The Standard - 2015 June 29 - Monday

RotaRy club of manila newspapeR of the yeaR 2015 VOL. XXIX NO. 129 3 Sections 32 Pages P18 mONday : JUNE 29, 2015 www.thestandard.com.ph editorial@thestandard.com.ph

Vp urges aquino to put end to patronage

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pnoy allies pressure binay backers to quit

By Christine F. Herrera

ALLIES of President Benigno Aquino III have begun weeding out supporters of Vice President Jejomar Binay from the ruling Liberal Party and are demanding that the opposition United Nationalist Alliance (UNA) remove itself from the majority coalition in the House of Representatives.

The Palace also wants officials identified with the Vice President holding strategic posts in various housing agencies to resign.

“I don’t see the logic why UNA would remain with the majority

coalition after Vice President Binay resigned from the Cabinet and announced he would lead the opposition,” said Caloocan City Rep. Edgar Erice, the Liberal Party’s vice chairman for political affairs, in an interview

over radio dzBB on Sunday. “It’s time for them to go.”

Erice pointed out that the Vice President’s daughter, Makati City Rep. Abigail Binay, has said she would stay in the ruling coalition in the House. Next page

Mar-Poe tandem eyed by Liberals

By Christine F. Herrera A RANKING official of the ruling Liberal Party revealed Sunday that a tandem featuring Interior Secretary Manuel Roxas II and Senator Grace Poe is in the works for the 2016 presidential elections.

LP stalwart Caloocan City Rep. Edgar Erice said no less than the “three LP bigwigs” – President Benigno Aquino III, Roxas and Senate President Franklin Drilon -- were talking to Poe to convince her to run as Roxas’ running mate.

Erice said the Roxas-Poe tandem was a result of the LP’s requirement for choosing its standard bearer based on integrity, competence and experience, not ratings.

“The President is now talking to Senator Poe. Our assumption is that she is being considered as Mar’s vice president,” Erice said in an interview on radio dzBB. “It’s a high-level talk. The only ones who could afford due courtesy to Senator Poe are President Aquino, Secretary Mar and Senator Drilon. Secretary Mar already talked to Senator Poe. No one else from the party would be able to discuss important issues like the Next page

Demand for probe of lost dole snowballs

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LP’s deam team. Interior and Local Government Secretary Mar Roxas and Senator Grace Poe are all smiles during a recent meeting in the Senate.

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Binay to PNoy: Stop patronage

By Macon R. Araneta

VICE President Jejomar Binay on Sunday exhorted President Benigno Aquino III to stop the discredited system of patronage in government service, noting that his administration continued to put a premium on political ties and loyalties instead of competence and professionalism.

“If you are not an ally of the administration or a member of the Liberal Party (LP), if you are marked as an ally of their political opponents, you have no place in this government no matter how good or competent you are,” Binay said.

“But if you are an administration or LP ally, the Aquino government will defend you and condone your incompetence and involvement in irregularities,” he added.

Binay, who broke with the administration last week, demanded that the government explain why hunger and poverty were so pervasive, despite Aquino’s claims of economic progress.

Binay said his visits to the provinces across the country convinced him that Aquino’s touted economic progress was “a figment of [the President’s] imagination.”

He also bewailed the administration’s practice of offering excuses rather than providing concrete measures to help the people.

He said the “rolling coffins” of the public transportation system was the best example of the administration’s incompetence.

“This government is callous and incompetent.

The biggest evidence: our trains. For your information, we were the first country in Southeast Asia which had a Light Railway Transit (LRT).

This thing that we should have been proud of is now a symbol of the government’s great blunder,” Binay said during the oath-taking ceremonies of Rotary International District 3810.

Binay criticized the call from the Palace for those in housing agencies associated with him to resign.

PNoy allies From A1...

“How is this possible when UNA has been hitting the policies of the administration?” Erice said. “Does this mean UNA congressmen, including Abby Binay, would support the policies and legislation of the administration?”

He said he would questioned the continued presence of UNA members in the ruling coalition before the plenary, saying they would create trouble and confusion.

Erice also insisted that Binay’s allies in government agencies should resign so as not to block the administration’s policies.

“It should be clear not only in various agencies but also in the House of Representatives. For example, Binay resigned but his men are still everywhere so Binay remains in control of the agencies he once headed such as the HUDCC (Housing and Urban Development Coordinating Council),” Erice said.

All these heads of agencies that were appointed by Binay did not relinquish their posts when Binay resigned from the Cabinet and gave up the housing portfolios, the congressman said.

“Resigning is just a gimmick. Binay remains in control of the departments that he used to head,” Erice added.

A spokesman for Binay, Joey Salgado, said Erice was misinformed.

“The heads of housing agencies are presidential appointees,” Salgado said “Some of the board members have fixed terms of office while some are co-terminus with the President.”

He said Binay made recommendations based on individual qualifications and willingness to serve in government.

“Such a pronouncement from a Palace spokesmen only underscores the Vice President’s call for governance that puts merit on performance, excellence, and professionalism,” he said.

He said workforce of the housing agencies includes professionals from the private sector who gave up high-paying positions and chose to serve in government.

“For five years they have labored quietly, instituting reforms in their agencies and fulfilling their mandate. Their accomplishments speak volumes.

Yet they have been unjustly pilloried in the Senate hearings by their mere presence in agencies under the HUDCC [Housing and Urban Development Coordinating Council]. And now, the Palace itself has joined the inquisition,” Binay said.

He said the heads of housing agencies are presidential appointees while some of the board members have fixed terms of office. Others are co-terminus with the President.

The Vice President said he made recommendations based on individual qualifications and willingness to serve in government.

“Yet, the Palace is again adding up the so-called favors given to the Vice President,” he said.

“They are reproaching the Vice President on this issue. This started with the Coconut Palace that was being rented by the OVP, and now, the government officials in housing agencies,” said Joey Salgado, head of Binay’s media affairs.

While the Vice President raised substantive issues, the Palace has chosen to be petty by raising the issue of the Coconut Palace again, he said.

“Sadly, they don’t have the complete facts,” said Salgado, who noted that the Coconut Palace is still owned by the Government Service Insurance System, and that the Office of the Vice President is a mere tenant, paying P440,000 a month.

He said the OVP used to occupy not even one floor of the Philippine National Bank building in Pasay City and almost paid P1 million in rent.

Salgado said the Vice President was grateful to the President for allowing him to use the Coconut Palace for his office.

“But it seems that the Palace is now doing an accounting of the supposed favors extended by the President to the Vice President, treating public funds as personal monies given to officials and agencies who, in turn, are expected to be eternally

“Yet, the Palace is again adding up the socalled favors given to the Vice President,” he said.

UNA interim president Navotas Rep. Toby Tiangco said the party would leave it up to individual members to decide whether or not to leave the majority coalition in the House.

Tiangco said he left the coalition in December 2011, when he exposed the railroading of the impeachment complaint signed by 188 lawmakers to oust then Chief Justice Renato Corona.

“I think they will have to make a stand individually. As UNA interim president, my stand is very consistent. The party stand is: be guided by your conscience and be guided by what is best for your constituents,” Tiangco told The Standard.

On another front, Interior and Local Government Secretary Manuel Roxas II, the presumptive Liberal Party candidate for president in 2016, is now after seven mayors in Misamis Oriental who are identified with Binay and threatened them with administrative charges for going abroad without securing a travel authority from his department.

The department’s provincial office confirmed Thursday that Mayors Wellie Lim (Lugait), Enerito Acain V (Initao), Jaime Roa (Naawan), Oliver Ubaub (Laguindingan), Paulino Emano (Tagoloan), Grace Jardin (Jasaan) and Ken Niño Uyguangco (Medina) left for Europe on the first week of June and returned to the province last week, June 19.

On June 16, Misamis Oriental Governor Yevgeny Vicente Emano confirmed that some mayors were indeed on vacation in Europe.

“On Wednesday, June 24, our central office directed the provincial and regional DILG to ask details from the capitol regarding the mayors’ Europe travel,” said Edward Bhagwani, provincial director of Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG).

Last week, Bhagwani told the SunStar

grateful,” he said.

He added that Binay did not beg for supposed favors or alms. He simply wanted an office for the Vice President befitting the second highest official of the land. Future Vice Presidents can now look forward to having such an address, he said.

For years, he said the Coconut Palace earned income only from weddings and social events. It was neglected and nearly decrepit when the OVP moved in. The renovation work has restored the Coconut Palace as a showcase of Filipino architecture and artistry, he added.

In a speech delivered in the oath-taking ceremonies of the Rotary International District 3810, Binay said he was surprised when two trains collided at the Monumento station on a Saturday morning when the trains were not supposed to be in service.

“So the half a million passengers of LRT and MRT are praying each day that no hassle will happen while riding the train coffin. What you heard is right—train coffin, because reports came out that the MRT trains are five times [more] dangerous compared to the trains in other countries. The cause, according to the Advocates of Science and Technology for the People (AGHAM), the words they used--management failure,” he added.

According to the AGHAM report, the MRT had 3.48 injuries for every 100 million passengermiles since 2013. An American light rail system, in contrast, gets only 0.7 injuries.

The same report said the lack of proper maintenance for the last two years have made the trains unstable, with the frequency of glitches increasing since 2013.

Binay also questioned the lack of investments in agriculture, education, health care, and jobgenerating sectors.

“The tragic list goes on. Many parents still cannot feed their children thrice a day, or send them to school. The sick and the elderly can hardly afford or access quality health care. Farmers cannot efficiently till the land they work. Despite the influx of money, government has remained stubborn and insensitive to the needs of the people.

They refuse to invest in the sectors that will provide decent jobs and address the people’s rights to dignity and development. How can this road lead to a decent future for all?”

in Cagayan de Oro that all government officials and workers on international trips should secure a travel authority and that his office did not receive any request on travel abroad from any Misamis Oriental mayor.

“We have to point out that they are obliged to ask for travel authority since they are government officials… regardless of the nature of the travel,” Bhagwani said.

The mayors only filed a leave of absence, claiming they were traveling on a personal capacity, Bhagwani said.

But the DILG said not seeking a travel authority was tantamount to “abandoning their posts.”

Critics of the mayors said it was the Vice President who funded their European trip, an allegation that was immediately denied by the Binay camp.

Emano produced papers showing he approved the mayors’ leave of absence but Bhagwani said the papers may have been antedated when his office asked for it on June 24.

Bhagwani said government officials and employees who do not comply with the travel authority requirement could be charged administratively before the Ombudsman, and if found guilty of violating the DILG circular, face suspension.

The Palace on Sunday denied calling for housing officials associated with Binay to resign.

Deputy presidential spokeswoman Abigail Valte said a transcript of her remarks show that she did not issue a call for the resignation of Binay appointees.

She said she merely reminded them that the “norm” was to submit their courtesy resignations, now that Binay has resigned.

But Valte stopped short of asking the Binay appointees to leave, saying it was up to them “to reflect” on the matter. – With Sandy Araneta

The Vice President then said that this way of thinking has to be changed.

“This way of thinking cannot stand whether one is a Rotarian, a government official or an ordinary citizen trying to build a life. We must be courageous enough to change things that hamper our true growth. We must be honest enough to see which of our laws and processes no longer respond to our needs. And we must always be generous in considering not the few, but all Filipinos, in the plans we make,” he said.

“These plans cannot be less than bold. What worked a decade ago is not assured of success tomorrow. But if we keep our hearts close to the very people we wish to serve, who have long waited to be served, then our programs will remain responsive, innovative and sincere,” he said.

Also on Sunday, the Vice President’s daughter, Senator Nancy Binay, scored Justice Secretary Leila de Lima for dilly-dallying on the Witness Protection Program application of the whistle blower in the alleged P1.2 billion chopper deal scam, while affording undue privileges to former Makati vice mayor Ernesto Mercado, who testified against the Vice President.

For some reason, she said, De Lima allowed Mercado “unconstrained mobility” to visit cockpits during the weekends, accompanied by government security personnel.

In contrast, she said, Rhodora Alvarez, whistle blower in the chopper deal, needed to beg in the Senate to be given protection that was immediately given to Mercado.

Alvarez is set to reval more details about the Defense Department’s purchase of 21 refurbished UH-1 helicopters that were later found to be 50 years old.

At a dialogue with fishermen in Navotas Friday, the Vice President vowed to join street protests if the government continues to ignore their concerns with the amendments to the Fisheries Code.

“That’s our present government. You are being ignored. They can’t even defend or help the poor,” Binay said.

The amended code has been signed into law and will be fully effective in September when the implementing rules and regulations (IRR) are finished, closing Manila Bay completely to smallscale fishermen.

Mar-Poe

From A1...

tandem but the three LP bigwigs,” Erice said.

“The leaders of the Liberal Party are one in mind and heart that no one else could continue the reforms spearheaded by the President through the straight path and bring them to the next level of obtaining progress for the country but Secretary Mar Roxas,” Erice said.

“The talks are being done because once the President has made his choice, it will follow that he would also make choices for other positions such as vice president, [and] senators, so there is an ongoing process of selecting candidates,” Erice told dzBB. Told that Roxas was trailing and that Poe was topping the surveys, Erice said the LP was not about to be swayed by ratings as a basis for choosing its standard bearer.

“The surveys and ratings depend on the mood of the day, like who is the darling of the media or who is campaigning or who has already pushed infomercials, then their ratings shoot up,” he said.

He cited as a “perfect example” the case of Davao City Mayor Rodrigo Duterte, who was nowhere to be found in

the surveys but whose rating shot up when he began touring the country and showing informercials.

“It’s easy to raise your standing in the surveys,” he said.

In the case of Poe, Erice said her popularity was helped by her exposure in the Senate, even though she didn’t have many responsibilities compared to the President.

“It is for this reason that the biggest considerations in choosing the party standard bearer are the three traits that are not allowed to separate – integrity, competence and experience. Secretary Mar has these traits,” Erice pointed said.

Erice said the President has not formally invited Poe to be the party’s vice president just yet.

He said the President has met her so that he could explain to Poe what the administration was doing and how he wanted the reforms to get sustained. He added that by filling Poe in on the situation, he was giving her the chance to discern and decide on her own.

“The ball is now in the President’s court. We are waiting for what he promised-that he would announce his choice of a standard bearer of the party and of the coalition after the State Of The Nation Address,” Erice said.

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Call to probe dole snowballs REPRESENTATIVES Ferdinand Martin Romualdez and Neri Colmenares on Sunday raised concern over the reports that 30 percent of the P62billion allocation for the conditional cash transfer program or dole to the poor—or P19 billion—did not go to legitimate beneficiaries.

They called for a congressional inquiry as a result.

“Congress must step in and exercise its oversight powers over the CCT,” Romualdez said.

“We have to thoroughly review the CCT processes to ensure that the intended

recipients are benefiting from the program.”

Romualdez made his statement even as Malacañang said the government was continuing to address the poverty problem in the Philippines, adding more than 4.4 million families were benefitting from

the Aquino administration’s anti-poverty program.

“That’s why the biggest portion of the national budget—37 percent—has been alloted to poverty reduction and social protection,” Communications Secretary Herminio Coloma Jr. told dzRB radio.

“It is only in the administration of President pBenigno Aquino III] that there was a big change in the policies.”

Coloma said that when the Aquino administration started in 2010, only 800,000 families were benefiting from the government’s poverty-alleviation program, but now more

than 4.4 million families were getting cash directly from the government.

But Romualdez vowed to examine the CCT funds in the coming deliberation of the proposed 2016 national budget to be submitted by the Palace after President Benigno Aquino III’s State-of-the-Nation Address in July.

Under the 2015 national budget, the government increased the CCT budget from P62.6 billion in 2014 to P64.7-billion despite the reported irregularities in the implementation of the program.

“We have to strengthen the screening procedures

so that we can ensure that only the rightful recipients of the CCT program will benefit from it,” Romualdez said.

Colmenares said it was time to investigate the CCT program.

“We will look into the matter during the budget hearings,” he said.

The Asian Development Bank says a third of the P62 billion allocated for the CCT program in 2014 did not go to the poor. That program aims to give each poor family up to P1,400 a month or P15,000 a year for five consecutive years.

Rio N. Araya and Sandy Araneta

Top grad. University of the Philippines Chancellor Michael Tan and UP President Alfredo Pascual congratulate Biology major Tiffany Grace Uy, who at-

tained the highest grades in post-war UP history, during the university’s 104th commencement exercises in Diliman, Quezon City on Sunday. EY ACASIO

PH stops work on Spratlys airstrip THE Philippines has halted the repair of its airstrip in the disputed Spratly islands due to its pending suit at The Hague challenging China’s claim over the waters, a presidential spokesman said Sunday.

The work on the airstrip on Thitu island, which the Philippines calls Pagasa and which hosts a small community, comes as China builds up outcroppings in the waters into islands that can host military facilities.

“The repair has been stopped because we uphold the principle of keeping the status quo in the areas involved,” Herminio Coloma said.

“This is part of our strategy for a rules-based and diplomatic approach where we have filed an arbitration case with the UN tribunal,” he said.

The tiny airstrip on Pagasa had been largely used to bring in supplies for the small town that the Philippine government established there to stake its claim over part of the Spratlys.

However, the airstrip has deteriorated over the years, forcing the government to rely on ships that must go through a gauntlet of Chinese vessels to reach the island.

China claims almost all of the Spratlys and the South China Sea, even the areas close to the coasts of its neighbors. Its claim is disputed by the Philippines as well as Brunei, Malaysia, Vietnam and Taiwan.

The waters are a crucial sea lane and rich fishing ground, and are also believed to hold large mineral resources. AFP

Chiz: Ban bets’ faces from govt ads THE government’s so-called infomercials being aired on television should not show the face of a candidate running for election, Senator Francis Escudero said Sunday.

He told dzBB radio that the government’s use of the faces of prospective candidates in its infomercials was a clear use of resources to campaign early.

Among the candidates in the May 2016 elections who appear in infomercials are TESDA director general Joel Villanueva, who will run for senator under the Liberal Party slate, and Energy Secretary Jericho Petilla who will run in a local position.

Health Secretary Janette Loreto-Garin, a former congresswoman of Iloilo, also has an infomercial on the pro-

grams and advocacies of the Health Department.

Garin strongly denies she will run in next year’s elections, but her name is being floated as among the Liberal Party’s senatorial candidates.

Escudero said he would not only ask for the government’s budget for infomercials; he would also be questioning the Commission on Audit on the issue.

“Where did the budget [for infomercials] come? Where was it charged?” said Escudero, head of the Senate’s finance committee.

He would also ask the television stations who paid them to air an infomercial so the public would know.

“We would like to know where the funding came from. I don’t like to assume

that it was the budget of the government because, sometimes, there were private donors,” Escudero said.

“The agency that they head was just being used as a topic, so it’s not necessary that funds came from the government.”

But Escudero emphasized that the public could not be fooled since they knew who would run in an election using public funds.

He said the control mechanisms were in place to to prevent the use of government money to support the candidacy of government officials.

“The mechanisms are in place to ensure that funds under the 2016 General Appropriations Act will not be used as a campaign kitty,” Escudero said. Macon Ramos-Araneta

Colorful nudes. Artists apply paint on their subjects as part of a body-painting session at a gallery in Quezon City on Sunday. EY ACASIO

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PH won’t recognize same-sex marriages THe Philippines will not recognize the marriage of same-sex couples even if they have been wed in the United States and other countries where such unions are legal, Malacanang said on Sunday.

"Our prevailing laws are clear. In the Family Code of the Philippines, what is recognized is a marriage between a man and a woman. It is written there, 'marriage is a special contract of permanent union between a man and a woman entered into in accordance with law for the establishment of conjugal and family life,'" said Communications Secretary Herminio Coloma Jr., during an interview over state-run radio station dzRB. "All same-sex marriages of Filipino [citizens] contracted in foreign countries are not recognized by our country," Coloma added.

Coloma said that under the nationality principle of the Civil Code of the Philippines, all laws regarding on family rights, status, condition and legal capacity of Filipino citizens, including those residing in other countries, are covered

by Article XV of the Civil Code of the Philippines and “are binding upon citizens of the Philippines, even though living abroad.”

He said such laws have not been repealed or changed.

Any proposals regarding changes in these laws must first be approved by Congress, said Coloma.

Sandy Araneta

end of prayers. Muslim women and children wait outside the Golden Mosque in Quiapo, Manila after performing their Dhuhr midday prayers. Muslims all over the world marked the second week of the celebration of the Ramadan high holidays. DANNY PATA

Philpost men in fake loan racket charged

By Rio N. Araja

Ten officials and employees of the Philippine Postal Corp. have been charged with graft and malversation by the Office of the Ombudsman for allegedly approving fraudulent loans worth more than P8.2 million from 2000 to 2003.

Human Resource Management Division chairman Dely Madrona, cashier Francisca Calabio, financial analyst Thelma Cabanilla, provident fund division chief Alberto Gusi, accounting clerk Lannie Santos, casual employee Maritess Fajardo, emergency laborers June Gunnacao

and Hubert Rellora, and postmen Rosalina Marasigan and Zacarias Paelmar were charged for their alleged involvement in the racket.

Ombudsman Conchita Carpio Morales approved the filing of charges against the accused based on the recommendations of

Prosecution Investigation and Administration Adjudication Bureau director Nellie Boguen-Golez and graft investigation and prosecution officer Charmaine Ruiz.

Bail for the respondents has been set at P30,000 each for the graft case and P40,000 for the malversation suit.

The complaint said the defendants conspired to siphon funds off the agency’s provident fund by granting bogus loans for three consecutive years.

With help of the other PPC officials and personnel, graft investigators traced how 180 checks drawn from the provident fund’s bank

account were paid out to fake loan applications that were supported by spurious documents.

“After the encashment of the checks, the vouchers prepared and all its accompanying documents will disappear from the PFO records. No efforts will be made to update the loan ledger of the employee [named as the beneficiary] to reflect new loans,” the Ombudsman said.

“In other words, there would be no recording of loans and all the utilized records will be destroyed, including the incoming records of the depository bank,” the agency said.

‘Spend road tax to save lives’

Mission of mercy. Leyte Rep. Ferdinand Martin Romualdez meets with doctors and nurses of the Craniofacial Foundation of the Philippines Inc. headed by Dr. Luz Burgos and its president Yolanda Abad during a two-day medical mission to provide free cleft palate and cleft lip surgery for the poor at Remedios Trinidad Romualdez Hospital in Tacloban City. VeR NoVeNo CYAN MAGENTA YELLOW BLACK

THe billions collected annually from the road users’ tax should be spent to keep the roads safe and reduce the number of deaths involving motor vehicles, according to Senator Ralph Recto.

Recto cited statistics saying that one accident involving a motor vehicle happens every six minutes and one person is killed every 21 hours in Metro Manila alone.

Recto said the tax, officially called the Motor Vehicle User’s Charge (MVUC) and collected mainly from vehicle registration fees, should be spent on projects to keep motorists safe.

He said allocations from the funds collected from

motorists must be itemized in the national budget and not remain “a lump-sum devoid of details.”

“The Aquino administration’s last budget – estimated to reach P3 trillion and which will be submitted next month – must now detail how money paid by vehicle owners will be spent,” he said.

Due to the increase in the number of registered vehicles on the road to nearly 8 million, according to the latest estimates, MVUC collection is forecast to hit P13.7 billion this year, from last year’s projected P12.16 billion.

Recto said disburse-

ments from the collections will reach P11.8 billion, the amount authorized – but not itemized – in the 2015 national budget.

Following the formula set

by Republic Act 8794, P9.918 billion from the collected tax will go to a Special Road Support Fund that is treated as an off-budget resource by the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH).

He said the DPWH can also access P1.04 billion for “Special Road Safety Fund” projects. The Department of Transportation and Communications can also tap P802 million from the fund for anti-pollution programs.

Macon Ramos-Araneta

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COA: Credit consultants’ pay

By Rio Araja A GOVERNMENT corporation spent P10.106 million in taxpayer’s money in 2014 to pay consultants, according to the Commission on Audit.

The agency said credit Information corp., a government-owned and -controlled corporation that serves as the central repository of credit information in government, spent too much on 11 consultants who received P36,000 to P42,000 a month in wages and allowances last year. a delay in the implementation of cIc’s revised reorganizational plan resulted in the continuous hiring of consultants and payment of excessive consultancy fees, it noted.

“Further, our review of the approved plantilla positions showed that the functions of some of the positions occupied by consultants can be performed by regular employees had the plantilla been filled-up after the approval by DBM (Department of Budget and Management) of the original plantilla and after gcg (governance commission for gOccs) approved the reorganizational structure in June 2014,” the audit report stated. a comparison of the salaries between the consultants and its equivalent position per plantilla, applying a salary grade at step 1 showed an excess of consultancy fees ranging from P20,000 to P360,000 monthly or P10,105,732.20 annually, it noted.

“This shows that Management could have saved in personnel services had the plantilla positions been occupied by regular employees instead of hiring consultants of higher salaries. apparently, the wide margin is disadvantageous to the government and the continuous escalation of consultancy fees does not even support the austerity measures of the government,” the report further read.

“We recommended that management fast track the hiring of regular employees to fill the approved plantilla positions to prevent incurrence of excessive expenditures.”

In response to coa, cIc admitted it could have saved in personnel services had the plantilla positions been occupied by regular employees, instead of recruiting consultants.

Undue burden. Militants denounce the K to 12 program of the Aquino administration during the 104th graduation rites at the University of the Philippines in Diliman, Quezon City on Sunday, June 28. The program which adds more years to public education is widely criticized as an extra burden to students and parents but the administration is pressing ahead with it. EY ACASIO

PH embassies ready to help amid terror MalacaÑang on Sunday vowed to make sure that Filipino workers overseas are safe from terrorists’ attacks.

“Of course, the Department of Foreign affairs (DFa) continues to focus on working on making sure for the safety and welfare of all our countrymen in France, Kuwait and Tunisia, where terrorist attacks occurred,” communications Secretary Herminio coloma Jr, said on state-run radio station dzRB. coloma said the Philippine embassies in France, Kuwait and libya as well as Tunisia are ready to help all Filipinos who are residing or working in

these areas.

“We are one with the international community in praying and expressing our sympathy with the families who were killed or injured. We are also one with the international community in calling for justice for those innocent victims of terrorism and call for the end to terrorism,” said coloma.

