The Standard - 2015 July 29 - Wednesday

VOL. XXIX NO. 169 3 Sections 32 Pages P18 WEDNESDay : JULy 29, 2015 www.thestandard.com.ph editorial@thestandard.com.ph

‘Budget to be used as election war chest’

A3 Coloma: He already said he’d carry it to the grave

By Sandy araneta A SPOKESMAN for President Benigno Aquino III said that while he did not mention the Mamasapano massacre of 44 police commandos in his State-of-theNation Address, he will carry the tragedy until the end of his days.

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saf 44 kin slam sona omission By rio n. araja, Christine F. Herrera and Vito Barcelo

RELATIVES of the 44 Special Action Force (SAF) police commandos slain in the covert Mamasapano operation in January took President Benigno Aquino III to task Tuesday for failing to mention their sacrifice in his final State-of-the-Nation Address (SONA).

“It was very sad. Imagine, he was able to thank even his barber but he never mentioned the fallen SAF 44,” said Celesino Bilog, father of PO1 Russel Bilog.

During his two-hour valedictory Monday, the President thanked his allies, Cabinet secretaries, and even his hair stylist and his maid for helping him during his presidency.

But Flavio Sagonoy from Northern Samar said the President should have also cited the contribution of his son, PO1 Joseph Sagonoy, who died doing Next page his duty, and sought justice for the fallen police officers.

Thank you for your service. Members of the Philippines’ peacekeeping force to Haiti assemble to receive United Nations Service Medals in Camp Aguinaldo from Armed Forces Chief Hernando Iriberri. Manny PalMero

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PO1 Sagonoy was the SAF officer shown on a video being finished off by armed men during the Mamasapano clash with Muslim rebels in January.

“He never mentioned or thanked the police officers who sacrificed their lives for the country. He does not care at all at the expense to cover up someone,” the older Sagonoy said.

The 44 SAF commandos were killed in a covert operation approved by the President and headed by his close friend, then Philippine National Police chief Alan Purisima, who was suspended on corruption charges at the time.

Cristina Palabay, secretary general of Karapatan (Alliance for the Advancement of People’s Rights), said the President’s SONA skirted peace and human rights issues.

“While the state forces tried to protect their indefensible President, Aquino thanked his minions but obviously failed to recognize the fallen SAF 44, his very own men, in the botched Mamasapano operation in January. It is predictably Aquino’s way of glossing over human rights and peace issues that have beset his regime during the last five years,” she said.

Karapatan also lambasted the arrest of top National Democratic Front officers such as Benito Tiamzon, Wilma Austria-Tiamzon, Ruben Saluta, and political prisoner Emmanuel Bacarra, whom the communists say were consultants in the peace talks with the government.

“The Aquino regime has been double-dealing with the NDF, dangling the peace talks while hunting down peace consultants and arresting them through trumped-up criminal charges using false witnesses and planted evidence like arms

Coloma: From A1...

“On the 6th of February, the President said: ‘I will carry this until the end of my days.’

That is the statement made by the President,” said Communications Secretary Herminio Coloma Jr., during a press briefing in Malacanang Tuesday.

During the graduation ceremony of the Philippine National Police Academy in March, the President also aired his sympathy for those killed in Mamasapano, Coloma added.

“There is no intention not to give importance to the concerns of the victims’ families,” Coloma said when asked to comment on a statement from the families of the slain police commandos that criticized Aquino for failing to mention their sacrifice in his last SONA. Coloma said Aquino already took responsibility over the fate of the 44 slain members of the PNP’s Special Action Force in earlier speeches.

He has also sought public understanding for the botched operation, but has not apologized for it.

The relatives of the fallen members of the SAF said Aquino should have at least mentioned the 44 commandos in his speech, which thanked even his hair dresser.

At the same time, Coloma

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and explosives,” Palabay said.

“For all his contempt for Gloria Macapagal Arroyo, BS Aquino is simply enamored with the murderous skills of the Arroyo generals... whom he promoted to the high positions of the AFP,” she added.

“BS Aquino’s much touted ‘tuwid na daan’ (straight path) has been tainted with blood since day one. There is no way the people should allow tuwid na daan to continue. It must be repudiated,” Palabay said.

A former journalist, Carlos Conde, as Asia researcher for the Washington, DC-based Human Rights Watch, said the President’s silence on human rights added “insult to an injury.”

“Aquino barely touched on any of the serious human rights problem his administration has largely ignored since he took office in 2010,” he wrote.

Davao City Mayor Rodrigo Duterte also took potshots at the President for failing to address the peace and order situation and the increase in drugrelate crimes.

“Instead of endlessly blaming the past administration’s incompetence and strings of large-scale corruption, the State-of-the-Nation Address of President Aquino should have tackled more serious issues like peace and order as well as the upsurge in the number of Filipino youths being involved in illegal drugs,” Duterte said.

“Arroyo is now in jail,” Duterte said, referring to former President Gloria Arroyo.

“The past is past. It would have been good if he mentioned what he will do from this day until the last day of his term, rather than keep on blaming and accusing the previous administration.”

Duterte said Aquino seemed to be playing the blame game to divert public attention from the ineptitude and corruption of his Cabinet members.

The biggest labor group, the Trade Union Congress of the Philippines-Nagkaisa said Aquino’s SONA skirted problems of income inequality, unabated poverty and the high cost of living, and did not depict the true state of the nation.

“Aquino chose to disregard tragedies in Mamasapano incident that shows his substandard leadership and the Kentex factory fire that mirrors the widespread poor labor conditions pervading unchecked in his administration,” said TUCP spokesperson Alan Tanjusay.

The President also said nothing about the miserable state of public transport including the MRT and LRT train system affecting millions of workers every day and the failure of his administration to provide housing for squatters living in danger zones despite the P50 billion budget allotted to it last year.

“He did not say anything about his failure to build better after the phenomenal havoc

by Yolanda. He also refused to divulge the inefficiency among some of the members of his Cabinet,” the TUCP said.

The TUCP also dismissed Aquino’s claim that the number of strikes has dropped.

“The truth is that unionized workers have been under significant threat of losing their jobs or being singled out by management if they even plan to hold a strike. He also did not say that strikes and lockouts are rare because union density is dwindling,” he said.

The TUCP said Aquino obviously evaded the issue of raising wages despite of the survey by Philippine Statistics Authority released March 2015 showing salaries of workers in the minimum wage and lower informal sector workers are still P2,370 short of the poverty threshold of P8,778 a month set by the National Economic and Development Authority.

denied that the President had dedicated a large part of his SONA to blaming former President Gloria Arroyo.

Coloma said the government must delve into the past to analyze, understand and explain where the country’s situation is right now.

Coloma also denied that the first part of Aquino’s SONA was his way of attacking Arroyo personally.

“The allegations of blaming (Arroyo) has no basis. The President only gave a background or context,” he said.

But the husband of Mrs. Arroyo, Jose Miguel Arroyo, lashed out at Aquino Tuesday, saying he lied about solving problems in the educational system.

“Grabe, what a liar about textbooks and classrooms,” Arroyo said on his Facebook account, a day after President Aquino delivered his sixth and last SONA. Aquino earlier said the Department of Education was able to address the need for 61.7 million textbooks and 2.5 million chairs in the first two years of his term.

He said a backlog of 66,800 classrooms and 145,827 teachers was addressed in 2013 through the help of local government partners. He said government hired 29,444 teachers in 2014 and planning to hire 39,000 more this year.

The President also defended the implementation of the

K-12 program.

But Arroyo criticized the President for again blaming his predecessor.

“He doesn’t have any accomplishment, that’s why. It shows he has no accomplishments. What he is saying is inaccurate. He even uses unknown people to lift himself.

So self serving. All propaganda, no meat,” he said.

Aquino earlier reminded the public about the various corruption scandals and allegations against Arroyo including the NBN-ZTE deal, the fertilizer fund scam, her midnight appointments, and the “Hello, Garci” wiretapping scandal that showed alleged cheating in the 2004 presidential election.

Cabinet Secretary Rene Almendras said the President talked about Arroyo because he wanted to show what kind of government he was inheriting from the previous administration.

He also said the Aquino administration’s help for the province of Pampanga shows that the President is not vindictive against Arroyo.

No less than Pampanga Gov. Lilia Pineda, a known Arroyo ally, praised Aquino for expanding the coverage of Philhealth to help more poor people in a video aired during the SONA. Mr. Arroyo said, however, the statement did not mean Pineda has switched sides.

PNoy ally: Punish 7 in-House critics

By Christine F. Herrera

AN administration ally in Congress threatened Tuesday to file a complaint before the House ethics committee against seven leftist lawmakers who held up placards critical of President Benigno Aquino III after he delivered his State-of-the-Nation Address (SONA) Monday.

“The act is totally outside accepted legislative behavior that warrants an investigation by the ethics committee. Their pattern of action should be looked into to avoid a similar recurrence in the future,” said Quezon City Rep. Winston Castelo, a member of the President’s Liberal Party.

In a statement, the militant lawmakers dared Castelo and other administration allies to include Senate President Franklin Drilon in their complaint, for booing them while the President was still at the rostrum beside him and Speaker Feliciano Belmonte Jr. “We in the Makabayan bloc stood up to protest the sorry state of the nation. Our colleagues are free to express their wholehearted support for President Aquino; we also have the freedom to tell the people that the much vaunted economic development is not felt by the poor and the hungry, the contractualized workers who are disempowered from striking, the Yolanda victims who do not have shelters until now despite the billions, the patients who die in hospitals for lack of medicine despite the billions allocated for Philhealth, the students who continue to suffer from lack of classrooms, textbooks and teachers, and the victims of crime that has increased, contrary to the glowing SONA of Pressident Aquino,” the statement said.

Belmonte, LP vice chairman, earlier said he was embarrassed when the militant lawmakers jeered President Aquino shortly after the SONA, saying he felt ashamed because they were his “own people.”

In their protest Monday, the leftist lawmakers raised placards denouncing Aquino as the “Pork Barrel King” and took him to task for Serbisyo Palpak (lousy public service) The leftist lawmakers jeered President Aquino at the end of his SONAMonday, raising placards that denounced him as the “Pork Barrel King” and taking him to task for Serbisyo Palpak (lousy public service) and human rights violations.

Belmonte said that while he was not keen on filing an ethics complaint against the Makabayan lawmakers, he said it was the prerogative of his colleagues to do so.

“If [this incident] is referred to the ethics committee, I guess… [it] has to do something about it,” Belmonte said.

Bayan Muna Rep. Isagani Carlos Zarate invoked parlia-

mentary immunity and said that like President Aquino’s speech, their flashing of placards was a political speech that was also protected.

Zarate said while the President’s allies chose to applaud and cheer the President in between his speech, the Makabayan bloc chose to “raise in silence” placards that depict the issues that Aquino’s SONA did not state: the pork barrel system, the Disbursement Acceleration Program, human rights violations, lousy public service, and subservience to to the Americans.

“Ours is a righteous outrage against Aquino’s constant blame passing and self promotion,” Zarate said.

He added that the speech was a virtual political endorsement of Interior and Local Government Secretary Manuel Roxas II, who is expected to be the standard bearer for the Liberal Party in the 2016 presidential election.

“Just like Aquino’s speech, ours was also a political speech that is protected. Aquino’s allies and minions chose to loudly clap their hands. We, as representatives of our respective parties and the marginalized majority poor chose instead to raise in silence banners that depict the issues that Aquino’s SONA did not state,” Zarate said.

“Some may cringe at our collective action, but, what was unethical about it? Indeed, what is more abhorrent is for a President that until the last moment refuses to acknowledge his big contribution to the sorry state of our nation now - where poverty is still widespread and corruption is still the order of the day,” Zarate said.

Castelo said he would consult the House leadership on the possible liability of the seven militant party-list lawmakers.

Apart from Zarate, the lawmakers who held up the posters were Bayan Muna Rep. Neri Colmenares, Gabriela Reps.

Emmi de Jesus and Luz Ilagan, Kabataan Rep. Terry Ridon, Anakpawis Rep. Fernando Hicap and ACT Teachers Rep. Antonio Tinio.

Castelo, chairman of the House committee on Metro Manila development, said while he respects his militant colleagues’ rights to air their gripes against the President, he said they crossed the line when they held a protest inside the plenary hall Monday.

“There are other ways to do it (protest) without resorting to unparliamentary behavior.

They could have just joined the rallyists outside, called for a press conference or even deliver a privilege speech. They are members of Congress and they should be bound by rules of the institution,” Castelo said.

Tinio retorted: “If they want to file an ethics complaint against us for speaking the truth, so be it.”

Tinio said they brought out their placards so that the public would know the real state of the nation.

Drilon and other administration allies booed the Makabayan bloc lawmakers, but on live television it appeared that the Senate President was booing the President.

The leader of the independent minority bloc in the House, Leyte Rep. Ferdinand Martin Romualdez threw his support behind the Makabayan bloc, saying there was no cause to file an ethics complaint agains them.

He added that House leaders should let the incident pass because it was part of democracy.

“Just move on because their action is part of freedom of expression that we have to respect,” Romualdez said.

“The SONA of the President was not disrupted... It’s better if we just focus on our legislative agenda to make a fruitful harvest in the remaining session days of the 16th Congress,” Romualdez added.

But Castelo was firm.

“We will file a complaint against our colleagues in Congress who initiated that stunt to embarrass the President,” he said.

Ridon belittled the threat.

“On part of the Makabayan bloc, we believe that the flash protest was very well within the boundary of our constitutional right to air our grievances. The issues we raised were issues vital for the Filipino people; concerns that were blatantly absent from the President’s speech,” Ridon said.

“If Congress released a memo instructing everyone who attended the SONA that the only thing we could do is to applaud Aquino profusely, then we did not receive such a memo,” Ridon added.

Also on Tuesday, the Philippine National Police said it would file criminal charges against members of the militant group Karapatan who mauled two undercover cops outside the Batasang Pambansa complex during Aquino’s SONA. The two undercover policemen who infiltrated the ranks of Karapatan protesters suffered minor injuries when they were attacked by protesters before Aquino delivered his SONA. PNP chief Ricardo Marquez said that while they respected the rights of the protesters to voice their sentiments against the government, demonstrators should also respect the mandate of the police to maintain the law. – With Francisco Tuyay

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‘Budget will be used in polls’ A MEMBER of the Makabayan Bloc on Tuesday did not discount the possibility that the Aquino administration will use the P3-trillion national budget for 2016 as a war chest for next year’s national elections.

Security congress. Vice President Jejomar Binay addresses the delegates to the Security Congress APAC 2015 at the Sofitel hotel in Pasay City on Tuesday. Ey AcASio

K-12 program to promote cheap labor AN OPPOSITION lawmaker and one of the petitioners against the K to 12 program on Tuesday said the additional two years of basic education would only promote cheap labor.

Bayan Muna Rep. Carlos Zarate said the video presentation of President Benigno Aquino III in his State-of-the-Nation Address on Monday showing a girl who claimed to be a graduate of the K to 12 program was only one case of Filipino student who supposedly benefited from the K to 12 program of the Aquino administration.

He said the girl’s case did not reflect the case of all Filipino students whose families could not even afford to send their children to public school.

“The Aquino government should stop this experiment to the education system as this could have been a source of cheap labor.

It makes our students less globally competitive,” Zarate said referring to the experience of Rezia Joy Jianoran, a 19-year-old student who worked at CLP Metal Industries and Precision.

Zarate made his statement even as a group of teachers, students and their parents appealed to the Supreme Court to immediately resolve their petition seeking to declare as unconstitutional the implementation of the K-12 program of the Department of Education.

President Aquino earlier said the case of Jianoran was proof that the K to 12 program addresses the gaps in the previous 10-year basic education program.

In the video, Jianoran claimed she was a K to 12 graduate even if the full implementation of the program only began this school year.

“I know my family is [unable] to send me to college so I continued

my studies using the K to 12 program. I chose drafting technology as my specialization. Part of the K to 12 program is career immersion and I was assigned to CLP Metal where I designed a machine to dehair pigs,” Jianoran said.

“I am very proud to be a K to 12 graduate because I was able to support my family and I am learning while earning,” she added.

Zarate said the K to 12 program of the Aquino government, which is being fully implemented only this year, would only mean profit for private schools under the Public-Private Partnership program of the Aquino administration where students who can no longer be accommodated to public schools will be referred to specific private schools and that the schooling of those students would be subsidized by the government. Maricel V. cruz and Rey E. Requejo

Bayan Muna party-list Rep. Carlos Zarate said he believed the Aquino administration would maximize the use of government resources to make its candidates win and pass its priority measures such as the Bangsamoro Basic Law. “These are all valid concerns and we urge the public to keep their vigilance on the historic P3trillion national budget for 2016,” Zarate said.

He made his statement even as a source said several Muslim rebel factions in Mindanao were set to form a grand alliance that could block the passage of the BBL. “We confirm that there will be a grand alliance,” said retired police intelligence director Rodolfo Mendoza, president of the Philippine Institute for Peace, Violence and Terrorism Research.

Zarate’s statement came as Malacanang submitted to Congress the P3.002-trillion General Appropriations Bill for 2016.

House Speaker Feliciano Belmonte Jr. repeated the commitment of the House leadership to pass the BBL as President Aquino III stressed in his final State of the Nation Address in passing the measure that is expected to ensure lasting peace in Mindanao.

But Budget Secretary Florencio Abad played down the insinuations that the 2016 budget would be used to finance the passage of the BBL. Abad, in an ambush interview with House reporters, said the government will not allocate funds to something that is not yet determined.

The House is expected to pass the BBL bill on third and final reading by September.

Leyte Rep. Ferdinand Martin Romualdez, head of the House Independent Bloc, vowed to “exercise to the fullest” their role as legislators and fiscalizers in scrutinizing the 2016 national budget.

Romualdez said his bloc will check how next year’s national budget will be distributed to various programs.

Binay to deliver his own SONA ‘in due time’ VICE President Jejomar Binay on Tuesday took a swipe at President Benigno Aquino III’s “wow na wow” remark during his State-of-the-Nation Address on Monday but said it did not allude to him.

“There was a portion there [in Aquino’s speech], but I think it was not directed at me,” Binay said in a radio interview.

“What he talked about was somebody who always says the country will get better but could not really explain how.”

Binay did not comment but just said the public should wait for the True State of the Nation in a speech that he said he will deliver “in due time.”

Aquino rhetorically asked how the

promise of “gaganda ang buhay” would become real when the supposed proponent had not provided a concrete plan.

“The Vice President did not feel alluded to because he has solidly delivered the social and economic programs that uplifted the lives of the people he has served as Makati mayor and continue to serve as vice president,” said Rico Quicho, Binay’s spokesman..

“From the start, the vice president has articulated that the Makati experience is his template for a caring and competent government, the opposite of the “manhid at palpak” government that we have today.”

Navotas Rep. Toby Tiangco agreed

that Binay was not the one being alluded to by Aquino.

“I can assure you he was not offended because he was not even alluded to. Why be offended if it wasn’t you?” Tiangco said.

Quicho criticized Aquino’s failure to address pressing matters such as justice for the SAF 44, the distribution of Hacienda Luisita to the farmer beneficiaries, the corruption at the DOTC, DA and other agencies, the illegal use of DAP funds, the corruption and ineptitude of the Bureau of Customs, selective justice and politicization of the Ombudsman and the judiciary, and abuse of legislative authority. Vito Barcelo

“It’s our role to scrutinize the national budget for next year to guarantee that no funds are misused. We will dissect and analyze the contents of the national expenditures,” Romualdez said.

The 2016 national budget is 15.2 percent higher than this year’s P2.606-trillion budget and about 19.5 percent of the country’s gross domestic product.

Abad said the spending priorities of the Aquino government will focus on the following areas: (1) Good Governance and AntiCorruption; (2) Ensuring Inclusive Growth; (3) Sustaining the Growth Momentum;(4) Managing Disaster Risks; and (5) Forging Just and Lasting Peace.

Under the proposed 2016 budget, the Department of Education will get the biggest slice with P436.5 billion, followed by the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) with P401.14 billion; the Department of National Defense (DND), P172 billion; the Department of Interior and Local Government, P156 billion; the Department of Health (DoH), P128.5 billion; and the Department of Social Welfare and Development, P107.6 billion.

Of the agencies in the Executive, the DPWH and DoH received the highest increases in their annual budgets at 32 percent and 25.2 percent, respectively.

The budget hike for the two agencies is “part of efforts to boost public infrastructure development and support economic expansion as well as to improve health care services especially to the poor and most vulnerable sectors of society.”

The proposed budget with the theme, ‘Paggugol na Matuwid: Saligan sa Tuloy-Tuloy na PagUnlad,’ is anchored on the following principles: (1) Spending within our means; (2) Investing in the right priorities; (3) Delivering measurable results; and (4) Empowering citizens through fiscal transparency, accountability and participation. Maricel V. cruz, Francisco Tuyay and Sandy Araneta REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES

COMMISSION ON APPOINTMENTS ANNOUNCEMENT President Benigno S. Aquino III has submitted to the Commission on Appointments (C.A.) for confirmation the ad interim appointments of the following officials: Department of Foreign Affairs Ms. Emma R. Sarne –Career Minister Armed Forces of the Philippines Galileo Gerard R. Kintanar, Jr. – Major General; Ernesto C. Enriquez – Commodore;Bienvenido J. Casaclang, PAF, Malaya V. Francisco, PAF, Jose J. Zuniga, PAF, Jeffrey M. Vilela, PAF, Mauricio P. Gonzales, PAF, Freddie D. Conejar, PAF (Reserve), Rommel P. Roldan, PAF, Fabian M. Pedregosa, PAF, Marlon Michael S. San Pedro, DS (Reserve), Jose Victor L. Vargas, Jr., PAF (Reserve), JoannisLeonardi B. Dimaano, PAF, Ruel P. Librada, PAF, George A. Blanco, PAF, Otto Thomas Aquinas M. Pacia, PAF (Reserve), Jeffrey M. Belagan, DS (Reserve), Marvin V. Manos, MC (Reservist) and Wilfredo A. Buhayo, Jr., PAF (Reserve)– Colonel The public may submit any information, written report or sworn complaints or oppositions in forty (40) copies on the above appointments to the CA Secretariat, 6th Floor, PNB Financial Center, DiosdadoMacapagal Blvd., Pasay City, Metro Manila.

For the schedule of the public hearings, the CA Secretariat can be reached through telephone numbers 551-7532, 831-0893, 831-1824, 834-2706, 831-1566 and 834-2713.

28 July 2015.

ARTURO L. TIU Secretary (TS-JULY 29, 2015)

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Singer, promoter called to probe

By Rey E. Requejo

Officials of the National Bureau of Investigation anti-illegal drugs unit present the marijuana plants, methampethamine hydrochloride and other drug paraphernalia that was seized during a raid in Paranaque City that resulted in the arrest of 14 people. DANNY PATA

Chiz quits Senate posts due to polls

By Macon Ramos-Araneta SENATOR Francis “Chiz” Escudero’s resignation from two key Senate committees because of his political plans for next year is a good move because it will prevent criticism that he is using public funds for his campaign, Senator Grace Poe said on Tuesday.

But Escudero’s decision to run for a higher office next year does not necessarily mean Poe has also made up her mind about making a bid for the presidency in 2016.

Escudero announced his resignation as

chairman of the Senate Committee on Finance and co-chairman of the Joint Congressional Oversight Committee on Public Expenditures because of he wants the deliberation on the country’s largest national budget in history to be free of politics.

“I believe that it behooves me to step down at this juncture to ensure that deliberations on the General Appropriations Bill (GAB) – considered the single most important piece of legislation passed by Congress each year – are untainted by suspicions or perceptions of partisan politics,” Escudero said in his resignation letter to Senate President Franklin Drilon.

“It is, Mr. President, what propriety requires; it is, I believe, what our people expect from us all: delicadeza,” he added.

Drilon commended Escudero for shielding deliberations on the 2016 national budget from possible allegations of partisanship and said he

will confer with other senators to determine who will succeed Escudero.

“It’s an indication that he is more sure to run,” Poe said, “but it’s not an indication about my (political plan).”

“I’m still thoroughly thinking but I’m happy he already has a decision. That would be good for him,” added Poe, the current topnotcher in all voter preference surveys.

But Poe she would have told Escudero the same thing had he sought her opinion on the matter.

“It would be much better if they can say you remain untarnished and you have no influence on decisions where money will be placed,” she said.

“It is more fragile and delicate if we are talking about public funds. You can really be accused of using it (public funds) for self interest so that Senator Chiz did the right thing in giving up these committees,” Poe added.

THE Department of Justice has summoned Grammy-award winner Chris Brown and his promoter to appear before the first preliminary investigation hearing of their estafa case filed against them by the influential Iglesia Ni Cristo.

Assistant State Prosecutor Christine Marie Buencamino has issued subpoenas requiring Brown, whose real name is Christopher Maurice “Chris” Brown, and his promoter, Filipino-Canadian John Michael Roda to appear before the DOJ on Friday, July 30, at 2:00 p.m.

“You are hereby warned that failure on your part to comply with the subpoena shall be considered as a waiver of your right to furnished copies of the complaint, supporting affidavits, and other documents, as well as to examine all other evidence submitted by the complainant,” stated the twopage subpoena issued by Buencamino.

Brown was prevented from leaving the airport aboard his Gulfstream G450 plane last July 21 due to the $1-million estafa complaint filed by INC head legal counsel Glicerio Santos IV for the singer’s failure to fulfill his commitment to perform at the Philippine Arena during the New Year countdown celebration last December 31, 2014.

Nonetheless, Brown was able to secure an emigration clearance last Friday, allowing him to leave the country on the same day.

In a six-page complaint filed by Maligaya Development Corp., Roda, through his company Pinnacle Live Concepts Limited, negotiated with MDC’s J. Williams Management Group (JWMGI) to bring Brown into the country. They agreed on the amount of $1,006,250.

JWMGI made an initial payment of $87,500 on October 13 while $350,000 was remitted directly to Chris Brown.

Through JWMGI, MDC claimed that it paid the R&B singer in full based on agreed amount on December 1, 2014, with another $350,000 deposited directly to Brown’s account as per Roda’s instruction.

QC cops hit for INC bias

By Rio N. Araja AN expelled INC minister, Roel Rosal, on Tuesday accused the Quezon City police of taking sides in the ongoing controversy in the Iglesia ni Cristo and claimed policemen were preventing the delivery of food items to the residence of Felix Nathaniel “Angel” Manalo, brother of INC executive minister Eduardo Manalo. ‘‘Police are turning away food and water deliveries to the brethren in Manalo compound.

Brethren inside are short of food and water,” Rosal said in a text message asking for help from journalists.

Rosal, one of the most vocal critics of the INC leadership, claimed that the police are preventing the delivery of food that were paid for by INC members who support Angel Manalo and his mother Christina, also known as Ka Tenny.

Rosal also spoke with journalists Tuesday afternoon to reiterate his claims against the current leadership of the organization and

urge other INC members to hold a vigil against alleged corruption in the group.

Angel Manalo agaisn asked his brother Eduardo Manalo to meet with their mother even after Eduardo expelled his siblings from the church for supposedly sowing disharmony.

Meanwhile, INC spokesperson Edwil Zabala denied any irregularity in the church which celebrated its 101st anniversary on Sunday.

The ongoing controversy emerged last week after Angel posted a video on YouTube claiming that they were being held hostage inside their home in Tandang Sora Avenue in Quezon City, but the police claimed they spoke with Angel and determined there was no hostage-taking.

