The Standard - 2015 August 01 - Saturday

VOL. XXIX  NO. 172  3 Sections 32 Pages P18  SATURDAY : AUGUST 1, 2015  www.thestandard.com.ph  editorial@thestandard.com.ph

Coalition partners withhold support

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ROXAS GETS PNOY’S NOD AS CHOSEN SUCCESSOR

By Sandy Araneta and John Paolo Bencito

PRESIDENT Benigno Aquino III anointed Interior Secretary Manuel Roxas II as the standard bearer of the Liberal Party during a ceremony at the Club Filipino in San Juan City.

“To my bosses, I tell you today: In my opinion, the one who has shown exemplary work and true integrity, the one fully ready to continue the straight path, is none other than Mar Roxas,” said Aquino at the end of his speech delivered in Filipino.

The Cory C. Aquino Kalayaan Hall was jampacked with Aquino and LP supporters, many of them wearing yellow t-shirts. More than a thousand people attended the ceremony, which lasted until after noon.

People chanted “Roxas Na!” in between the speeches of the President and Roxas throughout the ceremony.

Some Cabinet members were present, including Justice Secretary Leila de Lima, Technical Education and Skills Development Authority Secretary Joel Villanueva, Executive Secretary Paquito Ochoa Jr., Communications Secretary Herminio Coloma Jr, Transportation and Communiction Secretary Joseph Emilio Abaya and presidential spokesman Edwin Lacierda were also present.

Also at the ceremony were House Speaker Feliciano Belmonte Jr. and Senate President Franklin Drilon.

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Endorsement. President Benigno Aquino III endorses Interior Secretary Manuel Roxas II as the Liberal Party’s presidential candidate in next year’s elections at Club Filipino in Greenhills on Friday. Above, Roxas is shown fighting back tears after Aquino’s endorsement. Malacañang Photo Bureau

‘I wish you the best of luck,’ Grace says

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Endorsement to give Mar a big boost

By Christine F. Herrera and Maricel V. Cruz SUPPORTERS of President Benigno Aquino III said his endorsement Friday of Interior Secretary Manuel Roxas II for president next year would give the candidate a boost in his flag-

ging ratings, while critics said the move signaled “more of the same dismal and incompetent governance.”

“Mar’s anointment by the President will help catapult him in the ratings. An outgoing President’s residual political power and influence cannot be underestimated,” said to

former House minority leader Edcel Lagman.

“The presidential endorsement is coupled with Mar’s own sterling qualifications: competence, industry, honesty, seriousness and experience, both as a legislator and as a Cabinet member,” Lagman said.

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LP’s coalition partners won’t commit support

By Christine F. Herrera

THE coalition partners of the ruling Liberal Party on Friday vowed to remain supportive of President Benigno Aquino III’s reform agenda under the “Daan Matuwid” program but would ot commit to supporting the presidential bid of his anointed successor, Interior Secretary Manuel Roxas II. The Nationalist People’s Coalition stood by its earlier pronouncement to adopt Senators Grace Poe and Francis Escudero as its presidential and vice presidential bets for 2016 despite the President’s endorsement of Roxas.

The coalition partners distanced themselves from the purely LP affair at Club Filipino, rejecting President Aquino’s plan

for the coalition to support a common presidential bet for 2016.

“Nothing has changed. NPC will adopt Grace Poe and Chiz Escudero,” NPC president and Isabela Rep. Giorgidi Aggabao told The Standard, shortly after President Aquino named Roxas as his anointed one to be the country’s next President.

“But having said that, our co-

Roxas From A1...

Roxas arrived in the Club Filipino at about 10 a.m., while Aquino followed before 11 a.m.

Kauswagan, Lanao del Norte Mayor Rommel Arnado, during his speech, referred to Roxas as “Pangulo” (President).

Under the President’s straight path policy, poverty in his bailiwick had dropped from 79 percent ot 47 percent in just three years, Arnado said.

Arnado said he will back the candidate who will continue the reforms implemented by Aquino, and described Roxas as “intelligent, capable, humane, patriotic, and most especially religious.”

“We do not want to go back to a crooked and rocky path,” he said.

“The real next president of the Philippines, is President Mar Roxas! The victory of Mar Roxas is a victory of us all,” Arnado said.

In his speech, Aquino recalled the EDSA Revolution of 1986 that catapulted his mother to the presidency.

“We gather today in Kalayaan Hall in Club Filipino, a private establishment that has been part of many significant moments in our history. This is where my mother was sworn in—where she took an oath to begin fulfilling the promise of EDSA. To those who have, for so long, treaded the straight path with us, you might also remember that this is where I first said: The Filipino can hope once more. Now, I stand here with the Liberal Party, and with other groups such as KOMPRE, People Power Volunteers for Reform, Change Politics Movement, the Urban Poor Alliance; partylists such as Akbayan, YACAP, Angkla, CoopNatco, Ateacher, ABS, and Append, as well as friends from NUP and NPC,” said Aquino.

Aquino said they assembled in the Kalayaan Hall to talk about the next chapter in their journey along the straight path.

Aquino also vowed to ensure that the 2016 elections remain clean, peaceful and credible.

During his speech, the President also referred to his meetings with Senators Grace Poe and Francis Escudero, although he did not name them and described them merely as “allies in pursuing the straight path.”

“In my view, these three people could form a truly formidable team. At this point in time, success has eluded us in this endeavor. We reached an understanding; it seems like we have similar goals, but our

alition with LP remains steadfast and strong on the programs of the President,” Aggabao said.

LP vice chairman Speaker Feliciano Belmonte Jr. allayed fears that the coalition was bound to break up because the President’s endorsement was not completely supported by the coalition partners.

“The coalition in the House is intact, regardless of who are the candidates,” Belmonte told The Standard.

The Speaker said he expects Roxas to woo the coalition partners to back his candidacy and seek to convince Poe to be his running mate.

means of achieving those goals are not exactly attuned to one another’s,” said Aquino.

But he said what was at stake was far too important to leave to chance.

“Why must we allow ourselves to be attracted to ‘maybe,’ when we can be certain? Someone who, we’re certain, is more than capable; someone, we’re certain, has no boss other than the Filipino people, who, we’re certain, owes no debt of gratitude to any other, someone, we’re certain, has no interest other than country before self. We will go with whom we can be certain will continue the straight path, and I believe that person is none other than Mar Roxas,” Aquino declared.

Aquino said it was Roxas who started the business outsource processing industry (BPO) in the country in year 2000, but did not say that this work was done under the administration of then President Gloria Arroyo.

In all this time, however, Roxas forbade his family from applying to set up special economic zones for the BPO business.

“His own family–who have long been businessmen–he convinced not to take part in an initiative he began as a government official.

Here, and in many other instances, the integrity of Mar Roxas is clear,” Aquino said.

Aquino also said that Roxas will not leave until the situation is stable. “Whether in Zamboanga, Bohol, or Leyte, even when communications were cut off because of Yolanda, I know that everything is in good hands and that he does not need to wait for orders, just to ensure that all needs are met.

Let me remind everyone: he did not go to these places on vacation. He was there at a time of crisis; he needed to ensure that all those in the evacuation center would be able to eat, and that all other immediate needs were met,” he said.

“What’s puzzling to us: in spite of everything that Mar has done, in spite of his sacrifices, it’s as if there’s an entire industry dedicated to bringing him down. In Leyte, all he wanted to do was follow the rules; but these people Mar was talking to, all of whom just wanted to engage in politics, even edited a video just to ruin his name.

Another example: At another time, roads could not be passed by cars, so Mar chose to ride a motorcycle to reach the areas that needed assistance; when he slipped, he was criticized,” said Aquino, while the big screen showed a photo of Roxas slipping while riding a motorcycle.

Aquino also took a swipe at his critics for questioning his administration’s accomplishment.

“I wonder: Is this part of the job description of a good leader–that, even when you exert

Aggabao said Poe and Escudero would not deviate from the “straight path” as they ran and won for the Senate in 2013 under the LP-led coalition’s Team PNoy. Aggabao said the two senators, who were in the top five when they won the senatorial race, were also members of the coalition and that he had no doubt that they would pursue the straight path agenda that the coalition continues to espouse.

Poe herself said while she has yet to make up her mind on whether she would run for a higher office, everyone must pursue the President’s Daan Matuwid program.

all effort to do good, those in opposition will only ever see the bad? What so many don’t know is that at night, when the media’s asleep, Mar himself is the one at the wheel, driving around communities to check on whatever else needed to be done,” Aquino said.

He also said those in the Liberal Party, particularly in his generation, were not comfortable with boasting about their achievements, although he had spent a large portion of his State-of-the-Nation address doing that.

Aquino also criticized traditional politicians for keeping their constituents poor so that they could help them then collect on their debt of gratitude during elections.

“It is clear who, of all the choices, deserves to be our next leader. And if his numbers are low at this point in time, it only means that we need to do even more to make him known to all. Again, we are being called to prove that the Filipino is worth fighting for,” he said.

In is speech, Roxas said he accepted the challenge to continue, expand and fight for the straight path.

A teary-eyed Roxas told the crowd at Club Filipino that President Aquino’s endorsement meant a lot to him, saying that it is like passing the challenge of continuing the principles of Aquino’s parents, Ninoy and Cory; and continuing the principled leadership started by his grandfather President Manuel Roxas, his father Senator Gerry Roxas and his brother the late Capiz Representative Dinggoy Roxas.

“With this endorsement, you are passing on to me what they (Aquino’s parents) have fought for,” Roxas said in Filipino.

In his speech, Roxas vowed not to tarnish their names or that of Aquino’s.

Roxas said he has repeatedly told his son, nephews and nieces: “You have an obligation to serve. Prioritize what is collective rather than personal.”

Roxas thanked the President for pushing his straight path policy.

“I have never met a President who sacrificed so much for the country. I have never met a President who has been able to inspire so much confidence,” Roxas said.

“PNoy allowed us to imagine again what the Filipino is capable of.”

“In this endorsement, you have passed on the dreams and aspirations of every Filipino. To our bosses, I won’t tarnish the trust you’ve given me,” he said.

Roxas then urged the people to pursue their dreams.

“I wish for the Filipino people only what I would wish for myself. After all, who are we if not our dreams?”

Senator Antonio Trillanes IV, who has

Endorsement From A1...

But Renato Reyes Jr., secretary of the leftist Bagong Alyansang Makabayan, said it was clear that Roxas wanted to be “Noynoy 2.0.”

“He too will run in the name of Cory and Ninoy, in the name of Daang Matuwid (the straight path), in the name of continuing Noynoy Aquino’s failed legacy,” Reyes said.

“He promises us more of the same. Let us also not forget that the person chosen and praised by Aquino is the same person he kept in the dark about Mamasapano. The people do not want a Noynoy 2.0. The people do not want a continuation of the sham daang matuwid. The people demand real change,” Reyes said.

Lagman, who was with Roxas in the ninth and tenth Congress, said he found Roxas to be hard working, competent, honest and earnest.

“He has an enviable political pedigree,” Lagman said. “I am certain the voters will truly appreciate these sterling qualities, and will give him the mandate.”

Members of the independent minority bloc in the House, on the other hand, said the country was in for a worse time if Roxas continued the President’s current style of government.

Buhay party-list Rep. Lito Atienza said Roxas needed to answer for the mess in public transporation that began when he was Transportation and Communication secretary.

Now, as Interior secretary, Roxas had to answer for worsening crime and the growing use of illegal drugs, Atienza added.

“People are not safe in the streets and even in their homes. People get held up in jeepneys and buses. So with Mar, [we will get] more of these,” Atienza said.

Abakada Rep. Jonathan dela Cruz said he hoped for the sake of the nation that it would not be more of the same.

Atienza predicted that when the campaign period begins and Roxas’ numbers do not improve, many of the President’s supporters would begin abandoning Aquino’s anointed one.

Lagman, on the other hand, insisted that sheer popularity should never be a qualification for public office.

“The box office should neither be equated with nor supplant the polling precinct. Perceived electability is a poor substitute for qualification and experience,” he said.

“The problems of the country cannot be solved by one who may be buoyed only by a popularity bubble. Our country needs a steward who is equal to the requisite standards and compelling demands of the highest public office,” Lagman said.

House Speaker Feliciano Belmonte Jr. and several House leaders on Friday welcomed the President’s endorsement of Roxas.

“No doubt he’s the most qualifiied (for the presidency),” Belmonte said.

Reps. Ben Evardone of Eastern Samar, Jorge Banal of Quezon City, Elpidio Barzaga, Jr of Cavite and Rodolfo Albano III of Isabela said the endorsement of Roxas was expected.

“President Aquino’s endorsement is expected to propel the candidacy of Secretary Mar Roxas to greater heights as it will define the battle lines for the 2016 presidential elections between continuity and uncertainty,” Evardone said. “PNoy’s endorsement clearly shows that Secretary Mar is highly qualified because of his integrity and selflessness.” – With Vito Barcelo, Joel Zurbano and Sandy Araneta

said he will run for vice president next year, said Friday he was certain that Batangas Gov. Vilma Santos-Recto would be Roxas’ running mate in 2016.

“It is my fearless forecast. They already have an arrangement,” he said.

The vice presidency would be a four-way fight in 2016 among him, Santos-Recto, Escudero, and another candidate from the United Nationalist Alliance.

“People would like to think that Senator Trillanes is an individual politician. I am just the face of the (Samahang) Magdalo.

We have a collective decision. We are ready to offer our brand of service, hence our decision for me to run,” he told a forum Friday. “With or without a presidential candidate, I am running.”

But Senate President Pro Tempore Ralph Recto said his wife was not interested in seeking a higher position next year and said she might retire from politics when her term ends on June 30, 2016. – With

Rio N. Araja and Macon Ramos-Araneta

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Grace Poe wishes Roxas well SENATOR Grace Poe on Friday wished Interior Secretary Manuel Roxas II well after President Benigno Aquino III endorsed him as the Liberal Party’s presidential candidate in the 2016 elections.

Unification. Vice President Jejomar Binay and Cavite Gov. Juanito Remulla Jr. take their oaths in Kawit, Cavite, following an agreement to unite the UNA and Magdalo political parties. Danny Pata

Binay’s UNA ties up with Cavite’s Magdalo THE United Nationalist Alliance of Vice President Jejomar Binay has formally tied up with the Partido Magdalo of Cavite after Binay and Cavite governor Jonvic Remulla signed a covenant of unity.

The coalition between UNA and Partido Magdalo is expected to strengthen Binay’s support in voterich Cavite.

Cavite has over 1.6 mil-

lion voters. Excluding the National Capital Region, it comes second only to Cebu in the number of registered voters.

Binay led the oath taking of the officials under the Partido Magdalo from 23 municipalities and cities and 859 villages as members of UNA. He said he was honored to be part of the partnership between the two po-

litical parties.

He cited Partido Magdalo’s social programs in Cavite and praised its initiatives to help the poor.

“Cavite is like Makati. It radiates because of good leaders who are experienced and devoted to public service,” Binay said.

He also praised Jonvic for his good governance that, he said, is boosting Cavite’s economy.

Binay said that should he win the presidency, he will push to build an international airport in Cavite to help decongest the air traffic in Metro Manila.

“In my administration, you will no longer wait for a program to be implemented. No more delays.

No more insensitive and incompetent government,” he said. Vito Barcelo

Poe had earlier said it had been clear to her that Aquino wanted her to be Roxas’ running mate, although he had not categorically asked her to run for a higher position during their meetings.

Poe had met Aquino on five occasions to talk, and on three of those occasions Aquino had talked to her and Senator Francis Escudero.

“I thank President Aquino for considering me among those who can continue his vision for Daang Matuwid. I see this as an acknowledgement of my efforts in our shared desire to improve the lives of all Filipinos,” Poe said.

During their first meeting, Poe said the President told her that they needed an alternative candidate for the May 2016 elections. In the second meeting the President told her to be ready.

But during those meetings and the three other succeeding meetings, Poe said, the President did not offer her to run for any position, but she felt the President wanted her to be Roxas’ running mate.

Poe was the No. 1 senator in the 2013 senatorial race, and recently she dislodged Vice President Je-

jomar Binay in the presidential surveys by Social Weather Stations and Pulse Asia.

Despite being the top choice of Filipino voters to succeed Aquino, Poe said she had not yet decided to run for a higher position next year.

In case she runs for President, Poe will face Roxas and Binay, who proclaimed he would be running for President two years ago.

Poe said she remains hopeful the 2016 election campaign will be one of open discussion of issues and proposed programs of government that will build on what President Aquino has started.

“This way, the Filipino people can arrive at a clear choice on election day,” she said.

So far, there are already two candidates for President although Senate Majority Alan Peter Cayetano insists he is more focused on running for President than vice president.

Senator Ferdinand Marcos Jr., another possible candidate for President, has told reporters he has not yet decided about what he will do in 2016.

Macon Ramos-araneta

Endorsement no surprise, Veep’s camp says

By Vito Barcelo THE camp of Vice President Jejomar Binay on Friday described President Benigno Aquino III’s endorsement of Interior Secretary Manuel Roxas II as the administration’s presidential bet as “anticlimactic” because it had been expected.

Binay spokesman Rico Quicho said Aquino’s anointment and praise of Roxas had not been very meaningful.

“No amount of praise can change the fact that Secretary Roxas desperately failed in his roles in the present administration,” Quicho said.

“If truth be told, Secretary Roxas simply did not get things done to uplift the lives of our people. Worse, he is petty and vindictive.”

Quicho said Roxas’ pettiness was witnessed in

Tacloban right after Super Typhoon “Yolanda” devastated the area in 2013.

“Lest we forget, Secretary Roxas told City Mayor Alfred Romualdez that because of his surname, P-Noy as an Aquino would never help him.

“Two years from that tragedy, with more than 6,000 dead, 2,000 injured and countless more left without homes, this same man, who is a study in incompetence and lack of sensitivity to the plight of the downtrodden, is being hailed as the yellow hero to succeed to the throne of the mighty Aquino,” Quicho said.

He belied Aquino’s statement that Roxas gets things done, saying “this is a lie of the highest order, a statement that even PNoy does not seem to take too seriously.”

“Think of it: If PNoy

truly thought that “Mar gets things done, why did he keep Roxas, the interior secretary, out of the loop about the ill-fated police operation in Mamasapano?

“Mar’s post-killingfield reaction is an even better counter-argument.

If Mar is truly a doer, how come he kept quiet when he found out for the first time from General Napeñas that the SAF and PNP Intelligence were reporting directly to the suspended PNP chief Purisima and PNoy, with him kept in the dark?

Why did he not raise hell then and used everything in his power to right the wrong?”

Instead, Quicho said, Roxas, doing a PNoy, was quick to blame the SAF for the “mis-encounter,” a coinage that MILF’s Gadzali Jaafar also used to

belittle the massacre of the 44 police commandos.

Quicho also said that Roxas fashions himself as the only candidate that the people can trust to continue the “Daang Matuwid” “But what is “daang matuwid” exactly? Based on the five years of this administration, it seems that “daang matuwid” refers to the yellow brick road accessible only to the privileged few who managed to climb their way to PNoy and the Liberal Party’s good graces,” Quicho said.

He said Daang Matuwid had nothing to do with the real and everyday lives of the Filipinos.

“Should we continue with the ‘palpak at manhid’ governance that distinctly marked the kind of governance of the present administration?”

Quicho said.

Launching. Vanness Wu of Taiwan arrives at the airport in Manila on Friday to launch Levi’s new collections at the Valkyrie. RUDy C. SantoS

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Election supplier hits back

Deadly fire. Firemen

battle the fire that engulfed a fabric warehouse in Barangay Ugong in Valenzuela City. The authorities have yet to determine the cause of the fire that resulted in the death of one person.

MANNY PALMERO

By Sara Susanne D. Fabunan

Hold unique drills, local officials told

By Joel E. Zurbano

FOLLOWING the success of the first metro-wide earthquake drill last Thursday, Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology urged other regions in the country to hold their own preparedness drills focusing on scenarios unique to their localities.

“I’ve been advocating a scenario-based preparedness,” Phivolcs director Renato Solidum said in a television interview.

“Typhoons, storm surges, earthquakes, or tsunamis. The big one that is based from Metro Manila will be different from Luzon,

Visayas, and Mindanao.”

“In a scenario-based preparedness, we will know which provinces or towns would be severely affected, who would not be affected.

Those who will not be affected will be the ones to rescue. We can do that. Science can do that,” Solidum said Solidum has repeatedly warned that a strong quake could kill at least 31,000 people, destroy a third of homes and buildings in the metro area and cost the economy at least P2.3 trillion.

“People are not prepared for the severity of a natural hazard because they don’t have a clear imagination of what can happen,” Solidum said.

“It’s good to be able to convince people to do the drill, and then slowly, we have to focus on the houses and buildings that must be condemned or retrofitted. If we are able to do that, we can lessen the deaths,” he said.

Enrile goes to court OPPOSITION Senator Juan Ponce Enrile finally showed up at the Sandiganbayan on Friday for a pretrial conference of the plunder charges against him involving the P10-billion pork barrel scam.

Assisted by a number of aides, the 91-year-old Enrile took small steps as he walked to the courtroom of the Sandiganbayan’s Third Division and journalists were more interested with his health rather than the progress of the case that has been at the preliminary conference stage for more than a year.

“I’m okay,” the elderly lawmaker said.

“I’m doing a lot of reading, studying geography, capital generation, power competition, currency development.”

Enrile was detained at the Philippine National Police General Hospital after a bout with pneumonia last March.

Enrile still has a pending petition for certiorari with the Supreme Court where he asked that he be granted bail because

of the weakness of the state’s case, expedite the certiorari proceedings and set the case for oral arguments.

But in the end, the pre-trial conference was again postponed after Enrile’s lawyers complained the prosecution has failed to produce original documents to support their claim that Enrile pilfered the Priority Development Assistance Funds that were allocated to his office.

“Considering that the preliminary conference of this case is not yet terminated, the pre-trial is cancelled without prejudice to the conduct of the preliminary conference,” said Presiding Justice Amparo Cabotaje Tang.

Enrile’s former chief of staff Jessica Lucille “Gigi” Reyes was also present at the conference as was businesswoman Janet Lim Napoles, the accused mastermind, and her estranged accomplice Ruby Tuason, who has since turned state witness.

Eight Philippine cities are among the 10 most at risk from natural hazards globally, according to U.K. researcher Verisk Maplecroft. Of 100 cities most exposed to natural hazards, 21 are in the Philippines, said Maplecroft in a March report that analyzed the combined risks from natural disasters including wildfires, volcanoes and landslides. evelopment Authority chairman Francis Tolentino said the successful turnout of the metro shake drill clearly indicates that the government has successfully instilled in the minds of the public the consciousness and culture of disaster preparedness.

“Little by little, we will erase the state of panic in the event of a strong earthquake,” said Tolentino, who expressed his gratitude for the overwhelming response of the society to the concluded event.

THE country’s leading election systems supplier dismissed on Friday the accusation that they sabotaged previous elections and said the charges were only meant to stop the automation of the 2016 elections.

Smartmaic-TIM president Cesar Flores slammed former elections commissioner Gus Lagman for filing an electoral sabotage complaint against him and three other officials, saying that it was only meant to stop the automation because of the repeated rejection of Lagman’s alternative proposals.

“This non-issue is clearly a desperate measure to stop the Comelec’s efforts to fully automate the election as intended by the law,” Flores said yesterday.

“This absurd charge is also obviously being used as a smokescreen to cover up the embarrassing fact that Lagman’s so-called hybrid system was soundly rejected and adjudged as a monumental failure by all stakeholders for being unfinished and poorly prepared,” he added.

“It is also rather baffling why Lagman’s group took two long years after the alleged incident to file the case,” Flores said.

Flores said his company has nothing to hide and expressed confidence that the Comelec law department will decide on the case with impartiality and objectivity.

“Smartmatic has nothing to hide and we trust that the Comelec Law Department will do its job with utmost impartiality and objectivity, and will dismiss the case as baseless,” Flores said.

But Lagman said they only filed the complaint on Thursday because they only recently realized in that Smartmatic violated the Poll Automation Law when Smartmatic officials changed the source code just hours after voting closed last May 13, 2013.

Lagman and Automated Election System Watch members Leo Querubin, Maria Corazon Akol, Glenn Chong, and Temario Rivera filed the case against Flores and his colleagues Albert Castro Rico and Marlon Garcia.

Disaster Consciousness.

Leyte Rep. Ferdinand Martin Romualdez reminds his province mates the importance of preparedness of disasters at the conclusion of National Disaster Consciousness Month in Tacloban City where the city government and Regional Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council held various drills for fire, earthquake, tsunami and typhoon. VER NOVENO

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PhilHealth chief rapped

By Rio N. Araja AN eminent eye doctor filed a P2.5-million libel suit against Philippine Health Insurance Corp. president Alexander Padilla for claiming that the physician was involved in a scam to overcharge the state firm for eye surgeries.

The flowers of Las Piñas. Miss Maricris Aldanese of Barangay Pilar (3rd from left) and her court wait shortly before she was crowned Miss Las Piñas Waterlily 2015 at the city’s 10th Waterlily Festival, spearheaded by the Villar SIPAG Foundation. EY ACASIO

HGC execs face arrest

THE president of government housing firm Home Guaranty Corporation faces possible arrest after he was compelled by the sub-committee on housing of the House of Representatives to attend the next hearing to explain the alleged “midnight sale” of Smokey Mountain properties.

Committee chairman and Akko Bicol Rep. Rodel Batocabe issued the subpoena for HGC President Manuel Sanchez to attend the next hearing “or face sanctions allowed by the rules.” House rules provide for placing a person under arrest if he or she fails to attend the scheduled hearing.

Also issued subpoenas were members of the Bids and Awards Committee of the HGC composed of Vice Chairperson Corazon Corpus, Engr. Rafael delos Santos, Atty. Jimmy Sarona, and Atty.

Danilo Javier.

The move came after Sanchez again failed to attend the committee hearing conducting mediation proceedings to settle the long-standing dispute between HGC and property developer RII Builders Inc. over the Smokey Mountain Development and Reclamation Project.

Only HGC lawyers Dexter Lacuanan and Cesar Romano attended the hearing.

Batocabe also aired his disappointment over the bidding of HGC of Smokey Mountain properties at a time when there is an on-going mediation over a possible settlement and despite the fact that Sanchez and other HGC board members are on a hold-over capacity only.

“You come here saying that you want to settle but the higher-ups are doing a different thing. This is disappointing. We

feel insulted,” Batocabe said.

Quezon City Rep. Winnie Castelo, shared the sentiment saying that there is a need to compel Sanchez in the next scheduled hearing because it is only he who can shed light to the decision to bid out Smokey Mountain properties for P1.8 billion on an “as-is-where-is” basis.

“This is an ‘as-is-where-is’ basis sale which means that your may be selling the properties below the market price because there are possible risks involved. There is something fishy here because you may favoring some parties here,” he said.

He then moved to subpoena the names of the prospective bidders of the sale to be submitted in the next hearing as well as the appraiser’s report on the properties being auctioned off.

Also named as co-respondent is PhilHealth internal auditor Dr. Kim Gariando.

Dr. Raymond Evangelista of the Quezon City Eye Center, represented by his lawyer Lorna Kapunan, filed the libel suit after Padilla claimed in a Senate probe that that the QCEC received over P150 million in PhilHealth claims in 2014 and had resorted to illegal means to lure eye patients.

Padilla also claimed that QCEC had three doctors with more than 1,000 cases of fraud.

“Philhealth also stopped paying the pending claims of QCEC and announced the allegations and sanctions without giving the clinic due process and informing it of the charges before these were aired in the media through a press conference,” the complaint read.

Kapunan said a P34-million civil case has been filed by Evangelista against Padilla, PhilHealth internal auditor Dr. Kim Gariando, lawyer Jay Villegas of PhilHealth’s operations audit department and internal auditor Dr. Robert Louie So. The QCEC through its mother company Eye Center Conglomerate Inc. has also filed disbarment cases before the Supreme Court against Padilla and Villegas for alleged harassment and deprivation of the QCEC’s payments.

