The Standard - 2015 September 02 - Wednesday

VOL. XXIX NO. 202 3 Sections 32 Pages P18 wedNeSday : SePTeMBeR 2, 2015 www.thestandard.com.ph editorial@thestandard.com.ph

Samson says he’s scared of whitewash

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de limA: ‘i will not Step down’

By Rey E. Requejo

JUSTICE Secretary Leila de Lima broke her silence Tuesday over the indignation rally staged by the Iglesia Ni Cristo against her and denied insinuations that the INC agreed to conclude its protests in exchange for her resignation.

Fighting form. Justice Secretary Leila de Lima strikes a combative pose in keeping with her promise not to resign in this file photo.

Ombudsman probes Aquino, Abad

By Maricel V. Cruz and Rey E. Requejo PRESIDENT Benigno Aquino III and Budget Secretary Florencio Abad are already being investigated over the Disbursement Acceleration Program (DAP), Ombudsman Conchita Carpio Morales told

Congress Tuesday.

Speaking before a House panel deliberating the Ombudsman’s 2016 budget, Morales said she has formed a fact-finding team in response to DAP-related complaints involving top officials of the executive department.

The DAP, a brainchild of Abad,

was a mechanism to impound funds from various projects and divert them to other purposes not specified by Congress. The Supreme Court declared the program unconstitutional in 2014.

In response to a question from Bayan Muna lawmakers, Morales Next page

“I will resign when I’m 100 percent sure that I will join the senatorial race. But as of this time or in the next several days I don’t see any reason to leave my post,” De Lima told reporters.

“About the supposed deal as far as I know there is no such deal,” she added.

The INC held protests over five days to demand that De Lima resign for deciding to investigate an illegal detention complaint filed by ousted minister Isaias Samson Jr. against high church officials.

Trixie Cruz-Angeles, counsel for Samson, earlier urged the government to reveal the nature of its agreement with the religious group, but the Palace said there was no such deal.

De Lima was part of the emergency meeting in Malacañang Sunday evening while thousands of INC members were in Edsa protesting the government’s alleged violation of their religious freedom.

She declined to say what transpired during the meeting.

“I am back to work. Lots of work to do,” she said.

The Palace on Tuesday said it supported De Lima, saying President Benigno Aquino III had full trust and confidence in her.

“The situation remains, the rule of law continues to be followed,” said Communications Secretary Herminio Coloma Jr., in a statement.

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Another plunder case vs Binays

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De Lima From A1...

Committee hearing. Senators Aquilino Pimentel III, Grace Poe and Tito Sotto listen as a committee discusses drug-related legislation at the Senate. Jansen RomeRo

Samson fears INC case ‘whitewash’

By John Paolo Bencito

AN expelled minister of the Iglesia ni Cristo expressed fears Tuesday of a whitewash of his illegal detention complaint filed against eight members of the Sanggunian, the highest policy-making body of the influential church.

“I’m the one involved here and I should’ve been included in the talks that they had,” said Isaias Samson in an interview on the ANC news channel.

In bringing the five-day protest to a halt, the INC said Monday they reached an agreement with the Aquino administration—a statement the Palace denied.

“We’d like to inform all our brethren that both the Iglesia and the government have talked already and clarified things between us. All is well,” said INC General Evangelist Bienvenido Santiago in a video message shown to members at Edsa Shaw on Monday.

Samson said that he won’t back down on his complaint against the church leaders.

“My purpose here is not only to file a case because they have done something against me. I fully believe that I’m just instrumental so that all wrong things that are done by the Sanggunian will be exposed,” said Samson.

In the same interview, Samson said the politically influential religious group is now divided, after the low turnout of members in their five-day protest.

“God has placed the Sanggunian in shame because they have tried to mass or gather millions of members and yet they have failed

miserably,” Samson said.

“They had to resort to asking the members from far-flung provinces to come to Manila. To think that the Quezon City district alone is more than enough to mass more than what they gathered on the last night of the rally,” he added. “The members are not listening to them. They had to go to remote places and put them on vehicles.”

The Quezon City locale—also known as “Capitol”—is one of the 29 ecclesiastical districts of the church in Luzon alone.

Chief Senior Supt. Tyrone Masigon said the religious group amassed more than 20,000 members on the fifth day of the protests.

In the same interview, Samson alleged that the Sanggunian lied to members so they would join the protest.

“I know who they are, what they can do and will do just to protect themselves. In the past days, they have lied to the people, they used the name of EVM [Eduardo V. Manalo] in order to make members of the INC shield them,” said Samson.

“The Sanggunian has been misleading and using them by saying that it is Ka Eduardo V. Manalo who is being accused and therefore will be arrested. The Sanggunian knows very well that it

is not true and yet that is what they spread to members of the church,” he added.

The respondents to Samson’s illegal detention case are Glicero Santos Jr., Radel Cortez, Bienvenido Santiago, Mathusalem Pareja, Rolando Esguerra, Erano Codera, Rodelio Cabrera and Maximo Bularan.

Manalo was not included in the charge sheet.

But on Tuesday, Interior Secretary Manuel Roxas II denied rumors that Manalo would soon be arrested.

“There have been rumors that INC Executive Minister Ka Eduardo Manalo will be arrested. It’s not true. We’ve explained to them that there’s nothing like that,” said Roxas in an interview over radio dzMM. Roxas also denied that the government and the INC leadership struck an agreement.

He said during the meeting with church officials, the government merely explained that the INC was not being singled out, and that there was no special treatment for or against any group.

Samson’s lawyers on Monday called for transparency from the government with respect to its dealings with the INC. Senator Francis Escudero, who is considering a run for higher office next year, said the INC protests would not have taken place if the Justice Department gave priority to cases that were filed before the Samson complaint.

He said if the department had simply followed the “first in, first out” rule in handling cases, the conflict could have been avoided.

With macon Ramos-araneta

Ombudsman From A1...

said the DAP cases were pending fact-finding investigation. She added that the investigation report by the Field Investigation Office was under evaluation.

The Ombudsman said her agency conducted the investigation on its own to determine if Aquino and Abad were liable for the DAP. Morales said the investigation report on the DAP complaints was confidential and would be used as a basis to start a preliminary investigation.

“We don’t release the investigation report. We either approve or disapprove it. If we approve it and we recommend the conduct of a preliminary investigation, then so be it. Now, if we don’t agree with the recommendation to initiate a preliminary investigation, this means the case is deemed closed and terminated,” she said.

Last year, the Supreme Court voted unanimously to uphold its July 2014 decision to strike down as unconstitutional specific acts under the DAP. Malacañang has said the DAP was created as a stimulus package to speed up public spending and to push economic growth.

Critics, however, said it was used to circumvent the congressional power of the purse.

At the same time, Morales said her office was expected to make a ruling this month on plunder complaints filed against Abad.

“It should be resolved anytime this month. That is with respect to the investigation report [written] by the fact-finding investigators,” Morales said.

Bayan Muna party-list Rep. Carlos Zarate said the result of the Ombudsman’s probe into DAP-related cases against President Aquino could be used as basis for the filing of criminal charges against the chief executive when he steps down from office.

While still in office, the President is immune from suit.

Zarate maintained President Aquino should be made liable and

A militant group, Sanlakas, demanded full disclosure of the deal reached between the Palace and the INC leaders.

“The credibility of both the 2016 elections and the case of illegal detention of former INC Minister Isaias Samson are now in jeopardy and will be subjected to speculation and reservation unless the agreement reached is fully disclosed and political deals are untangled,” said Ron Pedrosa, secretarygeneral of the group.

He said various camps have speculated that part of the Malacañang-initiated deal was the INC’s endorsement of the candidacy of Interior Secretary Manuel Roxas II in the 2016 elections. With sandy araneta accountable for the creation and “The DAP, as presidential pork, is the biggest pork barrel among all other pork barrel funds, and he should be made accountable for this, among other executive officials. After June 30, 2016, it should be the first order of the day,” Zarate said.

He said his group will initiate the filing of criminal charges against the President as soon as he steps down from office.

The Palace said that while the Ombudsman is empowered to conduct an investigation, the President remained immune from suit.

On Tuesday, former national treasurer Leonor Briones of Social Watch Philippines and former senator Panfilo Lacson asked the Supreme Court to stop the government’s appropriations on lump sum and discretionary funds in this year’s budget program.

In a petition for certiorari and prohibition, they asked the Court to issue a temporary restraining order enjoining the executive branch from further implementing Sections 70 and 73 of the 2015 General Appropriations Act and special provisions for special purpose funds.

The petitioners asked the Court to declare these provisions as unconstitutional, citing its earlier decisions voiding the Priority Development Assistance Fund and key acts under the DAP. “These provisions are contradictory to the Supreme Court rulings and the Constitution. The law is clear; Article 6, Section 24, paragraph 5 of the Constitution prohibits transfer of appropriations. Only savings can be transferred, but you can’t do it midyear,” Lacson said, when interviewed by reporters.

“It is very evident in a number of transactions… We all know that an administration spends a lot on the year before the elections; this has happened before,” he said.

Briones said the Aquino administration has “disregarded the Constitution and the people’s money” with its manner of spending. With sandy araneta

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Another plunder case filed vs Binay Top IT companies to check PCOS gear THE Commission on Elections is set to enter a deal with top IT companies to diagnose at least 100,000 old Precinct Count Optical Scan or PCOS machines to use some of them for the national elections in 2016, an official said Tuesday.

Comelec chairman Andres Bautista said IT companies like Microsoft, IBM, HP, Dell, GE and the Department of Science and Technology had volunteered to diagnose the old PCOS machines.

He said these companies would be part of the separate task force created by the Comelec, which is headed by commissioners Luie Tito Guia and Rowena Guanzon.

“The likes of Microsoft, IBM, HP, Dell, GE and also the DOST are willing to help the Comelec in creating a task force to look into these machines... and to look into the possibility of using some of them for 2016,” Bautista said.

“We will not pay anything. This is the Comelec’s own initiative with volunteers from private companies.

They will be under the control and supervision of the Comelec.”

Bautista said the task force will only cover the diagnostics and not the repair and refurbishment of the old PCOS units.

He said the Comelec will sign a repair contract with a third party in case they decide to refurbish the PCOS machines.

On Monday, the Comelec announced it was looking at the possibility of using some of the old PCOS machines to supplement the new Optical Mark Reader or OMR machines that will be leased for the May 2016 elections.

The agency said the move was intended at increasing the number of available voting machines to lower the voters-to-machine ratio from the previous 1,000 voters to one machine to about 600 voters to one machine.

Sara Susanne D. Fabunan

REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES

COMMISSION ON APPOINTMENTS ANNOUNCEMENT President Benigno S. Aquino III has submitted to the Commission on Appointments (C.A.) for confirmation the nomination of HON. MINDA CALAGUIAN-CRUZ, Chief of Mission, Class I, as Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary to the Commonwealth of Australia with concurrent jurisdiction over the Republic of Nauru, the Republic of Vanuatu and Tuvalu, in the Department of Foreign Affairs.

The public may submit any information, written report or sworn complaints or oppositions in forty (40) copies on the above nomination to the CA Secretariat, 6th Floor, PNB Financial Center, Roxas Boulevard, Pasay City, Metro Manila.

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

01 September 2015.

ARTURO L. TIU Secretary (TS-SEPT. 2, 2015)

ANOTHER plunder suit was filed on Tuesday against Vice President Jejomar Binay and his son, suspended Makati City Mayor Jejomar Erwin Binay Jr., before the Office of the Ombudsman over an allegedly questionable deal between the University of Makati or UMak and System Technologies Inc. Lawyer Renato Bondal also filed charges against Umak president Tomas Lopez Jr. and claimed that the Binays misused funds that had been intended for Umak’s College of Nursing.

The other respondents in the case are

STI officials Eusebio Tanco, Monico Jacob, Annabelle Borromeo and Jack Arroyo Jr., one of the incorporators of the joint venture between STI and UMak. Bondal also filed charges against Makati Rep. Abigail Binay for allegedly

misusing her Priority Development Assistance Fund in 2011. He claimed she released P25 million from that fund to two fake foundations.

The camp of Vice President Binay said they were ready to face the new allegations against him and his relatives.

“We are ready to respond to these latest allegations,” Binay spokesman Joey Salgado said.

“If the Ombudsman were only fair and impartial, these complaints would immediately be dismissed.”

Bondal claimed a total of P504,583,560

for the UMak College of Nursing from 2004 to 2013 was diverted to a joint venture under the Philippine Healthcare Educators Inc. (PHEI) that manages the nursing college.

Bondal accused Binay of using a dummy, a certain Arroyo, a nephew of former senator Joker Arroyo, to earn from the school.

About 20 percent of the shares of PHEI belonged to Arroyo, while STI and UMak had 40 percent each.

According to Bondal, the city government under the leadership of the suspended mayor,

and UMak and STI officials adopted a tuition hike for the nursing students ranging from P38,850 to P40,000 per semester against the previous UMak tuition of P1,500 for a Makati constituent and P3,000 for a nonMakati constituent.

In addition, he said, the respondents violated the Government Procurement Reform Act for choosing STI as a partner under the joint venture without proper bidding, adding the College of Nursing building was overpriced at P1.2 billion. Rio N. Araja, Junelyn Olivar and Vito Barcelo

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Police hoist crime alert

By Francisco Tuyay and Joel Zurbano THE Philippine National Police is set to send 13,300 policemen, or 70 percent of Metro Manila’s 19,000 cops, out of precinct stations and on to the streets in anticipation of increased criminality during the “ber” months.

’Tis the Season of Creation. Manila Archbishop Luis Antonio Cardinal Tagle delivers his homily during a Mass opening the Season of Creation, a month-long celebration that will implement programs emphasizing the importance of creation as a ‘priceless gift of the Almighty and Loving Creator who has made us in his own image and likeness.’ DANNY PATA

Poe: Insubstantial case

By Macon Ramos-Araneta

SENATOR Grace Poe on Tuesday asked the Senate Electoral Tribunal (SET) to dismiss the quo warranto petition filed against her by Rizalito David over her citizenship and asked that the petitioner be cited in contempt for forum shopping.

In a 107-page reply submitted to the tribunal, Poe said the case should be dismissed because the petitioner committed willful and deliberate forum shopping, the petition was filed behind the prescribed period and the petition is insufficient in form and substance.

She also asked that David be cited in indirect contempt because he failed to inform SET of the filing and pendency of his affidavit-complaint with the Comelec Law Department.

Based on documentary evidence and pertinent laws and

jurisprudence, Poe’s lawyers argued that she is a natural-born citizen and her residence or length of stay in the country is more than sufficient when she ran and won as a senator.

Her lawyers also argued the period to question the senator’s qualifications had already lapsed.

For more than two years, the senator’s lawyers said no one questioned her eligibility as senator and she carried out the mandate given her by more than 20 million Filipino voters without any challenge.

Although she had never professed any desire to run for higher office, voter preference surveys earlier this year showed Poe to be the “clear-cut” favorite among potential presidential candidates for 2016.

“From the respondent’s point of view, these results were a welcome development as they were a measure

of the Filipino people’s satisfaction with her work as a senator. However, the same poll results also show that respondent would prove to be a serious threat to presidential aspirants,” the pleading read.

Her lawyers stressed Poe’s qualifications may only be questioned within 10 days after being proclaimed senator.

“Residency refers to the qualification of a senator and it is clear in the Rules of the SET that such may only be questioned within 10 days after proclamation. More than two years have passed since Senator Grace Poe was elected and proclaimed as a Senator, thus, her qualifications may no longer be questioned,” said her lawyers.

“For the same reason, Senator Poe’s citizenship, as part of the qualification of a Senator, can no longer be questioned,” they added.

“We want 70 percent of policemen to be out on the streets,” said newly installed National Capital Region Police Office director Chief Supt. Joel Pagdilao, adding that the cops assigned to his command will be devolved to different strategic locations in Metro Manila next week.

Pagdilao said all police stations will be directed to send out the cops in three shifts over 24 hours to conduct foot and mobile patrols, particularly in crime prone areas in the five police districts in the NCR. “Only a handful should be inside stations—antiilegal drugs, investigators and others who are needed inside the offices,” Pagdilao said . “This move is part of the directive of PNP Chief Ricardo Marquez in combating crime.”

Pagdilao also said the present police posting in the University Belt will be doubled along with its aggressive visibility to protect students from being victimized by criminals operating in those areas.

To fortify police anticrime operations at the University Belt, additional high-definition closed circuit television devices will be installed in crime prone areas, like Monumento, Makati, Mandaluyong, Pasig, Baclaran-Pasay, Taguig, Ermita, Edsa-West Avenue, Quirino Highway, Commonwealth Avenue, East Avenue, Sampaloc and Tondo, Manila.

He said the anti-

crime operations of the police contingent will be assessed on a weekly basis to determined the effectivity and efficiency of policemen.

Authorities earlier revealed some modus operandi of criminal groups such as the Salisi Gang, Siksik Gang and Riles Gang.

Salisi Gang members lurk in crowded areas— malls, restaurants, fast food joints, computer shops, bars, and clubs— and divert their victims’ attention or wait until their targets are distracted before they are mugged.

The Riles Gang, on the other hand, is a group of pickpockets posing as commuters of Metro Railway Transit-3, Light Rail Transit lines 1 and 2, and Philippine National Railways.

The gang operate in groups of four or five and squeeze, shove or push a prospective victim inside the trains to distract him while their accomplices pick their pockets or bags for gadgets and wallets.

Members of Siksik Gang victimize bus passengers along major thoroughfares in Metro Manila, particularly Roxas Boulevard in cities of Pasay and Parañaque, and Epifanio de los Santos Avenue in Makati City.

The group would press against the bodies of the victims while taking their important valuables such as gadgets and mobile phones, or point a blade at them.

Govt dole scored anew

By Maricel V. Cruz THE government has already spent over P245 billion for the Aquino administration’s dole out program, called Conditional Cash Transfer (CCT), but there has been no improvement in the poverty situation after seven years of implementation.

Kabataan party-list Rep. Terry Ridon made the statement as Social Welfare and Development Secretary Dinky Soliman defended the agency’s proposed P103.7billion budget for 2016.

“Billions have already been sunk into the CCT program. But in retrospect, has it made a dent on the bleak poverty situation in the country? Clearly not,” Ridon said.

The CCT program began in 2008 under the Arroyo administration, with an initial budget of P298.5 million. Since then, the budget for CCT has ballooned to the current P62.3 billion. DSWD is proposing a P62.6 billion budget for CCT for 2016.

But Soliman said the government’s dole program is not really intended to reduce poverty per se, but should be treated as “an investment in human capital for the children of the poor.”

Ridon said Soliman’s justification was an admission that the dole is only a “palliative” to poverty, which has even increased to to 25.8 percent in the first half of 2014 from 24.6 percent in the same period in 2013.

Conservative estimates also show that some 2.5 million Filipinos have joined the ranks of those living under P58 per day since Aquino assumed office in 2010, he added.

Ridon also cited the latest self-rated poverty survey conducted by IBON Foundation last May which show that seven out of 10 respondents, or 67 percent rated themselves as poor.

IBON noted that this is consistent with the estimate that some 66 million Filipinos are living with a P125 peso daily income or even less

Crime drive. Metro Manila police director Chief Supt. Joel Pagdilao reports on criminality

in his jurisdiction and unveils a plan to increase police presence and deter crimes during the Christmas season. LINO SANTOS

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Senate okays VAT exemption for PWDs

House bloc backs move for workers’ tax breaks

By Macon Araneta By Maricel V. Cruz A BILL seeking to exempt persons with disabilities (PWDs) from paying the mandatory 12-percent value added tax on goods and services was approved on third and final reading in the Senate on Tuesday.

Senator Juan edgardo “Sonny” Angara, chairman of the ways and means committee and sponsor of Senate Bill No. 2890, said the passage of the bill into law would exempt PWDs from paying the 12-percent VAT on top of the 20-percent discount they were entitled to on particular goods and services.

The proposed measure is a consolidated version of house Bill 1039 principally authored by Leyte Rep. Martin Romualdez and similar bills authored

by Angara and Senate president pro tempore Ralph Recto and Senators Paolo Benigno “Bam” Aquino IV and Maria Lourdes Nancy Binay. It was co-sponsored

by Senator Pia Cayetano.

Angara said “the new tax breaks under SBN 2890 are part of growing government programs and policies meant to assist the sick and handicapped and uplift them in their moments of need, as mandated under existing laws such as Republic Act 7277.”

Republic Act 7277, also known as the Magna Carta for Disabled Persons, provides a 20-percent discount for PWDs on the sale of goods and services such as medicines, medical and dental services, hospital and laboratory fees, local transport fares, restaurants, hotels, theaters and educational assistance. he added that the proposed law also “aligns the PWD law with that of the expanded Senior Citizens Act of 2010 or Republic Act 9994, which provides a VAT exemption to senior citizens on top of their 20-percent discount on particular goods and services.”

Recto said the proposed law also sought to provide additional income tax exemption amounting to P25,000 to those caring for PWDs who are incapable of supporting themselves regardless of their age.

“The tax deduction is the same as what is currently claimed by a parent of a child not over the age of 21, which is P25,000 annually. It is only right to remove the age criteria for a PWDdependent because caring for him or her does not have a fixed expiry date. In many cases, it extends from cradle to grave,” he said.

House Independent Bloc Leader Rep. Martin Romualdez of Leyte on Tuesday welcomed the move of the House committee on ways and means to approve next week the consolidated measure lowering individual and corporate income tax rates as a show of compassion to the working class.

Romualdez made the statement as Marikina City Rep. Miro Quimbo, the panel chairman, said that his committee will soon report out the consolidated bill on the topic after 11 hearings.

“We rally behind the passage of the measure because this is something

that will help many workers. This is our malasakit [compassion] to them,” said Romualdez.

Quimbo said his panel is eyeing the passage of the measure on third and final reading in October.

“We are eyeing to approve the bill next week at the committee level

and approve it in the final reading in October,” Quimbo, one of the authors of the consolidated measure, said.

The proposee measure seeks to revise the income taxes for compensation income earners, self-employed and professionals, and corporations through simplification of tiers and rates, and indexation to inflation.

“Tax brackets have remained unchanged since 1997 and have not been adjusted to inflation. And because workers’ salaries have been adjusted for inflation but tax brackets remain frozen, a vast number of workers have been pushed to higher brackets thus paying higher tax rates,” Quimbo said.

Romualdez

No to fund misuse. Militants troop to the Batasan Pambansa building in Quezon City to seek an end to the misuse of funds including the conditional cash transfer program of the Department of Social Welfare and Development. LINO SANTOS

Group raises more issues on LRT The National Coalition of Filipino Consumers (NCFC) on Tuesday sought “immediate assistance from higher authorities” within the Transport department and the Aquino administration in relation to the anomalous renewal of the LRT Line 2 service maintenance contract, saying “drastic intervention” was needed to prevent further violations of the law and protect rider safety.

The NCFC filed graft and administrative charges last July against members of the Light Rail Transit Authority’s Bids and Awards Committee (LRTA-BAC) for illegally favoring Fil-Korean joint venture BUSAN-eDC despite

numerous bid violations.

BUSAN-eDC was also shown in an internal LRTA Technical Working Group Report as having submitted a bid that was non-responsive in key technical specs of the Santolan to Recto rail line.

“First, it’s been more than 120 days since the opening of the bids, and the contract hasn’t been awarded yet.

That’s already violative of the provisions of the Government Procurement Act,” NCFC counsel and spokesperson Oliver San Antonio said .

“Second, we’re verifying reports from reliable sources that the BAC appointments were

never renewed. If this is true, there may be serious questions on the legality and validity of any BAC action, both in the recent past or in the near future,” San Antonio added.

These factors, taken together, made “higher up” intervention an imperative, the NCFC counsel insisted.

“We’ve already raised the legal and safety issues repeatedly in our Ombudsman complaint and in the general public discussion. On a policy front, however, nothing’s moving. If the PNoy government is truly serious about addressing the transport issue, now’s the time to act.”

The NCFC has also written the Senate, Congress and the Department of Justice, requesting the appropriate government bodies to investigate the LRTA Line 1 service contract mess.

“We can’t see where “Tuwid na Daan” is headed because there’s traffic, the commuter trains are faulty, transport contracts are feasted on by the corrupt in the DOTC and LRTA. It’s very ironic that the government uses a transportation metaphor to describe itself when the entire transport sector is in shambles.

We challenge the President, no less, to do something about this,” San Antonio said.

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Seaman dives off Naia 3rd F, survives SCN FORM NO. 1 (R.A. NO. 9139)

and predominance of one's ideas. I am not a polygamist nor a believer in the practice of polygamy. I have not been convicted of any crime involving moral turpitude. I am not suffering from mental alienation or from any incurable contagious disease.

The country of which I am a citizen or subject is not at war with the Philippines and grants to Filipinos the right to be naturalized citizens or subjects thereof.

REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES SPECIAL COMMITTEE ON NATURALIZATION IN THE MATTER OF THE PETITION OF GINA TAN ANG to be naturalized as Filipino citizen pursuant to Republic Act No. 9139. x-------------------------- x

SCN CASE NO. 000588

PETITION Pursuant to the provisions of Republic Act No. 9139, petitioner hereby submits a petition for naturalization to become a citizen of the Republic of the Philippines and respectfully declares: 1. My full name is GINA TAN ANG , but I have also been known since childhood as N.A. or I have been judicially authorized to use the alias name(s) N.A. .

2. My present place of residence is Unit 6 St. Martin Village AS Fortuna St. City/Municipality of Mandaue, Province of Cebu and all my former places of residence are (please indicate periods of residence) Since childhood-1985-No. 278 Villa Abrille, Davao City 1986-1991- No. 7515 Santillan St., Makati City 1992-1997- Sunset Village, Angeles City 1997-2002 - Metro Green Village, Sta. Lucia, Pasig 3. I was born on Aug. 31, 1996, in Davao City Philippines. I have been a resident of the Philippines since birth. At present, I am a citizen or subject of China.

4. My father's name is Eng Tiong Ang and he was born on February 16, 1927, in Amoy, China. He is a citizen or subject of China. My mother's name is Erlinda Lim Tan and she was born on November 27, 1936 in Magallanes, Davao City. She is a citizen or subject of China.

5. My trade, business, profession or lawful occupation is VP-Finance Dept of Virginia Food Inc. and from which I derive an average annual income of P2,000,000.00 , inclusive of bonuses, commissions and allowances. My wife's/husband's trade, business, profession or lawful occupation is N.A. and from which she derives an average annual income of P N.A. (Where the above does not apply): I am exempt from the requirement of lucrative trade or occupation and from submitting income tax returns for the past three (3) years because I am a college degree holder [please state (1) degree obtained: N.A., (2) name of school: N.A. and (3) years graduated: N.A.] who cannot practice my profession (the practice of which requires a government licensure examination) by reason of my citizenship.

6. My civil status is SINGLE , I was married on N.A. in N.A.My wife's/husband's name is N.A. and she/he was born on N.A. in N.A. . She/he is a citizen or subject of N.A. and presently resides N.A. .

7. I am legally separated from my spouse; my marriage was annulled, per decree of legal separation/annulment dated N.A. granted by N.A.. (please indicate the particular court which granted the same). I am a widower/widow and my spouse died on N.A. in N.A..

8. I have N.A. child/children, whose names, dates and places of birth and residences are as follows: Name N.A.

Date of Birth N.A.

Place of Birth Residence N.A.

Place of School

Dates of Study

Davao Chinese H.S.

Davao City

1972-1975

Davao Chinese H.S. Davao Chinese H.S. Ateneo de Davao University

Davao City Davao City Davao City

1975-1978 1978-1982 1982-1986

Highest Grade Completed Grade 1-3 Grade 4-6 1st yr.-4th yr.

B.S.C. Major in Accounting

10. I am able to read, write and speak Filipino and/or any of the following dialects of the Philippines: Cebuano and Bisaya 11. I have enrolled my minor children of school age in the following public schools or private educational institutions duly recognized by the Department of Education, Culture and Sports (DECS), where Philipine History, government and civics are taught and prescribed as part of the school curriculum and where enrollment is not limited to any race or nationality: Name of Child

Name and Place of School

N.A.

N.A.

14. My character witnesses are Nenita R. Setenta and Lucy M. Puro both Filipino citizens, of legal age, and residing at Lamac Yati, Liloan, Cebu City and Sarphil Village Bajada Davao City respectively, who have executed sworn statements attached hereto in support of my instant petition, together with: (a) brief biographical data about themselves; (b) detailed statements on the dates they first came to know me, the circumstances of our initial acquaintance and the reasons and extent of our continuing familiarity; and (c) the number of times they have acted as character witnesses in other petitions for naturalization.

