The Standard - 2015 October 11 - Sunday

VOL. XXIX  NO. 241  3 Sections 24 Pages P18  SUNDAY : OCTOBER 11, 2015  www.thestandard.com.ph  editorial@thestandard.com.ph

DPWH SLAMS BASELESS YARN ON PROJECTS

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MARCOS FOR VP LAUNCHES FORMAL BID, GETS ENDORSED BY ESTRADA

By Joel E. Zurbano

SENATOR Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. officially launched his candidacy for vice president on Saturday by assailing the failings of the Aquino administration, particularly in poverty alleviation, job creation, criminality and public transportation.

Flanked by former President Joseph Estrada, Senator Juan Ponce Enrile and his mother, Ilocos Norte Rep. Imelda Marcos, the 58-yearold senator officially announced his candidacy amid vigorous cheers of “Marcos pa rin [Marcos still]!” from hundreds of supporters.

“I accept the challenge of generations. I accept the challenge with all humility,” Marcos said in Filipino at the Puerta Real of Manila’s

historic Intramuros district.

The cheers even grew stronger when Estrada, who is the incumbent mayor of Manila, endorsed Marcos’ candidacy.

“I did not have second thoughts nor did I have any difficulty in reaching this decision: It is my honor to endorse our honorable Senator Bongbong Marcos,” Estrada said, reminding the people of Marcos’ experience as governor of

Ilocos Norte and in the Senate.

Apart from Estrada, Enrile and Imelda, Bongbong’s sisters, Ilocos Norte Gov. Imee Marcos-Manotok and Irene Araneta were also at the event.

Marcos was also supported by his cousin Tacloban Mayor Alfred Romualdez and his wife Cristina Gonzales, Las Piñas City Rep. Mark Villar, former Manila Rep. Harry Angping and his wife, incumbent congresswoman Zenaida.

Next page

Senator Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. (left) joins the 2016 vice presidential race during the official launching held at the Puerta Real Gardens in Intramuros, with Manila Mayor Joseph Estrada among his endorsers and well-wishers. EY ACASIO

ABOVE AND BEYOND THE GREEN

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UN URGES ACTION ON LUMAD CRISIS

By Florante Solmerin and John Paolo Bencito THE United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees on Saturday urged the Aquino administration to act on the worsening crisis faced by indigenous people in Mindanao, called lu-

mad, and protect them from further attacks.

The UNHCR said more than 6,000 lumad have fled their homes in Mindanao because of atrocities and threats from the military and militias and “have not benefited from state protection.”

“Respect for the rule of law should be upheld by ensuring that the perpetrators of these killings causing displacement will be apprehended and prosecuted... so they can return to their communities... and feel protected by the government,” the UN Next page agency said.

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news

editorial@thestandard.com.ph

MARCOS...

From A1...

“Here in the Philippines, we have all kinds of criminal syndicates, drug lord, gambling lord and smugglers. They control the authority, police who gives protection to drug lords and sometimes the police themselves are the drug lords,” Marcos said.

“Our statistics show 93 percent of villages in Metro Manila are beset with the problem of illegal drugs. Crime is everywhere—murder, theft and kidnapping,” he said.

“We have an MRT, but it is almost always in disrepair. MRT officials are incompetent and corrupt.

Our countrymen have to suffer long queues to be able to ride the MRT where they are packed like sardines,” Marcos added.

Marcos also denounced the government’s lack of support to the victims of Typhoon ‘‘Yolanda’’ and the families of the 44 police commandos who were slain in anti-terrorist operation in Mamasapano, Maguindanao last January.

Marcos will be running against five other candidates for vice presidents, namely Senators Francis Escudero, Alan Peter Cayetano, Antonio Trillanes IV and Gregorio Honasan, and Camarines Sur Rep. Leni Robredo.

Marcos brushed aside speculations he will run for vice president with certain presidential candidates, but admitted consulting with Davao City Mayor Rodrigo Duterte, who he said promised him support.

However, there was still no confirmation on Saturday if Duterte will indeed draft Marcos as his running mate and Duterte’s political adviser, Lito Banayo, said the mayor will likely announce his decision in the next few days.

Bingo with UnA. Members of the PDP-Laban party hold up their fingers to express oneness with Vice President Jejomar Binay in his bid for the presidency next year with his apparent vice presidential bet Senator Gringo Honasan. Binay christened the tandem “Bin-Go.” DAnnY PAtA

COPS ARREST SUSPECT IN DIPOLOG ABDUCTION

By Florante S. Solmerin

ONE of the armed men who abducted Italian Rolando Del Torchio inside his pizza house on Wednesday was nabbed by authorities Friday night in Barangay Tugas, Pagadian City, the Zamboanga Peninsula regional police reported Saturday.

Police spokesman Radzben Jul said Amante Sagario, 49, the registered owner of the van used in Del Torchio’s abduction was arrested at around 6:30 p.m. Friday by a team led by Inspector Ariel Yogyog.

UN...

From A1...

The UNHCR also described as “inaccurate” the government claims that the killings of lumad leaders that led to the displacement of several communities were due to tribal conflicts and such claims only result in aggravating the situation.

“The indigenous peoples are the most marginalized and vulnerable population in the Philippines and require special protection under Philippine and international human rights law,” the UNHCR said.

Even the Commission on Human Rights dispute the claim of the Armed Forces of the Philippines that the slain lumad leaders were rebels and demanded the immediate disbandment of all paramilitary groups to stem the lumad’s

restiveness.

“The fact that the high-powered weapons should be in the hands of those in control of the law [and these slain lumad] are not rebels is unacceptable,” Commission on Human Rights Chairperson Jose Luis Martin Gascon told The Standard.

“That’s why we are joining the call for disbanding all paramilitary groups and the augmentation of security forces like the CAFGU and the like,” Gascon said.

“The fact that some of the violations were perpetrated by paramilitary groups, points to at least the culpability of some elements encouraging these paramilitary groups to continue,” he added.

Gascon said it is understandable that there are ongoing security operations against communist insurgents, but a free and democratic society should be guided by the rule of law and “only our se-

“He was positively identified by the police officer during their follow-up investigation conducted as the registered owner of the Mitsubishi L300 van [TMY-490] that was used by the gunmen who seized Del Torchio,” Yogyog said.

Police also said they have identified the criminal gang behind the abduction and Senior Superintendent Cleve Taboso said the gang snatched Del Torchio, 56, in a swift raid that shocked the dinnertime crowd at his pizzeria.

Taboso, who is spokesman for the team trying to recover Del Torchio, said they had identified the gang’s boss, known as “Commander Red Eye,” and four of his relatives based on closedcircuit TV footage of the abduction.

The policeman said he did not believe the gang had taken him to the extremist stronghold of Jolo island where any rescue would be

curity forces should have access to and use high-powered weapons.”

Gascon, who spoke at the unveiling of a peace monument at the University of the Philippines in Quezon City, said the CHR is still in the process of consolidating the results of its fact-finding mission and public hearings in Mindanao.

“Yes, we do have an overview but the commission en banc would have to look into these reports,” he said, adding that there are many conflict-drivers and the issues involved are “very complex.”

“In a sense, what we have done is to shed light into these conditions, the over-all situation affecting lumad communities in Mindanao,” he said.

Gascon admitted that the civil unrest has already escalated not only in Surigao del Sur, but also in other places in Mindanao.

more difficult.

The footage shows armed men shoving their captive as well as several restaurant patrons out of the pizzeria’s door as they flee the scene.

He said Red Eye had been arrested for another abduction in 2014 but managed to post bail.

The group is still believed to be in the southern peninsula of Zamboanga despite earlier fears they had fled to Jolo island, the stronghold of the Muslim extremists Abu Sayyaf, who are blamed for the worst terror attacks in the Philippines, Taboso added.

Many smaller kidnapping groups have often taken their hostages to the thickly-forested island of Jolo, located about 400 kilometers from Dipolog, to hand them over to the Abu Sayyaf who ransom them off for huge sums. with AFP

“What we need to do first is to document these evidence, these violence against lumads, regardless of who the perpetrators are,” said Gascon.

“Clearly, the murders that occurred in Lianga were perpetrated by people identified as part of the Baghani group, the Tecson brothers. We need to pursue justice,” he added.

Gascon challenged the police and the military to arrest the perpetrators of the killings and urged lumads to avail of legal remedies, such as a ‘writ of amparo’ and ‘writ of habeas data.’

“I think the warrants of arrest have been issued, what is needed is for these to be enforced,” Gascon said.

“If some remedies are necessary, the groups that are assisting the victims can make those necessary motions—writ of amparo, habeas data, should be part of

those of the available remedies that should be available for us to pursue justice.”

“The police are the principal law enforcement institution, and they should respond to these situations accross the country and areas across Mindanao. There should be no reason for them not to, and as principal law enforcement institution, especially in human rights violations, extrajudicial killings, the police must step in.”

Gascon stressed that the military should respect the rules of engagements, especially the Child Protection Policy of the Department of Education, which disallows armed elements from entering school premises to protect the welfare of the students.

The CHR chair called for the government to respond to the immediate needs of the lumads, especially those in the evacuation centers.

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NEWS

editorial@thestandard.com.ph

‘DSWD EVENT NOT FOR APEC’

By Sara Susanne d.

Fabunan

THE Aquino administration admitted that the Department of Social Welfare and Development will hold a “workshop” about the government dole program during the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation summit, but denied it was meant to hide the homeless from visiting dignitaries.

Right to wRite. Schoolchildren join in the fun during launching of Children’s Month, which highlights children’s rights including education and protection from abuse. The event was hosted by the Department of Social Welfare and Development, Children’s Welfare Commission and the SM Supermalls. JANSeN RoMeRo

11 MENTORS PROBE EXPIRED DRUGS, PALACE ORDERS HONORED IN QUIRINO MEMORIAL

IN celebration of the 125th birth anniversary of the sixth president of the Philippines, the President Elpidio Quirino Foundation and the Department of Education have chosen 11 teachers who have contributed significantly to the development of the Filipino youth in the past year.

Through the inaugural presentation of the recently-concluded “Guro to Pangulo” [Teacher to President] Awards, the foundation honored teachers from the 18 elementary schools, 10 high schools, and one state university for their role in education, youth welfare and development.

“The Guro to Pangulo Awards is the foundation’s little way of giving back to these outstanding educators, our everyday heroes, who make sure that our children are prepared to be future leaders and responsible citizens of society,” said lawyer Aleli Angela “Lila” Quirino, president of the Elpidio Quirino Foundation.

The first set of winners, who will be honored at the Kalayaan Hall of Malacañan Palace, are Orden Cayso from Irisan, Baguio City; Evangeline Dasalla from Sultan Kudarat; Maria Concepcion Domingo from Cabarroguis, Quirino; Mary Jane Donesa from Davao City; Rita Imbang from Irisan, Baguio City; Val Gawi from Quirino Province; Gemma Jarata from Aringay, La Union; Edwin Llavore from Agoo, La Union; Vilma Quirog from Sultan Kudarat; Rodel Rivera from Project 3, Quezon City; and Daisy Santos, also from Project 3, Quezon City.

The 11 awardees will each receive a Guro to Pangulo medal minted by the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas, a scholarship for continuing studies through the Israeli Mashav, and other incentives.

“President Elpidio Quirino reserved his highest esteem for our nation’s teachers. In fact, one of the things he made possible during his presidency was to increase the minimum wage for teachers because he knew all too well the demands of the job, that the job of a teacher never just ends in the classroom,” Quirino added.

MALACAÑANG on Saturday asked the Department of Health to give a “reasonable explanation” why expired medicine, purportedly meant for victims of Typhoon ‘‘Yolanda,’’ were found at the government health office in San Fernando, Pampanga.

But while the Health department has not even started its investigation, Deputy Presidential Spokesperson Abigail Valte said the expired medicine may not be intended for Yolanda victims.

“It is not yet clear what those medicine were for, whether they were really for Yolanda victims, but rest assured that the DoH is conducting an investigation on this,” Valte said. “[The DoH] should be able to give a good and reasonable reason if that is the case [the medicine were intended for Yolanda victims]. But let’s wait first, we don’t want to judge at this point,” she added.

She also said the DoH has already denied the report stressing that if the expired medicine are for Tacloban it

should have been found in Region VIII and not in Region III. “I just spoke with them [Friday] right after our press briefings and they said the facts are not clear yet.

That’s why there is a need to conduct further investigation,” Valte said. “So we are also expecting a report from the DoH.” In a report on GMA News, provincial health officer Grace Samia said the boxes of medicines were not immediately available for shipping to Tacloban so they were instead stocked in the DoH office in San Fernando, Pampanga.

Meanwhile, the Palace also asked the DoH to explain the report of the 2015 Quality of Death study index tagging the Philippines as one of the worst places in the world to die.

Valte said the Palace refused to comment first on the report since the DoH needed to answer first since it is more about the health system in the country.

“We will ask the DoH to give a comment on this, especially since DOH is the agency responsible for

our public hospitals,” Valte said.

She said that the Palace would want to see the detailed report and compare it with the healthcare system of the country.

“I did see that report and we want to see more of the details because this is more about healthcare, the support that is given and available to terminally-ill patients,” Valte added.

Based on the 2015 Quality of Death study index, the Philippines is one of the worst places to die, next to Iraq and Bangladesh.

The Economist Intelligence Unit report stated that out of 80 countries, the Philippines scored “poorly” in terms of the quality of end-of-life care available.

The Philippines scored 78 while China in 71st, India 67th and Thailand 44th.

The quality of death index was measured across five categories— palliative and healthcare environment, human resources, affordable care, quality of care and level of community engagement. Sara Susanne d. Fabunan

MedicAl doNAtioN. Upon the arrangement of Ambassador David Lee Zarate of the World Medical Relief Inc., Federation of Filipino-Chinese Chambers of Commerce and Industry Inc. purchased 40 dialysis machines to be donated to municipal hospitals in the Philippines. A dialysis center will also be set up under the name of the federation and any excess units will be turned over to other government hospitals. FFCCCII president Angel Ngu and other leaders of the federation witnessed the turnover of P3 million for the shipping costs and other fees to Ambassador David Lee Zarate.

Deputy Presidential Spokesperson Abigail Valte and Social Welfare Secretary Corazon Soliman after Kabataan Rep. Terry Ridon revealed on Friday another plan to “hide the homeless” like the government did during the visit of Pope Francis last January.

Like the Palace claimed during the papal visit, Valte said the workshop on the government dole was already scheduled long before the APEC summit and it was just coincidental that it was set on the same days in November when 21 heads of state will be in the country.

“That has been ongoing for some time already,” Valte said in an interview over state-owned dzRB. “Even before the pope came, we already had the modified [conditional cash transfer] and even before this APEC meeting we already had the modified CCT.” “The hard data in our reports will show that we are not doing those things just because we have foreign visitors who are arriving in the Philippines,” Valte added. “Maybe it would be better if Congressman Ridon will look at the program.”

But Ridon actually learned of the workshop during a congressional hearing on the DSWD budget and it was actually a DSWD official who admitted that there was indeed a workshop set during the duration of the APEC summit.

Ridon asked about another “vanishing act” to be orchestrated by the DSWD after the agency admitted last January that it rounded homeless families during Pope Francis’ visit last January and brought them to a resort in Batangas.

Soliman, for her part, said the nation will celebrate National Children’s Day in November and she said it was a timely opportunity to generate awareness on child protection.

She said one activity during that time is a “Talakayang Pambarangay,” or village forum, to be led by the Barangay Council for the Protection of Children and parents who are already beneficiaries of the government’s dole program.

The forum will serve as a venue to create awareness among parents on positive discipline of children and to teach them the different approaches to protect their children from various forms of abuse, Soliman said in a statement.

“Keeping children off the streets is one way to protect them from abuse and from becoming potential prey of syndicates. Homeless families especially street children are vulnerable and they become doubly vulnerable if they remain on the streets,” Soliman said.

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OPINION

EDITOR

lettertotheeditor@thestandard.com.ph

OPINION CIRCUS

By Barry Ritholtz

THIS week will see the filing of certificates of candidacy for national positions.

We expect to see gimmickry, drama, hoopla. We hope there will be as much substance.

The bigger political parties and more established organizations will definitely milk their advantage to the fullest. These are the ones who have the funds and the machinery to drive home their message from the top media outlets in the big cities to the households in the most remote places.

The rest will have to contend with non-traditional modes of campaigning, hoping that new media such as Internet technology will convey what they have to tell voters, and as convincingly.

What their message is, we hope, won’t be the tired, trite, rehearsed lines that we have ease remembering but difficulty seeing in action.

For example, those running under the administration party vow to continue the journey on Daang Matuwid. Alas, the much-vaunted straight path might as well have been mythical in the past five years. We have seen how the selfrighteous administration has gone after its enemies with a passion and its erring allies with disinterest. Every failure was attributed to causes outside its officials’ control. Until now, critics are dismissed as enemies of reform who are out to sabotage the gains made by the President.

Other candidates want to do other things. One wants to continue the fight begun by her father, without articulating what that fight was all about and whether it was even begun. Another wants to replicate the prosperity he claims to have done to the city he and his family ruled for decades, without saying anything about how he could ensure transparency and accountability on the way to progress.

Yet another shows himself reluctant as he calculates his decision to bring his brand of leadership, known to those in the South, to the national scene.

The circus that will arrive this week will once again try our patience and test our mettle. We always complain of the sorry state of our politics. Patronage, dynasties, appeals to emotion and personality play rule the game. Left out are intelligent discourse, sober logic and practical ideas for governance.

