The Standard - 2015 June 19 - Friday

RotaRy club of manila newspapeR of the yeaR 2015 VOL. XXIX NO. 119 3 Sections 32 Pages P18 FRIday : JUNE 19, 2015 www.thestandard.com.ph editorial@thestandard.com.ph

bongbong not cowed by threat of revamp

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House to probe 93% lost recording What’s your

number?

Pulse Asia on 2016 Elections:

(nationwide)

PRESIDENTIAL PREFERENCE

Have had between 1 and 5 sexual partners in their entire life

THE House committee on good government and public accountability will summon personnel in charge of the CCTV system in the House of Representatives to determine why footage that might have shown the delivery of bribes to congressmen had been deleted.

The panel is investigating allegations that Bureau of Immigration officials accepted millions of pesos from suspected Chinese crime lord Wang Bo in return for his release, then sent part of the money to Congress to bribe lawmakers into swiftly approving the Bangsamoro Basic Law (BBL).

Earlier, the panel headed by Pampanga Rep. Oscar Rodriguez, summoned officials of Wang’s employer, ELC Technologies Consulting Inc., amid suspicion that it was being used as a front for illegal gambling.

The Standard tries to reach the company for comment, but the person who answered its listed number said the phone was a personal one, and did not belong to the company.

The Standard also went to ELC’s office in Makati, but there was no one in the office that was listed by the building administrator as being under renovation.

Abakada party-list Rep. Jonathan de la Cruz, a member of the House independent minority bloc, was among the lawmakers who insisted of the CCTV footage.

“The CCTV will provide as evidence to the allegation of payola,” De la Cruz said, adding that the testimony of the House personnel in charge of the CCTV would also be crucial to explain why some footage was said to have Next page been overwritten.

lp bigwig gets rights body post

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30% POE

22% BINAY

(nationwide) 19 (NCR, Southern Luzon and Bicol)

15%

Age of Filipinos upon their first sexual encounter

DUTERTE

10%

79%

ROXAS

10%

(56 years old and above)

85% (18-34 years old) 86% (35-55 years old)

ESTRADA

Have just one sexual partner

6%

17%

SANTIAGO

2%

(single)

16% (separated) 7% (married or widowed) Have had experience with same-sex intercourse

Phantom office? An employee at the King’s Court building in Makati (inset) points to the seventh-floor sign for ELC Tech Consulting, the local company which reportedly hired suspected crime lord Wang Bo. The unoccupied office is listed as “under renovation” in the office of the building’s administrator. Danny Pata

CAYETANO

2% LACSON

Poe overtakes Binay by big margin in Pulse poll

By Sandy araneta SENATOR Grace Poe has overtaken Vice President Jejomar Binay as the frontrunner in in the latest Pulse Asia survey of voter preferences for the next president.

“If the May 2016 elections were conducted during the survey pe-

riod, Senator Grace Poe would emerge as the winner with 30 percent of Filipinos backing her candidacy,” Pulse Asia said, citing its June Ulat ng Bayan survey.

Binay, the erstwhile frontrunner for several months running, came in second with 22 percent. Davao City Mayor Rodrigo Duterte came in third

with 15 percent; and Interior and Local Government Secretary Manuel Roxas II, the presumptive Liberal Party candidate, had 10 percent, tied with ousted President and current Manila Mayor Joseph Estrada.

Senator Miriam Defensor Santiago garnered 6 percent, while Senator Alan Peter Cayetano got 2

percent, in a tie with former senator Panfilo Lacson.

There was virtually no support for possible presidential candidates Camilo Sabio, the former head of the Presidential Commission on Good Government or OFW party-list Rep. Roy Señeres, whose names were included in the survey.

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Survey: Pinoys nix manual polls

By Sara Susanne D. Fabunan

A MAJORITY of Filipinos or 64 percent do not want to return to manual elections in 2016, a survey commissioned by the Catholic Church said.

The Veritas Truth Survey, conducted nationwide between April and May, showed that only 20 percent of the 1,200 respondents said they wanted to go back to a manual count in the 2016 elections.

Anton C.T. Pascual, president of Radio Veritas, said the Truth Survey is being conducted to shed light on the prevailing public opinion on burning issues of the day.

The results of the survey come as the Commission on Elections (Comelec) and its technology supplier, Smartmatic, are embroiled in a legal battle over the contract to automate the 2016 national and local elections.

Among respondents who serve as board of election inspectors (BEIs), the proportion favoring automation was even higher, with three of four saying they did not want to go back to manual counting.

Broken down by region, those who preferred automated elections were 76 percent in Luzon, 56 percent in the Visayas and 54 percent in Mindanao.

In terms of educational attainment, all voters with post-graduate degrees said they didn’t want to go back to a manual count.

Among vocational graduates, the figure was 70 percent; among college graduates, 66 percent; and among high school graduates, 64 percent.

Only 46 percent of those who graduated from elementary said they prefer automated elections.

The survey showed that 87 percent of respondents who had served as BEIs believed the precinct count optical scan (PCOS) machine helped them manage the last elections, while 76 percent of voters said they helped them cast their votes.

The results were consistent regardless of geographical location.

Some 78 percent of voters in Luzon and the Visayas said the PCOS machines were helpful, while 72 percent in Mindanao expressed the same opinion.

Four out of five elderly voters said the use of PCOS machines helped during the elections.

Among adult voters the figure was 74 percent; and among young adults, 77 percent.

In terms of trust in automation, 61 percent of BEIs and 55 percent of voters believed the outcome of the elections.

The Veritas survey was conducted by the research department of the Church-owned Radio Veritas, and involved 1,200 respondents nationwide. A third of the respondents were BEIs, while 67 percent were registered voters. Respondents were chosen on the basis of a stratified random sampling.

The survey results have an error of margin of plus or minus 3 percent.

Building permit. Manila Mayor Joseph Estrada holds up a copy of a building permit signed by former Manila Mayor Alfredo Lim authorizing the construction of the Torre de Manila condominium that its critics say mars the view of the Rizal monument at the Luneta in Manila. Danny Pata

House

From A1...

Sources earlier told The Standard that P440 million had been allocated to pay off lawmakers to vote for the BBL’s passage.

The report, written by The Standard senior reporter Christine Herrera, irked some members of the committee, and Cavite Rep. Elpidio Barzaga Jr. filed a motion to cite Herrera in contempt for refusing to re-

Poe overtakes

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Reacting to the latest results, Poe said she was thankful for the trust that Filipinos afforded her.

“I join them in wishing for one nation where each Filipino can live with equal opportunities and the chance to improve their lives. The voices of our people is important to me,” she said in a text message.

Both the ruling Liberal Party and the Nationalist People’s Coalition have made representations to adopt Poe, an independent, as their candidate for 2016.

President Benigno Aquino III, who has already met with Poe twice, has been reluctant to openly endorse Roxas as the administration’s presidential bet.

Across geographic areas and socio-economic classes, Poe led the presidential race, except for Mindanao, where Duterte was the preferred candidate with 37 percent.

In Metro Manila, 32 percent supported Poe, versus 22 percent for Binay; in the Visayas, it was 30 percent in favor of Poe and 26 percent for Binay.

Among those in Class AB and C, Poe and Binay were practically tied at 31 percent to 29 percent, respectively.

Among Class E or the poorest respondents, 26 percent preferred Binay while 25 percent favored Poe. Duterte garnered only 14 percent support from this group.

For vice president, Poe was also the most favored candidate with 41 percent nationwide, and led in all geographic areas and socio-economic groupings.

Senator France Escudero came in

veal her sources.

Herrera wrote in The Standard that the bags of cash were unloaded at the rear entrance of the House of Representatives and taken to the office of Speaker Feliciano Belmonte Jr., an allegation that Belmonte and others have denied.

On Thursday, House Deputy Majority Leader and Davao City Rep. Karlo Alexei Nograles said it would be better if the investigation is handled by a neutral body like the Senate to remove suspicions of whitewash and “media bullying.”

“I have no doubt on the integrity of the House and the good intentions of the representatives pushing for this probe. But I think that the House is not the proper venue considering that it is the House of Representatives that is the subject of investigation. How can the subject of investigation be the investigator itself?”

Nograles said in a statement released to House media.

Nograles pointed out the Senate is in the best position to conduct the investigation in aid of legislation on the Wang Bo controversy

and the alleged payoff and bribery of government officials “being a coequal body in the same branch of government.”

“I don’t believe that the bribery happened but nonetheless, a neutral and more independent panel like the Senate should conduct the probe. Being a co-equal body in the same branch of government, the Senate must be the one to continue the congressional inquiry on the reported acts of bribery committed by Wang Bo so as to ferret out the truth as soon as possible,” Nograles said.

second with 15 percent.

At third, Cayetano got 12 percent, while at fourth, Duterte received 9 percent, tied with Senator Ferdinand Marcos Jr. Lacson got 6 percent; followed by Senator Antonio Trillanes IV, 5 percent; and Camarines Sur Rep. Leni Robredo, 1 percent.

Pulse Asia said 14 of the 46 people included in its senatorial survey had a statistical chance of winning a seat in the Senate. With the exception of Justice Secretary Leila de Lima, the others are either incumbent or former members of Congress.

Filipinos are already naming an average of 10, out of a maximum of 12, of their preferred senatorial candidates and 60 percent of them already have a complete slate for the May 2016 senatorial race.

Sharing the top spot in the June survey were Lacson, 67.4 percent, and Senator Vicente C. Sotto III, 63.4 percent. Marcos came in third with 54.2 percent.

Senator Ralph Recto garnered 47.6 percent, while former senator Francis Pangilinan got 46.9 percent.

Senate President Franklin Drilon received 45.9 percent.

Others in the probable list were former senator Juan Miguel F. Zubiri, 43.9 percent; Senator Sergio R. Osmeña III, 41.2 percent; former senator Richard Gordon, 39.7 percent; Duterte, 39.2 percent; 7th to 14th places; De Lima, 38.7 percent; Saranggani Rep. Manny Pacquiao, 37.6 percent; Taguig City Rep. Lino Edgardo S. Cayetano, 36.1 percent; and former senator Jamby Madrigal, 33.9 percent.

The survey asked 1,200 respon-

dents to choose their preferred candidates for president, vice president and senator from a list provided by Pulse Asia. The company said the survey has a margin of error of plus or minus 3 percent and has a 95 percent confidence level. Regional totals have a higher error of margin of plus or minus 6 percent.

A spokesman for President Aquino, Communications Secretary Herminio Coloma Jr., said the surveys merely represent a snap shot of current preferences. He added that the President continued to consult with “relevant stakeholders” and was likely to announce the candidates he would endorse after his last State of the Nation Address in July.

The Palace had earlier said the President’s choice would not be based on surveys but on the candidate’s likelihood to continue his program of reforms.

Despite Poe’s strong showing in recent opinion surveys, Drilon, LP national vice chairman, said Roxas is still the party’s bet for president, and said he believed Aquino would not support a non-menber of the LP. Binay said he was unfazed by Poe’s showing in the latest Pulse Asia survey.

“I am not new to this kind of situation.

I have been an underdog several times in my fight. And I am more determined to fight for our people. I will intensify my going directly to the people to know their sentiments,” he added.

He said the election in 2016 is about giving the people a good life, especially the poor.

In a campaign sortie in Rizal, Binay said the decline in his rating was a wake-up call.

Duterte, who came in third in the

Pulse Asia survey, had denied he is running for higher office, citing his age (70) and lack of resources to launch a national campaign.

On a national “listening tour,” he advocates federalism.

Roxas has also been silent about his plans for 2016.

Estrada said he is more interested in seeking re-election as Manila mayor.

Marcos, who also has his eye on the presidency, told a forum Thursday he never takes surveys at face value. He, too, has not announced his intentions for next year.

Trillanes, who has used Senate hearings to hound the Vice President, said he strongly believes that by October, Binay will fall down to No. 3 in opinion polls.

Escudero, a spokesman for Poe’s late father Fernando Poe Jr. when he ran for president in 2004, advised the senator to brace for more attacks now that she has wrested the lead from Binay.

“We already have a hint of what is to come with the previous attacks on her, questioning her citizenship and residency status,” he said.

A member of Binay’s United Nationalist Alliance, Paranaque Rep. Gus Tambunting, said the dip in the vice president’s rating was expected and no cause for alarm.

He said despite all the criticism and allegations thrown at Binay and his family, none of the charges have been substatiated and prove in court.

He added that Binay had ample time to prove his worth to the people.

“This will not stop him from doing his job,” Tabunting said. – With Macon Ramos-araneta, Vito Barcelo and Maricel V. Cruz

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Marcos shrugs off threat of Senate shuffle over BBL

By Macon Ramos-Araneta SENATOR Ferdinand Marcos Jr. said Thursday the threat of a reorganization in the Senate leadership to hasten the passage of the proposed Bangsamoro Basic Law will not cow him.

“Put it this way: What [President Benigno Aquino III] said was ‘We may have to reorganize the Senate to speed up the passage [of the BBL]’,” Marcos said during Thursday’s breakfast forum at the Senate.

“I don’t know what he meant.”

Marcos was then asked: “Will you be cowed?”

He replied: “Nothing will change [when you reorganize] because if you reorganize, it will not make the BBL more constitutional. If you reorganize, it will not change the problems that we found in the BBL.” Marcos made his statement even as Speaker Feliciano Belmonte Jr. said the House had practically two more months to dissect the proposed BBL when it resumes sessions in July.

He said he was hopeful the Lower

House would be able to pass the measure that will pave the way for the creation of a new Bangsamoro political entity.

“I’m confident that the House will be able to do it,” Belmonte said.

Majority Leader and Mandaluyong Rep. Neptali Gonzales II said the House leadership’s target for the voting for House Bill 5811, the substitute for HB 4994, or An Act Providing the Basic Law for Bangsamoro Autonomous Region, would be in August at the earliest.

Senator Francis Escudero, meanwhile, is pushing for the inclusion in

the BBL a detailed timetable for the decommissioning of the weapons and combatants of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front to ensure a smooth transition from conflict to peace in Mindanao.

Marcos, head of the Senate’s local government committee that is tackling the BBL,said any reorganization will would help the legislative process.

“That’s what I am saying. I do not know where this came from, but it does not come from somebody who has an understanding of what we are

doing. Let us just see what the committee is doing,” he he said.

Marcos said he did not see the need for changes in the [Senate’] committee leadership.

“No, I don’t think so. I just received a report that there was mention of a reorganization... Now, we are under threat of reorganization of the Senate,” he said.

He also warned that there might be chaos in case of a reorganization because it would not help. With Maricel V. cruz

PH to hold naval drills with allies THE Philippines is to hold simultaneous naval drills next week with key allies the United States and Japan, the military said Thursday, as Chinese building continues on the disputed South China Sea reefs.

The annual joint maneuvers with the United States will include a P3-Orion spy plane flight and a helicopter crashand-rescue simulation near the disputed waters, officials said.

The exercises with the Japanese Maritime Self-Defense Force, only the second ever, will be staged separately, but in the same week as the US exercise, Philippine Navy spokesman Commander Lued Lincuna said.

He made his statement even as a source said China’s posturings on Recto bank, a submerged area in the West Philippine Sea, threatened the Philippines’ sovereignty. He said the authorities would be dismantling the markers China had deployed in the area.

He said the bouys that China had installed on Recto Bank would immediately be collected to prevent China from continually asserting its influence in the shallow rocky waters just 85 miles off Palawan.

“They [China] are repeatedly placing markers in Recto Bank in the past but our Navy keeps destroying them,” the source said.

Lincuna could not immediately provide details of the

second exercise but Japanese media, quoting unnamed official sources, said it would be staged in the South China Sea. The Japanese media also said Japan would field a P3 surveillance aircraft.

“The joint training will help capacitate and familiarize our troops with modern equipment. There will be sharing of information, techniques and best practices on the tactical level,” Lincuna told AFP. He said the twin joint maneuvers were not directed against China, which has built artificial islands on the South China Sea reefs claimed by the Philippines.

“They are regularly planned and scheduled exercises. With Japan, the focus is on search and rescue and disaster relief,” Philippine Foreign Affairs spokesman Charles Jose told AFP. The US joint maneuvers, Lincuna said, would be held near Palawan, though off the eastern coast rather than the South China Sea-facing west.

The Philippines held landmark naval exercises with its World War II foe Japan only last month on the South China Sea, less than 300 kilometers from a Philippine-claimed

shoal now under Chinese control.

The United States is the Philippines’ longest-standing military ally, with the two countries bound by a 64-yearold mutual defense treaty and a separate visiting forces agreement.

An agreement that would allow the US to rotate more troops in Philippine military bases was signed last year, but will not be implemented until the Supreme Court decides on its legality.

Earlier this month, President Benigno Aquino III and Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe agreed to start negotiations for the transfer of defense equipment, including anti-submarine reconnaissance aircraft and radar technology.

China said on Tuesday that the land reclamation in the disputed Spratly islands would finish soon but would be followed by “facility construction” as it reasserted its claim over almost the entire South China Sea. Philippine military surveillance revealed that a giant runway on one of the reefs was “75-percent complete,” potentially giving Beijing longer military reach, Defense Department spokesman Peter Galvez had said.

China is separately engaged in a long-standing dispute with Japan over an island chain in the East Sea. AFP, with Francisco tuyay

Help needed. Nobody at the National Historical Commission of the Philippines building on T.M. Kalaw has taken the trouble to right this hanging Philippine flag. DAnny PAtA

Substitute BBL. Senator Ferdinand Marcos Jr. discusses the substitute Bangsamoro Basic Law during a breakfast forum at the Senate on Thursday. Ey AcASio

LP bigwig gets top rights body post PRESIDENT Benigno Aquino III has appointed a former official of the ruling Liberal Party as the new chairman of the Commission on Human Rights, Malacañang announced Thursday.

Lawyer Jose Luis Martin Gascon replaced CHR chairwoman Loretta P. Ann Rosales, who retired on May 5, 2015, when her term ended.

Executive Director Marc Titus Cebreros served as CHR officer-in-charge before Gascon’s appointment.

Aquino also appointed retired Lt. Gen. Ricardo Rainier G. Cruz III as Bureau of Corrections director general replacing

Franklin Bucayu.

Cruz was Commander of the Armed Forces’ Eastern Mindanao Command from 2013 to 2014. He was also assistant division commander of the Army’s 10th Infantry Division based in Mindanao from 2011 to 2012.

Justice Secretary Leila de Lima praised Aquino’s appointment of Cruz.

“Given his credentials and background, I think he will be up to the challenge,” De Lima said in a text message to reporters after Malacañang announced Cruz’s appointment.

Gascon, the directorgeneral of the Liberal Party from 2008 to 2011, will

serve as human rights chief until May 5, 2022.

He became a member of the Human Rights Victims’ Claims Board, which processes claims for compensation by the victims of human rights violations during the Martial Law era, starting from February 2014.

Aquino also appointed Karen S. Gomez Dumpit, Gwendolyn LL. PimentelGana and Leah C. TanodraArmamento as CHR commissioners to replace Rachel Quisumbing, Norberto Dela Cruz and Maria Victoria Cardona. Their terms will also expire also on May 5, 2022. Sandy Araneta and Rey E. Requejo

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Ramadan mubarak. Muslim Filipinos pray at the Golden Mosque in Qiuapo, Manila on the first day of the holy month of Ramadan on Thursday. AFP

Pope issues letter on climate change

By Sara Susanne D. Fabunan

POPE Francis on Thursday issued a new encyclical, entitled Laudato Si, a global plea for action to prevent “extraordinary” climate change from destroying the planet and said wealthy countries must bear primary responsibility for creating the problem and for solving it.

Manila Archbishop Cardinal Luis Antonio Tagle, meanwhile, called on the Filipino faithful to study the encyclical letter in order to understand the current ecological conditions faced by the world.

“We call on non-Christians, families, educators, politicians, business

people, experts in science and digital technology, media, consumer groups, non-government and peoples’ organizations to study the encyclical and its proposals,” Tagle said after the pope released the encyclical.

Tagle said Filipinjos should consider the six points raised by Pope Francis

in his pastoral analysis and appeal on environment care.

“Pope Francis raised many items. I propose that we pay close attention to the following aspects of the Pope’s letter,” Tagle said.

Tagle urged people to consider 1) a restoration of a contemplative view of creation; 2) the importance of the belief in the Creator; 3) the redicovery of the role of human beings as stewards and not as pseudo-owners of the eartg; 4) the plan of God that the goods of the earth be shared by all; 5) the vital connection between the environment and human life; and 6) courageous review of political and economic policies,

business practices, mindsets and lifestyles towards the changes needed to care for our common home, to uplift the poor and to give glory and praise to the Creator.

The pope blamed human greed and self-destructive enthralment to new technologies and progress for the critical situation “Our Sister, mother Earth” now finds itself in.

“This sister now cries out to us because of the harm we have inflicted on her by our irresponsible use and abuse of the goods with which God has endowed her,” he writes in one of the opening passages of his long-anticipated encyclical on the environment.

Muslims begin Ramadan fasting

By Sandy Araneta

Still an intact Cabinet. President Benigno Aquino III joins his Cabinet in a prayer

before a meeting at the Aguinaldo State Room in Malacañang. At least six members of the Cabinet are expected to resign by October as they seek various elective positions.

MALACA˜NANG PHOTO BUREAU

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PRESIDENT Benigno Aquino III greeted Muslims on Thursday as the Islamic community started the holy month of Ramadan.

“Ramadhan is among the holiest of seasons, signifying the time of Allah’s first revelations to Mohammad. The fasting and prayer which highlight this recollection enrich your oneness with Allah,” said Aquino.

“It is a time for you to embody the teachings of the Holy Quran as you practice

greater discipline, compassion, and restraint. May this sacred occasion bring you closer to the Almighty, becoming his instruments of peace and unity as the Filipino nation gathers on our shared journey to create a more prosperous and equitable nation,” he said.

“The Philippines has reached heretofore unattainable heights of progress and inclusiveness through solidarity and cooperation.

Our entire country is with you in spirit as you observe this time of deep reflection.

Marcos: Probe British School

By Macon R. Araneta SENATOR Ferdinand Marcos, Jr. said members of the council of trustees of the British School of Manila (BSM) should be held answerable for sanitizing the report of an independent panel that reviewed the school’s policies following the suicide of one of its students.

BSM convened an Independent Review Panel (IRP) after its student Liam Joseph Madamba, who was subjected to disciplinary procedures for alleged plagiarism, jumped from the 6th floor of a car park in Makati City last February 6 and died later in a hospital.

“It’s becoming clear that the independent report that was prepared by the panel that was convened was sanitized by the Board of Trustees,” Marcos told Senate reporters after attending a hearing by the Senate Committee on Education.

The hearing was actually meant for the bill seeking to recognize the BSM as an educational institution of international character and granting it certain prerogatives. The discussion however focused on the school’s implementation of disciplinary policies after the suicide of Madamba.

The conclusions in the original report of the IRP was altered to make it appear that the BSM teacher involved had little or no responsibility at all for the suicide, according to Marcos.

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SAF 44 relatives get P80m in benefits

By Florante S. Solmerin

EACh family or beneficiary of the SAF 44 commandos who were killed in action during the Mamasapano operation received P1,593,656.19 or P80 million in total lumpsum benefits, according to the Philippine National Police.

The amount paled in comparison to the P2.4 billion package in payment for members of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) who had agreed to surrender their firearms as part of the decommissioning process under the deal ironed out between the Philippine government peace panel and its MILF counterpart. The MILF together with the Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters and private armed groups were blamed for the carnage that led to the killing of the SAF men, 17 MILF men and three civilians.

Chief Superintendent Wilfredo Franco of the PNP’s Public Information Office, said P69,566,524.88 in SAF 44’s death benefits came from the Office of the President, Philippine National Police and National Police Commission.

Another P11-million in cash donations were also received by [them] from the Senate, house of Representatives, and Dasmariñas, Cavite LGU,” Franco said.

Franco said qualified beneficiaries will receive an average monthly pension of P12,000 from the PNP and another P16,000 average monthly pension from the National Police Commission in addition to the lump sum benefits and cash donations.

tragedy at sea. Fr. Robert Reyes celebrates mass in the presence of the officials of Public Attorneys Office and relatives of the victims of the M/V Princess of the Stars which sank on June 21, 2008. Also in photo are some of the remains and personal belongings of the victims of the maritime tragedy. LiNo SANtoS

Quake readiness wanting—NAPC

By Joel E. Zurbano

The National Anti-Poverty Commission supported the planned earthquake preparedness drill in Metro Manila as it urged the government to give special attention to the poor, particularly the informal settlers and those living in congested areas, since they are the most vulnerable during disasters.

“The country is not yet ready for a possible 7.2 magnitude earthquake,” says Regina SalvadorAntequisa, sectoral representative of the NAPC Victims of Disasters and Calamities Council.

Antequisa said the council is supporting the July 30 metrowide earthquake drill initiated by the Metro Manila Development Authority, but she said, the

government must ensure that residents are equipped with quake survival methods and skills should the “Big One” hit the country, particularly Metro Manila and nearby provinces.

“Should a Nepal- or Bohollike earthquake occur in Metro Manila, high-rise buildings and homes will be destroyed and hundreds of lives will be lost.

The metropolis will be reduced to rubble,” Antequisa said.

The council stressed that a lot of preparation needs to be done now that several warnings of an impending strong tremor have been made.

“The Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology’s Valley Fault System Atlas revealed that a possible 7.2 magnitude earthquake could hit Metro Manila anytime. There are also international studies that cited Metro Manila as one of the most at-risk cities in the world due to its high-vulnerability to natural disasters, especially to earthquakes,” Antequisa explained.

“Long-term preparedness should be ensured. Buildings should

be made resilient. The National Building Code must be reviewed and proper and participatory land-use planning must be implemented,” Antequisa added.

The council also emphasized that special attention should be given to the poor and the marginalized because of their vulnerability to disasters.

It recommends the following actions: - Government must boost risk reduction efforts to reduce possible casualties and damage.

- Evacuation centers, disaster teams, and other necessary equipment must be ready.

- Trainings must be held in communities especially in highrisk areas.

1.4m voters overseas sign up for 2016 polls

Monster at the mall. Visitors at a Pasay City mall take delight in a monster truck, part of the mall’s exhibits. DANNY PAtA CYAN MAGENTA YELLOW BLACK

ThE Commission on Elections on Thursday said that it was expecting a high turnout for overseas absentee voters as Filipinos working and living abroad are becoming more interested in the presidential polls in May 2016.

Comelec spokesman James Jimenez cited the recent election history involving OAV to support the agency’s optimism.

As of June, there are 1.4 million OAV who already registered in the ongoing registration for Filipinos working and living abroad.

Records show that in the 2007 and 2013 midterm

polls, the OAV turnout both tallied a 16 percentincrease in turnout of voters.

The turnout however was higher during the 2004 and 2010 presidential elections, which netted 65 and 26 percent voters’ turnout, respectively.

Jimenez said the voters’ turnout in the OAV is what is more important than registration as far as the Comelec is concerned.

Registration applications can be filed in any Philippine Foreign Service Posts or online iRehistro system until October 31, 2015. Sara

Fabunan

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SC wants more tests done on oil pipeline

By Rey E. Requejo

The Supreme Court has paved the way for the reopening of the “white oil pipeline” being operated by the Lopez-controlled First Philippine Industrial Corp. that leaked in 2010 if tests would show that it is already safe for commercial purpose.

In an en banc resolution, the SC adopted the 2012 report and recommendations issued by the Court of Appeals that heard the petition for the writ of kalikasan filed by West Tower Condominium operators, unit owners and nearby residents in Barangay Bangkal, Makati City, which were forced to vacate their residences due to health and safety concerns.

The tribunal stressed the need for several tests to be undertaken by the FPIC with the supervision of the Department of Energy before it can be reopened.

“After the FPIC has undertaken the activities prescribed...the DOE shall determine if the activities and the results of the test run warrant the re-opening of the WOPL. In the event that the DOE is satisfied that the WOPL is safe for continued commercial operations, it shall issue an order allowing FPIC to resume the operations of the pipeline,” the SC ruled.

It also ordered the FPIC to undertake and continue “remediation, rehabilitation and restoration” of the affected Barangay Bangkal environment until it is restored to its condition prior to the leakage.

