The Standard - 2015 September 19 - Saturday

VOL. XXIX  NO. 219  3 Sections 32 Pages P18  SATURDAY : SEPTEMBER 19, 2015  www.thestandard.com.ph  editorial@thestandard.com.ph

Recto: Give Medal of Valor to SAF 44

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200 JUMP LP’S SHIP

Poe proclamation convinces local officials to join Danding’s party

By Maricel V. Cruz and Macon Ramos-Araneta SENATOR Grace Poe’s entry into the 2016 presidential race has led at least 200 local officials from various political parties—mostly from the ruling Liberals—to jump ship to the Nationalist People’s Coalition (NPC), which is likely to back her candidacy, party officials said Friday.

Batangas Rep. Mark Llandro Mendoza, NPC secretary general, said the local officials from different parts of the country took their oath Friday as new members of the NPC, the country’s second largest political party.

Mendoza said they were surprised at the apparent mass defection of many local officials to the NPC, following the announcement of the team-up between Poe and

Senator Francis Escudero for 2016.

“This is the start,” Mendoza said.

“We were surprised because right after the announcement of Poe and Escudero, so many local officials called us wanting to move to the NPC.” Mendoza said they expect more defections as the NPC flexes its political muscles in preparation for the 2016 elections.

“Next week, there will be more de-

fections as NPC leaders move to the provinces for oath taking,” he added.

This week’s defections were mostly from Quezon, Batangas, Laguna, Camarines and Metro Manila, he said.

Mendoza said the political party founded by businessman Eduardo Cojuangco Jr. was also in talks with the Nacionalista Party and the National Unity Party for a possible coalition.

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New members. Nationalist People’s Coalition president Giorgidi Aggabao administers the oath to the party’s new members at the NPC’s head office in Quezon City. Lino Santos

Mar makes ‘formal offer’ for Leni to join him on Friday morning during the celebration of the Feast of Our Lady of Peñafrancia—Patroness NAGA CITY, Camarines Sur of all Bicolandia, where Nueva — Liberal Party standard bearer Caceres Archbishop Rolando Manuel Roxas II on Friday for- Joven Tria Tirona gave his blessmally invited Camarines Sur ings to the two.

Robredo reportedly sought Rep. Maria Leonor “Leni” Robredo to be his running mate Tirona’s guidance regarding Roxas’ invitation. for the 2016 polls.

“The truth is, she [Robredo] “I was formally offered by Secretary Mar to be his run- doesn’t want to enter politics, ning mate. I said that I would but when she has seen the be thinking about it. The biggest needs of her countrymen here influence would be my chil- in Naga, she stepped up,” Roxas dren,” said Robredo in a chance said in an interview.

“I’m sure that Congresswoman interview with reporters.

Robredo accompanied Roxas Leni is with us in pushing for the

By John Paolo Bencito and Sandy Araneta

straight path,” he added.

Robredo, together with Batangas Gov. Vilma Santos, Senator Alan Peter Cayetano, Justice Secretary Leila de Lima, and former Agriculture czar Francisco Pangilinan are on the shortlist to be Roxas’ running mate, LP chairman for political affairs and Caloocan Rep. Edgardo Erice said on radio dzMM. Robredo has said many times she is not keen on seeking the vice presidency.

In a deleted post on a social networking site, she posted a photo of her late husband, former Interior Secretary Jesse Ro-

bredo, asking him for a “lifeline.”

In Sorsogon City, a top LP official in the province said they would support Roxas in the 2016 elections, but would also back their province mate Senator Francis Escudero, for the vice presidency.

“They have to understand.

Sorsogon is different. We have to support Escudero because he is from here so it’s Mar-Chiz,” said Sorsogon Gov. Raul Lee, referring to Escudero by his nickname.

Roxas said he was not worried that Escudero would split the vote in Sorsogon.

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Santiago seeks probe of Yolanda aid misuse

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Binay sues Mercado for libel once again VICE President Jejomar Binay filed on Friday another libel complaint against former Makati Vice Mayor Ernesto Mercado before the Makati City prosecutor’s office.

The new libel case is aimed at proving that Mercado lied and maliciously, falsely and feloniously accused the vice president of extorting condominum units from developers amounting to 60-70 percent of all the condominium buildings in Makati, Binay’s lawyer Claro Certeza said.

“This claim has been publicly belied by the developers themselves. It only shows that Mercado is a pathological liar and has zero credibility,” he said.

SM Development Corp., Megaworld Corp., Robinsons Land Corp., Rockwell Land Corp., and Eton Properties released separate statements denying they gave condominium units to Binay or members of his family.

“The series of libel complaints filed by the vice president shows his commitment to answer and refute the accusations against him in the proper forum in accordance with the rule of law,” Certeza said.

In the vice president’s complaint-affidavit, he noted that Ariel Olivar—whom Mercado accused of being Binay’s dummy for his alleged unit in The Peak Tower—admitted that he received his instructions from Mercado himself.

During the Senate Blue Ribbon subcommittee hearing on Jan. 22, Olivar admitted he never met Binay and it was Mercado who asked that the Peak Tower unit be placed under his name.

The unit under Olivar’s name is the same as the unit where Mercado’s former livein partner, Racquel Ambrosio, was found dead in 2002.

Vito Barcelo

Mar...

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“I’m not worried. There’s only one Daang Matuwid under PNoy. All others are their own versions,” Roxas said.

The Palace on Friday said Robredo was qualified to be vice president.

“She has a very good head on her shoulders. She is also a lawyer and

Festival. Performers dance as they start the week-long celebration of the Ma Tzu Festival in San Fernan-

200...

From A1 So far, NPC chairman Faustino Dy said, the party has yet to make an official stand on who they will support in 2016.

“The party will support whoever will help the poor,” Dy said in Filipino before the oath taking ceremony.

“At the moment, we still don’t have a position on who we will support, but we should be united when the executive committee of the party decides,” he added.

Isabela Rep. Giorgidi Aggabao, NPC president, maintained that majority of the party members support Poe and Escudero.

Camarines Sur Rep. Rolando Andaya, former member of the administration party, echoed Aggabao’s sentiment.

“This is a strong message on where the heart of the party really is,” Andaya said.

“A lot of people are supporting Senator Grace. The message is out there. No need to say it out loud.”

Andaya said that Poe’s 20-point agenda which she presented during her proclamation, was a manifestation of her sincerity, seriousness and willingness to deliver.

“The fight still has a long way to go.

But when you come into a long campaign and you already have a plan of programs you want to push for on Day 1, it shows your willingness to serve. The rest have long declared their candidacies but they have yet to present an agenda.

All we have heard from them are slogans,” Andaya said.

The Palace said Friday it was unfazed by the exodus of Liberal Party members to the NPC. “The thrust of the President is not personality politics,” said deputy presidential spokeswoman Abigail Valte.

During a press briefing in Malacañang, she also said President Benigno Aquino III was more focused on pushing for his Daang Matuwid (straight path) platform of government.

“And also, if you look at the history of every major election that we’ve had, you will always see shifts in the landscape of your political parties,” Valte added. “You see that in every election.”

“But what is important for the President and his chosen candidate is that they continue to argue and to discuss based on programs and policies,” she said.

Poe topped the Magdalo party-list survey of almost 3,000 respondents for president in the 2016 elections. She was followed by Vice President Jejomar Binay, Liberal Party standard-bearer Manuel Roxas II and Davao City Mayor Rodrigo Duterte.

No information was given about who conducted the survey or what its margin of error was.

The Magdalo party-list group is mostly made up of former mutineers led by Senator Antonio Trillanes IV. The group Philippines Trends reported that over 15-million people online lifted Poe to the top of trending topics on the Twitter social network with the hashtag #POE2016 as she announced her bid to run for president.

do City, La Union. CHRISTINE JUNIO

has no taint on her record,” said deputy presidential spokeswoman Abigail Valte.

Valte also pointed to Robredo’s record as a congresswoman, and her advocacy of transparency and accountability.

“We have worked with her on a number of initiatives,” Valte added.

Robredo is a proponent of a Freedom of Information bill that the Palace has not supported.

Valte acknowledged that Sena-

tor Grace Poe, not Robredo, was President Benigno Aquino III’s first choice to be Roxas’ running mate, but Poe has decided to run for president on her own.

“I think they [Aquino and Robredo] talked a month ago but they were talking about a possible Senate run,” she said.

Valte said there have been previous initiatives to convince Robredo to run for vice president.

Presidential spokesman

Edwin Lacierda started a social media campaign to convince Robredo to run for vice president through the hashtag #jumpwithleni.

“There are other groups pushing her to run for vice president.

This is not the first initiative to convince congresswoman Leni to run,” Valte said.

“Roxas is with Robredo right now in Naga. Let’s wait for Congresswoman Robredo’s decision

on this, “ said Valte.

She said a Roxas-Robredo team would be formidable.

On Thursday, Aquino said he sees no problem with Poe running on a “daang matuwid” platform, and that it will be up to the Filipino people to vote who they think is a better candidate.

Both Aquino and Roxas have repeatedly tried without success to convince Poe to run as the Liberal Party’s vice president.

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Senate quiz of Yolanda aid sought

By Macon Araneta SENATOR Miriam Defensor Santiago on Friday asked the Senate to investigate the Department of Social Welfare and Development for its failure to release millions of pesos in donations to the victims of Super Typhoon “Yolanda.”

She said the department had also failed to hit its target of providing shelters to the 468,732 people left homeless by the typhoon.

Yolanda killed 7,000 people and left hundreds of thousands homeless when it hit the central Philippines on Nov. 8, 2013.

Santiago said she will file a resolution Monday based on the recently released Commission on Audit report showing that almost P500 million in donations to the typhoon victims were either being kept in bank accounts or used to buy relief that were never distributed.

“The purpose of donations is defeated if funds sit idly in government bank accounts,” Santiago said.

“The DSWD is not only denying disaster victims of much-needed assistance. They are also misusing money from donors and taxpayers.”

The CoA noted that P382.072 million in local and foreign donations for the Yolanda victims remained in DSWD bank accounts by the end of 2014.

The agency also had P141.084 million worth of undistributed and expired or almost-expired food packs.

Marcos in oil.

Artist Randalf Dilla polishes his oil painting of the late dictator Ferdinand Marcos and the Martial Law years in preparation for an exhibit at the Hiraya Gallery in Manila. DAnny PATA

Stumped. MILF Chief Negotiator Mohagher Iqbal appears flustered during a Foreign Correspondents Association of the Philippines forum in Manila on Sept. 18. AFP

Recto wants Medal of Valor for SAF 44 SENATOR Ralph Recto on Friday sought Medals of Valor for the 44 police commandos killed in a firefight with Moro rebels and demanded that the MILF retract its statement that the Muslim terrorist Marwan was killed by his aide and not by the commandos.

“What’s the best prologue to President Aquino’s unequivocal declaration that it was the SAF group that killed Marwan?” Recto said.

“First, for the government to expedite the evaluation of the recommendation that some, if not all, of the Fallen 44, plus some of their surviving comrades, be conferred the PNP Medal of Honor and other commendations.”

Recto made his statement even as the camp of former Special Action Force director Getulio Napeñas said it was time to name those responsible for issuing the order to the military not to help the commandos involved in the oplan Exodus that resulted in the death of the 44 on Jan. 25.

Vetaliano Aguirre, Napeñas’ lawyer, said the investigation must be

pursued despite Aquino’s statement recognizing the commandos’ as Marwan’s killer.

“There should be an investigation as to who gave the stand-down order that forced the military not to respond while the SAF personnel were pleading for military reinforcement,” Aguirre said.

In Malacañang, an official said the Palace could now resume pushing for the passage of the Bangsamoro Basic Law now that Aquino had dismissed his own declaration of an “alternative version” to the story on the 44 commandos, and in which the MILF and not the commandos had killed Marwan.

“For us, we will continue to push for the BBL,” deputy presidential spokeswoman Abigail Valte told reporters.

Recto said the awarding ceremonies could be set and the debt of gratitude the Filipinos owed the 44 could finally be paid.

He said the awarding of the medals would also help heal the pain of their loved ones as they would be comforted by the recognition that they died as heroes.

He expressed hope the awards could be given before the nation remembers its dead in November.

Macon Ramos-Araneta, Francisco Tuyay and Sandy Araneta

Romualdez not giving up on tax measure approval LEYTE Rep. Martin Romualdez said Friday he is not giving up on President Benigno Aquino III approving the measures aimed at reducing personal and corporate income taxes to ease the burden of workers and middleincome families.

He said he believed the continuing dialogues between government officials and Congressional leaders would help polish the proposal on the revenue plan for the President’s approval.

“As lawmakers, we should not stop finding ways to help the workers to show our compassion to them,” Romualdez

said in a statement.

“I am not losing hope despite the opposition of the President for the sake of our ordinary workers.”

Romualdez said he was optimistic Malacañang would reconsider its position rejecting the tax measures.

But Aquino has said he is not convinced that the measures will benefit Filipinos.

“If we lower the income tax rates, the revenues will be smaller while the deficit will be wider. The widening deficit will be a negative factor when credit ratings agencies rate us,” he said.

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Mayors hail cops for easing traffic

By Joel E. Zurbano and John Paolo Bencito

Not perfect, but better. Traffic enforcers monitor the loading and unloading of passengers at Quiapo, Manila on Friday when devotees of the Black Nazarene usually congregate in the area to attend mass at the basilica.

DANNY PATA

METRO Manila mayors commended the Philippine National Police’s Highway Patrol Group for being able to improve the traffic flow on Epifanio de los Santos Avenue and agreed to ask the national government to extend the HPG’s tour until December.

Among the improvement made by HPG men was cutting the travel time of motorists by at least 10 to 15 minutes, enforcing traffic rules among public and private motorists and more discipline among city and provincial bus drivers.

The 17 local executives agreed to pass a resolution asking the national government to extend the services of HPG men until December to assist Metro Manila Development Authority personnel to further improve traffic, especially during the holiday season when traffic flow is expected heavy.

HPG chief Arnold Gunnacao is open to the idea of members of

the Metro Manila Council, but said it is up to President Benigno Aquino III whether he would grant such request.

“The MMC wants to see what we did to improve Edsa and the participation of the police, local government units and other sectors. With this, they’re going to make a resolution to extend HPG services but as I said it depends on the President decision. Kami naman kung may order susunod kami,” said Gunnacao following a meeting with MMDA and MMC officials Thursday night at the Manila Yacht Club.

Gunnacao said the mayors also agreed to take responsibility in the clearing operations of illegally parked vehicles and other obstructions affecting the 17 Mabuhay Lanes, or alternate routes for private motorists who want to avoid Edsa.

At the same time, newly appointed Interior and Local Government Secretary Mel Senen Sarmiento said long-term planning is needed to solve the hellish traffic situation in the nation’s capital.

Bongbong hits lack of mining policy

By Macon Ramos-Araneta and Sandy Araneta SENATOR Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. scored the Aquino administration on Friday for failing to develop a cohesive and sustainable policy for the mining industry in its almost six years in office.

“There is no mining policy in this government today. We do not have any kind of plan. There is no vision as to what we want the mining industry to be five years from now, 10 years from now, or 15 to 20 years from now,” said Marcos.

In fact, many of the government’s policies are contrary to the principle and intent of the 1995 Philippine Mining Act, said Marcos, who was one of the reactors at the Mining 2015 forum held at the Solaire Resorts and Casino in Pasay City.

“By having a purely anti-mining policy, we are not taking advantage of that [industry]

and therefore we are lessening the benefits that we can give to our people,” said Marcos.

Among others, Marcos cited the “useit-or-lose-it” policy the Department of Environment and Natural Resources implemented in 2010 in a bid to open nonworking mines to new investors. Since then, he noted that the DENR has not issued any new mining agreements.

There were also the proposed expansion of the “no-go” zones for mining and a proposed increase in the government’s share of 10 percent of gross output or 55 percent of adjusted mining revenue.

The Philippines is a top producer of minerals, ranking 3rd in gold, 4th in copper, and 5th in nickel in the world.

“We need to balance the requirements of the economy, assistance to local governments, and of course the most important factor of protecting our environment,” further stated Marcos.

On the other hand, Marcos said the mining industry must also address other valid issues raised against it, apart from environmental concerns.

“One of that is that the industry must be more sensitive to the needs and concerns of the local communities in the area of the mining operations,” he said.

But Malacañang said the Aquino administration is now working on the enactment of a proposed bill on a “new mining revenue schemem.”

“We continue to participate in the hearings about this because I understand we have our own inputs when it comes to

those proposals,” said Deputy Presidential Spokesperson Abigail Valte, during a press briefing in Malacanang yesterday.

“But whether it will be passed within this Congress or the next is something that we cannot answer. That will be mainly up to our legislators, considering that they have several other priority bills now that the budget season is up. There are ongoing deliberations also on the (Bangsamoro Basic Law), as well as other proposed bills,” Valte also said.

Valte also said that President Benigno Aquino III also mentioned earlier that there are other priority pieces of legislation such as the Fiscal Incentives Rationalization, which is also a proposal made by the administration, as well as a number of other legislative priorities also from the President.

Valte said this proposed bill on the “new mining revenue scheme” has undergone a very long process.

Chiz makes pitch for FOI SENATOR Francis “Chiz” Escudero on Friday said a law on the freedom of information will make a strong foundation to fight corruption when combined with an iron-fist campaign.

“For a long-time now, we have been hoping for the enactment of the Freedom of Information bill for greater transparency in governance. We will finally see our efforts bear fruit under a Poe administration,” said Escudero, also a co-author of the proposed bill.

He said a law on FOI will play a vital role in the government’s drive to eliminate corruption, which has plagued many offices in the bureaucracy.

Escudero, running mate of Sen. Grace Poe in the 2016 presidential election, said he sees the immediate passage of the long-pending FOI bill under the Poe administration.

With the immediate passage into law of FOI anf use of iron fist against corruption, sen. Poe qnd I will strengthen the fight against graft and

corruption through decision making using simple principles. Discretion always equals corruption,” he said.

Poe has been at the forefront to have the FOI bill passed. If it becomes a law, it will provide the public access to government contracts and transactions, which are major sources of corruption.

As a senator, Poe has actively pushed for the passage of the FOI measure, which she believes will increase transparency and exact higher accountability from public officials.

The FOI mandates that information must be published online and published in such a way that it is easily understandable to the average citizen.

With the FOI, Poe said graft and corruption would be prevented and also promote better public participation in public affairs, according to Poe. On the other hand, Escudero also sees the lifting of the Bank Secrecy Law for government officials and employees under a Poe administration.

Unpaid money earned. Disgruntled employees of the Land Bank of the Philippines walk out of their head office in Malate to hold a prayer protest calling for the immediate release of their cost-of-living allowances and bank equity pay. DANNY PATA

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Lumad advocates in hit list

By Rey E. Requejo and Sara D. Fabunan LAWMAKERS and human rights advocates have asked the Supreme Court to issue a writ of amparo after they learned that they have supposedly been included in a “hit list” after they helped tribesmen, called lumad, in Mindanao who complained of military harassment.

Tribal power. Manobo tribesmen hold up posters condemning the killing of indigenous people, called lumad, in

Mindanao the military’s attempt to cover up its accountability for abuses in Lianga, Surigao del Sur during a news forum in Quezon City. LINO SANTOS

Fair use policy probe urged

By Maricel V. Cruz THE House Independent Bloc has sought a congressional probe into the implementation and impact of the Fair Use Policy of telecommunication companies because of mounting consumer complaints.

In House Resolution 2344, one of the Bloc’s member, Abakada party-list Rep. Jonathan de la Cruz stressed the need for Congress to investigate the so-called ‘Fair Use Policy’ of telcos which involve the scrapping of ‘unlimited’ marketing programs and capping a user’s Internet connection upon reaching a certain volume of data.

“Considering that the Asian region boasts of having the first and second fastest Internet speeds in the world, the latest survey shows that we are just a notch above Afghanistan, a war torn country, as the laggard among Asian countries in terms of internet speed—a dubious distinction which can be made even more damning with the implementation of the FUP,” De la Cruz said.

“Also, this policy may actually run counter to the avowed goals of the country’s telecommunications development plan including the ‘roll out’ commitments of the service

providers and consigns us even further to the fringes of technological advancement thereby limiting our ambitions to reach developed country status soonest and ultimately depriving our people of the benefits of such advances and degrading their quality of life,” Dela Cruz added.

De la Cruz, in the resolution, asked the House committee on information and communications technology to assess the implementation and assess the impact of the FUP on Internet users in relation to the mandated ‘roll out’ of the country’s information and communications technology development plan.

The military immediately denied the existence of a hit list and said the lawmakers and rights advocates only fabricated the story to vilify the Armed Forces of the Philippines.

“We categorically deny that,” said military spokesman Col. Resituto Padilla. “There is no truth to that news. There is a clear attempt to paint the AFP as killers and pursue continuing attempts to demonize the AFP.” But in a 36-page petition for writ of amparo and habeas data, the lawmakers and rights advocates, through the National Union of People’s Lawyers, complained to the SC that they are being subjected to surveillance, red-tagging and various forms of harassments.

“Petitioners have suffered from surveillance, red-tagging and various forms of harassment through the years and are now being implicated in trumped-up charges involving the hundreds of lumad who fled their homes in Talaingod, Davao del Norte to escape atrocities of the military and paramilitary forces occupying their communities,” the petitioners stressed.

Among the petitioners include Bayan Muna Rep. Carlos Zarate, Gabriela Rep. Emmi de Jesus, former Anakpawis Rep. Rafael Mariano, former Bayan Muna Rep. Teddy Casiño, Karapatan Secretary General Cristina Palabay, Children’s Rehabilitation Center executive director Jacqueline Ruiz, Rural Missionaries Coordinator Sr. Mary Francis Añover, Rev. Irma Balaba of the National Council of Churches in the Philippines, and Ofelia Beltran-Balleta, representing the family of former Anakpawis Rep. Beltran who passed away in 2008.

The petitioners claimed that the hit list was appended to a criminal complaint the AFP and Philippine National Police filed against some of their colleagues after they helped lumad communities in Davao del Norte and Bukidnon.

“This is an indication that the [Criminal Investigation and Detection Group] was provided with dossiers of the Petitioners and the other individuals included in the lists.

Obviously, such dossiers came from other sources, since the individuals whose names appear in the lists, including the petitioners, are not fugitives from justice, and that the conduct of counter-insurgency operations is not a function of the CIDG,” the petitioners lamented.

Because of this, the petitioners appealed to SC justices to issue writs of amparo and habeas data.

Habeas Data will not only compel military and government agents to release information about the enforced disappearances but require access to military and police files.

The writ of amparo, on the other hand bars the military officers in judicial proceedings to issue denial answers regarding petitions on disappearances or extrajudicial executions, which were legally permitted in habeas corpus proceedings.

Unicef Youth Hub opens TACLOBAN CITY—The United Nations Children’s Fund and its partners launched its first youth hub, the first of its kind in the country which combines health and well-being needs with a fun, safe space that has been designed and built with participation from local young people.

The Youth Hub is designed as a ‘one-stop-shop’ offering adolescents’ access to health services and counselling support, fun group activities in sports, recreation, arts, life skills workshops and livelihood trainings.

Managed by the City Government of Tacloban along with partner NGOs and youth organizations, the Hub delivers a range of activities, from confidential and private counseling, health services and life skills education

to skateboarding lessons, innovative vocational and agriculture training.

“Social connection is a protective factor for young people to grow and learn together and develop life-skills in a unique and safe space.

Responding to the needs of the young people in the region, the Youth Hub aims to strengthen connections and ownership from the very beginning,” Unicef Philippines Representative Lotta Sylwander said.

“Unicef is pleased to support the City Government provide opportunities to all young people, inclusive of those who are vulnerable, have less access to services, and are most in need of support. This comprehensive safe space will enable young people to connect and support one another

while they access essential services and activities for their well-being,” Sylwander said.

The Youth Hub can play a particularly important role in the University Town of Tacloban City, where 30 percent of the population are aged 1024. Many of them have travelled to the city from other places to further their education—often away from the supportive and protective environments they grew up in.

Located in downtown Tacloban City, the Youth Hub consists of two semipermanent shipping containers with a health clinic, an office, workshop rooms, and open outdoor space for an urban garden, and a skate park—the first in the Eastern Visayas Region—that was designed by local skaters and BMXers.

Right start to life. UNICEF Philippines representative Lotta Sylwander

congratulates actress Anne Curtis after she signed her appointment as celebrity advocate of the UN agency’s campaign to ensure that children have the right start to life through optimal maternal care and child nutrition.

MANNY PALMERO

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Critic warns of poll cheating But Comelec insists system secure

By Sara Susanne D. Fabunan

A CRITIC of the precinct count optical scan machines that will be used by the Commission on Elections in next year’s polls warned that high-tech cheating may occur due to compact flash card snatching.

Culture icon. Actor and singer Nora Aunor receives the 2015 Gawad CCP Para Sa Sining award for film and broadcast arts from Cultural Center of the Philippines Board of Trustees Chairperson Emily Abrera. DANNY PATA

Arroyo seeks house arrest after Enrile decision

By Rio N. Araja CITING a Supreme Court’s decision allowing Sen. Juan Ponce Enrile to post a P1-million bail for plunder, former President and now Pampanga Rep. Gloria Macapagal Arroyo on Friday maintained that she must be granted house arrest.

Mrs. Arroyo represented by her lawyer Laurence Hector Arroyo said she and Enrile are “similarly situated.”

The former President is “of fragile health and is a nonflight risk,” it added.

After the government prosecution’s objection, Mrs. Arroyo filed a reply with the Sandiganbayan’s First Division, justifying her house arrest petition.