“Not satisfied with depriving QCEC of its constitutional right to due process, Atty. Padilla launched a media campaign, announcing for the whole world to hear that QCEC is involved in fraudulent claims and that QCEC takes advantage of the already disadvantaged members of society for profit.

The libel charges on the other hand stemmed from Padilla’s erroneous pronouncements that QCEC earned more than Php150,000,000.00 in benefit payments in 2014 and that it has three doctors with more than 1,000 cases of fraud.

“Philhealth also stopped paying the pending claims of QCEC and announced the allegations and sanctions without giving the clinic due process and informing it of the charges before these were aired in the media through a press conference,” the complaint said.

‘No law vs Torre condo’

By Rey E. Requejo THE DMCI-Project Developers Inc. has asked the Supreme Court to dismiss the petition filed by the Knights of Rizal (KOR) seeking to stop the construction of its controversial 49-storey Torre de Manila condominium project, saying “photobombing” issue against it has no legal basis in law.

In its 24-page position paper, the DMCI-PDI argued that KOR’s petition is “high on political drama but short on the facts and the law,” which warrants the immediate lifting of the temporary restraining order (TRO) that it issued enjoining the completion of the project.

The property developer stressed that there is no provisions in Republic Act 10066, RA 4846, or the Cultural Properties Preservation and Protection Act, and Republic Act No. 7356, or the law creating the National Commission for Culture and the Arts.

“The law does not prohibit the construction of any structure that would overshadow, mar or otherwise obstruct the background or backdrop of any monument or park,” the DMCI-PDI said.

The private respondent pointed out that KOR’s

claim that Torre de Manila offends the senses of every Filipino who honors the memory of national hero Jose Rizal does not bring it within the legal definition of a nuisance per se.

It also debunked assertion that the building altered the physical integrity of the Rizal Monument considering that it is 870 meters away from the monument.

The building also cannot be considered as nuisance as it does not pose a direct threat to public health or safety, the DMCI-PDA argued.

Besides, the DMCI-PDI said the fact that Torre de Manila was given the necessary permits and exemption confirms that it is not a nuisance.

“Torre de Manila is a legitimate residential condominium project that was demonized in the media as a ‘photobomb’ that would mar the view of the Rizal monument. However, the concept of ‘photobombing’ in relation to national monuments and shrines is not in the law. Buildings and high-rises, including those around public monuments, are inevitable in metropolitan areas because of the increase in population and the lack of available space,” the private respondent argued.

Quick response team. En emergency worker attends to the new equipment that the Skyway O&M Corp., Manila Toll Expressway Systems Inc. and Star Tollway Corp. acquired to boost response capability to road distress calls.

s at u r d ay : a u g u s t 1 , 2 0 1 5

A6

news

editorial@thestandard.com.ph

Caloocan leaps from 107 th to 4 in infra development th

CalooCan City jumped to 4th place this year from last year’s 107th ranking in infrastructure development, in the recently released national Competitiveness Index of the national Competitiveness Council.

Caloocan City scored 13.029 points and bested infra heavyweights Makati, Quezon City, Davao City, Pasig, Pasay, and Taguig, among others.

According to the NCC, the infrastructure category “refers to the physical building blocks that connect, expand, and sustain

a locality and its surroundings to enable the provision of goods and services.”

Among the indicators of the said category include existing road network, health and education infrastructure, availability of basic utilities, information and communication

technology connection, annual investments in infrastructure, and number of public transportation vehicles.

In his statement, Caloocan City Mayor Oscar Malapitan attributed this big leap in rankings from his fast-paced infrastructure development projects such as roads, drainage systems, school buildings, sports centers, day care centers, hospitals and health centers, public markets and government buildings.

Malapitan expressed his

gratitude towards the employees and the residents of Caloocan for their cooperation with the city’s infrastructure projects.

“This is not possible without the unity of the employees and my constituents. When I assumed the mayoralty seat, I knew a lot of infrastructure projects were needed to be done, to make Caloocan a livable city. We have already built a great deal, but we want to see more,” the mayor said.

Malapitan also vowed to prioritize infrastructure projects that will make the

everyday lives of his constituents more convenient, such as fire and police precincts, modern public markets, new roads and bridges, and sports and recreation centers.

In 2014, Caloocan City Building Permit and Licensing Office recorded an 89-percent increase on the application of building permits from the private sector.

Last year’s NCC rankings were collated from its 2013 studies, and this year’s rankings are from 2014 studies of 142 cities.

Transport authorities install 14 scanners at airports

By Rudy C. Santos

FOURTEEN units of brand new EQO millimeter wave body scanners were installed at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport’s domestic and international departure terminals to help prevent terrorist attacks.

The Office of Transportation Security said with the new scanners, “we can detect explosives materials even in small amounts.”

Domestic and international terminals each received two each units.

Members of the and the airport police were trained

by Smith Detection of Singapore on how to operate the scanners.

The scanners, full body imaging devices using radiation that is emitted by the human body and other objects. They do not show anatomical details, unlike the active millimeter wave scanners which raised privacy concerns.

The new EQO body scanner allows screeners to see even implants in the body and other medical equipment that is normally hidden.

The German-made EQO arrived last week, with each costing P12 million.

Fire razes Valenzuela factory Arrested. Suspected kidnappers Rammel Relos and Francisco Quiamko were arrested by the National Bureau of Investigation. DANNY PATA

Sandiganbayan suspends assistant state prosecutor THE Sandiganbayan has ordered the suspension of assistant state prosecutor Diosdado Solidum Jr. of the Department of Justice for 90 days in connection to charges of direct bribery and violation of Republic Act 6713, or the Code of Conduct and Ethical Standards for Public Officials and Employees he, is facing.

Solidum was charged after being caught with boodle money in an entrapment operation conducted by the National Bureau of Investigation along Timog Avenue on Aug. 8, 2013.

The entrapment stemmed from the complaint filed by Gerardo Rivera, president of Philippine Airlines Employees Association alleging that Solidum requested

a meeting in Quezon City where Solidum intimated that reversing a prosecutor’s resolution would entail costs, and assured Rivera that he could reverse the decision.

The anti-graft court directed Solidum to “cease and desist from performing his present government function or any other public office which he may now or hereafter be holding, for a period of 90 days.”

Court records showed Solidum initially demanded the amount of P10,000 from each PALEA member—an equivalent of P2.5 million—which was later reduced to a sum of P1.2 million payable in installment, in exchange for the dismissal of the charges filed against the PALEA members.

Three women. Senator Nancy Binay with actress and Paranaque City councilor Alma Moreno and Sulu Princess Jecel Kiram during the signing of Partido Magdalo and the United Nationalist Alliance in Kawit, Cavite. DANNY PATA

By Jun David A MAN died when a fire broke out at a textile factory in Valenzuela City before noon Friday, supposedly due to welding being done by an employee.

Firemen said Nicanor Crisostomo, 45, was preparing to evacuate from his house when he suffered a heart attack. He died at the Valenzuela Emergency Hospital.

The fire struck the Larry textile factory along Cabahutan St., Ugong, at about 11:35 a.m., a fire personnel said.

The fire, which reached Task Force Bravo as of 2 p.m., was put under control at 2:55 p.m.

s at u r d ay : a u G u s t 1 , 2 0 1 5

A7

news

editorial@thestandard.com.ph

World-class. A woman shows quality handicraft made from Sabutan fibers in Aurora province. DAVID CHAN

Court upholds third-party investor rights in John Hay By rey e. requejo

The Court of Appeals has stopped the Baguio City Regional Trial Court from implementing its order to evict more than 1,600 third-party investors and the private developer, Camp John hay Development Corporation, from the 247-hectare former American recreational facility unless the Bases Conversion and Development Authority fully complies with the “Final Award” rendered earlier by the arbitral tribunal.

Through Associate Justice Noel Tijam, the CA’s Former Special Fifth Division said “public respondents are ordered to cease and desist

from enforcing the Writ of Execution dated April 14, 2015 and Notice to Vacate dated April 20, 2015...”

But the CA directed the

developer to “promptly vacate and cease its operations on the leased premises upon payment of its claim in the amount of P1,421,096,052 with the Commission on Audit.”

The appellate court held that the Baguio RTC committed grave abuse of discretion in enforcing the arbitral award against third parties occupying the leased property.

The Court also said that in the interim, CJH Development Corporation shall not enter into new contracts with third parties “and/ or perform any action that would contravene the tenor of the arbitral award before

receipt of its payment.”

The appellate court also ruled in favor of the third-party investors and intervenors Camp John Hay Golf Club, Inc., CAP-John Hay Trade and Cultural Center, Inc., Creative Era Limited, Francor Inc. et. al. and restrained the Baguio City court and the BCDA from enforcing its eviction orders against them.

The CA asked the BCDA to respect and not to disturb the various contracts of the third parties occupying the leased premises and assist in the processing of the claim of petitioner CJH Development Corporation filed with the Commission on Audit, who must act within 60 days,

pursuant to existing laws.

The Court added that the third-party investors “invested their hard earned money in the said buildings and improvements in good faith and acquired the same for value. The third parties acted in good faith investing their money in the improvements and acquired the same prior to the existence of the dispute between CJHDEVCO and BCDA and prior to the commencement of the arbitration,” the CA said.

“These third parties should not be held to bear the breaches and mistakes of CJHDEVCO and BCDA with respect to their respective obligations under the lease agreement,” it added.

Task force seizes ‘hot lumber’ in Agusan Sur

By Alvin t. Guanzon BUTUAN CITY—The anti-illegal logging task force of the Department of the Environment and Natural Resources intercepted on Thursday some P500,000.00 worth of illegally transported hardwood along the national highway in Barangay Cueva, Trento, Agusan del Sur. The lumber was confiscated from a winged-type, closed cargo truck near the boundary with Compostela Valley.

In 2011, President Aquino issued Executive Order 23 banning the cutting and transporting any hardwood species. The orde also

outlined exemptions especially on planted wood species.

The truck was loaded with an estimated 12,000 board feet of wood fletches.

It bore the plate number RLZ 134 and was being driven by Isebro Paña, 28, from Bunawan, Poblacion, Davao City and helper Joemarie Narag, 28, residing at P-10, Valencia City, Bukidnon.

Paña and Narag are now in the custody of Trento police while illegally cut forest products were brought to Barangay Bunawan Brooks, Bunawan Agusan del Sur for safekeeping.

Gotcha! Hardwood worth P500,000 was seized by authorities in Agusan province. PHotos Courtesy of BuNAWAN PolICe

Two die, another 2 injured as jeep falls off ravine

By Dexter A. see

BUGUIAS, Benguet—Two peopled died while two others were injured after the driver of a private jeepney lost control and plunged the vehicle into a 100-meter-deep ravine at Sitio Impugong, Barangay Baculungan Sur here 7:45 pm Thursday.

The driver, Jay-ar Riquardo and a native of Tabuk City, Kalinga, had mechanical trouble with the jeepney. He was one of the casualties, along with Mariano Lumiqued Dominguez, Sr. and a native of Loo, Buguias, Benguet.

Senior Inspector Fernando Botangen, chief of the Buguias Municipal Police Station, said the injured occupants of the jeepney were Myrna Bayas Dominguez, wife of Mariano and Jay-ar Calilao Bogar, 23, single, labourer and a native of Conner, Apayao.

Another passenger, Jojo Dodong Briones, 18, single, laborer and a native of Cervantes, Ilocos Sur, was unhurt in said vehicular accident.

Initial police investigation showed the Sarao jeepney with license plate number DGG1105 was bound for Abatan.

The driver could not do anything to regain control of the vehicle until it plunged into the ravine.

The injured were given emergency help before being transferred to the Baguio General Hospital and Medical Center for further treatment.

S AT U R D AY : A U G U S T 1 , 2 0 1 5

A8

OPINION

ADELLE CHUA EDITOR

lettertotheeditor@thestandard.com.ph

OPINION

POWER POINT ELIZABETH ANGSIOCO

ANTI-RH STRIKES AGAIN

[ EDI TORI A L ]

FINALLY, ROXAS’ MOMENT ON the eve of the death anniversary of former President Corazon Aquino, her son, President Benigno Aquino III, endorsed the presidential run of his Liberal Party ally, Interior and Local Government Secretary Manuel Roxas II. Six years ago, Roxas gave way to the younger Aquino after Mrs. Aquino died of cancer. At that time, there was a groundswell of sympathy for the Aquinos, a family so sainted for all their contribution the Philippine history.

And because the government then was perceived to be dark and unredeemably corrupt, what Filipinos needed was somebody like then-Senator Noynoy— untainted, unassuming, hailing from the well-loved family.

Roxas had been set on gunning for the highest post, even marrying a broadcaster in a very public ceremony, believing it was his destiny to be the next president of the land. Unfortunately for him, his survey ratings were far from spectacular, making it easy for the Liberals to propose a more “winnable” candidate in the person of Ninoy and Cory’s only son.

On Friday, however, it was clear there was no stopping the so-called man of the hour, Roxas. He is finally running for President, his “sacrifice” has paid off, and it is time to continue treading the straight and narrow path. After what must have been an agonizing few weeks—especially during negotiations with others equally able to continue the “Daang Matuwid,” now he is sure he enjoys the support of the entire party and the endorsement of the man he stood aside for.

What is the worth of an endorsement from President Aquino, who only a few days before regaled the nation with a surreal State-of-the-Nation Address— trumping up imagined achievements from just-begun programs, maligning his “evil” predecessor and thanking everyone close to his heart but neglecting dozens who were killed while performing their police duties?

Not much, but who knows?

From the beginning, this President has given Roxas all the opportunity to shine in his government work, a task the latter had bungled on so many occasions. This time around, Mr. Aquino is telling us that if we want more of the same, we should take his word and elect the Interior Secretary as the next President of the land.

So do we want more of the same?

The next few months will be less about working and more about ensuring the Roxas campaign would have all fronts covered. He has the advantage, after all, of government machinery especially since his actual job entails touching base with local government units – which, by the way, make or break national candidates.

Given the way the endorsement is being hyped, it is easy to forget that elections are not about one man’s dream or sacrifice, and not about a family’s destiny or role in history.

Elections are about the people.

Roxas is not the man of the hour. Filipinos are the men and women of the hour —all hours, actually.

CAN ROXAS BE HIS OWN MAN? BACK CHANNEL ALEJANDRO DEL ROSARIO AND so it came to pass. Interior and Local Government Secretary Manuel Araneta Roxas II was named the ruling Liberal Party’s official candidate for President in 2016. After months of hemming and hawing, President Benigno Aquino III finally announced Roxas as his choice to continue the administration’s program.

Mar’s vice presidential running mate is yet to be named after Aquino’s talks with Senator Grace Poe to run with Roxas failed. The LP also did not come up with its senatorial slate during yesterday’s “Gathering of Friends“ at Club Filipino in Greenhills.

Aquino’s anointment of Roxas leaves the political horizon fraught with possibilities. Grace Poe is now free to exercise her option for an independent presidential run with Senator Francis Escudero as running mate for vice president. The other scenario could see Poe being adopted as

standard bearer by the Nationalist Citizens Party or the Nacionalista Party. Or a coalition of the two political parties if an arrangement can be worked out.

It wouldn’t be a surprise if the ambitious Escudero disengages from Poe and accepts Aquino’s offer to run as Roxas’ VP . With everything possible in politics, Mar Roxas might just overlook Escudero’s support of Jejomar Binay in the 2010 vice presidential race.

Having sealed Aquino’s anointment, can Roxas be his own man once elected President? We congratulate him for clinching the LP

A9

Aquino’s anointment of Roxas leaves the political horizon full of possibilities.

nomination and wish him luck.

Binay, in reaction to the Roxas anointment, said he’s confident of repeating his win over Mar in their return bout. Escudero and the Aquino sisters have made known they are no longer supporting Binay this time after a slew of corruption charges against him during his watch as Makati mayor.

But let’s not rule out a threeway or even a four-way race yet.

Senator Ferdinand Marcos, Jr, and Miriam Defensor Santiago might decide to join the presidential derby before the October deadline for filing certificates of candidacy.

A Miriam-Marcos tandem is a better combination than a Marcos-Duterte team-up. The tough-talking Davao City mayor is mostly tentative about his plans to the point of exasperating even his supporters, prompting

one adviser to describe his posturing as “hele-hele pero quiere.”

There is a bond between Miriam and Marcos. They stood together with former senator Joker Arroyo in casting a “not guilty“ vote in the impeachment case against former Supreme Court Chief Justice Renato Corona. It turned out that the senators who convicted Corona received incentives in millions of pesos from Budget Secretary Butch Abad’s Disbursement Acceleration Program (DAP) funds which was later ruled illegal by the high court.

Miriam lost to Fidel Valdez Ramos for President in 1992, a contest she believed

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

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

she won but for the manipulation of manual counting of votes.

It’s Miariam’s last hurrah. Voters might just vote for her to make up for her heart -breaking loss to Ramos.

Aquino’s impropriety The Standard’s post-Sona editorial, “The little President, ” painted a telling portrait and flawed character of the man who should have been the leader of the nation but fell short of the title befitting a President.

In his final State-of-the-Nation Address, Benigno Simeon Aquino III squandered a momentous opportunity

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

MST ONLINE

can be accessed at: www.manilastandardtoday.com

MEMBER

PPI

Philippine Press Institute The National Association of Philippine Newspapers

for redemption after five years of inept governance. Instead of calling for unity and national reconciliation in bidding farewell to the nation, he chose to be true to form. In his usual acrimonious manner, he still blamed his predecessor for the failures of his administration.

Full of scorn for those who had opposed and criticized him, Aquino heaped lavish praise to those who served him with canine loyalty. Aquino cited them one by one --from his heir apparent Mar Roxas, to his hair stylist down the line to his housemaid.

Continued on A11

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

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

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

REMEMBER former Mayor Lito Atienza’s controversial anti-contraceptive Executive Order that resulted in the banning of modern family planning methods in the City of Manila years ago?

Some of the adversely affected women residents brought the case to the United Nations Committee on Women as a violation of their rights under the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women ratified by the Philippine government.

A few months back, the Committee released its findings that indeed, Atienza’s Executive Order No. 3 violated women’s rights to reproductive health; to decide for and by themselves whether they would want to do family planning or not; and, what method they will use if they so want. For a country that boasts of its international standing in gender equality and women’s rights, this is a big blow.

The Atienza EO was issued when there was no RH law yet.

Don’t look now because despite the law which is in full effect, Sorsogon City Mayor Sally Lee on February 2 of this year came out with Executive Order No. 3 (yes, the same number as Atienza’s) – Declaring Sorsogon City as a Pro-Life City.

At first we did not bother with this because one, the order does not have details on what the mayor meant by her city being pro-life. After all, despite the fact that anti-RH groups have co-opted the term, we do not consider being pro-RH as being anti-life. And two, the text of the EO is quite innocent. It even quotes the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and our Magna Carta of Women.

I, for one, said that perhaps we should first ask our contacts in Sorsogon as to the intent of the EO. The reports that followed are quite disturbing. It turned out that the EO was just a prelude to a proposed ordinance. We got a copy of another resolution this time bearing the name of Hon. Emmanuel Diolata as proponent entitled, “Resolution Enacting an Ordinance Declaring Sorsogon City as a Pro-Life City Providing Its Guidelines and Policies”. This resolution even has quotes from Popes Benedict XVI and Francis about every unborn child having the face of the Lord.

Together with this second resolution was a copy of, “An Ordinance Declaring Sorsogon City as a Pro-Life City And Providing For Its Guidelines and Policies”. Now this is different. The proposed ordinance under Section 4, Regulated Acts says: “a) In the promotion of the dignity of life, the City Government of Sorsogon through the officers and employees shall not purchase and accept abortifacient contraceptives and other related medicines and that no officers and employees from the City Health Office, Rural Health Units, Barangay Health Centers and other private clinics and hospitals shall be allowed to dispense, give, donate, sell, deliver and recommend any of the abortifacient contraceptives;…

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

S AT U R D AY : A U G U S T 1 , 2 0 1 5

A8

OPINION

ADELLE CHUA EDITOR

lettertotheeditor@thestandard.com.ph

OPINION

POWER POINT ELIZABETH ANGSIOCO

ANTI-RH STRIKES AGAIN

[ EDI TORI A L ]

FINALLY, ROXAS’ MOMENT ON the eve of the death anniversary of former President Corazon Aquino, her son, President Benigno Aquino III, endorsed the presidential run of his Liberal Party ally, Interior and Local Government Secretary Manuel Roxas II. Six years ago, Roxas gave way to the younger Aquino after Mrs. Aquino died of cancer. At that time, there was a groundswell of sympathy for the Aquinos, a family so sainted for all their contribution the Philippine history.

And because the government then was perceived to be dark and unredeemably corrupt, what Filipinos needed was somebody like then-Senator Noynoy— untainted, unassuming, hailing from the well-loved family.

Roxas had been set on gunning for the highest post, even marrying a broadcaster in a very public ceremony, believing it was his destiny to be the next president of the land. Unfortunately for him, his survey ratings were far from spectacular, making it easy for the Liberals to propose a more “winnable” candidate in the person of Ninoy and Cory’s only son.

On Friday, however, it was clear there was no stopping the so-called man of the hour, Roxas. He is finally running for President, his “sacrifice” has paid off, and it is time to continue treading the straight and narrow path. After what must have been an agonizing few weeks—especially during negotiations with others equally able to continue the “Daang Matuwid,” now he is sure he enjoys the support of the entire party and the endorsement of the man he stood aside for.

What is the worth of an endorsement from President Aquino, who only a few days before regaled the nation with a surreal State-of-the-Nation Address— trumping up imagined achievements from just-begun programs, maligning his “evil” predecessor and thanking everyone close to his heart but neglecting dozens who were killed while performing their police duties?

Not much, but who knows?

From the beginning, this President has given Roxas all the opportunity to shine in his government work, a task the latter had bungled on so many occasions. This time around, Mr. Aquino is telling us that if we want more of the same, we should take his word and elect the Interior Secretary as the next President of the land.

So do we want more of the same?

The next few months will be less about working and more about ensuring the Roxas campaign would have all fronts covered. He has the advantage, after all, of government machinery especially since his actual job entails touching base with local government units – which, by the way, make or break national candidates.

Given the way the endorsement is being hyped, it is easy to forget that elections are not about one man’s dream or sacrifice, and not about a family’s destiny or role in history.

Elections are about the people.

Roxas is not the man of the hour. Filipinos are the men and women of the hour —all hours, actually.

CAN ROXAS BE HIS OWN MAN? BACK CHANNEL ALEJANDRO DEL ROSARIO AND so it came to pass. Interior and Local Government Secretary Manuel Araneta Roxas II was named the ruling Liberal Party’s official candidate for President in 2016. After months of hemming and hawing, President Benigno Aquino III finally announced Roxas as his choice to continue the administration’s program.

Mar’s vice presidential running mate is yet to be named after Aquino’s talks with Senator Grace Poe to run with Roxas failed. The LP also did not come up with its senatorial slate during yesterday’s “Gathering of Friends“ at Club Filipino in Greenhills.

Aquino’s anointment of Roxas leaves the political horizon fraught with possibilities. Grace Poe is now free to exercise her option for an independent presidential run with Senator Francis Escudero as running mate for vice president. The other scenario could see Poe being adopted as

standard bearer by the Nationalist Citizens Party or the Nacionalista Party. Or a coalition of the two political parties if an arrangement can be worked out.

It wouldn’t be a surprise if the ambitious Escudero disengages from Poe and accepts Aquino’s offer to run as Roxas’ VP . With everything possible in politics, Mar Roxas might just overlook Escudero’s support of Jejomar Binay in the 2010 vice presidential race.

Having sealed Aquino’s anointment, can Roxas be his own man once elected President? We congratulate him for clinching the LP

A9

Aquino’s anointment of Roxas leaves the political horizon full of possibilities.

nomination and wish him luck.

Binay, in reaction to the Roxas anointment, said he’s confident of repeating his win over Mar in their return bout. Escudero and the Aquino sisters have made known they are no longer supporting Binay this time after a slew of corruption charges against him during his watch as Makati mayor.

But let’s not rule out a threeway or even a four-way race yet.

Senator Ferdinand Marcos, Jr, and Miriam Defensor Santiago might decide to join the presidential derby before the October deadline for filing certificates of candidacy.

A Miriam-Marcos tandem is a better combination than a Marcos-Duterte team-up. The tough-talking Davao City mayor is mostly tentative about his plans to the point of exasperating even his supporters, prompting

one adviser to describe his posturing as “hele-hele pero quiere.”

There is a bond between Miriam and Marcos. They stood together with former senator Joker Arroyo in casting a “not guilty“ vote in the impeachment case against former Supreme Court Chief Justice Renato Corona. It turned out that the senators who convicted Corona received incentives in millions of pesos from Budget Secretary Butch Abad’s Disbursement Acceleration Program (DAP) funds which was later ruled illegal by the high court.

Miriam lost to Fidel Valdez Ramos for President in 1992, a contest she believed

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

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

she won but for the manipulation of manual counting of votes.

It’s Miariam’s last hurrah. Voters might just vote for her to make up for her heart -breaking loss to Ramos.

Aquino’s impropriety The Standard’s post-Sona editorial, “The little President, ” painted a telling portrait and flawed character of the man who should have been the leader of the nation but fell short of the title befitting a President.

In his final State-of-the-Nation Address, Benigno Simeon Aquino III squandered a momentous opportunity

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

MST ONLINE

can be accessed at: www.manilastandardtoday.com

MEMBER

PPI

Philippine Press Institute The National Association of Philippine Newspapers

for redemption after five years of inept governance. Instead of calling for unity and national reconciliation in bidding farewell to the nation, he chose to be true to form. In his usual acrimonious manner, he still blamed his predecessor for the failures of his administration.

Full of scorn for those who had opposed and criticized him, Aquino heaped lavish praise to those who served him with canine loyalty. Aquino cited them one by one --from his heir apparent Mar Roxas, to his hair stylist down the line to his housemaid.

Continued on A11

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

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

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

REMEMBER former Mayor Lito Atienza’s controversial anti-contraceptive Executive Order that resulted in the banning of modern family planning methods in the City of Manila years ago?

Some of the adversely affected women residents brought the case to the United Nations Committee on Women as a violation of their rights under the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women ratified by the Philippine government.

A few months back, the Committee released its findings that indeed, Atienza’s Executive Order No. 3 violated women’s rights to reproductive health; to decide for and by themselves whether they would want to do family planning or not; and, what method they will use if they so want. For a country that boasts of its international standing in gender equality and women’s rights, this is a big blow.

The Atienza EO was issued when there was no RH law yet.

Don’t look now because despite the law which is in full effect, Sorsogon City Mayor Sally Lee on February 2 of this year came out with Executive Order No. 3 (yes, the same number as Atienza’s) – Declaring Sorsogon City as a Pro-Life City.

At first we did not bother with this because one, the order does not have details on what the mayor meant by her city being pro-life. After all, despite the fact that anti-RH groups have co-opted the term, we do not consider being pro-RH as being anti-life. And two, the text of the EO is quite innocent. It even quotes the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and our Magna Carta of Women.

I, for one, said that perhaps we should first ask our contacts in Sorsogon as to the intent of the EO. The reports that followed are quite disturbing. It turned out that the EO was just a prelude to a proposed ordinance. We got a copy of another resolution this time bearing the name of Hon. Emmanuel Diolata as proponent entitled, “Resolution Enacting an Ordinance Declaring Sorsogon City as a Pro-Life City Providing Its Guidelines and Policies”. This resolution even has quotes from Popes Benedict XVI and Francis about every unborn child having the face of the Lord.

