The Standard - 2015 August 08 - Saturday

VOL. XXIX  NO. 179  3 Sections 32 Pages P18  SATURDAY : AUGUST 8, 2015  www.thestandard.com.ph  editorial@thestandard.com.ph

Scheduled honoring of 2 SAF men withdrawn

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CONSPIRACY DENIED Del Rosario says PH, Japan not ganging up on China at forum

By Vito Barcelo

MANILA denied Friday China’s claim that Japan and the Philippines ganged up against China at a regional security forum this week on the disputed South China Sea. Foreign Affairs spokesperson Charles Jose said there was no teamup between Japan and the Philippines, saying it was simply what the two countries saw was happening in the South China Sea. Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi had said the two countries were ganging up on China and insisted that Beijing, which has been on a reclamation binge in disputed areas of the South China Sea, was not impeding the freedom of navigation in the contested waterway.

The Palace said that the Philippines and Japan merely shared common beliefs.

“Being strategic partners, the views expressed by both the Philippines and Japan in the ASEAN (Association of Southeast Asian Nations) regional forum reflect the two countries’ shared beliefs on the importance of maintaining open and stable seas,” said Malacanang’s Communications Secretary Herminio Coloma Jr. Earlier, US Secretary of State John Kerry had told the forum China was restricting navigation and overflights, and that its construction of facilities for military purposes on man-made islands in the South China Sea was raising tensions and risked militarization by other claimant states.

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Police anniversary. President Benigno S. Aquino III troops the line during the 114th Police Service Anniversary at the PNP Multi-Purpose Center in Camp Crame, Quezon City on Friday. The forerunners of the Philippine National Police were the Insular Constabulary, established in 1901, and the Integrated National Police, organized in 1975. Malacañang Photo Bureau

Pork raps vs Honasan, Villanueva, others filed

By Rey E. Requejo, Rio N. Araja and Maricel V. Cruz THE National Bureau of Investigation has recommended the filing of charges against opposition Senator Gregorio Honasan

and administration ally and TESDA chief Joel Villanueva, and asked the Ombudsman to conduct a preliminary investigation into allegations that they benefitted from the diversion of their pork barrel funds.

In an executive summary released by the Justice Department, the NBI said there is sufficient basis to refer the allegations of malversation, direct bribery and graft and corrupt practices against Honasan; Vil-

lanueva of the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority; Manila 5th District Rep. Amado Bagatsing; former congressman Conrado Estrealla III of Pangasinan; former Next page

‘Mar in for tough fight without Grace Poe’

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Awarding of medals to 2 SAF men stalled

By Sandy Araneta and Francisco Tuyay

TWO Special Action Force (SAF) officers who participated in the covert Maguindanao operation in which 44 police commandos were killed were not awarded their medals as originally planned during the ceremonies marking the 114thanniversary of the Philippine National Police Friday.

PO2 Romeo Cempron, who died in the operation, was supposed to receive the Medalya ng Kagitingan, equivalent to Medal of Valor, the highest award for police and military personnel; while Supt. Raymund Train, who survived Mamasapano, was supposed to receive the Distinguished Conduct Medal, but their names were removed from the roster of awardees at the last minute.

The Palace denied reports that President Benigno Aquino III, who

had failed to honor the fallen SAF commandos in his final State-of-theNation Address, had anything to do with the incident.

“The Office of the President has no participation in the selection of police officers and individuals that were given recognition in connection with the 114th anniversary of the Philippine National Police (PNP),” said Communications Secretar Herminio Coloma Jr. “According to the PNP, the evaluation process for the proposed

giving of the Medal of Valor, which is ‘the highest award that can be bestowed to any member of the PNP and the Armed Force of the Philippines, requires a lengthy process and a thorough evaluation, for which reason the review could not be completed on time despite our best efforts’,” Coloma added.

The last-minute removal of the two SAF commandos from the roster of medal awardees caused dismay among middle-grade and senior police officers.

Cempron’s award was reportedly contained in a PNP Promotion Awards and Decoration Board resolution, while Train was listed in a separate memo.

It was still unclear why their names were removed at the last minute.

Earlier, reports said that Cempron’s widow, Christine, had been informed last week that her husband would be honored by President Aquino during PNP Day. The PNP reportedly shouldered the travel expenses for Christine and her family from Leyte to include hotel accommodations during their stay in Manila.

“It was really disappointing for them. They’ve prepared already. They were even excited to attend the ceremony,” one officer said.

Four other SAF personnel were on tap for Medals Of Valor--Senior Inspectors Gednat Tabdi and John Garry Erana (both killed in action) and SPO4 Bill Fernando Jumalon and PO2 Christopher Lalan.

Bay breeze. Strong winds break the umbrella of a young lass as she strolls along Manila’s Baywalk after class.

Typhoon’Hanna’ (Soudelor) continued to move closer toward the Batanes-Taiwan area and would enhance the southwest monsoon or habagat further. EY ACASIO

Conspiracy

It said the land works “have eroded trust and confidence, increased tensions and may underFrom A1... mine peace, security and stability ASEAN foreign ministers in the South China Sea,” without meeting in Kuala Lumpur said specifically singling out Beijing.

The communique was hashed Thursday that land reclamation in the South China Sea has in- out after two days of wrangling over how hard to pressure Chicreased tensions in the region.

The declaration, contained na on its controversial drive in a final communique, fol- to expand tiny reefs and build lowed a warning by Kerry that military posts in the disputed Washington would not tolerate waters.

The issue took center stage at any restrictions on freedom of navigation in the strategically the series of diplomatic meetings this week in Kuala Lumimportant waters.

The Southeast Asian ministers’ pur, hosted by the 10-nation joint final statement noted “the ASEAN. They also included envoys serious concerns expressed by some ministers on the land recla- from two dozen other nations mations in the South China Sea.” such as China and the United

States.

Beijing claims control over nearly the entire South China Sea, a key shipping route thought to hold rich oil and gas reserves.

Vietnam, the Philippines, Malaysia and Brunei -- all ASEAN members -- also have various claims, as does Taiwan, many of which overlap.

Even before the land reclamations, China had sparked rising unease over the years with actions interpreted as seeking to shore up its disputed claims, in violation of a pledge not to upset the status quo.

A day after voicing concern to his Chinese counterpart Wang Yi over the potential “militari-

sation” of the South China Sea, Kerry said freedom of navigation must be maintained.

“Let me be clear: The United States will not accept restrictions on freedom of navigation and overflight, or other lawful uses of the sea,” he told reporters.

Diplomatic sources said the Philippines and Vietnam — which have been in the most direct confrontation with China had called for strong language.

But they said there had been pushback from Beijing’s traditional allies among the association. Cambodia, Laos and Myanmar traditionally side with China within ASEAN. – With Sandy Araneta

and AFP

Pork From A1... party-list congressman Robert Raymund Estrella (Abono); former congressman Manuel Ortega of La Union; 1st District of La Union Rep. Victor Francisco Ortega; former congressman Isidro Real, Jr. of Zamboanga del Sur;, and Cagayan de Oro City Rep. Rufus Rodriguez.

The NBI’s complaint said the incumbent and former lawmakers violated Section 3 of the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act by getting kickbacks from their Priority Development Assistance Fund (PDAF) or pork barrel funds by supporting ghost projects set up by non-government organizations created by alleged pork barrel scam mastermind Janet Lim Napoles.

The NBI said the lawmakers and their alleged commissions—or kickbacks— were: Honasan, P1.75 million; Manuel Ortega, P14.35 million; Victor Francisco Orgeta, P9.58 million; Estrella III, P45 million; his brother Robert, P22.67 million; Bagatsing, P600,000; Real, P3.25 million; Rodriguez, P2.099 million; and Villanueva, P2.33 million.

“The NBI recommends to the Office of the Ombudsman that the respondents named in the transmittal letter-complaints be subjected to further fact-finding investigation or the corresponding preliminary investigation for the eventual filing of the corresponding charges before the Sandiganbayan,” the NBI said.

“After the fact-finding investigation, the Ombudsman will either proceed with the preliminary investigation or decide to dismiss the complaints if it finds the NBI and its own investigation insufficient to establish probable cause against the respondents,” it added.

The bureau noted that the respondent lawmakers -- Estrella III, Bagatsing, Rodriguez, Ortega and Villanueva -- all requested the NBI-Questioned Documents Division to examine their alleged signatures in the documents pertaining to the release of their pork barrel funds to Napoles’ NGOs. After examination, the QDD found that in several of the questioned documents, the signatures did not match the lawmakers’ specimen signature, while it was unable to arrive at a finding on the other questioned documents.

Thus, the NBI said the QDD concluded that there were documents where the signatures of the lawmakers were forged.

“However, the findings of the QDD are not conclusive and binding upon the results of this investigation. This will still be subject to the scrutiny of the Sandiganbayan in the event that the Ombudsman decides to file the criminal cases with the said court,” the NBI said.

“In any event, malversation is also committed through negligence, in which case the signatures of the lawmakers are not necessary to prove that they allowed, through their negligence, the misappropriation and misuse of public funds entrusted to them,” it said.

Aside from the lawmakers, the NBI also included Napoles, who has been convicted for serious illegal detention, as one of the respondents in the complaint filed before the Ombudsman.

Also charged were representatives of the lawmakers, Michael Benjamin (Honasan) Anthony Dequina, Valentino Limchu, Manuel Jarmin, Celia Cuasay, Lourd Dexter Manalo, Ronald Casareno, a certain “Irma,” Zenaida Grace-Ducut, Jenny Quero, Ronald Francisco Lim, Maximo Bautista Rodriguez, and Ma. Theresa Defensor-Asuncion.

Also charged were heads of agencies, including Alan Javellana, former president of the National Agribusiness Corp. (Nabcor); Gondelina Amata, president of the National Livelihood Development Corp; Antonio Ortiz, former director general of the Technology Resource Center; Dennis Cunanan, former deputy director general (and now director general) of TRC; Mylene Encarnacion of Countrywide Agri and Rural Economic and Development Foundation Inc.; and Evelyn Ditchon-De Leon of the Philippine Social Development Foundation Inc., who are both presidents of Napoles NGOs.

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Drilon says Roxas sans Poe iffy SENATE President Franklin Drilon on Friday could not say if Interior Secretary Manuel Roxas II, the Liberal Party’s standard bearer, could win the presidency in the May 2016 elections without Senator Grace Poe.

Pork papers. Employees and officials of the National Bureau of Investigation unload evidence Friday to back up the charges

filed by the Ombudsman before the Sandiganbayan against the so-called third batch of pork barrel suspects. MANNY PALMERO

Prove sincerity by passing 3 bills, bets dared

By Macon Araneta SENATOR Miriam Defensor-Santiago on Friday challenged those who have declared their intention to run for President in 2016 to push for the passage of what she called “sincerity bills.”

She said the sincerity bills were the Anti-Political Dynasty Bill, the Anti-Premature Campaigning Bill, and the Anti-Epal Bill.

She said voters should ask the presidential candidates their stand on these three pending measures.

She said none of these bills had been identified as priority measures in the 3rd regular session of the present Congress not even the Anti-Political Dynasty Bill, which President Aquino mentioned during his last

State-of-the-Nation Address in July.

Santiago said self-interest would ensure that the politicians who would be adversely affected by any of these laws will actively campaign against it.

“But if these early presidential contenders mean what they say in media, they must lobby for these bills,” said Santiago who might run for President with her cancer in check.

Santiago’s name has been floated as among the running mate of Vice President Jejomar Binay, the first to declare that he is running for President in next year’s elections.

Arveen Patria, Santiago’s media relations officer, quoted the senator as saying “we will not comment on that.”

Santiago has constantly asked her colleagues to act on the three measures, which have been languishing at the committee level since they were filed.

She has two versions of the Anti-Political Dynasty Bill in the 16th Congress: Senate Bill 55, filed in July 2013, and SB 1580, which expands the prohibition up to the national level, filed in September 2013.

If approved, the bills will prohibit relatives within the 2nd civil degree of consanguinity or affinity from running for public office at the same time within the same province, city or municipality, or from occupying at the same time national positions such as those in the House of Representatives and the Senate.

“The Constitution regards

political dynasties as evil, but the battle against such evil must now be led by the Congress, many of whose members suffer from a conflict of interest on the subject of political dynasties,” Santiago said.

She also filed SB 2445, or the Anti-Premature Campaigning Bill, in November 2014. This would prohibit candidates and even prospective candidates from campaigning or doing partisan activities a year before the elections.

“The prohibition against premature campaigning will level the playing field for candidates to equalize the situation between the popular or rich candidate, on one hand, and the lesser-known or poorer candidates on the other,” Santiago said.

The ruling LP has been wooing Poe, the perceived front runner in next year’s presidential race, to be Roxas’ running mate.

Roxas has also invited Poe to be his vice president on national television and told her he wanted her to join him in continuing President Benigno Aquino III’s “Daang Matuwid” program.

But Drilon said Roxas would be amassing votes without Poe. “Mar will build up his strength as a presidential candidate,” Drilon said.

He made his statement even as Aquino on Friday praised Roxas for providing exemplary leadership to the Interior Department.

Aquino continued his praise for Roxas a week after he endorsed him as the LP’s standard bearer.

Aquino, in his speech during the 114th Police Service Anniversary rites of the Philippine National Police in Camp Crame, said Roxas provided “exemplary leadership” to the DILG. “We thank Secretary Mar Roxas for his exemplary

leadership in the DILG,” Aquino said.

Political observers believe Poe will increase Roxas’ chances of winning the presidential elections.

Drilon said he supported the “Mar-Grace” tandem, and that Poe had been an ally of the administration.

“She has been supportive of the administration in the Senate, and yes, we would like Grace Poe to be nominated as the running mate of Mar,” Drilon said Poe, an independent candidate, was an adopted candidate of the President’s Team Pnoy in the last elections.

Drilon likewise said they fould in Grace Poe somebody who could support the reforms that the Aquino administration had been pushing and which they wished to continue in the next administration.

But Poe has maintained she has not yet made a decision if she would run for a higher position next year or stay on in her job as senator until 2019. Macon Ramos-

Araneta and Sandy Araneta

Marcos: Substitute BBL to ease transition SENATOR Senator Ferdinand Marcos Jr. said Wednesday his proposed substitute bill on the Bangsamoro Basic Law will ensure a smooth transition from the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao to the proposed Bangsamoro government even if the bill was not approved by October this year.

Marcos, chairman of the Committee on Local Government tasked to deliberate on the BBL, said earlier he would file the committee report on the substitute BBL on Monday but stressed he

could not predict how long it would take the Senate to approve the measure.

“Once it is out of my committee it is out of my control,” Marcos said in a statement.

“It is up to the Senate, up to the House and the bicam [bicameral conference committee]. I will not make promises I cannot fulfill or have no right to make.”

If the BBL is not approved in time for the filing of certificates of candidacy on Oct. 12 to 16 this year, the ARRM elections will be held alongside the May 9, 2016 national and local elections.

“Kung wala pang BBL, magpapa file ang members of the assembly to run again for the ARMM assembly because the Bangsamoro government does not exist by then,” Marcos said.

He said the situation would become complicated if the BBL was approved after the ARMM elections were held, or when the official campaign period for ARMM had started, since the BBL called for the abolition of the ARMM. “Once the BBL is enacted into law, ARMM will be abolished and the Bangsam-

oro government will then sit in the form of a transition authority. Isinama na namin sa transition authority ang mga elected ARMM assemblymen so the phase out of ARMM is not too sudden,” Marcos said.

Likewise, Marcos said, he could not guarantee the enactment of BBL within the term of the current administration. He noted that legislative deliberations were unpredictable, and that several groups had vowed to challenge the measure before the Supreme Court once it became law.

Idol in town. Filipino singer and American Idol finalist Jessica Sanchez arrives Friday at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport from Los Angeles. Sanchez will perform in a concert at the City of Dreams casino on August 9. RUDY C. SANTOS

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UP exec: Students can stay elsewhere

By Rio N. Araja

Homeless scholars. Students of the University of the Philippines in Diliman protest the slow action action on their housing needs even as they blamed the commercialization of education as the main cause of the problem. MANNY PALMERO

Inquiry on LGU hospitals pushed

By Maricel V. Cruz A HOUSE leader on Friday pushed for a congressional probe inquiry into the status of provincial hospitals, which were placed under the management of the Local Government Units (LGUs).

In House Resolution 2030, Nueva Vizcaya Rep. Carlos Padilla said Congress should determine if the law devolving the public hospital to the LGUs has been effective.

“Congress should conduct an oversight function to determine if the decision to devolve the health care system to local

government units is the right decision,” Padilla said.

In 1991, Republic Act 7160, or the Local Government Code, devolved the support and supervision of hospitals from the national government to LGUs. Padilla said there are reports that the quality of health services has slowly worsened despite the devolution of the healthcare system to the LGUs. “Congress should look into the result of such management in order to evaluate the needs and requirements for a more efficient operational control and more effective delivery of services,” Padilla, a House deputy speaker, said.

Some lawmakers have urged Congress to enact a law mandating the Department of Health (DOH) to take over the operation of

provincial hospitals.

Reports said the LGUs do not have enough funds to bear the financial costs of maintaining and operating hospitals and providing salaries and benefits.

The devolution was based on the assumption that the LGUs would know where the need for such services is necessary and would be able to prioritize such needs but after several years of implementation.

However, studies shows that the quality of health services has slowly decayed in the provinces.

The Philippine Medical Association said there is a need to bring back the supervision of local medical facilities to the national government because local government units failed to adequately provide quality health services to the people.

STUDENTS of the University of the Philippines in Diliman, Quezon City complaining that they cannot be accomodated at university dormitories can be accommodated at the Protestant Church and Church of the Risen Lord, UP Diliman Chancellor Michael Tan said on Friday.

“The university is ready to accommodate them at the Protestant Church and Church of the Risen Lord inside the UP campus as well as with the alumni who are willing to billet them,” Tan said in a television interview in an apparent bid to appease complaining students.

But about 300 affected students, mostly freshmen, rejected Tan’s offer and appealed that they be admitted to the dormitories in the university.

Arvin Sicat, a second year Broadcast Communication student, was one of those who have been waiting for the decision of the university’s dormitory oversight and admissions committee for admission.

The DOAC was supposed to announce its action on pending appeals on July 31, but at least 186 appeals have yet to be processed, rendering students “homeless.”

The Student Alliance for the Advancement of Democratic Rights in UP, Office of the Student Regent and other mass organizations protested the school management’s failure and negligence to provide students with affordable housing.

Mench Tilendo, STAND UP chairperson, complained that they are even forced to stay in semiprivate dormitories amounting to P3,000 per person.

“The university administration is insensitive to the plight of the students. Instead of providing adequate, accessible, quality and affordable UP dormitories and housing, the UP administration makes milking cow out of students,” she pointed out.

Better reading eyed READING proficiency has been one of the low points in the Philippine educational system based on the recent results of the National Achievement Test.

The results showed that mastery of reading is only 14.4 percent among grade 6 students and only 1.1 percent among fourth year students.

To help address improve reading proficiency as well instill the love for reading among grade school students, SM Supermalls recently conducted the National Children’s Book Reading Day at all of its malls all over the country.

The National Children’s Book Reading Day is conducted every year in the month of July in partnership with the National Book Development Board, Calidad Humana, Vibal and the Department of Education. It was held across all the 52 SM Supermalls and 4 SMDC Malls in the Philippines plus the 7 SM Malls in China.

Kicking off the event was the reading session at the SM Megamall where

hundreds of grade school students from public and private schools attended.

Mandaluyong City Councilor Charisse Marie Abalos and magician Jervey Capili or more popularly known as “Flooch” read children’s books authored by Filipino authors that teach kids the value of friends and playing outdoors.

Across SM Supermalls nationwide, thousands of children simultaneously read children’s books from Vibal Publishing Inc., its partner in the book reading day.

Royston Cabuñag, Head of the SM Cares Program on Children and Youth, said the National Book Reading Day event is SM’s way of helping shape future leaders who will make a difference in the country’s future.

He noted that the advocacy for reading is always part of their commitment to cultivate not just the love for reading but actually nurture the love for reading among our children.

Waterless. A young boy helps fetch water for his family from a public faucer in Manila’s Tondo district after rotating water service interruptions due to a realignment of water mains.

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House to get new CCTV

By Christine F. Herrera ALARMED by the weak security and protection standing for lawmakers, the House is set to acquire 300 new state-ofthe-art CCTV cameras worth P48 million after the House panel found that only 13 of the existing 269 CCTV cameras are now left running to secure the entire House premises, Brig.

Gen. Nicasio Radovan Jr., House Sergeant-at-Arms said Friday.

The sorry state of the CCTV cameras was discovered during the investigation by the House committee on good government and public accountability on the alleged bribery and payoff of lawmakers for the swift passage of the controversial Bangsamoro Basic Law in exchange for the release of Chinese fugitive Wang Bo. Radovan’s revelation was made after Leyte Rep. Ferdinand Martin Romualdez, leader of the House Independent Minority Bloc and his fellow member Abakada Rep. Jonathan dela Cruz compelled the panel to produce the CCTV footages that would have shown the unloading of money allegedly Tausug cuisine. Tausug tribeswomen showcase their authentic cuisine during a food festival inside the compund of the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao in Cotabato City. OMAR MANGORSI used to bribe the lawmakers to approve the BBL. In his testimony last Tuesday before the panel, chaired by Pampanga Rep. Oscar Rodriguez, Radovan said the CCTV system was “self-limiting.”

“The old system is self-limiting and has automatic override system that deletes in the area to sustain themselves. legitimate source of income, which they

By Macon Ramos-Araneta everything after five days so we could no In an interview, leaders of the conduct near the heaps of garbage. longer retrieve the footages when it comes THE urban poor of the Smokey Mountain 3,500-strong Samahan Para sa They said they were also surprised to Development and Reclamation Project Pagpapabuti ng Paninirahan sa Paradise learn that the said area is now up for sale to the questioned dates May 25, 26 and 27,” (SMDRP) in Tondo, Manila, urged the Height said they are calling on the Senate through a public auction by HGC which also Radovan told the panel. “The system has no Senate to investigate the impending sale and Ejercito to probe the bidding of the filed a complaint for ejection against them. capacity to store data and recording after of the Smokey Mountain dumpsite earlier Smokey Mountain dumpsite, common Also included in the sale is the road in the five days. The recordings get taped over.”

Retired police general-turned Pangasinan earmarked for their livelihood project. areas and roads in their area by the Home Smokey Mountain being used by the public. Rep. Leopoldo Bataoil said Radovan’s report They appealed to Senator JV Ejercito, Guaranty Corporation (HGC), which was Nenita Santiago, a leader of the urban was “very revealing.” chairman of the Senate committee in violation of the earlier agreement to group, said last July 27, 2015, Manila “We should have the best equipment and on urban development, housing and earmark some of these properties for their RTC Judge Jansen Rodriguez of Branch security,” Bataoil said. resettlement, to intervene in their livelihood support.

6 issued a 20-day TRO to stop HGC from AVE Rep. Eulogio “Amang” Magsaysay impending eviction due to the planned The SMDRP was a project in the 1990s conducting the bidding of the Smokey expressed dismay and could not believe that sale of common areas and roads in Smokey to alleviate the plight of the people in Mountain dumpsite along Radial Road. the House CCTV cameras were “technically Mountain project. the Smokey Mountain dumpsite by But since the TRO is only for 20 days, backward” as it started using a system In a letter addressed to Ejercito, the giving them housing and livelihood Santiago said they are worried the sale that installed VHS tapes in 2007 and was beneficiaries of the SMDRP appealed opportunities. will push through after its lapse if HGC upgraded only in 2010 using a DVR system. for help, saying the development in the The beneficiaries expressed fear the gets a favorable decision. They are also Radovan said the new system, consisting dumpsite will deprive them of their source proposed development for commercial asking the judge to issue a preliminary of 300 cameras, would be digital and will be of livelihood. They have set up small stores and industrial purposes will affect their injunction. acquired for P48 million.

Urban poor seek Senate aid

New bus franchises hit

By Maricel V. Cruz CONGRESSMEN expressed concern over the undetermined number of bus franchises that were allegedly granted by Land Transportation and Franchising Regulatory Board chairman Winston Ginez to a favored bus company without compliance with its rules and rationalization policy.

At a hearing conducted by the House special committee on Metro Manila Development, Abakada party-list Rep. Jonathan dela Cruz echoed the appeal of Quezon City board member Ariel Inton asking Ginez to recall the franchises granted to Pangasinan Solid North Transit, Inc. (PSNTI) on April 16, 2015.

De la Cruz referred to the letter of Inton submitted to the panel, chaired by Quezon City Rep. Winston Castelo and dated June 25, 2015.

In the letter, de la Cruz said Ginez was asked to explain the reason behind his move to release the decisiob of the LTFRB without asking PSNTI to comply first with a number of requirements including the compliance to the rationalization policy, securing the approval of the local

government units of its application for new routes and the establishment of bus terminals in all its stops before being granted the franchises.

Dela Cruz walked out of the hearing, saying it was not worth listening to Ginez because “he lied to this committee many times before. I will not hear more of his lies.”

Likewise, Angkla Partylist Rep. Jess Manalo hit LTFRB officials for not communicating with each other resulting in more serious problems.

During the hearing, it was learned that Ginez and the two other board members, llawyers Ariel Inton and Ronaldo Corpus, had communication lapses.