We deplore, in strong terms, the use of scantily-clad women dancing provocatively during a political gathering. Such, ugh, performances are common among sorties in the provinces. Entertainers are meant to draw crowds to political gatherings. What if nobody comes to the gatherings precisely because of the sorry level of discourse? What if people come only if there is debate, none of the condescending, noontime-show quality entertainment that they have fed us with all these years?

We always talk about asserting before our leaders what we want from them.

Perhaps that has not worked because when we do so, they are already in power.

Let us make them commit to be issues-based while they are still courting our votes. The coming week need not be a circus; it could be the start of a tough series of tests, instead.

CHOOSING THE LESSER EVIL will not be swayed. I know quite a number who are firmly convinced, this early, that no one among Mar Roxas, Grace Poe, Jejomar Binay, and Rodrigo Duterte—who are considered the frontrunners for the presidency—deserves to become President of the Republic.

I, personally, have not made up my mind on who to vote for President or Vice President in 2016.

There’s just no one among the four putative candidates who inspires confidence in me. However, I believe that leaving the spaces blank in the ballot is not a wise option in an electoral system where candidates win by plurality of votes.

Even if 90 percent of the voters choose not to cast their votes for the top two positions, there will

It looks like it’s going to be about picking the lesser evil among the four candidates.

still be winners. The candidates who end on top after the voting will still get proclaimed and sworn into office even if they only garner a ridiculous percentage of votes—say, eight percent of the

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THE WORLD IS ENDING? INVEST AS IF IT WON’T

[ EDI TORI A L ]

IT’S TOO bad there won’t be a box in the ballot in next year’s elections that says “none of the above” because I am sure there will be quite a number of voters who will choose to leave the slot for President or Vice President blank. Of course there is the possibility that some people will still have a change of mind as the candidates begin to engage voters more aggressively during the official campaign period, but there will be many who

ADELLE CHUA

total population of voters—so the possibility that the least qualified person will win will still be there.

At the same time, choosing not to vote for a President or Vice President is tantamount to renouncing one’s responsibility as citizen of this country. Citizens are obligated to support the person who wins an election regardless of whether he or she was the person we voted for during the elections.

But it sure is disheartening when we consider that the deciding factor on who to vote for boils down to who we think will do the least damage to the country. Put another way, it looks like it’s going to be about picking the lesser evil among the four candidates. This is a complete departure from the

usual paradigm where people root for specific candidates because he or she is deemed the best candidate for the post.

Roxas seems like he is ready for the post given the fact that among the frontrunners, he is the one who has actually served in the Cabinet longer, and in various capacities at that. In addition, he has served as congressman and senator, and has management background from his experience in the private sector.

However, if the way he handled the Yolanda crisis is any indication of his management style, then we can honestly say that we’re doomed. I personally witnessed the absolute absence of leadership during the first few weeks after the super typhoon struck—Tacloban City was

brought to the ground not by Yolanda, but by the anarchy that followed in its wake.

The problems of the LRT and the LTO can also be traced to the period when he sat as Secretary of the Department of Transportation and Communications.

Poe comes across as a refreshing change in a political landscape dominated by traditional politicians. She is the candidate with the least political debt and presumably the one who has not been swallowed up by the murky political system—yet. But Poe is dogged by two main issues. First, her lack of relevant experience and consequently, competencies.

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And second, issues about her citizenship.

The Presidency is the ultimate symbol of our sovereignty as a nation—what does it say of us when we elect someone who once chose to renounce her Filipino citizenship, and apparently without much emotional struggle and only out of convenience, as President?

Binay’s and Duterte’s proven track record as local executives are definitely plus factors. When we come to think about it, experience as mayor or governor is probably the best preparation for the presidency as managing a town, city, or province provides the closest match in

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terms of relevant competencies. Unfortunately, Binay is hounded by issues of corruption—the scale of which boggles the mind. It just seems unthinkable for anyone who is in complete control of his mental faculties to deliberately put someone suspected of being a large-scale crook in charge of the country’s vast resources.

On the other hand, Duterte’s human rights record and his authoritarian tendencies are worrisome. And the way he has been flip-flopping on whether he is running for President or not smacks of indecisiveness, something that a President cannot or must never be.

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PREDICTING the end of the world has always been a losing bet. We were reminded of this once again when Oct. 7 came and went, and the world didn’t go poof.

It was supposed to. That’s according to the eBible Fellowship, a small online religious group whose leaders somehow interpreted the Bible as calling for Armageddon this past Wednesday, courtesy of the recent blood moon and last week’s total lunar eclipse. Never mind that we get a blood moon several times a decade, and there have had hundreds of them since the Bible was written.

There is a long history of end-of-times predictions, and to date, they have an absolutely perfect batting average of 0.0 percent.

The utter lack of success of all who make these predictions doesn’t seem to deter others who try to notch a win—assuming you believe that getting the end-of-the-world forecast right is a win.

The Economist has done us a favor and assembled the major end-of-world forecasts. It goes without saying that if you are reading this, the most recent forecast didn’t come to pass.

Given this track record, one wonders why people still make predictions of this sort—or any other for that matter. We have discussed many times why ordinary prognostications by Wall Street strategists and economists are futile (see this, this, this, this, this, this, and this); a forecast of the demise of the Earth is the sort of thing that looks like a losing bet from the outset (never mind that if you were right, who would know)?

Despite all sorts of adversity, humans have endured 1 million years or so of plagues, famines, droughts, floods, plus plenty of self-inflicted setbacks like wars.

Humans are so successful as a species, that we have managed to occupy and dominate almost every corner of the globe.

The most recent end-of-world forecast reminds me of a tale told by the great Art Cashin, UBS’ veteran floor broker. Cashin has more than a half-century of experience at the New York Stock Exchange, and is one of the financial world’s great raconteurs.

Over dinner not too long ago, Cashin related the story of something that happened during the Cuban Missile Crisis. Everyone was on edge as the US and Soviet Union approached the brink. One day, word began to spread that Russia had launched its nukes, which would arrive in 11 minutes. A trooper to the end, Cashin ran around the exchange floor trying to sell short, but was unable to do so. The 11 minutes passed, but nuclear annihilation never came. Soon after, Cashin reported to his boss. He told him what occurred, and was told that in the future, upon learning of the end of the world, the proper trade is to go long, not short.

He asked his boss, Why go long if the world is ending? “It never does end,” his boss told him, and even if it does, “who are you going to settle the trade with?”

One day, the world will indeed end. The sun will run out of hydrogen fuel, turn into a red giant star, and expand until it engulfs the earth.

That is about 5 billion years in the future.

In the meantime, you can safely ignore all other forecasts. Bloomberg Rolando G. Estabillo Jojo A. Robles Ramonchito L. Tomeldan Chin Wong/Ray S. Eñano Francis Lagniton Joyce Pangco Pañares Adelle Chua Romel J. Mendez Roberto Cabrera

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S U N D AY, O C T O B E R 1 1 , 2 0 1 5

A4

OPINION

EDITOR

lettertotheeditor@thestandard.com.ph

OPINION CIRCUS

By Barry Ritholtz

THIS week will see the filing of certificates of candidacy for national positions.

We expect to see gimmickry, drama, hoopla. We hope there will be as much substance.

The bigger political parties and more established organizations will definitely milk their advantage to the fullest. These are the ones who have the funds and the machinery to drive home their message from the top media outlets in the big cities to the households in the most remote places.

The rest will have to contend with non-traditional modes of campaigning, hoping that new media such as Internet technology will convey what they have to tell voters, and as convincingly.

What their message is, we hope, won’t be the tired, trite, rehearsed lines that we have ease remembering but difficulty seeing in action.

For example, those running under the administration party vow to continue the journey on Daang Matuwid. Alas, the much-vaunted straight path might as well have been mythical in the past five years. We have seen how the selfrighteous administration has gone after its enemies with a passion and its erring allies with disinterest. Every failure was attributed to causes outside its officials’ control. Until now, critics are dismissed as enemies of reform who are out to sabotage the gains made by the President.

Other candidates want to do other things. One wants to continue the fight begun by her father, without articulating what that fight was all about and whether it was even begun. Another wants to replicate the prosperity he claims to have done to the city he and his family ruled for decades, without saying anything about how he could ensure transparency and accountability on the way to progress.

Yet another shows himself reluctant as he calculates his decision to bring his brand of leadership, known to those in the South, to the national scene.

The circus that will arrive this week will once again try our patience and test our mettle. We always complain of the sorry state of our politics. Patronage, dynasties, appeals to emotion and personality play rule the game. Left out are intelligent discourse, sober logic and practical ideas for governance.

We deplore, in strong terms, the use of scantily-clad women dancing provocatively during a political gathering. Such, ugh, performances are common among sorties in the provinces. Entertainers are meant to draw crowds to political gatherings. What if nobody comes to the gatherings precisely because of the sorry level of discourse? What if people come only if there is debate, none of the condescending, noontime-show quality entertainment that they have fed us with all these years?

We always talk about asserting before our leaders what we want from them.

Perhaps that has not worked because when we do so, they are already in power.

Let us make them commit to be issues-based while they are still courting our votes. The coming week need not be a circus; it could be the start of a tough series of tests, instead.

CHOOSING THE LESSER EVIL will not be swayed. I know quite a number who are firmly convinced, this early, that no one among Mar Roxas, Grace Poe, Jejomar Binay, and Rodrigo Duterte—who are considered the frontrunners for the presidency—deserves to become President of the Republic.

I, personally, have not made up my mind on who to vote for President or Vice President in 2016.

There’s just no one among the four putative candidates who inspires confidence in me. However, I believe that leaving the spaces blank in the ballot is not a wise option in an electoral system where candidates win by plurality of votes.

Even if 90 percent of the voters choose not to cast their votes for the top two positions, there will

It looks like it’s going to be about picking the lesser evil among the four candidates.

still be winners. The candidates who end on top after the voting will still get proclaimed and sworn into office even if they only garner a ridiculous percentage of votes—say, eight percent of the

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THE WORLD IS ENDING? INVEST AS IF IT WON’T

[ EDI TORI A L ]

IT’S TOO bad there won’t be a box in the ballot in next year’s elections that says “none of the above” because I am sure there will be quite a number of voters who will choose to leave the slot for President or Vice President blank. Of course there is the possibility that some people will still have a change of mind as the candidates begin to engage voters more aggressively during the official campaign period, but there will be many who

ADELLE CHUA

total population of voters—so the possibility that the least qualified person will win will still be there.

At the same time, choosing not to vote for a President or Vice President is tantamount to renouncing one’s responsibility as citizen of this country. Citizens are obligated to support the person who wins an election regardless of whether he or she was the person we voted for during the elections.

But it sure is disheartening when we consider that the deciding factor on who to vote for boils down to who we think will do the least damage to the country. Put another way, it looks like it’s going to be about picking the lesser evil among the four candidates. This is a complete departure from the

usual paradigm where people root for specific candidates because he or she is deemed the best candidate for the post.

Roxas seems like he is ready for the post given the fact that among the frontrunners, he is the one who has actually served in the Cabinet longer, and in various capacities at that. In addition, he has served as congressman and senator, and has management background from his experience in the private sector.

However, if the way he handled the Yolanda crisis is any indication of his management style, then we can honestly say that we’re doomed. I personally witnessed the absolute absence of leadership during the first few weeks after the super typhoon struck—Tacloban City was

brought to the ground not by Yolanda, but by the anarchy that followed in its wake.

The problems of the LRT and the LTO can also be traced to the period when he sat as Secretary of the Department of Transportation and Communications.

Poe comes across as a refreshing change in a political landscape dominated by traditional politicians. She is the candidate with the least political debt and presumably the one who has not been swallowed up by the murky political system—yet. But Poe is dogged by two main issues. First, her lack of relevant experience and consequently, competencies.

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And second, issues about her citizenship.

The Presidency is the ultimate symbol of our sovereignty as a nation—what does it say of us when we elect someone who once chose to renounce her Filipino citizenship, and apparently without much emotional struggle and only out of convenience, as President?

Binay’s and Duterte’s proven track record as local executives are definitely plus factors. When we come to think about it, experience as mayor or governor is probably the best preparation for the presidency as managing a town, city, or province provides the closest match in

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terms of relevant competencies. Unfortunately, Binay is hounded by issues of corruption—the scale of which boggles the mind. It just seems unthinkable for anyone who is in complete control of his mental faculties to deliberately put someone suspected of being a large-scale crook in charge of the country’s vast resources.

On the other hand, Duterte’s human rights record and his authoritarian tendencies are worrisome. And the way he has been flip-flopping on whether he is running for President or not smacks of indecisiveness, something that a President cannot or must never be.

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PREDICTING the end of the world has always been a losing bet. We were reminded of this once again when Oct. 7 came and went, and the world didn’t go poof.

It was supposed to. That’s according to the eBible Fellowship, a small online religious group whose leaders somehow interpreted the Bible as calling for Armageddon this past Wednesday, courtesy of the recent blood moon and last week’s total lunar eclipse. Never mind that we get a blood moon several times a decade, and there have had hundreds of them since the Bible was written.

There is a long history of end-of-times predictions, and to date, they have an absolutely perfect batting average of 0.0 percent.

The utter lack of success of all who make these predictions doesn’t seem to deter others who try to notch a win—assuming you believe that getting the end-of-the-world forecast right is a win.

The Economist has done us a favor and assembled the major end-of-world forecasts. It goes without saying that if you are reading this, the most recent forecast didn’t come to pass.

Given this track record, one wonders why people still make predictions of this sort—or any other for that matter. We have discussed many times why ordinary prognostications by Wall Street strategists and economists are futile (see this, this, this, this, this, this, and this); a forecast of the demise of the Earth is the sort of thing that looks like a losing bet from the outset (never mind that if you were right, who would know)?

Despite all sorts of adversity, humans have endured 1 million years or so of plagues, famines, droughts, floods, plus plenty of self-inflicted setbacks like wars.

Humans are so successful as a species, that we have managed to occupy and dominate almost every corner of the globe.

The most recent end-of-world forecast reminds me of a tale told by the great Art Cashin, UBS’ veteran floor broker. Cashin has more than a half-century of experience at the New York Stock Exchange, and is one of the financial world’s great raconteurs.

Over dinner not too long ago, Cashin related the story of something that happened during the Cuban Missile Crisis. Everyone was on edge as the US and Soviet Union approached the brink. One day, word began to spread that Russia had launched its nukes, which would arrive in 11 minutes. A trooper to the end, Cashin ran around the exchange floor trying to sell short, but was unable to do so. The 11 minutes passed, but nuclear annihilation never came. Soon after, Cashin reported to his boss. He told him what occurred, and was told that in the future, upon learning of the end of the world, the proper trade is to go long, not short.

He asked his boss, Why go long if the world is ending? “It never does end,” his boss told him, and even if it does, “who are you going to settle the trade with?”

One day, the world will indeed end. The sun will run out of hydrogen fuel, turn into a red giant star, and expand until it engulfs the earth.

That is about 5 billion years in the future.

In the meantime, you can safely ignore all other forecasts. Bloomberg Rolando G. Estabillo Jojo A. Robles Ramonchito L. Tomeldan Chin Wong/Ray S. Eñano Francis Lagniton Joyce Pangco Pañares Adelle Chua Romel J. Mendez Roberto Cabrera

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S U N D AY, O C T O B E R 1 1 , 2 0 1 5

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OPINION

lettertotheeditor@thestandard.com.ph

‘THOSE DISGUISED AS ARABS’

By Andrea Bernardi RAMALLAH—It’s fairly common to see Israeli agents infiltrate the crowds of Palestinian stone throwers during demonstrations. I’ve witnessed this plenty of times in Jerusalem. The goal of these “mustarabiin”—literally “those who disguise themselves as Arabs”—is to stop the protesters. They usually take out their weapons without using them, or, more often, point them into the sky, as if they were about to shoot into the air.

But today, I filmed these undercover agents for the first time firing live bullets into a crowd of protesters.

I showed up to cover a “Day of Rage” that Palestinian students staged at the Bir Zeit University in Ramallah, in the occupied West Bank. At the end of the demonstration, the protesters headed toward the DCO checkpoint near the Beit El settlement, which has often been the scene of clashes between the two sides.

The students started throwing stones at Israeli soldiers, taking cover behind trash bins. As usual, the soldiers responded with rubber bullets and tear gas.

The clash began to get very violent and, not wanting to risk getting hit by a projectile from either side, I walked over to the side of the road, next to AFP photographer Abbas Momani about 10 meters away.

I put my camera on a tripod and continued to film the scene.

Suddenly we saw four masked men who had been throwing stones with the others take out guns from their waistsbands and three others who rushed toward a demonstrator.

There were screams, most of the Palestinians ran

away as fast as they could and the Israeli agents opened fire as stones flew toward them.

Some fired in the air, but others clearly targetted the Palestinian demonstrators. One of the youths was hit in the back of the head.

The Israeli agents punched and kicked the protester they caught. Then the Israeli soldiers who had been several dozen meters away arrived as backup.

Three young Palestinians who were captured after being wounded were dragged away and treated by military doctors near the army vehicles, where my colleague Abbas Momani could photograph them from up close.

I stayed a bit further away, as I was afraid of getting my camera confiscated by the soldiers—recently our team was assaulted by Israeli soldiers as we covered clashes in the West Bank and my equipment had been destroyed.

The agents had arrived after the clashes had started and had been among the protesters for a while before making themselves known. It was impossible for the protesters to recognize the enemy was among them— during West Bank clashes everyone wears masks, be it an old T-shirt or the Palestinian keffiyeh. The agents —be they Jews, Druze, Israeli Arabs or Bedouins—all speak Arabic and physically look like the demonstrators.