Together with this second resolution was a copy of, “An Ordinance Declaring Sorsogon City as a Pro-Life City And Providing For Its Guidelines and Policies”. Now this is different. The proposed ordinance under Section 4, Regulated Acts says: “a) In the promotion of the dignity of life, the City Government of Sorsogon through the officers and employees shall not purchase and accept abortifacient contraceptives and other related medicines and that no officers and employees from the City Health Office, Rural Health Units, Barangay Health Centers and other private clinics and hospitals shall be allowed to dispense, give, donate, sell, deliver and recommend any of the abortifacient contraceptives;…

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

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A10

OPINION

lettertotheeditor@thestandard.com.ph

INVESTMENT ARE NOT ACHIEVEMENTS BACK­ BENCHER

ROD P. KAPUNAN PRESIDENT Aquino appeared ecstatic during his last State-of-the-Nation Address, particularly on the subject of investment.

He knows that increased foreign investment means that he enjoys the confidence of the business community. For him, his critics can shout to high heavens, and he could not care less. According to him, history will judge him. Paradoxically, that self-serving exhilaration about the economy is not an achievement or something that the people are interested in unless translated to something that could affect their lives.

Increased investment can never be seen as an accomplishment. Rather, it is merely an act of the moneyed class to entrust their wealth in one venture, having in mind it would beget more money.

He never told the people that investment confidence came not without a price. He did not mention to his listening audience that his government approved Republic Act No. 10641 or an act allowing the entry of foreign banks to operate 100 percent in the Philippines beginning July 14, 2015.

R.A. No. 10641, amending R.A. No. 7721, provides in Section 2, to quote: “The Monetary Board may authorize foreign banks to operate in the Philippine banking system through any one of the following modes of entry: (i) by acquiring, purchasing or owning up to one hundred percent (100%) of the voting stock of an existing bank; (ii) by investing in up to one hundred percent (100%) of the voting stock of a new banking subsidiary incorporated under the laws of the Philippines; or (iii) by establishing branches with full banking authority.”

Further, Section 5 which amended Section 8 of R.A. No. 7721 provides, to quote: “Foreign banks authorized to operate under Section 2 of this Act, shall perform the same functions, enjoy the same privileges, and be subjected to the same limitations imposed upon a Philippine

bank of the same category.

The single borrower’s limit of a foreign bank branch shall be aligned with that of a domestic bank. x x x.

“Any right, privilege or incentive granted to foreign banks or their subsidiaries or affiliates under this Act, shall be equally enjoyed by and extended under the same conditions to Philippine banks.”

PNoy failed to discern that the principal function of banks is to provide capital. They are not interested in knowing whether the money borrowed would be used to directly invest, meaning the borrower would build factories and provide more jobs for our people, or merely use said capital to engage in speculative trading. The bank would be relying mainly on the interest rate gen-

This is just the moneyed class entrusting their wealth to one venture, hoping it would yield more money.

erated than by actually engaging in production, commonly understood as portfolio investment.

By approving said Act, the administration in effect scrapped the economic provisions in the Constitution that would give Filipino investors and businessmen a chance in helping develop this country.

Congress practically abnegated on its duty which in the second sentence, paragraph 1 of Section 10, Article XII of the Constitution states, “The Congress shall enact measures that will encourage the formation and operation of enterprises whose capital is wholly owned by Filipinos.”

A close examination at R.A. No. 10640 would indicate that it collaterally abrogated Section 10 of Article XII of the Constitution which states, and to quote: “The Congress, shall upon recommendation of the national economic and planning agency, when national interest dictates, reserve to

EAGLE EYES DEAN TONY LA VIÑA THE President’s last Stateof-the-Nation Address, as we expected, was an attempt to capture the gains of his administration. While I wish his report were more coherent, I trust that the accomplishments he recounted are real. While doing my rounds of media commentaries, I said that overall, the President has done a good job in moving the country forward, even if the pace of improvement is not as equitable across the socio-economic spectrum.

Today, I would like to focus on the fisheries sector - an area where the Aquino administration has made a tremendous amount of progress that many Filipinos may not be aware of. In his SONA, PNoy’s only mention of fisheries was in connection with the lifting of the “yellow card” that the EU issued. To recall, the EU gave us a “yellow card” in June last year to warn us that we must improve our efforts to curb illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing, or else we could face sanctions that could cut our P9-billion annual export to the EU. When PNoy tapped lawyer Asis Perez to head the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources, enforcing the rule of law in the sector was a priority. Before joining BFAR, Asis was a leading environmental lawyer fighting illegal fishers in his home province of Quezon.

His years of field experience was crucial when he worked with the Supreme Court, DENR, BFAR and law enforcement agencies to improve environmental law enforcement in the country. I have known citizens of the Philippines or to corporations or associations at least sixty per centum of whose capital is owned by such citizens, or such higher percentage as Congress may prescribe, certain areas of investment.”

Foreign banks can now participate and do any business transaction by virtue of corporate takeover after foreclosure proceedings by their defaulting borrowers, thereby disregarding the limitation on ownership to aliens.

This is worse than the hated banking practice that was once prohibited

STATE OF FISH AND FISHERS

Asis as a young passionate alternative lawyer, and in assisting the Supreme Court to develop the Rules of Procedure for Environmental Cases.

He brought that wealth of experience and collaborative approach to BFAR. As BFAR Director (now also Undersecretary for Fisheries of DA) his impact is remarkable because he did not bring people with him, but worked with the Bureau staff to transform the agency to an effective machinery to serve the fisheries sector - commercial fishers and marginal fisherfolk alike. That is a positive legacy he will always be remembered for.

Stopping illegal and destructive fishing activities was a priority - and this was new to the agency that has traditionally focused only on increasing fish production and research. Director Asis believed that protecting the natural fisheries resources was key to sustaining production. The EU warning only served to accelerate the pace of reforms and showed that the direction that BFAR had taken to prioritize enforcement was correct.

Early this year, a new law took effect significantly increasing penalties for illegal fishing. The penalties are harsher than most countries in our region - the commercial fishing sector (largely the target of regulations) even staged a “fish holiday” last week to protest the new penalties.

Congress saw the need to get serious with enforcing fisheries regulations as a response to the EU warning. Maybe that was an over-reaction, but then again - if you do not plan to commit the violations,

you should not have to worry about the penalties.

Every commercial fishing boat that illegally fishes in waters reserved for municipal fisherfolk is effectively stealing the catch of hundreds of poor small fishers. So it is not just about how much fish is caught to be sold in the markets - it is about enforcing fairness and equity in opportunities to fish and making a living from fishing. This aspect of fisheries management is the other focus of BFAR’s programs. This flows from the directive of PNoy to ensure inclusive growth.

Again, this is approach is quite new to an agency that has traditionally focused on technical aspects of fishing. It is not to say that commercial fishers have lesser rights to make a living. BFAR is also helping them find new fishing grounds and improving technologies - but not at the expense of the marginal fishers.

At the start of PNoy’s administration, the government did not even know how many fishers there were in the country - estimated at around 2 million. What they knew was that the small fishers were also among the poorest people. Poverty incidence among fishers is 40 percent compared to the national average of about 26 percent. BFAR led the almost-impossible task of seeking out all the fishers in the country to register in their municipalities - a requirement under the Fisheries Code passed in 1998, but that remained unimplemented for more than a decade. BFAR’s banner programs for registering fishers, including their fishing boats and fishing

gear, are intended to give a face (or two million faces) to the sector - only then can the government provide better services.

The fisherfolk registration has largely been successful - with over 1.5 million fishers registered. The data is cross-matched with the 4Ps data of DWSD to identify who are most in need. Then BFAR targets them with services - from PhilHealth to eco-friendly fishing gear, to access to fish landing and processing facilities. BFAR even goes to the extent of protecting our fishers from foreign aggression in the West Philippine Sea. In essence, BFAR is able to transform its technical and scientific skills of the staff to make social service delivery scientific and targeted. BFAR hopes to reduce poverty in the sector by at least 4 percent during PNoy’s term.

The budget of BFAR to help fishers has increased four-fold in the administration of PNoy. This is intended to be at par with the spending for farmers.

Some will say that law enforcement and social services are not the work of a ‘technical’ agency, such as BFAR. But from my perspective, it is this integration that gives coherence to government service. It is not just about fishing or the price of galunggong. It also has to do with who gets to fish where - and enforcing the equity rules that the Constitution itself imposes - to give marginal fishers a decent livelihood. BFAR under PNoy, Sec. Alcala and Usec/Director Asis have made progress in this far beyond expectation.

even in the US under the Glass-Steagall Banking Act, which separated investment banking from commercial banking that has been blamed as the principal cause of the economic meltdown in the US, Japan, in Asia in 1998, in Mexico, Argentina, and today in Greece.

This we say because Section 4 repealed, to which Section 9 provides: “Foreign banks which are authorized to do banking business in the Philippines through any of the modes of entry under Section 2 hereof shall be allowed to bid and take part in foreclo-

sure sales of real property mortgaged to them, as well as to avail of enforcement and other proceedings, and accordingly take possession of the mortgaged property, for a period not exceeding five (5) years from actual possession: x x x.”

In short, the law completed the conversion of our economy to one big casino where foreign banks could engage in speculative trading of stocks, treasury bills, sovereign guarantee, collateralize debt obligations, etc.

This also explains why the partly government-owned United Coconut Plants

Bank is now up for sale, and the coconut farmers are bidding goodbye to the Coconut Levy Fund amounting to P7 billion or $1.6 billion, which now could be transferred by virtue of sale despite the entry of judgment of the Supreme Court decision on September 4, 2012.

Even if we would give it to PNoy that foreign direct investment jumped after he approved the law, what in fact transpired was an increase in the volume rather than the percentage share of the country as an investors’ paradise.

Continued on A11

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S AT U R D AY : A U G U S T 1 , 2 0 1 5

OPINION

ADELLE CHUA EDITOR

lettertotheeditor@thestandard.com.ph

MMDA, DEPED ARE SLEEPING ON THE JOB

HAIL TO THE CHAIR VICTOR AVECILLA AS usual, Chairman Francis Tolentino of the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) is too occupied with his undeclared senatorial campaign.

Months ago, the MMDA created a motorcycle lane along Epifanio de los Santos Avenue (EDSA) and Commonwealth Avenue. The middle lane of the roadway was painted with distinguishing marks, and motorcyclists were required to stay on this lane while traversing these avenues.

Before this regulation was enforced, motorcyclists using these roads would weave through traffic recklessly and indiscriminately, moving at their own pace, belching smoke, all in absolute disregard for other motorists. With the motorcycle lane rule in force, motorcyclists finally observed road rules like other motorists.

Now that the paint on the road has worn off, motorcyclists have returned to their old ways and are now on every lane of both avenues. MMDA traffic aides do not accost them anymore. Most aides prefer to prey on vehicles violating the license plate number-coding regulation in the hope of encountering a driver who may be willing to fork out some bribe money. Many of them hide at the corners of busy intersections.

Occupied with putting himself at the forefront of the recent earthquake drill in Metropolitan Manila, Tolentino left the enforcement of the motorcycle lane regulation to his useless minions.

There are no MMDA traffic aides at important intersections like EDSA-Quezon Avenue, where pedicabs move around indiscriminately, often violating one-way road rules. Taxicabs use this intersection as waiting stations, even if there are

MMDA road signs which prohibit them from doing so. Ironically, the intersection is supposed to house an important nerve center of the MMDA. Perhaps the MMDA traffic aides are busy campaigning for the senatorial bid of their boss.

One major cause of traffic congestion in Metropolitan Manila is that the sidewalks have been taken over by vendors and parked vehicles that most pedestri ans are forced to walk on the roads themselves. In the process, they reduce the already limited road space available to motorists.

When Bayani Fernando was the MMDA head, he embarked on unorthodox measures to clear the sidewalks. Unlike Tolentino, Fernando had the political will to address all possible causes of traffic congestion.

Today, the sidewalks of EDSA at its Guadalupe segment have been taken over by vendors. The same can be observed at the intersection of EDSA and Aurora Boulevard in Quezon City, and at the Baclaran segment of EDSA. Many sidewalks in Quezon City have been converted into parking lots, with the vehicles occupying the entirety of the pavement. This can be observed along the restaurant row of Katipunan Avenue from Murphy to UP, and the commercial segment of Congressional Avenue. The sidewalks along the segments of Sergeant Esguerra Avenue near two major broadcast facilities have been taken over by parked vehicles.

Under the Vienna Convention governing road safety, to which the Philippines is a signatory, the government is required to make sidewalks useable by

Investments.. From A10

Anti-RH..From A9

In fact, the Philippines registered the fifth in FDI with $3.86 billion surpassing Cambodia with $1.27 billion, Brunei Darussalam, $908.4 million, and Laos, $426.7 Million. Leading was Singapore with $54,4 billion; Indonesia with $19.2 billion; Vietnam with $8.4 billion; Thailand with $8.1 billion; Cambodia with $1.8 billion and the Philippines with $1.5 billion.

Investment would have no intrinsic value to our people if they are not translated to something they could savor in terms of employment and improvement to their lives. Yet, unemployment remains high at 7 percent while underemployment is at 18.3 percent. As of the last quarter of 2014, hunger has worsened. The Social Weather Stations revealed that 4.8 million families, not individuals, experienced having nothing to eat in the past three months. The latest survey says the 5.7 points higher than the 16.3 percent – equivalent to 3.6 million families. According to the National Statistical Coordination Board, more than onequarter or 27.9 percent of our population fell below the poverty line in the first semester of 2012. This means his much-ballyhooed poverty alleviation program, Conditional Cash Transfer, was a dud.

Indeed, the oligarchy and the international finance syndicates have all the reasons to applaud the SONA of PNoy for they are now reaping the dividend for their support of their puppet. PNoy did not mention anything like what he has done to improve the lives of the people. He did not even offer a simple solution to the problem about the Metro Rail Transit where thousands of commuters are stranded daily or in improving our transport system to enhance our productive output. Rather, he used his power to institutionalize the corrupt practice of political patronage through the unmitigated use of pork barrel to make a mockery of our democracy which this administration has been hypocritically perorating.

d) All drugstores and pharmacists in the City of Sorsogon are hereby enjoined to support this pro-life program and they are strictly prohibited from selling, dispensing, and promoting abortifacient contraceptives, drugs, and related medicines.”

Emphasis mine.

This proposed ordinance promotes only natural family planning methods, and no other way to plan families. Further, it carries with it penalties under Section 8 ranging from reprimand to removal from service for public personnel, and suspension of business operations to revocation of business permits for drug stores and pharmacists.

We were told that this proposed ordinance is still in the committee level. However, knowing how powerful mayors are, this can be passed in no time if the Local Chief Executive so wants.

The thing is, despite the fact that the ordinance has yet to be approved, we received word that the LGU has already prohibited dispensing of contraceptives and even private drugstores are now prevented from selling the same.

It is Manila all over again.

The difference now is we have the RH law in effect.

It is true that the law clearly bans “abortifacient contraceptives” (if there is such a thing).

The Food and Drug Administration is tasked to register only

rpkapunan@gmail.com

A11

pedestrians in order to keep them off the road. After all, pedestrians court danger if they are compelled to walk on the side of the roads instead of on the sidewalks. *** The Department of Education (Dep Ed) should be alarmed not only at the volume of error-filled textbooks it publishes, but also at the proliferation of bars and low-end motels near many colleges and universities, especially those in the university belt in Manila, and in known university towns in the country. Zoning ordinances prohibiting bars from operating near schools seem have taken a back seat in these areas. These bars tempt students towards alcoholism and juvenile delinquency.

Just as objectionable is the presence of motels with affordable short-time rates near schools and universities. If bars provide temptation for substance abuse, the motels offer convenient love nests, which may eventually lead to unwanted pregnancies, abortion, and disease.

While some students are able to observe restraint despite the proximity of these establishments near their schools, it is best that students are kept away from temptation. Towards this end, the Dep Ed should coordinate with local government units and urge restrictions.

-------------------------------------The opening of the Muntinlupa-CaviteDaang Hari Expressway and its link to the South Luzon Expressway is expected to ease the traffic problem in the AlabangMuntinlupa area. Improved traffic conditions in this place will inevitably hasten the commercial development there.

those that are proven to be nonabortifacient. The thing is, all contraceptives in the market are FDA-certified which means that they are not prohibited.

Why then does the Sorsogon LGU ban them? The answer is simple. Just like the other anti-RH groups, they believe that contraceptives, no matter what, result in abortion. Nothing can change their minds about this. I can respect this point of view IF they do not impose this on others.

By prohibiting access to contraceptives, the Sorsogon City local officials are coercing its women citizens to believe as they do. This is clearly an imposition.

By prohibiting access to contraceptives, the LGU is disrespecting and disregarding women’s capacity to decide for themselves. These local officials are violating the human rights of tens of thousands of women in Sorsogon City.

By prohibiting access to contraceptives, the LGU is clearly violating the RH law. Section 7, Access to Family Planning clearly says that “All accredited public health facilities shall provide a full range of modern family planning methods…” In contrast, Sorsogon City officials only allow NFP. While the Supreme Court decision on the RH law strengthened the position of conscientious objectors, the High Court did not strike down (b) of Section 23. Prohibited Acts which

With the expected expansion of residential and industrial activity in Muntinlupa, the nearby national penitentiary will inevitably become a subject of concern. Under ideal circumstances, prisons should be located far from residential and commercial areas. This way, escapees from the penitentiary can easily be recaptured, and the threat to public safety is kept to a minimum.

The New Bilibid Prisons, as the national penitentiary is called, has been at its present site before World War II, when the area was an infinite expanse of grassland. Now, it is not so. Thus, the Department of Justice should consider moving the penitentiary to a remote area in the south.

At any rate, the existing facility should not be sold by the government. It should be converted to a public hospital so that indigent Filipinos in the south will not have to travel all the way to the Philippine General Hospital in distant Manila. It’s about time government land and facilities are used for the benefit of poor Filipinos, and not for the construction of shopping malls that only add to the traffic problems.

-----------------------------------The news that a private conglomerate is interested in taking over the operations of the Philippine National Railways (PNR) is good to hear. Since the government has repeatedly failed in its periodic attempts to revive and upgrade the moribund PNR, perhaps the intercession of private enterprise is the only feasible way to jumpstart the PNR. Hopefully, the trains will be operated professionally, and the government will make sure that the train fares will be affordable.

says that these acts are prohibited: “Any public officer, elected or appointed, specifically charged with the duty to implement the provisions hereof, who, personally, or through a subordinate, prohibits or restricts the delivery of legal and medically-safe reproductive health care services including family planning; or forces, coerces or induces any person to use such services; or refuses to allocate, approve, or release any budget for reproductive health care services, or to support reproductive health programs or shall do any act that hinders the full implementation of a reproductive health program as mandated by this Act;”.

The Sorsogon City LGU is courting trouble. During Atienza’s time, there was no RH law that was violated. This time, it is different. Certainly, pro-RH groups will not let this LGU abuse and violation of the law slide. This is going to be an interesting test case of the Supreme Court decision.

The anti-RH camp is trying to subvert the law in various ways. Pro-RH advocates will not let them make a mockery of this law that took one and a half decades of struggle to pass.

And just like in the Atienza EO, for and with the women, we will win this. bethangsioco@gmail.com @bethangsioco on Twitter Elizabeth Angsioco on FaceBook

Can Mar..

From A9 His over-two-hour speech was interrupted by applause from a house gallery that was packed with his allies and supporters. Except for Rogelio Singson and Armin Luistro, Cabinet members-- Florencio Abad, Joseph Emilio Abaya, Proceso Alcala and Corazon Soliman-- mentioned

by BSA III could have made the hall of shame list.

Unpre s i d e nt i a l without any respect for the office, we can forgive Aquino because we have to understand he does not have any inkling of what being President is all about. If he has any sense of propriety, he would have known there is a time and place for thanking the help which should not have been in the halls of Congress. He could have done this properly at his official residence in Malacanang when he packs up for the move back to Times Street in Quezon City as private citizen Aquino.

SAT URDAY : AUGUS T 1 , 2 0 1 5

A12

SPORTS sports@thestandard.com.ph

Rio to double Olympic security personnel RIO DE JANEIRO —Rio de Janeiro will deploy double the number of security personnel for next year’s Olympic Games than were used in the 2012 London games, officials said Thursday.

China vows fantastic Winter Games KUALA LUMPUR— China’s President Xi Jinping on Friday vowed that Beijing would stage a “fantastic” event if it is chosen for the 2022 Winter Olympics.

Xi expressed the Chinese government’s “strongest support” for Beijing in a video message to an International Olympic Committee meeting to decide whether Beijing or Almaty, Kazakhstan, gets the 2022 Games.

“Let me assure you that if you choose Beijing, the Chinese people will present to the world a fantastic, extraordinary and excellent Olympic Winter Games,” Xi said.

Beijing, which hosted the 2008 Olympics, is aiming to become the first city to hold the Summer and Winter Games.

Xi said a Beijing Games “will boost exchanges and mutual understanding between the Chinese and other civilizations of the world and encourage more than 1.3 billion Chinese to engage in winter sports with interest and passion.”

He added: “We will honour all of the commitments that we have made and fully implement the Olympic agenda 2020” of reforms aimed at making Games cheaper and more sustainable.

IOC president Thomas Bach shakes hands with retired Chinese professional basketball player and member of the Chinese delegation Yao Ming (R) during the bid presentation to host the 2022 Winter Olympics in the Chinese city of Beijing, at the 128th International Olympic Committee (IOC) session in Kuala Lumpur on July 31, 2015. AFP

3 undefeated teams try to boost bids FAST, furious matches are expected when three undefeated teams try to inch closer to the crown today as the quarterfinals of the PLDT Home Ultera Philippine Superliga Beach Volleyball Challenge Cup 2015 powered by Smart Live More resume today at SM By the Bay in SM Mall of Asia.

The spotless Cignal HD Spikers B clash with Meralco at 2:30 p.m., while the Foton Tornadoes and Amy’s battle Philips Gold and Gilligan’s at 4 p.m. and 4:40 p.m., respectively, in a bid to emerge as the inaugural champion in the women’s division of this tournament organized by Sports Core, with Accel as official

CESAFI: From A16...

One of CESAFI’s top products is back-to-back PBA Most Valuable Player award winner June Mar Fajardo of San Miguel Beer, an outstanding player of the University of Cebu and who is the acknowledged “Tower of Power” in Philippine basketball today and a worthy successor to the original PBA “Tower of Power” Benjie Paras of Formula Shell.

Fajardo’s rivalry with another towering product of the league, Greg Slaughter of the University of Visayas and who currently wears the colors of Ginebra San Miguel, the crowd darlings of the PBA, didn’t really have an opportunity to blossom because Slaughter moved to Ateneo de Manila before Fajardo settled in at the University of Cebu. But the couple of times they played against each other in Cebu sparked huge interest.

Slaughter won titles for the University of Visayas in 2007, 2008 and 2009, while UV garnered championships stretching from 2001 to 2009 under two great coaches and PBA shooting stars Boy Cabahug and Al Solis. Fajardo took over in 2010 and 2011, when Slaughter transferred to Ateneo and while there was no real rivalry between the two to speak of, they did go up against each other a couple of times when the former was just getting a feel of the game and what he could accomplish with his height and strength.

Their eventual entry into the PBA helped remember what sportswriter Jonas Panerio in an article on Spin.ph described as “a reincarnation of iconic (Mon) Fernandez-(Abet) Guidaben rivalry,” quoting Cebu great and former Purefoods and Alaska hotshot Cabahug.

outfitter, Sands By the Bay as venue partner and Maynilad as official water provider.

Also set to be aired live over TV 5 at 3:20 p.m. is the collision between Foton Hurricane and Petron XCS in an encounter that is expected to display a battle of beauty, skills and power with Bea Tan and Pau Soriano testing the mettle of the comely pair of Gretchen Ho and Charo Soriano.

The survivors in the quarterfinals will march to the semifinals set later in the day.

The finals, on the other hand, is scheduled next week.

“Now, the hard work begins,” said Tan, who is expected to

Cabahug, an acrobatic shooter who was a pure delight to watch, was co-captain when the University of the Visayas Green Lancers defeated NCAA champion Ateneo, 74-63, to win the 2nd National Inter-Collegiate basketball championships at the Rizal Memorial Coliseum in Manila in 1987.

Penerio wrote: “The early years of the FajardoSlaughter rivalry drew roars from mammoth crowds in Cebu, but hardly registered a bleep on the national basketball landscape, owing to the lack of TV coverage.”

This is bound to change as VIVA chairman and CEO Vic del Rosario said: “We are committed to correct this in the finest traditions of our sports coverage.”

Del Rosario recalled the Viva Sports partnership with the Philippine Basketball Association during its glory days and its aim to fall back on that experience to enhance the viewership of CESAFI games behind the compelling slogan of “CESAFI – Home of the Future stars of Philippine Basketball.”

The longtime Commissioner of CESAFI is businessman-sportsman Boy Tiukinhoy, 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 drove him and the CESAFI board to enter into an agreement for the TV coverage of the games by VIVA Sports “This is 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,” Commissioner Tiukinhoy said.

The Commissioner is confident that the CESAFI-Viva partnership will bring the games closer to the local fans in the South and would

have a tough time against former Ateneo de Manila University teammates Ho and Soriano. “This tournament doesn’t only tests our skills and power—it also tests our mental toughness. Since this is a very short tournament with no room for error, we have to be mentally tough to survive and win the crown.”

But before the quarterfinal action heats up, Sprint 4T faces Accel Quantum Plus-Perpetual Molino A at 11:40 a.m., while Benguet Electric Cooperative clashes with Accel Quantum PlusPerpetual Molino B at 12:30 p.m. in the classification battle for 9th to 12th places.

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,” said Tiukinhoy. “The 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 hard-court action through the years. “ “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,” he added.

The storied history of CESAFI actually started when the school league in Cebu opened as the Cebu Amateur Athletic Association. It was in existence for 55 years until it was incorporated in 2000 as the Cebu Schools Athletic Foundation Inc., with 12 member schools and began operations in 2001.

This was considered the legal birth of the Cebu inter-college league that traces its roots to the post World War 2 period. The CESAFI gave Cebu College Basketball a legal face.

CESAFI is the third collegiate league in the Philippines, with the National Collegiate Athletic Association of the Philippines being the oldest athletic association in the Philippines, having been established in 1924, while the University Athletic Association of the Philippines or the UAAP was established in 1938. To be continued

Some 85,000 personnel will be deployed, including 38,000 military troops, Rio’s security secretary, Andrei Passos Rodrigues, told a news conference.

“It will be the biggest integrated operation in the history of our country,” he said.

The huge security presence will dwarf that of London, where 40,000 personnel were used, including 18,000 troops.

Despite high crime rates, Brazilian security chiefs say they have enough experience at policing mega events, such as the 2012 UN Rio+20 environmental summit attended by 191 countries, a 2013 visit

by Pope Francis, the Confederations Cup in 2013 and the World Cup in 2014.

Because the Olympics is mostly concentrated within Rio, the security response will be “very intense,” Rodrigues said.

The city will have 47,500 members of the paramilitary police and other security forces, while 38,000 troops will provide security in the five other cities hosting Olympic football matches: Sao Paulo, Brasilia, Belo Horizonte, Salvador and Manaus.

Brazil has one of the world’s worst crime rates, with an estimated 52,000 murders a year, compared to just over 14,000 in 2013 for the United States, which has a population more than 100 million people greater. AFP

Alvin is UST’s big-man coach FOUR-time PBA Most Valuable Player and former collegiate superstar Alvin Patrimonio has agreed o become one of the coaches for the University of Santo Tomas Tigers when the 78th University Athletic Association of the Philippines men’s basketball season kicks off in September.

Patrimonio, a former back-to-back MVP awardee as a Mapua varsity player (1985-1986), will be tasked as the Tigers’ “big man’s coach,” replacing Estong Ballesteros, who quit the post last December. He is expected to teach UST’s big men his post moves, which he had perfected as a PBA player.

