The Standard - 2015 August 02 - Sunday

VOL. XXIX  NO. 173  3 Sections 24 Pages P18  SUNDAY : AUGUST 2, 2015  www.thestandard.com.ph  editorial@thestandard.com.ph

PH CAN’T RELY ON ALLIES— CARPIO

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‘NOT ENOUGH’ U.N. CHIDES GOVT FOR NEGLECTING YOLANDA VICTIMS

By Vito Barcelo, Sara D. Fabunan and Maricel V. Cruz

INADEQUATE. File photo shows some of Tacloban City residents still living in temporary tent houses and shanties at Bgy. San Jose a year after the onslaught of super typhoon Yolanda. EY ACASIO

THE Aquino administration has not done enough to rebuild after Super Typhoon “Yolanda,” as thousands remain in shanties without power or water for nearly two years, a United Nations representative said Saturday.

“While the government is to be commended in terms of its immediate responses, its attention to ensuring sustainable durable solutions for IDPs (internally displaced persons) remains inadequate to date,” UN special rapporteur on the human rights of internally displaced persons Chaloka Beyani said in a statement posted on the UN website.

But the Palace glossed over the criticism and thanked Beyani for commending the Philippines for “its effective response to the devastation brought about by Typhoon Yolanda in November 2013.”

According to a Palace statement posted on its website, Beyani “praised the Philippine government for its efforts in extending assistance to internally displaced persons.”

Next page

THE EPIPHANY OF DR. LEE

BRITISH BRANDS’ INVASION

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B1

COMELEC BIDDING FAILS

By Sara D. Fabunan

THE Commission on Elections (Comelec) - Special Bids and Awards Committee 2 on Saturday declared a failure of bidding after the lone bidder, a joint venture of Dermalog Avante and Stone of David failed to meet some requirements on technicalities and eligibility.

Comelec-SBAC 2 Chairman Jubil Surmieda said that although he

does not want to pre-empt the decision of the Commission en banc, there is still a possibility that the committee may either consider a motion for consideration from Dermalog-Avante or enter into a negotiated bid with a different technical provider.

“That’s possible. But we do not want to pre-empt the decision of the en banc. We will leave that Next page

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NEWS

editorial@thestandard.com.ph

PH SHOULDN’T RELY ON ALLIES—CARPIO THE Philippines cannot get military assistance from allies, which includes the United States, in its ongoing dispute with China regarding the West Philippine Sea, according to Supreme Court Senior Associate Justice Antonio Carpio.

“The Philippines can not hope to deter China given the state of the Philippines’ external defense forces.

The Philippines cannot invoke the Phil-U.S. Mutual Defense Treaty because the disputed islands in the Spratlys are outside the scope of the treaty,” Carpio told military officials in Camp Aguinaldo.

Carpio said the only recourse the country can do to break the impasse is the legal one.

“The only effective response available is to bring the dispute to an arbitral tribunal under [the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Seas], to which both the Philippines and China are parties,” he said.

“Even then, UNCLOS governs only maritime disputes, not territorial disputes. Nevertheless, the maritime dispute covers 85.7 (percent) of the South China Sea waters, drastically reducing the area of conflict if the Philippines wins the arbitration,” he added.

Carpio earlier said if the International Tribunal will not apply the UNCLOS to the ongoing dispute in the South China Sea, then it would mean the end of that particular convention.

“Why is it important to apply UNCLOS to the South China Sea dispute, because if we don’t apply it then UNCLOS, the Constitution for

the ocean and seas of our planet cannot also apply to any maritime dispute in the rest of the oceans and seas of the world, it would be the beginning of the end of UNCLOS,” he added.

And should this happen, Carpio said the rule of the “naval cannon will prevail in the oceans and seas” and will trigger a naval arms race among coastal countries.

“Just imagine if the tribunal says we don’t have jurisdiction... the only way we can protect our ourselves is to acquire warships, warplanes, anti-ship missiles, resources that should go to education, infrastructure, and social services will have to be re-allocated to defense,” Carpio said. “(And) if the tribunal says there is no jurisdiction, the Nine-Dash Line prevailed,

then there is no law of the sea anymore, every nation will have to arm itself but that’s not enough to resolve the dispute, it will just worsen the dispute, and the judges in the tribunal will be out of job because nobody will follow the law of sea anymore,” he concluded.

Meanwhile, the Association of Southeast Asian Nations and China have agreed to proceed to the next stage of negotiations towards the establishment of the Code of Conduct for the South China Sea territorial disputes.

Malaysian Foreign Minister Anifah Aman said Asean and China’s senior officials who met recently had also agreed to negotiate on the framework, structure, elements as well as address difficult and complicated issues relating to the CoC. PNA

FAILED BIDDING. A bidding committee of the Commission on Elections declares a failure of bidding for the repair of more than 80,000 vote count machines at the Comelec office in Intramuros, Manila on Saturday. SARA FABUNAN

Not enough From A1...

“We agree with the observations and we thank him for recognizing the efforts of government when it comes to caring for internally displaced persons,” said Deputy Presidential Spokesperson Abigail Valte.

But Beyani actually underlined that many storm survivors have had to endure relocating to evacuation camps up to three times since Yolanda struck in 2013, and the substandard housing leaves them vulnerable to future typhoons.

Beyani was in the Philippines in late July to check on the government’s handling of people displaced by Haiyan and by fighting between the military and Muslim rebels in the south.

Aside from falling short of safety standards, the wood-and-tin “bunkhouses” also leave women and girls vulnerable to sexual abuse and early pregnancy, Beyani said.

The box-like shanties also rob the storm survivors of their “privacy and dignity” as they struggle to rebuild their lives, he said.

Beyani urged the Philippine government to follow-through with its commitments and devote much needed attention and resources to IPDs “until durable solutions are attained and their futures are secured.”

Beyani visited Tacloban where he assessed the impact of all forms of internal displacement, including those caused by disasters, armed conflict, and development projects on the ancestral lands of indigenous peoples.

He expressed concern that “attention and resources appear to be waning before durable solutions are achieved and some IDPs remain in dire situations.”

Beyani expressed surprise that despite huge resources spent or earmarked for infrastructure projects, for many displaced communities basic service provision, including water, sanitation and electricity are lacking almost two years after Yolanda.

Some families “seem to have become stuck

in substandard ‘bunkhouse’ accommodation or fallen entirely through the protection net,” he commented.

Beyani urged the government to rapidly take concrete steps to resolve problems affecting IDPs, and adopt what would be a landmark law on the rights of IPDs following more than a decade of deliberation.

“An ‘almost law’ is as good as no law at all,” the UN expert said.

“For a country prone to disasters and the displacement effects of long-standing conflicts it is essential to enshrine the rights and protection of IDPs into law. Not to do so after a decade of debate sends a wrong signal about the Government’s commitment to ensuring respect for their rights and withholds essential legal protection from IDPs,” he said.

Beyani likewise urged an intensified effort to achieve inclusive and lasting peace means of ending the conflicts which have displaced millions over the last four decades.

“Conflict, militarization and displacement have become the common pattern in some

Comelec From A1... to the en-banc. Our work here is to resolve and submit a report to them,” Surmieda said.

But Surmieda added that before they officially declare a failure of bidding, they will wait for Dermalog-Avante to file a motion for reconsideration for the refurbishment and upgrading of some 81,896 Old Precinct Count Optical Scan (PCOS) machines, within three working days.

“What happened today (Saturday) is a failure if bidding pending an MR. They are given three days to submit,” he said.

Officials of Dermalog - Avante, meanwhile, confirmed that they would indeed file an MR next week.

Based on a three-page resolution of the SBAC 2, Dermalog-Avante failed to meet at least four requirements of the Bidding Documents as recommended by the Technical Working Group (TWG). “( Dermalog, Avante and Stone of David is) ... Not being in conformity with the requirements, together with the corresponding rulings on the said recommednations by the SBAC2,” the resolution said.

“The Special bids and Awards Committee 2 resolved, as it hereby resolves to declare the Joint Venture of Dermalog, Avante and Stone of David as ineligible and a failure of bidding in this Second Competitive Public Bidding for the Supply and Delivery of the Refurbishment (with Systems Upgrade) of the existing PCOS machines, its Consumables, and Ballots for the May 9, 2016 National, Local and ARMM elections,” the committee resolved on Saturday.

The committee said Dermalog has failed to provide at least ten percent of the P3,130,670,549.98 approved budget for the contract (ABC); Technical specifications of the bidding documents; the sworn written proposal in hard and soft copy containing a comprehensive plan on the implementation and execution of the refurbishment and upgrading of the PCOS machines, including timelines, specific breakdown of components and their corresponding costs, among others; and samples of PCOS prototypes, spare parts, three samples of PCOS box and peripherals; three samples per PCOS consumable, and three samples of ballots that shall be compatible with the PCOS machines as upgraded.

During the opening of the second public bidding which opened at 9 a.m., the Smartmatic - Total Information Management and Miru Systems Company LTD. backed out from participating in the bidding, citing lack of time to implement the project.

In a letter submitted by Rodolfo Balmorio Jr., MIRU’s legal counsel to the SBAC2, he said that lack of material time due to late opening of public bidding has prompted the company not to participate in the bidding, but would wish to participate in Comelec’s future projects.

“Our client, Miru Systems Company Limited regrets to inform your good office that it is constrained not to participate in the subject bidding because of lack of time vis a vis the date of opening of bids,” Balmorio said. participate in Comelec’s future projects.

“We wish to relay that our client is supposedly capable of complying. The technical requirements having been a provider of satisfactory elections management system and manufacturer of the state of the art OMR in South Korea and other countries, hope to be able to do the same to our country for the orderly and credible elections,” he said.

localities and responses to conflict driven displacement crisis need to be more effective in some areas where they have gone from poor to almost non-existent,” Beyani said.

“Armed conflict or intrusive development projects not only displace indigenous peoples and subject them to conditions that may bring about their destruction as peoples, they also destroy their homes and livelihoods,” he said.

Yolanda [international name: Haiyan], the most powerful storm ever recorded to hit land, wiped out entire communities and left 7,350 dead or missing when it struck the impoverished central islands in November 2013.

Roughly 2,000 families remain in the bunkhouses as well as in palm-thatch temporary homes, said Social Welfare Secretary Corazon Soliman.

The government aims to move 70 percent of the 2,000 into permanent concrete homes by year-end, she said.

“We are aware of the need to fast-track the permanent shelters, but there are constraints,” Soliman told AFP.

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NEWS

editorial@thestandard.com.ph

POE LIKES IT NOT TOO RIPE

By Vito Barcelo and Sara D. Fabunan

INTERIOR Secretary Mar Roxas is indeed ripe for the presidency, “but sometimes the people choose the one that is just about to ripen because it lasts longer,” Senator Grace Poe said on Saturday.

“It cannot be denied that Secretary Mar has had longer experience in government. He is ripe for the picking, so to speak,” Poe said in Filipino. “But sometimes the people choose the one that is just about to ripen because it lasts longer.”

Poe was apparently responding to the remarks of President Benigno Aquino III on Friday when he endorsed Roxas as his preferred successor.

In his endorsement, Aquino said said “those who need to learn more

should have the opportunity to ripen and understand the real depth of leadership” when he explained how he reached the decision to endorse Roxas.

Nonetheless, Poe thanked Aquino for considering to endorse her as his successor although she reiterated that she has not made up her mind on whether she will seek the highest office in the land.

“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.

Also on Saturday, Deputy Presidential Spokesperson Abigail Valte said Aquino has urged all his Cabinet secretaries to help boost the candidacy of Roxas, who has been trailing behind Poe and Vice President Jejomar Binay in voter preference surveys.

“You can expect (that again) no less from the President, especially when it comes to the candidacy of Secretary Mar Roxas,” Valte said in a radio interview over a state-owned Radyo ng Bayan.

Valte said Roxas is expected to soon tender his resignation as the secre-

tary of the Department of Interior and Local Government after Roxas ensures a smooth turnover of pending projects.

“He will not stay in office so he cannot be accused of using his position. It is a given that he will step down. That does not even have to be asked for. That is really the plan of Secretary Roxas,” she added.

“What he is actually preparing for is the transition already to whoever will lead the DILG next,” she added.

Valte said Roxas wants to smoothly turnover his projects, particularly the SALINTUBIG (Sagana at Ligtas na Tubig Para sa Lahat), Oplan Lambat Sibat at the Philippine National Police and the deployment of the new patrol jeeps to every town nationwide.

PNOY VOWS 254 CLASSROOMS A DAY STYLE OF THE NATION. Nueva Ecija Rep. Estrellita Suansing shows off Ivarluski Aseron gown that gained much approval during the State-of-theNation address of President Benigno Aquino last week. The lawmaker is accompanied her husband, former customs deputy commissioner Horacio Suansing.

IN order for President Benigno Aquino III to fulfill his promise of building 84,728 classrooms in his last 11 months in office, the government must build an average of 254 classrooms a day, Senate President Pro-Tempore Ralph G. Recto said on Saturday.

Recto underscored this “awesome but challenging target” in urging the

two agencies responsible for “building the most of number of classrooms in the shortest time” to boost their capability to undertake the project.

Recto was referring to the Department of Education (DepEd) and the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH), the tandem tasked to build education facilities.

Under the “division of labor” in

building schools, the DepEd handles the identification of sites while DPWH is mainly responsible for construction.

But a recent report to Congress on the status of DepEd projects revealed delays in classroom construction, Recto said.

Of the 41,728 new classrooms programmed for 2015, not one has been built as of July 1, 2015.

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OPINION

ADELLE CHUA EDITOR

lettertotheeditor@thestandard.com.ph

OPINION

THE POOR MIDDLE CLASS

[ EDI TORI A L ]

HONEST - NOT! IN LAST Monday’s State of the Nation Address of President Benigno Aquino III, one of the audio visual presentations that were shown was the story of a 19-year-old student touted to be a product of the K to 12 system of education.

According to the presentation, she acquired her technical knowledge because of the K to 12 system adopted by the Aquino administration.

Hence, despite objections from parents who have to send their children to school for two more years before they can start earning for the family or pursue higher education, the K to 12 program is a beneficial system that would encourage the youth to be their best, to be competitive.

All these would have been nice words, inspiring and touching, even—if only they were true.

Immediately, the girl’s claim that she was a graduate of the new system was questioned by many.

How, after all, can somebody be a product of a years-long educational system that has only been started?

After mumbling several incoherent explanations, Palace spokesmen eventually admitted what had been apparent all along: It was a mistake. The girl was NOT a product of the K to 12 system as claimed in the video.

This may only be a small segment of the two-hour speech that was thankfully Mr. Aquino’s last, but it says a lot about the propensity of this administration to choose its truths and to cultivate the version of things it presents to the public.

On many other occasions, we have observed the administration’s tendency to take the public for fools by assuming they would not see through the ruse and put the pieces of the puzzle together to complete an entire picture.

For example, the President has once said—after great clamor—that he was doing away with the pork barrel system that has been exposed to be a way for government officials and their conduits to twist the system to their benefit. Lo and behold, it is the Executive itself that has given rise to the Disbursement Acceleration Program, an even more sinister version of the pork barrel system which can be used at the discretion of only a few under the guise of hastening the release of funds for crucial projects.

We are not surprised that these creations continue to exist, albeit by another name and a slightly different mechanism.

Mr. Aquino also likes to claim credit for the arrest and detention of lawmakers involved in the pork barrel scandal. What he leaves out is the fact that his allies who might be equally complicit continue to roam free.

He also likes to trumpet that the economy is growing, that investments are coming in and life is getting better for Filipinos. There is a semblance of truth to each of these, because yes, the economy is growing but not enough; investments are growing in nominal terms but not in relation to the inflows received by our Asean neighbors; and more cars are crowding the streets but income inequality has grown wider such that the growth has not trickled down to who should feel it most.

Our officials seem to believe that honesty is simply not telling a lie. This is where they are wrong.

DOCTORS ARE PEOPLE, TOO EVERYONE, at one point or another, has to deal with a medical practitioner. We’re all mortals so getting sick is a certainty. In fact, the number of doctors one has to deal with and the number of interactions one is forced to have with them increase correspondingly with age.

Like clockwork, I turned hypertensive when I hit 40. The signs of wear and tear surfaced soon thereafter. I undergo an executive check-up every year, but regular visits to doctors have become inevitable. I’ve experienced waiting in line for hours for consultation or for medical procedures. Because I have the worst case of gastroesopha-

geal reflux disease, I have found myself in hospital emergency rooms on far too many occasions, doubling over in extreme pain similar in manifestation to a heart attack. I know what it is like to be a patient needing immediate care.

My reaction when I read that tirade against doctors written by a columnist in a provincial paper (I think it went viral primarily because many people did not agree with what the author was saying) was to scoff at the writer for being out of touch with reality. The author basically ranted against doctors for being uncaring and unprofessional and asked if resident doctors have the right to be called doctors. Of course her question was ridiculous— residents are doctors who are

It’s really the system that breeds the conditions that we often rant about— particularly in government hospitals. The lack of resources and facilities create the dismal conditions that are often blamed on the medical practitioners who always have more patients than they can handle. taking up a specialization. It is irresponsible, however, for anyone to make generalizations of any profession. There are unprofessional, uncaring, incompetent doctors, but it is irresponsible to associate these traits with all doctors. At the same time, it’s very easy to harbor high expectations of doc-

tors and to attribute God-like qualities to them just because they have the capability to heal people.

Of course, we all wish doctors could meet appointments on time, be readily available for patients and have more time for them, and be as nurturing, empathetic, and solicitous as

A5

we want them to be. But it is also important to put things in context. The reality is that even if they want to, doctors usually do not have the luxury of being warm and cuddly all the time. There are also situations when they need to be firm, stern, and unyielding—such as the time when patients are being ornery, obstinate, or disobedient.

Contrary to what many of us think, doctors usually don’t have control of their time or of the situation.

Surgeries or procedures do not always start and end as scheduled, some patients require more attention and take up longer consulting time, and there are usually too many patients waiting to be attended to. But then again,

the better doctors usually are the ones with more patients and nobody wants to go to a doctor without patients, so it’s a chicken-and-egg situation. Of course the first thing that we ask of doctors is that they be knowledgeable.

Quite frankly, I’d rather have a snooty doctor who can heal quickly and efficiently than someone who is smiling and accommodating but does not seem to know what he is doing.

But in general, it’s really the system that breeds the conditions that we often rant about – particularly in government

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hospitals. The lack of resources and facilities create the dismal conditions that are often blamed on the medical practitioners who always have more patients than they can handle.

And even in private hospitals, there are protocols that doctors have to follow; they don’t make judgment calls such as who to attend to first, on a whim. At the same time, laboratory tests and medical procedures are now considered the definitive input into a medical diagnosis so doctors are most often required to wait for test results before making any intervention.

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There are doctors who are extremely nice and helpful, of course, but I will still submit that yes, most doctors should acquire more emotional intelligence. I believe that a major part of the healing process happens within the mind and heart of the patient and an empowering doctor can do wonders to help patients heal themselves, or at least speed up the process. Medical schools, hospitals, and professional medical associations should balance technical knowledge with courses that remind doctors to be more humane and caring.

THEY caused a stir in the beginning, but now the likes of Uber and GrabCar are becoming more popular alternatives to traditional means of transportation.

They use the Internet and Global Positioning System technology to get a passenger a car from point A to point B, with a known driver and vehicle plate number, and a determined fee based on the distance between the two points plus a little more.

The drivers are normally owners of the vehicles they drive and are normally friendly, courteous, and safe.

It’s an angry shoutout to the collective taxi drivers from our past who refused to take us in when we need a ride the most; complained and grumbled about our destination; expressed bewilderment at the heavy traffic here as though it were the passengers’ fault; demanded additional fees even before you set foot inside their cabs; take crazy routes to your destination to throw you off guard; displayed rude, boorish behavior; and made their passengers smell weird chemicals so they could steal from and even rape them.

And it’s not like we’re asking them for free rides. We’re willing to pay even if the fare would eat up a considerable portion of our budget for the day.

After all, that’s still better than subjecting yourself, twice a day, to the dehumanizing experience that is taking the Metro Rail Transit-3.

The poor middle class, who have to plod through day after day of working to earn a living, suffer the inadequacies of our nation the most.

The poor are taken care of by the conditional cash transfer program, for instance. It has been argued many times that the practice breeds only mendicancy and a misplaced gratitude to the disbursing agency/ administration when in fact these are public funds to begin with.

The poor, too, are coddled by local politicians recognizing their voting power. Legitimate landowners walk on eggshells evicting them from their property because they, especially the so-called professional squatters, sometimes put up violent protests when their shanties are demolished.

At the other end of the spectrum, you have the rich and the elite.

They, too, do not have to suffer

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the everyday hassles that the ordinary commuting/ motoring public has to endure. But of course!

Their vehicles are chauffeured and sometimes they even hop from place to place on board a helicopter. That, or their own people go to where they are.

Sure, they pay taxes, they tell their executives to undergo corporate social responsibility activities and join hands with the government for some partnership.

But who’s to say they are paying the right taxes? Who’s to say that their labor practices are just?

That leaves the workhorses of the economy - the middle class torn in the middle, enjoying little of the benefits and more of the hassles.

It’s not just the daily travails of going to and from their workplaces. It’s the oppressive taxes, disproportionate to their takehome pay.

It’s the insult to their intelligence whenever some politician comes in and promises them change, and eventually underdelivers.

It’s the sore lack of opportunities for sustainable employment, for upward mobility, that drives them to look at other options like overseas jobs and expose themselves to the social and psychological costs of being away from their loved ones.

••• The next administration must recognize this. It’s those from the middle class, who break their backs regularly to achieve a semblance of comfort in their lives, who are most affected by what happens, and what does not, in this country.

It is they who enjoy the least protection, because they are perceived to be relatively better off, better able to take care of themselves.

The fact is they should be assisted the most because of their potential to take the country to greater heights. They were born with no special privileges as enjoyed by the elite. They were raised to believe that plain hard work is key to success and that they should not rely on other people to make things happen for themselves.

The least the government can do is to make things easier for the middle class as they strive every day, taking nothing from no one and throwing no weight around.

Efficient services, reasonable costs, courteous treatment, a safe and comfortable ride to make us productive. That’s all they really need.

They take care of the rest, as they always do. adellechua@gmail.com

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 U N D AY, A U G U S T 2 , 2 0 1 5

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OPINION

ADELLE CHUA EDITOR

lettertotheeditor@thestandard.com.ph

OPINION

THE POOR MIDDLE CLASS

[ EDI TORI A L ]

HONEST - NOT! IN LAST Monday’s State of the Nation Address of President Benigno Aquino III, one of the audio visual presentations that were shown was the story of a 19-year-old student touted to be a product of the K to 12 system of education.

According to the presentation, she acquired her technical knowledge because of the K to 12 system adopted by the Aquino administration.

Hence, despite objections from parents who have to send their children to school for two more years before they can start earning for the family or pursue higher education, the K to 12 program is a beneficial system that would encourage the youth to be their best, to be competitive.

All these would have been nice words, inspiring and touching, even—if only they were true.

Immediately, the girl’s claim that she was a graduate of the new system was questioned by many.

How, after all, can somebody be a product of a years-long educational system that has only been started?

After mumbling several incoherent explanations, Palace spokesmen eventually admitted what had been apparent all along: It was a mistake. The girl was NOT a product of the K to 12 system as claimed in the video.

This may only be a small segment of the two-hour speech that was thankfully Mr. Aquino’s last, but it says a lot about the propensity of this administration to choose its truths and to cultivate the version of things it presents to the public.

On many other occasions, we have observed the administration’s tendency to take the public for fools by assuming they would not see through the ruse and put the pieces of the puzzle together to complete an entire picture.

For example, the President has once said—after great clamor—that he was doing away with the pork barrel system that has been exposed to be a way for government officials and their conduits to twist the system to their benefit. Lo and behold, it is the Executive itself that has given rise to the Disbursement Acceleration Program, an even more sinister version of the pork barrel system which can be used at the discretion of only a few under the guise of hastening the release of funds for crucial projects.

We are not surprised that these creations continue to exist, albeit by another name and a slightly different mechanism.

Mr. Aquino also likes to claim credit for the arrest and detention of lawmakers involved in the pork barrel scandal. What he leaves out is the fact that his allies who might be equally complicit continue to roam free.

He also likes to trumpet that the economy is growing, that investments are coming in and life is getting better for Filipinos. There is a semblance of truth to each of these, because yes, the economy is growing but not enough; investments are growing in nominal terms but not in relation to the inflows received by our Asean neighbors; and more cars are crowding the streets but income inequality has grown wider such that the growth has not trickled down to who should feel it most.

Our officials seem to believe that honesty is simply not telling a lie. This is where they are wrong.

DOCTORS ARE PEOPLE, TOO EVERYONE, at one point or another, has to deal with a medical practitioner. We’re all mortals so getting sick is a certainty. In fact, the number of doctors one has to deal with and the number of interactions one is forced to have with them increase correspondingly with age.

Like clockwork, I turned hypertensive when I hit 40. The signs of wear and tear surfaced soon thereafter. I undergo an executive check-up every year, but regular visits to doctors have become inevitable. I’ve experienced waiting in line for hours for consultation or for medical procedures. Because I have the worst case of gastroesopha-

geal reflux disease, I have found myself in hospital emergency rooms on far too many occasions, doubling over in extreme pain similar in manifestation to a heart attack. I know what it is like to be a patient needing immediate care.

My reaction when I read that tirade against doctors written by a columnist in a provincial paper (I think it went viral primarily because many people did not agree with what the author was saying) was to scoff at the writer for being out of touch with reality. The author basically ranted against doctors for being uncaring and unprofessional and asked if resident doctors have the right to be called doctors. Of course her question was ridiculous— residents are doctors who are

It’s really the system that breeds the conditions that we often rant about— particularly in government hospitals. The lack of resources and facilities create the dismal conditions that are often blamed on the medical practitioners who always have more patients than they can handle. taking up a specialization. It is irresponsible, however, for anyone to make generalizations of any profession. There are unprofessional, uncaring, incompetent doctors, but it is irresponsible to associate these traits with all doctors. At the same time, it’s very easy to harbor high expectations of doc-

tors and to attribute God-like qualities to them just because they have the capability to heal people.

