The Standard - 2015 July 10 - Friday

VOL. XXIX NO. 140 3 Sections 32 Pages P18 frIday : JULy 10, 2015 www.thestandard.com.ph editorial@thestandard.com.ph

Bongbong admits bid for palace ‘difficult’

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speaker: vp won’t face impeachment

By Maricel V. Cruz and Rey E. Requejo

HOUSE Speaker Feliciano Belmonte Jr. said Thursday that any impeachment attempt against Vice President Jejomar Binay would not take place during his watch.

In a text message from the Hague in the Netherlands, Belmonte said there were more important priorities for the 16th Congress, when it goes into its third regular session on July 27.

“Impeachment, if needed, is not going to happen in my last year if can help it,” Belmonte said.

Liberal Party lawmakers also said they would not initiate any impeachment motion against the Vice President, who has been hounded by corruption allegaNext page tions.

The Hague delegation ‘meant to impress’

By Christine F. Herrera HOUSE Speaker Feliciano Belmonte Jr. said Thursday the 35man entourage to The Hague was a “show of force” to “impress the arbiters” that the nation is united behind the Philippines’ case against China.

Reacting to criticism that most of them were on a junket, Belmonte said the large contingent would make the point that the country was one in the fight against China over its claims over the disputed West Philippine Sea. Next page

account for water program, DiLG told

Danger zone. A red alert has been declared for the bloated La Mesa Dam in Quezon City, where the residents living in the vicinity may have to be evacuated in case water is released from it. Lino SantoS

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SWS: Pinoys don’t trust Chinese Speaker: From A1...

Reps. Jorge Banal of Quezon City, Ben Evardone of Eastern Samar and Jerry Trenas of Iloilo City said Binay impeachment is remote.

“It seems unlikely that any impeachment will prosper at this time,” Banal said.

Any impeachment complaint against Binay, Evardone added, would not come from the ruling party.

Evardone, and Isabela Rep. Rodolfo Albano III and 1-BAP party-list Rep. Silvestre Bello III said impeachment would be a futile exercise as the 2016 national elections draw near.

“The election is already around the corner. I don’t think impeachment is a good option at this time,” Evardone said.

Albano said the House had so much on its plate—including the 2016 national budget—that any impeachment bid would not prosper.

Bello welcomed Belmonte’s statement.

“The Speaker must know that there is no impeachable offense committed by the Vice President. Besides, there might not enough time,” Bello said.

Parañaque Rep. Gus Tambunting, a staunch Binay supporter, also welcomed Belmonte’s statement.

“The Speaker is sensible and focused,” Tambunting said.

The Palace on Thursday denied Binay’s allegation that the

The Hague From A1...

His own presence was to show that Congress was fully supportive of the case against China, he added.

But Gabriela Rep. Emmi de Jesus said sending the big entourage was a waste of taxpayers’ money anc called the European trip “nothing but a junket” for those who had no role in arguing the case before the UN tribunal.

“If that is not a junket, what do you call a trip with unnecessary people vis-a-vis the Philippines’ official agenda?” De Jesus said.

Lawyer Harry Roque, who first questioned the 35-man delegation and branded the The Hague trip a junket, hit back at the Palace for calling him KSP (kulang sa pansin or lacking in attention), saying it was the Palace that was KSP for kulang sa paliwanag (lacking in explanation).

“There are so many fishermen who have gone hungry and who have lost their livelihood in the Scarborough Shoal because of the dispute with China,” Roque said in Filipino. “Maybe the money used by the 35-man delegation to The Hague would

charges against him and his family were part of a demolition job launched by the administration.

“The Office of the President and the executive branch have nothing to do with the filing of the cases against them,” said Communications Secretary Herminio Coloma Jr. “The cases filed against Vice President (Jejomar) Binay, Makati Mayor Jejomar Erwin Binay Jr., and other Makati officials before the Office of the Ombudsman were based on investigations conducted by the Senate Blue Ribbon sub-committee,” Coloma said.

“The Senate Blue Ribbon subcommittee is part of a separate and co-equal branch, and the Office of the Ombudsman is an independent constitutional body,” said Coloma.

In a statement, Binay said the same people behind the demolition job against him were also trying to sow intrigue between him and the Palace.

The Vice President also said he did not believe President Benigno Aquino III was involved in the circulation of a white paper that implicates the Binay family in the pork barrel scam.

The Vice President’s daughter, Makati Rep. Mar-Len Abigail Binay, earlier challenged those behind the white paper to come out in the open and prove that she used her pork barrel funds to finance political rallies.

She also accused a group holding office at Bonifacio Global City of attacking her

family to demolish her father’s chances in the presidential elections in 2016.

Coloma, on the other hand, said the disbursement of the Priority Development Assistance Fund (PDAF) has already been stopped.

“The Commission on Audit has done their duty. If there are other matters involving this issue (of funds), let the members of Congress discipline their own ranks, because they are a separate branch of government from the executive,” said Coloma.

Also on Thursday, a law professor at the University of the Philippines took a swipe at Justice Secretary Leila de Lima for flip-flopping on the issue of the Vice President’s immunity from suit, saying she should make up her mind.

In a radio interview, lawyer Harry Roque noted that De Lima retracted her previous statement that the Vice President is immune from suit but suddenly changed her mind again.

“Secretary De Lima and I have already debated on the issue of the immunity of Vice President Binay. First, she said no, then yes, and now no immunity,” he said.

De Lima earlier said Binay did not enjoy the same immunity from criminal suits accorded to the President while in power.

“All the constitutional officers, like the President and the Vice President, before they are criminally prosecuted should

be first removed through impeachment,” Roque said. “The immunity privilege given to the President must also be extended to the Vice President. Like the President, a vice president is also directly elected by the people and, constitutionally, he or she can only be removed by impeachment.”

Roque also lashed out the Aquino administration for employing selective justice in persecuting Binay and his family.

He said the senators who always want to conduct an audit of all the projects of Binay were silent when it came to an audit on their own projects.

“Public officers, like the senators, must at all times be accountable to the people. Accountability is not only for the Vice President,” Roque said.

The former national president of the Integrated Bar of the Philippines, Vicente Joyas, agreed Thursday that Binay, as the second highest official of the land, cannot be criminally charged while he is in office.

“He cannot be sued criminally during his incumbency as vice president even for acts committed while he was mayor,” Joyas said.

“He must be impeached first.

And the grounds for impeachment are betrayal of public trust andculpable violation of the Constitution, among others,” he said.

Joyas contradicted the position taken by De Lima that Vice President Binay is not immune from criminal suit. – With Sandy Araneta

have been better spent to fund their needs.”

Roque was in Sual, Pangasinan Thursday to check on the fishermen who were displaced

by Chinese intrusion on territory claimed by the Philippines.

“I repeat, there were only three of the 32 who needed to argue the case at The Hague.

The two Filipinos were the Solicitor General and Foreign Affairs Secretary Albert del Rosario and the rest were Americans,” Roque said.

“It’s poor governance to put a junket ahead of the needs of those who have been most affected by what China is doing in the Scarborough shoal,” he said.

In The Hague, the Philippines began presenting its arguments before the Arbitral Tribunal at the Permanent Court of Arbitration at the Peace Palace.

Deputy presidential spokeswoman Abigail Valte said Alan Boyle presented to the tribunal arguments regarding the strength of the Philippines’ environmental and fishing claims against China.

The Philippines’ lawyers also argued that the case does not constitute specific exemptions under the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), which would preclude the tribunal from exercis-

ing jurisdiction over the case.

During the morning hearing, Philippe Sands briefly addressed questions asked by a member of the tribunal from the previous day’s hearing, Valte said.

Advocates Lawrence H. Martin, Bernard H. Oxman and Paul S. Reichler took turns presenting arguments on why the Philippine claims fall squarely within the jurisdiction of the tribunal, said Valte.

The Philippines has appealed to the international tribunal to declare China’s claims to most of the South China Sea illegal, warning the integrity of United Nations’ maritime laws is at stake.

The tribunal seeks to determine if it has jurisdiction over the case filed by the Philippines contesting China’s nine-dashline territorial claim over nearly the entire South China Sea. China has questioned the court’s jurisdiction over the dispute.

Citing “historical rights,” China claims almost the entire resource-rich West Philippine Sea and South China Sea. China also refused to recognize the international court as the right venue for the issue and has refused to participate in the proceedings.

Also on Thursday, Senate

President Pro Tempore Ralph Recto warned that the country stands to lose P200 million a day if China puts up a “no fishing” sign over the West Philippine Sea. “If the world will allow China to put up a no fishing sign around the Great Wall of Sand it is aggressively building in the West Philippine Sea, it will starve Filipinos of a staple in their diet – fish,” Recto said.

“There lies the greatest danger of Chinese incursion in our territory. It’s a formula for starvation. More than a national security question, it involves food security,” he said.

Recto said that annual per capita consumption of fish and marine products in the Philippines is about 36 kilos.

Of the 4.705 million metric tons (MT) of fish caught in 2013, commercial fishers contributed 1.067 million MT, while municipal fishermen added 1.264 million MT. The rest, or 2.374 million MT, was raised through aquaculture.

By one estimate, more than three-fourths of total commercial and municipal fishing production came from the rich fishing grounds in the West Philippine Sea, he said. – With Sandy Araneta and Macon Ramos-Araneta

FILIPINOS gave China a record low -45 percent net trust rating in the latest Social Weather Stations (SWS) survey amid its worsening territorial dispute with the Philippines.

In its second quarter 2015 survey, SWS said 62 percent of adults had little trust, while only 17 percent had much trust in China, for a net trust rating of -45 percent.

China’s score in the second quarter surpassed the previous low of -36 percent in June 2014, May 2012, and June 1995 during the Michief Reef confrontation.

Conducted from June 5 to 8, the surcey also found that 51 percent of Filipinos paid close attention to news reports regarding the conflict between the two countries.

In contrast, Filipinos gave the United States and Australia a high trust rating.

The US has been enjoying positive net trust ratings since December 1994, ranging from a “moderate” +18 percent in May 2005 to an “excellent” +82 percent in December 2013.

The latest survey gave the US a “very good” trust rating of +64, the SWS said.

Australia, too, has scored positive trust ratings since April 1995, ranging from a “neutral” +3 percent in September 1995 to a “very good” +55 in August 2012.

This June, Australia achieved a “good” net trust rating of +36 percent.

The June 2015 survey also showed a “neutral” trust rating of -9 percent for Saudi Arabia and a “poor” rating of -10 percent for Malaysia.

Of the 14 news events tested, the events related to the territorial conflict between the Philippines and China was the fifth most followed news, with 51 percent who followed it very closely or somewhat closely.

The four most followed news events were the bout between Manny Pacquiao and Floyd Mayweather, Jr. (78 percent), the case of overseas Filipino worker Mary Jane Veloso in Indonesia (57 percent), news concerning the pork barrel scam (57 percent), and events regarding the implementation of the K to 12 program (52 percent).

Following the top five news events were the court trial concerning the Maguindanao massacre of November 2009 (50 percent), the Senate investigation regarding alleged anomalies in the construction of a building in Makati City when Vice President Jejomar Binay was still Mayor of Makati (48 percent), the trial of former President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo (46 percent), and the earthquake that ravaged Nepal (44 percent).

Other news events tested were the events of the murder case against US Marine Lance Corporal Joseph Scott Pemberton for killing Filipino transgender woman Jeffrey “Jennifer” Laude (38 percent), the legislation of the Bangsamoro Basic Law (36 percent), news regarding the preparation for the APEC conference that will be held here in the Philippines (21 percent), news regarding the conflict in Yemen (19 percent), and news about the plight of the Rohingyas (7 percent).

The net trust rating of China has been positive in only seven out of 35 surveys from 1994 to 2015, ranging from the neutral +3 in September 2002 to the recordhigh moderate +17 in June 2010.

The June 2015 Social Weather Stations survey was conducted using face-to-face interviews of 1,200 adults nationwide, 300 each in Metro Manila, the balance of Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao, with a sampling margin of error of 3 percent for national percentages, and 6 percent for regional percentages. – Sandy Araneta

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Marcos admits presidential run will be ‘difficult’

DILG dared to account for water program funds

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By Macon Ramos-Araneta

IT WOULD be difficult to run for President or for any national position without a strong political machinery, Senator Ferdinand Marcos Jr. said Thursday.

“If you run for governor, you can do it even without a political party; it’s just a province. If you run for mayor, you can also do it,” Marcos said.

“But if go national, you cannot do it if you don’t have a strong machinery.”

The Liberal Party will presumably endorse Interior Secretary Manuel Roxas II, but Marcos said the ruling party had not yet done it.

He also said the Nacionalista Party, where he belongs, had not declared its plans for the May 2016 elections and neither

had the Nationalist People’s Coalition.

“Neither has Lakas. None of the parties have taken a position yet, so it is still difficult to know the political landscape,” Marcos said.

He said this was the reason he had yet to make a decision for the coming elections, and mainly because the political situation remained fluid.

But he considers himself very lucky because he has all the options. “I can run for president.

I can run for barangay captain.

Everything is available to me,”

Marcos said.

He said he was prepared for the possible cases that might be filed against him should he run for President because the Marcos family had not lost a single case filed against them.

He said Senator Grace Poe was still “a little tentative” about running for President, but he felt Poe would get there.

“She’s a possible contender because her numbers are significant,” Marcos said referring to to Poe’s survey results.

Asked on the possible tandem with Poe in the coming elections, Marcos told the forum in jest: “It’s difficult to campaign for siblings.”

Poe is rumored to be an illegitimate child of Marcos’ father, the late President Ferdinand Marcos, but Marcos Jr. said that was not true.

By Maricel V. Cruz THE opposition United Nationalist Alliance on Thursday demanded that the billions of pesos allocated to the Interior Department for the so-called “Salintubig” program be implemented by the Local Water Utilities Administration, the agency with the mandate and expertise to do it.

“Billions of pesos in public funds have already been given to the agency [Interior Department] for a program that has nothing to do with its mandate and capability to implement such,” UNA president and Navotas Rep. Toby Tiangco said.

He said P4.7 billion had been given to the department for its Sagana at Ligtas na Tubig sa Lahat Program or Salintubig from 2012 to 2015.

He said the program was meant to give waterless municipalities and villages access to clean and potable water. The money allocated to it did not include the P5.6 billion allocated in 2015 to other projects under the department’s Bottom-up Budgeting process.

Tiangco said that, based on the 2013 audit of the department by the Commission on Audit, only 73 or 26.45 percent of the programmed 276 water supply projects in 2011 to 2013 for the waterless municipalities had been completed.

The report said the reasons for the non-completion were due to lack of monitoring and supervision, delayed implementation of the 2013 projects,

late approval of the projects and late release of funds.

“Based on that COA report, the DILG has not been efficient in the implementation of this project, so the money is wasted,” Tiangco said.

“This shows that the budget is a political tool when it should be a tool to help the people.”

Meanwhile, Rep. Fernando Hicap on Thursday called for vigilance against an impeding national budget that, he said, would again serve as “pork barrel” for President Benigno “Noynoy” Aquino and his allies.

He made the statement in light of President Aquino III’s recent approval of the P3.002-trillion budget for next year.

Hew slammed Aquino for his what he called his consistent refusal to acknowledge responsibility for his “flawed and felonious” interpretation of “savings” that had been used as justification for the implementation of the multi-billion-peso Disbursement Acceleration Program that the Supreme Court had ruled unconstitutional.

“Aquino has approved a huge budget for 2016, but there is no guarantee that it will not serve as his own and his allies’ pork barrel, especially now that the election season is just around the corner,” Hicap said.

He cited the case of the known Aquino ally and Agriculture Secretary Prospero Alcala who, he said, had consistently been implicated in various issues of fund mishandling in the last four years.

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Comelec rejects hybrid election

By Maricel V. Cruz

Egay’s wake. La Union policemen try to figure out how to move trees that fell on the Luna-Balaoan Highway after Tropical Storm Egay.

CHRISTINE JUNIO

Namfrel sets sights on attention-seekers

By Sara Susanne D. Fabunan THE National Citizens’ Movement for Free Elections on Thursday warned politicians that it would be vigilant in monitoring those “overeager officials” engaging in premature campaigning for the May 2016 elections.

Dubbed as “Election 2016 Pampams,” Namfrel picked up the vernacular slang “pampam” for “attention-seekers and built a program where it promises to post photos and videos of selfpromotion by politicians who are planning to run in next year’s elections.

“Pampam’s project themselves via tarpaulins posted on wires, posts, and walls (congratulating or announcing some event), on social media sites, through radio, television and print advertisement, by riding their name on public service projects

such as Conditional Cash Transfer, Philhealth Cards, relief goods distribution, vaccination campaign, etc,” Namfrel said.

Although its campaign was launched earlier this year, Namfrel has featured about a hundred individuals instances of early campaign.

“So far those who have been featured in paid advertisements on national television are some of the top national and local politicians, as well as bureaucrats. Most page postings are on flagrant violations by local officials and prospective

candidates,” Namfrel said.

“All the entries have come from Namfrel volunteers and supporters,” it added.

The poll watchdog also called on all concerned citizens to participate and take photos in their community and share them through their Namfrel Facebook account.

“Concerned citizens are invited to send pictures or videos to the Election 2016 Pampams Facebook page. They may also use Twitter using the hashtag #pampam,” the poll watchdog said.

Namfrel lamented that there are loophole in the election laws that allow politicians to advertise themselves without being penalized for early campaigning.

The poll watchdog cited a 2009 ruling by the Supreme Court the Comelec vs Penera, which ruled out any offense on early campaigning.

“Election monitoring

organizations and private citizens may investigate the use of public funds in the selfpromotion by these candidates.

This will however be lengthy and litigious,” the group said.

Earlier, election lawyer Romulo Macalintal warned all Aquino’s cabinet secretaries that they may be held liable for promoting their agencies through an “information commercial”.

Although he did not particularly single out those government officials and President Benigno Aquino III’s cabinet secretaries, Macalintal said that those who would file their certificate of candidacy (COC) in October can be disqualified from running, taken out their names in the ballots, and even face six-years of imprisonment if proved that they used government funds to finance millions of commercial advertisements with PR agencies.

THE Commission on Elections on Thursday ruled out the possibility on the use of hybrid electoral system in the 2016 national elections due to high cost and risk.

At a congressional hearing of the House committee on electoral reforms and suffrage, Comelec Chairman Andres Baustista said the use of the Precinct Count Optical Scanner (PCOS) is “the most viable and most cost-effective option” for next year’s polls.

Bautista said that the upgrade of 82,000 PCOS machines will only cost between P3 billion to P4 billion while buying new PCOS units will cost about P7.8 billion.

On the other hand, Comelec Commissioner Christian Robert Lim said the use of a hybrid poll system, like the proposed Precinct Automated Tallying System (PATaS), will be costly as against the Optical Mark Reader (OMR) system.

“For the cost aspect based on our computations as compared to the budget that we have asked the [Department of Budget and Management] for next year and the budget grafted to us, the total budget for the automation including the salary for the teachers, deployment, supplies, will be the total amount of P20.5 billion while P36.8 billion for the hybrid system,” Lim told the panel chaired by Capiz Rep. Fredenil Castro.

Lim also said that implementing PATaS using manual procedure would be “time consuming, taxing and prone to human error” and that the use of hybrid system in general “will require an amendment of existing laws or enactment of new laws to allow PATas.” Under PATaS, voters will cast their votes manually and teachers will manually count the votes.

The precinct results will be electronically transmitted to the municipal, provincial, and national board of canvassers as well as in the central verification server for the official automated canvassing of votes using laptops powered with broadband technology.

Poll spending review eyed

By Sara Susanne D. Fabunan THE Commission on Elections is looking into increasing the campaign spending limit for candidates who intend to run for the 2016 presidential election because the law on the matter is already outdated, Comelec Chairman Andres Bautista said on Thursday.

Bautista said it is now timely to review the current spending limit and make it more realistic with the needed expenditures during campaign season.

“We recognize that the current limits are not realistic anymore. And that’s why the Comelec has told Congress that perhaps it’s time to amend the law to set forth limits that are more in tune with times,” Bautista said. “It really has to be amended to reflect the current needs of running a campaign.”

Comelec Commissioner Christian Robert Lim noted that the law providing the campaign

spending limit is already almost quarter of a century old.

“If you look at the law right now, it’s a 1991 law setting this limit. So about 25 years have passed and we are still using the limit without considering inflation and other realities,” Lim said.

He said they are proposing that Congress create a tripartite body that will be mandated to set the campaign spending limit. “Our proposal is to set up a tripartite body and not only the Comelec,” he said.

The tripartite body, he said, would give way to set a “flexible” campaign spending limit suited for every region and specific to a particular election year.

“For example, if you look at the minimum wage, it differs from one region to another. (The National Capital Region) is different from Abra.

We are looking also at a flexible rate. Meaning, this may be the rate in 2016, but this could be adjusted for 2019,” he further said.

First UAV license. Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines Director General William Hotchkiss lll released the first certificate of authorization to operate an unmanned aerial vehicle to Joel F. Cruz, president of the engineering company SRDP Consulting Inc. RUDY SANTOS

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Palace declares Eid’l Fitr holiday MALACA˜NANG has declared July 17 as a regular holiday throughout the country in observance of Eid’l Fitr (Feast of Ramadan).

The Palace released on Thursday Proclamation No. 1070, dated July 6, signed by Executive Secretary Paquito Ochoa, setting the date for Muslim feast day that has been a regular holiday in the Philippines since 2002 by virtue of Republic Act No. 9177.

“The entire Filipino nation should have the full opportunity to join their Muslim brothers and sisters in peace and harmony in the observance and celebration of Eid’l Fitr,” the proclamation said.

Protecting the Sierra Madre. Farmers and civic group leaders join hands at a media briefing in Quezon City to launch a campaign to stop the construction of a mega-dam in the Sierra Madre mountain range along the eastern side of Luzon. LINO SANTOS

Monsoon to stay after Falcon

By Francisco Tuyay and Sandy Araneta

MALACAÑANG suspended work in all government offices in Metro Manila at 3 p.m. Thursday afternoon as Typhoon “Falcon” continued to enhance the southwest monsoon and caused heavy rain in several places in the country.

According to the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa), Falcon moved faster speed as it moved over the Philippine Sea, but it is expected to continue to intensify the southwest monsoon.

At least two people, including a Korean, have died while another two Koreans were injured since the start of the heavy rain that started last week with the arrival of Tropical

Authorities indict Veloso recruiters

By Rey Requejo THE alleged recruiters of Mary Jane Veloso, who is now on death row in Indonesia for drug trafficking, have been recommended for prosecution for illegal recruitment and estafa.

The Department of Justice found probable cause to file charges of qualified trafficking against Ma. Cristina Sergio and her live-in partner Julius Lacanilao and a certain “Ike” Sergio, and Lacanilao with illegal recruitment and estafa.

Assistant State Prosecutor Susan Azarcon submitted the resolution, which was approved

by Prosecutor General Claro Arellano.

The investigating prosecutor stressed that the three will be charged with qualified trafficking stating that the elements of trafficking are present in the case which include recruitment, transportation, transfer or harboring of persons and when the act has an “exploitative purpose.”

Citing the testimonies of Veloso and her relatives, the prosecutor said that “the evidence speaks of fraud and deception as the means employed by respondents in recruiting complainant.”

The investigating fiscal noted that Sergio has managed to convince Veloso to pay a P20,000 fee by relying on a promise that she can find her a job in Malaysia.

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Storm Egay, according the National Disaster Risk Reduction Management Council.

Some 500 families from Pangasinan and 200 people from Bataan were evacuated due to threat of massive flooding expected from swollen rivers, the agency added.

Falcon was last spotted 795 km east northeast of Itbayat, Batanes with sustained winds of 130 kph near the center and gustiness of up to 160 kph.

Falcon is forecast to move northwest at 22 kph and is expected to be 620 km north northeast of Itbayat, or out of the Philippine Area of Responsibility, by Friday morning.

But on Thursday the Palace could only come out with the suspension of work in government agencies in Metro Manila at 3 p.m. upon the recommendation of the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council.”

A Palace advisory noted that classes in all levels, in both public and private schools in Metro Manila, were also suspended earlier in the day.

The NDRRMC could only identify the Filipino fatality and declined to identify Korean who was out diving with two other Korean friends off Lapu-Lapu City in Cebu TS Egay

arrived last July 5.

Jacinto died after he accidentally slipped and fell into the San Juan River in San Juan City at about 4:30 p.m. at the height of TS Egay. His body was retrieved at the back of the Land Transportation Office building on Aurora Boulevard.

Philippine Coast Guard personnel conducted an immediate search for the Korean divers and found the Korean fatality at Hinisulan, San Francisco, Camotes Island in Cebu.

In Pangasinan, 100 houses were inundated by rising flood waters after the Sinukalan River and its tributary in Barangay Sungkil in Sta. Barbara town overflowed due to the rain that started last Sunday. – With Joel Zurbano, Rudy Santos, Jun David and John Paolo Bencito

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Lawyer dares VP bashers to have their pork audited

By Rey E. Requejo

A FORMER lawyer of the whistle-blowers in the pork barrel scam has challenged the three senators persistently investigating corruption charges against Vice President Jejomar Binay to submit their Priority Development Assistance Fund and Disbursement Acceleration Program allocations to a thorough audit.

Lawyer Levito Baligod on Thursday stressed the need for an audit on PDAF and DAP allocations of Senators Antonio Trillanes IV, Aquilino Pimentel III and Alan Peter Cayetano in previous years to make sure the funds were not misused.

The audit, however, should not be limited to the three senators only, but must include all the recipients of the notorious PDAF funds and the controversial DAP funds, Baligod said.

“My position ever since is for the Priority Development Assistance Fund and Disbursement Acceleration Program funds of all legislators to be scrutinized too,” the lawyer pointed out.

According to him, such audit could address criticisms on the supposed “selective justice” under the Aquino administration.

He also called on the probers to expand the investigation on the PDAF scam, which has been limited to pork barrel use from 2007 to 2009.

“We should also cover the period from 2004 to 2012, not only 2007 to 2009 as what the DOJ (Department

of Justice) wanted to limit us to,” he said.

Baligod noted that the present investigation by the DOJ, through the National Bureau of Investigation, is limited only to PDAF funds misuse from 2007 to 2009.

Two batches of criminal cases have so far come out of the NBI investigations.

Meanwhile, Fr. Ranhilio Aquino, a noted law academician and an anti-pork barrel lawyer, backed Vice President Jejomar Binay’s call for an audit of his accusers in the Senate.