Among the tests that the Court directed FPIC to conduct include the following: perform cleaning pig run and witness the launching and receiving of the intelligent and cleaning pigs; demonstrate and observe the various pressure and leakage tests including “blocked-in pressure test” or the pressure test conducted while all the WOPL’s openings are blocked off or closed off; and “in-operation test” of the hourly monitoring of pressure rating after the pipeline is filled with dyed water and pressurized at a specified rate; continue, inspect and oversee the current gas monitoring system, or the monitoring of gas flow from the boreholes and monitoring wells of the WOPL; and check the mass or volume balance computation during WOPL. Once the WOPL is re-opened, the high court tasked the DOE to see to it that FPIC complies with measures to prevent a repeat of the incident.

These measures include the continued implementation FPIC’s Pipeline Integrity Management System (PMS) as reviewed by the DOE which include: the conduct of daily patrols on the entire stretch of the WOPLE every two hours; continued close monitoring of all the boreholes and monitoring wells of the WOPL, pipeline; regular periodic testing and maintenance based on its PIMS; and the auditing of the pipeline’s mass input versus mass output.

Umali seeks to reverse 10-year graft conviction ORIENTAL Mindoro Gov. Alfonso “Boy” Umali on Thursday urged a Sandiganbayan justice to inhibit from hearing his motion for reconsideration to reverse his conviction for a 10-year jail term over a P2.5-million illegal loan contract for a transport vessel rehabilitation years ago.

In a motion for voluntary inhibition dated May 4, Umali through his lawyers Napoleon Poblador and Edmon Quizon of the Zamora Poblador Vasquez & Bretana Law Office, urged the Presiding Justice Jose Hernandez of the anti-graft court’s Fourth Division to stay away from handling his plea, citing Hernandez’s alleged biases.

“The records also show that the Honorable Presiding Justice asked the defense witnesses numerous questions, some of which seem to be more adversarial and confrontational than clarificatory, thus creating the impression that he was taking the cudgels for the prosecution,” the motion read.

“This alleged instruction from the Honorable Justice gave accused Umali and his lawyers the impression that said magistrate is biased in favor of the prosecution and that he intends to hastily resolve or deny accused Umali’s motion for reconsideration without giving him an opportunity to refute first the prosecution’s arguments in its opposition.”

According to Umali, judges must be paragons of virtue, “just like Caesar’s wife, judges must not only be pure but beyond suspicion. They must not only be impartial but should also appear to be impartial and unbiased at all times.”

On April 20, the Sandiganbayan sentenced Umali and ex-governor Rodolfo to suffer an imprisonment of 10 years over a P2.5-million illegal loan contract for m/v Ace transport vessel rehabilitation. Rio Araja

‘War on illegal drugs needs to be revisited’ Operation Smile. Doctors perform corrective surgery on a child at a government hospital in Manila on June

17, 2015. The charity, which carries out free surgery for impoverished children with facial deformities, is on a mission in the Philippines from June 12-20 with its 301 volunteers from 17 countries expected to conduct some 750 corrective surgeries. AFP

Pasalubong for wife costly for DPWH exec THE Office of the Ombudsman on Thursday indicted a former regional director of the Department of Public Work and Highways for graft charges and directed the filing of suits with the Sandiganbayan.

Ombudsman Conchita Carpio Morales filed three counts of violation of Section 3(e) of the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act or Republic Act No. 3019 against Juanito Abergas of Region VII. The charges stemmed from his illegal claim of reimbursement of P1,804,406.19 in 2002 to 2005 consisting of travel expenses, extraordinary and miscellaneous expenses (EME), and actual and incidental expenses (AIE).

In 2005, the Commission on Audit’s Regional Office VII conducted

a fact-finding investigation and found out Abergas claimed reimbursements for travel expenses of P603,459.55 without the submission of documents such as certificates of appearance and travel authority, EME of P784,430.94, which exceeded the ceiling allowed by law, were incurred not in the performance of official duty nor for the benefit or interest of public service; and AIE of P416,515.70.

State auditors uncovered that Abergas requested reimbursement of expenses for pasalubong such as dried fish, dried mangoes, dried squid, chicharon and other grocery items, and included extra terminal fees and rebooking fees, for his wife.

A preliminary investigation showed that from 2002 to 2005, he

made 133 travels, 88 without travel authorities, and without submitting certificates of appearance in all the travels undertaken.

For the travels in 2004 and 2005, CoA noted that he failed to present boarding passes in almost all of his trips.

In denying the motion for reconsideration filed by Abergas, the Ombudsman ruled the “respondent’s claims of good faith and regularity in the performance of his official functions fail vis-àvis the evidence presented.”

Morales junked Abergas’ defense that the reimbursements were all allowed in audit by CoA as no notice of disallowance was issued, and ruled that “a notice of disallowance is not an element of the crime charged.” Rio Araja

STATE policies governing the campaign against illegal drugs must be revisited, Mandaluyong City Mayor Benhur Abalos said on Thursday.

During a forum with members of the Metro-East Rizal Press Organization (MERPO), the mayor of the socalled ‘tiger city’ expressed alarm over the illegal drug problems not only in Mandaluyong City but in the country as a whole.

“Before, the country is not beset by problems about drug cartels but now, based on reports the said the drug cartel Sinaloa has managed to enter the country,” said Abalos.

The Mexican drug cartel might use the Philippine territory either as a transshipment point of their illegal drug trade and flood the market with illegal drugs in the process, Abalos said.

Abalos also expressed concern over the fact that the number of PDEA agents is not enough to win the war on illegal drugs.

Abalos said the lack in number of anti-drug operatives of PDEA should be addressed along with the revision of rules to make the campaign against illegal drugs in the country a sustainable effort.

The mayor, who is on his last term said that based on his experience, the police anti-drug operatives are rendered demoralized because most of the time they are the ones being hounded by big-time illegal drug peddlers. John Paolo Bencito

f r i d ay : J u n e 1 9, 2 0 1 5

news

editorial@thestandard.com.ph

Palawan police seize 4,312 rare pond turtles

Endangered. Authorities have been vigilant in arresting turtle poachers in Palawan. These sea turtles were recovered from Chinese fishermen off the disputed Half Moon Shoal, 60 nautical miles west of Palawan, in May 2014. AFP

BFAR charges Taipei poachers

By Anna Leah E. Gonzales and PNA CALAyAN, Cagayan—The fisheries bureau in Region 2 has filed criminal and administrative complaints against two suspected Taiwanese poachers apprehended off Babuyan Claro on June 11.

The Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources said the criminal complaint was filed before the office of the provincial prosecutor of Cagayan while the administrative case has been lodged before the BFAR Central Office.

Members of the BFAR Quick Response Team were conducting routine patrol aboard the Coast Guard-manned vessel MCS 3007 when they spotted the fishing vessel flying a Philippine flag.

Samuel Agaloos, chief of the law en-

forcement division of the BFAR regional office, identified the Taiwanese fishermen as Lin Dah Gwo and Wu Jenq Shyong— officers of the F/B Der Maan Fure No. 03.

The two are currently under custody of the Philippine Coast Guard in Port Irene in Sta. Ana, Cagayan.

“The vessel was lying-to or steady at the time of apprehension. It was not in distress and its radio buoys (used in long line fishing) were deployed, indicating that it was fishing at the time of apprehension,” Agaloos said.

BFAR Director Asis Perez said the agency is set to deploy 71 units of small patrol boats across the country.

The bureau has also proposed the acquisition of 27 units of 44-footer patrol boats and 2 multi-mission sea crafts.

“We are a maritime country and we have to act as one,” Perez said.

Groups rehab health center NEW Washington, Aklan—A new hope comes to the people of New Washington in Aklan as BDO Foundation and Beiersdorf Philippines turnover a newly-rehabilitated health center to local government and health officials. The reconstructed New Washington Municipal Health Center is a joint initiative of BDO Foundation, the corporate social responsibility arm of the Philippines’ largest bank, and Beiersdorf, the company behind the global brand Nivea. The turnover and inauguration of the health center was led by BDO Foundation president Maureen Abelardo and Beiersdorf Philippines Vice President for Finance, Armi Aguas and attended by New Washington mayor Edgar Peralta and New Washington municipal health officer Emmanuel Peralta.

“The New Washington health center is another proud achievement of BDO Foundation

and Beiersdorf Philippines,” Abelardo said.

“This is the fifth rural health center unit that has been completed under this partnership. Just recently we completed the reconstruction of a health center in Typhoon yolanda-stricken Iloilo.” “And to support the United Nations millennium development goal of improving maternal health, we have included better birthing facilities as well as areas for children and the elderly in the New Washington Municipal Health Center. This rehabilitated center—with its new rooms and equipment—will definitely deliver healthcare services to the community more effectively,” she added. Located on Oquendo Street in Poblacion, New Washington, Aklan, the PhilHealth-accredited New Washington Municipal Health Center has a total catchment population of 44,856 and 8,971 households.

A7 Puerto Princesa— Authorities seized more than 4,000 critically endangered Philippine forest turtles, locally known as bakoko or pond turtles, from a local resident in Barangay rio tuba in Bataraza town.

The Provincial Law Enforcement Task Group seized 4,312 live turtles from Albar Abdurakib, who identified himself as a mere caretaker.

Abdurakib will be charged with violation of Section 27 of the Philippine Wildlife Act. The operation, which was conducted after Palawan Region Trial Court Judge Ambrosio de Luna issued a search warrant, also yielded 90 dead turtles.

Meanwhile, the Tubbataha Reefs Natural Park (TRNP) off the island town of Cagayancillo is now part of an important international highway for the conservation of migratory water birds.

The TRNP was declared part of the East Asian-Australasian Flyway Partnership, said Retchie Pagliawan, research officer at the Tubbataha Management Office (TMO).

The north and south islets of the protected marine area in Cagayancillo municipality support more than 20,000 seabirds, Pagliawan said.

It is also the breeding ground of six seabird species, namely the Redfooted Booby, Brown Booby, Great Crested Tern, Sooty Tern, Black Noddy and Brown Noddy. PNA

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A8

ADELLE chuA editor F R I D AY, J u N E 1 9, 2 0 1 5

opinion [ EDI TORI A L ]

Flood, traFFic and the rainy season

A little rain and parts of Metro Manila are immediately submerged in knee-deep flood. That might as well describe the state of the metropolis, with the governing agency— Metro Manila Development Authority—always helpless at the myriad problems besetting the capital region.

The onset of the rainy season should have prepared MMDA as well as the local government units running Metro Manila in de-clogging major waterways to prevent flash flood. They had all the time during the dry season to do the work. But the recent flash flood caused by thunderstorms that resulted in monstrous traffic jams in major thoroughfares has again proven that MMDA and the lGUs are not up to the job.

The rainy season and the violent storms that cut across the Philippines every year have often turned the country, especially Metro Manila, into a disaster zone due to lack of preparations.

Authorities, time and again, have been promising to mitigate the damage from typhoons and flooding in the capital region through more permanent solutions. The promised solutions, however, have not materialized. informal settlers, or squatters, remain along the major waterways of Metro Manila, in spite of formal studies that recommend their relocation to less hazardous areas. Their colonies have clogged rivers and other waterways and worsened the pollution problem in the capital region. their continued presence along the danger zones have also strained the resources of the government. Relocating them to temporary shelters and feeding entire families at the height of a typhoon or flood have been costing the government a lot. transferring the informal settlers to a permanent place and giving them decent homes through a socialized housing scheme is the ideal solution to this urban blight.

The government must act quickly to prevent a disaster waiting to happen. it should also be serious in managing the traffic in Metro Manila, with or without the heavy rain and flood. The traffic problem is costing the economy, and adding stress to the working Filipino.

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

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Barzaga is not stupid DAsMARiñAs, Cavite Rep. elpidio “Pidi” Barzaga thought he was saving his institution when he railed at three reporters of this newspaper and demanded that they reveal their sources in the long-running story involving suspected Chinese crime lord Wang Bo. He just came off as yet another self-important congressman who doesn’t know the law—or even the boundaries of decent parliamentary conduct. someone really should remind Barzaga that just because he’s a congressman doesn’t mean that he can browbeat journalists. especially journalists who were invited as resource persons to a House investigation on the Wang case. i’m glad that saner congressmen prevailed on Barzaga and convinced him not to pursue his attempt to cite the standard reporters for contempt for not revealing their sources just because he said so. There is, after all, something called the shield law, also known as Republic Act 1477. section 1 of the law in question, for Barzaga’s benefit, states that, “[w]ithout prejudice to his liability under civil and criminal

lowdown jojo a. robles

congress should place a higher priority on getting to the bottom of the matters it is investigating, rather than on taking offense at journalists.

laws, the publisher, editor, columnist or duly accredited reporter of any newspaper, magazine or periodical of general circulation cannot be compelled to reveal the source of any news report or information appearing in said publication which was related in confidence to such publisher, editor or reporter

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

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

Ma. Isabel “Gina” P. Versoza Head, Advertising Solutions Anita F. Grefal Treasury Manager Edgar M. Valmorida Circulation Manager

unless the court or a House or committee of Congress finds that such revelation is demanded by the security of the state.” either Barzaga is unfamiliar with this particular law—which is surprising, since he was a law professor and bar reviewer before he became a politician—or he’s just pretending to be stupid so he can bully some journalists. i first heard of Barzaga, who used to be mayor of Dasmariñas before he was elected congressman, during the impeachment trial in the senate of Chief Justice Renato Corona in 2012. Barzaga, as part of the House prosecution panel, was responsible for Article ii of the impeachment case, which accused Corona of “culpable violation of the Constitution and/or [betraying] the public trust when he failed to disclose to the public his statement of Assets, liabilities, and Net Worth as required [by] the 1987 Constitution.” it was the article that got Corona convicted in the senate, which may have inflated Barzaga’s sense of self-worth no end. After all, Barzaga did graduate magna

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

Continued on A11 Publisher Editor-in-Chief Managing Editor Associate Editors News Editor City Editor Senior Deskman Art Director Chief Photographer

A10 DECOMMISSIONING...

SAY WHAT? “Laying down our PENSEES arms was one of the toughest decisions we FR. RANHILIO have had to make”, CALLANGAN thus spake some of the 145 MiLF members AQUINO de-commissioned in rites that the incredulous rightly ignored. So, we are in the MiLF’s debt now, for the favor they did us of surrendering their weapons and ceasing their armed struggle against the Republic of the Philippines? in the first place, by what right did they take up those arms that now they lay down to the applause of the gullible? The last time i checked, taking up arms against the State was a crime! and if the MiLF claims the swath of Mindanao land that will be known as Bangsamoro—if the draft BBL should ever make it into law—then 145 is most certainly miserly, even if one conceals embarrassment by characterizing the decommissioning as only a “start”. if it is in fact a start, it does not augur well for the process.

How is the Filipino to laud the surrender of the paltry weaponry that the administration now bears in triumphal procession as trophies of In the first place, by what right did its peace-making campaign when we still have to see the they take up those vital pieces of the weapons arms that now in the hands of the Fallen 44, they lay down to wrested by their killers, rethe applause of turned to the police? Why, the gullible? then, all the fanfare when all we get is loose change? The President apparently fell into some kind of a trance at the ceremonies—and left no doubt about what all the pomp and splendor over really nothing was about: if we have gone this far, he asked in his stupor, why should we lose heart and hesitate about going forward? Obviously, he was making clear that he was not amused by Senator Bongbong Marcos’ stalling on the passage of the draft BBL! But the charade by which the nation was regaled is the very reason why it is right that the Senate tread ever so cautiously, with utmost circumspection and yes, with becoming hesitation, if only to make up for the unmitigated vulgarity of the truly LOWER house. Why should we now be cast in the role of debtors to the MiLF, who owe it to them to concede their demands, as echoed to us faithfully by Miriam Ferrer and ging Deles? Demands not supplications, most certainly, and without a doubt, because Mr. iqbal—whoever he may in fact be—has reminded us that a diluted BBL would not be acceptable.

Mr. Marcos is asked to atone for the sins of Marcos, the Elder, towards the so-called Bangsamoro and not to stand in the way of the swift and untrammeled passage of the BBL. What sins?—and here, i am only echoing the erudite and incomparable Teddyboy Locsin. is it not they rather who sup with a group that has rattled swords, leaving out so many others in the cold—and out of the loop—who have in fact sinned so grievously, as they now hold themselves out as the harbingers of The Final Solution? and if anyone should be so brazen, not to say stupid, as to indict Christian Philippines for sins in history against Muslim Filipinos, then one starts a war of attribution one cannot win, because mention will have to be made too of the incessant raids by Muslims of Christianized settlements and the enslavement of so many baptized Filipinos whose liberty came at a price—ransom money, raised by different religious orders. History is tricky business and from it, one can always exhume the remains of the evils visited by either side on the other! The evidence does not support indictment in only

F R I D AY, J U N E 1 9, 2 0 1 5

OPINION lettertotheeditor@thestandard.com.ph

AMAzING AND MYSTErIOuS TO uS occasional local movie surfaced publicly as the charmFILIPINO fans and amateur political anaing Mrs. grace Poe-Llamanzares, PENSIONER a campaigner for Da King. By lysts, Senator grace L. Poe – as she HORACE had herself listed in the Senate dithen, she had studied and lived tEmPLO rectory - is one person associated quietly in the united States as an with many amazing and mysteriordinary naturalized american ous things. citizen.

The story of her life seems to have been written as events unfurled, Da King would lose that as a script intended for the movies with an ending election and die a frustrated man on December that would reveal her as the destined President 14, 2004.

Poe – not FPJ – whom we have waited for. gossip was aplenty that PgMa has stolen the Little of the life that she had gone through is presidency twice – firstly, from Erap, and secondbared publicly if based alone on the 212 words ly, from Da King - especially after she apologized that she used in her official Website. Much more publicly for her “Hello, garci” phone call. Out of have been told about her from internet postings, protest, her “Hyatt 10” cabinet members dramatitri-media interviews and articles, hearsay and cally resigned their posts en masse on July 8, 2005. gossip. nothing came out of these and PgMa reOn record, she was born on September 3, 1968 mained president until June 30, 2010. in iloilo City. it was also on that day when either But before that, on august 1, 2009, President Chayong or Edgardo Militar found her as a baby Cory died. She had become by then a beloved abandoned in the holy water font of Jaro Cathe- icon of democracy; the ensuing public mourning dral. Mysteriously, the then-archbishop of Jaro mysteriously catapulted her son Pnoy into the who baptized her was the future Jaime Cardinal presidency in less than a year.

Sin. Pnoy would appoint grace on October 10, Later that year in December, popular movie 2010 as chairperson of the Movie and Televiactress Susan Roces married action star Fernando sion Review and Classification Board. after all, Poe, Jr. They were so popular that then President she graduated from an exclusive girls’ schools in Ferdinand Marcos easily agreed to be their wed- Makati, attended the university of the Philippines ding sponsor. in Manila, earned a political science degree from not for long, Chayong decided for the sake of Boston College, and participated in debates and the young grace to give her to Tessie Ledesma political extra-curricular activities.

Valencia, an unmarried, childless heiress of a On June 30, 2013, Da King’s daughter became wealthy sugar baron from Bacolod. But when the senator after amazingly topping the senatorial child was six years old, Tessie would migrate to election. the united States and again give her up, this time as of today, Senator Poe has gained two years for legal adoption to her friends and movie idols of executive and two years of legislative expeSusan and FPJ. rience. She has “filed a number of bills, one of young grace Poe immediately became the which seeks to address the problem of hunger and mysterious subject of gossip that she was the love poverty among Filipino school children through child of FM and movie actress Rosemarie Sonora, the establishment of a standard lunch program in Susan’s younger sister. Rosemarie would soon mi- public schools.” grate to uS and have none of this silly tall tale inHave these prepared her enough for the presivolving her and FM. dency? Certainly, they are nothing when comThen, other amazing and mysterious things pared with the credentials of Vice President Jestarted happening in the country. jomar Binay, Secretary Mar Roxas and Mayor FM declared martial law in 1972 and ninoy Digong Duterte. But who knows - with a wellaquino was murdered in 1983. Thereafter, the chosen Cabinet, she could project herself a caworld-famous EDSa Revolution took place in pable president.

1986, and the plain housewife widow Cory aquiShe could be another President Cory who is no immediately became president. also articulate and an eloquent speaker. if she Joseph “Erap” Estrada was elected vice-presi- employs good speechwriters, she could also easily dent in 1992 and then president in 1998. alas, by mesmerize voters and the public.

2001, he became a casualty of the infamous EDSa President Cory also had less than six years of Revolution ii - deposed as president and impris- Philippine residency immediately before becomoned in his Tanay mountain resort. ing president, but this was justified - she and her as in the movies, “Pare” FPJ - known already family lived as political exiles in uS. Besides, she as Da King – attempted to save his buddy Erap never renounced her Philippine citizenship. by running in May 2004 against President gloria Senator Poe’s natural citizenship and residency Macapagal-arroyo. Once elected, Da King was would give her distracting legal headaches. expected to immediately free Erap.

Still, she is poised into becoming President it was during this campaign when grace re- Poe. isn’t that amazing and mysterious?

one direction! yes, by all means, peace negotiations must continue, and it is promising that Senator Marcos has promised to study the draft BBL, to consolidate all that he has heard from the sectors he called—who should have been listened to patiently and exhaustively at the outset, and then propose to his colleagues the re-working of those provisions that almost certainly will send scholars, patriots, and yes, the usual drove

of kibitzers, to the Supreme Court, or even tapping the so many networks of relations, friends, dependents, clients and favor-seekers to ensure a crushing and humiliating nO in the plebiscite.

But then again, would that not just be the catharsis we all need? rannie_aquino@sanbeda.edu.ph rannie_aquino@csu.edu.ph rannie_aquino@yahoo.com

F R I D AY, J U N E 1 9, 2 0 1 5

A11

OPINION lettertotheeditor@thestandard.com.ph

Poe toPs disturbing Poll if you believe the latest Pulse asia survey, Senator grace Poe will be the next president of the Philippines, in 2016.

The adopted daughter of the late actor fernando Poe Jr. is the choice of 30 percent of 1,200 respondents polled

by Pulse asia during May 30 to June 5, 2015. The 30 percent is equivalent to 15 million votes, assuming a voter turnout of 50 million on May 9, 2016.

Poe dislodged the longtime frontrunner, vice President Jejomar Binay, who was picked by just 22 percent of respondents, or by 11 million voters.

The freshman senator, a naturalized filipino and a naturalized american citizen, is ahead of Binay by some 4 million votes, a formidable margin that can be considered a landslide victory. compared with her 14 percent in the March 1-7 survey, Poe gained 16 percentage points, equivalent to 8 million votes in less than three months, or 2.7 million votes per month. at this rate, Poe looks like the winner in 2016. She will be Matuwid na daan, Part ii.

Binay, meanwhile, lost 7 percentage points during the same three-month period, the equivalent of 3.5 million votes, an erosion of 1.17 million votes per month. at this rate, the vP and long-time mayor of Makati could see all his votes evaporate on election day.

That, of course, is statistically, impossible. i figure Binay has a solid base of at least 20 percent, or 10 million voters, who will choose him whatever his

BARZAgA... From A8 cum laude from far Eastern university’s school of law, so you can’t say that he’s no good in legal matters.

So i don’t really believe that Barzaga is stupid, even if at times he looked that way in his senseless rant against this newspaper’s reporters at the house last Tuesday. More likely, Barzaga was just power-tripping, seeing if his bullying tactics will get some reporters to wilt under his intense questioning—like the chief Justice did, or so he’d like to think. *** i heard about Barzaga again just a few months ago. or, to be more accurate, i heard the congressman’s name

#failocracy

character—plunderer or no plunderer. a good campaign, marked by a full accounting of where he got all his money, could still catapult Binay to victory. Besides, the Pulse asia survey seemed calibrated to pummel Binay to the depths of unpopularity.

The Pulse asia poll was conducted at the height of allegations of corruption against the Binays. These allegations were epitomized by four major headline-grabbing events during the survey period, namely: —The report of the special panel of probers created by the office of the ombudsman to look into the alleged overpricing of the Makati city hall Building ii which seeks to indict vice President Binay, Makati city Mayor Jejomar Erwin Binay, Jr., other Makati city government officials and some private contractors for criminal and administrative charges arising from the illegal procurement and payment for the design and construction of the said building; —The decision of the court of appeals (ca) to grant a petition filed by the anti- Money laundering council (aMlc) to freeze the bank accounts of vP Binay, Mayor Junjun Binay, former Makati city Mayor Elenita Binay, and some of the reported dummies of the vice President in connection with the investigations done by the office of the ombudsman concern-

ing the construction of the Makati city hall Building ii and Makati Science high School; —The continuation of the hearings conducted by the subcommittee of the Senate Blue ribbon committee regarding the alleged anomalies involving vP Binay, with Senator antonio Trillanes iv claiming that the PagiBig fund granted loans amounting to P 134 million to four real estate developers allied with the vice-President; —The signing of the Senate Blue ribbon Sub-committee report by at least ten senators finding the Binays culpable for overpricing the Makati Parking building by P1.2 billion. given the bleak environment against the Binays during the survey period, you can understand why the vice president turned into horse manure in the survey results. another evidence that makes the survey suspicious is the complete absence of Senator ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. from the list of those picked by voters represented by the respondents. in March, Bongbong bested the administration candidate Mar roxas, 6 percent vs. 4 percent. Bongbong was no. 6; Mar no. 7. in the May-June survey, Bongbong got exactly zero. Mar is suddenly no. 4, with 10 percent, behind 1. Poe 30; 2. Binay 22;

mentioned in connection with a drug raid in his hometown of dasmariñas. agents of the national Bureau of investigation arrested the congressman’s grandson, harrel Barzaga, 39, during the raid at the Barzaga family compound in Pasong lawin village in the city last feb. 8.

Prior to staging the raid, the nBi raiding team said it had received information that the younger Barzaga and other drug users regularly held “shabu” sessions inside the compound.

Because Barzaga is a congressman, reporters naturally sought his reaction to the story of the drug raid inside his family compound. The lawmaker made the right noises, saying that he would

not interfere with his grandson’s case because “the rule of law must prevail and the legal process is being implemented” —proving yet again my contention that he is not stupid.

But i’m pretty sure Barzaga was embarrassed by the incident. and i’m almost certain that the widely reported nBi raid made him think of journalists as his enemies and vow to himself that he would get even with them when the opportunity arose.

Well, the congressman had his chance last Tuesday, but i’m sorry to say that he wasn’t able to exact revenge. Maybe he’ll do better in the future. in the meantime, i hope Barzaga’s dubious contribution to the Wang Bo hearings doesn’t encourage other

VIRTUAL REALITY TONY LOPEZ

3. rodrigo duterte 15; 4. Joseph Estrada, who tied roxas’ 10 percent. no. 6. is Senator Miriam Santiago 6 percent; no. 7 Senator alan Peter cayetano 2 percent, no. 8 Panfilo lacson 2 percent; with camilo Sabio and roy Señeres bringing up the rear with insignificant votes. can you believe that Sabio and Señeres will be remembered first by voters ahead of Bongbong Marcos? This is a man who has a 98 percent name recall and was no. 3 among senatorial choices of respondents when asked who they will vote for senator in the same poll, with 54.2 percent, behind no. 1 Ping lacson 67.4 percent and no. 2, Tito Sotto with 63.4 percent, and ahead by about 3.3 million votes over the no. 4, re-electionist Senator ralph recto with 47.6 percent and no. 5, comebacking Senator Kiko Pangilinan 46.9 percent. it appears to me Pulse asia did not list Marcos among the candidates from which the respondents were made to choose. finally, the 3 percent margin of error is disconcerting. Even more disturbing is the 6 percent margin of error outside Metro Manila. in my two semesters of statistics, a margin of error of more than 2 percent is not useful for analysis and management decision. a 6 percent margin of error is simply garbage.

So you can say Binay, as well as Bongbong, were victims of BS. biznewsasia@gmail.com lawmakers to try and get back at journalists who are actually working with them in the quest for truth and better governance. of course, i know congress can’t really be expected to jump for joy when some of their members are accused of improper behavior, like accepting bribes from shady characters like Wang.

But congressmen who place a higher priority on getting to the bottom of the matters they are investigating, rather than on taking offense at imaginary damage caused by journalists to their institution, should restrain colleagues of theirs like Barzaga. it’s the cavite congressman who is guilty of contemptuous behavior—and that was clear to all who watched him last Tuesday.

chong ardivilla

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Drought goes on, but Cavs optimistic CLEVELAND—Lebron James warned Cleveland sports fans to expect a long rebuilding process when he returned to his hometown NBA club last July, then lifted them two wins shy of a title.