Having arrived with their backpacks, their sneakers and bright colored T-shirts, in Barcelona or France football jerseys, the agents blended perfectly among the student protesters. After the clash, they all walked toward the army vehicles, a green Hamas scarf still hanging from his backpocket. AFP Infiltrated members of the Israeli security forces detain a Palestinian stone thrower and aim their weapons at protesters during clashes in Beit El, on the outskirts of the West Bank city of Ramallah on Oct. 7. AFP

NOBEL HIGHLIGHTS A RARE RAY OF DEMOCRACY THIS year’s Nobel Peace Prize was a surprise even to the recipients, a little-known group of activists who brokered a political transition in Tunisia. It was also an inspired choice.

The Arab Spring has been so disappointing—in Egypt, in Libya, in Yemen—that Tunisia has been largely forgotten, making headlines only when terrorists kill European vacationers. Yet the Arab Spring’s hope for a more tolerant and democratic Middle East is most alive in Tunisia, where the movement began more than four years ago.

In Tunisia, as in Egypt, the strongest political force to emerge after the revolution was an Islamist group, called Ennahda. Ennahda won elections, formed a government and sought to Islamize the nation. By 2013, the country seemed poised to slide in chaos. After two opposition leaders were killed, tens of thousands took to the streets, clashing with police.

This is when the unlikely alliance known as the National Dialogue Quartet formed. The quartet—Tunisia’s main labor union, its main employers group, its lawyers’ association and the Tunisian Human Rights League— mediated between the main political blocs, headed by Ennahda and Nidaa Tounes, a party formed by stalwarts from the era of dictatorship. They agreed on a plan for a transitional government and elections, which Nidaa Tounes won last year. In the new unity government, Ennahda has a cabinet minister.

It is pointless to speculate why something similar didn’t happen in Libya or Egypt; Tunisia has always been different. Even under the former dictator, Zine El Abidine Ben Ali, the country had stronger labor unions and other secular civic organizations. It’s also pointless to observe that Tunisia’s government, with its elements of both the old regime and the Islamist one, is not the kind of reformist democracy Westerners might prefer.

Neither Tunisia’s job nor the quartet’s is finished. Tunisia remains a leading exporter of recruits for Islamic State in Syria, and the country’s role as a potential model gives extremists the incentive to destabilize it. That said, it’s hard to exaggerate the symbolic importance that a stable, prosperous democracy in Tunisia could have for people in places with a fragile monarchy (say, Morocco) or repressive dictatorship (Egypt, for one). So Friday’s prize should serve as a reminder to boost international support for Tunisia’s battered economy.

Tunisia’s success will rise or fall above all on the ability of its main political factions to share power and compromise. For making that possible, Tunisia’s quartet richly deserve their recognition. Bloomberg

RUSSIA’S LOW-RISK GAMBIT IN SYRIA

By Leonid Bershidsky US DEFENSE Secretary Ash Carter said Friday that four Russian cruise missiles fell in Iran rather than in Syria. To Carter, the errant munitions reflect Russia’s “unprofessional behavior.” To the Russians, they may be part of the reason they are in Syria in the first place.

Strategically, Russia’s involvement in the Syrian war looks like a terrible idea, or at least a big gamble. “Doubling down” on President Bashar al-Assad, as Carter put it, could give the Syrian strongman some breathing space, but not necessarily a lease on life. At the same time, Russia is alienating Turkey, where President Vladimir Putin until recently had a comfortable partner in President Recep Tayyip Erdogan. It also threatens to make enemies in the Sunni Arab world just when relations with Saudi Arabia seemed to be improving.

What happens if the land offensive started by Assad’s forces Wednesday with help from Iranian troops and the Iranbacked Hezbollah militia fails to recapture lost territory?

Does Russia have a specific goal or at least a time frame? What about an exit strategy?

These questions matter only if Russia is in this for the long haul. It has done nothing to suggest that it is, however. The Kremlin only appears to be setting short-term tactical goals for now because it’s not heavily committed to an outcome in Syria. One of these objectives is to battle-test and show off new hardware.

Although the US has been involved in several foreign wars since 1991, Russia has only fought on its own territory or within the former Soviet Union. These conflicts provided limited opportunities for a modern army to show what it can do: They consisted of either large-scale police operations or

covert, hybrid warfare. Fighting small, agile bands of Chechen guerrillas in the mountains, helping separatist rebels surround Ukrainian units or running through overconfident but tiny Georgia in just four days is no general’s dream. It also is no way to demonstrate new weaponry to potential foreign buyers or test it for Russia’s own armed forces.

It might seem absurd to get involved in a war as a training exercise, but in Putin’s Russia, it could make some sense.

The country’s defense spending has risen to about 4.5 percent of gross domestic product this year from just 1.5 percent in 2010, and Russia now has one of the world’s 10 most militarized economies. It is also the second-biggest arms exporter, with 27 percent of the global market. Last year, it exported $15.5 billion worth of weaponry; that was about 5 percent of its non-commodity exports and 2.6 percent of the total.

The Caliber 3M14 missiles launched toward Syria from the Caspian Sea on Wednesday couldn’t have been tested under battle conditions previously because international treaties only allow the export of a modified version with a 300-kilometer (186-mile) range, which Russia has sold to India and China. But the 26 missiles fired at against Syrian targets were long-range, capable of doing damage at 1,500 kilometers and beyond. If four of the 3M14’s fell in Iran—though Russia has denied this and Iran has not confirmed—that wouldn’t be unusual for the first battle use of a new weapon.

Even though Russia has exported its Su-30 fighter jets to a dozen countries, it has never used them under battle conditions.

Now, there’s a chance to test four of the aircraft. The state-of-theart Su-34 fighter-bombers were used in a limited way during the Georgia campaign, but they, too, are getting extensively tested in

a real war for the first time. Russia has sent six to Syria.

One benefit of the real-life “exercises” is that it makes for impressive video and powerful domestic propaganda.

As things stand, Putin is getting these benefits without risking much. According to Western estimates, he has about 2,000 troops in Syria and a few dozen aircraft. The 2008 operation in Georgia involved about 9,000 crack troops and hundreds of tanks. At the current scale, the Syrian operation is not much more than an exercise.

So far, Putin’s commitment, along with the military, financial and domestic political risk, is minimal. Things may get serious if Assad’s ground operation sputters, which is likely.

Then Putin will face a choice between really doubling down and sending ground troops and telling Assad that he could do no more and that it was time to negotiate a power transition.

Putin has proved to be a risk taker in Ukraine, and he will be tempted to take the first path. His generals and defense industry managers will be pushing him in that direction: There are plenty more weapons to test and crack troops to try in battle. The risk of a lengthy conflict, casualties and diplomatic losses in the Middle East would, however, be considerably higher than it is now. By comparison, the second path would be painless: Russia would have brought Assad to the negotiating table and helped end the war, which could be sold as a victory both domestically and internationally.

At this point, the Russian leader’s options are open. I doubt he has a long-term plan or thinks he needs an exit strategy.

That won’t last. Soon, almost certainly before the end of this year, Putin will need to decide whether to commit himself or end the game. Bloomberg

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NEWS

editorial@thestandard.com.ph

HOUSE INTO OVERDRIVE, OKS P3-TRILLION BUDGET

By Maricel V. Cruz

HOUSE Speaker Feliciano Belmonte Jr. said the bill containing the proposed P3.002-trillion national budget for 2016 will be signed into law before the year ends.

As the House of Representatives approved on third and final reading Friday night House Bill 6132 or the 2016 General Appropriations Bill, an opposition lawmaker insisted that the national budget next year still contained lump-sum funds at the discretion of the Palace.

“The P3-trillion national budget that the House passed [Friday night] is a budget loaded with lump sums, sneaky provisions crafted for fund juggling a lá DAP, and billions of funds designed to serve as the ruling party’s campaign war

chest,” Kabataan party-list Rep. Terry Ridon said.

“The content of the 2016 budget is basically 4Ps: pangpork barrel, pambayad-utang, panuhol sa eleksyon, at pangpuhunan ng malalaking negosyante. Wala sa equation ang taumbayan,” the legislator stressed.

But Belmonte maintained there were “no irregularities” in the next year’s budget.

The P3.002-trillion national budget for 2016 is almost double the P1.54trillion national budget in 2010. The budget will be financed by P2.7 billion in

projected government revenues, leaving an estimated P308.7-billion deficit.

Programmed appropriations increased by 19 percent, from P1.7 trillion in the 2015 budget to P2.07 trillion, while unprogrammed appropriations decreased by 47.2 percent to P67.5 billion.

Automatic appropriations increased by 7.4 percent, from the current P866.2 billion to P930.7 billion, while SPFs increased by 75.2 percent, from P245.7 billion to P430.4 billion.

Almost 37 percent or P1.1 trillion of the national budget is appropriated for social services, while 17.25 percent or P517.9 billion is for general public services, 27.6 percent or P829.6 billion is for economic services, 13.9 percent or P419.3 billion is for debt servicing, and 4.3 percent or P129.1 billion is

for defense.

Ridon said as the allocation for next year’s budget increased, lump-sum amounts also went up.

“The 2016 Appropriations Act is called the ‘legacy budget’ of the Aquino administration. However, we can characterize House Bill 6132 as a budget clearly designed for corruption; a budget allotted for the implementation of anti-people programs and projects; and a budget that will only benefit big business and allies, all at the expense of Filipino taxpayers,” Ridon said.

Ridon maintained the following observations that were highlighted in the marathon plenary debate on HB 6132, such as the increased amount of Special Purpose Funds.

In 2016, Ridon said, debt service is still top priority,

with the total national government debt service expenditure amounting to P740.5 billion (P392.79 billion for interest payments, P347.7 billion for principal amortization). In contrast, the education budget is only P504.6 billion.

Ridon also said there are provisions for “project modification” scattered in the budget of several agencies, including the Department of Public Works and Highways, Department of Health, and the Department of Transportation and Communications. The said provision allows heads of agencies to change the specifications of projects even after the enactment of the budget bill, thus granting them “absolute discretion” to their budgets and essentially turning billions of funds for various projects into “pork funds.”

BUNDLE OF JOY. Hundreds of mothers and fathers mark the International Babywearing Week and embark on a campaign to raise public awareness on the joys and benefits of babywearing, baby carriers safety and proper use of baby carriers at One Rockwell East Tower in Makati City. EY ACASIO

FILIPINO SENT TO HK JAIL FOR VISA LACK THE Filipina mother of a teenager who plunged to her death from an upmarket Hong Kong apartment was jailed Friday for a visa violation which surfaced in the wake of the tragedy.

Herminia Garcia, 53, was sent to prison for a year for outstaying her permit to live in the city, despite the defense seeking mitigation in the wake of the “awful” loss of her daughter.

Her partner, British businessman Nick Cousins, 58, was given an eight-month suspended sentence for helping her to breach her conditions of stay and for failing to register their daughters’ births.

In emotional scenes at Eastern Magistrates’ Court, Garcia was hugged by her tearful surviving young daughter as she was led away.

Cousins and Garcia had both initially been accused of neglect after their 15-yearold daughter fell 21 stories from the apartment block in Repulse Bay in April.

But the neglect charge against Garcia was eventually dropped and Cousins was never formally charged after an investigation.

Instead, they were charged with visa violations.

It emerged in court Friday that Garcia had been married to a husband in the Philippines who would not grant her a divorce.

Her right to stay in Hong Kong had ended in 1994, the court heard.

Garcia had pleaded guilty to “breach of condition to stay” and Cousins pleaded guilty to aiding and abetting her.

He also pleaded guilty to two counts of failing to register the births of their two daughters.

Magistrate So Wai-tak said they were “selfish” for flouting the rules. AFP

7 FISHERMEN IN SUNKEN VESSEL BACK HOME AFTER JAPAN RESCUE

By Vito Barcelo SEVEN Filipino fishermen who were rescued by a Japanese cargo ship after their fishing vessel sunk amid the onslaught of Typhoon “Kabayan” have returned to the Philippines, the Department of Foreign Affairs said.

The fishermen were onboard fishing boat “Queen Mitch Petal Dasol–Pangasinan” when it encounter big waves and sunk some 220 kilometers off the coast of Luzon.

The DFA said that the Filipino fishermen hung on

wooden boat drifted for more than 24 hours when Japanese cargo vessel “NYK Joanna,” spotted and rescued them.

They were brought to Japan and treated, according to the DFA. The Philippine Embassy in Japan provided consular assistance to the Filipino fishermen, which includes issuing their travel documents, obtaining landing permission from Japanese authorities, and purchased their one-way ticket to Manila.

Meanwhile, a Filipino seafarer, who was meted with a three-month jail sentence

in Singapore, arrived at the country, Labor Secretary Rosalinda Baldoz said.

The seafarer, Jonathan Tacapan, was arrested in July for his alleged participation in the theft of diesel fuel from the ship where he was employed as an electrician.

Tacapan denied any participation in the incident, said it was his fellow crew members, who were Indonesians, did the crime.

He claimed he never touched the money handed over to him by the Indonesians as part of the share of the loot.

COAL UNCOOL. Members of the Philippine Movement for Climate Change stage a

protest in Mendiola on Saturday, Oct. 10, 2015 to exemplify the evils of coal and demand a shift to renewable energy. DANNY PATA

A8 REVILLA BILL MAKES DRUG REHAB AFFORDABLE

By Maricel V. Cruz AN OPPOSITION lawmaker has filed a measure providing affordable drug rehabilitation and treatment for PhilHealth beneficiaries, amending Republic Act 7875, as amended.

Cavite Rep. Lani Mercado-Revilla, in House Bill 6134, said drug dependents shall be provided with treatment and rehabilitation in Philippine Health Insurance Corp.’s accredited health care provider.

In filing her bill, MercadoRevilla acknowledged the State policy is to adopt an integrated and comprehensive approach to health development including the rehabilitation treatment of drug dependents and individuals victimized by the menace of drug abuse.

“While law enforcement against drug users and drug pushers must be implemented, the rehabilitation of the users is equally important,” Mercado-Revilla, member of the House Independent Bloc of Leyte Rep. Ferdinand Martin Romualdez, said.

Citing the latest statistics released by the Dangerous Drugs Board, Mercado-Revilla said around 1.7 million Filipinos use drugs and other illegal substances.

Mercado-Revilla said the problem of drug addiction is aggravated by the increasing new sets of designer drugs and the other variations of ecstasy given to unsuspecting high school and college students.

“The drugs that are most abused in the Philippines are marijuana, heroin, cocaine, shabu, opium, ecstasy and such inhalants as nitrates and even gasoline and solvents, as these can be the cheap way for people to get high,” Mercado-Revilla said.

The measure shall amend Republic Act 7875, otherwise known as “An Act instituting a National Health Insurance Program for all Filipinos and establishing the Philippine Health Insurance Corporation [PhilHealth] as amended

by Republic Act 9241.”

SUNDAY: OCTOBER 11, 2015

editorial@thestandard.com.ph

DPWH SLAMS ‘BASELESS’ CLAIMS ON JICA PROJECT

THE Department of Public Works and Highways has assailed as “baseless and incorrect” the alleged anomalies in the award of the contract for the five-year rehabilitation and maintenance of the 123.5-kilometer SurigaoDavao-Surigao (Lipata)-Agusan del Norte road.

In a memorandum for DPWH Secretary Rogelio L. Singson dated last Oct. 5, Assistant Secretary Gilberto S. Reyes stressed that the bid documents evaluation conducted by the DPWH’s Bids and Awards Committee “strictly followed the guidelines” set by the Japan International Cooperation Agency for Official Development Assistance loan-funded projects.

Reyes pointed out that the result of the bid evaluation was concurred in by JICA in its April

16, 2015 letter. He stressed that JICA, in another letter dated Sept.

21, 2015, also concurred with the contract agreement entered into

by DPWH with the winning bidder, the joint venture of Equi-Parco Construction Co. and Hebei Road and Bridge Group Co. Ltd. The chairman of the DPWH’s BAC, Reyes debunked the allegation that the approved budget for the contract was P2.5 billion, saying that the corrected ABC was actually P3,422,688,199.31

from the original ABC of P3,544,375,276.55.

“The [P3,321,561,551.57] bid of Equi-Parco/Hebei is 2.95 percent below the [corrected] ABC, not 20 percent higher than the ABC as alleged,” Reyes said.

“The deficiencies of the PQ [pre-qualifying] documents of the pre-disqualified bidders are not minor but are substantial and clear grounds for disqualification based on JICA guidelines,” he said, referring to disqualified bidders China Wuyi Co. Ltd. and Wijaya Karya (Persero) Tbk. “Based on the result of the evaluation, which was deliberated by the previous BAC, only Equi-Parco/Hebei was found to be complying,” he pointed out.

Wuyi and Wijaya were found to have discrepancies or lacking documents, aside from having no adequate experience in the con-

struction of a similar road project at least 35 kilometers in length.

The disqualified bidders also lacked adequate experience in two projects similar to the proposed road with a value of at least P1.2 million on each, added Reyes.

Moves to derail the project through the dissemination of false information have been traced to Butuan City Councilor Sergio Pascual.

A contractor himself, Pascual has been barred by the DPWH from participating in any of its projects.

A number of Mindanaoans who would benefit from the road project lamented that someone like Pascual who apparently has an ax to grind against DPWH should not be allowed to derail a much-needed government infrastructure project already funded

by JICA.