Aquino, dean of the San Beda College Graduate School of Law, along with Baligod, agreed with Binay that the PDAF and DAP of the three senators should also be subjected to an audit to ensure none of the funds were misused—especially after many senators were implicated in pork barrel fund scam by alleged mastermind, Janet Lim-Napoles in her tell-all affidavit last year.

Aquino and Baligod both said that the proposed audit, however, should not be limited to the three senators but should include all lawmakers.

Night fun run. Hundreds of employees of the ARMM including some of their families

and friends take part in the 3rd Fun Run for Ramadan on Wednesday night, July 8, 2015 in Cotabato City as part of the Ramadan festivities organized by the Regional Sports Coordinating Office-ARMM. OMAR MANGORSI

The Island of 120 people staring down China’s military might ON A clear night, the Filipinos who live on Pagasa Island—a speck in the vast South China Sea —can see the floodlights from giant Chinese cranes working around the clock, dredging sand to build on a nearby reef.

Life on the atoll with its clutch of buildings was for decades leisurely and quiet, with sporadic Internet access and not much to do but fish and stroll on the beach. Now its 120-odd residents find themselves on the doorstep of a dispute over territory that has fed tensions among some of the world’s biggest powers. Change has come to Pagasa in the constant presence of China.

More than 510 miles (820 kilometers) from the Philippine capital, and defended by a platoon of soldiers with limited weapons, the island is a gateway to reefs claimed and occupied by China.

Separated from the nearest big Philippine island by a 36-hour boat ride in rough seas, it relies on ad hoc military flights and a quarterly visit from a resupply ship that has to dodge Chinese vessels to dock.

“We’ve become used to the sight of big Chinese ships around

Pagasa,” said Nelly Dalabajan, a 28-year-old nurse who went to Pagasa in February for a fourmonth rotation. “Seeing 30 ships and boats at one time is normal.

We’re worried about the Chinese driving us out.”

As China and other South China Sea claimant states bicker, the waters that are a conduit for energy supplies to Asia and carry about half the world’s merchant tonnage—$5.3 trillion in goods each year—are increasingly tense.

Amid the posturing, with China warning the U.S. military away from reclaimed reefs and the U.S. patrolling the area, the question is: Where does this end?

2,000 Acres For the people who live and work in the waters the risk of a mishap is real, and China—the Philippines’ second-biggest trading partner—is seen as unstoppable despite the efforts of other countries’ militaries. With a string of reefs on which to base its military it’ll have the potential to better control shipping lanes, fishing grounds and unproven energy reserves, and cause environmental damage to a sea that’s famous for its pristine diving waters.

Ronald Colendres, a fisherman, left, stands on a boat in Macarascas. SANJIT DAS/BLOOMBERG

China has accelerated its reclamation, dumping sand to build airstrips on tiny rocks that may otherwise be submerged at high tide. It has built 1,500 acres of a total of 2,000 acres of land since December. Whatever the legal reality, China is building a case that these are now islands with structures, implying ownership.

China argues the reefs are

within its sovereign terrain, and construction is needed to ensure navigational safety. It has said the reefs will be used for military as well as civilian purposes such as marine scientific research.

‘Justified, Reasonable’ “China’s lawful, justified and reasonable construction on some garrisoned Nansha islands and reefs is well within China’s sover-

eignty,” Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Hua Chunying said July 3, using China’s name for the disputed Spratlys.

China’s ships often nose close to Pagasa, sitting offshore for days within view of the island. Its coastguard boats chase Philippine fishermen. Fishing boats that are caught may have a near-empty hold, raising doubts among locals they are just there for the catch.

And at night there is the winking of lights from the reefs.

“The big cranes have added to our worries,” said Jorge Misajon, the 53-year-old administrator of the Kalayaan municipality that takes in Pagasa. “Our contingency plan is no longer confined to the evacuation of civilians. We’re training people to defend the island.”

Pagasa falls within the Spratly chain, contested in part by Vietnam, Malaysia, Taiwan and Brunei, some of whom also build on reefs and islands. China’s claim covers roughly 80 percent of the South China Sea, including islands further north known as the Paracels. The Philippines is arguing its case against China’s claims at a United Nations Arbitral Tribunal in the Hague this week.

11 Filipinos in Dubai jail freed ahead of Ramadan AT LEAST 11 Filipinos jailed in the United Arab Emirates were among the 734 pardoned

by Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum to mark the beginning of Ramadan, the Department of Foreign Affairs said on Thursday.

In another incident, a Filipino designer was sentenced to six months in jail by an UAE court for secretly filming his female roommates with a hidden camera.

The DFA said that Al-Maktoum granted pardon to 734 prisoners in Dubai ahead of the holy fasting month of Ramadan.

Dubai Attorney General Issam Al-Humaidan said that the public prosecution has immediately started the legal procedures to carry out AlMaktoum’s order, in collaboration with Dubai police.

The agency said the decision is a gesture from the Sheik who is also the ruler of Dubai, to release the prisoners and reunited with the families and give them chance to join the community.

Pardoning the convicts is a common move by Arab leaders before Ramadan, the spiritual month of the Islamic moon calendar, which will start on Thursday, July 17.

In another case, the 37-yearold Filipino, identified only as J.R., was caught by his female roommates on November 7 last year before he could film them at their room in Jebel Ali. The UAE’s Court of First Instance found the Filipino guilty of charges of molestation and breaching women’s modesty and ordered him deported after he shall have served his jail term, the embassy report said.

The verdict may be appealed within 15 days.

The Filipino admitted before the court that he installed the hidden camera shaped like a clothes hanger on the bathroom door as early as Sept. 28 last year.

When he was caught by the two women, J.R. claimed that the camera was broken and could not take pictures.

He was arrested the following day after officers at Jebel Ali police station summoned him for questioning.

He told police he hid the camera in the bedroom while his roommate was taking a shower. He also reportedly admitted he filmed the woman as she got dressed.

The women, both Filipina, claimed they found the camera fixed on their bathroom’s door.

“We removed it, but could not find any memory card in it.

We took it to the police.”

When she returned to the flat, she confronted J.R. with the camera.

J.R. admitted to the police that he filmed the clips stored in a memory card the police seized. He said he wanted to please himself while watching his roommates. Vito Barcelo

F R I D AY : J U LY 1 0 , 2 0 1 5

A7

NEWS

editorial@thestandard.com.ph

MB Nirvana overcrowded, not overloaded —MARINA

By Maricel V. Cruz

Target: 10-M trees. Oriental Mindoro Gov. Alfonso Umali, AFP chief Gregorio Pio Catapang Jr. and ABS-CBN Lingkod Kapamilya Foundation

Chairman Gina Lopez launch the Puno Ng Buhay campaign before signing a memorandum of agreement and pledge of commitment on the Bantay Kalikasan. The Puno ng Buhay is a countrywide tree-planting program to address climate change and encourage communities to take care of the environment by planting 10 million trees. LINO SANTOS

Camp John Hay firm, investors gain reprieve

By Rey E. Requejo

THE Court of Appeals has issued a status quo order preventing the Bases Conversion and Development Authority from evicting Camp John Hay Development Corporation and the more than 1,600 third-party investors from Camp John in Hay Baguio City.

Associate Justice Noel Tijam, chairman of the CA’s Special Fifth Division, issued the order in an open court during the continuation of the hearing on the petition filed by CJHDEVCO seeking to enjoin the BCDA from enforcing against the development of the former American recreational facility and on the third party investors the Writ of Execution and Notice to Vacate issued by Re-

gional Trial Court of Baguio City.

Tijam enjoined the parties to maintain a status quo once the 60-day temporary restraining order (TRO) it issued on May 19, 2015 expires on July 19, 2015.

This came after all parties, including the BCDA lawyers, agreed to maintain a status quo with the BCDA imposing the condition that all transactions of CJHDEVCO

during the period will be audited.

Nonetheless, Tijam assured all the parties that the appellate court will resolve CJHDEVCO’s petition on the merit not later than the end of the month.

“One of the members of the division is not here and will not be back until July 22nd . If you will agree to maintain the status quo to give us the opportunity to decide on the merits of the case . . . with the assurance that before the end of the month, the Court will decide on the merit. It’s a matter of waiting until end of July,” Tijam told the lawyers of all parties.

CJHDEVCO lawyer Gilbert Reyes said his client is willing to wait until end of July and agreed on the conduct of accounting of its transactions during the period.

According to Reyes, the plea for

writ of preliminary injunction has been deemed moot and academic by the agreement by all parties concerned to respect the status quo order pending final resolution of the case on the merit.

“Upon the initiative of the court, we agreed to respect and observe the status quo order. Meaning, the writ of execution and notice to vacate won’t be implemented when the 60-day TRO expires on July 19. We will just wait for the court judgment on the merit of the case, which we expect to be rendered by end of this month,” Reyes said, in an interview.

Meanwhile, Tijam also said that the appellate court has decided to admit the petition-for-intervention filed by 52 property owners inside Camp John Hay seeking to compel the BCDA to respect their 50-year leasehold agreement with CJHDEVCO.

THE Maritime Industry Authority on Thursday stood by its initial findings that the sinking of M/B Kim Nirvana off Leyte last week was due to overcrowding.

At a hearing conducted by the House committee on transportation, Marina administrator Maximo Mejia Jr. said that the woodenhulled vessel was not overloaded.

“There was no overloading in terms of the weight… but there was ‘misloading’ on the part of the owner and the operator,” Mejia told the panel headed by Catanduanes Rep. Cesar Sarmiento.

Lawmakers also took turns in castigating the Marina and Philippine Coast Guard with some of them even asking the House panel to conduct an on-site investigation in Ormoc City to provide a clear picture of what they believed to be lapses on the part of the agency officials in charge.

“It would be self-serving to say that the tragedy was caused by human error. That is not human error, that is defect in mechanism,” Leyte Rep. Andres Salvacion said.

Latest government retrieval operations have shown that 62 passengers, including children, died in the tragedy while more than 100 rescued and survived.

The vessel was carrying 204 passengers and crew and more than 100 bags of cement and sacks of rice when it capsized.

Mejia pointed out that M/B Kim Nirvana could load 178 passengers at most. But the capacity could exceed to 178 passengers provided it would not exceed 100 tons more.

“It is not overloaded. The accident is not due to overloading,” Mejia insisted.

But lawmakers said the Marina and even Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) were the ones to blame for the tragedy due to “lapses in the operation.”

Muntinlupa Rep. Rodolfo Biazon lashed out at Marina for allowing the vessel “to violate the prescribed design or placing of the passengers and the cargoes.”

“The provisions in the franchise stated that the cargoes should have been placed in the hull and the passengers should have been above it,” Biazon said. “Mali yata na iyong cargo nasa itaas at yung tao nasa baba?” he added.

Arroyo presses for house arrest, questions release of 3 PCSO execs

By Rio N. Araja FORMER president and now Pampanga Rep. Gloria Macapagal Arroyo on Thursday maintained her innocence over alleged misuse of the P366-million confidential and intelligence funds of the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office in connection with her plea for a house arrest in Lubao, Pampanga or in La Vista, Quezon City.

Arroyo through her lawyers Jose Flaminiano and Laurence Hector Arroyo also challenged the government prosecutors and the Sandiganbayan of the acquittal of the former PCSO board of directors—Manuel Morato, Raymundo Roquero and Jose Taruc —of plun-

der in their involvement in the alleged irregularity.

“President Arroyo raised several arguments in her motion for reconsideration dated April 22, 2015, which the prosecution simply ignored. However, these arguments will not go away simply because the prosecution has ignored them. On the contrary,ignoring these arguments serves to highlight the fact that the prosecution is unable to refute them,” Mrs. Arroyo’s reply read.

Her lawyers said there was no strong evidence that she amassed ill-gotten wealth of P365,997,915 from the PCSO’s confidential and intelligence fund.

“The prosecution fixes the

wealth that the accused were supposed to have amassed in conspiracy with each other at the precise amount of P365,997,915. This is ignoble interpretation of the law.

The only reason that the prosecution was able to arrive at this precise amount is because this is the amount of the transaction. It is not the amount that went to the ‘personal benefit’ of any of the accused,” the camp of Mrs. Arroyo told the anti-graft court.

Mrs. Arroyo said it was the board of directors, not she, who appointed former PCSO General manager Rosario Uriarte as the special disbursing officer in charge to release the P366million fund.

Gearing up. MMDA Chairman Francis Tolentino equips his traffic constables with raincoats donated by the Filipino-Chinese Chamber of Commerce Inc. on Thursday July 9. DANNY PATA

F R I D AY, J u LY 1 0 , 2 0 1 5

A8

opinion

ADELLE chuA eDitor

lettertotheeditor@thestandard.com.ph

opinion

VirtUaL reaLitY tonY LoPeZ

Marcos Jr. for President (2)

[ EDI TORI A L ]

Low-infLationrate regime THE Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas is doing good so far in containing Philippine inflation, despite fears of a greek contagion and the high liquidity in the financial system.

Much of the credit should also go to the double-digit decline in the prices of petroleum products, especially liquefied petroleum gas, and lower electricity rates. Oil prices in the international market have sharply gone down since the last quarter of 2014 a major plus to countries heavily dependent on imported fuel.

The inflation rate dropped to 1.2 percent in June, the slowest in two decades, on sufficient supply of food and moderate price pressures from energy and oil. The June figure pulled down the average inflation rate in the first six months of the year to 2.05 percent, or near the low end of the government’s target range of 2 percent to 4 percent for 2015.

A stable inflation regime puts less pressure on the central bank to increase interest rates, ensuring lower production cost on the part of companies and factories.

A manageable inflation rate helps the private sector to plan ahead and assures employers of a predictable return on investments. The low-inflation-rate regime, thus, results in a stable economic environment that investors and businessmen seek.

But the soft prices do not guarantee a robust economic growth, especially if the government fails to do its role in pump-priming the economy. nor one should expect that they would last long given the volatility of world oil prices and the risks presented by a weak Eurozone economy.

Bangko Sentral governor Amando Tetangco Jr. conceded that despite the latest inflation figure, risks such as the uncertainties related the debt crisis in greece, a prolonged El niño dry spell that could affect harvests and destructive typhoons in the second half remained.

The upcoming presidential elections, meanwhile, will exert pressure on liquidity as candidates inject more cash into the financial system to finance their campaign. The government and monetary authorities should be alert on the first signs of inflation acting up again amid local political developments and the economic crisis in Europe and other parts of the world.

The KSP DefenSe LowDown jojo a. robLes “KulAng sa pansin” (lacking in attention) was how the presidential spokesman, Edwin lacierda, described those who are questioning the size of the official delegation to The Hague which is asking an international arbitration tribunal to take jurisdiction over the case the Philippines wants to file against China. lacierda was simply employing the Aquino adminis-

tration’s default defense against its critics, which is to attempt to humiliate them without answering their questions directly. now, any reasonable government that feels it is accountable to the people for using the funds they pay in the form of taxes would certainly have given a different response. And that would be to justify the presence of each of the 35 members of the delegation – which does not include the American lawyers who will do the actual pleading for us – because it is still our money, as taxpayers, that they are spending in the netherlands.

But lacierda decided to channel his inner blogger when he decided to “flame” lawyer Harry Roque with the KSP tag instead. And while that seemed to have worked just fine for him when he was still running his San Juan gossip Mills Outlet blog (it got him his palace job, after all), speaking on behalf of the President requires a little more thought and, yes, class.

Of course, lacierda’s boss, President noynoy Aquino, has used what I shall call the KSP Defense often, more times than I can remember. So lacierda is just being a faithful interpreter

A9

our rulers do not feel the need to explain their actions to anyone, least of all to people who do not profess the Yellow faith.

of the thoughts of his principal who, when he can no longer reply to the various charges leveled against him, resorts to tired, old ad hominem counterattacks.

And many times in the past, I have observed how the government, under the administration of the Benighted Benigno, cannot seem to take criticism from anyone, in part because it has convinced itself that it is the best thing that ever happened to this country. Aquino has the best of intentions, is incorruptible and has a brilliant mind, so he can do no wrong; if you proceed from this premise – which is held as axiomatic in Malacanang – any and all criticism

is invalid and the work of attentionseekers.

But the deployment of the KSP Defense also speaks of how little value our current rulers place on accountability.

They simply do not feel the need to explain their actions to anyone, least of all to people who do not profess the yellow faith.

The faithful do not criticize and the critics have no reason to, except to call attention to themselves. And the government doesn’t have to explain

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-

anything it does to anyone, even to the people whose taxes they spend on things like summer junkets to Europe.

These are the “truths” held sacred

by Aquino and his minions. And this is why, if there is any real justice in the world, all of them should be made accountable when they are no longer in power in a year or so.

As for Edwin lacierda, I think he will return to his old “employment” as a political blogger of little renown, if he isn’t jailed after his boss steps down.

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

CYan magenta YeLLow bLaCK

Then maybe we can all have a presidential spokesman who is less of a troll and more of a statesman.

If we’re lucky, maybe we’ll even have a president with those qualities. We’re certainly due for a reversal of our miserable fortunes as a nation. *** Malacanang did it again yesterday, suspending work and all remaining classes at around 3 p.m., thus causing more traffic and chaos on the road that it had 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. Verzosa Head, Advertising Solutions Anita F. Grefal Treasury Manager Edgar M. Valmorida Circulation Manager

My JunE 17 column, “Marcos Jr. for President”, got at least 248 reactions and or comments. The only other column that beat it in number of reactions is my column which called Congress “The Philippines’ largest criminal syndicate”.

I recently sat down for two sessions of interview, each lasting three hours, with Sen. Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. . Here are some excerpts: you have had more than a quarter century of public service. Aren’t you overdue for a higher office? your father was president at 46. you are 57.

I became vice governor at 23. I was the youngest vice governor. They had to change the law (to lower the minimum age for the position).

The presidency is destiny. I never dreamed to be president. But my father required me to be in politics as a matter of duty to the country, it’s part of our duty as Marcoses. And my mother had told me since I was three I would be president. you look like 40s.

I am careful with what I eat and I exercise. I have the Oriental advantage of looking younger. I have long hair because of my British influence.

I am almost exactly the same size as my father. He weighed about 130 lbs. and was 5’7”. I can wear all of his clothes, including his shoes. He had many beautiful clothes. So I shop in his closet.

What is your best achievement as a public servant?

The one that gets a lot of traction are, very surprisingly, the windmills.

There are about 50 windmills now in Ilocos norte , approaching 150 megawatts. We need only 40 mw. So we feed the surplus to the grid. When we first put up the windmills, the ROI (payback period) was 23 years. until the WTO started paying carbon credits, ROI was cut by half to 12-13 years.

The capital cost has come down.

The windmills have been associated with me. I used it in the campaign of 2010 (for senator). until now, they still talk about it.

As governor, I am much prouder in what I did in agriculture. From an importer of rice, we became a surplus producer by increasing production 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

F R I D AY, J u LY 1 0 , 2 0 1 5

A8

opinion

ADELLE chuA eDitor

lettertotheeditor@thestandard.com.ph

opinion

VirtUaL reaLitY tonY LoPeZ

Marcos Jr. for President (2)

[ EDI TORI A L ]

Low-infLationrate regime THE Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas is doing good so far in containing Philippine inflation, despite fears of a greek contagion and the high liquidity in the financial system.

Much of the credit should also go to the double-digit decline in the prices of petroleum products, especially liquefied petroleum gas, and lower electricity rates. Oil prices in the international market have sharply gone down since the last quarter of 2014 a major plus to countries heavily dependent on imported fuel.

The inflation rate dropped to 1.2 percent in June, the slowest in two decades, on sufficient supply of food and moderate price pressures from energy and oil. The June figure pulled down the average inflation rate in the first six months of the year to 2.05 percent, or near the low end of the government’s target range of 2 percent to 4 percent for 2015.

A stable inflation regime puts less pressure on the central bank to increase interest rates, ensuring lower production cost on the part of companies and factories.

A manageable inflation rate helps the private sector to plan ahead and assures employers of a predictable return on investments. The low-inflation-rate regime, thus, results in a stable economic environment that investors and businessmen seek.

But the soft prices do not guarantee a robust economic growth, especially if the government fails to do its role in pump-priming the economy. nor one should expect that they would last long given the volatility of world oil prices and the risks presented by a weak Eurozone economy.

Bangko Sentral governor Amando Tetangco Jr. conceded that despite the latest inflation figure, risks such as the uncertainties related the debt crisis in greece, a prolonged El niño dry spell that could affect harvests and destructive typhoons in the second half remained.

The upcoming presidential elections, meanwhile, will exert pressure on liquidity as candidates inject more cash into the financial system to finance their campaign. The government and monetary authorities should be alert on the first signs of inflation acting up again amid local political developments and the economic crisis in Europe and other parts of the world.

The KSP DefenSe LowDown jojo a. robLes “KulAng sa pansin” (lacking in attention) was how the presidential spokesman, Edwin lacierda, described those who are questioning the size of the official delegation to The Hague which is asking an international arbitration tribunal to take jurisdiction over the case the Philippines wants to file against China. lacierda was simply employing the Aquino adminis-

tration’s default defense against its critics, which is to attempt to humiliate them without answering their questions directly. now, any reasonable government that feels it is accountable to the people for using the funds they pay in the form of taxes would certainly have given a different response. And that would be to justify the presence of each of the 35 members of the delegation – which does not include the American lawyers who will do the actual pleading for us – because it is still our money, as taxpayers, that they are spending in the netherlands.

But lacierda decided to channel his inner blogger when he decided to “flame” lawyer Harry Roque with the KSP tag instead. And while that seemed to have worked just fine for him when he was still running his San Juan gossip Mills Outlet blog (it got him his palace job, after all), speaking on behalf of the President requires a little more thought and, yes, class.

Of course, lacierda’s boss, President noynoy Aquino, has used what I shall call the KSP Defense often, more times than I can remember. So lacierda is just being a faithful interpreter

A9

our rulers do not feel the need to explain their actions to anyone, least of all to people who do not profess the Yellow faith.

of the thoughts of his principal who, when he can no longer reply to the various charges leveled against him, resorts to tired, old ad hominem counterattacks.

And many times in the past, I have observed how the government, under the administration of the Benighted Benigno, cannot seem to take criticism from anyone, in part because it has convinced itself that it is the best thing that ever happened to this country. Aquino has the best of intentions, is incorruptible and has a brilliant mind, so he can do no wrong; if you proceed from this premise – which is held as axiomatic in Malacanang – any and all criticism

is invalid and the work of attentionseekers.

But the deployment of the KSP Defense also speaks of how little value our current rulers place on accountability.

They simply do not feel the need to explain their actions to anyone, least of all to people who do not profess the yellow faith.

The faithful do not criticize and the critics have no reason to, except to call attention to themselves. And the government doesn’t have to explain

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-

anything it does to anyone, even to the people whose taxes they spend on things like summer junkets to Europe.

These are the “truths” held sacred

by Aquino and his minions. And this is why, if there is any real justice in the world, all of them should be made accountable when they are no longer in power in a year or so.

As for Edwin lacierda, I think he will return to his old “employment” as a political blogger of little renown, if he isn’t jailed after his boss steps down.

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

CYan magenta YeLLow bLaCK

Then maybe we can all have a presidential spokesman who is less of a troll and more of a statesman.

If we’re lucky, maybe we’ll even have a president with those qualities. We’re certainly due for a reversal of our miserable fortunes as a nation. *** Malacanang did it again yesterday, suspending work and all remaining classes at around 3 p.m., thus causing more traffic and chaos on the road that it had 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. Verzosa Head, Advertising Solutions Anita F. Grefal Treasury Manager Edgar M. Valmorida Circulation Manager

My JunE 17 column, “Marcos Jr. for President”, got at least 248 reactions and or comments. The only other column that beat it in number of reactions is my column which called Congress “The Philippines’ largest criminal syndicate”.

I recently sat down for two sessions of interview, each lasting three hours, with Sen. Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. . Here are some excerpts: you have had more than a quarter century of public service. Aren’t you overdue for a higher office? your father was president at 46. you are 57.

I became vice governor at 23. I was the youngest vice governor. They had to change the law (to lower the minimum age for the position).

The presidency is destiny. I never dreamed to be president. But my father required me to be in politics as a matter of duty to the country, it’s part of our duty as Marcoses. And my mother had told me since I was three I would be president. you look like 40s.

I am careful with what I eat and I exercise. I have the Oriental advantage of looking younger. I have long hair because of my British influence.

I am almost exactly the same size as my father. He weighed about 130 lbs. and was 5’7”. I can wear all of his clothes, including his shoes. He had many beautiful clothes. So I shop in his closet.

What is your best achievement as a public servant?

The one that gets a lot of traction are, very surprisingly, the windmills.

There are about 50 windmills now in Ilocos norte , approaching 150 megawatts. We need only 40 mw. So we feed the surplus to the grid. When we first put up the windmills, the ROI (payback period) was 23 years. until the WTO started paying carbon credits, ROI was cut by half to 12-13 years.

The capital cost has come down.

The windmills have been associated with me. I used it in the campaign of 2010 (for senator). until now, they still talk about it.

As governor, I am much prouder in what I did in agriculture. From an importer of rice, we became a surplus producer by increasing production 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

A10

F R I D AY, J U LY 1 0 , 2 0 1 5

OPINION lettertotheeditor@thestandard.com.ph

The Greeks do Teach!

dreamers we have become aGain

was, only in the middle of the preceding century, the cause FR. RANHILIO of Greek miseries: Germany!

CALLANGAN it was an assertion of sovereignty in the midst of penury.

AQUINO Filipinos who have had With their economy almost woes with credit cards will completely wrecked, it seems easily identify with the like the Greeks should learn Greeks: enticed by the ready a thing or two about keeping availability of credit, and then themselves from ruination. axed by the draconian terms The average Greek who must of creditors who demand their join a queue of fellow-Greeks pound of flesh. What were with frayed nerves before a the Greeks thinking when bank AtM each day to with- their leaders campaigned for draw a miserly allowance of a “oXi...No”? heroic despair, 60 Euros that is supposed to that is how most of Camus cover every need from food and Sartre commentators on the table to the costs of characterize the mood of their electricity seems to be hardly key characters: They know anything more than a pitiful that in the end they will be deshadow of the sage who drew feated, but they will not subseekers of wisdom from all mit themselves to it and conover the world to the Aegean tinue defying it until the end.

Sea! But even in financial Very existentialist, to be sure, straits, the Greeks still teach! but certainly a charming trait in the discourse of interna- of heroes in many a Greek tional law and relations, “elite” once referred to the main player—the State who, so the fiction went, enjoyed the plenitude of international legal personality. But the powIt was an assertion erful troika that has brought Greece to its knees, at least of sovereignty financially, is not a trinity of in the midst of states. Rapping insistently at penury.