So long-suffering supporters are coping somewhat well to the fact their 51-year major pro sports title drought remains ongoing after the Golden State Warriors beat the Cavaliers four games to two in the best-of-seven NBA Finals.

With two of their top players sidelined by injuries and James trying to will a reserve lineup to a crown, the Cavs made the NBA’s winningest team and best scorers sweat before finally fading.

“When you fall short it hurts and eats at you,” James said. “I wish I could have done better and done more to help us get over the hump. But it just wasn’t our time.

“You’ve got to be healthy.

You’ve got to be playing great at the right time.

You’ve got to have a little luck. We were playing great but we had no luck and we weren’t healthy.”

Brazilian big man Anderson Varejao suffered a torn Achilles tendon in December so the Cavaliers

traded for Russian center Timofey Mozgov, who became a crucial inside force.

Cleveland obtained Iman Shumpert and J.R. Smith from New York, castoffs who became key support players around James.

Then came the post-season injuries. All-Star forward Kevin Love suffered a separated shoulder in the first round of the playoffs and Kyrie Irving suffered a fractured kneecap in the finals opener. Both should be ready for next season, when title hopes will

spring anew.

“This is a process,” Cavaliers coach Dave Blatt said.

“You don’t wake up one morning and fall out of bed and expect to win the NBA championship. You hope that you can but it doesn’t always work that way and our guys did more than anyone could expect to put themselves and put our organization in this situation.

“It’s tough to lose. Not every story has a happy ending. It doesn’t mean it’s a bad story. This was not. This was a good story. And I’m appreciative to everyone that was part of this.”

The finals had the highest US television ratings since Michael Jordan’s final

championship run with the Chicago Bulls in 1998, producing excitement and electricity to see how far James could carry his team.

Had Irving and Love been healthy, a thrilling series might have been one for the ages.

“The injuries they suffered were just too much,” Warriors coach Steve Kerr said. “This would have been a different series with Kyrie and Kevin Love. They had a phenomenal year.”

Blatt, a long-time coach in Europe hired a year ago after a Euroleague title run with Maccabi Tel Aviv, made the most of his first season in the NBA but had no magic to replace lost talent. AFP

The Cleveland Cavaliers are shown during Game 6 of the 2015 NBA Finals against the Golden State Warriors at Quicken Loans Arena in Cleveland, Ohio.

AFP

Hamilton set for record bid SPIELBERG, Austria—Fresh from his ‘bounce-back’ win at the Canadian Grand Prix, defending champion and series leader Lewis Hamilton has a chance to continue his triumphant – and record-breaking – form at this weekend’s Austrian Grand Prix.

The two-time champion can, on Sunday, equal a 45-year-old record set by fellow-Briton Jackie Stewart if he leads the 71-laps race to be held at the Red Bull Ring amid the forests and valleys of the Styrian Alps.

Hamilton’s win for Mercedes at Montreal represented the 16th consecutive race that he has led, dating back to last year’s Hungarian Grand Prix.

One more and he draws level with three-time champion Stewart who reeled off 17 in succession from 1968 to 1971.

His Canadian success also enabled him to erase memories of the Mercedes’ team’s Monaco mistake and restore his lead in the championship this year to 17 points ahead of Mercedes team-mate German Nico Rosberg, the pair delivering a 20th one-two finish for the modern ‘Silver Arrows’ team. AFP

Federer stays on track for 8th Halle title HALLE, Germany—Roger Federer kept his chances of an eighth title at Halle on track when he overpowered Latvian Ernests Gulbis 6-3, 7-5 on Wednesday to breeze into the quarter-finals.

The 33-year-old, 17-time Grand Slam winner was pushed to three sets in the previous round by Philipp Kohlschreiber but had

fewer problems with Gulbis.

He will now meet Germany’s Florian Mayer, who defeated American Steve Johnson 6-3, 7-6 (7/4).

Federer joked that he was in better form than world number one Novak Djokovic -- the man he lost against in last year’s Wimbledon final.

“Yes, because I’ve won two

matches on grass and he hasn’t won any yet,” said the Swiss in reference to Djokovic’s decision not to play a grass-court event before Wimbledon.

“Kidding aside, yes, I hope to be competitive. I hope I’m going to be in good shape. I hope we play against each other (at Wimbledon). AFP

Broner trained

by Floyd

By Ronnie Nathanielsz ADRIEN Broner claimed that Floyd Mayweather Jr. is helping him train for his fight against a former sparring partner of Manny Pacquiao on Sunday (Manila time) in Las Vegas.

The 25-year-old Broner faces Shawn Porter at a catch-weight of 144lbs, with both fighters desperate to avoid a second career defeat.

Sky Sports in Britain said Broner suffered “a shattering loss to Marcos Maidana in December, 2013.”

“The blemish against (Marcos) Maidana was an important indicator of Broner’s ability to take punishment, but continue fighting. In an exciting contest, the Argentine knocked down Broner in the second round with a hard left hook. But Broner showed resilience against one of boxing’s top stars, even after a knockdown in the eighth round and a controversial head-butt

by Maidana moments later. Though Maidana won convincingly, Broner proved he could endure 12 rounds of punishment and finish a fight with some impressive flurries. That experience may serve him well against Porter,” the International Business Times’ Bobby Ilich reported.

Broner was being picked by many as the successor to the undefeated Mayweather -- a five-division world champion unbeaten in 48 fights and the current pound-for-pound No.1.

According to Sky Sports, Broner said Mayweather is taking a keen interest in helping him prepare to face Porter, who handed over his International Boxing Federation welterweight title to Kell Brook 10 months ago after a majority decision defeat in Carson, California.

GMA7 airs ONE Championship

Horse-racing enthusiasts are accompanied by their partners during the second leg of the Triple Crown Stakes race in honor of the late Tarlac solon Enrique Cojuangco Sr. at the Sta. Ana Saddle and Club in Naic, Cavite. DANNY PATA

GMA-7 airs this Sunday the One Championship 26, bringing the action to MMA fans who want to relive the most intense fight of the year.

Kapuso actor Rocco Nacino, who previously co-hosted with Mark Zambrano for the URCC 25 in 2014, will be hosting this event for the GMA broadcast at 10:40 p.m.

The event dubbed as “Valor of Champions” took place last April 24 at the SM Mall of Asia Arena, and was attended by many MMA fans in the country.

One Championship, previously known as ONE Fighting Championship or ONE FC, is a Singapore-based mixed martial arts promotion that was founded in July 2011. Ever since, ONE Championship has held over 20 events to date.

The Bantamweight Division or the fight between Casey Suire, Top Ranked SMMAC Lightweight and part of Phuket Top Team, and Mark Streigl, Asian MMA Superstar and part of Evolve MMA, is the most awaited division of this event.

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Prince Harry of Wales (3rd from right) poses with (from left) Prince Maleen Bolkiah, Gonzalito Pieres, Mikee Romero, Vichai Srivadhanaprabha, Princess Azemah Bolkiah, Top Srivadhanprabha, and world No.1 Facundo Pieres after the charity match.

Bombers boost roster

JOSE Rizal University wants to improve its Final Four finish last year after beefing up its roster in the pre-season in time for the 91st National Collegiate Athletic Association basketball tournament unfolding on June 27 at the Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay City.

The Bombers shored up their backcourt by getting former starting guard Paolo Pontejos back and rookie Mark dela Virgen into the fold. They added inside muscle in African Abdel Poutouochi to back up Rassak Abdul Wahab in the frontcourt.

It produced impressive results after JRU topped Group A in the a cage event and eventually made it to the playoff round.

They then reigned supreme in the just concluded Fr. Martin Summer Cup with a win over University Santo Tomas.

“We lost some key players

this year, but good thing we got several replacements who could help us fill the void,” said Jose Rizal coach Vergel Meneses referring to bruiser Michael Mabulac and sharpshooter Philip Paniamogan, who already played out their eligibility years.

Pontejos, who was a starter two years ago, should be an important part of the rotation, although Meneses said he will come off the bench since he will be starting a much-improved Trey Teodoro.

“Pao’s return gives the team more flexibility because he will be the spark plug of our

second team,” said Meneses.

The 6’10” Poutouochi, for his part, boosts Jose Rizal’s interior defense as his game resembles that of the 6’8” Abdul Wahab, who was a menacing defensive presence last year and helped the team make it as far as the Final Four.

And with Dela Virgen, a gem of an acquisition from Jose Rizal’s high school team, expect bigger things for the Bombers.

“Our goal is to make the Final Four first and then we can start thinking of the finals,” said Meneses.

JRU captures Fr. Martin crown

By Peter Atencio PAOLO Pontejos and Dave Sanchez led the Jose Rizal University Heavy Bombers to a 73-65 victory over the University of Santo Tomas-B GrowlingTigers last Wednesday to claim the men’s division crown of the 21st Fr. Martin Summer Cup basketball tournament.

Pontejos and Sanchez had 13 points each for the Heavy Bombers, who emerged unbeaten after finishing their pre-season campaign with nine straight wins when action ended at the Arellano University gymnasium in Legarda, Manila.

After sweeping their seven-game elimination round assignment, the Heavy Bombers went on to beat the University of the East Red Warriors, 53-45, in the semifinals to arrange a titular showdown with the Growling Tigers.

Ed Daquioag and Louie Vigil tallied 18 points for the Growling Tigers, who reached the finals after they hurdled the San Beda-B Red Lions, 75-72, in the semis.

Meanwhile, the National University Lady Bulldogs leaned on free throws of Rheina Itessi and Gemma Miranda in repulsing the UST Tigresses, 81-79, in double overtime for the women’s plum.

Itessi and Rissa Mae Paig made 13 points apiece for the Lady Bulldogs, who forced the first overtime off Jaq Animan’s drive, 66-all.

John Lloyd Clemente had 17 points, while Daniel Atienza made 15 points for the NU Bullpups, who turned back San Beda-A, 71-56, to claim the junior division honors.

The Heavy Bombers banked on the imposing defensive presence of 6’8” Nigerian Abdulrazak Abdulwahab as they took charge in the closing minutes of the first half.

Back-to-back baskets from Abdulwahab, who only had four points, touched off a decisive 9-0 run, allowing the Heavy Bombers to move away from 2420 edge to 33-20 spread in the last 3:50.

Pontejos scored a couple of triples in the last 5:12 to frustrate UST’s late rally in the remaining 5:12, 68-55.

Ed Daquioag and Louie Vigil had 18 points for the Tigers, who last threatened, 68-62, in the remaining four minutes before JRU stayed firm with its defense underneath.

“The boys got confident with their run of wins during the eliminations and semifinals. I told the boys that if we got it, why not get the championship also,” said JRU coach Vergel Meneses.

Romero invited to play at Royal Charity Polo tilt GLOBALPORT owner Mikee Romero, upon the invitation of the Buckingham Palace, took part in the recent Royal Charity Polo Cup at the Billingbear Polo Club in Windsor, United Kingdom – an event that was so fulfilling and memorable for the country’s polo patron.

It was also a historic one for the country since Romero was the first-ever Filipino polo player to be invited in the annual event that supports two United Kingdombased charities – Walking with the Wounded for Soldiers and English Schools Association.

“I’m honored to be a part of the noble project,” said Romero, who was also a part of the Philippine delegation during the 2012 London Games.

Both charities are also being supported by Prince Harry of Wales, who led the Kingpower Foxes to a thrilling 8-7 win over Kingpowe Leichster by scoring two goals.

Aside from providing help to the charities and meeting Prince Harry in the event witnessed by

UK’s prominent and wealthy businessmen, Romero also got a rare opportunity of playing against the world’s No. 1 polo player Facundo Pieres of Argentina.

“In basketball, it’s like having LeBron James and Stephen Curry as your playing mates,” said Romero.

“I’m going to treasure this once-in-a lifetime experience. My long trip was really worth it.”

The charity event that was sponsored by Kingpower of Thailand was able to raise 150,000 pounds.

Aside from Prince Harry, other members of the Kingpower Foxes were Princess Azemah Bolkiah of Brunei, Top Srivadhanaprbha of Thailand and Facundo Pieres.

Kingpower Leichster City was comprised by Romero, Tal Srivadhanaprbaha of Thailand, Prince Mateen Bolkiah of Brunei and world No.2 Gonzalito Pieres.

The charity match was the kick off event of the Queen’s Cup – the world’s most prestigious polo tournament.

Bajar named UP coach FORMER San Beda Red Lion and Philippine Basketball Association cager Rensy Bajar has taken over the helm as head coach of the University of the Philippines Fighting Maroons for the coming University Athletic Association of the Philippine wars with Joe Ward and Allan Gregorio as assistant coaches.

Bajar confirmed that he had met recently with UP team manager Dan Palami, who informed him of the decision to make him head coach following the recent victory of the Maroons, representing Quezon City, at the recently concluded Filsport Basketball Association, where they shocked the top-seeded Foton Tornadoes .

Prior to the finals, UP had to knock out Racal Motors to earn its slot in the finals. Lito Cinco

Marathon launched. MILO 2014 Marathon Queen and recent Southeast Asian Games marathon silver medalist Mary Joy Tabal (left) and Nestle Philippines (Beverages Unit) Business Exec. ManagerSherilla Bayona are shown during Thursday’s launching of the 39th MILO Marathon at the Bayview Hotel in Manila. EY ACASIO

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Breakthrough win for Ababa SARAH Ababa survived a late foldup with gutsy pars then pounced on Chihiro Ikeda’s bogey on the 17th to nail her maiden win on the ICTSI Ladies Philippine Golf Tour, ruling the ICTSI Sherwood Ladies Championship by two strokes despite a closing 75 at the Sherwood Hills Golf Club yesterday.

“It’s a great feeling winning for the first time,” said Ababa, who fended off Ikeda and Korean amateur Hwang Min Jeong’s early charge with clutch pars to pull away by three at the front. “I’ve been looking for this one for a long time.”

But Ababa had to buck a shaky windup to annex her first win in the threeyear-old tour sponsored by ICTSI, closing out with three pars from long range and watching Ikeda fumble with a late bogey. She pocketed the top purse of P100,000 with a 54-hole total of 220, four-over par over a course that played tough in all three days.

Ikeda actually tied Ababa at the helm after four holes

but a double-bogey on No. 5 and a bogey on the ninth dropped her farther back by three at the turn. She pulled to within one again with two holes left after Ababa stumbled with a bogey on No. 13 and dropped two strokes on the par-5 15th but mishit her approach shot on the par-4 17th and failed to return a six-footer for par.

She also ended up with a 75 and with Hwang, finished the way they began the final round—two shots behind.

“I’m happy with the result since it’s been a long time since I wound up second.

I’ll just try to make up in the next leg,” said Ikeda, who shared runner-up honors with Hwang, who also had a 75, at 222. They halved the

combined P110,000 prize.

ICTSI Riviera leg winner Cyna Rodriguez closed out her stint in the fifth leg of the eight-stage circuit organized by Pilipinas Golf Tournaments, Inc. the way she started it—struggling —as the reigning Order of Merit champion skied to a 77 and turned in her worst finish of 15-over 231 for fourth.

Anya Tanpinco limped with an 80 and placed fifth at 233, Korean Kim So Un made an 81 for sixth at 234, Koh Eu Na, another Korean amateur, stood a shot farther back at 235 after a 78 while Thai Amolkan Phalajivin rebounded with a 76 for a 236.

Ikeda and Hwang moved within one early as Ababa started out with a missedgreen bogey with Ikeda tying Ababa with a birdie on the par-5 No. 4 for the third straight day. But the Fil-Japanese shotmaker made a double-bogey on the fifth and bogeyed the ninth for a 38, the same output put in by Hwang as the duo fell by three heading to the backside.

Sarah Ababa hoists her first ICTSI LPGT trophy after topping the Sherwood Ladies Championship.

Casimero ready to fight Thai to the death

By Ronnie Nathanielsz INTERNATIONAL Boxing Federation flyweight mandatory challenger Johnreil Casimero is ready to fight to the death when he battles Thai champion Amnat Ruenroeng in Bangkok on June 27.

“I’ll fry Amnat like the fish I am now cooking,” said Casimero, before letting out a hearty laugh when The New Standard/boxingmirro.com got in touch with him and trainer Jhun Agrabio at their apartment in Las Vegas.

Casimero had finished a light training session and according to Agrabio, it was geared towards speed.

They plan to have Casimero spar 10 rounds on Thursday (Manila Time) at the Roy Jones Gym in Las Vegas, with a super flyweight sparring partner provided by Sean Gibbons.

Casimero was in a light-hearted mood, but said he was mentally and physically ready for whatever Ruenroeng brings to the ring.

The former IBF light flyweight

champion has been training hard over the past two months and is confident of emerging as a two-division world champion on June 27.

Meantime, over in Tokyo, British trainer Warren Evison said that World Boxing Organization Oriental super flyweight champion Warlito Parrenas “is looking really good” in training at the United International Promotions Gym. Parrenas said he will go for a knockout if he sees an opening when he faces Mexico’s David Car-

mona in their Interim title fight on July 4 in Mexico City.

Ranked No. 1, Parrenas is training very hard and is determined to win the Interim crown from Carmona, who is ranked No. 2 and is a good fighter.

Parrenas added he continues to spar with former Oriental Pacific Boxing Federation champion, 30-year-old Takuya Kogawa, whom he described as “a smart fighter with very fast hands and you have to be in condition which is good for my stamina.”

Ginebra’s Greatest 5 DENNIS PRINCIPE

SPORTS CHAT IN our previous column, we talked about the greatest starting unit of the San Miguel Beermen, which to date is the league’s winningest ballclub.

This time, we will be dissecting the greatest starters that played for crowd favorite Brgy. Ginebra San Miguel.

The team entered the league in 1979 and has won eight PBA crowns, four under its iconic player-coach Robert Jaworski.

And like San Miguel, we expect a heated but healthy discussion about this column’s choices and yours.

C enter—MARLOU AQUINO I can’t think of anyone who can claim this posi-

tion from the Santa Barbara, Pangasinan-native beanpole.

Aquino was the top pick overall in 1996 and eventually won the Rookie of the Year award after averaging 17.9 points, 9 rebounds and 2.8 blocks that season.

Though he led Ginebra to only one PBA crown in his four-year stint, he consistently maintained his impressive averages until he was traded to Sta. Lucia in 2000.

While the likes of EJ Feihl, Wilmer Ong, Romulo Mamaril and even Manny Victorino made big contributions to the team, it cannot be denied that Aquino is head and shoulders above these bigs.

Power Forward – CHITO LOYZAGA A very touchy position

to discuss because a good number of the league’s best power forwards played for Ginebra namely Noli Locsin, Rey Cuenco, Kerby Raymundo, Rudy Hatfield, Philip Cezar and even Sonny Cabatu.

Loyzaga played for Ginebra from 1986 until he retired in 1993 and was an all-defensive team member seven times in his career, six of which he got while under Jaworski.

Loyzaga also won four PBA titles with Ginebra and played the position especially during importlaced conferences.

Forward—DONDON AMPALAYO Like the four spot, this position is also a very tough debate.

However, Ampalayo seems to be a valid pick since apart from being a

Rookie of the Year awardee in 1996, he was part of three Ginebra championships in 1986, 1988 and 1991.

Some would argue that Ampalayo was more of a power forward but the player they christened “Magic Man” slid down to the three spot whenever he was on the court together with Loyzaga.

Dante Gonzalgo is also a player worth mentioning in this position.

Shooting guard— MARK CAGUIOA Caguioa came at a time when pundits felt Ginebra’s downfall as crowd darlings was about to start since Jaworski left the team in 1998.

The US-raised shooting guard instantly became a household name when he was chosen as the 2001 Rookie of the Year, raising

hopes that Ginebra would soon see the birth of a new charismatic leader.

Slowly but surely, Caguioa built a Jaworski-esque aura since by leading the squad to four PBA crowns between 2004 and 2008.

Caguioa was named Most Valuable Player in 2011.

Point Guard—JAYJAY HELTERBRAND For someone who witnessed Bal David’s immense popularity in the 90s, this choice would most likely earn the ire of a lot of longtime Ginebra diehards.

While David may be more popular, Helterbrand easily gets this spot for being a four-time PBA champion and a one-time MVP, while playing for Ginebra since 2000 up to the present.

ABS Sports+ Action now aired by TFC THE Filipino Channel formally welcomes ABS-CBN Sports + Action in its worldwide roster of premium channels this month to provide more male-oriented content including action-packed TV programs and movies for overseas Filipinos around the world to enjoy.

Taking the spot of BRO channel, ABS-CBN Sports + Action is a maleskewed channel that highlights sports and male entertainment, from high octane live events in the biggest sporting arenas to extreme sports in the outdoors, as well as exciting programs on leisure, action-packed movies, and laugh-out loud comedy programs.

ABS-CBN Sports + Action offers more content to answer the clamor of millions of OFs who, after a hard-day’s work, would want to sit back, relax, and enjoy their preferred content, true to its tag “Work Hard. Play Harder.”

ABS-CBN Global Content Head Ned Legaspi affirms that the purpose of the transition of the channel, aside from ABS-CBN’s thrust to be in the service of Filipinos worldwide, is to be aligned with the ABS-CBN Sports + Action channel in the Philippines in providing the niche market an action-filled entertainment.

“We rolled out ABS-CBN Sports + Action worldwide to provide our valued subscribers with an escape from daily realities and a venue for selfexpansion through content that will reward them for a hard day’s work, entertain them with choice content and provide new information that will help them discover their own life adventure,” Legaspi said. “The channel is going to be every viewers’ high-power, high-energy channel that will provide adrenaline rush with action-packed sports programming, male-skewed entertainment, and male-interest features.”

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LOTTO RESULTS

KIA, Talk ‘N Text, NLEX in must-win situations

By Jeric Lopez

THE jockeying for position intensifies as three teams still in the running for a spot in the quarterfinals plunge back to action facing must-win situations in the homestretch of the 2015 Philippine Basketball Association Governors’ Cup. Both in the bottom half and in danger of missing out on the playoffs, KIA Motors (4-5) and Talk ‘N Text (4-6) will figure in a very important game at 4:15 p.m. at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.

The match may determine whether they’ll move forward or not, In the succeeding game, NLEX, which only has a very slim chance of making it in the Top 8, wants to keep its bleak shot at the quarters alive when it takes on already ousted Blackwater at 7 p.m.

The victor between the Carnival and the Tropang Texters will have one foot in the quarterfinals and its

bid for the Top 8 will certainly be enhanced.

On the other hand, the loser, especially if Talk ‘N Text, will take a huge hit to the point that it’ll most likely be eliminated.

Currently holding the eighth and last playoffs berth, KIA, which still has two games left including this one against Talk ‘N Text, will be able to boost its bid with a huge win as it tries to hold on despite recent setbacks after dropping its last two outings.

This is the Tropang Texters’ last game in the eliminations and it is really make or break time

for the Commissioner’s Cup the third of its last four games champions.

The Tropang against Rain or Shine, 94-90, just Texters haven’t been playing the other night. championship For the Road basketball this Warriors to Games Friday conference, at least have a (Smart Araneta Coliseum) having lost five 4:15 p.m. • Kia vs. Talk ‘N Text shot at making of their last six 7 p.m. • Blackwater vs. NLEX it, they would games to sink all need to sweep the way to ninth place. their remaining two games Should Talk ‘N Text win, and hope that the results of all it will swap places with KIA the remaining games of the and take the No. 8 position lower placed teams favor them momentarily and will just await quotient wise. the results of the remaining NLEX’s fate isn’t exactly in its games of other teams to find hands at this point given that out its fate. even if it wins its last two games, ‘’We’re not playing well and it will not be assured of a slot in this is the time for us now to the quarters. come together. We need to win However, a defeat for NLEX to have a good chance of making will immediately take it out of it in the playoffs,’’ said Talk ‘N the equation as it will be ousted Text coach Jong Uichico. outright.

Talk ‘N Text fell to the Star The Road Warriors are on Hotshots, 105-93, last Tuesday a three-game slide, while the as its slump continued, while woeful Elite will come in with a Kia lost its second in a row and five-game losing streak.

Barangay Ginebra forward Japeth Aguilar hangs on to the rim after a dunk, leaving his Barako Bull defenders helpless in a PBA Governors’ Cup game won by the Gin Kings, 120-98.

De La Hoya rejects Floyd’s offer

By Ronnie Nathanielsz THE moment Oscar De La Hoya mentioned he was thinking of returning to the ring, undefeated pound-for-pound king Floyd Mayweather Jr. quickly offered to give him a rematch when the American returns to the ring on Sept. 12 at the MGM Grand Garden Arena.

Mayweather’s close friend, journalist Ben Thompson said this during an appearance at his Las Vegas gym to promote the showdown between Adrien Broner and Shawn Porter.

“I mean, if he wants to, we can rock and roll in September. He already knows that. He said he wanted the rematch, so if Oscar wants it, he can get it in Septem-

ber,” said Mayweather, who offered to fight at 154 pounds.

However, De La Hoya shot down the proposal, which he actually initiated by suggesting that he was thinking of a comeback when he said: “So I hear Floyd wants to give me a rematch now.

Our first fight had a rematch clause. It had to take place within the year. He retired a year and one day.”

Hours after making that statement, De La Hoya posted a short video on his official Instagram page, turning the offer down. “Look, I’m retired, I’m happy, I’m content. I’m never coming back. I’m gonna continue growing Golden Boy.” The first meeting between Mayweather and the light mid-

dleweight and the six-division champion De La Hoya had long been anticipated. It took place on May 5, 2007 in Las Vegas, with De La Hoya’s title at stake and Mayweather required to move up in weight from 147 to 154.

On the night of the fight, De La Hoya weighed 10 pounds heavier than Mayweather, who came in at 150 pounds, but still won a split decision although many of the boxing writers at ringside and fight fans at the venue felt the American deserved to win by a unanimous decision in a showdown that set a record of 2.7 million buys on pay-per-view, which was erased by the 4.4 million PPV buys for the Mayweather-Manny Pacquiao Fight of the Century last May 2, which Mayweather won.

6/49 00-00-00-00-00-00 P0.0 M+ 6/42 00-00-00-00-00-00 P0.0 M+ 6 DIGITS 00-00-00-00-00-00 3 DIGITS 00-00-00 2 EZ2 00-00

Anytime Fitness shows upward trend in wellness ANYTIME Fitness offered franchise opportunity to people looking for a healthy investment at the recent International Franchise Expo held at the SMX Convention Center.

Its participation was supported by The Finix Corporation, one of the pioneers in providing the latest top-of-the-line exercise machines to a wide spectrum of the local market for the last 20 years, and one its flagship brands Precor Fitness Equipment.

“Our objective is to educate the franchising community about our unique business model and show them the promising upward trend in health and wellness and why Anytime Fitness is such an amazing investment,” said` Johannes Raadsma, Director of Anytime Fitness Philippines.

He added that the country is at an exciting turning point, where awareness of health and wellness is on the rise and the company is ready to change investors’ mindset with their unique business model.

About a year after it opened its first gym in the country in Pasig, Anytime Fitness has already gained a steady following among Filipinos in spite of the fact that the company has no celebrity endorser.

Its success, said Raadsma, can be attributed largely to the company’s business model that leverages on convenience, affordability and variety in programs. In fact, Anytime Fitness caters to different forms of group fitness ranging from martial arts-based programs to yoga, zumba and HIIT (High Intensity Training). It also offers core exercise programs for those who just want to work out and keep fit.

To know more about Anytime Fitness, check out (Head office: Unit 604 DMG Center, 52 Domingo M. Guevarra St. Mandaluyong City 0927560694, 09985265415 and 09295804083. Website: www.anytimefitness. ph, Instagram: @anytimefitnessphilippines, Facebook:www.facebook.com/AnytimeFitnessPhilippines. To see the latest Precor products, like www.facebook.com/anytimefitnesshighstreet and follow @anytimefitnesshighstreet). Also check out www.finixcorp.com and www.facebook.com/finixcorp

Binay lauds SEA Games athletes

By Peter Atencio BOTH government and the private sector must develop a strong bond in support of Filipino athletes competing in international meets.

Vice President Jejomar Binay said this as he commended Filipino athletes for their performance in the recent 28th Southeast Asian Games in Singapore.