BARANGAY DAY. Leyte Rep. Ferdinand Martin Romualdez (fifth from left) poses with officials of the 128 barangays of Baguio City during the celebration of the 24th anniversary of the Local Government Code and Barangay Day held at the Ibaloi Park, Burnham Park. DEXTER SEE

P1B TO FIGHT HIV EPIDEMIC PIGEONS GALORE.

At least 400 different breeds of pigeons are fed by a boy in Alicia St., Fortune 4, Valenzuela City. ANDREW RABULAN

GOVERNMENT’S budget to treat HIV/AIDS cases will breach the P1billion mark next year, “the price the Philippines has to pay for reportedly having one of fast-growing HIV epidemics in the world,” a Senate leader said in a statement on Saturday.

Senate President Pro-Tempore Ralph G. Recto said the budget for combating HIV/AIDS is pegged at P1.08 billion for 2016, almost double the amount allocated this year, and will fund treatment and testing of 35,000 confirmed and suspected cases.

Half, or P500 million, of the HIV/AIDS fund will be used to buy anti-retroviral drugs. The rest will go to test kits and reagents (P250 million), surveillance (P50 million), and local prevention programs (P200 million), Recto said citing a Senate briefer on public health spending for next year.

“I have been told that this budget might not be enough, if taken against the growing patient base,” Recto said.

Recto said this “budgetary item may have to be increased because other diseases like dengue are also included in the fund to combat infectious diseases.”

Despite global decline in new HIV infections, the Philippines is one of few countries posting monthly increases of new reported cases, Recto said.

SUNDAY: OCTOBER 11, 2015

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

BUSINESS

B1

COUPLE BUILDS SCHOOL

TO EDUCATE OWN CHILDREN

A COUPLE built a private school in the educational hub of a new business district in Capiz province to provide young children in the area, including their own, with better education.

“We want our kids to have good education,” says Michelle Ong, the school directress of Creative, Holistic, Integrated Learning and Development for Students, or simply Child’s Academy, which has a new three-hectare campus at Pueblo de Panay, the emerging central business district in Roxas City, the country’s seafood capital.

Michelle and husband Hannibal Zenon Ong, the vice president for marketing of Blue Chip Builders Inc., have two kids studying at Child’s Academy, with ages six and four.

“Right now, we have 104 students at Child’s. We have two kids also studying at Child’s. In fact, there are eight kids from the Ong family who are studying at Child’s,” Michelle says in an interview.

The Ong family runs one of the largest conglomerates in Northern Panay – the Sacred Heart of Jesus Prime Holdings Inc., which developed Pueblo de Panay. Blue Chip Builders is the construction arm of the group.

Child’s Academy has air-conditioned classrooms in a green setting, low teacher-student ratio and safe and fun playground.

The campus has a waiting area for caregivers and deploys school buses to transport students.

Michelle says Child’s Academy hones the skills of every student.

“All students are talented. They just excel in different areas or fields. I feel like it is my responsibility to say it to every kid,” she says.

Michelle, a licensed nurse, with a Master’s Degree in Psychology from Ateneo de Manila University, discovered her love for teaching when she taught part-time in a pre-school in Metro Manila.

“It was the only job that made me look forward to Mondays. On Sundays, I was excited to see the kids the next day. So, I realized my direction was in teaching. I was still taking up my Master’s in Psychology at Ateneo de Manila when life happened. I met him and we got married in 2007,” says Michelle, pointing to Hannibal.

“We got to talking and I told him it was my true love. Actually, I took up nursing. I am a licensed nurse. My plans to go abroad did not materialize. I volunteered for a few months as a nurse, but it was not my love. It was a second course. My first course is Psy-

Hannibal Zenon and Michelle Ong (fourth and fifth from left, respectively) lead the opening of Childs Academy at Pueblo de Panay in Roxas City. chology,” she says.

Hannibal did not only support Michelle’s passion for teaching, he also encouraged her to build a school.

“Basically, it was he who encouraged, and then we told a few friends who got excited and they sent 15 of their kids to form our school,” says Michelle, in narrating how Child’s Academy began as a school with 15 students in June 2010.

The school inaugurated a threehectare campus in January 2015, becoming one of the first two tenants at the educational zone of Pueblo de Panay. An extension of UP Visayas started offering classes for Master of Management courses in the same area in 2014.

Child’s Academy offers preschool and elementary school classes. “It is conducive for learning and safe. It is close to the mountains, surrounded by nature,” says Michelle.

The three-hectare campus has four buildings with a total of nine classrooms and 10 bathrooms. It even has its own football field.

“My dream really is to make it an international school later. That’s my real dream,” says Michelle.

“I have attended a seminar for international school accreditation. It is really good. You have to be accredited by a body to be an international school,” she says.

She says Child’s Academy introduces a more progressive education system, which is studentcentered and more experiential and interactive, requiring students to have more field studies and develop in-depth appreciation for learning.

“We believe the way children

are taught in school should also change and adapt to the times,” says Michelle. “We always find a way to achieve a healthy balance between study and play, especially for our pre-schoolers where playtime, outdoor activities, and other natural forms of play are interjected in the curriculum.”

Michelle says Child’s Academy takes pride in the quality of its teachers, the safety and security of its campus, and proximity to nature.

She says the school allots a regular budget for teachers’ regular trainings to make sure their skills are up-to-date.

Child’s Academy currently employs 22 teachers. “We have a very low teacher-student ratio of 1 is to 10. I consistently send them to train in Manila during summer.

I send them to UP, where they are equipped with skills,” she says.

Among the teaching staff is a graduate of UP Diliman who relocated to Capiz.

Michelle says despite the highquality education provided by the school, tuition remains affordable at P2,500 a month. Aside from the regular school curriculum, the school offers summer programs such as voice lessons.

“We plan to organize various school clubs such as book club, glee club, taekwondo and soccer clubs,” she says. “We want students to discover the joy of learning.”

Michelle says profit is never the motivation for running the school. “I’m not in it for the business. As a mother, I am doing it also for them. And I feel like my kids can learn so much more,” she says. Roderick T. dela Cruz

Michelle and Hannibal Zenon Ong, together with their two kids

SUNDAY: OCTOBER 11, 2015

B2

By Othel V. Campos

MOBILE phones have gone beyond being a tool of communication. They are now instrumental in bringing together a community of people with common desires and aspirations.

Alcatel mobile phones have created a community of users that do not only accept technology for what it is but are also pro-active in defining what they want out of that technology and making them part of the innovation process.

In the creation of Alcatel Flash 2, the mobile handset company has taken a lot of efforts in engaging a community of users to determine the breed of mobile phones that will respond to their lifestyle and common interest.

“And from that, we defined our next generation product - Alcatel Flash 2. This is the same reason why the previous prod – Alcatel Flash - was so successful. We do research together with our community,” said Alcatel general manager for Asia Pacific Albert Wong.

The company set its sights on building an updated, new generation camera phone that will not just speak highly of the software inside, but also introduce an entire ecosystem.

“Looking back three years ago, when we started to define what was really about building a camera phone and trying to create a community for fun. In August 2014, we have decided to launch the first batch in two countries and created a tagline called the Flash and see how it turns out.

The community loved it so much and started giving us ideas, valuable feedbacks in order for us to improve the experience of Flash,” Wong said.

“We went back to the headquarters and decided to take the feedbacks very seriously. And in May, we developed and enhanced fresh, based on our community’s input and launched the Flash+ in five countries across Southeast Asia. This time, we created a new tagline ‘Selfie like a Pro’,” Wong said.

The device, he said, is comparable to the most sleek camera phone brands available in the market.

“This particular phone is a phone that is custom-built for people who love to take photos. It transcends all age groups and cuts across all professions.

While this may look hip on teens and younger crowd, a more mature following is now snowballing as we launch this product,” he said.

Flash 2 is a mid-range phone that is not too pricey and not too low-cost, he said.

“I think price is important but the value proposition is even more important. We’re definitely not the highest, we’re not the lowest either. It is not just the price, it’s about the value proposition that we are offering exactly to our users. I think what we offer in Flash 2 is best in its class,” said Wong.

Alcatel Flash 2 builds upon Alcatel Flash’s commitment in providing mobile users a unique mobile photography experience –

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

NEW SMARTPHONE

PROMOTES MOBIGRAPHY

mobigraphy.

“Mobigraphy is not just an action, but is now a lifestyle. We understand this from the very beginning when we created the

Flash series. What we have done for Alcatel Flash 2 is to continue to improve on what we already have and make it better yet at the same time continue to provide

accessibility and convenience to the users to shoot their best moments,” Wong said.

The phone’s 13-megapixel ƒ/2.0 rear camera provides sharper and clearer pictures.

The accompanying real tone dual flash gives an extra advantage in low light conditions while maintaining the colors as true as possible to real life.

Alcatel Flash 2’s front camera has the distinct LED flash, shedding light to the users’ selfies.

Alcatel Flash 2 is ergonomically designed to fit perfectly in any hand. The non-slip and markfree curved back keeps the device spotless and dirt-free. Meanwhile, the balanced body gives easy access to all the functions by using just one hand.

The authentic Android L UI that comes with Alcatel Flash 2 is all about simple yet easy-touse designs that understands the human behavior. The result is an overall user-friendly navigation and experience.

Built with powerful 64-bit 8 core 1.3Ghz Cortex-A53 MT6753 processor along with the 2GB LPDDR3 SDRAM, Alcatel Flash 2 delivers robust performance for heavy duty usage. Users can multitask seamlessly.

“We have only one product for the open market online and that’s Flash. It’s a very unique proposition were saying here since Flash is our flagship product that is available only at Lazada. We spend a lot of resources for this camera. We’re really into this thing not only because we put a lot of engineering effort but this is a device straight out of users’ imagination,” said Wong.

Alcatel Flash 2 is available in Volcanic Grey and Mica White.

The Philippines became the first country to launch the device on Sept. 22, 2015 and the first to sell online on Sept. 30, 2015. Alcatel Flash 2 is sold exclusively at Lazada (www.lazada.com.ph) for P6,190.

SUNDAY: OCTOBER 11, 2015

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

B3

NORTH LUZON DESTINATIONS FEATURED IN TOURISM EXPO

PHILIPPINE COURIER COMPANY TRANSPORTS 3,000 BOXES A DAY IN a world of constant innovation, LBC Express Inc., the country’s biggest and first Filipino-owned courier company, stands out from competition by delivering the goods, literally.

Managing courier logistics and efficiency can be challenging. Almost every day, 3,000 boxes arrive in the Philippines, each filled with painstakingly collected items intended to bring smiles to lovedones back home.

Six thousand employees are in charge of taking care of the air and sea cargo that arrive from over 30 countries worldwide, on top of the local parcels that need to be delivered on a daily basis, managing remittances sent to and from the Philippines, and deploying a massive vehicle fleet of motorcycles and delivery vans.

“When LBC first started, its vision was anchored on delivering packages on time and giving each box the respect it deserves. It was never just a parcel for us and that’s what drove LBC’s growth through the years,” says Javier Mantecon, chief marketing officer of LBC. Almost 30 years after LBC started in 1945, it introduced its 24-hour door-to-door delivery service in the Philippines to improve convenience for its customers.

By the 1980s, it began expand-

ing its reach by serving the needs of Filipinos abroad with its first international branch in San Francisco, California.

By the 1990s, the brand became synonymous to the best in cargo and courier service in the country, earning them the title “Hari ng Padala.” Today, LBC has a fast and reliable express courier and money remittance service, with 6,400 branches, partners and agents, and a 62-percent share in the market.

While the entire organization is a textbook example of efficiency and organization, with LBC known for 95-percent on-time delivery rate and 99-percent sorting efficiency, the company still credits its growth to its ability to combine technological innovations in the industry with the sincerity behind their vision.

“Our company was built on our ability to deliver on our service commitment and responsibility,” says Mantecon. “Every expansion or technology we introduce is our way of respecting the trust that our customers have given us through the years.”

While all these developments

and improvements are designed to create a dependable system for LBC’s massive operations, LBC is a business built on trust, experience and above all, an understanding of the thought, emotion and intent that each parcel represents, says Manteco.

He says driven by the need to honor the hard work that goes behind each padala, LBC ensures that packages are thoroughly checked and handled with the respect it deserves.

They have partnered with the local Aviations Task Group and PDEA to guarantee that packages arrive safely, including deploying K-9 dogs at the LBC Hangar Exchange Area for added security.

In the age of digital access, LBC also gives customers peace of mind by way of tracking their packages via a mobile app or through SMS updates. To keep deliveries efficient and reliable, LBC recently invested in comprehensive x-ray technology as well as barcode scanners; they also consistently prioritize the expansion of their delivery fleet, even including rubber boats to make sure they are able to deliver to the most remote areas of the country.

A vision that began in 1945 paved the way for LBC to become the preferred courier and remittance service for millions of Filipinos today.

A LONG-RUNNING tourism expo in North Philippines has emerged as an international event that is expected to bring visitors from all over the country and the rest of the world to prime travel destinations in this part of the archipelago.

“The forthcoming NorthPhil [North Philippines] Tourism and Travel Expo is our contribution to the Visit Philippines Year 2015 by inviting some of the world’s key players to this event as an offshoot of last June’s international MICE [meetings, incentive travel, conventions and events] Conference, which propelled the region into the league of prime international convention hubs,” said Tourism Central Luzon director Ronnie Tiotuico.

“In fact, the year 2015 marks the 10th anniversary of the NorthPhil Expo, making it a special edition with a high festive intensity that characterizes the passion of its organizers and the rest of the tourism industry,” Tiotuico said of the trade show which will be held at the Events Center of SM City in Clark Freeport Zone on Nov. 13 to15.

The show carries the theme “Celebrating a Decade of Tourism Diversity” to highlight the rich and diverse nature and culture of North Philippines despite being mostly a single landmass, accounting for around half of the Luzon mainland and making it worth having two major international gateways – the Clark International Airport and the Subic Freeport – both posting sustained increases in passenger and cargo traffic and helping turn the entire northern region into a vast mall of tourism destinations and attractions.

“Those unique features of North Philippines will be captured in the NorthPhil Expo Memorabilia comprising photos of the trade show over the last 10 years, particularly the exhibits showcasing certain milestones in the region’s tourism development,” Tiotuico said, proudly hinting of a spectacle befitting an international audience.

Participants in the event can apply as an exhibitor through www. northphilexpo.com. The annual event is credited by Tiotuico and other key tourism industry players for helping sustain the growth in visitor arrivals in the region by serving as an important domestic and international marketing venue.

Central Luzon alone posted a 21-percent year-on-year increase in visitor volume from 2.7 million in 2013 to 3.1 million in 2014.

“This [growth] trend holds true for the rest of North Philippines and other regions, highlighting the importance of sustained marketing to get everybody included in the country’s Tourism Philippines brand and contribute to its attainment of global prominence. Continuing brand reinvigoration and reinforcement is a responsibility of all of its constituents,” Tiotuico said.

Primarily constituting the organizers of NorthPhil Expo are the regional tourism offices in Ilocandia, Cagayan Valley, Central Luzon and the Cordillera Autonomous Region in partnership with the Association of Tourism Officers of Central Luzon and the Philippine Exhibits and Themeparks Corporation.

The expo is also open to exhibitors from other Philippine regions and those from other countries. This year, around 130 exhibit booths are available for tourism-related entities, local government units, traders, small and medium enterprises, DOT offices, and foreign convention and visitors bureaus.

The show attracts an ever-increasing number of visitors from business, trade and tourism organizations, MICE organizers and planners, educational institutions, international and domestic travelers, local and foreign corporate buyers, tour organizers and holiday specialists, travel agents and tour operators, and the general public.

Featured are tourism destinations, products, services, provincial pavilions, corporate booths, tour packages, retail outlets, arts and crafts, souvenirs and regional delicacies, tourism estates and property attractions, and a NorthPhil Expo memorabilia showcase.

Also constituting the event are the NorthPhil Expo Quiz Bee Challenge, corporate game shows, raffle draws, cultural presentations, arts and craft demos, and interactive games.

Invited to the expo’s opening ceremony are prominent travel and trade personalities, government officials and other dignitaries.

B4

world

US, RUSSia HOLD TaLKS ON aiR SPaCE SaFETY RUSSIa and the United States are set to renew talks to avoid accidents in Syrian air space as the two countries conduct separate bombing campaigns, a US official said Friday.

The Pentagon expressed alarm this week after Russia failed to quickly answer proposals made during initial talks, even as it launched cruise missiles from the Caspian Sea and repeatedly violated Turkish air space.

But on Friday, Pentagon press secretary Peter Cook said Moscow had filed an appropriate response.

“The Department of Defense has received a formal response from the Russian ministry of defense regarding DoD’s proposal to ensure safe air operations over Syria,” Cook said.

“Department leaders are reviewing the Russian response and talks are likely to take place as soon as this weekend.”

US officials were furious after Russia only gave them a vague, verbal “heads-up” about an hour before Moscow launched its bombing campaign on September 30.

The two countries had “deconfliction” talks the next day via videoconference, aimed at ensuring Russian warplanes didn’t cross paths with drones and US-led coalition jets.

Talks center around basic safety measures including which language air crews should communicate in and how much space planes should leave each other.

Russian planes have flown near a US drone, officials say, and the US military has had to reroute some flights to avoid any close calls. AFP

military vehicles line up on a road in Pyongyang on October 10, 2015. North Korea is gearing up for a lavish celebration marking the 70th anniversary of its ruling Workers’ Party. AFP

PYONGYANG kicks OFF militArY extrAvAGANzA

North Korea is ready to deal with any threat from the US, leader Kim Jong-Un said Saturday as he presided over a vast parade to mark the 70th anniversary of its ruling Workers’ Party.