-Peter Atencio

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SPORTS sports@thestandard.com.ph

Nadal eases into next round HAMBURG, Germany—Rafael Nadal eased into the Hamburg Open quarter-finals Thursday with a 6-4, 7-6 (7/2) win over Jiri Vesely of the Czech Republic as the Spaniard continues to try and resuscitate his flagging season.

The top-seeded Mallorcan, playing the summer clay-court tournament for the first time in seven years, goes on to face fifth-seeded Uruguayan Pablo Cuevas, who battled past Jerzy Janowicz of Poland 6-3, 4-6, 6-2.

Nadal, the 2008 champion in Hamburg, extended his clay record in 2015 to 23-6 as he looks to add to his 46 clay-court titles.

“I think I played a good match,” said the 29-year-old.

“Something that I am proud of today, very happy with, is my attitude and I’m very happy with the way that I played. I just need a little bit more consistency.”

Nadal has endured a tough year, losing his French Open title, getting knocked out in the second round at Wimbledon and seeing his ranking slump to 10, his lowest in a decade.

Cuevas, a semi-finalist in Hamburg in 2009, notched his 23rd win of the season as he defeated Janowicz in one hour and 34 minutes.

Twenty of Cuevas’ victories in 2015 have come on clay.

It will be the second meeting of the season for Nadal and Cuevas after the Spaniard won in three sets in February in Rio. AFP

Spain’s Rafael Nadal serves the ball during his round of sixteen match against Czech Republic’s Jiri Vesely at the ATP tournament in Hamburg, northern Germany on July 30, 2015. AFP

Injured Aguilar begs off from Gilas Pilipinas, too

By Jeric Lopez SMART Gilas Pilipinas took another blow in its bid to keep its roster intact after national team mainstay Japeth Aguilar begged off from playing due to an injury to his left pinky.

Aguilar’s manager Marvin Espiritu said yesterday that the 6’9” Gilas forward will have to undergo surgery on his finger and will need 12 weeks to fully recuperate. ‘’Japeth (Aguilar) will be out for 12 weeks, the total time he needs to recover from his finger surgery,’’ said Espiritu.

Because of this, even if

Aguilar is called back for another tour of duty for Smart Gilas, he will not be able to join the national team as his expected recovery time will cover the team’s practices and even is participation in the World Cup. ‘’Understanding the situation, Japeth knew that he will most likely not be able

to play for Smart Gilas,’’ added Espiritu.

The player agent said that they had already informed national coach Tab Baldwin on Aguilar’s condition and the possibility that he would not be able to join the team. ‘’We already discussed it with Coach Tab (Baldwin) and it’s really unfortunate that he might miss out Gilas this time, but it’s for Japeth’s future.’’

Aguilar is the latest PBA player to beg off from playing for the national team after Paul Lee, LA Tenorio, Marc Pingris, June Mar Fajardo and Marcio Lassiter also indicated their unavailability due to various reasons.

Espiritu said Aguilar had played through the painful injury the entire 40th PBA season and will need the surgery to once and for all treat the injury. ‘’It is actually a recurring injury. It’s been there since last season and I think it got worse in a certain play this last conference that’s why it needed surgery. Japeth has been playing with pain in the last season,’’ said Espiritu, who added that if the timetable for recovery holds for Aguilar, he is expected to be back in action in early November, or in the middle of the Philippine Cup of the PBA’s next season.

Lady Eagles eye quarterfinals ATENEO tries Games today to nail the first 12:45 p.m. – St. Benilde vs quarterfinal berth Ateneo in Group B as it 3 p.m. – UB vs Arellano faces contender St. 5 p.m. – DLSU-Dasma vs SSC Benilde today, while Arellano University hopes to join early Group A qualifier Far Eastern University as it battles University of Batangas in the Shakey’s V-League Season 12-Collegiate Conference at The Arena in San Juan City.

The Lady Eagles, with ace Alyssa Valdez back in her fearsome form, walloped the La SalleDasmariñas side last week, 25-13, 25-19, 25-22, to notch their third straight win and move closer to the next round of the mid-season offering of the league sponsored by Shakey’s and presented by PLDT Home Ultera.

Valdez uncorked a 22-hit effort in her first full game with the Lady Eagles while Jhoanna Maraguinot and Bea de Leon combined for 22 points as Ateneo followed up its 3-1 win over University of Santo Tomas and 3-0 romp over San Sebastian with a 64-minute demolition of the winless La Salle-Dasma squad.

Woods recovers from woeful start

FIBA 3X3 taps Wilson. International basketball federation FIBA is tapping

Wilson to be the official game ball for all its FIBA 3x3 competitions starting this year until 2018. According to Sports Resources Inc., the exclusive distributor of Wilson in the Philippines, Wilson Sporting Goods Co. will supply FIBA with a new and state-ofthe-art game ball that would enhance player performance on the court. In photo at the recent FIBA 3x3 Manila Conference are (from left) Roberto S. Claudio (Chairman of Quorum Holdings Corporation), Sonny Barrios (Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas Executive Director), Rodolfo S. Claudio (President and CEO of Sports Resources, Inc), Ignacio Soriano (FIBA 3X3 Event Manager), Moying Martelino (SBP Senior Consultant), Neysa Bacani (Senior Brand Manager of Quorum Holdings Corporation) and Jose S. Claudio (President and COO Of Quorum Holdings Corporation). The basketballs will soon be available in selected Tobys Sports outlets, through SRI, a subsidiary of Quorum Holdings Corporation. For more information, call SRI at 651-7777 loc 839 or visit www.sriphils.com.

GAINESVILLE—Struggling tournament host Tiger Woods recovered from another woeful start with a backnine birdie binge Thursday to spark some confidence that the form which won 14 major titles might return consistently.

Former world number one Woods opened with bogeys on three of his first four holes but rallied to start the back nine with four consecutive birdies to fire a three-under par 68 to share 27th at the US PGA Quicken Loans National.

“It was nice to actually turn it around,” Woods said. “I felt like I hit the ball well enough.

I didn’t do anything different.

I said stay patient and it will turn, which it did and I mean

I had a run there.”

Woods said he turned a so-so round into a good one better than he has since he shared 17th at the Masters, his best showing of the year.

“You’ve got to score and I made a lot of key putts,” Woods said. “The last time I did it is probably Augusta.”

Woods denied rumors he has split with swing coach Chris Como, who is not at the Robert Trent Jones Golf Club this week, and took his first look ahead at 2016 Rio Olympic golf, in which he was once expected to star but now at 266th in the rankings is almost certain to miss.

“I don’t have to worry about the Olympics right now. It’s not really a concern of mine,” Woods said. “Some of the top

players, there’s going to be a schedule concern. Right now that’s not the case for me. It’s going to be interesting to see what players, do how they pace themselves.”

Next season’s schedule, announced Thursday, has only two weeks between the British Open and PGA Championship and only two weeks between that and Olympic golf, with US PGA playoffs and Europe’s defense of the Ryder Cup at Hazeltine to follow in short order.

“Don’t forget on the backside of it we still have the Ryder Cup,” Woods said. “It’s going to be a lot of events all in a row with very little rest. A lot of Euros have to play their home Open. It’s doubly tough for them.” AFP

Republic of the Philippines ENERGY REGULATORY COMMISSION San Miguel Avenue, Pasig City IN THE MATTER OF THE APPLICATION FOR THE APPROVAL OF THE PAGBILAO EHV SUBSTATION PROJECT, WITH PRAYER FOR THE ISSUANCE OF A PROVISIONAL AUTHORITY

Tayabas EHV S/S Expansion

3 - 500 kV PCBs and Associated Equip ment 1-230 kV PCB and Associated Equipment Line Protection System Breaker Failure Protection System Shunt Reactor Protection System

Pagbilao EHV S/S

3 X 1000 MVA , 500/230 -13.8 kV Power Transformers and Accessories 8 - 500 kV PCBs and Associated Equip ment 11-230 kV PCBs and Associated Equip ment Line Protection System Transformer Protection System Bus Protection System Breaker Failure Protection System Network Disturbance Monitoring Equip ment Substation Automation System

ERC CASE NO. 2015-078 RC NATIONAL GRID CORPORATION OF THE PHILIPPINES (NGCP), x-------------------------------------------x Applicant.

NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING TO ALL INTERESTED PARTIES: Notice is hereby given that on April 27, 2015, the National Grid Corporation of the Philippines (NGCP) filed with the Commission an application for the approval of the Pagbilao EHV Substation, with prayer for the issuance of a provisional authority.

In the said application, NGCP alleged, among others, the following: 1.

It is a corporation created and existing under the laws of the Philippines, with principal office address at NGCP Building, Quezon Avenue corner BIR Road, Diliman, Quezon City.

It is the corporate vehicle of the consortium which was awarded the concession to assume the power transmission functions of the National Transmission Corporation

2.

3.

One of its functions and responsibilities enumerated in Section 9 of the EPIRA is to “improve and expand its transmission facilities, consistent with the Grid Code and the Transmission Development Plan (TDP) to be promulgated pursuant to this Act, to adequately serve generation companies, distribution utilities and suppliers requiring transmission service and/or ancillary services through the transmission system: Provided, That TRANSCO (now NGCP) shall submit any plan for expansion or improvement of its facilities for approval by the ERC”; In accordance with its mandate to ensure and maintain the quality, reliability, adequacy, security, stability and integrity of the Grid, it seeks authority from the Commission to immediately approve the implementation of the Mindanao 230 kV Transmission Backbone Project, (Project), which aims, among others, to meet the transmission capacity requirements of capacity additions and load centers;

STATEMENT OF FACTS Brief Background 4.

5.

Presently, there are two (2) major power plants in Quezon Province that are connected to the existing Tayabas 500/230 kV Substation of the Luzon Grid: the 2 X 367.5 MW Pagbilao Coal-Fired Power Plant (CFPP) and the 500 MW Quezon Power Philippines Limited Co. (QPPL) CFPP. The existing transmission facility at the Tayabas 500/230 kV Substation is shown below:

Tayabas EHV S/S Expansion

Fiber Optic Communication System Power line Carrier Communication

Pagbilao EHV S/S

Fiber Optic Communication System

c. d.

6.

7.

Based on the Thermal Assessment and Short-Circuit Analysis, the three (3) power plants cannot be all connected to the existing Tayabas 500/230 kV Substation without the Pagbilao EHV Substation Project;

System Condition with the New Power Plants and with the proposed Project 16.

On the other hand, Thermal Assessment and Short-Circuit Analysis were also conducted in order to determine the effect of the of the entry of the Pagbilao CFPP, SBPL CFPP, and EWC CCPP to the system condition of the Luzon Grid, with the implementation of the proposed Project. Shown below are the results of the assessment and analysis:

17.

Based on the Thermal Assessment and Short-Circuit Analysis, the construction of the proposed Pagbilao EHV Substation (with a transformer capacity rating of 3X1000 MVA) will prevent the existing Tayabas 500/230 kV Substation from overloading, and the fault level at the latter substation will be within the acceptable limits even with the entry of the three new power plants;

COST ESTIMATE OF THE PROJECT 9.

10.

11.

The estimated cost of the project is Three Billion Six Hundred Twenty-Eight Million One Hundred Seventy-One Thousand One Hundred Thirty-Two and 13/100 Pesos (PhP3,628,171,132.13) and the time of completion is Year 2018; JUSTIFICATIONS Considering the growing need for power supply in Luzon, additional generation is highly essential. However, the readiness of the grid to accommodate such significantly huge capacity from the incoming power plants is extremely necessary. Thus, it proposes the implementation of the proposed Pagbilao EHV Substation Project in order to accommodate the entry of new power plants in the Luzon Grid; The system simulation scenarios considered to evaluate the Project are based on its 2013 Transmission Development Plan using the 2018 and 2020 system peak conditions.

Further, the following are the generation dispatch assumptions in the study: MW Net Dispatch to the Grid (Base Assumption)

Major Power Plants Pagbilao CFPP (Existing)

2015

2016

2017

2018

2019

735

735

735

735

735

735

420

420

420

420

QPPL CFPP (Existing)

2020

SBPL CFPP (Expansion)

460

460

460

460

460

460

EWC CCPP (New)

400

600

600

600

600

600

System Conditions without the New Power Plants and without the proposed Project 12.

System simulations were conducted in order to determine the condition of the existing transmission facility without the entry of the new power plants and without the implementation of the proposed Project. Based on the Thermal Assessment, the existing transmission system will remain adequate up to year 2020 under normal and N-1 contingency if no power plants will be connected at the Tayabas 500/230 kV Substation. Further, based on the Short-Circuit Analysis, the fault level at the Tayabas 500/230 kV Substation and nearby substation is well within the interrupting capability of their installed Power Circuit Breakers (PCBs). Shown below are the results of the assessment and analysis:

JUSTIFICATION FOR PROVISIONAL AUTHORITY 18.

Considering the need for additional capacity in order to meet the fast growing demand of electricity, it is very crucial to implement the proposed Project in order to accommodate the entry of new power plants injecting around 2,720 MW to the Luzon Grid. As such, pre-construction activities are needed to be undertaken in 2015 in order to meet the target completion of the proposed Project in 2018;

19.

Hence, the need to file an application with prayer for the issuance of provisional approval before the Commission to be able to implement the Project within the target date established in the system study;

20.

A copy of the Judicial Affidavit of Engr. Redi Allan B. Remoroza, the Deputy Head of the Transmission Planning Department and Head of Luzon System Planning Division of NGCP in support thereof is attached to the application as Annex “B”;

21.

It prays that the Commission: a.

Four (4) new power plants will be constructed in the Quezon province starting 2015, namely: a. b.

15.

Communication System

(TRANSCO) pursuant to Republic Act No. 9136 (R.A. 9136), otherwise known as the Electric Power Industry Reform Act of 2001 or the EPIRA. It was also awarded by Congress a franchise under R.A. 9511 (NGCP Franchise) to operate, manage, and maintain the nationwide transmission system of the Republic of the Philippines; STATEMENT OF THE CASE

14. Thus, Based on the Thermal Assessment, the entry of the three (3) power plants in the Luzon Grid will definitely result in the overloading of the 4X600 MVA, 500/230 kV power transformers in the existing Tayabas 500/230 kV Substation. Furthermore, based on the Short-Circuit Analysis, the resulting fault level at the existing Tayabas 500/230 kV Substation will already breach the 40kA rating of the installed PCBs in the said substations;

b.

420 MW Pagbilao CFPP Expansion; 500 MW San Buenaventura Power Ltd. Co. (SBPL) CFPP; 3X200 MW Energy World Corporation (EWC) Combined-Cycle Power Plant (CCPP); and 1,200 MW Atimonan CFPP.

Issue, immediately upon filing of the application, a provisional authority for the implementation of the Pagbilao EHV Substation Project; and Approve, after notice and hearing, the application for the implementation of thePagbilao EHV Substation Project and render judgment making provisional approval permanent.

The Commission has set the application for jurisdictional hearing, expository presentation, pre-trial conference and evidentiary hearing on August 26, 2015 (Wednesday) at ten o’clock in the morning (10:00 A.M.) at the ERC Hearing Room, 15th Floor, Pacific Center Building, San Miguel Avenue, Pasig City.

These incoming power plants will have a total capacity of 2,720 MW. However, the existing transmission facility at the Tayabas 500/230 kV Substation cannot accommodate this additional capacity. Thus, it proposes the implementation of the proposed Project in order to accommodate the incoming power plants;

All persons who have an interest in the subject matter of the proceeding may become a party by filing, at least five (5) days prior to the initial hearing and subject to the requirements in the ERC’s Rules of Practice and Procedure, a verified petition with the Commission giving the docket number and title of the proceeding and stating: (1) the petitioner’s name and address; (2) the nature of petitioner’s interest in the subject matter of the proceeding, and the way and manner in which such interest is affected by the issues involved in the proceeding; and (3) a statement of the relief desired.

Shown below is the future configuration of the transmission facility with the construction of the proposed Project and with the entry of the 420 MW Pagbilao CFPP Expansion, 500 MW SBPL CFPP, and 3X200 MW EWC CCPP. The connection of the 1,200 MW Atimonan CFPP will require additional transmission facility which will be covered by a separate project;

All other persons who may want their views known to the Commission with respect to the subject matter of the proceeding may file their opposition to the application or comment thereon at any stage of the proceeding before the applicant concludes the presentation of its evidence. No particular form of opposition or comment is required, but the document, letter or writing should contain the name and address of such person and a concise statement of the opposition or comment and the grounds relied upon.

PROJECT DESCRIPTION 8. The components of the proposed Project are as follows: PROJECT COMPONENT

DESCRIPTION

Transmission Line Tayabas- Naga Line Swinging at Tayabas 500 kV Switchyard

500 kV, 4 X 795 MCM ACSR/AS, ST-DC, 0.5 km

Tayabas- Naga Line Extension to PagbilaoEHV Substation

500-kV, 4 X 795 MCM ACSR/AS, ST-DC, 0.5 km

Tayabas- Pagbilao 230 kV Line connection to Tayabas- Naga Line

230 kV, 4 X 795 MCM ACSR /AS, ST- DC, 2.75 km

Tayabas- Pagbilao 230 kV Line Extension to Pagbilao EHV S/S

230 kV , 4 X 794 MCM ACSR /AS, STDC, 2.75 km

System Condition with the New Power Plants but without the proposed Project 13. To determine the effect of the entry of the Pagbilao CFPP, QPPL CFPP and EWC CCPP power plants to the system condition of the existing transmission facility in the Luzon Grid, particularly in the Tayabas 500/230 kV Substation, but without the implementation of the proposed Project, Thermal Assessment and Short-Circuit Analysis were also conducted. Shown below are the results of the assessment and analysis:

All such persons who may wish to have a copy of the application may request the applicant, prior to the date of the initial hearing, that they be furnished with a copy of the application. The applicant is hereby directed to furnish all those making such request with copies of the application and its attachments, subject to reimbursement of reasonable photocopying costs. Likewise, any such person may examine the application and other pertinent records filed with the Commission during the usual office hours.

WITNESS, the Honorable Commissioners, ALFREDO J. NON, GLORIA VICTORIA C. YAP-TARUC, JOSEFINA PATRICIA A. MAGPALE-ASIRIT and GERONIMO D. STA. ANA, Energy Regulatory Commission, this 20in day of July, 2015 at Pasig City.

ATTY. FRANC/S SATURNINO C. JUAN Executive Director lll

Substation ( T S - A U G . 1 & 8 , 2 015 )

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SPORTS sports@thestandard.com.ph

A sport with a heart WHEN legendary supporter of Philippine sports, the eminent RONNIE businessman Manny NATHANIELSZ Pangilinan leads our country’s delegation to Tokyo for the FIBA Central Board meeting on Aug. 7, he will need the support of an entire nation and our fervent prayers in his daring effort to take on mighty China in a bid to stage the 2019 World Cup of basketball in the Philippines.

This is nowhere near a confrontation because such adversarial stances do not enhance the value and virtues of sportsmanship and fairness in sports.

Outside the disputes over territorial claims in the West Philippine scene, which has regrettably fueled unnecessarily harsh rhetoric, the desire of both the Philippines and China is to win the right to stage the biggest basketball tournament in the world.

Our bid is anchored on the unbridled passion of Filipino fans, who may be outnumbered by the Chinese, but could never be matched in their fervent desire to host the World Cup. In the end, the FIBA Central Board must not rely solely on numbers—whether it be the many stadiums China has to offer compared to ours or the economic power of China, because while indeed basketball is big business, it’s a sport with a heart and the Philippines is unmatched in this regard.

We recall that former NBA Commissioner David Stern some years ago cited the Philippine Basketball Association and our country for the tremendous impact and development of basketball in the AsiaPacific region.

While China, with its huge population and big, strong stars have often dominated various FIBA tournaments in Asia, the fact remains that a comparatively small Gilas Pilipinas team earned a spot in the last World Cup in Spain, while China for various reasons we guess, did not.

It should never be the size of the country, its economic and military power, which cannot be ignored, as a subtle influence on the world stage, or its sheer might.

Rather it should be anchored on a compelling need to be recognized for all it has done for decades to enhance the sport and grow the passion for the game from people of all walks of life.

Basketball in the Philippines is an integral part of the everyday lives of millions of Filipinos, while in China, it is football that attracts the biggest attention.

If bigness is the ultimate yardstick of the choice, then let FIBA rotate the World Cup among the biggest and most populated countries in the world, ignoring the reality that the mission of FIBA must be to help the smaller countries achieve their goals and fulfill their dreams in the wonderful world of international basketball.

Certainly, there can never be anyone in the Chinese delegation, who could match the fervor of Manny Pangilinan in his support for basketball and in his desire to host the World Cup and prove, like we’ve done in several major international undertakings and sports events through the years, that we have the capacity to do things very well and to make the stay of our visitors a truly meaningful and enjoyable experience.

It’s good that eight-division world champion Manny Pacquiao has been invited to be part of the delegation, because he is a favorite in China and all of Asia, Europe and the United States and has, in his own delightful way, immersed himself in the sport of basketball. This is something China cannot challenge let alone match.

The Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas demonstrated its remarkable ability to host the last FIBA Asia Championships, with thousands flocking to the Mall of Asia Arena to enjoy the games and cheer the Philippine team in a magnificent display of togetherness, where people from all walks of life and every conceivable economic and social order, cheered as one with a passion that no fans anywhere in the world could match.

It’s not the noise that many fans can possibly generate by their sheer numbers in a stadium in China, but ultimately it’s the heart and soul that binds a love for the game that counts and as was acknowledged in the last World Cup, the Philippines were champions, not on the hard-court but in the stands, and earned their richly deserved recognition from the international media.

Surely, the FIBA Central Board has a heart.

To deny the Philippines what to us seems like an inalienable right for all that we have done for the sport through the years would be, to put it bluntly, heartless.

INSIDE SPORTS

Cebu to host 2016 Ironman Asia-Pacific CEBU—The 2016 IRONMAN 70.3 AsiaPacific Championship triathlon will be held in Cebu, Philippines on Aug. 7.

As a result of the substantial growth of triathlon and the brand in the Southern Hemisphere, the event will begin an annual rotation of its Asia-Pacific Championship throughout the AsiaPacific region starting with IRONMAN 70.3 Philippines, Cebu.

“It’s an exciting time for the sport of triathlon in Asia-Pacific. With our ongoing expansion in Asia that includes 14 IRONMAN and IRONMAN 70.3 events

combined with tens of thousands of athletes living and competing in the region— it’s the right time to host a championship race here,” said Geoff Meyer, Chief Executive Officer for AsiaPacific. “Cebu also hosted the successful IRONMAN 70.3 Philippines triathlon for the past five years—and will provide our athletes a beautiful and challenging championship course.”

The awarding of the AsiaPacific Championship to

IRONMAN 70.3 Philippines, Cebu continues its longstanding partnership with Sunrise Events, Inc., the Philippines’s leading sporting event company, which operates IRONMAN 70.3 Subic Bay, 5150 Subic Bay, and 5150 Bohol.

Wilfred “Fred” Steven Uytengsu, Jr., President and Chairman of Sunrise Events, expressed his excitement at hosting the Asia Pacific Championship.

“We are extremely proud to have been selected as the host the Asia-Pacific Championship,” said Uytengsu.

“We intend to stage our best event yet which will coincide with our five-year an-

niversary in Cebu and our eighth year in partnership with the brand. We look forward to welcoming everyone with our trademark Filipino hospitality.”

The locations for the 2017 and 2018 Asia-Pacific Championship will be announced soon.

The Asia-Pacific Championship will offer a $75,000 professional prize purse and 30 age-group qualifying slots for the 2017 70.3 World Championship.

For more information, please visit www.ironman. com/philippines70.3.

For media related inquiries, please email daniel.hoy@ ironman.com.

Ironkids lure record roster

Lascuña nears 2nd crown. Tony Lascuña banged in a 15-foot putt on the 18th to cap a birdie-birdie windup, gain on a two-shot swing against erstwhile leader Robert Pactolerin and snatch a one-stroke lead in the third round of the ICTSI Classic at Mt. Malarayat’s composite courses here yesterday. Lascuña battled back from three strokes down with six holes left in a flight behind Pactolerin, birdying Nos. 13 and 17 from close range then calmly drilling another on the finishing hole of Mt. Malipunyo to find himself 18 holes away from sparking another run in the closing stages of this year’s ICTSI Philippine Golf Tour.

Ateneo, Marist, Xavier prevail TWO Ateneo squads logged their second victories in the Small Basketeers Philippines and the Passerelle Division of the Best Center-organized twin basketball tournaments for kids, sponsored by Milo over the weekend at the Xavier School gym.

Ateneo-A crushed Xavier School-B, 49-29, to lead Group B of the SBP Division with back to back victories.

Only Marist School has the same 2-0 record in the same field after it clobbered Lourdes School-QC, 44-30.

Xavier-A exacted revenge for its sister team

when it demolished Ateneo-B, 51-31, in Group A. Xavier-A is also undefeated at 2-0.

In the Passerelle Division, Ateneo-A crushed De La SalleZobel, 66-47, to stay unbeaten in two games and share the Group B lead with idle Marist School.

LAPU LAPU CITY—The future triathletes take the spotlight today (Saturday) as they vie in the much-awaited Alaska Ironkids Triathlon which drew a record field of 174 at Shangri-La Mactan Resort & Spa. Juan Francisco Baniqued and Tara Borlain head the cast in the kids’ version of the swimbike-run event in this historic resort city with the duo gunning for their fourth titles in the 11-12 division of the 6-to-14 event.

“I’ll try my best,” said Baniqued, now eyeing the 13-14 crown after winning the 11-12 plum last year.

Tara’s sis Samantha, who ruled the 11-12 competition in 2014, sees action in the 13-14 category, where Nicole Eijensantos is out to retain the title in the event sponsored by Alaska Milk.

Aside from the competitive individual and relay races in four age groups, the 2015 Alaska IronKids features a new offering— the Play Category.

To be played in both short and long distances, the Play Category is designed to promote outdoor play and increase participation for non-competitive participants, according to organizer Sunrise Events, Inc. The IronKids geared up for the highlyanticipated race by joining yesterday’s “Alaska Run-out” practice run with pros from Shangri-la Mactan to Punta Engaño Elementary School and back.

They were joined by pros Brent McMahon, Craig Alexander, Tim Reed, Sam Betten, Tim Van Berkel, Clayton Fettell, Justin and Belinda Granger, Dimity-Lee Duke, Pete Jacobs with wife Jamie, Luke McKenzie and Beth Gerdes with their baby Wynne, and Caroline Steffen, together with Ironman Asia Pacific CEO Geoff Meyer, hosts Pete Murray and Whit Raymond, SEI president Fred Uytengsu and Alaska Tri Aspire Team’s coach Matt O’ Halloran, Banjo Norte, and Noemi Gallegos.

At the school, the Ironkids took part in the “Alaska Gatas for Breakfast” activity, sharing a nutritious breakfast with Alaska Milk with 1,600 students.

LOTTO RESULTS 6/45 00-00-00-00-00-00 P0.0 M+ 4 DIGITS 00-00-00-00 3 DIGITS 00-00-00 2 EZ2 00-00

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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

Cebu collegiate basketball is steeped in a history of its own as a breeding ground of future cage stars.

Knights nail 6 straight win th

By Peter Atencio

THE Letran Knights weathered a tough encounter with the Arellano University Chiefs, 77-68, yesterday to post their sixth straight win in the 91st National Collegiate Athletic Association men’s basketball tournament at the San Juan Arena.

Kevin Racal scored a season-best 24 points, while Rey Nambatac and Jomari Sollano added 13 and 12 for the Knights in their best best start so far since 2008.

Zachary Nichols, who

had 14 points for the Chiefs, kept Arellano in the fight with three triples in the last two minutes that made it 68-71. But a driving shot from Racal and a trey from Mark Cruz in the

last two minutes sealed Letran’s win, 74-68.

“It’s getting tougher and tougher especially this one.

