The Standard - 2015 August 27 - Thursday

VOL. XXIX  NO. 196  3 Sections 32 Pages P18  THURSDAY : AUGUST 27, 2015  www.thestandard.com.ph  editorial@thestandard.com.ph

Tesda boss eyes Senate run with NPC slate

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RESIGN RIGHT NOW Calls for Cabinet men seeking election to quit mount

By Christine F. Herrera, Sandy Araneta and Maricel V. Cruz

CALLS for the resignation of a growing list of Cabinet members mounted Wednesday amid accusations that some officials were using public funds to bankroll their election campaigns while others were simply deemed incapable of doing their jobs.

The leftist Bagong Alyansang Makabayan on Wednesday dared Cabinet and appointed officials led by Interior Secretary Manuel Roxas II to resign irrevocably for early campaigning using millions of pesos of taxpayers’ money.

Aside from Roxas, the standard bearer of the ruling Liberal Party in the 2016 presidential elections, Bayan secretary-general Renato Reyes Jr. issued the challenge to PhilHealth director Risa Hontiveros, Justice Secretary Leila de Lima and Metro Manila Development Authority chairman Francis Tolentino, all of whom were in a Cebu sortie with President Benigno Aquino III and ranking leaders of the Liberals.

De Lima, Tolentino and Hontiveros were strongly rumored to be part of the administration’s senatorial slate in 2016.

Reyes questioned the timing of their sorties and commercials, which the Palace claimed were being done to educate the public about the efforts being undertaken by their respective agencies.

“Delicadeza demands that those in appointive positions seeking posts in 2016 and already engaged in early campaigning, should resign,” Reyes said. “They should not abuse their positions and public funds to advance their political interests.”

Reyes took potshots at Hontiveros, who claimed the funding for her PhilHealth ads did not come from the taxpayers, contrary to Malacañang’s admission that her ads was paid for by PhilHealth funds.

He also said Tolentino had no business being in Cebu because his job description of minding the traffic covers only Metro Manila.

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On the road. MMDA Chairman Francis Tolentino, who is being urged to resign over Metro Manila’s traffic problems, directs traffic along Edsa in Mandaluyong City on Wednesday.

MANNY PALMERO

‘Zero Remittance Day’ to cost P3.1b

By Macon R. Araneta THE government stands to lose some P3.1 billion in one day if the campaign for “Zero Remittance Day” by overseas Filipino workers pushes through this weekend in connection with the balikbayan box controversy, said Senator

Francis Escudero on Wednesday.

Citing data from the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas, Escudero said personal remittances from overseas workers in 2014 set an all-time high for the country at $26.93 billion, which accounted for 8.5 percent of the gross domestic product (GDP) last year.

He said a one-day remmittance boycott could translate to losses of over $67 million or P3.1 billion (at an exchange rate of P46.61) for the economy.

The Palace, however, played down the impact of a one-day remittance boycott, saying overseas Next page

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P1b lost to Ineng in Ilocos Norte Resign From A1...

Reyes also hit De Lima for singing “That’s What Friends Are For” at an event called “A Gathering of Friends.”

“I just hope that the song is not a reflection of the kind of justice advanced by the regime,” Reyes said.

“If Mar Roxas won’t stop his early campaigning, he should submit his irrevocable resignation from his appointive position in the DILG. Now. The same goes for members of Aquino’s Cabinet and other appointive officials who have plans for 2016 and who are now going around the country together with Roxas and Aquino,” Reyes said.

“Why is MMDA chairman Tolentino going around provinces if not for early campaigning?

Why is PhilHealth director Risa Hontiveros placing TV ads and joining pre-election sorties?

“Malacañang thinks the public is too stupid to notice early campaigning using public funds.

[Communications Secretary Herminio] Coloma should stop insulting our collective intelligence by saying these officials are alter egos of the President trying to touch base with the people.

Such work could be done quietly, no fanfare, no media hype and no huge expenses,” Reyes said.

Reyes said Malacañang and Hontiveros have issued conflicting statements on her recent PhilHealth TV ads.

Earlier, Hontiveros claimed that no public funds were used for the ads but that the PhilHealth board approved the use of the ads, he said.

However, Reyes said, Coloma on Wednesday said Hontiveros was conducting a public information campaign through TV ads, using PhilHealth funds, and insisted this was not against the law.

“So which is it really? Who is telling the truth? Did she or didn’t she? The problem with early campaigning using public funds is that it is really hard to hide the obvious,” Reyes said.

Reyes said Hontiveros’ paid ads started to come out barely a few days after she was appointed to the PhilHealth board.

He said PhilHealth funds were public funds, not the campaign kitty of politicians who wish to project themselves.

A series of paid ads for Roxas also came out barely 24 hours

after President Aquino endorsed him as the LP standard bearer on July 31.

After the President’s endorsement, Roxas offered to resign but the President did not accept his resignation.

“It is improper to use your position and government resources to advance your own political interests. Isn’t this government supposed to be advocating the straight path?” he said addressing the administration’s potential candidates.

As for promoting the agency and educating the public, Reyes asked why was this being done only now, a few months before the elections.

“Why did the agency not pursue their promotions in the past, without being tainted by partisan politics?”

Reyes also demanded that Roxas explain why he was claiming credit for the supposed achievement of the Department of Social Welfare and Development on the purported success of the 4Ps and the controversial conditional cash transfer program.

Reyes said that in one of Roxas’ paid TV commercials, Roxas boasted that the Daang Matuwid, through the 4Ps and CCT programs, had managed to have 300,000 student-recipients graduate in high school.

“It is indeed strange that it is the DILG secretary doing public awareness for programs of the DSWD. Is it because of the lack of so-called achievements by the DILG that Mar has to claim credit for DSWD programs?” Reyes said. “And which department pays for the infomercial?”

“MMDA chairman Tolentino has no business going around provinces because his work is in Metro Manila. He has no official function in Cebu, unless he considers nationwide pre-election sorties as part of his job description,” he added.

Malacañang defended the Cabinet officials and said they were free to endorse candidates but that they should not be remiss in their duties and responsibilities.

Coloma said Tolentino and De Lima were in Cebu as “the President’s alter-ego.”

“We all serve the President, and if there is an official function of the President, it is right that the members of the Cabinet are there as witnesses at the official function and to render their support,”

Zero

From A1... workers were free to decide when to send money home, but eventually would do so because their families needed the funds.

During the first half of 2015, the central bank reported that personal remittances grew by 6.2 percent to $12.7 billion from $11.9 billion in the same period last year.

On the average, Filipino workers across the globe sent a combined remittance of more than $2 billion per month from January to June this year.

“The OFWs play a major part of the Philippine economy and its sustainability, so I don’t understand why the BoC (Bureau of Customs) targets the OFWs in its anti-smuggling campaign,” Escudero said.

“This is not the way to treat our modern-day heroes. I say no to physical

Coloma said in Filipino.

He said these officials could also talk to employees of regional offices.

Hontiveros, he added, was part of the governing body of PhilHealth that was assigned to do public education and public information.

“She was explaining the benefits and services of PhilHealth and the funds that were used came from PhilHealth, which is allowed by law,” Coloma said to defend Hontiveros’ paid ads.

Coloma also defended Customs Commissioner Alberto Lina and the MMDA’s Tolentino from calls for their resignation, saying the two had big responsibilities that they were carrying out in the best way they can.

Although not all that they do is supported by those affected by their decisions, it was not right to demand their resignation every time this happened, Coloma said.

“What I am aware of is that the President continues to trust in the capability of the two,” said Coloma.

Tolentino came under fire Wednesday in social media networks which dismissed his act of directing traffic along EDSA as a political gimmick that did nothing to solve Metro Manila’s growing traffic problem.

Tolentino said he would not resign, and urged his critics to help the government by suggesting solutions to the traffic problem.

Also on Wednesday, Coloma said the inability of National Historical Commission chairman Maria Sereno Diokno to defend the Rizal Monument was “not a basis for her to resign if her personal position is contrary to the position of the government as stated by Solicitor General Florin Hilbay in the Supreme Court case regarding the Torre de Manila case.”

He added: “The official stand of the republic is being presented by the Solicitor General.”

The NHCP is a respondent in the September 2014 petition filed by the Knights of Rizal against the controversial Torre de Manila, a 49-story residential building which heritage advocates have slammed for ruining the sightline of the Rizal Monument.

However, the building’s developer, DMCI Homes, insisted that the Torre de Manila did not violate heritage or zoning laws, as it has been given clearances by the Manila city government and the

inspection of balikbayan boxes. The BoC should run after big-time smugglers.”

Escudero, who used to head the Senate committee on finance, said the bureau should put to good use its budget for surveillance and prevention of smuggling amounting to P540 million under the 2015 General Appropriations Act, to enhance the agency’s intelligence gathering capabilities.

He said President Benigno Aquino III did the right thing when he stopped the bureau from implementing the regulation following a firestorm of protests from overseas workers and their families.

Senator Ferdinand Marcos Jr., meanwhile, urged Customs Commissioner Alberto Lina to apologize to overseas workers over his threat to randomly open and inspect balikbayan boxes, gift boxes that they send home to their families.

“A public apology is necessary to correct whatever adverse impression the balikbayan controversy had made on the positive image of our workers overseas,” said Marcos.

NHCP itself.

The Supreme Court is now hearing oral arguments on the case.

The NHCP used to be represented by the Office of the Solicitor General, but the OSG has dropped the cultural agency as its client over differences in their position on the issue.

In a reversal of its earlier stance in January, the OSG last month declared the Torre de Manila illegal, and said there was legal basis to stop the construction of the condominium project because it violates constitutional provisions on the preservation of cultural artifacts.

In a July 29 letter, Diokno criticized Hilbay for backtracking, claiming that the OSG had assured the NHCP that it will be “cleared of responsibility” because there was “clearly no sufficient legal basis” to compel the NHCP to stop the project.

But Senator Pia Cayetano said she found it “extremely strange” for the NHCP to insist that it cannot defend the Rizal Monument.

Cayetano, chairman of the Senate committee on education, arts, and culture, led Senate inquiries last year into the controversial high-rise project.

Lawmakers, meanwhile, said the senatorial ambitions of De Lima could be thwarted by her department’s failure to serve justice to the 44 police commandos killed in the Jan. 25 Mamasapano massacre.

Magdalo party-list Rep. Ashley Acedillo said the gruesome incident would hound De Lima’s political campaign in 2016.

Acedillo, a member of the Philippine Military Academy and former mutineer, said criminal complaints should be filed against the suspects at the soonest possible time.

“If Secretary De Lima steps down from office to pursue political plans and the issue remains... this is going to be an election issue in 2016 because this is about the search for justice,” Acedillo said.

De Lima had earlier announced that the Justice Department would be filing charges against the Mamasapano suspects “in a month’s time.”

Antipolo City Rep. Romeo Acop, a stalwart of the ruling Liberal Party, also expressed disappointment that the filing of charges against the Mamasapano suspects has not been done. With Joel E. Zurbano

“I am sure Commissioner Lina would understand the need to correct such misimpression because the jobs and collective image of our workers may be at stake,” he added.

Marcos said a public apology was the least Lina could do to finally ease the anxieties and anger of millions of OFWs. “This apology must be made of public record so that the foreign employers and host governments would know that OFWs were never the real targets of the anti-smuggling drive,” he added.

Senator Alan Peter Cayetano also urged the Customs chief to run after bigtime smugglers “and leave OFWs alone.”

“Our government lost more than P200 billion due to smuggling in 2013,” he said.

“If BOC is serious in its campaign to stop smuggling, it should have considered requiring pre-shipment inspections of balikbayan packages instead of conducting random opening of balikbayan boxes.”

He said this would not only prevent smuggling and theft, but would help

DISASTER officials confirmed Wednesday that Benguet province was under a state of calamity and that Typhoon Ineng had destroyed more than P1 billion worth of infrastructure and crops further north, in Ilocos Norte.

The Office of Civil Defense in Cordillera said the typhoon left 17 people dead and 12 more missing in the region.

Communication and power supply had been restored except in some isolated municipalities.

Sixteen national roads, however, were still closed to traffic and clearing operations in affected areas were still ongoing.

All evacuation centers in the region are now closed except some in Baguio City with 19 families or 88 individuals.

A total of 2,100 families or 19,713 individuals were affected

by Typhoon Ineng, which also destroyed 21 houses and damaged 146 homes.

The Agriculture Department reported that initial estimates reveal more than P83 million in agricultural products were damaged.

The Benguet Electric Cooperative reported an initial cost of damages at more than P5 million.

The National Irrigation Administration (NIA) on the other hand, reported an initial cost of repairs at P311 million.

The Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) pegged damage to infrastructure at P47.8 million.

In hard-hit Ilocos Norte, estimates of the damage to agriculture and infrastructure climbed to more than P1 billion, the provincial Disaster Risk Reduction Management and Resiliency Council said.

This consisted of P84 million worth of damage to agriculture and P990 million to infrastructure.

“Clearly, hundreds of millions will be required to restore agriculture and infrastructure in the province,” said Gov. Imee R. Marcos during a press conference.

Some 85 hectares of farm field in the province have been destroyed, with rice sustaining the greatest damage at P61.2 million, followed by high value crops at P4.7 million, corn at P2.7 million and fisheries at P3.9 million.

Norma Lagmay of the Provincial Agriculture Office said an inventory of available seeds was being conducted and these would be distributed to help farmers recover faster.

minimize corruption in the bureaucracy.

In the Palace, Communications Secretary Herminio Coloma Jr., played down the impact of a one-day remittance boycott, saying a similar action in 2013 had no negative impact.

“In 2013, during the issue of the pork barrel [scam], there was no reported negative effect. If this would be the basis, we have nothing to worry about,” Coloma said.

A group advocating for the rights and welfare of overseas workers has set Aug. 28 as “No Remittance Day,” following the Bureau of Customs earlier plan to implement random balikbayan box inspections.

According to Migrante International, the boycott is a way to show the government the sentiments of overseas workers.

But Coloma said even if these overseas will not send money home on Friday, they would need to eventually send the funds home to their families here in the future.

“This may be delayed for one day, but they will not think to not send them at all,” Coloma said.

“We have already a prepositioned 3,150 hybrid and inbred seeds and the Department of Agriculture will provide an additional 1,500 seeds,” Lagmay said.

The livestock industry in the province reported P2.9 million in damage.

“The damage has now reached a billion and counting. The DPWH, NIA, provincial, municipal and barangay roads are completely scoured,” Marcos said.

The province had been suffering from a prolonged dry spell before Ineng hit the province, so some pond liners and other drought alleviation equipment were also damaged by the typhoon, said Erwin Cariño of the Millenium Development Goals Office.

“The worst typhoons in the province come in during September and October. There is a complete rethinking right now because our dikes, spillways, water containment are damaged and our farmers are scared to plant right away,” said Marcos.

Earlier, the provincial government placed the entire Ilocos Norte under a state of calamity.

Marcos has already sought assistance from the national government in terms of medicines, agriculture, relief and immediate attention to damage in the infrastructure brought about by Ineng.

Vice President Jejomar Binay slammed the national government for failing to provide the infrastructure needs of the Ilocos province to prevent flooding.

Binay, who visited Ilocos Norte, vowed to extend assistance to affected families, adding that provinces of politicians at odds with the Aquino administration are being left out in terms of infrastructure.

Binay noted that the government allotted P125 billion to Iloilo, bailiwick of Liberal Party stalwart and Senate President Franklin Drilon and “hundreds of millions” of pesos for Batanes, home province of Budget Secretary Florencio Abad, but allocated much less to provinces that were not under the administration. Vito Barcelo, Sandy Araneta, PNA

In the House, Iloilo Rep. Jerry Treñas urged the Customs bureau to tighten control over the interline baggage release at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport if it wants to crack down on smuggling using balikbayan boxes.

Treñas said he has received information that it is in the IBR that the balikbayan boxes containing smuggled items are being processed to avoid detection.

Trenas said that based on his information, smugglers would send balikbayan boxes from other countries as baggage and not cargo using their contacts in airline companies and using fictitious names and addresses.

“The scheme is very complex. The baggages are checked in without any accompanying passengers. These smugglers have their contacts and insiders in airline companies so that it becomes possible for them to transport their contraband without the person whose name is in the baggage,” Treñas said. With Sandy Araneta, Maricel V. Cruz and Sara Susanne D. Fabunan

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Trillanes: VP richer

by P2b in 10 years SENATOR Antonio Trillanes IV claimed Wednesday that Vice President Jejomar Binay amassed P2 billion in “kickbacks” from the contracts for janitorial, security and IT services in Makati that were cornered by his dummies over a period of 10 years.

He said the incorporators of the companies that cornered the contracts for those services were the same people who had been behind Binay’s other anomalous transactions.

Testifying during the 26th hearing of the Senate Blue Ribbon subcommittee led by Senator Aquilino Pimentel III, Violeta Lazo, officer in charge of the Makati Services Department, said they discovered several “red flags” during the review of the service contracts entered into by the Makati City government.

The supposed subject of the review was the P5.6-billion contracts for IT, janitorial and security services of Makati City from 2005 to 2014.

But Rep. Abigail Binay, the vice president’s daughter, on Wednesday denied Trillanes’ claim that the Binay family pocketed P2 billion from service contracts and ghost employees.

She told reporters it was not Trillanes’ job to investigate corruption.

“What is your evidence?”

Binay said.

“You have been accusing and accusing us. Why must a probe be conducted by the Senate? Why not allow the Commission on Audit and the Office of the Ombudsman do their job?

“We do not own information technology, janitorial and security services companies in contract with the city [government].

We do not have dummies.”

Abigal Binay made her statement even as the lawyer of Jejomar Binay filed a motion to compel two election campaign financiers of Interior Secretary Manuel Roxas II to state under oath their statements accusing Binay and his family of wrongdoing.

“We’ve asked the trial court to require Francis Enrico “Eric” Gutierrez and Salvador “Buddy” Zamora to reveal

what they know about the systematic and well-funded persecution being waged against the Vice President and his family,” Claro Certeza said.

Gutierrez and Zamora, the alleged political backers and election campaign financiers of Roxas, are being sought for deposition in connection with the vice president’s P200-million damage suit against his accusers.

Binay said the demolition job against him was part of a plot to destroy his bid for the 2016 presidential elections by a group that included Roxas, Senate Majority Leader Alan Peter Cayetano and Senator Antonio Trillanes IV. Lazo said the P5.6 billion was broken down into P926.433 million for IT services, P2.3 billion for janitorial services and P2.380 billion for security services.

She said one of the initial findings of the review was that the same companies cornered all three services of the city government for the last 10 to 12 years.

She told the Senate panel that about 92 percent of the contracts went to only one or three companies.

They also found that the owners of the winning contractors were the same, and that there was a “conspiracy” in the bidding for security services.

They also found that a company, Omni Security Investigation Inc., had prior knowledge of the bidding for janitorial services although an invitation to bid had not yet been published.

She said Omni had a corporate meeting on Oct. 17, 2013, about joining the bidding for janitorial services at the East Rembo Multi-Purpose Hall and Cembo Health Center, “but as we go with our review, the publication of the invitation to bid came out last November 2013.”

Meanwhile, Ryan Barcelo, former head of Makati’s Social Welfare Department, rejected allegations that the city government gave benefits to senior citizens who were either dead or no longer residents of the city.

Macon ramos-araneta, rio n. araja and Vito Barcelo

March. Members of different organizations marched from España to Mendiola on Wednesday to urge the government to pass the Freedom of Information bill. Danny Pata

Stop being paranoid, Binay spokesman told

By Macon ramos-araneta

SENATOR Antonio Trillanes IV on Wednesday asked if lawyer Rico Quicho was “becoming paranoid” as he rejected the lawyer’s claim that he was threatening him.

“I’m not threatening him.

Did I [threaten him]?” Trillanes said.

In a text message, Quicho said “it is time for the Senate to police its ranks and discipline members that engage in wiretapping, surveillance and other illegal means of obtaining evidence, which Senator Trillanes openly admitted. Anything less is a reflection of the entire Senate as an institution.”

Quicho is the spokesman for political affairs of Vice President Jejomar Binay, who is the

subject of a Senate Blue Ribbon subcommittee investigation for his alleged corruption and anomalous contracts.

In an ambush interview, Trillanes said he mentioned Quicho’s name just to prove his point, but he was not threatening him.

“That was just to give him an idea on what is a confidential agent when I said I can ask somebody to be deployed in his house and give me information about him.”

In a statement, however,

Quicho said: Trillanes once again accuses without basis, then dares the accused to prove his innocence. But when he is confronted with documentary evidence of wrongdoing and misuse of public funds, he resorts to name-calling and issuing veiled threats.

“After more than one year, it’s still Power-point allegations. No concrete proof other than the say-so of Mercado and Hechanova who are self-confessed grafters. No concrete proof other than the “hula-hula” of Renato Bondal,” Quicho said.

“All these contracts underwent and passed several audits by the Commission on Audit.”

In an earlier interview, Trillanes said he could have a confidential agent, one of his consultants, follow Quicho

so he could inform him when the lawyer arrived home and when he left his house.

“Is he becoming paranoid?” said Trillanes, one of the senators investigating Binay’s alleged corruption in the Senate hearings.

“That’s not a veiled threat,” Trillanes said.

He said his office had been engaged in information and intelligence gathering due to the ongoing Blue Ribbon investigation of the vice president and his cohorts.

But Quicho said the surveillance of a citizen could not be a form of legislative work that should be paid with consultancy fee.

“This smacks of intimidation and threat that cannot be justified as a legitimate consultancy work,” Quicho said.

Tesda boss seeks berth with NPC

By John Paolo Bencito

Distribution. Navy and Coast Guard men unload relief goods from two landing craft in San

Fernando, La Union, for distribution to the areas in the Ilocos that were devastated by Typhoon Ineng. Christine Junio

TECHNICAL Education and Skills Development Authority Director General Joel Villanueva said Wednesday he is open to running for senator under an NPC-led coalition with Senator Grace Poe to avoid Justice Secretary Leila de Lima.

Villanueva, supposedly President Benigno Aquino III’s favorite Cabinet secretary, was earlier included by De Lima in the third batch of officials charged with graft over their alleged misuse of the Priority Development Assistance Fund, which the Supreme Court has declared unconstitutional.

“Yes, I will admit that a part of the current administration would make me think of running to other parties if DOJ Secretary Leila de Lima would be part of that coalition,” Villanueva told The Standard.

“We’re thinking about it.

If we’re not welcome in one party, are we ready to run as independent? If there are other parties that are willing to adopt us, we would think about that.

“We also have to check if that party would be okay to our constituents and our supporters as well. I am opening my options if that time comes.”

Villanueva was seen in a gathering at the NPC Clubhouse in Quezon City with top party officials including Senators Grace Poe and Francis Escudero.

“We were invited by our old friends from Congress, and in the cocktails we had a chance to talk with NPC leaders Governor Faustino Dy, Representative Giorgidi Aggabao, as well as Senator Chiz and Senator Grace,” Villanueva said.

He said he still had weeks to decide on his run for the Senate, and while he was “90-per-

cent sure” he was still waiting for the other 10 percent and the blessings of his family and President Aquino.

“I’m not hiding anything about my interest to run in the coming polls, and we have a good camaraderie with the NPC, NP, NUP and other members of the Liberal Party,” Villanueva said “There’s no bad blood between me and our inspirational leader, President Aquino, but I’ll stand by my word that some members in the administration [do not like] me.”

Villanueva said he, Poe and Interior Secretary Manuel Roxas II wanted to continue the reforms started by Aquino.

But he said he was not ready to be with De Lima in any function.

“I’m not ready to be with De Lima who implicates me and thinks that I’m a criminal,” Villanueva said.

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Noy, US officer discuss sea spat

By Florante S. Solmerin The commander of the United States Pacific Command discussed the territorial conflict in the West Philippine Sea during his courtesy call on President Benigno Aquino III yesterday.

All boxed up. Parcel section chief Lisa Macaranas of the Philippine Postal Office in Manila arranges boxes sent by overseas Filipino workers on Wednesday. President Benigno Aquino III stopped the random inspection of balikbayan boxes by the Bureau of Customs after overseas workers complained. DANNY PATA

Push tax reform bill, palace told

By Maricel V. Cruz and Sandy Araneta LAWMAkERS have urged President Benigno Aquino III to certify as urgent a measure that would slash the income tax of the middle class.

Marikina City Rep. Miro Quimbo appealed to the President to convene immediately the Legislative-Executive Development Advisory Council (Ledac) to hasten the passage of the tax reform measure.

“It is clear that the Senate, House, and the President all aim for the lowering of income taxes. But for a substantial headway to materialize, we need to sit down, agree on the principles, and come up with a measure amenable to all parties,” Quimbo said.

“For the tax reforms to be successfully enacted into law, we need an inclusive process at the onset with all stakeholders being given the chance to put forward their positions. The Ledac is the best venue for this,” the administration ally added.

The Ledac by law should meet at least every quarter but since he assumed office in 2010, Aquino has only called for three Ledac meetings —in February 2011, August 2011, and February 2012.

House Deputy Minority Leader Bayan Muna Rep. Neri Colmenares said based on data from the National Statistics Office, the tax base has remained substantially unchanged while national consumer prices have increased by 539.53 percent since 1986.

“Thus, the P500,000 top tax base, if adjusted to its present value, is now equivalent to P2.697 million,” Colmenares said.

“With the current income tax brackets and tax rates, the Philippines effectively imposes the highest personal income tax in the entire Association of Southeast Asian Nations region,” he added.

Colmenares said a study by the Tax Management Association of the Philippines (TMAP) shows that while a Filipino individual earning P500,000 annually is taxed at 32 percent, his

Asean neighbors with equivalent income are taxed at the following rates: Vietnam and Cambodia at 20 percent; Laos at 12 percent; Malaysia at 11 percent; Thailand at 10 percent; and Singapore at 2 percent.

Bayan Muna Rep. Carlos Zarate said while a minimum wage earner enjoys tax exemption, the daily minimum wage rate remains low.

Zarate, citing data from the National Wages Productivity Commission, said the annual income of minimum wage earners in Metro Manila translates to only P123,000 while workers in the Ilocos region only receive P56,232.

“Such dismal levels of income are still way below the Family Living Wage or the minimum amount needed by a family of six members to meet its daily food and non-food needs, plus a 10-percent allocation for savings,” he said.

Malacañang, for its part, said the Department of Finance is pushing for a comprehensive review of the existing tax system.

“The two of them discussed how to enhance our bilateral relations further. They also talked about the West Philippine Sea issue,” Defense Secretary Voltaire Gazmin said in an interview after the closed-door meeting at the Palace.

“Admiral Harris also reiterated the commitment of the US to help us in enhancing our capability through training and joint military exercises,” Gazmin added.

Harris is scheduled to meet today (Thursday) with Armed Forces Western Command chief Vice Admiral Alexander Lopez in Palawan, the province nearest the disputed Spratlys in the West Philippine Sea. There has been no word, though, whether Harris will join an aerial surveillance mission over the West Philippine Sea as did Admiral Scott Swift, commander of the US Pacific Fleet.

Harris was accompanied to the Palace by US Ambassador to Manila Philip Goldberg, USPACOM Foreign Affairs Policy Advisor Christopher Marut, Senior Defense Official Col. Earnest Lee and Political Military Affairs Chief Marc Jackson.

Aside from Gazmin, Foreign Affairs Secretary Albert del Rosario, Transportation Secretary Joseph Emilio Abaya and Armed Forces of the Philippines Chief of Staff Gen. Hernando Iriberri were also present during the meeting.

Harris also met with Gazmin and Iriberri at Camp Aguinaldo yesterday morning where they discussed Washington’s defense and security strategy in the Asia-Pacific region.

In a statement, the AFP said the discussions “focused on safeguarding freedom of the seas, deterring conflict and coercion, and promoting adherence to international law and standards in order to preserve the peace and security the Asia-Pacific region has enjoyed for the past 70 years.”

“A frank and honest exchange of ideas regarding the evolving security challenges in the region as a result of natural disasters and issues involving the West Philippine Sea and the South China Sea ensued during the dialogue,” the AFP said.

Harris also discussed the latest US Defense Department Asia Pacific Maritime Security Strategy Report with his Philippine counterparts. with PNA

‘Respect Court decision’

By Maricel V. Cruz HOUSE Independent Bloc leader Leyte Rep. Ferdinand Martin Romualdez yesterday appealed to critics of a ruling granting bail to Senate Minority Leader Juan Ponce Enrile to respect the decision of the Supreme Court.