Of course, we all wish doctors could meet appointments on time, be readily available for patients and have more time for them, and be as nurturing, empathetic, and solicitous as

A5

we want them to be. But it is also important to put things in context. The reality is that even if they want to, doctors usually do not have the luxury of being warm and cuddly all the time. There are also situations when they need to be firm, stern, and unyielding—such as the time when patients are being ornery, obstinate, or disobedient.

Contrary to what many of us think, doctors usually don’t have control of their time or of the situation.

Surgeries or procedures do not always start and end as scheduled, some patients require more attention and take up longer consulting time, and there are usually too many patients waiting to be attended to. But then again,

the better doctors usually are the ones with more patients and nobody wants to go to a doctor without patients, so it’s a chicken-and-egg situation. Of course the first thing that we ask of doctors is that they be knowledgeable.

Quite frankly, I’d rather have a snooty doctor who can heal quickly and efficiently than someone who is smiling and accommodating but does not seem to know what he is doing.

But in general, it’s really the system that breeds the conditions that we often rant about – particularly in government

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-

hospitals. The lack of resources and facilities create the dismal conditions that are often blamed on the medical practitioners who always have more patients than they can handle.

And even in private hospitals, there are protocols that doctors have to follow; they don’t make judgment calls such as who to attend to first, on a whim. At the same time, laboratory tests and medical procedures are now considered the definitive input into a medical diagnosis so doctors are most often required to wait for test results before making any intervention.

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There are doctors who are extremely nice and helpful, of course, but I will still submit that yes, most doctors should acquire more emotional intelligence. I believe that a major part of the healing process happens within the mind and heart of the patient and an empowering doctor can do wonders to help patients heal themselves, or at least speed up the process. Medical schools, hospitals, and professional medical associations should balance technical knowledge with courses that remind doctors to be more humane and caring.

THEY caused a stir in the beginning, but now the likes of Uber and GrabCar are becoming more popular alternatives to traditional means of transportation.

They use the Internet and Global Positioning System technology to get a passenger a car from point A to point B, with a known driver and vehicle plate number, and a determined fee based on the distance between the two points plus a little more.

The drivers are normally owners of the vehicles they drive and are normally friendly, courteous, and safe.

It’s an angry shoutout to the collective taxi drivers from our past who refused to take us in when we need a ride the most; complained and grumbled about our destination; expressed bewilderment at the heavy traffic here as though it were the passengers’ fault; demanded additional fees even before you set foot inside their cabs; take crazy routes to your destination to throw you off guard; displayed rude, boorish behavior; and made their passengers smell weird chemicals so they could steal from and even rape them.

And it’s not like we’re asking them for free rides. We’re willing to pay even if the fare would eat up a considerable portion of our budget for the day.

After all, that’s still better than subjecting yourself, twice a day, to the dehumanizing experience that is taking the Metro Rail Transit-3.

The poor middle class, who have to plod through day after day of working to earn a living, suffer the inadequacies of our nation the most.

The poor are taken care of by the conditional cash transfer program, for instance. It has been argued many times that the practice breeds only mendicancy and a misplaced gratitude to the disbursing agency/ administration when in fact these are public funds to begin with.

The poor, too, are coddled by local politicians recognizing their voting power. Legitimate landowners walk on eggshells evicting them from their property because they, especially the so-called professional squatters, sometimes put up violent protests when their shanties are demolished.

At the other end of the spectrum, you have the rich and the elite.

They, too, do not have to suffer

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

the everyday hassles that the ordinary commuting/ motoring public has to endure. But of course!

Their vehicles are chauffeured and sometimes they even hop from place to place on board a helicopter. That, or their own people go to where they are.

Sure, they pay taxes, they tell their executives to undergo corporate social responsibility activities and join hands with the government for some partnership.

But who’s to say they are paying the right taxes? Who’s to say that their labor practices are just?

That leaves the workhorses of the economy - the middle class torn in the middle, enjoying little of the benefits and more of the hassles.

It’s not just the daily travails of going to and from their workplaces. It’s the oppressive taxes, disproportionate to their takehome pay.

It’s the insult to their intelligence whenever some politician comes in and promises them change, and eventually underdelivers.

It’s the sore lack of opportunities for sustainable employment, for upward mobility, that drives them to look at other options like overseas jobs and expose themselves to the social and psychological costs of being away from their loved ones.

••• The next administration must recognize this. It’s those from the middle class, who break their backs regularly to achieve a semblance of comfort in their lives, who are most affected by what happens, and what does not, in this country.

It is they who enjoy the least protection, because they are perceived to be relatively better off, better able to take care of themselves.

The fact is they should be assisted the most because of their potential to take the country to greater heights. They were born with no special privileges as enjoyed by the elite. They were raised to believe that plain hard work is key to success and that they should not rely on other people to make things happen for themselves.

The least the government can do is to make things easier for the middle class as they strive every day, taking nothing from no one and throwing no weight around.

Efficient services, reasonable costs, courteous treatment, a safe and comfortable ride to make us productive. That’s all they really need.

They take care of the rest, as they always do. adellechua@gmail.com

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

Republic of the Philippines ENERGY REGULATORY COMMISSION San Miguel Avenue, Pasig City IN THE MATTER OF THE APPLICATION FOR APPROVAL OF THE INTERIM SUPPLY AGREEMENT (ISA) AND INTERIM SUPPLY CONTRACT (ISC) ENTERED INTO BY AND BETWEEN TARLAC II ELECTRIC COOPERATIVE, INCORPORATED (TARELCO II) AND SAN MIGUEL ENERGY CORPORATION (SMEC), WITH PRAYER FOR PROVISIONAL AUTHORITY ERC CASE NO. 2015-118 RC

26-Dec-14

-

25-Jan-15

435.7443

1,030.7261

106.3830

1.9943

0.0626

0.0083

26-Jan-15

-

25-Feb-15

436.5275

1,032.1557

106.3830

1.9943

0.0626

0.0083

26-Feb-15

-

25-Mar-15

437.3133

1,016.4105

106.3830

1.9943

0.0626

0.0083

26-Mar-15

-

25-Apr-15

438.1017

1,035.0286

106.3830

1.9943

0.0626

0.0083

26-Apr-15

-

25-May-15

438.8928

1,030.7446

106.3830

1.9943

0.0626

0.0083

26-May-15

-

25-Jun-15

439.6864

1,037.9197

106.3830

1.9943

0.0626

0.0083

26-Jun-15

-

25-Jul-15

440.4828

1,033.6480

106.3830

1.9943

0.0626

0.0083

26-Jul-15

-

25-Aug-15

441.2818

1,040.8312

106.3830

1.9943

0.0626

0.0083

26-Aug-15

-

25-Sep-15

442.0834

1,042.2948

106.3830

1.9943

0.0626

0.0083

26-Sep-15

-

25-Oct-15

442.8877

1,038.0360

106.3830

1.9943

0.0626

0.0083

26-Oct-15

-

25-Nov-15

443.6947

1,045.2361

106.3830

1.9943

0.0626

0.0083

26-Nov-15

-

25-Dec-15

444.5044

1,040.9858

106.3830

1.9943

0.0626

0.0083 0.0083

26-Dec-15

-

25-Jan-16

445.3168

1,048.7765

106.3830

2.0145

0.0626

26-Jan-16

-

25-Feb-16

446.1319

1,050.2653

106.3830

2.0145

0.0626

0.0083

Applicants.

26-Feb-16

-

25-Mar-16

446.9497

1,040.2622

106.3830

2.0145

0.0626

0.0083

26-Mar-16

-

25-Apr-16

447.7703

1,053.2533

106.3830

2.0145

0.0626

0.0083

26-Apr-16

-

25-May-16

448.5935

1,049.0088

106.3830

2.0145

0.0626

0.0083

26-May-16

-

25-Jun-16

449.4195

1,056.2642

106.3830

2.0145

0.0626

0.0083

TO ALL INTERESTED PARTIES:

26-Jun-16

-

25-Jul-16

450.2484

1,052.0284

106.3830

2.0145

0.0626

0.0083

Notice is hereby given that on June 23, 2015, Tarlac II Electric Cooperative, Incorporated (TARELCO II) and San Miguel Energy Corporation (SMEC) filed an application for approval of their Interim Supply Agreement (ISA) and Interim Supply Contract (ISC), with prayer for provisional authority.

26-Jul-16

-

25-Aug-16

451.0799

1,059.2942

106.3830

2.0145

0.0626

0.0083

x------------------------x NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING

In the said application, TARELCO II and SMEC alleged, among others, that: TARELCO II is an electric cooperative duly organized and existing under and by virtue of the laws of the Republic of the Philippines, with principal office address at Barangay San Nicolas, Concepcion, Tarlac. It is the holder of a franchise issued by the National Electrification Commission (NEC) to operate and distribute electric light and power service to its member-consumers in the Municipalities of Bamban, Capas, Concepcion and La Paz, all in the Province of Tarlac, and the Municipality of Zaragoza in the Province of Nueva Ecija;

2.

SMEC is a domestic corporation organized and existing under the Philippine laws, with office address at 2nd Floor 808 Building, MERALCO Avenue corner Gen. Lim St., Barangay San Antonio, Pasig City. It is the Independent Power Producer (IPP) Administrator of the 1,000 Net Contracted Capacity of the Sual Coal-Fired Thermal Power Plant located in Barangay Pangascasan, Sual, Pangasinan;

3.

Procurement Process. TARELCO II’s 22 MW contracted capacity with GNPower Mariveles Coal Plant Ltd. Company (GMCP) which is supposed to be effective on December 26, 2012 was not delivered on schedule because the latter missed the expected date of commercial operation due to a series of fine tuning and reliability testing of its newly constructed 2 x 300 MW coal power plant. TARELCO II entered into an ISA with GMCP for the allocation of contracted capacity depending on the output of its facility (2 x 300 MW Power Plant) while the remaining power requirement is sourced from the Wholesale electricity Sport Market (WESM); TARELCO II’s ISA with GMCP expired on February 25, 2014 while the latter’s Commercial Operation was declared on February 26, 2014. However, GMCP’s supply status is still non-firm up to present due to some problems to be corrected;

26-Aug-16

-

25-Sep-16

451.9142

1,060.8165

106.3830

2.0145

0.0626

0.0083

26-Sep-16

-

25-Oct-16

452.7512

1,056.5957

106.3830

2.0145

0.0626

0.0083

26-Oct-16

-

25-Nov-16

453.5912

1,063.8756

106.3830

2.0145

0.0626

0.0083

26-Nov-16

-

25-Dec-16

454.4338

1,059.6655

106.3830

2.0145

0.0626

0.0083

TARELCO II exerted best efforts in soliciting available generation supply from other power providers but only SMEC was able to spare it a 4 MW supply, under an ISA, beginning February 26, 2014 until December 25, 2015. In a letter dated May 27, 2014, SMEC agreed to increase the contract capacity by an additional 6 MW due to the increasing demand of TARELCO II’s member-consumers and newly connected big loads up to September 25, 2014. Still due to GMCP’s nonfirm supply status up to September 2014, TARELCO II increased the contracted capacity by another 5 MW or a total of 15 MW beginning September 26, 2014 for two (2) years under the ISC or until Commercial Operations Date (COD) of SMC Consolidated Power Corporation (SCPC)’s 2 x 150 MW CFB Power Plant in Limay, Bataan. To formalize this agreement, they executed the ISC which is the subject of the instant application. The said ISC supersedes the ISA. Below is a summary of the contracts: Period February 26, 2014 to June 25, 2014 June 26, 2014 to September 25, 2014 September 26, 2014 to COD

Capacity Fees

Load Factor, %

GMCP WESM

22,000 4,000 Imbalances

100% 100% -

Total

PhP/kW-month x

kW

BCQ/WESM Purchased, kWh 16,060,000 2,920,000 591,978 19,571,978

GMCP SMEC WESM Total

4.

22,000 4,000 Imbalances

Load Factor, % 100% 100% -

Average of the daily exchange rate of the Philippine Peso to the US Dollar, as posted by the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) for the calendar month within which the start of the current Billing Period occurs

FOREXB

=

41.749 PhP/USD

Monthly Capacity Payment (Local Portion in PhP):

PHIL CPI C

PHIL CPIC

=

Consumer Price Index (CPI) for All Income Households in the Philippines – All Items (2006 = 100), as posted by the Philippine National Statistics Office (NSO) for the calendar month within which the start of the current Billing Period occurs

PHIL CPIB

=

131.40

Energy Fees Fuel Rate:

PhP/kWh

x

Global Coal Newcastle C

16,060,000 2,920,000 591,978 19,571,978

Global Coal Newcastle B

Effective Rate, PhP/kWh 4.1592 9.8000 9.8000 5.1714

Energy Cost PhP

Effective Rate, PhP/kWh 4.1592 4.7500 9.8000 4.4180

66,796,752.00 13,870,000.00 5,801,384.40 86,468,136.40

2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021 2022 2023 2024 2025 2026 2027 2028

39,582 42,246 44,672 47,098 49,524 51,950 54,376 56,802 59,228 61,654 64,080 66,643 69,309 72,081 74,964

SMEC, kW 15,000 15,000 15,000 15,000 15,000 15,000 15,000 15,000 15,000 15,000 15,000 15,000 15,000

=

Total, kW 37,000 37,000 37,000 37,000 37,000 37,000 37,000 37,000 37,000 37,000 37,000 37,000 37,000

Global Newcastle B

=

89.41 USD/MT

FOREXC

=

Average of the daily exchange rate of the Philippine Peso to the US Dollar, as posted by the BSP for the calendar month within which the start of the current Billing Period occurs

5.

FOREXB

=

41.749 PhP/USD

x

FOAREX C

x

FOREXC

2,582 5,246 7,672 10,098 12,524 14,950 17,376 19,802 22,228 24,654 27,080 29,643 37,964

=

=

5.2

Contract Capacity. Beginning June 26, 2014 until September 25, 2014, the Seller agrees to deliver and the Buyer agrees to take and pay for 10,000 kW of capacity from the Plant. From September 26, 2014 until the COD of SCPC, the Contract Capacity shall be 15,000 kW. The Seller may allow an increase in the Contract Capacity upon application of the Buyer, and the Contract Capacity may be decreased subject to the payment of a buy-out fee;

FOREXB

=

41.749 PhP/USD

=

Average Export Price Index (EPI) for US, Japan and Europe JIC /JIB) + (USIC /USIB) + (EIC /EIB)]/3

JIC

=

Japan EPI six (6) months immediately preceding the adjustment date, taken from the International Financial Statistics (IFS) published by the International Monetary Fund (IMF)

JIB

=

93.93

USIC

=

US EPI six (6) months immediately preceding the adjustment date, taken from the IFS published by the IMF

USIB

=

91.70

EIC

=

EPI of a European country agreed between the IPP Counter Party and the IPP and notified to the Administrator six (6) months immediately preceding the adjustment date, taken from the IFS published by the IMF

=

EIB

120.57

Variable O&M (Local Portion):

PhP/kWh

=

Retail Price Index for All Items (2000=100) in Metropolitan Manila six (6) months immediately preceding the adjustment date, as published by the NSO

RPIB

=

75.90

5.5

Capacity and Energy Fees. Under the ISC, TARELCO II shall pay the following capacity and energy fees to SMEC:

Japan EPI (2010=100) US EPI (2010=100) Europe EPI (2005=100) Retail Price Index – Metro Manila (2000=100)

From

To

Energy Fees (PhP/kWh)

Fixed O&M

Fuel Rate

Variable O&M (Dollar)

Variable O&M (Local)

A1

A2

B

C

D1

D2

26-Jun-14

-

25-Jul-14

364.4788

896.5885

106.3830

2.0372

0.0626

0.0083

26-Jul-14

-

25-Aug-14

365.2465

903.7727

106.3830

2.0372

0.0626

0.0083

26-Aug-14

-

25-Sep-14

366.0167

905.1779

106.3830

2.0372

0.0626

0.0083

26-Sep-14

-

25-Oct-14

366.7896

900.8052

106.3830

2.0372

0.0626

0.0083

26-Oct-14

-

25-Nov-14

367.5650

908.0036

106.3830

2.0372

0.0626

0.0083

26-Nov-14

-

25-Dec-14

368.3430

903.6412

106.3830

2.0372

0.0626

0.0083

The instant application is, likewise, being filed by them in line with the first (1st) and fifth (5th) “whereas clauses” of the DOE Circular No. 2003-12-11 which are quoted hereunder: “WHEREAS, Section 2 of Republic Act No. 9136, also known as the Electric Power Industry Reform Act of 2001 or EPIRA, declared as a policy of the State, among others, [to ensure the quality, reliability, security and affordability of the supply of electric power;” (first “whereas clause”, Department of Energy Circular No. 2003-12-11.Underscoring supplied.)

“WHEREAS, pursuant to Section 23 of EPIRA, all distribution utilities, as defined in the law, SHALL HAVE THE OBLIGATION TO SUPPLY ELECTRICITY IN THE LEAST COST MANNER TO ITS CAPTIVE MARKET subject to the collection of retail rate duly approved by the Energy Regulatory Commission;” (fifth “whereas clause”, ibid. Underscoring supplied.)

Moreover, Section 1 of the same Department Circular declares as State policy that:

By way of emphasis, Resolution No. 21, Series of 2005 of the Commission dated October 19, 2005 had directed all DUs “to enter into future bilateral power supply contract with power producers to be subjected to a review by the Commission.”

(Underscoring supplied)

10. In the interest of the public, particularly, the Luzon-wide power consumers, there is a necessity for the immediate approval of the instant application in order that there will be no undue disruption in power supply and TARELCO II’s member-consumers shall, at the soonest possible time, benefit from lower generation cost;

B C to C-1 D E to E-1 F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W

Y Z AA BB

Nature of Document TARELCO II’s Certificate of Franchise issued by the NEC TARELCO II Certificate of Registration issued by the National Electrification Administration (NEA) TARELCO II Articles of Incorporation and By-Laws SMEC Certificate of Registration with the Securities and Exchange commission (SEC) SMEC Articles of Incorporation and By-Laws SMEC Board of Investment (BOI) Certificate of Registration SMEC Latest General Information Sheet (GIS) filed with the SEC Environmental Compliance Certificate (ECC) Interim Supply Agreement Letter dated May 27, 2014 from SMEC ISC between TARELCO II and SMEC TARELCO II Board Resolution approving the PSC with SMEC TARELCO II Board Resolution approving the filing for approval of the ISC with the Commission SMEC Board Resolution approving the ISC with TARELCO II Executive Summary of the ISC Details of the ISC’s power rate calculations (confidential) Rate Impact, Purchased Power Rates, Sample Computations, and Comparisons Between Existing and Proposed Rates Details of the Procurement Process of Fuel Copy of Related Agreements: Transmission Service Agreement between TARELCO II and the National Grid Corporation of the Philippines (NGCP) Certificate of Compliance (COC) issued by the Commission Relevant technical and economic characteristics of the Generation Capacity, Installed Capacity, Mode of Operation, and Dependable Capacity Details regarding the load forecast projections Demand Side Management (DSM) program that could be implemented by TARELCO II if approved by the Commission TARELCO II’s Latest Audited Financial Statement (AFS), Balance Sheet and Statement of Cash Flow SMEC’s Latest AFS, Balance Sheet and Statement of Cash Flow TARELCO II transmittal letters to the Sangguniang Panlalawigan of Tarlac and Sangguniang Bayan of Concepcion/Certifications issued by said offices A copy of the newspaper where the instant application was published Affidavit of Publication

13. SMEC is part of a group of companies which considers the exploration of several potential projects all over the Philippines for the operation, maintenance or administration of power plants similar to the plant involved in the instant application.

As such, it has valuable proprietary interest in securing the confidentiality of the foregoing information, particularly, from existing and potential competitors in the power generation sector. Public exposure of these sensitive information/data, particularly, the full details thereof, could give these parties a competitive advantage over SMEC as they would have the opportunity and ability to utilize the ingenuity involved in the computations in arriving at the data/information sought to be protected; Allegations in Support for the Motion for Provisional Authority 14. They replead the above allegations in support of their prayer for the immediate issuance of the provisional authority, anchored on the following grounds: 14.1

Considering the current limitations on the available capacity in the Luzon Grid, TARELCO II must source power from SMEC starting June 26, 2014 to avoid power outage in its franchise area. As such, it was constrained to implement the ISC under the belief that it will redound to the benefit of its member-consumers considering that the rates therein are lower than the Commission-approved National Power Corporation – Time-of-Use (NPC-TOU) rates;

14.2

Per its Actual/Forecasted Load Data and Distribution Development Plan (DDP), TARELCO II is undergoing a significant increase and is expecting a further increase in its energy requirements due to a growth in the total demand of its member-consumers; and

14.3

Without the supply of SMEC, TARELCO II will be exposed to the unpredictable and expectedly higher prices in the WESM or worse, be unable to supply the required energy to its franchise area resulting in total blackout;

15. In the interest of the public, there is a necessity for the immediate and provisional approval of the instant application in order that there will be no undue disruption in the power supply to TARELCO II’s member-consumers; and Prayer 16. Thus, they pray that the Commission: 16.1

Issue a provisional authority in accordance with the ERC Rules of Practice and Procedure, and allowing TARELCO II to implement the ISC;

16.2

Issue an order approving the confidential treatment of the information contained in Annex “P” (Details of the Power Rate Calculations); and

16.3

After notice and hearing, issues a Decision approving the ISC between TARELCO II and SMEC, thereby allowing TARELCO II to pass on the cost of such purchased power.

September 2012 USD/MT 89.41 PhP/USD 41.749 Fixed 231.407 Fixed 131.40 January 1994 Fixed 93.93 Fixed 91.70 Fixed 120.57 Fixed 75.90

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 applicants conclude the presentation of their 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.

Rate Impact 6.

The charges on Capacity and Energy Fees and rate discounts and adjustments under Annex II – A and Sections 9.1 and 9.2 of Article 9 of the ISC will result to lower generation cost charges for TARELCO II. Shown below is the rate impact summary: Table 1: TARELCO II’s Generation Rate From the Current Suppliers (kWh)

Supplier

kW

Load Factor, %

GMCP WESM Total

22,000 15,000 37,000

100% 100%

BCQ/WESM Purchased, kWh 16,060,000 3,511,978 19,571,978

Energy Cost, PhP 66,796,752.00 34,417,387.93 114,462,102.00

The Commission has set the application for initial hearing, expository presentation, pre-trial conference and evidentiary hearing on August 12, 2015 (Wednesday) at ninethirty in the morning (9:30 A.M.) at TARELCO II’s Main Office, Barangay San Nicolas, Concepcion, Tarlac.

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.

Base Indices: Particulars Global Coal Newcastle Price Index FOREX Rate US CPI (1982-84=100) Philippine CPI (2006=100

Local Portion

RPI C

RPIC

Discounts. The Seller provides the following discounts: a) Prompt Payment Discount (PPD) – three percent (3%) of the total Capacity and Energy Charges, subject to payment conditions (Start-up charges and WESM charges, if any, shall not be subjected to PPD); and b) Collection Efficiency Discount (CED) of up to a maximum of PhP0.20/kWh may be granted subject to compliance with certain payment requirements;

Capacity Fees (PhP/kW-month)

x

Where:

5.4

Dollar Portion

7.

RPI B

Supply. The supply of the Contract Capacity shall commence on June 26, 2014, with a minimum hourly nomination of thirty-five percent (35%);

Period Covered

EPI AVE

EPIAVE

=

Term. The ISC shall take effect between the Parties upon signing and shall be effective until the COD of the 2 x 150 MW CFB Coal-Fired Power Plant in Limay, Bataan of SCPC;

Further, TARELCO II is subjected to a minimum Capacity Factor of seventy percent (70%) and fifty percent (50%) declaration of hourly Contracted Demand with GMCP while SMEC has a minimum declaration of hourly contracted demand up to thirtyfive percent (35%) level;

Request for Confidential Treatment of Information

Where:

5.1

Contract Year 2015

All imbalances will all be taken from the WESM. When the average cost in the market is higher than the combined effective rates of SMEC and GMCP, TARELCO II’s generation cost will definitely reduce;

12. Invoking the provisions of Rule 4 of the ERC Rules of Practice and Procedure, SMEC requests for the confidential treatment of the information contained in Annex “P” (Details of the ISC Power Rate Calculations);

Average of the daily exchange rate of the Philippine Peso to the US Dollar, as posted by the BSP for the calendar month within which the start of the current Billing Period occurs

They signed the ISC for TARELCO II’s base load electricity requirements. The contract was executed in counterparts: SMEC signed on December 15, 2014 while TARELCO II signed on October 17, 2014. The ISC has the following salient points:

5.3

It is evident that SMEC’s base load rate of PhP4.3530/kWh is cheaper than the WESM average rate of PhP9.8000/kWh, resulting in savings of PhP0.9336/kWh. This is the reason why TARELCO II entered into a bilateral contract with SMEC, to avoid exposure from the price volatility in the Spot Market and also to consider the non-firm supply of GMCP since December 26, 2012 to March 25, 2015;

X

Where:

kW total x 365 days/year x 24 hours/day x 70% to 100% Capacity Factor b. SMEC = kW total x 365 days/year x 24 hours/day x 35% to 100% Capacity Factor c. SCPC = kW total x 365 days/year x 24 hours/day x 40% to 100% Capacity Factor All imbalances will all be taken from the WESM Upon COD (targeted for calendar year 2016), SMEC will supply 15 MW from SMEC

3.

4.

Fuel Cost Index in USD/MT based on the Global Coal Newcastle posting representing the average index for the calendar month within which the start of the current billing Period occurs

FOREX B

Remarks: 1.

Uncontracted capacity is based on 2014 DDP as submitted to the DOE (2014 base year) 2.