It was later learned that Angel and his supporters were reacting to a supposed crackdown on ministers who have exposed alleged corruption and anomalous activities within the church, with at least 10 ministers placed under house arrest and several others expelled.

SONA sideline. Leyte Rep. Ferdinand Martin Romualdez (left) chats with

suspended Makati Mayor Junjun Binay at the sideline of the State-of-the-Nation Address of President Benigni Aquino at the House of Representatives on Monday.

VER NOVENO

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‘Suit action to dynasty pitch’

By Christine F. Herrera AN author of the anti-dynasty law on Tuesday doubted President Benigno Aquino III’s sincerity and dared him to certify as urgent the bill against dynasts to show that his prompting Congress to pass it was for real and was not just an empty rhetoric like he did in the Freedom of Information bill.

FM and Chiz. Congressman Ferdinand Martin Romualdez (right) meets with Senator Francis “Chiz” Escudero at the session hall of

the House of Representatives minutes before President Aquino delivers his last State of the Nation Address on Monday. Escudero on Tuesday resigns from his chairmanship of the Senate finance committee. VER NOVENO

PH-Japan war games bucked; SC steps in

By Rey E. Requejo THE Supreme Court on Tuesday asked the Aquino administration to justify the legality of its holding joint military exercises with Japan, which is not covered by any treaty.

In an en banc resolution, the SC required the government to submit its comment on the petition filed by ACT Teachers PartyList Representative Antonio L. Tinio, et al in 10 days from receipt of notice.

“In the matter of G.R. No. 218833 ( ACT Teachers Party-List Representative Antonio L. Tinio, et al v. Office of the President, DND Secretary, et al), the Court required respondents to comment on the petition for certiorari and prohibition with prayer for TRO and injunction within 10 days from receipt of notice,” the resolution stated.

Aside from the President, also named respondents in the petition werwe National Defense Secretary Voltaire Gazmin,

Executive Secretary Paquito Ochoa, Jr., and Japan conducted pursuant to these AFP Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Hernando two instruments involve Japanese Irriberi and Flag Officer in Command of troops, ships, aircraft and equipment the Philippine Navy Vice Admiral Jesus setting foot on Philippine territory and Millan. is, thus, prohibited under Article XVIII, In its petition, ACT Rep. Antonio Section 25 of the 1987 Constitution Tinio sought the issuance of an without a treaty concurred in by the immediate relief from the SC through Senate and recognized as a treaty by the a temporary restraining order (TRO) other contracting State. or a writ of preliminary injunction According to the petitioner, the enjoining the respondents from memorandum permits the presence of implementing the Memorandum on Japanese military forces in our territory Defense Cooperation and Exchanges for capacity-building, training activities between the Ministry of Defense and exercises, service-to-service and the Philippine’s Department of exchanges, activities for cooperation on National Defense that was signed in defense equipment and technology, and January 29, 2015 in Tokyo as well as the the like.

Japan-Philippines Joint Declaration: On the other hand, the Joint Declaration A Strengthened Strategic Partnership states that the Philippine and Japanese for Advancing the Shared Principles governments will “expand their security and Goals of Peace, Security, and operation” through expansion of bilateral Growth in the Region and Beyond. and multilateral trainings and exercises The petitioner stressed that the joint for capacity building in areas including military exercises between the Philippine those covered by the Memorandum.

3 Immigration men probed over 22 missing Chinese

By Vito Barcelo AT LEAST three immigration officials are facing investigation for the unauthorized release from custody of 22 Chinese nationals who were apprehended in a call center and online gambling in Pasay City last week.

Commissioner Siegfred Mison ordered the investigation after 22 foreigners, mostly Chinese disappeared. There were 191 Chinese nationals but Immigration agents arrested only 22 Mison, however, declined to name the three officials pending the investigation of the incident The foreigners were caught in the act of working as call center agents/online

gambling operators in the 6th and 7th floors of the Star Cruise building, in Newport City, Pasay. However, only 169 of these alleged illegal workers were brought to the BI main office for inquest proceedings.

“At least 21 of those released without authority claimed to possess Cagayan Economic Zone Authority special visas (CEZA visas) while one appeared to be unaccounted, or missing,” BI spokesperson Elaine Tan said.

“CEZA visas are company- and stationspecific,” Tan said.

“Mere possession of this particular visa does not automatically absolve the holder of any liability under immigration laws. The company and the place of

work must still be established in order to validate that the visa is legitimately used,” she said.

She said 14 of them were released from custody for presenting valid work visas.

A total of 155 foreign nationals were charged for working without permit, and subsequently transferred to BI’s holding facility in Bicutan, and at the Philippine Immigration Academy in Clark, Pampanga, for temporary custody pending deportation proceedings.

“This matter is taken very seriously by the Commissioner. He has ordered the concerned officers to submit a written explanation on the discrepancies in the number of apprehended subjects,” Tan said.

Bayan Muna Rep. Neri Colmenares said he was wary of the President’s pronouncement because he also said in 2010 that it was time for an FOI law.

“But up to now even the gravely watered down FOI has not passed Congress,” he said.

“As the primary author of the Anti-Political Dynasty Bill now in its consolidated form House Bill 3587, I hope that President Aquino ‘s statement in his SONA is for real and he should certify this as urgent,” Colmenares said.

President Aquino on Monday called on Congress to pass an anti-dynasty bill, a pronouncement that was most applauded by lawmakers, who were, ironically the ones vigorously opposing the bill.

“If Noynoy wants dynasties out, he should start by asking all his relatives in government to resign,” said Vencer Crisostomo, Anakbayan chairman.

Capiz Rep. Fredenil Castro, chairman of the House committee on suffrage and electoral reforms, earlier accused his clanish colleagues of being “greedy for power” after he said they blocked the passage of the antipolitical dynasty bill during the last session day of Congress on June 10.

Castro, a member of the administration ally National Unity Party, said his colleagues, including the administration lawmakers, wanted the already “less stringent” bill to be watered down some more that would make a third member of their clan qualified to run in another province.

“It is not political survival, but greed for power. Kasakiman ito, ako na mismo ang nagsasabi,” Castro told the radio morning program over dzBB. Castro blamed some House members on the failure of the plenary to vote on the measure’s second reading before Congress adjourned sine die.

The “less stringent” version of the measure would limit the number of family members who could be elected to public office, but Castro said it did not defeat the purpose of the anti-political dynasty bill.

The relaxed version required that only two members up to the second degree of consanguinity or affinity per family would be allowed to run at the same time.

Based on the amended bill, Castro explained the measure limits to two family members from one family that could be both elected to positions at the national and local levels at the same time.

He said the measure provides that a single member of the family could also hold a national position while the other has the right to serve in the local government.

Castro said lawmakers who were opposing the bill’s passage managed to deliberately leave the session hall in their bid to prevent the plenary from taking a vote on the measure.

He said the non-passage of the bill is against a constitutional provision that promotes equal opportunity to all Filipino to serve the country.

If the bill is passed into law and implemented after the 2016 presidential polls, Castro explained that only one of the three children - Senator Nancy Binay, Makati Rep. Mar-len Abigail Binay and Makati City Mayor Jejomar Erwin Binay – of Vice President Jejomar Binay can stay in public office if he remains in a national post.

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NEWS

editorial@thestandard.com.ph

Neal Cruz, veteran journalist, writes 30 Neal Cruz, veteran editor and columnist, died yesterday at the St. luke’s Medical Center in Quezon City .

He was 85.

He is survived by wife Marina Novenario Cruz; children Doris, Dennis and Dr. Dinna Cruz, grandchildren lyanne and Ysabel.

His remains had been cremated and the wake will be held starting Wednesday, July 29, at the Mount Carmel Church, New Manila, Quezon City.

He was two-time president of the National Press Club of the Philippines and founding chair of Samahang Plaridel, an organization of journalists and media communications professionals.

at the time of his death, he was a columnist of the Philippine Daily Inquirer.

He was also editor in chief and columnist of the Daily Globe, The Manila Chronicle and The Daily Tribune.

During the pre martial law years, he was managing editor and columnist of the Philippines Daily express; desk editor and Malacañang reporter of The evening News; senior deskman at The Manila Chronicle and literary editor of This Week Magazine. at the University of Santo Tomas where he graduated with a BS literature major in Journalism, he was managing editor of the UST campus journal, The Var-

sitarian.

Neal Cruz together with the late Pat Gonzales, former editor in chief of the Manila Bulletin, founded the weekly Kapihan sa Manila Hotel media forum during the martial law years to test the limits of press freedom during the Marcos dictatorship.

The Kapihan sa Manila Hotel which he moderated is the longest running media forum in the country and which also laid the seeds for other media forums where he served as the guiding light like the Kapihan sa anabel’s and the Kapihan sa Sulo Hotel.

Schedule of necrological services will be announced later.

Cruz

Aquino plays catch-up on FOI

By Sandy Araneta and Sarah Fabunan President Benigno Aquino iii on tuesday asked Congress to pass the Freedom of information bill in his budget message to lawmakers but not after drawing criticisms for his failure to push for the measure during his delivery of the state of the nation Address on Monday.

Playing catch-up, aquino endorsed the FOI bill as a priority measure, saying the move will “ensure permanency of transparency policies.”

“The state is one with the people in pursuing an open, transparent and accountable government,” said Communications Secretary Herminio Coloma. “While the government is waiting for the approval by the Congress of the FOI Bill, the government is implementing principles similar to this such as the transparency seal, citizen’s charter, informing the public of budget disbursements, and e-procurement in the websites of the government,” Coloma said during a press briefing in Malacanang.

Some members of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines expressed disappointment over aquino’s failure to push for the freedom of information bill in his State of the Nation address.

Had aquino mentioned FOI as one of his priority measures, it would have solidified the people’s trust in his “straight path” policy, said CBCP-Public affairs Office executive secretary Fr. Jerome Secillano.

The President kept mum during his two-hour long SONa on the subject of the FOI bill which was one of his campaign promises in 2010. “[aquino] fell short of assuring the Filipinos that he is dead serious in stopping thievery in the different institutions of government. It is not enough that he himself is not a thief as many people perhaps believed, but he owes it to the Filipinos to have a sense of transparency in order to unmask those who are pilfering our country’s resources,” Secillano said in a report posted at the CBCP official website.

Still, Secillano said it was more of a deliberate omission not to include FOI in his speech “because perhaps many of his trusted lieutenants will be pinned down by it.” aquino’s inaction also riled the academe. U.P. College of Mass Communications Dean luis V. Teodoro said it was intentional.“President aquino did not mention it because he is against it,” Dean Teodoro said on CBCP news online.

Fr. Benito Tuazon, a regular anchorman at Catholic-run Radio Veritas said aquino “deliberately sidestepped, ignored, or forgot about it. He added “as to the campaign promise (he made), he knew he can get away with it.”

Next year’s budget. Budget Secretary Florencio Abad hands over to Speaker Feliciano Belmonte Jr. the national budget for 2016 in the House of Representatives in Quezon City. MANNy PAlMeRo

High court: Governor’s plea too late By rio N. Araja SaNDIGaNBaYaN associate Justice Jose Hernandez on Tuesday rejected a plea of Oriental Mindoro Gov. alfonso Umali Jr. to inhibit himself from hearing a motion for the reversal of the governor’s conviction for a 10-year jail term over a P2.5-million illegal loan contract for the repair of a transport vessel in 1994.

In a resolution penned by Hernandez as the chairperson of the Fourth Division, the anti-graft court ruled that Umali’s motion for inhibition came too late since the motion was filed after the

guilty verdict.

The three-man court maintained that it was impartial and that Umali was given due process to prove his innocence.

Hernandez said they “allow accused Umali to file not only a reply to the prosecution’s comment or opposition to his motion for reconsideration, but also a supplement to his motion for reconsideration.’’

Umali’s motion for reconsideration to reverse his conviction was also denied by the Sandiganbayan for lack of merit, the court said.

On June 18, in a 16-page motion

for voluntary inhibition dated May 4, Umali represented by his lawyers Napoleon Poblador and edmon Quizon of the Zamora Poblador Vasquez & Bretana law Office urged Hernandez to stay away from handling his motion for reconsideration, citing the justices’s alleged partiality.

On april 20, the Fourth Division sentenced Umali, who was then the provincial administrator in 1994, and former governor Rodolfo Valencia to suffer an imprisonment of 10 years over the questionable loan contract for m/v ace transport vessel’s rehabilitation.

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editorial@thestandard.com.ph

Reds ambush soldiers in Kalinga, three killed, 12 hurt PINUKPUK, Kalinga—Three government troopers were killed while 12 others were wounded after members of the 51st Division Reconnaissance Company of the Philippine Army were ambushed by a still-undetermined number of New People’s Army rebels at sitio Allangingan, Barangay Appatan here around 10:45 p.m. Monday.

The rebels detonated a roadside bomb and then opened fire on three military trucks driving on a dirt road in the mountain town, local military commander Brigadier-General Paul Atal said.

“It was a treacherous attack.

They really wanted to inflict casualties that’s why they used landmines,” he said.

Col. Edmundo Tubiera, commanding officer of the 50th Infantry Battalion, said the government forces were on the way back to their tactical command post after the conduct of the usual battalion operation when they were ambushed by the rebels who immediately fled towards an undisclosed direction.

Senior Superintendent George Daskeo, provincial director of the Kalinga Provincial Police Office, identified the fatalities as PFC Bryan Massagan of barangay Lubo, Tanudan, Kalinga; SGT Benjie M. Palliw of barangay Poswoy, Pinukpuk, Kalinga and SGT Daryl Amiling of Lubuagan Kalinga.

The wounded government troopers who were rushed to the Kalinga Provincial Hospital and other medical facilities in nearby Tabuk City were known with their family names, PFC Lunes Ambatang; PFC Ryan Guerrero; CPL Diony Patacsil; PFC Jose Gayudan; PFC Reymond Vasquez; PFC Jomar Gammad; PFC Guilbert Ramirez of Roario Cervantes Ilocos Sur; PFC Nestor RoqueJr of Banwar Cabaruguiz Quirino; PFC Dante Mauricio of Sta Catalina Ilagan Isabela; PFC Henry Coloma of Angngadanan Isabela; PFC Richard Bartolome of Angngadanan Isabela and PFC Johnson M. Carig of Echague Isabela.

He added all members of the DRC said troopers were taken from the site and brought to Provincial Hospital, Tabuk City, Kalinga for medical treatment.

Dexter See, AFP

Picnic. Young people take a selfie in Paoay Church in Ilocos Norte. EY ACASIO

Transport board suspends 11 bus units of Ceres Liner BACOLOD CITY—Following a fatal road accident involving two Ceres Liner buses that claimed four lives and injured 47 others in Negros Occidental last week, the Land Transportation Franchising Regulatory Board ordered a 30-day suspension of the franchises of 11 Ceres buses here.

Suspended were units plying the Escalante-Bacolod and Victorias-Bacolod routes in Negros Occidental.

LTFRB-VI Regional Director Romulo Bernardes confirmed over the weekend that he issued the suspension order to bus operator Vallacar Transit Inc. after the July 22 accident.

Bernardes said the drivers of

the 11 buses were required to undergo road safety seminar to be conducted by the LTFRB Board and Land Transportation Office (LTO) as well as compulsory drug testing by the accredited agency of the Department of Health and LTO. Vallacar Transit will also be asked to submit the certificate of registration and latest LTO

official receipt of the concerned buses and the names of the drivers, and to surrender all plate numbers of the 11 buses to the LTFRB-VI regional director.

Lawyer Collin Derk Isidro, vice president for legal affairs of Vallacar Transit, said his company will comply with all the requirements set by the LTFRB. “We are hoping to comply with the requirements soon and resume the operation of the affected franchises. I know passengers in Escalante and Victorias are affected so we want to resume early if possible,” Isidro said.

Jesideth Seballos, legal and media affairs officer of Vallacar Transit, said that of the 47 pas-

sengers hospitalized, 17 were already discharged.

Seballos said each of the families of those who died in the accident will receive P150,000 in insurance claims plus financial assistance from the company.

All hospital bills and other expenses related to the accident were also shouldered by Vallacar Transit, she said.

Last Friday, another Ceres bus also figured in an accident in Valladolid town that claimed the life of a 7-year-old boy and injured his mother and 6-yearold sister.

The speeding bus hit the woman and her two children who were crossing on a school pedestrian lane. PNA

Senator says agriculture key to global competitiveness

By Dexter A. See

Disaster Consciousness Month. ARMM Chief of Staff Rasol Mitmug Jr., as-

sisted by Bureau of Fire Protection—ARMM personnel, leads a fire and earthquake drill. OMAR MANGORSI

LAOAG CITY—Philippine companies and businesses need to level up and brace for intensified competition with the upcoming regional economic integration of the 10-member Association of Southeast Asian Nations, Senator Cynthia Villar said here recently.

Villar, who was the guest of honor and speaker during the 24th North Luzon Area Business Conference, said the implementation of the Asean Economic Community will start this December and among the priorities for integration are enhancement of trade among member-countries and the long-term competitiveness of

food and agriculture products.

“Agriculture is one sector that North Luzon is very involved and strong in. So I hope, you will use this conference also to gain more insights and work together in forming a support group among yourselves,” Senator Villar stressed.

The chairperson of the Senate committee on agriculture underscored there is nothing to fear about the integration and in fact there are opportunities to look forward to.

Asean has a combined population of over 617 million and an aggregate economic size gross domestic product of $2.6 trillion, growing at an average

of 5.3 percent annually in the last eight years or so.

According to her, those are opportunities that local businesses have to be prepared to seize in order to be competitive in the regional market.

She added the key to success is preparedness and enhanced competitiveness, citing that there is a huge potential market out there, thus, if local business are really aiming for rapid development, then businessmen should be aggressive in cornering investment opportunities that are available.

Villar underscored forging partnerships will be a good strategy to take, citing that there is strength in numbers.

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ADELLE chuA ediTor W E D N E S D Ay: j u Ly 2 9, 2 0 1 5

opinion [ EDI TORI A L ]

The LiTTLe PresidenT THE ‘Little President’ is a term politicos normally use to refer to the Executive Secretary but after President Benigno Aquino III delivered his tiresome two-hour State-of-the-Nation Address (SONA) Monday, the appellation could just as well be applied to him.

From start to finish, the President showed none of the qualities that make national leaders inspiring and larger than life. What we saw instead was a small, petty man, unable to inspire the people without constantly comparing himself to others and putting them down.

As he did in all his previous SONAs, he heaped the most scorn on his immediate predecessor, an ailing 68-year-old woman whom he had put under hospital arrest since 2011 on corruption charges that have yet to be proven in court in the five years since Aquino came to power.

It seemed ironic that more than five years into his six-year term, this President was still unable to find his legs without resting a crutch in the past.

The President interrupted his address seven times with coughing fits that his staff wrote off to his being under the weather. Given what he said later about his achievements, however, he might just as well have been choking on his half-truths and downright lies.

Aquino took credit for turning the Philippines into “Asia’s Rising Star” and cited the gains in net foreign direct investments, which grew to $6.2 billion in 2014 under his watch. The less flattering truth that the President hid, however, was that this figure was the lowest among the original member states of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), paling in comparison to $72 billion for Singapore; $22.72 billion for Indonesia; $11.54 billion for Thailand and $10.71 billion for Malaysia. Even Vietnam, with $9.2 billion, attracted more direct foreign investments.

To bolster his government’s decision to support the K to 12 program that adds two years to the basic education of all students, the President presented the testimonial of a student who was held up as the product of the new system.

In the video clip, Rezia Joy Jianoran, 19, spoke of how she was a graduate of the K to 12 program, and how she had landed a rewarding job at a metal fabrication company because she had chosen drafting technology as her field of specialization.

There was only one thing wrong with this picture-the government’s own website says the K to 12 program began a phased implementation only in school year 2012-2013. Had Rezia Joy started at Grade 7 in that school year, she would have graduated no earlier than school year 2017-2018. By definition, the K to 12 program, as Aquino himself observed, lasts 13 years.

There was simply no way the President, who has been in office five years, could honestly claim credit for a product of a 13-year program.

In the same address, Aquino took credit for improving the lot of members of the Philippine National Police—without saying one word about the botched covert operation he approved that resulted in the death of 44 police commandos at the hands of Muslim rebels that his administration has been coddling.

Aquino spent the rest of his speech thanking people who helped him, including Cabinet secretaries, his staff at the Palace, and even his barber and his maid.

This led the father of one of the slain police commandos to later remark with some bitterness: “Imagine, he thanked everyone, even his barber, but did not mention the SAF 44 who died to fulfill their mission.”

As a valedictory, the President’s last SONA was much like his presidency—vindictive, insensitive and ultimately a waste of time. The length of his speech was just compensation for his lack of stature.

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

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All About the money clapping so hard in the gallery, he must have broken his wrists.

Lowdown Yes, Aquino has not yet given up on the BBL, which he had dearly jojo a. wanted passed before his SONA, robLes the better to claim it as the single, most important achievement of his IT’S all about the money, still. No administration. But the Mamasawonder the members of Congress pano Massacre happened last Januwere hell-bent on applauding more ary, and among the casualties was often than the President could dissolve into fits of Marlboro-induced coughing.

The State-of-the-Nation Address is traditionally an appeal by the Executive to Congress to pass the Pork is dead, yes. national budget. If you take away the distracting references to Gloria Long live lump-sum Macapagal Arroyo, Aiza Seguerra, hairdressers and personal stylists, appropriations, President Noynoy Aquino was actually making a pitch for Congress to which is really the approve his request for money. same thing.

Specifically, that means the P3trillion 2016 General Appropriations Act, which was submitted by Malacanang to Congress yesterday.

And true to the spirit of more traditional SONAs of the past, Aquino had to say – albeit oh-so obliquely – Aquino’s bid to get Congress to pass his pet law handing over large parts what he needed the money for.

What Aquino needed to pay of Mindanao to the rebel group that off was Congress itself. He wanted was also involved in the killing of money to give congressmen and 44 policemen belonging to the Spesenators lump-sum appropriations cial Action Force.

As a result of the massacre, the (the new pork barrel) in exchange BBL is still stuck in the House, for his pet legislation.

As Aquino said in his speech, barely making it out of the comthat means the Bangsamoro Basic mittee level. And Aquino lost an Law. No wonder the Moro Islamic opportunity to sing the praises of Liberation Front official currently his uniformed BFF and main man known as Mohagher Iqbal was also in that spectacular failure of an opMST 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

eration, dismissed PNP chief Alan Purisima.

I can’t really say if Congress will not give Aquino the going-away present he most desires, the approval of the BBL. Those lump sums in the biggest national budget ever asked by an administration from any previous Congress must really be tempting.

And next year is an election year.

Even if your name is Joe America, that should be a no-brainer.

Pork is dead, yes. Long live lump-sum appropriations, which is really the same thing. *** What were those noises made right after the SONA? And is it true that there was a scuffle right in front of the podium where the President spoke?

Here’s what happened: Senate President Franklin Drilon apparently didn’t know that the microphone in front of him was on when he began making a series of lowpitched boos shortly after the end of President Noynoy Aquino’s speech.

But Drilon wasn’t booing Aquino’s long-winded performance; his ire was directed at a bunch of congressmen from the Makabayan bloc who had unfurled anti-Aquino posters at the front row of the House session hall immediately after the President ended his speech.

The television cameras around the session hall didn’t show the leftist congressmen displaying their anti-government signs.

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

Emil P. Jurado Chairman Emeritus, Editiorial Board

W E D N E S D AY: J U LY 2 9, 2 0 1 5

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OPINION

lettertotheeditor@thestandard.com.ph

FAR FROM REALITY TO THE POINT EMIL P. JURADO WHEN President Aquino rattled off his administration’s alleged achievements during his last State-of-the-Nation Address which lasted for two-hour and 15 minutes, I thought he was talking about another country.

He started by rattling off the many scandals that hounded the Arroyo administration, and then proceeded to say that many changes have occurred since he took office in June 2010.

What he meant was that all the problems that have confronted him during his past five years in office were due to the corruption of his predecessor. This is, after all, a leader with a habit of blaming other people.

Sure, there have been some gains in his five years of administration, I must admit. But, my gulay, the fact that he did not even mention the many scandals during his five years in office, like the Priority Development Assistance Fund, the Disbursement Acceleration Program, or Mamasapano slaughter of the Fallen 44, made his Sona less than truthful.

I actually cringed when he told us that we are now a “developed” country. Developed country, my foot! How can the Philippines be a developed country when the most basic needs of people, like clean toilets, are not even met? There are millions who defecate just about anywhere.

My gulay, the Land Transportation Office charges you in advance for new license plates, and yet you have to wait about six to seven months to have them delivered. And when you use the MRT3 to commute to work, you have to pray that no accident happens along the way, or that you do not get off-loaded because of some glitch.

Is this development?

I had a good laugh though when the President started praising all his Cabinet members, especially Transportation and Communications Secretary Joseph Emilio Abaya and Agriculture Secretary Proceso Alcala, when we all know how incompetent they are.

President Aquino must think we are all stupid not to know their culpability in the many anomalies that exist under their watch.

That thank-you-and-

goodbye part of the SONA was hilarious, especially when he mentioned his “yaya” given to him by his mother, the late President Cory, whom BS Aquino brought to Malacanang to give him the food he wants, tuck him in bed, and prepare his clothes early in the morning.

BS Aquino cited the improvement of lives of some 4.3 million poorest of the poor through cash dole.

Have they, really, when according to the studies of the Asian Development Bank, 30 percent of the beneficiaries are not poor at all. The billions of pesos spent under the program have just become a political tool!

If members of business organizations like the Makati Business Club say that BS Aquino’s last Sona was truthful, it was expected because only big business has benefited from his five years in office. It’s they who have become even richer. There is growth, sure, but is it inclusive?

I thought Mr. Aquino was talking about another country.

*** Among the priority bills BS Aquino wants Congress to pass is the anti-dynasty law, in response to Vice President Jejomar Binay, who has defended the existence of political dynasties. The President may not have realized it, but in his effort to denigrate Binay who was left out among the many the President commended during his five-year term, BS Aquino also antagonized many of his friends, allies and supporters in both chambers of Congress who had ruled for decades through their political dynasties.

I, for one, believe that so long the people want them, and believe that they have done well for the greater good for the greatest number, so be it. After all, “vox populi, suprema lex” (the voice of the people is the supreme law). In the United States, political dynasties exist.

BS ALMOST PRESIDENT VIRTUAL REALITY TONY LOPEZ HEARING and reading the transcripts of President Simeon Cojuangco Aquino III’s sixth and last State-of-theNation Address (SONA), I am reminded of an anecdote by a 70-year-plus old man. He was asked how many times he has sex with his wife in a week.

His proud reply: “Almost every day!”.

His friends were amazed how he could do it -- sex almost every day. The septuagenarian had to explain. He related, “last Monday, I tried to make love with my wife. We couldn’t do it. But we almost did it.” Last Tuesday, “we tried again. There was a problem. But we almost did it.” Wednesday, “the same story. We tried to have sex. We almost did it, but for a minor problem.” “And this morning, the spirit was again willing.

But the flesh was weak.

Imagine, we almost did it.”

“It’s the same story every day, we almost always do it, daily. We have sex daily, well, almost.”

BS Aquino III is an “almost” presidency. Many of the things he claimed in his SONA were almost successes, conveying the impression of a great presidency.