Greece’s doors are such institutions and organizations as the European Central Bank and the international Monetary Fund. increasingly, corporations and organizations are causing a shift in tragedy! And so, the crisis has the center of gravity, and one not kept them indoors, ruing wonders whether the State can their misfortune and moping. keep the place it has enjoyed News reports show them enfor so long as main claimant joying themselves at bars, bevto sovereignty! erage in hand. it is very much Greece had defaulted on its like watching a Greek drama loans, and coffers were run- on the world stage: the defiant ning dry. Creditors offered hero thumbing his nose at an a bail-out, but not without insuperable force! conditions, including austerThey may have to leave the ity measures and stiffer taxes. Eurozone and return to the The citizens were asked to drachma. But this is exactly vote. The proposition may the mimesis...imitation..repetihave been beyond the average tion that one finds amply discitizen’s ken. One CNN com- coursed on in Aristotle’s Poetmentator wryly remarked that ics. Periods of glory and then you needed a degree in eco- of decline, of apotheosis and of nomics to make sense of the humiliation, of conquest and of measure put to a vote. But the defeat. if there is a nation that summary was good enough has learned from its long histofor most Greeks: Do you want ry how to roll with the punches, the nation to accept the con- how to dodge and sometimes ditions that the creditors im- bear the slings and arrows of pose? And it was a resound- outrageous fortune, the Greeks ing “No” that the Greek polls are it...and they still do teach! delivered! Very Greek—trust in the ballot, and the refusal rannie_aquino@sanbeda. to cower! Certainly, it was edu.ph not lost to the citizens that one rannie_aquino@csu.edu.ph of the countries setting terms rannie_aquino@yahoo.com

mitted that – REP. Neri Colmenares has made FILIPINO “The Congress can’t stand the us pensioners of the Social SecuPENSIONER pressure of the townsend Plan rity System dream again of getunless we are studying social seting a P2,000 across-the-board HORACE curity, a solid plan which will give pension increase after his house tEmPLO some assurance to old people of Bill No. 5842 was approved last June 29 by the house of Representatives on third systematic assistance upon retirement.” is the proposed increase of Rep. Colmenares and final reading.

Many still do until now, but the skeptics among - without an accompanying funding provision us have already awakened to the sad reality that more workable and sensible than the townsend Plan? this increase won’t be coming.

Maybe. After all, its proponent is a certified naAfter all, he was also able to have a similar proposal approved by the house in 2013. The increase tionalist who is on his third term as a Bayan Muna then was more modest - the minimum pension party-list representative in Congress. A young was raised to P1,700 from P1,200 for those who political activist who was imprisoned during the have 10 or more of credited years of service and martial law regime of President Ferdinand Marto P3,400 from P2,400 for those with 20 or more. cos, he has never stopped working for the public That proposal would also increase again these as a champion of the people’s right to reasonable transportation, power and water rates. amounts to P2,200 and P4,400 after three years.

And yes, we were impressed with how he That proposal was approved by the house a few months before the election that year with 185 helped prosecute former Chief Justice Renato Cocongressmen voting in the affirmative and no one rona during his impeachment trial, expecting that thereafter he would be rewarded handsomely. But against.

Sadly, nothing happened to the measure at the no, he didn’t receive any pork barrel or any poSenate. We only speculated that the Senate then litical concession unlike the other impeachment was as scared as the SSS with its funding require- prosecutors.

Rep. Colmenares has adequate academic edument.

We are seeing the same pattern that nothing cation and training. After taking up courses in will happen to the latest approved pension in- engineering, economics and law, he proceeded to crease. There is no counterpart bill yet at the Sen- earn a doctoral degree in law from the University of Melbourne. ate. he must have learned in Australia of its nationStill, Rep. Colmenares is hoping that both houses could enact it into law before Christ- al pension system of “three pillars” that include a mas, thinking perhaps that pension increases are compulsory superannuation. Anyone could get a Christmas gifts that congressional Santa Clauses pension enough to sustain a lifestyle that is comfortably above the poverty line. routinely give away.

Not surprisingly, he authored in the last 15th in reaction, the Scrooges at SSS have already spoken - almost with finality in the name of fund Congress at least 5 pension bills for members of affordability - that this proposed increase wouldn’t SSS, the Government Service insurance System materialize. With about 1.9 million pensioners to and barangay officials. None of them passed into benefit from it, they have estimated it to reach P49 law except his house Bill 6748 which was apbillion annually based on the simple calculation proved by the house but was eventually ignored of P2,000 times 1.9 million times 13 months. This by the Senate.

This didn’t discourage him, however, into reamount includes the 13th month pension that is filing the same bills with some modifications in released before Christmas.

Would Rep. Colmenares be a real Santa the current 16th Congress. he again succeeded Claus this time? Or would he be another Francis last June 29 in having the house pass his house townsend, the American pension advocate who Bill No. 5842.

Again, he is publicly appealing to senators to popularized during the Great Depression the Old-Age Revolving Pension Plan that came to be approve a counterpart bill.

But even if both houses would come to agree to known later as the townsend Plan?

Under this scheme, funds would be generated approve a pension increase, a more cautious Senfrom a mere 2-percent transactions tax and would ate side should insist on adding a funding provibe used to pay a pension of $200 per month to sion to improve it.

And the only way to do this is via scheduled every citizen of age 60 and older. This pension amount was incredibly ten times the average Old contribution increases or government subsidies Age Assistance benefit of $20 per month at that from the General Appropriations Act that are similar to what are now being allocated to Philtime.

The townsend Plan was considered unwork- health, conditional cash transfer, and social penable—at worst, a “crackpot scheme”—yet it sions.

Otherwise, we all will not wait long before we helped spur the development of America’s social would experience a nightmarish financial ruin of security program.

Even the great Franklin Delano Roosevelt ad- the SSS.

PENSEES

tHE KSP...From A9 wanted to avoid. it’s the second time this week that the Palace, thinking it would give people a hand, made matters worse instead by telling people to knock off work or school too late in the day. i don’t know why the government thinks it can help avoid traffic jams when it orders a work and school stoppage very late in the day. the only thing this harebrained strategy accomplishes is to jam the streets with motorists and commuters at a time when many of them are already headed for home anyway.

Didn’t those people at Malacanang learn anything from what they did earlier this week, when they suspended work and school at 4 p.m.? Don’t

they learn anything anymore after committing the same mistakes over and over in all the five years that this administration has been in power?

As every local government official knows, the best time to order a suspension of work or school is very early in the morning, after basing the decision on the latest weather updates for the day. Either that, or order weather-related work or school stoppages the day before they happen, for the day immediately following.

Suspending work and school when both are about to end is stupid. it’s just like declaring the Edsa Revolution anniversary a regular working day and then closing off Edsa – but wait, they did that already.

F R I d aY, J u lY 1 0 , 2 0 1 5

OPINION

adelle chua EDITOR

lettertotheeditor@thestandard.com.ph

A11

The crisis every counTry musT face mood that makes it difficult for governments to address the problem.

So the first order of business for the developed world is to change perceptions.

Most of the world’s displaced—38 million people—are stuck inside their own countries. and of those who manage to escape, 86 percent go to the mostly poor and often fragile countries nearby. images of refugees crossing the Mediterranean suggest a human wave crashing on europe, but their numbers —about 100,000 so far this year—are small relative to the wider crisis, and to europe’s population of 500 million. lebanon, meanwhile, hosts one Syrian for every four of its own citizens. Turkey, population 75 million, has at least 1.6 million. The povertystricken sub-Saharan neighbors of Sudan, Somalia and eritrea have taken in 3.7 million people from nearby states. another misunderstanding concerns the meaning of the word “refugee” itself. The old definition, contained in the 1951 geneva convention, is based on the binary certainties of the cold War:someone

“forced to flee because of a threat of persecution and because they lack the protection of their own country.” in the 1970s, for example, large numbers of vietnamese and cambodians fled their homes and the U.S. willingly took them in, with no fear that some of these immigrants might go on to bomb U.S. shopping malls.

Today it’s harder to distinguish true refugees from economic migrants and would-be terrorists. resettling tens of millions of refugees in richer nations is not the answer. yet neither is closing off immigration altogether. resettlement can play a role in regulating the flow, and rich countries could be more creative by developing categories of temporary visas. refugees would be given shelter on the understanding that they would return home if and when they can do so safely.

Meanwhile, more needs to be done to make it possible for the displaced to remain in their own regions. That means providing the shelter, schools and medical care that refugees need. it also means putting civilian boots on the ground to help countries such as lebanon and Jordan—already

straining to create jobs for their own people —with infrastructure and development. yet at a recent conference, donor countries pledged less than half the $8.5 billion that the Un said was needed this year to give food and shelter to 12 million Syrians scattered across the Middle east. Some countries have been far more ungenerous than others: While the U.S. and Britain have together delivered more than 40 percent of the Un-solicited aid for Syrian refugees this year, Saudi arabia has pitched in only 0.5 percent of the total. russia contributed 0.1 percent; china, zero.

There is no single or permanent solution to the world’s refugee crisis, which will endure as long as there are wars and persecution. That’s no excuse, however, for failing to do what’s possible. This will require more help and attention from the more stable and prosperous parts of the world. it will also require more action at the source, country by country, region by region, and, in many cases, refugee by refugee. Progress can be made.

Bloomberg

so much so that at one time, we ran out of food. for a while, we had as many two-fold. our normal production as 30,000 tourists, mostly from Taiwan, was nine tons per hectare, from the coming to ilocos. Until 2010 when national average of 4.2. We even hit a that thing (kidnappng that resulted in high of 12 tons per hectare in the good the death of eight hong Kong tourists) areas. We sold the surplus to Manila. happened at luneta. Tourist agencies We had a population of about 600,000 cancelled all their flights to the Philipand 70 percent derived their income pines. This was followed by the siege from farming. in Zamboanga and the earthquake in i noticed that in rice production, the Bohol. ones getting rich are the traders. So We also focused on infra. funny, the province applied to be accredited as but it was my mother who took it upon a rice trader. i put up a rotating fund herself to rehabilitate the roads of iloto buy palay, milled it, and sold the rice cos. My father was careful about beat a good price. The profit from the ing accused of favoring his province. trading was used as production loan So the roads were not attended to, until because farmers had no money to pay the 1970s when my mother took a look their loans. They repaid us with palay. at our roads.

The rice with high broken ratio we isn’t garlic the best used for the school feeding program. product of ilocos?

But the key to ilocos norte was the yes, we have the ilocos garlic. you cooperatives. We put up about 200 co- know the ilocanos, they can make anyoperatives. thing grow, anywhere. They are seriThe windmills and agriculture kick- ous and hardworking people. started our tourism. Tourism boomed That’s why when i am asked, “what’s

the main export of ilocos?” i say presidents. half of Philippine presidents spoke ilocano. i have a t-shirt that says The Main export of ilocos. at the back it says “our brown race. our main exports are presidents”. ilocos should again start exporting presidents We will survey the market. are you saying that a good governor makes for a good president? Because that seems to be the pattern in america. reagan, clinton, Bush were governors. it’s an executive job. i notice that the best talents in the government are from local. among the mayors and governors, there are so many of them who are good. Because at local, you cannot just talk and talk, you cannot just go on making speeches. you have to get things done. as governor what was your biggest challenge or problem?

The trapo mindset. you have to

give people more than doleouts. That’s old style. you have to do more than that. My idea is completely different. i want you to be independent of me, to the point where i cannot buy your vote because you do not need my money. you have to improve people’s livelihood. That’s why i depended on agriculture. When people’s life improves because of you, that’s the best campaign of all. as a legislator how did you do? i am always in the opposition. in the house and in the Senate. Probably, the one big bill i authored as a congressman was the youth commission. in the house, you can make a beautiful speech. People will admire you for it.

But you cannot move your bill because you cannot garner the votes because you are in the minority. i was a member of the house opposition during the presidencies of gloria arroyo and fidel ramos.

(To be continued)

biznewsasia@gmail.com

Bloomberg editorial There are now more refugees in the world than at any time in recorded history. yet this global crisis is mostly unrecognized as such; instead, it is seen as a collection of regional crises, from the Syrian border to the southern U.S. to coastal Myanmar. every refugee crisis is distinct, of course, in cause and remedy. at the same time, the consequences of war and persecution are not merely local.

This is a man-made catastrophe that affects every nation on earth—and the world’s richest countries have a practical and moral obligation to do more about it.

The United nations’ latest refugee report, released in mid-June, is bracing. Wars and other conflicts have displaced almost 60 million people.

The number of forcibly displaced people rose by more than 8 million in 2014. More than 30 million are children. yet too many in america and europe see themselves as under siege from economic migrants (or worse, islamist terrorists) posing as asylum seekers, fueling an anti-immigrant

MARCOS... From A9

#failocracy

chong ardivilla

f ri day : j uly 1 0 , 2 0 1 5

A12

sports sports@thestandard.com.ph

Spieth to fine-tune golf game SILVIS—Jordan Spieth will be looking to fine-tune his British Open challenge on Thursday as he returns to the scene of his first ever US PGA Tour victory at the $4.7 million John Deere Classic.

The 21-year-old American has electrified men’s golf this year after winning the Masters and US Open, and is now lining up victory at St Andrews next week to stay on course for a calendar year Grand Slam.

Spieth has happy memories of the John Deere, winning the event as a teenager in 2013 to become the youngest winner on the PGA Tour in 82 years after beating Zach Johnson and David Hearn in a play-off.

“This tournament has truly launched my career to a different level, and those memories I don’t forget,” said Spieth as he prepared for a fresh assault on TPC Deere

Run in Illinois.

Spieth’s decision to play the John Deere -- rather than the Scottish Open in Gullane -- has raised eyebrows among many tour watchers.

However Spieth is adamant that his decision to remain in the United States rather than head to Scotland will not impact his Open challenge.

“I felt like I’ve played well in the Open Championship the last couple years having played at the John Deere right before and competed,” he said.

“If I thought that I wasn’t going to play well next week because I played here, it would be a different story. I probably wouldn’t be here.

“I think that this is a good preparation for me to get good feels, to get in contention, and to find out what’s on and what’s off when I’m in contention.”

Spieth meanwhile leapt to the defence of world number one Rory McIlroy after the reigning PGA Championship and British Open champion suffered an ankle injury which has forced him out of defending the Claret Jug. Spieth insisted McIlroy had done nothing wrong by playing in the game of football with friends which led to the injury.

“It’s unlucky, it’s unfortunate and I’m sure he’s taking it harder on himself than anybody else,” Spieth said.

“But I don’t think he did anything wrong. It just was an unfortunate situation and hopefully he re-

bounds quickly and gets back right to where he was.”

Spieth revealed that his own downtime had recently included a hair-raising encounter with a shark during a fishing trip to the Bahamas, including a near-threehour wrestling match with the 300-pound beast.

“I almost got pulled in,” Spieth said of the encounter, which occurred when the shark attacked a tuna the golfer had hooked.

Spieth’s biggest challenge at Deere Run could well come from Johnson, one of his victims in the playoff two years ago.

Johnson, the 2012 winner, paid tribute to Spieth’s remarkable recent run of results which have left him on the cusp of history.

“I don’t even know how to measure it,” said Johnson. Afp

Tight finish looms in spikefest IF THEY play true to form, Ateneo and Emilio Aguinaldo College could end up facing each other for the Spikers’ Turf championship, but the rest of the 12-team cast are fielding in talent-laden rosters, ready to do battle for the first-ever Collegiate Conference unfolding Monday at The Arena in San Juan.

The Eagles ruled the UAAP tilt last year, completing a sweep of the crowns in both sides, while the Generals lorded it over the field in the NCAA, nipping St. Benilde in sudden death, and are raring to add the Spikers’ Turf crown to their growing list of victories.

But the two teams won’t face each other until the quarterfinals since they are bunched separately in the two-group elims with EAC headlining Group A that includes Far Eastern U, Mapua, National College of Business and Arts, National U and University of the East.

The Eagles, on the other hand, leads Group B along with Arellano U, St. Benilde, La Salle-Dasmarinas and La Salle-Taft and University of the Philippines.

Giants star’s finger cut over mishap Showtime. Karl Anthony-Towns of the Minnesota Timberwolves dunks during a scrimmage at Target Center in Minneapolis, Minnesota. Afp

Lin to join Hornets CHARLOTTE—Jeremy Lin has agreed to a contract with the Charlotte Hornets, the free agent point guard announced on his Facebook page Wednesday night.

Lin spent last season with the Los Angeles Lakers, averaging 11.2 points and 4.6 assists per game.

“Going into my first true free agency as an NBA player this offseason, the one thing that mattered to me the most was finding a team that would be a good fit for me,” Lin wrote on Facebook.

“I wanted to be on a team where I would be able to play freely and truly play the game I love with joy again.

“That has always been the most important thing to me. After a LOT of prayer and long discussions with family and friends, I wanted to personally let you guys know I’ll be joining the Charlotte Hornets.”

Free agents are allowed to sign contracts after midnight Thursday when the NBA lifts its moratorium. Afp

Wie readies defense of US Open title LANCASTER—Michelle Wie believes she is returning to form at the right time as she prepares to defend her US Women’s Open crown here Thursday in the face of a challenge from revitalised world number one Park In-Bee. Wie, who is playing in her 12th Open at the age of just 25, has endured a difficult year in the 12 months since she clinched her first Major title with a two-stroke win at Pinehurst last year.

Illness and injury have wreaked havoc with the Hawaiian’s season, with a throat and sinus infection disrupting her play along with a hip injury that has left her still awaiting a top-10 finish.

“It’s definitely been a tough year with my game,” Wie said. “It’s definitely not been

as good as I want to be. I’ve been struggling with a couple of injuries and illnesses.

“But at the same time, I’m taking it day-by-day. Every day feels better than the day before.

I’m definitely feeling better than I have been before.

“It feels good. I’m staying positive and just trying to improve a little bit here and there every day.”

The demanding 6,400yard Lancaster Country Club layout in Pennsylvania could end up playing to Wie’s strengths off the tee and on the putting green.

“I think it’s a great golf course. It’s a great layout. You definitely have a good mix of holes where you have long irons into some holes, you have very long par-threes,” she told reporters.

Wie

NEW YORK—New York Giants star defender Jason Pierre-Paul had a finger amputated following a July 4 fireworks accident which left him with severe injuries, ESPN reported Wednesday.

The network cited medical records as saying Pierre-Paul had his right index finger removed as a result of the mishap in Florida on Saturday.

The 26-year-old also underwent skin grafts according to the records cited by ESPN. Previous reports had said the injuries were not expected to threaten the pass-rush specialist’s career.

Pierre-Paul posted two videos to his Instagram account on Saturday that appeared to show him next to a van full of fireworks obtained for holiday celebrations.

USA Today reported Wednesday that a delegation of team officials had travelled to Miami to see Pierre-Paul in hospital but had returned from Florida without meeting him. Afp

f ri day : j uly 1 0 , 2 0 1 5

A13

sports sports@thestandard.com.ph

SJ cagefest. San Juan Councilor Janella Ejercito Estrada (center) and tournament director Jun Usman (fourth from left, seated) are shown with participants, officials, sponsors and supporters of the first San Juan City Invitational Basketball Tournament, which opened on Saturday at the San Juan Knights gym.

Jin keeps PH hopes alive GWANGJU, South Korea—A lovely but deadly star in the Korean martial arts sport of taekwondo is also now one of the Philippines’ few remaining hopes for gold medal in the 28th Summer Universiade.

Ann Janeth Garcia won over Mahnoor Mahnoor of Pakistan, 4-1, in their round-of-32 match in the women’s -57 kg division at the Chosun University gymnasium here Thursday.

Garcia, the 18-year-old charmer from a long list of rising taekwondo stars from NCAA member Mapua was clearly the better fighter over her older Pakistani rival.

Garcia’s round-of-16 opponent is dangerous Edina Brigitta Kotsis of Hungary,

But not as fortunate was Juan Paolo Cipriano, who lost to Costa Nuno Pinto of Portugal by point gap, 1-13, in the toundof-64 of the men’s -68 kg.

The 21-year-old student of Mapua fared badly to keep pace with his Portugese opponent.

In the mixed pair poomsae preliminary event, the Philippines finished ninth out of 21 countries with 5.950 points (23 accuracy/35 presentation).

Host South Korea bagged the gold medal with 7.530 points.

Mexico took the silver medal with 7.260 points while Indonesia and Chinese-Taipei shared the bronze with 7.180.

Elsewhere, the rest of the Filipino athletes wore sad faces at the end of a long and busy competition also known as the ‘Olympics’ of university athletes.

Jervo Deniel Barroga of College of St. Benilde finished with a time of 23.85 in heat 8 of the men’200m at the Gwangju Main Stadium.

The 19-year-old campaigner finished fifth in the heat dominated by Davide Manenti of Italy.

John Afable of St. Benilde clocked 11.92 and finished seventh in heat 1 of men’s 100m.

Akani Simbine of South Africa topped the heat in 10.23.

King Arthur confident of winning crown

By RonnieNathanielsz UNDEFEATED Oriental Pacific Boxing Federation super flyweight champion “King” Arthur Vilanueva is confident of winning the vacant International Boxing Federation title when he clashes with unbeaten Puerto Rican southpaw McJoe Arroyo at the Don Haskins Convention Center n Houston, Texas on July 18.

Villanueva left for Los Angeles with trainer Edito “Ala” Villamor and will wind down training at the Wild Card Gym of Freddie Roach.

Trainer Edmund Villamor, who was named “Trainer of the Year” three years in a row at the Flash Elorde Annual Awards told The New Standard/boxingmirror.

com: “We prepared all southpaw sparring partners for King Arthur, who is determined and wants to be a world champion.”

Villamor said Villanueva, who has a record of 27-0 with 14 knockouts, is in great shape and confident of winning the world title, although he conceded that McJoe Arroyo is a talented fighter, but believes he is not as good as his identical twin brother McWilliams Arroyo.

ALA Gym head trainer Edito “Ala” Villamor said that Villanueva was ripped, ready and looked good in sparring twice over 10 rounds against southpaws, since Arroyo is a lefty and he needs to get used to fighting southpaws.

One of the sparring partners was Joy Joy Formetera, a 21-year-old southpaw from

Cebu City, who has a solid record of 6-1 with 4 knockouts, all in his last four bouts, with a second-round knockout over Allan Doronilla in his last bout on June 7. Formetera’s only loss was in his pro debut against Rolando Servania, who was also making his debut in a fourround bout on Jan. 20, 2013.

He said they also recruited an amateur from Bohol, who is a southpaw, to help enhance Villanueva’s hand-speed, reflexes and movement.

American strength and conditioning coach Nick Curson also worked with Villanueva to get him into the best physical shape for the tough test against the 29-year-old Arroyo, who has an unblemished record of 160, with 8 knockouts.

Local netters out to make mark in Palawan netfest CLAIRE Clavaton, Drixyn Guillano, Janrey Diangco and Angelo Mejia hope to flash top form against separate fancied rivals and pull off a reversal or two in the Pawnshop-Palawan Express Pera Padala regional age group tennis tournament firing off today at Vistec Tennis Club in Roxas City.

Clavaton faces Ianna Salcedo as she kicks off her title drive in the girls’ 16-and-under class where she is ranked No. 3 behind Tracy Llamas and Averille Sacapano and will later open her campaign against Shanaia Feagane in the premier 18-U section of the tournament sanctioned by the Philippine Tennis Association headed by president and Parañaque City Mayor Edwin Olivarez.

Guillano and Diangco start

their bid in the boys’ 14-U category with the former taking Kim Cosip and the latter battling Mark Gazmin with the unranked hometown bets hoping to hurdle their rivals for clashes with seeded bets in the next round of the four-day Group 4 tournament presented by Technifibre.

Mejia and Guillano are also seeing action in the 12-U division where the former is ranked second behind Knenz Justiniani and the latter seeded at No. 6 behind Nikhel Nowlakha, Marben Mosquera and Roger Lamparero.

“With crowd support and the drive to dish out their best at home, these local players may spring a surprise. We expect a number of them to shine this week,” said Palawan Pawnshop COO Bobby Castro.

Barredo pulls off shocker ANNA Patricia Barredo came away with two tough set wins and eased out second seed Pauline Tan, 22-20, 9-21, 22-20, to highlight the opener of the women’s Open singles in the FDG Cup 2015 Open and Invitational Badminton Championships at Powersmash in Makati City yesterday.

Barredo, one of a slew of PBA-

Smash Pilipinas bets in the fourday event offering ranking points from the Philippine Badminton Association, rebounded strong from a second meltdown, dragging Tan to a see-saw match in the decider before pulling off with key shots to clinch the 40-minute victory over the top Allied-NVBA bet.

Parkour, anyone? In this photo taken on May 1, 2015, Afghan youth practice their parkour skills on the wreckage of a bus in front of the ruins of Darul Aman Palace in Kabul. Parkour, which originated in France in the 1990s and is also known as free-running, involves getting around urban obstacles with a fastpaced mix of jumping, vaulting, running and rolling. afP

F R I D AY : J U LY 1 0 , 2 0 1 5

A14 Nietes patiently charts career

C E B U CITY ñ Years ago, DENNIS PRINCIPE ALA SPORTS CHAT the Boxing Gym gym slowly built its empire by pushing for their boxers who campaigned in the flyweight division and up.

Back then, American promoters and networks never took the minimumweight and the junior flyweight boxers seriously no matter how exciting fights went in those twin divisions.

There were few exceptions though when Humberto Gonzalez, Michael Carbajal and Ricardo Lopez dominated the sportís lightest divisions by claiming millions of dollars in prize money during their time.

This, in a lot of ways, forced ALAís main man Tony Aldeguer to make Z Gorres, AJ Banal, Rey ìBoom Boomî Bautista, and Mark Jason Melligen and lately Genesis Servania and Jason Pagara topbill most of their Pinoy Pride series and other boxing events.

I say “forced” because knowing Aldeguer, he sees excitement and marketability in fighters campaigning in the 108 lb class as well as in the 105 lb division.

Sometime in early 2000, a tricycle driver and sugarcane worker switched jobs and decided to take an offer of becoming the gymís janitor.

Donnie Nietes instantly grabbed the opportunity because he knew that the job offer would also give him a chance to be part of the gymís elite roster of boxing champions.

“Kilala ko na ang ALA gym noon kasi ang mga tiyuhin ko ay doon nag-boxing.

Alam ko kasi na kapag nakapasok ka sa ALA, ibig sabihin magaling at disiplinado kang boxer,” said Nietes.

Nietes persevered and made sure he was doing well as the gymís top mop man to maintain his spot in the famed sweatshop.

