Chinese imports, government spending and productivity. Some of these shocks propagate upstream through the value chain, from retailers to suppliers. They call these demand shocks. Others move in the opposite direction, and they call these supply shocks Their main conclusion is the result we would want from a model like this—small disturbances to any of these things create big effects.

This is very different from the way many macroeconomists would like to think about the economy. Robert Lucas, considered by many to be the father of modern macroeconomics, wrote in 1977 that the movements of the various pieces of a complex economy should average out. It was shown much later that this wasn’t necessarily the case, but not until Acemoglu et al. have we really seen concrete examples and hard numbers.

The implication is that the rosy picture of the economy as a smoothly functioning machine isn’t necessarily an accurate one. The tinker-toy web of suppliers and customers and regional economies in Acemoglu et al.’s paper is a fragile thing, easily disturbed by the winds of randomness.

The model also has policy implications. One of the biggest and longest-lasting economic debates is whether government spending can affect the real economy. Lucas and others have claimed that it can’t. But in Acemoglu et al.’s model, it absolutely can, since the government is part—a very big, very important part—of the network of buyers and sellers.

So thanks to the hard work and insight of Acemoglu and others, the old dream of a network model of the economy is a little closer to reality. Someday we may draw maps of economic linkages the way we now draw circuit diagrams, and use supercomputers to simulate economic disturbances as CHASING they make their way HAPPY through the web. We may look back on the ADELLE simple pen-and-paper CHUA models of yesteryear Ms. Chua’s column and laugh. will resume this week.

Bloomberg

tinction between questions political and those that are truly justiciable.

More assuring than announcements of deadlines are assurances of resolve on the part of the members of Congress to listen, to study and to debate—assiduously and spiritedly. Congressman Pacquiao has just lost to Floyd Mayweather. But it is not a defeat that should make Pacquiao blush in shame. It was not sure to the very end how the scoring would go. It was the jurors’ perception that Mayweather

did better. It ought to be the same with the BBL. As long as the nation is assured that the members of the Congress did not short-change the citizenry on the diligence, vigilance and astuteness they owe the public in respect to the passage of law, whatever may be the fate of BBL, senators and representatives alike will still be able stand tall! rannie_aquino@sanbeda.edu.ph rannie_aquino@csu. edu.ph rannie_aquino@yahoo.com

tion to the President of Indonesia, that is, to spare Mary Jane Veloso’s life and turn her into a state witness against the big league behind the drugs trade was, no doubt, a wise one. China, Singapore, Vietnam, Malaysia, Indonesia, and all other countries which execute anyone carrying drugs must rethink their policies. Terminating the lives of drug mules may be likened to dusting off a dirty surface but not cleaning the object entirely of dirt.

Email: ritalindaj@gmail.com Visit: www.jimenolaw.com.ph

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OPINION

ADELLE CHUA EDITOR

lettertotheeditor@thestandard.com.ph

EvEryman

By Gerry Lanuza JURGEN Habermas (b. 1929), a German sociologist, one of the surviving members of the famous Critical Theory of the Frankfurt School, diagnosed the eighteenth century birth of public sphere as both an idea and ideology. As an idea the public sphere is supposed to be a space where people voluntarily come together to discuss the social issues with the use of unconstrained reason independent of the government and economy. As an ideology however, it was restricted to people who have the economic means to communicate. Today, our public sphere has developed beyond the traditional media. Its frontiers have extended into cyberspace. Ironically, rather than becoming more democratic and transparent, our public sphere has become more ideological. It resembles a market that is saturated with netizens who indiscriminately make quick posts and counter-posts that are bereft of informed reflection. The untrammelled intelligent debate is now reduced to the number of likes that a post on social media generates. Our extended public sphere, rather than transforming itself as a democratic arena for rational deliberation, has turned into an unregulated market where obnoxious and distorted discourses are allowed to proliferate without benefits of sufficient reflection. I am referring to the avalanche of derogatory remarks being allowed in the dominant media that demonizes the Velosos while absolving our President of any responsibility!

It is only expected that when the mother of Mary Jane Veloso, Mrs. Celia Veloso denounced the Aquino government for not doing enough, and that her family will make the government accountable for the incompetence in saving Mary Jane, some people will not be cheery. But the flurry of scornful remarks of netizens on the social media and dominant media against the Velosos are way beyond the ethical limits of public sphere. And the way some dominant media allowed themselves to be the receptacle for this irresponsible outburst of exchanges merely reflects the level of our political maturity. Freedom of speech does not come cheap. It is supposed to generate the truth, rather than to obfuscate. But when the public sphere, through mass media, becomes the forum for imprudent opinions of blinkered people, then, I cannot help but conclude it has become

OUR... From A9 But alas, the GNP doesn’t show the wages of separation, the breakup of families. It doesn’t show the social cost of migration , the burden of which is equally endured by those who leave and those who are left behind.

Of course, government can record the cash sent from each country but it cannot reckon the wrenching homesickness felt by those who sent them.

Remittances are covered by receipts, but the emotional scars of separation cannot be invoiced.

There can be an app for tracking remittances, but it

is hard to put a number on the unhealthy coping mechanisms OFW kin resort to, like vulnerability to drug use by some Filipino diaspora orphans.

For our OFWs to keep fighting, we, especially our government, must always be in their corner. Being hailed as heroes is not what they need, being helped as one is what they require.

We can start by increasing the DFA’s Assistance To Nationals (ATN) Fund, the amount of which has been marooned in the below-P300 million-a-year level for a long time now.

OFW income should not flow in one direction

#FAILOCRACY

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THE IRRATIONAL TIRADES AGAINST MRS. CELIA VELOSO the mouth piece of the ruling ideology!

I am dismayed by how our people identified with Pope Francis’ slogan of “Mercy and Compassion”, yet are now wickedly demanding for the death Mary Jane just because the Velosos expressed infuriation over the way our government handled the case. It seems to me that our people are more compassionate for our government—who had not even released a clear public statement on Mary Jane, who did not even come out to disclose the full story, our President who (as expected) did not even visit the Velosos to provide assistance, moral support to say the least, who did not apply strong state pressure on Indonesia like Australia, France and Brazil, who refused to disclose other Filipinos in death rows worldwide—than the Velosos, who, in the last hours of their daughter in the death row, were at a loss as to how their daughter ended up in such an abject, abandoned condition!

The public must be told that it is not true that the Philippine embassy provided assistance to Mary Jane from the start. It was only during the appeal that the Embassy hired private lawyers. It is not also true that it is the idea of the government to arrest Mary Jane’s recruiter. It was already asked by Rudyantho & Partners (R&P) a year ago. It was the NUPL lawyers that filed a complaint against Maria Kristina Sergio, Mary Jane’s recruiter to the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI), PDEA and Inter-Agency Council against Trafficking (IACAT). It must also be known that the Embassy gave the translation of Mary Jane’s official translation of her first and second verdict to R&E. What is more deplorable is when Mary Jane’s sister, Maritess, revealed an instance when she went to the DFA: “Sinabihan ako ng isang nagpakilalang attorney daw ng DFA.” She adds, “Tapos tumatawag kami [DFA], tawag kami ng tawag walang sumasagot. Kumilos lang sila noong huli na ang lahat.”

There are more truths to be uncovered that the public should know. All accountable individuals, bureaucrats or not, should be meted with just punishment. No one can deny that Mary Jane is just one among the countless Filipino mothers who would take risks working abroad rather

only. We have a responsibility to return a part of it to sender. If we’re getting more than a trillion pesos from them annually, the fund to aid them is a drop in the bucket.

Our posts abroad should get a bigger chunk of their consular income, which is from fees from documents, like passports, issued.

This, plus more budget from the Home Office, which eventually is a function of Congress, should allow them to boost staff, preferably local hires , the best candidates of whom are migrant Filipinos who know the territory and can curse like a native—in

diplomatese of course.

I don’t know if our civil service and audit rules allow it, but more warm bodies can be hired if they’re sourced locally, and cheaper too, as bureaucrats to be parachuted from Manila, many of whom can’t go about without Google translate, will have to be housed, relocated at taxpayer’s expense.

Another benefit of tapping Filipino talent already on the ground is that being embedded in the community, they’re not career journeymen who will rotate out in three years, so their affinity with the people they will serve is not temporary.

than endure slow and grinding poverty in our country. The Migrant Workers and Overseas Filipinos Act of 1995 mandates the government, “While recognizing the significant contribution of Filipino migrant workers to the national economy through their foreign exchange remittances, the State does not promote overseas employment as a means to sustain economic growth and achieve national development. The existence of the overseas employment program rests solely on the assurance that the dignity and fundamental human rights and freedoms of the Filipino citizens shall not, at any time, be compromised or violated. The State, therefore, shall continuously create local employment opportunities and promote the equitable distribution of wealth and the benefits of development.”

Instead of bellowing against the Velosos, it is time we ask ourselves and our government these hard questions: Has our state turned itself into the ‘greatest pimp” for selling 6,092 workers daily to the highest foreign bidders to achieve 7.5 growth rate? Has our government ensured the rights, dignity and welfare of our OFWs who remitted Php 1.07 trillion in 2014? Whatever happened to the Legal Assistance Funds vetoed by Pres. Aquino in 2015 budget? Is our government creating “decent” jobs and employment when 11.8 million individuals are unemployed?

Is our government creating jobs to ensure equitable distribution of wealth when only 100 families of 17 million Filipino families control and rule the country’s politics and economy; worse, 10 families own 60 percent of the P10-trillion combined capitalization of some 300 business companies in the country?

For whom should we be cheering? Our enemy is not the fuming, tired, sleepless, Mrs. Celia Veloso. Our main enemy is our government and the system it has spawned, that created the Velosos! And when the dominant media irresponsibly allow the reign of irresponsible news and comments against the Velosos’, I cannot help but conclude –freedom of the press is only freedom for the unthinking public and imprudent media outfits.

Gerry Lanuza is a professor of sociology in UP Diliman.

It also won’t hurt if we expand our network of honorary consuls, as many of them, being respected citizens of their communities, have done a yeoman’s job in providing succour to OFWs in distress.

These force-extenders will man diplomatic detachments in places which, for lack of men and money, embassies can’t reach.

The above is but a fraction of a long to-do list on how to service the men and women who keep our economy and hopes buoyant in the bleakest days.

Of course, the ideal is to build an economy dynamic enough to absorb

the millions of labor force entrants yearly , with the skills to match the jobs needed. OFWs are meant to be temps.

In the meantime, we have to ramp up care and compassion for those who sacrifice the comforts of home and the companionship of family.

And this would consist of gestures small and large, from clean airport toilets, to purging kotong cops who prey on jeeps who send off OFWs, to cutting red tape in government offices, to slashing remittance fees.

These and much more we owe to all our overseas fighting workers.

CHONG ARDIVILLA

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Clippers send Spurs packing LOS ANGELES—Chris Paul scored an acrobatic basket with one second remaining as the Los Angeles Clippers stunned reigning champions the San Antonio Spurs 111-109 on Saturday to advance to the next round of the NBA playoffs.

Paul’s moment of magic at the Staples Center sealed a 4-3 series win for the Clippers who completed a fight back from 3-2 down earlier in the week to extend their postseason.

The dramatic final twist came after Spurs veteran Tim Duncan had levelled with free throws with just 8.8 seconds left.

Paul gathered the ball in the half court, and eluded Danny Green before leaning away from Duncan to flick the ball in over both defenders to give the Clippers a sensational victory.

“That’s a series for the ages,” Los Angeles Clippers coach Doc Rivers said. “It was clean, beautiful basketball.”

Rivers was awestruck by Paul’s

game-winning shot.

“No balance on the shot, falling backwards, amazing,” Rivers said.

The Spurs had one last ditch attempt to retrieve victory but Matt Barnes batted away Boris Diaw’s lob intended for Kawhi Leonard to end the game.

“There wasn’t a whole lot you could do with one second,” Spurs coach Gregg Popovich said.

The Clippers, seeded three, will face the second-seeded Houston Rockets in the Western Conference semifinals, with game one on Monday.

Paul’s late winner was the 31st lead of a see-saw battle that saw neither team lead by more than

eight points at any stage.

“I’m a better person after going through this series,” Rivers said in sentiments echoed by his Spurs counterpart Popovich.

“Six of the seven games were a grind; it was a great series,” he said.

Paul had exited for treatment to a hamstring strain in the first quarter before returning with 6:27 left in the second.

Despite the knock, he added 18 of his 27 points in the second half as the pressure mounted.

“I thought about our team and all the things we’ve been through,” Paul said about leaving the game.

“Just try to find a way.” AFP

The Los Angeles Clippers and their bench react after Chris Paul made a basket with one second remaining to give the home team the win against the San Antonio Spurs during Game Seven of the Western Conference quarterfinals of the 2015 NBA Playoffs at the Staples Center in Los Angeles, California. The Clippers won, 111-109, to win the series. AFP

McIlroy, Casey duel in the dark SAN FRANCISCO—World number one Rory McIlroy and England’s Paul Casey battled to a standstill in the $9.25 million WGC-Championship Match Play in California Saturday and face a dawn start to resume their match for a place in the last four.

In near-darkness at Harding Park, the two European stars finished all square after 21 holes and will continue their sudden death battle on Sunday morning at 6:45 am.

McIlroy missed a six foot birdie putt to snatch victory on the third sudden death hole leaving Casey relieved to have survived.

“I dodged a couple of bullets but I gave him a couple too,” Casey said.

“I’m glad we’re coming back tomorrow, I thought that was it for the day and the week,” he added referring to McIlroy’s missed putt.

McIlroy was left ruing his inability to close out the win. AFP

Gonzales, Eala rule Toby’s Sports tennis CENON Gonzales Jr. led all the boys’ singles champions, while national player Alexandra Eala copped two girls’ singles titles to rule the 14th Toby’s Sports Wilson Summer Tennis Festival recently at the Rizal Memorial Tennis Center.

Gonzales displayed toughness to beat Andre Rodriguez, 6-2, 6-7 (4), 6-3, and capture the boys’ 18-under singles’ trophy of the annual competition sanctioned by the Philippine Tennis Association and supported

by Toby’s Sports and Wilson, Smart Communication, Equipe, AQ and Gatorade.

The international campaigner Eala, for her part, won the girls’ 14-under singles’ crown by beating Macie Carlos, 6-0, 6-1.

Eala took her second title after winning over Adeline Abadia via walkover in the 12-under girls’ division.

Manuel Balce halted Cenon Gonzales, 7-6 (5), 6-2, to bag the boys’ 16-under title; Justine Labasano won over Elvin Geluz, 6-3, 6-2, to secure the boys’ 14-under trophy; Daniel Es-

Toby’s Sports Retail Channel Head Lawrence Navarro (extreme left) and winners of the recent 14th Toby’s Sports Wilson Summer Tennis Festival are shown at the Rizal Memorial Tennis Center. tanislao ripped Rafael Llangco, 6-1, 6-1, for the boys’ 12-under title; and Mariel Jarata beat Adeline Abadia, 4-2, 5-3, for the 10-under unisex crown.

In the girls’ singles finals, Charito Jade Capadocia blanked Princess Catindig, 6-4, 6-3, to clinch the girls’ 18-under singles and Gia Sagandoy walloped Maria Patri-

cia Lim, 6-1, 6-2, to grab the girls’ 16-under singles’ title.

The doubles’ champions were Odessa Arzaga and Princess Catindig (18-under girls); Nicholas Co and Justine Camacho (18-under boys) Sherwin Villacorte and Joseph Anida (14-under boys); and Brent So and Adeline Abadia (10-under unisex).

American Pharoah reigns at Kentucky Derby LOUISVILLE—Favorite American Pharoah stormed to victory in the Kentucky Derby here Saturday as jockey Victor Espinoza clinched back-to-back wins in America’s most prestigious horse race.

The two-year-old trained

by Bob Baffert hit the front just past the final turn to finish ahead of Firing Line in second and Dortmund in third, roared on by a record crowd of 170,513 people at Churchill Downs.

The 5-2 favorite made light of a tricky wide starting position to surge into the leading pack from the outset in the 141st edition of the “Run for the Roses,” the opening leg of racing’s Triple Crown.

Stablemate Dortmund and Firing Line set the early pace down the back straight but coming into the final turn, Espinoza swept wide and confidently hit the front.

Firing Line, under the guidance of the 52-year-old Gary Stevens, rallied furiously down the stretch, but American Pharoah held on to give Espinoza a second consecutive Derby win following his triumph on California Chrome last year.

“I feel like the luckiest Mexican on Earth,” said a delighted Espinoza, who has now three Kentucky Derby victories to his name following a win on War Emblem in 2002.

“I was growing up and all I wanted to be was successful and I chose to be a jockey,” said Espinoza, who as a teenager worked as a bus driver in Mexico City to pay for jockey school before moving to the United States.

The 42-year-old veteran also paid tribute to American Pharoah after a deserved victory.

“He’s been a special horse since the day I rode him. He’s an unbelievable horse,” he added, admitting he had been spooked by the persistence of Firing Line in the home straight before holding on to win.

“Turning for home I thought I had it, but the other horse was right there. I couldn’t blow him away, but I got it done.

“He’s just an amazing horse. Today I just let him run and I’m just a lucky Mexican to win three Kentucky Derbies and two in a row,” Espinoza said. AFP

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Rizal Tech spikers edge UE bets for Pista’s Dayat beach crown

Western Visayas’ Matt Atanes wins the gold in the elementary shotput event of the Palarong Pambansa 2015 at the Davao Del Norte Sports Complex in Tagum.

PH team hopefuls make Palaro waves

By Peter Atencio

DAVAO DEL NORTE—An honor student and aspiring member of the national junior team made waves yesterday at the start of the 2015 Palarong Pambansa athletics meet.

The multi-titled Jerry James Belibestre, who graduated salutatorian, battled leg cramps during his fifth attempt and cleared 7.15 meters in the secondary boys’ long jump at the Davao del Norte Sports and Tourism Complex.

This helped the Western Visayas Region claim the first two gold medals at stake in the week-long meet, which was halted at noontime to allow delegates from the 17 regions

to watch a live viewing of Manny Pacquiao’s fight against Floyd Mayweather Jr. in Las Vegas, Nevada at various venues within the complex.

John Christian Capasao, a senior at Iloilo National High School, took the discus throw in another secondary boys’ event, heaving 40.60 meters and beating National Capital Region’s John Edric Manalang (38.77) and Region IV-A’s Cadeon Arellano 38.42.

Matt Atanas went on to add a third gold medal for Region 6 when he ruled the elementary boys’ shot put event in 10.71 meters, with Region 2’s Lord Gaila and IV-A’s Jerick Mendoza taking the silver and bronze.

This gave Region 6 a fighting chance to claim the overall crown this year and an opportunity to lift itself up from a fourth-place finish last year.

Belibestre was hardly bothered by the scorching summer heat and the challenge of his closest rival Martin James Esteban, who stood at an imposing six feet. He came within 11 centimeters of breaking the three-year record of Julian Reem Fuentes (7.26 meters).

Belibestre, who finished high school at Ramon P. Maravilla National High School in Bacolod, had to overcome cramps during his fifth attempt after Martin James Esteban cleared 6.96 meters. Belibestre is coached by the brother and sister duo of Luis Miguel and Adriana Arca.

If not for cramps, Belibestre would have gone for a leap of 7.25 meters, which was the qualifying standard of the World Youth championships.

His effort allowed him to retain the title he won last year with a leap of 7.08 meters.

The 17-year-old Belibestre, now an incoming freshman at University of Negros Occidental-Recoletos, was ahead when he cleared 6.94 meters.

LINGAYEN—Taller and stronger, the RTU volleybelles swept past a game University of the East side in the finals to clinch the title in the 2015 Pista’y Dayat Ladies Beach Volleyball tournament before a huge crowd at the Capitol Beachfront over the weekend.