The Department of Foreign affairs on Saturday condemned the terrorist attacks in France, Tunisia, and Kuwait, even as it urged the international community to continue the war on terror.

“The Philippines strongly condemns the terrorist attacks

... [that] took the lives of innocent people,” the DFa said.

It said “extremism and terrorism have no place in a civilized society as these run counter to the desire of people all around the world for peace, harmony, and understanding.”

The Islamic group ISIS has claimed responsibility for the suicide bombing in a mosque in Kuwait that killed at least 25 people, and the attack at a resort in Tunisia that killed at least 36 people.

Meanwhile, coloma also disclosed that the US medical care program more known as “Obamacare” is undergoing review for its implications on Filipinos

based in the United States.

“Our administration will study how we can help our countrymen working abroad.

We will check on the full implications. We need to know the laws upheld by the US Supreme court and we will wait for the recommendation of the Department of labor and Employment (DOlE) (of the Philippines),” said coloma.

The Philippine government is always focusing on the situation of Filipino workers, if they will have beneficial employment, not only in the Philippines, but also those working in other countries, coloma said.

Sandy Araneta

Russian deported; 3 suspects fall

ROAD SHARING. Biking enthusiasts and environmentalists show that a road-sharing principle (bayanihan sa daan) can work along busy Edsa on a Sunday June 28, 2015.DANNY PATA

a 24-yEaR-OlD Russian national who used Malaysia as backdoor to enter the Philippines to meet his 19-year-old Filipino girlfriend was arrested by immigration authorities who deported him at the Zamboanga city seaport.

Paviel Bukacel Prokhorenkov from Moscow was arrested for violation of immigration laws around 10:35 a.m. on June 27 by a group led by Senior Police Officer 2 Ricardo Balucan Tingcang, according to Inspector Dahlan Samuddin, acting spokesman of the Police Regional Office 9.

Prokhorenkov was turned over to Sitti Rubiana D. lutian, Supervisor of the Bureau of Immigration based at the Zamboanga International Seaport. “[The foreigner] arrived in the city through Sandakan, Malaysia intending to meet his girlfriend identified as gretchen Baliquig Juevesano from Tubod, lanao Del norte for a marriage

proposal,” Tingcang said.

In leyte, a member of the army’s 19th Infantry Battalion and two civilians were arrested during two separate entrapment operations that led to the recovery of at least 13 short firearms, said chief Inspector Elizabeth Jasmin, spokesperson of the criminal Investigation and Detection group. cIDg Director Benjmain Magalong lauded the police unit for the arrest of Private First class Dennis cardenas y Pangandoyon and companions, Roel Fumar y linde and lenelito liporada y glore, who were suspected of gunrunning activities.

Recovered from cardenas were 8 units of caliber .45 pistols with magazine assembly and the marked money used to entrapm him. Seized from Fumar were three .38 caliber pistols, a .45 cal. and a .357 revolver.

Florante Solmerin

m o n d ay : J U n E 2 9, 2 0 1 5

NEWS

editorial@thestandard.com.ph

A7

Valle Verde 4 residents slam building owner

By John Paolo Bencito

THE owner of a mid-rise building in the Valle Verde residential enclave in Pasig City are under fire from neighbors who complained of violations of easement and height restrictions in the National Building Code.

Valle Verde 4 residents questioned the construction of the building along Coconut Avenue I owned by a certain Filipino-Taiwanese businessman and raised the issue of alleged ‘invasion of privacy’ since the height of the structure gave the owner a commanding view of the supposed-to-be private going-ons that happen within the four walls of their own private abode.

Sources said that the city government has actually left it to the homeowners’ associations of Valle Verde to enforce the rules and regulations of the National Building Code.

1st cancer biobank up

ST. LUKE’S Medical Center (SLMC) has set up the country’s first Human Cancer Biobank in a bid to possibly find a cancer treatment protocol for patients by analyzing tumor specimens at the genetic material and molecular level.

The new facility, which would collect tumor samples from cancer patients to be studied not just by SLMC cancer experts but also from other medical centers here and abroad, is a groundbreaking attempt to find a cure for cancer, which has eluded the medical community so far.

SLMC president and CEO Dr. Edgardo Cortez said the facility for tumor specimens which would be housed at the medical center’s Cancer Institute is part of what the hospital has conceptualized last year “for a precise treatment options for patients.”

As envisioned, the Human Cancer Biobank Project would ensure individualized treatments based on their body and particular disease and as borne by the studies of the particular tumors .

Mock attack. Policemen clash with protesters during a mock dispersal which also tests how civil disturbance management teams will react in real world. CDMs from various police districts in Metro Manila show their best during the Sunday competition held in front of the Quirino Grandstand in Manila. DANNY PATA

Two mega-buck airport projects unveiled today

By Sandy Araneta President Benigno Aquino iii on Monday will look into the progress of two major airport projects in the south – the Puerto Princesa Airport development Project Open ramp and the new passenger terminal of the Mactan- Cebu international Airport i Lapu-Lapu City, Cebu – which have a combined cost of P22.7 billion, Malacanang said on sunday.

The President will also inspect the Air Defense Alert Center ‘s (ADAC) Western Command Center in Puerto Princesa, Communications Secretary Herminio Coloma Jr said in an interview over state-run

radio station dzRB. Coloma said these two infrastructure projects are intended to spur the tourism industry in Palawan and Cebu.

At the reception party will be Korean Ambassador to the Philippines Kim Jae-Shin; Undersecretary for Project Implementation Julianito G. Bucayan; Lt. Gen. William K. Hotchkiss, Director General of the Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines (CAAP); Palawan Governor Jose Alvarez; Puerto Princesa Mayor Lucilo Bayron; Palawan congressmen Douglas Hagedorn; Frederick Abueg; and, Franz Joseph George Alvarez , apart from Yongkeun Oh, Chief Representative/Country Director, Manila Representative Office, Economic Development Cooperation Fund (EDCF), The Export-Import Bank of Korea (KEXIM).

Upon arrival at the Puerto Princsea airportm the President will proceed to the open ramp at the earth mount barrier between Western Command’s Air Defense Alert Center and the construction site of

the new Puerto Princesa Airport for the inspection with a briefing by Department of Transportation and Communications (DOTC) Undersecretary Julianito Bucayan.

The Puerto Princesa airport is financed by the Export -Import Bank of Korea under the operation and management of the Economic Development Cooperation Fund of Korea.

The project aims to improve the facilities of the existing Puerto Princesa Airport, enhance the quality of airport service and the safety of air transport to comply with the International Civil Organization (ICAO) standards; and expand the airport capacity brought by the increasing air traffic demand, Coloma said.

It is also aimed to revitalize the transport and trade linkages under the Brunei Darussalam, Indonesia, Malaysia and Philippines-East ASEAN Growth Area (BIMP_EAGA).

President Aquino will also lead the groundbreaking ceremony for the MactanCebu International Airport’s new passenger terminal building, with government officials and prominent corporate executives attending.

Volunteers to rid PNR of garbage

By Macon Ramos-Araneta

Old reliable. An impending reduction in the allocation for Metro Manila water distribution seems of less concern to residents of Brgy Olympia in Makati City as they enjoy free water supply from an old-fashioned water pump. Water Board has warned of supply reduction as a result of the low water level at Angat Dam. DIANA NOCHE

VOLUNTEER groups are prodded to help solve the massive garbage problem near the Philippine National Railways tracks.

Senator Cynthia A. Villar on Sunday said: “We should seek the help of local government units to form volunteer groups that can lead clean-up drives and to keep watch over railway tracks near inhabited areas.”

The strict enforcement of of city ordinances against illegal garbage disposal should also take effect.

“This is important not only to keep our railways clean, but also to prevent diseases brought about by poor sanitation,” added the senate chair on government-owned corporations and public enterprises.

The senator offered to talk to the local

governments of Taguig, Paranaque, and Muntinlupa for measures to help solve the garbage problem.

Villar said she was informed by PNR General Manager Joseph Allan Dilay that garbage continues to be a problem despite their regular clean-up operations in the area.

The senator, principal sponsor of the law extending the charter of PNR up to 2065, earlier led the test run of the commuter train service from Tutuban Station to Buendia Station.

The PNR will resume its Tutuban to Laguna trips by end of June, which serviced 100,000 commuters.

PNR suspended its operations when two coaches derailed near Magallanes Station last April 29, causing injuries to 80 passengers.

M O N D AY : J u N E 2 9, 2 0 1 5

A8

opinion

ADELLE chuA eDitoR

lettertotheeditor@thestandard.com.ph

opinion

plumbline pastoR apollo quiboloy

Job generatorin-chief

[ EDI TORI A L ]

Ducking the tough questions ThE administration’s response to recent attacks from Vice President Jejomar Binay has been nothing but predictable.

The tactic is to discredit the critic, in this case, an elected public official who has been tarred and feathered in the court of public opinion over allegations of corruption, but which have yet to be proved in a court of law.

The Vice President is an easy mark. Joining the Cabinet in 2010 as chairman of the housing and Urban Development Coordinating Council and presidential adviser on overseas Filipino workers’ concerns, Binay broke with the administration only last week, after five long years in which he kept publicly silent on the most atrocious abuses of our system of justice and politics.

We heard hardly a peep from him when President Benigno Aquino III marshaled the entire government machinery to go after a sitting chief justice of the Supreme Court who did not see eye to eye with him, and ousted him for what is arguably not an impeachable offense. Nor did he raise his voice to protest the misuse of billions in public funds through the Disbursement Acceleration Program when it was first exposed as a tool of bribery to sway a pliant Congress.

The Vice President also stood silent as the administration let an ill-conceived and politically motivated dole program for the poor to bloat into the ultimately useless multi-billion-peso drain on our resources that it is today.

The Vice President says he raised these and other concerns privately while he was still a member of the Cabinet, but President Benigno Aquino III has disavowed this claim and even feigned surprise that Binay quit when he did.

On top of this, there are the allegations of corruption, helped along by a patently biased Senate investigation that has stretched over an astonishing 22 public hearings, all calibrated to destroy the Vice President’s reputation and credibility with little regard for the facts.

The President and his minions have used these two conditions to duck the tough questions, preferring to attack Binay’s record than to honestly defend their own.

President Aquino has led the way in using this tactic when confronted by the incompetence of his administration in providing the most basic of public services. So it is no surprise that his official family has followed suit.

Called to task for an indisputable double standard in the prosecution of corruption cases, Justice Secretary Leila de Lima chose to bludgeon Binay by referring to his own graft cases, instead of explaining why only opposition politicians have been charged and why the President’s allies—including one who is being groomed for senator—have been left off the hook.

Confronted with his miserable failure to improve the shameful city train services, Transport Secretary Joseph Emilio Abaya trotted out the same tired counter-attack that the Vice President never offered any suggestion in his five-year stint in the Cabinet to improve services of the public transport system. This may or may not have been true, but we suggest to Secretary Abaya that perhaps that was not Binay’s job, after all—it was Abaya’s.

That Binay kept his peace while he was in the Cabinet takes nothing away from the seriousness of the charges he now raises against the administration.

These were tough questions about incompetence, corruption and abuse that were raised long before the Vice President broke from the administration, and they demand answers regardless of who is asking them.

SCOTUS nically: The holding was that States could not be compelled fR. Ranhilio to license same-sex marriages.)

Enough has been said for callangan and against the decision, some aquino comments, profound, most othSCOTUS is neither petition- ers, hysterical. My interest in er nor respondent...Supreme the SCOTUS judgment is the Court of the United States way the court argued its way to is what it is, and it has, since the conclusion it reached. Its Thursday night, referred to the first premise was the right to Oberfegell et al. decision of the personal choice and a concept The court disposing of consolidated of human autonomy. court characterized marriage cases. The petitioners had lost their cases before the Court of as one of the most important Appeals that had ruled against and personal decisions a persame-sex marriages.

(Tech- son can make. Quite clearly,

pensées

the premise is only as good as its phenomenology of human autonomy. And, here I am already giving the court the benefit of the doubt, because if it did not do a phenomenology of human autonomy, then it was working with somea priorisms, about which philosophy is never too happy!

But my point is that at the very heart of its judgment, the court does (or attempts to do!) philosophy.

“A second principle in this Court’s jurisprudence is that the right to marry is fundamental because it supports a two-person union unlike any other in its importance to the committed individuals.” Quite cleverly (or perhaps not really so!)

What do respect for the autonomy of the person and the concept each one has of a fulfilling, stable intersubjective encounter demand?

the Court made of the entire issue one of definition.

A two-person union? But has not marriage always been about two persons in their physical, anatomical, physiological, psy-

A9

chological and spiritual differences coming together in an unparalleled union? That of course triggers the question that a sound philosophy of the human person must address:

Is there in fact an appreciable difference between a union of a man and a woman, and that of persons of like sex? I do not have a ready answer to this question, not anymore. Traditionally, the answer has almost come as an intellectual reflex: Of course, there is... but now, the life-world is pried open to rational scrutiny!

From the time of the great scholastics, by lex naturalis was meant what conformed to the demands of “right reason”. But reason, at least as we

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

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

find it in SCOTUS, is also time-conditioned, circumscribed by a non-static self-definition of humankind. As to the road our consciousness in respect to marriage has travelled, the court says that the idea “has evolved in substantial ways over time, superseding rules related to parental consent, gender and race once thought by many to be essential.”

On the level of everyday praxis, both in secular society and for the Church, the question will be: What do respect

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

MST ONLINE

can be accessed at: www.manilastandardtoday.com

MEMBER

PPI

Philippine Press Institute The National Association of Philippine Newspapers

for the autonomy of the person and the concept each one has of a fulfilling, stable intersubjective encounter demand? Choices themselves do not automatically entitle to respect. The choice of one to be a terrorist is rightly met with disdain if not resolute preventive action.

But when a person makes a choice as did the petitioners in the case that ultimately reached the US Supreme Court, how far does society go in respecting that choice?

Continued on A11

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

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

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

WhEThEr declared or dithering, a presidential hopeful’s main pitch is that he or she is the best person for the job.

So all the huffing and puffing we’re seeing from all the applicants for the number one job in the land is meant to convince us to hire him or her Sadly, the contest has degenerated into putting the competition down instead of presenting one’s competence .

The best foot forward is not being shown. It’s the wicked foot kicking the adversary that is being seen.

At this stage of this protracted presidential race, what’s on full swing is a demolition derby.

Instead of showcasing the best one has to offer, the spectacle is about destroying the other side.

So everyday, we’re fed a serving of putdowns in industrial-grade caustic quips.

While the word war may be engaging, it though is far from edifying.

The trading of barbs mutually downgrades the parties involved but it does not elevate public discourse on issues that really matter. Like the chronic lack of jobs, for example.

So instead of sticking to the “I’m -thebest-man-for-the-job-and-he-is-theworst” line , why can’t an applicant start a conservation about jobs, not the one he is applying for, but the millions which must be created?

Unfortunately, these candidates will not stray from their market-tested talking points on their own and segue to the jobs topic. This is because employment, though vital, is not a sexy topic. rolling out a jobs program does not make for nice visuals that can fit nicely in a TV news addicted to colourful footage To attract high ratings , the formula reportage follows is the sabong format, words that draw blood would surely trigger a rebuttal that will cut deeper.

If a presidentiable, for example, talks about creating jobs in the manufacturing sector, guardians of news portals will have a hard time packaging it in a way that it could bait a million clicks.

So it is left to us, their employers, to put jobs top in the hiring criteria. Simply put, it is asking these job applicants to present their jobs program before we vote on their application.

And so that we won’t be regaled with motherhood statements long in rhetoric Continued on A11 Rolando G. Estabillo Jojo A. Robles Ramonchito L. Tomeldan Chin Wong/Ray S. Eñano Francis Lagniton Joyce Pangco Pañares Adelle Chua Romel J. Mendez Roberto Cabrera

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

M O N D AY : J u N E 2 9, 2 0 1 5

A8

opinion

ADELLE chuA eDitoR

lettertotheeditor@thestandard.com.ph

opinion

plumbline pastoR apollo quiboloy

Job generatorin-chief

[ EDI TORI A L ]

Ducking the tough questions ThE administration’s response to recent attacks from Vice President Jejomar Binay has been nothing but predictable.

The tactic is to discredit the critic, in this case, an elected public official who has been tarred and feathered in the court of public opinion over allegations of corruption, but which have yet to be proved in a court of law.

The Vice President is an easy mark. Joining the Cabinet in 2010 as chairman of the housing and Urban Development Coordinating Council and presidential adviser on overseas Filipino workers’ concerns, Binay broke with the administration only last week, after five long years in which he kept publicly silent on the most atrocious abuses of our system of justice and politics.

We heard hardly a peep from him when President Benigno Aquino III marshaled the entire government machinery to go after a sitting chief justice of the Supreme Court who did not see eye to eye with him, and ousted him for what is arguably not an impeachable offense. Nor did he raise his voice to protest the misuse of billions in public funds through the Disbursement Acceleration Program when it was first exposed as a tool of bribery to sway a pliant Congress.

The Vice President also stood silent as the administration let an ill-conceived and politically motivated dole program for the poor to bloat into the ultimately useless multi-billion-peso drain on our resources that it is today.

The Vice President says he raised these and other concerns privately while he was still a member of the Cabinet, but President Benigno Aquino III has disavowed this claim and even feigned surprise that Binay quit when he did.

On top of this, there are the allegations of corruption, helped along by a patently biased Senate investigation that has stretched over an astonishing 22 public hearings, all calibrated to destroy the Vice President’s reputation and credibility with little regard for the facts.

The President and his minions have used these two conditions to duck the tough questions, preferring to attack Binay’s record than to honestly defend their own.

President Aquino has led the way in using this tactic when confronted by the incompetence of his administration in providing the most basic of public services. So it is no surprise that his official family has followed suit.

Called to task for an indisputable double standard in the prosecution of corruption cases, Justice Secretary Leila de Lima chose to bludgeon Binay by referring to his own graft cases, instead of explaining why only opposition politicians have been charged and why the President’s allies—including one who is being groomed for senator—have been left off the hook.

Confronted with his miserable failure to improve the shameful city train services, Transport Secretary Joseph Emilio Abaya trotted out the same tired counter-attack that the Vice President never offered any suggestion in his five-year stint in the Cabinet to improve services of the public transport system. This may or may not have been true, but we suggest to Secretary Abaya that perhaps that was not Binay’s job, after all—it was Abaya’s.

That Binay kept his peace while he was in the Cabinet takes nothing away from the seriousness of the charges he now raises against the administration.

These were tough questions about incompetence, corruption and abuse that were raised long before the Vice President broke from the administration, and they demand answers regardless of who is asking them.

SCOTUS nically: The holding was that States could not be compelled fR. Ranhilio to license same-sex marriages.)

Enough has been said for callangan and against the decision, some aquino comments, profound, most othSCOTUS is neither petition- ers, hysterical. My interest in er nor respondent...Supreme the SCOTUS judgment is the Court of the United States way the court argued its way to is what it is, and it has, since the conclusion it reached. Its Thursday night, referred to the first premise was the right to Oberfegell et al. decision of the personal choice and a concept The court disposing of consolidated of human autonomy. court characterized marriage cases. The petitioners had lost their cases before the Court of as one of the most important Appeals that had ruled against and personal decisions a persame-sex marriages.

(Tech- son can make. Quite clearly,

pensées

the premise is only as good as its phenomenology of human autonomy. And, here I am already giving the court the benefit of the doubt, because if it did not do a phenomenology of human autonomy, then it was working with somea priorisms, about which philosophy is never too happy!

But my point is that at the very heart of its judgment, the court does (or attempts to do!) philosophy.

“A second principle in this Court’s jurisprudence is that the right to marry is fundamental because it supports a two-person union unlike any other in its importance to the committed individuals.” Quite cleverly (or perhaps not really so!)

What do respect for the autonomy of the person and the concept each one has of a fulfilling, stable intersubjective encounter demand?

the Court made of the entire issue one of definition.

A two-person union? But has not marriage always been about two persons in their physical, anatomical, physiological, psy-

A9

chological and spiritual differences coming together in an unparalleled union? That of course triggers the question that a sound philosophy of the human person must address:

Is there in fact an appreciable difference between a union of a man and a woman, and that of persons of like sex? I do not have a ready answer to this question, not anymore. Traditionally, the answer has almost come as an intellectual reflex: Of course, there is... but now, the life-world is pried open to rational scrutiny!

From the time of the great scholastics, by lex naturalis was meant what conformed to the demands of “right reason”. But reason, at least as we

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

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

find it in SCOTUS, is also time-conditioned, circumscribed by a non-static self-definition of humankind. As to the road our consciousness in respect to marriage has travelled, the court says that the idea “has evolved in substantial ways over time, superseding rules related to parental consent, gender and race once thought by many to be essential.”

On the level of everyday praxis, both in secular society and for the Church, the question will be: What do respect

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

MST ONLINE

can be accessed at: www.manilastandardtoday.com

MEMBER

PPI

Philippine Press Institute The National Association of Philippine Newspapers

for the autonomy of the person and the concept each one has of a fulfilling, stable intersubjective encounter demand? Choices themselves do not automatically entitle to respect. The choice of one to be a terrorist is rightly met with disdain if not resolute preventive action.

But when a person makes a choice as did the petitioners in the case that ultimately reached the US Supreme Court, how far does society go in respecting that choice?

Continued on A11

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

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

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

WhEThEr declared or dithering, a presidential hopeful’s main pitch is that he or she is the best person for the job.

So all the huffing and puffing we’re seeing from all the applicants for the number one job in the land is meant to convince us to hire him or her Sadly, the contest has degenerated into putting the competition down instead of presenting one’s competence .

The best foot forward is not being shown. It’s the wicked foot kicking the adversary that is being seen.

At this stage of this protracted presidential race, what’s on full swing is a demolition derby.

Instead of showcasing the best one has to offer, the spectacle is about destroying the other side.

So everyday, we’re fed a serving of putdowns in industrial-grade caustic quips.

While the word war may be engaging, it though is far from edifying.

The trading of barbs mutually downgrades the parties involved but it does not elevate public discourse on issues that really matter. Like the chronic lack of jobs, for example.

So instead of sticking to the “I’m -thebest-man-for-the-job-and-he-is-theworst” line , why can’t an applicant start a conservation about jobs, not the one he is applying for, but the millions which must be created?

Unfortunately, these candidates will not stray from their market-tested talking points on their own and segue to the jobs topic. This is because employment, though vital, is not a sexy topic. rolling out a jobs program does not make for nice visuals that can fit nicely in a TV news addicted to colourful footage To attract high ratings , the formula reportage follows is the sabong format, words that draw blood would surely trigger a rebuttal that will cut deeper.

If a presidentiable, for example, talks about creating jobs in the manufacturing sector, guardians of news portals will have a hard time packaging it in a way that it could bait a million clicks.

So it is left to us, their employers, to put jobs top in the hiring criteria. Simply put, it is asking these job applicants to present their jobs program before we vote on their application.

And so that we won’t be regaled with motherhood statements long in rhetoric Continued on A11 Rolando G. Estabillo Jojo A. Robles Ramonchito L. Tomeldan Chin Wong/Ray S. Eñano Francis Lagniton Joyce Pangco Pañares Adelle Chua Romel J. Mendez Roberto Cabrera

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

M O N D AY : J U N E 2 9, 2 0 1 5

A10

OPINION

lettertotheeditor@thestandard.com.ph

LETTING GO FINALLY, Vice-President Jojo let go of his cabinet position.

In a terse, brief letLITO ter hand-carried by BANAYO his daughter Congresswoman Abby to Malacanang, he resigned from being the housing coordinator of President Noynoy, a position he held for almost five years.

Some, this writer included, believe he should have done so a long time ago. When he formed a senatorial ticket in 2013, where he took in candidates openly critical of the President, he was drawing some sort of demarcation line.

Shouldn’t he have given PNoy the courtesy of a political goodbye then? We wouldn’t know now if PNoy would have accepted it, or prevailed upon his vice-president to stay.

From a strategic point of view, the intelligent Binay should have known that his political adversaries were sharpening their knives, and it was only a matter of time before they unsheathed those knives.

Wouldn’t it have been better if the vicepresident jumped the gun on them, and warned the public months before the I thought then, unsheathing that “my and maintain until political adversaries now, that Jojo would soon invent made a terrible lies against me, and miscalculation, and a would detonate a barmyopic reading of the rage of bombshells intended to destroy me, presidential mind. and since they belong to the administration I am part of, I am now resigning from a cabinet most of whose members are plotting against me.” Or words to that effect.

In political parlance, it is called the inoculation tactic.

Why he failed to do so is something I wondered about to a personal friend of the vice-president sometime in the first half of 2014.

That friend of Jojo told me that the vice-president did not want to sever his ties with the President, even if he knew his political enemies who were so close to Malacanang were plotting against him, because in the end, he was hoping PNoy would endorse him as successor.

I was aghast. How could he have hoped so?

The survey numbers, that friend said. He was leading the putative LP champion by a mile. A mile that would be difficult to breach. And even some very close presidential relatives were either openly or secretly for him.

“PNoy needs someone to guard his back after his term is done. And with DAP, he really needs that someone. Jojo thinks that with their long family ties dating back to Tita Cory, and with his survey numbers stratospherically high, PNoy, despite the Liberals, will end up supporting him. Jojo after all, would never think of abandoning Cory’s son, or worse, feed him to the lions after 2016”, our common friend explained.

I thought then, and maintain until now, that Jojo made a terrible miscalculation, and a myopic reading of the presidential mind.

And then the bombshells exploded. Because there were no concise explanations, the survey numbers came tumbling down.

Now he has let go. Better late than never. Fine.

But what is strategically out of sync once more, is why he now let out his angst, nay, his bile, against the administration he never in five years criticized for the sins of omission and commission he now rants about.

“I was treated like a leper in the cabinet,” he now confesses.

True, as my informants in the palace beside the stinking river observed even then.

Now let me draw a comparison.

In January of 1997, I was personally drafted by then Vice-President Erap into his campaign for the presidency.

SO I SEE

LOVE AND RAINBOWS ON FACEBOOK these days, many people’s profile pictures are shaded with the colors of the rainbow.