Contracted Energy: a. GMCP

FOREX B

Global Coal Newcastle C

PhP/kWh

Uncontracted Portion of Forecasted Load, kW

Bilateral Contract Quantity (BCQ) GMCP, kW 22,000 22,000 22,000 22,000 22,000 22,000 22,000 22,000 22,000 22,000 22,000 22,000 22,000 22,000 22,000

FOREX C

Variable O&M (Dollar Portion):

TARELCO II’S Contracted Supply and Effectivity (Years 2014 to 2028) Load Forecast, kW

x

4.1592 4.3530 4.2378 0.9336

Based on the above simulations, SMEC’s rate is lower than the existing suppliers (Table 1) when combined inclusive of twelve percent (12%) VAT, PPD and CED;

Annex A

Where:

Energy Cost, PhP 66,796,752.00 28,616,000.00 5,801,384.40 101,214,136.40

BCQ/WESM Purchased, kWh

PHIL CPI B

Where:

Capacity 4,000 kW 10,000 kW 15,000 kW

Effective Rate, PhP/kWh

11. In support of the instant application and in compliance with the documentary requirements of the Commission as provided under Article VI, Section 2 of the “Guidelines for the Recovery of Costs for the Generation Component by Distribution Utilities” as well as the pre-filing requirements mandated under Rule 6, Sections 2 to 4 of the ERC Rules of Practice and Procedure, they are submitting the attached documents which are made integral parts thereof, to wit:

= No Indexation

Monthly Fixed Operations and Maintenance:

PhP/kW-month x

Energy Cost, PhP 66,796,752.00 47,665,350.00 114,462,102.00

The bases of Effective Rates used in Table 1, for both GMCP and WESM are the purchased power for the period March 26, 2014 to March 25, 2015;

9.

=

PhP/kW-Month

BCQ/WESM Purchased, kWh 16,060,000 10,950,000 27,010,000.00

“All distribution utilities must henceforth take cognizance and assume full responsibility to forecast, assure and contract for the supply of electric power in the respective franchise areas to meet their obligations as a distribution utility.” (Underscoring supplied.)

FOREXC

Demand-Supply Scenario. TARELCO II’s demand already exceeded its contracted supply in 2014, thus requiring its additional supply from SMEC, TO WIT:

Contract Year

100% 100%

FOREX C FOREX B

Table 2: Combined Generation Rate From the Projected Load Allocations with the Current Suppliers (kWh) and SMEC Supplier

22,000 15,000 37,000

8.

Where:

Resulting Rate with the ISA

kW

GMCP SMEC Total Savings

Monthly Capacity Payment (Dollar Portion converted to PhP):

Table 1: TARELCO II’s Projected Load Allocations with the Current Suppliers (kWh) Supplier

Load Factor, %

Adjustment Formula. The Capacity and Energy Fees are subject to monthly adjustment based on the following formula and indices:

5.6

Relative to the supply situation of GMCP, TARELCO II’s option is to look for another power supplier to mitigate the effect of price volatility in the WESM and to sustain its member-consumers’ increasing demand and newly connected big loads;

Document ISA ISC ISC

kW

Contract Year 2016

TARLAC II ELECTRIC COOPERATIVE, INCORPORATED (TARELCO II) AND SAN MIGUEL ENERGY CORPORATION (SMEC)

1.

Supplier

Effective Rate, PhP/kWh

All such persons who may wish to have a copy of the application may request the applicants, prior to the date of the initial hearing, that they be furnished with a copy of the application. The applicants are 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 20th day of July, 2015 at Pasig1 City.

4.1592 9.8000 5.1714

Table 2: Combined Generation Rate From the Projected Load Allocations with the Current Suppliers (kWth) and SMEC

ATTY. FRANCIS SATURNINO C. JUAN Executive Director III rvm/TARELCO II and SMECISA & ISC/2015-118 RC/nph

(TS-JUL 26 & AUG. 2, 2015)

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

A7

NEWS

editorial@thestandard.com.ph

EBDANE: BOOMS A THREAT

IBA—Zambales Gov. Hermogenes Ebdane Jr. has ordered the dismantling of booms to prevent them from crashing into houses during strong waves.

UPBEAT. Lower prices of oil would mean more sales and consumption, according to PTT Philippines, a subsidiary of Thailand’s largest oil company.

PTTT president Sukanya Seriyothin (3rd from left) at a forum Saturday expressed optimism that the company’s sales volume would increase by 15 -20 percent. Fromm left: Korawat Sungmongkol, director for operations & logistics; Paul Senador, president of PTT Philippines Foundation, Inc; and Vittaya Viboonterawud, corporate communications manager. MANNY PALMERO

NOTHING TO CONTINUE ABOUT STRAIGHT PATH—UNA

By Maricel V. Cruz THE opposition United Nationalist Alliance (UNA) has said there is nothing to continue about the much ballyhooed ‘Tuwid na Daan’ of President Aquino.

UNA president and Navotas Rep. Tobias Tiangco said that the Aquino government has established a track record of being insensitive to the needs of the Filipino people.

Tiangco said the Aquino government’s claim of economic growth did not actually tickle down to the poor.

“There may be economic recovery but it was not really felt by the Filipino people, especially the poor,” Tiangco said as President Aquino III endorsed Friday Interior Secretary Mar Roxas as the Lib-

eral Party’s presidential bet in 2016.

Tiangco said that Vice President Jejomar Binay is still the man to beat in 2016 elections as UNA’s platform of government is anchored on the rule of law and fiscal rules to all levels of government.

“We believe that Vice President Binay has a lot to offer for the Filipino people,” Tiangco added.

But as far as Cavite Rep. Elpidio Barzaga, Jr. , stalwart of the National Unity Party (NUP), is concerned, Roxas has the track record, competence and strong political will to lead the country.

“Mar is the only one who can continue what [President Aquino] has started and this is our battle cry—continuity, and this is Mar’s strongest card,” Barzaga said.

Barzaga said that another edge

Roxas possesses over his rivals is the established political machinery of the Liberal Party and its allies, many of whom are running unopposed in their provinces, districts, cities and municipalities and yet others with opponents are still sure winners.

“With a machinery like that in place, it will be a lot easier to campaign for a Roxas presidency in the grassroots level where administration allies are entrenched,” Barzaga added.

He pointed out that Roxas is the country’s “best shot” to ensure that the people “will be able to continue harvesting the fruits of the seeds that PNoy has sowed. “Knowing Mar Roxas, he will be prepared to lay his program of government before the Filipino people.”

Abakada party-list Rep. Jonathan

MORE AND MORE NURSES SEEKING JOBS IN AMERICA

By Vito Barcelo THE number of Filipino nurses who took the US National Licensure Examination (NCLEX) in the hope of getting to land good paying job in the US grew by 28.6 percent, indicating that nursing jobs in the country are getting scarce, according to a lawmaker.

A total of 2,509 Philippine-educated nurses took the NCLEX for the first time from January to June this year, House Assistant Majority Leader and Cebu Rep. Gerald Anthony Gullas Jr. said.

“The number is up 28.6 percent versus the 1,951 Filipino nurses who took the NCLEX for the first time, excluding repeaters, in the first semester of 2014,” Gullas, vice chairman of the House committee on higher and technical education, said.

The Department of Health earlier said that there are enough qualified nurses but they

don’t have enough job opportunities here.

The NCLEX refers to the National Council Licensure Examination administered by the US (National Council of) State Boards of Nursing Inc. (USNCSBN).

The number of Filipino nurses taking the NCLEX for the first time is considered a good indicator as to how many of them are trying to obtain US licenses, or seek gainful employment in America.

Meanwhile, Gullas said a Philippine Overseas Employment Administration (POEA)licensed recruitment firm will screen qualified Filipino nurses for possible deployment to the United Kingdom and Singapore, with indicative monthly pay rates of 1,500 British pounds (P107,000) and 1,950 Singaporean dollars (P65,000), respectively.

He said the screening will be conducted at the Cebu Provincial Capitol’s Public Employment Service Office (PESO) on Aug. 17-18.

de la Cruz, member of the House Independent Bloc of Leyte Rep. Ferdinand Martin Romualdez, said Roxas, being the anointed one of President Aquino III should be made answerable to the failures of the present administration.

“They will have to stand by their record of neglect and lost opportunities, including which the vast majority of our people witness and suffer from everyday lack of jobs and basic services, high cost of goods, transport woes, worsening corruption and breakdown in peace and order,” de la Cruz said.

De la Cruz said “it will really be a hard and exhausting climb for Roxas now that he has t beat the burden of explaining to our people why we have to come to this sorry state.”

“Safety first,” he pointed out.

The lives of the residents living along the shoreline of Iba are at stake once the Chinese buoys or containment booms hit houses, Ebdane stressed.

“For safety reasons, I ordered the removal of these booms out from the shore since they might slam houses and properties during powerful waves, strong winds and inclement weather,” he raised.

Winds at sea could generate high monster waves that could rip the massive booms from their chain, bring them ashore and wash out houses, he said.

“These buoys could break loose. It is dangerous to keep booms there,” he added.

A backhoe or a crane was needed to be able to tow the three lengthy Chinese-marked buoys or containment booms found floating near Bajo de Masinloc Shoal or 92 kilometers away from Cabangan town last July 25 at around 3 p.m.

The booms have been seen also to three barangays in Iba town— Sitio Lanao, San Agustin and Sto. Rosario.

“There will be a reasonable cause for seizure if there’ll be no claimant,” the governor said.

The device would be given to the nine fishermen who found the orange-colored floating booms in the sea of Zambales.

The booms could be used to mark boundaries, prevent strong waves, serve as temporary barriers in the event of an oil spill or suck sand, he said.

“As of this point in time, we cannot still establish who owns these objects unless they claim ownership and present proof. “ he noted.

To date, no one has yet surfaced to claim the booms.

According to the fisher folk, they have some sightings of similar buoys near the disputed Bajo de Masinloc Shoal.

ANNOUNCEMENT Starting Aug 5, 2015,SKYmobi will have two (2) postpaid mobile internet plan packages that will be available in Metro Manila: SKYmobi Plan 799 PhP 799

Monthly Service Fee (MSF)* Plan Package

Lock-in Period

SKYmobi Plan 1099 PhP 1099

3GB consumable data allocation per • 5GB consumable data month allocation per month • FREE Pocket WiFi • FREE Pocket WiFi • For users with SKYcable subscriptions, they can also watch SKY channels on their devices, live as these are being aired, or on demand at their convenience • Channels and shows that they can watch depends on their cable plan subscription 24 months •

In addition, SKYmobisubscribers may register to internet and text add-ons on top of their monthly service fee (MSF): Internet Add-ons: Add-on Price* MB Keyword Validity MobiAdd Surf 30 PhP 30 100 MB MAS30 30 days MobiAdd Surf 299 PhP 299 1 GB MAS299 * *Rates are VAT inclusive.

To avail: Text <KEYWORD> to 2135. Per DTI-FTEB SPD Permit No.: 10147, series of 2015.

In excess of the monthly data allocation, Php 1 per MB will be charged (or based on add-on SKU if vailable).

Prevailing rates will apply for calls and texts made using your SKYmobi. Please see website for details.

Apply for SKYmobi through any accredited SKY Agent. Please see flyers for details.

A8 TOP RED IN PANAY FALLS SUNDAY: AUGUST 2, 2015

editorial@the standard.com.ph

By Florante S. Solmerin

SECURITY forces on Saturday arrested a leader of the Communist Party of the Philippines-New People’s Army at her safe-house in Iloilo City’s Molo district, according to the military.

The military identified the communist leader as Maria Concepcion Araneta-Bocala, 64, Panay Peninsula’s secretary general of the Communist Party of the

Philippines-New People’s ArmyNational Democratic Front (CPPNPA-NDF).

A spot report forwarded to The Standard showed that Araneta,

popularly known as Concha Araneta, was arrested at a 6:15 a.m.

Inside her safe-house in Molo, Iloilo City.

Araneta has P7.8 million bounty on her head.

The arresting team was led by elements of the Intelligence Service of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (ISAFP).

Also arrested were the two helpers who the military did not identify.

Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) region-

al director Senior Superintedent Peter Naboye confirmed the arrest of Araneta.

He said Araneta has a warrant of arrest for murder issued by the Regional Trial Court (RTC), Branch 2 in Kalibo, Aklan.

When arrested, Araneta had allegedly in possession of an M1911 caliber .45 with defaced serial number, a cal. 25 pistol, laptops, USB, and subversive documents.

Araneta is currently undergoing tactical interrogation by the

police.

She was the wife of former Board Member Pablito Araneta.

While in the revolutionary movement, she married Reynaldo Bocala, CPP finance officer, the military said, The military said Araneta was one of the stalwarts of the “First Quarter Storm” .

The military and police, however, are yet to issue an official statement on who will receive Araneta’s P7.8 million bounty.

COPS ROUND UP 31 MOST WANTED PERSONS

By Joel Zurbano THE government’s continuing campaign against criminality yielded significant results with the arrest of 31 most wanted persons in Metro Manila during separate operations last month, the National Capital Region Police Office said on Saturday.

The NCRPO, which consisted of five police districts in Metro Manila, conducted the anti-criminal operations from July 20 to July 26 as part of its Oplan Lambat Sibat campaign. The operation is also in line with the thrust of the Philippine National Police against organized crime groups, wanted persons, antiillegal drugs and loose firearms.

But newly designated Metro Manila Police director Chief Supt.

Joel Pagdilao was not satisfied with the results and ordered the five district commanders from the Central Police District, Eastern Police District, Manila Police District, Southern Police District and Norhern Police District to exert more efforts to curb criminality in their areas of jurisdiction.

“We know that the arrest of

criminals and decreased of crimes may not be appreciated as long as there are still crimes happening in Metro Manila. Everyday we should seriously focus to improve further gains of Lambat Sibat,” Pagdilao told his men.

“At the end of the day, we can proudly say that each of us did our part to make the people of Metro Manila safe in the streets, in schools, in workplaces and in their homes,” he added.

Pagdilao also directed his men to intensify police visibility and beat patrols, especially in places identified as crime prone areas.

“Day and night we should patrol the streets. Police presence and our appearances is performance. Our presence should be felt in the streets and timely arrest of criminals petty and big-time alike,” he said.

In a meeting at Camp Crame, PNP chief for intelligence Police Director Generoso Cerbo Jr. reported that since the implementation of Oplan Lambat Sibat Phase II last July 6, police operatives collared 107 or 24 percent of 440 most wanted persons listed in different police stations nationwide.

BREASTFEEDING MONTH. Women breastfeed their children in Manila on August 1, 2015, to celebrate National Breastfeeding Awareness Month. The Philippines observes breastfeeding awareness month in August to boost awareness of the health and economic benefits and a goal to create a breastfeeding nation. AFP

PASAY, MERALCO SIGN MOU ON PREPAREDNESS

THE Pasay City government has signed an agreement with Manila Electric Company to work toward responding to the challenges of sustainable urbanization and development in the city.

Mayor Antonino Calixto and Pasay City Rep. Imelda CalixtoRubiano signed the Memorandum of Understanding with Meralco officials represented by its president Oscar Reyes on July 24 at the Heritage Hotel in Pasay.

“Urbanization is a driving force as well as a source of development with the power to change and improve lives. This is one of Pasay City’s response to the UN Habitat III Conference where we work to bring everyone -- Member States, multilateral organizations, local governments, private sector and civil society, to look for solutions to the complex challenge of urbaniza-

tion.” Calixto said.

The programs both Pasay and Meralco agreed to work on include Disaster Preparedness.

Since Calixto is also the head of Metro Manila Peace and Order Council, he said he will coordinate with MERALCO in terms of Peace and Order where they can work together. This would entail the formulation of Communication Protocols between Pasay and Meralco for timely coordination and assistance during calamities such as typhoons, floods, fires and accidents.

A “Typhoon Watch” Campaign will also be conducted starting June of every year. Mineral gallon containers re-used as personal floatation device called “Salbabotes” will also be donated for barangays and areas prone to flooding.

Both parties also agreed to work on the Community Electrification

Program; Tree Planting Program; Drug Prevention Program as well as Sports and Youth Advocacy.

Meralco commits to support Pasay’s engaging of the youth through sports-related activities in collaboration with the Meralco Bolts professional basketball team, Power Spikers and the Meralco Sparks.

Strategic Planning regarding Pasay City’s Electricity Distribution Requirement; the Electric Vehicle Project; Energy and Environmental Conservation Program, and the Prepaid Electric Services were also included in the partnership agreement. Likewise, the Pasay City and the Meralco will work together for the safety and improvement of the community by regular trimming of trees, removal of dangling wires, repair and maintenance of streetlights and processing of streetlight applications, if needed. Joel Zurbano

GREENERY. Students spend time jogging and bonding on Saturday under the trees at the University of the Philippines -Diliman campus in Quezon City. SONNY ESPIRITU

SUNDAY: AUGUST 2, 2015

Roderick T. dela Cruz EDITOR business@thestandard.com.ph extrastory2000@gmail.com

BUSINESS

B1

BRITISH BRANDS INVADING PH ASIF AHMAD, the UK ambassador to the Philippines, is one of the busiest diplomats in the country, as he leads, almost on a weekly basis, the opening of new outlets put up by dozens of British companies which are taking advantage of the rapidly growing consumer market and improved purchasing power of Filipinos.

Ahmad, the 59-year-old diplomat who has been assigned in the Philippines since July 2013, says while several British companies have established their presence in the country for several decades now, more are expected to land in the Philippines soon.

“We have done it in fashion. We have done it in cars. We have done it in films and music. The next story is eating and drinking,” says Ahmad, during the opening of the second outlet of Costa Coffee in the Philippines at Robinsons Place in Ermita, Manila.

Costa Coffee, the leading coffee chain in the United Kingdom, is the latest British brand setting its sights on the Philippine market, which Ahmad says offers a lot of opportunities for foreign companies.

The ambassador says the expansion of British firms in the country is a part of a deliberate effort of the London government to triple its exports to the world to 1 trillion pounds by 2020.

Unilever, an Anglo-Dutch company, is one of the biggest distributors of consumer products in the Philippines while Royal Dutch Shell Plc. is one of the three largest petroleum players in the country.

The last couple of years saw dozens of UK firms opening outlets

or expanding their presence in the Philippines. In November 2013, London opened its airspace to Philippine Airlines via Heathrow Airport, with the help of Ahmad. This has triggered a faster movement of people, including investors and tourists, between the two countries.

British financial giants HSBC, Standard & Chartered, Barclays and Pru Life UK have strong presence in the Philippines while UK companies that are expanding in the country include Pearson Plc., Ashmore Group, British American Tobacco, British Petroleum, ECR Minerals Plc., CRH Plc., Arup, Nectar Group Ltd., MacKay Green Energy Inc., Forum Energy, Pitkin Petroleum Plc., Eaton Corp. Plc. and Weir Engineering Services Ltd. Top British brands opening or adding outlets in the Philippines include Rolls Royce, Range Rover, Jaguar, Mini Cooper, Morgan Motors, Tesco, The Body Shop, Fitness First, Toni & Guy, Remington UK, Marks & Spencer, Debenhams, Lee Cooper, F&F, John Lewis, Burton, Reiss, Speedo, Hamleys, Burberry, Topshop, Topman, Dorothy Perkins, Mitre Sports, Berghaus, Kangaroos, Superdry, Warehouse, Clarks Shoes, Paul Smith, Mothercare, Hackett London, Lush, TM Lewin, River Island, Cath Kidston, Pepe Jeans

UK Ambassador to the Philippines Asif Ahmad (left) and Costa Coffee International managing director Chris Rogers London, Savile Row, Lyle & Scott, Whyte & Mackay, Twinings, Diageo, Union Jack Tavern, Wolf & Fox, Chuck’s Grub, Waitrose and Yummy Organics.

Ahmad says more brands will expand in the Philippines soon.

“We have a strong presence of British brands that is gonna grow. My government, the UK, has said that we must triple exports to 1 trillion

[pounds]. My mission here is to grow three times more than before. That is a very strong target to have,” he says.

The UK is already the largest investor among European countries in the Philippines. “The easy target that we have met is being the number one investor in the Philippines from the European Union. We have achieved that already,” he says.

“In terms of trade, we have a long

way to go. If we added it both ways, it [bilateral trade] adds up to $2 billion. We have to make it $6 billion,” says Ahmad.

He says the UK embassy is working with the British Chamber of Commerce to help more companies navigate the Philippine market.

British investors are looking at infrastructure, public-private partnership projects, water, healthcare, education, information technology and defense sectors, he says.

The British Chamber of Commerce is arranging more trade missions to bring more British brands in the Philippines this year to look at opportunities, given the country’s improving economy.

“What we are seeing is that the government has more money. The infrastructure projects are now speeding up, after a difficult start.

We are seeing people consuming more, spending money more, not just in houses and cars, but also in their lifestyle,” Ahmad says.

Ahmad says Filipinos can afford to buy British brands. “It [local market] has been ready for quite some time. That’s why we have been very successful here. If you go back, they [British companies] have been here for a long time and they are expanding still. New ones are coming onboard. What Costa Coffee does is something different. It is in food and beverage segment, which has much more to offer,” he says.

Costa Coffee opened its first outlet at Eastwood Citywalk 1 in Libis, Quezon City in June and plans to open three more branches this year at Tera Towers in Fort Bonifacio, E. Rodriguez Jr. Ave. in Quezon City and Robinsons Antipolo in Rizal.

“We plan to open 70 Costa Coffee branches in the Philippines over the next five years,” says Costa Coffee CONTINUED ON B3

SUNDAY: AUGUST 2, 2015

B2

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

METRO MANILANS NOW EARN $8,000

PER CAPITA income in Metro Manila topped the $8,000 mark for the first time in 2014, widening the gap with other parts of the largely rural Philippines which remain mired in poverty and where average annual income per person was still below $3,000.

Regional gross domestic product data released on Thursday by the Philippine Statistics Authority show that per capita income in the National Capital Region reached P365,629 in 2014 at current prices, translating into $8,236, based on the average exchange rate of 44.3952 pesos a dollar that year.

Metro Manila’s per capita income was nearly three times the national average of P126,579 or $2,851 and 12 times that of Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao, the poorest region, based on PSA data.

The International Monetary Fund, in a separate report, put the 2014 per capita income in the Philippines at $2,865, lower than Indonesia’s $3,534; Thailand’s $5,445; China’s $7,589; Malaysia’s $10,804; Taiwan’s $22,598; South Korea’s $28,101; Japan’s $36,332; Hong Kong’s $39,871; the United States’ $54,597; and Singapore’s $56,319.

First world status President Benigno Aquino III, in his final state-of the-nation-address, says if reforms are sustained beyond his administration, the Philippines has the chance to become a ‘firstworld’ nation within a generation.

Most ‘first-world’ countries or those members of Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development have a per capita income of at least $20,000.

Finance Secretary Cesar Purisima, on his part, eyes a top credit score of ‘A’ for the Philippines. The rating is normally reserved for rich, financially stable countries in Europe, North America and East Asia.

Japan Rating and Investment Information Inc. has recently upheld the Philippines’ investment-grade debt rating of “BBB” with a stable outlook, but Purisima says the country deserves a higher credit score.

“Japan’s Rating and Investment Information Inc. [R&I] upheld the country’s seal of good housekeeping as it affirmed the Philippines’ foreign currency issuer investment grade rating of ‘BBB’ with stable outlook.

However, we believe that the country’s rating should be higher,” he says.

“We have institutionalized a host of economic and fiscal reforms to ensure that these gains will be sustained. The ‘A’ category is in sight: we ought to remain steadfast in our commitment to good governance and sound economic policies,” says Purisima.

International credit rating agencies

such as Standard & Poor’s, Moody’s Investors Service and Fitch Ratings, which all rewarded the Philippines with investment-grade scores, say the country’s low per capita income is one of the factors that keep them from further raising the credit rating. $3,000 benchmark Economists expect the nominal per capita income of the Philippines to exceed the benchmark $3,000 in 2015, on the back of sustained expansion of the gross domestic product.

Companies view the $3,000 per capita income level of a country as a sign that it is ripe for investments.

Economic Planning Secretary and National Economic and Development Authority director-general Ar-

Growth, however, was not evenly spread. Income in the second richest region, Calabarzon was less than half that of Metro Manila. Calabarzon had a 2014 per capita income of P141,891 or $3,196; followed by Cordillera Administrative Region with P132,612 or $2,987; Central Visayas with P113,391 or $2,554; Davao Region with P107,479 or $2,421; Northern Mindanao with P104,242 or $2,348; and Central Luzon with P104,081 or $2,344.

Poorest regions Ten of the country’s 17 regions posted per capita income of less than $2,000, including Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao, Bicol Region, Caraga Region, Eastern Visayas, Zamboanga Peninsula, Soccsksargen, Western Visayas, Cagayan Valley, Ilocos Region and Mimaropa.

ARMM had the lowest per capita income of P30,602 or $689, approximating the income level in some of the world’s poorest countries such as Afghanistan and Ethiopia.

The PSA says Davao Region recorded the fastest regional economic growth of 9.4 percent in 2014, fol-

nearly four decades. “This growth has been supported by sound and stable macroeconomic fundamentals, characterized by low and stable inflation, a robust financial sector, prudent fiscal ratios, and a healthy external position that has made our economy much more robust and less vulnerable to global volatilities,” he says.

Balisacan says economic growth is now evident in the shape of real estate industry in the Philippines. “The property market has grown robustly over the last 20 years as increasing demand for residential and commercial properties in the country became ever more evident against the backdrop of our changing economic landscape,” he says.

“These encouraging developments in our economy bode well for our real estate industry, with the property market across all its sectors [including office, residential, logistics, retail, and hospitality segments] poised for continued growth,” he says.

Balisacan says the sector is seen to grow even more robustly, driven by the continued positive outlook on the economy and the projected expan-

senio Balisacan says the Philippines, now one of the world’s fastest growing countries, is poised to achieve further growth.

“The Philippines has emerged as one of the fastest-growing economies in the region in recent years.

With an average growth rate of 6.2 percent per year from 2010 to 2014, even reaching 7.1 percent in 2013. We can proudly say that the Philippine economy is now traversing a higher growth trajectory path,” says Balisacan in a speech before The Organization of Property Stakeholders-Land Registration Authority summit.

lowed by Central Luzon and Central Visayas which grew by 9 percent and 8.8 percent, respectively. NCR expanded 5.9 percent in 2014 and accounted for 36.3 percent of the national economy.