Also present during the hearing was Nida Quibic, the chief of the releasing section of the LTFRB, where she admitted before the House panel that Ginez ordered her to release all the franchises of all bus firms including the still undetermined number of franchises to PSNTI. Quibic told the House panel the action of Ginez ordering her to release all franchises is unprecedented and irregular, saying “the order coming from the Chairman to release (the franchises) never happened before.”

Contraband sugar. Customs Deputy Commissioner Jesse Dellosa inspects a van containing P22.5 million worth of sugar imported from Thailand. DANNY PATA

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Bishop exposes hiding of refugees

By Sara Susanne D. Fabunan

A BISHOP cried foul over the reported hiding of refugees in Zamboanga City just before the visit of a top official from the United Nations.

Catholic Archbishop Rolando Tirona, who heads the church’s justice and peace ministry, lamented that the government’s action was already “making fun of the poor.”

“We should be truthful. We should face the truth and help these people instead of pretending because it’s totally wrong,” Tirona said.

Human Rights Watch said the government removed hundreds of internal displaced persons still housed at the Joaquin Enriquez Memorial Sports Complex prior to the visit of Chaloka Beyani, the UN Special rapporteur on human rights of IDPs. The sports complex served as the biggest evacuation center for thousands of families displaced by the 21-day fighting between the government forces and Moro National Liberation Front rebels in September 2013.

The global human rights watchdog said the siege displaced more than 120,000 people, with many being relocated to sites where basic services such as water “are lacking or nonexistent.”

Many IDPs were also opposing the government’s relocation site because it is far away from their places of work.

Most of the refugees were native Badjao who largely depend on fishing for their daily sustenance.

The rights group said that four days before Beyani’s visit, the government “removed” all the IDPs from the complex, citing a need to repair the facility to relocation centers.

At play. A boy helps fetch water at a public faucet along Manila’s Tondo district. EY ACASIO

Customs seizes more than P50 million worth of smuggled goods

By Vito Barcelo

THE Bureau of Customs seized several shipments of imported sugar, firecrackers, and fake branded apparel worth more than P50 million at the Manila International Container Port.

Confiscated were 15 container vans of imported sugar with an estimated value of around P22.5 million consigned to Blue Chelsea Enterprises, BOC intelligence chief Jessie Dellosa said.

“The shipment contained approximately 9,000 sacks of refined Thai sugar which arrived at the MICP from China last June18,” he said.

“Only last month, 24 container vans of smuggled sugar majority of which were consigned to Blue Chelsea declared as housewares and kitchenwares. Another15 containers filled with sugar is consigned to the same consignee. Just like the initial shipment of smuggled sugar, the shipment were also declared as kitchenwares and housewares like plastic cups, plastic bottles, kettles, gloves,

chopping boards, plastic tables, and mops, among others,” Dellosa said.

“We are investigating this matter very seriously, why there have been a spike of sugar smuggling in the recent months.. Rest assured that we will not let-up on our drive to go after these smugglers,” Dellosa said.

On the other hand, the shipment of firecrackers and pyrotechnics consigned to Stellent Corporation arrived from China with estimated value of P24 million.

The contraband marked as “made in Bulacan” was seized in violation of the Tariff and Customs Code of the Philippines which prohibits the entry of firecrackers and other pyrotechnics without import permits from the Firearms and Explosives Division of the Philippine National Police.

The importer, Stellent Corporation, is already facing two smuggling related-charges filed by the BOC last January and March for the illegal importation of steel products.

Stellent’s accreditation was already cancelled by the bureau.

Crossing. The Ayala Technohub footbridge along Commonwealth Avenue in Quezon City has closed-circuit television cameras. MANNY PALMERO

Pop singer’s promoter denies defrauding Iglesia ni Cristo POP star Chris Brown’s promoter has denied defrauding an influential Philippine religious sect in a case that almost derailed his world tour, lawyers for the American hip-hop star’s business partner said Friday.

Brown was left cooling his heels at a hotel room in Manila for three days last month as the immigration bureau stopped him leaving the country over a concert row with the Iglesia ni Cristo.

The Canadian promoter, Michael Pio Roda, was arrested. He denies he and Brown received $1 million for a December 31 concert hosted by the sect last year in which the Brown was a no-show, his lawyers said in a statement to AFP. “To hold Mr. Pio Roda accountable for the entire one million dollars... is not only without legal or factual basis but is a travesty of justice and a continued violation of human rights,” it added.

Iglesia-linked local concert produc-

ers Maligaya Development Corp. have asked the justice department to file criminal fraud charges against Brown and Roda for failing to show up at the concert even though they had been advanced their million-dollar fee.

Philippine prosecutors are studying the fraud complaint to determine whether criminal charges would be filed in court.

Brown did not attend the show due to a lost passport.

Brown performed at another concert in Manila last month, but was stranded in his hotel due to the fraud complaint.

He lit up the Internet during his forced stay in Manila, posting bizarre videos where he break-danced and got down on his knees, begging the authorities to allow him to leave and resume his world tour.

Despite eventually being allowed to leave the country, the fraud complaint hearings against the hitmaker

will proceed, authorities said.

A spokesman for the Iglesia was unavailable on his mobile phone Friday, while a Maligaya official declined comment when contacted by AFP. His lawyers said Roda received just $45,000 from Maligaya.

He and Brown received another $578,750 in advance from another company involved in Brown’s show, J. Williams Management, the statement said. AFP

S AT U R D AY : A U G U S T 8 , 2 0 1 5

A7

NEWS

editorial@thestandard.com.ph

Education. An Aeta

child learns to write at her school in Sapang Uwak. AFP

Aetas: Beggars in their own land PHILIPPINE bush man Edward Serrano struck two rocks together and wrapped the faint spark in wood shavings, building a fire in much the same way Stone Age man must have done two million years ago.

The short, Afro-ed jungle survival instructor is an Aeta, from one of the most unique ethnolinguistic peoples of the Philippines, who are also the archipelago’s first known inhabitants.

But after hunting and gathering for most of the past 40,000 years, their bushcraft is nearly forgotten, many of their languages are all but extinct, and their way of life is swiftly dying out.

Rapid urbanization has turned tiny Aeta forest settlements into virtual islands, their nomadic lifestyle shut down as the deer, warthog and jungle fowl they hunt for

food are extirpated.

“We can no longer do many of the things that our ancestors took for granted,” said Serrano, a high-school dropout who teaches soldiers and police how to make fire without matches or lighters.

He teaches them where look for water, should they get lost in the jungle, and which leaves, fruits and seeds are safe to eat—skills learnt from his father.

Sapang Uwak, which means Crow Creek, his sun-baked village in the foothills of the Pinatubo volcano about two hours’ drive from Manila, show-

cases both the old way of life—and the disruption of the new.

Languid water buffaloes pull carts filled with bananas and taro along dirt roads, parched river beds and forests that the community of 1,700 people claim as their ancestral domain.

But to leave their village to take their produce to market or find work as farmhands or construction workers, they have to pass through a giant private entertainment park.

‘Aliens in our own land’ A 1997 law recognised the rights of some 15 million ethnic minorities to their ancestral lands, and Sapang Uwak and nearby Aeta settlements have filed claims on a combined 17,000 hectares (42,000 acres).

However, the government has yet to define the boundaries of many areas, fuelling fears of encroachment by

private developers, said Roman King, leader of an association of Aeta communities.

“We were the first peoples of the Philippines, but now we are aliens in our own country,” said King, a retired policeman from the nearby settlement of Inararo.

“If we lose our lands we have nowhere else to go...

You’ll see more of us begging in the streets,” he said.

Most of the Philippines’ estimated seven million Aetas live in tiny, isolated communities, engaged in slash-and-burn farming— clearing forests for fields —moving with the seasons and with limited contact with the outside world.

Aside from Sapang Uwak, three other Pinatubo Aeta communities have won titles to 39,000 hectares, giving the families steady cash from land leased to quarries, golf courses, and

tourist resorts.

But it is a cumbersome process and typically takes years to complete, said Jonathan Adaci, director of the ancestral domains office at the National Commission on Indigenous Peoples.

A mere 180 titles have been handed out nationwide, with some five million other claims still being processed, Adaci said.

By law ancestral domains cannot be bought nor sold, but this has not stopped outsiders from mysteriously obtaining titles.

“At times there are some powerful people in government involved,” he told AFP, declining to give names.

Unscrupulous people talk uneducated Aetas into parting with their land inheritance for a pittance, said Cynthia Zayas, a University of the Philippinesanthropologist.

“Private developers are eating up their land. The way it’s turning out, they could become squatters in their own land,” Zayas added.

The Aetas of Sapang Uwak are dismayed at the delays, but feel helpless, said survival instructor Serrano, a father of seven in his late 30s.

“We’ve been pushed out in the past. We do not want that to happen to us again,” he told AFP. Philippine minorities have been progressively elbowed out since the late 16th century as first Spain and later the United States colonized the islands, introducing the concept of property titles, Zayas said.

“They never fight back...

The Aeta will just run to the mountains. They’re a passive people and they don’t like violence,” she added. AFP

‘Disaster preparedness must be part of routine’

Heritage. Kibungan rice terraces are irrigated by the annual rainfall. DAVID CHAN

LEGAZPI CITY—Albayanos now regard disaster preparation as part of their daily routine, “just like taking a bath.”

Albay Gov. Joey Salceda said the government needs to raise its standards of preparation and mitigation initiatives on climate change and disasters.

The United Nations has declared the governor Senior Global Champion and spokesman for climate change adaptation and disaster risk reduction.

According to the governor, both the evacuation routes and evacuation centers should be safe because in times of earthquakes, a large number of people have to be moved swiftly.

Disaster preparations are founded on capacity building for all elements of the community—from its smallest unit, the family; to the state of mind

of the entire community itself; the schools, most particularly, the emergency relief, food, health provisions and sanitation, to long term infrastructure planning and execution, the governor explained.

Authorities said a possible 7.2 magnitude quake that could strike Metro Manila in the near future, which could result in some 33,000 fatalities. Officials said evacuation camps have already been identified. Regular emergency drills are now being undertaken. A nationwide earthquake drill has also been set on July 30.

“I don’t see safe routes in Metro Manila. For one, if an earthquake strikes where will you pass? And you must also build evacuation centers, not just put people in a golf course,” Salceda said.

Albay, one of the most disaster-prone areas in the country, is also UN’s Global

Model for CCA-DRR. Its pioneering programs and campaign in these concerns have earned it awards and recognitions from both national and international institutions.

Among such honors are three Gawad Kalasag Awards and a Hall of Fame niche from the National Disaster and Risk Reduction Management Council.

Albay has invested substantially in strengthening infrastructures to prevent or mitigate damage when calamity strikes. Its multi-billion peso Albay GUICADALE (Guinobatan-CamaligDaraga-Legazpi) Economic Township program was initially a geostatic intervention to move people from risk areas in the province to safer grounds, but is now fast shaping up as an economic development platform to transform its 64,000-hectare area into a sprawling business boom center.

S AT U R D AY : A U G U S T 8 , 2 0 1 5

A8

OPINION

ADELLE CHUA EDITOR

lettertotheeditor@thestandard.com.ph

OPINION

POWER POINT ELIZABETH ANGSIOCO

MAR IN A BIND

[ EDI TORI A L ]

RAINBOW YOU know elections are coming when two spokesmen from opposing camps speak in gay language believing it endears them to the people, and when a coliseum is filled with LGBTQ and advocates which a presidential candidate and his wife also happened to attend.

The exchange began after the “True State of the Nation Address”—TSONA— of Vice President Jejomar Binay who had resigned from the Aquino Cabinet a few weeks ago.

Binay had attacked the administration again for being incompetent and insensitive, and claimed to touch on the issues neglected or glossed over during President Aquino’s own State-of-the-Nation Address in July 27.

Presidential spokesman Edwin Lacierda described Binay’s address as “charot”— roughly, cheap, shallow, and not to be taken seriously.

A day later, Binay’s own spokesman posted this on Facebook: “Imbey ang fez ni Secretarush dahil trulalu ang spluk ni VP. Pero ang Sona ng pangulo, chaka ever sa madlang pipol dahil hindi trulalu.”

Salgado basically meant that Lacierda was just irritated because Binay spoke the truth and that by contrast, Aquino’s own speech was unpleasant for the people because it was not true.

It did not end there. Salgado told Lacierda to “chill” and stop drinking coffee because the mere mention of Binay’s name made his blood pressure rise. The Palace spokesman retorted that Salgado should get his trivia straight because he did not drink coffee— just Coke Zero.

It’s amusing at first but if we wonder why this country has not taken off, the answer is right there: in the mouths of the people supposed to speak for the top officials of the land.

This is not to disparage gayspeak as shallow. This is to attack how the level of discourse of our officials has sunk so low as to ride on whatever seems to be “in.” And it’s not even October yet.

This week, too, we saw a gathering of lesbians, gays, bisexuals, transgenders and queers at the Smart Araneta Coliseum in what turned out to be a political event. #KeriBeks was well attended but some LGBTQ advocates have warned gays against allowing themselves to be used to further others’ agenda. “The gays, the former outcasts, are the new political pawns,” said Shakira Sison in an essay in the online news site Rappler.

Judging from the social media reactions and debates spurred by the United States Supreme Court decision allowing same-sex marriage in all states among Filipinos, it is not far-fetched that political spin doctors have divined that getting on their good side is much like going around provinces, shaking hands and kissing babies.

But even this is trivializing the advocacy of the LGBTQ community that is fighting discrimination in many places aside from battling acceptance issues in their own families and communities.

Gayspeak and showing off rainbow stripes means nothing when it does not translate to more options and better lives for Filipinos—of whatever orientation.

CHINA DRIVING NATIONS INTO ALLIANCES BACK CHANNEL ALEJANDRO DEL ROSARIO WITH each of their own vested interests, the Association of Southeast Asian Nations cannot be relied on by the Philippines in its territorial sea dispute with an emerging China.

Asean members Malaysia, Singapore, Myanmar, Thailand,

Cambodia, Vietnam and Laos have long historical and trade ties with China. This is the underlying reason why Asean cannot issue a joint statement to condemn China’s aggressive action in the South China Sea or even nudge Beijing to adhere to the SCS Code of Conduct of the parties with overlapping claims.

At this week’s Asean security forum of foreign ministers in Kuala Lumpur, some members called on China to stop its land reclamation and island-build-

ing in the South China Sea, alarmed that the Chinese have constructed an airstrip and a naval station for its warships.

Vietnam , because of its claim on the Paracels, joined the Philippines in opposing China.

But Beijing is unfazed by Asean’s strongest yet but scattered statements at the KL forum.

Washington’s stern signals from US President Barack Obama, State department officials and the commander of the US Pacific Fleet warning Beijing not

A9

It may not be a lonely battle for the Philippines, after all.

to use intimidation and force in pushing its claim of nearly the entire South China Sea have not deterred China from its land reclamation and islandbuilding.

“Let me be clear. The United States will not allow any restrictions on the freedom of navigation in international shipping lanes in the South China Sea,” said US Secretary of State John Kerry at the Asean security forum in KL where the US, China, Japan and South Korea were also participants. But Kerry stopped short of saying the US would take military action.

After a year of in-your-face defiance, China claims it has stopped reclamation and island-building close to the West

Philippine Sea. But of course. China can now say it has stopped building because it has completed its strategic land reclamation to mark its illegal maritime boundaries well ahead of any unfavorable ruling by the International Arbitration Court in the Hague where the Philippines has brought the territorial dispute.

Why is China building islands out of the rocks, shoals, reefs in the South China Sea instead of building bridges of friendship to its neighbors? The Chinese garrison on Scarborough

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-

shoal (Pagasa) in the West Philippine Sea is close to 170 nautical miles of Zambales. This latest Chinese provocation prompted the Philippines to revive Subic as a military installation.

With its natural cove, Subic served as a major naval base for the US Seventh Fleet during the Vietnam War until Manila abrogated its bases treaty with Washington on Dec 27, 1991. US warships still make ports of call to Subic and dock there during war exercises by American and Filipino soldiers under the Visiting Forces Agreement.

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

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PPI

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Too much on US plate However, Asean is starting to have serious doubts about the US pivot and rebalancing of American forces to Asia.

With Washington preoccupied in striking a deal with Iran to stop its nuclear arms development, it may have too much on its plate right now. The US is not getting enough help from its allied Arab states in the fight against ISIS. With US presidential elections coming up next year which could have a bearing on Washington’s foreign policy, Continued on A11

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

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

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

IT must be quite difficult to be Mar Roxas these days.

On the one hand, he is now the Liberal Party’s anointed standard bearer for the 2016 elections. The president has made the official announcement. There was really no doubt that Roxas would clinch it especially after PNoy praised him to heavens during the State-of-the-Nation Address.

Here is the guy who gave way so Noynoy Aquino could run in 2010. He waited six long years for his turn to contest the presidency. And it is not in the president’s personality to disregard a loyal friend. No, PNoy would not sideline Roxas again.

And Mar badly needs the administration’s machinery and resources for the campaign. Without these, I doubt very much if he would be able to put up the machinery from local to national. As a Roxas, perhaps he has the financial resources for the campaign BUT is he willing to use his own money especially since his numbers are quite low compared to those of Senator Grace Poe and Vice President Jejomar Binay? Without the president’s endorsement, if Mar still goes ahead and runs, would the financiers gamble on him?

So with the endorsement, Mar has good reason to celebrate.

That is the good news.

On the other hand, the President and LP have bound Roxas as PNoy’s clone.

When during the SONA PNoy absolved Roxas from any responsibility for the MRT mess and squarely put the blame on the private partner of government, the President has actually told Roxas that this is the line you should take when answering this problem. If in case Roxas would want to attack the problem differently, how is he going to do it? The President gave him the line to follow.

Will, or can he deviate from it?

The President and LP are packaging Roxas as the one who will continue this administration’s programs. Paraphrasing what PNoy said, a vote for Mar is a vote for “Matuwid na Daan”. Roxas is supposed to be PNoy II even if some in their ranks have said that he will be a “better and improved” version.

I see this as a problem for Roxas.

One, even for messaging purposes, “Matuwid na Daan” is way over the heads of many of us. It is abstract and too general. It does not really say anything. It is not something that ordinary people can identify with especially at a time when even the president’s friends’ image is significantly diminished because of the big problems we have now.

Continued on A11 Rolando G. Estabillo Jojo A. Robles Ramonchito L. Tomeldan Chin Wong/Ray S. Eñano Francis Lagniton Joyce Pangco Pañares Adelle Chua Romel J. Mendez Roberto Cabrera

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

Emil P. Jurado Chairman Emeritus, Editiorial Board

S AT U R D AY : A U G U S T 8 , 2 0 1 5

A8

OPINION

ADELLE CHUA EDITOR

lettertotheeditor@thestandard.com.ph

OPINION

POWER POINT ELIZABETH ANGSIOCO

MAR IN A BIND

[ EDI TORI A L ]

RAINBOW YOU know elections are coming when two spokesmen from opposing camps speak in gay language believing it endears them to the people, and when a coliseum is filled with LGBTQ and advocates which a presidential candidate and his wife also happened to attend.

The exchange began after the “True State of the Nation Address”—TSONA— of Vice President Jejomar Binay who had resigned from the Aquino Cabinet a few weeks ago.

Binay had attacked the administration again for being incompetent and insensitive, and claimed to touch on the issues neglected or glossed over during President Aquino’s own State-of-the-Nation Address in July 27.

Presidential spokesman Edwin Lacierda described Binay’s address as “charot”— roughly, cheap, shallow, and not to be taken seriously.

A day later, Binay’s own spokesman posted this on Facebook: “Imbey ang fez ni Secretarush dahil trulalu ang spluk ni VP. Pero ang Sona ng pangulo, chaka ever sa madlang pipol dahil hindi trulalu.”

Salgado basically meant that Lacierda was just irritated because Binay spoke the truth and that by contrast, Aquino’s own speech was unpleasant for the people because it was not true.

It did not end there. Salgado told Lacierda to “chill” and stop drinking coffee because the mere mention of Binay’s name made his blood pressure rise. The Palace spokesman retorted that Salgado should get his trivia straight because he did not drink coffee— just Coke Zero.

It’s amusing at first but if we wonder why this country has not taken off, the answer is right there: in the mouths of the people supposed to speak for the top officials of the land.

This is not to disparage gayspeak as shallow. This is to attack how the level of discourse of our officials has sunk so low as to ride on whatever seems to be “in.” And it’s not even October yet.

This week, too, we saw a gathering of lesbians, gays, bisexuals, transgenders and queers at the Smart Araneta Coliseum in what turned out to be a political event. #KeriBeks was well attended but some LGBTQ advocates have warned gays against allowing themselves to be used to further others’ agenda. “The gays, the former outcasts, are the new political pawns,” said Shakira Sison in an essay in the online news site Rappler.

Judging from the social media reactions and debates spurred by the United States Supreme Court decision allowing same-sex marriage in all states among Filipinos, it is not far-fetched that political spin doctors have divined that getting on their good side is much like going around provinces, shaking hands and kissing babies.

But even this is trivializing the advocacy of the LGBTQ community that is fighting discrimination in many places aside from battling acceptance issues in their own families and communities.

Gayspeak and showing off rainbow stripes means nothing when it does not translate to more options and better lives for Filipinos—of whatever orientation.

CHINA DRIVING NATIONS INTO ALLIANCES BACK CHANNEL ALEJANDRO DEL ROSARIO WITH each of their own vested interests, the Association of Southeast Asian Nations cannot be relied on by the Philippines in its territorial sea dispute with an emerging China.

Asean members Malaysia, Singapore, Myanmar, Thailand,

Cambodia, Vietnam and Laos have long historical and trade ties with China. This is the underlying reason why Asean cannot issue a joint statement to condemn China’s aggressive action in the South China Sea or even nudge Beijing to adhere to the SCS Code of Conduct of the parties with overlapping claims.

At this week’s Asean security forum of foreign ministers in Kuala Lumpur, some members called on China to stop its land reclamation and island-build-

ing in the South China Sea, alarmed that the Chinese have constructed an airstrip and a naval station for its warships.

Vietnam , because of its claim on the Paracels, joined the Philippines in opposing China.

But Beijing is unfazed by Asean’s strongest yet but scattered statements at the KL forum.

Washington’s stern signals from US President Barack Obama, State department officials and the commander of the US Pacific Fleet warning Beijing not

A9

It may not be a lonely battle for the Philippines, after all.

to use intimidation and force in pushing its claim of nearly the entire South China Sea have not deterred China from its land reclamation and islandbuilding.

“Let me be clear. The United States will not allow any restrictions on the freedom of navigation in international shipping lanes in the South China Sea,” said US Secretary of State John Kerry at the Asean security forum in KL where the US, China, Japan and South Korea were also participants. But Kerry stopped short of saying the US would take military action.

After a year of in-your-face defiance, China claims it has stopped reclamation and island-building close to the West

Philippine Sea. But of course. China can now say it has stopped building because it has completed its strategic land reclamation to mark its illegal maritime boundaries well ahead of any unfavorable ruling by the International Arbitration Court in the Hague where the Philippines has brought the territorial dispute.

Why is China building islands out of the rocks, shoals, reefs in the South China Sea instead of building bridges of friendship to its neighbors? The Chinese garrison on Scarborough

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-

shoal (Pagasa) in the West Philippine Sea is close to 170 nautical miles of Zambales. This latest Chinese provocation prompted the Philippines to revive Subic as a military installation.

With its natural cove, Subic served as a major naval base for the US Seventh Fleet during the Vietnam War until Manila abrogated its bases treaty with Washington on Dec 27, 1991. US warships still make ports of call to Subic and dock there during war exercises by American and Filipino soldiers under the Visiting Forces Agreement.

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

MST ONLINE

can be accessed at: www.manilastandardtoday.com

MEMBER

PPI

Philippine Press Institute The National Association of Philippine Newspapers

Too much on US plate However, Asean is starting to have serious doubts about the US pivot and rebalancing of American forces to Asia.

With Washington preoccupied in striking a deal with Iran to stop its nuclear arms development, it may have too much on its plate right now. The US is not getting enough help from its allied Arab states in the fight against ISIS. With US presidential elections coming up next year which could have a bearing on Washington’s foreign policy, Continued on A11

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

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

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

IT must be quite difficult to be Mar Roxas these days.

On the one hand, he is now the Liberal Party’s anointed standard bearer for the 2016 elections. The president has made the official announcement. There was really no doubt that Roxas would clinch it especially after PNoy praised him to heavens during the State-of-the-Nation Address.

Here is the guy who gave way so Noynoy Aquino could run in 2010. He waited six long years for his turn to contest the presidency. And it is not in the president’s personality to disregard a loyal friend. No, PNoy would not sideline Roxas again.

And Mar badly needs the administration’s machinery and resources for the campaign. Without these, I doubt very much if he would be able to put up the machinery from local to national. As a Roxas, perhaps he has the financial resources for the campaign BUT is he willing to use his own money especially since his numbers are quite low compared to those of Senator Grace Poe and Vice President Jejomar Binay? Without the president’s endorsement, if Mar still goes ahead and runs, would the financiers gamble on him?

So with the endorsement, Mar has good reason to celebrate.

That is the good news.

On the other hand, the President and LP have bound Roxas as PNoy’s clone.

When during the SONA PNoy absolved Roxas from any responsibility for the MRT mess and squarely put the blame on the private partner of government, the President has actually told Roxas that this is the line you should take when answering this problem. If in case Roxas would want to attack the problem differently, how is he going to do it? The President gave him the line to follow.