While the Supreme Court order involved Enrile’s bail plea and Mrs. Arroyo’s petition was about her house arrest, the camp of Arroyo said both are anchored on the same circumstances.

Mrs. Arroyo “has undergone three major surgeries and she has yet to fully recover from her bone and

other illnesses as certified by veteran government doctors,” the petition added.

Mrs. Arroyo is facing a plunder suit for the questionable release of P366 million in confidential and intelligence funds of the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office funds during her presidency.

In May, two other lawyers of Mrs. Arroyo, Modesto Ticman and Larry Gadon, said their client was still weak and frail, and that her health was not even improving.

They urged the Sandigan-

bayan to allow Mrs. Arroyo to stay either in Lubao, Pampanga or at La Vista, Quezon City.

In July, Mrs. Arroyo requested the Sandiganbayan anew to allow her to post a bail.

The former President has been under hospital arrest at the Veterans Memorial Medical Center since October 2012.

On Aug. 18, voting 8-4, the high court granted Enrile’s petition to post bail in connection with his plunder trial from his alleged involvement in the P10billion Priority Development Assistance Fund.

Gus Lagman, also an official of Automated Election System Watch, said Thursday that this would be easier because CF cards would easily fit into one’s pocket. Ballot boxes would be more difficult to snatch.

“Of course we suspect that in 2013, many substitutions happened,” Lagman said.

But Comelec spokesman James Jimenez rejected Lagman’s claim, stressing that each CF card installed in more than 93,000 Optical Mark Reader machines contains high-quality security features.

While he said CF card snatching may be possible, tampered cards would not be accepted by the PCOS machines.

“Every time it was done, it was under guard, there were watchdogs and the transfers were basically secure,” he said, citing the experience in the previous poll.

Jimenez said that when one congresswoman tried to use a tampered CF card, “on the outward appearances, it still looked authentic, but when the CF card was inserted to the machine, the PCOS unit failed to read the data.”

“That’s the ultimate security,” he said.

The Comelec spokesman also said that each machine contains two CF cards—one original and one back-up.

Smartmatic-Total Information Management manufactured and provided some 81,000 PCOS machines to the Comelec in 2010.

It is also the winning bidder to lease more than 93,000 optical mark reader units to be used for the presidential elections in 2016.

Lagman proposes a semi-automated elections, urging the Comelec to use the Precinct Automated Tallying System.

With this, according to Lagman, voting will be done manually, with voters writing the name or assigned number of their chosen candidate.

Father of slain racer offers bounty for suspects’ arrest

Grieving father. Tom Pastor, father of slain international race car driver Enzo Pastor, announces a P1-million bounty for the arrest of his daughter-in-law and her alleged lover. LINO SANTOS

THE father of slain car racer Ferdinand “Enzo” Pastor on Friday offered a P1-million bounty to anyone who can provide information for the capture of Enzo’s wife, Dahlia Guerrero, and her alleged lover, Domingo “Sandy” de Guzman.

At a forum, Tom Pastor, Enzo’s father, said his family and friends have raised P1 million as an award to any informant of the whereabouts of his son’s suspected killers.

According to Pastor, they have sought the help of the Interpol to go after his daughter-inlaw, who could have fled the country.

He, however, said De Guzman is still in the Philippines based on information.

Dahlia has been listed in the Interpol’s red notice, an international warrant against fugitive. She is facing a parricide case before the Quezon City Regional Trial Court’s Branch 91 Judge Lita Genilo for the death of her husband.

De Guzman is facing murder charges.

On June 12, 2014, the 32-year-old Enzo was shot dead by motorcycle-riding men at the corner of Congressional and Visayas Avenues in Quezon City.

Pastor’s assistant, Paolo Salazar, was seriously injured during the shooting incident.

On Aug. 23, 2014, authorities arrested police officer Edgar Angel, suspected gunman, who pointed to De Guzman, a businessman, as the one who hired him to kill the international racer.

The elder Pastor said he can be reached at 09285044931. Any information can be coursed through the National Capital Region Police Office’s Criminal Investigation and Detection Group, headed by Supt. Danilo Macerin at 09178420992 and Quezon City Police District’s Criminal Investigation and Detection Unit, headed by Sr. Insp. Rodel Marcelo at 09185315178. Rio N. Araja

S AT U R D AY : S E P T E M B E R 1 9, 2 0 1 5

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NEWS

editorial@thestandard.com.ph

Casting nets. This man from Barangay Mindoro in Vigan, Ilocos Sur uses the tabukol method to catch fish. DAVID CHAN

Commission for indigents stops Banaue parking project

By Dexter A. See BANAUE, Ifugao—The Cordillera office of the National Commission on Indigenous Peoples has issued a 72-hour temporary restraining order stopping the municipal government and the winning contactor from pursuing construction activities relative to the P55-million seven-storey pay parking facility that is supposed to be built at the town proper here.

In an order dated Sept. 14, lawyer Brian Masweng scheduled the case for summary hearing to resolve issues raised by concerned citizens who wanted the project stopped.

Citizen Estela Marie Gayaman, representing the Banaue community, said construction activity for the pay parking facility would cause irreparable injury and damage to the community.

The order directed Mayor Jerry C. Dalipog, the municipal council, Wangjo Construction represented

by Jonas Wangiwang among others to show cause why the 72-hour temporary restraining order should not be extended.

“Finding the petition to be sufficient in form and substance, this hearing office opts to grant petitioners application for the issuance of a TRO before the matter can be heard on notice notwithstanding the earlier issued order,” the order stated.

He explained the issuance of the TRO is necessary for the purpose of avoiding legal complications that may prejudice the respective rights of the parties involved in the case.

1 dead, 32 injured as bus explodes in Zamboanga

By Francisco Tuyay

A COMMUTER was killed and 32 others were injured after an improvised explosive device was set off inside a local passenger bus at the heart of Zamboanga City Friday afternoon.

Initial police reports reaching Camp Crame said the explosion occurred at 2:15 p.m.along the crossing of Tomas Claudio and

Calixto Streets in Zamboanga City.

The lone fatality has not yet been identified.

The report said the explosive went off inside a Biel bus bearing plate number JBL 978 while passengers were disembarking shortly after arriving at the terminal near the market.

Reports said the homemade bomb was under a seat occupied by the victim.

The bus came from Barangay Labuan in Zamboanga City.

Police are still investigating the blast and do not discount mili-

tants who earlier this year set off a car bomb in Zamboanga City killing two people and wounding 50 others.

Chief Insp. Joel Tutuh, Zamboanga City police chief, said the IED could have come from suspected elements of the Abu Sayyaf Group. They are also looking at the angles of disgruntled employees or competitors of the bus company.

Traffic dampens food business in Baguio

By Dexter A. See

Building bridges. Israel Tourism Minister Yariv Levin faces the press and tour operators during a press conference called ‘Tourism: A Bridge is between the Pearl of the Orient and the Holy Land’ held at the New World Hotel. TEDDY PELAEZ

BAGUIO CITY—Gladys Vergara de Vera, a local businesswoman, says food still remains a lucrative business in this city amidst the pressing problems on peace and order and traffic in the central business district area.

The former proprietor of The Swiss Baker along Session Road says they have managed to maintain business despite a significant decline in the number of customers but that they need help from the government to arrest the problem.

“Government must do its part in addressing the major traffic concerns along Session Road in or-

der to entice more people to patronize food establishments there,” De Vera stressed.

She added local residents and visitors who want to dine in the CBD are disappointed at congested roads and lack of parking facilities.

“They opt to eat in restaurants outside the CBD instead,” she said.

Baguio traffic jams are caused by a higher volume of vehicles plus the influx of visitors who bring their own cars when they visit the city.

De Vera appealed to concerned government agencies and the city government to synchronize their programs and projects to solve the problem and save local businesses.

S AT U R D AY : S E P T E M B E R 1 9, 2 0 1 5

A8

OPINION

ADELLE CHUA EDITOR

lettertotheeditor@thestandard.com.ph

OPINION

POWER POINT ELIZABETH ANGSIOCO

THE POE CHALLENGE

[ EDI TORI A L ]

TOAST OF THE TOWN THE toast of the town these days is an independent film depicting the life of General Antonio Luna, who headed the Philippine military during the Philippine-American war in 1898.

Heneral Luna is hailed for many things: Its script, cinematography, performances of its actors. On social media, the rave reviews from professional and amateur critics magnified the clamor to keep it in cinemas as it entered its second week.

Until today, movies of this caliber have not been commercially successful in the Philippines. The moviegoing public seems to prefer feel-good movies with big-named stars over films that question and disturb its viewers.

And how it disturbs.

The film shows how deep divisions in Philippine politics caused the country’s downfall during the war, and how the enemy exploited this weakness under the “divide and conquer” rule. Officials of the Emilio Aguinaldo administration could not put up a united front and turned against each other—against Luna, specifically, with whose methods they did not agree.

Luna was lured to Nueva Ecija on a pretext, and then shot and hacked not by the Americans but by his fellow Filipinos. Nobody was made accountable for the general’s killing. The main characters in the ensuing cover-up all denied they had any hand in Luna’s murder, claiming their love for country as shown by their long years as public servants.

If it were not for the people and the environment in which they existed, the ills that plagued the country in Luna’s time are still very much around today.

There is the same intolerance for dissenting views. There is raw ambition, ego, indecision, entitlement and betrayal.

There is hypocrisy and doublespeak, grand declarations and despicable conduct, dark deeds and cover-ups.

The next few months will test whether the nation has done any growing up since the last elections. We have to deal with personalities again instead of the issues. We run the risk of casting our lot with the toast of the town—the person who dazzles us instead of the one who possesses both the character and capability to lead us.

Let us not allow our desperation for real heroes cloud our judgment in choosing our leaders.

LIKE A SEA SURGE BACK CHANNEL ALEJANDRO DEL ROSARIO IT WENT according to script, with Grace Poe Llamanzares playing her role to the hilt in the tale of a foundling left abandoned at a church door.

With her announcement to run for President in 2016, Grace made clear that she wants her long round-about journey from Jaro, Iloilo to end at Malacanang Palace.

With the infectious refrain of “May bagong umagang darating” (a new dawn is coming), Grace Poe stepped up to the challenge, brushing aside a citizenship issue barring her from sitting as senator and running for president. Unwittingly, Poe’s detractors like Rizalito David who filed the citizenship case against the senator, the legal experts and all the opinion writers who questioned her being a Filipino citizen, may have contributed to her political stardom by keeping her in the public consciousness. They may have just been marginal-

ized for now by the announcement of Poe who chose to bring her case to the people even before the Senate Electoral Tribunal decides on the crucial citizenship issue after oral arguments on Sept. 21.

With three Supreme Court justices already sitting in the tribunal headed by Senior Associate Justice Antonio Carpio and Associate Justices Arturo Brion and Teresita Leonardo Castro as members, the SET’s ruling cannot be appealed. The other SET members are Senators Pia Cayetano, Paolo “Bam” Aquino, Vicente Sotto, Loren

The late movie icon Fernando Poe, Grace’s father, who lost the 2004 presidential poll, must be smiling somewhere.

A9

Legarda and Nancy Binay.

How will the vice president’s daughter vote on an issue affecting her father’s presidential bid? Will the Commission on Elections approve Poe’s certificate of candidacy on Oct. 12 if the Senate tribunal has not yet come to a decision? These are vexing questions surrounding the issue of Poe’s citizenship.

“It is a move that would make moot her citizenship issue if she wins the election by a landslide,” said a political observer citing the legal maxim “Vox populi vox dei”— the voice of the people, is the voice of god.

The following day after Poe declared she’ s seeking the presidency, Senator Francis

Escudero also announced he’s running alongside Grace as her vice president.

The Nationalist People’s Coalition, hoping to be a major player by having the independent senator run under its banner, said Poe’s citizenship is not an issue with the party. But the Grace-Chiz tandem said they will remain independent and could set political precedent if they win without a party. They could too, considering the party system theoretically does not exist anymore as far as ideology

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-

is concerned. But the party machine (nationwide organization down to the barangay level plus its humongous campaign chest) could still spell the election outcome A citizens group, meanwhile has launched “Ampunin [adopt] si Grace Poe” movement.

The setting of her announcement to run for president was the University of the Philippines Alumni House where she was warmly received by students and supporters. Compare this to the rowdy and contentious crowd that harangued Vice President Jejomar

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

MST ONLINE

can be accessed at: www.manilastandardtoday.com

MEMBER

PPI

Philippine Press Institute The National Association of Philippine Newspapers

Binay at UP Los Baños in Laguna on Tuesday. The UP Los Baños students questioned Binay on corruption allegations and Makati’s informal settlers who were trucked to a Laguna relocation site without water and electricity.

Some of the houses did not have roofs and walls forcing many of the relocated families to return to Makati angry they were treated like cattle.

Grace Poe’s entry in the 2016 presidential race didn’t appear to faze her rivals, or so it seems. Liberal Party Continued on A11

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

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

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

ONE major flaw of our political culture is the lack of focus on platforms or programs of government. For the longest time, our politics has been heavily based on personality and popularity. This weakness has been challenged only by a small portion of the electorate, and mainly those belonging to activist groups, political analysts and keen observers.

Ever so slowly, this seems to be changing in small ways. We have seen baby steps during the recent past electoral campaigns where candidates especially for national positions, have been quizzed on their positions on social, economic, and political concerns in forums and media interviews. This gave voters insights on the issues these aspirants would prioritize if elected into office.

However, to me this is superficial. Beyond personal credentials, voters need to know and study much more. We need to know the entire programs of candidates for executive positions and the legislative agenda of those seeking to represent us in Congress.

While ideally, those running for public office should be the one to entice us into voting for them because of the quality of life that people can have if they are in office, this may be more of a dream than anything. The reality is, the majority of those wanting to “serve the people” are served by the status quo.

Just check who are running. Most are scions of political dynasties or wealthy families, or backed by big business. What kind of interests do they, their families, and their “investors” most probably represent? Will having a mature, critical, and intelligent electorate be good for them?

We cannot expect these aspiring public “servants” to challenge the status quo because it serves their purpose. They want to stay in power and maintain their economic clout.

Therefore, it is up to us, the people to demand that candidates’ accountability begin as they declare their intent to run for office. It is up to us to demand that candidates make public their program of government and their plan of action so we can appropriately size them up and decide to vote or not vote for them.

A positive development has just happened.

Neophyte Senator Grace Poe, after many months of keeping the public guessing, has accepted the challenge of running for president. Her declaration is not surprising for those who have keenly followed her statements and activities the past months.

However, the more interesting thing for me is the manner by which she declared her intent to vie for the highest office—she also unveiled her platform of government.

Poe is a neophyte senator and critics do not tire of pointing this out particularly Continued on A11 Rolando G. Estabillo Jojo A. Robles Ramonchito L. Tomeldan Chin Wong/Ray S. Eñano Francis Lagniton Joyce Pangco Pañares Adelle Chua Romel J. Mendez Roberto Cabrera

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

Emil P. Jurado Chairman Emeritus, Editiorial Board

S AT U R D AY : S E P T E M B E R 1 9, 2 0 1 5

A8

OPINION

ADELLE CHUA EDITOR

lettertotheeditor@thestandard.com.ph

OPINION

POWER POINT ELIZABETH ANGSIOCO

THE POE CHALLENGE

[ EDI TORI A L ]

TOAST OF THE TOWN THE toast of the town these days is an independent film depicting the life of General Antonio Luna, who headed the Philippine military during the Philippine-American war in 1898.

Heneral Luna is hailed for many things: Its script, cinematography, performances of its actors. On social media, the rave reviews from professional and amateur critics magnified the clamor to keep it in cinemas as it entered its second week.

Until today, movies of this caliber have not been commercially successful in the Philippines. The moviegoing public seems to prefer feel-good movies with big-named stars over films that question and disturb its viewers.

And how it disturbs.

The film shows how deep divisions in Philippine politics caused the country’s downfall during the war, and how the enemy exploited this weakness under the “divide and conquer” rule. Officials of the Emilio Aguinaldo administration could not put up a united front and turned against each other—against Luna, specifically, with whose methods they did not agree.

Luna was lured to Nueva Ecija on a pretext, and then shot and hacked not by the Americans but by his fellow Filipinos. Nobody was made accountable for the general’s killing. The main characters in the ensuing cover-up all denied they had any hand in Luna’s murder, claiming their love for country as shown by their long years as public servants.

If it were not for the people and the environment in which they existed, the ills that plagued the country in Luna’s time are still very much around today.

There is the same intolerance for dissenting views. There is raw ambition, ego, indecision, entitlement and betrayal.

There is hypocrisy and doublespeak, grand declarations and despicable conduct, dark deeds and cover-ups.

The next few months will test whether the nation has done any growing up since the last elections. We have to deal with personalities again instead of the issues. We run the risk of casting our lot with the toast of the town—the person who dazzles us instead of the one who possesses both the character and capability to lead us.

Let us not allow our desperation for real heroes cloud our judgment in choosing our leaders.

LIKE A SEA SURGE BACK CHANNEL ALEJANDRO DEL ROSARIO IT WENT according to script, with Grace Poe Llamanzares playing her role to the hilt in the tale of a foundling left abandoned at a church door.

With her announcement to run for President in 2016, Grace made clear that she wants her long round-about journey from Jaro, Iloilo to end at Malacanang Palace.

With the infectious refrain of “May bagong umagang darating” (a new dawn is coming), Grace Poe stepped up to the challenge, brushing aside a citizenship issue barring her from sitting as senator and running for president. Unwittingly, Poe’s detractors like Rizalito David who filed the citizenship case against the senator, the legal experts and all the opinion writers who questioned her being a Filipino citizen, may have contributed to her political stardom by keeping her in the public consciousness. They may have just been marginal-

ized for now by the announcement of Poe who chose to bring her case to the people even before the Senate Electoral Tribunal decides on the crucial citizenship issue after oral arguments on Sept. 21.

With three Supreme Court justices already sitting in the tribunal headed by Senior Associate Justice Antonio Carpio and Associate Justices Arturo Brion and Teresita Leonardo Castro as members, the SET’s ruling cannot be appealed. The other SET members are Senators Pia Cayetano, Paolo “Bam” Aquino, Vicente Sotto, Loren

The late movie icon Fernando Poe, Grace’s father, who lost the 2004 presidential poll, must be smiling somewhere.

A9

Legarda and Nancy Binay.

How will the vice president’s daughter vote on an issue affecting her father’s presidential bid? Will the Commission on Elections approve Poe’s certificate of candidacy on Oct. 12 if the Senate tribunal has not yet come to a decision? These are vexing questions surrounding the issue of Poe’s citizenship.

“It is a move that would make moot her citizenship issue if she wins the election by a landslide,” said a political observer citing the legal maxim “Vox populi vox dei”— the voice of the people, is the voice of god.

The following day after Poe declared she’ s seeking the presidency, Senator Francis

Escudero also announced he’s running alongside Grace as her vice president.

The Nationalist People’s Coalition, hoping to be a major player by having the independent senator run under its banner, said Poe’s citizenship is not an issue with the party. But the Grace-Chiz tandem said they will remain independent and could set political precedent if they win without a party. They could too, considering the party system theoretically does not exist anymore as far as ideology

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-

is concerned. But the party machine (nationwide organization down to the barangay level plus its humongous campaign chest) could still spell the election outcome A citizens group, meanwhile has launched “Ampunin [adopt] si Grace Poe” movement.

The setting of her announcement to run for president was the University of the Philippines Alumni House where she was warmly received by students and supporters. Compare this to the rowdy and contentious crowd that harangued Vice President Jejomar

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

MST ONLINE

can be accessed at: www.manilastandardtoday.com

MEMBER

PPI

Philippine Press Institute The National Association of Philippine Newspapers

Binay at UP Los Baños in Laguna on Tuesday. The UP Los Baños students questioned Binay on corruption allegations and Makati’s informal settlers who were trucked to a Laguna relocation site without water and electricity.

Some of the houses did not have roofs and walls forcing many of the relocated families to return to Makati angry they were treated like cattle.

Grace Poe’s entry in the 2016 presidential race didn’t appear to faze her rivals, or so it seems. Liberal Party Continued on A11

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

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

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

ONE major flaw of our political culture is the lack of focus on platforms or programs of government. For the longest time, our politics has been heavily based on personality and popularity. This weakness has been challenged only by a small portion of the electorate, and mainly those belonging to activist groups, political analysts and keen observers.

Ever so slowly, this seems to be changing in small ways. We have seen baby steps during the recent past electoral campaigns where candidates especially for national positions, have been quizzed on their positions on social, economic, and political concerns in forums and media interviews. This gave voters insights on the issues these aspirants would prioritize if elected into office.

However, to me this is superficial. Beyond personal credentials, voters need to know and study much more. We need to know the entire programs of candidates for executive positions and the legislative agenda of those seeking to represent us in Congress.

While ideally, those running for public office should be the one to entice us into voting for them because of the quality of life that people can have if they are in office, this may be more of a dream than anything. The reality is, the majority of those wanting to “serve the people” are served by the status quo.

Just check who are running. Most are scions of political dynasties or wealthy families, or backed by big business. What kind of interests do they, their families, and their “investors” most probably represent? Will having a mature, critical, and intelligent electorate be good for them?

We cannot expect these aspiring public “servants” to challenge the status quo because it serves their purpose. They want to stay in power and maintain their economic clout.

Therefore, it is up to us, the people to demand that candidates’ accountability begin as they declare their intent to run for office. It is up to us to demand that candidates make public their program of government and their plan of action so we can appropriately size them up and decide to vote or not vote for them.

A positive development has just happened.

Neophyte Senator Grace Poe, after many months of keeping the public guessing, has accepted the challenge of running for president. Her declaration is not surprising for those who have keenly followed her statements and activities the past months.

However, the more interesting thing for me is the manner by which she declared her intent to vie for the highest office—she also unveiled her platform of government.

Poe is a neophyte senator and critics do not tire of pointing this out particularly Continued on A11 Rolando G. Estabillo Jojo A. Robles Ramonchito L. Tomeldan Chin Wong/Ray S. Eñano Francis Lagniton Joyce Pangco Pañares Adelle Chua Romel J. Mendez Roberto Cabrera

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

Emil P. Jurado Chairman Emeritus, Editiorial Board

S AT U R D AY : S E P T E M B E R 1 9, 2 0 1 5

A10

OPINION

lettertotheeditor@thestandard.com.ph

IT IS MORE THAN POE’S CITIZENSHIP BACK­ BENCHER ROD P. KAPUNAN WHEN Senator Grace Poe ran for the Senate and won with most of our semi-politically conscious voters giving her a respectable lead, she entertained the thought that she would be able to get away by continuing her misrepresentation of claiming to be a Filipino. So, her battle cry now is—she is a Filipino, and the rest of us are not.

Our voting of one who is not qualified for the office was bolstered when nobody from among our pusillanimous politicians made a peer-squeak that we have, in our midst, an alien governing us. This I say because in the land with mostly shattered moral values, though pretending to be the only Christian nation in Asia, our spineless politicians, instead of seeing danger that lurks by the entry of an alien into our political system that is supposed to be exclusive and reserved to us Filipinos, cashed in on her magical popularity. Many were unaware that she was a product of the mainstream media and affirmed by the anomalous hocus-PCOS, a political cancer that has been implanted into our makebelieve democracy that reduced some of our political analysts to buffoons, like articulating on issues that have no relevance to our people and to our country.

Why B.S. Aquino and his hypocritical yellow hoard opted to pluck an alien living obscurely and having her peace of mind in the US with her children and husband is something that more than meets the eye.

Many suspect, it was not a decision that oozed out of a timid mind. Rather, it was a premeditated attempt to redo their feat in 2010 of waylaying our half-conscious people to vote for another empty can. Allowing an alien to run for an office which the Constitution has categorically and specifically reserved to Filipinos who staked their lives in this country through thick and thin is something of a double insult. Logically, voting one who is not qualified amounts to disenfranchising oneself in favor of an alien.

Even as a senator, no-

body dared to question her citizenship, except for that crusading Filipino who is now branded by the mainstream media as a sore loser. How much more if this alien becomes president of this land inhabited by gullible people? Everybody knows that most of our politicians fall in line before the one who holds the purse.

Let us stop fooling ourselves that what we have is a democracy.

Ours is a system called “payolacracy,” and nothing could amplify that than the seeming silence and meekness of our elected officials and members of the judiciary from questioning the citizenship status of Ms. Grace Poe. Rather, it took one brave Filipino soul by the name of Rizalito David to do it.

More than that, the danger of us electing an alien is now an open secret.

Poe’s candidacy is being

Her being a foundling is irrelevant.

brokered and funded by powerful foreign interest groups with some local oligarchy acting as their collaborators. The semipolitically articulate Filipinos might just vote for one who is fronting this group; that after financially raping this country would set the stage of pushing us to go to war with our neighbor. Common sense dictates that one must have billions of pesos to throw away just to give her a winning chance. Even if Ms. Poe was able to scoop all the PDAF and DAF during her term as senator, still that would not suffice to bear the cost of running for President.

Suspicion of her as a lackey is not far-fetched.

This can be traced when she purposely refused to submit the committee’s report on the Mamasapano investigation. It is not that the report might inflame anew the emotions of the widows and the relatives of the 44 SAF members who were practically butchered by people now asking for understanding of their de-

EAGLE EYES DEAN TONY LA VIÑA

RUNNING WITH THE GREAT LEAN

I WAS hoping to be at the University of the Philippines, Diliman, this Saturday, Sept. 19, for The Great Lean Run, a celebration of life of Leandro Alejandro, student activist, hero and martyr. If not for a teaching stint in the Cordilleras this weekend, it would have been nice to be with Lean’s friends and contemporaries, including his widow and now my climate activist colleague Lidy Nacpil. I belong to their generation but having gone to Ateneo de Manila for college, I did not know Lean personally. By the time I entered the University of the Philippines College of Law in 1985, Lean had already left Diliman to become the first secretary-general of Bayan, the biggest and most militant peoples’ coalition against the Marcos regime.