The RTU volleybelles worked behind the jump serves of Jess Aranda and the timely digs of Jonafer Canete San Pedro to put away the first two sets against the pair of Francislyn Cais and Madel Gavarra in Game 1 of the finals, 21-16 and 21-10, before stamping their class anew in the abbreviated Game 2, 21-10, to formally clinch the championship in the annual tournament organized by former Philippine Sports Commissioner Tisha Abundo and supported by the provincial government of Pangasinan through its governor, Amado Espino Jr., and Lingayen 2nd District Representative Leopoldo Bataoil.

In the other game, Joan Marie Fernandez and Josephine Caguioa of LingayenLGU outclassed the rookie beach volleyball pair of Diane Latayan and Alby Cubilla of Mapua, 21-13, to clinch third place in a the game watched by no less than Gov. Espino and Rep. Bataoil.

The other participating teams were Pangasinan teams Pangapisan,PSU-Binmaley, PSU-Lingayen and University of Luzon and Manila-based teams Colegio de Amores, Mapua 1 and PCU-Dasmarinas.

Gov. Espino and Congressman Bataoil awarded the cash prizes and trophies to the winners and a certificate of participation to all the 12 teams, half of which came from Pangasinan.

Abunda thanked Espino and Bataoil for going out of their way to watch the tournament.

“Once again, I would like to thank Gov. Espino, Cong. Bataoil and their staff for their wonderful hosting of this event. This is our sixth year here, and it just keeps getting better,” said Abundo.

Espino, during his speech in the awarding ceremony, said he enjoyed watching the games so much that he is thinking of hosting the same tournament in December, a piece of news which was received warmly by Abundo and the beach volleybelles. Arman Armero

Guam to host FIFA World Cup games

Tennis champs. Butuan City, former capital of Agusan del Norte, hosted the Cebuana Lhuillier Age Group Tennis Championship Series, one of the country’s longest-running tennis grassroots program initiated by sportsman/businessman Jean Henri Lhuillier to discover young and promising talents in the provinces. The event, backed by Dunlop Sport, attracted 138 participants in the Mindanao region, including familiar names of former age- group champions now making a name for themselves. Photo shows the champions in their respective age groups.

FOR the first time in the island’s football history, Guam will play host to FIFA World Cup matches this summer to Turkmenistan and India. The matches are part of the 2018 FIFA World Cup Qualifiers that will be held in Guam June 11 and June 16.

Guam was part of Asia’s top 34-ranked countries in January 2015 and did not need to play in a pre-qualification playoff. The national team automatically qualified for the second round of Qualifiers a first time in Guam football history.

“It will take the support of the entire community in Guam and supporters abroad for the team to be successful in Round 2 of 2018 FIFA World Cup Qualifiers. For the first time, Guam qualified automatically for Round 2 of the World Cup qualifiers and the team is at a level that can fully compete with the countries in the group. I am proud of the work of the entire GFA organiza-

tion, including all players – past and present – who have helped Guam achieve what is has to date,” said Guam Football Association President Richard K. Lai. Guam was drawn into Group D, which also includes Asia’s topranked country, Iran and three others -- Oman, Turkmenistan, and India. Additionally, as part of their preparation for the upcoming World Cup Qualifier matches, Guam men’s national team, the Matao, also played a friendly match against Hong Kong on March 28.

“Now that we’ve learned of our opponents in the upcoming 2018 FIFA World Cup Qualifiers, the real work begins for the players and staff. Being in this stage of qualification is a first in Guam’s football history; however, by no means are we satisfied with automatically qualifying for this round,” said Guam men’s national

team Head Coach Gary J. White.

“We will go into every match to compete and play a high level of football that every player in Guam’s training squad is capable of playing. With the continued support of GFA President Richard Lai, GFA Executives and staff, GFA’s local business sponsors, and the local community, the team will certainly send shockwaves throughout Asia in these upcoming matches.”

The schedule for the 2018 FIFA World Cup Qualifiers matches is as follows: Guam faces Turkmenistan on June 11, 2015, and India on June 16, 2015 – both matches will kick-off at 4:15PM at the Guam Football Association National Training Center.

The matches will be open to the public, with ticket prices yet to be announced, and will be aired across Asia. The World Cup Qualifiers also double up as 2019 AFC Asian Cup Qualifiers.

CYAN MAGENTA YELLOW BLACK

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Mayweather keeps cash register ringing...

Kazakhstan’s Ardak Maratova scores against Iran’s Mina Roosta (9) and Neda Chamlanian (5). ROMAN PROSPERO

Iranians secure top spot; PH fights Japan IRAN rued its ‘poor performance,’ but will nevertheless still take its 25-20, 18-25, 25-19, 14-25, 15-13 win over Kazakhstan that placed it on top of Group A in the 1st Rebisco Asian U23 Women’s Volleyball Championship powered by PLDT Home and Smart Live More yesterday at the Philsports Arena in Pasig City.

The Iranians got the surprise of their lives when the Kazakhs forced them to a fifth set, but they survived a blistering Kazakhstan fightback to seal the victory and enter the quarterfinals as the top Pool A team in this continental tournament backed and aired exclusively by TV5.

Earlier, Chinese Taipei made quick work of Maldives, 25-8, 25-8, 25-4, to salvage the second seed in Pool C following a heart-breaking four-set loss to powerhouse Japan late Saturday.

The Taiwanese will battle the Iranians at 12 noon, while Japan will face the Philippines at 4:15 p.m. in the quarterfinals today.

The Nationals need to beat the Japanese and the Taiwanese on Tuesday to remain in the hunt for the elusive seminal slot.

Neda Chamlanian and Mina Roosta carried the fight for the Iranians in the crucial fifth set as they pierced the defense with timely kills to survive the fury of the taller, more aggressive Kazakhs.

Chamlanian had all of her 18 points on kills, while Roosta delivered 16 hits to finish with 18 points for the Iranians, who had inconsistencies in the second and fourth sets contrary to their solid performance against the Philippines on opening day.

“Today, we didn’t play good,” said coach Barghi Abbas, noting their poor receptions and 34 errors. “Mentally, we were not prepared. We had so many lapses and we didn’t receive the ball properly.

My team’s mindset is that when we win one set, we will go to the second round.

We simply didn’t play our normal game.”

With Kazakhstan stretching the game to an extra set, Iran raced to a 7-2 advantage before Anastassiya Rostovchshikova and Ardak Maratova ignited a furious comeback and pushed the Kazakhs to a 13-10 advantage.

An attack error from Yana Yagodina and Rostovchshikova gave the Iranians the match point followed by booming smash by skipper Mina Saberi iced the game for the Iranians.

Ardak Maratova nailed 17 kills and two aces to finish with 20 points for the Kazakhs, who kissed the tournament goodbye without a win to show, sending them to the classification battle for 9th to 12th places.

Amir Khan wants to fight Floyd LAS VEGAS—Britain’s former two-time light-welterweight world champion Amir Khan has said he wants to be the next opponent for Floyd Mayweather after watching ringside as the American outpointed Manny Pacquiao in the Las Vegas superfight on Saturday.

Mayweather kept his unbeaten record with a unanimous points victory over Pacquiao in a welterweight unification showdown that failed to live up to all the pre-match hype, but fully highlighted the winner’s superb defensive skills.

Mayweather said after the fight that he would only get in the ring once more - in September - and Khan, 10 years younger at 28, believes he is ideally placed to be the American’s final opponent.

“I think the fight is there,” Khan told BBC Radio Five Live’s Sportsweek programme.

“I spoke to Len Ellerbe, his manager, I saw him in the media room and he came over to say ‘hi...he’s ready when you are’.

“I think Mayweather’s team are wanting the fight. But then - on the other hand - I’ve even spoken to Manny’s team and they said the same thing. (They said), ‘Look Amir, I think it’d be good to have the fight between you and Manny next’.

CYAN MAGENTA YELLOW BLACK

“So, I’m in a position where I could fight either guy but I think Mayweather’s the one I want, because I really believe I have his number.”

The Bolton boxer, with 30 wins and three losses to date in his career, is in action later this month in New York taking on Chris Algieri, but he hopes to get in the ring with Mayweather later this year or early in 2016.

“I think it would be an amazing fight, one that boxing fans all around are talking about because I really believe size is a big factor between me and him and the speed and the power as well. I really believe I have his number.”

Early reactions to the richest fight in boxing history were mixed with Oscar de la Hoya, a former rival of both Mayweather and Pacquiao saying on Twitter: “Sorry boxing fans” and “call me old school but I like the fans getting their money’s worth by watching an action packed fight.”

Former Irish champion Barry McGuigan agreed saying on his Twitter site “boringly one-sided” Others though praised the boxing skills of Mayweather as he took his unbeaten streak to 48 wins over 19 years.

Former world heavyweight champion Mike Tyson, who had picked Pacquiao to win told Sky Sports: “It’s him. It’s who he is. It’s just his time at the moment.” AFP

LAS VEGAS—Fifty is a nice round number, but it can’t compare to the nine figures on the check Floyd Mayweather collected after beating Manny Pacquiao on Saturday.

“For my team to hand me a $100 million check is remarkable,” said Mayweather, whose take from the long-awaited mega-fight with Pacquiao could eventually swell to as high as $200 million once all the record-breaking revenue is counted.

The man who has named himself “Money” said the payout was all part of a “brilliant game plan” for his career.

“My goal was to make nine figures in one night,” he said.

The 38-year-old American, an 11-time world champion in five weight divisions, would have you believe that aim has been the driving force of a 19year career, in which he’s now won all 48 of his fights.

Even as the clash with Pacquiao loomed -sparking massive global interest -- Mayweather was saying he was on his way out -- with just one more bout to come once he’d finally crossed Pacquiao off his to-do list.

“Everyone’s been saying for years that I was scared and I would lose,” Mayweather said of fiveyears of finger-pointing as he and Pacquiao failed to get together.

The passion’s fading, Mayweather says, and only a desire to keep his word and fulfill his sixfight Showtime contract will see him fight again in September.

But a win in that fight would take his record to 490, matching the iconic mark of Rocky Marciano.

Could he then really resist going for a 50th victory?

“My last fight is in September, and then it’s time for me to hang it up,” the 38-year-old said.

“I’m almost 40 years old now. I’ve been in this sport for 19 years and have been a champion for 18 years. I’m truly blessed.”

Mayweather said his last fight might not even be a world title contest.

He plans to relinquish his World Boxing Association, World Boxing Council and World Boxing Organization titles -- maybe as early as next week.

“My last fight may not be a championship fight,” he said. “I might give up all my belts.”

“Why? Give other fighters a chance. I’m not greedy.”

...and ignores jeers LAS VEGAS—Floyd Mayweather shrugged off the jeers which greeted his victory over Manny Pacquiao and wasted no time in taunting his detractors.

After hugging his father and trainer Floyd Sr, the unbeaten welterweight king clambered onto the ropes of the ring, banged his fist on his chest and declared to the crowd: “I told you! I told you!”

It was a swift return to the brash persona Mayweather has perfected over the years, and which had been mostly hidden during the the build up to the bout, prompting some observers to wonder about his state of mind.

In fact Mayweather was intent on giving a starstudded audience packed with sports and entertainment giants a masterclass of defensive skill and pinpoint accuracy as he extended his record to 48-0.

NBA legends Michael Jordan and Magic Johnson, actor-director Clint Eastwood, music icon Sting and power couple Beyonce and Jay-Z were just a few of the superstars packed into the MGM Grand Garden Arena, where precious ringside tickets sold for $10,000.

By the time the fighters reached the arena floor —some 45 minutes late as some US cable operators struggled to meet the demand for pay-per-view orders —the atmosphere was electric. AFP

M O N DAY : M AY 4 , 2 0 1 5

A15

SPORTS sports@thestandard.com.ph

Pacman: I felt I won

By Ronnie Nathanielsz

DESPITE an injury in his right shoulder during training camp, which was diagnosed as a tear, eight-division world champion Manny Pacquiao decided to go ahead with his fight against undefeated pound-for-pound king Floyd Mayweather Jr. But the injury hampered the use of his right and Mayweather’s undoubted defensive skills and accurate punches impressed the judges enough to give him a 12-round unanimous decision victory before a sellout crowd at the MGM Grand Garden Arena on Sunday morning (Manila time).

Judges Burt Clements and Glenn Feldman had Mayweather winning, 116-112, while the third judge, Dave Moretti, turned in a scandalous 118-110 scorecard that didn’t do justice to Pacquiao’s aggressiveness and volume of punches thrown.

The Solar Entertainment TV panel

of Quinito Henson and Mike Ochosa had Pacquiao the winner on their unofficial scorecards by two points, while this writer had Pacquiao ahead by one point in the fight telecast by Solar Sports in an unprecedented multi network coverage over ABSCBN, TV 5 and GMA 7.

Pacquiao himself said “I felt I won” the fight, claiming that Mayweather “didn’t do anything.”

“He always ran, but I got him many times. I saw the punches and I think I won the fight. It’s never easy to throw a lot of punches if the opponent is moving around,” said Pacquiao. “I can handle his power.

It’s not like Antonio Margarito or

Miguel Cotto.”

Former world champion Shane Mosley said he had Pacquiao winning seven rounds to five, while referee Kenny Bayless, who allowed Mayweather to get away with several infractions, although he did caution him a couple of times, was quoted as saying he had no disagreement with the scorecards of the three judges and downplayed calls for a rematch.

There were many times in the bout that Mayweather resorted to his age-old tactic of running, which made it difficult for Pacquiao to track him down.

Mayweather’s strength and conditioning coach Alex Ariza, who worked with Pacquiao before when he had a glorious run of victories that shook the boxing world, told the Standard he noticed the Pacman’s cornermen massaging his legs feverishly in the middle rounds and believes that he was cramping up again as evidenced by his reduction in lateral movements and his failure to attack Mayweather from different angles.

In an exclusive interview with boxingmirror.com, Mayweather gave credit to Pacquiao as “a good fighter.

A lot of fans from the Philippines and all over the world supported this event. He is a helluva fighter and we both went out there and did what we had to do and I was the better man tonight. Pacquiao is a tough competitor. He is a true champion and we were both at our best tonight.”

Mayweather said fights like these are “about giving the fans and going out there and displaying your skills with him bringing what he brings to the table and me bringing what I bring to the table and we did what we had to do tonight.

Trainer Freddie Roach said he was very proud of his ward.

“We’d love to do it again,” said Roach, wishing for a rematch.

But this appears out of the question as Mayweather said he is going to relinquish all his titles so that promising younger fighters could win world titles, even as he indicated a fight in September may be his last and it would be a 12-round non-title fight.

LOTTO RESULTS

6/49 00-00-00-00-00-0 P16M

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

48-0...from A16 He was the aggressor, pressing the action from the first round and was able to land some right-left combinations on Mayweather’s head, especially on the ropes and in the final seconds of the early rounds.

But ultimately Pacquiao wasn’t able to keep up his frenzied early pace for all 12 rounds and Mayweather, who was the bigger of the two fighters, managed to slip in counterpunches and hard right hands that kept the Filipino southpaw at bay.

Even so, Pacquiao said he thought he did enough to earn the victory.

“I thought I won the fight,” he said. “He didn’t do nothing.”

Mayweather reiterated afterwards that he plans to retire after his next fight in September which will fulfil his six-fight contract to Showtime Sports.

“My last fight is in September.

I’ll do that and I will hang it up,” said Mayweather, estimated to have earned $200 million for one night’s work. Pacquiao will receive well over $100 million in a 60-40 purse split the fighters agreed to beforehand.

The entrance of the fighters to the ring was delayed about 45 minutes because of problems with the heavy demand for pay-perview telecast and the providers ability to distribute it.

Some of the biggest names in Hollywood, entertainment and sports were in attendance, including director Clint Eastwood, actors Robert De Niro, Jon Voight, Denzel Washington, Bradley Cooper, musician Sting, former NBA star Magic Johnson and talk show host Jimmy Kimmel, who visited Pacquiao in his dressing room before the fight.

Municipality of Pateros OFFICE OF THE MAYOR BIDS AND AWARDS COMMITTEE Metropolitan Manila

INVITATION TO RE-BIDDING (ITB-15-017) PURCHASE OF CONSTRUCTION MATERIALS FOR THE PROPOSED TWO (2) STOREY QUINTIN DE BORJA HEALTH CENTER @ BARANGAY AGUHO, PATEROS, METRO MANILA 1.

The MUNICIPALITY OF PATEROS through the GRANT ASSISTANCE FOR GRASSROOTS HUMAN SECURITY PROJECTS (GGP) EMBASSY OF JAPAN PHILS. intends to apply the sum of THREE MILLION FIVE HUNDRED EIGHTY THOUSAND EIGHT HUNDRED SEVENTY EIGHT PESOS (P3,580,878.00), being the Approved Budget for the Contract (ABC) to payments under the contract for the above mentioned projects. Bids received in excess of the ABC shall be automatically rejected at bid opening.

2.

The MUNICIPALITY OF PATEROS now invites bids for the PURCHASE OF CONSTRUCTION MATERIALS FOR THE PROPOSED TWO (2) STOREY QUINTIN DE BORJA HEALTH CENTER. Delivery of materials is ONE HUNDRED FIFTY (150) CALENDAR DAYS on a STAGGERED BASIS upon receipt of the Notice to Proceed. Bidders should have completed, within TWO (2) years prior to the date of submission and receipt of bids, a contract similar to the Project. The description of an eligible bidder is contained in the Bidding Documents, particularly, in Section II. Instructions to Bidders.

3.

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

Floyd Mayweather Jr. tells Manny Pacquiao: You’re a helluva fighter. AFP

Pacquiao reveals shoulder injury LAS VEGAS —Filipino ring icon Manny Pacquiao revealed he was battling a right shoulder injury on Saturday in his unanimous decision defeat to Floyd Mayweather.

Pacquiao said he hurt his right shoulder in training camp some three weeks before the bout, an injury severe enough to have him considering postponing the “Fight of the Century.”

“But one week before the fight my shoulder was getting better and better,” Pacquiao said of his decision to go ahead.

He had hoped to receive an anti-inflammatory injection before the fight, which he said he had done with the approval of the US Anti-Doping Agency during training camp.

But the Nevada State Athletic Commission, which oversees boxing in the state, denied permission for the shot.

Pacquiao, who had promised an aggressive, active attack, actually threw fewer punches than Mayweather -- 435-429 by CompuBox statistics.

“I cannot use my right shoulder a lot,” he said.

“The fight was still good. But what we wanted to do we couldn’t do because of my shoulder.

“In the third round I I already felt the pain in my shoulder. When I threw a lot of combinations I had to back off because it hurt.”

That said, Pacquiao said he didn’t want to make excuses for a defeat that saw him fall to 57-6 with two drawn and 38 knockouts.

“But he’s fast – he’s a good boxer,” Pacquiao said. “Give credit to him -– he won tonight.

“I did my best, and my best wasn’t good enough,” he added.

Mayweather had little sympathy.

“I had injuries also going into this fight,” the victor said.

“And if he would have come out victorious, I would have said you know what I’ve got to show respect and say he was the better man,” added Mayweather, who said both of his arms and both hands were injured.

“But I will always find a way to win,” Mayweather said. AFP

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 BAC OFFICE, Mezzanine, Municipal Hall, Pateros, Metro Manila and inspect the Bidding Documents at the address given below from April 23-May 7, 2015 from 8:00 to 5:00 p.m.

5.

A complete set of Bidding Documents may be purchased by interested Bidders from the address below and upon payment of a nonrefundable fee for the Bidding Documents in the amount of FIVE THOUSAND PESOS (P5,000.00) on April 23-May 7, 2015 from 8:00-5:00 p.m.

