The Standard - 2015 October 05 - Monday

VOL. XXIX NO. 235 3 Sections 32 Pages P18 MONday : OCTOBER 5, 2015 www.thestandard.com.ph editorial@thestandard.com.ph

Let people decide on Poe, former CJ advises

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CHARGES EYED VS MMDA CHAIRMAN

By Macon Ramos-Araneta and sandy Araneta

THE women’s rights group Gabriela said Sunday it is considering filing charges against Metro Manila Development Authority chairman Francis Tolentino and Laguna Rep. Benjamin Agarao over a lewd dance performance last week at the congressman’s 58th birthday party following a Liberal Party oathtaking ceremony.

“Our lawyers are seriously studying this option,” said Gabriela Rep. Luz Ilagan, who said Tolentino, who allegedly brought the women to the party, and Agarao, could be held liable for violating the code of conduct for government officials as well as the abuse of women and minors—because there were children at the event.

“This just shows their patriarchal mindset of 4Gs—guns, goons, gold and girls,” Ilagan told

The Standard.

The Liberal Party, she added, should drop Tolentino as a senatorial candidate for 2016 and cut Agarao loose as well.

“If they don’t, that means they condone these activities and the people should not vote for the Liberal Party,” Ilagan added.

Two Palace spokesmen declined to say if Tolentino would still be included in the Liberal Party’s senatorial slate.

Videos of the performance posted on Facebook showed a female dancer simulating sex acts with a male on stage and sparked outrage online. Reports said the emcee and one of the female dancers thanked Tolentino, but the MMDA chairman later denied he hired the entertainers.

On Sunday, leaders attending the 12th Gabriela National Congress in Quezon City took turns Next page

Thumbs down. Members of the party-list group Gabriela slam the government’s alleged neglect of women and the recent Liberal Party convention in Laguna that featured what they considered a lewd show. Ey AcAsio

Pinay held for aiding IS bomber in Saudi Arabia

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Instead of medal, raps for SAF leader By christine F. Herrera SPECIAL Action Force commando team leader Supt. Raymund Train was slapped with criminal and administrative cases on the same day that he was supposed to be awarded the Medal of Valor for neutralizing international terrorist Zulkifli bin Hir alias Mar-

wan and Filipino bomb expert Basit Usman.

Instead of getting the Medal of Valor, which was withdrawn at the last minute, Train received word that the Ombudsman was finding him responsible for the death of his men, the SAF 44, in Mamasapano, Maguindanao on Jan. 25.

The charges were neglect of duty and grave misconduct.

The Ombudsman also accused Train of violating the chain of command, but spared his commander-in-chief, President Benigno Aquino III, of any liability for assigning the ill-fated covert mission to then suspended police chief Alan Purisima. Next page

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Pinay held for aiding IS bomber A FILIPINA has been arrested in Saudi Arabia on suspicion of helping a Syrian make explosive belts for suicide attacks in the kingdom, the interior ministry said Saturday.

Senior entertainer. Priscilla Canocosa, 93, of Santa Rosa, Laguna, entertains guests at the Power Plant in Makati with her piano pieces on Sunday. Diana B. noche

Charges...

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denouncing the administration party for neglecting women’s concerns while using women as entertainment.

“If the recent Liberal Party oathtaking cum stag party in Laguna is an indication of how it will conduct its campaign for the 2016 elections, then women cannot expect that issues relevant to their lives, such as worsening poverty and violence against women, will be properly discussed and addressed,’’ said Joms Salvador, secretary-general of the women’s group.

She said Gabriela is launching a campaign to guard

against political candidates who use and exploit women in their campaign.

“We urge women to demand that the level of electoral campaigns be raised to discussing platforms and debating on issues that will address basic women’s problems… rather than to merely entertain and court votes.

Politicians should recognize women as a potent social force rather than mere objects to be given as gifts. Trapos who exploit and demean women deserve no vote from us,” Salvador said.

Nonie Entena of GabrielaSouthern Tagalog said women workers in enclaves were being exploited as contractual laborers receiving meager

Instead...

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The 44 SAF commandos were massacred by Muslim rebels, including those from the Moro Islamic Liberation Front, which is in peace talks with the government.

Train said he was puzzled that he was being blamed for the death of his men, when the Ombudsman had said it was the Muslim rebels who killed them.

Purisima, who was suspended at the time the President assigned him to supervise the Mamasapano operation, was charged with usurpation of authority or official functions.

Purisima was also charged with graft and grave misconduct, along with PNP Director Getulio Napeñas, then SAF command chief; and Supt. Fernando Mendez Jr. of the intelligence group.

“From the time he was suspended from office, Purisima no longer had authority to participate in the mission planning and execution of Oplan Exodus as he was then barred from performing the functions of his office as PNP chief,” the

wages and no benefits or job security.

“How can women expect that the exploitation of women workers will be addressed by these men who are aspiring to be elected government leaders when they themselves are exploiters of women?” she said.

Lucy Francisco of Gabriela-Panay said that even government programs such as the Conditional Cash Transfer have brought very few changes in the state of women and children despite billions of pesos spent for the program in the last five years.

Reacting to the lewd performance, Senator Grace Poe said respect for women is important, not only during politi-

Ombudsman said.

“Clearly, Purisima willfully disregarded the preventive suspension order imposed on him by the Ombudsman and violated the PNP chain of command, making him liable for grave misconduct,” the Ombudsman said.

The Ombudsman said Napeñas and Mendez deliberately violated the PNP chain of command and the Ombudsman’s suspension order against Purisima by respectively dealing with, taking orders from and recommending actions to Purisima in connection with the operation despite being aware of his preventive suspension.

“They completely ignored and undermined [Leonardo] Espina’s authority as the OIC PNP in the conduct of the mission planning and preparation for Oplan Exodus.

Thus, they must also be held liable for grave misconduct,” the Ombudsman said.

Train was held accountable for neglect of duty for deciding to employ the “time on target” concept of coordination in the mission that was also authorized by Purisima.

“In devising the Oplan Exodus, it was the mission planning group’s duty to ensure not only the suc-

cal campaigns, but at all times.

“We all have our mothers, sisters, and if we see that thing, we will be sad,” said Poe, who is running for president in 2016. “We should raise the level of political activities and not use women as sex objects.”

She added that those in the government should adopt a higher standard of values because they should serve as examples to the people.

Liberal Party standard bearer Manuel Roxas II said the LP is investigating the incident in Laguna. He added that while he was there to swear in the new party members, he was already at a different location when the dancers performed.

cessful conduct of the mission but also to observe applicable rules and that protection of troops must always be taken into consideration,” the Ombudsman said.

SAF Police Officer 2 Romeo Cempron, who died in the operation, was also supposed to receive the Medalya ng Kagitingan, equivalent to Medal of Valor, the highest award for police and military personnel but his and Train’s names were removed from the roster of awardees at the last minute.

The Palace denied reports that Aquino ordered the withdrawal of the medals that were originally planned to be given to Train and Cempron during the ceremonies marking the 114th anniversary of the Philippine National Police on Aug. 6.

“The Office of the President has no participation in the selection of police officers and individuals that were given recognition in connection with the 114th anniversary of the PNP,” said Communications Secretary Herminio Coloma Jr. The President did not mention the fallen SAF commandos in his final State-of-the-Nation Address in July.

The last-minute removal of the

The Syrian, identified as Mohamed al-Barazi, is suspected of turning the house they shared in the Saudi capital into a bomb factory, the ministry spokesman said.

Barazi is also accused of having a second house in Riyadh that he ran as a safe house for militants on the run.

He was detained in a police ambush in the capital on Wednesday, the spokesman said.

Police then raided the suspected bomb factory which they found had been booby-trapped.

The Filipina was named by the official Saudi Press Agency as Lady Gioi Aban Bali Nang and was said to have gone missing from her employer 15 months ago.

She was said to be wearing a suicide vest at the time of her arrest.

After the house had been made safe, police recovered two explosives belts, 10 containers of bomb-making materials and two firearms, the ministry said.

Asked on state television whether Barazi was suspected of links to the Islamic State, the spokesman said authorities “did not yet have sufficient evidence to make any direct connection with this terrorist group.”

A series of attacks claimed

by IS in Saudi Arabia this year have killed dozens of people.

In July, authorities an-

two SAF commandos from the roster of medal awardees caused dismay among middle-grade and senior police officers.

Cempron’s award was reportedly contained in a PNP Promotion Awards and Decoration Board resolution, while Train’s was listed in a separate memo.

It was still unclear why their names were removed.

Earlier, reports said Cempron’s widow, Christine, had been informed that her husband would be honored by President Aquino during PNP Day. The PNP reportedly shouldered the travel expenses for Christine and her family from Leyte to include hotel accommodations during their stay in Manila.

“It was really disappointing for them… They were even excited to attend the ceremony,” one officer said.

Four other SAF personnel were on tap for the Medal of Valor— Senior Inspectors Gednat Tabdi and John Garry Erana (both killed in action) and SPO4 Bill Fernando Jumalon and PO2 Christopher Lalan.

A Medal of Valor entitles the awardee and his children a month-

nounced that they had detained 431 people, most of them Saudis, on suspicion of involvement in an IS cell.

Saudi Arabia has taken part in the US-led air war against IS in Syria since September last year raising fears of revenge attacks.

Malacañang said Sunday it would try to provide legal assistance to the Filipina.

“The government is trying to get in touch with the woman in order that she can be provided legal assistance,” said Communications Secretary Herminio Coloma Jr. over state-run radio dzRB. Coloma said the Department of Foreign Affairs is coordinating with the Embassy of Saudi Arabia.

The workers group Migrante said Sunday it was possible that the Filipina was forced by the Syrian bomb maker to live with him and convert to Islam.

“Undocumented or illegal OFWs, like many other undocumented expatriate workers in the kingdom, are in a deplorable situation after running away from their employers due to alleged abuses and labor malpractices,” said Migrante leader in Middle East John Leonard Monterona.

It was possible, he added, that she was not even aware that the belts she was sewing were used to carry explosives. aFP, Sandy araneta, Ronald o. Reyes

ly cash allowance of P20,000.

The awardee’s children are also entitled to scholarships in private universities.

At a July 14 meeting on the PNP anniversary rites, Deputy Director-General Danilo Constantino recommended that the awards for the SAF officers be sped up as the anniversary would be a good venue to highlight the bravery of the SAF men who sacrificed their lives for the country.

But unconfirmed reports said there was a verbal instruction from the Palace not to include the names of the SAF awardees so as not to bring back memories of the Mamasapano massacre.

But PNP spokesman Chief Supt. Wilben Mayor told reporters he was not aware of any change in the program for the PNP anniversary.

The head of the PNP Intelligence Group, Chief Supt. Fernando Mendez Jr., who provided the intelligence packet used in the ill-fated raid on Jan. 25, was also said to be in line for a Distinguished Conduct Award, but was also not included in the program.

Mendez was among those later charged by the Ombudsman.

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‘Mar should get no votes from storm victims’

By ronald o. reyes

TACLOBAN CITY—Presidential candidate Manuel Roxas II deserves no vote from the survivors of Super Typhoon “Yolanda” as a result of the government’s slow rehabilitation of the areas devastated by the howler in 2013, a survivor said Sunday.

Inspection. President Benigno Aquino (in car with no license plates) leads the inspection of three bridges and approaches in Tawi-Tawi on Saturday. Malacañang Photo Bureau

Ex-CJ: Let people decide on Poe DESPITE the questions on her citizenship, Senator Grace Poe should be allowed to run in next year’s elections and the people should be allowed to decide who they want to be the country’s next President, retired Chief Justice Artemio Panganiban said Sunday.

“Is Grace Poe a naturalborn or naturalized Filipino citizen? Let the people decide,” Panganiban said.

He made his statement even as Poe said Sunday many Filipinos were being deprived of the benefits of economic progress despite the economy’s strong growth in the last five years.

She said the high unemployment rate, the lack of access to health care and education, the poverty in the rural areas, and the plight of Filipino workers abroad all pointed to the need for a government that would allow all sectors of society to benefit from economic development.

Poe was endorsed on Saturday the Magdalo group led

by Senator Antonio Trillanes IV. A day before the endorsement, she was the only presidential candidate invited by

the Makabayan Bloc to the launching of the senatorial bid of Rep. Neri Colmenares.

The Nationalist People’s Coalition is also inclined to support the tandem of Poe and his running mate Senator Francis Escudero.

Panganiban said the election issues, which do not involve crimes or obvious violations of the law, “should be settled by the voters, not by judges and lawyers.”

“I have always believed that doubts on legal issues involving elections and popular sovereignty should be resolved in favor of letting our people decide them freely through the ballot,” Panganiban said in his latest newspaper column.

He cited the high court decision in Frivaldo vs Comelec that he wrote in 1996, a year after he was appointed associate justice of the Supreme Court.

In that decision, the high court upheld the election of Juan Frivaldo as governor of Sorsogon province in 1995 after he reacquired that year his Filipino citizenship, which he lost when he was naturalized as an American in 1983.

The Court ruled that “de-

cisions declaring the acquisition or denial of citizenship cannot govern a person’s future status with finality… because a person may subsequently reacquire, or for that matter lose, his citizenship under any of the modes recognized by law.”

Frivaldo was overwhelmingly voted governor of Sorsogon by a wide margin of 27,000 votes in 1988, and again by 57,000 in 1992.

But in both instances he was ousted by the high court for having lost his Philippine citizenship in 1983 when he was naturalized as an American.

Undaunted, Frivaldo ran and again won as governor, and also by a wide margin, in 1995. His victory was again challenged by the same candidate he defeated.

This time, Frivaldo claimed to have reacquired his Philippine citizenship under Republic Act 7160 by taking his oath of allegiance as a Filipino at 2 pm on June 30, 1995, the day he assumed office as governor. rey e. requejo and Macon ramos-araneta

Marissa Cabaljao, spokeswoman of the alliance of storm survivors People Surge, slammed the government’s inaction in the devastated areas.

She also expressed disgust over the Liberal Party’s induction of new members in Santa Cruz, Laguna, where scantily clad women pranced around.

Yolanda killed more than 7,000 people and displaced hundreds of thousands when it hit Central Visayas on Nov. 8, 2013.

“Mar Roxas betrayed us many times. If he looks back and sees his role in the Yolanda rehabilitation, he better forget his presidential ambitions,” Cabaljao said.

“We will not support

this opportunist politician who is fixated on gaining plus points using his post as Department of Interior and Local Government secretary.

“His incompetence is apparent in several crisis situations after Yolanda and during typhoons Ruby and Seniang. But afterwards he will always manage to project himself as a hero.

“It is downright insulting for the Yolanda survivors in the Visayas to allow one of the Gang of 5 who designed and supported the flawed and anti-people rehabilitation design including the enforcement of the no-dwelling zone policy in the calamity-stricken areas.”

Cabaljao said “Roxas,

like President Aquino, was not around when his political leadership was needed.”

“Those tactless statements and political grandstanding at a time of crisis—we will not forget those,” Cabaljao said.

“We fully recognize him as the poster boy of gross incompetence and implementor of the Noynoy Aquino brand of deceptive and anti-people leadership.

“In Eastern Visayas today, a number of homes are being demolished to make way for so-called development projects. The communities along the nodwelling zones are threatened with forced evictions if they do not relocate to other areas.”

Efleda Bautista, retired educator and convenor of People Surge, said “to vote for the man who will continue Aquino’s ‘Tuwid na Daan’ will be an act of treason and will turn this country into a quagmire of absolute poverty and a jungle where only the fittest survive.”

Blessing. A boy and his 14-year-old sister show off their Burmese and reticulated pythons

after having them blessed at a parish in Manila on the occasion of the Feast of Saint Francis of Assisi. ey acasIo

Binay calls Trillanes’ vice presidential bid ‘mere bullying’

By Macon r. araneta SENATOR Antonio Trillanes IV merely wanted to bully his way into the vice presidency when he officially declared he was running for vice president, the camp of Vice President Jejomar Binay said on Sunday.

Binay spokesman Rico Quicho said Trillanes was entitled to his delusions, but then accused him of building a career out of attempting but failing to destroy institutions and reputations.

He also said the calamities that had been hitting the country would vanish at the end of the Aquino admin-

istration, since those disasters had been due mainly to Manuel Roxas II’s failure to use 65 percent of the disaster funds to boost the disaster preparedness of local government units.

The Philippines ended up as the country worst hit by disasters in 2012, when Roxas was Interior secretary, as reported by the Center for Research on the Epidemiology of Disasters, Quicho said.

He said the same agency reported that the Philippines had the most number of casualties due to natural disasters in 2012 with 2,369 people killed.

More than 1,000 people died when Typhoon “Pablo” pummelled

the Philippines, whereas China, a country with a higher population than the Philippines, came in second in the list of worse-hit countries with 771 deaths.

“Given the deaths and damage due to disasters in 2012, the DILG under Secretary Roxas would have helped a lot if they had implemented projects under the Climate Change, Disaster Risk Reduction and Management and Seal of Disaster Preparedness project,” Quicho said.

Trillanes said his candidacy for vice president was a collective decision of his Magdalo group, and that it would be an opportunity for him to once

again present the Magdalo reform agenda to the people.

But Quicho disagreed.

“The senator can pontificate all he wants but he cannot fool the people,” Quicho said.

“What can we expect from a person who led an anti-government movement but left his men when cornered?” he said referring to the Oakwood mutiny and the Manila Peninsula siege staged by the Magdalo group led by Trillanes.

The 500,000-strong Magdalo group on Saturday declared its support for the presidential bid of Senator Grace Poe, who has been getting

the support of various groups to boost her bid.

Magdalo Rep. Gary Alejano said they conducted extensive consultations among their chapter leaders in the past few months, and they picked Poe as their prepared presidential candidate.

“She symbolizes hope and change, and we believe that she can carry out the ideals and aspirations of the group,” Alejano said.

“She and Senator Trillanes can make a good tandem in effecting change and development in the country since their advocacies and platforms are aligned.”

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Closure of lumad schools hit

By Florante S. Solmerin

Two leftist lawmakers on Sunday condemned the government for allegedly using its Armed Forces against the lumad tribes in Mindanao, explaining that while the killings and evacuations are getting media attention, the denial of the right to education of indigenous children is just as serious.

Bayan Muna Rep. Carlos Isagani Zarate accused the government of allowing the recent military-backed closure of a lumad school by Barangay Chairman Felipe Cabugsanon of White Culaman, Kitaotao, Bukidnon.

“The Fr. Fausto Tentorio Memorial School was ordered closed by Cabugnason because of its alleged ties with the New People’s Army. This is a brazen, anachronistic Red-tagging tactic

of the military and local government officials in the pursuit of the government’s discredited counter-insurgency operations,” Zarate said.

The military and the police also staged a raid in the same barangay last Aug. 27. At least 13 lumad peasants were arrested in the raid, but have since been released from jail after a Bukidnon court dropped charges against them for lack of merit.

The school was established in

memory of the late Italian missionary and lumad advocate, Fr. Fausto Tentorio, who was murdered on oct.

10, 2011 in Arakan town, North Cotabato by suspected members of the military-backed Bagani paramilitary group.

Tentorio, a staunch environmentalist, was also responsible for the establishment of several lumad schools in the hinterland areas of North Cotabato, Bukidnon and other areas of Mindanao.

Tentorio spent 32 years among the lumads.

Senior Deputy Minority Leader Rep. Neri Colmenares, also of Bayan Muna, likewise condemned the closure of lumad schools.

“It is the children who suffer most.

The right to education of the indigenous peoples, especially in Mindanao, has long been neglected by the

curious. Elders of the Ibaloy tribe check out a laptop computer during a cultural event in Baguio City. DAViD cHAN

government; it is one of the causes of their marginalized condition until now,” Colmenares said. “education is a right. It is laudable that lumad advocates have put up these schools on their own, despite risks and hardships, while the government keeps on cutting corners on the education budget.

It is condemnable that the military seems determined to keep lumad children out of school,” Colmenares added.

Colmenares reiterated his call during the budget deliberations for education officials to be pro-active in protecting lumad schools.

Armed Forces of the PhilippinesCivil Service Relations chief Brig.

Gen. Joselito Kakilala said lumad schools put up by non-government organizations were allegedly “radicalizing” the tribesmen.

Mar claim on taxes ‘a myth,’ says Chiz

By Macon Araneta SeNAToR Francis escudero on Sunday branded as a “myth” the position of Liberal Party standard-bearer former Secretary Mar Roxas that the government cannot lower income taxes because this would mean some public services will have to be stopped. escudero, the running mate of presidential candidate Sen. Grace Poe, said no public services would be sacrificed with the proposed reduction of income taxes, as contained in pending bills in Congress.

Roxas said those pushing for lower taxes should consider the possible adverse effect of tax cuts on key programs like PhilHealth and the conditional cash transfer scheme.

Lower taxes, he added, could also derail the construction of school buildings and classrooms.

But escudero said the government’s underspending of P623 billion since 2011 is a proof that it can afford to reduce income taxes.

He stressed the amount of underspending is more than 20 times the amount that finance officials estimate will be “lost” if income taxes are lowered.

“How can opponents of tax reform claim that public services will suffer when the government can underspend that much, and in the same breath, tell us about the gains experienced under this administration?” escudero said.

“If we can afford not to spend more than P600 billion, then we can afford to ‘lose,’ as the Bureau of Internal Revenue says, P30 billion, without sacrificing the people’s welfare,” he said.

Belmonte won’t ask House to pass Moro law anymore

By Rio N. Araja HoUSe Speaker Feliciano Belmonte Jr. said he will no longer try to convince his colleagues to pass the proposed Bangsamoro Basic Law, because he himself does not believe that it will be approved by December.

Belmonte said a “conscience vote” would decide the fate of BBL, which he said he just wants to reach a plenary vote.

“I’m not going to talk to everybody for you to vote this way, that way. Let everybody vote the way he wants to vote,” he said.

“I just want it to reach that point

[where] a decision is made by this body,” he added.

Belmonte admitted that President Benigno Aquino III would be “disappointed” if the BBL is not passed.

House Bill No. 5811, which is the substitute for HB 4994 (An Act Providing Basic Law for Bangsamoro Autonomous Region) is still in the period of interpellations.

The measure seeks the abolition of the present ARMM and the creation of a more autonomous Bangsamoro region, an offshoot of the government’s Comprehensive Agreement on the Bangsamoro with the Moro Islamic Liberation Front.

Toast. Sophie Paris founder

Bruno Hasson and other company officials offer a celebratory toast to hundreds of Sophie Paris dealers, from all over the Philippines at a welcome dinner dubbed ‘A Night with the Stars’ at the Sofitel Hotel in Pasay City. Sophie Martin Philippines, Inc. has established itself as a significant player in the country’s Direct Selling and Multi-Level Marketing Industry.

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Debates litmus test of poll bets —Gordon

By Rey E. Requejo THE Commission on Elections has been prodded to require all national candidates to participate in a series of debates in all regions of the country in the coming elections to give voters enough information on the qualities and platform of the candidates.

Former Senator Richard Gordon said the Comelec can make use of the UP school system and other state colleges and universities to host these events.

Comelec can also ask law schools and other academic sectors, the judiciary, and socio-civic organizations to help set up and administer the debates so that the candidates can constructively engage with each other and the people.

The media would cover these events, while airtime for nationwide coverage can be paid either by the government, by the candidates and their political parties, or by civicminded individuals and corporations who wish to heighten the political maturity of Filipinos.

He said the series of debates would reveal the candidates’ background, capabilities, views, and action plan on national and local issues.

“I believe this debate series would be the true litmus test of the candidates’ capabilities so that voters can choose on on a more informed basis, rather than being unduly influenced by the quality and quantity of the candidates’ political propaganda.”

Martial arts. Members of the Philippine Marine Corps practice their martial arts skills in Fort Bonifacio Taguig City on Sunday Oct. 4, 2015 prior to the staging of the Amphibious Landing Exercises. DANNY PATA

VAT exemption for PWDs pushed

By Rio Araja

HOUSE independent bloc leader Rep. Ferdinand Martin Romualdez of Leyte on Sunday urged his colleagues to pass on final reading a bill exempting persons with disabilities or PWDs from payment of the 12-percent value-added tax on certain goods and services.

Romualdez appealed to the House and Senate leaders to immediately convene the bicameral conference committee to approve the measure.

“The Aquino administration and Congress leaders can further show its care and compassion to PWDs by finally approving the bill upholding the rights and promotes the welfare of PWDs in the country,” he said.

Romualdez is the principal author of the House version, which was approved on third and final reading by 201 members of the House of Representatives.

“I appeal to the national government to consider my proposal so that we can extend additional genuine assistance to PWDs. This is very important to help their

plight,” he said.

He earlier expressed his appreciation and gratitude to Senator Sonny Angara, who chairs the Senate committee on ways and means that deliberated the proposal, for passing Senate Bill No. 2890.

“I thank the senators, especially Angara. The measure would genuinely extend assistance to PWDs. This is very important to help their plight,” he said.

The bill aims to exempt the PWDs from paying the 12-percent VAT, apart from the the 20-percent discount they are entitled to on particular goods and services.

“This will extend benefits to PWD who are in dire need of support from the government because of their con-

dition in life. I am thankful to their response on my proposal,” he added.

Romualdez is the author of House Bill 1039 which “seeks to amend Section 32 of Republic Act No. 7277, otherwise known as the Magna Carta for Persons with Disability,” as amended by Republic Act No. 9442.”

Under the measure, the VAT exemption shall apply on medical and dental services; purchase of medicines in all drugstores; public railways, skyways and bus fare; admission fees charged by theaters, cinema houses, concert halls, circuses, carnivals and other places of culture, leisure and amusement, and all services in hotels and similar lodging establishments, restaurants, and recreation centers.

Seafarers’ protection bill okayed

By Rio N. Araja

Angkla party-list takes up the cudgels for the seafarers whose hefty compensation package makes them target of unscrupulous lawyers.

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CONGRESS has adopted the Senate version of the proposed Seafarers Protection Act designed to look after the welfare of Filipino seafarers and their families.

Angkla Party-list Rep. Jesulito Manalo, author of the original House Bill 5268 said he was hoping that President Benigno Aquino III would prioritize the approval of the Senate Bill 2835 into law.

The bill’s enactment into law is vital because of the numerous and alarming stories about deleterious practices of some lawyers or or other individuals who charge seafarers with “unconscionable” legal fees ranging from 30 percent to 60 percent, he noted.

“Seafarers working on-board international fleets are known to be awarded hefty compensation and benefit packages by reason of the risk to their lives while working in the high seas. This situation then makes a seafarer an easy target for ambulance chasing, with legal practitioners having considerable interest in the monetary benefits that one may claim, and eventually be awarded,” he pointed out.

On Dec. 15, 2014, the House of Representatives passed the measure while the Senate gave its green light only last Sept. 21.

Congress adopted the Senate version on Sept. 30.