Ito na ang pinakamahirap,” said Letran coach Aldin Ayo. The Chiefs dropped to a 4-2 slate in a tie with Jose Rizal University and University of Perpetual Help at third spot.

In the second game, the Mapua Cardinals bucked the loss of coach Atoy Co down the stretch and leaned on big man Allwell Oraeme to turn back the

Games Today (San Juan Arena) 10 a.m. • LSGH vs San Sebastian (jrs) 12 nn • Letran vs Lyceum(jrs) 2 p.m. • CSB vs San Sebastian (srs) 4 p.m. • Letran vs Lyceum(srs)

Lyceum Pirates, 109-95.

Co was ejected with less than two minutes remaining for excessive complaining, with the Pirates cashing on the technical with three free throws to move to within 93-108.

The Cardinals notched their third win in six games.

Shaq Alanes led the Pirates with 27 points, includ-

ing 11 points in the third quarter as Lyceum rallied from a 40-point halftime deficit to come to within 23 points, 63-86.

Earlier, the Emilio Aguinaldo College Generals held their own against the San Sebastian Stags in a furious endgame to fashion out a 7771 victory, their first in six games.

Laminou Hamadou led the Generals with 18 points and 16 rebounds, including a fastbreak basket that gave EAC a 75-69 cushion in the last 36.4 seconds.

Tiger recovers from poor start TURN TO A13

Nadal makes it to qfinals TURN TO A13

CESAFI: A force to reckon with in college basketball

By Ronnie Nathanielsz THE Cebu Schools Athletic Foundation Inc. or CESAFI has emerged as a force to reckon with in collegiate basketball following its tie-up with Viva Sports, a key entity within the well-established Viva Entertainment Group of Companies, a leader in the business of bringing joy and happiness to millions of Filipinos across the country.

Its giant billboards featuring megastars Anne Curtis and Sarah Geronimo promoting a variety of products and services among others, highlight the day-to-day impact of Viva on the lives of millions of Filipinos searching for quality entertainment and stars they can easily look up to and identify with.

This is the thrust of the Viva Sports’ partnership with CESAFI, which is designed to project perhaps the most fiercely and passionately contested collegiate basketball league in the country, alongside the longest established leagues—the National Collegiate Athletic Association and the University Athletic Association of the Philippines.

One has only to look at the present-day Philippine Basketball Association, regarded as the premier professional league in Asia and second only to the world’s No. 1 basketball league—the National Basketball Association—to appreciate the impact that CESAFI and collegiate basketball in Cebu through the years has made on Philippine basketball. Continued on A12

B1

SATURDAY: AUGUST 1, 2015

RAY S. EÑANO EDITOR

RODERICK T. DELA CRUZ ASSISTANT EDITOR

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

BUSINESS

2 firms eyeing south terminal

By Darwin G. Amojelar

AYALA Land Inc. and Filinvest Land Inc. have submitted bids for a 35-year contract to operate and maintain an integrated terminal in the south of Metro Manila.

“Two bidders have submitted their bid documents--the Ayala Land and Filinvest Land. We are quite happy with the turnout.

These bidders are really experienced in this kind of business,” Transport Undersecretary Jose Perpetuo Lotilla told reporters

during the opening of technical bids for the P4-billion Integrated Transport System-South Terminal Project.

MWM Terminals of Megawide Construction Corp.. and Datem Inc., which were earlier shortlisted by the Transportation De-

partment, failed to submit their technical bids.

Lotilla said the bid and awards committee would evaluate the technical proposals of Ayala Land and Filinvest Land for 20 days and their financial bids for 15 days.

“But, we will try to accelerate it and award the project by August,” Lotilla said.

The winning bidder will take care of the design, construction, and operations and maintenance of the terminal for a concession period of 35 years.

The project covers the construction of a terminal within a

4.7-hectare lot along FTI Compound in Taguig City. It will connect passengers coming from the south, specifically the Batangas and Laguna area, to other public utility vehicles that are serving inner Metro Manila.

The project also covers the construction of arrival and departure bays, public information systems, ticketing and baggage facilities and park-ride facilities.

Transportation aims to award the project in the third quarter this year in order to begin construction by the second quarter of 2016, while the terminal is set to

PSe comPoSite index

Illicit cigarette trade. PMFTC Inc.

Closing July 31, 2015

8500 8000

gathered over 200 of its tobacco leaf and non-tobacco suppliers for a Suppliers Summit on Illicit Trade at the Solaire Resort and Casino, where public and private sector experts discussed the dangers of the illicit cigarette trade and how this impacts on government revenues, legitimate manufacturers and their supply chain. The group later presented their commitment pledge to support the Fight Illicit Trade Movement to Fight IT lead convenor and Federation of Philippine Industries chairman Jesus Arranza (second from left). With Arranza are (from left) PMFTC supply chain central Asia director Luca Nanni, PMFTC president Paul Riley and Universal Leaf Philippines Inc. president Winston Uy. Fight IT is a multi-sectoral movement under the FPI that aims to curb unfair trade practices and protect the consumers.

7500 7000 6500 6000

7,550.00 39.61

PeSo-dollar rate

Closing JULY 31, 2015 42

P45.740

43

CLOSE

44 45 46

HIGH P45.650 LOW P45.745 AVERAGE P45.681 VOLUME 610.400M

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 Friday, July 31, 2015

F oreign e xchange r ate Currency

Unit

US Dollar

Peso

United States

Dollar

1.000000

45.6180

Japan

Yen

0.008055

0.3675

UK

Pound

1.560100

71.1686

Hong Kong

Dollar

0.129001

5.8848

Switzerland

Franc

1.031566

47.0580

Canada

Dollar

0.769053

35.0827

Singapore

Dollar

0.727220

33.1743

Australia

Dollar

0.728385

33.2275

Bahrain

Dinar

2.652238

120.9898

Saudi Arabia

Rial

0.266660

12.1645

Brunei

Dollar

0.724585

33.0541

Indonesia

Rupiah

0.000074

0.0034

Thailand

Baht

0.028620

1.3056

UAE

Dirham

0.272257

12.4198

Euro

Euro

1.093200

49.8696

Korea

Won

0.000852

0.0389

China

Yuan

0.161041

7.3464

India

Rupee

0.015603

0.7118

Malaysia

Ringgit

0.262082

11.9557

New Zealand

Dollar

0.658979

30.0613

Taiwan

Dollar

0.031664

1.4444 Source: PDS Bridge

open in December 2017.

Earlier, MWM Terminals won the bidding for the P2.5-billion ITS Southwest Terminal Project.

The company offered an annual grantor payment of P100 million, lower than the P650 million bid of Filinvest Land.

The annual grantor payment is a fee that the government will pay for the services of the winning bidder.

The Transport Department also plans to build an integrated transport system in the north of Metro Manila, which will be located near the Veterans Memorial Hospital in Quezon City.

Court ends corporate rehab proceedings on Pryce

By Alena Mae S. Flores A MAKATI court approved the termination of the corporate rehabilitation proceedings on Pryce Gases Inc., which is majorityowned by Pryce Corp.

Parent Pryce said in a disclosure to the Philippine Stock Exchange Friday said it received a court order on July 28, 2015 on the termination of the proceedings.

Pryce said the termination of Pryce Gases’ rehabilitation proceedings would enable it to return to normal operations and give it fresh access to credit and capital sources.

Pryce said the legal move would enable its unit “to further expand its operations and tap opportunities for business growth, which in turn will put Pryce Corp. in a position of achieving its revenue and profit targets as a consolidated concern.”

Pryce Gases accounts for about 90 percent to 95 percent of the parent firm’s consolidated revenues. Pryce Gases is engaged in the manufacture and distribution of industrial and medical gases and liquefied petroleum gas under the trade name Pryce Gas. It operates in Mindanao and Visayas.

Pryce Gases said in a petition the only remaining creditors in the final tranche of debt were Josefina Multi-Ventures Corp. and Oro Oxygen Corp.

The two are affiliates of Pryce Gases and have endorsed the petition to terminate the rehabilitation.

It said the tranche A debt had been fully paid by Pryce Gases in October last year.

“Moreover, the obligations due to trade creditors under the rehabilitation plan have been paid or assigned to affiliates,” Pryce Gases said.

The interim rules on corporate

rehabilitation provides for the termination of corporate proceedings upon successful implementation of the plan.

Pryce Gases filed a petition for rehabilitation with the commercial court at Regional Trial Court Branch 138 (now Branch 149) of Makati in August 27, 2002.

The same court, in an order dated September 2, 2002, appointed a receiver and ordered a stay in the settlement of all debts with the banks and trade creditors.

The commercial court on October 10, 2003 approved the rehabilitation plan for Pryce Gases.

SATURDAY: AUGUST 1, 2015

B2

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

The STandard BuSineSS daily STockS review Friday, July 31, 2015

52 Weeks

Previous

High Low 7.88 75.3 124.4 107 56.5 4.2 17 30.45 10.4 0.92 2.6 890 1.01 100 1.46 30.5 75 91.5 137 361.2 57 180 1700 124 3.26 47 5 1.46 2.36 15.3 148 20.6 36 65.8 2.97 4.14 21.5 21.6 11.96 9.13 11.8 2.89 31.8 109 15.3 9.4 241 12.5 79 3.95 74 33.9 90 13.26 293 5 5.25 12.98 15 7.03 3.4 4.5 6.3 7.34 238 3.28 0.315 2.65 234 5.28 1.3 2.17 0.59 59.2 30.05 2.16 7.39 3.4 3.35 823.5 10.2 84 4.92 0.66 1455 7.5 76 9.25 0.85 17.3 0.71 5.53 6.55 1.61 84.9 974 1.66 156 0.710 0.435 0.510 10.5 1.99

STOCKS

Close

High

Low

FINANCIAL 4.3 3.96 73.3 72.5 100.40 99.45 96.50 95.00 46.75 46.3 1.51 1.47 16.3 16 21.65 21.2 7.20 7.20 0.73 0.73 1.79 1.78 785.00 780.00 0.395 0.395 89.2 88 0.97 0.97 19.98 18.80 26.10 26.10 64.20 63.50 94.9 94.9 310 305.8 39.6 38.95 149.6 147.1 1450.00 1450.00 59.90 59.30 3.3 3.27 INDUSTRIAL 35.9 Aboitiz Power Corp.

43.85 43.9 43.65 1.11 Agrinurture Inc. 1.47 1.77 1.47 1.01 Alliance Tuna Intl Inc. 1.02 1.03 1 1.86 Alsons Cons.

1.89 1.9 1.88 7.92 Asiabest Group 10.38 10.7 10.28 32 C. Azuc De Tarlac 91.00 80.00 80.00 15.32 Century Food 18.3 18.28 18.04 10.08 Cirtek Holdings (Chips) 26 26 25.25 29.15 Concepcion 55 56 55 1.5 Crown Asia 2.66 2.83 2.7 1.5 Da Vinci Capital 1.65 1.67 1.56 10.72 Del Monte 12.6 13 12.1 9.55 DNL Industries Inc. 22.200 22.300 21.55 9.04 Emperador 9.00 9.00 8.80 6.02 Energy Devt. Corp. (EDC) 7.11 7.28 7.13 8.86 EEI 10.00 9.99 9.80 1.06 Euro-Med Lab 1.71 1.7 1.7 20.2 First Gen Corp.

26.1 26.3 25.85 71.5 First Holdings ‘A’ 80 84 80 13.24 Holcim Philippines Inc. 13.14 13.16 13.16 5.34 Integ. Micro-Electronics 6.1 6.15 6.09 190.00 188.50 173 Jollibee Foods Corp.

188.70 8.65 Lafarge Rep 10.36 10.36 10.24 34.1 Liberty Flour 30.00 30.00 30.00 2.3 LMG Chemicals 2.07 2.06 2 33 Macay Holdings 55.45 54.95 51.70 23.35 Manila Water Co. Inc. 25 25.1 24.8 17.3 Maxs Group 25.45 25.45 24.8 5.88 Megawide 6 6.18 5.88 250.2 Mla. Elect. Co `A’ 298.20 302.00 297.00 3.37 Panasonic Mfg Phil. Corp. 3.90 3.90 3.90 3.87 Pepsi-Cola Products Phil. 4.69 4.85 4.63 8.45 Petron Corporation 7.45 10.00 7.32 10.04 Phinma Corporation 11.50 11.90 11.20 3.03 Phoenix Petroleum Phils. 3.40 3.44 3.35 1.95 Phoenix Semiconductor 2.30 2.29 2.26 1 Pryce Corp. `A’ 3.82 4.08 3.87 4.02 RFM Corporation 4.29 4.35 4.29 5.9 Roxas Holdings 5.72 5.72 5.72 161 San Miguel’Pure Foods `B’ 165 165 165 1.55 Splash Corporation 1.75 1.77 1.71 0.138 Swift Foods, Inc. 0.147 0.152 0.146 2.09 Trans-Asia Oil 2.16 2.15 2.10 152 Universal Robina 191.2 191.9 189.3 4.28 Victorias Milling 4.4 4.4 4.29 0.640 Vitarich Corp.

0.7 0.7 0.7 1.2 Vulcan Ind’l.

1.20 1.20 1.19 HOLDING FIRMS 0.44 Abacus Cons. `A’ 0.475 0.470 0.455 48.1 Aboitiz Equity 58.9000 59.0000 57.9500 20.85 Alliance Global Inc. 22.25 22.60 22.20 1.6 Anglo Holdings A 1.27 1.26 1.20 6.62 Anscor `A’ 6.85 6.86 6.84 0.23 ATN Holdings A 0.247 0.255 0.246 0.23 ATN Holdings B 0.250 0.250 0.250 634.5 Ayala Corp `A’ 767 800 770 7.390 Cosco Capital 7.5 7.53 7.4 12.8 DMCI Holdings 11.84 12.10 11.88 2.26 Filinvest Dev. Corp.

4.21 4.21 4.15 0.152 Forum Pacific 0.197 0.209 0.194 837 GT Capital 1385 1410 1375 5.3 House of Inv. 6.44 6.45 6.44 49.55 JG Summit Holdings 72.00 72.50 71.90 4.84 Lopez Holdings Corp.

7.2 7.29 7.11 0.59 Lodestar Invt. Holdg.Corp. 0.66 0.66 0.65 12 LT Group 14.82 15.22 14.82 0.580 Mabuhay Holdings `A’ 0.56 0.6 0.56 4.2 Metro Pacific Inv. Corp. 4.74 4.87 4.71 4.5 Minerales Industrias Corp. 7.75 7.75 7.4 2.140 2.050 0.550 Prime Orion 2.070 59.3 San Miguel Corp `A’ 56.60 58.00 56.30 751 SM Investments Inc. 877.50 896.00 875.00 1.13 Solid Group Inc. 1.18 1.18 1.18 80 Top Frontier 79.900 79.850 79.850 0.211 Unioil Res. & Hldgs 0.3150 0.3100 0.3050 0.179 Wellex Industries 0.1900 0.1870 0.1780 0.310 Zeus Holdings 0.265 0.265 0.260 PROPERTY 6.74 8990 HLDG 7.400 7.380 7.180 0.65 A. Brown Co., Inc. 0.71 0.73 0.70 2.5 66 88.05 88.1 45.45 1.68 12.02 19.6 6.12 0.74 1.02 625 0.225 78 0.9 17.8 58 62 88.35 276 41 118.2 1200 59 2.65

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

MEDCO Holdings Metrobank Natl. Reinsurance Corp.

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

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

SHARES 16,053,031 258,167,602 79,701,906 87,094,799 63,738,085 2,601,191,677 3,110,313,077

4.38 73 99.50 96.30 46.25 1.51 16.2 21.2 7.15 0.68 1.78 780.00 0.400 89 1.01 19.80 26.10 63.50 93.5 314 38.8 147.1 1445.00 59.75 3.3

Close

%

Net Foreign

Change Volume

Trade/Buying

4 73.2 100.40 95.00 46.3 1.47 16.28 21.65 7.20 0.73 1.79 780.00 0.395 88.35 0.97 19.00 26.10 63.50 94.9 310 39.5 148.9 1450.00 59.30 3.27

-8.68 0.27 0.90 -1.35 0.11 -2.65 0.49 2.12 0.70 7.35 0.56 0.00 -1.25 -0.73 -3.96 -4.04 0.00 0.00 1.50 -1.27 1.80 1.22 0.35 -0.75 -0.91

377,000 7,920 3,304,420 1,690,910 72,600 398,000 5,500 979,600 500 20,000 3,000 210 20,000 7,063,770 200,000 538,000 200 10,370 400 21,540 38,000 85,910 600 27,550 216,000

43.7 1.76 1.03 1.89 10.56 80.00 18.1 26 55 2.8 1.58 13 21.550 8.81 7.17 9.83 1.7 25.85 82.8 13.16 6.1 190.00 10.3 30.00 2 53.95 24.95 25.4 6.18 299.00 3.90 4.77 10.00 11.50 3.40 2.26 3.89 4.30 5.72 165 1.71 0.151 2.14 191.3 4.4 0.7 1.19

-0.34 19.73 0.98 0.00 1.73 -12.09 -1.09 0.00 0.00 5.26 -4.24 3.17 -2.93 -2.11 0.84 -1.70 -0.58 -0.96 3.50 0.15 0.00 0.69 -0.58 0.00 -3.38 -2.71 -0.20 -0.20 3.00 0.27 0.00 1.71 34.23 0.00 0.00 -1.74 1.83 0.23 0.00 0.00 -2.29 2.72 -0.93 0.05 0.00 0.00 -0.83

2,535,200 451,000 539,000 752,000 12,000 20 1,033,300 356,000 156,700 12,479,000 634,000 103,000 3,330,300 157,100 15,437,900 797,500 3,000 846,500 586,510 200 275,700 605,850 244,200 1,700 150,000 10,720 19,111,900 62,900 1,200,500 818,950 5,000 317,000 9,282,500 21,600 59,000 757,000 14,383,000 4,028,000 5,600 300 100,000 1,130,000 3,908,000 1,241,790 2,000 142,000 49,000

0.470 58.8000 22.60 1.20 6.84 0.255 0.250 780 7.4 11.90 4.15 0.194 1400 6.44 72.50 7.21 0.65 14.86 0.56 4.85 7.5 2.110 56.30 893.00 1.18 79.850 0.3100 0.1870 0.260

-1.05 -0.17 1.57 -5.51 -0.15 3.24 0.00 1.69 -1.33 0.51 -1.43 -1.52 1.08 0.00 0.69 0.14 -1.52 0.27 0.00 2.32 -3.23 1.93 -0.53 1.77 0.00 -0.06 -1.59 -1.58 -1.89

70,000 1,655,240 5,653,500 40,000 75,100 1,490,000 100,000 432,180 7,854,300 8,881,800 12,000 270,000 254,340 8,600 3,653,430 1,536,500 161,000 6,533,900 2,604,000 29,715,000 573,100 6,855,000 167,590 244,120 30,000 10 90,000 70,000 50,000

7.200 0.71

-2.70 0.00

970,500 194,000

52 Weeks

Previous

High Low

STOCKS

Close

1.75 0.375 41.4 5.6 1.44 0.201 0.69 10.96 0.97 0.305 2.22 2.1 1.8 5.94 0.180 0.470 0.72 8.54 31.8 2.29 21.35 1.06 1.62 8.59

1.2 0.192 30.05 3.36 0.79 0.083 0.415 2.4 0.83 0.188 1.15 1.42 1.27 4.13 0.090 0.290 0.39 2.69 22.15 1.6 15.08 0.69 0.83 5.73

Araneta Prop `A’ Arthaland Corp.

Ayala Land `B’ Belle Corp. `A’ Century Property Crown Equities Inc. Cyber Bay Corp.

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

Phil. Realty `A’ Primex Corp.

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

10.5 66 1.09 28.5 15.82 0.1430 5.06 99.1 7.67 1700 2720 8.41 1.97 119.5 12.5 0.017 0.8200 2.2800 5.93 12.28 3.32 3.2 1 15.2 0.62 1.040 18 185 22.9 3486 0.760 2.28 46.05 90.1 11.6 0.85 10 1.9

1.97 35.2 0.63 18.2 8.6 0.0770 2.95 56.1 4.8 830 1600 5.95 1.23 102.6 8.72 0.011 0.041 1.200 2.34 6.5 1.91 1.95 0.650 6 0.335 0.37 8.8 79 4.39 2748 0.435 1.2 31.45 60.55 7.59 0.63 5 1.14

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

Cebu Air Inc. (5J) DFNN Inc. FEUI Globe Telecom GMA Network Inc. Harbor Star I.C.T.S.I. IPeople Inc. `A’ IP E-Game Ventures Inc. Island Info ISM Communications Jackstones Leisure & Resorts Liberty Telecom Macroasia Corp.

Manila Bulletin Melco Crown MG Holdings NOW Corp.

Phil. Racing Club Phil. Seven Corp.

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

0.0098 5.45 17.24 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 3.06 0.020 7.67 12.88 10.42 0.040 420 9

0.0043 1.72 6.47 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 1.54 0.012 5.4 7.26 2.27 0.015 115.9 3.67

Abra Mining Apex `A’ Atlas Cons. `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 Peninsula Res. Oriental Pet. `A’ Petroenergy Res. Corp.

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

TA Petroleum

92,465,473.00 6,037,182.00 -92,400.00 -27,296,200.00 11,200.00 17,021,780.00

70 553 120 515 8.21 12.28 111

33 490 101.5 480 5.88 6.5 101

-1,441,627.00 61,053,520.00

1047 76.9 84.8

1011 74.2 75

ABS-CBN Holdings Corp.

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

6.98

0.8900 LR Warrant

12.88

5.95

130.7

105.6 First Metro ETF

387,489.00 -125,207.00 -16,939,087.50 -8,140.00 15,509,740.00

78,250.00 -8,149,640.50 -4,786.00

-4,284,000.00 519,850.00 2,724,288.00 203,000.00 -1,609,976.50 22,460,520.00 -3,520.00 -25,460.00 661,760.00 -17,040.00 -41,630.00 -8,535,960.00 190,400.00 2,550,875.00 96,910.00 30,062,754.00 2,673,981.00 -7,156,965.00 -6,728,396.50 17,941,047.00 1,276,890.00

3,284,705.00 -214,849.00 41,703,026.00 1,289,870.00 -9,811,188.00 64,840.00 59,480.00 -280,100.00 2,026,140.00 33,000.00 17,300.00 91,640.00 10,650.00 37,579,508.00 1,400.00

28,457,764.00 28,463,375.00 298,846.00 15,799,025.00 -15,693,487.00 -6,713,744.00 64,702,155.00

-3,778,869.00

Xurpas

High

VALUE 1,198,230,752.20 2,042,963,879.40 1,942,236,866.726 129,781,1435.34 1,607,388,551.658 216,767,261.605 8,358,368,837.214

FINANCIAL 1,658.84 (DOWN) 2.27 INDUSTRIAL 11,476.12 (UP) 102.89 HOLDING FIRMS 6,822.70 (UP) 72.33 PROPERTY 3,104.90 (UP) 19.01 SERVICES 2,134.95 (DOWN) 11.91 MINING & OIL 11,921.58 (DOWN) 83.77 PSEI 7,550.00 (UP) 39.61 All Shares Index 4,325.79 (UP) 16.91 Gainers: 74 Losers: 87; Unchanged: 42; Total: 203

Close

1.200 0.240 37.20 3.54 0.84 0.128 0.445 13.86 0.860 0.179 1.29 1.91 1.29 4.55 0.110 0.2850 0.3850 7.24 28.60 1.64 21.25 0.75 0.800 7.020

%

Net Foreign

Change Volume

Trade/Buying

1.200 1.200 1.200 0.220 0.220 0.220 37.50 36.80 37.40 3.7 3.52 3.7 0.84 0.82 0.83 0.129 0.126 0.129 0.430 0.430 0.430 13.96 13.4 13.5 0.860 0.860 0.860 0.181 0.172 0.181 1.29 1.25 1.25 1.93 1.89 1.89 1.27 1.27 1.27 4.74 4.64 4.74 0.110 0.102 0.103 0.2850 0.2850 0.2850 0.3800 0.3700 0.3700 7.37 7.23 7.37 28.50 27.90 28.15 1.64 1.64 1.64 21.60 20.85 21.45 0.75 0.75 0.74 0.810 0.800 0.810 7.190 7.000 7.080 SERVICES 8.3 8.4 8.03 8.1 60.85 60.9 60.6 60.8 0.620 0.630 0.610 0.630 26.8 27 27 27 9.90 9.90 9.65 9.70 0.0790 0.0800 0.0790 0.0790 3.32 3.38 3.2 3.35 92.5 93.75 92.6 93 5.45 5.72 5.51 5.51 970 970 970 970 2572 2586 2542 2580 6.48 6.48 6.40 6.45 1.31 1.33 1.31 1.31 110 110.4 109 109.9 12 12 11.98 12 0.011 0.011 0.011 0.011 0.206 0.208 0.205 0.208 1.4300 1.4400 1.3900 1.3900 2.35 2.35 2.21 2.21 10.46 10.42 10.30 10.38 2.15 2.19 2.15 2.17 2.10 2.10 2.17 2.10 0.660 0.680 0.670 0.680 8.1 8.2 7.9 8 0.320 0.310 0.310 0.310 0.445 0.470 0.440 0.470 9.5 8.62 8.62 8.62 107.90 110.00 110.00 110.00 18.86 18.90 18.50 18.90 2914.00 2914.00 2880.00 2886.00 0.670 0.680 0.660 0.660 1.570 1.570 1.520 1.570 37.30 37.35 36.90 37.00 75.35 75.45 75.35 75.40 8.60 8.76 8.60 8.69 0.65 0.66 0.64 0.65 5.33 5.44 5.32 5.33 2.890 2.890 2.750 2.840 MINING & OIL 0.0067 0.0070 0.0067 0.0068 2.50 2.50 2.41 2.50 5.60 5.60 5.50 5.50 6.8000 6.7500 6.7000 6.7000 0.71 0.73 0.7 0.71 0.76 0.77 0.75 0.75 6.65 6.86 6.68 6.75 1.34 1.37 1.29 1.3 0.300 0.305 0.300 0.300 0.200 0.208 0.201 0.202 0.228 0.219 0.215 0.215 0.014 0.014 0.012 0.014 3.17 3.15 3.03 3.03 10.64 10.66 10.48 10.54 3.81 3.85 3.82 3.83 0.6500 0.6300 0.6300 0.6300 1.9700 1.9700 1.9500 1.9500 0.0100 0.0095 0.0095 0.0095 4.17 4.18 4.15 4.15 5.45 5.440 5.390 5.39 1.66 1.660 1.630 1.64 0.012 0.012 0.011 0.011 119.00 120.00 119.00 119.40 8.9 8.9 8 8.4 PREFERRED 60.6 61 60.5 60.5 527.5 528 527.5 528 118.2 118.1 118 118 522 525 522 525 6.4 6.4 6.35 6.4 1.11 1.11 1.11 1.11 111.3 111.5 111.5 111.5 1105 1105 1105 1105 1028 1030 1030 1030 75.5 75.5 75.45 75.5 84.5 84.5 84.5 84.5 WARRANTS & BONDS 4.200 4.280 4.030 4.060 SME 11.98 12.24 12 12.1 EXCHANGE TRADED FUNDS 122.4 123 122.3 123

T op g ainerS STOCKS

Low

0.00 -8.33 0.54 4.52 -1.19 0.78 -3.37 -2.60 0.00 1.12 -3.10 -1.05 -1.55 4.18 -6.36 0.00 -3.90 1.80 -1.57 0.00 0.94 0.00 1.25 0.85

1,000 50,000 14,248,600 2,885,000 463,000 2,770,000 300,000 4,396,700 609,000 1,020,000 1,438,000 9,203,000 40,000 15,758,000 210,000 20,000 130,000 35,400 1,202,200 757,000 21,159,000 410,000 84,000 6,566,400

-2.41 -0.08 1.61 0.75 -2.02 0.00 0.90 0.54 1.10 0.00 0.31 -0.46 0.00 -0.09 0.00 0.00 0.97 -2.80 -5.96 -0.76 0.93 -3.23 3.03 -1.23 -3.13 5.62 -9.26 1.95 0.21 -0.96 -1.49 0.00 -0.80 0.07 1.05 0.00 0.00 -1.73

541,200 15,490 121,000 200 2,550,300 10,570,000 412,000 923,540 139,200 1,000 111,200 60,700 39,000 1,183,940 68,200 1,800,000 1,410,000 1,115,000 12,000 1,372,400 834,000 5,000 2,000 19,342,800 110,000 60,000 1,600 350 121,900 222,010 1,438,000 13,295,000 1,415,000 394,320 1,547,900 346,000 467,400 719,000

1.49 0.00 -1.79 -1.47 0.00 -1.32 1.50 -2.99 0.00 1.00 -5.70 0.00 -4.42 -0.94 0.52 -3.08 -1.02 -5.00 -0.48 -1.10 -1.20 -8.33 0.34 -5.62

2,457,000,000 100,000 -100,000.00 111,300 9,000 1,624,000 77,000.00 731,000 8,200 14,709,000 -133,960.00 110,000 350,000 530,000 110,400,000 685,000 -351,680.00 1,409,500 536,190.00 1,142,000 -421,900.00 200,000 250,000 1,600,000 33,000 732,100 1,074,432.00 745,000 3,900,000 981,600 -26,519,152.00 3,818,400 -32,000.00

-0.17 0.09 -0.17 0.57 0.00 0.00 0.18 0.00 0.19 0.00 0.00

60,220 7,510 40,000 3,100 21,000 52,000 1,110 100 30 110,570 46,640

296,145.00

-3.33

193,000

41,000.00

1.00

4,365,200

19,001,400.00

0.49

770

6,125.00

-101,943,585.00 -31,120.00

20,332,942.00 54,000.00 6,250.00 -3,231,800.00 24,010,000.00 11,400.00 2,910.00 -17,703,650.00 11,842,055.00 -6,382,374.00 203,526.00

725,143.00 2,400.00 -3,350.00 44,332,879.00 202,090.00 13,200.00 25,623,760.00

42,300.00 10,432,000.00 108,600.00 32,249,351.00 34,100.00 4,700.00 96,216.00 -236,234,110.00 52,130.00 -1,601,410.00 -27,481,440.00 -4,827,793.00 -2,757,619.00 438,298.00

-603,283.50

T op L oSerS Close (P)

Change (%)

STOCKS

Close (P)

Change (%)

Petron Corporation

10.00

34.23

C. Azuc De Tarlac

80.00

-12.09

Agrinurture Inc.

