The Standard - 2015 October 03 - Saturday

VOL. XXIX NO. 233 3 Sections 32 Pages P18 SATURdAy : OCTOBER 3, 2015 www.thestandard.com.ph editorial@thestandard.com.ph

pNoy hits judiciary for delay of projects

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Solve slays, AFP, PNP dared by governor

by John Paolo bencito and Froilan Gallardo TANDAG, Surigao Del Sur— Surigao Gov. Johnny Pimentel pressed the military and police Friday to solve the killings of three lumad leaders despite military claims that the killers were members of the communist New People’s Army.

“The AFP and PNP should [carry out] their mandate. The fact remains that three people were killed, there’s a warrant of arrest, and they must solve it.

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gabriela hits lp ‘stag party’

by rio n. Araja, Sandy Araneta, Maricel V. Cruz and Macon ramos-Araneta

A WOMEN’S rights group slammed Metro Manila Development Authority chairman and senatorial aspirant Francis Tolentino Friday for bringing scantily clad women to a Liberal Party event in Sta. Cruz, Laguna, and the 58th birthday celebration of Laguna Rep. Benjamin Agarao.

“Gabriela strongly condemns the use of scantily clad dancing women for entertainment, purportedly as a surprise gift from

MMDA Chair Francis Tolentino on the birthday of Laguna Rep. Benjie Agarao which coincided with a Liberal Party activity,” said

Gabriela secretary general Joan Mae Salvador.

Video of the performance posted on the Internet showed a female dancer grinding down on a supine male. In another segment, a female dancer bent over and twerked in front of the standing male.

On social media, critics ridiculed the Liberal Party as “the Liberal Perverts” who practiced the “Tuwad na Daan.”

“Despite Tolentino’s denial, the fact remains that he was not appalled by the incident and did not have the decency to stop the show

Wet in Malabon. A family negotiates a flooded street in Malabon City following heavy rain in the area. AndreW rAbulAn

when it was obviously becoming lewd,” Salvador added.

She also criticized Agarao for trying to defend Tolentino by saying he did not bring the girl group Playgirls to his birthday celebration.

“Even Congressman Agarao did not find anything wrong with the show and obviously enjoyed it. What is worse is that the Liberal Party condoned such an objectification of women. The fact that LP presidential candidate Mar Roxas graced the event means it was a major LP affair,” she said.

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Taxpayers subsidizing power bills

By Christine F. Herrera

FILIPINO taxpayers have been subsidizing the electricity bills of four multinational electronics companies to the tune of P7.96 billion since 2014, leftist lawmakers said Thursday.

During budget deliberations at the House of Representatives, Bayan Muna Reps. Isagani Carlos Zarate and Neri Colmenares lambasted the subsidy arrangements or sovereign guarantees granted to Texas Instruments amounting to P2.1 billion and Hanjin Heavy Industries and Construction Philippines Inc., Samsung, and Phoenix Semiconductor Philippines Corp. for a total of P5.86 billion.

The four multinational companies operate in the Baguio City Economic Zone and Clark Special Economic Zone.

The P2.1-billion subsidy for Texas Instruments is incorporated in the proposed 2016 budget of the Philippine

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The people are waiting, they won’t go home unless these three people are arrested,” Pimentel told The Standard after public hearings on lumad killings in the province.

Pimentel didn’t accept the military’s explanation that the communist rebels were behind the spate of killings in Mindanao.

“We’ve already identified the perpetrators, and it’s not the New Peoples’ Army. It’s the armed group that is called Mahagat Baghani. We cannot call them paramilitary forces because it’s been established in this hearing that they are a lawless armed group,” he added.

Some 3,500 lumad evacuees from five municipalities—Barobo, Tandag, San Miguel, Marihatag and Lianga have fled their homes and sought refuge at the provincial capitol arena since September, with some staying for as long as two months.

Sen. Teofisto Guingona III, who also heads the Senate committee on cultural communities, said that the lumad evacuees cannot go home to their ancestral domains because they fear that these lawless groups would wreak havoc on their communities.

“These IP’s won’t go home because the perpetrators who were behind the crimes, the terrorism, the murders are still here— roaming around freely, extorting [from] people as we talk. I don’t expect them to go back to where they live until those three, at least those three, have been captured and brought to justice,” Guingona said.

“If the military and police don’t know where the killers are they should ask the parish priests because they can say where, which barangay and what activities they are engaged in,” he added.

The military continued to claim the attacks were the work of NPA rebels.

Maj. Gen. Oscar Lactao said that the military was present in the communities as part of their mandate to maintain the peace in the areas.

“Our presence in communities is for the peacekeeping missions to prevent the spread of the NPA,” Lactao said.

Economic Zone Authority, an agency attached with the Department of Trade and Industry.

The P5.86 billion was allocated under President Benigno Aquino III’s lump sum appropriations for Special Purpose Funds and unprogrammed funds, Colmenares said.

“This is the height of callousness and hypocrisy; the Aquino government is bleeding the Filipino consumers dry from too many taxes, yet it is liberally giving away money to this big multinational corporation,” Zarate lamented.

Peza deputy director general for policy and planning Tereso Panga confirmed the Texas Instruments subsidy.

According to Panga, the subsidy to TI was sourced from the national budget since 2014 as mandated by EO 666, which directed government corporations such as the National Power Corp. and National Transmission Commission to provide TI discounted generation and transmission rates for 10 years.

The subsidy will last up to June 2017, as an incentive for its $1-billion investment in the economic zones, Panga said.

TI was the country’s No. 1 exporter, he added.

In 2007, Zarate said, Peza signed a contract with the state-owned NPC for the supply and delivery of electricity

Some witnesses who said they were former students of the lumad schools said they were breeding grounds for the rebels.

“What they were teaching us was how to fight the government, and to support insurgency,” said Reuben Acebedo.

Teachers from the Alternative Learning Center for Agriculture and Livelihood Development and Tribal Filipino Program of Surigao del Sur Schools, non-government organizations connected to the Diocese of Tandag, denied these claims.

“We’re not part of the NPA. We’re hurt because the military continues to claim us as such when really, we’re not,” said Gideon Galicia, a lumad teacher working for ALCADEV. Sis. Stella Matutina, a Benedictine sister from Marihatag town, said some 173 displaced families, comprised of about 954 individuals from Barangays Mahaba, Boringon and Palompon left their homes on Thursday night and have sought temporary shelter at Marihatag gymnasium after reports that the Mahagat Baghani would wreak havoc on their homes.

Matutina hit the military for continuously diverting the attention of the public on the true plight of the lumad.

“We’re here to listen to the plight of the people, We’re talking to the lumad people and their urgent response is they want to go home,” Matutina said.

Parish priests in Surigao also expressed doubt over military denials that they helped create the armed groups.

They also demanded the immediate disbanding of the paramilitary groups and the arrest of Bobby and Loloy Tejero, and Garito Layno, the named suspects in the Lianga murders.

The Surigao governor called for immediate action from the police and the military.

“We must not resort to finger pointing but there’s a warrant of arrest... Arrest those who need to be arrested,” Pimentel said.

In the town of Marihatag, Surigao del Sur, a fresh wave of fighting between government troops and an unidentified armed group triggered a new round of evacuation.

to TI at a discounted rate of $ 0.0491 (P2.30) per kilowatt hour for the first six years and $0.06 for the next 10 years.

Zarate said Texas Instruments pays only about a third of the amount regularly paid by ordinary consumers in Metro Manila.

“Computing from the discounted rates given by the government to TI, it only pays about P2 per kwh for generation and transmission of electricity. In today’s rates, Meralco consumers pay even more, at the rate of P5.80 a kwh in generation and transmission charges,” Zarate said.

“Why is the government giving a P2.1-billion subsidy to the rich, while refusing to remove the VAT on power so that electricity costs can come down?” Zarate said.

“Paying for the electricity of rich, foreign companies is an aberration.

The Filipino people are burdened to pay outrageous amounts for electricity, while the government subsidizes these foreign companies.”

“The P2,105,959,000 subsidy to Peza under the 2016 NEP [National Expenditures Program] shall be utilized to pay the NPC, which continues to supply the electricity of TI at a discounted rate,” said Panga, in a letter to Zarate. A copy of the letter was furnished The Standard.

Marihatag town Mayor Allan Pelenio told the Senate committee on justice that more than 200 Manobo families or 1,000 persons fled their homes in Barangay Mahaba, eight kilometers from the town center.

Pelenio said he sent two trucks to fetch the residents from three sitios from Barangay Mahaba and the poblacion of Barangay Mahaba.

“There is nothing left there right now except stray dongs and untended pigs,” Barangay Mahaba Kagawad Alejandro Sanchez said.

Sanchez said they fled their villages after a fresh wave of fighting erupted between soldiers and armed men believed to be NPA rebels.

He said they could hear the fighting getting nearer to their houses so they decided to flee Thursday night.

Benny Kanon, 64, said they saw members of the Bagani group led

by Bobby Tejero, a suspect in the Sept. 1 killing of a school director and two lumad leaders in Lianga, Surigao del Sur. Kanon said Tejero and the Bagani groups came after the soldiers arrived in their village on Thursday and demanded that the villagers identify NPA members among them.

“We had to flee because we do not want to become their victims,” he said.

Guingona said the police needed to arrest the Tejero brothers and Garito Layno immediately to restore confidence among the lumad.

“The name of Bobby Tejero is already enough to trigger a mass evacuation. They should be arrested. This is step no. 1 to restore the confidence of the lumad,” Guingona said.

Police have filed murder and arson charges against the suspects for the killing of Emerito Samarca, 54, executive director of ALCADEV, a school for lumad.

A press statement later released by the Armed Forces said witnesses at the Senate hearing welcomed the military presence in their communities to protect them from the communist rebels.

The AFP also quoted one tribal leader, Rico Maca, of San Miguel, Surigao del Sur, as saying three out of four NPA rebels in the area were indigenous people, who were being used by the communists.

“Specifically, it shall cover the cost of electricity that NPC will supply TI in BCEZ for 2016 and the outstanding arrears due to NPC because of the depletion of the Industry Competitive Fund,” Panga added.

Panga said the ICF was created under EO 796, series of 2009, and is supposed to reimburse various government agencies for the financial impact that they incurred in the grant of special power rates as stated in EO 666.

“The government decided not to replenish the fund after the depletion of its initial funding of P1.6 billion but instead directed the concerned Investment Promotion Agencies to honor the obligation and implement mitigating measures at their level and seek funding support in the GAA,” he added.

“As the embedded distribution utility in BCEZ, Peza also waived the collection of distribution charges as authorized in the said EO.” Citing a document from Peza, Zarate said the Texas Instruments since 2007 has only paid a total of P2.55 billion in taxes.

“That is about the same amount as the electricity subsidy that the government is giving it in one year alone,” he said.

“The government is gravely indifferent on the wide clamor for tax reforms and

Gabriela...

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Salvador said Tolentino was lying when he denied taking the girls to the LP event.

“Tolentino and his LP cohorts committed an act most offensive to women and insulting to the public. If this is the kind of leaders who have the gall to run for office in next year’s elections, we must not let them win for the sake of the women and the country,” she said.

On Thursday, Roxas swore in over 80 new members of the Liberal Party from Laguna’s fourth congressional district.

After the event, the Playgirls, a group of three women, came in to provide the entertainment, and even invited some LP members to join a parlor game filled with sexual innuendos.

The emcee of the event introduced the girls group to the crowd, saying they were brought by Tolentino, who earlier said he had even asked the girls to wear skirts.

In the Facebook account of the Playgirls, photographs of them were posted showing they also performed during the April 20, 2013 campaign of Tolentino’s brother, Cavite Rep. Abraham Tolentino, and that they were thanking the MMDA chief for inviting them.

The Palace said Friday President Benigno Aquino III will not condone the lewd dance performed by an all-female group who performed after a Liberal Party oathtaking ceremony.

“Women are not objects to be given away as gifts during celebrations. The President has always stood firm against the exploitation of women and will not condone such displays of disrespect,” said deputy presidential spokesperson Abigail Valte, in a text message to Palace reporters.

Despite the public outcry, House Majority Leader and Mandaluyong Rep. Neptali Gonzales II joked that the Playgirls might be invited to a congressional hearing so they could reenact their dance because he had not watched the video.

Turning serious, he said there was no need for Congress to get involved because the dance was performed at a private occasion that coincided with the oathtaking of some local LP officials.

“I cannot interfere with what was happening during the birthday party, on how a birthday celebrant should have run the program of the occasion which is a private gathering, in the same manner that I cannot stop the Speaker if he feels

the lowering of income tax, yet it continues to enter into such onerous contracts with private entities. This government is certainly not working towards the interests and welfare of the people, but is making it a paradise for foreign investors.

The Filipino people should not suffer the additional burden of paying their electric bills,” Zarate added.

Zarate said the subsidy to Peza was also allotted in the 2015 General Appropriations Act as part of the Special Provisions providing for the allotment in the Support to Government and Owned Corporations of the Unprogrammed Fund.

The Peza, Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority and the Bases Conversion Development Authority were granted P5.6 billion in payment of subsidies and incentives.

During the budget deliberations Colmenares also lambasted similar subsidy arrangements or “sovereign guarantees” granted to Hanjin Heavy Industries and Construction Philippines, Inc., Samsung, and Phoenix Semiconductor Philippines Corp. which operate in the Baguio and Clark economic zones.

“At total of P5.86 billion is paid to subsidize the electricity consumption of these corporations,” Colmenares said.

like twerking,” Gonzales said referring to 79-year-old House Speaker Feliciano Belmonte Jr. who celebrated his birthday Friday.

Gonzales also defended the LP, saying its members in Laguna should not be blamed for the incident, but advised Agarao and other candidates to be sensitive in the conduct of their campaigns for the 2016 national elections.

Tolentino said he was just a visitor at the event and did not bring the dancers.

The emcee was misinformed, he added.

Roxas, who was at the event earlier, had left when the dancers performed.

A youth group on Friday demanded an apology from the ruling Liberal Party, which is headed by President Benigno Aquino III, for the lewd show at a political event in Laguna.

The Partido Manggagawa-Kabataan, the youth wing of the militant Partido Manggagawa, said the performance was offensive to women.

“We challenge MMDA Chair Francis Tolentino and Laguna Rep. Benjie Agarao to issue categorical apologies. Their insincere denials are worthless and lame excuses are even worse. We want to hear Tolentino and Agarao declare that the performance was offensive to women, say they are sorry for it and promise not to have similar acts in their upcoming political events,” Erika Isaias, PMK spokesperson said.

Senate President Franklin Drilon said Friday he would investigate the “lewd show,” saying the “exploitative gimmickry” was unacceptable to the Liberal Party.

As sworn adherents to the Tuwid na Daan (straight path), LP members are expected to display morally upright behavior, Drilon said.

“Those who fail to prove to the nation that they are good and morally responsible public servants have no place in our ranks,” he added.

But Agarao said “a real man” like him saw nothing lewd in the performance, and that the girls merely danced in public. He added that a lot of congressmen watched similar shows in Metro Manila until dawn.

Tolentino, already widely criticized for his failure to ease traffic in Metro Manila, said it is the President who should decide if he should remain in his post.

PSLINK, the same group that demanded Tolentino resign for his failure to solve the traffic problem, said regardless of who brought the performers, the Liberal Party stalwarts should have stopped the act. With Vito Barcelo and Joel E. Zurbano

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Trillanes says Grace is his running mate SENATOR Antonio Trillanes IV said Friday his announcement of his bid for the vice presidency will give rise to the PoeTrillanes tandem today for next year’s elections “Our group Magdalo and our chapter leaders all over the country have chosen Senator Grace Poe from among the candidates,” Trillanes told dzMM radio.

“So as far as the group is concerned, our tandem will be Poe-Trillanes.”

Trillanes will officially announce his candidacy during Magdalo’s general meeting at the Amoranto Stadium in Quezon City at 5 p.m. today.

He said he will run as an independent candidate because his two other party mates, Senators Alan Peter Cayetano and Senator Bongbong Marcos, will also run for vice president.

“I will run as an independent although I am a member of the Nacionalista Party,” Trillanes said. “It will be sona libre or free zone for the party because we have many party members running for the same position.”

Trillanes said he will support Poe’s presiden-

tial bid based on the decision of the Magdalo faction in the House.

And with his declaration, the vice presidential race will be among the three vice presidential candidates of the Nationalista Party and Senator Francis Escudero, who is running as an independent, and possibly Camarines Sur Rep. Leni Robredo of the LP. Cayetano announced his candidacy in Davao City. He wants to be the running mate of Davao City Mayor Rodrigo Duterte who remains undecided on his political plan next year.

There are also indications Marcos wants to be the running mate of Duterte should he decide to run for president. But Marcos said he met Duterte Wednesday night only to seek his advice on the vice presidency.

Vice President Jejomar Binay has said the talks about Marcos running along with him is 93-percent sure.

Meanwhile, Senate President Franklin Drilon says the LP is hopeful Robredo will accept its offer to run for vice president next year.

Macon Ramos-araneta

Open forum. Senators Grace Poe and Francis Escudero (not shown) are welcomed by students of the Father Saturnino Urios University in Butuan City for an open forum.

PNoy claims judiciary delaying his projects PRESIDENT Benigno Aquino III took a swipe at the judiciary on Friday saying several courts had been delaying government infrastructure projects by refusing to issue a writ of possession so the government could proceed with those projects.

“In infrastructure projects there is a requirement of a deposit for the payment of taxes on land expropriated [by the government]. Once this has been made, the court should then immediately issue a Writ of Possession,” Aquino said.

“Now, [Public Works] Secretary Babes Singson has reported to us that one of the reasons why there is a delay in the implementation of a number of [infrastructure] projects is that after [Public Works] has deposited the funds, the court still does not issue a Writ of Possession,” Aquino said.

He made his statement

even as Chief Justice Maria Lourdes Sereno responded to the concerns raised by Aquino over the high court’s “judicial legislation” in some cases.

She said the justices were aware of the limits in their power of judicial review.

“In every en banc [session] we continue to debate whether what we are doing is already legislation or still in the bounds of what we can do,” Sereno said.

“But ultimately, it will redound to what the final vote will be. So it’s an evolving thing but we are mindful of the need to maintain that line.”

Aquino made his statement in a speech at the groundbreaking ceremony for the new Supreme Court complex in the Bonifacio Global City in Taguig.

He also criticized the alleged anomalies in the judiciary, where the one who “knows the judge” are the ones being favored in the decisions made by the court.

“In the Introduction to Law, they say there are two kinds of lawyers: those who know the law and those who know the judge,” Aquino said.

Aquino asked the high court to speed up the resolution of cases, citing relevant provisions in the Constitution mandating it to resolve cases within 24 months upon their submission for resolution.

He said the infrastructure projects were being delayed because the high court still required from

Public Works a “determination of just compensation.”

“I bring this issue to you. I hope you will be able to issue a decision on issues such as this as soon as possible,” Aquino said.

“It is clear in the law that the government has the right to continue with the projects even though the case is still pending in the courts regarding payment.”

Aquino also reminded the justices that the law prohibits courts from issuing temporary restraining orders on infrastructure projects.

“Just look at the situation of one our expressways, where the project was delayed because the court failed to issue a writ of possession right away. I think delaying a project is just like issuing a TRO,” Aquino said.

Sandy araneta and Rey E. Requejo

Palawan judge enters plea for Reyes duo

Protest. Students covered the Oblation at the University of the Philippines in Manila with black cloth to fight for the cut in the school’s budget this year. Danny Pata

A PALAWAN court on Friday entered a not-guilty plea for former Palawan Gov. Joel Reyes and his brother, former Coron Mayor Mario Reyes, during their arraignment for the killing of broadcaster and environmentalist Gerry Ortega.

Handcuffed and wearing yellow detainee shirts and bulletproof vests, the Reyes brothers refused to enter a plea on the case before

Puerto Princesa Regional Trial Court Branch 52 Judge Angelo Arizala.

The members of the Ortega family turned emotional after meeting the accused for the first time in four years.

In January 2011 the people who supposedly were hired to kill Ortega pointed to the Reyes brothers as the masterminds. The brothers were arrested on Sept. 20 this year in Phuket, Thai-

land.

A pre-trial conference has been set for Dec. 3, where the major prosecution witness Rodolfo Edrad is expected to appear.

Edrad, once a bodyguard of former Marinduque Gov. Jose Antonio Carreon, admitted to putting together the hit team and allegedly on Joel Reyes’ orders.

Mika Ortega, daughter of the slain broadcaster, said in an earlier interview that

they were painfully aware that their fight for justice would be a long one.

“The family knows that the Reyes brothers will do everything to avoid going to jail,” she said. The Reyes brothers are detained at the Palawan city jail but have petitioned to be transferred to the National Bureau of Investigation.

Arizala said he will decide on the petition in 10 days. John Paolo Bencito

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Aqua assets under threat

Cooperatives month. Leyte Rep. Ferdinand Martin Romualdez speaks to more than 3,000 members of different cooperatives in the province of Cavite during the Cooperative Month Celebration at Provincial Gym in Trece Martires City. VER NOVENO

Angat water level only rises 2m despite storm

By Anna Leah E. Gonzales ALTHOUGH Tropical Storm “Kabayan” [international name: Mujigae] flooded parts of Aurora, Nueva Ecija and Bulacan, the water it poured into Angat Dam will not be enough to replenish the reservoir’s dwindling water supply.

The Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration said estimated rainfall is projected to be moderate to heavy within the 300km diameter of the storm. “[The rain brought by Kabayan] will not replenish the water supply because the expected add up level is up to two meters only.

So it’s not yet sufficient to solve our water supply,” said weather

forecaster Aldczar Aurelio.

Aurelio said Kabayan gained more strength as it moved toward the West Philippine Sea. It was last sighted 205 km northwest of Dagupan City with maximum sustained winds of 75 kph near the center and gustiness of up to 90 kph.

But Pagasa has already lifted all public storm warning signals and Kabayan was expected to

be out of the Philippine Area of Responsibility around midnight Friday.

The weather bureau is closely monitoring the water level at Angat Dam because the country may be undergoing one of the strongest episodes of El Niño since 1950.

According to the latest Pagasa update, about 69 percent of the country will experience the drought and dry spell by the end of the year.

Effects will intensify in the first quarter next year where 68 provinces or 85 percent nationwide will be hit.

On Thursday, the National Water Resources Board said it has decided to further reduce the water allocation for Metro

Manila from the 38 cubic meters per second last month to 36 cms because of Angat Dam’s receding water level.

Water level at Angat Dam is at least 189.91 meters on Thursday, 20.09 meters below its normal high water level.

On Friday, Maynilad Water Services Inc. said it will be able to maintain the current supply situation in the West Zone until Oct. 11 despite reduced allocation of raw water from Angat Dam for Metro Manila this month.

The water company has been implementing scheduled water service interruptions that affect 56 pecent of its customers since Sept. 16. These daily supply interruptions are limited to offpeak hours, from 9 p.m. to 4 a.m.

RISING water temperatures as a result of climate change could threaten the country’s aquaculture industry and fish production in general, a scientist based in Iloilo province said on Friday.

“There is a threat to aquaculture production,” said Dr. Felix Ayson, the chief of the Aquaculture Department of the Southeast Asian Fisheries Development Center.

“And we are just looking at the temperature itself but we know that our oceans will become acidic as well. So we still have to factor that in,” he said during a press briefing here when asked about the impact of changing weather conditions on aquaculture.

Despite the gloomy picture that climate change will bring, Ayson said there are still ways to overcome these challenges.

Organisms can adapt to new temperatures but it will take time, he said, adding that the industry cannot afford to stop fish production to address the country’s food needs.

“If the organisms cannot adapt, we have to have some alternative,” Ayson said.

For instance, he said, if there is a spawning problem in bangus or milkfish due to higher water temperature, producers could put up a controlled facility just for the embryo, so that the bangus eggs could hatch.

But the implication is that it will raise the price of bangus as a result of additional inputs, Ayson said.

“We need to provide this data to our policymakers for them to plan. It is our role as a research organization to provide this scientific data to our policymakers,” he said.

Ayson reported that they did a 10-month study on a locally known fish specie called malaga, conducted under higher water temperature. This fish is also called samaral batuhan (scientific name Siganus corallinus).

Housewives hold trade fair THE Congressional Spouses Foundation Inc. will hold their biggest fund raising event for the year, the Kabuhayan National Livelihood Trade Fair 2015 on Oct. 15 to 18 at the Megatrade Hall 2, 5th level, SM Megamall, Mandaluyong City.

There are 97 booths this year showcasing the best of Philippine products, which include personal effects and accessories, health and wellness supplements, home furnishings and a delectable spread of ready to eat delicacies as well as dried and fresh produce.

The trade fair aims to provide small and medium Filipino entrepreneurs with an opportunity to display their ingenuity and widen their market reach.

Some of the merchants include Lupe Saenz, a leather shoe company from Marikina that offers custommade ballerina flats, the Meycauayan Jewelry Industry Association with its export quality jewelry, the Villar Sipag Foundation known for promoting

livelihood and entrepreneurship will showcase bags and footware made from waterlily, ELMN Enterprises from Rizal will market snakeskin bags, wallets and accessories, La Herminia Piña Weaving from Kalibo will carry barong and woven products, the I Love Quirino Caravan will feature fossilized flowers which were part of recent China expo, Gotad Ad Ifugao will sell stone crafts, wood products and banig, the Province of Nueva Vizcaya that will retail fresh vegetables, banig and woven baskets and Alavar’s Seafood Restaurant from Zamboanga City famous for their Alavar sauce.

The major sponsors for the trade fair are the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corp. and Metrobank Foundation. A portion of this year’s proceeds will be donated to World Vision, an international Christian humanitarian organization dedicated to working with children, families and their communities worldwide to reach their full potential by tackling the causes of poverty and injustice.

Computer glitch. Around 40 flights were delayed while 18 were cancelled Friday after cost carrier Cebu Pacific encountered a ‘computer glitch’ after migrating to an upgraded computer system. ERIC APOLONIO

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Gov’t to ramp up spending THE Department of Budget is ramping up efforts to address the issue of underspending on public infrastructure ahead of next year’s elections.

National treasure’s groupies. Malacañang employees take a groupie before the ‘Spoliarium’ of 19th century Filipino painter Juan

Luna at the National Museum. The painting won a gold medal in the Exposición Nacional de Bellas Artes in 1884 in Madrid, launching Luna’s stellar career in the European art scene. The National Museum will be admitting visitors for free for the whole month of October.

JANSEN ROMERO

Another Pinoy gets MERS

By Vito Barcelo ANOTHER Filipino nurse in Jeddah is the latest deadly Middle East respiratory syndrome-coronavirus case in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration said on Friday.

The female nurse, whose identity was withheld, is confined in a hospital in Jeddah, OWWA officer Officer Amelito Adel said.

Hospital management has assured the Philippine embassy in Riyadh that the Filipino nurse is being provided the best medical treatment available, and that the hospital is well equipped with comprehensive treatment and facilities for MERS-CoV cases, the Department

of Foreign Affairs said.

Filipinos in Saudi Arabia must take extra precaution, pay attention to their personal hygiene and follow closely the advisory issued by their local health authorities, a DFA advisory has reiterated.

Filipinos working in hospitals are advised to strictly follow the infection prevention protocols and those experiencing symptoms are advised to immediately report to the hospital for treatment.

Adel said the doctor taking care of the infected Filipino assured him that the nurse is now in good condition, and that the respiratory tube connected to her has already been removed.

Based on the latest World Health

NHA gets highest subsidy SUBSIDIES to government agencies last August rose to P8.8 billion, the bulk of which was extended to the National Housing Authority.

This is higher than the P3.1 billion for the same period in 2014, Department of Finance (DOF) data show.

NHA received P4.4 billion in August, its first subsidy from the national government for the year.

This as the government strengthens its housing program, especially for those located in areas devastated by Typhoon “Yolanda” in November 2013.

The agency that got the second highest subsidy last August was the Power Sector Assets and Liabilities Management Corp., which received P3.8 billion.

It was followed by National

Irrigation Authority, National Power Corp., Cultural Center of the Philippines, National Dairy Authority and Lung Center of the Philippines.

Other agencies that received subsidies during the month were the Center for International Trade Expositions and Missions, Philippine Children’s Medical Center, Philippine Heart Center, Zamboanga City Special Economic Zone Authority, People’s Television Network Inc., Philippine Fisheries Development Authority and Southern Philippines Development Authority.