6.

Pre-Bid Conference is scheduled on May 7, 2015, 2:00 p.m. at the Conference Room, 3rd floor, Municipal Hall.

7.

All bids should be place on the BID BOX located at the CONFERENCE ROOM, 3/F, MUNICIPAL HALL, PATEROS, METRO MANILA on May 21, 2015, 1:30p.m. All bids must be accompanied by a bid security in the form of CASH OR MANAGER’S CHECK PAYABLE TO : MUNICIPALITY OF PATEROS and in the amount stated in ITB Clause.

Bids will be opened in the presence of the bidders’ representatives who choose to attend at the address below. Late bids shall not be accepted. Bids shall be opened on May 21, 2015 @ 2:00P.M.. at the Conference Room, 3/F, Municipal Hall, Pateros, Metro Manila.

8.

The MUNICIPALITY OF PATEROS THRU BIDS AND AWARDS COMMITTEE (BAC) reserves the right to accept or reject any bid, to annul the bidding process, and to reject all bids at any time prior to contract award, without thereby incurring any liability to the affected bidder or bidders.

9.

For further information, please refer to: ARLENE P. ORTIZ Head, BAC Secretariat Pateros, Metro Manila Telefax: 641-7195 e-mail: arlene@pateros.gov.ph, April 22, 2015 ______________________________ (sgd) ADELIO T. DOMINGO Chairman Bids and Awards Committee

( T S - M AY 4 , 2 0 15 )

CYAN MAGENTA YELLOW BLACK M O N DAY : M AY 4 , 2 0 1 5

A16

RIERA U. MALL ARI EDITOR

REUEL VIDAL A S S I S TA N T E D I T O R

sports@thestandard.com.ph

SPORTS

48-0

Floyd Mayweather Jr. flashes the no. 1 sign as he celebrates his unanimous decision victory over Filipino ring icon Manny Pacquiao after their welterweight unification championship bout at MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada. AFP

CLIPPERS SEND SPURS PACKING TURN TO A12 CYAN MAGENTA YELLOW BLACK

LAS VEGAS—Floyd Mayweather danced his way to a unanimous decision over frustrated Manny Pacquiao here Saturday to win the richest fight in history and cement his place in the pantheon of boxing greats.

Boos rang out from a proPacquiao Las Vegas crowd as Mayweather’s emphatic victory was confirmed by all three scorecards after 12 rounds of cat and mouse action.

Mayweather comfortably outboxed his Filipino rival to snuff out any chance of the fullblooded slugfest that the more aggressive Pacquiao was hoping to ignite.

The win extended Mayweather’s remarkable 19-year unbeaten record to 48-0, putting him within one fight of equalling Rocky Marciano’s legendary milestone of 49-0.

The 38-year-old Mayweather retained his World Boxing Council and World Boxing Association welterweight titles and seized Pacquiao’s World Boxing Organization belt by winning the fight on all three of the judges’ scorecards.

“He’s a very awkward fighter, so I had to take my time and watch him close,” Mayweather said. “All 47 fights before I got to this fight played a major role in my career.

“Manny Pacquiao is a true champion and we both did our best tonight. When the history books are written, this fight will have been worth the wait.”

The fight is widely believed to be the most lucrative in boxing history with revenues of $400 million.

- Judges emphatic Ringside judge Dave Moretti scored the bout 118-110 for Mayweather, while judges Glenn Feldman and Bert Clements both scored it 116-112 for the American.

But when the results were announced the pro-Pacquiao crowd booed lustily and tried to drown out Mayweather’s postfight comments over the public address system.

Their Filipino star Pacquiao suffered the sixth loss of his career to go with 57 victories and two draws.

There is no denying that the 36-year-old Pacquiao made Mayweather work for the victory and hit the American with some Turn to A15 thundering lefts.

IRANIANS SECURE TOP SPOT IN U-23 TILT TURN TO A14

CYAN MAGENTA YELLOW BLACK

B1

MONDAY: MAY 4, 2015

RAY S. EÑANO EDITOR

RODERICK T. DELA CRUZ ASSISTANT EDITOR

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

BUSINESS

PBCom in Divisoria.

Philippine Bank of Communications recently inaugurated its Divisoria, Manila location. PBCom said the opening of the M. De Santos– Divisoria branch was in line with the bank’s efforts to expand distribution network across the country to bring banking services to new markets.

Shown during the inauguration of the branch are (from left) PBCom director Ralph Nubla Jr., central Metro region head Annabel Lee, M. De Santos – Divisoria branch manager Alice Yu, guests of honor Francis Lee and Renato Gamboa, executive committee chairman Lucio Co, acting president Henry Uy and guest of honor Charles Dy.

PSe comPoSite index Closing April 30, 2015

8500 8000 7500 7000 6500 6000

7,714.82 110.65

PeSo-dollar rate

Closing APRIL 30, 2015 46

P44.520

45

CLOSE

44 43 42

HIGH P44.400 LOW P44.600 AVERAGE P44.518 VOLUME 547.400M

P508.00-P728.00 LPG/11-kg tank P38.40-P52.05 Unleaded Gasoline P26.90-P43.80 Diesel

oPriceS il P today

P35.40-P39.15 Kerosene P23.70-P24.40 Auto LPG

By Darwin G. Amojelar

CONGLOMERATE San Miguel Corp. said it expects to complete a bigger airport in Caticlan, Malay, Aklan next year to accommodate the growing number of tourists in the resort island of Boracay.

SMC said the extension of the runway of Godofredo P. Ramos Airport, also known as the Boracay airport, from 950 meters to 1,800 meters was expected to be completed in 2016, which would enable the airport to accommodate larger aircraft such as Airbus 320.

The diversified conglomerate also said the completion and

construction of a new and bigger passenger terminal was needed to accommodate a projected increase in tourist arrivals.

“Improvements will also allow for night landing, which will further help boost tourism,” SMC said.

Caticlan airport, the seventh busiest in the country, is one of the two gateways to Boracay, the

other being Kalibo airport.

Data showed that visitor arrivals in Boracay Island reached 1.47 million in 2014, including 682,832 foreign tourists and 745,266 domestic visitors.

SMC, through a 99.77-percent interest of San Miguel Holdings Corp., in Trans Aire Development Holdings Corp., is undertaking the expansion of Boracay airport under a 25year build-rehabilitate-operatetransfer concession granted by the Transportation Department.

TADHC holds the exclusive rights, obligations and privileges to finance, design, construct, operate and maintain the airport by virtue of a concession agreement with the

Transportation Department and the Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines.

Aside from Boracay airport, the infrastructure arm of San Miguel also owns the Tarlac-PangasinanLa Union Expressway. It expects to complete the last section from Urdaneta to Rosario by end-2015.

The 14-km stretch from Carmen to Urdaneta was opened to the public in December 2014 while the first section from Tarlac to Gerona was opened in October 2013. The 49-km stretch from Gerona to Carmen became fully operational in April 2014.

San Miguel is also building Skyway Stage 3, the Ninoy Aquino International Expressway and the proposed Metro Rail Transit Line 7.

Gaming operations add value to PH property

Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas Thursday, April 30, 2015

F oreign e xchange r ate Currency

Unit

US Dollar

Peso

United States

Dollar

1.000000

44.2500

Japan

Yen

0.008400

0.3717

UK

Pound

1.543600

68.3043

Hong Kong

Dollar

0.129034

5.7098

Switzerland

Franc

1.064283

47.0945

Canada

Dollar

0.832085

36.8198

Singapore

Dollar

0.757002

Australia

Dollar

0.805412

35.6395

Bahrain

Dinar

2.652379

117.3678

Saudi Arabia

Rial

0.266681

11.8006

Brunei

Dollar

0.754148

33.3710

Indonesia

Rupiah

0.000077

0.0034

Thailand

Baht

0.030441

1.3470

UAE

Dirham

0.272257

12.0474

Euro

Euro

1.111700

49.1927

Korea

Won

0.000938

0.0415

China

Yuan

0.161298

7.1374

India

Rupee

0.015785

0.6985

Malaysia

Ringgit

0.281057

12.4368

New Zealand

Dollar

0.772320

34.1752

Taiwan

Dollar

0.032916

33.4973

1.4565 Source: PDS Bridge

B3

SMC: Bigger Boracay airport ready in 2016

By Othel V. Campos THE Philippine gaming industry is adding value to the country’s real estate sector, as big companies are investing in entertainment and tourism.

CBRE Philippines noted that the recent stream of big gaming companies opening up large-scale operations in the Philippines had lured many big time rollers and gaming enthusiasts from across the world.

“We are bullish on the growth of the real estate-gaming sector especially when private and public

PSE clears bond market merger

CYAN MAGENTA YELLOW BLACK

entities focus on developments and implementations that will favor investors. If the performance of the sector continues on an uptrend, the Philippines can even rival Macau,” said company chairman and founder Rick Santos.

Real estate for gaming is currently the “sunshine market” in the industry, he said.

The consultancy firm said the strong macroeconomic fundamentals of the country and the recent boost in the purchasing power of the market hade encouraged multinational

B4

companies to invest in different real estate businesses, including office, residential, retail, industrial, commercial and recently, gaming.

With several casinos coming online soon, the gaming industry in the Philippines is expected to flourish.

According to a report by Fitch Ratings entitled “Eye in the Sky Series: Philippines,” the new gaming complex or Entertainment City of Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corp. would drive the growth of the sector.

Strong revenues are expected

Dong Feng seeks market niche

B6

in 2015 through other licensed players, including Travellers International Hotel Group, Bloombery Resorts Corp., Melco Crown (Philippines) Resorts Corp. and Tiger Resorts. Industry analysts expect double-digit revenues as all of the licensed casino operators begin their business.

The new gaming attractions will help the country draw tourists from frequently visiting neighboring cities like Macau, whose casino operators are currently experiencing a slump in revenues.

SLTC readies P7.3-b bond sale

MONDAY: MAY 4, 2015

B2

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

MST BuSineSS Weekly STockS RevieW STOCKS

APRIL 27-30, 2015 Close Volume

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

MEDCO Holdings Metrobank Natl Reinsurance Corp.

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

8.21 70.1 109.00 101.30 45.7 2.50 2.09 10.18 15 22.1 7.50 0.78 1.66 770.00 0.490 93 0.97 18.26 31.50 77.45 93.95 316 45.7 168 1420.00 66.00 3.05

Aboitiz Power Corp.

Agrinurture Inc. Alliance Tuna Intl Inc. Alsons Cons.

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

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

Lafarge Rep Liberty Flour LMG Chemicals Mabuhay Vinyl Corp.

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

Pepsi-Cola Products Phil.

Petron Corporation Phil H2O Phinma Corporation Phoenix Petroleum Phils.

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

Splash Corporation Swift Foods, Inc. TKC Steel Corp.

Trans-Asia Oil Universal Robina Victorias Milling Vitarich Corp.

Vivant Corp.

Vulcan Ind’l.

42.95 1.65 1.09 2.06 11.38 48.4 90.00 19.1 150 27.9 63.3 2.43 1.86 13.12 20.000 11.58 8.10 9.85 1.88 15.6 28.1 92.8 14.10 0.4250 13.84 6.33 0.590 199.00 10.12 32.10 2.6 2.51 51.95 24.75 28 7.790 260.40 3.92 4.35 9.85 5 11.50 3.96 2.32 2.42 5.15 1.91 6.5 195.9 4.54 1.72 0.169 1.30 2.20 217.8 4.5 0.65 20.80 1.38

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

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

Lodestar Invt. Holdg.Corp.

Mabuhay Holdings `A’ Metro Pacific Inv. Corp.

Minerales Industrias Corp.

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

0.470 56.65 25.40 1.28 7.06 1.56 0.275 0.29 780 8.21 15.00 3.15 3.79 4.45 0.285 1256 6.12 71.50 6.37 8.64 0.77 14.9 0.67 4.53 5.2 0.0410 1.410 1.010 68.50 2.81 900.50 1.22 0.90 310.00 99.50 0.3800 0.2250

Value

Close

FINANCIAL 4,645,387.00 5,543,082.00 2,951,966,875.00 846,631,227.00 14,320,505.00 166,450.00 868,020.00 24,590.00 718,566.00 27,498,215.00 452,827 39,000 237,160.00 2,639,250.00 2,015,260.00 2,596,791,111.00 16,590.00 850,132.00 1,958,105.00 54,195,257.00 2,849,483.00 2,276,634.00 27,860,675.00 367,836,896.00 2,191,210.00 5,898,387.00 8,845,000.00 INDUSTRIAL 14,893,100 641,941,885.00 67,000 105,680.00 12,417,000 13,250,680.00 3,512,000 7,206,160.00 54,300 617,482.00 200 10,335.00 1,130 98,995.00 540,200 10,440,444.00 2,280 379,030.00 1,046,900 29,671,380.00 1,312,280 83,285,091.00 212,722,000 560,723,460.00 3,959,000 7,354,310.00 491,100 6,599,058.00 24,982,900 514,685,212.00 3,428,300 39,213,864.00 92,121,500 747,949,079.00 3,634,000 35,599,644.00 194,000 373,340.00 1,239,300 19,295,878.00 12,746,300 359,538,640.00 604,970 56,189,015.00 27,400 393,390.00 600,000 256,600.00 23,900 332,624.00 857,700 5,392,266.00 101,000 59,610.00 9,617,110 1,949,654,330.00 2,200,100 23,052,436.00 6,000 192,970.00 76,000 200,640.00 20,000 50,330.00 11,620 592,966.00 15,397,500 375,232,650.00 3,643,800 99,152,480.00 3,245,500 25,342,935.00 1,476,970 388,920,856.00 233,000 916,680.00 23,749,000 98,788,770.00 6,683,600 64,872,472.00 126,000 651,360.00 82,500 946,688.00 887,000 3,494,180.00 2,614,000 6,179,060.00 12,345,000 32,053,890.00 915,000 4,696,167.00 849,000 1,589,660.00 1,200 7,784.00 24,880 4,881,746.00 217,000 947,440.00 3,918,000 6,833,320.00 5,670,000 954,070.00 3,000 3,900.00 3,843,000 8,460,620.00 8,846,360 1,922,687,892.00 18,000 82,050.00 1,647,000 1,072,110.00 6,900 143,590.00 1,300,000 1,819,110.00 HOLDING FIRMS 220,000 102,650.00 7,625,290 437,823,920.00 56,213,900 1,467,226,225.00 97,000 124,820.00 261,700 1,878,135.00 208,000 338,130.00 7,570,000 2,106,050.00 2,210,000 625,400.00 2,661,410 2,102,355,540.00 5,331,700 44,034,185.00 30,416,900 448,196,488.00 80,000 253,910.00 21,000 72,770.00 60,000 263,700.00 3,430,000 983,400.00 1,170,925 1,505,581,255.00 323,400 1,979,708.00 8,965,670 642,061,500.00 320,500 1,768,247.00 14,800,400 129,552,123.00 5,727,000 4,378,490.00 17,724,100 269,645,228.00 152,000 101,070.00 118,875,000 551,606,710.00 960,500 5,401,297.00 5,400,000 211,900.00 147,000 223,630.00 33,611,000 36,621,110.00 1,232,550 83,978,622.00 35,000 98,760.00 1,903,960 1,742,817,690.00 145,000 172,100.00 37,000 32,940.00 910 279,840.00 23,160 2,302,695.00 17,640,000 6,915,800.00 7,580,000 1,703,560.00

570,300 78,470 26,544,290 8,277,510 312,500 67,000 417,000 2,500 48,100 1,660,600 59,800 50,000 137,000 3,370 3,964,000 30,501,700 17,000 46,700 63,500 698,790 30,720 7,160 601,400 2,216,510 1,550 88,910 2,900,000

APRIL 20-24, 2015 Volume Value

8.2 71 117.50 104.80 46 2.53 2.09

3,171,200 42,490 19,291,000 7,868,420 611,500 1,075,000 514,000

23,970,997.00 3,006,713.00 2,236,828,174.00 824,483,260.00 28,177,700.00 2,660,690.00 1,087,940.00

14.98 22.2 7.99

2,551,900 3,542,900 193,000

36,292,252.00 78,400,965.00 1,467,634

1.66 775.00 0.510 97.2 1 18.22 30.80 78.00 95.05 320 46.85 164.5 1400.00 68.00 3.04

16,000 2,070 10,100,000 22,893,730 646,000 107,300 14,100 900,560 4,960 21,840 501,000 4,153,720 545 72,650 36,000

27,200.00 1,617,710.00 4,663,100.00 2,222,316,552.00 649,700.00 1,958,678.00 434,000.00 69,902,282.00 468,634.00 7,168,102.00 23,407,095.00 672,204,739.00 761,490.00 5,007,718.00 110,100.00

43.5 1.51 1.08 2.04 11.1

19,304,700 497,000 6,222,000 5,515,000 90,000

954,869,490.00 840,080.00 6,771,430.00 11,161,410.00 1,006,584.00

87.00 19.02 175 30.7 63.7

200 760,800 740 2,040,200 860,810

17,966.00 14,088,224.00 128,682.00 69,641,000.00 53,832,416.00

1.75 13.92 20.400 11.44 8.06 9.50 2 16.72 28.55 94 14.50 0.4400 14.00 6.1 0.580 211.00 10.16 36.40 2.79 2.5 53.90 24.2 26.1 7.710 265.00 4.19 4.1 9.50 4.4 11.96 4.00 2.42 2.6 5.08 1.85 6.4 200 4.3 1.7 0.166 1.24 2.25 219.4 4.5 0.67 21.00 1.42

663,000 1,819,100 33,562,400 14,823,200 136,046,400 1,880,200 1,889,000 2,491,000 25,884,200 633,620 1,300 910,000 65,100 966,100 104,000 3,949,010 3,646,900 5,900 95,000 45,000 1,670 25,486,800 1,694,300 1,253,100 1,025,190 75,200 1,218,000 11,654,400 10,004 100,400 1,352,000 2,380,000 18,881,000 3,107,200 140,360,000 43,200 197,370 170,000 1,303,800 7,980,000 25,000 11,047,000 11,810,090 217,000 4,980,000 1,200 117,000

1,149,030.00 24,704,782.00 1,541,301,048.00 169,186,968.00 1,072,310,697.00 17,883,419.00 3,862,080.00 43,479,068.00 722,880,735.00 58,953,468.00 19,200.00 399,950.00 912,584.00 5,832,478.00 61,340.00 837,431,600.00 36,258,361.00 209,065.00 243,550.00 113,960.00 87,376.00 625,660,590.00 42,794,770.00 9,546,338.00 271,301,070.00 337,860.00 4,985,500.00 111,963,695.00 46,000.00 1,189,652.00 5,415,210.00 5,700,640.00 51,449,770.00 15,573,115.00 239,186,740.00 277,670.00 30,753,374.00 818,170.00 4,655,180.00 1,321,600.00 32,410.00 23,661,060.00 2,575,873,602.00 978,750.00 3,264,770.00 25,220.00 167,300.00

0.470 58.00 26.20 1.35 7.12 1.62 0.27 0.27 795 8.2 14.60 3.01 3.83 4.40 0.295 1338 6.12 72.65

1,635,000 4,986,350 44,811,600 65,000 176,100 71,000 2,350,000 520,000 2,545,900 10,091,100 72,933,400 49,000 28,000 285,000 12,970,000 1,434,550 26,100 10,885,320

775,800.00 287,039,604.00 1,119,525,720.00 87,750.00 1,248,583.00 112,580.00 625,750.00 141,050.00 1,979,533,340.00 82,053,913.00 1,056,237,574.00 147,490.00 97,330.00 1,236,090.00 3,711,800.00 1,822,463,485.00 159,740.00 780,525,067.00

8.76 0.79 15.28 0.67 4.7 5.05 0.0400 1.680 0.930 68.00 2.92 930.00 1.20 0.89

5,261,100 8,360,000 28,606,800 536,000 138,202,000 450,300 9,100,000 424,000 70,549,000 1,937,260 70,000 1,363,040 264,001 299,000

41,414,196.00 6,724,620.00 438,811,092.00 346,030.00 655,883,230.00 2,271,375.00 362,300.00 641,590.00 64,561,690.00 133,334,981.00 204,410.00 1,246,630,680.00 324,050.00 258,100.00

100.00 0.3800 0.2210

33,180 24,770,000 9,740,000

3,317,753.00 9,533,950.00 2,155,140.00

STOCKS

APRIL 27-30, 2015 Close Volume

Zeus Holdings

0.310

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

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

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

Megaworld Prop.