“We should therefore encourage stronger partnerships between government and the private sector in sports, from infrastructure development to the training of our athletes,” said Binay in a statement.

Binay said government should give priority to building a grassroots sports development program anchored on partnership with the private sector to ensure that athletes from the provinces with potential will also have the chance to be discovered and trained.

He lauded the Philippine contingent which saw action in the 28th Southeast Asian Games, saying that they have done the country proud.

Team Philippines brought home a total of 131 medals.

“Once again, our athletes have done us proud. They are our heroes and remain our source of pride and inspiration,” said Binay in a statement.

The country, which had 472 athletes competing, placed sixth overall in the biennial meet and collected 29 gold medals, 36 silvers and 66 bronzes.

Thailand topped the overall medal tally for the second straight time with 95 golds, 83 silvers, and 69 bronzes.

“Our athletes carry the flag with them as they represent the entire nation in their respective fields and for this they deserve support from every Filipino,” said Binay.

CYAN MAGENTA YELLOW BLACK

B1

FRIDAY: JUNE 19, 2015

RAY S. EÑANO EDITOR

RODERICK T. DELA CRUZ ASSISTANT EDITOR

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

BUSINESS

Govt revenues dropped in April

By Gabrielle H. Binaday

GOVERNMENT revenues dropped 7 percent year-on-year in April while expenditures picked up during the peak collection month that marked the deadline for filing of income tax returns.

Data from the Finance Department showed the budget surplus fell 35 percent in April to P52.6 billion from P80.9 billion in the same month last year, mainly because of the timing of dividends from government-owned and controlled corporations, lower customs and investment income and faster government spending.

The April surplus reversed the fiscal deficit in the first three months, allowing the government to post a P19.1-billion budget sur-

plus in January to April.

Revenue collection fell 7 percent in April to P209.1 billion while collection in the first four months grew 9 percent.

Expenditures climbed 9 percent in April to P156.5 billion, while debt interest payments rose 17 percent. Spending in the first four months reached P660.6 billion, up by 5 percent from a year ago.

“We expect this improving pace to further accelerate as agencies continue to uncork the barriers to

faster government spending,” said Finance Secretary Cesar Purisima in a statement.

Netting out interest payments from expenditure, the government recorded a primary surplus of P68.3 billion in April and P135.4 billion in the first four months.

“The sound fiscal health of the country remains to solidify our place as Asia’s bright spot. Both houses of Congress have recently advanced priority economic bills, namely the Tax Incentives Management and Transparency Act, Fair Competition Act, and the easing of the Cabotage law, ensuring that we continue to grow with better policy environments,” Purisima said.

The Bureau of Internal Revenue posted a 3-percent growth in April collection to P160.8 billion, bringing the four-month tally to P467.9 billion, up 11 percent from a year ago.

Custom’s collection shrank 9 percent year-on-year to P28.141 billion in April, the first drop this year and short of the month’s target of P37.352 billion.

The Bureau of Treasury’s income fell 62 percent in April to P11.6 billion. Collections from other offices contributed P8.6 billion for the month.

“We are confident that the continued expansion of our fiscal space can support the growing spending needs of a booming economy. The reforms we have painstakingly put in place are showing results in due time,” Purisima said.

“We are working hard to, one can perhaps say, put a sixth R to our spending philosophy: we want to spend on right project, with the right quality, with the right people, at the right time, at the right cost, and at the right pace,” he said.

PSe comPoSite index Closing June 18, 2015

7800 7500 7200 6900 6600 6300

7,606.86 70.55

PeSo-dollar rate

Closing JUNE 18, 2015 47

P44.950

46

CLOSE

45 44 43

HIGH P44.950 LOW P45.065 AVERAGE P45.017 VOLUME 569.400M

ICTSI donation.

P480.00-P680.00 LPG/11-kg tank

Victoria International Container Terminal Ltd., a subsidiary of International Container Terminal Services Inc., presented Albert Park College with a Au$150,000 grant from its community investment fund to fit out a new marine research center in Port Melbourne, fund scholarships of 20 students and construct a commercial kitchen.

Shown are Albert Park College students accepting the check.

They are joined by (from left, back row) VICT media and community relations manager Claire Jordan-Whillans, Albert Park College School Council president Mark Sheppard, VICT operations manager Tony Desira, Albert Park College Foundation principal Steve Cook, VICT commercial experience manager Daniel Chen, VICT chief executive Anders Dommestrup and VICT secretary Olivia Jones.

P41.20-P47.85 Unleaded Gasoline P28.85-P32.20 Diesel

oPriceS il P today

P34.55-P39.15 Kerosene P23.70-P24.40 Auto LPG Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas Thursday, June 18, 2015

F oreign e xchange r ate Currency

Unit

US Dollar

Peso

United States

Dollar

1.000000

45.1380

Japan

Yen

0.008100

0.3656

UK

Pound

1.582100

71.4128

Hong Kong

Dollar

0.128989

5.8223

Switzerland

Franc

1.084834

48.9672

Canada

Dollar

0.817461

36.8986

Singapore

Dollar

0.748503

33.7859

Australia

Dollar

0.767401

34.6389

Bahrain

Dinar

2.652520

119.7294

Saudi Arabia

Rial

0.266667

12.0368

Brunei

Dollar

0.745712

33.6599

Indonesia

Rupiah

0.000075

0.0034

Thailand

Baht

0.029674

1.3394

UAE

Dirham

0.272272

12.2898

Euro

Euro

1.133500

51.1639

Korea

Won

0.000891

0.0402

China

Yuan

0.161041

7.2691

India

Rupee

0.015596

0.7040

Malaysia

Ringgit

0.266170

12.0144

New Zealand

Dollar

0.691181

31.1985

Taiwan

Dollar

0.032315

1.4586 Source: PDS Bridge

Vietnam clinches contract to supply 100,000 tons of rice to NFA

By Anna Leah E. Gonzales STATE-RUN National Food Authority Council awarded Vietnam the contract to supply 100,000 metric tons of rice under a government-to-government procurement deal.

NFA said in a statement its council approved in a special meeting on June 17 the awarding of contract for the supply of 100,000 MT of long-grain white rice, 25 percent brokens, to Vietnam based on the latter’s revised offer of $416.85 per MT.

The NFA Council accepted the revised offer of Vietnam after the NFA Committee on Governmentto-Government Procurement elevated the case.

The NFA Council is chaired

by Secretary Francis Pangilinan of the Office of the Presidential Assistant for Food Security and Agricultural Modernization,with Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas, Development Bank of the Philippines, Land Bank of the Philippines, Department of Finance, Department of Trade and Industry, National Economic and De-

CYAN MAGENTA YELLOW BLACK

velopment Authority, National Food Authority and a farmer’s representative as members.

The NFA earlier invited Cambodia, Thailand and Vietnam to supply the 100,000 metric tons of rice under a government-to-government deal.

Vietnam through Vinafood II, offered to supply the whole volume at $417 per MT during the bidding Tuesday.

Thailand offered to ship the volume at $418 per MT while Cambodia offered to supply 50,000 metric tons at $459.50 per MT.

CGGP then rejected all offers from the participating countries, claiming these were all beyond the government’s reference price of $408.14 per MT. NFA gave the three countries until 3 p.m. Tuesday to resubmit another offer.

Cambodia’s revised offer was $455.50 per MT while Thailand declined to submit a revised offer.

NFA said under the terms of reference of the government-togovernment importation, in the event that revised offers were submitted, these should be evaluated

on the basis of the lowest price.

The 100,000 MT is part of the 250,000 MT approved by the NFA Council for importation in preparation for the lean season when supply of rice is traditionally low and prices are high.

Under the law, the NFA has to maintain a 30-day buffer requirement beginning the lean month of July.

Vietnam was earlier awarded the supply of 150,000 metric tons of rice which is expected to arrive on July 15. The additional 100,000 metric tons is expected to arrive in the country by August 15.

FRIDAY: JUNE 19, 2015

B2

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

MST BuSineSS Daily STockS Review Thursday, June 18, 2015

52 Weeks

Previous

High Low 75.3 124.4 104 63 4.2 18.48 31.6 9.5 2.95 890 1.01 99.4 1.46 30.5 94.95 361.2 59 174.8 1700 127.9 3.26 47 5 1.66 2.36 15.3 20.6 32 65.8 4.57 23.35 21.6 12.98 9.13 12.34 17 31.8 109 15.3 9.4 0.98 241 12.5 3.95 4 45.45 33.9 90 13.98 292.4 5 5.25 13.04 7.03 3.4 4.5 6.68 8.1 253 3.28 0.315 2.68 226.6 1.3 2.17 0.7 59.2 31.85 7.39 3.4 3.35 800 11.06 84 3.35 5.14 0.66 1380 6.68 72.6 9.25 0.9 18.9 0.73 5.53 6.55 0.84 87 934 2.2 1.39 156 0.710 0.435 10.5 26.95 1.99 40 6.15 5.4 5.6

STOCKS

Close

High

Low

FINANCIAL 73.7 73.2 110.10 108.40 98.95 98.30 46 45.6 1.77 1.71 15.96 15.78 20.4 20.3 6.36 6.35 1.75 1.74 850.00 835.00 0.400 0.400 90.2 89.85 1 1 18.00 18.00 68.40 67.95 306.4 306 42 42 170 160.6 1501.00 1495.00 64.50 63.40 3.16 3.16 INDUSTRIAL 35.6 Aboitiz Power Corp.

44.5 44.7 44.2 1.6 Agrinurture Inc. 1.35 1.45 1.35 1.04 Alliance Tuna Intl Inc. 1.04 1.07 1.04 1.41 Alsons Cons.

1.95 1.98 1.95 7.92 Asiabest Group 10.52 10.6 10.4 14.6 Century Food 18.4 18.5 18.32 10.08 Cirtek Holdings (Chips) 27 27.2 27 29.15 Concepcion 58 58 58 Crown Asia 2.17 2.3 2.17 1.04 Da Vinci Capital 1.54 1.53 1.51 10.72 Del Monte 11.88 12 11.86 8.44 DNL Industries Inc. 18.680 19.200 18.8 9.79 Emperador 9.06 9.35 9.06 5.43 Energy Devt. Corp. (EDC) 7.35 7.51 7.40 9.54 EEI 10.04 10.10 10.00 8.61 Federal Res. Inv. Group 12.7 12.5 11.94 18.06 First Gen Corp.

25.5 25.7 25 67.9 First Holdings ‘A’ 83.7 85 83.9 13.24 Holcim Philippines Inc. 13.84 13.92 13.84 3.12 Integ. Micro-Electronics 6 6.1 5.98 0.395 Ionics Inc 0.510 0.510 0.510 168 Jollibee Foods Corp.

198.40 199.50 197.70 8.65 Lafarge Rep 9.88 9.9 9.8 2.3 LMG Chemicals 2.27 2.24 2.24 1.63 Mabuhay Vinyl 2.8 3.17 2.7 16 Macay Holdings 54.75 55.00 50.00 24.4 Manila Water Co. Inc. 24.8 25.5 25.15 16.2 Maxs Group 24.5 25 24.5 7.62 Megawide 6.35 6.5 6.35 250.2 Mla. Elect. Co `A’ 282.00 286.00 282.00 3.37 Panasonic Mfg Phil. Corp. 4.15 4.19 4.19 3.87 Pepsi-Cola Products Phil. 4.62 4.7 4.62 9 Petron Corporation 8.45 8.65 8.49 3.03 Phoenix Petroleum Phils. 4.05 4.06 3.93 2.22 Phoenix Semiconductor 2.12 2.09 2.00 1 Pryce Corp. `A’ 2.42 2.63 2.42 4.72 RFM Corporation 4.32 4.34 4.30 6 Roxas Holdings 6.2 6.38 6.12 201.6 San Miguel’Pure Foods `B’ 170 180 170 1.67 Splash Corporation 1.63 1.65 1.61 0.122 Swift Foods, Inc. 0.147 0.146 0.144 2.01 Trans-Asia Oil 2.23 2.22 2.20 143.4 Universal Robina 192 197.5 193 0.670 Vitarich Corp.

0.77 0.78 0.76 1.39 Vulcan Ind’l.

1.30 1.29 1.26 HOLDING FIRMS 0.45 Abacus Cons. `A’ 0.440 0.490 0.450 48.1 Aboitiz Equity 56.3000 57.0000 56.2000 20.85 Alliance Global Inc. 22.45 23.20 22.55 6.62 Anscor `A’ 6.80 6.80 6.80 1.4 ATN Holdings A 0.245 0.246 0.230 1.6 ATN Holdings B 0.245 0.245 0.245 600 Ayala Corp `A’ 780 803 782 7.390 Cosco Capital 7.82 8 7.92 14.18 DMCI Holdings 13.50 13.54 13.26 2.6 F&J Prince ‘A’ 3 3.44 3.44 4.25 Filinvest Dev. Corp.

4.50 4.50 4.46 0.144 Forum Pacific 0.217 0.247 0.204 818 GT Capital 1366 1386 1365 5.3 House of Inv. 6.70 6.69 6.49 46.6 JG Summit Holdings 69.70 71.80 69.75 4.43 Lopez Holdings Corp.

7.28 7.39 7.29 0.59 Lodestar Invt. Holdg.Corp. 0.69 0.7 0.69 12 LT Group 13.68 13.9 13.68 0.580 Mabuhay Holdings `A’ 0.61 0.63 0.62 4.22 Metro Pacific Inv. Corp. 4.6 4.6 4.51 4.5 Minerales Industrias Corp. 4.99 5.1 5 0.450 Prime Orion 1.470 1.590 1.420 66.7 San Miguel Corp `A’ 60.50 61.75 60.30 709.5 SM Investments Inc. 881.00 888.00 879.00 1.13 Solid Group Inc. 1.27 1.26 1.21 0.93 South China Res. Inc. 0.68 0.71 0.71 85.2 Top Frontier 80.550 84.950 80.400 0.200 Unioil Res. & Hldgs 0.3500 0.3550 0.3450 0.173 Wellex Industries 0.2130 0.2250 0.1990 PROPERTY 6.01 8990 HLDG 7.440 7.490 7.360 12 Anchor Land Holdings Inc. 7.68 8.42 7.97 0.91 A. Brown Co., Inc. 0.70 0.71 0.70 29.1 Ayala Land `B’ 38.60 39.05 38.85 4.1 Belle Corp. `A’ 3.38 3.49 3.4 4.96 Cebu Holdings 5.35 5.45 5.35 2.8 Cebu Prop. `A’ 5.62 6.3 6.3 66 84.6 84.5 45.8 2.03 12.02 23.55 6.3 1.75 625 0.225 78 0.9 18.02 76.5 276 45 107.6 1200 66 2.65

Asia United Bank Banco de Oro Unibank Inc. Bank of PI China Bank Bright Kindle Resources COL Financial Eastwest Bank Filipino Fund Inc. I-Remit Inc. Manulife Fin. Corp.

MEDCO Holdings Metrobank Natl. Reinsurance Corp.

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

73.65 108.40 98.30 45.75 1.75 15.8 20.1 6.31 1.76 850.00 0.400 89.55 1.01 17.90 68.15 306.4 42 160.7 1495.00 63.80 3.15

Close

%

Net Foreign

Change Volume

Trade/Buying

73.65 109.90 98.65 45.75 1.71 15.78 20.35 6.35 1.74 835.00 0.400 90.05 1 18.00 67.95 306 42 161 1495.00 63.50 3.16

0.00 1.38 0.36 0.00 -2.29 -0.13 1.24 0.63 -1.14 -1.76 0.00 0.56 -0.99 0.56 -0.29 -0.13 0.00 0.19 0.00 -0.47 0.32

25,040 2,096,250 1,684,370 12,000 7,000 12,400 76,600 10,300 17,000 220 150,000 1,890,750 7,600 7,600 8,870 30 59,600 524,250 195 14,180 1,000

44.45 1.45 1.04 1.97 10.4 18.38 27.1 58 2.21 1.52 11.86 18.900 9.13 7.49 10.00 12.4 25.35 83.9 13.84 6 0.510 198.30 9.85 2.24 2.9 54.75 25.25 24.85 6.35 282.00 4.19 4.62 8.50 4.02 2.04 2.6 4.30 6.12 170 1.64 0.146 2.21 197.5 0.76 1.29

-0.11 7.41 0.00 1.03 -1.14 -0.11 0.37 0.00 1.84 -1.30 -0.17 1.18 0.77 1.90 -0.40 -2.36 -0.59 0.24 0.00 0.00 0.00 -0.05 -0.30 -1.32 3.57 0.00 1.81 1.43 0.00 0.00 0.96 0.00 0.59 -0.74 -3.77 7.44 -0.46 -1.29 0.00 0.61 -0.68 -0.90 2.86 -1.30 -0.77

1,893,000 38,000 225,000 415,000 3,200 1,095,400 546,400 57,800 10,604,000 148,000 10,700 7,606,100 1,520,300 19,500,900 39,700 19,900 3,850,300 134,840 30,400 160,200 60,000 701,880 178,300 1,000 129,000 140 1,289,300 39,000 25,300 265,160 1,000 1,322,000 4,146,700 216,000 3,830,000 22,745,000 7,429,000 14,800 89,840 85,000 700,000 303,000 3,009,670 880,000 51,000

0.465 57.0000 23.05 6.80 0.246 0.245 799.5 7.94 13.46 3.44 4.50 0.235 1367 6.69 71.30 7.38 0.69 13.86 0.62 4.58 5.1 1.580 60.65 885.50 1.21 0.71 84.950 0.3500 0.2100

5.68 1.24 2.67 0.00 0.41 0.00 2.50 1.53 -0.30 14.67 0.00 8.29 0.07 -0.15 2.30 1.37 0.00 1.32 1.64 -0.43 2.20 7.48 0.25 0.51 -4.72 4.41 5.46 0.00 -1.41

1,520,000 738,720 5,102,600 31,000 270,000 20,000 516,140 1,306,000 8,867,000 1,000 43,000 4,810,000 251,170 20,600 2,568,510 1,027,100 2,000 2,196,400 104,000 12,760,000 70,000 41,927,000 99,900 289,430 32,000 13,000 230 1,220,000 6,630,000

7.440 8.42 0.71 38.90 3.49 5.43 6.3

0.00 9.64 1.43 0.78 3.25 1.50 12.10

44,200 1,900 851,000 3,757,800 1,012,000 843,600 1,000

1,504,797.00 43,339,924.00 -90,621,963.00 50,350.00 1,770.00 -129,605.00 42,050.00 44,864,401.50

52 Weeks

Previous

High Low

STOCKS

Close

7.1 1.54 1.48 0.201 0.98 1.09 0.305 2.25 1.87 1.8 5.73 0.180 0.470 0.72 8.54 31.8 2.29 3.6 20.6 1.02 1.96 8.59

4.6 0.89 0.97 0.083 0.445 0.85 0.188 1.4 1.42 1.19 4.13 0.090 0.325 0.39 2.57 21.35 1.64 3.08 15.08 0.69 1 5.69

Cebu Prop. `B’ Century Property Cityland Dev. `A’ Crown Equities Inc. Cyber Bay Corp.

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

Phil. Realty `A’ Primex Corp.

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

10.5 66 1.09 15.82 0.1460 4.61 99.1 2.6 9 2090 8.41 1.97 119.5 0.017 0.8200 2.2800 12.28 2.85 2.2 3.2 5.9 1.97 15.2 0.62 1.040 110.2 14 3486 0.710 2.28 48.5 90.1 11.6 0.87 2.95 10.2 1.6

1.97 32.5 0.6 9.61 0.0770 2.95 46.55 1.6 5.88 1600 5.95 1.36 105 0.012 0.036 1.200 6.5 1.69 1.1 2 1.05 0.490 8.7 0.34 0.37 79 4.39 2726 0.380 0.32 31.45 60.55 7.59 0.63 1.71 6.45 1.04

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

Cebu Air Inc. (5J) Discovery World DFNN Inc. Globe Telecom GMA Network Inc. Harbor Star I.C.T.S.I. IP E-Game Ventures Inc. Island Info ISM Communications Leisure & Resorts Liberty Telecom Lorenzo Shipping Macroasia Corp.

Manila Broadcasting Manila Bulletin Melco Crown MG Holdings NOW Corp.

Phil. Seven Corp.

Philweb.Com Inc. PLDT Common PremiereHorizon Premium Leisure Puregold Robinsons RTL SSI Group STI Holdings Transpacific Broadcast Travellers Yehey

0.0098 17.24 25 0.330 1.2 1.73 10.98 4.2 0.48 0.455 0.023 0.026 8.2 49.2 4.27 1.030 3.06 0.020 0.021 7.67 12.88 10.42 0.040 420 9

0.0043 8.65 9.43 0.236 0.61 0.78 5.99 1.08 0.330 0.2130 0.014 0.014 3.660 20.2 2.11 0.365 1.54 0.012 0.013 5.4 7.26 2.27 0.015 115.9 3.67

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

Century Peak Metals Hldgs Coal Asia Dizon Ferronickel Geograce Res. Phil. Inc. Lepanto `A’ 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

70 525 8.21 12.28 111 1047 76.9 78.95 84.8 1.34

33 500 5.88 6.5 101 1011 74.2 74.5 75 1

ABS-CBN Holdings Corp.

Ayala Corp. Pref ‘B2’ GMA Holdings Inc. Leisure and Resort MWIDE PREF PF Pref 2 SMC Preferred A SMC Preferred B SMC Preferred C Swift Pref

6.98

0.8900 LR Warrant

10.96 15 88 12.88

2.4 3.5 13.5 5.95

130.7

105.6 First Metro ETF

High

Low

Close

6 0.82 1.06 0.140 0.450 0.850 0.173 1.20 1.84 1.33 4.64 0.116 0.2900 0.4400 7.4 27.50 1.69 3.36 19.42 0.72 0.850 6.860

6.2 6.2 6.2 0.83 0.81 0.83 1.06 1.06 1.06 0.137 0.136 0.137 0.450 0.430 0.450 0.900 0.860 0.860 0.173 0.173 0.173 1.21 1.20 1.21 1.86 1.84 1.86 1.30 1.29 1.29 5 4.81 4.99 0.115 0.109 0.115 0.2900 0.2900 0.2900 0.4850 0.4550 0.4850 7.35 7.17 7.2 28.25 27.90 28.00 1.69 1.67 1.68 3.36 3.36 3.36 19.70 19.36 19.58 0.72 0.7 0.72 0.900 0.850 0.860 7.040 6.830 6.850 SERVICES 6.3 6.39 6.28 6.29 60 60.1 59.9 60.1 0.650 0.660 0.640 0.650 9.50 9.60 9.26 9.33 0.0920 0.0920 0.0900 0.0920 4.01 4.1 3.97 4.03 85 87.1 85.25 85.95 1.69 1.69 1.69 1.69 6.45 6.60 6.30 6.59 2616 2640 2582 2600 6.10 6.18 6.07 6.12 1.30 1.40 1.32 1.32 109.7 111.5 110.1 111 0.013 0.012 0.012 0.012 0.222 0.222 0.218 0.220 1.3000 1.3000 1.2500 1.2800 9.34 9.33 9.22 9.22 3.00 3.00 2.93 2.97 1.30 1.23 1.22 1.22 2.00 2.00 2.00 2.00 50.50 51.00 47.00 50.00 0.670 0.670 0.660 0.670 6.7 6.83 6.68 6.69 0.340 0.355 0.355 0.355 0.470 0.485 0.470 0.485 124.00 110.20 105.20 110.00 19.86 19.82 19.00 19.00 2818.00 2840.00 2802.00 2810.00 0.660 0.680 0.660 0.670 1.320 1.330 1.280 1.280 37.80 38.30 37.80 38.05 76.10 76.60 76.20 76.30 9.87 10.18 9.82 9.87 0.68 0.68 0.65 0.65 1.7 1.7 1.7 1.7 5.13 5.31 5.14 5.24 1.500 1.460 1.450 1.460 MINING & OIL 0.0052 0.0051 0.0050 0.0051 6.81 6.81 6.68 6.69 11.88 11.78 11.00 11.70 0.255 0.250 0.245 0.250 0.93 0.95 0.94 0.94 0.79 0.79 0.78 0.78 6.98 7.28 7.00 7.00 1.73 1.75 1.70 1.7 0.315 0.320 0.310 0.315 0.231 0.232 0.229 0.232 0.0140 0.0140 0.0140 0.0140 0.0140 0.0150 0.0140 0.0140 3.4 3.5 3.3 3.43 24 24.45 24 24.35 3.71 3.76 3.7 3.71 0.6500 0.6600 0.6600 0.6600 2.0800 2.0800 2.0700 2.0700 0.0120 0.0110 0.0110 0.0110 0.0140 0.0120 0.0120 0.0120 4.35 4.42 4.35 4.42 6.54 6.6 6.38 6.38 2.10 2.200 1.980 1.98 0.015 0.015 0.014 0.014 142.00 145.00 140.50 142.00 11.4 11.86 11.52 11.52 PREFERRED 60.9 61 60.1 61 527 528 528 528 6 6.12 6.05 6.12 1.12 1.12 1.1 1.12 111 111 111 111 1046 1048 1048 1048 75.6 75.55 75.5 75.55 84.5 85 84.9 85 87 88 87.5 88 1.9 1.9 1.9 1.9 WARRANTS & BONDS 3.800 3.870 3.800 3.850 SME 9.79 9.94 9.74 9.8 6.08 5.61 5.51 5.54 69.55 67.4 57 67.4 11.18 11.32 11.04 11.04 EXCHANGE TRADED FUNDS 122.8 123.8 122.6 123.8

%

Net Foreign

Change Volume

Trade/Buying

3.33 1.22 0.00 -2.14 0.00 1.18 0.00 0.83 1.09 -3.01 7.54 -0.86 0.00 10.23 -2.70 1.82 -0.59 0.00 0.82 0.00 1.18 -0.15

12,000 2,494,000 47,000 6,210,000 1,830,000 150,000 10,000 952,000 6,087,000 435,000 45,186,000 420,000 50,000 120,000 73,200 432,500 44,000 7,000 14,538,400 410,000 8,000 8,687,600

-74,400.00 -291,100.00

-0.16 0.17 0.00 -1.79 0.00 0.50 1.12 0.00 2.17 -0.61 0.33 1.54 1.19 -7.69 -0.90 -1.54 -1.28 -1.00 -6.15 0.00 -0.99 0.00 -0.15 4.41 3.19 -11.29 -4.33 -0.28 1.52 -3.03 0.66 0.26 0.00 -4.41 0.00 2.14 -2.67

20,600 27,980 387,000 2,194,300 2,950,000 71,000 400,670 1,000 20,400 379,105 88,300 134,000 679,710 800,000 5,520,000 156,000 171,900 304,000 5,000 18,000 2,100 15,000 1,054,000 20,000 230,000 730 223,900 94,415 1,255,000 16,432,000 4,062,000 417,680 2,859,900 44,000 3,000 8,037,500 20,000

-1.92 -1.76 -1.52 -1.96 1.08 -1.27 0.29 -1.73 0.00 0.43 0.00 0.00 0.88 1.46 0.00 1.54 -0.48 -8.33 -14.29 1.61 -2.45 -5.71 -6.67 0.00 1.05

107,000,000 580,100 11,300 90,000 108,000 121,000 600 9,807,000 480,000 70,000 13,900,000 28,000,000 405,000 1,404,900 13,051,000 5,000 122,000 50,500,000 2,000,000 6,000 476,300 12,616,000 19,500,000 811,910 106,000

0.16 0.19 2.00 0.00 0.00 0.19 -0.07 0.59 1.15 0.00

454,750 100 9,000 790,000 5,050 100 6,350 11,000 140,050 1,000

1.32

90,000

0.10 -8.88 -3.09 -1.25

1,378,000 2,900 250 1,292,500

0.81

204,100

31,000.00 -44,500.00 -107,480.00 -62,895,030.00

MST

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

SHARES 6,700,755 95,420,635 94,573,030 95,735,759 97,554,952 261,767,434 654,630,315

334,569.50

1,482,600.00 15,127,176.00 150,100.00 -306,502.00 -4,388,580.00

16,502,596.00 968,560.00

-69,222,428.00 35,895.00 -7,423,491.00 232,042.00

-83,292,775.00 5,436,330.50 -155,292.00 5,400.00

-64,030,302.00 21,780.00

4,277,845.00 557,665.00

-26,804,672.00

2,382,080.00 3,928,071.00 11,790.00 104,950.00 -662,320.00

9,788,600.00 -16,160.00

220,556,694.00 50,400.00

3,678,763.00 16,695,225.00 -8,160.00

206,561,885.00 9,234,371.00 -43,918,306.00 188,620.00 120,250.00 -69,799,225.00

24,456,507.50 877,877.00

16,881,838.00

-26,740,630.00

-1,884,100.00 -2,854,023.00 -77,622,130.00

10,078.00 3,500.00 55,522,485.00 1,121,800.00 -1,629,000.00

Double Dragon Makati Fin. Corp.