Subsidies given to governmentowned and controlled corporations as of end-August this year amounted to PhP 55.1 billion, lower than year-go’s PhP 59.24 billion. PNA

Organization records, six new MERSCoV cases have been reported by the National IHR Focal Point in Saudi Arabia between Sept. 20 and 26 this year.

Last August, DFA spokesman Charles Jose reported four cases of MERS-CoV infections involving OFWs. The two female nurses and a male recovered and later on tested negative for the virus.

The Symptoms of MERS-CoV include fever, cough, shortness of breath and even diarrhea.

The Philippines has no travel ban to the Middle East but has called on Filipino workers in the region to practice health precautions for their own protection.

World Teacher’s Day. A

teacher from the Libertad Kiddie Care Center in Sto. Nino, South Cotabato jubilates after receiving flowers and presents from her kindergarten pupils on the occasion of World Teacher’s Day. AMIEL MARK CAGAYAN

This early, DBM Assistant Secretary Tanya Hamada said her department has asked concerned government agencies and local governments to prepare their detailed budget estimates for projects to be included in the 2016 national expenditure program.

Hamada said these documents include the detailed engineering design, program of work and cost estimates required for project bidding.

“It [2016] is an election year. For the first quarter, [project] implementation will kickoff because of the election ban by March,” she said in an interview on the sidelines of the Kapihan sa Media ng Bayan on Friday.

Once the proposed P3.002-trillion national budget for 2016 is approved, Hamada said the process only involves bidding and award of projects in January before the infrastructure ban. “[With this,] I don’t think we will have [another] low first-quarter GDP [gross domestic product],” she said.

The government underspending on public infrastructure has been blamed on weaker growth of the economy in January to March this year.

The country’s second-quarter GDP expanded to 5.6 percent from 5 percent the previous quarter as strong government spending helped bolster economic expansion.

To address the issue of underspending, Hamada said the department is also strengthening the capacities of the local governments in project planning and budgeting.

“For example, for health stations and classrooms, local governments know which areas [these projects] are really needed,” she reasoned.

Hamada further said her agency will also hasten disbursements.

She explained that once the General Appropriations Act is passed, concerned agencies no longer need DBM-issued Special Allotment Release Order for regular programs they undertake.

The DBM had earlier said the national government’s infrastructure spending rose 93 percent in July but it is still below target.

Budget Secretary Florencio Abad said infrastructure and capital outlays surged to P38.3 billion in July from P19.9 billion yearon-year.

The figure, however, was still 17 percent short of the national government’s target of P45.98 billion for infrastructure spending in July.

SAT URDAY : O CTO B E R 3 , 2 0 1 5

A6

NEWS

editorial@thestandard.com.ph

Tolentino: Waze may be right

By Joel E. Zurbano

METRO Manila Development Authority chairman Francis Tolentino admitted that the National Capital Region lacks a modern trasport system to address the worsening traffic in the metropolis.

The MMDA chief spoke in reaction to the latest global survey showing Manila as the top city with the worst traffic with Rio de Janeiro, Sao Paolo, and Jakarta not far behind.

“What we are saying is that Waze [report] may be right because we lack a modern mass trasport system. The railroad system in Metro Manila is only 73 kilometers and we don’t have alternate routes,” he said.

By country, the Philippines was ranked ninth worst, with a score of 3.9. El Salvador (2.1) and Guatemala (3.0) offered “the worst driving experiences in the world,” due to frequency and severity of traffic jams, lack of driver services, and poor road infrastructure.

The Netherlands topped the list with the best driving experiences in the world with 7.9 rating followed by Latvia (7.3), the Unites

States (7.2), Sweden (7.2), Czech Republic (7.1), Belgium (7.0), France (6.9), Italy (6.8), Hungary (6.8) and Slovakia (6.7).

“I read that and we encourage that kind of report. Netherlands ranked number one. The population there is 16.8 million while Metro Manila is 16.5 million, makikita po sa density di po nagkakalayo. But we don’t have [modern] mass transport system compared to Netherlands,” said Tolentino.

According to Tolentino, the MMDA is pushing the planned 51-kilometer subway system in the country to ease traffic congestion in the metropolis.

The project’s feasibility study is being conducted by the Japan In-

ternational Cooperation Agency in close coordination with the Department of Transportation and Communications and National Economic and Development Authority.

Meanwhile, Tolentino said he is still encouraging motorists to use video cameras to record and document perceived illegal activities by MMDA traffic enforcers and employees to “help attain a disciplined society, and also for evidentiary purposes.”

Tolentino reiterated his call days after various sectors criticized him for saying that motorists who video taped MMDA traffic enforcers may be held liable under the Anti-Wiretapping Law.

Waterless in waterworld. Residents of Artex Compound in Malabon City fetch water aboard makeshift boats. ANDREW RABULAN

Sandigan suspends lawmaker, city mayor

By Rio N. Araja THE Sandiganbayan has ordered a 90-day preventive suspension on Zamboanga del Sur Rep. Aurora Enerio-Cerilles for graft raps over questionable purchase of overpriced medical supplies worth P7 million in 2001 when she was provincial governor.

“The suspension of a public officer charged with an offense that is covered by Section 13 of Republic Act No. 3019 is but a fortification of the principle that public office is a public trust,” the anti-graft court’s decision read.

“They must at all times, be accountable to the people in the fulfillment of their duties.”

In July 2012, the Office of the Ombudsman ordered the filing of graft charges against Enerio-Cerilles before the Sandiganbayan for overpriced medical supplies in 2001.

The Commission on Audit found out that P6.879 million worth of medical supplies were solely procured from U-Net Distributors Corp.

“There is no reason to believe that [the] had unlawfully allowed the direct purchase of medical supplies from U-Net Distributors Corp. despite knowing that the situation does not call for such kind of purchase and notwithstanding that the documents supporting the identity of the said distributor as an exclusive distributor are questionable,” the Ombudsman’s complaint read.

According to the Ombudsman Conchita Carpio Morales, the transaction was deemed irregular since Enerio-Cerilles failed to follow the procurement procedure.

The provincial government of Zamboanga del Sur could have saved over P1.204 million by holding a public bidding, instead of giving the contract to a single supplier, the Ombudsman said.

Meanwhile, Bacolod City Mayor Monico Puentebella was also ordered suspended for 90 days over the alleged overpriced P26-million purchase of computer packages for public schools.

Party-list reps slam budget cuts for state universities, colleges

By Maricel V. Cruz

Biker boy. Italian Vittorio Brumoti shows what he’s capable of at the opening of the Philbike Expo 2015 at the SMX Mall of Asia on Friday. DANNY PATA

TWO opposition lawmakers on Friday denounced the decision of the Budget department to cut the government allocation for the country’s universities and colleges for next year.

House deputy minority leader and 1-BAP party-list Rep. Silvestre Bello III and Kabataan party-list Rep. Terry Ridon renewed their appeal to the House committee on appropriations, headed by Davao City Rep. Isidro Ungab to restore the P4778-million budget slashed

by Malacañang from the maintenance and other operating expenses of 59 SUCs in the proposed 2016 General Appropriations Bill.

“We reiterate this appeal to the Committee on Appropriations to

heed the call for more resources for our state universities and colleges,” Bello said during his interpellation in plenary session Friday to the SUCs’ proposed budget for 2016.

“I call for the government savings realized in last years’ expenditure program and savings so far realized from this years’ budget be used to augment the much needed support for our SUCS,” Bello added.

Bello co-authored House Resolution 2377 of Ridon, member of the Makabayan Bloc, for the restoration of the multi-million peso budget for the SUCs. Citing the resolution, Bello said the 1.6 SUC students would be the “real victims” in the continued underfunding of the government for the SUCs. Bello said the expenditure pro-

gram on infrastructure should be balanced with the needs of the country’s students, especially the poor ones, “to ensure quality education for our youth.”

“We can have all the roads and bridges, airports and ports but how will they benefit an ignorant citizenry?” Bello asked.

For his part, Ridon said that due to insufficient funds, state schools intensify the collection of tuition and various fees.

Citing data from the DBM’s Budget of Expenditures and Sources Financing, Ridon said that while the total expenditure of 114 SUCs in the country amounts to an average of P59 billion annually, the government provision for SUCs falls short by P16 billion, amounting to an average of P43 billion since 2014.

SAT URDAY : O CTO B E R 3 , 2 0 1 5

A7

NEWS

editorial@thestandard.com.ph

FVR breaks ground for library in Dagupan City

By Dexter A. See

Dangerously close. A resident of Barangay San Rafael, Montalban, Rizal, looks at an overflowing river on Friday. The flooding brought by Typhoon ‘Kabayan’ rendered numerous roads in Luzin impassable. LINO SANTOS

Task force intercepts P2m of shabu in Dumaguete

By Eric B. Apolonio

MANILA—A task group created to curb drug smuggling and other illegal activities in airports has intercepted a package containing 400 grams of methampethamine, more popularly known as shabu, at the Dumaguete Airport last Sept. 20.

The Inter-Agency Interdiction Task Group stopped the shipment in an LBC package aboard a Cebu Pacific flight to said city from Manila.

According to a report, the task force received information about a package aboard flight 5J625. Upon the flight’s arrival, the team used sniffing dogs

and x-ray machines and discovered the package hidden among biscuits.

The drugs are estimated to be worth P2 million.

The team opened the cargo in the presence of the Philippine National Police Aviation Security Group, the Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines—Security and Intelligence Service and personnel of Cebu Pacific and LBC. Reports said the box was sent through LBC by shipper Richard Cabansag

of Marcos Avenue, Talon Las Piñas, to be claimed by consignee Joseph Cabansag of Unit 4G/F JFT Center Mall located at Perdices and Colon Street, in Dumaguete City.

The consignee was arrested the following day, Sept. 21, when he claimed the cargo at the LBC office.

The task force was created for airports under CAAP control and jurisdiction. It is composed of representatives from

Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency, Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines, Office of Transportation Security, Bureau of Customs, Bureau of Immigration, Department of Justice, National Bureau of Investigation and Philippine National Police Aviation Security Group.

CAAP is responsible for the operations of 82 airports in the country with 42 of them handling commercial flight operations.

LINGAYEN, Pangasinan— Former President Fidel V. Ramos led the groundbreaking rites for a three-story library building within the University of Pangasinan-PHINMA campus in Dagupan City.

The library is touted to help preserve and promote the cultural heritage of the province of Pangasinan and its people.

Ramos, a son of the province, said that the library would benefit Pangasinenses, particularly students on their research ventures, as Pangasinan has been transformed into “an aggressive and forward-looking province.”

Set to be inaugurated in March 2016, the library will also house an extensive collection of books and memorabilia of the former chief executive of the country to show a glimpse of his life and illustrious career as a civil engineer, author, solider, academic leader and public servant.

Another learning facility, the Pangasinan Studies Center or PSC will also be established through the partnership of the provincial government and University of the Philippines in cooperation with the consortium of universities and colleges in the province.

The center shall reinforce “a comprehensive research for the preservation of Pangasinan culture and language.”

The establishment of PSC that will lead into a wideranging (cultural) mapping of places, events and personalities, including customs and traditions in the province is stipulated in the Memorandum of Understanding signed

by UP president Alfredo Pascual and Gov. Amado T. Espino Jr. on June 18.

Ramos was joined by Espino PHINMA Corp. president and CEO Ramon Del Rosario Jr., former Sen. Leticia RamosShahani and 6th District Board Member Ranjit Ramos-Shahani during the groundbreaking rites along with former members of Ramos’ Cabinet that included former Interior and Local Government Secretary Rafael Alunan, and officials of the host University.

Central Luzon army, police heads discuss election security plans

By Florante S. Solmerin

Out to dry. A man dries sea cucumbers near a restaurant at Barangay Santa Fe, Tab-Ang, Matalom, Southern Leyte. MANNY PALMERO

BRIG. Gen. Henry Sabarre, commander of the Army’s 7th Infantry Division, met Friday with top officials of the Central Luzon police to discuss security plans in preparation for the 2016 presidential polls within their joint area of operations.

Central Luzon has had instances of election-related violence.

“Our division would be the main security provider during election time. The Central Luzon regional police are our counterpart. Both commands should discuss and agree at some points for the smooth implementation of our joint security plan and actions,” Sabarre said.

Regional police director Chief Supt.

Rudy Lacadin, meanwhile, said the conference has focused on identifying areas in the region which have incidents of election-related killings by warring political groups.

“Our aim in this meeting is to have unified efforts among members of the security forces hand-in-hand with counterparts in other government agencies so that the forthcoming elections will be secured and fair through the signing of the Joint PNP-AFP Security Plan,” he said.

Pursuant to Resolution No. 9571 of the Commission on Elections, the PNP and AFP are deputized to assist Comelec in its security prepa-

rations for the elections.

Comelec regional election director Temie Lambino said they have asked both commands to have the conference seven months before elections so they will have enough time to revise and enhance the security plan.

Lambino said the regional election office and the PNP-AFP security providers will be coming out of a list of election hotspot areas in the next coming months where security preparations are now being discussed by them.

Both Sabarre and Lacadin agreed to work together to identify these areas including political parties and personalities and their private armed groups.

S AT U R D AY : O C T O B E R 3 , 2 0 1 5

A8

OPINION

ADELLE CHUA EDITOR

lettertotheeditor@thestandard.com.ph

OPINION

POWER POINT ELIZABETH ANGSIOCO

WOMEN AS ‘GIFTS’

[ EDI TORI A L ]

LIBERAL PARTIES THAT video of an all-female group of dancers brought in to entertain guests at a lawmaker’s birthday celebration has been circulated enough. Simulations of the sex act—dance steps, some call it—have been turned into memes and other means of blasting the yellow-shirted man onstage, the birthday celebrator, and the supposed sponsor of the girls, the chairman of the Metro Manila Development Authority.

Online and off, Filipinos have weighed in on the issue. Th e an ger is ne arly universal. This was an event, after all, of a political party that prides itself in treading the straight path. The birthday bash comes right after the inauguration of 80 new members of the administration party, inducted by no less than the Liberal Party’s bet for the 2016 presidential race, former Interior Secretary Manuel Roxas II. When the disturbing images broke traditional and social media, those in the party gave their own explanations of the extent of their participation. The g ift-bearer, acknowledged by the master of ceremonies numerous times, denied vehemently that he was the one who asked the girls to provide entertainment. Why, he even asked them to wear skirts!

This i s t he s ame F rancis Tolentino w ho s pooked m otorists w ho d ared t ake a video of erring traffic enforcers, saying they may be charged of violating the AntiWiretapping Act. He wants to be our senator.

Birthday boy Rep. Benjamin Agarao said there was no malice in the dance number, because as a real man he found such acts to be the norm.

House Deputy Speaker Neptali Gonzales III had the gall to joke about investigating the matter in Congress just so he could watch a reenactment of the performance.

Roxas himself hinted he was not to be bothered by the dance number because he was too far removed from the stage to watch it. Some reports say he had left when the dancing started.

The leader of the House of Representatives said he was saddened by the event while the Senate President said he would not tolerate the lewd acts. The Palace issued a statement saying the President does not condone such displays of disrespect of women.

All these are doublespeak. Female entertainers have been a staple in political gatherings for the longest time. Today it’s the Liberal Party; on other days, it could be others. Today it could be the group that says it always treads the path of good governance; tomorrow, it could be others who say they care about the plight of women but are actually amorous toward many.

Then again, what do they care if the image of the party is tarnished? Their reason for donning yellow shorts, or any other color, is convenience. Their loyalty ends when their personal agenda runs in contrast to the wishes of the group.

The political party is just that, a party where strange things happen and everybody utters a copout when things do not go well.

It’s an issue of viewing women as objects, gifts t o b e g iven. I t’s a q uestion o f propriety. It’s a malady of hypocrisy. It’s how base our politics has become.

Everybody must have had one drink too many.

‘DEMOCRAZY’ BACK CHANNEL ALEJANDRO DEL ROSARIO BACKROOM deals, negotiations and buy-offs. These are some of the shady practices going on in our present political environment which Buhay Party List Rep. Lito Atienza laments as “democrazy” as he called for an electoral reform law.

“This is tantamount to no-el (no elections) in many parts of the country where voters are re-

ally left with no choice because opposing candidates cut deals instead of going through political party conventions. This is also why most candidates don’t have a platform of government or enter into a public debate to give the electorate an informed choice,” said Atienza.

Atienza, who has decided not to seek higher office, will remain with Buhay Party List where he said he has more room to speak out on issues of national concern. He has moral ascendancy since he’s one of the very few legislators who have not availed of their pork barrel funds.

“The first test of a candidate’s integrity if he’s seeking higher office is to resign, whether one is elected or appointed,” said Atienza. He challenged candidates running for higher office to have a sense of decency to resign and not seek refuge in their former positions when they lose. If serving the Filipino people is their primary concern, he urged Senators Grace Poe, Chiz Escudero, Alan Peter Cayetano and Antonio Trillanes to vacate their Senate seats since they have declared their candidacies. Poe is running for president while

It deprives voters of real choice.

the other three senators have declared their candidacies for vice president.

Does it apply to Vice President Binay who’s running for President in 2016? The answer is “no” because the Vice President cannot resign so as to pre-

A9

clude a power vacuum in the event of the President’s death or resignation. The order of presidential succession: VP, Senate President, Speaker of the House and the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court Recalling Batasang Pambansa 881, an electoral reform law requiring candidates seeking higher office to resign, Lito lamented that in 1992 senators amended the law exempting legislators from BP 881 in a clearly brazen and self-serving move. A member of the Batasang Pambansa in the early 80s, Atienza recalled that the Liberal Party he belonged to and the United Democratic Opposition of Salvador Laurel joined ranks

with President Ferdinand Marcos’ Kilusang Bagong Lipunan in a bipartisan move to enact BP 881. Yes, even Marcos, despite his vast powers, worked within the law.

Recall that Atienza, then Secretary of Environment and Natural Resources resigned his post to run for mayor of Manila even if the Supreme Court had initially ruled he need not resign as DENR secretary. As one of Buhay Party List three nominees (the other two are Michael Velarde Jr. the son

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

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

of El Shaddai founder Mike Velarde, and former LRT manager Mel Robles).

Atienza affirmed his commitment to enact a new electoral reform law and restore some semblance of sanity in the present madcap politics.

Tobacco war There’s a nasty war going on between two rivals in the tobacco industry. We are not going to name the two players in the tobacco trade but anyone who enjoys a good smoke knows who they are. The newcomer claimed the big

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

MST ONLINE

can be accessed at: www.manilastandardtoday.com

MEMBER

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multinational committed glaring violations of the Philippine Competition Act of 2015. Although the newcomer’s name means strength and huge size, it is actually the David against a Goliath in this case.

Hurt by its smaller competitor eating up 30 percent of the local tobacco market, the multinational has managed to portray its rival as engaged in “illicit trade” in a news report aired recently by a TV network.

Continued on A11

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

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

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

METRO Manila Development Authority Chairman Francis Tolentino, touted as a senatorial candidate of the ruling Liberal Party, and re-electionist Laguna Rep. Benjamin Agarao are under fire.

And rightly so.

Social media exploded with angry posts as a video of scantily dressed women performing simulated sex acts with some men on stage went viral. No, it was not a stag party but the birthday celebration of Agarao. It came after a formal LP oath-taking event attended by the party’s standard bearer Mar Roxas.

The emcee kept on repeating that the girls were “gifts” from Tolentino to Agarao. At the time that the girls were “performing,” Tolentino was seen near the stage apparently; he never corrected what the host was saying.

Of course, even LP and Roxas were criticized. After all, the event was a party gathering.

Tolentino denied bringing the girls even saying that he told them to wear skirts. Wait, if he did not know about the “gifts,” when did he ask them to wear skirts? Agarao of course came to the rescue of Tolentino and said that it was not the former but his friends who brought the girls. Agarao, however, did not name the friend/s.

Agarao even said that there was no malice in having the girls perform in such a manner because he is “lalakinglalaki” and that their culture is different.

Roxas issued a statement admonishing his party mates to not employ gimmicks that degrade women. He also said that this incident will be investigated.

Women members of LP, all known for their work for women’s empowerment, also issued a strongly worded statement which read, “The performance that took place at a gathering in Laguna yesterday is a gross insult to all: the women involved, the Liberal Party, and indeed, all Filipinos and Filipinas who espouse equality. We condemn, in the strongest terms, any and all forms of exploitation of women. This has never been, and will never be consistent with the value of the Liberal Party… We know that such gimmickry will not be tolerated… and we fully support the investigation to unearth the truth behind the incident.”

The use of sexy women as “entertainers,” performing sexually charged numbers exploits, degrades, and objectifies all women. It disrespects our rights to be treated with dignity and reinforces stereotypes that for many decades, we have been trying to fight. It is outright sexist.

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

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

Emil P. Jurado Chairman Emeritus, Editiorial Board

S AT U R D AY : O C T O B E R 3 , 2 0 1 5

A8

OPINION

ADELLE CHUA EDITOR

lettertotheeditor@thestandard.com.ph

OPINION

POWER POINT ELIZABETH ANGSIOCO

WOMEN AS ‘GIFTS’

[ EDI TORI A L ]

LIBERAL PARTIES THAT video of an all-female group of dancers brought in to entertain guests at a lawmaker’s birthday celebration has been circulated enough. Simulations of the sex act—dance steps, some call it—have been turned into memes and other means of blasting the yellow-shirted man onstage, the birthday celebrator, and the supposed sponsor of the girls, the chairman of the Metro Manila Development Authority.

Online and off, Filipinos have weighed in on the issue. Th e an ger is ne arly universal. This was an event, after all, of a political party that prides itself in treading the straight path. The birthday bash comes right after the inauguration of 80 new members of the administration party, inducted by no less than the Liberal Party’s bet for the 2016 presidential race, former Interior Secretary Manuel Roxas II. When the disturbing images broke traditional and social media, those in the party gave their own explanations of the extent of their participation. The g ift-bearer, acknowledged by the master of ceremonies numerous times, denied vehemently that he was the one who asked the girls to provide entertainment. Why, he even asked them to wear skirts!

This i s t he s ame F rancis Tolentino w ho s pooked m otorists w ho d ared t ake a video of erring traffic enforcers, saying they may be charged of violating the AntiWiretapping Act. He wants to be our senator.

Birthday boy Rep. Benjamin Agarao said there was no malice in the dance number, because as a real man he found such acts to be the norm.

House Deputy Speaker Neptali Gonzales III had the gall to joke about investigating the matter in Congress just so he could watch a reenactment of the performance.

Roxas himself hinted he was not to be bothered by the dance number because he was too far removed from the stage to watch it. Some reports say he had left when the dancing started.

The leader of the House of Representatives said he was saddened by the event while the Senate President said he would not tolerate the lewd acts. The Palace issued a statement saying the President does not condone such displays of disrespect of women.

All these are doublespeak. Female entertainers have been a staple in political gatherings for the longest time. Today it’s the Liberal Party; on other days, it could be others. Today it could be the group that says it always treads the path of good governance; tomorrow, it could be others who say they care about the plight of women but are actually amorous toward many.

Then again, what do they care if the image of the party is tarnished? Their reason for donning yellow shorts, or any other color, is convenience. Their loyalty ends when their personal agenda runs in contrast to the wishes of the group.

The political party is just that, a party where strange things happen and everybody utters a copout when things do not go well.

It’s an issue of viewing women as objects, gifts t o b e g iven. I t’s a q uestion o f propriety. It’s a malady of hypocrisy. It’s how base our politics has become.

Everybody must have had one drink too many.

‘DEMOCRAZY’ BACK CHANNEL ALEJANDRO DEL ROSARIO BACKROOM deals, negotiations and buy-offs. These are some of the shady practices going on in our present political environment which Buhay Party List Rep. Lito Atienza laments as “democrazy” as he called for an electoral reform law.

“This is tantamount to no-el (no elections) in many parts of the country where voters are re-

ally left with no choice because opposing candidates cut deals instead of going through political party conventions. This is also why most candidates don’t have a platform of government or enter into a public debate to give the electorate an informed choice,” said Atienza.

Atienza, who has decided not to seek higher office, will remain with Buhay Party List where he said he has more room to speak out on issues of national concern. He has moral ascendancy since he’s one of the very few legislators who have not availed of their pork barrel funds.

“The first test of a candidate’s integrity if he’s seeking higher office is to resign, whether one is elected or appointed,” said Atienza. He challenged candidates running for higher office to have a sense of decency to resign and not seek refuge in their former positions when they lose. If serving the Filipino people is their primary concern, he urged Senators Grace Poe, Chiz Escudero, Alan Peter Cayetano and Antonio Trillanes to vacate their Senate seats since they have declared their candidacies. Poe is running for president while

It deprives voters of real choice.

the other three senators have declared their candidacies for vice president.

Does it apply to Vice President Binay who’s running for President in 2016? The answer is “no” because the Vice President cannot resign so as to pre-

A9

clude a power vacuum in the event of the President’s death or resignation. The order of presidential succession: VP, Senate President, Speaker of the House and the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court Recalling Batasang Pambansa 881, an electoral reform law requiring candidates seeking higher office to resign, Lito lamented that in 1992 senators amended the law exempting legislators from BP 881 in a clearly brazen and self-serving move. A member of the Batasang Pambansa in the early 80s, Atienza recalled that the Liberal Party he belonged to and the United Democratic Opposition of Salvador Laurel joined ranks

with President Ferdinand Marcos’ Kilusang Bagong Lipunan in a bipartisan move to enact BP 881. Yes, even Marcos, despite his vast powers, worked within the law.

Recall that Atienza, then Secretary of Environment and Natural Resources resigned his post to run for mayor of Manila even if the Supreme Court had initially ruled he need not resign as DENR secretary. As one of Buhay Party List three nominees (the other two are Michael Velarde Jr. the son

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

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

of El Shaddai founder Mike Velarde, and former LRT manager Mel Robles).

Atienza affirmed his commitment to enact a new electoral reform law and restore some semblance of sanity in the present madcap politics.

Tobacco war There’s a nasty war going on between two rivals in the tobacco industry. We are not going to name the two players in the tobacco trade but anyone who enjoys a good smoke knows who they are. The newcomer claimed the big

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

MST ONLINE

can be accessed at: www.manilastandardtoday.com

MEMBER

PPI

Philippine Press Institute The National Association of Philippine Newspapers

multinational committed glaring violations of the Philippine Competition Act of 2015. Although the newcomer’s name means strength and huge size, it is actually the David against a Goliath in this case.

Hurt by its smaller competitor eating up 30 percent of the local tobacco market, the multinational has managed to portray its rival as engaged in “illicit trade” in a news report aired recently by a TV network.

Continued on A11

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

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

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

METRO Manila Development Authority Chairman Francis Tolentino, touted as a senatorial candidate of the ruling Liberal Party, and re-electionist Laguna Rep. Benjamin Agarao are under fire.

And rightly so.

Social media exploded with angry posts as a video of scantily dressed women performing simulated sex acts with some men on stage went viral. No, it was not a stag party but the birthday celebration of Agarao. It came after a formal LP oath-taking event attended by the party’s standard bearer Mar Roxas.

The emcee kept on repeating that the girls were “gifts” from Tolentino to Agarao. At the time that the girls were “performing,” Tolentino was seen near the stage apparently; he never corrected what the host was saying.

Of course, even LP and Roxas were criticized. After all, the event was a party gathering.

Tolentino denied bringing the girls even saying that he told them to wear skirts. Wait, if he did not know about the “gifts,” when did he ask them to wear skirts? Agarao of course came to the rescue of Tolentino and said that it was not the former but his friends who brought the girls. Agarao, however, did not name the friend/s.

Agarao even said that there was no malice in having the girls perform in such a manner because he is “lalakinglalaki” and that their culture is different.

Roxas issued a statement admonishing his party mates to not employ gimmicks that degrade women. He also said that this incident will be investigated.

Women members of LP, all known for their work for women’s empowerment, also issued a strongly worded statement which read, “The performance that took place at a gathering in Laguna yesterday is a gross insult to all: the women involved, the Liberal Party, and indeed, all Filipinos and Filipinas who espouse equality. We condemn, in the strongest terms, any and all forms of exploitation of women. This has never been, and will never be consistent with the value of the Liberal Party… We know that such gimmickry will not be tolerated… and we fully support the investigation to unearth the truth behind the incident.”