15. Attached hereto as annexes and made part of this petition are the duplicate originals or certified photocopies of the following documents (please check the appropriate box): [ / ] a. Petitioner's birth certificate [ / ] b. Petitioner's alien certificate of registration (ACR) [ / ] c. Petitioner's native-born certificate of residence (NBCR) [ ] d. Petitioner's marriage certificate, if married [ ] e. Death certificate of his/her spouse, if widowed [ ] f. Court decree annulling his/her marriage or granting legal separation, if such was the fact [ ] g. Birth certificates of petitioner's minor children [ ] h. ACRs of petitioner's minor children [ ] i. NBCRs of petitioner's minor children [ / ] j. Affidavits of financial capacity by the petitioner, duly supported by bank certifications, passbooks, stock certificates, or proof of ownership of other properties [ / ] k. Affidavits of at least two (2) credible witnesses who must be Filipino citizens of good reputation in petitioner's place of residence [ / ] l. Medical certificate from a government hospital stating that petitioner is not suffering from mental alienation or a user of prohibited drugs or otherwise a drug dependent and that he/she is not afflicted with acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS), or any incurable contagious disease. [ / ] m. School diploma and transcript of records of the petitioner from the school/s he or she attended in the Philippines [ ] n. Certifications stating that petitioner's minor children are enrolled in public schools or private educational institutions duly recognized by the DECS, where Philippine history, government and civics are taught and prescribed as part of the school curriculum and where enrollment is not limited to any race or nationality [ / ] o. Petitioner's income tax returns for the past three years [ / ] p. Petitioner's receipts of payment of income tax for the past three years 16. Other documents submitted by the petitioner in support of his/her petition:

Date of Enrollment

C a mi l mi l , C a l a p a n C i t y 5 2 0 0 . O ri e n t a l Mi n d o ro

BIDS AND AWARDS COMMITTEE

INVITATION TO BID IB No. GS-2015-141

T he Pr ov i nc i al G o v e rn me n t o f O ri e n t a l Mi n d o ro i n v i t e s P h i l G e p s re g i s t e re d s u p p l i e rs ( D e a l e r s / D i s t r i b u t o r s / I m p o r t e r s) t o A p p l y f o r E l i g i b i l i t y a n d t o B i d f o r t h e h e re u n d e r l i s t of i tem s / p r o j e c t s .

Item/Description

1.

1.

2.

3.

4.

5.

PRAYER

Bid Document Fee

Source of Funding

3 , 814 , 0 0 0 . 0 0

Php 5 ,000.00

G e n e r a l Fund

The s c he dul e of bi ddi ng a c ti v i ti e s i s a s fol l ow s : Advertisement/Posting of ITB Ø Bulletin Board of the PGOM : September 02, 2015 Ø PGOM Website : September 02, 2015 Ø PhilGEPS Website : September 02, 2015 Ø Newspaper of General Nationwide Circulation : September 02, 2015 Issuance of Bidding Documents : September 07-28, 2015 Pre-Bid Conference : September 14, 2015 at 10:00 a.m. at BAC Office Deadline of Submission of Bids : September 28, 2015 at 9:3 0 a.m. at BAC Office Opening of Bid in sealed envelope a). Eligibility Requirements and Technical Proposal : September 28, 2015 at 10:0 0 a.m. at BAC Office b). Financial Proposal : September 28, 2015 at 10:0 0 a.m. at BAC Office

Bi ddi ng w i l l be c o n d u c t e d t h ro u g h o p e n c o mp e t i t i v e b i d d i n g p ro c e d u re s u s i n g n o n -d i s c re ti onar y pas s /fai l c ri t e ri o n a s s p e c i f i e d i n R . A . 9 1 8 4 a n d i t s I R R o t h e rw i s e k n o w n a s t h e Gov er nm ent Pr o c u re me n t R e f o rm A c t .

T he c om pl ete s e t o f b i d d i n g d o c u me n t s ma y b e p u rc h a s e d a t t h e B A C S e c re t a ri a t u p o n pay m ent of non- re f u n d a b l e p ri c e o f b i d d o c u me n t s i n d i c a t e d a b o v e .

Pr e- Bi d C onfer e n c e s h a l l b e o p e n e d t o a l l i n t e re s t e d p a rt i e s , h o w e v e r o n l y t h o s e w h o pur c has ed the B i d d i n g D o c u me n t s ma y p a rt i c i p a t e i n t h e d i s c u s s i o n a t s a i d c o n f e re n c e .

Al l par ti c ul ar s r e l a t i v e t o e l i g i b i l i t y re q u i re me n t s a n d s c re e n i n g , b i d s e c u ri t y , p e rf o rm anc e s ec ur i ty , p re -b i d c o n f e re n c e , e v a l u a t i o n o f b i d s , p o s t q u a l i f i c a t i o n a n d a w a rd o f c ontr ac t s hal l be g o v e rn e d b y t h e p ro v i s i o n o f R . A . 9 1 8 4 a n d i t s I R R .

T he PGOM r es e rv e s t h e ri g h t t o a c c e p t o r re j e c t b i d t o a n n u l b i d d i n g p ro c e s s , a n d t o r ej ec t al l bi ds a t a n y t i me p ri o r t o c o n t ra c t a w a rd w i t h o u t t h e re b y i n c u rri n g a n y l i a b i l i t y t o the affec ted bi d d e r o r b i d d e rs .

( S g d .) E N G R . E LME R V . D I LA Y P ro v i n c i a l E n g i n e e r B A C C h a i rma n

( TS- S E P T. 2 , 2 0 1 5 )

WHEREFORE, it is respectfully prayed that petitioner be conferred Philippine citizenship pursuant to the provisions of Republic Act No, 9139.

Dated at Makati City, Metro Manila, this 23RD day of March 2015.

GINA TAN ANG Name and Signature of Petitioner Address: Unit 6 St. Martin Village AS Fortuna St., Mandaue City Cebu Telephone Number:

REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES) CITY OF MAKATI CITY ) AFFIDAVIT OF LOSS I, DIANE MADELYN CHING, of legal age, Filipino, married, and with office address at 16th Floor, Citibank Tower, 8741 Paseo De Roxas, Makati City after being duly sworn to in accordance with law, hereby depose and state that: 1.

2.

3.

Right Thumbmark of Petitioner

4.

Petitioner's signature and right thumbmark

REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES CITY/MUNICIPALITY OF QUEZON CITY) S.S.

S u p p l y & d e l i ve r y o f S p o r t U t i l i t y Ve h i c l e f o r u s e o f t h e V i c e G ove r n o r`s O f f i c e / S a n g g u n i a n g Pa n l a l a w i g a n o f O r i e n t a l M i n d oro

Approved Budget for the Contract (ABC)

M R . JU L IO R . ICA L H ead, BAC Sec r e t a ri a t Pr ov i nc i al C api t o l , C a mi l mi l , C a l a p a n C i t y T el . ( 043) 286- 7 1 2 0 ( 043) 286- 7 4 4 7

)

I, GINA TAN ANG of legal age and a resident of Unit 6 St. Martin Village AS Fortuna St., Mandaue City Cebu, after being duly sworn, depose and say that I am the petitioner herein, that I have read the foregoing petition and know the foregoing petition and known the contents thereof, and that the same is true of my own knowledge.

N.A.

12. I shall never be a public charge. I am of good moral character. I believe in the principles underlying the Philippine Constitution. I have conducted myself in a proper and irreproachable manner during the entire period of my residence in the Philippines in my relations with the constituted government as well as with the community in which I am living.

I mingled socially with Filipinos and have evinced a sincere desire to learn and embrace the customs, traditions and ideals of the Filipino people. I have all the qualifications and none of the disqualifications under Republic Act No. 9139.

Republic of the Philippines

PROVINCIAL GOVERNMENT OF ORIENTAL MINDORO

F or fur ther i nfor ma t i o n , p l e a s e re f e r t o :

a. NBI b. Police Clearance c. Office of the Provincial Prosecutor-Clearance d. MTC Certification e. RTC Certification f. Barangay Certification

N.A.

9. I received my primary and secondary education from the following public schools or private educational institutions duly recognized by the Department of Education, Culture and Sports (DECS), where Philippine history, government and civics are taught and prescribed as part of the school curriculum and where enrollment is not limited to any race or nationality: Name of School

13. It is my true and honest intention to become a citizen of the Philippines and to renounce absolutely and forever all allegiance and fidelity to any foreign prince, potentate, state or sovereignty, and, particularly, to China of which at this time I am a citizen or subject. I will reside continuously in the Philippines from the date of the filing of this petition up to the time of my admission to Philippine citizenship.

A PASSENGER tried to commit suicide at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport Terminal 3 after being offloaded from his flight last Saturday.

Samuel Ambato, a 25-year-old seaman, jumped off the 3rd floor departure area curbside before hitting the ground—feet first—at the arrival area’s bus station.

Ambato survived the fall but suffered head wounds and fractured his legs.

He was supposed to fly to Davao via AirAsia Saturday morning but was offloaded after showing signs of questionable behavior such as having fits of laughter before bursting into tears.

Airport medical personnel immediately assisted Ambato and brought him to the Pasay City General Hospital. Eric B. Apolonio

5.

6.

7.

8.

I am the Assistant Corporate Secretary of Prime Media Holdings Inc. (formerly First e Bank Corporation and herein referred to as the “Corporation”). I am the custodian of all vital records of the Corporation.

On February 2015, all documents and records of the Corporation were transferred from Parañaque to Makati in the custody of the undersigned.

Upon review of the documents turned over, Stock Certificate No. 3603 for one (1) share issued to First e Bank Corporation, now Prime Media Holdings Inc. by Valley Golf and Country Club, Inc. on 20 June 2001 was not included in the files transferred to the undersigned. Upon verification with the previous custodian, all records of the corporation has already been transferred hence, any document not turned over to the undersigned may have been lost.

Despite diligent efforts and extensive search, I could no longer locate the said certificate of stock. Hence, to the best of my knowledge, the same may be considered lost beyond recovery.

The lost certificate has not been sold, pledged, mortgaged or in any way encumbered by the Corporation and that it is free from any lien or encumbrance and as of the execution of this document, the Corporation remains to be the absolute owner of the shares of stock covered by the said Stock Certificate.

The Corporation is willing to post a bond or other security effective for a period of one (1) year, for such amount and in such form and with such sureties as may be satisfactory to the Board of Directors of Valley Golf and Country Club Inc. for the issuance of a Certificate of Stock before the expiration of one year from the time of the last publication of the notice of loss as mandated under Section 73 of the Corporation Code.

In the event that the lost certificate should hereafter be found or located, I undertake to report and surrender the same to the corporation for appropriate action or disposal I am executing this affidavit for the purpose of securing from Valley Golf and Country Club, Inc. a new certificate to replace the lost stock certificate mentioned above and to request Valley Golf and Country Club Inc. to take notice of this matter to prevent the transfer or encumbrance of the said share.

AFFIANT FURTHER SAYETH NAUGHT:

GINA TAN ANG Name me and Signature of Petitioner

IN WITHNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this AUGUST 14, 2015 at MAKATI CITY DIANE MADELYN CHING Affiant SUBSCRIBED AND SWORN to before me this AUGUST 14, 2015, 2015 affiant exhibit to me her Competent Evidence of Identity by way of ________________ issued at ___________on____________

I am not opposed to organized government or affiliated with any association or group of persons who uphold and teach doctrines opposing all organized governments. I am not defending or teaching the necessity or propriety of violence, personal assault or assassination for the success (TS-August 19/26 & September 2, 2015)

(TS-AUG. 19,26, SEPT. 2, 2015)

w e d n e s d ay : s e p t e m b e r 2 , 2 0 1 5

A7

news

editorial@thestandard.com.ph

Highway cops to man Edsa

By Sandy Araneta and Joel Zurbano

Save the dolphins. Activists hold placards in protest against the annual dolphin hunt near the Japanese embassy in Manila on September 1, 2015. The annual controversial dolphin hunt has kicked off in the town of Taiji, Japan. In the annual catch, people from the southwestern town corral hundreds of dolphins into a secluded bay and butcher them, a scene thrust into the global spotlight in ‘The Cove’. AFP

PRESIDENt Benigno S. Aquino III on tuesday approved the deployment of the National Police’s Highway Patrol Group as lead traffic law enforcer on Epifanio delos Santos Avenue (Edsa).

Mr. Aquino also ordered the fine-tuning of “action proposals” on easing traffic congestion and the submission of detailed plans that take into account the need for solutions, unified action among concerned government agencies, and heightened awareness to ensure citizens’ cooperation.

According to Communications Secretary Herminio Coloma Jr., after an interagency meeting presided over by Mr. Aquino, agencies agreed among themselves to take priority action to clear six major intersections that are considered “choke points” along Edsa. these are: (1) Balintawak; (2) Cubao; (3) ortigas; (4) Shaw Boulevard; (5) Guadalupe; and (6) taft Avenue.

Coloma said these six major choke points have spill -over effects in Manila, C-5 road, and other areas in the Metro Manila areas.

During a press briefing in Malacañang, Coloma said the President approved the deployment of the Philippine National Police (PNP) Highway Patrol Group (HPG) to serve as the lead traffic law enforcement agency on Edsa. this is with continuing support from the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA), Land transportation office (Lto), and Land transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LtFRB).

Among the immediate action steps agreed were as follows: (1) Stricter enforcement of the bus lanes along Edsa; (2) Clearing of obstructions on Edsa and alternate routes; (3) Continuing consultations with bus and public utility operators, truckers and port users and other stakeholders.

Coloma said the President prioritized Edsa because this is considered as a major chokepoint in Metro Manila.

Commission clears ‘Torre’ builder Antonio Carpio emphasized Rizal’s dying wish during

“His dying The National historical Commission of the interpellation. wish was to face east. Right Philippines has taken a stand opposite that of now Rizal Monument is facthe Office of the Solicitor General, advocating ing west, we still deny him the opinion that national hero Dr. Jose Rizal his dying wish, right?” the magistrate asked, to which himself would not mind the construction of Diokno, the lawyer, replied the Torre De Manila condominium behind in positive. taking the position conhis monument. trary to that of the office During the sixth and final want to be glorified after of the Solicitor General, part of the oral arguments his death… National hero Dean Diokno asserted that of the petition of Knights would be confounded,” developer DMCI Property of Rizal, De La Salle Uni- Diokno told SC justices, Development Inc. did not versity College of Law dean citing the hero’s letter to violate the law in building Jose Manuel Diokno, coun- his sister. the 49-story building. sel of his sister and NHCP “All he asked for was a “Physical integrity refers chair Maria Serena Diokno, stone or a fence. I can hear only to the material body stressed that the national [Dr. Jose Rizal] say that we of the monument. Constihero was so humble he have much more bigger tutional provisions do not wanted a simple tomb. problems,” the law dean said. include protections of sight “Jose Rizal would not Senior Associate Justice lines. Review of interna-

By Rey E. Requejo

tional charters on heritage conservation does notinclude sightlines and there is a need to review words,” he said.

According to him, there is no existing law of ordinance protecting sight line or visual corridor in the country and that there is only a pending bill in Congress for such purpose.

His sister, the NCHP Chair, was then asked to take the podium. She passed the issue on legality of the permits for the buildings to the city government, saying her office’s approval was only recommendatory. “the property of torre De Manila is not part of Rizal Park and well beyond. NHCP has been very

strict on constructions on the park. But the property being constructed is well outside, 450 meters from taft Avenue where the legal buffer zone is 5 meters,” she said. “therefore, it was very clear to the Board, that any decision is outside the jurisdiction of the NHCP that had to be decided based on enactment by the LGU (local government unit).

NHCP didn’t have such authority and we went back to our guidelines, which say that there must be an enactment,” she added.

Chief Justice Ma. Lourdes Sereno, for her part, cited the Ninoy Aquino monument at Ayala triangle in Makati and the Edsa Shrine of our

Lady of Peace.

Sereno said she herself was puzzled why there was no similar objection to the construction of buildings around those historical sites. “the practice is every town or municipality should take into account important landmarks and structures. I myself am taken aback that a mall was built beside the (Edsa Shrine), but no one has complained,”she stressed. the SC concluded the oral arguments after six hearings. the contending parties were ordered to submit their respective memorandum in 20 days before the high court would resolve the case.

Teachers’ group backs Poe’s call for more scholarships EDUCAtoRS represented in Congress have supported calls made by Senator Grace Poe encouraging the government to boost funding for its student financial assistance programs, the Commission on Higher Education’s tulong Dunong program.

Rep. Eulogio “Amang” Magsaysay of Ave party-list on tuesday said that Poe was justified in questioning the government’s decision to cut the tulong Dunong program’s budget by P328 million.

“We are glad that Senator Poe raised this issue, and we are happy that she is formally announcing her intent to run for the presidency together with

Senator Francis ‘Chiz’ Escudero this month,” said Magsaysay. “the next government must show concern for the youth. these scholarships are a means by which many of our youth are given opportunities to improve their lives and that of their families. the tulong Dunong program, in particular, opens the door to college for sectors who otherwise would be hard-pressed to obtain college diplomas,” explained Magsaysay. the tulong Dunong program is for graduating high school students who maintain a general weighted average of at least 80 percent in their 3rd year, and at least 80 percent in

the first 3 grading periods of 4th year. the scholarship can be availed of by qualified students who are persons with disabilities (PWDs), are children of solo parents and their dependents, are members of cultural minorities, are members of the hill tribes, or are senior citizens.

In Nueva Ecija last week, the presidential frontrunner said that she would fight for the right of Filipino youth to go to college and obtain their degrees.

“We should fight for the right of more students to finish college... We all should have that opportunity, and this is the responsibility of the state as parents of us all,” Poe said.

For CAAP use. The Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines has taken delivery of 11 units of brand new vehicles that will be assigned to regional offices of the I AirNavigation Service, the office tasked to operate, maintain and check air navigation system and equipment in all airports nationwide. NAIA Chaplain Monsignor Modesto Teston officiated the blessing ceremony for the new vehicles attended by CAAP employees and officials headed

by Director-General William K. Hotchkiss lll. ERIC APOLONIO

W E D N E S D AY: S E P T E M B E R 2 , 2 0 1 5

A8

OPINION

ADELLE CHUA EDITOR

lettertotheeditor@thestandard.com.ph

OPINION

BACK CHANNEL ALEJANDRO DEL ROSARIO

A HUMANITARIAN CRISIS

[ EDI TORI A L ]

THE ABSENT GOVERNMENT OVER the last five days, thousands of protesters from the Iglesia ni Cristo clogged key points of the city’s main highway and surrounded the head office of the Justice Department, demanding that its chief, Secretary Leila de Lima, resign over her decision to investigate an illegal detention complaint filed by an ousted minister against church officials.

The influential church and the politicians who sought to curry its favor spoke of freedom of religion and free speech, but when protesters stopped De Lima’s vehicle from leaving the Justice Department compound Thursday, it was clear that the line between free expression and anarchy had been crossed. The same line was crossed again when other protesters went on to briefly occupy the Edsa Shrine, then various portions of Edsa without a permit to rally, creating traffic snarls that ensnared tens of thousands of commuters and motorists.

Back in the Justice Department, the secretary was forced to flee through a back entrance that went through the Supreme Court building next door, and would not return to work at her barricaded office building the next day, ostensibly because she had a meeting at the Palace.

Nobody with any authority in the national government said he was in charge, and that the disregard for the law must end.

The man in charge of the police, Interior Secretary Manuel Roxas II, perhaps still hoping the church would back his run for the presidency next year, issued a limp-wristed appeal to the protesters not to block the roads. The appeal fell on deaf ears, however, and commuters and motorists, whose numbers far exceeded those of the protesters, were made to suffer until Monday morning, when church leaders said they had reached an understanding with the government and were calling off their protests.

The swiftness with which the protests ended fueled speculation that the administration had caved in to the INC demand that De Lima resign and that the case against them be dropped. Others suspected that the government had compromised in some manner to allow the case to move forward for now, only to have it quietly dismissed when the public had turned its attention to other matters.

Almost immediately, the Palace denied that any accommodation had been reached with the INC to end the protests. Instead, a Palace spokesman not known for tact crowed about the virtues of using diplomacy to avoid “unintended consequences.”

The Palace denial of a deal was dubious in the face of an emergency meeting Sunday night between the President and his Cabinet secretaries that stretched past midnight. What were they discussing, if there was no deal to be made? On the other hand, the Palace spokesman’s remark about diplomacy was laughable.

We never knew that “diplomacy” could be defined as doing nothing in the face of a four-day crisis, then caving in on the fifth day.

SECRET DEALS LOWDOWN JOJO A. ROBLES YOU want to talk about secret deals? Okay, let’s talk about secret deals entered into by this truly secretive administration.

The first time I heard talk about President Noynoy Aquino entering into a secret deal, he had just arrived from Tokyo, Japan, where he met with Murad Ebrahim,

the chairman of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front, in a hotel near Narita airport.

No one outside a very small circle of top Malacañang officials at the time—this was in August 2011—had been told beforehand about the government-MILF meeting.

“There was no secret deal made at the meeting,” said Marvic Leonen, a former dean of the UP College of Law who had been appointed chief government negotiator with the MILF. The meeting was merely “a frank and can-

did exchange of views about the frames of the continuing peace talks and some possible approaches that the parties can take to bring about a peaceful settlement.”

Leonen would give no further details of the Tokyo meeting. Until much later, when he gave birth to the two agreements that came out of it —the Framework Agreement on the Bangsamoro and the Comprehensive Agreement on the Bangsamoro—which, in turn, brought into the world the draft Bangsamoro

A9

A government that enters into secret deals is the reverse of transparent, the attribute that Aquino claimed as a birthright.

Basic Law. Leonen, of course, would be rewarded for his work as chief negotiator with a Supreme Court justiceship.

And Aquino would never be dissuaded from his decision to push the BBL, even after the MILF helped massacre 44 members of the PNP’s Special Action Force nearly four years later.

Many have asked what commitments Aquino gave to the MILF that he will not even budge an inch from his administration’s pro-BBL position. But, of course, there was no secret deal hammered out in Tokyo.

Just like there was no secret deal that resulted after a late-night meeting in Malacañang Palace two years ago between Aquino, another bunch of his top officials and Janet Lim Napoles.

For 10 minutes, according to presidential spokesman Edwin Lacierda, Napoles talked to Aquino, national police chief Alan Purisima, Executive Secretary Paquito Ochoa, Cabinet Secretary Rene Almendras, Interior Secretary Mar Roxas and a few others about nothing at all, apparently.

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

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

Napoles’ strange surrender in Malacañang only fueled more speculation about a secret deal between Aquino and the supposed mastermind of the pork barrel scandal that would almost bring down the administration. Now, two years later, Napoles has not linked any palace official or ally to the scandal, preferring to go to jail on charges of serious illegal detention rather than to detail her involvement in the scam.

There was definitely no secret deal

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

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between Napoles and Aquino. And no close Aquino ally has been charged in connection with the scandal. *** A government that enters into secret deals is the reverse of transparent, the attribute that Aquino, as a candidate in 2009-2010, claimed almost as a birthright. Of course, Aquino promised transparency and the passage during his term of a Freedom of Information Act.

Continued on A11

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

THIS column will take a break from the national preoccupation with internecine politics to focus on the humanitarian crisis of refugees confronting Europe. Driven from the brutality of war from their homes in Syria and Iraq, these refugees numbering in the hundreds of thousands are streaming into Europe by sea and by land.

It started with perilous sea crossings into Italy by Africans to escape from grinding poverty and the atrocities of Boko Haram marauders. In Nigeria, where the government is helpless, 200 young girls of school age were kidnapped from villages, raped and then sold in the slave market by Boko Haram. It’s hard to believe but slave markets still exist in some parts of Africa where women are sold like cattle.

In the Middle East, Sunnis and Shiites are fleeing from the extremist Islamist State militants who have captured a wide swath of Syria and Iraq where they imposed their radical interpretation of Islam. The refugees brave barbed wires and border guards to make it into Eastern European countries like Macedonia, Serbia and Hungary. There is no assurance of safety even if they make it across the border. Seventy people being smuggled inside a delivery truck died from lack of air en route to Germany. The truck, abandoned by human traffickers, was found on the highway near the Austrian-German border.

In Hungary, refugees are camped at Budapest’s main train station of Keleti where thousands desperately try to board trains for Germany but are not allowed to leave without visas

by Hungarian authorities. The refugees who already bought tickets are protesting why Hungary won’t board them even after Germany announced it was willing to take in 800,000 asylum seekers. Austria, another EU country, is an alternate destination.

Vienna is only two hours and 50 minutes by train from Budapest.

Hungary, which has very strict immigration laws, found itself swamped with refugees who slipped in from neighboring Serbia and Macedonia.

The conservative Fidesz government of Viktor Orban is wary that taking in immigrants would destabilize and dilute Hungary’s fragile population of 10 million and its already strained social services. Not even during the Balkan Wars of the 90s have Hungarians seen the sight of so many migrants in the capital of Budapest.

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

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

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

Emil P. Jurado Chairman Emeritus, Editiorial Board

W E D N E S D AY: S E P T E M B E R 2 , 2 0 1 5

A8

OPINION

ADELLE CHUA EDITOR

lettertotheeditor@thestandard.com.ph

OPINION

BACK CHANNEL ALEJANDRO DEL ROSARIO

A HUMANITARIAN CRISIS

[ EDI TORI A L ]

THE ABSENT GOVERNMENT OVER the last five days, thousands of protesters from the Iglesia ni Cristo clogged key points of the city’s main highway and surrounded the head office of the Justice Department, demanding that its chief, Secretary Leila de Lima, resign over her decision to investigate an illegal detention complaint filed by an ousted minister against church officials.

The influential church and the politicians who sought to curry its favor spoke of freedom of religion and free speech, but when protesters stopped De Lima’s vehicle from leaving the Justice Department compound Thursday, it was clear that the line between free expression and anarchy had been crossed. The same line was crossed again when other protesters went on to briefly occupy the Edsa Shrine, then various portions of Edsa without a permit to rally, creating traffic snarls that ensnared tens of thousands of commuters and motorists.

Back in the Justice Department, the secretary was forced to flee through a back entrance that went through the Supreme Court building next door, and would not return to work at her barricaded office building the next day, ostensibly because she had a meeting at the Palace.

Nobody with any authority in the national government said he was in charge, and that the disregard for the law must end.

The man in charge of the police, Interior Secretary Manuel Roxas II, perhaps still hoping the church would back his run for the presidency next year, issued a limp-wristed appeal to the protesters not to block the roads. The appeal fell on deaf ears, however, and commuters and motorists, whose numbers far exceeded those of the protesters, were made to suffer until Monday morning, when church leaders said they had reached an understanding with the government and were calling off their protests.

The swiftness with which the protests ended fueled speculation that the administration had caved in to the INC demand that De Lima resign and that the case against them be dropped. Others suspected that the government had compromised in some manner to allow the case to move forward for now, only to have it quietly dismissed when the public had turned its attention to other matters.

Almost immediately, the Palace denied that any accommodation had been reached with the INC to end the protests. Instead, a Palace spokesman not known for tact crowed about the virtues of using diplomacy to avoid “unintended consequences.”

The Palace denial of a deal was dubious in the face of an emergency meeting Sunday night between the President and his Cabinet secretaries that stretched past midnight. What were they discussing, if there was no deal to be made? On the other hand, the Palace spokesman’s remark about diplomacy was laughable.

We never knew that “diplomacy” could be defined as doing nothing in the face of a four-day crisis, then caving in on the fifth day.

SECRET DEALS LOWDOWN JOJO A. ROBLES YOU want to talk about secret deals? Okay, let’s talk about secret deals entered into by this truly secretive administration.

The first time I heard talk about President Noynoy Aquino entering into a secret deal, he had just arrived from Tokyo, Japan, where he met with Murad Ebrahim,

the chairman of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front, in a hotel near Narita airport.

No one outside a very small circle of top Malacañang officials at the time—this was in August 2011—had been told beforehand about the government-MILF meeting.

“There was no secret deal made at the meeting,” said Marvic Leonen, a former dean of the UP College of Law who had been appointed chief government negotiator with the MILF. The meeting was merely “a frank and can-

did exchange of views about the frames of the continuing peace talks and some possible approaches that the parties can take to bring about a peaceful settlement.”

Leonen would give no further details of the Tokyo meeting. Until much later, when he gave birth to the two agreements that came out of it —the Framework Agreement on the Bangsamoro and the Comprehensive Agreement on the Bangsamoro—which, in turn, brought into the world the draft Bangsamoro

A9

A government that enters into secret deals is the reverse of transparent, the attribute that Aquino claimed as a birthright.

Basic Law. Leonen, of course, would be rewarded for his work as chief negotiator with a Supreme Court justiceship.

And Aquino would never be dissuaded from his decision to push the BBL, even after the MILF helped massacre 44 members of the PNP’s Special Action Force nearly four years later.

Many have asked what commitments Aquino gave to the MILF that he will not even budge an inch from his administration’s pro-BBL position. But, of course, there was no secret deal hammered out in Tokyo.

Just like there was no secret deal that resulted after a late-night meeting in Malacañang Palace two years ago between Aquino, another bunch of his top officials and Janet Lim Napoles.

For 10 minutes, according to presidential spokesman Edwin Lacierda, Napoles talked to Aquino, national police chief Alan Purisima, Executive Secretary Paquito Ochoa, Cabinet Secretary Rene Almendras, Interior Secretary Mar Roxas and a few others about nothing at all, apparently.

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Napoles’ strange surrender in Malacañang only fueled more speculation about a secret deal between Aquino and the supposed mastermind of the pork barrel scandal that would almost bring down the administration. Now, two years later, Napoles has not linked any palace official or ally to the scandal, preferring to go to jail on charges of serious illegal detention rather than to detail her involvement in the scam.

There was definitely no secret deal

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between Napoles and Aquino. And no close Aquino ally has been charged in connection with the scandal. *** A government that enters into secret deals is the reverse of transparent, the attribute that Aquino, as a candidate in 2009-2010, claimed almost as a birthright. Of course, Aquino promised transparency and the passage during his term of a Freedom of Information Act.