MRC Allied Ind. Phil. Estates Corp.

Phil. Realty `A’ Primex Corp.

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

8.700 8.51 0.80 1.290 0.250 38.65 4.17 5.2 6 0.91 1.20 1.04 0.156 0.455 0.880 0.195 1.39 1.90 1.47 5.3 5.29 0.121 0.3400 0.5100 7 29.95 1.76 3.25 18.66 0.76 7 0.990 7.500

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

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

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

Manila Broadcasting Manila Bulletin Manila Jockey Melco Crown MG Holdings NOW Corp.

Pacific Online Sys. Corp.

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

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

Yehey

6.4 61.2 1.06 0.680 14 27 11.20 0.1000 5.06 85 10.36 1.7 7.17 932 2182 6.29 1.44 110 6.61 12.38 0.013 0.243 1.2600 2.6 9.40 2.07 1.29 2.15 13.50 0.660 2 9.08 0.370 0.480 18.38 4.50 3 9.49 114.00 14.72 2770.00 0.610 1.630 39.70 87.00 10.40 0.65 1.98 6.75 0.350 1.360

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

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

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

TA Petroleum United Paragon

0.0051 2.60 8.00 14.98 0.260 7.0000 6.8000 1.02 0.88 7.79 1.88 0.350 0.230 0.238 0.0140 0.0150 4.26 22.75 3.8 0.7200 2.080 0.0130 0.0130 4.55 6.95 1.87 0.015 165.50 4.21 0.0100

ABS-CBN Holdings Corp.

Ayala Corp. Pref ‘B1’ Ayala Corp. Pref ‘B2’ First Gen F First Gen G GLOBE PREF P GMA Holdings Inc. Leisure & Resort Pref.

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

62.1 521 522 120 119 511 6.03 1.09 113.5 1150 1095 1044 75.95 83.95 86 2.2

Leisure & Resort Warr.

4.220

Double Dragon Makati Fin. Corp.

Ripple E-Business Intl Xurpas

8.8 8 77.7 9.2

First Metro ETF

126

550,000

Value

171,800.00 PROPERTY 6,182,400 54,540,175.00 500 4,255.00 2,817,000 2,255,170.00 375,000 488,960.00 1,670,000 413,530.00 56,824,600 2,228,576,430.00 8,406,000 34,707,230.00 214,700 1,123,905.00 500 3,000.00 13,611,980 5,542,010.00 258,000 312,810.00 124,500 170,360.00 15,680,000 2,419,050.00 2,840,000 1,305,150.00 579,000 509,820.00 6,830,000 1,243,550.00 6,471,000 9,032,810.00 62,441,000 114,985,890.00 3,269,000 4,635,300.00 149,762,500 788,583,179.00 43,744,700 231,887,303.00 2,450,000 299,440.00 1,750,000 587,450.00 767,000 398,510.00 929,700 6,511,362.00 15,522,300 465,435,345.00 540,000 950,800.00 262,000 844,370.00 140,209,700 2,701,729,722.00 3,119,000 2,392,610.00 374,200 2,604,572.00 2,562,000 2,573,580.00 35,788,500 271,831,315.00 SERVICES 820,300 5,359,872.00 79,920 4,889,076.00 282,000 308,660.00 4,066,000 2,789,040.00 4,411,800 57,366,288.00 1,700 45,895 37,107,000 303,217,466.00 787,910,000 14,039,680.00 31,561,000 154,334,070.00 2,164,530 184,412,590.00 26,100 264,996.00 222,000 406,620 796,900 5,688,427.00 4,800 4,442,110.00 304,135 677,360,940.00 541,200 3,328,663.00 1,240,000 1,751,660.00 5,022,790 550,218,133.00 500 3,375 11,900 142,752.00 88,500,000 1,208,700.00 53,680,000 13,872,090.00 1,111,000 1,388,660.00 78,000 197,690.00 5,820,500 53,192,575.00 23,000 46,200.00 250,000 320,690.00 169,000 352,810.00 78,500 595,326.00 414,000 275,770.00 524,000 1,048,000.00 28,110,100 253,510,918.00 1,172,000 468,100.00 250,000 116,650.00 22,100 406,678.00 104,000 469,030 4,000 12,060.00 100 949.00 134,120 14,905,964.00 328,500 4,824,328.00 802,890 2,282,842,680.00 6,287,000 3,874,310.00 96,594,000 152,896,570.00 9,723,800 391,742,985.00 4,556,560 394,546,801.00 13,331,200 140,244,930.00 4,278,000 2,852,090.00 83,000 147,070.00 10,598,600 70,953,247.00 220,000 75,000.00 26,000 33,770.00 MINING & OIL 1,801,000,000 9,491,500.00 115,000 302,370.00 886,000 7,143,040.00 6,100 80,002.00 780,000 200,450.00 27,400 188,320.00 25,000 171,650.00 3,434,000 3,491,930.00 2,131,000 1,881,340.00 95,000 753,859.00 95,945,000 191,084,770.00 15,500,000 5,598,850.00 38,210,000 8,826,430.00 2,110,000 500,570.00 170,500,000 2,429,700.00 137,300,000 2,049,500.00 1,718,000 7,591,430.00 34,220,600 788,184,250.00 9,127,000 34,904,380.00 1,254,000 897,180.00 1,360,000 2,841,170.00 81,000,000 1,011,300.00 29,300,000 380,900.00 1,112,000 5,105,040.00 3,080,100 21,606,501.00 7,468,000 14,413,610.00 115,200,000 1,736,200.00 3,205,310 535,007,935.00 584,000 2,506,490.00 49,600,000 518,000.00 PREFERRED 700,450 43,193,687.00 11,560 5,961,030.00 16,010 8,354,460 1,500 180,500.00 65,900 7,886,050.00 19,750 10,102,355.00 54,506 345,331.00 903,000 975,780 88,130 9,798,860.00 2,890 3,333,640.00 1,000 1,095,000.00 4,695 4,907,795.00 338,670 25,743,614.00 12,100 1,006,141.00 299,040 25,794,250.00 4,000 8,400.00 WARRANTS & BONDS 9,408,000 41,111,030.00 SME 14,239,500 131,868,057.00 29,976 189,271.00 3,110 233,308.00 9,631,600 87,989,497.00 EXCHANGE TRADED FUNDS 3,931,890 39,827,972.00

Close

APRIL 20-24, 2015 Volume Value

0.320

1,190,000

372,850.00

8.900 10.68 0.82 1.300 0.265 39.60 4.03 5.23 6.49 0.92 1.22 1.04 0.158 0.460 0.900 0.182 1.39 1.86 1.40 5.5 5.3 0.122 0.3450 0.5200 7 29.90 1.76 3.20 19.84 0.77 7.24 1.040 7.590

12,395,000 48,000 3,820,000 634,000 2,770,000 59,451,800 13,690,700 589,600 1,500 23,951,000 759,000 390,000 94,220,000 12,060,000 371,000 1,200,000 10,132,000 176,668,000 5,080,000 161,709,900 22,872,400 11,880,000 3,460,000 2,337,000 1,983,500 19,592,300 1,257,000 328,000 164,467,300 5,180,000 696,900 1,110,000 51,914,800

109,174,287.00 468,781.00 3,170,490.00 819,850.00 694,350.00 2,355,385,165.00 58,923,150.00 3,050,724.00 9,735.00 22,021,630.00 981,510.00 403,370.00 14,658,230.00 5,632,650.00 326,500.00 230,990.00 14,176,780.00 321,257,680.00 7,142,380.00 878,231,623.00 121,936,865.00 1,454,110.00 1,161,350.00 1,125,430.00 14,057,183.00 582,773,970.00 2,204,740.00 1,056,430.00 3,201,490,390.00 4,066,920.00 4,882,008.00 1,129,330.00 402,421,182.00

6.77 60.9 1.08 0.680 13.96

1,338,000 119,450 1,185,000 5,443,000 44,700

9,174,187.00 7,284,688.00 1,281,960.00 3,694,520.00 561,882.00

11.60 0.1050 4.5 81.95 10.18 1.7 6.95 995 2262 6.25 1.47 110 7.90 11.9 0.013 0.260 1.2600 2.54 8.85 2.02 1.29 2.29 4.00 0.660 2.05 9.27 0.370

72,881,100 343,580,000 10,065,000 2,256,589 9,300 7,000 310,900 5,420 359,715 1,539,000 2,318,000 10,276,240 9,300 52,200 739,400,000 115,100,000 1,201,000 971,000 2,831,700 43,000 578,000 1,783,000 2,000 1,585,000 914,000 16,781,900 1,010,000

827,321,324.00 37,190,330.00 40,001,050.00 184,512,241.00 94,674.00 12,000 2,171,804.00 5,239,530.00 789,934,310.00 9,681,169.00 3,322,890.00 1,098,984,988.00 73,470 623,862.00 9,070,100.00 28,473,670.00 1,519,670.00 2,505,540.00 24,447,675.00 86,570.00 790,090.00 4,047,630.00 8,600.00 1,045,310.00 1,820,760.00 160,639,533.00 365,250.00

18.44 4.50 3.01 9.01 113.00 14.70 2900.00 0.620 1.570 40.10 86.95 10.70 0.68 1.98 6.84 0.350 1.440

18,700 84,000 31,000 500 804,900 1,009,100 525,140 27,573,000 138,917,000 12,603,100 5,729,770 43,250,200 1,841,200 59,000 6,873,500 2,260,000 246,000

344,140.00 377,960 93,830.00 4,505.00 90,146,100.00 14,696,616.00 1,520,482,050.00 16,819,770.00 218,179,680.00 496,268,405.00 486,414,027.00 449,099,349.00 6,639,598.00 109,750.00 45,802,607.00 766,750.00 320,940.00

0.0056 2.66 8.12 15.98 0.255 7.0000 6.8000 1.04 0.89 8.01 2.05 0.380 0.235 0.243 0.0150 0.0150 4.25 20.8 3.7 0.7200 2.080 0.0130

850,000,000 45,000 2,035,100 65,500 690,000 436,100 48,400 2,376,000 5,194,000 145,200 229,175,000 12,010,000 24,110,000 2,030,000 169,300,000 248,400,000 4,056,000 15,734,900 4,910,000 620,000 2,070,000 17,000,000

4,685,300.00 119,700.00 16,402,777.00 951,348.00 175,950.00 3,072,060.00 334,307.00 2,499,690.00 4,614,820.00 1,165,884.00 463,986,270.00 4,500,300.00 5,570,650.00 485,580.00 2,413,000.00 3,674,000.00 16,998,350.00 316,965,140.00 18,566,580.00 449,150.00 4,339,330.00 204,600.00

5.20 7.3 1.96 0.016 166.00 4.64 0.0100

886,500 11,237,000 3,389,000 241,400,000 2,535,680 1,971,000 73,400,000

4,703,660.00 81,013,465.00 6,749,530.00 3,634,200.00 412,500,196.00 8,713,580.00 767,600.00

60.7 510.5 522 120 119 510.5 6.1 1.09 110 1139 1095 1045 75.95 83 85.5 1.96

963,360 16,750 16,640 45,190 143,390 27,180 138,300 477,000 71,680 200 6,000 15,240 662,700 86,510 156,680 1,000

59,901,148.00 8,677,495.00 8,668,110 5,382,893.00 16,935,309.00 14,048,690.00 854,541.00 510,830 7,955,670.00 220,400.00 6,594,800.00 15,919,915.00 50,424,369.00 7,048,080.00 13,375,695.00 1,960.00

3.900

850,000

3,310,360.00

8.95 8.49 73 9.15

5,942,500 160,300 9,610 15,141,700

53,104,389.00 1,278,942.00 694,958.00 125,427,743.00

128.8

117,500

15,047,014.00

MST WEEKLY MOST TRADED STOCKS

Abra Mining Boulevard Holdings Crown Asia Manila Mining `A’ Megaworld Corp.

SM Prime Holdings Manila Mining `B’ Metro Pacific Inv. Corp.

Philodrill Corp. `A’ Premium Leisure

VOLUME 1,801,000,000 787,910,000 212,722,000 170,500,000 149,762,500 140,209,700 137,300,000 118,875,000 115,200,000 96,594,000

STOCKS Banco de Oro Unibank Inc. SM Prime Holdings Metrobank PLDT Common Ayala Land `B’ Ayala Corp `A’ Jollibee Foods Corp.

Universal Robina SM Investments Inc. GT Capital

VALUE 2,951,966,875.00 2,701,729,722.00 2,596,791,111.00 2,282,842,680.00 2,228,576,430.00 2,102,355,540.00 1,949,654,330.00 1,922,687,892.00 1,742,817,690.00 1,505,581,255.00

MONDAY: MAY 4, 2015

B3

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

PSE clears bond market merger Technology Services, The Philippine America Life and General Insurance Co., Financial Executive Institute of the Philippines, Social Security System and Investment House Association of the Philippines.

Sicat said PDS shareholders would have until the middle of May to submit their reply to the offer, after which the PSE would commence the buyout process.

The PSE already owns a 20.89-percent stake in PDS and will need P1.8 billion to buy out all remaining shareholders of the bond market.

Sicat said once other shareholders of PDS agreed to the buyout offer, the PSE may tap a portion of over P1 billion of cash on hand and borrow from the debt market to fund the P2.25billion acquisition.

By Jenniffer B. Austria

Villar group going Ayala’s way THE Villar Group is following in the footsteps of conglomerate Ayala Corp. in developing hospitals and schools within mixed-use real estate developments.

But the group’s venture into these ancillary businesses within large estate developments will not be done through listed property firm Vista Land and Lifescapes Inc. “Vista Land will remain focused on housing development,” former senator and now Vista Land chairman Manuel Villar said in a recent chat with reporters.

Through its private holding company, the Villar group will put up a 150bed hospital to be called VitaMed and a primary school called Georgia School, within a huge real estate development in Daanghari, Muntinlupa City.

According to Villar, the group’s venture into hospital business is a logical expansion, as buyers are now looking for developments, complete with facilities, which aside from retail and commercial, now also include hospitals and schools.

“We are making it a complete development [Daanghari] for homeowners, from birth to death cycle,” Villar said in Filipino. Jenniffer B. Austria

Inekon back in MRT’s good graces

It looks like that Inekon, the Czech company mentioned by Ambassador Josef Rychtar as the subject of an alleged $30-million extortion try a couple of years ago, has patched things up with the Transportation Department.

A group led by Inekon emerged as the lowest bidder for the negotiated procurement for the six-month maintenance of the MRT Line 3 rolling stocks, depot equipment and signaling system on April 17, 2015, documents show. It was the second time the negotiation for the six-month contract was held, after the bids and awards committee disqualified the former lowest bidder—the joint venture of Schunk Bahn-und Industriatechnik GmbH and Comm Builders & Technology Philippines Corp. in the first round.

Sources said the Mosa-Inekon-Ekoba group submitted a bid of P120 million in the second round, lower than those submitted by SBI-CBT joint venture and Global Epcom Services, the existing MRT maintenance provider.

SBI-CBT, however, is protesting the alleged “ample time” granted to Inekon.

In a letter to DoTC assistant secretary and bids and awards committee chairman Camille Alcaraz on April 23, 2015, SBI-CBT questioned why the government negotiating team announced the “contemplated post-qualification” of MosaInekon-Ekoba, right after the opening of the documents on April 17.

This was despite the fact that Inekon said it would take them seven days to process authenticated documents from the consular office, which SBI-CBT said, was contrary to Republic Act No. 9184 or the Government Procurement Reform Act’s revised rules, which stated that the conduct of post-qualification should have taken place within three calendar days.

“The lapse of time from April 17 to April 23 [representing 7 calendar days] is clearly giving ample time to Mosa-Inekon to cure and/or improve their eligibility and technical documents,” SBI-CBT said. Roderick T. dela Cruz

Dy remains at the helm of Security Bank

The Dy family, the majority shareholders of Security Bank Corp., is still in control of the bank despite the recent accession to chairmanship of Alberto Villarosa, the former president and chief executive.

There were speculations the Dy family, led by former chairman and now chairman emeritus Frederick Dy, might lose control of the bank in the wake of the latest leadership changes in Security Bank.

“The Dys have been in control of the bank since the ‘90s. They will remain as such definitely,” A source told The Standard.

As an assurance of their sustained major presence in the bank, Dy said during the recent stockholders’ meeting in Makati City that they would continue their “strong commitment” to the bank.

“My personal and family’s commitment as dominant shareholders of Security Bank will continue,” Dy said. Dy had served as the bank’s chairman for the past 25 years, but opted not to seek reelection this year.

Succeeding Villarosa as president and chief executive is Alfonso Salcedo, who was recruited from the Bank of the Philippine Islands. Julito G. Rada

Private firm claims Payanig sa Pasig lot

A company lawyer has advised the SM Group, Ayala Land Inc., San Miguel Corp. and other companies that acquired bid documents for the 18.5-hectare property known as the “Payanig sa Pasig” to determine the real owner of the premium lot.

Dennis Manalo, legal counsel for Blemp Commercial Philippines Inc., said the interested bidders should check who really owns the property. “To put it in the simplest terms possible, the PCGG [Presidential Commission on Good Government] and the government can’t sell something that they do not own,” Manalo said in a statement. Blemp is a private company led by Richard Singson, who is related to former Ilocos Sur governor Luis Singson.

“Does the PCGG have the valid and original titles for the 18.5 hectares? No they do not, Blemp has them. Does the PCGG have duly executed deeds of absolute sale signed by the original owners? No they do not, Blemp has them.

Has the PCGG paid for any real property taxes of the property? No they have not, Blemp has,” Manalo said.

“Should publicly-listed companies like SM, Ayala, and SMC therefore be using at least P16.45 billion of their shareholders’ money to be led astray by the PCGG? I think not,” he said.

Manalo said after the Privatization Council ordered the PCGG to publish the invitation to bid for the Payanig property, Blemp filed graft charges against several government officials, including Finance Secretary Cesar Purisima, PCGG chairman Andres Bautista, Justice Secretary Leila de Lima and other members of the Privatization Council.

SHAREHOLDERS of the Philippine Stock Exchange over the weekend approved the acquisition of a majority interest in Philippine Dealing Holdings Corp., the operator of the local bond market, for P2.25 billion.

“We have received approval to go ahead with the PDS transaction. We are targeting three months to complete the process, so hopefully by end-July, we can close the deal, subject to Securities and Exchange Commission’s approval,” PSE president and chief executive Hans Sicat said in an interview, following the company’s annual stockholders meeting Saturday at Wack Wack Golf and Country Club in Mandaluyong City.

Cautious trading expected this week STOCKS are expected to trade sideways this week, as investors may opt to stay on the sidelines as they wait for the market to settle on a firmer plane.

F. Yap Securities investment analyst Jason Escartin said investors might remain cautious and bid for time before resuming trading activities after the stock index further dropped to 7,700-point level.

Escartin, however, said some investors might see the market’s recent decline as a good timing to buy. Positive first-quarter earnings of listed firms could also boost trading in the coming weeks, he said.