Will, or can he deviate from it?

The President and LP are packaging Roxas as the one who will continue this administration’s programs. Paraphrasing what PNoy said, a vote for Mar is a vote for “Matuwid na Daan”. Roxas is supposed to be PNoy II even if some in their ranks have said that he will be a “better and improved” version.

I see this as a problem for Roxas.

One, even for messaging purposes, “Matuwid na Daan” is way over the heads of many of us. It is abstract and too general. It does not really say anything. It is not something that ordinary people can identify with especially at a time when even the president’s friends’ image is significantly diminished because of the big problems we have now.

Continued on A11 Rolando G. Estabillo Jojo A. Robles Ramonchito L. Tomeldan Chin Wong/Ray S. Eñano Francis Lagniton Joyce Pangco Pañares Adelle Chua Romel J. Mendez Roberto Cabrera

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

Emil P. Jurado Chairman Emeritus, Editiorial Board

A10 CLOSING THE DOOR TO NEGOTIATIONS cally, we can also do the same in those islands which we presently occupy, and they can never prevent us from carrying WHEN China expressed out similar undertakings its willingness to enter unless it resorts to war into negotiations with- which many political anaout any pre-condition, lysts believe is unlikely to we should have taken happen.

The US has constructthat unilateral offer as constructive. Maybe it is ed a network of military something that the Chi- installations mostly facnese government cannot ing the China Sea. Addpublicly divulge because ing to this is the decision their formula might not by the Aquino adminisbe acceptable to the Phil- tration to allow the entry ippines to cause instead and participation of the the hardening of one’s Japanese navy in patrolpositions. Nonetheless, ling the area. China has the offer to negotiate on interpreted the entry of a bilateral basis cannot be Japan alongside with the said to be premised on a US as not contributory to take-it-or-leave-it basis the peaceful resolution of because that could now be the dispute. Rather, the interpreted as demand for increased US naval patrol unconditional surrender and the expanded radius for which no state would of the so-called Japan’s be willing to accept. Chi- maritime responsibility is na has already reached the seen by China as a clear stage of political maturity provocation.

The US that peaceand Japan ful negotiahave no ditions is unrect interderstood to ests in the come in on Maybe South China a quid pro the Chinese Sea except quo basis. assure W h a t government can to other counis adding c o m p l i c a - wait for the next tries that it tion for us administration to is there to maintain to reach a come. the so-called peaceful “freedom of dialogue navigation.” was our deNeither can cision to the US and bring along with us a third party the Philippines insist on which has no direct or the observance of a Code identifiable interest in the of Conduct for Navigation area, except to invoke the which has yet to be ratified international law of free- by countries having claims dom of navigation which in the disputed Spratly and it has consistently vio- Parcel Islands. In fact, lated. China has reiter- China has responded to ated that freedom of navi- the increased naval activgation is not an issue or ity of the US and Japan that there is a need for the by announcing they soon Asean to adopt a Code of would be holding naval Conduct for the free and exercise with Russia. Unpeaceful navigation in the like the US, Russia has its own direct interest in the China Sea. One must bear in mind area because of its dispute that those reclamations with Japan over the Kuril being carried by China in Island, and the insult made the disputed islands can- by Prime Minister Shinzo not be said as heightening Abe when he visited Kiev. the tension in the area. China, on the other hand, The disputed territory has its own reason because under international law of their dispute with Jais presumed to be a part pan over the uninhabited of that country’s national islands of Diaoyu or Senterritory for which they kaku islands.

The Aquino governcould do anything like putting up an airstrip, ment failed to analyze communications station, that when he allowed the barracks for its personnel, US to reopen their miliand berthing ground for tary bases, such act is in its naval ships. Equivo- defiance of our Constitu-

BACK­ BENCHER ROD P. KAPUNAN

S AT U R D AY : A U G U S T 8 , 2 0 1 5

OPINION

lettertotheeditor@thestandard.com.ph

EAGLE EYES DEAN TONY LA VIÑA

BIGOTRY BEHIND POE DISQUALIFICATION CASE

LET me be clear that I am not Senator Grace Poe’s lawyer, nor am I formally affiliated with her campaign (if ever that is already being organized).

I feel strongly, however, as a lawyer, as a professor of constitutional law in five universities, and as a human being about the issues involved in the disqualification petition that is being filed against her as a senator.

If you are a parent who cares about vulnerable children, if you are an adopted child or belongs to a family with adoptive children, if you are an overseas Filipino worker or have been part of our diaspora, or have loved ones who are living or have worked and lived aboard, if you are a Filipino Chinese or a Filipino with mixed ancestry whose citizenship and love of country are being questioned -- then you should watch carefully how this case unfolds.

The petition of course has no legal basis. The Senate Electoral Tribunal should immediately dismiss it on both procedural and substantive grounds.

The facts are wrong as we will soon know when Senator Poe presents her defenses. The interpretation of the law is distorted. While some have complained why Poe has not released details, including documents, of her legal defense, this is the right strategy given what was done to her father where documents were falsified when he was unfairly ambushed with a disqualification case in 2004. The

daughter has learned from that unfortunate episode and has long prepared for this case.

On procedural grounds, a quo warranto proceeding under the SET rules must be immediately filed within ten days of the proclamation of the senator. True, there is an exception with respect to issues related to qualifications but that is not applicable here because nothing has changed with respect to the status of Grace Poe since the 2013 elections. If the SET wants to resolve this early, it could dismiss the case simply on this ground alone.

As for the substantive grounds, one must start with the basic rule that a person cannot be stripped of her citizenship without due process of law. The jurisprudence is solid: the one impugning the citizenship of another must prove with strong and indisputable evidence that the person is in fact not a citizen. In the case of Grace Poe, it is not enough to say that she is a foundling or that we do now know her parents but the accuser must prove that Grace Poe’s parents are in fact foreigners and therefore the child is not a citizen. That is an impossible thing to prove here because of the fact that Grace Poe is in fact a foundling. In subsequent columns, I will write about the relevant national and international law that supports the inevitable conclusion that Poe is a natural-born citizen.

For this column,

though, I want to highlight the deeper policy consequences of the issues involved here. The truth is that this petition is an attack directed not just at Grace Poe but at all foundlings, the most vulnerable in society. This petition is akin to salvaging children, sadly supported probably by those motivated only by political gain, by those afraid that Grace Poe would defeat their candidate. It is a misuse of law to thwart the people’s will.

The petition is also directed against OFWs and everyone in our diaspora, asking them to prove their love of country, people who we call “bayani ng bayan.” And yes, even Filipino-Chinese and others with mixed blood should worry because what is being promoted is a closed vision of the Filipino citizen - closed only to those who never left the country, to those who are socalled pure in blood. As I have written before, this is not about Grace Poe but about all of us.

One thing I regret about this petition is that it is filed by a good man, Lito David, whom I voted for in the 2013 elections.

For the record, I have always voted for Kapatiran candidates (except JC de los Reyes as I voted for Gibo Teodoro in 2013) because I support the idea of a political party based on ethical norms. It does come as a surprise to me that a pro-life party would take a policy position that foundlings are stateless, which is tantamount to saying they have no

rights. How can a pro-life party justify being antichildren?

I am surprised with this petition because, aside from its legal infirmities, it is unethical and certainly not noble. It attacks foundlings, adopted children, OFWS and others in our diaspora. Grace Poe can take care of herself but not the millions of others who will become vulnerable from unscrupulous political enemies, business rivals, and even relatives who will reopen questions of status for political and monetary gain. Even Filipino-Chinese and others of mixed blood will be attacked and asked to prove their loyalty to the country. The consequences are terrible if these attacks are legitimated by the Senate Electoral Tribunal and later by the Supreme Court.

The sad part is there is a dark side behind our citizenship laws and it is not about nationalism or love of country. It is about disadvantaging fellow Filipinos for political, business or property gain; indeed, this dark side of our citizenship laws has also been characterized as about corruption and rent-seeking. All of us, regardless of our political inclinations – and especially human and child rights activists, OFW advocates, and those of us who believe that the Philippines must be a plural and inclusive society – should unite against this bigotry.

tion. In fact, many doubt whether the US is working for our interest when it was discovered that its military and civilian personnel were involved during the operations to bag two terrorists hiding in Mamasapano.

The US did not act to secure our security interest but did so because the two terrorists happened to be wanted by the US authorities.

This could be deduced by the fact that the US has not issued a statement condemning the barbaric slaughter of our men or expressed opposition to the proposed Bangsamoro Basic Law to which the majority of our people have expressed their opposition.

For all our crying about China’s reclamation and build up of its military facilities in the occupied islands, we have yet to reconcile ourselves to the truth that their reclamation and construction have been confined mainly to those islands they presently occupy. As disputed islands, there is the presumption that those islands belong to them. It would be a different story if the Chinese navy would forcibly evict us from those islands we occupy. Conversely, we are equally free to build our own faculties, which we already did by building up our own airstrip.

That situation is no different from our decision

to bring our claim over the disputed islands to the Permanent Court of Arbitration Court.

Despite China’s vigorous protestation and declaration not to recognize its jurisdiction, it has not prevented us from taking such action that could lead to confrontation. Secretary Albert del Rosario has a created a dilemma for the country. We cannot hope now to realize our objective by that decision to lodge a complaint against China before the PAC. Perhaps, China may not pressure us to withdraw our case but definitely, it would be far-fetched for us to pursue the peaceful dialogue while a case is pending before it. Our

position has even become an oddity because those highly paid American lawyers hired by our government are the ones arguing for us, and not our citizens doing what they are supposed to do.

Maybe the Chinese government can wait for the next administration to come for us to present a truly constructive formula for a peaceful dialogue. But it would require an extraordinary act of statesmanship to drop our claim which we filed at our own initiative, notwithstanding that any settlement of dispute in the South China Sea could make the US a redundant naval power in the region.

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Continued on A11

S AT U R D AY : A U G U S T 8 , 2 0 1 5

OPINION

ADELLE CHUA EDITOR

lettertotheeditor@thestandard.com.ph

A GREAT MAGISTRATE OF THE OLD SCHOOL

HAIL TO THE CHAIR VICTOR AVECILLA SATURDAY, July 25, 2015, marked the birth centennial of the late Chief Justice Enrique M. Fernando, the 13th helmsman of the Supreme Court. Fernando was appointed Associate Justice of the Supreme Court in 1967, and Chief Justice in 1979. He retired in 1985 upon reaching the compulsory retirement age of 70.

Chief Justice Fernando was a product of the American-operated pre-war public school system in the Philippine Islands – from the elementary and secondary levels all the way to law school at the University of the Philippines, which was then located in Manila, south of the Pasig River.

Fernando’s expertise was Constitutional Law. His professors include the great Justice Jose P. Laurel, and the learned Dean Vicente Sinco. Fernando was the 1938 law school valedictorian, finishing magna cum laude. He placed 13th in the bar examinations that year.

Early on, Fernando wrote several books in Constitutional Law. In 1947, Fernando and Lorenzo Tañada, who was already a senator, came out with The Constitution of the Philippines Annotated by Tañada and Fernando. It quickly became a leading treatise on the subject. Later, Fernando wrote his magnum opus— The Constitution of the Philippines, first published in 1974 and updated later in 1977.

Fernando balanced a rewarding private practice with full-time academic work at UP. He was a strict teacher who expected the best from his pupils. Many of his students eventually became political leaders and jurists – Vice President Salvador Laurel, Justice Flerida Ruth Romero, Senator Joker Arroyo, and So-

Mar.. From A9 Remember NoyNoy’s “Walang Mahirap kung Walang Corrupt”? It hit the mark because it was easy to grasp, people readily identified with it especially at that time when ordinary people were infuriated with corruption. It is specific, to the point.

“Matuwid na Daan” is not.

It can mean anything and everything that one cannot put a finger to it.

If Roxas wants to experiment and use another message (and I hope he will), he better hurry. The question is, will he do it knowing that his friend, the President, and his party has already packaged him?

Beyond messaging, I hope the LP understands that the people want to know the real Mar Roxas. I have said it before and will say it again, academic qualifications-wise, Roxas is

Closing the.. From A10 If Del Rosario knows the history of the Asean, how it was conceived in Bangkok in 1967, he would have realized that it began as an economic bloc intended to accelerate trade and development among the original five member-countries. It

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licitor General Estelito Mendoza.

In time, Fernando became a leading figure in the Civil Liberties Union together with the great legal minds of the period like Roberto Concepcion and Claudio Teehankee, both of whom became chief justice, and Emmanuel Pelaez and Francisco “Soc” Rodrigo, who became vice president and a senator, respectively.

By the 1950s, Fernando became a staunch defender of press freedom when he served as the legal counsel of the National Press Club. Fernando also became the legal adviser of three presidents—Ramon Magsaysay, Carlos P. Garcia, and Ferdinand Marcos.

In 1967, President Marcos appointed Fernando to the Supreme Court, which was a distinction because Fernando did not come from the Court of Appeals, the Department of Justice, or the Office of the Solicitor General –the traditional sources of appointees to the highest court in the land. The UP College of Law lauded his appointment by declaring that Fernando himself is the state university’s greatest contribution to Philippine jurisprudence.

Whether as Associate Justice or as Chief Justice, Fernando wrote his decisions in elegant, brilliant, and picturesque English, complete with extensive citations from Philippine and American jurisprudence, as well as from the great legal minds of both recent times and the yesteryears. Fernando wrote all of his decisions himself, and his legal assistants were left with the task of looking out for clerical errors in the typewritten final draft. From 1967 to 1985, Fernando wrote almost a thousand majority, concurring, and dissenting opinions.

In April 1973, the Supreme Court recognized that the 1973 Constitution was in force and effect in the country, even if it was not validly ratified in a plebiscite. Fernando was among those who dissented. Years later, Fernando went on to uphold the 1973 charter on the ground that the people had acquiesced in it or, in simple language, passively accepted its operational effects.

When the United States celebrated the bicentennial of its independence in July 1976, Fernando was invited by the American government to speak about the American influence on Philippine Constitutional Law. He was the only Filipino jurist invited for that purpose.

Fernando was the most senior Associate Justice of the Supreme Court when Chief Justice Fred Ruiz Castro suddenly died in the summer of 1979. In July 1979, President Marcos appointed Fernando Chief Justice.

Opponents of the administration of President Marcos were critical of Chief Justice Fernando, and he was often viewed as a staunch supporter of the martial law regime. When word got out that Fernando allegedly shared an umbrella with First Lady Imelda Marcos during a sudden downpour at an outdoor function, opposition leaders quickly branded him as her parasol bearer.

Many lawyers overlook several judicial pronouncements of Chief Justice Fernando which show his concern for the supremacy of the Constitution and of human rights. Before and during the martial law period, Fernando consistently upheld the power of judicial review of the Supreme Court under the Constitution (Lansang v. Garcia; Aquino, Jr. v. Enrile; Garcia-Padilla v. Enrile;

and Morales v. Enrile). At the height of martial law, Fernando upheld religious freedom (Pamil v. Teleron), freedom of assembly (JBL Reyes v. Bagatsing), freedom of expression (Malabanan v. Ramento), and freedom of the cinema (Gonzales v. Kalaw-Katigbak). He was also a champion of the rights of laborers and the members of the working class.

In the aftermath of the assassination of political opposition leader Benigno Aquino, Jr. in August 1983, President Marcos appointed Fernando chairman of a panel to investigate the incident – lifting from the American precedent of 1963 where Earl Warren, the Chief Justice of the United States Supreme Court, headed the government commission investigating the assassination of US President John Kennedy. The Fernando Commission, as the panel came to be called, was unable to proceed with its work because Assemblyman Arturo Tolentino, a ranking legal expert of the Marcos administration, argued that a judicial officer cannot perform public functions which are non-judicial in character.

Chief Justice Fernando was wellliked by the rank-and-file personnel of the Supreme Court for his compassion for the least of government employees.

He saw to it that the savings of the judiciary went equitably distributed to court personnel nationwide. Fernando retired from the Supreme Court in 1985 unblemished by any suspicion of corruption.

Fernando spent his retirement years as a legal adviser of cause-oriented groups like the Citizens Legal Aid Society of the Philippines. He passed away in October 2004.

the most qualified among all names being floated for the presidency.

I also believe that Roxas is a decent guy. But sometimes, I think he is too decent to a fault.

Others call this as having no backbone. How can he explain that the Mamasapano operations that killed 44 of our valiant Special Action Force men was planned and implemented without his knowledge? How could he accept that the President, his friend, trusted a suspended PNP officer more than him when the PNP is under his own department? Is Roxas a push over? Is being PNoy’s shadow really acceptable to him?

Where is the Mar Roxas, the Mr. Palengke, who vigorously campaigned and won as the number one senator just a few elections ago? Whatever happened to that Roxas? Is he playing safe, too safe in the name of political ambition? He should

be warned that this could spell his defeat. Will the real Mar Roxas step forward please?

The guy has a lot of catching up to do on the “prove-yourself-to-the-people” department. His waiting time for the chance to run should have been used to make the electorate see what a Roxas presidency will look like.

This staying in the shadows of PNoy and “daang matuwid” will not work. IF during the remaining months of PNoy another major problem occurs and the administration is unable to handle it well, Roxas, as the anointed one, will surely get the flak.

I have heard people say that their dislike for VP Binay is not enough reason to vote for Roxas. They are waiting for the LP standard bearer to show them that he is worth their votes.

Otherwise, they say that their vote will either go to a third

candidate or if no one is acceptable, that they will just not vote for the top position.

Roxas’ numbers will increase for sure. After PNoy’s endorsement, the propaganda machine immediately went to work. But the packaging so far misses to address this need for Mar Roxas to be seen as a strong leader by himself and not the shadow of anyone.

Roxas is in a bind. He needs the LP, the machinery, resources, and whatever is left of PNoy’s clout. However, he also very badly needs to show independence, political will, and other strong leadership qualities.

I hope he is able to achieve this so people will see him as a real choice, and not just the extension of PNoy.

was not meant to supersede the defunct SEATO or was intended to become an umbrella of the US in its war efforts in Vietnam.

Thus, the idea of enlarging the ASEAN into a military bloc to be operated and directed by a non- member like the US is something that has raised eyebrow in the diplomatic circle.

Some members in the ASEAN like Vietnam, Malaysia and Brunei are not keen in raising the issue about the China Sea dispute. They consider their trade with China as far more important. China has more to offer in terms of trade and investment for which reason, it created the Asian Infrastructure

and Investment Bank. The US could not offer anything except to fan the flames of war by selling those outmoded armaments to countries willing to fight a proxy war with China, and the tragedy of Ukraine is there for us to see.

bethangsioco@gmail.com @bethangsioco on Twitter Elizabeth Angsioco on FaceBook

rpkapunan@gmail.com

China driving.. From A9 the Chinese are emboldened to get away with as much as they can before the US takes any decisive action.

Against this political security backdrop, the Philippine might have to fend for itself against China’s bullying. On the upside, the country could probably see a realignment of forces joining Japan, India and Australia who are concerned about China’s growing security threat in the Asia-Pacific region.

Japan ‘s historical enmity with China has been stoked anew with their dispute over the Senkaku/ Diaoyu Island. Tokyo’s grant of several patrol vessels for Manila’s maritime border security is also for its own interest in checking China’s advance in the East and South China Seas. Australia also donated two heavy landing craft vessels to the Philippine Navy. India which has a border dispute with China is also looking at military cooperation with Japan and Australia.

China’s ambitious bid for hegemony in the region is striking fear in other nations and driving them to form alliances against a common threat. It may not be a lonely battle for the Philippines, after all.

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SPORTS sports@thestandard.com.ph

Rusty Spieth off Kiwi Lee’s pace AKRON—Jordan Spieth’s bid to dethrone Rory McIlroy as world number one got off to a slow start Thursday at the WGC-Bridgestone Invitational after a lackluster opening round left him five shots off the pace.

Barredo, Cudiamat lead ranking system RISING star Sarah Joy Barredo and Michael Kevin Cudiamat of Philippine Badminton Association -Smash Pilipinas led the latest Philippine National Ranking System singles’ category after dominating their various tournaments sanctioned by the PBA. Barredo captured recently her first women’s open singles’ title by winning the FDG Cup to accumulate a leading 31250 PNRS ranking points this month, while teammates Pauline Tan and Aira Mae Nicole Albo settled for second and third place with 30450 and 28700, respectively.

“My focus now is to maintain my position,” said Barredo, who will turn 16 this October. “But I will always stay humble. I will do my best in every tournament and also as a national player.”

Aside from the FDG Cup, Barredo has also won the last year’s Toby’s Sports badminton tournament and the Philippine National Games. She also placed first runner-up in last year’s Smart Open and Bingo Bonanza, making her a threat in this year’s two coming tournaments.

Cudiamat, on the other hand, took the No. 1 spot in the latest ranking in the men’s singles category by amassing a leading 31470 points to lead Rabbie Jason Oba-ob and RJay Ormilla, who are second and third place with 28870 and 28300 points, respectively.

All their points were based on their recent performance in the PBA’s six sanctioned tournaments since last year, namely the 2014 and 2015 Prima Pasta Open tournaments, FDG Cup 2014, Bingo Bonanza 2014, Smart National Open 2014 and PNG.

Danny Lee of New Zealand plays a shot on the sixth hole during the first round of the World Golf Championships - Bridgestone Invitational at Firestone Country Club South Course in Akron, Ohio. AFP

Gilligan’s, Foton dispute PSL crown THE country’s best teams on sand—Gilligan’s and Foton Tornadoes— clash in an ultimate duel that will determine who will be crowned as inaugural champion of the PLDT Home Ultera Philippine Superliga Beach Volleyball Challenge Cup 2015 powered by Smart Live More today at the Sands By the Bay in SM Mall of Asia.

Action starts at 3:30 p.m., with the pair of Danica Gendrauli and Norie Diaz expected to go all out against Fiola Ceballos and Patty Orendain not only to avenge a bitter setback a couple of years ago, but also to bring

home the crown of this prestigious tourney organized by Sports Core with Accel as official outfitter, Sands By the Bay as venue partner, Senoh as technical sponsor and Maynilad as official water provider.

On the same note, Jade Becaldo and Hachaliah Gilbuena of SM By the Bay A are also expected to renew their rivalry with Tippy Tipgos and Marjun Alingasa of Champion Infinity B when they collide for the title of the men’s division at 5:30 p.m.

Becaldo is a two-time beach volleyball champion from University of the Visayas, while Tipgos served as

his main rival from University of San Jose-Recoletos before donning the national colors in several beach volleyball competitions.

Amy’s will battle Philips Gold in the classification match for seventh place of the women’s division at 10 a.m., Meralco will face Petron XCS for 5th place of women’s division at 11 a.m., Centerstage will collide with Cignal HD Spikers A for third place of the men’s division at 1 p.m. and Cignal HD Spikers B will tangle with Foton Hurricane for the third place of women’s division at 2:30 p.m.

TIP tossers eye playoffs vs Lady Eagles TECHNOLOGICAL Institute of the Philippines goes all-out to surprise fancied Ateneo and gain at least a playoff for the last quarterfinal berth in Group B even as Far Eastern University guns for a sweep of Group A against National University in the Shakey’s V-League Season 12-Collegiate Conference at The Arena in San Juan City today.

Tied with the San Sebastian Lady Stags and La Salle-Dasmariñas Lady Patriots at fourth at 1-3 with one game left, the TIP Lady Engineers try to nail the big one against the big team which is also out to complete its domination of the

Games today 12:45 p.m. – NU vs FEU 3 p.m. – Arellano vs UP 5 p.m. – Ateneo vs TIP

Group B elims.

Still, TIP coach Boy Paril hopes to draw the best from the likes of guest players Hezzymei Acuna and Angelica Perez and mainstays Sheeka Espinosa, Jane Maderazo, Gayle Layug and Faith Maturan when they face the Lady Eagles in the 5 p.m. main game.

SSC closes out its elims campaign against UST while La Salle-Dasma winds up its stint against St. Benil-

de at the close of the single round robin elims of the mid-season offering of the league sponsored by Shakey’s and presented by PLDT Home Ultera.

The Lady Tams and the Lady Bulldogs also hope to provide topnotch action as they collide in the 12:45 p.m. opener to be aired live on GMA News TV Channel 11.

Unbeaten in four starts, FEU will be hard-pressed to complete its sweep bid against an NU side also raring to finish with a flourish and bring that winning feeling to the quarters of the event backed by Mikasa and Accel.

The reigning Masters and US Open champion will supplant injured Northern Irishman McIlroy at the top of the rankings this weekend if he wins the $9.25 million event at Firestone Country Club.

However, the 22-yearold’s push for top spot faltered with a patchy level-par 70 that saw him finish the day well down the leaderboard, headed

by New Zealand’s Danny Lee. Spieth, who has not played since the British Open at St. Andrews last month, blamed ring-rustiness after a round containing two birdies and two bogeys, but is confident he can challenge the leaders.

“The challenge is just getting into it,” Spieth said. “I just felt like I started the round today with little to no emotion.

“It’s a battle, but it’s one that I’m looking forward to because I’m not out of it,” he said.

Spieth is using the tournament as preparation for next week’s PGA Championship at Whistling Straits in Wisconsin, where he will be chasing his third Major of the season.

Korean-born leader Lee, meanwhile, took sole possession of the lead after sinking a succession of long putts to shoot 65.