The Bantayog ng mga Bayani website summarizes Lean’s well-lived life quite well: “More than his extraordinary height, Lean stood out as an activist because he possessed insight, a unifying approach, speaking and writing skills, and courage and boldness. Older and more experienced colleagues in the protest movement had him in high regard, and government negotiators who met Lean across the barricades gave him their grudging respect.”

I have no doubt that if Lean were alive today, he

would now be a senator or even a presidential candidate of a united Philippine left. He reminded me of Edgar Jopson, student leader from the Ateneo de Manila, who also was destined to lead this country.

And like Edjop, Lean was killed at the prime of his life. Lean survived the Marcos years only to be assassinated in 1987 when his vehicle was ambushed near the BAYAN headquarters in Quezon City.

Like Lean, I was a “Martial Law baby”. I was first year high school in Xavier University-Ateneo de Cagayan in Cagayan de Oro City when, 43 years ago, President Ferdinand E. Marcos proclaimed Martial Law throughout the Philippines. I still remember how it was like that morning of Sept. 23 when the proclamation was announced. Although Marcos supposedly signed the proclamation on Sept.

21, 1972, the announcement was made two days later to give the police and military lead time to arrest opposition leaders, media people, student activists, labor and peasant organizers, etc. Our school had to close down and when it open a few weeks later, things had changed.

Fortunately, our principal then was Fr. Chito Unson SJ, who passed away just last week, and he was a kind and good priest who allowed us some freedom.

As I have written before, unknown to us at that

time, my father, Gabriel La Viña, Jr. did something courageous in those first few days of Martial Law. A professor of law in Xavier University, he knew many of the student activists, arguing with and becoming a friend and counselor to them. When Martial Law was proclaimed, some students who decided to go to the hills to fight the dictatorship turned to my father to ask for sanctuary. In spite of the risks, he allowed the activists to hide in our house, then being constructed, at that time at the edge of the center of the city although now we are surrounded by malls. Up to this day, I meet people who come up and thank me for what my father did.

Many years later, when I was a Jesuit Volunteer and a philosophy teacher first at Xavier University and then at Ateneo de Manila, I found myself doing the same thing as my father—helping out whenever and however I could students who made tough decisions, like going underground, to work full-time against the Marcos regime. I admired them for their courage and commitment; ideology did not matter to me as much as an ability to love the people and country. That is why I am not anti-communist. I remind my sons and students never to indulge in red-baiting as it kills people.

Martial Law was an experience of uncertainty.

Whenever I am asked why I married young, I always say that it is because I thought my wife and I were going to die young.

Because of our work, it was said that intelligence agents followed us regularly to find out what we were doing, who we were meeting, etc. Once my relatives from Bukidnon even banned me from going to that central mountain province in Mindanao because I was in some military list of people to be arrested or killed.

But we survived the Martial Law years. The first experience, yes, was of fear. But later, for me, anger and resistance became my response. I struggled to find my role.

I thought of taking up arms but realized that I believed in the absoluteness of human rights and that non-violence is the best way forward to defeat injustice. I came to that decision after becoming aware, through friends who directly experienced them, about the purges in the revolutionary movement in Mindanao during the mid-1980s.

When I came back to Manila in 1983, and after the Aquino assassination, the anti-dictatorship movement accelerated and eventually culminated in the People Power Revolution of 1986. Unfortunately, because of Continued on A11

mand for independence.

To avoid exposing the more sensitive issue of foreign involvement in that operation that was allowed by this wayward government.

Ms. Poe now wants to bring out her possibly rehashed report because her continued withholding of it has pulled down her rating. But before she could come out with her longdelayed report, her own patron, B.S. Aquino, preempted her by promising to come out an “alternative truth” about the incident. But if one would ask, where on hell did he get the loony idea of an “alternative truth”? Basic logic will tell that he who takes that stand needs to have his mind rewinded. The word “alternative” has reference to a choice. Under a given situation, a choice is made before that thing happens, usually a choice between lesser harm or

evil, but not to a situation which already occurred.

That is why people say that the truth is always the truth. Thus, the report touted by this hallucinating President can either be true or false, and there is no such thing as “alternative truth” for that would be tantamount to presenting the half truth of what happened which is unacceptable.

If Ms. Poe was able to get away with it by almost completing her term as senator despite her ineligibility for the office, then who will question her should our people commit the mistake of electing an alien? Of course, mercenary and stupid lawyers never run out of arguments that her election makes the case against her citizenship status moot and academic or functus oficio, as others would say it. But would she not act violently should there be

more Lito Davids pestering her for brazenly tampering her birth certificate just to qualify for the office? Would this lady who is so arrogant, ambitious, and greedy for power sit idly to any complaint that would force her to step down from the throne?

The two issues of residency and her claim of being a foundling are in truth out of the question.

Residency would not have bearing on the issue to be resolved because it is her status, whether or not she is a natural-born citizen, that is being resolved.

Even if she had been staying here for more than 100 years, still that would not make her a natural born citizen.

Second, her being a foundling is irrelevant.

What is being questioned is her act of applying for US citizenship, which happened when she was already of age. That act

legally and automatically removed from her the status of a natural-born citizen, even if she claims to have reacquired her Filipino citizenship. When she applied for Filipino citizenship just to realize her ambition, she just became a naturalized Filipino citizen which is far different from being a natural-born citizen.

Finally, the Filipino people are not interested in who her parents are, but on why she submitted a tampered birth certificate. It is this tampered birth certificate that she will have to explain. It is apart from the issue of her citizenship. It is a criminal act for which she could be prosecuted. The issue now is not about her qualification, but about her possible commission of falsification and perjury for which she must answer. rpkapunan@gmail.com

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OPINION

lettertotheeditor@thestandard.com.ph

THERE’S A DANGER IN REDUCING THE UP BUDGET

HAIL TO THE CHAIR VICTOR AVECILLA THE Department of Budget and Management headed by Secretary Florencio Abad wants Congress to reduce the 2016 budget of the University of the Philippines. Abad wants the UP budget cut by P2 billion—from the P13.701-B for 2015 to just P11.465-B for 2016.

Most certainly, UP officials, alumni, students, faculty, and administrative personnel will not welcome Abad’s proposal.

The current budget of the country’s premiere educational institution is hardly enough to make UP maintain its competitive edge over private universities in the country. So far, the UP budget for 2015 has made it virtually impossible for the state university to catch up with its counterparts in Southeast Asia.

The UP charter, enacted by Congress in 2008 on the occasion of the centennial of the university, considers UP the national university. If this is so, then a reduction in the annual budget of UP must be justified by the administration of President Benigno Aquino III. For the record, UP has to maintain eight constituent university campuses all over the country. It also operates the Philippine General Hospital in Manila. By any standard, it will cost plenty of money to

operate UP. UP President Alfredo Pascual has repeatedly urged the government to invest in UP for good reasons. By and large, UP produces selfless, nationalistic, critical, intellectual leaders in government service and private enterprise.

The usual excuse tendered by the government each time it wants to scrimp on the annual UP budget is that public funds are limited, and that government agencies should make the most of the limited funds allotted to them. If that is so, then the government must explain why it spends money on useless agencies and needless expenditures.

PTV-4, the government television network, is an example. It costs billions of pesos to operate and maintain this facility. Broadcast operations consume so much electricity, and broadcast equipment cost just as much to import and maintain. More than a thousand employees are in the payroll of this television network. The government pays for all these expenses using public funds.

With the exception of the regular lotto draws which run for a few minutes, the programs on PTV-4 do not have audiences, and cannot even dream of competing with those broadcast on the private television net-

Running... From A10 strategic and tactical miscalculations, Bayan and its allies were not well-positioned to be part of the new government.

It was painful listening to Lean on radio during the Edsa revolution as clearly the movement he led, which had spearheaded the resistance against the Marcos regime from its establishment, was not in tune with the people.

The night Marcos fell, I was at the gates of Malacañang Palace celebrating. But even then I realized the struggle for national liberation was not over.

The struggle continues. There is so much work still to be done. Our generation is leaving the next with a lot of problems:

The Poe...From A9 after her out-of-line statement at the height of the Iglesia ni Cristo controversy. Even some supporters were disheartened because the senator’s pronouncement may have revealed a shallow understanding of the issues involved.

But this neophyte senator has shown veteran and more experienced politicians how to declare a candidacy. And that is by telling the people the problems that she will address, and her goals in addressing these problems if she wins.

Another thing that is not publicly known is the process by which the Poe camp put together her platform. They consulted people. Perhaps they talked with experts and technocrats but I know that they also sought the help of people from the ground. I have friends,

works. The regular newscasts on PTV-4 suffer from a credibility problem because they are edited to put the government in good light. For this reason, its newscasts are considered government propaganda. One need only watch one episode of its newscasts to know that PTV4 does not broadcast anything bad about the government. In fact, nobody watches PTV-4 other than Malacañang personnel assigned to monitor its programs to make sure that nothing adverse to the government goes on the air through its facilities.

Operating and maintaining a television station that has no audience is an obvious waste of money. To stop the wastage of public money, PTV-4 should be converted to an emergency broadcast facility of the government, which will go on the air only during national emergencies and similar events. Its operations will have to be temporary and limited. This way, it does not waste billions of taxpayers’ money better spent on educational institutions like UP. If President Aquino knows what’s good for him, he should urge his political allies in Congress to increase the 2016 budget of UP to an amount even larger than its 2015 allotment because UP needs to upgrade

impunity for human rights violations, corruption, unsustainable development, climate change, social and environmental injustice,, and the poverty of our people are just some examples.

I will never forget the day the great Lean was killed. I remember crying the whole night and writing a letter to Eman (named also for an Ateneo activist, poet, and revolutionary Eman Lacaba), my eldest and at that time only son, about how the future of the country looked bleak without a leader like Lean. I did argue in that letter that we should still hope, that Lean’s example should help us persevere.

Two memorable lines from Lean continue to inspire today. The first give us courage: “The line of fire is a place of

heads of sectoral organizations who were asked by Poe’s people about their issues and advocacies. This, to me, is a good sign.

Of course, supporters of other candidates just hooted and downplayed Poe’s platform as mere promises—an SOP that all candidates do to get votes, and nothing more.

Objectively speaking though, Poe’s platform is the most comprehensive and detailed that we have heard from all who have manifested their desire to be president. Certainly it is not perfect because there are social and human rights issues that were excluded like women’s and LGBT rights. Still, by far, Poe’s platform is way better than the general statements we have so far heard from veteran politicians.

Vice President Binay, the populist that he is, never bothered to give specifics as to what he will prioritize if he gets to

its facilities, and construct more dormitories.

Over a decade ago, Senator John Osmeña threatened to reduce the budget of UP to a ghost of its previous self. At that time, UP students were suspected to be financially well-off because of the heavy volume of vehicular traffic inside the UP campus in Diliman, and that parking space was becoming a problem in the campus.

The UP community did not take the threat sitting down. When Osmeña ran for reelection, UP alumni all over the country organized an anti-Osmeña campaign.

UP students, faculty members, and administrative personnel, as well as their families and friends, did not vote for him. Osmeña lost his reelection bid.

What happened to Osmeña can happen to Mar Roxas, Aquino’s Liberal Party bet for president in 2016. It can also happen to LP senatorial candidates closely identified with Aquino.

Many UP alumni feel that UP has not been getting its rightful share of the national budget under President Aquino because he is not an alumnus of UP. A sizeable percentage of them also feel that electing a non-UP alumnus to Malacañang will only prolong the fiscal agony of the state university. That may be enough reason for UP alumni to get their act

honor.” The second gives meaning to what we do as we fight to liberate this country and set our people free from injustice, corruption, and other shackles: “The next best thing to being free is the struggle to be free.”

I did not know Lean personally when he was alive. But I did run with him during many marches and rallies, including in Mendiola, Liwasang Bonifacio, and QC Welcome Rotonda against the Marcos dictatorship. In running with the great Lean, this is the lesson I learned: There is always, dawn, after the night; light after darkness.

Hope is always the final word.

Facebook: tonylavs5 or Dean Tony La Viña Twitter: tonylavs

Malacañang. He always just refers to what he and his family did to Makati with the promise that he will do this to the whole country, full stop.

Former DoTC and DILG chief, and PNoy’s anointed one, Mar Roxas merely said that he will continue with and expand this administration’s “daang matuwid”. He has yet to expound what is meant by this almost cryptic statement.

And both declared their candidacies much earlier than Grace Poe. Remember that the senator also said that in the future, she will deal with the details of her platform. Let us remember this.

I have repeatedly said before that beyond the presence of a platform (which is very important), the “how to get there” is as vital.

I would like to see a six-year (the president’s term), annual plan of action on each point in

the platform. Annual benchmarking will help the Filipino people measure the success or failure of the next administration. The plan will be the guide posts by government in serving the people. If Poe does this, she will really be a candidate of substance.

Binay and Roxas, and other presidential aspirants who have yet to declare intent have been challenged by Poe. They have time to spell-out their government programs. The Filipino people should demand that they rise up to the occasion.

Let us begin to substantially veer away from personality and popularity-based politics. Let this electoral campaign period become a battle of platforms of government. bethangsioco@gmail.com @bethangsioco on Twitter Elizabeth Angsioco on FaceBook

together in the coming national elections. Non-UP alumni candidates may find that unsettling.

When Senator Grace Poe was campaigning for the Senate in 2013, she promised the UP community during an interview broadcast live on the university radio station dzUP that she would oppose and prevent any reduction in the annual budget of UP. The UP community expects her to keep her promise when the Senate deliberates on the proposed 2016 national budget by the end of this year.

UP alumni in both the House of Representatives and the Senate are also expected by the UP community to prevent any reduction in the UP budget. Senator Pia Cayetano and Rep. Roman Romulo, both of whom are UP alumni and members of the UP Board of Regents, are likewise expected to take the lead in defending the fiscal autonomy of the state university.

After speaking at a forum held at the UP School of Economics in September last year, Secretary Abad was confronted by protesters who hurled invectives at him and who pelted him with crumpled paper and coins. The UP community denounced the incident. Perhaps Abad’s proposed reduction in the UP budget is now his way of getting back at UP.

Like...From A9 standard-bearer, former DILG Secretary Mar Roxas and VP Binay both said they are not worried about Poe joining the race. Yeah right, after the two tried desperately to take out Poe as a potential rival by offering her to be their vice presidential running mate.That both Binay and Roxas still have to find a running mate speaks volumes about their lack of appeal, if not their winnability. Binay, the first to declare his presidential bid as early as four years ago, is slipping in the poll surveys saddled by a slew of corruption charges.

Roxas, on the other hand, is constrained to follow the discredited “tuwid na daan” (straight path) of his political patron—the lame duck President Aquino. At this early, political analysts see Binay and Roxas losing votes as their supporters shift to a perceived groundswell for Poe. Will voters carry Grace Poe like a sea surge and sweep her to power, or will vote-buying and cheating still be the norm in the 2016 presidential elections? The late movie icon Fernando Poe, Grace’s father, who lost the 2004 presidential poll, must be smiling somewhere.

For a neophyte politician without any experience, Grace Poe showed more political savvy than her rivals. She oneupped them by unveiling a platform of government (although the specifics of which were not spelled out) that included the passage of the Freedom of Information Bill, lowering taxes, giving priority to public education , construction of more schools and classrooms , mass transportation to ease traffic, fight against crime, infrastructure projects to decongest air traffic at the country’s three major airports, continue the unwavering campaign against corruption, and to defend the country’s sovereignty in the West Philippine Sea.

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Day on fire in quest for no. 1 spot CHICAGO—It took a weather delay to slow surging Jason Day Thursday at the BMW Championship, where the Australian’s fireworks left even Jordan Spieth’s holein-one in the shade.

Warriors continue dominance

By Mikey Izumi CEBU CITY—The University of San Carlos Warriors continued to dominate the basketball tournament of the 15th season of Cebu Schools Athletic Foundation, Inc. as they beat the USJ-R Jaguars, 87-74, last Thursday at the Cebu Coliseum.

Before the game, the Warriors put on a black-and-white t-shirt in their warmups while the coaching staff wore black armbands and the league had a moment of silence to mourn and condemn and death of Karen Kaye Montebon, a 17-year-old accountancy student of USCMain Campus after she was allegedly raped and killed inside her home in Lapu-Lapu City last Sept. 15.

The Warriors, with their veteran experience, made the Jaguars bleed for every point as their defense worked wonders, particularly on the Jaguars’ main men Mark Labares and Kevin Villafranca.

Due to his stellar performance on both ends, Cameroonian import Shooster Olago, who finished with 30 big points, 12 rebounds, 4 steals and 2 blocks, the Viva Sports TV panel of Rico Navarro and Sandi Grumo named him the “Best Player of the Game.”

His teammate Charles Pepito added 17 points, 16 rebounds and 2 assists, and Maverick Fitz Suarez had his best game so far with a career-high 13 points and 9 rebounds.

Ralph Dinolan led the Jaguars with 19 points and 9 rebounds, while ex-Far Eastern University Baby Tamaraw Ricky Peromingan had 13 points and 4 rebounds, and ex-Centro Escolar University Pink Scorpion Miguel Gastador and Jaybie Mantilla scored 11 points apiece.

Hong Kong football fans are shown during the 2018 World Cup football qualifying match between Hong Kong and Qatar in Hong Kong. FIFA has launched an official investigation over the behaviour of Hong Kong fans in a match against Qatar after they jeered the Chinese national anthem and threw a drink at a rival player. AFP

FIFA launches probe into unruly HK fans HONG KONG—FIFA has launched an official investigation over the behaviour of Hong Kong fans in a match against Qatar after they jeered the Chinese national anthem and threw a drink at a rival player.

Fans booed the “March of the Volunteers” -- the anthem they share with China -- at a World Cup qualifier played in Hong Kong last week which the home side lost 3-2.

Last year’s “Umbrella Movement” mass pro-democracy protests have soured attitudes in the semi-autonomous territory towards Chinese authorities and prompted resentment among some fans that the Chinese anthem is used to represent the city’s team.

The Hong Kong Football Association (HKFA) said Friday that FIFA, world football’s governing body, was also investigating an incident where a carton of lemon tea was thrown at a Qatari player.

“The HKFA has received correspondence from FIFA (dated 15th September) announcing that dis-

ciplinary proceedings have been opened against the HKFA in relation to incidents that took place during the recent Hong Kong vs Qatar match,” the HKFA said in a statement.

FIFA said the incidents were a violation of its regulations, according to the statement.

“It is regrettable that despite continuous pleas for fans to behave themselves, it appears that the behavior of a small minority of fans has placed the HKFA in this potentially damaging situation,” it added.

HKFA said it had been asked to submit information to FIFA by September 22.

Hong Kong fans’ anger against China was stoked in June when a promotional poster used by the China Football Association described the city’s team as “black skinned, white skinned and yellow skinned”.

FIFA had already given a warning to the HKFA after the Chinese anthem was booed at two home games earlier this year.

“We had repeatedly told fans to not jeer the national anthem, but they still did it,” HKFA chairman Brian Leung told reporters Friday.

“Everything right now depends on FIFA’s disciplinary committee.”

The HKFA has sought to play down the jeering at the Qatar match and said last week it would be “disappointed” if FIFA issued a punishment.

Possible FIFA sanctions could include having to play the next home qualifier, which would be against China in November, behind closed doors.

Hong Kong’s next qualifying game is away to Bhutan in October before the rematch with China. The two sides played out a 0-0 draw in Shenzhen just across the border from Hong Kong, last week.

The second round of Asian qualifying for Russia 2018 finishes in March and features 39 teams. It also doubles up as qualifying for the 2019 Asian Cup in the United Arab Emirates. AFP

Rio rejects criticism of facilities

A giant rugby ball is pictured breaking through the wall of Cardiff castle, ahead of the 2015 Rugby Union World Cup. AFP

RIO DE JANEIRO—Rio de Janeiro’s mayor on Thursday rejected harsh criticism by the international swimming organization of the city’s preparations for swimming events at the 2016 Games.

FINA, based in Switzerland, sharply criticized pollution off Copacabana Beach where openwater events will be held, reduced seating capacity at the pool for the main races, and the lack of a roof over the pool for diving, water polo and synchronized swimming, according to a report by the Associated Press.

FINA accused Rio’s mayor, Eduardo Paes, of “seriously damaging the image and value of FINA and its disciplines,” AP quoted a

leaked letter from FINA President Julio Maglione to Paes as saying.

FINA said it was “disappointed” by the leaking of the letter but did not comment on the contents.

Paes said that the criticism was unwarranted and that Rio “has met all the demands” of the International Olympic Committee.

FINA and the IOC “always knew” that the Maria Lenk diving pool had no roof, he said in a statement, explaining that Rio lacked the resources to add the structure.

Likewise, the capacity at the main pool, which will be able to take only 13,000 people compared to the 17,000 capacity at the 2012 London Olympics, “was always known” to FINA, Paes said. AFP

Day launched his bid for a victory that could lift him to number one in the world in scintillating fashion, an eagle and nine birdies with one bogey putting him 10-under when the horn sounded to end play shortly after he teed off at his final hole.

With play then suspended for the night, Day was four strokes clear of his nearest rival, American Daniel Berger—who was in the clubhouse on six-under 65 after holing out for an unlikely eagle at the par-four ninth.

“Being able to be aggressive, more aggressive with my drives off the tee boxes here has definitely paid off,” Day said after his first-round heroics.

“I’m just trying to—just rolling with it right now, and it’s worked out.”

American Brendon Todd was in the clubhouse on five-under-par 66, while Spieth was five-under through 17, Kevin Chappell five-under through 16 and Justin Thomas five-under through 13.

Day, however, was the undisputed star of what was quite a show.

“I’m walking through the locker room and people are going, you’re playing off the ladies’ tees, or you’re playing a different golf course, or every time you stand up there and hit a drive it’s downwind for you,” Day said.

“I’d like to say all of those things are true, but they’re not. It’s good to see that the guys are recognizing that I’m playing good. Obviously it’s a good round. I’m not thinking about it too much. I don’t want to get too high or too low.”

He opened with backto-back birdies from within six feet on the 10th and 11th holes at Conway Farms Golf Club, Illinois before rolling in a 37-footer for birdie at 13.

He drove the par-four 15th and two-putted for another birdie before giving back a stroke with a three-putt bogey at 17.

He followed that miscue by picking up five strokes in his next four holes with a birdie at 18, a hole out from a fairway bunker for eagle at the first and birdies at the second and third. AFP

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Back flip. Emmanuel Sanders of the Denver Broncos flips into the endzone for a touchdown in this series of photos during a game against the Kansas City Chiefs at Arrowhead Stadium in Kansas City, Missouri. AFP

Kobe cleared for all basketball activities LOS ANGELES—NBA superstar Kobe Bryant has been medically cleared for all basketball activities when the Los Angeles lakers open training camp this month, US media reported Thursday.

Bryant, who suffered a torn rotator cuff in his right shoulder in January, appears to be right on schedule in his recovery from a third straight season-ending injury.

His original prognosis called for a nine-month recovery after surgery.

ESPN.com and Bleacher Report cited league sources in reporting Bryant had been cleared to play.

The 37-year-old is entering his 20th NBA season, but it’s been some time since he completed a campaign.

An Achilles tendon injury cut

short his 2012-13 season, and a knee injury ended his 2013-14 campaign.

Since he was granted a twoyear, $48.5 million contract extension by the Lakers in 2013, he has played only 41 games.

But the Lakers insist they don’t regret a deal that will pay Bryant a league-leading $25 million this season, with club president Jim Buss saying in August that the aging superstar “deserves the money.”

Bryant has said he’ll decide after this season if he’s ready to

retire, with Buss suggesting in August that the Lakers would be prepared to keep him on.

“It’s his decision,” Buss said, although he acknowledged that Bryant might have to accept a reduced role.

Bryant has played for the Lakers his entire NBA career, winning titles in 2000, 2001, 2002, 2009 and 2010.

The 17-time All-Star is a twotime NBA scoring champion, and also a two-time Olympic champion with the United States. AFP

WBC vows to work harder to prevent ring deaths WORLD Boxing Council president Mauricio Sulaiman has committed to work hard to prevent ring deaths following the tragic passing of young fighters in Australia and South Africa.

The WBC said the boxing family is shocked by the tragic accidents that occurred in recent days, where two young warriors died after stepping into the ring.

The WBC website reported that South African Mzwanele Kompolo, 22, who faced his compatriot Siphenathi Qampi, in their homeland, was “sent to the

canvas in the first round; Oampi took advantage of the poor defense of his rival.”

It said Kompolo was immediately treated and rushed to the hospital in the city.

However, the damage was irreversible and after complications, the South African fighter died.

“Unfortunately, another terrible accident shocked boxing in less than a week,” the WBC said.

This happened in Sydney, Australia, where local Davey Browne Jr., 28, also died after being knocked out by Filipino Carlo Magali.

Browne, who was the father of two children, was knocked out 30 seconds before the last round concluded and despite recovering consciousness and getting up, he then collapsed in the ring and couldn’t be revived.

The World Boxing Council said: “We deeply regret the passing of these two fighters who climbed into the ring with dreams and will without knowing that this could be their last moment.”