This expresses their oneness with the United States Supreme Court’s decision to make same-sex marriages legal anywhere in the US. It was a close decision among the judges, 5-4, but in the end the Court, through Justice Anthony Kennedy, said that: the right to personal choice regarding marriage is inherent in the concept of individual autonomy, the right to marry is fundamental because it supports a two-person union unlike any other in its importance to the committed individuals, the right to marry safeguards children and families and thus draws meaning from related rights of childrearing, procreation and education, and that marriage is a keystone of the nation’s social order.

Kennedy adds: “The nature of marriage is that, through its enduring bond, two persons can together find other freedoms such as expression, intimacy and spirituality...this is true for all persons whatever their sexual orientation.”

Just as many rejoiced the landmark ruling, however many too decried what the decision, harping on its immorality and contrariness to what is deemed natural, i.e., heterosexual relationships.

It’s a moral and legal issue, but lest we forget, same-sex marriage is, at its core, deeply personal. *** What is compelling about this landmark decision is the story behind the case that set it off. In the end, it is just another love story with a bittersweet ending.

Two men, Jim Obergefell and John Arthur, had been in a relationship for years. They had long wanted to get married – they had been together for two decades – but could not do it in Cincinnato, Ohio where they lived. At that time, there

SCOTUS From A9 Not too long ago, in ruling against the closure of “short-time” trysts along the Ermita district, the Supreme Court maintained that sexual liaisons between consenting adults, though unmarried, were well within the ambit of constitutionally protected freedoms, but the Family Code, respects the decision of unmarried persons to cohabit only insofar as it provides for some kind of a property regime.

It withholds from them the “respect” that is accorded a

CHASING HAPPY ADELLE CHUA were only a few states that allowed same-sex marriages.

Arthur was diagnosed with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, or ALS, in 2011. This was a neurological disease, often fatal, that paralyzed its victim. Finally, they decided that they would marry in Baltimore. The couple was accompanied by two pilots, a nurse and Arthur’s aunt who officiated the wedding. They did not even get off the plane: it just landed on the tarmac of Baltimore-Washington International Airport. The ceremony was performed, and soon they were airborne again, already husbands to each other.

Arthur died three months later.

And all Obergefell wanted was to be listed as husband on his death certificate. First, a judge said he could.

And then a higher court reversed it, listing Arthur as single. But now the Supreme Court has spoken and has done so for all 50 states of the US. Meanwhile, Obergefell is alone. *** For us here in the Philippines, what does it all mean?

In our society, same-sex relationships are more to be tolerated than recognized. The Catholic Church, to which a majority of Filipinos belong, is clearly against legal recognition of same-sex unions. Even the most recent Standard Poll survey showed that Filipinos nationwide disagreed with passing a law that would allow such, with 70 percent strongly disagreeing and 14 percent somewhat disagreeing.

Opposition is strongest in Northern and Central Luzon, the survey found, with 92 percent disagreeing.

Eighty-seven percent of residents of rural areas, and 80 percent of those married couple. It is that same question for which we must craft an adequate and thoughtful response.

It should be clear, however, to judges and students of the law just how many presuppositions of philosophy our laws and codes make, and therefore where the Achilles heel of the legal system also is, for no amount of unction, solemnity and pompousness in pronouncing judicial doctrine will ever carve what is, out of that which ain’t!

Nothing less should be said of the Church.

Where its phi-

There were times when we were advising him to let go of his quasi-cabinet post as Presidential Anti-Crime Commission (PACC) head, and position himself as “the” opposition.

Erap bided his time, waiting for the “right” timing, which came when FVR’s boys started the steamroller for constitutional amendments to allow him to seek another term. Even then, Erap was not the first to holler against FVR. He waited for others to rally against the scheme, principally Tita Cory and the Church. Which was when he waded in. And resigned.

Still and all, but for the issue of constitutional change

from urban communities, would reject a measure. Even in age, 81 percent of younger respondents would reject the measure, not a far cry from 85 percent of their older counterparts who would.

Given these, we cannot really expect our government to join the rainbow movement soon. In fact, the Palace said that the Philippines would not recognize the marriage of same-sex marriages even if the parties were wed in the US or in other states where it is legal.

“If there are such proposals, these must first be approved by Congress,” spokesman Herminio Coloma said.

Then again, it’s not likely Congress would make this a priority – not now, not anytime soon.

But how could lawmakers make this leap when they have not even seen the need to legalize divorce here despite glaring loopholes in the provisions of the Family Code allowing legal separation, annulment and declaration of nullity? *** Still, the rainbow signs are most welcome. All struggles did not progress overnight, or in the span of a few years. The fight for legality of same-sex marriages will be an especially long one here where it concerns us. Nonetheless, this is a first step towards recognizing that love, and the desire to make that love “official” through marriage, is not confined to convention. This first step is a big step.

We may know a couple or two in same-sex unions who are as happy and committed to each other as heterosexual couples are. We are happy for them for what they have. Their individual stories – struggles and triumphs –all deserve to be told.

It’s love, plain and simple, and everything that comes with it.

What is there that must not be celebrated? adellechua@gmail.com losophy of the human person has turned rancid, it must be willing to revisit, listen to other, even discordant voices, and perhaps submit to deconstruction with the eagerness that one has for justice.

But Archbishop Soc Villegas was very clear, in his statement following the SCOTUS promulgation, that one thing could not be postponed: Pastoral solicitude and an abiding charitable welcome! rannie_aquino@sanbeda.edu.ph rannie_aquino@csu.edu.ph rannie_aquino@yahoo.com

to prolong FVR’s stay in the palace, Erap never attacked the president even after resigning, certainly not with the vehemence or bitterness with which VP Jojo now does against PNoy and his men.

Erap won overwhelmingly in 1998, the darling of the masa among whom he remains in residually great esteem until now.

Maybe Jojo, who ran with Erap in 2010, and surprisingly won against the rated favorite Mar, should have taken his cues right.

It’s too late for that now.

Letting go could have been done with finesse.

M O N d aY : J u N e 2 9, 2 0 1 5

OPINION

adelle chua EDITOR

lettertotheeditor@thestandard.com.ph

A11

Why some countries Work less By leonid Bershidsky Why do people in some countries work more hours? The most common explanations have to do with labor regulations and taxes, but anyone who travels frequently will notice that work and leisure are valued differently in different places. if this sounds like prejudice, consider the findings of two U.S.-based economists in a new working paper for the national Bureau of Economic research. in that paper, naci Mocan and luiza Pogorelova, both of louisiana State University, show that among European nations, a “culture of leisure” is an important determinant of how much people work. in 2004, Edward Prescott, who was awarded the nobel prize that year,showed that the higher the effective marginal tax rate on labor income -- that is, the share of each next dollar earned that the government chooses to redistribute -- the fewer hours people put in. importantly, the tax rate in this equation includes the employer’s part, and companies, too, are less interested in getting more work out of people if they have to give up more of the resulting income.

jOb... From A9 but short in details, we can be specific in our probing. if a wannabe parachutes into your province, then ask himpointblank what’s his job program for your unemployed neighbors. after all, he is there simply not to been seen, but to be heard, and not on how he struggled in life, but how he will work so that yours will be better. remember , this is not about his job bit about yours. and why should you not demand answers, when this boring topic about unemployment should worry us all?

This is a nation of half a million jobless college graduates, where the unemployed and underemployed combine for a

The finding was unexpected even to Prescott himself. “i am surprised,” he wrote, “that virtually all the large differences between the U.S. labor supply and those of germany and france are due to differences in tax systems. i expected institutional constraints on the operation of labor markets and the nature of the unemployment benefit system to be of major importance.”

Because of its simplicity, Prescott’s conclusion has often been challenged. olivier Blanchard, the chief economist of the international Monetary fund, wrote a paper in 2006 showing that the tax theory didn’t always explain labor supply variations: There was too much complexity.

Mocan and Pogorelova’s work focuses on the differences among European countries, based on recent statistics from the organization for Economic cooperation and development, and they confirm the link between tax rates and work. for example, Belgians, burdened with a marginal tax rate of 57 percent, worked an average of 989 hours in 2012; the Portuguese, with a 41 percent tax rate, worked 1,237 hours.

The researchers, however, managed to isolate something else in the complex web of motives that determines how

third of the work force, where 15 wide-bodied jets full of talented filipinos leave daily for jobs abroad. if there are numbers that presidentiables should worry about, then it is not about the plunge in their poll ratings, but the dip in jobs created .

This is what we should track too and not who has the highest trust rating among those who are casting a moist eye at the Sagisag ng Pangulo. on paper there are 2.6 million unemployed but many quarters believe that those who claim to be underemployed, and there were 6.5 million of them in the last official survey, fall under the jobless column.

Put them together and you have 9.1 million who crave jobs.

Many say that the way we

#failocracy

much people work: attitudes toward work and leisure. To do so, they used an ingenious device: a sample of 7,000 second-generation immigrants living and working in 26 European countries.

These people are in the same tax and regulatory environments as native-born workers, but they are likely to be “infected” with their parents’ attitudes toward work and leisure, imported from their home countries.

Mocan and Pogorelova relied on the data from the World values Survey and the European values Study, which has asked people in many countries about these attitudes over the years, with prompts such as: “indicate how important leisure time is in your life,” “do you agree with the statement: People who won’t work turn lazy?” and “do you agree that work should always come first even if it means less spare time?” comparing the difference in these attitudes and the difference in hours worked between the second-generation immigrants and the native-born workers, Mocan and Pogorelova found a statistically valid relationship between “leisure cultures” and the hours people put in at work. for example, if Belgians’ taste for leisure were brought down to the level of

count jobs inflates the job tally.

Unpaid family workers in farms are deemed gainfully unemployed and so are those parttime jobbers like watch-yourcar boys.

What is worrisome in the job report is how college graduates who, skills-wise, are supposed to be better equipped but are having a hard time landing a job. one in five of the jobless today is a college graduate and there are 537,000 of them. in fact, one in three unemployed either finished or attended college. There are 880,000 desperately looking for gainful employment. age-wise, unemployment hits the young.

Three in 10, or about 832,000, are in the 25-34 years of age

the Portuguese, the number of hours worked in Belgium would increase by 4 percent. “leisure culture” has a smaller effect than taxes on people’s desire to work more, in part because the effect varies significantly for men and women, Mocan and Pogorelova determined. apparently, men respond more strongly to financial stimulus, while for women, the rest of their lives are no less important.

Mocan and Pogorelova’s findings add a dimension to the way policy makers should approach growth. giving people tax incentives to work more will probably help, but only until these incentives run into cultural obstacles. The number of hours worked will stop growing at some point simply because people value their leisure too much. Then, the economy can only grow faster if the population increases, if workers become more productive, or both. in countries such as france, denmark, the netherlands and Belgium, where productivity is 93 percent to 96 percent of the U.S. level and immigration is lower, economic growth is naturally slower because of the cultural constraint. That’s fine: going faster would hardly make people happier.

Bloomberg

bracket, they who are supposed to be in their most productive phase of their lives but now spend days shuffling cvs and shuttling from one job interview to another.

These are not static numbers; they’re ballooning. Every summer, about 700,000 college graduates join the army of jobseekers.

Those who tire of lining up for application forms in job fairs soon queue for passports. about 6,000 leave for jobs abroad every 24 hours, joining the filipino diasporanot because they want to, but because they have no other choice.

To put in on the growth curve, the Philippines must generate one million jobs a year. of this number, only 18,000 guaranteed jobs open

every three years. i am referring to government elective positions which must be filled every three years through elections.

So when these job applicants come a-courting, ask them your number one hiring criteria: how many jobs can you create? and that question goes as well to the next tenant of Malacanang, whose number one job is to be a job generator-in-chief.

OuT Of ThE bOx RITa lInDa v. jImEnO atty. Jimeno’s column will resume soon.

chong ardivilla

m o n day : J Un e 2 9 , 2 0 1 5

A12

sports sports@thestandard.com.ph

Novak: Paris misery is over LONDON—Novak Djokovic insists his heartbreaking French Open final defeat has been consigned to history as he begins his Wimbledon title defence on Monday.

The world number one had stayed resolutely out of the spotlight since his Roland Garros upset by Stan Wawrinka ended his latest bid to complete the career Grand Slam.

But the Serb says he is fired up to defend his Wimbledon crown just as he was in 2011 when he captured his maiden title in London.

“I needed some time off, more mentally rather than physically,” said eight-time major winner Djokovic who faces world number 33 German Philipp Kohlschreiber in a tough Monday opener.

“I know it could have been useful to play a couple of official matches

on grass, but it’s not the first time I’m coming straight into Wimbledon.”

Djokovic’s loss to Wawrinka in Paris was just his third defeat in 44 matches this year.

With the Australian Open already under his belt, the shattering loss ended his chances of going on to become just the third man in history -- and first since 1969 -- to clinch a calendar Grand Slam.

But such Paris disappointments have previously worked in his favour.

His 2011 semi-final loss to Roger Federer at Roland Garros ended a 41-match win streak that year.

However, just four weeks later, he

defeated Rafael Nadal to secure a first Wimbledon title and then went on to his maiden US Open triumph.

Djokovic is also the most consistent of the top players at the majors -the last time he failed to make at least the quarter-finals of a Grand Slam was at Roland Garros in 2009.

World number two and seven-time Wimbledon champion Federer, who won the last of his 17 majors at the All England Club in 2012, is seeded to meet Djokovic in the July 12 final.

He will be 34 in August -- the oldest man to win Wimbledon in the modern era was Arthur Ashe who was 31 years and 11 months when he triumphed at the All England Club in 1975.

- Federer chases eighth title Federer fervently believes that another Wimbledon is not beyond him and he was buoyed by his eighth Hal-

le title last weekend.

“If I look at last year, I see more the positives than actually the heart-breaking loss in the final,” said Federer, defeated in five sets by Djokovic in 2014.

“I didn’t expect myself to right away make the final. It goes to show that last year, I wasn’t playing great and I made the finals.”

Federer starts his campaign against Bosnia’s Damir Dzumhur, who he beat in the French Open third round.

Andy Murray, the 2013 champion, saw his 2014 campaign sabotaged by a combination of back pain and an inspired Grigor Dimitrov in the quarter-finals.

But the 28-year-old world number three, fresh from a record-equalling fourth Queen’s Club title, believes he’s playing better than when he secured his historic Wimbledon triumph. AFP

EUGENE—Justin Gatlin stayed on course for a sprint double World Championships challenge on Saturday, while Allyson Felix has a choice to make after a storming 400m triumph at the US athletics championships.

Gatlin, a polarizing figure who has served two doping bans only to emerge as the dominant sprinter early in the 2015 season, produced a seemingly effortless 19.92sec to cruise into the 200m semi-finals.

Gatlin won his heat ahead of training partner Isiah Young, whose 19.99sec made him the only other sub-20 runner in the heats.

“I felt comfortable,” said Gatlin, who opted out of the 100m won by Tyson Gay on Friday because his 2014 Diamond League title gives him a World Championships wild card in that event.

“Take it easy, rest right now and get ready for the battle tomorrow,” he said of his mindset for the heats, with semi-finals and the final set for Sunday. AFP

England faces Japan as Canadian dream ends VANCOUVER—England ended host Canada’s dream at the Women’s World Cup 2-1 on Saturday to advance to their first semi-finals at the tournament where they meet defending champions Japan, 1-0 winners over Australia.

Early goals from Jodie Taylor and Lucy Bronze dampened the cheers of the capacity 54,027 crowd in BC Place Stadium and kept England on track after losing their opening game of the tournament against France.

England follow on from their first win in a World Cup knockout game against Norway in the last 16.

“They’re history makers again, only the third ever English team to get to a semi-final, we join that ‘66 and ‘90 club,” said coach Mark Sampson referring to the England men’s team.

“The dream’s over, it’s not how we imagined it to end,” said Canadian counterpart John Herdman.

“We hadn’t written the script to be 2-0 down that early. Gutted, gutted for all of Canada.

“They (England) were hard to break down.

They went for it, good on them, they got their

LONDON—Serena Williams is adamant she can cope with the pressure of going for a calendar Grand Slam as she eyes the third leg of the historic achievement at Wimbledon.

Williams has swept to Australian and French Open triumphs over the last six months and the world number one returns to the All England Club within two major titles of becoming the first woman since Steffi Graf in 1988 to claim the four top titles in one year.

The 33-year-old American also won the US Open to end 2014 on a high and is heavy favourite to continue that dominant run by taking the Wimbledon title for the sixth time in her illustrious career.

Her march to a momentous milestone has captured the public’s attention and Serena knows the eyes of the sporting world will be on her over the next fortnight.

But she insists she will have no problems with the extra attention and expectation because her mental toughness is a bigger strength than even her booming serve and over-powering groundstrokes. AFP

Dunga: Loss will toughen Brazil

Justin Gatlin competes in the Mens 200 meter preliminaries during Day 3 of the 2015 USA Outdoor Track & Field Championships at Hayward Field in Eugene, Oregon. AFP

Gatlin eyes double

Serena boasts of mental toughness

England defender Lucy Bronze (center) celebrates her goal against Canada with teammate Steph Houghton and Claire Rafferty (right) during a quarterfinal football match at the 2015 FIFA Women’s World Cup at BC Place Stadium in Vancouver. AFP

tactics right and won the match.”

Earlier Japan outplayed a gritty Australia but needed an 87th minute goal from substitute Mana Iwabuchi to advance in their quarter-final game in Edmonton. AFP

CONCEPCION, Chile-Brazil’s beleaguered coach Dunga insisted Saturday his side’s miserable Copa America campaign had been a useful experience for his squad as they build towards the 2018 World Cup. The 1994 World Cupwinning captain saw his team bundled out of the quarter-finals by Paraguay on penalties, in a repeat of Brazil’s last-eight exit to the same opponents four years ago.

It capped a disappointing campaign in Chile for Brazil, who had arrived at the tournament in confident mood after a run of 10 consecutive victories following their disastrous Wo “It is preparation, a good experience,” Dunga said. “We would like to win but it is a great lesson, learning for the highest purpose of the tie as we look at the World Cup in 2018.” AFP

m o n day : J Un e 2 9 , 2 0 1 5

A13

sports sports@thestandard.com.ph

BEST classes slated

Jungolfers backed. Mighty Sports Apparel and Accessories is supporting the participation of two of the country’s top junior golfers in prestigious tournaments in the United States next month. Ashia Marie S. Nocum (third from left) will be competing in three events, including the Southern California PGA Junior Championship in Buena Park, California and the Junior Amateur Golf Scholarship Championship, while Josh Jorge (third from right) will compete in the IMG Academy Junior World Golf Championship in San Diego and the Veritas World Junior Golf Championship in Pasadena. Photo shows Nocum and Jorge with Mighty Sports president Dr. John Edwin Sy (second from left), sports director Dominic Uy (second from right), and Abad Jorge, Jr. (extreme right), Josh’s father, during the turnover of financial assistance as well as apparel for the two youngsters.

Fantasy sports worth billions NEW YORK —Fantasy sports were once just a fun way for diehard fans to express their love of the game together with other zealots, without actually getting out on the field themselves.

Now they are a multibilliondollar business whose techsavvy clientele increasingly drive how the pro leagues operate and the way big games are broadcast.

The industry’s ascendancy was on display at the Fantasy Sports Trade Association’s summer conference this week, where sports giants like broadcaster ESPN and the National Basketball Association championed fantasy leagues and promised more fantasy-friendly steps to feed the boom.

In fantasy sports, a participant creates his own team, selecting players from a real-world sports league like the NBA, National Football League or England’s Premier

League football.

As real games are played, a fantasy team competes and is ranked against others based on the actual-game performance of its players.

Fantasy competitors once matched their dream teams against others to suss out their nose for talent and for simple bragging rights.

Today, with 51.6 million Americans participating in fantasy sports leagues, according to the FSTA, players can pay to join competitions that award prizes of $1 million or more.

Fantasy players spend an average $465 per year on their imaginary competitions, up markedly from $95 in 2012, according to the market re-

search firm Ipsos.

That is a big change from the old days when fantasy players were dismissed as statistics geeks and relegated to the fringes.

“When there were any mentions at all, it was sort of a sneering disrespect for fantasy sports,” FSTA president Paul Charchian said in an interview. “Now we are coveted.”

Fantasy sports date back to the 1980s when a small group of baseball-loving academics and writers established “Rotisserie Baseball.”

After picking their teams, they would pore over the scores and other data published in newspapers after games, ranking their imaginary teams against others.

But in the fast-evolving era of smartphones, big data and instant news, today’s contests are a kind of fantasy sports on steroids. AFP

THE award-winning Basketball Efficiency and Scientific Training Center sponsored by Milo returns to the Starmall in Alabang for the awaited basketball clinics for kids from July 5 to Aug. 23.

The clinics for students in Levels 1, 2, 3 and 4 will be held every Sunday from 1 to 4 p.m.

The Ateneo College covered courts in Katipunan, Q.C., meanwhile, will host volleyball and basketball clinics starting July 4.

Volleyball clinics for students in Levels 1 and 2 will be from 1 to 4 p.m. on Saturdays.

The basketball clinics will also be from July 4 to Aug. 22 for Preparatory Levels 1 to 4, from 8:30 to 11:30 a.m.

PH Blu Boys bow to Czechs, 5-12

RECENT Southeast Asian Games gold medalists, the PH Blu Boys opened their campaign in the World Men’s Softball Championships in Saskatoon, Canada with a 5-12 setback to a strong Czech Republic squad in Pool A. “The game today showed that we have a long way to go in becoming one of the world’s elite teams, but this will not deter us in fighting hard and improving our game. I’m still hopeful that we can achieve our lofty goal of making it to the Top 10,” said Amateur Softball Association of the Philippines President Jean Henri Lhuillier.

In other matches, powerhouse United States blanked Mexico, 7-0; Dominican Republic trashed Denmark, 8-1; Venezuela waylaid Netherlands, 11-1; Australia stunned Japan, 1-0, all in the other Group, while host Canada blanked Guatemala, 4-0, in the other Pool A match-up..

The Blu Boys play Guatemala on Sunday night (Manila time) with both teams aiming to rebound from their opening-day loss.

“Our boys are very eager to bounce back. We will continue to compete hard and try to win games even against very strong competition,” assured Lhuillier.

Martes, Castañeto win Milo race DAGUPAN—The first race of the 39th National MILO Marathon set the stage for the season as over 11,000 runners excitedly raced to the finish line in Dagupan, Pangasinan.

Leading the pack were former MILO Marathon queen Christabel Martes, and first-time 21K winner Cesar Castañeto.

Martes and Castañeto each took home the top purse of P10,000 in cash and a trophy. Both had also

booked their slots to the National Finals in Angeles on December 6, where they will meet the nation’s elite runners in a heated grand finale to claim the MILO Marathon King and Queen titles. To provide another level of prestige to the competition and incentive for the runners, this year’s King and Queen will be sent by MILO to the USA on allexpense paid trips, for a chance to run in the prestigious 2016 Boston Marathon.

Choi eagles 18 to grab Arkansas golf lead ROGERS—Choi Na-Yeon rolled in a 45-foot eagle putt on 18 to cap an eight-under par 63 for a two-shot lead after the second round of the NW Arkansas Championship on Saturday.

The 27-year-old Choi heads into Sunday’s final round with a slight cushion over South Korean compatriot and first-round leader Hur Mi-Jung and Sweden’s Anna Nordqvist.

Choi finished two rounds at 13-under 129 which broke the tournament’s 36-hole scoring

record. She carded seven birdies, an eagle and a bogey on the third hole.

“I feel pretty confident with this tournament,” said Choi, who has won seven times on the LPGA Tour. “I just tried to be more independent out there and after 18 holes I got the score I wanted.”

Choi won the 2012 US Women’s Open and started off 2015 by claiming the Coates Championship.

Hur, who led when the first

round was completed earlier Saturday, carded a three-under 68 and was joined in second place at 11-under by ShopRite LPGA Classic winner Nordqvist (66).

Defending champion Stacy Lewis moved into a share of fourth place at nine-under 133 after a second-round 65. She stands alongside Amy Yang (68), Mika Miyazato (67) and Brittany Lincicome (68), who beat Lewis in a playoff at the ANA Inspiration. AFP

Young sprinters warm up before the gunstart in the 39th National MILO Marathon in Dagupan.

CYAN MAGENTA YELLOW BLACK M O N DAY : J UN E 2 9 , 2 0 1 5

A14

SPORTS sports@thestandard.com.ph

Bradley stuns unbeaten Vargas, but...

By Ronnie Nathanielsz

TIMOTHY “Desert Storm” Bradley defeated the previously unbeaten World Boxing Association lightweight champion Jesse Vargas handily to win the vacant World Boxing Organization welterweight Interim title at the StubHub Center on Sunday (Manila time).

Timothy Bradley Jr. (left) lands a punch on Jessie Vargas in their Interim WBO World Title welterweight fight at StubHub Center in Los Angeles, California. Bradley won a unanimous decision. AFP Manila

Standard

Republic of the Philippines CITY OF SAN PEDRO Province of Laguna

TODAY

BIDS AND AWARDS COMMITTEE INVITATION TO BID The City Government of San Pedro Laguna through the 2015 LSB Budget Approved by Sangguniang Panglungsod intends to apply the sum of Php 39,114,767.45 being the Approved Budget for the Contract (ABC) to payments under the contract for the hereunder project: NAME OF PROJECT

:

Proposed 2-Storey 8 Classroom School Building w/ Roofdeck

LOCATION

:

Pacita 1 Elementary School, Brgy. San Vicente, City of San Pedro, Laguna

ABC

:

Php 23,715,372.07

SOURCE OF FUND

:

LSB Budget Approved by the Sangguniang Panglungsod

CONTRACT DURATION

:

210 Calendar Days

NAME OF PROJECT

:

Proposed 3-Storey 6 Classroom School Building

LOCATION

:

San Pedro Central Elementary School, Brgy. Poblacion, City of San Pedro, Laguna

ABC

:

Php 15,399,395.38

SOURCE OF FUND

:

LSB Budget Approved by the Sangguniang Panglungsod

CONTRACT DURATION

:

210 Calendar Days

The City Government of San Pedro, Laguna now invites contractors registered with and classified by the Philippine Contractors Accreditation Board (PCAB) to apply for eligibility and if found eligible, to bid for the above-mentioned projects. Completion of the Works is required on or before the contract duration.

Bidders should have completed, within two hundred ten (210) calendar Days from the date of submission and receipt of bids, a contract similar to the Project. The description of an eligible bidder is contained in the Bidding Documents, particularly, in Section II. Instructions to Bidders. Bids received in excess of the Approved Budget for the Contract shall be automatically rejected at bid opening.