As a president, Aquino was almost successful.

But for a number of problems. Like sloth, lack of focus, a mean vindictive streak, lack of vision and mission, incompetent cabinet, and a venal and corrupt circle of friends and subalterns. Corrupt officials, from top to bottom.

The Philippines is a country with a huge population, talented and resilient 100 million or 24 million families, with enormous natural resources, strategic location, very The fact that political dynasties belong to the elite class of our society is no reason for outlawing political dynasties. They are the ones that have the means to help the greater good for the greater number.

If we go for reality on the ground, political dynasties will continue to exist since it’s they who have the money to win in elections. *** Just who will run for President and with whom remains a big guessing game. But, some things are certain. Vice President

good economic fundamentals, $80 billion reserves, and $26 billion in overseas remittance income — five to ten times foreign direct investment (FDI) in a good year. Therefore, “almost” is just not good enough. It’s either you fail or you succeed.

On Monday, July 27, before a captive audience of 1,000 and nationwide radio and television hookup, Aquino declared himself an unqualified success as President of the republic for the last five years.

Aquino quoted from the Bible, 2 Timothy Chapter 4, an epitaph popular and etched on tombstones of many a grave. “I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith.”

“This is only the beginning, and now, history poses a challenge to us to continue the transformation, so that it may bring about even more opportunities for future generations,” the President added.

Aquino’s fighting faith as President is: “Kung walang corrupt, walang mahirap.” (Where no one is corrupt, no one is poor).

Sadly, Aquino’s two biggest failures are: he failed to tackle corruption. He failed to reduce poverty significantly. Like that old man in the anecdote, the spirit was willing but the flesh was weak. The call of greed and money overwhelmed any mission and vision statement.

To his credit, in his more than five years at the riverside presidential palace, Aquino, the person, was not bludgeoned by any graft scandal. In a country where nearly all previous presidents were tainted by corruption, he was a rara avis. A rare species — a president who does not steal. Aquino probably has no material needs. I suspect that by this time, he should have about P2 billion stashed somewhere. When he ran

for president in 2010, he was so popular campaign donations came by the bagful, in billions.

Joseph Estrada in the 1998 presidential campaign was so popular that campaign donations also came in by the bagful, in billions.

He is said to have amassed savings of about P2 billion, if not more. Being hugely popular, the actor had no compulsion to spend most of the campaign money.

His name brought instant recall and massive votes.

The most popularly elected president in history, Aquino got more votes than any other presidential winner before him – 15 million votes.

As a sure winner, money came like an avalanche.

Being an economist who knows the value savings, not being stupid, and being one with modest tastes, Noynoy will have a comfortable life after June 30, 2016. Unless an army storms his Times Street residence and locks him up for graft and other violations of law.

It could be that Aquino didn’t pocket money from the treasury. That is the traditional notion of corruption— stealing taxpayers’ money. By this definition, however, Aquino’s friends and a number of Cabinet members are guilty — either of direct graft or for command responsibility.

Yet, in his SONA, Aquino praised these people — instead of announcing their firing. Like the Agriculture Secretary, Proceso Alcala for failing to modernize agriculture on which most of the poor depend and for being linked to all kinds of rackets, from rice and garlic smuggling and overpricing. Or his Department of Transportation and Communications chief, Emilio Aguinaldo Abaya.

Despite his Annapolis credentials, Abaya is guilty of gross incompetence

and graft — for giving the maintenance contract of the MRT3 to a nondescript company, one of whose owners is related to the general manager.

For allowing the Land Transportation Office to change all car plates into a new series that is inferior to existing plates and charging car owners P450 for it. For buying inferior driver’s licenses. For allowing the NAIA to be enshrined into the hall of shame as one of the worst airports in the world. For abetting the highest telco rates despite offering the slowest internet speed.

There is another notion of corruption. This is abuse of power like rampant violation of laws and the Constitution.

Violating laws and the Constitution is when the President commandeers taxpayers’ money (known as pork barrel under the Priority Development Assistance Fund and Disbursement Acceleration Program), by the trillions, and use it to bribe congressmen and senators for them to do your bidding. Like impeaching a sitting chief justice who had ruled that the 9,400-hectare Luisita should be cut up and given away to its farmers or workers, plus a refund of all earnings from sale of portions of the estate.

Renato Corona had ruled: Not only must they return the hacienda to the farmers, the CojuangcoAquino clan must also compensate the farmers to the tune of P10 billion.

You lose your land and your cash. That’s just too much. What to do then?

Remove the chief justice whose court had ordered the return of the hacienda.

Aquino firmly believes he took the straight path.

History will judge him whether he lived true to that faith.

Binay has long announced his presidential ambitions, and Interior Secretary Mar Roxas will surely be anointed by BS Aquino, if he has not actually been anointed already.

As for Senator Grace Poe running for President, it’s still in the realm of speculation.

There is also speculation about Senator Bongbong Marcos running with Davao Mayor Rodrigo Duterte, a NorthSouth tandem. That makes a four-way fight next year for the presidency.

Or, it could even be a five-year race if people

around Duterte succeed in convincing him to run for the presidency.

In other words, the political horizon as of this date, is still muddled. It will only clear up when the October filing for Certificates of Candidacy comes.

In other words, the political horizon as of this date is still muddled. It will only clear up when the October filing for Certificates of Candidacy comes. *** My greatest wish for 2016 is the election of a unifying president, who

will succeed in uniting the nation as a whole, heavily fragmented as it is with a President like BS Aquino going against his predecessor in an act of vindictiveness, and blaming her for him many problems while in office.

I fully agree with Leyte Rep. Martin Romualdez for voters to elect a “forgiving and unifying” president since that would mean the end of political dissension that has fragmented the country for so long.

It’s a tall order, but that’s what we need.

biznewsasia@gmail.com

W E D N E S D AY: J U LY 2 9, 2 0 1 5

OPINION

ADELLE CHUA EDITOR

lettertotheeditor@thestandard.com.ph

THE LAST BS WE WILL HEAR FROM AQUINO BACK CHANNEL ALEJANDRO DEL ROSARIO THE political analysts, opinion makers and the opposition have all given their take on President Benigno S. Aquino’s last State-of-the-Nation Address.

Their overall and varying assessments of the Sona were as predictable as the President’s two-hour speech. The post Sona comments were as usual--divided and dependent on where one is seated along the political aisle.

The only thing noteworthy one can say about Aquino’s sixth and final Sona is that it was his last. We no longer have to suffer the lies and halftruths BSA had been purveying on live TV nationwide. For the last five years, he had fudged figures on the economy and blamed the nation’s ills on his predecessor. It’s a great relief to many that Aquino’s days are numbered. Less than a year or 336 days remaining in B.S Aquino’s term is something to look forward to.

The real state of the nation is expressed by the crowd of demonstrators outside the Batasan hall. Unfazed by police dousing them with water cannons, the protesters decried the lack of jobs, an inefficient public transport system, official corruption and an economic growth that excludes the poor.

The testament to government failure is the fact that Filipinos still have to look for jobs overseas, the daily breakdown of the Metro Rail Transit, and the unaccounted-for disbursement of funds under the Conditional Cash Transfer program for the poor of whom 37 percent or 8.1 million, are destitute, according to a recent Social Weather Stations survey.

The President did not mention in his Sona the charges filed by the Ombudsman against the Philippine National Police chief and the Vice President. These charges would not have been filed if not for the highprofile Senate hearings.

Although three senators have been charged with plunder in connection with alleged misuse of their Priority Development Assistance Fund, they have been no more than trophies for Aquino’s selective justice against political enemies. The people are still waiting for the filing of charges against a third batch of legislators, including the President’s allies, who also misused their PDAF. PNoy was profuse in his praise of Interior and Local Government Secretary Mar Roxas but held back endorsing him as the ruling Liberal Party’s 2016 presidential candidate.

But of course, why would Aquino upstage himself on this momentous occasion of bidding farewell to the nation? Roxas then would have been the news.

Collapsing like a house of cards

Internecine strife is threatening to collapse the monolithic Iglesia Ni Cristo like a house of cards. Ironically, four days before INC marked its 101st anniversary last Monday, the powerful and influential religious sect was rocked with dissension and reports of some INC leaders allegedly being abducted and detained.

The splinter group which included Cristina “Tenny” Manalo , the widow of former INC leader Erano Manalo; her son Nathaniel Angel, were reportedly being detained inside their house near the INC headquarters in Quezon City.

A cryptic hand- scrawled message on white paper stuck out from a window of the house claiming “Tulong, hostage kami.” Mother Tenny and son Angel were also seen on YouTube asking for help saying their lives were in danger.

Isaias Samson, Jr., editor of the INC publication Pasugo, who reportedly escaped from his captors claimed 10 other dissident INC members were abducted and missing.

INC head Eduardo Manalo denied the allegations and said these family members and their small group of followers who have since been expelled wanted to take over the sect’s leadership. Nathaniel Angel denied wanting to wrest control of the INC and said he spoke out because of the corruption within the sect’s leadership. This is a serious allegation. Whether true or not, the bitter family feud rocked

the INC to its foundation in a crisis never seen before since its founding in 1914 by Felix Manalo. The INC is now a house divided. Its leadership will have to undertake house cleaning and not just expel members to purge dissidents in its ranks. It would be a shame to detract from the socio-civic projects like the medical missions and food-feeding program for the poor the INC has been doing.

The INC with 3 million members composes a powerful voting bloc sought and courted by politicians seeking national office, particularly presidential candidates. Because of the command vote wielded by its leader, the sect also exacts its pound of flesh by getting its members appointed to top government positions such as heads of the National Bureau of Investigation, the Land Transportation Office and placing followers as supervisors in key offices in the Bureau of Customs.

Former NBI directors Magtanggol Gatdula and Reynaldo Wycoco were recommended by the INC leadership to head the sensitive agency. Another INC member, Virginia Torres, was appointed by President Aquino as chief of the Land Transportation Office which awarded the lucrative vehicle license plate and drivers license contracts to an Iglesia member-- the late businessman Felimon Cuevas whose brother Serafin was also a former justice secretary under former President Joseph Estrada.

SYSTEM CHANGE SO I SEE LITO BANAYO SO we’ve heard the last State-of-theNation Address. I shall not join the parade of commentators. I have chosen instead to write about an exciting new challenge –that which the erudite Reynato S. Puno, retired chief magistrate of the land, tossed upon the present leadership (though best addressed to the immediate future).

Last Wednesday, July 22, a new movement was born, that of “Bagong Sistema, Bagong Pag-Asa,” which champions system change more than just a cosmetic leadership change. It goes for the substantive, rather than the tawdry routine of choosing a leader on which once more and once again, the Filipino people pin their hopes for the future.

CJ Puno in his speech, one of the best I have heard in a lifetime, citing the metamorphosis of governance throughout world history, tells us that “the key to the success of man’s search for progress, first as individuals and then as a collectivity, is their success at being able to deal with their diversities. And they failed when they did not allow diversity to flourish, when they tried to impose uniformity on the minority, when they tried to eradicate their difference dictated by the distinctness of their ethnicity.”

Thus he, along with former Sen. Nene

Pimentel, former UP President Pepe Abueva, and former Budget Secretary Jun Enriquez and the new movement Bagong Sistema, Bagong Pag-Asa, advocate the shift from the present highly centralized, unitary-presidential form of government to a federal-parliamentary form. They call for the re-writing of the present 1987 Constitution which was forged by an appointive commission during the immediate post-Marcos years, this time by an elected constitutional convention.

The chief enumerated six major reasons for the proposed system change, the last being a fitting and lasting solution to the mess of a proposal engineered by the present administration in attempting to solve the age-old problem of secession in Muslim Mindanao. “Let us castrate the thought that we know best how to govern them, when our relationship with them goes no deeper than the handshake level. We must disabuse our mind with the discarded idea that the sovereignty of a state is absolute, indestructible and indivisible, and hence cannot be shared with people and with aggregates of people. Federalism has exploded the myth that people with distinct identities cannot be trusted the right to rule themselves…(it) offers the best hope to our distinct minorities to be allowed self-rule.”

In fine, Bagong Sistema says with no equivocation, that the Bangsamoro Basic Law as proposed to Congress will not pass the test of constitutionality, if the legal framework is

the present. But because that same Constitution, which has been our legal framework for an entire generation of Filipinos, has clearly not worked to our lasting benefit, both as individuals and as a society, it is time to change the system itself. And thus solve the problem that the Christian majority is continually beset with in its relationship not only with our Muslim minority, but other ethno-linguistic and culturally distinct parts of the Filipino community as well.

The output of the “summit for change” embodied in a declaration entitled “Securing the Country’s Future” states that “if we continue with business as usual, we may regress from a fragile to a failed state… that these problems cannot be solved by simply once again exercising our right to vote in 2016 so that we can change some of our leaders in government and keep most of them.”

“We are convinced that we must put an end to this political insanity of doing the same every three years and praying that the results will be different --- that the ones we choose will do better than their predecessors, and government will be a little more honest, a little more efficient, and our lives will be a little better.”

Incremental progress has ruled our lives for far too long. It is time to take bold steps forward. It is never enough that GDP grows yet only too few prosper while far too many are left behind. Something has got to give in a system that allows such incremental growth to keep the poor in

perpetual bondage.

The declaration sums it up by calling for a “change in our political system so that we can make it truly representative, accountable, responsive and responsible, and enable us to attain full nationhood.”

Amen to that.

But I realistically do not believe that its dispositive portion, where Bagong Sistema calls on “Congress and the President to gather their collective political resolve and singleness of purpose (more desiderata than possibility given our experience of the past 30 years) and clear the way for system change by convening a Constitutional Convention to examine and propose revisions to the 1987 Constitution,” can be achieved within the short lifespan of the Aquino government.

It is not only because President Aquino will pay little if any attention to Bagong Sistema, despite the sincerity and nationalism that propelled its being, but because time has run out, even by the mental and emotional timelines of the public.

The best that we can hope for is that a new leader who should emerge from the chaos of the next sovereign exercise of the public will (is that oxymoronic? I still hope not.) in May 2016, will embrace the call of Bagong Sistema, Bagong Pag-Asa, for genuine system change – junking the present highly centralized and unitary system which has kept the nation and the diverse tribes that compose it from reaching the fullness of their potential for betterment, if not greatness.

A11 All about..

From A8 And they didn’t show how the members of the Presidential Security Group that formed a human barrier between the congressmen and Aquino at the podium overreacted and started crowding the Makabayan members and telling them to put away their signs.

All everyone at home saw and heard was Drilon making noises like a stuck pig and Speaker Feliciano Belmonte looking really surprised, apparently because he, too, didn’t expect to see some of his House’s members holding up signs expressing their dissent.

Aquino chose to ignore the whole scene, stepping down quickly from the podium and leaving the session hall right after making his speech.

Bayan Muna Rep. Neri Colmenares said the display of “unfansigns” by his group had been pre-cleared with the House leadership. He said an agreement they struck with Majority Leader Neptali “Boyet” Gonzales II allowed them to hoist the signs after the speech, after they promised not to heckle or boo the President while he was giving his kilometric valedictory.

Drilon and Belmonte, to say nothing of Aquino, didn’t know anything about all this, obviously. And when Drilon, in particular, saw his old frenemy Kabataan party-list Rep. Terry Ridon holding up one anti-Aquino sign, he saw red.

And that’s what really happened. No bull.

WE DN E S DAY : J ULY 2 9 , 2 0 1 5

A12

SPORTS sports@thestandard.com.ph

Froome, Quintana set for epic rivalry PARIS—Many both in the peloton and watching from afar may have groaned when Chris Froome said he intended to ride on for another six to eight years, but not everyone is disappointed.

There are some who feel the domination Froome has shown at times in winning his two Tour de France titles —in 2013 and again this month— has taken the gloss off the greatest cycle race in the world.

And yet, that would be to ignore what turned out to be one of the most thrilling Tours in recent memory.

The final 1min 12sec victory margin was the closest since Carlos Sastre of Spain finished 58sec ahead of Australian Cadel Evans in 2008.

And even that does no justice to the exciting final two stages in which Nairo Quintana started eating into Froome’s lead with incessant attacks every time the road angle started rising.

Two years ago, Quintana was second to Froome at 4min 20 sec—a margin that would have been 43sec

Blue Eagles tame Lions; Xavier wins THE Ateneo Blue Eagles, led by CJ Perez, outplayed the San Beda Red Lions, 8878, last Saturday in the 13th Fr. Martin Division 2 Cup basketball tournament at the Arellano gymnasium in Legarda, Manila.

Perez tallied 21 points for the Blue Eagles, who shared the early lead with the AMA Computer University Titans in Group A. In the junior division, Jarell Lim fired 21 points for Xavier School, which prevailed over Manila Patriotic School, 93-51.

The Arellano University Braves stopped the San Sebastian College Staglets, 101-87, while the Infant Jesus Academy of Pampanga won over UNO High School, 116-31.

Dan Wong made 16 points for the Blue Eagles, including a buzzer-beating drive at the end of third period which broke a 58-all tie.

Earl Murphy added 14, with his two charities with 9:01 left handing the Blue Eagles a six-point lead, 64-58.

Cole Micek moved the Blue Eagles further ahead, 69-62, with his two freebies in the last seven minutes.

Lim unloaded two of five triples in the second period, and this allowed Xavier to take a 23-11 spread in the last six minutes.

Commissioner Robert de la Rosa said a total of 33 teams are seeing action this time around with 15 confirmed entries in the senior division, and 18 registered in the junior side.

greater but for the Briton slowing down on the final stage to cross the finish line arm-in-arm with his Sky team-mates.

Quintana has greatly closed that gap and at 25 is five years younger than Froome.

Quite apart from embarking on a period of Froome domination, the Tour stands to witness one of the great cycling rivalries.

Cycling has seen some great such duels in the past, notably between Italians Gino Bartali and Fausto Coppi, or Frenchmen Jacques Anquetil and Raymond Poulidor, but Froome and Quintana could match or even eclipse any of those.

One of the most intriguing aspects is that rather than two riders reaching their prime at the same time, one is on his way up while the other should be coming out of his—much like the situation in tennis a few years ago with Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal, as opposed to football’s clash between Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo. AFP

Britain’s Chris Froome of Team Sky is pictured at the 80th edition of the Natour Criterium Aalst cycling race in Aalst.

The contest is a part of the traditional ‘criteriums’, local races, in which mainly cyclists who rode the Tour de France compete. AFP

US seeking strong Olympic bet after Boston’s pull-out

KUALA LUMPUR—The International Olympic Committee said Tuesday it was “confident” the US could find a “strong candidate” to host the 2024 Games, despite Boston pulling out of the contest shortly before a mid-September nomination deadline.

“We are confident that the US will make the right choice and that they can still put forward a strong candidate by 15 September,” the IOC said in a statement from Kuala Lumpur, where it is currently meeting.

Boston announced Monday it was no longer seeking

to host the 2024 Games due to lack of public support, and the US Olympic Committee (USOC) now has August to find a possible replacement, with Los Angeles having shown interest.

“USOC have made it clear that they would still very much like to see a US city host

the Olympic Games 2024,” the IOC statement continued.

“We are still in the invitation phase and this is exactly what this phase is for, to allow NOCs (national Olympic committees) and cities to explore a possible bid.”

The United States has not hosted the Summer Olympics since Atlanta 1996, or the Winter Olympics since Salt Lake City 2002.

There are currently four other cities seeking to host the 2024 Olympics: Budapest, Hamburg, Paris and Rome. A final decision is set to be made in 2017, in Lima.

The executive committee

of the IOC met in Malaysia on Tuesday, ahead of a Friday vote on the host of the 2022 Winter Games. The choice is between two cities: Beijing, which hosted the 2008 Summer Games, and Almaty, the former capital of Kazakhstan.Olympics: Beijing launches final pitch for 2022 Winter Games.

Meanwhile, Beijing Olympic officials on Monday shrugged off questions over snow levels and spread-out venues in their 2022 Winter Games bid as they launched their final pitch in Malaysia ahead of an IOC vote this week.

The hosting of the 2022

Games is a two-horse race between Beijing and Almaty in Kazakhstan, with the winner decided Friday in a secret International Olympic Committee ballot in Kuala Lumpur.

The Chinese capital is overwhelmingly favoured, but Almaty has gained ground by promising plentiful natural snow and concentration of facilities near the city.

But Beijing bid officials said the lack of snow in arid northern China and far-flung venues would not be a problem, while touting the organisational muscle that China flexed in its successful 2008 Summer Games. AFP

Smart’s Guinto, Munsayac stand tall

Bradwyn Guinto of San Sebastian College

THE height difference between National Collegiate Athletic Association basketball stars Francis Munsayac and Bradwyn Guinto is stark—Munsayac of Emilio Aguinaldo College stands 5’6”, while San Sebastian College’s Guinto towers at 6’6”.

But the two standouts have one thing in common—they and eight other NCAA players were recently named into the Smart Elite, a roster of sports ambassadors introduced by mobile leader Smart Communications to encourage the Filipino youth to cultivate a passion for sports.

Munsayac said the honor helped rebuild his confidence, after a knee injury forced him to sit out the last season of the NCAA. “The first time I tried to play again, I couldn’t shoot and I couldn’t find my rhythm. I thought, baka wala na. But Smart’s vote of confidence pushed me to give it my best shot in the actual games,” he said.

And give his best he did, racking up 20 points in his first game this season.

Meanwhile, Guinto said he was surprised to be

named into the Smart Elite, despite being included in last season’s Mythical Five and Defensive Team.

“I wasn’t expecting anything. I am very happy that all my hard work paid off,” he said.

In San Sebastian’s recent game against Jose Rizal University (JRU), Guinto finished with 17 points, 20 rebounds, 2 assists, 2 steals, and 3 blocks.

“We chose Guinto, Munsayac, and the other members of the Smart Elite based on the basketball skills they have displayed, their passion for the sport, and their potential to become good role models for the youth,” said Smart sports marketing senior manager Epok Quimpo.

The rest of the Smart Elite are Baser Amer of San Beda College, Earl Scottie Thompson of University of Perpetual Help System Dalta, Jiovani Jalalon of Arellano University, Rey Nambatac of Colegio de San Juan de Letran, Jonathan Grey of De La Salle-College of Saint Benilde, Tey Teodoro of JRU, Joseph Gabayni of Lyceum of the Philippines University, and Andretti Stevens of Francis Munsayac of Emilio Mapua Institute of Technology.

Aguinaldo College

WE DN E S DAY : J ULY 2 9 , 2 0 1 5

A13

SPORTS sports@thestandard.com.ph

Cavs re-sign Aussie Dellavedova CLEVELAND—Australian guard Matthew Dellavedova, whose gritty play won fans worldwide during the NBA Finals, has resigned with the Cleveland Cavaliers, the team said Monday.

The Cavaliers, who fell to Golden State in the NBA championship series in June, announced the deal along with the trade of center Brendan Haywood, guard Mike Miller and two future

draft picks to the Portland Trail Blazers.

Terms of Dellavedova’s contract were not released, but the deal is for one year and ESPN. com reported it was worth some $1.2 million dollars.

Dellavedova, 24, played in 67 games in the 2014-15 regular season, 13 of them as a starter.

He averaged 4.8 points, 1.9 rebounds and 3.0 assists in 20 minutes per game, hitting a career-best 40.7 percent from 3-point range.

But in the playoff run to the NBA Finals, the Aussie averaged 7.2 points, 2.1 rebounds and 2.7 assists in nearly 245 minutes a game, filling in for injured Kyrie

Irving in the title series.

Inking the deal means Dellavedova’s NBA future is settled as he prepares to compete for Australia in the FIBA Oceania Championship next month.

The Aussie squad for the regional championship will also include Andrew Bogut, who won his first NBA title with the Warriors last season. Bogut hasn’t played for Australia since the 2008 Olympics.

With his signing the Cavaliers retained another piece of the team that battled for a title last year, after bringing back superstar LeBron James, Kevin Love, Iman Shumpert and James Jones.

Meanwhile, the NBA will play its sixth regular-season game in London next January 14 when the Toronto Raptors face the Orlando Magic at the O2 Arena, the league announced Wednesday.

The Raptors played back-

to-back games in London in 2011, marking the first NBA regular-season contests played in Europe, while the Magic first visited London in 1993 for two pre-season games.

“We look forward to returning to London next season,” NBA commissioner Adam Silver said. “This underscores our commitment to growing basketball in the region and to bringing more regular-season basketball to our fans in the UK.” AFP

A-Rod celebrates 40th b-day in style ARLINGTON—Alex Rodriguez celebrated his birthday by belting a home run in the New York Yankees’ 6-2 win over the Texas Rangers on Monday and said he’s in a “good place” as he turns 40.

The controversial Yankees slugger, back this season from a ban that lasted all of 2014, has been gradually winning back fans turned off by the two doping scandals that have tainted his batting feats.

Asked prior to Monday’s game what advice he might give his younger self, A-Rod acknowledged he was in “no position” to give advice to anyone.

“There was a point and Training early. France’s Tony a time for me that hitting Parker (right) and Charles Kahudi home runs and being a great take part in a training session of baseball player was all that the French national basketball mattered,” Rodriguez said. team in Pau ahead of the 2015 FIBA “And I figured that by EuroBasket championship. AFP hitting home runs it would justify whatever behavior I had off the field, and I realize today that it is not that way at all.

“Hitting home runs does not make a good father, doesn’t make you a good friend, and it certainly doesn’t make you a good teammate, and to me they are important,” he said.

Rodriguez has impressed in his comeback season in a way few expected.

His solo homer off Texas starting pitcher Matt Harrison was his 24th of the season and 678th of his career and came after he smacked three home runs against Minnesota on Sunday.

Rodriguez became just the fourth major leaguer to homer in his teens and his 40s.

Although Rodriguez has been reluctant to answer questions about his doping past since spring train- A fan carries a sign before the New York Yankees take on the ing in February, he made a Texas Rangers at Globe Life Park in Arlington in Arlington, glancing reference to it in his Texas. AFP comments before the game as he reflected on how his “I hope that continues.

With another homer and season had unfolded.

I am going to continue to another Yankees win un“I thought April would be work hard and go through der his belt, he was looking my most challenging month my regimen, but it’s also a forward to celebrating his and as I started getting more nice reminder to me that if birthday with his teammates repetition hopefully I would you play clean and you work and his two daughters. get better, and I think that’s hard, that good things can “I am in a good place,” Rohappened,” he said. happen.” driguez said. AFP

Cesafi exec hails tieup with Viva

By Ronnie Nathanielsz LONGTIME Commissioner Boy Tiukinhoy of the Cebu Schools Athletic Foundation Inc. yesterday hailed his association’s tieup with Viva Sports as a “a milestone in local basketball in Cebu and in the South.”

“It is with great pride and privilege that we enter into a partnership with VIVA,” he added.

The well-known businessman-sportsman, whose love for the sport and a burning desire to see CESAFI grow and be part of the sporting consciousness of Filipinos particularly in the Visayas and Mindanao encouraged him and the CESAFI board to enter into an agreement for the TV coverage of the games

by VIVA Sports.

On the eve of a formal press conference to formalize the agreement and to discuss the opening of the new season on Aug. 1, the Commissioner expressed his confidence that the CESAFI-Viva partnership “will bring the games closer to the local fans in the South and would provide nationwide exposure to the teams, players, and the schools. We are happy and grateful that finally VIVA lends their expertise in this worthwhile endeavor.”