Romualdez said the continued attacks against the high court for allowing the provisional freedom of the 91-year-old Enrile was counterproductive.

“At the end of the day, the Supreme Court is the last bulwark of democracy.

We may agree or may not, but let’s respect the ruling being the final arbiter of all legal conflicts,” said Romualdez, a lawyer and president of the Philippine Constitution Association.

Enrile is facing separate plunder and multiple counts of graft cases before the Sandiganbayan Third Division for allegedly pocketing P172-million in pork barrel funds.

President Benigno Aquino III has asked his legal team to review the ruling, which he said was not based on law.

“It is important that we look into the decision of the Supreme Court, that they did not mention anything about evidence and the basis was centered on Senator Enrile’s age and health condition,” the President said.

Justice Secretary Leila de Lima also criticized the ruling, saying it has made the country a “banana republic.”

“Our officials should not make statements against the Supreme Court because we are destabilizing the institution. When it comes to interpreting the law, all parties must respect the majesty of the court—win or lose,” Romualdez added.

For his part, Cavite Rep. Elpidio Barzaga Jr. said the Supreme Court should issue a gag order to stop its members from discussing in public the recent ruling.

E-trike. A worker inspects a Bailey E-trike created by Filipino engineer Edgar Araga. The electric tricycle is powered by five 12-volt batteries charged for eight hours and has a load capacity of 500 kilograms or six passengers, including the driver. DANNY PATA

t h u r s D AY : A u g u s t 2 7, 2 0 1 5

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NEWS

editorial@thestandard.com.ph

Magsaysay awardees.

Ramon Magsaysay Award Foundation president Carmencita Abella (right) welcomes two awardees from India, Anshu Gupta (left) who is recognized for his creative vision in transforming the culture of giving and his entreprising leadership, and Sanjiv Chaturvedi, for his exemplary integrity, courage and tenacity in uncompromisingly and painstakingly investigating corruption in public office. The award “celebrates the greatness of spirit and transformative leadership” in Asia.

Rudy C. SantoS

SC urged: Deepen probe of illegal DAP

By Rey E. Requejo The Supreme Court has been prodded by an anti-pork barrel group to order a more extensive investigation and prosecution of officials behind the Disbursement Acceleration Program and involved in the misuse of Priority Development Assistance Fund, including the filing of impeachment complaint against President Benigno S. Aquino III. In a 45-page petition, the group led by former Manila Councilor Greco Belgica and presidential aunt Margarita “Tingting” Cojuangco appealed to the SC to issue a mandamus ordering Ombudsman Conchita Carpio-Morales to suspend DAP’s authors, proponents and implementors and pursue the

investigation and prosecution of personalities involved in the PDAF anomaly.

The group asked the high court to compel the Office of the Ombudsman to file an impeachment complaint against President Aquino, if necessary.

The petitioners lamented that “erring public officials remain scot-

free” despite rulings of the high court, which voided the PDAF and DAP and ordered prosecution of officials who misused PDAF. Belgica was the main petitioner in the PDAF case.

The Ombudsman has so far filed plunder and graft charges against three senators—Juan Ponce enrile, Ramon “Bong” Revilla Jr. and Jinggoy estrada —before the Sandiganbayan over the alleged multibillion-peso pork barrel scam perpetrated by Janet Lim Napoles. however, no public official has been prosecuted so far in connection with the multibillion-peso DAP. “Despite the receipt of the petitioners’ letter, red flags raised by the Commission on Audit and sufficient time lapse, the Ombudsman and the DoJ secretary have miserably failed

to perform their public functions and duties to the detriment of the petitioners and the general public, as well as government,” petitioners stressed.

The group also lamented the slow investigation being undertaken by the Ombudsman as well as the “sub par” action by the Department of Justice due to “selective prosecution.”

The petitioners also expressed apprehension that the slow investigation, vital pieces of evidence could be destroyed.

“Justice demands swift and just actions on the part of the public respondents concerned. Any more delay would further injure the national interest and lead the people to more frustration, not to mention the probability that vital pieces of evidence would be destroyed and the culprits remaining scot-free,” they pointed out.

Contempt charges vs.

Comelec, Smartmatic

By Rey E. Requejo The Supreme Court has been asked to cite officials of the Commission on elections and technology provider Smartmatic for the latter’s failure to comply with its obligation to refurbish the existing 82,000 Precinct Count Optical Scan machines (PCOS).

In a 16-page motion for intervention, former Comelec official and convenor of Citizens for Clean and honest elections (C3e) Melchor Magdamo and Anti-Trapo Movement Inc. founder Leon estrella said Smartmatic-Total Information Management (TIM) also assailed the Comelec officials for dilly-dallying in enforcing Smartmatic’s obligation to repair the PCOS machines.

According to them, the poll body need not pay anything because the almost P2 billion it paid to Smartmatic-TIM for the supply of 82,000 units of PCOS machines includes a warranty promise that Smartmatic shall repair defects in the counting machines.

The petitioners argued that many PCOS machines were found to be full of defects during the May 13, 2013 elections, thus, Smartmatic should have repaired them because the warranty period is not yet over.

“Smartmatic has no right to participate in any government bidding unless and until it completes refurbishment ‘at its own expense’ or return at least P1.938 billion pesos to Comelec and/or Republic of the Philippines,” they said.

They also sought to the nullification of Comelec Resolution No. 15-0444 issued on June 2, 2015 allowing the realignment of funds in order to lease all new 93,977 optical mark readers (OMR) from Smartmatic for use in next year’s elections in the amount of more than P9.5 billion.

Hunt for ‘miracle doctor’ ordered

By Rey E. Requejo

The Department of Justice (DoJ) has ordered the National Bureau of Investigation to hunt down the alleged stem-cell therapy doctor who had been illegally practicing alternative medicine in the country despite facing murder in connection with the death of her patient.

In a two-page memorandum issued on Wednesday, Justice Secretary Leila de Lima directed the NBI to crackdown on the clinic of Dr. Antonia CarandangPark, which was reported to have opened after the suspect had posted bail for the string of criminal charges against her, in connection with the death of cancer patient Kate Tan in 2014.

Tan, who had hodgkin’s lymphoma (a type of cancer of the blood), was reportedly given the same treatment that had been administered to former President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo who is detained at the Veterans Memorial Medical Center on plunder charges. her treatment included juicing diet, vegetable

diet, acupuncture, coffee enema, and stem cell, according to the DoJ. “The NBI [is directed] to verify the veracity of the foregoing allegations and to take appropriate action, in coordination with concerned agencies, including the NPS (National Prosecution Service) and Professional Regulatory Commission (PRC),” De Lima said.

The DoJ chief also ordered Prosecutor General Claro Arellano to submit a status update on all cases against Park for illegal practice, syndicated estafa, murder, BP 22 or the bouncing cheque law.

De Lima has given the NBI and Arellano at least 20 days to submit their report on the case.

De Lima’s order came following an online petition called “Justice for Kate,” which was initiated by Tan’s father, Bernard.

Bernard said they lodged a string of criminal complaint against Park for misrepresenting herself as a “Miracle Doctor” who promised to treat Tan’s cancer through means of alternative medicine.

Budget cut. Members of militant youth group dramatize their opposition to the P2.2-billion cut in the budget of state universities and colleges during a rally at the House of Representatives in Quezon City where lawmakers are deliberating the proposed budget of the Commission on Higher Education. LIno SantoS

A6

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Iglesia blasts De Lima bias

By Rio N. Araja

THE Iglesia ni Cristo on Wednesday castigated Justice Secretary Leila de Lima for her bias and ‘unusual attention’ she accorded to the dismissed INC members who filed charges of illegal detention against some of its ministers before the Department of Justice (DoJ).

In a press conference, INC’s general evangelist Bienvenido C. Santiago questioned De Lima’s real motive after they learned that the secretary was personally attending to the filing of cases by the dismissed members led by Isaias Samson Jr. against the INC ministers.

“Ang pagsulong ng reklamong inihain ni Samson ay napagalaman naming ginawa sa ilalim ng patnubay ni Secretary De Lima, sapagkat labis at di pangkaraniwang atensyon na iniukol niya, ano kaya ang motibo niya?” he asked.

Moreover, he said that the INC had also learned that the DoJ has

placed under its custody some of those dismissed by the INC who have been responsible for sowing intrigues and divisiveness at the organization.

Santiago said the INC was just wondering about the full attention the justice secretary was giving to the dismissed INC members rather than focusing her time and efforts to give justice to the Fallen 44 of the Special Action Forces (SAF) of the Philippine National Police, two of them were INC members.

“Bagaman ang dalawa sa mga napaslang ay kapatid namin sa Iglesia subalit matahimik kaming naghintay sa mga gagawin ng DoJ para tugisin at usigin ang mga may kagagawan ng madugong

pangyayari,” he said.

It reiterated that the INC was really surprised on why the Justice secretary was giving special treatment to the dismissed which was not seen and felt by many as far as the case of the Fallen 44 is concerned.

He said the INC will remain confident that the justice secretary and those behind her actions would be impartial to the case.

“The least we can expect from the Department of Justice is justice,” Santiago said.

As to the dismissed INC members, Santiago said its leadership just did the right thing when they were removed permanently from the INC roster.

Poe’s assets. Citing the Filipino youth as ‘genuine assets for national development,’ Senator Grace Poe on Wednesday says the government must invest more in their education and employment to produce an empowered generation that will propel the country to progress. Speaking to students in Pangasinan, home province of her late father Fernando Poe Jr., the senator said the young people today, equipped with modern technology, play a crucial role in bringing about socioeconomic and political changes in the society.

Unity slate draws backing of party-list bet A DAY after Senator Vicente Sotto confirmed that a potential senatorial ticket was being formed to run with presidential and vice presidential frontrunners Senators Grace Poe and Francis Joseph “Chiz” Escudero, a party-list representative said that he would consider running for a seat on the Senate if he would be allowed to run with the so-called “unity slate.”

COOP-National Confederation of Cooperatives Rep. Cresente “Cris” Paez on Wednesday admitted that representatives of cooperatives nationwide and the 42 members of the party-list bloc in the House of Representatives were urging him to run for the Senate, “to give a voice to the different marginalized sectors whose interests have to be protected.”

According to AGAP Partylist Rep. Rico Geron, “we in the coalition have agreed to support any senatorial candidate from our ranks, one of whom is Rep. Cris Paez.”

Paez said that “the show of support from my colleagues is encouraging because it’s proof that we all believe that more can and should be done to uplift the welfare of various sectors like members of cooperatives, OFWs, farmers, and indigenous peoples.”

The solon explained that COOP-NATCCO was already receiving feedback from the sector regarding the 2016 presidential elections and “there is a growing consensus that Sen. Grace and Sen. Chiz are leaders that can be relied on to fight for the interests of our sector.”

“Many of our members expected the two senators to announce their candidacy during the birthday of Fernando Poe Jr. last week, but even without an announcement all signs point to Sen. Grace and Sen. Chiz running together––and when that happens it would be an honor to run with them,” added the legislator The “unity slate” of Poe and Escudero reportedly includes Sotto, Senate President Pro Tempore Ralph Recto, Las Piñas City Rep. Mark Villar, Valenzuela City Rep. Win Gatchalian, Taguig City Rep. Lino Cayetano, House Independent Bloc Leader and Leyte Rep. Martin Romualdez, Manila City Vice Mayor Francisco Domagoso, also known as Isko Moreno, and Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) Director General Joel Villanueva.

7 men get life term for kidnapransom

THE Quezon City Regional Trial Court on Wednesday sentenced seven persons to suffer life imprisonment for the abduction of a shoe factory owner, and his wife and household help 18 years ago or on April 8, 1997.

Judge Marilou RunesTamang of RTC Branch 98 found Roger Ete, Teofilo Arlarzon, Crisanto Dollete, Agustin Quinala, Mario Desiderio, Cipriano Cornista and Diosdado Tandagan guilty beyond reasonable doubt “as principals of the crime of kidnapping for ransom and serious illegal detention and hereby sentences them to suffer the penalty of reclusion perpetua without eligibility for parole pursuant to Republic Act No. 9346.”

In a 1,503-page decision, Tamang directed the convicts to indemnify the victims P400,000 in actual damages, P100,000 in civil damages, P100,000 in moral damages and P100,000 in exemplary damages “apportioned in the following manner: the principals to the crime shall jointly and severally pay the victim the total amount of P656,000, while the accomplice shall pay the victim P44,000. All amounts shall earn interest at the rate of six (6) percent er annum from the date of the finality of the Court’s resolution until fully paid.”

Another accused, Esperanza Falcon, was convicted as accomplice and was sentenced to a jail term of 12 years and 10 months.

The lower court, however, ordered to release Falcon since her sentence had already exceeded her actual detention of 18 years. Rio N. Araja

Convicts. Two of the convicts in the kidnap-for-ransom of the Chuas are removed from the sala of Judge Marilou Runes-Tamang. LINO SANTOS

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NEWS

editorial@thestandard.com.ph

Gotcha. Kids from Cuenca, Pugo, La Union cast their fishing rods to catch frogs on rice paddies. DAVID CHAN

Authorities get Sayyaf leader in Zamboanga

By Florante S. Solmerin

AN URBAN operations leader of the Abu Sayyaf Group who had a P4.3 million bounty on his head was captured Tuesday night in Barangay Poblacion, Tungawan, Zamboanga Sibugay, Police Officer 2 Jonas Macasa Jr., staff of the Public Information Office of the Police regional Office 9 said Wednesday.

Government intelligence operatives captured Ibni Acosta, a known leader of the ASG’s Urban Terrorist Group, during stakeout operations.

Macasa said Acosta was cornered at around 11:30 p.m. at his hideout by joint elements of the Zamboanga Sibugay police, the Army’s 6th Special Forces and 304th Intelligence Service Group of the Air Force.

“Arrested person was involved in the Sipadan kidnapping and has an existing warrant of arrest docketed under criminal case nr 122473-122493 (21 counts) for kidnapping, serious illegal detention with ransom,” Macasa said.

Acosta was brought to the headquarters of the 6th SF Battalion in Barangay Libertad for interrogation and then turned over to the Tungawan Municipal Police Station for booking procedure. He was subsequently brought to Zamboanga City by the operating team for proper disposition.

700 Cagayan children get nutrition boost THE COASTAL town of Sta. Ana in Cagayan province has intensified its nutrition program for children, with the help of the church and the private sector.

The Cagayan Economic Zone Authority, which hosts Sta. Ana Cagayan, about 640 kilometers north of Metro Manila, has implemented a supplemental feeding program that has improved the nutritional status of some 738 children since 2008.

The program began when the local parish of St. Anthony de Padua, in collaboration with CEZA and local barangay officials, initiated a supplemental feeding program to help reduce hunger and malnutrition among children in the locality. The pilot program at Barangay Centro had 128 children beneficiaries.

“Our objective is to improve the health status of malnourished children and to continuously reduce the incidence of malnutrition in the area” said Grace Ruiz, Community Relations Specialist of CEZA. The program was followed by similar supplemental feeding activities in six other barangays, including Visitacion, Casambalangan, Rapuli, Palawig, Parada-Batu and Casagan.

The latest feeding project was launched this August in the villages of Parada-Batu and Casagan, where 120 children are currently undertaking the program, involving the distribution of food and vitamins.

Fear paralyzes Surigao village classes

By Alvin T. Guanzon BUTUAN CITY—For nearly three weeks now, classes catering to students from three tribal villages in Bulho-on, San Miguel, Surigao del Sur have been suspended due to fear of being caught in the crossfire between Communist rebels and other armed groups reportedly backed by the military.

Tribal Filipino Program of Surigao del Sur Inc. or TRIFPSS, Inc. Executive Director Norma Ampis said armed men belong-

ing to Magahats and Baganis had been harassing them, with four of her teachers’ mobile phones being seized by the suspects.

Philippine Army’s Fourth Infantry Division spokesperson Capt.

Joe Patrick Martinez however denied allegations that military is supporting the Magahats and Baganis.

Said school which opened in 2007 received already many National Literacy Awards for alternative learning from the Department of Education.

The school provides alternative

education for the indigenous communities in the areas not reached by the Department of Education. The distance and peace and order problems have made teachers wary of being assigned in the tribal villages.

Ampis added that the groups had threatened to burn the cottages of teachers on allegations that they were supporters of the New People’s Army.

She also alleged that some of her school workers have been made human shields by the Magahats and Baganis.

Greenhouse. Farmers in La Trinidad, Benguet set up greenhouses for their highland crops against inclement weather. DAVID CHAN

T H U R S D AY : A U G U S T 2 7, 2 0 1 5

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OPINION

ADELLE CHUA EDITOR

lettertotheeditor@thestandard.com.ph

OPINION

VIEW FROM MALCOM ATTY. HARRY ROQUE JR.

ENRILE AND THE LAWS OF HUMANITY

[ EDI TORI A L ]

PART OF THE JOB SEVERAL officials of the Aquino administration are being questioned for their “public information campaigns.”

Among these are Interior Secretary Manuel Roxas II, Energy Secretary Jericho Petilla, Metro Manila Development Authority Chairman Francis Tolentino, Health Secretary Janet Garin, Philippine Health Insurance Corp. board member Risa Hontiveros and Technical Education and Skills Development Authority chairman Joel Villanueva.

These heads of agencies, are, by a fantastic coincidence, also running for various positions in next year’s elections.

The theme of these information materials is the same: The agencies they represent provide important services to the people.

Filipinos need to be aware that such functions exist. People need to know that their government is working for them.

These campaigns appear on television, on the radio, on billboards and even at the back of public transport units, like buses.

And because these are official information campaigns, guess where the money to produce and distribute them is coming from?

The Palace has had the gall to defend these officials’ appearances in advertisements, claiming it was part of their jobs, because it was their duty to inform the people of the services offered by their agencies.

The Palace also sees nothing wrong with the use of public funds for these campaigns. Again, that’s part of the territory.

There are mounting calls for these officials to step down already, even before they have officially filed their certificates of candidacy.

We join the chorus but expect nothing from them. After all, in their own eyes, and in the eyes of their boss—the President, not the people—they can do no wrong. They are the champions of daang matuwid, paragons of virtue and delicadeza personified.

We cannot do anything now but note their names and their self-righteous air. And then remember them well, come May.

MINDING THE STORE LOWDOWN JOJO A. ROBLES THE fear of losing one’s job is a powerful motivator. And when that fear is coupled with the uncertainty of winning in an upcoming election, it can make people do strange things—like actually attempting to do the work that they were contracted for.

Metro Manila Development Authority Chairman Francis Tolentino knows this only too well. After retired Archbishop Gaudencio Cardinal Rosales

showed Tolentino how to do his job of untangling traffic on actual streets—instead of just in press releases—Tolentino felt compelled to do the same.

And so Tolentino, who is casting a moist eye on a Senate seat in next year’s election, was all over Metro Manila yesterday.

In a shameless aping of Rosales, the MMDA chairman went to actual traffic-clogged intersections and attempted to enforce the law, in full traffic enforcer attire and with a resoluteness born out of desperation.

Tolentino didn’t have to say it, but he did. He said he was not going to resign for bungling the job of untangling the humongous traffic mess that has con-

verted Metro Manila into a huge parking lot for nearly all of the day and all of the night almost every blessed day of the week.

If Tolentino was going to quit simply because he was incompetent and if that was the measure used to evaluate all the members of President Noynoy Aquino’s top officials, then there would practically be no one left in government with the rank of Cabinet secretary. And that subgroup of Cabinet-rank officials to which Tolentino belongs —those who are also seeking election to the Senate and other posts—would be particularly vulnerable to removal en masse.

Of course, none of these officials can be expected to leave on

A9

We just have to bear the spectacle of top officials of this government traipsing all over the country and campaigning.

their own steam. And the President who gave them their jobs simply cannot be bothered to evaluate their performance in an objective manner, regardless of how loud and long the people demand that they quit.

And so we just have to bear the spectacle of people like Tolentino, Interior and Local Government Secretary Mar Roxas, Justice Secretary Leila de Lima, PhilHealth board member Risa Hontiveros and all the other top officials of this government traipsing all over the country and campaigning for office, leaving no one to mind the store, as they say. At least Tolentino is still pretending to do his job from time to time—all the others merely want to enjoy the perks and advantages that come with their high office as

they act like the campaign period has already started.

As their boss, who gleefully accompanies them on their campaign sorties, once said, saan kayo kumukuha ng kapal ng mukha? Where else, but from the man who appointed them and who will not let them go, no matter how badly they perform? *** Yesterday, the 22nd public hearing was conducted by the Senate Blue Ribbon subcommittee over allegations that Vice President Jejomar Binay enriched himself in office. And the senators in-

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

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volved in what many believe to be the longest-running Senate investigation of all time never stopped to ask if what they are doing has destroyed the credibility of such investigations in the future.

It’s true that the Constitution allows Congress to conduct inquiries “in aid of legislation in accordance with its duly published rules of procedure.” But the charter also tells both chambers that “the rights of persons appearing in or affected by such inquiries shall be respected,” something that Senators Aquilino Pimentel III,

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Alan Peter Cayetano and Antonio Trillanes IV seem to have forgotten in the Binay investigation.

Senate Resolution 826, the basis for these hearings, was introduced long after a complaint for plunder was filed against Binay before the Ombudsman.

Any investigation of Binay should have respected that case; the Senate subcommittee, unfortunately, only used the original plunder complaint as a staging ground for their own objective, which was to use the chamber to demolish the Vice President, regardless of where they ended up.

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

I HAVE never been a supporter of Juan Ponce Enrile. He was the strong arm of martial law and he got away with it.

While Marcos and his cronies had to flee the country after 1986, he stayed as a hero and managed to keep his loot intact. Even at the height of his popularity as Senate President and Presiding Officer during the impeachment trial of former Chief Justice Renato Corona, I was disappointed to find out that his seemingly erudite handling of the proceedings was because he was getting dictations from his junior associates through an ear piece. Simply put: I am not and have never been a fan of JPE. But when media asked me a year ago about my opinion on the plunder charges filed against him, I opined that the evidence against him was very weak.

Consider: neither Janet Lim Napoles nor any of her associates, ever testified that they had directly talked or dealt with JPE. Furthermore, JPE did not sign any document that would prove any illegal transaction that could qualify for plunder. At most, the evidence pointed to the culpability of his former Chief of Staff, lawyer Gigi Gonzales. Even then, I find it hard to believe that Gigi would profit from the public coffers or would leave evidence that would incriminate her.

So my guess is that even the evidence against Gigi will not hold water.

I was therefore not surprised when the Supreme Court granted JPE bail.

As a human rights advocate, I believe the right to liberty is such a cherished right that it can only be denied in capital offenses where the evidence of guilt is strong. Ergo, the presumption is that all accused are entitled to bail except when the evidence of guilt is strong.

While I have not followed closely this latest trial of JPE, I surmised that JPE’s position is that since the information filed against him is unclear as to how he allegedly broke the law, the Ombudsman should be compelled to specify the basis for his culpability. This is why he filed a “bill of particulars”, or a motion to compel the Ombudsman to be more specific in her allegations.

Apparently, the Supreme Court agreed with JPE with the additional reasoning that being 91 years old, he is not a flight risk and should be released on humanitarian grounds.

Critics of this decision, Associate Justice Marvic Leonen included, criticized the decision as deviating from the law and jurisprudence and amounted to special treatment for JPE. Being the anti-Enrile person that I am, I submit the dissenting Justices are wrong.

The dissent substantially is that the grant of bail is because JPE is rich and powerful. Wrong. The majority decision, assuming that it is even solely on the ground of humanitarian reason, does 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

T H U R S D AY : A U G U S T 2 7, 2 0 1 5

A8

OPINION

ADELLE CHUA EDITOR

lettertotheeditor@thestandard.com.ph

OPINION

VIEW FROM MALCOM ATTY. HARRY ROQUE JR.

ENRILE AND THE LAWS OF HUMANITY

[ EDI TORI A L ]

PART OF THE JOB SEVERAL officials of the Aquino administration are being questioned for their “public information campaigns.”

Among these are Interior Secretary Manuel Roxas II, Energy Secretary Jericho Petilla, Metro Manila Development Authority Chairman Francis Tolentino, Health Secretary Janet Garin, Philippine Health Insurance Corp. board member Risa Hontiveros and Technical Education and Skills Development Authority chairman Joel Villanueva.

These heads of agencies, are, by a fantastic coincidence, also running for various positions in next year’s elections.

The theme of these information materials is the same: The agencies they represent provide important services to the people.

Filipinos need to be aware that such functions exist. People need to know that their government is working for them.

These campaigns appear on television, on the radio, on billboards and even at the back of public transport units, like buses.

And because these are official information campaigns, guess where the money to produce and distribute them is coming from?

The Palace has had the gall to defend these officials’ appearances in advertisements, claiming it was part of their jobs, because it was their duty to inform the people of the services offered by their agencies.

The Palace also sees nothing wrong with the use of public funds for these campaigns. Again, that’s part of the territory.

There are mounting calls for these officials to step down already, even before they have officially filed their certificates of candidacy.

We join the chorus but expect nothing from them. After all, in their own eyes, and in the eyes of their boss—the President, not the people—they can do no wrong. They are the champions of daang matuwid, paragons of virtue and delicadeza personified.

We cannot do anything now but note their names and their self-righteous air. And then remember them well, come May.

MINDING THE STORE LOWDOWN JOJO A. ROBLES THE fear of losing one’s job is a powerful motivator. And when that fear is coupled with the uncertainty of winning in an upcoming election, it can make people do strange things—like actually attempting to do the work that they were contracted for.

Metro Manila Development Authority Chairman Francis Tolentino knows this only too well. After retired Archbishop Gaudencio Cardinal Rosales

showed Tolentino how to do his job of untangling traffic on actual streets—instead of just in press releases—Tolentino felt compelled to do the same.

And so Tolentino, who is casting a moist eye on a Senate seat in next year’s election, was all over Metro Manila yesterday.

In a shameless aping of Rosales, the MMDA chairman went to actual traffic-clogged intersections and attempted to enforce the law, in full traffic enforcer attire and with a resoluteness born out of desperation.

Tolentino didn’t have to say it, but he did. He said he was not going to resign for bungling the job of untangling the humongous traffic mess that has con-

verted Metro Manila into a huge parking lot for nearly all of the day and all of the night almost every blessed day of the week.

If Tolentino was going to quit simply because he was incompetent and if that was the measure used to evaluate all the members of President Noynoy Aquino’s top officials, then there would practically be no one left in government with the rank of Cabinet secretary. And that subgroup of Cabinet-rank officials to which Tolentino belongs —those who are also seeking election to the Senate and other posts—would be particularly vulnerable to removal en masse.

Of course, none of these officials can be expected to leave on

A9

We just have to bear the spectacle of top officials of this government traipsing all over the country and campaigning.

their own steam. And the President who gave them their jobs simply cannot be bothered to evaluate their performance in an objective manner, regardless of how loud and long the people demand that they quit.

And so we just have to bear the spectacle of people like Tolentino, Interior and Local Government Secretary Mar Roxas, Justice Secretary Leila de Lima, PhilHealth board member Risa Hontiveros and all the other top officials of this government traipsing all over the country and campaigning for office, leaving no one to mind the store, as they say. At least Tolentino is still pretending to do his job from time to time—all the others merely want to enjoy the perks and advantages that come with their high office as

they act like the campaign period has already started.

As their boss, who gleefully accompanies them on their campaign sorties, once said, saan kayo kumukuha ng kapal ng mukha? Where else, but from the man who appointed them and who will not let them go, no matter how badly they perform? *** Yesterday, the 22nd public hearing was conducted by the Senate Blue Ribbon subcommittee over allegations that Vice President Jejomar Binay enriched himself in office. And the senators in-

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

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volved in what many believe to be the longest-running Senate investigation of all time never stopped to ask if what they are doing has destroyed the credibility of such investigations in the future.

It’s true that the Constitution allows Congress to conduct inquiries “in aid of legislation in accordance with its duly published rules of procedure.” But the charter also tells both chambers that “the rights of persons appearing in or affected by such inquiries shall be respected,” something that Senators Aquilino Pimentel III,

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Alan Peter Cayetano and Antonio Trillanes IV seem to have forgotten in the Binay investigation.