Eastern Visayas was the only region which suffered a contraction of 2.3 percent. Other regions with lower growth rates were ARMM which grew by only 3 percent and the Cordillera Administrative Region with a growth of only 3.2 percent last year.

Balisacan says the 6.2-percent average growth of the Philippines in the past five years was the fastest in

sion of outsourcing industry within the next five years.

He says more parts of the country are expected to become urban in the coming years, because of the sustained economic growth. “As of 2010, a little under half of the Philippine population lived in urban areas [48.6 percent], but this is projected to rise to 56.3 percent by 2030 and 66 percent by 2050,” he says.

Balisacan says condominium living is becoming particularly attractive in Metro Manila, with an estimated increase in supply of 14,000 units from 2012 to 2018, mostly coming from the

mid-end segment of the market.

“Demand for residential properties is mainly driven by our middle class, and particularly the 11 million Filipinos overseas who in 2014 repatriated about $24.3 billion, allocating about $7 billion of which into property investments,” he says.

Rise of townships He notes the rise of ‘townships’ or self-contained districts that fuse together homes, offices, shops, and schools in linked communities.

One particular sector is helping drive economic growth and the expansion of the property sector, according to Balisacan. “The country’s BPO industry is proving to be particularly important for the growth of the country’s property sector. Fueled by increased new investments from large and mid-sized foreign investors, our BPO sector has remained among Asia’s brightest spots over the years,” he says.

“From a $3.4-billion industry in 2006, the outsourcing industry is estimated to have reached $18 billion in 2014, and is forecast to accelerate further to about $22 billion in revenue for this year. This excellent performance of the sector has translated to higher demand for office requirements and, with rising investments from BPO companies in the coming years, we expect developers to bring to market more property developments across the country’s central business districts both in and out of Metro Manila,” says Balisacan.

Tourism contribution He says the retail and hotel property markets are also contributing to the changing property sector. “For years, there has been a significant growth in the number of retail shopping malls [again, borne by consumption of the rising middle class], and in the future projections point to a growing expansion and market share of malls located in the provinces,” he says.

“Some studies suggest that by 2018 more than half of total retail property supplies will be found in the provinces.

Growing tourism arrivals and receipts are also incentivizing the increase in supply of hotel developments in and out of Metro Manila. In the next few years a significant number of these new hotel properties will be constructed particularly in the southern part of Metro Manila including Visayas and Mindanao.

Moreover, the emergence of new hotel brands and budget hotel chains in the provinces are also expected to grow further in response to robust tourism growth,” he says.

Balisacan says the Association of Southeast Asian Nations economic integration in a few months, “is also expected to boost the Philippine real estate industry as the country continues to attract foreign investors, especially given its increasing attractiveness as an investment destination in the region.” Roderick T. dela Cruz

PANGASINAN SCHOOL TEACHES FUTURE OF AVIONICS

A PIONEERING aviation school – the WCC Aeronautical and Technological College in Binalonan, Pangasinan – leads the future of aviation in the country by inviting Filipino aspirants to take the next big step in their career under its new Avionics Technology course.

The two-year program, accredited by the Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines and the National Telecommunications Commission, is designed to equip students the fundamental knowledge and practical skills in the various aspects of avionics technology.

Among the core avionics concepts that graduates will master include radio communication, electrical systems, instruments-rating

and digital techniques. Course work includes general aviation maintenance, flight management and flight control systems, troubleshooting, electrical and electronic systems, and practical wiring.

“WCC believes in the future of avionics in the Philippines, which is why it is investing on a program that promises to deliver the best in terms of theoretical learning and competitive practical training. We aim to tap the country’s huge pool of talents, and develop them into world-class avionics specialists,” says Joey Aldrich Almanza, program head of WCC Avionics Technology.

He says while WCC Avionics program is a combination of theo-

ry and actual application, a strong point of the new course is the intensive hands-on training.

Compared with other aeronautical schools that do not have all the training facilities, first year avionics students are given the convenience of in-school laboratory work -freely exploring the scopes and insides of an aircraft right inside the campus.

“Through WCC’s own Repair Station, students can fully practice their skills under safe conditions and guided instructor supervision,” Almanza says.

WCC Aviation’s major initiatives for incoming students include the provision of total learning access and support services.

SUNDAY: AUGUST 2, 2015

B3

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

FOOD FIRM SERVED 1.2-M MEALS TO UNDERNOURISHED CHILDREN

ODYSSEY Foundation Inc., the corporate social responsibility arm of food manufacturing company CDO-Foodsphere Inc., has served over 1.2 million meals to feed 19,000 undernourished children from Sta. Ana, Cagayan in the north to Jaro, Leyte in the south since 2005.

The latest national nutrition survey reveals that the prevalence of underweight Filipino pre-schoolers is 33 percent, or one in three students.

About 8 percent of school children are moderately and severely underweight while 20 percent are mildly underweight, results of the survey show.

Even mild undernutrition affects learning. Another survey says iron deficiency anemia is the most widespread nutritional deficiency in the Philippines, affecting 20 million Filipinos including 30.8 percent of school children and 26.7 percent of pre-schoolers.

To address the problem, CDO-Foodsphere president Jerome Ong, says the company initiated a campaign to help restore undernourished children to normal health.

“Giving back something good for our countrymen is part of the company’s core values… and hunger mitigation is the foremost advocacy of Odyssey Foundation Inc.,” Ong says.

Ong says this is possible through a supplemental feeding program undertaken by Odyssey Foundation and its partners.

“We are actively Implementing Gabay Nutrisyon supplemental feeding program which exists to provide nourishment to children and enable them to reach desired nutritional status,” he says.

Driven by its mission to help eradicate children malnutrition in the country, CDO-Foodsphere launched Gabay Nutrisyon program in June 2005 in Paso de Blas, Valenzuela City.

This was administered by Odyssey Foundation which serves as the catalyst for social development and the food firm’s CSR arm.

Odyssey Foundation conducts social preparation

in the area with reported high incidence of children malnutrition.

The supplemental feeding program caters to children aged 2 years to 6 years old. After the field visits and validation of children’s data, Odyssey Foundation works hand in hand with the local government unit to prepare launching of the 64 to 94 days feeding program.

Community volunteers are then mobilized and oriented on their day-to-day task of assisting in the implementation of the project.

The meals served to the children are prepared by CDO Foodsphere or community partners. Aside from the meals served daily to the kids, vitamins are also provided by United Laboratories Inc., a program partner of Odyssey Foundation for the last 10 years.

“By tapping our network of partner organizations, Gabay Nutrisyon is replicated in other parts of the country. To further extend our reach, we give support to the supplemental feeding of other humanitarian and social welfare institutions thru products and check donations,” says Ong. From Valenzuela City, the Gabay Nutrisyon program has spread across the country.

“Up north, we have Sta. Ana, Cagayan under the parish of St. Anthony de Padua and Jaro, Leyte in the south as project beneficiaries. As of June 30, 2015, the nutrition program has served one million two hundred thousand meals that have benefitted over 19,000 undernourished children in impoverished communities around the country,” says Ong. The supplemental feeding program has been administered by Odyssey Foundation and project partners in 65 barangays and communities.

Project partners include parishioners, local government units, humanitarian organizations and private sector foundations. These partners include the local government units of Valenzuela City, Malvar in Batangas, Unilab, ABS-CBN Foundation, Gawag Kalinga, Holy Trinity Home for Children, Jollibee Group Foundation, and GMA Kapuso Foundation.

As a food company, CDO-Foodsphere considers nutrition, through the supplemental feeding, as its core competence in its corporate social responsibility.

“Combating children malnutrition in its early stage can have lasting impact on their lives as they grow and become productive members of society,” Ong says.

BRITISH BRANDS...

Philippines general manager Corinne Milagan, who heads a new unit of Robinsons Retail Holdings Inc. to guide the expansion of the Costa brand in the country.

Among those who attended the opening of the Costa Coffee branch at Robinsons Place Manila are Ahmad, Milagan, Robinsons Retail Holdings president and chief operating officer Robina Gokongwei-Pe, Costa Coffee International managing director Chris Rogers, Robinsons Land Corp. president and chief operating officer Frederick Go and Costa Coffee franchise manager for Southeast Asia and India Matt Kenley.

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.

“The Philippines has fantastic opportunity for the Costa brand.

It brings something different to the market. A different coffee, a different environment and a great people. And it brings a little taste of London to the Philippines,” says Rogers.

“We have been looking forward to the next 20 to 30 years. The Philippines is an exciting place to be, because of the potential growth. The economy is growing strongly. The consumer population is growing.

There are good dynamics,” says Rogers, who joined Whitbread eight years ago.

Rogers has been leading the international expansion of the Costa Coffee brand since July 2012.

Robinsons Retail plans to open 70 Costa Coffee stores in the Philippines over the next five years, with an average cost of P10 million per outlet.

Rogers says Costa Coffee has found its niche in the competitive coffee market. “Our difference is our coffee. We have the Mocha Italian blend. We are very particular with the beans we choose--high-quality beans with a particular taste. The environment is also

AUCTION SALE CINTHY PAWNSHOP All unredeemed pledges during the month of MARCH 2015 will be sold to public auction on: AUGUST 24, 2015 STA. MESA – 8:00 AM # 3630 Ramon Magsaysay Blvd.

Sta. Mesa, Manila at JUAN LANUZA & SONSAUCTIONEER ( T S - A U G . 2 , 2 0 15 )

AUCTION SALE PENTHOUSE PAWNSHOP All unredeemed pledges during the month of MARCH 2015 will be sold to public auction on AUGUST 4, 2015 at BETTER - 8:00 AM at # 82 Betterliving Subd. Parañaque City at JUAN LANUZA & SONSAUCTIONEER ( T S - A U G . 2 , 2 0 15 )

AUCTION SALE POB CASA DE EMPEÑOS

FROM B1

very different,” he says.

Milagan says the Philippine coffee market is now prepared for a British brand. She says coffee lovers, including British expatriates, were lining up hours prior to the opening of the Costa Coffee branch at Robinsons Place Manila on July 31.

“The [coffee] 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,” says Milagan.

Milagan says “the Filipino taste has become discriminating, as they travel abroad.”

Costa Coffee was founded by Italian immigrants Sergio and Bruno Costa in 1971 in Lambeth, London.

The Costa brothers were known for creating their unique blend of coffee, a combination of Arabica and Robusta beans. They called it Mocha Italia, a blend that is a closely guarded secret to this day.

The brand was acquired by Whitbread Plc. in 1995. The UK firm continues to serve the original Mocha Italia recipe, which is slowly roasted in the Old Paradise Street Roastery in London.

Milagan says Costa coffees are all handcrafted and espresso-based.

Costa Coffee now has 3,000 stores in more than 30 countries. Costa employs Master Genarro Peliccia as the official coffee master who ensures that the taste remains consistent to the original blend.

Gokongwei-Pe says Costa Coffee is the second British brand brought to the Philippines by Robinsons Retail, the first being the fashion brand Topshop. She says her company will bring more foreign brands, depending on the performance of Costa Coffee.

“We have to make sure this works first,” she says, adding that the outlook for the Costa brand in the Philippines is promising.

“I believe in good luck. I believe in good vibrations,” she says. Roderick T. dela Cruz

All unredeemed pledges during the month of MARCH 2015 will be sold to public auction on AUGUST 23, 2015 at the ff. branches: ST. FRANCIS 10:30 AM at # 40 Kingfisher St., St. Francis, Meycauayan, Bulacan POBLACION – 11:30 AM # 721 Barrera St., Poblacion, Baliuag, Bulacan at JUAN LANUZA & SONSAUCTIONEER ( T S - A U G . 2 , 2 0 15 )

AUCTION SALE TAMCAR PAWNSHOP CORP. All unredeemed pledges during the month of MARCH 2015 will be sold to public auction on AUGUST 11, 2015 at the ff. branches: BUSTILLOS -2:00 PM at # L2522-28 Road 216, Earnshaw Bustillos, Manila AUGUST 24, 2015 CALOOCAN – 1:00 PM # 434 J. RODRIGUEZ ST., at JUAN LANUZA & SONS- AUCTIONEER

( T S - A U G . 2 , 2 0 15 )

AUCTION SALE PEARLAS PAWNSHOP CO., INC. All unredeemed pledges during the m o n t h o f MARCH 2015 will be sold to public auction on AUGUST 04, 2015 a t t h e f f . b r a n c h e s : MONTILLANO-12:30 PM at 249 Montillano St.,Alabang, Muntinlupa City AUGUST 07, 2015 SUMULONG – 9:00 AM # 24 Sumulong Hway Sto. Niño, Marikina City CONCEPCION – 10:00 AM #19 Bayan Bayanan Ave.,Concepcion, M a r i k i n a C i t y AUGUST 11, 2015 G . N U E V O – 9 : 0 0 A M Ta n H o c k B l d g . , C o r. E D S A , M a k a t i C i t y AUGUST 24, 2015 B. B A R R I O - 11 : 3 0 A M # 35 Malolos Ave., B. Barrio, Caloocan City AUGUST 23, 2015 VA L E N Z U E L A – 1 2 : 0 0 P M # 11 5 F a u s t i n o S t . , Punturin, Va l e n z u e l a City at JUAN LANUZA & SONS- AUCTIONEER ( T S - A U G . 2 , 2 0 15 )

ERRORS & OMISSIONS

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.

AUCTION SALE

AUCTION SALE

NORTHERN LEGASPI

N.C. TAMBUNTING

All unredeemed pledges during the month of MARCH 2015 will be sold to public auction on AUGUST 24, 2015 at NAVOTAS - 2:30 PM at # 256 Champaca St., Navotas Metro Manila at JUAN LANUZA & SONSAUCTIONEER

All unredeemed pledges during the month of MARCH 2015 will be sold to public auction on AUGUST 7, 2015 at PATEROS - 8:00 AM at # M. Almeda Cor. B. Morcilla St., Pateros, Metro Manila at JUAN LANUZA & SONS- AUCTIONEER

( T S - A U G . 2 , 2 0 15 )

( T S - A U G . 2 , 2 0 15 )

AUCTION SALE

AUCTION SALE

WESTCHESTER

RACATAM PAWNSHOP CO., INC.

All unredeemed pledges during the month of MARCH 2015 will be sold to public auction on AUGUST 11, 2015 at the ff. branches: HERRAN 8:00 AM at # 1101 P. Gil St., Paco, Manila STA. ANA – 10:00 AM # 390 AP Reyes Cor. JP Rizal St., Makati City at JUAN LANUZA & SONSAUCTIONEER ( T S - A U G , 2 , 2 0 15 )

All unredeemed pledges during the month of MARCH 2015 will be sold to public auction on AUGUST 18, 2015 at the ff. branches: PRITIL - 8:00 AM at 1833 N. Zamora St., Pritil, Tondo, Manila BLUMENTRITT – 10:30 AM #1687 M. Hizon St., Blumentritt, Manila VARONA – 8:30 AM 1872 F. VARONA ST., BRGY 95, ZONE 8, TONDO, MANILA AUGUST 24, 2015 ALTURA – 9:00 AM # 418 Altura St. Sta. Mesa, Manila at JUAN LANUZA & SONSAUCTIONEER

( T S - A U G , 2 , 2 0 15 )

AUCTION SALE

AUCTION SALE

CITRINE PAWNSHOP CO., INC All unredeemed pledges during the month of MARCH 2015 will be sold to public auction on AUGUST 4, 2015 at RITZ - 12:00 PM at Stall # New Muntinlupa Public Market, Alabang Muntinlupa City JUAN LANUZA & SONSAUCTIONEER

PANG NEGOSYO PAWNSHOP

( T S - A U G , 2 , 2 0 15 )

All unredeemed pledges during the month of MARCH 2015 will be sold to public auction on AUGUST 08, 2015 at the ff. branches: COUNTRYSIDE - 12:30 PM at 49 Countryside Ave., Sta. Lucia, Pasig City JUNCTION – 2:30 PM # Star Valley Plaza Mall, Junction at JUAN LANUZA & SONS- AUCTIONEER ( T S - A U G . 2 , 2 0 15 )

AUCTION SALE

AUCTION SALE

LUIROM PAWNSHOP CO., INC.

MAKATI LUXURY JEWELRY PAWNSHOP CO., All unredeemed pledges during the month of MARCH 2015 will be sold to public auction on AUGUST 04, 2015 at BF Homes – 10:00 AM # 43 President’s Ave., BF Homes, Parañaque City SPL - 3:00 PM at Casa Hacienda San Pedro, Laguna on AUGUST 07, 2015 at the ff. branches: ROMULO - 10:00 AM at 135 13TH Ave., Cor. P. Tuazon, Cubao, QC SANTOLAN – 4:00 PM 526 ADR Bldg., Dela Paz, Santolan, Pasig City on AUGUST 11, 2015 JP RIZAL – 11:00 AM # 529 Olympia St., JP Rizal, Makati City ALPHALAND – 5:00 PM G11 South Gate Towers, P. Tamo Ext., Makati City MANUELA – 3:00 PM G/F Starmall, Wack2, Mandaluyong City AUGUST 18, 2015 LALOMA – 11:30 AM # 67 Calavite St., Brgy., P. Bundok, QC RETIRO - 12:30 PM # 270 N.S. amoranto Street, Retiro QC. ROTONDA – 2:00 PM # 1 Sto. Tomas St., Rotonda QC at JUAN LANUZA & SONS- AUCTIONEER

All unredeemed pledges during the month of MARCH 2015 will be sold to public auction on AUGUST 04, 2015 at the ff. branches: SUCAT - 9:00 AM at #3 Dr., A. Santos Ave., Sucat, Parañaque City MUNTI – 1:30 PM #659 National Road, Poblacion St., Muntinlupa City AUGUST 07, 2015 SAN JOAQUIN – 1:30 PM # 9 M. Concepcion San Joaquin, Pasig City AUGUST 24, 2015 10TH AVE. – 2:00 PM # 245B 10TH Ave., Brgy., 60 Zone 6, Caloocan City AUGUST 23, 2015 MARILAO – 1 PM #5 NETWORK AVE., MERALCO VILL. LIAS MARILAO BULACAN AUGUST 11, 2015 SAGRADA – 11:00AM #1978 ESTRADA ST., FORMER SAGRADA FAMILIA STA. ANA, MLA. AUGUST 18, 2015 GAGALANGIN – 8:45 AM #2 JUAN LUNA ST., COR. GUIDO ST., TONDO MANILA AUGUST 23, 2015, STO NIÑO – 9:30 AM #30 ST., THERESE COR, ST. PETER, P3 STO NIÑO MEYCAUAN BULACAN at JUAN LANUZA & SONS- AUCTIONEER ( T S - A U G . 2 , 2 0 15 )

( T S - A U G . 2 , 2 0 15 )

Re p ub li c of t h e Phi li p p i n e s E N E RGY R EG U L ATO RY CO M M I S S I O N S a n M i g u e l Ave nu e, Pas i g Ci t y I N T H E M AT T E R O F T H E A P P L I C AT I O N FO R T H E A P P R OVA L O F T H E M I N DA N AO 2 3 0 K V T R A N S M I S S I O N B AC K B O N E P R O J EC T, W I T H P R AY E R FO R T H E ISSUA NCE OF A P R OV I S I O N A L AU T H O R I T Y

B a l o i - V i l l a n u e v a - M a r a m a g - B u n a w a n Tr a n s m i s s i o n L i n e (Energization at 230 kV) Substation Baloi

2-230 kV PCB and associate equipment and secondar y devices

Villanueva

2 - 3 0 0 M VA P o w e r Tr a n s f o r m e r a n d associate equipment and secondar y devices

E R C C A S E N O. 2 015 - 07 9 R C N AT I O N A L G R I D C O R P O R AT I O N O F T H E P H I L I P P I N E S ( N G C P) , Applicant. x- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -x

12 - 2 3 0 k V P C B a n d a s s o c i a t e e q u i p m e n t and secondar y devices 2 - 3 5 M VA r R e a c t o r a n d a s s o c i a t e equipment and sec ondar y devices Maramag

4 -230 kV PCB and associate equipment and secondar y devices

NOTICE OF PUBLIC HE ARING 15 .

T O A L L I N T E R E S T E D PA R T I E S : N o t i c e i s h e r e b y g i v e n t h a t o n A p r i l 2 7, 2 015 , t h e N a t i o n a l G r i d C o r p o r a t i o n o f t h e P h i l i p p i n e s ( N G C P) f i l e d w i t h t h e C o m m i s s i o n a n a p p l i c a t i o n f o r t h e a p p r o v a l o f t h e M i n d a n a o 2 3 0 K V Tr a n s m i s s i o n B a c k b o n e P r o j e c t , w i t h p r a y e r f o r t h e i s s u a n c e o f a p r o v i s i o n a l a u t h o r i t y.

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

2.

It is a c or poration created and existing under the laws of the Philippines, w i t h p r i n c i p a l o f f i c e a d d r e s s a t N G C P B u i l d i n g , Q u e z o n Av e n u e c o r n e r B I R R o a d , D i l i m a n , Q u e z o n C i t y. I t i s t h e c o r p o r a t e v e h i c l e o f t h e consor tium which was awarded the concession to assume the power t r a n s m i s s i o n f u n c t i o n s o f t h e N a t i o n a l Tr a n s m i s s i o n C o r p o r a t i o n ( T R A N S C O) p u r s u a n t t o R e p u b l i c A c t N o . 913 6 ( R . A . 913 6) , o t h e r w i s e k n o w n a s t h e E l e c t r i c P o w e r I n d u s t r y R e f o r m A c t o f 2 0 01 o r t h e E P I R A ; I t w a s a l s o a w a r d e d b y C o n g r e s s a f r a n c h i s e u n d e r R . A . 9 511 ( N G C P Fr a n c h i s e) , e n t i t l e d “A n A c t G r a n t i n g t h e N a t i o n a l G r i d C o r p o r a t i o n o f t h e P h i l i p p i n e s a F r a n c h i s e t o E n g a g e i n t h e B u s i n e s s o f C o n v ey i n g o r Tr a n s m i t t i n g E l e c t r i c i t y T h r o u g h a H i g h - Vo l t a g e B a c k - b o n e S y s t e m o r I n t e r c o n n e c t e d Tr a n s m i s s i o n L i n e s , S u b s t a t i o n s a n d R e l a t e d Facilities, and For Other Purposes ” to operate, manage, and maintain the nationwide transmission system of the Republic of the Philippines;

4.

One of its functions and responsibilities enumerated in Section 9 of the E P I R A i s t o “ i m p r o v e a n d ex p a n d i t s t r a n s m i s s i o n f a c i l i t i e s , c o n s i s t e n t w i t h t h e G r i d C o d e a n d t h e Tr a n s m i s s i o n D e v e l o p m e n t P l a n ( T D P ) t o be promulgated pursuant to this Act, to adequately ser ve generation companies, distribution utilities and suppliers requiring transmission s e r v i c e a n d / o r a n c i l l a r y s e r v i c e s t h r o u g h t h e t r a n s m i s s i o n s y s t e m: P r o v i d e d , T h a t T R A N S C O (n o w N G C P ) s h a l l s u b m i t a ny p l a n f o r ex p a n s i o n o r i m p r o v e m e n t o f i t s f a c i l i t i e s f o r a p p r o v a l by t h e E R C ”; I n a c c o r d a n c e w i t h i t s m a n d a t e t o e n s u r e a n d m a i n t a i n t h e q u a l i t y, r e l i a b i l i t y, a d e q u a c y, s e c u r i t y, s t a b i l i t y a n d i n t e g r i t y o f t h e G r i d , i t seeks authorit y from the Commission to immediately approve the i m p l e m e n t a t i o n o f t h e M i n d a n a o 2 3 0 k V Tr a n s m i s s i o n B a c k b o n e P r o j e c t , ( P r o j e c t) , w h i c h a i m s , a m o n g o t h e r s , t o m e e t t h e t r a n s m i s s i o n c apacit y requirements of c apacit y additions and load centers;

16 .

T h e e x i s t i n g 13 8 k V M a t a n a o -To r i l - D a v a o t r a n s m i s s i o n c o r r i d o r i s not suf ficient to cater the full dispatch of the additional generation.

C o n s e q u e n t l y, o n l y a l i m i t e d a m o u n t o f p o w e r c a n b e d i s p a t c h e d i n o r d e r t o m a i n t a i n t h e r e l i a b i l i t y o f t h e s y s t e m;

17.

B a s e d o n N G C P ’s s i m u l a t i o n , t h e D a v a o -To r i l 13 8 k V t r a n s m i s s i o n l i n e w i l l a l r e a d y e x p e r i e n c e o v e r l o a d i n g b y 4 . 5 % d u r i n g n o r m a l c o n d i t i o n b y 2 0 21; w h i l e d u r i n g N -1 c o n d i t i o n , i t w i l l e x p e r i e n c e o v e r l o a d i n g b y 7 0 % , 7 9 % , a n d 10 5 % b y 2 017, 2 018 , a n d 2 0 21, r e s p e c t i v e l y ; •

18 .

D u r i n g n o r m a l c o n d i t i o n , t h e M a t a n a o -To r i l 13 8 k V t r a n s m i s s i o n l i n e w i l l e x p e r i e n c e o v e r l o a d i n g b y 8 % a n d 10 % i n 2 018 a n d 2 0 21, r e s p e c t i v e l y ; w h i l e , d u r i n g N -1, s a i d l i n e w o u l d b e o v e r l o a d e d b y 5 2 % , 9 9 % , a n d 10 9 % b y 2 017, 2 018 , a n d 2 0 21, r e s p e c t i v e l y ;

19 .

Fu r t h e r, f r o m 2 017 t o 2 0 21, t h e p o w e r g e n e r a t e d b y S a n M i g u e l C o r p o r a t i o n w i l l b e c u r t a i l e d b y 3 3 5 M W t o 4 8 5 M W, w h i l e t h e 3 0 0 M W c a p a c i t y o f T S I w i l l n o t b e d i s p a t c h e d; S y s t e m S i m u l a t i o n i f t h e B a l o i - V i l l a n u e v a - M a r a m a g Bunawan transmission corridor will not be energized at 230 kV

20.