Among the companies slated to release first-quarter results this week are SM Prime Holdings Inc., SM Investments Corp. and Philippine Long Distance Telephone Co. Immediate support is seen at 7,650 at 7,700 and resistance at 7,800 to 7,850.

BDO Unibank Inc. chief investment strategist Jonathan Raveles said with the Philippine Stock Exchange index at 7,714.82, this signaled further tests towards the 7,500 level.

“Any pullback, if any, is limited to the 7,800 to 7850 levels,” Ravelas said.

The PSEi last week declined 2.93 percent to 7,714.82 while the broader all-share index fell 2.07 percent to 4,453.

Except for the mining and oil index, which went up by 0.47 percent, all other major sub-indices were on downward path led by financial (-3.64 percent), property (-2.89 percent) and services (-2.39 percent).

Jenniffer B. Austria

Sicat said with PSE shareholders’ approval, the exchange sent the updated term sheet offer to all PDS stakeholders.

Among the PDS shareholders, Bankers Association of the Philippines, San Miguel Corp. and Golden Astra had already expressed willingness to sell their shares to PSE. Other major shareholders of PDS are Singapore Stock Exchange, Tata Consultancy Serves Asia, Computershare

TOYOTA FINANCIAL SERVICES PHILIPPINES CORPORATION TOYOTA FINANCIAL SERVICES PHILIPPINES CORPORATION 32nd Floor G. T. Tower International, Ayala Avenue corner H. V. dela Costa Street, 32nd Floor G. T. Tower International, Ayala Avenue corner H. V. dela Costa Street, Salcedo Village, Makati Salcedo Village, 12261226 Makati Cit y City

OFCO CONDITION STAT ESTATEMENT M E NT O F NDITION

A s o fAsMofa March r c h 31, 2 015 31, 2015

ASSETS

ASSETS

Due from Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas Due from Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas Deposit in Banks Deposit in Banks GS Purchased Under Reverse Repurchase Agreement with BSP GS Purchased Under Reverse Repurchase Agreement with GS Purchased Under RRA Sold Under Resale Agreement GS Purchased Under Loans and Receivables (Net)RR A Sold Under Resale Agreement Loans and Rec eivables (Net) (Long-Term Portion of P27,553,881,193) Available-for-Sale (Net) (Long -Ter Securities m Por tion of P27,553,8 81,193) Real Estate for Sale/Lease (Net) Available -for- Sale Secur ities (Net) Real Property, Furniture, Fixtures and Equipment (Net) Real Estate for Sale/ Lease (Net) Real and Other Properties Acquired (Net) Real Proper t y, Fur niture, Fix tures, Fix tures and Equipment Other Assets (Net) Real and O ther Proper ties Ac quired (Net) TOTAL ASSETS

P BSP

P 6,086,246,756 6,086,246,756 5 85,85 585,854,260 4, 26 0 0 0 0 0 28,912,011,063 28,912,011,0 63 1,000,000

0 1,0 0 0,0 0 0 46,518,156 0 37,250,527 46,518,15 6 4,822,515,755 37, 40,491,396,518 250,527 P 4,82 2,515,755

(Net)

O ther Assets (Net)

TOTAL ASSETS LIABILITIES

P 4 0, 4 91,39 6,518

Bills Payable Ac cr ued Ta xesCAPITAL and O ther E xpenses ACCOUNTS *O therStock Liabilites Capital

P 3 0,435,6 87,16 0 28 4,491,131 5,75 6,976 P 4,76 1,000,000,000

Bills Payable Accrued Taxes and Other Expenses LI ABILITIES *Other Liabilities TOTAL LIABILITIES

P

P

Deposit for Future Subscription TOTAL LI ABILITIES Retained Earnings

30,435,687,160 284,491,131 5,754,766,976 36,474,945,267

P 36, 474 ,92,316,451,251 4 700,000,000 5, 267

Sub - Total

CAPITAL ACCOUNTS

Less: Treasury Stock TOTAL CAPITAL ACCOUNTS

P

4,016,451,251

P

0 4,016,451,251

Capital Stock TOTAL LIABILITIES AND CAPITAL ACCOUNTS Deposit for Future Subscr iption Retained Ear nings

P

1,0 0 0,0 0 0,0 0 0 P 70 0,040,491,396,518 0 0,0 0 0 2,316,451, 251

Sub - Total Less: Treasur y Stock

P

4,016,451, 251 0

*Of which P998,900,214 represents UnSDs eligible as Lower Tier 2 capital.

COMMITMENT AND OTHER CONTINGENT ACCOUNTS

TOTA L CA PITA L ACCOUNTS

P

Other Contingent Accounts

P P 40,491,39 6,518

TOTA L LIA BILITIES A ND CA PITA L ACCOUNTS Note:

4,016,451, 251

1. Held for Trading Securities comprise of Government Securities of P0 and Equity Securities - Common

*O f which P9 9 8,9of0P0 0, 214 represents UnSDs eligible as Lower Tier 2 c apital.

Shares O ther

2. Non-performing loans and ratio to total loan portfolio: P 872,862,331 ; 2.94% 3. Classified loans and other risk assets: P 1,785,718,225 COMMITMENT AND OTHER CONTINGENT ACCOUNTS 4. General loan loss reserve: P96,224,814 Contingent Acloss c ounts P 5. Specific loan reserve: P638,894,204 6. Return on equity (ROE): 17.70% 7. DOSRI loans/advances and ratio to total loan portfolio: None 8. Past due DOSRI loans/advances and ratio to total portfolio: None

0

Note: 1. Held for Trading Secur ities c ompr ise of G over nment Secur ities of P0 and Equit y Secur ities - Common Shares of P0 2. Non - per for ming loans and ratio to total loan por t folio: P872,8 62,331; 2.9 4% 3. OF Classif ied loans and other r isk assets: P1,785,718, 2 25 REPUBLIC THE PHILIPPINES) 4. General loan loss reser ve: P9 6, 224,814 5. Specif ic loan loss reser ve: P63 8,89 4, 20 4 We, Ma. Theresa J. Ilao, Comptroller / Vice-President and Atsushi Murakami, President 6.

Retur n on equit y (ROE) 17.70% of the above-mentioned NBQB, do solemnly swear that all matters set forth in the statement 7.

DOSRI loans/advanc es ofand to total loan por t folio; None of condition are true and correct to the best our ratio knowledge and belief.

8. Past due DOSRI loans/advanc es and ratio to total por t folio: None (Sgd.) MA.PHILIPPINES) THERESA J. ILAO REPUBLIC OF THE

(Sgd.) ATSUSHI MURAKAMI President

Comptroller/Vice-President

We, Ma. Theresa J. Ilao, Comptroller / Vic e - President and Atsushi Murakami, President of the aboved - mentioned BQthis B, 20th do solemnly swear thatexhibiting all mat ters set for th SUBSCRIBED AND SWORN to beforeNme day of April 2015, affiants in thetheir statement of c ondition are tr ueissued and atc or rectand to Passport the bestNo. of TG8260436 our knowledge and belief. to me Driver's License No. N2602004505 Manila issued at Japan.

(Sgd.) M A . THERESA J. IL AO Comptroller/ Vic e - President

(Sgd.) ATSUSHI MUR AK AMI President (Sgd.) ATTY. XERXES E. CORTEL Commission No. M-96 Notary Public for Makati City

SUBSCRIBED A ND SWORN to before me this 20 th day of A pr il 31, 2015, Until December 2015 af f iants Doc. No. 10F Cityland Condominium 10 Tower exhibiting to me their Dr iver ’s Lic ense No. N26 020 0Suite 45051015, issued at Manila and Passpor t Page No. Ayala Ave. cor.

H.V. dela Costa Street, Makati City No. TG826 0 43 6 issued at Japan.

Book No. Series of

(Sgd.)

Doc. No. Page No. Book No. Ser ies of

Roll No.40927/04-12-96 PTR No. 4233382; 01-08-14; Makati City IBP No. 945968; 12-13-13; Nueva Ecija AT T Y. XER XESCompliance E . CORTEL MCLE No. IV-0008487 Issued Commission No. M -on9 6October 11, 2012

Notar y Public for Makati Cit y Until Dec ember 31, 2015 Suite 1015, 10 F Cit yland Condominium 10 Tower Ayala Ave. c or. H.V. Dela Costa Street, Makati Cit y Roll No. 40 927/0 4 -12- 9 6 PTR No. 42333 82; 01- 0 8 -14; Makati Cit y IBP No. 9 459 6 8; 12-13 -13; Nueva Ecija MCLE Complianc e No. IV- 0 0 0 8 487 Issued on October 11, 2012

0

B4

BUSINESS

Top awardee.

OceanaGold (Philippines) Inc. won the coveted ‘Mother Nature’ Award, the top of the awards handed out by the Pollution Control Association of the Philippines Inc. at its 35th National Convention and General Assembly held in Baguio recently. OceanaGold was also adjudged 1st Runner-Up ‘Environmental Success Story’ Awardee for its implementation of the water treatment plant. Shown at the award presentation (from left) are Mother Nature chairperson for committee on awards Gretchen Fontejon-Enarle, Benjamin Gregorio, OceanaGold senior mettalurgist Jenny Panti, OceanaGold general manager David Way, OceanaGold environment manager Jason Magdaong, regional director Maria Dorica Hipe and Picapi president Jeremiah Dwight Sebastian and PCAPI Board Members.

Dong Feng seeks market niche

By Othel V. Campos

DONG Feng Motor Distributors Inc. Philippines Inc., the local distributor of Dongfeng Motor Company Ltd. of China, wants to create a niche market for industrial vehicles in the Philippines.

Part-owner Francis Chua said the China-based company aimed to expand the market for mining and dump trucks in the Philippines.

“There is more future [in the Philippines] when it comes to [selling] dump trucks and mining equipment. I believe this is the opportunity for Chinese cars,” he said.

“I don’t think it will be wise

if we try to match up with the Japanese when it comes to sedan and other segments. When it comes to passenger cars, you have to give it to the Japanese.

We don’t want to compete with that,” he added.

Dong Feng Motor has also brought passenger cars and light commercial vehicles into the Philipines.

Chua said the company was

NTC ignores petitions for analog TV services

By Darwin G. Amojelar THE National Telecommunications Commission will no longer accept applications for analog television services as the country prepares for its migration into digital terrestial TV. The regulator said petitions for new authorization to install and operate new analog TV broadcast stations would not be accepted in view of the effectivity of Memorandum Circular No. 07-12-2014, or the implementing rules and regulations for digital TV, adopting Japan’s ISDB-T. The NTC and the Information and Communications Technology Office were finalizing the migration plan for the DTT service.

The migration plan will address the policy, regulatory and technical issues as well as fiscal considerations for the country’s migration to digital TV broadcasting, including the date for the planned analog shut-off, after which no analog TV will be allowed to operate.

The NTC had said the country could shut off analog TV service by 2020.

Earlier, ABS-CBN Corp., GMA Networks Inc. TV5 Network Inc. and Radio Philippine Networks submitted applications before the NTC to convert their networks into DTT from analog.

still assessing the possibility of setting up local assembly in the Philippines pending the release of a new set of incentives as provided for in the proposed Comprehensive Automotive Resurgence.

He said China planned to set up an assembly plant in Southeast Asia with the Philippines as one of the preferred sites.

Dong Feng is the second of the five biggest automobile manufacturers in China. It produces light commercial vehicles, Dongfeng Cummins engine parts, mini vans, pick-up, special purpose series vehicles, trucks, buses, tractors, dump trucks and passenger cars.

It also serves the car part needs of other automobile brands, in-

cluding Japanese car makers.

Dong Feng in 2012 produced 3.2 million vehicles of various makes and models.

By the end of 2011, Dongfeng’s total assets amounted to RMB 232 billion yuan and an employment of 160,000.

It sold over 3 million vehicles in 2011, achieving a sales revenue of RMB390.4 billion yuan.

Dongfeng Motor Co. in 2012 ranked 142 in the Fortune Global Top 500, 16 among top 500 Chinese enterprises and third among top 500 Chinese manufacturers.

Sales in 2012 reached 3.2 million vehicles of various makes and models.

The company was China’s top auto maker in the medium/

heavy duty commercial vehicle and medium duty bus segment and the second biggest in light duty commercial vehicle and SUV segment in 2010.

The company is looking forward to becoming the top automobile maker in China.

Dong Feng Motor in 2014 said it would pursue an aggressive major dealership nationwide to position itself amid the reconstruction activities in the typhoon-ravaged provinces of Samar and Leyte.

“We’re expecting a load of infrastructures with all these devastation in Tacloban, Ormoc and other areas destroyed by Typhoon Yolanda. So we’re putting up a lot of local dealership all over the country,” said Chua.

NGCP upgrading Pagbilao substation

By Alena Mae S. Flores NATIONAL Grid Corporation of the Philippines has sought approval of the P3.628-billion Pagbilao EHV substation project with the anticipated construction of four new power plants with a combined capacity of 2,720 megawatts in Quezon province this year.

National Grid filed an application with the Energy Regulatory Commission to upgrade the existing transmission facility at the Tayabas substation to accommodate the additional power generation capacity in Quezon.

“Thus, NGCP proposed the implementation of the proposed project in order to accom-

modate the incoming power plants,” it said.

National Grid identified the four new power plants as the 420MW Pagbilao coal-fired expansion, 500 MW from San Buenventara Power Ltd. Co. station, the 400-MW combined cycle of Energy World Corp. and the 1,200-MW facility in Atimonan.

National Grid said two major power plants in Quez0n province were connected to the existing Tayabas 500/230 kV substation of the Luzon Grid, namely the 735-MW Pagbilao and the 500-MW station of Quezon Power Philippines Ltd. Co. “Considering the growing need for power supply in Luzon, additional generation is highly

essential. However, the readiness of the grid to accommodate the significantly huge capacity from the incoming power plants is extremely necessary,” it said.

National Grid said the project would address the overloading of the line due to the entry of the power plants.

“Thus, NGCP proposes the implementation of the proposed Pagbilao EHV substation project to accommodate the entry of new power plants in the Luzon grid,” it said.

National Grid said pre-construction activities were needed to be undertaken this year in order to meet the target completion of the proposed projects in 2018.

M O N D AY : M AY 4 , 2 0 1 5

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

B5

Electric vehicles attract lenders MANY financing companies are now joining the bandwagon in financing electric vehicles, the latest trend in public transport in the country, the Electric Vehicle Association of the Philippines said over the weekend.

EVAP executive Director Bodie Pulido said banks and financing institutions such as BPI Bangko and the Development Bank of the Philippines had both launched their financing programs to fund EVs. BPI Bangko successfully financed electric tricycles in Boracay Island.

DBP, meanwhile, has been offering a special Green Vehicles loan to facilitate electric vehicle projects.

Pulido said a new bank, Luzon Development Bank, also announced it would extend financing for EVs. “With EVAP validating that there are now very credible and reliable EV manufacturers in the Philippines among its membership, financing was determined as the only remaining missing piece of the puzzle,” Pulido said in a statement.

He said EVAP was confident e-vehicle deployment would gain more momentum nationwide as more financial institutions were heeding the call for bankrolling a more modern and eco-friendly mode of public transport.

EVAP president Rommel Juan earlier said the access to financing would spur e-vehicle development.

“We need funders, financing people or angel investors to come in and tie up with credible and reliable EV players to finally catapult the EV industry into the mainstream and achieve economies of scale,” he said.

“With over 40,000 taxis, 370,000 jeepneys and 3,500,000 tricycles being used in the Philippines, there is definitely space for green eco-friendly mobility in the country,” Juan said.

Alena Mae S. Flores

Laguna Water cited. Laguna Water Co. Inc., a unit Manila Water Co. Inc., received its first gold recognition from the 50th Anvil Awards for its ‘Tubig Para sa Barangay ‘program that aims to improve the quality of life of poor communities in Laguna by providing access to basic water services. Laguna Water, which provides water services for Biñan, Sta. Rosa, and Cabuyao, is a joint venture between the provincial government of Laguna and Manila Water Philippine Ventures, a Manila Water subsidiary. Laguna Governor Ramil Hernandez (eighth from left), Laguna Water president Virgilio Rivera, Jr. (ninth from left) and Laguna Water general manager Melvin John Tan (10th from left) receive the award, along with with provincial administrator Dulce H. Rebanal (fifth from left), chief of staff Vince Soriano (sixth from left), Calamba Councilor Ruth MarianoHernandez (seventh from left), and representatives from Laguna Water.

PNOC, British firm eye depot

By Alena Mae S. Flores

PNOC Exploration Corp., the oil and gas unit of state-owned Philippine National Oil Co., is in talks with British Petroleum for a joint venture to establish a depot in the Philippines.

PNOC Exploration president Pedro Aquino Jr. said the proposed project would help government’s efforts toward energy security an give additional revenues to the company.

British Petroleum of the UK is a multinational oil and gas company producing fuel, pertrochemical products and lubricants.

“We are looking for a tie-up with British Petroleum for the establishment of depot facilities in the country,” Aquino said. He did not disclose details.

PNOC Exploration in 2011

bared plans to put up a strategic oil reserve depot that will import oil and sell it to the smaller players at lower cost to shield consumers from price volatilities in the international market. The plan did not push through.

Aquino said PNOC Exploration, which recently celebrated the company’s 39th anniversary, was “currently experiencing some hiccups in our operations brought about by the sharp decline in the prices of crude.”

Aquino however, said lower

pricesw would not deter the company from pursuing its mandate to explore and develop new oil and gas sources.

“However, we have to make certain that we continue to grow and to fund all our existing and future projects. Management is trying its best to alleviate the effects of crude oil price in our declining revenue by looking at other sources that could bring substantial income to the company,” he said.

The official said PNOC Exploration planned to increase international oil and gas trading by appointing partners to petroleum products in countries that favor a government-togovernment transaction to help increase revenues.

Aquino said the company also planned to expand business tieups with Nigeria, China, Oman

and Russia to market their products in the Philippines and other countries.

“Lastly, we are looking at investing into small producing wells in Indonesia that will make us an oil producer no matter how small the production capacity is.

We are hopeful that all our efforts will provide us the additional revenues and impetus necessary to boost income this year and the succeeding years,” Aquino said, PNOC approved an P8.039billion budget this year, with the bulk to be spent for petroleum exploration.

PNOC Exploration is allocating around P4.560 billion for oil and gas exploration and P2.436 billion on the Malampaya natural gas project in northwest Palawan. PNOC Exploration owns a 10-percent stake in the Malampaya project.

Slower credit rise not a worry—BSP

By Julito G. Rada

One-stop shop. Subic Bay International Terminal Corp., a unit of International Container Terminal Services Inc., in partnership with the Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority and the Bureau of Customs, recently opened a one-stop shop to speed up documentary transactions at New Container Terminals 1 and 2 in Cubi Point, Subic. Cabinet Secretary Rene Almendras (fourth from left) leads the launching of the OSS, along with SBMA chairman and administrator Roberto Garcia (third from left) and SBITC general manager Roberto Locsin (fifth from left.

With him are (from left) Tony Ramos, SBITC head of finance and administration; Marcelino Sanqui, SBMA seaport and airport senior deputy administrator; and Nolito Manuel, SBMA seaport marketing head.

SLOWER growth in domestic liquidity and bank lending is not a thing to worry about because other drivers of economic expansion remain strong, Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas Deputy Governor Diwa Guinigundo said over the weekend.

“We don’t have yet our latest readings. But off hand, M3 [domestic liquidity] and credit growths continue to be consistent with resilient economic growth,” Guinigundo said in an e-mailed statement.

“Foreign direct investments continue to be generally strong. Remittances and BPO [business process outsourcing] revenues remain a mainstay of the growth equation with expected performance of at

least 5 percent and 15 percent growth, respectively.