Bidding will be conducted through open competitive bidding procedures using non-discretionary pass/fail criterion as specified in the Implementing Rules and Regulations (IRR) of Republic Act 9184 (RA 9184), otherwise known as the “Government Procurement Reform Act”. Bidding is restricted, unless otherwise stated, to Filipino citizens/sole proprietorships, partnerships, or organization with at least seventy five percent (75%) interest or outstanding capital stock belonging to citizens of the Philippines, and to citizens or organizations of a country the laws or regulations of which grant similar rights or privileges to Filipino Citizens, pursuant to Republic Act 5183 (RA 5183) and subject to Commonwealth Act 138 (CA 138). Only bids from eligible bidders will be opened. In accordance with the IRR-A or R.A. 9184, the contract/project shall only be awarded to the Lowest Calculated and Responsive Bidder who was determined as such during post-qualification.

Viloria seeking big money fight FORMER two-division world flyweight champion Brian Viloria is looking forward to a possible, big money fight against undefeated Roman Gonzalez of Nicaragua, who has zoomed to No. 2 in the pound-for-pound rankings behind Floyd Mayweather Jr., but is right now training for a “stay-busy” fight on a small card in Glendale, California on July 25.

While Viloria was training yesterday at the Wild Card Gym of celebrated Freddie Roach, The Standard had a chance to talk to his wife Erika Viloria.

“Brian will have to be in great shape should the Gonzalez fight push through,” said Erika, who added that manager Gary Gittelsohn had brought up the possibility after ESPN’s Dan Rafael reported that Top Rank promoter Bob Arum plans to put the 34-year-old Viloria in the ring against Gonzalez (43-0, 37 KOs) in a pay-per-view show to be held in Mexico.

Rafael quoted Arum who said: “The question is, does Gonzalez fight on HBO in October, or on a pay-per-view in September? I am not so anxious to put him on a pay-per-view card unless he fights someone like Viloria.”

Arum said he would like Gonzalez to fight Viloria because he thinks “it would drive a lot of Filipino buys because Brian is popular with the Filipinos.” Ronnie Nathanielsz

But referee Pat Russell found himself in the center of a storm when he stopped the bout with seven seconds remaining in the last round and Bradley clearly hurt by a big right hand from Vargas.

Following the controversial stoppage, Russell later admitted he thought he heard the bell and waved it off with Vargas jumping onto the ropes thinking that Russell had called a halt and that he had won by a TKO. Bradley who scored a hugely controversial decision over eight division world champion Manny Pacquiao in a fight in which the judges were pilloried by fight fans as well as the media but was clearly beaten in the rematch, won the Vargas fight comfortably on the scorecards of the three judges by margins of 116-112 (Max De Luca), 117111 Rodney Young and 115-112.

Bradley established his superiority from the opening bell and carried the fight to Vargas and began connecting with his right from round four and took the fight aggressively to Vargas from then

on showing more intensity and throwing more punches after Vargas caught him with a good body shot in round three.

Bradley got careless as he has done in the past in the closing seconds of the last round when Vargas nailed him with a big right hand that put Bradley CYAN MAGENTA YELL on queer street before referee Russell’s terrible mistake which deprived Vargas a chance to finish off Bradley.

Interviewed by HBO’s Max Kellerman Russell explained ““It was very loud… and I thought I heard the bell. I made the call that I made based upon what I heard.

That’s all I can say. It was an honest call and an honest mistake.”

Amidst the confusion Bradley said he had bi problem doing it one more time saying We can do a rematch, I don’t have a problem with that.

Jessie came out, he fought hard. I felt that I was in better shape than he was.

That was why I was able to take over the fight. Towards the second half when he started fading, I started to come on strong, with my jab and landing my combinations.”

Interested bidders may obtain further information from the City Government of San Pedro, Laguna and inspect the Bidding Documents at the address given below from 8:30AM to 9:30AM only.

Office of the BAC Secretariat 4/f Conference Room City Administrator’s Office City Hall of San Pedro A complete set of Bidding Documents may be purchased by interested Bidders from the address above and upon payment of a non-refundable fee for the Bidding Documents in the amount of PESOS: (Php 25,000.00) ISSUANCE OF ELIGIBILITY May 18 – June 3, 2015 AND BIDDING DOCUMENTS 8:30AM – 9:30AM BAC Secretariat 4/f Conference Room City Administrator’s Office City Hall of San Pedro The City Government of San Pedro, Laguna will hold a Pre-Bid Conference on May 22, 2015 10:00AM at the Office of the BAC Secretariat, which shall be open only to all interested parties who have purchased the Bidding Documents Bids must be delivered to the address below on or before June 3, 2015 at 10:00AM Office of the BAC Secretariat 4/f Conference Room City Administrator’s Office City Hall of San Pedro All particulars relative to Eligibility Statement and Screening, Bid Security, Performance Security, PreBidding Conference, Evaluation of Bids, Post-Qualification and Awards of Contract Shall be governed by the pertinent provisions of R.A. 9184 and its implementing Rules and Regulations (IRR).

The City Government of San Pedro, Laguna reserves the right to accept or reject any bid to annul the bidding process, and to reject all bids at any time prior to contract award, without thereby incurring any liability to the affected bidder or bidders.

For Further information, please refer to: Mr. Merlin B. Paala Office of the BAC Secretariat City Administrator Office City of San Pedro, Laguna Telefax No. 847-1722

(TS JUNE 29, 2015)

CYAN MAGENTA YELLOW BLACK

Lotus Formula One junior driver Marlon Stockinger is surrounded by his young fans at the Bonifacio (SGD) ENGR. FILEMON I. SIBULO Chairman Bids and Awards Committee

Global City in Taguig City, where his racing machine was on display on Saturday. Stockinger encourages Filipinos to patronize the sport of F1 racing. MANNY PALMERO

M O N DAY : J UN E 2 9 , 2 0 1 5

A15

SPORTS sports@thestandard.com.ph

New Cubs get baptism of fire

By Peter Atencio

REIGNING six-peat champion San Beda Red Cubs will introduce new players when they clash with the Mapua Red Robins at the start of the 91st National Collegiate Athletic Association junior basketball tournament today at The Arena in San Juan City.

It will be a renewed battle between last year’s finalists, with promising Red Cubs like Zamboanga find Pedro Alfaro, Adie Velasquez, Ivan Nelle, Albert Bordeos and Sam Abuhijle seeing action for the first time when they meet the Red Robins at 12 noon.

These players saw action for Team Calabarzon, which made it to the semifinals of the 2015 F R I D AY : J U N E 1 2 , 2 0 1 5 Palarong Pambansa in Davao del Norte.

“We have a different team this year because most of our seniors sports@thestandard.com.ph have already graduated. We expect

SPORTS

g a

a really tough season,” said Sison.

In the only other game, Jose Rizal and Arellano University likewise try to set in motion their title campaigns when they collide at 2 p.m.

The Red Robins will have an intact core, with tall rebounders like Sherwin Concepcion, Frank Yco and Warren Bonifacio, expected to provide balance for the team along with teammates Mike Enriquez and Jasper Salenga who are still in the mix.

Coach Randy Alcantara said that with an experienced core, the squad

will be competitive this season.

“We hope to make it to the semifinals first. From there, we can talk about our chances of making it to the finals,” said Alcantara.

San Beda, which appears not to have a strong roster this season, holds the distinction of having the most high school championships in the league with 21.

Mapua, which has 20 crowns, is seeking to earn one more and tie the Red Cubs for the honor of having the most junior crowns in the league.

Ray Parks’ NBA dream still alive Heartbreak kids no more?

DENNIS PRINCIPE

SPORTS CHAT FOR the longest time, our box-

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BOBBY Ray Parks, Jr. may have ers have suffered countless left the Barclays Center New losses in major bouts thatinthey York undraft lastifweekend, but should have ed won not for the his dreamhometown of playingdecisions. in the NBA dreaded is as vibrant those who were The mostas memorable of course in wasthe therecently gold medal fight picked concluded of lightflyweight Mansueto Rookie Draft.

“Onyok” Velasco against Bulgar-Dy Marketing Manager Charlie ian Daniel BojilovAmerican during got a text Petrov from their the 1996 Atlanta Olympics. agent Patty Scott, noting that Parks Velasco’s situation, however, got a call from no less that Dallas was a combination of the Games Mavericks President of Basketball using computerized scoring for Operations and General the first time, while the Manager second Donnie Nelsontheand team owner and probably most controMark Cuban telling former Naversial one was thatthe a Bulgarian was assigned by standout the sport’stointertional University report national federation for practice today. AIBA as the main to select officials does for The man practice, however, the matches. not mean Parks has already made Velasco may to have theWhile cut when it comes the lost the last two rounds of that Mavs’ NBA line-up. match, it was evident that the The phone call was about Negros-born Olympian got Parks disbeing partwhen of Dallas’ Summer heartened he learned that League team,points whichdespite will happen he got zero pepfrom July to 20. pering his4opponents with clean blows thestep opening round.

“It’s ainbig for him and he’s lang Onyok still“Nagulat eager tona strut hissiwares denu’ngthe sinabihan spite fact thatsiya he na hadwala no sitakyang first,” round, ” said ers lastscore NBAsaDraft said Dy. 1992 Olympic bronze winner Parks’ name trended on PhilRoel Velasco. ippine social media during draft Almost two decades later, the day, but interest on him became Philippines continues to get vicmore intense when 7’2” center timized by bum scoring when a Satnam Singh of India was bunch of well-trained and picked well52nd overall by the traveled pugilists fellMavericks. one by one during the 2014 Asian Games in

timate step games. to put behind them Incheon, Korea. most Filipinos felt As expected, semis their Asiad misfortunes.

The most painful among Parks also deserved to be drafted Two teams are already part of However, our fighters bethem involved 2012 London in the NBA. the semis cast namely Rain or Olympian Mark Anthony Bar- ing victims of unfair judging, to Dy, Parks andevident the Alaska Aces while still Shine seemed during riga But and according young flyweight pros- was one of the strong choices of the Star Hotshots and GlobalPort pect Ian Clark Bautista who, the Finals where eight of our Mavspummeling for that 52nd pick.

Batang Pier stillforbattling went on were to battle despite their Korean 10 boxers would get each other out for one slot as of the gold. foes,“We still were lost told theirthey respective Ray with that pick but they were Ofthis night. two the writing five goldlast winners, matches. were undeniable conquests “Boxing iswhen a sportthey wherein surprised learned Tonight, San MiguelafBeermen ter Fernandez and Eumir you practically put your life on by that Singh was still around and the Meralco BoltsFelix will meet to Marcial scored stoppage wins.nalists. thethen, line” every stepRay in resaid time Dy. you “Still, determine the last semifi thrashed radio themains ring. And this is especially what comes now Bautista, positive Ourmeanwhile, daily morning out. It’s really disappointing,” his opponent from pillar to post, that he would be able to play in show will join in the fun and talk was what ABAP president Ricky but still had to settle for a split the summer league. ” about PBAhometown semis by invitwinthe against Vargas told media covering the decision The 2015 NBA Summer coachesHanurdeen and players bets ing Mohamed Ha-to share Asiad.

League willBarriga have three tournamid. their thoughts about every semis Apart from and Bauments namely Orlando game. lightweight Junel Cantista, 2013 SEA the Games goldMag- Only ic Summer the Utah we willJosie also distancio Meantime, and lightflyweight winner MarioLeague, Fernandez was Jazz Gabuco fair fi shake also oustedLeague via controversial Summer and the Las Vecussgot the some upcoming ghts of our in scoring in their gold-medal scoring. gas Summer League. world-class boxers, one of them bouts.is Donnie “Ahas” Nietes, who reInTh this year’s Southeast Asian e Mavs will play in the Las Irish Magno Games being with held 23 in oth- Nesthy Vegascurrently event together mainsPetecio, to be our only world boxSingapore, the 10-man Philip- and Rogen Ladon may be vicer teams that also include last sea- ing champion. pine boxing contingent brought tims of bum scorecards when son’sfive finalists Cavaliers Nietes close will verdicts stake his to World home gold Cleveland medals, two of they dropped and eventual champions Golden Boxing Organization lightflythem came from Bautista and their respective foes.

State Warriors. mandatory Weweight could crown never against know what Fernandez.

The Las Vegas League challenger Rodriguez would ensue inFrancisco scoring had Barriga was not Summer part of the is set to start of Mexico on Julya 11 at the Wawho fought homeSEA Games as on he July was 10. deemed Marcial, townterfront boy, andHotel Fernandez, “disqualified” based Dallas will play on theAIBA’s New Orin Cebu.who Thai whose ruling boxersonwho leansthat Pelicans Julyare 12.part faced a Also to be officials invited are is former said to be influential, were not of their Pro Boxing League canBefore the draft, Parks had five-division world champion able Nonito to knockDonaire, their opponents not compete in non-AIBA-sancworkouts with the Boston CeltJr., who is curout. tioned events. ics, Brooklyn Nets, Utah Jazz and rently in his training camp also at Five golds in boxing are defiWhile AIBA rules and ofthe Atlanta Hawks.

ALA Boxing Club. something to cheer about ficials are being used in SEA nitelythe SPORTS CHAT.they ThearePBA Donairemeet. is preparing for his in this biennial Games tournaments, Governors’ will nowbi-enter But10-round superbanfor our non-title officials, the not officially inCup charge of the its Final tamweight against Anthony scoring pattern bout in Singapore ennial meet. Four phase this week so discussions among Settoul oftoFrance July 18 in is something think on about In aexpect lot of ways, Bautista and as weMacau. prepare for the 2016 Rio Fernandez use their fans thatwere will able be astointense as the gold-winning efforts as the ul- Olympics.

Mapua’s Allwell Oraeme looks for a teammate to pass the ball to after being hounded by San Beda College’s Roldan Sara and Arthur dela Cruz in the opening game of the 91st Season of the NCAA. EY ACASIO

PSC chief vows more support for PH chess

By Peter Atencio THE Philippine Sports Commission wants more support for chess from the private sector.

PSC chairman Ricardo “Richie” Garcia said this after members of the Philippine chess contingent, which won 26 gold, 42 silver and 17 bronze medals in the 16th ASEAN+ Age Group Chess Championships, paid him a courtesy call.

“We need to identify the talent here and talk to private sponsors about supporting them,” said Garcia.

The Philippines placed second overall behind powerhouse Vietnam (68 gold, 44 silver and 29 bronzes) ahead of Team Singapore, which placed third in the overall medal tally with 11 gold medals, 11 silver and 22 bronze.

The Philippine chess team won a total of 10 golds in the rapid event and added eight more in the blitz side.

“They have a good developmental grassroots program. Kapag nasu-

portahan ito, we will see more progress,” said Garcia.

He added that the PSC has been supporting the National Chess Federation of the Philippines for the last three years. They gave the federation P13 million for their international stints.

While in Singapore, WIM Janelle Mae Frayna tied for first with WFM Antoinette San Pedro at five points each, while anchoring the girls’ Under-20 team.

FM Alekhine Nouri scored a sweep of nine rounds to capture gold in the boys’ U-10.

Enriquez, meanwhile claimed a gold medal in the blitz’ side (6.5) in a tie with Cherry Ann Mejia (6.5), while WIM Bernadette Galas added five points for the team gold.

In the rapid event, the Under-20 men’s team collected three gold medals with IMs Emmanuel Jan Garcia and Paulo Bersamina tying for the gold with five points each.

Austin Jacob Literatus added four points for the team gold.

Rossi holds off Marquez to win Dutch MotoGP LOTTO RESULTS SEAG...

Republic of the Philippines Province of Bohol From A16 Municipality of Sevilla For Rossi it was a seventh MotoGP win on ASSEN, Netherlands—Valentino Rossi chicane by the Spaniard, on a Honda, cutting the famous Assen track, one more than the his third win ofa nonstrengthened his world championship lead on the corner to go on and claimWakeboarding, Invitation to Bid six victories recorded by his legendary Italian of his illustriSaturday by coming out on top in a thrilling the season and the 111th victory Olympic sport but a medcompatriot Giacomo Agostini. career.BUILDING battle with MarcOF Marquez toMUNICIPAL win the Dutch REHABILITATION SEVILLA HALL,ous ANNEX al discipline in the Games, “ThCENTER is win is very important because I was po-He has now won nine times in all categories MotoGP at Assen. MANPOWER DEVELOPMENT AND MUNICIPAL showed gold-medal at the only circuit to stage a leg of the world said Rossi, whose The Italian, on his Yamaha, started from competitive all weekend,” tentials in Mark Howard 1. The Local Government Unit of Sevilla, Bohol is a recipient of an aid from the championship every year since its inception winning margin was 1.242 seconds. pole and led almostandallLocal the Government way, although Griffin and Maquel John Department of Interior (DILG)final under the Earthquake Assistance Fundchampion for the Rehabilitation Sevilla Annex “I startedHall, from pole andSelga, pushed reigning world Marquez didofbriefl y Municipal whothroughadvanced into1949.

Building Development Center. out the The race.Approved The pace was strong overtakeand himMunicipal seven lapsManpower from the end. thevery men’s and but women’sAs he chases a first world championship title Budget for the Contract is TWO MILLION SEVEN HUNDRED THIRTY FOUR finalsto at play the Bedok since 2009, Rossi stretched his advantage over Marquez came with me. I tried all myReserRossi quickly regained the lead and then ONLY THOUSAND SIX HUNDRED THIRTEEN PESOS (Php 2,734,613.00) The Municipality of Sevilla, Bohol nowon invites from eligible Bidders voirvery on Thursday. nearest rival Jorge Lorenzo to 10 points. AFP cards and did the two last laps strong.” held off one last desperate push the sealed final bids for the supply and delivery of various construction materials on site within 30 Griffin earned 68.33 calendar days upon receipt of the Notice to Proceed. points in the semifinals 2. Bidding will be conducted through open competitive bidding procedure as topped by Thailand’s Jaemspecified in the Implementing Rules and Regulations (IRR) of Republic Act jan Padwat with 75 points.

No. 9184 (RA 9184), otherwise known as Government Procurement Reform Selga was second with Act. Subject to exceptions stated in the Bidding Document, only bids from

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

P16M

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

CYAN MAGENTA YELLOW BLACK

A16

m o n day : J un e 2 9 , 2 0 1 5 RIeRa u. maLL aRI EDITOR

ReueL vIdaL A S S I S TA N T E D I T O R

sports@thestandard.com.ph

sports

Star’s Marqus Blakely drives to the basket against Keith Jensen and Stanley Pringle of GlobalPort in a PBA Governors’ Cup game won by the Hotshots, 101-94.

Star sweeps GlobalPort to clinch semifinal slot

By Jeric lopez

A MORE exciting script, but still the same ending.

After squandering an early 21-point lead, the Star Hotshots once again showed why they are the defending champions as they dug deep into their reserves to outlast GlobalPort, 101-94, and advance to the semifinals of the 2015 Philippine Basketball Association Governors’ Cup at the Smart Araneta Coliseum last night.

Knowing he needed to do everything to get his squad through, Marqus Blakely gave the Hotshots everything he had, tallying a triple-double of 15 points, 13 rebounds and 11 assists as he spearheaded his squad’s balanced attack.

game Monday (Knockout Quarterfinals) Smart Araneta Coliseum 7 p.m. - SMB vs. Meralco

James Yap and Alex Mallari were in their playoff element as well as they also helped out Star, scattering

17 points each and hitting timely baskets to keep GlobalPort at bay.

The vastly improving Mallari added 13 rebounds.

With the game hanging in the balance, the teams knotted the count at 74-all with 7:49 remaining. The Hotshots then unleashed a decisive 15-3 blast in the next four minutes to post a double-digit lead, 89-77, with 3:43 left following a backbreaking triple from Yap. From there, Star, which got equal contributions from its usual suspects, held on to carve out the hardfought victory over the GlobalPort squad.

Despite heading into the playoffs with a twice-to-win disadvantage, the Hotshots managed to defy the odds and beat the

gAtlin eyes sprint douBle

BrAdley stuns VArgAs But...

turn to A12

turn to A14

Batang Pier two straight times to go on to the next phase and keep their title defense going. ‘’We’re just thrilled to be in the semifinals and get past a tough GlobalPort team,’’ said Star Hotshots coach Tim Cone. ‘’It was a tough series but we were able to keep our composure and show our capabilities.’’

As a result, the Hotshots, who have won seven of their last eight games dating back to the eliminations, will face top seed Alaska in a highly anticipated best-of-five clash in the semifinals to see which team will move on to the finale. That series starts tomorrow.

Peter June Simon and Joe Devance provided the spark off the bench for Star, contributing 14 and 13 points, respectively.

NHL opens door to 1st Chinese player SUNRISE —Song Andong became the first Chinese-born player to be drafted into the National Hockey League when the New York Islanders chose the sturdy deftenceman in the sixth round of the entry draft on Saturday.

The Islanders took Song with the 172nd pick in the annual draft which showcases the best college and junior players from leagues in North America and Europe.

The Edmonton Oilers took Connor McDavid with the first overall pick on Friday but the selection of Song a day later was also significant because he was born in Beijing and began his hockey there in youth leagues and tournaments before his family moved to Canada.

“I am really honored to be the first,” the 18-year-old Song said.

“Being the first Chinese player is a lot of pressure from people back home.

“Good pressure. It will motivate me to be a better player.

Make them proud.”

Song captained China’s under-18 team that competed in the International Ice Hockey Federation’s II-B world championships and his NHL connection headlines the growth of hockey not just in China but in

MONDAY: JUNE 29, 2015

RAY S. EÑANO EDITOR

RODERICK T. DELA CRUZ ASSISTANT EDITOR

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

BUSINESS

B1

40 years of CDO-Foodsphere. CDO-Foodsphere Inc. chairman Jose de Jesus Ong (sixth from left) and vice chairman Corazon Dayro Ong (seventh from left) lead the ceremonial toast during the Business Partners Night in celebration of the 40th anniversary of the food manufacturing company on June 16, 2015. Business partners, key customers, friends and other executives and employees of CDO-Foodsphere attended the event at the SMX Convention Center, Mall of Asia in Pasay City.

PSe comPoSite index Closing June 26, 2015

8500 8000 7500 7000 6500 6000

7,622.05 40.14

PeSo-dollar rate

Closing JUNE 26, 2015 42

P45.085

43

CLOSE

44 45 46

HIGH P45.085 LOW P45.080 AVERAGE P45.142 VOLUME 509.400M

P480.00-P680.00 LPG/11-kg tank P41.20-P47.85 Unleaded Gasoline P28.85-P32.20 Diesel

oPriceS il P today

P34.55-P39.15 Kerosene

Ang ‘walked away’ from talks—GMA-7

By Darwin G Amojelar

SAN Miguel Corp. president Ramon Ang walked away from negotiations to invest in GMA Network Inc. as early as March this year, according to the broadcasting network.

GMA vice president for corporate communications Angela Javier Cruz said in a statement Ang “already walked away and informed sellers [on March 26] that he is no longer proceeding with the transaction on grounds of alleged material changes on the company which are not valid and not borne by the facts and recent financial reports of the company.”

Cruz added Ang informed the major shareholders--the Jimenez, Duavit and Gozon groups, which

own a combined 79 percent of GMA Network--on May 18 that he does not accept the deed of absolute sale and proposed new matters and terms.

“On June 22, major shareholders informed the buyer that they do not agree to the new terms, to a renegotiation or to a new round of negotiation and reserved all their rights and remedies,” she said.

“Last Wednesday, the buyer’s counsel provided another reason for not continuing with the

transaction, citing the lapse of the exclusivity period on November 15, 2014. This was the first time that the major shareholders came to hear of this reason,” Cruz said She said Ang “continued to negotiate beyond the cited exclusivity period even with the awareness that he was free to leave the negotiations at any time since November 15, 2014, if he did consider the period of negotiations to have expired.”

Ang, who had planned to invest in GMA Network in a personal capacity, accused the owners of GMA of abruptly terminating the plan to sell a minority stake in the broadcast company while talks were ongoing.

Majority shareholders of the broadcaster agreed 12 months ago to sell about 30 percent of the

company to Ang. The agreement was announced after Philippine Long Distance Telephone Co. ended a third round of talks with the broadcaster.

Ang offered to acquire at least 30 percent of the network for P10.809 per share. Ang’s offer was higher than the P9 offered by the PLDT Group.

PLDT chairman Manuel Pangilinan said his company might revive talks with the owners of GMA-7, as content was “quite important” to the company.

Pangilinan said while he was open to revive talks with the owners of GMA Network, he said, “we’re not yet really ready.”

Globe Telecom Inc. also hinted it was open to other forms of collaboration with GMA Network, aside from content partnership.

Barclays keeping 6.5% growth forecast for PH

P23.70-P24.40 Auto LPG

By Julito G. Rada

Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas Friday, June 26, 2015

F oreign e xchange r ate Currency

Unit

US Dollar

Peso

United States

Dollar

1.000000

45.1430

Japan

Yen

0.008091

0.3653

UK

Pound

1.574500

71.0777

Hong Kong

Dollar

0.129007

5.8238

Switzerland

Franc

1.067806

48.2040

Canada

Dollar

0.811557

36.6361

Singapore

Dollar

0.744879

33.6261

Australia

Dollar

0.775074

34.9892

Bahrain

Dinar

2.652379

119.7363

Saudi Arabia

Rial

0.266674

12.0385

Brunei

Dollar

0.742115

33.5013

Indonesia

Rupiah

0.000075

0.0034

Thailand

Baht

0.029616

1.3370

UAE

Dirham

0.272272

12.2912

Euro

Euro

1.120500

50.5827

Korea

Won

0.000900

0.0406

China

Yuan

0.161046

7.2701

India

Rupee

0.015748

0.7109

Malaysia

Ringgit

0.266304

12.0218

New Zealand

Dollar

0.691181

31.2020

Taiwan

Dollar

0.032326

1.4593 Source: PDS Bridge

BARCLAYS, a British multinational banking and financial services company, kept its growth forecast for the Philippines this year at 6.5 percent, despite the sluggish 5.2-percent expansion in the first quarter.

“We maintain our 2015 growth forecast at 6.5 percent, with downside risks, should we not see a significant rebound in Q2,” Barclays said in a report over the weekend.