“Nagpursige ako as janitor para sa gabi makapag-ensayo ako,” revealed Nietes.

After becoming one of ALA’s top amateur fighters, Nietes made a decision to turn pro and asked for Aldeguer’s blessing.

“Hindi ako pinayagan noong una kasi masyado daw akong maliit noon at wala pa akong muscle. Tanggap ko naman yung desisyon niya pero nagpursige ako na magpalaki din ng katawan kasi 45 kg (99 lbs) lang ako noon,” said Nietes.

The second time he asked for Aldeguerís permission, Nietes was already bent on turning pro with or without his benefactorís approval.

This time, Aldeguer gave his consent for his 5-foot-3 protÈgÈ to turn pro and start building a career that was a bit uncertain noting that big cards here and abroad tend to exclude 105 lb boxers.

Nietes’ decision to turn pro became a huge challenge at a time when Bautista et al were the stars of ALAís shows and proved to be highly-rated boxers, TV-wise, since the inception of Pinoy Pride.

“Syempre noong una may selos din pero hindi ko na din pinapansin yung situation.

Basta nagsumikap lang ako na maging world champion balang araw,” said Nietes.

Nietes got his biggest break in 2007 when he fought and won a world crown by beating Pornsawan Porpramok of Thailand for the vacant WBO minimumweight crown.

Though already an established champion, Nietesí road to stardom turned out to be a difficult one as he had to defend his crown three out of four times behind enemy lines.

Nietes slowly entered the consciousness of Filipino fight fans when he came back from a lackluster outing against Mexican champion Moises Fuentes by stopping the same boxer in their rematch.

Since then, Nietes’s name has been regularly mentioned as possible opponents of marquee champions Roman Gonzalez of Nicaragua and Juan Francisco Estrada of Mexico who both rule as kingpins of the flyweight division.

While Nietes expressed his desire to meet anyone between the two flyweight rulers in the near future, the 7-year champion is letting his handlers to chart his future.

For now, Nietes is focused in tomorrowís defense of his crown against another Mexican Francisco Rodriguez which will happen at the posh Waterfront Hotel here.

A win will surely increase Nietes’ chances of getting that dream of conquering the flyweight class and become ALA Boxing Gymís most cherished prizefighter.

SPORTS sports@thestandard.com.ph

Alaska battles SMB

By Jeric Lopez

VALIDATION or redemption?

That will be answered as Alaska Milk and San Miguel Beer meet again as they open their best-ofseven finals war in the 2015 Philippine Basketball Association Governors’ Cup. Drawing first blood is vital as both the Aces and the Beermen, who are only two nights removed from ending their semifinals series. Both teams try to attain that crucial edge in their Game 1 tiff at 7 p.m. tonight at the Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay City.

Just the other night, the Beermen finally shrugged off pesky Rain or Shine to win their semifinal series, 3-1, after taking Game 4, 117-110, at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.

The Beermen closed out the Elasto

Painters to arrange another duel with Alaska in this finale.

This is a fascinating rematch of the two teams’ epic seven-game Philippine Cup Finals showdown that was decided during the final seconds of Game 7 where the Beermen reigned supreme by a hairline.

Back in the same stage now in this season-ending championship chase, San Miguel has the chance to further validate its title win in the All-Filipino conference and prove that it was no fluke. Alaska

can turn the tables on the BeerAt the moment, the Aces are playmen, get revenge and complete its ing at an exceptional level. They road to redemption. have won nine out of their last 10 From that Philippine Cup fi- games highlighted by their sweep nals experience, Alaska coach Alex of defending champion Star, 3-0, in Compton experienced how tough it their best-of-five semifinals clash. is to play in the champiNot to be outdone, the onship especially against Beermen in their own Game Today an experienced team like (Finals, Game 1 - Mall of Asia right are playing tremenPasay City) the Beermen. They face 7 p.m.Arena, dous basketball, winning • Alaska vs. San Miguel the same team that es12 of their last 15 outings caped them to win that since starting the tourseason-opening championship. nament at 0-2.

However, Compton is also confiSan Miguel coach Leo Austria is dent that the Aces have more than optimistic about his squad’s chances enough tools to win it all. of winning it all given that he sees the ‘’San Miguel is a great team and we hunger of his players to win a second know how tough it’s going to be. We championship this season. At the experienced that in the Philippine same time, he also has his concerns in Cup,’’ said Compton, who seeks his this opening game given that Alaska first PBA title. ‘’Our guys are ready is the fresher team coming in while to do battle. We have all the tools we San Miguel will have to suck it up and need to win and it’s time for us to bat- battle fatigue since it took longer to tle and chase that championship.’’ close out the semifinals.

Alaska Aces guard Cyrus Baguio (3) splits the double-teaming defense of San Miguel Beermen June Mar Fajardo (15) and Chris Lutz. Alaska Milk and San Miguel Beer meet open their best-of-seven finals war in the 2015 Philippine Basketball Association Governors’ Cup at the Mall of Asia Arena tonight.

PSL beach volley opens at MOA IT’S going to be a wide-open race when the PLDT Home Ultera-Philippine Superliga (PSL) Beach Volleyball Challenge Cup 2015 powered by Smart Live More takes the spotlight on July 18 at the Sands By the Bay in SM Mall of Asia.

No less than league ambassadress Cha Cruz declared that there are no favorites in the league’s inaugural staging of this prestigious competition that will be aired live over TV5 with Accel as official outfitter, Sands By the Bay as venue partner and Maynilad as official water provider.

Cruz, the former La Salle star who made heads turn with her beauty, skills and power, will be campaigning for Cignal A together with Micmic Laborte—one of the country’s finest beach volleybelles who won the bronze

medal in the beach volleyball competition in the 23rd Southeast Asian Games in Manila in 2005.

“Actually, lahat naman ng teams malalakas, lahat yan pantay-pantay,” said Cruz during the press launch yesterday at Centerstage Family KTV and Restaurant.

“It will all boil down to who wants it more. Whoever has the heart and the will to succeed will emerge victorious.”

PSL president Ramon “Tats” Suzara agreed with Cruz’s statement, but stressed that Cignal A has a slight edge in experience.

“If Cha is known for her skills in indoor volleyball, Micmic is an expert in beach volleyball. Micmic has the skills and experience to dominate the field,” said Suzara, an old hand in Philippine volleyball after

serving as Philippine Amateur Volleyball Association (Pava) secretary-general while holding key positions in the International Volleyball Federation and the Asian Volleyball Confederation.

Aside from Cruz and Laborte, also expected to make heads turn is the tandem of Gretchen Ho and Charo Soriano for Petron XCS as well as Alexa Micek and Fille CaingletCayetano for Petron Sprint 4T. “This is going to be an exciting battle,” said Soriano, the former Ateneo de Manila star who is a last-minute replacement for Frances Molina.

Other players in the women’s division are: Wensh Tiu and April Ross Hingpit of Cignal B, Pau Soriano and Bea Tan of Foton Hurricanes; Patty Orendain and Fiola Ceballos of Foton Tornadoes; Al-

The lovely players who will compete in the coming PLDT Home Ultera-Philippine Superliga (PSL) Beach Volleyball Challenge Cup 2015 powered by Smart Live More join yesterday’s media presentation at the Centerstage KTV at the Mall of Asia. The country’s very first beach volleyball club tournament starts July 18 at the Sands By the Bay at the SM Mall of Asia. It will feature Alex Micek of Petron, Cha Cruz of Cignal HD Spikers, and Bea Tan and Pau Sorriano of Foton, among others. ROMAN PROSPERO ileen Abuel and Rosan Fajardo of Philips Gold; Danica Gendrauli and Norie Jane Diaz of Gilligan’s; Len Cortel and Samantha Dawson of Sonak; Evangeline Pastor and Kin Ygay of Quantum Plus A;

Tripoli Aurora and Rochet Dela Paz of Quantum Plus B; Cindy Benitez and Florence Madulid of Benguet Electric Cooperative (Beneco) and Jusabelle Brillo and Jem Guttierez of Meralco.

F R I D AY : J U LY 1 0 , 2 0 1 5

SPORTS sports@thestandard.com.ph

Viloria to get second chance BRIAN Viloria, who lost his WBO and WBA flyweight titles to Mexicoís Juan Francisco Estrada by a twelve round split decision in Macau on April 6, 2013 will face Estrada in a rematch in September according to Top Rank promoter Bob Arum.

The 34-year-old Viloria who has a record of 35-4, with 21 knockouts, has long wanted a rematch with Estrada after losing in an exciting title fight in which he controlled the early rounds. He made the mistake of trying to slug it out with the tough Mexican and eventually lost.

Viloria has been training for the past two months at the Wild Card Gym of Freddie Roach in preparation for a tune-up fight in Glendale, California on July 25. In the absence of his regular trainer and Roachís assistant Marvin Somodia, he has been working with Roger ìSpeedyî Gonzalez who is a fighter/trainer and was described by Viloria as ìreally good especially on the punch-mitts and is slick.î Viloriaís regular trainer and the assistant of Roach, Filipino Marvin Somodio is currently in the Philippines reportedly attending to the papers of his wife so she could go to America with him.

The rematch with Estrada is likely to be held at the Cotai Arena in Macau.

Viloria has had three successive victories after the loss to Estrada. He beat Juan Herrera on March 29, 2014, scored a 5th round knockout over Jose Alfredo Zuniga, followed by a 4th round knockout of Armando Vazquez.

Ronnie Nathanielsz

Mexican pug threatens to end reign of Nietes

By Ronnie Nathanielsz

FORMER WBO/IBF minimum weight champion and mandatory challenger Francisco Rodriguez continues to brag about how he will beat WBO light flyweight champion Donnie “Ahas” Nietes, the longest reigning Filipino world champion when they clash in an eagerly-awaited title fight at the Waterfront Hotel and Casino on Saturday.

Play ball! Hello Kitty throws the ceremonial first pitch as part of Japan Night celebration prior to the start of the baseball game between the Los Angeles Dodgers and Philadelphia Phillies July 8 at Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles, California. AFP

AU’s Jalalon leads team Smart Elite SOUTHEAST Asian Games veteran Jiovani Jalalon is striving to get back in the groove.

He has to if the Arellano University Chiefs are to remain contenders in the 91st National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) menís basketball tournament.

“Kailangan kong magpakundisyon. After SEA Games, back to zero ako. I have to work on my shooting,” said Jalalon some two days before the Chiefs are to meet the College of St. Benilde Blazers on Friday.

Jalalon talked about his aspirations after he was named one of 10 outstanding basketball players of the NCAA and put into its roster of sports ambassadors by Smart Communications.

During a presentation at the Outback Steakhouse in Libis, Quezon City, Jalalon was listed as a member of the ìSmart Eliteî with season 90 MVP Earl Scottie Thompson of the University of Perpetual Help Altas.

A15

The others are San Bedaís Baser Amer, who was in the Sinag Pilipinas national squad with Thompson and Jalalon.

Completing the group are Letranís Rey Nambatac, Jonathan Grey of CSB, Francis Munsayac of Emilio Aguinaldo College, Tey Teodoro of Jose Rizal University and Joseph Gabayni of Lyceum.

Andretti Stevens of Mapua and Bradwyn Guinto of San Sebastian are also in the list.

These players are achievers on the court and outside of it, representing school and country. And this is how we selected them,îsaid Smart Sports marketing senior manager Epok Quimpo.

Quimpo added that they are look for athletes who can be ambassadors as well, those who can inspire students and athletes alike to achieve more.

On the other hand, Jalalon said he needs to work on his shooting, which Chiefs coach Jerry Codinera observes needs improvement. Peter Atencio

Court of Honor to try luck in Triple Crown COURT of Honor, winner of the second leg of the Philippine Racing Commission Triple Crown, will face stiff opposition from multiple stakes winner Princess Ella in the third leg of the series for elite 3YO on July 12.

Court of Honor shut down first leg winner Superv in the 1,800-meter second leg last May 14. Both are fillies that won their respective legs as longshots, fueling interest in a possible similar scenario next Sunday at Metroturf Racecourse in Malvar, Batangas.

Princess Ella, a filly who won this year’s 1,600-meter second Hopeful Stakes race last May 13, is expected to be Court of Honor’s toughest rival in the 2,000-meter Triple Crown third leg, which also features Money Talks, Icon, Dikoridik Koridak, and Sky Hook.

Philracom Chairman Andrew A. Sanchez has coordinated with Metroturf management and with other industry sectors about arrangements for the race. The TriOrganization of horseowners,

comprising Marho, Philtobo, and Klub Don Juan de Manila, has promised support for the event by way of sponsoring the catering.

“We anticipate that this will be a well-attended event,” Sanchez said.

“We have invited all the participating horseowners and their families, and look forward to seeing the racing fans at the track to cheer for their favorite horses and jockeys.”

Also to attend the race are officers and members of the Press Photographers of the Philippines, who are participating in a threepart photo contest series sponsored

by Philracom. The winners of the second leg of the contest will be announced there.

The third Hopeful stakes race will be held also at Metroturf the day before over 1,800 meters, and has attracted the following entries: Dinalupihan, Miss Brulay, Princess Meili, Driven, Gentle Strength, Jazz Wild, Paguukol Bubukol, Mayweather, Tubbataha Reef, and Spicy Time.

In a pre-fight press conference Thursday, Rodriguez who arrived two weeks before the fight and trained daily at the Elorde Gym along Taft Avenue until Wednesday reiterated his cocky statement that Nietes should “prepare for the worst.”

Rodriguez said that “to be a champion you must beat the champion in his own house” taking a cue from Nietes who went to the hometowns of Mexican challengers and beat them handily.

It is clear that Rodriguez is trying to get under the skin of Nietes who insists that he will avenge the loss of his friend and stablemate Merlito “Tiger” Sabillo who lost his WBO minimum weight title to the Mexican via a 10th round TKO. Rodriguez trained at the Elorde Gym. He was in good condition, had handspeed and good footwork. He was adept at slipping punches but does not have the power of Nietes whose overhand right destroyed another mandatory Mexican challenger Moises Fuentes.

This will be Nietes’ key weapon aside from a stiff jab.

Nietes, peeved by the cockiness of Rodriguez has vowed to shut the Mexican’s mouth when they confront each other before what is expected to be a jam-packed crowd eager to watch a truly exciting bout on “Pinoy Pride XXXI” of ALA Promotions in cooperation with the giant broadcast network ABS-CBN with the fights to be telecast on Sunday at 10:00 a.m. over Channel 2.

Another cocky Mexican Rafael “Guerrito” Reyes (16-4, 12 KO’s), who battles unbeaten Mark “Magnifico” Magsayo, expressed confidence he would whip Magsayo and already asked ALA Promotions to arrange a showdown with the unbeaten IBF Intercontinental super bantamweight champion.

LOTTO RESULTS

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

A16

F R I D AY : J U LY 1 0 , 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

‘I’m the worst’

France’s Richard Gasquet lies on the floor after beating Switzerland’s Stan Wawrinka during their men’s quarter-final match on Day 9 of the 2015 Wimbledon Championships at The All England Tennis Club in Wimbledon, southwest London. Gasquet won the match, 6-4, 4-6, 3-6, 6-4, 11-9. AFP

LONDON—Richard Gasquet summed up his shock appearance in the Wimbledon semi-finals alongside Novak Djokovic, Roger Federer and Andy Murray by admitting: “I’m the worst”.

The 29-year-old Frenchman reached his second All England Club semi-final -- eight years after his first -- with a 6-4, 4-6, 3-6, 6-4, 11-9 victory over fourth seed Stan Wawrinka on Wednesday.

While he was spending three hours on court, defending champion Djokovic, who is his semi-final opponent on Friday, seven-time winner Federer and 2013 champion Murray hardly broke sweat as they took their expected places in Friday’s last-four line-up.

“I’m proud because there are big players in the semis. But I’m the worst when you see Federer,

Alaska battles SMB TURN TO A12

Djokovic and Murray and me,” said Gasquet.

The 21st seed lost to Federer in the 2007 semi-finals at Wimbledon while, in his only other last-four run at a major, he was beaten by Rafael Nadal at the 2013 US Open.

While he is in his second Wimbledon semi-final, Federer is in his 10th, Djokovic is in his seventh while Murray has made the lastfour for the sixth time.

Adding to his inferiority complex, Gasquet has only beaten Djokovic once in 12 meetings.

His only win came at the 2007 Masters Cup while he was crushed

by the world number one in the fourth round of the French Open last month, winning just six games in a straight sets rout.

“I want to enjoy it, to play a better match than I did in Paris,” said Gasquet.

“It’s important for me to think I can win this match. That’s the most important. To go on the court and think you can win, it’s something I need to do it on my mental part, to be there to win.”

“Novak is an incredible player to face in the semis of a Grand Slam. I want to enjoy that moment and to try to reach the final, of course.

“Novak is the favorite. Everybody knows that. But I want to take my chance and we will see what will happen.”

Before Wednesday, Gasquet had lost 15 of his 16 most recent clashes against top 10 players.

PSL beach volley opens at MOA TURN TO A15

At last year’s Wimbledon, he was knocked out by Australia’s Nick Kyrgios in the second round despite having nine match points.

And having struggled with a back injury for large parts of 2015 his prospects at Wimbledon didn’t look promising especially when his only grass-court outing of the summer before the All England Club ended in a second round loss at Queen’s Club.

But he has been reborn over the last nine days, seeing off 2014 semifinalist Grigor Dimitrov and then gaining revenge over Kyrgios on his way to Wednesday’s clash with Wawrinka.

“I am older for sure compared to 2007. I’m 29 now. I was 21. I have more experience,” said Gasquet.

“I know what it means to be in the semis. It’s a long time I didn’t do it.” AFP

Birdie-binge ties Miñoza with Bayron DAVAO—Frankie Miñoza rode on a fiery five-birdie spree linking both nines to shoot a six-under 66 and tie Jay Bayron at the helm as erstwhile joint leaders Ramil Bisera and Micah Shin reeled back with over-par scores midway through the ICTSI Apo Golf Invitational at the Apo Golf and Country Club here yesterday.

Back on the ICTSI tour after skipping last week’s leg at Palos Verdes, Miñoza wheeled back into title contention following a mediocre 72 start, recalling fierce form to turn in the best score in a day of floundering fortunes at the flat but challenging layout.

From joint 10th Wednesday, Miñoza got a shared view of the top with Bayron, who birdied two of the last four for a 70 and a 138, one ahead of longshot Nilo Salahog, who assumed the challenger’s role with a 70 for a 139 after practically all the others stumbled with so-so scores on the tough putting surface of Apo. Tony Lascuña, whose opening 69 sparked hopes of a big weekend finish for the reigning but still winless Order of Merit champion, lost his momentum and struggled with a one-over 73 marred by a double bogey on No. 14. He fell four strokes behind at 142 in a tie with Shin, who also failed to sustain his solid 68 with a 74 ruined by three bogeys in the last six holes at the front.

CYAN MAGENTA YELLOW BLACK FRIDAY: JULY 10, 2015

RAY S. EÑANO EDITOR

RODERICK T. DELA CRUZ ASSISTANT EDITOR

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

BUSINESS

B1

Laguna Water expansion. Laguna Water, the biggest water service provider in Laguna, is set to expand its services to the whole province, as the Laguna provincial government and Manila Water Philippine Ventures signed an amendment to the concession agreement authorizing the company to bring its services beyond the cities of Sta. Rosa, Biñan and Cabuyao. Shown sealing the agreement are (from left) Laguna provincial administrator Dulce Rebanal, Laguna Governor Ramil Hernandez, Laguna Water president Virgilio Rivera Jr., Manila Water president and chief executive Gerardo Ablaza Jr., Manila Water chief finance officer Luis Juan Oreta and Manila Water chief operations officer Ferdinand dela Cruz.

SMC plans $1.5-b nickel plant PSe comPoSite index Closing July 9, 2015

8500 8000 7500 7000 6500 6000

7,377.69 14.26

PeSo-dollar rate

Closing JULY 9, 2015 42

P45.210

43

CLOSE

44 45 46

By Jenniffer B. Austria

TOP Frontier Investment Holdings Inc., the parent of conglomerate San Miguel Corp., said Thursday it plans to build a $1.5-billion nickel processing plant in Surigao del Norte province.

Top Frontier president Ramon Ang said at the sidelines of the annual stockholders’ meeting the proposed plant would use highpressure acid leach technology and would have an annual capacity of 200,000 tons.

Top Frontier is now in talks with several firms as possible equipment suppliers for the proj-

ect, he said.

Top Frontier expects to break ground for the processing plant before the end of 2015 and complete the facility over the next two years.

Top Frontier’s mining unit Clariden Holdings Inc. holds several mining tenements in various areas including Nonoc nickel proj-

ect and Mt. Cadig nickel project.

It also owns exploration permits for certain areas under the Bango gold project and has pending applications and production sharing agreement for other areas.

For the Nonoc Nickel Project, Clariden holds mining rights over 23,877 hectares in the island of Nonoc, Hanigad and Awasan Surigao City.

Aside from existing projects, Clariden also plans to invest in the 46-hectare Mindoro iron exploration project, the 16-hectare Davao del Sur exploration project, the 32-hectare Sultan Kudarat and North Cotabato exploration project, the 254-hectare Compostela Valley exploration proj-

ect and the 1,284-hectare Ilocos Norte limestone project.

Top Frontier currently owns a 66.15-percent interest in San Miguel, which in turn has investments in food and beer manufacturing, power generation, real estate, banking, fuel and oil, telecommunications and infrastructure.

Top Frontier posted a net income of P26.5 billion in 2014, slightly higher than P25 billion recorded in the same period a year ago while revenues surged to P782 billion from P205 billion.

Share price of Top Frontier on Thursday closed at P78.50, down 0.63 percent from the previous day’s close of P79 per share.

HIGH P45.135 LOW P45.210 AVERAGE P45.170 VOLUME 519.000M

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 P23.70-P24.40 Auto LPG Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas Thursday, July 9, 2015

F oreign e xchange r ate Currency

Unit

US Dollar

Peso

United States

Dollar

1.000000

45.2320

Japan

Yen

0.008284

0.3747

UK

Pound

1.536400

69.4944

Hong Kong

Dollar

0.129004

5.8351

Switzerland

Franc

1.057865

47.8493

Canada

Dollar

0.785176

35.5151

Singapore

Dollar

0.740905

33.5126

Australia

Dollar

0.744602

33.6798

Bahrain

Dinar

2.652379

119.9724 12.0616

Saudi Arabia

Rial

0.266660

Brunei

Dollar

0.738171

33.3890

Indonesia

Rupiah

0.000075

0.0034

Thailand

Baht

0.029418

1.3306

UAE

Dirham

0.272257

12.3147

Euro

Euro

1.107700

Korea

Won

0.000882

0.0399

China

Yuan

0.161046

7.2844

India

Rupee

0.015753

0.7125

Malaysia

Ringgit

0.262771

11.8857

New Zealand

Dollar

0.673491

30.4633

Taiwan

Dollar

0.032248

1.4586

50.1035

Source: PDS Bridge

First-half car sales jumped 21% to 131,465 units

By Othel V. Campos VEHICLE sales jumped 21 percent year-on-year to hit a new record in the first half, on the back of hefty demand from individual and corporate buyers as per capita income in the Philippines rises, two industry groups said Thursday.

The Chamber of Automotive Manufacturers of the Philippines Inc. and Truck Manufacturers Association said in a joint report their members sold 131,465 vehicles in January to June, up from 108,957 units they sold in the same pe-

B3

CYAN MAGENTA YELLOW BLACK

riod last year.

“We just ended the first semester on a very strong note.

Industry is confident that it will reach the 310,000 unit sales it set for this year,” Campi president Rommel Gutierrez said.

“Our automotive industry is riding with the other industries’ growth. Micro SMEs and SMEs are expanding which made for the robust demand for AUVs and SUVs and light commercial vehicles,” said Gutierrez.

Gutierrez said the ongoing vehicle refleeting by construction companies and the

Market ends four-day slump

growth in fuel haulers sales created a stronger demand for heavy-duty vehicles.

Automotive sales in June climbed 23 percent to 24,185 units from a year ago. Monthon-month, sales in June increased 4.5 percent from 23,139 vehicles that were deployed in May 2015.

Data showed sales of passenger cars or sedans increased 19 percent to 9,840 units in June from 8,278 units sold a year ago while orders for commercial vehicles rose 27 percent to 14,345 units from 11,344 units.

Total sales of passenger cars

B4

in the first six months grew 30 percent to 52,778 units from 40,609 units in the same period last year while sales of commercial vehicles increased 15 percent to 78,687 units from 68,348 units.

Toyota Motor Philippines retained its market leadership with 43.9 percent of total sales.

It was followed by Mitsubishi Motors Philippines Corp. with 19.2 percent; Ford Motor Company Philippines with 7.9 percent; Isuzu Philippines Corp. with 7.7 percent; and Honda Cars Philippines Inc. with 6.6 percent.

S&P cuts growth outlook to 6%

FRIDAY: JULY 10, 2015

B2

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

The STandard BuSineSS daily STockS review Thursday, July 9, 2015

52 Weeks

Previous

High Low

STOCKS

7.88 75.3 124.4 107 56.5 4.2 17 30.45 10.4 2.6 890 1.01 100 30.5 75 91.5 137 361.2 57 180 1700 124 3.26

2.5 66 88.05 88.1 45.45 1.68 12.02 19.6 6.12 1.02 625 0.225 78 17.8 58 62 88.35 276 41 118.2 1200 59 2.65

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

MEDCO Holdings Metrobank 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

5.34 73 105.00 92.00 45.4 1.68 15.94 19.98 6.41 1.80 815.00 0.405 89.5 18.00 27.00 64.75 93 303 36.4 151 1471.00 59.55 3.2

47 5 1.46 2.36 15.3 89 148 20.6 36 65.8 2.97 4.14 21.5 21.6 11.96 9.13 11.8 2.89 17 31.8 109 20.75 15.3 9.4 0.98 241 12.5 79 74 33.9 90 13.26 293 5 5.25 12.98 15 7.03 3.4 4.5 6.3 7.86 7.34 238 3.28 0.315 2.18 2.65 234 5.28 1.3 26 2.17

35.9 1.11 1.01 1.86 7.92 40.3 32 15.32 10.08 29.15 1.5 1.5 10.72 9.55 9.04 6.02 8.86 1.06 8.61 20.2 71.5 13.86 13.24 5.34 0.395 173 8.65 34.1 33 23.35 17.3 5.88 250.2 3.37 3.87 8.45 10.04 3.03 1.95 1 4.02 1.65 5.9 161 1.55 0.138 1.02 2.09 152 4.28 0.640 10.02 1.2

Aboitiz Power Corp.