Manalo, the lone representative of the maritime sector, initiated the bill to protect Filipino seafarers’

labor claims arising from their illnesses, accidents, or in worst cases, even death, against unconscionable legal fees imposed and collected by unscrupulous individuals.

Under the adopted version, “It shall be unlawful for any person to engage in ambulance chasing or the act of soliciting, personally or through an agent, from seafarers, or their heirs, the pursuit of any claim against their employers for the purpose of recovery of monetary claim or benefit, including legal interest, arising from accident, illness or death, in exchange of an amount or fee which shall be retained or deducted from the monetary claim or benefit granted to or awarded to the seafarer or their heirs.”

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Pateros loses claim on Fort Boni lots

By Rey E. Requejo The Court of Appeals has dismissed the claim of Pateros municipal government over the ownership of certain parcels of land inside Fort Bonifacio, leaving the controversial territorial dispute between the cities of Makati and Taguig.

In a two-page resolution, the CA’s Former Ninth Division through Associate Justice Magdangal de Leon denied the motion filed by the Pateros municipality seeking the reversal of its Feb. 5 decision which affirmed the Pasig City Regional Trial Court’s ruling dismissing its complaint for the judicial declaration and confirmation of certail parcels of land located within its territorial jurisdiction.

The appellate court ruled that the petitioner failed to raise new arguments to warrant the reversal of its ruling.

“Finding the matters raised by appellant are a mere rehash of its previous arguments, and there being no cogent reason to modify, much less, reverse our assailed Jan. 29, 2015 decision, the instant motion for reconsideration dated Feb. 19, 2015 is denied,” the CA declared.

Associate Justices Jane Aurora Lantion and Victoria Isabel Paredes concurred with the ruling.

In its Feb. 5 decision, the appellate court held that there was no grave abuse of discretion on the part of the Pasig City RTC when it dismissed the complaint of Pateros for lack of jurisdiction.

The RTC resolved that it cannot exercise jurisdiction over the subject matter of the case, due to the failure of the municiplaity of Pateros to comply with Sections 118 and 119 of the Local Government Code.

Section 118 mandates that boundary disputes involving a component city or municipality on the one hand and a highly urbanized city on the other, shall be jointly referred for settlement to the respective Sanggunians of the parties.

Section 19, on the other hand, provides that any party may elevate the decision of the Sanggunian concerned to the proper Regional Trial Court having jurisdiction over the area in dispute.

Medical center. Caloocan City Mayor Oscar Malapitan leads the formal opening of Caloocan City Medical Center annex or the former Puericulture and Maternity Clinic located along A. Mabini St. Assisting him are Second District Rep. Edgar Erice (left) and Vice Mayor Macario Asistio III while CCMC administrator Fernando Santos looks on. JUN DAVID

‘Transfer Palace, Congress to Lucena’ LEGAZPI CITY—Albay Gov. Joey Salceda has proposed the transfer of Malacañang, both Houses of Congress, and the national government centers outside Metro Manila, particularly to Lucena City in Quezon, to help solve Metro Manila’s traffic congestion and promote truly meaningful countryside development.

Salceda said transferring the national government seat to a nearby, spacious and safe area will ensure the efficient flow of government’s urgent daily functions unhampered by monstrous traffic jams and flooding in the metropolis—problems that do not have prompt and easy solutions. Lucena is only about 135 kilometers south of Manila.

The more practical recourse, the governor said, is to transfer the national government seat, and its entire apparatus outside Metro Manila, somewhere near, safe and with ample space for better layout, he said. A study revealed that the Philippines is third in

Sumatra haze blankets Cebu CEBU suffered its seventh straight day of haze on Saturday, the weather bureau said, as Southeast Asian countries battle pollution suspected to emanate from illegal fires on Indonesian plantations.

Monsoon winds blowing northeast from the Indonesian blazes towards the direction of the central Philippines could have carried the smog, state weather forecaster Romeo Aguirre told AFP. “We suspect that this haze is from Sumatra. It is unusually thick,” Aguirre said.

Haze from local pollution is common in Cebu, home to four million people, but usually disappears within a day. The current cloud of pollution blanketing the city in a bluish-gray veil is into its seventh day, though it has thinned considerably.

The haze was thickest on Monday, halving the normal range of visibility to five kilometers (three miles) around the same time typhoon ‘‘Dujuan’’ was forecast to pass over Cebu, Aguirre said. AFP

Asia and fifth in the world, in terms of traffic chaos.

Salceda said the government could build a new ‘Presidential Mansion’ in Lucena City, resettle both Houses of Congress and develop NGCs in the area designed along the green economy principles in infrastructure planning. A respected economist and economic adviser to Philippine Presidents, he had pioneered the green economy concept in his province, which has recently gained international acclaim.

Albay’s Green Economy scheme, as demonstrated by the multi-billion peso Albay GUICADALE (GuinobatanCamalig-Daraga-Legazpi) Economic Township in Barangay Alobo, Daraga, is anchored on the principles of disaster risk reduction management, particularly its “building back better elsewhere” principle.

Initially a geostrategic intervention scheme designed to move people out of harm’s way

in risky areas to safer grounds, GUICADALE is now fast shaping up as an economic development platform to transform its 64,000 hectares of rolling terrain into a sprawling business boom center, with the Daraga International Airport at its center.

Malacañang being the seat of government, and the national government centers, should smoothly function unhampered by chaotic traffic congestion and disaster risks such as flooding, a stark reality in Metro Manila, he noted, adding that the government should reduce infrastructure buildup within Metro Manila, and instead focus on developing the countryside, especially in areas that support the transport industry and those that would connect as bridges the islands in the Visayas and Mindanao.

The governor said the roll on-roll off transport must be maximized, to efficiently link up Leyte and Cebu, Cebu and Bohol,

Slice of life. A side street of Rizal Avenue in Manila is good enough for a homeless man and his pet dog to call their home where they can laze around on a Sunday.

TEDDY PELAEZ

Bohol and Negros, Negros and Panay, and Leyte and Surigao in mainland Mindanao.

He also proposed the development of new international gateways at the Clark Freeport Zone and other strategic locations; the extension of the South Luzon Expressway to Matnog, Sorsogon via Lucena and Legazpi City; and the construction of the Luzon West Coast Road. These projects, he said, can be funded through a competitive Public Private Partnership scheme and concessional Official Development Assistance, and value engineering to ensure and boost desired results.

The government should heed the popular call to establish a Luzon-wide transportation system that should “pave the way for the construction of an integrated railway system, high-standard highways, and strategically-located airports, seaports and land transport stations in provinces all over Luzon,” Salceda stressed.

UNCC clinics offer free consultations THE United Nations Chiropractic Center on Sunday said it was offering free consultations the whole month of October to people with spinal problems.

Willie Britt, UNCC chief operating officer, invited friends and patients to come to any of the center’s clinics for free consultations to learn the remedies to their spinal problems.

The UNCC’s clinics are at the Physicians Tower on United Nations Avenue and San Carlos Street (521-4962); in Quezon City, Valle Verde in Pasig City, in Makati and Angeles City.

m o n D AY : o c t o b e r 5 , 2 0 1 5

NEWS

editorial@thestandard.com.ph

A7

Fisheries bureau boosts eel stock in Benguet

By Dexter A. See LA TRINIDAD, Benguet—The Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources, led by chief aquaculturist Pino Wakit, in coordination with the provincial and municipal local government units, has seeded eels along fish sanctuaries of Agno and Amburayan rivers in Itogon, Bokod, and Kapangan, Benguet.

Some 50,000 glass eels were stocked in a fish sanctuary located in lower Agno River where they are protected from fishing and contaminants.

Another 100,000 glass eels were stocked along the Upper Agno and Amburayan rivers in Bokod and Kapangan, Benguet, respectively.

This seeding is part of the regular programs of the bureau to increase stocks available in rivers and communal bodies of water. This is also a way of providing livelihood and ensuring food security to communities near bodies of water.

Eel is a sought after species as food but fisherfolk say their eel catch is declining.

BFAR-CAR’s data through the National Stock Assessment Program show that many fisherfolk in said areas catch eel in the rivers for food and cash.

Eels are catadromous, spending most of their life in freshwater environments, then travel to the ocean as adults to reproduce. During their journey, become vulnerable to overfishing and mortality due to toxins and contaminants.

In other areas, their migration paths are cut and their habitats are disturbed and destroyed preventing them to go upstream to grow.

Wakit called on local officials to be consistent in protecting not only the fish sanctuaries but the whole water bodies in Benguet.

Fashionista. A four-year-old

labrador won the dog fashion show in Koronadal City during the 5th Negosyo Festival and the city’s 15th charter anniversary. AMIEL MARK CAGAYAN

SM mall to open amid talk of harm to small business

By Ferdie G. Domingo CABANATUAN CITY—The country’s largest retail operator will open its newest mall on Oct. 9 amid fears of displacement of small and medium enterprises.

The four-level SM Cabanatuan, similar in design to SM North Edsa in Quezon City and sitting on top of an 8.5-hectare property in Barangay Hermogenes Concepcion, will be the 52nd SM mall in the country and the 23rd in Luzon.

The opening of SM Cabanatuan has been delayed for 13 years. Negotiations with the local government have failed due to opposition from local business groups and smaller mall operators, notably, businesswoman Leticia

Uy of the NE Group of Companies.

Some sectors fear that the mall’s inauguration will cause the collapse of small businesses operating in the area especially after SM Prime signified interest to buy existing malls and rebrand them to accelerate its nationwide expansion.

The October 9 inauguration will be led by SMPMI president Hans T. Sy and other SM Prime officials.

Sy said that just like the rest of SM

malls SM-Cabanatuan will provide a “total malling experience” to shoppers from this side of Central Luzon. It will also generate 2,000 jobs for local residents in the mall.

Bien Mateo, SM senior vice president for North Luzon operations, said that the mall offers basement parking with at least 1,000 parking slots which can also serve as catch basin during floods.

The Philippine Institute for Development Studies said that while 99.6 percent of Philippine-registered enterprises are SMEs—which contribute almost two-thirds of the total jobs market—the sector remained weak in the past decade due to financial and institutional constraints, lack of support system in the community level and stiff competition with larger enterprises.

‘Central Luzon farms need 2 typhoons’

By Ferdie G. Domingo

Starting ’em young. Kids practice their martial arts skills at Burnham Park in Baguio City. DAVID CHAN

PEÑARANDA, Nueva Ecija—The National Irrigation Administration says two more typhoons are needed to fill the reservoir of the Pantabangan Dam and help irrigate some 39,000 hectares of agricultural lands in Central Luzon.

One typhoon normally adds five to six meters to the reservoir.

These farmlands have been affected by the El Niño phenomenon.

“All it takes is a pair of typhoons and we will be okay,” Reynaldo Puno, operations manager of the NIA’s Upper Pampanga River Integrated Irrigation Systems, said.

Puno added that rainwater generated by typhoons would not only fill the dam but would enable the irrigation system to withhold releasing water.

For the dry season of November to April, the irrigation agency has only programmed for 75,000 hectares of farmlands out of the

total service area of 114,000 hectares for irrigation. This represents a decrease of 39,000 hectares.

This is more than thrice the projected 12,000 hectares decrease in service areas estimated by UPRIIS during a water summit it held in October last year.

Puno said that this was due to the low water level of the Pantabangan Dam, which was placed at only 191.91 meters as of Thursday.

The water level is still above the critical elevation of 172 meters; it is, however, way below the spilling level of 221 meters.

“At this level of 191.91 meters, the areas which we can service will be down by 39,000 hectares and that’s because of El Niño. We need to have a water elevation of 210 meters to be able to cover the service area,” he said.

He added that this month and next month, they will virtually stop releasing water from the Pantabangan Dam. “If ever we release water, it would only be minimal,” he said.

M O N D AY : O c T O B E R 5 , 2 0 1 5

A8

opinion

ADELLE chuA ediTor

lettertotheeditor@thestandard.com.ph

opinion

In search of a runnIng mate

[ EDI TORI A L ]

A disgrAceful performAnce

plumbline pAsTor Apollo quiboloy

TrUE to form, President aquino said over the weekend there was no need for him to apologize for the lewd performance that followed a Liberal Party oathtaking ceremony in Laguna Thursday last week. The statement was an indictment of the poor leadership that Mr. aquino has displayed over the last five years, during which he has steadfastly refused to accept responsibility for the misdeeds of his allies and subordinates.

The gyrating “dancers,” who simulated sex acts on stage, were supposed to be “a gift” from Metro Manila Development authority chairman Francis Tolentino to Laguna rep. Benjamin agarao, who celebrated his 58th birthday at the same venue that day. Both Tolentino and agarao are members of the Liberal Party, which the President heads. a video of the performance posted online provoked widespread disgust and anger from women’s groups and ordinary citizens.

Tolentino, who is running for senator under the Liberal Party banner, denied the emcee’s announcements that he had brought the girls as a gift to agarao. agarao was quick to back Tolentino’s story, but refused to say who had invited the dancers, then defiantly added that “as a real man,” he saw nothing wrong with the lewd dance. agarao has since issued a half-hearted apology; Tolentino has maintained his innocence.

The Palace said Friday the President did not condone the lewd dance.

“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 the press.

But valte insisted over the weekend that there was no need for the President, as head of the Liberal Party, to apologize for the incident.

“The President had nothing to do with it. The President had no idea that it was happening,” she said.

The statement had a familiar ring to it, because an intransigent refusal to accept responsibility and to apologize for wrongdoing—by himself or his subordinates—has been the hallmark of Mr. aquino’s five years as President.

We saw this even in his early months on the job, when he triggered a diplomatic crisis with China by refusing to apologize for the death of eight Chinese tourists in a hostage crisis in august 2010 as a result of police incompetence.

Mr. aquino exhibited the same refusal to admit fault and apologize, even when it became apparent that his administration had been woefully inadequate in responding to the devastation wrought by Typhoon ‘‘Yolanda’’ in 2013. In fact, Mr. aquino still points to his “achievements” in this regard, while neglecting to acknowledge how more than 130,000 storm survivors still lived in tents two years after the disaster, or that funds contributed for their rehabilitation sit idle in government bank accounts.

We saw the same pattern of behavior in the aftermath of the Mamasapano massacre early this year, in which 44 police commandos were killed in a covert operation that Mr. aquino had authorized and had assigned to his friend, the police chief, who had already been suspended on corruption charges.

Despite his boasts about good governance, the President has consistently set the wrong leadership example, suggesting to his allies and subordinates that they can simply brazen their way out of problems of their own making simply by refusing to accept responsibility.

Perhaps Mr. aquino is responding to some macho notion that one must never admit fault. But if he were a real man, he would have accepted ultimate responsibility for putting his trust in people who proved unworthy of it. Then he could make amends by publicly castigating, then firing Tolentino and expelling him—and the errant Laguna congressman—from the ruling Liberal Party.

That he has not done so is not a sign of strength but of weak leadership. While the lewd dance last week may have offended many sensibilities, it is the President’s refusal to take responsibility and apologize for this and many other mistakes that truly represents a disgraceful performance.

‘Kababawan’ pensées fr. rAnhilio cAllAngAn Aquino What English word takes up the role that “kababawan” does in Tagalog? Shallowness, mediocrity, cheapness, slapstick, “sophomoricity”? The trouble with all this is their pejorative tone. I am not following the televised romance between alden and Yaya Dub, and I do not really care much for the Pastillas that the rival network dishes out. But from what I hear, the

plot (if any there be) is indeed shallow: a boy with a good face and a winsome smile trying every trick on the book to win a girl’s attention. This show however is the reason that neighbors congregate wherever there is access to television, and for the excited shrieks of teens and, interestingly, even of matrons. and while there seems to be a new elitism attempted by those who snub the show as against those who follow it with devotion bordering on piety, this divide does not run parallel to social and economic classes. It is, in fact, a confusing phenomenon: kababawan.

It is, however, no less confounding than Facebook.

There, one can follow erudite discourse, and one also has ready examples of the most egregious of fallacious (non) reasoning. Some commentators are consistently thoughtful, reflective and sober. Most others are alternately penetrating and silly, with no apparent remorse for this disturbing intellectual swings that would so easily qualify as bi-polar disorder had they to do with moods and emotional disposition.

It is not any different with newspaper columnists and media commentators. On some

A9

All who watch know that it is fiction, make-believe. And that is precisely its appeal.

days, you are caught up in their truly involved ratiocination; on others, you find your self chuckling (or gritting your teeth—it really all depends on your particular neurosis!) at the non sequitur and ad hominem that are hurled at the audience either as humor or satire or diatribe. as for our comics, are they really

comic? Much of what is made to pass for humor is downright rude, insulting even, but there will always be enough applause and laughter to reinforce this compromise with intelligence!

It looks like we are bored with consistency. In the same way that we have been culturally hospitable with the result

that there is no single strand that we can truthfully point to as “Filipino culture”, the same thing is true in respect to thought. almost everything that has come our way has become part of Filipino culture. and there is corresponding resiliency of thought that allows us to be profound at one time, shallow at another, thoughtful when we feel like it, sloppy with our inferences when we are otherwise disposed. revisited in terms of social theory, our life-worlds are constituted by difficult-to-reconcile elements, but this

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

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

is no trouble because its perspectives, understanding, norms and categories are never thematized. We go by norms to which we do not take a critical position and talk about things in categories familiar to us, likewise uncritically assumed. Nothing wrong with this. It is the way of the life-world. however, rationalism directs its critical gaze ever so often at aspects of our life world, and then we question the assumptions, criticize the norms and distance ourselves from the “given” categories. This is one way of explaining why it seems that we

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

are conflicted. and so, why the almost national fascination with alden and Yaya Dub? all who watch know that it is fiction, make-believe. and that, for ricoeur, is precisely its appeal: It offers us a possible narrative, probably not realized in the lives of those who cheer and shriek, but the perennially “mababaw” plot of boy-meets-girl-and-wants-tomeet-her-again that strike the eternally “malalim” chords of love and the inexhaustible richness of the intersubjective encounter!

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

NEvEr in recent history has the search for a vice presidential candidate been complicated. Never has the wooing by many a presidential hopeful for a partner been more public.

The courtship is done in striptease fashion. The pursuit is so dogged that it can give alDub a run for their money.

But at least, Tv land’s newly-minted love-team is inching towards a fairytale ending. In contrast, an MU—that’s mutual understanding for those who have been living under a rock—remains elusive for the reputed teamups for 2016.

Once elected, a vice president may be a spare tire. More so if he belongs to the opposing camp; he will be discarded like a fifth wheel.

But for election purposes, a vice presidential bet in the ticket is indispensable.

Presidential runs in this country follow the motorcycle rule: It must be a ridingin-tandem exercise. ride solo and you’re perceived as weak. Leave the vP slot blank and every barbershop analyst in this land will be shaking his head in disbelief: “how can a wannabe convince millions to vote for him when he can’t even ask one person to run with him?” hence, the frenetic scramble to pick a running mate. With the filing deadline just days away, a candidate without a partner at this 11th hour is like a groom who has mass-mailed wedding invites yet still has no bride.

This has kept political matchmakers busy. They’re searching for the perfect betrothed for their candidate.

In assembling a ticket, several formulas are followed: there is the NorthSouth teamup for geographical balance, a male-female combine for gender equality, a bright partner to shore up the competence factor of a candidate with an IQ deficiency. and for a bland one registering low in the EQ meter, best is a partner who can give color and sprite to an otherwise lackluster personality.

In addition, there are bodyguard duties to do. The No. 2 is the wingman, someone who fends off attacks on the No. 1, and if need be, a guard dog who can be unleashed as an attack dog anytime.

Whatever the motivation, the bottom line is that the vP wannabes must add and not subtract votes. They can’t be the albatrosses on the presidential hopefuls’ 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

M O N D AY : O c T O B E R 5 , 2 0 1 5

A8

opinion

ADELLE chuA ediTor

lettertotheeditor@thestandard.com.ph

opinion

In search of a runnIng mate

[ EDI TORI A L ]

A disgrAceful performAnce

plumbline pAsTor Apollo quiboloy

TrUE to form, President aquino said over the weekend there was no need for him to apologize for the lewd performance that followed a Liberal Party oathtaking ceremony in Laguna Thursday last week. The statement was an indictment of the poor leadership that Mr. aquino has displayed over the last five years, during which he has steadfastly refused to accept responsibility for the misdeeds of his allies and subordinates.

The gyrating “dancers,” who simulated sex acts on stage, were supposed to be “a gift” from Metro Manila Development authority chairman Francis Tolentino to Laguna rep. Benjamin agarao, who celebrated his 58th birthday at the same venue that day. Both Tolentino and agarao are members of the Liberal Party, which the President heads. a video of the performance posted online provoked widespread disgust and anger from women’s groups and ordinary citizens.

Tolentino, who is running for senator under the Liberal Party banner, denied the emcee’s announcements that he had brought the girls as a gift to agarao. agarao was quick to back Tolentino’s story, but refused to say who had invited the dancers, then defiantly added that “as a real man,” he saw nothing wrong with the lewd dance. agarao has since issued a half-hearted apology; Tolentino has maintained his innocence.

The Palace said Friday the President did not condone the lewd dance.

“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 the press.

But valte insisted over the weekend that there was no need for the President, as head of the Liberal Party, to apologize for the incident.

“The President had nothing to do with it. The President had no idea that it was happening,” she said.

The statement had a familiar ring to it, because an intransigent refusal to accept responsibility and to apologize for wrongdoing—by himself or his subordinates—has been the hallmark of Mr. aquino’s five years as President.

We saw this even in his early months on the job, when he triggered a diplomatic crisis with China by refusing to apologize for the death of eight Chinese tourists in a hostage crisis in august 2010 as a result of police incompetence.

Mr. aquino exhibited the same refusal to admit fault and apologize, even when it became apparent that his administration had been woefully inadequate in responding to the devastation wrought by Typhoon ‘‘Yolanda’’ in 2013. In fact, Mr. aquino still points to his “achievements” in this regard, while neglecting to acknowledge how more than 130,000 storm survivors still lived in tents two years after the disaster, or that funds contributed for their rehabilitation sit idle in government bank accounts.

We saw the same pattern of behavior in the aftermath of the Mamasapano massacre early this year, in which 44 police commandos were killed in a covert operation that Mr. aquino had authorized and had assigned to his friend, the police chief, who had already been suspended on corruption charges.

Despite his boasts about good governance, the President has consistently set the wrong leadership example, suggesting to his allies and subordinates that they can simply brazen their way out of problems of their own making simply by refusing to accept responsibility.

Perhaps Mr. aquino is responding to some macho notion that one must never admit fault. But if he were a real man, he would have accepted ultimate responsibility for putting his trust in people who proved unworthy of it. Then he could make amends by publicly castigating, then firing Tolentino and expelling him—and the errant Laguna congressman—from the ruling Liberal Party.

That he has not done so is not a sign of strength but of weak leadership. While the lewd dance last week may have offended many sensibilities, it is the President’s refusal to take responsibility and apologize for this and many other mistakes that truly represents a disgraceful performance.

‘Kababawan’ pensées fr. rAnhilio cAllAngAn Aquino What English word takes up the role that “kababawan” does in Tagalog? Shallowness, mediocrity, cheapness, slapstick, “sophomoricity”? The trouble with all this is their pejorative tone. I am not following the televised romance between alden and Yaya Dub, and I do not really care much for the Pastillas that the rival network dishes out. But from what I hear, the

plot (if any there be) is indeed shallow: a boy with a good face and a winsome smile trying every trick on the book to win a girl’s attention. This show however is the reason that neighbors congregate wherever there is access to television, and for the excited shrieks of teens and, interestingly, even of matrons. and while there seems to be a new elitism attempted by those who snub the show as against those who follow it with devotion bordering on piety, this divide does not run parallel to social and economic classes. It is, in fact, a confusing phenomenon: kababawan.

It is, however, no less confounding than Facebook.

There, one can follow erudite discourse, and one also has ready examples of the most egregious of fallacious (non) reasoning. Some commentators are consistently thoughtful, reflective and sober. Most others are alternately penetrating and silly, with no apparent remorse for this disturbing intellectual swings that would so easily qualify as bi-polar disorder had they to do with moods and emotional disposition.

It is not any different with newspaper columnists and media commentators. On some

A9

All who watch know that it is fiction, make-believe. And that is precisely its appeal.

days, you are caught up in their truly involved ratiocination; on others, you find your self chuckling (or gritting your teeth—it really all depends on your particular neurosis!) at the non sequitur and ad hominem that are hurled at the audience either as humor or satire or diatribe. as for our comics, are they really

comic? Much of what is made to pass for humor is downright rude, insulting even, but there will always be enough applause and laughter to reinforce this compromise with intelligence!

It looks like we are bored with consistency. In the same way that we have been culturally hospitable with the result

that there is no single strand that we can truthfully point to as “Filipino culture”, the same thing is true in respect to thought. almost everything that has come our way has become part of Filipino culture. and there is corresponding resiliency of thought that allows us to be profound at one time, shallow at another, thoughtful when we feel like it, sloppy with our inferences when we are otherwise disposed. revisited in terms of social theory, our life-worlds are constituted by difficult-to-reconcile elements, but this

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

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

is no trouble because its perspectives, understanding, norms and categories are never thematized. We go by norms to which we do not take a critical position and talk about things in categories familiar to us, likewise uncritically assumed. Nothing wrong with this. It is the way of the life-world. however, rationalism directs its critical gaze ever so often at aspects of our life world, and then we question the assumptions, criticize the norms and distance ourselves from the “given” categories. This is one way of explaining why it seems that we

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

are conflicted. and so, why the almost national fascination with alden and Yaya Dub? all who watch know that it is fiction, make-believe. and that, for ricoeur, is precisely its appeal: It offers us a possible narrative, probably not realized in the lives of those who cheer and shriek, but the perennially “mababaw” plot of boy-meets-girl-and-wants-tomeet-her-again that strike the eternally “malalim” chords of love and the inexhaustible richness of the intersubjective encounter!

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

NEvEr in recent history has the search for a vice presidential candidate been complicated. Never has the wooing by many a presidential hopeful for a partner been more public.

The courtship is done in striptease fashion. The pursuit is so dogged that it can give alDub a run for their money.

But at least, Tv land’s newly-minted love-team is inching towards a fairytale ending. In contrast, an MU—that’s mutual understanding for those who have been living under a rock—remains elusive for the reputed teamups for 2016.

Once elected, a vice president may be a spare tire. More so if he belongs to the opposing camp; he will be discarded like a fifth wheel.

But for election purposes, a vice presidential bet in the ticket is indispensable.

Presidential runs in this country follow the motorcycle rule: It must be a ridingin-tandem exercise. ride solo and you’re perceived as weak. Leave the vP slot blank and every barbershop analyst in this land will be shaking his head in disbelief: “how can a wannabe convince millions to vote for him when he can’t even ask one person to run with him?” hence, the frenetic scramble to pick a running mate. With the filing deadline just days away, a candidate without a partner at this 11th hour is like a groom who has mass-mailed wedding invites yet still has no bride.