To Commissioner Tiukinhoy, “Cesafi richly deserves this meaningful tie-up not only for being one of the longest existing inter-school leagues in the country, but also for its unflinching commitment to provide

Cebuanos, classic and highly entertaining hardcourt action through the years.”

He continued: “It is about time that Cesafi shall be made known and accessible to the fans across the country and the outside world through its partnership with VIVA. I look forward to a long-term deal with VIVA as this breakthrough undertaking will surely be a big boost to the growth and development of the CESAFI that takes pride for being the most storied and respectable basketball league outside of Metro Manila.”

Tiukinhoy

W E D N E S D AY : J U LY 2 9, 2 0 1 5

SPORTS A14 Bigger Premier Tennis League in the offing sports@thestandard.com.ph

THIS year’s edition of the International Premier Tennis League promises to be even bigger and better than the previous one.

“We have more teams, more players. Rafael Nadal is coming to play,” said Clementine Apacible, project lead for the Manila leg of the 2015 IPTL. The event that drew a huge turnout last year will be back at the Mall of Asia Arena on Dec. 6 to 8, and this early, excitement is in the air.

“It’s the All-Stars of tennis. It will be three days of sports and entertainment,” said Apacible during Tuesday’s Philippine Sportswriters Association Forum at Shakey’s Malate.

Serena Williams, eyeing the Grand Slam this year, will lead the Philippine Mavericks against the

NOTICE OF EXTRAJUDICIAL SETTLEMENT

NOTICE OF EXTRAJUDICIAL SETTLEMENT

Notice is hereby given that the estate of Andres K. Altamirano, who died on July 3, 1999 in Quezon City Metro Manila, had been settled extrajudicially by his heirs as evidenced by Document no. 71, Page no. 15 Book no. 1 series of 2015. dated May 28, 2015 in the notarial books of Atty. Arlyn S. De LeonGregorio, Notary Public until December 31, 2016 PTR No. 0178448/1.05.15 Parañaque City, Supreme Court Roll No. 63852 IBP lifetime member no. 012979. MCLE Compliance No. V-0004901/12.16.2014.

Notice is hereby given that the estate of Gertrudes K. Altamirano, who died on April 9, 1990 in Manila, had been settled extrajudicially by her heirs as evidenced by Document no. 70, Page no. 14 Book no. 1 series of 2015. dated May 28, 2015 in the notarial books of Atty. Arlyn S. De LeonGregorio, Notary Public until December 31, 2016 PTR No. 0178448/1.05.15 Parañaque City, Supreme Court Roll No. 63852 IBP lifetime member no. 012979. MCLE Compliance No. V-0004901/12.16.2014.

transferable—VIP P49,000, patron P40,000, lower box P23,000, upper box P11,600 and general admission P2,700.

Also gracing the forum supported by San Miguel Corp., Shakey’s, Accel, and Pagcor are Roland Kraut, head coach of the Philippine Davis Cup team, and Stephanie Henares of the SM Lifestyle Entertainment, Inc. Nadal will lead the Micromax Indian Aces, playing alongside Gael Monfils, Agnieszka Radwan-

ska, Fabrice Santoro, Ivan Dodig, Sania Mirza and Rohan Bopanna.

Maria Sharapova, who played for the Mavericks last year, is now with the Japan Warriors, who also boast of Daniela Hantuchova and Marat Safin.

The UAE Royals will have Roger Federer, Ana Ivanovic and Goran Ivanisevic in its core, while the Singapore Slammers will be bannered by world No. 1 Novak Djokovic, Nick Kyrgios, Belinda Bencic and Carlos Moya.

NOTICE OF EXTRAJUDICIAL SETTLEMENT Notice is hereby given that the estate of Crisanto B. Gusion, Sr., who died on June 12, 1995 in Makati City, had been settled extrajudicially by his heirs as evidenced by Document no. 307, Page no. 60 Book no.

17 series of 2013. dated May 17, 2013 in the notarial books of Atty.

Abigail A. Portugal, Notary Public until December 31, 2013 PTR No. 98009028/1.02.13 Parañaque City Supreme Court Roll No. 45535 IBP 903696. MCLE Compliance No. III0021257/11.12.2011.

(TS-JULY 15, 22 & 29 2015)

(TS-JULY 15,22 & 29 2015)

Japan Warriors, UAE Royals, Indian Aces and Singapore Slammers.

Japan, the newest member, will host the first leg followed by stops in Manila, New Delhi, Dubai and Singapore. The winning team gets $1 million.

“That’s one million dollars plus the trophy and the bragging rights. But it’s really about the camaraderie among the teams,” said Apacible.

There’s an early bird promo on the three-day passes that are

PROPERTY FOR SALE!!!

Lot Area=1.5 hectares with two (2) buildings/warehouses located at PTC-SEZ, Gov. Drive, Bo. Maduya, Carmona, Cavite For details please contact telephone nos. (046) 4302261/0922-8467908

Juvic back, heads ICTSI tilt

(TS-JULY 15,22 & 29 2015)

NOTICE OF EXTRAJUDICIAL SETTLEMENT Notice is hereby given that the estate of BENJAMIN GUINA LUMANLAN, was extrajudicially settled among his heirs as per Doc. No. 36; Page No. 08; Book No. 131; Series of 2015 under Notary Public Atty.

Dwight M. Galarrita

(TS-JULY 29, 2015)

(TS-JULY 29,AUG. 5, 12, 2015)

Republic of the Philippines Province of Ilocos Sur MUNCIPALITY OF SINAIT OFFICE OF THE BIDS AND AWARDS COMMITTEE (BAC) INVITATION TO BID FOR GOODS

Juvic Pagunsan’s presence in the 72hole championship, the 10th leg of this year’s circuit sponsored by ICTSI, is expected to tighten up the battle for top honors.

July 29, 20115 The Municipal Government of Sinait, through the R.A. 7171 – Mun. Share intends to apply the sum specified below as being the Approved Budget for the Contract (ABC) to payments under the contract for the following projects to wit: Name of Projects

1.

Purchase of Fertilizers

Location

Municipal Hall, Sinait, Ilocos Sur

Approved Budget Cost (ABC) P 2,799,600.00

Source of Fund

Duration of Works /Delivery Period

R.A. 7171Mun. Share

30 cd

Bids received in excess of the ABC shall be automatically rejected at bid opening.

The Municipal Government of Sinait now invites bids for the said Projects stated above.

Completion of the Works is required as stated above under Duration of Works/Delivery Period. Bidders should have completed, within ten (10) 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. Instruction to Bidders.

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

Interested bidders may obtain further information from Municipal Government of Sinait BAC Office and inspect the Bidding Documents at the address given below from 8:00 A.M. to 5:00 P.M. BAC Office or MPDC Office – Sinait Municipal Hall, Sinait, Ilocos Sur. A complete set of Bidding Documents may be purchased by interested Bidders from the address above and upon payment of a nonrefundable fee for the Bidding Documents ISSUANCE OF BID DOCUMENTS – July 29- August 18, 2015 The Municipal Government of Sinai thru BAC will hold a Pre-Bid Conference on August 6, 2015 @ 10:00 A.M. at Mun. Treasurer’s Office Sinait Mun. Hall, Sinait, Ilocos Sur which shall be open to all interested parties.

Bids must be delivered to the address above on or before August 18, 2015@ 9:30 A.M. at Sinait Municipal Hall Main Bldg., Sinait, Ilocos Sur. All bids must be accompanied by a bid security in any of the acceptable forms and in the amount stated in ITB Clause 18.

OPENING OF BIDS – August 18, 2015@ 9:30 A.M. @ Sinait Municipal Hall, Sinait, Ilocos Sur..

Bids will be opened in the presence of the bidders’ representatives with the Authority of the Signatory who choose to attend at the address above. Late bids shall not be accepted.

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

For further information, please refer to: BAC SECRETARIAT MPDC Office Sinait Mun. Hall Main Bldg. (1st floor) Mobile # 09166725419 e-mail address: jr_seni67@yahoo.com (Sgd) EMELFA C. INES BAC Chairman (TS-JULY 29, 2015)

Fil-Am Rivera finishes tied from 18th to 24th places

By Peter Atencio FIL-AMERICAN rider Coryn Rivera fell twice, but still finished tied for 18th to 24th positions last Sunday in a rain-soaked, crashmarred La Course in the Le Tour de France.

Anna van der Breggen of RaboLiv time-trialed her way to victory in 2 hours, five minutes and one second after leading a 10-rider pack to the finish line.

Jolien D’Hoore of Wiggle-Honda was in the pack and placed second, followed by Amy Pieters, Elizabeth Armitstead at third and fourth, according to results posted on Velo News.

Reports said there were plenty of crashes during the 89-km circuit race around the Champs-Élysées in Paris, including involving Shelly Olds (Ale Cipollini), who was among those who went down on the slick 7-km circuit.

She remounted only to tear off her rear derailleur with around 35 kms left to race and had to abandon her bid.

Rivera, riding under the UnitedHealthcare banner, also fell twice, but remounted and still continued. She was seconds behind Van der Breggen, and so were Annette Edmondson, Geogia Bronzini, Mia Radotic, Eugenia Bijak and Moniek Tenniglo.

Another huge crash with 23 kilometers to go took down some 20 riders, among them Severine Ereaud (Poiteau-Charentes.Futuroscope.86) and a number of riders from the Rabo-Liv squad of world champion Pauline Ferrand-Prevot.

The rain worsened with two laps to go and the greatly reduced the pack numbering 120.

There were a few failed attacks and one lap later the bunch got the bell for one lap to go, with Bigla Pro Cycling setting the tempo.

JUVIC Pagunsan returns from more than a two-year absence on the ICTSI Philippine Golf Tour, headlining the elite field toughened up by a slew of foreign bets in the P1.5 million ICTSI Classic unfolding today at the Mt. Malarayat Golf and Country Club composite courses in Lipa City, Batangas.

Pagunsan has said he would pay before teeingoff at 7:15 a.m. the P25,000 fine he incurred for pulling out of the singles matches in the final round of The Duel at Alabang in 2013. This prompted the organizing Pilipinas Golf Tournaments, Inc. to suspend the ace shotmaker, who was also sacked for the same offense in 2011.

His presence in the 72hole championship, the 10th leg of this year’s circuit sponsored by ICTSI, is expected to tighten up the battle for top honors with the 37-year-old smoothswinging shotmaker renewing his rivalry with the cream of the crop, led

by Tony Lascuña, Elmer Salvador, Jay Bayron, Mars Pucay, Marvin Dumandan, Charles Hong, Rufino Bayron, Cassius Casas, Gerald Rosales, Rey Pagunsan and Artemio Murakami.

Pagunsan drew Pucay and Hanson So Jr., hoping to showcase the form that won him the 2011 Asian Tour Order of Merit crown.

During his suspension, he campaigned on the lucrative Japan PGA Tour, posting three top 10 finishes in 2013 and 2014 seasons. He placed fifth in the Kansai Open last May but missed the cut in the Musee Platinum Open in Hyogo two weeks ago.

Meanwhile, obscure Rene Menor teamed up with Manny Alarilla, Sunny Donato and Alex Ryu to rule yesterday’s pro-am with a 20-under 52 total, edging Joenard Rates and amateur partners Polly Macatangay, Ruel de Castro and Nelson Ventura, who assembled a 53.

Arnold Villacencio, with Nestor Sevills, Nico Sevilla and Bobby Gonzales, placed third with a 55.

W E D N E S D AY : J U LY 2 9, 2 0 1 5

A15

SPORTS sports@thestandard.com.ph

Tenorio begs off from Gilas Pilipinas From A16 During the 2012 season, Tenorio has averaged 14 points, 5.3 rebounds and 5.4 assists per game.

His numbers dipped when he went full time with Gilas, where he tallied 11.19ppg, 4.2rpg and 5.4apg in 2013 before plunging to 9.9ppg, 4.3rpg and 3.8apg last season.

Tenorio is considered as one of the pillars of the previous Gilas

Pilipinas team that settled for a silver finish during the 2013 FIBA Asia tournament in Manila, earning for the country a return trip to the world championship after nearly four decades.

“Feeling ko ngayon kung maglalaro ako sa national team and then dire-diretso ulit pagdating ng season, I think it’s going to be unfair for both parties,” said Tenorio “Kasi siyempre dire-diretso na ako na-

glalaro ng apat na taon.”

Tenorio also admitted that he is feeling some pressure together with his Ginebra teammates now that they will be under grand slam coach Tim Cone starting in the upcoming season.

“Siguro to be fair na rin kay Coach Tim and sa team namin, time for me naman siguro to focus kasi the last four years madalas wala ako and si Japeth (Aguilar) sa first

few days ng practice,” said Tenorio.

Tenorio said he is aching to help Ginebra arrest their seven-year title drought or since 2008 when the team won that season’s Fiesta Conference.

Meantime Gilas 3.0 under American-Kiwi coach Tab Baldwin is set to announce names of players who will be joining the training pool at a time when they start their training camp next week.

LOTTO RESULTS

6/49 00-00-00-00-00-00 6/42 00-00-00-00-00-00 6 DIGITS 0-0-0-0-0-0 3 DIGITS 0-0-0 2 EZ2 0-0

P0.0 M+ P0.0 M+

Red Lions frustrate Altas, 83 to 81

By Peter Atencio

MICOLE Sorela drilled in two crucial charities in the final 5.3 seconds to lead defending champion San Beda College past University of Perpetual Help, 83-81, yesterday in the 91st National Collegiate Athletic Association men’s basketball tournament at the Arena in San Juan.

Tamaraws score. Far Eastern University’s Joshua Barrica (left) fires away a kill against University of the East’ Vincent Magdaong (9) and Samuel Lelic (3) during their Spikers’ Turf clash at The Arena. FEU rebounded from an opening-set loss to defeat University of the East, 19-25, 25-20, 25-19, 25-18, and stay in the hunt of the last quarterfinals’ berth with a 1-2 card. Today, National University and National College of Business and Arts face off at 3 p.m. in what promises to be a slam-bang duel of unbeaten teams with a quarterfinal berth at stake in Group A at The Arena in San Juan City.

Sorela, who finished with 15 hold them below 70, we have a points and 10 rebounds, was big chance of winning,” said Menfouled by Earl Thompson after eses of the Bombers, currently the he intercepted an inbound pass league’s top defensive team. to Bright Akhuetie and calmly The Altas fought the Red Licanned the two freebies that al- ons on even terms all throughout lowed the Red Lions to gain the match, but failed miserably some distance, 83-79. from the line, sinkArthur dela Cruz ing only 11 of 24 atGames Friday (San Juan Arena) led the Red Lions tempts, including six 8 a.m. • San Sebastian vs with 25 points and in the final minutes.

EAC-ICA (jrs) 17 rebounds as San 10 a.m. • LPU vs Mapua (jrs) Akhuetie led the 12 nn • SSC vs EAC (srs) Beda College im- 2 p.m. way for the Altas • LPU vs Mapua (srs) proved to 5-1 to gain 4 p.m. • Letran vs Arellano (srs) with 27 points and solo second behind 6 p.m. • Letran vs Arellano (jrs) 16 boards, while the unbeaten Letran Thompson had 20 Knights. but only made two of five free The Altas dropped to a share throws down the stretch. of third at 4-2 with JRU. In the junior division, Albert Earlier, Jose Rizal University Bordeus unloaded 10 of his 16 held College of St. Benilde to its game-high points in the third lowest output en route to a huge period as the defending champi67-49 victory for its fourth win on San Beda Red Cubs walloped in six outings to improve to third the University of Perpetual Help place in the standings.

Junior Altas to remain unbeaten Tey Teodoro led the Heavy with six wins so far.

Bombers for the second straight Bordeus, along with Evan game, as he scored 21 points and Nelle scored triples in succession eight rebounds. to allow the Red Cubs to move JRU built its first huge lead in ahead by 11, 46-35, in the last the game on a Mark Neil Cruz la- 4:15 of the third. yup in the 4:52 mark of the secIn the other juniors’ match, ond period, 47-24, while Paolo Ricci Rivero had 21 points, and Pontejos struck in the last 3:23 of John Mallillin scored 16 for La the same stretch as the Bombers Salle Greenhills, which drubbed kept their sizeable lead, 53-29,Z the JRU Light Bombers, 86-47 and “I told the boys that we can improved their record to 3-3.

Spectrum wins PCSO race AS expected, lawyer Narciso O. Morales’s colt Spectrum annihilated the opposition in the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office 2YO Special Maiden race held July 25 at the Philippine Racing Club’s Santa Ana Park in Naic, Cavite.

Spectrum, also the winner of the trial race held July 10, was sent off as the heavy favorite in the sales. He jumped out cleanly and ran off the pace to frontrunner Killer Hook, gaining the lead in the backstretch.

The colt guided by Daniel L. Camañero pulled away halfway down the stretch to win by four lengths over second placer Killer Hook. They

were followed by Total Defiance and Ora et Labora in third and fourth.

The total time for the 1,200-meter race was 1:14.6 (25-22’-27).

Spectrum (Golden Pharoah x Celestial Chase) is trained by Arturo Sordan Jr. and was bred by Atty.

Morales. *** Longtime breeder and horseowner Mayor Leonardo “Sandy” Javier Jr. is busy with rehabilitation and reconstruction efforts in his municipality of Javier, Leyte, one of those badly hit by supertyphoon Yolanda in November 2013.

Still, he takes time to make sure developments on his Thoroughbred breeding farm, Royal Maverick Ranch in Lipa, Batangas, are progressing. “I have fifty broodmares,” he said, “and I add two to three every year.” His stallion barn houses sires with AP Indy and Woodman lineage.

*** Philippine Racing Commission Chairman Andrew A. Sanchez and Commissioners lawyer Ramon S. Bagatsing Jr. and Lyndon B. Guce, in a consultative meeting with racing club handicappers and horseowners group representatives on July 6, discussed a proposed system of handicapping rules for 2YO and 3YO maiden groupings.

The proposal for the revised system, which can be obtained from Philracom, is still for comment by other industry sectors, in line with Philracom policy to engage stakeholders in handicapping deliberations to establish guidelines that are fair and acceptable to all. *** Philracom will coordinate with TESDA for the conduct of skills trainings for racehorse trainers and jockeys.

Jockeys currently undergo a two-

year course under the jockeys association, likewise the trainers under their own group, but most learn the basics of their jobs through hands-on participation in the sport.

Sanchez said the TESDA-accredited trainings are necessary to enhance the skills of jockeys and trainers and to professionalize their occupations. *** Sanchez is also strictly enforcing Philippine racing rules and regulations (PR), specifically PR 3 (a checklist of equipment necessary to conduct races) with regard to totalizator and racetrack maintenance.

In compliance with instructions from Philracom, Manila Jockey Club, Philippine Racing Club, and Metro Manila Turf Club recently submitted their manuals of racetrack and totalizator maintenance.

The manuals will be used as references for Philracom to assess the sys-

tems and possibly establish industry standards.

Racetrack maintenance methods include watering, harrowing, ripping and grading, and sealing the track surface with an iron float to minimize the seepage of water and ensure good drainage.

A horseracing pari-mutuel totalizator system computes and shows the total number and amounts of bets and corresponding payouts.

The Commission also recently approved the change in post-time of races on weekends to 2:00 PM and on weekends to 6:15 PM. Inordinate delays in the start of the races on the part of the racing clubs are considered a violation of racing rules and carry corresponding penalties. *** Facebook: Gogirl Racing, Twitter: @gogirlracing, Instagram: @jensdecember, Blog: http://jennyo.net

A16

W E D N E S D AY : J U LY 2 9, 2 0 1 5

RIERA U. MALL ARI EDITOR

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

sports@thestandard.com.ph

SPORTS

NBA veteran Andray Blatche, shown here in action during the last FIBA World Cup in Spain, will definitely see action for Gilas Pilipinas, where he has an existing contract.

SBP vows: Blatche will play SAMAHANG Basketbol ng Pilipinas executive director Sonny Barrios said on Tuesday at the Philippine Sportswriters Association Forum that the only player guaranteed with a berth in new Gilas Pilipinas coach Tab Baldwin’s team is naturalized player Andray Blatche, who he added will definitely see action for the team.

“May kontrata sa atin si Blatche.

Sigurado akong may kontrata kasi ako ang pumirma. Alam ko sa Amerikano, kapag may kontrata, hindi nila basta binabali ‘yun,” said Barrios as he denied rumors about the former NBA player not likely to see action for the national team pending his release from his team in the Chinese Basketball Association.

Aware that Baldwin couldn’t

Froome rivalry with Quintana heats up TURN TO A12

exactly form the ideal team he has envisioned for Gilas Pilipinas, Barrios said the coach will just have to settle with the players available for the national team seeing action in the FIBA-Asia Men’s Championship.

“We should be realistic,” said SBP Executive Director Sonny Barrios in the weekly Philippine Sportswriters Association Forum on Tuesday at Shakey’s Malate.

“He (Baldwin) has to deal with the cards he’s dealt with.”

Barrios made the remark as Baldwin has yet to formally announce the names of players, who will make up the training pool to comprise the final Gilas roster competing in the Olympic qualifying event set in Changsha, China from Sept.

23 to Oct. 3.

The SBP executive himself is still unaware about the players available to see action for Gilas, although what’s definite is that Baldwin won’t be able to get the talent he has in his so-called wish list.

SBP has learned a lot from experience.

“Coach Chot brought us to the world level, but he did not get his ideal lineup,” said Barrios, referring to Baldwin’s predecessor Chot Reyes, who also failed to get the

Juvic back, heads ICTSI golf TURN TO A14

players he wanted for the Gilas team which finished runner up to Iran in the 2013 edition of the FIBA-Asia tilt held in Manila. “Pero okay lang. Ganu’n ang sitwasyon at reality.”

At the moment, Barrios disclosed the SBP and Baldwin will likely come up with the national training pool lineup next week shortly after the country’s hosting of the FIBA 3x3 World Tour Manila Masters this weekend at the Robinson’s Place Manila.

“I told our group (SBP) that parausin muna natin ‘yung 3x3 hosting kesa matabunan ng kuwento tungkol sa Gilas,” said the former PBA commissioner.

“Tinatrabaho ‘yun. Konting pasensya na lang at makakabuo rin ng pool ‘yan somehow,” he added.

Tenorio begs off from Gilas

By Dennis Principe HE is still one of the country’s elite point guards today, but Ginebra star guard LA Tenorio would like to take a break from playing for the national team before everything blows up in his face.

The 31-year-old Tenorio said he is begging off from the soonto-be-formed national basketball team, collectively known as Gilas Pilpinas squad, citing fatigue and poor performance last season.

Tenorio said his nearly four years of playing basketball both locally and internationally is about to take its toll on the quality of his game.

“Very evident kasi nu’ng past season talagang bumaba ‘yung laro ko. ‘Yun ‘yung nagiging factor, I think, fatigue factor,” said Tenorio “‘Yung naging output ko last conference sa Ginebra baka madala ko pa sa national team.

Unfair naman ‘yun sa national team.”

Continued on A14

B1

WEDNESDAY: JULY 29, 2015

RAY S. EÑANO EDITOR

RODERICK T. DELA CRUZ ASSISTANT EDITOR

business@thestandardtoday.com.ph extrastory2000@gmail.com

BUSINESS

Uniqlo in Cebu.

Global clothing retailer Uniqlo will open two outlets in Cebu City in the fourth quarter of 2015. The stores will be located at SM City Cebu, the fourth largest shopping mall in the Philippines, and at the new SM Seaside City Cebu.

The new stores will offer the brandˈ full range of menˈ, womenˈ and kidˈ items. Shown during the announcement of the store openings are (from left) Uniqlo general manager, Geraldine Sia; chief operating officer Katsumi Kubota and Cebu area manager, Kaoru Wada.

PSe comPoSite index Closing July 28, 2015

Sobrepeña firm told to drop suit vs MRT-3 Darwin G. Amojelar

THE Transportation Department on Tuesday asked MRT Holdings Inc., the controlling shareholder of Metro Rail Transit Line 3 led by businessman Robert John Sobrepeña, to drop its bid stopping the purchase of 48 new train cars.

“The riding public deserves a much better MRT-3 than what the private owner is providing. That is why we exercised political will to add new train cars ourselves. Not only did MRTH fail to add them,

they even filed a case to stop us when we did,” Transportation Secretary Joseph Emilio Abaya said.

MRTH, which used to manage the affairs of MRT-3’s contractual owner MRT Corp. and is now its

controlling shareholder, sought a temporary restraining order and a permanent injunction to stop the Transportation Department from adding new trains to MRT 3 in February 2014.

The Makati City regional trial court initially issued a TRO, but eventually sided with the government and ruled against MRTH. The court said apart from the fact that only the Supreme Court could enjoin such a project, public interest should prevail in this case.

MRTH, however, appealed the case to the Court of Appeals, which also sided with the DoTC and the

Passage of investment bill likely

By Othel V. Campos INVESTMENT and fiscal reform bills, including the antidynasty, are expected to get a big push from the legislative body before the Aquino administration bows out in 2016.

“These bills will be discussed shortly. Usually when a bill is mentioned during SONA, Senate and Congress move to have them approved,” Senator Paolo Benigno Aquino IV said Tuesday at a forum in the New World Hotel in Makati City.

“I believe that among those [bills] that have the biggest chance of being passed are the anti-dynasty bill and the TIMTA bill,” he said.

The Tax Incentives Management and Transparency Act will

likely move forward but the Fiscal Incentives Rationalization Bill is far from being approved until a harmonized version by the Trade and Finance Departments is drafted.

Aquino, chairman of the Senate Committee on Trade, said TIMTA was a step closer to a harmonized version of the fiscal incentives bill that will contain inputs of both the Trade and the Finance Departments.

Aquino conceded that the biggest hurdle in the passage of the bill was the disagreement between the Trade and Finance Departments on the magnitude of incentives an investor can get.

“Finance would want cheaper implementation of the incentives and the same time you

don’t want to undercut the Trade Department and their ability to provide incentives to possible investors,” he said.

The general observation, he noted, was that the layers of bureaucracy for the granting of incentives would only create more red tape and that more layers might deter investments.

“There’s a way to do it where the Trade Department can provide incentives quicker, in a more responsive way that won’t cut their ability to deal with investors and their trade promotion mandate, [and] at the same time ensure that incentives are within fiscally responsible framework,” Aquino said.

“I think there’s still a chance for them to find common ground,” he added.

public by denying the same.

The case is still pending with the CA after MRTH sought a reconsideration of the appellate court’s decision.

The Transportation Department earlier awarded the contract to supply 48 light rail vehicles to Dalian Locomotive & Rolling Stock Co. CNR Group of China for P3.759 billion.

The Transport Department said the arrival of the prototype for forty-eight new train coaches for MRT-3 was scheduled by midAugust.

This will lead to the delivery of three train coaches per month beginning iJanuary 2016, until the delivery of all 48 units was completed.

MRT3, which runs from North Avenue in Quezon City to Taft Avenue in Pasay City, serves nearly 500,000 passengers a day, eyond its rated capacity of about 350,000.

The train service has a fleet of 73 Czech-made rail cars.

The Transportation and Finance Departments are set to meet this week to finalize the plan to buy out the private sector’s interest in MRT 3.

State-run LBP and DBP hold a combined 80-percent economic interest in MRT 3, while the remaining stake is held by creditors of MRTC. President Aquino issued Executive Order No. 126 in 2013, directing the Transportation and Finance Departments to buy Metro Rail Transit Corp. out of MRT 3, pursuant to the build-leasetransfer agreement.