“Despite the unexpected weakness in Q1 growth, private consumption--the key growth pillar in the Philippines--remained encouragingly solid. Consumption is supported by both strong domestic income growth, helped

by the booming business process outsourcing sector, as well as overseas worker remittances,” the bank said.

Barclays said it expected fiscal spending to recover strongly in the second quarter, in line with signals from the government and the central bank.

Fiscal spending slowed to 4.8 percent year-on-year in the first quarter, down from 9.4 percent in the fourth quarter of 2014.

Growth was unexpectedly weak in the first quarter, amid a slowdown in fiscal spending and weak exports. It was slower than the 5.6-percent expansion in the same period last year.

Barclays said the economy looked primed for an acceleration in the second quarter, as the gov-

ernment committed to ramp up disbursement.

Barclays said the government’s earlier growth target of 7 percent to 8 percent this year “looks unlikely to be reached.”

Earlier, global debt watcher Fitch Ratings retained its previous growth forecasts for the Philippines this year and next at 6.3 percent and 6.2 percent, respectively, saying weak government spending would hinder stronger economic expansion in the next two years.

Gross domestic product in 2014 grew by 6.1 percent, slower than the 7.2-percent expansion in 2013, weighed down by the government’s underspending which impacted the third-quarter figure.

Third-quarter GDP stood at 5.3

percent, lower than the 6.4 percent in the second quarter.

Economists said the government’s cautious and calculated spending stemmed from the controversial disbursement acceleration program of the administration which was earlier ruled by the high tribunal as unconstitutional. The Supreme Court later reversed the ruling.

The 6.1 percent GDP growth in 2014 fell short of the government’s target of 6.5 percent to 7.5 percent for the year.

Moody’s Investors Service lowered its growth forecast for the Philippines this year to 6 percent from the previous estimate of 6.5 percent, due to the government’s anemic fiscal expenditures.

MONDAY: JUNE 29, 2015

B2

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

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

MEDCO Holdings Metrobank Natl Reinsurance Corp.

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

8.7 73.75 108.90 96.00 45 2.53 1.86 10.2 15.96 19.9 6.55 0.44 1.8 845.00 0.400 93.25 0.98 18.06 28.40 68.60 93 305 41.8 164.2 1520.00 59.95 3.15

Aboitiz Power Corp.

Agrinurture Inc. Alliance Tuna Intl Inc. Alsons Cons.

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

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

Lafarge Rep Liberty Flour LMG Chemicals Macay Holdings Manila Water Co. Inc. Maxs Group Megawide Mla. Elect. Co `A’ Panasonic Mfg Phil. Corp.

Pepsi-Cola Products Phil.

Petron Corporation Phil H2O Phinma Corporation Phoenix Petroleum Phils.

Phoenix Semiconductor Pryce Corp. `A’ RFM Corporation Roxas and Co. Roxas Holdings San Miguel’Pure Foods `B’ Splash Corporation Swift Foods, Inc. TKC Steel Corp.

Trans-Asia Oil Universal Robina Victorias Milling Vitarich Corp.

Vivant Corp.

Vulcan Ind’l.

44.8 1.46 1.05 1.95 10.6 59.8 18.7 28.45 56.5 2.42 1.52 11.8 19.200 9.03 7.65 10.00 1.7 11.98 25 82.8 13.30 13.40 5.92 0.530 200.00 10.08 29.00 2.01 56.00 24.95 25.65 6.2 291.00 3.91 4.88 9.00 4 12.00 3.73 2.03 3.39 4.20 2 6.25 179 1.64 0.146 1.30 2.18 197.5 4.5 0.79 22.50 1.29

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

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

Lodestar Invt. Holdg.Corp.

Mabuhay Holdings `A’ Mabuhay Holdings `B’ Metro Pacific Inv. Corp.

Minerales Industrias Corp.

MJCI Investments Inc. Pacifica `A’ Prime Media Hldg Prime Orion Republic Glass ‘A’ San Miguel Corp `A’ SM Investments Inc. Solid Group Inc. South China Res. Inc. Top Frontier Unioil Res. & Hldgs Wellex Industries Zeus Holdings

0.480 57.9000 23.00 1.25 6.79 0.244 0.231 789.5 7.89 13.30 4.52 0.214 1371 6.56 71.85 3.71 5.9 5.2 7.22 0.67 13.5 0.63 0.6 4.82 6.01 3.79 0.0350 1.280 1.790 2.5 60.55 896.00 1.22 0.74 81.350 0.3450 0.2040 0.245

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

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

Empire East Land Ever Gotesco Global-Estate Filinvest Land,Inc.

7.380 8.40 0.70 1.200 0.238 37.95 3.38 5.25 5.6 0.87 1.22 0.97 0.133 0.455 0.880 0.176 1.24 1.85

JUNE 22-26, 2015 Volume Value 649,600 82,640 13,072,830 5,674,330 97,600 642,000 40,900 500 56,200 2,966,000 3,900 2,200 194,000 1,230 30,000 17,197,320 163,000 12,100 2,400 919,410 3,820 15,470 478,100 2,331,780 500 130,170 343,000

FINANCIAL 5,389,341.00 6,074,624.50 1,431,174,308.00 551,694,209.00 4,449,905.00 1,531,070.00 121,290.00 5,100.00 891,818.00 59,312,567.00 25,572

344,500.00 1,027,950.00 12,000.00 1,581,552,317.00 161,260.00 217,980.00 66,670.00 63,101,492.00 357,104.00 4,741,610.00 20,045,765.00 382,530,729.00 750,750.00 7,834,454.50 1,080,300.00 INDUSTRIAL 7,032,100 313,746,435.00 108,000 153,750.00 1,435,000 1,484,420.00 11,869,000 23,193,620.00 13,500 142,526.00 10,790 611,264.50 6,269,200 115,903,700.00 7,520,900 41,998,185.00 527,780 29,845,941.50 34,861,000 81,569,470.00 709,000 1,071,850.00 439,800 5,078,244.00 17,153,200 327,578,690.00 8,986,200 81,378,095.00 70,814,500 541,487,290.00 1,571,200 15,688,763.00 17,000 28,690.00 106,400 1,253,688.00 13,767,500 350,494,005.00 4,070,580 340,083,531.00 43,500 596,124.00 24,300 333,930.00 1,690,900 10,068,660.00 69,000 36,430.00 3,771,570 744,853,975.00 2,854,200 28,511,986.00 100 2,900.00 78,000 158,620.00 50,410 2,863,924.00 4,393,300 109,314,860.00 373,600 9,391,565.00 3,513,500 21,875,596.00 3,129,190 906,862,910.00 6,000 23,810.00 9,097,000 43,151,250.00 13,788,300 123,482,870.00 22,000 90,400.00 24,900 290,750.00 2,305,000 8,822,450.00 4,747,000 9,734,390.00 53,711,000 142,486,780.00 9,040,000 38,296,410.00 483,000 934,050.00 25,100 155,460.00 103,550 17,383,645.00 362,000 590,040.00 5,540,000 799,710.00 1,000 1,300.00 2,290,000 4,973,920.00 12,665,610 2,466,847,564.00 93,000 401,700.00 5,938,000 4,703,030.00 6,000 135,640.00 44,000 56,940.00 HOLDING FIRMS 4,980,000 2,401,450.00 5,374,040 308,149,863.50 20,972,700 480,847,315.00 20,000 25,000.00 76,100 515,912.00 2,820,000 688,320.00 340,000 81,440.00 1,048,280 831,012,310.00 2,767,900 22,044,930.00 39,231,100 518,862,228.00 210,000 947,390.00 580,000 129,610.00 673,965 928,948,585.00 80,500 552,513.00 8,883,810 630,394,286.00 6,000 21,880.00 400 2,379.00 300 1,560.00 16,275,100 118,110,141.00 44,000 29,760.00 18,745,800 267,755,010.00 334,000 208,610.00 773,000 209,600,000 1,010,246,800.00 1,911,700 11,238,704.00 115,000 384,780.00 14,000,000 478,900.00 6,000 7,680.00 114,096,000 195,488,460.00 641,000 1,729,950.00 820,570 49,904,081.50 1,802,280 1,579,869,055.00 125,000 153,040.00 122,000 90,280.00 10,850 884,372.50 8,220,000 2,808,700.00 2,140,000 433,260.00 1,690,000 418,850.00 PROPERTY 1,322,500 9,779,575.00 700 5,892.00 2,451,000 1,760,840.00 134,000 161,050.00 30,000 7,360.00 44,552,000 1,691,558,045.00 5,183,000 17,636,940.00 1,361,000 7,297,807.00 103,800 581,280.00 11,470,000 9,917,490.00 87,000 106,620.00 21,000 21,220.00 3,620,000 482,320.00 10,080,000 4,580,100.00 282,000 245,190.00 390,000 85,500.00 3,136,000 3,864,270.00 44,260,000 82,223,190.00

Close

JUNE 15-19, 2015 Volume Value

7.6 73.7 109.80 98.75 45.65 2.40 1.74 9.5 15.76 20.05 6.35

43,800 120,820 18,727,690 8,130,370 250,100 20,000 41,000 1,600 46,900 1,045,200 17,100

329,341.00 8,862,801.00 2,030,103,589.00 800,650,213.00 11,442,740.00 48,900.00 71,170.00 15,200.00 737,424.00 21,167,285.00 108,465

1.74 850.00 0.400 90.2 0.99 18.00 29.00 68.55 94 306.6 41 165 1500.00 59.00 3.16

74,000 860 950,000 13,138,430 63,600 67,700 5,100 232,480 730 7,710 493,200 3,163,990 2,410 195,770 147,000

127,340.00 727,005.00 380,050.00 1,173,629,266.00 192,840.00 1,213,780.00 147,900.00 15,809,439.00 68,340.00 2,358,180.00 20,418,555.00 512,597,930.00 3,606,445.00 12,100,485.00 462,210.00

44.95 1.44 1.06 1.94 10.38 60.5 18.38 26.85 58 2.21 1.55 11.7 18.920 9.05 7.57 10.00 1.78 12.4 25.35 83.7 13.86 13.84 6 0.510 197.20 9.85 30.00 2.24 54.75 24.9 24.85 6.29 285.00 4.18 4.66 8.62 4.14 11.70 3.97 1.97 2.52 4.26 2.17 6.12 170 1.63 0.146

11,417,300 109,000 1,401,000 4,922,002 20,500 21,370 2,322,700 2,910,400 1,165,660 38,425,000 756,000 251,400 15,374,900 19,227,300 118,843,800 4,623,000 49,000 72,000 14,925,500 787,940 400 412,200 1,085,000 129,000 3,990,370 1,264,500 900 53,000 9,140 4,472,300 1,292,000 786,500 1,628,840 6,000 10,323,000 33,864,400 6,000 63,700 73,525,000 12,393,000 56,091,000 43,340,000 94,000 18,600 212,180 383,000 5,110,000

506,604,735.00 149,100.00 1,447,490.00 10,173,970.00 210,560.00 1,263,710.00 42,704,596.00 78,864,755.00 9,277,738.00 83,833,760.00 1,157,260.00 2,985,156.00 287,689,394.00 176,000,391.00 875,357,875.00 46,132,953.00 83,890.00 891,378.00 378,830,530.00 66,735,256.00 5,544.00 5,699,046.00 6,538,451.00 66,560.00 786,315,655.00 12,392,658.00 27,000.00 106,940.00 489,149.00 111,940,220.00 31,757,485.00 5,001,340.00 459,429,900.00 25,090.00 47,840,670.00 292,901,593.00 24,340.00 741,752.00 279,824,020.00 25,378,910.00 133,785,560.00 186,211,100.00 196,730.00 114,767.00 36,879,408.00 618,080.00 749,660.00

2.18 198 4.4 0.77 25.50 1.29

5,525,000 17,825,160 210,000 14,363,000 300 519,000

12,188,380.00 3,359,742,016.00 903,200.00 11,309,870.00 7,070.00 659,380.00

0.475 56.5500 23.10 1.26 6.77 0.249 0.245 799.5 7.98 13.48 4.54 0.217 1390 6.68 71.50 3.9 5.03 5.08 7.27 0.69 13.92 0.63

2,600,000 5,886,430 59,656,200 47,000 207,400 6,820,000 130,000 1,551,890 6,157,500 49,740,600 294,000 5,490,000 1,094,755 704,900 13,715,340 2,000 100 3,500 12,634,700 1,211,000 11,397,200 1,511,000

1,192,300.00 332,670,884.00 1,347,145,085.00 56,980.00 1,411,604.00 1,615,740.00 31,600.00 1,221,231,925.00 48,572,189.00 674,794,560.00 1,322,680.00 1,290,620.00 1,498,675,585.00 4,709,887.00 960,529,308.00 7,750.00 503.00 4,059.00 92,593,486.00 810,300.00 155,370,954.00 926,830.00

4.7 5.15

69,393,000 306,000

317,892,430.00 1,551,635.00

0.0330 1.280 1.480 2.58 64.45 881.00 1.25 0.74 82.000 0.3500 0.2030 0.270

800,000 16,000 155,265,000 454,000 1,015,240 1,759,200 533,000 122,001 28,440 6,230,000 11,350,000 2,870,000

26,100.00 20,480.00 224,346,080.00 1,170,340.00 62,119,714.00 1,557,086,945.00 653,960.00 89,320.00 2,373,252.00 2,168,700.00 2,382,070.00 814,750.00

7.390 8.42 0.69 1.250 0.220 38.25 3.37 5.25 6.3 0.83 1.22 1.08 0.134 0.430 0.890 0.173 1.21 1.82

2,593,000 3,800 6,479,000 366,000 1,560,000 37,509,800 13,701,000 3,354,700 1,100 18,737,000 45,000 141,000 18,600,000 8,410,000 2,302,000 1,780,000 4,377,000 31,292,000

19,286,307.00 31,438.00 4,552,740.00 456,430.00 343,200.00 1,448,381,645.00 47,043,990.00 18,251,797.00 6,862.00 15,349,690.00 56,370.00 150,440.00 2,522,610.00 3,708,450.00 1,985,920.00 305,670.00 5,283,390.00 57,522,790.00

STOCKS

JUNE 22-26, 2015 Volume Value

Close

Interport `A’ Keppel Properties Megaworld Corp.

MRC Allied Ind. Phil. Estates Corp.

Phil. Realty `A’ Phil. Tob. Flue Cur & Redry Primex Corp.

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

1.30 5.00 4.92 0.112 0.3000 0.4400 23.50 7.17 28.50 1.72 3.35 19.96 0.75 7.19 0.820 6.300

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

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

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

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

Pacific Online Sys. Corp.

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

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

Yehey

6.25 62.4 1.13 0.630 13 8.78 0.0920 3.98 86.1 10 1.68 6.66 960 2574 6.59 17.02 1.34 111 11.88 0.011 0.210 1.3100 2.2 9.20 2.80 1.24 2.01 48.90 0.650 2 5.64 0.350 0.480 18.08 4.88 3 124.00 18.90 2842.00 0.690 1.240 37.15 74.00 9.56 0.66 1.75 5.29 0.330 1.600

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

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

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

TA Petroleum United Paragon

0.0054 2.55 6.58 11.38 0.245 6.8000 6.8000 0.94 0.8 6.98 1.63 0.315 0.227 0.237 0.0140 0.0140 3.49 24.45 3.87 0.5800 2.0900 0.0120 0.0120 4.31 6.09 1.98 0.015 142.50 10.8 0.0091

ABS-CBN Holdings Corp.

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

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

62.75 525 532 120 530 6.45 1.1 110.5 1057 1149 1058 75.25 84 89

Leisure & Resort Warr.

3.750

Double Dragon Makati Fin. Corp.

Ripple E-Business Intl Xurpas

10.32 5.51 67 10.92

First Metro ETF

123.7

Close

1,853,000 29,600 183,298,000 5,580,000 500,000 210,000 700 31,900 15,369,100 417,000 192,000 89,716,500 2,256,000 8,800 1,031,000 80,377,400

2,432,140.00 148,427.00 921,168,438.00 631,520.00 152,150.00 92,450.00 16,470.00 230,360.00 427,983,175.00 709,260.00 635,540.00 1,785,442,906.00 1,668,820.00 61,096.00 875,420.00 525,716,264.00 SERVICES 209,700 1,305,899.00 64,800 4,008,125.50 1,912,000 2,293,780.00 2,455,000 1,567,400.00 520,700 6,692,130.00 45,191,227 253,189,111.00 15,380,000 1,391,980.00 4,010,000 15,934,010.00 1,634,390 140,014,169.50 44,200 436,620.00 110,000 184,800 37,700 243,172.00 5,060 4,711,430.00 264,475 684,081,110.00 1,296,900 8,400,251.00 9,200 188,223.00 433,000 541,830.00 3,390,310 377,899,031.00 27,100 313,346.00 227,700,000 2,561,800.00 27,700,000 5,842,430.00 1,018,000 1,314,160.00 4,000 8,800.00 1,012,700 9,330,105.00 1,603,000 4,524,260.00 41,000 55,890.00 477,000 957,570.00 4,500 210,685.00 263,000 173,310.00 612,000 1,222,770.00 21,685,200 131,196,025.00 98,550.00 310,000 415,000 194,380.00 6,900 106,808.00 60,000 274,800 13,000 39,000.00 173,110 21,410,101.00 637,000 11,975,980.00 640,400 1,818,848,470.00 42,192,000 29,678,710.00 296,719,000 365,160,070.00 8,377,400 312,645,010.00 8,950,300 663,836,107.00 4,660,000 42,385,531.00 10,771,000 7,031,750.00 91,000 156,390.00 12,823,000 67,798,641.00 930,000 307,150.00 1,077,000 1,726,260.00 MINING & OIL 2,188,000,000 11,767,800.00 84,000 214,400.00 3,996,100 26,731,638.00 75,400 867,346.00 235,000 88,670.00 16,600 116,160.00 4,100 25,840.00 2,048,000 1,925,590.00 19,442,000 15,699,510.00 35,700 242,819.00 69,669,000 115,041,110.00 1,880,000 595,650.00 26,040,000 5,893,500.00 2,630,000 611,440.00 265,500,000 3,749,800.00 185,200,000 2,592,600.00 1,153,000 3,963,210.00 11,092,600 170,921,905.00 9,151,000 35,010,920.00 391,000 252,080.00 789,000 1,634,360.00 39,500,000 436,000.00 5,300,000 63,600.00 69,000 297,540.00 6,456,900 39,675,669.00 7,002,000 13,927,550.00 43,600,000 638,700.00 1,752,000 249,934,516.00 779,600 8,428,306.00 2,800,000 27,640.00 PREFERRED 1,486,540 92,767,971.50 8,960 4,703,560.00 72,450 38,411,860 15,370 1,847,730.00 3,500 1,853,000.00 108,300 673,100.00 1,917,000 2,146,920 114,790 12,732,185.00 55 58,130.00 8,045 9,243,660.00 17,810 18,748,010.00 876,620 66,029,860.50 88,610 7,496,431.00 554,030 49,336,138.00 WARRANTS & BONDS 234,000 885,870.00 SME 13,501,900 139,794,861.00 8,700 48,235.00 1,310 85,378.50 3,388,100 37,275,650.00 EXCHANGE TRADED FUNDS 181,590 22,446,353.00

JUNE 15-19, 2015 Volume Value

1.30 5.01 4.99 0.116 0.3150 0.4500 24.00 7.33 28.05 1.68 3.37 19.44 0.72

1,329,000 8,200 137,370,000 2,610,000 2,260,000 390,000 1,800 217,900 10,865,100 1,593,000 87,000 104,878,100 2,417,000

1,725,770.00 42,150.00 663,281,900.00 292,370.00 700,500.00 177,550.00 43,200.00 1,589,605.00 299,529,410.00 2,603,380.00 288,460.00 2,044,971,484.00 1,737,580.00

0.860 6.850

197,000 67,639,600

169,680.00 466,547,081.00

6.3 60 1.11 0.650 13.4 9.00 0.0920 4.03 85.45 10 1.69 6.66 959 2586 6.30

173,600 75,180 49,000 14,547,000 92,500 60,993,300 22,780,000 8,790,000 1,563,580 28,000 6,000 94,000 2,120 844,855 551,200

1,092,325.00 4,510,796.00 54,520.00 9,445,520.00 1,257,670.00 567,673,474.00 2,106,430.00 35,327,190.00 133,198,302.00 279,921.00 10,140 607,425.00 2,009,030.00 2,211,701,550.00 3,415,522.00

1.36 111.9

1,216,000 6,381,900

1,609,470.00 706,020,617.00

0.011 0.213 1.2800 2.2 9.30 3.00 1.30 2.00 49.80 0.690 2 6.69 0.350 0.500 18.9 4.50

242,000,000 27,140,000 2,176,000 37,000 273,000 1,391,000 273,000 157,000 11,760 58,001 107,000 9,427,800 220,000 1,268,000 6,900 34,000

2,880,100.00 6,034,340.00 2,793,820.00 84,100.00 2,532,133.00 4,133,740.00 344,840.00 310,310.00 571,446.00 67,790.00 212,860.00 64,207,360.00 76,100.00 596,145.00 129,602.00 154,470

110.00 19.02 2802.00 0.700 1.300 38.00 75.95 9.90 0.65 1.7 5.28 0.335 1.320

58,580 1,428,900 711,670 17,224,000 133,515,000 19,322,900 7,405,840 23,767,200 17,980,000 31,000 27,979,600 680,000 93,000

6,707,523.00 28,107,886.00 2,006,524,240.00 11,789,530.00 174,164,280.00 727,505,125.00 568,797,291.00 233,199,324.00 11,914,060.00 52,700.00 144,548,083.00 219,100.00 135,650.00

0.0051 2.55 6.61 11.70 0.250 7.0000 7.0200 0.94 0.78 7.00 1.68 0.315 0.229 0.235 0.0130 0.0140 3.44 24.2 3.7 0.6500 2.0500 0.0120 0.0120 4.42 6.29 1.98 0.015 142.00 11.1 0.0100

1,622,000,000 534,000 2,288,200 11,300 310,000 5,500 3,300 1,341,000 4,141,000 68,700 288,663,000 2,950,000 16,910,000 500,000 260,500,000 32,700,000 3,704,000 4,933,100 37,589,000 283,000 596,000 112,600,000 68,000,000 416,000 2,187,000 29,832,000 61,500,000 7,600,540 2,804,500 200,000

8,565,200.00 1,349,690.00 15,398,712.00 132,156.00 78,200.00 38,128.00 23,166.00 1,289,480.00 3,270,470.00 480,174.00 502,823,550.00 919,350.00 3,890,960.00 117,530.00 3,604,000.00 471,800.00 12,610,520.00 119,871,940.00 139,246,360.00 184,770.00 1,237,630.00 1,296,900.00 882,000.00 1,713,510.00 14,018,385.00 60,604,870.00 871,200.00 1,076,080,353.00 32,247,908.00 2,000.00

61 522 528 123 520 6.2 1.1 110 1055

6,668,453 26,320 6,960 460 2,900 232,400 8,013,000 31,930 2,770

55,715,947.00 13,746,565.00 3,675,440 56,480.00 1,508,000.00 1,399,337.00 8,885,180 25,602,200.00 3,096,030.00

1050 75.75 84.9 88

6,395 445,740 22,410 245,980

6,699,850.00 33,644,790.00 1,898,870.00 21,586,761.00

3.890

868,000

3,316,340.00

9.8 6.38 65.45 11.2

4,249,100 7,500 510 10,342,500

41,514,292.00 42,405.00 33,367.00 115,163,592.00

124

310,300

38,147,548.00

MST WEEKLY MOST TRADED STOCKS Abra Mining Premium Leisure Manila Mining `A’ IP E-Game Ventures Inc. Metro Pacific Inv. Corp.

Manila Mining `B’ Megaworld Corp.

Prime Orion SM Prime Holdings Vista Land & Lifescapes

VOLUME 2,188,000,000 296,719,000 265,500,000 227,700,000 209,600,000 185,200,000 183,298,000 114,096,000 89,716,500 80,377,400

STOCKS Universal Robina PLDT Common SM Prime Holdings Ayala Land `B’ Metrobank SM Investments Inc. Banco de Oro Unibank Inc. Metro Pacific Inv. Corp.

GT Capital Megaworld Corp.

VALUE 2,466,847,564.00 1,818,848,470.00 1,785,442,906.00 1,691,558,045.00 1,581,552,317.00 1,579,869,055.00 1,431,174,308.00 1,010,246,800.00 928,948,585.00 921,168,438.00

MONDAY: JUNE 29, 2015

B3

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

Revillame sells plane to Consunji Television host Willie Revillame sold his Dornier 328 jet to DMCi Holdings inc. director Jorge Consunji last year, sources said.

Revillame acquired the same aircraft four years ago from Consunji. The comedian used the aircraft for his travels to Macau, Asia’s gambling capital, and leased it out to celebrities like Justin Bieber, sources said.

Consunji bought back the aircraft from Revillame at a lower price. it was earlier reported that Revillame bought the plane in 2011 for P200 million.

According to sources, Revillame, who took a break from Tv, sold his plane after allegedly losing millions to gambling.

Revillame reportedly splurged his money in solaire Resorts in Parañaque City, losing nearly P150 million in the casino in just one night, sources said. enrique Razon, chairman and chief executive of Bloomberry Resorts Corp., operator of solaire, rarely dismissed the Revillame tale.

Revillame, however, remains in possession of his luxury car, Ferrari 458, thanks in part to GMA network inc., which gave him another chance at hosting.

The Tv host recently signed a contract with GMA-7 as a blocktimer for the program “Wowowin.” There were reports that the contract with GMA-7 barred Revillame from gambling in casinos. Darwin G. Amojelar

PH debt seen falling to zero in ten years

By Gabrielle Binaday

The Philippine government may wipe out its debt in 10 years, Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas Deputy Governor Diwa Guinigundo said in an investment forum in New York over the weekend.

Guinigundo said the declining debt to gross domestic product ratio was among the factors why credit rating agencies standard & Poor’s, Moody’s investors service and Fitch Ratings awarded the Philippines with investment-grade ratings.

The country’s debt to GDP ratio fell to 45.4 percent in 2014, from as high as 97.7 percent in 1986.

Guinigundo said based on the trajectory, the debt to GDP ratio was expected to fall to 0 percent within the next 10 years.