IRipple E-Business Intl Xurpas

T op g ainerS VALUE 660,798,882.45 1,561,483,453.32 1,765,547,416.359 791,448,577.18 1,740,797,783.66 323,960,547.567 6,897,272,607.539

STOCKS

FINANCIAL 1,739.59 (up) 9.92 INDUSTRIAL 11,594.57 (up) 124.15 HOLDING FIRMS 6,811.47(up) 85.94 PROPERTY 3,083.56 (up) 33.62 SERVICES 2,095.41 (down) 1.91 MINING & OIL 13,841.40 (down) 16.92 PSEI 7,606.86 (up) 70.55 All Shares Index 4,352.18 (up) 28.05 Gainers: 89 Losers: 71; Unchanged: 42; Total: 202

-5,106,875.00

-41,871,324.00

-32,198,862.00

-11,192,780.00

16,200.00 4,693,042.50 -852,987,710.00 -11,934,112.00

26,450.00

1,249,310.00

-1,900,589.00 3,550.00

61,600.00 -788,178.00 -57,796,800.00 33,500.00 -4,037,330.00 -35,182,125.00 -10,550,312.00 1,056,429.00 -20,400.00 -8,170,681.00

-2,032,143.00 -1,100.00

-317,280.00

-390,580.00 -6,232,205.00 -185,520.00

-279,634.00 644,120.00 -41,864,696.00 -26,776,184.50

-296,200.00 6,521,782.00

T op L oSerS Close (P)

Change (%)

STOCKS

Close (P)

Change (%)

F&J Prince 'A'

3.44

14.67

Oriental Pet. `B'

0.0120

-14.29

Cebu Prop. `A'

6.3

12.10

Phil. Seven Corp.

110.00

-11.29

Phil. Realty `A'

0.4850

10.23

Makati Fin. Corp.

5.54

-8.88

Anchor Land Holdings Inc.

8.42

9.64

Oriental Pet. `A'

0.0110

-8.33

Forum Pacific

0.235

8.29

IP E-Game Ventures Inc.

0.012

-7.69

Megaworld

4.99

7.54

Philodrill Corp. `A'

0.014

-6.67

Prime Orion

1.580

7.48

Lorenzo Shipping

1.22

-6.15

Pryce Corp. `A'

2.6

7.44

PhilexPetroleum

1.98

-5.71

Agrinurture Inc.

1.45

7.41

Solid Group Inc.

1.21

-4.72

Abacus Cons. `A'

0.465

5.68

STI Holdings

0.65

-4.41

FRIDAY: JUNE 19, 2015

B3

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

Travellers allots P8-b capex

By Jenniffer B. Austria

TRAVELLERS International Hotel Group Inc. is spending P8 billion in capital expenditures this year, up from P5.9 billion in 2014, Travellers president and chief executive officer Kingson Sian said Thursday.

Sian said in an interview following the annual stockholders’ meeting the company would complete the whole development of Resorts World Manila in Pasay City and start building a new integrated resort and casino in government-sponsored Entertainment City in Parañaque City.

Travellers is a joint venture between Alliance Global Group Inc. of tycoon Andrew Tan and Genting Hong Kong.

Sian said the company was finalizing the fourth and final phase of RWM, including the construction of the 1,000 room four-star hotel on top of a shopping mall.

The fourth phase, which covers two hectares, is slated for completion by 2019 to 2020.

The company will also build an iconic bridge connecting the Ninoy Aquino International Airport Terminal 3 to the integrated resort and casino complex. The bridge will be competed next year.

Travellers is building the third phase of RWM, which includes the three new hotels--Hilton Manila Hotel, Sheraton Hotel Manila and Belmont Hotel.

The developments, which will

increase the hotel capacity of RWM to 4,200 from 1,226, will boost daily foot traffic within the complex from the current 20,000.

“We remain on track towards sustainable growth focusing on delivering quality earnings to our investors and shareholders,” Sian said.

Meanwhile, Travellers also pushed back the opening of its second integrated gaming and resort complex called Bayshore City Resorts World Bayshore City in Entertainment City to 2019.

Sian said Bayshore City would be completed in phases starting 2019.

The 31-hectare Bayshore City is projected to have at least 1,500 hotel rooms operated by international brands, which include The Westin Hotel Manila Bayshore of the Starwood Asia Pacific Hotels & Resorts Group, Hotel Okura Manila of the Okura Hotels & Resorts and Genting Grand and Crockfords Tower of the Genting Group.

The development will boast a 3,000-seater grand Opera House, over 77,000 square meters of retail space condominiums, cinemas, food and beverage outlets and MICE facilities.

Fleet expansion. This photo taken on March 27, 2010 shows passengers boarding a Cebu Pacific ATR-72 aircraft at Laoag airport, north of Manila. Budget Philippine carrier Cebu Pacific has ordered 16 ATR 72-600 turboprop planes from the France-based manufacturer in a deal worth $673 million, the two companies said in a joint statement June 16, 2015. AFP

Stocks rally; Megaworld, Alliance up THE stock market rallied Thursday on bargain hunting, as the US Fed after a two-day meeting held off hiking rates but altered its outlook for future rises, expecting a lower upward curve than previously forecast.

The Philippine Stock Exchange Index rose 70.55 points, or 0.9 percent, to 7,606.86 on a value turnover of P6.9 billion. Gainers beat losers, 89 to 71, with 42 issues unchanged.

Megaworld Corp., the biggest lessor of office spaces, advanced 3.5 percent to P4.99, while parent Alliance Global Group Inc. climbed 2.7 percent to P23.05.

Universal Robina Corp., the largest snack food maker, gained 2.9 percent to P197.50, while Ayala Corp. rose 2.5 percent to P799.50.

JG Summit Holdings Inc. of industrialist John Gokongwei added 2.3 percent to P71.30 Asian markets, meanwhile, mostly headed lower Thursday and the dollar retreated after the Federal Reserve said any rises in US interest rates would be slow.

The losses come despite another advance on Wall Street, while investors are keeping track of Greece’s troubled bailout talks as Europe’s leaders are warned of

the dire consequences of failing to reach a deal.

Tokyo sank 1.13 percent, or 228.45 points, to close at 19,990.82, while Hong Kong shed 0.22 percent, or 59.13 points, to close at 26,694.66.

Shanghai tumbled 3.67 percent, or 182.54 points, to 4,785.35 on liquidity fears as several new firms prepare to list while profit-takers also moved in after a surge in the index over the past year that has seen it pile on about 140 percent.

Sydney fell 1.26 percent, or 70.5 points, to close at 5,524.9 but Seoul ended 0.34 percent higher, adding 7.02 points to 2,041.88. With AFP

What’s up with the Market?

THIS week, I give column space to my favorite investment advisor. He has written a long piece on his views on the recent volatility in the local equities market. This week, I share with you his views.

For the uninitiated, the general behavior of the local stock market is observed through monitoring the local stock index, the Philippine Stock Exchange composite index. The PSEi is simply an index composed of a basket of stocks, selected as being representative of the market in general.

Hot money and QE First, let’s look at net foreign fund flows, the so-called hot money, and how it affects the PSEi. The movement of the PSEi exhibits a very high (direct) correlation to foreign fund flows. Generally, a higher net foreign buying produces higher percentage change in the PSEi. Conversely, when foreign fund managers turn to net sellers, the PSEi drops.

Note: This is basic economics. Positive flows indicates that there are more buyers than sellers and negative flows means more sellers than buyers. Most importantly for the Philippines, foreign funds are a significant portion of trading in the local stock market.

Year to date, foreign buying and selling remains significant at 52 percent and 50 percent of total value traded (of P1.1 trillion) at the PSE, respectively.

Hot money flows into emerging markets, the Philippines included, have been brought about by the low interest rate environment in most advanced economics. This decrease in interest rates stemmed from the quantitative easing (QE) measures in many advanced economies (US, Japan, many EU countries) who have been trying to recover from the global financial crisis.

The global decrease in fixed income yields in

the developed economies in the past few years resulted in inward flows of money seeking higher yields to faster growing emerging markets, the Philippines included.

As the US and other countries wind down QE programs and contemplates raising interest rates, money flows are now reverting back to the US and other developed countries.

Beginning in April this year, foreign investors in the PSE turned to net sellers selling by roughly P9 billion a month. During this period, the PSEi dropped from 7,940 at the end of April to 7,536 by June 17. However, despite the net foreign selling totaling P27 billion from April, year-to-date net foreign buying still amounted to P20 billion. For the period, the PSEi posted a 4 percent increase to 7,536.

By contrast, from 2011 to 2014, net foreign buying totaled P219 billion for those years. As expected, the PSEi increased significantly in this period. This also means that any foreign funds exiting in the post-2014 period would be realizing profits, provided they sell while prices are high.

The important thing to note is that any development, locally or internationally, that may cause foreign fund managers to wish to reduce equity exposures in the PSEi would dampen the PSEi. It’s about the price But why would foreign fund managers be exiting equity positions in the Philippines when the country is forecasted to post strong economic growth this year and in the following years? World Bank and ADB, among others, forecasted that growth for the Philippine economy will be among the strongest in the Asean region and even in Asia?

Despite its status as an emerging-market economy, wasn’t the Philippines identified as among the most “resilient” countries (even ahead of China and South Korea) should

another economic crisis akin to last decade’s Great Recession happen again? Wasn’t the Philippines also adjudged as the biggest winner in an era of cheap oil?

Will all the above factors going for the Philippines, why would foreign fund managers head for the exits? The answer lies in the real foundation of stock market investing: understanding prices.

Finance theory (and evidence) tells us that the stock market is a fairly efficient discounting mechanism--taking into account currently available information and even present and future events. Essentially what this means is that the price already takes into account investor expectations of how companies will perform in the future. This is why when unexpected events happen, a rapid adjustment is seen in prices.

Q1 2015 year on year GDP growth and 2015 forward price earnings ratio forecasts for select markets are shown in the Table (Bloomberg data).

Studies have shown a direct link between stock market returns and GDP growth over the long term. Note that the ratio of prices to earnings (PE) in the Philippine market is comparatively high, even taking into account GDP growth.

In fact, a combination of several valuation measures presented a foreign fund manager, who commented that the local market was “priced for perfection,” actually shows that the Philippine market is among the most expensive

markets in the world. What he meant was that the current prices assume the most optimistic view of the future.

The PSEi also trades at significantly higher PE multiple compared to its historical average of 15x. The PSEi traded at a PER of 23x at its peak in March this year!

To compound this, GDP growth in the first quarter of this year was a relative disappointment at 5.2 percent, the lowest quarterly growth since the 3.8 percent registered in Q4 of 2011 and a far cry from the Philippine government target of between 7 percent to 8 percent growth.

Now what?

Obviously, this is not a comprehensive analysis. Investors must stay tuned to developments as investment is always a matter of balancing risk and reward, and making informed decisions. Understanding key drivers and monitoring key risks is critical.

Philinvestor’s Corner believes that investors should consider taking a relatively less aggressive position on investments. Taking some profits on equity positions and lightening up on large cap issues where foreign investors have and are expected to keep significant positions may be prudent. Selling on rallies and buying on dips may be considered. Of course, investment decisions are personal and should take into account individual risk profile, investment objective and time horizon.

So here’s my take on this: In a market priced for perfection, what happens when the inevitable mishap occurs?

Readers can read more from PhilinVestor by visiting his page on Facebook: www.facebook. com/pages/Philinvestors-Corner Readers can email Maya at integrations_ manila@yahoo.com. Or visit her site at http:// integrations.tumblr.com.

FRIDAY: JUNE 19, 2015

B4

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

The Trump card THE entry of billionaire Donald Trump into the US presidential race is guaranteed to make US politics even more colorful, controversial and fun to watch. The man who popularized the phrase “You’re fired!” (he actually applied for a patent to own it) via the reality TV show The Apprentice, Donald has generated a bevy of mockery and criticism for believing he is God’s gift to America, promising the people that he would give them back their jobs, their money and that he would be a great cheerleader. Rah-rah—can you just imagine Trump in a short skirt, midriff and pompoms?

Boasting a net worth of more than $8 billion and assets that exceed $9 billion, the real estate mogul gave a meandering speech that tackled jobs, finances (We’re dying! We need money!) and China (They’re killing us!)” and described Mexico as a country that keeps sending “rapists” to the US. Of course, his children are all out in their support for their dad, like daughter Ivanka who proudly introduced him as a man who is the opposite of politically correct because he says what he thinks and means what he says.

Trump’s announcement followed that of Florida Governor Jeb Bush (yup, the brother and the son of the two former Bush presidents), and one could almost see the sarcastic grin from the democrats when they said that Trump adds some “much-needed seriousness that had previously been lacking from the GOP field, and we look forwards (to) hearing more about his ideas for the nation.”

The latest entrant into the US presidential race boasted about his finances and his vast real estate business and his golf course, even saying US president Barack Obama is welcome to play in any of them provided the latter would vacate the White House earlier than the end of his term.

A party pooper, however, has started circulating an email reportedly sent either by a communications consultancy or a casting group asking people to show up for Trump’s big presidential announcement—promising them $50 per person as payment for less than three hours of work. “We’re looking to cast people for the event to wear T-shirts and carry signs and help cheer him [Trump] in support of his announcement,” the email read.

In the Philippines, we call that “hakot” but apparently, the US term is “astroturfing”—that is, when people are hired to attend a rally or an event (even protest movements) to provide the warm bodies that would ensure an impressive turnout. In Tagalog, “para hindi langawin.”

Not surprisingly, one of Trump’s biggest fans appears to be Sarah Palin, the former Alaska governor and ex Vice Presidential candidate, posting on Facebook: “Mr. Trump should know he’s doing something right when the malcontents go ballistic in the press!

There is no denying Donald J. Trump’s accomplishments and drive to create opportunity for every willing American to succeed.

“His own success is testament to the job-creating achievements made possible when one applies the courageous and tenacious pro-private sector precepts we need to fire up the economy. Trump joins a competitive field of GOP candidates that will duke it out in the arena of ideas and track records, a field representing diverse achievements.”

“This, in contrast with the pro-big government party’s practice of merely anointing a chosen one, thus robbing voters of healthy debate. Key to conservative’s victory is to do our own vetting of each candidate, focus on their ability to unleash America’s entrepreneurial spirit and dramatically shrink government in order to prioritize our nation’s security. That means we ignore the media’s participation in the liberals’ Pantsuit Politics of Personal Destruction. THEN, on an even playing field, in 2016 we charge forward after the radical left hears America shout, ‘You’re fired’!”

Heck, Palin was obviously trying to diss former First Lady/exSenator/ex-Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, a frontrunner for the Democrats.

But here’s what’s even more interesting: Some Republicans are obviously very disturbed by the entry of Trump, telling others to stay away from “the stupid zone” and warning that the billionaire’s antics could result in controversies that could turn off the moderates. What with Trump calling Mexicans “rapists,” and reportedly insulting a wheelchair-bound conservative columnist by describing the man as someone who would just “sit there” and do nothing except be a jerk.

More popcorn, please!

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

Globe-Zalora deal. Globe Telecom teamed up with Zalora Philippines to further grow the e-commerce

industry in the country and provide customers with easy and hassle-free access to the online shopping portal across mobile devices and empower the Filipino digital lifestyle experience with the Shopping Bundle, available to mobile and Tattoo postpaid customers. Shown during the launching of Zalora digital pop-up store at Edsa Shangrila Mall are (from left) Samsung Philippines head of content and services Cris Concepcion, Zalora Philippines co-founder and chief executive Paulo Campos III, Globe president and chief executive Ernest Cu, Zalora Philippines managing director Constantin Robertz, Globe senior advisor for consumer business Dan Horan and Samsung Philippines sales and marketing Director Erik Sulit.

PLDT, iFlix launch video-on-demand

By Darwin G. Amojelar

PHILIPPINE Long Distance Telephone Co. and iFlix, Southeast Asia’s leading Internet TV service provider, launched a video-on-demand service in the Philippines.

“We are extremely proud to have come together with the largest telecommunications company in the Philippines and, indeed, one of the region’s leading companies, to offer iFlix to PLDT’s enormous customer base,” iFlix chairman Patrick Grove said.

“With well over 75 million Filipinos communicating and being entertained using PLDT Group services, they are the absolute perfect partner for iFlix in the Philippines,” he said.

He said the partnership with PLDT would change the way entertainment content would be consumed in the region. “We look forward to building an extraordinary business in the Philippines together,” he said.

The partnership with the PLDT Group in the Philippines, the first among a series of launches for iFlix in the region, will allow families and individuals to enjoy more than 11,000 hours of TV and movie entertainment from the best content providers around the world, including top Hollywood, European, Asian, and even local studios in just a few clicks.

This means users can now enjoy unlimited entertainment wherever they are across the broadest range of devices, from smartphones, tablets, laptops, desktop computers, and even TV screens at a low price starting at P99 a month, exclusive to PLDT Home and Smart subscribers nationwide.

“With the convergence of the services from the number one home broadband provider and the largest mobile network in the country, our customers may conveniently access our most compelling entertainment content whether at home or outside of

home,” said PLDT executive vice president and head of consumer business Ariel Fermin.

“We are definitely looking forward to letting our subscribers in on a bigger and better entertainment experience everywhere with the help of iFlix,” he said.

IN BRIEF

PAL, Turkish Airlines team up

PHILIPPINE Airlines has signed a codeshare agreement with Turkish Airlines that will enable both flag carriers to tap into new markets.

Under the deal, PAL will be selling on Turkish Airlines’ thrice weekly flights between Istanbul and Manila while Turkish Airlines will be selling on PAL’s domestic flights to Cebu and Davao.

Both airlines will offer flights across the Istanbul-Manila-Cebu/Davao route. They said they intended to expand the codeshare agreement once flight entitlements between the Philippines and Turkey were increased.

“We’re delighted to partner with one of the world’s leading carriers - Turkish Airlines.

This partnership, which provides our passengers an expanded menu of travel options, will further drive demand for tourist and business travel between the Philippines and Turkey,” Jaime J. Bautista, PAL president and chief operating officer said.

The planned expanded codeshare will allow passengers to benefit from better connectivity and increased travel flexibility between both countries.

The Philippines and Turkey earlier signed a memorandum of understanding on air services, expanding the allowable number of flights per week between Manila and Istanbul, from the current three flights a week to seven. The parties also agreed to allow 14 flights a week between Turkey and all other international airports in the Philippines, except Manila.

Darwin G. Amojelar

Rules on trust firms approved THE Monetary Board, the policy-making body of Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas, has approved the guidelines for the establishment and operation of trust corporations.

These guidelines updated key components of Circular No. 710 issued in January 2011.

Trust corporations are entities that are duly authorized by Bangko Sentral to engage in funds management under either a trustor-trustee arrangement or an agency type of agreement.

Unlike existing trust units of banks and non-bank financial institutions, however, trust corporations are organized as a corporation with its own capital and management structure.

“Having an entity primarily performing trust activities that is separate from the bank or NBFI proper has been a prudential policy direction of the BSP, starting from Circular No. 710,” Bangko Sentral Governor Amando Tetangco Jr. said in a statement.

Tetangco said these guidelines “not only follow through on that policy direction but further enhances the governance arrangements which should be of value to the clients of a trust corporation.”

Under the new guidelines, the existing trust rating system developed by the Bangko Sentral will be revised to consider “capital adequacy” as an additional component in evaluating the operations of a trust corporation. Julito G. Rada

Panasonic eyes strong growth PANASONIC Manufacturing Philippines Corp. said Thursday it expects to double production of consumer goods over the next five years.

Company chairman and president Nobuo Yasuhira said the goal was to produce 300,000 units per product of refrigerators, air conditioning units, television sets and washing machines, annually.

“Both our plants in Sta. Rosa and Taytay have provisions for expansion. Growing the volume is not difficult for us and we are very excited to make this happen,” he told reporters at the InterContinental Hotel Manila in Makati City.

Company sales climbed 107 percent to P6.5 billion in fiscal year ending April 2015.

About 65 percent of sales were from white lines, led by air conditioning units at 35 percent and refrigerators at 30 percent. The company also exports window-type air conditioning units to Hong Kong and Africa.

Panasonic brought the production of most consumer goods and business to business products to the Philippines, Vietnam, Malaysia and China. It retained the production of its computers in Japan.

The company said it expected to grow its B2B segment by 6 percent in the current fiscal year, given the potential of the Philippine market for new business solutions.

Othel V. Campos

F R I D AY : J U N E 1 9, 2 0 1 5

cEsAR bARRIoqUINto EDITOR

editorial@thestandard.com.ph

B5

world

Rocking granddaddies. Ronnie Wood, Mick Jagger, Charlie Watts and Keith Richards of The Rolling Stones perform during their tour of Nashville at LP Field on June 17 in Nashville, Tennessee. AFP

Record 60m fled violence in 2014 GENEVA—The conflicts and violence raging around the world sent the number of people forced to flee their homes soaring to a record 60 million last year, the United Nations said Thursday.

That is 8.3 million more refugees and internally displaced people or IDPs in the world than in 2013—the highest-ever increase in a single year, the UN refugee agency said in a report titled “World at War.” “We are witnessing a paradigm change, an unchecked slide into an era in which the scale of global forced displacement as well as the response required is now clearly dwarfing anything seen before,” UN High Commissioner

for Refugees Antonio Guterres told reporters ahead of the launch of UNHCR’s annual report.

A whopping 59.5 million individuals were displaced from their homes worldwide at the end of 2014 “as a result of persecution, conflict, generalized violence, or human rights violations”, the report showed.

That is up from 51.2 million in 2013 and from 37.5 million a decade ago, and if these people were lumped together as a nation,

it would be the world’s 24th largest.

Of the total, 19.5 million were refugees, 1.8 million were asylum seekers and 38.2 million had fled their homes but stayed in their country, the report said.

More than half of the world’s refugees are children, up from 41 percent in 2009, while the total number of people who fled their homes has spiked by 40 percent in just three years.

“Things... are getting out of control simply because the world seems to be at war,” Guterres said, stressing that the conflicts in Syria and Iraq alone had forced 15 million people to flee their homes.

But they are far from the only conflicts forcing people to seek safe

haven. In the last five years, at least 14 conflicts have erupted or resumed worldwide―more than half of them in Africa.

“We do not have the capacity, the resources for all victims of conflicts.

We are no longer able to pick up the pieces,” the commissioner said, adding that “impunity and unpredictability” in war seem to have become “the name of the game”.

Guterres meanwhile urged European countries “to keep the borders open.”

“In Europe, more than 219,000 refugees and migrants crossed the Mediterranean Sea during 2014. That’s almost three times the previously known high of about 70,000, which took place in 2011,” the report said. AFP

HK lawmakers reject Beijing’s bill HONG KONG—Hong Kong lawmakers rejected a Beijing-backed political reform package Thursday as pro-democracy legislators united to vote down a contentious electoral road map that has sparked mass protests.

Most pro-government lawmakers staged a walkout as the bill headed for defeat—a move slammed as “farcical” by the opposition

and which analysts said could be interpreted as a slap in the face of the current administration.

Just eight lawmakers cast their vote in support of the package, while 28 lawmakers voted against it, including all 27 pandemocrats.

The bill needed the support of two-thirds of the city’s 70-strong legislature in order to pass.

Although the Hong

Kong government’s plan would have given all residents the right to vote for the chief executive for the first time in 2017, it adhered to a Beijing ruling that candidates must be vetted by a loyalist committee.

The proposal was derided as “fake democracy” by opposition lawmakers and campaigners.

The pro-government camp was left in disar-

ray after the walkout.

“We have no idea what happened with the rest of the group suddenly deciding to leave the chamber,” said James Tien of the pro-government Liberal Party, whose members stayed to vote for the bill.

The lawmakers left after their request for a 15-minute suspension was rejected by the speaker. AFP

VIETNAM AIRLINES General conditions of carriage for passengers and baggage ARTICLE 1: DEFINITIONS In these Conditions, the following expressions have meanings respectively assigned to them: “Agreed stopping places” means those places, except the place of departure and the place of final destination, set forth in the Ticket or shown in our timetables on your itinerary.

“Airline Designator Code” means two-characters or three letters which identify particular air carriers.

“Authority” is the government agency, the specialised agencies or the authorised organizations/individuals.

“Authorised Agent” means a passenger sales agent who has been appointed by us to represent us in the sale of air transportation over our services and, when authorised, over the services of other air carriers.

“Baggage” means your personal property accompanying you in connection with your trip. Unless otherwise specified, it includes both your Checked and Unchecked Baggage.

“Baggage Check” means those portions of the Ticket which relate to the carriage of your Checked Baggage.

“Baggage Identification Tag” means a document issued solely for identification of Checked Baggage.

“Carrier” means an air carrier other than ourselves, whose Airline Designator Code appears on your Ticket or on a Conjunction Ticket.

“Checked Baggage” means Baggage of which we take sole custody and for which we have issued a Baggage Check.

“Check-in Deadline” means the time limit specified by the air carriers by which you must have completed all check-in formalities and received your boarding pass.

“Conditions of Carriage” means these Conditions of Carriage or another carrier’s Conditions of Carriage as the case may be.

“Conditions of Contract” means those statements contained in or delivered with your paper or Electronic Ticket (Itinerary Receipt) which incorporates by reference these Conditions of Carriage, and notices(s).

“Conjunction Ticket” means a Ticket issued to you with relation to another Ticket which together constitute a single Contract of carriage.

“Connecting flight” means a subsequent flight providing onward travel on the same Ticket, on a different Ticket or on a conjunction Ticket.

“Convention” means the Convention for the International Carriage by Air, signed at Warsaw, 12 October 1929 (hereinafter referred to as the Warsaw Convention) and the Warsaw Convention as amended at The Hague on 28 September 1955(hereinafter referred to as the Warsaw Convention amended at The Hague) and any conventions or protocols and any other laws are applicable.

“Coupon” means both a paper Flight Coupon and an Electronic Coupon, each of which entitle the named passenger to travel on the particular flight identified on it.

“Damage” means death or wounding of a Passenger, or any other bodily injury suffered by a Passenger, caused by an accident on board the aircraft or during any of the operations of embarking or disembarking. It also means damage sustained in the event of the destruction or the total or partial loss of or damage to Baggage which occurs during carriage by air. Additionally, it means damage occasioned by delay in the carriage by air of Passengers or Baggage.

“Days” means calendar days, including all seven days of the week; provided that, for the purpose of notification, the day upon which notice is dispatched shall not be counted; and provided further that for purposes of determining duration of validity the day upon which the Ticket is issued, or the flight commenced, shall not be counted.

“Electronic Coupon” means an electronic Flight Coupon held in our database.

“Electronic Ticket” means the Itinerary Receipt issued by us or on our behalf, the Electronic Coupons and, if applicable, a boarding document.

“Flight Coupon” means that portion of the Ticket that bears the notation “good for passage,” or in the case of an Electronic Ticket, the Electronic Coupon. Flight Coupon indicates the particular places between which you are entitled to be carried.

“Force Majeure” means unusual and unforeseeable circumstances beyond our or your control, the consequences of which could not have been avoided even if all due care have been exercised.

“Itinerary Receipt” means a document or documents We or Authorised Agents issue as a Ticket to Passengers travelling on Electronic Tickets that contains the Passenger’s name, flight information and other notices.

“Our Regulations” means rules, other than these Conditions of Carriage and Tariffs, published by us and in effect on the date of the commencement of carriage, governing the carriage of Passengers and Baggage.

“Passenger Coupon” or “Passenger Receipt” means that portion of the Ticket issued by us or Authorised Agent, which is to be retained by you.