1.76

19.73

Phil. Racing Club

8.62

-9.26

First Abacus

0.73

7.35

AG Finance

4

-8.68

NOW Corp.

0.470

5.62

Philodrill Corp. `A'

0.011

-8.33

Crown Asia

2.8

5.26

Arthaland Corp.

0.220

-8.33

Belle Corp. `A'

3.7

4.52

MRC Allied Ind.

0.103

-6.36

Megaworld

4.74

4.18

Jackstones

2.21

-5.96

First Holdings 'A'

82.8

3.50

Lepanto `B'

0.215

-5.70

ATN Holdings A

0.255

3.24

TA Petroleum

8.4

-5.62

Del Monte

13

3.17

Anglo Holdings A

1.20

-5.51

SATURDAY: AUGUST 1, 2015

B3

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

Robinsons eyes 70 Costa stores Market up again; MetroPac advances

STOCKS rose for the third day, after more companies reported profit growth in the second quarter and the US Commerce Department said the world’s largest economy grew 2.3 percent in the April-June period.

The Philippine Stock Exchange index, the 30-company benchmark, gained 39 points, or 0.5 percent, to close at 7,550 Friday.

It was up 4.4 percent since the start of the year.

The heavier index, representing all shares, also advanced 16 points, or 0.4 percent, to settle at 4,325.79, on a value turnover of P8.4 billion.

Losers outnumbered gainers, 87 to 74, while 42 issues were unchanged.

Metro Pacific Investments Corp. emerged as the biggest gainer among the 20 most active stocks, as it climbed 2.3 percent to P4.85.

SM Investments Corp., the holding company of tycoon Henry Sy, rose 1.8 percent to P893, while conglomerate Ayala Corp. of the Zobel de Ayala family added 1.7 percent to close at P780. Alliance Global Group Inc., the holding company of tycoon Andrew Tan, went up 1.6 percent to P22.60.

Meanwhile, most Asian markets advanced Friday on a healthy batch of economic growth data out of the United States but Shanghai sank again, extending the previous day’s sell-off.

The dollar ticked up, with analysts tipping further gains on expectations for a Federal Reserve interest rate rise as soon as September.

Tokyo reversed morning losses to end 0.30 percent higher, adding 62.41 points to 20,585.24, while Sydney was up 0.52 percent, or 29.68 points, at 5,699.2 and Seoul gained 0.55 percent, or 11.13 points, to 2,030.16. With AFP

By Jenniffer B. Austria

ROBINSONS Retail Holdings Inc., the retail arm of industrialist John Gokongwei, is spending P672 million to build 70 Costa Coffee stores in the Philippines over the next five years.

Costa Coffee general manager Corinne Milagan said in an interview at the sidelines of the opening of Costa Coffee’s second branch in the Philippines at Robinsons Place in Ermita, Manila the company would open three more outlets this year in Bonifacio Global Cityin Taguig, E. Rodriguez Avenue in Quezon City and Robinsons Antipolo in Rizal.

The first Costa Coffee store

opened in Eastwood City, Libis, Quezon City, and did well in its first month of operation, according to Milagan.

Milagan said for an average store size of 120 square meters, the company’s investment was about P9.6 million.

RRHI formed a new company called Robinsons Gourmet Food and Beverage Inc. to operate the Costa Coffee chain in the country.

Robinsons Gourmet teamed up with Whitbread Plc. of the United Kingdom to bring the British coffee brand to the Philippines.

RRHI president and chief operating officer Robina Gokongwei-Pe said Robinsons Gourmet would watch the growth of Costa Coffee chain, before bringing more foreign brands into the country.

Milagan said despite the aggressive expansion of other foreign and local coffee brands such as Starbucks, Coffee Bean, UCC and Figaro, the domestic market still had room for Costa Coffee.

“The market is not yet saturated. The Philippine market has matured in terms of food and drinking preference. We are graduating now from instant coffee

and we are now shifting to coffee made in a hand crafted way,” she said.

“The Filipino taste has become discriminating as they travel and through Internet and social media,” Milagan said.

Costa, a leading global coffee brand, was founded by Italian brothers Sergio and Bruno Costa in 1971 in Lambeth, London.

Costa branched out to retailing coffee in 1978, when its first store opened in Vauxhall Bridge Road, London. It was acquired by Whitbread in 1995 and became a wholly-owned subsidiary.

Costa Coffee currently has 1,968 coffee shops un UK and more than 1,247 coffee shops in 30 markets.

Robinsons Retail Holdings Inc. teamed up with Whitbread Plc. of the UK to open the second Costa Coffee store in the Philippines. Shown during the ribbon-cutting ceremony prior to the opening of Costa Coffee branch at Robinsons Place Manila in Ermita are (from left) Costa Coffee Philippines general manager Corinne Milagan, Costa Coffee International managing director Chris Rogers, RRHI president and chief operating officer Robina Gokongwei-Pe, British Ambassador to the Philippines Asif Ahmad, Robinsons Land Corp. president and chief operating officer Frederick Go and Costa Coffee franchise manager of Southeast Asia and India Matt Kenley.

GMA signs agreement with US cable company

By Darwin G. Amojelar

High-quality feeds. Agriculture Department Region IV-A director and national corn coordinator Antonio Gerundio (second from right) shows a sample of the Total Mixed Ration or TMR, a new kind of feed product for large animals, manufactured by Benacorn, a private feed-manufacturing company based in Alaminos, Laguna, which is assisted by the department under the government’s private, public partnership program.

Benacorn is a finalist of the provincial corn quality achievers search. Also shown are (from left) Benacorn chairman and president Benjie Monzones, UP Los Baños retired professor and chairman of the technical working group for the national search for corn quality achievers Edralina Serrano, Benacorn chief executive Nadjie Gapangada Jr. and Laguna provincial agriculturist Marlon Tobias,

GMA Network Inc. said Friday it teamed up with a US-based cable operator to distribute its television programs to Filipinos all over America.

The broadcast network said GMA News TV International began airing in the United States through Charter Spectrum TV on July 1.

Charter Spectrum TV, a leading broadband communications company and the fourth largest cable operator in the US, provides a full range of advanced broadband services.

GMA News TV International broadcasts the latest news straight from the Philippines. GMA Pinoy TV and GMA Life TV have been available in the US since

2005 and 2007, respectively.

“We continue to uphold our commitment to bring quality Kapuso programming to a wider audience,” GMA first vice president and head of international operations Joseph Francia said.

Allan Singer, Charter Communications senior vice president for programming said Spectrum TV offers a wide array of diverse, quality content that touches many cultures.

“We are pleased to bring GMA Pinoy TV, GMA Life TV and GMA News TV International to our customers in these communities, and more will follow,” Singer said.

Aside from the US launch, GMA’s flagship international channels have already been widely available in other parts of the world.

SATURDAY: AUGUST 1, 2015

B4

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

IN BRIEF AEV raises P24b

CONGLOMERATE Aboitiz Equity Ventures Inc. said Friday it successfully raised P24 billion from the issuance of fixed-rate retail bonds on strong demand from investors.

Aboitiz Equity said in a disclosure to the stock exchange the bonds were well received by both institutional and retail investors during the offering period, resulting in an order book that was 2.7 times oversubscribed.

Aboitiz Equity earlier secured approval from the Securities and Exchange Commission to register P25 billion worth of bonds.

The company issued P24 billion worth of bonds and placed the balance of P1 billion on shelf registration.

It issued the bonds in three tranches, with the Series A bonds due on 2020 having a fixed interest rate of 4.4722 percent. Series B Bonds due on 2022 have a fixed interest rate of 5.0056 percent while the Series C bonds due on 2027 carry a fixed interest rate of 6.0169 percent per annum.

The bonds will be listed with Philippine Dealing & Exchange Corp. on Aug 6.

Jenniffer B. Austria

Life insurers bullish

THE Philippine life insurance industry is poised to achieve its premium income target of P250 billion this year, a top executive said Friday.

Philippine Life Insurance Association and Sun Life Canada president Riza Mantaring said the outlook of the life insurance industry for the first six months of the year was “very positive.”

“Typically the second half tends to be stronger than the first so if the first quarter is an indicator, this will probably a record year for life insurance,” said Mantaring.

She said the positive outlook would be driven mainly by the robust economy despite the anemic 5.2-percent growth in the first quarter of the year.

“The market was doing very well in the first quarter so that drew a lot of sales. People are looking for investments and... remittances, BPOs [business process outsourcing], continue to be very strong. So generally the economic climate has been very good and it’s driving the growth of the industry,” she said.

Gabrielle H. Binaday

Trade law hailed

THE country’s biggest association of manufacturers yesterday hailed the passage of the Philippine Competition Act. A top official of the Federation of Philippine Industries said “the law was necessary to assure a level-playing field for all types of businesses in all industry sectors.”

FPI chairman Jesus Arranza said “the law’s passage is very much welcome news although overdue.” He added “a true climate of free competition will surely be brought about by the full implementation of this law.

“Without a doubt, such climate will force local businesses to shape up and be more efficient in the production and distribution of their goods, which will ultimately make the prices of their goods competitive,” he added.

The FPI is composed of 45 industry associations that include the production and distribution of agricultural products, vehicles, steel, ceramics and cement.

The federation also recently launched the Fight Illicit Trade Movement (Fight IT), a broadbased, multi-sectoral initiative aimed at protecting consumers, safeguard government revenues and shield legitimate industries from the ill-effects of smuggling.

Othel V. Campos

Diluted flour. Chief Inspector Jay Dimaandal (left) and Superintendent Amante Daro of Task Force Pantalan under the Criminal Investigation

and Detection Group of Philippine National Police inspect bags of General and Globe brands flour allegedly being diluted with imported, low priced Turkish flour in a warehouse of importer MCT Trading in Mandaluyong City. The flour brands are owned by General Milling Corp. and Universal Robina Corp. General Milling and URC filed with the Department o Justice charges of unfair trade and violation of intellectual property rights against MCT trading. Wellington Flour Mills also filed similar charges against MCT Trading.

Right-of-way issues hamper NGCP line

By Alena Mae S. Flores

RIGHT-OF-WAY issues are delaying the San Jose-Quezon 230-kiloVolt transmission line project, grid operator and transmission service provider National Grid Corp. of the Philippines said Friday.

National Grid said in a statement the San Jose-Quezon line would benefit electricity consumers in Metro Manila but the project had suffered a two-year delay because of unresolved issues involving informal settlers along the path of the transmission line. The project was originally scheduled to be completed in 2013.

National Grid said despite negotiations and repeated pleas,

informal settlers in Quezon City, Caloocan City, Valenzuela City and San Jose del Monte City in Bulacan refused to allow its linemen to enter the properties to conduct line and tower inspection, maintenance and upgrading activities.

The grid operator holds the right-of-way rights in the areas near and around the San JoseQuezon transmission line project, but people unlawfully occu-

pying and residing in areas along the high-voltage lines are making it difficult to implement the line upgrade.

The company said the project aims to prevent possible transmission congestion by putting 19 kilometers of lines, power circuit breakers and associated equipment in place at NGCP’s San Jose and Quezon substations.

The upgrade is part of the measures to improve the system as the demand in Metro Manila continues to increase and the substations become heavily loaded. San Jose is the main merging point of bulk generation coming from northern Luzon.

National Grid identified 23 “workable” tower sites for the line project, but 67 sites were considered “not workable” and troublesome because of stalled negotia-

tions with the informal settlers.

Of the 67 sites, 10 are already the subject of expropriation cases filed by the company, while 57 are undergoing negotiations for payment.

There are 1,022 houses and structures along the San JoseQuezon line. Of these, only 85 households have agreed to payment, and only 24 were relocated.

The rest are in various stages of validation, processing and negotiations.

National Grid said it could not maintain and upgrade the line properly amid resistance from the residents.

The company has repeatedly warned the residents that the breakdown of power transmission structures will result in the loss of bulk power supply to Metro Manila.

SEC’s public advisory misleading—Goldxtreme GOLDXTREME Trading Co. protested a public advisory issued by the Securities and Exchange Commission, after the corporate regulator cited it as among those who solicit investments without proper authorization.

The SEC in an advisory dated June 4, 2015 alerted the public about placing their money in high-risk investment schemes and to take necessary precautions.

“We have already written an official letter to Director Jose P. Aquino of the SEC to lift this advisory, because we feel that it is

highly misleading,” said Dennis Manalo, the legal counsel of Goldxtreme.

“No cases have been filed against the company, and this is only an advisory, which does not carry any enforceable action. Nevertheless, it has caused a lot of damage to the reputation of Goldxtreme and its traders, which is very much unwarranted,” he said.

Manalo said Goldxtreme’s business model did not involve and was not dependent on recruiting investors or soliciting funds from others.

“The be-all and end-all of Goldxtreme’s business is selling gold.

Period. Now, in order to assist them in their marketing and sales efforts, the company offers a commission and incentive program for existing clients who refer others to buy gold. It is essentially no different--nor any less legal --than what a lot of multinational health, beauty, and home care products are doing,” he said.

Manalo said Goldxtreme does not make any promises about “return on investment,” but rather compensates participants for their hard work and diligence in mar-

keting the product.

“The company gives you a chance to upgrade the size of the gold you bought, if you work hard enough and get enough people to become Goldxtreme customers,” he said.

Goldxtreme calls the strategy the “Gold Swap Program” that involves a graduated scale of 15 account slots. Once the entire table is completely filled up, the top account exits the table and receives a reward of 12 more grams of gold than he originally purchased. This can then be kept or sold back to the company.

s at u r D aY : a u g u s t 1 , 2 0 1 5

cesar barrioquinto EDITOR

editorial@thestandard.com.ph

US officials probe death of lion in Zimbabwe WASHINGTON—US authorities launched an investigation Thursday into the killing of a beloved lion in Zimbabwe, as the American dentist who hunted the big cat remained in hiding amid mounting global outrage.

Trophy hunter Walter Palmer killed Cecil the lion earlier this month after the feline was allegedly lured out of the Hwange National Park boundaries with a dead animal as bait.

The professional Zimbabwean hunter who organized the hunt has been charged in Zimbabwe with “failing to prevent an illegal hunt.” But a court hearing for the landowner accused of allowing the hunt was delayed on Thursday.

The US government, meanwhile, has opened a probe into the hunt.

“The US Fish & Wildlife Service is investigating the circumstances surrounding the killing of Cecil the lion,” said Edward Grace, deputy chief of law enforcement at the agency.

But Palmer remained out of the public eye, and US authorities said they have had no luck so far in their efforts to track him down.

“Multiple efforts to contact Dr Walter Palmer have been unsuccessful,” Grace said.

“We ask that Dr Palmer or his representative contact us immediately.”

Crowds left plush toys of lions, tigers and monkeys at his River Bluff Dental practice in Minnesota. A sign reading “Rot in Hell” was plastered on the office door.

An online petition garnered more than 850,000 signatures expressing outrage over Cecil’s slaughter, while more than 100,000 concerned Americans on the White House website urged the government “to fully cooperate with the Zimbabwe authorities and to extradite Walter Palmer promptly at the Zimbabwe government’s request.” AFP

world

B5

Cop pleads not guilty in killing of black man CHICAGO—A white Ohio policeman who shot a black man during a routine traffic stop pleaded not guilty to murder charges Thursday as two of his colleagues were suspended.

7 col x 10 cm

Premiere. Author/actress Julie Klausner speaks before the Hulu Original “Difficult People” Premiere on July 30 in New York City. AFP

How do you want your news served today? www.thestandard.com.ph

The family of Sam DuBose, 43, has said he would have been dismissed as just “one other stereotype” of a violent black man were it not for a body camera video which showed DuBose did nothing to justify the shooting.

The case comes as the United States grapples with heightened racial tensions in the wake of a series of high-profile incidents of unarmed African Americans being killed by police in disputed circumstances.

It has also raised concerns about the so-called ‘blue wall of silence’ that prevents police who commit misdeeds from being caught because their colleagues will either not report them or cover for them.

University of Cincinnati campus police officer Ray Tensing told investigators that he opened fire out of fear for his life after DuBose tried to drive away and dragged the officer along with him.

One of the officers who responded to the shooting said he saw Tensing being dragged, according to an initial police report.

But prosecutors said a review of the footage showed Tensing was never in danger during the July 19 incident and only hit the ground after he fired the deadly shot.

Two of the responding officers were “placed on paid administrative leave because an internal investigation is now under way,” a spokeswoman for the university told AFP. The bodycam video shows Tensing approach the car and ask DuBose for his license and registration.

DuBose calmly asks why he was pulled over and eventually tells Tensing that he left his license at home.

Then, less than two minutes into the exchange, DuBose reaches for the keys and Tensing can be heard shouting “STOP! STOP!” In the blink of an eye, a gun pops into view and DuBose slumps over in his seat. The video bounces as Tensing chases after the car as it rolls down the street. AFP

B6

s at u r D aY : a u g u s t 1 , 2 0 1 5

world

cesar barrioquinto EDITOR

editorial@thestandard.com.ph

Refugees stream into Serbia PRESEVO, Serbia—At the crack of dawn hundreds of refugees, most of them Syrians, stream into Serbia’s southern valley of Presevo after a perilous journey they hope will lead to a new life in the European Union.

“It’s a dangerous road, we’ve been walking for days,” says Mahmoud Rashid, a 25-year-old Kurd from northern Syria’s devastated city of Aleppo.

For several weeks the men and women, some carrying babies, had mostly walked -- crossing through minefields on the

Syrian-Turkish border, camping in forests, and hiding from mafia gangs as they passed through Greece and Macedonia.

At Presevo, they are met by local officials who usher them into a temporary reception center to receive medical aid, food and shelter.

The majority hope the stay in Presevo, a mostly-ethnic Albanian town of some 30,000, will last only a few hours―the time it takes to apply for asylum in order to get a document legalizing their stay in Serbia for 72 hours.

Once the precious piece of paper is in hand, the plan is to board a train or bus to the northern town of Subotica on the Hungarian border.

But many have discovered that

making that crossing is not as easy as thought, given Hungary is building a four-meter high fence to keep migrants out.

The number of people apprehended crossing the SerbiaHungary border alone has risen by more than 2,500 percent since 2010 from 2,370 to 60,602, Amnesty International said in a report in early July.

Those caught are stuck in Serbia, resulting in a sharp jump in the number of asylum seekers there.

Since the beginning of the year, more than 37,000 asylum seekers have been registered in the exYugoslavia republic, the interior ministry said.

And with between 800 and 1,000 refugees arriving every day in the Presevo valley in re-

cent weeks, according to official estimates, fears are growing of a looming crisis in Serbia.

“It’s just the beginning of the refugee crisis in Serbia. Wait until autumn,” said an international relief worker who did not want to be named.

“I have a feeling the country will not be able to cope without strong foreign backup.”

Underlining the pressing demand, local Red Cross official Ahmet Alimi said: “Since we established the centre a week ago some 5,000 people have passed through, twice more than the number registered by the authorities since early June.”

In a visit to Serbia this month, German Chancellor Angela Merkel pledged that the EU would help Hungary and western

Balkan countries deal with the sudden influx of migrants.

At the time, Prime Minister Aleksandar Vucic stressed that the “immigrants are a joint problem and we will need Europe’s help to resolve it.”

Visiting Presevo in July to assess the impact of the refugee influx, he asked migrants: “Are people here friendly? Do you have enough to eat?”

For many Syrian refugees, Greece is typically the first EU port of call but most try to slip through unnoticed to avoid seeking asylum in a country mired in a debt crisis where they expect little material support.

So instead they head through the Balkans, many hoping to wind up in affluent Germany or Sweden. AFP

Wreckage likely from MH370

Balloon meeting. Hot air balloons fly over the Chambley Airbase in northeastern France on July 31 during the international hot air balloons meeting “Lorraine Mondial Air Ballons in Hageville. AFP EXTRAJUDICIAL SETTLEMENT OF ESTATE WITH DEED OF ABSOLUTE SALE Notice hereby given that the estate of the late ALFREDO ANG was E X T R A - J U D I C I A L LY SETTLED by his heirs KHA TY CHAN, WILLIAM ANG, GEORGE ANG, RICHARD ANG & JOHN ANG as per Doc. No. 309 Page No. 63; Book No. XX, Series of 2015 before Notary Public Atty. Geronimo B. Halili (TS-AUG. 1,8,15,2015)

In Classified Ads section must be brought to our attention the very day the advertisement is published.

We will not be responsible for any incorrect ads not reported to us immediately.

N OTICE Notice is hereby given that BILKENN CORPORATION, with office address at 60 Quezon Avenue, Brgy. Tatalon, Quezon City, is applying for registration with the Board of Investments (BOI) as a new developer of economic and low-cost housing project (Summer Pine Subdivision) with a capacity of 663 economic and low-cost housing units on a non-pioneer status with project site at San Jose I & II, San Antonio I, Noveleta, Cavite.

Any person with valid objection/s on the abovementioned project may file his/her objection in writing, under oath, with the BOI within three (3) days from the date of this publication.

(SGD.) RAFAELITO H. TARUC Director (TS-AUGUST 1, 2015)

Erdogan blames Europe for drowning of refugees JAKARTA—Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan accused Europe on Friday of not doing enough to help refugees fleeing conflict in Syria and Iraq, suggesting it was responsible for people “drowning in the sea”.

Turkey, which has taken in some 1.8 million Syrian refugees since the conflict started in 2011, has repeatedly said it has been left to shoulder a disproportionate burden as Western states stand by.

Erdogan has championed an “open-door” policy toward Syrian refugees, despite their increasing presence in the major Turkish cities and stoking tensions with locals.

The president complained again Friday that Turkey had “welcomed” two million refugees from war-torn Syria and Iraq while Europe had struggled to accept a tenth of that number.

“This is the type of country that we are,” Erdogan, through

a translator, told an audience at a military think tank in Jakarta at the start of a two-day visit to Indonesia.

“But when you look at the whole of Europe, what you find is that they have not been able to welcome a mere 200,000 refugees in their countries.

“What’s more, when there are those who tried to cross the Mediterranean Sea to get into Europe, the attitude they have or the groundwork they lay is such that these people end up drowning in the sea,” he added.

The outspoken president has not been alone in criticizing the West on refugees, with the UN’s refugee chief urging countries to follow Turkey’s lead and open up their borders.

Erdogan said this week the formation of a safe zone inside wartorn Syria, free from the Islamic State group, would help 1.7 million refugees return home. AFP

SYDNEY—Authorities hunting for Malaysia Airlines flight MH370 said Friday they were “increasingly confident” that the wreckage found on an Indian Ocean island was from the ill-fated jet, raising hopes of solving one of aviation’s great mysteries.

The six-foot-long piece of wreckage is to be sent to France for analysis, with expectations building it will be the first tangible proof the plane went down in the Indian Ocean.

Investigators are hoping they will then move closer to understanding the mystery swirling around the Malaysia Airlines Boeing 777, which vanished 16 months ago with 239 people aboard, most of them Chinese.

“We are increasingly confident that this debris is from MH370,” Martin Dolan, chief commissioner of the Australian Transport Safety Bureau, which is leading the MH370 search, told AFP. “The shape of the object looks very much like a very specific part associated only with 777 aircraft.”

Dolan cautioned that it remained to be confirmed, but said he was hoping for greater clarity “within the next 24 hours”.

Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Razak had said Thursday the object was “very likely” from a Boeing 777, but also said this had yet to be confirmed.

Several experts have said the debris is a Boeing 777 flaperon, a wing part, and that if it is confirmed it almost certainly belonged to the Malaysia Airlines plane.

The debris washed up on the French island of La Reunion, some 4,000 kilometers from the oceanic region where MH370 was thought to have gone down in March last year.

The recovered object is expected to be flown to a testing site in France near the city of Toulouse for analysis by aviation authorities and could reach there by Saturday, French sources told AFP. Authorities involved in the search at sea, guided by the analysis of signals from the plane that were detected by a satellite, believe it went down in the southern Indian Ocean.

But no confirmed physical evidence has ever been found and Malaysian authorities in January declared that all on board were presumed dead.

Australian Transport and Infrastructure Minister Warren Truss said he remained confident the hunt for MH370 was being conducted in the right area, with wreckage in La Reunion consistent with currents from the zone they were scouring.

“It’s not positive proof, but the fact that this wreckage was sighted on the northern part of the Reunion Island is consistent with the current movements, it’s consistent with what we might expect to happen in these circumstance,” he said.

But Truss added that even if found to be from MH370, it would not narrow down the location of the main debris field or explain why the jet crashed. AFP

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PROPERTY

JOEL D. L ACSAMANA EDITOR

jdlacsamana@gmail.com

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innovAtion tAkes center stAGe At Posh BGc condo

A

classic sells

Four-level, two-level villas anyone?

By joel lAcsAmAnA

yala Land's high-end brand, Ayala Land Premier, recently launched another residential condominium tower at the Bonifacio Global City (BGC) in Taguig.

The P11.5 billion project, called the West Gallery Place, serves as a follow-up to the East Gallery Place, which has sold P9.3 billion worth or 84 percent of its inventory to date.

East Gallery was launched October last year.

The new 49-storey West Gallery has units priced P13 million and above, with some 48 units valued at P1.6 billion already sold in the past month.

The tower has 420 units ranging in size from 52 sqm for a one-bedroom to 701 sqm for a four-level villa.