Continued on A11

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

THIS column will take a break from the national preoccupation with internecine politics to focus on the humanitarian crisis of refugees confronting Europe. Driven from the brutality of war from their homes in Syria and Iraq, these refugees numbering in the hundreds of thousands are streaming into Europe by sea and by land.

It started with perilous sea crossings into Italy by Africans to escape from grinding poverty and the atrocities of Boko Haram marauders. In Nigeria, where the government is helpless, 200 young girls of school age were kidnapped from villages, raped and then sold in the slave market by Boko Haram. It’s hard to believe but slave markets still exist in some parts of Africa where women are sold like cattle.

In the Middle East, Sunnis and Shiites are fleeing from the extremist Islamist State militants who have captured a wide swath of Syria and Iraq where they imposed their radical interpretation of Islam. The refugees brave barbed wires and border guards to make it into Eastern European countries like Macedonia, Serbia and Hungary. There is no assurance of safety even if they make it across the border. Seventy people being smuggled inside a delivery truck died from lack of air en route to Germany. The truck, abandoned by human traffickers, was found on the highway near the Austrian-German border.

In Hungary, refugees are camped at Budapest’s main train station of Keleti where thousands desperately try to board trains for Germany but are not allowed to leave without visas

by Hungarian authorities. The refugees who already bought tickets are protesting why Hungary won’t board them even after Germany announced it was willing to take in 800,000 asylum seekers. Austria, another EU country, is an alternate destination.

Vienna is only two hours and 50 minutes by train from Budapest.

Hungary, which has very strict immigration laws, found itself swamped with refugees who slipped in from neighboring Serbia and Macedonia.

The conservative Fidesz government of Viktor Orban is wary that taking in immigrants would destabilize and dilute Hungary’s fragile population of 10 million and its already strained social services. Not even during the Balkan Wars of the 90s have Hungarians seen the sight of so many migrants in the capital of Budapest.

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OPINION

lettertotheeditor@thestandard.com.ph

THERE WAS A DEAL TO THE POINT EMIL P. JURADO IF PRESIDENT Aquino thinks the people will believe him when he says that there was no deal with the Iglesia ni Cristo “Sanggunian” when he met them, together with all his Cabinet members, at Bahay Pangarap, then he is wrong.

I laughed when I heard Lady Gaga of Malacañang proclaim that there was no deal with the Iglesia.

Right from the start, when the police surrounding the Iglesia rallyists came without their usual shields and truncheons aimed at dispersing an unruly crowd, I realized that they must have gotten instructions from higher-ups not to threaten the INC members.

Note that the police is still under Interior Secretary Mar Roxas, who

People must know that De Lima will be out soon, on the pretext of campaigning for her Senate bid.

has not yet resigned since the President still wants him in his post.

Santa Banana, to think that Mar is already campaigning nationwide using government resources and public funds!

All these became more pronounced when the INC rallyists went to Edsa, to taunt the government to dismiss Justice Secretary Leila de Lima. They want De Lima’s head, they say, because of her inordinate attention to the case filed by expelled Iglesia Minister Isaias Samson for his and his family’s illegal detention and abduction by the INC Council.

Damn the business establishments, the motorists and commuters.

It was definitely a show of clout. Thus, for Malacañang now to say there was no deal insults our intelligence. In this instance alone, President Aquino has lost all his

credibility. People no longer believe him.

Now, what was the deal?

According to inside sources, the Iglesia leaders wanted De Lima out. This is so that her successor could dribble the ball on the Samson case until the new Justice Secretary finds “no probable cause” and hence is not able to proceed with the case.

I saw this happening when I heard that one of the concessions given by the President to Iglesia was for the early resignation of De Lima on the pretext that she would like to start campaigning for her senatorial bid.

Another concession given to INC was that government would not interfere with the internal problems of Felix Manalo’s church.

Santa Banana, not even when a crime is committed like the illegal detention and abduction of Samson and his family, and also other Iglesia ministers, who were similarly detained and abducted? That is truly pandering to the INC! On the part of the President, what did he get from the deal? Support for Mar Roxas and administration candidates, considering the bloc votes of no less than 3 million Iglesia members nationwide and worldwide. This was most likely a deal “made in heaven” for Malacañang.

Note how ecstatic the Iglesia spokesman was when the INC rallies were dispersed early Monday morning. My gulay, they even held a Thanksgiving “Samba!”

According to my sources, it was all scripted by a Global City PR outfit for Mar headed by an American publicist and PR expert. What made me believe in this conspiracy theory is the fact that De Lima took it upon herself to attend to Samson’s case when she could have DoJ prosecutors attend to it as is normally done. Inordinate attention, indeed.

Naturally, since the Iglesia did not want these things to be made public, the Council reacted violently by ordering to seek the ouster of De Lima for alleged interference in its internal affairs. They invoked “separation of Church and State” in the process.

But both cases are criminal offenses.

So, it was all Moro Moro after all. The first one was that botched hostage rescue at the Luneta that resulted in the killing of 8 Hong Kong tourists.

Despite De Lima’s findings

KING AGUILUZ AT 70 THIS Sept. 5, my good friend Amable R. Aguiluz V or King celebrates his 70 years of life on this earth. It has been a fulfilling journey for him.

Thirty-five years ago, King Aguiluz put up the first computer school in the Philippines on a rented accessoria on Shaw Boulevard, Mandaluyong. He had only 13 students and 20 computers. He put up the school because he wanted to sell computers and because he wanted to be independent from his parents.

His father was the late Amable Aguiluz, the self-made professional and poor boy from Lubao, Pampanga who became audit clerk of the National Bilibid Prisons, and rose to budget commissioner, BIR commissioner, treasurer of the Philippines, auditor general, and member of President Diosdado Macapagal’s cabinet. The elder Aguiluz infused in his children the love of education, decency and integrity, hard work and burning ambition. The elder Aguiluz had eight children—7 boys and a girl. King is the fourth boy, hence Aguiluz V, with his father being the first.

King finished business administration from UP in 1968, MBA at UE in 1983, and PhD from Columbia College, Missouri, USA in 1990. He also attended AIM’s Top Management Program in Bali in 1991, a management program at Wharton the same year, and Harvard’s three-year management course for business owners in 2002, the only Filipino CEO to do so.

In 1978, King’s initial ambition was to become the biggest computer dealer in the country. He went to America to get a franchise to sell Computerland computers in the Philippines. But you couldn’t sell computers unless buyers knew how to operate them. So he had to educate the consumer. The computers didn’t sell well. They were expensive. But computer courses became popular.

Today, King’s small school has become the Philippines’ largest school —both in number of campuses (200, including ten abroad) and number of students—over 150,000 enrolled.

“Nobody comes close,” King enthuses. The 200 schools include 87 franchised by third parties, 46 managed under management agreements with their owners, and at that people around the President should be criminally and administratively charged, the President thumbed down her findings. That was a clear slap on De Lima. But she did not resign, loving her job as Malacañang’s attack dog to the very end.

The bribery of members of Congress to impeach, and finally convict and oust Chief Justice Renato Corona was also a Moro Moro. And so was that charge of plunder against former President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo to make her the President’s poster girl for Daang Matuwid.

Likewise, the indictment and detention of three minority senators were also part of the script to make

ute up to 300 million liters a day).

King’s PICAR Holdings is the VIRTUAL developer of the Philippines’ tallREALITY est luxury residential condominium at 74 storeys high—The Stratford TONY Residences on a 1.3-hectare properLOPEZ ty (part of the former International School) in Makati. Picar Place will least 16 owned by the AMA Group. have four towers and 4,000 units.

There are five brands—AMA The AMA Group has other properUniversity and AMA Computer ties totaling 60 hectares.

College, ABE International Business Meanwhile, AMA Bank is one College, ACLC College, AMA of the biggest private banks in its Computer Learning Center, and category (rural banking) and is the St. Augustine International School. leading provider of second-hand Courses cover the entire range, from car financing. The bank focuses on prep school, basic education, high micro and personal financing and school, K-12, college, technology, business loan solutions for small business, masters degrees, nursing and medium enterprises and has an and even aviation. overall asset size of more than $150 AMA operates schools in the million. Relatedly, AMA Plans is United States, Bahrain, Saudi a key market player in its niche for Arabia, Oman, Iraq, Nigeria, pre-need services.

Indonesia, Hong Kong, Macau, and In agriculture, King says he has a Xiamen, China. new but promising venture with the Annual turnover is about $50 mil- leading Middle East exporter/importlion with profits hitting $22 million a er of agricultural products, primarily year. King also operates the biggest Cavendish bananas. The group has private university in the Middle East 150 hectares of banana plantation in and is a good friend of the Bahrain the south which will be expanded to royalty. He is special envoy to the 1,000 hectares in five years.

Gulf Cooperation Council member Moving forward, AMA wants to states. As such he has saved a num- disrupt education further with its ber of OFWs from sure destitution vision to extend universal education and at times, sure death. by offering online courses (comAbout 350,000 have studied or bined with brick-and-mortar expefinished schooling at AMA—the riences) to nearly everyone willing largest pool of technically-skilled to learn, without them having to and technology-oriented manpower commute to a school or campus, in the Philippines trained under a and serving consumers outside of single roof, the AMA brand. AMA the mainstream and the elite sector, has the biggest IT infrastructure in through the use of technology such the Philippines. as satellite, internet, and handheld The student, Onel de Guzman, devices. who invented the “I Love You” virus The students will master courses, in 2000 was an AMA senior who was programs, subjects and IT skills undisgruntled because his thesis on hampered by traditional time-based hacking was rejected by the school. metrics, thus making higher educaHe left AMA a day before gradua- tion affordable, accessible, simpler, tion. At the time he committed the more relevant and focused, compealleged crime, it was not yet a crime. tency-based, and a journey of lifeThe virus caused damage estimated long learning. at between $5.5 billion and $8.7 bilIn the Philippines, according to lion, according to Wikipedia, cost King, online or open course educathe US $15 billion to remove it and tion helps solve the government’s became one of the most destructive chronic shortages of classrooms computer worms. The UK quickly and teachers while preparing workhired De Guzman as their consultant. ers to acquire skills and knowledge King has parlayed the AMA brand needed by the work place of the 21st to go into property, banking and century. finance, agriculture, and utilities Long live the King!

(AMA Telecom Corp. and the water

rights from Laguna Lake to distribbiznewsasia@gmail.com

the President look like a reformist. *** In order to understand how the Iglesia Ni Cristo works today compared to decades ago when Ka Erdie Manalo ruled as the Executive Minister and the ordained successor of founder Felix Manalo, INC now works as a corporate sole. The policy comes from a Board of Directors, called the “Sanggunian” or Council, managed by the Executive Director, likened to a President and Chief Executive Officer— Eduardo Manalo.

Because of its worldwide membership and Council with political clout, the Council cut off the powers of Ka Erdie’s widow

and family except that of Eduardo as Executive Minister as CEO. Santa Banana, they were even expelled.

As a result, according to sources, there was discontent among its ministers, who were faithful to Ka Erdie, his widow and his other children whose powers were removed. Some ministers and members were expelled when they started questioning some of the Council’s moves, like buying a 747 Boeing used by the Executive Minister and the Council to visit their churches worldwide, and the construction of the Philippine Arena in Bulacan.

Thus, when the Aquino administration started to

look into charges of graft committed by those in power within the church, INC leaders were alarmed.

They had to find out which ministers were still loyal to the church. It was a hakot crowd.

In other words, the Council had to do something to prevent the Aquino government from opening a Pandora’s Box within the Iglesia that could endanger its future worldwide.

I also heard that the Executive Minister even sent many of its ministers and council members to go abroad to take up doctorates in philosophy to enhance their influence and clout.

In short, the Iglesia of yesterday is no longer the Iglesia today.

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OPINION

lettertotheeditor@thestandard.com.ph

SO I SEE LITO BANAYO WHILE events were swirling on Edsa over the three-day holiday, I went to Serendra at the Bonifacio Global City to sort of “chill”, and at the same time treat my senses to the visual delights of the art galleries on its second level.

What caught my attention was a huge painting at Artes Orientes Gallery, depicting in symbolism so meaningful and figures so poignant the Mamasapano tragedy where 44 of our finest Special Action forces died on 25 January 2015.

I immediately recognized the style, because the figures had a striking similarity to those of an acrylic painting gifted to me by my daughter last Christmas.

Although those were happy figures of street carolers, the style was unmistakably that of Adeste Deguilmo, a Cebu-based painter with Basilan roots. In 2010, Adeste painted landscapes, mostly of rice fields, capturing the luminescent quality of the sun casting its imprint on blades of grass, somewhat reminiscent of an Amorsolo. As with most artists, he has lately shifted to a different genre. From sunshine to darker, almost surreal shades.

Do we see a glimpse of his inner self, of his seeming despair at the state of things in the benighted land?

Deguilmo’s magnum opus about the Fallen 44 was huge: 64” by 76”. He gave it a title— “In the Shadows of Cain” and I had to call him up afterwards to truly understand the symbol-

Secret.. From A9 Aquino’s spokesmen have long justified that this administration does not require an FOI law because it is “already transparent.” You just have to believe that Aquino is genetically unpredisposed to entering into shady deals, I guess.

Freedom of information advocates had hoped that Aquino would call for the passage of the law making government deals transparent in his final State of the Nation Address a

THE 44

A humanitarian..

From A9

isms in his painting, and why the title.

Historical events have always been immortalized in paintings or murals. The victories of Napoleon as well as his enthronement as Emperor of the French are strewn in the museums of Paris and Fontainebleau.

Similarly, the grandiose Versailles is replete with tableaux of Louis XIV. As likewise, tragedies both of biblical and historical memory. One is for instance hard put to analyze the figures in Picasso’s Guernica, which is an ode to the bitter experiences of the Spanish Civil War. The objective of the artists, we are told by curators, was not only to realistically depict major events, but where glory and victory are commemorated, to arouse a people’s love of country, or pride of history. Or in the case of the tragic consequences of wars or massacres, to evoke a sense of revulsion over the senselessness of war.

One flinches at the grimness of Delacroix’s realistic depiction of the annihilation of Greeks by conquering Turks, or the old masters’ gory paintings about biblical events. For his part, Pablo Picasso, one of the greatest painters of all time, used symbols like the bull and the horse to depict the horrors of fascism in the destruction of the Basque town of Guernica. It has become one of the most wellknown paintings of all time, a striking contrast of modernism from Leonardo da Vinci’s famed Mona Lisa portrait that tourists line up to at the Louvre.

Adeste Deguilmo, like many other Filipinos, was so incensed

and shocked at what happened to our fighting men in Mamasapano, gallant forces sent to capture an international terrorist only to be mercilessly slain at the hands of combatants who claim to sue for peace. And for months on end, he worked day and night trying to capture the tragedy for posterity, using his prodigious artistic talents.

Adeste explains that “In the Shadows of Cain” draws from the Biblical narrative of the jealous Cain who murdered his sibling Abel to deliver his message of angst against the way Mamasapano unfolded, its true story yet untold.

The painting is dominated by four human figures with contrasting features. One figure has his mouth blown wide open, as if depicting a SAF officer crying in anguish at the brutality inflicted upon him. Another turns his head away, as if filled with guilt. Who that represents, whether person or institution, one could only surmise. Surely justice must sooner or later come, and truth, in all its naked gore or glory, must out.

The four figures bear a red imprint on their palms, like the crucified Christ. Yet the hands are sheathed with transparent gloves, as if to hide fingerprints.

Are Deguilmo’s figures the 44, or do they symbolize the culprits?

Deguilmo depicts bullets using the coordinates of the massacre site, and tattooed on the foreheads of the figures is the number “44.” Above is a lifeless dove with its breast pierced in red, as if to symbolize a peace shattered by death. And hidden in the background, sheathed in dark-

ness, is the eye of an American eagle. The meanings remind us of the speculations, not unfounded, about Uncle Sam’s role in the botched adventurism that resulted in the Mamasapano carnage, although of course, the Americans got their target.

On the left hand corner is a laughing “Joker” (as in Batman lore) in barong, who it is supposed to be, the artists leaves to one’s interpretation. There is the haunting image of the bamboo and wooden bridge over the river that has become like the “bridge over the river Kwai.”

Deguilmo explained that Filipinos, whether Christians or Muslims, must always be reminded that death and violence can never bring about peace.

No more, he said, should we respond like Cain did to God, when asked what had happened to his brother Abel: “Am I my brother’s keeper?”

But who is Adeste’s Cain? He leaves it to the viewer to conclude. The fallen 44, quite clearly, is the symbolic Abel.

The painting, already sold to an anonymous buyer, but displayed for many to see for at least two weeks, is an anguished cri de coeur that shouts at every Filipino: Non oblivisceris nostri.

It comes from all those who perished at Mamasapano, their widows and orphans, their mothers and fathers: Do not forget us.

It is a cry for justice in a polity where memories are short and tragedies soon forgotten, where “moving on” is both a curse of survival and an aberration brought about by a lack of nationalism.

Never forget the 44.

couple of months back, but were once again disappointed when it was not mentioned at all in the speech. They noted that the Philippines remains the only country without an FOI law of the eight original signatories of the US-led Open Government Partnership initiative, which Manila signed in 2011.

(In a late bid to deny that he was against the passage of an FOI law, Aquino included it in his budget message to Congress.

FOI advocates were unimpressed, noting that the pro-

posed law was “buried” in page 38 of the 43-page message, making it “officially dead.”)

All of this is really a longform reply to the question posed after last weekend’s protest rally along Edsa staged by the Iglesia Ni Cristo. Was there a secret deal that led to the selfdispersal of the INC rally or wasn’t there?

The INC, after all, claimed that it scored a victory after it secured an agreement with the Aquino administration on its demands. The government de-

nied having entered into any deal with the INC. Neither party will discuss the details of their negotiations during the tense days when the church’s members blockaded Metro Manila’s main thoroughfare. I don’t think anyone can compel the INC to disclose the details of the talks; and Malacañang, because it never really believed in transparency, cannot be expected to do so, either, even if it has that obligation to us.

#FAILOCRACY

As a former Philippine ambassador to Hungary, I can tell you Hungarians are very concerned over the influx of migrants who threaten their way of life. Majority of Hungarians are Catholics and a testament to this faith are the many magnificent cathedrals in Budapest like St. Stephens and St Matthias.

Hungarians have seen how the religious divide in BosniaHerzogovina, Macedonia, Kosovo and Croatia resulted in the Balkan War of ethnic cleansing started by Serbia. Another concern is that the Hungarian language Magyar, which only Hungarians know how to speak, will be subjected to a Babel of other voices like Arabic and Swahili. This is something Hungarians would find hard to accept.

There is a sense of hopelessness among the refugees and recrimination the United Nations is not doing enough to address the humanitarian crisis spawned

by ISIS. The US is hitting at the extremist group with air strikes and drones but has not put boots on the ground. US allies in the region like Saudi Arabia and the Gulf states don’t seem to be pulling enough weight in doing their part.. Turkey, a frontline state, is fighting ISIS along its border with Iraq. But as a whole, there is no concerted action by the UN to organize a coalition force to fight ISIS on the ground.

ISIS is able to sustain its combat capability because of revenues extracted from the oil fields it has seized in Iraq. It has taken over one third of this country. The oil is sold cheap in the black market which partly explains why crude oil prices have been tumbling.

Presidential candidate Donald Trump who’s leading the polls in the Republican Party preference may have simplified the solution to stopping ISIS. Invade Iraq again and take back the oil fields from ISIS, he said in his campaign sorties. Some may think Trump a buffoon but what he says has found traction with many conservative Americans who felt Barack Obama may have pulled out US troops too soon and left a power vacuum in Iraq for ISIS to exploit.

CHONG ARDIVILLA

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NEWS

editorial@thestandard.com.ph

Aurora judge shot dead

By Ferdie G. Domingo

BALER, Aurora—A Regional Trial Court judge who acquitted last year a detained New People’s Army leader of charges of multiple murder and multiple frustrated murder last year and dismissed charges of illegal possession of firearms against him was shot dead by a lone motorcycle-riding gunman here Tuesday afternoon.

Flooded field. Children play and fish with homemade wooden rods on a flooded rice field in Bauang, La Union. CHRISTINE JUNIO

Island teachers get cop escorts

By A. Perez Rimando

ZAMBOANGA CITY, Zamboanga Sibugay—Close to 100 public elementary and secondary school teachers deployed in island learning centers in this city have been given police escorts when sailing to and from their stations, a top school official said.

City Schools Division Superintendent Pedro Melchor Natividad said the arrangement, approved during his earlier meeting with City Police Director Senior Supt. Angelito Casimiro, seeks to safeguard island-based mentors from lawless elements, especially those engaged

in kidnap-for-ransom activities.

Natividad told media that Casimiro, since the recent opening of school year 2015-16, has assigned fully armed policemen to accompany pump-boat riding teachers sailing to and from the city’s 19 elementary and high schools in as many island villages mostly inhabited by Muslims.

“With their police security, our island school mentors now feel more secured when traveling to and leaving their stations,” Natividad said even as he enjoined island barangay officials, mostly Tausugs, to help ensure the safety of local teachers “who are risking their lives just to provide island school children with quality

basic education.”

According to the city school executive, he usually deploys new mentors to island learning centers to replace older teachers whom he reassigns to schools in the mainland.

Earlier, Natividad recalled separate abductions on several occasions of some island school mentors last school year and previous years some of whom were later released after their families were forced to pay “lodging fees” to their abductors .

He noted that teachers are among the lowest salaried and most overworked government employees who don’t deserve to be victimized by lawless groups.

Police identified the slain judge as Baler RTC Branch 91 Judge Jude Erwin Alaba, 45. Alaba sustained a bullet wound in the chest and was rushed to a local hospital. He was pronounced dead on arrival.

Alaba’s wife Margarita sustained a gunshot wound in her left arm and is under observation.

Senior Supt. Danny Tolentino, provincial police director, said Alaba and his wife Margarita had just arrived at the RTC compound also housing the Municipal Trial Court aboard their Fortuner at 2 p.m.

Tuesday when the ambush was staged.

Tolentino said the court security guard was motioning to the judge, who was driving the vehicle, to back off to park when the gunman appeared and shot at the vehicle using a .45 cal. revolver.

The gunman then sped away.

The Supreme Court has denounced the killing of Alaba.

“The Supreme Court condemns in the strongest terms the killing of Judge Alaba and the injuring of his wife. It calls on the authorities concerned to take all necessary steps with all deliberate speed to do justice for Judge Alaba and his wife by fully investigating the crimes committed today,” the Court said in a statement.

Tolentino said they are still looking into the possible motive

behind the attack. Alaba has issued several decisions which may have earned the ire of those he ordered convicted.

Alaba last year acquitted NPA leader Delfin Pimentel of charges of multiple murder and multiple frustrated murder in connection with the ambush of two soldiers 15 years ago.

Only this year, he also dismissed charges of illegal possession of firearms against Pimentel and his wife Imelda.

Delfin, who also carries the aliases Ka Crispin, Ka Liben and Tanda, was a member of the executive committee of the Communist Party of the Philippines NPA’s Central Luzon Regional Committee (CLRC) and had been the secretary of the rebel group’s Aurora Provincial Committee since 2002.

He has been detained at the provincial jail here following his arrest and that of Imelda in September 2009 in Dingalan town based on two separate warrants issued by the Baler RTC. The charges of illegal possession of firearms, a non-bailable offense, were due to the seizure of two M-16 rifles, a shotgun and three hand grenades in the same operation.

At the time of his arrest by elements of the Philippine National Police, Pimentel was listed as the PNP’s “most wanted man” with a P2.6-million bounty on his head.

With Rey E. Requejo

Ombudsman has new program for indigents

By Dexter A. See

Unique umbrellas. National Food Authority employees from the Autonomous Region in

Muslim Mindanao show their winning designs for Tuesday’s Philippine Civil Service anniversary celebration. OMAR MANGORSI

BAGUIO CITY—The Office of the Ombudsman recently opened its anti-corruption program for indigenous peoples (IPs) to allow abused cultural minorities to be able to fight for their rights against the abuses committed by various multinational corporations and individuals over their ancestral domain.

Former Natonin Mayor and now Ombudsman Graft Investigator Ana Marie Banaag, proponent of the noble project, said: “our Office acknowledges that consultation with IPs is particularly important for us to develop programs that have significant impact on them and improve the way they interact with government agencies, especially when a project has an impact on their cultural practices, tradition or tribal sensitivities.”

“We acknowledge how far our Office’s actions create momentum for change. We also know that in reaching out to the marginalized sector of society, creating momentum requires flexibility and demonstrating our commitment for an improved corruption prevention policy and program coordination thus the Community Coordination Bureau of this Office will take part in the conduct of consultation and other activities towards the realization of the goals of this program,” she added.

During the implementation of the corruption prevention program, she pointed out that their experiences and observations could provide practical lessons that other agencies may find useful in their efforts to protect the rights of the IPs and to alleviate their plight.

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Magis Eagles trounce Baby Warriors

By Mikey Izumi

Day closing in on golf’s no. 1 rank LONDON—Jason Day’s win in the Barclays on Sunday has allowed him to narrow the gap on Rory McIlroy and Jordan Spieth atop the world golf rankings.

The Australian, playing for the first time since winning his first major title at the PGA Championship, now has 10.99 points, just 1.36 points adrift of topranked McIlroy.

The Northern Irishman regained the top spot from Spieth after the Masters and US Open winner missed the cut at the Barclays.

All three will be involved in the closing stages of the PGA season with chances to end the year ranked number one in the world.

World rankings: 1. Rory McIlroy (NIR) 12.35pts 2. Jordan Spieth (USA) 12.22 3. Jason Day (AUS) 10.99 4. Bubba Watson (USA) 8.83 5. Justin Rose (Eng) 7.22 6. Jim Furyk (USA) 7.05 7. Dustin Johnson (USA) 6.84 8. Henrik Stenson (SWE) 6.72 9. Rickie Fowler (USA) 6.57 10. Sergio Garcia (ESP) 5.47 11. Zach Johnson (USA) 5.11 12. Louis Oosthuizen (RSA) 4.69 13. Adam Scott (AUS) 4.66 14. Jimmy Walker (USA) 4.44 15. Matt Kuchar (USA) 4.33 16 Brooks Koepka (USA) 4.26 17. Hideki Matsuyama (JPN) 4.26 18. Patrick Reed (USA) 3.94 19. J.B. Holmes (USA) 3.87 20. Branden Grace (RSA) 3.86 AFP

CEBU CITY— The defending champions Sacred Heart SchoolAteneo de Cebu Magis Eagles proved that they are still the team to beat as they trounced the University of San Carlos Baby Warriors, 73-48, in the 15th Cebu Schools Athletic Foundation, Inc. Junior Division last Monday at the Cebu Coliseum for a 7-0 record.

Cory Quirino (second from left) and Quirino Governor Junie Cua (third from left) launch the “Quirino to Quirino (Q2Q)” along with (from left) Team Ducati’s Vince Gavino, Together We Ride Team’s Raywon Gabriel and Teura Tech Team’s Toto Villanueva. EY ACASIO

Quirino to Quirino road trip set A UNIQUE road trip kicks off a special three-day motorcycle event starting Sept. 11 to commemorate the 125th birthday of former President Quirino and the 44th founding anniversary of Quirino Province.

The event dubbed “Quirino to Quirino (Q2Q)” gathers a huge group of motorcycle enthusiasts at the Quirino Grandstand in Luneta and will travel a total of 350 kilometers all the way to Quirino Province, which hosts the annual Governor Junie E. Cua Motocross Cup. The Sept. 11 to 13 event was launched yesterday at the Philippine Sportswriters Association Forum at Shakey’s Malate, with Cua and Cory Quirino, trustee and president of the Elpidio Quirino Foundation, leading the guests’ list.

“This is going to be the beginning of a tradition in honor of a President who led us and gave us legacies to remember,” said Cua in honor of the late president, who rose from a humble barrio teacher to become

the highest official of the land from 1948 to 1953.

The occasion is not only in celebration of President Quirino’s birthday, but also in remembering his ideals and principles, according to Cory Quirono, granddaughter of the late president known as the “Father of Minimum Wage Law.” “Through this (motor bike ride), we want to deliver a message of statesmanship, that from a very humble barrio teacher, he rose to become the highest official of the land. Hindi naging hadlang ang kahirapan sa pagtupad ng kanyang mga pangarap,” said Quirono, a popular television host who was also joined by Raymond Gabriel of Together We Ride and Toto Villanueva of Touratech in the session presented by San Miguel Corp., Accel, Shakey’s and the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corp.

Organizers expect around 300 to 500 riders for the road trip that will take at least six to eight hours before reaching its destination, fast becoming known as the

“Motorismo Capital” of Northern Philippines.

The contingent leaves the Quirino Grandstand at 4 a.m. and expects to be in Quirino Province shortly after lunch time. A fellowship night hosted by Cua and Rep. Dax Cua will be held on the same day.

Biker clubs which already signified their participation include Club 200, Any time all the time (ATAT), Ducati Touring Team (DTT), Moto Club Riders (MCR), Brotherhood of Ducati Diavel Philippines (BDDP), Guns Motorcycle Club, Batangas Ducati Club, Ducati Unlimited Club (DUC), Saturday Posers Group (SPG) and Angeles Ducati Club (ACDC).