8500 8000 7500 7000 6500 6000

7,479.03 68.41

PeSo-dollar rate

Closing JULY 28, 2015 42

P45.500

43

CLOSE

44 45 46

HIGH P45.480 LOW P45.525 AVERAGE P45.504 VOLUME 543.400M

P475.00-P675.00 LPG/11-kg tank P40.55-P46.70 Unleaded Gasoline P27.90-P31.15 Diesel

oPriceS il P today

P34.55-P39.15 Kerosene P23.70-P24.40 Auto LPG Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas Tuesday, July 28, 2015

F oreign e xchange r ate Currency

Unit

US Dollar

Peso

United States

Dollar

1.000000

45.5360

Japan

Yen

0.008112

0.3694

UK

Pound

1.556000

70.8540

Hong Kong

Dollar

0.129016

5.8749

Switzerland

Franc

1.038529

47.2905

Canada

Dollar

0.767283

34.9390

Singapore

Dollar

0.730407

33.2598

Australia

Dollar

0.729714

33.2283

Bahrain

Dinar

2.652238

120.7723

Saudi Arabia

Rial

0.266667

12.1429

Brunei

Dollar

0.727749

33.1388

Indonesia

Rupiah

0.000074

0.0034

Thailand

Baht

0.028694

1.3066

UAE

Dirham

0.272257

12.3975

Euro

Euro

1.109300

50.5131

Korea

Won

0.000857

0.0390

China

Yuan

0.161044

7.3333

India

Rupee

0.015582

0.7095

Malaysia

Ringgit

0.261945

11.9279

New Zealand

Dollar

0.662515

30.1683

Taiwan

Dollar

0.031666

1.4419 Source: PDS Bridge

WEDNESDAY: JULY 29, 2015

B2

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

The STandard BuSineSS daily STockS review Tuesday, July 28, 2015

52 Weeks

Previous

High Low

STOCKS

7.88 75.3 124.4 107 56.5 2.49 4.2 17 30.45 10.4 0.92 2.6 1.01 100 1.46 30.5 91.5 137 361.2 57 180 124 3.26

2.5 66 88.05 88.1 45.45 1.97 1.68 12.02 19.6 6.12 0.74 1.02 0.225 78 0.9 17.8 62 88.35 276 41 118.2 59 2.65

AG Finance Asia United Bank Banco de Oro Unibank Inc. Bank of PI China Bank BDO Leasing & Fin. INc. Bright Kindle Resources COL Financial Eastwest Bank Filipino Fund Inc. First Abacus I-Remit Inc. MEDCO Holdings Metrobank Natl. Reinsurance Corp.

PB Bank Phil. National Bank Phil. Savings Bank PSE Inc. RCBC `A’ Security Bank Union Bank Vantage Equities

4.55 72.5 101.50 94.00 45.7 2.45 1.55 16.28 20.25 7.77 0.68 1.80 0.410 89.9 0.98 18.56 63.30 94.95 312 38.4 147.5 60.00 3.25

47 5 1.46 2.36 15.3 89 148 20.6 125 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 9.4 241 12.5 3.95 4 74 33.9 90 13.26 293 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 1.3

35.9 1.11 1.01 1.86 7.92 40.3 32 15.32 62.5 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 5.34 173 8.65 2.3 1.63 33 23.35 17.3 5.88 250.2 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 0.640

Aboitiz Power Corp.

Agrinurture Inc. Alliance Tuna Intl Inc. Alsons Cons.

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

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

Lafarge Rep LMG Chemicals Mabuhay Vinyl Macay Holdings Manila Water Co. Inc. Maxs Group Megawide Mla. Elect. Co `A’ 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 Vitarich Corp.

44.5 1.38 1.04 1.92 10.26 50.6 71.55 18 194.8 26.2 56.35 2.55 1.82 12.18 20.300 8.90 7.50 9.98 1.78 15 27.1 81 13.32 13.30 6.14 190.00 10.46 2.06 2.6 56.95 24.75 25 5.72 298.00 4.65 7.99 11.90 3.37 2.45 3.65 4.31 1.93 5.75 163 1.75 0.149 1.29 2.11 190.5 0.69

0.59 59.2 30.05 2.16 3.4 823.5 10.2 84 3.35 4.92 1455 7.5 76 9.25 0.85 17.3 0.71 5.53 6.55 0.0670 1.61 2.99 84.9 974 1.66 390 156 0.710 0.435 0.510

0.44 48.1 20.85 1.6 0.23 634.5 7.390 12.8 2.6 2.26 837 5.3 49.55 4.84 0.59 12 0.580 4.2 4.5 0.030 0.550 2.26 59.3 751 1.13 170 80 0.211 0.179 0.310

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

GT Capital House of Inv. JG Summit 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. Transgrid Top Frontier Unioil Res. & Hldgs Wellex Industries Zeus Holdings

0.475 57.4500 22.80 1.23 0.250 775 7.75 12.44 3.1 4.35 1400 6.48 72.15 7.15 0.67 15.26 0.57 4.66 7.5 0.0300 2.030 2.61 58.75 908.00 1.20 170.00 76.800 0.3100 0.1990 0.270

10.5

6.74

8990 HLDG

7.700

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

SHARES 12,071,259 57,751,709 69,353,506 93,123,922 92,325,883 1,773,331,633 2,100,697,462

Close

High

Low

FINANCIAL 4.6 4.4 72.35 71.5 101.10 98.60 95.00 93.50 46 45.5 2.43 2.43 1.69 1.58 16.3 16.02 20.4 20.2 7.76 7.76 0.68 0.68 1.79 1.63 0.405 0.400 89.75 87.6 0.98 0.98 18.90 18.58 64.00 63.10 94.95 89.2 309 307.2 38.95 38.35 148.5 146 59.30 61.00 3.25 3.25 INDUSTRIAL 44 43.75 1.36 1.34 1.05 1.01 1.93 1.88 10.3 10.1 50.6 50.6 92.00 92.00 18.4 18 189.9 175 26.4 25.9 56.35 56 2.59 2.46 1.81 1.74 12.18 12.04 20.700 20.05 9.00 8.80 7.50 7.31 9.98 9.65 1.71 1.71 15.1 14 27.1 26.3 80.05 80.8 13.88 13.30 13.50 13.12 6.16 6.08 190.00 187.80 10.52 10.34 2.07 2.07 2.6 2.6 56.50 51.35 24.75 24.35 25.2 24.8 5.8 5.7 298.60 293.00 4.62 4.58 7.98 7.78 11.90 11.30 3.44 3.31 2.48 2.35 3.72 3.43 4.30 4.18 1.9 1.85 5.72 5.72 167.9 163 1.83 1.72 0.149 0.146 1.40 1.40 2.18 2.07 192.5 189.5 0.69 0.69 HOLDING FIRMS 0.475 0.470 58.0000 56.1000 22.75 22.00 1.22 1.22 0.250 0.245 774 769.5 7.71 7.62 12.32 11.94 3.11 3.11 4.25 4.25 1390 1378 6.44 6.44 72.75 71.60 7.23 7.02 0.67 0.66 15.04 14.76 0.6 0.57 4.69 4.6 7.5 7.4 0.0300 0.0300 2.080 2.000 2.61 2.61 58.80 56.05 908.00 882.00 1.20 1.17 146.00 146.00 79.950 77.000 0.3150 0.3050 0.1980 0.1850 0.280 0.270 PROPERTY 7.940 7.660

Close

%

Net Foreign

Change Volume

Trade/Buying

4.5 72.3 98.60 94.10 45.9 2.43 1.60 16.28 20.2 7.76 0.68 1.79 0.400 88.5 0.98 18.90 63.10 94.95 308.8 38.4 147.5 59.90 3.25

-1.10 -0.28 -2.86 0.11 0.44 -0.82 3.23 0.00 -0.25 -0.13 0.00 -0.56 -2.44 -1.56 0.00 1.83 -0.32 0.00 -1.03 0.00 0.00 -0.17 0.00

538,000 22,840 3,496,690 820,290 80,900 3,000 135,000 512,500 1,285,500 600 200,000 44,000 130,000 3,459,900 212,000 242,600 26,750 140 22,210 134,700 543,140 156,400 2,000

43.85 1.34 1.02 1.89 10.2 50.6 92.00 18.14 189.9 26.1 56 2.53 1.74 12.1 20.650 9.00 7.35 9.65 1.71 14.7 25.45 80.05 13.36 13.14 6.08 189.50 10.4 2.07 2.6 55.00 24.7 25.2 5.8 296.20 4.6 7.81 11.90 3.40 2.35 3.44 4.26 1.9 5.72 167.9 1.8 0.146 1.40 2.18 190 0.69

-1.46 -2.90 -1.92 -1.56 -0.58 0.00 28.58 0.78 -2.52 -0.38 -0.62 -0.78 -4.40 -0.66 1.72 1.12 -2.00 -3.31 -3.93 -2.00 -6.09 -1.17 0.30 -1.20 -0.98 -0.26 -0.57 0.49 0.00 -3.42 -0.20 0.80 1.40 -0.60 -1.08 -2.25 0.00 0.89 -4.08 -5.75 -1.16 -1.55 -0.52 3.01 2.86 -2.01 8.53 3.32 -0.26 0.00

2,302,000 22,000 317,000 2,845,000 2,500 40 100 88,500 130 307,900 39,130 5,556,000 1,915,000 6,400 2,503,700 1,026,800 8,749,600 29,800 5,000 18,100 5,029,600 279,260 2,200 70,700 1,010,500 685,690 1,867,800 2,000 2,000 26,240 606,600 70,700 126,000 465,280 546,000 2,560,400 600 220,000 1,857,000 4,471,000 3,532,000 11,000 4,000 1,850 375,000 920,000 21,000 3,492,000 2,886,180 293,000

0.470 57.8000 22.00 1.22 0.245 771 7.64 12.02 3.11 4.25 1381 6.44 71.60 7.23 0.67 15 0.6 4.6 7.5 0.0300 2.040 2.61 57.00 890.00 1.18 146.00 77.000 0.3150 0.1960 0.280

-1.05 0.61 -3.51 -0.81 -2.00 -0.52 -1.42 -3.38 0.32 -2.30 -1.36 -0.62 -0.76 1.12 0.00 -1.70 5.26 -1.29 0.00 0.00 0.49 0.00 -2.98 -1.98 -1.67 -14.12 0.26 1.61 -1.51 3.70

220,000 940,180 2,948,800 10,000 480,000 310,020 649,900 7,993,800 133,000 4,000 312,500 900 5,093,010 6,446,500 2,000 2,964,300 2,199,000 28,773,000 482,800 2,700,000 4,702,000 5,000 135,960 277,880 55,000 30 520 400,000 610,000 210,000

7.660

-0.52

303,700

-61,600.00 723,495.50 -187,095,559.00 12,989,813.50 2,319,990.00 8,019,390.00 -3,107,255.00

-38,691,815.00 -993,185.50 -6,830,114.00 542,405.00 -26,015,416.00 -2,424,909.50 15,765,255.00 14,820.00 -46,480.00 -32,300.00

-947,062.00 15,540.00 -2,187,407.00 149,600.00 -60,380.00 -9,248,815.00 -3,461,585.00 -32,906,488.00 -144,831.00 31,235,610.00 14,517,399.00 -865,914.00 -59,735,752.00 10,392,694.00

-1,567,180.00 0.00 -41,990,038.00 1,640,060.00 1,242,849.00 241,250.00 127,640.00 77,900.00 1,561,710.00 -12,950.00

-108,000.00 187,149,495.00

-9,209,030.50 -26,471,605.00 -24,580.00 -53,683,125.00 1,484,330.00 -65,321,206.00 -59,572,380.00 15,906,662.50 33,873,552.00 -20,565,400.00 -40,944,760.00 -51,250.00 -5,715,572.50 -154,711,325.00

-1,547,887.00

52 Weeks

Previous

High Low

STOCKS

Close

High

%

Net Foreign

Change Volume

Trade/Buying

1.2 30.05 3.36 4.96 0.79 0.083 2.4 0.83 0.188 1.15 1.42 1.27 2.75 0.090 23 2.69 22.15 1.6 15.08 0.69 3.38 0.83 5.73

Araneta Prop `A’ 1.230 Ayala Land `B’ 37.80 Belle Corp. `A’ 3.56 Cebu Holdings 5.06 Century Property 0.84 Crown Equities Inc. 0.133 Double Dragon 12.5 Empire East Land 0.860 Ever Gotesco 0.175 Global-Estate 1.29 Filinvest Land,Inc. 1.92 Interport `A’ 1.30 Megaworld Corp.

4.84 MRC Allied Ind. 0.104 Phil. Tob. Flue Cur & Redry 22.00 Primex Corp.

7.28 Robinson’s Land `B’ 28.15 Rockwell 1.65 SM Prime Holdings 20.50 Sta. Lucia Land Inc. 0.74 Starmalls 7.2 Suntrust Home Dev. Inc. 0.810 Vista Land & Lifescapes 7.040

-3.25 -0.93 -2.81 0.00 -3.57 -3.76 4.16 0.00 0.00 -2.33 -1.56 0.00 -4.96 -0.96 0.00 1.24 1.07 -0.61 1.71 0.00 -0.56 1.23 -1.99

236,000 8,263,900 1,862,000 19,600 3,854,000 3,010,000 3,489,000 12,000 40,000 3,587,000 8,767,000 158,000 35,794,000 480,000 500 19,500 1,756,500 82,000 10,437,500 320,000 22,000 41,000 4,609,300

10.5 66 1.09 15.82 0.1430 5.06 99.1 12.3 7.67 1700 2720 8.41 1.97 119.5 0.017 0.8200 2.2800 5.93 12.28 3.32 3.2 95.5 1 2.46 15.2 22.8 185 22.9 3486 0.760 2.28 46.05 90.1 11.6 0.85 10 0.490 1.9

1.97 35.2 0.63 8.6 0.0770 2.95 56.1 10.14 4.8 830 1600 5.95 1.23 102.6 0.011 0.041 1.200 2.34 6.5 1.91 1.95 3.1 0.650 1.8 6 14.54 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 APC Group, Inc. Bloomberry Boulevard Holdings Calata Corp.

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

DFNN Inc. 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 Macroasia Corp.

Manila Broadcasting Manila Bulletin Manila Jockey Melco Crown Pacific Online Sys. Corp.

Phil. Seven Corp.

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

Yehey

-3.57 0.24 -1.59 -2.59 2.53 0.59 0.49 -5.23 3.32 0.51 -1.03 -0.15 -3.01 -0.37 0.00 -1.44 -2.10 -3.85 1.55 -0.90 2.33 -2.27 1.52 0.00 -0.70 0.00 -0.45 -0.21 -0.41 -4.29 -2.63 -1.07 -2.78 -4.67 3.13 -4.22 -4.48 4.28

1,049,600 14,380 394,000 6,310,100 12,630,000 98,000 637,570 650,000 643,000 40 117,870 38,200 81,000 1,599,100 1,800,000 4,200,000 1,355,000 8,000 584,300 2,107,000 85,000 2,200 6,000 386,000 8,904,900 300 250 113,400 174,375 2,445,000 32,447,000 1,167,500 301,390 5,053,100 1,024,000 3,393,700 100,000 1,707,000

0.0098 5.45 17.24 25 12.7 1.19 1.62 9.5 4.2 0.48 0.420 0.440 0.022 8.2 49.2 4.27 1.030 0.020 0.021 7.67 12.88 10.42 0.040 420 9

0.0043 1.72 6.47 9.43 6.5 0.85 0.77 5.99 1.17 0.305 0.2130 0.2160 0.013 3.240 18.96 2.11 0.365 0.012 0.013 5.4 7.26 2.27 0.015 115.9 3.67

Abra Mining Apex `A’ Atlas Cons. `A’ Atok-Big Wedge `A’ Benguet Corp `A’ Century Peak Metals Hldgs Coal Asia Dizon Ferronickel Geograce Res. Phil. Inc. Lepanto `A’ Lepanto `B’ Manila Mining `A’ Marcventures Hldgs., Inc. Nickelasia Nihao Mineral Resources Omico Oriental Pet. `A’ Oriental Pet. `B’ Petroenergy Res. Corp.

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

TA Petroleum

-1.43 -3.08 -1.26 -0.17 0.00 2.74 -3.80 -0.76 0.00 0.00 -0.93 -0.88 0.00 5.50 -0.19 -0.26 0.00 0.00 -8.33 -1.18 0.00 -1.81 -8.33 -0.42 -3.61

1,457,000,000 -391,100.00 96,000 382,400 -429,344.00 2,700 8,000 203,000 1,093,000 6,200 6,262,000 -151,340.00 70,000 11,700,000 510,000 16,400,000 1,924,000 -1,254,670.00 1,522,200 1,554,970.00 300,000 -3,820.00 200,000 14,000,000 2,800,000 30,800.00 46,000 325,100 -13,875.00 1,118,000 18,160.00 254,100,000 0.00 1,785,200 -148,669,884.00 594,900 62,260.00

70 553 118 8.21 12.28 111 1060

33 490 101 5.88 6.5 101 997

1047 76.9 78.95 84.8

1011 74.2 74.5 75

ABS-CBN Holdings Corp.

Ayala Corp. Pref `B1’ First Gen F GMA Holdings Inc. Leisure and Resort MWIDE PREF PCOR-Preferred A PCOR-Preferred B PF Pref 2 SMC Preferred A SMC Preferred B SMC Preferred C

0.00 0.09 0.00 0.00 1.83 -0.63 0.00 -0.18 -0.68 0.00 0.00 -1.09

127,140 5,060 5,000 80,000 2,000 500 500 2,900 2,330 261,040 4,000 17,280

6.98

0.8900 LR Warrant

-0.93

467,000

88 12.88

13.5 5.95

2.87 -1.20

60 2,707,400

130.7

105.6 First Metro ETF

-0.73

32,090

IRipple E-Business Intl Xurpas

STOCKS

FINANCIAL 1,642.58 (DOWN) 16.59 INDUSTRIAL 11,370.92 (DOWN) 74.74 HOLDING FIRMS 6,752.49 (DOWN) 91.42 PROPERTY 3,070.64 (DOWN) 3.66 SERVICES 2,119.45 (DOWN) 16.04 MINING & OIL 11,997.97 (DOWN) 40.58 PSEI 7,479.03 (DOWN) 68.41 All Shares Index 4,284.05 (DOWN) 36.08 Gainers: 46 Losers: 122; Unchanged: 38; Total: 206

Close

1.75 41.4 5.6 5.59 1.44 0.201 10.96 0.97 0.305 2.22 2.1 1.8 4.88 0.180 27 8.54 31.8 2.29 21.35 1.06 7.56 1.62 8.59

1.220 1.190 1.190 37.85 37.30 37.45 3.55 3.4 3.46 5.1 5.05 5.06 0.84 0.81 0.81 0.130 0.128 0.128 13.1 12.1 13.02 0.860 0.860 0.860 0.175 0.175 0.175 1.29 1.24 1.26 1.94 1.89 1.89 1.30 1.30 1.30 4.69 4.57 4.6 0.103 0.103 0.103 22.00 22.00 22.00 7.37 7.37 7.37 28.65 27.80 28.45 1.65 1.64 1.64 21.30 20.50 20.85 0.74 0.71 0.74 716 7.13 7.16 0.820 0.820 0.800 7.000 6.860 6.900 SERVICES 8.4 8.45 7.8 8.1 61.4 62.5 61.4 61.55 0.630 0.630 0.610 0.620 9.65 9.65 9.40 9.40 0.0790 0.0820 0.0790 0.0810 3.37 3.39 3.31 3.39 91.55 92.5 90.5 92 10.32 9.78 9.78 9.78 5.42 5.79 5.30 5.60 980 985 985 985 2526 2510 2474 2500 6.49 6.49 6.48 6.48 1.33 1.33 1.29 1.29 109.4 109.2 107.5 109 0.012 0.012 0.012 0.012 0.208 0.209 0.205 0.205 1.4300 1.4700 1.4000 1.4000 2.34 2.26 2.25 2.25 10.32 10.58 10.14 10.48 2.22 2.35 2.20 2.20 2.15 2.20 2.06 2.20 44.00 43.00 39.00 43.00 0.660 0.670 0.670 0.670 2 2 1.96 2 7.15 7.27 6.72 7.1 20.2 20.2 20.15 20.2 110.00 110.00 109.50 109.50 18.90 18.90 18.42 18.86 2900.00 2904.00 2864.00 2888.00 0.700 0.700 0.670 0.670 1.520 1.530 1.470 1.480 37.50 37.70 37.05 37.10 79.20 79.05 76.20 77.00 9.00 8.97 8.58 8.58 0.64 0.66 0.65 0.66 5.45 5.5 5.2 5.22 0.335 0.320 0.320 0.320 2.570 2.790 2.540 2.680 MINING & OIL 0.0070 0.0069 0.0071 0.0069 2.60 2.60 2.50 2.52 5.56 5.59 5.49 5.49 11.52 11.50 10.80 11.50 7.0000 7.0000 7.0000 7.0000 0.73 0.75 0.73 0.75 0.79 0.78 0.76 0.76 6.60 6.67 6.55 6.55 1.39 1.41 1.37 1.39 0.300 0.305 0.300 0.300 0.214 0.213 0.210 0.212 0.228 0.228 0.223 0.226 0.013 0.013 0.012 0.013 3.09 3.38 3.09 3.26 10.52 10.76 10.48 10.5 3.82 3.85 3.75 3.81 0.6200 0.6200 0.6200 0.6200 0.0096 0.0096 0.0095 0.0096 0.0120 0.0110 0.0110 0.0110 4.23 4.18 4.16 4.18 5.55 5.550 5.450 5.55 1.66 1.680 1.630 1.63 0.012 0.011 0.011 0.011 119.00 119.50 117.60 118.50 10.26 10.3 9.6 9.89 PREFERRED 61 62 61 61 527.5 528 527.5 528 110.4 110.5 110.4 110.4 6.4 6.4 6.4 6.4 1.09 1.11 1.11 1.11 112 111.3 111.3 111.3 1080 1080 1080 1080 1102 1101 1100 1100 1035 1036 1028 1028 75.5 75.5 75.5 75.5 84.9 84.9 84.9 84.9 86.95 86.9 86 86 WARRANTS & BONDS 4.290 4.390 4.000 4.250 SME 67.95 69.9 69.9 69.9 11.66 11.76 11.38 11.52 EXCHANGE TRADED FUNDS 122.9 123 121.8 122

T op g ainerS VALUE 879,815,125.55 1,456,899,474.991 1,781,343,212.95 988,233,801.49 1,434,299,282.6625 272,993,370.312 6,848,806,207.9535

Low

-161,979,480.00 -591,030.00 -504,110.00 11,342,498.00 -880,180.00 -8,058,160.00 -95,341,390.00 3,677.00 -6,315,615.00 -84,150.00 11,442,835.00

-26,335,988.00

-37,462,674.00 18,487,127.50 -56,900.00 51,729,200.00 -1,276,158.00

1,950,160.00 58,980.00

-3,984,743.00 -16,490.00 -183,558.00 -328,891,890.00 9,054,440.00 -5,667,040.00 3,001,564.50 -10,377,498.00 -325,000.00 -3,615,971.00 82,050.00

-7,807,418.00 -1,055,000.00

-514,500.00 -482,670.00

T op L oSerS Close (P)

Change (%)

STOCKS

Close (P)

Change (%)

C. Azuc De Tarlac

92.00

28.58

Transgrid

146.00

-14.12

TKC Steel Corp.

1.40

8.53

Oriental Pet. `B'

0.0110

-8.33

Marcventures Hldgs., Inc.

3.26

5.50

Philodrill Corp. `A'

0.011

-8.33

Mabuhay Holdings `A'

0.6

5.26

First Gen Corp.

25.45

-6.09

Yehey

2.680

4.28

Pryce Corp. `A'

3.44

-5.75

Double Dragon

13.02

4.16

Centro Esc. Univ.

9.78

-5.23

Zeus Holdings

0.280

3.70

Megaworld Corp.

4.6

-4.96

DFNN Inc.

5.60

3.32

SSI Group

8.58

-4.67

Trans-Asia Oil

2.18

3.32

Waterfront Phils.

0.320

-4.48

Bright Kindle Resources

1.60

3.23

Da Vinci Capital

1.74

-4.40

WEDNESDAY: JULY 29, 2015

B3

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

Market slumps; SM Prime advances STOCKS fell for the second day, with President Aquino’s stateof-the-nation address failing to cheer up investors in the face of new volatilities in regional markets led by China.

The Philippine Stock Exchange index, the 30-company benchmark, shed 68 points, or 0.9 percent, to close at 7,479.03 on Tuesday. The gauge was up 3.4 percent since the start of the year.

The heavier index, representing all shares, fell 36 points, or 0.8 percent, to settle at 4,284.05, on a value turnover of P6.8 billion.

Losers outnumbered gainers, 122 to 46, while 38 issues were unchanged.

Only one of the 20 most active stocks ended in the green. SM Prime Holdings Inc., the property unit of the SM Group, gained 1.7 percent to P20.85.

DMCI Holdings Inc., the investment company of the Consunji family, fell 3.4 percent to P12.02. BDO Unibank Inc., the banking unit of the SM Group, dropped 2.9 percent to P98.60.

First Gen Corp. lost 2.4 percent to P26.45 while SM Investments Corp. retreated 2 percent to P890.

Meanwhile, Asian markets mostly fell again Tuesday, with Shanghai seeing another round of wild volatility a day after the mainland Chinese market’s heaviest one-day losses in more than eight years.

Fears of a resumption of the rout that strafed Chinese shares over a month until July 8 sent global traders running Monday, with Wall Street falling for a fifth day in a row and safe-haven gold edging back up after a recent slip.

The dollar recovered morning losses, although analysts said the latest crisis on Chinese markets could affect Federal Reserve policymakers’ decision when considering hiking interest rates.

Shanghai, which collapsed 8.48 percent Monday, was 3 percent lower in the afternoon. The benchmark index gyrated heavily through the day, falling as much as 5 percent and rising almost one percent into positive territory.

However, Hong Kong was 0.71 percent higher in late trade after slumping more than three percent Monday. With AFP

RCBC raising P10b to back expansion

By Julito G. Rada

RIZAL Commercial Banking Corp., the country’s ninth largest lender, said Tuesday it will issue P10 billion worth of long-term negotiable certificates of deposit to support growth.

RCBC said in a disclosure to the stock exchange the bank’s board of directors had approved the planned issuance of Philippine peso-denominated LTNCDs on July 27.

The issuance would be subject to prevailing market conditions and approval of Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas, it said.

“The bank plans to issue LTNCDs to lengthen the duration of our liabilities to support asset growth,” RCBC president and

chief executive Lorenzo Tan told The Standard in a text message.

“The board approval was to issue up to P10 billion. LTNCDs usually have a tenor of 5.5 years,” Tan said.

LTNCDs are negotiable certificates of deposit with a designated maturity and represent a bank’s obligation to pay the face value upon maturity, with periodic coupon or interest payments during the life of the deposit. The instruments have longer maturity and

carry higher yields.

LTNCDs are covered by deposit insurance with Philippine Deposit Insurance Corp. of up to P500,000 per depositor.

RCBC posted a 25.29-percent increase in net income to P2.53 billion in the first half from P2.02 billion a year ago.