“SDR” means a Special Drawing Right as defined by the International Monetary Fund (IMF). It is an international unit of account based upon the values of several leading currencies. The currency values of the SDR fluctuate and are re-calculated each banking day. These values are known to most commercial banks and are reported regularly in leading financial journals as well as the website of the IMF (www.imf.org).

“Stopover” means a scheduled stop on your journey, at a point between the place of departure and the place of destination.

“Tariff” means the published fares, surcharges and/or related conditions of carriage of an airline filed, which have been filed where required, with the appropriate Authorities.

“Ticket” means “Passenger Ticket and Baggage Check” or the Itinerary/Receipt of the Electronic Ticket delivered to the Passenger, in each case issued by us or Authorised Agent and includes the Conditions of Contract, notices and coupons.

“Unchecked Baggage” means any of your Baggage other than Checked Baggage including all items brought by you into the aircraft cabin and in your custody.

“We”, “our”, “ourselves”, “ours”, and “us” means Vietnam Airlines.

“You”, “your” and “yourself” mean any person, except members of the crew, carried or to be carried in an aircraft with our consent.

ARTICLE 2: APPLICABILITY 2.1. General 2.1.1. Except as provided in Articles 2.2, Article 2.5 and Article 2.6, these Conditions of Carriage apply to all flights operated by us and in any case where we have a legal liability to you in relation to your flight.

2.1.2. These Conditions also apply to gratuitous and reduced fare carriage except to the extent that we have provided otherwise in Our Regulations or in the relevant contracts, passes or Tickets.

2.1.3. These Conditions and Carrier’s Regulations are subject to change without prior notice; such change shall be published in our website.

These Conditions of Carriage and an essential part of the regulations are published widely and passenger may request for details at any time.

2.2. Carriage to/from Canada and United State of America 2.2.1. These conditions apply to carriage between places on Canada or between a place in Canada and any place thereof only to the extent they are incorporated in tariffs in force in Canada.

2.2.2. These Conditions do not apply to air transportation as defined in the US Federal Aviation Act 1958.

2.3. Charters If carriage is performed pursuant to a charter agreement, these Conditions of Carriage apply only to the extent they are incorporated by reference or otherwise, in the Ticket or other agreement with the Passenger.

2.4. Code shares On some services we may have arrangements with other carriers known as “Code Shares”. This means that even if you have a reservation with us and hold a Ticket where our name or Airline Designator Code is indicated as the Carrier, another carrier may operate the aircraft. If such arrangements apply we will advise you of the name of the other carrier operating the aircraft at the time you make a reservation.

2.5. Overriding law To the extent that any provision contained or referred to herein is contrary to anything contained in the Convention where applicable and in any applicable laws, government regulations, order or requirement that can not waived by agreement of the parties, such provision shall not apply. The invalidity of any provision shall not affect the validity of any other provision.

2.6. Conditions prevail over regulations Except as provided in these Conditions of Carriage, in the event of inconsistency between these Conditions of Carriage and any other regulations we may have, dealing with particular subjects, these Conditions shall prevail.

ARTICLE 3: TICKETS 3.1. Ticket as principal evidence of contract 3.1.1. We will provide carriage only to the Passenger named in the Ticket, and you may be required to produce appropriate identification.

3.1.2. You cannot transfer your Ticket.

3.1.3. Tickets sold at discounted fares may partially or completely be non-refundable. You should decide your choice of fare properly 3.1.4. If you have a Ticket, as described in Article 3.1.3 above, which is completely unused, and you are prevented from travelling due to Force Majeure, provided that you promptly advise us and furnish evidence of such Force Majeure, we will provide you with a credit of the non-refundable portion of the fare, for future travel on us, subject to deduction of a reasonable administration fee.

3.1.5. The Ticket is and remains at all times the property of the issuing Carrier.

3.1.6. Requirement for Ticket You shall be entitled to be carried on a flight if you present a valid Ticket containing the Flight Coupon for that flight and all other unused Flight Coupons and the Passenger Coupon. In addition, you shall not be entitled to be carried if the Ticket presented is mutilated or if it has been altered otherwise than by us or our Authorised Agents.

In the case of an Electronic Ticket, you shall be entitled to be carried on a flight if you provide positive identification and a valid Electronic Ticket has been duly issued in your name and delivered to you.

3.1.7. Loss, Mutilation, or Non-presentation etc., of Ticket 3.1.7.1. In case of loss or mutilation of a Ticket, (total or part of it), or non-presentation of a Ticket containing the Passenger Coupon and all unused Flight Coupons, upon your request, we will replace such Ticket (total or part of it) by issuing a new Ticket, provided there is evidence, readily ascertainable at the time, that a Ticket valid for the flight(s) in question was duly issued. In that case you have to sign an agreement to reimburse us for the fare applicable to the new Ticket in event, and to the extend, that the lost or missing Ticket or the missing Flight Coupons are used by any person, or that refund in respect thereof is made by any person.

3.1.7.2. Where such evidence is not available or you do not sign such an agreement, the Carrier issuing the Ticket may require you to pay up to the full Ticket price for a replacement Ticket. This payment is only refunded if and when the original issuing Carrier is satisfied that the lost or mutilated Ticket has not been used prior to its expiry. If, upon finding the original Ticket before its expiry, you surrender it to the carrier issuing the new Ticket, the foregoing refund will be processed at that time.

3.1.8. Passenger should take appropriate measures to safeguard the ticket and ensure it is not lost or stolen.

3.2. Period of validity 3.2.1. Except otherwise provided in the Ticket, these Conditions, or in applicable Tariffs, (which may limit the validity of a Ticket, in which case the limitation will be shown on the Ticket), a Ticket is valid for: 3.2.1.1. one year from the date of issue; or 3.2.1.1. subject to the first travel occurring within one year from the date of issue, one year from the date of first travel under the Ticket.

3.2.2. When you are prevented from travelling within the period of validity of the Ticket because at the time you request a reservation we are unable to confirm a reservation, the validity of such Ticket will be extended or you may be entitled to a refund in accordance with Article 11.

3.2.3. If after having commenced your journey, you are prevented from travelling within the period of validity of the Ticket by reason of illness, we may extend the period of validity of your Ticket until the date when you become fit to travel or until our first flight after such date, from the point where the journey is resumed on which space is available in the booking class for which the fare has been paid. Such illness must be attested to by a proper medical certificate. When the Flight Coupons remaining in the Ticket, or in the case of an Electronic Ticket, the Electronic Coupon, involve one or more Stopovers, the validity of such Ticket may be extended for not more than three months from the date shown on such certificate.

In such circumstances, we will similarly extend the period of validity of Tickets of other members of your immediate family accompanying you.

3.2.4. In the event of death of a Passenger en route, the Tickets of the persons accompanying the Passenger may be modified by waiving any restriction and extending the validity. In the event of a death in the immediate family of a Passenger who has commenced travel, the validity of the Passenger’s Tickets and those of his or her immediate family who accompanied the Passenger may likewise be modified. Any such modification shall be made upon receipt of a proper death certificate and any such extension of validity shall not be for a period not longer than forty-five (45) Days from the date of the death.

3.3. Coupon sequence 3.3.1. The Ticket you have purchased is valid only for the transportation as shown on the Ticket, from the place of departure via any Agreed Stopping Places to the final destination. The fare you have paid is based upon our Tariff and is calculated on the basis of the entire journey shown on the Ticket. It forms an essential part of our contract with you. The Ticket will not be honoured and will lose its validity if the Coupons (or flights mentioned in the Ticket) are not used in the sequence provided in the Ticket.

3.3.2. Should you wish to change any aspect of your transportation you must contact us in advance. The fare for your new transportation will be calculated and you will be given the option of accepting the new price or maintaining your original transportation as ticketed. Should you be required to change any aspect of your transportation due to Force Majeure, you must contact us as soon as practicable and we will use reasonable efforts to transport you to your next Stopover or final destination, without recalculation of the fare.

3.3.3. Should you change your transportation without our agreement, we will assess the reasonable price for your actual travel. You will be required to pay any difference between the price you have paid and the total price applicable for your revised transportation. We will refund you the difference if the new price is lower but otherwise, your unused Coupons have no value.

3.3.4. Please be aware that while some types of changes will not result in a change of fare, others, such as changing the place of departure (for example if you do not fly the first segment) or reversing the direction you travel, can result in an increase in price. Many fares are valid only on the dates and for the flights shown on the Ticket and may not be changed at all, or only upon payment of an additional fee.

3.3.5. Each Flight Coupon contained in your Ticket will be accepted for transportation in the class of service on the date and flight for which space has been reserved. When a Ticket is originally issued without a reservation being specified, space may be later reserved subject to our Tariff and the availability of space on the flight requested.

3.3.6. Please be advised that in the event you do not show up for any flight without advising us in advance, we may cancel your return or onward reservations. However, if you do advise us in advance, we will not cancel your subsequent flight reservations.

3.4. Our name an address Our name may be abbreviated to our Airline Designator Code, or otherwise, in the Ticket. Our address shall be deemed to be the airport of departure shown opposite the first abbreviation of our name in the “Carrier” box in the Ticket, or in the case of an Electronic Ticket, as indicated for our first flight segment in the Itinerary Receipt.

ARTICLE 4: STOPOVERS 4.1. Stopovers may be permitted at Agreed Stopping Places subject to relevant authorities’ requirements and Our Regulations.

4.2. Stopovers must be arranged with Carrier(s) in advance and specified on the Ticket.

ARTICLE 5: FARES, TAXES, FEES AND CHARGES 5.1. Fares and surcharges The applicable fares apply only for carriage from the airport at the point of origin to the airport at the point of final destination, unless otherwise expressly stated. The applicable fares, fees, taxes and surcharges, do not include land (road, rail …) or maritime transport service between airports and between airports and town terminals, are the total payment by the passenger. The applicable fares, will be calculated in accordance with our Tariff, and surcharges are in effect on the date of payment of your Ticket for travel on the specific dates and itinerary shown on it. Should you change your itinerary or dates of travel, this may change the fares and surcharges to be paid 5.2. Taxes, Fees and Charges Applicable taxes, fees and charges imposed by government or other authority, or by the operator of an airport, or by us or another Carrier, shall be payable by you. At the time you purchase your Ticket, you will be advised of taxes, fees and charges not included in the fare, most of which will normally be shown separately on the Ticket.

5.3. Payment for Taxes, Fees and Charges We shall not be obliged to carry, and may refuse onward to carry of a Passenger or his Baggage, if the applicable fare, any taxes, fees or charges payable have not been paid.

5.4. Currency Fares, taxes, fees and charges are payable in the currency of the country in which the Ticket is issued, unless another currency is indicated by us or our Authorised Agents, at or before the time payment is made (for example, because of the non-convertibility of the local currency). We may, at our discretion, accept payment in another currency.

ARTICLE 6: RESERVATIONS 6.1. Reservation requirements 6.1.1. We or our Authorised Agents will record your reservation(s). Upon request, we will provide you with written confirmation of your reservation(s).

6.1.2. Certain fares have conditions which limit or exclude your right to change or cancel reservations. You should check the conditions that apply to your fare and we are not responsible for your failure to do so.

6.2. Ticketing time limits If you have not paid for the Ticket prior to the specified ticketing time limit as advised by us or our Authorised Agents, we reserve the right to cancel your reservation.

6.3. Personal data We may use the personal information that you provide and we collect, including information about how your purchase history and how you use our services and facilities for the purposes of: making a reservation, purchasing and issuing a Ticket, providing you with your transportation and any related services and facilities; accounting, billing and auditing, verifying and screening credit or other payment cards; immigration and customs control; safety, security, health, administrative and legal purposes; statistical and marketing analysis, operating frequent flyer programmes; systems testing, maintenance and development; IT training; customer relations; helping us to deal with you more efficiently in the future; and direct marketing and market research (which we will only do at your request or with your consent or if we give you the opportunity to opt out).

For these purposes, you authorise us to retain and use such data as long as it is needed to perform these tasks and to transmit it to our own offices, Authorised Agents, government agencies, other carriers or the providers of the above-mentioned services. You may be required, by government regulations, to provide specific personal data or information to us, including information to enable us to notify family members in the event of an emergency and other purposes associated with or incidental to your carriage. We shall not be liable to you for any loss or expense incurred due to our use or transmission of any personal data provided to us unless the loss or expense was due to our negligence. We may also monitor and/or record your telephone conversations with us to ensure consistent service levels, prevent/detect fraud and for training purposes.

Further information on our data privacy policy, including how to access and correct this data, can be obtained from our offices and our website.

6.4. Seating We will endeavour to honour advance seating requests. However, we cannot guarantee any particular seat. We reserve the right to assign or re-assign seats at any time, even after boarding of the aircraft. This may be necessary for operational, safety, government regulatory, health or security reasons. We will make reasonable seating accommodations for Passengers who need our assistance in accordance with applicable law.

6.5. Service charge when space not occupied Except in the case of travel on non-refundable fares, a reasonable service charge, in accordance with Our Regulations, may be payable by you if you fail to use space for which a reservation has been made.

6.6. Special services 6.6.1. We will try to ensure that special services requested by you when you make your reservation depending on our availability. We will inform passengers in case we are unable to provide special services requested by passengers. Special services Request will be confirmed immediately or after our verification of transportation conditions or after passenger’s completion of the procedures under conditions of carriage. If passengers require special services at the airport, we will check conditions and inform passengers of the acceptance or not. We will not however, be liable to you for loss, expense, breach of contract or other damage should we, for any reason, be unable to supply such previously requested service.

6.6.2. If you are a passenger with a disability and you require any special assistance you should inform us at the time of booking of your special needs.

6.6.3. If you are a passenger with a disability we will carry you if arrangements have been made to provide for your special needs. If you do not inform us at the time of your special needs, we will nevertheless use reasonable efforts to accommodate your special needs.

6.6.4. We may require that you travel with an attendant if it is essential for the safety of the flight or if you are unable to evacuate yourself from the aircraft or you are unable to understand safety instructions.

6.6.5. We reserve the right to cease accepting passengers who must travel on a stretcher on any flight.

6.6.6. On flights where medical oxygen is permitted you may be charged for the service of medical oxygen (and you may be required to be accompanied by an attendant).

6.7. On board services For operational reasons, we do not make any guarantees about the provision/availability of in-flight entertainment equipment and advertised programmes; advertised special meals or any other type of meals; or the availability of advertised in-flight services.

6.8. Reconfirmation of reservations 6.8.1. Onward or return reservations may be subject to the requirement to reconfirm the reservation within specified time limits. We will advise you when we require reconfirmation, and how and where it should be done. If it is required and you fail to reconfirm, we may cancel your onward or return reservations. However, if you advise us you still wish to travel, and there is space on the flight in the class of service for which the fare has been paid, we will reinstate your reservations and transport you to your next or final destination. If there is no space available on the flight in the class of service for which the fare has been paid, we will use reasonable efforts to transport you to your next or final destination.

6.8.2. You should check the reconfirmation requirements of any other Carriers involved in your journey with them. Where it is required, you must reconfirm with the Carriers whose code appears for the flight in question on the Ticket.

6.9. Cancellation of onward reservations Please be advised that if you do not show up for any flight without advising us in advance, we may cancel your return or onward reservations. However, if you do advise us in advance, we will not cancel your subsequent flight reservations.

ARITCLE 7: CHECK-IN AND BOARDING 7.1. You must arrive at our Check-in location and boarding gate some specified time in advance of flight departure to permit completion of any government formalities and departure procedures. We reserve the right to cancel your reservation if you do not comply with the Check-in Deadlines indicated. You should inform yourself of the Check-in Deadlines. Check-in Deadlines for our flights can be found in our timetable, or may be obtained from us or our Authorised Agents.

7.2. You must be present at the boarding gate not later than the time specified by us when you check-in.

7.3. We may cancel the space reserved for you if you fail to arrive at the boarding gate in time or if you fail to present required travel documents as provided in Article 14.2.

7.4. We will not be liable to you for any loss or expense incurred due to your failure to comply with the provisions of this Article.

ARTICLE 8: REFUSAL OF AND LIMITATION ON CARRIAGE 8.1. Right to refuse carriage We may refuse to carry you or your Baggage (even if you hold a valid Ticket and/or have a boarding pass) if we determines that: 8.1.1. such action is necessary in order to comply with any applicable laws, regulations, or orders of any state or country to be flown from, into, or over; or 8.1.2. you refuse our requests information about yourself for providing product, services and/or information required by governments; or 8.1.3. your conduct, age or mental or physical state is such as (i) to require special service but have no prior arrangement with us; or (ii) due to the health status of Passengers that We found that the transport or continue to transport will cause harm to the Passengers, to other people in the aircraft or endanger the flight; or (iii) to prevent the spread of disease; or (iv) to disobey regulations on aviation safety and security, operational transportation by air; or (v) to disturb social order, endangers the operational safety or influences the life, health and property of other persons; or (vi) persons who get drunk or affected by pharmaceutical products and have lost their act control capacity; or (vii) for security reason; or (viii) at the request of competent Authorities.

8.1.4. you have committed misconduct on a previous flight, and such conduct may be repeated; or 8.1.5. you have refused to submit to a security check for yourself or your Baggage, or having submitted to such a check, you fail to provide satisfactory answers to security questions at check-in or at the boarding gate, or you fail a security profiling assessment analysis, or you tamper with or remove any security seals on your Baggage or security stickers on your boarding pass; or 8.1.6. you have not paid the applicable fare, taxes, fees, or charges; or 8.1.7. you do not appear to have valid travel documents, seek to enter a country through which you may be in transit, or for which you do not have valid travel documents, or destroy your travel documents during flight or refuse to surrender your travel documents to the flight crew, against receipt, when so requested; or 8.1.8. you present a Ticket that (i) has been acquired unlawfully, or (ii) has been purchased from an entity other than us or our Authorised Agents or (iii) has been reported as being lost or stolen; or (iv) is a counterfeit Ticket; or (v) you cannot prove that you are the person named in the Ticket. In this circumstance, we reserve the right to retain such Ticket; or 8.1.9. you fail to comply with the requirements set forth in Article 3.3 above concerning coupon sequence and use, or you present a Ticket which has been issued or altered in any way, other than by us or our Authorised Agents, or the Ticket is mutilated; or 8.1.10. you fail to observe our instructions with respect to safety or security; or 8.1.11. you have previously committed one of the acts or omissions referred to above.

8.2. Consequences of refusal to carry or removal of Passenger 8.2.1. We reserve the right to refuse to transport the Passengers in case We cannot take measures to ensure security and safety of flight such as (i) disruptive Passengers; or (ii) persons who have lost their act control capacity; or (iii) persons whose entry is disallowed; or (iv) disobey regulations and instructions of aviation employees at an airport/aerodrome or airfield or on board an aircraft; or (v) disturb order and discipline at an airport/aerodrome or on board an aircraft; or (vi) deportee without an escorts; or (vii) hoax or provide with false information that endangers the safety and security of an airport/ aerodrome or airfield or on board an aircraft in flight or on ground and passengers; or (viii) at the request of Vietnam or foreign aviation Authorities; and We may cancel the remaining unused portion of your Ticket, and you will not be entitled to further carriage or to a refund either in respect of the sector that was the subject of the refusal of carriage or removal, or any subsequent sectors covered by the Ticket.

8.2.2. We will not be liable for any consequential loss or damage alleged due to any such refusal to carry or removal en route.

8.2.3. On the contrary, we reserve the right to seek an indemnity from you in respect of claims or losses including the costs of diverting our flight incurred by us as a result of such behaviour, conduct or condition and such refusal or removal.

8.2.4. We also reserve the right to give you a banning notice. By a banning notice we mean a written notice we have given to you informing you that you are banned from being carried on our route network. This means you are banned from all flights we operate. This notice will give the date when the ban comes into force and the period for which it applies. A banning notice will also ask you not to buy a Ticket or ask or allow anyone to do so for you. If you try to travel while a banning notice is in force, we will refuse to carry you.

8.3. Special assistance Acceptance for carriage of unaccompanied children, incapacitated persons, pregnant women, persons with illness or other people requiring special assistance is subject to prior arrangement with us and in accordance with Our Regulations. We may, at our discretion, levy a charge for the provision of these services.

8.4. Aircraft weight/seating capacity If we believe that the aircraft weight limitation or seating capacity be exceeded, we shall decide reasonably not to carry a certain Passenger(s) and/or article(s) in accordance with our Regulations. Compensations shall be made in accordance with the provisions of Article 9.6.3, Article 10.2.4 and Article 16.5.6 and other applicable regulations.

8.5. Service dogs Subject to any applicable laws, we may refuse to carry your service dog if any of the following has occurred or we reasonably believe that it may occur: 8.5.1. The dog has not been harnessed or muzzled appropriately.

8.5.2. We are unable to accommodate the seating of the dog such that it is in front of you.

8.5.3. The seating position of your dog would obstruct an aisle or other areas required by safety regulations to remain unobstructed for emergency evacuation purposes.

8.5.4. The dog engages in disruptive behaviour, or other behaviour that poses a direct threat to the health and safety of other Passengers on the aircraft.

8.5.5. There is insufficient evidence to prove that the dog has been properly trained and is a certified service dog.

8.5.6. Some or all of the requirements set forth in Article 8.6 may be modified or inapplicable in the case of Passengers travelling with service dogs or other service animals to or from Europe and to and from the United States. In this case, please contact us for further details.

ARTICLE 9: BAGGAGE 9.1. Free Baggage allowance You may carry some Baggage, free of charge, subject to Our Regulations which are shown in our Passenger Ticket and Baggage Check. The free of charge Baggage must be subject to conditions and limitations in Our Regulations.

9.2. Excess Baggage You will be required to pay a charge for the carriage of Baggage in excess of the free Baggage allowance. The payment terms are shown in Our Regulations.

9.3. Items unacceptable as Baggage 9.3.1. You must not include in your Baggage: 9.3.1.1. items which do not constitute Baggage as defined in Article 1 hereof; 9.3.1.2. items which are likely to endanger the aircraft or persons or property on board the aircraft, such as those specified in the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) Technical Instructions for the Safe Transport of Dangerous Goods

by Air and the International Air Transport Association (IATA) Dangerous Goods Regulations, and in Our Regulation.

9.3.1.3. items the carriage of which is prohibited by the applicable laws, regulations or orders of any state to be flown from, or to; 9.3.1.4. items which are reasonably considered by us to be unsuitable for carriage because they are dangerous, unsafe or because of their weight, size, shape or character.

9.3.2. Firearms, ammunition and support instruments are prohibited from carriage as Baggage unless having acceptance from the authority. Explosives, explosive materials, flammable substances, items which can be used as threatening weapons, and other dangerous substances may only be accepted as Checked Baggage, subject to Our Regulations. For safety reason, cartridges must be taken out from the guns. Cartridges must be suitably packed. Carriage of the firearms, ammunition and support instrument is subject to Our Regulations and those of ICAO, IATA, Airport Authorities.

9.3.3. You are prohibited from including in your Checked Baggage, fragile or perishable items (fresh and perishable foodstuff…), artwork, cameras, money, jewellery, precious metals, silverware, computers, electronic devices, securities or other valuables, negotiable papers, contract, business documents, samples, passports and other identification documents, other valuable items.

9.3.4. If, despite being prohibited, any items specified in Articles 9.3 are included in your Baggage, we shall not be responsible for any Damage to such items.

9.4. Right to refuse carriage 9.4.1. We may refuse to carry as Baggage the items described in Article 9.3, and we may refuse further carriage of any such items upon discovery that it is included in your Baggage.

9.4.2. We may refuse to carry as Baggage any item, reasonably considered by us to be unsuitable for carriage because of its size, shape, weight, content, character, or for safety or operational reasons, or the comfort of other Passengers and Baggage.

9.4.3. We may refuse to carry as Baggage any item, due to security, safety or operational reasons, including Baggage which does not belong to you and which you partially own. We shall not be responsible for any Damage or inconvenience which may cause to you as a result of refusal of such Baggage.

9.4.4. Unless advance arrangements for its carriage have been made with us, we may carry on later flights Baggage which is in excess of the applicable free allowance.

9.4.5. We may refuse to accept Baggage as Checked Baggage unless it is properly and securely packed in suitcases and suitable containers to ensure safe carriage with ordinary care in handling.

9.4.6. We and our agents shall not check through Baggage for other Carriers where we do not have an interline agreement with them. Therefore, where you intend to arrive at an airport on another Carrier’s flight in order to connect with one of our flights or you intend to arrive at the airport on one of our flights in order to connect with another Carrier’s flight you must check in advance whether we have an interline agreement with them. If we do not, you are responsible for clearing your Baggage and having it checked-in and re-tagged for the next flight. In such circumstances, we are not liable for any Damage to you and to your Baggage.

9.5. Right of search 9.5.1. For reasons of safety and security we may request that you permit a search and scan of your person and a search, scan or x-ray of your Baggage.

If you are not available, your Baggage may be searched in your absence for the purpose of determining whether you are in possession of or whether your Baggage contains any item described in Article 9.3. If you are unwilling to comply with such requests we may refuse to carry you and your Baggage. In the event a search or scan causes damage to you, or an x-ray or scan causes damage to your Baggage, we shall not be liable for such Damage unless due to our fault or negligence.

9.5.2. We shall not be responsible for items kept by you or in your Baggage which are seized by Authority subject to international rules or State Authority Regulations even such items are seized, destroyed or handed over to us.

9.6. Checked Baggage 9.6.1. Upon delivery to us of your Baggage which you wish to check, we will take custody of and issue a Baggage Identification Tag, for each piece of your Checked Baggage.

9.6.2. Checked Baggage must have your name, or other personal identification affixed to it.

9.6.3. Checked Baggage will, whenever possible, be carried on the same aircraft as you, unless we decide for safety, security, or operational reasons to carry it on an alternative flight. If your Checked Baggage is carried on a subsequent flight we will deliver it to you, unless applicable law requires you to be present for customs clearance.

9.6.4. Maximum weight of any single piece of Checked Baggage is 32 kg (70 lb.). Overweight items will be repacked or split into lighter units during check-in. Such items that cannot be repacked will not be accepted for carriage. In either case, we shall not be liable to you for: (i) any Damage arising as a result of your failure to comply with the weight allowance and need to repack, split or (ii) decline to carry the overweight items.

Acceptance of any bag weighing more than 32 kg (70 lb.) is subject to prior approval and notification upon booking/reservation.

9.7. Excess value declaration and charge You may declare a value for Checked Baggage in excess of the applicable liability limits. If you make such a declaration, you shall pay additional charges in accordance with Our Regulations. The declaration and payment shall be made in accordance with applicable laws, regulations of any state to be flown from, to or over.

9.8. Unchecked Baggage 9.8.1. Baggage which you carry onto the aircraft must be subject to Our Regulations. If your Baggage is of excessive weight or size, or is considered unsafe for any reason, it must be carried as Checked Baggage.

9.8.2. Objects not suitable for carriage in the cargo compartment (such as delicate musical instruments) and which do not meet the requirements in Article 9.8.1, will only be accepted for carriage in the cabin compartment if you have given us notice in advance and permission has been granted by us. You are required to pay a separate charge for this service.

9.9. Collection and delivery of Baggage 9.9.1. You are required to collect your Checked Baggage as soon as it is made available at your destination or Stopover. Should you not collect it within a reasonable time, we may charge you a storage fee. Should your Checked Baggage not be claimed within three (3) months from the time it is made available, we shall not be liable to you for the Baggage.

9.9.2. Only the bearer of the Baggage Check and Baggage Identification Tag is entitled to delivery of Checked Baggage.

9.9.3. If a person claiming the Baggage is unable to produce the Baggage Check and identify the Baggage by means of a Baggage Identification Tag, we will deliver the Baggage to such person only on condition that he or she establishes to our satisfaction his or her right to the Baggage thereto 9.9.4. Acceptance of Baggage by the bearer of the Baggage Check without complaint at the time of delivery shall constitute sufficient evidence that the Baggage has been delivered in good condition and in accordance with the contract of carriage.

9.10. Animals If we agree to carry your animals, they will be carried subject to the following conditions: 9.10.1. You must ensure that animals such as dogs, cats, household birds and other pets, are properly crated or transported in containers which meet the requirements of law, accompanied by valid health and vaccination certificates, entry permits, and other documents required by countries of entry or transit, failing which, such animals will not be accepted for carriage. Such carriage may be subject to additional conditions by us.