In the scenario that ail the power plants located in Nor thern Mindanao will be fully dispatched, it foresees the following c onsequences:

6.

7.

21.

The transfor mers in BaloiSubstation will be over loaded by 3 6%, 48%, a n d 6 2 % i n 2 017, 2 018 , a n d 2 0 21, r e s p e c t i v e l y ; a n d

c)

The occurrence of voltage violations per PGC in some substations w i t h o u t t h e 2 x 3 5 M VA R r e a c t o r i n V i l l a n u e v a S u b s t a t i o n a r e a l s o f o r e s e e n;

On the other hand, should all the power plants located in Southern Mindanao be fully dispatched, it foresees the following :

b)

T h e D a v a o - B u n a w a n 13 8 k V t r a n s m i s s i o n l i n e a n d t h e 2 x 3 0 0 M VA 2 3 0 /13 8 k V t r a n s f o r m e r s i n B u n a w a n S u b s t a t i o n w i l l b e o v e r l o a d e d;

c)

T h e D a v a o - B u n a w a n 13 8 k V t r a n s m i s s i o n l i n e w i l l b e o v e r l o a d e d b y 11% , 10 % , a n d 15 % i n 2 017, 2 018 , a n d 2 0 21, r e s p e c t i v e l y, i f o n l y a 2 x 3 0 0 M VA 2 3 0 /13 8 k V t r a n s f o r m e r s i n s t a l l e d i n t h e B u n a w a n Substation, and the Baloi -Villanueva - Maramag - Bunawan line will r e m a i n e n e r g i z e d a t 13 8 k V; a n d

The present set-up of the Mindanao Grid is that the bulk of power supply c omes from hydro and c oal power plants loc ated at the nor ther n por tion of Mindanao, while the load centers in Davao, South Cotabato, Cotabato, Sultan Kudarat, Sarangani and General Santos are all located at its southern por tion. Power is transmit ted through the Baloi - Villanueva M a r a m a g - B u n a w a n , B a l o i -Ta g o l o a n - M a r a m a g - K i b a w e , a n d B a l o i - A g u s 2 - K i b a w e 13 8 k V t r a n s m i s s i o n l i n e s ;

d)

T h e D a v a o - B u n a w a n 13 8 k V t r a n s m i s s i o n l i n e w i l l b e o v e r l o a d e d b y 11% , 10 % , a n d 15 % i n 2 017, 2 018 , a n d 2 0 21, r e s p e c t i v e l y, i f t h e b a c k b o n e w i l l n o t b e f u l l y e n e r g i z e d a t 2 3 0 k V;

B e g i n n i n g 2 016 u p t o 2 018 , 2 , 4 0 0 M W a r e e x p e c t e d t o b e i n j e c t e d t o t h e above - mentioned transmission lines coming from commit ted generation c apacities, as follows: C A PAC I T Y

The other violations on various conditions and scenarios in relation to the nonenergization of the backbone to 23 0 kV level are fully tabulated in the Project Details a n d J u s t i f i c a t i o n s o f t h e P r o j e c t a t t a c h e d a s A n n e x “A” o f t h e a p p l i c a t i o n .

System Simulation Upon the Entr y of the Project 22.

W i t h t h e e n e r g i z a t i o n o f t h e M a t a n a o -To r i l - B u n a w a n a n d B a l o i - V i l l a n u e v a M a r a m a g - B u n a w a n b a c k b o n e a t 2 3 0 k V, a n a d d i t i o n a l h i g h - v o l t a g e transmission corridor will be made available for the incoming plants in the southern par t of the Island. There will also be no transmission constraints and capacity limitations enabling the full dispatch of the power plants in the area, thus maintaining the reliabilit y of the system even during single outage contingency;

23.

T h e e s t i m a t e d c o s t o f t h e P r o j e c t i s P h P 6 , 8 5 8 , 414 , 5 3 2 . 4 3 a n d t h e t i m e o f c o m p l e t i o n i s y e a r 2 017;

L O C AT I O N

FDC Power Plant

4 0 5 M W b y 2 016

Misamis Oriental

GN Power Coal

4 5 0 M W b y 2 017 15 0 M W b y 2 018

Lanao del Nor te

P r o j e c t C o s t E s t i m a t e a n d Ta r g e t C o m p l e t i o n :

Southern Por tion of Mindanao Therma South Coal

3 0 0 M W b y 2 015 15 0 M W b y 2 017 15 0 M W b y 2 018

Davao del Sur

SMC Davao Coal

15 0 15 0 15 0 15 0

Davao del Sur

Southern Mindanao

200 MW

MW MW MW MW

by by by by

2 015 2 016 2 017 2 018

Sarangani

8.

Thus, additional transmission facilities are absolutely necessar y to transmit these generation c apacities;

9.

It is envisioned to implement 23 0 kV transmission facilities from the nor thern to the southern por tion of the island to accommodate the entr y of the above - mentioned new power plants;

10 .

T h e M a l i t a - M a t a n a o t r a n s m i s s i o n l i n e i n i t i a l l y e n e r g i z e d a t 13 8 k V i s proposed to be energized at 23 0 kV voltage design level joining the M a t a n a o -To r i l - B u n a w a n 2 3 0 k V t r a n s m i s s i o n l i n e . I t w i l l r e l i e v e t h e o v e r l o a d i n g o f t h e e x i s t i n g D a v a o -To r i l - M a t a n a o 13 8 k V t r a n s m i s s i o n l i n e d u r i n g s i n g l e o u t a g e c o n t i n g e n c y ( N -1) ;

11.

l t p r o p o s e s t o i n s t a l l a n e w 5 0 M VA , 2 3 0 / 6 9 k V p o w e r t r a n s f o r m e r i n M a l i t a S u b s t a t i o n t o r e p l a c e t h e i n i t i a l l y i n s t a l l e d 5 0 M VA 13 8 / 6 9 kV power transformer which will then be relocated to Kidapawan S u b s t a t i o n;

12 .

The Baloi -Villanueva - Maramag - Bunawan transmission line is proposed to be energized at 23 0 kV by the installation of the following: (i) power t r a n s f o r m e r s i n V i l l a n u e v a a n d B u n a w a n; ( i i ) p o w e r c i r c u i t b r e a ke r s in Baloi and Maramag Substations; and (iii) reactors in Villanueva S u b s t a t i o n; Upon its completion, the new power plants can already be dispatched a t t h e i r m a x i m u m c a p a c i t y. C o r o l l a r i l y, t h e a d d i t i o n a l c a p a c i t i e s c a n already be transmit ted throughout the whole island of Mindanao. It will fur ther strengthen the existing transmission system, thus ensur ing the s t a b i l i t y, r e l i a b i l i t y a n d e f f i c i e n c y o f p o w e r i n t h e e n t i r e M i n d a n a o G r i d;

Brief Project Description The proposed major components and description of the Project are, as follows: M a t a n a o - To r i l - B u n a w a n 2 3 0 k V Tr a n s m i s s i o n L i n e Tr a n s m i s s i o n L i n e M a t a n a o - To r i l

2 3 0 k V, S T- D C , 4 -7 9 5 M C M A C S R , 3 4 k m s

To r i l - B u n a w a n

2 3 0 k V, S T- D C , 4 -7 9 5 M C M A C S R , 4 0 . 2 k m s

Substation Malita

1 - 5 0 M VA 2 3 0 / 6 9 k V P o w e r Tr a n s f o r m e r a n d associate equipment

Matanao

2-23 OkV PCB and associate equipment and secondar y devices

To r i l

2 - 3 0 0 M VA 2 3 0 /13 8 k V P o w e r Tr a n s f o r m e r a n d associate equipment and secondar y equipment1 10 - 2 3 0 k V P C B a n d a s s o c i a t e e q u i p m e n t a n d secondar y devices 6 -13 8 k V P C B a n d a s s o c i a t e e q u i p m e n t a n d secondar y devices

Bunawan

b)

The development of the transmission c orridors in Mindanao is an essential project for NGCP to ensure a stable power net work and power supply on the island. With both supply and demand continuously increasing, the c apacities of the existing transmission lines and s u b s t a t i o n s w i l l n o l o n g e r b e a d e q u a t e b y 2 017. To m e e t t h e t r a n s m i s s i o n capacity requirements and to facilitate the entr y of additional base load power plants in the island, it is nec essar y to upgrade the existing and c onstr uct new substations and transmission lines;

Nor thern Por tion of Mindanao

14 .

The power plants located in Southern Mindanao cannot be dispatched in their maximum capacity;

Power plants located in Nor thern Mindanao cannot be dispatched in their maximum capacity;

S TAT E M E N T O F FAC T S

POWER PL ANT

13 .

a)

a)

Brief Background 5.

The detailed components and justifications of the Project is are shown in the Project Descr iption and Justif ic ations of the Project at tached as A nnex “A” o f t h e a p p l i c a t i o n;

S y s t e m S i m u l a t i o n i f t h e M a t a n a o -To r i l - B u n a w a n 2 3 0 k V Tr a n s m i s s i o n L i n e would not be implemented

S TAT E M E N T O F T H E C A S E 3.

B4

1- 69 kV PCB and associate equipment and secondar y devices

Allegation in Suppor t of the Prayer for Provisional Approval 24.

Consider ing the sc arcit y of power being exper ienc ed in Mindanao, a d d i t i o n a l p o w e r g e n e r a t i o n i s n e c e s s a r y. C o n s e q u e n t l y, t h e r e a d i n e s s o f the Mindanao grid to accommodate such huge capacity is also essential.

The sudden entr y of significant generation consequently requires immediate upgrading of transmission facilities to be able to distribute the much needed p o w e r i n M i n d a n a o;

25.

The upgrading of the transmission lines will complement the additional capacit y in addressing the shor tage of power in the island. It will deliver the much needed power generated by the new power plants and will be t r a n s m i t t e d t h r o u g h o u t t h e I s l a n d o f M i n d a n a o;

26.

The immediate issuance of a provisional authorit y would allow it to procure the necessar y substation equipment, including hauling, installation, testing and commissioning in time for the commercial operation of the new power plants;

2 7.

A c o p y o f t h e J u d i c i a l A f f i d a v i t o f E n g r. F e r n a n d o S . J a v i e r, t h e H e a d o f t h e Mindanao System Planning Division of NGCP in suppor t thereof is attached t o t h e a p p l i c a t i o n a s A n n e x “ B ”;

28.

I t p r a y s t h a t t h e C o m m i s s i o n: a. b.

Issue, immediately upon f iling of the application, a provisional a u t h o r i t y f o r t h e i m p l e m e n t a t i o n o f t h e M i n d a n a o 2 3 0 k V Tr a n s m i s s i o n Backbone Project; and Approve, af ter notice and hearing, the application for the i m p l e m e n t a t i o n o f t h e M i n d a n a o 2 3 0 k V Tr a n s m i s s i o n B a c k b o n e Project and render judgment making provisional approval permanent.

The Commission has set the application for jurisdictional hearing, e x p o s i t o r y p r e s e n t a t i o n , p r e - t r i a l c o n f e r e n c e a n d e v i d e n t i a r y h e a r i n g o n A u g u s t 2 7, 2 0 15 ( T h u r s d a y ) a t t w o o ’c l o c k i n t h e a f t e r n o o n ( 2 : 0 0 P. M .) a t t h e E R C , M i n d a n a o F i e l d O f f i c e , M e z z a n i n e F l o o r, M i n t r a d e B u i l d i n g , M o n t e v e r d e c o r n e r S a l e s S t s . , D a v a o C i t y.

A ll persons who have an interest in the subject mat ter of the proc eeding may b e c o m e a p a r t y b y f i l i n g , a t l e a s t f i v e (5 ) d a y s p r i o r t o t h e i n i t i a l h e a r i n g a n d s u b j e c t t o t h e r e q u i r e m e n t s i n t h e E R C ’s R u l e s o f P r a c t i c e a n d P r o c e d u r e , a v e r i f i e d p e t i t i o n w i t h t h e C o m m i s s i o n g i v i n g t h e d o c ke t n u m b e r a n d t i t l e o f t h e p r o c e e d i n g a n d s t a t i n g : (1) t h e p e t i t i o n e r ’s n a m e a n d a d d r e s s ; (2) t h e n a t u r e o f p e t i t i o n e r ’s i n t e r e s t i n t h e s u b j e c t mat ter of the proc eeding, and the way and manner in which such interest is af fected by t h e i s s u e s i n v o l v e d i n t h e p r o c e e d i n g ; a n d (3) a s t a t e m e n t o f t h e r e l i e f d e s i r e d .

A ll other persons who may want their views known to the Commission with respect to the subject mat ter of the proc eeding may f ile their opposition to the applic ation or c omment thereon at any stage of the proc eeding before the applic ant c oncludes the presentation of its evidence. No par ticular form of opposition or c omment 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.

A ll such persons who may wish to have a c opy of the applic ation may request the applic ant, prior to the date of the initial hearing, that they be fur nished with a c opy of the applic ation. The applic ant is hereby directed to fur nish all those making such request with copies of the application and its attachments, subject to reimbursement of r e a s o n a b l e p h o t o c o p y i n g c o s t s . L i ke w i s e , a n y s u c h p e r s o n m a y e x a m i n e t h e a p p l i c a t i o n and other per tinent records filed with the Commission during the usual of fice hours.

WITNESS, the Honorable Commissioners, ALFREDO J. NON, GLORI A VICTORI A C . YA P -TA R U C , J O S E F I N A PAT R I C I A A . M AG PA L E - A S I R I T a n d G E R O N I M O D . S TA .

A N A , E n e r g y R e g u l a t o r y C o m m i s s i o n , t h i s 2 0 t h d a y o f J u l y, 2 015 a t P a s i g C i t y.

AT T Y. F R A N C I S S AT U R N I N O C . J U A N E xecutive Director III

2 - 3 0 0 M VA 2 3 0 /13 8 k V P o w e r Tr a n s f o r m e r a n d associate equipment and secondar y equipment 10 - 2 3 0 k V P C B a n d a s s o c i a t e e q u i p m e n t a n d secondar y equipment

( T S - A U G . 2 & 9 , 2 015 )

IMF OKAYS MASSIVE LOAN FOR UKRAINE THE International Monetary Fund approved Friday the next installment of its massive loan to Ukraine despite uncertainty about the sustainability of the country’s debt and its conflict with separatist forces.

The IMF executive board, which represents 188 member nations, gave a green light to the immediate disbursement of $1.7 billion, part of a support program awarded in March that has caused internal strains in the Washington-based institution.

In total, the IMF has pledged $17.5 billion in financial assistance over four years in exchange for drastic measures by the government to restore public finances, hammered by recession and the loss of part of its territory to pro-Russian separatists.

The new installment, after an initial $5 billion disbursement released in March, comes after the IMF completed its first review of the government’s progress under the loan package, which aims to “put the economy on the path to recovery” and “strengthen public finances”, the IMF said in a statement.

David Lipton, the IMF’s first deputy managing director, said that the Ukrainian authorities had made a “strong start” in implementing their economic program.

“The momentum needs to be sustained, as significant structural and institutional reforms are still needed to address economic imbalances that held Ukraine back in the past,” Lipton said in a separate statement.

Ukraine welcomed the new loan installment, saying it will be used to replenish the National Bank’s reserves. “The new tranche will encourage growth in the economy and reassure financial markets both domestically and internationally,” the Ukrainian finance ministry said in a statement.

But the task is Herculean. Deprived of the heart of its industrial sector in the eastern part of the country, lost to separatists, the Ukrainian economy is expected to plunge deeper into recession this year— a 9.5 percent contraction the government estimates.

As gross domestic product shrinks, the country’s debt appears on course to reach nearly 135 percent of GDP this year, compared with about 70 percent in 2014. AFP

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

B5

WORLD editorial@thestandard.com.ph

KERRY OFF TO QATAR, EGYPT FOR TALKS

An airport vehicle transports what is believed to be debris from a Boeing 777 plane that washed up on an Indian Ocean island, at Roland Garros airport in Saint-Marie on the French Indian Ocean island of Reunion, making it almost certainly the first piece of wreckage recovered from missing flight MH370. The discovery would mark the first breakthrough in a case since the plane disappeared 16 months ago with 239 people on board. AFP

MH370 WING PART NOW IN FRANCE; PROBE STARTS

A PIECE of Boeing 777 wreckage that washed up on an Indian Ocean island arrived for analysis in France early Saturday, after Malaysian authorities said the part almost certainly came from missing flight MH370.

Paris’ Orly airport website confirmed the Air France flight transporting the piece of wreckage landed at 6:17 am (0417 GMT) from the French island of La Reunion.

A police escort will accompany the two-metre (six-and-a-half-foot) part on its journey by road to a defence ministry laboratory near the southwestern city of Toulouse.

If confirmed, the discovery would mark the first breakthrough in a case that has baffled aviation experts for 16 months.

The Malaysia Airlines flight disappeared on March 8, 2014, en route from Kuala Lumpur to Beijing with 239 people on board.

Malaysian and French experts will begin their analysis on Wednesday, along with an examination of parts of a suitcase discovered nearby, according to an informed source.

“I believe that we are moving closer to solving the mystery of MH370. This could be the convincing evidence that MH370 went

down in the Indian Ocean,” Malaysia’s deputy transport minister Abdul Aziz Kaprawi told AFP. US aerospace giant Boeing said in a statement Friday that it would send a technical team to France to study the plane debris at the request of civil aviation authorities.

Some warn that one small piece of plane debris is unlikely to completely clear up one of aviation’s greatest puzzles.

Australian Deputy Prime Minister Warren Truss said while the part “could be a very important piece of evidence”, using reverse modelling to determine more precisely where the debris may have drifted from was “almost impossible”.

MH370 was one of only three Boeing 777s to have been involved in major incidents, along with the downing of flight MH17

over Ukraine last year and the Asiana Airlines crash at San Francisco airport in 2013 that left three dead.

Photographs show the wing component bearing the part number “657BB”.

“From the part number, it is confirmed that it is from a Boeing 777 aircraft. This information is from MAS (Malaysia Airlines),” Aziz told AFP. On La Reunion, where a cleanup crew discovered the wreckage and the suitcase, dozens of curious locals scoured the rocky shore for other possible debris.

Members of the same cleanup team on Friday discovered a detergent bottle with Indonesian markings and a bottle of Chinesebranded mineral water, which they took to police. AFP

US Secretary of State John Kerry departed late Friday to Egypt for cooperation talks and to Qatar, where he hopes to ease Gulf countries’ concerns about the Iran nuclear deal.

The trip, which ends August 8, will not include a stop in Israel, one of Washington’s closest allies and a fierce critic of the newly-hatched Iran nuclear agreement.

During his stop in Egypt Sunday, Kerry will meet with his counterpart Sameh Shoukri for a “strategic dialogue” between the long-time allies, which have had a tumultuous relationship in recent years, following political unrest in the northern African nation.

In late March, the United States lifted its freeze on annual military aid of $1.3 billion to Cairo.

But Washington kept up public condemnation of the brutal repression by President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi’s regime of supporters of his ousted predecessor, Mohamed Morsi.

The “dialogue” between the two officials is the first since 2009, and comes in the wake of an announcement this week that Washington began the delivery eight F-16 fighter jets to Egypt.

In addition to military cooperation, Kerry and Shukri will discuss Washington’s human rights “concerns.”

“We’ll certainly be discussing the issue of the political environment, human rights issues while the Secretary is in Cairo.

That is an important part of our regular dialogue,” a US State Department official said.

Assistant Secretary Tom Malinowski, will be joining Kerry, according to the official, who said he “will have an opportunity to discuss with his counterparts some of the issues that we have, some of the concerns that we have about the situation.” AFP

SEVERE FLOODING HAMPERS RESCUE EFFORTS IN MYANMAR

SEVERE flooding across Myanmar hampered rescue efforts on Saturday as thousands sheltered at monasteries after rising waters triggered by torrential rains killed at least 27 people, officials said.

Heavy monsoon rain has battered vast swathes of the country in recent weeks, decimating tens of thousands of homes and fields and leaving people stranded in remote villages in a disaster testing the government’s limited relief operations.

“Most of the country is flooded now,” said a director at the social welfare ministry who did not want to be named, explaining that all but one of Myan-

mar’s 14 provinces and regions were affected by the flash floods, rising waters and landslides caused by the downpour.

Rescue efforts by Myanmar authorities and local aid groups were under way but they are “struggling to access flood-hit areas”, the official said, adding that there was no update to Thursday’s death toll of 27 due to disrupted communications.

Western Rakhine and Chin states are among the four worst affected areas and on Friday President Thein Sein declared them “national disaster affected regions”, according to the state-backed Global New Light of Myanmar (GNLM) newspaper.

These regions “have seen huge destruction and face difficulty returning to normal conditions”, GNLM reported, citing the government announcement.

In Maungdaw township in Rakhine, houses and office buildings have been destroyed, trees uprooted and damaged roads sealed off due to violent storms, a local government official told AFP, adding that rescue camps have been opened at monasteries.

Rakhine already hosts some 140,000 displaced people, mainly Rohingya Muslims, who live in exposed make-shift coastal camps following deadly 2012 unrest between the minority group and Buddhists. AFP

Apartments are destroyed following a landslide due to heavy rain in Harkhar, Chin State of Myanmar on July 30, 2015. Floods triggered by torrential monsoon rains have killed at least 10 people in Myanmar in the last 48 hours, state media and officials reported on July 25, 2015. AFP

B6

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

SPORTS

REUEL VIDAL EDITOR

By Reuel Vidal

KNOWING the importance of defense in winning games the Philippine Basketball Association recently named its All-Defensive Team.

The league’s five best defenders are June Mar Fajardo and Chris Ross of the San Miguel Beermen, Gabe Norwood of the Rain Or Shine Elasto Painters and the Alaska Aces pair of Calvin Abueva and Ping Exciminiano.

Fajardo is not just an unstoppable force inside the paint on offense he is also virtually a wall on defense. While offense takes skill, defense relies mainly on desire and the willingness to work hard which Fajardo has in spades.

Fajardo can keep in step with the giants in the league. In the past season’s last two conferences he showed that he can contain even seven footers like imports Liam McMorrow and Jarrid Famous.

The league’s back-to-back Most Valuable Player is also alert enough to help out and block or alter shots when opposing players manage to elude his teammates.

While Fajardo defends against the bigs Ross makes life miserable for the guards of other teams. He is a quickstepping defender who can keep up with even the fastest players of the PBA. His biggest asset however is his ability to make steals.

He is a willing gambler who poaches the passing lanes, disrupts offenses and often initiates San Miguel’s transition game when he makes steals or forces opposing players to make mistakes.

Norwood is the elite perimeter defender of the league. But unlike the bruisers of Rain Or Shine, Norwood is more a finesse player who doesn’t overwhelm with brute force but rather with fluidity and speed.

He combines length with frightening athleticism to contain even the best shooters of the PBA. Like Ross he also likes to gamble and can

sports@thestandard.com.ph

GOOD DEFENSE IS BEST OFFENSE

Alaska’s Ping Exciminiano (17) tries to drive past San Miguel Beer’s Chris Ross (6). The league’s two best defenders typify the adage that a good defense is the best offense. They helped their teams to the best records of the past season.

double team unsuspecting offensive players and come away with blocks or steals.

Abueva is always assigned to limit the production of the best scorers of opposing squads whether they are snipers like Gary David of the Meralco Bolts or post players like Marc Pingris of the Star Hotshots.

Abueva defends against scorers who can fire away from the outside, drive strong to the hoop or even post up like Ranidel De Ocampo of the Talk N Text Tropang Texters or Japeth Aguilar of Barangay Ginebra San Miguel.

Abueva is quick enough to guard opposing wings and strong enough to battle against the hulking power forwards. He is so strong and

so quick he is also always given the thankless job of being the team’s import stopper.

It’s virtually impossible to completely shut down the high scoring imports of other teams but Abueva combines tenacity, strength, quickness and street smarts against these reinforcements.

Abueva is so effective that he often gets under the skin of opposing teams’ imports notably Ivan Johnson of the Talk N Text Tropang Texters, Orlando Johnson of Barangay Ginebra San Miguel and Arizona Reid of the San Miguel Beermen.

He forces the imports out of their comfort zones and makes them do things, often detrimental to their own teams.

No lead was safe from

Alaska’s ferocious, unforgiving full court pressure defense anchored by Exciminiano.

While other teams relied on defense to limit the score of opposing teams, Alaska’s full court pressure defense is meant to put fear in the hearts of opposing squads and actually kickstart the Alaska offense. The Aces forced turnovers, made opponents miss hurried, contested shots then ran full tilt on offense to score transition points.

And Exciminiano was always at the forefront of the Alaska full-court, pressure defense. The Alaska point guard always kept pace with his counterparts on the other squads, constantly harrassing their dribble and forcing them to make bad passes.

When the other teams do make it past the Alaska pressure defense they have so little time on the shot clock they often made hurried shots which they often missed, which in turn led to Alaska rebounds and transition baskets.

Their tenacious press was enough to make the Aces the league’s best defensive squad hence the well-deserved recognition for Exciminiano and Abueva.

For the modest Exciminiano the honor was totally unexpected.

“Masayang masaya po ako sa karangalang ito. Hindi ko po talaga inaasahan. Before kasi po nag dream lang ako na pumasok sana sa PBA. Nagpapasalamat po ako at nagkatotoo ang pangarap na iyon. And I’m blessed kasi this time nakasama pa ako sa All Defensive Team,” said Exciminiano.

The Alaska point guard promised to take advantage of the off-season to work hard, get in the best shape of his life and work on his game even more.

“Ang goal ko po is to improve ko pa po yung mga weaknesses.

I will also hit the gym hard and work on my cardio para maintain ko yung kundisyon ko,” said Exciminiano.

He added that he will work even harder next year and hopes to repeat the success of the past season. But more than anything else, like the other Alaska players, Exciminiano will be fighting hard to get title Number 15 for his team.