This translated into an annualized return on equity and return on assets of 9.3 percent and 1.1 percent, respectively.

Net interest income reached P7.45 billion and represented 63 percent of gross income which increased by 12.4 percent to P11.8 billion. The bank achieved an annualized net interest margin of 4.2 percent, which remained one of the highest in the sector.

Tan said earlier RCBC was advanc-

ing on all fronts, from core lending to deposits to fee-based income.

Core lending business was also sustained with loan book excluding interbank loans expanding by 18 percent to P275.7 billion. All market segments sustained their growth with average loan volumes of corporate, consumer, and SME increasing by 20 percent, 18 percent, and 30 percent, respectively.

Loans for small and medium enterprises comprised 12 percent of the bank’s total loan portfolio as planned.

Meanwhile, microfinance lending through Rizal Microbank continued its consistent climb with outstanding loan portfolio increasing by 46 percent. Interest income from the lending business contributed 83 percent of the total interest income of the bank.

Top investment bank. EuroMoney, the world’s leading financial markets magazine, declared First Metro Investment Corp., the investment banking arm of the Metrobank Group, the Philippines’ best investment bank for 2015 during the Euromoney Awards for Excellence, the most respected awards in the financial services industry. This is the first time a local investment bank has won the award. Shown during awards ceremony are (from left) Euromoney Asia chief executive Tony Shale, First Metro president Roberto Juanchito Dispo, First Metro executive vice president Justino Juan Ocampo and Euromoney editor Clive Horwood.

7-Eleven operator’s net profit climbed 10% to P356m in first half

By Jenniffer B. Austria PHILIPPINE Seven Corp., the local franchise holder of convenience store chain 7-Eleven, said Tuesday net income grew 10.1 percent to P356.6 million from P323.9 million in the same period last year, on aggressive store expansion and improved sales.

PSC said in a financial report filed with the Philippine Stock Exchange system-wide sales rose 24.3

percent in the first half to P12.2 billion from P9.77 billion a year ago.

Revenue from merchandise sales, which cover retail sales of corporate stores and merchandise sold to franchised stores, grew 26.8 percent P10.13 billion.

PSC opened 258 stores in the first six months of 2015 to end the semester with a total of 1,405 7-Eleven convenience stores all over the Philippines.

PSC said it managed to pen-

etrate Mindanao in the second quarter with the opening of four stores in Davao and Cagayan de Oro. “We have taken steps to protect and expand our leadership in light of increased competition, recognizing that rewards for market share are especially strong in the convenience store sector,” PSC said.

“This involves not only an increased pace of expansion in ar-

eas contested by competition, but strategic entry into new territories. The latter may be unprofitable for the first few years due to the high fixed costs of logistics, but the company will later be rewarded with strong first mover advantages,” it said.

PSC said in the second quarter, it generated a net income P243.6 million, up 8.8 percent from P223.9 million registered in the same period last year.

Second-quarter system wide sales went by 24.4 percent in the April-June period.

“PSC has been expanding its logistics infrastructure to support its unprecedented expansion in Visayas and Mindanao. This will impact profitability in the medium term, in the form of under utilized warehouses, but is expected to benefit the Company in the longer term by achieving dominant market position,” PSC said.

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G-Xchange partners. G-Xchange Inc., a wholly-owned unit of Globe Telecom Inc., has teamed up with four key technology retail companies in the country to expand the

distribution network of Globe Charge mobile point-of-sale solution. Globe Charge will be carried by over 250 partner outlets in different parts of the Philippines, namely AllPhones, 41 branches; MemoXpress, 138 branches; PC Express, 38 branches; and Silicon Valley, 37 branches. Shown during the signing of the partnership agreements are G-Xchange president and chief executive Xavier Marzan (center) and (from left) Edward Tan, vice president for operations, MemoXpress; Jessie Tan, VP for marketing, PC Express; Allan Catli, marketing manager, AllPhones; and Al Ranola, GXI manager for merchant acquisition representing Silicon Valley.

IN BRIEF UAE air talks up

THE government approved the request of Emirates Airlines for new air talks between the Philippines and United Arab Emirates despite opposition from local carriers.

Civil Aeronautics Board executive director Carmelo Arcilla told The Standard major airlines Cebu Pacific and Philippine Airlines opposed the proposed amendment of an air service agreement with UAE on the ground that there were enough connection between the Philippines and Middle East as well as Europe.

They cited new flights from PAL, Cebu Pacific, Turkish Airlines and Oman Air to serve the Middle East and other markets in Europe, including London.

“But it was the consensus of the Philippine air panel that a new round of air talks with UAE would be necessary in order to improve the connectivity of the Philippines to major markets,” Arcilla said. Darwin G. Amojelar

Higher PSALM rate

POWER Sector Assets and Liabilities Management Corp. is seeking approval to recover P7.354 billion from consumers, or an equivalent of P0.0907 per kilowatt-hour, over a one-year period under the calculated universal charge for stranded contract costs.

PSALM in a petition with the Energy Regulatory Commission sought the stranded contract costs to cover the calendar year 2014. PSALM manages the assets and liabilities of Napocor as mandated by the Electric Power Industry Reform Act of 2001.

Stranded contract costs of National Power Corp., as defined under EPIRA, refer to the “excess of the contracted cost of electricity under eligible contracts over the actual selling price of the contracted energy output of such contracts in the market.”

Alena Mae S. Flores

AEV hires more banks

CONGLOMERATE Aboitiz Equity Ventures Inc. hired more banks to handle a planned bond offering after increasing the size of the first tranche of the issue to P24 billion.

AEV said in a filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission it hired BDO Capital and Investments Corp., China Banking Corp. and Development Bank of the Philippines as co-led underwriters of the offering, and Land Bank of the Philippines, RCBC Capital Corp. and United Coconut Planters Bank Bank as participating underwriters.

AEV already hired BPI Capital Corp. and First Metro Investments Corp. as joint lead underwriters of the offering.

Jenniffer B. Austria

ATI joins bidding for P17-b Sasa port

By Darwin G. Amojelar

ASIAN Terminals Inc. has expressed interest to participate in the auction for P17-billion international seaport project in Davao under the government’s public-private partnership program.

The port operator owned by businessman Eusebio Tanco was joined by other prospective bidders, namely Anflocor, Netherlands-based global operator APMT, French conglomerate Bollore, Singapore-based Portek and San Miguel Corp.

“This shows the enormous potential of the Davao region. The construction of a modernized port in Sasa will help meet the growing demand for world-class

port services in Davao.” Transport Secretary Joseph Emilio Abaya said.

The Transport Department has set the submission of pre-qualification documents on July 29, and the opening of bids in the fourth quarter of this year.

The award of the 30-year contract is expected in April next year.

The winning bidder will build a new apron and linear quay, ex-

pand the back-up area, container yards and warehouses and install ship-to-shore cranes and rubbertyred gantry.

Once the first phases of the project are completed in 2018, the Sasa Port will be comparable to the country’s top ports in terms of speed and quality of service, cutting down cargo unloading from three days to three hours by using modern ship-toshore cranes and port operating systems.

The Davao area thrives in banana exports, being the second largest exporter of the fruit in the world. A study conducted

by International Finance Corp. and the Development Bank of the Philippines showed that container traffic in the Davao area was projected to increase by at

least six percent annually over the next 25 years.

Without the added capacity of a modernized Sasa Port, there will be a strong chance of shortage in port capacity in Davao Bay, which may affect small-medium banana growers.

Apart from added capacity, the proximity of the Sasa Port to banana plantations will help growers save at least P8,000 in trucking costs per delivery.

The Davao Sasa wharf is the country’s major port for bananas, one of the Philippines’ biggest exports.

It has a capacity of 700,000 twenty-foot equivalent units, but the Philippine Ports Authority forecast that volumes would rise to 1.2 million TEUs in the next five years.

Ayala buys University of Nueva Caceres for P450m

By Jenniffer B. Austria CONGLOMERATE Ayala Corp. said its education investment unit acquired a 60-percent interest in University of Nueva Caceres in Naga, Camarines Sur for P450 million.

Ayala Corp. said in a disclosure to the stock exchange Ayala Education Inc. had invested in UNC, one of the leading universities in the Bicol region with approximately 7,000 students.

UNC will emerge as Ayala Education’s flagship university.

Founded in 1948, UNC offers well-recognized programs, including arts and sciences, business and accountancy, computer studies, criminal justice, education, engineering and architecture, graduate studies, law, nursing and basic education (K-10).

“We are excited to join forces with UNC. Education is an

important priority for Ayala.

There is strong global demand for Filipino talent and our vision is to deliver high quality, affordable education that can significantly enhance the employability of graduates, through partnerships with regional leaders such as UNC,” said Ayala Corp chairman and chief executive Jaime Augusto Zobel de Ayala.

UNC chairman Felicito Payumo welcomed Ayala’s investment in UNC. “We are delighted that Ayala Education is investing in UNC because we believe that it will help us to further enhance the quality of our education and the employability of our graduates, through industry and technology driven innovations,” Payumo said.

“We welcome Ayala Education as a partner who can strengthen

UNC’s leading role in making good education accessible to Bicolanos,” he added.

With the acquisition of 60 percent stake, Ayala Education’s will hold the majority of UNC’s board seats.

UNC appointed Ayala Education’s chief executive Alfredo Ayala as president.

“We are very pleased to have been invited to partner with UNC, given its 67 years of success, leading position in Bicol and vibrant school spirit. UNC will be Ayala Education’s flagship university, and we are committed to working closely with all of UNC’s stakeholders to build upon its traditions of excellence that have served it so well,” Ayala said.

Ayala in 2012 started investing in the education sector after recognizing the strong demand for Filipino talent from the IT-BPO

and other service industries, such as banking, telecom, retail and tourism.

Ayala Education has also been pioneering in senior high school through its LINC (Learning with Industry Collaboration) Academy’s partnerships with Emilio Aguinaldo College and Arellano University.

It has formed a majority-owned joint venture, Affordable Private Education Center, with Pearson, the world’s leading learning company, to build a chain of low-cost secondary schools that provide quality education with affordable annual school fees.

Since it started in 2013, APEC has grown to a total of 23 schools, with 3,400 students across Metro Manila, Rizal, Cavite and Batangas, offering Grades 7 and 8 for less than P70 a day, inclusive of use of books and computers.

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

My Accomplishment Report or PNoy’s MAR NOT that we are being presumptuous, but we are pretty sure that a big portion of televiewers who paused from whatever it was they were preoccupied with to listen to President BS Aquino last Monday felt like they were watching an audiovisual presentation rather than a State of the Nation Address.

Sure, a lot of us are relieved that it was the last time we will be hearing the drumbeating, the hyper-bolahizing and the rehashed recriminations against his predecessor whom he continues to blame for so many things like the very bad condition of the MRT whose old, decrepit coaches should bear the sign “Ride at your own risk.”

From the phrase itself, “state of the nation,” we would have expected this president—who keeps insisting he is not the type to indulge in “pagbubuhat ng sariling bangko (self-praise) or that people can always expect him to tell the truth—to give us the real picture about our country’s situation and condition.

Instead, we get treated to endless testimonials from the supposed beneficiaries of his administration’s projects and (debatable) accomplishments.

We don’t know about you, but it felt like we were being given a sales pitch, similar to what networking companies do when they want to inveigle someone to join by bombarding him with aspirational success stories. Instead of a SONA, Palace drumbeaters should have called it the MAR—My Accomplishment Report. Some of our more jaded buddies though insist that calling it the SONA was right. After all, it was “Puro kaSONA-ngalingan,” as one of them described it.

A lot of people are disappointed because the important issues they were waiting to hear about were not mentioned: the SAF 44, the situation with China, the drug menace (as pointed out by the Dutertes who expressed what many people feel: stop blaming Arroyo for the problems of this administration; you’ve had enough time to do something about them!), the problems plaguing the agriculture sector and many others.

People understand that the president cannot tackle everything given the very limited time—which is why they are incensed that the limited time was wasted with all those testimonials, the pats on the back and the thank yous to his cronies and friends, from his yaya to his barong maker to his hair stylist and naturally his BFF Mar Roxas. We don’t know if President BS was trying to be cute but to use Aiza Seguerra’s “I thank you, bow” in response to criticism? Didn’t his speechwriter/s even try to research on inspiring quotes on leadership, about taking responsibility and not expecting praise?

A simple Google search would have led to American writer Max de Pree who said, “The first responsibility of a leader is to define reality. The last is to say thank you. In between, the leader is a servant.” Or what about General Bernard Montgomery’s definition of leadership: “The capacity and will to rally men and women to a common purpose and the character which inspires confidence”? Nah, we expect too much from this president just because he happens to be the son of a couple who are held in high esteem by the Filipino people. Warren Dennis is right after all—genetics has nothing to do with leadership. Leaders are made; they are not born.

As for those **slickers who, right on cue blasted the Party List members who displayed protest signs after BSA’s twohour presentation as “bastos” (rude), saying the gesture was inappropriate and that it was the wrong time, wrong place, wrong occasion—look who’s talking! Didn’t your president show the same kind of behavior during the visit of Pope Francis last January? Maybe these people were not really listening because the president took a swipe at his predecessor whom he accused of trying to muzzle dissent. If these people want to boo during the speech, it’s their right.

As party list representative Neri Colmenares said, they didn’t want to be hypocrites like some of those who were inside the Plenary Hall clapping and nodding when the president asked them to support the anti-dynasty bill when in truth, they are really, totally, against it. There’s one very appropriate word for it: plastic!

••• 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!

Meralco investing $1.2b in coal plants

By Alena Mae S. Flores

MERALCO PowerGen Corp., a unit of Manila Electric Co., plans to invest $1.2 billion in equity to build coal-fired power plants in Lauzon with a combined output of 2,255 megawatts.

“For now we have three projects...

RP Energy, SBPL and Atimonan.

We clearly have partners [for the two projects]. For Atimonan, in the meantime, we’re developing it as 100 percent [owned],” Meralco chief finance officer Betty Siy-Yap told reporters.

[My] estimate is on equity alone is [about] $1.2 billion,” Siy-Yap said, Among the three power projects controlled by Meralco PowerGen, San Buenaventura Power Ltd. Co. is to set close the P40-billion financing for the construction of its 455-megawatt coal plant in Mauban, Quezon

next month.

Meralco PowerGen executive vice president and general manager Aaron Domingo said the company planned to issue the final notice-toproceed for the San Buenaventura project before the end of the third quarter.

He said the the company would award the engineering, procurement and construction contract to a consortium of reputable Korean and Japanese builders and equipment suppliers.

He said Meralco PowerGen awarded the site preparation con-

tract to SC Megaworld Development Corp. The San Buenaventura project is targeted to be completed by early 2019.

Domingo, meanwhile, said Redondo Peninsula Energy Corp., also majority controlled by Meralco PowerGen, was actively pursuing the completion of all remaining development activities to enable it to reach financial closing and start construction of the power plant.

He said the company was still evaluating an option to pursue the phased 600-MW construction of the Subic coal plant or build a single 300-MW unit, depending on transmission risks.

Meralco PowerGen plans to start construction of the RP Energy plant in the first quarter of 2016 and finish it by the second half of 2019.

Domingo said the company would also pursue the construction of the 1,200-MW coal-fired power plant in Quezon under project company Atimonan One Energy.

Travel Madness Expo. Tourism industry leaders opened the recently-concluded Travel Madness Expo 2015 at the SMX Convention Center, Mall of Asia, with a ribbon-cutting ceremony, signaling the start of a fun-filled ‘price war’ among its hundreds of exhibitors. Organized by Travel Innovators Inc. annually since 2012, Travel Madness helps make tourism a year-round activity by providing promo prices, discounts and other incentives for advanced travel booking, especially for the lean season. Shown (from left) are TII president Raymond Tee, Duty Free Philippines chief operating officer Lorenzo Formoso, Civil Aeronautics Board director Carmelo Arcilla, Tourism Undersecretary Benito Bengzon Jr., TII vice president Maria Paz Alberto and Tourism Promotions Board chief operating officer Domingo Ramon Enerio III.

Calata sues partner in meat business

By Anna Leah E. Gonzales CALATA Corp. filed syndicated estafa and other criminal, civil and administrative charges against the Galicia family and Patienthill Cold and Dry Storage Corp. for alleged anomalies and suspicious transactions.

Calata corporate secretary Jose Marie Fabella said the company sought assistance from the National Bureau of Investigation, the Securities and Exchange Commission and all other government agencies to pursue the charges.

Fabella added the listed agriculture company coordinated with the Department of Justice and Bureau of Immigration for the issuance of a hold departure order and or a lookout bulletin against the Galicia family and all officers of Patienthill.

“Calata Corporation as a listed company does not and shall never tolerate any illegal acts and that it shall not hesitate to institute strong legal action against those responsible in order to protect and vindicate its right and safeguard the interest of the

investing public as well,” Calata said.

Meanwhile, in a separate disclosure to the stock exchange, Catala said it received a copy of a civil case filed by the Galicia group seeking the annulment of the title of a property, recovery of possession and payment of damages.

“We cannot disclose the details yet since it might jeopardize the investigation,” Fabella said.

Calata and the Galicia family earlier this year formed a joint venture called Brookfields Meat Inc., with Calata owning 51 percent of the equity.

Calata took full control and possession of the meat fabrication plant of BMI from the Galicia family.

A team is currently overseeing BMI’s operations to ensure the company’s growth.

“The agreement will be that the company will fund the nationwide operations of Brookfields Meat Inc. The profit sharing scheme will be based on the equity owned which is 51 percent for Calata Corp. and 49 percent for the Galicia Group. Both parties will co-manage the operations,” Fabella said.

WEDNESDAY: JULY 29, 2015

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

Land Bank, DBP set to get P30-b capital

By Gabrielle H. Binaday

THE government will infuse P30 billion worth of fresh capital into state-run Land Bank of the Philippines and Development Bank of the Philippines under the proposed 2016 budget.

Budget Secretary Florencio Abad said in a news briefing the fund, which would be coursed the Finance Department, would increase the department’s annual budget by 27 percent to P55.3 billion in 2016.

Abad said the increase in the Finance Department’s budget from P16.9 billion to P55.3 billion would ensure the resiliency of the banking system.

“To strengthen the banking system, we have agreed to have additional P30-billion capital-

ization,” said Abad.

Land Bank and DBP will receive P20 billion and P10 billion, respectively their re-capitalization.

President Benigno Aquino submitted a proposed P3 trillion national government budget for 2016, his last year in office.

“The national budget is one of our major instruments in creating truly inclusive growth. Our spending blueprint for 2016 will therefore be integral in the administration’s continuing journey

on Daang Matuwid. With this budget, the national government will try to widen its reach so that the benefits of our economic development will truly be felt by as many of our countrymen as possible,” Abad said.

Meanwhile, the budget bill also proposed a 25.1 percent increase in the allocation of the Health Department to P128.4 billion, the third highest among department budgets.

The Education Department will receive the highest budget of P435.9 billion, followed by the Public Works Department with P394.5 billion and the Defense Department with 172.7 billion.

“Our proposed spending program will also help us consolidate and sustain the reforms

we’ve instituted in the past five years in the pursuit of good governance. We set our targets high, but we were able to prove that honest and effective management of public funds leads to real benefits for our people,” said Abad.

“Now we want to ensure the 2016 budget can sustain the reforms of the past years so that transparency, accountability, and citizen empowerment will last beyond this administration,” he said.

“This means supporting legislation that would push for better public financial management.

Besides that, we also need to introduce greater openness and transparency in government by championing the Freedom of Information bill,” Abad said.

Innovation for MSMEs. The Trade Department and the German development cooperation agency Deutsche Gesellschaft fur

Internationale Zusammenarbeit invite Filipinos to participate in a competition dubbed as GreenOvation to develop mobile applications in greening micro, small and medium enterprises. Shown shaking hands are Trade assistant secretary Blesila Lantayona (second from left) and GIZ project manager Volker Steigerwald during the launch of GreenOvation on July 15 at the Trade and Industry Building in Makati City. Joining them are (from left) GIZ consultant Ed Canela, ECHOstore owner Pacita Juan and Trade director Lydia Guevarra.

ADB raising loans to $3b THE Asian Development Bank said Tuesday it will boost sovereign lending to the Philippines by 66 percent to around $3 billion for the period 2016 to 2018 from $1.8 billion under the previous program.

ADB president Takehiko Nakao made the commitment during a meeting with Finance Secretary Cesar Purisima.

“ADB will continue to support infrastructure needs; programs to strengthen senior high school education, job creation for youth, and social protection; deeper capital markets; improved access to finance; and development in southern Philippines including Mindanao,” Nakao said.

“We are pleased to see the recent progress made by the government in its public-private partnership [PPP] program and will continue to support its implementation.”

One of the recent examples of PPP projects, assisted by an ADB private-sector loan of $75 million, is the Mactan-Cebu international passenger terminal project, whose construction commenced in June.

Purisima cited ADB for its continued partnership with the Philippines saying, “our country has more than proven its mettle throughout the past five years writing a comeback story of growth and better governance.”

“Deepening support from ADB in sustaining these reforms is critical–we need quality education and infrastructure to fuel further inclusive growth,” he said.

“The Philippines welcomes the hand extended in partnership with an unequivocal vow to press on. Filipinos have seen what we can achieve with good governance and are ready to dream of bigger things,” he said.

ADB’s Office of PPP, together with its co-advisor the Development Bank of the Philippines, was appointed as transaction advisor for the North-South Railway Project South Line (Manila to Legaspi with extensions to Batangas and Matnog.

Gabrielle H. Binaday

Malaya power plant employees oppose Korean firm’s new contract

By Alena Mae S. Flores CONCERNED employees of the 650-megawatt Malaya thermal power plant in Pililla, Rizal have expressed their opposition to the renewal or extension of the operations and maintenance service contract of Korean company STX Marine Service Co. Ltd. The employees said in a position paper they were not agreeable to the renewal or extension

of STX Marine Service Co. Ltd.’s OMSC agreement with state-run Power Sector Assets and Liabilities Management Corp.

The employees said STX Marine, a company engaged in marine transportation, had no track record on managing a power plant as big as Malaya thermal plant.

They said Korean personnel managing the power plant onsite were not well versed in the

operation and maintenance of equipment and system of the power plant, “sometimes overriding some standard operating procedure of manufacturers and pretending to know, causing the damaged of the operation of equipment and system.”

The employees said the site management always disagreed on suggestions, even though expenditures were very minimal.

“Besides this, the arrogant

character of management is prevailing causing local members to demoralize and sometimes do not suggest anymore to avoid conflict with Koreans. This culture, character and type of management showed to local is not acceptable and violates the principle of professionalism,” they said.

The employees also criticized the delay in the Malaya turbine overhaul, which was also awarded to STX allegedly “due to inexperi-

ence decisions causing the longest history of Malaya 1 Turbine Overhaul since it was installed and operated in 1974. “ Under the maintenance contract, STX it is required to provide stocks for its daily preventive and corrective maintenance. The employees said up to this time, the company did not procure almost all spare parts and consumables causing the equipment to deteriorate.

W E D N E S D AY : J U LY 2 9, 2 0 1 5

WORLD

CESAR BARRIOQUINTO EDITOR

editorial@thestandard.com.ph

B7

Emergency talks set over Syria BRUSSELS—NATO was holding an emergency meeting at Turkey’s request on Tuesday to discuss Ankara’s military campaign against Islamic State jihadi fighters and Kurdish militants in Syria.

Turkey, the alliance’s only Muslim member and one of its most powerful, called for consultations with its allies after a bloody attack it blamed on “terrorists” in the southern town of Suruc last week.

Jens Stoltenberg, the Norwegian NATO Secretary General, was set to briefly address the media at 0900 GMT before the meeting of ambassadors from all 28 NATO countries.

Panda in HK oldest ever HONG KONG—It may not be considered a landmark birthday for humans, but turning 37 on Tuesday made Hong Kong’s Jia Jia the oldest-ever giant panda in captivity, and she celebrated in style.

The equivalent of more than 100 years old in human terms, Jia Jia was presented with a towering birthday cake made from ice and fruit juice with the number 37 carved on top in her enclosure at the city’s Ocean Park theme park.

“Jia Jia has achieved two Guinness world record titles—the oldest panda living in captivity and the oldest panda ever living in captivity,” said Blythe Ryan Fitzwilliam, adjudicator of Guinness World Records, during a ceremony at the park.

He offered her his congratulations, saying it was an “amazing longevity achievement”.

Jia Jia was born in the wild in Sichuan, China, in 1978 and was given to Hong Kong in 1999 to mark the semi-autonomous city’s handover by Britain two years earlier.

The previous record was held by a male panda called Du Du, who was also caught in the wild and died in July 1999 at the age of 36 in a zoo in China’s Hubei Province.

Vet Paolo Martelli said Jia Jia was still “moving about” though she suffered from cataracts and high blood pressure. AFP

Turkey is likely to face questions at the NATO meeting over its decision to lump its campaigns against the Kurds and IS together into a broad “war on terror”, even though the secular Kurdish groups and the Islamist IS organization are themselves bitterly opposed.

Stoltenberg told the BBC on Sunday that “self-defense has to be proportionate” and that Turkey had not asked for military help.

The meeting comes a day after the United States and previously reluctant Turkey agreed to work together to drive IS out of northern Syria in a potentially game-changing accord.

But at the same time Turkish Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoglu vowed to press ahead with strikes against the outlawed Kurdistan Workers’ Party or PKK until the group disarmed.

Shattering a 2012 truce, Turkish forces shelled a Kurdish-held village in northern Syria on Monday while its warplanes continued to pound Kurdish targets in northern Iraq.

Following Monday’s agreement, a se-

nior US official told AFP that Ankara and Washington aimed to establish an IS-free zone “and ensure greater security and stability along Turkey’s border with Syria”.

Details of the zone “remain to be worked out”, said the official during a visit by US President Barack Obama to Ethiopia, adding that joint efforts would not include Turkey’s demand for the imposition of a no-fly zone.

Turkey would support US “partners on the ground” already fighting IS jihadists, the official added.

Turkey called for Tuesday’s meeting of all 28 NATO member am-

Republic of the Philippines Province of Bataan City of Balanga BIDS AND AWARDS COMMITTEE OFFICE

bassadors at the Brussels HQ under what is known as Article 4.

The US-led military alliance held similar meet-

ings -- again at Turkey’s request -- in 2003 over the Iraq war and in 2012, when the allies agreed to deploy Patriot anti-

missile batteries along its southern border to boost defenses against any overspill from the Syria conflict. AFP

Republic of the Philippines CITY GOVERNMENT OF CAVITE INVITATION TO BID Lot No.

Project No.

Name of Project

ABC

Cost of Proposal Booklet

1

2015-44

Construction of Two-Storey Six-Units Classroom at Julian Felipe Elementary School, San Antonio, Cavite City

P6,500,000.00

P10,000.00

2

2015-45

Hauling of Residual Waste (Total of 18,000 cu.m. in 5 months) From Material Recovery Facility, Cavite City

P8,064,000.00

P10,000.00

1. The LGU-CITY GOVERNMENT OF CAVITE, through the 2015 LDRRM Fund, intends to apply the sum as indicated above being the Approved Budget for the Contract (ABC) to payments under the contract for the above mentioned project. Bids received in excess of the ABC shall be automatically rejected at bid opening 2. The LGU-CITY GOVERNMENT OF CAVITE now invites bids for the above LOT Number, for use of City Government of Cavite. Delivery of Works required is 150 CALENDAR DAYS. Bidders should have completed similar contract to the project, within TEN (10) years from the date of submission and receipt of bids, a contract Similar to the Project. The description of an eligible bidders contained in the Bidding Documents.