The event is just one of the many lined-up by the President Quirino Foundation this year in connection with its EQ125 campaign which aims to generate awareness for the principles and values of “Tolerance, Goodwill and Love” that the late Chief Executive lived by, and inspire the future generation to embody them.

The Eagles clamped down on defense against the Baby Warriors as they held USC to their lowest scoring output of the year with a measly 16 points at the half, while the Eagles scored 31 points.

In the third quarter, the Baby Warriors’ offense came to life, but the Magis Eagles always had an answer to every rally that USC launched, ending the period 49-37.

In the fourth period, things worsened for Coach Britt Reroma and the Baby Warriors as their offense ran dry, forcing the team into several oneon-one plays and SHS-Ateneo made them pay with their accurate 3-point shooting and precise ball movement until the final buzzer.

Jed Cedrick Colonia, a standout of the Batang Gilas Under-16 team, was named Best Player of the Game by Viva Sports TV panelists Rico Navarro and Sandi Grumo after he finished with 21 points, five rebounds, two assists and four steals.

Europe, US stars battle Asia’s best

By Ronnie Nathanielsz

Making the grade. Philippine Badminton Association Smash Pilipinas national

team members, men’s doubles specialists Ronel Estanislao and Philip Joper Escueta, and Peter Gabriel Magnaye and Paul Vivas recently qualified in the 2015 Badminton World Federation World Championship in Jakarta, Indonesia. Shown here are (from left) Estanislao, PBA Secretary General Negros Occidental Rep. Albee Benitez, Magnaye, PBA national coach Paulus Firman, Vivas and Escueta.

THE pool world is about to get rocked in a war that fans have been dreaming about for years as Dragon Promotions presents the inaugural Kings Cup, a first-time event pitting the men’s champions of Europe and USA versus the champions of Asia in a three-day contest to determine which side is the strongest.

The pool classic, which will run from Nov. 19 and 21, will be bannered by four players on each side, who will be selected to represent their continent.

The Kings Cup will be hosted by the awardwinning Resorts World Manila Casino and Hotel, whose Chief Executive Officer, Stephen Reilly said: “We are thrilled to have these world champions from around the globe for the inaugural Kings Cup. This will be a historic event -- with Asia going against Europe and USA for the very first time -- that will

truly put the country on the sporting map for the duration of the tournament and beyond.”

Reilly added that Resorts World Manila, one of the largest and most successful casino chains in the world, “as a strong advocate of the Filipino talent, is proud to support this major tournament that will showcase and reinforce the Philippines’ contribution to the game of billiards.”

The Queens Cup, which was broadcast worldwide and exceeded ratings expectations have predicted that the Kings Cup is going to be a gigantic hit, as it touches upon the rivalry between the East and the West.

Well-known billiards commentator Bob Guerrero believes “The Kings Cup is a great concept. East and West are very closely matched in the world of pool, which is not common in other sports. It will be great to see how the hemispheres collide on the table.

For sure the games will be very competitive.”

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SBP to talk to Lakers, Clarkson’s dad

By Ronnie Nathanielsz

SAMAHANG Basketbol ng Pilipinas Vice Chairman Ricky Vargas will leave Taipei for Los Angeles via Hong Kong on Sept. 3 to meet with top management of the Los Angeles Lakers, whose general manager is Mike Kupchak, a former NBA player, to discuss the possible inclusion of Laker Jordan Clarkson to the Gilas national team.

Vargas, who will be accompanied by former Philippine Basketball Association Chairman Pato Gregorio, will also meet with the parents of Clarkson, who is extremely keen on playing for the Philippines in this month’s FIBA Asia Championship, a qualifier for the 2016 Olympic Games in Brazil.

Vargas said he will pay “a courtesy call on both the parents of Clarkson and the Lakers’ management and in the Filipino way, ask permission” to fulfill his dream of representing the Philippines until 2024.

“Clarkson is committed. He is more than just a basketball Football for a Better Life scores goals in Palawan. Football for a Better Life, the grassroots development program supported by Pru Life UK, conducted its latest football clinic and tournament in Puerto player. He wants to get involved Princesa, led by former Azkals’ team captain and Green Archers United player Chieffy Caligdong, and British in the Gilas program. He is not football coach Chris Thomas. The clinics were held simultaneously with the tournaments for the U-12, U-14, a mercenary,” said Vargas.

U-16 and Women’s Open categories that were done at the Ramon D. Mitra Sports Complex. More than 700 At the same time, Vargas said players from Palawan took part in the clinics and tournaments. Football for a Better Life 2015, will have one he would appeal to the team more leg in Tarlac on Oct. 10 and 11 before capping this year’s series with a football festival for Gawad Kalinga owners to release the players in the National Capital Region in November.

coach Tab Baldwin needs for the national team, among them June Mar Fajardo of San Miguel Beer and Paul Lee of Rain or Shine.

He said Fajardo “is technically injured,” but is hoping that after treatment he would be ready to suit up for the Philippine team in the FIBA Asia Championships in China, next month.

Vargas said he hopes Fajardo changes his mind about playing, pointing out “he’s badly needed by our country and Gilas is willing to wait for him.”

He also indicated willingness to talk to the team owners of Rain or Shine once more to seek the release of Lee. Vargas said he had spoken to Raymund Yu before but added: “I don’t mind talking to him again.”

Republic of the Philippine

Republic of the Philippines Province of Romblon MUNICIPALITY OF FERROL

INVITATION TO BID

INVITATION TO BID FOR DESIGN & BUILD FOR THE CONSTRUCTION AND REHABILITATION OF LEVEL II POTABLE WATER SUPPLY SYSTEM

CITY OF NAGA BIDS & AWARDS COMMITTEE

FOR THE SERVICES FOR LOADING AND HAULING OF SEDIMENTS (A rEPublicATion AfTEr A fAilEd bidding) The City Government of Naga, through the Naga River Rehabilitation Fund-Local Development Fund (LDF) Program, intends to apply the sum of Two Million Five Hundred Ninety Nine Thousand Seven Hundred Seventy Six (P 2,599,776.00) Pesos, being the Approved Budget for the Contract (ABC) to payments under the contract for the Services for Loading and Hauling of Sediments collected from Naga River Station I and II to identified disposal sites within Naga City (a republication after a failed bidding), Contract Reference Number: 2015-031. Bids received in excess of the ABC shall be automatically rejected at bid opening.

Item No.

Items

1

Services for Loading and Hauling of Sediments (dredged and siltation materials) which were collected from Naga River Station I and II to identified disposal sites within Naga City. Estimated sediments to be hauled is 12,999-13,000 cu.m. at P 200.00/ cu.m., this also includes barging and loading to dump trucks for hauling to disposal sites.

Additional information: 1. Amphibious excavator capacity – 110.16 cu.m./day (dredged materials), 2. Period – until December 31, 2015 (excluding Saturdays, Sundays and holidays), 3. Progress billing of 50 to 100% work accomplishment.

Approved Budget for the Contract (ABC)

September 08, 2015 LGU-2015-09-14 1.

The Municipal Government of Ferrol, Romblon, through the Department of Interior and Local Government 2015 Bottom-Up Budgeting Programs intends to apply the sum of Thirteen Million Five Hundred Thousand Pesos only (Php 13,500,000.00) being the Approved Budget for the Contract (ABC) to payments under the contract for the DESIGN & BUILD FOR THE CONSTRUCTION AND REHABILITATION OF LEVEL II WATER SUPPLY SYSTEM located at Barangay Tubigon, Ferrol, Romblon. Bids received in excess of the ABC shall be automatically rejected at bid opening.

2.

The Municipal Government of Ferrol, Romblon now invites bids for the DESIGN & BUILD FOR THE CONSTRUCTION AND REHABILITATION OF LEVEL II WATER SUPPLY SYSTEM located at Tubigon, Ferrol, Romblon.

ITEM NO.

P 2,599,776.00

The City Government of Naga now invites bids for Services for Loading and Hauling of Sediments collected from Naga River Station I and II to identified disposal sites within Naga City. Bidders should have completed, within ten (10) years, from the date of submission and receipt of bids, a contract similar to the Project. The description of an eligible bidder is contained in the Bidding Documents, particularly in Section II. Instructions to Bidders.

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”. Bidding is open to all interested bidders, whether local or foreign, subject to the conditions for eligibility provided in the IRR of RA 9184.

Interested bidders may obtain further information from the City Government of Naga and inspect the Bidding Documents at the address given below starting from 8 AM until 5 PM. A complete set of Bidding Documents may be purchased by interested Bidders starting on Wednesday, September 2 to 23, 2015, from the Office of the BAC Secretariat c/o City Planning & Development Office, 2nd Floor City Hall Building, City Hall Compound, Naga City, and upon payment of a nonrefundable fee for the Bidding Documents in the amount of Five Thousand (P 5,000.00) Pesos and an Annual Registration Fee of Three Thousand (P 3,000.00) Pesos, and upon presentation of Document Request List (DRL) from PhilGEPS showing your company name.

It may also be downloaded from the website of the Philippine Government Electronic Procurement System (PhilGEPS) and the website of the Procuring Entity (www.naga.gov.ph), provided that Bidders shall pay the nonrefundable fee for the Bidding Documents not later than the submission of their bids.

The City Government of Naga will hold a Pre-Bid Conference on Thursday, September 10, 2015 at 3:00 PM at City Procurement Office, Ground Floor, City Hall Building, City Hall Compound, Naga City, which shall be open to all interested parties who have purchased the Bidding Documents. Bids must be delivered to the City Procurement Office, Ground Floor, City Hall Building, City Hall Compound, Naga City, on or before Wednesday, September 23, 2015 at 3:00 PM. All bids must be accompanied by a bid security, either in the form of cash or cashier’s/manager’s check issued by a universal or commercial bank (2% of ABC), or, Bid Securing Declaration (BSD).

DESCRIPTION OF WORK TO BE DONE

I.

GEO-RESISTIVITY TEST/DETAILED ENGINEERING DESIGN PREPARATIONS

II.

CONSTRUCTION OF ACCESS ROAD WITH SLOP PROTECTION

III.

WELL DEVELOPMENT

IV.

CONSTRUCTION OF CONCRETE GROUND RESERVOIR WITH PERIMETER FENCE

V.

CONSTRUCTION OF PUMPHOUSE WITH ELECTRO-MECHANICAL FACILITIES

VI.

INSTALLATION OF PUMPS AND CHLORINATING FACILITIES

VII.

LAYING OF PIPES / INSTALLATION OF VALVES AND FITTINGS

VIII.

PAVEMENT DEMOLITION AND RESTORATION

IX.

INSTALLATION OF TAPSTANDS

X.

PAINTING WORKS

3.

Bidders should have completed, within the last two (2) years from the date of submission and receipt of bids, a contract similar to the project. The description of an eligible Bidder is contained in the Bidding Documents, particularly, in Section II - Instructions to Bidders and Section 9 of Annex “G” of RA 9184 and its IRR.

4.

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”. (i)

Bidding is restricted to Filipino citizens/sole proprietorship, partnership, 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 similar rights or privileges to Filipino citizens, pursuant to RA 5183 and subject to Commonwealth Act 138.

5.

Interested bidders may obtain further information from Municipality of Ferrol, Romblon and inspect the Bidding Documents at the address given below during 8:00 a.m. – 5:00p.m.

6.

A complete set of Bidding Documents may be acquired by interested Bidders on September 08, 2015 up to before the Opening of Bids or before 1:30 p.m. of September 28, 2015 from the address below and upon payment of a nonrefundable fee for the Bidding Documents in the amount of Twenty Five Thousand Pesos Only [Php 25,000.00].

It may also be downloaded free of charge from the website of the Philippine Government Electronic Procurement System (PhilGEPS) and the website of the Procuring Entity, provided that Bidders shall pay the nonrefundable fee for the Bidding Documents not later than the submission of their bids.

7.

Bids must be delivered to the address below on or before September 30, 2015 at 1:30 pm Municipal Hall, Ferrol, Romblon. All Bids must be accompanied by a bid security in any of the acceptable forms and in the amount stated in ITB Clause 18.

8.

The City Government of Naga 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.

Bid opening shall be on October 01, 2015 at 1:30 PM at the Municipal Hall, Ferrol, Romblon. Bids will be opened in the presence of the Bidders’ representatives who choose to attend at the address below. Late bids shall not be accepted.

9.

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

For further information, please refer to:

For further information, please refer to: Ms. Catherine G. Solabo Mrs. Ruth V. Maño BAC Secretariat Municipal Hall, Ferrol, Romblon +63-975-840-0276 +63-946-886-5299

Bids will be opened in the presence of the Bidders’ representatives who choose to attend on Wednesday, September 23, 2015, at 3:00 PM at the City Procurement Office, Ground Floor, City Hall Building, City Hall Compound, Naga City. Late bids shall not be accepted.

MR. FLORENCIO T. MONGOSO, JR. Acting City Administrator, City Hall Compound, J. Miranda Avenue, Naga City Telephone Number: 054-4732240, 054-4723235 Email address: bac@naga.gov.ph, Website: www.naga.gov.ph (SGD) FLORENCIO T. MONGOSO, JR. BAC Chairperson ( T S - S E P T. 2 , 2 015 )

(TS SEPT. 2, 2015)

(Sgd) Engr. REYNALDO A. CASTILLON BAC Chairman

Cani can now play HUBERT Cani has been given the green light by the University Athletic Association of the Philippines board to play for the Ateneo Blue Eagles, when the 78th season of the UAAP men’s basketball tournament unfolds on Saturday at the Araneta Coliseum.

Secretary-treasurer Ronnie Dizer informed Ateneo board representative Ricky Palou of the board’s decision in compliance with Republic Act 10676, which was signed into law last week by President Aquino. The measure was authored by Senator Pia Cayetano.

Cani transferred to Ateneo after graduating from high school at National University in 2014, and was supposed to undergo two years of residency, in accordance to league rules.

But all this changed when the Student-Athletes Protection Bill by the Senate and House of Representatives introduced the measure last June.

The law requires all school sports associations not to impose residency periods for high school graduates transferring from their mother school to another college belonging to another member school.

Peter Atencio

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LOTTO RESULTS

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

P0.0 M+ P0.0 M+

Bagatsing racefest among the year’s top-grossers UAAP Season 78 coaches link hands as a show of unity. They are (from left) Juno Sauler of La Salle, Nash Racela of FEU, Rensy Bajar of UP, Eric Altamirano of NU, Derrick Pumaren of UE, Mike Fermin of Adamson, Bong Dela Cruz of UST and Bo Perasol of Ateneo. LINO SANTOS

All eyes on NU as 78 season of UAAP unfolds th

By Peter Atencio

ALL eyes will be on defending champion National University Bulldogs as they set out to defend their seniors’ basketball title when the 78th University Athletic Association of the Philippines men’s basketball tournament unveils on Saturday at the Araneta Coliseum.

And there’s no need to tell this to NU coach Eric Altamirano, who nevertheless downplayed the team’s chances of making it back to the finals for the second straight year.

“We are thankful for winning the championship. But I told the players na tapos iyun. It’s a new season. So we’ll give it our best, and hopefully, we can make another run,” said Al-

tamirano during the launch yesterday at the Gloria Maris Restaurant inside the Gateway Mall of the Araneta Center.

Altamirano said the Bulldogs were “under the radar” last year, and no one expected them to run away with their first ever title in 60 years.

This season, the Bulldogs will be led by holdovers from last year’s champion after Troy Rosa-

Donaire-Quigg deal almost a done deal

By Dennis Principe ONLY minor details are being ironed out before Filipino Flash Nonito Donaire, Jr. gets another shot at a world title.

According to his American manager Cameron Dunkin, they are almost certain a deal can be reached between them and the camp of World Boxing Association superbantamweight champion Scott Quigg of the United Kingdom.

Dunkin said they are working on a Nov. 21 fight date in Manchester, where Quigg is considered a highly popular boxing champion.

“We’re all close, there are just a couple of things that have to be ironed out. We’re just trying to figure out a few details and hopefully, we get this fight done and fight on the 21st of November,” said Dunkin.

If plans push through, it will be Donaire’s first foray in Europe, something that does not concern Dunkin despite the seemingly immense popularity of the undefeated British world champion.

“With Nonito I don’t think it’s going to matter. It has never mattered wherever he’s fought. He’s been in situations before, where he was a big underdog and nothing fazes Nonito,” said Dunkin.

The 32-year-old Donaire is coming off back-to-back stoppage wins which in a lot of ways helped the General Santos City-native fighter recover from a shocking knockout loss at the hands of fellow champion Nicholas Walters of Jamaica.

Donaire surrendered his WBA featherweight crown to Walters when he was stopped in the sixth round by the Jamaican fighter during their 12-round title unification match last October 2014 in Carson City, California.

rio, Glenn Khobintin and Henry Betayene graduated last year.

Expected to step up to hold the fort for NU are Alfred Aroga, Gelo Alolino, Jay Alejandro, Jeff Javillonar and Paolo Javelona, even as rookies Tzady Rangel of Hope Christian School, Nikko Abatayo of the San Beda Red Cubs and Reggie Morillo of the NU Bullpups are expected to do their share.

Altamirano said he remains wary of the Far Eastern University Tamaraws, their championship rivals, whose roster has retained its core players.

The La Salle Green Archers, meanwhile, may not have a strong middle with the absence of Cameroonian rookie center Ben Mbala, but remain a force to reckon with

because of their deep bench.

The Ateneo Blue Eagles, on the other hand, will be playing with an array of rookies, even as the University of Santo Tomas Growling Tigers appear ready for the grind after an intense offseason preparation.

The University of the Philippines Maroons, behind new coach Rensy Bajar, is expected to pull off surprises, while the Adamson Falcons, with new mentor Mike Fermin is also expected to show some improvement.

The University of the East Warriors, behind coach Derrick Pumaren, will also be a force to reckon with following an equally meticulous off-season buildup, while host UP will play with an even more pride as host school.

Chiefs turn back Blazers JIOVANNI Jalalon exploded with they prepared for us. They won’t just 20 points, including two crucial free roll over and give it to us on a silver throws in the endgame as the Arella- platter. They did a good job stopping no University Chiefs slipped past the our press. Talagang pinahirapan nila College of St. Benilde Blazers, 86-82, kami,” said Chiefs coach Jerry Coyesterday in the 91st National Colle- dinera. giate Athletic Association men’s basGuilmer de la Torre led the Chiefs ketball tournament at the San Juan with 26 points.

Arena.

In the second seJalalon hit two crunior game, Nigerian Games tomorrow cial charities in the last 10 a.m.- San Sebastian vs Mapua (jrs) big man Prince Eze nn.- San Beda vs Jose Rizal (jrs) 10.9 seconds, sending 212 filled in big shoes after p.m.- San Sebastian vs Mapua (srs) the Chiefs to their sev- 4 p.m.- San Beda vs Jose Rizal (srs) Bright Akhuetie left enth win against four on a shoulder injury losses to remain at fourth place. at halftime, scoring a game-high 18 The Blazers gave the Chiefs a scare points to lead the University of Perwith their outside shooting, and petual Help Altas (8-3) to a 70-42 stayed within striking distance, 79- swamping of the undermanned Ly82, with still 1:32 behind triples from ceum Pirates.

Jose Saavedra and Jonathan Grey.

In the juniors’ division, Generoso Jalalon’s layup with 1:18 remain- Cecilio tallied 35 points for the Lyceing, however, gave the Chiefs an 84- um Junior Pirates, who slammed the 79 cushion.

Perpetual Help Junior Altas, 88-74, As the Blazers threatened anew on and hiked their record in third at 8-3.

Jeffrey Ongteco’s drive, 82-84, SaaIn the other juniors’ match, La Salle vedra fouled Jalalon, who converted Greenhills, led by Ricci Rivero’s 28 points two pivotal charities at endgame. and 12 rebounds, turned back the Arel“Grabe ang three points nila. Hindi lano University Chiefs, 80-67, to improve mapigilan ang Benilde. I told them in fifth at 6-5. Peter Atencio

CONGRATULATIONS to the Bagatsing family for once again staging an unforgettable weekend of racing at the Manila Jockey Club’s San Lazaro Leisure Park!

The 7th Mayor Ramon Bagatsing Sr. Racing Festival cemented the event’s status as one of the sport’s premier events, featuring rich purses, talented horses and riders, and an action-packed program, for the entertainment of racing fans and to provide race participants with a prestigious competition venue.

The Mayor Ramon Bagatsing Sr. Cup (Div. I), with P1 million in total prizes sponsored by the Philippine Racing Commission, was the most exciting race last Sunday (Aug. 30), hotly contested as it was by eight entries and resulting in a photo finish for first.

The victory in 1,750-meter race went to the slight favorite Gentle Strength (Ultimate Goal x Shadow of the Moon), owned by Mandaluyong City Mayor Benhur C. Abalos and steered by jockey Jonathan B. Hernandez. Dikoridik Koridak came in second, followed by Princess Ella third and Icon fourth.

In the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office Cup (Div. I), it was the top choice, Marlon Cunanan’s Cat’s Diamond (Ultimate Goal x Cat’s Gold), who, with Mark Alvarez aboard, prevailed against seven others over 1,500 meters. The placers were Be Humble, Love to Death, and Mud Slide Slim.

Meanwhile, the favorite Low Profile edged out five others in the Resorts World Challenge to Champions Cup for 4YO locals and imports. It was an easy wire-to-wire win over 1,750-meters for the Kelvin Abobo-guided Low Profile (Tribal Rule x Lacquaria), who even pulled away down the stretch.

Also held that day was the first leg of the Philracom Juvenile Colts and Fillies stakes race, which showcased eleven 2YO. The heavy favorite Spectrum, owned by lawyer Narciso Morales and ridden by Daniel Camañero, narrowly edged out Killer Hook, while Sippin Away and Pronto settled for third and fourth.

Spotted among the attendees were Philracom Chairman Andrew Sanchez; horseowners Tony Tan, Manny Santos, and Vicente Go Bon; former Santa Anita Park president Ron Charles and painter Salvador Arellano, who flew in from the US; Australian racecaller Peter Morrison and his wife Marge, who flew in from Perth; and many other guests.

Also in full force were members of the Bagatsing family, including race founders and brothers Manila Rep. Amado S. Bagatsing and Philracom Commissioner lawyer Ramon S. Bagatsing Jr. The racefest racked up nearly P41 million in sales for the main race day, Aug. 30, putting it among the highest-grossing events for the year. Handicap and special races were also held on Aug. 29 as part of the weekend celebration. ***** The PCSO Racing Committee recently released the list of horses declared to run on Sept. 26 in their 2YO Open race at the Philippine Racing Club’s Santa Ana Park.

To compete over 1,200-meters are John Avelino’s colt Constantinople, Paolo Mendoza’s colt Fighter in the Wind, Raymund Puyat’s colt Rocking Hill, Nicomedes Cruz’s filly Bowties and Charms, Joseph Dyhengco’s colt Sky Dancer, Rene See’s filly Gintong Yaman, lawyer Narciso Morales’s filly Hotdog, Stony Road Horse Farm’s colt Bainbridge, and Jeci Lapus’s filly Sharp Return.

The trial race will be held on Sept. 11. ***** Facebook: Gogirl Racing, Twitter: @gogirlracing, Instagram: @jensdecember, Blog: http:// jennyo.net

A16

W E D N E S D AY : S E P T E M B E R 2 , 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

Serena, Novak, Rafa on a roll NEW YORK—Three-time defending champion Serena Williams launched her quest for a historic title Monday by overwhelming 86th-ranked Russian Vitalia Diatchenko and advancing to the second round of the US Open.

The world number one was a 6-0, 2-0 winner after only 30 minutes at Arthur Ashe Stadium when Diatchenko retired with a left foot injury, advancing Williams into a second-round match against Dutch qualifier Kiki Bertens.

“If I can just stay relaxed and stay in the points and stay calm and happy out there, I have to look at it as I have nothing to lose,” Williams said.

The 33-year-old American chases the first calendar Grand Slam since Steffi Graf in 1988 and a 22nd career major title to match Graf ’s Open Era record, two shy of Australian Margaret Court’s all-time mark.

Williams praised the loud New York crowd, which has adored her since she captured her first major title at the 1999 US Open as a teen prodigy.

“I felt the support and love on this journey and milestone I’m trying to take one match at a time,” Williams said.

“I feel so good. I’m so ready.

I’m at home, where it all began for me in ‘99. It all feels great.”

Top-ranked Novak Djokovic and eighth seed Rafael Nadal also cruised into the second round on the men’s side but Japanese fourth seed Kei Nishikori crashed out after his US Open runner-up effort last year.

Djokovic needed only one hour and 11 minutes to capture a 6-1, 6-1, 6-1 victory over Brazil’s Joao Souza.

“There’s something I love about number one for sure,” said Djokovic, who plays Austrian Andreas Haider-Maurer next. AFP

Rafael Nadal of Spain celebrates after defeating Borna Coric of Croatia during their Men’s Singles First Round match on Day One of the 2015 US Open at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center in the Flushing neighborhood of the Queens borough of New York City. AFP

Gilas whips Russians

By Jeric Lopez

GILAS Pilipinas played its best game in the William Jones Cup so far, bouncing back from a sorry loss to bitter rival South Korea to hammer an impressive 85-71 victory over Russian team Spartak in a highly physical and a near free-for-all contest yesterday at the Xinchuang Gymnasium in Taipei.

Unlike its performance against South Korea, Smart Gilas showed poise as it refused to be bullied by the taller Spartak team, which was undefeated going into the match.

The win gave the nationals their second win in three games, while the Russians fell to 3-1.

For the third straight game, Terrence Romeo, who was involved in a heated confrontation in the first period, was an unstoppable force for the Philippines, scoring

Quirino to Quirino road trip set TURN TO A13

11 points in an array of drives and jumpers, while Ranidel De Ocampo led in scoring with a team-high 13 points.

Calvin Abueva also made his presence felt again with a near double-double of 10 points and eight rebounds before fouling out late in the game.

Romeo, De Ocampo and Abueva also drew some needed support as practically everybody on the floor contributed to the win, with Matt Ganuelas-Rosser and Moala

Tautuaa adding 10 points each and the rest providing hustle and energy on defense. ‘’Everybody stepped up and contributed for us,’’ said Gilas coach Tab Baldwin. ‘’What I liked most was that we played our roles well.’’

The Philippines held its ground in the first half despite the very physical play employed

by Spartak to take a 43-40 lead at the intermission.

From there, the nationals banked on an 18-8 run in the third to seize control and build a sizeable 61-48 advantage late in the third quarter. That lead was never challenged.

The Russians tried to put one more run and were able to slice the Philippines’ lead to only eight, 7365, with under five minutes left.

But Gilas Pilipinas came through this time as De Ocampo and Hontiveros knocked down

All eyes on NU Bulldogs TURN TO A15

back-to-back triples to ignite a 10-0 finishing kick to hand the Nationals an 83-65 spread en route to the win.

The largest lead for Gilas stood was at 18 points, 83-65, with under 30 seconds remaining.

It was an intense tussle as both squads played physical, leading to several confrontations in the opening period.

Romeo, as the quarter winds down, was hit by a forearm by Russia’s point guard, drawing the ire of the Filipino guard.

But as cooler heads tried to separate the two, Russia’s center suddenly threw the ball on the Gilas star’s face and immediately drew a technical foul. Romeo split his charities after Prior to that, Sonny Thoss was forced to leave the game after sustaining a nasty cut in his head after taking an elbow from one of the Russian players.

B1

WEDNESDAY: SEPTEMBER 2, 2015

RAY S. EÑANO EDITOR

RODERICK T. DELA CRUZ ASSISTANT EDITOR

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

BUSINESS

Unilever’s sustainable plan.

Unilever Philippines reports the positive impact of a four-year sustainable living plan on its business in terms growth and social responsibility. Unilever Philippines chairman and chief executive Rohit Jawa (right) focused on brands with purpose, sustainable sourcing and scaling up through partnerships. Shown with Jawa are (from left) World Food Programme officer Michael Argonza, vice president for corporate affairs and sustainability Chito Macapagal, vice president for home care and foods Benjie Yap, head of supply chain Ronny Krisnanto, Louise Maule of Unicef, Kabisig ng Kalahi president and founder Vicky Wieneke and Unilever vice president for personal care Gina Lorenzana.

Govt reduces water allocation to Metro

By Anna Leah E. Gonzales

THE National Water Resources Board said Tuesday it reduced the water allocation to Metro Manila’s water concessionaires by 7 percent amid the El Niño dry spell, which is expected to persist until May 2016.

NWRB executive director Sevillo David Jr. said in a news briefing the regulator approved a reduced allocation of 38 cubic meters per second in September for municipal use, or lower by 3 cms from the previous month.

State-run Metropolitan Waterworks and Sewerage System and concessionaires Manila Water Company Inc. and Maynila Water Services Inc. received a

combined allocation of 41 cms in August.

“We need to manage the water level in Angat Dam so we can sustain adequate water for the public until this El Niño phenomenon ends next year,” David said.

David said the reduced water allocation might result in water pressure reduction, scheduling and supply interruption in Metro Manila.

Angat Dam in Norzagaray Bulacay is the main source of potable water in Metro Manila and parts of Rizal and Laguna.

David said the reduction of allocation for Metro Manila was needed because the water level at the 47-year-old Angat Dam had not significantly increased before the projected strengthening of the El Niño phenomenon starting in the fourth quarter this year.