Senate Resolution 826, the basis for these hearings, was introduced long after a complaint for plunder was filed against Binay before the Ombudsman.

Any investigation of Binay should have respected that case; the Senate subcommittee, unfortunately, only used the original plunder complaint as a staging ground for their own objective, which was to use the chamber to demolish the Vice President, regardless of where they ended up.

Continued on A11

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I HAVE never been a supporter of Juan Ponce Enrile. He was the strong arm of martial law and he got away with it.

While Marcos and his cronies had to flee the country after 1986, he stayed as a hero and managed to keep his loot intact. Even at the height of his popularity as Senate President and Presiding Officer during the impeachment trial of former Chief Justice Renato Corona, I was disappointed to find out that his seemingly erudite handling of the proceedings was because he was getting dictations from his junior associates through an ear piece. Simply put: I am not and have never been a fan of JPE. But when media asked me a year ago about my opinion on the plunder charges filed against him, I opined that the evidence against him was very weak.

Consider: neither Janet Lim Napoles nor any of her associates, ever testified that they had directly talked or dealt with JPE. Furthermore, JPE did not sign any document that would prove any illegal transaction that could qualify for plunder. At most, the evidence pointed to the culpability of his former Chief of Staff, lawyer Gigi Gonzales. Even then, I find it hard to believe that Gigi would profit from the public coffers or would leave evidence that would incriminate her.

So my guess is that even the evidence against Gigi will not hold water.

I was therefore not surprised when the Supreme Court granted JPE bail.

As a human rights advocate, I believe the right to liberty is such a cherished right that it can only be denied in capital offenses where the evidence of guilt is strong. Ergo, the presumption is that all accused are entitled to bail except when the evidence of guilt is strong.

While I have not followed closely this latest trial of JPE, I surmised that JPE’s position is that since the information filed against him is unclear as to how he allegedly broke the law, the Ombudsman should be compelled to specify the basis for his culpability. This is why he filed a “bill of particulars”, or a motion to compel the Ombudsman to be more specific in her allegations.

Apparently, the Supreme Court agreed with JPE with the additional reasoning that being 91 years old, he is not a flight risk and should be released on humanitarian grounds.

Critics of this decision, Associate Justice Marvic Leonen included, criticized the decision as deviating from the law and jurisprudence and amounted to special treatment for JPE. Being the anti-Enrile person that I am, I submit the dissenting Justices are wrong.

The dissent substantially is that the grant of bail is because JPE is rich and powerful. Wrong. The majority decision, assuming that it is even solely on the ground of humanitarian reason, does 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

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Emil P. Jurado Chairman Emeritus, Editiorial Board

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OPINION lettertotheeditor@thestandard.com.ph

AQUINO SURRENDERS TO THE POINT EMIL P. JURADO

PRESIDENT Aquino surrendered to the political backlash and firestorm created by the decision of Finance Secretary Cesar Purisima and Customs Commissioner Bert Lina to physically open balikbayan boxes.

Definitely, the move to harass overseas Filipino workers, whom the President loves to call modern heroes because they buttress the economy with their remittances, was uncalled for when bigtime smugglers continue to rob the government.

Lina has been resolute in finding ways to increase Customs collections because of the bureau’s continued shortfall. Now he is saying that Customs would let all balikbayan boxes pass through x-ray machines, and in the presence of third parties. There will be surveillance cameras.

I am not too sure if Lina’s move would prevent the pilferages of balikbayan boxes by thieves at Customs who lurk in every corner. This is at least some consolation for migrants, that what they send to their loved ones back home will be received in good shape.

But since the President has countermanded Lina’s move, the latter should resign pronto if he has any self-respect and delicadeza left.

The backtracking of the President on the balikbayan issue is halfhearted. Rampant smuggling continues at the bureau, with the connivance of Customs officials and personnel. My gulay, even Customs guards are in it. They take bribes from drivers of container loads of highly dutiable cargoes going out of the Customs areas.

When I was business editor of the now-defunct Philippines Herald in the 1960s and 1970s, it was a cat and mouse thing. At one time, smuggling was so bad that President Diosdado Macapagal had to seek help from the Philippine Military Academy to have some 400 PMA cadets man Customs. Soon enough, even the PMA cadets got corrupted.

Customs has had the

worst reputation among government agencies. I cannot forget that over 2,000 container loads of highly dutiable cargoes disappeared on their way from the Port of Manila to the Port of Batangas.

This happened during the tenure of then-Commissioner Ruffy Biazon.

Miracles do happen at Customs, but this Houdini act takes the cake.

If the President is really and truly sincere in effecting change, he should adopt draconian measures in revamping Customs.

Changing commissioners for the fifth time with the appointment of Lina won’t help. Customs is corrupt from top to bottom. He has nine months to do it,

If Bert Lina has any delicadeza, he should resign pronto.

if he’s really interested and committed.

But the problem is that—and this is well known at Customs—the brother-in-law of a high palace official is a bigtime smuggler, and so is the head of a big chain of retail supermarkets and malls. Customs people say that they are untouchable. *** When President Aquino finally issued a directive to build a P50-billion mega-prison facility at the 500-hectare Fort Magsaysay at Laur, Nueva Ecija, people were relieved that finally the government has come to its senses on the need to decongest the New Bilibid Prisons at Muntinlupa. Bilibid was built for only 8,000 inmates, but it is now heavily congested with some 22,000 or more prisoners.

This has resulted in riots, killings, entry of illegal drugs and even firearms.

Santa Banana, wellknown drug lords have all the luxuries they want behind prison bars. VIPs even gain temporary freedom.

The plan is to sell the New Bilibid Prisons area

TRAFFIC CZAR DUTY CALLS FLORENCIO FIANZA IT IS really not hard to see that the traffic situation in Metro Manila is going from bad to worse.

A retired prince of the church, 83-year-old Gaudencio Cardinal Rosales, had to get out of his car walk more than a kilometer in pouring rain to direct traffic himself.

There are calls for the appointment of a traffic czar so that there can be a coordinated effort on the national level to address the worsening problem.

We are very fond of appointing so-called czars to address pressing problems. If there is a rice problem, we appoint a rice czar. With the traffic gridlock in Metro Manila getting worse every year, someone has suggested that Secretary Jose Rene Almendras be appointed traffic czar so that he can call on any government agency and coordinate their efforts which the chairman of MMDA cannot currently do.

It is doubtful whether this move would improve traffic. It may just add another layer of bureaucracy which will only complicate the problem. There really is no need to appoint a traffic czar. For one, we already have one in the person of the Secretary of Transportation and Communications. Years ago, when I was detached from the Philippine National Police to handle traffic in Metro Manila, former President Fidel Ramos, in an execuand with the funds build a facility with security provided by the military establishment stationed in the area. High-risk convicts will then be segregated from the low-risk inmates. The latter could even be recruited to do some farm work and tree-planting in the mountains nearby.

I readily supported the plan and I was glad the Aquino administration was up to the task.

But now comes the Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines prison ministry opposing the plan, claiming that there are other ways of decongesting the prison facility.

Among these alternatives are the transfer of inmates to the seven farm colonies of the Bureau of Corrections and Penology, and the issuance of “good conduct” privilege to inmates to facilitate their parole and release. My gulay, the CBCP prison ministry must be hallucinating!

tive order, designated thenSecretary Arturo Enrile of the DOTC to oversee the overall traffic management in Metro Manila. This was towards the end of 1997 or early 1998.

If the government is really bent on having a traffic czar, all that the President should do is to direct Secretary Abaya to start exercising his prerogatives. He was of course the one who said that traffic is a problem but is not fatal. This gives the public a glimpse of his attitude towards the problem. This, plus the simplistic remark of President Aquino that the traffic problem is a sign of progress, does not give the public any confidence that this administration understand the gravity of the situation.

Unfortunately, this is the kind of attitude that permeates the whole government bureaucracy when it comes to traffic management in the metropolitan area. It is either surrender or paralysis driven by the magnitude of the problem. To be sure, the problem is immense. But if one understands it and knows what has to be done, it would be a very good start.

The trouble is, the people who have been designated to solve and manage the problem are giving the public the impression that they do not know or understand what they are doing. They seem to be trying their best to worsen the problem. If there is understanding of the problem, why did the MMDA attempt to reserve two lanes of the already-congested Edsa for

pedestrians and bicycles?

It is mind-boggling.

There has always been this debate of who to appoint as chairman of the MMDA—a politician or someone who is technically trained and capable to handle the complexities of traffic management.

It is, after all, a lot more complicated than what people think. Over the years, the appointment has always gone to a politician. The reason being is that a politician can better relate to the seventeen mayors of the different cities and municipalities that comprise the National Capital Region.

The result of this practice, I dare say, has not been good. Except for the regular infrastructure projects planned by the DOTC and DPWH, no significant projects were ever undertaken by the MMDA to qualitatively improve traffic in Metro Manila. But since no trained traffic engineer was ever appointed as chairman, we of course do not have any basis for comparison. Because the traffic problem can only grow worse before it can get any better, there is a need to approach the problem in a much different and radical way.

Let me illustrate. By the end of the year, vehicle sales will add around 300,000 vehicles on the road and this will grow at the rate of about 20 percent every year. By the year 2020, people will be buying around 600,000 vehicles or more a year because of increasing incomes.

If nothing is done

to ameliorate the traffic problem in the metro area, vehicles will be traveling at less than five or seven kilometers per hour. At that rate, everything would ground to a halt. Nothing would get done. There is therefore a need to radically revise the way government agencies plan and implement projects. Otherwise, there will be no chance at all to alleviate the problem.

We must remember that whatever we do, there is no action that can be implemented to solve the problem the way everybody wants it. This is not possible. What can be done is to be able to use the existing road system more efficiently for the benefit of all. The current government projects being undertaken are unfortunately not enough. It took five years for this administration to construct a four-kilometer by-pass road. The skyway that will eventually connect the SLEX and NLEX, by the time it is completed, will no longer be enough.

We will probably need another one further east of the current skyway. In addition, we will need an east-west elevated highway to be connected with the north-south skyway and this will have to be done fast.

Unfortunately, we are stuck in our slow process that it will probably take the administration beginning in 2022 to start another project. Election fever has already taken over and nothing will get done from now until we inaugurate a new President.

Sad.

MAIL MATTERS

NO GARLIC SHIPMENT FROM TAIWAN WE would like to correct the photo caption published on page A3 of your August 17 issue which mentioned Port Irene being responsible in the “smuggling of garlic from Taiwan sold in Baguio City and the Cordillera.”

There has never been any shipment of garlic whatsoever coming from Taiwan and coursed through Port Irene.

Being the managing authority of said port, CEZA oversees its operations.

Our records show no entry of any shipment originating from Taiwan or containing garlic commodities. This can be verified from the Bureau of Customs and Bureau of Internal Revenue.

We reiterate that in our effort to shun any illicit activities, we have been working closely with other government agencies to intensify the management and supervision of the Cagayan Economic Zone and Freeport.

JOYCE U. JAYME-CALIMAG Public Relations Chief Cagayan Economic Zone Authority

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OPINION lettertotheeditor@thestandard.com.ph

MINORITY REPORT DANILO SUAREZ MALACAÑANG is now doing double time on damage control due to the public outrage over the Bureau of Customs’ proposed random inspections of balikbayan boxes. Although President Aquino has already ordered the bureau to stop the random inspections, the public relations damage cannot be undone. It just underscored this administration’s quality of leadership and its blatant insensitivity and callousness towards the people.

Customs Commissioner Alberto Lina has been pushing to enforce more regular physical inspections of balikbayan boxes (which was said to be part of the agency’s anti-smuggling campaign) and enforcing the $500 value limit on the content of these tax-free privileges. He has cited the P600 million annual losses from high-end goods smuggled through balikbayan boxes as their rationale for the physical inspections. But truth be told, balikbayan boxes are already being screened through X-ray machines so there’s no need to open them up. Moreover, when Lina was interviewed live in a morning talk show, he could not even state

POP GOES THE WORLD JENNY ORTUOSTE THE Bureau of Customs’ plan to randomly open balikbayan boxes and inspect their contents was greeted with a world-shaking chorus of anger from overseas Filipinos, who have used the balikbayan box system for decades to send goods to their families in the Philippines.

Instead of the bureau finding ways to be proactive on behalf of migrant workers in this matter, the agency planned to implement a heavy-handed inspection plan. Their rationale was that they have to implement existing laws and control abuse of the system by illegal traders.

However, in trying to sweep the illegals in a net, they also riled the legitimate senders who wanted nothing more than to show their love and concern to their families, and who felt harassed by the BoC move, which they felt would result in more instances of petty theft and violations of privacy by Customs personnel.

The public outcry on social media also led to a deluge of humorous online memes showing boxes full of snakes to bite Customs probers, and boxes with the contents taped on the outside to make inspections easier.

Some called for outright boycotts of the padala system “until it is fixed.”

Enrile.. From A9

‘BANTAY SALAKAY’ where he got his figures and could not even give a sure answer of how many balikbayan boxes actually pass through Customs. Before this, Malacañang mouthpiece Edwin Lacierda has been quoted as belittling the scheduled OFW remittances by saying that it doesn’t really matter much as the funds don’t go to the government anyway. Where the hell did this guy come from? Lest it be forgotten by the President’s men, it has been the OFW remittances which have been keeping this country afloat for the past five years. Likewise, for the information of Commissioner Lina, the actual figures based on 2014 data from the International Monetary Fund shows that the country’s annual smuggling average has actually reached $19.6 billion since 2010, a staggering amount which is more than five times compared to the annual smuggling average under the allegedly corrupt previous administration. This obviously reflects a leadership which has cultivated a fertile field for smugglers to thrive on. Bear in mind that we have an existing law which states that nonperforming officers and em-

ployees of the BOC and the BIR shall be subject to attrition. The problem with tuwid na daan is that the law is not implemented when it comes to allies.

Instead of targeting balikbayan boxes, Customs chief Alberto Lina is better advised to start seriously clamping down on big-time smugglers. He should be focusing his efforts on the reported smuggling of oil and fuel and other basic commodities like rice and palm oil, and in ridding the bureau of corrupt inspectors which are the main culprits why tons of taxpayer’s monies are lost by Customs in the first place. Let us not forget the 2,000 container vans which were inexplicably “lost”

by Customs a few years back, during the early part of this administration. With due respect to the remaining honest lot in the bureau, these activities could not have transpired without the collusion of their operatives.

We therefore re-echo calls for the conduct of a lifestyle check on Customs personnel, and strongly support House Resolution 2311 which seeks to investigate and determine how the bureau has been spending its intelligence funds. If it can-

not locate 2,000 container vans and identify the culprits who are smuggling fuel, then we need to know how the bureau has been using its intelligence funds. And just for the record, how many big-time smugglers have they managed to put behind bars under this administration? Given these, all the hullabaloo about running after technical smuggling and tax evaders via balikbayan boxes is pure hogwash, and is nothing but a sign of desperation on the part of the BOC to raise funds for the administration’s battle chest in preparation for 2016.

Why deprive our overseas kababayans of this small gesture of happiness for their loved ones back home? We all know that the bulk of the contents of these boxes are canned goods, like corned beef and fruit cocktail, which are so precious especially for those in far-flung barangays.

Anyway, what can you expect of a leadership far removed from the ordinary Juan Dela Cruz and which grew up too privileged to have a notion of the lives of the C, D and E class?

This is the kind of feudal elite mentality that should not be allowed to continue to lead.

BOXING THE BUREAU

This resulted in a flurry of reactions from the BoC, Department of Justice, the Department of Finance, the Palace, and the President. After the dust settled, at least one thing was clear— the President ordered that the implementation of random inspections be halted.

This turnaround was entirely due, I believe, to the fact that this issue stormed the Internet, making it too large and visible for government to ignore.

This is the power of social media—it acts as an amplifier for the voice of the people to be heard, who would otherwise have had to lapse into silence.

A simple communication model goes like this: the message emanates from a source and goes along a channel to the receiver, who then sends feedback about the message back to the source.

Before the Internet, opportunities to deliver feedback were few and limited to those who had control over the mass media, or other types of influence that would lead to results. Ordinary folk could but write letters or stage rallies and protests —methods that are inefficient, time-consuming, and resourceintensive.

Digital media democratized public discourse, allowing everyone with an opinion to state it easily, cheaply, and immediately. The response time of those

on the receiving end has necessarily and as a consequence become faster.

Therefore the resolution of this matter took a mere few days, similar to the swift dissemination of Transport Secretary Jun Abaya’s public apology for his “traffic is not fatal” remark.

The BoC reassessed its approach to the issue, with Customs Commissioner Alberto Lina saying they would “seek the help of our freight forwarder companies to install their own x-ray machines in their warehouses” and acquire “K9 units and additional CCTV cameras for our ports” to conduct inspections without opening boxes.

Many overseas Filipinos also object to the taxation on the contents of boxes and the limitation on the number of items allowed.

Lawyer Raymond Fortun posted a legal opinion entitled “To Open Or Not to Open” on his Facebook page last Aug. 24, saying that while “taxation is an inherent power of the state,” the balikbayan box system is a “privilege was in the first place granted to somehow reward Filipino workers working abroad, who have helped bring in muchneeded foreign currencies into the country even as they suffer hardship in a foreign land.”

Overseas workers contribute billions to the Philippine economy. From a Chicago Tribune ar-

ticle posted online on Aug. 24: “ Money sent home by Filipinos living aboard, which makes up about 10 percent of GDP, increased 5.6 percent to $12.1 billion in the first half from a year earlier.”

Many items sent in balikbayan boxes are hand-medowns, cast-offs, second-hand items, that if taxed would cost more than the actual price of the goods when new.

The BoC should also rethink the limit on items. Some overseas Filipinos send a large number of cheap nonperishable goods—toothpaste, shampoo, soap—for their families to use over the course of a year, with no intent to make money off them.

With public clamor at a high level, the BoC would do well to address these issues as soon as possible.

For now, and with regard to the random inspections at least, the public is victorious. The resolution of this incident is a triumph of communication, the will of the people, and the power of the word.

The people have through these means succeeded in putting this insensitive plan of Customs back in the box—at least for the meantime. *** Facebook: Jenny Ortuoste, Twitter: @jennyortuoste, Instagram: @jensdecember, Blog: http://jennyo.net

not violate the equal protection clause. Simply put, this clause is a constitutional guarantee that persons similarly situated should be treated alike. Leonen et al say that the basis of distinction is because Enrile is a Senator and is rich. I submit that the correct basis of distinction is that he is 91 years old. To violate the equal protection clause, Justice Leonen et al should show that there are other 91-year-old individuals being prosecuted for a capital offense and denied bail.

I am sure that no one as old as Enrile is detained for a non-bailable offense, or is in jail by reason of a final and executory conviction. Why? Because our penal system recognizes that senior citizens, and those who are sick, should be the first to be released from detention on humanitarian grounds. Every year, the DOJ’s Board of Pardon and Parole prepares a list of convicted felons for release on humanitarian grounds. Again, I am so sure that there is no 91-year-old felon that continues to be behind bars.

So if convicted felons could be released because of their senior years as a humanitarian gesture, why should not a mere accused —enjoying the presumption of innocence—who is also a senior citizen, not be released from custody on humanitarian grounds?

Secondly, the minority is wrong when they opined that his release on humanitarian grounds is bereft of legal basis.

Under our Revised Penal Code, a trial judge may recommend that a person 70 years of age or older should no longer serve the sentence of imprisonment on humanitarian grounds. Again, this has to do with convicted felons. So why can’t the Supreme Court, by analogy, the collegiate boss of individual lower court judges, release a senior citizen also on humanitarian grounds?

Perhaps, the minority’s error is in failing to recognize that all civilized societies recognize the laws of humanity as binding on all states.

This finds articulation in the socalled “Martens clause.” This provides that in default of a specific legal basis, humanity shall continue to be protected by public international law, the dictates of conscience, and the laws of humanity.

I rest my case.

Minding.. From A9 Especially now, when Trillanes himself is being accused of hiring more than 60 consultants at a cost to the government of more than P20 million a year, the subcommittee’s hearings have taken on an ironic tone. Why would Trillanes accuse Binay, for instance, of being behind this newspaper’s disclosure of his profligacy with the people’s money, when the same Commission on Audit that is admonishing him about his consultants is supposedly spearheading the probe of Binay’s alleged corruption?

Of course, no one expects the Senate to shut down its year-long probe of Binay just yet, not when the senators who started it have yet to achieve their goal. The Senate probe may have degenerated into a theater of the absurd, but getting to the truth is no longer the point here.

And everyone already knows that, except for Pimentel, Cayetano and Trillanes.

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SPORTS sports@thestandard.com.ph

Federer, Nadal at US Open crossroads NEW YORK—Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal, with 31 major titles between them, head for the US Open with their Grand Slam careers at the crossroads.

Tennis Players Rafael Nadal, Serena Williams, Madison Keys, Nick Kyrgios, Maria Sharapova, Pete Sampras, Andre Agassi, Genie Bouchard, Roger Federer, Grigor Dimitrov and John McEnroe attends Nike’s “NYC Street Tennis” event in New York City. AFP

All set for Crosby Sportsfest THE 2nd edition of the Gemmalyn Crosby Sports Festival will be held at the SMX Convention Center at the Mall of Asia on Aug. 29 and 30.

Bodybuilding and Filipino martial arts competitions highlight the twoday event being promoted by celebrated lady bodybuilder Gemmalyn Crosby.

Expo event featuring different sports merchandises will also be featured in the festival.

Crosby herself was at Tuesday’s Philippine Sportswriters Association Forum at Shakey’s Malate accompanied by Maricel Pangilinan.

“We want to have as many sports as possible, but the schedule is very tight, so probably we’ll do it by next year,” said Crosby in the session presented by San Miguel Corp., Accel, Shakey’s, and the

Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corp.

Entries from the United States, India, Malaysia, and Australia are seeing action in the bodybuilding competitions, while eskrima and arnis will be showcased in the Filipino martial arts.

Born and raised in Dipolog, Crosby, who is based in the US, said hopefully she’ll be adding boxing, 3x3 challenge, and powerlifting when she holds the third staging of the annual meet.

Meanwhile, potential medal winners comprise the lean but mean four-man Philippine team bound for the 2015 World Junior &SubJunior Powerlifting Championship in Prague, Czech Republic.

Regie Ramirez, Jasmine Martin, Joan Masangkay, and Jeremy Reign

Bautista were tapped by the Powerlifting Association of the Philippines for the Aug. 31 to Sept. 5 meet after all four won gold medals in last month’s Asian Powerlifting Championship in Hong Kong.

“We want to make sure na ang lahat ng ipadadala natin ay makakamedalya. We want that our athletes are all deserving,” said powerlifting association president Eddie Torres.

Some 223 athletes are seeing action in the two-category event divided into Sub-Junior (14-18-years-old) and Junior (19-23-years-old).

Ramirez (men’s 59 kg) and Martin (women’s 47 kg) will compete in the Juniors’ category, while Bautista (women’s 47 kg) and Masangkay women’s 43 kg) are seeing action in the Sub-Juniors’ side.

Despite turning 34, Federer was an impressive winner of a seventh Cincinnati Masters title last weekend, seeing off world number one— and US Open favourite—Novak Djokovic in the final.

It was the Swiss star’s 87th tour title and revenge for losing a second successive Wimbledon final to the Serb last month.

But Federer has stumbled badly in New York in recent years.

A five-time champion from 2004-2008, he was runner-up to Juan Martin del Potro in 2009 but hasn’t been back to the final since.

His record at the Grand Slams in 2015 has also been mixed.

The seven-time Wimbledon champion may have at least reached the final at the All England Club, but that run was preceded by a shock third round exit to Italian journeyman Andreas Seppi at the Australian Open, his earliest in Melbourne in 14 years.

He then endured a quar-

ter-final loss at Roland Garros to compatriot Stan Wawrinka.

Federer’s last Grand Slam title came at Wimbledon in 2012 and if he wins the US Open this year, he would be the oldest champion since 35-year-old Ken Rosewall back in 1970.

“I haven’t been in a final (in New York) since 2009.

So I got my work cut out,” said Federer, who was beaten by eventual champion Marin Cilic in the semifinals last year.

In contrast to the Swiss player’s staying power is Nadal’s swift, brutal decline.

The 29-year-old Spaniard, the 2010 and 2013 champion in New York, has endured a tough year, the knee joints and wrists looking stiffer and weaker.

After being deposed as French Open champion —his quarter-final loss to Djokovic was only his second ever defeat in Paris—Nadal slumped to 10 in the world, his lowest ranking for a decade.

Green, Faried to grace NBA PH 3-on-3 tournament NBA 3X Philippines 2015 returns to Manila at the SM Mall of Asia Music Hall on Aug. 28 to 30.

Now on its fifth year, the event showcases an exciting 3-on-3 oncourt competition with free authen-

tic NBA entertainment for fans of all ages.

These free fan activities include the Tattoo Slam Dunk Contest; KFC Bucket 3-Point Shootout; NBA 3X Halftime, and many more. NBA athletes Kenneth Faried

3 schools stay unbeaten in SBP Passerelle cagefest THREE schools will march unbeaten to the quarterfinals of the Small Basketeers Philippines, while four squads are also clean heading into the next round of the Passerelle as matches in the BEST Center-organized, Milo-sponsored twin tournaments are expected to heat up this weekend at the Xavier School gym.

Chiang Kai Shek College survived the challenge put up by De la Salle-Zobel (2-3) to win, 40-32, and move into the next round with a clean four-win slate in Group A of SBP, the same record by another quarterfinalist, Xavier

School-A, which clobbered tail-ender St. Mary’s College (0-5), 92-23.

Ateneo-B (3-2) and La Salle Greenhills-B (3-3) will complete the group’s semis cast.

La Salle Greenhills-A smothered San Beda CollegeRizal (1-4), 63-33, to lead the Group B quarterfinals cast, towing Ateneo-B (4-1), Marist School (4-1) and Lourdes School-Quezon City (2-3).

Adamson remained unbeaten at the end of the eliminations in Group A of Passerelle, its fifth win coming at the expense of St. Augustine International School (4-2), 71-40.

of the Denver Nuggets and Danny Green of the San Antonio Spurs will headline this year’s event and share their basketball talents with the young players, while the Golden State Warriors Dance Team and Philadelphia 76ers mascot Franklin

are set to energize and bring the excitement to the crowd. The full event activities schedule can be found below and on the official NBA 3X Philippines 2015 event website at www.nba3x.com/philippines.

Grassroots program. Philippine

Volleyball Federation Vice President for Visayas Roger Banzuela accepts from PVF President Edgardo “Tito Boy” Cantada volleyball equipment and balls intended for the grassroots’ program of the PVF in the Negros provinces in the Visayas.

In photo are PVF Managing Director Otie Camangian, Deputy Secretary General Gerard Cantada, Secretary General Karl Chan and PVF Vice President for Mindanao Arnel Hajan. The grassroots program is supported

by Tanduay.

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SPORTS sports@thestandard.com.ph

Martin, Saraza bag Palawan net crowns FOURTH-RANKED Jacob Martin fought back from a set down to topple No. 3 Justin Suarez, 3-6, 6-4, 6-1, and capture the boys’ 16-and-under crown while Chloe Mae Saraza racked up two victories in the girls’ side of the Palawan Pawnshop-Palawan Express Pera Padala presented by Technifibre at the Celebrity Sports Plaza in QC last Tuesday.

Martin, a 14-year-old playing in the higher age division, broke Suarez once in the second set to force a decider then the Xavier School mainstay leaned on his superb baseline game in the decider to complete the come-from-behind victory in the Group 2 tournament sanctioned by the Philippine Tennis Association headed by president and Paranaque City Mayor Edwin Olivarez.

“I really prepared and trained hard for this event knowing a lot of top players are competing. I’m glad Two-division champion Chloe Mae Saraza (left) and 16-U titlist Jacob Martin hold their trophies after topping I was able to achieve my goal,” said Martin, who swept Gabriel Tiamtheir respective divisions in the Palawan Pawnshop-Palawan Express Pera Padala tennis tournament at the son, 6-3, 6-2, in the quarters then Celebrity Sports Plaza in QC.

stopped Harvey Gilbuena, 6-2, 6-4, in the semis.

The third-ranked Saraza, on the other hand, clipped top seed Rafa Villanueva, 6-2, 6-0, to bag the 16-U title then added the 18-U diadem by rallying past Bettina Bautista, 3-6, 6-4, 6-1.