Alaska’s Calvin Abueva (8) takes it strong to the hoop against Rain Or Shine Elasto Painters defender Gabe Norwood (left). Both players can guard multiple positions making them invaluable to their squads.

LADY EAGLES FLY HIGH IN BEACH VOLLEYBALL

By Peter Atencio

Pau Soriano (right) stretches to keep the ball in play while teammate Bea Tan (left) looks on. Watching intently in the background at the other side of the net are Cha Cruz (left) and Micmic Laborte (right). The PLDT Home Ultera Philippine Superliga Beach Volleyball 2015 is on its home stretch and not surprisingly Lady Eagles are flying high. PETER ATENCIO

THE PLDT Home Ultera Philippine Superliga Beach Volleyball 2015 is on its home stretch and not surprisingly Lady Eagles are flying high.

First there was Ateneo standout Bea Tan who teamed up with Adamson star Pau Soriano at Foton Hurricane. Then there were true blue Ateneans Charo Soriano, back from an eight year layoff in playing beach volleyball, and Gretchen Ho with Petron XCS. In making it through the eliminations, Tan and Soriano first got past Petron 4T’s Fille Cainglet-Cayetano and Alexa Micek, 21-15, 21-14, in their first game last July 18.

Last weekend, theY hurdled Giligan’s Danika Gendrauli and Jane Diaz, 18-21, 21-18, 15-12, for their second con-

secutive triumph.

They were already in the quarterfinals when they absorbed a 22-25, 14-21, setback to Cha Cruz and Micmic Laborte in a rain-drenched, no-bearing encounter.

Tan, who said she’s been playing since second year college, hardly had any difficulty transitioning with her partner, Soriano, another veteran of the game since college at Adamson University.

Tan said their game against Cayetano and Micek proved to be most challenging.

They had to withstand strong serves and overcome equally strong receives to be able to take both sets.

“We made sure that we had better receives than the other team because they have stronger serves,” said Tan. On other hand, when

30-year-old Charo did come back, she and Ho nearly got eliminated in their first game in the PLDT Home Ultera Philippine Superliga Beach Volleyball 2015 two weeks ago.

Seasoned spikers Wensh Tiu and April Rose Hingpit, playing for Cignal HD, displayed incredible strategy and grace under pressure and put away Soriano and Ho of Petron XCS, 21-16, 21-13.

“We had been training for only two weeks. We’ve been struggling. But we addressed our weaknesses,” said Soriano, who last played competitive beach volleyball in 2007 with Team Ateneo, and with Patti Taganas as her partner when they took the runner-up honors in season 70 of the University Athletic Association of the Philippines.

Charo said she would never

have returned to the game she used to play until Ho invited her to see action again.

It took two weeks for Charo to get used to Gretchen as her new teammate, and having just returned to play the sport last January.

The two talked about their game right after they crushed Accel Quantum Plus B Perpetual Molino of Aurora Tripoli and Rochet Dela Paz, 21-7, 21-9, and reached the quarterfinals with Tiu and Hingpit.

“We talked specifically about our weaknesses (right before the game). Now we’re more confident inside the court,” said Charo.

Improvements showed in their game last weekend.

This time, they had Tripoli and de la Paz moving around all four corners of their side of the court.

Republic of the Philippines ENERGY REGULATORY COMMISSION San Miguel Avenue, Pasig City IN THE MATTER OF THE APPLICATION FOR APPROVAL OF THE POWER SUPPLY CONTRACT (PSC) BETWEEN TARLAC II ELECTRIC COOPERATIVE, INCORPORATED (TARELCO II) AND SMC CONSOLIDATED POWER CORPORATION (SCPC)

CRFbase

=

FXm

=

FXo

=

CC

=

II.

ERC CASE NO. 2015-117 RC

=

PHCPIm

=

TO ALL INTERESTED PARTIES:

PHCPIo

=

Notice is hereby given that on June 23, 2015, Tarlac II Electric Cooperative, Incorporated (TARELCO II) and SMC Consolidated Power Corporation (SCPC) filed an application for approval of their Power Supply Contract (PSC).

CC

=

III.

In the said application, TARELCO II and SCPC alleged, among others, that:

USCPIm

=

2.

SCPC is a corporation duly created and existing by and under the laws of the Republic of the Philippines, with business address at No. 40 San Miguel Avenue, Mandaluyong City. It shall also be herein referred to as the “Seller”;

USCPIo

=

FXm

=

3.

This is an application for approval of the PSC between TARELCO II and SCPC, filed pursuant to Rule 20 (B) of the Rules of Practice and Procedure before the Commission; Compliance with Pre-filing Requirements In compliance with the Rule 3, Section 4, as amended, of the Implementing Rules and Regulations (IRR) of Republic Act No. 9136, otherwise known as the Electric Power Industry Reform Act of 2001 or the EPIRA, they have furnished copies of the instant application and its annexes to the legislative bodies of the local government units within the franchise area of TARELCO II which are going to be affected by the said application;

5.

Likewise, the said application was published in a newspaper of general circulation within the locality where TARELCO II principally operates;

6.

To address the looming power shortage in Luzon, SCPC is constructing a 2 x 150 MW Circulating Fluidized Bed Coal-Fired Thermal Power Plant (the Plant) located in Barangay Lamao, Limay, Bataan, which is expected to be commercially operational by the 3rd quarter of calendar year 2016;

Statement of Facts

FXo

=

PHCPIm

=

PHCPIo

=

AE

=

IV.

=

Base Fuel Cost, in USD/MT x Newcastlem Newcastleo

Newcastlem

=

Average monthly coal price index in USD/MT as posted by global coal on the website www. globalcoal.com for the calendar month within which the start of the current Billing Period occurs Coal price index equivalent to USD74.00/MT

Total, kW

39,582

22,000

15,000

37,000

2,582

Newcastleo

=

42,246

22,000

15,000

37,000

5,246

Base Fuel Cost Freight Cost

= =

2016

44,672

22,000

15,000

37,000

7,672

2017

47,098

22,000

15,000

37,000

10,098

2018

49,524

22,000

15,000

37,000

12,524

2019

51,950

22,000

15,000

37,000

14,950

2020

54,376

22,000

15,000

37,000

17,376

2021

56,802

22,000

15,000

37,000

19,802

2022

59,228

22,000

15,000

37,000

22,228

2023

61,654

22,000

15,000

37,000

24,654

2015

CR

=

FXm

=

2024

64,080

22,000

15,000

37,000

27,080

2025

66,643

22,000

15,000

37,000

29,643

FXo

=

2026

69,309

22,000

15,000

37,000

37,964

AE

=

2027

72,081

22,000

2028

74,964

22,000

3.

b.

SMEC

=

c.

SCPC

=

Term. The PSC shall take effect between the Parties upon signing and shall be effective for a period of ten (10) years from COD.Supply shall commence upon COD, which is expected to be in the 3rd Quarter of calendar year 2016;

8.2

Contract Capacity. The Seller agrees to deliver and the Buyer agrees to take and pay for 15,000 kilowatts (kW) of capacity from the Plant.The Seller may allow an increase in the Contract Capacity upon application of the Buyer, and the Contract Capacity may also be decreased similarly subject to the Buyer’s application and upon payment of a buy-out fee;

8.3

Supply. The Buyer agrees to buy, on a non-firm basis, energy from the Plant during testing and commissioning, subject to the payment of Energy Fees.

The supply of the Contract Capacity, with a minimum hourly nomination of forty percent (40%), shall commence on COD which include, amongothers, the final approval by the Commission of the PSC;

8.4

8.5

Discounts. The Seller provides the following discounts: (a) Prompt Payment Discount (PPD) equivalent to one percent (1%) of the total Capacity and Energy Charges, subject to payment conditions.Start-up charges and the Wholesale Electricity Spot Market (WESM) charges, if any, shall not be subjected to PPD; and (b) Collection Efficiency Discount (CED) of up to a maximum of PhP0.20/kWh may be granted subject to compliance with certain payment requirements; and Outages. The Seller shall be entitled to a Scheduled Outage Allowance of seven hundred twenty (720) cumulative outage hours and to a Forced Outage Allowance of four hundred thirty eight (438) cumulative hours, for every Contract Year.The Seller is also entitled to an additional Major Maintenance Outage Allowance of seven hundred twenty (720) cumulative outage hours every five (5) years from the first Major Maintenance of the Plant.Unutilized outage hours for a Contract Year shall not be carried over to the following Contract Year;

Contract Charges. Under the PSC, the Buyer shall pay the following Contract Charges for the duration of the Contract, subject to the applicable value-added tax (VAT), and computed as follows: Particulars

Unit PhP/kW-month

Fixed Operation and Maintenance Fee

PhP/kW-month

Total Energy Fee

Environmental Compliance Certificate

“M”

BOI Registration of SCPC

“N”

Latest Audited Financial Statement (AFS) of SCPC

“O”

Details of Procurement Process of Fuel

“P”

Transmission Service Agreement (TSA) between TARELCO II and the National Grid Corporation of the Philippines (NGCP)

“Q”

SCPC’s Board Resolution approving the filing of the application for the approval of the PSC

“R”

Details of the power rate calculations and financial model (confidential)

36,000 liters x LFOm x

21.1

Where: LFOm

=

CC TPC

= =

The actual price of diesel oil in PhP/liter as billed by supplier of diesel oil applicable for the Billing Period Contract Capacity in kW Total plant capacity (net) per unit in kW

22,000

100%

16,060,000

66,796,752.00

4.1592

WESM

15,000

100%

3,511,978

34,417,387.93

9.8000

19,571,978

114,462,102.00

5.1714

37,000

BCQ/WESM Purchased, kWh

Energy Cost, PhP

Load Factor, %

BCQ/WESM Purchased, kWh

GMCP

22,000

100%

16,060,000

66,796,752.00

4.1592

SCPC

15,000

100%

10,950,000

50,313,697.81

4.5949

37,000

27,010,000

Energy Cost, PhP

114,462,102.00

24.

Moreover, Section 1 of the same Department Circular declares as State policy that: “All distribution utilities must henceforth take cognizance and assume full responsibility to forecast, assure and contract for the supply of electric power in the respective franchise areas to meet their obligations as a distribution utility.” (Underscoring supplied.)

Effective Rate, PhP/kWh

25.

By way of emphasis, Resolution No. 21, Series of 2005 of the Commission dated October 19, 2005 had directed all DUs “to enter into future bilateral power supply contract with power producers to be subjected to a review by the Commission.”

(Underscoring supplied)

26.

The PSC with SCPC was made to ensure the continuous supply of power to TARELCO II and due to the former’s competitive pricing structure and other favorable terms of its contract, which will redound to the benefit of the latter and its end-consumers in terms of reliable and affordable power supply;

27.

In view of the foregoing premises, they therefore praythat the Commission, after notice and hearing, render a Decision approving the PSC; and

28.

Thus, they pray that the Commission, after notice and hearing:

Prayer

4.3358

28.1

Issue a Decision approving the PSC between TARELCOII and SCPC, and authorize TARELCO II to charge and collect the fees under the PSC from its end-consumers; and

28.2

Issue an Order allowing the treatment of the contents of Annexes “R” and “S and Series” as confidential information.

0.8356 The bases of Effective Rates used in Table 1, for bothGNPowerMariveles Coal Plant Ltd. Company (GMCP)and WESM are the purchased power for the period March 26, 2014 to March 25, 2015; Based on the above simulations, SCPC’s rate is lower than the existing suppliers (Table 1)when combined inclusive of twelve percent (12%) VAT, PPD and CED;

Further, TARELCO II is subjected to a minimum Capacity Factor of seventy percent (70%) and fifty percent (50%) declaration of hourly Contracted Demand with GMCP while SCPC has a minimum declaration of hourly contracted demand up to forty percent (40%) level;

15.

Further, SCPC’s plant is considered as a committed project, and it is in the process of securing the certification from the Department of Energy (DOE) that the same is consistent with the Power Development Plan (PDP). It undertakes to submit the certification as soon as the same becomes available;

CAPITAL RECOVERY FEE (CRFmonth)

Rate Impact Computation The instant application is, likewise, being filed by them in line with the first (1st) and fifth (5th) “whereas clauses” of the DOE Circular No. 2003-12-11 which are quoted hereunder:

“WHEREAS, pursuant to Section 23 of EPIRA, all distribution utilities, as defined in the law, SHALL HAVE THE OBLIGATION TO SUPPLY ELECTRICITY IN THE LEAST COST MANNER TO ITS CAPTIVE MARKET subject to the collection of retail rate duly approved by the Energy Regulatory Commission;” (fifth “whereas clause”, ibid. Underscoring supplied.)

Effective Rate, PhP/ kWh

kW

Total

Nature of the Document

“WHEREAS, Section 2 of Republic Act No. 9136, also known as the Electric Power Industry Reform Act of 2001 or EPIRA, declared as a policy of the State, among others, [to ensure the quality, reliability, security and affordability of the supply of electric power;” (first “whereas clause”, Department of Energy Circular No. 2003-12-11.Underscoring supplied.)

Table 2: Combined Generation Rate From the Projected Load Allocations with the Current Suppliers (kWh) and SCPC

Savings

In compliance with Article VI, Section 1 and 2 of the ERC Guidelines for the Recovery of Costs for the Generation Component of the Distribution Utilities’ (DU) Rates, copies of the following are attached as annexes to the instant application:

Annex

23.

GMCP

Supplier

Contracts for the Supply, Construction and Supervision for the Plant (confidential)

TARELCO II’s Latest AFS, Balance Sheet and Cash Flow

=

The plant is still under construction and the target/estimated COD is sometime in August 2016 and therefore,it is not yet covered by a Certificate of Compliance (COC).SCPC undertakes to file the application for the COC at least three (3) months before the target COD;

The Commission has set the application for initial hearing, expository presentation, pre-trial conference and evidentiary hearing on August 12, 2015(Wednesday) at eleven-thirty in the morning (11:30 A.M.) at TARELCO II’s Main Office, Barangay San Nicolas, Concepcion, Tarlac.

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.

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 applicants conclude the presentation of their 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.

All such persons who may wish to have a copy of the application may request the applicants, prior to the date of the initial hearing, that they be furnished with a copy of the application. The applicants are 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 HonorableCommissioners, ALFREDO J. NON,GLORIA VICTORIA C. YAPTARUC, JOSEFINA PATRICIA A. MAGPALE-ASIRIT, and GERONIMO D. STA. ANA,Energy Regulatory Commission, this 20thday of July, 2015 at Pasig City.

ATTY. FRANCIS SATURNINO C. JUAN Executive Director III

Allegations in Support of theConfidential Treatment of Annexes “R” and “S and Series”

CRFmonth = CRFadjusted x CC (CRF(base) x 0.30) + (CRF(base) x 0.70 X

Detailed Analysis of the Rate Impact Computation

“L”

“Y”

Start Up Charge

14.

=

Executive Summary of the PSC

“K”

TARELCO II’s Alternative Demand Side Management (DSM) program

The power plant project is also registered with the Board of Investments (BOI) which issued Certificate of Registration No. 2013-194;

Where: CRFadjusted

Power Supply Contract

“X”

13.

Variable Operation and Maintenance Fee (VOM) + Fuel Fee + Start-up Charge

“I” “J”

TARELCO II’s Load Forecast Projections

Environmental Compliance Certificate (ECC).On June 7, 2013, the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) has issued ECC No. ECC-CO-1304-0010 in favor of SCPC;

=

Plant description

“S and Series”

130,000 liters x LFOm x

12.

Energy Charges

“H”

“W”

=

Adjustment Formula. The Contract Charges are adjusted on a monthly basis in accordance with the following Adjustment Formula under Annex II-B of the PSC:

I.

Proof of publication of the application in a newspaper of general circulation

Start Up Charge

9.2

Capital Recovery Fee (CRF) + Fixed Operation and Maintenance Fee (FOM)

“G”

Cold Start-up – downtime of eight (8) hours and above

Load Factor, %

Total

Proof of service of the application and its annexes to the respective local government units within the franchise area of TARELCO II

Board Resolution of TARELCO II approving the filing of the application for approval of the PSC

Other Charges. The Buyershall bear all other costs and charges incurred after the Delivery Point, including but not limited to transmission line losses, any interconnection charges and site specific loss adjustments, among others;

=

General Information Sheet (GIS) of SCPC

“V”

9.1

Where: Capacity Charges

Articles of Incorporation of SCPC

“E”

“U”

kW

1.9397

MONTHLY CONTRACT CHARGES = Capacity Chargesmonth + Energy Chargesmonth

Certificate of Registration of SCPC with the Securities and Exchange commission (SEC)

“D”

Documents in Support of the Application

Start-up Charge (per Unit and per Start-up) - to be added on top of VOM & Fuel charges

All imbalances will all be taken from the WESM.When the average cost in the market is higher than the combined effective rates of SCPC and GMCP, TARELCO II’s generation cost will definitely reduce;

0.2831

Articles of Incorporation of TARELCO II

“C”

“F and Series”

TARELCO II considered the impact the PSC on its effective rates considering the other possible suppliers of electricity for its franchise.The tables below summarize the rate impact of the PSC:

Supplier

Energy Fee 1.6566

Certificate of Franchise of TARELCO II

Board Resolution of TARELCO II approving the PSC with SCPC

It is evident that SCPC’s base load rate of PhP4.5949/kWh is cheaper than the WESM average rate of PhP9.8000/kWh,resulting in savings of PhP0.8356/kWh.This is the reason why TARELCO II entered into a bilateral contract with SCPC, to avoid exposure from the price volatility in the Spot Market;

PhP/kWh

“A” “B”

Table 1: TARELCO II’s Projected Load Allocations with Its Current Suppliers (kWh)

383.8079

PhP/kWh

Nature of the Document The Parties

Blended Cost equivalent to USD62.69/MT Actual Transport Costs in USD/MT which includes but not limited to port charges, fuel insurance, wharfage fees, excise tax, handling, customs brokerage fees, custom duties, stevedores and arrastre costs, tuggage costs, survey fee, towage, pilotage, light dues, mooring and unmooring, berthing and de-berthing, and tonnage dues and sundries on the coal used during the current Billing Period.Freight costs shall include all other existing and future taxes, fees, imposts and other charges that may be imposed on the transport of coal Consumption rate at 0.70kg/kWh escalated annually by one and a half percent (1.5%) or the actual plant fuel consumption rate, whichever is lower The average daily exchange rate of the Philippine Peso to the US Dollar, as posted by the BSP for the calendar month within which the start of the current Billing Period occurs Exchange rate of the Philippine Peso to the US Dollar, Base=PhP44.00 Associated Energy in kWh delivered to the Buyer by the Seller during the current Billing Period at the Delivery Points stated in Annex III

1,755.0999

Fuel Fee (pass through)

In compliance with Rule 20B of the Commission’s Rules of Practice and Procedure, copies of the foregoing are attached as annexes to the instant application:

Annex

Rate Impact on TARELCO II 11.

1,371.2920

Variable Operation and Maintenance Fee

Further, Annexes “S and Series” (Contracts for the Supply, Construction and Supervision for the Plant) have counter-parties who are not parties to this application.

They contain highly technical designs, drawings and other information which are the intellectual property and trade secrets of the counter-parties, and therefore should not be disclosed to the public. They therefore pray for the confidential treatment of Annexes “S and Series”, under the same premises above;

Sources of Funds. SMC Global Power Holdings Corporation, SCPC’s parent company, advances the funds allowing for the on-going construction of the Plant.SCPC is working on having a financial close by March 30, 2015 with a target Debt to Equity ratio of 70%:30%;

10.

Amount

Total Capacity Fee

21.

Compliance with the Commission’s Rules of Practice and Procedure

Warm Start-up – downtime of less than eight (8) hours

Capacity Fee Capital Recovery Fee

More importantly, SCPC’s competitors, should they obtain the information in Annex “R”, will gain undue advantage thereon and have the opportunity to use the same in their operations.The negotiating power of SCPC with parties it plans to contract with or who it is currently doing business with, will clearly be thwarted if it is compelled to disclose such information;

“T”

V.

kW total x 365 days/year x 24 hours/day x 70% to 100% Capacity Factor kW total x 365 days/year x 24 hours/day x 35% to 100% Capacity Factor kW total x 365 days/year x 24 hours/day x 40% to 100% Capacity Factor

PSC Executive Summary. TARELCO IIand SCPC executed a PSC for the former’s future base load requirement for a period of ten (10) years.The PSC has the following salient terms and conditions: 8.1

9.

=

All imbalances will all be taken from the Wholesale Electricity Sport Market (WESM) Upon COD (targeted for calendar year 2016), SCPC will supply 15 MW from SMEC

4.

8.

GMCP

20.

22.

The Parties further agree that when any or all of the above components of the Fuel Cost no longer reflect the Seller’s actual cost of coal (including the FOB price, coal indexation, premiums, among others), the Fuel Cost shall be computed based on its actual cost of fuel subject to its prior notification to the Buyer;

Remarks: 1.

Uncontracted capacity is based on 2014 DDP as submitted to the DOE (2014 base year) 2.

Contracted Energy: a.

The interest of the consuming public is sufficiently protected by the review and evaluation of the rates under the PSC by the Commission, without the need to disclose the contents of Annex “R”.The reasonableness and transparency of the prices of electricity is to be assured by the Commission through its own review and verification of SCPC’s operating costs and expenses;

Compliance with the Pre-filing Requirements

Fuel Cost

SMEC, kW

2014

19.

Where:

GMCP, kW

Bilateral Contract Quantity (BCQ)

(6)

=

Uncontracted Portion of Forecasted Load, kW

Load Forecast, kW

Variable Operation and Maintenance Fee in PhP/ kWh contained in Annex II-A United States (US) CPI for All Urban Consumers– All Items (1982-84=100), as posted by the Unites States Bureau of Labor Statistics (USBLS) for the calendar month within which the start of the current Billing Period occurs US CPI for All Urban Consumers–All Items(1982-84=100) for the calendar month of the COD The average daily exchange rate of the Philippine Peso to the US Dollar, as posted by the BSP for the calendar month within which the start of the current Billing Period occurs Exchange rate of the Philippine Peso to the US Dollar, Base=PhP44.00 Philippine CPI for All Income Households in the Philippines – All Items (2006=100), as posted by the Philippine NSO for the calendar month within which the start of the current Billing Period occurs Philippine CPI for All Income Households in the Philippines – All Items (2006=100), as posted by the Philippine NSO for the calendar month of the COD Associated Energy in kWh delivered to the Buyer by the Seller during the current Billing Period at the Delivery Points stated in Annex III

FUEL FEE (Fuelmonth)

Fuelmonth

TARELCO II’S Contracted Supply and Effectivity (Years 2014 to 2028) Contract Year

(3)

The Parties agree to adopt changes in any of the inflationary indices subject to prior notification by the Seller to the Buyer for the occurrence of any of the following events:a) shift made in the base year and other adjustments to such inflation index made by the relevant authorized entity; or b) the inflation index becomes: i)unavailable, ii) is replaced by a new benchmark rate as determined by the relevant authorized entity, its successorin-interest, iii) ceases to exist, or iv) in the reasonable determination of either Party, fails to reflect the real costs and forms an integral part of this price adjustment formula;

SCPC offered its capacity to various distribution utilities (DUs) comprising of electric cooperatives and private investor-owned utilities, including TARELCO II.SCPC’s marketing department presented before the management of TARELCO II the terms and conditions of its service.After such presentation and after deliberating on its options, TARELCO II agreed to purchase electricity from SCPC beginning the Plant’s Commercial Operations Date (COD).In the meantime, San Miguel Energy Corporation (SMEC) supplies 15 MW to TARELCO II.Beginning the COD of the Plant, the 15 MW demand supplied by SMEC will be supplied by SCPC to ensure that the projected power requirements of TARELCO II are met, to wit:

the extent to which the information is known outside of the employer’s business; the extent to which the information is known by employees and others involved in the business; the extent of measures taken by the employer to guard the secrecy of the information; the value of the information to the employer and to competitors; the amount of effort or money expended by the company in developing the information; and the extent to which the information could be easily or readily obtained through an independent source.”(citations omitted, emphasis supplied)

(2)

(5) =

7.

(1)

(4)

Where: VOM

4.

“A trade secret may consist of any formula, pattern, device, or compilation of information that: (1) is used in one’s business; and (2) gives the employer an opportunity to obtain an advantage over competitors who do not possess the information. Generally, a trade secret is a process or device intended for continuous use in the operation of the business, for example, a machine or formula, but can be a price list or catalogue or specialized customer list. It is indubitable that trade secrets constitute proprietary rights. The inventor, discoverer, or possessor of a trade secret or similar innovation has rights therein which may be treated as property, and ordinarily an injunction will be granted to prevent the disclosure of the trade secret by one who obtained the information “in confidence” or through a “confidentialrelationship.”American jurisprudence has utilized the following factors to determine if aninformation is a trade secret, to wit:

VARIABLE OPERATION AND MAINTENANCE FEE (VOMmonth)

TARELCO II is an electric cooperative duly registered with the National Electrification Administration (NEA) pursuant to Presidential Decree No. 269, with office address at Barangay San Nicolas, Concepcion, Tarlac.It has the exclusive franchise to supply and distribute electricity within its franchise area comprising of the Municipalities of Bamban, Capas, Concepcion and La Paz, all in the Province of Tarlac, and the Municipality of Zaragoza in the Province of Nueva Ecija. It shall also be herein referred to as the “Buyer”;

Nature of the Application

Contracts for the Supply, Construction and Supervision for the Plant

Annex “R” contains SCPC’s financial model, pricing formula and the manner by which it arrived at the tariffs. These information are proprietary in nature and should be protected as trade secrets as contemplated by law and jurisprudence.In the case of Air Philippines Corporation vs. Pennswell, Inc.1,the Supreme Court defined a trade secret as follows:

VOMmonth =

The Parties 1.

18.