Our growth momentum has also been sustained with strong consumption expenditure,” Guinigundo said.

Domestic liquidity growth had been declining after the Bangko Sentral instituted reforms in its special deposit account facility in 2013 in a bid to push out the funds parked in the SDA and have them instead to more productive economic activities.

The Bangko Sentral prohibited the access of investment management accounts to the facility since January 2014.

The operational adjustments in the SDA were completed in November 2013. M3 growth peaked to 35.3 percent around March 2014.

Guinigundo said with the strengths in FDI, remittances, and BPO revenues, the government’s GDP growth target of 7 percent to 8 percent this year could be achieved.

“We share the government’s target of 7-8 percent real GDP growth for 2015,” Guinigundo said.

Latest data from the Bangko Sentral last week showed money supply in the financial system grew 9.4 percent in March to P7.689 trillion from P7.029 trillion a year ago due largely to sustained demand for credit in the domestic economy.

The March expansion was higher than the 8.5-percent growth a month ago, when money supply stood at P7.53 trillion from P6.94 trillion a year ago.

MONDAY: MAY 4, 2015

B6

BUSINESS business@manilastandardtoday.com extrastory2000@gmail.com

SLTC readies P7.3-b bond sale The 9/11 of the financial world FROM my perspective, Enron happened at around BERNARD the same time as the 9/11 attacks in MALIBIRAN the United States of America. I was in fourth year college then, and perhaps did not realize the significance of Enron. Enron was much in the news at that time, but was still somehow overshadowed by the events of 9/11 and the build-up to the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq. However, much in the same way that 9/11 significantly changed the world, so did Enron.

Bringing much upheaval 9/11 changed the way we travel, the way we looked at terrorism and the way we looked at national security. Airlines were made to install resilient cockpit doors. Airport security is now significantly stricter. Security forces are always on the lookout for terrorists. But in the financial world, Enron also brought much upheaval.

Financial reporting is now much more stringent and detailed. Before Enron, financial statements were much simpler compared to today. Enron pushed the passage of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act in the United States of America, which was followed by many other countries. It brought sweeping reforms to the financial industry, much in the same way 9/11 brought sweeping reforms to the airline industry. In the Philippines, the Securities and Exchange Commission adopted and mandated many of the changes in the international financial reporting standards, particularly relating to investments in subsidiaries and associates as well as related party disclosures (SEC Memorandum Circular No. 10, Series of 2002).

Propelling the trend Moreover, Enron propelled the trend on good corporate governance.

In the past decade or so, both the public and private sectors laid emphasis on good corporate governance. In the Philippines, for example, the SEC mandated publicly listed companies in 2002 to adopt a manual on corporate governance (SEC Memorandum Circular No. 2, Series of 2002). The SEC likewise implemented the self-rating system on corporate governance (SEC Memorandum Circular No. 5, Series of 2003), followed more recently by the annual corporate governance report (SEC Memorandum Circular No. 5, Series of 2013).

Non-profit organizations such as the Institute of Corporate Directors became more prominent in implementing the corporate governance scorecard system for publicly listed companies. In 2012, the Association of Southeast Asian Nations Capital Markets Forum developed the Asean corporate governance scorecard.

Preventing catastrophe These initiatives by both the public and private sectors were aimed at improving corporate governance, especially among publicly listed companies.

The lessons of Enron were hard learned, and in a concerted effort, the public and private sectors wanted to prevent a similar catastrophe.

Why publicly listed companies in particular? The reason is clear—publicly listed companies are most vulnerable to stock manipulation and fraud.

Publicly listed companies obtain funds from the general public, and use these funds for some profitable venture. Investors hope or expect some return on their investment. These investors include small time investors, pension funds, education funds, and essentially a whole plethora of investors, many of whom are not giant financial institutions with an army of financial analysts. These funds must therefore be guarded, lest a situation like in the case of Enron happens where pension funds were wiped out.

The push for good corporate governance is a way to prevent Enron from happening again. It is, among others, a self-policing method, where, based on a company’s corporate governance score, an investor can decide whether he or she wants to risk investing his or her money in a company. If corporate governance had been available and practiced before the collapse of Enron, perhaps not too many people would have invested in Enron.

Changing the financial world Yet, Enron happened, and it changed the financial world, much like 9/11 changed the world. But did Enron have to happen? Are the corporate governance scorecards really necessary? Perhaps they are, since there will always be people out there with malicious intentions. But, also perhaps, with the proper education and training, business ethics could be instilled in financial leaders, such that they would not commit these, although legal but nevertheless, fraudulent acts. One of the perpetrators of Enron, Jeffrey Skilling, was a graduate of one of the top, if not the top, business schools in the world. Was this business school lacking in business ethics education?

To many, business ethics as a class may seem superfluous and unnecessary because ethics is ideally inherent in everyone, as a natural law. People were not born to kill or steal. Yet, we all know and learned, sometimes in very hard ways, that the world is full of tests and challenges from people with devious minds, many times from very smart yet unethical devious business minds.

There will be terrorist-minds willing to commit a 9/11 or Enron. But perhaps, with the proper education and mindset, we can prevent the development of these “terrorist-minds”. Hence, business ethics must definitely be taught in every business school, as ethics may not come as naturally to everyone as we had thought or hoped for.

Green LiGht

The author is an MBA student at the Ramon V. del Rosario College of Business, De La Salle University. This article is part of his reflections for the course Lasallian Business Leadership with CSR and Ethics. Visit his blog at http://bongnard-dlsu.blogspot.com/.

The views expressed above are the author’s and do not necessarily reflect the official position of De La Salle University, its faculty, and its administrators.

By Jenniffer B. Austria

THE proposed P7.3-billion bond offering of South Luzon Tollway Corp., the operator of South Luzon Expressway, has received strong demand from institutional investors, according to one the underwriters arranging the deal.

BDO Capital and Investments Corp. president Eduardo Francisco said the proposed bonds were already more than two-times oversubscribed, because of strong demand from institutional investors.

The company, however, is still waiting for regulatory approval before it could start offering and selling the bonds.

Francisco said the company aimed to issue the bonds this month. Proceeds from the SLTC bonds, with tenors of five, seven and ten years, will be used partially to prepay the company’s outstanding debt.

SLTC borrowed P11 billion from various financial institutions in 2012, through the issu-

ance of floating-rate corporate notes. To date, the corporate notes have an outstanding balance of P7.95 billion.

The bonds will be listed with the Philippine Dealing & Exchange Corp.

The toll road operator earlier hired BDO Capital, PNB Capital and Standard Chartered Bank as the joint issue managers, joint lead underwriters and book runners for the bond offering.

The company is 80-percent owned

by San Miguel Corp.-led MTD Manila Expressways Inc. and 20 percent by government-run Philippine National Construction Corp.

SLTC is primarily engaged in the construction, expansion and rehabilitation of SLEX from Ala-

bang viaduct to Lucena. It is has a 30-year concession to operate, manage and maintain SLEX, ending February 2036.

SLTC said it planned to extend the reach of SLEX by completing the construction of toll road 4, a new 57.6-kilometer four-leaf toll road from Sto. Tomas, Batangas to Lucena, Quezon. This will extend the total length of SLEX to 96.5 kilometers.

TR4, which is estimated to cost P12 billion, is slated for completion by 2019.

SLTC reported a net income of P2.43 billion in 2014, a 16-percent increase from 2.09 billion in 2013 while revenues from toll operations amounted to P4.4 billion, up 5 percent from P4.19 billion in 2013.

San Miguel through its whollyowned subsidiary San Miguel Holdings Corp. acquired in 2012 a 46.53 Aurum Inc., a company which has obtained 80 percent stake in SLTC. SLEx, which is one the major expressways in Metro Manila, has a daily passenger traffic of about 120,000 vehicles, while Skyway has a daily traffic of 180,000 cars.

Labor policy.

Labor Secretary Rosalinda Dimapilis-Baldoz (third from left) explains the pilot implementation review of the new labor laws compliance system during a news conference held recently at the Blas F. Ople Hall, DOLE Building in Intramuros, Manila. With Baldoz are (from left) Federation of Free Workers national president Jose Sonny Matula, assistant secretary Gloria Tango, Foreign Buyers Association of the Philippines president Robert Young, undersecretary Rebecca Chato and US Embassy deputy political counselor Matthew Cenzer.

MGB assumes task of mining validation

By Anna Leah E. Gonzales THE Mining Industry Coordinating Council has transferred to the Mines and Geosciences Bureau the task of validating applications for mining area expansion, because of the former’s lack of technical capability.

MGB said validating applications for area expansion was a role given to the MICC through the technical working group on environmental protection and legislation pursuant to the Environment Department’s Administrative Order No. 2014-06 dated July 21, 2014.

“Said DAO was issued in consideration of the need to alleviate the plight of existing operating mines that require the expansion of their existing contract areas to sustain their operations, on the condition that the mines concerned are operating and have

the available mineral resources and reserves,” MGB said.

MGB said available mineral reserves should also be subject to validation by the MICC through its TWG-EPL. “Recognizing the limitations of the MICC TWGEPL due to lack of technical capability among others, the Department of Finance, represented by Secretary Cesar Purisima, and the DENR, through Secretary Ramon Paje, signed Resolution No. 5, which resolved to transfer said function to the MGB Regional Office concerned,” MGB said.

MGB said the concerned regional office will conduct field verification while the MGB central office will approve the application, if warranted.

“With the said transfer, the validation process of the applications for expansion is expected to be expedited,” MGB said.

M O N D AY : M AY 4 , 2 0 1 5

WORLD

CESAR BARRIOQUINTO EDITOR

editorial@thestandard.com.ph

B7

Auction seen breaking records NEW

YORK—Christie’s auction house is hoping to set new world records with a Picasso valued at $140 million, and a Giacometti worth $130 million, as New York’s spring auction season kicks off Tuesday.

Bulgaria’s poor still struggling to survive BUHOVO, Bulgaria—She is a chemical engineer and he a painter turned security guard— the Koleshevs are the hidden face of the “working poor” in Bulgaria, the EU’s most impoverished country.

“Our salaries amount to about 950 leva (485 euros, $495) per month,” Katia Kolesheva, 49, tells AFP in the family’s one-bedroom flat in the town of Buhovo outside Sofia that they share with their 24-year-old son.

“When we pay the monthly installment on a loan and our bills, we are left with 200 to 220 leva for food. That’s all for the three of us.”

According to an EU-wide survey, 48 percent of Bulgaria’s 7.2 million people live in “material deprivation,” defined as being unable to afford things like adequate heating or meat every second day.

Seven to eight percent of these are so-called “working poor” like the Koleshevs, employed but struggling to make ends meet, with every unplanned expenditure potentially spelling disaster.

The family say they had to skip an installment on an 8,000-euro loan—taken out to buy their music student son a violin—in order to buy firewood last winter.

“Going on vacation is out of the question. In 26 years we have been on holiday twice,” Katia’s husband Mircho, 60, says. Going to the movies, the theater or a cafe is “unthinkable”.

The grey-haired man, a painter with a degree from the National Academy of Arts in Sofia, works as a night guard at the local community center, where he also teaches a children’s drawing course.

He and Katia often borrow coins from their son, who busks to make ends meet.

“The grocers here frown when they see me coming with the jar.

They are fed up with me already.

I go to the big supermarkets in Sofia where they can’t refuse the coins,” Mircho says. AFP

Going fishing.

An Emirati fisherman throws his net on alMirfa beach, outside Abu Dhabi, on May 2 during the al-Gharbia Watersports festival.

AFP

Delayed wedding. Nepalese couple Anita Thapa, 22, and Sagar KC, 24, attend their wedding, which was postponed after the 7.8-magnitude earthquake that struck the Himalayan nation on April 25, at the Mahadevisthan temple in Kathmandu on May 3. The death toll in Nepal from the devastating earthquake had risen to 7,040, an official from the National Emergency Operations Center said on May 3, 2015. AFP

Pablo Picasso’s colorful “The Women of Algiers (Version 0),” depicting a scene from a harem, will be up for grabs when Christie’s puts it on the auction block May 11.

The same goes for Alberto Giacometti’s bronze statue “Man Pointing,” of which there are only six casts in the world.

“Those two works can set a world record,” said Loic Gouzer, senior vice president of Christie’s.

“You don’t have another chance to get them.”

The painting and statue are the flagship works at the evening sale entitled “Looking Forward to the Past,” which will see 35 pieces of art created between 1902 and 2011 auctioned off.

The rising price of artwork at auctions is attributed to a growing number of wealthy, private investors around the world, experts say.

Giacometti’s nearly six-foot depiction of a wiry man holding up one hand and pointing with the other is the artist’s “most celebrated sculpture,” Gouzer said.

The Swiss sculptor’s masterpiece represents “when Giacometti became Giacometti, the ultimate work, the Holy Grail of sculpture.”

Meanwhile, Picasso’s nearly four-by-five-foot canvas is “a masterpiece at the level of ‘Guernica’ and ‘Les Demoiselles d’Avignon,’” Gouzer said.

“He painted several versions until he got this one,” he added.

Picasso created the painting in 1955, inspired by 19th-century French painter Eugene Delacroix, but as a homage to Henri Matisse, who died in November 1954.

The work is one of the last major paintings by the Spanish master in private collection.

The world record for a painting sold at auction is $142.4 million for Francis Bacon’s “Three Studies of Lucian Freud,” which was snapped up in New York in 2013.

And the record for priciest sculpture is already held by Giacometti, whose “Walking Man I” sold for $104.3 million in London in 2010.

Also up for grabs to the highest bidder will be a painting from Claude Monet’s “The House of Parliament” series, expected to bring in between $35 million and $45 million, and Mark Rothko’s 1958 “No 36, Black Stripe,” with an estimated value of $30-$50 million. AFP

Pressured, India’s students turn to cheating NEW DELHI—Fifteen-yearold schoolgirl Payali knew she was doing wrong when she scribbled mnemonics on her hands before entering one of India’s thousands of

examination rooms.

But like many other students, the pressure to pass her annual exams was too intense and so she used the memory prompts to cheat.

Failure would jeopardize her chances of climbing out of poverty which had long shackled her family.

“There’s too much to memorize and pressure from parents, teachers and even competition with friends,” said Payali, who did not want to use her last name, as she walked home from school in New Delhi.

“If you can’t handle it all, you fail,” Payali, now 17 and one year from graduation, told AFP. Using methods ranging from old-fashioned crib sheets to high-tech spy cameras, cheating is common in India, where government schools place an extraordinary emphasis on exams in all grades, according to experts.

Television footage last month showed dozens of relatives scaling school walls to try to

give information to students in northern Bihar, one of India’s poorest states.

Staff and police officers were seen ignoring relatives who passed cheat sheets through the windows of exam rooms.

The footage made international headlines, forcing embarrassed authorities to round up parents and issue them with fines, but education experts said they were unsurprised.

Cheating underscores the poor state of many of India’s schools, which are overcrowded and underfunded, their classrooms packed with children learning mostly by rote.

Arjun Dev, former head of a government body that plans and promotes schools, said an “endless overemphasis on memory-testing exams” has stubbed out creativity and logical reasoning. AFP

B8

M O N D AY : M AY 4 , 2 0 1 5

CESAR BARRIOQUINTO EDITOR

editorial@thestandard.com.ph

WORLD

Buddhist ritual.

NYPeople take part in the traditional “hi-watari” or fire-walking ritual at Shiofunekannonji temple in Ome City, Tokyo, on May 3. Hundreds of people followed Buddhist ascetics and participated in fire-walking to “purify the mind and body” and to pray for good health and safety. AFP

Foreigners among 51 seen in Nepal KATHMANDU—Police have found more than 50 bodies, including those of six foreigners, in Nepal’s popular Langtang trekking region following last weekend’s devastating earthquake, a senior local official said Sunday.

Another 100 foreign tourists are still feared to be missing in Langtang in the wake of the 7.8-magnitude-quake that struck on April 25 and claimed more than 7,000 lives.

Uddav Prasad Bhattarai, chief officer of Rasuwa district that forms part of Langtang, said the bodies had been found in different places, including buried under debris, in recent days in the region hit by a quake-triggered avalanche.

“We have pulled out 51 bodies from the Langtang area so far, six of them are tourists. We estimate that about 100 foreigners might still be missing in the area,” Bhattarai said.

“Our priority was to get the survivors out. We rescued over 350 people, about a half of them were tourists or guides,” he told AFP in Rasuwa north of Kathmandu.

“We believe we have rescued most of the survivors now. We will now bring down the dead bodies.” AFP

Pregnant pose. An

Emirati girl wearing a traditional outfit worn in her village by elderly women during the al-Gharbia Watersports festival poses near al-Mirfa beach, outside Abu Dhabi, on May 2. AFP

Rebels strangling Lebanon’s exports BAR ELIAS, Lebanon—

Lebanon’s land exports to Gulf markets have been choked off, leaving millions of dollars in goods stranded after the closure of a vital crossing on the SyrianJordanian border last month.

The Nasib border point was the last remaining gateway for Lebanese truck drivers transporting agricultural and industrial products to Iraq and Gulf countries.

After Syrian rebels seized Nasib on April 1, these exports came to an abrupt halt.

“Exports by land have stopped entirely,” said Ahmad Alam, whose company exports Lebanese fruit and vegetables to Arab countries.

Goods transported overland made up 35 per cent of all of Lebanon’s exports, economic analyst Nassib Ghobril told AFP. The customs authorities say Lebanese exports to Gulf Cooperation Council states in 2014 amounted to $920 million (821 million euros). Another $256 million was exported to Iraq.

But all those potential exports were now effectively stuck in Lebanon, he said.

“The Nasib crossing was the only way for Lebanese products to be exported by land. Since it closed, there are no more land crossings now,” Ghobril said.

Before the Syrian crisis erupted in 2011, Lebanese products traveled frequently through Lebanon’s neighbor,

then on to Iraq to the east or to Jordan and Saudi Arabia in the Gulf to the south.

The agriculture ministry says that agricultural products make up 6 per cent of GDP and 17 per cent of total exports.

As Syria’s war worsened, its border crossings with Iraq closed, leaving Lebanese truckers with only one option: Nasib.

Omar al-Ali, head of Lebanon’s Refrigerated Truckers Syndicate, told AFP that about 250 trucks would cross from Lebanon into Syria every day before the conflict.

That number dropped to 120 daily because of growing instability along Syria’s major highways, and with Nasib closed, just a few trucks destined for the shrinking Syrian market only leave Lebanon every day. AFP

Over 3,400 migrants rescued at sea ROME-More than 3,400 migrants were rescued at sea Saturday, mainly off Libya, as Europe seeks ways to deal with the flood of people trying to reach its shores following a series of deadly shipwrecks.

A total of 3,427 people were picked up during the operation coordinated by the Italian coast guard.

While they said it was a “very busy day”, it was not a record for the coast guard, which coordinated the rescue of 3,791 migrants on April 12 and another 2,850 the following day.

French patrol boat Commandant Birot, which was sent to boost EU patrols to deal with the influx of migrant boats in the

Mediterranean, picked up 217 people off the coast of Libya.

The migrants—all men—had been on board three boats, the authorities said, adding that two suspected people smugglers were also caught and would be handed over to Italian police.

In Italy, the coast guard announced late at night that 16 vessels had rescued a total of 3,427 people on Saturday alone in an operation coordinated from their headquarters in Rome.

In addition to the French patrol boat, the rescue operation mobilized four Italian coast guard ships, two Italian navy vessels, two cargo ships, two Italian customs ships and two tugs. AFP

M O N D AY : M AY 0 4 : 2 0 1 5

BAMBINA OLIVARES WISE EDITOR

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

LIFE

TRANSPORT

MEET MARIA PERDON UNITED AIRLINES IS BACK IN A BIG WAY

BY BING PAREL

U

nited Airlines never left, Maria Perdon wants to clarify that.