Guinigundo, however, said “there is no magic number with regards to any country’s debt to GDP ratio. The emphasis must be placed on the fiscal space and the government’s ability to spend in terms of

investment and infrastructure.”

Guinigundo was one of the keynote speakers at the economic Briefing and investment Conference held on June 26 at Goldman sachs in new York City.

Finance secretary Cesar Purisima said during the same briefing the Philippines had transformed into a prime destination for foreign capital in recent years and was now a bright spot in Asia.

“The Philippines is not perfect, nor is it completely efficient, but to investors like you, it is an opportunity. in fact, many companies are already silently making money,” Purisima said during the second leg of the investment roadshow in the Us called “invest in the Philip-

pines: Asia’s Bright spot.”

Different Philippines agencies also expressed significant improvements in the country in terms of macroeconomic governance, promoting transparency, enhancing the ease of doing business and focusing on infrastructure development.

Purisima said these factors combined with competitive workforce had increased the attractiveness of the Philippines in the eyes of foreign investors.

BPi Capital Corp. president Dennis Montecillo agreed with the bullish assessment, saying that there was a noticeable shift in the demand for foreign private equity.

Philippine officials and private businesses pointed to good governance as the main driver of economic growth.

Trade secretary Gregory Domingo and national Competitiveness Council co-chair Guillermo luz highlighted the Philippines’ steady rise in competitiveness rankings and assured the audience that liberalization and economic reforms would continue.

Singaporeans divesting from Alliance Food

The year-long dispute among major shareholders of tuna exporter Alliance Food select inc. may finally come to an end, with a group of singaporean investors now considering the possibility of selling shares to the Dee family and another major investor, strongoak inc.. sources said the parties were now looking at hiring a thirdparty group that would make an independent valuation on the shares.

The planned buyout of singaporeans’ stake in the company, which has been reduced from 34 percent to 24 percent following last year’s issuance of shares to strongoak and would likely go down further with the planned stock rights offering, is seen as the only solution to finally end the squabble, which had not only affected the stock’s share price but the business operations as well.

The only question remaining is at what price the singaporean investors were willing to sell their shares in the company? of course, they would want to at least recover their investment in Alliance select, but that would not likely happen, given the performance of the stock over the past few years.

With the hiring of the third-party company that will conduct valuation, both parties should adhere to the result of the valuation. This means that the singaporean investors will agree to sell their shares in the company based on the valuation and the Dee family and strongoak will agree to buy the singaporean stake based on the same price.

This solution will hopefully make everyone happy.

Jenniffer B. Austria

Jollibee delays store opening in Canada to 2017

Filipinos living and working in Canada would have to wait until 2017 before they can enjoy again the distinct taste of home-grown Jollibee.

This is because the fast-food giant is having a hard time trying to find a good location for the first store in Canada.

“We are having difficulty in finding a good location,” Jollibee president ernest Tanmantiong said, during the company’s annual stockholders meeting on Friday.

“We are particular about the location and it is not easy to find a good location. We don’t want to settle for an average location,” he said.

Jollibee announced in March it would open its first store in Canada this year, particularly in Toronto.

This generated a lot of cheers among Filipinos in Canada, who have been longing for the taste of Jollibee’s best selling chicken joy and spaghetti. Jenniffer B. Austria

Ortigas project. Property developer Ortigas & Company recently introduced Maven, a 62-story

residential tower that will rise at Capitol Commons in Pasig City. Shown during the preview of Maven are (from left) Lon Ortigas, Ignacio Ortigas, vice president and general manager of shopping center division Cathy Casares-Ko, general manager of real estate division Joey Santos, Jose Luis Ortigas-Montilla and legal manager Mike Abundo III.

Greek crisis to influence stock market

By Jenniffer B. Austria Developments overseas, especially the Greek government’s decision to call a referendum on the terms of the debt bailout, are expected to affect trading in the philippine stock exchange this week, analysts said over the weekend.

RCBC securities said the developments in Greece would determine how global financial markets would behave this week and would have an impact on the local market at a lesser magnitude.

“In any case, the market may break out of its 7,500 to 7,660 trading range this week, but in what direction? That is the question,” RCBC securities said.

BpI Asset management said in its weekly outlook the market was expected to trade between 7,550

and 7,700, with a downward bias.

“Given the delay in any resolution of the talks in Greece, we expect this to be the main driver of movements in the local equity market in the upcoming week,” BpI Asset management said.

The bellwether philippine stock exchange index closed higher by 0.27 percent last week to 7,622.05 on June 26, while the broader all-share index gained 0.17 percent to 4,358.66.

RBCB securities said the local bourse traded in positive territory throughout the entire session, buoyed by Bangko sentral’s move to keep interest rates unchanged and reduce inflation forecast this year. overseas investors were net sellers last week by p2.18 billion, as total foreign selling reached p18.83 billion while foreign buying amounted to p16.65 billion.

The average daily value traded dropped to p6.38 billion from last week’a average of p7.77 billion.

“Investors remained on the sidelines last week, which was evident in the week’s turnover numbers, in the absence of any ground-shaking corporate news and the Greek crisis hounding global markets,” Ruiz said. top gainers last week were pryce Corp., which jumped 34.5 percent to p3.39; Yehey! Corp., which advanced 21.2 percent to p1.60; and prime orion philippines Inc., which climbed 20 percent to p1.79.

Heavy losers were First Abacus Financial Holdings Corp., which declined 37 percent to p0.440; Grand plaza Hotel Corp., which dropped 19 percent to p17.04; and melco Crown (philippines) Resorts Corp., which dipped 15.7 percent to p5.64.

B4

Ayala-Comelec partnership.

Ayala Land Inc. has teamed up with the Commission on Elections to set up interim voters’ registration centers in 11 of its malls nationwide.

The company expressed its appreciation to Comelec for choosing Ayala Malls as a host for their campaign.

Comelec chairman Juan Andres Bautista (right) and Ayala Land president and chief executive Bernard Vincent Dy recently shake hands to formalize the partnership. Voters can visit Ayala Malls near their districts to register their biometric information.

PLDT hiking iFlix investments

By Darwin G Amojelar PHILIPPINE Long Distance Telephone Co. plans to raise its investment in iFlix as the Southeast Asia’s leading Internet TV service provider is rapidly expanding in emerging markets.

“It’s possible because [of talks with] the CEO of iFlix. They are focusing on several countries, I think he mentioned two or three countries in Asia. But then they are focusing on other emerging markets in the world,” PLDT chairman Manuel Pangilian told reporters, referring to iflix Group chief executive Mark Britt.

PLDT had invested $15 million in iFlix, which plans to roll out the service across

Southeast Asia, acquire rights to new content, produce original programming and market to potential customers.

Last week, PLDT and iFlix launched a video-on-demand service in the Philippines, the first among a series of launches for iFlix in the region. This 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.

“In PLDT we have found a like-minded partner who is committed to changing the way entertainment content is consumed in the region. We look forward to building an extraordinary business in the Philippines together,” chairman Patrick Grove said.

“We are extremely proud to have

Pangilinan

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

PLDT’s investment in iFlix comes after it infused $445 million into Germany’s Rocket Internet, which has created a suite of online e-commerce platforms such as Lazada and Zalora.

PLDT now owns a 6.1-percent stake in Rocket Internet.

Rocket and PLDT also formed a new company called Philippine Internet Group that will tap Smart’s expertise in mobile payments.

Aussie company raises NLEx road link an engineering marvel funds to drill Hawkeye

By Alena Mae S. Flores RED Emperor Resources NL of Australia raised A$5.76 million (P199 million) to fund the drilling of Hawkeye-1 prospect in service contract 55 scheduled in late July.

Red Emperor disclosed to the Australian Securities Exchange its issue of 72 million new ordinary shares at 4 pence (A$0.08) per share was oversubscribed and raised £2.88 million (A$5.76m) before expenses.

“Proceeds from the raise and existing cash resources will principally be used to fund the upcoming drilling and potential appraisal activities in the Philippines, where the company has a 15-percent interest in Block SC55 in the southwest Palawan Basin,” it said.

SC 55 is a deep-water block in the middle of a proven regional oil and gas fairway that extends from the productive offshore Borneo region in the southwest to the offshore northwest Palawan.

The first prospect, Hawkeye-1, was identified on 2D seismic in 2007 and further defined with a 600km2 3D seismic acquisition in late 2009.

A survey conducted by Otto Energy Ltd., the operator of block, showed Hawkeye-1 might contain reserves of 480 million barrels of oil and a best estimate resource of 112 million barrels.

Otto has secured the Maersk Venturer drill ship to spud the Hawkeye-1 prospect. It expects start of drilling toward the end of July. The well is expected to take less than a month to drill.

Red Emperor said it was also reviewing numerous additional exploration opportunities.

THE NLEx Harbor Link Segment 10 project of Manila North Tollways Corp. is not only an allelevated expressway--it is an “engineering marvel.”

MNTC president Rodrigo E. Franco cited the construction and installation technologies being utilized for the innovative 5.65-kilometer road segment.

He said two powerful pieces of equipment are being utilized to assure precise and safe installation of structures. Gantry cranes are used to transport pre-cast girders, while one powerful girder launcher lays it on the concrete poles of the elevated expressway.

Girders are fabricated at the nearby casting yard, as close as possible to the construction site. The construction strategy has enabled NLEx to avoid the cumbersome task of transporting 1,500 girders to the site, through heavy traffic.

“This process is unique to the NLEx Harbor Link, thus making it an engineering marvel,” Franco said, adding the P10-billion all-elevated expressway project reaches

The blue gantry cranes are utilized to assure precise and safe installation of the girders within the pre-cast yard. It lifts and transfers one pre-cast concrete girder from the casting yard to a designated pickup area, a process unique to NLEX Harbor Link.

as high as 20 meters.

Segment 10 is using the alignment of the Philippine National Railways so the expressway is above the PNR rail tracks in some portions, and is at times alongside

the tracks in other portions.

“Using the alignment of PNR has spared MNTC from right-ofway problems and likewise spared many our people from displacement,” Franco said.

M O N D AY : J U N E 2 9, 2 0 1 5

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

B5

Ayala cool to Clark project

By Jenniffer B. Austria AYALA Land Inc. said it is still undecided if it will make a bid for the property or not, despite purchasing auction documents for the Clark Green City project.

Ayala Land chief finance officer Jaime Ysmael said in an interview at the sidelines of a recentforum sponsored by the Shareholders Association of the Philippines the company had not made a decision on the masterplanned new metropolis in Central Luzon because of the “leasehold” strategy of the project.

“We looked at it and we are

looking at it. But I don’t know exactly if we are going to bid for that. We are still studying it,” Ysmael said.

He said there was no development potential for Clark Green City project because of its leasehold feature.

“Lease-hold has very limited or no development potential. But it is still an interesting project. We

will just have to figure it out how we will develop it considering that it is lease-hold,” Ysmael said.

The amended term of reference issued by state-owned Bases Conversion Development Authority for the bidding of the phase 1 of the Clark Green City stated that the winning property firm should enter into a 50-year long term lease agreement, renewable for another 25 years, with the government.

Another factor that is holding back Ayala Land from bidding in the project is the huge mixed-use township development it is developing in Porac, Pampanga called Alviera.

Alviera is a 1,100-hectare de-

velopment, where Ayala Land plans to invest P90 billion over the next 20 years. “We plan to focus on that first,” Ysmael said.

Phase 1 of the Alviera involves 207 hectares comprising of the new industrial park, the country club, two academic institutions and three Ayala Land residential communities.

Robinsons Land Corp. earlier said its interest level in the rebidding of Clark Green City was not high because it involves a long term lease on the property and not an actual sale.

Other companies looking to Clark Green City is Megaworld Corp. of tycoon Andrew Tan and

Filinvest Land Inc. of the Gotianun family.

The BCDA last week said it extended for two months the bidding of phase 1 of Clark Green City development to give property developers more time to study the project.

Meanwhile, Ysmael said it would defer to next year its planned issue of up to P2-billion Homestarter Bonds.

Homestarter Bonds is an interest-earning financial instrument that primarily targets retail investors who plan to invest funds that may be used as full or partial downpayment in the purchase of an Ayala Land property.

BPI sees rate hike in second semester

By Julito G. Rada THE Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas may still consider increasing the policy interest rates sometime in the second half of this year to make sure inflation in 2016 will remain manageable.

Bank of the Philippine Islands made the forecast in a report titled Global Markets Policy Alert, in reaction to the latest move of the Bangko Sentral Thursday to keep the benchmark interest rates for the sixth time since October last year on low inflation and strong domestic demand condition.

“Our central scenario remains for a BSP policy hike in the balance of 2015 in order to safeguard the inflation path going into 2016,” the report said.

“The BSP has flagged possible inflation pressures emanating from a possibly weaker peso due to financial volatility induced by the Fed normalization of monetary policy as well as washed out base effects of crude oil prices by the second half of the year,” it said.

BPI said the expected prolonged El Niño dry spell could push food inflation higher in the coming months.

The last time the Monetary Board of the Bangko Sentral changed the policy rates was on Sept. 11 last year, when it increased overnight borrowing rate by 25 basis points to 4 percent and overnight lending to 6 percent.

It also raised the interest rate on SDA by 25 basis points to 2.5 percent across all tenors. The rates on term RRPs and RPs were also raised accordingly.

The succeeding meetings in October, December, February, March and May saw the board keeping the said rates steady.

Last week, monetary authorities maintained the key policy rates steady at 4 percent for overnight borrowing and 6 percent for overnight lending, the sixth time since October last year.

Climate change summit. Global Green Growth Institute director-general Yvo de Boer (right) pays a courtesy call on Economic Planning Secretary and National Economic and Development Authority director-general Arsenio Balisacan on June 19 at the NEDA Pasig building. Balisacan expressed his support for the 2015 GGG Summit that will be held in July in Bali, Indonesia. The two directors-general also tackled potential sustainability programs for the Philippines, such as the improvement of cooling facilities and infrastructure to increase agriculture production.

Meralco reducing output of Subic coal power plant

By Alena Mae S. Flores REDONDO Peninsula Energy Inc. plans to reduce the capacity of its planned coal-fired power plant at the Subic Bay Freeport Zone to 300 megawatts from 600 megawatts, its chairman said over the weekend.

RP Energy, majority controlled

by Meralco PowerGen Corp., a unit of Manila Electric Co., is scheduled to start construction of the long-delayed power project this year following a favorable ruling from the Supreme Court.

“For Subic, we might change the project parameters. We might have to drop to around 300 MW... because there were

issues on the transmission line connection to the grid, it’s a bit far,” Meralco chairman Manuel Pangilinan told reporters.

The Supreme Court dismissed the Writ of Kalikasan case filed by pro-environmentalist groups against the Subic coal plant and upheld the project’s Environmental Compliance Certificate and its lease and development agreement with the Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority.

“The issue is really is the areas of transmission line from the power plant to the grid [it] will have to traverse. These are areas that are apparently occupied... the ideal alignment are areas occupied by indigenous people and

there are pockets where there are reserved areas wooded, forested,” Pangilinan said.

“You know we cannot build on top of that [reserved areas].

That’s prohibited by law... We might have to start with 300 MW first,” he said.

Other shareholders of RP Energy are Aboitiz Power Corp. and Taiwan Cogeneration International Corp.

Pangilinan said the engineering, procurement and construction contract for San Buenaventura Power Ltd. Co., the developer of the 455-MW coal plant in Mauban, Quezon, was also being finalized.

Meralco PowerGen owns a ma-

jority stake in San Buenaventura.

Sources said the San Buenaventura construction contract would likely be awarded to the Mitsubishi-Daimlem group.

Meralco teamed up with Electricity Generating Public Co. Ltd. of Thailand on the San Buenaventura project.

Meralco PowerGen plans to complete the San Buenaventura project by late 2018 and the RP Energy power station by early 2019, if not earlier.

ERC recently approved the 20year power supply agreement of Meralco and San Buenaventura, assuring the power plant of an offtaker for the entire 455-MW output.

MONDAY: JUNE 29, 2015

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BUSINESS business@manilastandardtoday.com extrastory2000@gmail.com

Laudato Si’

CATHOLIC Social Teaching has been called “The Church’s Best Kept Secret,” and unPIA T. MANALASTAS til recently, even the most fervent Catholics were not familiar with the church’s reflection on its mission n the world today. But with the release of Pope Francis’ latest encyclical letter, Laudato Si’, this best kept secret has been brought to light. While he is not the first pope to write on the theme of care for creation, I believe that this encyclical is the needed call to action that will indeed shape “the future of our planet.”

Our common home The key message of this encyclical is that we have not taken good care of our common home, our sister, Mother Earth, as St. Francis called her in The Canticle of the Creatures. “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.” The Holy Father emphasized the need for us “to come together to take charge of this home which has been entrusted to us,” i.e., be true stewards of all creation.

One of the most pressing problems of our common home is climate change. Pope Francis calls it “one of the principal challenges facing humanity in our day.” I agree with his assessment that if we fail to address this issue, “this century may well witness extraordinary climate change and an unprecedented destruction of ecosystems, with serious consequences for all of us.”

Here in the Philippines, we have seen the impact of climate change.

While we are used to typhoons and floods, over the past five years or so, we have experienced greater extremes in weather. The torrential downpours and the super typhoons on one hand and the prolonged dry spells and extreme heat on the other have resulted in destroyed crops, massive storm damage and huge economic losses. Thousands of lives have been lost and key ecosystems have been damaged due to these extreme climate events.

Another consequence of climate change, rising sea levels, will also severely affect our country. An analysis made by the University of the Philippines Los Baños Climate Change Program listed 10 provinces that would be inundated if water levels rise by one meter. Not only will hundreds of thousands be displaced, it will also impact our fresh water supply and destroy historical landmarks.

The role of business While it is true that business activities have greatly contributed to climate change, the Holy Father still believes that “business is a noble vocation, directed to producing wealth and improving our world.” Thus, if more businesses truly live out their social responsibility, they can help mitigate the catastrophic consequences of climate change. He even identified a business opportunity: increase access to clean and renewable energy worldwide.

This encyclical’s mandate for business is clear: be sustainable. Pope Francis emphasized “efforts to promote a sustainable use of natural resources are not a waste of money, but rather an investment capable of providing other economic benefits in the medium term.” He goes on to say “more diversified and innovative forms of production which impact less on the environment can prove very profitable.”

What kind of world do we want to leave to our children?

Dr. Carolyn Woo, chief executive and oresident, Catholic Relief Services and former dean, Mendoza College of Business, University of Notre Dame recently presented her thoughts on this encyclical on Vatican Radio. I would like to share part of her reflections: The framing question asked by Pope Francis in his encyclical is a simple one: “what kind of world do we want to leave to those who come after us, to children who are now growing up”? This question surely resonates with everyone in the world. It resonates with me as a mother. And it resonates with me as one who draws on business as a partner to eliminate poverty and as an educator of business practitioners. It is from the perspective of business that I speak today.

The questions Pope Francis poses to the readers, “What is the purpose of our life in this world? Why are we here? What is the goal of our work and all our efforts?” are not different from the mission and vision statements that businesses formulate to define their purpose and to gain legitimacy from society, commitment from employees and support by customers. At the end of the day, business is a human enterprise and must strive for true human development and the common good. In the years ahead, the challenges will be large. How can we develop the technologies so that we can move to a zero-carbon economy? How can we boost living standards of the developing world in a sustainable way and give all people the ability to live the lives God intended them to live?

How can we make sure all have access to nutrition, energy, healthcare and education? These are huge challenges, but we must face up to them.

The answer lies with all working together—governments, international institutions, businesses, NGOSs and religions. It lies in forthright and honest debate and dialogue. But it begins in the call to ecological conversation outlined so clearly in this great encyclical.

“What kind of world do we want to leave to our children?” If we stay focused on that question, we are on the right path. http://en.radiovaticana.va/news/2015/06/18/business_insights_ from_laudato_si/1152399

GREEN LIGHT

The author is the Chair of the Management and Organization Department of the Ramon V. del Rosario College of Business. She teaches Lasallian Business Leadership with Corporate Social Responsibility and Ethics in the MBA program. She can be reached at pia.manalastas@dlsu.edu.ph The views expressed above are the author’s and do not necessarily reflect the official position of De La Salle University, its faculty, and its administrators.

Competitive livestock. President Benigno Aquino III (center) shares the government’s initiatives in

ensuring food safety within the livestock industry, during his keynote speech at the Livestock Philippines 2015.

According to the President, the government’s goal is not only to maintain the standards of produce but also to ensure that the industry continues to grow and develop. Aquino and Agriculture Secretary Proceso Alcala (left) led the opening of the Livestock Philippines ’15 at the SMX Convention Center in Pasay City on June 25.

SM buys 2-hectare land in Guadalupe

By Jenniffer B. Austria

SM Prime Holdings Inc., the country’s largest integrated real estate company, has acquired a two-hectare property along Epifanio de los Santos Avenue in Guadalupe, Makati from DMCI Holdings Inc. for an undisclosed amount.

SM Prime senior vice president Jeffrey Lim said in a recent interview the acquisition would boost the company’s landbank along Edsa to 14 hectares.

“It is actually a big bloc owned by DMCI. We got a portion, which we was sold to us. Both parties agreed to the terms and condition,” Lim said, without disclosing the details of the transaction.

The property will be developed over the next two years by SM Prime’s residential unit SM De-

velopment Corp.

The property is strategically located near the Guadalupe station of Mass Railway Transit Line 3 and San Carlos Seminary.

SMDC currently owns several lots along Edsa, including Ortigas, Mandaluyong, North Edsa and GMA Kamuning.

Aside from building residential projects near shopping malls, Lim said another strategy that SM Prime developed was to build condominiums near transit areas.

SM Prime earlier said it was looking at launching seven residential projects with total sales value of P42 billion this year.

Under the planm SM Prime will unveil four to five new condominium projects and two expansion phases that would offer between 12,000 to 14,000 units.

At an average cost of P3 million per unit, total sales value could range from P36 billion to P42 billion.

Last year, SMDC launched two new residential projects and three expansion projects.

Capital spending of SMDC this year is expected to range from P15 billion to P18 billion.

SMDC had 24 residential ongoing and completed projects located in Makati, Mandaluyong, Manila, Paranaque, Pasay, Pasig, Quezon City, Taguig and Tagaytay City as of end-March.

Meralco wants wider prepaid service

By Alena Mae S. Flores POWER retailer Manila Electric Co. asked the Energy Regulatory Commission to deregulate the prepaid retail electricity service to bring benefits to more consumers.

ERC earlier approved Meralco’s application to offer and provide prepaid retail electricity service, branded as Kuryente Load, to customers in its franchise area subject to certain conditions.

ERC said that once the retail competition and open access was fully implemented, Meralco should cease its prepaid electricity service and/or assign it to a qualified entity.

“They should deregulate that…Why approve only 40,000? why not approve one million then phase it,” Meralco chairman

Manuel Pangilinan said.

ERC approved the installation of 40,000 prepaid electricity meters in Meralco’s franchise area but the power distributor plans to file for an additional 100,000 meters due to the strong takeup from real estate developers and even the National Housing Authority.

Pangilinan said the ERC, like other energy regulators around the world, should realize they needed to keep pace and adapt with the changes in technology.

“Technology is moving at a fast pace…Regulators around the world must keep pace,” he said.

Meralco senior vice president and head of customer retail services and corporate communication Alfredo Panlilio said the company expected to convince ERC on its application.

Panlilio said there were some issues that needed to be addressed by the regulator concerning its decision directing Meralco to cease its prepaid service once full retail competition and open access started.

At present, power users with a monthly average demand of one megawatt are allowed to choose their own suppliers. The Electric Power Reform Act of 2001 states that the threshold should eventually be lowered.

“How do you address the assets?” Panlilio said, adding that Meralco already investing in the prepaid infrastructure.

ERC said Meralco should provide the meters for the prepaid retail electricity service, which should be tested and sealed by the commission prior to installation.

M o n D aY : J u n e 2 9, 2 0 1 5

WORLD

cesar barrioquinto EDITOR

editorial@thestandard.com.ph

B7

Fax machine holding its place in offices PARIS—It may have slipped from its golden age into its golden years, but two decades into the Internet era the fax machine is still, perhaps surprisingly, holding its place in many offices.

While it has been reduced to a small player in the rapidly growing world of digital communications, “millions of people still use fax machines daily worldwide and probably will continue to do so in the near future,” said Jonathan Coopersmith, an associate professor at Texas A&M University, who has written a book on the history of the once ubiquitous office machine.

Even more surprising, people and companies continue to buy new fax machines.

“Sales are dropping regularly due to emails, but the market is far

Britain mourns 15 killed in Tunisia LONDON—Three members of the same family were among at least 15 Britons killed in the Tunisia attack, reports said Sunday, in Britain’s worst loss of life in a terror incident since the 2005 London bombings.

As ministers warned the toll would likely rise, details began to emerge of those gunned down in Friday’s Islamist massacre at a popular beach resort.

Among the dead were reportedly 19-year-old student Joel Richards, his uncle Adrian Evans, 49, and his grandfather. Joel’s 16-year-old brother Owen survived.

Other victims were named as 24-year-old Carly Lovett and a couple in their 40s, Sue Davey and Scott Chalkley.

They were among at least 38 people from several countries killed in the attack in Port el Kantaoui near Sousse, about 140 kilometers south of Tunis.

Another 39 people were injured, including 25 Britons, in the attack which was claimed by the Islamic State group, which controls large parts of Iraq and Syria.

Announcing the 15 dead, Foreign Office minister Tobias Ellwood said the number “may well rise, as several more have been seriously injured in this horrific attack”.

Prime Minister David Cameron had earlier warned that Britain needed to prepare “for the fact that many of those killed in the attack were British”.

He condemned those responsible as “evil”, saying the victims were “innocent holidaymakers relaxing and enjoying time with their friends and families... they did not pose a threat to anybody”.

The attack represents the largest British loss of life in a terror incident since four suicide bombers blew themselves up on the London transport system on July 7, 2005, killing 52 people.

“This is the most significant terrorist attack on British people since 7/7 and highlights the ongoing threat of ISIL,” said Ellwood, whose own brother died in the 2002 Bali bombings. AFP

from disappearing,” said Nicolas Cintre, deputy director in France for Japanese company Brother, the market leader in fax machines.

Around 20 million fax terminals were sold in 2005, manufacturers estimate, while sales today are on the order of several million.