Fixed Operation and Maintenance Fee in PhP/kWmonth contained in Annex II-A Philippine Consumer Price Index (CPI) for All Income Households in the Philippines – All Items (2006=100), as posted by the Philippine National Statistics Office (NSO) for the calendar month within which the start of the current Billing Period occurs Philippine CPI for All Income Households in thePhilippines – All Items (2006=100), as posted by the Philippine NSO for the calendar month of the COD Contract Capacity in kW

NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING

Details of the power rate calculations and financial model

“Sand Series”

x CC

Where: FOM

Nature of Document

“R”

FIXED OPERATION AND MAINTENANCE FEE (FOMmonth)

FOMmonth = FOM x

TARLAC II ELECTRIC COOPERATIVE, INCORPORATED (TARELCO II) AND SMC CONSOLIDATED POWER CORPORATION (SCPC) Applicants. x------------------------x

Annex

Capital Recovery Fee in PhP/kW-month contained in Annex II-A The simple average of the daily exchange rate of the Philippine Peso to the US Dollar, as posted by the BangkoSentralngPilipinas (BSP) for the calendar month within which the start of the current Billing Period occurs Exchange rate of the Philippine Peso to the US Dollar, Base = PhP44.00 Contract Capacity in kW

)

16.

Rule 4 of the Commission’s Rules of Practice and Procedure provides that they may request the Commission that information may not be disclosed;

17.

SCPC prays for the confidential treatment of the information contained in the following annexes, and not disclosed except to the Commission:

___________________________________________________ 1

G.R. No. 172835, December 13, 2007

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S U N D aY : a U g U S t 2 , 2 0 1 5

RieRa U. MallaRi EDITOR sports@thestandard.com.ph

SportS

Bogs dela Rosa (extreme left) is shown with his two champion children and their trophies at the recent Leg 3 of GT/PTCC series at Batangas Racing Circuit.

DELA ROSA BROTHERS

Born to race Text and photos by Ramon D. Boado

KOOKIE and Miguel Ramirez. Milo and Estefano Rivera. Just a few of the fine examples showing how siblings can rock the racetrack with their innate driving skills.

Now, include Richmon and Patrichk Dela Rosa in the list.

The Dela Rosa brothers made heads turn during the recent 2015 Philippine Touring Car Championship/Philippine GT Championship Series at the Batangas Racing Circuit in Rosario, Batangas, where they emerged victorious in their respective classes and cemented their claim as among the best young drivers in the horizon.

The 19-year-old Richmon ruled the GT 200 class with aplomb, fending off the challenge of last year’s Automobile Association of the Philippines awardee Paolo Mantolino, his chief rival in the class.

His younger brother, 16-year-old Patrichk actually set the winning pace earlier with a triumphant run in the GT150, beating more seasoned drivers such as Allen Macaraig, NR Joaquin and Dindo de Jesus.

Credit, if you can call it that, goes to their father Bogs dela Rosa,

whose passion for cars and racing, he rubbed off to his sons right when they were young.

“Maaga silang namulat sa cars and racing,” said Bogs, a businessman/race enthusiast, who is now fulfilling his dream of a Dela Rosa winning racing tournaments through his sons. “When I saw their interest in racing, I figured, sige nga, I will let them take part in an actual race and see what happens. After all, ‘yan din ang dream ko dati na ngayon natupad sa mga anak ko.”

He added: “We just happen to love cars so much and they always play Grand Turismo in their Playstation. And I told them, ‘Let’s do it in real cars!’”

The rest, as they say, is history.

Bogs, who doesn’t believe in half-hearted efforts, went all out in finding the best teachers and tuners for his sons. For Richmon, he had former champion Bong Perez teaching his son the ropes, while

Patrichk dela Rosa (white car), champion in the GT150.

Richmon dela Rosa (red car) in action.

for Patrichk, multi-titled Edgen Dy Liacco was the mentor.

“They are not afraid of driving in high speed because Richmon drives a GTR35, while Patrichk drives an EVO8. Coupled with the guidance of Bong and Edgen, I think they ended up as fine drivers, who have a very good future in the business of racing,” said Bogs. “Of course, our secret weapon is Mato Tan, one of the best tuners in the country today. Also, Richmon and Patrichk

wouldn’t be where they are today without the prayers of their very supportive and religious mom Shirley, and Sophia, their lucky charm, who is always praying for their safety and victory.”

The good thing about the two, according to Bogs, is that they are responsible drivers on the road. “I am proud to say that they have discipline on the roads and streets. They don’t rush and they know that they can bring speed on the race track.”

Richmon, who is a freshman at San Beda Alabang, was last year’s GT150 champion and Rookie of the Year. He leveled up this season in the GT200, where he is the current points’ leader.

On the other hand, Patrichk, who is a fourth-year high school in the same school, was the first and youngest Sparco Bracket Racing Challenge winner, to go with his other, smaller circuit-racing victories.

Their potential as future motorsports icons have prompted Danny Tan of Exelligent Ads, Tong Ching of MetroWaste, Jaime Dichavez of Quantum, Sonny de Torres of Group N and Ton Ramos of Toncars to lend their full support to the Dela Rosas, who dream of one day becoming international racers, and champions, too.

“We want to develop our skills further, focus on driving and avail of international competition to improve,” said Richmon. “If we can do this, maybe we can become international drivers, who could make history in motorsports and do our country proud.”

S U N D AY : A U G U S T 0 2 : 2 0 1 5

TATUM ANCHETA EDITOR

BING PAREL A S S O C I AT E E D I T O R

BERNADETTE LUNAS

life @ thestandard.com .ph

WRITER

@LIFEatStandard

S U NDAY L IF E

LIFE

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Lee Watson shakes up the bar at ABV.

THE EPIPHANY OF DR. LEE Meet this barman with a mischievous streak who is helping shape the local bar scene.

“I

have to be honest with you,” confesses Lee Watson, one of the managing partners of ABV Cocktail and Absinthe Bar. “I’m not a fan of the terms mixology/mixologist.

It invokes images of dorky guys in lab coats with waxed mustaches.”

Unusual statement, indeed, from someone who has the reputation of being one of Manila’s top “mixologists,” having developed the beverage program of Solaire Resort and Casino, and “created standards and recipes for the entire property, trained all the bartenders and helped set-up the bars.”

Watson was actually on vacation in Manila when he recognized a great opportunity – “pestering the grumpy (yet lovable) German F&B director” for a month or so until he was offered the position. “I was designated the ‘Head Mixologist’ of the property. At least that’s what the F&B Director would say to the press. He would always say that with a grin, because he knew I didn’t like the term!” he exclaims.

And to think Lee Watson was originally a physics major who then shifted to economics but decided he didn’t want to get stuck working behind a desk. “I did a lot

BY BING PAREL PHOTOS BY SONNY ESPIRITU of soul searching,” he says, “but I think it really clicked when I was in Florence, Italy. I was a regular at this little U2-themed Irish pub called the Joshua Tree,” he narrates.

He was having dinner with one of the owners, who shared the story of how the bar came to be. “He (the bar owner) said, ‘I’m going to be at a bar every night anyway, only difference now is that I am at the other side of the bar’!”

The conversation resonated with the young man who had also dreamed about having his own bar, except that the plan was for him to be successful and make a lot of money in his career first. “But then I had this paradigm shift and realized that instead, I should make the bar business my career.”

And with that epiphany, Lee went back to the US, started bartending and eventually enrolled in the management program at Le Cordon Bleu. “I was more motivated than ever. I graduated magna cum laude and got a string of good bar manager positions, which eventually led to my job at Solaire,” he recalls.

Consulting jobs soon followed, with the physics-major-turnedcocktail-expert getting asked by Antonio’s in Tagaytay to take on the Lanai, a beautiful outdoor cocktail

Concocting another creative cocktail.

lounge set against a lush garden.

The cocktail recipes he concocted for Antonio’s, he says, are among those that he is most proud of, the inspirational environment bringing out his best creative work.

With Solaire and Antonio’s on his resume, Lee soon started getting more inquiries for consulting – the Discovery Hotel Group for its new Discovery Primea property in Makati, the Discovery Shores in Boracay, and other clients that include Wildflour Café, Raven/Nest, Remy-Cointreau, Casa Noble Tequila, Pablo in the Picasso hotel and many others.

We ask about his role at ABV (Alcohol by Volume), described in its website as “a speakeasy-style cocktail

bar that’s reminiscent of the secret lounges in the 1920s.” Indeed, one has to go through a large wooden door inside Lazy Bastard, a fast-casual restaurant located along Jupiter Street in Bel-Air, Makati. “My partner Pat (Patrick Cuartero) created the concept, but I was the one with the bar experience. Pat worked in New York for several years, so ABV was inspired by the famous speakeasies in New York,” he discloses.

ABV offers “a bevy of drinks, from signature cocktails and forgotten classics, to a fine selection of absinthes,” and if one can’t find anything that tickles his fancy, a unique concoction at the customer’s bidding can be made.

While his taste admittedly runs more to single Malt Scotch whisky, he clarifies that he is “an equal opportunity imbiber” who does not discriminate. There are close to 200 whiskies at ABV that they have put together over the past few months, and not surprisingly, he also has an extensive whisky collection that he has been working on for a few years: “a few bottles of Pappy Van Winkle, a 37-year-old bottle of Highland Park, Tesseron Lot 29 (the only Cognac which Robert Parker ever awarded 100 points), a range of bottle from the PC series of Bruichladdich (PC7, PC8,

PC9, PC10, PC11, and PC12), and a collection of multiple releases of the Octomore series from Bruicladdich.”

Lee’s work at the bar must have encouraged him to become a minister. After all, it is during spirit-filled moments that men feel compelled to unburden themselves – and who better to listen than an ordained minister of the Universal Life Church like Lee Watson? “It was a long and arduous process,” he intimates, showing a copy of his duly signed credentials. “The ordination took about 60 seconds. I did it on my phone while at a gas station in Idaho. Being in the bar business, I tend to hear a lot of confessions.

But I cannot absolve sin. I can simply numb the guilt,” the barman/ honorary doctor/minister admits.

For sure, Lee Watson will be hearing a lot more bar confessions when his plan to open up more bars (as an owner) in the next couple of years takes shape – something that will surely “raise the bar” as far as the local bar scene is concerned.

ABV (Alcohol by Volume) is located at the Basement Floor, 22 Jupiter Street, Makati City. To know more about the secrets behind the closed wooden door inside Lazy Bastard, check out www.abv.ph.

SUNDAY : AUGUST 02 : 2015

C2

LIFE life @ thestandard.com .ph

@LIFEatStandard

PORTRAIT

Bianca Consunji shares her story

BY BERNADETTE LUNAS

“I

live for telling stories,” declares Filipina video producer in New York Bianca Consunji.

Perhaps it’s her love for talking to people and finding out what their stories are, as well as her extensive experience in journalism here in the Philippines and abroad, that have helped her cement her career in the Big Apple.

Consunji is currently the Director of Video at women’s website Bustle. Over the years, this 30-year-old storyteller has been sharing relevant, interesting and inspiring tales of other

people, but this time, it’s her turn to share her story.

A Journalism graduate at the University of the Philippines, Consunji has always been a fan of thought-provoking stories.

But prior to that, she actually took up Hotel, Restaurant and Institution Management in the same university. Working as young writer for youth-oriented publications and becoming more and more interested in writing, she made the conscious decision to shift course.

For almost a decade, Consunji worked as a print reporter and eventually a magazine editor

covering mostly lifestyle stories.

“I had a lot of fun in my early twenties attending fashion shows and traveling to different countries for press junkets,” she shares.

Many would say Consunji got herself a pretty covetable career that younger ones who aspired to work in the publishing industry as writer or editor would be immensely proud of. But somewhere along the way, she got restless and started looking for a way out of Manila.

“It was primarily because I had grown up and worked with the same people all my life, and it’s harder to prove you’re capable of something new or different when you’re not in a strange environment,” relates Consunji.

In 2011, she packed her stuff and moved to New York to obtain a graduate degree at the Columbia Journalism School. Four years since, she’s still in NYC making a name for herself. However, settling in the US wasn’t actually her plan when she flew there.

“I initially planned to be in New York for just a year because I thought I was going to marry my ex,” reveals Consunji, “but I broke up with him for the same reason many long-distance relationships fail.”

She admits breaking off that relationship she thought would

flourish was petrifying and liberating at the same time, “because it meant that I was free to do whatever I wanted without looking back.

Her freedom and passion for storytelling paved the way for her to pursue a career in New York.

Right after graduating, she got an internship at Mashable as video intern at the age of 27. “It was a humbling experience, to say the least,” shares Consunji.

She was a senior editor in Manila with an undergraduate degree from one of the Philippines’ top universities and a graduate degree from a prestigious school, but she had the same standing as a fresh graduate because her work experience wasn’t relevant in a different country.

“No one cared that I wrote for some of the biggest publications in the Philippines,” she recalls.

Consunji took any assignment she could get her hands on just so she could learn how to shoot and edit videos. “I was making $10 an hour but I was content because I was learning something new and exciting,” she says.

Her experience also thought her how to hustle. While starting out, she cold-called editors at The New York Times until she got an article published. From then

she has published full-length features, photos and videos that appeared in various NYC-based publications and blogs.

Consunji was eventually absorbed by Mashable and for three years she produced a number of breaking news, tech videos and long form video projects, some of which she never would have dreamed of doing, such as a documentary on the Boston marathon bombing victims, a piece on Native American crypto-currency and a report on conflict minerals in Congo. It was her job with this independent new site that enabled her to meet a lot of Sesame Street Muppets.

She’s now on a new career adventure at Bustle where she oversees a team of producers and creates videos for the features, beauty, fashion and entertainment verticals of the women-centric website.

Four years in New York, Consunji says she “feels pretty settled here,” but she vows that she will continue to do unusual things that make her and other people happy. “I want to do work that’s interesting, inspiring and drives social change. I want to be a good storyteller.”

And she also wants to finally meet Kermit the Frog.

BEACONS OF INSPIRATION

Bato Balani Foundation honors exemplary educators

T

eaching is a noble profession, a vocation that can significantly contribute in molding the minds, shaping the attitudes and influencing the perspectives of future leaders in the country. More often than not, however, teachers are taken for granted – with many people not recognizing the extra mile that these educators go to serve the children who have been placed under their care.

In almost every corner of the archipelago, there is teacher out there whose stories of dedication, commitment and personal sacrifice are worth telling and emulating – and this why for 14 years now, Bato Balani Foundation Inc. has been scouring the country for these inspiring educators whose stories will be shared to the public through a program called “The Many Faces of the Teacher.”

The program seeks to recognize Filipino educators and how they are transforming their communities, their students and ultimately the course of this country’s future. The nationwide search started early this year and the honorees will be presented to their peers on October 2, 2015 at an event aptly entitled “A Tribute to Teachers” to be held at the Marriott

Grand Ballroom, Marriott Hotel Manila.

Normita Liwag of Gapan City, Nueva Ecija, and teaching tandem Jinky Tecson and Michelle Norico of Pototan, Iloilo, perform the challenging task of teaching inmates, a lot of whom have not had the opportunity to go to school or finish their studies. What drives them is the urge to help the inmates get a new lease on life.

Dr. Marilyn Ngales of Manila and Gerum Salatan of Claveria, Misamis Oriental have stepped forward to lift up the plight of Indigenous People or IPs through education. These teachers, who are IPs themselves, help the members of the tribes of Mountain Province and Misamis Oriental gain skills needed to protect their culture and advocate their rights.

Dr. Jerico Bacani of Baguio City; Aleli Ester Domingo of Los Banos, Laguna; Aaron Tolentino of Manila; Lorelee Asignacion of Bacolod City; Dr. Christine Guinacaran of Zamboanga City; and Dr. Jovelyn Delosa of Cagayan de Oro City have undertaken the task of education as a vocation rather than as occupation.

The teachers give of themselves wholly to uplift learners, oftentimes involving personal resources like time and money.

The 12 nominees who are proof that teaching, indeed, is a noble profession.

LORELEE ASIGNACION Master Teacher, Bata National High School, Bacolod City

DR. JERICO B. BACANI Professor, University of the Philippines-Baguio

DR. JOVELYN GUMATAY DELOSA Dean and Assistant Professor, Xavier University Cagayan de Oro, Misamis Oriental

ALLELI ESTER DOMINGO Associate Professor, University of the Philippines-Los Baños

DR. CHRISTINE YCAZA GUINACARAN Master Teacher, Zamboangan City High School, Zamboanga City

DR. ARIS CERBO LARRODER Special Science Teacher, Philippine Science High SchoolWestern Visayas, Jaro, Iloilo CIty Continued on C3

SUNDAY : AUGUST 02 : 2015

C3

LIFE life @ thestandard.com .ph

@LIFEatStandard

DON’T FORGET “If you want to live a memorable life, you have to be the kind of person who remembers to remember.”

- Joshua Foer, TedxTalks 2012, Feats of Memory Anyone Can Do

CAROTID ARTERY

BY TATUM ANCHETA

W

hen was the last time you actually m e m o r i z e d someone’s phone number? No, not just your ex’s phone number, but at least 10 mobile numbers of the people you know? How about 10 of your friends’ birthdays? How about all of your Facebook friends’ birthdays? Oh God, stress.

There was a time when I could dial a friend’s landline number and not have to look at my organizer or phone directory. Now, the only number I can dial is (sing it with me) “8-7000 Jollibee delivery,” not ‘cuz I order a lot from Jollibee but I hear the commercial endlessly.

Even at such a young age it’s getting harder to retain memory.

We easily forget small details, names of people or places we visit, or heck, where we put that comb or TV remote.

My lola is in her eighties and she remembers details more than me; she can count all the names of her apos and apo sa tuhod and even tell you their birthdates. She used to be a grade school teacher and retired in her fifties, and she remembers most of her students from the many years she had taught. She can even remember my grade school classmates more than I can recall. And she can tell you

all the wrestlers in World Wresting Federation (now WWE)!

“A considerable number of elderly people maintain sound memory. Not all aspects of memory are equally affected by aging,” says Melanie San PabloAlejandro, Ph.D., Developmental Psychologist and Directress of Integrated Center for the Young.

“Individual factors such as medical conditions, emotional state, amount of sleep one gets, presence of distractions, stress level, etc. can account for why some older people have better memory than younger ones,” she adds.

It may also be possible that during the old days there were less distractions and everything was mano-mano, or manually done, so people remember because they need to. In this day and age, we rely heavily on technology in preserving our memories but it is also hampering us from actually using our brains to remember.

“Having little need to remember anymore, it sometimes seems like we’ve forgotten how,” says Joshua Foer in his TedxTalks last 2012.

He is a science journalist whose works appear in New York Times and National Geographic. He is also a US Memory Champion who happens to be an “accidental” winner after entering the contest – well, for journalism’s sake. He’s not a genius or a savant but according to him, if he can do it, anyone can.

As humans, we may not be able to memorize things by numbers but we have exceptional visual memory, and that is what he used in training his mind to remember. Notice why its easier for us to remember names of people when we associate them with an object, a situation, or other ridiculous things that we can wrap up in our heads so we can remember. “Ay si Tatum, yung maingay?” “Oo sya nga!”

“Individuals with occupations involving detailed imagery, such as architects and artists, appear

to have better memory,” says Dr. Alejandro. But what about the others who are not in that creative spectrum? “Individual differences may explain why some people have better memory than others,” she explains. “People’s ability to focus and concentrate, to multi-task, to ignore distractions, the manner in which experiences/stimuli are perceived, given meaning, reinforced and rehearsed, in addition to efficacy in the use of retrieval strategies, are some of the factors that account for better memory.”

Gender differences is also a great factor, and she explains that men tend to be more efficient at remembering visual-spatial stimuli while women can be expected to be better at verbal memory tasks. So, he may forget to say “I love you,” but would remember to buy you a dozen roses.

In a nutshell, Dr. Alejandro says, a person usually retains and remembers important events, familiar situations that are similar to

his own experiences and events that evoke emotional arousal. Hence, it is easier to remember that day when someone broke our hearts, we can recount a by-the-minute detail of the things that transpired and bore our friends with the details – how we cried, where we cried, what time he/she messaged, or the detailed description of what he/she was wearing and how he/she smelled.

But it’s just so hard to remember the name of the person you met the other day, or the last meal you ate last Monday, or where the heck you put your car keys.

With all the hustle and bustle of city life and the everyday stressors at work, all the distractions in our surroundings, and with all the information available for us today, it can be a challenge in learning how to focus our minds.

So how exactly do we avoid those “senior moments”? Dr. Alejandro mentions that keeping a healthy lifestyle will enhance memory.

“Exercise, get enough sleep, eat more fresh vegetables and avoid sugar, and minimize stress,” she says.

Keeping stimulated mentally also plays a big role, and social activity is encouraged. So next time you have coffee with a friend, put down your phones and stop Instagramming your meal. Dine, laugh, talk, and share your experiences.

Simply put, we need to pay better attention to the things that goes on around us, and add more meaning to our experiences. “You also have to stop believing that memory loss is an inevitable and hopeless physiological problem that comes with age. There are many ways by which we can enhance our memory and make it more efficient and productive,” she closes.

BEACONS OF INSPIRATION From C2

Dr. Bacani of Baguio City is able to help math education in the Philippines through research, while Miss Domingo does so through teacher training. Mr. Tolentino devotes a lot of time in training students to become better campus journalists, and Ms. Asignacion uses technology to help students develop much-needed 21st century skills.

Dr. Guinacaran established a club that utilizes peer-to-peer education to help poor readers. Dr. Delosa focuses on properly molding aspiring teachers so that they become beacons of light for education, especially in the public system.

Meantime, Haide Pandoy of Malabon City strongly supports the preservation of the environment, while Dr. Aris Larroder promotes IP knowledge and adapted the indigenization program in his Science teaching.

The Many Faces of the Teacher is supported by Diwa Learning Systems. For more information, log on to www.batobalanifoundation.org.ph.

NORMITA LIWAG Master Teacher, District Alternative Learning System Coordinator, Gapan City

DR. MARILYN NGALES Faculty, Lyceum of the Philippines, Manila

JINKY MAQUIRANG TECSON ALS Mobile Teacher, Pototan, Iloilo City

HAIDE PANDOY Master Teacher, Malabon National High School, Malabon City

MICHELLE SOQUENO NORICO ALS Mobile Teacher, Pototan, Iloilo City

GERUM OCHIGUE SALATAN ALS Mobile Teacher, Claveria, Misamis Oriental

AARON TOLENTINO Teacher, Manila Science High School, Manila

S U N D AY : A U G U S T 0 2 : 2 0 1 5

C4

LIFE life @ thestandard.com .ph

@LIFEatStandard

Dashing groom Butch Albert enjoying his moment down the aisle.

Mother of the bride Wanda Louwallien

A loving moment with the couple as they seal it with a kiss.

Butch and Cris Albert listen to words of inspiration from Pastor Gus Lising

A selfie moment before the ceremonies with Frank Briones and Phoemela Baranda.

Flower girl Lily Lalitha

Sponsors of Love and Wisdom, Kevin Tan and Korina Sanchez.

The symbolic chord of “three strands” being placed by Tessa Prieto-Valdes, and Anton San Diego on the beautiful couple.

(From left) A fashion moment with Rocio Olbes, Patrick Rosas, and Vicky Zubiri.

Fashionable ladies Atty. Mela Bengzon, Duday Tuason, and Malu Francisco.

LOVE ABOVE ALL #INTHEMOMENT

BY FRANCIS DE LEON

Butch and Cris Albert Celebrate 21 Years of LIFE Together Images captured by PhilDiz Photo Gallery (www.phildiz.com)

I

t was a wonderful experience to be part of the journey leading to the ‘#Love21BC’ ceremony in celebration of lovely and much-loved couple Butch and Cris Albert’s 21st anniversary celebration.

Prior to the actual event, close friends of the couple hosted several soirees in honor of their favorite “Lovee” – the endearing appellation for Butch’s charming wife.

I was favored to have attended two of many fabulous affairs! A loving friend and confidante, whom I call “Mi Vida,” hosted one event. Tina Cuevas organized a redand-white themed dinner party with live acoustic entertainment at the iconic Sulo Hotel Riviera where the couple sang love songs down memory lane to their hearts’ content. The other was an exquisite Spainspired party hosted by Dr. Z Teo and his stunning wife Dr. Aivee Teo at their posh The Aivee Clinic located at the tony side of Bonifacio Global City. They treated the couple, along with their beautiful entourage headed by Matron of Honor Len Olbes, to signature face and body treatments that everyone raved about!

These intimate gatherings gave me a clear glimpse of how the couple was regarded by their friends, family and loved ones.

Simply put, their life together of 21 years has endeared them to many whom they have meaningful connections with.

Hence, when I received the elegant and hand-scripted invitation, I was elated at the opportunity to personally witness the beautiful love story of one of Manila’s most celebrated couples unfold.

A CELEBRATION OF LOVE

With heightened anticipation, I headed towards misty Tagaytay on a glorious Saturday mid-afternoon to witness the renewal of vows amidst the romantic backdrop of The Cabana at Antonio’s.

(From left) A moment under a canopy of flowers with Cristalle Henares, Rocio Olbes, Mikaela LagdameoMartinez, and Chucho Martinez.

The radiant bride with Maurice Arcache.

(From left) Primary bridesmaids in shades of purple and secondary bridesmaids in pastel green hues: Hera Geriene, Ann Ong, Sari Yap and Connie Haw.

The venue was reminiscent of those dreamy wine country-inspired weddings. Scenes from the movie The Wedding Planner and vividly familiar episodes from celebrity weddings unveiled. The setting was divine. It was simply impeccable!

The delectable hors d’oeuvres, flowing champagne, luscious six-course menu, and exquisite milieu lavished with floral adornments were much appreciated and applauded by the guests composed of A-listers, the fashionable set and celebrities. The harmony as the event unfolded lingered as my soul was transported to a blissful state of being.

The couple’s entourage was comprised of Manila’s crème de la crème who were all too keen on ensuring that the couple celebrates their milestone in a jovial and graceful fashion.

The ceremony? It was magical!

I am sincerely grateful, as I was present at that very moment to experience and feed my soul with something symbolic.

THE VOW

“I’ve been reflecting and looking forward to #Love21BC not just the ceremony nor the party.

The question is why do people renew their vows?” quipped the radiant bride, Cris Albert.

Sponsors of Love and Wisdom- HSBC’s Wick Veloso with lovely wife Cayen.