This has kept political matchmakers busy. They’re searching for the perfect betrothed for their candidate.

In assembling a ticket, several formulas are followed: there is the NorthSouth teamup for geographical balance, a male-female combine for gender equality, a bright partner to shore up the competence factor of a candidate with an IQ deficiency. and for a bland one registering low in the EQ meter, best is a partner who can give color and sprite to an otherwise lackluster personality.

In addition, there are bodyguard duties to do. The No. 2 is the wingman, someone who fends off attacks on the No. 1, and if need be, a guard dog who can be unleashed as an attack dog anytime.

Whatever the motivation, the bottom line is that the vP wannabes must add and not subtract votes. They can’t be the albatrosses on the presidential hopefuls’ 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

A10 NEW NAME BUT STILL PORK PANIC was obvious in the tone of Budget Secretary Florencio Abad RITA LINDA when he said that V. JIMENO President Benigno Aquino III approved the Disbursement Acceleration Program which was struck down as unconstitutional by the Supreme Court in 2013. His statement came in the heels of the probe started by the Office of the Ombudsman to determine his culpability for the crime of plunder.

What promises to be a more interesting spectacle is how Secretary Abad, the President and even the members of Congress will react to the new petition filed by the Philippine Constitution Association in the Supreme Court last week. The petition revealed that DAP, or pork, still exists in the 2015 General Appropriations Act, in defiance of the Supreme Court’s decision declaring lump sum appropriations as invalid, and in horrific amounts at that. A staggering sum of more than P424 billion, the Philippine Constitution Association, is cleverly embedded in the budget allocations of nine strategic departments and two agencies under the Executive Department.

As a backgrounder, Philconsa cited the 2013 case of Belgica vs. Ochoa Jr. in which the Supreme Court declared that an appropriation that merely provides for a singular lump sum amount to be tapped as a source of funding for multiple purposes is constitutionally infirm. The Constitution gives the power of the purse to Congress which must allocate and pass into law on a yearly basis, “specific appropriation of To what will the money” for “a specific so-called savings be public purpose.”

When lump sums applied? My guess is are given, the power as good as everyone to determine the specific amount of else’s. appropriation and the specific purpose is delegated to the executive branch which is then a violation of the Constitution because only the legislature has the lawful power to grant specific allocations for specific public purposes.

In the 2015 General Appropriations Act, more than P424 billion is given as lump sums to nine departments and two agencies, Philconsa said. Section 65 of the 2015 Appropriations Act says that these lump sums shall be released “upon submission by the agency concerned to the DBM of Special Budgets detailing the actual Programs and Projects and the actual amount to be expended, the rationale and the purposes approved by the president.” This suggests simply that the power of the purse is handed over by Congress to the Executive Branch, specifically the Office of the President, which now has the power under the 2015 GAA to approve special budgets coming from the lump sum allocations.

Philconsa also revealed that in Sec. 70 of the 2015 GAA, Congress—in an attempt to override the Supreme Court’s interpretation of the word “savings” as defined in Section 25 (5) Art VI of the Constitution —gave a new meaning to “savings.” In Sec. 70 of the GAA, it redefined savings as portions or balances of any released appropriations which have not been obligated as a result of the following situations.

First, the discontinuance or abandonment of a project.

This is unconstitutional, Philconsa said, because it gives the agency head the power to discontinue a project at any time and then treat the unused appropriation as savings without having to wait for the end of the one-year validity of the appropriation or two years, with respect to capital outlays. Second, the noncommencement of a program or project for which an appropriation is released is likewise deemed savings.

Philconsa said, this, again, is unconstitutional because it gives the agency head the power to not commence a project and then consider the appropriation as savings when in fact such appropriation is valid for one year or two years, for capital outlays. Third, decreased cost during the implementation of the project is likewise savings under the 2015 GAA. This is unconstitutional, Philconsa said, because savings is determined after—not during— the implementation of a project. Fourth, the difference between the approved budget and the contract award price

OUT OF THE BOX

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OPINION

lettertotheeditor@thestandard.com.ph

EVERYMAN

THE LUMAD AND GRASSROOTS GOVERNANCE

By Jose Socrates delos Reyes SEPTEMBER’S first sunrise was tinged in red. A paramilitary group entered a Manobo community in Han-ayan, Surigao Del Sur, and gathered the students and teachers of the Alternative Learning Center for Agriculture and Livelihood. Three civilians were executed in front of the whole community. Emerito Samarca, Alcadev’s executive director, had his throat slit from ear to ear. Dionel Campos, Manobo and chairman of the education-centered NGO Mapasu, was shot in the back of the head. Bello Sinzo, also a Manobo, was tortured, bones broken and then executed.

A few days later, over 3,000 lumad civilians from five municipalities left their ancestral homes and their livelihood out of fear.

Unfortunately, this act of injustice isn’t an isolated incident. Stories of displacement and killings have always littered our history. The reasons may vary—be it to make way for infrastructure like dams, business exploits such as logging and mining operations, or simple exhibitions of military or rebel force—but the unfortunate truth is that these stories have become footnotes. The tragedy within the tragedy is that these incidents have become a pattern of life.

How do we stop these atrocities?

Perhaps a way to create lasting peace lies in further cultivation and strengthening of grassroots governance. This pertains to designing certain political processes wherein the power of decisionmaking is shifted towards the lower social rungs of a particular group, community or society.

The Philippines, as a whole, already uses certain aspects of grass-roots governance. The barangay system is a powerful example of this. Rather than having the mayor of a city control each individual barangay sector, a certain amount of autonomy is seeded to the barangays themselves via the barangay council system.

Furthermore, it is solely the members within the barangay that vote upon the members of the barangay council. As such, the problems of the barangay are tackled in the micro level via projects that are created by the barangay representatives.

Furthermore, if we look at the barangay council, the members that comprise the council do not always come from affluent members of society. Typically, the members represent a certain group within the barangay community, such as the palengkeros/palangkeras, fisherfolk, tricycle drivers and the like. This is done to ensure that each group within the community is able to voice out that specific group’s problems.

Because of this, even the minorities are able to exercise a certain amount of political will.

It exemplifies the idea of the community solving the community’s own problems. After all, who is better qualified to know the needs of a community aside from the community members themselves?

In the face of multiplicity of identity, grass-roots governance becomes a necessity rather than a luxury. Geographical hindrances alone are enough for certain societal groups to need a particular amount of autonomy. Properly done, grassroots governance can give avenues for small communities to create their own projects and infrastructure that will benefit the community as how the community itself sees fit.

Of course, a perfect political system or process is impossible. Grassroots governance has had negative impacts in Philippine society. Most notable of which is how it can enable political clans or dynasties to simply rotate political control amongst several families. Seeing as the appointment of officials are isolated within a smaller population, political control and influence are that much more powerful. And though one person may not hold a political position for an extended period of time, having another family member take the position by virtue of the “goodwill” that the family name has amassed can easily circumvent this.

However, despite this, grassroots governance is integral to Philippine society, not just politically, but as a whole. It creates a more fluid and dynamic relationship between the government system and the people by allowing minorities to exercise greater political will. Additionally, it is the minorities that suffer the brunt of problems, be it economic, infrastructure or natural disasters.

By giving these minorities a voice within the political system, they have a greater chance to address the worst problems of a community and possibly mitigate future disasters.

Control, or rather, the lack of it Despite being the oldest roots we have to our indigenous Filipino culture, the lumad are among the most persecuted of minority groups.

Political control has been wrested from their grasps because of the minority status of what we classify as Indigenous People.

There are very few members of the IP communities who are able to exercise their own political will. IP communities have some of the lowest numbers when it comes to education and literacy, thus preventing them to fully engage in the political and government systems that we hold today. Meanwhile, the government system in place doesn’t provide the proper avenues for these minorities to voice out their needs and offer proper solutions to their specific problems.

This is why there are numerous non-governmental organizations that continuously fight for rights of IP communities, such as Alcadev.

is likewise savings. This is flawed and unconstitutional, Philconsa said, because savings is not realized until after the project is completed. Finally, the GAA states that savings may also refer to unused compensation relating to unfilled positions, un-utilized retirement benefits, etc.

Philconsa denounced this, saying that any such balances should revert to the National Treasury as required by law.

Philconsa added that it would, in effect, be rewarding poor budget planners or cunning executives who “create” savings to benefit themselves. If the Executive, for instance, committed to Congress to hire 10,000 new teachers and then hires only 5,000 (to the detriment of the people) huge savings is created and the executive benefits from the savings.

How can savings benefit the Executive Branch

However, while their efforts are extremely laudable and heroic, it will not be enough if the IP minorities themselves are not able to gain control for themselves.

How can we talk of peace, freedom and justice when minority groups such as the IPs cannot even have a semblance of control within their own communities?

Dialogue is key.

For minority groups such as the lumad to engage in our political systems, there is a need for dialogue between both government and its people.

The ones who have the best understanding of the prevalent problems of the community are the community members themselves. Let us allow these community members to exercise their political will and help them create solutions. Instead of just blindly creating government projects that seemingly work in theory but not in application, let us allow the minority groups to create their own projects and guide them along the way. Teach important members of the local communities how to draft project proposals, create budget estimates, give them business contacts, and do whatever it takes to cultivate proper ventures.

Of course, this approach may seem off-tangent to the overwhelming problem of violence. However, we must come to the realization that peace isn’t achieved simply by the prevention of violence. Peace isn’t a concept to be simply handed down.

It is co-created by each member of a community—an ambition that is continuously strived for. Grass-roots governance creates avenues in which citizens, even from the smallest of minority groups, are allowed to engage within the political sphere.

And though these avenues may seem small, people are still given the ability to exercise an amount of agency within their own lives. For far too long, minority groups such as the Lumad and other members of the Indigenous Peoples communities are treated like dolls in a glass menagerie.

Even when treated with caring hands, ultimately, they serve only to be displayed and gawked at.

Control must be given back and the agency of citizens fully cultivated, invested and practiced. This is the only way we can deal with them as we should.

Jose Socrates delos Reyes, 23, is a writer.

CHASING HAPPY ADELLE CHUA Ms. Chua’s column will resume soon.

prompting Congress, which is packed by people close to the Office of the President, to redefine savings in the 2015 GAA? Art. 73 of the GAA allows realignment of allotment classes and re-prioritization of items from savings. This, Philconsa said, is prohibited under Art VI of the Constitution and violates a doctrinal pronouncement by the Supreme Court.

The big question that lingers is, what is the underlying reason behind the P424 billion worth of new pork barrel inconspicuously and cleverly hidden in the 2015 budget? To what will the so-called savings be applied?

My guess is as good as everyone else’s.

Email: ritalindaj@gmail.com Visit: www.jimenolaw.com.ph

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OPINION lettertotheeditor@thestandard.com.ph

Brokedown airline i Was at the naia Terminal 3 by 2 p.m. for a flight to davao that was scheduled to leave at 3:25 last friday afternoon. as i entered the pre-departure area at the lower level of the terminal, the place was packed, like a can of sardines. There were absolutely no empty seats, and neither was there any space to move. sure there was a mild typhoon which did not even hit the visayas, and as far as i knew, had already left the Philippine area of responsibility.

The cebu Pacific ground attendants would blare every now and then that this or that flight was delayed due to the non-arrival of the turn-around plane. i thought: What else was new? i had to stand for more than two hours, my legs and lower back in excruciating pain, until around 5:20 when the cebPac ground attendants announced that the Tuguegarao flight was canceled because the airport had “sunset limitations” (god, i thought—even a near-dolt would have figured out that if a plane for Tuguegarao had not taken off by 4:30, it would not reach the place before sunset, that airport having no night-landing facilities).

Mercifully, two ladies, exasperated because they were waiting in the pre-departure

area since nine in the morning stood up and sadly left. luckily, i was standing close by.

Earlier, the announcement was that the aircraft for davao would arrive at 5:50 p.m. By 6:30 in the evening, no plane had arrived. i went to the ground attendant’s station, still traipsing amid a sea of tired bodies, only to be told after a long wait that the plane would arrive by 7:37 (wow, such precision). i called up davao to say that i would probably have to cancel, but was told they could wait. (i would fly in just for a dinner meeting, and get back to Manila the following day). still, losing my seat and forced this time to park my butt in a ledge beside the glass panel separating the pre-departure area from the outside perimeter of the tarmac, i patiently waited. By 7:30, i went back to the station and asked where the plane for davao was. The lady, harassed by all the questions flying from all over, was still composed when she apologetically said that the plane was still in Tacloban. That was when i decided to cancel my trip. apparently, cebu Pacific had just “upgraded” their computer systems the day before, and the same had broken down last friday, or some such reason

IN SEARCH... From A9

They have so much to bring to the table—brand value, experience, electoral bailiwicks—in short, more octane that can turbocharge a campaign. voters should also change the way they view the second person in the ticket. The same standard in sizing up a presidential aspirant must be used in evaluating them as well. after all, if a vice president is a president waiting in the wings, why should the assessment tool be any different?

We live in an era when vPs are no longer seen as spare

neck. They must drive up the numbers, not drag them down.

The field of vice presidential hopefuls for 2016 is laden with talent. in fact, many of them are more prepared to handle the affairs of the state than the socalled presidentiables.

Though they score high in statecraft, they register low in polls, thus consigning them to a supporting role.

But despite playing second fiddle, they’re certifiable gamechangers in the forthcoming race.

#failocracy

that i found out only when an aBc 5 team in the main lobby was reporting the same after interviewing several passengers booked on international flights of the brokedown airline. how i wanted to be interviewed and raise a “dirty finger” on cam.

But i guess age has mellowed my temper somewhat and i thought the better of the damned situation. had those cebu Pacific attendants been upfront to the thousands cramped up in the one of the “worst airport systems” in the universe, that they had a systems breakdown, i could have rushed to the Pal ticket office and taken a substitute flight. lying and giving false excuses, even in a crisis situation, will always reap bitter dividends. i blamed my daughter when i was on the car headed back home for getting me a cebu Pacific ticket, which she sheepishly said was “cheaper.” i shouted: “i don’t care how much cheaper they are. never, ever again should you get me a ticket on that airline!” and then i recalled when she once booked us on a cebu Pacific

airline to singapore in 2009, to try the “promo” rates of Marina Bay sands hotel. cheap thrills of the filipino middle class. i berated her for the crammed seats (even on an international flight), and was mollified only when i and my grandson were enjoying our swim on the sands’ humongous rooftop pool. *** lying and making false excuses do not reap political dividends either. as my friend francis Tolentino should have realized several times over in his now-broken down political aspirations. i have nothing but sympathy for francis. his dad, Judge isaac Tolentino, was one of three courageous leaders from cavite (the others being Judge carlos Batino and the late nanding campos) who hosted Tito doy laurel and Tita Eva Kalaw, along with my muchadmired rene saguisag, in what i had then labeled “truth rallies” when we were yet informing the public of the excesses of Marcos’ authoritarianism. Those were the heady days following ninoy’s assassination. francis and i had remained good friends since then.

Just a remembered footnote: it was in my modest Tagaytay cottage which i built in 1977, during a birthday celebration of my wife three weeks before that

ill-fated ninoy homecoming, that i broached to Tito doy and ninoy’s sister Tessie oreta the slogan “Hindi Ka Nag-iisa” to be used for ninoy’s then-scheduled arrival of aug. 7, later moved to aug. 21.

But going back to francis, and the latest misadventure of the “Playgirls” in santa cruz, laguna which mercifully, Mar roxas had not watched. see how your “holy friends” in the lP are now excoriating you for that obviously outré “gift.”

Pnoy chose to “gift” the loyal francis with a thankless job.

What this metropolis needs is systemic change, and that can happen only with federalism, so people can elect a governor of Metro Manila. coordinating so many agencies of government, national and local, without any real authority, can never solve the problems of a metropolis bursting at its seams. Problems have gone haywire, and francis should not be blamed entirely for the bizarre traffic pandemic.

(More about the “crazy” metropolis in another article). francis: your senatorial aspirations are simply not written in the stars, and as a friend, “payong kaibigan”— atras na muna, p’re. you are still in your fifties. life has so much more to offer than a doomed senatorial bid.

tires or fifth wheels. Even if they come from the other party, which has happened many times given our penchant to split tickets, they’re not immediately downgraded to a Palace ornament. vPs have been given cabinet portfolio, multiple even. if he or she belongs to the same ticket as the incumbent, then he or she will not be treated as a “replacement captain” of the ship of the state but as a cocaptain.

The presidency may not be a collective presidium but a com-

petent vP will be delegated important duties. it is for this possibility that the vice presidential candidates for 2016 must be weighed, if they’re ripe for cocaptaincy duties. gone are the days when “the only job of the vice president is to get up every morning and say, ‘how is the president?’” also gone are the days when the vP’s role is to be the condoler-in-chief, as stand-in for the president to important funerals here and abroad or do the other departure honors which is to send off guests of

the state.

The next vP is far too valuable to be a contingency, a backup, or be like the red button inside “break glass in case of emergency” boxes. he or she can do more than that. a vP is not just a president-in-waiting but must be a working vice president. if he or she will take up residence in the coconut Palace then he or she must reimburse the upkeep for such palatial digs by doing work that will involve the extensive use of his or her coconut.

So I SEE LIto bANAyo

chong ardivilla

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sports sports@thestandard.com.ph

Sponsors demand Sepp’s head LAUSANNE—After powerful FIFA sponsors demanded his immediate resignation, a key question surrounded Sepp Blatter on Saturday: can the sleazetainted president of world football’s governing body survive until his planned departure in February?

Coca-Cola, McDonald’s, Visa and Budweiser in separate statements Friday called for Blatter to go, one week after Swiss prosecutors opened a criminal investigation against the 79-year-old over mismanagement.

Blatter remained defiant, saying his departure would not best serve FIFA’s interests and that he did not plan to resign before February, when a special election has been called to choose his replacement.

Blatter’s position may prove untenable.

Exposure of the rot within FIFA

had already sparked widespread calls for immediate change, but the rare display of unity from four major corporations marked the first time key financial backers had explicitly demanded Blatter’s resignation.

“The sponsors have the financial power to force change at FIFA,” said Cobus de Swardt, managing director of the corruption watchdog Transparency International.

The unprecedented crisis within world football began on May 27, when nine FIFA officials and five sports marketing executives were

charged by the US Justice Department over bribery worth more than $150 million (133 million euros) dating back to 1991.

Blatter was re-elected as FIFA’s president days later, but on June 2, made the shock announcement that he was prepared to go -- on a timeline that he subsequently laid out.

For FIFA’s powerful sponsors, that timeline became unacceptable after Switzerland revealed evidence of murky financial dealings directly linked to Blatter.

The Coca-Cola Company said FIFA’s reputation was deteriorating “every day that passes” with Blatter in office.

“Coca Cola is more than a valued sponsor, they are the foundation of Blatter’s position in FIFA,” Patrick Nally, a prominent sports marketing executive who has previously part-

nered with FIFA, said on Twitter.

Coca-Cola’s partnership with FIFA coincided with Blatter’s arrival as a public relations executive at the organisation in 1975.

Blatter’s influence convinced Coca-Cola to pay some 10 million dollars, notably to sponsor the 1977 Youth World Cup in Tunisia and become the official sponsor of the 1978 World Cup that was held and won by Argentina.

The World Cup partnership, believed to currently be worth tens of millions of dollars per year, remains in place and was extended through to 2022.

Visa, another top-tier World Cup sponsor, said “no meaningful reform can be made under FIFA’s existing leadership,” with similar comments coming from McDonald’s and Budweiser’s parent company, AnheuserBusch InBev. AFP

But Adidas calls for reform, not resignation BERLIN—Adidas, the German maker of sportswear and equipment and a top FIFA sponsor, declined to join US companies in calling for Sepp Blatter’s immediate resignation Saturday but urged reform of world football.

“As we have frequently stressed in the past, fundamental changes in the interest of football must be made,” the company said in a statement.

“That is why the reform process that has begun must continue transparently and quickly.”

German Justice Minister Heiko Maas, however, said Blatter should go to clear the way for a new beginning in the sport.

“Every day on which #Blatter is still #FIFA president is a bad day for football,” he wrote on Twitter.

In separate statements issued one week after criminal proceedings were launched against the world football chief in Switzerland, Coca-Cola, McDonald’s, Visa and Budweiser all called on the 79-yearold Blatter to step down.

It marked the first time that FIFA’s powerful financial backers -- who together have pumped hundreds of millions of dollars into the organisation through deals spanning decades -- had called explicitly for Blatter to resign.

In a statement issued by his US lawyer in reaction to the sponsor demands, Blatter defiantly vowed to remain in office. AFP

Doping victims get further compensation

Australia’s wing Rob Horne (C) tries to break through England’s defence during a Pool A match of the 2015 Rugby World Cup between England and Australia at Twickenham stadium, south west London. Australia won the match 33-13. AFP

Veteran Venus on an upswing after triumph in Wuhan meet WUHAN—After more than two decades on the professional tennis circuit, Venus Williams is on an upswing and shows little sign of slowing, turning in one of her strongest seasons in years.

The American veteran took the crown at the Wuhan Open Saturday —her biggest win since 2010 and her 47th career title—when Garbine Muguruza retired in the second set.

“I know I had my chances. But I knew with Venus, it’s hard. With her serve, with her shots, if you’re not 100 percent,” said the 21-year-old Spaniard after the match.

The 35-year-old star, who has long dominated women’s tennis with her younger sister Serena, looked

on form at Wuhan and retirement seems to be far from her mind.

She is travelling to Beijing next for the China Open and might yet qualify for the year-ending WTA Finals in Singapore, which she hadn’t made since 2009.

“I absolutely do want to play and I’ll do everything I can to be ready to play. I want to be as close to 100 percent as possible. So that’s my goal,” Williams said of the Beijing tournament after her win in Wuhan.

And she’s sure to be back next year, with her sights already firmly set on the 2016 Olympics in Rio. “That will be awesome to be able to play there, represent the US again.

That will be an honour,” she said. AFP

Philracom approves course for trainers THE Philippine Racing Commission passed a resolution last Sep. 23 approving a course outline and training modules for racehorse trainers.

In industry practice, racehorse training is learned through observation and hands-on practice, often by trial and error.

“The establishment of a training course,” said Philracom Chairman Andrew A. Sanchez, “is intended to professionalize the sector and set standards that will ensure that their skills and knowledge are commensurate with their job.”

The racehorse trainers’ curriculum will be submitted to the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority for formal accreditation as a two-year vocational course. This includes a one-year apprenticeship under four Philracom-licensed trainers.

Among the subjects that students trainers will explore are equine anatomy, conformation, and nutrition; horse training and fitness development; stable management; and rules and regulations on horseracing and the Animal Welfare Act (Republic Act No. 8485).

The entire training curriculum and course descriptions may be viewed at philracom.gov.ph.

BERLIN—Former athletes who were victims of East Germany’s systematic doping programme will share a €10.5 million ($11.7m) compensation package planned by the government, who also want the German Olympic Committee (DOSB) to contribute.

“We hope that the Bundestag (lower house of the German parliament) will approve the provision of €10.5m in the budget so that the money can be paid to victims in 2016,” Ole Schroeder, Parliamentary State Secretary in the German Interior Ministry told public radio station Deutschlandfunk, on the day Germany celebrated 25 years since its reunification.

After the fall of the Berlin Wall in 1989 and the dissolution of East Germany, it was revealed that much of the Communist country’s sporting achievements were fuelled by performance-enhancing drugs under a government-run programme.

Previous compensation packages were awarded by the German government in 2002 and 2006 and the Interior Ministry have identified a further 1,000 victims. AFP

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sports sports@thestandard.com.ph

Barca falls to Sevilla

Triumphan Adrien Broner leaves the ring after beating Khabib Allakhverdiev at U.S. Bank Arena in Cincinnati, Ohio. AFP

Chinese teener wins place at Augusta Masters HONG KONG—Third-round leader Jin Cheng won a place at the US Masters after a passing typhoon caused the cancellation of the final round of the Asia-Pacific Amateur Championship in Hong Kong on Sunday.

The 17-year-old Chinese number one amateur, who shot a course record eight-under 62 in the first round, won the title by one stroke as storms caused by Typhoon Mujigae tore across the exposed Clearwater Bay course.

“That’s my lowest tournament score ever,” Jin told a news conference after his win, referring to his 62 on Thursday. “I think that’s pretty important for this win.”

His 54-hole total of 11-under par 199 gave him a one-shot victory over the Australian pair of Ryan Ruffels and Cameron Davis, who shared second place.

Jin’s final action had been a sublime chip to set up what proved to be a winning birdie four at the

18th hole on Saturday.

“I was thinking of playing golf today, so I didn’t really think that would be the winning shot,” Jin said.

“This win just came so fast and so sudden. I was ready for the round today, and unfortunately the weather didn’t work out.”

With a typhoon warning signal raised, play was halted at 7:41 am and finally cancelled shortly before midday.

“Obviously there’s nothing we can do about the situation,” said a disappointed Ruffels, who takes away the consolation, along with Davis, of a place in the final round of qualifying for the 2016 British Open at Royal Troon.

“You could see weather coming

in. It just looked absolutely horrendous coming in over the hill,” said Davis. “It was so bad... we were ready, but it was never going to happen.”

Both runners-up congratulated Jin. “Credit to Jin, he played amazing this week, to back up eight-under with those two rounds in some tough conditions,” said Ruffels.

“But obviously we would have liked to have a crack at it today.”

Sunday’s washout scuppered the hopes of a repeat win for defending champion Antonio Murdaca of Australia, who had got into contention with a scintillating best of the day 64 in blustery conditions on Saturday to lie just four strokes off the lead.

Jin, who turns 18 in March, will follow in the footsteps of compatriot and fellow teenager Guan Tianlang, who won this title in 2012 and went on to become the youngest player in Masters history at Augusta in the 2013 event aged 14 years and five months. AFP

MADRID—Barcelona’s struggles without Lionel Messi continued as secondhalf goals from Michael Krohn-Dehli and Vicente Iborra consigned the European champions to a second league defeat in three games 2-1 at Sevilla.

Neymar pulled a goal back from the penalty spot 16 minutes from time, but the injury-struck visitors were left to rue a host of missed opportunities and some fine goalkeeping by Sergio Rico as Sevilla registered their first league win over the Catalans since 2007.

Defeat leaves Barca still a point off leaders Villarreal, but they can now be passed by either Real Madrid or Atletico Madrid when they face off on Sunday.

“It is almost incredible that we go away from here having scored just one goal after seeing the ball ping around the opposition box,” said Barca boss Luis Enrique.

“We had 10 minutes in the secondhalf which have cost us when Sevilla were much superior. They got ahead, after that we tried in every way possible but we can only congratulate Sevilla for their effort and the result.” AFP

Canada Olympic president quits over harrasment claim MONTREAL—The President of the Canadian Olympic Committee resigned on Saturday following allegations of sexual harassment against him.