Teeing off on the back nine, Lee opened with a pair of birdies on the 10th and 11th before dropping a shot on the 12th with a bogey after his tee shot found the left greenside bunker. AFP

Lim rallies to beat Thai, GMA airs URCC: Domination on Sunday makes quarterfinals TOP-SEEDED Alberto AJ Lim came back from a set down to turn back Vorachon Rakpuangchon of Thailand, 5-7, 6-2, 6-3, to make it to the quarterfinals of the International Tennis FederationNanjing Junior Championships in Jiangsu, China.

The 16-year-old Lim, who is ranked no. 67 in the world, drew a bye in the first round, then bundled out Yao Run Yu of China, 6-0, 6-1, in the

second round.

Lim will next face Ching Lam of Hong Kong.

Vorachon arranged a clash with Lim after getting past Yu Chen Wu of China, who retired, 1-0.

Filipina bet Bernadette Balce won over Xue Cao, 6-3, 6-4, in the first round of the first singles’ competition, but bowed out of contention after losing to Wushuang Zheng, 3-6, 4-6. Peter Atencio

GMA-7 airs another action-packed special dubbed URCC: Domination on the first and the biggest MMA league in the country this Sunday.

Get ready for the most intense and toughest fights from chosen submissions and knock out artists who are hungry not just for a win, but also a strong finish.

Filipino fighter Mark Palomar is up against his fellow Filipino, Sam Mison, to vie for the Lightweight Division. Both are equally ferocious fighters, and their fight will surely be

worth the watch.

Despite his foreign decent, FilSwiss fighter Chris Hoffman proves that he fights the Filipino way and faces another Filipino fighter, Jeremias Tan, to fight for the Light Heavyweight Division Title. The diversity in this fight is what makes it definitely exciting.

Vying for the vacant Flyweight Title, Filipino fighter Alvin “Sindikato” Ramirez and Hideo Morikawa, a Japanese fighter, face off with their Filipino and Japanese pride. Aside from bringing glory to their respec-

tive countries, these two fighters have their mind set in taking down one another.

Meanwhile, for the main event, MMA fighter Red Romero defends his Bantamweight title against Malaysian fighter Jian Kai Chee. With both their ground games switched on and finishing hits carefully planned, this might just be the fight of all fights.

Catch all these and more in the URCC: Domination Special on GMA’s Sunday Night Box Office at 10:25 p.m.

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SPORTS sports@thestandard.com.ph

UV Lancers come from behind to win

By Mikey Izumi CEBU CITY—The University of the Visayas Green Lancers overcame a 7-point deficit in the dying minutes to score a pulsating 89-82 victory over the USJ-R Jaguars in the 15th season of the Cebu Schools Athletic Foundation, Inc. at the Cebu Coliseum on Thurs The multi-titled Green Lancers were down 7380 following a layup by Jude Dinolan with only 1:35 left in the game, but displaying the heart of a champion, UV clawed back behind a sizzling 16-2 run and a stifling pressure defense that forced a series of turnovers and the fouling out of key USJ players Mark Labares, Kevin Villafranca, Nelvin Navarra and Edmundo Bayhonan one after another.

Cameroonian import Steve Cedrick Akomo and Alfred Codilla combined for 14 points in the dying minutes of the game, which included a timely block by Akomo on a Jaybie Mantilla layup with under 30 seconds to play.

Franz Arong, who was named the Best Player of the Game by Viva Sports TV panelists Rico Navarro and Sandi Grumo, finished with 19 points, 6 rebounds, 5 assists and 5 steals in a fine all-round performance, while Akomo added 18 points and grabbed 13 rebounds.

Boxers Floyd “Money” Mayweather (left) and Andre Berto (right) face off during a press conference to officially announce their Sept. 12 fight that will take place at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas, at the Marriott Hotel in Los Angeles, California. Mayweather claims it will be the last ever opportunity to see him fight. AFP

Mayweather Jr. makes light of Ronda fight talk LOS ANGELES—Floyd Mayweather issued an apology to female mixed martial arts star Ronda Rousey Thursday, then laughed off a suggestion the two could meet in the ring, saying he would have to take a major pay cut.

“Are you a comedian? You a comedian?” Mayweather responded when asked if he would consider fighting the undefeated Rousey, who has been jackhammering her way through the women’s fighting ranks.

“I am in the one hundred million dollar business, not the one hundred thousand dollar business.”

Dominant PH duathletes.

The Standard Insurance duathlon team, led by Robeno Javier (right), swept the recent Oakley Fort Dickson International Duathlon 2015 in Padang Kawad, Malaysia.

Javier won the championship for the full duathlon, while Joey Delos Reyes (left) prevailed in the sprint event and John Topia (center) placed fifth in the full duathlon out of 1,500 participants from several countries.

Mayweather did apologize to Rousey Thursday at a news conference in Los Angeles after a comment he made a year ago at another downtown hotel where he mistakenly referred to her as a man.

He said he had never heard of Rousey when the question was posed to him last July at the Biltmore Hotel.

“They asked me about Ronda and I thought it was a guy.

I didn’t know it was a female.

I apologize. I wish her all the best,” Mayweather said.

Rousey needed just 34 seconds to knockout Bethe Correia in a UFC fight on Saturday.

Her last three matches have gone a combined 64 seconds.

Rousey called Mayweather out for his history of domestic violence.

After she beat him out to win the ESPY award for 2015 Best Fighter award she levelled her guns at him.

“I wonder how Floyd feels being beat by a woman for once,” she said.

Mayweather (48-0, 26 KOs)

was speaking Thursday at a news conference to promote his upcoming September 12 world title fight against Andre Berto in Las Vegas.

Mayweather’s World Boxing Council and World Boxing Association welterweight belts will be on the line but almost no one gives Berto a chance as the oddsmakers have Mayweather a 40-1 favorite.

Mayweather defended the choice of fellow American Berto for this fight which he also claims will be his last.

“I have been getting backlash,” he said. “They say no one in the sport will buy the fight.

I picked him because he is an exciting fighter.” AFP

PH softbelles nip Indiana DELAWARE—Team Manila–Philippines nipped South Bend–Indiana, 1 – 0, in a close battle as the USA Central Champion gave its all to stay alive in the final day of group competition for teams seeing action in the 2015 Girls Big League World Series at the Comisky Field of the sprawling Pyles Center in Lower Sussex County here.

Starting pitcher Riflayca Basa, who gave Manila’s standout pitcher Mary Ann Antolihao a well-deserved rest after dazzlingly hurling for two straight full games in preparation for the semi-final match on Saturday, delivered an impressive performance to lead the Manila batters at the top of the standing in Pool A with a 3 – 0 card.

Basa, the veteran 18-year old sports scholar of the UAAP champion Adamson University and a Bacolod native, gave a superb account of herself with a strike out at the top of the second, a remarkable seven no-run innings, two outstanding defensive stops, and yielding just four hits to Indiana.

Prudential cyclists complete London ride A FOUR-MAN relay bike team composed of Pru Life UK employees in the Philippines clocked seven hours and one minute in the 400-km Surrey 100 race as it capped its participation in the Prudential RideLondon, the world’s biggest bike race festival that was held on Aug. 1 and 2.

The team took part in the 400-kilometer peloton relay, which is a part of the Prudential Ride London Surrey 100 scheduled on the second day of the weekend event.

The team was composed of Joy Cagurangan, VP for Investment Marketing, Information Risk manager Pedro Guzman, and staff members Paul Andrada and Joseph Michael Palisoc.

Cagurangan, a three-time

full Ironman finisher, took the first leg, a 160-kilometer distance, and was followed

by Palisoc, who biked 120 kilometers, Andrada took the third leg that covered 80 kilometers, while Guzman finished with the 40-kilometer final leg.

Team leader Cagurangan extended his thanks to all the team supporters.

“Team work was responsible for us to complete the race course. It was a great challenge to traverse the hills and the encouragement and assistance of fellow Prudential riders made it possible for us to overcome the hardship and pain that came our way,” said Cagurangan.

Pru Life UK Chief Executive Officer Antonio “Jumb-

ing” de Rosas, who entered the Surrey-100 last year as a solo participant, said that the company congratulated the team, saying, “On the professional side, the Prudential Ride London Surrey Classic is up there with Tour de France and Giro d’ Italia. We are proud that our company is main sponsor and lead organizer of this event for several years already. We are even elated that we have sent Pru Life UK staff, who have completed this grueling event with flying colors.”

For her part, Pru Life UK’s Chief Marketing Officer Belle Tiongco said she is proud of the team’s feat and that sending the team was the company’s way of encouraging their employees to lead active and healthy lifestyles.

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

Tayabas EHV S/S Expansion

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

Pagbilao EHV S/S

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

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

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

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

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

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

2.

3.

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

STATEMENT OF FACTS Brief Background 4.

5.

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

Tayabas EHV S/S Expansion

Fiber Optic Communication System Power line Carrier Communication

Pagbilao EHV S/S

Fiber Optic Communication System

c. d.

6.

7.

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

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

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

17.

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

COST ESTIMATE OF THE PROJECT 9.

10.

11.

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

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

Major Power Plants Pagbilao CFPP (Existing)

2015

2016

2017

2018

2019

735

735

735

735

735

735

420

420

420

420

QPPL CFPP (Existing)

2020

SBPL CFPP (Expansion)

460

460

460

460

460

460

EWC CCPP (New)

400

600

600

600

600

600

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

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

JUSTIFICATION FOR PROVISIONAL AUTHORITY 18.

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

19.

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

20.

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

21.

It prays that the Commission: a.

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

15.

Communication System

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

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

b.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

DESCRIPTION

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

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

Tayabas- Naga Line Extension to PagbilaoEHV Substation

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

S AT U R D AY : A U G U S T 8 , 2 0 1 5

A15

SPORTS sports@thestandard.com.ph

Endless happiness BY the time this column INSIDE sees print, we would SPORTS know who the FIBA CenRONNIE tral Board has chosen to NATHANIELSZ host the 2019 World Cup of basketball and by its decision, reflect the philosophy of the world governing body and its leaders.

Will FIBA elect to pick a giant such as China, which is today embroiled in a conflict with the smaller nations in the region over access and ownership of vast resources in the West Philippine sea that has earned the moderated ire of such nations as the United States and Japan, or will it go with a country such as the Philippines, which seeks to resolve disputes in the time-honored tradition of seeking international adjudication.

It underscores a simple but telling message that disputes – even contests for the right to host a major sporting event – need to be resolved not by the might of military and economic power and the resources that go with such power, but by the essential element of helping smaller nations achieve their dreams.

Should FIBA follow this fundamental principle it would, in so doing, spread the gospel of the equal rights of smaller nations to compete with the giants of the world in a sport which knows no boundaries and where the love for the game and the incredible passion Filipinos have demonstrated through the years for basketball, wins the recognition it richly deserves.

A decision favoring China would mean that basketball is for the high and mighty and not for the smaller nations that crave for the recognition of their consistent efforts to develop wider interest in the sport and to grow the game like never before.

As we said before, our bid is anchored on the unbridled passion of Filipino fans who may be outnumbered by the Chinese, but could never be even remotely matched in their fervent desire to host the World Cup. Ultimately, FIBA should not rely on numbers – whether it be a head-on comparison of the many stadiums being offered in various Chinese cities compared to the Philippines or the economic power of China because, while we concede that basketball is big business, it’s a sport with a heart and the Philippines is unmatched in this regard.

We remember well that some years ago, the remarkable Commissioner of the world’s premier basketball league by far—the NBA—David Stern, commended the Philippines for its help in growing and developing the sport of basketball in the Asia-Pacific region.

It was a statement from the heart, which acknowledged the heart of the Philippines in an incredible love for a sport, where big men dominate but where little men provide a testament to their incredible passion for the game.

Surely, the FIBA Central Board which seeks to expand its frontiers in Asia and Africa cannot ignore the impact of choosing the Philippines over China, which would strengthen the belief of the smaller nations in the sense of balanced fairness of FIBA. And its heart itself.

For all its comparative disadvantages against mighty China, which has shown a tendency to expand their commitment beyond the basic requirements enumerated by FIBA, which the Philippines has dutifully and diligently met, the ultimate decision should rest on meeting the criteria set which is what our country has done. Nothing more. Nothing less.

Even the composition of the rival delegations tell a story of power on the one hand and heart and incredible courage on the other.

FIBA tells us that former NBA star Yao Ming will lead the Chinese delegation in endorsing that country’s bid.

But for millions of sports fans around the world, the presence of eight division world boxing champion Manny Pacquiao in the star-studded Philippine delegation should overshadow the towering presence of Yao Ming.

Once again, the incredible courage of the Filipino in facing the challenges of our time whether it be in individual combat in the boxing ring or in the crafting of a plan that should, by all accounts help convince the FIBA Central Board that indeed we are more than capable of handling the task of staging a truly magnificent and successful World Cup in 2019.

The eminent businessman-sportsman Manny Pangilinan, whose relentless efforts to redeem the image of the Philippines in international basketball under the Samahang Bssketbol ng Pilipinas leads the Philippine delegation.

MVP’s unbridled passion for the game as evidenced in his support for several teams in the PBA as well as his commitment in enhancing collegiate basketball, surely must win the recognition of the world governing body because he has been able to retain the No.1 position of basketball in the hearts and homes of millions of Filipinos to whom basketball is an essential element in their everyday lives.

As Asia Magazine noted many years ago, the PBA itself is “the big little league” which, in historic terms is second only to the NBA in its years of existence.

The Philippines has kept the faith in basketball and it’s about time that FIBA reciprocates our commitment by keeping faith with us.

Every single Filipino fervently prays that they do, which would bring our nation and people endless happiness, while should the FIBA Board choose China, it would create anguish and send the wrong message to the rest of the world that might is right.

Knights crash back to earth

By Peter Atencio

LETRAN is spotless no more.

The Knights fell prey to a more determined Emilio Aguinaldo College Generals, including a point guard with a personal mission, and succumbed, 83-69, to absorb their first loss in the season in the men’s basketball tournament of the National Collegiate Athletic Association at the San Juan Arena yesterday.

Jose “Remy” Morada, whose mother died only a year ago, played big in the fourth quarter for the Generals, who dealt the Knights their first loss after lording it over for seven games, even as EAC posted only its second win after seven games.

Despite the loss, the Knights stayed on top with a 7-1 card.

Morada, one of four point guards whom coach Andy de Guzman deployed late in the fourth quarter, hit 12 of his 18 points in the final frame, including two crucial triples.

The 20-year-old Morada, who said he had to skip from playing last season to attend to his then ailing mother in Davao City, buried his second triple in the final 5:51 that sent the Generals comfortably ahead, 66-55, after a slim 5250 lead at the end of the third.

“The game may have looked so easy. But it was the hard work of the boys that did it. I told the boys that if we work just double hard, we won’t beat Letran, so we have to work triple hard,” said De Guzman.

Early in the game, the Generals focused on how to beat the Knights’ dreaded pressing defense, and their hot shooting in the final period provided a lot of answers.

The Knights, who drew 18 points from Kevin Racal, played without suspended coach Aldin Ayo, who was meted a one-game suspension due to two previous technical incursions.

Ayo was first warned after ridiculing the referees by showing eyeglasses in a game against San Sebastian a month ago, and for throwing a monobloc chair outside the dugout after a foul called on McJour Luib midway in the fourth quarter against Lyceum last week.

Morada, meanwhile, said his performance was his way of honoring his mother Lilanie, who passed away from

breast cancer in the same day last year.

Laminou Hamadou led the Generals with 20 points, making eight in the third.

Meanwhile, Earlier, Michael Calisaan scored a career-high 35 points and had 16 rebounds and two blocks to lead the San Sebastian Stags ppast the Lyceum Pirates, 77-70.

It was only the second win for the Stags after five straight losses and are now at 2-6.

Calisaan, who had 23 at the half, exploded for 13 points in the second period, as the Stags easily took the half, 48-35 after trailing, 26-20, at the end of the first quarter.

Games Tuesday (San Juan Arena) 10 a.m. • JRU vs Mapua (jrs) 12 nn. • Perpetual Help vs EAC (jrs) 2 p.m. • JRU vs Mapua (srs) 4 p.m. • Perpetual Help vs EAC (srs)

Thai keeps flawless run, ties Juvic at helm Pijit Petchkasem set up a final-round shootout with Juvic Pagunsan.

The PH’s

From A16

Hatton. But did you know that the Fighting Pride of the Philippines had a brother who was respectable in his own right?

Yes, Manny’s brother, Bobby, also held a belt, although fleeting it was, a belt is a belt. And while he will forever be cast under the Saranggani representative’s shadow, Bobby Pacquiao showed enough spunk for a 31-15-3 (16 KOs) record in 49 pro appearances. The belt he held was the WBC Continental Americas super featherweight title which he won after a TKO victory against Carlos Navarro.

Manny, who has slowed down quite considerably from the whirling KO machine that he was, has 57-6-2 card with one more KO on his list than Gerry Peñalosa with 38.

The Donaires The Donaire brothers don’t get much press for much of the attention is being given to Nonito. Glenn Donaire was a champ before his devastating loss to Armenian Vic Darchin-

yan, who was at the top of the flyweight class that time, when he stepped up for an injured Nonito. As expected, the Filipino Flash never passed up the chance to avenge his brother and scored what was the “Upset of the Year” in 2007 when Darchinyan walked in with no guard to a crushing left from the younger Donaire. “Jun” as he is fondly called, will hoist the IBF and IBO flyweight titles and defend it against the likes of Raul Martinez and the feared Fernando Montiel to annex the WBC and WBO bantamweight titles to his list.

While Nonito tasted title fights left and right, Glenn managed to record 24 fights ending with a 19-4-1 record. Nonito on the other hand has a mighty impressive 35-3 card spiked with 23 brutal KOs. The Pagaras Jason and Albert Pagara are being groomed by the ALA boxing stable to be the future stars of the Philippine Boxing scene. And they have been pretty impressive in all their fights under their promoters. Both are champions

with Jason holding the WBO International junior welterweight title, after previously winning the vacant WBO International light welterweight title, while Albert holds the IBF-Continental super bantamweight belt. To date, Jason has successfully defended his current title twice while Albert, touted as the “Prince,” has kept his belt after three successive defenses. The older Pagara is more of the sound worker between the two while the younger has that Muhammad Ali showmanship vibe to him. Jason has compiled a record of 35-2 with 22 KOs while the golden-haired brother totes a 23-0 unbeaten card with 16 of those victories coming out of KOs. Don’t miss out on the fiery brother act of the Pagaras as they take on center stage in Pinoy Pride 32: Duel in Dubai II via telecast this Sunday (Aug. 9) from Dubai City, the United Arab Emirates global and business hub on ABSCBN at 10 a.m. and the replay at ABS-CBN Sports + Action, at 6:30 p.m.

CARMONA, Cavite—Thai Pijit Petchkasem bucked the wind and the country’s two aces, extending his impressive bogey-free run to a third day with a four-under 67 and setting up a final round shootout with Juvic Pagunsan and Angelo Que for the Aboitiz Invitational crown at Manila Southwoods’ Legends course here yesterday.

Petchkasem withstood Pagunsan’s sizzling five-birdie splurge from No. 5 and Que’s three-birdie binge in the last four holes and came in unruffled by the gusts that blew from all over throughout the day with that blemish-free 35-32 card.

That tied him with Pagunsan, who slowed with a 68 after a sizzling, leadgrabbing 62 Thursday, at the helm at 14-under 199 but Que matched Petchkasem’s 67 and pulled to within one at 200 as the troika kept their revered spots in the final group.

“I’m happy to be bogey-free. The winds were up and I could still manage to return an under par card. My tempo and short game have been working well all week, it’s been really good,” said Petchkasem, chasing his breakthrough win on the Asian Development Tour.

Although the two Filipino shotmakers have won on the Asian Tour—with Que winning three titles and Pagunsan romping off with the coveted Order of Merit crown in 2011, they too are seeking their first win on the ADT, thus guaranteeing a final day shootout for the top $17,500 purse in the event put up by Aboitiz Equity Ventures.

Still, the 28-year-old Thai, who fired two 66s to trail Pagunsan by one halfway through the 72-hole championship co-organized by ADT and Pilipinas Golf Tournaments, Inc., remained unfazed by his rivals’ credentials and upbeat of his chances.

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

A16 Chinese basketball star Yao Ming (left) and Philippines’ eight-time world boxing champion Manny Pacquiao pose in a photo session of the media availability in the 2019 FIBA Basketball World Cup host announcement ceremony in Tokyo. AFP

S AT U R D AY : A U G U S T 8 , 2 0 1 5

RIERA U. MALL ARI EDITOR

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

sports@thestandard.com.ph

SPORTS

PH loses to China in bid to host World Cup IT’S all over, but there was no cheering for basketballcrazy Filipinos.

Instead, there was sadness and disappointment as mighty China beat the Philippines for the right to host the FIBA World Cup in 2019.

Even the presence of boxing hero Manny Pacquiao, who accompanied the Philippine bid team to Tokyo, Japan, that also included Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas president Manny V. Pangilinan, former national coach Chot Reyes, Jimmy Alapag

and Hollywood Fil-American actor Lou Diamond Phillips, the Philippines failed to convince the all-powerful FIBA Central Board to favor the Philippine side.

The Philippines’ 20-minute presentation mostly played on the Filipinos’ passion for basketball that is unmatched anywhere in the world, but in the end, FIBA gave its thumbs’-up to China, which had tapped retired NBA star Yao Ming, who capped the

Chinese’ bid that underscored not only a fast-growing interest in the sport, but also its great infrastructure and experience in hosting major events such as the 2008 Olympic Games which was held in Beijing.

As #PUSO2019 trended around the world, the Philippine bid team waited with bated breath for the result after the Central Board held the final question-and-answer portion.

After two delays, the Fiba board announced it had given the 2019 World Cup to a nation of over a

Floyd makes light of Ronda fight talk TURN TO A13

billion people. which had hosted the Summer Olympics in 2008 and has recently won the right to host the 2022 Winter Games.

“Sakit,” Reyes tweeted, capturing in one word the sadness that enveloped basketball-loving fans moments after the winning bidder was announced.

Social media soon shared the frustration of the Philippine bid team, with thousands of Filipino fans expressing disgust for the decision and some even referencing the ongoing territorial dispute with China.

The PH’s boxing brothers WITH Pinoy Pride 32: Duel in Dubai II just around the corner, come dig with us through Philippine Boxing’s treasure trove of knowledge about brother acts!

Boxing is eponymous to Manny Pacquiao in the Philippines.

But even as the Pacman continues to garner much of the adoration, a lot of Filipino boxers have also made their mark while some are on meteoric paths towards their legacy.

Take for example the ALA boxers.

Donnie Nietes has been champion for eight years. Then there was Rey “Boom-Boom” Bautista before him who showed much promise as a young fighter.

But now, it’s the Pagara brothers’ time. Both Jason and Albert are on the rise and look to be the future stars of Philippine boxing if and when the moment Nietes, Donaire, and Pacquiao finally calls it quits.

However, did you know that this isn’t the first time we are witnessing a brother act in the ring? There have been several actual brothers who have taken to the ring and even made a name for themselves. Do note that this is unranked, although maybe, let’s get the cobwebs cleared by starting with legends.

The Padillas The Padilla brothers Carlos and Jose Jr. were more known as actors back in the day. They are also related to ABS-CBN singers Zsa Zsa Padilla and Karylle. However, not many people nowadays know that the siblings had mad skills inside the ring.

You don’t get to be an Olympian if you’re a chump, man. Jose Jr was so good that he earned a return trip to the Olympics’ 1936 edition.

The Peñalosas Gerry and Diosdado “Dodie Boy” Peñalosa would rank probably as the most successful Filipino boxers next to the Padillas. Both were champions, with Gerry being the World Boxing Organization bantamweight and World Boxing Council super flyweight champion in his heyday, while Dodie Boy ruled the light flyweight and flyweight classes under the International Boxing Federation. Manny Pacquiao’s coach and trainer, Freddie Roach, was all praises for Peñalosa who he thought was the best technical Filipino fighter. To put into perspective how much of a bad-ass the Peñalosas were: Gerry compiled a 55-8-2 (37 KOs) card in 65 fights at the peak of his powers while Dodie Boy racked up a 31-7-2-2 no contests record that included 13 KOs. Not impressed?

The Pacquiaos Manny Pacquiao. The eight-division champ. The best Filipino boxer to have ever lived. Extra-curriculars aside, Manny was a beast inside the ring and his best victories to date would still be the demolition jobs on Lehlo Ledwaba, Erik Morales, Marco Antonio Barrera, and Ricky Continued on A15

Thai keeps flawless golf run TURN TO A14

B1

SATURDAY: AUGUST 8, 2015

RAY S. EÑANO EDITOR

RODERICK T. DELA CRUZ ASSISTANT EDITOR

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

BUSINESS

Ayala Land posts P8.4-b profit

By Jenniffer B. Austria

AYALA Land Inc., one of the largest property companies in the Philippines, registered a net income of P8.39 billion in the first six months of the year, up 19 percent from P7.05 billion year-on-year, amid an aggressive rollout of residential projects and robust sales.

Ayala Land said in a statement Friday consolidated revenues rose 10 percent to P50.61 billion “We are pleased with our first-half results and attribute gains to the consistent contributions of our different

business units. Development continues in all our estates, with products in residential, shopping centers, offices and hotels on the rise,” said Ayala Land president and chief executive Bernard Vincent Dy.