It’s a misperception that the airline “left” the country at some point but is now back.

“We never left,” she says, adding that UA has been in the country for over three decades but may have been “lost” when UA merged with Continental Airlines, creating one of the world’s largest airlines, offering the most comprehensive global network.

As the Philippines Country Manager of United Airlines, Maria Concepcion Perdon has her work cut out: to increase awareness of United’s presence in the Philippines and grow its four percent market share.

“Currently, the market is so busy with new carriers coming in and out, and it’s difficult to be heard,” she says, but expresses confidence avice it provides makes it the kind of airline that customers want to fly, the airline that employees want to work for and the airline shareholders want to invest in.

Named the 2014 “Airline of the Year” by Global Traveler, United takes pride in continually creating a more flyer-friendly experience for customers by expanding its global route network, introducing new products and tools that enhance the travel experience, and empowering employees to provide excellent service in airports and onboard the aircraft.

“One challenge that I see here may be too much capacity in the market to be able to bring up the yield which is critical in operating a profitable route,” she says. Being a price sensitive market, the Philippines is certainly challenging, but key indicators such as a fast growing economy and the rising popularity of the country as a tourist destination also makes it highly attractive.

Continued on C2

C1

M ONDAY : M AY 04 : 2015

C2

LIFE

BAMBINA OLIVARES WISE E D I TOR

glweekend @ gmail.com

MEET MARIA PERDON From C1

Born in Lipa, Batangas, the soft-spoken lady seems like the best man for the job, so to speak, armed as she is with two decades of experience in the aviation industry and a marketing and business administration degree that she obtained from the University of Guam. In fact, Maria began her career as an administrative assistant at Northwest Airlines while completing her undergraduate degree.

“Once I received my degree, I wanted to try something different so I left the airline industry and joined a telecommunication company as an account manager. That is where I learned how to hit the pavement and conduct cold calls, presentations and meetings.

But I missed the airline industry so I moved back to Northwest as cargo sales analyst. I kept trying to reinvent my job and seek out opportunities for growth, which led me to where I am now,” she discloses.

She moved to Continental in 1997 where she held varying positions in the pricing and revenue department, and prior to her current appointment, she was United’s Asia/Pacific senior manager for sales resources with Guam as her base. Asked if her appointment to the Philippines is like a homecoming, she gives a huge smile.

“Working at the headquarters where they talk about the market, being Filipino is a plus because there is more personal care to help United grow in the country where I am from,” she says.

With the job, she acknowleges, comes the opportunity to explore the country she never really got to know as a child, since her family moved to the US when she was only 10. Not that she’s biding her time: already she has been to Mt. Pinatubo, La Union, Coron and Busuanga.

Being in the aviation industry, she says, has made her “more patient, less judgmental, more appreciative of cultures.. You get exposed to different kinds of people, each one unique and kind of different. (When) you negotiate with them, you have to be sensitive to everybody.”

Integrity in business is a principle that she considers “non-negotiable,” which is why she is extremely proud to represent United Airlines knowing that she can stand behind her company. “United cares about quality and about people. We focus on our strengths and we listen to demand, we listen to our customers,” Maria stresses. To this end, United continues to make significant investments in its premium cabin service, and is the only US airline to offer premium-cabin flatbed seats on every long-haul to and from the Continental United States.

A lot of people however still have the perception that the aviation industry is male dominated not only when it comes to pilots but in the number of females in high-level management positions, but Maria asserts that there is no barrier for women to be promoted at United, as many who occupy leadership positions in the organization are female.

“That’s what’s good with working with a global company like United – you’re not locked into an area, and there is room to grow.”

Or in this case, a lot of space where she can soar.

An overview of The Mind Museum in Taguig

IN SCIENCE, INNOVATION STARTS FROM INSPIRATION

The Mind Museum keeps inspiration alive

S

cience, with its brainchild, technology, has shaped our lives like no other human endeavor has.

Every society is anchored on what science and technology has created and produced from the best and most creative minds throughout history – from Copernicus to Galileo to Newton to Einstein, from Babbage to Turing to Bill Gates or Steve Jobs. Whether we accept it or not, science and technology stands as a major backdrop of our all our lives.

The Mind Museum, located in Bonifacio Global City, is a living tribute to science and technology and how it has moved our understanding of ourselves, each other, and the world. Since it opened its doors in 2012, it has risen to become the country’s pioneer, world-class science museum dedicated to bringing science closer to the public, particularly the Filipino public who deserve the best, thru exhibits and experiences that show the relevance of science in everyday life.

With over 250 hands-on, minds-on interactive exhibits in an 8,000-square meter facility, this Museum was globally recognized in last year’s 20th Annual THEA Awards, dubbed as the “Oscars” of compelling places and experiences worldwide.

The award received cites that The Mind Museum “expands science into a fully experiential world,” and that “the thematic thread and artistic treatments throughout is what makes this project extraordinary by any standards”.

A panoramic shot of the Earth Gallery

This year, it celebrated another milestone when it hosted the 15th Asia Pacific Network of Science & Technology Centres (ASPAC) Conference last week.

ASPAC is an association of science centers, museums, exhibit design and fabrication organizations with a regional focus on the Asia Pacific region. Each year, experts, members and delegates mostly from Asia and the Pacific, with regular representatives from North America, and Europe gather and passionately share the trends in science museums and what more they could do to make more and more people shake hands with science around the world.

Previous stagings of the conference have been held in prominent science museums within the region, with those in the immediate past years in Science Centre Singapore, the National Science Museum of Korea in Daejeon, South Korea and Brunei’s Oil and Gas Discovery Centre.

“Now, eight years since we first attended an ASPAC Conference, and only three years since The Mind Museum opened to the public, we are now hosting the Annual Conference”, shared Maria Isabel Garcia, Curator of The Mind Museum.

This year’s conference theme, which was an inspirational science camp, everything from the keynote speeches to the parallel sessions and even evening socials were designed to truly inspire in participative ways.

Inspiration, after all, plays a key role in running science museums and this year saw the arrival of some of the most prominent

personalities to do just that: Presidential Medal of Science Recipient (US), Dr. Nancy C. Andreasen who is prominently known for her landmark works on neuroimaging and what happens in the creative brain, and the Senior Vice President and Creative Executive of Walt Disney Imagineering, Joe Rohde.

“For keynotes, we had a neuroscientist whose life work on the brain and creativity is phenomenal and the “Chief Imagineer” of Disney who will talk about the role of scientific learning in creating compelling places,” Garcia said.

The choice of the keynotes were meant to address the “inside” and the “outside” of inspiration. The “inside” being the brain which holds the creative mind and the “outside” as spectacular evidence of what inspiration can do in creating the most compelling and fascinating places which Disney is known for.

This event aimed to bring a new sense of inspiration amongst science center and museum workers, in order to help the community grow by learning from those outside the main museum circle and also to inspire non-traditional audiences and sources of support.

This is the vision that spurs the evolution of The Mind Museum that gives learning and understanding science a more compelling draw. As Ms. Garcia affirmed: “It is a big deal for science museums to get together every year to declare this with one voice: there is no single arena in life where science is a stranger. Whether we realize it or not, we are all friends with science.”

M ONDAY : M AY 04 : 2015

LIFE

BAMBINA OLIVARES WISE E D I TOR

glweekend @ gmail.com

C3

TECH

MEET HOLOLENS

BY ED BIADO

“Microsoft HoloLens is the first fully untethered, see-through holographic computer. It enables high-definition holograms to come to life in your world, seamlessly integrating with your physical places, spaces, and things. We call this experience mixed reality. Holograms mixed with your real world will unlock all-new ways to create, communicate, work, and play.”

This is how—in a nutshell—Microsoft describes its latest product.

The device, a wearable gear for the eyes, is pretty much the stuff that science fiction movies are made of. It doesn’t try to be discreet like the failed Google Glass project. Instead, it’s big, bold and incredibly unapologetic.

What can you do with HoloLens?

• People in the design fields can “go beyond the screen” and finetune their designs in holographic mode. Rendering can be a more interactive task because holograms provide a more realistic 3D perspective than anything on a flat screen.

• The device maps the physical environment, so you can integrate holograms with the surroundings as you would with actual tangible items. This allows you to “build” virtual gaming world like Minecraft right in your own living room.

• Creating something innovative and imaginative is easier because you can visualize how it would interact with the real world “whether it’s a new piece of furniture in your home, a toy for your kids, or a new creation for work.” With the 3D-printing-compatible HoloStudio, you can even make prototypes.

• Remote collaborations are taken one step further as a HoloLenspowered collaborator can virtually “transport” the project site to their own space thousands of miles away. Unlike sharing screens and real-time videos, the device allows for precise and interactive perspectives, which gives a new meaning to being hands-on.

Beyond these, HoloLens has the potential to do a lot of good. “The mixed reality of the HoloLens has the potential to revolutionize [medical] education by bringing 3D content into the real world... using holograms we can easily separate and focus in on individual systems,” says Mark Griswold of the Case Western Reserve University, as quoted by Wired.com.

Meanwhile, TIME thinks that the goggles can be helpful to those figuring out how to colonize Mars. “For example, instead of merely inspecting images of Martian rock from a distance via the [Mars Curiosity] rover, the HoloLens will enable [scientists] to crouch down and take a closer look at land formations, etc.”

The possibilities truly are virtually endless with holographic computing technology. And Microsoft believes that “developers, commercial organizations, designers, creators, and those seeking a whole new way to be entertained will find unique value in Microsoft HoloLens.”

Microsoft HoloLens

THE NEW TIE-APP

Uber and Zomato become global partners

Z

omato, the global restaurant search and discovery app, and Uber, the smartphone app that connects riders with drivers for on-demand transportation, have announced a partnership that will help both products provide the ultimate experience to their users across the globe. This partnership has been rolled out to Zomato users in 27 cities across 13 countries, namely – India, Australia, Canada, the United Kingdom, South Africa, Indonesia, New Zealand, the Philippines, Portugal, Qatar, Turkey, UAE, and the United States.

Zomato now brings the seamless Uber experience to the Zomato app, enabling users to book a ride to the restaurant in which they are planning to dine. The feature has already been made available to Zomato users in London and South Africa, and will now be rolled out to users in these other key markets.

“We’re constantly looking for ways to make every meal, for everyone, a great experience. This partnership makes eating out more convenient with the Zomato app connecting to Uber services seamlessly,” said Pankaj Chaddah, Co-Founder and Chief Operating Officer of Zomato.

Eric Alexander, head of Business, Asia, of Uber, adds, “We are delighted to be expanding the scope of our partnership with Zomato.

Across six continents, Uber allows riders to connect with their cities in new ways. Through this API integration, Zomato users in 13 countries will now be able to reach those hidden gems in their cities seamlessly and in style.”

Zomato’s partnership with Uber makes getting to restaurants – in style – incredibly easy.

Once a user has found their food destination using the Zomato app, a single tap on the Uber button on the restaurant page will allow one to find the nearest Uber. In addition to seeing the estimated fare and how long it will take for the Uber to arrive, one will also be able to choose the Uber service that best suits one’s needs.

HoloLens-powered augmented reality

STAND OUT AND SHINE WITH THE COOLEST PRIZES FROM SUN PREPAID’S SUMMER SIKAT PROMO

Virtually hands-on even when miles away

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M O N D AY : M AY 0 4 : 2 0 1 5

C4

LIFE

BAMBINA OLIVARES WISE EDITOR

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

FOR PARTY ANIMALS ONLY

DREAMING IN THE CITY...AGAIN

BOB ZOZOBRADO

After a very tiresome week at the office, I decided to treat myself to another special weekend and, since I wanted to try out something new, I checked in at the Hyatt City of Dreams. I was also curious to find out how the present-day Hyatt is, compared to that of “our era” when I was the Director of Sales of the former Hyatt Regency Manila, now the Midas Hotel.

The entrance to DreamPlay, as seen from my camera

DREAMPLAY 2

Since I was already at the City of Dreams, I thought it best to walk towards another corner of the 6.2 hectare integrated resort, to check out the newly opened DreamPlay, the world’s first family entertainment center from DreamWorks Animation. After braving the long queue of children and their parents, I felt like a child again as I lost myself in this 2400-square meter “fantasyland.”

DreamPlay is an integrated blend of live and digital play spaces, featuring DreamWorks’ beloved characters--Shrek, Kung Fu Panda, Madagascar and How to Train Your Dragon. It introduces education-based, interactive entertainment, encouraging children from 6 to 12 years old to learn through play. This one-of-a-kind family fun venue includes a 165-seater café; a store; and three themed party rooms. If you have children and you want to take their enjoyment quotient to a higher level, bring them to this fun, colorful destination, and you’ll be happy you did.

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Wall of Destiny entrance

HYATT CITY OF DREAMS By just walking through the main entrance of the hotel, I was already awed by its de luxe interiors and immediately realized it was foolish of me to want to compare the Hyatt of 40+ years ago, albeit belonging to the Hyatt Regency category, to this ultramodern structure, although just a Hyatt Hotel category, but with standards that are clearly many notches higher than what I had experienced before. What made the “welcome” even more impressive was the presence of my former student, Romer Garcia, who now works at the Front Desk of the hotel.

Hyatt City of Dreams Manila is one of more than 60 Hyatt Hotels worldwide. It has two gleaming towers and

was created by award-winning architects Asya Design, with interiors

by Arlen P. De Guzman Design Associates. Its 365 rooms have floor-toceiling windows, and are furnished in striped woods and shades of mustard, paprika and chocolate. The impressive marble bathrooms are equipped with twin vanities, a standalone tub and a walk-in shower. I also like the 47-inch LED HDTV fronting the beds and the non-allergenic feather pillows.

I was fortunate to have been assigned to a Club Room which gave me access to the Club Lounge on Level 7 of Tower II. This exclusive area offered personalized check-in and check-out, Continental Breakfast, Cocktails and

light snacks throughout the day, and hors d’oeuvres at sundown.

Since I stayed just for a night, and because of the complimentary food and beverage service at the Club Lounge, I did not have a chance to try out the hotel’s main dining area, the 24-hour Cafe, where chefs perform their cooking tricks for guests at different food stations. The hotel also has the Lounge, a stylish venue for drinks and light snacks, with tapas available in the evening.

With all these impressive facilities, modern equipment and exemplary service at hand, it certainly was a delightful weekend for me, as I look forward to doing it again sometime soon.

1 The cavernous Reception area with attractive light-bearing ornaments hanging from the ceiling 2 The swimming pools of the Hyatt, Nobu and the Crown, as seen from my room 3 The very comfortable beds with non-allergenic feather pillows 4 The southern part of the metropolis, from my window 5 My former student, Romer Garcia, now a Front Desk Receptionist at the hotel 6 They probably knew I am a chocolate lover, so they placed this on my bed 7 This standalone tub was so inviting, I just had to have my bubble bath 8 A huge pot of fresh orchids greets everyone at the hotel’s main entrance 9 The welcome amenities in my Club room

YOUR MONDAY CHUCKLE

:-D

The Furious Five Academy

Stairway to Heaven

PERSONALITY OF THE WEEK

A married couple are out one night at a dance club. There’s a guy on the dance floor giving it his all---breakdancing, moonwalking, back flips, the works.

The wife turns to her husband and proudly says, “See that guy? Twenty years ago, he proposed to me and I turned him down.” The husband says, “Looks like he’s still celebrating!”

Months later, the husband is reportedly still recuperating from broken bones.

Jonathan Badon

For feedback, I’m at bobzozobrad@gmail.com

The Pacific Asia Travel Association Business Assembly which I attended recently featured an interesting personality who entertained us with his signature songs while lunch was being served. Jonathan Badon is called Prince of Popera because he can easily switch his singing style from classic opera to pop and vice versa. No wonder he has wowed audiences whichever part of the world he stages his concert in.

Jonathan is a graduate of the University of the Philippines College of Music with a degree of Bachelor of Music in Voice.

He was so good at our event, we would have asked him for several encores if only we didn’t have a business agenda to tackle after lunch.

M O N D AY : M AY 0 4 : 2 0 1 5

SHOWBITZ

ISAH V. RED EDITOR

isahred @ gmail.com

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RocksTeddy members Teddy Corpuz (third from left) drummer,Jeff Cocullo (second from left), bassist Christian Sindico (extreme left) and lead guitarist Juven Pelingon

STEADY AS A ROCK

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ormerly known as Acoustic Faith, this band was founded in March 2003 by fellow church members and Christian rockers Teddy Corpuz and drummer Jeff Cucullo. Bassist Christian Sindico and lead guitarist Juven Pelingon later on followed and joined the group.

Rocksteddy became known for its spoken word element, which in turn became the group’s signature sound.

In 2006, Rocksteddy’s debut album Tsubtsatagilidakeyn was released and produced the hits “Gising Na,” “Deadma” and “Magpakailanman”.

The following year, the band came out with Patipatotpanabla, which included the songs “Break na Tayo”, “No Touch”, “Blue Jeans”, “Superhero”, and the Close-Up jingle, “Smile at Me”.

Then in 2008, Ayos Lang Ako was released bearing the songs “Skulin Bukulin”, “Boy Kulot”, “Leslie”, and “Ayos Lang Ako”.

Rocksteddy’s unique sound made them an ideal prospect for collaborations with several other OPM greats.

In 2006, the group was chosen to interpret APO Hiking Society’s original song “Blue Jeans” for the Kami NAPO Muna tribute album produced by Universal Records, which became a huge success. During the same year, Rocksteddy also became part of The Best Of Manila Sound: Hopia Mani Popcorn with the song “No Touch”.

And who can forget Rocksteddy’s “Superhero”, the theme song for the hit TV series Super Inggo? This anthem then became part of 60 Taon Ng Musika At Soap Opera and I-Star 15: The Best Of Alternative & Rock Songs both released by Star Music in 2010.

Fast forward to 2013, Rocksteddy released the EP entitled Instadramatic with the songs “Sama-sama”, “Drown”, and “Sa

Panaginip”. The album later on hit the Gold Record mark and was awarded the Gold Record Label.

Rocksteddy’s music was also recognized by the country’s most prestigious awardgiving body in the country. Its “Break Na Tayo” music video was nominated for Best Music Video of the Year in the 2008 Awit Awards, and more recently, its single “Drown” bagged a nomination for Best Performance by a Group in the 2014 Awit Awards.

The band’s acceptance by the Pinoy youth paved the way for several corporate projects and endorsements, including the long-running Ginuman Fest by Ginebra San Miguel, and a music marketing campaign for Unilever’s Close-Up. And being known for his comic relief, Teddy was also chosen to be one of the hosts of ABS-CBN’s top rating noontime show, It’s Showtime along with Vice Ganda, Anne Curtis, and Billy Crawford.

The group recently launched Thunder Katol with the song “Katol”.

Rocksteddy became known for its spoken word element, which in turn became the group’s signature sound

NICKELODEON KIDS CHOICE AWARDS 2015 IN MANILA

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Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles and Spongebob and Patrick are among the favorites of kids on the Nickelodeon channel

s Nickelodeon presented the Kids’ Choice Awards (KCAs) 2015 and stars hit the orange carpet at the Forum in Inglewood, California, kids in Manila were having their own slimey-riffic party going on—they were certainly not going to get left behind on the fun! The Resorts World Manila buzzed with excitement on March 30 as it filled with happy and energized kids, all set and ready for the KCA’s 2015 screening party.

The annual awards show that airs on the Nickelodeon cable channel highlights the best names in TV, movie, music, sports, and other categories, putting them in the slimelight; and the lucky kids who scored passes to this fantastic event in Manila got to watch the simultaneous broadcast on the big screen and received the V.I.N. or Very Important Nickster treatment, complete with free snacks a whole lot of fun.