“In recent days, allegations of harassment have been directed toward me by people who accuse me of intentions that I never had,” Marcel Aubut said in a statement.

“Although I assume full responsibility for my effusive and demonstrative personality, I would like to reiterate that I never intended to offend or upset anyone with my remarks or my behaviour.”

Aubut said the allegations against him had become “a major distraction that obscures the COC’s real goals, especially with the Rio Games fast approaching.”

The Canadian Olympic Committee said in a statement it had accepted Aubut’s decision to stand down.

“The Canadian Olympic Committee is announcing it has accepted Mr. Marcel Aubut’s resignation as President,” the COC said in a statement, adding that the investigation against Aubut would now be closed.

“In light of his resignation and based on the wishes of the complainant, the specific investigation we announced under Mr. Justice Francois Rolland, will cease.”

The COC had hired Rolland, the former chief justice of the Quebec Superior Court, to investigate claims made a week ago that Aubut had sexually harassed a former colleague.

Aubut, 67, has been in charge of the Canadian Olympic Committee since April 2010. He had been a staunch advocate of Toronto’s bid for the 2024 Games before the city withdrew as a candidate. AFP

Olesen shoots 7-under, grabs Dunhill golf lead ST. ANDREWS—Talented Danish 25-year-old Thorbjorn Olesen edged closer towards a third European Tour victory after a third round of seven-under 65 on Saturday left him three shots clear at the Alfred Dunhill Links Championship.

The diminutive right-hander, who hails from Fureso, some 20km outside Copenhagen, shook off a bogey at the par-four opening hole at St Andrews before reeling off eight birdies in a third straight

round in the 60s.

Olesen finished in a tie for sixth at the 2013 Masters and tied for 12th at the 2012 British Open, his best results at a major tournament.

Germany’s Florian Fritshch, looking for his maiden EPGA victory, is Olesen’s closest pursuer and alone in second spot on 14-under following a bogeyfree round at Kingsbarns that included an eagle, at the parfive third, and six birdies in a round of 64.

“It was a great day. I started off badly by hitting it in the water on the first but I got over it and played some good golf out there,” said the delighted Olesen.

“My putter started to get very hot out there and I holed a lot of great putts. So yeah, it was good fun.

“To be honest it’s been very tough this season with an injury, also, and playing some bad golf. But I’ve been finding my way and just practising hard and just hoping for it to come along at some point. AFP

PCSO contribution. Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office Vice Chairman and General Manager Atty. Jose Ferdinand Rojas II (right) hands a check of P10 million to Commissioner Wigberto Clavecilla Jr. of the Philippine Sports Commission in a turnover ceremony at the charity agency’s head office in Mandaluyong City on Sept. 30. The amount is PCSO’s mandatory contribution to the PSC as required by law. JOSEPH MUEGO

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SPORTS sports@thestandard.com.ph

Gilas gets outpouring of support

By Jeric Lopez THOUGH Smart Gilas Pilipinas fell short of achieving its ultimate goal of getting the gold medal in the 2015 FIBA Asia Championship, the Filipino people still commended the team’s campaign in the tournament.

Members of Gilas Pilipinas are shown at the podium with their silver medals after finishing runner-up to the hosts in the FIBA Asia Championship in Changsa, China. FIBA.COM

Yes, we still can BEFORE this recent FIBA Asia tournament started, there are actually two chances for Asian countries to qualify in the basketball tournament of next year’s Olympics in Rio de Janeiro in Brazil.

The first of course in the FIBA Asia event held in Changsha, China where only the gold winner will get that slot in Rio. As we all know by now, host country China snatched that trip to Rio when they defeated Team Philippines during last Saturday’s Finals showdown.

The second chance, which many deem as a near impossible attempt for our country owing to its potential opponents is FIBA’s wild card tournament which is set July of next year.

The event is called the 2016 FIBA World Olympics Qualifying tournament which will happen from July 5 to 11 in three different countries.

At the moment, there are already nine countries that are sure to see action in Rio and by July, three more nations will be added to complete a 12-team cast in the quadrennial meet and many are hoping the Philippines will be one of them.

The 15 of the 18 countries have already been

determined and they are Eurobasket campaigners France, Serbia, Greece, Italy and Czech Republic; FIBA Americas teams Canada, Mexico and Puerto Rico; Angola, Tunisia and Senegal in the AfroBasket side; Asian countries Philippines, Iran and Japan and New Zealand representing the FIBA Oceania side.

There those who are saying that FIBA Asia was our best chance while the final Olympic qualifier would be hard to conquer since most of the top basketball nations will be campaigning in that event.

What these doubters must realize is Philippine basketball in the international scene has grown by leaps and bounds.

The last FIBA World Cup in Spain where the Philippine team, collectively known as Gilas Pilipinas, happened just about a year ago and it was a fact that the Nationals overachieved in that event that led to countless compliments from basketball pundits around the globe.

Before beating Senegal in their last schedule, Gilas lost to three of four teams by an average of 3.6 points and these were against known basketball hotbeds Croatia, Puerto Rico and Argentina.

The Philippines’ other loss was against Greece, 82-70.

From today until July 2016, that’s about nine months to prepare for that one big push to Rio though politics in basketball will surely be an issue.

But thinking positive about it, it is more than enough time to tweak the line-up that competed in China.

The biggest boost may come from the availability of Los Angeles Lakers sophomore guard Jordan Clarkson, who is technically eligible to play for the country after it was learned that he has been a holder of a Philippine passport before turning 16.

As per FIBA rules, a foreign-born player is required to obtain a passport that came from the country he intends to play for before turning 16.

As for his Lakers’ obligation, there won’t be any conflict for Clarkson because even if LA makes the Finals, the championship series would be over by June.

Meantime, naturalized center Andray Blatche may be in better shape around that time as his Chinese Basketball Association commitment may be over by then.

Usually, the CBA stages its season from November until March, giving Blatche enough time to rest for a while before plunging back to training for the Philippines Olympic bid.

Reports have it the Philippines has also signified its intention to bid for one of those three qualifiers together with Mexico, Canada, Italy, Turkey and Russia.

With all these possibilities, all our players and officials need to do is to lick its wounds only for a while, get into stride and continue our Olympic dream which definitely did not end up as a nightmare in China.

Bingo Bonanza badminton registration ends Tuesday DEADLINE for registration for the Bingo Bonanza National Open badminton tournament ends Tuesday with the P1.5 million event moved to Oct. 19-25 at the Rizal Memorial Badminton Center and at Glorietta 5 in Makati City.

Organizers have decided to reset the topranking event in response to the clamor of the big number of players still vying in their respective collegiate leagues with a full packed field expected in the men’s and ladies Open singles, doubles and mixed doubles.

Fee is pegged at P800 with the listup open up to 5 p.m. on Tuesday. The list of players will be posted on Oct. 9 with the draw set on Oct. 13, according to the organizing EventKing Corp.

The schedule will be posted on Oct. 16 while the team managers, coaches and players meeting will be held Oct. 18. For details and online listup, visit wwww.bingob.com/nationalopentournament or email or fax to EKC at info@ eventkingcorp.com.ph.

The qualifiers will be held in the first three

CYAN MAGENTA YELLOW BLACK

days starting Oct. 19 at the Rizal Memorial Badminton Hall before action shifts to Glorietta 5 for the quarterfinals from Oct. 22 all to the way to the finals starting at 1 p.m. on Oct. 25.

Gelita Castilo and Marky Alcala captured the singles crowns in last year’s revival of the event, sponsored by Bingo Bonanza in its effort to help develop and promote the sport. The country’s premier amusement center used to the chief backer of big-time badminton tournaments since the early 2000s.

Others tipped to join in the event, sponsored by Gatorade, Glorietta, Smash Pilipinas and the Philippine Olympic Committee and sanctioned by the Philippine Badminton Association headed by Vice President Jejomar Binay and sec-gen Rep. Albee Benitez, are R-Jay Ormilla, Kenneth Monterubio, Kevin Cudiamat, Paul Vivas and Peter Magnaye in the men’s side while Sarah Barredo, Airah Albo, Christine Inlayo and Malvinne Alcala are expected to crowd Castilo in the women’s side.

No less than Malacañang Palace led the outpouring of support and gratitude to the national team as it released a statement to celebrate the team’s achievement in the Asian championship in Changsa, China. ‘’We join the Filipino People in celebrating Gilas Pilipinas’ silver medal finish in the 2015 FIBA Asia Championship,’’ said the statement issued by Presidential Spokesperson Edwin Lacierda. ‘’Throughout this tournament, our team displayed the Philippines’ brand of selfless, creative, passionate basketball fueled by the warm and vocal support of Filipinos at home and abroad. Our people have shown the world what it means to be Filipino. This serves as inspiration for all of us to work even harder in our respective endeavors, fulfill our individual potential and secure the national pride we have reclaimed, one success after another in varying fields.’’ ‘’We congratulate our players, our coaches, our supporters and we encourage all our countrymen to continue their support for our athletes in general and for Gilas Pilipinas, in particular, as they continue to pursue our collective basketball dream of landing a berth in the 2016 Olympics.’’

The Philippines duplicated its second-place finish in 2013 and once again grabbed the silver in this year’s edition of the FIBA Asia tilt.

Though Smart Gilas lost to China, 67-78, late Saturday night in the championship game, its run in the tournament is considered a success.

Overall, the Filipinos were able to compile a total record of 7-2 in the tournament, only losing its opening game against Palestine and the match against China in the finals.

What lies ahead now for Smart Gilas is a tougher route to its goal of making it to the 2016 Rio Olympics.

With its Top 4 finish, the Philippines qualified for the wildcard tournament next year against other top teams in the world which will try to qualify to the Olympics in Rio. The FIBA World Olympic Qualifying Tournament will be held in July next year. It will feature 18 teams divided into three groups.

The 15 of the 18 countries have already been determined and they are Eurobasket campaigners France, Serbia, Greece, Italy and Czech Republic; FIBA Americas teams Canada, Mexico and Puerto Rico; Angola, Tunisia and Senegal in the AfroBasket side; Asian countries Philippines, Iran and Japan and New Zealand representing the FIBA Oceania side.

The winning teams from each group will earn the three spots still available for the 2016 Olympics.

Smart Gilas will look to retool its line-up to make it stronger. Team management is expected to pursue the eligibility of Filipino-American NBA player Jordan Clarkson to boost the squad in future competitions.

Gilas top gun Jayson Castro cemented his status as Asia’s top point guard after he was named to the Mythical Team once more.

Meanwhile, Senators Sonny Angara and Nancy Binay also lauded the team for its silver-medal finish.

“Really proud of what the team has achieved. We could say that our Gilas team’s determination and grit certainly triumphed over great odds and circumstantial misfortunes,” said Angara, chair of the Senate committee on games, amusement and sports.

Senator Binay said Gilas Pilipinas exemplifies the courage and the strength of the Filipino - to overcome and to succeed, even if the odds are stacked against him. Gilas Pilipinas showed the world the big heart that every Filipino has.

Aces banner Pintaflores tilt

NEWLY crowned PCA Open champion AJ Lim and veteran campaigners PJ Tierro and Johnny Arcilla headline the stellar field vying for top honors in the Palawan Pawnshop Pintaflores Festival Open Tennis Championship slated Oct. 27-Nov. 2 at the San Carlos Tennis Center in San Carlos City, Negros Occidental.

The three have confirmed participation in the event to be held in conjunction with the host province’s Pintaflores Festival celebration and sponsored by Palawan Pawnshop. The week-long event, hosted by City Mayor Gerardo Valmayor, Jr., Rep. Julio Ledesma IV and Vice Gov. Eugenio Lacson is tipped to draw more than 300 participants from various parts of the country.

“We ensure participants and fans of a smooth, successful staging of the event, this being the first time that we will be hosting an Open tournament,” said Criston Carmona, member of the organizing Pintaflores Foundation. “We thank Palawan

Pawnshop for putting up this tournament which will surely boost the sport here.”

Free registration is ongoing. For details, call Bobby Mangunay, PPS-PEPP organizer and sports program development director at 0915-4046464.

Bacolod’s Vicente Anasta and Sultan Kudarat’s Ronard Joven are joining Lim from Manila, Tierro from Olongapo and Arcilla from Butuan in the hunt for the top P40,000 purse in the event which also features hostilities in various age group categories.

“Putting up an Open tournament in San Carlos City is in line with Palawan Pawnshop’s commitment to develop the sport throughout the country and at the same time help in discovering talents in the countryside,” said Bobby Castro, COO of Palawan Pawnshop, which is shouldering the participants’ airfare, accommodations and meals for the duration of the event.

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SPORTS sports@thestandard.com.ph

NU overpowers Ateneo, captures V-League crown NATIONAL University threw the full weight of its might and overpowered Ateneo for the second straight time, bagging the Shakey’s V-League Season 12 Collegiate Conference crown via an emphatic 25-21, 26-24, 25-19 victory in sudden death before a packed Sunday crowd at The Arena in San Juan City.

Four players churned out double-digit outputs to underscore the Lady Bulldogs depth with ace setter Rubie de Leon virtually having a field day flicking feeds to both flanks while at times confusing the Lady Eagles defenders with her combination plays and quick sets.

The veteran playmaker made Myla Pablo (15 hits), sisters Dindin Manabat (11) and Jaja Santiago (10) and skipper Jorelle Singh (10) look good with her virtuoso performance that included a brilliant dink in the second set.

The Lady Eagles, behind Alyssa Valdez, Bea de Leon, Amy Ahomiro and Jhoanna Maraguinot, did fight back after trailing majority of the way in all three sets, keeping the Ateneo crowd on the edge of their seats. But each time, the Lady Bulldogs had an answer coming off a huddle and went on to clinch the one-hour, 21-minute victory on a de Leon attack that sailed long.

It was NU’s second title since beating Ateneo in this conference two years ago and the first under coach Roger Gorayeb, who also

handled the Lady Eagles when they dropped a 1-3 decision to the NU-mentored Edjet Mabbayad in Season 10 of the league sponsored

by Shakey’s.

“I’m happy as a coach because I helped NU win another Shakey’s V-League title,” said Gorayeb in the din of the NU celebration at centercourt. “I’m also happy for Ateneo because most of its players today were also my players when I was still the coach of the team.”

Pablo, relegated to background majority of the conference, saved her best for last and top scored with 15 hits, outscoring the fancied Valdez, who managed just 14 points in the decider after a forgettable nine-hit performance in Ateneo’s 22-25, 17-25, 17-25 loss in Game 2 last week.

The 22-year-old graduating Marketing student later bagged the Finals MVP honors.

“Coach (Roger) told me that if I just listen to him, I would win awards. I did and I’m really thankful to him for helping me improve my game,” said the soft-spoken Pablo.

Valdez, who fired 20 hits in

Ateneo’s 25-19, 25-13, 25-21 victory in the opener of the title series presented by PLDT Home Ultera and backed by Mikasa and Accel, offered no excuses and credited NU’s superb all around performance.

“No excuses. NU just played perfect volleyball today (yesterday),” said Valdez, who earlier copped the conference MVP crown.

“One big factor for them is their veteran players, who have championship experience,” added Valdez.

Ateneo actually wrested a 2423 edge in the second frame on a de Leon ace but Manabat tied the count on her pet running attack and the Lady Bulldogs snatched the set with a block and on a Maraguinot errant spike.

Falling behind 1-6 in the third, the Lady Eagles fought back to force a 10-all count but the Lady Bulldogs came out of the huddle to string three straight points and stayed for good, foiling Ateneo’s last stand after NU’s Jasmine Nabor made a service error and Ahomiro rammed in a kill.

Over 6,400 runners braved the rains in the Tagbilaran leg of the 39th National MILO Marathon.

Slam dunk. Elfrid Payton of the Orlando Magic slams the ball in this fastbreak play against the Charlotte Hornets during a preseason game at Amway Center in Orlando, Florida. AFP

Nadal: I’ll fight my way back to the top BEIJING—A defiant Rafael Nadal warned Sunday his career was not over yet as he pledged that “sooner or later” he will be back at the very top of men’s tennis.

A tough 2015 has left many wondering whether the only thing left for the 29-year-old was retirement, but Nadal said he was prepared to scrap his way back into contention.

Nadal has cut a doleful figure for much of the season but the fire was back in his eyes and the old snarl was on his face as he described how his mental composure was returning.

“In the US Open I did better, even if I lost the match (to Fabio Fognini in the round of 32). Tough loss, but I did better. Let’s try here to do better again,” Nadal, wearing a matador logo on his cap and T-shirt, said at the China Open.

Comendador, Ramirez humble Milo rivals TAGBILARAN CITY—Emmanuel Comendador and Mereeis Ramirez proved that the rains were not much of a challenge as they clinched the top spots of the 21K centerpiece event of the 39th National MILO Marathon Tagbilaran leg on Sunday. About 6,400 runners graced the capital city of Bohol and shared their love and passion for running.

Comendador is no stranger to winning in his home city. He recorded back-toback wins in 2013 and 2014. This year, the 26-year-old Boholano nabbed his third

straight win with a time of 01:15:24, beating Chobie Dueñas (01:22:10) who placed second, and Candelario Logroño (01:22:12) who finished third.

In the distaff side, Ramirez, a 36-yearold full time runner from Dumaguete, triumphed with a time of 01:44:57. Contenders Mary Jane Balazuela (01:51:41) and Rhodora Oporto (01:55:50) were relegated in second and third place, respectively.

Ramirez is also a consistent winner in the MILO Marathon. Her most notable wins

are first place in Dumaguete in 2013, and second place in Bacolod in 2014.

Both Comendador and Ramirez encountered some roadblocks early on in their training. Comendador was only able to train twice a week due to his busy schedule as a graduating Marine Engineering student of the Philippine Military Institute of Bohol. Meanwhile, Ramirez had to take care of her sick four-year-old daughter and was unable to focus well in her preparations.

“I think I am working well. I am very motivated to go for that challenge that brings me the chance to overcome a tough situation for me.

I love that feeling, and I am going to fight to make that happen.”

Nadal has not got further than the quarter-finals in Grand Slams this year, even on his beloved Roland Garros clay, and he has slipped to seventh in the world from second a year ago.

But the Spaniard has confounded expectations more than once by rebounding from seemingly insurmountable injury problems to reclaim his place at tennis’s top table.

Now he said the old confidence was coming back and he pledged to use his final tournaments of the year as preparation for next season, which includes the Australian Open in January.

LOTTO RESULTS

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3 DIGITS 0-0-0 2 EZ2 0-0

CYAN MAGENTA YELLOW BLACK m o n day : oCTo B E R 5 , 2 0 1 5

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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

La Salle’s Andrei Caracut drives to the basket but loses the ball in front of Ateneo’s Alfonzo Gotladera in a UAAP game won by the Archers, 80-76. EY

Archers rally to stun Eagles

By Peter Atencio

KIEFER Ravena, hero of so many close games, turned out to be only human as he missed a triple attempt, which could have tied the game, allowing the La Salle Green Archers to escape with an 80-76 victory over the Ateneo Blue Eagles in the UAAP Season 78 men’s basketball tournament in front of close to 18,000 screaming fans at the SM Mall of Asia Arena Sunday.

La Salle spitfire Thomas Torres served as catalyst as the Green Archers overcame a 15-point deficit in the third period to cut the gap and turned a looming rout into a nip-and-tuck game.

Ateneo big man Chibuizeh Ikeh scored from underneath the goal to push Ateneo to a two-point lead, 76-74, with 1:27 to go in the game.

La Salle’s Josh Torralba then received a pass from Jason Perkins and drilled an open triple from the left corner baseline as La Salle grabbed back the lead, 77-76 with 30 seconds left to play.

Ravena missed a jumper at the other end. Jeron Teng then knocked down a pair of free throws to push La Salle to a three-

GILAS GEtS outPourInG oF SuPPort turn to A14

point advantage, 79-76, with 10 seconds left to play.

The stage was set for Ravena to perform his usual late-game heroics for the Blue Eagles. But it was not to be as Ravena missed a contested three-point attempt to allow the Green Archers to post the scrambling victory.

Torralba finalized the count after splitting his charities.

With the victory, the La Salle Green Archers (4 wins, 3 losses) tied the Ateneo Blue Eagles (4-3) at third place.

Leading the standings are the FEU Tamaraws (5-1) and the UST Growling Tigers (5-1). The other teams include the NU Bulldogs (33), the UE Red Warriors (2-4), the UP Fighting Maroons (2-5) and the Adamson University Soaring Falcons (1-6).

nADAL VoWS to BE no. 1 AGAIn turn to A15

Meanwhile, the Adamson Falcons drew 26 career-high points from Jerome Garcia, who led the San Marcelino-based dribblers to a 73-68 victory over the University of the Philippines Fighting Maroons.

This ended Adamson’s losing skid as the second-year guard played his finest game for the Falcons, who got their first victory after six straight losses.

This allowed the Falcons to finish their campaign in the first round of the eliminations on a positive note.

The Fighting Maroons fell to their fifth straight defeat following a 2-0 start in the season.

Garcia, a returnee, who was not part of last year’s lineup, scored 19 points in the first half which included 13 in the second period.

His effort gave the Falcons a 47-28

spread at halftime.

“It’s about time. I told them to finish the first round with a win.

They did it,” said Adamson rookie coach Mike Fermin.

Joseph Nalos had 15 points, while rookie JD Tungcab had 13 points for the Falcons, who also got 15 rebounds from Cameroonian import Papi Sarr.

Paul Desiderio had 26 points for UP. He had 11 points in the fourth quarter and spearheaded a UP run that tied the game at 59.

Tungcab hit a lay-up with 1:55 left in the fourth to give Adamson a 70-66 edge.

The Maroons lost big man Jerson Prado with 3:04 remaining in the second quarter and with Adamson up 35-23.

Prado tallied four points and nine boards in the game. He was in a rebound against against Sarr when he landed awkwardly on his right knee.

He had to be taken out on a stretcher and sent to the hospital.

La Salle trailed by 10 points, 36-46, at the half but came out of the halftime huddle breathing fire. They detonated a 13-2 bomb capped by a Jayson Perkins triple to grab the lead, 49-48, :08 to go in the third period.

Perkins drilled a second triple in the period from the same spot to push La Salle to a four-point advantage, 54-50 with 4:40 to go in the third.

MONDAY: OCTOBER 5, 2015

RAY S. EÑANO EDITOR

RODERICK T. DELA CRUZ ASSISTANT EDITOR

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

BUSINESS

B1

MNTC weighs arbitration case

By Darwin G Amojelar

MANILA North Tollways Corp. may seek an arbitration proceeding against the Philippine government after the Toll Regulatory Board rejected its P2.4-billion compensation claim for failure to increase the toll in the last three years.

“What was denied by TRB is the claim for compensation for lost revenues. The TRB said there was no dispute yet because the process of toll rates petition is not yet completed. So, we cannot pay you compensation on lost revenues,” MNTC president and chief executive Rodrigo Franco said.

Franco, however, said MNTC had to adjust the toll every two years under the provision of a concession agreement with the government.

“We are technically on the mandatory amicable settlement stage after which we will go to mediation. Arbitration will come

after,” Franco said.

The NLEx operator in September last year filed a petition with the TRB for the bi-annual toll adjustment that was supposed to fall due on January 1, 2015 as provided in the concession agreement.

MNTC’s new petition is in addition to the pending request it filed in 2012 for a toll increase scheduled in January 2013.

The current petition will bring the cumulative toll adjustment to 15 percent, including 12 percent that is long overdue.

The average daily traffic at NLEx in the first six months of the year stood at 198,500, up 7 percent from 185,267 on year.

MNTC earlier reported a net

income of P1.45 billion in the first six months of the year, up 8 percent from P1.34 billion on year.

Net income in the second quarter amounted to P770.35 million, up 13.7 percent from P677.39 million last year.

Revenues in the first six months reached P4.05 billion, up 7 percent from P3.77 billion last year.

Revenue in the second quarter amounted to P2.08 billion from P1.94 billion last year.

Earlier, MNTC said it expected the government to issue the terms of the Swiss challenge this month for the long-delayed NLEx-SLEx Connector Road Project.

Franco had said the revised project cost of the 8-kilometer, six-

lane elevated expressway linking the end of the Skyway in Buendia to Balintawak was P16.5 billion.

The right-of-way acquisition cost, meanwhile, is estimated at over P5 billion.

The new project estimate is lower than the original cost of P22 billion after the NLEx-SLEx Connector Road Project was reduced to eight kilometers from 13.5 kilometers.

Citra Metro Manila Tollways Corp., which is separately constructing the P26.7-billion Skyway Stage 3 Project, will construct the five-kilometer common alignment from Polytechnic University of the Philippines to Buendia in Makati City of the NLEX-SLEX

PSe comPoSite index Closing October 2, 2015

8000 7700 7400 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

RSSI-Mastercard promo. MasterCard and Robinsons Specialty Stores Inc. launch a joint promotion called Jet Set Style, which gives RSSI

P20.75-P21.75 Auto LPG

customers and MasterCard cardholders a chance to win a fashion experience in London. Joining the launching event are (from left) MasterCard vice president for merchant development Jo-Ann Camacho, RSSI general manager Mina Quizon, Robinsons president and chief operating officer Robina Gokongwei-Pe and MasterCard country head Poch Villa-Real.

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

29.9756

Taiwan

Dollar

0.030490

1.4240 Source: PDS Bridge

SM, Ayala agree to settle common rail hub THE SM Group and Ayala Corp. have agreed to talk and resolve their dispute over the location of the common station for Metro Manila’s overhead train system in Quezon City, a top executive said over the weekend.

“We’re talking, but the government is also helping threshing it out. It’s being threshed out now.

Our attitude now is whatever is good to our commuters, to our shoppers, then its okay for us,” SM Investments Corp. chief finance officer Jose Sio said.

Sio said the SM Group was

open to the proposal of the government to build two common stations for Light Rail Transit Line 1, Metro Rail Transit Line 3 and MRT 7 as long as “it’s not detrimental” to all parties.

The Transportation Department earlier said it would pursue two common stations, one near SM North Edsa and the other beside Trinoma Mall, owned by Ayala Land.

“If that would be the solution, yes. It should be a win-win solution for the benefit of the public,” Sio said, adding the company already

settled a conflict with Ayala over Ortigas family’s OCLP Holdings.

SM Group and Ayala are also part of the consortium called Team Trident along with Megaworld Corp. bidding for the P123.8-billion Laguna Lakeshore Expressway and Dike Project.

The Transportation Department’s new strategy of building two common stations aims to resolve a conflict with the SM Group.

SM Prime earlier secured a Supreme Court stay order, barring the department from transferring the location of the common

station to Trinoma Mall.

The Transportation Department decided to relocate the common station to Trinoma from SM North, citing P1 billion worth of savings the government would realize from the transfer.