“We are on track relative to our annual target and we plan to sustain the momentum with new launches in the coming months,” he said.

Property development, which includes the sale of residential lots and units, and office spaces, as well as commercial and industrial lots, posted revenues of P31.85 billion in the first six months of 2015, up nine percent from P29.30 billion on year.

Revenues from all residential brands in the six-month period climbed 10 percent to P26.93 billion, on sustained bookings and project completion across all

residential brands. Ayala Land launched P54.85 billion worth of residential projects amid a strong demand in the market.

First-half reservation rose eight percent to P52.47 billion.

Meanwhile, commercial leasing which covers the operation of shopping centers, offices, and hotels and resorts, generated revenues of P11.40 billion, up 10 percent from P10.36 billion on year.

Revenues from shopping centers expanded nine percent to P6.01 billion from P5.52 billion due to the increased contributions of Fairview Terraces, which opened in 2013,

and the higher occupancy and average rental rates of existing malls.

Sales from office leasing reached P2.43 billion, up 16 percent year-on-year, while revenues from hotels and resorts improved eight percent to P2.96 billion from P2.75 billion on improved revenue per available room performance of internationally-branded hotels, its own Seda hotels, and El Nido Resorts in Palawan.

Ayala Land’s wholly-owned construction and property management units posted combined revenues of P19.90 billion, up 37 percent from P14.57 billion on year.

PSe comPoSite index Closing August 7, 2015

8500 8000 7500 7000 6500 6000

7,532.52 57.43

PeSo-dollar rate

Closing AUGUST 7, 2015 42

P45.740

43

CLOSE

44 45 46

HIGH P45.735 LOW P45.820 AVERAGE P45.779 VOLUME 521.400M

P475.00-P675.00 LPG/11-kg tank P39.10-P45.35 Unleaded Gasoline P25.30-P28.55 Diesel

oPriceS il P today

P34.55-P39.15 Kerosene P23.70-P24.40 Auto LPG

Toyota Tech. Japanese Ambassador to the Philippines Kazuhide Ishikawa (left) visited the Toyota Motor Philippines School of Technology Santa Rosa City, Laguna. TMP Tech is envisioned to become a significant human resource development hub in the Asia-Pacific region equipping the Filipino youth to become highly-competent automotive professionals for the local and global Toyota network. With Ambassador Ishikawa is TMP Tech marketing and promotions head Vitaliano Mamawal III during his tour of the school’s state-of-the-art facility.

Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas Friday, August 7, 2015

F oreign e xchange r ate Currency

Unit

US Dollar

Peso

United States

Dollar

1.000000

45.7820

Japan

Yen

0.008017

0.3670

UK

Pound

1.551800

71.0445

Hong Kong

Dollar

0.129019

5.9067

Switzerland

Franc

1.019680

46.6830

Canada

Dollar

0.762428

34.9055

Singapore

Dollar

0.722804

33.0914

Australia

Dollar

0.734700

33.6360

Bahrain

Dinar

2.657666

121.6733

Saudi Arabia

Rial

0.266660

12.2082

Brunei

Dollar

0.720202

32.9723

Indonesia

Rupiah

0.000074

0.0034

Thailand

Baht

0.028433

1.3017

UAE

Dirham

0.272272

12.4652

Euro

Euro

1.092900

50.0351

Korea

Won

0.000860

0.0394

China

Yuan

0.161038

7.3726

India

Rupee

0.015711

0.7193

Malaysia

Ringgit

0.256148

11.7270

New Zealand

Dollar

0.654493

29.9640

Taiwan

Dollar

0.031611

1.4472 Source: PDS Bridge

Puregold acquires supermarket chain Budgetlane

By Jenniffer B. Austria PUREGOLD Price Club Inc., the retail arm of tycoon Lucio Co, said Friday it acquired Budgetlane, an eight-store supermarket chain, for an undisclosed amount.

Puregold said in a disclosure to the stock exchange wholly-owned subsidiary Goldtiempo Company Inc. bought Budgetlane, the group’s second acquisition this year.

“The acquisition reinforces the company’s continuing commitment and focus to serve the

broad consumer mass market. It will serve as a key component to the growth and expansion strategies of the company,” Puregold said.

The eight newly acquired commercial supermarkets are strategically located in prime areas of Metro Manila and Luzon, and will serve as a key component to the growth and expansion strategies of the company, Puregold said.

Puregold did not disclose the acquisition cost but said the transaction accounted for less than 10 percent of the company’s

total book value.

Puregold had 258 stores nationwide including 8 S&R stores and 10 S&R New York Style QSR as of end-2014.

Puregold earlier said it aimed to expand its grocery chain by 50 percent from 2015 to 2019 by adding 125 stores.

Puregold said excluding the recent deal, it had acquired more than 40 stores in past two years, which helped accelerate the company’s store expansion.

Puregold earlier acquired a nine-store supermarket chain

owned by Nueva Ecija-based retailer NE Inc. Puregold reported a consolidated net income of P1.05 billion in the first quarter, up 11.7 percent from P943 million in the same period in 2014.

First-quarter net sales increased by 12.5 percent to P20.69 billion due to the strong consumer demand. Net margins in the first quarter at 5.1 percent.

Puregold is currently the second largest supermarket chain in the country next to SM Retail of tycoon Henry Sy.

SATURDAY: AUGUST 8, 2015

B2

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

THE STANDARD BUSINESS DAILY STOCKS REVIEW FRIDAY, AUGUST 7, 2015

52 Weeks

Previous

High Low

STOCKS

7.88 75.3 124.4 107 56.5 2.49 4 17 30.45 10.4 2.6 890 1.01 100 30.5 75 91.5 361.2 57 180 1700 124 3.26

2.5 66 88.05 88.1 45.45 1.97 8.7 12.02 19.6 6.12 1.02 625 0.225 78 17.8 58 62 276 41 118.2 1200 59 2.65

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

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

3.64 73 103.60 92.95 47.1 2.54 10.04 16.18 21.1 7.80 1.75 810.00 0.430 88 19.00 26.00 65.05 305 39.5 147.3 1430.00 59.90 3.32

47 5 1.46 2.36 15.3 148 20.6 36 65.8 2.97 4.14 21.5 21.6 11.96 9.13 11.8 2.89 17 31.8 109 20.75 15.3 9.4 0.98 241 12.5 79 3.95 4 74 33.9 90 13.26 293 5.25 12.98 6.75 15 7.03 3.4 4.5 6.3 7.86 7.34 238 3.28 0.315 2.18 2.65 234 5.28 1.3 2.17

35.9 1.11 1.01 1.86 7.92 32 15.32 10.08 29.15 1.5 1.5 10.72 9.55 9.04 6.02 8.86 1.06 8.61 20.2 71.5 13.86 13.24 5.34 0.395 173 8.65 34.1 2.3 1.63 33 23.35 17.3 5.88 250.2 3.87 8.45 3 10.04 3.03 1.95 1 4.02 1.65 5.9 161 1.55 0.138 1.02 2.09 152 4.28 0.640 1.2

Aboitiz Power Corp.

Agrinurture Inc. Alliance Tuna Intl Inc. Alsons Cons.

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

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

Lafarge Rep Liberty Flour LMG Chemicals Mabuhay Vinyl Macay Holdings Manila Water Co. Inc. Maxs Group Megawide Mla. Elect. Co `A’ Pepsi-Cola Products Phil.

Petron Corporation Phil H2O Phinma Corporation Phoenix Petroleum Phils.

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

Trans-Asia Oil Universal Robina Victorias Milling Vitarich Corp.

Vulcan Ind’l.

43.45 1.38 0.96 1.88 11.22 92.95 18.52 26 55 2.96 1.6 12.7 22.850 9.40 7.07 9.84 1.78 14.86 26.1 80.3 13.88 13.60 5.97 0.490 188.10 10.08 28.05 2 2.1 53.35 24.9 26.55 6.46 303.20 4.7 7.72 4 11.60 3.40 2.39 3.65 4.64 1.85 5.7 165 1.85 0.152 1.20 2.13 195 4.49 0.7 1.14

0.59 59.2 30.05 2.16 7.39 3.4 3.35 823.5 10.2 84 3.35 4.92 0.66 1455 7.5 76 6.5 9.25 0.85 17.3 0.71 5.53 6.55 1.61 84.9 3.5 974 156 0.710 0.435 0.510

0.44 48.1 20.85 1.6 6.62 0.23 0.23 634.5 7.390 12.8 2.6 2.26 0.152 837 5.3 49.55 3.43 4.84 0.59 12 0.580 4.2 4.5 0.550 59.3 1.5 751 80 0.211 0.179 0.310

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

Forum Pacific GT Capital House of Inv. JG Summit Holdings Jolliville Holdings Lopez Holdings Corp.

Lodestar Invt. Holdg.Corp.

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

Minerales Industrias Corp.

Prime Orion San Miguel Corp `A’ Seafront `A’ SM Investments Inc. Top Frontier Unioil Res. & Hldgs Wellex Industries Zeus Holdings

0.465 57.7000 22.85 1.20 6.90 0.248 0.250 789 7.29 11.88 3.2 4.40 0.205 1430 6.48 73.20 3.95 7.2 0.65 15.48 0.57 4.98 7.68 2.060 55.75 2.23 915.00 78.000 0.3550 0.1880 0.260

10.5 1.99 1.75 0.375

6.74 0.65 1.2 0.192

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

7.150 0.72 1.280 0.220

TRADING SUMMARY FINANCIAL INDUSTRIAL HOLDING FIRMS PROPERTY SERVICES MINING & OIL GRAND TOTAL

SHARES 7,828,934 54,814,715 83,102,052 166,989,755 96,523,349 1,412,427,161 1,823,437,696

Close

High

Low

FINANCIAL 3.93 3.5 73.3 70.8 103.90 101.00 93.20 91.30 43.6 43 2.54 2.51 10.1 10.1 16.18 16 20.9 20.5 7.71 7.71 1.74 1.65 790.00 770.00 0.425 0.410 88.1 87.9 19.10 18.90 26.00 26.00 65.05 64.50 305 305 39.05 38.5 147.1 141.4 1510.00 1495.00 59.90 58.60 3.3 3.29 INDUSTRIAL 43.45 41.85 1.57 1.39 0.99 0.97 1.9 1.87 11.5 10.8 92.95 92.95 18.7 18.56 27.3 26 54.95 54 3.07 2.9 1.63 1.55 12.52 12.5 22.850 22.1 9.44 9.12 7.18 7.06 9.84 9.65 1.7 1.7 16.98 12.7 26.7 25.85 81.7 79.8 13.32 13.30 13.60 13.50 5.97 5.81 0.500 0.500 189.00 187.90 10.14 10.06 30.00 30.00 2 2 2.27 2 55.95 51.25 25 24.75 28.4 26.55 6.48 6.05 304.00 301.40 4.65 4.6 7.77 7.68 4 4 11.80 11.60 3.40 3.34 2.40 2.35 3.75 3.51 4.55 4.43 1.9 1.89 6.05 5.68 162.5 161.5 1.92 1.8 0.151 0.148 1.17 1.17 2.13 2.12 194 189.2 4.26 4.26 0.7 0.68 1.15 1.11 HOLDING FIRMS 0.460 0.450 58.5000 57.6000 22.95 22.70 1.22 1.18 6.90 6.90 0.250 0.248 0.25 0.25 790.5 769.5 7.42 7.29 11.98 11.80 3.2 2.73 4.30 4.30 0.215 0.196 1430 1376 6.50 6.45 73.20 72.80 3.8 3.8 7.15 7.03 0.66 0.63 15.54 14.96 0.57 0.57 4.99 4.8 7.72 7.57 2.070 2.040 56.00 55.75 2.50 2.23 914.50 899.00 78.500 77.600 0.3800 0.3550 0.1880 0.1820 0.255 0.255 PROPERTY 7.150 7.100 0.72 0.70 1.280 1.280 0.235 0.235

Close

%

Net Foreign

Change Volume

Trade/Buying

3.9 70.8 102.00 92.10 43.5 2.51 10.1 16 20.9 7.71 1.74 770.00 0.425 88 19.00 26.00 64.80 305 39 142.6 1495.00 59.00 3.29

7.14 -3.01 -1.54 -0.91 -7.64 -1.18 0.60 -1.11 -0.95 -1.15 -0.57 -4.94 -1.16 0.00 0.00 0.00 -0.38 0.00 -1.27 -3.19 4.55 -1.50 -0.90

1,624,000 23,020 959,780 1,340,250 127,500 34,000 100 2,600 135,700 13,400 2,000 50 160,000 2,346,440 30,100 10,000 73,660 3,010 117,000 791,840 680 11,630 21,000

42.95 1.52 0.97 1.87 11 92.95 18.64 27.3 54.95 3.04 1.61 12.52 22.300 9.44 7.18 9.65 1.7 12.84 25.9 80 13.30 13.56 5.91 0.500 188.30 10.1 30.00 2 2 55.90 24.9 27.1 6.47 302.00 4.61 7.68 4 11.80 3.35 2.40 3.61 4.43 1.9 6.05 161.9 1.82 0.148 1.17 2.12 190.6 4.26 0.68 1.12

-1.15 10.14 1.04 -0.53 -1.96 0.00 0.65 5.00 -0.09 2.70 0.63 -1.42 -2.41 0.43 1.56 -1.93 -4.49 -13.59 -0.77 -0.37 -4.18 -0.29 -1.01 2.04 0.11 0.20 6.95 0.00 -4.76 4.78 0.00 2.07 0.15 -0.40 -1.91 -0.52 0.00 1.72 -1.47 0.42 -1.10 -4.53 2.70 6.14 -1.88 -1.62 -2.63 -2.50 -0.47 -2.26 -5.12 -2.86 -1.75

2,031,200 103,000 380,000 551,000 46,300 10 292,700 386,300 74,280 6,413,000 54,000 8,700 4,401,600 841,900 5,768,900 129,300 7,000 363,900 3,127,400 70,670 9,600 23,100 282,600 30,000 1,090,040 2,112,600 300 2,000 333,000 7,250 469,200 2,880,900 267,700 424,660 640,000 4,799,700 1,000 7,000 364,000 326,000 3,420,000 748,000 2,000 600 43,380 1,244,000 4,360,000 10,000 620,000 2,339,820 1,510,000 504,000 601,000

0.460 58.0000 22.95 1.22 6.90 0.249 0.25 769.5 7.33 11.86 3.2 4.30 0.197 1388 6.50 72.85 3.8 7.15 0.63 15.16 0.57 4.99 7.72 2.060 55.80 2.23 900.50 77.600 0.3600 0.1880 0.255

-1.08 0.52 0.44 1.67 0.00 0.40 -0.80 -2.47 0.55 -0.17 0.00 -2.27 -3.90 -2.94 0.31 -0.48 -3.80 -0.69 -3.08 -2.07 0.00 0.20 0.52 0.00 0.09 0.00 -1.58 -0.51 1.41 0.00 -1.92

30,000 755,370 5,830,700 34,000 52,700 1,040,000 150,000 273,660 4,264,800 3,685,800 117,000 8,000 230,000 167,375 1,100 836,350 4,000 1,278,200 797,000 4,956,300 250,000 29,835,000 783,900 1,909,000 386,000 4,000 316,000 5,470 14,540,000 710,000 10,000

7.100 0.72 1.280 0.235

-0.70 0.00 0.00 6.82

965,800 11,000 19,000 40,000

-110,220.00 -354,759.00 13,634,258.00 -67,032,406.00 430,000.00

-1,142,995.00 30,800.00 4,250.00 81,417,079.00 -3,463,304.50 -1,651,580.00 -40,333,493.00 787,000.00 -653,175.00 -56,015,770.00 -55,910.00 188,000.00 1,155,504.00 -60,060.00 -4,078,389.00 156,570.00 12,398,855.00 4,188,833.00 -14,891,578.00 -808,060.00 42,878.00 -25,176,275.00 -1,834,091.00 -285,352.00 -297,027.00 -135,578,258.00 -9,576,986.00 -10,200.00 -4,759,550.00 24,995.00 53,320.00 19,818,244.00 689,750.00 -31,092,650.00 7,000.00 501,020.00 195,760.00 142,000.00 40,390.00 5,832,000.00 -130,500.00

-51,057,155.00 44,800.00 -26,091,587.00 11,702,350.00

-109,332,565.00 10,665,302.00 -19,949,178.00

-64,485,190.00 -3,915,111.50 -2,367,149.00 -10,848,620.00 -6,373,050.00 2,769,750.00 -2,730,733.00 91,001,840.00 -202,254.00

-5,710,198.00

52 Weeks

Previous

High Low

STOCKS

Close

High

%

Net Foreign

Change Volume

Trade/Buying

30.05 3.36 4.96 0.79 1.1 0.083 0.415 2.4 0.83 0.188 1.15 1.42 1.27 3.1 2.75 0.090 0.290 0.39 23 2.69 22.15 1.6 3.1 15.08 0.69 0.83 5.73

Ayala Land `B’ 38.15 Belle Corp. `A’ 3.66 Cebu Holdings 5.06 Century Property 0.82 City & Land Dev. 1.06 Crown Equities Inc. 0.125 Cyber Bay Corp.

0.430 Double Dragon 13.3 Empire East Land 0.860 Ever Gotesco 0.172 Global-Estate 1.24 Filinvest Land,Inc. 1.95 Interport `A’ 1.32 Keppel Properties 4.88 Megaworld Corp.

4.85 MRC Allied Ind. 0.102 Phil. Estates Corp.

0.2800 Phil. Realty `A’ 0.3700 Phil. Tob. Flue Cur & Redry 23.00 Primex Corp.

7.54 Robinson’s Land `B’ 28.65 Rockwell 1.65 Shang Properties Inc. 3.32 SM Prime Holdings 21.80 Sta. Lucia Land Inc. 0.74 Suntrust Home Dev. Inc. 0.850 Vista Land & Lifescapes 7.290

1.44 2.46 1.38 -1.22 0.00 4.00 1.16 -4.36 1.16 -0.58 0.00 -1.54 -1.52 17.83 -4.12 0.00 1.79 0.00 0.00 -2.12 1.22 0.00 -0.60 0.00 0.00 -3.53 -0.27

7,633,300 6,109,000 10,300 917,000 1,000 5,470,000 560,000 2,612,800 117,000 1,310,000 1,516,000 66,233,000 732,000 7,000 33,630,000 3,520,000 1,510,000 110,000 200 75,300 620,400 135,000 4,000 11,739,200 100,000 190,000 9,474,600

52,633,675.00 8,373,090.00

10.5 66 1.09 15.82 0.1430 5.06 99.1 12.3 7.67 1700 2720 8.41 1.97 119.5 0.017 0.8200 2.2800 12.28 3.32 2.53 3.2 1 15.2 0.62 1.040 22.8 6.41 185 22.9 3486 0.760 2.28 46.05 90.1 11.6 0.85 10 0.490 1.9

1.97 35.2 0.63 8.6 0.0770 2.95 56.1 10.14 4.8 830 1600 5.95 1.23 102.6 0.011 0.041 1.200 6.5 1.91 1.01 1.95 0.650 6 0.335 0.37 14.54 3 79 4.39 2748 0.435 1.2 31.45 60.55 7.59 0.63 5 0.315 1.14

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

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

DFNN Inc. FEUI Globe Telecom GMA Network Inc. Harbor Star I.C.T.S.I. IP E-Game Ventures Inc. Island Info ISM Communications Leisure & Resorts Liberty Telecom Lorenzo Shipping Macroasia Corp.

Manila Bulletin Melco Crown MG Holdings NOW Corp.

Pacific Online Sys. Corp.

PAL Holdings Inc. Phil. Seven Corp.

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

Yehey

3.77 0.33 -3.13 -0.52 -1.25 9.01 0.05 -6.58 3.18 -5.13 -0.60 0.77 0.79 -1.36 0.00 -0.98 -1.52 -1.63 0.00 0.00 -3.26 0.00 2.74 -4.76 4.55 4.12 0.00 -2.91 0.00 -1.57 0.00 0.00 -0.39 -0.45 -1.06 -1.54 0.91 0.00 -3.10

1,334,300 18,960 152,000 6,992,500 17,200,000 3,173,000 662,320 1,400 63,600 110 162,670 231,900 131,000 914,740 6,400,000 7,200,000 448,000 1,233,500 829,000 15,000 13,000 75,000 17,128,900 1,080,000 10,000 5,000 12,000 4,480 107,400 270,140 593,000 13,802,000 843,000 846,130 4,600,400 3,687,000 3,572,100 850,000 858,000

2,319,181.00

0.0098 5.45 17.24 25 12.7 1.19 1.62 9.5 4.2 0.48 0.420 0.440 0.023 8.2 49.2 4.27 1.030 3.06 0.020 0.021 7.67 12.88 10.42 0.040 420 9

0.0043 1.72 6.47 9.43 6.5 0.85 0.77 5.99 1.17 0.305 0.2130 0.2160 0.014 3.240 18.96 2.11 0.365 1.54 0.012 0.013 5.4 7.26 2.27 0.015 115.9 3.67

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

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

TA Petroleum

0.00 -6.00 -1.83 0.00 0.76 -1.41 0.00 -0.73 12.80 0.00 1.49 7.51 0.00 -1.09 0.78 0.26 -4.76 0.52 -2.06 0.00 -1.67 2.08 0.61 0.00 0.96 -4.14

1,240,000,000 -5,700.00 98,000 -90,000.00 422,800 -677,640.00 5,800 11,500 1,097,000 -122,500.00 327,000 1,500 22,173,000 6,464,890.00 140,000 6,410,000 1,590,000 500,000 898,000 -570,180.00 1,334,800 -226,136.00 4,803,000 -350,370.00 105,000 11,000 20,000,000 100,000 47,000 180,700 2,047.00 1,968,000 -196,520.00 7,200,000 1,006,820 4,450,328.00 431,200 10,389.00

70 525 120 515 8.21 12.28 111

33 500 101.5 480 5.88 6.5 101

1047 76.9 78.95 84.8

1011 74.2 74.5 75

ABS-CBN Holdings Corp.

Ayala Corp. Pref ‘B2’ First Gen G GLOBE PREF P GMA Holdings Inc. Leisure and Resort MWIDE PREF PCOR-Preferred B PF Pref 2 SMC Preferred A SMC Preferred B SMC Preferred C

3.28 0.00 1.72 0.10 0.00 0.90 -0.27 -0.46 -0.20 0.07 -1.23 -2.41

244,800 500 5,000 100 105,300 209,000 5,750 20 1,240 22,450 18,100 2,680

6.98

0.8900 LR Warrant

-5.19

385,000

15 12.88

3.5 5.95

0.00 -1.80

300 1,740,300

130.7

105.6 First Metro ETF

-0.97

11,130

Makati Fin. Corp.