WBC president Sulaiman added: “Events as these ones force us to continue to seek pre-

ventive measures and to eradicate these terrible episodes.

We will continue fighting in places where there is lack of experience and rules and we will continue fighting against those managers who force their fighters above the limit, risking their lives.”

The WBC continued: “We reaffirms its commitment towards the fighters, because the most important aspect of this organization will always be the lives of our warriors. We will continue working hard to prevent tragedies.”

Ronnie Nathanielsz

Donaire still waiting for fight contract

By Ronnie Nathanielsz FIVE-DIVISION world champion Nonito “The Filipino Flash” Donaire is still waiting for the title fight contract for his planned Nov. 21 showdown with World Boxing Association champion Scott Quigg of Britain in Manchester.

Donaire told The Standard/ boxingscene.com that he doesn’t know what else is holding up the contract.

“We took the fee (purse) they wanted, the fight in their own town. What else?” Donaire asked.

The Filipino boxer earlier said he had mentioned to Arum not to worry too much about the purse “I told him just get me the fight,” Donaire said.

Donaire said he has opened his training camp at the Top Rank Gym in Las Vegas and has been joined by his father/trainer Nonito “Dodong” Donaire Sr. “Training has been so far, so good,” said Donaire.

Having trained hard for his last two fights and staying in shape for the fight against Quigg, Donaire said he didn’t have to start from the beginning.

Donaire said he would probably begin sparring in a week or two, adding “I’m ready. I feel excellent.”

Arcilla cruises past Obdina, 8 to 2

Johnny Arcilla makes a forehand return against his foe.

STILL reeling from the sting of last year’s finals defeat, former champion Johnny Arcilla came out strong and scored an easy 8-2 victory over Laurence Joy Obdina yesterday in the 34th Philippine Columbian Association Open-Cebuana Lhuillier Wildcard Event at the PCA Open clay courts in Paco, Manila.

“Halos lahat kami nag-aadjust sa bagong court.

Medyo mahirap, madulas masyado ‘yung court.

Marami pa namang laro kaya siguro mas gaganda na ang laro habang tumatagal,” said the 35-yearold Arcilla, who also encountered problems in the refurbished court.

Defending champion Patrick John Tierro, on the other hand, seemed to have the new court figured out as he continued his winning ways to advance into the third round.

Newcomer Ken Philip Paradela never stood a chance against the veteran who annihilated the match, 8-0, in the event supported by Cebuana Lhuillier, Puma, Dunlop, Philippine Star, Head, Babolat, Compass/IMOSTI and

Sarangani Rep. Manny Pacquiao.

Fifth seed Rolando Ruel Jr was unstoppable against Hans Asistio, 8-1, and joined Tierro in the next round of singles play.

Also making it into the third round were ninth pick Marc Reyes and No. 15 Arcie Mano after weaving similar 8-1 victories over Bernardine Siso and Jason Timbal, respectively, in the tournament sponsored by Whilpool/Fujidenzo, Broadway Motor Sales Corp. Coca-Cola Fesma Philippines, Tyrecorp Incorporated, Pearl Garden Hotel, Metro Global Holdings Corporation, Avida, PVL Restaurant, Mary Grace Foods, Inc., Seno Hardware and Wire Rope Corporation.

Third pick Elbert Anasta, No. 4 Alberto Lim Jr., No. 8 Ronard Joven and No. 12 Roel Capangpangan led the pack of first-round winners. Anasta trounced Jomari Guira, 8-2, while Lim prevailed over Rey Mayo, 8-1. Joven struggled at first but was able to pull through against Dave Mosqueda, 8-5. Capangpangan defeated Joshua Kinaadman, 8-4.

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Tigers try to extend streak to 4

By Peter Atencio

THE University of Sto. Tomas Growling Tigers, carrying the momentum of a three-game winning streak, clash with the struggling defending champions National University Bulldogs at 4 p.m. today at the Mall of Asia Arena.

A fourth straight win will solidify the Growling Tigers’ grip on the solo lead in the 78th University Athletic Association of the Philippines men’s basketball tournament.

The Bulldogs, who have lost their last three games, are not expected to take their game with UST lightly.

“Siyempre babawi sila, they will prepare hard. Hindi puwede kaming maging

overconfident dahil kahit high 28 points to lead the 0-3 sila, defending champi- Growling Tigers to an opening-day 70-64 win on ang mga iyan,” Games Today over Adamson last said coach Bong (MOA Arena) Dela Cruz of the 2 p.m. • Ateneo vs UE Sept. 5.

4 p.m. • NU vs UST Another loss Bulldogs. by the Bulldogs The last time around, Ed Daquioag scored will give them the dubious 27 points to lead the Tigers to distinction of being the first a 67-59 win over University defending champions in the of the Philippines Fighting Final Four era to start the season with four straight Maroons.

De la Cruz said that since setbacks.

“Hangga’t mayroon pang last year, Daquioag and Kevin Ferrer have been mga games, may pag-asa,” asked to be the leaders of said Altamirano, moments after the Bulldogs lost a 70the team.

Daquioag shot a career- 74 double overtime decision

the Bulldogs, 76-71.

Meanwhile, Kiefer Ravena is again expected expected to provide leadership for the Blue Eagles.

It was Ravena’s two clutch baskets which carried Ateneo to a 74-70 double overtime victory over NU on Wednesday.

Ravena was having an off-night when he hit a three-pointer with 5.3 seconds left in regulation to tie the game at 57-all.

It was his drive with 5.7 seconds to play set the stage for a second extra period.

to Ateneo last Wednesday.

Earlier today, the Ateneo Blue Eagles and the University of the East Warriors meet at 2 p.m.

The Warriors, who are coming off an 89-78 triumph over the Adamson Falcons, have unravelled a promising cager in Bon Batiller, who made a game-high 23 points in that game last Wednesday.

The rookie-transferee from General Santos City also dished out eight assists and had six steals. He also had a 23-point performance when the Warriors got past

Taiwan Power routs Petron Blaze Spikers

National U, UP open bid in badminton

PHU LY, Vietnam—Petron suffered yet another sorry setback, this time at the hands of Taiwan Power of Chinese Taipei 2520, 25-16, 25-9 in the quarterfinals of the 2015 AVC Asian Women’s Club Volleyball Championship Friday at the Ha Nam Competition Hall here.

The Blaze Spikers were simply overpowered throughout the one hour and seven minute battle as the Taiwanese paraded the core of their national team to grab the first semifinal seat of this tournament serving as qualifier for the FIVB World Women’s Club Championship next year.

Taiwan Power will be joining the survivors in the battle between Bangkok Glass of Thailand and 4.25 Sports Club of North Korea; Hisamitsu Springs of Japan and Zhetyssu of Kazakhstan; and Zhejiang of China and Thong Tin Lietvietpost Bank of the host country in the semifinals.

Petron, on the other hand, formally kissed its championship hopes goodbye and was relegated to the battle for 5th to 9th places. It will face the loser between Kazakstan and Japan in the classification match at 5 pm (Manila time) on Saturday.

Nobody from Petron emerged with a double-digit in scoring as Aby Marano, Rachel Anne Daquis and Dindin Manabat delivered seven points apiece. Brazilian reinforcement Rupia Inck Furtado added six markers while Erica Adachi had 44 of the team’s 49 excellent sets.

NATIONAL University opens its title-retention campaign in the men’s division against an old nemesis in Ateneo today in the University Athletic Association of the Philippines Season 78 badminton tournament at the Rizal Memorial Badminton Hall.

The Bulldogs and the Blue Eagles, who cross paths in the Finals two years ago, collide at 10 a.m.

Other men’s division opening day ties scheduled on the same time are De La Salle-University of the Philippines, University of Santo Tomas-University of the East and Adamson University-Far Eastern University.

With two-time MVP Joper Escueta already completed his playing eligibility, NU will now rely on holdovers Peter Magnaye, Ross Leeward Pedrosa and last year’s top rookie Alvin Morada.

The Bulldogs capped a dominating men’s bad-

NOTICE The state of Hawaii to Lawrence Antonio Lago, you are hereby notified that a petition for adoption of the child born to Marie Venensi Widmann has been filed in the Family Court, First Circuit, state of Hawaii.

The petition alleges that your consent of the abovenamed child by the petitioner above-named is not required and may be dispensed with pursuant to Hawaii revised statutes section 578-2(c) as amended.

A hearing on the petition will be held on Sep 22 2015 at 1:30 PM at the Family Court located at Kapolei Court Complex, 4675 Kapolei Parkway, Kapolei HI 96707-3272.

If you fail to appear at the hearing on the date and time at the place noted above or if you fail to file a written response to the allegations reflected in the Petition for Adoption, further action may be taken including granting of the adoption without further notice to you. Your written response should be addressed to the Presiding Judge, Family Court, first circuit, 777 Punchbowl street, second floor, Honolulu, Hawaii 96812.

Failure to obey this notice may result in an entry of a default and default judgement against you.

You are further notified that the child, the adoptive parents and the natural parents have rights under H.R.S. 578-15 regarding confidentiality of adoption records after the child reaches age 18.

(TS-SEPT. 5,12,19,26, 2015)

Gerald Sibayan, one of the players to watch for La Salle.

minton campaign in Season 77 with a twogame championship sweep against the Green Archers for their second championship in three years. NU won all of its nine ties in that season.

Playing on his final season, skipper Gerald Sibayan will lead the way for La Salle, which went up three notches higher from a fifth place finish two years ago.

The Lady Maroons, meanwhile, open their quest for a back-to-back women’s title romp against the Lady Tamaraws at 2:30 p.m.

Other season-opening women’s ties lined up at the same time are the Lady Eagles-Lady Archers, Tigresses-Lady Warriors and Lady Falcons-Lady Bulldogs.

UP banked on last season’s MVP Jessie Francisco to dethrone Ateneo and end a 14-year title drought via a nine-game sweep.

Lady Bulldogs vow to stymie Valdez, Ateneo NATIONAL University sets out for another crack at the Shakey’s V-League crown, hopeful of emerging on the winner’s podium after a shutout loss the last time out.

The Lady Bulldogs actually nailed their first V-League plum two seasons ago when they edged the Ateneo Lady Eagles, 3-1, in sudden death, only to be swept by the Far Eastern U Lady Tams in last year’s title playoffs.

But for NU coach Roger Gorayeb, bringing the school back to the finals of the league sponsored by Shakey’s already makes them feel like champions.

“Our target is to make the of Alyssa,” said Gorayeb, who finals. Now that we’re here, also handled Valdez and Atwe already feel like champi- eneo in the past before movons. Winning it altogether ing back to NU. “She packs so would be a bonus,” said much power and has matured a lot that she can Gorayeb.

But winning carry a team to a Game today (Saturday) it all would en- 12:45 p.m. • UST vs FEU (best-of championship.”

-three for third/V-League) tail a lot of hard Still, he re3 p.m.•NCBA vs EAC (best-ofwork, determimains upbeat three for third/Spikers’ Turf) nation and paof their chanctience, especiales and hopes ly against a team as fancied as to surprise the Lady Eagles Ateneo. with a superb all-around Gorayeb, however, said game when Game One of they only have to stymie one the best-of-three title series player to fuel their cham- is fired off tomorrow (Sunpionship drive in the event day) at 12:45 p.m. at The presented by PLDT Home Arena in San Juan.

“If Jaja (Santiago), Myla Ultera.

“Ateneo is strong because (Pablo) and Dindin (Mana-

bat-Santiago) play true to form, we’ll always have a chance,” said Gorayeb. “Aiko (Urdas) has also recovered from cramps but she needs to be patient since she’s still far from 100 percent.”

Meanwhile, UST and FEU start their own best-of-three series for third today (Saturday), also starting at 12:45 p.m. to be aired live on GMA News TV Channel 11, according to the organizing Sports Vision.

The Spikers’ Turf also begins its series for third with NCBA and Emilio Aguinaldo College clashing in their side of the opener starting at 3 p.m. today.

S AT U R D AY : S E P T E M B E R 1 9, 2 0 1 5

A15

SPORTS sports@thestandard.com.ph

Wozniacki backs Serena to beat slam record SINGAPORE—Former world number one Caroline Wozniacki on Friday backed her close friend Serena Williams to beat Steffi Graf’s record of 22 major titles despite her heartbreaking defeat at the US Open.

Williams was bidding for the first calendar year Grand Slam since Graf in 1988, as well as a record-equalling 22nd major victory, when she was stunned by Roberta

Vinci in the US Open semi-finals.

But Wozniacki, speaking during a promotional visit for the Singapore Tourism Board, said it was only a matter of time before Williams makes the Grand Slam record her own.

“She’s won three Slams this year. I think that just proves it,” Denmark’s Wozniacki, ranked sixth, said of the American world number one.

“It’s never easy (to surpass Steffi

Graf) but I definitely believe that she can do it,” the 25-year-old added.

With Williams, who will turn 34 next week, and Swiss great Roger Federer, also 34, still at the top of the game, Wozniacki said players are finding ways to take better care of their bodies.

“I think if you look at tennis nowadays, people play longer and I think they’ve found better ways to take care of their body... and everything has helped

players to play longer and I think that’s great,” said Wozniacki.

For herself, Wozniacki stressed that staying healthy is her priority after a season affected by injury.

“I spend a lot of time in the gym to keep myself fit and healthy, it’s very important now and it’s probably more important than hitting balls in the court,” said Wozniacki, who mixes gym work, boxing and swimming into her training regime. AFP

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

‘Mayweather will fight Pacman again’

By Ronnie Nathanielsz Miguel Tabuena pumps his fist after drilling in a birdie putt on No. 12

INSIDE SPORTS RONNIE NATHANIELSZ

PROBABLY one of the hardest things to deal with is when you believe in someone and put your faith and trust in him to do what’s right and just and above all to carry through with building the remarkable legacy left by a father and you end up with a feeling of emptiness.

We are referring to Atty.

Chito Salud, the former Philippine Basketball Association Commissioner and now the President and Chief Executive Officer of the pro league.

The son of the eminent Rudy Salud, whose untimely passing was an irreparable loss to all of us who cared for him deeply because of his human qualities and his remarkable ability to help mold our character in a positive fashion and

Tabuena pulls away by 8 shots after a 64 TARLAC—Miguel Tabuena put on a brilliant show of shotmaking, solid iron game and superb putting and came away with a bogey-free, eagle-spiked eight-under 64 to all but wrap up another championship – and perhaps the coveted Order of Merit crown on the ICTSI Philippine Golf Tour.

Clutching a shaky one-stroke lead over Jhonnel Ababa halfway through the Central Azucarera de Tarlac Open, Tabuena rattled off three straight birdies from No. 1 against Ababa’s lone birdie then knocked down a pair of seven-footers on Nos. 6 and 8 for a sizzling 31, turning the Luisita Golf and Country Club into a virtual playground under preferred lies rule.

With a 31 and two pars at the back, the 21-year-old ace shotmaker drove to the left side fairway of the par-5 No. 12 then came through with a terrific 5-wood second shot from 236 yards to within 15 feet for eagle.

He did slow down with one birdie in the last six holes but his 64 and a 17-under 199 put him eight shots ahead of Ababa, who carded a 71 for a 207, and 10 strokes up on American Micah Shin and local bet Zanieboy Gialon, who both shot 69s, and Dutch Guido Van der Valk, who turned in a 71, for 209s.

The last 18 holes of the P2.5 million championship could be a victory walk for the hottest player on the tour, who has primed himself up for a series of tournaments in Japan starting next week, along with absentee Angelo Que and Japan-based Juvic Pagunsan.

“My game plan is to place safety shots off the tee and make the most of my birdie chances,” said Tabuena, a three-leg winner who has been playing with a high level of confidence following his come-frombehind win over Tony Lascuña at the ICTSI Open at Wack Wack last week.

AMERICAN trainer Rick Staheli, who led eightdivision world champion Manny Pacquiao to his first world title—the World Boxing Council flyweight crown with a spectacular eighth-round knockout of Thai hero Chatchai Sasakul, believes Floyd Mayweather Jr. will fight the Filipino in a rematch when a new 20,000-seat, state-of-the art venue, which the MGM Grand Garden Arena Casino moguls are building within walking distance of the old venue, is finished.

Dick Powell of the Daily Mail claimed that no matter how many times Mayweather says his career ended with his record-equaling 49th fight, most of the boxing world expect to see him back in the ring next year.

Powell reported that Mayweather, the former pound-for-pound king, will probably “respectfully observe his retirement for a year, give Manny Pacquiao time to come back from injury with an impressive win in the spring and then do another mega-buck rematch during the Mexico independence weekend next September. That is his other annual date.”

Never mind that the so-called Fight of the Century between Mayweather and Pacquiao last May was anti-climactic—and an expensive one at that for those paying tens of thousands of dollars for a ticket and a hundred bucks for pay-per-view television subscriptions.

But both Powell and Staheli agree that a rematch is still the biggest money fight out there. Even if they rake in less than 50 percent of the half-billion dollar gross from that

non-event, Mayweather will bank more than another $100 million, and Pacquiao just under that figure.

Staheli told The Standard/boxingmirror.com that Mayweather “is a numbers’ guy and although beating heavyweight champion Rocky Marciano’s record of 49-0 didn’t mean anything, Floyd wants to go 50-0 and maybe have one or two more fights because the Andre Berto fight was like a sparring session.”

While both Mayweather and Pacquiao cannot make anything as close as what they made in their first fight, it would still enable both men to make some big money.

Staheli was sure the rematch would be “a better fight,” especially if Pacquiao is completely healed following surgery on a torn rotator cuff in his right shoulder, The well-known American trainer, who keeps track of all the developments in boxing through a number of contacts in the US boxing scene, said that “Floyd was serious in training for the first fight and because in his mind he won that fight real easy, he may not train as hard for the rematch.”

The measure of the Filipino spirit to teach us the values and virtues of being not just a media man, but an individual imbued with the noble characteristics of a Filipino.

That simply meant, as he would always remind us, to adhere to the principle that integrity is non negotiable and that God and country must come above all else.

It was his good friend, Lito Puyat, the two-time president of FIBA, the international governing body for basketball, who advocated the deeply emotional phrase, “Para sa Bayan,” which Rudy lived by in his role as PBA Commissioner during his eminently successful tenure and as the founding secretary general of the World Boxing Council, whose Constitution and By Laws he crafted and in various other positions in which he, by his profound example, earned the

public trust and respect.

Regrettably, his son Chito whom we remember as a young man with enormous talent and a sharp legal; mind, has painfully for us, failed to live up to our expectations.

It may mean almost nothing to him, but it means a lot to us because he is the son of a father, whom we loved dearly and respected beyond belief.

We have always subscribed to the fact that actions speak louder than words and when Chito Salud in his remarks before the PBA Press Corps during its annual awards dinner said that he didn’t want to pay too much attention to the negative things surrounding the formation of this year’s Gilas Pilipinas men’s basketball team for the FIBA Asia Championships in China, where only the winner will automatically qualify

for a place in the 2016 Rio Olympic Games, he was far from being forthright.

We can understand his reluctance to bother about the criticism of some PBA teams, because, quite honestly, the truth hurts.

But even that doesn’t upset us too much. What does, however, is Salud’s reiteration of the league’s support for the national team program. That is simply not true.

When he was Commissioner, Chito Salud committed to use his persuasive influence and leadership to get the PBA teams to support the national team. In the end it was only Fred Uytengsu and Alaska who, in commendable fashion, gave coach Tab Baldwin three of the Aces outstanding players in Calvin Abueva, Sonny Thoss and Dondon Hontiveros, which

is more than any coach could have asked for.

Salud spoke about wanting to focus on the silver lining which he characterized as giving our opponents the element of surprise to widening our pool in the future.

Dear Chito, the need was here and now which would then set the tone for widening the pool in the future.

The call to stick together to have more exciting times and to battle through differences, find a common ground and keep advancing the ball sounds too much like a discredited politician rather than the talented son of an illustrious father.

The only valuable remark worthy of Chito was his statement of having nothing but gratitude to those who have played, are playing and will play in the future.

Gilas Pilipinas is a team worthy of our wholehearted support, our fervent prayers and a debt of gratitude for remembering the ennobling line, “Para sa Bayan.”

We thank the coaching staff led by the amazing Tab Baldwin and assistants Jong Uichico and Alex Compton and each and every member of our team.

Play with the courage Filipinos live by. Play hard but play clean. Win or lose, you have all won our eternal gratitude and respect for accepting the challenge when others begged off or were required to.

You gentlemen are the true measure of the Filipino spirit.

Let it burn in your hearts as well as ours, as you strive to bring honor and glory to our country.

Remember, win or lose you are heroes of our time.

S AT U R D AY : S E P T E M B E R 1 9, 2 0 1 5

A16

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

Beast mode. Spain’s center Pau Gasol (right) takes a shot despite France’s center Rudy Gobert during the semifinal basketball match between Spain and France at the EuroBasket 2015 in Lille, northern France.

Gasol scored 40 points to lift Spain to an 80-75 win. AFP

Bombers shock Knights, keep Final 4 hopes alive

By Peter Atencio

JOHN Pontejos hit 21 points, including 9 crucial ones in the final period as the Jose Rizal University Heavy Bombers turned the tables on the Letran Knights, 86-80, Friday and kept their Final Four hopes alive in the 91st National Collegiate Athletic Association men’s basketball tournament at the Arena in San Juan.

Pontejos unloaded a triple and a jumper with 5:21 left, allowing the Heavy Bombers to move away, 7470, en route to the win.

The Heavy Bombers, improved to fifth at 9-6, and with three crucial games headed their way, they moved behind the Arellano

NU, UP shuttlers start bid TURN TO A14

University Chiefs and the Mapua Cardinals, and could snatch a Final Four seat, if any of the two lose in their remaining matches.

The Knights, led by Kevin Racal with 23, dropped to second at 11-4, while the San Beda Red Lions took the solo lead again at 11-3.

Meanwhile, the Mapua Cardinals drew big baskets from Mark Brana and Justin Serrano down the stretch to stun the Arellano University Chiefs, 81-76.

Fighting their way back from a 12-point deficit in the third period, the Cardinals overtook the Chiefs halfway in the fourth period, leaning on the charity shots of Serrano and John Nieles to claim their 10th win in 15 matches.

For the second straight game, Allwell Oraeme finished with another monster game, this time scoring 15 points and hauling 30 rebounds.

With Oraeme controlling the boards, the Cardinals forced the Chiefs to numerous turnovers in

Kobe cleared to play TURN TO A13

the fourth, tying the match, 66all, on Brana’s layup.

They then moved away on a 10-2 run which Serrano and Darren Menina led with their driving shot and triple, gaining a 76-68 spread with 1:33 left.

“We started very slow. Very, very slow. That was our topic after the first half. And just like that, we came in strong again, and did what was right,” said Cardinals’ assistant coach Ed Cordero, who is charge while head coach Atoy Co is serving a two-game suspension.

The Chiefs lost Donald Gumaru following a bad fall in the last 41.7 seconds while trying to stop Serrano, whose two charities

Games Tuesday (The Arena in San Juan) 10 a.m. Perpetual Help vs San Sebastian (jrs) 12 nn JRU vs LPU (jrs) 2 p.m. Perpetual Help vs San Sebastian (srs) 4 p.m. JRU vs LPU (srs)

in the ensuing play handed the Cardinals a 78-73 edge.

In another senior game, the University of Perpetual Help Altas wasted little time in disposing of the College of St. Benilde Blazers, 70-47, and stayed within reach of a Final Four seat.

Earl Thompson came up with his sixth triple double-double of the season, banging in 21 points and hauling down 10 rebounds for the Altas, who posted their 10th win in 14 games, and are third.

B1

SATURDAY: SEPTEMBER 19, 2015

RAY S. EÑANO EDITOR

RODERICK T. DELA CRUZ ASSISTANT EDITOR

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

BUSINESS

Volatility pulls down BoP

By Julito G. Rada

THE country’s balance of payments swung to a deficit of $450 million in August from a surplus of $114 million a year ago, as foreign funds pulled out their investments amid the volatility in the financial markets, data from Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas show.

The August deficit also reversed the $354-million surplus recorded in July this year and was the biggest gap in 19 months, or since January 2014 when it hit a record $4.48 billion.

Bangko Sentral said despite the deficit in August, BoP in the first eight months remained in surplus at $1.588 billion, a reversal of the $3.530-billion deficit a year earlier.

“We have seen significant de-

preciation of the peso relative to other currencies on account of the impending adjustment in the monetary policy in the US, the Aug. 11 devaluation of Chinese yuan, and the crash in the stock market on Aug. 24,” Bangko Sentral Deputy Governor Diwa Guinigundo said in a news briefing.

Foreign portfolio investments or “hot money” posted a net outflow of $543 million in August, a reversal of the $483-million net inflow a year ago, as foreign funds fled the country for the sixth consecutive month on investors’ concern over the imminent interest rates hike by the US Federal Re-

serve as the world’s biggest economy continued to recover.

The People’s Bank of China devalued the yuan on Aug. 11, dragging the rest of the region with it.

PBoC again cut the value of the Chinese yuan against the US dollar the following day, trimming the reference rate by 1.62 percent.

BoP summarizes the country’s economic transactions with the rest of the world, with a deficit indicating that foreign exchange payments outstrip receipts and a surplus the reverse.

Persistent surpluses help build up the country’s gross international reserves, an ample supply

of which supports the value of the peso against the US dollar and keep domestic inflation at bay.

Bangko Sentral revised the BoP target to a surplus of $2 billion, taking into account the positive developments in the world economy.

Guinigundo earlier said the Bangko Sentral remained optimistic of sustaining a BOP surplus this year as current account was expected to remain robust.