Under an earlier agreement between SM Prime and state-run Light Rail Transit Authority, the common station should be situated beside SM North Edsa. SM Prime already paid the government P200 million for the naming rights for the proposed station. Darwin G. Amojelar

MONDAY: OCTOBER 5, 2015

B2

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

The STandard BuSineSS Weekly STockS revieW STOCKS

SEPTEMBER 28-OCTOBER 2, 2015 Close Volume Value

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

MEDCO Holdings Metrobank Natl Reinsurance Corp.

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

2.7 69.3 105.00 80.30 41.3 2.45 1.33 15.3 19.9 7.40 0.65 2.34 700.00 0.630 81 0.96 16.50 24.00 49.85 104 175 295 30.05 140.3 1465.00 51.60 2.94

Aboitiz Power Corp.

Agrinurture Inc. Alliance Tuna Intl Inc. Alsons Cons.

Asiabest Group Bogo Medellin C. Azuc De Tarlac Century Food Cirtek Holdings (Chips) Concepcion Crown Asia Da Vinci Capital Del Monte DNL Industries Inc. Emperador Energy Devt. Corp. (EDC) EEI Euro-Med Lab. Federal Res. Inv. Group First Gen Corp.

First Holdings ‘A’ Ginebra San Miguel Inc. Holcim Philippines Inc. Integ. Micro-Electronics Ionics Inc Jollibee Foods Corp.

Liberty Flour LMG Chemicals Mabuhay Vinyl Corp.

Manila Water Co. Inc. Maxs Group Megawide Mla. Elect. Co `A’ Panasonic Mfg Phil. Corp.

Pepsi-Cola Products Phil.

Petron Corporation Phil H2O Phinma Corporation Phoenix Petroleum Phils.

Phoenix Semiconductor Pryce Corp. `A’ RFM Corporation Roxas and Co. Roxas Holdings San Miguel’Pure Foods `B’ SPC Power Corp.

Splash Corporation Swift Foods, Inc. TKC Steel Corp.

Trans-Asia Oil Universal Robina Victorias Milling Vitarich Corp.

Vivant Corp.

Vulcan Ind’l.

43.5 1.53 0.9 1.55 10.92 51.5 83.15 16.62 25.85 42.5 2.4 1.83 9.63 10.360 7.00 5.89 7.67 1.72 12.5 21.9 66.35 10.52 12.90 5.7 3.140 192.80 31.25 2.07 4.1 21.8 21.3 5.5 297.60 3.93 4.1 6.84 3.7 11.40 3.33 2.00 2.26 3.93 2.85 5.5 139 4.19 2.17 0.150 1.32 1.91 189 4.56 0.67 23.95 1.08

Abacus Cons. `A’ Aboitiz Equity Alliance Global Inc. Anscor `A’ ATN Holdings A ATN Holdings B Ayala Corp `A’ Cosco Capital DMCI Holdings F&J Prince ‘A’ Filinvest Dev. Corp.

Forum Pacific GT Capital House of Inv. JG Summit Holdings Keppel Holdings `A’ LT Group Keppel Holdings `B’ Lopez Holdings Corp.

Lodestar Invt. Holdg.Corp.

Mabuhay Holdings `A’ Metro Pacific Inv. Corp.

Minerales Industrias Corp.

Pacifica `A’ Prime Media Hldg Prime Orion Republic Glass ‘A’ San Miguel Corp `A’ Seafront `A’ SM Investments Inc. Solid Group Inc. South China Res. Inc. Top Frontier Unioil Res. & Hldgs Wellex Industries Zeus Holdings

0.425 56.8500 16.18 6.60 0.238 0.233 756 6.7 12.42 3.35 3.85 0.290 1298 6.00 69.90 6.5 4.99 5.54 0.72 9.89 0.55 5 8.47 0.0400 1.300 1.950 2.71 47.00 2.90 870.50 1.16 0.70 75.100 0.3150 0.2220 0.230

8990 HLDG Anchor Land Holdings Inc. A. Brown Co., Inc. Araneta Prop `A’ Ayala Land `B’ Belle Corp. `A’ Cebu Holdings Centennial City City & Land Dev. Cityland Dev. `A’ Crown Equities Inc. Cyber Bay Corp.

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

6.450 8.30 0.59 1.040 33.700 2.98 5 0.59 0.97 0.95 0.100 0.415 20.3 0.740 0.163 1.01 1.61 1.30

FINANCIAL 535,790.00 3,014,673.00 1,635,042,236 663,887,437.50 44,279,955.00 143,970.00 706,430.00 1,191,556.00 4,382,964.00 44,570 26,980 15,568,130.00 49,000.00 87,001,810.00 930,951,222.00 2,880.00 5,239,534.00 386,350.00 62,991,591.50 2,471,325.00 1,750.00 4,472,216.00 26,283,180 310,316,206.00 1,069,925.00 4,224,766.00 150,420.00 INDUSTRIAL 6,556,300 281,803,680.00 73,000 109,570.00 607,000 552,190.00 6,022,000 9,388,130.00 64,200 689,796.00 10 515.00 20 1,663.00 1,048,800 17,350,388 2,974,900 77,056,385.00 444,800 17,883,155 18,130,000 46,850,490.00 55,587,000 114,109,540.00 718,200 7,110,612.00 40,723,900 415,179,451.00 24,610,100 172,640,935.00 150,765,900 862,035,191.00 1,012,900 7,792,291.00 36,000 65,030.00 150,800 1,832,262.00 12,057,000 268,766,500.00 1,157,880 76,366,024.50 34,600 414,546.00 272,600 3,512,958.00 858,800 4,872,542.00 296,028,000 1,062,031,160.00 2,895,090 554,506,362.00 32,800 1,017,440.00 128,000 267,440.00 458,800 2,200,428.00 12,107,800 270,676,625.00 701,600 14,825,880.00 3,604,700 20,082,682.00 1,773,060 525,819,512.00 18,000 68,850.00 9,137,000 37,302,440.00 7,696,900 53,243,344.00 10,000 37,000.00 31,900 363,616.00 218,000 718,840.00 1,588,000 3,110,230.00 15,232,000 32,245,810.00 6,781,000 27,152,180.00 114,000 317,720.00 30,000 164,577.00 170,990 23,236,147.00 10,000 40,450.00 3,784,000 8,145,810.00 17,230,000 2,516,540.00 6,164,000 7,312,550.00 11,966,000 22,565,040.00 10,455,430 1,976,922,514.00 855,000 3,934,360.00 7,510,000 5,098,490.00 5,600 128,895.00 1,186,000 1,271,560.00 HOLDING FIRMS 1,040,000 426,400.00 8,583,960 493,031,228.00 73,071,600 1,185,326,728.00 78,700 489,385.00 1,570,000 367,410.00 340,000 79,220.00 1,218,530 919,564,000.00 4,512,300 30,761,394.00 24,859,000 309,869,800.00 10,000 30,550.00 362,000 1,418,860.00 31,030,000 8,443,220.00 837,740 1,071,939,515.00 105,100 599,117.00 10,104,230 710,860,037.00 82,600 387,079.00 9,000 44,910.00 16,935,600 96,211,838.00 2,646,000 1,874,550.00 35,907,100 369,090,352.00 4,239,000 2,257,460.00 125,798,300 625,175,839.00 8,872,700 73,843,743.00 739,000,000 28,710,200.00 32,000 36,350.00 32,204,000 59,638,070.00 26,003 80,450.00 1,618,530 78,159,524.50 359,000 990,150.00 1,124,950 983,643,840.00 6,993,000 7,805,480.00 22,000 14,920.00 305,800 21,912,674.00 68,100,000 23,415,900.00 14,140,000 3,199,860.00 3,840,000 929,450.00 PROPERTY 4,120,500 26,877,038.00 8,400 68,024.00 1,171,000 691,870.00 376,000 394,730.00 46,024,800 1,546,157,495.00 8,153,000 24,489,080.00 137,300 687,551.00 16,773,000 9,502,110.00 11,000 10,670.00 31,000 30,330.00 19,950,000 1,997,400.00 4,350,000 1,826,800.00 8,202,300 167,590,014.00 1,716,000 1,305,490.00 2,030,000 332,600.00 3,655,000 3,709,330.00 185,464,000 311,432,910.00 3,541,000 4,647,340.00 212,000 43,780 15,908,130 8,221,540 1,072,900 58,000 586,000 77,500 221,400 6,000 42,000 6,832,000 70 118,773,000 11,397,400 3,000 316,500 16,100 1,265,230 23,920 10 15,160 863,300 2,239,130 745 82,350 51,000

SEPTEMBER 21-24, 2015 Close Volume Value 2.55 69 103.00 82.50 41.95 2.40 1.29 15.7 19.32 7.50 0.65 1.69 720.00 0.650 81.5 0.96 16.68 24.00 50.15 100 150 295 30.9 137.6 1430.00 51.20 2.95

340,000 70,040 18,520,530 8,225,960 360,100 16,000 79,000 87,000 244,800 1,000 504,000 40,000 40 165,447,000 13,691,570 8,557,000 393,300 64,800 1,032,920 41,360 160 4,580 928,000 1,018,920 2,785 46,770 28,000

908,160.00 4,790,327.00 1,904,603,363 682,800,846.50 15,267,295.00 39,190.00 102,340.00 1,352,966.00 4,825,689.00 7,500 327,870 67,250.00 28,750.00 122,185,360.00 1,138,405,193.00 8,019,390.00 6,583,634.00 1,561,205.00 53,976,891.50 4,065,850.00 21,500.00 1,356,242.00 28,994,240 142,648,642.00 4,131,170.00 2,418,445.50 82,600.00

43.5 1.49 0.97 1.7 10.6

9,003,700 88,000 175,000 4,466,000 23,000

387,257,945.00 125,400.00 161,340.00 7,435,130.00 252,206.00

16.76 25.75 41.6 2.79 1.65 9.99 10.460 8.00 5.89 7.68 1.97 13.48 22.6 66 12.50 13.00 5.72 3.120 187.00

3,736,100 538,100 2,005,000 10,158,000 85,331,000 8,333,200 25,552,700 4,754,700 75,916,600 455,800 232,000 40,500 6,028,700 790,130 3,600 48,500 449,300 368,148,000 1,857,760

13,592,056 14,039,765.00 87,807,610 29,001,930.00 184,654,760.00 89,012,415.00 271,723,030.00 37,701,542.00 455,713,295.00 3,611,495.00 412,890.00 531,266.00 139,073,630.00 52,098,978.00 45,000.00 631,502.00 2,578,013.00 1,094,934,450.00 348,604,325.00

2.2 5.34 21.75 21.7 5.51 293.00 3.83 4.1 6.90

662,000 3,615,700 3,396,700 872,200 140,200 1,226,640 26,000 2,174,000 9,565,500

1,554,900.00 21,209,069.00 77,066,635.00 18,795,660.00 773,643.00 360,130,882.00 99,790.00 8,929,720.00 66,195,869.00

11.34 3.34 2.10 2.1 4.03 2.8 5.48 132

26,700 338,000 2,301,000 5,285,000 12,273,000 313,000 20,500 139,690

299,378.00 1,120,220.00 4,588,990.00 11,112,400.00 49,408,890.00 853,900.00 107,026.00 18,832,275.00

2.28 0.145 0.91 1.89 192 4.62 0.68

13,305,000 20,440,000 910,000 28,992,000 7,952,720 23,000 25,358,000

30,029,170.00 3,035,870.00 909,320.00 53,266,070.00 1,492,825,875.00 107,210.00 18,771,550.00

1.04

442,000

449,770.00

0.430 57.9000 18.14 6.39 0.235 0.255 740 6.79 12.40 3.1 4.06 0.224 1235 5.95 68.70 6.7

320,000 7,018,020 42,807,300 84,000 990,000 730,000 1,005,870 3,065,200 24,817,900 38,000 35,000 10,040,000 711,280 472,700 6,498,600 27,000

134,050.00 406,598,387.50 821,876,358.00 548,241.00 233,660.00 171,950.00 759,813,850.00 21,282,425.00 320,378,056.00 536,350.00 142,740.00 2,409,840.00 883,475,715.00 2,821,063.00 449,046,417.50 167,990.00

5.95 0.69 11.6 0.56 4.98 8.2 0.0350 1.370 1.730 2.8 50.75 3.02 880.00 1.18 0.70 84.950 0.3350 0.2210 0.270

5,503,400 5,664,000 20,865,000 2,183,000 103,552,500 6,809,500 236,700,000 66,000 4,946,000 432,000 4,699,300 1,804,000 1,214,300 7,640,000 21,000 1,069,960 251,970,000 9,770,000 3,005,860

33,287,071.00 4,274,510.00 248,405,792.00 1,164,840.00 354,826,594.00 56,101,218.00 8,196,300.00 85,250.00 8,467,970.00 1,203,590.00 211,213,665.00 5,490,850.00 1,070,868,595.00 10,038,170.00 14,730.00 70,640,068.00 93,940,200.00 2,142,930.00 423,060.00

6.550 7.57 0.62 1.100 34.00 3.03 4.8 0.57 0.97

1,945,100 7,500 1,710,000 213,000 45,390,900 3,342,000 24,000 18,955,000 27,000

13,379,396.00 58,611.00 1,068,820.00 236,670.00 1,543,488,025.00 10,109,070.00 115,340.00 11,151,880.00 26,790.00

0.100 0.435 21.15 0.780 0.170 1.03 1.74 1.33

13,140,000 13,080,000 28,145,000 442,000 1,520,000 4,599,000 61,788,000 1,658,000

1,352,270.00 5,869,100.00 581,983,071.00 353,380.00 264,960.00 4,727,850.00 109,180,760.00 2,222,270.00

STOCKS

SEPTEMBER 28-OCTOBER 2, 2015 Close Volume Value

Keppel Properties Megaworld Prop.

MRC Allied Ind. Phil. Estates Corp.

Phil. Realty `A’ Phil. Tob. Flue Cur & Redry 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

3.72 4.4 0.087 0.3300 0.3850 19.22 7.71 28.40 1.55 3.19 20.50 0.73 7.8 0.690 5.150

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

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

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

Manila Broadcasting Manila Bulletin Manila Jockey Melco Crown MG Holdings NOW Corp.

Pacific Online Sys. Corp.

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

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

SSI Group STI Holdings Transpacific Broadcast Travellers Waterfront Phils.

Yehey

7.6 60.45 1.07 0.560 11.86 27 4.87 0.0520 3.88 87.35 9.96 1.79 4.80 950 2354 6.40 1.27 74 11.98 0.010 0.180 1.4400 2.15 7.99 3.89 1.14 2.09 37.00 0.600 2.02 3.48 0.300 0.485 18.82 4.50 2.8 10 94.00 18.72 2136.00 0.560 0.950 31.50 74.50 6.40 5.50 0.48 1.4 3.2 0.345 3.330

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

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

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

TA Petroleum United Paragon

0.0052 2.34 4.56 10.80 0.185 6.9400 5.9000 0.71 0.63 8.00 0.9 0.290 0.181 0.195 0.0099 0.011 1.94 6.46 2.79 0.5900 1.3500 0.0090 3.24 4.77 1.35 0.0110 136.20 2.42 0.0070

ABS-CBN Holdings Corp.

Ayala Corp. Pref ‘B1’ Ayala Corp. Pref ‘B2’ First Gen G GLOBE PREF P GMA Holdings Inc. Leisure & Resort Pref.

MWIDE PREF PCOR-Preferred A PCOR-Preferred B PF Pref 2 SMC Preferred B SMC Preferred C SMC Preferred D SMC Preferred E SMC Preferred F Swift Pref

61 531 540 115.6 521 6.1 1.12 111 1080 1140 1030 78.7 81.5 79 78.4 79.4 1.83

Leisure & Resort Warr.

2.680

Makati Fin. Corp.

Ripple E-Business Intl Xurpas

3.15 67.65 14.26

First Metro ETF

112.1

SEPTEMBER 21-24, 2015 Close Volume Value

39,000 157,840.00 104,024,000 454,338,420.00 5,320,000 476,660.00 530,000 156,400.00 20,000 7,700.00 1,200 23,206.00 2,315,200 18,104,437.00 17,879,300 508,131,290.00 256,000 395,400.00 110,000 343,210.00 57,389,600 1,170,741,000.00 1,968,001 1,461,690.00 726,800 5,698,060.00 600,000 408,990.00 33,743,300 169,428,112.00 SERVICES 733,800 5,756,109.00 306,930 18,408,014.00 48,000 53,030.00 15,221,000 8,629,850.00 1,400 15,896.00 100 2,700 60,677,900 323,252,570.00 142,790,000 7,871,080.00 1,749,000 6,550,160.00 1,360,070 117,619,058.00 5,400 53,964.00 3,092,000 5,012,980 1,257,200 6,020,430.00 1,030 978,500.00 365,530 859,711,460 157,800 1,010,224.00 660,000 807,990.00 9,672,440 734,648,587.50 114,900 1,364,810.00 45,900,000 483,300.00 20,790,000 3,810,060.00 10,935,000 16,454,490.00 232,002 502,960.00 1,514,800 12,352,657.00 54,090,000 225,205,470.00 43,000 49,770.00 91,000 197,340.00 500 18,500.00 61,000 36,250.00 197,000 396,450.00 14,933,000 56,798,240.00 751,200.00 2,510,000 3,572,000 1,820,185.00 1,200 22,364.00 87,000 392,180 48,000 134,260.00 7,400 70,561.00 97,210 9,188,234.00 1,017,300 18,931,506.00 842,370 1,838,074,040.00 6,254,000 3,513,210.00 65,952,000 65,580,080.00 5,230,000 163,575,995.00 3,691,260 270,548,148.50 40,524,000 275,462,257.00 19,745,700 116,780,131.00 37,480,000 18,201,550.00 877,000 1,251,110.00 12,215,000 40,803,580.00 7,970,000 2,752,850.00 24,391,000 84,059,160.00 MINING & OIL 2,369,000,000 12,528,300.00 251,000 573,960.00 237,000 1,095,870.00 10,200 100,178.00 550,000 102,040.00 5,000 34,572.00 8,900 52,452.00 3,239,000 2,358,370.00 1,519,000 962,750.00 604,100 4,598,853.00 47,086,000 44,663,060.00 2,750,000 808,400.00 19,250,000 3,463,500.00 2,670,000 499,120.00 59,000,000 582,540.00 26,000,000 287,300.00 1,096,000 2,160,770.00 24,459,400 162,556,230.00 6,040,000 17,086,730.00 326,000 192,390.00 778,000 1,046,010.00 3,000,000 27,000.00 308,000 1,054,980.00 1,853,300 9,069,063.00 2,795,000 3,833,810.00 167,700,000 1,822,200.00 2,509,930 340,800,421.00 3,889,000 9,532,850.00 28,000,000 198,000.00 PREFERRED 3,882,950 236,351,564.00 18,020 9,536,500.00 24,280 12,867,105 23,390 2,707,359.00 113,230 59,773,840.00 288,500 1,850,373.00 982,000 1,098,560 45,230 4,995,000.00 50 54,000.00 4,115 4,569,125.00 8,630 8,914,110.00 13,300 1,046,710.00 691,900 56,486,378.00 440,630 34,627,918.00 988,940 77,501,134.50 3,776,030 297,315,626.00 31,000 56,800.00 WARRANTS & BONDS 1,177,000 3,304,330.00 SME 35,000 112,540.00 40,360 2,423,406.00 24,381,300 349,253,242.00 EXCHANGE TRADED FUNDS 144,980 16,337,100.00

4.80 4.25 0.092 0.2850 0.3850 19.28 8.35 28.55 1.55 3.15 19.84 0.72 8.37 0.720 5.150

25,000 99,923,000 4,500,000 1,240,000 490,000 900 5,745,900 10,615,500 508,000 104,000 55,301,000 3,964,000 36,400 1,974,000 31,009,900

106,920.00 429,877,750.00 428,450.00 380,600.00 203,800.00 17,340.00 49,295,323.00 302,077,160.00 776,290.00 328,100.00 1,128,789,135.00 2,837,820.00 304,134.00 1,404,190.00 161,460,142.00

8 60 1.11 0.560 11.3

597,500 228,900 144,000 7,570,000 2,001,000

4,751,949.00 13,707,822.50 163,450.00 4,305,800.00 22,611,300.00

5.98 0.0580 3.6 86.5 10 1.8 5.00 921 2380 6.30 1.26 77 11.94 0.011 0.191 1.4200 2.15 8.60 2.87

25,861,500 135,340,000 2,225,000 1,356,740 5,500 126,000 550,600 150 378,603 1,754,000 740,000 7,240,610 34,000 19,600,000 86,420,000 23,684,000 57,000 1,090,300 4,601,000

160,114,015.00 8,096,570.00 8,064,230.00 119,884,700.00 54,879.00 203,610 3,771,558.00 138,010.00 927,645,810 11,031,102.00 920,680.00 580,742,205.50 389,902.00 203,600.00 17,011,850.00 36,047,140.00 120,740.00 9,466,028.00 13,169,570.00

2.26 38.00 0.600 2.06 4.59 0.310 0.495 19 4.60 2.92 9.24 96.00 18.70 2270.00 0.570 1.070 30.80 71.90 7.11 6.34 0.49 1.72 3.45 0.355 2.710

92,000 600 90,000 184,000 29,861,400 270,000 10,967,000 1,600 30,000 37,000 2,100 5,450 263,000 649,140 6,182,000 25,251,000 5,488,600 2,473,410 89,398,800 4,867,000 25,618,000 54,000 8,239,000 14,210,000 2,529,000

200,290.00 22,800.00 54,000.00 368,760.00 149,909,568.00 85,000.00 5,775,520.00 30,078.00 135,900 101,920.00 18,765.00 520,035.00 4,847,894.00 1,482,337,460.00 3,513,050.00 27,714,920.00 171,302,795.00 175,899,919.50 621,126,294.00 31,882,688.00 12,706,730.00 90,880.00 28,023,040.00 5,432,500.00 6,619,730.00

0.0055 2.31 4.73 10.30 0.188 6.9500

1,739,000,000 45,000 411,400 17,000 760,000 16,900

9,962,800.00 103,600.00 2,004,309.00 176,558.00 145,640.00 108,351.00

0.75 0.66 6.50 1.01 0.300 0.181 0.190 0.010 0.011 2.1 7.18 2.9 0.6000 1.3500 0.0099 3.86 5.00 1.38 0.0120 134.70 2.62 0.0084

2,707,000 886,000 456,300 62,018,000 2,330,000 32,130,000 5,160,000 181,700,000 93,600,000 1,002,000 15,505,600 2,717,000 2,398,000 989,000 3,400,000 23,000 1,921,300 2,352,000 320,500,000 6,398,210 8,111,000 3,000,000

1,962,290.00 563,660.00 3,209,555.00 63,055,210.00 691,550.00 5,811,220.00 980,730.00 1,799,680.00 1,076,400.00 2,084,070.00 109,515,712.00 7,889,500.00 1,463,440.00 1,323,290.00 32,100.00 87,600.00 9,599,332.00 3,201,970.00 5,400,500.00 875,643,959.00 20,365,920.00 23,500.00

59.9 528 530 118.2 527.5 6.45 1.1

1,064,520 18,540 1,410 53,830 1,000 137,100 512,000

63,837,983.50 9,803,850.00 752,825 6,357,724.00 527,500.00 870,368.00 550,860

1080 1100 1025 78.5 81.2 78 77.5 78.65 1.8

26,000 2,775 4,585 16,800 467,640 817,070 1,739,740 4,613,260 8,000

27,600,000.00 3,052,500.00 4,685,210.00 1,338,370.00 38,043,789.50 63,951,473.00 135,222,675.00 361,814,037.00 14,650.00

3.040

967,000

2,972,910.00

3.48 70 13.7

104,000 167,170 27,558,400

354,360.00 11,620,363.50 359,343,606.00

113.1

30,800

3,534,325.00

WEEKLY MOST TRADED STOCKS Abra Mining Pacifica `A’ Ionics Inc Filinvest Land,Inc. Philodrill Corp. `A’ Energy Devt. Corp. (EDC) Boulevard Holdings Metro Pacific Inv. Corp.

MEDCO Holdings Megaworld Prop.

VOLUME 2,369,000,000 739,000,000 296,028,000 185,464,000 167,700,000 150,765,900 142,790,000 125,798,300 118,773,000 104,024,000

STOCKS Universal Robina PLDT Common Banco de Oro Unibank Inc. Ayala Land `B’ Alliance Global Inc. SM Prime Holdings GT Capital Ionics Inc SM Investments Inc. Metrobank

VALUE 1,976,922,514.00 1,838,074,040.00 1,635,042,236 1,546,157,495.00 1,185,326,728.00 1,170,741,000.00 1,071,939,515.00 1,062,031,160.00 983,643,840.00 930,951,222.00

MONDAY: OCTOBER 5, 2015

B3

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

2 firms plan IPO in December

By Jenniffer B. Austria

MPIC eyeing more arbitration cases

CONGLOMERATE Metro Pacific Investments Corp. could be preparing for another arbitration case with the government, this time on the muchdelayed toll rate adjustment at two toll roads it maintains and operates.

Metro Pacific president Jose Lim said there are four years worth of inflation adjustments pending for the North Luzon Expressway and six years for the Cavite Expressway. Lim said in more precise terms, these would be equivalent to 19-percent and 23-percent increases in toll, respectively.

Lim said while these inflation adjustments were embedded in the concession agreements, the government had not acted on the company’s applications to have these adjustments implemented.

“In order to enforce our rights, we have issued a formal demand that may end up in an arbitration with the regulator,” Lim said.

Metro Pacific is already under arbitration with the national government for the non-implementation of water rate adjustments for unit Maynilad Water Services Inc. Jenniffer B. Austria

After Uber, Mober is here

A local start-up is upping the ante in providing a fleet of private vehicles for hire in the country, this time not only to ferry passengers, but also to move goods.

Mober creates a new economy of cargo pick-up and delivery for on-demand customers and entrepreneurial suppliers alike. “A time of opportunity, mobility, and enterprise has come for the Filipino people. The revolution for personal transport has taken place,” Mober says in a statement.

Mober provides a fleet of privately-owned vans at the disposal of entrepreneurs looking to move, ship, or deliver goods for their businesses.

Mober says there is no better venue for a shared economy of cargo vehicles to flourish than Metro Manila, a city that is infamous for traffic jams that cause daily billion-peso opportunity loss.

“Mober expands these services with such conveniences as choosing the type of vehicle to accommodate your cargo and getting immediate estimates of the cost for your travel through the app,” it says. Its fleet includes Urvan, Hi-Ace, or L-300. Alena Flores Mae S. Flores

AN information technology company and a property developer plan to conduct an initial public offering and list with the Philippine Stock Exchange before the end of the year.

Point West Technologies Corp. and Philippine Primark Properties Inc. plan to list with the PSE in December, according to documents filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

Point West said in a registration statement it planned to sell 417 million common shares with an over allotment of 62.55 million common shares at P4.35 per share.