NCR’s Miles Vitaliano also upended No. 1 Mikaela Vicencio, 6-1, 6-3, to snare the girls’ 14-U crown; top seed Macie Carlos, also from NCR, routed Kryshana Brazal, 6-1, 6-0, to clinch the 12-U plum; while Adeline Abadia shut out Luis Salvacion, 4-0, 4-0, to pocket the 10-unisex title in the event held as part of the country’s leading pawnshop, remittance and claim center’s 30th anniversary celebrations.

“The number of reversals only underscored the level playing field among our junior players, especially those from the provinces who continue to benefit from Palawan Pawnshop’s year-long, nationwide circuit,” said Palawan Pawnshop COO Bobby Castro.

Bolt, Gatlin near 200m showdown BEIJING—Rivals Usain Bolt and Justin Gatlin are expected to set up a 200m showdown and Olympic champion Kirani James will go for gold in the men’s 400m at the world championships on Wednesday.

Bolt and Gatlin cruised into the 200m semi-finals and the tall Jamaican is oozing confidence after Sunday’s tight 100m win over the controversial Gatlin, who has served two doping bans.

“I’m always confident, man,” the six-times Olympic champion and world record-holder

said, when asked whether he expected to beat Gatlin again in Thursday’s final in Beijing.

“I knew the 200 was going to be harder because I’m not in the best of fitness,” added Bolt, who struggled with pelvic joint pain earlier in the season.

“Everybody knows the 200 actually means more for me

than the 100 so I’m trying to get through the rounds as comfortably as possible and using as little energy as possible,” he said.

James will look to add world gold to his Olympic 400m title but in what is shaping as a thriller, he will be pushed hard by contenders including defending champion LaShawn Merritt.

Britain’s Mo Farah, who won the 10,000m on Saturday, will begin his bid for a distance double when he runs the 5,000m heats in the morning session at the Bird’s Nest stadium.

The women’s 200m heats are missing 100m winner ShellyAnn Fraser-Pryce and America’s Allyson Felix, who both opted out, blowing the field wide open.

Much-decorated Jamaican Veronica Campbell-Brown could enjoy a golden swansong, although countrywoman Elaine Thompson, Nigeria’s Commonwealth Games champion Blessing Okagbare and Dutch 100m silver medallist Dafne Schippers could also shine.

Other finals on Wednesday include the women’s pole vault, 400m hurdles and 3,000m steeplechase, as well as the men’s javelin. AFP

USC Warriors remain undefeated in 6 games

By Mikey Izumi CEBU CITY—The University of San Carlos Warriors kept their unbeaten record intact at the close of the first round of the 15th Cebu Schools Athletic Foundation Inc. after a close 67-62 victory against the University of Cebu Webmasters at the Cebu Coliseum on Tuesday.

The Warriors jumped off to a good start and led all the way until the end of the first half, 30-22, behind the solid efforts of Cameroonian import Shooster Olago and power forward Charles Pepito, who dominated the smaller but quicker Webmasters frontline.

But the Webmasters employed a pressure defense to force the Warriors into turnovers and cut the lead to only six, 52-46, at the end of the third quarter behind Melvin Butohan, who had 10 points in the third.

Butohan started the fourth quarter with a triple as the Webmasters sliced the War-

riors’ lead to three, 52-49, but that was as close as the UC could get as Olago, Pepito and point guard Giovanni Laguyo regained control of the game and extended the Warriors’ lead to 10 points in the final two minutes.

Olago led the Warriors with 22 points and 14 rebounds and was named “Best Player of the Game” by the Viva Sports TV panel of Rico Navarro and Sandi Grumo.

Pepito finished with 13 points and 11 boards for the Warriors, who moved to 6-0.

Melvin Butohan led the Webmasters with 18 points, 3 rebounds and three steals, while Justine Dacalos amd Garciano Puerto added 11 and 10 points respectively.

UC dropped to 3-2.

In the juniors’ division, the USC Baby Warriors met some brief resistance from the University of Southern Philippines Foundation Baby Panthers before racing to a 95-78 victory to stay unbeaten at 4-0, while USPF fell to 3-2.

Intense action such as this one marks every game of CESAFI.

Adamson, UST nail volley seats ADAMSON University sustained its top form and waylaid Escuela De Sophia (EDS) of Caloocan while University of Santo Tomas dealt former champion Hope Christian High School another loss as they took the top two spots in Pool B of the Shakey’s Girls’ Volleyball League Season 13 NCR leg at the Ynares Sports Arena in Pasig City last Tuesday.

The Baby Falcons survived a firstset scare before disposing of EDS, 2522, 25-12, while the Baby Tigresses pounced on the listless Hope Christian side and came away with a onesided 25-11, 25-12 win to advance to the Final Four stage of the week-long qualifier among the top high school girls’ volley squads in the Big City sponsored by Shakey’s.

Hope slid to 1-2 and bowed out of the semis race along with EDS, which dropped to 1-3, and Academy of God’s Children, winless in three starts in the two-division, 10-team event organized by Metro Sports headed by Freddie Infante.

Fancied National U also matched UST and Adamson’s three-game run as the Lady Bullpups paced Pool A with Kings’ Montessori School zeroing in on the other semis spot with a 3-1 mark.

But De La Salle-Zobel stayed in the hunt by blasting University of the East, 25-14, 25-16, to improve to 2-1 heading to its final game against NU being played at presstime.

MGC New Life and UE are out of it all with 0-3 marks.

The winner will be the country’s lone representative to the first-ever Shakey’s GVL International Championship which will feature five foreign teams, according to Metro Sports’ and tournament director Johanz Buenvenida.

T H U R S D AY : A U g U S T 2 7, 2 0 1 5

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SPORTS sports@thestandard.com.ph

Top 2 PBA picks now with Texters

By Jeric Lopez

Talk ‘N Text, which made Fil-Tongan Moala Tautuaa the top pick in the recent Philippine Basketball Association Draft, has accomplished another coup by also acquiring Troy Rosario, this year’s no. 2 pick.

Gabe Tayao Cabrera claims victory in the 2015 Asian Karting Open Championships. Inset shows the Shifter KZ champion with his mechanics Rolly Lacap and Joesefilo Bariquit.

Tayao Cabrera leads PH’s kart sweep SEAOIL karter Gabriel “Gabe” Tayao Cabrera emerged the Shifter KZ champion, powering the country’s sweep in the second leg of the 2015 Asian Karting Open Championships at Carmona Racetrack in Cavite.

In just his first year in shifter karts, he is the youngest contender in the series’ premier class comprising senior and veteran shifter karters.

Moving up from third in the qualifying heats, the

15-year-old settled for second behind strongest rival and former International Karter of the Year Vrei-Ar Suba in the pre-finals.

Both Tayao Cabrera and Suba escalated the thrill of karting fans as the two multi-titled champions intensely dueled in the finals, expertly maneuvering their karts despite the rain and racing in slick tires throughout the 20-lap race.

Backed by DC, Gold’s Gym, RS Design Japan and Media Magic, Gabe eventu-

ally grabbed the lead, clocking in 9.382 seconds ahead of Suba.

“This year has been quite a challenge facing Karter of the Year and Driver of the Year VJ Suba and his younger brother Vrei-Ar in the grid, who are both established and respected icons in Philippine motorsports. It can be intimidating but I appreciate being able to hone my racecraft by racing with them,” said Tayao Cabrera.

Despite missing the first AKOC leg in Macau last June

due to commitments with Asia Cup’s Formula BMW in Malaysia, Tayao Cabrera’s Manila leg win boosted the Philippines’ overall 1-2 solid standing for the series title ahead of Macau leg champion Troy Castaneda from the United States.

More intense action is expected as the Philippine contingent heads to the next leg of the series to be held in Thailand this coming November and the last leg to again be held in Macau in December.

Wildcats pull off win, stay alive in Spiker’s Turf Games on Monday 1 p.m. – FEU vs St. Benilde 3 p.m. – Ateneo vs NU

NATIONAL College of Business and Arts battled back from two sets down then outlasted St. Benilde in an extended fifth set to

hack out a gripping 19-25, 16-25, 25-18, 27-25, 19-17 victory and remain in the thick of the semis race in the Spikers’ Turf Season 1-Collegiate Conference at The Arena in San Juan City yesterday.

The grueling two-hour win

tied NCBA with Emilio Aguinaldo College at fourth at 3-3.

More importantly, it boosted the Wildcats’ confidence heading to their final match against the also-ran UP Maroons next Wednesday.

Ateneo and National U clinch ed the first two semis slots with 6-0 and 5-0 marks, respectively, while is at third with a 3-2 card but with tough rivals – NU and EAC – in its final two games.

Sources said that right after offering the 6’7” Tautuaa the maximum rookie salary of P150,000 per month for the next three years, the Tropang Texter also acquired Rosario on a three-way deal with Mahindra and NLEX. Rosario is also expected to receive the same deal given to Tautuaa.

The Tropang Texters and Tautuaa are set to sign the deal before the Fil-Tongan leaves with Smart Gilas this weekend for Taiwan to see action in the Jones Cup. The sources said the TNT management held a meeting with the Fil-Tongan yesterday to discuss the details of Tautuaa’s contract and his role with the team.

The Tropang Texters earlier shipped Kevin Alas and

big man Rob Reyes, which paved the way for Rosario’s entry into the TNT fold.

Since last season, Talk ‘N Text had been very active in its bid to acquire younger talents as part of its rebuilding process.

The Tropang Texters, however, also re-signed some of its veterans, led by Larry Fonacier and Harvey Carey. Fonacier was signed for three years for P9.6 million, while Carey, who had stayed with TNT for the past two years, was re-signed for the next two years for P4.8 million.

The Tropang Texters are also expected to offer new deals for their other veterans with expiring contracts such as Kelly Williams and Danny Seigle.

Junior riders join world tourney THE Philippines plans to send its best national under-23 team to the World Cycling Championship Richmond, Virginia from Sept. 20 to 27 in the United States.

Filipino riders will be pitted against the best in the globe, thereby improving their chances of earning Olympic qualifying points.

PhilCycling chief Abraham “Bambol” Tolentino yesterday said this is the first time the country has qualified in the World Championship.

This will give Filipino riders a chance to qualify to the 2016 Rio Olympics.

“It’s like hitting two birds in one stone because this is the first time we’ll be competing in the World Championship, while also giving us the opportunity to earn

qualifying points to the Rio Olympics,” said Tolentino.

Only the top seven Asian nations qualified to the annual race and the Philippines is among them.

Kazakhstan, Korea, Iran, Japan, Hong Kong and Lebanon are the other countries that made the grade.

“We’re the only country in Southeast Asia which qualified,” said national team coach Chris Allison.

Allison said he wants John Mark Camingao of Navy, Rustom Lim and either Ronald Lomotos or Dominic Perez of 7-Eleven to be part of the national under-23 team. Tolentino said they’re seeking assistance from the Philippine Sports Commission to help fund the country’s participation. Peter Atencio

Cotto-Alvarez is ‘strictly business’

By Ronnie Nathanielsz

Current WBC champion Miguel Cotto (left) and contender Canelo Alvarez, Former WBC and WBA Super Welterweight World Champion, pose after a news conference announcing their upcoming WBC middleweight title bout in Los Angeles, California. The WBC middleweight title bout will take place Nov. 21 at the Mandalay Bay Events Center in Las Vegas, Nevada. AFP

THE explosive encounter between World Boxing Council middleweight champion Miguel Cotto and popular Saul “Canelo” Alvarez in another classic Puerto Rico vs Mexico showdown has been described as “strictly business” by respected boxing writer and television correspondent James Blears of Mexico City.

Reporting on Cotto’s entry into what he referred to as the “lion’s den” of Mexico City, Blears noted that Cotto “didn’t bat an eyelid, sauntering right into the lion’s den of Mexico City, promot-

ing his title defense against Saul ‘Canelo’ Alvarez.”

“Both received a warm welcome at the studios of TV Azteca, deep in the South of Mexico City. Cotto soberly attired, banker style in a pale gray suit and matching silk tie. While Canelo with a black casual jacket, black trousers and a white open necked shirt,” Blears reported.

Both fighters were outwardly calm, sitting well apart but “their restless, fidgeting latticed hands, which knotted and unknotted, betrayed the simmering tension both guardedly felt.

Cotto mostly impassive, occasionally pursing his lips.

Canelo, noticeably paler than normal, sitting bolt upright.”

Blears said that Saul, “smilingly thanked the Mexican fans for their voracious support, as an extra gingerbread inspiration. Yet he readily acknowledged it’s going to be a very difficult and hard fight. Stressing that such fights are won in gyms, he said the advice and wisdom of Golden Boy Promotions President and boxing superstar Oscar De La Hoya, will provide vital ingredients, leading to the dividends of victory. And his thoughts are entirely focused upon that coming victory.”

T H U R S D AY : A U G U S T 2 7, 2 0 1 5

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SPORTS sports@thestandard.com.ph

Altas fight dangerous Cardinals

By Peter Atencio

$1-million Manila Masters. Asian Tour Chief Executive Office Mike Kerr (second from left) led the launching of the Resorts World Manila Masters, the richest golf tournament in the Philippines, happening on Nov. 19 to 22. The RWM Masters 2015, a full-field Asian Tour tournament will offer a US$1 million prize pot once again at the prestigious Manila Southwoods Golf and Country Club. (Story on A16)

Bayron sustains form, pads lead to 2 LIPA City, Batangas—Jay Bayron bucked the heat and Elmer Salvador’s sizzling feat as he hiked his lead to two with a bogey-free 67 midway through the P1.5 million ICTSI Summit Point Classic at the Summit Point Golf and Country Club here.

Though he remained on top and closer to his quest for a first championship in almost two years, Bayron rued a couple of missed birdie chances at the front, the backside of his game yesterday.

“I could’ve shot a lot better if not for my missed putts,” said Bayron, referring to his miscues on the last two par5s on Nos. 5 and 9 inside seven feet.

After a lead-grabbing 65 Tuesday, Bayron threatened to pull away on a hot, humid day, firing a second straight 32 at the back. But after a tap-in birdie on No. 3 for a five-under card, the former Order of Merit champion settled for a run of pars for that 67.

Still, his 36-hole haul of 12-under 132 kept him two shots clear of Salvador, who bettered Bayron’s solid round with seven birdies for a 65 and a 134, the same output put in by Korean Park Jun Hyeok, who firmed up his own breakthrough bid in the circuit organized by Pilipinas Golf Tournaments, Inc. with a second straight 67.

Four shots off Bayron at the start of the day, Salvador birdied two of the first three holes at the back, strung up three straight from No. 15 and closed out with back-toback birdies from No. 7.

“Jay is also playing solid so I think I need to shoot lower than what I did today (yesterday( to catch up,” said the soft-spoken Salvador, looking for a follow-up to his ICTSI Riviera Classic romp last June.

Park, in joint fourth in the first round, hovered with the leaders with birdies on Nos. 4, 5 and 9 then joined Salvador at second with another backto-back birdies from No.14.

UNIVERSITY of Perpetual Help Altas coach Aric del Rosario said the Altas will have to play with more energy and intensity in the second round, as they set out to resume their winning ways when they take on a dangerous Mapua Cardinals’ side in the 91st National Collegiate Athletic Association men’s basketball tournament at the San Juan Arena today.

The Altas, who ended the first round with a 7-2 win-loss card, will try to get past the Cardinals (4-5) at 4 p.m. today and figure in a three-way tie for the lead with the Letran Knights and the San Beda Red Lions, who share similar 8-2 marks.

In the 2 p.m. game, the Arellano University Chiefs (6-3) and the Jose Rizal University Heavy Bombers (5-4) clash as they jostle for a better position going into the stretch of the tournament.

The Knights have dropped to 8-2 after the loss to the San Sebastian Stags last Tuesday, 87-89, while the Red Lions climbed into a tie with Letran for the lead following an easy

Games today (San Juan Arena) 10 a.m.—JRU vs Arellano (jrs) 12 nn.—Mapua vs Perpetual Help (jrs) 2 p.m.—JRU vs Arellano (srs) 4 p.m.—Mapua vs Perpetual Help (srs)

victory over the hapless Emilio Aguinaldo College Generals, 96-84, on the same day.

Del Rosario said his wards will have to remain wary even against the lower squads since all the teams will gun for wins at all cost and the Altas should match their intensity.

“There are many teams which will improve in the second round. They will try to take down the top 4 teams in the standings. Their game will be more intense than us,” said Del Rosario.

Mapua’s Oraeme leads MVP derby

Korean Park Jun Hyeok firmed up his own breakthrough bid in the P1.5 million ICTSI Summit Point Classic at the Summit Point Golf and Country Club with a second straight 67.

LOTTO RESULTS

6/55 00-00-00-00-00-00 P0 M+ 6/45 00-00-00-00-00-00 P0 M 4 DIGITS 0-0-0-0 3 DIGITS 0-0-0 2 EZ2 0-0

MAPUA’S Allwell Oraeme leads the overall statistical race in the 91st National Collegiate Athletic Association men’s basketball tournament at the end of the first round.

After nine games, Oraeme has amassed 598 points on averages of 17.56 points and 19.11 rebounds a game, which makes him the top candidate for the Most Valuable Player award in the senior division.

San Beda’s Arthur de la Cruz is at second place with 574 points, followed

by Perpetual Help’s Earl Thompson at third with 549, while fellow Altas Bright Akhuetie is at fourth with 537, and Letran’s Rey Nambatac fifth

with 459). Thus, the Top 5 are the top picks for Mythical Five honors.

In the juniors’ side, La Salle Greenhills’ Ricci Rivero leads with 464 points, but after getting two technical fouls in their game against the Junior Altas, Rivero could be taken out of MVP race.

He, however, is still in contention for a Mythical Five award.

Jasper Salenga of Mapua, who has 440 points at no. 2, is next in line as a possible MVP awardee, while teammate Sherwin Concepcion is at third with 427 points.

Arellano’s Carlo Abadeza and Lyceum’s Chester Jungco are at fourth and fifth places, respectively.

Centro Escolar, Rizal Tech kick off title-retention bids with win CHAMPIONS Centro Escolar University and Rizal Technological University opened their title-retention bids on a high note at the start of the 46th Women’s National Collegiate Athletic Association over the weekend.

Four-time senior basketball champion Centro Escolar University turned back host Philippine Women’s University, 53-30, last Friday at the Rizal Memorial Coliseum.

CEU’s Cristine Caranto led all scorers with 14 points, Mary Ann Dologue added 11 and

three-time Most Valuable Player Janine Pontejos chipped in eight points.

Mary Rose Labrador delivered eight points for PWU. Also winning their initial assignments on Sunday at the St. Scholastica’s College gym were San Beda College Alabang against St. Scho, 67-35; RTU over University of Asia & the Pacific, 86-28; and Miriam College against Assumption, 53-41.

In juniors’ basketball, De La Salle Zobel stunned defending champion La Salle College

Antipolo, 59-44, with Jeeuel Rhocel Bartolo topscoring with 14 points.

RTU, stopped PWU, 25-22, 25-17, 25-17, on Friday at the SSC gym, and St. Scholastica, 2510, 25-14, 25-16, last Sunday at RMC. CEU matched defending champion RTU’s 2-0 card with victories over SBCA, 22-25, 2516, 30-28, 21-25, 15-12, and Miriam, 21-25, 259, 25-16, 25-8, for 1-1 slates.

PWU bounced back with a win over Assumption, 25-14, 25-22, 28-26, and so did SBCA as it bested UA&P, 25-2, 25-13, 25-20.

A16

T H U R S D AY : A U G U S T 2 7, 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 Jason Day of Australia, shown here reacting to a missed eagle putt on the par 5, 16th hole during the final round of the 2015 PGA Championship on The Straits Course, is on the wish list of Asian Tour CEO Mike Kerr. AFP

$1m Masters set; Day coming?

Nietes puts title on line vs Mexican

By Ronnie Nathanielsz THE longest-reigning Filipino world champion, World Boxing Organization light flyweight king Donnie “Ahas” Nietes, will defend his title against Mexican champion Juan “Pinky” Alejo at the StubHub Center in Carson City, California on Oct. 17 in a blockbuster card that will mark ALA Promotions’ breakthrough into the American boxing scene.

ALA Promotions’ president Michael Aldeguer confirmed in a conversation with The Standard/boxingscene.com that Nietes, who has a record of 36-1-4 with 21 knockouts, will make his eighth title defense, taking on the tough Mexican champion, who has a record of 21-3 with 13 knockouts and is ranked No. 7.

He said they are only waiting for Alejo’s US visa.

Alejo won the Mexican light flyweight title with an 11thround TKO of Jose Guadalupe Martinez on Aug. 20, 2014 and is coming off a 10-round split decision victory over Jose Rivas last May 27.

By Peter Atencio RWM Chief Operating Officer Stephen Reilly said that aside from the attractive prize pot, the full-field Asian Tour tournament will have multi-pronged objectives to benefit local golfers, since part of its vision is to boost the development of professional golf in the country and Asia, creating opportunities for Filipino golfers to qualify for the 2016 Olympic Games, and promoting the Philippines as a golfing haven and top-class tourist destination.

This means that Filipino golfers, who will do well in the tournament can move up in the world rankings and be among the Top 60 golfers who will see action in the Rio de Janeiro Olympics.

Expected to banner the Philippine side are 3-time Asian Tour winner Angelo Que, Antonio Lascuna, Juvic Pagunsan, Miguel Tabuena and Elmer Salvador, who will test their skills and familiarity of the course against Asia’s no.

Federer, Nadal at US Open crossroads TURN TO A12

1 player Anirban Lahiri of India, 2013 winner Liang Wen-Chong of China, Thongchai Jaidee of Thailand, and Byeong Hun An of South Korea, among others.

“We are delighted to maintain our role as title sponsor of the most lucrative golf tournament in the Philippines,” said Reilly. “The tournament has been very successful in the first two editions and we look forward to further leveraging Re-

sorts World Manila and the Philippines onto the global map through live television broadcasts which have the potential to reach 625 million homes in 180 countries.”

Asked on the possibility of FilAustralian Jason Day coming to Manila to play professional golf, Asian Tour CEO Mike Kerr said he is hopeful that Day will have the time to join its event in the future.

“Actually, we have spoken to Jason about that. We know of his Filipino heritage and we will continue to ask Jason on that possibility,” Kerr said.

Day recently won the 2015 PGA Championship at Whistling Straits, which prevented Jordan Spieth from winning a third major championship.

With the win, Day moved up to no. 3 in the world behind Roy McIlroy (no. 2) and Spieth (no. 1) Bob Sobrepena, chairman of Ma-

Tayao Cabrera leads PH kart sweep TURN TO A14

nila Southwoods, said the club will ensure its championship course will be at its best condition when Asia’s finest golfers return for the Resorts World Manila Masters.

“We are privileged and honored to be the host venue once again for what is now the Philippines’ richest golf tournament on the Asian Tour,” Sobrepena said. “Our club management and course superintendent, John Cope, have done a fantastic job over the past two years to ensure our Masters course is in prime condition for the event that we’ve witnessed some wonderful scoring by the stars from the Asian Tour.”

Among the partners for the Resorts World Manila Masters are Manila Southwoods Golf and Country Club, Marriott Hotel, Scientific Game, Aristocrat, IGT Asia Pte Ldt. Konami, RGD LTD, and Net Pacific, Inc.

B1

THURSDAY: AUGUST 27, 2015

RAY S. EÑANO EDITOR

RODERICK T. DELA CRUZ ASSISTANT EDITOR

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

BUSINESS

Q1 growth revised lower to 5%

By Julito G. Rada

GOVERNMENT statisticians on Wednesday revised downward the first-quarter gross domestic product growth to 5 percent from the previous estimate of 5.2 percent, a day before the release of second-quarter figures today.

The Philippine Statistics Authority revised the first-quarter GDP growth after incorporating more data into the national accounts.

It said the 0.2-percentage-point reduction in the GDP figure was caused by lower growth estimates for public administration and defense; mining and quarrying; and agriculture, hunting, forestry, and fishing.

The first-quarter expansion of 5 percent was slower than the

5.6-percent growth a year ago and was below the government’s fullyear target of 6.5 percent to 7.5 percent. It was also the weakest growth in three years.

Economists said the release of second-quarter GDP data would be crucial for the stock market, which swung to the negative territory this week, because of adverse external developments.

“Tomorrow’s second-quarter GDP report would be not only

important for the market’s view of monetary policy, but also for investors,” ING Bank Manila senior economist Joey Cuyegkeng said.

“Market expects some acceleration from the first-quarter GDP growth... Agriculture’s modest contraction and weak exports and manufacturing drag the Philippines’ second-quarter growth,” Cuyegkeng said.

He said higher infrastructure spending would offset the weak exports and decline in farm output while private consumption and domestic demand would support overall growth.

Growth in the second quarter likely hit 5.6 percent to 5.7 percent, based on a consensus among economists.

Cuyegkeng said an improvement in second-quarter GDP would keep Bangko Sentral ng

Pilipinas taking a cautious view on interest rates.

Bangko Sentral Governor Amando Tetangco Jr. on Wednesday assured monetary tools in its policy kit were adequate to protect the domestic markets from volatilities coming from the global front, including China’s cut in interest rates.

“Analysts think the actions of Chinese authorities may delay Fed action. But the Fed may have considerations that we don’t see or appreciate,” Tetangco said in a text message.

“So while remaining sensitive to signals from the Fed, it is best to make sure we have the tools in place to shield our own markets from near-term shocks. It is important not to be distracted from the medium-term reform agenda,” Tetangco said.

PSe comPoSite index Closing August 26, 2015

8500 8000 7500 7000 6500 6000

6,867.92 37.58

PeSo-dollar rate

Closing AUGUST 26, 2015 42

P46.720

43

CLOSE

44 45 46

HIGH P46.570 LOW P46.740 AVERAGE P46.656 VOLUME 901.100M

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 Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas Wednesday, August 26, 2015

F oreign e xchange r ate

Outstanding cooperative. Land Bank of the Philippines recently recognized the outstanding cooperatives during the Ginintuang

Gawad sa Pinakatanging Kooperatiba 2015 at Manila Hotel. Bagumbayan Primary Multi-Purpose Cooperative of Llanera, Nueva Ecija bagged the Gawad Pitak for agri-based category and won P1 million worth of fixed assets. Shown during the awarding ceremony are officers of Bagumbayan Primary Multi-Purpose Cooperative along with Finance Secretary Cesar Purisima (fourth from left) and Land Bank president and chief executive Gilda Pico (third from left).

Currency

Unit

US Dollar

Peso

United States

Dollar

1.000000

46.7110

Japan

Yen

0.008424

0.3935

UK

Pound

1.570300

73.3503

Hong Kong

Dollar

0.129002

6.0258

Switzerland

Franc

1.064736

49.7349

Canada

Dollar

0.749738

35.0210

Singapore

Dollar

0.712099

33.2629

Australia

Dollar

0.718391

33.5568

Bahrain

Dinar

2.650762

123.8197

Saudi Arabia

Rial

0.266617

12.4539

Brunei

Dollar

0.709572

33.1448

Indonesia

Rupiah

0.000071

0.0033

Thailand

Baht

0.028153

1.3151

UAE

Dirham

0.272250

12.7171

Euro

Euro

1.152400

53.8298

Korea

Won

0.000847

0.0396

China

Yuan

0.155948

7.2845

India

Rupee

0.015138

0.7071

Malaysia

Ringgit

0.237501

11.0939

New Zealand

Dollar

0.652316

30.4703

Taiwan

Dollar

0.030849

1.4410 Source: PDS Bridge

Govt launches P300-b domestic bond swap to manage debt

By Gabrielle H. Binaday THE government on Wednesday launched a bond exchange facility that will involve swapping up to P300 billion worth of existing securities for new 10-year and 25year debt papers.

National Treasurer Roberto Tan said the Treasury would offer a minimum of P50 billion for each issue of 2025 and 2040 domestic bonds.

“Based on the consultations that we are having with the different joint leads and the underwriter, we have very good feedback on the interest of the bondholders,”

Tan told reporters at the sidelines of the domestic liability management launch at New World Hotel in Makati City.

Tan said the government expected to save about P2.4 billion from the debt swap.

The minimum coupon rate for the 10- and 25-year debt papers are 3.625 percent and 4.625 percent, respectively.