Current account posted a surplus of $2.8 billion in the second quarter, lower than $3.1-billion surplus a year ago on account of the widening of the deficit in the trade-in-goods account.

PSe comPoSite index Closing September 18, 2015

8000 7700 7400 7100 6800 6500

7,131.91 7.92

PeSo-dollar rate

Closing SEPTEMBER 18, 2015 43.50 44.60 45.40

P46.415

46.20

CLOSE

47.00

HIGH P46.400 LOW P46.570 AVERAGE P46.493 VOLUME 617.500M

P435.00-P640.00 LPG/11-kg tank P36.00-P43.95 Unleaded Gasoline P25.05-P28.40 Diesel

oPriceS il P

Tatt Awards launched. Globe Telecom Inc. president and chief executive Ernest Cu leads the launching the Tatt Awards 2015, the country’s premier award-giving body that recognizes social media movers and shakers in the Philippines. Globe invited to nominate positive acts, ideas, talents, projects or movements that achieved greatness by choosing to connect. Unlike previous Tatt Awards, this year’s nominations are not divided into specific categories. Any person or group may be nominated so long as the nominee has been able to create an impact through quality content that made a mark to the greater majority.

today

P34.55-P39.15 Kerosene P20.75-P21.75 Auto LPG

Tetangco: Federal Reserve decision brings relief to PH

Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas Friday, September 18, 2015

F oreign e xchange r ate Currency

Unit

US Dollar

Peso

United States

Dollar

1.000000

46.5170

Japan

Yen

0.008333

0.3876

UK

Pound

1.558400

72.4921

Hong Kong

Dollar

0.129039

6.0025

Switzerland

Franc

1.041124

48.4300

Canada

Dollar

0.759301

35.3204

Singapore

Dollar

0.715410

33.2787

Australia

Dollar

0.714490

33.2359

Bahrain

Dinar

2.656254

123.5610

Saudi Arabia

Rial

0.266745

12.4082

Brunei

Dollar

0.712860

33.1601

Indonesia

Rupiah

0.000069

0.0032

Thailand

Baht

0.028015

1.3032

UAE

Dirham

0.272324

12.6677

Euro

Euro

1.142300

53.1364

Korea

Won

0.000859

0.0400

China

Yuan

0.157085

7.3071

India

Rupee

0.015117

0.7032

Malaysia

Ringgit

0.235294

10.9452

New Zealand

Dollar

0.631991

Taiwan

Dollar

0.030865

29.3983 1.4357 Source: PDS Bridge

BANGKO Sentral ng Pilipinas Governor Amando Tetangco Jr. said countries with good economic fundamentals, including the Philippines, will benefit from the latest move of the US Federal Reserve to keep interest rates steady. “... What would this imply for emerging markets, including the Philippines? We may see some near relief for emerging markets with good fundamentals and yield pick-up [as we had seen over past few days],” Tetangco said in a text message Friday.

“Over medium term, however, the markets will have to watch for more definitive action from Chinese authorities,” Tetangco said.

The US Federal Reserve on

Thursday kept interest rates unchanged but hinted there might be a modest policy tightening before the year ends.

Tetangco said with still much uncertainty in global markets that could impact on the path of domestic inflation, the Fed opted to keep rates steady “to avoid [in my view] potential policy reversal.

“With [the] China slowdown, the low global oil prices and US dollar appreciation would continue to dampen domestic US inflation [albeit positive deflationary pressure],” Tetangco said.

He said while some might say the Fed “could have just done even a token hike this time, just to

have this off the market’s mind,” the Fed seemed to have needed more from the data.

He said the Bangko Sentral’s pre-emptive tightening moves last year remained relevant and domestic demand appeared steady.

“We will watch market price action to see how market is digesting [the] Fed’s move, check for impact of portfolio flows on domestic liquidity, and evaluate new inflation forecasts, to see if there is need to fine-tune policy levers or communication,” Tetangco said.

ING Bank Manila senior economist Joey Cuyegkeng said the Philippine peso and local bond yields would reflect the Fed’s decision initially through stronger

markets.

“The favorable impact may be temporary with Fed normalization remaining the base case even as the timing of the lift off is delayed. In addition, the decision of the Fed to delay liftoff also reflects an assessment that global risks remain and global growth remains relatively weak. These would eventually weigh on emerging markets’ currencies and financial markets,” Cuyegkeng said.

Tetangco said in an earlier statement that like most economies in the Asian region, the Philippines was in a good position to withstand risks, especially coming from the global front.

Julito G. Rada

SATURDAY: SEPTEMBER 19, 2015

B2

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

The STandard BuSineSS daily STockS review Friday, September 18, 2015

52 Weeks

Previous

High Low 7.88 75.3 124.4 107 56.5 2.49 17 30.45 10.4 1.01 100 1.46 30.5 91.5 137 361.2 57 180 1700 124 3.26 47 2.36 15.3 148 20.6 36 65.8 2.97 4.14 21.5 21.6 11.96 9.13 11.8 2.89 17 31.8 109 20.75 15.3 9.4 0.98 241 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 7.34 238 5.5 3.28 0.315 2.18 2.65 234 5.28 1.3 2.17 0.59 59.2 30.05 7.39 3.4 823.5 10.2 84 3.35 4.92 0.66 1455 7.5 76 9.25 0.85 17.3 0.71 5.53 6.55 0.0670 2.31 1.61 2.99 84.9 3.5 974 1.66 390 156 0.710 0.435 0.510 10.5 1.99 41.4

STOCKS

Close

High

Low

FINANCIAL 2.88 2.79 69.2 66 103.40 101.80 84.50 83.25 42.65 42 2.50 2.45 15.7 15.1 20.4 20 7.44 7.44 0.730 0.590 86.15 84.5 0.96 0.93 17.30 17.10 57.35 52.50 96.5 95 300 300 32.35 30.65 146 141 1465.00 1460.00 53.60 49.80 3.15 2.9 INDUSTRIAL 35.9 Aboitiz Power Corp.

43.4 43.65 42.7 1.86 Alsons Cons.

1.59 1.71 1.59 7.92 Asiabest Group 9.56 10.5 9.52 32 C. Azuc De Tarlac 83.60 83.20 83.20 15.32 Century Food 17 17 16.98 10.08 Cirtek Holdings (Chips) 26.5 26.85 25.5 29.15 Concepcion 43 46.7 42.9 1.5 Crown Asia 2.77 2.94 2.82 1.5 Da Vinci Capital 1.24 1.27 1.18 10.72 Del Monte 10.16 10.16 10.1 9.55 DNL Industries Inc. 10.980 11.140 10.88 9.04 Emperador 7.80 8.01 7.80 6.02 Energy Devt. Corp. (EDC) 6.15 6.41 6.05 8.86 EEI 7.90 8.05 7.94 1.06 Euro-Med Lab 1.6 1.7 1.6 8.61 Federal Res. Inv. Group 14 14.2 13 20.2 First Gen Corp.

23.9 24.75 23.95 71.5 First Holdings ‘A’ 68.45 69.1 66.65 13.86 Ginebra San Miguel Inc. 12.50 12.50 12.50 13.24 Holcim Philippines Inc. 13.72 13.84 13.80 5.34 Integ. Micro-Electronics 5.8 5.84 5.8 0.395 Ionics Inc 1.550 2.320 1.550 173 Jollibee Foods Corp.

188.00 191.00 184.00 2.3 LMG Chemicals 1.95 1.86 1.86 1.63 Mabuhay Vinyl 3.09 4.63 3.35 33 Macay Holdings 46.85 46.95 46.90 23.35 Manila Water Co. Inc. 23 23.05 22.6 17.3 Maxs Group 22 22.75 21.5 5.88 Megawide 5.5 5.6 5.5 250.2 Mla. Elect. Co `A’ 299.20 298.80 296.00 3.37 Panasonic Mfg Phil. Corp. 3.90 3.94 3.94 3.87 Pepsi-Cola Products Phil. 4.1 4.1 4.09 8.45 Petron Corporation 6.90 7.20 6.86 10.04 Phinma Corporation 11.30 11.20 1.00 3.03 Phoenix Petroleum Phils. 3.35 3.40 3.25 1.95 Phoenix Semiconductor 2.00 2.03 1.97 1 Pryce Corp. `A’ 2.25 2.3 2.21 4.02 RFM Corporation 4.03 4.07 4.02 1.65 Roxas and Co. 2.65 2.8 2.6 5.9 Roxas Holdings 5.5 5.5 5.2 161 San Miguel’Pure Foods `B’ 135 135 134.6 4.1 SPC Power Corp.

3.8 3.81 3.81 1.55 Splash Corporation 1.97 2.1 1.98 0.138 Swift Foods, Inc. 0.142 0.148 0.143 1.02 TKC Steel Corp.

0.85 0.94 0.85 2.09 Trans-Asia Oil 1.75 1.85 1.76 152 Universal Robina 191 192.8 190.2 4.28 Victorias Milling 4.62 4.62 4.62 0.640 Vitarich Corp.

0.67 0.71 0.63 1.2 Vulcan Ind’l.

1.04 1.05 1.03 HOLDING FIRMS 0.44 Abacus Cons. `A’ 0.430 0.435 0.420 48.1 Aboitiz Equity 58.2000 58.5000 57.4500 20.85 Alliance Global Inc. 20.35 20.45 19.80 6.62 Anscor `A’ 6.88 6.66 6.64 0.23 ATN Holdings A 0.247 0.245 0.240 634.5 Ayala Corp `A’ 770 783.5 771 7.390 Cosco Capital 6.93 7.1 6.93 12.8 DMCI Holdings 12.90 13.48 12.90 2.6 F&J Prince ‘A’ 3.1 3.01 3.01 2.26 Filinvest Dev. Corp.

4.20 4.22 4.20 0.152 Forum Pacific 0.220 0.231 0.201 837 GT Capital 1288 1315 1281 5.3 House of Inv. 6.00 6.00 6.00 49.55 JG Summit Holdings 71.00 72.50 70.70 4.84 Lopez Holdings Corp.

6.35 6.37 6.25 0.59 Lodestar Invt. Holdg.Corp. 0.58 0.65 0.56 12 LT Group 12.38 12.6 12.36 0.580 Mabuhay Holdings `A’ 0.53 0.52 0.52 4.2 Metro Pacific Inv. Corp. 5.04 5.15 5.05 4.5 Minerales Industrias Corp. 8.12 8.16 8.1 0.030 Pacifica `A’ 0.0380 0.0380 0.0350 1.23 Prime Media Hldg 1.090 1.340 1.160 0.550 Prime Orion 1.770 1.800 1.700 2.26 Republic Glass ‘A’ 2.61 2.79 2.78 59.3 San Miguel Corp `A’ 45.30 46.00 45.35 1.5 Seafront `A’ 2.50 3.20 2.62 751 SM Investments Inc. 900.00 914.00 880.00 1.13 Solid Group Inc. 1.17 1.18 1.16 170 Transgrid 160.00 170.00 170.00 80 Top Frontier 65.000 67.000 65.100 0.211 Unioil Res. & Hldgs 0.3500 0.3700 0.3200 0.179 Wellex Industries 0.2180 0.2200 0.2020 0.310 Zeus Holdings 0.240 0.225 0.210 PROPERTY 6.74 8990 HLDG 6.640 7.230 6.630 0.65 A. Brown Co., Inc. 0.63 0.65 0.62 30.05 Ayala Land `B’ 34.50 35.30 34.85 2.5 66 88.05 88.1 45.45 1.97 12.02 19.6 6.12 0.225 78 0.9 17.8 62 88.35 276 41 118.2 1200 59 2.65

AG Finance Asia United Bank Banco de Oro Unibank Inc. Bank of PI China Bank BDO Leasing & Fin. INc. COL Financial Eastwest Bank Filipino Fund Inc. MEDCO Holdings Metrobank Natl. Reinsurance Corp.

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

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

SHARES 55,863,816 202,899,495 193,574,308 236,447,847 204,006,023 449,031,765 1,343,594,774

2.88 68.95 101.60 83.05 42 2.45 15.1 20 7.32 0.670 84.5 0.93 17.32 55.50 96 298 32.3 144.7 1470.00 53.00 2.9

Close

%

Net Foreign

Change Volume

Trade/Buying

2.79 69.2 103.00 84.15 42.65 2.50 15.5 20 7.44 0.610 84.75 0.96 17.10 53.35 96.5 300 31.2 141 1460.00 49.80 3.15

-3.13 0.36 1.38 1.32 1.55 2.04 2.65 0.00 1.64 -8.96 0.30 3.23 -1.27 -3.87 0.52 0.67 -3.41 -2.56 -0.68 -6.04 8.62

74,000 22,230 2,470,950 3,128,580 165,800 100,000 52,800 39,800 400 37,488,000 2,425,800 54,000 38,700 3,439,500 2,980 10 4,583,800 796,980 100 98,340 6,000

42.7 1.7 9.86 83.20 17 26.4 46.7 2.85 1.2 10.16 10.920 7.95 6.09 7.97 1.6 14.2 24 66.65 12.50 13.80 5.84 2.320 184.00 1.86 4.63 46.95 23 21.9 5.6 298.40 3.94 4.09 6.86 11.20 3.39 1.99 2.23 4.03 2.79 5.2 135 3.81 2.09 0.143 0.93 1.81 191.1 4.62 0.7 1.03

-1.61 6.92 3.14 -0.48 0.00 -0.38 8.60 2.89 -3.23 0.00 -0.55 1.92 -0.98 0.89 0.00 1.43 0.42 -2.63 0.00 0.58 0.69 49.68 -2.13 -4.62 49.84 0.21 0.00 -0.45 1.82 -0.27 1.03 -0.24 -0.58 -0.88 1.19 -0.50 -0.89 0.00 5.28 -5.45 0.00 0.26 6.09 0.70 9.41 3.43 0.05 0.00 4.48 -0.96

4,660,500 -58,969,305.00 1,225,000 -529,850.00 7,500 10 159,900 1,699,860.00 146,500 65,600 1,641,010 3,176,000 37,340.00 2,465,000 172,400 -1,511,540.00 11,126,100 13,427,888.00 1,021,600 -1,305,901.00 38,090,200 -24,569,177.00 1,863,200 -460,571.00 4,000 6,700 -39,000.00 5,509,600 -39,485,285.00 609,250 -25,741,865.00 100 1,300 121,900 103,841,000 -890,470.00 629,920 -13,478,293.00 5,000 956,000 -19,620.00 5,000 1,137,800 -10,100,710.00 125,600 -273,370.00 60,300 161,840.00 425,330 76,798,406.00 1,000 665,000 2,231,810.00 3,773,400 -13,558,388.00 101,000 93,000 -101,700.00 303,000 1,980.00 979,000 4,475,000 -921,390.00 313,000 26,300 36,840 -422,630.00 1,000 4,744,000 -81,730.00 520,000 67,000 -28,380.00 1,379,000 -222,720.00 1,497,580 -27,969,874.00 7,000 32,340.00 4,512,000 -86,200.00 148,000 31,500.00

0.420 57.4500 19.90 6.64 0.240 782 7.1 12.90 3.01 4.20 0.219 1300 6.00 70.85 6.27 0.61 12.36 0.52 5.13 8.14 0.0360 1.320 1.720 2.78 45.80 2.85 880.00 1.18 170.00 66.000 0.3300 0.2160 0.215

-2.33 -1.29 -2.21 -3.49 -2.83 1.56 2.45 0.00 -2.90 0.00 -0.45 0.93 0.00 -0.21 -1.26 5.17 -0.16 -1.89 1.79 0.25 -5.26 21.10 -2.82 6.51 1.10 14.00 -2.22 0.85 6.25 1.54 -5.71 -0.92 -10.42

320,000 2,485,890 6,923,000 46,000 600,000 380,600 4,300,700 10,525,800 160,000 51,000 1,150,000 375,570 100 2,678,160 3,067,000 106,000 2,474,900 28,000 27,015,000 2,242,400 93,400,000 61,000 4,027,000 51,000 552,600 1,455,000 821,070 491,000 100 1,340 20,900,000 3,870,000 470,000

7.170 0.62 35.05

7.98 -1.59 1.59

5,780,400 9,758,183.00 186,000 22,691,500 -124,987,710.00

822,420.00 121,552,559 -13,853,294.50 4,722,055.00 -219,185.00 -239,900.00 -35,774,673.00 -50,880.00 -86,000.00 -93,999,639.00 -107,558,850 -42,172,967.00 -4,054,813.00

-2,240,744.50 -33,863,617.00 93,864,495.00 17,302,831.00 -22,124,382.00

-135,386,145.00 -20,401,027.00 -3,608,754.00 -14,253,820.00 33,377,784.00 108,000.00 -51,850.00 -10,656,195.00 2,150.00 -107,620,170.00 17,820.00 -7,400.00 548,210.00

52 Weeks

Previous

High Low 5.6 5.59 5.6 1.44 1.97 0.201 0.69 10.96 0.97 0.305 2.22 2.1 1.8 8.4 5.94 0.180 0.470 0.72 8.54 31.8 2.29 4.9 21.35 1.06 7.56 1.62 8.59

3.36 4.96 2.8 0.79 1.1 0.083 0.415 2.4 0.83 0.188 1.15 1.42 1.27 3.1 4.13 0.090 0.290 0.39 2.69 22.15 1.6 3.1 15.08 0.69 3.38 0.83 5.73

10.5 66 1.44 1.09 14.88 15.82 0.1430 5.06 99.1 12.3 1700 2720 8.41 1.97 119.5 12.5 0.017 0.8200 2.2800 5.93 12.28 3.32 2.53 3.2 1 2.46 15.2 0.62 1.040 6.41 185 22.9 3486 0.760 2.28 46.05 90.1

1.97 35.2 1 0.63 10.5 8.6 0.0770 2.95 56.1 10.14 830 1600 5.95 1.23 102.6 8.72 0.011 0.041 1.200 2.34 6.5 1.91 1.01 1.95 0.650 1.8 6 0.335 0.37 3 79 4.39 2748 0.435 1.2 31.45 60.55

STOCKS

Close

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

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

Phil. Realty `A’ Primex Corp.

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

11.6 0.85 10 0.490 1.9

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

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

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

Manila Bulletin Manila Jockey Melco Crown MG Holdings NOW Corp.

PAL Holdings Inc. Phil. Seven Corp.

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

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

1.14 Yehey

0.0098 17.24 1.19 1.62 9.5 4.2 0.48 0.420 0.440 0.022 0.023 8.2 49.2 4.27 1.030 3.06 0.020 0.021 7.67 12.88 10.42 0.040 420 9

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

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

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

TA Petroleum

70 553 525 515 8.21

33 490 500 480 5.88

84.8

75

ABS-CBN Holdings Corp.

Ayala Corp. Pref `B1’ Ayala Corp. Pref ‘B2’ GLOBE PREF P GMA Holdings Inc. PCOR-Preferred B 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 1,242,005,590.31 1,718,394,361.34 2,539,832,430.06 2,621,687,718.90 1,673,325,165.0485 184,105,028.7263 10,002,084,672.3825

FINANCIAL 1,572.23 (up) 5.47 INDUSTRIAL 10,827.96 (down) 47.76 HOLDING FIRMS 6,621.74 (down) 33.16 PROPERTY 2,994.80 (up) 80.04 SERVICES 1,783.57 (down) 20.99 MINING & OIL 11,260.37 (up) 78.05 PSEI 7,131.91 (up) 7.92 All Shares Index 4,076.60 (up) 14.24 Gainers: 100 Losers: 80; Unchanged: 33; Total: 213

Close

3.04 4.78 6.5 0.64 1.03 0.110 0.420 19.28 0.780 0.167 1.04 1.76 1.43 4.80 4.5 0.092 0.2800 0.4750 7.87 28.75 1.57 3.29 21.00 0.7 7.6 0.690 5.490

%

Net Foreign

Change Volume

Trade/Buying

3.08 3.01 3.01 4.87 4.76 4.87 6.4 6 6 0.65 0.58 0.58 1.05 1.03 1.03 0.112 0.106 0.110 0.430 0.420 0.430 20 19.3 20 0.810 0.760 0.810 0.175 0.174 0.175 1.05 1.03 1.05 1.82 1.77 1.78 1.42 1.40 1.40 3.00 3.00 3.00 4.68 4.5 4.5 0.094 0.084 0.091 0.3000 0.2800 0.3000 0.4500 0.4400 0.4400 7.89 7.83 7.89 29.10 27.80 28.80 1.57 1.55 1.55 3.2 3.16 3.16 22.35 21.05 22.35 0.73 0.69 0.73 8.4 7.6 8.37 0.690 0.670 0.670 5.560 5.460 5.480 SERVICES 7.7 8.19 7.6 8.17 60.3 60.4 59.95 60 1.1 1.06 1.06 1.06 0.550 0.570 0.540 0.540 11.74 11.24 11.24 11.24 6.61 6.70 6.37 6.37 0.0610 0.0640 0.0610 0.0610 3.67 3.89 3.64 3.7 90.2 92.4 90.7 91.75 10 10 10 10 920 920 920 920 2510 2546 2510 2528 6.35 6.42 6.30 6.42 1.21 1.33 1.20 1.28 87.5 89.45 84.9 84.9 11.4 11.4 11.4 11.4 0.011 0.011 0.010 0.011 0.196 0.214 0.196 0.196 1.4500 1.8800 1.4700 1.6700 2.1 2.15 2.15 2.15 8.75 8.90 8.50 8.80 2.56 2.67 2.45 2.62 1.23 1.15 1.15 1.15 2.19 2.20 2.15 2.20 0.590 0.600 0.580 0.600 2.05 2.05 2 2.05 5.14 5.38 5.07 5.35 0.325 0.330 0.300 0.310 0.560 0.560 0.480 0.480 4.45 4.74 4.50 4.73 107.00 105.00 105.00 105.00 18.68 18.80 18.40 18.80 2392.00 2426.00 2340.00 2340.00 0.600 0.600 0.580 0.580 1.140 1.200 1.130 1.170 32.00 32.20 31.65 31.65 70.00 73.00 69.50 71.90 6.38 6.71 6.40 6.64 6.89 7.11 6.80 7.02 0.52 0.52 0.50 0.52 3.43 3.51 3.4 3.4 0.370 0.380 0.340 0.370 2.750 2.930 2.740 2.800 MINING & OIL 0.0056 0.0056 0.0053 0.0055 5.04 5.04 4.90 5.02 0.71 0.69 0.69 0.69 0.65 0.67 0.65 0.67 5.96 6.70 5.85 6.30 1.08 1.11 1.07 1.07 0.285 0.300 0.285 0.295 0.183 0.183 0.181 0.181 0.200 0.200 0.191 0.200 0.010 0.010 0.010 0.010 0.011 0.011 0.011 0.011 2.02 2.25 2.01 2.25 7.54 7.67 7.45 7.46 3.03 3.03 2.92 2.98 0.6000 0.6100 0.5300 0.5800 1.2800 1.3400 1.2800 1.3400 0.0095 0.0095 0.0095 0.0095 0.0091 0.0100 0.0100 0.0100 3.78 3.80 3.78 3.78 5.05 5.160 5.070 5.15 1.38 1.460 1.390 1.43 0.0110 0.0110 0.0110 0.0110 135.40 139.20 135.20 137.00 2.32 2.4 2.25 2.27 PREFERRED 60 60.35 60 60 530 530 530 530 526.5 538 538 538 521 528 528 528 6.24 6.28 6.28 6.28 1090 1090 1080 1080 81.25 82 81.25 82 WARRANTS & BONDS 3.190 3.380 3.250 3.370 SME 3.28 3.5 3.28 3.42 52.8 52.8 50 52.8 12.36 12.52 12 12 EXCHANGE TRADED FUNDS 116.4 118 117 117.5

T op g ainerS STOCKS

Low

-0.99 1.88 -7.69 -9.38 0.00 0.00 2.38 3.73 3.85 4.79 0.96 1.14 -2.10 -37.50 0.00 -1.09 7.14 -7.37 0.25 0.17 -1.27 -3.95 6.43 4.29 10.13 -2.90 -0.18

3,207,000 101,000 200 24,708,000 9,000 550,000 390,000 2,700,000 422,000 320,000 2,113,000 20,563,000 35,000 3,000 44,004,000 700,000 210,000 340,000 229,100 1,783,000 327,000 33,000 51,403,800 2,268,000 1,775,800 39,000 7,755,900

-3,057,850.00

6.10 -0.50 -3.64 -1.82 -4.26 -3.63 0.00 0.82 1.72 0.00 0.00 0.72 1.10 5.79 -2.97 0.00 0.00 0.00 15.17 2.38 0.57 2.34 -6.50 0.46 1.69 0.00 4.09 -4.62 -14.29 6.29 -1.87 0.64 -2.17 -3.33 2.63 -1.09 2.71 4.08 1.89 0.00 -0.87 0.00 1.82

371,200 110,360 1,000 157,000 400 10,921,000 31,120,000 368,000 1,147,040 900 10,790 80,610 71,000 95,000 1,793,820 100 26,300,000 36,050,000 32,463,000 15,000 549,200 813,000 5,000 31,000 24,000 54,000 5,133,800 140,000 4,151,000 10,000 260 149,200 214,770 383,000 10,876,000 1,113,900 676,350 15,107,300 9,783,000 8,134,000 3,260,000 170,000 1,010,000

-1.79 -0.40 -2.82 3.08 5.70 -0.93 3.51 -1.09 0.00 0.00 0.00 11.39 -1.06 -1.65 -3.33 4.69 0.00 9.89 0.00 1.98 3.62 0.00 1.18 -2.16

343,000,000 54,000.00 194,700 70,598.00 153,000 256,000 33,800 -72,000.00 6,268,000 -1,864,720.00 220,000 2,480,000 -83,720.00 120,000 30,600,000 1,200,000 515,000 -26,560.00 4,775,100 -11,522,355.00 714,000 2,970.00 632,000 255,000 8,000,000 11,000,000 15,000 221,700 134,984.00 750,000 -131,580.00 35,100,000 -18,700.00 929,670 -22,722,157.00 1,073,000 30,030.00

0.00 0.00 2.18 1.34 0.64 -0.92 0.92

810,330 20 10,000 10,100 50,000 1,500 14,930

5.64

172,000

4.27 0.00 -2.91

93,000 1,040 1,659,700

0.95

17,480

-13,467,230.00 6,180.00 2,165,852.00 159,900.00 -236,080.00 -5,238,900.00 -28,358,400.00

12,813,725.00 -427,830.00 380,832,585.00 5,003,191.00 -21,888,917.00

-25,665,034.00 -1,517,060.00 -19,300.00 41,233,190.00 -77,698,870.00 -18,750.00 -77,425,267.00 158,910.00 -352,590.00 1,826,008.00

0.00 -1,010,402.00 9,000.00 273,050.00 -27,300.00 -1,672.00 -252,855,740.00 -11,020.00 -270,600.00 -17,946,775.00 24,518,621.50 -720,540.00 7,267,632.00 -2,841,630.00 -5,578,920.00 -2,750.00

29,713,835.00

-1,015,052.00

T op L oSerS Close (P)

Change (%)

STOCKS

Close (P)

Change (%)

Mabuhay Vinyl

4.63

49.84

Keppel Properties

3.00

-37.50

Ionics Inc

2.320

49.68

NOW Corp.