Photo booths, fun games, awesome prizes pumped the kids up, taking the excitement level up a notch before the actual screening even begun. And when it was finally time to sit back and find out who would take home the famous orange blimp this year, the crowd, made up of energetic, young kids, could hardly contain the thrill of it all.

Hosted by Nick Jonas who serenaded the crowd at the beginning of the show, the KCAs 2015 was absolutely star-studded, featuring remarkable performances from Iggy Azalea and Jennifer Hudson and teen sensation 5 Seconds of Summer. A ridiculous number of celebrities also made a special appearance, much to the delight of the audience. Some of this year’s winners, as voted by Nickelodeon viewers, included Hunger Games star Liam Hemsworth, Emma Stone for

The Amazing Spiderman and Angelina Jolie who claimed Favorite Villain for Maleficent.

Our very own Teen King Daniel Padilla was nominated as Favorite Asian Act, and although he didn’t quite swipe the orange blimp, he did win the Slime-A-Star award, beating nominees from Brazil, the United Kingdom, Latin America, and New Zealand.

The Nickelodeon Kids’ Choice Awards 2015 Screening Party, presented by Toy Kingdom and co-sponsored by, Kinder Joy, Shopkins, and Swift Mighty Meaty Hotdog, Nickelodeon’s cable partner CignalTV and venue partner Resorts World Manila, was nothing less than epic, and kids couldn’t wait for next year’s slime season, coz if 2015 was any indication, they’re in for an even bigger treat in the years to come.

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SHOWBITZ

EDITOR

isahred @ gmail.com

VICE GANDA VALUES FRIENDSHIP

JOSEPH PETER GONZALES

Friendship is very important to Vice Ganda. This is the reason why he deeply values three of his closest pals in show business – Kris Aquino, Coco Martin, and Ai Ai delas Alas..

“Well, we’re doing a movie together,” he says of Martin. “Actually, we are co-producers for the project. I hope the public will support it as we are enjoying doing it for them.”

How does it feel working with the actor?

“Great! I’m very excited because it’s our first screen collaboration. It’s not every day that we get to team up for a movie considering the genres we’re associated with: he, in drama while I’m in comedy. So we really enjoy this rare opportunity.”

According to him, it’s different when you’re working with someone whom you consider your best friend.

“That’s true! I feel so comfortable with Coco! For those who don’t know yet, my friendship with him dates back to the times when the both of us were not yet in the ‘biz. Yes! That’s how long we’ve been close pals…”

What characteristic does he like best about him?

“It’s his sincerity. Actually, it’s viceversa. We are very sincere with each other. Friendship simply defines the two of us,” Vice says.

Meanwhile, there’s a persistent rumour that he has a misunderstanding with Kris because the latter allegedly got his original idea of coming up with a personalized shirt that can be seen on his official website.

“That’s not true! Actually, I just laughed when I heard the news. If I’m not mistaken, that rumour came about when I was on vacation for almost a month in the US. It’s really funny, you know?

“Just because of a shirt, our friendship will get affected? It’s so shallow! So to reiterate, it’s not true. For one, apart from Kris, I adore her son Bimby so much. Kris and I share almost everything so it’s just impossible! I hope I already cleared this one, okay!” Vice explains.

Vice Ganda values his friendship with Kris Aquino, Coco Martin, and AiAi delas Alas

CROSSWORD PUZZLE 47 48 49 50 53 54 58 61 62 63 64 65 66 67

ANSWER FOR PREVIOUS PUZZLE ACROSS 1 Yonder 5 Toweled off 10 Aftermath 14 Garage event 15 Maine campus town 16 Beats a retreat 17 Wall upright 18 Weasel cousins 20 Makes insensitive 22 Opposing vote 23 Helena rival 24 Regarding (2 wds.)

ISAH V. RED

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B-movie pistol Athenian’s enemy Outdoor game Horror film actor 1400, for instance Einstein’s hometown — — the air (iffy) Mooed “That’s — — know” With, to Fritz Holliday or Carne Ploy

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Ai Ai recently moved to GMA. A solid Kapamilya for the last 14 years, many were truly surprised with her decision.

“First of all, I would like to congratulate her because of the grand welcome given to her by the Kapuso management. Honestly, I’m happy for her. I’ve always trusted Ai Ai when it comes to making choices especially when her career is concerned. I’m confident her decision is for the best!”

For Vice, Ai Ai does not need to prove anything anymore when it comes to her turf.

“Anywhere she goes, her achievements will always adorn her illustrious career. Whether she stayed as a Kapamilya or became a Kapuso, she will always be the Comedy Concert and Box-office Queen. I believe it’s a win-win situation for her…”

If faced with a similar dilemma, the talented star admits he might also do the same thing.

“Yes, why not? I’m not closing my doors to the idea of moving to another home network in the future if I don’t have projects with my current mother studio anymore. I guess that’s just practical, right? But as of now, I’m still very much happy with ABS-CBN. I’m just glad that all of us have work, we all have a career and that is one thing I’m grateful for.”

Speaking of work, it’s good that despite his enviable status in the ‘biz, the popular celebrity thinks ahead: he plans to venture into other businesses outside the entertainment field.

“Oh yes! Like a beauty or spa chain perhaps? A cousin of mine just opened the Nutopia Group of Wellness in the Makati area. I think it’s a logical and practical choice since people these days are very conscious about their physical looks and health.

Yes, I would love to enter that business eventually if given the chance.

You know that show business is not forever. You are only good as your last project so better prepare for the rainy days, so to speak,” Vice ends.

MONDAY, MAY 04, 2015

Makes changes to Color Worn-out Dam on the Nile K+, e.g.

Invitation addenda Considerable Parka feature Coup d’— Sort of salts Rick’s old flame Chicago neighbor Houston pro Gander

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DOWN 1 Part of PBA 2 Heyerdahl book “— Hiva” 3 Styptic 4 Snoopy’s foe (2 wds.)

5 Happy shout 6 Type of applique 7 Of interest to Amundsen 8 Jealousy 9 Mother rabbit 10 Hand holders 11 Reunion attendee 12 — -jerk reaction 13 Latin I verb 19 Broadcast again

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Mach 2 fliers Dud Coveted Economic downturn Iris center Belly complaint Burr, to Hamilton Holland export J.R.’s mama Sends forth Rte. Funny-peculiar Neither aft nor forward Excursion Say it’s so Garrulous Spite Tilting match Take down — — Monterrey Ms. Hold up well Scamps Meadow rodent Model’s position Nebr. neighbor Formal vote MD employer

Sandbar Beach Club is the hottest daytime destination in Boracay

HOTTEST DAYLIGHT DESTINATION IN BORACAY The sun is at its peak, the sea is glistening and reflecting the bright blue skies, everyone looks fabulous in their bikinis and boardshorts – Boracay’s energy and marvelous beauty are best captured during daytime indeed! However, almost every place in this island gets a little crowded during the summer season.

Finally, there is a place where you can relax, hang out or even strut your bikini body in style, as Station 1 welcomes the hottest daylight destination for all ages, the SandBar Beach Club Boracay.

Set in the powdery white sand of Boracay is this exclusive chill-out place with 18 cozy beach beds for your ultimate comfort. While you can also relax in your hotel, chances are you’ll miss the fantastic outdoor sceneries of the paradise and all the fun that it has to offer.

At SandBar Beach Club Boracay, comfort doesn’t need to be boring. It combines good food, refreshing drinks, exciting water sports and entertainment into one fantastic place. Join the Saturday Shindig, a daytime beach party every Saturday from 11:00am to 4:00pm. For only PhP3,000 per person, you get unlimited Banana Boat and Fly Fish rides, sumptuous lunch and snacks, and bottomless specialty drinks.

Every Sunday, the club transforms into an ideal place for every family with its theme the Sunday Magic, a children’s beach party from 11:00am to 4pm. For P3,000 per person, you get unlimited Banana Boat and Fly Fish rides, sumptuous lunch and snacks, bottomless specialty drinks plus a special magic show for the young and the young-at-heart.

Experience priceless daylight fun in the hottest summer destination of the country, and head to SandBar Beach Club Boracay for a weekend of fun, adventure, relaxation, and good food with family and friends.

M O N D AY : M AY 0 4 : 2 0 1 5

SHOWBITZ

ISAH V. RED EDITOR

isahred @ gmail.com

KIDS TV

‘MY KITCHEN RULES’ SPICES UP SEASON 6 WITH ASIAN DUO

EVERYONE’S FAVORITE TRIO OF CHIPMUNKS IS BACK Nickelodeon and Bagdasarian Productions are bringing Alvin, Simon, Theodore, and The Chipettes back to television in the all-new, CG-animated series Alvinnn!!!! and The Chipmunks premiering May 8 at 7.30 p.m.. The new series reunites Janice Karman and Ross Bagdasarian, the duo behind the original 1980s animated series and three blockbuster feature films, and will mark the return of the franchise to television after 20 years.

Alvinnn!!! And The Chipmunks follows the friendship of Alvin, Simon, Theodore and The Chipettes as they face growing up and learning new life lessons. Each episode will feature an original song produced by Bagdasarian. In the half-hour series premiere, Alvin is not thrilled about going back to school; that is, until he sees the new Principal and develops a crush in “Principal Interest.” Then in “Talking Teddy,” Theodore’s new talking-teddy bear is driving Alvin and Simon nuts.

The two decide to rewire the bear to follow their instructions.

“The Alvin & The Chipmunks franchise is loved by four generations of fans around the world and is a great addition to Nickelodeon’s existing line-up of funny, smart content,” Says Jules Borkent, SVP, Global Acquisitions and International Programming, Nickelodeon, Viacom International Media Networks.

Alvinnn!!! And The Chipmunks will air weekends from May 16, 11 a.m. on Nickelodeon.

Season 1 of the series will feature 52 eleven-minute episodes and is created

by Janice Karman and produced by Bagdasarian Productions and OuiDO! Productions.

Alvin and The Chipmunks is a classic, global property that was created by Ross Bagdasarian Sr. in 1958. Considered to be one of the most successful kids brands in the world, Alvin and The Chipmunks has secured a loyal fan-base and garnered more than 50 million+ viewers in over 150 countries and five Emmy award

‘ART 2 ART’ PRESENTS EPISODES IN MAY

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Art 2 Art host Lisa Macuja joins Karen Versoza, Kaisa Sol Cruz and Gelo Balingit of Pompyang in showing off the group’s items meant to stimulate creativity and play.

AUTODESK 2016 DESIGN & CREATION SUITES TO HELP BOOST DESIGN-RELATED INDUSTRIES Autodesk, Inc. (NASDAQ: ADSK) recently announced the release of the new Autodesk 2016 Design Suites that offer more control than ever overall aspects of the design-to-make process through a connected desktop and cloud user experience.

Autodesk design and creation suites provide customers with expanded toolsets, unique interoperability and a consistent user experience.

“Our customers are pushing the boundaries on how products are designed and made, how buildings are

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t’s going to be a harvest of episodes in May, focusing on monodrama, novel-writing and tap dancing and on artists as entrepreneurs.

Produced by the Manila Broadcasting Company and hosted by prima ballerina Lisa Macuja, Art 2 Art airs every Sunday, 3:30 to 4 p.m., on DZRH (666 khz on the AM band), on cable television via RHTV and online through DZRH Live Streaming at www.dzrh.com.ph.

On May 10, Pompyang Arts and Crafts” Karen Verzosa, Kaisa Sol Cruz, and Gelo Balingit present items they’ve developed aimed at stimulating creativity and play. These include half-finished postcards, neckties or scarf-like accessories that can be worn in different ways and “Laro Tayo” packs containing childhood playthings.

On May 17, writer and literature teacher Allan Derain relates how he wrote Ang Banal na Aklat ng Mga Kumag, which won several honors including Best Novel from the Palanca Awards. A self-taught artist, he also drew the illustrations in the published book.

On May 24, 74-year-old dancer, choreographer and dance instructor Tony Casimiro shares how he started dancing at the age of eight, influenced by his parents, vaudeville legend Bayani Casimiro and performer Nieves Manuel. He also performs a tapdance number using traditional clogs or bakya.

For inquiries, please e-mail art2artdzrh@gmail.com. On Facebook, check out the account Ballerina ng Bayan for updates on Art 2 Art episodes.

built, and how entertainment is created,” said Amar Hanspal, senior vice president at Autodesk. “Autodesk Suites address the entire workflow: from capturing reality and iterating on a design, to physically making that design through 3D printing or other forms of fabrication.”

Autodesk Philippines Country Manager Teddy D. Tiu, on the other hand, explains how this development is instrumental for local industry players.

“Philippine design-related industries – especially within the architecture, engineering and construction, manufacturing, and media and entertainment sectors — have consistently flourished over the years,” Tiu explained. “With the release of our new roster of cutting edge design tools, we are optimistic that these industries will excel in a whole new different level, especially as we prepare for the ASEAN Economic Community.”

Each suite includes AutoCAD 2016, ReCap and 3ds Max. AutoCAD 2016, the most advanced AutoCAD yet, that

delivers faster, more precise detailed design and documentation with rich visual accuracy. Autodesk’s ReCap technology, also included in every suite, continues to bring Reality Computing to a new level of accessibility and affordability across the Suites with the additions of more native laser scan formats, smart measurement tools, advanced annotation and sync capabilities and more. Autodesk 3ds Max provides customers with the 3D tools they need to create inspirational experiences no matter what their industry demands.

Digital artists, film makers and gamers will find Autodesk tools helpful in addressing the entire production process, especially when collaborating with multi-discipline teams spread across multiple locations. Entertainment Creation Suite features major enhancements focus on animation performance, ease of use, content creation, collaborative and connected workflows and ease of use.

Keep your aprons on as the most popular and hotly contested cooking competition show in Australia, My Kitchen Rules, serves up its sixth installment on DIVA, NBCUniversal International’s leading women’s entertainment channel in Asia.

“NBCUniversal’s recent High Heeled Warriors study on content consumption habits revealed that cooking competitions are one of the top genres women in Asia love to watch,” said Christine Fellowes, managing director, Universal Networks International, Asia-Pacific.

“Season six of My Kitchen Rules takes all the ingredients that our viewers love about cooking competitions even further by adding local flavors, exciting twists and highoctane drama.”

Among the 18 teams this season are selfproclaimed “Spice Girls” Eva Lean, 32, and Debra Ch’ng, 26. Eva is of Singaporean and Indian descent, while Debra has both Singaporean and Malaysian heritage. The Perth-based pair are marketing colleagues at an energy company who are looking to leave their competition in the dust with local dishes like nasilemak, cauliflower curry and pandan crème brulee.

“We both love Asian food and we both have quite strong heritage and culture from India, Singapore and Malaysia,” said Eva. “I think we feed off each other’s vibe very easily. There’s never a dull moment.

There’s always laughs, (there’s) always joking around,” added Debra.

As one of DIVA’s highest-rated titles of 2014 across South East Asia, My Kitchen Rules is ready to turn up the heat with a new twist: The first two groups have no clue that a third group is secretly competing alongside them as well. The third group of six teams will compete in judge Colin Fassnidge’s Secret Round. This will happen concurrently with the Instant Restaurant Round, where home kitchens are turned into themed restaurants complete with a three-course menu and service to boot.

Chefs, co-hosts and judges Pete Evans and Manu Feildel will reprise their roles, while Fassnidge will be taking a more central role in judging for this season, as well as appearing for the first time on the Instant Restaurant rounds. Expect renowned chefs like Guy Grossi, Karen Martini, and Liz Egan as they make appearances as guest judges to keep the competition fresh.

Chart the progress of our gastronomic starlets as they engage in culinary battle for the prestige of being crowned the winners of My Kitchen Rules season six.

My Kitchen Rules season six premieres today and airs Monday to Wednesday at 9:25 p.m. on DIVA. DIVA is seen on Channel 37 on Sky Cable, Channel 40 on Destiny Digital, Channel 65 on Cignal and Channel32 on Cable Link.

Eva Lean and Debra Ch’ng, two Asians who spice up My Kitchen Rules

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M O N D AY : M AY 0 4 : 2 0 1 5

ISAH V. RED EDITOR

isahred @ gmail.com

SHOWBITZ

Let the Love Begin is the story of Tony (Gardo Versoza) and Jen (Ai Ai) de las Alas and their children Pia (Gabbi Garcia) and Erick (Ruru Madrid)

LOVE BEGINS TONIGHT SIMPLY RED ISAH V. RED Soap opera fanatics, brace yourselves for the beginning of love tonight!

GMA Network premieres tonight on its Telebabad block the series Let The Love Begin.

It marks two things. One – the return of AiAi de las Alas to the network and two, the first primetime team up of Ruru Madrid and Gabbi Garcia.

The show comes on your screens after the popular quasi-religious drama Pari ‘Koy Your decision to become someone for someone can let the love begin.

Philippine Comedy Queen AiAi de las Alas plays Jeni, the hip and cool mother of Erick (Ruru

Madrid) , her eldest son of Jeni who falls for Pia (Gabbi Garcia), the smart childhood friend of Erick and daughter of Jeni’s best friend, Tony (Gardo Versoza).

Former MTV Asia jock Donita Rose plays Celeste, wife of Tony and step mother of Pia who despises her while spoiling her niece Luchie (Rita Daniela who was known as Rita Iringan then Rita de Guzman, I hope this is the final screen name she has chosen.

Mark Anthony Fernandez, after being invisible to television audience for some time, is back as Jom, the station manager who is in love with Jeni. And Neil Ryan Sese is Jess, the best friend of Jom, who secretly loves Jeni.

Other characters are being played by among others Gladys Reyes (Katy, the Diva DJ and Jeni’s rival in the other station) and Gina Pareño as Lola Tacing, mother of Jeni and Erick’s grandmother.

Also in the cast are competent actors like Mark Anthony Fernandez, Neil Ryan Sese and Gladys Reyes

Noel Trinidad as Milton, the head of maintenance in the bookstore where Erick works, Phytos Ramirez as Uno, the spoiled and

Let The Love Begin fits the audience’s hankering for a love story between two individuals who meet again after being separated by circumstances.

It is also about unrequited love and the disappointments that come with it

brat son of Celeste’s friend, Abel Estanislao as Makoy, the careeroriented friend of Erick, Ricardo Cepeda as Rodney, the workaholic friend of Tony and the station manager of LSS FM, Joko Diaz as Enrico, Jeni’s alcoholic husband, Ar Angel Aviles as Elsa, Erick’s younger sister, and Nomer Limatog as Jules, the younger brother of Makoy complete the cast. Also joining the cast are Angeli Bayani, Sancho delas Alas, Therese Malvar, and Ren Escano.

Let the Love Begin is the story of Jeni and Tony and their children, Erick and Pia. Jeni and Tony are best friends who are part of an advice program on radio program mostly on love and life. Jeni is an independent woman has a live-in boyfriend, Enrico, and has two kids by him, Erick, the eldest and the perfect son and Elsa, the youngest but the matured one because she

Gina Pareño joins the cast as Lola Tacing

thinks just like her mom, Jeni. On the other hand, Tony is a widower, with one daughter named Pia, a daddy’s girl who is deeply in love with arts.

A major problem will destroy Jeni and Tony’s strong bond of friendship. After so many years, Jeni and Tony will cross paths once again because Pia and Erick become close friends.

The drama series marks the Ruru-Gabbi love team, which the network hopes would rival existing love teams in other networks.

Madrid is looking forward to that time when the series is on the air and people who watch it will recognize him as a character in the series. So does Garcia who is very thankful to the network for giving her the chance to play a lead character in a soap. “I didn’t expect it, but I wanted it, so here it is. I hope the audience would accept the Ruru-Gabbi tandem,” she adds.

Donita Rose finally accepts a dramatic role after years of hosting.

Phytos Ramirez is the emerging heartthrob on the GMA lot