The Treasury opened the table for owners of eligible bonds to submit offers for new benchmark bonds due 2025 and 2040. The offer started Wednesday and would expire on Sept. 4.

Investors in government securities maturing between Nov. 25, 2015 and Nov. 11, 2024 and between April 14, 2025 and Oct. 24 2037 could participate in the debt swap.

“We are confident that, with the unwavering support of the GSEDs [government securities dealers], this domestic liability management exercise by the Republic can be executed successfully,” Tan said.

He said the transaction would benefit investors, who could exit into liquid benchmark securities and the government which could attain its debt management and capital market development objectives.

The Treasury is authorized to swap up to P300 billion.

Finance Secretary Cesar Purisima said the domestic bond issue provided an opportunity for existing investors in government securities to exchange their illiquid bonds and receive benchmark bonds which would trade more efficiently in the market.

Proceeds from the sale of new benchmark bonds (new money component) will be used to settle accrued interests payable to bondholders of accepted eligible bonds in the exchange component and other transaction related expenses.

The balance will be used by the government for general budget.

Joint global coordinators include BPI Capital Corp., Citicorp Capital Philippines Inc., The Hongkong and Shanghai Banking Corp. Limited and Land Bank of the Philippines.

BDO Capital & Investment Corp., BPI Capital Corp., Citicorp Capital Philippines Inc., Deutsche Bank AG Manila Branch, Development Bank of the Philippines, First Metro Investment Corp., The Hong Kong and Shanghai Banking Corp.

Limited and Land Bank of the Philippines are joint deal managers.

THURSDAY: AUGUST 27, 2015

B2

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

The STandard BuSineSS daily STockS review Wednesday, august 26, 2015

52 Weeks

Previous

High Low 7.88 75.3 124.4 107 56.5 2.49 4.2 17 30.45 10.4 2.6 890 100 1.46 30.5 75 91.5 137 361.2 57 180 1700 124 3.26 47 5 1.46 2.36 15.3 148 20.6 125 36 65.8 2.97 4.14 21.5 21.6 11.96 9.13 11.8 2.89 17 31.8 109 20.75 15.3 9.4 241 12.5 79 4 74 33.9 90 13.26 293 5 5.25 12.98 15 7.03 3.4 4.5 6.3 7.86 7.34 238 3.28 0.315 2.18 2.65 234 5.28 1.3 26 2.17 0.59 59.2 30.05 2.16 7.39 3.4 823.5 10.2 84 3.35 4.92 0.66 1455 7.5 76 9.25 0.85 17.3 0.71 5.53 6.55 9.66 0.0670 1.61 2.99 84.9 3.5 974 1.66 1.39 156 0.710 0.435 0.510 10.5 1.99 1.75 0.375 41.4

STOCKS

Close

High

Low

FINANCIAL 2.57 2.2 66.2 64.2 93.15 91.65 85.45 84.70 42.85 40.9 2.41 2.34 1.31 1.31 15.46 15.2 19.4 18.1 7.20 7.20 1.70 1.69 720.00 720.00 82.55 80.05 0.93 0.91 18.50 18.04 25.00 25.00 59.50 54.00 93.5 93.5 300 298 37 36.1 134.8 124 1500.00 1497.00 54.50 54.00 3.1 2.9 INDUSTRIAL 35.9 Aboitiz Power Corp.

42 43.5 40.9 1.11 Agrinurture Inc. 1.4 1.45 1.39 1.01 Alliance Tuna Intl Inc. 0.94 0.96 0.87 1.86 Alsons Cons.

1.48 1.61 1.49 7.92 Asiabest Group 9.5 9.88 9.2 32 C. Azuc De Tarlac 93.00 92.00 91.95 15.32 Century Food 16.2 16.9 16.22 62.5 Chemphil 170 150 120 10.08 Cirtek Holdings (Chips) 27.25 27.05 26 29.15 Concepcion 45 45 44.5 1.5 Crown Asia 2.34 2.55 2.4 1.5 Da Vinci Capital 1.23 1.27 1.2 10.72 Del Monte 10.78 11.1 11 9.55 DNL Industries Inc. 10.360 10.960 10.38 9.04 Emperador 8.40 8.60 8.40 6.02 Energy Devt. Corp. (EDC) 5.70 5.84 5.70 8.86 EEI 7.71 8.00 7.72 1.06 Euro-Med Lab 1.7 1.7 1.68 8.61 Federal Res. Inv. Group 11.76 13.22 12 20.2 First Gen Corp.

21.6 23.5 22 71.5 First Holdings ‘A’ 68 71.7 67.3 13.86 Ginebra San Miguel Inc. 12.50 12.98 12.98 13.24 Holcim Philippines Inc. 12.00 13.00 12.70 5.34 Integ. Micro-Electronics 5.16 5.65 5.25 173 Jollibee Foods Corp.

180.00 182.90 180.00 8.65 Lafarge Rep 10.16 10.18 10.14 34.1 Liberty Flour 28.00 28.00 28.00 1.63 Mabuhay Vinyl 1.7 1.7 1.7 33 Macay Holdings 51.45 50.85 48.00 23.35 Manila Water Co. Inc. 21 21.9 21.1 17.3 Maxs Group 22.5 22.8 21.5 5.88 Megawide 5.21 5.78 5.28 250.2 Mla. Elect. Co `A’ 270.00 278.60 269.60 3.37 Panasonic Mfg Phil. Corp. 3.60 3.60 3.60 3.87 Pepsi-Cola Products Phil. 4 4.05 3.92 8.45 Petron Corporation 7.96 7.89 7.60 10.04 Phinma Corporation 11.00 10.90 10.56 3.03 Phoenix Petroleum Phils. 3.17 3.25 3.05 1.95 Phoenix Semiconductor 2.00 2.09 2.02 1 Pryce Corp. `A’ 2.32 2.5 2.32 4.02 RFM Corporation 4.09 4.27 4.10 1.65 Roxas and Co. 1.83 1.82 1.78 5.9 Roxas Holdings 5.7 5.7 5.7 140 135 161 San Miguel’Pure Foods `B’ 140 1.55 Splash Corporation 1.8 1.8 1.75 0.138 Swift Foods, Inc. 0.130 0.133 0.129 1.02 TKC Steel Corp.

0.84 1.23 1.16 2.09 Trans-Asia Oil 1.66 1.79 1.68 152 Universal Robina 180 184.9 180.1 4.28 Victorias Milling 4.2 4.2 4.2 0.640 Vitarich Corp.

0.6 0.64 0.62 10.02 Vivant Corp.

23.00 22.50 22.50 1.2 Vulcan Ind’l.

1.00 1.14 1.00 HOLDING FIRMS 0.44 Abacus Cons. `A’ 0.440 0.435 0.395 48.1 Aboitiz Equity 51.9500 52.9000 51.5000 20.85 Alliance Global Inc. 19.32 19.44 18.90 1.6 Anglo Holdings A 1.10 1.10 1.00 6.62 Anscor `A’ 6.80 6.98 6.66 0.23 ATN Holdings A 0.220 0.225 0.225 634.5 Ayala Corp `A’ 717 730 695 7.390 Cosco Capital 6.5 6.75 6.5 12.8 DMCI Holdings 10.70 11.10 10.66 2.6 F&J Prince ‘A’ 2.82 2.85 2.85 2.26 Filinvest Dev. Corp.

4.19 4.19 4.18 0.152 Forum Pacific 0.178 0.195 0.178 837 GT Capital 1180 1210 1166 5.3 House of Inv. 6.00 6.00 6.00 49.55 JG Summit Holdings 65.45 67.95 65.50 4.84 Lopez Holdings Corp.

5.14 5.94 5.6 0.59 Lodestar Invt. Holdg.Corp. 0.61 0.61 0.55 12 LT Group 12.4 13.04 12.4 0.580 Mabuhay Holdings `A’ 0.53 0.55 0.47 4.2 Metro Pacific Inv. Corp. 4.7 4.75 4.66 4.5 Minerales Industrias Corp. 7 7.3 7 3 MJCI Investments Inc. 3.61 3.5 3.5 0.030 Pacifica `A’ 0.0500 0.0540 0.0430 0.550 Prime Orion 1.620 1.860 1.630 2.26 Republic Glass ‘A’ 2.75 2.65 2.6 59.3 San Miguel Corp `A’ 52.60 52.50 50.45 1.5 Seafront `A’ 2.55 2.20 2.20 751 SM Investments Inc. 890.00 870.00 855.00 1.13 Solid Group Inc. 1.19 1.19 1.19 0.93 South China Res. Inc. 0.61 0.65 0.65 80 Top Frontier 71.900 71.500 70.300 0.211 Unioil Res. & Hldgs 0.2800 0.2750 0.2600 0.179 Wellex Industries 0.1620 0.1810 0.1610 0.310 Zeus Holdings 0.220 0.220 0.220 PROPERTY 6.74 8990 HLDG 6.050 6.300 6.130 0.65 A. Brown Co., Inc. 0.66 0.65 0.62 1.2 Araneta Prop `A’ 1.200 1.140 1.120 0.192 Arthaland Corp.

0.180 0.185 0.180 30.05 Ayala Land `B’ 33.50 34.95 33.50

2.5 66 88.05 88.1 45.45 1.97 1.68 12.02 19.6 6.12 1.02 625 78 0.9 17.8 58 62 88.35 276 41 118.2 1200 59 2.65

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

Metrobank Natl. Reinsurance Corp.

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

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

SHARES 18,186,369 87,099,094 1,565,813,025 235,512,098 98,194,970 2,133,256,288 4,139,503,295

2.33 64.85 94.10 85.35 40.9 2.45 1.32 15.4 18.04 7.17 1.69 755.00 82.5 0.93 18.00 25.50 54.00 85 295 36.5 124.8 1000.00 53.50 3

Close

%

Net Foreign

Change Volume

Trade/Buying

2.57 66.2 93.00 85.10 41 2.41 1.31 15.4 19.4 7.20 1.69 720.00 82.5 0.93 18.50 25.00 55.20 93.5 299.8 36.75 127 1497.00 54.00 2.9

10.30 2.08 -1.17 -0.29 0.24 -1.63 -0.76 0.00 7.54 0.42 0.00 -4.64 0.00 0.00 2.78 -1.96 2.22 10.00 1.63 0.68 1.76 49.70 0.93 -3.33

112,000 31,710 6,714,460 3,267,850 37,700 440,000 10,000 8,900 454,800 3,000 52,000 150 4,100,770 325,000 35,500 50,000 134,170 10 64,290 135,700 1,634,980 145 58,840 38,000

42.5 1.45 0.96 1.56 9.88 92.00 16.9 126 26.75 44.7 2.55 1.23 11 10.900 8.50 5.82 7.97 1.69 12.98 22.9 71 12.98 12.98 5.6 182.20 10.16 28.00 1.7 50.00 21.35 21.9 5.76 278.60 3.60 4 7.80 10.90 3.20 2.03 2.48 4.11 1.78 5.7 140 1.8 0.129 1.16 1.76 183 4.2 0.64 22.50 1.00

1.19 3.57 2.13 5.41 4.00 -1.08 4.32 -25.88 -1.83 -0.67 8.97 0.00 2.04 5.21 1.19 2.11 3.37 -0.59 10.37 6.02 4.41 3.84 8.17 8.53 1.22 0.00 0.00 0.00 -2.82 1.67 -2.67 10.56 3.19 0.00 0.00 -2.01 -0.91 0.95 1.50 6.90 0.49 -2.73 0.00 0.00 0.00 -0.77 38.10 6.02 1.67 0.00 6.67 -2.17 0.00

7,802,300 73,000 93,000 2,595,000 42,200 500 738,600 850 346,900 831,700 2,910,000 845,000 43,900 7,303,300 1,782,100 26,667,900 235,500 11,000 42,500 5,296,400 490,850 3,800 5,900 561,800 565,310 618,300 700 145,000 70,270 2,211,200 342,500 4,509,100 743,080 15,000 5,583,000 1,531,200 21,500 178,000 329,000 1,078,000 1,356,000 6,000 1,500 107,770 252,000 1,600,000 3,000 1,582,000 3,432,650 27,000 359,000 1,300 161,000

0.435 52.8000 19.30 1.10 6.66 0.225 709 6.61 10.84 2.85 4.19 0.194 1190 6.00 67.85 5.9 0.59 12.66 0.55 4.7 7.24 3.5 0.0430 1.830 2.65 51.05 2.20 859.00 1.19 0.65 70.300 0.2750 0.1810 0.220

-1.14 1.64 -0.10 0.00 -2.06 2.27 -1.12 1.69 1.31 1.06 0.00 8.99 0.85 0.00 3.67 14.79 -3.28 2.10 3.77 0.00 3.43 -3.05 -14.00 12.96 -3.64 -2.95 -13.73 -3.48 0.00 6.56 -2.23 -1.79 11.73 0.00

1,460,000 3,180,690 10,246,164.50 8,626,200 -35,532,356.00 187,000 13,900 100,000 815,550 -313,278,000.00 5,119,100 8,723,104.00 10,371,400 -2,756,174.00 170,000 47,000 60,000 824,065 -424,663,245.00 8,800 30,000.00 2,136,960 -21,268,357.00 3,662,200 -3,610,189.00 1,413,000 71,780,600 -41,539,404.00 1,580,000 44,430,000 -28,172,410.00 709,000 3,000 1,389,250,000 25,000.00 15,060,000 -286,310.00 22,000 436,080 -9,033,103.00 20,000 449,270 -236,787,375.00 10,000 90,000 31,510 -2,063,070.50 2,170,000 800,000 200,000 22,000.00

6.200 0.65 1.140 0.185 34.40

2.48 -1.52 -5.00 2.78 2.69

783,200 -1,879,810.00 250,000 90,000 80,000 25,731,500 -112,447,260.00

550,650.00 -12,353,479.00 -166,759,299.50 -24,835.00

1,419,484.00 -108,000.00 -115,913,877.00 1,250,000.00 -1,809,518.00 -13,480,298.00 -392,345.00 5,766,520.00

-280,052,715.00 -31,150.00 531,800.00 -8,527,990.00 -2,919,560 -86,670.00 -259,540.00 22,716,616.00 8,705,551.00 -39,157,901.00 -592,341.00 -10,100.00 32,534,475.00 -1,279,442.00 -10.00 -10,500.00 -38,731,997.00 -1,343,152.00

-36,144,475.00 23,760,000.00 -36,357,736.00 4,170,980.00 2,798,581.00 -15,250.00 -14,320.00 -1,020,620.00 -474,534.00 6,500.00 -100,210.00 -125,752,620.00 105,000.00 29,250.00

52 Weeks

Previous

High Low 5.6 5.59 1.44 1.97 1.48 0.201 0.69 10.96 0.97 0.305 2.22 2.1 1.8 4.88 0.180 0.470 31.8 2.29 4.9 21.35 1.06 7.56 1.62 8.59

3.36 4.96 0.79 1.1 0.97 0.083 0.415 2.4 0.83 0.188 1.15 1.42 1.27 2.75 0.090 0.290 22.15 1.6 3.1 15.08 0.69 3.38 0.83 5.73

10.5 66 1.09 14.88 15.82 0.1430 5.06 99.1 12.3 2.6 7.67 1700 2720 8.41 1.97 119.5 12.5 0.017 0.8200 2.2800 12.28 3.32 3.2 1 2.46 15.2 0.62 22.8 6.41 185 22.9 3486 0.760 2.28 46.05 90.1

1.97 35.2 0.63 10.5 8.6 0.0770 2.95 56.1 10.14 1.6 4.8 830 1600 5.95 1.23 102.6 8.72 0.011 0.041 1.200 6.5 1.91 1.95 0.650 1.8 6 0.335 14.54 3 79 4.39 2748 0.435 1.2 31.45 60.55

STOCKS

Close

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

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

MRC Allied Ind. Phil. Estates Corp.

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

11.6 0.85 10 0.490 1.9

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

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

Discovery World DFNN Inc. FEUI Globe Telecom GMA Network Inc. Harbor Star I.C.T.S.I. IPeople Inc. `A’ IP E-Game Ventures Inc. Island Info ISM Communications Leisure & Resorts Liberty Telecom Macroasia Corp.

Manila Bulletin Manila Jockey Melco Crown MG Holdings Pacific Online Sys. Corp.

PAL Holdings Inc. Phil. Seven Corp.

Philweb.Com Inc. PLDT Common PremiereHorizon Premium Leisure Puregold Robinsons RTL SBS Phil. Corp.

7.59 SSI Group 0.63 STI Holdings 5 Travellers 0.315 Waterfront Phils.

1.14 Yehey

0.0098 5.45 17.24 25 0.330 12.7 12.8 1.19 1.62 9.5 4.2 0.48 0.420 0.440 0.022 0.023 8.2 49.2 4.27 1.030 3.06 0.020 7.67 12.88 10.42 0.040 420 9 0.016

0.0043 1.72 6.47 9.43 0.236 6.5 5.11 0.85 0.77 5.99 1.17 0.305 0.2130 0.2160 0.013 0.014 3.240 18.96 2.11 0.365 1.54 0.012 5.4 7.26 2.27 0.015 115.9 3.67 0.0100

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

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

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

TA Petroleum United Paragon

70 553 525 120 515 8.21 12.28 111 1060

33 490 500 101.5 480 5.88 6.5 101 997

1047 76.9 78.95 84.8 1.34

1011 74.2 74.5 75 1

ABS-CBN Holdings Corp.

Ayala Corp. Pref `B1’ Ayala Corp. Pref ‘B2’ First Gen G GLOBE PREF P GMA Holdings Inc. Leisure and Resort MWIDE PREF PCOR-Preferred A PCOR-Preferred B PF Pref 2 SMC Preferred A SMC Preferred B SMC Preferred C Swift Pref

6.98

0.8900 LR Warrant

15 12.88

3.5 5.95

130.7

105.6 First Metro ETF

Makati Fin. Corp.

Xurpas

High

VALUE 1,534,851,432.083 2,168,551,838.63 4,172,791,375.724 2,624,273,294.728 1,817,167,940.08 265,232,423.027 12,620,509,831.273

FINANCIAL 1,514.21 (up) 0.41 INDUSTRIAL 10,585.09 (up) 221.61 HOLDING FIRMS 6,256.25 (down) 12.83 PROPERTY 2,807.02 (up) 52.78 SERVICES 1,837.90 (up) 17.13 MINING & OIL 10,398.10 (up) 95.82 PSEI 6,867.92 (up) 37.58 All Shares Index 3,931.44 (up) 35.12 Gainers: 122 Losers: 58; Unchanged: 50; Total: 230

Close

3.02 4.9 0.62 1.00 1.00 0.111 0.380 11.8 0.790 0.160 1.08 1.69 1.24 4.12 0.088 0.2600 27.10 1.5 3.15 18.80 0.7 7.16 0.650 6.030

%

Net Foreign

Change Volume

Trade/Buying

3.1 3.01 3.01 5 4.6 4.72 0.68 0.62 0.66 1.00 0.99 0.99 1.00 0.95 0.95 0.117 0.105 0.114 0.430 0.430 0.430 13.22 11.9 13.1 0.790 0.790 0.790 0.159 0.159 0.159 1.08 1.02 1.06 1.80 1.73 1.79 1.29 1.21 1.27 4.26 4.1 4.22 0.090 0.080 0.090 0.2500 0.2300 0.2410 28.70 27.05 28.30 1.51 1.4 1.5 3.21 3.15 3.21 19.12 18.60 18.80 0.7 0.66 0.7 7.16 6.3 7.16 0.690 0.650 0.690 6.090 5.820 5.950 SERVICES 7.86 9.29 7.96 9.27 58.9 59.9 58 59.1 0.520 0.520 0.500 0.510 12.88 12.88 12.88 12.88 6.85 6.98 6.52 6.59 0.0600 0.0630 0.0600 0.0610 4.07 4.03 3.9 3.93 87 89.1 87 88.85 9.9 10 9.5 9.5 1.84 1.81 1.61 1.81 4.60 4.40 4.00 4.00 920 920 920 920 2450 2544 2440 2470 6.25 6.48 6.25 6.35 1.15 1.15 1.10 1.15 94 96 92 94.7 11.52 11.42 11.42 11.42 0.010 0.012 0.011 0.011 0.151 0.172 0.151 0.168 1.3100 1.3600 1.3300 1.3500 7.15 7.70 7.15 7.35 2.03 2.15 2.08 2.03 1.80 2.00 1.97 2.00 0.600 0.670 0.650 0.650 2 2 1.91 2 5.86 6.26 5.75 5.75 0.300 0.300 0.290 0.300 18.38 18.78 18.24 18.78 4.35 4.46 4.30 4.40 98.00 99.90 98.00 98.00 18.00 18.02 17.68 18.02 2430.00 2480.00 2456.00 2464.00 0.590 0.630 0.600 0.600 1.160 1.210 1.150 1.180 30.60 32.00 30.50 30.70 66.00 71.50 65.00 68.00 4.45 4.65 4.45 4.52 6.30 6.77 6.30 6.50 0.58 0.61 0.58 0.58 4.03 4.3 3.9 3.9 0.247 0.330 0.325 0.330 2.260 2.460 2.280 2.350 MINING & OIL 0.0048 0.0049 0.0046 0.0046 2.27 2.30 2.27 2.27 4.31 4.36 4.20 4.23 11.74 11.86 10.00 11.86 0.210 0.189 0.189 0.189 6.0100 6.9000 6.0200 6.9000 6.1200 7.2 7.2 7.2000 0.65 0.68 0.63 0.68 0.65 0.65 0.61 0.65 5.80 5.90 5.30 5.80 1.11 1.13 1.07 1.09 0.285 0.285 0.270 0.285 0.181 0.184 0.177 0.180 0.203 0.204 0.195 0.204 0.012 0.012 0.011 0.012 0.012 0.013 0.011 0.012 2.1 2.16 2.13 2.15 6.7 6.99 6.69 6.7 3.25 3.39 3.12 3.24 0.5500 0.5500 0.5500 0.5500 1.3500 1.4000 1.2600 1.3500 0.0080 0.0088 0.0080 0.0080 3.97 4.00 3.89 3.97 4.95 5.040 4.890 4.98 1.20 1.450 1.210 1.42 0.0091 0.0100 0.0095 0.0095 118.90 124.80 119.50 121.00 2.25 2.78 2.28 2.78 0.0080 0.0080 0.0070 0.0080 PREFERRED 55.05 57.8 55.05 57 522 524 523 523 526 530 526.5 526.5 115.5 115.5 115.5 115.5 516 526 520 526 6 6.1 6 6 1.1 1.09 1.08 1.08 107.5 108 106 108 1040 1040 1040 1040 1085 1075 1075 1075 1006 1018 1017 1018 75.4 75.65 75.4 75.4 79 79 77.55 79 80 83 80 83 1.83 1.9 1.9 1.9 WARRANTS & BONDS 3.000 3.300 3.050 3.250 SME 5 6.2 5 5.5 9.8 10.18 9.7 10 EXCHANGE TRADED FUNDS 111.2 117.9 111.2 113.1

T op g ainerS STOCKS

Low

-0.33 -3.67 6.45 -1.00 -5.00 2.70 13.16 11.02 0.00 -0.63 -1.85 5.92 2.42 2.43 2.27 -7.31 4.43 0.00 1.90 0.00 0.00 0.00 6.15 -1.33

6,060,000 10,475,000 5,688,000 31,000 37,000 1,050,000 10,000 3,069,800 6,000 50,000 1,739,000 36,232,000 324,000 72,719,000 2,050,000 590,000 6,003,600 486,000 12,000 33,254,100 2,310,000 1,700 314,000 14,099,400

-249,140.00 -702,930.00 -254,090.00 -17,000.00 -33,500.00

17.94 0.34 -1.92 0.00 -3.80 1.67 -3.44 2.13 -4.04 -1.63 -13.04 0.00 0.82 1.60 0.00 0.74 -0.87 10.00 11.26 3.05 2.80 2.46 11.11 8.33 0.00 -1.88 0.00 2.18 1.15 0.00 0.11 1.40 1.69 1.72 0.33 3.03 1.57 3.17 0.00 -3.23 33.60 3.98

1,505,300 102,030 1,047,000 200,000 12,618,200 18,650,000 1,615,240 1,615,240 3,300 53,000 297,000 10 124,530 90,400 53,000 2,605,990 1,600 9,600,000 2,460,000 385,000 285,100 87,000 38,000 55,000 71,000 3,515,600 50,000 5,700 38,000 310 259,800 271,685 764,000 10,892,000 4,384,300 589,290 3,622,000 7,011,100 2,393,000 7,467,000 40,000 169,000

-4.17 0.00 -1.86 1.02 -10.00 14.81 17.65 4.62 0.00 0.00 -1.80 0.00 -0.55 0.49 0.00 0.00 2.38 0.00 -0.31 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.61 18.33 4.40 1.77 23.56 0.00

1,880,000,000 113,000.00 43,000 762,000 -153,360.00 1,500 20,000 17,000 300 1,894,000 -63,000.00 372,000 -15,250.00 4,600 6,461,000 62,650.00 210,000 20,460,000 60,000 16,800,000 103,100,000 -22,000.00 257,000 -92,520.00 22,378,000 -15,926,002.00 1,173,000 12,840.00 30,000 1,077,000 -37,650.00 5,000,000 2,539,000 -19,750.00 388,000 193,970.00 876,000 -104,590.00 44,000,000 87,500.00 483,160 1,164,471.00 3,488,000 -292,180.00 19,000,000 -8,000.00

3.54 0.19 0.10 0.00 1.94 0.00 -1.82 0.47 0.00 -0.92 1.19 0.00 0.00 3.75 3.83

222,060 130 2,450 5,020 1,830 2,100,300 1,945,000 55,230 2,820 110 500 87,190 12,000 33,200 3,000

8.33

306,000

10.00 2.04

13,400 1,199,300

-886,656.00

1.71

228,750

15,814.00

10,031,444.00 -174,400.00 -15,832,170.00 -56,655,010.00 -49,740.00 21.00 -329,388,504.00

-71,042,000.00 53,000.00 -5,000.00 0.00 -12,081,987.00 -17,779,412.50 -17,779,412.50 5,410.00 -42,000.00 -62,120,450.00 -15,985,075.50 4,600.00 766,458.00 12,300.00

-3,964,132.00

4,930.00 -1,473,988.00 -75,484,090.00 -609,570.00 -27,815,370.00 5,352,669.50 -310,950.00 -822,664.00 -1,059,760.00 -7,217,220.00 3,300.00

1,397,909.00 -57,530.00

-523,880.00

-65,570.00

T op L oSerS Close (P)

Change (%)

STOCKS

Close (P)

Change (%)

Sun Life Financial

1497.00

49.70

Chemphil

126

-25.88

TKC Steel Corp.

1.16

38.10

Pacifica `A'

0.0430

-14.00

Waterfront Phils.

0.330

33.60

Seafront `A'

2.20

-13.73

TA Petroleum

2.78

23.56

DFNN Inc.

4.00

-13.04

PhilexPetroleum

1.42

18.33

Basic Energy Corp.

0.189

-10.00

2GO Group'

9.27

17.94

Phil. Estates Corp.

0.2410

-7.31

Benguet Corp `B'

7.2000

17.65

Araneta Prop `A'

1.140

-5.00

Benguet Corp `A'

6.9000

14.81

Cityland Dev. `A'

0.95

-5.00

Lopez Holdings Corp.

5.9

14.79

Manulife Fin. Corp.

720.00

-4.64

Cyber Bay Corp.

0.430

13.16

Abra Mining

0.0046

-4.17

THURSDAY: AUGUST 27, 2015

B3

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

Investment scams alarm SEC

By Jenniffer B. Austria

THE Securities and Exchange Commission expressed alarm over the proliferation of investment scams in the country, such as the Ponzi and pyramiding schemes, despite several efforts to warn the public from investing their hard-earned money in these illegal activities.

The SEC said on its Web site SEC it found “appalling” that a number of victims admitted awareness of the illegal and non-

sustainability of the investments they had made.

The SEC also noted that some of the people who invested in the

scams used their savings, borrowed money and sold properties and recruited and convinced their families, friends and relatives to do the same, The SEC said it would also go after the recruiters and sellers of the illegal investment securities and the founders and officers of the scams as well.