Philippine Atmospheric Geophysical Services Administration senior weather specialist Anthony Lucero said a stronger El Niño dry spell was expected in the fourth quarter of this year up to the second quarter of 2016.

He said the phenomenon could

P135-m zoo project to rise in Clark

By Othel V. Campos CLARK Development Corp. has signed a contract for the construction of a P135-million zoo project within the free port zone.

Clark president Arthur Tugade and Global Zoo and Theme Park Alliance Inc. president Romeo Siccion signed the agreement last month.

Global Zoo’s project includes the provision of haven for wildlife animals, establishment of a theme park, but not limited to rides, adventure facilities, and other recreational and commercial activities.

The zoo company leased about 20 hectares of land from Clark for five years.

The zoo will employ about 140 workers for upkeep and park management.

Tugade said the zoo project would have a soft opening in the next 12 months as soon as it obtained an occupancy permit from Clark and clearances from other government and regulatory bodies involved in similar operations.

Siccion has a private collection of tigers since 2007, including some imported species of birds, reptiles and other small animals

which arein a mini zoo he established in the San Fernando, Pampanga.

Siccion said he decided to invest in Clark Freeport because of the sound business climate and the fast-growing tourism industry inside the Freeport.

He said aims to create a place where love for animals can be shared with others and educate Filipinos, especially tourists, about wildlife conservation.

Siccion is president of Zoo World Inc. and a member of the Philippine Zoos Association and Southeast Asian Zoos and Aquariums.

be more serious than what the country experienced in 1997 to 1998.

El Niño refers to the rising surface temperature in the central and eastern tropical Pacific Ocean, which reduces the occurrence of rain but causes strong typhoons.

Data showed the Angat reservoir’s water level was only about 186 meters, below the year-end target level of 212 meters and normal level of 210 meters. Critical level was 180 meters.

David said the government and the private sector were preparing contingency measures to mitigate the adverse impact of the sea surface warming in the central and eastern equatorial Pacific region.

The NWRB and the technical working group on Angat reservoir operations and management assured the public that ample time would be provided every day to store water in their households and that information would be given before the concessionaires could proceed with any mitigating measure.

Members of the TWG, which is led by NRWB, are MWSS, National Irrigation Administration, Philippine Atmospheric Geophysical Services Administration, National Power Corp. and the two concessionaires.

The TWG also encouraged the public to take advantage of the rainy season and save water through rainwater storage.

PSe comPoSite index Closing September 1, 2015

8000 7700 7400 7100 6800 6500

7,086.86 11.95

PeSo-dollar rate

Closing SEPTEMBER 1, 2015 43.50 44.60 45.40

P46.685

46.20

CLOSE

47.00

HIGH P46.640 LOW P46.760 AVERAGE P46.704 VOLUME 676.600M

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 Tuesday, September 1, 2015

F oreign e xchange r ate Currency

Unit

US Dollar Peso

United States

Dollar

1.000000

46.7040

Japan

Yen

0.008249

0.3853

UK

Pound

1.534900

71.6860

Hong Kong

Dollar

0.129034

6.0264

Switzerland

Franc

1.034661

48.3228

Canada

Dollar

0.761789

35.5786

Singapore

Dollar

0.708466

33.0882

Australia

Dollar

0.710783

33.1964

Bahrain

Dinar

2.652520

123.8833

Saudi Arabia

Rial

0.266596

12.4511

Brunei

Dollar

0.705965

32.9714

Indonesia

Rupiah

0.000071

0.0033

Thailand

Baht

0.027910

1.3035

UAE

Dirham

0.272272

12.7162

Euro

Euro

1.121100

52.3599

Korea

Won

0.000846

0.0395

China

Yuan

0.156831

7.3246

India

Rupee

0.015054

0.7031

Malaysia

Ringgit

0.238550

11.1412

New Zealand

Dollar

0.635405

29.6760

Taiwan

Dollar

0.030770

1.4371 Source: PDS Bridge

WEDNESDAY: SEPTEMBER 2, 2015

B2

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

The STandard BuSineSS daily STockS review Tuesday, sepTember 1, 2015

52 Weeks

Previous

High Low 7.88 75.3 124.4 107 56.5 2.49 4.2 4 17 30.45 10.4 0.92 100 1.46 30.5 75 91.5 361.2 57 180 1700 124 3.26 47 5 1.46 2.36 15.3 20.6 36 65.8 2.97 4.14 21.5 21.6 11.96 9.13 11.8 2.89 17 31.8 109 15.3 9.4 0.98 241 12.5 79 3.95 4 74 33.9 90 13.26 293 5 5.25 12.98 15 7.03 3.4 4.5 6.3 7.86 238 5.5 3.28 0.315 2.18 2.65 234 5.28 1.3 26 2.17 0.59 59.2 30.05 2.16 3.4 3.35 823.5 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 0.0670 2.31 1.61 2.99 84.9 3.5 974 1.66 156 0.710 0.435 10.5 26.95

STOCKS

Close

High

Low

FINANCIAL 2.58 2.33 68.1 67.2 98.45 96.60 86.50 84.45 42.55 42.25 2.52 2.51 1.32 1.31 10 10 15.8 15.5 20.75 20 7.82 7.82 0.7 0.65 84.05 82.9 1 0.91 18.70 18.66 25.00 25.00 60.00 57.00 300 299 36 35.15 138.8 129.5 1490.00 1435.00 53.70 57.00 2.92 2.91 INDUSTRIAL 35.9 Aboitiz Power Corp.

43.25 43.95 42.6 1.11 Agrinurture Inc. 1.53 1.4 1.4 1.01 Alliance Tuna Intl Inc. 0.99 0.99 0.99 1.86 Alsons Cons.

1.68 1.68 1.59 7.92 Asiabest Group 9.85 10.1 9.56 15.32 Century Food 17.1 17.6 16.8 10.08 Cirtek Holdings (Chips) 27 27.25 27.1 29.15 Concepcion 44 45.3 43.8 1.5 Crown Asia 2.75 2.74 2.6 1.5 Da Vinci Capital 1.22 1.28 1.22 10.72 Del Monte 10.9 10.98 10.62 9.55 DNL Industries Inc. 11.400 11.940 11.06 9.04 Emperador 8.55 8.60 8.40 6.02 Energy Devt. Corp. (EDC) 6.00 6.24 5.90 8.86 EEI 8.33 8.34 8.17 1.06 Euro-Med Lab 1.71 1.6 1.6 8.61 Federal Res. Inv. Group 13.22 13.2 12.76 20.2 First Gen Corp.

23.35 23.95 23.6 71.5 First Holdings ‘A’ 70 72 69.1 13.24 Holcim Philippines Inc. 13.10 13.40 13.10 5.34 Integ. Micro-Electronics 5.77 5.77 5.65 0.485 0.480 0.395 Ionics Inc 0.500 173 Jollibee Foods Corp.

191.50 194.00 187.80 8.65 Lafarge Rep 10.2 10.26 10.18 34.1 Liberty Flour 28.00 28.00 28.00 2.3 LMG Chemicals 2 2 2 1.63 Mabuhay Vinyl 1.7 1.7 1.7 33 Macay Holdings 49.90 50.00 48.00 23.35 Manila Water Co. Inc. 22.6 23 22.3 17.3 Maxs Group 22 22 21.5 5.88 Megawide 5.9 5.99 5.8 250.2 Mla. Elect. Co `A’ 284.00 284.00 275.00 3.37 Panasonic Mfg Phil. Corp. 3.94 3.70 3.65 3.87 Pepsi-Cola Products Phil. 4.39 4.23 4.15 8.45 Petron Corporation 7.91 8.34 7.71 10.04 Phinma Corporation 11.50 11.50 11.50 3.03 Phoenix Petroleum Phils. 3.35 3.50 3.30 1.95 Phoenix Semiconductor 2.14 2.12 2.04 1 Pryce Corp. `A’ 2.38 2.4 2.32 4.02 RFM Corporation 4.08 4.10 4.04 1.65 Roxas and Co. 1.7 1.8 1.8 161 San Miguel’Pure Foods `B’ 149 152 150 4.1 SPC Power Corp.

4.25 4 4 1.55 Splash Corporation 1.81 1.83 1.79 0.138 Swift Foods, Inc. 0.138 0.140 0.138 1.02 TKC Steel Corp.

1.08 1.41 1.10 2.09 Trans-Asia Oil 1.83 1.80 1.77 152 Universal Robina 194 194.2 190 4.28 Victorias Milling 4.22 4.22 4.22 0.640 Vitarich Corp.

0.69 0.66 0.66 10.02 Vivant Corp.

22.50 23.50 23.50 1.2 Vulcan Ind’l.

1.02 1.02 1.01 HOLDING FIRMS 0.44 Abacus Cons. `A’ 0.435 0.435 0.435 48.1 Aboitiz Equity 55.1000 55.0000 54.0000 20.85 Alliance Global Inc. 19.80 20.50 19.60 1.6 Anglo Holdings A 1.09 1.10 1.10 0.23 ATN Holdings A 0.230 0.225 0.220 0.23 ATN Holdings B 0.235 0.22 0.220 634.5 Ayala Corp `A’ 738 756 725 7.390 Cosco Capital 6.95 6.97 6.82 12.8 DMCI Holdings 11.38 11.28 10.88 2.6 F&J Prince ‘A’ 3.1 2.91 2.8 2.26 Filinvest Dev. Corp.

4.18 4.16 4.15 0.152 Forum Pacific 0.194 0.185 0.178 837 GT Capital 1270 1276 1265 5.3 House of Inv. 6.00 5.95 5.95 49.55 JG Summit Holdings 71.00 71.40 69.75 4.84 Lopez Holdings Corp.

6.76 6.74 6.58 0.59 Lodestar Invt. Holdg.Corp. 0.57 0.57 0.56 12 LT Group 13 13.2 12.62 0.580 Mabuhay Holdings `A’ 0.56 0.56 0.55 4.2 Metro Pacific Inv. Corp. 5 5.15 5.01 4.5 Minerales Industrias Corp. 7.28 7.35 7.2 0.0500 0.0440 0.030 Pacifica `A’ 0.0430 1.23 Prime Media Hldg 1.080 1.080 1.080 0.550 Prime Orion 1.760 1.900 1.770 2.26 Republic Glass ‘A’ 2.79 2.77 2.65 59.3 San Miguel Corp `A’ 52.00 52.50 49.50 1.5 Seafront `A’ 2.52 2.48 2.48 751 SM Investments Inc. 878.00 898.00 877.50 1.13 Solid Group Inc. 1.18 1.18 1.16 80 Top Frontier 69.500 70.000 69.500 0.211 Unioil Res. & Hldgs 0.2800 0.2950 0.2800 0.179 Wellex Industries 0.1810 0.1900 0.1890 PROPERTY 6.74 8990 HLDG 6.780 6.800 6.500 12 Anchor Land Holdings Inc. 8.40 8.40 8.40 2.5 66 88.05 88.1 45.45 1.97 1.68 8.7 12.02 19.6 6.12 0.74 78 0.9 17.8 58 62 276 41 118.2 1200 59 2.65

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

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

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

SHARES 16,939,623 67,848,173 613,828,890 146,549,108 69,244,551 669,961,521 1,587,719,623

2.58 68 98.50 84.60 42.5 2.51 1.34 10.1 15.66 20.8 7.25 0.74 83.75 0.96 18.68 25.00 60.00 300 35 131.9 1435.00 54.00 2.92

Close

%

Net Foreign

Change Volume

Trade/Buying

2.57 68.1 97.65 84.50 42.5 2.52 1.32 10 15.5 20.1 7.82 0.65 83.9 0.91 18.66 25.00 60.00 300 35.15 136.2 1435.00 53.70 2.92

-0.39 0.15 -0.86 -0.12 0.00 0.40 -1.49 -0.99 -1.02 -3.37 7.86 -11.62 0.18 -5.21 -0.11 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.43 3.26 0.00 -0.56 0.00

17,000 7,810 4,974,890 4,410,660 189,800 3,000 10,000 100 4,900 61,500 1,100 2,000 4,364,280 349,000 70,500 400 515,530 1,220 620,600 1,004,460 25 18,240 12,000

43.25 1.4 0.99 1.6 9.7 16.98 27.1 43.9 2.68 1.26 10.8 11.060 8.40 5.99 8.19 1.6 12.76 23.8 69.1 13.40 5.68 0.485 188.10 10.18 28.00 2 1.7 48.00 22.5 21.65 5.9 281.00 3.70 4.23 7.71 11.50 3.35 2.05 2.35 4.06 1.8 152 4 1.8 0.139 1.36 1.78 192 4.22 0.66 23.50 1.02

0.00 -8.50 0.00 -4.76 -1.52 -0.70 0.37 -0.23 -2.55 3.28 -0.92 -2.98 -1.75 -0.17 -1.68 -6.43 -3.48 1.93 -1.29 2.29 -1.56 -3.00 -1.78 -0.20 0.00 0.00 0.00 -3.81 -0.44 -1.59 0.00 -1.06 -6.09 -3.64 -2.53 0.00 0.00 -4.21 -1.26 -0.49 5.88 2.01 -5.88 -0.55 0.72 25.93 -2.73 -1.03 0.00 -4.35 4.44 0.00

2,978,400 3,000 1,000 480,000 27,500 1,526,000 342,100 275,200 859,000 120,000 57,500 12,436,100 521,200 20,571,800 139,200 23,000 7,500 4,171,800 119,480 37,700 108,300 101,000 588,450 529,200 200 5,000 57,000 8,100 1,120,200 340,100 915,700 301,770 60,000 131,000 6,482,200 200 738,000 244,000 290,000 4,315,000 100,000 1,480 112,000 22,000 230,000 35,000 1,294,000 3,823,110 7,000 6,000 900 64,000

0.435 54.8000 19.92 1.10 0.220 0.220 755 6.83 11.20 2.8 4.15 0.185 1270 5.95 70.70 6.71 0.57 12.66 0.55 5.05 7.27 0.0460 1.080 1.790 2.77 50.10 2.48 887.00 1.18 70.000 0.2800 0.1900

0.00 -0.54 0.61 0.92 -4.35 -6.38 2.30 -1.73 -1.58 -9.68 -0.72 -4.64 0.00 -0.83 -0.42 -0.74 0.00 -2.62 -1.79 1.00 -0.14 6.98 0.00 1.70 -0.72 -3.65 -1.59 1.03 0.00 0.72 0.00 4.97

20,000 2,634,270 40,916,992.50 9,076,500 10,842,312.00 47,000 150,000 100,000 862,320 94,222,080.00 423,500 1,837,716.00 4,531,400 6,121,240.00 175,000 14,000 200,000 644,850 66,621,840.00 55,000 318,325.00 3,825,930 10,751,990.50 2,388,700 3,848,186.00 3,000 5,259,900 -21,865,050.00 139,000 5,500.00 65,676,600 95,930,975.00 357,000 1,689,827.00 509,800,000 -25,400.00 19,000 10,800.00 3,008,000 -301,020.00 254,000 594,030 -10,030,670.50 4,000 517,940 -12,523,300.00 11,000 5,960 -230,299.50 750,000 20,000

6.700 8.40

-1.18 0.00

302,400 200

503,133.00 140,249,594.00 -5,157,287.00 7,874,965.00

404,490.00 -38,181,729.00 -1,136,960.00 5,000.00 -891,018.50 -659,600.00 12,232,342.00 -51,285.00 71,358,380.00

-25,748,300.00 -1,337,820 -3,080.00 -32,702.00 71,014,094.00 2,496,811.00 29,047,395.00 -13,849.00 20,850,320.00 -1,600,408.00 144,970.00 28,750.00 -485.00 54,025,603.00 -2,040.00 5,600.00

238,100.00 -3,128,005.00 -5,292.00 13,217,166.00 325,740.00 -504,848.00 -749,120.00 4,160.00 471,100.00

25,770.00 -882,100.00 4,979,814.00 21,100.00 -7,140.00

-502,219.00 -1,680.00

52 Weeks

Previous

High Low

STOCKS

Close

1.99 1.75 0.375 41.4 5.6 5.59 1.44 0.201 0.69 10.96 0.305 2.22 2.1 1.8 5.94 0.180 0.470 8.54 31.8 2.29 21.35 1.06 1.62 8.59

0.65 1.2 0.192 30.05 3.36 4.96 0.79 0.083 0.415 2.4 0.188 1.15 1.42 1.27 4.13 0.090 0.290 2.69 22.15 1.6 15.08 0.69 0.83 5.73

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

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

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

Primex Corp.

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

10.5 66 1.09 14.88 15.82 0.1430 5.06 99.1 12.3 7.67 1700 2720 8.41 70.5 1.97 119.5 0.017 0.8200 2.2800 12.28 3.32 2.53 95.5 1 2.46 15.2 0.62 1.040 22.8 6.41 18 185 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 4.8 830 1600 5.95 17.02 1.23 102.6 0.011 0.041 1.200 6.5 1.91 1.01 3.1 0.650 1.8 6 0.335 0.37 14.54 3 8.8 79 4.39 2748 0.435 1.2 31.45 60.55

11.6 0.85 10 1.9

7.59 0.63 5 1.14

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

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

DFNN Inc. FEUI Globe Telecom GMA Network Inc. Grand Plaza Hotel Harbor Star I.C.T.S.I. IP E-Game Ventures Inc. Island Info ISM Communications Leisure & Resorts Liberty Telecom Lorenzo Shipping Manila Broadcasting Manila Bulletin Manila Jockey Melco Crown MG Holdings NOW Corp.

Pacific Online Sys. Corp.

PAL Holdings Inc. Phil. Racing Club Phil. Seven Corp.

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

SSI Group STI Holdings Travellers Yehey

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

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

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

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

TA Petroleum

70 553 525 118 120 8.21 12.28 1047 76.9 84.8

33 490 500 101 101.5 5.88 6.5 1011 74.2 75

ABS-CBN Holdings Corp.

Ayala Corp. Pref `B1’ Ayala Corp. Pref ‘B2’ First Gen F First Gen G GMA Holdings Inc. Leisure and Resort PF Pref 2 SMC Preferred A SMC Preferred C

6.98

0.8900 LR Warrant

15 88 12.88

3.5 13.5 5.95

130.7

105.6 First Metro ETF

Makati Fin. Corp.

IRipple E-Business Intl Xurpas

High

VALUE 1,455,910,828.86 1,664,913,070.14 3,086,651,186.16 1,712,565,575.33 2,171,939,774.76 167,769,194.0269 10,297,392,633.28

FINANCIAL 1,552.65 (up) 0.83 INDUSTRIAL 10,879.97 (down) 98.09 HOLDING FIRMS 6,527.27 (up) 24.95 PROPERTY 2,945.10 (up) 37.66 SERVICES 1,837.99 (down) 37.91 MINING & OIL 10,928.26 (down) 199.58 PSEI 7,086.86 (down) 11.95 All Shares Index 4,044.49 (down) 11.59 Gainers: 63 Losers: 110; Unchanged: 42; Total: 215

Close

%

Net Foreign

Change Volume

Trade/Buying

0.66 1.170 0.203 35.95 3.09 4.72 0.72 0.115 0.405 13.8 0.169 1.09 1.79 1.40 4.33 0.083 0.2600 7.41 29.00 1.6 19.50 0.7 0.660 5.830

0.67 0.63 0.67 1.160 1.160 1.160 0.210 0.210 0.210 36.95 36.00 36.65 3.1 3.06 3.07 4.95 4.75 4.95 0.72 0.68 0.71 0.115 0.102 0.102 0.410 0.405 0.405 13.8 13.34 13.5 0.161 0.161 0.161 1.11 1.06 1.06 1.84 1.79 1.80 1.46 1.41 1.46 4.37 4.25 4.29 0.083 0.083 0.083 0.2600 0.2600 0.2600 7.41 7.4 7.41 29.10 28.50 28.85 1.63 1.61 1.63 20.30 19.50 19.86 0.72 0.71 0.71 0.670 0.670 0.670 5.900 5.760 5.900 SERVICES 8.89 8.75 8.48 8.48 60.9 61.5 60.5 60.5 0.530 0.540 0.530 0.530 11.5 11.5 11.4 11.4 7.02 7.06 6.85 6.85 0.0610 0.0630 0.0610 0.0610 4 4 3.87 3.95 89.45 89.45 86.5 87 9.51 10.36 9.75 10.36 4.60 4.94 4.40 4.78 920 920.5 920.5 920.5 2576 2614 2576 2582 6.29 6.30 6.15 6.28 17.10 17.20 17.20 17.20 1.20 1.21 1.16 1.16 92.95 94.6 87 90 0.012 0.012 0.011 0.012 0.171 0.175 0.171 0.173 1.3500 1.3600 1.3600 1.3600 7.69 7.76 7.67 7.70 2.50 2.72 2.55 2.61 1.27 1.27 1.27 1.27 35.00 37.00 35.00 37.00 0.600 0.640 0.550 0.580 2 2 2 2 6.01 6.01 5.9 5.95 0.305 0.300 0.300 0.300 0.420 0.410 0.410 0.410 19.2 188 18.18 18.8 4.65 4.76 4.62 4.62 8.65 8.65 8.65 8.65 100.00 100.00 100.00 100.00 18.48 18.54 18.00 18.54 2518.00 2574.00 2430.00 2446.00 0.640 0.640 0.610 0.630 1.250 1.290 1.290 1.290 31.70 32.20 31.60 32.00 69.50 69.75 67.25 67.25 4.84 4.95 4.75 4.80 7.26 7.30 6.98 7.08 0.56 0.58 0.56 0.57 4.02 4.11 4.01 4.02 2.370 2.540 2.390 2.390 MINING & OIL 0.0048 0.0048 0.0047 0.0048 2.25 2.35 2.25 2.30 4.57 4.57 4.43 4.43 6.2000 6.2900 6.2000 6.2900 0.71 0.72 0.69 0.7 0.7 0.7 0.66 0.7 5.98 5.98 5.70 5.76 1.16 1.14 1.10 1.11 0.295 0.310 0.290 0.295 0.182 0.187 0.182 0.185 0.204 0.204 0.204 0.204 0.012 0.012 0.012 0.012 0.012 0.012 0.011 0.012 2.32 2.28 2.17 2.26 8.05 8.04 7.5 7.6 3.28 3.4 3.26 3.26 1.3600 1.3600 1.2600 1.2700 0.0090 0.0092 0.0091 0.0091 4.01 4.03 3.96 3.96 5.10 5.300 5.020 5.20 1.67 1.840 1.600 1.71 0.0110 0.0099 0.0120 0.0110 128.00 126.00 122.50 125.30 2.84 2.9 2.69 2.74 PREFERRED 63.5 62.05 61 61.4 524 522 522 522 527 540 526.5 540 118.1 118.1 118.1 118.1 116 115.5 115.5 115.5 5.95 6 6 6 1.06 1.11 1.08 1.08 1020 1018 1016 1016 75.7 75.6 75.55 75.55 80.06 81 81 81 WARRANTS & BONDS 3.270 3.360 3.150 3.150 SME 4.51 4.5 4.5 4.5 56.95 55 55 55 10.76 11.2 10.74 11.1 EXCHANGE TRADED FUNDS 116.2 117 116 116

T op g ainerS STOCKS

Low

1.52 -0.85 3.45 1.95 -0.65 4.87 -1.39 -11.30 0.00 -2.17 -4.73 -2.75 0.56 4.29 -0.92 0.00 0.00 0.00 -0.52 1.87 1.85 1.43 1.52 1.20

22,000 100,000 80,000 20,553,900 671,000 126,000 2,040,000 20,910,000 370,000 1,811,900 210,000 2,331,000 20,071,000 2,986,000 28,517,000 50,000 200,000 2,500 4,716,600 318,000 24,740,300 405,000 139,000 13,417,100

-4.61 -0.66 0.00 -0.87 -2.42 0.00 -1.25 -2.74 8.94 3.91 0.05 0.23 -0.16 0.58 -3.33 -3.17 0.00 1.17 0.74 0.13 4.40 0.00 5.71 -3.33 0.00 -1.00 -1.64 -2.38 -2.08 -0.65 0.00 0.00 0.32 -2.86 -1.56 3.20 0.95 -3.24 -0.83 -2.48 1.79 0.00 0.84

1,025,500 52,750 47,000 717,100 14,796,700 3,710,000 375,000 454,080 200 258,000 10 209,290 189,500 900 194,000 4,832,940 2,400,000 200,000 50,000 407,300 1,350,000 7,000 300 120,000 10,000 691,400 50,000 70,000 4,600 23,000 100 1,210 97,500 303,350 534,000 21,622,000 2,986,100 831,170 2,323,000 4,086,000 2,363,000 549,000 33,000

0.00 2.22 -3.06 1.45 -1.41 0.00 -3.68 -4.31 0.00 1.65 0.00 0.00 0.00 -2.59 -5.59 -0.61 -6.62 1.11 -1.25 1.96 2.40 11.11 -2.11 -3.52

329,000,000 8,000 327,000 95,840.00 3,300 1,956,000 626,000 900 4,231,000 657,680.00 280,000 6,090,000 60,000 -4,080.00 300,000 8,200,000 -40,700.00 33,000 -27,130.00 7,864,000 5,453,335.00 628,000 -3,380.00 1,445,000 16,000,000 25,000 422,700 375,888.00 4,644,000 -249,490.00 286,000,000 23,000.00 409,720 22,695,569.00 652,000 16,200.00

-3.31 -0.38 2.47 0.00 -0.43 0.84 1.89 -0.39 -0.20 1.17

271,290 2,000 1,510 20 35,000 282,600 4,000 1,600 26,170 12,500

-3.67

45,000

-0.22 -3.42 3.16

10,000 20 3,329,900

-2,435,478.00

-0.17

7,810

121,568.00

116,000.00 297,813,725.00 -9,110.00 -494,600.00 -207,350.00 -11,400.00 8,100.00 -891,984.00 -377,840.00 1,522,830.00 -494,170.00 20,483,420.00

79,126,530.00 -368,380.00 93,068,519.00 -23,806,472.00 111,520.00 0.00 25,303,721.00 61,000.00 -8,032,492.50

-39,753,550.00

-43,460,784.50 2,400.00 64,175.00 39,060.00

1,002,194.00 20,500.00 65,380.00 30,000.00 -177,318.00 -228,778,080.00 16,961,330.00 632,950.00 -15,582,816.50 936,380.00 1,070,860.00 -790,030.00 114,750.00

4,676,275.00

-1,654,800.00 999,526.50

T op L oSerS Close (P)

Change (%)

STOCKS

Close (P)

Change (%)

TKC Steel Corp.

1.36

25.93

First Abacus

0.65

-11.62

Philodrill Corp. `A'

0.0110

11.11

Crown Equities Inc.

0.102

-11.30

Centro Esc. Univ.

10.36

8.94

F&J Prince 'A'

2.8

-9.68

Filipino Fund Inc.

7.82

7.86

Agrinurture Inc.

1.4

-8.50

Pacifica `A'

0.0460

6.98

Oriental Peninsula Res.

1.2700

-6.62

Roxas and Co.

1.8

5.88

Euro-Med Lab

1.6

-6.43

Manila Broadcasting

37.00

5.71

ATN Holdings B

0.220

-6.38

Wellex Industries

0.1900

4.97

Panasonic Mfg Phil. Corp.

3.70

-6.09

Cebu Holdings

4.95

4.87

SPC Power Corp.

4

-5.88

Vivant Corp.

23.50

4.44

Nickelasia

7.6

-5.59

WEDNESDAY: SEPTEMBER 2, 2015

B3

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

Market declines; Ayala, SM issues up

AUB bullish, acquires remittance company

STOCKS fell Monday, ending a four-day rally, as latest data showed weakness in China’s By Julito G. Rada economy, while gold and the yen advanced amid a search for safer assets.

The Philippine Stock Exchange index, the 30-company benchmark index lost 11 points, or 0.2 percent, to close at 7,086.86 Tuesday. It is down 2 percent since the start of the year.

The heavier index, representing all shares, fell 11 points, or 0.3 AUB said in a disclosure to by the two parties. percent, to settle at 4,044.49, on “The decision to invest in the stock exchange its board of a value turnover of P10.3 billion.

Pinoy Express PTE Ltd. is exdirectors approved the plan in Losers outnumbered gainers, 110 pected to improve Asia United to 63, while 42 issues were un- a meeting on Aug. 28. changed.

“The board of directors of Bank Corp.’s coverage of the Security Bank Corp. emerged Asia United Bank Corp. ap- Singapore remittance market,” as the biggest gainer among the 20 proved the acquisition of 100 it said. The number of shares most active stocks, as it climbed percent of the shares of Pinoy involved in the transaction is 3.3 percent to P136.20.

Conglomerate Ayala Corp. ad- Express PTE Ltd., a remittance 300,000.

Pinoy Express is a dulyvanced 2.3 percent to P755, while company duly registered in registered corporation in SinSingapore, subject to the necproperty unit Ayala Land Inc. gained 2 percent to P36.65. essary regulatory approvals,” gapore and is licensed by the SM Prime Holdings Inc. rose the bank said.

Monetary Authority of Singa1.9 percent to P19.86. Unit SM InIt said the final terms of the pore as a remittance company. vestments Corp. added 1 percent transaction would be defined It provides a complete range to close at P887. of remittance products and in an agreement to be executed Meanwhile, Asian stocks traded lower last week, as investors expressed concern over Republic of the Philippines the health of the global Local Government Unit economy.