0.480

-14.29

Prime Media Hldg

1.320

21.10

Zeus Holdings

0.215

-10.42

ISM Communications

1.6700

15.17

Century Property

0.58

-9.38

Seafront `A'

2.85

14.00

MEDCO Holdings

0.610

-8.96

Marcventures Hldgs., Inc.

2.25

11.39

Cebu Prop. `A'

6

-7.69

Starmalls

8.37

10.13

Phil. Realty `A'

0.4400

-7.37

Oriental Pet. `B'

0.0100

9.89

Lorenzo Shipping

1.15

-6.50

TKC Steel Corp.

0.93

9.41

Union Bank

49.80

-6.04

Vantage Equities

3.15

8.62

Unioil Res. & Hldgs

0.3300

-5.71

SATURDAY: SEPTEMBER 19, 2015

B3

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

Aboitiz Power unit refinances old debt

By Alena Mae S. Flores

SN ABOITIZ Power-Benguet Inc. has refinanced the peso loan component of the $375-million debt it obtained from a consortium of domestic and international banks in August 2008.

“The proceeds of the refinancing will be used to partially fund the rehabilitation of the 105-MW Ambuklao hydroelectric power plant and the refurbishment of the 140-MW Binga hydro power plant, repay existing loans or advances and for other general corporate purposes,” Aboitiz Power Corp., the parent company of SN Aboitiz, said in a disclosure to the stock exchange Friday.

After refinancing, SN Aboitiz Power-Benguet’s credit facility would reach $436.23 million from International Finance Corp., Nor-

dic Investment Bank, Bank of the Philippine Islands and BDO Unibank Inc. SN Aboitiz Power-Benguet, a joint venture between Aboitiz Power and SN Power AS of Norway, acquired the AmbuklaoBinga HEPP for $325 million through a competitive bidding in November 2007.

The Energy Regulatory Commission recently granted SNAP-Benguet an amended certificate of compliance for all four units of the Binga power plant located in Barangay Tinongdan, Itogon, Benguet.

The amendment reflects the increase of Binga hydro power plant’s capacity to 140 megawatts at 35 MW each, from 125.8 MW (31.45 MW for each of the four units) following an uprating work that began on Dec. 2, 2014 and was completed on Feb. 23, 2015.

“The uprating was a result of commissioning tests that showed the Binga HEPP could generate as high as 35 MW at rated head or the water depth for which a hydroelectric generator and turbines were designed,” Aboitiz Power said earlier.

The Binga hydro plant was uprated to its maximum capacity without changing technically much of the existing equipment.

The plant has an economic life of 48 years.

The certificate of compliance is valid for five years, reckoned from March 12, 2012 (the date of

the approved COC for Unit 4, the first unit to be re-powered) or until March 12, 2017.

SNAP Benguet is the owner and operator of the Ambuklao-Binga hydroelectric power complex, consisting of the 105-MW Ambuklao plant located in Bokod, Benguet and the 140-MW Binga hydroelectric power Plant located in Itogon, Benguet.

The Energy Department earlier approved the new greenfield projects of SNAP totaling 350 megawatts in Ifugao.

These include the 100-MW Alimit plant, the 240-MW pumped storage facility and the 10-MW Olilicon plant. The facilities will be developed under a subsidiary, SNAP-Ifugao.

The contract term provides for 25 years beginning July 24, 2014 and renewable for another 25 years.

Trade agreements. Trade assistant secretary Ceferino Rodolfo (front row, fifth from left) delivers the opening remarks at the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation Dialogue on Regional Trade Agreements/Free Trade Agreements in Cebu City. Rodolfo urged participants of the dialogue to support initiatives for transparency in trade agreements. With him are senior officials from other Apec countries. Apec member economies have enforced 144 free trade agreements or more than half of all the FTAs in place globally.

Cebu Pacific eyes AirAsia’s seat entitlements to China

By Darwin G. Amojelar CEBU Pacific has asked the Civil Aeronautics Board to reallocate the unused seat entitlements to China previously granted to rival AirAsia Zest.

Cebu Air Inc., operator of Cebu Pacific, in a filing with the CAB, requested the reallocation of 1,260 unused seat entitlements allocated to AirAsia Zest following a confidential memorandum of understanding between the Philippines and China.

Of the total seat entitlements, 720 seats would be used for Manila to Guangzhou and the re-

maining 540 seats for Manila to Beijing.

Cebu Pacific earlier announced it would mount direct flights from Manila to Fukuoka, Japan; from Cebu to Taipei, Taiwan; and from Davao to Singapore starting Dec. 17.

“We look forward to seeing the ‘Cebu Pacific effect’ in the new routes we will operate. We’ve seen time and again how connectivity and CEB’s trademark low fares stimulated travel,” Cebu Pacific vice president for marketing and distribution Candice Iyog said.

Cebu Pacific said combined passenger traffic of Cebu Pacific

and unit Cebgo reached 1.48 million in July, up from 1.33 million passengers recorded in the same period last year.

The July figure brought the total passengers in the first seven months of the year to 10.70 million, up 8.6 percent from last year’s 9.85 million. The company targets 18 million passengers in 2015.

Its load factor, which pertains to number of seats occupied per flight, fell by 1.6 percentage points to 79.2 percent in July from 80.8 percent last year. In the first seven months, load factor dropped 3.5 percentage points to 81.5 percent from 85 percent last year.

Cebu Pacific and Cebo recorded total flights of 78,843 in January to July, up 10.8 percent from 71,133 flights last year.

Cebu Air posted a net income of P5.2 billion in the January-June period, up from P3.18-billion profit recorded a year earlier.

Cebu Air generated revenues of P29.51 billion in the first six months of the year, up 10 percent from P26.72 billion last year.

The airline attributed the higher revenues to the 8.2-percent rise in passenger volume to 9.2 million from 8.5 million in 2014, driven by the increased number of flights in 2015.

Market advances as US Fed holds rates STOCKS extended their gains to the sixth day, after US Federal Reserve’s decision to hold off hiking interest rates sent emerging market currencies and most Asian markets advancing Friday.

The Philippine Stock Exchange index, the 30-company benchmark, rose 7 points, or 0.1 percent, to close at 7,131.91 on Friday. The index was still down 1.4 percent since the start of the year.

The heavier index, representing all shares, gained 14 points, or 0.4 percent, to settle at 4,076.60, on a value turnover of P10 billion.

Gainers outnumbered losers, 100 to 80, while 33 issues were unchanged.

Electronics manufacturer Ionics Inc. emerged as the biggest gainer among the 20 most active stocks, as it jumped 49.7 percent to P2.32 Technology company IBM earlier teamed up with Ionics to create the IBM IoT (Internet-of-Things) platform.

SM Prime Holdings Inc., the property arm of the Sy family, advanced 6.4 percent to P22.35, while property developer Ayala Land Inc. rose 1.6 percent to P35.05.

Meanwhile, the US central bank’s head Janet Yellen said the ongoing crisis in China and recent turmoil on world markets had played a role in keeping borrowing costs at zero.

The Fed’s decision followed widespread warnings about the dire impact a rate increase could have, with the World Bank predicting this week it would cause a “perfect storm” in financial markets.

It also came despite a string of data in recent months showing the US economy, the world’s biggest is well on track to recovery.

Yellen told a news conference: “A lot of our focus has been on risks around China, but not just China, emerging markets more generally and how they may spill over to the United States. We’ve seen significant outflows of capital from those countries, pressures on their exchange rates and concerns about their performance going forward,” Yellen said of the emerging market economies.

“The question is whether or not there might be a risk of a more abrupt slowdown than most analysts expect,” she said.

The news pushed the dollar lower. It was buying 119.80 yen in Tokyo trade, compared with 120.90 yen in Asia Thursday. The euro was at $1.1403 against $1.1302 a day earlier.

Struggling emerging market currencies, which have been rising this week on hopes the bank would hold fire, were also higher. The South Korea won added 0.27 percent, the Malaysian ringgit gained 0.50 percent, India’s rupee was 0.82 percent higher and the Singapore dollar was up 0.06 percent.

“For emerging-market central bankers, the Fed has given them some much-needed breathing room,” said Jonathan Lewis, a principal at New York-based Samson Capital Advisors LLC. With AFP

SATURDAY: SEPTEMBER 19, 2015

B4

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

IN BRIEF End to rice tariff THE National Economic and Development Authority said Friday quantitative restrictions on rice imports should end to lower the price of the commodity.

Economic Secretary Arsenio Balisacan said in a forum the extended quantitative restriction on rice should end by 2017 and that transition to “tariffication” should start by then.

The World Trade Organization Committee on Trade in Goods recently approved the petition of the Philippines for protective measures to keep the high duties on imported rice under the minimum access volume at 40 percent and the higher MAV will at 50 percent.

“We have until 2017 to continue that regime and by the end of it, we are expected to be tarrified. What it means [is] our rice market will become more predictable and transparent, hence we should take advantage of that to prepare that sector,” Balisacan said.

The Philippine Institute for Development Studies defines tariffication as the conversion of all tariff and non-tariff barriers into custom duties.

Gabrielle H. Binaday

Bongbong on mining THE Philippine government should have a clear policy on mining to maximize the benefits of the industry as the country remains one of the most mineralized area in the world, Senator Ferdinand Marcos Jr. said.

Marcos said during the sidelines of this year’s Mining Philippines Conference & Exhibition the government had no clear policy on mining.

“We have to create a good policy towards mining. We are regarded the top 5 in the world for many metallic and non-metallic minerals so that is a natural resource that we should take advantage of. By having a purely antimining policy, then we are not taking advantage of that and we are lessening the benefits to our people,” Marcos said.

“The only way that we can do such an enlightened exploitation is by having a mining policy that is clear to everyone and not the contradictory directives coming from different agencies of the government,” he added.

Marcos, meanwhile, said proposed bills to increase taxation was “a classic case of killing the goose the lay the golden egg.” Anna Leah E. Gonzales

San Carlos expands SAN Carlos Solar Energy Inc. on Friday announced the completion its solar plant expansion to 45 megawatts in Negros Occidental last week.

SaCaSol said in a statement the completion made the plant the largest solar power farm in the country.

The company also announced recently that the Philippine Investment Alliance for Infrastructure fund, managed by Macquarie Infrastructure and Real Assets, completed the acquisition of a majority stake in SaCaSol. PINAI’s investors include the Government Service Insurance System, Asian Development Bank, Langoer Investments Holdings B.V. and Macquarie.

Financing of SaCaSol’s solar farm was provided by previous shareholders ThomasLloyd CTI Asia and the Bank of the Philippine Islands.

SaCaSol was developed by Bronzeoak Philippines, which continues to be shareholder and operator of SaCaSol. The solar farm is located in San Carlos City, Negros Occidental, an emerging green city quickly being known as the renewable energy center of the Visayas. Alena Mae S. Flores

Mabuhay delisting up TOSOH Corp. of Japan said it will pursue plans to delist chemical manufacturing firm Mabuhay Vinyl Corp. from the Philippine Stock Exchange.

“The bidder may pursue a proposal to delist the shares of MVC from the PSE subject to compliance with the applicable rules,” Tosoh said in a final tender offer report filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

MVC’s public float has remained above the 10 percent minimum public ownership requirement, after Tosoh recently completed the acquisition of a majority interest in MVC. Tosoh currently owns a 87.97-percent stake in MVC after acquiring BDO Unibank Inc.’s 35.47-percent stake and purchasing an additional 12.58 percent at the end of the tender offer period.

Tosoh owned 39.92 percent of MVC prior to the agreement with BDO. MVC produces four basic chemicals with a wide range of industrial and household applications.

Tosoh is one Asia’s largest manufacturers of plastic resins and produces several important vinyl-related chemicals from fully integrated operations.

Jenniffer B. Austria

Quezon fish port. Agriculture Secretary Proceso Alcala (second from right), Mayor Joel Amando Diestro of Real, Quezon and other local

government officials lead the ground-breaking ceremony of the Real fish port, which is expected to benefit local fishermen from the town and nearby areas. The project promises a number of livelihood opportunities. As the only Philippine fish port facing the Pacific Ocean, the project is relatively near Manila. Alcala also said a canning plant will soon be established within the project site,to create other value-adding activities for the local fishermen and their families.

SMC, 13 Luzon co-ops sign power supply deal

By Alena Mae S. Flores

SMC Global Power Holdings Corp., the power generation unit of San Miguel Corp., signed an agreement this week with the Central Luzon Electric Cooperative Association to supply 300 megawatts of power.

SMC Global chairman Ramon Ang told reporters Friday the company offered the Central Luzon electric cooperatives a rate of P3.20 per kilowatt-hour for 20 years.

“We are selling it to them [electric coops] at P3.20 per kWh,” Ang said, adding the Central Luzon electric coops earlier bought power at a rate of P6 to P8 per kWh.

The association is composed of 13 cooperatives from Tarlac, Nueva Ecija, Pampanga, Zambales and Aurora provinces.

Ang said the agreement would bring affordable power to Central Luzon customers.

SMC Global will supply power to the electric cooperatives starting 2019 from the company’s Limay clean coal-fired power plant in Bataan.

“This will be the benchmark from now on,” Ang said, noting that other power generators would now compete with the lower rate offered by SMC Global.

Ang said SMC Global would still register profits despite the P3.20 per kWh rate because of the modern plant and production efficiency from the circulating fluidized bed coal technology.

An initial output of 150 MW from the Limay plant is set to join the Luzon grid next year year while the next 300-MW production would be ready by 2017.

San Miguel has been expanding its power generation capacity in the Visayas, with plans to put up a 300-MW plant in Panay and another 300-MW coal

station in Cebu.

The coal-fired power plant in Panay is expected to cost $600 million.

Ang earlier said the new power plant would reduce the cost of electricity in Panay, which is suffering from high power rates of P6 to P8 per kilowatt-hour.

“We want to put up a power plant in Panay because we want to supply electricity in Iloilo because power prices are high there,” Ang said.

Panay island consists of the provinces of Aklan, Antique, Capiz and Iloilo.

He said SMC Global Power could put up the 300-MW circulating fluidized bed or clean coal facility in two and half to three years, at a cost of $2 million per megawatt.

SM Prime to issue P20b worth of fixed retail bonds

By Jenniffer B. Austria SM PRIME Holdings Inc., the country’s largest integrated real estate company, said Friday it plans to issue up to P20 billion worth of fixed rate retail bonds before the end of the year to finance capital expenditures in 2016.

SM Prime said in a disclosure to the stock exchange its board approved the issuance of up to P15 billion in bonds with an oversubscription option of up to P5 billion and with maturities of 5.25 years and 10 years.

“The board of directors also authorized the management to negotiate and finalize the terms and conditions, including pricing, tenor and any increase in issuance amount, and execute any and all documents neces-

sary, to implement the retail bond issue,” SM Prime said.

SM Prime vice president for finance Teresa Cecilia Reyes said in a text message the company planned to issue to bonds in December.

“The bonds will finance capital expenditures up to 2016,” Reyes said.

SM Prime in August said it planned to raise P30 billion in fresh capital over the next 12 months to partially fund its 2015-2016 capital spending program.

SM Prime executive vice president Jeffrey Lim said the P30-billion fund raising program would be done through the issuance of retail bonds in two tranches or through bank borrowings.

SM Prime in 2014 issued P20 billion

worth of bonds maturing in 2020, 2021 and 2024.

SM Prime in the first half of the year reported a 90-percent increase in first-half net income to P18.7 million from P9.8 billion year-on-year, boosted by a one-time extraordinary gain from the sale of marketable securities.

Excluding the one–time trading gain, the company’s recurring income grew 15 percent year-on-year to P11.2 billion.

First half consolidated revenues rose eight percent to P35.9 billion from P33.3 billion on year, mainly driven by the growth in rental revenues as well as higher recognition on completed projects of its real estate business.

S at u r D aY : S E P t E M B E r 1 9, 2 0 1 5

B5

cESar Barrioquinto EDITOR

editorial@thestandard.com.ph

Pistorius eyes parole as his case is reviewed JOHANNESBURG—A South Africa parole board was meeting Friday to determine if champion Paralympian Oscar Pistorius should leave jail, weeks after the justice minister blocked his release.

Pistorius was due to leave prison in August to serve under house arrest the remainder of his five-year sentence for shooting his girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp.

But he was kept behind bars after Justice Minister Michael Masutha made a last minute intervention blocking his release, in the latest twist to the case that has grabbed global headlines.

Last year, Pistorius was found guilty of culpable homicide for shooting his model girlfriend Steenkamp in the early hours of Valentine’s Day 2013.

The star athlete known as the “Blade Runner” argued that he shot the law graduate after mistaking her for an intruder; prosecutors said he did so deliberately.

The 28-year-old was expected to be freed in August and placed under house arrest after serving 10 months of his sentence.

But in a surprise move, justice minister Masutha said the parole board made a mistake when they approved parole before Pistorius had served a sixth of his five-year sentence, as required by law.

Now a parole review board, a panel of legal experts chaired by a judge, will meet in the eastern port city of Durban to determine if the earlier decision to release Pistorius was legal.

If the panel decides Pistorius should be released from prison, the athlete might be able to leave jail immediately, said his lawyer Brian Webber to AFP. “That could be the case,” said Webber, adding that he could not be sure. “I’m not a bookkeeper.”

Alternatively, the panel can rule that Pistorius must remain in prison.

The parole review board had no set time limit to make its decision, said lawyer Joey Moses, author of the book Parole in South Africa. AFP

world Boko Haram uprooted 500,000 children—UN LAGOS—Some 500,000 children have been forced to flee Boko Haram militants in the last five months after an upsurge in attacks in Nigeria, Cameroon, Chad and Niger, the UN children’s agency said on Friday.

In attendance. TV personality Courtney Stodden attends VH1’s 5th Annual Streamy Awards at the Hollywood Palladium on Sept. 17, 2015 in Los Angeles, California. AFP

The additional numbers of children made homeless has taken the total number of youngsters in the Lake Chad region who have been forced to flee to 1.4 million, Unicef said in a statement.

Nigeria was the worst affected, with nearly 1.2 million children more than half of them under five uprooted by the Islamist insurgency, which is concentrated in the country’s remote northeast.

Some 265,000 other children have been affected in neighboring Cameroon, Chad and Niger, which Boko Haram has increasingly targeted after they joined Nigeria’s military in a regional counter-offensive.

“Each of these children running for their lives is a childhood cut short,” said Unicef’s regional director for West and Central Africa, Manuel Fontaine.

“It’s truly alarming to see that children and women continue to be killed, abducted and used to carry bombs.”

Boko Haram has been fighting to establish a hard-line Islamic state in northeast Nigeria since 2009.

At least 15,000 people have been killed since then, some 1,100 of them in a wave of suicide bombings, deadly raids and bomb attacks since Muhammadu Buhari became Nigerian president on May 29.

Buhari has said he is confident “conventional” attacks will be stopped by November, although suicide and homemade bomb attacks could continue.

Earlier this month, the International Organization for Migration revised upwards its estimate of those internally displaced by the conflict from 1.5 million to more than 2.1 million because of the recent surge in attacks.

The IOM’s head of mission in Nigeria, Enira Krdzalic, said many IDPs living in host communities had yet to receive basic food and shelter, calling for more to be done.

On Wednesday, the charity Medecins Sans Frontieres also appealed for international help after 16 people died and 172 fell ill in a cholera outbreak at three IDP camps in Maiduguri, northeast Nigeria. AFP

Oil tanker blast kills 150 in South Sudan JUBA, South Sudan—At least 150 people died in South Sudan when a crashed oil tanker exploded as a crowd scooped up spilled fuel, reports said Friday.

Senior local official John Ezkia told South Sudan’s Eye Radio that the initial death toll of more than 85 in Wednesday’s explosion had risen to at least 150, after scores died of burns.

Other badly burned bodies have also been found around the wreckage of the tanker.

The crash and subsequent blast took place on a road some 250 kilometers west of the capital Juba and close to the small town of Maridi.

However, the local government director of Maridi, John Saki, told South Sudan’s Gurtong news site the toll could be as high as 176 people.

Doctors have described how they are struggling to cope with limited supplies to treat severe burns, including a lack of painkillers.

Saki described how about a thousand people crowded around the tanker to gather fuel after it crashed on the roadside, with many coming from a nearby school.

“Then an explosion occurred which led to the death of 55 people in the beginning, and has now risen to 176 people―and many others are in critical condition at Maridi

hospital,” Saki told South Sudan’s Gurtong new website.

Those visiting the wounded in the hugely overstretched hospital in Maridi described horrific scenes.

“Some people are burned all (over their) legs, some the hands, some the whole body, the back,” one witness told Radio Tamazuj.

“They look like a white person.”

Fuel leaks and oil tanker accidents in Africa often draw huge crowds scrambling to scoop up the fuel, resulting in many deaths due to accidental fires.

“Very many” people are dying, a witness told Radio Tamazuj, adding there were not enough drugs to help them. AFP

Onstage. Lindi Ortega performs during the 16th Annual Americana Music Festival & Conference at the Mercy Lounge in Nashville, Tennessee. AFP

B6

s at u r D aY : s e P t e M b e r 1 9, 2 0 1 5

WORLD

cesar barrioquinto EDITOR

editorial@thestandard.com.ph

Migrants inundate Croatia ZAGREB, Croatia—Road and rail routes to northern Europe from the Balkans were closing to migrants Friday, after a string of countries closed their borders to a relentless human wave.

The crisis, challenging the EU’s humanitarian reputation and its vaunted policy of border mobility, has triggered an emergency

Security bills set for okay in Japan TOKYO—Japan is expected to pass security bills Friday that would allow troops to fight on foreign soil for the first time since World War II, despite fierce criticism it will reshape the proudly pacifist nation.

Prime Minister Shinzo Abe’s ruling coalition wants to vote the controversial bills into law after days of heated debate that at times descended into scuffles, tears and tantrums.

Hundreds gathered in front of parliament in Tokyo Friday in a last-ditch rally against the laws, which could see the biggest shift in Japan’s defense policy for half a century.

Tens of thousands of people, young and old, have taken to the streets for weeks in almost daily rallies in a show of public anger on a scale rarely seen in Japan.

“The bills are against the constitution. It’s a legislation that doesn’t respect people’s lives,” said 70-year-old Hozumi Wada, who said he was protesting for the first time since he was a student.

“I wanted to do everything I can,” he said, holding up a placard that read “No war.”

Nationalist Abe wants what he calls a normalization of Japan’s military posture, which has been restricted to narrowly defined self-defense and aid missions by a pacifist constitution imposed by the US after World War II. He and his backers say the changes are necessary because of threats from an increasingly belligerent China and unstable North Korea. AFp

summit of the 28-nation bloc on Wednesday.

Desperate to reach Germany and Sweden seen as welcoming havens of peace and prosperity thousands of refugees have traveled by car, bus and train, reaching the southern EU rim in Serbia.

But Hungary sealed off its border with Serbia on Tuesday, displacing the flow to Croatia, a fellow EU member.

After initially vowing to let the refugees through, Croatia on Thursday said it was overwhelmed by the influx, and closed seven

of its eight crossing points with Serbia.

“Up to now we have registered 13,000 migrants on Croatian territory,” Interior Minister Ranko Ostojic told N1 television station on Friday.

“This figure means that our capacities to take in more are saturated.”

Migrants tried to continue their northward trek by train through Croatia’s neighbor, EU member Slovenia, which then announced it was suspending all Croatian rail links until late Friday.

Republic of the Philippines Province of Oriental Mindoro MUNICIPALITY OF PINAMALAYAN ooOoo

BIDS AND AWARDS COMMITTEE

____________________________________________________________________________

INVITATION TO APPLY FOR ELIGIBILITY AND TO BID ITB 2015– 88 1.

The Municipal Government of Pinamalayan, Province of Oriental Mindoro through its joint Bid and Awards Committee (BAC) invites bidders/suppliers to apply for the eligibility and to bid for the hereunder project: :

Name of the project

2.