The Securities Regulation Code bars the sale or distribution of securities within the Philippines without prior registration with the SEC. The SEC stressed that the code also prohibits persons to engage in

the business of buying or selling securities as a broker or dealer, or act as a salesman or an associated person of any broker or dealer, unless registered with the SEC. “Let this be a warning to those who invite or recruit other people to join or invest in these illegal ventures. Except those qualified to become state witnesses, the commission through Enforcement and Investor Protection Department, shall not hesitate to invoke the full force of the lay by imposing sanctions and by filing critical charges against these violators,” the SEC said.

Ponzi, the SEC said, is an illegal investment scheme where investors are enticed with the prospects of high returns, but the company shows no viable business operations. Under the scheme, the profits promised to earlier investors are paid from funds collected from new investors.

Pyramiding, meanwhile, is a variant of Ponzi that is typically masked as multi-level marketing scheme in which participants profit primarily through recruiting other people. Hence, the funds invested by the down-lines are used to pay the up-lines.

Market advances; Meralco, PLDT up THE stock market rallied for the second straight day Wednesday, with some blue-chip issues paring the huge losses they suffered in Tuesday’s crash.

The Philippine Stock Exchange Index rose 37.58 points, or 0.6 percent, to 6,867.92 on a value turnover of P12.6 billion. Gainers swamped losers, 122 to 58, with 50 issues unchanged.

LT Group Inc. of tobacco and airline tycoon Lucio Tan gained 2.1 percent to P12.66, while property developer Ayala Land Inc. climbed 2.7 percent to P34.40.

Philippine Long Distance Telephone Co., the biggest telecommunications firm, added 1.4 percent to P2,464, while Megaworld Corp., the biggest lessor of office spaces, advanced 2.4 percent to P4.22.

Manila Electric Co., the largest retailer of electricity, rallied 3.2 percent to P278.60.

European markets, meanwhile, joined Asia on a roller-coaster session Wednesday, as China’s interest rate cut showed no sign of ending a crisis fueled by fears over stalling growth in the world’s number-two economy.

Frazzled investors sent Europe’s top indexes falling by more than one percent in opening trade after a choppy session on Asian bourses, and analysts predicted more turbulence ahead.

China’s central bank reduced interest rates and slashed the amount of money banks need to hold in reserve on Tuesday--its second such double move in two months--in a bid to stoke growth.

The measures are not only aimed at boosting boost cash flow in China, but also to revive confidence that Beijing can steer the economy away from a hard landing and keep global growth on course.

The cuts initially fueled a rebound in Europe but optimism fizzled by the end of US trading, and on Wednesday Asian markets see-sawed in nervous trade.

With AFP

BoI Web portal. Officials gather for the ceremonial signing of the BoI-One Window Network during a soft launch on August 19, 2015 at

the the Board of Investments office in Makati City. Shown (from left) are BoI executive director Raul Angeles; BoI-OWN team leader Ernesto Delos Reyes Jr., Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry chairman for SME development committee Apolinar Aure, University of the Philippines Information and Telecommunications Development Center officer-in-charge director Paulo Noel Paje, BoI executive director Efren Leaño and BoI director and BoI-OWN project manager Domingo Bagaporo. BoI-OWN is a cloud-based Web portal and mobile application system that enables investors to lodge queries and concerns online and gain access to a databank of information related to business and investments.

DoubleDragon building 40-story Jollibee Tower DOUBLEDRAGON Properties Corp., a 50-50 joint venture company between Injap Investments Inc. of businessman Edgar Sia II and Jollibee Foods Corp. chairman Tony Tan Caktiong, said it will build the fastfood chain’s 40-storey office tower in Ortigas.

DoubleDragon said in a disclosure to the stock exchange it signed a deal to build Jollibee Tower on a 3,200-square meter lot at the corner of F. Ortigas Road and Garnet Road at the heart of the Ortigas central business district.

Sia, who is DoubleDragon chairman and chief executive, said Jollibee, which owns the land, would get select floors of the building to be used as its offices.

The rest of the floors will be leased out to corporate and business

process outsourcing companies.

The ground floor will include commercial spaces and drivethrough provisions while the second and third floors will house an event center.

The final details of the building, including the construction cost, would be finalized over the next couple of months, DoubleDragon said.

The construction is expected to commence in the fourth quarter of 2015 and be completed within 2018.

The office tower is expected to generate about P350 million in annual rental revenues for DoubleDragon.

Sia said Jollibee Tower project would complete the land needed to build DoubleDragon’s targeted 300,000 square meters of leasable

commercial and office spaces in Metro Manila.

The property firm, which is aiming to be one of the top five property developers in the country by 2020, plans to build 1 million sq. m. of leasable spaces, with 30 percent in Metro Manila and 70 percent in the provinces It is currently developing the initial phase of a 4.8-hectare mixed use development called DD Meridian Park at at the corner of Macapagal Ave. and Edsa Extension in Pasay City. Once the entire development is fully completed, DD Meridian Park will consist of over 280,000 sq. m. of prime leasable space.

Sia said the company secured 32 out of the 100 sites for its community malls development under the CityMalls brand.

He said CityMalls would give DoubleDragon a balanced and healthy portfolio both in terms of location, having a good mix of Metro Manila and provincial projects, as well as preferred exposure to robust and high growth industries such as retail and office.

“As of today the company has already secured 42 hectares of prime properties across the country, which once fully developed will be able to deliver over 560,000 square meters of leasable space by 2020 and we have already secured over half of the land we need within the last 16 months since we listed on the exchange,” Sia said.

DoubleDragon this year plans complete construction of 25 CityMalls. Jenniffer B. Austria

B4

Spanish ties. Spain’s Ambassador to the Philippines Luis Antonio Castano Calvo and Trade Undersecretary Adrian Cristobal Jr. lead the wreath-laying ceremonies at San Luis Obispo de Tolosa Church in Baler, Aurora, in observance of the 13th Philippine-Spanish Friendship Day and the 116th anniversary of the historic Siege of Baler.

MAP proposes Edsa subway

By Darwin G. Amojelar

THE Management Association of the Philippines on Wednesday asked Malacañang Palace to issue an executive order for a subway project along Edsa to ease traffic congestion in Metro Manila.

“The presence of numerous large shopping malls, government institutions, business districts and massive residential housing complexes along Edsa will ultimately require a high-capacity heavy subway system,” Eduardo Yap, chairman of MAP’s traffic, transportation and infrastructure committee said.

Yan said an executive order issued by the president would be

needed to reserve the first underground level as the right of way for a future Edsa subway to “pre-empt all possible intersecting subway lines, such as the proposed Bonifacio Global City to MOA [Mall of Asia] subway line that will necessarily traverse Edsa.”

“The government must be ahead of the curve and anticipate the heavy future demand of com-

muters along the entire stretch of Edsa,” Yap said.

He also urged the government to expedite the implementation of the Metro Manila North and South Commuter Rail, including the provision of city intermodal terminals at outlying towns and cities.

MAP also proposed to connect major commercial and residential developments to mass transit systems.

“Require large malls and residential complexes adjacent to or within walking distance from the MRT/LRT and future BRT stations to connect directly to these mass transit systems through covered elevated walkways, provide ticketing service within these developments to shorten

the queque at the stations and reduce the number of people on the narrow sidewalks,” Yap said.

The business group asked the president to appoint Secretary Jose Rene D. Almendras, as traffic czar.

The traffic czar will take overall charge of all matters related to traffic and road management, including the implementation of necessary road engineering refinements on all national roads in Metro Manila, said Yap. A study by Japan International Cooperation Agency showed the daily cost of traffic in Metro Manila reached P2.4 billion a day and without intervention from the government, the cost would increase to P6 billion a day in the next decades.

PSE technology chief resigns over technical glitch

By Jenniffer B. Austria THE chief technology officer of the Philippine Stock Exchange resigned from his post Wednesday, after a technical glitch disrupted trading for five hours on Tuesday.

“The board of directors of the Philippine Stock Exchange during its 26 August 2015 board meeting accepted the resignation of Mr. Emmanuel Caintic as chief technology officer effective 1 September 2015,” PSE said in a disclosure.

The Securities and Exchange Commission said it would investigate the recent technical glitches that caused the market to stop trading on three occasions this month.

“We have ordered the PSE to submit not later than Friday, August 28, 2015, a full and thor-

ough report on these glitches and trading halts,” SEC chairman Teresita Herbosa said in a statement.

Trading was halted Tuesday for nearly five hours due to technical glitch relating to front-end data.

Similar event happened on Aug. 24, when the Philippine Stock Exchange index plummeted 6.7 percent and on Aug, 18.

PSE president Hans Sicat said the local bourse had to impose a trading halt because of software problems wherein some of the front-end trading terminals were receiving information or data slower than others.

“Our job is to ensure that there’s fairness in the market so clearly, this would not create a fair situation, so what we have done is basically shut it down,” Sicat said.

“But we have isolated the prob-

lem. We hopefully resolve any other issues so we wouldn’t have the same situation moving forward,” Sicat said.

Meanwhile, the PSE retained the composition of the 30 companies comprising the benchmark PSEi. It said while the PSEi composition was maintained, 11 firms would be added to the sectoral indices while five companies would be excluded.

“The exchange regularly conducts a review of all its listed firms to ensure that the most ideal representatives of the sectors based on the criteria set are reflected in the indices,” Sicat said.

PSE said in the financials index, Bright Kindle Resources & Investments Inc. would be removed from the list while industrial index would see the inclusion of Cirtek Holdings

Philippines Corp. and newly listed Max’s Group Inc. Holcim Philippines Inc., Victorias Milling Co. Inc. and Vulcan Industrial & Mining Corp. will be removed.

In the holding firms Index, ATN Holdings, Minerales Industrias Corp. and Unioil Resources & Holdings Inc. will be added while House of Investments will be removed from the lineup.

For the property index, Crown Equities Inc. will join the list while Calata Corp., Island Information Technology Inc. and newly listed SSI Group Inc. will be included in the service index.

The Mining and Oil index will see its member-companies increase to 16 with the addition of Global Ferronickel Holdings Inc. and Trans-Asia Petroleum Corp.

PLDT taps Microsoft to boost education

PHILIPPINE Long Distance Telephone Co. said Wednesday business unit PLDT SME Nation teamed up with Microsoft Philippines to offer a new service to boost information and technology education in the country.

The two companies will offer digital campus suite which aims to provide students and teachers access to online learning programs and to earn IT certifications for critical IT skills.

“We at PLDT are confident that this partnership can significantly contribute to enriching the digital content of Philippine education. By enabling schools through these programs, we are helping them, both educator and student, to gain new critical skills and learn IT courses with globally competitive technology programs that have become essential in today’s digital work place,” PLDT chairman Manuel Pangilinan.

The digital campus suite will provide schools with high-speed connectivity through PLDT myDSL Biz or iGate, and online access to training courses of the Microsoft IT Academy Program.

Educators and students will have access to Microsoft’s digital curriculum and earn IT certifications in the Microsoft IT Academy Program for fundamental technology skills as well as courses that enable students to become more competitive for employment.

Darwin G. Amojelar

T H U R S D AY : A U G U S T 2 7, 2 0 1 5

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

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Emirates justifies extra flight

By Darwin G. Amojelar

EMIRATES Airlines said Wednesday the restoration of third daily flight between Manila to Dubai will boost the overall Philippine economy.

“The upcoming bilateral talks and the restoration of Emirates’ third daily flight are all in the best interest of the Philippine economy, tourism as well as that of millions of Filipino travelers,” Emirates senior vice president for the Far East and Australasia region Barry Brown said.

The air talks between Manila and United Arab Emirates are set on August 27 to 28.

“The restoration of our third

daily flight is vital for the development of the Philippine tourism industry. Since our operations have been reduced to twice daily, thousands of overseas Filipino workers have been affected and we have been operating at full capacity leaving no seats to accommodate tourism demand,” he said.

He said the suspension of Emirates’ third daily flight had an adverse impact on exports from the Philippines due to reduced cargo

capacity by 18,000 kgs every day.

There are currently 850,000 Filipinos working and living in Dubai and another 1.5 million in other Gulf Cooperation Council nations.

The upcoming Dubai World Expo in 2020 is expected to increase the number as it is expected to generate 275,000 new jobs, a huge opportunity for the millions of potential migrant Filipino workers in the UAE. Emirates has committed to invest in the Philippines and provide jobs to thousands of Filipinos. It spent $100 million in direct expenditures in 2014.

Emirates Group has also established a contact center in Clark and invested about $7 million in the ground handling business in Manila and Clark through its subsid-

iary Dnata, creating 300 jobs in the Philippines. It currently employs over 4,600 Filipinos globally.

Emirates said it had fully supported the Department of Tourism’s “Visit the Philippines Year” campaign, which aims to attract more high-value tourists, especially those from the Middle East, to the Philippines.

“Tourists from the UAE and GCC are identified as high spenders who patronize high-end hotels and stay in the country for eight to 10 days on average. The current scarcity of seats combined with reduced non-stop travel options have, unfortunately, become a barrier to Philippine tourism. With the restoration of the third daily flight, Emirates and Dubai are best positioned to help propel this campaign,” Brown said.

World Bank support.

Agriculture Secretary Proceso Alcala (third from left) and World Bank rural development specialist Samik Sundar Das (second from left) lead the opening of the exhibit during the First WB Implementation Support Mission Kick-off Meeting on Aug. 24, 2015. The exhibit features the accomplishments and updates on the Philippine Rural Development Project—a P27-billion project funded through a loan from WB and equities from the government. With them are PRDP national project director and Agriculture Undersecretary Emerson Palad (left) and PRDP national deputy project director Arnel De Mesa.

Energy mulls over auction for other electric vehicles THE Energy Department may auction a contract to supply other types of electric vehicles, instead of pursuing the second bidding on electric tricycles to address costing problems and delays.

The department has bid out the contract for the initial supply and delivery of 3,000 e-trikes in May through the introduction of the Energy Efficient Electric Vehicles Project.

Only one bidder, Uzushio Electric Co. Ltd. of Japan and local partner BEMAC Electric Transportation Philippines Inc., out of five interested companies complied with the requirements of the department to deliver 3,000 e-trikes.

“We are still negotiating with them [Uzushio and Bemac] be-

cause their bid is a bit expensive.

Hopefully, we can bring it down,” Energy officer-in-charge Zenaida Monsada said.

Monsada said the department had planned to bid out 20,000 e-trikes this year but the auction faced delays.

“At the rate and speed that they are bidding it out, we are looking at pursuing not e-trike anymore, but other e-vehicles,” the energy official said.

She cited some concerns raised on the e-trikes, including their acquisition by the local government units during an election period.

“So right now, we’re checking the market for e-trikes especially because of the high cost,” Monsada said.

“We’re reconfirming the price...

What make the e-trikes expensive are the batteries,” she said.

Monsada stressed that any realignment in the budget for the e-trikes to other e-vehicles must be approved by the National Economic and Development Authority.

The first batch of e-trikes is slated to be rolled out in Metro Manila and Region 4 A and 4B. Land Bank of the Philippines will serve as conduit of the Asian Development Bank in collecting and repaying the multilateral lending institution for the deployment of the e-trikes.

The project, largely financed by the ADB and the Clean Technology Fund totaling $500 million, will be implemented in five years.

The project is expected to insulate stakeholders from the price volatility of imported petroleum products.

The project aims to deploy 100,000 e-trikes nationwide to replace the same number of traditional gasoline-fed vehicles, reduce the transport sector’s annual petroleum consumption by 2.8 percent (equivalent to 89.2 million liters) per year and achieve 79 percent carbon dioxide foot print avoidance.

Each e-trike unit features a 3-kWh lithium-ion rechargeable battery, can negotiate flat and uphill terrain and comfortably seat up to five passengers.

Its entrance is located on the pedestrian side of the vehicle for safety. Alena Mae S. Flores

Aklan wind farm okayed

By Alena Mae S. Flores THE Energy Regulatory Commission approved a certificate of compliance for the 36-megawatt Nabas Phase-1 wind power project in Aklan province that will pave the way for its eligibility under the feed-in-tariff scheme.

The 36-MW Nabas facility is owned and operated by PetroWind Energy Inc. which invested P4.5 billion to develop the project. It will become the single biggest investment in Aklan province and the largest renewable energy project to date in Panay island.

PetroWind is a joint-venture company owned by Singaporebased CapAsia Asean Wind Holdings Cooperatief U.A. (40 percent), EEI Power Corp. (20 percent) and PetroGreen Energy Corp. (40 percent).

PetroGreen is a 90-percent owned subsidiary of listed PetroEnergy Resources Corp.

The company said the COC approval on Aug. 17 meant that PetroWind had complied with all the technical, equipment, financial, organizational and manpower requirements to operate the wind farm.

PetroEnergy said in a statement the regular COC would be amended by a COC-feed-in tariff, which will be issued later once the ERC decided on the FIT rate for the second batch of wind farms, including Nabas, Pililla and Guimaras.

ERC has yet to approve the proposed lower feed-in tariff rate of P7.93 per kilowatt-hour for the additional 200-MW installation target. The previously approved 200-MW installation target carries a rate of P8.53 per kWh. The Nabas facility, comprising of 18 wind turbine generators made by Gamesa Eolica S.L. Unipersonal of Spain, started providing clean power to the Visayas grid on March 24, 2015 from 8 generators at the start of the commissioning tests. Testing of the remaining 10 WTGs were completed on June 9.

Each turbine, 78 meters in height, has a capacity of 2 MW. They are installed on a mountainous area in Nabas and Malay towns.

“Since March 24, PWEI has contributed over 15,000 MWh of electricity to the Visayas grid, making Aklan province the center of clean and renewable energy generation in Panay island,” PetroWind executive vice president for operations Francisco Delfin Jr. said.

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THURSDAY: AUGUST 27, 2015

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

The immense significance of POPCEN 2015 THERE are two bygovernment-only functions that are highly essential for the proper implementation of the principle of representative government and for the efficient and fair distribution of public resources. One of these functions—the enactment of the GAA (General Appropriations Act) for 2015—is in the process of being performed. The performance of the other function, the national POPCEN (census of population) began on Aug. 10, 2015.

A census of population is usually a decennial affair, but POPCEN 2015 is a mid-decade count of the population of this country. It is being undertaken, pursuant to Republic Act No. 10625 (Philippine Statistical Act of 2013). POPCEN 2015’s main purpose is to update the national population count in compliance with Executive Order No. 352 (Designation of Statistical Activities That Will Generate Critical Data for the Decision-making of the Government and the Private Sector).

The choice of August for the conduct of POPCEN 2015 is in compliance with President Aquino’s Proclamation No. 1031 declaring August 2015 as National Census Month. For two weeks starting Aug. 10, around 90,000 enumerators or ENs will be fanning out to the 43,000 barangays seeking basic information from household members and ILQ (institutional living quarters) residents regarding their age, sex, highest educational attainment, usual activity/occupation and religious affiliation.

Those who are allergic to lengthy interviews and survey questioning are assured by the PSA (Philippine Statistics Authority), the agency primarily responsible for the conduct of POPCEN 2015, the National Statistician and the National Civil Registrar that every interview will take no more than 30 minutes. Undoubtedly, PSA has made provision for potential difficulties resulting from the multiplicity of languages.

The government is to be commended for conducting a national census five years, not ten years, after the holding of the last one.

The present population of this country, very conservatively placed

by PSA at 102 million is at a critical juncture. Given recent demographic trends, five years is a long time in the life of the national population, and five years can give—and almost certainly has given—rise to significant changes not only in the number of Filipinos but also, more importantly in their geographic distribution.

UN demographic experts have predicted that the Philippines with a then-population of 180 million will be one of the world’s most populous countries by 2050.

From the political standpoint, getting an accurate picture of the distribution of the national population is of utmost importance.

When populations shift, some parts of the country become underrepresented in the legislature and others become over-represented. That is not good for the concept of representative governance.

Needless to say, government officials, especially those mandated to dispense public resources—the Department of Education, the Department of Health and the Department of Social Welfare and Development are cases in point—need to know the directions of population shifts so that they can adjust their budgets for school rooms, health centers and Conditional Cash Transfer facilities.

The private sector should be not one bit less interested in the conduct, and more importantly the results, of POPCEN 2015.

Producers of goods and services need to know the changes that have taken place in the demographics of the Philippine population—such as where young and old consumers are residing in August 2015 and the changes that have taken place in their financial situations—so that appropriate adjustments can be made in production and marketing structures.

PNoy Aquino’s Proclamation called on the citizenry to “support and cooperate with POPCEN 2015 by providing complete and correct information to the ENs. PSA head Luisa Grace Bersales hopes that PNoy’s call will be heeded by everyone.

POPCEN 2015 is no ordinary government undertaking. Its significance for the social, economic and political lives of this country is immense. The public, the private sector should do everything to make it the best national census ever.

E-mail: rudyromero777@yahoo.com

Manulife Bacolod opening. Manulife Philippines opens its Bacolod City branch at the 2nd floor of O Residences along Lacson Street in Mandalagan, Bacolod City. Shown during the opening ceremony are (from left) Manulife Philippines VisMin territory head Bing delos Reyes, chief marketing officer Melissa Henson, Rev. Fr. Ruel Jundos, Manulife Philippines president and chief executive Ryan Charland, chief operating officer John Januszczak, Bacolod Filipino Chinese Chamber of Commerce ahairman Alfredo Barcelona and Bacolod councilor Homer Bais.

Infra spending rose 37% in 2nd quarter

By Gabrielle H. Binaday

INFRASTRUCTURE spending picked up 37 percent year-on-year in the second quarter, as the government tries to boost economic growth from a three-year low of 5 percent in the first quarter.

Budget Secretary Florencio Abad said in a news briefing infrastructure spending reached P81.85 billion in the April-June period, up from P59.6 billion the government spent a year ago.

“Second-quarter figures show that government spending is now at a steady and encouraging clip. Furthermore, infrastructure spending will continue to play a major role in firing up disbursements, as the Aquino administration sustains the expansion of public infrastructure in the country,” Abad said.

Personal services also grew 20.7 percent to P186.35 billion in

the second quarter while maintenance and other operating expenses increased 16.2 percent to P93.193 billion.

Abad said debt interest payments in April to June amounted to P55.5 billion, down by 2 percent year-on-year, as a part of the administration’s drive to improve debt burden management.

“When we devote less of the budget to national debt, we can allocate more resources to antipoverty and economic development programs. In this manner, the national budget can be truly responsive to the needs of the Filipino people,” Abad said.

Abad said the figures could have been better if the Commission on Elections had decided on its procurement system.

“The numbers could have been better for example if Comelec decided earlier on about what mode of procurement they will be going to take in terms of [PCOS machines],” Abad said.

Sluggish government spending was one of the reasons behind the dismal economic growth in the first quarter.

The National Statistics and Coordination Board revised the first-quarter gross domestic product growth from 5.2 percent to 5 percent, before the release of the second-quarter figures today.

“Vigorous and strategic government spending is key to driving economic progress. If we intend to sustain our country’s growth momentum, our departments and agencies will have to catch up with their spending targets and optimize their funds,” Abad said.

Equipment firm sees robust sales growth

By Othel V. Campos ICON Equipment Solutions Philippines Inc., a distributor of heavy equipment, said it expects sales to rise five-fold this year to P600 million from P120 million, to support the needs of the booming construction sector.

Icon chairman Fernando Imperial said the 2015 target was achievable, amid the growing demand for heavy equipment. Icon is the exclusive importer and distributor of JCB Heavy Products, a British construction equipment manufacturer.

“We see this huge company growth forecast to come from our main revenue stream which is our

exclusive arrangement with JCB to market their products in the Philippines. We see the potential of this brand in the booming Philippine construction sector given its popularity, quality and durability,” Imperial said in a news briefing Wednesday at the Makati Shangri-La Hotel.

Camec JCB Corp. used to supply JCB equipment to construction companies in the Philippines.

Imperial said Icon aimed to grow its market share to about 20 to 25 percent in 2015 as the next market leader in heavy equipment. The company currently accounts for 4.5 percent to 5 percent of the market.

Icon sold about 40 units of heavy equipment, most of them excavators, in the second half of 2014. Excavators comprise about 50 percent of total heavy sales in the Philippines.

The Philippines imports about 2,500 units of mixed-use heavy equipment including excavators, payloadesr, backhoe, road compacter and cranes a year.

The figure is lower than 4,000 units sold in Malaysia or Indonesia.

Imperial said the growth in sales would be led by expanding vertical and horizontal projects of private construction companies and the expanding public spending in infrastructure projects.

T H U R S D AY : A U G U S T 2 7, 2 0 1 5

WORLD

CESAR BARRIOQUINTO EDITOR

editorial@thestandard.com.ph

B7

Chilling minutes on the 15:17 PARIS—He watches one last YouTube video of an Islamist preacher, then alone in the bathroom of a high-speed train he removes his shirt and grabs his assault rifle.

Ayoub El Khazzani is ready to commit a massacre, according to an account of the 40 terrifying minutes on a high-speed train from Amsterdam to Paris last week pieced together by French prosecutors and witness statements.

The 25-year-old Moroccan bought his first class ticket on the day of the attack— Friday, August 21—at the Midi train station in Brussels, paying 149 euros ($170) in cash.

The ticket seller asks if he wants to travel earlier, on a less crowded train, but he refuses: it is the packed 15:17 Thalys train linking Amsterdam to Paris that he wants.

At 17:35, authorities say, he opens the bathroom door. He leaves behind some of his luggage—a roller suitcase and a small cannister of petrol—but strapped to his chest is a bag full of 270 rounds of ammunition and a second gun, a Luger M80 pistol.

In the hallway, a young French banker is waiting his turn for the washroom. When he sees the weapon, the young man grabs Khazzani with both hands, pushing him against a luggage rack.

For some 15 seconds they are locked together, Khazzani pinned by the weight of the banker’s chest, according to Paris prosecutor Francois Molins—then, in the next car, controller Michel Bruet hears the struggle.

At first, he assumes it is nothing more than a brawl, before the 54-year-old realizes Khazzani is armed. He rushes to help: “I was thrown against a door... he knocked me to the ground and pointed the handgun at me, then left the car.”

Khazzani takes aim at the young Frenchman, who wants to remain anonymous, and shoots.

Glass breaks. In cars 11 and 12, there is panic.

“We heard passengers screaming in English, ‘He’s shooting! He’s got a Kalashnikov!’”, said French actor JeanHugues Anglade, who was in car 11.

Suddenly, Anglade says, train crew members run into the corridor, hunched over, heading for the locomotive and lock themselves in. AFP

Republic of the Philippines CITY OF SAN PEDRO Province of Laguna BIDS AND AWARDS COMMITTEE

EXTRAJUDICIAL SETTLEMENT OF ESTATE WITH WAIVER OF RIGHTS

FOR FAST AD RESULTS, PLEASE CALL

Notice is hereby given that the estate of the late Carlos Ranudo Villanueva has been extrajudicially settled among his heirs namely Josephine P. Villanueva (spouse) Catherine Villanueva-Balarbar (child), Cristina P. Villanueva (child) and Teresita VillanuevaRivera (child). As per Doc. No. 164; Page 34; Book No. 48A, Series of 2015 in the notarial books of Atty. Benjamine F. Alfonso, Notary Public until December 31, 2016 with PTR No. 0682987-C/1-20-15 IBP No. 975600 Quezon City.

INVITATION TO APPLY FOR ELIGIBILITY AND TO BID PR No. 2015 – 1852 1.

Advertising depArtment 832-5547 (DL); 832-5550 (TeleFax)

The City Government of San Pedro Laguna through the 2015 Budget Approved by Sangguniang Panglunsod intends to apply the sum of Php 10,000,000.00being the Approved Budget for the Contract (ABC) to payments under the contract for Supply & Delivery of Disaster Rescue Ambulance for CDRRMO - City of San Pedro Bids received in excess of the ABC shall be automatically rejected at bid opening.

2. The City Government of San Pedro, Laguna now invites bids for the following QTY UNIT DESCRIPTION 10

Unit

( T S - A U G . 2 7- S E P T. 3 & 10 , 2 015 )

URGENT NOTICE TO THE GENERAL PUBLIC This is to inform that the following personnel named indicated below are no longer connected with MIDMAC Manpower Services & Placement Corporation Manila, Philippines effective JUNE 01, 2015 . Any transactions entered into by these persons for and in behalf of MIDMAC Manpower Services & Placement Corporation effective JUNE 01, 2015 will no longer be entertained and honored by the Company.