“The market is holding up. Those who predicted the death of the fax 10 years ago were wrong,” said Cintre.

Part of the reason for the machine’s survival is an attachment among “older generations” who spent most of their careers using it, he said.

“Some habits are hard to break.”

It is considered by some as a tool for older employees reluctant to learn new technologies, but the fact that it embraces handwriting—in particular signatures—has also helped the fax avoid obsolescence.

“Fax machines allow sending signed documents, which are considered as originals, which isn’t the case with email,” said Jean Champagne, head of Sagemcom Canada, the unit of the communications equipment company that markets fax systems.

Coopersmith noted that “in most countries, faxing is concentrated in certain areas such as banking, real estate, legal communications and medicine—where a written signature is necessary.”

Regulations may in fact require faxing in some countries, he added.

Champagne also pointed out that faxes offer advantages in terms of confidentiality and security, another reason why the machines remain popular in the legal and medical fields. AFP

Masked ball. Fireworks go off in the distance as people dressed in costumes pose at the Grand Masked Ball on June 27 at the Chateau de Versailles, in Versailles near Paris to mark the 300th anniversary of Louis XIV’s death. AFP

Witnesses recall ‘hell’ in park blast in Taiwan TAIPEI—Witnesses described the scene at a Taiwan water park as “hell” after a ball of fire ripped through a crowd, with authorities putting the injured at more than 500 on Sunday, almost 200 of them seriously hurt.

Premiere. Actors Ryan Simpkins and Ty Simpkins arrive at the premiere of Universal Pictures and Illumination Entertainment’s “Minions” at the Shrine Auditorium on June 27 in Los Angeles, California. AFP

The injury toll in the blast late Saturday, which came as colored powder being sprayed on the partygoers ignited, more than doubled as officials began to track down victims who had taken themselves to hospital or been ferried there by others.

Horrifying amateur video footage showed crowds of young revelers dancing in front of a stage and cheering as clouds of green and yellow powder covered them at the “color party.”

But their joy turned to terror when the powder suddenly erupted into flames engulfing them in an inferno as they ran screaming for their lives.

Some were dressed only in swimwear and images from the scene show many with severe burns being tended by those who escaped.

One male student who sustained minor injuries described the scene as “hell.”

“There was blood everywhere, including in the pool where lots of the injured were soaking themselves for relief from the pain,” he told reporters.

His visibly shaken girlfriend added: “I saw lots of people whose skin was gone.”

Ambulances had struggled to reach the scene, and victims were carried away on rubber rings and inflatable dinghies as friends desperately tried to get them out.

Bystanders poured bottles of water on the scorched skin of the injured. Trails of bloody footprints leading away from the stage remained.

Around 1,000 spectators had been at the Color Play Asia event at the Formosa Fun Coast water park, just outside the capital Taipei, according to officials.

One male witness told local news channel CTI: “It started on the left side of the stage. At the beginning I thought it was part of the special effects of the party, but then I realized there was something wrong and people started screaming and running.”

Lee Lih-jong, deputy chief of the health bureau of the New Taipei City government, said 519 people had been injured with 190 of them seriously hurt.

The severely wounded are being treated in intensive care units at 37 different hospitals.

“The reason why the burns were so severe was that in addition to burns to the skin, there were also injuries caused by burns to the respiratory organs from the large amount of color powder inhaled,” Lee told AFP. “The next 24 hours will be critical for those severely injured.” AFP

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cEsAr bArriOqUiNtO EDITOR

editorial@thestandard.com.ph

world

Handel’s “Alcina.” French countertenor Philippe Jaroussky (right) as Ruggiero and Serbian mezzo soprano contralto Katarina Bradic perform in the opera “Alcina” by Georg Friedrich Handel, directed by Katie Mitchell and conducted by Andrea Marcon, on June 27 during the International Festival of Lyric Art in the French southeastern city of Aix-en-Provence. AFP

Greece in near debt default BRUSSELS—The European Central Bank was set to hold an emergency meeting Sunday amid mounting fears Greece’s banks will be unable to open next week, as the debt-stricken country hurtled closer towards a possible exit from the eurozone.

Greece’s crisis deepened Saturday after its European partners responded to Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras’s call for a referendum on bailout proposals by refusing to extend a critical financial lifeline after it ends on Tuesday.

The ECB is expected to play a critical role in ensuring Greek banks have the cash to open, after long queues formed at cash machines across the country at the weekend on fears capital controls would be introduced in the face of Athens’ looming default on a huge IMF repayment.

Parliamentarians late Saturday voted in favor of the referendum—a shock announcement by radical leader Tsipras after his government rejected the latest debt deal—saying it involved further austerity measures that would cause “humiliation” to the Greek people.

The referendum on July 5 will ask Greeks to say “yes” or “no” to the measures submitted by creditors

to Athens on Friday at one of the final rounds of negotiations.

In a speech before parliament’s vote, Tsipras said he was confident “the Greek people will say an emphatic no to the ultimatum” by the country’s EU-IMF creditors, but “a big yes to European solidarity”.

Angry eurozone finance ministers accused Greece of “unilaterally” breaking off talks and said they would not extend the bailout past June 30, the same day a 1.5-billion euro ($1.7-billion) payment to the International Monetary Fund falls due.

“It was not us who walked away from the talks, it was the Greek government that walked away,” a grimfaced Eurogroup president Jeroen Dijsselbloem said after tense negotiations in Brussels.

But he added: “Our door is always open.”

A week of intensive talks in Brussels ended with Greece’s creditors on Friday offering Athens a fivemonth, 12-billion-euro extension of its rescue program, on condition it committed to fresh reforms.

Syriza has repeatedly refused to make cuts to pensions and changes to the VAT system demanded by Greece’s debtors -- the “troika” of the European Commission, European Central Bank and International Monetary Fund.

EU heavyweights Germany and France insisted Saturday that Greece would remain inside the 19-country eurozone, as fears grew about the future of the single currency. AFP

High court moves left with landmark rulings WASHINGTON—With four justices appointed by Democratic presidents and five by Republican leaders, the US Supreme Court is generally perceived as being weighted in favor of conservatives.

But after two historic rulings in a week supporting progressive causes―legalizing gay marriage across America and upholding President Barack Obama’s health care overhaul―the conservatives are lashing out.

They are slamming what they see as a blatant disregard of the law in favor of a win in the court of public opinion.

Ultra-conservative justice Antonin Scalia called the 5-4 ruling in favor of legalizing gay marriage nationwide a “judicial putsch” that was “lacking even a

thin veneer of law.”

“Just who do we think we are?” asked Chief Justice John Roberts, who also opposed the gay marriage ruling.

He said the ruling had “nothing to do with” the Constitution and blasted the decision as “an act of will, not legal judgment.”

Scalia also lambasted his colleagues for voting 6-3 to uphold “Obamacare,” which has extended health insurance to millions of Americans.

Conservatives say Obamacare represents unconstitutional government intrusion into the lives of private citizens.

“Today’s opinion changes the usual rules of statutory interpretation for the sake of the Affordable Care Act,” Scalia wrote. AFP

Dubliners toast same-sex marriage DUBLIN—Tens of thousands of revelers created a carnival atmosphere on the streets of Dublin on Saturday in the first gay Pride parade since Ireland became the first country in the world to vote for same-sex marriage.

The march was led by a float with a banner that read, “the future is equal,” while participants waved rainbow flags under the overcast Dublin sky.

Others carried posters saying “Thank You” and “Yes,” a reference to the historic referendum on May 22.

The parade was given added significance after the US Supreme

Court ruled Friday that gay marriage is a legal right in all 50 states.

Ireland, a traditionally Catholic nation, voted 62.1 percent in favor of allowing marriage between two people “without distinction as to their sex”, the first time anywhere that gay marriage has been legalized in a referendum.

“This year in particular we have so much to celebrate with the marriage referendum,” Jason Flynn, chairman of Dublin Pride, told AFP. “Pride this year will be a way of acknowledging that and sending out a ‘thank you’ to people for voting Yes.”

He added: “We’re not ‘the other’ anymore. It’s no longer ‘them and us’. We’re fully part of society.”

Organizers were expecting a record 60,000 people to participate in the parade, the centrerpiece of the ten-day Pride festival.

“There’s a real celebratory mood this year because of the historic events of last month and yesterday in the US,” Robert Kirwan, 30, told AFP. Marqa Kiewied, 33, who moved to Dublin from the Netherlands six years ago, said this was the most “special” Pride she has ever attended. AFP

The reclamation continues. In this picture taken on June 27, laborers work on a construction site built on reclaimed land along Victoria Harbor (back) in Hong Kong. Land reclamation schemes began in the early 1840s and have continued until the present day, resulting in around 25 percent of all developed land in Hong Kong having been built on reclaimed land, according to a local publication. AFP

M O N D AY : J U N E 2 9 : 2 0 1 5

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BING PAREL A S S O C I AT E E D I T O R

BERNADETTE LUNAS WRITER life @ thestandard.com .ph

LIFE

TEACHER STÖCKINGER

Nissan GT Academy Philippines mentor and guest judge Marlon Stöckinger and Nissan Philippines, Inc. general manager for Marketing SJ Huh PHOTO BY MANNY PALMERO

MARLON STÖCKINGER TO MENTOR FILIPINO NISSAN GT RACE CAR DRIVERS

BY BERNADETTE LUNAS

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issan Philippines, Inc. has officially named Filipino-Swiss race car driver Marlon Stöckinger as mentor and guest judge of the finalists in the first Philippine installment of Nissan GT Academy.

It was a rather fitting choice to pick the 24-year-old Lotus F1 Junior Team and Renault World Series race car driver whose expertise and experience will be valuable to the Filipino GT finalists. Stöckinger sits on several titles and honors both in the local and international arena. Prior to joining the Renault series, which is one step below Formula 1, he has won titles and honors from Formula BMW Pacific 2008 Championships, Senior Rotax Max World Finals 2007, Asian Karting Championship 2006, and Philippine Shell Super Karting Series 2002, among others.

Stöckinger is the first Filipino to win a Formula race in Europe and one of seven junior team drivers of the Lotus F1 Team.

NPI is confident that his extensive racing experience and knowledge will yield useful insights to help Filipino finalists compete with the rest of Asia’s hopefuls in the Nissan GT Academy Asian league.

Nissan Europe, together with Sony Computer Entertainment Europe and Polyphony Digital, launched in 2008 the Nissan GT (Gran Turismo) Academy. It’s a unique virtual-to-reality contest that provides an alternative route from video game to real-world professional motor racing.

This year is the 7th run of the GT Academy and the first time Nissan brings it to Asia and developed an Asian league.

“International competitions were done last year for the first time, and this is the first year they developed an Asian league because the popularity of the program is getting bigger and bigger,” said NPI general manager for Marketing SJ Huh. Along with the Philippines, countries included in the Asian league are Japan, India, Thailand and Indonesia. For the first local installment of the program, NPI is looking

for six Filipinos to represent the country at the prestigious Silverstone race track in the UK. The GT Academy has four phases: Qualification, National Finals, Race Camp and Driver Development Program.

The first phase is the qualification where players qualify through Gran Turismo 6 on PlayStation 3 or at the Live Events where they can go on gaming pods set up at public venues or events. Anyone can join in the Live Events and actual driving skill is not necessary.

“In terms of recruitment, it (driving experience) doesn’t matter because if you look at the concept, it’s really virtual,” explained Huh. “But the virtual world is so real to the point where if you’re good with the virtual game, you will become a good [real-life] race car driver.” Since its launch on March 25, the Nissan GT Academy has garnered 13,000 virtual racers from Metro Manila, Bacolod, Cebu, Davao and Cagayan De Oro with a total of 30,000 trials. The final three Live Events happened last weekend at Glorietta and Bonifacio Global City.

However, an actual driving skill at the very least is required in the next stage – the National Finals. A week after the last day of the Live Events, Nissan will select the Top 20 based on their performance. Gamers should be 18 years old and above and have a driver’s license. These 20 contenders will go through four challenges on July 14-15. The first challenge is the same as on the gaming pod, second is physical challenge, then personality challenge where they will be tested on facing the media, and the final would involve the actual driving challenge where competitors will drive Nissan vehicles.

Huh was quick to note that the driving challenge does not necessarily mean a test of driving fast but rather a test to see if they are comfortable with driving a moving car.

Of the Top 20, they will select the Top 6 who will proceed to the Race Camp headquartered at Stowe Circuit in Silverstone, UK (the home of Formula 1) in August. The six

Philippine representatives will compete against each other both on and off real-world track. Then the top 1 from each country will be pitted against the final contender of the four other countries in the Asian league.

This is where Stöckinger will be helping the six finalists.

“We believe we have no one better than the Lotus F1 racer Marlon Stöckinger to mentor the Top 6 contestants, giving them advice, tips and tricks so they can become number 1 in the Asian league,” declared Huh. Armed with his experience and current status, Stöckinger is confident that sharing his experience will help the finalists. “I think Nissan is very ambitious so they wanted someone with experience. Hopefully going through [what] I’ve been through in motor sport, I’ll be able to teach them all the important things,” said Stöckinger.

But once in the camp, he said he will show the Filipino finalists the hard truths in motor sport, where, unlike driving on the PlayStation, there’s no reset button. While Stöckinger’s excited to share his knowledge, especially to those who don’t have any experience in race car driving, he maintains that once all information were given the rest has to come within them.

“All my tips, all my coaching are for nothing if the finalists will not work hard to get the ultimate prize: winning the top spot,” he emphasized.

But more than bagging the glory of being the first Nissan GT Academy Asian league winner for the Philippines, NPI launched this program in a bid to democratize the rather expensive sport. “We’re not just promoting the game. What we’re doing is giving out the opportunity to basically everyone who dreams to become race car drivers but don’t know how to start or cannot go through it because it’s very expensive,” said Huh. “I actually wish I had this opportunity in the beginning. If I’ve known I could just play the PlayStation and turn it into a racing pod, it would had definitely been a lot cheaper for my father,” shared Stöckinger with a laugh.

M ONDAY : J UNE 29 : 2015

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LIFE life @ thestandard.com .ph

FROM PAIN TO PURPOSE

B.E.S.T. EDUCATION

Benilde scholarships transcend boundaries

How a scholar rose above adversity

It is said that education is the great equalizer, but this adage only holds true if one were given the means and the opportunity to go to school. For Gladis Morales, finishing college seemed a far-off dream back in her high school days in Porac, Pampanga when she had to walk two kilometers to the next barangay and back to buy pen, paper and other school supplies to save P50 on transportation money.

Now 20 and a fourth year Accountancy student at the Far Eastern University, the painful experiences were overshadowed by the positive values she learned during her formative years, pushing her to excel and go beyond her limits. A scholar since her freshman year, she is active in her university, currently the vice president for Internal Affairs of the Junior Philippine Institute of Accountants at FEU. Over the years, she has also won numerous awards and accolades such as the Outstanding Tamaraw JPIAn, FEU’s Top Ten Outstanding Juniors, and Ayala Foundation’s Ayala Young Leaders.

“I never considered myself as poor. My dad is a farmer, my mom a sari-sari store owner. I have two brothers and two sisters. We’re a happy family, “ she said. Her exposure at FEU however opened her eyes to the fact that her family belongs to that class of people in society who live below the poverty line. She recalls how back in high school, she would earn extra by tutoring kids who also had to walk to the next barangay to buy school supplies. It was a community problem that needed to be addressed, she remarks, It was this experience that inspired her to buy school supplies from Divisoria and bring them to her hometown.

A dialogue with community leaders gave rise to the barangay’s first school supply store. The response was positive: students, teachers, and parents patronized it as the go-to store for their pen-and-paper needs.

The venture became her first experience in handling a structured business and the challenges that went with it.

“Applying the theories and principles I learned in college was more difficult than I thought it would be,” Gladis confessed. “When you have an enterprise, whatever decision you make will have a big effect [on people]… you have to go beyond the predetermined solutions given in books.”

But the scholarship Gladis was getting was insufficient as well as inconsistent. Apparently, the same experience is shared by many scholars in her hometown – discovering that many types of scholarships are not sustainable. Putting their heads together, Gladis and her friends thought about founding the Scholars in Action in August last year.

Scholars in Action, or SiA, disseminates scholarship opportunities to those who need it and gives sustainable scholarship to its beneficiaries through partnerships with corporations, government offices, and non-profit organizations.

“There was a lack of information back in my barangay,” the student leader explained. “SiA makes students aware of the scholarships available to them, and the colleges and universities that they could go to. We also help students get scholarships where they can budget their expenditures and savings, and look for other benefactors if the terms of the sponsorship will allow it.”

There is also A Scholar’s Story, the enterprise of SiA. A Scholar’s Story sells school supplies which carry the stories of the scholars, and buyers can also write messages to the students. Half of the proceeds go to the members’ allowances.

There are currently 13 scholars under SiA, with plans to coordinate with the National Youth Commission to elevate the program on a national level. “We will also have partnerships outside of the country, thanks to the symposiums FEU has sent me to,” she shared, adding that it was FEU that gave her the knowledge and resources to become an advocate for sustainable education.

Gladis Morales

De La Salle-College of Saint Benilde (DLS-CSB) lays the groundwork for opportunities that challenge, transform, and inspire the youth through a diverse set of scholarships and financial assistance programs with the aim of making Benildean-Lasallian quality education accessible to learners from various backgrounds.

The global La Sallian family, started 300 years ago in France by the teacher St. John the Baptist De La Salle, is unified by a commitment to the institution’s Mission – transcending class, age, gender, and culture – to educate the best and deserving.

DLS-CSB offers six types of academic scholarships – seven for merit scholarships, and several grants for incoming freshmen and currently enrolled students. The first is the Piere Romançon Grant, which provides full tuition subsidy and fees waiver to qualified enrollees needful of financial support.

The Benildean Excellence in Scholastics and Talents (BEST) Scholarship which consists of full tuition and miscellaneous subsidy along with a stipend per term, is awarded to currently enrolled students with outstanding academic performance and consistently substantive achievements in co-curricular activities.

To qualify for the BEST, the student must have a high school grade point average of 90 percent or its equivalent, as computed by the Benilde Committee on Scholarships. The candidate must also have considerable potential as a student and community leader.

The top 20 scorers of the Benildean Entrance Exam qualify for the Entrance Academic (ENTRACA) Scholarship, entitling the recipients with a tuition and other fees waiver. Fresh out of high school, incoming freshmen from the top 10 of their graduating batch are eligible for the Honors Scholarship, with full tuition and other fees subsidy, free dormitory accommodations, and a monthly allowance.

Derived from the Vatel International Business School of Hotel and Tourism Management, with a worldwide network of academic institutions globally recognized in the hospitality industry, students of Bachelor of Science in Hotel, Restaurant and Institution Management are awarded full tuition and fees are waived for a year after five consecutive terms of exceptional academic performance.

The Top Ten Honors Scholarship, on the other hand, is awarded to the 10 best ranking students of their respective Schools in Benilde for three consecutive terms, with the qualifiers given stipends commensurate to their ratings. Varsity players can also avail of the Athletic Recruit Scholarship through representing the College in intercollegiate sports competitions, requiring an endorsement from the institution’s coaches that will be assessed by the Center for Sports Development for approval.

True to its goal of fostering educational accessibility for the underprivileged, DLS-CSB through the Kapitbahay Grant grants full tuition, other fees subsidy and allowance to academically deserving but impoverished high school graduates living within Benilde’s beneficiary areas in Manila and Pasay.

The applicant must be a resident of the community for at least two years with a certification from the Barangay Captain.

The Benildean Hope Grant (BHG) was also crafted with the same goal of inclusivity, offered to applicants from marginalized sectors, such as street children and youth from indigenous communities identified and recognized by the College, who are engaged and endorsed by non-government organizations and institution partners.

For more information, you may visit www.scholarships. benilde.edu.ph or you may call the De La Salle-College of Saint Benilde trunk line 230-5100 local 1821.

FOUR STUDENTS MAKE IT TO 13TH HYLI

H

itachi Asia Ltd. announced the names of university students who will represent the Philippines at the upcoming 13th Hitachi Young Leaders Initiative which will be held in Manila from July 27 to 30.

The event will bring together prominent regional opinion leaders from the private, public and academic sectors to discuss regional transportation issues and engage in dialogue with the student participants, who will present their ideas about how the above issues can be addressed.

The students chosen to represent the Philippines are Danielle Marie Cang, De La Salle University; Marc Wendolf Duque, Ateneo de Manila; Raphael Justin Jambalos, University of the Philippines; and Ariel Joseph Nipas, University of Sto. Tomas.

The four were selected after passing a rigorous application and evaluation process that included a panel interview chaired by Former Supreme Court Justice Antonio Eduardo Nachura. All of them possess academic excellence, good extra-curricular activities record, displayed strong leadership qualities, keen interest in regional and global affairs, and are fluent in English.

“HYLI demonstrates Hitachi’s commitment to contribute to ASEAN’s future development and sustainability. We recognize that the next generation of young leaders will bring about a better ASEAN, and as a responsible corporate citizen, Hitachi is providing the platform to nurture the next generation,” Hirohiko Morisaki, Managing Director of Hitachi Asia Ltd., said.

“As Hitachi’s flagship corporate social responsibility program in Southeast Asia, HYLI brings together student participants and subject experts from the region, to facilitate a holistic discussion on the challenges faced as one entity,” he added.

HYLI originally started with six countries – Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Japan. The resounding success of the program encouraged Hitachi to expand the initiative to include Vietnam beginning the 8th HYLI, and to further extend the invitation to Myanmar students for the 13th HYLI. Through the continuous expansion of this program, Hitachi will be able to develop more student leaders across ASEAN to aid in the region’s growth and further strengthen sociocultural ties between Japan and ASEAN member states.

Since its establishment in 1996, HYLI has brought together 280 students of diverse nationalities and backgrounds in Asia. Each year, four outstanding students below the age of 28 are chosen to represent their country for the program.

The main theme for this year’s HYLI is “ASEAN Perspectives on the Social and Environmental Challenges of Designing and Implementing Public Transportation Systems.” Public transportation is essential as ASEAN aims to be more inter-connected like that of the European Union’s. Indonesia, Thailand, Malaysia and the Philippines will spend US$296 billion on transport infrastructure (roads, railways, airports and ports) through 20201, which is evidence of how important, yet lacking, transportation infrastructure is in the region. Discussions at the 13th HYLI will therefore center on the three sub-themes: a snapshot of the current state of urbanization and sustainability in ASEAN; an overview of the infrastructural options for people-centric and environment-friendly transportation systems; and shaping a culture of sharing: Lifestyle changes for efficient transportation.

For more information, please visit http://www.hitachi. com/csr/sc/activities/hyli/.

M ONDAY : J UNE 29 : 2015

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LIFE life @ thestandard.com .ph

MUST-HAVE: SPEAKER LIGHT BULBS

BY ED BIADO

An LED light bulb with a built-in speaker is something I wish I’d thought of. It’s really a simple yet genius concept. LEDs are the best kind of home lighting today because they’re energy-efficient and they’re not limited to a single color. The ones available in the market can dim and change colors, just like the notification lights on certain phone models.

And by putting in a speaker, well, that’s just a party. Most people go for wireless speakers because we all hate wires, right? But the problem with them is that they run out of juice at some point and we’ll have to plug them in again and again. Speaker light bulbs will never lose power because they’re not battery-operated. You just screw them in and they’re good to go.

So imagine the many ways you can enhance the mood of your living spaces with these little babies – music playing in the background in every room while your choice of lighting hue (bluish for relaxation, rainbow for fun, yellowish white for photo-ops, red for sexy time, etc.) and sequence (pulsing, flashing, fading) creates the perfect atmosphere. And I repeat: No messy wires!

The best part of it all is that everything is controlled via mobile app so you can change it up as you please with swipes and taps.

Playbulb Color, available online right now, allows for changing the color of the light with a single tap. It also has a wake-up and sleep timer that you can program with the right music to wake you up and put you to sleep. The light can be dimmed to serve as a night light, which can also be complemented with the playback of a bedtime audio book.

Meanwhile, LightFreq Square2, currently on crowdfunding, wakes you up in the morning with weather and traffic alerts, and alerts you with notifications when your phone is in the other room.

It also functions as an intercom system.

There’s also the option to get a supplemental light bulb with no speakers called MUTE, which is synced with the rest of the system. And if you’re going away for a vacation, you can program the whole thing to switch on and off to give the impression that someone’s there, thus adding a layer of security to your home.

Playbulb Color can be purchased through online retailers for $79.99 each. No retail price is available yet for LightFreq Square2. But you be one of the first owners of the product, which ships in October, if you back the campaign over at Indiegogo.

Beauty guru Jarmaine Santiago leverages on technology and social media to help homeless Filipino children.

JARMAINE SPREADS THE JOY WITH LENOVO

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Playbulb Color Specs

Playbulb Color Box

Playbulb Color Light Freq Square2

Inside LightFreq Square2

eauty guru Jarmaine Santiago – the US-based Filipina behind makeup blog Hey Jarmaine and JLovesMac1, gets a boost from Lenovo via a Yoga Tablet 2 Pro which will assist her in running the blog site and its social media channels plus a contribution of $5,000 for the benefit of Give 41, a charity organization run by Jarmaine to provide basic necessities to impoverished children in the Philippines.

“Being a CSR-oriented company, Lenovo finds ways to positively change the lives of people through innovation and technology. Lenovo is proud to support Jarmaine of JLovesMac1, Hey Jarmaine and Give41, and we hope to inspire more Doers like her who wish to leverage on technology and social media to improve the welfare of Filipinos,” said Michael Ngan, Country General Manager, Lenovo Philippines.

Formerly social media-shy, Jarmaine developed her own voice to connect with her subscribers on a personal level.

Today, the beauty guru shares makeup and hair video tutorials through her blog and social media platforms. The techsavvy blogger uses her Yoga Tablet 2 Pro when checking emails and managing her social media channels on the go.

She also loves to replay and review her edited videos with the Yoga Tablet 2 Pro’s built-in Pico Projector.

LightFreq Square2 app

Having built a solid network of subscribers, Jarmaine resolved to leverage on her reach to help homeless Filipino children whom she strongly identifies with and regards as her kin. Having spent her growing up years in an impoverished barrio herself, she knows how the poor struggle just to meet their basic necessities.

Jarmaine thus founded Give 41 which allows people to purchase clothes and shoes for the benefit of poor Filipino communities.