The IPO is expected to raise as much as P2.08 billion in proceeds, which will be used for the expansion of delivery centers within the Philippines, expansion of US sales operations, development of digital products and acquisition of applications and proprietary technologies Point West hired SB

Capital and Maybank ATR Kim Eng to be joint underwriters for the offering while Evercore is the financial adviser for the share sale.

Point West is a leading Filipino-owned service company with a proven track record in the information technology and business process management industry.

The company provides nonvoice, higher-value services to Fortune 500 companies and a growing number of firms in the Philippines, New Zealand and Australia.

Point West registered a net income of P120.9 million in the first half, an increase of 101 percent from P54.88 million recorded in the same period a year ago while net revenues rose 22.8 percent to P798.82 mil-

lionfrom P650.5 million.

Meanwhile, Philippine Primark also plans to raise as much as P1.2 billion through an IPO in December. Philippine Primark plans to sell up to 704.46 million primary common shares at P1.70 apiece.

The company plans to its its share under the small, medium and emerging board of the PSE. It hired Unicapital as the sole issue manager and underwriter for the offering.

Philippine Primark is primarily engaged in the development of community malls across the country.

It has eight town centers, with four additional community malls slated to be operational before the end of the year.

Philippine Primark also plans to acquire and develop commercial leasing properties within immediate vicinities of town plazas of each municipalities.

The company aims to open 25 town centers in 2015 and 30 every year until 2020.

Lamudi lists top property developers

Lamudi, a global property portal focusing on emerging markets, has recently come up with a list of 10 largest property developers in the country, measured by the value of their future projects. Guess who topped the list?

By its own reckoning and monitoring, Lamudi put Ayala Land Inc. as the biggest spender, with capital expenditures of P80 billion to P90 billion this year, narrowly exceeding SM Prime Holdings Inc.’s P80 billion.

“Though marked down a bit, the plan set by Ayala Land Inc. is still the largest in local real estate,” Lamudi said.

Third in the list is Megaworld Corp. with P65 billion, followed by Vista Land & Lifescapes Inc. with P25 billion and Filinvest Land Inc. with P24 billion. Occupying the sixth to 10th spots are Robinsons Land Corp. with P17 billion, Federal Land with P15 billion, Rockwell Land with P13 billion, DMCI Homes with P12 billion and Shang Properties with P10 billion.

“While the industry had been doing well in the past couple of years on its own, even more vigorous growth in the immediate future is anticipated,” Lamudi said.

“Rapid urbanization coupled with the continued rise of the residential sector have been the key sources of growth for local real estate, and is one of the main reason for several developers’ leading the way for record capital expenditures in 2015,” it said. Roderick T. dela Cruz

TV ratings war yields different numbers

Depending on who commissioned the survey, results of national television viewership polls show that it is either ABS-CBN Corp.’s Channel 2 or GMA Network Inc.’s Channel 7 as the most watched channel on free television.

Citing Kantar Media, ABS-CBN said its average national audience share in September was higher by eight points than its rival GMA Network.

ABS-CBN said its average national audience share stood at 44 percent, compared with GMA’s 36 percent.

ABS-CBN said its dominance was evident during primetime, or from six in the evening to 12 midnight, with an average national audience share of 50 percent, or 19 points higher than GMA’s 31 percent.

ABS-CBN said its primetime lead was sustained by top-rating programs, led by “FPJ’s Ang Probinsyano,” which garnered an average national TV rating of 40.4 percent.

GMA, for its part, said it recorded a 37.4-percent total day household audience share in National Urban Philippines from Sept. 1 to 30, surpassing ABS-CBN’s 34.9 percent by 2.5 points and TV5’s 9 percent by 28.4 points.

GMA uses Nielsen TV Audience Measurement for its audience viewership rating. GMA said it led ABS-CBN in the morning block with 34.1 percent versus the latter’s 33.5 percent, as well as in the afternoon block with a commanding 45.2 percent compared to its closest rival’s 29.5 percent.

GMA Network said it continued to secure 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

Fujitsu’s new office. Fujitsu Philippines Inc., a leading information technology systems integrator and solutions provider, opens its new office in Sta. Rosa, Laguna to strengthen operations in the region.

Shown cutting the ribbon during the opening ceremony are (from left) Ma. Luisa Verga, assistant sales manager of Iontech Inc.; Raul Santiago, president of Fujitsu Philippines; and Akira Ishii, president of Sanyo Plastic Philippines Inc.

Stock index expected to trade below 6,900 ANALYSTS expect share prices at the Philippine Stock Exchange to keep moving sideways, on lingering concerns over the weakness of the Chinese economy and renewed fears of a possible hike in US interest rates.

“This week, we expect continued cautious and sentiment-driven trading, particularly depending on leads overseas,” BPI Asset Management said in its weekly outlook.

“The PSEi should trade between 6,700 and 6,900, with main catalysts being the local inflation and export number, and further developments in the US and China,” it said.

Regina Capital Development Corp. managing director Luis Limlingan said the PSEi would need a rally above 6,900 level this week, as the 6,860 market support was already breached.

“Failure to recover would lead to deeper corrections back to 6,720, possibly extending to 6,600. This rally is also crucial because prices are slowly tracking downward slope,” Limlingan said.

Limlingan said investors should stay light on positions and accumulate issues which were still holding above long-term moving averages.

“Our strong buy trigger is 7,020.

So until this is breached, we expect sideways volatility this week,” Limlingan said.

The 30-company PSEi last week closed lower by 0.97 percent to 6,850.61 while the broader allshare index declined 0.85 percent to 3,957.19.

Except for the property index, which climbed 0.57 percent, all major sub-indices went down last week led by services (-4.21

percent), mining and oil (-2.39 percent), holding firms (-0.82 percent), industrial (-0.57 percent) and financials (-0.22 percent).

Foreign investors were net sellers by P393 million last week, while average daily turnover reached P6.65 billion.

Top gainers last week were TKC Steel Corp., which advanced 45.05 percent to P1.32; I-Remit Inc., which jumped 38.4 percent to P2.34; and Liberty Telecoms Holdings Inc., which gained 35.5 percent to P3.89.

Heavy losers were Melco Crown (Philippines) Resorts Corp., which declined 24.1 percent to P3.48; Mabuhay Vinyl Corp., which dropped 23.2 percent to P4.10; and Keppel Philippines Properties Inc., which fell 22.5 percent to P3.72.

Jenniffer B. Austria

B4

QualiMed partner. QualiMed signs a strategic partnership with multinational medical equipment and technology provider, Karl Storz GmbH & Co. KG. QualiMed is a network of healthcare facilities under the healthcare partnership between Mercado General Hospital Inc. and Ayala Land Inc. Shown at the signing ceremony are (from left) Stephan Abele, Karl Storz director for business development in the Philippines; Thorsten Molitor, managing director for Karl Storz Endoscopy Asia; Edwin Mercado, president and and chief executive of QualiMed; Zosimo Malabanan, chairman of Mercado General Hospital; Cora Dizon, vice president of Ayala Land and head of ALI Capital Corp.; and Liza Tango, chief finance officer of ALI Capital.

SM Investments eyes P100-b capex in 2016

By Jenniffer B. Austria CONGLOMERATE SM Investments Corp. of retail tycoon Henry Sy Sr. plans to spend between P80 billion and P100 billion in 2016 as it remains robust on the prospects of the Philippine economy.

SM Investments chief finance officer Jose Sio in an interview over the weekend it would spend the bulk of investments to finance the expansion of property unit SM Prime Holdings Inc., which recently announced a P65-billion capital spending for 2016.

Aside from property development, SM Investments through its units is also engaged in banking, retail and tourism-related projects.

“I would say it would be between P80 billion and P100 billion total group capital expendi-

tures,” Sio told reporters.

SM Investments has earmarked P80 billion in capital expenditures this year.

Sio said the 2016 programmed capital spending was just for recurring business and did not include potential acquisitions of subsidiaries.

“The value of the Philippines is not today. The value of the Philippines is the future because we are on development phase. If you don’t act now for the future, you will be late because our [land] resources are limited,” Sio said.

SM Investments in the first

half of the year registered a 10-percent growth in net income to P13.5 billion on the strong performance of core businesses engaged in the banking, real estate and retail sectors.

Excluding extraordinary items, recurring income grew 13 percent during the first half of 2015.

First-half consolidated revenues increased six percent to P138.9 billion from P130.9 billion year-on-year.

The conglomerate’s property business led the growth, increasing its share of consolidated net income to 42 percent. It was followed by the banks with 38 percent and retail with 20 percent.

SM Prime registered consolidated revenues of P35.9 billion, up 8 percent from P33.3 billion in the first six months of 2015, driven by the continued growth of rental revenues as well as

higher revenue from completed projects.

Rental revenues from retail and commercial spaces, accounting for 54.2 percent of the consolidated revenues, rose 10 percent in the six-month period to P19.4 billion from P17.7 billion in the first half 2015.

The growth in rental revenues was mainly driven by rising contribution from the new malls and the expansion of shopping spaces in existing malls. The growth was also boosted by increase in SM Prime’s office spaces.

Total assets of SM Investments at the end of June this year grew seven percent to P721 billion. The group also maintains a healthy balance sheet with a conservative gearing ratio of 38 percent net debt to 62 percent equity.

Share price of SM Investments on Friday ended at P870.50, down P0.50 from previous week’s close.

National Grid seeks revenue target of P45.29b

By Alena Mae S. Flores NATIONAL Grid Corporation of the Philippines has sought approval from the Energy Regulatory Commission to collect a maximum allowable revenue of P45.287 billion in 2016.

National Grid also asked ERC to approve an interim net performance incentive of P1.029 billion for 2015.

“The immediate implementation is necessary to reduce, if not eliminate, the risk of under-recovery which is substantial to NGCP,” the company said.

National Grid filed a higher maximum allowable revenue in 2016 compared with the 2015 approved revenue of P43.078 billion, but the company said it was expected to translate into the same level of indicative rates to customers amounting to P0.6196 per kilowatt-hour.

“The proposed iMAR2016 is expected to translate into the same level of indicative rates

in P/kW-month [pesos per kilowatt-month] and a reduction in the equivalent indicative P/KWh (peso per kilowatt-hour) due to the off-setting effect of the increase in demand with the increase in revenue,” it said.

National Grid said the revenue application for the first regulatory year was interim pending the completion of its reset process for the 4th regulatory period.

It said the revenue and performance incentive “were designed and developed to determine fair and reasonable interim transmission rates that will serve the public interest and convenience, and signal the efficient utilization of transmission facilities that will ultimately redound to the best interest and benefit of the public.”

The performance incentive rewards or penalizes National Grid, depending on the actual level of performance of the regulator against the target level.

The maximum allowable revenue gives

the transmission operator a return on reasonable costs.

National Grid said it asked the ERC to recover the reasonable costs necessary to provide transmission services and essential to sustain its full operational strength.

The company received a franchise to operate, manage and maintain and convey the transmission of electricity through a high-voltage backbone system for interconnected transmission lines, substations and related facilities and other activities necessary to support the safe and reliable operation of the transmission system. It is authorized to charge its customers at the rates approved by the commission.

National Grid owns a 25-year concession to operate the country’s power transmission network. It is comprised of Monte Oro Grid Resources Corp., led by Calaca High Power Corp. and State Grid Corporation of China as technical partner.

Two firms discussing Internet problems

By Darwin G Amojelar PHILIPPINE Long Distance Telephone Co. is in talks with rival Globe Telecom Inc. for an Internet Protocol peering arrangement that will raise the quality of Internet services in the country.

The country’s largest telecommunications company said it offered a draft proposal based on internationally accepted peering practices and was in active discussions with Globe.

IP peering allows one Internet service provider to connect with another provider, giving both parties a direct route for fast exchange of information.

“Our discussions with Globe are part of a broader effort of PLDT to improve Internet services in the country,” said PLDT executive vice president and ePLDT president and chief executive Ernesto Alberto.

“We are pursuing several parallel initiatives that taken together will help deliver an improved Internet experience for Filipinos,” he added.

PLDT last month reached an agreement with the Science Department to provide fiber optic facilities that will link PLDT to the agency’s Philippine Open Internet Exchange.

PLDT also provided rack space in ePLDT’s VITRO Data Center facility, where Science has set up and operates its third PHOpenIX node.

The network peering arrangement further improves the resiliency of the government Internet exchange and gives PLDT subscribers better access to government Web sites hosted in PHOpenIX. “Local peering will help improve the Web experience of Internet users in the country by keeping local traffic local. That is why we struck an agreement with DoST and why we are pursuing another one with Globe,” Alberto said.

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

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

Local banks ready to face Asian peers

By Julito G. Rada BANGKO Sentral ng Pilipinas Governor Amando Tetangco Jr. said Philippines banks are ready to face the challenges of foreign lenders entering the country under the Asean financial integration because of stronger and established presence in the domestic market.

“Is the Philippine banking system ready?

We are clearly in a position of strength as an industry and, individually our banks have been enlarging their domestic footprint... and capitalizing on e-banking technology,” Tetangco said in a speech during the Philippine International Banking Convention held in Makati last week. “... The Philippine boat may not be the large vessel of other jurisdictions but the fact that we have been able to steer through the turbulent and uncertain waters of the last decade is itself the testament of our resolve and our strength as a market,” Tetangco said.

He said by mainstream indicators, the Philippine banking industry remained in

a position of strength. Total resources of universal and commercial banks grew 11.6 percent between 2010 and June 2015, while their July non-performing loan ratio stood at 1.9 percent.

The capital adequacy ratio of these banks stood at 15.1 percent with stress test results confirming enough capital buffer in the event of extreme shocks, he said.

Tetangco said beyond these traditional measures, financial technology also positively transformed the domestic banking industry. “... This is the banking landscape of today and our banks have, by and large, redirected their attention to these facets.

From a policy perspective, this was the wherewithal for crafting Circular 854, which adjusted the minimum capital levels required of banks. It is a recognition that banking has moved on from the folders and filing cabinets of old to the systems and interfaces of today,” he said.

He said the more critical target, especially for those in the financial market, was 2020 at which time the Asean Financial Integration Framework or AFIF would be expected to be in place.

Tetangco domestic banks must establish first their comparative advantages onshore to be able to compete in the broader offshore market of Asean under the financial integration regime.

B5

For the love of music WHO would pass up on the opportunity to sing with no less than a full symphony orchestra as accompaniment? I wouldn’t, especially if it was for a very good cause which was to raise scholarship funds for talented young musicians.

And so this was what the Manila Symphony Orchestra envisioned when it held a concert dubbed “For the Love of Music” at The Theater at Solaire featuring top executives from various companies such as Peter Kawsek of Apo International Marketing; Armin Demetillo of I-Remit Inc.; John Aguilar, CEO and executive producer of Philippine Realty TV; Ophie Bakker, president of FEED Foundation; and Christopher Yu of Sycip Gorres Velayo & Co. who all took to the stage and performed like real pros.

The concert also featured popular singers Jose Mari Chan, Bituin Escalante, and Christian Bautista who serenaded the crowd with their fantastic renditions of a wide repertoire of hits.

As I really enjoy singing as an outlet, the experience was, to say the least, exhilarating as we all sounded like seasoned performers with the Manila Symphony Orchestra and its talented young musicians who performed impressively under the baton of a fabulous conductor, Professor Arturo Molina.

The show, which was well attended, went really well, and we were able to generate a substantial amount to support the MSO’s Basilio Manalo Music Scholarship Fund.

It was an unforgettable evening, and definitely, one should put such an experience in his or her bucket list. Kudos to the organizers, the sponsors and my fellow performers!

With Armin Demetillo, director of I-Remit Inc.; John Aguilar, CEO and executive producer of Philippine Realty TV; Bituin Escalante; Ophie Bakker, president of FEED Foundation; Jose Mari Chan; Peter Kawsek and Christopher Yu. Photos by Jaypee Maristaza With popular singer Jose Mari Chan; Peter Kawsek, CEO of Apo International Marketing; and Christopher Yu of Sycip Gorres Velayo & Co.

Renewable energy venture. Leading Philippine-based satellite broadband

service provider We Are IT Philippines Inc. and Japan-based solar and wind energy developer Eguchi Holdings Co. Ltd. launch a joint venture to develop the country’s renewable energy sources and provide the most advanced emergency communication technologies for Filipinos. Formalizing the joint venture are WIT chief operating officer Joseph Maddatu (left) and Eguchi president Katsuyoshi Eguchi.

Performing Michael Buble’s version of ‘Come Fly With Me’

Jose Mari Chan serenades the audience

Bituin Escalante performs jazz supers ‘Summertime’ and ‘Misty’

Christian Bautista sings an original – ‘Two Forevers’ – performed for the first time with a full orchestra

BPO employment to reach 1.2m

By Othel V. Campos EMPLOYMENT in information technology, contact centers and related companies is expected to hit 1.2 million by the of 2015, the Information Technology and Business Process Association of the Philippines said over the weekend.

“It is possible for the industry to increase employment extensively. If that happens, we just need to catch up by a mere 100,000 to hit the target of 1.3 million employed by the industry in

2016,” IT-BPAP president Jose Mari Mercado said.

The industry currently employs about a million people, with contact centers contributing 700,000 direct employees.

Contact centers will remain the single biggest contributor to the employment as the IT-BPM sector expects as much as 18 percent growth in 2015.

Mercado reiterated the industry was on track to generate $25 billion in revenue by 2016.

He said the association

was expecting more traffic within the next two years with the increasing share of more value-added services other than voice despite an already huge base.

Services in some areas where services are still unsaturated, leaving room for growth in back office space, finance and accounting services as well as healthcare, he added.

Contact centers dominate the industry with revenues of $11 billion in 2014 and growing 30 percent annually.

MONDAY: OCTOBER 5, 2015

B6

BUSINESS business@manilastandardtoday.com extrastory2000@gmail.com

Japan’s Sumitomo investing P3b

By Othel V. Campos

Republic of the Philippines

PROVINCIAL GOVERNMENT OF ORIENTAL MINDORO C a mi lm il, Calapan City 5200, Or iental M indor o

BIDS AND AWARDS COMMITTEE

INVITATION TO BID IB No. GS-2015-168 -169

The Provincial Gove rnme n t o f O rie n t a l Min d o ro in v it e s P h ilG e p s re g is t e r e d s u p p l i e r s D e a l e r s / D i s t r i b u t o r s / I m p o r t e r s) to A p p ly f o r E lig ib ilit y a n d t o B id f o r t h e h e re u n d e r l i s t o f i t e m / s .

Item/De s c riptio n

Ap p r o v e d Bu d g e t fo r th e Co n tr a c t (ABC)

Bi d Do c u m e n t Fee

Source of Funding

1. S upply a n d d e livery o fC o n s t r u c t i o n Equipment for use of Provincial Governemnt of Oriental Mindoro a . Tr a c t o r D o z e r, D 6 5 - A b . E L F, 6 W h e e l e r, 2 To n s B o o m Tr u c k , C / W TA D A N O 2 . 9 3 To n Crane, 4 Sec boom, 6 Stud Engine - 4BDI

6,000,000.00

P h p 10 , 00 0 . 0 0

20% D eve l o p m e n t Fu n d

2 . S upply a n d d e livery o fC o n s t r u c t i o n Equipment for use of Provincial Governemnt of Oriental Mindoro

3,000,000.00

Php 5,000.00

G e n e r a l Fu n d

a . R o a d G r a d e r, G D 31 - 3 H The s c h e d u l e o f b i d d i n g a c ti v i ti e s i s a s fo l l o ws : 1. Advertisement/Posting of ITB Ø B ulletin Board of the PGOM Ø P GOM Website Ø P hilGEPS Website Ø N ewspaper of General Nationwide Circulation 2. Issuance of Bidding Documents 3. Pre-Bid Conference 4. Deadline of Submission of Bids 5. Opening of Bid in sealed envelope a).Eligibility Requirements and Technical Proposal b).Financial Proposal

: : : : : : :

O c tober O c tober O c tober O c tober O c tober O c tober O c tober

5,2015 5,2015 5,2015 5,2015 0 8 -27, 2015 15, 2015 at 10:00 a.m. at BAC Office 27, 2015 at 1:3 0 p.m. at BAC Office

: :

O c tober 27, 2015 at 2:00 pm at BAC Office O c tober 27, 2015 at 2:00 pm BAC Office

Bidding will b e conducted th ro u g h o p e n c o mp e t it iv e b id d in g p ro c e d u re s u s i n g n o n - d i s c r e t i o n a r y pass/fail criterion a s specifie d in R. A . 9 1 8 4 a n d it s I RR o t h e rwis e k no w n a s t h e G o v e r n m e n t Pr ocur e ment Re form A ct.

The comple te set of bid d ing d o c u me n t s ma y b e p u rc h a s e d a t t h e B A C Se c r e t a r i a t u p o n p a y m e n t of non-refu n d a b le p rice o f b id d o c u me n t s in d ic a t e d a b o v e .

Pr e- Bid Confe rence shall be o p e n e d t o a ll in t e re s t e d p a rt ie s , h o we v e r o nl y t h o s e w h o p u r c h a s e d the Biddin g Do cume n ts ma y p a rt ic ip a t e in t h e d is c u s s io n a t s a id c o n f e ren c e .

All particu lars rela tive to e lig ib ilit y re q u ire me n t s a n d s c re e n in g , b id s e c u r i t y , p e r f o r m a n c e secur i ty, pre -bid confe rence , e v a lu a t io n o f b id s , p o s t q u a lif ic a t io n a n d a w a r d o f c o n t r a c t s h a l l b e gover ned by th e pro visio n of R. A . 9 1 8 4 a n d it s I RR. The PGOM rese rve s the rig h t t o a c c e p t o r re je c t b id t o a n n u l b id d in g p r o c e s s , a n d t o r e j e c t a l l bids at anytime prior to cont ra c t a wa rd wit h o u t t h e re b y in c u rrin g a n y l i a b i l i t y t o t h e a f f e c t e d bidder o r b idders.

For fur ther in formation, ple a s e re f e r t o : M R . JULIO R. ICAL H ead, B A C S ecreta ria t Pr ovi ncia l Ca p ito l, Ca milmil, Ca la p a n Cit y Tel. ( 043) 286-7 1 2 0 ( 043 ) 2 8 6 -7447 (TS-O C T. 5 , 2015)

( S g d .) E NG R . E L M E R V . D I L A Y P ro v i n c i a l E n g i n e e r BA C C h a i r m a n

Republic of the Philippines COMMISSION ON AUDIT Regional Office No. 1 BIDS AND AWARDS COMMITTEE Invitation to Bid for Renovation and Improvement of the Gymnasium at COA Regional Office No. I, San Fernando City, La Union 1.

The Commission on Audit, Regional Office No. 1, San Fernando City, La Union, through the Commission on Audit Funds, intends to apply the sum of Php 6,741,075.41 being the Approved Budget for the Contract (ABC) to payments under the contract for Renovation and Improvement of the Gymnasium at COA Regional Office No. 1, San Fernando City, La Union. Bids received in excess of the ABC shall be automatically rejected at bid opening.

2.

The Commission on Audit, Regional Office No. 1, San Fernando City, La Union, now invites bids for Renovation and Improvement of the Gymnasium at COA Regional Office No. 1, San Fernando City, La Union. Completion of the Wok is required within 150 calendar days. Bidders should have completed a contract similar to the project. The description of an eligible bidder is contained in the Bidding Documents, particularly, in Section II. Instruction to Bidders.

3.

Bidding will be conducted through open competitive bidding procedures using non-discretionary pass/fail criterion as specified in the Revised Implementing Rules and Regulations (IRR) of Republic Act 9184 (RA 9184), otherwise known as the “Government Procurement Reform Act”.

Bidding is restricted to Filipino citizen/sole proprietorships, partnerships or organizations with at least seventy five percent (75%) interest or outstanding capital stock belonging to citizens of the Philippines.

4.

Interested bidders may obtain further information from the COA, Regional Office No. 1, San Fernando City, La Union and inspect the Bidding Documents at the address give below from 8:00 A.M. to 5:00 P.M.

5.

A complete set of Bidding Documents may be purchased by interested Bidders from the address below and upon payment of a non-refundable fee for the Bidding Documents in the amount of Php 10,000.00.

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

6.

The Commission on Audit, Regional Office No. 1, San Fernando City, La Union will hold a Pre-Bid Conference on 10:00 A.M., October 22, 2015 at 2nd Floor Conference Room, COA Regional Office No. 1, San Fernando City, La Union, which shall be open only to all interested parties who have purchased the Bidding Documents.

7.

Bids must be delivered to the address below on or before 10:00 A.M., November 3, 2015 at COA Regional Office No. 1, 2nd Floor Conference Room, San Fernando City, La union. All bids must be accompanied by a bid security in any of the acceptable forms and in the amount stated in ITB Clause 18.

Bids will be open in the presence of the bidders’ representatives who choose to attend at the address below. Late bids shall not be accepted.

8.

The Commission on Audit, Regional Office No. 1, San Fernando City, La Union reserves the right to accept or reject any bid, to annul the bidding process and to reject all bids at any time prior to contract award, without thereby incurring any liability to the affected bidder or bidders.

9.

For further information, please refer to: TERESITA M. CABILADAS Head, BAC Secretariat COA Regional Office No. 1,San Fernando City, La Union Telephone Number :(072) 888-6781\888-5780

( T S - O C T, 5 , 2 015 )

(SGD) ORLANDO G. SOCO BAC Chairman

FIRST Sumiden Circuits Inc., a unit of Japan’s Sumitomo Corp., is investing P3 billion in Laguna province to manufacture and export printed circuits boards, the Philippine Economic Zone Authority said over the weekend.

Peza said the board already approved the company’s application for tax incentives.

“Sumiden’s investment is one of the bigger expansion projects we have approved lately. Most of the projects approved by the Peza board are more of the expansion type of projects,” Peza director general Lilia De Lima said.

PCB, which consists of a board base to support and wire the surface-mounted and socketed components in most electronics, is a $60-billion industry, globally.

First Sumiden, a whollyowned unit of Sumitomo Electric Industries Inc., is the Philippines’ first manufacturer and exporter of flexible printed circuits and established flip-chip and surface mounting on FPC

in 1996.

The company employs 2,042 workers and has annual exports of $118 million.

It is currently on expansion mode and announce job vacancies for dozens of engineers.

First Sumiden is expanding its facility at the Light Industry & Science Park in Cabuyao, Laguna to accommodate the new electronics manufacturing line.

First Sumiden is an integrated management system certified company and a recipient of various awards such as the 2009 Glorious Excellent Company in the Sumitomo Electric Group and Philippine Quality Award (Proficiency In Quality Management in 2004, Mastery in Quality Management in 2006).

Global demand for electronics have picked up recently.

Data from the Philippine Statistics Authority show that the country’s electronic exports rose 9 percent to $16.3 billion in the first seven months from $14.9 billion a year ago.

Electronics shipments, accounting for two-fifths of total exports, jumped 34.6 percent in July to $2.818 billion from $2.093 billion registered in July 2014.

Semiconductors alone grew 55 percent to $2.247 billion in July 2015 from $1.450 billion in July 2014.