NAMES OF PERSONNEL 1. CONSOLACION M. MAGLAPID 2. ULAMA M. MOKAMAD 3. MINNAH TULOMBAI D. ALBA 4. LEA J. MATRANAS

POSITION Board of Director & Vice President Board of Director Recruitment Marketing Officer Computer Operator / Encoder

(TS AUG. 27, 2015)

Republic of the Philippines Province of Bataan MUNICIPALITY OF LIMAY

3.

Delivery of the goods is required within 30days (thirty) days upon receipt of Notice to Proceed. Bidders should have completed, within one (1) year from the date of submissions and receipt of bids, a contract similar to the Project. The description of an eligible bidder is contained in the Bidding Documents, particularly, in Section II. Instructions to Bidders.

4.

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

INVITATION TO BID The Bids and Limay will be

Awards accepting

Name of Project/Contract

Committee of the Municipality bids for the procurement of the

Location Sources of FUNDS

of ff.

Duration

Approved Budget Cost(ABC)

Cost of Bid Doc’s.

500,000.00

1,000.00

1. Air and Water Quality Monitoring Services

Limay, Bataan

GEN FUND

Four Quarters

2. Survey and Titling of Parcel/ Lots in Barangays Wawa & Poblacion

Limay, Bataan

GEN FUND

180 Days

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

5.

2,210,750.00 3,000.00

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

Bidding will be conducted through open competitive bidding procedures using a non-discretionary “pass/fail” criterion as specified in the Implementing Rules and Regulations (IRR) of Republic Act (RA) 9184, otherwise known as the “Government Procurement Reform Act.” 6.

The City Government of San Pedro Laguna, will hold a Pre-Bid Conference on the date, time and address specified below, which shall be open only to all interested parties who have purchased the Bidding Documents.

PRE-BID CONFENRENCE September 1, 2015 10:00 AM BAC Secretariat 4/f Conference Room City Administrator’s Office City Hallof San Pedro

7.

Bids must be delivered to the address given below on or before the specified date and time. All bids must be accompanied by a bid security in any of the acceptable form and in the amount sated in ITB Clause 18.

DEADLINE OF SUBMSSION OF September 14 2015 ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS 10:00AM AND OPENING OF BIDS BAC Secretariat 4/f Conference Room City Administrator’s Office City Hall of San Pedro

The schedule of activities is listed, as follows: ACTIVITIES Issuance of the Bidding Documents

SCHEDULE August 26-September 16, 2015

VENUE BAC Secretariat Office

Pre-Bid Conference

September 04, 2015 2:00P.M.

Multi-Purpose Room, Ground Floor Limay Municipal Building

Submission/Opening of Bids

September 16, 2015 2:00P.M.

Multi-Purpose Room, Ground Floor Limay Municipal Building

The Pre-Bid Conference shall be open only to all interested parties who have purchased the Bidding Documents.

Bid opening shall be on the date and time specified above for deadline of submission of eligibility requirements and submission of bids and shall be conducted at the Office of the BAC Secretariat. Bids will be opened in the presence of the Bidders’ representatives who choose to attend at the address given above. Late bids shall not be accepted.

8.

The BAC of the Municipality of Limay 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 contact: Mr. Ronnie Latanafrancia BAC Secretariat 2nd Floor, Limay Muncipal Building, National Road, Brgy. Townsite, Limay, Bataan Telephone No. 613-8026

Interested bidders may obtain further information from the City Government of San Pedro, Laguna and inspect the Bidding Documents at the address given below from 8:30AM to 9:30AM only.

Office of the BAC Secretariat 4/f Conference Room City Administrator’s Office City Hall of San Pedro A complete set of Bidding Documents may be purchased by interested Bidders from the date, time and below and upon payment of a non-refundable fee for the Bidding Documents in the amount of PESOS: (Php 10,000.00) ISSUANCE OF ELIGIBILITY August 26 – September 14, AND BIDDING DOCUMENTS 2015 8:30AM – 9:30AM BAC Secretariat 4/f Conference Room City Administrator’s Office City Hall of San Pedro

Delivery of Goods shall not exceed thirty (30) calendar days upon winning bidder’s receipt of the Notice to Proceed. The description of an eligible bidder is contained in the Bidding Documents, particularly, in Section II. Instructions to Bidders.

The Bidding Documents is available at the office of the BAC Secretariat, 2nd Floor, Limay Municipal Building, National Road, Barangay Townsite, Limay, Bataan and may be acquired by interested bidders through payment of non-refundable fee for the bidding documents.

The City Government of San Pedro, Laguna assumes no responsibility whatsoever to compensate or indemnify bidders for any expenses incurred in the preparation of their bid.

Further, City Government of San Pedro, Laguna, reserves the right to accept or reject any bid, to annual 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.

9.

For Further information, please refer to: Mr. Merlin B. Paala Office of the BAC Secretariat City Hall of San Pedro San Pedro, Laguna / Telefax No. 847-1722

(Sgd.) ROMARIO C. PANANGUI Chairman, Bids and Awards Committee (TS-AUG. 27, 2015)

DISASTER RESCUE AMBULANCE Specifications : 2500cc Dual Aircon ambulance 5-speed manual transmission Diesel engine With stereo 185sr 14-8 ply radial tires 2,205kgs GVM 1,045kgs Payload Capacity 15 seater 2,200mm wheelbase With roof rack carrier 36 months or 100,000km which ever comes first warranty Ambulance Accessories Ambulance stretcher – ordinary type, with wheels, side rails foam cushion 3” & foot stool Ambubag w/ resuscitator – adult & pedia combination LED Emergency warning bar light, red or blue lens Siren & speaker w/ PA system w/ handheld mic.

Oxygen tank gauge regulator and de-humidifier w/ nasal cannula One portable medical oxygen tank w/ holder (20lbs) LED light on Patient / Passenger cabin 1pc ordinary flashlight w/ 2pcs dry cell batteries Minor surgical lit with bag Belt strap w/ plastic grab handle on ceiling above doctor/side seat Medical green color curtain on passenger windows Fabricated steel medicine cabinet w/ front cover (18” x 24” x 12”) Minor first aid kit including bag local supplies Spine board Roofrack “Disaster rescue ambulance” lettering in front side and rear portion of valve Dual aircon

(TS-AUG. 27, 2015)

(SGD) ENGR. FILEMON I. SIBULO Chairman Bids and Awards Committee

T H U R S D AY : A U G U S T 2 7, 2 0 1 5

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ceSAR bARRioqUinTo EDITOR

editorial@thestandard.com.ph

world

Watch makers hit rough patch ZURICH—Swiss watchmakers are facing turbulent times in one of their top markets, as the already shrinking luxury sales in China are compounded by the recent devaluation of the yuan.

Global financial markets are still reeling from the Chinese central bank’s sudden devaluation of the yuan earlier this month, which allowed the currency to plunge nearly five percent against the dollar in a matter of days.

In Switzerland, the move rattled the Alpine country’s luxury watchmakers, who have already seen their once booming sales in China take a hit as Beijing began to crack down on corruption in the country by banning extravagant gifts like prestigious watches to public officials.

Even before the yuan move, Swiss watch exports to China had contracted nearly 40 percent in July.

When the yuan devaluation was announced on August 11, investors were clearly bracing for the worst, recalling the impact on watch sales when Switzerland’s central bank in January let the Swiss franc float and sent it soaring.

Shares of Swiss luxury goods giant Richemont, which owns brands like Cartier, Piaget and IWC, immediately shed more than 4.0 percent of their value after the Chinese currency cut.

The world’s biggest watch group Swatch, which carries brands like Tissot, Longines and Omega, saw its stock price plunge 3.9 percent.

But so far there is no indication the yuan devaluation will cause the same level of havoc for the watch industry as the move by the Swiss central bank did earlier this year, industry insiders say. AFP

Exhibition. Iranian women stand next to paintings at Iran’s international hand-woven carpet exhibition in Tehran on August 26.

Iran exports carpets to at least 70 countries around the world, and experts attribute the increasingly lucrative market for Persian carpets worldwide to their quality, color and design. AFP

China rate cut scares markets SHANGHAI—European markets joined Asia on a roller-coaster session Wednesday, as China’s interest rate cut showed no sign of ending a crisis fueled by fears over stalling growth in the world’s number-two economy.

Frazzled investors sent Europe’s top indexes falling by more than one percent in opening trade after a choppy session on Asian bourses, and analysts predicted more turbulence ahead.

China’s central bank reduced interest rates and slashed the amount of money banks need to hold in re-

serve on Tuesday—its second such double move in two months—in a bid to stoke growth.

The measures are not only aimed at boosting boost cash flow in China, but also to revive confidence that Beijing can steer the economy away from a hard landing and keep global growth on course.

The cuts initially fueled a rebound in Europe but optimism fizzled out by the end of US trading, and on Wednesday Asian markets see-sawed in nervous trade.

“The struggle between gains and losses suggests that the market doesn’t really know what to make of the policy move yet,” Bernard Aw, a strategist at IG Asia, told Bloomberg News.

China’s benchmark stock index fell 1.27 percent, or 37.68 points, to

2,927.29, after a day that saw it veer wildly from between losses and gains of around four percent.

Other Asian shares were mixed, with Tokyo surging 3.20 percent, Seoul closing up 2.57 percent and Sydney adding 0.69 percent, while Hong Kong followed Shanghai down to close 1.52 percent lower.

“The equity market roller-coaster continues,” said TrustNet analyst Tony Cross as Frankfurt, Paris and London all lost ground after Tuesday’s strong gains.

“It’s Wall Street’s slump... that appears to be setting the pace for the UK market and, as is often the way after these excessive moves, this volatility appears likely to be with us for some time yet.”

Chinese stocks have lost more than 40 percent of their value since

a year-long, debt-fuelled rally collapsed in June, prompting Beijing to unleash unprecedented market support measures, including using statebacked vehicles to buy up shares.

While the slump in Shanghai may have a limited impact on the broader economy—worth some 13 percent of world output—it reflects investors’ views that the sky-high valuations of quoted companies are not justified.

Some analysts see Beijing’s handling of the market slump as a further litmus test of the government’s ability to guide the economy to a more market-oriented model after the shock devaluation of the yuan two weeks ago.

“If problems on China’s financial markets and real economy deepen, and the authorities fail to contain the situation, a full-blown financial and economic crash in China

could ensue,” said Christophe Donay, chief strategist at Pictet Wealth Management.

“This is currently the biggest risk for the global economy and financial markets.”

China’s central bank on Tuesday warned that the “economic growth rate remains under pressure”, adding the cuts were meant in part to “support the real economy to continue to develop healthily”.

The People’s Bank of China cut its benchmark lending and deposit interest rates by 0.25 percentage points each and its reserve requirement ratio by 0.50 percentage points.

The bank has now cut interest rates five times since November in a bid to spur the slowing economy as concerns mount it may miss its seven percent growth target for the year. AFP

More migrants picking Hungary

Onstage. Rita Ora performs on the opening night of her US Tour at The Independent on August 25 in San Francisco, California. AFP

ROSZKE, Hungary—Record numbers of migrants streaming into EU member state Hungary from Serbia continue to climb, police said Wednesday, as thousands of people fleeing conflict and hardship desperately try to reach Europe.

More than 2,500 people, the highest ever daily total, poured across Hungary’s southern border with Serbia near the town of Roszko on Tuesday, police said in a statement.

On Monday, there were 2,000 arrivals.

Most of them were Syrian, Afghan and Pakistani nationals, police added.

Hungary’s chief police commissioner is set to announce tough new measures on Wednesday to

help tighten border controls.

The migrants crossing into Hungary are part of around 7,000 refugees and migrants whose journey to the European Union was blocked last week when Macedonia declared a state of emergency and shut its borders for three days after being overwhelmed by the influx.

The western Balkans has now become one of the main routes into the EU, as people from the Middle East, Asia and Africa try to reach Germany and other western European countries.

Europe’s worst migration crisis since World War II is set to dominate a summit of leaders from the western Balkans on Thursday in Vienna that will also be attended

by German Chancellor Angela

Merkel.

Germany expects to take in a record 800,000 migrants this year.

Hungary, which is part of the passport-free Schengen zone, has registered more than 100,000 asylum-seekers so far in 2015, over double the total for all of last year.

The numbers leaped from 150 per day in the first half of this year to more than 2,000 in August, after Hungary’s conservative government announced it would build a razor-wire fence along its border with Serbia.

The fence is one of several tough anti-migrant measures, which also include tightening asylum laws, introducing penalties for illegal border crossing, and the planned closure of permanent refugee camps. AFP

T H U R S D AY : A U G U S T 2 7 : 2 0 1 5

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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

W EL L BEING

LIFE

30-minute afternoon breaks meant playtime with more yoga poses.

Downward dog pyramid on our third day of training. I found new friends in Greame, Bri, Roberto and Bek – the two girls are also from the Philippines!

Doing a partner backbend pose with Farida Abou El Dahab, one of the people I got close to while training.

Heal, Pray, YOGA FINE FETTLE

BY BUBBLES PARAISO

My personal journey in my 200-hour teacher training

A

few months ago, after an unfortunate turn of events, I found myself booking a month-long trip to Bali, Indonesia not to “eat, pray, love,” but to heal, maybe also eat and pray, and do a lot of yoga. Before flying to Bali, I wouldn’t even call myself a yogi. I mean, sure, I was already teaching kids yoga for over a year but that didn’t automatically make me a yogi. I would only practice yoga maybe once or twice a week and, like most of you, I thought yoga was all about “just” stretching or touching your toes. Boy, was I wrong.

When I flew in, I had a heavy heart, my eyes were filled with tears and my mind kept wanting to go back home. I kept calling my friends back home who kept reminding me about my sole purpose of flying there – to heal, ultimately, from a very big heartbreak.

I took this yoga teacher training course initially as a distraction, and since I was opening a yoga studio with some friends, I thought, “Hey, why not? Perhaps I could teach there, too.” But I ended up falling in love with the practice – something which, I must admit, I didn’t really see coming.

See, yoga is not just about touching your toes or getting into handstands and inversions. It is the union of your mind, your body and your soul. Every move you make is connected to your breath. You wouldn’t be able to hold that headstand if you don’t breathe properly. Your mind should always be in the moment, not anywhere else. One of the most important aspects of yoga is your focus. Without it, just like in life, you may lose balance. When you focus, it teaches you

Meditation was part of our everyday practice. It played a major part in my healing journey

Our Yoga Philosophy teacher, whom I learned so much from, is Arvind Pare from Mysore, India.

Group practice is done twice a day everyday, including self practice in the morning.

Taking it all in. The ocean helped me find serenity.

Building my backbends through the bow pose during a Rocket Yoga training.

to appreciate what is in front of you, where you are now, how deep your poses are.

The first few days of meditation were tough, my mind kept wandering back home, wondering how everyone was, wishing I could transport myself back. But later on, as I learned how to live in the present, it got easier. On our second week of training, our teachers flew in Arvind Pare from Mysore, India to teach us all about Yoga Philosophy. Nobody in training knew what I was going through then, so I intently listened to everything our teacher had to say, particularly about the “yogi way” of living – from forgiveness, non-attachment to self love. What he said about resentment struck me though. He said, “Unless you let people be how they are then there is no freedom. Don’t resent anyone for who they are. This is how they are. Accept them as they are. Personal freedom is in proportion to the freedom you grant others.” After that day, I felt a little bit lighter and happier. I knew I had to live by those words. I felt that I was on my way to healing.

I am officially certified to teach Ashtanga Vinyasa Yoga with the help of my teachers Bri Manglapus, Ricardo Martin, Roberto Luque, and Joy Kunkanit.

Now, yoga wouldn’t be yoga without the asanas or poses, and that physical aspect of yoga was something that made me sore from head to toe, everyday. I struggled through every pose, every stretch, every handstand. As I mentioned earlier, I wasn’t really a yogi, so flexibility wasn’t really on my side (compared to all my hardcore yogi classmates). On my birthday, I was finally able to do the 8-angle pose, an arm balance wherein you carry your whole body weight with your arms, while your legs are stretched out to the side, doing a figure-8, and your body leaning forward. Yup, it is as hard as it sounds. We would practice yoga three times a day, everyday – from modified primary series to the rocket series to full primary series. I had medicated menthol patches stuck all over my body most of the time, which my teachers found amusing. But you know what they say – no struggle, no strength. And I struggled hard, but kept pushing. (The number of times I fell on my back or face

The best group of yogis to train with! I love each and everyone of them.

trying to do an inversion is countless. But the most important thing is, I tried until I got it.)

Before heading back to Manila, I found myself a lot stronger than before I left. I had healed from whatever made me sad and angry, I had a new way to perceive life, love and fellow humans. I made 23 new friends from around the world. I was stronger not only physically (I could finally hold my headstands) but also emotionally and mentally. Yoga didn’t change me, it just changed the way I looked at things, or the way I reacted to situations. It changed the way I understood people and how to deal with them. It helped me appreciate everything in the moment and not get stuck in the past or worry too much about what may come.

They often say you fly to Bali when you want to “find yourself.” But as for me, I flew to Bali, and I found Yoga. Namaste.

Follow me on Instagram and Twitter @bubblesparaiso

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THE GIST

BY ED BIADO

LIFE life @ thestandard.com .ph

@LIFEatStandard

A DEEPER LOOK AT HIV IN THE PHILIPPINES Part 1 of 2

W

e’ve all heard about the startling rate of new HIV infections in the Philippines. We’ve all read about safe sex and how to prevent getting infected. We’ve all been updated on developments in HIV treatment and care. What else don’t we know?

To answer this question, The Gist got in touch with leading HIV facility The SHIP Foundation. Two of its doctors, medical director Dr. Katerina Leyritana and physician Dr. Khaled Alim, who are both very passionate about what they do.

And being in the “treatment, care and support” side of the fight against HIV, they have a unique perspective on the issues surrounding the alarming rise of new HIV cases in the country. This is what we found out:

THE GOVERNMENT IS ACTUALLY TAKING A LOT OF STEPS.

According to Dr. Leyritana, HIV programs initiated and sponsored by the government include:

• Information dissemination: HIV • • •

testing campaigns; monthly update of the HIV and AIDS Registry of the Philippines (HARP) Prevention: Free condoms Diagnosis: Free HIV and STI (sexually transmitted infections) testing at Social Hygiene Clinics Treatment, care and support: Free antiretrovirals and other drugs for opportunistic infections; provision for HIV treatment hubs in hospitals; national HIV treatment guidelines

THE GOOD NEWS IS THAT MORE PEOPLE ARE GETTING TESTED.

• Capacity building: Training of •

counselors, medical technicians and peer educators; continuing education of Social Hygiene Doctors Support: Dialogues with stakeholders (community groups); creation of HIV councils within certain LGUs.

BUT IT SEEMS THAT IT’S NOT ENOUGH.

“The high rates of infection that we have seen in the last two reports (May and June) may be explained by a lot of factors, both bad and good. Examples of unfortunate reasons could be the lack of awareness about safe sex practices and HIV among those who are newly-diagnosed, continued practice of risky behaviors such as unprotected sex and drug use (either sharing needles among intravenous drug users or engaging in unsafe sexual practices while on drugs) among others,” Dr. Leyritana explains.

In fact, misconceptions about the transmission routes of HIV are still pretty common, says Dr. Alim. “I still see people who cannot accept that that one time they had intercourse without protection led them into contracting HIV,” he shares.

This means that awareness campaigns are not penetrating everyone. Dr. Alim raises the issue of “dissonance,” for which reason “some people think that HIV is

something that happens to other people, but never to themselves.”

THERE’S STILL A LOT OF ROOM FOR IMPROVEMENT.

Dr. Leyritana reminds us that she isn’t a policy-maker but someone who works directly with patients and is faced with the issues of patients on a daily basis. As such, she does have some ideas on how to improve the current HIV programs and policies.

Here are her suggestions:

• Start HIV education at a young age. Include

• • •

sex and HIV in the grade school curriculum.

According to the 2013 Integrated HIV Behavioral and Serologic Surveillance report, the median age of first sex with a male is 16 years old. The 2011 IHBSS reports the same age for female sex workers and intravenous drug users. The youth should ideally be well aware of responsible and safe sex practices before this age.

Implement the DOLE’s HIV in the Workplace program (Department Order 102-10) in companies and offices.

Make HIV and STI-related services accessible to all and disseminate information as to where these can be accessed.

Increase HIV awareness campaigns not only on social media, but also on traditional media (TV, radio, print, billboards).

“Last May 11-17 was National HIV Testing Week, and the peak of the May-June HIV registry could be reflected by the intensive social media campaign (plus a TV ad by DOH). There was a time three or four years ago that there were less than 10 people getting themselves tested per day at one of the more well-known HIV testing centers. Now they have as much as 70 people who come in for testing in one day,” states Dr. Leyritana.

She also says that “the campaigns of various groups (national/regional/local government, NGOs, community-based organizations, individual advocates) have also increased awareness in a way that more people are having themselves tested, hence more people diagnosed.” While this connection may shed light on the spike in the number of new cases, it isn’t comforting because it simply points to the fact that many of us are still uneducated on the modes of transmission of the virus.

(To be continued next Thursday...)

The SHIP Foundation is a one-stop shop that offers services free from judgment and discrimination. The institution is a safe place for everyone seeking private, discreet and confidential care. Services range from HIV-screening, laboratory tests for all kinds, sexually transmitted infection treatment and management, HIV treatment, care and support (TCS) provision, HIV and STI prevention intervention, condoms and lubricant provision, and other health related complications management.

The facility, located on 566 Shaw Blvd in Mandaluyong, is open from 1:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. everyday, except on Thursdays.

It can accommodate clients up to 9:00 p.m.

For more information, visit www.facebook. com/TheSHIPFoundation.

Follow me on Twitter and Instagram @EdBiado

Wear Your Love

L

oveYourself is a non-profit, nonstock organization which aims to prevent the spread of HIV/AIDS among the youth and highly affected individuals – particularly members of the lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) community – through awareness, counseling and education. Volunteers of the organization aim to minimize the morbidity rate and in the near future to completely eradicate venereal infections (STD, HIV and AIDS) by providing free HIV testing services and confidential counseling. Just this year, from January to July, the group managed to help nearly 9,000 individuals know their HIV status through testing.

LoveYourself has been launching campaigns rallying the public to get tested and to embody the virtue of self-worth by protecting oneself, and sharing positive ideals to others. One of the projects of the organization is an annual photoshoot that funds the organization’s free HIV testing, counseling, peer education and community building activities. For the past three years, LoveYourself has taken hundreds

of photos of individuals from different walks of life who supported the advocacy, including celebrities like TV host and LGBT advocate Boy Abunda, award-winning film director Joey Reyes, comedian actor John Lapus, character actors Paulo Avelino and Rocco Nacino, Ms. International 2014 Mary Anne Bianca Guidotti, and rights advocate Risa Hontiveros.

This year, LoveYourself, Inc. brings back its open photoshoot dubbed as #WearLove2015.

Interested donors may sign up through go.loveyourself.ph/wearlove2015. Donors get to have their LoveYourself shirt, and a photo taken by seasoned photographer Joyce Valerie Jacinto, with makeup provided by Renen Bautista. They also offer a “duo” and a “groupie” shoot perfect for couples and barkadas who want to have their photos taken together. #WearLove2015 photoshoot will commence on August 29 and 30 at Anglo Building in Shaw Boulevard. Slots for the shoot are limited so make sure you register today. For more information about LoveYourself and #WearLove2015 visit www.loveyourself.ph or check out their Facebook account at loveyourself.ph.

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LIFE life @ thestandard.com .ph

@LIFEatStandard

HEALTH BULLETIN WOMEN OVER 65 ARE PRONE TO HYPERTENSION Anyone could develop hypertension – especially if one has an unhealthy lifestyle, is perpetually stressed, and has a family history of high blood pressure. The risk increases as a person gets older, but according to a number of studies, after age 65, women are more likely to acquire hypertension than men, particularly those who have passed through the menopausal stage.

Because of hormonal changes relative to menopause, women are prone to weight gain, making blood pressure more reactive to salt which eventually leads to hypertension. Hence, women over 65 and are already in their post-

menopausal stage are strongly advised to start taking care of themselves “especially when their metabolism slows down,” according to Pharex Health Corp. medical doctor Amado Nazal.

For those who are already diagnosed with the condition, it’s best to always consult with the doctor and comply with the medication schedule on top of maintaining a healthy diet and leading an active life. “Every woman aged 65 and older needs to recognize the importance of having a healthy lifestyle as the key to preventing hypertension and other health conditions as well,” emphasized Nazal.

THE SECRET TO AGING GRACEFULLY

BREATHE YOUR WAY AGAINST ASTHMA

During the ’90s, the medical industry started using synthetic hormones derived from the urine of pregnant mares to address symptoms of menopause and lower the incidence of cancer and heart attacks. However, several studies reveal that these replicas actually do more harm than good.

But in the US and Europe, many anti-aging and longevity patients are benefitting from a new generation of plant-based hormones or bioidentical hormones.

Bio-identical hormones are made from natural ingredients such as soy and Mexican wild yarns, which are discovered to restore declining hormonal levels. Since they are identical in molecular level structure to human hormones, bio-identical hormones are easily absorbed by the body, and have been widely observed to safely reverse the effects of hot flashes, insomnia, osteoporosis and heart problems.

Is it possible to cure asthma by just breathing right? Many Filipino asthma sufferers say it’s possible with the Buteyko breathing method. A complementary and alternative form of physical therapy, Buteyko breathing was developed

by Russian respiratory specialist Dr. Konstantin Buteyko 50 years ago.

This method is a safe, drug-free and effective technique that has helped thousands of Filipinos find immediate relief from chronic symptoms like asthma, allergies, hypertension, anxiety disorders, snoring, sleep apnea, immune and hormonal imbalance, chronic fatigue syndrome and stress among others. Case in point: Business Process Outsourcing executive Mannix Villanueva and his family took the Buteyko breathing workshop six years ago which helped relieve his children of asthma and made their family stronger and healthier.

Another example is 55-year-old dentist Mary Rose Anne Benedictos and her 20-yearold daughter Athena who used to suffer from severe asthma, allergic rhinitis and stress.

Since attending a Buteyko workshop, Mary

Here in the Philippines, the major proponent of bio-identical h o r m o n e replacement therapy (BHRT) is the 73-year-old head of Rapha He a lt h , D r.

Cris Enriquez.

A cardiologist who, himself, had a heart surgery, Dr. Enriquez swears by BHRT which has kept him youthful and full of energy and stamina to bring the benefits of anti-aging medicine to more patients in the country.

Patients have enjoyed the benefit of BHRT at Enriquez’s Rapha Health Clinic in Makati since it was established in 2010. According to the doctor, it is possible “to be 120 years old, free of disease or disability and with a clear, sound mind.” All that is needed, he says, is to “restore what has been lost in the body through bio-identical hormones while adopting habits that will keep you in optimal health.”

Rose Anne had stopped using steroidal sprays and bronchodilators, while Athena’s rhinitis symptoms were reduced to a few minutes every three days instead of suffering from it for six hours every day.

Teaching this method in the Philippines is Australian senior practitioner Jac Vidgen.

For more details, call Jac at (02) 897 1804 or email him at jacvid@gmail.com or visit www. buteykoasia.com

Why donating blood is good for you

F

or many people, the thought of blood, let alone donating, is enough to make them cringe. It’s about time we got over the fear of blood and learned that blood donation is a worthwhile activity that can spell the difference between life and death.

For many, donating blood may seem like a daunting activity but the thought of saving lives should be enough encouragement.

According to Dr. Joey Borromeo, head of premier healthcare facility Makati Medical Center’s Blood Bank, most people are eligible to donate blood, and among the basic requirements is that the potential donor should be in good health, between 16 to 65 years old, weighs at least 110 pounds, has a blood pressure below 180 systolic and below 100 diastolic at the time of donation, and must pass the physical and health history assessments.

The Philippine Red Cross affirms that there is a great need for blood, with more than 2000 blood units transfused to patients in the country each day. Donors are always needed in blood donation centers including MakatiMed’s Blood Bank under the

Department of Pathology and Laboratories.

And quite contrary to popular belief, those who have had tattoos or piercings done a year ago may still donate blood – provided they pass the screening tests. Only those who are infected with Hepatitis B or C and HIV are given permanent deferrals, along with those who have serious chronic illnesses such as heart and lung diseases.