BIDS AND AWARDS COMMITTEE “Investors are conGregorio del Pilar, IIocos Sur cerned about the strength of the global economy, INVITATION TO BID which is why you’re seeing The Municipality of Gregorio del Pilar , through its Bids and Awards Committee a sell-off in various stock (BAC), invites contractors registered with and classified by the Philippine Contractors Accreditation Board (PCAB) to apply for eligibility and if found eligible, to bid for the markets,”said Ayako Sera, hereunder contract: a strategist at Sumitomo Name of Contract : IMPROVEMENT OF GREGORIO DEL PILAR - SAN Mitsui Trust Bank Ltd. in EMILIO ROAD Tokyo.

Location : Gregorio Del Pilar, IIocos Sur Brief Description : Clearing & Grubbing(Cutting of trees), Excavation “Investors are also tak(Structural/Roadway), Stone Masonry Gabion & Mattress, ing a cautious stance,” Sera Backfill, Sub-grade prep. Aggregates Sub- Base Coarse, said.

PCCP. Approved Budget for Shanghai was down two the Contract ( ABC) : Php12,965,000 percent in the afternoon Source of Fund : R.A. 7171 - Municipal Share Contract Duration : One Hundred (100) C.D. -- having dived more than Prospective bidders should posses a valid PCAB License applicable to the contract, four percent at one point have completed a similar contract with a value of at least 50% of the ABC, have -- after China’s statistics key personnel and equipment (listed in the Eligibility Formats) available for the prosecution of the contract. The BAC will use non-discretionary pass/fall criteria in bureau said the purchasing the eligibility Check/Screening as well as the Preliminary Examination of Bids. The managers’ index of manuBAC will conduct post-qualification of the lowest calculated bid. facturing activity came in All particulars relative to Eligibility/Statement and Screening, Bid Security, at 49.7 last month, the lowPerformance Security, Pre-Bidding Conference, Evaluation of Bids, Post-Qualification and Award of Contract shall be governed by the pertinent provisions I)f R.A. 9184 est since August 2012. and its implementing Rules and Requisition (lRR).

While the figure is betThe Schedule of BAC activities is as follows: ter than a private reading from Chinese media group BAC Activities Schedule Caixin -- which hit a six1.Issuance of Eligibility Forms & Bid Documents Sept. 2, 2015 - Sept. 21 ,2015 and-a-half-year low -- it 2 Pre - Bid Conference Sept. 7, 2015 @ 10:00 A.M is still below the 50-point Municipal Hall, G. del Pilar, IIocos Sur mark.

3 Receipt and Opening of Bids Sept. 21, 2015 Municipal Hall, G. del Pilar, IIocos Sur A rating after 50 indicates expansion, below de4 Bid Evaluation Sept. 25, 2015 notes contraction.

5 Post Qualification Sept. 29, 2015 Tokyo dived 3.84 per6 Notice of Award Oct. 2, 2015 cent to 18,165.69, with a 7 Notice to Proceed Oct. 7, 2015 stronger yen hitting exporters. Sydney fell 2.12 Bid Documents shall be available at the BAC Office, Municipal Hall, Gregorio del Pilar, lIocos Sur upon payment of prescribed non-refundable fee. percent to 5,096.4 and The Municipality of Gregorio del Pilar assumes no responsibilty whatsoever to Seoul gave up 1.40 percent compensate or indemnify bidders for any expenses incurred in the preparation of to close at 1,914.23. the bids.

In afternoon trade, The Municipality of Gregorio del Pilar reserves the right to reject any or all bids, Hong Kong was off 0.76 waive any defect/s contained therein and accept such bids as maybe considered most advantageous to the municipal government. percent.

Contact Person: “The manufacturing index still shows that the (Sgd.) LANI M. TUMBAGA BAC Secretariat economy is in the process Municipality of Gregorio del Pilar of seeking a bottom,” said Approved by: Wu Kan, a Shanghai-based fund manager at JK Life (Sgd.) Engr. JAIME A. CONSOLACION BAC Chairman Insurance. With AFP

ASIA United Bank, the financial arm of the Rebisco group of companies, is buying 100 percent of Singapore-based Pinoy Express PTE Ltd. in a bid to widen its coverage of the remittance market in Southeast Asia.

(TS SEPT. 2, 2015)

The bank and its subsidiaries managed to post a net interest income of P2.2 billion during the six-month period, or 17.3 percent higher than P1.9 billion a year ago, bucking the continuous decline in interest rates and the squeeze on loan margins.

Total deposits grew 21.4 percent to P100.7 billion.

AUB had a network of 224 branches as of end June, including 15 branches of subsidiaries Cavite United Rural Bank and the Pampanga-based Rural Bank of Angeles.

AUB was formed by Filipino industrialists and Taiwanese banks, including Republic Biscuit Corp., Lambda Holdings, China United Trust & Investment Corp., China Development Industrial Bank, Magis Equity Ventures and a few individuals.

services to migrant workers, principally overseas Filipinos in that country.

“The consideration for the shares will be paid for in cash. The value of the acquisition is less than 1 percent of Asia United Bank Corp.’s book value,” the bank said, adding the acquisition might be completed in the fourth quarter of 2015 upon receipt of all necessary regulatory approvals.

“Asia United Bank Corp. conducted its due diligence process and will base the final purchase price on the historical income of Pinoy Express PTE Ltd.,” the bank said.

AUB posted a 3-percent decline in net income in the first half to P852.8 million from a year ago, on higher loan provisioning and investments for branch expansions.

Republic of the Philippines Local Government Unit BIDS AND AWARDS COMMITTEE Gregorio del Pilar, IIocos Sur INVITATION TO BID The Municipality of Gregorio del Pilar , through its Bids and Awards Committee (BAC), invites contractors registered with and classified by the Philippine Contractors Accreditation Board (PCAB) to apply for eligibility and if found eligible, to bid for the hereunder contract: Name of Contract Location Brief Description

: : :

Approved Budget for the Contract ( ABC) : Source of Fund : Contract Duration :

IMPROVEMENT OF POBLACION LOOP - TANGAOAN ROAD Gregorio Del Pilar, IIocos Sur Removal of Structure and Obstruction (Dilapidated Pavement) Sub-grade prep. Aggregates Sub- Base Coarse, PCCP. Php5,485,000 Trust Fund - BUB Eighty (80) C.D.

Prospective bidders should posses a valid PCAB License applicable to the contract, have completed a similar contract with a value of at least 50% of the ABC, have key personnel and equipment (listed in the Eligibility Formats) available for the prosecution of the contract. The BAC will use non-discretionary pass/fall criteria in the eligibility Check/Screening as well as the Preliminary Examination of Bids. The BAC will conduct post-qualification of the lowest calculated bid.

All particulars relative to Eligibility/Statement and Screening, Bid Security, Performance Security, Pre-Bidding Conference, Evaluation of Bids, Post-Qualification and Award of Contract shall be governed by the pertinent provisions I)f R.A. 9184 and its implementing Rules and Requisition (lRR).

The Schedule of BAC activities is as follows: BAC Activities

Schedule

1.Issuance of Eligibility Forms & Bid Documents

Sept. 2, 2015 - Sept. 21 ,2015

2 Pre - Bid Conference

Sept. 7, 2015 @ 10:00 A.M Municipal Hall, G. del Pilar, IIocos Sur

3 Receipt and Opening of Bids

Sept. 21, 2015 Municipal Hall, G. del Pilar, IIocos Sur

4 Bid Evaluation

Sept. 25, 2015

5 Post Qualification

Sept. 29, 2015

6 Notice of Award

Oct. 2, 2015

7 Notice to Proceed

Oct. 7, 2015

Bid Documents shall be available at the BAC Office, Municipal Hall, Gregorio del Pilar, lIocos Sur upon payment of prescribed non-refundable fee.

The Municipality of Gregorio del Pilar assumes no responsibilty whatsoever to compensate or indemnify bidders for any expenses incurred in the preparation of the bids.

The Municipality of Gregorio del Pilar reserves the right to reject any or all bids, waive any defect/s contained therein and accept such bids as maybe considered most advantageous to the municipal government.

Contact Person: (Sgd.) LANI M. TUMBAGA BAC Secretariat Municipality of Gregorio del Pilar Approved by:

(TS SEPT. 2, 2015)

(Sgd.) Engr. JAIME A. CONSOLACION BAC Chairman

B4 Negosyo Center.

Trade officials formally open Sept.

1 the Negosyo Center at the Cebu office of the Trade Department.

Leading the ribbon-cutting ceremony are (from left) Trade-Cebu director Nelia Navarro, PB member Miguel Antonio Magpale, Trade Undersecretary Zenaida Maglaya, Negosyo Center program manager Dorecita Delima, Trade-Region 7 director Asteria Caberte and Sen. Paolo Benigno Aquino IV’s program manager Mona Celine Yap.

Neda set to clear road link bidding THE tollway unit of Metro Pacific Investments Corp. expects the Public Works Department to release the terms of the Swiss Challenge for the expressway linking the north and south of Manila by October.

“We are slated to be included in the next agenda of the Neda board, which we hope to happen within the next two weeks,” Metro Pacific Tollways Corp. president and chief executive Ramon Fernandez told reporters.

Once the Neda Board approved the terms, Fernandez said the Swiss Challenge for the North Luzon ExpresswaySouth Luzon Expressway Connector Road Project would likely start in October.

Manila North Tollways Corp. president and chief executive Rodrigo Franco had said the revised project cost of the 8-kilometer, six-lane elevated expressway that will link the end of the Skyway in Buendia to Balintawak was P16.5 billion.

The right-of-way acquisition, meanwhile, amounted to over P5 billion.

This is lower than the original project cost of P22 billion because the NLEX-SLEX Connector Road Project was reduced to 8 kilometers from 13.5 kilometers.

Citra Metro Manila Tollways Corp., which is separately constructing the the P26.7-billion Skyway Stage 3 Project, will construct the five-kilometer common alignment of the NLEX-SLEX project from Polytechnic University of the Philippines to Buendia in Makati City The Neda Board earlier approved the NLEX-SLEX Connector Project under the unsolicited mode subject to a Swiss Challenge The government decided to subject the project to a Swiss Challenge after the Justice Department issued a legal opinion, saying the Neda board decision to implement the project as a joint venture was “without factual basis or jurisdiction.”

The joint-venture route aims to do away with the Swiss challenge, which had been required of the project when it was still being pursued as an unsolicited venture. Darwin G. Amojelar

Govt unlikely to hit ’16 broadband goal

By Darwin G. Amojelar

The Aquino administration will not meet its goal to provide at least 2 megabits per second Internet download speed to 80 percent of the households throughout the country by 2016, the National Telecommunications Commission said Tuesday.

“We will not achieve the targets under the Philippine Digital Strategy, which aims to provide an average broadband speed of at least 2 Mbps for 80 percent of households nationwide by 2016,” NTC director for regulation Edgardo Cabarios told reporters.

According to the International Telecommunication Union, only 18.90 percent of the Philippine households had Internet connection in 2012.

“We need a comprehensive approach, you can’t just let private sector to address the problem,” Cabarios said, adding the estimated P60 billion in annual investment by local telecommunication companies were not enough to achieve the broadband connection targets of the Philippines.

At the rate of P60 billion annual investment by telcos, Cabarios said it would take 10 years to

meet the targets if there was no government intervention.

Cabarios said the investment requirement for at least 2Mbps for 20.17 million households by 2016 amounted to P800 billion.

The government of Thailand invested $114 million to provide Internet service as part of its economic policy. Malaysia, meanwhile, spent $4.5 billion over a period of 10 years to lay fiber optic lines to every home in Malaysia’s urban areas.

Former whistleblower and information technology expert Rodolfo Noel Lozada Jr. earlier said the government should revive a plan to build a national broadband network to improve Internet speed in the country.

Lozada, who became famous as the NBN-ZTE deal whistleblower, said the best way to explain the current slow Internet

speed in the country was the lack of digital highway, similar to the network of roads and highways that linked agricultural and industrial areas.

“Those roads were built primarily by government for public transport use, allowing unhampered movements of people and goods that led to the progression of the Filipino nation to what it is now,” Lozada said.

Lozada said if the government had built a national broadband network, the country could have been spared from the current slow Internet speed.

“That is similar to how government had built the public roads and highways during the agricultural and industrial era. It is a must for the government to provide for a big digital highway that allows very fast and free public transport of digital products and goods,” Lozada said.

IC launching micro pre-need program by year-end

By Gabrielle H. Binaday THE Insurance Commission is set to launch a micro pre-need program with premium contribution reaching P230 billion by the end of the year, its top official said Tuesday.

Insurance Commissioner Emmanuel Dooc said micro-insurance was one of the positive developments in the country that could be supported by a micro pre-need program.

“We hope to launch similar micro pre-need program, hopefully within this year, because pre-need also needs [a] similar initiative to perk up [the] industry,” Dooc said in a press briefing held at the Insurance Commission in Manila.

“We hope that there is still future in microbusiness, that’s why we want to expand to micro pre-need. Pre-need industry is enthusiastic about doing micro-version,” he added.

Dooc cited that pre-need companies could launch or sell “mini pensions” designed for seamen whose contracts are limited to nine months or a year. He said micro pre-need holders would receive a significant upon retirement through the program.

The IC said the first draft of the framework for the micro pre-need operations program had been completed for discussions with the stakeholders in next meeting within the week.

“Some of them [pre need companies] have already submitted products but we have to finalize [the] framework so that their activity will fall within the framework,” said IC chief insurance specialist Rosalina Bactol.

Sixteen licensed pre-need companies operate in the industry as of May this year from a high of over 200 in the 1990s, Insurance Commission data showed.

“Although there are only a few companies

legally allowed to engage in the pre-need business, this is a good indicator that only those who are financially stable are allowed to engage in pre-need business. With the enactment of the Pre-Need Code and stringent regulatory requirements, the public is assured that the liabilities of the companies will be met,” Dooc said.

“At this day [we have] more than a hundred [preneed companies] but we would like to keep the 16 to keep them stable and strong so that they can continue to serve the people.

The preneed has its own needs, practically serve poor sector of society,” he added.

The IC said it could can pattern the guidelines of the micro pre-need program to those in the micro-insurance industry.

Dooc said about 32 million individuals were covered by micro-insurance as of endJune.

W E D N E S D AY : S E P T E M B E R 2 , 2 0 1 5

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

Losers NOW we know: It only takes a few thousand members from a sect perceived as politically influential for this government to go all soft and accommodating, even thanking the Iglesia ni Cristo for finally ending its takeover of that Edsa People Power stretch. Now we know: You non-INC protesting groups will not be given the same preferential treatment. Instead of appeals, the police will come at you with their truncheons and water cannons and will call you rabble-rousers.

Meantime, it’s us dolts who had to suffer the consequences of that protest that started last Friday—payday Friday—the time when most people planned to dine out, perhaps watch a movie because it was going to be a long weekend. Instead, President Aquino’s bosses found themselves stranded—the northbound because no buses could pass through the Ortigas-Edsa intersection, and the southbound because they found themselves stalled in traffic.

Those with cars found themselves racking their brains for alternate routes (C5 was also gridlocked, and everyone seems to have taken the backstreets of Mandaluyong as well) and ended up wasting hours and several liters of gasoline before they got home. The next day was not any better because any plans of shopping had to be shelved; scheduled meetings and photo shoots in areas contiguous to or anywhere near the “protest” as held had to be rescheduled or canceled because people did not want to brave it through Edsa and be in the midst of that throng.

A paper (not this one) is holding an informal poll on who was the biggest loser in the INC gambit: The religious sect because it angered the rest of Metro Manila residents; the BS Aquino government because it pussyfooted; politicians who were perceived as INC coddlers judging from their statements; or Metro Manila residents who found their weekend ruined because of the hassle? We’d say the biggest losers were the shopping malls and business establishments who lost a big chunk of their Friday payday and weekend sales.

Big names in Forbes Global CEO conference in Manila Some of the biggest names in business have confirmed participation as speakers in the annual Forbes Global CEO Conference slated this October 12-14. It will be the first time for the annual conference to be held in Manila—a major event since it gathers some 400 of the world’s most successful tycoons, entrepreneurs, multinational CEOs, emerging company CEOs, financiers and thought leaders to discuss and debate key issues of global concern.

Under the theme of “Toward a Winning Vision,” the conference will focus on visionary leadership—or how companies can best conceive and articulate a winning vision to drive their businesses forward, one that is based on their core values and purpose. Some 43 speakers from all over the world will share insights on topics that include the world economy, investment strategies, energy, technology and innovation, emerging markets, leadership, succession and philanthropy.

Speakers include Steve Forbes, chairman and editor-in-chief, Forbes Media LLC; Finance Secretary Cesar Purisima; SM Investments Corp. vice chairman and BDO Unibank chairman Teresita Sy Coson; Liang Xinjun of Fosun International; Michael Hintze, chief executive of CQS; Mario Moretti Polegato, GEOX Group; Enrique Razon Jr. of International Container Terminal Services Inc.; Linfox founder Lindsay Fox; Zhang Ya-Qin, of Baidu; San Miguel president and chief operating officer Ramon Ang; Dr. Tahir of the Mayapada Group; Vincent Tan, founder of the Berjaya group; former Senator Manny Villar who’s concentrating on business as Vista Land chairman; Jaime Augusto Zobel de Ayala; and many others.

“We are delighted to bring the Forbes Global CEO Conference to the Philippines for the first time and pleased to be convening a powerful group of speakers at this year’s conference. As one of Asia’s fastest growing economies, the Philippines is a fitting location for global business leaders to share insights and explore business opportunities,” remarked William Adamopoulos, CEO/Asia of Forbes Media.

This year’s Forbes Global CEO Conference is co-hosted by SM Investments Corp./BDO Unibank Inc., ICTSI and San Miguel.

Corporate sponsors include Berjaya Corp., Vista Land, Biomax Technologies, FICOFI and Weber Shandwick Worldwide. For more information, visit www.forbesglobalceoconference.com.

••• For comments, reactions, photos, stories and related concerns, readers may email to happyhourtoday2012@yahoo.com. You may also visit and like our Facebook page https://www.facebook. com/happyhourmanilastandard. We’d be very happy to hear from you. Cheers!

B5

Malaysian firm eyes PH packaging plant

By Othel V. Campos

SILVERPACK Sdn Berhad of Malaysia plans to set up a production plant in the Philippines in five years as part of an expansion plan in Southeast Asia.

The Embassy of Malaysia Trade Office Manila said Silverpack was among the top five packaging companies in Malaysia, manufacturing high barrier, laminated multilayer firm products, such as flexible plastic bags, bulked packaging film, vacuum and microwavable plastic bags and printed rolls.

MATRADE Commissioner Nyaee Ayup said Silverpack’s expertise in packaging would support a wide range of food industries in the Philippines.

“Instead of setting up their own packaging division, the food manufacturers in the Philippines can focus on their main line of business, if they tap Silverpack

for their packaging needs,” Ayup said.

Silverpack regional sales director Jeffrey Ng expects the company in two to three years to gain a significant market share in the packaging sector to justify a manufacturing plant in the Philippines.

“We are expanding because companies are also expanding.

When they do well, we will do well as well. Right now, we’re talking to large food manufacturing companies in the Philippines,” he said.

Ng added the company was determined to set up an office and warehouse in the Philippines in three to four years that may cost an initial investment of

P500 million.

“Our plan is to set up manufacturing plants in Asean in 10 years time. We already have a factory in Malaysia and China. We have sales office in Singapore, Sri Lanka and Thailand. We need to set up sales office in the entire Southeast Asia,” Ng said.

Silverpack’s customers in the Philippines are mostly small and medium enterprises.

Industry estimates show that a candy manufacturer spends at least 10 percent of its total cost in packaging because of individual wrapping.

For high-value goods, a manufacturer spends 5 percent to 7 percent of his total cost for packaging alone.

Silverpack’s packaging materials are used by a wide range of food industries such as coffee, tea, confectionery, milk products, snacks, biscuits, instant food items, oil, seafood, pet food, sweets, jelly top seal, fruit drinks, personal care series and moon cakes.

DMS partner. DMS 1955 Corp. chairman and chief executive Ricardo Fulgencio IV (right) and SPD

Business Solutions Inc. president and CEO Sarah Deloraya sign an agreement for the launching of DMS Web site and on-line registration program for DMS 1955. The agreement aims to revolutionize the country’s memorial services nationwide. DMS 1955 offers the first and the most affordable annual membership card for only P1,955. DMS is the only company in the country that specifically addresses the high cost of burial and memorial services.

BDO’s global ranking rises 13 notches BDO Unibank Inc., the country’s largest bank controlled by retail tycoon Henry Sy, improved its rankings by 13 notches higher in the list of the world’s top banks this year.

The bank advanced its standing in the list of the Top 1000 World Banks 2015 to 255th from 268th last year.

“The same list, which was published in the July issue of the UKbased The Banker, also showed the bank as the undisputed leader in the Philippines in terms of Tier-1 capital, assets, solid performance and robust earnings,” the bank said in a statement on Tuesday.

BDO posted a record net income of P22.8 billion in 2014, driven by the strong expansion of its core

businesses. Its capital base during the period stood at P180 billion, with both the capital adequacy ratio and common equity Tier 1 ratio all comfortably above the regulatory minimum under the Basel III framework at 14.6 percent and 12.4 percent, respectively.

The Top 1000 World Banks ranking has been setting the industry benchmark since the ‘70s, providing comprehensive intelligence about the health and wealth of the global banking sector.

It also allows investors and clients abroad to evaluate the strength and weakness of the banks, identify banking partners for the future, and track the big movers and new arrivals in the sector.

The Banker is among the sever-

al international publications that consistently recognizes BDO’s strong performance in the local banking sector. So far this year, BDO has received Best Bank in the Philippines awards from Asiamoney, Alpha Southeast Asia, FinanceAsia and Euromoney.

BDO in the first half of 2015 posted a 5.8-percent increase in net income to P11.7 billion from P11.05 billion a year ago on the strength of its core businesses.

Income from fee-based services and treasury activities increased 14 percent and further boosted the bank’s overall performance. As such, recurring revenue streams continued to account for over 83 percent of total operating income. Julito G. Rada

WEDNESDAY: SEPTEMBER 2, 2015

B6

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

Malaya plant resumes operation

By Alena Mae S. Flores POWER Sector Assets and Liabilities Management Corp. announced Tuesday the completion of the rehabilitation of Unit 1 of the 650-megawatt Malaya thermal power plant in Pililia, Rizal.

AUCTION SALE ACME PAWNSHOP 1st Level Glorietta 3 Ayala, Makati and its branches in Mejalco Bldg., Buenavidez St., Legaspi Village, Makati and L & R Bldg., Pasay Road, Makati auction sale on September 05, 2015, 2:00 pm Alabang Town Center, Alabang Zapote Road, MJ Holding Bldg., Almanza Las Piñas, Circle C G14, #17 Congressional Ave., Bahay Toro D1, Quezon City at 2:30 pm.

All items pawned April 1-30, 2015 Notary Public ( T S - S E P T. 2 , 2 0 15 )

AUCTION SALE CINTHY PAWNSHOP All unredeemed pledges during the month of APRIL 2015 will be sold to public auction on: SEPTEMBER 24, 2015 STA. MESA – 8:00 AM # 3630 Ramon Magsaysay Blvd. Sta. Mesa, Manila at JUAN LANUZA & SONS- AUCTIONEER

( T S - S E P T. 2 , 2 0 15 )

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

AUCTION SALE POB CASA DE EMPEÑOS All unredeemed pledges during the month of APRIL 2015 will be sold to public auction on SEPTEMBER 23, 2015 at the ff. branches: ST. FRANCIS - 10:30 AM at # 40 Kingfisher St., St. Francis, Meycauayan, Bulacan POBLACION – 11:30 AM # 721 Barrera St., Poblacion, Baliuag, Bulacan at JUAN LANUZA & SONSAUCTIONEER ( T S - S E P T. 2 , 2 0 15 )

AUCTION SALE TAMCAR PAWNSHOP CORP. All unredeemed pledges during the month of APRIL 2015 will be sold to public auction on SEPTEMBER 11, 2015 at the ff. branches: BUSTILLOS -2:00 PM at # L2522-28 Road 216, Earnshaw Bustillos, Manila SEPTEMBER 24, 2015 CALOOCAN – 1:00 PM # 434 J. RODRIGUEZ ST., at JUAN LANUZA & SONS- AUCTIONEER ( T S - S E P T. 2 , 2 0 15 )

AUCTION SALE PEARLAS PAWNSHOP CO., INC. All unredeemed pledges d u r i n g t h e m o n t h o f APRIL 2015 w i l l b e s o l d t o p u b l i c a u c t i o n o n SEPTEMBER 04, 2015 a t t h e f f . b r a n c h e s : MONTILLANO 12:30 PM at 249 Montillano St., Alabang, Muntinlupa C i t y SEPTEMBER 07, 2015 SUMULONG – 9:00 AM # 24 Sumulong Hway Sto. Niño, Marikina City CONCEPCION – 10:00 AM #19 Bayan Bayanan Ave., Concepcion, M a r i k i n a C i t y SEPTEMBER 11, 2015 G . N U E V O – 9 : 0 0 A M Ta n H o c k B l d g . , C o r. E D S A , M a k a t i C i t y SEPTEMBER 2 4 , 2 0 1 5 B .

B A R R I O - 11 : 3 0 A M # 3 5 Malolos Ave., B. Barrio, C a l o o c a n C i t y SEPTEMBER 2 3 , 2 0 1 5 VA L E N Z U E L A – 1 2 : 0 0 P M # 11 5 F a u s t i n o S t . , P u n t u r i n , Va l e n z u e l a City at JUAN LANUZA & SONS- AUCTIONEER ( T S - S E P T. 2 , 2 0 15 )

PSALM president Lourdes Alzona said the Malaya power In Classified Ads section must be brought to our attention the very day the advertisement plant was resynchronized to is published. We will not be responsible the grid on Aug. 26.

“We are pleased to report for any incorrect ads not reported to us that the Malaya TPP’s Unit 1, immediately. which underwent overhauling, has been finally reconMR. JESSOM LABAMSAM nected to the main grid. With Please contact Jennelyn Sales at 0999-4833769 or echo.poon@isshk.org<mailto:echo.poon@isshk.org> the two units already operaFor discussion on the welfare of a child born in Hong tional, the Malaya TPP now Kong on 25.6.2014. has more available capacity as MR. ARTHUR TOMAD it assumes its role as a security Please contact Jennelyn Sales at 0999-4833769 or plant,” Alzona said. echo.poon@isshk.org<mailto:echo.poon@isshk.org> STX Marine Services Co. For discussion on the welfare of a child born in Hong Ltd. of Korea, the current opKong on 22.2.2010. erator of the Malaya power Doc. No. 0783 plant, undertook the overPage No. 0163

ERRORS & OMISSIONS

Book No. 1102 Series of 2015

hauling of Unit 1, which included the overhauling of the unit’s turbine and generator, circulating water pump, distributed control system and generator excitation system.

The overhaul was originally expected to be completed in the first half of 2015, but it was delayed due to technical issues.

The Energy Department earlier designated the Malaya power plant as a “must-run’ unit in order to address instability or supply deficiency that might occur as a result of sudden unavailability of any of the operating power plants in the grid.

The Malaya power plant is expected to continue operating as an MRU until its privatization schedule is finalized by the department.

The facility, located in Pililia, Rizal, was rehabilitated in 1995

by the Korea Electric Power Corp. under a 15-year rehabilitate-operate-manage-maintain agreement.

It consists of a 300-MW unit with a once-through type boiler and a 350-MW unit fitted with a conventional boiler.

PSALM is also presently evaluating the bids of SPC Malaya Power Corp. and STX Marine for the one-year operations and maintenance service contract of the Malaya plant.

“There are two bidders who submitted bids, STX and Salcon.

This is still subject to post-qualification of bidders,” Alzona said earlier.

The operations and maintenance contract of the Malaya thermal power plant has an approved budget of P457.27 million.

STX Marine’s current contract with PSALM for the Malaya power plant is until Oct. 25, 2015.

(TS AUG. 30,31 SEPT. 1 & 2, 2015)

AUCTION SALE

AUCTION SALE

NORTHERN LEGASPI

N.C. TAMBUNTING

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

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

AUCTION SALE

AUCTION SALE

WESTCHESTER

RACATAM PAWNSHOP CO., INC.

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

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

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AUCTION SALE

CITRINE PAWNSHOP CO., INC

PANG NEGOSYO PAWNSHOP

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

All unredeemed pledges during the month of APRIL 2015 will be sold to public auction on SEPTEMBER 07, 2015 at the ff. branches: COUNTRYSIDE - 12:30 PM at 49 Countryside Ave., Sta. Lucia, Pasig City JUNCTION – 2:30 PM # Star Valley Plaza Mall, Junction at JUAN LANUZA & SONS- AUCTIONEER ( T S - S E P T. 2 , 2 0 15 )

AUCTION SALE

AUCTION SALE

LUIROM PAWNSHOP CO., INC.