For Butch and Cris, their moment with Christ to profess their love above all else is what matters most. Their renewal of wedding vows was a devotional ceremony offered to Christ.

“It’s about two imperfect people trusting in a perfect God,” expressed the beautiful Cris. Her dashing husband Butch with the passage “a cord of three strands is not easily broken” reaffirmed this.

Further, Cris Albert professed her “Love above all things… you chose me and I chose you.” Her message to Butch was meaningful, beautifully delivered through a love song with the help of their adorable daughter, Isabella, who sang “Angel by Your Side” with a captivating voice- “…I want to be the first to let you know… I will get you through the night. I’ll be the strength you can’t provide on your own…. Let me be the angel, the angel by your side.”

These were heartfelt testimonies to this columnist on the occasion that marked their 21st wedding anniversary.

They were not solely reaffirming love for each other, but more so, their love as a couple as a new chapter in their life unfolds with Christ at the center of their relationship. In the end, it’s between them and God.

(From left) Man of Honor Alex Van Hagen and Groomsman Dr. Hayden Kho, Jr.

(From left) Lovely ladies looking vibrant in their pastel dresses – Connie Haw, Sheila Romero, Cristalle Henares, Shelly Lazaro, and Matron of Honor Len Olbes.

To Butch and Cris Albert, may the divine presence be so evident in your moments as one with God. Definitely, He is the true meaning of LOVE above all.

Follow me on Twitter or Instagram @francis_deleon8.

S UNDAY : AUGUST 2 : 2015

SHOWBITZ

ISAH V. RED EDITOR

isahred @ gmail.com

C5

James McAvoy and Daniel Radcliffe play Dr. Frankenstein and Igor, respectively, in the re-imagining of the Frankenstein movie, Victor Frankenstein

James mcavoy and daniel Radcliffe in ‘victoR fRankenstein’

v

ictor Frankenstein, this year’s grand spectacle of a production and character driven film contemporizing one of the most beloved literary and film classics of all time under Paul McGuigan’s direction, stars British actors James McAvoy and Daniel Radcliffe.

In the coolest and electrifying reimagining of the mad doctor and his creation, McAvoy takes on the titular role Doctor Victor Frankenstein, a brilliant scientist at the forefront pioneering medical research.

With his research and experiments on trying to save lives, he then be-

comes obsessed with the idea of creating life itself. Radcliffe, on the other hand, plays Igor, Frankenstein’s trusty and equally brilliant assistant from whose perspective the movie treads on.

McGuigan’s Victor Frankenstein is an action adventure thriller, with a script by Max Landis inspired by Mary Shelley’s novel, which was first published in 1818. In Landis’ version of Frankenstein the story is set later, in 1861, a time when science was making rapid advances.

“It’s taking the core themes of the book - the re-birthing idea, bringing the dead back to life and

the science of that and the moral issues it brings up and all of those things. What Max Landis has done with his original script is cherry pick the best bits from the book and the best bits from the movies of the past so it’s a bit of art imitating art and reinventing it a little bit,” says McGuigan.

McAvoy adds, “The themes are all still there. It’s about man trying to become the ultimate creator, about whether that is right or wrong, and the discussion of that. It’s also about obsession, and it’s about ravenous scientific advancement over moral right and

wrong, the film does pay homage to its heritage.”

“I think our Frankenstein is a really kind of rip-roaring, fun adventure movie version of Frankenstein. I would really struggle to class it as horror. I think there are horror elements to it and nods to previous versions of Frankenstein, but it’s much more a film about – the thing that I hope will make it stand out is the relationship between James’ character and I. Victor and Igor are two people who come to need each other very much… Igor feels forever that he has this sort of debt of loyalty and

the film then becomes about how much can that debt be pushed?

How much can that loyalty be pushed before – at what point do you have to step out from the shadows of the person that created you and go, ‘I am my own person?’ Or, do you forever defer to the person that is responsible for your life? So it’s sort of, it’s a film about relationships set against the backdrop of creating monsters,” added Radcliffe in his previous interviews.

Victor Frankenstein opens on Nov. 25 in cinemas from 20th Century Fox to be distributed by Warner Bros.

‘ELLEn’s DEsign ChaLLEngE’

P Ellen DeGerneres' ultimate challenge on HGTV

Jojo Struys scours the world for how people de-stress themselves

‘JoJo’s Diary of asia’ on TLC

a

re you in dire need of a relaxing vacation yet you don’t know where to go? This month, find out stunning destinations, de-stressing activities, rich cultures and great food in the allnew series Jojo’s Diary Of Asia, premiering 10 p.m. tomorrow.

The show follows the unforgettable journey of TV host and travel enthusiast Jojo Struys as she uncovers the unique ways people can disconnect from stress in their daily lives while soaking up different cultures and learning how to make a diverse array of

traditional Asian dishes. Follow Jojo as she immerses in the deeply cultural customs and delights in Japan, the breathtaking natural beauty of Nepal and the bustling metropolis of Hong Kong.

Unearth the multitude of ways you can de-stress - bathing elephants in the Himalayas, learning breathing techniques from a Zen Buddhist monk and wielding a samurai sword in Tokyo. Join her as she discovers the pampering secrets of these three wondrous countries in Jojo’s Diary Of Asia, airing this August on TLC

i Photo

MaJa’s ParTnErshiP wiTh PETiT MonDE

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Maja’s Partnership with Petit Monde

remiering at 9 p.m. on Aug, 6 , in an ultimate design competition, Ellen DeGeneres puts a team of designers to the test to create amazing furniture pieces in just 24 hours.

Expect intriguing designs and suspenseful competition. Who has what it takes to sketch, design and build their way to victory and walk away with the hand-

ancefloor Princess Maja Salvador is once again the image model for stylish clothing brand Petit Monde.

Speaking for Petit Monde as its brand ambassador for three years now, Maja goes for the brand’s hip, chic, and trendy apparel options.

some cash prize of $100,000?

Ellen’s Design Challenge is seen on HGTV Cignal - channel 101(HD) and On SkyCable – channels 88(SD), 246(HD) For more information about HGTV, please visit www.hgtv. asia or visit the HGTV Facebook page (www. facebook.com/hgtvasia) for latest program and event updates.

Maja has been making waves with her performance in the teleserye Bridges of Love and with her viral ‘’Twerk it like Miley” cover.

With Maja at the contract signing are Petit Monde founders Carolyn Tan Chong (left) and Dorothy tan Tionson (right).

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SHOWBITZ isahred @ gmail.com

HaPPy, bUSy, bEaUtIfUL

GooGle Apps for Work

I

by RObbIE PangILInan

am very happy with my life,” says the news anchor, TV host, actress, and entrepreneur.

Dianne Medina who is a devout Catholic and admits centering her life around Christ, which she believes gives her inner joy.

“I have a very rich spiritual life. I serve in the church every Sunday as a lector/commentator.

I go to the Adoration Chapel every day after work to have a halfhour quiet time with the Lord Jesus. Kahit may work, I really go every day,” adds Dianne, who is also very contented with her love life, celebrating her and her boyfriend’s 8th anniversary this year.

It is her social life that may have taken a back seat because of her busy schedule. Dianne juggles so many roles – she is a news anchor of “Good Morning Boss” at the People’s Television Network, a live segment host for Ever Bilena at Unang Hirit in GMA 7 every morning, an actress at GMA’s new teleserye “Beautiful Strangers,” and a proud owner of her own events company.

Dianne started in show business when she won the Wazzup Wazzup news comedy show contest that secured for her a contract in Studio 23. That time, she was also doing her on-the-job training in ABS-CBN. Director Edgar Mortiz noticed her and listed her up for the youth-oriented show Let’s Go with Alex Gonzaga, Bangs Garcia and Charee Pineda.

From showbiz, she learned to not be very sensitive. To battle

show business’ cutthroat competition, Dianne says she learned to be a fighter and to always pray.

Dianne won the PNP Individual Media Award for Hosting and the Volunteers Against Crime and Corruption (VACC) Award for Best Outstanding News Anchor, achievements that she is most proud of. She was also nominated as Best Morning Show Host at the Star Awards.

Outside showbiz, Dianne is proud to be able to help different foundations such as Child Haus Foundation for children with cancer, the Philippine Orthopedic Center, the Philippine Cancer Society, and serving the church as part of the lector/commentator ministry.

Dianne got her big heart from her mother, her inspiration, who she considers a “living miracle” when she was still alive. Dianne’s mother passed away four years ago, after a 10-year battle with cancer.

“Kahit may sakit siya, she was still working for her family. She served the church as the president of the education ministry and as a lector/commentator. Si mommy talaga ang naglapit sa amin kay Jesus Christ. She was in pain all throughout but she never complained; instead she thanked God for everything,” shares Dianne.

Amidst her very busy schedule, Dianne finds time to relax by going to YSA Skin Care Experts for her regular facial massage. She also avails of home service massage, and goes on movie and dinner dates with her loved ones.

CROSSWORD PUZZLE 81 82 83 84 86 87 88 89 90 91 93 94 95

ANSWER FOR PREVIOUS PUZZLE ACROSS 1 Summerhouse 7 Organic compound 12 Curing cheese 17 Sotto — 21 Idyllic world 22 Metamorphic rock 23 Pineapple island 24 Unfenced 25 Sandbars 26 Pungent spice (2 wds.)

28 Hum cheerfully 29 Part of AT&T 30 Spy novelist (2 wds.)

32 Pitch-dark 33 Not as stout 35 Dwarf buffalo 37 Oversentimental 38 Misty 39 — hangs a tale 40 Fuzzy 42 Lo- — graphics 43 Pedro’s wine 44 Tawny predator

Dianne Medina: YSA's brand ambassador

45 47 48 49 51 52 53 54 58 60 61 62 63 64 65 66 67 68 69 71 72 73 74 75 76 79

Ice huts Rome’s fiddler Bronze or pewter Rocket trajectory Abner’s partner Say aye or nay Burn with steam Audit pros Starfleet weapon Goose eggs — de plume S.A.’s Gran — Vexes Hatha- — “Alice” waitress Palms off “Bus Stop” author Kinks’ hit tune Stone marker DEA agents Mauna — Violent cold wind Derrick or crane Clutched Freud topic Geneva’s river

96 97 98 99 100 101 103 106 107 108 111 112 113 115 116 117 118 120 121 122 125 127 128 129 130 131 132 133 134

Funny — Radner Veneer wood — B’rith Persuade Write bad checks Frolic Ski slope bump — Marie of “Lovergirl” Prefix for dynamic Dive Break a promise Possesses “Surprise Symphony” composer At the drop of — — Retainer Checkers side Hindu attire Was sorry about First-rate (hyph.)

Actress — Diaz Heat conduit Young fella Change position Model Wooden trunk Faked out the goalie Give a wolfish look Of the stars Berlin single Sporting spear Poetic adverb A night in Paris Where to sign (2 wds.)

Paddles Pinch of salt Fit to be tied Turn inside out Show clearly Mont. neighbor Loafs around Fresco base Thicker, as fog

“Simple lang ako. Movie, coffee and dinner. I don’t like clubbing, bars etc. I don’t drink and I don’t smoke,” she says.

Ever since Dianne started in showbiz, YSA has taken care of her skin. Dianne believes that YSA has the best and most advanced skin care technologies.

“YSA will not just take good care of your skin, maganda sa kanila yung relationship nila sa ‘yo talagang aalagaan ka. Parang family talaga. Kaya alam mong in good hands ka,” attests Dianne, whose usual procedures include Diamond Peel, Whitening Mask, Radio Frequency and Cavislim.

Dianne cuts down on rice and tries her best to squeeze in time to work out at the gym regularly.

Looking forward to the future, Dianne plans to stay in showbiz while managing her events company, to check any possible new business for her, and to settle down soon and build her own family.

Dianne is happy, busy, and beautiful. And to everyone she has this advice: “Always be contented. God has a plan for each and every one of us. Always put God at the center of everything, make Him your core/ foundation. And let us all remember that our main purpose here on earth is to serve Him.”

n this digital age of borderless workspace and online marketplace, an efficient system of collaboration is crucial for SMEs (small to medium enterprises) to thrive.

To help SMEs improve operational efficiencies, enhance productivity and consequently, improve revenues, PLDT SME Nation, through ePLDT subsidiary IPC®, an Internet data center and cloud services company, now offers Google Apps for Work to the Philippine SMEs, which account for about 90 perent of all local businesses.

Google Apps for Work is a collaboration suite packed with cost-saving, productivity and efficiency promoting tools that will enable co-workers to effectively work together from anywhere. The applications are categorized according to functionality—Communicate, Collaborate, Manage and Store.

Under Communicate, featured applications include Gmail, Hangouts, Calendar and Google+. For Collaborate, applications included are Sheets, Forms, Docs, Slides and Sites. For storage, SMEs can take advantage of Google Drive, and for management purposes, Google Admin and Vault.

“When it comes to web-based products and applications, Google is known for reliability and innovation,” PLDT First Vice President and Head of SME Business Kat Luna-Abelarde said. “We look forward to being able to offer their industry-leading products and applications to our local SMEs. With IPC® and PLDT, SMEs can be as-

sured of reliable and 24/7 customer support together with Google’s best-in-class products.”

Because Google Apps for Work is web- or Internet-based, it can help SMEs, whether with 10 or 10,000 employees, reduce operational costs including maintenance and capital investments. In fact, studies have shown that shifting from on-site to web-based applications can contribute to up to 85 percent worth of energy savings.

SMEs can choose between two packages — the basic Google Apps for Work , priced at US$50 annually per user, and Google Drive for Work, at US$120 annually per user, which has all the inclusions of Google Apps for Work but is powered up by unlimited storage.

Both packages come with mobility devices, such as tablets and pocket WiFi devices, as add-ons. PLDT subscribers also have the advantage of being able to upgrade to hardware and connectivity bundles to supplement work place tools.

To find out more about Google Apps for Work, log on to ipc.ph.

Ken Lingan of Google Philippines

SUNDAY, AUGUST 2, 2015

DOWN 1 Composer — Mahler 2 Minerva, in Greece 3 Petting may go on there (2 wds.)

4 MPG monitor 5 Unwelcome mail 6 Dromedary pit stops 7 Breaks loose 8 Noisy gulps 9 Dillydally 10 To be, to Balzac 11 Spanish monarch 12 Amos — Stagg 13 Clumsy 14 Memorial Day race 15 No, to a lassie 16 Lady’s past 17 Fly in Florence 18 Hazards a guess 19 “People” people 20 Contest mail-in 27 “— Man” (Billy Joel song) 31 Bounce back 34 —, meeny, miney...

36 Summer mo.

38 Brings on board 39 Works the land 41 Cherbourg shes 43 Kill, politically 44 Andes ruminant 46 Not their 47 Mrs. Charles 48 Squirrel snack 49 One of 12 50 Jungle charger 52 First-magnitude star 53 Hagar’s pooch 54 In vogue 55 Extinct birds (2 wds.)

56 Fake it 57 Brillo rival 59 Have a look

60 62 64 65 66 68 69 70 71 73 74

Defender of Dreyfus Firewood quantity Nostalgic time Passport companion “Columbo” star Only Merry king of rhyme Relief First-quarter tide — Raton, Fla. Discover (2 wds.)

75 77 78 80 81 82 83 84 85 86 87 88 90

Fiber plant Dashboard dial Fixed the squeak Attila’s subjects Braces for trouble Whistle sound — mot How was — — know?

Futuristic Type data (2 wds.)

Kind of hog Shakes hands Burr or Spelling

91 92 93 95 97 99 100 101 102 103 104 105 106

Soy or Bearnaise Make keener Ten-percenter Hastings loser (2 wds.)

Friend of Che Nintendo rival Got crowned Likes (2 wds.)

Eureka!

Like jeans Easel buyer Graham of dance Gift recipients

107 109 110 111 112 113 114 117 118 119 123 124 126

Pry bars Raw wool More succinct Bamboo eater Please, in Vienna “Great” dogs Minced Term paper abbr.

(2 wds.)

Swing music Pew locale California fort Lower limb Famous author

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SHOWBITZ isahred @ gmail.com

‘Mula sa Kung ano ang noon’ at shang Cineplex

Alamat presents the folk tale about Mariang Sinukuan

Lisa Macuja interviews Brillante Mendoza with Rened Durian in Art 2 Art

Kylie Padilla lends her voice to Mariang Sinukuan

PLDT VP for Marketing Gary Dujali speaking before participants of 50 Shades of Marketing

Kylie Padilla haPPy To Be ParT of ‘alamaT’

K

apuso actress Kylie Padilla couldn’t contain her excitement when she was tapped to voice the character of the legendary Mariang Sinukuan in today’s episode of Alamat.

“I feel so happy because I really love cartoons. So when they said they’re getting me, [I said], ‘Oh my God!’ It’s a yes,” Kylie exclaimed.

Taking on cartoons and preparing to voice the character of Mariang Sinukuan also challenged Kylie. She said, “My character here is a goddess and I thought I have to make it a little bit airy, a bit darker, and someone who has authority when she speaks.”

Kylie also got to explore her talent in using different voices as she tried to voice for another character, an animal this time, which the viewers will find difficulty identifying.

Today, the children will discover why the frogs croak, the birds nestle on trees, and other peculiar habits of animals. The story will begin with a mystery in the forest and Mariang Sinukuan will instruct justice keepers Hunyango and Kuneho to investigate. Breathing life to Hunyango and Kuneho are John Feir and Mike “Pekto” Nacua, respectively. Like Kylie, John and Pekto also voice other characters –the hunters who will displease Mariang Sinukuan.

Episode writer Danzen Santos-Katanyag said there is more to the folk tale, “Mariang Sinukuan is about the environment. It brings to light the importance of taking care of the environment as we all keep up with the country’s modernization.”

from c8

Kylie, meanwhile, is grateful she was assigned the role, “I feel so honored to lend my voice to tell the country’s folk tales because I really do believe that we should value our culture. Plus it’s not only the children who will watch the program, even the teenagers and the grown-ups get to see it too, so I am truly happy to have been invited to become part of Alamat. It’s such an honor.”

HHHHH The fuTure of media agencies PLDT Vice President for Marketing Gary Dujali, responsible for some of PLDT HOME’s most successful campaigns, was one of the featured speakers at the recent Asian Marketing Leadership Summit called “50 Shades of Marketing” organized by the Philippine Marketing Association (PMA).

Dujali, whose team was responsible for the excellent and multi-awarded campaigns the most recent of which were PLDT MyDSL’s “Anna Banana” and “Ask Diego,” among others, was one of the 50 resource speakers from their respective fields (from the different multi-national and local corporations and businesses) featured in the highly-successful summit. He spoke on the topic – Future of Media Agencies.

His message was simple. He encapsulated in five major points what media agencies of the future should be able to bring to us - relevant audience, beautiful data, invisible media, seamless media integration, and media creation as opposed to media buying.

He said, “We, as marketers, cannot think in a linear fashion anymore. “

Dujali warned of the risk with that kind of mindset. “In a sea of change, it is either we sink, or we swim,” he concluded.

The summit’s inspiration is endeavored in the mantra “To submit and be in control thereafter.”

The Philippine Marketing Association endeavors to infuse enthusiasm into the dynamic marketing industry with the ultimate goal of bringing to fruition the desire of every brand marketer, delivering the greatest satisfaction to the consumers, with this event.

HHHHH BrillanTe mendoza in arT 2 arT Internationally acclaimed filmmaker Brillante Mendoza and award-winning guitar trio Triple Fret are among the guests featured in Art 2 Art this August.

Produced by the Manila Broadcasting Company and hosted by prima ballerina Lisa Macuja, Art 2 Art is aired every Sunday, 3:30 to 4 p.m., on DZRH (666 khz on the AM band), on cable television via RHTV and online through DZRH Live Streaming.

Named Best Director in the 2009 Cannes Film Festival for Kinatay, Mendoza talks about film as a tool for social awareness in the Aug.t 9 episode. Joining him is PR/ multi-media specialist Rene Durian who is part of the team helping Mendoza fulfill his cinematic visions. Mendoza’s latest effort was the environmentally themed Taklub starring Nora Aunor.

Meanwhile, Triple Fret returns to Art 2 Art on Aug. 23 after a year that saw the group launching its debut album Gitara Filipina and winning awards in Ma-

laysia and Japan. Jenny De Vera, Iqui Vinculado and Marga Abejo regale listeners and viewers anew with a mini-concert that includes a six-hand, one-guitar rendition of Calypso.

Today, TV/ stage/ film actor Art Acuña relates his work adventures abroad, notably while he was in New York, where he managed to take on roles in television series such as Law & Order, Third Watch and As the World Turns. Now back in Manila, Acuña says he shunned acting for eight years before realizing it was his real calling.

On Aug.16, host Lisa Macuja welcomes four company artists of her own Ballet Manila. Brian Williamson and Katherine Barkman of the United States, Abigail Oliveiro of Australia and Anindya Krisna of Indonesia recount why they decided to move to the Philippines to be part of a local dance group and how they have adjusted to their new home.

On Aug. 30, representatives of the artistic organization Alab share their mission of bringing art, literature, music and film to a wider audience by holding open mic events, workshops, exhibits, film festivals and conferences.

Co-founders Vins Miranda and Arah Rivadineira are joined by performers Salvador Biglaen, Jennica Mallorca, Micah Biscocho and Valene Lagunzad in this special episode marking National Heroes’ Day. For inquiries, please e-mail art2artdzrh@gmail.com.

On Facebook, check out the account Ballerina ng Bayan for updates on Art 2 Art episodes.

Widely acknowledged for bringing the singular highest honor ever accorded to Philippine Cinema, in its Golden Leopard prize win at the 2014 Locarno International Film Festival, Mula sa Kung ano Ang Noon, Lav Diaz’s Martial Law epic, will have a special commercial run at the Shang Cineplex, Aug. 12 – 18.

Presented by the Film development Council of the Philippines and Sine Olivia Pilipinas, in partnership with the Shang Cineplex, the commercial run gives Filipino cineastes another chance to catch the highly acclaimed film.

Set in 1972, Mula sa Kung ano Ang Noon deals with rising conflicts within a remote barrio in the days leading up to the declaration of Martial Law. In June, the film bagged the highest awards – Best Picture, Best Director, Best Screenplay, and Best Editing – at the Gawad Urian Awards.

The film’s highest honor has been its win of the Pardo d’oro (Golden Leopard) Grand Prize at the International film festival in Locarno, last August, 2014. The festival is one of the oldest and most prestigious A-list film festivals in Europe, in the league of Cannes, Venice, and Berlin.

In Locarno, the film also won the FIPRESCI International Critics Prize; the International Federation of Film Societies Don Quixote prize, the Youth Jury Environment Is Quality of Life Prize, and the Boccalino de Oro Independent Critics Award for Best Actress for lead Hazel Orencio.

Prior to its Locarno win, the film had its Philippine premiere at the first-ever World Premieres film Festival Philippines in June of 014. Here the film won the festival’s highest award in the Grand Festival Prize, in addition to also winning the award for Best Ensemble.

A scene from Mula Sa Kung Ano ang Noon

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ISAH V. RED EDITOR isahred @ gmail.com

SHOWBITZ Young JV and ViCe ganda in a duet At the moment he is busy doing mall and campus tour to promote YJV. He will be at AMAES (Aug. 11).

On the acting front, JV, youngest son of retired Colonel Red Kapunan of EDSA 1 fame, is currently focused on his role as Gregg in ABS-CBN Honesto TV series. Last year he joined the cast of Dyesebel as David. He was also in a couple of Maalaala Mo Kaya episodes, and Annaliza, Princess and I, and Budoy – a performance which caught the attention of the public as he shone bright as back-up to the title role of Gerald Anderson.

As if being an accomplished singer-actor is not enough, JV is also a basketball star in his own right, usually excelling during celebrity challenges. He won MVP during the 2013 Star Magic Games while netizens got delighted viewing his friendly skill show-off against collegiate star-defender Kiefer Ravena during a streetball game.

More importantly he never forgets to give back for all the blessings coming his way. He founded the Lahing Bayani Foundation, while also serving as ambassador for HERO Foundation, All Lights Village, and PhilYEN. Obvisouly, there’s a special place in his heart for children of fallen heroes in military service. He celebrated his 25th birthday at AFP grounds with some recipients of his cause-oriented activities.

ISAH V. RED Singer-actor Young JV, who is co-managed by Star Magic and Cornerstone, recently released his latest album simply called YJV. The track “Ale” is the first single off the album. The song is upbeat that he co-wrote with Philipop winner Thyro Alfaro, and with a fun music video that is becoming popular on music channels and social media sites.

The five-track package distributed by Star Music is one lean-but-mean album, containing just five songs -- but each strong enough to be single material. Two other numbers feature popular female voices in KZ Tandingan (“Mismo Baby”) and Karylle (“Hurts So Bad”).

He also co-wrote the tracks with topnotch songwriters Jungee Marcelo and Marcus Davis, Jr. But here’s more. The album produced by Doin’ It Big Prod is actually set for repackaging after he did something spectacularly noteworthy. He collaborated with Vice Ganda for a recording of a new song entitled “PasaDiyos” which will be in the special edition release.

Loaded with talents as he is also seriously into acting and basketball, JV feels the need to include the said song in line with the nature of his third CD. He related, “Exciting, that’s how I feel about my third album. You’ll find a fusion of EDM (Electronic Dance Music) and R&B.” He describes that combination as “an explosion of heavy, melodic, and uplifting synths that can only come from my heart.”

Young JV, whose first two albums (Ready Or Not and Doin’ It Big) became platinum and gold

➜ Continued on C7

records respectively, is not new to collaborating with big stars. He previously did one called “Ngiti” with Gary Valenciano, along with other album track duets featuring Myrtle and Yeng Con-

stantino. Last year he co-interpreted with Duncan Ramos the Philpop entry “Hang Out Lang.”

On stage live, other artists find him fulfilling to work with.

In fact, he became a member of

a group dubbed A-Pop who at one point regularly performed in ABS-CBN’s ASAP. Anytime soon he will appear in the same show to do a number with KZ backed by an orchestra.

Young JV has a new album and collaborates with Vice Ganda for a song that will be part of the revised edition