Wave after wave of goosestepping troops marched through the capital, followed by columns of tanks and weapons, in what may prove to be one of the largest ceremonial displays of military strength in North Korea’s history.

Wearing his customary dark Mao suit, state television showed Kim receiving salutes from a commander of honorary guards before inspecting the phalanx of troops in Kim Il-Sung square.

In a rare speech to the assembled masses, a tribute to the ruling party that has served at the whim of three generations of the Kim dynasty, the leader lashed out at the United States, vowing to fight “any war” if provoked.

“Our party dauntlessly declares that our revolutionary armed forces are capable of fighting any kind of war provoked by the US and we are ready to protect our people and the blue sky of our motherland,” he said.

His words were met with rapturous applause from tens of thousands of flag-waving crowds, while above the square, a large banner slung from a gas-filled balloon read: “Long live the invincible Workers’ Party of Korea.”

Buildings surrounding the plaza, named after Kim’s grandfather and the founding leader of North Korea, were festooned with red hammer-and-sickle party flags and the national colours of blue, white and red. a cavalcade of tanks, armoured vehicles and assorted ballistic hardware were on display at the huge march, which will be closely watched for glimpses of any new hardware that might signal a forward step in the North’s military development.

The scale of the event was already apparent from satellite images taken four days before which showed a sprawling training ground in Pyongyang featuring some 800 tents, 700 trucks and 200 armoured vehicles.

When announcing plans for the “grand-style” parade back in February, the ruling party’s top decisionmaking body had stressed the importance of “cuttingedge” weaponry suitable for modern warfare.

Nuclear weapons North Korea has conducted three nuclear tests and threatened a fourth as part of a nuclear weapons and missile programme that it has pursued through a barrage of international sanctions.

There is debate among experts as to how far it has come in developing those weapons, especially the ability to shrink nuclear warheads so that they can fit on a missile. an exhaustively researched report published this week by the US-based Institute for Science and International Security estimated that North Korea had between 10 and 16 nuclear weapons as of the end of 2014.

The report argued it was likely the country could already build a warhead to fit atop a Nodong missile —with a range of less than 800 miles (1,300 kilometres)—but added that the reliability of such a weapon was open to question. AFP

UN baCKS EU miLiTaRY aCTiON agaiNST migRaNT SmUggLERS THe UN Security Council on Friday approved a european military operation to seize and destroy boats used by migrant smugglers in the Mediterranean after thousands died in dangerous crossings.

The British-drafted resolution authorizing the use of force won UN backing as europe struggles to mount a response to its worst refugee crisis since World War II. european warships on Wednesday launched Operation Sophia to seize traffickers’ boats in international waters off

Libya’s coast, in the second of a three-phase campaign to stem the flow of migrants.

British ambassador Matthew Rycroft told the council the military action would save lives by taking aim at human-trafficking gangs.

“These groups have no respect for human life,” he said.

“They exploit those taking the perilous journey across the Mediterranean, they overfill poorly maintained boats, illsuited to such a difficult crossing, and abandon their passengers at the first sign of trouble.”

This year alone, 3,092 people

have died while crossing the Mediterranean to europe, while more than half a million have made the voyage, mostly landing in Greece and Italy, according to the International Organization for Migration.

In June, the european Union launched the first phase of the operation, which involved monitoring trafficker networks and rescuing refugees from rickety boats.

The UN mandate does not oblige the european Union to take action but does provide Operation Sophia with greater legitimacy. AFP

migrants and refugees arrive by boat on the greek island of Lesbos, after crossing the aegean sea from Turkey, on October 9, 2015. Europe is grappling with its biggest migration challenge since World War ii, with the main surge coming from civil war-torn Syria. AFP

S U N D AY : o c t o B E R 1 1 , 2 0 1 5

B5

WORLD editorial@thestandard.com.ph

20 pEOpLE fEarEd dEad in twin ankara bLasts At leAst 20 people were feared dead saturday in twin explosions in turkey’s capital Ankara, targeting activists gathering for a peace rally organised by leftist and pro-Kurdish groups.

Eyewitnesses told AFP several corpses were seen lying on the ground while NTV television and the Dogan news agency said at least 20 people were killed.

Some 100 people were wounded, NTV added.

Initial reports said one huge explosion had gone off but

Turkish media said later there had been two separate blasts in short sequence.

The authorities were exploring the possibility that the blasts could have been caused by a suicide bomber, the official Anatolia news agency said.

Prime Minister Ahmet Da-

vutoglu had been briefed over the blast by Health Minister Mehmet Muezzinoglu, it added.

“We are investigating the explosion and will share our findings with the public as soon as possible,” Turkish official told AFP, without giving further details.

The area was to have hosted a peace rally organised by leftist groups later in the day, including the pro-Kurdish Peoples’ Democratic Party (HDP).

The attack comes with Turkey

on edge ahead of November 1 polls and a wave of unrest over the last months.

Fighting has resumed between the militant Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) and government forces after the collapse of a two-year ceasefire in July.

Over 140 members of the security forces have since been killed while Ankara claims to have killed over 1,700 Kurdish militants in a relentless bombing campaign. AFP

people walk amongs the bodies of people killed in a blast at a peace rally in ankara on october 10, 2015. at least 30 people were feared dead in twin explosions in turkey’s capital ankara, targeting activists gathering for a peace rally organised by leftist and pro-Kurdish groups. AFP

Rebels battle Is In syRIa’s allepo SyrIAN rebels battled the Islamic State group in northern Aleppo province Saturday, a day after the jihadist force advanced to the outskirts of the city of the same name, a monitor said.

Islamist rebels including the powerful Ahrar al-Sham group were able overnight to recapture a village from IS, the Syrian Observatory for Human rights said.

The Britain-based monitor said clashes were ongoing for control of a second village captured by IS on Friday.

The jihadist advance on Friday brought the group to within 20 kilometres (12 miles) of the frontline between rebel forces and the army in Syria’s second city Aleppo, where government forces are stationed in the Sheikh Najjar industrial zone.

It also threatened rebel access to a key road leading to the Turkish border.

Dozens of jihadists and rebel fighters were killed in Friday’s clashes.

The Observatory had no immediate toll for the IS-rebel clashes overnight and into Saturday during which the rebels recaptured Tal Soussin and battled to retake Tal Qrah, a second village.

Elsewhere in Aleppo province, the monitor said heavy clashes were underway between regime forces and IS in the area around Kweyris military airport, which is held by the army but besieged by jihadists.

The Observatory said soldiers and pro-regime militiamen were attacking the jihadist group in several villages around the base in a bid to break the siege. AFP

lIbya RIvals uRged to sIgn long-awaIted peace deal WOrlD leaders and the United Nations urged libya’s warring parties Friday to sign a proposed peace deal installing a national unity government, after a cool response from some lawmakers in the country’s rival parliaments. libya has had two administrations since August last year when a militia alliance that includes Islamists overran the capital, forcing the internationally recognised government to take refuge in the east.

The new government proposed by UN envoy Bernardino leon would be headed by Fayez el-Sarraj, a deputy in the Tripoli parliament, and include three deputy prime ministers, one each from the west, east and south of the country.

“There is no more time to waste,” said a joint statement

released by the governments of Britain, France, Germany, Italy, Spain and the United States.

“Delays in forming a unity government will only prolong the suffering of the libyan people and benefit terrorists seeking to take advantage of the chaos.”

The UN Security Council also unanimously called on all stakeholders in the country to support the deal and reiterated it was “prepared to sanction those who threaten libya’s peace, stability and security or that undermine the successful completion of its political transition.”

The country descended into chaos after the fall of Moamer Kadhafi in 2011, with the two sides vying for power as well as several groups battling for control of its vast resource wealth.

Sarraj, a graduate in business management, has been involved in dialogue that tried to bring together the various actors of libyan society to end the crisis.

“After a year of work in this process, after working with more than 150 libyan personalities from all the regions... finally the moment has come in which we can propose a national unity government,” UN envoy leon told a news conference in Morocco.

UN chief Ban Ki-moon welcomed the news, and appealed to warring factions to sign the accord.

He urged libya’s leaders “not to squander this opportunity to put the country back on the path to building a state that reflects the spirit and ambitions of the 2011 revolution. AFP

libyan men raise red cards during a protest against the national unity government proposed by united nations envoy bernardino leon on october 9, 2015 in tripoli’s central Martyrs square. libya has agreed to form a new national government headed by prime Minister Fayez el-sarraj after months of tortuous negotiations, leon said.

Libya, which plunged into chaos after the fall of Moamer Kadhafi in 2011, has had two rival parliaments vying for power as well as several groups battling for control of the country’s vast resource wealth. AFP

B6

S U N D AY : O C T O B E R 1 1 , 2 0 1 5

SPORTS

REUEL VIDAL EDITOR

sports@thestandard.com.ph

Alaska Milk Vice President for Marketing Blen Fernando (right) joins the members of the JrNBA/JrWNBA Presented by Alaska Philippines All-Stars as they meet the press at the NBA Cafe during their send off before their trip to watch the first-ever NBA Global Games in Shenzhen between the Charlotte Hornets and the Los Angeles Clippers at the Shenzhen Universiade Center.

COUNTRY’S BEST YOUNG CAGERS JOIN ASEAN COUNTERPARTS IN CHINA

By Reuel Vidal

FIFTEEN of the best boys and girls basketball players in the country flew to Shenzhen, China to join their Asean counterparts in a once-in-a-lifetime NBA experience.

The players, members of the JrNBA/JrWNBA Presented by Alaska Philippines All-Stars will watch the first-ever NBA Global Games in Shenzhen between the Charlotte Hornets and the Los Angeles Clippers at the Shenzhen Universiade Center.

They were led by the 2015 Coach of the Year Winners and joined their counterparts from Indonesia, Malaysia, Thailand and Vietnam in the activity to be held Oct. 9 to 12.

The Philippine All-Stars were joined by the 56 top JrNBA players from Indonesia, Malaysia, Thailand, and Vietnam. They will play friendly exhibition games,

meet NBA players and legends, and explore local landmarks in China.

The JrNBA/JrWNBA presented by Alaska gave its participants the chance to watch a live NBA game as a fun, enriching NBA experience that will help them become better basketball players and members of the community.

“They don’t only have the skills in basketball but also have a certain personality that will help them represent not just the sport of basketball, not just the overall values of Alaska and the Jr.NBA/Jr.WNBA but also that your country when you get there in China,” said Alaska Vice President for

Marketing Blen Fernando.

The NBA teamed up with Alaska Milk in the international youth development program to promote basketball participation, sportsmanship, teamwork, and an active lifestyle among children.

It is now in its eighth consecutive year. The JrNBA/ JrWNBA program has reached more than 100,000 boys and girls as well as parents, and coaches in the country.

“Through our partnership with the NBA, the JrNBA and JrWNBA presented by Alaska have encouraged children to participate in sports to nurture their talent and live a healthy and active lifestyle,” said Wilfred Steven Uytengsu, President and CEO of Alaska Milk Corporation.

“We are thrilled for the JrNBA and JrWNBA Philippines All-Stars headed to Shenzhen, for being ex-

emplary role models of our aspirations to keep children in their winning form. In 2016, we expect to reach more young aspiring basketball players by bringing the JrNBA program to more cities nationwide, and making this more inclusive with fun, engaging activities for everyone.”

The JrNBA/JrWNBA Philippines All-Stars include 10 boys and five girls from Metro Manila, Southern Tagalog, Dagupan, Cagayan de Oro, Bacolod, and Davao.

The girls are Kyla Flores of Parañaque Science High School, Nelia Jean David and Micaela Denise Pentecostes of the Diliman Preparatory School of Quezon City; Luisa Krizelle San Juan of Amazing Grace School in Laguna, and Heart Pagara Donor of Assumption College of Davao.

The boys are Robert Alomar Castro and Lloyd Raphael Oliva of La Salle Greenhills, Luis Sebastian

Young basketball star Kyla Flores (center) of Parañaque Science High School, joins the best boys and girls basketball players in the country who will fly to Shenzhen, China.

Locsin and Edrian Custodio of De La Salle Zobel, Joshua Garing of De La Salle Lipa, Miguel Luigi Santos of Ateneo de Manila, Ernest John Felicilda and Jeffy Mailim of Corpus Christi College in Cagayan de Oro, Christian Allen Magno of St. Albert the Great of Dagupan, and Daniel Anthony Coo of St. John’s Institute of Bacolod.

The JrNBA and JrWNBA Coach of the Year are Gabriel Victor Tan of Lucena City and Sunshine Echavez of Puerto Princesa.

The JrNBA/JrWNBA presented by Alaska does not just search for the best young basketball players it

has helped foster a healthy lifestyle among children and families through the combination of proper nutrition and active lifestyle.

It continues to be an effective platform in activating Alaska Milk’s program designed to fight against the increasing number of overweight and undernourished children in the Philippines.

Fans can visit the official website at www.jrnba.asia/ philippines and follow us on Facebook at www.facebook. com/jrnbaphilippines for more information on the Jr. NBA/Jr. WNBA Philippines program. For all things NBA, visit www.nba.com.

RED CUBS TAKE SELFIE AFTER GAINING NCAA FINALS Text and photo by Peter Atencio

The victorious San Beda Red Cubs celebrate by taking a selfie after completing an 18-game sweep of the elimination round of 91st National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Junior Basketball Tournament with a 76-67 victory over the Letran Squires.

THE San Beda Red Cubs celebrated by taking a selfie after completing an 18-game sweep of the elimination round of 91st National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Junior Basketball Tournament.

And who can blame them?

They’ve advanced to the championship with a thrice-to-beat advantage by demolishing

every team along the way.

The Red Cubs completed an 18-game sweep of their elimination assignment at the expense of the Letran Squires, 76-67, Tuesday night at the Arena in San Juan.

In reaching the finals, the Red Cubs earned a thrice to beat incentive, and the last they did it was in 2013.

Their finals opponent will be determined following a stepladder semifinals and

playoffs involving the Mapua Red Robins, the Arellano University Braves, the La Salle Greenhills Greenies and the Lyceum Junior Pirates.

“Mas higher na ang goal naming ngayon. Kailangan nang paghandaan ang finals,” said San Abuhijle, the team’s FilJordanian skipper whose family now lives in Sta. Rosa, Laguna.

Three reserve players took charge for the Red Cubs in the game against Letran. Big

man Abuhijle emerged as team’s top candidate for the Mythical Five, if not the Most Valuable Player this season.

For 18 games, Abuhijle averaged 11.94 points and 9.28 rebounds.

He is the team’s no. 1 scorer, but his scoring nowhere near a dangerous Mapua Robins’ top gunners, Michael Enriquez (15.41), Sherwin Concepcion (14.59), Romuel Junsay (13.31) and Jasper Salenga (13.24).

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SPORTS

ARMAN ARMERO EDITOR

sports@thestandard.com.ph

B7

NADAL REACHES CHINA OPEN FINAL, DENIES FEUD WITH FOE RAFAEL Nadal insisted his row with Fabio Fognini was in the past on Saturday despite crackling tensions as he downed his Italian nemesis 7-5, 6-3 to reach the China Open final.

Nadal denied an extra edge to the match in Beijing, but his lukewarm handshake at the net and apparent exchanges between his coach and uncle, Toni Nadal, and Fognini told a different story.

Fognini unleashed an angry tirade at Nadal during a changeover at this year’s Hamburg final, telling the Spaniard “don’t break my balls” and complaining about his slow play.

Nadal won the bad-tempered Hamburg final but Fognini stunned the Spaniard in last month’s US Open third round, becoming only the fourth player to beat him three times in the same season.

However Nadal, after grinding past Fognini to set up a final against defending champion Novak Djokovic or David Ferrer, denied any lingering bad blood with the world number 28.

“No rivalry at all. No, no, no.

I don’t know what’s going on, seriously,” Nadal told reporters.

“We had the issue that we had in Hamburg, and that’s it. No problems.

“At the US Open no problems.

No problems today. Very easy match in terms of attitude for both of us. No problem at all. Very, very easy I think for the umpire.”

‘If I’m right, I’m right’ Fognini also said the Hamburg row was in the past but he indicated ill-feeling may remain against Nadal’s team and in particular his uncle Toni, who was seen angrily gesticulating courtside on Saturday.

“What happened in Hamburg

is past, for sure. But I have nothing to say (to Nadal). I have all respect with him outside and inside the court,” Fognini said.

“I was telling another time, the history (argument) was not against him, but against his team, especially the uncle. But is something that is really far away.

“If I have to do something, I do it in the moment. If I do it wrong, I say, ‘Sorry’. If I’m right, I’m right, and that’s it.”

On a chilly, breezy day, both players started unconvincingly, suffering two breaks of serve each in the opening games with Nadal also sending down three double-faults.

They steadied to take it to 6-5 for Nadal but Fognini wobbled as he served to stay in the set, wilting in the rallies as he finally gave up the decisive break and smashed the ball into the stands in anger.

The second set was attritional until Nadal leapt ahead with a break for 4-2, and the suddenly invigorated Spaniard won the next game to love to stand on the brink of victory.

Fognini saved two match points before holding serve in a gripping eighth game, but by now the Nadal juggernaut was fully in motion and he ploughed across the line in the next game.

In his first hard court final of the year, Nadal is seeking a redemptive fourth trophy of 2015 after he failed to win a Grand Slam title for the first time since 2004 and saw his ranking drop to

Rafael Nadal of Spain hits a return against Jack Sock of the US during their quarterfinal men’s singles match at the China Open tennis tournament in Beijing AFP

IVAN...

From B8

Like many champion racers before him, Ivan wants to improve his craft further.