On top of the $5,000 donation, Jarmaine has also been collaborating with Lenovo by filming videos for the brand. In return, Lenovo donates P41 (about $0.99) to the charity for each “like” generated from her subscriber network. Regular site visitors may also contribute P41-which costs less than a cup of coffee in the US to take part in Give 41’s cause.

“Having experienced living in a cinder block home only hoping for a roof to shelter us from heavy storms, I can easily relate to the plight homeless Filipinos face today. Through Lenovo’s support, I hope to continue distributing clothes and other essentials to more homeless Filipino children as my way of giving back to the homeland that has shaped my identity,” said Jarmaine.

Learn more about Jarmaine in Mission Adventure and I want to Adopt a Baby. You can check out her other videos at JarmaineTV.

M O N D AY : J U N E 2 9 : 2 0 1 5

C4 FOR PARTY ANIMALS ONLY

BOB ZOZOBRADO

LIFE life @ thestandard.com .ph

PARTY ESSENTIALS

Today’s column features two recent events that highlighted two items always present in a fun party. You’ll need one for that casual chic look, and you’ll need the other to bring you to “great heights” at the party, if you know what I mean.

PhilPacific Beverage Imports COO John Paul Calvo, Regional Sales Manager Gavin Gaminde, Brand Ambassador Mikhail Schemm, and National Sales Manager Jay Coson

MILLER BEER Miller Genuine Draft embodies the ultimate in cosmopolitan beer, with its refined taste and super-premium quality, making it the smooth and refreshing beer of choice in high-energy places like bars, nightclubs and parties.

Perking up the metro several moons ago was Miller’s Soundclash and Luminocity, staged in partnership with the headphone brand V-Moda and DJ gear UDG, creating the brand’s presence in the worldwide music magazine DJ Mag Top 100 and in the online music website Mixcloud.

Recently, Miller Genuine Draft was formally launched in an exclusive Penthouse party at 71 Gramercy, led by PhilPacific Beverage Import’s top officers – chief operating officer John Paul Calvo; president Luigi Nunez; regional sales manager Gavin Gaminde; national sales manager Jay Coson and brand ambassador Mikhail Schemm. The evening’s program was hosted by Tim Yap, with the fun celebration lasting until early morning.

Chris Tiu and Zion Laterre

WRANGLER JEANS

The younger set’s being instinctive, adventurous, and always ready for action fit perfectly into this American brand’s mission to deliver expertly crafted, stylish and functional denims that give the wearer the feeling of freedom and unlimited possibilities to explore.

Not too long ago, Wrangler Philippines launched the Wrangler VIP Card, the brand’s way of ensuring that avid customers receive top-notch service and a number of exciting and valuable benefits.

Wearers can avail of free alterations without having to present a receipt, and enjoy a free cup of coffee while waiting at select Wrangler boutiques.

Cardholders can also earn points which they can use to purchase Wrangler items. They also get invited to Wrangler events, like movie premiers, etc., and special deals from the brand’s many partner establishments. To get a VIP Card for free, one just has to have an accumulated purchase of P2,500 worth of Wrangler products within a six-month period.

During the event, Wrangler also introduced its latest products – Exclusive Underwear Line and Timber Creek, the non-denim line for men.

Chris Badiola, Evelin Weber and Richard Tiu

Camille Co

Rolini Pineda, Isabel Tanalgo and Nicole Ku

Ann Tan, Marie Bernadette Roque with Discovery Primea’s Ron Gacutan

PERSONALITY OF THE WEEK

Wrangler Philippines President Daisy Go and Executive Vice President Froilan Dollosa

YOUR MONDAY CHUCKLE

:-D

Laureen Uy

Wrangler Philippines Vice President for Marketing Marty Tio

Little Sally came home from school with a smile on her face, and told her mother, “Frankie Brown showed me his weenie today at the playground!” Before the mother could raise a concern, Little Sally went on to say, “It reminded me of a peanut.” Relaxing, with a hidden smile, the Mom quipped, “Really small, was it?”

Little Sally replied, “No¼ s alty.” Mom fainted.

For feedback, I’m at bobzozobrado@gmail.com

MMDA Chairman Francis Tolentino, the Man Who Will Be Senator, has been making the rounds, sharing tips on how to be safe in case the much dreaded 7.4 magnitude earthquake hits the metro as a result of the expected movement of the West Valley Fault in Marikina. Although he presents facts in scary details, we need to know what preparations MMDA Chairman Francis Tolentino we should make and how to act when it happens, if we are to survive such act of God. He announced that there would be a metro-wide earthquake drill on July 30. All establishments, private or public, including households, should participate. This earthquake-preparedness is aimed at decreasing the number of potential casualties, if such a disaster should happen.

M ONDAY : J UNE 2 9 : 2015

SHOWBITZ

ISAH V. RED EDITOR

isahred @ gmail.com

The Dockers’ Signature On-The-Go Slim Tapered khakis take the modern man at the helm with its timeless flair and classic cut.

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The stylish Dockers’ pants give the smart and confident look any professional needs, without compromising comfort.

Wearing Dockers showcase smart and refined fashion, a style meant for the game changer, the trailblazer, creating a statement of your own.

Dockers Dresses moDerN maN To success

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o one achieves success more than those who claim it.

The best athletes are relentless amid failures; the best tycoons persist amid rejections; the best men are tenacious amid defeats until they achieve success.

The grueling travel to that dream come true is full of countless losses and frustrations, but as they say, fortune favors the bold, and a man full of confidence is a man who is capable to win.

Nothing exudes this kind of power more than showing up at work, dressed to take charge.

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A man dashed with dapper and suave can earn respect among peers just as he can shape the kind of work he brings and life he will live. The well-dressed man not only embodies self-confidence, he makes sure to give his best.

Your own journey to success can start with this kind of determination as you give yourself the best closet staple of the classic affluent man.

The Dockers’ Signature OnThe-Go Slim Tapered khakis take the modern man at the helm with its timeless flair and classic cut.

The stylish staple pants give the smart and confident look any pro-

fessional needs, without compromising comfort. It can take you from the early morning meeting to a dinner party—fitting for the packed, hectic schedule of any modern gentleman.

Wearing Dockers showcase smart and refined fashion, a style meant for the game changer, the trailblazer, creating a statement of your own. The classic chinos give the modern gentleman’s wardrobe an impeccable and easy selection for its daily outfits, with any clothing paired with the signature pants displaying function and style.

Dockers continue to raise the

standards and be the standard, reinventing itself to the changing lifestyles of men. The signature pants have been recreated fit for the demands of the modern man and its effortless and exemplary creations remain the prime choice of the alpha male, emanating the sharp, smart vibe, ready to create his own mark in the world.

Men who are built to dominate the game deserve the best, and that’s exactly what Dockers has been for the past decades— the top khaki brand. Its creations have been donned and tested time and time again by men at the top

of their game, leading the pack of their own fields.

This versatility and excellence in fashion and style are the qualities keeping Dockers dominating its category.

The same qualities driving the modern man to his success as every hem and cut of the signature pants bring him confidence and purpose.

With the Signature On-The-Go Slim Tapered khakis, the modern gentleman is debonair, ready to take the world with smart and stylish dressing.

You are in charge; you are in control; and you are ready to leave a mark.

‘Ismol FamIly’ Celebrates FIrst annIversary

he entire cast and crew of GMA 7’s Ismol Family have reasons to smile and be happy these days. And, why not? They celebrated their first anniversary on air last Sunday.

The program enjoys the support of the audience and consistently receives positive feedback from netizens.

Direk Dominic Zapata shared that the good vibes and fun atmosphere on set are the reasons why Ismol Family is successful.

He said, “Time flies when you are having fun. Ang bilis. Nagulat ako. One year na pala. I wasn’t really looking at the long term. Hindi ko iniisip yung dulo, hanggang saan ba ito? Everytime we are taping, I’m just having fun. Ang saya lang nito.

Everyone is having fun. I just like it na people can appreciate seeing people who are having fun. Sakay na lang sila sa saya namin. That’s what I like about the show. Lahat masaya, nagre-rate, mukhang pinapanood naman siya. It’s always a good feeling when you are validated by ratings, pero like I always say hindi ako napapaapekto sa rating.

Mas gusto ko yung narinig ko, hey,

Dominic napanood ko yung show niyo, alam mo ang saya niya. At the end of the day, we are all entertainers. We mean to entertain. And you are doing your job, and that feels good” Ryan Agoncillo and Carla Abellana are thrilled with the success of Ismol Family since its pilot airing last year on weekend primetime.

Ryan said they treat everyone like family and viewers keep on watching their show because aside from the unique and funny episodes, they teach valuable lessons to everyone.

“Time flies so fast especially for people who are enjoying it. It was such a good year for Ismol Family because the artists, the production staff and the crew have become one happy family, too! What people see on screen every week is a product of a genuinely fun, happy and light set that has become our safe refuge every Tuesday (taping day). We are also happy that we are able to impart good family values to everyone. It will only get better as we go on! And our Ismol Family, closer than ever.”

Carla, on the other hand, believes that the program has many followers because of its relatable storyline, which takes the viewers on a fun but inspiring family adventure that both parents and kids can enjoy.

Mikael Daez says he is flattered with the positive comments he has been receiving with his role as Bernie. This is the first time for him to portray a closeted gay unlike his previous characters in the drama soaps of the network.

Meanwhile, Carmi Martin said that she is very thankful to Ismol Family because it gave her an acting award as Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Gag or Comedy Program from Golden Screen TV Awards this year.

“I’m super grateful na napakalaking blessing para sa akin ang Ismol Family! 1 year na kami at I’m praying na mas marami pa kaming mapasayang pamilya every Sunday! May bonus pang award para sa akin for Best Supporting Actress. Winner talaga ang Ismol Family!”

Ismol Family airs every Sunday on GMA.

The cast at the anniversary celebration

Members of Ismol Family having fun on the set

Class picture with Ryan Agoncillo, Carla Ablellana, and director Dominic Zapata

M ONDAY : J UNE 2 9 : 2015

C6

SHOWBITZ isahred @ gmail.com

PIOLO haS OnLy gOOD WORDS fOR SaRah JOSEPh PEtER gOnZaLES Piolo Pascual Julie San Jose

Tom Rodriguez

Piolo Pascual has only good words for Sarah Geronimo, his leading lady in his latest film offering titled The Breakup Playlist.

“Actually, I didn’t expect that one day we’re going to do a movie together,” he says. “We’ve been co-hosts in ASAP for the longest time now and it’s a different experience shooting scenes with her almost every day. I got to know her better. I discovered a lot of things about her which earned my respect and admiration.

“For one, she loves her job so much. The burning passion is evident. It’s a nice feeling to work with someone who’s on the same phase on how you want things work. The Breakup List is not your usual formulaic potboiler. Definitely, it’s not easy to do since the material is different.

“But I guess, Sarah and I were

up to the challenge of coming up with an endearing project. We did our best and based on initial feedback, we were successful in breathing life to our characters.

I’m happy because my maiden team-up with her is a hit.”

The award-winning actor considers his screen pairing with Sarah a dream-come-true.

“That’s right! It’s my privilege.

I know that she is one of the best out there. She’s always on top of her game. That’s the reason why I enjoyed doing scenes with her.

“She’s flexible. Whether it’s light or highly-dramatic, she always gives it her best shot. As an artist, she still has lots to give so I’m sure we’ll be seeing more great works from her in the coming days!”

Off-cam, Piolo says the Pop Princess is also tops.

“Yes! Apart from her dedication to her craft, what’s amazing about Sarah is that she is a very kind girl. At the back of all the glamour is a simple lass, so unassuming.

She deserves all the triumph she enjoys at present. It was really an unforgettable experience working

with her in this project,” he ends.

HHHHH Julie Ann San Jose sheds light to the rumor linking her romantically to Coco Martin.

“Yes! After Alden (Richards), now they say it’s Coco. And there’s a serious twist: that I’m pregnant! Haha-ha! It’s really funny,” she says.

The talented Kapuso ward actually first read it on Facebook.

“And I was surprised! In the first place, the two of us don’t know each other personally. We haven’t been introduced, so where did it come from?”

Does she find Coco attractive?

“He’s okay. I admire his being a good actor.”

If there are local male celebrities though that Julie Ann has a crush on, it’s Dennis Trillo and Gerald Anderson.

“That I would admit. For a long time now, I really admire these two guys. Both are handsome,” Julie Ann reveals.

HHHHH Tom Rodriguez is preparing so well for his next big soap on GMA: the reboot of Marimar

where he would breathe life to the role of Sergio.

“It’s just exciting,” he says. “It’s a major part. If you will remember, it was Dingdong Dantes who played the role in the 2008 version. Wow!” Isn’t he under pressure with this fact?

“Of course I am. When I first learned about it, I couldn’t believe it. It felt so unreal. But as the thought sank in to me, I knew it’ll be a big challenge. Well, even if there’s pressure, I am still thrilled.

For one, I’m sure I will learn a lot from the project!”

He will be paired with Miss World 2013 Megan Young.

“Yes! It’s a big break for her. I’ve worked with her before so I guess that lessens the worries. At least, we already have a great working relationship. One more thing, we are supported by a great cast so the more I feel confident. There’s Jaclyn Jose, Ricardo Cepeda, Carmi Martin, Cris Villanueva, Jaya, Candy Pangilinan, Frank Magalona, Maricris Garcia, Dion Ignacio, and Lauren Young,” Tom states.

Spotify SeSSionS’ firSt reCording with hale

I

n the first installment of Spotify Sessions in the Philippines, Hale performs “See You” along with “One Of These Days,” “You Or Nothing,” and ‘Saint Or Sinner’.

The band also record its own rendition of “Lost Stars” from the musical film Begin Again, which also marks the first time the band is releasing a cover track.

The band is looking forward to explore new ways to engage their fans as they make their comeback. Frontman Champ Lui-Pio shares, “It’s an honor to be the first OPM band to be featured in Spotify Sessions. We believe this is a great way for us to share our music not just with our fans in the Philippines, but the rest of the world.”

“We are thrilled to launch the first-ever Spotify Sessions in the Philippines featuring Hale. Hale’s comeback via an exclusive prestream on Spotify has been received well by

fans and we can’t wait to share more exciting content from them,” says Chee Meng Tan, director of Label Relations (APAC), Spotify.

“This is our way of supporting the OPM industry and we look forward to feature more homegrown talent from our biggest market in the region.”

Hale joins the ranks of other artists featured in Spotify Sessions in Asia, which include Malaysia’s breakthrough artist Yuna and four-time Grammy nominated country music singer-songwriter Hunter Hayes.

Spotify Sessions are intimate, exclusive performances by today’s most exciting artists, from up-and-coming local talent to international superstars. Recorded and mixed to the highest professional standards, these tracks are available for free on Spotify, offering artists the perfect platform to showcase their music to a global audience.

CROSSWORD PUZZLE 46 48 49 51 53 55 56 59 61 65

ANSWER FOR PREVIOUS PUZZLE ACROSS 1 Shadowy 4 Top-notch 8 Whaler of fiction 12 Dashiell contemporary 13 About (2 wds.)

14 Thigh bone 16 Sediment 17 Well source (2 wds.)

19 Get stuck on 21 Even one

22 23 25 27 31 35 36 38 39 41 43 44

Broke the news “Where’s the —?”

“She Loves You” refrain Drizzle Caught a wave — chi ch’uan Spill clumsily Viscous SASE, e.g.

Joined together Brown bird Turn — — ear

68 69 70 71 72 73 74

Object Decent grade Wonderful thing Infrequency Burnoose wearer Singer — Hendryx Tender cutlets Chop weeds Vast Deep oceanic abyss (2 wds.)

Morse signals Range Walk-on, maybe Between ports GP expertise Put-down City near Tehran

DOWN 1 Three, in Munich 2 Holly shrub 3 Iron-rich range 4 Twice a month (hyph.)

5 Queen before Sophia 6 Baja Ms. 7 — -bopper 8 Toward the rear 9 London hub 10 Pulpit 11 Optimistic investor

MONDAY, JUNE 29, 2015

12 15 18 20 24 26 27 28 29 30 32 33 34 37 40 42 45 47 50 52 54 56 57 58 60 62 63 64 66 67

Pointy-shoe wearer Cheerful color Whiskey grains Decades Stall the engine 31-day mo.

Vapor Chinese mammal Kitchen tool Glacial ridge Pry open Rapiers Fractions of newtons Macho type (hyph.)

Sarong’s kin Baseball’s Leo Not “agin” Vegas rival Cowardly Lion portrayer NYSE rival Afrikaners MTV hosts I could — — horse!

Stratford’s river Organic compound Japanese soup Thing 1860s initials Hanoi New Year Actor — Gulager

Hale is featured in Spotify Sessions

M ONDAY : J UNE 2 9 : 2015

C7

SHOWBITZ isahred @ gmail.com

Bee Gees Gold, The TriBuTe live in Manila!

M

idas Hotel and Casino and DMC Phils. presents The Bee Gees Gold The Tribute this onJuly 15, 8 p.m. at the Tent of Midas Hotel & Casino.

John Acosta as Barry Gibb has performed in Bee Gees Tributes all over the world. His portrayal of lead singer Barry Gibb is with a zest for detail, like no other. From the look to the falsetto you will close your eyes and say its Barry.

John Acosta’s Bee Gees Gold

The Bee Gees Tribute band

From C8

tribute is the ultimate salute, and experience of seeing the Bee Gees in their prime, live once again.

With the detailed vocal stylings of John Acosta (Barry) , Daryl Borges (Robin) , Jeff Celentano (Maurice) as the brothers Gibb, there is a sensation that will make you blurt out , “Wow..

I just seen and heard the Bee Gees!”

Backed by a live band, the Vegas Bee Gees tribute recreates the look and sound of the Bee Gees from the 60’s to the late 70’s, with their unique falsettos that made them

legends. Performing such early hits as “Massachusetts,” “ I started a Joke,” “Stayin’ Alive,” “Night Fever,” “How Deep is Your Love,” “Too Much Heaven,” “Night Fever,” “Stayin Alive,” “You Should be Dancing,” “Emotions,” and many more.

The concert also features LKLK Expanded Band & Chosen Ones.

Tickets are priced at P3,000 (VIP), 2,500(Gold), 2,000 (Silver) and available at all SM Tickets (470.222) and TicketWorld (891.9999) or www.ticketworld.com.ph.

Anne Curtis explores MAnilA’s food, fAshion And fun Philippine media darling Anne Curtis lands this July on Lifetime with her new show F Word Out Loud. Premiering on July 29 at 9 p.m., the series finds Anne embarking on exciting missions to find the best of food, fashion, and fun in Manila.

Join Anne in her search of Manila cool and discover the city anew with its incredible underground talent and fascinating sights and culture. Watch as Anne herself becomes humbled and amazed by Manila’s hidden gems in this can’tbe-missed internationally broadcast magazine style series.

Lifetime also presents the allnew The Amazing Race Canada.

Hearts will race as the teams struggle to complete challenging tasks to make their way to their next destination. The first season will have nine teams make their way through jungles and ice before heading to the cities of Vancouver and Calgary

face terrible consequences. Each episode features two stories and culminates in a professional intervention by the series’ experts.

Uncover the drama and deliver-

ance in the face of disorder as the series kicks off 8 p.m. on July 4.

Sundays also become movie nights with LIFETIME original movies. Follow the hunt and capture of serial killer Keith Hunter Jesperson in Happy Face Killer. The man famous for signing his morbid notes with a happy face kills at least eight women in a five-year span. Get to know his story, 8 p.m. on July 12.

High school becomes horror in the movie Teen Exorcism. School newspaper editor Lauren’s expose on her school’s cliques leads her to an exorcism ceremony performed by the church youth group “The Chosen”. When her best friend Chloe begins to act differently and Lauren believes she might be possessed, Lauren asks help from The Chosen. But not all the girls from the group want to save Chloe. Find out if Lauren gets to save her best friend 8 p.m.on July 26.

anyone. She creates explosions in her world, having fun and causing chaos, without realizing the damage she is doing. Like an animal, she survives on instinct and hopes for the best. She’s fearless and I’m pretty fearless too.”

20 year-old Wolff, who previously starred in the well-reviewed Palo Alto and gave a scene stealing performance as Isaac, a boy with cancer, in The Fault In Our Stars, is completely relatable as Q. “Nat is very charming and likeable and winning,” says producer Isaac Klausner. “When he is up there on screen, you root for him. He reminds us of a young

Dustin Hoffman. He is so real and incredibly smart.”

“John really admires teens and sees them as thoughtful and emotionally questing human beings,” adds Isaac Klausner. “He identifies high school years as a time when your intellect is fully formed and you’re deeply curious. His characters don’t feel like the generalized whitewashed teenagers you often read, they feel like real people,” One of this year’s much-awaited teen movie event, Paper Towns opens very soon this July 23 from 20th Century Fox to be distributed by Warner Bros.

Anne Curtis stars in F Word Out Loud on Lifetime

in the hopes of winning the $500,000 grand prize. Join their adventures and watch the series premiere 9 p.m. on July 7.

The Emmy-nominated reality

series Hoarders: Family Secrets also comes to Lifetime in July and delves into how people who find it impossible to part with even their tiniest possessions

Nat Wolff and Cara Delevinge star in Paper Towns

a

A fun, touChing CoMing-of-Age story

dapted from the bestselling novel by John Green, Paper Towns is an exciting and entertaining coming of age story that tells the story of Quentin (Nat Wolff), a romantic and studious teenager, who is in love with Margo (Cara Delevingne), his beautiful and Good friends as

children, they have since grown apart. But one night, towards the end of high school, Margo persuades Quentin to join her on a wild, night long adventure, which involves a series of outrageous pranks. But the next day, Margo disappears. Q and his friends set off on a road trip to track her down.

There are a lot of films about young men who romanticize young women and think that if they can just get the girl, the story will end happily,” says Green.

“But that’s not the way human relationships work. In real life that stuff is messy and complicated and we wanted to try to show that the point of living is not necessarily to get the girl or the boy.”

“Cara is an extremely free spirit and I identify with her a lot, in terms of living in the moment and not really thinking about the future,” says the British supermodel Delevingne. “Margo cannot be caged by her parents or by

M ONDAY : J UNE 2 9 : 2015

C8

ISAH V. RED EDITOR isahred @ gmail.com

SHOWBITZ

PLDT top gun Manny V. Pangilinan (second from right) with Glee's Heather Morris (fourth from right) and Ariel Fermin, PLDT EVP

entertAinment Anywhere, everywhere The Gutierrez siblings – Raymond and Ruffa – are among the celebrity guests at the launch of iFlix

ISAH V. RED If you’re someone who can’t live without going to the movies or watching television, then iFlix is the kind of app you want on your mobile phone or tablet.

PLDT HOME and Smart let you experience entertainment everywhere with PH’s largest library of movies and TV series.

Enter the no-TV-zone that lets you watch what you want when you want in just two clicks with iFlix, country’s biggest library of video on-demand content to partner with the country’s biggest multimedia networks PLDT HOME and Smart.

Wednesday last week, Green Sun hotel on Chino Roces in Makati saw a multitude of techies gathered in one event. PLDT and Smart launched the newest app available to their subscribers.

The Philippine launch of iFlix comes at spot-on timing since it recently secured topline content deals with giant Hollywood studios The Walt Disney Company, Twentieth Century Fox Television Distribution (Fox), BBC Worldwide (BBC) and Warner Bros. International Television Distribution (Warner Bros.).

This means that on top of existing over 11,000 hours of TV serial titles and updated catalogue of Hollywood, European and Asian releases, shows like Sherlock, Doctor Who, Homeland and The Big Bang Theory are now part of iFlix’s growing library.

For movies, iFlix beefs up its Hollywood selection with action blockbusters like Star Trek, Batman Begins, and Green Lantern, among thousands of other choices.

PLDT HOME and Smart wel-

Joey Mead and Jason Godfrey host the launch at Green Sun

come the addition of iFlix as part of its ever-expanding entertainment ensemble. “This is literally entertainment everywhere. With all of these titles bannered under PLDT HOME and Smart’s power-packed lineup of reliable Internet services for families and individuals, your choice of entertainment device deserves its own star at the Hollywood Walk of Fame,” rationalized PLDT EVP and Consumer Business Group Head Ariel P. Fermin.

“You already have the device that has the capability to showcase your guilty viewing pleasures—whether it’s a smartphone, a tablet, laptop,

desktop computers and even TV screens. All you need is that one movie, that particular episode or even an entire season that you’ve had on your must-watch list. From small escapes like whenever you’re stuck in traffic, to binge-watching rare moments when time is on your side, subscribers now have the access to the widest library of entertainment content with iFlix.

It gets so much better because you are able to gain access to these titles through PLDT HOME and Smart’s strongest and largest multimedia platforms wherever you are in the Philippines,” explained Fermin.

Meanwhile, iFlix chairman Patrick Grove raved over this exclusive big-gun partnership move with PLDT and Smart saying, “In PLDT we have found a like-minded partner who is committed to changing the way entertainment content is consumed in the region. We look forward to building an extraordinary business in the Philippines together.”

Grove added, “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.

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

Access grAnted iFlix also eliminates streaming setbacks because it’s available through PLDT and Smart. The service also liberates users from incompatible streaming due to regional conflicts.

For entertainment everywhere, register an account via www.iflix. com and instantly enjoy a complimentary 14-day trial of the service. Once the trial expires, PLDT Home and Smart users will be able to subscribe to the P99 per month package through the iFlix website.

For PLDT HOME subscribers, iFlix is available via TVolution Trio Plan 1599 inclusive of a TVolution kit, unlimited DSL and unlimited access to iFlix. Existing users of PLDT Home DSL and PLDT Home Ultera can get iFlix as an add-on option on top of their monthly fees for only P99 per month, while it comes free with PLDT HOME Fibr and PLDT HOME Telpad plans.

On the other hand, Smart subscribers may now bring entertainment anywhere for P99 a month, charged to their prepaid loads or on top of their postpaid accounts.

No credit card required.

At the launch, the crowd got the surprise when Heather Morris, one of the members of the American musical series, Glee, appeared with the iFlix executives who came to Manila to cement the tie up with PLDT and Smart.

She didn’t stay long though.

To know more on how to subscribe to iFlix with your PLDT HOME or Smart account, log on to www.pldthome.com or www. smart.com.ph. ➜ continued on c7