9.10.2. If accepted as Baggage, the animal, together with its container and food shall not be included in your free Baggage allowance, but shall constitute excess Baggage, for which you will be obliged to pay the applicable rate. Except as provided for in Article 9.10.3, animals will not be carried in the passenger cabin of the aircraft. They will be carried, suitably containerised, in the cargo compartment of the aircraft.

9.10.3. Service animals accompanying Passengers with disabilities will be carried as Checked Baggage or in the cabin free of charge in addition to the normal free Baggage allowance, subject to Our Regulations.

9.10.4. Acceptance for carriage of animals is subject to condition that you bare full responsibility for such animals. We shall not be liable for injury to or loss, delay, sickness or death of such animals during transportation, unless due to our fault or negligence.

9.10.5. We shall not be liable for such animals that are refused entry into or passage through any country, state or territory.

ARTICLE 10: SCHEDULES, CANCELLATION OF FLIGHTS 10.1. Schedules 10.1.1. The flight times shown in timetables may change between the date of publication and the date you actually travel. We do not guarantee them to you and they do not form part of your contract with us.

10.1.2. Before we accept your booking, we or our authorized agent will notify you of the scheduled flight time in effect as of that time, and it will be shown on your Ticket. It is possible we may need to change the scheduled flight time subsequent to issuance of your Ticket and/or cancel, terminate, divert, postpone, delay any flight, or substitute alternative aircraft and stop-over destination if necessary beyond our control and/or because of safety or commercial reasons. If you provide us with contact information, we will endeavour to notify you of any such changes. If, after you purchase your Ticket, we make a change to the scheduled flight time, which is not acceptable to you, and we are unable to book you on an alternate flight which is acceptable to you, you will be entitled to a refund in accordance with Article 11.

10.2. Cancellation, rerouting, delays 10.2.1. We will take all necessary measures to avoid delay in carrying you and your Baggage. In the exercise of these measures and in order to prevent a flight cancellation, in exceptional circumstances, we may arrange for a flight to be operated on our behalf by an alternative carrier and/or aircraft.

10.2.2. Except as otherwise provided by the Conventions or applicable law, if we cancel a flight, fail to operate a flight reasonably according to the schedule, fail to stop at your destination or Stopover destination, or cause you to miss a connecting flight on which you hold a confirmed reservation, we shall, at your option, either: 10.2.2.1. carry you at the earliest opportunity on another of our scheduled services on which space is available without additional charges and; where necessary, extend the validity of your Ticket; or 10.2.2.2. within a reasonable period of time re-route you to the destination shown on your Ticket by our own services or those of another Carrier, or by other mutually agreed means and class of transportation without additional charge; or 10.2.2.3. make a refund in accordance with the provisions of Article 11.

10.2.3. Upon the occurrence of any of the events set out in Article 10.2.2, except as otherwise provided by the Conventions or applicable law, the options outlined in Article 10.2.2.1 through Article 10.2.2.3 are the sole and exclusive remedies available to you and we shall have no further liability to you. In particular, if cancellations or delays are due to the weather conditions, union strikes, acts of God and wars, or air traffic control delays or other force majeure, we shall be under no immediate obligation to comply with Article 10.2.1 to Article 10.2.3 or to provide at all for the cost of telephone calls, accommodation, refreshments or transportation, although we shall make reasonable efforts to assist you as to the best we can in the prevailing circumstances.

10.2.4. If we are unable to provide confirmed space, we shall provide compensation to those Passengers who are denied boarding or who are involuntarily downgraded to the class below in accordance with applicable law and our and our denied boarding/involuntary downgrading compensation policy.

ARTICLE 11: REFUNDS 11.1. Unless otherwise stated in (i) this Article or (ii) fare rules or tariff or (iii) in accordance with applicable law, Tickets are non-refundable. We will refund a Ticket or any unused portion, as set out below: 11.1.1. Except as otherwise provided in this Article, we shall be entitled to make a refund either to the person named in the Ticket, or to the person who has paid for the Ticket upon presentation of satisfactory proof of such payment.

11.1.2. If a Ticket has been paid for by a person other than the Passenger named in the Ticket, and the Ticket indicates that there is a restriction on refund, we shall make a refund only to the person who paid for the Ticket, or to that person’s order.

11.1.3. Except in the case of lost Tickets, refunds will only be made on surrender to us of the Ticket and all unused Flight Coupons.

11.1.4. A refund made to anyone presenting the Passenger Coupon or Passenger Receipt and all unused Flight Coupons and holding himself or herself out as a person to whom refund may be made pursuant to Article 11.2.1 or Article 11.2.2 shall be deemed a proper refund and shall discharge us from liability of any further refund claim from you or any other person.

11.2. Involuntary refunds If we cancel a flight, fail to operate a flight reasonably according to schedule, fail to stop at your final destination or Stopover, or cause you to miss a connecting flight on which you hold a reservation, the amount of the refund shall be: 11.2.1. if no portion of the Ticket has been used, an amount equal to the fare paid; 11.2.2. if a portion of the Ticket has been used, the refund will not be less than the difference between the fare paid and the applicable fare for the travel between the points for which the Ticket has been used.

11.2.3. Upon acceptance of a refund by the Passenger on the purchase of a Ticket under these circumstances, we shall be released from any further liability.

11.3. Voluntary refunds If you are entitled to a refund of your Ticket for reasons other than those set out in Article 11.2, the amount of the refund shall be: 11.3.1. if no portion of the Ticket has been used, an amount equal to the fare paid, less any reasonable service charges or cancellation fees; 11.3.2. if a portion of the Ticket has been used, the refund will be the difference between the fare paid and the applicable fare for the travel between the points for which the Ticket has been used less any reasonable service charges or cancellation fees 11.4. Refund on lost Ticket 11.4.1. If you lose your Ticket or portion of it, upon furnishing us with satisfactory proof of the loss, and payment of a reasonable administration charge,

refund will be made as soon as practicable after the expiry of the validity period of the Ticket, on condition: 11.4.1.1. that the lost Ticket, or portion of it, has not been used, previously refunded or replaced, (except where the use, refund or replacement by or to a third party resulted from our own negligence); 11.4.1.2. that the person to whom the refund is made undertakes, in such form as may be prescribed by us, to repay to us the amount refunded in the event of fraud and/or to the extent that the lost Ticket or portion of it is used by a third party (except where any fault or use by a third party resulted from our own negligence).

11.4.2. If we or our Authorized Agents lose the Ticket or portion of it, the loss shall be our responsibility.

11.5. Right to refuse refund 11.5.1. We may refuse a refund where application is made after the expiry of the validity of the Ticket.

11.5.2. We may refuse a refund on a Ticket which has been presented to us, or to Government officials, as evidence of intention to depart from that country, unless you establish to our satisfaction that you have permission to remain in the country or that you will depart from that country by another Carrier or another means of transport.

11.5.3. We may refuse a refund on the conditions as stated in Article 8.2 11.6. Currency All refunds will be subject to Government laws, rules and regulations or orders of the country in which the Ticket was originally purchased and of the country in which the refunds is being made. Subject to the foregoing provision, refunds will normally be made in the currency in which the Ticket was paid for, or in any other country in accordance with Our Regulations.

11.7. By whom Ticket refundable We will only give you a voluntary fare refund if we or our authorized agents issued the Ticket and we or they hav

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F R I D AY : J U N E 1 9, 2 0 1 5

MOTORING

RAMON L. TOMELDAN EDITOR

mst.daydesk@gmail.com

B7

BMW’s ultimate Dad weekend BMW will once again host a weekend of incomparable joy as it honors all dads with an exciting three-day showcase of the best in premium mobility in celebration of father’s day. Through its official importer and distributor in the Philippines, Asian Carmakers Corporation (ACC), the leading premium automotive brand will feature its latest product offerings and special deals at the BMW Ultimate Dad’s Weekend from June 19 to 21, 2015. located at the Big Bear Activity Area in Bonifacio high Street, the BMW Pavilion will open its doors to preview and test drive the All-New BMW X6, the BMW 2-Series Actrive Tourer and a display of BMW’s finest to the general

motoring public. To ramp up the thrill at the exhibition, exclusive deals await customers such as: A zero interest financing plan for select BMW models; Practical payment options with the premium car segment’s most popular leasing pro-

Gift suggestions for the car-loving Dad Text and photos by Dino Ray V. Directo III While most of us tend to be more excited to celebrate Mother’s Day, Fathers all over the globe feel that their day should be celebrated in the same manner as well. Father’s day is usually celebrated on the third Sunday of June, whose origins can be traced back on July 5, 1908, when Grace Golden Clayton mourned the loss of her Father who perished a year earlier in a mining disaster in Monongah which killed 361 men, 250 of them Fathers. Clayton suggested to her pastor Robert Thomas Webb to honor the memory of these men by declaring a day dedicated to the men who perished in the accident.

Although these days, Father’s day is usually celebrated by way of an out-of-town drive with the family, eating out, malling or simply staying right at home to enjoy Mom’s superb culinary delights.

With the malls expected to be filled to capacity this weekend, make your gear head Dad super special today with car accessories and parts. here are some ideas:

Go Biking with Dad

Rhino Racks are fashionable, functional, tough and engineered for ease of use. Any bike enthusiast will appreciate the strong and fluid architecture of any Rhino Rack bicycle rack and how it enhances your vehicle’s aesthetics. each bicycle rack that comes out of the Rhino Rack facility in Australia are designed to preserve and protect your bike. Designed in the unforgiving Australian Outback, Rhino Racks line of top or rear mounted bike racks are the most technologically advanced system out in the market. exclusively distributed by the Outdoors Club in Greenhills, San Juan, Rhino Racks and Montblanc roof boxes are specialized to fit any Japanese, european, American and Korean cars and SUV’s. They even have fitments for trucks.

Mag wheels for him

Black Rhino wheels are engineered to carry the heavy loads often associated with Trucks and SUV’s. “All of our wheels are either hub centric or supplied with centering rings to ensure a smooth vibration free ride. The wheels come in a variety of 17”, 18”, 20” and 22” sizes in a variety

Joy of mobility. Bonifacio High Street becomes the epicenter of activity as BMW pays tribute to car aficionado- fathers this weekend. of finishes - Matte Black, Gloss Black with Machine, Matte Black with Matte Machine, 5,6 and 8 lug, all depending on what perfectly suits your truck, lifted truck and SUV, says Ryan Gallagher, head of sales of TSW, USA. The Black Rhino truck and SUV wheels lineup is built with two types of vehicles in mind. The first set-up is for Trucks or SUV’s with negative offset that works perfectly for those wanting an extreme lift stance. The second is for more street friendly vehicles that you want to give that stylish look to set it apart from all other vehicles.

Those who want to level up their game, Black Rhino wheels are available in dealers nationwide or text 0917-8801111or log on to www.conceptonewheels.com

Light up his ride

With research and development gained from motorsports campaigns such as being the official lighting system of Team Mitsubishi Ralliart; Team ADVAN-Tein Subaru and a domineering presence in the Paris-Dakar and Japan Super GT, PiAA upholds the knowledge gained by combining market driven concepts with the latest technology to make night, inclement weather, and off-road driving as safe as possible. PiAA technicians continually raise the bar on visibility products.

With the introduction of the RF Series and lP Series of PiAA leD lamps, PiAA is set to innovate the market.

PiAA designed a reflector-facing bulb and new “first-inthe-industry” reflector technology. The innovative design offers significantly improved lighting and beam control compared to conventional leD and halogen lamps with forward-facing bulbs. Both the RF Series and lP Series of PiAA leD lamps provide brilliant illumination, but with lower power consumption than conventional leD and halogen lamps. it is a standard fit for most trucks, SUV’s and even sedans. illuminate your driving lifestyle with PiAA at these dealers: Autoplus eDSA, Atoy Bodykits in West Avenue Q.C., BlADe, CKT Autoshop in San Juan, Roadstar BGC and at 199 Offroad house.

Spruce up his truck

Overland makes it their business to protect your SUV from the harsh elements of the off-road environment. Specially engineered and designed Grille guards and brush guards add protection and rugged looks to the front of your vehicle. Bull bars and light bars add good looks without over-powering the front of your vehicle. Most are made from heavy gauge steel tubing grille guards provides the ultimate custom appearance.

Overland 4x4 bumpers are designed to minimize vehicle damage and keep you moving. The standard Bull Bar replaces the front bumper completely with a robust steel bumper designed specifically for each application. Jim does not endorse a “one size fits all” approach to design Protect and enhance the capacity of your SUV with Overland. it is available in dealers nationwide.

gram, BMW Flexilease and an opportunity to drive out with their first luxury automobile or upgrade to a new BMW by swapping a vehicle of any brand with the BMW Trade Up program.

Buyers of any brand new BMW vehicle during the event will get to bring home a sleek BMW Cruise Bike as an added treat.

“With the BMW Ultimate Dad’s Weekend, we wish to honor fathers by giving them an opportunity to enjoy the best of BMW in one place. We hope that this will be a venue for them to embrace sheer driving pleasure and turn every ride into a memorable journey with their families,” said ACC President Maricar Parco.

Engine protection for Dad’s ride

With 40 years of development and racing experience, get real protection and performance from the country’s only 100 percent fully synthetic motor oil. Motul has excellent anti oxidation properties preventing premature thickening and ageing due to thermal stress. its high performance anti-wear additive increases engine life duration and decreases wear by reducing engine internal frictions resulting in smooth and light acceleration. Motul’s anti-deposit and anti-black sludge power help maintains a clean engine, and also has properties for anti corrosion, anti-foam properties that protects both the oil and engine from unwanted elements the car accumulates from usage.

The patented synthetic technology that has been adapted from Jet planes to car racing and has been tested in actual conditions to provide ultra low-friction for more horsepower, incredibly smooth and almost no noticeable drop in rpms when shifting and instantaneous engine revs with noticeable gains in horsepower.

For details on how to improve your car’s performance, call Autoplus Sportzentrium at 726-0399 log on to www. motul.com.ph. Motul oil and lubricants are also available in select dealers nationwide.

Suzuki triple 4 treat for Manileños JUST a few days before the City of Manila celebrates its 444th foundation day, Suzuki Philippines, inc. is already set to treat Suzuki car owners in the area to a free comprehensive 15-point automobile check-up.

On June 19 and 20 from 8:00 AM to 4:00 PM, customers can go to Suzuki Auto Manila Bay to have their units inspected by trained and qualified Suzuki technicians for free.

The two-day service camp, which is dubbed as Suzuki @ Work, is the annual Free Check-up Service Campaign (FCSC) after sales initiative of Suzuki.

The FCSC aims to help Suzuki owners, even those with expired car warranties, to maintain the topnotch performance of their vehicles.

The comprehensive 15-point check-up will last for an hour and will include horn, lights, and brake inspection, vehicle fluid refills, battery checks using a computerized battery tester, and engine performance evaluation using the Suzuki Diagnostic Tool (SDT). Aside from the free check-up, Suzuki Auto Manila Bay will also be offering special discounts on spare parts and accessories during the service camp.

Suzuki Philippines President hiroshi Suzuki shares, “Our commitment to delivering efficient services to our customers does not end after we make a sale. This free automobile check-up campaign underscores our dedication to bring only the best after sales services available to our clients.”

F R I D AY : J U N E 1 9, 2 0 1 5

B8

RAMON L. TOMELDAN EDITOR

editorial@thestandard.com.ph

MOTORING

HIP AND SMART HONDA’S COMPACT CROSSOVER CAR HAS NEW LOOK, ENGINE AND TAGLINE

Text and photos by Dino Ray V. Directo III

H

onda Cars Philippines, Inc. has another feather in its cap: The all-new HR-V which stands for Hip and Smart Runabout Vehicle.

Launched at the Harbour Tent, Sofitel Philippine Plaza, Pasay City, the HR-V is a new generation crossover compact SUV that aims to create a new market globally. “The HR-V is developed to be a perfect companion for individuals with active lifestyle who know how to blend work, adventure and play,” says Toshio Kuwahara, president and GM of HCPI. A day after the launching, Honda shepherded select members of the Motoring media for a seven-hour ride and drive to an exclusive resort in Bolinao, Pangasinan.

The HR-V is Honda’s third product launch for this year, coming at the heels of the Odyssey launch last March and the Mobilio last April. “These models aim to deliver comfortable mobility especially for people who love to travel in groups. With the introduction of these models along with continuous enhancements of our vehicle line-up, we recorded a signific ant increase in our sales for 2015. I am pleased to share with you, that we were able to gather 1,491 unit sales for May. This is an 11% increase from April and a 63%

increase compared to the same month in 2014. Year to date, we improved our sales by 43% compared to the same period last year,” says Kuwahara, who has carved a reputation as the “comeback kid”, after putting the once ailing brand back to life.

From the outside, the HR-V has strong cues of coupe-like aero-cabin and SUV-like lower body developed under the exterior design concept of “Dynamic Cross Solid”.

Honda’s “Exciting H Design” is clearly stamped up front with a solid wing face design with a matching grille,

The lighthouse of Bolinao is the perfect backdrop for the new HR-V.

headlamp cluster with LED Daytime Running Lights and Dual Projector lamps design.

The All-New HR-V’s side profile has unique character lines and rear door handles are integrated into the side windows that express the feeling of a sporty two-door coupe.

The interior design of the All-New HR-V was developed under the “Expansive Cockpit” concept. An SUV-like instrument panel and a cockpit-like satellite interface have been applied to provide a sense of security to the driver. The incorporation of high-quality

material with the abundance of soft-touch materials and premium detailing emphasized by precise bezels, sophisticated stitch lines and piano black highlights exudes sophistication. Further, the highdeck center console was also adopted to create a coupe-like personal feel.

We were able to thoroughly test the 1.8 liter 141 bhp i-VTEC engine on long straights and the CVT transmission accurately delivers power down to the four wheels without any shift shock. Being a Honda, the HR-V is loaded with com-

fort and safety features such as: driver and passenger SRS airbags (with side and side curtain airbags for the top of the line variant), Vehicle Stability Assist (VSA), Hill Start Assist (HSA), Anti-Lock Braking System (ABS), Emergency Stop Signal (ESS), Multi-view Reverse Camera with Dynamic Guidelines (for the mid and top of the line variant) and rear sensors for the top of the line, Seat Belt Reminder, ISOFIX , Electric Parking Brake and Immobilizer.

Modulo and MUGEN accessories are also available which can be purchased in-

dividually or as a package.

MUGEN accessories are the following: front grille, front under spoiler, rear and side under spoiler, lower wing spoiler and ventilated visor.

Modulo accessories on the other hand include, front grille, front and rear aero bumper, side under spoiler, front lower garnish, running board and door visor.

Price for the HR-V starts at P1.190M for the entry level 1.8 S CVT and P1.5M for the high end EL CVT Mugen version. It is now available in dealers nationwide.

F R I D AY : J U N E 1 9 : 2 0 1 5

BING PAREL A S S O C I AT E E D I T O R

BERNADETTE LUNAS WRITER life @ thestandard.com .ph

LIFE

FASHION

THE INNER STRENGTH OF KAYE MORALES

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hilippine Fashion Week has come and gone, but the Katana collection unveiled by young designer Kaye Morales has left an indelible imprint that will most likely become fodder for discussion – at least among local fashionistas – for quite some time.

Inky blacks, fiery reds and stark greys marked the creations presented by the international designer whose passion and emotions are clearly reflected in her pieces. Trained from prestigious institutions such as the Central Saint Martins College of Arts and Design in London and the School of Fashion and the Arts (SoFA) Manila, Kaye has earned acclaim for winning the Best Collection for her first line Octopedes which she presented before the SoFA as a graduating student in 2010. In 2013, her Debauchery collection was included in the 2013 Vancouver Fashion Week while her Centipede Collection was featured in the LA Style Fashion Week in 2014.

With Katana, Morales completes the sartorial trilogy that began with her first two collections dubbed as Melancholia and Centipede.

Melancholia, as the name suggest, was very dark and mirrored the emotional state of the designer as she worked on the pieces. While Katana shares a similar color palette and mode of construction with the first two installments, its story cannot be more different, the designer shares, noting that Katana symbolizes her strength and her victory over those (dark) episodes.

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Katana, after all, is the iconic sword wielded by the Samurai during feudal Japan, and Kaye’s line illustrates how raw steel can be forged – through meticulous craftsmanship – to become one of the finest weapons in history.

“It’s a painful cycle of destruction and recreation until all the impurities are filtered out. Until finally, only something refined, infused with soul, and beautiful just by being, can emerge,” the young designer explains.

Using neoprene and power net in black, grey, and red as her tools of choice, Kaye manipulated them into a variety of women’s and men’s apparel. They range from dresses, sweatshirts and gowns to kimonos, blazers, and harem pants that feature Oriental iconographies, detailed embroideries, basic cut-outs, and digital prints.

“Thus, the clothes become more than garments; they become warrior stories,” Kaye elaborates.

While her Katana collection received mixed reviews, it is apparent that the pieces stand out if only because they exude such a strong style statement. “From the choice of color to the texture of fabric, and overall look, each element characterizes the vision of Kaye Morales to present dark as enlightening, to overhaul the rocker chic trend as sophisticated, and to transform odd concepts into something stunning and extraordinary,” thus aptly describes the work of Kaye Morales.

FRIDAY : J UNE 19 : 2015

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LIFE life @ thestandard.com .ph

FASHION

BEAUTY FOR A PURPOSE Avon Philippines calls on Dads to help daughters change the world

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Consumers can join the campaign on avon.com.ph through von Philippines recently announced the launch of Beauty for a Purpose, a new global brand statement the link http://www.avon.com.ph/PRSuite/fathers-day-empowfocused on the company’s commitment to empower- erment-pledge.page, where they will find a special Father’s Day ing Avon representatives and women around the world campaign video, and can also customize a special Father’s Day eCard that can be shared with their fathers via email or social through beauty and financial independence.

Beauty for a Purpose provides a framework for the company to media to encourage them to take the pledge. Shareable social media images and GIFs carrying the campaign meschampion three defining areas: Avon’s beauty sage will also be available for consumers. products of demonstrable quality and value; Daughters are invited to share their sentiments Avon’s earning opportunity, which allows miland upload photos of themselves and their fathers lions of women around the Philippines to build (or the father figure in their lives) using the hashtag self-reliance and a better life for themselves and #SalamatDad on avon.com.ph, or other social media their families; and the network effect of emchannels like Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter. powered women empowering others.

Fathers are invited to commit to the Father’s Day “We believe that empowered women are the Pledge to make a stand to ensure that all daughters transforming force of societies and will turn everywhere are given the opportunity to shine and the world into a more beautiful one,” says Emie succeed. Avon calls on all Dads to help protect every Aguilar-Nierves, General Manager of Avon daughter’s right to feel empowered.

Philippines. “Beauty for a Purpose captures our whole Avon story: give women the right products, the right earning opportunities and a supFOUR NEW PRODUCTS WERE ALSO INTRODUCED BY AVON DURING THE port network and they can change the world.

FATHER’S DAY The stories we tell will celebrate our six million CAMPAIGN LAUNCH: Avon Representatives – the largest network of women on Earth – who are empowering those 1. Dennis Sling Bag & Wallet Set: Brown leatherCaptivating citrus, Sage and around them through beauty.” ette set with denim accents Avon’s commitment to women empower- Vetiver for the man who exudes 2. Dennis Sunglasses: Aviator suitable for almost all classic masculinity and strength. ment invites both men and women to engage face shape with a cleaning cloth pouch in the movement through their latest Father’s Day campaign via 3. Dennis 2-in-1 Bikini Brief Pack: With inside waist elastic the Avon Philippines website www.avon.com.ph. Consumers, & contrast color stitching Representatives and employees are invited to celebrate their 4. Black Suede Sport: Eau de Toilette Spray fathers and encourage them to say #SalamatDad and take the This newest collection encourages Filipinos to show apprecia“Empowerment Pledge,” reflecting their commitment to take tion for fathers and father figures who have inspired or empowpersonal steps to create a better world for their daughters, sisters, ered daughters and the women in their lives. and women in the Philippines.

Learn more about Avon and its products at www.avoncompany.com.

Give Dad true blue gifts he’ll use again and again like this leatherette accessory set with denim trim and Aviator sunglasses suitable for almost all face shapes

DENIM MAKEOVER WITH LEE DENIM’S DIY RIP AND REPAIR Denim expert Lee Jeans has found a way to give classic/traditional denim pieces a facelift by introducing “Denim Refreshment,” a new fashion to dress up jeans the DIY way.

Shedding its archetype skin and stepping up as a contemporary and innovative artisan, Lee Jeans kickstarted the Lee Denim DIY Rip and Repair three-day workshop held recently at the SM Mall of Asia.

First off: Jade Fusion, the first of many denim innovations Lee Jeans has up its sleeve this 2015.

This temperature-reducing wear is the perfect summer skin to be in. Crafted with natural jade that’s known for its heat-resist property, Jade Fusion improves breathability and manages moisture to keep the wearer cooler – a refreshing denim in every way.

The cool mood was set by the anamorphic floor art of internationally acclaimed British 3D artist Joe Hill who is famous for the longest and largest anamorphic street painting and is the holder of the Guinness Record for this perspective art.

Then there was Dry Fast, introduced as a lightweight, soft,

and breathable performance cotton denim.

For three days, three stations housed the event’s DIY: RIPPING for distressing, slashing, and grinding; REPAIR & ALTERATION for sewing and patchwork; and PAINT & MONOGRAMMING where one can add his signature to the finished product using his initials.

Dads and other male participants feasted over Zed fit and Powell jeans while the ladies distressed away Jeggings in different blue and heritage jeans wash. The denim fans purchased jeans and worked on their canvasses as schooled by modern artisans who put on a demo show of styling how-to’s. Purchasers got to take home a free Denim Refreshment tote bag. To top it up, event partner Jamba Juice gave away thirst-quenching upsize coupons to customers with every purchase of Lee Jeans during the event.

Lee Jeans’ curiosity on denim innovation is just beginning.

Creating a refreshing new feel and modernism is just Act 1. Expect more DIY from the owner of the denim customization floor.

Models and Lee Philippines staff demonstrate how to rip, distress and paint your own jeans

FRIDAY : J UNE 19 : 2015

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LIFE life @ thestandard.com .ph

DISNEY PRINCESS WEDDING GOWNS

BY ED BIADO

Most brides want to look like a princess on their wedding day. And Alfred Angelo knows that SNOW WHITE all too well. The ready-to-wear bridal retailer Snow White’s timeless elrecently unveiled its Disney Princess Fairy Tale collection with looks egance and charm comes alive in this princess wedinspired by, who else, Disney princesses. Take a look: ding dress. Handmade satin roses decorate the crystallized waistband.

CINDERELLA LIMITED EDITION

Cinderella is getting married and she’s chosen a beautiful, opulent gown fit perfectly for a royal dream come true. This wedding gown is modeled after the one in the 2015 live-action romantic fantasy feature film “Cinderella.”

CINDERELLA

This gown is said to be so magical, it might be made by the fairy godmothers. The draped bodice is accented with a sheer, beaded yoke that glistens like Cinderella’s glass slipper.

ELSA

Elegant and powerful, the “Elsa” dress glistens like sunlight on freshly fallen snow. A Watteau train and icicle-inspired beading represent Elsa’s independent spirit.

SLEEPING BEAUTY JASMINE Lush layers of tulle delicately swathe this soft and romantic gown. A handmade flower at the waist is reminiscent of Sleeping Beauty’s woodland childhood as Briar Rose.

This luxurious dress embodies Jasmine’s independent heart. The modern chiffon jumpsuit features a crystal beaded bodice that shines like the jewels of Agrabah.

ARIEL

BELLE

RAPUNZEL

TIANA

Glimmering like sunlight off the ocean, the strapless “Ariel” is made for the princess of the sea. Radiant details on the bodice speak of the mermaid’s love for her treasures.

Covered in handmade wildflowers, this cagestyle gown reflects the optimism of Rapunzel’s longing for adventure.

Lace and crystal beading add grace to this princess wedding dress.

You’ll want to twirl around the ballroom in the charming “Belle” dress. Layers of gossamer tulle and delicate roses are caught up around the full ball gown skirt.

Reminiscent of big dreams and jazz music, “Tiana” sparkles with the glitter and excitement of New Orleans. The full skirt and train feature a water lily pattern.

THE MANE EVENT: HOW TO BREATHE NEW LIFE TO YOUR CROWNING GLORY Ricky Reyes’ Hair Waxing treatment

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hanging your hair color is one of the easiest ways to change your look.