The use of sexy women as “entertainers,” performing sexually charged numbers exploits, degrades, and objectifies all women. It disrespects our rights to be treated with dignity and reinforces stereotypes that for many decades, we have been trying to fight. It is outright sexist.

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

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

Emil P. Jurado Chairman Emeritus, Editiorial Board

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OPINION

lettertotheeditor@thestandard.com.ph

PUTIN’S PEACE APPROACH BACK­ BENCHER ROD P. KAPUNAN THE expanding terror waged by the so-called Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS) had just been about to come to its abrupt conclusion when President Vladimir Putin, with the approval of the Duma, ordered the use of the Russian air force to bomb its positions to stave off advancement that has wrought a swath of destruction. Along with that decision, an agreement was reached that Russia, Syria, Iraq and Iran would exchange intelligence information on how to pinpoint the enemy. The decision of Iraq to participate in that informal alliance dealt a big blow to a country which the US thought it had liberated.

The Russian move was earlier sounded out by Putin to US President Obama during their sideline meet-

Some political analysts believe that the decision of Russia to bomb enemy positions decapitated those that have been funding the ISIS.

ing at the UN General Assembly. Russia’s entry into the long-drawn Syrian conflict virtually changed the approach on how to deal with the ISIS that has now coagulated with some of the dreaded Islamic radical groups like the Al Nusra and the Al Qaida.

Since the start of the socalled “Arab Spring,” the US and its allies have been using Islamic fundamentalist groups to foment upheavals in secular Arab states they see as remnants of the Cold War. The regime change that saw the violent ouster of Saddam Hussein of Iraq and Muammar Khadaffy of Libya and now seeking to oust Basher al-Assad of Syria left many European

allies with the challenge of staving off the unprecedented influx of refugees and migrants into their territories.

With Russia on the saddle, the war against terrorism now focuses on hitting the right target. The selective approach adopted by the US and its Nato allies only saw the rapid rise of ISIS and the wanton destruction of artifacts by these modernday barbarians that see no value in anything that has no relevance to Islam.

Some political analysts believe that the decision of Russia to bomb enemy positions decapitated those that have been funding the ISIS. They observed that the US has co-existed with some of the most notorious Islamic states in the Middle East, like Saudi Arabia where both enjoy the luxury of trading arms for oil. For a long time, the US has been supplying Saudi Arabia with its most sophisticated weapons, and allowing it to exert its sphere of influence in the region, and to spread Wahabbism, a sect in Islam that continues to impose the most barbaric laws unacceptable to modern civilizations.

There is really nothing that would justify the continued support of the US for Saudi Arabia. Saudi Arabia remains the most undemocratic regime in the Middle East that could put to shame medieval governments of old Europe. It holds the record of being the number one violator of human rights; and that freedom and democracy remains alien in that kingdom. Today, Saudi Arabia is one of the trusted surrogates of the US, with the latter turning its back, as it imposes its ruthless policies on other Arab states like its ouster of a democratically elected Yemeni President Ali Abdullah Saleh, the bombing of country without the approval of the UN Security Council, the support for the autocratic government of Bahrain for its continuing suppression of its people, the majority of whom are Shiites, and the brains behind the religious civil war in Iraq.

Israel also competes with Saudi Arabia in serving US interest with a ramification that it wants to carve its own policy that is more dangerous for the fact that it has its own nuclear weapon. Its bomb-

EAGLE EYES DEAN TONY LA VIÑA AMONG the topics and issues Pope Francis has tackled during the short time he has occupied the Seat of Peter, nothing comes closer to Pope Francis’ heart than the family. In his recent visit to the United States, before a crowd of thousands, an animated Pope Francis rallied the faithful to focus on family in an impassioned homily on love and faith: referring to the family, he exclaimed “All that is beautiful leads us to God.” In Philadelphia, in the Festival of Families, Pope Francis had a fantastic description of families: they are factories of hope, of life, of resurrection.

He did quip: “Father, you speak like that because you’re not married,” a skeptic might say, he said. “Families have difficulties. In families we quarrel. In a light tone he also said: Sometimes, plates can fly. Children cause headaches. I won’t speak of mothers-in-law...

When one doesn’t live as a family, one will strengthen the part that always says: I, me, my, with me, for me. One totally centers around these things and doesn’t know solidarity or fraternity.”

As he has done many ing of Syria in January 2015 to purportedly cut Syrian supply line to Hezbollah forces in Lebanon was, in reality intended to weaken the Syrian forces loyal to Assad, although paradoxically strengthened the ISIS. That action spelled out the truth that an informal alliance exists between Israel and Saudi Arabia brokered by the US to make Syria and Lebanon free-fire zones. Syria had to give up its own chemical weapons because of pressure principally from a country that has its own chemical weapon to aver an attack for which Russia’s Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov successfully defused.

Sensing Russia is just about to lay down a plan that could put to an end to the five-year civil war that has been fueled by the duplicity of the US and its Nato allies, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu visited Moscow a week before Putin flew to New York to sound out his plan to Obama. The visit by Netanyahu was

FACTORIES OF HOPE times, Pope Francis emphasized the importance of caring for children and for grandparents: “Children and young people are the future; they are our strength; they are what keep us moving forward. They are the ones in whom we put our hope.

Grandparents are a family’s memory. They are the ones who gave us the faith, they passed the faith on to us. Taking care of grandparents and taking care of children is the sign of love—I’m not sure if it is the greatest, but for the family I would say that it is the most promising— because it promises the future. A people incapable of caring for children and caring for the elderly is a people without a future, because it lacks the strength and the memory needed to move forward.”

Pope Francis warned that perfect families do not exist but this should not discourage us. According to him: “Love is something we learn; love is something we live; love grows as it is “forged” by the concrete situations which each particular family experiences. Love is born and constantly develops amid lights and shadows. Love can flourish in men and women

who try not to make conflict the last word, but rather a new opportunity.

An opportunity to seek help, an opportunity to question how we need to improve, an opportunity to discover the God who is with us and never abandons us. This is a great legacy that we can give to our children, a very good lesson: we make mistakes, yes; we have problems, yes. But we know that that is not really what counts.

We know that mistakes, problems and conflicts are an opportunity to draw closer to others, to draw closer to God.” Patience in marriage has been a consistent message of this Pope who also once reflected on this sacrament, observing: “Those who celebrate the sacrament say, “I promise to be true to you, in joy and in sadness, in sickness and in health; I will love you and honor you all the days of my life”. At that moment, the couple does not know what will happen, nor what joys and pains await them. They are setting out, like Abraham, on a journey together. And that is what marriage is. Setting out and walking together, hand in hand, putting yourselves in the Lord’s powerful hands. Hand in

hand, always and for the rest of your lives. And do not pay attention to this makeshift culture, which can shatter our lives.”

Wrapping up his US visit in a big open-air Mass, Francis told the gathered faithful that their presence itself was “a kind of miracle in today’s world,” an affirmation of the family and the power of love.

“Would that all of us could be open to miracles of love for the sake of all the families of the world.” Extolling the virtues of the family, calling families as the factory of love, Francis said: “God made this marvelous world in which we live, and because sometimes we are a bit confused, we are destroying it... But the most beautiful thing that God did, says the Bible, was the family.” In this connection he urged the crowd to especially care for the young as well as the old. “To look after grandparents, to look after children, is the expression of love”. The pontiff also gave this advice: “Never let the day end without making peace,” Francis said. “In a family, you can’t finish the day off not being at peace.”

an attempt to recreate a wedge between the White House and the US Congress, which Putin knew will not prosper, much that Russians feel that terrorism should be stopped.

There is fear because they see Chechnyan volunteers fighting with ISIS, and if not suppressed, could be revived to wreck havoc in Russia. Besides, Russia has a naval base located in the Syrian port of Tartus. Its support for Syria is to reaffirm its friendship to an old ally that dates back to the Cold War, and to abandon it now is to forsake its remaining goodwill in the Middle East.

Surprisingly, China’s only aircraft carrier, LiaoningCV-16, was spotted in the Syrian port of Tartus accompanied by a guided missile cruiser. Though China has not announced plans to involve itself in the conflict, there is a growing consensus that the presence of the Chinese naval force with its military advisers on board are acting pursuant to President Xi Jinping’s declaration that China

will actively participate in the UN peacekeeping operations. In fact, it surprisingly contributed $100 million and promised to increase the level of military personnel for peacekeeping operations to 8,000.

As usual, during the joint press conference at the lawn in the White House, President Obama lectured China on the issues of human rights, on its conduct in the China Sea, and on the issue of cyber attacks. Some observers found the threat to impose sanctions on China for alleged cyber attacks in bad taste. The presence of Chinese naval flotilla is an indirect response to US arrogance during the meeting at the White House of seemingly brushing aside the warm gesture of friendship where President Xi Jinping witnessed the conclusion of a contract with Boeing Corp. to purchase 300 aircrafts costing $38 billion, ahead of the date he was to set foot in the White House. Despite the irritating tirade on China’s

behavior, President Xi Jinping reminded the US to give up its “winner take all” policy and subscribe instead to the “win-win” policy to secure stability and lasting peace.

Finally, since US and Nato’s misadventures in the Middle East have only resulted in the division of Europe Union, Germany’s Angela Merkel has come out to say that Syrian President Assad “must be involved in peace talks to end the Syrian crisis.” It seems that they are tired of that tit-for-tat approach, much that it has only ushered in some unintended consequences just to cope up with the unprecedented influx of refugees since the Second World War. The bombing of Iraq, Afghanistan, Libya and now Syria and the bloody policy of regime change has created a dividing wall between those seeking to dislocate more people and those willing to accommodate them, for which the US has done so little to help.

Facebook page: Dean Tony La Vina Twitter: tonylavs

(rpkapunan@gmail.com)

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OPINION lettertotheeditor@thestandard.com.ph

AN ANOMALY AT THE PASIG PROSECUTION OFFICE

HAIL TO THE CHAIR VICTOR AVECILLA LAST week, this column exposed an anomaly brewing inside the Office of the City Prosecutor of Pasig City.

To repeat, a wealthy couple from Barangay Pinagbuhatan bought a condominium unit in Pasig City from a sweet-talking woman who, the couple alleged, was introduced to them by the policeman at a social occasion in the past. It appears that the woman offered the condominium unit at a very low price.

Soon thereafter, the couple made a downpayment through a branch office of the Banco de Oro managed by a female friend of the woman.

Apparently, the couple made the downpayment without first ascertaining whether or not the title to the condomimium unit was in order. When the couple later learned that the condominium unit was mortgaged to a bank, they realized that their bargain basemen sale was a swindle.

Soon thereafter, the couple wrote a demand letter to the woman and to the bank official, threatening to sue both of them for estafa if their downpayment is not returned. Meanwhile, the woman absconded.

The couple eventually filed a complaint for estafa against the woman, the bank official, and the policeman. The inclusion of the policeman in the

complaint is the big mystery. an if the policeman never introMoreover, the policeman cat- duced her to them. This line of egorically denies any involve- reasoning is juvenile—like that ment in the sale. of a spoiled kid who needs to Attached to the complaint are find somebody to blame for his several annexes consisting of ti- own improvidence. tle deeds and letters sent and reThe couple also claims that ceived by the couple in relation the policeman promised to to the sale of the condominium arrest the woman if the sale unit. Nothing in the said an- turns out to be a hoax. This nexes even mentions the name is difficult to believe because a of the policeman. His signa- policeman has no power to arture is nowhere to be found in rest anybody for a fraudulent the said annexes. transaction. Unlike violent The complaint itself contains crimes, estafa cases are difconflicting dates as to when the ficult to prove, and it is only husband-complainant was in when a court issues a warrant the Philippines to pay for the of arrest in a swindling case can condominium unit, and when a policeman make the correhe was abroad. Corrections were sponding arrest. Besides, the made belatedly by the husband. husband-complainant seems More telling is the fact that like an astute businessman. It is although the couple sent a de- too incredible to believe that he mand letter to both the woman fell for such a story. who offered the condominium Compounding the problem unit to them, and the bank of- is the resolution issued by the ficial who facilitated the pay- investigating prosecutor, which ment, the couple never sent a states that there is no evidence demand letter to the policeman. to show that the policeman This clearly indicates that the conspired with either the wominclusion of the policeman in an or the bank official to comthe complaint was a mere af- mit estafa. This finding notterthought on the part of the withstanding, the investigating couple, considering that the prosecutor held that both the woman had already absconded. woman

and the policeman To justify the inclusion of the should be charged with estafa! policeman in their complaint, That is not the end of the the couple alleged that they met anomaly. the woman through the policeA copy of the resolution of man, and that they would not the investigating prosecutor have transacted with the wom- was sent to the policeman, not

Women... From A9 Women are not “gifts” that can be given to men. We are not objects. We are human beings equal to any other person in rights.

Agarao’s public statements betray his low regard for women, his disrespect for our human rights.

He sees nothing wrong with “gifting” him with sexy women on his birthday as if it were the most natural thing in the world. He approves of degrading and exploiting women. Does he believe that we are lesser humans than him and other men?

Agarao is a member of the House of Representatives. He represents his district’s women and men constituents. He is supposed to look after their welfare and champion their rights. How does he do this?

Does he deserve his position as a public servant?

Tolentino, on the other hand is running for a Senate seat under the banner of LP and “tuwid na daan.” Is he worthy of our votes?

I received information that last Thursday’s event may not be the first time that Tolentino brought sexy dancing girls to a gathering.

On June 23, during the 23rd Pinyasan Festival in Daet, Camarines

Norte, Tolentino is said to have brought “Sassy Girls,” another group of sexy performers to the event. The girls repeatedly thanked Tolentino on stage as they were performing their sexy numbers.

Also in attendance were Gov. Joey Salceda who was quite surprised and kept saying “Dios Mio!”; Alma Moreno and Aubrey Miles (both sexy stars in their younger years) who, while watching the girls remarked, “Kailangan pa ba ng ganyan?”

If indeed Tolentino brought the “Sassy Girls” in Daet, it is not farfetched that he also brought “Playgirls” in Laguna. There are also reports saying that the “Playgirls” campaigned for Tolentino’s kin during the 2013 elections. It looks like this kind of disrespect to women is usual business for this Senate aspirant. The Daet celebration was a public event, and thus, easily verifiable. If LP is serious in investigating the use of sexy women in its political gatherings, it will be good to also look into this incident.

LP is said to have a progressive party stand on women’s rights and gender equality. Having men like Tolentino and Agarao in its ranks cannot be consistent with such a

at his registered address in Barangay Malinao, but to a police station at another barangay— Barangay Caniogan—last Sept.

11. The policeman was unaware of the resolution until Sept. 23, when a process server at the Caniogan police station finally served it. Fortunately for the policeman, he has documentary evidence that the resolution was served on him only on Sept.

23, 2015.

Under the law, the policeman has 15 days from notice of the resolution to file a motion for reconsideration. The policeman filed that motion on Monday, Sept. 28, well-within the 15-day period, whether the period is computed from Sept. 11 (when the resolution was sent to the wrong address) or Sept. 23 (the date the policeman actually received the resolution). For the record, Sept. 26, 2015 is a Saturday, and under the law, when a deadline falls on a Saturday, Sunday, or a holiday, the deadline is moved to the next working day—in this case, Monday, Sept. 28, 2015, if the 15-day period is reckoned from Sept. 11.

Since the motion for reconsideration was filed on time, the resolution of the investigating prosecutor was never enforceable.

To the shock of the policeman, it turned out that the investigating prosecutor enforced his resolution prematurely and

stand. For how can the party put to action a progressive principle if your members are the first to break it?

Tolentino’s and Agarao’s words and actions on the Laguna controversy speak volumes. They do not deserve people’s votes. They do not deserve to be in public service.

It will do LP good if it will remove Tolentino and Agarao from its list of official candidates.

The use of sexy women as “entertainers” in political gatherings is actually not new. This has been going on for many years. Politicians’ general low regard for women and our rights has been there for the longest time as shown by how they use women for political gains.

However, times are different now. With the aid of technology and social media, politicians’ sexist gimmickry can easily become public and censure, instantaneous.

Unacceptable, disgusting practices will no longer be tolerated.

Let this be a warning to politicians: women are not gifts. Stop using sexy women for your, and your audience’s entertainment. bethangsioco@gmail.com @bethangsioco on Twitter Elizabeth Angsioco on FaceBook

filed a criminal case for estafa against the policeman before the Regional Trial Court in Pasig. This led to the issuance of a warrant of arrest against the policeman. The warrant is dated Sept. 23, 2015.

From the foregoing narration of facts, it is evident that the investigating prosecutor filed the criminal case against the policeman prematurely. The facts also suggest that the policeman was kept unaware of the existence of the resolution long enough to give the investigating prosecutor an excuse to file the criminal case against the policeman.

The policeman is now exploring his legal options.

Meanwhile, explanations must be made. Since the investigating prosecutor made a categorical finding that the policeman did not conspire with anybody to commit estafa, why did the investigating prosecutor file a criminal case for estafa against the policeman? Why was the resolution of the investigating prosecutor sent to the wrong address? Why did the investigating prosecutor file the criminal case prematurely?

If the investigating prosecutor does not come up with a satisfactory explanation, then maybe Justice Secretary Leila de Lima must do the explaining for him.

Democrazy... From A9 The multinational which teamed up with a local tobacco firm must be feeling the heat from its US-based headquarters due to the decrease in revenues being remitted home. No matter whose side you’re on, the rivalry is good for our tobacco growers in the Ilocos provinces where both companies sourced their leaf to be blended with the Virginia variety.

But going back to the smaller company’s complaint against the multinational, these were some of the alleged violations of the Philippine Competition Act:.

It is prohibited under the PCA for a company in dominant position to abuse its advantage by engaging in acts that prevent the entry of a competitor and /or diminishes a competitor’s potential to grow within a free market.

The exemption to this is if the dominant player is within its legal rights, or has an advantage arising from a superior product or business acumen in sales marketing. The consumer is the final arbiter and the fact that smaller player thrived to gain 30-percent share of the market speaks volumes of the quality of its brand.

Aggrieved competitor claimed that the intent of dominant player, which has a market share of more than 50 percent, was to discredit its company and product by implying “illicit trade” for not using tax stamps on its cigarette packs. The smaller player denies any illegal activity and defers to the Bureau of Internal Revenue if it can be proven as a tax evader.

The not-so-mighty player might seek civil damages against the liable multinational and its local partner for what it deems as an injurious attack on its company by being singled out in the TV report. Under the Philippine Competition Act, discrediting another company’s good name and product without basis is a gross violation.

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SPORTS sports@thestandard.com.ph

Kerr takes leave from coaching OAKLAND—Steve Kerr is stepping aside from his job as coach of the NBA champion Golden State Warriors to focus on his recovery from two back surgeries in the past three months.

The NBA team announced Thursday that Kerr would take a leave of absence to continue his rehabilitation from surgery to fix a ruptured disc in July and another operation last month.

Kerr led Golden State to an NBA championship in June in his first season as head coach.

“At this point, the most important thing is to make sure Steve is healthy, completely recovered and ready for not only the rigors of a long NBA season but day-to-day life in general,” Warriors general manager Bob Myers said.

“We don’t anticipate the recovery process will be long term, but as of today we don’t know the exact time frame.

We’ll evaluate his progress daily and provide updates as necessary.”

Warriors assistant coach Luke Walton will take over from Kerr while he is in rehab.

“After the first two days of training camp, I realized I need to take a step back and focus on my rehabilitation in order to be ready for the grind of another NBA season,” Kerr said.

“As I noted last week, my summer was difficult and no fun due to the multiple back surgeries. At this point, I simply want to get healthy and back to my normal daily routine on and off the court.” AFP

Tennis player Rafael Nadal (left) of Spain looks on as Novak Djokovic of Serbia signs his autograph on a guitar during their visit to a fair following their meeting with Thai Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha in Bangkok. Djokovic will face Nadal in an exhibition tennis in the Thai capital to boost the country’s tourism industry. AFP

Nadal lauds Djokovic: He’s difficult to equal BANGKOK—Rafael Nadal heaped praise on longstanding rival Novak Djokovic Thursday for playing at a level “difficult to equal” ahead of an exhibition match between the pair in Bangkok.

The Spaniard, who ended the season without a Grand Slam title for the first time since 2004, congratulated the top-ranking Serbian for his “amazing” run culminating

in last month’s US Open title, his third major of the year.

“The mental strength and the level of tennis is difficult to equal,” Nadal, 29, said sitting next to Djokovic at a

press conference in the Thai capital.

“I texted him after the US Open, but I want to say today in a public way, it’s amazing the way he’s playing during the whole season.”

In contrast the Spaniard’s performance at this year’s Grand Slam tournaments has triggered fears over his future in the game.

The 14-time major win-

ner crashed to his earliest exit in New York in 10 years in September, beaten

by Italian Fabio Fognini in the third round after being two sets up, with questions raised over his fitness.

The former world number one, now ranked seventh, faced similar scrutiny after quarter-final exits at the Australian and French Opens and a second-round loss at Wimbledon.

In September Djokovic, 28, seized his 10th Grand Slam title and now stands just seven behind the record of Roger Federer, who he has defeated in the US Open final.

Nadal and Djokovic face each other in an exhibition match, which organisers say is sold-out, in Bangkok’s Hua Mark Indoor Stadium on Friday, starting at 0100 GMT. AFP

Serena cuts season short

Gone in 28 minutes. Regular slots for the Cobra Energy Drink Ironman 70.3 Asia Pacific Championship 2016 have been sold out in 28 minutes during the listup in Mactan, Cebu Thursday, beating its previous record of 40 minutes for the 2015 edition of the premier swim-bike-run event. Photo shows triathletes gracing the event organized by Sunrise Events, Inc. and sponsored by Alaska Milk Corp. at the Cebu Provincial Capitol. For details on the 2016 Ironman 70.3 As-Pac Championship, visit www.ironman.com/philippines70.3, follow us on www.facebook.com/CobraIronman70.3Philippines, @cobraironman703 on Instagram, @CobraIronman703 on Twitter for updates. Tag us at #cobra703apac; #ironman703philippines; #IM703ceburegistered; #ironmanmorefun; #IM703APAC2016.

WUHAN—Serena Williams finally signalled her anguish at letting slip a calendar-year Grand Slam on Thursday as she brought her season to an early close, passing up a hefty financial windfall.

Williams pulled out of both the China Open and the year-ending WTA Finals, saying she needed “time to heal” -- despite missing hundreds of thousands of dollars in bonuses and prize money.

“I am taking a proactive step and withdrawing from tournaments in Beijing and Singapore to properly address my health and take the time to heal,” she said in a statement.

Williams was two matches from equalling Steffi Graf’s record 22 Slam trophies, and 1988 sweep of all four major titles, when she suffered a stunning loss to Roberta Vinci in the US Open semis.

Beyond a perfunctory and bad-tempered post-match press conference in New York, Williams has so far kept her

counsel about the defeat, in which she threw away a oneset lead.

But Williams, 34, who has not played since losing to Vinci, said it was her emotions rather than any physical injury which most troubled her after the dramatic choke at Flushing Meadows.

“It’s no secret I’ve played injured most of the year -whether it was my elbow, my knee, or, in the final moments after a certain match in Flushing, my heart,” Williams said.

With the decision, Williams forfeits a US$450,000 bonus for playing all four premier mandatory tournaments, plus a cut of the $7 million prize money at the WTA Finals -- an event she has won five times.

- ‘Really sorry for Serena’ Her announcement did not come as a complete surprise after her coach, Patrick Mouratoglou, this week said she was hurting and lacking motivation for the rest of the season. AFP

NCAA games reset for Tuesday Games Tuesday (Oct. 6) 8 a.m.- Mapua vs St. Benilde (jrs) 10 a.m.- Arellano vs EAC (jrs) 12 nn.- Mapua vs St. Benilde (srs) 2 p.m.- AU vs EAC (srs) 4 p.m.- Letran vs San Beda (srs) 6 p.m.- Letran vs San Beda (srs)

THE National Collegiate Athletic Association postponed all its Season 91 games yesterday at The Arena in San Juan City due to Tropical Storm Kabayan.

“Due to the suspension of classes in Metro Manila especially San Juan in all levels, all games today (yesterday) are suspended,” said NCAA Management Committee chair Melchor Divina of Mapua.

The postponed games were supposed to pit Jose Rizal (11-6) against San Sebastian (6-11), Emilio Aguinaldo (2-14) vs Mapua (10-6) and Perpetual Help (11-6) against Letran (12-4).

Divina said these games will be rescheduled on Thursday, which will be the final playdate of the double-round elimination.

The league resumes on Tuesday with a heavy three-game bill featuring Mapua versus St. Benilde (5-12) at 12 noon, Arellano University (11-6) against EAC at 2 p.m. and Letran against reigning five-peat champion San Beda (12-5).

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SPORTS sports@thestandard.com.ph

NY Yankees chalk up 10,000th triumph NEW YORK—The New York Yankees clinched a playoff spot nine days after the legendary Yogi Berra died, beating the Boston Red Sox 4-1 to record their 10,000th win in franchise history.

Warriors, Lancers win semis openers

By Mikey Izumi CEBU CITY—Despite playing with an eight-man roster, the USC Warriors proved too much for the Southwestern University Cobras, 85-66, even as the fancied University of Visayas Green Lancers turned back the University of San Jose-Recoletos Jaguars, 87-77, at the start of the Final Four of the CESAFI championship at the Cebu Coliseum here.

Down by nine, 20-29, at the half, the Warriors opened the third quarter with a bang behind Ian Ortega’s hot shooting.

Ortega, who finished the game with his season-high 19 points, buried six of his nine threepoint shot attempts to put the Warriors on top, 59-40, in the third frame.

The Cobras managed to slice the lead to 14 midway in the fourth quarter, but this time, Charles Pepito took over the scoring scores for the Warriors, as he led his team to a strong finish.

It also did not help the Cobras’ cause when Jan Auditor was ejected for punching Ortega in the midsection in the final minutes.

Pepito, who finished with 14 points and 19 big rebounds, was later named the “Best Player of the Game” by the Viva Sports TV panelists Rico Navarro and Sandi Grumo.

Mark Racho led the Cobras with his season-high 22 points, while MVP Mark Jayven Tallo added 15.

The Cobras played minus Fil-Samoan rookie sensation Juju Bautista, who severely injured his right ankle that sidelined him for the rest of the season.

Meanwhile, the UV Green Lancers outplayed the USJ-R Jaguars, 87-77, despite some rough play.

Alex Rodriguez of the New York Yankees celebrates their 4-1 win against the Boston Red Sox and their wildcard playoff berth after their game at Yankee Stadium in New York City. AFP

Jiu-jitsu wrestles way into world stage RIO DE JANEIRO—New Zealander Jason Lee lies face down on a Rio de Janeiro floor, his arm twisted in a painful lock. But the 26-year-old couldn’t be happier—it’s exactly what he came halfway around the world to experience.

As pastry chefs might make pilgrimages to France or mystics to India, so hardened fighters from around the globe beat a path to Rio gyms to learn Brazilian jiu-jitsu, a formerly obscure martial art that has become an unlikely success story and export.

Once restricted almost entirely to the Latin American country, Brazilian jiu-jitsu is one of the world’s fastest-growing forms of unarmed combat, credited with igniting the mixed martial arts or MMA cage fighting phenomenon, and popular from the United States to the Middle East and Asia.

At the cramped GFTeam academy in a section of northern Rio rarely

visited by tourists, Lee is one of four non-Brazilians among the 20 or so men and women grappling on the mats.

Clearly the gringos—as foreigners in Brazil are teasingly dubbed— didn’t come for the fancy facilities: the gym is open to a noisy sidewalk, has a dodgy toilet, and is so small that fighters literally bounce off the padded walls.

The real attraction is simple: more than half of everyone in the room wears the elite black belt.

“They refer to this place as the champion factory,” Lee says.

A wiry, soft spoken man, Lee was a karate black belt in New Zealand when he stumbled across jiu-jitsu.

Less than three years later—after reaching blue belt, stage two in the long haul to jiu-jitsu black—he was sufficiently hooked to grab a plane to Rio. “There’s something about jiujitsu,” Lee said. “You fall under the

spell.”