Xurpas

STOCKS

FINANCIAL 1,643.65 (down) 17.95 INDUSTRIAL 11,387.76 (down) 100.64 HOLDING FIRMS 6,835.85 (down) 75.18 PROPERTY 3,172.98 (up) 15.48 SERVICES 2,097.15 (down) 21.13 MINING & OIL 11,717.29 (up) 118.12 PSEI 7,532.52 (down) 57.43 All Shares Index 4,320.60 (down) 27.33 Gainers: 67 Losers: 109; Unchanged: 43; Total: 219

Close

41.4 5.6 5.59 1.44 1.97 0.201 0.69 10.96 0.97 0.305 2.22 2.1 1.8 8.4 4.88 0.180 0.470 0.72 27 8.54 31.8 2.29 4.9 21.35 1.06 1.62 8.59

38.70 37.50 38.70 3.78 3.66 3.75 5.14 5.06 5.13 0.83 0.81 0.81 1.06 1.06 1.06 0.130 0.125 0.130 0.435 0.430 0.435 13.32 12.68 12.72 0.870 0.860 0.870 0.172 0.171 0.171 1.27 1.23 1.24 1.96 1.91 1.92 1.31 1.29 1.30 6.00 5.70 5.75 4.77 4.64 4.65 0.107 0.102 0.102 0.2850 0.2750 0.2850 0.3750 0.3700 0.3700 23.00 23.00 23.00 7.53 7.38 7.38 29.00 28.50 29.00 1.65 1.64 1.65 3.30 3.30 3.30 21.80 21.25 21.80 0.74 0.74 0.74 0.850 0.760 0.820 7.300 7.060 7.270 SERVICES 8.75 9.15 8.9 9.08 61.5 61.7 61 61.7 0.640 0.640 0.620 0.620 9.60 9.59 9.53 9.55 0.0800 0.0800 0.0780 0.0790 3.44 3.8 3.31 3.75 96.55 96.9 95.2 96.6 10.48 10 9.79 9.79 5.35 5.52 5.40 5.52 975 925.5 925 925 2666 2690 2648 2650 6.49 6.57 6.49 6.54 1.26 1.33 1.26 1.27 110 110 108.5 108.5 0.011 0.011 0.011 0.011 0.204 0.206 0.201 0.202 1.3200 1.3300 1.3000 1.3000 9.80 9.90 9.50 9.64 2.16 2.17 2.15 2.16 1.20 1.20 1.20 1.20 2.15 2.18 2.08 2.08 0.650 0.650 0.650 0.650 7.3 7.65 7.3 7.5 0.315 0.305 0.300 0.300 0.440 0.460 0.460 0.460 19.88 20.7 20.7 20.7 4.60 4.60 4.53 4.60 103.00 103.00 100.00 100.00 18.90 18.90 18.70 18.90 2800.00 2790.00 2748.00 2756.00 0.650 0.660 0.650 0.650 1.510 1.530 1.490 1.510 38.00 38.40 37.30 37.85 77.75 78.00 76.05 77.40 8.52 8.56 8.40 8.43 0.65 0.65 0.64 0.64 5.49 5.65 5.4 5.54 0.320 0.330 0.315 0.320 2.580 2.620 2.490 2.500 MINING & OIL 0.0057 0.0058 0.0057 0.0057 2.50 2.50 2.20 2.35 5.45 5.45 5.35 5.35 11.84 11.84 10.70 11.84 6.6000 6.6500 6.5500 6.6500 0.71 0.73 0.7 0.7 0.75 0.75 0.74 0.75 6.81 6.90 6.76 6.76 1.25 1.42 1.26 1.41 0.300 0.305 0.300 0.300 0.202 0.208 0.202 0.205 0.213 0.229 0.211 0.229 0.013 0.013 0.013 0.013 2.75 2.83 2.66 2.72 10.28 10.36 10.2 10.36 3.89 3.97 3.89 3.9 0.6300 0.6200 0.6000 0.6000 1.9300 1.9500 1.9400 1.9400 0.0097 0.0095 0.0095 0.0095 0.0110 0.0110 0.0110 0.0110 4.19 4.15 4.12 4.12 5.29 5.400 5.270 5.40 1.63 1.660 1.600 1.64 0.011 0.011 0.010 0.011 115.10 116.80 114.90 116.20 8.7 8.8 8.3 8.34 PREFERRED 61 63 61 63 535 535 535 535 116 118 118 118 520 520.5 520.5 520.5 6.4 6.45 6.4 6.4 1.11 1.12 1.09 1.12 111.3 111 111 111 1090 1085 1085 1085 1020 1020 1018 1018 75.5 75.55 75.5 75.55 81 80 80 80 83 83 80 81 WARRANTS & BONDS 4.050 4.050 3.840 3.840 SME 6.2 6.2 6.2 6.2 12.2 12.5 11.86 11.98 EXCHANGE TRADED FUNDS 123.6 124.2 122 122.4

T OP G AINERS VALUE 570,863,000.75 1,346,033,297.02 1,536,950,687.773 1,242,370,279.46 1,923,199,635.892 607,258,228.478 7,248,911,118.375

Low

-111,330.00 1,060.00 35,814.00 -256,580.00 -51,877,650.00 -516,000.00 -136,268,390.00 18,500.00 6,386,865.00 -191,390.00 6,600.00 62,006,495.00 -17,650.00 -12,394,647.00

-478,606.00 -15,800.00 -74,000.00 22,631,635.50

113,328,500.00 0.00 -12,014,999.00 -55,000.00 -150,280.00 1,330.00 -568,365.00 43,000.00

-111,555.00 4,600.00 78,170.00 -1,473,344.00 -479,675,470.00 -1,386,030.00 12,690,010.00 22,427,686.00 -15,908,659.00 -2,146,200.00 4,853,550.00 -50,100.00

-5,377,790.50

-676,435.00

117,300.00 536,050.00 -830.00

-1,860.00 -2,041,996.00

T OP L OSERS Close (P)

Change (%)

STOCKS

Close (P)

Change (%)

Keppel Properties

5.75

17.83

Federal Res. Inv. Group

12.84

-13.59

Ferronickel

1.41

12.80

China Bank

43.5

-7.64

Agrinurture Inc.

1.52

10.14

Centro Esc. Univ.

9.79

-6.58

Calata Corp.

3.75

9.01

Apex `A'

2.35

-6.00

Lepanto `B'

0.229

7.51

LR Warrant

3.840

-5.19

AG Finance

3.9

7.14

FEUI

925

-5.13

Liberty Flour

30.00

6.95

Victorias Milling

4.26

-5.12

Arthaland Corp.

0.235

6.82

Manulife Fin. Corp.

770.00

-4.94

Roxas Holdings

6.05

6.14

Mabuhay Vinyl

2

-4.76

Cirtek Holdings (Chips)

27.3

5.00

MG Holdings

0.300

-4.76

SATURDAY: AUGUST 8, 2015

B3

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

Jollibee stores hit 3,000 in June Market slumps; Melco, ALI rise STOCKS fell for the second day, as investors await the release of US jobs data for clues on the timing of an expected Fed interest rate rise.

The Philippine Stock Exchange index, the 30-company benchmark, lost 57 points, or 0.8 percent, to close at 7,532.52 on Friday. Despite the loss, the gauge was still up 4.2 percent since the start of the year.

The heavier index, representing all shares, also retreated 27 points, or 0.6 percent, to settle at 4,320.60 on a value turnover of P7.3 billion.

Losers outnumbered gainers, 109 to 67, while 43 issues were unchanged.

Melco Crown (Resorts) Philippines Corp. was the biggest gainer among the 20 most active stocks, as it jumped 2.7 percent to P7.50. Property developer Ayala Land Inc. advanced 1.4 percent to P38.70, while Semirara Mining and Power Corp. gained 1 percent to P116.20.

Meanwhile, Asian markets got a negative lead from Wall Street, where a major sell-off in media equities following disappointing earnings reports from Viacom and 21st Century Fox pushed US stocks lower Thursday.

Tokyo was down 0.28 percent by the break, while Sydney fell 1.79 percent and Seoul was down 0.16 percent.

Hong Kong and China shares rebounded after the previous day’s losses, with the Hang Seng Index up 0.85 percent and Shanghai climbing 1.91 percent in morning trade.

Investors in Japan were awaiting a central bank monetary policy decision, while more than 250 firms on the Topix index report earnings on Friday. With AFP

By Jenniffer B. Austria

FASTFOOD chain operator Jollibee Foods Corp. said Friday its store network reached 3,000 worldwide as of end-June, as the company embarked on an aggressive expansion.

Jollibee chief executive Ernest Tanmantiong said in a disclosure to the stock exchange he expected the aggressive rollout of stores here and abroad to boost net income and revenues by double digits starting 2016.

“We are excited about our recent store network expansion.

We just achieved the 3,000th store milestone. We are on track to open at least 200 new stores in one year in the Philippines, the

first time we will be able to do so,” Tanmantiong said.

Jollibee has been opening an average of 100 stores in the Philippines annually in the past.

The company said it would open 100 stores overseas this year, with bulk of the outlets in China.

“The key drivers of our store network are strong same-store sales sales growth and improved profitability and financial returns

of our stores, built over the past two years across the brands and across different regions in the world, and increased capability of our organization particularly our network development group in the Philippines. We look forward to JFC’s resurgence to double digit sales growth in the quarters and years ahead,” Tanmantiong said.

Jollibee said net income in the second quarter rose 1.6 percent to P1.41 billion from P1.39 billion in the same period last year as higher raw material prices reduced profit margins.

Second-quarter revenues also increased 9.1 percent to P24.85 billion from P22.7 billion a year ago.

System wide sales, a measure of all sales to consumers, both from com-

pany-owned and franchised stores, went up by 8.4 percent to P32.24 billion from P29.74 billion.

The company said first-half net income climbed 5.4 percent to P2.6 billion as revenues increased 9.5 percent to P47.85 billion.

“Raw material prices are declining. However, their benefits on profit margins have been offset by higher level of inventories of materials with still high prices,” Jollibee chief finance officer Ysmael Baysa said.

Baysa said the company had deliberately increased its inventories in the Philippines, starting 2014 as a safety measure during a major new system implementation and as a way of declining with logistics and delivery challenges in the country.

Neda visitor. United Nations resident coordinator and UN Development Program resident representative Ola Almgren paid a courtesy call

on Economic Planning Secretary and National Economic and Development Authority director-general Arsenio Balisacan on Aug. 4 at Neda building in Pasig City. During the visit, Balisacan conveyed the need to align the plans and programs enunciated under the United Nations Development Assistance Framework with the Philippine Development Plan to maximize the development impact for the Philippines.

EastWest’s net income decreases by 4% to P1b

By Julito G. Rada

NLEX quake drill. Workers on the NLEX Harbor Link Segment 10 construction site in Gov. Pascual, Malabon City simulate evacuation during the recently held metro-wide earthquake drill. Metro Pacific Tollways Corp. president Ramoncito Fernandez said the drill was a serious exercise that would test NLEX’s preparedness in case of a strong earthquake and similar catastrophic events.

EASTWest Banking Corp., the financial services subsidiary of the Filinvest Group, said net income in the first half fell 4 percent to P1.01 billion from a year ago, on lower trading gains and higher provisions for loan losses.

EastWest said in a statement it allocated P2 billion in credit provision, bringing its total expenses to P6.8 billion in the January-June period.

EastWest chief finance officer Rene de Borja Jr. said the bank remained bullish this year, as the strategic branch store expansion in the past three years started to gain traction.

“We remain bullish on the Philippine economy… We are positive that revenues will continue to grow above industry average and we expect to see better cost efficiencies in the coming quarters,” de Borja said.

EastWest Bank’s assets reached the P200-billion mark in the first half of the year. Its total assets grew 31 percent to P204.9 billion from P155.9 billion reported in the same period last year.

The growth in assets was propelled by the 23-percent expansion in loans to P131 billion. Deposits also grew 25 percent to P158.1 billion from P126.1 billion a year ago.

“We attribute this milestone to our strategic branch store expansion and focus in the consumer finance sector,” de Borja said.

SATURDAY: AUGUST 8, 2015

B4

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

IN BRIEF Reserves fall slightly

THE country’s gross international reserves decreased by $0.2 billion to $80.4 billion at the end of July this year from $80.6 billion in June, due mainly to the government’s settlement of maturing foreign exchange obligations, Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas Governor Amando Tetangco Jr. said Friday.

Tetangco also attributed the decline to the revaluation adjustments on the Bangko Sentral’s gold holdings and foreign currency-denominated reserves.

“These were partially offset by the BSP’s foreign exchange operations and income from investments abroad as well as the NG’s net foreign currency deposits,” Tetangco said.

He said the end-July reserves level remained ample as it could cover 10.6 months’ worth of imports of goods and payments of services and income.

The reserves were equivalent to 6.3 times the country’s short-term external debt based on original maturity and 4.5 times based on residual maturity. Julito G. Rada

Toyota ready for CARS TOYOTA Motors Philippines Corp. is preparing to bring in a host of new motor vehicle parts manufacturers as the company finalizes plans to enroll in the Comprehensive Automotive Resurgence Strategy program, or CARS. TMPC president Michinobu Sugata said the company had not yet identified the magnitude of investments it planned to bring through the parts manufacturers.

“But we do understand that we need to prepare for mandatory investments,” he told reporters Friday at the sidelines of the general membership meeting of the Federation of Philippine Industries at the Intercontinental Hotel Manila in Makati City.

Toyota declined to say when it would submit its application for CARS, pending the release of the implementing rules and regulations.

“We understand that the implementing rules and regulations on the CARS program takes time. But it will come out,” he said.

He added while the program was clear on the hurdle on production volume, the company would still seek some clarifications points during the IRR discussions.

Othel V. Campos

Mineral output up 7% MINERAL production in the Philippines rose seven percent in the first quarter of the year on higher shipments of nickel ore and mixed nickel-cobalt sulfide, the Mines and Geosciences Bureau said Friday.

MGB Director Leo Jasareno said total value of shipments during the period amounted to P23.72 billion from the P 22.14 billion year-on-year.

Nickel ore and mixed nickelcobalt sulfide remained the main output of the industry, accounting for 42 percent of the total production value.

Jasareno said total value of nickel ore shipments amounted to P10.7 billion, up 29 percent from P7.83 billion on year.

Jasareno said mining projects that posted the highest nickel output are the Rio Tuba Nickel project of Rio Tuba Nickel Mining Corp. in Palawan with 693,585 dry metric tons, Claver Nickel Project of Taganito Mining Corp. in Surigao del Norte with 515,033 tons, Tubay Nickel-Cobalt Project of SR Metals Inc. in Agusan del Norte with 434,158 tons and Toronto-Pulot Nickel Project of Citinickel Mines and Development Corp. in Palawan with 413,147 tons.

Anna Leah E. Gonzales

Korean partnership. The Trade Department has committed to building and enhancing trust among its partners with the full integration of the Asean Economic Community this year. The department and the Board of Investments conveyed their message of support for the Association of Southeast Asian Nations–Republic of Korea strategic partnership during the 1st Korea–Asean Grand Project Partnership Forum. BoI director Angelica Cayas (left) greets Korea Trade-Investment Promotion Agency Manila director general Joong Sun Lee during the forum on July 8, 2015 at the InterContinental Hotel Manila.

GT Capital acquires 22.7% of Profriends

By Jenniffer B. Austria

GT CAPITAL Holdings, Inc., the listed holding company of business tycoon George Ty, is acquiring a 22.68-percent stake in mass housing developer Property Company of Friends Inc. for P7.24 billion.

GT Capital said in a disclosure to the stock exchange the agreement gave the company an option to increase its direct shareholdings in PCFI to 51 percent within the next three years.

GT Capital’s acquisition followed the difficulty of PCFI in securing approval from the Philippine Stock Exchange to proceed with a P7.7-billion initial public offering.

PCFI, a unit of Profriends Group Inc., filed an application in 2014 to hold an IPO. PCFI

recently pulled out the plan to sell its shares to the public.

GT Capital’s acquisition marks the conglomerate’s venture into the mass housing development and is expected to complement its real estate develop unit Federal Land Inc. “We view this acquisition as a mutually beneficial partnership for both parties. PCFI has the product expertise and the strategic land bank, while GT Capital has the financial resources and access to capital. Our partnership adds a new dimension to GT Capital’s property development portfolio and will enable our group to be one of the market leaders in the low-cost housing sector,” GT Capital chairman Francisco Sebastian said.

PCFI chairman Guillermo Choa welcomed the company’s partnership with GT Capital.

“The low-cost housing segment is the real sweet spot in the country’s property sector, with a supply shortage of over three million homes, which continues to grow annually,” Choa said.

“Our partnership with GT Capital will strengthen our ability to be a leading player in serving this urgent market need. Moreover, the potential synergies of working with other component companies in the GT Capital group will enable us to offer our live, work, learn, play, and worship estates to many more middle income Filipino families,” he added.

Federal Land president Alfred Ty said the acquisition would expand the group’s presence in the property market.

“The GT Capital group will now offer Federal Land’s upper- mid to high-end vertical projects and PCFI’s low-cost horizontal and mixed-use townships in key areas near Metro Manila. Our strategic tie-up will, thus, be a fusion of all property sub-segments,” Ty said.

Established in 1999, PCFI is today one of the country’s leading property developers, focusing on the low-cost and economic housing segments, and retail and office space leasing.

PCFI reported an audited net income after tax of P3.61 billion in 2014.

Thailand’s PTT expanding overseas operations

By Alena Mae S. Flores BANGKOK, Thailand—PTT Public Co. Ltd. of Thailand, the parent of PTT Philippines, plans to increase the revenue share of its overseas retail oil business to 20 percent in the next five years, a ranking official said here Friday.

Wisarn Chawalitanon, PTT Thailand vice president for international marketing, told reporters the share of the overseas retail oil business to the company’s revenues was still small.

PTT Thailand, which owns around 1,200 to 1,300 retail stations here in Thailand, is banking on its overseas presence in the Philippines and other countries to help propel the company’s growth.

Wisarn said the Philippines remained PTT Thailand’s priority market.

“The Philippines is the biggest operation that we have in other Asean countries. Our revenue in the Philippines is more than 20 billion baht [P26 billion] compared with the other countries

which have around 5 billion baht [P6.5 billion]. That’s why we pay attention to the Philippines,” the official said.

He said PTT Philippines had committed to put 300 stations by 2020 from 85 today.

“The Philippines still has fragment of investors because you have a deregulated market.

Filipino-owned companies only have 5 to 10 stations... that is one of our targets, how we can compete in networking,” Wisarn said.

He said PTT could team up

with Filipino entrepreneurs to improve their standards and remain competitive in the oil industry.

“That’s the way we’re going to go, it’s not like merger but partnership. We can provide them with the service [to improve] standards. We will invite them to join our network to bring up the standards to compete with the big guys,” he said.

Aside from the Philippines, PTT Thailand is putting up more stations in Laos, Cambodia and Myanmar.

s at u r d ay : a u g u s t 8 , 2 0 1 5

cesar barrioquinto EDITOR

editorial@thestandard.com.ph

Nuclear refugees seek aid to leave MAJURO, Marshall Islands— Nearly 70 years after they were uprooted to make way for the United States’ nuclear tests, Bikini Islanders have approved two new resolutions seeking Washington’s aid to relocate again including one citing the “psychological toll” of leaving their atoll.

For decades, Bikini islanders have struggled to survive on Kili, an inhospitable and isolated island with no lagoon for fishing or calm anchorage for boats.

Their hardship has worsened in the past four years with ocean water repeatedly flooding the land, and an airport runway that turns to mud when it rains.

It has reached an intolerable stage for the Bikini Council, which has now requested Washington’s assistance with relocating the people who have lived in exile since the start of the nuclear testing at Bikini atoll in 1946.

The United States tested 24 nuclear weapons at Bikini, including its largest hydrogen bomb, Bravo, in 1954.

“We may have no option but to relocate,” Bikini Mayor Nishma Jamore said as he outlined the future for the 800 residents on the island.

“Climate change is real. We are feeling and experiencing it. In the future we will have no choice [but to relocate].”

Jamore was speaking Thursday after the Bikini Council approved two resolutions seeking to have the Resettlement Trust Fund for Bikini islanders, established by Washington in 1982, used for relocation outside of the Marshall Islands.

Most of the Bikini people want to move to the United States because of the deteriorating conditions, but the trust fund specifically restricts resettlement spending to the Marshall Islands.

One resolution noted that since the resettlement to Kili in 1948, the change from an atoll environment to an island with no lagoon “continues to take a severe psychological toll on the people”. AFP

B5

world Girl killed as typhoon bears down on Taiwan TAIPEI—An eight-year-old girl died after being swept out to sea off Taiwan as Typhoon Soudelor bore down on the island, forcing thousands to flee and troops to be placed on standby, officials said Friday.

7 col x 10 cm

Launching host. TV and film actress Bella Thorne hosts the Wildfox fragrance launch event on August 6 in Los Angeles, California. AFP

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

Billed as the biggest typhoon of the year earlier in the week, Soudelor has since weakened but authorities warned it may strengthen once more before making landfall.

The young girl became the first casualty of the impending storm after she was swept out to sea in eastern Yilan county on Thursday, authorities said.

Another child was also missing in the same incident, while a 38-year-old woman and another girl survived.

“The girl who died and the one who went missing were swept away by strong waves,” a spokesman for the National Fire Agency told AFP. More than 2,000 people have already been relocated from Taiwan’s outlying islands, which are popular with tourists, and troops were preparing to help more residents move from their homes into shelters as rain began to fall.

Riverside aboriginal communities in New Taipei City will be evacuated Friday evening when downpours are expected to become much heavier.

The storm is set to make a direct hit on the east coast, though much of the island will be lashed by torrential rain.

By Friday afternoon 5.5 inches had already fallen near Taoyuan City in the northwest.

In two coastal counties in east Taiwan Yilan and Hualien offices and schools shut down Friday morning with more counties, mainly in the north and east, expected to follow suit later in the day.

More than 40 international flights out of Taiwan were cancelled and ferry services to outlying islands were suspended.

Packing maximum wind speeds of 173 kilometers per hour near its center, Soudelor was 370 kilometers southeast of eastern Hualien county Friday afternoon.

It was due to make landfall on the central east coast late Friday or early Saturday morning. AFP

B6

s at u r d ay : a u g u s t 8 , 2 0 1 5

WORLD

cesar barrioquinto EDITOR

editorial@thestandard.com.ph

Cult satirist Jon Stewart quits NEW YORK—Cult American satirist Jon Stewart ended 16 years as host of “The Daily Show” with a standing ovation and was played out by rock legend Bruce Springsteen, bringing to close a unique era in US broadcasting.

As the hash tag #JonVoyage trended on Twitter, an emotional Stewart made his last appearance on the Comedy Central show, thanking colleagues, fans and family and delivering a final monologue.

The 52-year-old had turned the four-times a week show into a unique blend of politics, journalism and entertainment that skewered politicians, the world in general and sensationalist cable news coverage in particular.

Loved by liberals as a voice of reason, distrusted by conservatives for his left-of-center perspective, the clever, biting and funny Stewart EXTRAJUDICIAL SETTLEMENT OF ESTATE WITH DEED OF ABSOLUTE SALE Notice hereby given that the estate of the late ALFREDO ANG was E X T R A - J U D I C I A L LY SETTLED by his heirs KHA TY CHAN, WILLIAM ANG, GEORGE ANG, RICHARD ANG & JOHN ANG as per Doc. No. 309 Page No. 63; Book No. XX, Series of 2015 before Notary Public Atty. Geronimo B. Halili (TS-AUG. 1,8,15,2015)

indicated that he would be back if only in another guise.

“Nothing ends. It’s just a continuation. It’s a pause in the conversation. So rather than saying goodbye or good night, I’m just going to say I’m gonna go get a drink,” he said.

Since 1999 he has been a liberal conscience, from the end of the Clinton presidency and the arrival of George W. Bush, through the 9/11 attacks to the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan and the financial crisis.

“Bullshit is everywhere.

There’s very little that you’ll encounter in life that has not

been infused in some way with bullshit,” said Stewart in his final monologue.

“The best defense against bullshit is vigilance so if you can smell something, say something.”

There were farewell video messages from US Secretary of State John Kerry and Republican Senator John McCain.

Trevor Noah, the South African comic who will replace Stewart in September, cheekily appeared to measure up the set and... Stewart’s crotch.

But few fans believe Trevor can fill Stewart’s enormous shoes.

Many were already missing Stewart’s wit as Thursday’s Republican debate ended moments after the final, pre-taped show went on air.

“It just feels like this is going to be a tremendous void and it’s

hard to see how it can be filled,” said Chris Reilly, a homemaker from Connecticut in the queue to attend the show for a fourth time.

Besides taking politicians and TV networks to task CNN and Fox News in particular his show had a guest list second to none.

President Barack Obama has shared the screen with Stewart seven times, most recently last month, when he joked he would ban Stewart from leaving.

The White House blog paid tribute to “one of the most influential programs on television” that “changed the way we talk about the world around us.”

Winning almost two dozen Emmy awards, Stewart also cultivated and nurtured new talent, helping to launch the careers of comedians who are now stars in their own right, such as Stephen Colbert and John Oliver.

Stewart paid tribute to them in his final show.

He offered viewers a behind-thescenes tour of the show’s rather cramped premises in the Hell’s Kitchen district of Manhattan, and videoed introductions to seemingly all the backstage staff.

But the highlight was the closing set from Springsteen, a fellow New Jersey native, who blasted out renditions of his hit tracks “Land of Hope and Dreams” and “Born to Run.” Watched by a modest TV audience of 1.3 million a day, “The Daily Show” reached several million more online, in particular younger viewers.

But according to the Pew Research Center, less than one percent of conservatives said they trusted the show, while nearly half of liberals 45 percent do. AFP

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Republic of the Philippines Province of Ilocos Sur

MUNCIPALITY OF SINAIT OFFICE OF THE BIDS AND AWARDS COMMITTEE (BAC) INVITATION TO BID FOR GOODS

August 8, 2015

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

Location

1. CLUSTER XI-1ST [Construction of Farmers’ Food Court Improvement of Sinait Farmers’ Hall, Continuation of the Upgrading of SFTC (Phase I) , Completion of Nagongburan Multi-purpose Hall, Completion of Potable Water System Project of Brgy. Barikir]

R a n g - a y, Macabiag, Nagongburan, Barikir Sinait, Ilocos Sur

Approved Budget Cost (ABC)

Source of Fund

P 15,300,000.00

R . A .

7171M u n .

Share

Duration of Works /Delivery Period 250 cd

Situation grim. Flood-affected residents wait for supplies in Kyouk Taing village near Nyaung Don

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

The Municipal Government of Sinait now invites bids for the said Projects stated above. Completion of the Works is required as stated above under Duration of Works/ Delivery Period. Bidders should have completed, within ten (10) years from the date of submission and receipt of bids, a contract similar to the Project. The description of an eligible bidder is contained in the Bidding Documents, particularly, in Section II. Instruction to Bidders.

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

Interested bidders may obtain further information from Municipal Government of Sinait BAC Office and inspect the Bidding Documents at the address given below from 8:00 A.M. to 5:00 P.M. BAC Office or MPDC Office – Sinait Municipal Hall, Sinait, Ilocos Sur. A complete set of Bidding Documents may be purchased by interested Bidders from the address above and upon payment of a nonrefundable fee for the Bidding Documents ISSUANCE OF BID DOCUMENTS – August 8- September 1, 2015 The Municipal Government of Sinai thru BAC will hold a Pre-Bid Conference on August 20, 2015 @ 10:00 A.M. at Mun. Treasurer’s Office Sinait Mun. Hall, Sinait, Ilocos Sur which shall be open to all interested parties.

Bids must be delivered to the address above on or before September 1, 2015 @ 9:30 A.M. at Sinait Municipal Hall Main Bldg., Sinait, Ilocos Sur. All bids must be accompanied by a bid security in any of the acceptable forms and in the amount stated in ITB Clause 18.