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

4

Interested bidders may obtain further information from LGU-CITY GOVERNMENT OF CAVITE and Inspect the Bidding Documents at the address given below during office hours from 8:00 a.m - 5:00 p.m.

5. A complete set of Bidding Documents may be purchased by interested Bidders from the address below and upon payment of a Non-refundable fee for the Bidding Documents in the amount indicated above. It may also be downloaded free of charge from the website of the Philippine Government Electronic Procurement System (PhilGEPS) and the website of the Procuring Entity, provided that bidders shall pay the fee for the Bidding Documents not later than the submission of their bids.

6. The LGU-CITY GOVERNMENT OF CAVITE will hold a Pre-Bid Conference on AUGUST 05, 2015 - 2:00PM at the JUAN C. MEDINA, JR. MEMORIAL HALL, CITY HALL, BUILDING, SAMONTE PARK, SAN ROQUE, CAVITE CITY, which shall be open only to all interested parties who have purchased the Bidding Documents 7. BIDS MUST BE SUBMIITED SEPARATELY BY EACH LOT AND PROPERLY MARKED IN THE OUTER ENVELOPE

InvItatIon to BId no. Infra -054- 2015

8. Bids must be delivered to the address below on or before 10:00 AM, AUGUST 11, 2015 at the BIDS & AWARDS COMMITTEE SECRETARIAT CITY HALL BUILDING, SAMONTE PARK, SAN ROQUE, CAVITE CITY. All bids must be accompanied by a bid security in any of the acceptable forms and In the amount stated in ITB Clause.

The Provincial Government of Bataan, through the Special Educational Fund54 intends to apply the below listed project w/ corresponding Approved Budget of the Contract (ABC). Bids received in excess of the ABC shall be automatically rejected at bid opening.

9. The LGU-CITY GOVERNMENT OF CAVITE 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.

Name of Project

Approved Budget of the Contract (ABC)

1.

Construction of Two (2) Storey Four (4) Classroom School Building (I -Hub & Tech-Voc Lab) Mariveles National High School Barangay Cabcaben, Mariveles, Bataan

=P=5,999,969.32

2.

Construction of Two (2) Storey Four (4) Classroom School Building (I -Hub & Tech-Voc Lab) Bonifacio Camacho National High School Barangay Calaylayan, Abucay, Bataan

=P=5,999,969.32

3.

Construction of Two (2) Storey Four (4) Classroom School Building (I -Hub & Tech-Voc Lab) Bataan School of Fisheries Barangay Daan Bago, Orion, Bataan

Bids will be opened In the presence of the bidders’ representatives who choose to attend at the address below late bids shall not be accepted.

10. For further information, please refer to.

Rommel S. Santos Head, BAC Secretariat City Hall Building, Samonte Park, San Roque, Cavite City Tel. 046-431-1652 baccavitecity@yohoo.com Telefax: 046-431-1655 (SGD) Arch. ALLISON B. SANTIAGO City Administrator (BAC Chairman)

(TS-JULY 29, 2015)

=P=5,999,969.32

The Provincial Government of Bataan now invites bids for the above listed Projects.

Completion of works is required on or before the maturity date stipulated on contract. Bidders should have completed, at least one (1) contract that is similar to the contract to be bid.

The description of an eligible bidder is contained in the Bidding Documents, particularly, in Section II. Instructions to Bidders.

Republic of the Phillippines Department of Health National Capital Regional Office VALENZUELA MEDICAL CENTER BIDS AND AWARD COMMITTEE

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

Padrigal St., Karuhatan, Valenzuela City Telefax No. 294-4625 Email addressvmc_bac@yahoo.com

Bidding is open to all interested bidders, whether local or foreign, subject to the conditions for eligibility provided in the Implementing Rules and Regulations (IRR) of Republic Act (RA) 9184, otherwise known as the “Government Procurement Reform Act”.

INVITATION TO BID PUBLIC BIDDING NO.: VMC-2015-017

Interested bidders may obtain further information from Office of Bataan Bids & Awards Committee and inspect the Bidding Documents from 8:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. at the same office.

The VALENZUELA MEDICAL CENTER invites all eligible bidders to bid on:

Bid documents will be available only to eligible bidders upon payment of a non-refundable amount of using standard rates approved by GPPB as stated on their Resolution No. 042012 listed below.

Approved Budget for the Contract Maximum Cost of Bidding Documents (in Philippine Peso) 500,000 and below 500.00 More than 500,000 up to 1 Million 1,000.00 More than 1 Million up to 5 Million 5,000.00 More than 5 Million up to 10 Million 10,000.00 More than 10 Million up to 50 Million 25,000.00 More than 50 Million up to 500 Million 50,000.00 More than 500 Million 75,000.00 The Provincial Government of Bataan will hold a Pre-Bid Conference on August 03, 2015 at 10:00 A.M at Provincial BAC Office, PEO Capitol Compound, Balanga City, Bataan, which shall be open only to all interested parties who have purchased the Bidding Documents.

Bids must be delivered on or before August 17, 2015 at 1:30 p.m. at Provincial BAC Office, PEO Capitol Compound, Balanga City, Bataan. All bids must be accompanied by a bid security in any of the acceptable forms and in the amount stated on IRR of RA 9184 and Bid Securing Declaration in standard form.

Bids will be opened in the presence of the bidders’ representatives who choose to attend opening of Bids at Bataan BAC Office. Late bids shall not be accepted.

DESCRIPTION Procurement of Drugs & Medicines CY 2015 (Supplemental)

PROJECT ALLOCATION NON-REFUNDABLE FEE P 4,237,644.00 P5,000.00

The bidding documents shall be available to interested bidders at the BAC Secretariat, BAC Office, 2/F, VMC, Padrigal St., Karuhatan, Valenzuela City from 9:00AM to 3:00PM, starting July 29, 2015 upon payment of non-refundable fee as indicated above. Only those who have purchased the bidding documents shall be allowed to participate in the pre bid conference and raise or submit written queries (see revised IRR of RA 9184). The pre-bidding conference will be on August 6, 2015 10:00 am at the BAC Mini-Conference Room, 2/F, VMC Annex Bldg., Padrigal St., Karuhatan, Valenzuela City. Bid opening will be on August 18, 2015, 10:00AM at the 2/F, VMC BAC-Mini Conference Room, Padrigal St., Karuhatan, Valenzuela City.

All particulars relative to bid evaluation and award of contract shall be governed by the provisions of R.A. 9184 otherwise known as the Government Procurement Reform Act. Bids received in excess of the Approved Budget of the Contract (ABC) shall be automatically rejected at bid opening. LATE BIDS SHALL NOT BE ACCEPTED. ALTERNATIVE BIDS SHALL BE REJECTED.

In case of the above dates is declared a special Non-Working Holidays, it will automatically reset on the next working days.

Bid bond shall be in form of cash, cashier’s check or manager’s check equivalent to two percent (2%) of the approved budget of the contract.

Other necessary information deemed relevant by the Provincial Government of Bataan

This invitation is also advertised with the Government Electronic Procurement System (G-EPS) at www.procurementservice.org and posted at the VMC BAC bulletin board.

1.

2.

3.

4.

5.

Activities Advertisement/Posting of Invitation to Bid Eligibility Check Issuance and availability of Bidding Documents Request for Clarification Opening of Bids

Schedule July 27 – August 02, 2015 Refer to date of Opening of Bids July 27 – August 17, 2015 August 07, 2015 August 17, 2015

For inquiry, please call the BAC Secretariat Office at Telephone No. 294-4625 .

For further information, please refer to:

VALENZUELA MEDICAL CENTER RESERVES THE RIGHT TO 1) REVIEW ALL THE REQUIREMENTS; 2) REJECT ANY OR ALL BIDS; 3) CONFISCATE THE BID BOND AND/OR PURSUE APPROPRIATE LEGAL ACTION SHOULD A BIDDER BE FOUND TO HAVE VIOLATED R.A. 9184; 4) WAIVE ANY DEFECTS CONTAINED THEREIN; and/or 5) ACCEPT THE OFFER MOST ADVANTAGEOUS TO THE GOVERNMENT. ANY DECISION MADE BY THE VALENZUELA MEDICAL CENTER IS FINAL AND EXECUTORY.

Engr. Josephine R. Valenzuela Provincial BAC / PEO Bataan Provincial BAC / PEO Office, Capitol Compound, Balanga City, Bataan 047-237-9316 bac@bataan.gov.ph

FURTHER, VALENZUELA MEDICAL CENTER ASSUMES NO OBLIGATION WHATSOEVER TO COMPENSATE OR INDEMNIFY THE BIDDER OR WINNING BIDDER. AS THE CASE MAY BE, FOR ANY EXPENSE OR LOSS THAT SAID PARTY (IES) MAY INCUR IN ITS PARTICIPATION IN THE PRE-BIDDING AND BIDDING PROCESS NOR DOES IT GUARANTEE THAT AN AWARD WILL BE MADE.

The Provincial Government of Bataan 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.

(TS-JULY 29, 2015)

(SGD) ENRICO T. YUZON BAC Chairman

(TS-JULY 29, 2015)

(SGD)DONA D. SALMOS, RN, MAN Chairman, BAC

W E D N E S D AY : J U LY 2 9, 2 0 1 5

B8

cESAr bArrioqUiNto EDITOR

editorial@thestandard.com.ph

world

x 10 cm 20 years jail over ‘gutter oil’ TAIPEI—A court has sentenced the head of a Taiwanese company to 20 years in jail for his role at the center of a “gutter oil” scandal that gripped the island’s food industry and brought down a minister.

Yeh Wen-hsiang, chairman of Chang Guann Co, was also fined Tw$50 million ($1.6 million) for his part in selling 243 tons of tainted oil collected from cookers, fryers and grease traps, as well as recycled grease from leather processing plants.

Yeh was first detained in September after the accusations came to light, but was released on bail in October ww.thestandard.com.ph before being found guilty of safety violations last week. He was sentenced on Friday.

Hundreds of tons of cakes, bread, instant noodles, cookies, steamed buns and dumplings had to be removed from shelves in Taiwan and Hong Kong when the case surfaced, authorities said.

The contaminated fat was mixed with regular lard and distributed to clients in the food industry.

More than 1,000 restaurants, bakeries and food plants in Taiwan had used the tainted oil, according to the Food and Drug Administration, and the resulting outcry led to the resignation of the country’s

health minister.

Tsai Chi-chuan, the company’s vice president, was also given a 20-year sentence for food safety violations, according to a statement released by the Pingtung District Court in the south of the country.

Kuo Lieh-cheng, the manager of an unlicensed factory that supplied the firm, was jailed for 12 years, while a worker from the same factory was sentenced to eight years, it said.

Taiwan’s government had pushed for an amendment to the law to raise the jail terms and fines for food safety violations, as well as offering whistle-blowers more incentives in the wake of the case.

Yeh’s “gutter oil” case was the first in a string of scandals, with Taiwanese food giant Ting Hsin group accused of selling oil intended for animal food just one month later.

Two Taiwanese businessmen were then charged with using banned industrial dyes to adulterate food products in December last year, also prompting mass recalls. AFP

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Back on stage. Recording artist Boy George of Culture Club performs in a concert at Beacon Theater on July 27 in New York City. AFP

Kerry to defend Iran deal in Asia

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WASHINGTON—US Secretary of State John Kerry sets out this weekend on a multi-stop tour of the Middle East and Southeast Asia that will see him energetically defend the US deal with Iran.

The peripatetic diplomat, still on crutches after breaking his femur in May, will travel to Egypt, Qatar, Singapore, Malaysia and Vietnam on August 2-8, his office said.

He is due in Cairo on Sunday to co-chair the USEgypt Strategic Dialogue with Egyptian Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry, amid a tumultuous period between the traditionally close allies.

In late March, the United States lifted its freeze on annual military aid of $1.3 billion to Cairo.

But Washington kept up public condemnation of the brutal repression by President Abdel Fattah alSisi’s regime of supporters of his ousted predecessor, Mohamed Morsi.

“The bilateral dialogue reaffirms the United States’ longstanding and enduring partnership with Egypt,” Kerry’s spokesman John Kirby said in a statement.

It will also “provide a forum to discuss a broad range of political, economic, security and cultural issues to address issues of importance to each side and further our common values, goals and interests,” Kirby added.

On August 3, Kerry will be in Doha to meet with his counterparts from Gulf Cooperation Council countries and seek to ease their concerns about the deal world powers clinched with Iran on its nuclear program earlier this month. AFP

W E D N E S D AY : J U LY 2 9 : 2 0 1 5

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

H OME & L I V ING

LIFE

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Proposed Streetscape Design for Remedios Street, City of Manila to make it more comfortable for pedestrians and cyclists.

STREETS ARE FOR PEOPLE URBAN MATTERS

BY KARIMA PALAFOX We are all pedestrians at some point in our journeys. However, walking is a mode of transport that is rarely given importance.

I live in the center of Makati, which has diverse activities within close proximity to each other. My primary mode of transport is walking. I walk to work everyday, and I know it takes 10 minutes from my door to my office desk, rain or shine. I try to walk as much as I can to client meetings, to restaurants and cafes that I frequent, and to run errands.

There are days when I would drive or catch a ride, but it’s comforting to know that I always have more than one option to move around.

Walking is my preferred mode of transport also because I chance upon friends on the street. Chance encounters help give people a sense of belonging to a community.

Walking is also a good transition from home to work – as it allows me to think about the day ahead – and from work to home.

According to the National Nutrition Council1, one of three Filipino adults is obese. While there are many factors that have led to this, physical inactivity is a major contributor. Our environments should encourage active mobility through walkable and bikable streets and pleasant public open spaces. There is a direct relationship between obesity and car dependence, as has been proven in European, North American and Australian cities.2

When there are more people walking, there are more eyes on the street. This helps prevent crime since criminals are afraid of having possible witnesses. This is why it is important to keep streets interesting with window displays and 24/7 activities on the ground floor. Banks and traditional offices do not contribute very much as they are inactive between 5 p.m. to 8 a.m. Blank walls should also be discouraged.

Today, walking is not a very pleasurable experience. Even when you’re walking on the proper crossing, you get honked at by speeding cars, and you have to wait for your turn even when you have right of way. You literally have to run for your life when crossing our city streets. In Makati CBD, only six seconds is given for people to cross major intersections such as Salcedo-De la Rosa streets across Makati Med. Pedestrians should be allotted at least 30 seconds for each traffic light cycle.

Streets are for people, and we need to reflect this in our language.

“Taong kalye” denotes something negative. You are up to no good if you spend time on the streets.

The most visible signs pertaining to walking say “Bawal Tumawid.

Nakamamatay” (Crossing the street is prohibited. It can kill). It in fact kills. In a study of select Asian countries,3 the Philippines ranked high in terms of pedestrian fatality share of road accidents. Whenever you see a road accident, there’s a 50 percent chance that a pedestrian was just killed.

When there are signs, they are not very helpful for pedestrians. I have been asked if “Ped Xing” was a Chinese-Filipino hero that had several streets named after him. “Turning Traffic Must Yield to Pedestrians” is a common signage, which most drivers would not have the time to read while making that turn.

Converting old rail tracks into linear parks.

San Pedro, Laguna

Ilocos Norte SIRIB Mile, prioritizing people over tricycles and cars

We call the spaces allotted to people sidewalks – meaning they are only second priority to motor vehicles that are in the center of the roads.

How about calling them walkways, or people-spaces instead? Our streets have inadequate spaces for people. Even the minimal required 1.2 meters is often obstructed by electrical posts, uneven surfaces, uncovered manholes, illegal vendors, and piles of garbage. The ideal is to have the same road width designated to people and cars.

More and more cities are working towards transforming their streets into walkable places. New York City has closed off some parts of its most famous street, Broadway, to the car.

This has increased traffic speed by almost 20 percent and increased retail sales in surrounding neighborhoods.

London invested heavily on Oxford Circus, to have pedestrian crossings in the intersection similar to that of Shibuya in Japan. Singapore, with a similarly humid climate as ours, prioritizes pedestrians and commuters in its transport system, with interconnected walkways that traverse several blocks.

In our own cities, there have been commendable efforts. San Juan City in Metro Manila is the first to implement a pedestrian ordinance.

It includes penalties for motorists that do not stop for pedestrians.

Balanga City in Bataan has requested authority over Capitol Drive, which used to be a national highway that cut through the city center. It will be converted into a street for people, with wide walkways lined by mature acacia trees. Street frontages will be activated by shops and cafes. This is all part of the plan for the university town, which already hosts almost 30 schools and about 18,000 students within 80 hectares. Iloilo City has the riverfront promenade, which is a linear park enjoyed by its residents and visitors. The historical Calle Real is closed off to motor vehicles on Sunday afternoons.

We need to improve crossings and walkways at the street level.

Underground and elevated walkways are inadvisable as they are not inclusive to the handicapped, elderly, women, and young children.

People do not feel safe passing through them at night so they are

Proposal for Muelle del Rio near Escolta

closed. If that’s the only provision, where do people cross then?

Streets have varying purposes and contexts. Major highways such as SCTEX and NLEX should have the mobility of public vehicles and cars as priority. Streets within city centers and residential districts, however, should be designed for people, i.e. pedestrians, cyclists and commuters.

Some argue that we do not give pedestrians priority because our climate does not encourage it, or we just may not have a “walking culture.” However, in my own study4 about the pedestrian experience in Philippine cities, I found that people do want to walk, but we do not make it convenient for them. There needs to be better facilities such as uninterrupted paths, lights and signs oriented to people. People also need to feel safe, and they would prefer that streets are lively at different parts of the day. If streets were more comfortable to walk in, more and more of us would get out of our cars and reclaim the streets for people.

Follow me on Instagram @karmipalafox

1 8th National Nutrition Survey, Food and Nutrition Research Institute, 2013; 2 Bassett DR, Jr. et al. Journal of Physical Activity and Health, 2008 Nov.; 5(6): 795-814.; 3 World Health Organization. Global Status Report on Road Safety: Time for Action, 2008.; 4 Palafox, Karima Oxford Brookes University. Public Realm Privatization and the Pedestrian Experience 2005.

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LIFE life @ thestandard.com .ph

@LIFEatStandard

HOME SAFETY E TIPS FROM SOLANE

very mom wants her home to be a safe and happy place for the family, with the kids able to run around the house without bumping their heads on a sharp table edge or slipping on a toy.

Mommies want to sleep soundly at night, assured that no accidents will happen even if they are away from home.

Solane, a leading cooking gas brand that takes prides in its solid commitment to high safety standards and quality, shares some of the best home safety tips for mommies out there.

Keep things clean all the time. When items around the house are kept spotlessly clean, it is easier to spot hazards and avoid them.

This should be a concern for every family member – and it pays to start them young.

For example, kids should be taught to always put their toys back in the boxes they came from, lest they (or someone else) trip on these.

After cooking, the kitchen should be kept clean immediately, checking for spills that could result in mildewed nooks and crannies that become breeding ground for diseases.

Promote orderliness. Provide storage spaces for items that are not frequently used.

Allocate containers, closets or organizers for objects that tend to get lost all the time, such as chargers, scissors, tapes and clips. Those made of metal, or are sharp, should be kept out of reach of children who might play with these and injure themselves, or use them to stick into sockets.

Designate safety point-persons. When leaving the house or before going to bed at night, at least two people should check

for such hazards like plugged electrical appliances, open doors and windows, leaking faucets, or furniture or heavy items that may tip over. All adults at home should take on this responsibility from time to time, with the kids closely observing.

Buy high quality items. Invest in high quality items such as appliances, furniture and devices instead of buying knockoffs or cheap versions. In the long run, the good – but admittedly more expensive products – can actually mean huge savings for your family. This is especially true for items like flat iron, microwave oven, refrigerator, or cellphone chargers. When you go for poorly built products you may find yourself buying a new one in just a few months – which is false economy.

Choose a safe source of fuel. Fire destroys lives and property, and they often start in the kitchen especially as a result of cooking mishaps. It is therefore important to invest in a topnotch cooking equipment and fuel.

In the case of LPG, a tank with leaks because of poor quality may become the cause of fire.

For a truly safe kitchen and home, go for a trusted brand like Solane. Solane is a leading provider of LPG solutions that come with a guarantee of superior product quality, safety, and exact weight. Each Solane Hatid-Bahay comes with a 7-point safety check, giving customers peace of mind as they go about their cooking tasks.

To order a Solane LPG refill today, call 8875555 or visit www.solane.com.ph.

The right washing machine for smart homeowners

H

omeowners are now more discriminating, wanting to get their money’s worth on products they purchase, like a washing machine for example. A smart consumer will want to know the qualities that a good washing should possess, so when buying one, the following should be considered:

optimal amount of water and length of time needed for a laundry load. This results in about 37 percent savings on water.

GOOD WASHING FUNCTION

A primary concern among homeowners is power consumption especially with the high cost of electricity. Finding a product that can help minimize – if not save – electricity usage is a must.

Global brand Midea has come up with washing machines that address this concern. Its fully auto top load and semi auto twin tub washing machines offer “Piso Wash” which complete a wash-rinse-and-dry cycle all for the electric cost of just one peso!

Midea aims to provide efficiency to homemakers, all without burning a hole in their pockets.

Some homeowners have the mindset that washing machines cannot thoroughly clean clothes or worse, ruin them. However, these concerns can be addressed by choosing a model with the right features and technology.

Midea’s fully auto top load washing machines are equipped with water magic cube pulsators that allow multiple water flow, resulting in 27 percent better cleaning. The innovative feature also promises 84 percent less tangles to protect clothes from damage.

SAVES ON WATER

DURABLE

ENERGY-EFFICIENT

Other than electricity, water use should be considered when choosing washing machines.

Some homeowners have a hard time calculating the right amount of water to use for certain loads.

This results in wasted water and a higher water bill.

Fortunately, Midea’s fully auto top load washing machine has smart sensors that automatically put in the

All homeowners want appliances that last. For washing machines, one factor consumers should consider is the material of the product. The semi-auto twin tub washing machines from Midea have high-grade double walls that guarantee long-lasting durability, with a 10-year warranty on the fully auto top load washing machine’s motor, and a two-year

warranty on the twin tub washing machine’s motor.

SIZE

What is the perfect size for a washing machine? One way of determining the right capacity is to consider the number of members of the household. An average family of four produces about four kilograms of dirty laundry per day. Multiplied for a week, this will

mean 28 kilograms. Families with smaller washing machines cannot accommodate washing all of these in one go. They have to repeat the cycle multiple times. This means more washing, which translates to more resources spent (time, water, electricity, and effort).

Homeowners should go for the washing machine capacity that suits their household. Midea’s fully auto top load washing machines come

in 6kg, 7kg, 8kg, 10kg, and 12 kg capacities. The semi-auto twin tubs, additionally, are available in 6kg, 8kg, and 10kg models.

Energy and water efficiency, good washing function, durability and size are the factors smart consumers should look for in their appliances. With these components, homeowners are assured that they get appliances that will make their lives easier.

W E D N E S D AY : J U LY 2 9 : 2 0 1 5

LIFE life @ thestandard.com .ph

@LIFEatStandard

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IS THE CONVERSATION PIT MAKING A COMEBACK?

A

t the height of results – Pinterest boards and its popularity in design websites compiling the the 1970s, the best classic and updated takes conversation on the once-reviled part of pit became a symbol of the home. excess, hedonism and Completely distancing the extreme tackiness. Up feature from its tacky past, until today, we can never interior designers today THE GIST seem to shake off the are going the minimalist

BY ED BIADO image that stuck: shaggy route. The Brighton Escape carpets and bright-colored throw pillows residential project by GABBE Interior against a psychedelic wallpaper. It’s just Architecture in Australia incorporates the too much. No wonder homeowners and conversation pit into an expansive living interior designers the world over have since area in muted neutral tones accented by steered clear of the sunken seating area that wood elements. Meanwhile, the Number originally had a functional purpose.

31 Hotel in Ireland pulls the styling back “Conversation pits were originally with black leather cushions and brick walls created by Modernist architects and painted white. designers looking to maximize space Other new versions include movable and horizontality in their interiors... But furniture instead of built-in seating within from those lofty origins they seemed to the depressed section of the flooring, go horribly astray, ending up in a fuzzy allowing for flexibility and changing sea of shag carpeting,” Anna Hoffman things around, cleaner ‘60s-inspired of Apartment Therapy explains what lines and curves as opposed to the wild motivated the architectural feature. stylistic choices of the ‘70s, and taking As its name explicitly expresses, a the whole area outdoors to serve as an conversation pit is made to boost human exterior lounge. interaction. Its semi-isolated, semiConversation pits should really make a enclosed state is perfect for shooting comeback because now more than ever, the breeze and focusing on the person we need intimate spaces where we can or persons in front of you. It projects put down our phones, not be distracted intimacy and centrality, as well as creates by digital screens, and really talk and pay an environment of comfort and ease. attention to one another.

And it seems that it’s exactly what a lot of people are looking for right now. A cursory Follow me on Twitter and Instagram Google search will yield pages upon pages of @EdBiado

Conversation pit at The Brighton Escape residence designed by GABBE Interior Architecture

Conversation pit at Number 31 Dublin

PET PULSE

PAWLYMPICS FUN AT PET EXPRESS

P The Ezydog rashguard is good for swimming dogs.

This bar jump is set 4’’ to 16’’ high, and is good for small breed dogs like this Yorkshire terrier.

This Pomeranian is set to try the obstacle course.

The pause box is a square marked off on the ground, where the dog must display the “pause” behavior (either sit or go down) just as he would on the elevated table.

awlympians and dog lovers of all ages enjoyed a sporty afternoon of fun as cool canines competed in the Dock Diving and Dog Agility competitions during the recent Doggie Pawlympics organized by Pet Express and held at the SM Mall of Asia.

Jojo Isorena of the Philippine Dog Athletics Association encouraged all pet parents to have their dogs try different canine sports like dock diving and dog agility, and have them trained as well. The association also introduced teacup dog agility for small dogs to help them become sporty.

This year, Ezydog, a well-known brand that provides dog owners with high quality products for an active outdoor lifestyle, introduced Test Drive, with participants gearing up with Ezydog flotation vests and jumping into the pool for some water fun.

A first time competitor was Kona, the Labrador retriever of Glen and Lisa Jones, who won first place in the Dock Diving Competition. Placing second was BB Gandanghari’s Labrador Ihman. Meanwhile, Rob Magaling with his Jack Russell terrier Max, Maria Fe Erasmo with her Shih Tzu Macbe and Joe Claret with his Mini Pin Max won the Teacup Dog Agility Competition.

Maynilad Water, and Philippine Dog Athletics Association. For more info, visit Pet Express stores at SM Cubao, SM Hypermarket Makati, SM Mall of Asia, SM City North EDSA, SM City Masinag, SM City Dasmariñas Cavite, and Pet Zone in Toy Kingdom SM Megamall. Become a fan of the Pet Express Facebook Page and get updates on exciting events and promos.

The Pet Express Doggie Pawlympics event is held in partnership with Kibbles n’ Bits, Ezydog

The Teacup Dog Agility Competition helps develop agility in small stature dogs like this Jack Russell terrier ascending this Teeter-Totter.