- Legendary family In about 1914, with jiu-jitsu barely known outside Asia, Japanese immigrant and jiu-jitsu master Mitsuyo Maeda introduced the sport to Brazil by giving lessons to the sons of businessman Gastao Gracie in the Amazon jungle city of Belem.

But it was Gracie’s youngest son Helio—considered too sickly to take part—who would make history.

Helio, according to legend, spent years watching his brothers from the sidelines before finally getting a chance. When he did, he had a novel idea: why not adapt the traditional moves to suit his weaker physique?

The supposed weakling proved right.

Experimenting and refining, Helio came up with techniques that would allow skilled smaller practitioners to dominate bigger, stronger opponents—and with that, Brazilian jiu-jitsu, or BJJ, was born.

Ex-POC chief Rene Cruz dies

Smart runners bag biggest delegation award. Over a hundred employee-athletes from wireless leader Smart Communications participated in the recently held annual Caliraya 360 Fun Run in Lumban, Laguna. Apart from winning the biggest delegation award, members of the Smart team also bagged podium finishes. Alfeus delos Santos, a senior engineer based in Laguna, and Ma. Bernadeth Ecleo from the services and platform delivery group both finished 3rd in the 4km category, male and female divisions, respectively. Smart delegates are members of the Samahang Mananakbo ng Smart and Smart Mountaineering Clubs, two of the 22 employee clubs in Smart that seek to promote active wellness in the company so its workforce can live by the “Live More” manifesto.

FORMER Philippine Olympic Committee president and retired police general Rene R. Cruz died last Tuesday, Sept. 29 at the Asian Hospital in Alabang, Muntinlupa. He was 85 years old.

A Korean war veteran, former Olympic swimmer, an expert in military intelligence, security, research and logistics and recipient of 20 medals/decorations, Cruz left behind hs wife Victoria, children Ding, Ruby, Arianne and Miriam, 12 grandchildren and seven great grandchildren.

He was POC head when Filipino athletes competed in the 1996 Olympic Games in Atlanta, where boxer Mansueto “Onyok” Velasco bagged a silver medal.

The milestone victory carried added significance Thursday for the Yankees who claimed a wild card spot and also avoided a series sweep to the rival Red Sox. “It is a relief,” said Yankees infielder Alex Rodriguez. “It has been an emotional week for us when you think about Yogi’s funeral and finally clinching.”

New York needs one more win or one more loss by the Houston Astros to get the home field advantage in Tuesday’s Major League Baseball wild card contest.

Right fielder Carlos Beltran, first baseman Greg Bird and second baseman Rob Refsnyder hit solo home runs while pitcher CC Sabathia tossed five innings while pitching through cold and rain at times.

The Yankees (87-72) are back in the playoffs for the first time since they won 95 games and their last AL East title.

“We had to overcome lot of obstacles,” Rodriguez said. “We come together the last eight months as a team. We don’t play for statistics, we play as a team and that has been our DNA.” Beltran hit his 19th home run in the second off Boston pitcher Rich Hill, and Bird added some breathing room by hitting his 11th homer with one out in the seventh off Jean Machi in front of a crowd of 40,033.

Refsnyder tacked on more runs, hammering a fastball from Heath Hembree over the left-center field fence.

Sabathia allowed one run and six hits in his fifth start since returning from a right knee problem.

He put nine of the 22 batters he faced on base, but only allowed an RBI single to center fielder Mookie Betts in the fifth inning.

Sabathia got some much needed help from his defense, which completed double plays on shortstop Xander Bogaerts and right fielder Rusney Castillo in the third and fourth innings. AFP

S AT U R D AY : O C T O B E R 3 , 2 0 1 5

A14

SPORTS sports@thestandard.com.ph

Pacman fails to send MRI results to Arum

By Ronnie Nathanielsz

TOP Rank promoter Bob Arum is getting increasingly frustrated and terribly upset with eight-division world champion Manny Pacquiao, who has apparently failed to transmit the results of an MRI taken in Manila to check on how his right shoulder rotator cuff was recovering from surgery after the May 2 showdown with Floyd Mayweather Jr. Pacquiao complained that he hurt his shoulder in the fourth round of his duel with Mayweather and underwent surgery on May 7 at the clinic of Dr. Neal ElAttrache, a famed orthopedic surgeon, who

performed the 90-minute procedure.

But Pacquiao, who was supposed to fly to Los Angeles to have it checked, failed to do so and instead had an MRI done in the Philippines, but has appar-

ently failed to send the results to Dr. ElAttrache.

Arum told The Standard/ boxingmirror.com “all he has to do is to email the results to the doctor. How hard is that to do?”

Arum said he is adamant that he won’t “book him for any fights until Dr. ElAttrache clears him to fight.”

“This is embarrassing.

What’s wrong with these people? It doesn’t speak well of their organization,” Arum said.

In the meantime, Arum said that five-division world champion Nonito “The Filipino Flash” Donaire will fight in December.

He has guaranteed

Nonito it will be on either HBO or another network and will be against No. 1-ranked WBO super bantamweight Saul Juarez for the interim title.

He said the fight will be either in the New York metropolitan area or Puerto Rico.

At the same time, Arum said that the showdown between pound-for-pound No. 1 World Boxing Council flyweight champion Roman “Chocolatito” Gonzalez, who is a terrific boxer, “should be a good fight, but if anybody can beat Gonzalez it’s Viloria.”

“I like Viloria who is a nice boy,” said Arum.

The October 1 Thrilla in Manila between Muhammad Ali (left) and Joe Frazier is considered as the greatest heavyweight championship battle of all time.

‘Remembering the Thrilla in Manila’ OCTOBER 1 marked the 30th anniversary of perhaps the greatest heavyweight championship battle of all time between Muhammad Ali and Joe Frazier.

To commemorate the historic event, Viva Sports presents a one-hour special titled “Remembering the Thrilla in Manila,” on the top-rated weekly boxing show “The Main Event” telecast on Pinoy Box Office over Sky Cable nationwide on Saturday at 8:30 p.m., with a replay on Saturday at 10:30 a.m.

Relive one of the most enthralling weeks in Phil-

ippine sports history as the attention of the world was focused on Manila when the two greatest heavyweights of the modern era show the inside story, leading up to the scheduled 15-round title fight at the Araneta Coliseum which, for the event, was named the Philippine Coliseum in order to project our country to the world.

The special includes interviews with the owner of the Araneta Coliseum, George “Nene” Araneta and a brief interview during a courtesy call by the fighters on President Ferdinand Marcos and the

First Lady Imelda Romualdez Marcos at Malacanang Palace.

There’s also Binibining Pilipinas Chiqui Brosas, whom Ali took a fancy to, remembering Ali. “Remember the Thrilla in Manila” also features well-known election lawyer Atty. Romulo Makalintal, who recalls his nearly two-hour conversation with Ali at his Hilton Hotel suite.

Romy was befriended

by Ali when he saw Atty.

Makalintal’s scrapbook loaded with clippings of the champion. Ronnie Nathanielsz

Ferguson...

From A15

BBC Radio 1: “I called him and asked him. He’s like a father figure to me.

“The other day I saw him for the first time in a long time. We’d never even think about having a little glass of wine or beer (as players) in front of him but the other day someone handed me a glass of wine and I was talking to him (Ferguson) for 20 minutes with the wine hidden behind my back. Me, Nicky Butt and Paul Scholes all said the same thing, we all hid the glass of wine behind our back.” AFP

Gilas’ collective greatness (This column is being written hours before the semifinal knockout game between Japan and the Gilas Pilipinas national team, with the winner facing the winner of the Iran-China game in the finals.)

THE Philippine national basketball team, Gilas Pilipinas, has exceeded all RONNIE NATHANIELSZ expectations in its magnificent performance in the FIBA Asia Championships in China, scoring a stunning victory over defending champions Iran, routing the dangerous Indian squad and overcoming a fiercely competitive Lebanon side in the quarterfinals to set up a showdown against Japan for a finals berth.

The unbelievers gave this team hardly any chance after the some professional teams refused to release key players to the Gilas team, coached

by Tab Baldwin, who has done an amazing job, win or lose, in the quest for a berth in the Olympic Games in Brazil next year.

This team has played way above expectations, putting to shame the players, who declined to wear the country’s colors, which surely must be considered an honor and a privilege and a couple of team owners, who apparently don’t value the long-standing call for country above club or in our native language the oft-repeated advocacy of the late two-time FIBA president Lito Puyat— “Para sa Bayan!”

Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas president Manny V. Pangilinan, who spoke to us the other morning by telephone from Hong Kong, where he was shuttling back and forth between important business meetings there and the games in China, remarked with unadulterated pride that “this is a special team, comprising players who really want to be part of Gilas and who truly love this country by serving the best way they can.”

The passionate supporter of the Gilas program, who is obviously abreast of the flood of admiration for the historical epic Heneral Luna, suggested that “all of your PLDT PBA teams should wear a shirt quoting Heneral Luna—‘Bayan muna hindi Sarili.’

How telling a message to those who failed to respond to the call of our country.

But what mystified us even more was the gall of some PBA team officials to show up in China when they failed miserably to support the Gilas Pilipinas national team.

Indeed, what was the rationale for former Commissioner Chito Salud, who had committed to use his supposed persuasive powers to convince team owners to support our national team, but obviously failed miserably, for going to China?

While newly appointed Commissioner Chito Narvasa was there, in an effort to study the implementation of FIBA rules and the move by some supporters of the PBA to adapt these rules so as to make it easier in transition for PBA players chosen to compete in FIBA-approved international tournaments, which justified his trip along with deputy commissioner Ricky Santos, what in heaven’s name was media bureau chief and the reported special assistant to Salud, Willy Marcial doing?

Was it to try and influence the sportswriters in China to spare the PBA officials from criticism especially in the face of wholesale criticism in social media for their abject failure to support our national team and perhaps to claim, without an ounce of shame, that the PBA supports Gilas Pilipinas!

The only individuals, who had an inherent right to be in China were the son of Alaska Aces former PBA chairman Fred Uytengsu and the group of the Talk ‘N Text team, who gave so much and asked so little in return.

Measured against a couple of PBA officials, such hypocrisy rankles those of us who have, no matter what the seemingly insurmountable odds, kept the faith and supported our team, because IT IS OUR NATIONAL TEAM! Tab Baldwin has built a team with what was given him and has turned individual mediocrity in some instances, into collective greatness anchored on typical Filipino skill, creative genius and innovation and indomitable courage .

For all of this, to God be the glory!

INSIDE SPORTS

S AT U R D AY : O C T O B E R 3 , 2 0 1 5

SPORTS sports@thestandard.com.ph

National U Pep Squad rd seeks 3 straight crown NATIONAL University Pep Squad seeks a third straight crown in the much-anticipated UAAP Season 78 cheerdance competition at 2 p.m. today before an expected full-house crowd at the Mall of Asia Arena.

From a perennial also-ran, the Bulldogs have been on a steady rise, finishing sixth four years ago, making it to the podium in 2012, before snaring two straight titles.

NU is eyeing to become the

third school in the 20-year old competition to win three cheerdance titles after University of Santo Tomas Salinggawi Dance Troupe and University of the Philippines Pep Squad.

Last season, the Bulldogs

were dominant in all aspects —tumbling, stunts, tosses, pyramids and dances—to tally 677.5 points and take home the P240,000 cash prize.

The Fighting Maroons, with gender equality as their theme, settled for runner-up honors with 658 points, while the Growling Tigers made a successful return to the podium, finishing third with 625 points on a Chinese-style performance.

UP will perform first, followed by La Salle Animo

Squad, Ateneo Blue Babble Battalion, NU, University of the East Pep Squad, Adamson Pep Squad, FEU and UST. In the group stunts category, the Tamaraws, who dethroned the Bulldogs last year, are seeking to retain the title.

The cheerdance competition is a part of a heavy UAAP weekend, which also features tomorrow’s men’s basketball showdown between fierce rivals Ateneo and La Salle at the Mall of Asia Arena.

A15 LOTTO RESULTS 6/45 00-00-00-00-00-00 P0.0 M+ 4 DIGITS 00-00-00-00 3 DIGITS 00-00-00 2 EZ2 00-00

BMW kings to young bikers: Join world meets

By Peter Atencio

Ferguson, Beckham together again LONDON—Alex Ferguson is to manage David Beckham once again when he takes charge of a Great Britain and Ireland select for a charity match next month at Old Trafford.

Beckham was a high-profile member of Ferguson’s Manchester United team for 11 years before the pair had a notorious falling out in 2003 after the Scot accidentally kicked a boot that struck the former England captain above his left eye.

Ferguson sold Beckham to Real Madrid four months after the dressing room incident and then criticised the ex-England captain in his autobiography, but the pair are now on good terms.

Beckham contacted 73-yearold Ferguson recently to see if he wanted to get involved in the charity match designed to

raise funds for UNICEF and the former United manager accepted the offer.

He will manage a Great Britain and Ireland XI, which will be captained by Beckham, at Old Trafford on November 14.

It will be the first time the retired Scot has returned to the dugout since ending his 26-year reign as United manager in 2013.

In the opposing corner will be Carlo Ancelotti, who managed Beckham at AC Milan and Paris St Germain.

The Italian will manage a Rest of the World XI led by former Real Madrid and France star Zinedine Zidane.

The other players involved will be announced over the next month.

On Ferguson’s involvement in the match, Beckham told Continued on A14

Flatland BMX biker world champ Viki Gomez holds a copy of The Standard during his exhibition at the PhilBike Expo 2015.

Photo below shows Matthias Dandois displaying off his bike skills. PETER ATENCIO

WORLD BMX champions Jorge “Viki” Gomez and Matthias Dandois encouraged potential Filipino riders to start young and join international competitions if they want to excel in their chosen sport.

Gomez and Dandois are in the country in a week-long visit with Italian rider Vittorio Brumotti.

Gomez, Dandois and Brumotti are in the country to showcase their skills at the Philbike Expo 2015, which will run from Oct. 2 to 4 at the SMX Convention Center of the Mall of Asia.

“I started out young, at age 14. I had a cheap BMX bike. I saw a group riders who were into slalom,” said Gomez in relating his experience to a group of BMX enthusiasts last Tuesday.

Gomez said he turned professional at 19, and went on to win several titles.

He was hailed as the no. 1 flatlander of the year by his fellow pros in the recent Rde BMX Nora Cup Awards 2015.

Dandois, meanwhile, said exposing Filipino BMX enthusiasts to international competitions will give them a chance to excel in the world stage.

“It’s important for them to join international competitions, like in Japan and Singapore. Then, when they come back here in the Philippines, they can share their experience,” said Dandois.

Dandois, a Frenchman, said he first got into street riding. In 2002, he dabbled into the flatland style at 13.

He was recognized as the best in the world in 2008, claiming titles in the Dew Tour, Bike Days, Astrolabe, Revolkon and at the O’Marisquino.

This year, he also had podium finishes in competitions held in the United States.

Brumotti has been joining competitions in 2011. He does his tricks on a part-time basis, since he is a journalist by profession back in Italy, where he also appears in TV shows.

The Philbike Expo is the country’s first and largest trade and consumer show dedicated to the promotion for the development on cycling.

It’s now on its second year, according to project director Eve Geslani.

Last year, the event was held at the World Trade Center, which had overwhelming response from the biking community, the reason why it was held at a bigger venue this year.

“It had an overwhelming response.

The community wanted it bigger. So we had it here SMX with three world-class athletes. How we got here, I really don’t know. But we owe it to the passion of cycling community in the Philippines,” said Geslani.

S AT U R D AY : O C T O B E R 3 , 2 0 1 5

A16

RIERA U. MALL ARI EDITOR

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

sports@thestandard.com.ph

SPORTS

Already Asia’s best point guard, Jayson Castro may turn out to be the best basketball player in the 2015 FIBA Asia Championship. FIBA.COM

Castro in the mix for MVP title

By Jeric Lopez

THE best point guard in Asia, may turn out to be the best basketball player in the continent.

Smart Gilas Pilipinas guard Jayson Castro (known in international play as Jayson Williams), who was named as Asia’s best point guard two years ago, is in the mix to win the Most Valuable Player

award in the ongoing 2015 FIBA Asia Championship with his sensational and consistent play in leading the Philippines’ drive to secure the only berth for Asia in the Rio Olympics.

Castro, who was named

7 col x 10 cm

to the Mythical Five (point guard position) back in 2013 in the last version of the tournament, has so far displayed consistent and exceptional leadership aside from putting up the needed points to lead the nationals to a sixth straight victory and into the semifinals against Japan, which they were playing late Friday.

For the record, Castro

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

has been averaging 17.4 points, three rebounds and 2.1 assists and is shooting an exceptional 56.3 percent per contest thus far.

Gilas Pilipinas coach Tab Baldwin himself said he is continually awed by what Castro is doing for the National team and of his ability to perform at a high level each game.

“He is just a true talent,’’ said Baldwin of his top gun. “He’s really carry-

ing us both on and off the court like a true leader.’’

The 29-year-old spitfire exploded for 26 points early in the week to tow Gilas Pilipinas to a critical victory over defending champion Iran in the second round of the eliminations to help the nationals secure the top seed for Group E and be in a good position to go all the way.

And against Lebanon on Wednesday, Castro scattered

25 points to again lead the nationals to the semifinals against the Japanese.

Aside from Castro, the other contender for the MVP plum is Chinese ace and former NBA player Yi Jianlian. China remains unbeaten and was playing Iran also Friday in the other semifinal pairing.

Yi has been averaging 18 points, eight rebounds and 1.6 assists per contest for China.

B1

SATURDAY: OCTOBER 3, 2015

RAY S. EÑANO EDITOR

RODERICK T. DELA CRUZ ASSISTANT EDITOR

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

BUSINESS

PH least hit by China slowdown

By Julito G. Rada

THE Philippines is among the few Asian countries that will weather the impact of the slowdown in China’s economy, global debt watcher Fitch Ratings said Friday.

Fitch cited in its latest report the Philippines, along with Indonesia, Malaysia, and Thailand as the economies that would not likely be affected too much by the slowdown in the world’s second biggest economy.

“The Asean countries [Indonesia, Malaysia, Thailand

and the Philippines] would be less affected, with GDP gap reaching around 2pp [percentage points] by 2017 in all four countries.

Exchange rate flexibility will help mitigate the shock, including the increase in risk premium, while the delay in the Fed tightening would have some positive effects,”

Fitch said.

Fitch said Australia would be affected, with a 1.8-pp GDP impact by 2017. “This is the net effect of the large exposure through direct trade channels to China and the counter-cyclical policy options available to a developed country with sound fundamentals,” it said.

Fitch said the “ultra-open Asian economies” of Singapore, Hong Kong and Korea would be hit the hardest by the shock with a cumulative effect on gross domestic product “reaching 3 pp, 4.5 pp and 4.3 pp by 2017,

respectively.”

Taiwan would experience a 3.3pp impact on GDP. India would be less affected by falling demand in China, but the increasing risk premium complicates the monetary policy response to the shock, it said.

Brazil would also be hit by a risk premium shock on top of the lower commodity prices and contraction of exports to China.

In Russia, the lower oil prices play a major role in propagating the shock. The cumulative effect would be 1 pp in India, 3 pp in Brazil and 2.8 pp in Russia, it said.

Standard Chartered Asian economist Jeff Ng earlier said in a news briefing the Philippine economy had become more domestic market-oriented at the expense of the external sector.

“Private consumption has increasingly been supported by remittances, rising per-capita income from low bases and improving trend employment rates,” Ng said.

He said the economy would also be likely more resilient to external shocks than in 1992 and 1998. He said GDP would likely improve to 6 percent in 2016 from 5.7 percent in 2015.

PSe comPoSite index Closing October 2, 2015

8000

Networking night.

7700 7400

British Chamber of Commerce Philippines chairman Christopher Nelson (left) and UK Trade and Investment Director Iain Mansfield pose during the 2nd Speed Networking Night on September 30, 2015 held at the Makati Diamond Residences, Makati City. The British chamber, along with the local German, French and Spanish chambers, organized the 2nd Speed Networking Night at the Makati Diamond Residences. The event allowed the members of each chamber to reunite with their colleagues and expand their business network.

7100 6800 6500

6,850.61 40.33

PeSo-dollar rate

Closing OCTOBER 2, 2015 43.50 44.60 45.40

P46.770

46.20

CLOSE

47.00

HIGH P46.720 LOW P46.840 AVERAGE P46.790 VOLUME 611.800M

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

oPriceS il P today

P34.55-P39.15 Kerosene P20.75-P21.75 Auto LPG Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas Friday, October 2, 2015

F oreign e xchange r ate Currency

Unit

US Dollar

Peso

United States

Dollar

1.000000

46.7050

Japan

Yen

0.008339

0.3895

UK

Pound

1.513100

70.6693

Hong Kong

Dollar

0.129036

6.0266

Switzerland

Franc

1.022913

47.7752

Canada

Dollar

0.754432

35.2357

Singapore

Dollar

0.699056

32.6494

Australia

Dollar

0.705617

32.9558

Bahrain

Dinar

2.656254

124.0603

Saudi Arabia

Rial

0.266667

12.4547

Brunei

Dollar

0.696621

32.5357

Indonesia

Rupiah

0.000068

0.0032

Thailand

Baht

0.027457

1.2824

UAE

Dirham

0.272264

12.7161

Euro

Euro

1.118500

52.2395

Korea

Won

0.000848

0.0396

China

Yuan

0.157144

7.3394

India

Rupee

0.015249

0.7122

Malaysia

Ringgit

0.227066

10.6051

New Zealand

Dollar

0.641807

Taiwan

Dollar

0.030490

29.9756 1.4240 Source: PDS Bridge

PAL uses Boeing 777 fleet for Manila-New York flights

By Darwin G. Amojelar PHILIPPINE Airlines said Friday it will use Boeing 777 fleet for its Manila-to-New York flights in order to increase seat capacity on the route.

The country’s flag carrier will shift to the 370 seater state-ofthe-art, fuel-efficient B777-300s from the 254-seater Airbus A340s as operating fleet for long-haul operations between the two cities, with a Vancouver stop-over

by October.

“Using the B777 to the US Mainland enables us to achieve our goal of operating our long haul flights efficiently and economically. With this shift, passengers on the route will experience PAL’s trademark Filipino service in the comfort of the modern B777,” PAL president and chief operating officer Jaime Bautista said.

PAL currently utilizes B777s for its San Francisco, Los Angeles, Vancouver and Toronto operations as well as select regional and international routes.

The flag carrier is taking delivery of two additional units, slated to arrive in October and December 2016, respectively.

Bautista earlier said the company was looking at acquiring eight widebodied aircraft over the next two to three years to replace A340 aircraft.

“Its still under evaluation whether we will acquire A350s or Boeing 787 Dreamliner, hopefully we can make a recommendation to the board before the end of the year,” he said.

PAL Holdings Inc. in the first

half of 2015 recorded a consolidated total comprehensive income of P5.94 billion, up 1,500 percent from just P362.4 million year-on-year.

Total revenues in the first half rose 14 percent to P55.95 billion from P48.95 billion a year earlier.

Revenues in the second quarter reached P28.09 billion, up 2.9 percent from P27.23 billion.

The company aims to book 12 million passengers this year, higher from about 10 million passengers in 2014.

SATURDAY: OCTOBER 3, 2015

B2

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

The STandard BuSineSS daily STockS review Friday, OctOber 2, 2015

52 Weeks

Previous

High Low 7.88 75.3 124.4 107 56.5 4.2 17 30.45 10.4 2.6 1.01 100 1.46 30.5 75 91.5 137 361.2 57 180 1700 124 3.26 47 5 1.46 2.36 15.3 20.6 36 65.8 2.97 4.14 21.5 21.6 11.96 9.13 11.8 17 31.8 109 15.3 9.4 0.98 241 79 4 33.9 90 293 5 5.25 12.98 7.03 3.4 4.5 6.3 7.86 238 3.28 0.315 2.18 2.65 234 5.28 1.3 26 2.17 0.59 59.2 30.05 3.4 823.5 10.2 84 4.92 0.66 1455 7.5 76 5.29 9.25 0.85 17.3 5.53 6.55 0.0670 1.61 2.99 84.9 974 1.66 1.39 156 0.710 0.435 0.510 10.5 26.95 1.99 1.75 41.4 5.6

STOCKS

Close

High

Low

FINANCIAL 2.7 2.52 69.3 68.3 105.90 104.00 81.65 80.05 41.8 41.3 1.35 1.33 15.5 15.2 20 19.9 7.40 7.39 2.95 2.21 0.710 0.630 82.9 80.5 0.96 0.96 16.50 16.00 24.00 24.00 50.00 49.65 105 104 295 295 30.15 30 141.3 137.4 1465.00 1460.00 52.00 51.00 2.95 2.94 INDUSTRIAL 35.9 Aboitiz Power Corp.

43.35 43.5 43.25 1.11 Agrinurture Inc. 1.49 1.53 1.53 1.01 Alliance Tuna Intl Inc. 0.91 0.91 0.89 1.86 Alsons Cons.

1.55 1.56 1.51 7.92 Asiabest Group 10.5 10.92 10.6 15.32 Century Food 16.4 16.7 16.62 10.08 Cirtek Holdings (Chips) 25.85 25.9 25 29.15 Concepcion 40 42.5 42.5 1.5 Crown Asia 2.6 2.66 2.38 1.5 Da Vinci Capital 1.92 2 1.83 10.72 Del Monte 9.75 9.75 9.62 9.55 DNL Industries Inc. 10.460 10.600 10.28 9.04 Emperador 6.99 7.02 6.99 6.02 Energy Devt. Corp. (EDC) 5.65 5.99 5.66 8.86 EEI 7.67 7.69 7.67 8.61 Federal Res. Inv. Group 12 12.6 11.9 20.2 First Gen Corp.

22.25 22.6 21.9 71.5 First Holdings ‘A’ 65.85 66.95 65.8 13.24 Holcim Philippines Inc. 12.90 12.90 12.90 5.34 Integ. Micro-Electronics 5.7 5.79 5.68 0.395 Ionics Inc 3.530 3.840 3.140 193.10 192.00 173 Jollibee Foods Corp.

192.00 34.1 Liberty Flour 31.10 31.25 31.10 1.63 Mabuhay Vinyl 4.5 4.48 4.1 23.35 Manila Water Co. Inc. 21.8 22.3 21.75 17.3 Maxs Group 21.35 21.35 20.8 250.2 Mla. Elect. Co `A’ 296.60 298.00 295.20 3.37 Panasonic Mfg Phil. Corp. 3.81 3.93 3.93 3.87 Pepsi-Cola Products Phil. 4.16 4.18 4.09 8.45 Petron Corporation 6.89 6.89 6.81 3.03 Phoenix Petroleum Phils. 3.30 3.33 3.20 1.95 Phoenix Semiconductor 1.96 2.01 1.94 1 Pryce Corp. `A’ 2.25 2.61 2.26 4.02 RFM Corporation 3.91 4.00 3.91 1.65 Roxas and Co. 2.72 2.85 2.77 161 San Miguel’Pure Foods `B’ 138.1 139.9 139 1.55 Splash Corporation 2.17 2.2 2.13 0.138 Swift Foods, Inc. 0.147 0.153 0.148 1.02 TKC Steel Corp.

1.02 1.39 1.05 2.09 Trans-Asia Oil 1.90 1.95 1.89 152 Universal Robina 188.6 190 188 4.28 Victorias Milling 4.56 4.56 4.56 0.640 Vitarich Corp.

0.67 0.68 0.67 10.02 Vivant Corp.

23.00 23.95 23.95 1.2 Vulcan Ind’l.

1.05 1.16 1.02 HOLDING FIRMS 0.44 Abacus Cons. `A’ 0.415 0.425 0.385 48.1 Aboitiz Equity 56.6000 57.5000 56.5000 20.85 Alliance Global Inc. 16.12 16.50 16.10 0.23 ATN Holdings A 0.240 0.238 0.235 634.5 Ayala Corp `A’ 757.5 770 749 7.390 Cosco Capital 6.75 6.87 6.7 12.8 DMCI Holdings 12.30 12.74 12.24 2.26 Filinvest Dev. Corp.

3.88 4.00 3.85 0.152 Forum Pacific 0.260 0.315 0.270 837 GT Capital 1300 1301 1295 5.3 House of Inv. 5.95 6.20 6.00 49.55 JG Summit Holdings 69.95 70.20 68.85 3 Keppel Holdings `A’ 6.59 6.5 3.7 4.84 Lopez Holdings Corp.