“I haven’t achieved anything yet and so I would like to practice more and follow the instructions of Coach Bong Perez. If budget permits, I would like to have a formal training abroad, and maybe even race internationally,” said Ivan, who idolizes Formula 1 superstars Michael Schumacher and Lewis

Hamilton because of their “versatility on the race track.”

Ivan may be a racing champion, but he still devotes much of his time with his education.

“My parents always tell me to study first, before anything else. I train twice a month on the track, thrice a week cardio on the gym, and when completion comes, we make sure that we practice two days before the race,” revealed Ivan, who admitted that racing made him “more friendly, responsible, organized, and disciplined especially on the road.”

Ten years from now, Ivan sees himself “still racing on the track and teaching my skills to others.”

“I like to thank God for keeping me safe in my races, my parents Lennel and Jane Diaz, Coach Perez for the techniques and suspension tuning, Morris Miranda for building and tuning the car, Kenneth Bayani, also for tuning the car, my Mohspeed and Bracing crew, and of course, my fellow GT100 drivers Joginder Sin, Rhaffy Latorre, and Edwin Rodriguez, and all of my sponsors,” said Ivan.

ENRIQUEZ ELECTED AS NEW LACUAA PRESIDENT

Enriquez

THE Laguna Colleges Universities Athletic Assocition recently elected Ms. Naomi Enriquez of University of the Philippines-Los Banos as the new president of the Laguna Colleges and Universities Athletic Associa-

tion in the election held at Max’s Restaurant in Balibago, Sta. Rosa, Laguna.

The election was presided by LACUAA founding chairman Leonardo “Ding” Andres and treasurer Atty. Joanna Marie

Newly-elected LACUAA president Naomi Enriquez (2nd from left, seated) and founding chairman Leonardo Andes (3rd from left) pose with the other officers and representatives of participating schools. Also in photo are (seated) Yourke Tamayo (left, seated) deputry sec-gen) Ms. Meyenberg Austria (VP) (2nd from right) and Atty. Joanna Marie Fabella (treasurer and legal counsel, right, seated).

Fabella and attended by the representatives of the participating teams in the 3rd LACUAA season, which will kick off on Nov. 14 at the University of Perpetual Help System Dalta-Calamba.

Enriquez is the head of UPLB’s Department of Human Kinetics and also heads the school’s dancesports event.

Also elected were May Austria of host Perpetual as Executive Vice President, Sherwin Robles of UPLB as Secretary General, Mar Angelo Tagap of Don Bosco as Auditor and Winston Sergio as PRO. In her speech, Enriquez appealed to her co-officials to work together and open the lines of communications for the success of the LACUAA.

FIELD OF DREAMS. K-League founding chairman Keiji Katayama (center, kneeling) poses with members of champion team Bagboys IX and 1st runner-up Team Rawlings after the awarding ceremony of the 1st K-League Softball Men’s Division tournament held at the Muntinlupa Sports Center in Tunasan, Muntinlupa City recently.

The maiden offering of the league supported by Muntinlupa city government led by Mayor Jimmy Fresnedi is part of Katayama’s advocacy—‘The Field of Dream’ which also includes the holding of softball/baseball clinics for kids in the metropolis and in the country’s provinces. Katayama is a former baseball varsity player in Japan, before moving into the country as a multi-national company executive, while also promoting game of baseball to aspiring Filipino players. DANNY SIMON

B8

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rierA U. MAllAri EDITOR sports@thestandard.com.ph

sports

x 10 cm Ivan Kailer Diaz (center) displays his trophy at the podium. RaMon D. BoaDo

IVAN KAILER DIAZ

How do you ant your news erved today?

So young, So faSt

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By Randy Caluag

SO young, so fast, so... perfect?

Ivan Kailer C. Diaz is a 17-yearold teener, who should be playing studying in school, playing video games in his spare time at home and malling with friends on weekends.

Instead, this De La Salle-College of Saint Benilde Architecture student is a mean circuit racer on the verge of a historic sweep of the 2015 Philippine Grand Touring Championship.

“The goal is to win the final legs of the 2015 series, Races 11

and 12. These two races are very important for me as this will set a record for a perfect season,” said Ivan, who started racing at the age of 13, fueling his new-found love through go-kart racing with the help of Arvin Drueco and Coach Edgen Dy-liaco.

But it was short lived because his low grades in school had his parents telling him to discontinue his new passion in order for him to concentrate on his studies.

But after a year, to Ivan’s surprise, his dad Lennel Diaz, a two-time Golden Wheel Awardee for dragracing, allowed him to pursue his need for speed via his father’s former passion.

“It was fun racing with the drag

racers. That time, we met Coach Bong Perez who introduced us to circuit racing,” said Ivan.

The shift to circuit racing bore instant results.

Ivan placed 2nd Runner-Up in the Division 3, GT100 class of the 2014 Philippine Grand Touring Championship, highlighted by his first-place finish in Race 5 and 2nd Runner-Up feat in Leg 3 of the series; his 1st Runner-Up placings in Races 7 and 8 of Leg 4; a 2nd Runner-Up achievement in Race 9 and a championship in Race 10 of Leg 5; and another championship run in Race 11 and a 1st RunnerUp ranking in Race 12 of Leg 6.

His circuit-racing feats netted him an award for the sport in the

5 col x 14 cm

Ivan Kailer Diaz in action. RaMon D. BoaDo

12th Golden Wheel Awards.

This season, Ivan has leveled up his performance, scoring a sweep of Races 1 to 10 of Legs 1 to 5 of the ongoing PTCC. “A sweep of the final two races will be a sweet triumph for me,” said Ivan, who plans to take part in the faster GT150 division next season, a challenge he doesn’t shy away from.

“I chose racing because I love

speed, cars and the adrenaline pumping into your vein,” said Ivan, who is backed by MJCD Trading and Construction, Mohspeed, Bracing, Mitasu Oil, Yellowspeed, Richmond Auto Parts Ltd., Carsunlimited, Jobs Connect, Jobs Finder, A1 Advertising, Kopirotu, Jengsports, Flowout Paint, Calibre Autorefinishing and Bullzkicks.

Turn to B7

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“I chose racing because I love speed, cars and the adrenaline pumping into your vein.” RaMon D. BoaDo

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C1

TATUM ANCHETA EDITOR

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

BERNADETTE LUNAS

life @ thestandard.com .ph

WRITER

@LIFEatStandard

S U NDAY L IF E

LIFE

Channel News Asia’s ‘City Time Traveller’ Episode One in Intramuros, Manila

A look inside San Agustin Church for the Manila episode

Shot in Masjid Negara Mosque in Kuala Lumpur for City Time Traveller’s Episode Three

ABOVE AND BEYOND THE GREEN

Designing sustainable cities of the future

BY MALOU E. ROSAL PHOTOS COURTESY OF POMEROY STUDIO

W

hen award-winning architect, masterplanner, academic, author, and TV personality Prof. Jason Pomeroy travels the world to explore cities and landscapes, his eyes witness both past and future. As host to Channel News Asia’s “City Time Traveller,” Pomeroy observes: “Each city I visited was unique and remarkable in their own way, from Amritsar’s temples to Manila’s own Intramuros.”

He also mentions Kolkata in India as a classic example of how well the British had administered their “crown jewel” during the colonial days. “The city was the center point from which British Kolkata’s influence can even be seen in contemporary Britain, through the popularity of Indian cuisine, which has its roots in the spices that were transported from Kolkata to England during British colonial rule.”

Fascinating though the past may be, presentday development and urbanization can be seen slowly eroding that foundation and paving a way for an uncertain future in terms of the sustainability and survival of many cities.

Pomeroy remarks that “while cities may change over time, the basic socio/cultural

needs of the inhabitants have remained the same for hundreds, if not thousands of years.

There is an almost Darwinian process of natural selection, in that only the strongest design ideas and principles survive, and superfluous detail quickly gets discarded.

“The adornments and motifs that do survive come in the form of religious or local crafts, providing a distinctively local cultural flavor and providing a cultural starting point from which the architecture is then shaped.

So for the city planners of the future, I would say that ultimately, it is the people associated with these living environments that shape the culture, and therefore the buildings that they occupy. So keep an eye on the past and concentrate on the local population and culture, and use that as a point of reference when designing cities for the future.”

FROM WIGWAMS TO WREN AND ONTO THE WORLD

The good Professor surely knows whereof he speaks. Pomeroy’s professional journey had taken him through the august design halls of London-based Yorke, Rosenberg and Mardell (YRM) who were early pioneers of British

modernism; then the Japanese architecture, engineering, construction and development corporation Kajima, where he worked in Brussels, London and Amsterdam. Next was the London office of the architecture, urbanism and design firm of Broadway Malyan, and later established the company’s Singapore office.

In 2012, Pomeroy left Broadway Malyan Asia to form his own sustainable design firm Pomeroy Studio in Singapore. Among his company’s landmark green projects are “B House (2015) – the first carbon negative house in Singapore; Gramercy Sky Park (2012) – the tallest residential skypark in the Philippines; Newpark (2015), a new township set to contain the first zero-carbon public realm in Malaysia; and Century City (2015) – a residential and commercial district that includes Trump Tower Manila, the Philippines.”

Quite an adventure that began, interestingly enough, in his family’s backyard while growing up in the UK, the only son of an English father and Malaysian mother.

Pomeroy recalls: “One of the first ‘forays’ into architecture that I can remember was in my back garden at home, making a

Jason Pomeroy

wigwam out of branches from trees and stealing some of my Mum’s blankets to put on top! I remember spending most of my childhood outside in that garden, enjoying the greenery and natural habitat of England. However, what really cemented my passion was when I was a bit older, and my father took me to St. Paul’s Cathedral, London. Designed by Sir Christopher Wren, I remember being in awe of such a large yet dignified building, with its lofty interior and domed structure.”

Pomeroy cultivated this passion, and even while in school, formulated his concepts that would impact current architectural standards. It was during his studies at both Canterbury School of Architecture and the University of Cambridge in the United Kingdom that he developed an interest in Skycourts and Skygardens.

Continued on C2

SUNDAY : OCTOB ER 11 : 2015

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ABOVE AND BEYOND THE GREEN From C1

Pomeroy defines the essence of Skycourts and Skygardens as spaces “designed to replace the loss of green open spaces on the ground, with communal spaces in the sky, allowing an alternative public realm where society can congregate.”

Another focus of his research has been in Zero Energy Development which developed into the Pomeroy Studio designed Idea House in Malaysia.

As Asia’s first carbon-neutral prototype home completed in 2010, Pomeroy describes the Idea House: “At a basic level, a green building will harness the sun, wind and rain to reduce energy consumption and lower the cost to the user. However, I go further than this, and draw on the essence of culture and tradition to create buildings that positively impact people’s lives. The Idea House used many of the techniques employed in the ancient Malay Kampong House, which itself was designed before electricity, and so maximized natural light and ventilation, was expandable to accommodate a Malay family of three to five, and was very sensitive to its surrounding environment. We added technology sparingly, such as solar panels and rainwater harvesting features.”

CTT2 Episode 3 KL

Following in the footsteps of The Idea House is the B House in Singapore. Likewise designed

by Pomeroy Studio and due for completion by December 2015, it is the city state’s first targeted carbon negative house. Pomeroy explains: “Not only does it generate more carbon-free energy than it consumes – making it carbon-negative – but it costs the same as a traditional property in the same area. When people start seeing physical proof that sustainable properties can be built at no additional cost, mindsets will start to shift.”

CARING FOR THE CITIES OF TOMORROW

Despite the growing popularity of these environment-friendly design concepts, Prof.

Pomeroy is still greatly concerned. The cities that he has come to love will continue on crisis

CTT2 Episode 3 Kolkata

mode should outdated wasteful planning practices prevail. He warns: “Should we not change direction soon, I believe that the cities of tomorrow, rather than being centers of wealth creation and innovation, could well become mired in poverty, crime, congestion and pollution. We are already seeing the privatization of space and removal of green, communal areas. Rising urban land prices are increasing inequality, as only the rich can afford to live in the centers of cities, while the poor are required to commute to their place of work on a daily basis. Poorly designed mass housing needs more energy to cool and power, thus further placing an economic burden on the poorest.”

And that is what drives Pomeroy to continue with his efforts at advocating sustainable city planning, hinged on

environmental protection and conservation.

He points out: “Today, there are also more pressing reasons behind my advocacy of the green agenda. The number of people on this planet is set to grow from 7.3 billion today, to 9.7 billion in 2050, and by 2100, this will rise to 11.2 billion. The built environment contributes by far the most to Global Warming, with cities estimated to be responsible for 75 percent of global CO2 emissions, buildings and transport being the main culprits. Rapid urbanization has resulted in cities that are poorly planned, overcrowded, unequal and in some cases, centers of crime and poverty. The current methods of designing and building our urban environments is simply not working and must change if mankind is to survive the next century without destroying the planet we live on. I therefore take this as a unique responsibility, and opportunity, to improve the lives for ourselves and future generations by creating built environments that are not only ‘livable and lovable,’ but are also good for the environment.”

For more about Prof. Jason Pomeroy and the Pomeroy Studio, visit www.pomeroystudio.sg

ING BANK GOES THE EXTRA MILE

Global financial institution raises P2.4M scholarship fund from ‘shoe sale’

W

ho says the klomp (or klompen) – those Dutch wooden shoes also known as clogs – are out of style? Apparently, the are very popular judging from the results of the one-day-only sale of Dutch wooden shoes that raised P2.4 million – a portion of which will benefit deserving students from impoverished backgrounds under the ING Foundation’s scholarship program.

The unique live auction called “KLOMP/ ART” featured Dutch wooden shoes turned into works of art by 27 seasoned and young contemporary Filipino visual artists. The traditional Dutch clogs “travelled” all the way from the Netherlands and were donated

by ING’s headquarters in Amsterdam to support the corporate social responsibility arm of ING Bank in Manila.

Gracing the auction, which coincided with ING Bank’s 25th anniversary in the Philippines, was Bangko Sentral Governor Amando Tetangco Jr. lauded the foreign bank for “fusing art, banking and national traditions into a distinct expression of corporate social responsibility.

“By choosing to ‘work’ tonight, ING Bank Manila is benefiting its scholars, and doing this in a way that supports local artists and enhances cultural ties between our nations,” the BSP chief said.

ING’s clients and partners, as well as its current and former employees, participated in the auction that fetched bids as high as P285,000 for a klomp ship made by worldrenowned sculptor Daniel dela Cruz, who also designed the 25th anniversary logo of

The Dutch klomps traveled all the way from the Netherlands to Manila.

(From left) William Connelly, Global Head of ING Commercial Banking; Consuelo Garcia, current ING Bank Manila country manager; and Bangko Sentral Governor Amando Tetangco Jr. huddle before the “KLOMP/ART” auction, which raised P2.4 million for ING Foundation’s scholarship program.

ING Bank Manila. Top bids were also made for the artworks of mixed-media artist Salvador Joel Alonday, and world-class brass sculptor Michael Cacnio. Other contemporary Filipino visual artists who contributed to the auction were Ambie Abano, Leo Abaya, Gus Albor, Carlo Aranton, Plet Bolipata, Charlie Co, Renato Barja, Zean Cabangis, Jonathan Ching, Francis Commeyne, Melvin Culaba, Cian Dayrit, Antipas Delotavo, Alee Garibay, Emmanuel Garibay, Riel Hilario, Winner Jumalon, Christina Quisumbing Ramilo, Jojo Lofranco, Ferdie Montemayor, Lee Paje, Alwin Reamillo, Ioannis Sicuya, and Clairelynn Uy. “Through the art auction, we were able to give our clients, partners and staff the opportunity to help sustain ING’s educational assistance to our ING Learning Centre scholars so that they can be better equipped to find employment and improve their lives,” said ING Bank country Manager Consuelo Garcia.

One of the beneficiaries of ING Foundation’s scholarship program is Cassandra “Cas” Gamlanga, the daughter of a tricycle driver and a sari-sari storeowner and one of the Baseco kids whose leadership skills were honed at the ING Learning Center in Tondo.

Cas is about to become a college junior with the continued support of ING Foundation, which plans to send more deserving students to high school, college, or post-high school (i.e., technological-vocational schools) on scholarships, covering tuition, miscellaneous school fees, textbooks and allowances.

The mural painted classroom.

TELUS International Philippines refurbishes public school classrooms

I

n a strong display of support for the youth and education sector, 2,000 team members of leading outsourcing services provider Telus International Philippines volunteered to refurbish a two-classroom kindergarten building at Tenement Elementary School in Taguig City. With over 9,000 preschool to grade six students, Tenement is the second most populated elementary school in Taguig.

Prior to the initiative, the kindergarten students held classes in congested and rundown classrooms due to lack of funds. With the newly refurbished building, the children can now enjoy a new environment conducive to learning. Expressing her gratitude to TIP for its generosity, Tenement Elementary School Principal Geronima Garcia said the newly refurbished two-classroom kindergarten buildings will be used by eight sections with a total of 320 pupils.

Hands on Manila Board Trustee Gina Aboitiz said the project wouldn’t have been possible without the help of Telus and all its volunteers. The project highlighted the importance of a good relationship with Telus that has made Hands on Manila a trusted foundation partner. “To the students, we hope in the future you will be the one to help your school, your community,” Aboitiz said.

The newly constructed facility serves as the highlight of TIP’s annual Telus Days

(From left) TELUS International Philippines’ vice president for Brand, Marketing and Culture Warren Tait, Hands on Manila Board of Trustees Lizette Cojuangco and Gina Aboitiz unveiled the marker to officially turn over the refurbished two-classroom kindergarten building at Tenement Elementary School, Taguig City.

of Giving, with more than 2,000 TIP team members volunteering to clean up and refurbish Tenement Elementary School.