It also features a 832 sqm unit, called the Skyrise 49, on the topmost floor.

The special unit costs P234 million.

Project for A Premium mArket Ayala Land Premiere said the new development provides its premium market a second opportunity to live

in BGC's High Street South Block, known for its boutiques, restaurants, and creative office spaces.

“West Gallery Place provides another opportunity to live the vibrant, stylish, and creative life that High Street South Block evokes, while providing something distinctive in character,” said Mike Jugo, ALP’s director for sales. “It’s a location where a premium residence like West Gallery Place will be the superior choice in living spaces.”

Featuring the return of its innovative townhouse living within a residential building, West Gallery Place will have two units of the four-level Villa. These four-level Villas come with their own private elevator, wrap-around balconies on all levels, pool, and a large outdoor deck.

For those who prefer only two levels of living space, six units of the two-level villas will be available. These villas will be 259-291sqm in size, with three-bedrooms and balcony sizes of up to 26sqm.

Skycove units, of which there are only nine bi-level units with a private deck, are even more expansive at 259-334sqm in size with views extending to either the

eastern or western horizons of the metro. Finally are the three-bedroom Skyrise units, located on the 47th and 48th floors, these units have a 4-meter high ceiling in the living and dining areas that offer sweeping views of the BGC skyline.

The special Skyrise 49, at the topmost level, features a pool, covered terrace, an outdoor deck, and a great hall with a junior master bedroom. It is the sole residence on that floor.

West Gallery Place provides unobstructed views of the Terra 28th park from the West, while its southern and eastern sides present views of Gallery Park – the park separating East and West Gallery Place – at the lower floors. To take advantage of these views, the Courtyard units were introduced. Courtyard units are a mix of one-, two-, and three-bedroom configurations from the 2nd to the 6th level.

The three-bedroom units, also known as the Park View Suites, are larger than usual with unit sizes ranging from 213-277sqm with balconies.

The development will be completed by the third quarter of 2021.

BIR’s HenaRes tells pRopeRty IndustRy to sHape up

B

ureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) commissioner Kim Henares called on real estate developers, particularly those into the construction of low cost housing projects, to police their ranks and show government regulators that they are trustworthy enough to merit to tax incentives and more relaxed compliance requirements.

The straight-talking tax chief was addressing officials of The Organization of Property Stakeholders (TOPS) and the Land Registration Authority (LRA) at a conference held this week at the Fairmont Hotel in Makati City. “i wish one day the Philippines would be made up of people who are honest,” opined Henares during the spirited open forum after her talk. “It has been my experience that businesses will try to cheat government when they

can. They won’t sacrifice their profit margins, and are always asking for incentives. But the reality is if the government doesn’t have money, we can’t give the necessary infrastructure. If there is no infrastructure, how can people go from one place to another?

And if they can’t do this, there will be no real estate or property development to speak of,” she said.

Henares said the BIR sees the construction and real estate development sectors, and their financial intermediaries as “under-performing.”

“The numbers tell me that something is wrong,” she said. “I am all for housing, but the housing development law has been there for a long time…it says set aside 20 percent for building low cost housing. I don’t see this as a problem of government. I see this as a problem of the industry.”

Go west, meGAworld! Global-Estate Resorts, Inc. (GERI), a subsidiary of property giant Megaworld, recently broke ground for Alabang West, a 62-hectare township development along Daang Hari, Las Pinas City. Among the highlights of the project: an upscale Alabang West Village, and a 1.3-kilometer commercial and retail strip called Rodeo Drive. At the groundbreaking rites were Arthur Lapira, project manager, GERI; Rowena Sansano, assistant vice president for architectural planning, Megaworld; Rachelle Penaflorida, vice president for sales and marketing, Megaworld Global-Estate, Inc. Arch. Rissa Flores, architectural design officer, GERI; Karla Reina Quimpo, senior sales director, Megaworld Global-Estate, Inc.; and Carlos Segundo Vargas III, senior sales director, Megaworld Global-Estate, Inc.

e-titlinG E-titling was one of the main issues tackled in the TOPS-LRA Summit 2015, a joint activity. The LRA announced at the conference that the public will soon be able to validate the location of their titled property, inform property owners about Registry of Deeds action on their property by way of Short Messaging Service (SMS) or text message, and give them the opportunity to trace their titles’ history and legitimacy through computerized information.

The LRA said it will launch three services -- the Lot Location Service (LLS), Title Transaction Alert (TTA), and Title Trace Back (TTB) -- under the Land Titling Computerization Project (LTCP).

LLS lets the public verify land title locations, and possible errors and inconsistencies in the Technical Description of their titles. The

tax woman nixes incentives, exemptions, zonal valuation re-appraisals.

“There is no evidence i can treat the majority of taxpayers in the industry as adults; for now, most are acting like children.”

TTA alerts landowners via SMS whenever their titles are accessed at the Registry of Deeds. The TTB enables them to trace their title’s history and verify its legitimacy.

Bunched together under the e-Titling Project, the LTCP provides the public with a service that maintains a secure and accurate record of titles, including identification of fake land titles. The project was launched in 2013 but still has to be fully implemented.

recio Puts stAmP on strAtford residences.

Picar Development is currently touting the 74-hectares Stratford Residences along Kalayaan Avenue in Makati City as the tallest residential tower in the Philippines. Known for groundbreaking projects in prime locations, Picar is building up the 1.3-hectare development as a benchmark for new trends in lifestyle, culinary innovations, and global hospitality.

Renowned architect Jose Pedro Recio, the man behind Rchitects Inc., was tapped by Picar to beef up the edifice’s structural engineering, while interior designers Ivy and Cynthia Almario of Atelier Almario worked their magic to provide functional luxury to the project.

Under the LTCP, titleholders may upgrade paper titles to e-titles to make it difficult to tamper with. eTitles are generated from the system, while an Owner’s Duplicate Certificate of Title is printed in the LRA-controlled Judicial Form.

TOPS is a broad-based group of organizations including real estate developers and brokers, banks and other financial institutions, and government agencies involved in the property sector.

hilltoP hAven. Tagaytay Highlands, the leisure development arm of the SM Group of Companies, recently launched Aspenhills, a 27-hectares development along Tagaytay ridge, a few hours south of Metro Manila. The project offers great views of Batangas, Laguna, Canlubang Valley and Laguna de Bay, and a ranch-style, mountain lodge-themed community with modern amenities, and 24-hour gated security. An added bonus: Aspenhill residents can take their pick of Tagaytay Highlands’ nature facilities which meander through 1,290 hectares of awe-inspiring greenery.

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JOEL D. L ACSAMANA EDITOR jdlacsamana@gmail.com

PROPERTY ‘GrEENwasHiNG’ bEcomiNG dE riGuEur iN propErty scENE ?

E

nvironmental ‘tokenism’ is beginning to plague the local property development scene. It’s gotten so bad that green technology advocates have recently stepped up warnings of slick marketing strategies for products being passed off as environment-friendly, when they are not.

Urban planning guru Paulo Alcazaren feels local certifications and standards should be tightened up, and monitoring practices made more stringent to guide consumers on product credibility.

Renowned property development consultant Felino Palafox, Jr. believes government regulators should consider sweetening the pot for those using green technology. One way to do this, he said, is to lower the cost of green equipment and encourage players to embrace these technologies.

‘Greenwashing’ is simply a misrepresentation that a product is environment-friendly. This is happening in the local property sector with some developers claiming their developments to be green to lure buyers and clients.

Billboards and posters of a number of ongoing projects in areas like Fort Bonifacio and the Makati and Ortigas central business districts (CBDs) claiming green participation are all over Metro Manila.

NExt timE you buy a coNdo¼. .

One invariably encounters claims about environmental features when shopping for a condominium unit, a townhouse or a house. Most developers and contractors will try to entice you to buy their products because they help you live a better life, and “help save the planet.”

“Greenwashing is the term used to deceive people into purchasing a company’s products and services based on false or misleading claims regarding their environmental benefits,” said Alcazaren in an interview

with The Standard at the recent Property Awards in Makati City.

“The concept of a green building has been sweeping the country for more than a decade now, he explained. “Since then many people in the building industry have been trying to cash in on the movement, offering all kinds of promises that mislead uninformed buyers simply because they are not aware of what to watch out for.”

The most common examples of greenwashing are building products that claim to be biodegradable when they are not. These products have attractive glossy brochures with eye-catching phrases, images and varying shades of green. They may even be certified by some organizations that claim to be green, but actually do not have the technical capability to scientifically evaluate and rate the product.

“Many developers and advertising agencies that promote buildings and housing units are guilty of greenwashing,” Alcazaren said. “Merely by providing landscaping and attractive façades, these structures are falsely claimed to be green. With no legitimate green certification, it’s difficult to confirm their claims.”

This is where credible certifying body organizations, like the Philippine Green Building Council (PhilGBC), should step in as they play an important role in protecting the public against deceptive claims by those pretending to construct green buildings,” said Palafox in a paper sent to The Standard..

Based on PhilGBC’s description, “green building” is the practice of designing, constructing, operating, or reusing buildings in an ecological and resource efficient manner.

The PhilGBC is an organization established by real estate stakeholders that promotes and ensures an ecologically and economically sustainable manner of

market forces at work. Solar panel technology at the ADB Building in Ortigas Centre.

“The ROI for solar panels have been going down in recent years.”

a structure’s design, construction and operation in the country.

“We need certifying bodies like the PhilGBC with BERDE, and also the green eco-labeling,” Palafox said.

PhilGBC is not the only organization that provides standards for developers to adopt. The others are the US-based US Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) pushed by the US Green Building Council; the Building Research Establishment Environmental Assessment Method (BREAM) of the UK Green Building Council; the Hong Kong Building Environmental Assessment Method (BEAM) of the HK Beam Society; Comprehensive Assessment System for Building Environmental Efficiency (CASBEE) of Japan’s Sustainable Building Consortium; Green Star by the Green Building Council Australian; Green Mark by the Singapore Building and Construction Authority; SBTool by the International Initiative for Sustainable Built Environment; and Green Globes of the Green Globes which is implemented both in Canada and in the US. How caN coNsumErs protEct tHEmsElvEs? A simple definition of a green development is that it uses resources with minimal impact on the environment. Applied to buildings, a structure saves water, energy and uses sustainable materials while ensuring occupant well being.

A green building helps reduce utility costs because its design provides access to natural daylight (reduces electricity cost for lighting), natural ventilation (reduces electricity cost for air-conditioning), and the use of water-saving technology (reduces water consumption).

“Almost all Ayala luxury residential and office developments incorporate natural ventilation and lighting in its projects,” claimed Manuel Illana, senior

architect and studio head of Ayala Land Premier (ALP). At the launch last week of its latest development at Bonifacio Global City called West gallery Place, he told The Standard that lifestyle changes over the past five years have affected ALP’s approach to sustainable design and construction.

“Our customers now expect green spaces and new resources-saving technology in our developments,” he said. “So while it is a good time to build, we have to innovate to be competitive in this robust market.”

But more than just the sales pitch, green buildings cost less due to the installation of low-maintenance materials that last long. Some building materials , for example, do not require repainting (eliminating building maintenance costs).

“Everyone should be aware that greenwashing is going on and it is being advertised as a competitive advantage,” said Alcazaren. “This is even more important for prospective homeowners, many of who make the biggest investment of their lives based on perceptions of “green” without even knowing what it really means.”

He advised buyers to take advertising with a grain of salt “until you read up on the green features that are being claimed.”

“Familiarize yourself with green technology and environmental jargon,” he said. “ Ask questions and challenge the realtors.”

GrEEN buildiNGs oN tap An example of a green building is The Net Lima in Fort Bonifacio.

It incorporates designs like sun shading and a full glass curtain wall, which reduce energy use particularly on air-conditioning and fiberglass fuel storage tanks with built-in leak detection for generators used during power outages.

The 33-storey Zuellig building at the intersection of Makati Avenue

and Paseo de Roxas, makes use of materials and operations that protect the environment, thanks to its pollution prevention features, water efficient landscaping, carbon dioxide monitoring and an indoor air quality and temperature regulator, among others. It is the first building in the Philippines that has been awarded with a certification at Gold level under the Leadership for Energy and Environmental Design Core, and Shell (LEEDCS) program of the United States’ Green Building Council.

GrEEN tEcHNoloGiEs bEcomiNG cost-EffEctivE? Both Alcazaren and Palafox agree that adopting green technologies could be expensive, and may add up to about 10 percent to total costs compared to using conventional designs and technology.

“You have to be more informed.,” Alcazaren said. “Market forces, in a way, are doing their part as Return on Investment (ROI) for solar panels technologies, for example, have been going down in recent years. We’re getting there. Green technologies are gradually becoming more cost-effective.”

Palafox feels government regulators could do something that could lessen the cost of buying these equipment.

He noted that in countries like Singapore and Dubai, green practitioners are actually given cash incentives for developing green structures.

Despite the sudden proliferation of authentic green buildings and green projects in major CBDs, Palafox said the state of the country’s green building industry is still far behind compared to the rest of the world, saying that “we are just starting in the Philippines.”

“The advocacy for green living had been long in the Philippines, but is taking a long time to take root,” he observed.

pldt HomE tiEs up witH fox. PLDT Home and Smart Communications recently brought in Fox International Channels as its latest content partner.

This comes on the heels of their tie up with Internet TV service provider iFlix . “This content partnership with Fox gives us breadth and depth in our entertainment library,” PLDT consumer business group head Ariel Fermin told The Standard. “As we go for these kinds of digital multimedia content, expect our data revenues to get higher than the traditional services of calling and text,” he said. As of end-March, PLDT’s mobile data business posted a 19-percent increase in revenues to P2.2 billion. PLDT chairman Manuel V. Pangilinan and Smart President Napoleon Nazareno (shown in photo) gave Fermin (far left) support at the launch held at Green Sun Hotel in Makati City.

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C1

TATUM ANCHETA EDITOR

BING PAREL

A S S O C I AT E E D I T O R

BERNADETTE LUNAS

life @ thestandard.com .ph

WRITER

@LIFEatStandard

P OP CU LT U RE

LIFE

‘Starmap 3’ with lights on, thread on paper, lightbox

Works in progress

TAHIGAMI:

Discovering the common threads that connect us Datu Arellano

Field, Framed Tahigami

Still frame from ‘Tahigami Music: Series 2’ video

Working on ‘Halo Cluster’ drawing

F

BY BERNADETTE LUNAS PHOTOS COURTESY OF DATU ARELLANO

or the most part, the emphasis on art has always been on its artistic value and meaning. A manifestation of self-expression wherein many are more fixated on the product – the personification of the artist’s creativity – rather than the discipline and the process that went behind it.

It’s understandable considering that the audience mostly only sees the final output, so to speak, that appreciation for it lies in how the artwork stirs them, or how they identify with the piece. But in some forms of art, the process is often more intriguing, and understanding it – or at least being aware of it – helps viewers decipher its meaning.

Tahigami is one of those art techniques whose discipline and process are as fascinating, if not more so, as its products.

A fairly new art method, Tahigami is a rule-based drawing developed by 35-year-old visual artist and musician Datu Arellano. It’s a process-oriented technique, meaning its outcome and composition are made by following a set of parameters and procedures.

On the surface, one would see connected dots, intersecting lines and triangles in varying sizes, all of which create a bigger, abstract picture in a frame.

But on a deeper level, Arellano sees each of his Tahigami work as about “connecting, discovering common threads, finding intersections and meaning, and forming new relationships,” born out of his obsession with the three-sided polygon back in 2011.

“I don’t remember how it all started but I became obsessed with triangles,” shares Arellano who, after sacrificing sculpture because of space and monetary constraints in 2005, resorted to making art that he could easily do in his spare time and in a limited space.

“So I made music and filled up my sketchbooks with lots of doodles. In 2011 I made a sketch, prototype of what was to become Tahigami. This drawing

had the triangle as the basic building block,” he relates.

He admits that in the beginning he didn’t know exactly what he was doing, but he kept on and explored more because it “felt right” and that there was “something in it.”

From freehand, abstract, geometric drawing, Arellano then made up rules to create these drawings. “The more I drew, the more the lines became precise, the more ideas were generated, and the definition of what I was doing became a lot clearer,” he shares.

One day, he thought of using thread to draw lines instead of ink, and a year later found a name for it.

Tahigami came from Filipino word tahi (stitch) and Japanese term gami/ kami (paper). Combined, Tahigami literally means “stitching on paper.”

But aside from stitching or sewing on paper, it is, according to Arellano, heavily influenced by the Japanese art of paper folding – origami – and the interesting world of triangle geometry. The resulting images loosely resemble folded papers.

The parameters of Tahigami are pretty simple but require discipline to carry out. As with ink or thread, a line cannot be bisected and quadrilaterals are not allowed. You start with puncture then create thread (line) anywhere and from there, draw the seed (triangle) that would connect to other threads and form buds, until an abstract picture called blossom materializes.

“I made up the rules along the way.

I just kept on drawing, analyzing and defining, until I had something concrete and meaningful,” says Arellano, who’s also a web development instructor and web and print designer.

From ink, thread and paper, Tahigami eventually crossed over to other forms of media, from analog world to illustrations and animations in the digital realm, to murals and paintings, to video, to merchandising, and to, interestingly, music.

It wasn’t until 2014 that Tahigami was shown publicly. Artist-curator Ling Quisumbing Ramilo invited him to join a group exhibition called “Kandinsky” which had music in its core theme. “It was then that I discovered, developed and gave birth to Tahigami Music,” shares Arellano, adding, “The public’s reaction was surprisingly positive.”

Through Tahigami, Arellano explores geometry, algorithmic thinking, time and space, order and chaos, and melody and harmony. But apart from having an avenue to reflect on these, he says the process of Tahigami is therapeutic for him. And being an artist “who believes that the process is more important than the product,” he finds it intriguing.

“It’s meditative in a way, but it’s not like Zen meditation where you clear your mind and focus on nothing but your breath. Tahigami takes my mind to many places,” says Arellano.

He adds that there are moments when he just falls into some kind of a flow where “I don’t have to think too much, where the physical and repetitive aspect of drawing or stitching becomes almost automatic.”

Analyzing himself throughout the process, he says he noticed a change in him. “I regard myself as a generally patient person, but after years of doing this I’ve become even more patient and less irritable than before,” shares Arellano.

Besides plans to branch Tahigami out into the realm of performing arts, Arellano says he’s been having discussions with his psychologist cousin about the possibilities of teaching Tahigami to other people and incorporating it into group therapy. “Can it heal others? That’s what I want to find out next,” he enthuses.

After six months of preparation, Arellano exhibits his Tahigami artwork at The Inner Room in Art Informal, Mandaluyong City. The exhibit is ongoing until August 8. To know more about Tahigami and Tahigami Music, visit www.datuarellano.com/all-projects

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LIFE life @ thestandard.com .ph

@LIFEatStandard

LEONINE:

NINE GREAT LEO MEN IN HISTORY THE ARMCHAIR PILOSOPA

BY IZZY WARREN GONZALEZ

I’m a big birthday person. Huge.

Most Leos I know are. Perhaps this is because we don’t usually have the license to spend an entire day doing how many of us would prefer to spend our entire lives: in complete celebration of our ability to experience the world with us in it, and what sort of (hopefully!) positive impact that has on the lives of people around us. I don’t think we celebrate our birthdays as much as we celebrate the people whose birthday it may be. Which is also why you might notice that Leos tend to make a big deal about your birthdays, too, if you’ve passed the cordon sanitaire of their lives.

People who can call us Leos friends are people who can call us in the middle of the night, during a DefCon 1, cats-flying-around-in-twisters, flooding-like-the-dam-burst sort of storm, and ask if we were doing anything, and if we could please come over because he didn’t like the

sound of thunder. I have noticed, not necessarily in myself but in the Leos I admire, an ability to uplift spirits and provide encouragement when times are rough. We are enthusiastic. We are social. We are magnetic.

From experience, we are very difficult not to liked from the get-go – but it takes a special sort of person to have the patience for us for a prolonged period of time. I don’t blame you, either. It’s exhausting being around a Leo, a big ball of fire and fury and passion, all the time. We do not hold grudges, we forgive (mostly because we like to forget), and most of all, we have a great amount of respect not for those who we feel deserve it but who we know have earned it from those who are better than the likes of us.

Our pride is easily hurt, and while this can cause us to be selfcentered and thick, more often than not, the underlying warmth of our hearts and personalities can help offset that. But do you want to know a secret? It’s like that Cheap Trick song from 1978: “I want you to want me, I need you to need me, I love you to love me, I’m begging you to beg me.” Leos have an

Jesus. St Johns Ashfield, Stained Glass Good Shepherd

Benito Amilcare Andrea Mussolini

Alfred Tennyson

Carl Jung

unimaginable need to be needed. They live for others, and it hurts, very keenly I might add, when their motives are mistaken for self-serving aggrandizement.

Does this sound familiar? I am sure a great many Leos live in your general orbit, but a fair amount of Leos have made their mark on history in a very big way. It is actually believed by certain people that the signs of the Zodiac portray the panorama of the Plan of God throughout human history – from the Garden of Eden well into the Millennium. The Gospel of Jesus is

Napoléon Bonaparte

King Solomon

thought to start from Virgo, the virgin birth, and it continues on to Leo, the Lion of the Tribe of Judah, who will return at the Second Advent and rule for a thousand years.

Yes, despite Monty Python cementing it in our brains that Jesus was a Capricorn (or was that just Brian?), the semiotics of his is very much that of a Leo. Of the 12 sons of Jacob, Judah was given the firstborn right of rulership. He was called a Lion, as Jesus is called the Lion of the Tribe of Judah.

Furthermore, it is said that the Lord designed a tabernacle for the Sun (Leo’s star sign). The Sun symbolizes Jesus (“I am the Light of the world”), as well as also being reminiscent of a king. David might’ve been a Leo, as he lived through the Lion’s Den, but more often equated with Leo and all the characteristics we’ve mentioned above is King Solomon.

According to the Talmud, Solomon is one of the 48 prophets, and he is credited as the builder of the First Temple in Jerusalem. The Tanakh portrays him as great in

Louis Armstrong

Andy Warhol

wisdom, wealth, and power – but ultimately as a king whose sins, including idolatry and threatening to cut babies in half with a scimitar among them, led to the kingdom being torn in two. That must’ve caused all sorts of issues requiring therapy, and who better to step in as a great Leo in history but the incomparable Carl C. Jung? This Leo was a Swiss psychiatrist and psychotherapist who founded analytical psychology. His work has been influential in psychiatry, philosophy, anthropology, archaeology, and religion.

He coined the terms “introvert” and “extrovert,” was mentored by Sigmund Freud until sex got between them (Freud was too hung up on it; Jung believed we are more than our basal desires), and his theory of personality types greatly influenced the MyersBrigss Type Indicator (MBTI) which is still used in HR practices today. He was also featured in The Police’s final album, Synchronicity. It was named after Jung’s theory, and on the cover, Sting is seen reading a book of the same title by Jung.

Continued on C3

Stop saying ‘netizen,’ you’re using it wrong

Online converations also happen offline

This little girl is a netizen

Tweeting makes you a netizen

Netizen (noun): an active participant in the online community of the Internet (Merriam-Webster) Strictly speaking, a netizen is simply a person who uses the Internet actively as a participant in the community of users. If you THE GIST tweet, you’re a netizen. If you post

BY ED BIADO pictures, you’re a netizen. If you comment on a story, you’re a netizen. If you share other people’s post, you’re a netizen.

Yet somehow, in the Philippines, there are different perceptions on netizenship. On more than a few occasions, politicians have accused netizens of being “paid hacks” and activists. Extremists, even. Broadcast news would report on how netizens are up in arms against a certain government measure or legal policy, or how they’re always signing online petitions. Netizens are bashers, some celebrities claim.

Let’s repeat Merriam-Webster’s definition. A netizen is “an active participant in the online community of the Internet.”

The keyword is active. Therefore, it makes sense that Filipino netizens are vocal, opinionated and unafraid to share their views. And because they’re that active, it’s expected that they are among the first ones to speak on (or against) an issue, scrutinize controversies, and nitpick everything: from the latest Nancy Binay dress to the state of the Freedom of Information bill; from Yaya Dub’s rising popularity to Lea Salonga’s Twitter rants.

But it’s the same conversations that take place in schools, at barbershops, at sari-sari stores, at the carinderia, at the fish ball stand, at dinner tables.

Netizens are not alien beings. They – we – are regular Filipinos who happen to be online. The term itself, a portmanteau of “citizen” and “Internet,” informs that it’s just

that: a citizen of the Internet. So when you read a headline saying that “netizens react” to this and that, the publication is not talking about a a new human species. Some of those so-called netizens could be your next-door neighbors, your coworkers, or even your own children.

Yet these reports make it appear that the entire Filipino online community is in on it and collectively plotting to bring someone down whenever something of note happens. Consider these headlines pulled from Google News search results:

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Netizens back Miss Jamaica after MJ Lastimosa’s Miss Universe loss Animal cruelty video angers netizens Netizens enraged over Balesin’s ‘yaya meal’ ‘Ungrateful’ Veloso mom enrages netizens Data from September last year shows that 38 million Filipinos use the Internet. That’s a third of the country’s population. Two in three online Filipinos are under 30 years old. Almost 19 in 20 of us with Internet access are on Facebook.

And all of us who are active on any online platform, including Facebook, are netizens.

Therefore, I’m a netizen. You’re a netizen. That politician who thinks so lowly of netizens is a netizen. Why is that so damn difficult to digest for some people? There continues to be a distinction. A divide, if you will.

One in three Filipinos is a netizen. Pretty soon, because of the government’s efforts to nationalize free Wi-Fi, everybody is going to be one. When that happens, the term “netizen,” at least locally, will lose all meaning and every one of us will revert to being citizens. But do we really have to wait for that day to come?

Follow me on Twitter and Instagram @EdBiado

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LIFE life @ thestandard.com .ph

@LIFEatStandard

Oh, Snap!

LEONINE: NINE GREAT LEO MEN IN HISTORY From C2

On the flipside of the moral spectrum, Benito Amilcare Andrea Mussolini was an Italian politician, journalist, and leader of the Nationalist Fascist Party – ruling the country as Prime Minister (Il Duce, after 1925) from 1922 until his ouster in 1943.

Some Leos, such as Ole Benny, can make such a lasting impact on the world around them that the echoes of their actions last for decades. In fact, for more than 50 years after his death, the Lazio football team suffered severe image problems no thanks to public knowledge of it being Il Duce’s favorite. At the beginning of the 21st century, roughly 30 percent of the team was owned by the National Alliance, an extreme neo-fascist party.

A far more light-hearted Leo was the legendary Louis Armstrong a.k.a.

Satchmo, or Pops. An American jazz trumpeter, singer, and one of the pivotal and most influential figures in jazz music. He wasn’t always rainbows and sunshine and red roses, too – Pops was popped by the cops at the tender age of 11. In 1912, he took a New Year’s party, in true Leo fashion, to completely unacceptable levels when he fired his stepfather’s pistol into the air. He was immediately apprehended and then sent to the Colored Waifs’ Home for Boys. It was there that he developed a passion for playing the cornet – perhaps because playing the harmonica in the clink was too cliché a move, by anyone’s standards.

Leos make a big impact on a big number of people in a big way. Case in point is Napoléon Bonaparte, who rose to prominence in the French Revolution and its associated wars. As Napoleon I, he was the Emperor of the French from 1804 to 1814, and again in 1815 after a quick touch-move by the rest of Europe. One of the greatest commanders in history, his campaigns are still studied at military schools today, and he remains one of the most celebrated and controversial political figures in history. He’s a wonderful example of weird: because he was a remarkable man, he gets to be remembered as “eccentric” rather than “crazier than a sh*t-house rat.”