5.59 5.65 5.52 0.59 Lodestar Invt. Holdg.Corp. 0.72 0.75 0.7 12 LT Group 10.16 10.16 9.79 4.2 Metro Pacific Inv. Corp. 5 5.06 4.93 4.5 Minerales Industrias Corp. 8.45 8.47 8.1 0.030 Pacifica `A’ 0.0360 0.0420 0.0350 0.550 Prime Orion 1.730 1.950 1.720 2.26 Republic Glass ‘A’ 2.7 2.71 2.71 50.20 47.00 59.3 San Miguel Corp `A’ 49.60 751 SM Investments Inc. 888.50 888.50 855.00 1.13 Solid Group Inc. 1.19 1.22 1.16 0.93 South China Res. Inc. 0.70 0.70 0.66 80 Top Frontier 77.000 77.000 73.100 0.211 Unioil Res. & Hldgs 0.3300 0.3450 0.3150 0.179 Wellex Industries 0.2200 0.2420 0.2100 0.310 Zeus Holdings 0.250 0.230 0.230 PROPERTY 6.74 8990 HLDG 6.500 6.500 6.420 12 Anchor Land Holdings Inc. 8.26 8.30 8.29 0.65 A. Brown Co., Inc. 0.58 0.60 0.57 1.2 Araneta Prop `A’ 1.030 1.200 1.040 30.05 Ayala Land `B’ 34.050 34.050 33.400 3.36 Belle Corp. `A’ 3 3.01 2.92 2.5 66 88.05 88.1 45.45 1.68 12.02 19.6 6.12 1.02 0.225 78 0.9 17.8 58 62 88.35 276 41 118.2 1200 59 2.65

AG Finance Asia United Bank Banco de Oro Unibank Inc. Bank of PI China Bank Bright Kindle Resources COL Financial Eastwest Bank Filipino Fund Inc. I-Remit Inc. MEDCO Holdings Metrobank Natl. Reinsurance Corp.

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

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

SHARES 20,283,449 132,757,389 703,748,669 100,200,676 91,507,555 353,077,124 1,403,276,782

2.52 69.3 105.00 80.20 41.2 1.24 15.48 20 7.40 2.33 0.650 82.3 0.96 16.40 23.90 49.85 104 295 30.1 138 1455.00 51.05 2.95

Close

%

Net Foreign

Change Volume

Trade/Buying

2.7 69.3 105.00 80.30 41.3 1.33 15.3 19.9 7.40 2.34 0.630 81 0.96 16.50 24.00 49.85 104 295 30.05 140.3 1465.00 51.60 2.94

7.14 0.00 0.00 0.12 0.24 7.26 -1.16 -0.50 0.00 0.43 -3.08 -1.58 0.00 0.61 0.42 0.00 0.00 0.00 -0.17 1.67 0.69 1.08 -0.34

44,000 11,000 3,202,020 1,429,640 26,600 3,000 5,300 65,100 1,100 3,132,000 10,074,000 1,309,070 3,000 68,700 10,400 48,200 7,110 14,440 149,700 571,250 100 56,620 50,000

43.5 1.53 0.9 1.55 10.92 16.62 25.85 42.5 2.4 1.83 9.63 10.360 7.00 5.89 7.67 12.5 21.9 66.35 12.90 5.7 3.140 192.80 31.25 4.1 21.8 21.3 297.60 3.93 4.1 6.84 3.33 2.00 2.26 3.93 2.85 139 2.17 0.150 1.32 1.91 189 4.56 0.67 23.95 1.08

0.35 2.68 -1.10 0.00 4.00 1.34 0.00 6.25 -7.69 -4.69 -1.23 -0.96 0.14 4.25 0.00 4.17 -1.57 0.76 0.00 0.00 -11.05 0.42 0.48 -8.89 0.00 -0.23 0.34 3.15 -1.44 -0.73 0.91 2.04 0.44 0.51 4.78 0.65 0.00 2.04 29.41 0.53 0.21 0.00 0.00 4.13 2.86

1,051,100 15,000 202,000 1,693,000 4,200 11,700 677,100 100 7,048,000 1,518,000 62,600 5,866,300 1,917,500 30,183,000 39,500 7,800 3,398,900 451,660 185,200 144,600 50,722,000 503,080 18,000 76,000 824,700 40,900 424,780 1,000 412,000 1,072,200 45,000 170,000 2,163,000 84,000 49,000 5,960 379,000 4,780,000 3,468,000 577,000 1,549,070 15,000 184,000 100 700,000

0.425 56.8500 16.18 0.238 756 6.7 12.42 3.85 0.290 1298 6.00 69.90 6.5 5.54 0.72 9.89 5 8.47 0.0400 1.950 2.71 47.00 870.50 1.16 0.70 75.100 0.3150 0.2220 0.230

2.41 0.44 0.37 -0.83 -0.20 -0.74 0.98 -0.77 11.54 -0.15 0.84 -0.07 -1.37 -0.89 0.00 -2.66 0.00 0.24 11.11 12.72 0.37 -5.24 -2.03 -2.52 0.00 -2.47 -4.55 0.91 -8.00

340,000 1,522,040 6,758,407.50 16,920,800 -35,031,050.00 200,000 214,720 23,774,295.00 654,600 1,900,994.00 3,736,100 8,499,470.00 135,000 4,960,000 2,750.00 199,195 -22,373,310.00 5,100 2,061,710 72,159,418.00 80,000 3,733,100 3,900,307.00 1,068,000 12,174,600 13,437,744.00 14,218,300 -7,611,014.00 1,399,200 592,100,000 51,200.00 24,371,000 284,310.00 10,000 290,700 -5,928,465.00 313,040 -84,830,420.00 136,000 22,000 -13,520.00 9,010 -416,835.00 6,800,000 34,000.00 5,780,000 190,000

6.450 8.30 0.59 1.040 33.700 2.98

-0.77 0.48 1.72 0.97 -1.03 -0.67

50,100 2,000 247,000 290,000 5,400,300 3,635,000

577,414.00 79,292,342 11,954,948.50 -561,370.00 250,940.00 21,500.00 311,100.00 17,947,258.00 -2,880.00 -131,800.00 240,000.00 -667,100.00 1,634,300.00 -754,440 21,559,924.00 146,075.00 -2,040,491.00 36,658,285.00

-21,746.00 112,650.00 -351,026.00 3,104,950.00 662,111.00 -107,971,996.00 769.00 -1,250.00 -16,820,860.00 -1,968,154.00 -1,028,130.00 564,050.00 1,388,510.00 61,860,669.00 -11,021,030.00 72,023,088.00 1,193,020.00 1,392,282.00 3,900.00 25,600.00 -86,620.00 646,800.00 9,390.00 -327,670.00 -97,943,747.00 22,800.00

-82,078.00 12,440.00 209,000.00 2,355,205.00 -1,132,680.00

52 Weeks

Previous

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

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

10.5 66 1.44 1.09 14.88 15.82 0.1430 5.06 99.1 7.67 2720 8.41 1.97 119.5 12.5 0.017 0.8200 2.2800 5.93 12.28 3.32 2.53 3.2 2.46 15.2 0.62 1.040 22.8 6.41 185 22.9 3486 0.760 2.28 46.05 90.1

1.97 35.2 1 0.63 10.5 8.6 0.0770 2.95 56.1 4.8 1600 5.95 1.23 102.6 8.72 0.011 0.041 1.200 2.34 6.5 1.91 1.01 1.95 1.8 6 0.335 0.37 14.54 3 79 4.39 2748 0.435 1.2 31.45 60.55

STOCKS

Close

Cebu Holdings Century Property Crown Equities Inc. Cyber Bay Corp.

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

Primex Corp.

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

11.6 0.85 2.95 10 0.490 1.9

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

Cebu Air Inc. (5J) DFNN Inc. Globe Telecom GMA Network Inc. Harbor Star I.C.T.S.I. IPeople Inc. `A’ IP E-Game Ventures Inc. Island Info ISM Communications Jackstones Leisure & Resorts Liberty Telecom Lorenzo Shipping Macroasia Corp.

Manila Jockey Melco Crown MG Holdings NOW Corp.

Pacific Online Sys. Corp.

PAL Holdings Inc. Phil. Seven Corp.

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

7.59 SSI Group 0.63 STI Holdings 1.71 Transpacific Broadcast 5 Travellers 0.315 Waterfront Phils.

1.14 Yehey

0.0098 5.45 12.8 1.19 1.62 9.5 4.2 0.48 0.420 0.440 0.022 8.2 49.2 4.27 3.06 0.021 7.67 12.88 10.42 0.040 420 9

0.0043 1.72 5.11 0.85 0.77 5.99 1.17 0.305 0.2130 0.2160 0.013 3.240 18.96 2.11 1.54 0.013 5.4 7.26 2.27 0.015 115.9 3.67

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

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

TA Petroleum

70 515 8.21 111 1047 78.95 84.8

33 480 5.88 101 1011 74.5 75

ABS-CBN Holdings Corp.

GLOBE PREF P GMA Holdings Inc. MWIDE PREF PF Pref 2 SMC Preferred B SMC Preferred C SMC Preferred D SMC Preferred E SMC Preferred F

6.98

0.8900 LR Warrant

88 12.88

13.5 5.95

130.7

105.6 First Metro ETF

IRipple E-Business Intl Xurpas

High

VALUE 672,561,650.90 1,246,780,002.11 1,705,930,344.27 1,278,618,412.53 1,305,155,871.08 106,023,028.95 6,340,996,925.34

FINANCIAL 1,539.78 (down) 1.58 INDUSTRIAL 10,690.05 (up) 51.50 HOLDING FIRMS 6,396.42 (down) 42.52 PROPERTY 2,839.67 (down) 21.85 SERVICES 1,633.90 (down) 22.82 MINING & OIL 10,734.64 (down) 108.69 PSEI 6,850.61 (down) 40.33 All Shares Index 3,957.19 (down) 18.26 Gainers: 72 Losers: 92; Unchanged: 40; Total: 204

Close

5.05 0.59 0.100 0.420 20.3 0.750 0.163 1.02 1.68 1.30 4.37 0.090 0.2850 7.75 28.30 1.54 3.29 20.70 0.73 7.84 0.690 5.100

%

Net Foreign

Change Volume

Trade/Buying

5.03 5 5 0.6 0.58 0.59 0.010 0.010 0.010 0.415 0.415 0.415 20.6 20.2 20.3 0.750 0.740 0.740 0.167 0.163 0.163 1.03 1.01 1.01 1.69 1.60 1.61 1.30 1.30 1.30 4.44 4.35 4.4 0.089 0.086 0.087 0.3400 0.2800 0.3300 8 7.7 7.71 28.95 28.15 28.40 1.55 1.55 1.55 3.19 3.19 3.19 20.90 20.20 20.50 0.73 0.71 0.73 7.8 7.8 7.8 0.690 0.690 0.690 5.150 5.150 4.990 SERVICES 7.85 7.9 7.55 7.6 60 60.5 60 60.45 1.06 1.07 1.07 1.07 0.570 0.570 0.540 0.560 11.24 11.86 11.86 11.86 5.19 5.22 4.83 4.87 0.0520 0.0530 0.0520 0.0520 3.88 3.9 3.8 3.88 87.75 87.85 86 87.35 4.75 4.80 4.70 4.80 2356 2388 2308 2354 6.46 6.45 6.40 6.40 1.22 1.27 1.22 1.27 75.5 75.55 73.8 74 11.9 11.98 11.98 11.98 0.011 0.010 0.010 0.010 0.180 0.180 0.177 0.180 1.4500 1.4600 1.4200 1.4400 2.15 2.15 2.15 2.15 8.00 8.50 7.95 7.99 4.20 4.29 3.86 3.89 1.14 1.14 1.16 1.14 2.10 2.09 2.09 2.09 2.01 2.02 2.02 2.02 3.6 3.64 3.23 3.48 0.300 0.300 0.290 0.300 0.470 0.485 0.480 0.485 19 18.82 18.52 18.82 4.50 4.50 4.50 4.50 94.00 100.00 94.00 94.00 18.76 18.74 18.60 18.72 2180.00 2180.00 2124.00 2136.00 0.570 0.570 0.560 0.560 0.980 0.980 0.940 0.950 31.15 31.80 31.30 31.50 73.75 74.90 73.75 74.50 6.71 6.83 6.35 6.40 5.83 6.00 5.50 5.50 0.49 0.50 0.48 0.48 1.4 1.4 1.4 1.4 3.28 3.28 3.18 3.2 0.350 0.360 0.345 0.345 3.560 3.770 3.330 3.330 MINING & OIL 0.0052 0.0053 0.0051 0.0052 2.35 2.34 2.34 2.34 5.9100 5.91 5.9 5.9000 0.75 0.75 0.71 0.71 0.64 0.65 0.62 0.63 8.00 8.22 7.88 8.00 0.95 0.96 0.87 0.9 0.295 0.295 0.290 0.290 0.178 0.181 0.177 0.181 0.192 0.195 0.185 0.195 0.0099 0.010 0.0097 0.0099 1.96 1.97 1.9 1.94 6.67 6.67 6.38 6.46 2.95 2.95 2.79 2.79 1.4000 1.4300 1.3500 1.3500 0.0099 0.0090 0.0090 0.0090 3.50 3.32 3.03 3.24 4.77 4.830 4.770 4.77 1.42 1.400 1.280 1.35 0.0110 0.0120 0.0110 0.0110 136.70 136.70 135.50 136.20 2.37 2.42 2.44 2.5 PREFERRED 61 61 59.9 61 528 521 521 521 6.22 6.1 6.1 6.1 113 111 111 111 1035 1035 1030 1030 78.5 78.7 78.7 78.7 82 82 81.5 81.5 78.8 79 78.5 79 78.35 78.4 77.5 78.4 79 79.5 79 79.4 WARRANTS & BONDS 2.590 2.900 2.640 2.680 SME 63.4 67.95 63 67.65 14.42 14.5 14 14.26 EXCHANGE TRADED FUNDS 113 113 112 112.1

T op g ainerS STOCKS

Low

-0.99 0.00 -90.00 -1.19 0.00 -1.33 0.00 -0.98 -4.17 0.00 0.69 -3.33 15.79 -0.52 0.35 0.65 -3.04 -0.97 0.00 -0.51 0.00 0.98

20,000 647,000 1,700,000 1,000,000 830,800 240,000 340,000 233,000 31,567,000 60,000 8,808,000 2,660,000 160,000 58,200 1,519,400 86,000 1,000 6,871,100 230,000 3,500 79,000 11,666,200

-3.18 0.75 0.94 -1.75 5.52 -6.17 0.00 0.00 -0.46 1.05 -0.08 -0.93 4.10 -1.99 0.67 -9.09 0.00 -0.69 0.00 -0.12 -7.38 -1.72 -0.48 0.50 -3.33 0.00 3.19 -0.95 0.00 0.00 -0.21 -2.02 -1.75 -3.06 1.12 1.02 -4.62 -5.66 -1.03 0.00 -2.44 -1.43 -6.46

318,500 1,890 32,000 779,000 200 10,272,900 12,240,000 276,000 210,660 437,000 56,090 19,500 125,000 947,140 50,300 600,000 1,410,000 455,000 2 91,900 4,465,000 8,000 5,000 100,000 1,528,000 130,000 40,000 1,200 2,000 95,830 42,500 278,670 870,000 7,222,000 785,700 584,690 8,172,800 6,380,200 11,060,000 223,000 1,581,000 7,500,000 2,020,000

0.00 -0.43 -0.17 -5.33 -1.56 0.00 -5.26 -1.69 1.69 1.56 0.00 -1.02 -3.15 -5.42 -3.57 -9.09 -7.43 0.00 -4.93 0.00 -0.37 -0.82

307,000,000 3,000 7,500 982,000 321,000 105,100 16,265,000 930,000 3,550,000 1,630,000 6,000,000 411,000 5,284,900 1,475,000 176,000 3,000,000 196,000 36,000 825,000 2,600,000 325,750 405,000

0.00 -1.33 -1.93 -1.77 -0.48 0.25 -0.61 0.25 0.06 0.51

1,604,970 100 400 10,000 5,000 13,300 274,600 74,550 311,000 22,630

3.47

114,000

6.70 -1.11

1,880 1,682,800

7,365,596.00

-0.80

17,240

199,953.00

5,900.00 340,300.00 -9,905,120.00 -32,320.00 -1,878,160.00 -13,000.00 23,190,900.00 95,480.00 16,178,180.00 55,645,095.00

-1,896,003.00

-1,332,880.00 -208,400.00 9,836,801.50 629,550.00 -34,778,050.00 14,959,185.50 -3,600.00 1,440.00 2,150.00 227,591.00 -100,750.00 -202,000.00 -788,080.00 4,850.00 -177,600.00 -33,662.00 -137,251,750.00 -48,000.00 8,969,700.00 16,626,340.00 177,488.00 -6,960,869.00 -5,256,500.00 312,200.00 -820,660.00 10,710.00

-44,265.00 -14,400.00 22,937.00 -3,157,820.00 114,700.00 -193,790.00 4,221,142.00 9,000.00 -105,000.00 -58,680.00 8,407,656.00 -17,882,880.00 -2,440.00

-2,040,499.50 77,500.00

T op L oSerS Close (P)

Change (%)

STOCKS

Close (P)

Change (%)

TKC Steel Corp.

1.32

29.41

Ionics Inc

3.140

-11.05

Phil. Estates Corp.

0.3300

15.79

Oriental Pet. `B'

0.0090

-9.09

Prime Orion

1.950

12.72

IP E-Game Ventures Inc.

0.010

-9.09

Forum Pacific

0.290

11.54

Mabuhay Vinyl

4.1

-8.89

Pacifica `A'

0.0400

11.11

Zeus Holdings

0.230

-8.00

Bright Kindle Resources

1.33

7.26

Crown Asia

2.4

-7.69

AG Finance

2.7

7.14

Petroenergy Res. Corp.

3.24

-7.43

IRipple E-Business Intl

67.65

6.70

Liberty Telecom

3.89

-7.38

Concepcion

42.5

6.25

Yehey

3.330

-6.46

Asian Terminals Inc.

11.86

5.52

Bloomberry

4.87

-6.17

SATURDAY: OCTOBER 3, 2015

B3

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

MetroPac’s hospital unit eyes IPO in 2016

By Jenniffer B. Austria

INFRASTRUCTURE conglomerate Metro Pacific Investments Corp. said Friday it may consider listing its hospital business through initial public offering, after next year’s national elections.

Metro Pacific president and chief executive Jose Ma. Lim said the conglomerate received offers from local and foreign banks to underwrite the IPO of the hospital business of the group.

Lim said because of the upcoming elections and current volatility in the equities market, the group might consider doing the IPO after the May elections.

“It [hospital group] has reached a scale that has attracted finan-

cial advisors because they are the ones that came to us. We certainly didn’t go out to ask for them,” Lim said.

“But we are not convinced this is the right time because of the election, but we’ve received offers from some banks,” he said.

Metro Pacific, under unit Metro Pacific Hospital Holdings Inc., operates a chain of private hospitals with a combined 2,244 beds.

The conglomerate targets to

expand this to 5,000 hospital beds over the next couple of years through acquisition and expansion of existing hospital facilities, with an annual net income of P1.5 billion.

Under the plan, Metro Pacific’s hospital group plans to acquire two hospitals annually and expand existing hospital facilities by another 700 to 800 beds.

Metro Pacific took in Singapore’s sovereign wealth fund as its strategic partner for its hospital business in 2014.

The partnership saw GIC acquiring 14.4-percent stake in Metro Pacific’s hospital business worth P3.7 billion.

Lim said GIC was aware of Metro Pacific’s direction to list its hospital business.

Metro Pacific currently oper-

ates and manages nine hospitals under its portfolio, including Davao Doctors Holdings Inc., Western Mindanao Medical Center in Zamboanga City, Makati Medical Center, Asian Hospital & Medical Center, Cardinal Santos Medical Center, Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital, De Los Santos Medical Center, Riverside Medical Center in Bacolod and Central Luzon Doctors Hospital in Tarlac.

Metro Pacific Hospital might be the first subsidiary of Metro Pacific to be listed with stock exchange.

Metro Pacific’s tollway group Metro Pacific Tollways Corp., which was previously listed with the local bourse, was delisted in 2013 after it failed to comply with the 10-percent minimum public ownership requirement.

Maybank’s award. Maybank Kim Eng emerged a big winner at the Alpha Southeast Asia 9th Annual Best Financial Institution Awards

2015, bagging awards for Best Retail Broker in Malaysia, Thailand, Singapore, the Philippines, Indonesia and Vietnam, as well as Best Institutional Broker in Malaysia, Philippines and Indonesia. It also won the special Marquee Award for Best Broker in Southeast Asia. Shown receiving the Best Retail Broker award from Alpha Southeast Asia publisher and chief executive chief executive Siddiq Bazarwala (right) are MATRKE Securities retail sales head Neny Montinola (left), MATRKE Securities chairman and president Lorenzo Roxas (center).

Egco of Thailand buys out partner in Quezon Power

By Alena Mae S. Flores THE investment committee of the Electricity Generating Public Company Ltd. of Thailand approved the purchase of a 2-percent indirect stake of local partner PMR Holdings Corp. in Quezon Power Philippines Ltd. for $15.07 million.

Egco informed the Stock Exchange of Thailand that it signed the sale and purchase agreement with PMR on Sept. 30, 2015 and completed the purchase on Oct. 1, 2015.

“Following the completion of the purchase, Egco holds 100-percent indirect ownership in QPL,” it said.

Quezon Power owns and operates a 503-megawatt coal-fired

power plant in Quezon.

Egco took control of Quezon Power after acquiring an additional 45.875 percent from Intergen (jointly owned by the Ontario Teachers’ Pension Plan and China Huaneng Group) for $375 million in 2012, thereby bringing its ownership to 98 percent.

The remaining 2 percent is held by PMR, a Philippine limited partnership formed by PMR Holdings, which has significant expertise in the Philippine power industry and an extensive knowledge of the country’s regulatory framework. PMR is said to be led by the group of Dan Chambers which is now with GN Power.

The Quezon Power project, which commenced commercial operations in May 2000, provides stable and reliable electricity to the Luzon grid under a 25-year power sales agreement with Manila Electric Co. Egco also owns a 40.95-percent interest in the Masinloc power plant in Zambales with total contracted capacity of 589 megawatts.

It owns 49 percent of the 455-megawatt San Buenaventura super-critical coal plant in Quezon which is slated for construction this year. Meralco PowerGen Corp. owns the remaining 51 percent of the San Buenaventura power plant.

Sahust Pratuknukul, Egco president earlier, said that from 2015 to 2019, the company’s business direction was to continually grow through the construction and development of new projects and expanding its its overseas electricity portfolio.

“Presently, Egco Group is studying the potential investment opportunities both in Thailand and Asean region. In Asean countries, we will co-invest with local business partners to expand the existing power plants and acquire commercially operating assets with focus on Lao PDR, the Philippines and Indonesia where the Company has strong presence,” the official said.

Market declines; EDC leads gainers STOCKS fell for the second day, dragging the benchmark index to a five-week low, as investors bided their time ahead of a closelywatched US jobs report.

The Philippine Stock Exchange index, the 30-company benchmark, lost 40 points, or 0.6 percent, to close at 6,850.61 Friday.

The heavier index, representing all shares, fell 18 points, or 0.5 percent, to settle at 3,957.19, on a value turnover of P6.3 billion.

Losers outnumbered gainers, 92 to 72, while 40 issues were unchanged.

Energy Development Corp. emerged as the biggest gainer among the 20 most active stocks, as it climbed 4.3 percent to P5.89.

Aboitiz Equity Ventures Inc., the holding company of the Aboitiz family, rose 0.4 percent to P56.85, while Jollibee Foods Corp. added 0.4 percent to close at P192.80.

Meanwhile, casino operators led advances in Hong Kong after a report said the government may unveil measures to support tourism in gambling hub Macau, while carmakers got a boost from cuts to the passenger-vehicle tax.

But trading remained quiet elsewhere as investors remained nervous ahead of US unemployment figures that could help determine when the Federal Reserve will raise interest rates.

“It’s hard to say if Asian markets have been genuinely concerned by the payrolls report but there has been a modest risk off feel to today’s trade, although Hong Kong is seeing good buying,” said Chris Weston at IG Markets.

Data showing China’s factory output contracted by less than feared cheered Asian markets Thursday, sending equities and emerging market currencies rallying for a second straight day.

But the optimism fizzled in Europe and on Wall Street ahead of data that could help determine when the US central bank will raise rates for the first time in almost a decade, seen as a key test of the resiliency of the world economy.

Markets have been in a tailspin in recent months over concerns of slowing growth in China, the world’s second-largest economy and a key driver of global growth, which triggered the steepest quarterly losses for stock markets since 2011 in the past three months.

The turmoil in financial markets was a key factor behind the Fed holding off raising rates in September, but investors still expect the hike to come before the end of the year.

“US payrolls day has come round again, but amid a still lingering sense that it is global market (and) economic conditions staying the Fed’s hand at present, tonight’s September numbers might not be completely crucial,” National Australia Bank said in a commentary. With AFP

SATURDAY: OCTOBER 3, 2015

B4

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

IN BRIEF PLDT, iflix team up PLDT Global Corp. unit PLDT Malaysia signed a partnership agreement with iflix to enable its subscribers in Malaysia to gain access to the latter’s Internet TV service.

“This partnership with iflix will enrich our data package offering with compelling content. But this is only the beginning of more exciting things to come for our subscribers,” said PLDT executive vice president Eric Alberto said.

“In the near future, we will be rolling out amazing data-centric packages not only in Malaysia but all the other PLDT Mobile Virtual Network Operator services around the world,” he said.

Alberto said PLDT Global had been creating innovative services for migrant Filipino workers and gone beyond providing affordable call, SMS, data, and other value-added services.

“We would like to offer our customers the best entertainment experience wherever they are,” said PLDT International & Carrier Business head and Philippine Global president and chief executive Alex Caeg said. Darwin G. Amojelar

Govt subsidies up 7% THE government reduced its financial assistance to government-owned and -controlled corporations by 7 percent to P55.09 billion in the first eight months of the year from P59.24 billion year-onyear.

Philippine Health Insurance Corp. was the top recipient of the state assistance with P32.594 billion.

The National Housing Authority was second with P4.414 billion after funding the housing projects of the Armed Forces of the Philippines and the Philippine National Police.

The National Food Authority was third-biggest recipient of state subsidy with P4.25 billion, followed by Power Sector Assets and Liabilities Management Corp. with P3.789 billion and National Electrification Authority with P1.955 billion.

The subsidies released in August nearly tripled to P8.802 billion from P3.075 billion in 2014 and P2.318 billion in the previous month.

The NHA was the biggest recipient for the month, receiving all P4.414 billion. PSALM also received the bulk of its share amounting to P3.789 billion.

Gabrielle H. Binaday

GMA tops ratings GMA Network Inc. said Friday it overtook rival ABS-CBN Corp. in nationwide television ratings in September, boosted

by Eat Bualaga’s Kalye-serye segment.

According to Nielsen TV Audience Measurement, GMA recorded a 37.4 percent total day household audience share in National Urban Philippines from September 1 to 30, surpassing ABS-CBN’s 34.9 percent by 2.5 points and TV5’s 9 percent by 28.4 points.

GMA led ABS-CBN in the morning block with 34.1 percent against the latter’s 33.5 percent, as well as in the afternoon block with a commanding 45.2 percent compared with its closest rival’s 29.5 percent.

GMA was ahead of TV5 in all time blocks in NUTAM (National Urban Television Audience Measurement).

The network also posted an impressive 42.2 percent total day household share in Urban Luzon, ahead of ABSCBN’s 30.4 percent by 11.8 points and TV5’s 7.9 percent by 34.3 points.

GMA, which airs on Channel 7 on free TV, secured its dominant position in Mega Manila with a 44.6 percent total day share, besting ABS-CBN’s 26.8 percent by 17.8 points and TV5’s 8.3 percent by 36.3 points. Darwin G. Amojelar

Higher remittances THE Information Technology and Business Process Management expects remittances of migrant Filipino workers to grow by as much 18 percent in the next two to three years.