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

All unredeemed pledges during the month of APRIL 2015 will be sold to public auction on SEPTEMBER 4, 2015 at the ff. branches: SUCAT - 9:00 AM at #3 Dr., A. Santos Ave., Sucat, Parañaque City MUNTI – 1:30 PM #659 National Road, Poblacion St., Muntinlupa City SEPTEMBER 07, 2015 SAN JOAQUIN – 1:30 PM # 9 M. Concepcion San Joaquin, Pasig City SEPTEMBER 24, 2015 10TH AVE. – 2:00 PM # 245-B 10TH Ave., Brgy., 60 Zone 6, Caloocan City SEPTEMBER 23, 2015 MARILAO – 1 PM #5 NETWORK AVE., MERALCO VILL. LIAS MARILAO SEPTEMBER BULACAN 11, 2015 SAGRADA – 11:00AM #1978 ESTRADA ST., FORMER SAGRADA FAMILIA STA. ANA, MLA. SEPTEMBER 18, 2015 GAGALANGIN – 8:45 AM #2 JUAN LUNA ST., COR. GUIDO ST., TONDO MANILA SEPTEMBER 23, 2015, STO NIÑO – 9:30 AM #30 ST., THERESE COR, ST. PETER, P3 STO NIÑO MEYCAUAN BULACAN at JUAN LANUZA & SONS- AUCTIONEER

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Citi Philippines was awarded Top Bank in System Uptime and Top Biller by BancNet Inc., a testament to the bank’s relentless pursuit of innovations in the digital space.

Shown are Citi Philippines country officer Aftab Ahmed (third from right) and Citi country technology head Roberto Blas (fourth from right) receiving the award for Top Bank in System Uptime from (starting from left) BancNet chairman Nestor Tan, Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas Governor Amando Tetangco Jr., BancNet president Ricardo Chua and BancNet general manager Aristeo Zafra Jr.

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Citi awards.

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Century Properties’ sales rise 46% REAL estate developer Century Properties Group Inc. said Tuesday pre-sales jumped 46 percent to P4.49 billion in the second quarter from P3.07 billion in the first quarter, on strong demand from the overseas Filipino market.

The strong uptick can be attributed, in large part, to Century Spire Offices at its flagship Century City in Makati City, Bahamas tower at the Azure Urban Resort Residences in Paranaque City, and Quezon South tower at The Residence at Commonwealth by Century in Quezon City, the company said.

Century Properties completed three projects in the first half, including Commonwealth Osmeña West Tower, Acqua Niagara Tower and Azure Positano Tower. These projects were 98-percent pre-sold as of endJune 2015.

Century Properties said since

becoming a public company in 2012, it had enjoyed strong pre-sales. It said of the current inventory of launched projects, around 90 percent had been pre-sold, in terms of number of units.

The company said aside from marketing and selling its projects, it focused on completing 22 vertical developments in the near to medium term, with a total of 770,000 square meters of gross floor area.

Century Properties said in 2015, it was set to complete six towers with close to 3,000 units.

It said 97-percent of these projects had been pre-sold and were worth P15.78 billion in total sales.

The developer said in addition to condominium and for sale office developments, it continued to build its recurring income portfolio, which would cover retail and office spaces of 193,000

square meters by 2019.

The company announced early this year it would diversify into leisure and tourism and horizontal developments for first-time homebuyers. It said it was currently in the midst of planning to execute these projects and was preparing for future launches.

Century Properties’ total revenues hit P6.17 billion in the first half, including P4.98 billion in real estate sales which rose from P4.75 billion a year ago.

“We continue to have a positive outlook on the Philippine real estate industry and remain in a high growth mode,” said Kristina Garcia, director for investor relations of Century Properties.

“Our optimism, however, is calculated. We will enter markets where there is determined demand, albeit where there is a serviceable gap between supply and demand,” said Garcia.

W e D n e s D aY : s e P t e M b e r 2 , 2 0 1 5

WORLD

cesar barrioquinto EDITOR

editorial@thestandard.com.ph

B7

Cultural heritage turns war casualty DAMASCUS—Islamic State militants have destroyed two of the most important temples in the UNESCO-listed Syrian city of Palmyra, as they press their campaign to wipe out some of the Middle East’s most important heritage sites.

The United Nations released satellite images Monday confirming the ancient city’s most famed shrine, the 2,000-year-old Temple of Bel, had been blown up a week after the destruction of the temple of Baal Shamin.

The jihadists have become notorious for demolishing archaeological treasures since declaring a “caliphate” last year straddling Iraq and Syria.

The following are examples of world cultural heritage targeted by Islamist extremists elsewhere: Iraq IS has carried out a campaign of “cultural cleansing”, razing part of ancient Mesopotamia’s relics and looting others to sell valued artifacts on the black market.

In a video released by IS on February 26, militants were shown using sledgehammers to smash statues in the country’s second city Mosul, sparking global outrage.

According to antiquities officials, around 90 objects were destroyed or damaged, most of them originals.

Thousands of books and rare manuscripts were also burned in February in Mosul’s library.

In July 2014, IS rigged the Nabi Yunus shrine in the northern city of Mosul—revered by both Muslims and Christians as the tomb of the Prophet Jonah—with explosives and blew it up.

According to the Iraqi government, IS militants on March 5 bulldozed and blew up Nimrud, an ancient Assyrian city south of Mosul.

Libya Several mausoleums have been destroyed by Islamist extremists, who believe they go against their interpretation of Islam.

In August 2012, Islamist hardliners bulldozed part of the mausoleum of Al-Shaab Al-Dahman, close to the center of the Libyan capital.

The demolition came a day after hardliners blew up the mausoleum of Sheikh Abdessalem al-Asmar in the western city of Zliten. AFP

Chaos. Migrants and refugees crowd the platforms at the Keleti (eastern) railway station in Budapest on September 1, 2015. Keleti, the biggest Hungarian railway station, was closed on Tuesday as police evacuated people trying to get on trains bound for Germany. AFP

More migrants arrive as Europe tries to cope VIENNA—Trains packed with migrants arrived in Austria’s capital on Monday where 20,000 people turned out to show their support for the new arrivals, as Europe struggled to cope with the biggest movement of people since World War II. Police looked on as hundreds of migrants—many of them without visas—pulled into Vienna’s Westbahnhof station late in the evening before boarding trains to the Austrian city of Salzburg or on to Munich in southern Germany.

Authorities in Budapest have allowed the migrants, who had been stuck for days in makeshift refugee camps at the city’s stations, to board trains for their ultimate destinations in northern Europe.

The trains were stopped at the Austrian border for several hours as part of a security crackdown after the decomposing bodies of 71 migrants, four of them children, were discovered in an abandoned lorry near the Hungarian border last week.

“I’m going to Germany!” cried one grinning migrant from Afghanistan standing by the doors of a packed train at Westbahnhof.

Europe is on the receiving end of the biggest movement of people since World War II, with more than 300,000 arriving this year, many fleeing war, persecution and poverty in the Middle East and Africa.

The escalating crisis has divided the 28-member bloc ahead of fresh emergency talks on September 14, with Western European leaders calling for more efforts to help the new arrivals while countries on its eastern borders say they are struggling to cope.

In a show of support for the migrants, 20,000 people took to the streets of Vienna on Monday eve-

ning to protest their ill-treatment, while senior government officials attended a church service for the victims of the truck tragedy.

Holding up large banners reading “Refugees welcome” and “I don’t want Europe to be a mass grave”, demonstrators rallied at the Westbahnhof train station before marching as they sang songs about love and solidarity.

Bystanders erupted into applause as the demonstrators, among them parents carrying children on their shoulders, headed down a major shopping thoroughfare watched by police officers with their helmets under their arms.

Not far away, a service was held at St. Stephen’s Cathedral for the scores of migrants found dead in the van.

“We’ve had enough—enough of the deaths, the suffering and the persecution,” the archbishop of Vienna, Cardinal Christoph Schoenborn, told the congregation, which included senior government members.

Five suspected people smugglers,

four Bulgarians and an Afghan, have been arrested in Hungary over the deaths of the migrants, all thought to be Syrian.

The deaths have also led to a security crackdown in Austria and massive tailbacks formed on the border with Hungary on Monday as officers inspected vehicles in search of people-smugglers and migrants.

More than 200 migrants have been picked up and five suspected people smugglers arrested since the checks started on Sunday.

Much-flouted EU rules stipulate that refugees should be processed in the first country they reach, but Hungary—like Austria, a country of transit for migrants heading to northern Europe—says it cannot host record numbers of newcomers.

An AFP correspondent at Budapest’s main station described scenes of chaos as throngs of migrants surged forward to catch the last Munich-bound train via Vienna on Monday evening. Many had spent their day lining up for tickets to Austria and Germany. AFP

Singapore opposition eyes bigger role SINGAPORE—Campaigning for Singapore’s September 11 election began Tuesday, with a resurgent opposition seeking a greater political role as voters chafe at immigration and high living costs.

The People’s Action Party, founded by independence leader Lee Kuan Yew who died in March and led by his son, Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong, has ruled for over half a century and is certain to retain power.

But the opposition hopes to improve on the seven seats it gained in the 2011 elections, when the PAP suffered its lowest ever share of the popular vote at 60 percent— despite winning 80 seats thanks to

a block-voting system.

It is the first time since 1963 that all parliamentary seats—now totalling 89—are being contested.

“It will be a good fight. We are looking forward to it,” the prime minister told reporters.

The PAP, which has strictly controlled dissent but also delivered rapid economic growth, has been in power since 1959, when Singapore gained self-rule from Britain.

In 1965 it became a republic headed by Lee Kuan Yew, a respected but feared authoritarian figure who stepped down in 1990.

His death sparked an outpouring of patriotism and national grief.

Candidates filed nomination papers in schools across the city-state on Tuesday.

The main opposition Workers’ Party is contesting only 28 seats, assuring the PAP of a clear majority since smaller parties are poorly organised and meagrely funded.

Pritam Singh, a member of the Workers’ Party team that wrested the five-seat Aljunied district from the PAP in 2011, urged supporters to increase opposition numbers in parliament.

“Let us not slide back to a oneparty parliament landscape dominated by the PAP,” he said amid loud cheers. AFP

Backing Lee. Supporters of the People’s Action Party lift Singapore’s Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong after he submitted his documents at the Nomination center in Singapore on September 1, 2015. AFP

W E D N E S D AY : S E P T E M B E R 2 , 2 0 1 5

B8 Study says weight has effect on Alzheimer’s PARIS—Being overweight at the age of 50 may speed up the onset of Alzheimer’s disease in old age, said a study Tuesday in the journal Molecular Psychiatry.

A statistical comparison showed that every extra unit in body mass index (BMI, a height-to-weight ratio) in middle age corresponded to earlier onset of Alzheimer’s by about 6.5 months—what the authors called a “robust” correlation.

“A healthy BMI at midlife may delay the onset of AD,” the study paper said, referring to Alzheimer’s disease.

Researchers used the recorded BMI of more than 1,300 Americans, all of whom were monitored for an average of 14 years after signing up to be studied.

Of the group, 142 developed Alzheimer’s at an average age of 83.

The debilitating disorder is the most common form of dementia, which the World Health Organization says affects nearly 50 million people worldwide—some 7.7 million new cases per year.

Being obese or overweight in middle age was known to increase the risk for Alzheimer’s later, but it was not clear whether it affected the age of disease onset.

The WHO estimated more than 1.9 billion adults, of the world’s total population of seven billion, were overweight in 2014. Thirteen percent were obese.

“We found that for every unit increase in body mass index when these individuals were 50 years of age, they developed Alzheimer’s disease on average 6.5 months earlier,” study lead author Madhav Thambisetty of the National Institute on Aging of the US health department’s National Institutes of Health, said in a video recording.

“We also found in individuals whose brains we could examine after they died, that every unit of increase in body mass index was associated with more neurofibrillary tangles in the brain, which is one of the key pathological hallmarks of Alzheimer’s.”

People with a BMI of 25 and higher are generally classified as overweight, and 30 and over obese. In metric terms, it is calculated as your weight in kilograms divided by the square of your height in meters. AFP

cESAR BARRioquiNTo EDITOR

editorial@thestandard.com.ph

world

Arctic animals cope with climate change NY-ALESUND, Norway—When it comes to coping with climate change in the Arctic region, which is warming at three times the global average, some animals are more equal than others.

Drill. Elementary school children wear fireproof hoods as they gather at a hall during an earthquake drill at a school in Tokyo on September 1, 2015. Nationwide anti-disaster drills were held on the September 1 anniversary of the massive 1923 earthquake that killed more than 100,000 people in the Tokyo metropolitan area. AFP

Migrating Barnacle geese that fly north to lay eggs amid the Norwegian Arctic’s craggy peaks and melting glaciers are adapting very well, thank you, at least for now.

Reindeer, foxes and polar bears, however, are having a harder time of it.

Just finding enough to eat can be a struggle.

The geese—which leave Scotland each year by the thousands—have come like clockwork since time immemorial in the Spring to Spitsbergen and other islands in the Svalbard archipelago to nest.

Until, that is, a few years ago.

“In 2007 they suddenly pushed forward their 3,000-kilometer trip by two weeks and it’s been that way ever since,” said Maarten Loonen, a Dutch ornithologist who studies the archipelago.

The revised travel schedule does not seem to pose a problem. Indeed, the number of goslings that hatch each season has more than doubled in two decades, from 15,000 to some 35,000.

But experts caution that the geese may be thriving in spite of climate change, not because of it: their growing numbers, they suspect, are mainly due to strict European conservation laws.

The Arctic has warmed more than any other region on Earth, an amplifying effect linked to sea ice loss and changes in atmospheric and ocean circulation.

In December, 195 nations will gather in Paris with a mandate to forge a planet-saving climate pact.

Their goal: prevent average global temperatures from rising more than two degrees Celsius (3.6 degree Fahrenheit) above pre-industrial levels.

On Svalbard, temperatures shot up an average of 2.5 degrees Celsius (4.5 degrees Fahrenheit) over the last century, far exceeding the global increase of 0.8 C since the pre-industrial era.

Other animals have not managed to adapt as well as the geese to these rapid changes.

The freezing rain that often falls now instead of snow, for example, is making it harder for foxes and reindeer in Svalbard to get a meal.

The animals cannot break through the frozen rain to reach their food supplies. AFP

Comment sparks social media storm BERLIN—A German state minister sparked a social media storm Tuesday after calling a beloved German pop singer a “wonderful Negro” during a TV debate on Europe’s migrant crisis.

The Twitter hashtag #Neger (Negro) topped trending topics in Germany the morning after Bavarian Interior Minister Joachim Herrmann used the term for Roberto Blanco, who is of AfroCuban origin.

“Roberto Blanco was always a wonderful Negro, who most Germans thought was wonderful,” Herrmann had said in a TV talk show Monday evening on public

broadcaster ZDF. Continuing on the topic of immigrant “success stories” in Germany, he added that football powerhouse Bayern Munich also has many star players “with black skin”.

The debate centered on Blanco—a household name whose career as a singer peaked in the late 1960s and early 70s— comes as Europe faces its biggest migrant influx since World War II, with Germany the top destination.

On social media, people poured outrage and scorn on the comment from the minister of the conserva-

tive southern state of Bavaria.

Twitter user @Herzistvoll wrote: “A ‘Negro’ is only wonderful when he amuses white people with singing, dancing and football”.

User @TheGoodOldGamer commented that Herrmann “also has nothing against #Negroes who do the housework and work in the fields”.

Another Twitter user wrote that “whether Joachim Herrmann also finds #Obama wonderful remains unclear”.

An online comment from Berlin daily Tagesspiegel sneered that “little Joachim would like to be picked up from the 1950s”. AFP

Back to school. Students arrive at the Atlantique secondary school

(6e) in Aytre, southwestern France, on September 1, 2015, as part of the start of the new school year. AFP

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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

H OME & L I V ING

LIFE

The living room of Nelson, a Hong Kong resident

SMALL SPACES, BIG IMPACT “Urban areas in Asia are already congested, but that does not dampen the allure of living the Big City CALEIDOSCOPE in whether that WORLD be Manila,

BY CAL TAVERA S i n g ap ore , K u a l a Lumpur, Jakarta or HongKong,” shares HGTV’s Small Spaces co-host and interior designer Tristan Jovellana. Based on research from Colliers International, the residential condominiums of Makati, Bonifacio Global City and Ortigas are experiencing a decrease in vacancies this year with more people opting to rent these spaces out. Tristan shares, “Every square meter or square foot commands a premium in cosmopolitan areas in Asia so we better gear up for more compact spaces and with those challenges, we have to design smarter, greener and, of course, with bigger and bolder style.”

Along with James Koh from Singapore, the two hosts feature small homes that have transformed into more living spaces with much creativity from the homeowners and their designers. Based on the living quarters Tristan encountered on his show and projects, he has some recommendations to help us maximize our compact living. In general, Tristan shares that residents should make scale a top priority, along with color and lighting. Investing in a few large items instead of several small pieces can result in a more spacious, organized and stylish room.

Carmen's apartment

Lukasz Wawrzenczyk explains the design of the compact kitchen in his Hong Kong For her apartment in Singapore, Carmen designed multiple levels in the living-dining areas to maximize space, using platforms as stairs and storage. A transparent hanging apartment that utilized Space Invader-inspired mosaic tile patterns to capture the homeowner's love for retro games. It features a stainless steel counter for low bubble chair right above her stairs gives her a nice view of the neighborhood. maintenance and a teak wood chopping board that slides to cover the kitchen sink.

• Maximize the space. In one of the • Frosted or back-painted glass for featured apartments in Singapore, the homeowner designed multiple levels in the living-dining areas to make the most out of her home, using platforms as stairs and storage.

DINING AREA • The dining area is not just for eating.

LIVING AREA • Use mirrors. When strategically placed, • •

it instantly doubles the perception of space and increases illumination through reflected lighting.

Do not be intimidated by strong or vibrant colors for your accent wall.

Lighting is key here. Keep it bright with natural or artificial lights.

Use seating that doubles as storage, as well as chairs that can fold up and can be easily stowed away.

Carmen chats with Tristan Jovellana

•

It can double up as a makeshift workspace. Increase its functionality by adding convenience outlets nearby.

A properly illuminated dining table or bar counter makes food and beverages look more inviting and increases your productivity as well.

For bar counters that act as dining tables in most small apartments or condos, fabricate overhang cabinets or floating shelves for more storage and design potential.

KITCHEN • Reflective or translucent surfaces

increase the perceived depth of a space.

cabinet doors and the kitchen counter backsplash increase reflected light and enhance the illusion of space. Match this with stainless steel kitchen appliances for a more modern and industrial feel.

Feel free to play with color, patterns and materials on walls, tiles and cabinetry.

•

SLEEPING AREA • For some, a murphy bed is a good solution

•

•

•

to small sleeping areas or bedrooms.

For those who prefer traditional beds, increase storage by tapping on the space underneath. Use plastic or aluminum containers that easily slide in underneath your bed for rarely used items.

BATHROOM • Most bathrooms are poorly lit, often with just one light fixture for the entire space, creating shadows in corners that make the space look smaller. Having two to three light fixtures in the bathroom

can instantly make it feel bigger.

Place one above the lavatory (you'll be able to shave or put on makeup better), one in the shower area (less chances of using the wrong bath product), and one above the toilet (for those who enjoy their “throne time” reading).

Layering with lights, through cove lighting, also increases the perception of space.

Opt for frosted or clear shower enclosures instead of an opaque shower curtain which visually cuts off the space.

For more of these insightful tips, you can catch Tristan Jovellana in HGTV’s Small Spaces, a show that tackles smart and stylish living in compact spaces. The 30-seconder design tips as well as the five-minute episodes air about eight times daily.

Special thanks to the Singapore regional office of Scripps Networks Interactive for the photos.

Follow me on Instagram @cal_tavera

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LIFE life @ thestandard.com .ph

@LIFEatStandard

LET ME TELL YOU A STORY The hubby looked up at me from across our dinner table one night last week and said to me, “Why don’t you LIV.E SIMPLY write something for the children

BY LIV E. of your readers?

Wouldn’t that be awesome? You write every other week for their parents; the next time, why not write a little something for their kids?”

Have I ever mentioned that my husband is a genius?

Because I’m smart enough to recognize a great idea when it presents itself (insert little giggle here), I decided to follow his lead… with this story that’s very dear to my heart.

One that I’ve told all of my five boys at one point or another in their growing years. It’s a story that I’ve even written down in a little homemade book for them to read on their own – just because stories that come from the heart, I truly believe, must be safeguarded and preserved in some form of print so that they can be revisited any time in the future with not just the ears but the eyes as well.

It’s a story that I’d like to share today with you, so that, in the age-old tradition of passing it on, you can share it with your children, too. Because every kid loves stories, right? And if by chance you don’t have anyone that calls you Mom or Dad (yet or ever), that’s totally fine. Don’t turn the page just yet. Stay with me a while longer.

Because, you see, this is a story not just for children young enough to sit on your

lap and settle in for a bedtime story. It goes beyond that. It’s also for everyone who was once a child. And for everyone who deep in his heart is still a child.

And so, yes, that would include you. And me. And you over there, too. ★★★

THIS IS THE STORY OF A FLOWER.

[Actually, it’s about a girl, a boy, a flower, and that little thing called love.]

It wasn’t always a yellow one. Sometimes it was white with a yellow-green center, and sometimes it was pink. But always, always it was wild.

Every day, walking along the path home from school, a little girl would stop, stoop, and pick it up from where it was growing on the side of the road. She’d clutch it with her thin long fingers, firmly enough to make sure it didn’t flutter to the ground yet gently enough not to hurt its tender stem and soft tiny petals. She’d take a tiny sniff (even when she knew it wouldn’t have a smell), and twirl it around once to inspect it for any wayward bugs. Contented, she’d skip all the way home, straight into her mother’s arms, and present the flower

with pride and joy. And each time, her mom would smile and squeeze the little girl in a tight embrace, and lay the little flower on her desk, where it would sit for the rest of the day.

But one day, while the little girl was at school, she was told that her mom had gone ahead to a distant place, a very faraway place where the child could not follow – at least not right away, perhaps not for a very long time even. She knew, with a certainty that reached all the way to the bottom of her sinking heart, that her mom wouldn’t be home that day, or the next, or the next.

And so she stopped picking flowers.

As the little girl grew older, some boys would bring her very pretty flowers, the kind she knew they paid for at expensive flower shops. But she never really liked them. They were too perfect, too clean, too fragrant. She’d thank the boys, plop the flowers in a vase, and promptly forget about them.

Years after, a boy would come and bring her flowers.

Wild ones. The kind that she knew he couldn’t grab easily at any flower shop.

The kind she knew he had to really search for.

She married him.

Her wedding bouquet was a bunch of wild yellow flowers, sprinkled with

milky-white baby’s breath. Breaking tradition, she did not throw her bouquet for a hopeful girl to catch. Instead, after the reception, she and her new husband got into their honeymoon car and drove to the cemetery, where she laid the bouquet of flowers on the grass beside her mother’s name engraved on marble. Somehow, she knew in her heart that her mom was smiling that day.

Many years passed, and in that time the little girl became a mother herself, with five little boys of her own. One day, her little boy came running in from the garden, his eyes shining brightly as he burst through the door, singing at the top of his little-boy voice, “Mama, I have a little something for you!” In his hand, he held a flower. A flower that he had picked from among the weeds in the garden below.

It was a wild, yellow flower.

The little boy’s mother smiled as her now-grown fingers remembered when and remembered why. As she took the flower and laid it on her desk, she knew – as her own mother before her knew – that love, like a wild yellow flower, never dies. It just goes on and on, strong and sturdy, transcending the rigors of time and space and distance, connecting Heaven and earth, as it comes to rest, not just on a mother’s desk but in a mother’s heart.

And in a mother’s smile. For all time.

Follow me on Twitter @ LivE_LiveSimply Like my page and send me feedback @ Facebook/liv.esimplywithLiv

PET PULSE

A pet named Kuya Chumley

I

t is said that a dog is man’s best friend, and there have been numerous stories and instances that prove this to be true. They repay your kindness with loyalty, and when they see that you treat them like family, they will do their darnedest best to protect you.

“We got Chumley right after Arden and I got married,” Des Ong, a client services manager for a PR and communications company, shares about their black Labrador. And since she and Arden (who is a broadcast producer in ABS-CBN Global/ The Filipino Channel) did not immediately start a family, Chumley became their first baby, treating him like a real member of the family to the point that they would get easily affected whenever they would see people putting their dogs inside cages, and not sparing time to play with or take care of their pets.

Chumley (whose name was inspired by the witty and funny

Baby Kai with his "kuya"

character of Austin Russel who is nicknamed Chumlee in the History Channel TV show Pawn Stars) would join family trips out of town and would swim and play with the other kids on the beach.

Arden would take him for regular walks, talking to Chumley as if the dog were really human. And even when Des and Arden’s baby boy was born, he did not lose his place as the “first born” in the family.

Special time management though had to be made for the couple to take care both of Kai and “Kuya” Chumley. “We had to allocate more time to take care of the little one during the first

Bonding with the family

Chumley relaxing on the beach

three months and our time with Chumley somehow changed.

So what we did was to have a schedule – for example, when we wake up, mom takes care of the little boy while dad will take care of Chumley. We also made sure to spend time with Chumley throughout the day, get him treats once in a while and go on constant

walks throughout the day. We also made sure that Chumley and Kai would get to play with each other,” Des beams, recalling the first few months of their time management efforts with the two “kids” of the family who in turn seem to be getting along pretty well.

Asked about an anecdote that would demonstrate the kind of pet Chumley is, Des shares, “There was this one time when our front gate was destroyed, and since Chumley was the only one outside, he stayed by the gate to make sure that nobody would be able to enter. At that time, only Kai and his yaya were at home.

“When our grandma came over, she was not able to get past the gate because Chumley wouldn’t let her. He barked non-stop until yaya and Kai went outside, and saw that the gate had been destroyed and there was someone outside.

He really is a kuya to Kai,” she remarks, gratified at the kind of protectiveness that their pet dog has displayed towards their son.

Which goes to show that when you show love and protection to your pets, they repay you with love and loyalty. Way to go, Kuya Chumley!

PET PULSE is a feature that appears on Wednesdays. It is a short interesting read about our furry animal friends, spiced with anecdotes and stories that make them special to us. If you have a remarkable story to tell about your pets, email us at life@ thestandard.com.ph or send us a private message on our TW or IG account @LIFEatStandard.

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LIFE life @ thestandard.com .ph

@LIFEatStandard

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ARE YOU READY FOR THE BIG ONE?

L

ate in July, the Metro Manila Development Authority spearheaded the Metro Manila Shake Drill, with schools, business establishments and local government units participating in a mammoth metro-wide earthquake drill that tried to simulate conditions in case a 7.2 magnitude earthquake hits the metropolis.

Yet the question still remains: Is the Philippines, specifically Metro Manila, earthquake-ready?

Awareness about earthquakes happening across the country and many parts of the world the globe became even more heightened with the recent publication of the Valley Fault System Atlas led by the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology, with funding from the Australian Aid and the United Nations Development Program.

According to this report, two faults intersect with the major cities of Metro Manila. The West Valley Fault traverses the cities of Marikina, Quezon, Pasig, Taguig, Makati, Mandaluyong, and Muntinlupa. The other, the Manila Trench, is an underwater fault that lies off the coast of Manila Bay. As greater areas of Metro Manila and its neighboring provinces continue to become more urbanized with developers building structures that are higher than ever, and as a larger population and increasing land prices force people to live in apartment buildings, the safety of buildings during calamities becomes a primary consideration.

Amid the growing earthquake scare, developer Daiichi Properties, one of the country’s most notable real estate developers, revealed one of the most important elements to its construction process – seismic-testing.

“Performance-based testing,” says Eric Manuel, vice president for Business Development at Daiichi Properties, “is done by utilizing computer simulation models that reflect the various inputs and components in the design of a building, to measure its optimal efficiency.” In doing so, the models measure the structural integrity of the building’s shape and design, and the final output will be determined by how well its performance was during the simulation.

This performance-based seismic design (PBSD), a new methodology pioneered by the Magnusson Klemencic Associates (MKA) – an international award-winning structural and civil engineering firm, allows the design team to determine the appropriate levels of ground motion and performance objectives for the building and the non-structural components, so it meets and in most instances,

exceeds the Building Code. This system has greatly transformed the structural design of tall buildings in regions of high seismicity.

“Through the application of sophisticated analytical methods, Daiichi’s partner structural engineers are able to more reliably and directly predict building response during a maximum ground-shaking event. Our buildings’ designs are then tuned and optimized to respond in the most efficient way possible,” emphasizes Architect Reynaldo Fuentez, vice president for the project management group.

One World Place in Bonifacio Global City (BGC), a 32-storey Grade-A office building that has already achieved above-standard structural performance and reliability, is among Daiichi’s awardwinning structures. It partnered with AIT Consulting to evaluate the building’s structure, using their

performance-based evaluation, with special emphasis on the effects of earthquakes and wind.

World Plaza, another one of Daiichi’s projects, won another award for Best Office Development Philippines at this year’s Asia Pacific Property Awards, achieving abovestandard structural performance and reliability in performancebased seismic and wind evaluations.

The tests were conducted by MKA, and Sy^2 and Associates, one of the leading structural engineering companies in the Philippines.

Among Daiichi’s projects, The Finance Centre is by far the tallest, with its 42-storey structure amidst BGC’s other towering office buildings. It retained the services of Thorton Tomasetti, a New York-based structural engineering consulting firm, which provided structural engineering services using performance-based design principles. Like the other

developments by Daiichi, The Finance Centre achieved abovestandard structural performance and reliability in its tests.