Agrinurture Inc. Alliance Tuna Intl Inc. Alsons Cons.

Asiabest Group Bogo Medelin C. Azuc De Tarlac 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 Macay Holdings Manila Water Co. Inc. Maxs Group Megawide Mla. Elect. Co `A’ Panasonic Mfg Phil. Corp.

Pepsi-Cola Products Phil.

Petron Corporation 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.

42.7 1.45 1.03 1.92 10.1 50.05 93.00 18.3 27.3 56 2.31 1.44 12.3 19.880 8.89 7.22 9.90 1.75 12.34 24.95 77.6 14.00 13.64 5.81 0.500 188.60 10.1 29.00 59.00 23.35 24.8 5.8 290.00 3.98 4.82 8.35 11.90 3.22 2.07 3.11 4.09 1.99 6.05 167 1.65 0.144 1.25 2.11 186 4.52 0.69 23.75 1.22

0.59 59.2 30.05 2.16 7.39 3.4 3.35 823.5 10.2 84 4.92 0.66 1455 7.5 76 6.5 9.25 0.85 17.3 0.71 5.53 6.55 0.0670 1.61 2.99 84.9 974 1.66 1.39 390 156 0.710 0.435

0.44 48.1 20.85 1.6 6.62 0.23 0.23 634.5 7.390 12.8 2.26 0.152 837 5.3 49.55 3.43 4.84 0.59 12 0.580 4.2 4.5 0.030 0.550 2.26 59.3 751 1.13 0.93 170 80 0.211 0.179

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 Lopez Holdings Corp.

Lodestar Invt. Holdg.Corp.

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

Minerales Industrias Corp.

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

0.480 57.1000 22.00 1.27 6.86 0.260 0.260 746.5 7.48 13.00 4.40 0.205 1334 6.60 69.15 3.8 6.95 0.66 12.64 0.6 4.43 6.6 0.0300 1.840 2.65 60.50 871.00 1.17 0.70 155.10 79.000 0.3200 0.2000

10.5 1.99 1.75 0.375

6.74 0.65 1.2 0.192

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

7.150 0.69 1.150 0.228

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

SHARES 13075420 94,478,048 73,382,920 122,398,840 146,261,014 7,072,408,469 7,523,657,771

Close

High

Low

FINANCIAL 5.5 4.55 73.1 72.7 104.70 102.50 92.50 89.00 45.45 45.2 1.65 1.30 15.94 15.8 20.05 19.8 6.41 6.41 1.82 1.78 782.00 782.00 0.405 0.400 90.35 87.5 18.00 18.00 26.50 26.50 64.35 63.50 94 94 305 300 37.3 36.5 152.2 150 1470.00 1470.00 60.70 59.50 3.27 3.23 INDUSTRIAL 42.75 42.25 1.38 1.38 1.02 1.01 1.93 1.89 10.2 10.1 54.45 49 91.00 91.00 18.3 18 27.2 26 55.8 55.1 2.39 2.13 1.44 1.4 12.3 12 20.000 18.92 8.99 8.51 7.29 7.10 9.68 9.40 1.79 1.75 12.5 12.12 24.9 24.5 77.6 76 14.00 14.00 13.76 13.10 5.81 5.65 0.550 0.500 188.60 186.00 10.18 9.9 29.00 28.00 58.00 52.50 23.7 23.85 25 24 5.78 5.48 294.80 282.00 3.93 3.93 4.81 4.75 8.50 8.13 11.90 11.70 3.22 3.15 2.10 2.03 3.13 2.87 4.08 4.05 1.96 1.84 6.25 5.5 165.1 160 1.64 1.6 0.143 0.142 1.25 1.25 2.11 2.08 193 180 4.5 4.5 0.7 0.67 23.75 23.75 1.22 1.09 HOLDING FIRMS 0.480 0.460 57.9500 6.8000 22.50 21.50 1.27 1.19 7.00 6.84 0.250 0.244 0.250 0.242 750.5 745 7.59 7.4 13.30 12.80 4.41 4.30 0.205 0.205 1329 1313 6.58 6.45 69.25 67.00 3.99 3.99 7 6.85 0.66 0.62 12.8 12.48 0.6 0.56 4.68 4.4 6.74 6.6 0.0300 0.0300 1.960 1.770 2.67 2.56 60.45 59.00 870.00 850.00 1.20 1.15 0.69 0.68 160.00 155.20 80.000 78.500 0.3150 0.3000 0.1930 0.1800 PROPERTY 7.300 7.100 0.70 0.67 1.160 1.150 0.222 0.220

Close

%

Net Foreign

Change Volume

Trade/Buying

4.8 73.1 104.00 91.60 45.3 1.57 15.94 20.05 6.41 1.81 782.00 0.400 90 18.00 26.50 63.55 94 300 36.8 151.3 1470.00 60.00 3.23

-10.11 0.14 -0.95 -0.43 -0.22 -6.55 0.00 0.35 0.00 0.56 -4.05 -1.23 0.56 0.00 -1.85 -1.85 1.08 -0.99 1.10 0.20 -0.07 0.76 0.94

277,600 52,650 3,709,950 2,989,940 118,800 158,000 392,100 371,200 500 25,000 10 210,000 3,534,210 36,600 700 118,770 80 27,150 87,800 861,430 100 12,670 88,000

42.55 1.38 1.01 1.93 10.1 53 91.00 18.2 26.75 55.35 2.37 1.44 12.2 20.000 8.90 7.29 9.50 1.75 12.5 24.75 76.95 14.00 13.76 5.75 0.500 187.20 10.16 28.00 58.00 23.4 25 5.52 294.20 3.93 4.81 8.25 11.90 3.18 2.09 3.04 4.07 1.96 6.25 162.2 1.64 0.143 1.25 2.10 193 4.5 0.7 23.75 1.17

-0.35 -4.83 -1.94 0.52 0.00 5.89 -2.15 -0.55 -2.01 -1.16 2.60 0.00 -0.81 0.60 0.11 0.97 -4.04 0.00 1.30 -0.80 -0.84 0.00 0.88 -1.03 0.00 -0.74 0.59 -3.45 -1.69 0.21 0.81 -4.83 1.45 -1.26 -0.21 -1.20 0.00 -1.24 0.97 -2.25 -0.49 -1.51 3.31 -2.87 -0.61 -0.69 0.00 -0.47 3.76 -0.44 1.45 0.00 -4.10

2,770,600 4,000 25,000 1,057,000 200 300 10 512,700 429,200 14,440 5,145,000 88,000 10,700 2,134,000 1,350,400 23,489,400 2,939,600 9,000 53,500 4,926,800 341,320 4,000 2,124,800 393,800 75,000 674,440 787,800 700 1,950 591,400 412,800 16,769,200 1,012,950 2,000 619,000 3,847,700 1,100 419,000 558,000 2,124,000 2,518,000 20,000 4,200 5,620 285,000 800,000 5,000 775,000 1,976,090 136,000 11,906,000 800 301,000

0.475 57.9500 22.00 1.27 7.00 0.250 0.242 749 7.51 13.16 4.30 0.205 1315 6.50 69.00 3.99 7 0.65 12.8 0.56 4.65 6.73 0.0300 1.950 2.67 59.90 870.00 1.20 0.68 160.00 78.500 0.3150 0.1930

-1.04 1.49 0.00 0.00 2.04 -3.85 -6.92 0.33 0.40 1.23 -2.27 0.00 -1.42 -1.52 -0.22 5.00 0.72 -1.52 1.27 -6.67 4.97 1.97 0.00 5.98 0.75 -0.99 -0.11 2.56 -2.86 3.16 -0.63 -1.56 -3.50

3,790,000 1,506,470 12,521,800 17,000 19,700 2,520,000 230,000 562,350 761,600 5,900,400 169,000 540,000 319,705 53,900 3,093,860 2,000 4,290,900 405,000 2,812,400 293,000 18,576,000 456,300 100,000 12,501,000 5,000 162,790 393,330 48,000 215,000 500 3,140 380,000 330,000

7.200 0.70 1.150 0.221

0.70 1.45 0.00 -3.07

93,800 294,000 61,000 1,290,000

3,298,201.00 -220,803,812.00 -47,230,669.00 1,426,530.00 4,433,604.00 5,511,447.00

31,418,682.00 -3,478,531.50 -5,135,350.00 -446,870.00 -63,058,457.00 48,608.50 -47,138,205.00 -4,040.00

599,304.00 -82,888.00 37,580.00 -5,760.00 -2,517,384.00 -9,004,135.00 -43,134,924.00 -4,362,359.00 -1,750.00 -36,482,615.00 7,655,382.00 1,621,724.00 574.00 -7,647,601.00 1,701,726.00 -89,250.00 -6,757,685.00 7,200.00 65,590,507.00 74,853,180.00 1,755,490.00 -7,964,899.00

124,310.00 329,450.00 -101,755.00

-52,500.00 -32,483,430.00 19,000.00 -12,200.00 -26,101,614.50 -8,400,265.00

-111,770,965.00 2,162,652.00 -39,075,420.00 88,200.00 16,600,560.00 -11,666,849.50 -6,107,697.00 1,755,784.00 30,182,810.00 -4,122,270.00 -1,718,222.00 -200,981,950.00

-247,800.00 18,000.00

-41,540.00

52 Weeks

Previous

High Low

STOCKS

Close

41.4 5.6 5.59 1.44 1.97 1.48 0.201 0.69 0.97 2.22 2.1 1.8 5.94 0.180 0.470 8.54 31.8 2.29 4.9 21.35 1.06 7.56 1.62 8.59

30.05 3.36 4.96 0.79 1.1 0.97 0.083 0.415 0.83 1.15 1.42 1.27 4.13 0.090 0.290 2.69 22.15 1.6 3.1 15.08 0.69 3.38 0.83 5.73

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

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

Primex Corp.

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

10.5 66 1.44 1.09 15.82 0.1430 5.06 99.1 7.67 4 1700 2720 8.41 1.97 119.5 0.017 0.8200 2.2800 5.93 12.28 3.32 2.53 3.2 95.5 1 2.46 15.2 0.62 1.040 22.8 6.41 4 185 22.9 3486 0.760 2.28 46.05 90.1 11.6 0.85 10 0.490 1.9

1.97 35.2 1 0.63 8.6 0.0770 2.95 56.1 4.8 2.58 830 1600 5.95 1.23 102.6 0.011 0.041 1.200 2.34 6.5 1.91 1.01 1.95 3.1 0.650 1.8 6 0.335 0.37 14.54 3 2.28 79 4.39 2748 0.435 1.2 31.45 60.55 7.59 0.63 5 0.315 1.14

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

Cebu Air Inc. (5J) DFNN Inc. Easy Call “Common” FEUI Globe Telecom GMA Network Inc. Harbor Star I.C.T.S.I. 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 RTL SSI Group STI Holdings Travellers Waterfront Phils.

Yehey

0.0098 17.24 25 0.330 12.8 1.19 1.62 9.5 4.2 0.48 0.420 0.440 0.022 0.023 8.2 49.2 4.27 1.030 3.06 0.020 0.021 7.67 12.88 10.42 0.040 420 9

0.0043 6.47 9.43 0.236 5.11 0.85 0.77 5.99 1.17 0.305 0.2130 0.2160 0.013 0.014 3.240 18.96 2.11 0.365 1.54 0.012 0.013 5.4 7.26 2.27 0.015 115.9 3.67

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

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

70 553 120 8.21 12.28 111 1060 76.9 78.95 84.8 1.34

33 490 101.5 5.88 6.5 101 997 74.2 74.5 75 1

ABS-CBN Holdings Corp.

Ayala Corp. Pref `B1’ First Gen G GMA Holdings Inc. Leisure and Resort MWIDE PREF PCOR-Preferred A SMC Preferred A SMC Preferred B SMC Preferred C Swift Pref

6.98 10.96 15 12.88

0.8900 2.4 3.5 5.95

LR Warrant Double Dragon Makati Fin. Corp.

Xurpas

130.7

105.6 First Metro ETF

High

VALUE 1146201491.075 1,564,370,108.97 2,132,289,898.755 1,614,704,450.90 1,673,726,879.46 300,557,624.281 8,451,457,167.445

FINANCIAL 1,659.22 (down) 4.12 INDUSTRIAL 11,275.48 (up) 105.41 HOLDING FIRMS 6,617.76 (up) 23.43 PROPERTY 2,985.38 (down) 0.59 SERVICES 2,033.95 (down) 10 MINING & OIL 12,862.35 (up) 74.41 PSEI 7,377.69 (up) 14.26 All Shares Index 4,219.35 (up) 5.21 Gainers: 81Losers: 101; Unchanged: 42; Total: 224

Close

36.40 3.21 5.14 0.82 1.14 1.06 0.128 0.430 0.850 1.18 1.88 1.26 4.62 0.104 0.3050 7.16 27.20 1.71 3.28 20.35 0.73 7.2 0.800 6.480

36.80 35.70 36.55 3.21 3.1 3.2 5.18 5.07 5.18 0.83 0.8 0.83 1.19 1.14 1.19 1.07 1.00 1.07 0.126 0.125 0.126 0.430 0.430 0.430 0.850 0.840 0.840 1.19 1.15 1.19 1.88 1.83 1.83 1.29 1.20 1.28 4.7 4.48 4.63 0.110 0.099 0.110 0.3000 0.2900 0.2900 7.17 7.15 7.16 27.20 26.20 27.00 1.72 1.69 1.72 3.35 3.25 3.35 20.40 19.80 20.20 0.73 0.69 0.73 7.14 6.66 7.14 0.800 0.800 0.800 6.650 6.440 6.650 SERVICES 6.27 6.25 6.03 6.18 62 62 61.4 61.5 1.14 1.14 1.13 1.13 0.610 0.630 0.610 0.610 8.77 8.83 8.58 8.60 0.0810 0.0800 0.0780 0.0790 3.35 3.47 3.3 3.4 84.9 85.4 81.5 84.5 6.30 6.59 6.03 6.03 2.93 2.77 2.73 2.73 911 929.5 911 929.5 2410 2420 2380 2388 6.20 6.24 6.12 6.20 1.29 1.29 1.24 1.28 111 110.8 109.1 110.5 0.011 0.011 0.010 0.011 0.204 0.206 0.200 0.205 1.2800 1.3200 1.2800 1.3000 2.2 2.59 2.23 2.59 9.20 9.09 9.08 9.08 2.60 2.60 2.50 2.60 1.27 1.11 0.77 0.77 2.01 2.01 2.00 2.01 40.00 39.00 39.00 39.00 0.680 0.660 0.660 0.660 2 2 2 2 5.46 5.52 5.27 5.32 0.320 0.320 0.315 0.320 0.450 0.475 0.445 0.475 18.86 18.88 18.88 18.88 4.51 4.66 4.65 4.65 3 2.98 2.95 2.95 110.00 109.00 90.10 106.70 18.80 18.80 18.20 18.80 2780.00 2790.00 2760.00 2770.00 0.640 0.630 0.610 0.630 1.260 1.320 1.220 1.300 36.00 36.15 35.50 36.00 71.60 72.45 70.00 71.30 8.75 8.75 8.31 8.71 0.63 0.64 0.62 0.64 5.18 5.2 5.15 5.15 0.320 0.320 0.320 0.320 2.740 3.290 2.280 2.320 MINING & OIL 0.0066 0.0065 0.0058 0.0058 5.66 5.71 5.53 5.71 10.82 10.82 10.82 10.82 0.230 0.228 0.225 0.227 6.8000 6.25 6.25 6.2500 0.91 0.9 0.89 0.9 0.77 0.78 0.75 0.78 6.72 6.72 6.50 6.72 1.37 1.47 1.30 1.45 0.305 0.310 0.300 0.305 0.220 0.224 0.219 0.224 0.226 0.226 0.225 0.226 0.0130 0.013 0.013 0.013 0.0140 0.013 0.013 0.013 3.07 3.07 2.96 3.05 19.78 20.5 18.96 20.4 3.5 3.69 3.29 3.62 0.5800 0.5800 0.5600 0.5600 1.9200 2.0000 1.9800 1.9800 0.0120 0.0110 0.0100 0.0110 0.0120 0.0120 0.0120 0.0120 4.21 4.20 4.16 4.20 5.85 5.850 5.620 5.64 1.55 1.890 1.500 1.80 0.012 0.013 0.012 0.012 140.00 143.30 139.00 140.70 8.7 9.44 8.7 9.36 PREFERRED 62 62 61.8 62 527 527 527 527 118 118 118 118 6.09 6.09 5.92 5.95 1.07 1.08 1.08 1.08 110.5 113.5 113.5 113.5 1066 1070 1070 1070 75.5 75.5 75.35 75.4 84.5 84.5 84.5 84.5 88 88 87 88 1.7 2.55 2.18 2.35 WARRANTS & BONDS 3.600 3.600 3.490 3.550 9.7 9.86 9.11 9.8 6.45 6.62 6 6.5 11.18 11.38 10.86 11.32 EXCHANGE TRADED FUNDS 119.7 120.1 118 120.1

T op g ainerS STOCKS

Low

%

Net Foreign

Change Volume

Trade/Buying

0.41 -0.31 0.78 1.22 4.39 0.94 -1.56 0.00 -1.18 0.85 -2.66 1.59 0.22 5.77 -4.92 0.00 -0.74 0.58 2.13 -0.74 0.00 -0.83 0.00 2.62

17,596,500 1,379,000 188,200 1,877,000 31,000 54,000 8,580,000 21,000 351,000 434,000 17,230,000 372,000 27,520,000 310,000 170,000 56,000 3,725,800 201,000 4,000 33,037,900 1,813,000 5,400 21,000 3,447,800

-269,392,215.00 69,980.00 -843,804.00 66,320.00

-1.44 -0.81 -0.88 0.00 -1.94 -2.47 1.49 -0.47 -4.29 -6.83 2.03 -0.91 0.00 -0.78 -0.45 0.00 0.49 1.56 17.73 -1.30 0.00 -39.37 0.00 -2.50 -2.94 0.00 -2.56 0.00 5.56 0.11 3.10 -1.67 -3.00 0.00 -0.36 -1.56 3.17 0.00 -0.42 -0.46 1.59 -0.58 0.00 -15.33

8,600 40,420 12,000 1,397,000 10,154,500 11,940,000 168,000 556,050 24,800 10,000 700 210,700 73,800 110,000 942,780 16,900,000 11,730,000 271,000 65,000 36,000 277,000 18,000 25,000 300 18,000 15,000 5,758,000 100,000 100,000 2,800 6,000 20,000 410 106,000 202,875 1,421,000 54,965,000 1,611,900 958,540 5,786,900 1,130,000 1,952,500 300,000 16,204,000

-12.12 0.88 0.00 -1.30 -8.09 -1.10 1.30 0.00 5.84 0.00 1.82 0.00 0.00 -7.14 -0.65 3.13 3.43 -3.45 3.13 -8.33 0.00 -0.24 -3.59 16.13 0.00 0.50 7.59

6,932,000,000 18,300.00 734,800 69,603.00 5,200 160,000 100 3,032,000 952,000 42,700 13,012,000 3,258,940.00 190,000 3,070,000 120,000 17,700,000 17,700,000 668,000 -389,390.00 8,103,000 -23,765,165.00 1,323,000 165,000 13,000 -5,940.00 10,200,000 12,100,000 46,000 1,952,700 -5,282,274.00 7,631,000 -36,620.00 57,700,000 -120,000.00 255,400 5,638,162.00 368,300 -108.00

0.00 0.00 0.00 -2.30 0.93 2.71 0.38 -0.13 0.00 0.00 38.24

375,310 1,000 2,870 107,800 50,000 80 50 314,030 10,000 14,060 18,000

-1.39 1.03 0.78 1.25

87,000 2,034,900 5,800 1,634,600

320,775.00

0.33

12,660

99,351.00

1,000.00

-92,400.00 -11,869,620.00 -31,563,580.00

-47,269,380.00 399,269,081.00 -8,000.00 -9,292,862.00

-62,351,815.00 9,462,820.50

-71,817,850.00 15,210.00 -23,251,515.00 -106,530.00 136,250.00

-4,284,742.00 4,750.00 -1,888.00 -3,270.00 796,700.00 -244,127,380.00 26,615,480.00 -45,960,170.00 -48,948,717.00 -3,200,806.00 -622,180.00 2,565,101.00 -19,100.00

-4,707,110.00 -52,372.00

-524,010.00

-984,988.00

T op L oSerS Close (P)

Change (%)

STOCKS

Close (P)

Change (%)

Swift Pref

2.35

38.24

Lorenzo Shipping

0.77

Jackstones

2.59

17.73

Yehey

2.320

-39.37 -15.33

PhilexPetroleum

1.80

16.13

Abra Mining

0.0058

-12.12

TA Petroleum

9.36

7.59

AG Finance

4.8

-10.11

Prime Orion

1.950

5.98

Oriental Pet. `A'

0.0110

-8.33

Bogo Medelin

53

5.89

Benguet Corp `B'

6.2500

-8.09

Ferronickel

1.45

5.84

Manila Mining `B'

0.013

-7.14

MRC Allied Ind.

0.110

5.77

ATN Holdings B

0.242

-6.92

NOW Corp.

0.475

5.56

Easy Call "Common"

2.73

-6.83

Jolliville Holdings

3.99

5.00

Mabuhay Holdings `A'

0.56

-6.67

FRIDAY: JULY 10, 2015

B3

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

Market ends four-day slump The stock market bounced back Thursday to snap a four-day slump, reversing heavy morning losses and tracking a surge in Shanghai after China announced new measures to stop a mainland rout that has fueled fears about the wider economy.

The Philippine Stock Exchange Index gained 14.26 points, or 0.2 percent, to 7,377.69 on a value turnover of P8.4 billion. Losers still beat gainers, 101 to 81, with 42 issues unchanged.

Ayala Land Inc. added 0.4 percent to P36.55, while Universal Robina Corp., the biggest snack food maker, rallied 3.8 percent to P193.

Metro Pacific Investments Corp. jumped 5 percent to P4.65 after The Standard reported that five companies were seeking a venture with its tollroad unit.

Manila Electric Co., the largest retailer of electricity, advanced 1.4 percent to P294.20, while Nickel Asia Corp., the biggest nickel

producer, climbed 3.1 percent to P20.40.

The regional market posted the gains come after shares took a hammering Wednesday as shellshocked traders were buffeted by the crisis in China, which has wiped trillions off valuations, and fears about Greece’s future in the eurozone.

Commodity prices were also sideswiped, with one analyst saying a tonne of iron ore was now cheaper in China than a ton of cabbage.

Shanghai ended 5.76 percent higher, adding 202.14 points to 3,709.33 on a wildly volatile day.

It had tumbled 3.40 percent at the open but soared as much as 6.38

percent in the afternoon--a 10 percent swing.

In late trade Hong Kong, was up more than four percent, having slipped 0.45 percent soon after opening.

Tokyo recovered from losses of more than three percent to end 0.60 percent, or 117.86 points, higher at 19,855.50.

Seoul added 0.58 percent, or 11.60 points, to 2,027.81 and Sydney was slightly higher, adding 1.50 points to 5,471.00--both indexes had fallen about 1.6 percent in the morning.

After a series of failed measures, China’s market regulator Wednesday barred “big” shareholders-defined as those with stakes of more than five percent--and executives of listed companies from selling their shares for the next six months.

“Investor confidence is recovering,” Zhang Gang, an analyst from Central China Securities, told AFP. Police and security regulators

also launched a joint probe Thursday into “vicious short-selling,” the official Xinhua news agency reported. Short-selling is the selling of stock that is not actually held, in anticipation of a future fall in prices.

However, Mark Mobius, chairman of Templeton Emerging Markets Group, said the latest announcement out of Beijing “suggests desperation” by the leadership.

“It actually creates more fear because it shows that they’ve lost control,” he told Bloomberg News.

Shanghai had risen more than 150 percent in the 12 months to its June 12 peak in a borrowingfueled frenzy enhanced by hopes for economy-boosting measures by the government. However, it has given up about 30 percent since then.

Analysts said new restrictions on margin trading and concerns about the overvaluation of many stocks have forced mainland investors--mostly individual retail traders--to cash out. With AFP

Financial literacy.

Philippine Deposit Insurance Corp. teamed up with the Komisyon sa Wikang Filipino for the translation of information materials under the PDIC Be A Wise Saver advocacy program into Filipino and other major dialects to enhance public understanding of responsible banking and saving. Shown after the signing of the partnership agreement on June 19, 2015 at the PDIC Office in Makati City are PDIC president Cristina Que Orbeta (third from left) and KWF head of translation Benjamin Mendillo Jr. (second from left). With them are (from left) are professor John Enrico Torralba of KWF and PDIC corporate affairs vice president Jose Villaret Jr.

Smart eyes young Internet users, offers free Instagram SMART Communications Inc., the mobile subsidiary of Philippine Long Distance Telephone Co., is training its sights on the younger set of Philippine consumers, or the so-called ‘millennial’ market, with its recently announced Free Instagram offer.

The new service gives users access to the hugely popular photo-sharing mobile service without additional data charges.

Acknowledged as the group of consumers leading digital adoption worldwide, these young consumers are leading the market in terms of discovering new social networks, including services like Instagram.

“We know Instagram is growing fast in popularity among young Filipinos. In fact, ‘selfies’ posted by Filipinos on Instagram were the basis of a 2014 Time Magazine story, which named Makati City as the ‘selfie capital of the world’,” said Ariel Fermin, executive vice president and consumer business group head at Smart.

“We have announced our Free Instagram offer in response to the changing behavior among young Filipinos, who are more visually oriented and who love to take photos and instantly share them

with friends. Smart is the one leading the charge for them to experience these new services as part of our ‘Smart Life’ initiative,” Fermin added.

The company recently announced its Free Instagram offer available to prepaid subscribers who can enjoy free Instagram browsing and posting for up to 30 MB per day with any popular prepaid promos that include All Text 20, Unli Call & Text 30, All in 99 and Mega 250, among many others.

Users who subscribe to any of Smart’s Surf Plus Plans, meanwhile, will instantly be able to enjoy the Free Instagram offer as part of their freebie app bundle for 30 days.

According to a study released by the Pew Research Center in January 2015, more than half of Internet-using young adults aged 18 to 29 around the world are active on Instagram, with the social network being the second most-used social media service among teens.

Fermin said Instagram, a mobilefirst social network, appeals positively to the younger generation who understand a more “visual” language and who just can’t get enough of getting updates from friends on their Internetcapable smartphones.