The association said in a statement the industry would enjoy remarkable feats of advancement, including in remittances.

Workers’ remittances comprise a significant portion of the services sector and of the country’s total annual exports.

Remittances in 2014 registered a record $26.93 billion, topping the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas target of 5 percent growth with a 6.2 percent increase. Remittances in the first semester of 2015 reached $12.18 billion, up 5.6 percent year-on-year.

Trade Department bureau director for export marketing and trade promotions Senen Perlada said the Philippines as part of the Asean Economic Community would have more opportunities open to skilled workforce and even professionals in the region. Othel V. Campos

Newest Amcham member. LBC Express, the country’s leading payments, remittance, parcels, and cargo logistics provider, is inducted as one of the newest members of the American Chamber of Commerce. Shown at the general membership meeting of the chamber at the Dusit Thani Hotel in Makati are (from left) LBC business solutions senior vice president Charlie Villaseñor; Jardine Lloyd Thompson Insurance Brokers Inc. president and chief executive Graham Edwards; HBO + EMTB director George Fitzgerald; GHD Pty Ltd. operating center manager Carl Willis; Development Finance International Inc. VP Christine Purka; RCG Global Services president managing director and AmCham director Richard McGonegal; Bo Le Associates Philippines Inc. director Rubi Benitez; Quezon Power managing director and AmCham director Frank Thiel; The People at Work president and AmCham membership chairman Roland dela Cruz; and CB Richard Ellis Philippines Inc. chairman and CEO and AmCham President Rick Santos.

Globe, Metrobank sign P7-b loan deal

By Darwin G. Amojelar

GLOBE Telecom Inc., a unit of conglomerate Ayala Corp. said Friday it borrowed P7 billion from Metropolitan Bank & Trust Co. to finance part of this year’s capital expenditures Globe signed a 10-year, P5 billion and 7-year $45-million or P2-billion term loan with Metrobank.

“This new loan facility from Metrobank will help us address the demands of our customers in their continuing shift to a digital lifestyle. Globe is committed to invest in additional network capacities to handle the robust

growth in data traffic from our customers,” Globe chief financial officer Alberto de Larrazabal said.

The company has programmed $650 million or P29 billion in capital expenditures this year. Globe spent about P11.4 billion in capital expenditures in the first half of 2015.

Globe is allocating the bulk of

the investment for data-related projects, including the company’s broadband network, capacities for wireless data, LTE and domestic and international transmission facilities.

Globe’s core net income, which excludes the impact of non-recurring items, amounted to P8.6 billion in the January-to-June period from P7.6 billion year-onyear Globe’s core profit in the second quarter reached P4.4 billion from P4.2 billion on year.

The second-ranked telecommunications company reported a net income of P8.7 billion in the first six months of the year from P6.8 billion on year. Net profit in the second quarter amounted to

P4.5 billion from P3.9 billion on year.

Globe’s consolidated service revenues stood at P53.8 billion, 13 percent higher than P47.7 billion a year ago, on the strength of robust revenue gains on mobile data and broadband, as more customers adopted a digital lifestyle.

Globe posted a record consolidated service revenues of P27.6 billion in the second quarter of the year from P24.5 billion on year.

The mobile business posted a 10 percent year-on-year growth in revenues to P41.6 billion in the six-month period from P37.8 billion on year, due to the strong contributions across all brands.

SSS says revenues topped P81b in first six months

By Gabrielle H. Binaday REVENUES of pension fund Social Services System rose 7.5 percent to P81.09 billion in the first six months of 2015 from P75.37 year-on-year.

SSS attributed the increased revenues to higher contributions of P65.118 billion and investment and other income of P15.961 billion.

Data obtained by The Standard showed SSS total investments in the first half stood at P427.514 billion, while average return of investment posted 7 percent to increase assets to P444.054 billion.

Government securities worth P161.456

billion accounted for the biggest share in investment at 38 percent, followed by equities with 25 percent at P105.241 billion.

Total loans from 741,706 members in the January-to-June period reached P14.463 billion.

The SSS earlier this week announced it was set to auction six real estate properties worth about P700 million in order to reach the P1.2-billion income target by the end of the year.

The SSS said it generated an income of P274.5 million in the six-month period from lease and sale of SSS-owned real estate properties, such as residential and commercial lots, condominium units, building and park-

ing lots.

SSS senior vice president and officer-incharge of the lending and asset management division May Catherine Ciriaco SSS registered the earnings mainly from leasing properties with a combined value of P12.7 billion.

The state-run pension fund said it aimed to surpass the P1.2-billion income target after the scheduled sale of real estate properties in the second semester of the year.

The agency expects to generate an additional earnings of P289 million in the remaining months of 2015 from leases and P696.5 million from the sale of properties scheduled in the second half of this year.

S AT U R D AY : O C T O B E R 3 , 2 0 1 5

B5

CESAR BARRiOqUinTO EDITOR

editorial@thestandard.com.ph

world

On the catwalk. A model presents a creation for Loewe during the 2016 Spring/Summer ready-to-wear collection fashion show on October 2, 2015, in Paris. AFP

Gunman kills 10 in US school Fears rise in Germany over arrival of refugees BERLIN—Germans are growing increasingly uneasy over the record influx of migrants coming to their country, costing Chancellor Angela Merkel voter support, a poll Friday indicated.

More than half—51 percent— of the respondents said the arrival of so many newcomers at once made them fearful, according to the survey for public broadcaster ARD. The result marked a 13-point rise compared to early September, a month in which 280,000 migrants crossed the border into Germany— more than in all of 2014.

Forty-seven percent said they were not afraid of these developments.

Merkel, who has attempted to rally Germans to the task of wel-

coming hundreds of thousands of people fleeing war and persecution, saw her approval rating sink nine points over the last month, to 54 percent.

Meanwhile, support for the chief critic of her asylum policies from her own conservative camp, Bavarian state premier Horst Seehofer, surged 11 points to 39 percent.

Less than half of the respondents—48 percent—said they were satisfied with Merkel’s government, down five points.

Berlin is now stepping up action to deter economic migrants from trying to obtain asylum in the country, in a bid to free up resources to deal with applicants from war-torn countries like Syria. AFP

ROSEBURG—A gunman went on a shooting rampage at a college in the US state of Oregon on Thursday, killing 10 people and wounding seven before he died in a shootout with police.

The shooter—identified by US media as Chris Harper Mercer, 26—opened fire in a classroom at Umpqua Community College in rural Roseburg, then moved to other rooms methodically gunning down his victims, witnesses said.

Douglas County Sheriff John Hanlin said 10 people were killed and seven were injured, several critically.

Witnesses described scenes of terror and panic as the tragedy unfolded at the school located in a picturesque region of Oregon.

One man whose daughter was wounded told CNN that the gunman, who did not attend the school, ordered students to stand up if they were Christian and then shot them.

“They would stand up and he said ‘Good, because you’re a

Christian, you’re going to see God in just about one second’,” Stacy Boylan told CNN, relaying his daughter Ana’s account.

He said his daughter, who survived by playing dead, told him the shooter burst into the classroom and first shot the professor point blank.

A visibly angry President Barack Obama made an impassioned plea for gun control in the wake of the shooting, blasting Congress for its failure to act in the face of such killings.

“Somehow this has become routine,” said the president. “We’ve become numb to this.”

“We are the only advanced country on Earth that sees these kinds of mass shootings every few months,” he added.

“It cannot be this easy for some-

body who wants to inflict harm on other people to get his or her hands on a gun.”

Cassandra Welding, a student at Umpqua, said she heard 35 to 40 shots coming from an adjacent classroom and saw a fellow student get shot as she opened the door to check on the noise.

“Then we locked the doors, turned off the lights and ... we were all pretty much in panic mode and called 911 (emergency services) and our parents and (said) ‘I love yous’ because we didn’t know what would happen, if those were our last words.”

Hanlin said police were alerted to the shooting at 10:38 am and rushed to the site where two officers cornered the gunman and exchanged fire with him. He was later confirmed dead.

Authorities said investigators were examining social media postings thought to belong to the shooter. Several reports said he may have shared his intentions online beforehand. AFP

Masterpieces on show in Hong Kong HONG KONG—Masterpieces belonging to controversial former Sotheby’s owner A. Alfred Taubman went on show in Hong Kong Friday, and were touted as the most valuable private collection ever offered at auction.

Sotheby’s estimates the 500 works will fetch US$500 million, and they include Modigliani’s “Portrait de Paulette Jourdain” as well as pieces by Picasso, Degas, Willem de Kooning and Mark Rothko.

“It was collected over 70 years with the great eye of Alfred Taubman... we have Old Masters, impressionists, modern pictures

as well as contemporary works on display,” Sotheby’s Asia chairman Patti Wong told AFP. Sotheby’s beat Christie’s to the Taubman collection after both had vied to auction it.

But Christie’s unveiled its own Modigliani in Hong Kong Friday, which is also set to break records.

Christie’s says the reclining nude “Nu Couché” by the modern Italian painter will be the most valuable work by the artist ever offered at auction, and is predicted to fetch at least US$100 million.

The Taubman collection will go on sale in four separate Sotheby’s

auctions in New York from November to January.

Christie’s Modigliani will also go on sale in November in New York.

Taubman, who died in April aged 91, was an entrepreneur and retail magnate who brought shopping malls to the suburban areas of the United States.

After buying Sotheby’s in 1983 he took it public, opening it up to a new market of wealthy collectors.

But he became mired in controversy over a price-fixing scandal between Sotheby’s and Christie’s for which he was jailed in 2002, despite maintaining his innocence. AFP

The exodus goes on. Migrants and asylum seekers cross the

Greek-Macedonian border near Gevgelija on Oct. 2, 2015. Macedonia is a key transit country in the Balkans migration route into the EU, with thousands of asylum seekers and migrants—many of them from Syria, Afghanistan, Iraq and Somalia—entering the country daily. AFP

Republic of the Philippines REGIONAL TRIAL COURT National Capital Judicial Region Branch 132 Makati City, Metro Manila VICTOR G. MORADA, RIONILO TORRES, JAMES EDWARD HERRERA, JUAN PAOLO HERRERA, RAUL T. GONZALEZ, JR., HENRIK A. NYQVlST, BENJAMIN LOPEZ and MM MERESA LOPEZ, JUN DY, FRANCISCO C. ENVERGA, SAMUEL BURKETT, SONIA DELA CRUZ, RODOLFO and JOANNA MASCARENAS, GINNO GABRIEL TlONGSON, JENNIFER Y. CHU, PRUDENCIO GLORIA LEOPOLDO and ROSALIE FLOR, ALEXANDER and MARIANNE CELlNO JONATHAN EDRADAN, EMILIO and SANDRA BUCAO, AL and GLADYS MANLANGIT, JOSELITO and NONA CARANTO, PRITZ and JANE PAGKALINAWAN, WINSTON and LETICIA UMALl, JOSEPH CLlFFORD JISON, STEFAN and MARY ANNE BIRRER, HECTOR and IRMA KINTANAR, NED LEONOR, MA. TERESA VILLA, SUSAN and EMMELINE DAQUIOAG, SAN SAN CHUA CHAN, GIOK SAN CHUA CHAN, CAROL RAMIREZ KHIA, NELSON and CAROL PATRON, ALEXANDER and KENNETH MORENO GLADYS DAVID, EDEN GABRIEL, RICHARD CORNELIUS, DOUGLAS AHLF, WILSON LAO, MA. BELLA VILLENA, ANDRES and ANNABELLE BORROMEO, DAISY OGAWA, Plaintiffs, -versus-

COMPLAINT Plaintiffs, by undersigned counsel and to this Honorable Court, most respectfully state: I PARTIES 1. Plaintiffs are all of legal age, with residence addresses as follows: Victor G. Morada

4887 Pasay Road, Dasmariñas Village, Makati City

Rionilo Torres

10 6 Greenmeadows Avenue, Greenmeadows I Village, Quezon City

James Edward Herrera

6 Tree Cour t, Golfer Villas, Capitol Hills, Quezon City

Juan Paolo Herrera

6 Tree Cour t, Golfer Villas, Capitol Hills, Quezon City

Raul T. Gonzalez, Jr.

28 Butter f ly Street, Valle Verde 6, Pasig City

Henrik A . Nyqvist

7 Barcelona Street, Parariaque City

Benjamin and MM Meresa Lopez

Unit 608 - 609, Tif fany Mansion, 21 Eisenhower Street, Greenhills, San Juan City

Jun Dy

Unit 109 # 45 Mahogany Townhomes, 10th Street corner Broadway Avenue, Quezon City

Francisco C. Enverga

1679 Morning Terrace Dr., Chino Hills, California, USA

Samuel Burkett

22031 Ruby Run, San Antonio, Texas, USA 78259

Sonia Dela Cruz

9208 Kewen Avenue, Sun Valley, CA 91352, USA

CIVIL CASE NO. 15-410

FIRST GLOBAL BYO CORPORATION UNIBUILT REAL ESTATE CORPORATION, PHILlP CEA CATHERINE CEA, DARWIN CEA, RICHARD JUANSING, LOURDES MANA-AY ARLENE CAMACHO, MARY JANE MALCONTENT0, ELIZABETH BETON, JOY PEDROSA, FE JEREZ, VINCENT L. ABAD SANTOS, JOAN GUY, JOSEPH ROBERT KISON, RYAN OSEA, LOUIE MAGLALANG), RONALD PRING, ALAIN MICHAEL PENAS, GRACE LIMPADO, CAROLYN CAPILI, JUNE SALEM, MICHAEL ANGELES, RHYME TUDTUD, ANDREW ANDALIS, FARINAH ASIS, PARXIDES GALLEGOS, LADY MALEI CALlMLIM, J. ROWELL ACUPANG, EVELIO PENA, MICHELLE AGULLO, JESSICA HERNANDEZ, Defendants, x-------------------------------------------x SUMMONS TO: FIRST GLOBAL BYO CORPORATION ) PHILlP CEA ) CATHERINE CEA ) DARWIN CEA ) RICHARD JUANSING ) LOURDES MANA-AY ) ARLENE CAMACHO ) MARY JANE MALCONTENTO ) ELIZABETH BETON ) JOY PEDROSA ) FE JEREZ ) JOSEPH ROBERT KISON ) RYAN OSEA ) LOUIE MAGLALANG ) RONALDO PRING ) ALAIN MICHAEL PENAS ) GRACE LIMPADO ) CAROLYN CAPILI ) JUNE SALEM ) MICHAEL ANGELES ) RHYME TUDTUD ) ANDREW ANDALIS ) FARINAH ASIS ) PARXIDES GALLEGOS ) LADY MALEI CALlMLIM ) J. ROWELL ACUPANG ) EVELIO PENA ) MICHELLE AGULLO ) UNIBUILTREALESTATE CORPORATION ) VINCENT L. ABAD SANTOS ) JOAN GUY ) JESSICA HERNANDEZ ) 32nd Street, corner Bonifacio Blvd., Bonifacio Global City, Taguig City

Rodolfo and Mascarenas

Joanna

Merville

Park,

Block 1 Lot 7 The Homelands Subdivision, Tulo, Calamba, Laguna

Ginno Gabriel Tiongson

217 Philip St., Parariaque City

Jennifer Y. Chu

1459 San Gregorio Street, Paco, Manila

Prudencio Gloria

11 Marigold Street, LGV, San Joaquin, Pasig City

Leopoldo and Rosalie Flor

Zone 7 Calumpang, Molo, Iloilo City 5000

Alexander and Marianne Celino

3 Lorong 28 Geylang # 03 - 0 6 Atrium Residences, Singapore 398 40 6

Jonathan Edradan

683 Imperial Drive, Pacifica, CA 9 404 4 USA

Emilio and Sandra Bucao

27N Pearl Compound, Dona Juana Subdivision, Rosario, Pasig City

AI and Gladys Manlangit

2433 Kasarinlan Street, Sta. Ana, Manila

Joselito Caranto

Nona

921 Winter ton Way, Mississauga, Ontario, Canada L5V1 Z5

Jane

14 Longbow Street, Kingsville Cour t Subdivision, Mambungan, Antipolo City

Winston and Leticia Umali

220 Bar tholdi Avenue, Jersey City, New Jersey 07305 USA

Joseph Clif ford Jison

23 San Gregorio St., Capitol 8, Pasig City

Stefan and Mar y Anne Birrer

# 23/8 TreeCondoLuxe, Sukhumvit Soi 52, Phrakanong, Bangchak, Bangkok 10260 Thailand

Hector and Irma Kintanar

Lot 1 Block 19, Duque corner Magsaysay Street, AFPOVAI, Phase 2, Taguig City

Ned Leonor

10, Rue Carqueron, Swit zerland 1220

Ma. Teresa Villa

Legacy Farmland, Bulbok, Lipa City, Batangas

and

Prit z and Pagkalinawan

Sun

Valley,

Geneva,

Emmeline

62 Bellf lower Street, Magre Ville Subdivision, Mapayapa Village 2, Quezon City

San San Chua Chan, Giok San Chua Chan, Carol Ramirez Khia

MB United Commercial, Yakal Street, Bacolod City, Negros Occidental

Nelson and Carol Patron

Arroyo Street, Sta. Barbara, Iloilo 50 02

Alexander and Kenneth Moreno

3308 South Tower, SOMA Residences, 26th S1. corner 11 th Avenue, For t Bonifacio, Taguig City 163 4

Gladys David and Eden Gabriel

109 Chico Street, Comembo, For t Bonifacio, Makati City 1217

Richard Cornelius

145 B Padua Lane, Ipan Talofofo, Guam 9 6915

GREETINGS:

Douglas Ahlf

474 D Indado Road, Choulan Pago, Guam

You are hereby required, within fifteen (15) days after service of this summons upon you, to file with this Court and serve on the plaintiff your answer to the complaint, copy of which is attached, together with the annexes. You are reminded of the provision in the IBPOCA Memorandum on Policy Guidelines dated March 12, 2002 to observe restraint in filing a motion to dismiss and instead allege the grounds thereof as defenses in the Answer. If you fail to answer within the time fixed, the plaintiff will take judgment by default and may be granted the relief applied for in the complaint.

Witness my hand under the seal of this Court this 19th of May, 2015, in the City of Makati.

Wilson Lao

108 Arellano Street, 6th Avenue, Grace Park, Caloocan City

Ma. Bella Villena

Legacy Farmland, Bulbok, Lipa City, Batangas

Andres and Borromeo

27 Ar tesia Street, Magre Subdivision, Bgy. Holy Spirit, Quezon City

(Sgd.) ATTY. KATHERINE JOY P. LA ROSA-MILLARES Branch Clerk of Court

REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES REGIONAL TRIAL COURT NATIONAL CAPITAL JUDICIAL REGION MAKATI CITY BRANCH __ VICTOR G. MORADA, RIONILO TORRES, JAMES EDWARD HERRERA, JUAN PAOLO HERRERA, RAUL T. GONZALEZ, JR., HENRIK A. NYQVlST, BENJAMIN LOPEZ and MM MERESA LOPEZ, JUN DY, FRANCISCO C. ENVERGA, SAMUEL BURKETT, SONIA DELA CRUZ, RODOLFO and JOANNA MASCARENAS, GINNO GABRIEL TlONGSON, JENNIFER Y. CHU, PRUDENCIO GLORIA LEOPOLDO and ROSALIE FLOR, ALEXANDER and MARIANNE CELlNO JONATHAN EDRADAN, EMILIO and SANDRA BUCAO, AL and GLADYS MANLANGIT, JOSELITO and NONA CARANTO, PRITZ and JANE PAGKALINAWAN, WINSTON and LETICIA UMALl, JOSEPH CLlFFORD JISON, STEFAN and MARY ANNE BIRRER, HECTOR and IRMA KINTANAR, NED LEONOR, MA. TERESA VILLA, SUSAN and EMMELINE DAQUIOAG, SAN SAN CHUA CHAN, GIOK SAN CHUA CHAN, CAROL RAMIREZ KHIA, NELSON and CAROL PATRON, ALEXANDER and KENNETH MORENO GLADYS DAVID, EDEN GABRIEL, RICHARD CORNELIUS, DOUGLAS AHLF, WILSON LAO, MA. BELLA VILLENA, ANDRES and ANNABELLE BORROMEO, DAISY OGAWA, Plaintiffs, -versus-

CIVIL CASE NO. 15-410 For:Specific Performance with Prayer for Issuance of a Writ of Preliminary Attachment

FIRST GLOBAL BYO CORPORATION UNIBUILT REAL ESTATE CORPORATION, PHILlP CEA CATHERINE CEA, DARWIN CEA, RICHARD JUANSING, LOURDES MANAAY ARLENE CAMACHO MARY JANE MALCONTENT0, ELIZABETH BETON, JOY PEDROSA, FE JEREZ, VINCENT L. ABAD SANTOS, JOAN GUY, JOSEPH ROBERT KISON, RYAN OSEA, LOUIE MAGLALANG), RONALD PRING, ALAIN MICHAEL PENAS, GRACE LIMPADO, CAROLYN CAPILI, JUNE SALEM, MICHAEL ANGELES, RHYME TUDTUD, ANDREW ANDALIS, FARINAH ASIS, PARXIDES GALLEGOS, LADY MALEI CALlMLIM, J. ROWELL ACUPANG, EVELIO PENA, MICHELLE AGULLO, JESSICA HERNANDEZ, Defendants,

Susan and Daquioag

Bgy.

Daisy A . Ogawa

Annabelle

52 S1. EI Monte MahoganylPlace 1, Acacia Estate, Taguig City

2. Defendant FIRST GLOBAL BYO CORPORATION (“First Global”) is a corporation duly organized and existing under Philippine laws, with principal office address at 865 Sto. Cristo St., Binondo, Manila, where it may be served with summons and other processes of this Honorable Court. Summons may be served on defendant First Global through its president, general manager, corporate secretary, treasurer or in-house counsel.

3. Defendant UNIBUlLT REAL ESTATE CORPORATION ("Unibuilt”) represents itself to be a domestic corporation duly organized and existing under Philippine laws, with principal office address at 32nd St. corner Bonifacio Blvd., Global City, Fort Bonifacio, Taguig City, where it may be served with summons and other processes of this Honorable Court.

4. Individual Defendants Philip Cea, Catherine Cea, Darwin Cea, Richard Juansing, Lourdes Mana-ay, Arlene Camacho, Mary Jane Malcontento, Elizabeth Beton, Joy Pedrosa, Fe Jerez, Joseph Robert Kison, Ryan Osea, Louie Maglalang, Ronaldo Pring, Alain Michael Penas, Grace Limpado, Carolyn Capili, June Salem, Michael Angeles, Rhyme Tudtud, Andrew Andalis, Farinah Asis Parxides Gallegos, Lady Malei Calimlim, J. Rowel Acupang, Evelio Pena and Michelle Agullo are directors officers, employees, agents and representatives of First Global, with office address at 865 Sto. Cristo St., Binondo, Manila, where they may be served with summons and other processes of this Honorable Court.

5. Individual Defendants Vincent L. Abad Santos, Joan Guy and Jessica Hernandez represented themselves to be directors officers, employees, agents and representatives of defendant Unibuilt, with office address at 32nd St. corner Bonifacio Blvd., Bonifacio Global City, Taguig City, where they may be served with summons and other processes of this Honorable Court.

II. ALLEGATIONS IN SUPPORT OF PLAINTIFFS' CAUSES OF ACTION 6. On various dates between 2008 and 2011, defendant First Global offered to sell to each of the plaintiffs a unit in its condominium project, the Fort 1 City Center ("project”), consisting of residential, commercial and condominium-hotel ("condotel") units, under a build yourown ("BYO") method, where the buyers were considered as investors in and owners of the project and were supposed to save on government taxes and developer's profits. Said offer was embodied in electronic mails (“email”) and promotional materials given out to plaintiffs. Copies of the emails and promotional materials are attached as Annexes "A" series and "B" series, respectively.

7. Particularly, plaintiffs were offered the supposedly fully fitted and furnished condotel/hotel units to be known as Best Western Premier F1 Hotel and managed by Best Westem International with guaranteed annual return of investments beginning from the year the condotel would operate. Defendant First Global offered to plaintiffs an annual return on investment of the purchase price of the units, ranging from fourteen percent (14%) to twenty percent (20%) of the purchase price depending on the type of condotel unit (i.e, silver,gold and platinum). Attached herewith as Annexes “C” series are the computations of return of investments given to plaintiffs.

7.1. As represented by defendant First Global in its emails to plaintiffs (Annex "N series), condotel units are automatically included in the hotel rental pool which means the condotel unit owners will receive guaranteed income from the condotel operations.

7.2 The prospect of owning a unit in a hotel located at the highly commercialized Bonifacio Global City coupled with the guaranteed income and the stated

management of the hotel operations by a reputable and world-renowned company such as Best Western, enticed plaintiffs to purchase their units.

7.3 In fact, some of the plaintiffs borrowed from banks to finance the acquisition of their units since individual defendants repeatedly emphasized that the units were a "good investment" since any loans obtained for them would be "self-liquidating", precisely because of the high returns premised.

8. Plaintiffs accepted the terms offered to them by defendant First Global. Thereafter, plaintiffs purchased their respective units at the agreed purchase price depending on the type of condotel unit (Le. silver, gold and platinum 9. Defendant First Global caused to be drafted a Contract to Manage and Execute the Construction of Fort 1 Global City Center ("Contract to Manage and Execute").

However, defendant First Global deliberately and in bad faith, excluded any mention whatsoever in the Contract to Manage and Execute of the condotel being managed by Best Western, or the obligation to pay the agreed guaranteed income to plaintiffs. Copies of the Contract to Manage and Execute the Construction of Fort 1 Global City Center of plaintiffs are attached as Annexes "D" series.

10. At first plaintiffs questioned why the Contract to Manage and Execute did not contain any reference to management of the condotel by Best Western and the guaranteed income. Defendant First Global's directors, officers, employees\ agents and representatives merely explained to plaintiffs that they rationalized the contracts to one standard format, and the matters related to the hotel would be settled in a separate agreement in consultation with the buyers of the condotel units. No such consultations were ever held.

11. Worse sometime after the opening of the hotel operations of Fort 1 Global City Center in March 2012, which at this time was now named Best Western Premier F1 Hotel Manila, plaintiffs were suddenly and inexpicably introduced to another supposed company defendant Unibuilt Real Estate Corp. ('defendant Unibuilt"), as the entity which would assume defendant First Global's Obligation to pay plaintiffs their guaranteed income.

12. A few months after the start of operations of the hotel, Defendant Unibuilt provided plaintiffs with a proposed draft of a Rental Management Agreement a copy of which is attached herewith as Annex "E," which all of the plaintiffs refused to sign, because it contained none of the promises made by defendant First Global and which were all presented in the sales phase.

Copies of the email dated 3 March 2012 outlining the Lease Management Program and of the Rental Management Agreement are attached as Annexes "F" series.

13. No mention was ever made in the draft Rental Management Agreement regarding the management of the condotel operations by Best Western, Worse, the Rental Management Agreement presented by defendant Unibuilt stipulated only a flat guaranteed income of 2% of the purchase price of the condotel units, All the plaintiffs rejected the Rental Management Agreement.

14. Despite plaintiffs' rejection of the Rental Management Agreement foisted on them by defendant Unibuilt, defendant Unibuilt is still, to this day, paying plaintiffs a guaranteed income at the rate of 2% per annum, in clear and blatant contravention of the agreement entered into by.plaintiffs and defendant First Global for the payment of guaranteed income based on the purchase price of each unit made by' plaintiffs.

15. Also, it appears that defendant Unibuilt, as a corporate entity, does no! exist. Attached herewith as Annex "G" is a certified true copy of the certification issued by the Securities and Exchange Commission dated 10 October 2014, 16. When asked by the plaintiffs for explanation as to the unilateral reduction of the guaranteed return of investment, defendant Unibuilt through defendant Joan Guy, explained that the two percent (2%) rate of return over time would be increased to fourteen percent (14%) to twenty percent (20%) as originally agreed, To date, however, no such Increase has been made.

17. In clear violation its agreement with plaintiffs and in evident bad faith, defendant First Global contracted the services of an unknown company called Berkshire Oriental to manage the condotel operations, and not Best Western.

18. Aware of the blatant breach of its obligation to plaintiffs, Berkshire changed its name to Berkshire Oriental Doing Business as Best Western, in a belated and clumsy attempt to cover up the violations committed by both First Global and Unibuilt.