Now that the summer season is almost over, your locks probably need a retouch to make them healthy and gorgeous again.

COLOR FOR SUMMER-DAMAGED HAIR

“A bright summer leads to dull locks,” says hair expert Ricky Reyes.

In the past months, your hair must have been under the scorching heat as you lolled on the beach, or soaked in a chlorine-laden pool, or lounged in an air-conditioned room for a long period (because venturing out during Philippine summer was almost impossible). Unfortunately, spending time under the sun and air conditioning can make hair dry and frizzy. Exposing your locks to chlorine and saltwater damages them further, and subjecting your crown to UV rays hastily oxidizes its color.

Fortunately for our summer-damaged hair, Ricky Reyes has the solution.

The hair expert, who popularized treatment solutions to various hair problems, now introduces Hair Waxing that treats damaged and color-faded hair.

In this treatment, the stylists assess the hair damage, restore its original color, and apply Natural for black or brown hair and Plum Brown or Orange for other color-treated mane. After which, they add accent in blue, green, violet, yellow and red.

Hair Waxing delivers a glossy finish and restores moisture to weatherdamaged hair thus eliminating dryness.

COLOR IT BLONDE

Why not color your locks blonde or a couple of shades lighter this time? If your hair has never seen the light, L’Oréal Professionnel’s latest luxurious hair color collection may have the solution.

Created by the L’Oréal Professionnel Philippine team with Gary Chew, Singapore’s hair beauty maven and director of the prestigious Salon Vim and Chez Vous, and Karina Mantolino, the Philippines’ first institutional development artist for L’Oréal Professionnel and founder of Regine’s Salon, Lumineux radiates its rich, creative Parisian roots by using the powerful transformation of hair through color and light.

Lumineux, which means light or radiant, features two professional hair color and lighting techniques – fast lights and flash colors as inspired by L’Oréal Professionnel UK’s salon service offering.

Embrace the bold change with beautiful locks in rich blonde, sultry mocha, or brilliant copper.

Sarah Lahbati

Bianca King

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LIFE life @ thestandard.com .ph

5 SHADES OF DADS On finding the right gift for different kinds of fathers I

f you want to give your dad a gift he would truly love and use, ask him what he wants. If you want to give him something he would truly love and use, without killing the surprise of gifting, look for something that matches his personality.

A perfect example of a gift that is stylish, useful and easy to purchase is a pair of eyewear. With plenty of options to choose from, you sure can find a pair for any kind of father – from the sports fan to the adventure junkie.

THE ADVENTURE SEEKER Never one to say “no” to a getaway, this dad is always itching to find his family’s next trekking destination or city to conquer. With feet ready to get lost in uncharted territory, he always looks forward to seeing the world in all its glory.

An urban escape calls for the jet-set sophistication of the Dolce & Gabbana New Basalto (P24,990). This high-tech innovation transforms natural basalt into blade-fine structures that define a powerful aesthetic. Now imagine your dad stepping out of the airport wearing the New Basalto.

Talk about being a high-flyer!

THE SPORTS EXPERT

THE TYPE-A

While your mom is busy rambling about the latest showbiz news, you find your dad intently following the latest sailing regatta cups or pouring his heart out in support of his favorite basketball team. Your old man’s default look is cool and casual, with the right dose of athletic aura.

Match this with the latest from Prada Linea Rossa (P17,990). Combining sport and luxury, this line is designed for the everyday casual active lifestyle. Designed for the dynamic yet fashion conscious man, the Prada Linea Rossa is resistant to water, abrasion and sweat, making it ideal for rough times ahead. Without a doubt, this line is sure to make your dad feel like the most valuable player.

Ever so calculating and obsessive about schedules and protocols, this dad is always ready to face the world. Always misunderstood as a strict and rigid guy, the Type-A dad still knows how to have fun – albeit in a different kind of way. He is always on the lookout for, and ready to devour, the latest news on business, tech and world affairs.

Complement his style and way of living with Persol (P19,990) sunglasses that merge past and present in timeless styles. The brand is distinguished for its unique designs that exude contemporary elegance. It will definitely show people who the boss is.

THE ROCK STAR

THE TASTEMAKER

If this is your dad, he’s not one to be trendy and mainstream. Always laidback and cool, he prefers that effortless no-fuss look. Always imbibing the rock-star attitude, this type of dad wants to stand out and show the world that he’s still got the oomph while taking care of the family.

Match his cool vibe with Ray-Ban Round (P8,990). One of the brand’s most iconic styles, the Round became a symbol of unconventional and innovative personalities ever since they have been worn by musicians, artists and intellectuals who were not afraid to be different.

So for the dad who was born to stand out, this pair would definitely add more to his groove.

This dad won’t be caught in anything less than bespoke or one-of-a-kind. If this is your dad, he is on point when it comes to quality over quantity. He might hate to admit it, but he sees himself superior to lower-end brands. Known to have refined taste, this guy can’t be bothered with things that exude tawdry aesthetics.

The latest from Giorgio Armani (P17,990) matches his taste and his style perfectly.

Dubbed the Frames of Life, this iconic line leverages on refined details and heritage designs. More style than fashion, the brand goes beyond trends, but banks on ageless class. With featherweight resilience and tailor-made flexibility – Giorgio Armani eyewear can very much be the bespoke piece that your dad will always take pride in.

F RIDAY : J UNE 19 : 2015

SHOWBITZ isahred @ gmail.com

ISAH V. RED EDITOR

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LargesT resorT in PangLao oPens

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he Henann Group of Resorts breaks another record in the hotel and tourism industry with the opening of Henann Resort Alona Beach, the largest resort in Panglao Island, Bohol.

“We consider Henann Resort Alona Beach a milestone in our company’s 17-year history as this is our first property outside Boracay. It has always been my personal goal to expand nationwide and bring the Henann brand of service to the four corners of the Philippines,” said Dr. Henry O. Chusuey, chairman of the Henann Group of Resorts.

Henann Resort Alona Beach is also set to formally unveil this month a three-storey, 2,160 square-meter convention center that can house up to 1,000 guests.

Henann Resort Alona Beach boasts the longest and widest beachfront along Alona Beach, a one and a half kilometre tropical paradise famous for its pristine, white sand and overlooking, rocky cliffs. The 6.5 hectare property will initially operate 100 rooms.

Once completed, an additional 300 rooms will be available. It has room types ranging from deluxe, premier and suites to family, premier with pool access, Presidential and beachfront villas.

The rooms feature coastal-inspired modern interiors. Each has a private terrace, wireless internet access, bath tub with separate

shower area (for Premier Room only), individually-controlled air conditioning, cable television, direct dial phone, in-room safe, coffee and tea-making facilities and personal refrigerator.

“We build resorts with our clients first in our minds. We make it worth their stay whether they are with us for short or long-term.

We always give our guests the best possible service as the goal is to make them happy from the moment they check in until they leave,” said Chusuey.

Henann Resort Alona Beach has three massive pools with sunken bar in each. Other amenities include an open air venue for weddings, VIP lounge, fitness and business centers, and a mini shop.

Famous Henann brands that will be operational by second quarter of the year are Kai Spa, Sea Breeze Cafe (an all-day buffet restaurant), and Christina’s (Western fine dining).

Bohol is centrally located in the Visayas region and is only an hour away by plane from Manila.

Land transfer from provincial capital Tagbilaran City to Henann Resort Alona Beach takes about 30 minutes.

To attract more travelers both here and abroad, the Bohol Tourism Board launched “Visit Bohol 2015” where they highlight the province’s heritage and culture and eco-adventure activities.

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Apart from the Chocolate Hills and the Philippine Tarsier, Bohol is also famous for landmarks and attractions such as the Dauis Church, Baclayon Church, Blood Compact Shrine, and Loboc River. Popular tourist activities include bird spotting in Rajah Sikatuna National Park, diving in Panglao Island and whale and dolphin watching in Bohol Sea. The Henann Group of Resorts manages Boracay Regency Beach Resort and Spa (which will be renamed Henann Regency Beach Resort and Spa), Henann Garden Resort, Henann Lagoon Resort and four more newly acquired properties in Station 1 in Boracay.

The company will be operating a total of 1,400 rooms in Boracay alone by 2016 and 2017.

Henann Resort Alona Beach extends its soft opening promo of 40 percent cash discount on room rates until June 30. Travel period is until October. Enjoy first-rate accommodation in the following room types: superior, deluxe, premier, premier with direct pool access, and family room. Bookings are good for four persons for the family room and two persons for other room types. The promo is inclusive of daily buffet breakfast.

For reservations and inquiries, please call Henann Resort Alona Beach, Bohol at (632) 2303000 to 02, email manila.hbl@henann.com, or visit www.henann.com/bohol.

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1 Facade of the main building 2 The premier room with access to the pool 3 A spectacular view of the Lobby Loung 4 The resort has several swimming pools and the one near the Clubhouse is just one of them 5 A view of the Alona Beach at the back of the hotel 6 The Coral Cafe where guest have their breakfast, lunch and/or dinner as the other outlets are still waiting to be operational 7 Dr, Henry O Chusuey, (center) with sons Alfonso (left) and Hendrick at the stairs leading to the cafe on the second floor

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SHOWBITZ isahred @ gmail.com

...aRE TaLking aBOUT

PeOPle

Daniel Padilla

DaniEL PaDiLLa

The young actor rocked the MOA Arena once more. His concert met the expectations of his fans that were screaming all throughout the show. Over the weekend, thousands of Daniel’s rabid fans turned out in droves to support his third major concert. Although the show was loaded with guest performers who are better singers than he is, and most of the songs he performed were not his, it was a night that validated his being a legitimate entertainer.

Ely Buendia

Manny PaCqUiaO

He may not have walked home with another boxing title in his recent bout against Floyd Mayweather, Jr. but it was a lucrative fight for GenSan’s pride. According to Forbes, Manny is the second highest-paid athlete in the world amassing $150 million or around P6.3 billion (calling BIR) in 2015 alone. By any standard, that’s a ridiculous amount of earnings he could already buy literally anything he desires.

But our records show, Manny is more of a philanthropist than a big spender. We hope he remains just like that.

Manny Pacquiao

The Kapuso star may be on the way to becoming a mother but she hasn’t let that get in the way of her career. The pregnant actress is this month’s cover of a sexy men’s mag. Clad in a backless dress and flaunting her leg, with her baby bump intentionally covered, many agree that she still has it. Perhaps she would also land on magazine covers with her baby bump exposed like Hollywood celebrities do.

And that excites fans that are thrilled to see their idol celebrate motherhood.

DingDong anD iya faCe off

Villania with Ara Arida

Dingdong Dantes ana Iya Villania

CROSSWORD PUZZLE 48 49 51 53 55 56 60 64 65 67 68 69 70 71 ANSWER FOR PREVIOUS PUZZLE 24 Dermatologist’s concern 26 Wine glass feature 27 Freud’s homeland 30 Baffling thing 34 Rapper Dr. — 35 “People” person 38 Had the nerve 39 Natural resin 40 Stadium noises 42 Primeval 43 Bachelor’s last stop 46 Dragging into court

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Elf-sized Flowed forth Scribbled idly Document of ownership Proof word Name in school books of yore Museum sculptures Whaler of fiction Gene-splicing bacteria (2 wds.)

Steer or ram Japanese zither Inert gas Jazzy Fitzgerald Country singer Randy — Street lingo Quantity of paper

DOWN 1 Paris cop 2 Pledge 3 Kids’ org.

4 Top (hyph.)

5 More sleek 6 Gun the engine 7 Eddie’s cop character 8 Smokes ham 9 Villa

FRIDAY, JUNE 19, 2015

10 11 12 13 21 23 25 27 28 29 31 32 33 36 37 41 44 45 47 50 52 54 56 57 58 59 61 62 63 66

Arty locale Diet spread “Instead of” word Numskull DEA operative Sell Moon rings Dwight opponent Europe-Asia divider Splinter groups Canine warning Brawl Tacked on — de cologne Wedding-cake doll Stifling a laugh Bird pro Shoal Kind of dancer (hyph.)

Postpones Attic window Stick-on design Warm-water shark Chuck-wagon meal Turnstile Luke Skywalker’s guru Garage event Earthen jar Garment part “Wolf Man” Chaney

ELy BUEnDia

The disgruntled musician took it to Twitter after a budget airline prohibited him from boarding because he was five minutes late. Though Ely admitted that it was his fault, he still posted outraged statements believing that the airline should have done everything in its powers to board him on the next plane after noting there were available seats when he checked the airlines’ website.. While some people understand that Ely had commitments, they were convinced that what made Ely more irate was the fact that the airline personnel treated him like any other passengers who failed to come on time. Is that airline consistent with their “No VIP Treatment” policy? We hope so.

ai-ai DELaS aLaS Aiai de las Alas

MaRian RivERa

Marian Rivera during UNO Magazine shoot

ACROSS 1 Indy winner A.J. — 5 Elegance 10 Not shrinking 14 Statutes 15 Luxury car 16 Jumble 17 Problem with hives 18 In plain view 19 Scoundrel 20 Restrains Rover 22 Omit (2 wds.)

...aRE nOT TaLking aBOUT

The comedienne, we heard, was preparing for new projects at her new network. Her “going over the bakod” didn’t really make any news since she was out of the limelight for quite some time before she announced her move. Now, there’s a recent development in her career, Ai Ai is coming up with a monthly magazine called Ailabyu. The magazine will contain features and news articles about herself and probably about her romance with a much younger man. Will you buy the magazine and read it page by page? We won’t.

DingDOng avanZaDO

Dingdong Avanzado

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n exciting episode tomorrow will excite the audience of Taste Buddies, hosted by Solenn Heussaff and Iya Villania.

But, Iya is hosting the show by herself this Saturday. To make the episode exciting, she goes on a food trip with Dingdong Dantes who goes on a food-tasting spree a la

The former singer-actor and now Siquijor Vice Governor is demanding an explanation from Isabelle Daza following the former’s infamous Instagram post with hashtag #siquiWhores. Any average reasonable person would instantly recognize that Isabelle was referring to herself and her friend appearing in the photo. We just don’t understand why Dingdong has to make a big deal out of it.

Now read our hashtag #sawsawpamore.

Taste Buddies at Tipsy Pig. Find out who wins a mouthwatering dessert between him and Iya face each off with the flip cup challenge.

Solenn joins 2013 Miss Universe third runner-up Ariella “Ara” Arida in a fun-filled island hopping activity at the Hundred Islands National Park. They take a side trip at Bestfriend Judy

Longganisa House to witness how the famous Alaminos longganisa is made. Ara also agrees to a pig out at Island Tropic Restaurant and tries some Alaminos pinakbet.

Lauren Young drops by Belly Sima Food Festival in Glorietta for a food-tasting experience.

Taste Buddies airs 8:45 p.m. after Pop Talk on GMA News TV.

F RIDAY : J UNE 19 : 2015

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SHOWBITZ isahred @ gmail.com

louiSe deloS reYeS joinS caST of ‘pari ‘KoY’ from c8

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he is the newest addition to the cast of the primetime series Pari ‘Koy. Louise delos Reyes will play the role of Beth whom Father Kokoy (Dingdong Dantes) meets during his stay in the retreat house.

She worked with Dantes in My Beloved. Now, Delos Reyes is excited to work again with him. “I’ve worked with him and Ate Yan [Marian Rivera] in My Beloved, pero sobrang saglit lang. Nakakakaba kasi noong unang sequence namin na magkasama kami dito sa Pari ‘Koy, e drama agad. Pero ang gaan lang ka-eksena ni Kuya Dong, aalalayan ka talaga niya.”

Delos Reyes added, “Ibang-iba ito sa lahat ng naging roles ko before, challenging for me si Beth kasi ang dami niyang pinagdaanang problema sa buhay. She got herself pregnant, will be abandoned by her boyfriend and eventually rejected by her own family. Si Father Kokoy ang sasagip sa kanya mula sa bingit Louise delos Reyes is the new addition to cast of ‘Pari 'Koy’

ng kamatayan. Kaya abangan nila kung ano ang magiging koneksiyon ni Beth sa buhay ni Father Kokoy.”

Meanwhile, through the help of Father Kokoy, Sarah (Jillian Ward) finally recovers from her bout with demonic possession.

On Fr. Kokoy’sreturn to the retreat house, she meets Beth while attempting to jump off a bridge to end her life.

HHHHH The MoSSiMo MuSic SuMMiT 2015 Signaling the start of this year’s search for the country’s best and brightest solo and band singers/ performers, Mossimo and Curve Entertainment recently inked a deal to hold the Mossimo Music Summit 2015.

The Mossimo Music Summit 2015 is a great chance for hopeful singers and bands to become the newest singing sensations in the country. Winners can receive over P1 million in cash and prizes plus a recording and management contract.

The competition is open to individuals, duos, and groups of three to six members, male/female or mixed, Filipino citizens, 18-30 years old, and must not have any existing contract with any record label and should not have commercially released any recording in the past.

Live auditions will be held at Bluelight Studios (2F Forab Bldg., Kamuning Road, Quezon City) on July 9 and 10, 1-5 p.m.

Online auditions will be accepted from July 1-12 and should be sent via private message to www. facebook.com/mossimomusicsummit in any video format. YouTube links to performances will also be accepted.

Log-on to www.facebook.com/ mossimomusicsummit for more details about the competition.

HHHHH Year-long “halalan 2016” caMpaign launched ABS-CBN News has sealed a partnership with 22 groups to mount the country’s most comprehensive, in-depth and up-tothe-minute news coverage of the 2016 national elections via the launch of its year-long campaign “Halalan 2016: Ipanalo Ang Pamilyang Pilipino.”

Ging Reyes, head of ABS-CBN Integrated News, said ABS-CBN will use all of its resources to scrutinize candidates and their interests to help Filipinos choose the right leaders who will serve the country.

“We will make our platforms available to the voters whose voices are never heard. And together with our partners, we shall move our people to care about who they elect into positions of power. We have under a year to convince each and every Filipino that we have the power to shape our future – a future that is free from hunger and ignorance, fear and injustice,” said Reyes at the signing of the covenant with partner institutions held at House Manila, Remington Hotel at Re-

sorts World Manila on June 11.

Through “Halalan 2016: Ipanalo Ang Pamilyang Pilipino,” ABS-CBN and its cause partners will launch initiatives that will encourage every Filipino to use their vote and uphold the interest and welfare of each Filipino family.

New programs and projects will be launched throughout the year before and after the elections on top of “KampanyaSerye,” a series of special reports about aspiring leaders and election battlegrounds; “Harapan” debates, where candidates challenge each other’s platforms and stand on important national issues; the “Comelec Halalan 2016” mobile application, which provides voters everything they need to know to prepare for next year’s elections; and “Bayan Mo iPatrol Mo,” which has been a potent tool for citizen journalism and engagement since 2007.

Reyes, together with ABS-CBN president and CEO Charo Santos-Concio and COO Carlo Katigbak, led the covenant signing with cause partners Commission on Elections (Comelec), Parish Pastoral Council for Responsible Voting (PPCRV), Department of Foreign Affairs – Overseas Voting Secretariat (DFA-OVS), Pulse Asia Research, Inc., Australian Embassy Manila and The Asia Foundation (through Fully Abled Nation), Legal Network for Truthful Elections (LENTE), Management Association of the Philippines, Philippine Bar Association, Philippine Computer Society, Philippines Communication Soci-

ety, Philippine Red Cross, Regional Emergency Assistance Communications Team Philippines (REACT), and United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) Philippines.

Also showing their support for “Halalan 2016” are Youth Vote Philippines, University of the Philippines System, Ateneo de Manila University, De La Salle University System, University of Santo Tomas, La Consolacion College, STI, and Manila Bulletin.

The event also featured the launch of the “Halalan 2016” music video and theme song, performed by KZ Tandingan and Kokoi Baldo.

In previoust elections, ABS-CBN led the nation in pushing for citizen empowerment and clean elections with “Bayan Mo, iPatrol Mo: Tayo Na” in 2013, “Bayan Mo, iPatrol Mo: Ako Ang Simula” in 2010, and the election-focused citizen journalism campaign ”Boto Mo; iPatrol Mo” in 2007, which urged Filipinos to patrol their votes using technology and social media.

Join ABS-CBN’s fight for honest, clean, and credible electoral process with “Halalan 2016: Ipanalo Ang Pamilyang Pilipino” and remain vigilant by tuning in to the biggest multi-platform coverage of the 2016 national elections via ABS-CBN’s “TV Patrol,” “Bandila,” and “Umagang Kay Ganda,” ABS-CBN News Channel (ANC), DZMM TeleRadyo, DZMM Radyo Patrol Sais Trenta, abs-cbnNEWS.com, ABS-CBN Regional, and The Filipino Channel (TFC).

Seated from left, Marex Gaba, Event Director; Adamson Bactat, Mossimo/Promark Industries Inc. VP Business Development; Narciso Chan, Curve Entertainment CEO; Standing from left, Mario Joson, Curve Entertainment VP Business Development; Magnolia David, Mossimo/Promark Industries Inc. Marketing Director; and Vic Valenciano, Curve Entertainment VP Artist & Repertoire.

ABS-CBN News head Ging Reyes, president and CEO Charo Santos-Concio, and COO Carlo Katigbak with representatives of Halalan 2016 cause partners

10 years of PhiliPPine Wedding summit

T

he best mid-year bridal fair, is definitely Themes & Motifs’ forthcoming Philippine Wedding Summit, now on it’s 10th year, on June 20 and 21 at the Ground Floor of SMX Convention Centre, Mall of Asia Complex.

Brides, grooms, their entourage, and wedding suppliers may get free admission by pre-registering online and printing etickets through www.themesnmotifs. com (The Wedding Ideas & Promos Portal) or getting free tickets from the Themes & Motifs showroom in Makati Shangri-la. Free tickets are also available from participating exhibitors of The PWS 10th Anniversary. Big wonderful surprises await visitors.

A grand food tasting event will

be presented by the revitalized team of top wedding banquet provider Hizon’s Catering with its new culinary experts and creative stylemeister concocting the delectable wedding menus coupled with the most tasteful of banquet set ups to make any wedding truly unforgettable and every guest smiling with satisfied delight. They will join industry stalwarts Nice Print Photo, Marriott Hotel Manila, and Goldenhills Jewelry in welcoming soonto-weds to The PWS 10th Anniversary. Visitors to their booths at the events can expect loads of surprises and cool promos.

Marriott Hotel Manila will showcase its new grand ballroom, the biggest event hall of its kind in the Philippines. Celebrity wedding photographer, Nice Print Photo

and ever popular wedding jeweler Goldenhills Jewelry, on the other hand, both Themes & Motifs’ loyal major sponsors, will once again offer new promos for their clients booking in The PWS 10th Anniversary. Nice Print Photo will have special discounts plus a grand display of never before seen celebrity wedding photos while Goldenhills Jewelry will offer huge discounts on wedding & engagements rings on top of raffle prizes worth more than P150,000.00.

Master stylist Henry Pascual, official event stylist of The PWS 10th Anniversary, will weave his magic and create event styling masterpiece to be showcased at the event.

As part of Themes & Motifs’ advocacy to further professionalize the local wedding industry, free

career enhancement seminars will be held for wedding suppliers. This seminar series has been a part of The Philippine Wedding Summit since it started in 2006 as Themes & Motifs’ way of giving back to the local wedding industry which supports its events and made them the biggest and most prestigious in the country. For details on the topics and speakers, please visit www. themesnmotifs.com.

All online pre-registrants to The Philippine Wedding Summit 10th Anniversary are automatically issued a wedding website with Facebook integration which they can customize to contain their very own albums of photos, videos, & blog. The FREE Admission eticket to can be downloaded from a registrant’s wedding website.

Nice Print Photo, offers special discounts plus a grand display of never before seen celebrity wedding photos like this one of actor Joross Gamboa and bride Katz, this year’s featured wedding celebrity of the Philippine Wedding Summit 10th anniversary

F RIDAY : J UNE 19 : 2015

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ISAH V. RED EDITOR isahred @ gmail.com

SHOWBITZ

From show business to politics jeremy marquez is ready to take the challenge ISAH V. RED In Parañaque, the political landscape seems unchanged. Several years ago, the city was under the administration of hardcourt heartthrob-turned-comedian-turned politico Joey Marquez. Now, his son Jeremy Siron Marquez (born Oct.10, 1979 in Manila) is following in the footsteps of his dad.

The former three-term Paranaque Mayor and Jeremy’s mother, Francesca M. Siron can’t be less proud that their son is finally coming on his own.

Jeremy’s resumé is impressive by local standards. He attended grade and high school in Nevada, the US of A and matriculated thereafter at De La Salle University in Dasmariñas, Cavite for a Bachelor’s degree. He majored in political science.

Throughout his father’s tenure as Mayor of Paranaque, Jeremy was never pampered nor received any special privileges. Instead, he learned to appreciate the value of hard work when he started out as part of the service crew of McDonald’s BF Homes, then later had a stint in sales at Toyota Alabang, before pursuing a career in show business that saw him playing parts in several TV shows from 2004 to 2007.

But Jeremy decided to forego his promising showbiz career to concentrate on what he soon discovered to be his true calling – public service.

He began his distinguished public service career as the no.1 Barangay Kagawad in BF Homes, before becoming the youngest Barangay Captain in the same barangay in 2007.

Jeremy won re-election against the son of then incumbent Paran-

aque Mayor Florencio M. Bernabe Jr. in 2010, then won his third and final term in 2013. He was elected President of the Liga ng mga Barangay in Paranaque City and became an ex-officio member of the Sangguniang Panlungsod – a post he holds at present.

Jeremy served as President of the Kapisanan ng mga Konsehal ng Barangay ng Paranaque – District 2 (KKBP) Inc. from 2002 to 2004 and was adviser to the Samahan ng mga Barangay Kalihim - City of Paranaque (SABAK). He holds a number of national positions including National Auditor of the Liga ng mga Barangay sa Pilipinas (LnB) and is a member of the Philippine Councilors League (PCL) & National Movement of Young Legislators (NMYL).

His socio-civic involvement includes membership in the Boy Scouts of the Philippines, the JCI Pambato Inc., the Knights of Columbus Pagkabuhay Council 7147, the Paranaque City Chamber of Commerce and Industry, the Rotary Club of Paranaque LakanBini, and the Rover Scouts of the Philippines.

Jeremy’s work ethic and passion for service, first displayed when he sacrificed a promising showbiz career in order to serve his constituents as an elective public official in Paranaque City, has been carried over to the standards of performance he has set for his staff.

“I have always been a hard worker and achiever in every field of endeavour that I have entered and I expect the same level of commitment and dedication from my staff to meet the high standards of service that our constituents deserve.

This is reflected in my personal slogan – Journey to Excellence – which guides me in the performance of my duties and responsi-

bilities,” Jeremy explained.

Jeremy is currently being pushed by a growing clamor and public groundswell to seek the vice mayoralty post of Paranaque, and the young man is ready and willing to rise up and accept the challenge.

“I want to provide the people of Paranaque with a better alternative. I have always been known to stand my ground on moral issues of right and wrong, and I can stand on my own two feet without being overly dependent on my father. The reforms and changes I intend to implement are real, not cosmetic,” he stressed.

“Paranaque City is on the verge of a rapidly evolving development boom and vital legislation needs to be passed in order to maximize the gains for our city and its people. This is my vision, which I share with Mayor Edwin L. Olivarez, whom I support fully and who also fully supports all my plans and projects for our constituents,” Jeremy said, “I have served Paranaque in various capacities over the past 13 years and I believe that I have done a very good job. I was the youngest barangay kagawad and I am the youngest Punong Barangay of BF Homes – the biggest and most populous barangay in Paranaque, and I am presently one of the youngest legislators in the city. I fully intend to carry my youthful energies and idealism with me as I move up from serving my barangay to serving the needs of my city – Paranaque.”

Jeremy Marquez has been referred to as the “Anak ng Masa” of Paranaque and he considers himself the son of all his constituents.

With such a relationship, there can be no other standard for public service – except excellence. ➜ continued on c7

Jeremy Marquez, son of former Parañaque Mayor Joey Marguez, is ready to take up the challenge of his political career Marquez in a huddle with his constituents

Still a showbiz personality, his constituents love to have his picture taken with them

Marquez showing his constituents he's still very much a traditional Filipino

Marquez showing compassion for the poor and sick