For those who are ready to donate, Dr. Borromeo has some reminders: “Intake of alcohol and certain medications are not allowed 24 hours prior to donation. You should also be well-rested and must have eaten before the donation. Avoid fatty meals and remember to take lots of fluids before you proceed to your chosen blood donation center.”

While blood units greatly help those in surgery or those who have diseases that require blood components, donating blood is actually good for you, too, according to Dr. Borromeo. “It’s not just a one-way thing. Both parties, the donor and the one who receives, are helped immensely in the process.”

Since donating blood comes with a free medical screening where the potential donor undergoes a series of tests and procedures before actual donation, he gets to know if he has any Donors are always needed in blood donation centers, including the Philippines’ premier blood pressure healthcare facility Makati Medical Center’s Blood Bank, under the Department of Pathology and Laboratories. abnormalities or blood diseases. And with screenings done their time to help others by donating before the donated blood makes it to the blood blood,” he stresses. bank, the donor can choose to be informed if So the next time you’re wondering what he tests positive for any infections. to do on your spare time, think about doing Dr. Borromeo maintains that the something meaningful by donating blood most beneficial is still the feeling of – helping save lives in the process. fulfilment knowing that the act can help save lives. “It may be a simple act but it For more information, please contact has a profound impact. The demand is MakatiMed On-Call at 8888.999, always high for donors and we encourage email mmc@makatimed.net.ph, or healthy individuals to spare a little of visit www.makatimed.net.ph.

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LIFE life @ thestandard.com .ph

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@LIFEatStandard

MORE THAN JUST SKIN DEEP

OILS OF LIFE FROM THE BODY SHOP

E

ven without makeup, a healthy, glowing skin is enough to make any woman feel and look beautiful. Whether light, dark or any other tone, there is nothing like clear, radiant skin to bring that naturally fresh look. However, dirt and pollution, lack of sleep, improper diet, and too much sun can make skin look dull and tired. For skin to maintain that radiant and healthy glow, it must also be revitalized and nurtured.

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1. Intensely Revitalising Facial Oil. A powerful blend of essential oils, this lightweight daily facial oil intensely revitalizes skin, instantly replenishes moisture and revives radiance. Made with The Body Shop’s Community Fair Trade organic olive oil that is handpicked and cold pressed in the Cilento National Park in southern Italy, you can add a drop of this facial oil to your daily cream. 2. Intensely Revitalising Essence Lotion. A daily bi-phase [oil + water] essence lotion infused with three precious seed oils from around the world to prepare and activate skin. Made with silky sesame seed oil cultivated in Achuapa, a community nestled in the hills of northern Nicaragua. 3. Intensely Revitalising Cream. A silky-soft daily nourishing cream infused with three precious seed oils from around the world to replenish and revitalize skin.

The Body Shop searched the world over to discover three precious seed oils known for their revitalizing and repairing properties that bring new life to skin: • Black Cumin Seed Oil Known for its concentration in antioxidants from the Egyptian Nile Valley • Camellia Seed Oil Naturally rich in nutritive oleic acid from the evergreen trees of China • Rosehip Seed Oil Rich in Omega 3 and 6 from the Andres Foothills of Chile These three precious seed oils have been infused in highly sensorial textures, and by following the “Oils of Life” daily ritual introduced by The Body Shop, the skin can be revitalized, its radiance revived with signs of aging visibly reduced.

This complete intensely revitalizing routine begins with applying the Intensely Revitalising Essence Lotion after cleansing. A unique bi-phase [oil + water] formula, it provides instant visible results while preparing and activating skin for the next steps in your routine.

This is followed by the application of Intensely Revitalising Facial Oil – lightweight daily facial oil that effortlessly melts onto skin, leaving a non-sticky velvety soft finish.

The Intensely Revitalising Cream completes the beauty routine. The moment this silky cream with perfecting micro pearls touches the skin, it effortlessly melts onto the face, leaving a light and comfortable finish without a greasy feel.

As The Body Shop is built on a corporate philosophy that business can be a force for good, choosing Oils of Life™ skincare is a step towards making a positive difference because you are helping plant seeds. Partnering with World Land Trust, The Body Shop aims to plant one million seeds of native tree species in degraded areas within the seasonal dry forest in the Cerro Blanco Protected Forest located in Guayas province in Ecuador.

The planting will be followed by monitoring and maintenance actions to promote regeneration of forest cover. The project will take place over

SIP, NOT SPILL: W Contigo Launches Innovative, Spill-Free Water Bottle

AUTOSEAL technology allows the water bottle to automatically seal between sips, making it spill-free and travel friendly

e know you’ve been drinking your water regularly and keeping yourself hydrated well, but finding the perfect spill-free water bottle on the go is like trying to find the perfect white tee – it’s a challenge to find a good one and when you do, it usually costs an arm and a leg.

Contigo, a US-based company best known for improving the human drinking experience brings to the Philippines its best product technology yet – the AUTOSEAL, a patented technology that allows the water bottle to automatically seal between sips, making it spill-free and travelfriendly. It is built with a button lock that prevents the accidental opening of the lid, so you’ll never have to worry about spilling liquid inside your gym bag, your office lunch bag, car seats, or desks again.

And unlike some water bottles, Contigo is FDA-approved, with BPA-free Tritan™ materials that let you hydrate without plastic odors or taste. It even sports a protective spout cover that keeps the water bottle away from dirt and germs.

With so many designs to choose from, every personality is sure to find a suitable bottle. The AUTOSEAL technology is available in Contigo Madison, Grace, Kangaroo, Cortland and Westloop bottles.

Contigo products are exclusively distributed by The Neat Inc., and are available at SM Home in North EDSA, Aura

a two-year period that commences this August 2015. Seeds will be collected for storage and preserved for planting, and later in the year, the plantation site will be prepared for sowing. This is in line with The Body Shop’s commitment to help protect the earth’s biodiversity and to help preserve and enrich life on the planet.

The Oils of Life skincare line is available at all The Body Shop stores. The Body Shop now accepts SM Advantage Card for points earning and redemption, SM and Sodexo premium pass in all The Body Shop stores nationwide.

Founded in 1976 by Dame Anita Roddick in Littlehampton, England, The Body Shop pioneered corporate activism and was built on a philosophy that business can be a force for good.

With its brand expression, Beauty with Heart, the company continues to be focused on five core values: Against Animal Testing, Support Community Fair Trade, Activate Self Esteem, Defend Human Rights and Protect The Planet. All products are created using the finest ingredients sourced from the four corners of the globe, which are not tested on animals and are 100 percent vegetarian. The Body Shop has been in the Philippine market for 18 years with over 55 strategically located stores nationwide.

Bonifacio Global City, Megamall, Mall of Asia, and Makati; Robinson’s Department Store in Ermita Manila, Galleria Ortigas and Magnolia Quezon City; Toy Kingdom outlets in SM North EDSA and SM Megamall; and Banana Peel stores in Alabang Town Center, Starmall in San Jose Del Monte, Bulacan and TriNoma Mall in Quezon City.

For more information, visit and like Contigo Ph on Facebook, and follow @contigophilippines on Instagram.

AUTOSEAL technology offers convenience to those on the go

T HUR S DAY : AUGUST 27 : 2015

SHOWBITZ

ISAH V. RED EDITOR

isahred @ gmail.com

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Colorful scenery in the film

A Beautiful rendering of a mountain in China in Kung Fu Panda 3

Awe inspiring image in the Hollywood-China collaboration

8th wonder of the world In ‘Kung fu Panda 3’

I

n the final scene of Kung Fu Panda 2, we were teased with a glimpse of a panda village where our hero Po’s long-lost father, Li, is living. Five years and nearly 600 artists later, that village is fully realized, and has become the 8th wonder of the world. As the visual development images show, Li’s home is a stunningly majestic and picturesque world. It’s a living paradise that mixes ancient Chinese architecture with the pure beauty of nature.

Kung Fu Panda 3 is the first

co-production between DreamWorks Animation and the Shanghai-based studio, Oriental DreamWorks. The alliance has brought a striking level of detail and authenticity to this panda Shangri-La. “We worked with Oriental DreamWorks to create a faithful panda environment,” says production designer Raymond Zibach, better known as Ramone.

“Many of the details we used to surround the pandas were done by the art department in China.”

“If you look closely, the decorative elements of the panda village were designed by the art department at Oriental DreamWorks,” adds director Jennifer Yuh Nelson. “They researched every meaning behind the symbols, which was incredibly helpful in our quest to achieve authenticity.”

Looking to China’s gorgeous natural wonders for inspiration, the creative team took a 10-day trip to Qingcheng, part of the Sichuan province, to soak up the ambiance.

“It was incredibly inspirational,” says Ramone. “We saw the mystical mountain outside the city of Chengdu, which is where they have a panda reserve.”

“If you’ve ever dreamed of being surrounded by baby pandas, this is where it is!” says Jennifer.

Returning to the States with terabytes of exquisite images, both the U.S. and Chinese teams began creating a digital 3D panda village.

The fantastical world could then be explored with a virtual camera.

RebiRth of a monsteR

M James McAvoy on the set of Victor Frankenstein

Daniel Radcliffe and James McAvoy play Igor and Frankenstein respectively

ary Shelley’s classic Gothic novel about the eccentric scientist, Victor Frankenstein, and his quest to create life, was first published in 1818 and has captivated generations of readers and later, cinema audiences, ever since.

With a screenplay by Max Landis, Paul McGuigan directs and his stellar lead duo – including James McAvoy as Frankenstein and Daniel Radcliffe as Igor give life to the beloved legendary monster in “Victor Frankenstein.” At the core of this new Frankenstein story – just like with Holmes and Watson – is the friendship between Frankenstein and Igor.

McGuigan’s film is an action adventure thriller where McAvoy plays the titular role of Doctor Victor Frankenste as a brilliant scientist at the forefront of pioneering medical research. He wants to save lives and then becomes obsessed with the idea of creating life itself.

Igor – a character that first appeared in movie versions of the story, but was not in the novel – is a lowly, downtrodden, disfigured clown at a travelling circus where his only friend is a trapeze artist, the beautiful Lorelei (played by Jessica Brown Findlay).

“He starts off in the script just known as ‘the hunchback’, and he works at the circus,” explains Radcliffe. “He’s grown up there, and he’s worked there all his life. His retreat, mentally, is to surround himself with medical books, medical dictionaries. He’s self-taught, very intelligent, and incredibly capable.

“One day, when there is an accident at the circus and Lorelei falls, he rushes out to treat her. Victor happens to be there and sees him performing impromptu surgery. He saves this person’s life, with Victor’s help, and that’s how they meet. At that point Victor obviously sees that he is this undervalued, abused, savant, who has been treated terribly.”

“We can scout - virtually - any location within the panda village,” explains director Alessandro Carloni. “By creating this panda paradise as a whole set piece, we were able to fly through it and discover fresh new angles.”

“It was a huge technological leap from the first film,” adds Jennifer.

“Kung Fu Panda 3” arrives in theaters on March 16, 2016 from DreamWorks Animation and 20th Century Fox to be distributed by Warner Bros.

After Frankenstein rescues Igor from the circus, he operates to remove his disfiguring hump and Igor, physically transformed, becomes his trusted assistant and aids the doctor in his quest to save and, eventually, to try and create life.

McAvoy adds, “Our story is different from Mary Shelley’s novel; we’re not holding to the book’s narrative, we’ve changed it quite a bit. The two main players in it are Igor and Frankenstein, and Igor doesn’t feature in the book. It’s a clear departure, but it’s about the same thing. But the film does pay homage to its heritage. This film is very much born out of the zeitgeist. When you see ‘Frankenstein’ you go, ‘Big flat-headed monster, mad scientist, and Igor the hunchback.’ Igor was never in the book, but he is in it, because the zeitgeist says he’s in it.”

Victor Frankenstein opens Nov. 25 in cinemas nationwide from 20th Century Fox to be distributed

by Warner Bros.

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SHOWBITZ isahred @ gmail.com

smaRT enTeRPRise and PldT sme naTion’s BoZZ aWaRds

T

he Bozz Awards is a social media crowdsourcing search for the new generation of entrepreneurs who are harnessing digital tools to grow their businesses. These entrepreneurs are known for spearheading a revolutionary change in business platforms through their use of technology.

In partnership with Rappler, a pioneer in embracing online platforms for news generation and distribution, the Bozz Awards hopes to inspire more entrepreneurs with success stories of those who have boldly embraced the challenges and opportunities of the digital era.

Rappler will house the main site for the Bozz Awards, and will facilitate the crowd sourcing aspect of the campaign which will carry the online handle #BeTheBoss.

“For years now, PLDT SME Nation has been known for our MVP Bossing Awards which celebrate Filipino business titans whose stories of success embody perseverance and continuous innovation.

They are the industry icons start-up entrepreneurs look up to,” PLDT First Vice President and Head of SME Business Kat Luna-Abelarde explained. “The Bozz Awards is all about the new breed of entrepreneurs, who are just as persevering and innovative, albeit faced with a different set of challenges and opportunities in this digital age of doing business.”

The Bozz Awards is part of the line-up of activities for PLDT SME Nation’s recently launched Small Business Month celebration which is a pioneering initiative aimed at empowering small businesses to embrace the digital revolution.

Rules of digiTal engagemenT To qualify for the Bozz Awards, entrepreneurs must be 45 years old and below, based in the Philippines, and must be business owners for at least two years.

Nominations must be done online via the microsite on Rappler.

Those who want to nominate their

own bozz can also ‘Tweet-pitch’ a 140-character nomination using the hash tag #BeTheBoss. More details will also be announced on August 10 via the official Bozz Awards site.

A shortlist of 15 nominees will be chosen by a panel of judges with three each under five categories—The Boss for Mobile Readiness, The Boss For E-commerce, The Boss for Social Media, The Boss for Customer Service, and The Boss for Social Responsibility and Entrepreneurship.

The public will then have a chance to cast their votes and these votes, together with the results of the panel deliberation, will determine the final five Bozz Awardees (one from each category). The finalists will be honored in a grand celebration and post-awards culmination party to mark the end of the first ever run of the Bozz Awards.

The first batch of Bozz awardees will each receive a full-powered Smart Enterprise Biz Kit which consists of business-enhancing tools and gadgets, including year-

PLDT and Smart Group

long data subscription, to help keep them always connected to their customers and updated with their operations, even while on the go.

As a fitting tribute to game-changing entrepreneurs who are leading the digital revolution in business, the final five Bozz awardees will also be given a oncein-a-lifetime opportunity to see the world’s melting pot of technology via an exclusive Silicon Valley tour.

Abelarde added, “We’ve said it before, and we’ll say it again—there’s nowhere to go but digital. We’ve seen a lot of budding and progressive entrepreneurs who’ve managed to revolutionize the traditional ways of doing business through online presence or ground-breaking use of digital tools and platforms. This new breed of movers and shakers paved the way, and we want to recognize and empower them so they can inspire more entrepreneurs.”

Gabby Cui

Kat Abelardo

For more information on how to #BeTheBoss, visit rappler.com/ betheboss.

SKY treatS Young viewerS to KidS ChannelS

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our kids are definitely in for a treat as SKY continues to celebrate 25 years of entertainment milestones, giving their subscribers first-class quality viewing which they truly deserve. And because great family bonding begins at home, SKY wants your kids to learn and have fun at the same time through a wide variety of programs to choose from.

For the youngest members of the household, it’s never too

early to start learning with SKY’s educational programs for babies and toddlers. Develop an early bond with your little one through stories, rhymes, and lovable characters from Baby TV. Baby TV ensures contents are built to enhance early learning skills and developmental milestones for toddlers.

Through the years, SKY has been an integral part of every Filipino home bringing joy, first-class innovations, and cre-

CRossWoRd PuZZle 44 45 46 47 48 49 51 53 58 62 63 64 65 66 67 68 69 70

Be sincere Frost victim Antique brooch Exam for HS juniors Hot tub inlets Southeast Asian Want-ad abbr.

Thought up Mystiques Park feature Handed over Night racket Warm-hearted Tpks.

Quebec school Clucks Lancaster foe Fresh scent

ANSWER FOR PREVIOUS PUZZLE ACROSS 1 Not qualified 6 Ding-a- — (airhead) 10 Deep purple 14 Hollandaise 15 — fixe 16 Dinghy’s need 17 Skinflint 18 Does yard work 19 “Cujo” author 20 Prove innocent 21 Some coal miners

23 25 26 29 32 37 38 39 40 43

Tank filler Lobster eggs Budge Valuable wood Kathmandu locale Tarzan companion Vow Moonshot mission Splice pro (2 wds.)

Type of applique (hyph.)

DOWN 1 Mil. branch 2 Hammer’s target 3 Melt together 4 Prehistoric time (2 wds.)

5 — cotta 6 An arm or a leg 7 Superstar, maybe 8 La Guardia alternative 9 Mural undercoat 10 Jab playfully 11 Cougar’s pad

ating wonderful memories by offering viewers with diverse options to enjoy TV entertainment with its value and premium service offerings.

Only SKYcable provides quality home entertainment with the widest-range of standard and high definition channels and other top-of-the-line services such as flexible subscription options via SELECT; iRECORD that records, pauses, and rewinds live TV; as well as re-

THURSDAY, AUGUST 27, 2015

12 13 22 24 26 27 28 30 31 33 34 35 36 38 39 41 42 47 48 50 52 53 54 55 56 57 59 60 61 62

Coffee servers Flavor enhancer Alley target Laundry problem Mandrake’s field Horse — Snake toxin Handy abbr.

Throat clearers Vast stretch of time Annapolis frosh Walrus hunter Peer group?

“Becket” actor Striped stone Flight dir.

PBS funder Baked item Bump along Piqued, plus Three-legged stand Orchid-like flower Bottle top Goose formations At any time Cubicle filler Leeway Alice’s chronicler Visible Rubble-maker

al-time coverage of live concerts and sporting events via FREE VIEW and PAY-PER-VIEW. To subscribe and to know more about SKYcable, log on to www. mysky.com.ph, or call the 24hour customer service hotlines at 02 381-0000 for Metro Manila, CAMANAVA, and Rizal; 046484-4701 for Cavite; 049-5342814 for Calamba and Binan, Laguna; 02-520-8560 for San Pedro, Laguna and Carmona, Cavite; 044-693-5877 for Bulacan; 032-

421-1818 for Cebu; 082-305-5456 for Dsavao; 074-442-4841 for Baguio; 034-432-0051 for Bacolod; 033-300-1210 for Iloilo; 035-2251010 for Dumaguete; and 083 301-3134 for Gen. Santos City.

Enjoy over 90 channels in clear digital signal for only P550 per month with Destiny Cable. For inquiries about the services and promos of Destiny Cable call 4180000. You may also contact Destiny Cable via their email address, weserve@destinycable.com.ph.

T HUR S DAY : AUGUST 27 : 2015

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SHOWBITZ isahred @ gmail.com

ComGUiLD, eDUkCirCLe AwArDs hoNor kApUso

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MA News and Public Affairs further strengthened its stature as the most trusted news organization in the country as it seized various distinctions from the 10th COMGUILD Media Awards and the 5th EdukCircle Film and Television Awards in two ceremonies held over the weekend.

On Aug. 16, COMGUILD Center for Journalism recognized GMA News’ Jessica Soho as the Media Persona of Excellence. Soho also is now in the 2015 Hall of Fame for the Most Outstanding Female News Presenter after winning in the same category for four consecutive years. Her Sunday news magazine program Kapuso Mo, Jessica Soho, meanwhile, scored the Best Magazine Show award.

Kara David was also inaugurated into the 2015 Hall of Fame for the Best Female Field Reporter.

David hosts I-Witness and Powerhouse, and co-anchors GMA News TV’s News To Go. Soho and David now join the roster of COMGUILD Hall of Fame winners along with Mel Tiangco (Most Outstanding Female News Presenter) and Jiggy Manicad (Best Male Field Reporter).

Mike Enriquez, in turn, took home the Most Outstanding Male News Presenter of the Year accolade; while GMA’s 24 Oras was cited as the Best News Program of the Year, making it a candidate for the COMGUILD Hall of Fame citation next year.Meanwhile, the Best Educational Program and Best Lifestyle Program recognitions were given to Born to be Wild (with Ferdz Recio and Nielsen Donato) and GMA News TV’s Biyahe ni Drew (with Drew Arellano).

Dingdong Dantes completed the Network’s COMGUILD list of winners with the Most Popular Television Personality of the Year. The awarding ceremonies were held at the Henry Lee Irwin Theater of the Ateneo de Manila University. The event coincided with the 10th Annual Conference of Journalism and

From C8

Mass Communication Students of the Philippines with the theme “Mass Media in the Verge of Information and Transformation.”

EdukCircle Film and TV Awards, an award-giving body that honors exemplary film and TV personalities, for its part, also heralded Soho the day before COMMGUILD’s, as the Best Female News Anchor of the Year for GMA News TV’s State of the Nation.

Mel Tiangco, who co-anchors 24 Oras and hosts Magpakailanman, received the Most Outstanding Journalist in Public Service citation for GMA Kapuso Foundation.

Finally, Pinoy MD’s Connie Sison accepted the Best Health Show Host award at the UP Theater of the University of the Philippines in Diliman during the 12th International EdukCircle Convention on Psychology and Media Communication.

HHHHH

New promotioNs Congratulations to Jose Mari R. Abacan and Joseph Jerome T. Francia of the Kapuso network.

GMA Network recently announced their promotion of to the position of First Vice President.

Abacan was appointed First Vice President for Program Management. Abacan paved the way for GMA to become the pioneer in Koreanovelas in the country by introducing the likes of Full House, Stairway to Heaven, and Jewel in the Palace – all of which drove the ratings of the Network - to the Filipino audience. As the new First VP for Program Management, he will continue to lead and oversee all program acquisition initiatives from foreign producers, while ensuring that these are responsive to the viewers’ consistently changing preferences.

Abacan has been with the company since 1993 and rose through the ranks being a Project Coordinator, Program Unit Manager, Program Manager and eventually, Vice President for Program Management in 2005. With more than two decades

of experience in program management, he has been selected as a juror at the International Emmy Awards on multiple occasions and is a key figure behind award-winning programs, GMA Telesine and Pira-Pirasong Pangarap. Concurrently, he will continue to serve as Project Director of GMA Network Films, working closely with its President in conceptualizing and producing various movies. Abacan holds a Psychology degree from De La Salle University Manila.

Meanwhile,. Francia was named First Vice President and Head of International Operations. Francia is credited with negotiating content distribution deals for the Network’s premium channels GMA Pinoy TV, GMA Life TV, and GMA News TV International with international multi-platform pay-TV giants.

With these deals, he has successfully launched a multi-million dollar international content distribution business, with thriving afaf filiate relationships with pay-video operators in the United States, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Japan, Hong Kong, Singapore, and other Asia-Pacific territories, as well as various countries in the Middle East, North Africa, and Europe. In his new position, Francia will continue to be responsible for the Network’s international operations together with his team composed of programming, marketing, business development, and broadcast operations professionals in the country as well as abroad. He has been with the company starting 2004.

Francia graduated with a degree in Journalism at the University of the Philippines Diliman. He is an alumnus of the Post-MBA Program of the Kellogg School of Management in Illinois, USA and a High Distinction alumnus of the MBA program of Monash University in Melbourne, Australia. He also attended the CTAM U Executive Management Program at the Harvard Business School in Massachusetts, USA. (30)

Jessica Soho

Kara David

Jose Mari R. Abacan - First Vice President for Program Management, GMA Network

Joseph T Francia - First VP and Head of International Operations, GMA Network

This monTh on Cnn’s ‘on China’spy

C From left, Kristie Lu Stout, Simon Denyer, Zha DaoJiong, and Wias Issa

onnected everyday with just the touch of our keyboards, an invisible war is underway on an unprecedented scale.

Taking center stage, the U.S. and China, with both nations accusing each other of cyberattacks and espionage. China is the prime suspect in recent high profile cyber thefts of U.S. government data and American trade secrets. But authorities in China stress that it too is a victim of Internet hacking and they call the accusations “unfounded”.

With Chinese President Xi

Jinping and U.S. President Barack Obama set to meet in September, CNN’s Kristie Lu Stout explores the dark cloud hanging over the U.S.-China relationship, cyber security.

The guests include Simon Denyer, China Bureau Chief of Washington Post, Zha DaoJiong, Professor of Peking University, and Wias Issa, Senior Director of FireEye Inc. Asia Pacific Japan.

On China airs on CNN International 5:30 p.m. today, with replays 11:30 a.m. tomorrow and 10 a.m. 12:30 p.m. and 11:30 p.m. on Saturday.

T HUR S DAY : AUGUST 27 : 2015

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ISAH V. RED EDITOR isahred @ gmail.com

SHOWBITZ

Felix Manalo is perhaps the biggest film in Philippine cinema to date.

It stars Dennis Trillo as the founder of Iglesia Ni Cristo and Bela Padilla, his wife Honorata.

Dennis Trillo plays Ka Felix Manalo isaH V. reD If you’ve seen the trailer of Felix Manalo, and if you hadn’t seen the founder of Iglesia ni Cristo (INC), a Christian sect in this country, you’d ask, “was that how he looked like when he was still alive?”

The many kapatid who have seen it seemed incredulous with the resemblance of the actor to the real person. Even Dennis Trillo, who plays Felix Manalo, was surprised to see how he had grown closer to the character physically.

“Sabi nga nila, hawig daw ako kay Ka Felix, tapos tiningnan ko yung ibang eksena (Many say I had a close resemblance to Ka Felix, so I watched some of the scenes) and I wondered how,” the actor told me after the press conference for the film at Gloria Maris in Gateway at the Araneta Center.

Felix Manalo is an Iglesia ni Cristo-funded production for VIVA Films. It is another project of epic proportion and is still on its finishing stages as of press time. It presents the story of Felix Manalo and is set for release in theaters nationwide on Oct. 7. Joel Lamangan directs the nearly three hours long cinematic biopic.

Dennis Trillo in the film is Felix Manalo, the First Executive Minister of Iglesia ni Cristo, and Bela Padilla is Honorata, his wife.

The film traces the origins and growth of INC church from its humble beginnings in 1914 through to the present day.

The film moves from the time of Felix’s birth in 1886 until his death in 1963.

Shooting took all of 57 days over

a period of eight months involving some of the country’s award-winning production people whose extensive research, through the accommodation of the Iglesia ni Cristo, resulted in elaborate production sets and costumes that replicate multiple or specific time periods depicted in the movie.

Will the film look like an expensive profile-raising material for INC? Lamangan said, “I don’t think so. Of course we tried to be as faithful to the life of Ka Felix and we consulted their council in presenting sensitive scenes. We have to make sure that the things we present in the film is according to INC’s set of rules and beliefs.

Otherwise, we would be creating an anti-INC film.”

So, Catholics and members of other religious sects can watch this film without being annoyed by pontifications of its main characters?

Lamangan said that it is inevitable that the characters would mouth “mga doktrina” during their discourses, “but these are all within the dramatic interplay during the film. That is the reason we took this long to complete the film to make sure the movie is secular and not religious.”

Interestingly, Felix Manalo cuts across deeply rooted religions as it relays Ka Felix’s trials and tribulations in his search for truth and his faith.

It is an excellent showcase of how one man can overcome challenges about his love of God. The film is essentially a love story between God and man, between Ka Felix and his faith in God, Ka Felix and his wife Honorata and Ka Felix and the Iglesia ni Cristo.

The audience will come to know, through the film, who Ka

Felix was as it depicts him like any normal human being -- a dutiful husband and a doting father.

The top-notch production names included in Joel’s team are director of photography Rody Lacap, costume designer Joel Marcelo Bilbao, production designer Edgar Littaua, Danny Red, set design and construction, musical director Von de Guzman and sound engineer Albert Michael Idioma.

Lending support to Dennis and Bela, meanwhile, is a cast of a hundred stars like Lorna Tolentino, Gabby Concepcion, Richard Yap, MyleneDizon, Yul Servo and more.

For a sneak peek on Felix Manalo’s teaser trailer and other updates, visit VIVA ENT YouTube channel and its official website www.felixmanalothemovie.com.

In the early days of Iglesia Ni Cristo, Ka Felix conducted their assembly in makeshift churches

➜ Continued on C7

¼ w e tried to be as faithful to the life of Ka Felix and we consulted their council in presenting sensitive scenes.

We have to make sure that the things we present in the film is according to inC’s set of rules and beliefs, –Joel lamangan, director

Dennis Trillo in a scene in Felix Manalo movie