The Baloi-Agus 2 138-kilovolt lines in Pacalundo, Baloi, Lanao del Norte

Trees causing outages —NGCP

NATIONAL Grid Corporation of the Philippines sought the immediate assistance of the Energy Department to help solve the perennial right-of-way problem in Lanao provinces, where the Agus Hydroelectric Plants are located.

The operations of the Agus power plants will have critical effects on the supply-demand situation in the Mindanao grid.

The NGCP said, if not swiftly addressed, the issue of unbridled tree vegetations under its power lines would lead to power failure and interruptions in Mindanao.

The trees, in strong or stormy winds, have and can again topple NGCP’s transmission and cable lines, especially those in mountainous areas.

NGCP said “in spite of our appeal to land claimants not to plant trees below the transmission cables, these claimants deliberately planted fastgrowing trees below the transmission lines, for reasons only known to them, which appears to be pre-judicial and discriminatory to the interest of the public at large.”

For instance, the tripping of Baloi– Agus 4 138kV Lines 1 & 2 occurred on June 4, 2015, in Lanao due to critical and unmanaged vegetation problems located between Towers 2 and 3 of these lines. Line 1 was restored but Line 2 remains out of service.

NGCP cited a claimant of land where the transmission lines traverse.

NGCP negotiated with the land claimant for payment to cut down the trees that caused the tripping, so that affected line may be restored.

However, the claimant insisted to be paid a hefty P6 million for NGCP to clear the vegetated lands he claims to own.

The persistent ROW problem in Lanao can indefinitely interrupt the operation of Agus 4 plant with a generation capacity of 180 megawatts.

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FRIDAY: JULY 10, 2015

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

S&P cuts growth outlook to 6%

By Julito G. Rada

Vegans vs. meat eaters MORE and more of our Happy Hour buddies are thinking of going vegetarian, admitting that the aches and pains they are beginning to experience in their joints, back and some other parts of the body has convinced them to get a “lifestyle check.” In the Philippines, one of the common complaints from vegans is the lack of options for people like them—what with restaurants, burger joints and diners all catering to carnivores. And if ever they find a resto that offers vegetarian fare, chances are it’s a bit too bland for their (sophisticated) taste buds, or the presentation makes you think the food is nothing more than glorified chop suey.

Can’t blame restaurateurs if they still hesitate to open up chains offering pure vegetarian fare. In a meat-loving country like ours, where pork and chicken adobo are favorites, and parties and get-togethers are not considered successful unless there is lechon on the table, being vegan can be something of a difficulty (if not an oddity).

In countries like the United States, however, where the increasing incidence of obesity even among children has prompted First Lady Michelle Obama to continue the fight even after she leaves the White House – being the moving force behind the “Let’s Move” campaign to combat obesity among children. A lot of petitions have actually been launched mostly at change.org for burger chains like McDonalds to provide “healthy, meatless options” (veggie burgers, in short) – and meat-y businesses are getting concerned.

Arby’s, America’s beef sandwich chains, has rolled back its sleeves and pulled off its gloves, joining the battle with its new PR campaign via an “open letter” addressed to vegetarians – a funnily sarcastic missive that has earned the ire of some vegans who vowed they would never dial the Vegetarian Support Hotline launched by the meat chain following the launch of its new offering, the Brown Sugar Bacon.

Here’s how the letter went: “Dear Vegetarians: “We respect you. We respect your life decisions. With that in mind, we want it to be abundantly clear that this letter is not meant to sway or convert you. We’re sharing this to offer our support.

“Nearly a year ago, we embarked on a journey to tell America about our meats. By now, you’ve likely heard the Arby’s tagline: We Have The Meats®. It’s tough to hear, but it is what it is. We have many meats.

And we have quality meats.

“It is understandable that you disapprove of our meat-bravado.

Your voices have been heard. Letters, emails, voicemails, Tweets and Facebook comments—we hear you. We love our meats, but realize they’re not for everyone.

“Then on Sunday, June 28, we launched a meat innovation that has likely tempted you: Brown Sugar Bacon. It’s our pepper bacon, glazed in-restaurant with brown sugar and then cooked to perfection. It may be hard to resist… even for you. Hardcore vegetarians likely won’t budge, but for those of you who are on the fringe or new to the game, avoidance can’t be easy.

“We, at Arby’s, have created this temptation. So, we’d like to help.

“We’re giving you a number to call: 1-855-MEAT-HLP. This is a Vegetarian Support Hotline. When your nose betrays you and alerts the rest of your senses to find and devour this sweet meat, please call 1-855-MEAT-HLP. You will receive the support you need to resist this gateway meat and get tips on how to avoid temptation. Delicious. Sizzling. Temptation.

“Be strong. We’re here for you.”

Signing the letter “Sincerely, Arby’s,” the beef sandwich store really has a hotline service where a friendly voice reportedly responds with: “We’re here to help you,” following with several suggestions on how the caller can resist the temptation of the Brown Sugar Bacon.

“If you’re a vegetarian who’s feeling tempted by brown sugar, and you can’t stop thinking about that sweet meat, press one.” And when callers do, the voice again says: “Take a deep breath, and go make a salad.”

For sure, Jon Stewart and PETA (People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals) will not find the letter funny.

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

Cheers!

GLOBAL debt watcher Standard & Poor’s Ratings Services on Thursday cut its growth forecast for the Philippines this year and the next, saying the star performer in the region has hit a “soft patch” amid the subdued outlook for Asia-Pacific.

S&P said in its latest report Asia-Pacific could be entering a steady state of slower growth. It now sees the Philippine economy growing 6 percent in both 2015 and 2016, down from 6.2 percent and 6.4 percent estimates it made in March, respectively.

“China’s property market correction continues to be the region’s main risk,” said S&P Asia-Pacific chief economist Paul Gruenwald.

“But some signs of stabilization are appearing following an increasingly forceful policy re-

sponse,” Gruenwald said.

S&P said it reduced its economic growth forecasts for most of the Asia-Pacific region. “The main reasons are the lack of a response in exports to the incipient recovery in the US, the lack of a bounce in spending from the drop in global oil prices, and the ongoing correction in the Chinese property market and other over-invested sectors,” S&P said.

“The Asean-4 economies are also seeing subpar growth for a variety of reasons. Indonesia, the largest of this group, has seen growth slide closer to 5 percent from an average of about 6 percent in the post-financial crisis period,” it said.

“Growth in Thailand has recovered from the 2014 coup but remains subdued. Malaysia has taken a hit to its terms of trade as Asia-Pacific’s only oil-exporting nation. And even the Philippines, one of the star performers, has hit a soft patch,” S&P said.

S&P said Indonesia’s growth this year could hit 5.4 percent and 5.5 percent in 2016; Malaysia, 4.6 percent and 4.9 percent; Singapore, 3 percent and 3.3 percent; and Thailand, 3.4 percent and 3.7 percent.

DHL award. DHL, a leading logistics company, received its seventh consecutive Trusted Brand

Award in the ‘Airfreight/Courier Service’ category in Asia at the highly regarded Reader’s Digest Trusted Brands Awards 2015. Shown receiving the gold award at the Marco Polo Hotel in Pasig City is DHL Express Philippines country manager Yati Abdullah (center). With her are Reader’s Digest Asia Pacific group advertising and retail sales director Sheron White (left) and DHL Express Philippines marketing and corporate communications manager Hope Atienza (right).

IN BRIEF PTV bares reorganization

PEOPLES Television Network said it is gearing up for the digital broadcast revolution with a reorganization that will create an organizational structure capable of responding “to the changing realities and challenges in public communication and broadcasting.”

Presidential Communications Operations Office Secretary Sonny Coloma said the Governance Commission for Government-Owned or Controlled Corporations has approved the new organizational structure of the network, which would allow it to fill up key positions and infuse “new blood” into the organization.

“The approval of the reorganization by the GCG ushers in a new era for PTV-4 as it transforms into a competitive, responsive and reliable public broadcasting network that caters to the information needs of the Filipino people,” Coloma said.

Under Republic Act No. 10390 or the PTV Revitalization Act, which was signed by President Aquino in 2013, the state-owned network will now be allowed to accept commercial advertising to sustain its operations and to modernize its broadcasting capability through the acquisition of state-of-the-art equipment.

China dispute affects AirAsia

THE territorial dispute between Manila and Beijing could be a “spoiler” for Philippines Air Asia’s planned to mount flights to China from Palawan, the Center for Asia Pacific Aviation said.

Philippines AirAsia plans to launch scheduled international flights from Puerto Princesa to China and potentially other international destinations including Malaysia, it said.

“Shanghai would be a logical initial route for AirAsia’s new international hub at Puerto Princesa as PAA/AirAsia

Zest already serve Shanghai from Kalibo and has been looking at resuming service to Shanghai from Manila,” CAPA said.

“AirAsia is keen to leverage its strong presence in the Chinese international market, where it is the leading LCC, by opening new routes to popular leisure destinations throughout Southeast Asia. AirAsia is already serving China from several secondary airports, including Krabi in Thailand and Kalibo in the Philippines,” it said.

The report, however, said Air Asia’s aspirations for serving China from Puerto Princesa may also prove to be “overly ambitious, particularly if tensions between China and the Philippines do not ease.”

It said Puerto Princesa is a particularly “sensitive destination” for China-Philippines relations as it is the closest part of the Philippines to the disputed Spratly archipelago. Darwin G. Amojelar

Fed rate hike to hit peso THE Philippine peso will be hit by financial market

volatilities associated with the expected policy rate hike in the United States this year, economists from the Bank of the Philippine Islands said in a report.

“In the event that the Fed does decide to normalize policy and hike policy rates, financial market volatility cannot be avoided. The fallout will inevitably affect emerging markets as funds shift back to the United States,” BPI said in its commentary and outlook for the month of July.

“Despite improved fundamentals and the stamp of assurance from credit-rating agencies, contagion among emerging market economies will ensue and the Philippine peso will possibly be dragged along with the rest of the region and asset class,” BPI said.

“Fund managers do not necessarily hold on to assets with good fundamentals. They may take profit on good assets to make some gains and therefore compensate for losses in assets with bad fundamentals,” BPI said.

The peso closed at 45.21 against the US dollar Thursday. Julito G. Rada

F R I D AY : J U LY 1 0 , 2 0 1 5

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cesAR bARRIoqUInto EDITOR

editorial@thestandard.com.ph

N. Korea rejects reports of defections SEOUL—North Korea responded angrily Thursday to reports in the South Korean media about a recent spate of high-level defections and executions, calling them Nazi-style propaganda aimed at tarnishing Pyongyang’s image.

The reports in a number of publications have been accompanied by speculation that the defections signal a growing instability in the North Korean leadership under Kim Jong-Un. In a lengthy commentary, the North’s official KCNA news agency dismissed the reports as wild rumor and “sheer lies.”

“The false propaganda ... is a foolish and base politically-motivated conspiratorial farce” aimed at giving the impression of a mood of “uneasiness and horror” within the ranks of the North’s top officials, it said.

KCNA specifically rubbished a report about the recent defection of a top-ranking general to the South.

Channel A—a subsidiary of the conservative Dong-A Ilbo daily— reported last week that Lieutenant General Pak Sung-Won, a deputy chief of the General Staff of the North Korean army, had escaped to Seoul via Moscow.

KCNA said the report was “sheer nonsense” and stated that Pak was currently commanding a construction project at the Masikryong Ski Resort—a pet project of the supreme leader.

The commentary also took issue with the recent report of an execution—apparently that of two North Korean students for watching pornography.

The South’s media have become so adept at telling lies that it “puts the Nazis into the shade,” it added.

South Korea broadcaster YTN recently reported the defection of three officials from Office 39—a secretive government division devoted to acquiring hard-currency funds for the regime.

Yonhap news agency also published a series of articles regarding the recent defection of around 10 middle- to high-ranking officials.

None of the reports have been officially confirmed by South Korean authorities.

But the South’s National Intelligence Service reported in May that the North’s defense minister, Hyon Yong-Chol, had been purged and most likely executed for insubordination and dozing off during a formal military rally. AFP

world Syrians escaping war reach more than 4m GENEVA—More than four million Syrians have fled the civil war ravaging their country to become refugees in the surrounding region—a million of them in the past 10 months alone, the United Nations said Thursday

In attendance. Beth Stern attends the Hamptons Magazine celebration of A Gold Coast Affair 2015 on July 8 in New York City. AFP

“This is the biggest refugee population from a single conflict in a generation,” UN refugee chief Antonio Guterres said in a statement.

“It is a population that needs the support of the world but is instead living in dire conditions and sinking deeper into poverty,” he said.

The UN refugee agency said a surge in new refugee arrivals in Turkey had pushed the total number of Syrian refugees in neighbouring countries to 4,013,000 people.

Just over 10 months ago, at the end of August 2014, the number of registered Syrian refugees stood at three million, UNHCR said, adding that if Syrians continue fleeing their country at the same pace it expects the number to balloon to 4.27 million by the end of the year.

The current number of refugees is already by far the highest handled by UNHCR for a single conflict in nearly a quarter century, since the agency was assisting some 4.6 million Afghan refugees in 1992, a spokeswoman told AFP. More than 230,000 people have been killed in Syria since anti-government protests erupted in March 2011, precipitating a civil war pitting proregime forces, rebels and jihadist groups against each other.

In addition to the millions who have fled Syria, 7.6 million have been displaced inside the war-torn country, “many of them in difficult circumstances and in locations that are difficult to reach,” UNHCR said.

Syrians are so desperate to escape the nightmare conditions in their country that they made up a third of the 137,000 people who flooded across the Mediterranean to Europe during the first half of 2015 -- many in rickety boats and at the mercy of human traffickers, UNHCR figures show.

“Worsening conditions are driving growing numbers towards Europe and further afield,” Guterres said, but stressed that “the overwhelming majority remain in the region.”

Thursday’s announcement came amid reports that Turkey—already hosting some 1.8 million Syrian refugees—is preparing a giant new refugee camp to house 55,000 people amid concerns that an anticipated major escalation of the conflict in the Syrian province of Aleppo could spark a growing exodus. AFP

Hong Kong braces as tropical storm approaches HONG KONG-Two typhoons and a tropical storm were swirling around the coasts of China and Japan Thursday with Hong Kong preparing to batten down for strong winds and rain.

Severe Tropical Storm Linfa, packing maximum wind speeds of up to 110 kilometers per hour near its center, was around 130 kilometers northeast of Hong Kong by late afternoon Thursday and

was set to hit overnight.

The stronger Severe Typhoon Chan-hom, with maximum winds of 155 kilometers per hour, was hurtling towards the northern coast of Taiwan Thursday and was expected to make landfall in eastern China Saturday, near the coastal cities of Wenzhou and Taizhou.

A third typhoon, Nangka, currently in the Pacific Ocean north of Guam, was heading towards the

southeastern coast of Japan, according to the Japan Meteorological Agency, but was not due to make landfall in the next five days.

The Hong Kong Observatory raised its “T8” storm signal―its third-highest―late Thursday afternoon with hundreds of office workers heading home to avoid the storm.

Kindergartens were shut in the morning with container ports

closed from the early afternoon.

Authorities also closed off a popular seaside promenade overlooking the city’s famous Victoria Harbor and skyline as tourists grappled with umbrellas in the wind.

The Hong Kong Airport Authority said over 500 flights would be affected by the storm but that so far there had been no cancellations.

“We will implement flight re-

scheduling... from 7 pm to 6 am tomorrow involving 520 flights to and from Hong Kong,” an airport authority spokesman told AFP. Television images showed powerful waves hitting the coast of cities on the eastern coast of Guangdong, a Chinese province, as the storm passed over en route to Hong Kong.

Linfa made landfall at Guandong’s Jiazi Harbor Thursday afternoon. AFP

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F r i D aY : J u LY 1 0 , 2 0 1 5

WORLD

cesar barrioquinto EDITOR

editorial@thestandard.com.ph

Powers to turn screws for deal VIENNA—Foreign ministers from the major powers sought Thursday to turn the screws on Iran to finalize a historic nuclear deal on the eve of a deadline to present it to US lawmakers.

NOTICE TO THE PUBLIC BE IT KNOWN THAT DELTON CONSTRUCTION& ELECTRICAL SERVICES owned by ANTONIO DELFIN S. SUMABAT with address at #46 Scout Chuatoco St. Roxas Dist. Q.C. has changed its ownership from single proprietorship to corporation on February 19, 2014 and is now ROBUSTEK CONSTRUCTION AND SERVICES INC.

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(TS-JULY 10, 2015)

If the US Congress does not receive the text by early Friday morning Vienna time—midnight in Washington—it makes the approval process longer and potentially more problematic.

But despite this pressure, and almost two weeks of talks in the Austrian capital, it is unclear whether an accord aimed at ending a 13-year standoff can be sewn up at all, let alone in time.

Building on a framework agreement from April, the deal would see Iran dismantle large parts of its nuclear infrastructure in order to put a nuclear bomb out of reach.

In return, a web of painful sanctions on Iran—which denies wanting the bomb—would be progressively lifted once the UN atomic watchdog verified Tehran had fulfilled its promises.

“We have come a long way over the past 21 months of nego-

Republic of the Philippines Department of Environment and Natural Resources

Mines and Geosciences Bureau

Mines and Geosciences Bureau

North Avenue, Diliman, Quezon City, Philippines

North Avenue, Diliman, Quezon City, Philippines

INVITATION TO APPLY FOR ELIGIBILITY AND TO BID One (1) lot 14- Personnel Security Guard Services P.R. No. 2015-06-443

2

The Mines and Geosciences Bureau, through the General Appropriations Act (GAA) for CY 2015 intends to apply the sum of Four Million One Hundred Sixty Thousand Eight Hundred Thirty Nine and 20/100 (PhP4,160,839.20) being the Approved Budget for the Contract (ABC) to payments under the contract for one (1) lot 14 - Personnel Security Guard Services. Bids received in excess of the ABC shall be automatically rejected at bid opening.

The Mines and Geosciences Bureau now invites bids for Procurement of one (1) lot 14-personnel Security Guard Services.

Delivery of the services is required for CY 2015. Bidders should have completed, within two (2) years 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.

3.

The duration of the contract to be bid is two (2) years. The ABC is for the first year only.

4.

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

Bidding is restricted to Filipino citizens/sole proprietorships, partnerships, or organizations with at least sixty percent (60%) interest or outstanding capital stock belonging to citizens of the Philippines, and to citizens or organizations of a country the laws or regulations of which grant similar rights or privileges to Filipino citizens, pursuant to RA 5183 and subject to Commonwealth Act 138.

5.

Interested bidders may obtain further information from the Mines and Geosciences Bureau and inspect the Bidding Documents at the address given below during office hours, from 9:00am to 4:00PM. A complete set of Bidding Documents may be purchased by interested Bidders from July 8 to 14, 2015 at the address below and upon payment of a nonrefundable fee for the Bidding Documents in the amount of Four Thousand Pesos (PhP4,000.00).

mats in Vienna told of a stormy meeting Monday night between US Secretary of State John Kerry, Zarif and the foreign ministers of the other major powers.

Iranian media reported that Zarif told EU foreign policy chief Federica Mogherini: “Never threaten an Iranian.” Diplomats said there was shouting during a one-on-one meeting between Kerry and Zarif.

The foreign ministers of Britain, Germany and France rejoined the talks on Thursday morning. It was unclear when their Russian and Chinese counterparts, both at a BRICS summit in Russia, might return.

Russia’s Sergei Lavrov said from Ufa where the BRICs meeting was being held that there were no “unsurmountable problems” remaining, and that his participation “can happen at any moment.” AFP

Republic of the Philippines Department of Environment and Natural Resources

Tel. No. (+63 2) 920-9120/ 920-9130 / 928-8937 Fax No. (+63 2) 920-1635 E-mail: central @ mgb.gov.ph

1.

tiations over my country’s nuclear energy program,” Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif wrote in the Financial Times.

“Never have Iran and its counterparts been this close to a final accord. But success is far from assured... Serious political decisions still need to be made,” he said.

A spokesman for the Iranians said Wednesday that he did not rule out that the talks might run for several more days.

Difficult issues in what will be a highly complex agreement include working out the pace and timing of sanctions relief and a stalled UN probe into alleged efforts by Iran to develop the atomic bomb.

Iran has also insisted there should be changes to a UN arms embargo and an easing of restrictions on missile sales, a prospect alarming rivals of Iran and allies of the United States in the region.

In a sign of tensions, diplo-

Tel. No. (+63 2) 920-9120/ 920-9130 / 928-8937 Fax No. (+63 2) 920-1635 E-mail: central @ mgb.gov.ph

INVITATION TO APPLY FOR ELIGIBILITY AND TO BID One (1) lot (17 Personnel) Janitorial Services P.R. No. 2015-06-444 1. The Mines and Geosciences Bureau, through the General Appropriations Act (GAA) for CY 2015 intends to apply the sum of Five Million Five Hundred Eighty Two Thousand Six Hundred Seventy One and 20/100 (PhP5,582,671.20) being the Approved Budget for the Contract (ABC) to payments under the contract for one (1) lot 17 - Personnel Janitorial Services. Bids received in excess of the ABC shall be automatically rejected at bid opening.

2. The Mines and Geosciences Bureau now invites bids for Procurement of one (1) lot 17-personnel Janitorial Services.

Delivery of the services is required for CY 2015. Bidders should have completed, within two (2) years 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.

3. The duration of the contract to be bid is two (2) years. The ABC is for the first year only.

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

Bidding is restricted to Filipino citizens/sole proprietorships, partnerships, or organizations with at least sixty percent (60%) interest or outstanding capital stock belonging to citizens of the Philippines, and to citizens or organizations of a country the laws or regulations of which grant similar rights or privileges to Filipino citizens, pursuant to RA 5183 and subject to Commonwealth Act 138.

5. Interested bidders may obtain further information from the Mines and Geosciences Bureau and inspect the Bidding Documents at the address given below during office hours, from 9:00am to 4:00PM. A complete set of Bidding Documents may be purchased by interested Bidders from July 8 to 14, 2015 at the address below and upon payment of a non- refundable fee for the Bidding Documents in the amount of Four Thousand Pesos (PhP4,000.00).

Preview of specifications can be downloaded from the website of the Philippine Government Electronic Procurement System (PhilGEPS).

Preview of specifications can be downloaded from the website of the Philippine Government Electronic Procurement System (PhilGEPS).

6.

The Mines and Geosciences Bureau will hold a Pre-Bid Conference on July 15, 2015, Wednesday at 3:00PM at the Office of the Bids and Awards Committee, Mines and Geosciences Bureau, North Avenue, Diliman, Quezon City, which shall be open only to all interested parties who have purchased the Bidding Documents.

6. The Mines and Geosciences Bureau will hold a Pre-Bid Conference on July 15, 2015, Wednesday at 2:00PM at the Office of the Bids and Awards Committee, Mines and Geosciences Bureau, North Avenue, Diliman, Quezon City, which shall be open only to all interested parties who have purchased the Bidding Documents.

7.

A site inspection to be assisted by the BAC Secretariat will be scheduled on July 17, 2015, Friday, at 10:00AM. A certificate shall be issued to bidders who will conduct site inspection upon payment of non-refundable fee in the amount of Five Hundred pesos (PhP500.00). The site inspection certificate will be part of the Bidder’s Eligibility requirements.

8.

Bids must be delivered to the address below on or before July 27, 2015 1:30PM. All Bids must be accompanied by a Bid Securing Declaration or any other bid security in any of the acceptable forms and in the amount stated in ITB Clause 18.

9.

Bid opening shall be on Monday, July 27, 2015, at 3:00PM, at the Bids and Awards Committee of this Office. Bids will be opened in the presence of the Bidders’ representatives who choose to attend. Late bids shall not be accepted.

10. The Mines and Geosciences Bureau 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.

11. For further information, please refer to: Engr. Roberto D. Caseros Head, BAC Secretariat Bids and Awards Committee North Avenue, Diliman, Quezon City Telephone No. 6676700 loc. 153 or 156 E-mail: bacems_minesbureauco@yahoo.com Website: www.mgb.gov.ph

7. A site inspection to be assisted by the BAC Secretariat will be scheduled on July 17, 2015, Friday, at 10:00AM. A certificate shall be issued to bidders who will conduct site inspection upon payment of non-refundable fee in the amount of Five Hundred pesos (PhP500.00). The site inspection certificate will be part of the Bidder’s Eligibility requirements.

8. Bids must be delivered to the address below on or before July 27, 2015 1:30PM. All Bids must be accompanied by a Bid Securing Declaration or any other bid security in any of the acceptable forms and in the amount stated in ITB Clause 18.

9. Bid opening shall be on July 27, 2015, Monday at 2:00PM, the Bids and Awards Committee of this office. Bids will be opened in the presence of the Bidders’ representatives who choose to attend. Late bids shall not be accepted.

10. The Mines and Geosciences Bureau 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.

11. For further information, please refer to: Engr. Roberto D. Caseros Head, BAC Secretariat Bids and Awards Committee North Avenue, Diliman, Quezon City Telephone No. 6676700 loc. 153 or 156 E-mail: bacems_minesbureauco@yahoo.com Website: www.mgb.gov.ph (SGD) ENGR. JUANCHO PABLO S. CALVEZ Chairman, BAC

(SGD) ENGR. JUANCHO PABLO S. CALVEZ Chairman, BAC (TS-JULY 10, 2015)

(TS-JULY 10, 2015)

Honda recalls 4.5m vehicles T O K YO — Jap a n e s e automaker Honda on Thursday said it was recalling another 4.5 million vehicles globally, as a scare over a deadly defect in Takata-made airbags widens.

The move takes to 24.5 million the total number of vehicles that the country’s number three auto manufacturer has called back after the faulty airbags were linked to eight deaths around the world.

The defect—thought to be associated with a chemical propellant that helps inflate the airbags—can cause them to deploy with explosive force, sending metal shrapnel hurtling toward drivers and passengers.

The most recent confirmed victim was a woman in Los Angeles who died last year after the defective inflator in a 2001 Honda Civic ruptured, firing metal shards at her.

“Like other carmakers, we are investigating vehicles on the market in connection with this issue, and we found that some inflators have uneven gas density, which we worry could do some harm,” a Honda spokesman said.

“It is a preventive measure and unlike other normal recalls we are not waiting for the full results of the research,” he added.

In June, Honda revised down its annual earnings by 14 percent for the last fiscal year, blaming the expanding recalls of faulty airbags made by embattled Japanese parts supplier Takata. AFP

F R I D AY : J U LY 1 0 , 2 0 1 5

MOTORING

RAMON L. TOMELDAN EDITOR

mst.daydesk@gmail.com

Class act

ALL new-generation Mazdas have a special presence that forms a bond with their owners. Paving the way for other Mazdas, the 2015 Mazda6 intensifies this aura with a new maturity. And in doing so, Mazda has also heard what its customers have been saying.