This was implemented in partnership with Hands on Manila for the Department of Education’s Brigada Eskwela, a school cleanup program that engages stakeholders to donate their time, effort, and resources to prepare public school facilities for the coming school year.

“I am truly proud to work for TELUS International Philippines, a company that puts people first. We see this investment today in the community as an investment in the long term health of education,” TIP vice president of Brand Marketing and Culture Warren Tait shared.

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LIFE life @ thestandard.com .ph

Establishing her mark in the world arena, Ann Ong, one of the awardees for 2015 Best Dressed Women of the Philippines, is the epitome of a determined woman.

Selection and Organizing Committee member of the Best Dressed Women of the Philippines, Marian Ong-Nuguid

Dr. Elsie Badillo-Pascua, beauty and intelligence personified; 2015 Best Dressed Women of the Philippines awardee.

Successful “Beautiprenuer” 2015 Ambassador for Life For the love of fashion Nikki Tang, 2015 Ambassador Agile Zamora. and charity, Serla Russell for Life. enjoys her moment.

#INTHEMOMENT

BY FRANCIS DE LEON

2015 Best Dressed Awardee, Anna Moncupa, captivates in gold.

Fashionable ladies who support the Philippine Cancer Society’s projects for the less fortunate – Connie Haw, Consul Helen Ong and Salome Uy.

Sheree Chua and Cristina Gomez are beautiful inside and out.

Fashionably with purpose – Anna Sia was dramatic in Ito Curata haute couture, 2015 Best Dressed Women of the Philippines awardee.

2015 Ambassador for Life Virginia Lane at the fashion catwalk.

Grace Glory Go, Linda Ley and Manolyne Taylor in full support of the Philippine Cancer Society.

@LIFEatStandard

Dr. Hazel Paragua-Zuellig, 2015 Best Dressed Women of the Philippines awardee, was elegant on the catwalk.

2014 Best Dressed Women awardee Kim Haw, was so chic during the ball.

2015 Ambassador for Life Carol Mercado was a vision of elegance.

2015 Best Dressed Women of the Philippines awardee Joy Wambangco Rustia.

Shelly Lazaro was stunning that evening.

Consul Agnes Huibonhua of Gambia was stunning in her red ensemble.

FASHIONABLY WITH PURPOSE Images captured by PHILDIZ Photo Gallery (www.phildiz.com)

Being a gentleman, this columnist appreciates (and loves) beautiful women.

When invited, it’s always a privilege to be their ever-loyal esquire (with the consent of their “powerful” better halves of course). Indeed, I consider myself very lucky to be in their presence during parties and high profile events.

As such, through the years, I have become more mindful on what truly excites me whenever I meet their acquaintance. In a culture obsessed with beauty, I am now more aware of what sets a real woman (distinctly) apart from the rest. In my personal experience, such women (some of whom you will see in this Sunday’s column) have beauty that transcends the ordinary.

Just recently, I became witness to the biggest and (by far) the most attended charity gala held at the Rizal Ballroom of Makati Shangri-La. This year marks the 12th year of the Best Dressed Women of the Philippines (BDWP) – an annual fundraising event that has raised millions of pesos to support the Philippine Cancer Society’s programs to fight cancer.

The aforementioned beneficiary focuses its efforts on three primary advocacies: cancer prevention and early detection; statistical research; and focused patient services. PCS provides vital information to the public and assists in the diagnostic, therapeutic and holistic care of indigent patients. And as part of their education and information efforts, they have also deployed mobile clinics that provide prostate, breast and cervical examinations to these patients.

“We salute the noble and philanthropic men and women behind Best Dressed

Ladies with generous hearts for charity – Princess Violago-Dee, Elaine Rojas-Villar, Marian Ong-Nuguid, Consul Helen Ong, Eni Alba, Sandie Poblador, Dr. Elise Badillo-Pascua and Tina Jacinto.

Women of the Philippines. Because of BDWP, we are now able to embark on a new project to provide a PCS mobile clinic that can go to low-resource communities and screen for breast and cervical cancers, which are the two most common cancers in Filipino women,” said Roberto M. Paterno, chairman of the Board of Trustees of the Philippine Cancer Society.

He added, “We are confident that their compassion for the cancer-stricken will bring hope and a renewed lease of life to our underprivileged countrymen.”

Through the leadership of Honorary Consul of Angola, Helen Ong, along with the selection and organizing committee, they have chosen women who exemplify the qualities of a true lady. A lady that exudes humility, kindness of heart and drive to excel in her chosen field.

Most importantly, a whole-hearted generosity for the less fortunate.

“This year’s women of substance were chosen out of the same mold: beauty, style and kind hearts. These women are leading lives worthy of merit on the personal, professional and civic front,” expressed Angola Consul Helen Ong, the indefatigable event chairperson.

I reckon, what truly defines beauty?

With an ever-expanding definition of what a beautiful woman really is, for this columnist, it is the light that shines in her generous and selfless heart.

In the case of Best Dressed Women of the Philippines and its awardees, they fashionably do it in style and with a great deal of purpose to raise funds for the cancer-stricken and marginalized.

And that, ladies and gentlemen, is a valid reason to celebrate a fashion moment. After all, we all exist on borrowed time. Life is fleeting, so walk the catwalk and have a ball!

Follow me on Twitter or Instagram @francis_deleon8.

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Ford Ecosport - Striking colors perfect for young city slickers

@LIFEatStandard

THUMBS UP! Driving that sexy Ford Everest

WHY NOT GO FURTHER IF YOU CAN? CAROTID ARTERY

BY TATUM ANCHETA For those who have money to spare, buying a car has become a priority even if it means driving in Manila means “getting stuck in traffic until the wee hours of the morning,” because having your own car still has its merits. Okay now, don’t throw words at me and say, “Sure, add more cars on the road for Carmageddon!” I’m just saying, if anyone can get a new car they would. The smell of new leather, the lure of going on road trips with family and friends, the freedom of getting somewhere at your convenience, the privilege of taking your date in a swanky new car or, if you’re like me – the joy of singing Backstreet Boys (or Spice Girls) songs behind the wheel and no one is screaming for me to stop.

If you follow my column you’ve probably read about my love and hate affair with a Ford branch dealership. This time, I’m not ranting about that establishment (that’s a different episode altogether) but talking about the joy of driving and owning a Ford SUV. It’s funny because I know nothing about cars, but I love a hot looking car and in a recent media fun drive I got behind the wheels of Ford’s latest SUV lineup.

As a proud owner of a Ford Ecosport (which I named “Snow”), I’ve broken in and tested my compact SUV for more than half the year. Flooding has always been my problem in Makati (or you can say the entire Metro Manila) and choosing the Ecosport was an easy decision. Its selling point: “It wades through flood.” They had me at the word “flood”! If you’re a city driver and your usual route is home and work, the compact-sized Ecosport might be your best partner in wading through flood and navigating the maze of traffic. Very easy to drive, and the size doesn’t make you feel

Ford Escape

Inside the Escape

Before you attempt to make a selfie by the sunroof of the Ford Everest make sure the car is in full stop!

Vanity Mirror

Driving the Ford Everest with my fun road trip buddies Angel and Leigh

What everyone thinks of Ford’s SUVs

like you can kill anything on the road without seeing it. For an entry level SUV, you get the tech for higher end cars – Smart Keyless Entry, rear parking sensors, SYNC technology that makes calling, playing music, or listening to your text messages hands-free (It felt weird the first time I talked to my car and it answered back – I felt like I had my own Herbie). Though it’s cute, compact and lovable, I have a few problems

Sunglass case

It does feel like a million bucks going down the Ford Explorer

From left: Melo Villareal, Karlo Samson, Armin Amio, Angel Rivero, Alyanna Cabral, Isa Suarez (Ford Philippines’ Communications Manager), the author, Jam Pascual, Bess Zamora, Joseph Ayllon (Ford Philippines’ AVP, Communications), Mavs Lina, Ana Pascual and PJ Cana

with it, like the engine, which has a hard time revving up to higher slopes, and changing to a faster gear because the engine is the same as a Fiesta, and with the Ecosport’s bigger body, it has a heavier pull.

There’s also a blind spot on the left and ride side of the windshield and I sometimes miss the roof grip grab handle near the door that I use to pull myself up when I’m wearing a dress. But other than that, I love my

car. The best part is it doesn’t guzzle up gas; a full tank costs P2200 and one time I was able to bring it from Makati to Nueva Ecija (4-5 hours drive) then to Dingalan (1-1.5 hour drive depending on traffic) and back to Makati – and I still had gas to drive around the next day after I got home, imagine that!

During the Ford #GoFurther drive, they made us try the new Escape, and boy, I was in love

again! I wanted to trade in my white Ecosport for the sleek black Escape.

Better engine, same technology, but more refined than my good old “Snow.” Oh, did I mention that I screamed when I saw the eyeglass compartment? Yep! The things I look for in a car, right? “Now it can hold my huge shades!” – and they all laughed at me. It runs so smooth I forgot I was behind the wheel as I talked endlessly while driving. I told my driver about it afterwards and he’s now forcing me to exchange the car. Really, kuya – maybe you can help with the mortgage. Then that head-turner Everest, a facelift from the last model, what a sexy car to use for offroad driving or road trips on holidays. Big enough for slopes, strong enough to pull extra carriage. And the sunroof extends to the backseat. My nephews would go crazy on that during road trips.

I may not know much about cars but I think the suspension could use a little bit more isolation from road bumps and vibrations (just so I can sleep better at the back during long drives).

The last leg of the drive is a chauffer-driven ride with a Ford Explorer Sport and an Expedition.

Huge cars for going down in heels and a dress but it makes you feel like a million bucks when you arrive in that sweet ride. It was raining a bit that night so traffic was a little congested. We got the Explorer and our driver said, “Naku sana walang baha,” and I answered, “Kuya so what? We have a huge expensive car, who cares if the road is flooded? You can drive through it!” And yes you can, the safety features is one to highlight – an Adaptive Cruise Control, Terrain Management System, Collision Warning with Brake Support, (that freak you out every time it beeps so you can be more careful), Speed Controls, Blind Spot Information System (BLIS) and an industry-first Rear Inflatable Seatbelts.

Today is the best time to testdrive those cars. if I had money I would buy the premium lines off the bat. But for now, a girl can dream, right? For the others, there’s no reason not to go further if you can.

S UNDAY : OCTOBER 11 : 2015

SHOWBITZ

ISAH V. RED EDITOR

isahred @ gmail.com

C5

how arnel PIneda coPeS wIth aSthma In hIS journey

I

t’s been eight years since Arnel Pineda received that fateful email from Neal Schon of Journey inviting him to audition to be the lead vocalist of the legendary band.

It was an audition that set off a series of events that would change Pineda’s life forever, steering him toward a new course that was 20 years in the making. A personal journey, that is as fascinating as it is inspiring, from living in the streets to living it big and performing to jam-packed crowds all over the world.

And Pineda continues to have the time of his life.

“We just finished 55 shows this year in the US and Canada, so the band is taking a break muna, doing our own thing and preparing for another tour next year,” Pineda told The Standard.

“I’m committed to two more years with them so that would be around 120 shows, and I’m looking forward to my first decade with them” he added, dispelling rumors that he has left the band.

Pineda is also trying to finish a solo album every time he’s in the country-- that is when he’s not busy appearing on TV as a guest or making up for lost time with his family.

Also keeping him busy are his advocacies, one is the Arnel Pineda Foundation, Inc. (APFI) that provides underprivileged children quality education, health services and medical attention, and the other is being the ambassador for the Win Against Asthma campaign of GlaxoSmithKline.

Together with actress Kim Chiu and Olympic Figure skater Michael Christian Martinez, Pineda is encouraging asthmatics to get proper treatment and not let their condition stop them from fulfilling their dreams.”

“I only found out that I had asthma around five years ago, which was also the busiest and most challenging years of my career. I found out that my asthma was triggered by allergies, mold, dust, and cigarette smoke. Being a singer its hard to have asthma attacks especially when you are just about to take the stage, so I always bring my medication with me and somehow developed a routine whenever I feel like I am going to have an attack.”

“My advice for asthmatics is to consult with your doctor and get properly diagnosed to see what triggers your asthma. Don’t be discouraged and don’t let asthma take over your life.”

Search for wInnerS agaInSt aSthma Pineda met with 10 young asthmatic achievers at the awarding ceremony on Oct. 7 at Makati Shangri-la.

Launched in February 2015, the Search For Winners Against Asthma had more than 2,000 entries from young asthmatic achievers aged 30 years and younger who were eager to share their stories.

In the youth category 19 years

By ed uy

Arnel Pineda

Dr. Gio Barangan GSK Medical Director

Francis Del Val GM GSK

Dr. Carmela Kasala, Arnel Pineda and Maya Leander

old and below, Christian Lacza, a student from Navotas City was judged grand prize winner.

Christian is one of the 2014 Kabayan Ten Outstanding Public School Students, and 2014 Ten Outstanding Youth Leaders of Navotas City. He also was an awardee of the 2010 Gawad Huwarang Kabataan of the Antolin Oreta Sr. Foundation and Gawad Modelong Kabataan: Galing at Dangal ng Malabon of the Arnold Vicencio Foundation. He is also the youngest recipient of the Orator of the Year Award in Navotas National High School.

“Instead of letting asthma stop me I stopped asthma from interfering with my life as I pushed myself as a holistic learner-- excelling in academics, student leadership and in various competitions.”

Win Against Asthma Ambassador Arnel Pineda

GSK Executives with the Winners Against Asthma Adult Category

The runners up in the youth category are 15-year old student and dancer Christina Chua; taekwondo twins Andre Rafael and Anton Joachim Montero; consistent scholar Kenneth Angelo Bagay and Dave Andre Labaton who is also a medalist in taekwondo.

In the adult category, incoming third year medical student Teesha Banta was the winner. The 23year old student at St. Luke’s College of Medicine was a full scholar in her first two years of med school and graduated cum laude at the University of the Philippines Los Baños with the degree of BS Biology major in Wildlife Biology.

She is a lifetime member in two international honor societies but besides her academic achievements, she is also actively involved in com-

GSK Executives with the Winners Against Asthma Pedia Category

munity service. As an active Girl Scout, Teesha received two of the highest awards given by the organization-- the Chief Girl Scout Medal and is one the 75 GSP National Young Awardees. She had represented the country in national and international events, specifically as an advocate and a National Peer Educator on Adolescent Female Health.

“Asthma runs in our family but symptoms of severe asthma began when I was in college, which, unfortunately, was also the time when I was so involved in my schoolwork and scouting. My mother, who is a doctor and is also an asthmatic, helped me through most of my journey by taking care of me and reminding me to ‘ take my medicines.

Actually, because of my asthma, I had to temporarily stop med school

because bed rest was advised. But it did not stop me from taking a parttime job as a high school Science teacher. Besides being a doctor, teaching was my second dream job, Teesha narrates.

The other winners in the adult category are UP student Ianna Engaño an athlete, musician, artist and social activist; Yasmin Versoza a firefighter and member of the Marikina City Fire Truck crew; Christianne de Vera a triathlete; and Yliah Nina Bosch a registered nurse who is working as an Emergency Nurse Responder at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport.

The winners received the following prizes: Huawei P7 Smart Phone; P5,000 worth of gift checks from Folded & Hung and P25,000worth of Sodexo gift certificates.

S UNDAY : OCTOBER 11 : 2015

C6

SHOWBITZ isahred @ gmail.com

‘felix manalo’ a tribute to the filipino spirit -

Felix Manalo

Kate Winslet stars in high fashion dramedy

K

Joel Lamangan

LAmAngAn

A

fter setting two world records at its premiere night, Felix Manalo opened in theaters around the country on Wednesday, giving Filipinos an opportunity to learn about the man who built a church that is now estimated to have 3 to 5 million members in 102 countries worldwide.

Felix Manalo director Joel Lamangan on Wednesday encouraged the public to watch the historical drama, and said that the biopic, which stars Dennis Trillo as Iglesia ni Cristo (INC) founder Felix Manalo, is “a not just about the life of a remarkable man, it is a tribute to the Filipino spirit.”

“The story of Felix Manalo is very much the story of every Filipino who has never allowed adversity to discourage him from pursuing his goals and dreams; you don’t have to be an INC member to appreciate that,” said the multi-awarded director.

According to Lamangan, “Filipinos are known to be the most resilient people in the world; we can survive and triumph over all kinds of challenges, natural and man-made. Felix Manalo, I think, reiterates this truth.”

Lamangan added that he hoped that the renewed interest in histo-

ry generated by the film Heneral Luna would likewise encourage the public to watch Felix Manalo, as the movie traces the growth of the church in relation to the major historical events of the county.

“Heneral Luna showed that there is a market for movies like these,” said the director whose past films include The Flor Contemplacion Story, Sidhi, Deathrow, Hubog, Aishte Imasu 1941, Blue Moon, and Mano Po. “Hopefully, the commercial success of historical dramas would open the door for similar projects, so that the public would be educated and enlightened, as well as entertained.”

Felix Manalo premiered last Sunday, bagging the record for Largest Audience At A Film Premiere and the Largest Audience At A Film Screening with 43,624 people in the initial screening.

Touted as the most expensive movie Viva Films has ever produced, the film stars Dennis Trillo as Felix Manalo and Bela Padilla as his wife Honorata de Guzman-Manalo. Its star-studded cast includes Gabby Concepcion, AJ Muhlach, Heart Evangelista, Snooky Serna, Gladys Reyes, Joel Torre, Elizabeth Oropesa, and Jaime Fabregas.