OPENING OF BIDS – SEPTEMBER 1, 2015@ 9:30 A.M. @ Sinait Municipal Hall, Sinait, Ilocos Sur..

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

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

For further information, please refer to: BAC SECRETARIAT MPDC Office Sinait Mun. Hall Main Bldg. (1st floor) Mobile # 09166725419 e-mail address: jr_seni67@yahoo.com ( T S - A U G . 8 , 2 015 )

(Sgd) EMELFA C. INES BAC Chairman

town in Myanmar’s Irrawaddy region on August 7. Twelve of Myanmar’s 14 regions have been struck, with officials saying 74 people had been killed and more than 330,000 affected—many forced into monasteries and other makeshift shelters after their homes were inundated. AFP

Jailed for 30 years for insulting royals BANGKOK—A Thai man was jailed for 30 years on Friday for “insulting” the monarchy on Facebook, in one of the toughest known sentences passed under the junta-ruled kingdom’s draconian lese majeste law.

Thai King Bhumibol Adulyadej, 87, is protected by one of the world’s strictest royal defamation rules under which anyone convicted of insulting the king, queen, heir or regent faces up to 15 years in prison on each count.

On Friday Bangkok’s Military Court found Pongsak Sriboonpeng, 48, guilty of posting messages and pictures defaming the monarchy in six posts on the social networking website.

He was sentenced to 10 years on each count with the 60-year

jail term halved after he pleaded guilty, his lawyer Sasinan Thamnithinan told AFP. “It’s broken the record,” she said about the severe jail term, adding that because Pongsak was arrested while Thailand was still under martial law there was no right to appeal the sentence passed by the military court.

Lese majeste convictions have surged since Thailand’s generals seized power from an elected government in May 2014.

According to iLaw, a local rights group that monitors such cases, there were just two ongoing prosecutions for royal defamation before the coup. Now that number is at least 56.

Critics of the law say it has been used as a weapon against political enemies of the royalist elite and their military allies and now targets those opposed

to the coup.

In another conviction this week a military court in the northern province of Chiang Rai sentenced a man with a history of mental illness to five years in jail for lese majeste.

Samak Pantay, 48, was found guilty on Thursday of slashing a portrait of the king and queen in July last year, lawyer Anon Numpa said.

“He confessed to the charge so the judge commuted the sentence to five years,” he said, adding that Samak has been medically certified as mentally sick for “more than 10 years”.

Thailand’s ultra-royalist generals have long used their selfappointed position as defenders of the monarchy to justify coups and political interventions in the country’s often turbulent politics. AFP

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PROPERTY jdlacsamana@gmail.com

JOEL D. L ACSAMANA EDITOR

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new player in town.

Elanvital Enclaves Inc. recently launched its 13 hectare flagship development, Nostalji Enclave, in Dasmariñas, Cavite. The construction of houses is in full swing, and the move-in of new proud residents began in the 2nd quarter of the year. The Nostalji Central Park has an Active Zone with futsal field, basketball court, as well as a children’s playground. Also in the park is a Social Zone, where the clubhouse and experiential pools are.

Completing this green space is a Relax Zone with a kite-flying lawn, a multi-purpose tent, secret gardens and picnic grounds. Buyers can choose from home designs ranging from Php1.5M to Php7M. Nostalji Enclave offers houses from a 2 bedroom duplex set in a 50 square meter lot, to 4 bedroom single attached unit on a 162 square meter lot. Elanvital Enclaves is part of a conglomerate which includes Asia United Bank, Republic Biscuit Corporation (REBISCO) Oakwood Premier Joy-Nostalg and Crystal Jade.

Cool sanCtuary. Tagaytay Highlands is the place to be during weekends, what with its various themed residential developments, two world-class golf courses, and serene mountaintop feel. The resort continues to put up residential communities, from its signature log cabins to residential condominiums such as Woodridge Place’s Mahogany and Linden Buildings to themed charmers like Aspenhills, Nobhill, Sycamore Heights, Katsura and Yume. As for the club facilities, The Highlander Steakhouse was renovated for a more vibrant rustic cabin ambiance, while the facilities of Summer Garden at the China Palace, were revamped. For par-busters and birdie-hunters, the two championship golf courses also underwent restoration. Tagaytay Highlands is a leisure development of the SM Group of Companies.

push for land titles Computerization. The Land Registration Authority (LRA), and The Organization of Property Stakeholders, Inc. (TOPS), recently batted for the conversion of all paper land titles to e-titles.

At the the TOPS-LRA Summit 2015 held at Fairmont Hotel, property owners and top executives from various companies tackled the threats and challenges the property sector would encounter in the next few years if titles have no digital copies. The event also delved into key issues such as climate change, geological hazards, among others. Renato Solidum Jr., (middle) Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs) director, called for the construction and retrofitting of buildings, houses , and infrastructures to make these earthquake and fire resistant. This in preparation for the “Next Big One”, a possible 7.2 earthquake which could demolish much of the metropolis should the West Valley Fault along the eastern side of Metro Manila cracks.

team up for sports. New San Jose Builders recently partnered with Italian fitness brand, Technogym, to be its gym equipment provider for Victoria Sports. The wellness solutions company will be the provider of 26 million pesos worth of workout equipment to Victoria Sports gym, which will open later this year at the Victoria Sports Tower located along EDSA in South Triangle, QC. Technogym is known around the world for its biomechanically precise equipment, and is the partner of some of the biggest sports facilities around the world such as the Olympics, Ferrari’s F1 Racing Team, and AC Milan’s Football Club. Its equipment will be the highlight of Victoria Sports’ 5,000SQM of gym floor ,which aims to be the largest gym in the country. At the signing rites were (seated from left);:NSJBI president Engr. Cesar Sanqui; E-Sports International managing director Audris Romualdez; NSJBI chairman Jose Acuzar and co-chairman Dr. Isagani Germar; and (Standing from left) : Princeps Prime Properties VP Dennis Morada, E-Sports International GM Pamela Romualdez, E-Sports sales executive Jose Antonio Herbosa, and Victoria Sports GM Amor Salud.

live tall, and play like robinson Crusoe. Park Terraces and Anvaya Cove recently won top awards in the third annual Philippines Property Awards 2015. The event honored the best in Philippine real estate across residential, commercial, office and resort categories.

Park Terraces bagged the Best Residential Architectural Design accolade. It is Ayala Land Premier’s three tower development enclave within Ayala Center. Anvaya Cove brought home the Highly Commended award in the Best Luxury Development (Resort) category. This is the second acclaim for Anvaya Cove as its windswept, 18-hole golf layout was recognized as the “Best New Course in Asia” by Asian Golf Monthly magazine recently. Anvaya Cove is Ayala Land’s bucolic, seaside luxury spread in Morong, Bataan.

thousand stories of Joy. Mondelēz Philippines, formerly Kraft Foods, recently capped its 52nd anniversary with the the Joy Schools program, a partnership with the Philippine Business for Social Progress (PBSP), to create “joyful centers of learning” through interventions for nutrition, teacher training and facilities improvement in various elementary schools all over the country. As of March this year, 85% of the program’s 1,064 feeding beneficiaries achieved normal nutritional status, from being undernourished. Feeding programs were found to be great motivators for attendance with 90% of students attaining perfect attendance last school year. Their constant attendance ensured they achieved and maintained above passing grades for the whole year. Teachers in the adopted Joy Schools received training from the Ateneo Center for Educational Development, while parents received training and supplies from the East West Seed Foundation.

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JOEL D. L ACSAMANA EDITOR jdlacsamana@gmail.com

PROPERTY DemanD for cement up amiD pH infra growtH As Philippine construction sustains growth, the demand for building materials is expected to increase due to the country’s unpredictable climate.

“In the Philippines, weather swings from scorching heat to torrential rains throughout a year,” said Ernesto Ordoñez, President of the Cement Manufacturers’ Association of the Philippines (CeMAP).

“This can affect the integrity of infrastructure, especially those built from materials that cannot withstand these conditions.”

For 2015, the turnover for both public and private construction projects is forecasted to reach P1.7 trillion. As this growth continues, Ordoñez cited, the demand for higher quality building materials will spike as well.

“Globally, annual concrete use is twice as much as all other building materials combined (including wood, steel, plastic, and

cement still king. Concrete remains a popular choice for construction projects, such as housing, because of its durability, cost and performance.

aluminum),” said Nathaniel B. Diola, associate professor of civil engineering, University of the Philippines. “In the Philippines, cement sales reached 21.3 metric tons last year—marking a 9.6 percent increase compared to 2013.

Ordoñez likewise cited durability and sustainability as key factors in selecting building materials.

Durability a strong peg With the Philippines as a natural disaster-prone country, durability remains a top priority for construction projects.

In contrast with other building

materials like wood and glass, Ordoñez said concrete is more resilient during natural disasters.

In fact, according to the World Business Council for Sustainable Development, concrete can ably withstand extreme weather conditions such as hurricanes.

Ordoñez also cited better heat absorption and minimal CO2 emissions as key advantages of concrete against other building materials. Advances also allow us to design concrete that can withstand chloride and sulphate attacks which are common risks in coastal areas.

sustainability anD cost The Philippines has the most expensive electricity rates in Southeast Asia, placing particular emphasis on energy savings across all sectors.

And construction is no exception.

Based on research from the National Ready-Mixed Concrete Association (NRMCA), cement requires less energy to produce compared to wood and steel. According to the NRMCA, a ton of concrete only requires 1.4GJ/t compared to 30GJ/t for steel and 2GJ/t for wood.

NMRCA also pointed out that concrete walls and floors slow

down the passage of heat throughout an infrastructure, reducing temperature swings to minimize the energy needs of heating or air-conditioning.

“One study found that concrete walls can actually reduce the energy requirements of a given structure by up to 17 percent,” Ordoñez said.

“Concrete plays a major role in sustaining the country’s growing demand for high-quality infrastructure,” he averred. “Very few building materials can replace it in terms of effectiveness, cost and performance.”

biggest mac place in sm megamall. Power Mac Center recently unveiled its largest retail space within the company’s retail network to accommodate an assortment of Apple products and premium third-party accessories, as well as in-store product demonstration gallery. Located at the fourth level Cyberzone, Power Mac Center SM Megamall was kicked off at a Dare to Transform event that gathered company executives, trade partners and brand ambassadors. Since opening its first store in SM Megamall, Power Mac Center has grown its presence to 25 stores across Luzon and Mindanao. At the launch were Power Mac Center ambassadors (from left to right) Rovilson Fernandez, Jeric Teng, Mari Jasmine, Vanessa Matsunaga, Chiena Filomena, and Jeron Teng.

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TATUM ANCHETA EDITOR

BING PAREL

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

BERNADETTE LUNAS

life @ thestandard.com .ph

WRITER

@LIFEatStandard

P OP CU LT U RE

LIFE Okto x Ungga x T-Linc (Tacloban Public Cemetery, 2007-2008)

Unfinished work (Tacloban City, 2007)

Customized shoes (2007-2008)

‘Ungga’ (Escario Street, Cebu City, 2008-2009)

Freehand (Tacloban City, 2010)

‘Pakito’ (Sundsvall, Sweden, 2015)

AN ARTISTIC REVOLUTION ON THE STREET

BY BERNADETTE LUNAS

Self-portrait in Zorra, Quezon City (Photo by Monica Mayor, 2010)

‘Bad Dog’ (Stockholm, Sweden, 2014)

Bamboo Custom Art (Quezon City, 2006)

‘Kapayapaan’ (Sampaloc, 2007)

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raffiti here in the Philippines, as in around the country – armed with spray paints, many other countries, is considered pen markers, stencils, stickers and paste-ups – to a public offense when done without transform blank walls into relevant artwork that fuel consent. Many consider it defacement conversation, eventually gaining public acceptance. and vandalism, often seen as an unsightly stain However, for one of the collective’s core on a rather pristine blank wall that should have members, his interest in graffiti stemmed from been left alone. his passion to create anything on any surface and But over the years, we have been slowly easing the liberating feeling of getting caught. Jovenz into graffiti to the point that it’s now a tolerated Mayor, also known as Ungga, entered the world street art. Manila’s blank walls have become the of graffiti – the way most artists started – by canvas for many colorful images – an artistic drawing on walls and armchairs in his school. expression and reflection of the artist’s creativity, It was understandable, really, considering that but also often charged with social and political Ungga was taking up Bachelor of Fine Arts at commentaries – elements that make graffiti all the University of Santo Tomas and finishing his the more controversial, but only last until the master’s degree in the same institution. walls are scrubbed clean or painted over.

“During that time I wanted to do graffiti but I Serving as a stark contrast to Intramuros’ was afraid to be caught so I’d do it in restrooms, centuries-old walls and old vibe is a on walls and armchairs of UST,” relates full display of 21st-century urban art Ungga in the vernacular. It wasn’t until in vibrant colors, styles and tags on a he was invited by his MFA classmate Mark concrete tucked away in an empty lot.

Salvatus (aka Boy Agimat) to join PSP that The once-dreary underpass columns he found more reasons in pursuing the of Nagtahan Bridge are now alive art with which he was so fascinated. with portraits of revolutionary He picked the alias Ungga because heroes towering over the mundane he wanted a name that sounds in the city, while high-quality undoubtedly Pinoy, and because “I commissioned murals bedeck the wanted an exotic name that sounds barren walls and compounds of bad but once they meet me, they will Bonifacio Global City in Taguig. see that I am good looking,” he says Back in 2006, the Metro Manila in jest.

Development Authority initiated This Tacloban-bred artist started an art project on walls along the his revolutionary mission to stretch of EDSA. From circles and transform dull walls into colorful and squares, the agency’s version of insightful works of art in EDSA, with graffiti transformed into a more two aims in mind fueled by his love elaborate showcase of street art – for urban art and adrenaline rush: to to the delight of many who were offer a fresh change in the country’s thoroughly underwhelmed by the street art and to democratize art into agency’s first endeavor. a form that the masses will appreciate.

But before the Philippines “Before I only saw graffiti in movies, opened, albeit slightly, its eyes to this music videos and on the Internet; what unconventional art, the graffiti artist we know as ‘street art’ in the Philippines collective Pilipinas Street Plan (PSP) were anti-government propaganda and has been staunch revolutionaries of this advertising. We lack art on the street,” ephemeral form of urban art, gathering Driftwood Local shares Ungga. He adds that for many graffiti artists and writers and going (Posca paint on Filipinos, vandalism is an illegal practice longboard, 2011)

‘To The Batcave’ (2011)

and therefore shouldn’t be tolerated, but Ungga “wanted to show them that ‘vandalism’ could mean good” by using it not to destroy or deface public and private spaces but as form of “Urban Beautification.”

But of course, Ungga and PSP have set ground rules when venturing out on the street. “We never do it on churches, monuments, schools and private property unless we’re given permission by the owners,” he says.

So from doing it illegally for a year (when he was almost arrested), Ungga then transitioned to creating graffiti art in private property with permission. “If we’re doing it legally we’re able to create it better since we’re not pressed for time,” he admits.

Ungga reiterates that aside from opening the public’s eyes to real street art, he wants art to be more accessible to virtually everyone.

“Not everyone goes to galleries, because they’re deemed as places for the moneyed; not everyone knows our National Artists, that’s why we’re bringing art to the people by expressing it on public walls,” shares Ungga.

He admits that they get bashed most of the time but they also receive praises and acceptance from those who are more open to this unconventional kind of beauty.

From walls, Ungga moved on to living canvases as a tattoo artist in Sweden, where he lives with his Swedish-Filipino wife and two sons.

Sweden imposes zero tolerance on graffiti and street art, but this doesn’t stop him from leaving his mark, which is usually a character that looks Pinoy with a distinct circular nose. “Whenever I get the chance, I grab the opportunity,” he states with quiet conviction.

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LIFE life @ thestandard.com .ph

@LIFEatStandard

BRAND YOU: SOCIAL MEDIA AND YOUR PERSONAL BRAND

Use social media to boost your presence and image online.

Be in control, not the other way around.

BY KAI MAGSANOC

I

n the age of self-made celebrities, social media plays a crucial role in building people’s perception of who we are, and this can make or break us. This can get us the job we dream of, it can get us the coveted title of “influencer,” and it can give us the life we want to have.

But it’s a card that must be dealt carefully.

We sat down with social media strategist Rosario Juan on the topic of personal branding, and how to best communicate our authentic self through social media in order to help us reach our goals.

PERSONAL BRANDING DEFINED

When asked for a definition of personal branding, Juan quotes a piece she wrote for homegrown.ph: “Let’s define it by stating what it is not, and what it should not be – personal branding is not self-promotion or your best foot forward, and it is not a depiction of what you wish to be.”

She continues, “Personal branding is an outward expression of who you really are.”

Whether we are aware of it or not, all of us have some form of personal branding. Juan says it is in the way we carry ourselves, how

we dress, our sense of style, how we talk, act, react, our attitude.

“All these factors come together to form our ‘personal brand’,” she says. “It becomes what we are known for or what our friends, family, peers, perceive us to be.”

In a nutshell: when those around you say, “That is so you!” the “that” they are referring to is their perception of your personal brand.

PERSONAL BRANDING IN THE AGE OF SOCIAL MEDIA

With people today having at least one social media account, Juan says that now, more than ever, we need to be aware of our personal brand.

“There are now so many ways to find people, research, and learn about complete strangers,” she states. “[There is] a myriad of ways to communicate virtually without having the opportunity of presenting yourself in the best possible way to other people.

“In short, through social media posts alone, people who have never met you can form a complete view of you without even giving you a chance to introduce yourself properly.

“Your social media reputation definitely precedes you.”

A good personal brand can open doors, present opportunities, and connect us to people from the other side of the globe.

PLATFORMS TO USE

In managing our personal brand online, Juan recommends using the following platforms: 1. LinkedIn, for our professional personal brand. “Make sure that photo isn’t some random selfie or a photo of you cropped out of a group photo. Use a professionallooking photo on your LinkedIn profile.

Write a concise and informative bio and fill in your online resume with care.”

2. Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter for our personal brand. “Choose the social networking sites you are comfortable in.

These are still the top social networking sites in the Philippines.”

THE DOS AND DON’TS

Juan, who also spoke to LIFE at The Standard about influencers, gives three things all of us should remember to do with our personal brand in mind: be consistent, be authentic, and think before you click.

What we should not do is a longer list: 1. Don’t be impulsive 2. Don’t ever post when you are infuriated 3. Don’t think you can keep anything or take anything back from the Internet 4. Don’t believe in your own press

THE RULE OF THUMB

The social media age is also the age of authenticity. Most – if not all – self-made celebrities rose to popularity because they started talking to their webcam about their thoughts and posting them online.

Or they shoot themselves doing their makeup, and the video gets millions of hits.

“If you can’t say it in front of your grandmother, don’t post it,” says Juan. “There shouldn’t be a need to edit your post if you think well before you click the ‘post’ button.”

Juan reminds us that a huge, public audience can see our posts.

“Do not post anything you will regret – profanity, derogatory remarks, hateful speech and statements that may be misconstrued,” she cautions. “Do post what you think, but be aware of the sensibilities of the general public.”

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LIFE life @ thestandard.com .ph

@LIFEatStandard

THE DEIFICATION OF THE ENTREPRENEUR THE ARMCHAIR PILOSOPA

BY IZZY WARREN GONZALEZ

T

hroughout the ages, i.e. the last hundred years or so when humanity somehow got it into its mind that generations rather than eras needed classification because so much (or so little?) was being achieved from decade to decade, we have somehow been unable to grasp one pivotal point about those who come after us: We will never understand the ones who come after us, no matter how much we resent not being understood by the ones who came before us.

First off, we have the boomers – the dudes and chicks who changed the world’s mind about War. The largesse and abundance of the ’70s and ’80s, thus effectively thinning off the herd, killed off the weaker ones. The ’90s was spent in weight loss and parenting magazines, with Boomers trying their darnedest not to be anything like their parents.

Finally, the world descended into its eventual decline into anti-aging products and senior citizenship.

They believe in inheritance, not just who will inherit the Earth (as they are largely more religious than any generation since), but who inherits their estate. Like it or not, it is still a

THE GIST

Boomer world where they rule the roost and decide who gets what, when, where, how, and why.

By anyone’s reckoning, I am a Millennial *shudder*. The label doesn’t fit at all. I’m not Time Magazine’s “technology-addled narcissist” who also happens to be a Justin Bieber fan, although I find nothing wrong with moving back home in case the going gets too tough.

Unlike people now in their earlyto mid-twenties, I do remember what it was like to play outside, climb a tree, skin your knee, be scared of what your parents might think, and hang out in line for concert tickets in the freezing cold dewy morning. I can still mimic the horrible grating noise of dial-up Internet that was only available in the school library, and I remember when a family computer was a luxury rather than some form of puritanical punishment. Plus, it was full of games, not sex offenders. I remember having your own phone line was the height of independence and a sign of trust from your folks.

I wasn’t told to follow my dreams, but taught to follow the rules. I wasn’t encouraged to travel, to learn from other cultures as a backpacking transient, to lead a nomadic life of smelly socks and white-guy dreads – but to travel when I could afford to do so in style. I wasn’t encouraged to have feelings much less the empathy to understand others’, and I have no idea why my feelings are so important to anybody else.

These little shifts in thinking from the old way to the new

somehow paved the way for the Entrepreneur to reign supreme in the workplace, over the salary man, over the career-driven individual, and over the disillusioned artist whittling out a meager existence in a dead-end job. What changed in the last few years, such that the successful businessperson was “looking for mentors and trainers in the world of work, and not necessarily managers”?

Who ever thought that a startup would be more appealing than a job as mid-level management in a cold, faceless conglomerate?

What made it okay to admit not

being good at something, to look forward to learning on the job, to admitting mistakes and being held accountable? What made it okay to fail as long as you failed upwards?

The Entrepreneur, the heads of Fortune 500 companies, and Millennials all have one thing in common, however: a sense of ownership. They own what is theirs, their results and their development, their failures and their points for improvement. They all seek to better their output, not just for their own salary and own lookout, but for the betterment of the company, the longevity of

the project, and the impact they seek to make on the world. The Millennial is living the dream, the dream I once thought too smug to even consider. The Millennial, the Deified Entrepreneur, is out to change the world. I wish I were, too.

Are you perturbed with the realisation that you, too, are a Millennial? Drop me a line at thearmchairpilosopa@gmail.com to discuss it, or follow me on Twitter as @ArmchrPilosopa, IG and Tumblr as thearmchairpilosopa, or add me up on Facebook. Let’s have a chat, and talk about our feelings.

An online dating story worth $20,000

BY ED BIADO

C

hristine, not her real name, is a businesswoman in her early forties.

After recently breaking up with her boyfriend, she set up an OkCupid account to see what’s out there. She met a man around her age – let’s call him Dave – a Caucasian expat in Malaysia.

They immediately hit it off and endlessly flirted with each other on the Internet and over long-distance telephone calls (on Dave’s dime, naturally). They sent each other pictures, some of which are NSFW. It was fun and refreshing and all sorts of kilig, and Christine felt like she was developing real feelings for Dave.

Two weeks in, Dave said he was having some bank troubles. “Don’t worry, I’m not asking you to send me money,” he assured Christine. All he needed was for her to log into his online banking account and move some funds around. He gave her a link to an offshore account and his login details.

Christine, albeit skeptical about the whole thing, played along.

She did what Dave asked and saw that he had US$2 million. “If this is real, I can just clean him out,” Christine thought to

herself, which she shared with me later on. “Did he really trust me for him to be willing to give me access to $2 million? Or was he that desperate and he truly had no choice? Was there no one in Malaysia to help him out? Or even anyone from back where he came from?”

“Transfer $20,000 into your account,” he instructed, “and when you receive it, wire it to me.” That seems harmless enough but it did mean that Christine would have to provide her bank details as well. To be on the safe side, she entered the details of an account of hers with no money in it. She was then to wait three days for the transfer to be completed.

“I knew something was wrong,” Christine tells me. “But I really wanted to know where this was going. I also wanted to give him the benefit of the doubt. He seemed so legit and maybe I was just being too cynical. I really liked this guy.”

Then, the other shoe dropped. The next day, Dave got in touch again to say that he couldn’t wait two more days and that he needed cash right away. “That’s when I felt like a Class-A fool,” Christine confessed.

“He asked if I could advance the $20,000. I would receive it in two days, anyway. At first, I thought that I wanted to help him but that’s a lot of money.

That’s almost P1 million. I also debated with myself if I should send a fraction just to tide him over. I was getting all sorts of red flags, but remember, I still liked him. $1,000 perhaps?”

Heart and brain engaged in a tug of war, she almost caved in but wisdom got the better of her. She went back to the dubious bank’s website and clicked on “Contact Us.” She sent the bank an email to verify the validity of Dave’s account. She got a “cannot be delivered” message in her email and that’s when her suspicions were finally confirmed that everything had been a lie.

Not wanting to confront Dave or simply stop talking to him, she decided to stick with her story that she wasn’t liquid and therefore, would not be able to send anything until the transaction cleared. There was nothing Dave could do about it, of course. And as she expected, no transfer happened at all.

“I was scammed,” Christine admitted.

“I looked it up online and there is such as thing as a romance scam. I’m sharing my story because I want people to know, especially single women my age who may be feeling vulnerable and in need of affection, that in this day and age, these things still happen and con men really know how to manipulate their marks to get what they want. They’re gonna take their time and make you fall for them. I want your readers to know that if it happened to me, it can happen to them. It can happen to anyone.”