W E D N E S D AY : J U LY 2 9 : 2 0 1 5

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LIFE life @ thestandard.com .ph

@LIFEatStandard

KETTAL MESH – Kettal Mesh collection recalls architectural facades, which filter the surrounding environment without stopping the light and air flow.

KETTAL BITTA – Kettal Bitta is characterised by a combination of aluminium frames , seats of braided polyester and comfortable cushions, teak and stone for the table tops—all completely weatherproof materials.

KETTAL MAIA – Like an architecture that is in keeping with its surroundings, the Kettal Maia, a collection designed by Patricia Urquiola, has a natural lightness and elegance.

KETTAL BASKET – Kettal edits the Basket chair, created in the 1950s by Danish designers Nanna and Jørgen Ditzel.

A GLOBAL GEM For f ive decades now, Kettal c ont i nu e s to be a vanguard of outdoor ur niture, CALEIDOSCOPE festablishing WORLD a universal

BY CAL TAVERA language of design borne from the pioneering spirit that forever changed alfresco living. Though the collections have evolved and the brand is now leagues away from its first collection, the quintessence remains. The lifeblood that inspired this Barcelona-based family business’ first success, the Alu Piccolo chair, is carried over to their designers like Spanish Architect Patricia Urquiola and Italian designer Rodolfo Dordoni. While design periods fade and clients’ tastes change, the brand manages to maintain a solid footing and presence in the competitive world of design.

Since the 1960s, Kettal has emerged from a company offering the humble folding chair to becoming one of the most important outdoor furniture companies in the world today.

In the Philippines, the Kettal brand is represented by Joseph Tay and Stephanie Coyiuto-Tay, owners and managing directors of Casa Bella Home and Living. Aside from Kettal, this couple is responsible for introducing prestigious European brands such as Moroso and Driade to our market and recently launched their new headquarters in Bonifacio Global City. Joseph shares, “The amazing yet confounding element about the brand is that it easily blends with every

architectural and interior design. I am impressed with how they are able to pull these looks together. I have delivered and witnessed these collections in a classic space, in an ultra-modern house, a tropical home and even a maximalist one.”

Aside from the aesthetics, the company ranks high in quality. In trade fairs, they are the lone brand that proudly displays how their products are made. When Joseph visited the company’s factory, he personally tested the products, filling a pillowcase with water. He can confidently testify to his customers that no leak came out because of the waterproof material.

While it is a brand built to be enjoyed outside, the style of these pieces make them look comfortable indoors as well.

They possess a sleek style that borders on formal. With a selection of over 50 choices of aluminum colors, ropes and fabrics and porotex rug options, clients can customize and bring more character to their spaces.

In his six years of showcasing luxurious brands, Joseph admits that Kettal is the only brand that received a hundred percent nod of approval among designers. The triumph of these pieces must be credited to the passion and leadership of the owners, Manuel Alorda and his son, Alex. Joseph reveals, “The secret of the company lies with the family that built this name. Alex grew up and worked his way up in his father’s factory and learned how to put collections together by heart. Unlike other brands, Alex is involved in the process.

Every single piece and detail was developed along with the designer.”

In the past three years, the brand has been received well. According to Joseph and Stephanie, the demand from private residential projects is consistent. Several

KETTAL VIEQUES – Kettal Vieques is a collection characterised by the combination of an aluminium frame with a new and revolutionary three-dimensional fabric, Nido d’Ape.

homeowners are investing and beautifying their garden and pool spaces. Lanai living is also popular in this tropical country where we experience seven months of warm weather. Joseph shares a story where one client prefers to spend his days on his Kettal collection in the patio and has not touched his living room sofa in months. Another client asked him to test the products on the spot. Before finalizing the transaction, Joseph had to bring the pieces out while it was raining and time the minutes it would take to dry. After 15 minutes, the pieces were almost dry and he closed the deal.

For the last 20 years, Kettal has participated in several outdoor hotel designs worldwide.

Due to its world-class industry standards and rust-resistant quality, the pieces will last for a very long time. A majority of Kettal’s furniture also comes with paint that is 100 percent environmental friendly. Locally, the requirements for better furniture have increased due to the growth in tourism and several hotel chains calling Philippines their home. Previously, hotels did not have to consider spending for original products

due to lack of competition. It is a different market now, and establishments have to start upgrading their aesthetics and offer better products to their guests to stay in the game. The Kettal brand is already working with Discovery Primea to furnish one of its restaurants.

Six years ago, there was a lack of options for the Filipino consumer. Now, brands are arriving. As for Joseph and Stephanie, they are grateful for the pioneers who brought in global brands because it helped pave the way for consumers to start investing in furniture when building a home. The Kettal brand is now part of that movement, providing homes and projects high quality and meaningful collections.

Casa Bella Home and Living is at G/F MDI Corporate Center, 10th Avenue corner 39th Street, BGC, Taguig City. For more information visit their website on www. casabellahomeandliving.com or email them at sales@csbellahome.com Follow me on Instagram @cal_tavera

W EDNES DAY : J ULY 2 9 : 2015

SHOWBITZ isahred @ gmail.com

ISAH V. RED EDITOR

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STrEngThEnIng domInancE In dIgITal EnTErTaInmEnT

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ndulge in even more entertainment anytime, anywhere with exciting videos-on-demand (VOD), live shows and catch-up television from Fox International Channels.

The country’s biggest multimedia networks PLDT HOME and Smart team up with global entertainment company and Asia Pacific’s leading broadcaster Fox to offer an extensive menu of top-line content and entertainment-viewing options. This comes fresh after their recent groundbreaking partnership with Southeast Asia’s leading internet TV service provider iflix, which offers their subscribers the biggest library of movies and TV shows.

“This content partnership with Fox makes world-class entertainment easily accessible to all our sibscribers wherever they are – whether at home or on the go,” PLDT and Smart EVP and Consumer Business Group Head Ariel P. Fermin said. “We are delighted to deliver this range of educational, sports, lifestyle and movie content from Fox that will suit the entertainment wants and needs of our customers, wherever and whenever they want.”

EnTErTaInmEnT EvErywhErE wITh Fox PLDT HOME and Smart sub-

scribers will be given access to popular VOD content from Fox along with top-up service which will allow them to view nine live Fox channels including three channels for Fox Sports, National Geographic, Nat Geo Wild, Fox News, Channel M and Star Chinese Channel.

Viewers can also easily unwind with blockbusters like Guardians of the Galaxy and How to Train Your Dragon 2 via catchup TV. The catch-up TV and live offers will also be headlined by the widely-popular international sports events such as Wimbledon that Filipinos can now view anytime, anywhere.

PLDT HOME DSL subscribers can enjoy Fox VOD and the top-up service for an additional P99 per month, while these are free for Fibr subscribers and PLDT HOME customers who upgrade to a TVolution or Telpad plan. Triple Play subscribers will also be granted free access to Fox VOD and catch-up TV with channels like Fox Play, Fox Movies and Fox Sports.

Smart subscribers, meanwhile, can enjoy free entertainmenton the go with Fox as part of the Smart Life Entertainment Everywhere bundles that start from as low as P50 for three days or as an add-on option of P99

per month charged to their prepaid loads or postpaid accounts.

FOX Internationa Channels Executive Vice President for Content and Communications, Asia Pacific & Middle East and Managing Director of Hong Kong and South East Asia Joon Lee said, “With their nationwide reach and advanced multimedia platforms, PLDT HOME and Smart are the ideal content partners for us. We look forward to bringing our multi-faceted entertainment offering to millions of Filipino homes in partnership with these industry leaders.”

“Our partnership with Fox definitely levels up our content offerings as it gives you more than just access to your favorite TV shows,” Fermin said. “You are also given the power to keep up with every moment of the most thrilling sports events through live-viewing, and enjoy the most popular blockbusters at your convenience through catch-up TV. These options are there to cater to your lifestyle, adding even more value to the concept of entertainment everywhere.”

To get started with Fox and avail of its complimentary trial on your PLDT HOME or Smart subscription, log on to pldthome.com or smart.com.ph.

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New breed of heroes iN ‘AttACk oN titAN’

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1 PLDT Chairman Manny V. Pangilinan and PLDT Executive Vice President and Group Head of Consumer Business Ariel Fermin with the zombies from The Walking Dead! with FOX International Channels Executive Vice President for Content and Communication in the Asia Pacific and Middle East, and Managing Director of Hong Kong and Southeast Asia Joon Lee. 2 PLDT President and CEO Napoleon Nazareno at the official launch of#PLDTSMARTFOX #EntertainmentEverywhere 3 PLDT EVP and Group Head of Consumer Business, Ariel Fermin and FOX EVP for Content and Communication in the Asia Pacific and Middle East, and Managing Director of Hong Kong and Southeast Asia Joon Lee 4 Hosting the launch event are Bianca Valerio and Chris Schneider!#EntertainmentEverywhere 5 Hosting the launch event are Bianca Valerio and Chris Schneider!#EntertainmentEverywhere

he most awaited Manga anime adaptation of the century opens on Aug. 12. Attack on Titan is the live action movie based on the phenomenal series by Hajime Isayama Shingeki no Kyojin where human survivors enclosed themselves in a city protected by towering walls when giants invaded their town.

Living within the remnants of their village, the humans have lived peacefully for a hundred years after the Titans’ attack but soon find themselves fighting for their lives when a giant suddenly reappears in their midst. Once again, mankind is under the terror of titans, a beast which feasts on human flesh.

Eren Yeager (Harume Miura) is a young boy who longs to make a change in their world along with his friend Eren (Kanata Hongo).

Together, they dream of seeing the world beyond the walls. They soon find out what’s in store for them when enormous humanoid monsters called “Titans” come

stampeding through the walls and immediately start eating every man, woman, and child they can find, including Eren’s mother.

In the aftermath of the tragedy, hungry for revenge, Eren joins the newly minted “Titan Survey Corps” alongside hundreds of other young adults. While facing down his demons and fighting through past trauma, Eren will have to rediscover what “freedom” means to him in a new world ruled by fear.

Attack on Titan features an all-Japanese cast led by Haruma Miura as Eren, Kiko Mizuhara as his foster sister Mikasa, Kanata Hongô as Eren’s best friend Armin, Nanami Sakuraba as expert archer Sasha and Satomi Ishihara as squad leader Hange. Directed by Shinji Higuchi, the screenplay was co-written by Yûsuke Watanabe (Monsterz) and newcomer Tomohiro Machiyama.

From Pioneer Films, “Attack On Titan” opens August 12 in cinemas nationwide.

W EDNES DAY : J ULY 2 9 : 2015

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SHOWBITZ isahred @ gmail.com

MAke WAy for Alden And yAyA dUb JaDine, LizQuen and KathNiel because television has a new and refreshing onscreen pair that makes fans of all ages giggle.

Alden Richards and Maine Mendoza

niCkie WAnG Overnight sensation Yaya Dub, or Nicomaine “Maine” Mendoza in real life, is the latest talk of the town. Her popularity even surged when her onscreen paring with Alden Richards became a huge hit among televiewers and social media junkies.

The 20-year-old Culinary Arts graduate at De La Salle- College of St. Benildebis the latest addition to Eat Bulaga’s Problem-Solving portion where she plays girl Friday to Wally Bayola’s noontime alter ego, Donya Nidora. In reality, she secretly wanted to be a celebrity or showbiz personality one day.

The long-running noontime show suddenly got elevated TV ratings figures after the introduction of the new “love team” on July 16. Eat Bulaga now has more than 20 percent TV ratings, which

is even higher than the numbers produced by primetime ratings leader Pangako Sa’Yo. Obviously, Kapuso network has hit the jackpot with the onscreen love team of Alden and Yaya Dub, or AlDub to their fans. On their own, they each have notable achievements. Alden has a string of successful television projects, while Maine, as we all know, is hailed as the Dubsmash Queen. Her videos on the popular video-messaging app had millions of views. But when they’re together, people just can’t get enough of them. They even now have a dedicated Facebook, Instagram and Twitter accounts – all

created by their supportive fans that rapidly grow in numbers each day.

Kapuso network has been trying to build up several love teams but none of them got this kind of reception from the public. Even the established onscreen pairs in the network don’t experience such massive attention.

Since everyone loves clichés, Kapuso network should strike the iron while it’s hot (the pair’s surprise success shouts gold mine in business perspective). A sitcom or a rom-com would definitely satisfy the growing demands of fans to see the two together.

Now it can be said, move over

A dAily dose of WoWoWin? People were expecting Willie Revillame to announce on national television that Wowowin would have its final telecast on Sunday.

Apparently, that did not happen.

Speculations were strong that Willie’s WBR Entertainment Productions, Inc. is losing a lot of money (read: millions of pesos) in the production and airtime cost of Wowowin. That’s basically the reason people were thinking the show was going off air. Add to that the low ratings Willie’s show has been posting after its premiere.

But people from the show’s production team vehemently deny the rumor. Though the show is currently having a tough time, it’s not bidding television goodbye [yet]. It might even go daily from being just a weekly program since that’s what Willie has been lobbying from the time the show had its first telecast.

Who Will be Miss Global PhiliPPines 2015?

Twenty-two Filipino girls are competing in Miss Global Philippines 2015 and be the Philippines official representative in the Miss Global 2015 pageant held for the first time in Manila in October.

Reigning Miss Global Philippines Catherine Almirante, second runner up in Miss Global 2014 will relinquish her crown during the coronation night at City of Dreams Manila on Sept. 5 and will be telecast on ABS CBN at 10 p.m. same day.

The candidates to Miss Global Philippines 2015

Miss Global Philippines, a contest that allows unmarried, single mothers to join, is a relatively new internationally affiliated beauty contest.

Headed by CEO and national pageant director Pauline Sofia Laping and chief operations officer Miss Philippines Earth 2013 Stephany Stefanowitz, it has

CrossWord pUZZle 43 45 46 48 50 51 52 54 58 62 63 65

ANSWER FOR PREVIOUS PUZZLE ACROSS 1 Robin Cook thriller 5 Low-lying islands 9 Not pass 14 Expos manager Felipe 15 Revival shout 16 Spy mission 17 What banks do 18 — Hari (Garbo role) 19 Dome home

20 22 24 26 27 30 35 36 37 38 39 42

Water lilies Beauty contest Increase Flour holder Cooks’ attire More badly built Twist forcibly Signaled Exclusive 31-day mo.

Bridged Take into custody

66 67 68 69 70 71

Time to beware Geologic divisions Watchdog breed Wire Food source Toshiba rival Ran without running Fellow feeling Groundbreaking Pillages Like some fans “Dancing Queen” pop group Asian capital Tiny stream Finely sharpened Listless Actress Tyne — Mlle. in Barcelona

DOWN 1 Match a bet 2 Toast topper 3 Helena’s st.

4 U.S. ornithologist 5 Antique brooches 6 Hoard, maybe 7 Still 8 Cinch 9 Below zero 10 Fables 11 West Coast sch.

partnered with charitable institutions (medical missions, feeding program, etc.) and environmental projects of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources.

In initial preliminary competition, named ‘Darlings of the Press’ were early favorites Muay Thai enthusiast Meryl Angeline King, UP urban planning student

WEDNESDAY, JULY 29, 2015

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Zenith Granny or square Lullabies Cabin or chateau Seaquake aftermath Look forward to Goody-goody Bright star in Orion Chicks’ mothers Column type Buoy up Concrete reinforcer Dear, in Italy Canary seat Took a chance Lawmaker Alaska denizens Sees the light (2 wds.)

Willingly Bore Pre-college Ghostly noise Corncake House’s lot 10-4 buddy Help go wrong Superboy’s girlfriend Itinerary word

Candice Ramos and poem writer Maureen Sia. Others vying for the title are Star Magic member Sam Gonzales, Alexandra Abdon, Angela Aninang, Stephanie Archival, Jennah Banaga, Joti Blooms, Honey Conde, Doreen de Leon, Ckeszha del Rosario, Jir Jane Danaag, Abbyjun Dizor, Michelle Munar,

If Wowowin is having some challenging times, including losing money for the high cost of producing a weekly 90-minute show, would it be reasonable to shift to a 30-minute daily programming? Sure it can take over the timeslot of My Mother’s Secret, which is ending this Friday. But that will not really solve the problem since viewership is relatively low in this timeslot and advertisers are not willing to invest their disposable money on a show that doesn’t have much viewers.

So, what’s left to do? As a businessman, Willie knows exactly what the answer to this question is.

Willie Revilame

Princess Nazareno, Tweena Pagulayan, April Ramirez, Henna Santos, Marvelyn Talha, Queenie Uy and Rona Vertucio.

Conde has a child while Munar has 15 pet dogs.

US-based Miss Global pageant, now on its third year, aims to broaden the definition of beauty in the 21st century focusing more on intelligence and cultural diversity beyond the physical beauty. It sets a new standard in allowing a more diverse selection of qualified women who can be true global icons to others all over the world.

The Miss Global Philippines 2015 winner and her four runners up will serve as Tourism Ambassadors to help promote the tourism industry here and abroad.

– Words And photo by eton b. ConCepCion

W EDNES DAY : J ULY 2 9 : 2015

SHOWBITZ isahred @ gmail.com

Ryan Rems Sarita

Gedent and Diego of Crazy Duo

The Badjaos on disCovery

ryan rems anD crazy Duo on Their humor sTyles

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from c8

he “Funny One” segment of It’s Showtime has become one of the most popular fixtures of the noontime program, with komikeros Ryan Rems Sarita and Crazy Duo saved from elimination this week gaining their own following.

Ryan, whose expression “rock and roll to the world!” has seeped into social media and personal conversations, said he has found fan pages and accounts on Facebook that are either dedicated to him or claim to be run by him.

He said on his newfound fame, “It hasn’t sunk in yet. I hope it doesn’t. I’m also wondering why people find me funny. I’ve always been relaxed on stage,” said Ryan.

Ryan began performing as a stand-up comic in 2008. He said he was not comfortable joking on TV for “Funny One.” That was not the case for the father-and-son tandem Crazy Duo. Diego, the father, has worked for more than 20 years in a circus as clown, dog trainer, among others, to

provide for his family. He influenced his two sons, including his Crazy Duo partner Gedent, to make a living out of entertaining people. ”We use our material in Cebu and translate it to Tagalog. We find the timing of throwing jokes challenging. It was hard at first, but a comic’s weapon is believing that his jokes are funny,” they said.

HHHHH DingDong supporTs Kapuso search for ouTsTanDing graDuaTes Kapuso star who is also hairman and founder of YesPinoy Foundation Dingdong Dantes once again joined the panel of judges for the GMA Network Excellence Award, the Kapuso Network’s flagship CSR program that lauds outstanding students of Mass Communication and Electronics and Communications Engineering.

“The term ‘excellence’ has been defined and redefined by these outstanding young individuals. And on my second year of judging, I still get this feeling after, na talagang kahit

ako as a judge, I am very inspired,” shares the Pari ‘Koy lead actor.

A steadfast advocate for education and the youth, Dingdong said he is looking forward to more batches of exemplary nominees in the coming years. “Nakakailang taon na ang GMA sa paghahanap ng mga ganitong bukod tanging estudyante, and next year will be another opportunity,” he says According to Ma. Teresa L. Pacis, GMA AVP for Corporate

Affairs, “We are very happy to partner with YesPinoy because like-minded organizations must work together to generate greater impact. Many idolize Dantes, many more will surely be inspired to follow in his footsteps as he engages the youth through his YesPinoy Foundation.”

YesPinoy Foundation is among the partners of the Kapuso Network for the GMA Network Excellence Award this year.

‘saTurday nighT Fever’ geTs Manila danCing

Organisation produced this 21st century reiteration of the disco phenomenon and tripping the light fantastic. (The Australian impresario and Bee Gees manager Robert Stigwood co-produced the original movie.)

Audience reactions and ticket sales indicated the show not only hit the Pinoys’ soft spot for music but has got them shaking and boogieing once again. The much-lauded production owes to the skill of the screen-to-stage adaptation by book writer Nan Knighton (in collaboration with choreographer Arlene Phillips, actor-singer Paul Nicholas, and Stigwood), and the brilliant direction of Bobby Garcia, as performed by the astonishing cast.

Saturday Night Fever – The Musical’s disco grandeur and urban grit-and-grime come hauntingly to life in the scenic design by David Gallo (Tony Award winner for The Drowsy Chaperone in 2006; he also designed Best Musicals Mem-

phis and Thoroughly Modern Millie) and lighting by Paul Miller (whose Broadway credits as assistant, associate, or lighting designer include Titanic, The Producers, Sweeney Todd, and Legally Blonde). Choreography is by Vince Pesce, native Brooklynite and frequent associate choreographer of Tony winner Kathleen Marshall (Anything Goes, The Pajama Game, Wonderful Town), lovingly recreated the unforgettable dance moves of the movie and the 1970’s era.

The lead role of Tony Manero was vividly fleshed out by Brandon Rubendall acknowledged by the Robert Stigwood Organization itself to be one of the best Tony Maneros in all its previous productions of SNF. Rubendall’s female counterpart was Jenna Rubaii (who played the steely ambitious and touchingly vulnerable, Manhattan wannabe Stephanie).

The stellar Filipino cast includ-

ed the redoubtable Carla Guevara-Laforteza in a double role as the put-upon mother and the decidedly Donna Summer-esque disco diva, along with Jamie Wilson, Mikkie Bradshaw, Rafa Siguion-Reyna, among others.

As the show ended and after the rousing standing ovation, the audience – from Me Generationals to Millenials – were, more often than not, seen milling out at the lobby of the Theatre, waiting for the cast to come out and mingle with them (which they habitually did). Many theatergoers had their photos taken beside the standee showing Rubendall doing the iconic Travolta pose immortalized in the theatre/ movie poster. When Rubendall emerges to frantic requests for selfies and autographs, eager fans then repeat the meme with him.

Teens, weaned on Taylor Swift and Justin Bieber, sing “More Than A Woman” and “Night Fever” on their way out into the night.

The 1970’s box office hit, Saturday Night Fever featuring the young and rising John Travolta and the Bee Gees’ greatest disco hits such as “Night Fever,” “How Deep Is Your Love,” “You Should Be Dancing” and “Staying Alive,” among others literally took Manila by storm. Today, Filipinos are on their feet again and dancing to the timeless Bee Gees music as Saturday Night Fever – The Musical had its run at the swank The Theatre of Solaire all the weekends of July.

Atlantis Theatrical Entertainment Corp., Ten Bridges Media Corp., and the Robert Stigwood

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Anthropologist Dr. Niobe Thompson journeys around the world to reveal the mysteries of our survival How did humans overcome near extinction in an African super-drought and find a place to rebuild? How did we master the Arctic and cross the oceans to populate every corner of the planet? When and how did the Homo sapiens emerge as the world’s only global species?

Unlock the mysteries of our very existence as anthropologist Dr. Thompson reveals groundbreaking scientific research and traces the footsteps of our human ancestors across five continents – including the tip of the Philippine archipelago, Tawi-Tawi – on The Great Human Odyssey, premiering Aug. 2, airing 8 p.m. on Sundays.

Throughout the three-part series, Dr. Thompson provides a never-before-seen glimpse into our species’ past through expeditions to some of the world’s most remote cultures.

With the Philippines being the only area left with an intact freediving culture, the crew of The Great Human Odyssey was motivated to visit the Badjao the master hunters of the sea floor and the world’s last traditional divers.

Dr. Thompson met with 63-year-old Santarawi, one of the last great Badjao divers with the amazing ability for breath-hold diving, able to endure up to five minutes under water. As filming took place on Santarawi’s war-torn homeland of Tawi-Tawi, safety was of prime importance. On top of the protection provided by the Philippine Marines, Santarawi assured the crew both of protection and friendship. “It took us almost a year of work with partners from the Philippines before we felt that we could work safely on the ground. Seeing the film’s success made us so happy that we went there. The Philippines is my favorite location amongst all in this film,” Dr. Thompson shared.

Dr. Niobe Thompson hosts The Great Human Odyssey on Discovery

The badjaos of Southern Philippines are featured in Dr. Thompson's show

W EDNES DAY : J ULY 2 9 : 2015

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ISAH V. RED EDITOR isahred @ gmail.com

Jane Oineza as Corinne

SHOWBITZ

Jerome Ponce as Ryan

Loisa Andalio as Bea

CAst of ‘nAsAAn KA nAng KAilAngAn KitA’ thAnK viewers ISAH V. RED The stars of Nasaan Ka Nang Kailangan Kita – Denise Laurel, Christian Vasquez, Jane Oineza, Loisa Andalio, Jerome Ponce, Joshua Garcia, and Vina Morales – say they feel blessed with the success of the drama series. They all expressed their gratitude for the love and support of the audience.

Since it aired in January, Nasaan Ka Nang Kailangan Kita continues to post high TV ratings and is a trending topic of social media sites nationwide because of how the show depicts the different facets of love.

Further proving the success of the series is the heart-warming support given by thousands of fans in the thanksgiving shows held in different parts of the country. Jane, Loise, Jerome, and Joshua led series’ grand fans day.

Meanwhile, afternoon TV viewers will surely get more hooked in the heated and intensifying scenes in the show as Cecilia (Vina), Toni (Denise), Corinne (Jane), and Bea (Loisa) continue to fight for the love that they believe in.

How will Corinne and Ryan (Jerome) face the challenge of being young parents? Is Bea ready to enter into a relationship with Joel (Joshua)? How will Toni fight for her love for Leandro (Christian)?

Will Cecilia, with her continuing success, still be able to become her old self now that she lives a life

Joshua Garcia as Joel

of wealth? Will she find it in her heart to forgive Leandro for the sake of their family?

Under the direction of Mervyn Brondial and Cathy Camarillo, the drama series revolves around the story of four women who depict the different faces of love. It is another production of the group that created some hit drama series such as Be Careful With My Heart, Dream Dad, and Oh My G. Don’t miss the heated scenes and confrontations in the series Nasaan Ka Nang Kailangan Kita everyday, 3:15 p.m. after Flordeliza on ABS-CBN’s Kapamilya Gold.

HHHHH Awit AwArds on Aug. 25 The Awit Awards, on it’s 28TH year, is an expression of the Filipino’s undying passion for music – music etched in every Filipino’s heart. Awit Awards is a prestigious award-giving body, spearheaded by PARI (The Philippine Association of the Record Industry, Inc.), that gives recognition to Filipino performing artists and people behind the making of Filipino recorded music.

It is the longest-running award that gives recognition to local musical talents organized. The PARI organized it and it has been

Denise Laurel, Christian Vasquez, and Vina Morales

around in the last 28 years.

The Awit Awards was designed in accordance with PARI’s objective – to develop and progress local recording potentials to worldclass talents.

This year’s Awit Awards will be held at the Newport Performing Arts Theater Resorts World Manila on Aug. 25 in partnership with PARI (with 26 recording companies) and Laurel Media Company headed by Richard & Ron Merk.

Performance awardees will be announced on this day. There will also an Awit Awards -inspired Concert. ➜ Continued on C7

Since it aired in January, ‘Nasaan Ka Nang Kailangan Kita’ continues to post high TV ratings and is a trending topic of social media sites nationwide because of how the show depicts the different facets of love From left Jesmon Chua, Chairman Awit Awards, Organizing Committee. Richard James Merk, Director, Laurel Media Company,, Atty. Marivic Benedicto, Chairman, Philippine Association of the Record Industry (PARI), Ron Laurel T. Merk, President, Laurel Media Company, Alvin de Vera, President, Philippine Association of the Record Industry (PARI)