For example, he suffered from “ailurophobia”, meaning he was afraid of cats. He was also apparently terrified of open doors. Anybody entering the room he was in had to squeeze through a barely adequate opening and then close the door immediately. While obsessed about his public image, he didn’t seem to make a really big effort at making the people around him like him all that much. Take his wife Marie Josephe Rose Tascher de la Pagerie; Napoleon didn’t like her name so he renamed her Josephine.

Leos have made strides in art and literature, and one such example of which is Alfred Tennyson, the First Baron Tennyson, the Poet Laureat of Great Britain and Ireland during much of Queen Victoria’s reign and remains one of the most popular British poets to date. Fame is several parts notoriety and scandal however, and Tennyson was plagued by rumors and negative propaganda throughout his life. He had a brother, Edward, who died in a private mental asylum. His sexual orientation is a matter of dispute, and while it is said that he was attracted to women, some of his work suggests homosexuality. In fact, he had a lifelong fear of mental illness. Several

People who love social media are going head-over-heels for this new photo- and video-sharing app.

Here’s why.

BY KAI MAGSANOC Fernando Poe Jr.

men in his family had a mild form of epilepsy, which was then thought to be a shameful disease.

Another great Leo artist, Andy Warhol, was an American who led the pop art movement. His works explore the relationship between artistic expression, celebrity culture, and advertisement that flourished by the 1960s. In music, he managed and produced The Velvet Underground, a rock band that had a strong influence on the evolution of punk rock music.

He is also notable as a gay man who lived openly before the liberation movement even took place. His studio, The Factory, was a famous gathering place that brought together distinguished intellectuals, drag queens, playwrights, Bohemian street people, Hollywood celebrities, and wealthy patrons. He was the subject of numerous retrospective exhibitions, books, feature and documentary films.

He coined the widely used expression “fifteen minutes of fame.” He almost died when he was shot three times in the chest by Valerie Solanis, an ardent feminist and one of many who thought Warhol was abusive and controlling.

She thought that he deserved to die, and he very nearly did, but he was revived and slowly recovered. Solanis founded SCUM (Society for Cutting Up Men) and she was its only member.

Closer to home, we had Fernando Poe Jr., colloquially known as FPJ and “Da King,” as a Leo of note. Although defeated by incumbent president Gloria Macapagal Arroyo in the 2004 elections, it has been established that he ought to have been the rightful president-elect, and many people are channeling their loyalty to him to his daughter, Grace Poe, who despite having no real experience in legislation, was voted as a senator who is developing a remarkable track record and stellar reputation for competence and transparency. Fun fact! The real Fernando Poe Jr. was actually FPJ’s younger brother, the late actor Andy Poe. He adopted the name when he entered acting after he was forced to quit school and work after his father died.

Leonine influence courses its way throughout history in the same way that it courses through our lives.

Never unnoticed, and usually pivotal to the things their lives touch, Leos are a huge part of the Zodiac and the lives we live today. As a bonus, the women are hot: Asia Carrera, Misty Rain, Iman, Jackie O, Martha Stewart, and Mata Hari are all Leo women.

To all the Leos in my life, I salute you! Especially you, Michael Spliedt – Happy Geburtstag, Mamser!

Are you a Leo, or do you know one who could use a pick-me-up? Pass them a copy of this column or send them my way! Email me at thearmchairpilosopa@ gmail.com, follow me on Twitter via @ArmchrPilosopa, view life through my eyes via IG and Tumblr: thearmchairpilosopa, or add me up on Facebook and drop a little note to say hey if you like what you’ve read so far!

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ou take a photo or a video, send it out to the world of cyberspace, and in 24 hours it self-destructs.

Sound like a great deal?

This is what Snapchat – the newest app to take the world of social media by storm – offers. Hence, it is considered ephemeral or fleeting in nature, compared to the permanence of other apps, such as Instagram, which saves a photo or 15-second video in a user’s account for posterity unless it is deleted.

While Snapchat was initially popular only with tweens and teens, the rest of the millennials (and older) have caught up. Today, even brands use the app.

HOW IT STARTED

Snapchat is the brainchild of four Stanford University students, who launched it in 2011. One of them is Filipino-American Bobby Murphy, who today is regarded as the world’s second youngest billionaire at 26, according to Rappler.com.

The world’s first youngest billionaire is Snapchat CEO Evan Spiegel, who is only 24 years old. The company’s reported worth? At least $10 billion as of March 2015.

(In 2013, Facebook offered Snapchat founders $3 billion to purchase the app, according to Forbes.com. They declined the offer.)

HOW IT WORKS

1. Download the Snapchat app for free on Android and iOS. Sign up.

2. Add contacts. You can do this in four ways: add by username, add from address book, add by Snapcode (their version of QR code), and add nearby (your Location Services must be switched on).

3. Take a Snap. The main screen of the app is the camera view, with the camera facing you.

There’s a button on the upper right corner to turn the camera view around. Tap the button

at the bottom of the screen to take a pic. Hold the button to shoot a video.

(Videos can only be up to 10 seconds long.)

4. Get creative. Snapchat allows you to add a caption (which appears as a bar), doodle, and emojis to your Snap. You can also use filters to add effects.

5. Create a Story. This is the collection of Snaps you have shot within 24 hours, to give your friends an idea about your day.

If you are creative, you can also produce an actual “film” that will tell a story. It can also be viewed only within 24 hours.

6. Use Chat. Once you have added friends on Snapchat, you can send them a Snap privately in either photo or video format. This message will also only be available for 24 hours.

Once a Snap self-destructs, it is said to be removed from Snapchat’s servers permanently. The caveat: a viewer can take a screen shot, which in turn can be saved as an image in the viewer’s gadget.

Snapchat is a mobile-only application. It can be used on mobile phones and tablets, but not on laptops and desktop computers.

As of May 2015, Snapchat has 100 million daily active users. They post or view 700 million Snaps per day.

That Snapchat has taken over the social medialoving populace by storm attests to the fact that people crave authenticity. Much like YouTube has created a new breed of stars among YouTubers (ordinary folk who produce and upload their own videos), Snapchat has also created stars among the Snapchatters: those who rise to stardom in the eyes of the people – friends or strangers – who follow them and watch their Stories every day.

Are you ready to try Snapchat? Check out these celebrities on the app and get a glimpse of what goes on behind the scenes at work, or in their personal lives.

Miss World 2013 Megan Young – meganbata

Blogger Tricia Gosingtian – tgosingtian

Actress Lovi Poe – poevirginia

TV personality Mikael Daez – mikaeldaez

Filipino-Canadian actress Shay Mitchell – officialshaym

You Tube sensation Joe Sugg – thatcherjoe

Pentatonix member Scott Hoying – scotthoying

Actress Bella Thorne – bellathornedab

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LIFE life @ thestandard.com .ph

@LIFEatStandard

IG SPY

SWEETS, PASTRIES, AND BAKED GOODIES

@ emmalauren An Australian model living in Hong Kong. Emma Lauren’s IG recounts some of her modeling stints and adventures, but what we love are photos of her afternoon teas, deliciously gorgeous photos of cakes, pastries and sweets – some of which she baked herself. Her photo composition is clean, elegant, the posts on her feed make you want to sit by the lanai, sip tea with two or three macarons or a huge slice of chocolate cake. Check out her IG account and if you can’t get enough of her, you may visit her at www.dogandponyvintage.com, a vintage clothing store that also stores some of her blogs.

Everyone probably has a sweet tooth. Whether breakfast, snack, lunch or dinner, we all crave for a little sweet dessert every now and then. This Saturday, we’ve rounded up our favorite Instagram accounts, the photos of which make us want to eat the goodies right from our phone screens. @carinacastle A pediatric occupational therapist by day and an Instagram foodie by – well, most of the time.

Follow her food trail adventures in Manila.

For sweet cravings, catch photos of desserts, snacks, and different pastries.

If you’re craving for something comforting to eat, just hit her IG account and get an instant directory of places on where to eat.

@ shivesh17 With Over 54K followers on Instagram, 19-year-old Shivesh Bhatia, a political science student in New Delhi India, fell in love with baking after seeing some photographs of Swedish photographer and baker Linda Lomelino.

Today, she’s got 356 posts of oh-so-yummy baking goodies. Follow her Instagram account and let her show you her love for baking. You may also check out her online blog at www.bakewithshivesh.blogspot. com and check out her recipes.

@vanillaandbean We love vegetarian bakers; their creations look so good to eat but give you less of the guilt.

Well of course, anything in moderation. This IG account is managed by Traci York, a vegetarian food blogger of Vanilla and Bean (www. vanillaandbean.com). She was a teacher for nine years before she studied baking and found her new passion. Catch her delicious baking via her photographs and learn a few recipes for your sweet palate.

@veganinski This is the IG account of lovely Nina Ycong, an account manager and freelance model by profession in Manila. Her Instagram account is a reflection of her healthy living and her generous love for sweets and baked goodies. Check out her IG feed and be amazed at how sinfully delicious her creations look but with less calories. Follow her travels and eating adventures, and learn some tips on where she gets her produce for baking.

V I S UA L TA L K

A Beginner’s Guide to a Healthy Diet CONCEPT AND ILLUSTRATIONS BY KIMBEE GALINDO

Struggling to stick to a healthy diet? The struggle is real, but don’t worry – you’ve been eating healthy all along; you just didn’t know it. Until now, that is. You don’t believe it? Take a look and be convinced.

SAT URDAY : AUGUST 1 : 2015

SHOWBITZ

ISAH V. RED EDITOR

isahred @ gmail.com

KApuso FAns DAy A big success

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s part of its 65th anniversary celebration, GMA Network held a fun-filled Fans Day in Mall of Asia Arena on July 26.

Chairman and CEO Atty. Felipe L. Gozon and Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer Felipe S. Yalong were there along with other officers of the broadcast giant who were very happy with its success.

GMA News and Public Affairs’ Mel Tiangco, Jessica Soho, Arnold Clavio, Vicky Morales, and Howie Severino opened the program. Tiangco expressed her utmost thanks to everyone who sent their donations through Kapuso Foundation for the Kapuso Village in Tacloban.

Stars of The Half Sisters – Barbie Forteza, Thea Tolentino, Vaness del Moral, and Winwyn Marquez danced to the tune of “Juicy Wiggle” and the crowd gave them loud cheers.

Kristoffer Martin, Joyce Ching, and Krystal Reyes of Healing Hearts were also met with thunderous applause when they performed to the tune of “Calling All Hearts.” The applause didn’t cease as Mark Herras, Alden Richards, Rodjun Cruz, Enzo Pineda, Rochelle Pangilinan, Kris Bernal, Louise delos Reyes, and Iya Villania of Sunday All Stars danced to the tunes of “Watch Me Nae Nae” and “Twerk it Like Miley.”

Meanwhile, Elmo Magalona and Janine Gutierrez joined Andre Paras and the rest of the Kapuso stars on stage.

Cooking Diva’s Regine Velasquez-Alcasid performed a medley of some of Eraserheads hits..

Jaya, Aicelle Santos, Maricris Garcia, Frencheska Farr, Rita Daniella, Katherine Castillo, Kai Atienza, Hannah Precillas and Kris Lawrence did a medley of Aegis’ hit songs.

The Rich Man’s Daughter’s Rhian Ramos, Luis Alandy and Glaiza de Castro did a a song number and later TJ Trinidad, Mike Tan, Sheena Halili and Chynna Ortaleza joined them to thanke the crowd for their support and appreciation of the drama series.

The cast of Yagit – Yasmien Kurdi, LJ Reyes, Zymic Jaranilla, Jemuell Ventinilla, Judie Dela Cruz and Chlaui Malayao charmed the fans as they performed a song and dance number.

The fans also saw Ismol Family’s Ryan Agoncillo, Carla Abellana, Carmi Martin, Miguel Tanfelix and Bianca Umali.

GMA News and Public Affairs personalities came in full as well.

The crowd roared with excitement when AiAi delas Alas showed up and went gaga when she called in called Ruru Madrid and Gabbi Garcia .

My Mother’s Secret’s Christian Bautista serenaded the fans with the song “Photograph”.

The entire team of GMA’s longest-running gag show Bubble Gang headlined by Michael V. did not disappoint their fans with their prepared skit.

Aside from Bubble Gang, Michael V. also joined his co-stars in the well-loved family sitcom Pepito Manaloto Dingdong Dantes led the cast of Pari’Koy as he gave an all-out performance singing along with the audience. He was joined onstage by his costars in the series.

Kapuso fans present during the event had the opportunity to see first the sneak peek of the Network’s forthcoming programs that will hit the airwaves this second half of the year.

The fans day became doubly memorable when Tom Rodriguez and Megan Young did a song number..

The fans day not only cemented the star power of the Kapuso stars but made everyone’s Sunday an event to remember.

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1 Dingdong and Marian 2 Aiai delas Alas 3 Christopher de Leon 4 Michael V 5 Jennylyn Mercado and Dennis Trillo 6 Lovi Poe, Rocco Nacino, Benjamin Alves 7 Tom and Megan 8 Regine Velasquez-Alcasid 9 Ruru Madrid and Gabbi Garcia 10 Ryan Agoncillo and Carla Abellana 11 Miguel and Bianca

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SHOWBITZ isahred @ gmail.com

StEvEn SPiELbERg AnD tOm HAnkS in A mOviE

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dramatic thriller set against the backdrop of a series of historic events, Bridge of Spies tells the story of James Donovan (Tom Hanks), a Brooklyn lawyer who finds himself thrust into the center of the Cold War when the CIA sends him on the near-impossible task to negotiate the release of a captured American U-2 pilot.

Screenwriters Matt Charman and Ethan Coen & Joel Coen have woven this remarkable experience in Donovan’s life into a story inspired by true events that captures the essence of a man who risked everything and vividly brings his personal journey to life.

Directed by three-time Academy Award®-winning director Steven Spielberg, Bridge of Spies stars twotime Academy Award winner Tom

Hanks as James Donovan; threetime Tony Award® winner Mark Rylance as Rudolf Abel, a KGB agent defended by Donovan; Scott Shepherd as CIA operative Hoffman; Academy Award nominee Amy Ryan as James’ wife, Mary; Sebastian Koch as East German lawyer Vogel; and Academy Award nominee Alan Alda as Thomas Watters, a partner at Donovan’s law firm.

The film is produced by Spielberg, Marc Platt and Kristie Macosko Krieger with Adam Somner, Daniel Lupi, Jeff Skoll and Jonathan King serving as executive producers.

The film will open nationwide on Oct. 14 from 20th Century Fox to be distributed by Warner Bros.

Check out the film’s first trailer here: https://www.youtube.com/ watch?v=5HIftaOADtQ

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Find great deals in lg’s ongoing red tag sale

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echnophiles are in for a treat as global technology leader LG Electronics recently announced its Red Tag Sale where gadget enthusiasts can avail of premium LG smartphones at pocket-friendly prices.

Smartphone savvies can take home P 5,700 worth of freebies including a 32GB microSD card worth P 1,000 and a battery pack worth P2,500 when they purchase the great LG G4. They also get 100 GB additional Google Drive storage for an extended period of two years worth P 2,200!

LG’s most ambitious smartphone to date, the LG G4 boasts an impressive 16 megapixel OIS 2.0 rear camera with ultra-wide f/1.8 lens, completely customizable settings, and remarkable Color Spectrum Sensor that can rival professional DSLR

Tom Hanks stars in Bridge of Spies

Steven Spielberg gives last minute instructions to Hanks before a take for Bridge of Spies

CROSSWORD PUZZLE 39 40 41 43 44 45 46 49 52 53 55 57 58 59 60 61 62

Frozen rain Mild case of the blues Most flighty Declaim Q.E.D. part Wool producers Lumpy fruits Way of thinking Low voice Familiar saying Cousteau’s islands After-hours Informal party Giza’s river Quaint lodgings Ice skating event Lavish party

ANSWER FOR PREVIOUS PUZZLE ACROSS 1 Vinegary 5 Comfortable 10 Foyer 14 Actress — Freeman 15 Blow away 16 Montreal player 17 Jellystone bear 18 Give the go-ahead 19 Yearn 20 Sawbuck (hyph.)

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23 24 26 28 32 33 34 35 36 37 fume 38

MTV watcher Quartet minus one Jerked away Stress Clean house Repeat verbatim Humongous Duffers’ goals Bach opus First name in per911 staffer

DOWN 1 “Patterns” poet — Lowell 2 Water bird 3 “Bus Stop” author 4 Delicacies 5 Piled high 6 Acrylic fiber 7 Lose hair 8 Tokyo, once 9 Longbow wood 10 Greek sun god 11 Nerve cell part 12 Hosp. workers

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Mezzanine Ooze Gentle slope Speckled fish Solar plexus Hindu sage Radio wave pioneer Seattle’s Sound Kapitan’s command (hyph.)

Nouveau — Teamwork obstacles Rushed Knight’s journey Type of market Categorizing Noblemen Multiplied Round numbers Customers, after the sale Eastwood’s “The — Sanction” Sanskrit dialect Dash Envelope abbr.

Ankle-length Essay byline Break the news DJ gear Width of a cir.

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cameras in the market.

Multitaskers will also rejoice at LG G4’s powerful 1.8GHz 64-bit Hexa-Core CPU, removable 3,000mAh battery, and Qualcomm® Snapdragon™ 808 processor with X10 LTE chipset that deliver lightning fast response on its stunning 5.5-inch IPS Quantum Display.

For bargain hunters, LG is slashing P2,000 off on the LG G3 Stylus and LG Magna. Get the smartly designed LG G3 Stylus for only P 9,900. Scribble notes and random musings on its 5.5-inch IPS LCD capacitive touch screen with the accurate and convenient RubberdiumTM stylus pen. Enjoy the power of LG G3 Stylus’s Quad-Core processor and the convenience of having a dual SIM function and long lasting 3,000MAH removable battery.

Gadget geeks can also get the LG Magna, which was just introduced in the market last summer. From P 9,990, LG Magna retails now for only P 7,990, featuring an impressive 8-megapixel rear camera and a 5-megapixel front camera and sports a 5-inch in-cell touch display with a slight curvature in its body, a feature normally found in premium smartphones.

“LG has made a name for itself as a company that produces innovations that not only entertain but also become an integral part of the lives of our consumers. The Red Tag Sale is a way for us to show our appreciation to our customers by offering great deals on quality products,” said said LG Mobile Philippines vice president Jay Won. The LG Red Tag Sale runs until tomorrow only.

SAT URDAY : AUGUST 1 : 2015

SHOWBITZ isahred @ gmail.com

ChRIstopheR de Leon In ‘WIsh Ko Lang’

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fter a series of episodes that featured the lives of once famous showbiz personalities, Wish Ko Lang presents this Saturday the life stories of the people who untiringly support showbiz’ biggest names—the fans.

It’s the idolized actors and actresses’ turn to bring to life the struggles and triumphs of their supporters in “Si IDOL Bilang Ako.” In its first episode, no less than the drama king of silver screen Christopher de Leon portrays the story of his avid fan, Romeo Burlat.

Romeo’s only wish is to find his one true love. For him, making this come true will bring more sense into his life. A number of times he has loved and lost women. In the process, he eventually discovers his true self, and falls in love with a man.

C7 Tiny House Hunting

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As the matters of his heart become complicated, the more he thinks happiness eludes him.

Whenever he fails in his quest for true love, he shifts all of his attention to his work. Still, no matter how many times he tries, his desire to love and be loved in return seems hopeless.

Witness the heartrending story of Romeo Burlat as interpreted by his idol, award-winning actor Christopher De Leon, in Wish Ko Lang with Vicky Morales today at 3:15 p.m, after Karelasyon on GMA-7.

HHHHH Iya and soLenn’s ‘pabe­ be’ styLe Food tRIp There’s no stopping Taste Buddies’ ‘Pabebe Girls’ Solenn Heussaff and Iya Villania in their food hunt today with special guests Louise de los Reyes and Ken Alfonso of GMA Artist Center.

Their destination: A. Mabini Street in San Juan. For their first stop, it’s CO/OP Café and Gift shop. Co/op stands for the ‘cooperative’ effort of the owners that’s why Solenn and Louise find themselves cooperating in trying out every dish in the menu. After which, the girls check out the cute and quirky items from the gift shop—perfect for pabebes!

They visit 7 Flavors next -- a bakery, café, and buffet all in one place. The Taste Buddies gang tries its seven specialties like the 7-flavored ensaymada.

“Eats Time,” meanwhile, features the “bad boy ng dance floor” Mark Herras as he tries to play the ukelele with Kai Atienza at Uke Cafe while getting stuffed with its merienda specialties.

Pabebe Girls’ food trippin’ airs Saturdays in Taste Buddies at 8:45 p.m. on GMA News TV.

What The Fung

CHeap eaTs on fYi

I Christopher de Leon plays his fan in Wish Ko Lang

t’s a jam-packed August on FYI as exciting adventures are headed to your screens. Always creative, tasteful, and out to put a twist on things, let yourself be inspired by the innovation featured in each and every show starting with a comedic culinary journey in Broke Bites: What the Fung?

Join the Fung brothers as they sample iconic dishes without exceeding their $50/day budget on this new show that will make stomach ache with both laughter and delicious food cravings. As they eat their way across the states, they find that the food is just as rich as the stories of those behind it. Feast with the Fung Brothers 8 p.m. on Aug. 27.

Follow a crew of the happiest hunters as they track down the perfect homes for people in this show of epic proportions.

Tiny House Hunting puts a spin on the concept of scaling back as the team helps realtors and home-seekers find the perfect space customized to their quirky tastes, whether it’s up in the Rockies or down by the beach. Get on board the moving van at 10 p.m. on Aug. 3.

Mark Herras and Kai Atienza

Taste Buddies host Iya Villania and Solenn Heusaff (second and third from left) with guests Louise de los Reyes (extreme left) and Ken Alfonso

Watch as creativity turns clutter into cash on Buy It, Fix It, Sell It, an all-new series where a trio of top professional “fixers” use their vision, wit, and shrewd bargaining skills to restore and repurpose old junk. Get ready to be amazed by the transformations and see which fixer can make the most out of what they bought, fixed, and sold at 9 p.m. on Aug. 19.

Sneak an exclusive peek behind the curtain in Marina Bay Sands 24/7 Marathon as the hotel’s secrets are revealed in this TV special. With a staff of 9,000-strong workers who keep the world’s most expensive stand-alone casino property running round the clock and tens of thousands of visitors at the resort every day, explore how the city-within-acity operates and discover what goes on within its walls 12 p.m. on Aug. 9.

Get ready to see things in a whole new light as FYI brings the extraordinary out of the mundane.

Tune into FYI this August for your fill of imaginative programs that’ll push you to keep exploring and allowing yourself to be surprised.

FYI™ is available on SKYCable Ch 79 (SD) and Ch 200 (HD).

TV moVie based on popular ‘Halo’ franCHise

R A scene from Halo

TL CBS Extreme HD announced that it will air Halo: Nightfall produced

by Ridley Scott and directed by award-winning director Sergio Mimica-Gezzan. Based on the phenomenal Halo franchise, Halo: Nightfall provides insight into the origin and backstory of Agent Locke, a pivotal new character who will play a key role in the upcoming Halo 5: Guardians

on Xbox One in 2015.

Halo: Nightfall will premiere in Asia first and exclusive on RTL CBS Extreme HD, 9:35 p.m. on Aug. 22.

The series is about Jameson Locke, a legendary manhunter and agent with the Office of Naval Intelligence (ONI), Earth’s most powerful and secretive military branch. He and his team are investigating terrorist “chatter” on the distant colony world of Sedra,

when they are caught in a horrific biological attack. Led by Locke, ONI agents are forced to coordinate with Randall Aiken, a local commander with a remarkable history and deep-rooted mistrust of ONI. As they unravel a plot that draws them to an ancient, hellish artifact, they will be forced to fight for their survival, question everything, and ultimately choose between their loyalties and their lives.

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ISAH V. RED EDITOR isahred @ gmail.com

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The funny side of women in ‘misTerless misis’ her husband is a philanderer. She represents the wives who live independently every day, away from husbands who work abroad.

ISAH V. RED Homegrown TV5 actress Azul, on the other hand, plays Mia, a On Aug. 9, TV5 premieres Mis- sexy and mysterious young lady terless Misis, a new weekly sitcom who just recently moved into the that highlights the Filipinas living neighborhood. Out of curiosity, the in the present time. The show will other five women all come up with illustrate how they get fulfillment theories as to why Mia is always visand from whom and where. Also, it ited by various men in her house. shows how they cope with the chalSeasoned performer Mitch Vallenges of being independent wom- des plays Elsa, a newly widowed en. According to its director, Mark tenant in the compound who Meily, the show is depicting them finds it hard to move on from the in a realistically funny way. death of her husband.

The sitcom shows the realities Joining the cast is showbiz newin the lives of these women and comer Andie Gomez who plays their everyday struggles of being Tiny, daughter of Elsa who got empowered women. They also pregnant at an early age. Marked by face their responsibilities for their overflowing confidence, Tiny befamilies and themselves. lieves that she easily attracts men.

Misterless Misis is about six Completing the cast of this women, drawing strength from weekend sitcom is showbiz royeach other and coping with life. alty Ruffa Gutierrez who plays Their friendship is unique in a Diana, a separated but never gives way that being “misterless” be- up in finding Mr. Right. Diana becomes their way of bonding lieves that there is no rule written among themselves. about loving just one person in Lorna Tolentino, Gelli de Bel- this lifetime. en, Ritz Azul, with Mitch Valdes, Under the direction of Mark Ruffa Gutierrez, and Andie Go- Meily, Misterless Misis follows the mez who is being introduced in lives of the six strong-willed womthe show are the stars of the show. en as they deal with their life situaIn her TV5 come- tions in a cheerful and funny way. back, multi-awarded actress LorIt airs every Sunday, starting on na Tolentino plays the role of Aug.9, at 9pm, exclusively on TV5.

Jenny, a career-oriented woman, HHHHH single and jaded when it comes BarBie forTeza Turns 18 to love, yet fiery and independent. “Like every girl, excited ako at the Lorna T. will show her fans that thought of turning 18. Pero pwede she isn’t only a good actress, but bang mag-wish? Pwede po bang also a funny comedienne. wala ng party?” asks Kapuso teen Meanwhile, De Belen plays actress Barbie Forteza, who celLisa, wife of an OFW. She tries to ebrated this important milestone ward off the incessant rumor that in her life on July 31.

Barbie emphasized that instead of spending so much on a grand debut, she would rather use the money for other more meaningful things.

Children have always had special place in Barbie’s sweet heart, thus, in celebration of her debut, Barbie adopted a room at the Philippine Children’s Medical Center (PCMC) in Diliman, Quezon City. She has been helping PCMC in the last four years and plans to continue sharing her blessings with the kids in the hospital.

The “Adopt-A-Room” program of PCMC enables individuals or companies to choose and adopt a private room which they want to renovate and convert into a special private room. Once renovated and occupied, the proceeds of the room will go to “charity rooms”.

Other private institutions and brand giants have already adopted rooms from PCMC, but Barbie is the first ever celebrity to participate in this worthy cause.

The renovation for Barbie’s adopted room is currently ongoing with the talented young actress actively participating in the process with the help of GMA Artist Center and Architects Jose Ricky Martinez and Richie Ongteco.

Barbie’s partners in making her dreams come to life include her generous sponsors BNY, Unisilver Time, Posh Nails, BS Mobile, Fruitas, Belladona Bags, Megawide, Happy Haus Donuts, Pizza Pedricos, Cris-Carl Stuffed Toys, Megasoft Diapers, Muebles De Cristina Furniture, Fernando’s Bakeshop, Chocovron, Ritz Biscuits, Jao Ming Glutathione, Rotary Club of Makati and Flawless. ➜ Continued on C7

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1 Andie Gomez, an overconfident woman 2 Gelli de Belen is a wife of an OFW husband 3 Lorna Tolentino is a single and independent woman 4 Ruffa Gutierrez plays a separated woman 5 Mitch Valdes is a newly widowed woman 6 Barbie Forteza celebrated her birthday yesterday