This is why the experience behind the wheel of the latest version is truly inspiring. The new interior, based on the heads-up cockpit and featuring the latest human-machine interface, offers outstanding ergonomics to go with a new level of cabin quality. All in all, a sophisticated environment, smartphone internet connectivity included.

Also reassuring is the expanded array of active safety technology, which includes several clever new systems and Mazda firsts delivering added support for the driver, who is now more than ever able to choose the desired level of direct assistance.

Always a looker, the award-win-

flagship has indeed arrived at a special new level. The evolution continues…

Refined, modern elegance When it was first launched in 2013, Mazda’s gorgeous new flagship was aiming for the top of its segment. Almost exactly two years later, the 2015 Mazda6 is even more striking – and more mature.

Recognition for the new-generation Mazda6’s harmonious KODO – Soul of Motion forms and textures wasn’t long in coming. As one of three finalists for 2013 World Car Design of the Year, it was in the company of cars costing several times as much as itself.

In the Philippines, the Mazda6 was CAGI’s Car of the Year 2013.

the bottom of the grille, get a more chiselled three-dimensional look.

Matching fog light bezel trim emphasises this depth, while the redesigned grille’s six distinctive grey horizontal lines add further power and a sense of bulk to what was already a prominent nose. Together with the glinting eyes, the front-end expresses an even more dignified sense of purpose.

The new LED headlamps* now feature a revised layout and a sharper LED lighting signature. The 2015 Mazda6’s “glare” has a unified colour, as the fog lamps too get LEDs. It all adds to the sense of forward motion, speed and fearlessness. The rear combination LED taillights*, meanwhile, stretch further towards centre of tailgate for greater depth and an expression instantly recognisable as a Mazda at night.

Sedan or wagon, the 2015 Mazda6 continues to combine a muscular anatomy and vitality with a level of quality that sets it apart. Dignity and purpose combined in the unorthodox Mazda way clearly set its flagship

ning KODO exterior has been given added depth on the 2015 Mazda6 in the form of a more prominent signature wing and full-LED headlamps with a sharper, bolder lighting signature.

The suspension, meanwhile, was restructured to smoothen out the road for greater ride comfort yet with increased stability and a better initial steering response. For the first time, the current Mazda6 generation is also available with company’s intelligent all-wheel drive technology, which features a unique front-slip detection warning system. As for powertrains, the 2015 Mazda6 retains the same unconventional combination of outstanding performance with top-class fuel economy.

The elegant refinement of the 2015 Mazda6 demonstrates that Mazda’s

Sales, too proved that it has what it took to attract the broad customer appeal obligatory for C/D-segment car globally. And the Mazda6 has been delighting customers with a combination of superior build quality and functional, practical beauty that one never tires of looking at.

To keep the fires burning, the 2015 Mazda6 gets a bolder and more elegant expression while retaining KODO’s sophisticated air and dramatic presence inspired by the movements of animals in the wild. Hence the stronger grille and a nose, evolved LED head- and taillamp signatures, and redesigned highgloss 19-inch wheels.

Tantalising shapes The distinctive family face clearly says “Mazda”. The signature wings, a KODO trademark spanning from headlamp to headlamp through

apart from the competition.

Functional beauty The 2015 Mazda6 retains the model’s distinctive bodylines, imbuing different sensations – faster here, more relaxed there – depending on how the light falls. The interplay between light and shadows produces an effect that one never tires of looking at.

The wings flow into distinctive character lines on the sides of the car, as if it were ready to leap off the ground. The sedan’s coupé-like cabin slides over the C-pillar into the short, powerful rear deck, stressing the firm footing. The wagon, meanwhile, adds practical utility to this lean, sporty stance. In either case, onlookers can feel just from looking at it what kind of a response to expect when behind the wheel.

The prominent fenders and com-

FAST FASTLANE pact-looking cabin set towards the rear highlight the large diameter 19inch aluminium wheels, now offered with a darker polished finish for a deep three-dimensional metallic look that only adds to the car’s composed exterior. The five sets of contoured spokes underline the sense of dynamism and light, effortless motion.

And they don’t just look good, either.

Engineers worked with designers to improve stiffness and thus resistance to deformation. The result is superior handling coupled with reduced noise, vibration and harshness.

Polished detail Already a harmonious, uncluttered interior with tasteful coordination fitting a flagship, Mazda upped the level of quality with new shapes and materials, particularly in the front.

A special effort was made to link the various components to achieve a handsomely integrated layout, for example with colour schemes fusing the cabin into a cohesive space.

Indeed, cohesive nicely describes the headsup cockpit concept first applied on the newgeneration Mazda3.

It partitions the interior into a snug driver-oriented space and open, airy passenger area, yet at the same time unites these zones with the consistency of the cabin style elements.

The centre stack and console received special attention, aided by the addition of an electrical parking brake (EPB) – a Mazda first – eliminating the handbrake lever in favour of a switch located behind the gearshift. This extra room enabled a cleaner look with more space on the centre console – now entirely on one level – for things like the cupholders and storage box. The gearshift lever on automatic models gets a sporty manualstyle boot shifter, which replaces the gate shift set-up on the current Mazda6.

Above it, the sleeker centre stack features an elegant piano black climate control panel, while the 7-inch display* is now located on top of the centre stack for safer viewing requiring minimal movement on the part of the driver.

Refined material Among other things, the instrument cluster hood, door armrests and soft centre console elements like the new padded knee rests* feature elegant double stitching. The climate control louvres are a prime example of the attractive new materials used, and in a wider sense the coherently contrasting nature of the upholstery, chrome, polished aluminium and black elements of the 2015 Mazda6 interior. Minimising the use of hard plastics underscores the cabin’s refinement, enhancing the expressions of motion, speed and stability – some of the Mazda6’s traditional strengths.

A freshly designed instrument cluster and rotary commander* round out the changes.

Formula E: Piquet clinches driver’s crown in style THE inaugural FIA Formula E Championship concluded in style, with e.dams-Renault clinching the Teams’ title after Race 1 on Saturday, June 27, thanks to the lights-toflag victory of pole-winner Sébastien Buemi.

The Swiss driver’s points haul of 28 points closed the gap to leader Nelson Piquet Jr to just five units ahead of Sunday’s action. That boosted his confidence, which was lifted further when Buemi got a dry qualifying slot (Q2) for Race 2, while title rival Piquet was slowed by a heavy shower during Q3.

For the first time this season, the drivers faced wet conditions but the

MICHELIN Pilot Sport EV rose to the occasion to provide the necessary grip. “We’ve been waiting for this sort of weather since the beginning on the championship,” says Serge Grisin, manager of Michelin’s Formula E programme. “We designed the MICHELIN Pilot Sport EV to be a very versatile tyre and we finally got the opportunity to see how it performed in a wet qualifying session on Sunday. Technically, that was very important because we wanted to collect data and get feedback from all the drivers. Now we know we met our objective because we received positive praise from everyone.”

The wet session shook up the start order for Race 2, with Stéphane Sarrazin (Venturi) claiming pole position and title challengers Buemi and Piquet starting from sixth and 16th places on the grid respectively.

Forty minutes later, after one of the season’s most exciting contests, the Swiss driver and the Brazilian collected fifth and seventh places overall. That was enough for Piquet (144 points) to seal the Drivers’ crown by a single point. The race itself was won by Sam Bird (Virgin Racing), ahead of Jérôme D’Ambrosio who claimed his second strong result of the weekend.

“Congratulations to e.dams-

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Renault and Nelson Piquet Jr on their historic titles, with Michelin,” said Michelin Motorsport Director Pascal Couasnon. “It’s been a very positive first season of Formula E, both for the championship and for Michelin. The spectacle that the organisers, teams and drivers and our tyres delivered to the public was of a very high standard. We are very much looking forward to next season when the cars will benefit from significant technological evolutions, especially with regard to their drivetrain. It is through innovation that Formula E will assert itself as a laboratory working for tomorrow’s mobility.”

Nano-tech auto paint protection SONAX of Germany encourages you to try its nano-technology based long lasting sealant for paintwork or plastic components.

Developed to repel dirt and to protect the car’s paint against aggressive environmental and weather damage, the Sonax NanoPro guarantees protection for twelve months.

Unlike other wax sealants in the market today, NanoPro protects the paintwork by coating it with a modified fluorocarbon nano particles which are as hard as glass. It freshens up the colors intensively, ahs a dirt repellent effect and a noticeable water-beading effect.

After the product has cured, the paint finish is noticeably richer and the surface becomes extremely hydrophobic. The NanoPro is a professional grade product that offers genuine protection. The SONAX product range is a product resulting from the experience gained from more than 50 years of research and development work in car care. Trusted by millions of motorists since the 1950’s, Sonax of Germany has been the car care product of choice by car lovers and automotive detailers in more than 90 countries worldwide.

Optimizing your car’s performance TAKING customer delight to a higher level, Honda Cars Makati, Inc. extends the second phase of Optimum CARe: X-1R raffle promo 2 in partnership with CreativeSparx, Inc. In this wave, customers availing featured X-1R products such as Petrol Treatment and Automatic Transmission Treatment along with HCMI services such as Change Oil, Detailing Package, Preventive Maintenance and General Repair services until July 31, 2015 are eligible to join the promo.

Raffle promo participants have a chance to win 5 days/4 nights Korean Winter Package tour for two, a 50-inch LG Smart TV with Home Theater System and an Apple MacBook Air in the grand draw. On the other hand, a Samsung Tablet, X-1R Car Care Package, and X-1R Preventive Maintenances Package await lucky winners of the monthly raffle draws.

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B8 Motul-VW team wins China rally

THE 2015 China Rally Championship (CRC) season kicked off in Guiyang, Hunan province and FAW Volkswagen team, technically supported by Motul, achieved great results over the two-day event.

Driving a Prodrive built Golf MK7, Aussie driver ‘Atko’ Atkinson clocked the winning time of 01:36:11.1, while Chinese driver Chen De An & Wang Yang finished third. The first of the two stages was particularly tough due to unbearably hot weather and the state of the roads taken by the contenders. Atkinson, however, used his racing experience to overcome the challenges enabling him to dominate the race.

The rigorous second stage took place in the mountains, which saw drivers adopt a conservative strategy to finish the punishing stage. Only 38 out of the 78 entries at the start managed to finish the stage. Atkinson kept contenders at bay to win the mountain stage of the rally. Chinese driver Chen De An and team-mate Wang Yang finished third of the local teams, allowing FAW Volkswagen to win in the Teams and Manufacturers’ standings of the event and get ahead in the Teams championship.

With 50 years of development and racing experience, get real protection and performance from the country’s only 100 percent fully synthetic motor oil.

MOTUL guarantees total protection for your engine with its line of fully synthetic motor oils. As an industry pioneer in synthetic oils, Motul oils and lubricants were developed to provide lubrication for modern day sophisticated engines, while assuring fuel savings and automotive efficiency.

For details on how to improve your car’s performance, call Autoplus Sportzentrium at 726-0399 log on to www. motul.com.ph. Motul oil and lubricants are also available in select dealers nationwide.

RAMON L. TOMELDAN EDITOR

editorial@thestandard.com.ph

MOTORING The cockpit is utilitarian, no faux wood or carbon fiber strips anywhere.

The 1300cc engine is spiffy and gets the job done during muddy trails.

This compact UTE packs a punch.

A BIG THING IN A SMALL PACKAGE

Text and photos by Dino Ray V. Directo III

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Rear cargo space is dreadful.

dmittedly, the Suzuki Jimny can be described as a kid from outside the circle. This third generation compact Sports Utility Vehicle with a ladder-type chassis was introduced at the 1997 Tokyo Motor Show. I had the privilege of seeing this variant at that car show as a guest of a rival manufacturer Bi-annual motoring event. The compact dimensions, features and the affordability of the Suzuki Jimny are its strong points.

While its rivals chose to develop and manufacture average and bigger size vehicles, Suzuki always stuck to their core competence, which is to specialize in small and reliable vehicles. The Jimny is an example of Suzuki’s engineering marvel.

There is no other car in the market that can compare to the Jimny. It’s a chunky looking off-roader wrapped in a compact sedan like body. In an era where the crossovers and sub-compact cars are fighting tooth and nail for a profitable slice of the consumer pie, the Jimny is staying put while it gradually eats up its own niche market.

This “Kei” car is distinct due to its boxy exterior (a styling cue which has remained unchanged since 1998), a bluff front end and a flat rear distinguished by a spare wheel mount on the tailgate which is a retro look from the nineties. The Jimny is a star in the 4x4 segment due to its compact dimensions at only 3,645mm long and 1,600mm wide which is similar to that of most sub-compact cars being sold in the market. It is a

tad taller than most city cars at 1,705mm so drivers can get a better view of the traffic ahead.

The inside of the Jimny is as bland as a burger patty, with the rear seating and cargo capacity restricted to a minimal.

So this means, Shaquille O Neal is encouraged to take a taxi ride home if you are with him. My test unit had a manual transmission and is powered by a rather zippy 1300cc 84bhp gasoline engine.

Despite being a 4WD, the ride is tolerable, although my daughter felt uncomfortable riding at the back which she said was bouncy enough for a pregnant woman to give birth.

However, you’ll forget about these downsides once you take the Jimny off-road. Changing from 2WD to 4WD is easy at a push of a button at the center console. The 4x4 transmission provides reassuring grip and traction in the rain soaked trails of Tanay, and it proved to be a trooper during waist deep water crossings.

Testing the Jimny outside of its native habitat is unfair.

To really enjoy this pint-sized off-roader, you should take it where only horses dare thread.

Driving feels like being behind the wheel of an old Land Rover Defender. It is quirky, different, cute and more importantly reliable. It may not be as big as its full size 4x4 competitors, but this compact Sports Utility has the blood and guts to go head to head with them any day, anytime. Four-wheel drives since 1968, with the purchase of Japanese automaker Hope Motor Company. Prior to the purchase of Hope, it had already introduced 15 four-wheel drive vehicles into the Japanese market. Two years after the corporate acquisition, the newly established Suzuki Motors introduced the company’s first branded four wheeler dubbed as the Light Jeep 10 or LJ10 which was to become the Grandfather of the modern day Jimny.

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TATUM ANCHETA EDITOR

BING PAREL

A S S O C I AT E E D I T O R

BERNADETTE LUNAS WRITER

life @ thestandard.com .ph

@LIFEatStandard

ST Y L E & BE AU T Y

LIFE

THE “S” ADDICTION: SHOPPING, SALE SEASON, AND THE PINOY RETAIL LANDSCAPE Why do Pinoys go ga-ga over the sale season? We talk to experts to understand the Pinoy psyche and the emergence of more foreign brands in the country.

BY KAI MAGSANOC

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here was a time when Filipinos would troop to Hong Kong for the July sale season. They’d go with empty luggage and return with new loot, either to sell or to wear.

There was a time when we dreamt of shopping the retail brands whose ads we would see in foreign glossy magazines, or ones our favorite Hollywood celebs would wear in movies.

There was a time when only Filipino celebrities endorsed Filipino brands.

All these have changed in the past 10 years or so.

We talked to experts who explain to us how it happened and why, and why the Pinoy shopper is seduced by the word “sale” and the prospect of wearing a foreign brand.

How do Pinoy brands fare?

THE “S” ADDICTION

“We work hard, and we’re not justly compensated. Or even if we are monetarily compensated, we still need to feel good and appreciated, but that’s not something we might get from our boss or from our colleagues,” begins Dr. Randy Dellosa, clinical psychologist and psychiatrist.

“So we have to make up for that by making ourselves feel good [through shopping],” he continues.

This need to feel good or to reward ourselves comes with a need to maximize our buying power, thus the strong attraction to the word “sale.”

“Having something in mind to buy may also be an escape from stress.

We’re stressed with our work, we’re stressed with our families. When we buy something, it puts us into a state of fantasy,” Dr. Dellosa adds.

The longing for something we like, the act of buying it (and at a good price), makes us feel good and gives us a momentary escape from stress.

The chemicals in our brain also play a part. Serotonin, the chemical released during exercise and sex, is also released when we shop.

“When we get excited about something, it affects our brain chemicals or neurotransmitters.

Particularly involved would be serotonin, dopamine, and adrenaline,” says Dr. Dellosa.

“Dopamine and adrenaline would probably cause the excitement.

Serotonin would help us feel good.”

Sometimes, we’re actually training ourselves to produce the neurotransmitters whenever there’s a sale. Because it feels good to have this release of neurotransmitters, the act of buying or shopping can turn into an addiction.

“Just like the way we get addicted to computer games that are exciting, or to

drugs or to sex,” says Dr. Dellosa. “It’s an association that can be established.”

THE PINOY PSYCHE

What is it about the Pinoy culture that adds to the intensity of our love affair with shopping and the sale season? Dr. Dellosa lists four.

“We still have the poverty mentality,” he says. “We think that we’re poor so we have a tendency to hoard and maximize the buying power of our money. The cheaper something is, the better for us.”

The second is our “nakiki-uso” mentality, or the need to be wearing or having what’s trendy. Because something is a fad, we’d like to buy it for ourselves. “We want to have what we see others have,” says Dr. Dellosa.

“Along with this mentality is envy and being ‘gaya-gaya’ (a copycat).”

Competitiveness or wanting to “keep up with the Kardashians” so to speak is the third aspect of Pinoy culture that affects our shopping behavior. “We’d like to have more than what others have, or at least give the impression that we’re more affluent than we really are.”

“Sometimes, we self-medicate through retail therapy,” says Dr. Dellosa, on shopping as a cure for depression.

“If that were the case, then it might be better to undergo psychotherapy or take medication,”

he says. “And if the depression were managed, then the tendency to buy would probably decrease.”

FOREIGN INVASION

Foreign brands started creeping into the market about a decade ago, in other sectors and industries, with brands like Starbucks. An industry insider who requests anonymity says it was just a matter of time for more of them to arrive.

“As an emerging economy, there was a huge potential to cater to the growing population,” she says.

“Everything was shifting towards globalization, so it was much easier for these foreign brands to come in.”

The effect on Filipino brands, in general, is that it has made business quite challenging. If we think back to five years ago, there were Filipino brands that were very prominent in the retail scene. When foreign brands started coming in, these Filipino brands no longer stayed as “noisy” or prominent as they used to be.

“In fact, you’ll notice that some stores are beginning to disappear from the malls,” says our source.

“As far as retail space is concerned, the malls have had to give priority to the foreign brands.”

There is now a need to be at par with the best. “It makes us compete harder. The question is they come with the technology to produce many pieces, the technology to market themselves simultaneously globally. We’re more local.”

“It’s all very scientific and there’s a lot of technology that goes behind it.”

COLONIAL CRAZE

There’s no denying the obsession with foreign brands is still influenced by colonial mentality.

This, mixed with our love for pop culture, affects our decision when it comes to brands we support.

“We’re very much influenced by everything that’s going on around us, even in trends, most especially in fashion,” says our source.

“There’s something cultural behind

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it, the psyche. We watch foreign shows, foreign movies. We tend to prefer foreign brands.”

This preference is what pushes Filipino brands to work with endorsers from Hollywood. Working with Hollywood personalities as image models is another way they try to global, or become part of a global community.

That said, there are still shoppers who are loyal and who will continue to support their favorite local brands. There are some who are practical. “They’re not brandconscious. They are productconscious. They want to get their money’s worth.”

What factors do they consider when deciding which foreign brands to bring in?

“You need to consider appeal of the product, function, potential, and relevance to the market,” says our industry insider.

And when it comes to the big July sale happening everywhere, she says it goes with the change in season, too.

“It’s wet and dry, it’s back to school.

It’s beginning to rain; whereas before it was so hot. In terms of functionality of merchandise, it’s time to move the ones that have been sitting in the store for a few months.”

For our source, the love for all things on sale is a matter of economics. Where there are savings, that’s where people would be happy. “A lot of us want and like the things we see, but in terms of purchasing power, not a lot have a huge disposable income,” she says. “eighty percent of the market has the same buying habits.”

There is nothing wrong with being in love with shopping, especially during the sale season, so long as it doesn’t create problems.

Staying within budget is key.

When it comes to the influx of foreign brands, competition is good for everyone. It’s beneficial to the consumers. They get the best for their money, the best deal, in terms of price and products.

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LIFE life @ thestandard.com .ph

@LIFEatStandard

THE SOUND OF LEGACY EVENT PHOTOS BY SONNY ESPIRITU

“I

already know what I want people to read on my epitaph; ‘She did her best,’ and I hope that’s good enough’,” exclaims Lea Salonga as she talks of the legacy that she’s imparting to the world.

Last July 8, Wednesday, The Peninsula Manila’s Rigodon Ballroom was all ablaze after Lea Salonga serenaded the crowd before she unveiled “The Legacy Collection” – Philip Stein’s latest collection inspired and co-designed by Lea herself.

“From being an awardwinning stage performer, talented actress, and more recently, coach for aspiring young artists, Lea epitomizes the brand’s DNA of living life with passion and perfection while achieving balance in wellbeing,” says Will Stein, co-founder and president of Philip Stein. “This is why we deliberately chose her to be our newest Philip Stein ambassador.”

Creating an entire collection inspired by one remarkable person is a first for Philip Stein. Lea Salonga’s colorful journey to global recognition

leaves a remarkable legacy.

This same legacy is why, in Philip Stein’s pristine headquarters in Switzerland, a portrait of Lea hangs right next to Oprah Winfrey’s.

“It’s no longer just reaching the Everest for me; it’s going to Everest, again and again, which is so darn cool, ” says Lea.

THE COLLECTION

When asked about the design, “I wanted the design to be classy, simple, tasteful, and if there would be bling, nothing too ostentatious, because I’m not that kind of person,” Lea says.

The new design of the watches come in stainless steel oval cases and mineral crystal glass with sapphire coating. The dials are in elegant mother-of-pearl, with silver sunray finish.

The modern oval shape is sleek and feminine, but still allows for the dual time zone configuration, a signature feature of Philip Stein watches. “For people who studied in Ateneo, you will understand why there’s a red and blue diamond on the watch,” jokes Lea.

The best time to buy a piece from the new collection is now, as there are only 222 watches made for this model, representing Lea’s birthdate, February 22. These limited edition watches come in a special wooden box with a glossy black piano finish, two extra prestige straps, and a personal note from Lea Salonga herself.

The Legacy Collection is exclusively distributed in the Philippines for now.

“Basically, it is a Thank You to our loyal customers in the Philippines, who have supported Philip Stein over the past 10 years,” says Will. “We wanted to create something special with this new collection, which is a modern interpretation of the dual time zone Signature collection. Hopefully, with Lea as co-creator of this collection, she can inspire others to start building their own legacies, too,” he adds.

“The present is the perfect moment to build your own legacy. Today is the time to begin,” ends Lea Salonga after singing her last song for the night.

During Lea’s visit to the Philip Stein headquarters in Zürich, Switzerland to meet with Will Stein and co-design the Legacy Collection.

Lea Salonga with her Limited Edition watch.

A toast to a legacy. (From left) Lucerne managing director Emerson Yao, Lea Salonga, co-founder and president of Philip Stein Will Stein, and Lucerne managing director Ivan Yao.

The Legacy Collection

Master Class SM Megamall in partnership with Citibank recently launched its biggest promotion yet, “Shop to Drive,” at the Mega Fashion Hall. The “Shop to Drive” promo gives shoppers a chance to own a luxurious MercedesBenz CLA 250 4MATIC Sport for a minimum single receipt purchase of P5,000 when shopping and dining at SM Megamall using their Citi Visa card or any regular Philippine-issued credit card.

The event kicked off with a fashion show featuring the works of sought-after menswear designers such as Ivarluski Aseron, Rhett Eala, Jerome Lorico, Gian Romano and Joey Samson. Tim Yap, the official host of the event, introduced a master class evening with a grand reveal of a Mercedes-Benz CLA 250 4MATIC Sport.

To join the promotion, register by logging on to www. smmegamallshoptodrive.com or visit SM Megamall’s redemption booths at GL & 2L Mega Fashion Hall, 2L Mega Atrium and UGL Mega A. “Shop to Drive” will run from until October 18, 2015. For more details, follow SM on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram: #ShoptoDrive #SMxCitibank @smmegamall

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LIFE life @ thestandard.com .ph

@LIFEatStandard

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Ermenegildo Zegna Launches Couture Collection

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rmenegildo Zegna displays its leadership once more with the launch of its Spring/Summer 2016 Couture collection, with Stefano Pilati showcasing the brand’s heritage with a refreshing expression of masculine identity.

From the exclusive trans-seasonal Double Century Cashmere, super fine Lanificio Zegna wools, silks, to a range of cottons to luxurious Japanese textiles, the plethora of fabrics is the protagonist in the SS16 collection.

The attitude is relaxed and sportified but with a delicate elegant summery allure, an accurate balance of fluidity, transparency and lightness: all elements dear to womenswear newly translated this season, to create a new code for a stylish masculine and contemporary personality.

The contrasting volumes reveal unconventional ways of silhouettes: flowing trousers – classics but subtly detailed, evident or hidden – are paired with nonchalance either to oversized outerwear or to elegantly tight fitted, single or double breasted jackets, studied for an innovative and extremely light way of tailoring; or with floating summer coats, multi

pocketed gilets, bomber jackets and draped blousons, alongside shirts and overcoats that intersperse the vocabulary of men’s wardrobe icons.

Also essential is the wide range of accessories made with eco sustainable metal-free leather, following the mission Zegna started last season when it introduced the Eco-leader campaign.

The colorful symphony of micro and macro Madras patterns play with shades of beautiful “non-whites,” as well as mid-toned or dark-toned looks framed by optical white and total black.

The blend of “new” and “classic,” perfectly embodied by the Broken Suit concept, is the intrinsic overall angle of Stefano Pilati’s design for Ermenegildo Zegna Couture and wisely reflects Zegna’s heritage and DNA through a distinctive and innovative timeless aesthetic.

In the Philippines, Ermenegildo Zegna is exclusively distributed by Stores Specialists, Inc., a member of SSI Group, Inc., and is located at Rustan’s Makati, Greenbelt 4 and Newport Resorts World Manila. Visit www. ssilife.com.ph for more information.

A COOLER LOOK FOR KULTURA

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he newly renovated Kultura store at SM Megamall furthers the brand’s niche as a distinctive purveyor of Filipino creativity and innovation. The 1,157 square meter store features new design elements punctuated by a natural feel, with its modern interiors and special lighting capturing the philosophy of Kultura’s merchandise. A mix of metal and wood in natural, earth tones are used intermittently to provide multiple textures that add charm and character to the store.