Apart from performance-based tests that cover seismic resilience, Daiichi also includes another aspect to its structural evaluation efforts – structural resilience to wind. In a country visited by at least 20 typhoons annually, wind resilience is particularly critical, especially to high-rise buildings that require higher wind resistance than smaller structures.

“Performance-based testing is not just about seeing how our buildings tolerates seismic activity. Here in the Philippines, as urbanization leads to taller and denser buildings, we should all be concerned with how a building performs under strong wind speeds. The security and safety of our tenants is of paramount concern,” Manuel shares.

Even before the recent earthquake scare, Daiichi Properties had already foreseen the importance of innovating and designing developments that are naturally resistant to both earthquakes and strong typhoons. These, alongside other projects that use PBSD in designing and developing infrastructures throughout the metro, are what will continue to stand strong when the Big One hits.

Daiichi Properties, continues to build world-class structures of enduring value through its relentless pursuit of excellence in every aspect of the real estate process. With a commitment to the environment and to sustainability, Daiichi innovates designs and technology that aims to minimize energy use and waste. For more information, visit their website at http://www.daiichiproperties.com/.

Inspired living with Avida Land and Rags2Riches

M Collection pieces, placemats and coasters

Weaving with the Weavers Program Overview

Throwpillows (front and back design)

any people desire a lifestyle that allows them to have a rewarding career while fulfilling the passion to create a positive impact on their surrounding communities. Avida Land is one such developer that understands this aspiration, which is why it partnered with a notable social entrepreneur to promote a truly inspiring lifestyle.

The remarkable stor y began seven years ago when Rags2Riches established an innovative business model in the underprivileged communities in Payatas, Quezon City that empowered women and turned them into highly-skilled artisans producing high quality clutches, bags, accessories, home décor and many others. Slowly, decrepit shanties gave way to concrete dwellings, the hopes and dreams of the people becoming reality.

From the start, the business was designed so that the success of the partners would have a positive impact on the women,

Weaving with the Weavers Program Overview

their families, and the community, disclosed Rags2Riches president Reese Fernandez-Ruiz Avida Land, which celebrates 25 years of inspired living, is showcasing a specially designed line of home accessories created by the women of Payatas dubbed as the “Live Inspired Collection” at the Avida Land showroom in Glorietta. The stylish mats, coasters and throw pillows evoke the various lifestyles inspired by the top-ranked developer catering to the midmarket segment of the industry.

“The story of our brand aims to inspire more people to pursue their passion and to create a positive impact on the community surrounding them,” stressed Ruiz-

Fernandez. “Living your dream life is not just about you, it can also be in a way that by living your dream life, you also let others live the lives they only once dreamed about.”

“It has always been the thrust of Avida Land to promote sustainability in all its developments. And this thrust is something that our partnership with Rags2Riches underscores.

We admire how Rags2Riches has put the Philippines on the map with its world class products that do not only promote sustainability with the materials used, but also a sustainable relationship with the communities they partner with,” shared Tess Tatco, Avida Land head for marketing.

Visit an Avida Land showroom nearest you and discover lifestyles of passion and inspiration. The Live Inspired Collection can be viewed at Avida Showroom Glorietta until September 12.

Pre-orders will be accepted in all Rags2Riches outlets and online store, www.rags2riches.ph.

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LIFE life @ thestandard.com .ph

@LIFEatStandard

Families and friends hang out at the 2-hectare Ayala Malls Solenad, Ayala Lands’ newest premier shopping destination in Nuvali, opens up unique and exciting choices to the public. landscape of the mall

Ayala Malls Solenad’s 800 sqm. Atrium located at the Activity Park.

AYALA MALLS SOLENAD IN NUVALI OPENS UP EXCITING CHOICES

S

Up Dharma Down and Typecast played at the Activity Park during the launch weekend of Ayala Malls Solenad in A Bite of Rock & Soul – a band and acoustic show complemented with food trucks. Activity happens every weekend until September 27. Catch these performances every Saturday, 6pm: Pulso, 6cyclemind, MYMP, Duncan Ramos, Princess Velasco and Jimmy Bondoc.

omething exciting is brewing at Ayala Malls Solenad at Nuvali in Sta. Rosa, Laguna.

Residents from the area and the surrounding districts of Tagaytay, Batangas and Muntinlupa will enjoy the over 200 shopping, entertainment and dining options all under 40,000-square meters of retail space.

Ayala Malls Solenad bears the same signature of excellence Ayala Mall developments is known for. More than just just retail spaces for boutiques and restaurants, the mall is one of the first to embrace the outdoor active lifestyle. This is reflected in generous walkways, naturally ventilated spaces, bike lanes and pocket gardens. It has a two-hectare Activity Park with an 800sq.m. atrium that can be transformed into an entertainment and events venue for concerts, concept fairs and exhibits, product launches and more. The smaller gardens will cater to more intimate shows,

Cinemas will soon open at Ayala Malls Solenad.

House of Bawaii

children’s or pocket activities. It also houses an outdoor playground which features spring riders, a slide, and unique luminescent (glow-in-the-dark) swings placed on colorful rubber flooring.

At the recent launch of Solenad, Ayala Land Inc. president and CEO Bobby Dy shared that the developer wanted something that would distinguish the mall which is designed to be highly pedestrian–friendly with a lot of open spaces. “The mix of offerings is also

going to be unique and different. We will feature a Fiesta Market and a Hawker’s Market,” said Dy, adding that the new development will boost business and uplift the local economy as it is expected to generate at least 1,000 new jobs.

Mayor Arlene Arcillas of Sta. Rosa remarked that, “Nuvali is considered as one of the top five destinations in the Philippines now,” and expressed her gratitude to the developer for its support in turning Sta. Rosa into a world-class and vibrant district.

How to design a work-conducive home office

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n this age of freelancing and start-ups, workspaces have moved from the confines of the traditional office to our very own homes. Working from home is hot today because, first of all, it’s cost effective; homebased workers can simply work in their pajamas (less clothing expenses), drink coffee straight from the kitchen (less coffee runs), and work without virtually going anywhere (less transportation expenses).

Working from home also affords employees and entrepreneurs flexibility in their time – unbounded by office schedule – so they can start and end a workday whenever they see fit.

But having both living space and workspace in the same place can have its drawbacks. Getting into a routine and shifting from home mode to work mode (and vice versa) can be difficult when you can literally just roll back into your bed instead of finishing the task at hand.

While there are many ways to organize and improve your work space, it is important to keep three things in mind: it should maximize productivity, influence creativity and reflect your personality.

AMA Tower Residences, a 34-story office condominium development along EdsaOrtigas, offers these five simple tips to make sure that your home is not only relaxing but also induces productivity and creativity.

for a calming shade, light green or powder blue will do the trick.

Keep your home-office space clutter free.

Think function over form. Before buying furniture, think about the essentials. Invest in pieces that are stylish yet ergonomic. Homeoffice furniture should blend seamlessly with your existing décor. For a contemporary look, pick an office desk or chair with a modern, sleek design.

Keep it clutter-free. Hide unsightly electronic cords by drilling a hole through your cabinet or desk for the wires to slip through. Pinning them neatly against a wall also helps keep

Invest in pieces that are stylish yet ergonomic.

Have a signature scent. For a full sensory experience, find a scent that will help set a mood while working. Peppermint and lavender scents provide a more relaxing ambiance while citrus and fruit-based scents are invigorating.

Inspiration boards with your favorite quote can lighten work.

Inspire yourself. A home-office set-up should be inspiring. When you feel motivated, work becomes lighter and productivity increases. Create an inspiration board with a typography print of your favorite quote or a framed snap of your loved ones on your desk. Cherished treasures from past travels are also great additions to your collection.

it clutter-free. Buy baskets, organizers and file-stackers with a design that speaks to you.

Instead of wire-rimmed pen holders, use a recycled mason jar for a more rustic look.

Keeping your things organized lets you focus on what needs to be done for the day.

Paint the walls with a color you like for both home and office. Don’t be afraid to be adventurous. If you’re working on a smaller space, pick one wall as a focal point by painting it with a bright hue. But if you opt

AMA Tower Residences offers highly customizable units which make it easy for owners and tenants to personalize their condo lifestyle. Unit types and cuts range from studio to one-bedroom and twobedroom flats. For more aligned living and working spaces, loft and bi-level units are also offered.

To learn more about AMA Tower Residences, visit www.amatower.com

W EDNES DAY : S EPT EMBER 2 : 2015

SHOWBITZ

ISAH V. RED EDITOR

isahred @ gmail.com

More than just a pretty face

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Liza talks to young students at the launch of Camp Courage

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Johnson and Johnson Philippines officials welcome Liza as Camp Courage senior scout

By nickie Wang

iza Soberano quickly established herself as a teen idol and as one of the most sought after stars of her generation. Her greatest asset, as everyone would agree, is her good looks. In fact, many consider her as one of the most beautiful faces in local showbiz.

But is that what Liza would really like to be known for? Sure her physical attribute has landed her on numerous TV and movie projects, however, Liza would like people to look at her as someone who is effective on the roles she plays either on the boob tube or the big screen.

“I’d like them to consider me as a serious actress. Sometimes it’s good that people see me as someone who is good-looking but I’d also like them to see what’s between my ears. I would like them to know me as someone who can be a role model to the youths as well,” Liza told The Standard.

We met with the 17-year-old Kapamilya actress at a recent event in Taguig. The young star arrived at the venue, a public school, in a white top and a pair of flippy blue short pants. Although she was just wearing sneakers, the model-like Liza was pretty hard to ignore even if she was just sporting a barely there makeup and her hair was plainly down.

She looked dewy fresh when she joined the other teenage girls, who were all made up for a morning event, for a photo opportunity.

Whether or not it was intended, that made Liza a standout among the ambassadors to Johnson and Johnson’s latest advocacy, Camp Courage.

Camp Courage seeks to inspire every Filipina teen to be determined to discover their full potential by not being restrained by

the many changes happening in their life, instead, allowing them to celebrate the many opportunities being young brings about.

“I instantly felt excited when they told me about Camp Courage because like any other teenager, I also go through a lot of insecurities that make me doubt myself and restrains me from moving confidently. Not many people know about this but every time I face a large crowd, I experience stage fright,” Liza related.

She may be a big star for her age but Liza is just like any other teenagers – she spends a lot of time surfing the Net, she also enjoys reading books and feels excited playing video games.

“I’m also a weirdo. I read a lot of weird stuff…say, I search about the tallest men, fattest women, and anything that I find strange,” the Forevermore star said while flashing her pearly whites.

And with her fondness in reading books, she said that it makes her miss school all the more. Liza had to stop attending regular school because of the demanding schedule she had when taping Forevermore. But she’s determined to finish school. She would like to pursue a degree in Psychology, and eventually have a profession other than being in front of the camera.

“I like reading minds and understanding the behavior of people. I told you I read weird stuff, I’m also interested reading and watching about people who suffer from mental illness. I feel for them and one day, I’d like to help these unfortunate people,” the soft-spoken yet eloquent Liza asserted.

Liza is launched as of the faces of the advocacy that aims to reach out to about 400,000 Filipina teens in 500 schools nationwide start-

ing this month. It will conduct workshops and activities that will help girls understand their bodies even better, know the right things to do in any situation, and find opportunities where they can enhance their talents and skills even more. More importantly, the Camp Courage School Program will encourage teens to face their teen challenges head on, inspiring them to believe in themselves and their abilities.

The young actress furthered that this platform will be a venue to house a strong support system of girls encouraging other girls, making it a safe place where they can share their feelings and receive their much needed support from friends.

“I’ve learned from the women I look up to that the teenage years is a very exciting phase in one’s life – packed with opportunities that we can’t allow to pass.

That is why I am one with Camp Courage in empowering girls like me to be more confident to seize every moment,” she ended.

Liza is an advocate of Camp Courage, a project that aims to inspire every young Filipina

DingDong Dantes takes new “baby” to sarangani

a Dingdong meets Fuglong cultural master

Dingdong Dantes at Tabih weaving in Lamlifew Village Museum

side from his showbiz commitments, actor Dingdong Dantes has been very busy with his new “baby”, in addition to eagerly waiting for his first-born with Marian Rivera.

His baby is none other than Project 888, a new program of YesPinoy Foundation to develop the country’s next generation of leaders by providing better access to education to poor but deserving students.

He recently visited the charming southern province of Sarangani to launch the project in the area as the chairman of the Foundation. Project 888 will be taken in eight areas within eight months to find eight deserving children who would be fullyfunded by the YPF.

“We have to give the service back to our community, families and schools. Iyan ang challenge ko sa lahat ng mga kabataan. Gamitin natin ang lahat ng ating natutunan sa pamayanan,” Dantes exhorted the students during the project’s launch.

Meanwhile, Governor Steve Chiongbian Solon emphasized that each Sarangan youth should be able to finish college.

“Our partnership with YesPinoy Foundation paves way to opportunities in the form of scholarships and volunteer trainings,” he said during the launch held at the provincial capital town of Alabel where more than 2,000 high school students attended.

Dantes also visited Lamlifew Village Museum and the School of Liv-

ing Tradition in Malungon town, home of the Blaan indigenous tribal community and Sarangani’s cultural gem. There he met Blaan boat lute (Fuglong) cultural master Bai Hermania Lacna and was treated to a cultural presentation of music and dance by Blaan children.

He also witnessed the exquisite weaving of the Tabih, the traditional hand woven Blaan tubular skirt and considered as Sarangani’s crown jewel of cultural resources.

YesPinoy is an advocacy championed by Dantes, who is also a commissioner of the National Youth Commission, with the support of his industry associates, friends in government, and like-minded people who advocate for a meaningful change in the society.

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SHOWBITZ isahred @ gmail.com

AsiAnA Airlines flies to AstAnA MasterChef Asia judges Susur Lee, Audra Morrice and Bruno Menard

Filipino amateur cooks Rico Amancio, Lica Ibarra and Jake Aycardo

PinOy hOPEfULS COOk ThEiR Way TO ‘MaSTERChEf aSia’ niCkiE WanG Three Filipinos are competing for the title of Master Chef in the hit show’s Asian edition. They are: Rico Amancio, an Ilonggo paralegal; Jake Aycardo, a financial analyst; and Lica Ibarra, a single mom, an athlete and a finance sales officer.

You see, all three Filipino cooks have different background but in the first season of MasterChef Asia, they represent just one flag and will only have one goal – to showcase their culinary skills and eventually walk home with the title and the $50,000 cash prize.

Amancio, Aycardo and Ibarra are set for an explosive battle with fellow amateur cooks from China, India, Taiwan, Vietnam, Indonesia, Malaysia and Singapore in a 15-episode show that premieres tomorrow, Sept. 3, at 9 p.m. on Lifetime (Skycable channel 65 and Destiny Cable channel 44).

Award-winning chef Susur Lee, who has been regarded the “Father of Fusion,” will be one

of the judges. He will be joined

by MasterChef Australia season 4 finalist Audra Morrice and 3-Michelin star chef, Bruno Ménard.

“Contestants are not only fighting for the MasterChef Asia title but also for national pride,” said Prem Kamath, deputy managing director in Asia Pacific for A+E Networks, distributor of Lifetime in the Philippines.

Kamath furthered that Lifetime has prepared a fantastic show, given that it features 15 contestants from eight different countries. He added that the competitive reality cooking show is also the media company’s biggest production to date.

“It’s natural for us to look for local show but we decided to take a format which is doing extremely well in our channel that’s why we decided to produce MasterChef Asia. And this is not just for the region of course, our show will be seen throughout the word,” Kamath announced.

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contains provisions that protect LGBT (lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender) constituents.

Last week, in a press launch hosted by the city, the milestone ordinance took a more solid shape with the adoption of the Implementing Rules and Regulation (IRR) that was drafted by the local government in partnership with community-based organizations. The ceremonial turnover of IRR was led by QC Pride Council Chair Soxy Topacio, some local officials and other LGBT leaders.

“It’s a momentous event not just for QC but for the LGBT community in general. It is such

LGBT in QC Last year, a Quezon City councilor authored an ordinance considered as the most comprehensive anti-discrimination ordinance in the country that

CROSSWORD PUZZLE

ACROSS 1 Horizon, maybe 6 Pedro’s coin 10 NYC art center 14 It quakes in the Rockies 15 Roman or Buzzi 16 Gen. — Halftrack 17 Intended 18 Pupil’s place 19 Hung on to 20 Bright orange fruit

Soxy Topacio (second from right) joined by Quezon City officials and candidates to Queen of Quezon City 2015

Alpine peak Aquarius’ tote Violent weather Wimple sporter All excited Fashion accessory Ending for depart Reckless Meager Pack down Immeasurable time Poi base

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Bad posture Recipe direction Holiday cheer Elegant accessory Ski lift (hyph.)

Roman teenager’s age Clears, as a drain Favoritism Like a pitcher’s dream game (hyph.)

Future frogs Paris cop Horrid-tasting Lint collector Long-active volcano Cato’s road “Maria —” Faculty honcho Monster’s loch Avoid expiration

DOWN 1 Mae West persona 2 Um-hmm (2 wds.)

3 Bandy words 4 Rigid 5 Kind of protest 6 Pale yellow 7 Drachma’s successor 8 Be frugal

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Sighs of distress Achieving success (2 wds.)

Sweater letter Had the blues Starry prefix Part of MHz Viking name Tattoo parlor sounds Squirrel staples Europe-Asia range “Nautilus” skipper Spook Tailless cat B.C. or Que. Jellystone bear Tax collector Fish, maybe Ducklike bird Beldam Go kaput Fitness guru Famished “48 Hrs.” lead Dishes Ill will Marshy tract Flamenco shouts Hot place Kind of pool Popular side dish Yves’ wine

a big step,” said Topacio during the ceremonial turnover.

To further celebrate the landmark ordinance (billed QC Gender-Fair Ordinance), the Quezon City Hall stages the “Queen of Quezon City,” a beauty pageant with gay and transgender contestants. The coronation night, where 25 contestants shall outwit each for the crown, is slated on Sept. 12 at the AFP Theater in Camp Aguinaldo.

The alternative beauty pageant is also the city’s way of proving that it is always at the forefront of championing gender equality and fairness.

Asiana Airlines (OZ) strengthens its route network in Central Asia with the addition of flights to Astana, the capital of Kazakhstan starting this month. The multi-awarded Korean carrier has been servicing Kazakhstan for nearly 20 years since launching flights to Almaty, Kazakhstan’s main commercial and cultural center and former capital city.

Astana was declared capital city in 1997 and will be the host for Expo 2017, a world exhibition themed “Future Energy.” The city is master-planned, much like Washington DC or Canberra, and features the Presidential Palace and Parliament House of Kazakhstan.

It is also known for its futuristic skyscrapers and unusual architecture, especially for such structures like the Bayterek Tower, the Palace of Peace and Reconciliation, the Central Concert Hall and the Khan Shatyr entertainment complex, a shopping mall that is also the world’s largest tent.

Asiana will fly to Astana every Saturday using an Airbus 330300 with 290 seats. Flights are also available on Tuesdays via code sharing with Air Astana.

With Astana and Almaty in Central Asia, and Rome in Europe, Asiana Airlines continues to expand its reach to many destinations worldwide. In Europe, the airline also flies to Frankfurt, London, Paris and Istanbul. In the US, Asiana flies to LA, New York, San Francisco, Seattle and Chicago.

Asiana flies out of three points in the Philippines: Manila, Clark and Cebu to its hub in Incheon International Airport and other destinations worldwide.

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SHOWBITZ isahred @ gmail.com

Charo Santos-Concio is this year Gala Chair at International Emmy Awards

ChArO sAntOs-COnCiO ChAirs eMMy® AwArds GAlA

O

The trophies GMA Network won at Sparks Awards

n Nov. 23, the 43rd International Emmy® Awards will be held in New York City and Charo Santos-Concio, president, chief executive officer & chief content officer of ABS-CBN Corporation, the Philippines’ media and entertainment conglomerate will serve as Gala Chair.

Santos-Concio will preside over the Gala, during which the International Academy will recognize programming in 10 program categories and present Special Awards to Julian Fellowes, creator and writer of Downton Abbey (Founders Award) and Richard Plepler, chairman and CEO of HBO (Directorate Award). As previously announced, the awards ceremony will be hosted by Egyptian satirist Bassem Youssef, former host of the popular TV show Al-Bernameg (The Program).

“Ms. Charo Santos-Concio is an internationally respected broadcast producer and executive who has spearheaded the growth of her organization to a leading position in the Philippines and the region beyond,” said Bruce L. Paisner, president and CEO of the International Academy of Television Arts & Sciences. “We are delighted to have her Chair our 2015 International Emmy Awards Gala.”

Santos-Concio said, “Viewing habits of TV audiences worldwide have changed in recent years, but

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what has not changed is the passion of creators to produce excellent, meaningful, and transformative content in different platforms that resonates with people and what the International Emmy Awards celebrates annually. I am honored to chair this year’s Gala that brings together and recognizes the achievements of these extraordinary individuals from across the globe.”

The 2015 International Emmy® Nominees will be announced at a press conference in Cannes at Mipcom on Oct. 5.

HHHHH GMA leAds At the 2015 spArk AwArds, sinGApOre A platinum, seven gold, three silver, and two bronze awards were what GMA Network brought home from Singapore.

The network bested rivals from the Philippines as well as those from South Asia, Southeast Asia, Australia and New Zealand at the recently concluded Spark Awards 2015 in Singapore.

GMA Marketing and Productions, Inc., GMA’s marketing arm, received the Platinum Award as Best in Show, a special recognition given to a single media owner that performs best across all categories.

(There were 24 categories covering all areas of media solutions) Several GMA campaigns received the highest honor in their respective categories.

GMA Marketing & Produc-

tions Inc. won Gold for Best Content Team, along with Share the Love for Best Corporate Branding by a Media Owner, #GoManny: Pacquiao-Mayweather Fight Campaign for Best Programme Promotion, Kapuso Milyonaryo for Best Engagement Strategy, the Christmas Short Film for Cebuana Lhuillier “Happiest Pinoy” for Best Use of Branded Content by a Media Owner, Del Monte Kitchenomics for Best App by a Media Owner and Del Monte Kitchenomics for Best Media Solution – Digital.

Five other campaigns received accolades for their powerful results with the Silver Award going to Share The Love for Best Media Solution – TV/Online Video, #GoManny: Pacquiao-Mayweather Fight Campaign for Best Media Solution – Digital, and the GMA Christmas Short Film for Lady’s Choice Mayonnaise “Santa” for Best Use of Branded Content; while Del Monte Kitchenomics received Bronze Awards for Most Improved Offering By a Media Owner and Best Campaign by a Media Owner.

The Spark Awards recognizes the top media solutions, products and services from media owners and publishers across South Asia, Southeast Asia and Australia & New Zealand. The Awards acts as the main platform for media owners to demonstrate their innovation and effectiveness to advertisers, agencies and clients.

MiChael learns to roCk sMart araneta ColiseuM

It’s a fact --Filipinos love to sing. We all love to sing-along with an artist during concerts. One such artist that could ignite our passion for singing is Michael Learns to Rock.

Yes, their Filipino fans are now eagerly anticipating their one-nightonly concert at the Smart Araneta Coliseum, on Sept. 19. Expect the big dome to rock and reverberate with heartfelt emotions as audiences will definitely sing their hearts out with the band when they deliver their greatest hits, live!

This concert is a timely and momentous occasion to celebrate Michael Learns to Rocks’ 25 years of racking up a compelling and unbroken string of memorable, catchy, and timeless love songs. “The Actor”, “25 Minutes”, “Sleeping Child”, “Out of the Blue”, “That’s Why You Go Away”, “Nothing To Lose”, “Breaking My Heart”, Take Me To Your Heart”, “Someday”, “Paint My Love”, and many more hits have been dubbed as ‘all-time favorite ‘classics’.

Michael Learns to Rock was formed in the spring of 1988 in Denmark. The band is composed of singer and keyboard player Jascha Richter, drummer Kåre Wanscher, guitarist Mikkel Lentz

Michael Learns To Rock returns to Manila

. This year, as Michael Learns to Rock celebrate their 25th year anniversary, their biggest and most comprehensive Greatest Hits collection, simply title ‘25’, will hit stores and digital downloading sites soon. “25” marks the first time that

all of Michael Learns to Rock’s hits are presented in one collection, offering a soundtrack of hits as you walk down memory lane.

Kåre Wanscher, drummer / co-founding member of Michael Learns To Rock, shared his views

on how proud he feels about “25”, adding. “The collection of songs on this album represents the best of our work during the last 25 years. Listening to the album brings back a lot of memories and makes me confident that it

has all been worth it. I hope that listening to this album will also bring you some good memories and great, positive emotions.”

With a global record sales of 11 million physical albums since the debut album in 1991, more than six million paid downloads, estimated 50 million video views on YouTube, more than a million plays on Last.FM, and years of sold-out shows in many parts of the globe, the Michael Learns to Rock’s story spans 25 years of great music. Michael Learns to Rock’s phenomenal rise to fame and their continued success is anchored on their incredible gift to write, record and play great pop songs that touch the lives of people from all over the world.

Be part of this momentous celebration. Experience one big singalong concert party as Michael Learns to Rock hits the stage with their greatest hits. You know their songs by heart. Sing it loud, sing it live with Michael Learns to Rock!

Catch them Smart Araneta Coliseum, 8 p.m. on Sept. 19.

Tickets are available at www.

Ticketnet.com.ph. Presented to you by CCA Live Entertainment and Midas Promotions.

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ISAH V. RED EDITOR isahred @ gmail.com

SHOWBITZ

1 Eula Caballero is also in the sitcom 2 Martin Escudero also plays a funny role in the sitcom 3 Tueday Vargas plays the central character in Kano Luvs Pinay 4 Lee O’Brian is the American Vargas meets online 5 Boboy Garovillo is the father of Vargas in the show

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Is theRe tRue love In InteRRacIal RelatIonshIps? 53rd New York Film Festival. The film will be featured in the Revivals section. Its screening will be on Sept. 28 at the famed Film Society of Lincoln Center.

This will be its second run at the New York Film Festival, as it was part of a retrospective during the celebrated festival’s 44th edition in 2006. The NYFF, one of the unique festivals, which presents no prizes and prides itself in not being a commercial or industry event, is known for curation, championing high aesthetic standards in its selections. Producer Ruby Tiong Tan, who gave the film rights to the National Film Archives of the Philippines (NFAP), was in attendance at the film’s New York premiere nearly a decade ago.

The 53rd New York Film Festival takes place at the Film Society of Lincoln Center from Sept. 25 to Oct. 11. ➜ continued on c7

ISAH V. RED “Atey”. “Exotica”. “P.S.S.” or “Pinay Success Story”.

These are just some of the words people associate with Filipinas who are in interracial relationships. Often frowned upon or ridiculed, these relationships are often depicted with plain-looking Juanas clinging to old Caucasian men.

TV5 and Unitel Productions have come together to bring to Philippine TV Randolph Longhas’ acclaimed indie film, Ang Turkey Man Ay Pabo Rin, that speaks about the trials, tribulations and triumphs faced by interracial couples. Through their newest Saturday sitcom, Kano Luvs Pinay, viewers will see the Filipino experience through the eyes of a foreigner and the realization of the American dream in the eyes of a Filipina. It is a celebration of love as a universal force that doesn’t discriminate against race, color, stature or culture.

Kano Luvs Pinay features Kapatid Network’s top comedienne Tuesday Vargas playing the role of Conchita Evelyn Bigoy, a.k.a. Cookie, a 30-year-old single mom from a middle-class family who’s into direct-selling business as her means to provide for her son. She logs in to kanoluvspinay.com, a dating site for Filipinas looking for American bachelors, and there she finds the eventual love of her life, Matthew Adams, portrayed in the show by American actor Lee O’ Brian.

Hilda Koronel is Insiang which will play at the New York Film Festival

As they get along, the Fil-Am couple encounters peculiar Filipino customs, showing various cultural differences that often lead to conflict -- such as karaoke music, extended families, immigration laws and, eventually, the choice between living here or abroad.

O’ Brian further discusses what makes their program unique from other sitcoms.

“It may be a situational comedy yet it deals with many issues that both Filipinos and foreigners alike deal with when interacting.

I have not seen another show on Philippine TV that has crossed cultural borders this much. I am really excited to see the reaction from

both local Filipinos and Filipinos abroad, along with the people who are their significant others. It’s another benefit of this opportunity, to see how those cross-cultural issues resonate with them.

“What our program is dealing with and minimizing is the tendency to see an interracial couple for something other than true love.

Many times the people around the couple think it’s economically motivated or it’s to get a visa when in reality the two people just love each other,” O’ Brian shares.

Will Cookie and Matthew’s love conquer all? Or will they eventually get lost in translation?

The sitcom also stars Wilma

Doesn’t, Kiki Baento, Martin Escudero, Eula Caballero, veteran actors Boboy Garovillo and Ces Quesada. Chok-Chok Venida plays the role of Jon-jon, Cookie’s equally quirky 8-year-old son.

Kano Luvs Pinay premieres this Saturday, Sept. 5, 9 p.m. on TV5.

HHHHH InsIang RetuRns to the 53Rd new YoRk FIlm FestIval After its premiere in the Classics section of the Cannes Film Festival earlier this year, before making its way to the World Premieres Film Festival Philippines, the newly restored version of Lino Brocka’s classic Inisang now returns to the

Interracial relationships is the core of the sitcom Kano Luvs Pinay and hopes to erase the stereotypes that are attached to such couplings