19. Hence, this complaint to require the defendants to pay plaintiffs their Individually promised returns, which range from fourteen percent (14%) to twenty percent (20%) of the purchase price per year by way of return of their investments, retroactively beginning March 1, 2012 and continuing for as long as the hotel is using the units of the plaintiffs.

I. First Cause of Action Specific Performance Plaintiffs replead by reference all the foregoing allegations.

20. In an action for specific performance, the party at fault will be required to perform its undertaking under a contract (Maceda, Jr. vs. Development Bank of the Philippines, G.R. Nos. 174979 and 175010, 11 August 2010). A contract, on the other hand is produced when there is consurance between the offer and the acceptance upon the subject matter, consideration, and terms of payment (Heirs of Fausto G. Ignacio vs. Home Bankers Savings and Trust Company, et aI., G.R. No.177783,23 January 2013.)

21. A perusal of the facts obtaining in this case reveals that all the foregoing requisites of a contract are present: a. Defendants offered to sell condotel units to plaintiffs at their respective stipulated prices for silver, gold and platinum condotel units. b. The offer made by defendant First Global was, inter alia, the annual return of investments to plaintiffs beginning from the time the condotel would start operations at the rate of fourteen percent (14%) to twenty percent (20%) per annum of the purchase price depending on the type of condotel unit (i.e. silver, gold and platinum). c. Plaintiffs accepted the offer and bought their respective condotel units at the purchase price corresponding thereto and the terms and conditions offered to them by defendant First Global, as some of the plaintiffs had in fact already fully paid for the same, directly or through bank financing.

22. However, despite full payment by plaintiffs, defendant First Global failed and continue to fail to comply with their obligation to pay plaintiffs fourteen percent (14%) to twenty percent (20%) of the purchase price per year by way of return of investment from the time the condotel started operations in March 2012. As adverted to above, defendants, all conniving and conspiring with each other and with intent to defraud plaintiffs, unilaterally reduced said rate of return to two percent (2%) per year (see Annexes "F" series and G" series). Plaintiffs never agreed to the unilateral reduction of their guaranteed return on investment.

23. Thus, a contract having been created between plaintiffs and defendants, defendants are required to comply with their obligation pursuant thereto.

II. Second Cause of Action Damages Plaintiffs replead by reference all the foregoing allegations.

24. Plaintiffs were all enticed by defendants' promises of high returns on their investment. Out of numerous condominium Projects that were currently being undertaken at the Bonifacio Global City area at the time plaintiffs invested in the condotel Project of defendant First Global, it was the offer of guaranteed Income which convinced plaintiffs to invest their hard earned money with defendant First Global.

25. After agreeing to defendants' offer some of the plaintiffs in fact obtained loans from banks to finance the acquisition of their units, even though their income could hardly finance their loan. Some of the plaintiffs proceeded with obtaining a loan anyway on defendants representation that any loan they would obtain in order to finance the acquisition of their units would be self-liquidating.

26. It is thus evident that defendants concocted the offer of guaranteed investments and management of the condotel by Best Western Hotels as an elaborate ruse to entice plaintiffs to part with their hard earned money and invest it in the project.

27. Worse plaintiffs are not even allowed access to their units. Whenever plaintiffs request defendants that they be allowed access to their units, defendants always tell plaintiffs that their units are "occupied by hotel guests.” Even if plaintiffs desire to pull out their units from the condotel, defendant First Global is insisting that plaintiffs pay it P2,000,000.00 as "reimbursement" for expenses incurred in furnishing the units, even though defendant First Global supposed to turn over to plaintiffs fully furnished units.

28. Due to defendants' malevolent and devious scheme, plaintiffs suffered sleepless nights, serious anxiety and mental anguish, for which defendants should be adjudged solidarily liable to pay plaintiffs the amount of P200,000.00 each as moral damages.

ALLEGATIONS IN SUPPORT OF THE APPLICATION FOR ISSUANCE OF A WRIT OF PRELIMINARY ATTACHMENT 29. Plaintiffs replead all the foregoing allegations way of reference in support of its application for issuance of a writ of preliminary attachment.

Defendants are guilty of fraud in incurring the obligation upon which the action is brought, and in the performance thereof 30. Plaintiffs all Invested their hard earned money in the condotel because of defendant First Global's representation that the condotel would be managed by Best Western Hotels International and that they would be paid guaranteed income from the operation of the condotel.

31. ln fact, some of the plaintiffs obtained bank loans even if they were not in a position to pay these loans since the guaranteed income would make these loans self liquidating.

32. Defendants, in connivance with one another and in evident bad faith, willfully, fraudulently and deliberately reneged on their obligation to pay plaintiffs their guaranteed income.

33. In the instant case, defendants fraud in contracting their obligations, and in the performance thereof, are evident In the following circumstances. a. The condotel is operated by Berkshire Oriental as F1 Hotel Manila and not as Best Western Premier F1 Hotel managed by Best Western International as originally touted, without prior notice to the condotel unit owners of the hotel. b. Defendants unilaterally reduced the guaranteed rate of return of fourteen percent (14%) to twenty perent (20%) to just two percent (2%), without any justifiable reason. c. In case plaintiffs pull out their units from the condotel, they are required to pay defendants the amount of P2,000,000.00 as "reimbursement" for expenses in furnishing the units, although it is the obligation of defendants to turn over fully furnished units to plaintiffs.

34. Individual defendants are all directors, officers, employees, agents and representatives of defendants First Global and Unibuilt, and are directly and primarily responsible for the fraud that was perpetrated on plaintiffs in order to defeat their right to payment of their guaranteed income from defendant First Global and Unibuilt.

35. Under the foregoing circumstances, a sufficient cause of action exists against defendants entitling plaintiff to the reliefs prayed for.

36. Defendants connived with one another in order to enable defendant First Global to evade its obligation to pay plaintiffs their guaranteed income, which constitutes fraud in contracting and in the performance thereof which entitles plaintiffs to the issuance of a writ off preliminary attachment pursuant to Section Rule 5 ,section 1 (d), 1997 Rules of Civil Procedure, to wit: SECTION 1. Grounds upon which attachment may issue.-At the commencement of the action or at any time before entry of judgment, a plaintiff or any proper party may have the property of the adverse party attached as security for the satisfaction of any judgment that may be recovered in the following cases: xxx (d) In an action against a party who has been guilty of a fraud in contracting the debt or incurring the obligation upon which the action is brought, or in The performance thereof; (emphasis supplied).

37. There is no other sufficient security for the claim sought to be enforced by plaintiffs against defendants.

38. The amount due to plaintiffs-applicants is as much as the sum for which the order will be granted above all legal counterclaims.

39. Plaintiffs are willing and able to post a bond in the amount to be fixed by this Honorable Court should it grant the application for the issuance of the Writ of Preliminary Attachment conditioned for the payment of all costs which may be adjudged to the adverse party and all damages which it may sustain by reason of the attachment if the court shall finally adjudge that plaintiffs-applicants were not entitle thereto.

40. In support of its application for issuance of a writ of preliminary attachment attached herewith is the Affidavit of Merit of plaintiff Henrik A. Nyqvist.

PRAYER WHEREFORE, in view of the forgoing, plaintiff respectfully prays of this Honorable Court that: 1. Upon filing of this Complaint a hearing ex parte be conducted for plaintiffs' application for Issuance of a writ of preliminary attachment; 2. Thereafter, an Order be issued granting the application for issuance of a Writ Preliminary Attachment and, upon posting of the requisite bond, a Writ of Preliminary Attachment be issued against the properties of the defendants to serve as security for the satisfaction of any judgment that may be recovered herein; 3. After trial on the merits, judgment be rendered in plaintiffs' favor and against defendants ordering them, jointly and severally, to pay plaintiffs their guaranteed Income, commencing from March 2012 and continuing for as long as the F1 Hotel is occupying, using, operating and benefitting from the condotel units owned by plaintiffs.

4. The sum of P200,000.00 for each plaintiff as moral damages, and 5. Costs of suit.

Other reliefs just and equitable in the premises, are likewise herein prayed for.

Makati City, 15 April 2015 (SGD.) TOMAS JOSE BERENGUER Counsel for Plaintiffs Unit 74 Cosmopolitan Tower 134 Valero Street, Salcedo Village Makati City 1227 Tel. 751-6243 Email: tomberenguer@gmail.com PTR#4755597; 01-06-15; Makati IBP#0984552; 01-07-15; Makati Roll No. 42973 MCLE Compliance No. IV-0018272 24 April 2013 VERIFICATION AND CERTIFICATION Republic of the Philippines ) City of MANDALUYONG CITY )S.S. We, HENRIK A. NYQVIST, JUN DY and JUAN PAOLO HERRERA all of legal age, with postal address at c/o Unit 74 Cosmopolitan Tower, 134 Valero Street, Salcedo Village, Makati City, after being duly sworn in accordance with law, depose and state that: 1. We are co-plaintiffs in the above-captioned case and we have been authorized by our other coplaintiffs, either singly, jointly, or collectively, to cause the preparation of the foregoing Complaint and all the allegations contained therein are true and correct based on our personal knowledge and on available records.

2. We have not commenced any other action or proceeding involving the same issues in any other court, tribunal or agency, and to the best of our knowledge no such other action or claim is pending them.

3. If we should thereafter learn that the same or similar action has been filed or is pending in any other court, tribunal or agency, we undertake to report such fact to this Honorable Court within five (5) days therefrom.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, we have hereunto set our hand this day of MAY 05 2015 at MANDALUYONG CITY (Sgd) HENRIK A. NYQVIST

(Sgd) JUN DY

(Sgd) JUAN PAOLO HERRERA SUBSCRIBED AND SWORN to before me this 05 day of May 2015 at MANDALUYONG CITY affiants exhibiting to me the following: Name Driv. Lic./Passport/ SSSNo. Henrik A. Nyqvist PC5237268 Jun Dy N04-89-122352 Juan Paolo Herrera EB7274274 Issued at/on Kuala Lumpur/12 March 2014 Quezon City/31 July 2014 Manila/2 February 2013 Doc. No. 152 Page No. 32 Book No. I Series of 2015 ( T S - O C T. 3 , 2 015 )

PA I D A D V E R T I S E M E N T

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PROPERTY

JOEL D. L ACSAMANA EDITOR

jdlacsamana@gmail.com

B7

ConstRuCtion giant

Property developer D.M. Wenceslao & Associates, Inc. (DMWAI), recently reached its 50th year of building infrastructure. Founded in 1965, DMWAI went through political upheavals, economic crises and myriad challenges, to become one of the biggest property and construction companies in the Philippines today. Named after World War II veteran, Delfin J. Wenceslao, the company built structures on thousands and thousands of square meters — all of which still stand as strong as the day they were built. D.M. Wenceslao is known as the developer and owner of Aseana City (Shown in photo). The 17-hectares project is located in between Entertainment City in Paranaque and Mall of Asia in Pasay, Aseana City, touted as the next major business, tourism and entertainment district in the capital.

PLAYING IT SMART IN THE REAL ESTATE GAME

Robust times. RE/MAX Philippines country manager Michelle Perlas recently predicted a new era of sustainable progress for the Philippines which would reflect robustness and optimism for the local real estate sector. Speaking at the International Realtor Conference held at the City of Dreams, Perlas said “as a Filipino, I am proud to report the powerful changes that are taking place in the Philippines.” She observed that cities that harbour major business centres to the provinces play host to rapid residential growth and commercial expansion. RE/MAX, she said, will continue to be present in one of the world’s most promising markets. “We intend to play an important role in this country’s progress, not just as brokers and partners, but as game changers in this landscape we call home,” she said.

CNN Money recently predicted that the Philippines will be the fourth fastest growing economy in the world in 2015. The promise of a strong economic climate means more consumers will be making crucial financial decisions. The real estate industry is one sector that is enjoying the perks of this shift, thanks to the higher purchasing power of consumers. But how do we know if we’re ready for such big purchases?

“You have to make sure you have financial independence,” said wealth management expert Johner Fernandez. At an investment seminar hosted by property developer Ovialand, Inc. last week, he said “if you are earning enough to cover your daily needs, and still have enough left to invest without short-changing yourself, then you’re ready.”

Fernandez said one mistake people make when buying a house is looking at savings and investments as similar concepts. “Before you buy your own house, you have to keep 10% of your regular monthly income for short-term savings, and 10% for long-term savings.

Right dRam, foR the Right moment. The Balvenie Distillery is leading the charge in the Philippines, amid the increased spending power of consumers, to bring in high-end single malt whisky. Under the banner of William Grant & Sons of Scotland which kicked off the importation of Glenfiddich single malt earlier this year , it recently introduced the Balvenie line of single malt whisky. In a tasting session at Smith Butcher and Grill Room in Makati City, regional brand ambassador for The Balvenie Neil Strachan, said The Balvenie sees the Philippines as a key market in Asia-Pacific with large growth potential.

He said the company is currently building brand awareness among local consumers.

southern brand. Terrazza de Sto. Tomas, a property development of Ovialand Inc. in Sto. Tomas, Batangas, offers value for money homes in its sprawling 5.8 hectares location.

The money that you should use for your property should be on top of these,” Fernandez advised.

PRomising ventuRe

Real estate is one of the most promising industries in the country. Many property developers are now eyeing other locations as possible new growth hubs.

“It’s all about location,” Fernandez said. “With efforts to distribute services and resources in Manila, the provinces near it are the ones most likely to receive its growth traffic.

You also have to consider the possible progress of the place. Think of Ortigas. Prices of properties there were very affordable before. Nobody would have thought it would grow into a business district.”

Sto. Tomas, Batangas is among South Luzon’s provinces that have

been showing significant progress.

Supported by strong infrastructure and its competitive location, the once rural town is steadily transitioning into the next business and social hub with industrial parks, global companies, and commercial centers. best PaRtneRs Find a developer that offers flexible transactions can make purchasing a home more manageable,” said Fernandez.“This is where the credibility of the property builder comes in. You need to study the company, see how they work, and how they build houses.”

“Buying a property should be viewed as a form of business partnership with your developer,” he said. “To make the venture a success, you should look for the best partners.”

getting a head staRt at KaPitolyo. Rockwell Primaries recently launched The Vantage, its first high-rise, integrated village development, in Kapitolyo, Pasig City. To be turned over at 2020, the vertical development will have two high-rise towers that house a mix of studio, one, two, and three-bedroom formats ranging from 29 sqm to 91 sqm. The Vantage is tucked into the heart of Manila’s four main business districts, namely the Makati Central Business District, Bonifacio Global City, Ortigas, and Mandaluyong.

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B8

JOEL D. L ACSAMANA EDITOR jdlacsamana@gmail.com

PROPERTY

making its mark at the cbD. Alveo Financial Tower sold 60 percent of its units, or over P5.8 billion in sales, in a one-day selling event held last week.

AYAlA AvEnUE hAS nEw gEm

by Joel D. lAcSAmAnA

A

lveo Land, an Ayala Land subsidiary, will build the Alveo Financial Tower at 6794 Ayala Avenue, Makati City, a 49-storey headquarter-type office condominium development envisioned to reshape the Philippines’ business capital.

The project will serve as the lynchpin to Ayala Land’s new P20-billion corporate creative node, City Gate. It will connect businesses and enterprises to a mixed-use district that includes retail establishments, premium hotel accommodations, condominium residences, and integrated open spaces.

“Alveo Financial Tower will be a major component of City Gate,”

said Jennylle Tupaz, head of project development group for Alveo Land. “City Gate includes 81,000 square meters dedicated to leasable office spaces and 14,000 square meters for retail options. It will feature prominent civic spaces designed for convergence, a rarity within the concrete jungle of Makati City.”

Tupaz added that residential developments will also rise along with the district with Alveo Land’s own Kroma Tower and The Lerato already launched in recent years. A 312-suite Seda-brand Ayala hotel is also included in the scheme, as well as elevated walkways that interconnect the district, and stretches all the way to Ayala Center, she said.

SuStAinAble regenerAtion Alveo commissioned Seattle-based structural consultant Magnusson Klemencic Associates (MKA) and local engineering firm Sy^2 + Associates to do structural integrity tests on the former JAKA Tower. After a three-month review process, Sy^2 and MKA both pronounced the foundation as sound and fit for use. Alveo Land then master-planned the skyscraper, which it said will serve as a design catalyst for the regeneration of Ayala Avenue.

“We are excited to contribute to and drive sustainability in architecture in the Philippines, and

hopefully pave the way for other developers to follow a similar path of innovation and architectural reuse,” said Tupaz.

The Alveo Financial Tower will be LEED-certified with amenities and facilities to add efficiency and value to an enterprise’s daily experience. These sustainable initiatives translate to an architectural design with provisions for efficient energy and pollution control management. inveStment opportunity Alveo Financial Tower sits on a 2,400-square-meter plot of land, featuring 48 floors plus a utility roof deck totalling 63,739 square

meters of gross floor area. There are 363 office units for sale and the tower’s turnover is slated for 2020. Intelligent and high technology features will be fitted into the construction of the development, including the latest in Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) technology.

Alveo Financial Tower expects investment returns to be as high as 6% (based on current lease rates in the Makati CBD). “With its location on Ayala Avenue, Alveo Financial Tower becomes a rare investment opportunity for businesses wanting to be part of the most prestigious corporate address in the country,” said Tupaz.

PH Hotel rebuilt; celebrates local artistry

H

otel de Oriente Convention Centre, a replica of the country’s first ever luxurious hotel in the Philippines, was rebuilt recently.

Hotel de Oriente was built in 1889 as the Philippines’ first premier hotel at Plaza Calderon de la Barca in Binondo, Manila. It was inspired by the Philippines’ only heritage resort by the sea, Las Casas Filipinas de Acuzar. It was one of the first buildings in the country to have a telephone line and electricity. Jose Rizal reportedly stayed in one of its rooms in 1892 after living in Europe for several years. The hotel was destroyed during World War II. The hotel’s lobby features a masterpiece inspired by Juan Luna’s Spoliarium, ceiling marquetry

works inspired by Carlos “Botong” Francisco’s murals, and haunting wood sculptures and figurines.

The sculptors who made the lobby’s spectacle came from Paete, Laguna, the Philippines’ wood carving capital, and from Betis, Pampanga, a place also known in the wood carving industry. Women artists who were trained to do marquetry, did the wood mosaic designs, while other furniture workers and artists crafted the paintings, terracotta tiles, and casting products made of plaster of Paris.

Hotel de Oriente’s convention centre has two large venues, Manila and Binondo Halls, which can each accommodate up to 1,000 guests.

These were previewed to the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation

(APEC) Summit guests during its Bataan leg last June.

The convention center also houses function rooms named after some of Manila’s iconic streets – Avenida, Azcarraga, Blumentritt, and Sta. Cruz.

The resort will officially showcase Hotel de Oriente Convention Centre with a grand musical event on October 31. Dubbed “Harana: A Weekend at Las Casas Filipinas de Acuzar with Lani Misalucha, Mel Villena and the AMP Band”, guests will enjoy music, and a four-course dinner.

Las Casas Filipinas de Acuzar is located in Bagac, Bataan. It is a project of New San Jose Builders, Inc. and managed by Asian Grand Legacy Hotels Corp.

Wood, wood everywhere. Ceiling works inspired by Carlos “Botong” Francisco’s murals, and arresting wood sculptures and figurines.

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TATUM ANCHETA EDITOR

BING PAREL

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

BERNADETTE LUNAS

life @ thestandard.com .ph

WRITER

@LIFEatStandard

P OP CU LT U RE

LIFE

C1

FACE OFF WITH NORMAN SAN DIEGO

BY KRISTEL DACUMOS-LAGORZA

A Vice Ganda wearing FAB

glance at the latest holiday collection of San Diego’s Fashion Art and Bodies (FAB) offers a glimpse into the wildly imaginative mind of young designer Norman San Diego. The powerful portraits and prints burst with vibrant hues and exude boldness. In the words of the artiste himself, “My designs are very in your face.”

Today, San Diego’s FAB is worn not only by fashion forward youth but by celebrities, from the likes of Lea Salonga to GMA’s bedimpled darling, Alden Richards. Norman’s designs have also been proudly donned by other up-and-coming personalities such as Lourd Ramos, Yam Concepcion and StartStruck’s Ryza Cenon. But he is most thankful to Vice Ganda, who introduced his brand to the mainstream audience.

“I am very grateful to Vice because he doesn’t only wear my designs, I can feel that he really loves them,” beams the 26-year-old designer/entrepreneur.

The designer with Lourd Ramos wearing his designs for FAB

Paolo Ballesteros wearing one of his shirts

Norman San Diego

Indeed, as early as now, one can say that Norman San Diego is proving to be a serious artist to be reckoned with.

While many designers discovered their creative passions at a young age – while dabbling with paints, scribbling sketches on scraps of paper or even, while playing dress up as kids – Norman realized his “designer’s touch” much later. In fact, he only discovered his creative inklings while finding ways to kill his boredom in college.

While studying Hotel & Restaurant Management at Lyceum of Subic Bay, Norman and his fashion-keen friends would often set up “play dates,” shooting full fashion editorials for fun in their spare time. “As a style enthusiast, I taught myself the basics of photography, and eventually, I learned the complexity of it. Photography was initially just a hobby, but it has since become my life line. I shoot whenever I’m stressed or when there’s a lot going on in my mind. It is an outlet for me,” he reveals.

In time, his portfolio of work, which included the editorials he and his friends produced, was getting nods from style editors of mainstream fashion magazines in Manila. He did audition for Mega Fashion Crew a few years ago, but he didn’t get the break he was expecting.

Instead, he focused his energies covering fashion week for publications as an event photographer. This gave him the invaluable opportunity to mingle with the industry’s power players and creative minds. Here, he found inspiration as well as courage to

FAB's Harbor Point Subic Ayala Mall store

explore a new facet of himself as an artist – this time as a designer.

He was confident in his decision.

Instead of his works being confined to the pages of a magazine, they were to be worn. On Dec. 19, 2014, Norman took a leap of faith and established his own clothing line. His mesmerizing portraits are printed onto modern cuts made from neoprene and spandex, and the results are boldly beautiful.

“My design is colorful, young, and loud, very much like me!” he laughs, sharing that he looks up to Jeremy Scott, the designer genius behind the radical and iconic looks of Miley Cyrus, for inspiration.

But more than just a fresh and modern aesthetic, “Every print used in my designs is meaningful because these are the people I have met and are inspired by – a mix of both new and familiar faces. But they have all become my friends.”

Random introductions become

beautiful encounters as Norman captures each individual in a stunning light.

Today, San Diego’s FAB has a loyal following in Subic, and Norman is extending his fashion reach in Manila, with his designs now available at the Commercenter, Alabang.

“When I graduated in college I was lost and didn’t know what to do with my life. But I remembered my mom saying that whatever goal I want to achieve, I should put God first and everything else will follow.

Thankfully, He has led me to this, and for that I am very grateful,” he ends.

San Diego's FAB (Fashion Arts & Bodies) store is located at Level 1 Harbor Point Subic Ayala Mall.

For inquiries and information on the products you may check out San Diego's FAB on Facebook or @ fablimited on Instagram, or reach him through Viber on 09062875912.

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C2

THE GIST

LIFE life @ thestandard.com .ph

@LIFEatStandard

DESIGN OF A DECADE Part 2 of 2

BY ED BIADO

I

guess it's really just coming to terms with reality that made me accept that I was indeed turning 32. No big realization, no pivotal moment, no fuss. Well, there were changes that supported the theory that when one aspect of a person's life is not going well, another will thrive. Let's just say that work is fabulous – I've never been busier – but I'm back on the dating market after four years of absence.

Meeting and talking to a lot of new people was an eye opener for me. It made me see how different someone my age is to someone who's 22 or 42. And it's so weird that now, I can't wait to be in my forties.

But I'm getting ahead of myself because I actually love being 32. I sincerely believe that being older millennials, people in their thirties are on the cusp of adulthood and that's very exciting.

It's great being in your thirties and having amassed a wide range of experiences and

knowledge because twentysomethings look up to you and think of you as a credible source of life lessons. At the same time, you and your peers share mutual respect because you've matured enough that you've stopped competing with one another. Your only competition now is yourself. Due to the fact that you're considered an adult and no longer a child playing dress-up, your seniors, people in their forties, are FINALLY taking you seriously and valuing your contributions. You're legit and they know it.

All that greatly boosts one's confidence and self-esteem, which for me were massively lacking in the figuring-out-what-the-hellI'm-doing-and-going-to-do-with-my-life era I fondly call my twenties.

As a generation of entitled spoiled brats, millennials are known to delay growing up.

But growing up is inevitable and I think that we're growing up – and growing accustomed to the idea of growing up – together. Even writers who come up with faux-inspirational listicles are maturing. And because of that, I'm going to do a complete 180 on my opinion on such content.

Between submitting last Saturday's column (in which I expressed my disapproval of listicles) and writing this one, I came across a story on Elite Daily titled “61 Things You Have To Reconcile With By The Time You Turn 30.” Admittedly, I went into it with a lot of skepticism. But I came out really respecting the writer's point of view.

Consider these fine points she made – that you have to accept: 9. That you'll never look like Heidi Klum.

18. That life will never be easy.

36. That a 401k may actually be more important than stamps on a passport.

37. That you really aren't that special.

What I love about it is the deliberately anti-typical-millennial way of thinking. It supports my theory that members of this generation, particularly the older ones, have come a long way from being the whiny entitled me-me-me SOBs that we were a decade ago. Like, OMG, we finally get it.

We're finally making sense. We're finally done hyper-romanticizing ourselves and hyper-inflating our egos. We're finally realizing that we can dream of outrageous things that we hope to achieve within our lifetimes, and that said dreams may or may

not come true. And if they don't, we're okay with it. We're not going to bitch about it.

And we'll have a Plan B, C, up to L. When I was 22, I said I was going to go on a solo backpacking trip across Europe for a month before I turn 30. Never happened, of course. And I'm fine with that. Maybe I'll get to do it before 40. I think it'll be more fun because I'll be making better decisions and I won't be dirt poor after the trip, as I would've been if I did it in my twenties.

But if it still doesn't happen by my 40th birthday, I think I'll still be okay. Because I can always put that in my “before 50” list. No pressure.

Follow me on Twitter and Instagram @EdBiado

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LIFE life @ thestandard.com .ph

@LIFEatStandard

BEYOND THE BOOKS:

What Studying Abroad Can Do for You

S

tudying abroad is something many people aspire for, because it presents a lot of opportunities to widen one’s horizon and gain a new perspective on the world we live in. Being in a new environment can be challenging, but the upside is that it allows you to develop that ability to adapt to, and deal with, diverse situations, which can prove to be invaluable on the journey to success.

As far as academics and professional career is concerned, studying abroad can pave the way to a successful future. It also affords you that chance to discover yourself and grow as an individual, all the while gaining an understanding of a bigger world around. Immersing yourself in a new language, a new culture, and a tradition that’s poles apart from your own can impart valuable learnings that go beyond the confining four walls of a classroom.

A young lawyer who recently graduated from the UP College of Law, Maria Ara Garcia, wanted to continue her studies and pursue a Masters in environmental law abroad. Making this decision was one thing; getting herself into a program at her chosen university is a completely different story.

Studying abroad opens up a lot of opportunities for success in the future

Armed with a strong determination to make her dream happen, Garcia sought the help of IDP Philippines, one of the leading providers of global education services and IELTS exams in the country. It was through her cousin who was also successfully placed by the organization at a university abroad that she found out about its services, and she couldn’t be more grateful that she was introduced. “IDP guided me through every step of the way, from the university application to the accomplishment of my student visa requirements. They provided me with everything I needed to know and

answered all my questions,” says Garcia. “It was also a major factor how they were very easy to get in touch with, and would reply almost immediately through email, text, or phone call. And they help you out for free, unlike other student placement agencies that charge fees for their services. All these really made the application process a lot more convenient.”

Garcia, who has always dreamt of living in New Zealand, is now studying at the University of Auckland, which is home to one of the best Environmental Law programs in the Asia-Pacific region. “I have just finished a semi-intensive class called Mining and Natural Resources Law. The course was taught by a very prominent lawyer and widely-published author specializing in environmental law. Last month, we went on a field trip to the gold mines and wind farms in Northern Auckland. It was a very

enjoyable and educational trip and I am very thankful to have been part of it,” she excitedly shares, adding that she has learned a lot about the environmental laws in New Zealand.