CROSSWORD PUZZLE 82 83 84 88 89 90 91 92 93 94

ANSWER FOR PREVIOUS PUZZLE ACROSS 1 Kiddie ride 6 Strays 11 Bard’s forte 16 Pier 21 Helpers 22 Lake Nasser dam 23 Farther from the middle 24 More gargantuan 25 Frozen rain 26 One-horned animal 27 — Vanilli 28 U.S. border state 29 Reading material for some (2 wds.)

31 Safari boss 33 Buddhism in Japan 35 Prospect for gold 36 Fabric meas.

37 Apply elbow grease 38 Hotfoots it 39 Overcharged?

(2 wds.)

41 Loop trains 42 Gallup finding

44 46 51 52 53 57 58 59 60 61 62 63 64 66 67 68 69 70 72 73 74 75 77 78 79

Tint twice Discloses Wildlife refuge Blue Ox of legend Tin foil Bank jobs Protrude Shady place — -Wan Kenobi Who gives — —!

Corresponds Ball of yarn Four-door model Web addr.

Townshend and Seeger Famed viol.

Eye to eye with Roast pig repast Formic acid makers Scare badly Manatee cousins Roman naturalist Old butter maker Bucolic Fortunately

95 97 98 99 100 101 103 104 105 106 108 110 111 114 115 117 120 121 123 125 127 129 131 133 134 135 136 137 138 139 140 141

Newlywed Anthracite Heron cousin Goes along with — up (won’t say) Cancels Devotee Rises rapidly Concrete floors Belly dance clackers Inferior AAA job Heather habitats “Quo —?”

Be of like mind Ferber or Millay Bancroft of films Unlock Wash one’s face, e.g.

Concentrated — — fast!

Mark of Zorro Tent dwellers Produced Flounder cousins Hawaii’s Mauna — Season — Moines, Iowa Stand for Tall flower Many a Kurd Dance band Crockett’s last stand Mail carrier’s beat Sports locale Farewell Subscribe again Archangel of light Snake shapes Cattails and bulrushes Has to have Vermicelli

ate Winslet, who rocketed to worldwide fame with her lead role as Rose in the blockbuster film Titanic with Leonardo DiCaprio stars in The Dressmaker, a hilarious dramedy clothed in elite fashion where revenge never looked so classy.

Based on the best-selling novel

by Rosalie Ham, The Dressmaker is a bittersweet, comedy-drama set in early 1950s Australia.

Tilly Dunnage (Winslet), a beautiful and talented misfit, after many years working as a dressmaker in exclusive Parisian fashion houses, returns home to the tiny middle-of-nowhere town of Dungatar to right the wrongs of the past.

Not only does she reconcile with her ailing, eccentric mother Molly (Judy Davis) and unexpectedly falls in love with the pure-hearted Teddy (Liam Hemsworth), but armed with her sewing machine and incredible sense of style, she transforms the women of the town and in doing so gets sweet revenge on those who did her wrong.

The Dressmaker also includes actors in stellar remarkable roles such as Hugo Weaving, Sarah Snook, Caroline Goodall, Shane Bourne, Kerry Fox and Rebecca Gibney and directed by American Film Institute winner Jocelyn Moorhouse acclaimed for her previous works in How To Make An American Quilt starring Wynona Ryder and A Thousand Acres starring Michelle Pfieffer and Colin Firth.

Kate Winslet remembers, “When

I first read the script I was very taken by how different she was as a woman to anything I’d read for quite a while. There’s a strength in her that is unflinching and almost aggressive at times because she has had to overcome so many challenges in order to stay strong and to be the person that she is.”

Tilly Dunnage and her mother Molly were always outcasts in Dungatar, baited by the grasping, nasty inhabitants, but the tragic death of a child - the Pettyman’s son Stewart - when Tilly was 10 years old, and for which she’s blamed, led to her expulsion from the town. Now in her 30’s, the unsolved mystery of the death haunts her, and Tilly returns to seek closure – firstly through clarity of what really happened, secondly through some measure of revenge. Her strength, her rare talents, but also her need for love are clear.

Producer Sue Maslin explains it in this way, “The leading theme of The Dressmake is the notion of revenge and it’s revenge as a wickedly funny idea, but it’s also revenge that is a necessity. In Tilly’s case, it’s necessary because she not only needs to understand why she was victimized as a young child and sent away, and why her mother has been punished all the years since she left, but more importantly, she needs to reconcile the truth for herself about what happened. She needs to forgive herself. She can’t do that in isolation.”

Kate Winslet finds that “Tilly is unique and extremely skilled at what she does, she has a sense

Kate Winslet and Liam Hemsworth in their first big screen project together

Kate Winslet in The Dressmaker

Judy Davis and Kate Winslet in a scene in the fashion dramady

of grace and poise that is entirely lacking in the town. I really admired her very powerful sense of self. She’s vulnerable but does a really good job of hiding it.”

Of the novel’s characterization, Rosalie Ham says: “Tilly Dunnage is reserved, aloof, an observer, she has instinct, she knows what people are like and she appeals to the good or the bad in people with her talents. She’s a wounded, slightly vengeful but not to the extent where she does anything terrible directly she puts in place things so that those who deserve it ruin themselves. It’s her presence in circumstances that causes the chaos, or the joy.”

Revenge is back in fashion when The Dressmaker opens nationwide Nov. 4 from Axinite Digicinema.

SUNDAY, OCTOBER 11, 2015

DOWN 1 Yummy 2 All worked up 3 Proposals 4 On an even — 5 Ms. Lauder 6 Amazing things 7 Flashlight carriers 8 Hurt an ankle 9 Catch some rays 10 Social climber 11 Realm 12 Devastated 13 Cartographer’s book 14 Gibson or Torme 15 Phoenix loc.

16 Farm sound 17 Paul Newman role 18 Dumbfounded 19 Fixed-up building 20 Weather system 30 Ice-skating jumps 32 Stranger’s query 34 Lightweight quilt 40 It glistens 42 “The Canterbury —” 43 Eighteen-wheelers 44 Beyond zealous 45 Poet’s black 46 Self-mover’s rental (hyph.)

47 Kind of jacket 48 String instrument 49 Anka’s “— Beso” 50 Morticia’s cousin 51 Oil jobs 52 Coffee — 54 “The Kiss” sculptor 55 T.S. Eliot’s oppo site of “a whimper” (2 wds.)

56 Engine knocks 58 Very small 59 Tire center 62 Lind or Craig 63 Mall tenant

64 Epic 65 Common bacterium (2 wds.)

67 Mop companions 68 KP supply 69 Rolls tightly 71 Kind of berth 73 Wedges 74 Twosomes 76 Embroiders, maybe 77 Grumbles 78 Muddies the waters

79 80 81 82 83 85 86 87 89 90 93 94 95 96

Urgency Have — — day!

Jumbo shrimp Traffic-jam noise Gen. Powell Thin-barked tree Publish Grim Genetic double Audio partner Boys and men Channel-surfs Melancholy Switch positions

98 99 100 102 105 107 108 109 110 111 112 113 114 115

Pastor’s abode Had an election Fish basket Nabokov heroine Guys Dust devils Took into custody Abominable Skyrocketed Overly trusting People devourers Is serious Bess’ successor Oater classic

116 Pancake topper 117 “Satchmo” Armstrong 118 Sonnet stanza 119 Cub Scout leader 122 Kind of tissue 124 Yield, as interest 126 Circle dance 128 What, in Oaxaca 130 Keats output 132 Bruce — of kung fu

S UNDAY : OCTOBER 11 : 2015

C7

SHOWBITZ isahred @ gmail.com

‘Pasion de amor’ hits reCord high ratings From C8

More and more viewers are getting hooked on the story of the Samontes and the Elizondos in ABS-CBN’s hit primetime series Pasion De Amor as the program hit its new all-time high national TV rating of 28.2 percent versus its rival program’s 10.4 percent last on Oct 6.

This is the highest recorded TV rating of any program airing in the 6 p.m. timeslot this year.

Watch more explosive twists unfold especially with the much awaited return of Gabriela (Teresa Loyzaga) in the lives of Juan (Jake Cuenca), Norma (Arci Munoz), Oscar (Ejay Falcon), Sari (Ellen Adarna), Franco (Joseph Marco), and Jamie (Coleen Garcia).

What’s in store for all of them?

As Gabriela plots to make their lives miserable once more, will the former lovers get to rekindle what they once had?

Now that Juan is getting closer to his son with Norma, will they give love another chance and give JD the complete family that he deserves? How long can Oscar resist Sari, who continues to seduce him? Is it really the end of the line for Franco and Jamie? Or will fate bring their hearts closer again?

HHHHH Female kontrabidas in mtrCb UnCUt They say every villain is a hero in his or her own story.

Today, MTRCB Uncut gives the so-called female kontrabidas of Philippine showbiz the time to shine.

Three generations of villainesses—Dexter Doria,

Pasion De Amor book 2

Karen Delos Reyes, and Rhed Bustamante—engage in an exciting “Prangkahan” with MTRCB Board Member Raquel Villavicencio and hosts Bobby Andrews and Jackie Aquino.

Donita Rose shares her Klik experiences in portraying a kontrabida in the recently concluded soap Let The Love Begin. She opens up to the iconic kontrabida Gladys Reyes of the difficulties she encountered.

MTRCB Chairperson Toto Villareal explains the story behind the “What’s Kabit?” infomercial featuring Judy Ann Santos and Ryan Agoncillo as well as discusses how the agency regulates shows on cable channels in

Kids can experience how it is to investigate and crack a case with the Crime Scene Investigation activity at KidZania Manila

“I-Share Mo Kay Chair.”

MTRCB Uncut airs Sundays 7 p.m. on Net 25.

HHHHH VirtUal ViP toUr KidZania Manila, the interactive kid-sized play city where kids do big things, has become one of the most

Two new shows on wellness, CreaTiviTy Lifestyle whips up two exciting new original shows for the last quarter of 2015 that will inspire every Filipino to start a healthy lifestyle and harness their creativity this October.

The Green Mind, a half-hour wellness magazine show is hosted by model and health and wellness advocate Marco Lobregat, while Sweet Talk, a show focusing on dessert styling, craft making, and baking will be hosted by dessert master and The Clash season 2 winner Cynthia Patos.

With an eight-episode order for its debut season, The Green Mind showcases various healthy and sustainable products and services, as well as environmen-

visited attractions at the Bonifacio Global City since opening at the Park Triangle Mall in August.

Every week, thousands of kids aged four to 14 years old, accompanied by their parents and loved ones, visit KidZania Manila where

more than 70 real-life establishments and over 100 immersive role-playing activities enable kids to discover their career interests in a safe, unique, and interactive environment.

Now, kids and their families can explore KidZania Manila and discover more about how this talked-about attraction was brought to life in a documentary special entitled Welcome to KidZania Manila!

The program will be aired on ABS-CBN Channel 2 (on Sky Cable, Channel 8), at 8:30 a.m. today.

Hosted by Eggo Velasco and Reese Rosales, the feature offers a virtual exclusive tour of KidZania Manila,

Marco Lobregat of The Green Mind

tal advocacies. In the show, Marco explores and introduces the latest in food, fitness, and fashion to help viewers achieve an active and healthy lifestyle.

In its first two episodes that premiered a few weeks back, The Green Mind introduced the concept of green living and featured personalities who have been “going green” for the past few years.

Marco also featured a roster of organizations and movements that are promoting the green living.

Meanwhile, Sweet Talk which will premiere on Oct. 25, will feature creative solutions in making DIY projects and present easy-tomake recipes and Cynthia’s personal tips in the art of baking.

Its debut episode is expected to showcase Cynthia’s take on mouthwatering desserts perfect for Sunday brunch including

taking viewers inside the kid-sized city, starting with the airport where they each get their boarding pass and check for 50 kidZos, the official currency of KidZania.

Through the documentary, the audience will get to know the people who have built KidZania Manila as they talk about how they carefully planned and built an actual kid-sized city, complete with realistic places and recognizable brands—from paved streets and fully-functional vehicles, to replicas of a hospital, fire station, retail shops, dining destinations, TV station, factories, a university and other city structures.

Kids are also featured sharing their experiences and what they actually learned while role playing their dream jobs such as doctor, fireman, police officer, baker, teacher and pilot, among other careers and professions.

The documentary also features noted child education experts as they share valuable insights on the importance of letting kids role play different jobs to build their self esteem and sense of independence, earn kidZos, and learn the value of saving money, as well as interact with other kids and make friends.

With all the benefits that it offers, KidZania Manila is definitely one educational yet fun destination that kids and their families should explore and experience.

Don’t miss Welcome to KidZania Manila and find out more about how the play city where kids can do big things came to be.

Cynthia Patos of Sweet Talk premiering on Oct. 25 on Lifestyle

a quick and easy guide on how to make funnel cake and an almond pear tart, among others.

Cynthia will also feature a special episode on baking for kids that will showcase top kid dessert choices with a twist that anyone will enjoy making.

The Green Mind and Sweet Talk are two new original productions of Lifestyle this year. Lifestyle is the premiere cable channel and must-go lifestyle hub of modern

and young Filipinos. To date, the cable channel has produced successful original programs such as Listed, Curiosity Got the Chef, Food Prints, and A Pinch of Portia.

Lifestyle is available on channel 52 in both Sky Cable and Destiny Cable and belongs to the family of cable channels under Creative Programs, Inc. (CPI), a subsidiary of ABS-CBN.

S UNDAY : OCTOBER 11 : 2015

C8

ISAH V. RED EDITOR isahred @ gmail.com

SHOWBITZ

Eddie Garcia

Nora Aunor

Two Bicolano icons powering up new soap on gMa neTwork ISAH V. RED Nora Aunor and Eddie Garcia are two names that have made Philippine cinema something to reckon with in the 80s until the 90s.

The two have worked together both as actors in movies and at times Garcia directing Aunor in some of the most memorable films in Philippine cinema, one of which is Atsay. Garcia directed Aunor who eventually bagged the Best Performer award (not Best Actress) since that year the Metro Manila Film Festival decided to give the award the outstanding performance of an actor or actress in a film.

Garcia also won the Best Director trophy besting the festival favorite Lino Brocka who directed Vilma Santos, Aunor’s rival in their era, in Rubia Servios.

So, when the two are on screen together, what’s the drama all about?

Will it be as explosive as Atsay?

Aunor and Garcia join GMA’s upcoming primetime series Little Mommy. With that, GMA executives could only exclaim, “Himala!”

Himala is the Nora Aunor film that swept 9 of 11 awards available at the 1982 Metro Manila Film Festival.

Garcia is endearingly referred to as Manoy, being a Bicolano where the endearment is prevalent.

So, now that the two “oragon,” a Bicolano word meaning talented, clever, skilled, actors are in one soap opera, you might as well say, may himala, manoy!

This Bicolano phrase can describe the almost miraculous coming-together of two multi-awarded Best Actors with more than 80 awards to their names, combined.

The one and only Superstar – Nora Aunor has over 175 movies to her name.

And equally daunting is FAMAS Hall of Famer Eddie Garcia with over 300 films under his belt.

Two formidable forces to reckon with in Philippine film and TV industry are together again after a long time.

Two established personalities that helped shape local show business will make TV drama something to look forward to every night. Right Maria Lourdes and Maria Rosario?

The two critically-acclaimed actors will work together in GMA’s newest primetime show Little Mommy.

Aunor is Lola Annie Batongbuhay. She is Tinay’s cool retro lola who still plays in gigs with her band. For her, Tinay’s condition is not a disability, but a gift because Tinay will forever remain innocent.

Aunor and Garcia in a photo op during Little Mommy’s press launch

Garcia is Don Miguel Valle, Tinay’s long-lost maternal grandfather. For him, one is never too old to learn new things. Through his grandchildren, Tinay and Letlet, he will learn how to be a kid again.

Little Mommy is a poignant story about the life journey of Lola Annie, Lolo Miguel, Tinay and Letlet.

Tinay, to be played by Kris Bernal, is a 25-year old who has a mind of a nine year old because of her Intellectual Disability. Her

daughter, Letlet (Chlaui Malayao) is a six year old playing the role of Little Mommy to her own mother as she is trying to compensate for her mother’s deficiencies.

Little Mommy also stars Bembol Roco, Keempee De Leon, Gladys Reyes, Mark Herras, Hiro Peralta, Renz Fernandez, Juancho Trivino and Sunshine Dizon.

Under the direction of Ricky Davao, this light and heartwarming story of Little Mommy unfolds in November in GMA Telebabad.

Chris Tiu and Roadfill

HHHHH iBiliB Today This morning join Chris Tiu, James & Roadfill of Moymoy Palaboy and Bianca Umali in and exciting adventure in the world of science Watch the mega experiment called Sink & Float from Discover Science where individuals will test if they could float or sink in a swimming pool using airbags to get a treasure chest.

Tiu will show his horse, a different horse as it is made of straw, and make it move. This is in his Kinetic Horse Experiment.

A yummy experiment is what the iBilib gang will serve. It is called Sizzling Ham Experiment.

And, find out what you use for the hair that can also be used for cooking.

Bianca will show things in the house that you can use if you do not have a flat iron in the Ironing Lifehacks.

Have fun with the talented animals in Zoobic Safari.

James and Roadfill will guide the audience in discovering which animal can dance the tinikling or play the basketball in the Trivia of the week.

And Chris has the last word in Finger Coordination Challenge!

Who will be able to do it. iBilib airs Sunday mornings on GMA Network. ➜ continued on c7