Materials for Construction of Evacuation Center Phase II Brgy. Sta. Rita

Location

:

Pinamalayan, Oriental Mindoro

Approved Budget

:

Php 2,047,428.50 (20% Development Fund)

Bidders shall deliver the following services/activities, to wit;

Scenes of chaos and despair at the Croatian-Serbian border brought home the human scale of the problem.

Thousands were camped in the fields around the rural town of Tovarnik on Friday, whose little train station has become the latest flash point in a monthslong drama.

A train there had been waiting to leave since 4:00am (0200 GMT), Peter Bouckaert, Human Rights Watch emergencies director, told an AFP reporter. AFp

65

PVC Pipe #4” Orange

20

pcs.

66

PVC Elbow #4”

11

pcs.

67

PVC Tee #4”

14

pcs.

68

PVC Tee Red 4x2

2

pcs.

69

PVC Pipe #2”

35

pcs.

70

PVC Elbow #2”

52

pcs.

71

PVC Tee #2

14

pcs.

72

PVC Solvent 400cc

10

Can

73

4x4 Stainless Strainer

13

pcs.

74

PVC Pipe ½ Blue

30

pcs.

75

PVC Elbow ½

36

pcs.

76

PVC Tee #1/2

27

pcs.

77

PVC Adaptor ½

27

pcs.

78

Shower Head Stainless

9

pcs.

79

Shower Valve

9

sets

80

PVC Plug #4

2

pcs.

81

1 HP Water Pump ITALY

1

sets

82

2, 000 LRT S/S Overhead Tank (Vertical)

1

Quantity

Unit

83

LEVEL CONTROL SWITCH

1

set

96

pcs.

84

TEFLON TAPE ¾

45

pcs.

DRSB 10mmǾ

50

pcs.

85

PE Pipe ¾

200

pcs.

DRSB 9mmǾ

110

pcs.

86

PE Pipe ½

150

pcs.

Hacksaw Blade

4

pcs.

87

Junction Box 4x4

16

pcs.

5

Wiremesh

2

lm.

88

Utility Box 2x4

41

pcs.

6

Plastic Pail

10

pcs.

89

Receptacle 3x3

43

pcs.

7

Gravel & Sand

175

cu.m.

90

Electric Tape

15

pcs.

8

Cement

441

bags

91

Power Panel 61 Holes

1

Pc

9

CHB #4

1600

pcs.

92

Circuit Breaker 60 A.(GE)

1

pc.

Item No.

Item Description

1

DRSB 12mmǾ

2 3 4

10

Sahara Cement

40

kgs.

93

Circuit Breaker 20 A.(GE)

2

pcs.

11

G. I Pipe 1 ¼ S- 40

30

pcs.

94

Circuit Breaker 30 A.(GE)

1

pcs.

12

Tie Wire

30

kgs

95

Circuit Breaker 15 A.(GE)

2

pcs.

13

Cement

315

bags

96

Firefly 3U

43

pcs.

14

Sahara Cement

81

kgs.

97

CO – 3 Gang

19

sets

15

Wiremesh

2

mtrs.

98

Switch 1 Gang

13

sets

16

Conc. Nail

3

kgs.

99

Switch 2 Gang

2

sets

17

Floor Tiles .20x.20

775

pcs.

100

Switch 3 Gang

6

sets

18

Glazed Tiles .40x.40

900

pcs.

101

TW #6

200

lm

19

Tile Grout

11

kgs.

102

TW#14

4

Box

20

Tile Cutter

1

pc.

103

TW#12

3

Box

21

Tile Trim

6

pcs.

104

ACU Outlet

1

set

22

Backfilling

570

cu.m.

105

Plastic Clamp ½

150

pcs.

23

AB 2x2x1/4

155

pcs.

106

Entrance Cap ¾

3

pcs.

24

Flatbar 1/4 x3”

14

pcs.

107

G.I. Pipe #3 S-40

8

pcs.

25

Welding Rod 5 kgs.

20

box

108

Ball Insulator (Big)

18

pcs.

26

Sander Blade

30

pcs.

109

PVC Pipe Orange 1 1/4

2

pcs.

27

GI Pipe 1 ½ S# 20

7

pcs.

110

PVC Elbow Orange 1 ½

2

pcs.

28

GI Pipe 1 ¼ S# 20

35

pcs.

111

Head Cap 1 ¼

1

Pc

29

C- Purlins #6” (1. 1mm.)

22

pcs.

112

Metering Box 6`x16”

1

pc

30

C- Purlins #3” (1. 1mm.)

201

pcs.

113

Conc. Neutralizer

10

gals

31

Turn Buckle 12mmǾ

16

pcs.

114

Latex Flat

6

Tin

32

Round Bar 12mmǾ

64

pcs.

115

Latex Gloss

8

Gals

33

10 LM. Long Span RIV Type

32

Unit

116

QDE Flat

6

Tin

34

13.50 LM. Long Span RIV Type

26

Unit

117

Sun & Rain Paint

40

Gals

35

Pre- paint GI Ridge Roll

8

pcs.

118

QDE Gloss

6

Tin

36

Pre- painted GI Gutter

48

pcs.

119

Glazing Putty

8

gals

37

GI Flashing

14

pcs.

120

Roller Brush w/ Base

6

Sets

38

Selicon

20

Tube

121

Paint Brush #3”

4

pcs.

39

Teckscrew 2”

6500

pcs.

122

Paint Thinner

8

Gals

40

Bund Rivets 5/32 x 3/8

1800

pcs.

123

Sand Paper

84

pcs.

41

4” Long Span RIV Type

28

pcs.

124

Plolytuff

10

Ltrs.

42

Red Oxide Primer

8

Gals

125

Red Oxide Primer

1

gal

43

Paint Thinner

3

gals

126

QDE Black

3

gals

44

Paint Brush #3

2

pcs.

45

Panel Door 0.40 x 2.10

11

Unit

46

0.60 x 1.50 Louver Type Door

12

Unit

47

Door Lock

7

Unit

48

Hinges 4x4

80

pcs.

49

Ord. Plywood ¼

128

pcs.

50

Plyboard ¾

7

pcs.

51

Cabinet Handle

18

pcs.

52

Concealed Hinges

56

pcs.

53

Casing 1x1x12

20

pcs.

54

Magnetic Catches

28

pcs.

55

2x2x12 Gemelina

380

pcs.

56

1.20x1.20 Sliding Window

17

Unit

57

Barrel Bolt 4”

12

pcs.

58

0.60 x 0.60 Awning Window

1

Unit

59

Plastic Door .60x210

1

Unit

60

CW Nail

120

Kgs

61

2x3x12 Form Lumber (coco)

350

pcs.

62

Water Closet w/ Fitting Lavatory Fitting

9

Sets

63

With Fitting Kitchens Sink Stainless

2

Sets

64

Goose Neck Faucet Stainless

15

pcs.

3.

The complete schedule of activities is listed as follows: Issuance of Bid Documents – August 14, 2015 to September 10, 2015 Pre-bid Conference September 1, 2015 at 2:00 PM at Mayor’s Extension Office 3. Opening of Bids September 11, 2015 at 2:00 PM at Mayor’s Extension Office 4. Bids must be delivered to the address below on or before September 11, 2015 at 2:00 PM. All Bids must be accompanied by a bid security in any of the acceptable forms and in the amount stated in Invitation to Bid as follows: 1.

2.

FORM OF BID SECURITY

Minimum Amount in % of Approved Budget for the Contract to be Bid

Cash, certified check,cashier’s, manager’s check, bank draft or irrevocable letter of credit

Two percent (2%)

Bank Guarantee

Two Percent (2%./)

Surety Bond

Five Percent (5%)

5.

The Municipal Government of Pinamalayan 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 tothe affected bidder or bidders

6.

For further information please refer to: MR. ENRIQUE N. MOCLING, MGAGH I/BAC Secretary, Local Government of Pinamalayan, Oriental Mindoro.

(TS-SEPT. 19, 2015

(SGD) MAURO P. HELERA Municipal Administrator BAC Chairman

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PROPERTY

JOEL D. L ACSAMANA EDITOR

jdlacsamana@gmail.com

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A good wAlk unspoiled.

Clark Sun Valley Golf Resorts, one of the biggest multi-resorts under development in Southeast Asia, started selling memberships recently. “We offer a one-time membership fee good for two persons, with no green fees, monthly and annual fees,” said managing director Tug Ho Rhewy, SunValley Group of South Korea. A US$400 million project of the Donggwang Clark Corporation (DCC), this project in Clark, Pampanga has well maintained courses, offering unique hazards and windy conditions, to make each hole challenging, yet fun. Overlooking Mount Pinatubo, Clark SunValley is within a 304-hectare mountaintop property with two challenging courses, the 18-hole Sun and Valley Course and the 18-hole Clark Course, and a clubhouse.

Several residential villas, a commercial mall, international school, waterpark, casino and luxury five-star international hotel, are being built to make the project an integrated tourism destination.

BPOs set trend in Building management

l

ocal BPOs are now laying out a whole new range of perks like showers and bicycle parking slots to address the needs of prospective occupiers whose employees belong to the millennial generation who have active lifestyles.

BPOs in the country will generate an additional 200,000 fulltime employees in 2016, requiring at least an additional 500,000 sqm. of office space each year, said Henry Torremonia, JLL head of property management.

Property developers have had to address the needs of prospective BPO occupiers. It is an employee retention tool, that includes perks like showers and locker

rooms, for millennial-generation employees who run, bike and engage in fitness programs before or after work, or during breaks.

“That’s how competitive the BPO labor market, and consequently the office building market, has become,” he said.

“lose the Atrium” JLL advises developers and landlords, along with their architects and interior designers, as plans are drawn for an office building.

Said Torremonia, “we advise landlords and developers to optimize the building’s design, considering the operational needs of its prospective tenants, even before breaking ground. A property

perks of the trAde. Metro Manila office buildings are now equipped with showers and locker rooms, for millennial-generation employees with active lifestyles.

owner, for instance, may desire a building lobby with a soaring atrium. When we point out that high ceilings will require more air-conditioning, higher equipment and maintenance costs, and lost revenue from potential gross leasable space, the majority choose to modify their plans.”

JLL Philippines’ property and asset managers also advise new building owners on environmental trends in light of climate change. Typhoons have registered higher wind velocity and the city’s drainage systems are challenged by unprecedented

CreBa nudges gOv’t tO Clear hOusing BaCklOg

t

he country’s largest organization of key real estate industry players is pressing for a full-fledged department that will solve the country’s perennial and ever-increasing housing backlog.

This call took a high pitch recently as the Chamber of Real Estate and Builders’ Associations (CREBA) put the final touches to preparations for its grand national convention at the SMX Convention Center in Bacolod City on October 7-10.

CREBA national convention chairman Florante C. Ofrecio said guests to the event include Senate urban development, housing and resettlement committee chairman Sen. Joseph Victor G. Ejercito; House committee on housing and urban development chairman Rep. Alfredo B. Benitez; Home Development Mutual Fund president and chief executive officer Darlene Marie B. Berberabe; Housing and Land Use Regulatory Board chief executive officer Commissioner Antonio M. Bernardo; and League of Municipalities of the Philippines national

president Mayor Leonardo M. Javier Jr. of Javier, Leyte, among others.

CREBA national chairman Charlie A.V. Gorayeb said industry leaders from various sectors and other celebrities would also join the convention to signify support for the proposed Department of Housing and Urban Development (DHUD) to wipe out the housing backlog, which stood at 5.5 million units as of 2014.

“The backlog couldn’t have risen to this gargantuan level had CREBA’s long-proposed DHUD been legislated and enacted into law,” he said. “Only a full-fledged department can consolidate government efforts and keep everything on track along a well-planned strategic framework to attain a vision.

But even a vision for the country’s housing needs would be difficult to come by in a discordant orchestra without a maestro to keep the symphony from going out of tune. So what you end up with is a perfect recipe for a housing backlog.”

The bill on the creation of a DHUD has been pending in Congress for more than two decades.

what’s the hold up? The bill to create a housing department has been pending in Congress for more than two decades.

“Yet, the Constitution underscores the importance of housing and urban development as a basic human need and as a means to improve the life of the people. So something must be wrong somewhere and you have some 5.5-million housing backlog to tell you exactly just where it is,” said CREBA national president Noel Toti M. Carino.

The creation of the DHUD forms part of CREBA’s 5-point agenda to help address the country’s 5.5-million housing backlog, and turn the industry into a powerful economic growth engine. The other four points of the agenda are long-term and affordable funds for socialized and economic housing; affordable homes for employees in urban areas; lands for residential, commercial and industrial development; and efficient local government housing regulations.

urban development. JLL advises developers, for example, to utilize curtain walls that can withstand winds of up to 300 kph, as against the 200 kph benchmark of a decade ago. And, in areas prone to storm surges and flooding, they recommend installing flood barriers or metal fences of up to six feet high to manage the risk of flood damage.

VAlue your inVestment The advice offered by JLL is drawn from close to 20 years of managing real estate in the country and over 50 years in Asia Pa-

cific, with the objective of looking at the client’s building as a true investment, an asset that will appreciate over the long term.

With BPOs taking up the bulk of new offices being built, as they operate around the clock, JLL consultants advise clients to provide for the replacement of capital equipment at an earlier time in its typical lifecycle. Air-conditioning manufacturers new to the concept of 24/7 BPO operations, for instance, may claim that their equipment has a lifecycle of eight to 10 years. That number is now down to around five years.

dusit eyes dAVAo. Dusit International recently disclosed its intent to increase its presence in the Philippines. “We are looking to grow in the other cities and destinations within the Philippines as we are positive about the country’s tourism outlook and potential,” said Ryan Chen, Dusit International director for development Asia Pacific. The Dusit Thani Residences Davao, a 168-key full-service residences is scheduled for turnover in 2018.

Other projects in the works are the dusitD2 Hotel and Lubi Plantation Resort. dusitD2 is a 120-key hotel, while the Lubi is a 37-hectare master planned resort in a private island off the coast of Davao. Developers intend to position the resort as the country’s first internationally branded club membership. Chen said Davao was chosen because of the positive economic growth in the region, which bodes well for the international hospitality industry.

reAdy for the big one. Daiichi’s 32-storey One World Place in Bonifacio Global City recently claimed it achieved above-standard structural performance and reliability after engaging AIT Consulting. The company’s World Plaza, which won the Asia Pacific Award for best office development in the Philippines for 2015, reached the same reliability status in performance-based seismic and wind evaluations conducted by Magnusson Klemencic Associates (MKA), an international award-winning structural and civil engineering firm, and Sy^2 and Associates, one of the leading structural engineering companies in the Philippines. “It is critical for developers to implement an effective way to evaluate their projects in terms of disaster resilience at the start of the design and construction process,” Eric Manuel, vice president for business development of Daiichi Properties.

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JOEL D. L ACSAMANA EDITOR jdlacsamana@gmail.com

PROPERTY

go WiTh The floW. With national politics in the spotlight, real estate players are seeking to take advantage of increased spending during the campaign season.

ph real esTaTe on The Move as elecTion fever rises

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he Philippine real estate industry, and the economy in general, are quietly moving forward despite the distracting backdrop of various politicians jockeying for position as focus on the campaign for the 2016 national polls takes center stage.

The country’s gross domestic product (GDP) grew by 5.2% during the first half of the year based on the latest Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) data. This is below the 6%-target, and underspending by the government is the usual punching bag especially now that national elections are looming. But government spending is expected to accelerate due to the number of approved, and ongoing infrastructure projects.

Real estate developers and players are banking on more sales by the end of the year, and are planning to take advantage of the increased spending during the election season.

WaiT-and-see ?

For top players in industry, waitand-see is not the way to go. Armed with double-digit earnings, supported by liquid financial market, and incisive analysis of the different real state markets and segments, they are going for gold. The Ayala Land Group is building township projects in 25 additional cities. One of these is Alviera, a 1,100-hectare large-scale master-planned devel-

opment, in Porac, Pampanga.

The Ayala Group is likewise redefining the Balitawak-Quezon City landscape and skyline with the development of an 11- hectare property. The first phase includes a two-hectare shopping complex and a 250-bed hospital specializing in cardiology and cancer due for completion in the same year. It is also developing “Vermosa”, a 700-hectare area that spans the Cities of Dasmariñas and Imus in Cavite.

Micro ciTies, build TheM and They Will coMe The SM Group is building “micro cities” around its shopping malls.

This includes apartments, offices and hotels to maximize the value of its property holdings. At least fifteen of the SM shopping malls are on large land that can accommodate high- density and mixedused developments. SM Group intends to pour Php 100 billion of investments in the sprawling 600-hectares Manila Bay reclamation that would turn the property into a master-planned, integrated and mixed- use community.

SM Group also plans to increase its current 52 shopping malls to 75 by 2018. Recurring income from its malls is a main source of profitability of SM Group. It almost doubled its first-half net income from Php 9.8 billion last year to Php 18.7 billion this year. Recurring income

(first of Two parts)

accounts for Php 11.2 billion according to a recent study.

The projects for the rest of the year include opening three more malls, 12,000 to 15,000 residential units from subsidiary SM Development Corp., the opening of Conrad Manila at the Mall of Asia Complex as well as the Park Inn by Radisson Clark in Pampanga, and the start of construction of residential projects in Chengdu, China. reTail Mall race, and ToWnships The Megaworld Group has been busy with its five new townships all over the country. Recently, the group announced its intention of building 20 malls in the next five year. While Megaworld has been successful with its sales, mall operation spells recurring income. Thus, the group is joining the retail mall race.

The Vista Land Group already unveiled 27 projects in the previous months that may rake in Php 20.7 billion of sales. It intends to launch more projects before the year ends at an estimated sales value of Php 15 billion. More importantly, the Group has been beefing up its AllDay and AllHome retail platforms to drive recurring income. Vista Land is also building office spaces presumably to get a slice of the BPO market.

DMCI and Rockwell Groups are also beefing up their residential

projects. DMCI is allotting Php 60 billion for its 12 projects next year.

Rockwell is developing a township project in Iloilo. It recently launched The Vantage at Kapitolyo in Pasig City and the East Bay Residences in Muntinlupa City. bullish office MarkeT The BPO industry is expected to generate US$ 20 billion by 2016, according to the Information Technology and Business Processing Association of the Philippines (IBPAP), The World Bank is even estimating a total revenue of US$ 50 billion from the BPO industry by 2020, according to a September study. Major players are already talking about moving up in the value chain.

Whatever the level of growth, the BPO industry is currently filling up office buildings even with the faster pace of new supply. Pinnacle Research monitored a total take up of approximately 40,000 sqm of office space that had been filled up by BPO companies in the past three months. residenTial MarkeT on upsWing Delivery of new residential condominium units are expected for the rest of 2015. Approximately 5,500 units are expected to be completed in the major business districts.

These upcoming projects include Park Terraces Tower in In Makati

CBD; West Tower, Meranti Tower and Sequoia Tower in in Bonifacio Global City; and One Shangri-La Place North Tower in Ortigas Center. Real estate developers are typically motivated to turnover units for them to collect the full payment and realize their profits.

Top players are not shy with their new launches with SMDC leading the way. The SM Group launched projects such as SMDC’s Trees Residences, Grass Residences and Shore Residences 2 with a projected total of more than 9,000 units. DMCI introduced its Asteria and Ivorywood projects, while Ortigas & Company launched “The Maven”, third tower of its Capitol Commons project in Pasig. The Ayala Land Group has consistently packaged its residential projects with mixed used and township developments.

To some, these figures may appear to be high. Based on the previous Pinnacle Report, the National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) estimated the housing need is over 800,000 per annum; of this, close to 400,000 households annually can afford to buy housing units while the remaining households are mainly from the informal settler families. The private real estate developers typically target to carve a market share from this 400,000 per annum demand for housing all over the Philippines.

(To be continued)

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TATUM ANCHETA EDITOR

BING PAREL

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

BERNADETTE LUNAS

life @ thestandard.com .ph

WRITER

@LIFEatStandard

P OP CU LT U RE

LIFE

Bea Lesaca does the baby freeze

JUST SHUT UP AND DANCE!

BY ANA WARREN GONZÁLEZ PHOTOS BY SONNY ESPIRITU

Makeup by Maria Georgina Kaye Guanzon; hair by Raquel Panes of Make-Up Designory Studio

M Nike

usic is a funny thing. It adds words where there were none, it pulls on your soul strings, it changes you. In 1972, James Brown sang “Get up on the Good Foot” on Soul Train. He moved in a way that caused a ripple effect worldwide, especially in the African American and Latino neighborhoods of the United States. He did the splits, he moved sinuously, he jerked around, he shook and shuddered. He breaked, he roboted, he boogaloo’d, and he popped. The population of living rooms across the United States mimicked his crazy style, and on the streets, hip-hop dancing was born. (Of course, there are many more esteemed contributors, and props to DJ Kool Herc as one of the founding fathers, but your writer is partial to James Brown and anyway you all have Google.)

GET THE FUNK OUTTA THE GHETTO

L-kick

Pike

That was 1972, and those were the streets. In 2015, a shawty excuses herself from hair and makeup and, in the cramped corner of The Standard’s conference room, shows how the salsa and mambo have a hip-hop equivalent.

“I can’t show you how martial arts contributed to hip-hop,” she giggles; “no room here.” Hip-hop dancer Bea Lesaca would look more appropriate behind the gates of an all-girls prep school with her twin braids and button nose, but the 27-year-old is destined to fly. A few minutes later, Bea is nine stories above said streets, fulfilling her promise of showing how martial arts have influenced the gravity-defying dance form as she scissors, flips, and jumps about.

“Hip-hop is about peace, love, unity and having fun,” Bea explains. After all, the dance form takes inspiration from fighting, gymnastics, and other dance forms (including the Funky Chicken) – so the heart of it all is acceptance and passion for the urban art. Along with her crew, Funk Roots, Bea seeks to push forward hip-hop culture

in the Philippines. “Gotta push it forward,” she says; “gotta get outta the ghetto.”

PUSH IT PUSH IT REAL GOOD

Push what in particular? Bea explains, “Hiphop is an intellectual art. People gotta study their stuff instead of just following the trends.

People know what’s given to them – but you can’t fake the funk. How do I interpret this move as a Filipino, as a woman?” You can’t contain the movement in a box – it’s not just the stuff you see on commercials or on the silver screen. Bea’s point is that hiphop is more than just dance – it’s tradition, and there are standards akin to those in martial arts, with mentorship, training, and advancement. It’s a skill combined with the artistry of dance, but it is philosophical as well. “It’s about respect and tradition.”

Bea mentions a few people she respects: Marcus Maguigad of Rocket Room and M Café; Miro Grgic of the Malasimbo Music & Arts Festival; Kristian Hernandez of 71 Gramercy’s Thursday night affairs. Maguigad works closely with the hip-hop community to protect their interests and further their rights. Grgic brought hip-hop legends Afrika Bambaataa and Joe Bataan to the country.

Hernandez is a wealth of knowledge on hip-hop and is always eager to share the information. “Music, dance and art – they’re all tied together. They grow together. They push hip-hop together,” Bea states.

When a night out combines live art, some sick beats and some insane freestyling, hiphop is growing.

KEEP STREET CRED OFF THE STREETS

Bea has been dancing for 12 years. Her education has come from established gurus, to whom she credits her success; she keeps knowledge pure by learning from the best. Bea has earned her stripes, on the streets, legs up in the air. She is an example of the legacy left behind by greats and furthered by the passionate.

Bea made quite a ripple when she became the first homegrown Filipina “bgirl” (breakdancer) who made the cut for Mighty 4 Hip Hop Festival in the US in October 2013, competing against seven of the best bgirls in the world.

“Hip-hop is all about the cred,” Bea says.

“You gotta live it, breathe it, do it, learn it.”

In other words, you gotta push it. Or as Bea puts it: “We gotta change for the better.”

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LIFE life @ thestandard.com .ph

@LIFEatStandard

PROFILING THE PROFILE THE GIST

BY ED BIADO

O

nline dating no longer carries the stigma that it had a decade ago. Back then, online dating activities were kept on the down low. People who were on dating sites were embarrassed to admit that they were out of fear of being judged as desperate.

Others stayed as far away as possible from said sites because of horror stories about creeps and unfortunate encounters.

Today is a totally different time.

People are openly talking about their online dating experiences and we’re hearing more and more success stories – couples that met

each other though apps and other kinds of services. Part of the reason for the diminishing stigma is the fact that you can now connect your online dating profile to your main social networking one, like Facebook. Services such as Tinder even pull information from your Facebook to help match you with potential dates.

That said, there are still creeps lurking around and it can’t be helped if we come across them once in a while. And one of the most effective ways, albeit not a foolproof one, is to have a very decent online dating profile. For hookup apps, of course, this is not the preferred route. On those services, people want to show off what they have (read: body parts) and talk about their sexual prowess. Finding “the one” is not a priority.

But if your goal is to meet the love of your life, a curated online persona is needed. And posting the right pictures is the first step to achieving this. We observe that on Tinder, a lot of people post a

portrait as their main image, lifestyle-oriented ones to give potential dates a peek into their daily lives, and lots and lots of travel photos.

Personally, I don’t get travel photos. When I’m browsing through someone’s pictures, I’m really interested in seeing the different angles of their face. I want to see how they look like. Pictures are deceiving as we all probably know by now but six of them will at least give me some semblance of the truth behind the filters and color correction.

Then, we have the bio. Basic details are great because these are all checklist components. Some put the college they went to – and

this is just an observation, but this seems to be more common among people who are from the University of Santo Tomas than any other university. I don’t know why but it just appears to be the case.

Also a frequently written word on the bio is “sapiosexual.” A sapiosexual person is someone who finds intelligence sexually attractive. That’s amazing, right?