To open doors to more students who want to study abroad, IDP Philippines is hosting the Study Abroad Expo 2015 at the Makati Shangri-La Hotel on the 10th, at Waterfront Cebu City Hotel Lahug on the 11th, and at SMX Davao on the 13th. IDP is providing free counseling and seminar to students who are interested. To register, go to www. idp.com/philipines/flightidp or contact the IDP offices at (02) 8160755 loc 116 (Manila) and (032) 2362758 (Cebu). Students may bring their valid passport, IELTS results (if available), and Transcript of Records.

Admission is free, so go now, register online, join the expo, and find out what the future holds for you.

2015 GLOBE TATT AWARDS: Recognizing greatness

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ow on its fifth year, Globe Telecom mobile broadband brand Tattoo's Tatt Awards is searching for 10 individuals, groups or communities that have made a great impact in the online space with their brand of content.

“This 2015, the Tatt Awards not only celebrates those who have been great online, but the connectivity that made their greatness possible. The Tatt Awards is part of Globe Telecom’s commitment to enabling the Filipino digital lifestyle, as it institutionalizes greatness, creativity, and innovation in the digital space. Before any content can make its mark, it must be liked, reposted, shared, followed, and passed on. It is through these connections that good things can become great. It becomes greatness amplified and greatness shared, and this is what this year’s Tatt Awards is all about,” said Ray Guinoo, Director for Tattoo Mobile Broadband.

To be known as “The Great Ten,” the awardees, which will be selected from nominations by the public, will be distinguished for their positive acts, ideas, talents, projects, or movements that achieved greatness by choosing to connect.

Unlike previous Tatt Awards, this year’s nominations are not divided into specific categories. Any person or group may be nominated so long as the nominee has been able to create an impact through quality content

Members of the Tatt Council with Ray Guinoo (extreme left), Director for Tattoo Nomadic Broadband

that made a mark on the greater majority. The nominee must have also used social media to connect with the rest of the world, thus amplifying and sharing the work done.

A Tatt Council composed of key personalities from various fields will screen the nominations.

The members of the Tatt Council include environmental advocate Anna Oposa, social entrepreneur Bam Aquino, BasketballTV presenter Jinno Rufino, filmmaker Quark

Henares, musician Jim Paredes, TV host and author Bianca Gonzalez-Intal, TV personality Daphne Osena-Paez, Emmy awardwinning TV producer Mike Carandang, and technopreneur and Xurpas CEO and founder Nix Nolledo. The Tatt Council will face the daunting task of choosing the 2015 Tatt Awards winners from the public nominations.

The Great Ten will be revealed and awarded at the Tatt Awards Night on November 11,

Guinoo explains the Tatt Awards to the public

2015. Previous winners of the Tatt Awards include phenomenal star Vice Ganda, fashion blogger Tricia Gosingtian, social media sensation Kimpoy Feliciano, celebrity chef Erwan Heussaff, and technology blogger Abe Olandres for Yugatech.com.

Public nominations will run until October 15, 2015. Nominations may be submitted via www.TattAwards.com.

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LIFE life @ thestandard.com .ph

@LIFEatStandard

Virtual Voyage

Pym Particle

Mystery Manila at Century City Mall

Crime of the Century

MYSTERY MANILA AND OTHER NEW ESTABLISHMENTS NOW OPEN IN CENTURY CITY MALL

N

ow here’s another reason to head out to Century City Mall – the fourlevel shopping and entertainment complex located at the master-planned Century City at Kalayaan Avenue now has Mystery Manila.

Mystery Manila is for adrenalin junkies who like to solve puzzles and mysteries. It’s like being inside a maze and you have to solve problems and situations to uncover truths so you can be set free. It’s the fourth branch in Century City Mall and guests can opt to choose from four different chambers: Sinister Sensorium (escape the room in 60 minutes and break free from the psychopathic killer named Enigma), Pym Particle (like a setting for a Sci-Fi f lick, you must stop Dr. Cross to prevent the Pym Particle from falling into the wrong hands and save the day), Crime of the Century (Here the psycho killer Enigma plans to bomb Makati CBD, the challenge is to diffuse the bomb in 90 minutes), and Virtual Voyage (an experiment has gone awry and you are trapped in a virtual world, the challenge is to find a way to escape back to reality within one hour).

It’s only been open for a few days but people have been lining up to get in on the 3rd level

Cafe Mary Grace

Chiara's

Cafe Seol Hwa

Chiara's gelato products

location in Century City Mall.

Go get your friends (and wits) together and check out this fun and energizing adventure.

Aside from the exciting entertainment facility of Mystery Manila, Century City Mall has opened seven new establishments – new dining options, retail choices and an entertainment destination. For the gadget offerings, Digital Walker is now open on Level 3. Expert scent maker Mia Maison now offers its famed home fragrances at Level 1 while Christine Lhuiller Parfumerie has opened on Level 3. For toy fanatics, Big Boys Toy Store is available at Level 2. New food offerings are also open to serve your palate – get a cup of

creamy gelato at Chiara’s, get healthy with Big Chill smoothies or try Seol Hwa Bingsu’s Korean snow desserts. Other dining selections include Mary Grace Café on the ground level (across the Concierge) and Chaplin Café on Level 4. For shopaholics, check out the Italian leather goods shop on Level 1, Piquadro.

Christine Lhuiller Parfumerie

To book your challenge in Mystery Manila, log on to www.mysterymanila.com. For more information and updates, please call the concierge at 705-6200 or log on to www. centurycitymall.com.ph or follow CenturyCityMall on Facebook, @CenturyMall on Twitter, and centurymallph on Instagram.

Mia Maison

SAT URDAY : OCTOBER 3: 2015

SHOWBITZ isahred @ gmail.com

ISAH V. RED EDITOR

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Jackman also joins locals in traditional Mid-Autumn Festival

Hugh Jackman strolls with Chinese children in Tai Hang Fire Dragon Dance

HugH JAckmAn in Hong kong

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ward-winning actor Hugh Jackman attended Hong Kong’s Tai Hang Fire Dragon Dance as part of the promotion for his latest film, Pan, a retelling of the children’s classic Peter Pan. Leading the parade by holding the Fire Dragon Pearl, Hugh Jackman is the first international

star to participate in an authentic cultural heritage with around 100 years of history. The Tai Hang Fire Dragon Dance is one of Hong Kong’s most famous local cultural traditions during the Mid-Autumn Festival, aside from feasting on moon cakes and strolling through a lantern exhibition.

The spectacular dragon dance

usually presents a 76-meter long dragon comprising over 70,000 sticks of incense and played by 300 performers. The tradition is based on the miracle of the 19th century when villagers of Tai Hang managed to stop a plague with the fire dragon dance.

To learn more, visit www.DiscoverHongKong.com.

Jackman holding a lantern

Red by HBO features acclaimed films from Vietnam, Korea, Singapore, Indonesia and the Philippines

Screen red iS now Simply red

H

BO Asia’s first Asian movie channel, Screen Red is now just Red by HBO. The refreshed channel will have a vibrant new look, marrying traditional motifs from the region with contemporary themes to better reflect the channel’s younger, more diverse and dynamic viewer profile. Red by HBO will also have greater emphasis on local story telling from South East Asia, in addition to those from Japan, Korean and Greater China previously featured on Screen Red. With the new tagline of ‘Asian stories you love’, the refreshed Red

by HBO channel will continue to showcase internationally acclaimed,

award-winning and popular movies and series from the region as well as HBO Asia Originals such as Serangoon Road, Grace and Halfworlds.

Launched in 2010 by HBO Asia and Mei Ah, the rebranded channel will continue to carry Mei Ah’s slate of movies, including nine new theatrical releases that will premiere first on Asian television on Red by HBO. They include the award-winning detective crime drama Port Of Call starring Aaron Kwok and the recently released horror movie Knock Knock! Who’s There? starring Kate Tsui.

“Red by HBO is the destination for non-stop Asian movie entertainment powered by one of the

world’s most prestigious movie channels – HBO,” said Jonathan Spink, CEO of HBO Asia. “Red by HBO will have internationally acclaimed titles, award-winners and all-time-favorite Asian movies and series to better cater to our diverse audiences across the region.”

Available in high definition, programs on Red by HBO are presented in original language with English and local language subtitles*.

Red by HBO is currently available in Indonesia, Malaysia, Myanmar, Philippines, Thailand and Vietnam.

With the refresh, some Asian movie titles to look out for in October on Red by HBO include: Kid Kulafu (Philippines) – A

Young Manny Pacquiao in Kid Kulafu

film about the challenging childhood of a boxing superstar, Manny Pacquiao. Directed by Paul Soriano, who won the Best Director at Film Academy of the Philippines FAP Awards, the film stars Buboy Villar, a member of the youngest boy band in the Philippines, the Mak and the Dudes.

Conjuring Spirit (Vietnam) Lan and her son Bi, move into an unoccupied apartment known for its strange occurrences and have experiences of their own. She decides to investigate them.

Ode To My Father (Korea) - A major box office hit in 2014 that surpassed 13 million ticket admissions, making it the second most-watched

Korean film of all time. Spanning over 60 years, this film chronicles the life of a man, who in the face of tumultuous events, marshals extraordinary courage to protect his family.

Crush (Indonesia) - A comical yet heart-warming story of a famous Indonesian girl band struggling to save their pride when their charming dance instructor leaves them.

Afterimages (Singapore) - A collection of horror films from hell. A group of friends burn paper effigy cameras for the dead and receive spine-tingling horror films in return.

For more information, go to www. redbyhbo.com.

SAT URDAY : OCTOBER 3: 2015

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SHOWBITZ isahred @ gmail.com

27 BEAUtiES viE fOR MiSS WORLD PhiLiPPinES CROWn

W

ho will succeed Valerie Weighmann?

Twenty seven girls will compete for the title Miss World Philippines 2015 at The Theater, Solaire Resort and Casino in Pasay City on Oct. 18.

Miss World Philippines has been a highly anticipated beauty search since Megan Young’s Miss World conquest in 2013.

Miss World Philippines director Cory Quirino expressed excitement on the prospect for this year’s batch after Weigmann’s top 20 finish at Miss World 2014.

With cross over contestants from other local pageants, beauty watchers listed the early favorites which include, among others, Hillarie Danielle Parungao, Emma Mary Tiglao, and Jessica Rose McEwen.

Parungao who hails from Nueva Vizcaya, is a freelance print ads

model and competed at Miss Asia Pacific World 2014 in Seoul, Korea, finishing third runner up. Tiglao was a top 15 candidate of Bb. Pilipinas 2015 and first runner up in Mutya ng Pilipinas 2012, while McEwen finished in the Top 10 in Mutya ng Pilipinas 2015. Mia Allyson Howell and Marita Cassandra Naidas also competed in Bb. Pilipinas 2015 and 2013, respectively. The rest of the 27 candidates are Ma. Vanessa Wright, Jannie Loudette Alipo-on, Danica Macabangon, Sheila Mae Torino, Christelle Abello, Janelle Tee, Ma. Jackielyn Dulay, Kiara Giel Gregorio, Mona Mahmound Hammad, Teena Pagulayan, Alexie Marie Ibabao, Avonlea Paraiso, Erika Mari de Castro, Erica Rose Bayani, Leitz Camyll Ang, Diana Pinto, Mariah Nilo, Vianca Louise Marcelo, Janette Roanne Sturm, Jeddahliz Maltezo, Casey

Anne Austria and Grapes Pacara.

A sports challenge preliminary activity “Race to Greatness– Guro to Pangulo” will be held at the Quirino Grandstand, free admission with prizes at stake, on Oct.10, marking the 125th birth anniversary of President Elpidio Quirino, while Ilocos Sur will host the swimsuit pictorials of candidates from Oct. 6-8. A gala charity night and best in fashion runway will be held at Manila Hotel New Fiesta Favillion. Ticket sales proceeds will be for the benefit of the PGH Medical Foundation and the Tuloy Street Children Foundation.

A record of 130 contestants from all over the world will compete in Miss World 2015 to be held at the Crown Beauty Theatre in Sanya, China on Dec. 19,. Miss World Philippines 2015 coronation night will be telecast on GMA 7.

– EtOn B. COnCEPCiOn

27 girls from across the Philippines will compete for the title Miss World Philippines 2015

Tagalog-dubbed Korean Thrillers on sKY PaY-Per-View

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sian films have always been a part of the Philippine movie landscape. Starting with the Hong Kong flicks from decades past, to the resurgence of Asian films in the early 2000s, Asian movies have consistently entertained Filipino audiences.

In recent years, Korea has been a great source of joy for many– ranging from the famous K-Pop groups, fan-favorite Koreanovelas, and of course, hit Korean movies featuring the hottest and most sought-after stars of South Korea.

To celebrate our love of Korean stories, SKY offers unlimited viewing of two blockbuster Korean movies on SKY Pay-Per-View until Oct. 14. These films are dubbed in Tagalog, ensuring the most enjoyment for Filipinos nationwide.

First-up is Gangnam Blues, a neo-noir action film set in 1970s Gangnam. Starring Lee Min-Ho, Kim Rae-Won, Kim Seolhyun, and Kim Ji-Soo, the story centers on the lives of Jong-Dae and Yong-Ki. Growing-up in poverty, their lives took a turn for the worse when local thugs destroyed their dwellings in a shantytown,.

Everything went into a downward spiral from that point, accidentally separating these childhood friends after violent skirmishes between rival political groups. The heart of the film focuses on how these two friends walked two very different paths, on how Jong-Dae took the road of honest living, while YongKi fell into more difficult times, becoming a gangster in the Myeongdong-pa, Seoul’s most powerful criminal organization.

CROSSWORD PUZZLE

ANSWER FOR PREVIOUS PUZZLE ACROSS 1 Of sound mind 5 Form 1040 experts 9 Capture 12 You said it!

13 River floaters 15 Hull plank 16 Egg on 17 Scarlett of Tara 18 It may be split 19 — trouble (take risks)

21 23 25 26 29 31 35 36 38 39 41

Really enjoys The Force was with him Fly catchers Friendly advice Veil Swamp vapor — is me!

Parka closers Hindu lute Motels of yore Main points

43 44 46 48 49 51 52 53 55 57 61 65 66 68 69 70 71 72 73 74

Resinous deposits Prongs Makes muddy Greek P Reaper’s tool Tabby’s comment “— -Tiki” Foam Resorts Cruise package Traffic cones Pre-college Fountain in Rome No way! (hyph.)

Liverpool poky “Great blue” bird Ms. Foch Deadly snake Tune Mild expletive

DOWN 1 Import car 2 Pulpit 3 Not e’en once 4 Gateway 5 Swarming in 6 Cry of disdain 7 Nowhere near 8 Scatter around 9 Hot soak 10 — vera 11 Ruby and garnet

Mourning Grave is the perfect complement to Gangnam Blue’s hard-hitting drama and action.

A terrifying thriller starring Hye-Lin Han, Haneul Kang, and So-Eun Kim, the film follows the life of In-Su, a high school student harassed and bullied by his classmates because of his ability to see ghosts. In his pursuit of a life free from bullying, he moved back to his hometown to live with his uncle. But In-Su could not escape the patterns of his past, nor his abilities, when he met a ghost in the form of a beautiful girl. And like in his previous high school, he continues to be taunted by town bullies.

In a cruel twist in his favor, all his new bullies were attacked by a vengeful ghost wearing a bloody mask – a ghost he suspects to be

SATURDAY, OCTOBER 3, 2015

14 15 20 22 24 26 27 28 30 32 33 34 37 40 42 45 47 50 54 56 57 58 59 60 62 63 64 67

Oregon capital Christmas bowl Gasps of delight Egret cousin Oil-well capper Red — Fools Column type Loafer insert — salts — raving mad Like Rambo Pyromaniac’s crime Messy quarters Lift anchor (2 wds.)

Feeding the pigs Padlocked Rock Chanteuse — Piaf Chafed places Hurled First-magnitude star Lackaday!

Meat market buy Orchid-loving Wolfe Buckeye state Cloister dwellers Jahan was one Max — Sydow

the beautiful girl, albeit in a more imposing form. The story is revealed in true horror flick fashion, in blood, mystery, and gore.

Don’t miss these gems of Korean cinema. SKYcable and Destiny Cable digital postpaid subscribers can enjoy movie nights for their family and friends as they watch these flicks again and again either in standard or high definition right in the comforts of their homes for only ₱249. Catch movies on the following channels: Ch. 195 (HD) and Ch. 140 (SD) for SKYcable subscribers in Metro Manila, CAMANAVA, Rizal, Cavite, Laguna, Bulacan (San Jose Del Monte) subscribers; and Ch. 701 (HD) and Ch. 21 (SD) for SKYcable subscribers in Cebu, Baguio, Iloilo, Bacolod, Davao, General Santos, and Du-

maguete. Destiny Cable digital subscribers can tune-in through Ch. 195 (HD) and Ch. 140 (SD).

Interested in getting Pay-PerView? You may call the SKYcable’s 24-hour customer service hotlines at (02) 381-0000 for Metro Manila, CAMANAVA, and Rizal; (046) 484-4701 for Cavite; (049) 534-1555 for Calamba and Binan, Laguna; (02) 520-8560 for San Pedro, Laguna and Carmona, Cavite; (044) 693-5877 for Bulacan; (082) 305-5456 for Davao; (074) 442-4841 for Baguio; (034) 432-0051 for Bacolod; (033) 3001210 for Iloilo; (035) 225-1010 for Dumaguete; and (083) 301-3134 for Gen. Santos City. You may also send a text for free to the text hotline 23662 or activate your Pay-per-View subscription online via www.mysky.com.ph/k-thrill.

SAT URDAY : OCTOBER 3: 2015

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SHOWBITZ isahred @ gmail.com

norA Aunor sTArs in gMA neTwork’s new priMeTiMe series

M

any of you are wondering why superstar Nora Aunor was very visible these past couple of weeks on the Kapuso network. Has she been signed by GMA 7? Or was she simply making guest appearances? Perhaps, the network and her manager are cooking up something for the big screen for her.

Wonder no more, Noranians!

Your idol will be in a new primetime series on the Kapuso network. It’s going to be called Little Mommy. I don’t have the details of what the show will be all about, but what I only know is she is one of the stars of the show.

Aunor will then be a certified Kapuso.

HHHHH Aldub fever brings bAck filipinos’ Tv viewing hAbiT With the Aldub phenomenon bringing people from all walks of life back to their TV viewing habit, families are now spending more time at home. This is especially true on Saturdays when the weekly plot of the Eat Bulaga “KalyeSerye” seems to reach a climactic conclusion every time.

Not to mention that all Internet connected gadgets that Aldub fans own have become more hard working as evidenced by their record-breaking tweets every time the “Kalye Serye” reaches the peak of its cliff-hanging episodes.

Just last weekend, the Aldub Nation almost shattered Twitter with the #AldubEBforLOVE hashtag on the first akyat-ligaw or home courtship of “Pambansang Bae” Alden Richards in the mansion where Yaya Dub (played by Maine Mendoza) lives with her adoptive grannies. This garnered over 25 million tweets within just a span of 24 hours.

The downside to all of these, if you can call it as such, is the increased usage of electricity. Spending more time at home, the nonstop usage of connected devices, and the related air-conditioning and what have you, only increase the total wattage that Meralco will bill us at the end of the month.

But Aldub fans need not fret because Meralco announced an

from c8

electricity rate reduction for September – the fifth consecutive month that the power utility has done so. According to Meralco’s advisory, overall power rates in September this year went down by 57 centavos per kWh hour.

September’s lower rates are particularly attributed to improved power supply from power generation companies, Meralco’s third-party suppliers.

To further ensure access to affordable and reliable electricity, Meralco is also continuing its rollout of Kuryente Load, the country’s first-ever prepaid electricity service.

Over 12,000 customers now enjoy this prepaid electricity service.

HHHHH girl-boy bonding in TAsTe buddies It’s a foodie Saturdate with the girls and the guys in Taste Buddies.

Tune in as Kapuso actor Paolo Contis and celebrity Tim Yap hang out with Solenn Heussaff and Iya Villania. Their idea of a good time? A gastronomic getaway and a friendly bonding game to cap off the week!

Solenn and Tim head over to Marikina to try the huge servings at Salliano’s Restaurant and Bar. This, paired with the resto’s homey vibe, is surely a perfect combination for the family and barkada.

The two also raid the kitchen to see how the signature dish, Salliano’s Paella, is made. Delicioso!

Meanwhile, Iya and Paolo visit Skippy’s, the home of Pinoy and Australian cuisine in the metro.

Witness how one can prepare their Aussie specialty, Shepherd’s Pie, at home.

Join them today in Taste Buddies, 8:40 p.m. on GMA News TV. HHHHH cineMAlAyA AudiTions AT ccp Cinemalaya will hold its casting call/open auditions for the 2016 Cinemalaya Philippine Independent Film Festival and Competition today and tomorrow, from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. at the Cultural Center of the Philippines’ Bulwagang Pambansang Alagad ng Sining (MKP Hall), 4/F CCP Building, CCP Complex, Roxas Boulevard, Pasay City.

Nora Aunor is now a certified Kapuso

Interested individuals are encouraged to prepare for their audition piece and to submit their resume and photos.

For details, contact the CCP Film Broadcast and New Media Division at 832-1125 loc. 17041705.

HHHHH cArrying The flAg for henerAl lunA Inspired by Heneral Luna’s tremendous impact in rekindling patriotic fervor especially among the youth, concerned citizens have taken the initiative in “carrying the flag” and perpetuating the legacy of one of the country’s unsung heroes.

Former Quezon City councilor and incumbent LTFRB Board Member Atty. Ariel Inton recently sponsored two free block screenings of Heneral Luna at Robinsons Magnolia’s Cinema 4 on Sept. 24.

He said, “I believe in the movie so much, and I just want to make sure that more people, especially the young students, get to watch it. All this talk of heroism makes us think about what we can do as individuals.

“In my own humble way, I just want to make sure that the gallantry of Antonio Luna continues to burn in the hearts and

Solenn Heusaff and Iya Villania in Taste Buddies

minds of our youth. I just hope that other concerned citizens can do the same and help ‘carry the flag’ in their own small way.”

Also present during the afternoon block screenings were cast members Epy Quizon, Aaron Villaflor, and Leo Martinez.

From left, Aaron Villaflor, Atty. Ariel Inton, Epy Quizon, and Lhar Santiago

MTRCB aT 30: EMpowERing ThE Filipino FaMily

T

he Movie and Television Review and Classification Board (MTRCB) is launching a commemorative book—Empowering the Filipino Family—in celebration of its 30th anniversary on Oct. 5 at Luxent Hotel, Quezon City.

Spearheaded by writer and Executive Director Alfred “Krip” Yus on, together with associate editor Marra Lanot and principal photographer Milo Sogueco, the book features the artwork of Dranreb Angelitud, who

won second place in the poster-making contest for kids of the MTRCB last year.

The book is divided into nine chapters which chronicles the history of the MTRCB. It begins with the early precedents and an overview of the board leaders through the years. Articles by Jose Lacaba on media control and censorship during Martial Law as well as by Bibeth Orteza on former MTRCB chief Armida Siguion-Reyna can also be found in the book.

Included also are the MTRCB modernization projects and updates on the agency’s initiatives as well as voices from the staff, present board members, and current MTRCB Chairman Atty.

Eugenio “Toto” Villareal.

Villareal is proud that “the present board has been consistent with its mandate to promote and protect the Filipino family, especially the youth, women, and other vulnerable sectors of society, to evaluate and intelligently choose media content.”

Another highlight of the 30th anniversary celebration is the culmination of the scriptwriting contest sponsored by the Senior Citizen Committee of the MTRCB. A total of 62 entries centered on empowering senior citizens have been submitted and the awarding ceremony for the top three winners will be held during the anniversary party.

The top entrywill receive P30,000, while the second and third top entries P 20,000 and P10,000, respectively. The MTRCB

may later on help find producers of the winning full-length screenplay as film or as movie for television.

“The board will continue to create and implement innovative initiatives that will promote a value-oriented media and entertainment culture,” Chair Toto adds. Come Nov. 14, MTRCB will be holding its 3rd Family and Child Summit entitled “Matalinong Panonood para sa Kabataan” at St. Mary’s College of Quezon City in nearby Mother Ignacia Avenue.

SAT URDAY : OCTOBER 3: 2015

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ISAH V. RED EDITOR isahred @ gmail.com

SHOWBITZ

Alden Richards

aldEn richards in cEbu ISAH V. RED Could it be that Lola Nidora has another out-of-town challenge for the Pambansang Bae Alden Richards? We didn’t hear she has, but the other half of the phenomenal AlDub love team on Philippine television flew to Cebu yesterday right after Eat Bulaga.

With or without a task though, there was no stopping Richards from meeting the Cebuanos on a workday to thank them personally for their overwhelming support for the AlDub split-screen romance the Kapuso actor shares with Maine “Yaya Dub” Mendoza.

Richards was featured in a Kapuso Fans Day. Cebuanos had a chance to get up close and personal with him. The national sensation sang and danced for his fans’ viewing pleasure. The show started at 6 p.m. at the Gaisano Island Mall Mactan in Lapu-Lapu City.

Adding more entertainment to the event were exciting contests such as “That’s My Bae” where male participants battled it out with one another in a twerking dance showdown; and “Dubsmash Like Yaya,” where the females channeled their inner Yaya Dub all in the name of fun.

“With the undeniable nationwide success of Eat Bulaga’s “Kalyeserye,” the Network is happy and proud to bring Alden Richards close to the people who make AlDub a smashing hit – the fans. Without them, this would not have been possible – a fact the Network recognizes and is grateful for. This is for the Cebuanos, the supporters from all over the country, and a first among many,” says Oliver Amoroso, GMA’s Head for Regional Strategy and Business Development Division.

HHHHH Gabby EiGEnmann joins bEautiful stranGErs I missed this guy, after his role in Once Upon a Kiss in which he played a priest. Gabby Eigenmann is one of the best actors on television today and while he play, most of the time, supporting roles, he is able to steal the thunder from the lead actors each time he is in a scened.

Recently, he was cast to play an important role in Beautiful

Strangers as Atty. Gani, who is Noel’s foster brother. Rocco Nacino plays Noel.

Atty Gani is responsible and generous, apart from the fact that he is also very intelligent having finished law school as a scholar at a reputable university. He even topped the bar.

He joined the public attorney’s office to help those who cannot afford legal help. He knows this because his parents were all products of the country’s public school system.

Their life changed after her father’s rich uncle left his wealth with him. That change in status didn’t alter his outlook in life, remaining humble and down to earth. His friends and relatives egg him to run for Congress. He will meet Kristine (Heart Evangelista) and fall for her.

“Very excited,” he said when he learned that he’d be joining the cast of Beautiful Strangers.”I’m excited to be working with great actors like Tito Boyet de Leon, Ms. Dina Bonnevie and happy to be working with my friends Ben Alves and Lovi Poe. It’s mu first time to work with Rocco and Heart. Looking forward ako makatrabaho sila. “ “Nagpapasalamat ako sa GMA for giving me another opportunity na mapasama sa cast ng Beautiful Strangers. Sana po tanggapin ng mga sumusubaybay ang bagong character ko na si Gani. I already felt the warm welcome sa first taping day ko nung Monday (Sept. 28). “ Their life changed after her father’s rich uncle left his wealth with him.

That change in status didn’t alter his outlook in life, remaining humble and down to earth. His friends and relatives egg him to run for Congress. He will meet Kristine (Heart Evangelista) and fall for her.

“Very excited,” he said when he learned that he’d be joining the cast of Beautiful Strangers.”I’m excited to be working with great actors like Tito Boyet de Leon, Ms. Dina Bonnevie and happy to be working with my friends Ben Alves and Lovi Poe. It’s my first time to work with Rocco and Heart. Looking forward ako makatrabaho sila. “ “Nagpapasalamat ako sa GMA for giving me another opportunity na mapasama sa cast ng Beautiful Strangers. Sana po tanggapin ng mga sumusubaybay ang bagong character ko na si Gani. I already felt the warm welcome sa first taping day ko nung Monday (Sept. 28). ➜ continued on c7

Gabby Eigenmann with Rocco Nacino

Benjamin and Gabby

Gabby Eigenmann