The Semiconductor and Electronics Industries in the Philippines, however, predicted a slower growth, as demand from major trading partners such as China remained sluggish.

SEIPI recently reduced its 2015 growth target to a range of 0 percent to 7 percent, from the initial estimate of 5 percent to 7 percent.

SEIPI president Dan Lachica said the soft demand in China, the United States and Japan could affect Philippine electronics exports.

Ranking Philippine universities Local requirements rather A RECENT global unithan global promotion versity ranking system put Ok, lets talk about employfour Philippine universities, er reputation: for the average including De La Salle Unilocal companies, what would versity, in the spotlight. As MARC BAUTISTA be the schools they are willa product of three of these ing to look at? Isn’t that more four universities, I feel a important? As far as I know, sense of pride knowing that there are other local schools these universities have acquired global distinction based on this particular and universities aside from the top 4 in the global rankings that are cranking out graduates who are as qualified ranking system. for the local jobs. In fact, the BPO companies are getting How useful are these rankings?

However, the question is how useful are these rank- good value for money, hiring graduates aside from the ings for Filipinos? Let’s take a look at the indicators said top 4 universities as well, so clearly there’s someused (based on news reports on the QS World Uni- thing going on locally that’s being missed out on if one versity Rankings): academic reputation (40 percent), only concentrates on global rankings per se.

On the whole, graduates of these local schools and employer reputation (10 percent), faculty student ratio (20 percent), citations per faculty (20 percent), universities outside of the global 4 may be getting international students (5 percent), and international world-class education but are not getting the recognition that they deserve simply because their instifaculty (5 percent).

Now remember that this is a world university tutions have focused on local requirements rather ranking system, so the operative idea here is “global.” than global promotion. These graduates should walk Thus, when it talks about reputation as an indicator, around proud of their accomplishments and that of the sense is global reputation, i.e. global academic their academic institution and should pay no mind to reputation and global employer reputation, which ac- the global ranking.

A Philippine ranking system count for 50 percent of the weights. Add in the weight I think it’s high time that a Philippine ranking usfor international students and international faculty at 5 percent each, that’s a whopping 60 percent of the ing useful local indicators be set-up to guide Filipino weights for international positioning. Now, how use- students as to what local universities/schools to get ful is that for local students and local employers? into. Such a ranking system can also give local emMy sense is that these indicators do not address the ployers a benchmark for hiring and would serve as needs of Filipino students and employers per se but a feedback mechanism for schools and universities participating in the benchmarking exercise. Otherare geared for something else. wise, the existing global ranking system doesn’t serve Mandates vs. rankings Let’s take a look at the local schools and univer- anybody, except maybe the Filipino elite who are sities and their mandates versus this global ranking thinking about studying in foreign universities.

Maybe that’s just it, isn’t it? Perhaps this global system. So how are these local universities supposed to compete to gain good global academic reputa- ranking is a sort of global marketing and recruittions? Or for that matter, get good global recognition ment gimmick of internationally-minded universiamong employers? Well, they must be international ties? Well, that might have some importance, I must in the first place, marketing their university globally, admit, but in terms of the needs of Filipino students, aggressively pursuing international students and fac- employers, and schools, I don’t think that’s of priulty, and pushing for recognition among global em- mary importance locally. It might be time to roll out ployers. Does that make sense to these universities in a local ranking system then, to suit very pressing lothe first place when they are here with a particular set cal needs. of mandates in mind.

Marc Bautista, CFA is AVP/Head of Research at MeWhere does the Lasallian mission fit into these global indicators? It’s not there because that’s not trobank and teaches some of the core courses under the important to global rankings although it’s important MS Computational Finance Program of the Ramon V. to Lasallian schools. Or how about giving Christian del Rosario College of Business, De La Salle University. formation and humanistic education to Filipino stu- He can be reached at marcbautista@gmail.com. dents, which would be the mission of Catholic schools The views expressed above are the author’s and do and universities locally? Well, there are no points for that as well for the global rankings although that’s im- not necessarily reflect the official position of De La Salle University, its faculty, and its administrators. portant for Philippine society.

GREEN LIGHT

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

WORLD

CESAR BARRIOQUINTO EDITOR

editorial@thestandard.com.ph

Asia’s top 100 films honored

by Busan BUSAN, South Korea—A new list of the best Asian films of all time was published this week, as the region’s increasingly vibrant cinema scene celebrated another bonanza in Busan.

The 20th anniversary of the Busan International Film Festival, in South Korea, marked its milestone with a poll of noted Asian filmmakers and international critics of Asian film, who were all asked for their top ten.

Oscar front-runner Hou Hsiao-Hsien said the release of the “Asian Cinema 100” was a reminder to fellow filmmakers of their obligation to “seek the truth.”

“Sometimes as a filmmaker you have to show things that people don’t want to see,” said the Taiwanese director.

Hou’s breakthrough work “A City Of Sadness” was ranked fifth-best of all time on a list that was topped by Japanese master auteur Yasujiro Ozu’s seminal family drama “Tokyo Story” from 1953.

Hou’s new film, atmospheric martial arts epic “The Assassin”, which he has brought to Busan, is among the early critics’ favourites for this year’s Best Foreign Film Oscar after last week picking up 11 nominations for the Golden Horse Awards, the most prestigious given to Chineselanguage films.

But its mood and mysticism are a far cry from the harsh realities of Taiwanese history portrayed in “A City Of Sadness”, which follows the destruction of a family under the “White Terror” campaign instigated when martial law was imposed across the island in the late 1940s.

It is widely acknowledged that the film was the first to confront this dark period of the island’s past and “A City Of Sadness” was a major critical success, winning the island nation its first Golden Bear award from the Venice Film Festival.

“If it had not been for the awards overseas it would not have been screened in Taiwan,” said 68-year-old Hou when asked how he remembers the film. AFP

B7

Island in Greece battles mountain of lifejackets MYTILENE, Greece—For the thousands of refugees and migrants landing on its beaches every day, Greece’s Lesbos island is a step to safety and a brighter future in Europe.

Operation Smile. V host Brooke Burke-Charvet attends Operation Smile’s 2015 Smile Gala at the Beverly Wilshire Four Seasons Hotel on Oct. 2, 2015, in Beverly Hills, California. AFP

But the continent’s biggest migration challenge since World War II is now presenting an unexpected environmental headache: what to do with the vast heaps of life jackets and inflatable boats left behind by the arrivals?

On the beach of Skala Sikaminias on Lesbos’ northern coast, a key landing point for migrants, a group of municipal employees are loading discarded jackets and dinghies on a truck.

“We’ve barely finished when it’s time to start all over again,” sighs Yiorgos Katsanos, the deputy mayor in charge of waste management.

The city has mobilized 12 additional staff to handle the overload and sends two trucks and a crane to clear the beaches every day.

For the time being, the thousands of life vests and boats are deposited at a dump further north. Until a permanent decision on what to do with it emerges, they’re being left there.

The municipal vehicles can only access areas served by roads, and there are plenty of inaccessible coves littered with debris.

“With materials such as these, the only solution is recycling,” says Katsanos.

The plastic “could be used to make water tanks” to be used in fire-fighting, he notes.

“But we have not found a company prepared to undertake this job,” he adds.

To some of the reporters and volunteers who gather on the beach each day to

greet the arrivals, a lifejacket can be a kind of trophy.

Some have even ended up on Internet auction website eBay, “allegedly to finance humanitarian operations”, says Katsanos.

“If only they actually saved lives. But no, they’re junk” hastily made in Turkey or cheaply ordered from China, the deputy mayor adds.

“They were really flimsy, not very solid at all,” says Sajjad, a 22-year-old Afghan who paid seven euros ($7.8) for his own life vest in Turkey.

As in the case of his fellow travelers, he discarded it as soon as he set foot on the island.

Sajjad said he was grateful he never actually had to use the vest, as he cannot swim.

More than half a million people have reached Europe via the Mediterranean this year—including over 310,000 landing in Greece, figures from the UN refugee agency show. AFP

Republic of the Philippines Department of Transportation and Communications LAND TRANSPORTATION OFFICE Region 1 San Fernando City, La Union InvItatIon to BId For the Procurement of Security Services covering the Period January 01, 2016 to December 31, 2016 of Land Transportation Office-Region 1 1.

2.

The Land Transportation Office –Region 1, through the Fund 101 FY 2016 intends to apply the sum of Seven Million Seven Hundred Four Thousand Eight Hundred Four Pesos & 00/100 (P7,704,804.00) being the Approved Budget for the Contract (ABC) to payments under the contract for the Procurement of Security Services covering the period January 01, 2016 to December 31, 2016. Bids received in excess of the ABC shall be automatically rejected at bid opening.

The Land Transportation Office-Region 1 now invites bids for the Procurement of Security Services covering the period January 01, 2016 to December 31, 2016. Bidders should have completed, within two (2) years from the date of submission and receipt of bids, a contract similar to the Project. The description of an eligible bidder is contained in the Bidding Documents, particularly, in Section II. Instructions to Bidders. (i) Bidding will be conducted through open competitive bidding procedures using a nondiscretionary “pass/fail” criterion as specified in the Implementing Rules and Regulations (IRR) of Republic Act (RA) 9184, otherwise known as the “Government Procurement Reform Act”. Bidding is restricted to Filipino citizens/sole proprietorships, partnerships, or organizations with at least sixty percent (60%) interest or outstanding capital stock belonging to citizens of the Philippines, and to citizens or organizations of a country the laws or regulations of which grant similar rights or privileges to Filipino citizens, pursuant to RA 5183 and subject to Commonwealth Act 138.

The Bidding Requirements and Schedule of Activities are as follows: Project Reference Number – LTOR1-2015-002 Approved Budget for the Contract – P 7,704,804.00 Advertisement/Posting of Invitation to Bid – October 02-09, 2015 Issuance and Availability of Bidding Documents – October 02, 2015 to October 27, 2015 Pre-bid Conference – October 15, 2015 @ 9:00 A.M. Deadline for the Submission of Bids – October 27, 2015 @ 8:00 A.M. Opening of Bids – October 27, 2015 @ 9:00 A.M. Bid Evaluation – October 29, 2015 Post Qualification – October 30, 2015 to November 05, 2015 Approval of Resolution– Nov. 06, 2015 Issuance of Notice of Award – November 13, 2015 Contract Preparation and signing – November 20, 2015 Approval of Contract – November 23,2015 Notice to Proceed – November 25, 2015 Cost of Bidding Documents – P10,000.00 3.

BIDS AND AWARDS COMMITTEE – HEAD OFFICE INVITATION TO BID 1.

The Land Transportation Office-Region 1 will hold a Pre-Bid Conference on October 15, 2015 at 9:00 A.M. at the Regional Office Conference Room, which shall be open only to all interested parties who have purchased the Bidding Documents.

5.

Bids must be delivered to the address below on or before October 27, 2015 at 8:00 A.M. All Bids must be accompanied by a bid security in any of the acceptable forms and in the amount stated in ITB Clause 18.

One (1) Lot – Test Environment – Network Perimeter – Bluecoat Web Security and Content Filtering System, as per BSP Terms of Reference

Approved Budget for the Contract (ABC)

Php6,910,000.00, VAT Inclusive

Delivery Period

Within 120 calendar days to commence from the date stipulated in the Notice to Proceed to be issued

by ITIOD.

Bidders should have completed from Y2010 to present a contract similar to the requirement. The Eligibility Check/Screening and Preliminary Examination of Bids shall use non-discretionary “pass/fail” criteria.

3.

Bidding is restricted to Filipino citizens/sole proprietorships, partnerships, or organizations with at least sixty percent (60%) interest or outstanding capital stock belonging to citizens of the Philippines, and to citizens or organizations of a country, the laws or regulations of which grant similar right or privileges to Filipino citizens.

4.

All particulars and activities relative to Eligibility of Bidder’s, Bid Security, Performance Security, Pre-bid Conference(s), Evaluation of Bids, Post-qualification and Award of Contract shall be governed by Republic Act No. 9184 and its revised Implementing Rules and Regulations (IRR).

Activity Issuance of Documents

A complete set of Bidding Documents may be purchased by interested Bidders starting October 02 to October 27, 2015 (during office hours) from the address below and upon payment of a nonrefundable fee for the Bidding Documents in the amount of Ten Thousand Pesos (10,000.00).

4.

Name of Requirement/ Brief Description

2.

Interested bidders may obtain further information from BAC Secretariat of Land Transportation Office-Region1 and inspect the Bidding Documents at the address given below during office hours from 8:00 A.M. to 5:00 P.M.

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

The Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP), through its Bids and Awards Committee (BAC), invites bidders to apply for eligibility and to bid for the hereunder requirement:

The Land Transportation Office-Region 1 reserves the right to accept or reject any bid, to annul the bidding process, and to reject all bids at any time prior to contract award, without thereby incurring any liability to the affected bidder or bidders.

7.

For further information, please refer to:

The BAC Chairman or BAC Secretariat Land Transportation Office-Regional Office No. 1 Aguila Road, San Fernando City, La Union (072)6073249/(072)6073430/(072)6071826 ltoregion1@yahoo.com

(TS-OCT. 5, 2015)

(SGD) Francis Ray A. Almora, CESO VI BAC Chairman

Bid

Starting 30 September 2015 (from 9:00 A.M. to 2:00 P.M. only)

Pre-bid conference

08 October 2015, 2:00 P.M.

Opening of Bids

21 October 2015; 2:00 P.M.

Venue Procurement Office, Room 212, 2/F, 5-Storey Bldg., BSP Main Complex, Malate, Manila Tel./ Fax Nos. 3062229; 708-7115 MR2A Conference Room, 2nd Floor, 5-Storey Bldg., BSP Main Complex, Malate Manila

5.

The bidding documents are posted at the website of the Philippine Government Electronic Procurement System (PhilGEPS) and the BSP Website (www.bsp.gov.ph).

Prospective bidders may download the bidding documents from any of these websites; provided that bidders shall pay a non-refundable fee in the amount of Php10,000.00, at the address above prior to, or upon submission of their bids.

6.

The pre-bid conference shall be open to interested parties. However, only those who have purchased the bidding documents shall be allowed to participate in the pre-bid conference and raise or submit written queries or clarifications. To ensure completeness and compliance of bids, bidders are advised to send not more than two (2) technical and/or administrative representatives who will prepare the bidding documents.

7.

The BSP assumes no responsibility whatsoever to compensate or indemnify any bidder for expenses incurred in the preparation of bid.

8.

The BSP reserves the right to reject any bid, declare a failure of bidding, not award the contract, annul the bidding process and reject all bids at any time prior to award of contract, without thereby incurring any liability to affected bidders. Further, the BSP reserves the right to waive any minor defects or formality and to accept the proposal most advantageous to the agency.

Bid opening shall be on October 27, 2015 at 9:00 A.M. at the Regional Office Conference Room.

Bids will be opened in the presence of the Bidders’ representatives who choose to attend at the address below. Late bids shall not be accepted.

6.

Schedule

(SGD) SILVINA Q. MAMARIL-ROXAS Chairperson ( T S - O C T, 5 , 2 015 )

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

B8

CEsAR BARRiOquiNTO EDITOR

editorial@thestandard.com.ph

world

Synod on the family. Pope Francis leads a mass for the opening of the synod on the family on Oct. 4, 2015, at St Peter’s basilica in the Vatican. Francis opened a gathering of bishops intended to review Catholic teaching on the family against a backdrop of controversy over homosexuality. The church’s second synod on the family opened in a tense atmosphere the day after a senior priest announced he was gay and accused the Vatican of “institutionalized homophobia.” AFP

Probe of air strike promised US southeast battered by heavy downpours

KABUL—President Barack Obama has promised a full investigation into an apparent US air strike on an Afghan hospital that killed 19 people, a bombing that the UN said could amount to a war crime.

CHARLESTON—Relentless rain left large areas of the US southeast under water Saturday and forecasters warned that more heavy downpours could trigger historic flooding in the crucial next 24 hours.

The states of North and South Carolina have been particularly hard hit, but the driving rain in recent days has spared almost none of the US East Coast and forecasters say the worst is not over quite yet.

Experts say it is a separate weather system from Hurricane Joaquin, a powerful Category Four storm that battered the Bahamas, destroying homes, and was threatening to do much the same to Bermuda.

South Carolina Governor

Doctors Without Borders said patients burned to death in their beds during a raid that continued for more than an hour early Saturday, even after US and Afghan authorities were informed the hospital had been hit.

“Twelve staff members and at least seven patients, including three children, were killed; 37 people were injured,” the charity said. “This attack is abhorrent and a grave violation of international law.”

The air raid came days after Taliban fighters seized control of the strategic northern city of Kunduz, in their most spectacular victory since being toppled from power by a US-led coalition in 2001.

Afghan forces, backed up by their NATO allies, claimed to have

Nikki Haley has warned of the possibility of record-setting rainfall over the weekend and President Barack Obama on Saturday issued an emergency declaration for the state, ordering federal aid for areas affected by flooding.

Some streets were submerged in the historic old town of Charleston, South Carolina, an AFP reporter said.

Most of the restaurants and bars were closed because of the rising water.

“We are used to flooding in the area but this is extraordinary,” said police sergeant Edwin Graceley.

John and Merroli Haas, tourists from Kansas, took shelter from the heavy rain under the old market hall. AFP

wrestled back control of the city.

But the defense ministry in Kabul said “a group of armed terrorists... were using the hospital building as a position to target Afghan forces and civilians”.

MSF has denied any combatants were in the hospital.

The charity said that despite frantic calls to military officials in Kabul and Washington, the main building housing the intensive care unit and emergency rooms was “repeatedly, very precisely” hit almost every 15 minutes for more than an hour.

“The bombs hit and then we heard the plane circle round,” said Heman Nagarathnam, MSF’s head of programs in northern Afghanistan.

“There was a pause, and then

more bombs hit. This happened again and again. When I made it out from the office, the main hospital building was engulfed in flames.

“Those people that could had moved quickly to the building’s two bunkers to seek safety. But patients who were unable to escape burned to death as they lay in their beds.”

US President Barack Obama offered his “deepest condolences” for what he called a “tragic incident”.

“The Department of Defense has launched a full investigation, and we will await the results of that inquiry before making a definitive judgment as to the circumstances of this tragedy,” Obama said in a statement.

NATO earlier conceded US forces may have been behind the bombing, after its forces launched a strike which they said was intended to target militants.

“The strike may have resulted in collateral damage to a nearby medical facility. This incident is under investigation,” a statement said. AFP

Israel bans Palestinians from Old City JERUSALEM—Israel took the rare and drastic step of barring Palestinians from Jerusalem’s Old City on Sunday as tensions mounted following attacks that killed two Israelis and wounded a child.

The restrictions will be in place for two days, with only Israelis, tourists, residents of the area, business owners and students allowed, police said.

Worship at the sensitive Al-Aqsa mosque compound will be restricted to Old City residents and Arab Israelis, and limited to men aged 50 and above. There will be no age

restrictions on women. They will be allowed to enter through one specific gate.

The usually bustling alleyways of the walled Old City were mostly quiet on Sunday morning, with stores closed and hundreds of police guarding entrances.

A group of around 50 women as well as several men protested outside a gate before demonstrating inside the neighborhood, where they were blocked by police. Police later fired stun grenades and rubber bullets to disperse protesters at the gate, an AFP journalist reported.

Some 300,000 Palestinians live in Israeli-annexed east Jerusalem, where the Old City is located.

Saturday’s attacks came with Israeli security forces already on alert after recent clashes at the AlAqsa compound and surrounding Old City, as well as the murder in the West Bank of a Jewish settler couple in front of their young children.

On Saturday night, a Palestinian said to be an Islamist militant killed two Israeli men and wounded a woman and a toddler in a knife and gun attack in the Old City. Police shot dead the attacker. AFP

Benefit festival. People lift their smartphones during the ‘Voices

of Refugees’ benefit festival organized to support refugees at the Heldenplatz in Vienna on Oct. 3, 2015. A rally in support of the migrants fleeing the Syrian conflict and other hardships drew tens of thousands to Vienna on Oct. 3, 2015, organizers and police said. Saturday evening was to see further festivities in the form of “solidarity concerts,”capped with a speech by President Heinz Fischer. AFP

M O N D AY : O C T O B E R 5 : 2 0 1 5

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TATUM ANCHETA EDITOR

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

BERNADETTE LUNAS

life @ thestandard.com .ph

WRITER

@LIFEatStandard

E AT, DRINK , T R AV EL

LIFE

The Pantry’s bar area that boasts of their signature cocktails

The entrance of The Pantry welcome guests with an array of exquisite teas

The salad bar

A PEEK INSIDE THE PANTRY

Dusit Thani Manila’s all-day dining restaurant PHOTOS BY SONNY ESPIRITU AND DUSIT THANI MANILA

One of the highlights of The Pantry is their lechon roasted in a glassed enclosed pit where people can watch while it roasts away before it is served on the carving station

For the meat lover- aside from the lechon, the carving station serves chopped pork, chicken and baby back ribs

Get to choose your own topping for your ice cream

Indulge in candy colored chocolate lollipops by the dessert station

The seafood selection

E

veryone likes to hear the words “all you can eat” and “buffet,” especially us Filipinos. Well, there’s a new all-day dining restaurant in town and the contemporary and trendy atmosphere makes the place very comforting and welcoming to dine in compared to other buffet restaurants around Makati.

Dusit Thani Manila’s The Pantry is the newest restaurant of the hotel. It is part of Dusit Thani’s renovation, which includes a complete 360-degree facelift of the façade as well as refurbishment of all the rooms, and set to be completed by the first quarter of 2016. The restaurant boasts of a farm-tofork dining concept that is evident in the dishes as well as the interiors. For sure, the hipster or Millennial in you will like the artisanal vibe of the place where formal meets informal.

“Our vision for The Pantry is to bring our guests to the forefront of fine dining.

Dusit Thani Manila is uniting luxury and sustainability and we are mixing it with a fun and lively atmosphere,” said Bruno Cristol, general manager of Dusit Thani Manila. Coming from the exquisite lobby of Dusit, as you turn to your right you will feel a certain invigorating energy from the vibrant colors greeting you as you walk inside the restaurant. Complementing the hip interior are the friendly servers donning denim with leather strap aprons ready to serve their guests.

The Pantry is headed by Chef Nicholas Issel – his experience and expertise in launching new concept restaurants, revamping banquet kits and rebranding restaurants helped in creating the newest offering of Dusit’s F&B. The 280-seater restaurant is sectioned into nine global interactive stations that feature Mediterranean, Spanish, Portuguese, Filipino, Indian, Italian and Chinese cuisine. Ingredients are sourced from local farmers including the fresh vegetables

The tempting dessert station displays an array of pralines, Cozy and inviting tables and chairs- choose where you chocolate coated strawberries, cakes and other sweets. want to sit and enjoy the buffet.

from the salad station that come regularly from Tagaytay.

When you head to The Pantry be prepared because you might need to loosen your belt a bit. Welcoming as you enter is the delectable dessert station that displays mouth watering candies, pralines, chocolates, cakes, and the crowd’s favorite – strawberries dipped in white or dark chocolate. Walk a few more steps and you can choose your own ice cream flavor and add any toppings that you like on top. But hey, dessert is supposed to be reserved last, so make sure you turn first to the salad station and get yourself some produce fresh from the market. Doing so however might make you think twice about heading for the greens because right smack in the center is a glass enclosed lechon rotisserie that might make anyone forget about his diet.

The carving station is one of the highlights of the buffet as it serves the lechon fresh from the roast together with slices of pork, chicken and baby back ribs with meat that fall off the bones because they are so tender. The seafood station is not to be missed, as it might be the last stop you will visit at the back. Ask the chefs behind the station to mix up a spicy seafood bowl with curacha crabs, lobsters, shrimps, mussels, crab claws and clams.

For sure, the seafood station will make you forget that there’s still tomorrow. There’s

also a pasta station by the corner where you can have pasta dishes freshly cooked and prepared as you sample different pizzas from the oven. Also worthy of mention is the Grab & Go station, a takeaway counter for people on the go.

Finish your feast by The Pantry bar and taste its signature cocktail creations like the rosemary infused rum, lychee martini, Dilmah tea cocktails, and a luscious martini fashioned from Godiva chocolates.

The buffet is inclusive of coffee, tea and chilled juices and will cost P1,450 around breakfast; lunch on Mondays to Fridays is P1,850 and P2,300 on weekends. For dinner Mondays to Thursdays, the price is around P2,100 while Fridays and Saturdays would cost about P2,350, then lowers to P1,900 every Sunday. If you are picky or have special dietary needs, food allergies and dining restrictions, you may opt for the a la carte offerings.

Its successful launch last September 19 marks The Pantry as the newest and hippest buffet station in the area as more than 300 influential people including celebrities, ambassadors, and diplomats attended the event.

For more information about The Pantry, follow it on Facebook and @the_pantry_ dtmn on Twitter and Instagram. For inquiries and reservations, please call +63 (2) 238 8888.

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M ONDAY : OCTOB ER 5 : 2015

LIFE life @ thestandard.com .ph

@LIFEatStandard

Weihenstephaner and Paulaner beers

OKTOBERFEST AT CITY OF DREAMS MANILA

A

month full of revelry awaits patrons of the City of Dreams Manila this October with beer samplings from around the world and rich cuisine from various countries in celebration of Germany’s Oktoberfest.

The new integrated resorts casino kicks off celebrations on October 8 and 10 with “Prost!” – an event that will transform The Café into a holiday pub overflowing with beer, bar chow and music from the renowned oompah show band Die Dorf Fest Kapelle. In the best Bavarian Oktoberfest tradition, the oompah band will perform on an elevated stage with Bavarian blue and white banners streaming from The Café’s high ceiling. Steins brimming with imported brews will be held aloft as merrymakers call for a toast, with the revelry made even more cheerful as they relish traditional German dishes prepared

by The Café’s chefs led by German-born Executive Chef Michael Luedtke.

“Prost!” tickets are priced at P2,388 net, which includes a dinner buffet, free-flowing beer and seats at The Café’s Oktoberfest tent area. As there is limited seating, advance reservations are recommended. For more information, call +63 2 691 1234 ext. 1149, or visit codmanilahyatt.com.

For the whole of October, diners at CenterPlay can enjoy a special Oktoberfest menu featuring 38 beers from around the world, including Weihenstephaner Oktoberfest, offered at special prices ranging from P170 to P480++. Guests can also enjoy beer paddles, a wide selection of beers chosen daily by the bartender, Oktoberfest delicacies that include German pretzels, Nuremberg sausages with all the condiments, and braised pork hock sliders.

Regular nightly entertainment will be held from 6 p.m. onwards.

On October 17, City of Dreams Manila presents O’Fest with 43 free-flowing beers from 14 different countries.The libations will be paired with a mouthwatering buffet featuring six different styles of suckling pig, including the native lechón and lechón Cebu. Other treats will include schweinsbraten mit dunkel (dark beerbasted roast suckling pig), cochinillo asado and a variety of sausages.