But I also notice that it’s the very people who put this in that are the ones who can’t carry a coherent and/ or decent conversation. It’s always the self-proclaimed sapiosexual who will randomly say, “Wanna have sex?” Not generalizing, but trust me, that’s what happens and it’s quite a turn-off.

The profiles that attract me the most are those that don’t give out too much too soon. I don’t want to read your memoir.

What are we going to talk about when we meet if I already know everything there is to know about you? I just want to be intrigued; interested enough to want to go out with you and find out more.

I also want you to be a little bit sexy and flirtatious. If you can incorporate all those elements as concisely as possible and still manage to be mysterious like a river that runs deep, you have my attention. Let’s talk.

Follow me on Twitter and Instagram @EdBiado

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LIFE life @ thestandard.com .ph

@LIFEatStandard

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Johannes Itten, colour wheel in 7 shades und 12 tones, colour plate in: Bruno Adler, "Utopia.

Dokumente der Wirklichkeit", Weimar 1921. Lithography, 47,4 × 32,2 cm, Collection Vitra Design Museum, ©VG Bild-Kunst, 2015

Adrian Sauer, "Raum für Alle", 2015, © VG Bild-Kunst, 2015

THE BAUHAUS MOVEMENT AND HUGO BOSS

T

Kurt Schmidt with F.W. Bogler and G. Teltscher, "Mechanical Ballet", 1923, New Production – Theater der Klänge, 2009, photo: O. Eltinger

hose familiar with the history of the Bauhaus art school in Germany would know its deep influence on art, architecture and design despite the fact that it operated for only a little over a decade.

Founded in 1919 by Architect Walter Gropius in Weimar, Germany, the Bauhaus – meaning “house of building” – sought to reform education and bring together the applied arts with manufacturing similar to the way things were during the Medieval times. Gropius advocated the integration of all artistic mediums including fine art, industrial and graphic design, typography, interior design and of course, architecture. The movement gave birth to new art schools from which the new Bauhaus emerged.

Hugo Boss, in its capacity as a strong advocate of the arts, is supporting the “Das Bauhaus #allesistdesign” exhibition at the Vitra Design Museum in Weil am Rhein, Germany.

For five months from September 26, 2015 to February 28, 2016, the museum will serve as a venue where an array of previously unseen exhibits will be showcased, with the pieces coming from its own collection along with significant pieces from private collections and exhibition houses all over the world. The project documents the Bauhaus movement’s development and the societal models which it advocated, while revealing their surprising up-to-dateness.

“No other cultural institution is integrated so closely with the HUGO BOSS identity than Bauhaus. As a symbol of clarity, stringency and precision, it also plays a pivotal and inspiring role for our collections,” explained Dr. Hjördis Kettenbach, Head of Cultural Affairs at HUGO BOSS. As such, the exhibition plays a

Portrait of Otti Berger with Bauhaus facade, double exposure, c. 1931, photo: unknown (attributed to Judit Kárász), © Bauhaus-Archiv Berlin (BHA)

special role in the Group’s scant two decades of Arts Sponsorship.

“Das Bauhaus #allesistdesign” examines the legendary institution in light of current trends while creating the first-ever overview of the Bauhaus’ philosophy of design. The show will feature works by designers and artists such as Marianne Brandt, Marcel Breuer, Lyonel Feininger, Walter Gropius, and Wassily Kandinsky.

Current contributions are from Olaf Nicolai, Adrian Sauer, Enzo Mari, Norman Foster, Open Desk, Konstantin Grcic, Hella Jongerius, Alberto Meda, Olaf Nicolai and Jerszy Seymour.

Selected pieces from the BOSS Womenswear Collection will also form part of the exhibition,

illustrating the importance of Bauhaus as a source of inspiration for Jason Wu, the artistic director of BOSS Womenswear.

Hugo Boss is one of the few fashion companies that has developed a high credibility and excellent reputation in the world of art, in large part due to the company’s long-term involvement and partnership with renowned art institutions worldwide.

It has its own Hugo Boss Arts Sponsorship program that was established in 1995, with emphasis on contemporary visual arts.

Through its various worldwide arts sponsorship activities, Hugo Boss has been instrumental in bringing attention to the talent of emerging young new artists not only in the US and Europe but also Asia.

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LIFE life @ thestandard.com .ph

@LIFEatStandard

IG SPY

SPIKY CRITTERS You’ve probably seen a few of your friends sharing a photo or videos of their new cuddly¼ wait – we’re not so sure about the cuddly, definitely spiky, yes spiky little hedgehogs. Common comments are, “Don’t they hurt?” “Hey, that’s scary!” However, most owners claim they’re cute and actually funny. If you’re wondering how they are like, it is said that they are just like a hamster, same intelligence and behavior, but behavior really depends on the owner’s handling. They don’t typically come to you when you call their name but positive reinforcement will do wonders.

If you’re thinking of getting one spiky critter (or more), here are a few Instagram accounts we’d like for you to follow.

@adventuresofcalico This is the account of Calico The Hedgehog, a two-year-old female African Pygmy hedgehog. She usually looks grumpy but the photos her owner takes look so good, you’d want to follow her adventures. It’s rare to catch a smiling photo of Calico, but when you do, she looks so cute!

She’s usually balled up and crossing her elbows, “like a boss,” but she loves to have her photo taken, play soccer by the grass and frolick in rivers. Follow her outdoor adventures and catch some of her videos.

@hermithehedgehog Hermi is a one-year-old male African Pygmy hedgehog. He’s usually hanging out with his mom in the Pacific Northwest where there are a lot of grass and rocky mountains. Check his Instagram account and see him strutting his stuff while skateboarding or hanging out in a ranch with horses. His favorite mode of transportation is a cup or the palm of his owner, or sometimes, an ice cream cone.

@hogybaby This little baby hedgehog has only 89 posts yet has raked in 16.5k followers in such a short time. The owner’s love for minimalist photographs is what draws people in the Instagram account. You’d often see Hogy in a blank background hanging out with inanimate objects like strawberry, sponge, stuffed toys, and a tissue roll. Hogy’s favorite hangout is a cup, a wine glass, a shoe, and this lil’ one doesn’t shy away by wearing paper wings on his back and kissing different objects including a tiny elephant figurine. Follow Hogybaby’s adventure and try to see if his dreams of becoming a dinosaur comes true.

@ron_hari If you want to see not just one but a family of four Pigmy hedgehogs, check out the Instagram account of Hari, Komari, Ohagi, and Momiji from Japan. You don’t really know who’s who based on the photos but you’d know them from their sizes – cute, stout, round, and, gosh – all of them look the same. Follow their family bonding as their owner snaps the cutest and funniest moments together.

SAT URDAY : S EPT EMBER 19 : 2015

SHOWBITZ

ISAH V. RED EDITOR

isahred @ gmail.com

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Boy ABundA joins GoodAh!!! fAmily

Boy Abunda shares his own recipe of Bistek Tagalog with Goodah!!!!!

W

Boy Abunda is not just an endorser but a business partner at Goodah!!!!

hen television celebrity Boy Abunda was just starting in his career in the 1980s, he was a regular at GoodAh!!!, the 25-hour quick-service restaurant that served rice meals and congee.

GoodAh!!! was a concept ahead of its time in the local dining industry when it opened 33 years ago. In fact, its tagline “Open 25 hours” is an assurance that people from all walks of life, from office workers to jeepney drivers, had a place to go to no matter the time of day or night for their fix of lugaw and goto, and popular breakfast fare, namely tapa, tocino and longanisa.

Did you know that it was Goodah!!! that coined the term tapsi to refer to an order of tapa and sinangag? The addition of a fried egg to a rice meal resulted in the staple that is now commonly known as tapsilog.

Through the years, its menu expanded to include a variety of Filipino favorites that are now staples in eateries and restaurants throughout the country. Aside from tapsilog, there is tosilog, longsilog, adsilog (adobo, sinangag at itlog), and bangsilog (daing na bangus, sinangag at itlog).

That’s why when Boy was invited to become a business partner of Goodah!!!, he did not hesitate in accepting the offer. In a way, it was his life coming full circle – from regular customer to business partner at the restaurant he loved.

Boy’s favorite at GoodAh!!! has always been bistek, the favorite Pinoy dish of stir-fried tender beef marinated in soy sauce and citrus.

Boy, who knows his way around the kitchen, has his own recipe for bistek

that he is sharing with GoodAh!!!. In fact, the restaurant has adopted Boy’s version of bistek for its restaurants and is renaming it as GoodAh!!!

Boy’s Bistek in his honor.

After 33 years, GoodAh!!! is set to redefine the restaurant landscape with its patented brand of quick meals and personalized service with a casual dining ambience. It is a dining institution that today’s millennials will surely embrace with its delicious value-for-money meals, just as many Pinoy food lovers have in the past.

GoodAh!!! already has six branches – at Bicutan located at 129 Doña Soledad Ave., Better Living Subd., Brgy. Don Bosco, Parañaque City; Eastwood located at Unit 10 2nd Floor, Eastwood Citywalk 2, E. Rodriguez Jr. Ave., Quezon City; Gate 5 located at Caltex Station EDSA Cor. Connecticut, Greenhills, San Juan; Market Market located at Unit 8 and 9 Ground Floor, Fiesta Market, Ext 3 32nd St corner C5, Brgy. Fort Bonifacio, Taguig City; Metrowalk located at D9 Bldg. D South Drive, Metrowalk Compound Meralco Ave., Ortigas, Pasig City and at Sucat located at Block 5 Lot 25 Presidents Ave., Teoville Subd., Brgy BF Homes, Parañaque City.

GoodAh!!! also delivers. Call 4-707070 for your order of tapsilog and GoodAh!!! Boy’s Bistek. You may also visit their website www. goodah.com.ph/, like their Facebook page at facebook.com/GoodahPh and follow them on Twitter (twitter.com/GoodahPh) and IG (instagram.com/GoodahPH).

For franchise inquiries, call 09279095897 or email them at franchising@goodah.com.ph.

Peri-Peri grilling hot at CaPitol Commons

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eri-Peri Charcoal Chicken, one of the profile brands under IFoods, Inc, has recently opened its newest branch in Capitol Commons, as part of its business expansion.

Peri-Peri is popular for its spitfire-grilled chicken, marinated in a unique blend of various herbs and spices brought in all the way from Africa.

Grilled to perfection, Peri-Peri dishes are further enhanced by a variety of sides and a wide range

of special sauces, creating a multitude of flavor combinations that can satisfy any craving.

Peri Peri Charcoal chicken is set up as fast casual restaurant.

The best part that surprises most guests is the large serving of Java rice on a platter with grilled chicken and side dishes.

To top it off, it offers unlimited soup and beverage bar featuring a variety of soup flavors, different coffee drinks, juices and soda. Additional attraction for Peri-Peri Capitol Commons

CEO Bryan Tiu at the opening of Peri-Peri Capitol Commons

is their barchow, beers and alcoholic beverages.

IFoods, Inc is managed by Bryan Tiu, one of the youngest restaurant magnates awarded as 2005 youngest Entrepreneur by Ernst and Young.

Check out other branches of PeriPeri at SM North Edsa, Promenade Greenhills and soon to open in Nuvali, SM Megamall and Myanmar.

The ambiance of Peri-Peri at Capitol Commons from left, Ryan Q. Riaza - Sr. Operations Manager, Sam Milby - Actor, VIP guest, Karen N. Cosico - CMO, Dom Hernandez Franchisee, Bryan C. Tiu - President, iFoods Group, Inc. and Fil L. Alvarez - Manager, BrandAction, Inc.

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SHOWBITZ isahred @ gmail.com

RiChaRD YaP anD SaRah GEROniMO inSPiRE FiLiPinOS

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anulife Philippines launched “Start Your Story,” a new brand campaign that aims to encourage Filipinos to take the first step in making their dreams come true.

“For the past 108 years, Manulife has helped thousands of Filipinos secure their futures and achieve their financial goals,” said Ryan Charland, Manulife Philippines president and CEO. “Through this campaign, we reinforce our commitment to our customers and to remind them that no matter what they aim to do in life, Manulife is here to help them start their stories.”

Two of the Philippines’ most

established celebrities, actor Richard Yap and actress/singer Sarah Geronimo, are Manulife’s brand ambassadors for this campaign. Richard has been the company’s brand ambassador for over two years now, while this is Sarah’s first campaign with Manulife.

“We’re very happy to have Richard and Sarah as our brand ambassadors, as they have both been Manulife customers for several years,” said Charland. “They are wonderful examples of Filipinos who found success when they started their stories and are now enjoying the fruits of that success.”

“When I signed my first Manulife policy in 1992, I never imag-

Krystal reyes in ‘Wish Ko lang!’

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atch Kapuso star Krystal Reyes’ special portrayal in Wish Ko Lang!’s “Alipin ng Kapalaran” episode today.

She plays Mylene, a victim of sexual molestation of her father since she was a young girl. This later led to her early pregnancy.

When she gave birth, she promised to do everything to give her child a better future, which prompted her to accept a job in the city.

Unfortunately, Mylene’s innocence was once again abused as

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ined I would one day be their brand ambassador. Over the years, Manulife has helped me plan for my family’s future, so I can rest assured that our hopes and dreams for our children can become reality,” said Richard.

“I am honored to be chosen by Manulife to be their newest brand

Krystal Reyes plays Mylene in Wish Ko Lang

she found herself working in a brothel. Here, her outlook eventually changed and she made herself believe that she’s destined to be in such a situation, to be a prostitute.

Will Mylene’s fate ever change? Until when will victims like her be denied of their right to lead decent lives?

Tune in to another heartrending story featuring Krystal Reyes, Mike Tan, Rexcy Evert and Petite in Wish Ko Lang! hosted by Vicky Morales every Saturday, 3:15 p.m. after Karelasyon on GMA 7.

CROSSWORD PUZZLE

ACROSS 1 Tilt, at sea 5 Resembling 10 Wader 14 Hideous monster 15 Up to 16 WWW addresses 17 Goat cheese 18 Lagoon boundary 19 Offend the nose 20 Driver’s need 22 Ice structures

From left, Melissa Henson, Richard Yap, Ryan Charland, Sarah Geronimo, Kay Wong-Baylon

Sweetie-pie Writer — Seton Convincing Hiker’s gadget Frat quarters Petty or Loughlin Close a parka 911 responder Skirt panels Util. bill Prone to Jute and Sisal

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Wish fountain Brown songbirds Water source Heavy hydrogen discoverer CD predecessors Fruit cake ingredient Very windy Curved molding Mystical card Thailand neighbor Kind of barrel Get the lead out?

Salinger dedicatee Funny Bombeck Mountain chain Whitetail

DOWN 1 Room under a roof 2 Disney CEO Bob — 3 Baja Ms. 4 Coaches 5 Old-timey 6 A law — itself 7 Nile sun god 8 Part of RSVP 9 Where Peoria is 10 Gunnysack need 11 Sandwich cookie 12 Bogus butter

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Clucks Voicemail prompt Workout facility Ranch measure Shoddy Energy Relish Montezuma subject Colander Leave, slangily Awful Dot-com alternative Chinese drink (2 wds.)

Phone bugs Took stock?

Archimedes’ shout Family mem.

Champagne glasses Manage somehow Frankenstein’s gofer Technical word Wire nail Come in second Lighten up Palatine Hill site Belgian river Comic-strip prince

ambassador,” said Sarah. “I’ve been very lucky to have started my own story early in life. At this point, I feel that it’s my turn to inspire others to start their own stories — something that I have in common with Manulife, and this is why this campaign is important to me.”

Manulife Philippines will also

launch online contests and community-based initiatives as an expansion of the Start Your Story Campaign. To know more, visit their website www.manulife.com. ph and follow them on Facebook ( w w w. f a c eb o ok . c om / Manu lifePH), Twitter (@ManulifePH), and Instagram (@manulifeph).

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SHOWBITZ isahred @ gmail.com

The TanIa Dee murDer In ‘ImbesTIgaDor’

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Renz Fernandez plays the teller's ex-husband

Sheena Halili plays the murdered bank teller in Imbestigador

from C8

oday in Imbestigador the controversial Tania Dee Murder Case is the featured story.

In June this year, the disappearance of 33 year-old bank teller Tania Dee-Arcenas spread like wild fire in the news and in social media. According to her family, it was on June 20 when Tania told them that she was leaving for Angeles in Pampanga to meet with her ex-husband.

But since then, Tania never came back to Tondo in Manila where she lives. On June 28, she was found buried in a two-foot pit. She had a gun wound in her head and her body was wrapped in plastic. She was discovered in the backyard of a certain Regina Dychioco in Angeles, Pampanga. Dychioco is the mother of Angela Dychioco, who is the current girlfriend of Tania’s ex-husband Fidel Sheldon Arcenas.

Sheena Halili and Renz Fernandez will play Tania and Fidel in the dramatization of situations prior to the murder.

Mike Enriquez hosts Imbestigador airing every Saturday after CelebriTV and before 24 Oras Weekend on GMA 7.

HHHHH IranIan vampIre fIlm QCIff A Girl Walks Home Alone at Night, an Iranian vampire film directed by Ana Lily Amarpour, is the featured film at the Special Halloween Screening of QCinema International Film Festival 2015 (QCIFF).

Dubbed as the first Iranian vampire western ever made, the film instantly created a buzz among cinephiles on its first release.

The story follows the life of a lonesome vampire living in a quasi-Iranian ghost town called Bad City who preys on men who disrespect women.

This is Amarpour’s debut feature film and premiered at the 2014 Sundance Film Festival in the NEXT category.

QCIFF, now on its third year, has become one of the most widely recognized movie festivals, not just for its efforts in allocating production grants and motivating Filipino independent filmmakers, but also in showcasing the best films around the globe. It aims to promote Quezon City as the film festival capital of the country.

The festival runs from Oct. 22 to 31 at the Quezon City Museum, Trinoma Mall, Gateway Mall, and Robinson’s Galleria.

A scene from the Iranian vampire film

Another scary scene from the Iranian vampire film

Iran vampire film has created a worldwide buzz

Brian poe LLaManzares wants to Make a differenCe by ayunan g.gunTIng

At the wake of Fernando Poe, Jr., his grandfather, in 2004, young Brian Poe Llamanzares gazed at the face of the actor who once had political ambitions. He was touched by the legions of people from all walks of life, who queued to pay their last respects to FPJ, whom he fondly called “Papa Ronnie.”

“That changed everything. I realized that I would dedicate my life to changing this country for the better,” he says. “I hope that one day, I would get to touch other people’s lives and return the loved they once showed to my lolo.”

Brian,23, is the eldest of three children of Senator Grace Poe and Neil Llamanzares, former Chief Information Officer in San Miguel. His two sisters, Hanna 17, and Nika, 11, are students at Assumption San Lorenzo.

The media have played up on his showbiz pedigree. Brian looked up to FPJ for his compassion. To him, FPJ embodied the qualities of a good leader --compassion and giving up self-interest for the benefit of others. He recalls the words of wisdom from FPJ whom he quotes as saying, “You’re success is nothing, if you don’t contribute to the society.” His grandmother Susan Roces imparted the virtue of humility.

While pursuing a degree in political science at Ateneo, Brian was active in student organizations, discussing issues on students’ rights and getting them interested in national issues such as the HIV awareness, Freedom of Information Bill and Reproductive Health Bill.

He was a consistent dean’s lister, captain of the debate team and was the Philippine delegate to the Harvard Project for Asian

phoTo: ayunan g.gunTIng

Brian Poe Llamanzares wants to be a public servant

and International Relations. With his good looks, he endorsed products and appeared in glossy magazines.

A turning point came when he was awarded Ateneo de Manila University Junior Term Abroad Fordham Scholarship Program in New York where he took up campaign and electoral politics and radio and TV news writing. It was his first time to live independently and fend for himself. Moreover, he missed the Philippines and hoped that he could apply his learnings when he came home.

Armed with his training and experience from the States, Brian served as his mother’s campaign coordinator when Grace Poe made her senatorial bid. The happiest moment of his life was to witness his mother being proclaimed as Senator. He was, naturally, a pioneer in her staff.

Another turning point came when he decided to leave his mother’s office and pursue a career as an investigative journalist at CNN Philippines. Brian had to get accustomed to writing the news instead of being written about. In his youth, he would face the cameras, speaking out on such issues as the prohibition of Supreme Court Justice Renato Corona. Now he has to be the one to gather the news and interview sources.

“Switching over to the other side was a challenge. There were no shortcuts. I started by writing sample scripts and worked my way up until I was eventually given a beat to cover and a crew of my own. Being a CNN investigative reporter helps me to understand the plight of the OFWs, to be connected to grassroots to be able to help. One time in Tondo, I was assigned to do a documentary story on a community devoid of electricity. When it was aired on CNN, the local government took notice and installed electricity,” he says.

Ten years from now, Brian will still follow his destiny making a difference in the world.

He hopes to pursue higher studies and work in an NGO. (He has taken a leave from CNN Philippines to help his mother’s campaign for presidency in 2016. –Editor)

MusiC and sports against poverty The latest data from the Philippine Statistics Authority’s Annual Poverty Survey shows that poverty has increased by almost five percent, from 25.8 percent to 24.6 percent in 2013 to 2014 due to higher food prices and the lingering effects of major devastations such as Typhoon Yolanda.

As part of its efforts to effect positive change in the Philippines, JCI Manila has been exploring alternative efforts to alleviate poverty on top of its fundraising and community initiatives. And they have found two promising platforms: music and sports. Their area of focus: Smokey Mountain, a former landfill that is now a resettlement site for Manila’s impoverished families.

Through the Smokey Mountain Music Academy and the Football Club, members train coaches and residents to play music and sports as part of their education curriculum.

Says Steve Baltao, JCI Manila president, “Filipinos are one of the most musical people on earth.

Teaching children this gift, allowing them to communicate through words and song – it’s not just an emotional outlet – it helps develop other skills such as collaboration and cooperation – which can help them lift their lives out of poverty.”

It is not just the children who benefit from music education; their communities stand to gain much as well. A study released by the Inter-American Development bank shows a positive correlation between music education, school attendance, better grades, and enrollment. This can be attributed to music strengthening skills such as language, reading, and memory, which are critical to the learning process.

Meanwhile, the positive effect of sports on childhood development has been extensively proven, with outcomes lasting well into adulthood. Aside from the natural physical development inherent in any sports activity, team-based sports also build character through inclusiveness, sportsmanship, camaraderie, and even strategy. Strengthening the body is also a vital result of sports; in poverty-stricken areas, there is no greater danger than illness.

Continues Baltao, “To paraphrase Blessed Teresa of Calcutta, the tragedy of poverty is not the lack of food or shelter; it is the feeling of being nobody. JCI Manila established the music and sports programs at Smokey Mountain to show the next generation that there is hope, and that they are part of the future. They just need to cooperate and collaborate as they would in sports or music – and these same values can be used to help them out of their situations.”

JCI Manila is currently accepting applicants for membership through to Aug. 25. For more information, visit http://bit.lyjcimanilagnmo, www.jcimanila.org, like JCI Manila on Facebook, and follow @JCIManilaPH on Twitter.

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ISAH V. RED EDITOR isahred @ gmail.com

GMANetwork launches a new show replacing StarTalk. CelebriTV hosts are: Lolit Solis, Joey de Leon, and AiAi delas Alas

SHOWBITZ

‘CelebriTV’ repla replaCes es ‘‘sTarTalk’ ISAH V. RED TV observers are wont to say that the showbiz talkshow is a dying format, or if not, it needs a dramatic revamp to make it more attuned to the times when the digital media is threatening to overtake traditional media.

An astute observer says, the social media sites have literally forced TV networks to take a closer and hard look at their showbiz –oriented talkshows and give axing shows serious thought.

Already, ABS-CBN let go of the popular The Buzz and for a time

left GMA Network’s StarTalk with nary a competition.

But Saturday last, the “showbiz authority” aired its farewell episode, and today a brand new show takes over the timeslot.

CelebriTV premieres this afternoon with AiAi delas Alas, Joey de Leon and Lolit Solis.

What happened to Heart Evangelista, Butch Francisco, and Ricky Lo? Lo remains as a “correspondent” interviewing celebrities out in the field, mostly Hollywood stars, as he is the sole Filipino being sent on a junket by film distributors.

He is no longer hosting unlike in the axed show before this.

Evangelista goes back to where her talent is most needed…in drama. And Francisco…who

knows where he’ll end up.

The show will still be “showbiz na showbiz” except that instead of the usual talk and rumors, there will be other gimmicks to make it more interesting.

You don’t really know what Solis and Delas Alas will be up to. Or Joey de Leon. Everything is still vague for many of us. So, we will watch the first episode and see if, indeed, it has moved beyond the Startalk format.

Ai-Ai said during the launch with members of the press in Filipino, which we translated freely, “This show is different because we will give the audience joy. This is the first time they will see the three of us together so we guarantee laughter, kulitan and chikahan.

Apart from the celebrity guests, the audience should watch out for the interviews we will feature.”

“This is going to be different and fun. Imagine the combination of Joey and Ai-Ai. It will be a riot,” added Lolit.

From top showbiz issues, big events to social media trends and controversies, CelebriTV, the three hosts said, would definitely bring an atmosphere of fun “as each of the hosts presents freewheeling segments with surprising revelations from your favorite celebrities.”

Now, we know that showbiz folks are the most cryptic of speakers, and you can only deduce the meaning of what they say when you see them on screen. ➜ Continued on C7

An astute observer says, the social media sites have literally forced TV networks to take a closer and hard look at their showbiz –oriented talkshows and give axing shows serious thought