Follow me on Twitter and Instagram @EdBiado

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LIFE life @ thestandard.com .ph

@LIFEatStandard

IG SPY

A LIFE OF TRAVEL AND ADVENTURE Are you living your life like Walter Mitty who spends day-byday just staring at photos of adventure and travel, unable to live his fantasy? Get your luggage, your camera, and your box of memories and fill it up with life and adventure! Take it from these wanderers, whose IG accounts make us want to fly out of the office and hit the outdoors.

@expertvagabond If you’re up for grit, and a life of continuous search for adventure, then you will like the Instagram account of nomad Matthew Karsten. He has been traveling for four years now after leaving his job in Miami, selling everything he owned and going off to a life of continuous journey. He manages the blog site www.expertvagabond.com. Watch his life-changing activities and follow what new experiences he is up to next. From his first travel in Guatemala, to his skydiving in Fiji, his visit to the volcanoes of North America, even his latest visit to Siargao Island in the Philippines – hit up his IG account and be inspired to a new journey.

@eazytraveler

@bellajaeger

@theblondeabroad

This account is run by Edgar Alan Zeta-Yap, a travel journalist from Cebu who has been around all 81 provinces in the Philippines and 11 countries in Southeast Asia, documenting travel and adventure for local and foreign travel publications. Check out his travel perspectives and learn a thing or two about the people he meets and the culture of the land he visits. If you can’t get enough of his photo feed, hit him up on www.eazytraveler.net.

An eye candy with a taste for adventure – Isabella Jaeger is a 22-year-old German Filipina who recently discovered the joys of blogging under www.whereisbella. com which she says is a result of her Instagram travel adventures. Follow her off-road experiences with her friends as she hits up the beach, enjoys land and water sports, and discovers life and culture in her many travels.

This hot California blonde named Kiersten is another corporate junkie who left her job to become a world traveler.

Everyone’s dream, right?

Well, she lived and is still living it. Follow her world travel and let her convince you that you need not be confined in one place to be happy. Warning: a lot of bikini shots involved.

V I S UA L TA L K

Tales from W a tooth

CONCEPT AND ILLUSTRATION BY MELISSA VIBAR

henever I’m asked to describe a painful breakup, I would relate it to the most unforgettable experience of my childhood. That is – getting a tooth pulled out. Once it’s out of you, you’ll feel the pain. Then once in a while, your tongue will go to that spot, “remembering” what was there. Then as days go by, you’ll be surprised to notice that a new and healthy tooth is coming out of that place, replacing the old one.

Profound lessons in life can indeed be found even in the most unexpected places. From brushing to getting an impacted tooth pulled out, there are tales to tell and lessons to learn.

Let’s see if you can relate to these illustrations.

SAT URDAY : AUGUST 8 : 2015

SHOWBITZ

ISAH V. RED EDITOR

isahred @ gmail.com

KApuso love teAm in CAmbodiA A

ndrea Torres and Mikael Daez who are gaining popularity as a love team in the Southeast Asian region are in Cambodia until tomorrow for the third CTN Star Tour.

Organized by GMA Worldwide, Inc. (GWI), Kapuso network’s content distribution arm, and CTN, Cambodia’s leading television network, the Star Tour included the premiere night of the tandem’s first international project – the mini-TV series Blood in Dispute – last night.

This is the pair’s second Star

Tour together. They visited Cambodia last year for the second CTN Star Tour, where local fans warmly greeted them.

Andrea and Mikael were chosen to star in Blood in Dispute, which began filming in Cambodia early this year, following a successful run of their program Sana Ay Ikaw Na Nga (known by its international title It Might Be You), which aired on CTN in May 2014.

Blood in Dispute has scenes shot in the Philippines under the helm of acclaimed Canadian director Ken Simpson. The GMA-CTN co-produced show

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The hit Kapuso love team of Mikael Daez and Andrea Torres is featured in the mini-TV series Blood in Dispute in Cambodia

is also scheduled to air in the Philippines as a TV special. The premiere night in Cambodia was open to the public.

GWI paves the way for tGMA to reach a wider audience in the international arena. Viewers overseas can look forward to the best of what the Network has to offer.

Cambodians can also expect an exciting line-up of GMA programs as CTN most recently acquired several titles, including With A Smile, Carmela, The Borrowed Wife, Rhodora X, Akin Pa Rin Ang Bukas, My Husband’s Lover, and Indio.

RiChaRd Yap’s seCRet to suCCess

A

Present during the signing of the agreement between the Department of Education and Century Pacific Food are (from left) Linda Legaspi, chief executive and president, Marylindbert International; Education Undersecretary Dina Ocampo; Edwin Africa, VP-GM, Century Pacific Food; and Chris Po, chief executive and president, Century Pacific Food; with Birch Tree Fortified co-endorsers Richard Yap and Mutya Orquia and directors Beatriz Torno, Paraluman Giron and Dinah Mindo of the Department of Education Actor and entrepreneur Richard Yap grew up drinking Birch Tree Milk, a brand he represents now as an adult

ctor, entrepreneur, father and husband, Richard Yap wears many hats, and in order to sustain him with his different roles, a healthy diet, regular exercise and drinking milk are part of his routine.

“When I was a kid, I drank milk every day, once during breakfast and once before bed time. I give credit to my parents for instilling milk-drinking habit, which I apply until today.

Milk equips me with essential nutrients to help sustain my busy schedule,” said Yap. The father of two grew up drinking Birch Tree because “it was the only milk that I liked.”

The health benefits from drinking milk include increased bone strength, smoother skin, stronger immune system, and prevention of illnesses such as hypertension, obesity and osteoporosis.

“I encourage all parents to start your kids young with milk drinking. Now, there’s New Birch Tree Fortified Milk. It tastes great and is affordable. Nutrition is made accessible with this new product,” said Yap New Birch Tree Fortified Milk is the only brand with FibroBoost, a unique combination of essential nutrients fortified with Zinc, Vitamin C and Iron further enhanced with Inulin Fiber which is proven to help the body absorb up to 18 percent more Calcium.

“A healthy body and mind

are crucial to a strong future” said Edwin Africa, vice president and general manager of Snow Mountain Dairy Corp.

“Hence, New Birch Tree Fortified believes in instilling the milk drinking value to kids at a young age and to retain this habit as they grow older for a stronger future.”

To propagate the milk drinking habit, New Birch Tree Fortified and the Department of Education with Marylindbert International partnered in an advocacy named “Me and My Milk” that aims to encourage children to drink milk at home and even in school.

New Birch Tree Fortified will bring the advocacy to different public schools in the Philippines to promote encourage the milk-drinking habit. Initially, the advocacy will be brought to the following regions: National Capital Region (NCR), Central Luzon (Region 3), CALABARZON (Region 4A) and Ilocos Region (Region 1).

Birch Tree Fortified will provide free educational materials to benefit educators, parents and students.

New Birch Tree Fortified is manufactured for Century Pacific Food Inc. It also is responsible for such brands as Angel Evaporada, Angel Kremdensada, Home Price Sinigang Mix and Kaffe de Oro Coffee, among others.

New Birch Tree Fortified is now available at leading supermarkets, groceries and market stalls nationwide.

SAT URDAY : AUGUST 8 : 2015

C6

SHOWBITZ isahred @ gmail.com

aRE DEnniS anD JEnnYLYn an itEm, again? gLEnn REgOnDOLa Based on the way Dennis Trillo talks about Jennylyn Mercado, it’s safe to say that he still has a special place for Jennylyn in his heart. The two were a couple until they parted ways in 2011.

Also, a series of events made fans conclude that they are back in each other’s arms again. First, Dennis collaborated with Jen in a new album.

Then, the two were spotted several times working out in a gym. Prior to that, they were seen together in Balesin Island during the Holy Week.

While both had admitted that they indeed rekindled their friendship, the public has yet to hear whether or not they are officially an item.

During the press conference of

GMA Telebabad My Faithful Husband, their first project together in a long time, Dennis shared with the entertainment press what makes the series one to watch out for.

He said, “Of course, you have the FHM’s number one sexiest female.

You can expect a lot of hot scenes.”

The scribes tried to veer away from the topic and asked the actor what the real score is between him and his former ladylove. Is he courting Jennylyn, or are they actually back together?

He answered candidly, “Ano nga ba? May dapat pa bang aminin?

We’re okay now. We don’t want to be complicated, but we’re happy whatever we have. We just don’t want to talk about it because we are happy with everything that’s going on in our lives now.”

He doesn’t deny though, that he’s doubling his efforts to woe his former girlfriend.

“Yes, of course, I don’t deny that. I’m giving more importance

to all the things she’s doing right now,” he ended.

HHHHH Jeric Raval returns to action with his latest big screen project, Manila’s Finest. It’s been more than a decade since the last time he starred in an action flick. The last one was with Senator Lito Lapid in 2002.

Although, he appears on television once in a while, working on a fulllength action movie is what he has been hoping for since 12 years ago.

At the press conference held for the new movie, the action star expressed that he hopes this project will rekindle the interest of the viewing public on the action genre once more.

He told the press, “For the longest time, we were saddened by the plight of the action movies. We don’t know why moviegoers and the producers lost interest in them.

Maybe those Hollywood movies are much bigger (in scope), more action-packed, and producers real-

ly spend millions to do that, and we can’t be at par with them. “ Raval is also saddened by the fact that a lot of people have lost their jobs.

“That’s why when Direk William Mayo started shooting this, we felt that there’s so much more hope, that we can still do it. We just hope people will support us again.”

According to him, the biggest problem of the local film industry is still piracy - the very reason why producers lost interest in producing more movies.

Raval insisted, “Until this problem is resolved, we don’t really how we can move forward, but we’re trying our best. Piracy is the top problem. Example, your movie is showing August 10, a day before that, copies are already in the market. It’s being sold for a measly P50 p, so by the time the film is exhibited, almost everybody has seen it already.bThe government should really have that political will to implement laws to resolve this problem,” he said.

Dennis Trillo and Jennylyn Mercado are tabloid's hot items these days

Jeric Raval returns to action

Tune inTo Apple MusiC for soundTrACk on The go

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Grab photos of Apple Music

our daily dose of songs – from the latest chart-topping tunes that you sing along with while beating the traffic down to the obscure tracks that hit a soft spot in your heart – is now at your fingertips as Smart turns your music lifestyle up a notch through Smart Money, a fast, convenient and secure means to pay for your Apple Music membership as well as purchases on the App Store and iTunes on your phone sans credit card.

A revolutionary streaming app, Apple Music offers the world’s most extensive music catalogue with over 30 million tracks available on demand as well as through a bevy of cool features like access to playlists curated by music experts, a live worldwide radio and an interactive channel to connect with your favorite artists from all over the world.

Smart lets you enjoy Apple Music

CROSSWORD PUZZLE

ACROSS 1 Sticks out 5 Electric bridges 9 Position 12 Up above 13 Air show stunts 15 Comet’s cloud 16 Go off course 17 Innsbruck locale 18 Part of the range 19 St. Francis’ town 21 Lamenting

23 25 26 29 31 35 36 38 39 41 43

Garden access Explorer — Erikson Spooky, maybe Reflect deeply Evening gala Ms. Peeples of TV Whodunit award Oak feature Rhett’s hangout Fluffy quilt Kind of bus

EntERtainmEnt POWERhOUSE Apple Music is the stuff every music junkie ever dreamed of, and it’s precisely what the Cupertino-based tech giant promises to deliver when it rolled out the app in over 100 countries, including the Philippines, on June 30, “All the music you already have. And all the music you could ever want.”

“Apple Music’s grand promise fits into Smart’s thrust to enable Filipinos to live the Smart Life and turn their mobile phones into an entertainment powerhouse – whether it’s songs, movies, books or games they

SATURDAY, AUGUST 8, 2015

Indigo plants Mountain kingdom She has a habit Mexico’s — Villa Exploding star Brief engagement Rival of Martina Soda-can openers Tornado refuge NASA gear (hyph.)

Reason to cram Video game pioneer Lee of cakedom Trust Nubby fabric All excited Denver hrs.

Chirped Twig juncture

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DOWN 1 Borneo neighbor 2 Colorado tribe 3 Hammers obliquely 4 Leaf of grass 5 Cockpit reading 6 Judge — Bean 7 Crocus “bulb” 8 Thread purchase 9 Rocker Jon Bon — 10 Troubling sign

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ANSWER FOR PREVIOUS PUZZLE

and turn your music lifestyle up a notch through Smart Money, a fast, convenient and secure means to pay for your Apple Music membership as well as purchases on the App Store and iTunes on your phone – even without a credit card.

51 52 53 55 57 61 65 66 68 69 70 71 72 73 74

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Loud sound Fishtails Prove Like it was Warden’s dread Baylor of basketball Tavern sign (2 wds.)

Moon goddess “Dream Lover” singer Weighed down Feeling regret Lack of interest Barely scraping by Move a mum Medieval science Pillaging Fake Chocolate-colored dogs “Kazaam” star Those opposed Black-eyed — Road shoulder Fire brigade tools Ocean mineral Blue Nile source Shakespeare baddie Trampled Herb or guru Toon pooch

want,” said Ariel P. Fermin, executive vice president and Consumer Business Group Head at Smart.

“Apple Music is a welcome addition to our growing portfolio of mobile innovations and services because we know how music permeates our life: we all have a song we want to wake up to, a genre that perks up our mood, an artist that inspires our lifestyle, or a playlist to marks our life’s lowest and highest points.

“The app houses all these songs in one massive library, and Smart – through its innovative payment system as well as its largest and most advanced network – is in the best position to enable everyone to enjoy it anytime, everywhere,” he added. nO CREDit CaRD REqUiRED Smart subscribers can enjoy Apple Music under a free trial period of three months, after which, the monthly subscription costs $2.99

for a personal account, or $4.99 for a family of six. These subscriptions can all be conveniently charged to one’s Smart Money account.

Smart subscribers can easily get their Smart Money account number by texting MONEY to 343, then activate it by filling out an online form.

Smart subscribers may also apply for a Smart Money account at any Smart Store with just one valid ID – no financial documents required.

Once activated, Smart Money may also be used to pay apps, games, books, videos and magazines on the App Store and iTunes, practically unlocking the full Apple experience on one’s mobile phone.

It may also be used to pay bills, remit money, shop online, and reload one’s account in just a few taps.

To know more about enjoying Apple content conveniently using Smart Money visit http://smart. com.ph/money.

SAT URDAY : AUGUST 8 : 2015

C7

SHOWBITZ isahred @ gmail.com

Rhian Ramos is BaBaeng UBas in ‘Wagas’

Team IPC with Wish Kid Amie (fifth from left) at the finish line

From C8

Today, Rhian Ramos’ pretty face is barely recognizable as she plays Naty in Wagas. Naty is a woman who contracted a rare skin disease that covered her once beautiful face with grape-like lumps.

Her disease subjected her to insults and ridicule from other people that led to her low self-esteem—made even worse by the abuse she suffered in the hands of the man she first loved after the illness changed her appearance.

When Naty decided to finally leave her abusive boyfriend, she found herself in Zambales where she met Dolfo, the man whom she believes is the one destined to love her truly despite her disease.

In a special episode featuring Rhian Ramos and Mark Herras, witness a story of a love that looks beyond what meets the eye and into the heart. Catch Wagas, 7 p.m. tonight on GMA News TV.

Mark Herras plays the man whom Rhian finds love and understanding

L Rhian Ramos plays a woman afflicted with a rare skin disease in Wagas

tears for fears in hong kong Fans will be happy to know that Tears for Fears is having a special show this year.

And it will be at the 14th Foreign Correspondents’ Club of Hong Kong (FCC) Annual Charity Ball.

The black tie event will be held at the Grand Hall of the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre (Expo Drive, Wanchai) on Oct. 10. The FCC ball is one of the highlights of Hong Kong’s social calendar with 1,300 local and overseas guests and attended by Hong Kong’s movers and shakers in the business, corporate and social world.

Ball guests can dance and sing along to the band’s top hits from the 80’s.

Dubbed as Hong Kong’s most fun charity ball, fans will experience unforgettable Tears for Fears concert in a party setting complete with pre-dinner cocktails and a four-course gourmet dinner with fine French and Italian wines.

Tears for Fears fans who fly in from the Philippines to attend the FCC Ball will receive posters personally signed by band front men, Curt Smith and Roland Orzabal and participate in the lively bidding during live auction to win exclusive Tears for Fears collectibles

Tear for Fears will be in Hong Kong

with Curt and Roland’s signatures.

The FCC Annual Charity Ball is the major fundraising event of the FCC Charity Fund raising more than HK$ 77 million (over P431 million) to help educate Hong Kong’s poorest of children.

The FCC Ball is supported by generous individual and corporate sponsors like UBS, Bank of America Merrill Lynch, Cathay Pacific, Macquarie Bank, Georgina Hope Foundation, BlackRock, Savills, and many more.

Tears for Fears follows a long list of famous performers at the FCC Ball that includes The Jacksons, Huey Lewis and the News, INXS, Sergio Mendes, Doobie Brothers, Beach Boys, Blondie, tCharlie Daniels Band and Cre-

Unstoppable horror in ‘sinister 2’

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CloUd CompUting firm walks for Children’s wishes

eyond its sleeper hit commercial success, the 2012 movie Sinister that starred Ethan Hawke also garnered acclaim from critics and at film festivals.

Following its tremendous success comes Sinister 2, the chilling sequel set at the aftermath of the

shocking events in Sinister. The evil spirit of Bughuul continues to spread with frightening intensity. The new story is a scary, suspenseful race against time to save a family from falling prey to the madness, movies, and murder conjured by Bughuul and his foot soldiers, the ghost kids.

dence Clearwater Revisited.

Tickets for this year’s FCC Ball are priced at HK$ 2,888 (around P 16,170) inclusive of pre-dinner cocktails from 6 to 8 p.m,, fourcourse gourmet dinner with wine and sensational entertainment from Tears for Fears. All drinks are complimentary courtesy of the charity ball’s generous wine and liquor sponsors: French wines from Cru Bourgeois, Italian wines from Distilleria Bottega S.p.A, Patron tequila, Snow Leopard vodka and LIK whisky.

Tears for Fears Philippine fans can email Boots Moyer to reserve their FCC Ball tickets and avail of special hotel rate subject to room availability: moyer. boots@gmail.com

In “Sinister 2, nine-year-old twins Dylan and Zach Collins (portrayed by real-life brothers Robert and Dartanian Sloan) have been spirited away by their mother Courtney (Shannyn Sossamon of Wayward Pines) to a rural house in Illinois. The home and property are just isolated enough to evade Courtney’s estranged husband Clint (Leo Coco), who has abused her and Dylan. This protective mother is unaware that

ocal cloud computing and data center services firm IPC (IP Converge Data Services, Inc.) has linked hands with non-profit Make-A-Wish Foundation Philippines to help uplift the lives of children with life-threatening illnesses.

IPC recently participated in Walk for Wishes, a one-day event which allowed individual and group sponsors to meet their beneficiaries. Held at the Bonifacio Global City in Taguig, IPC’s contingent of 20 volunteers joined Wish Kids in a 500-meter health walk.

The event was capped with the granting of specific wishes.

“IPC’s participation allowed our employees to engage in an activity that benefits society.

We are able to extend assistance to the children of MakeA-Wish, and at the same time we have set a culture of community involvement within our company,” said Jefrri-ann Santiago, IPC Human Resources manager.

Walk for Wishes is one of the activities spearheaded by Make-A-Wish Foundation Philippines. The charitable organization benefits children three to 17 years old battling life-threatening diseases.

Make-a-Wish’s primary focus is to grant wishes to enrich the human experience with hope, strength, and joy.

“Part of IPC’s corporate vision is to be a game-changer in the IT industry. This role extends to making a difference in society as a whole. Make-A-

the house itself is marked for death but ex-Deputy So & So (James Ransone, reprising his Sinister role), now a private investigator, has deduced that the family’s hideout is the next manifestation spot for Bughuul. Determined to avenge the tragedy he was privy to while on the police force, So & So journeys to the rural residence, intending to burn it to the ground and thereby end Bughuul’s chain of death. Finding Courtney and the twins there, he

Wish takes a radical approach in helping a special sector of children. And we believe in this revolutionary thinking.

Not only does it make a unique impact to the Wish Kids, but also to those who help them,” Santiago added.

The company’s partnership with Make-A-Wish further includes donations and wish-granting to selected beneficiaries, as well as regular meet-ups with the Wish Kids.

Reacting to the company activity, an IPC employee shared, “We all work for our families to make sure they are well provided for and taken care of. This gave us an opportunity to extend that kind of care to others.

The experience was amazing. It made me realize that we do have so much that we can share.”

This partnership with MakeA-Wish is IPC’s first independent corporate social responsibility. According to Santiago, previous outreach activities have been done in line with IPC’s mother company, PLDT. In particular, IPC has and continues to support the entrepreneurial efforts of Tahanang Walang Hagdanan.

“We’ve started with something as simple as buying the greeting cards created by Tahanang Walang Hagdanan. Likewise, we began with a simple gesture of walking with our Wish Kid and granting her wish for a new gadget. From this, we’re looking forward to implementing more activities that make a positive change to those who need help,” Santiago explained.

realizes that they are in danger from Clint and that he must step in to help them before he can implement a plan of attack against Bughuul.

What neither Courtney nor So & So are aware of is how the ghost kids have already been unsettling Dylan with their disturbing “home movies,” each more sinister than the last.

Sinister 2 opens Aug. 26 in cinemas nationwide from Pioneer Films.

SAT URDAY : AUGUST 8 : 2015

C8

ISAH V. RED EDITOR isahred @ gmail.com

SHOWBITZ

The cast of On the Wings of Love (from left) Nico Antonio, Bianca Manalo is also in the series, Joel Torre, James Reid is Clark, Nadine Lustre is Leah, Albie Casiño, Cherry Pie Picache, Nanette Inventor plays an important role in the soap opera

JaDiNe arriviNg ‘oN The wiNgs of love’ oN moNDay ISAH V. RED From the big screen, box office’s phenomenal young attraction is arriving on the small screen or wide screen TV starting Monday.

ABS-CBN’s newest drama series On the Wings of Love is set to bring romantic and feel-good vibes on Primetime Bida. This year’s most romantic drama series is about dreams, love, and family and country’s most popular love team on the big screen – James Reid and Nadine Lustre – are the stars in it.

In their first-ever drama series, Nadine plays Leah, a young woman with big dreams, one of which is going to America and finding work there to help her family. James, on the other hand, is Clark, a young man living in America who wants to give his siblings in the Philippines a good life after their mother died.

As she begins to live her American dream, Leah faces a big problem as she finds out that her visa is about to expire. To remain living in the US, Leah makes an agreement to marry Clark, who is an American citizen, in exchange of money that he greatly needs.

How will Clark and Leah’s arrangement to pretend as a couple who loves each other change their entire lives? What will they do when they find themselves falling in love with each other? Will it fulfill or hinder their dreams?

On the Wings of Love also features some of the most talented ac-

tors in the country including Joel Torre, Bianca Manalo, Albie Casino, Nanette Inventor, Nico Antonio, Jason Francisco, Nhikzy Calma, Andrei Garcia, Laiza Comia, and Cherry Pie Picache. Also in the series are Isay Alvarez and Katya Santos in special roles.

The series is the latest offering of ABS-CBN’s Dreamscape Entertainment Television, the group that created top-rating drama series such as Nathaniel and Inday Bote.

Don’t miss the beginning of Clark and Lea’s love story in On the Wings of Love on Monday on ABS-CBN Primetime Bida.

HHHHH New siNgle from Paolo oNesa The ultimate heartthrob crooner Paolo Onesa will make girls swoon again as he releases his latest single “You Are So Beautiful” off his debut album Pop Goes Standards on the MCA Music label.

This Joe Cocker original further highlights Paolo’s voice that endeared him to audiences during his stint in The Voice of the Philippines Season 1 where he was one of the finalists under Team Bamboo.

The single will soon be playing on your favorite radio stations.

The music video for the single also premiered on MYX on July 18.

It was shot at the Fabulous Suite of Summit Hotel Magnolia. The Hollywood-themed suite is adorned with movie posters, luggage side tables, and a bathtub with a peeka-boo view to the second bedroom. The room is a conversation piece by itself and is good for private and memorable parties.

Guests can find comfort of high quality bed linens, non allergenic pillows, duvet covers and a super soft pillow top mattress pad that add a cloudlike surface to the beds. “You Are So Beautiful” music video also features Miss Bikini Philippines 2012 Abbygale Monderin as Paolo’s love interest.

“I am so excited for this new single and looking forward to seeing the music video on music channel. Hope you will all support it,” Paolo said.

“Pop Goes Standards” is now out on CDs at Astroplus and Odyssey.

It is also available for digital download via Spinnr and iTunes and streaming via Spinnr, Apple Music, Spotify, Deezer and Guvera.

For bookings and inquiries, contact Sammy Samaniego of MCA Music Artist Management at +632 9162504 local 107, +639178565174 and +639209682991 or email sammy.samaniego@umusic.com or mcabookings@umusic.com.

James Reid and Nadine Lustre or known simply as JaDine are on the boob tube as well

➜ Continued on C7

This year’s most romantic drama series is about dreams, love, and family and country’s most popular love team on the big screen – James Reid and Nadine Lustre – are the stars in it Paolo Onesa has a new single