The naturalness brings special attention to the merchandising, with new display setups and the emphasis of lighting at focal points, enhancing

The new Kultura store at SM Megamall features a warmer ambiance and specialized lighting to highlight all products.

Wooden wonders from carved photo frames to wood-burned bowls from Kultura.

Colorful banig mats, pillow cases, and other uniquely Filipino home accessories.

items from different categories and collections that include fashion, home, souvenir, crafts for a cause, and special delicacies.

At its new store, Kultura remains true to form in combining Filipino ingenuity with world-class materials and artisanal designs for a discriminating market. It is where traditional materials and contemporary fashion merge to create a contemporary Filipino look.

There is a wide selection of modern and classic Filipiniana fashion and fashion accessories as well as elegant collections that celebrate the National Gem – the South Sea Pearl. As the store evolves with its new look and improved merchandise, Kultura maintains its in-store services, which includes foreign exchange, shopping assistance and gift wrapping to truly give customers an enhanced, world-class shopping experience.

Also happening at Kultura’s new store in SM Megamall is the Jewelry Trunk Show on July 17 to 19, which showcases a wide range of elegant jewelry pieces that stand out with their premium quality and uniquely Filipino design. Earlier trunk shows took place in the SM Mall of Asia, SM Makati, and SM Cebu.

The collection includes some of the best-loved gems of all time: lustrous pearls and shining, shimmering precious stones. There are also dazzling semi-precious stones in modern designs like an agate braided genuine leather necklace set in brass.

Limited edition pearl accessories and other fine jewelries will be available at 25 percent off, while other regular priced items are on 10 percent off for SM Advantage, Prestige, BDO Rewards, while PRIMO members can enjoy 15 percent off on regular priced Kultura items (*discount exclusions apply).

The newly renovated Kutlura store is located at the Upper Ground Floor, Mega A of SM Megamall.

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VANITY BOX

Kenzo SS2015

POP-UP BEAUTY

BY JIGS MAYUGA

Prabal Gurung SS2015

Fausto Puglisi SS2015

STROBING VERSUS SCULPTING

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veryone’s crazy about it and I get a lot of questions about it from friends, clients and on social media. “My face looks huge in photos. How can I make it look smaller?”, “How do I recreate that nose shading I see on celebs?”, “What do you do to contour a prominent jawline?”

Ah, yes. That age-old question of contouring and highlighting which, thanks to a famous reality TV family, has gained worldwide following and frankly has made women go overboard with this trend. To be honest, this makeup “trick” has been around for decades and makeup artists have relied on their skills in reshaping the face using different shades of base or foundation to create symmetry and dimension to an otherwise “unbalanced” face. Before there was even Photoshop or special effects, artists worked carefully with photographers and directors at shoots by adjusting to different lighting situations through the use of different contouring and highlighting methods to get that perfect shot on a celebrity or model.

The novice reader will ask, “What exactly is contouring and highlighting?” Basically, contouring is the use of dark shades to create the illusion of shadows such as on the hollows of the cheeks, on the jawline and on the sides of the bridge of the nose. Highlighting means applying light reflecting and illuminating shades to make recessed areas of the face look prominent.

But with the dawn of HD TV and high resolution photography (read: smartphones) gone are the days when women can get away with going heavy handed on these products while making their makeup look natural.

When done incorrectly, contouring can make a face look, well, beat up and not sculpted.

Using too much highlighter on the other hand and on wrong areas of the face can make you look “oily” instead of “glowing.”

So now arrives this new trend called “strobing.” As NYC-based M.A.C. Cosmetics Director of Makeup and Artistry Romero Jennings described in his recent makeup

Former First Lady Imelda Marcos continues to be a style icon, popularizing the stylish terno that became her trademark outfit. Over the years, her fashion sense has not diminished as seen during her 86th birthday celebration at the Edsa Sangri-La. Among her well-wishers are the Republic of Palau’s special envoy Ambassador Victoria Kerri Zhao Qiao and Vice President Antonio Bells. The officials from Palau are old friends of the former First Lady and the occasion served as an opportunity to foster closer ties between the two countries.

MAKE UP FOR EVER Uplight Face Luminizer Gel, SM Megamall

M.A.C. Cosmetics Strobe Cream, Glorietta

NARS Dual Intensity Blush, Central Square, Bonifacio High Street

master class in Manila, “Strobing is the New Contouring.” Some would also call strobing the “anti-contour” because it essentially means applying light-reflecting or luminizing products on strategic areas of the face. Unlike contouring which would entail using darker shades of powder or foundation to sculpt the face, strobing is highlighting the points of the face where light is naturally supposed to hit, such as on the bridge of the nose, high on the cheekbones and on the brow bone. It looks more natural and with a lit-from-within glow that still creates the illusion of contouring but without the harsh lines.

I personally recommend strobing or highlighting products that are cream or gel based with a hint of shimmer particles.

There are also new powder highlighters that can be applied damp to create the same effect. Remember that the finish you want is natural and glowing, not matte and chalky.

You can try the iconic M.A.C. Strobe Cream, A moisturizer that boosts the look of dull skin and luminizes with iridescent particles.

This is a makeup artist’s staple and can be used under foundation. Another product I recommend is MAKE UP FOR EVER Uplight, a face luminizer gel which contains more than 70 percent water for a fresh and light feeling on the skin. You can mix this product with your existing foundation and apply on the highlight areas. For those who are more comfortable with powder, you can try the new NARS Cosmetics Dual-Intensity Blush in Jubilation which contains a Sparkling YellowGold Highlighter and a Shimmer Nude-Peach in a duo palette. Dampen NARS’ exclusive Wet/Dry Blush Brush before application for a translucent wash of color.

Again, remember to apply these products sparingly and only on certain areas of the face. Unless you want to look like you’ve been dipped in oil instead of fresh and glowing.

The key is to apply a small amount in the beginning and blend, blend, blend. Oh, and at the end of the day, you can always wash it off and try again. After all, it’s just makeup – so have fun with it. Get glowing, ladies!

BRIGHTS AND BROWNS

For women who want colorful eye makeup but are afraid to get the blend wrong—and end up looking more sickly than sultry—Make Up For Ever introduces its latest eyeshadow palettes that are easy to use and offer the best of both worlds: classic and splashy, simple and intense, brown and bright.

A combination of nine warm and nude shades, the Artist-Shadows 1 palette is an indispensable eyeshadow collection that creates a number of looks perfect for daytime and nighttime. Meanwhile, the Artist-Shadows 2 palette, composed of vivid shades in pink, turquoise, gold, plum and green, is for the woman who always goes big on color.

LIFT THE YEARS

Inspired by the latest face-contouring and lifting technologies, Anew launches its solution to sagging.

The new Infinite Lift Targeted Contouring Serum is made of concentrated formula applied using a roller ball applicator to visibly counteract skin sagging in four prone zones: cheeks, jaw, jowls and chin.

The precision applicator allows the formula to be absorbed quickly if used correctly. For best results, apply the serum after cleansing in the morning and evening by massaging in an upward motion to stimulate microcirculation. Pat gently with fingertips.

BEAUTIFUL EYES

Ditch the sleepy look and make your peepers pop with a swipe of eyeliner and several coats of mascara. Define your eyes with Avon’s new SuperExtend Extreme Eyeliner that features ultra-fine 0.4mm tip and even color flow that delivers foolproof, mess-free and easy-to-control strokes without pulling or tugging.

To achieve that eye drama, there’s SuperExtend Infinitize Mascara, a new member of the SuperExtend mascara line, that promises never-beforepossible curl, length and lift.

This ophthalmologist-tested mascara comes in black and brown black shades and claims to result in 120 percent more length, 300 percent more curve and 500 percent more lift.

F RIDAY : J ULY 10 : 2015

SHOWBITZ

ISAH V. RED EDITOR

isahred @ gmail.com

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Jessica Soho of GMA News and Public Affairs is the Most Trusted News Presenter, here with Sheron White of Reader's Digest Asia Pacific

Jessica soho MosT TrusTed News PreseNTer

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or the fifth consecutive year, Jessica Soho of GMA Network’s News and Public Affairs has been voted Most Trusted News Presenter in the 17th year of The Reader’s Digest Most Trusted Survey in the Philippines.

Soho, in accepting the award, said she is grateful for those who have been very supportive of what she has been doing on television in the last five years. She also noted Reader’s Digest’s efforts in bringing to fore what the Filipinos trust as consumers.

Having a trusted name in 2015 – as a brand or a public figure – is more valuable than ever, especially in a world where choices are increasingly decided with a click on the computer, or a click on the TV remote.

“It’s a huge endorsement,” noted Walter Beyleveldt, Reader’s Digest managing director, Asia Pacific. “And one the winners should be very proud of.”

Filipinos trust their meals to Baguio cooking oil, believe the quality of Monterey and Magnolia Chicken, and are confident in

shopping at SM Malls. We’re secure with Acer laptops and when it comes to capturing those precious memories we prefer Canon cameras. In all, the survey covers a broad range of 42 different product and service categories.

One of the world’s leading custom research firms, Ipsos, was commissioned to conduct the independent poll, and to ensure results were compiled in an objective manner using proven methodology.

Approximately 5,000 individuals were selected across five of Asia’s key markets such as the Philippines, HongKong, Malaysia, and Taiwan.

In the Philippines, around 1000 respondents completed the survey. Half were subscribers to Reader’s Digest, the other half selected to reflect the demographics of the general population.

Consumers were asked to rate the brands they nominated on six qualitative criteria, including quality, value and innovation.

There are two premium level awards given for Philippines Most Trusted Brands. Gold Trusted

Brand Award winners are those that stand out clearly above their competitors. Platinum Trusted Brand Award is for brands that have achieved a mathematical ranking at least double that of the nearest competitor.

“Having a trusted brand is a distinct competitive advantage, and something the winners should quite rightly be making the most of in the marketplace,” noted Sheron White, Reader’s Digest Group Advertising director, Asia Pacific.

“Congratulations to them all.”

The Reader’s Digest Most Trusted Survey has also identified the Philippines most trusted TV presenter, entertainment presenter and our most trusted sports personality.

These are highly popular and competitive sectors, where trust is a crucial attribute.

“TV presenters and their ratings depend on our trust, so to top this poll is a significant achievement indeed,” Sue Carney, Reader’s Digest Editor-in-Chief, Asia Pacific, said.

“Likewise, sport is something of a cultural and emotional attachment for many people, so being at

The winners of this year's Most Trusted Brands Award at the ballroom of Marco Polo in Ortigas

the top of the podium is definitely worth celebrating.”

Much like the awardees for the consumer categories, the Filipinos’ choice for the Most Trusted Personalities remained consistent for the past few years.

Jessica Soho remains as the Most Trusted News Presenter for the fifth straight year, proving how much the Filipinos value her news reporting and her opinions.

As one of the most visible TV personalities and bankable product endorsers, multi awarded host Vic Sot-

to has again been voted as the Most Trusted Entertainment Presenter.

Sotto, who has been part of the Philippines longest running variety shows on TV, Eat Bulaga, has also hosted several game shows and starred in various sitcoms throughout the years.

Finally, despite coming up short in what was billed as the “greatest boxing match of the century” Filipino Pride and future boxing hall of famer Manny Pacquiao continues to be the Filipinos Most Trusted Sports Personality.

Winners of sineng Pambansa Climate Change sCriPtWriting Contest

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he Film Development Council of the Philippines announced the winners of the Sineng Pambansa Climate Change Scriptwriting contest 2015. After poring over a hundred scripts, the jury was able to decide on the winners of the Full Length Documentary category and the Short Fiction feature category.

In the Full Length Documentary category Disigisaw (Sheryl Rose M. Andes) took the first place (P100,00.00), then in second place is Environgers (Analisa Puod) with P50,00.00 prize, and in third place is The Water Bearers (Mario L. Mendez Jr.), P25,000.00.

In the Short Fiction feature category, the jury agreed on a 4-way tie among Ang Bisikleta ni

Lolo Kiko (Maricel C. Cariaga), Ang Dalawahan (Vinson Lance S. Gabato), The Assignment (Crisanto P. Fuego), and Hukay (Marvin C. Gabas). All four will divide among themselves the cash prizes for this category, totaling P 85,000.00. Each of them will receive a cash prize of P21,250.00.

The winners receive a notification from the organizers on how

they can claim their prizes.

The Climate Change Scriptwriting contest encouraged writers to delve into the urgent and concerning topic of climate change which has had its presence felt more than ever in recent years. These scripts are to be the basis of future short films or fulllength documentaries that inform and capture people’s imagi-

nation, rousing them into action.

The themes of the scripts should have tackled the various complexities of climate change, ranging from scientific explanations to its impacts on the common person. The script itself would have contributed toward instilling in the reader, and later on in the viewer, an awareness that urges them to confront the issues of climate change.

F RIDAY : J ULY 10 : 2015

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SHOWBITZ isahred @ gmail.com

...aRE TaLkinG aBOUT

PeOPle The Breakup Playlist

Jiro Manio today

Gerphil Flores

JiRO ManiO From ordinary citizens to former colleagues, the multi-awarded young actor who was found in Manila’s airport terminal like a runaway kid is getting a lot of sympathy. Stars like Ai-Ai delas Alas and Marvin Agustin promised that they would help the former child star get back on his feet. Obviously, this kid is a wasted talent but we doubt if he could still go back to showbiz, We just wish he could fix his life and live normally.

GERPhiL FLORES She is not going to be a part of David Foster’s Manila concert in August but the classical singer is preparing something more important than being a guest in the music producer’s gig. The 24-year-old chanteuse is working closely with Foster’s team in fulfilling the latter’s promise that “the whole world will know her.” And Gerphil is just ready to come out on top.

CROSSWORD PUZZLE 40 41 42

ANSWER FOR PREVIOUS PUZZLE ACROSS 1 Feel nostalgic 5 Staying power 10 Fossil impression 14 Excursion 15 Socrates’ forte 16 Essay byline 17 Pact letters 18 Large flat fish 19 Doctrines 20 Used a water pistol 22 Grind one’s teeth

23 24 26 29 33 34 35 36 37 38 39

Amount carried Fountain fare Actress Ina — With great dignity Ties the score Half of GI Stadium cheer Called the butler “The Count of — Cristo” Picnic fare Disposed of

44 45 46 48 51 55 56 58 59 60 61 62 63 64

...aRE nOT TaLkinG aBOUT

ThE BREakUP PLayLiST After slaying it in local cinemas and receiving nothing but favorable reviews, the Sarah Geronimo and Piolo Pascual starrer is going places. Yesterday, the movie had its world premiere in the Middle East. It will debut next week in more than 50 screens in the US and Canada.

Thereafter, it will be shown in Singapore, Australia and New Zealand. People attribute the success of the film not only to its stars, but also to the director who tried to give this formula film an interesting twist.

Wind catchers End of a boat “Danger over” signal (2 wds.)

Cautions Many layers Potato jacket Stranger’s query Small purses Franc’s replacement Poisonous snake London park Willowy Conform Fencing sword Have an effect Survives Cellphone button

DOWN 1 Natural elevs.

2 Mesopotamia, now 3 In — (as found) 4 Going bad 5 Expansive view 6 Peeved 7 Incite 8 Mich. neighbor 9 Whiskey grain 10 Dekes or jukes 11 “Born Free” subject 12 Teacup parts

FRIDAY, JULY 10, 2015

13 21 22 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 34 37 38 40 41 43 46 47 48 49 50 51 52 53 54 56 57

Limerick writer Ogden — Perlman and Silver Envelope sealer Requirements The chills Oft-quoted catcher Be of benefit Ivan of tennis “Lou Grant” star Mary — Moore Pick up Opens wide Specks Bearing Uses a tourniquet MOMA artist “Hot Lips” Houlihan Auto trim Lay dormant Cobain and Russell Left, on a map Grass-skirt dance Composer — Satie No. crunchers Ad spiel Blissful spot Parakeet treat Comic-strip prince Ms. Lupino

Jed Madela

JED MaDELa Star Music’s power crooner has just released a new album.

You bet, most of the tracks are covers. With the voice like that, Jed can sing original songs that can validate his contribution to OPM. At some point, Jed needs to come up with just one iconic song (an original one) that he can claim his own. But no, he opts for revival, practically doing it the easy way. This makes Jed forgettable.

TO ThE TOP GMA Network has this new show that aims to discover new talents that would be part of a boy band. To cut the chase short, it’s a show that copies MTV and ABC’s short-lived reality series, Making The Band. This is a brave attempt but mind you, no local boy band turned out to be successful in local showbiz. Perhaps forming a new group is not the answer.

Having new and good material for singers to perform might be the better option.

To the Top

Rhap Salazar

RhaP SaLaZaR The former Little Big Star was bashed by rabid fans that believed he was referring to Nadine Lustre and James Reid as “lip-syncing artists who have top-selling albums”. Although he had already clarified that he wasn’t pertaining to JaDine, he’s boldness just hit him with a boomerang – it’s ironic that he’s a good singer but doesn’t have any successful album or even a single under his belt.

F RIDAY : J ULY 10 : 2015

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SHOWBITZ isahred @ gmail.com

‘HeaRt of asia pResents’ pRemieRes sunday on Gma from C8

Relaxing at City Garden Makati's Jamuah Spa

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MA Network brings a heart-warming ensemble of drama specials that tell the different realities of life, love, and relationships. Beginning July 12, the new program Heart of Asia Presents will feature a three-part screening of Korean dramas on all Sundays of the month.

Premiering this Sunday is The Taste of Curry, a story about a young woman whose dream to open a curry house comes to life.

In the story, Yoo Mi’s (Jeon Hye Bin) restaurant has just opened and nobody seems to appreciate her dishes, so it’s a surprise when

a man named Kyung Pyo (Hyeon Woo) appears outside the restaurant and shows his eagerness to promote it. Although finding it difficult to trust Kyung Pyo, she eventually starts opening up about the reasons why she built the restaurant and in return, Kyung Pyo subtly unravels his true intentions.

What could be the reason why Kyung Pyo appeared at Yoo Min’s restaurant in the first place and how will they be relevant in each other’s lives?

Resolve the mystery of Kyung Pyo’s identity and get to know Yoo Mi’s past on The Taste of Curry

this Sunday in Heart of Asia Presents after Wowowin on GMA-7.

HHHHH Rainy days pRomo at City GaRden makati With summer gone and with Filipinos facing rainy days, some would rather stay indoors. Yet, there’s this saying that rainy days should not dampen our spirits. We still can have fun outside our homes.

This is the perfect time to have a “staycation.”

At City Garden Hotel Makati, there’s “Rainy Days Promo” that you can avail of to have a fun-filled staycation. It’s at highly affordable

The executive superior room

rates for as low as P2,800+ per night on twin-sharing. What’s more, the promo allows guests to pamper themselves at Jamuah Spa, with a 10 percent discount on their signature body massage service.

Apart from the spa, guests can engage in some physical fitness activities at the gym for free, a good way to flex those muscles on what could be a drab and dull day because of the rains.

Or if you choose to hole yourselves up in your well-appointed room, you can always watch your favorite programs on cable TV and call Le Jardin Restaurant for

room service, choosing from its extensive menu of Filipino, Asian and international dishes.

Don’t let the rains get in the way of your plans to have fun. Indulge in affordable luxury that is City Garden Makati’s distinct brand of accommodation by choosing from any of six room categories – Executive Twin, Executive Superior Twin, Executive Deluxe Twin, Executive Queen, Deluxe Queen and Executive Deluxe Queen.

Call 899-1111 or email makatireserve@citygardenhotels.com to avail of the promo. You may also visit www.citygardenhotel.com.

Roman Romulo’s pledge to impRove philippine eduCation

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espite the pair of eyeglasses, Roman Romulo, for some, is quite a looker. Others even say he can be mistaken for someone in show business. Yet, there seems to be no hint in him of being somebody who can effortlessly mesh into the world of make-believe, either in the manner he carries himself or even in the way he speaks. (Translation: walang kaarte-arte sa katawan.

What you see is what you get.)

Roman Romulo is simply too serious in pursuing his role as the lead advocate in a consistent effort to make Philippine education “level up” as current youth speak puts it..

The fact is that in his three successive terms as Congressman of Pasig City, Romulo has filed some 30 bills on education and education-related issues, many of which seek to provide financial assistance to students and teachers. Three of these bills have already become laws, the Iskolar Ng Bayan Act (R.A. 10648), the Open Distance Learning Act (R.A. 10650), and the Ladderized Education Act (R.A.10647).

Another bill, the UniFAST bill, was recently approved during the bicameral conference committee composed of lawmakers from the House of Representatives and the

Senate. It will be submitted to the plenary session of both chambers for final approval after which it goes to Malacañang for the signature of President Aquino before it becomes a law. UniFAST stands for United Student Financial Assistance System for Higher and Technical Education.

Two other bills have already been passed on third reading and are awaiting concurrent action from the Senate. These are the Voluntary Student Loan Program bill and the Campus Safety and Security bill Probably the most important of the three education laws authored by Romulo is the Iskolar Ng Bayan Act, which provides scholarships grants to all students within the top10 bracket in every graduating class in all public highs schools, and not just to the valedictorians or salutatorians of the class. The scholarships can be availed of in any State College or University within the region where the student graduated.

With around 8,000 public high schools in the country, the estimate is that this law will benefit about 80,000 students. The law provides that these graduates shall enjoy free tuition and other fees and they shall be admitted automatically without the need to take entrance examinations. And if a public high school has more than 500 students in its

graduating class, it shall be entitled to one additional scholarship.

The only limitation is that the number of scholarships should not exceed five percent of the incoming college freshmen in the State College or University.

As Chairman of the House Committee on Higher and Technical Education, what fires up Romulo most is the desire to provide greater accessibility to higher education among those who are usually hobbled by financial difficulties.

“Education is the surest path to enhance and a person’s economic and social development. That is why we must explore all possible avenues to promote higher education so that poverty will no longer be a bar that will prevent any Filipino from attaining the proper education that he is entitled to,” Romulo asserted.

“I want to see the day when it will become impossible for a property educated Filipino to remain poor. He may not become rich but he will not be wanting,” the Pasig City lawmaker added.

The two other laws on education that he authored appropriately complement the Iskolar Ng Bayan Act. The law on Open Distance Learning provides opportunity for anybody to earn a bachelors degree or even obtain masters and doctoral

Roman (extreme right) with his family –(seated) his parents Alberto Romulo and Rosie Lovely; (standing from left) Erwin, Lupe, Mons, and Bernadette

titles even at home. Or even while working, here or abroad. They can simply take any course they want online, using computers. Hence, even OFWs can take advantage of this law, thanks to the revolutionary advances of information and communications technology.

On the other hand, the Ladderized Education Act allows a student to enrol and finish a course on technical or vocational education, like welding or automotive servicing that can help him land a job soonest.

A person who is further motivated to rise up the economic and social ladder can then work for a degree in engineering or related field. The courses he had previously taken related to his chosen field of higher study will be credited to him and there is no need for him repeat these subjects.

Judging alone from these laws

Roman Romulo with wife Shalani Soledad

and bills that he authored and the numerous other bills he has filed on this subject, it may appropriately be said that Roman Romulo has become the leading man in bringing to reality the Constitutional mandate that education be given top priority in all government concerns.

F RIDAY : J ULY 10 : 2015

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ISAH V. RED EDITOR isahred @ gmail.com

Dennis Trillo and Jennylyn Mercado are reunited in the upcoming soap opera on GMA Network, My Faithful Husband

SHOWBITZ

estraNged lovers reuNite iN New soap eling-up your dishes, planning your meals and managing your time cooking – whether for your regular meals of special occasions will definitely be fun with Del Monte Kitchenomics, your kitchen partner.

Del Monte Kitchenomics airs every Saturday, 11:25 a.m. and every Sunday, 12:05 p.m. on GMA 7.

For all your cooking and kitchen needs including delicious, easy-toprepare recipes, cooking tips and videos, visit www.delmonte.ph/ kitchenomics or the Del Monte Kitchenomics Facebook Fan Page.

Chef Jackie Ang Po and Carla Abellana return for another season of Del Monte Kitchenomics on the Kapuso network

ISAH V. RED It has been years when Dennis Trillo and Jennylyn Mercado threw in the towel and had gone their separate ways. Lately, though, the two seems to be on the reconciling mode, going out on friendly dates and now starring in an upcoming soap opera in their home network, In August, they will be back – together – on primetime TV in GMA Network’s My Faithful Husband as Mel and Emman.

Emman (Trillo) is a devoted and doting husband to Mel and father to their children. He is willing to do anything for his family. Meanwhile, Mel (Jennylyn) is a kind, loving, hardworking and ambitious woman. She is married to Emman but after seeing her former boyfriend again, she suddenly gets confused about her feelings.

Both Mercado and Trillo are excited to work together again.

The say their fans and viewers will love the intriguing and interesting story of My Faithful Husband.

“Sana magustuhan niyo kasi maganda yung istorya nito. Kakaiba siya

➜ continued on c7

sa mga dati naming ginawa kaya interesting. Excited akong maka-trabaho siya [Dennis Trillo] kasi matagal din kaming hindi nagkasama. Titingnan ko kung paano ang magiging atake namin sa bawat eksena pero I think, comfortable na naman kami sa isa’t isa,” says Jennylyn.

“Maganda itong show na gagawin namin. Maganda yung kwento niya, magaling yung mga kasama naming artista, at magaling yung director. At saka pinaghandaan talaga namin ng husto para buuin

itong show namin,” shares Trillo.

My Faithful Husband also stars Mikael Daez, Louise delos Reyes, Kevin Santos, Jade Lopez, Gerald Napoles, Aaron Yanga, Rexy Evert, Timmy Cruz, Snooky Serna, Noni Buencamino, and Rio Locsin.

HHHHH New aNd excitiNg seasoN of del MoNte KitcheNoMics Del Monte Kitchenomics – the trusted culinary partner of Filipino homemakers for over 30 years now -

is cooking up a new and exciting season of cooking segments to be hosted by the popular - multi-awarded pastry chef, Chef Jackie Ang-Po and actress Carla Abellana.

The new season will begin airing Sunday on GMA 7. In its new season, Del Monte Kitchenomics has made it its mission to make cooking easy, fun and accessible to all types of cooks – whether beginner in the kitchen or expert cooks.

Each episode is rich with easy recipes, as well as tips and tricks for lev-

Both Mercado and Trillo are excited to work together again.

The say their fans and viewers will love the intriguing and interesting story of ‘My Faithful Husband’