Doors to City of Dreams Manila’s Grand Ballroom will open at 7 p.m. The program will include performances by Sabor Latino and Sassy Girls, as well as local acts such as Night Train, Dream Girls and the homegrown all-female singing group Dream Sirens. The night will also feature the culmination of a previously announced “Battle of the Bands.” Raffle prizes will

Live Stations at O'Fest

also be given away during the evening, including round-trip tickets to Europe for two, courtesy of Qatar Airways.

Tickets for “O’Fest” are priced at PHP 5,000 net per person. For inquiries and reservations, guests may call City of Dreams Manila at +63 2 800 8080.

Say ‘cheese!’ with Gardenia’s yummy new treats A ‘FRESH’ LOOK FOR PAN DE MANILA

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omething fresh is baking at Pan de Manila and it’s not only the piping hot pandesal baked every hour.

Everybody’s favorite bread chain is sporting a new look in its new outlets such as the one located in Market! Market! in Taguig.

The ‘new’ Pan de Manila is no longer just a place to buy breads, spreads and other products but a place where one can enjoy a hot cup of coffee with pandesal or ensaymada.

From a typical community bakery-style that evokes the images of Old Manila, Pan de Manila now carries a youthful vibe with bright interiors and an added café corner with table ledges, stools and chairs.

Whitewashed walls and shelves adorned with special accents give the new interior a more modern and breezy look. The youthful color scheme of red, orange, with blue and yellow is sure to brighten up anyone’s day, whether you are an office worker or a senior who just wants to sit back and enjoy the freshly-baked goodies and hot drinks.

“The interior design upgrade of Pan de Manila is an answer to the clamor of our customers who want to enjoy their breads and hot drinks immediately,” said Mari Sebastian, marketing manager of Pan de Manila. “We decided to upgrade our stores especially the ones in the CBD or shopping mall areas to make our outlets more welcoming.”

A striking interior feature is the brightly colored, capiz tapestry adorning the main storefront and the counters. The new store design also allots space for unique Filipino art by established and up-and-coming painters and artists, providing customers a visual treat with posterized artworks depicting various colorful and festive countryside scenes by artists Jovan Benito and Amador Barquilla.

Pan de Manila outlets are located all over Metro Manila, Luzon, Cebu, Bacolod and Iloilo. To keep updated with the latest news and promos, visit its Facebook and Instagram page: pandemanilaofficial.

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lot of cheesy goodness is in every bite of Gardenia’s two new products, Gardenia Cheese Toasties and Gardenia Cheese Buns.

Made from freshly baked bread sprinkled with cheesy goodness and baked to a light golden crisp, Gardenia Cheese Toasties make for a scrumptious snack any time of the day – whether you’re at home, in school, at work, stuck in traffic, watching TV, hanging out with friends or whatever it is you are doing. It’s the perfect answer to junk food cravings because it delivers superior cheese flavor and the satisfying crunch of chips – minus the transfat.

Gardenia Cheese Toasties is handy to keep around at home and easy to bring with you wherever you might be headed. It’s also delish for salads, as an accompaniment to pasta, or dunked in your favorite soup.

Gardenia Cheese Buns on the other hand is the quintessence of Gardenia’s famous tagline: “Masarap… kahit walang palaman.” The buns have that perfect blend of rich cheesy flavor and the sweetness of milk that bring a delightful snacking experience up to the last bite. Baked fresh everyday with the finest ingredients and

transfat free, Gardenia Cheese Buns are deliciously soft, flavorful, and made even more mouthwatering by the milky cheeseflavored streusel toppings that leave you craving for more!

Gardenia Cheese Toasties and Gardenia Cheese Buns are just two more yummy new treats brought to you by Gardenia, the Big Cheese of Baked Goods. For other exciting snack treats, visit gardenia.com.ph.

Follow them on facebook.com/ gardeniaph for updates, promos, and fun events. Gardenia Cheese Toasties and Gardenia Cheese Buns are available at leading supermarkets and convenience stores nationwide.

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LIFE life @ thestandard.com .ph

@LIFEatStandard

STORIES BEHIND FAMOUS COCKTAILS The naming of drinks can be one of the easiest or hardest things about ma k i ng TIPPLE TALES c o c k t a i l s .

The name

BY ICY MARIÑAS can be an inside joke, or based on the spirit or other ingredients, or the color, etc. Sometimes it seems even effortless. And other times, it takes a group effort brainstorming, word association games and several Google searches before a name is settled on. There has to be a certain… oomph.

Something easy to say (you don’t want to mispronounce your order while you’ve already had a few in you), memorable in some way, and adds to the overall drink “package.”

The origins of how classic cocktails came about are shrouded in myth and mystery.

There were no records kept in those days.

Most origin stories were spread by word of mouth, and – as the game “Pass the Message” proves – the original story changes with each retelling. The stories that were retold the most are the ones that we know now.

Conflicting stories and urban legends have emerged over the years to explain where cocktails come from and how they got their names. I’ve done a bit of research behind some of the names of classic cocktails out there. Here are a few with some interesting back stories.

underground and unregulated, it resulted in very poor quality booze. And to mask the awful taste, bartenders added fruit juices and other flavors and were able to offer a range of mixed drinks. Since alcohol was banned, people used “screwdriver” as a code word to mislead federal agents when they ordered drinks (since it just looked like juice). The vodka and orange juice combo quickly became the go-to “screwdriver” and the name stuck.

LONG ISLAND ICED TEA – Looks and sounds innocent, but very lethal.

There are a few theories about how this drink came about.

The interesting, less popular theory is that Long Island housewives c re ate d an innocentl o o k i n g beverage that they could drink in front of their friends and families without being judged. And it wasn’t noticeable that they were drinking a lot because they were just pilfering a single shot from each liquor bottle. Sneaky, yet very effective at giving you a great big buzz.

HARVEY WALLBANGER – Watch SCREWDRIVER – Screw you, Feds! your head

This ve r y straightforward combinat ion of vodka and orange juice has two very different but equally interesting back stories. One story is that oil riggers in the Persian Gulf in the 1950s would mix the two ingredients to take the edge off a long day at work. And that the name of the drink came from what they used to stir it with: the screwdriver!

Another story goes that during the Prohibition, because alcohol was made

The name itself sounds dangerous. Not so much violent as it is a little reckless.

Like this is what you drink when you are having one of those nights when you just want to have a bender and just say, “f#ck it.” Basically a Screwdriver with Galliano (anise) liqueur, this drink packs quite a punch. The story goes that sometime

in the 1960s, there was a surfer named Harvey who wiped out pretty badly in a competition. He then proceeded to get his drink on (allegedly at Pancho’s Bar in Manhattan Beach), ordering a vodka and orange juice with Galliano. It could be because of the alcohol or frustration of losing, but it is said that he banged his head against the wall and the bartender then named the drink the Harvey Wallbanger.

If you’re not careful, you might just bang your head against a wall.

TOM COLLINS – The refreshing hoax

making us feel braindead and zombiefied when we drink this.

SEX ON THE BEACH – Two favorite things in one

Admit it! The first time you (probably you were at least 18-y-o!) ordered a Sex on the Beach cocktail, you were shy and blushing a bit. Maybe it was the first time you said something so naughty in public and to a stranger. The name of this cocktail with vodka, peach schnapps, lime juice and grenadine concoction is said to have started out as a joke made by a bartender in Florida during summer break (circa 1987) for a bartending competition. When asked what the drink was called, he combined the two reasons why people go to Florida during summer and came up with Sex on the Beach.

MOSCOW MULE – Marketing gimmick done right

Next up on the people-named cocktails is the Tom Collins. You’d think this citrusy drink is named after some dude who made a fool of himself or a historical figure but the story is much more interesting than that. It owes its name to a 19th century hoax. In 1874, hundreds of New Yorkers were duped by bartenders into believing that there was a certain Tom Collins who was going around town saying bad things about the citizens of the Big Apple. Naturally, they were quite upset about the whole thing and sought to find the guy ruining their reputations. They were told that this slanderer could be found in another bar. The thing is, there wasn’t really a Tom Collins. The bartenders, with their wicked sense of humor, ran with the joke and made this drink so that when the people looking for Tom Collins asked for him, they would instead find a refreshing drink.

ZOMBIE – Supposed hangover cure. Not.

Invented by Donn Beach, this mixture of three kinds of rum, liqueurs and fruit juices was made to help a customer get over his hangover. Hair of the dog at its best. But the customer came back after a few days saying that the drink made him feel like a zombie all day. Donn then decided to put the drink on his menu, and we can blame him for

Two struggling products come together to unload their slow-moving merchandise and create a cocktail that even Oprah loves.

Smirnoff ’s John G. Martin and Jack Morgan of Cock ‘n’ Bull Products (ginger beer) combined the vodka and ginger beer for the first time in the early 1940s and it was a stroke of “inventive genius.” Morgan’s girlfriend owned a company that made copper mugs and suggested they use that to make the drink stand out. Booze + shiny mug = awesome cocktail combo. Martin went on the road armed with one of the first Polaroid cameras and took photos of bartenders posing with the copper mug and a bottle of Smirnoff. The photos got around and soon, everyone was raring to make the Mule so as not to be left behind in the trend. Sales of Smirnoff had more than tripled by 1950.

There you have it, dear imbibers. Some stories behind our favorite cocktails.

Follow me on Instagram @sanvicentegirl

A PASTA FESTA: Celebrate World Pasta Month with Doña Elena Al Dente

Y FUSILLI (singular fusillo) are long, thick, corkscrewshaped pasta. It is this shape that lets fusilli hold a lot of flavor and sauces.

Available in 250g & 500g packs.

FETTUCCINE is derived from the Italian word fetta, meaning ribbon. This basic noodle provides a better surface for catching sauce. It is often served in Alfredo sauce, a mix of parmesan cheese and butter. Available in 500g pack.

es, there is such a thing as “World Pasta Month.”

The celebration started in Rome in 1995 with the First World Pasta Congress, and countries all over the world have come up with their own festivities since. Just like Oktoberfest where beer is wildly celebrated across countries, World Pasta Month heralds one of our favorite foods – pasta.

Fettuccine, penne rigate, fusilli, spaghetti and lasagna are just a few of the 600 known shapes of pasta that can be enjoyed in different recipes, whether as salad, main course or side dish. This month, Doña Elena Al Dente Pasta celebrates pasta month with Pasta Festa where they will share the taste of Italy to the Filipino home

with its line of Italian artisanal pasta noodles, made of 100 percent durum wheat semolina.

To be held on October 9 at the Main Mall Atrium, SM Mall of Asia, Pasta Festa will feature an Italian Food Fair, reminiscent of walking thru the food streets of Italy. Chef Ben Bernardo of Café Royal & Pasha, along with Chef Roberto Bellini (of the famed

Bellini’s Restaurant in Cubao) will be sharing their favorite recipes in a fun cooking demonstration.

Highlighting the event is the grand finals for the Doña Elena Al Dente Online Pasta Recipe Contest held during the month of September where top five finalists will cook their dishes in front of a live audience. Entries tagged on Instagram and Facebook using

@DonaElenaCuisineraClub with the hashtag #AlDentePastaMonth were eligible to be part of the finals.

If you’re a foodie, be sure not to miss this event. There will also be a pasta eating contest where contestants get to chow down delicious Doña Elena Al Dente Pasta dishes and even win a prize to boot.

Doña Elena Al Dente Pasta is the only authentic Italian Artisan Quality pasta brand in the Philippines. It is crafted with GMO-free ingredients and treated with bronze dies that leave a rough surface on the pasta, helping sauces cling better to the pasta, thus making it more delicious.

For more information, visit them on Facebook at Dona Elena Cuisinera Club.

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LIFE life @ thestandard.com .ph

TPB’s Flower People

@LIFEatStandard

TPB staff transformed themselves into my favorite movie characters

Me and my Minions

This is what you call an electrifying presence

Mad about MICE Before you get the impression that I have some awful r o d e n t infestation MERCURY RISING at home or at the office,

BY BOB ZOZOBRADO let me point out that, in the tourism industry, MICE is not that of the repulsive kind. It is an acronym for its most lucrative component – Meetings, Incentive Travel, Conventions and Exhibitions. In fact, every country in the world is crazy about promoting itself as a MICE destination because it does wonders to the country’s coffers.

Since 2010, MICECON, an international convention promoting the Philippines as a MICE destination, has been hosted by the Tourism Promotions Board (TPB). This corporate body is attached to our Department of Tourism, and is tasked to formulate and implement domestic and international marketing programs for our country.

I attended the recent two-day MICECON 2015 designed to strengthen the educational program for MICE and tourism practitioners in the country by upgrading our capabilities in targeting and handling the market. It tackled such relevant issues as trends, sales and marketing, event management, customer service and tourism development.

This year’s event was held at the cavernous Grand Ballroom of the Marriott, the biggest hotel ballroom in the country, and TPB, as expected, put up a really good show. Not only were the speakers the most illustrious in their respective fields of endeavor, the event theme

was also very colorful, the entertainment spectacular, and the meals were always royal banquets! All the international guests I came in contact with during the convention had nothing but praises for the event, for the people involved in it, the food, the warmth and hospitality of our countrymen.

The first day’s theme was the Age of Aquarius, so the TPB staff was garbed as Flower People of the ’60s. They looked so colorful and so authentic with their paisley shirts, bell-bottom pants and Afro hairdos, I was almost tempted to ask if they smoked pot, too. On the second day, they looked even more colorful, as superheroes and movie characters, shown in the photos on this page.

But what was more important to me were the topics discussed during the various sessions. They gave me these valuable information that I, as a practitioner in the travel industry, find very useful.

As of 2013, there were already one billion tourists crisscrossing the globe, and this figure is expected to double by 2023, which means more business opportunities for us in the industry. The number of tourists from the Asia Pacific region is the fastest growing, because China (which includes the mainland, Hong Kong, Macau and Taipei) has become the world’s largest source of tourists. Most of them go to the US and France. In our region, the top three shopping destinations are Bangkok, Singapore and Tokyo, in that order.

Here in our country, the tourism industry is the third highest moneymaker. We registered a total of 54 million domestic tourists last year, and will have welcomed five million foreign tourists by the end of this year. The Industry earned for us P1.46 trillion last year because the average daily expense of

The event opened with this soprano floating into the humongous hall Tony Meloto of Gawad Kalinga was the Keynote Speaker from the ceiling

foreign tourists increased from $84 to $104, and their average length of stay, from eight nights to 10.6 nights.

The best part of all these increases is the 4.2 million local jobs this industry has generated so far. This number accounts for 12 percent of total employment in the country, definitely good news for students in the Tourism and Hospitality Management Programs.

So why is MICE so important to our country’s tourism leaders and professionals? It showcases new developments, establishments and products in our country which could easily entice the high-yield MICE travelers.

Many of these visitors are blessed with unlimited expense accounts, courtesy of

the companies or organizations they work for, making them the ideal market for any tourism promotion.

No wonder the officers of the Department of Tourism and its affiliated agencies run crazy all over the place when bidding and preparing for international MICE events. They leave no stone unturned in putting up a hearty welcome and a lavish show for the delegates, like they did for MICECON 2015. Watching this flurry of activities preparing for and during such events makes me want to sing, with apologies to one of my favorite nursery rhymes – “Here comes MICE… see how they run!”

For feedback, I’m at bobzozobrado@gmail.com

YOUR MONDAY CHUCKLE: “Honey,” said the husband to his wife, “I invited a friend home for supper.”

“What? Are you crazy? The house is a mess, I haven’t been shopping, all the dishes are dirty, and I don’t feel like cooking a fancy meal!” “I know all that,” said the husband. “Then why did you invite him for supper?” “Because the poor fool’s thinking about getting married.”

More perks for GetGo members!

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ebu Pacific’s lifestyle rewards program GetGo makes traveling even more rewarding for members with huge discounts and exciting promos in partnership with leading establishments.

As much as 20 percent discounts on room rates can instantly be given to GetGo members who only need to show their membership cards at the Harbor Hotel in Iloilo, Tugawe Cove Resort in Camarines Sur, Buri

Resort & Spa in Puerto Galera, and Busuanga Bay Lodge in Palawan upon booking. At The Oasis Hotel in Paco Park and at Hotel H2O, both located in Manila, cardholders can enjoy discounts of up to 65 percent upon booking.

Aside f rom exclusive d iscou nts on hotel accommodations, GetGo members can also get free P100 Wizard Money upon purchase of a minimum of three Enchanted Kingdom tickets. The Wizard Money can be used to consume food and buy souvenirs, and can also be applied for ticket purchase on their next park visit.

GetGo members can also get as much as 58,700 bonus points when they apply for an EastWest Bank personal loan, while every purchase of a FujiFilm X-T10 lifestyle-travel camera entitles the buyer to a free GetGo membership kit loaded with 5,000 bonus points.

An additional 10 percent of points also await cardholders when converting their loyalty points from Citibank, RCBC Bankard, Security Bank, BDO, UnionBank, Metrobank Card, ZAP and RingRob Concierge.

The conversion process involves (1) requesting the partner merchant to convert your loyalty points to GetGo

points, (2) receiving a confirmation e-mail plus the additional 10 percent GetGo points, and (3) flying by redeeming free flights!

By simply flashing your GetGo membership card every time you transact with partner hotels, banks and other establishments, these amazing rewards are yours for the taking.

For more information on memberships and partners, visit www.GetGo.com.ph, or call +632 71-GETGO (43846).

The latest updates are also on GetGoPH’s official pages on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

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SHOWBITZ

ISAH V. RED EDITOR

isahred @ gmail.com

Emma Watson in ‘REgREssion’

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est known for her role in the highly successful film franchise Harry Potter playing Hermione Granger, Emma Watson expands her range as an actress as she stars in her most challenging role to date in the psychological thriller Regression along with Ethan Hawke and fellow Harry Potter star David Thewlis.

Academy Award Winner Alejandro Amenábar directedthe film.

Set in Minnesota circa 1990. Emma Watson’s character Angela Gray has found peace and safety in religion after losing her mother in a car accident.

During a seminar at Reverend Beaumont’s church she breaks down and confesses that her father has abused her. With Detective Bruce Kenner’s (Hawke) help, she will overcome her isolation to become a key witness to solve the case. When Kenner further investigates the case of Angela, who accuses her father, John Gray (David Dencik), of an unspeakable crime. When John unexpectedly and

without recollection admits guilt, renowned psychologist Dr. Raines (David Thewlis) is brought in to help him relive his memories and what they discover unmasks a horrifying nationwide mystery.

“She has grown up in a house with two addicts: her father is an alcoholic so is her grandmother. Her mother died when she was very young in a car accident. You get the sense from looking at her house where she grew up, that there has been a huge level of neglect in Angela’s life and that neglect is really what comes to inform her choices and how she sees the world, how she feels about the world, what options she thinks are available to her,” says Watson of her role.

The trigger in the story told by Regression is the accusation made by young Angela Gray, a shy teenager whose accusation sheds light upon conflicts that no one had dared to speak of before. “This is probably one of the hardest roles or characters that I’ve ever had to play”, continues

Emma Watson, David Thewlis and Ethan Hawke in Regression

Emma Watson. “Angela is someone who’s had a very difficult life. She has grown up in a house with two addicts; her father is an alcoholic so is her grandmother and her mother died when she was very young in a car accident. She has such a complicated history.”

Alejandro Amenábar had no doubts about who would make the perfect Angela Gray, “Emma Watson is an extremely intelligent woman, she’s very talented and she understood the project perfectly.

When making a film like this one you need accomplices, people who understand what you’re trying to say. She had very clear ideas when she arrived to start shooting.”

“Regression is not a horror movie.

It’s about fear, about the fragility of the human mind, about how afraid we can get and how fear can keep us from thinking and seeing things clearly,” concludes director Amenábar.

Regression opens Oct. 14 in cinemas from Pioneer Films.

Chicser performs at TeenWeekPH 2015

Alyssa Valdez at TeenWeekPH 2015

Manolo Pedrosa and Maris Racal

Patricia Prieto, Verniece Enciso, and Alyssa Valdez

#TeenWeekPH 2015 CulminaTes in FirsT #TeenWeekPH Fair

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Emma Watson plays her most challenging role to date

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n Sept. 26 at the SMX in SM Aura, the Manila and Luzon legs of #TeenWeekPH culminated in the very first #TeenWeekPH Fair.

On its third year, #TeenWeekPH returned with a bigger teen agenda: to give teens from a total of 125 public and private schools across Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao the confidence to shape their future. Through a series of interactive personality development workshops over five days, #TeenWeekPH taught students the value of good hygiene and how it plays a positive role in building confidence.

Tailored to teen-relevant themes per day, #MoveUpMonday tackled teen life and goal setting, while #TransformTuesday taught teens to care for their skin with Pond’s and Master. #WorkItWednesday encouraged students to build their talents and confidence, with challenges from Rexona. #ThinkBigThursday focused on dreams and ambitions, with untangling limitless possibilities and nothing to hide workshops from Cream Silk and CLEAR. And on #FutureFriday, students learned the importance of building lasting friendships and relationships in their teenage years.

Along with the daily edutainment modules, a series of videos that tackle different aspects of teen life, Teen Talks were given by informed and successful young men and women on topics

such as self-esteem, talent and confidence, dreams and ambitions. Speakers included basketball player and entrepreneur Chris Tiu, multi-awarded Filipina volleyball player Alyssa Valdez, and actor and dancer Enrique Gil, among others.

To cap off the weeklong festivities, the #TeenWeekPH Fair was co-created by teens and for teens, giving them the opportunity to showcase and test their confidence. Participants showed off what they learned during a whole day of fun activities, booths and performances by special guests. Students showcased their artistic side in the Quotefie booth, while new friendships were struck at the Instafriends Booth.

Teens were also treated to appearances by members of the #TeenWeekPH Council, Patricia Prieto, Verniece Enciso, Binibining Pilipinas Runners-up Kim Suiza and Hannah Sison, and Alyssa Valdez, and performances

by Chicser, and teen sensations Manolo Pedrosa and Maris Racal.

Over the next two weeks, #TeenWeekPH will be completing its tour to teach teens the importance of proper hygiene and personal development in Visayas and Mindanao, with a second culminating #TeenWeekPH Fair in the Cebu Convention Center .

To know more about how you can gain the confidence to shape your future, visit TeenWeekPH.com.

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SHOWBITZ isahred @ gmail.com

BianCa, MigUEL in nEW SOaP

Bianca Umali and Miguel Tanfelix will be back in a soap soon

JOSEPh PEtER gOnZaLES

Dennis Trillo and Jennylyn Mercado deny they are having a rough time

After the highly successful run of Once Upon a Kiss, Bianca Umali and Miguel Tanfelix are back on the screen with Maybe This Time due for airing on the last quarter of the year.

“Of course, we’re so happy with this development,” says Bianca. “I’m grateful to GMA for entrusting us with a new show. We’ve started taping already and it’s going on smoothly. The idea of working with Miguel once again in the next months is simply fun. It’s also worth-citing that here in our new soap, our characters are more intense as compared to the previous ones we breathed life to.”

“That’s true!” seconds Miguel. “If in Once Upon a Kiss, there were lots of sweet and light moments, here in Maybe This Time,

there are exciting twists and require us to give a more serious, competent and mature portrayal. In fact, Bianca and I had to undergo acting workshops to turn in adequate performances. As I’ve said, our roles here are more challenging. They face various obstacles as young adults.

It’s pretty interesting.”

Many of their supporters ask if here in Maybe This Time they’ll officially witness their initial screen kiss since in Once Upon a Kiss, it was just very light.

“Honestly, we don’t know yet. But if you’ll ask if we are already prepared to do an intimate scene, we don’t think we are; maybe, not at this point. But what we can promise the fans is that the sweet and ‘kilig’ scenes are double as compared before. That’s for sure,” states Bianca.

They were among the select young stars who received the German Moreno Youth Achievement Award in the recent-

ly-concluded 63rd FAMAS Awards. How did it feel?

“We’re proud, definitely!” avers Miguel. “Not everyone is chosen to be the recipient of this prestigious recognition. Bianca and I are thankful for the award. It came as a surprise,” ends Miguel.

HHHHH On the hot rumor circulating that he and lady love Jennylyn Mercado are currently facing rough times, Dennis Trillo explains, “On the contrary, we’re very much okay!

Actually, that issue started when of late some kibitzers on the set of our latest soap My Faithful Husband noticed we are situated on different standby areas during off-cam. But that’s the set-up since we started taping for the program.”

Some find it hard to believe.

“Well, whether they believe it or not, that’s how it is. On the set, the standby areas of male stars are separated from the females. Jen and I just follow the rules.”

Celebrities at Ms. tawi-tawi pageant

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ans swooned when Bra- val, the founding anniversary of panese model-actor Dan- Tawi-Tawi. iel Matsunaga serenaded Budjang is the local term for the winner of the Badjang Miss. Young, accomplished womTawi-Tawi pageant. Singing en from the provinces 11 munici“Ngiti” and ‘When you say noth- palities participated in this annual ing at all,” he then played to the contest that celebrated beauty and throng of hysterical fans at the brains. They paraded in the native Department of Education Sports costumes and evening gowns. The Complex in Bongao. winner, Dayang Dayang Alaysa Joining Matsunaga’s fray were Sangkulah, will represent Miss actresses Bianca Manalo and Culture Asia in Malaysia.

Kylie Padilla, who is a Muslim Judges such as Beauty Queen Bianca Manalo , Ginggay Honat heart, also Rico Blanco.

This pageant highlighted the tiveros, Col. Marai Asuncion annual Kamahardikaan Festi- Placino and other prominent

CROSSWORD PUZZLE 44 45 46 48 51 52 54 59 60 62 63 64 65 66 67 68 ANSWER FOR PREVIOUS PUZZLE ACROSS 1 Quark hangouts 6 Pantyhose shade 10 Margarita ingredient 14 Brown pigment 15 — — for one’s money 16 Black, in verse 17 Not slouching 18 Woolly animals 19 — spumante 20 Leans backward

22 24 26 27 31 32 33 36 39 40 41 42 43

Decline (3 wds.)

Souffle ingredient Cousins of crows Political thaw Youngster Outback minerals Poolside turban A thousand G’s Quaint weapon Marched in a line Oater backdrop Autumn mo.

Like many estates

Trimmed back “— Rheingold” Like LPs Pops Cartoon shriek Sinus treatment (2 wds.)

Complexion flaw That’s — —!

Yeps’ opposite Greek moneys Incites Fido Festive nights Porch adjuncts Pressure, slangily Young Lennon Home of a brave

DOWN 1 On board ship 2 Geog. region 3 Fuel cartel 4 Wis. neighbor 5 Glossy fabrics 6 Keep an — to the ground 7 Rugged cliff 8 Scuttlebutt 9 Tacit 10 Took an apartment 11 “Ghosts” author 12 Specks of dust 13 Oklahoma town

personalities flew from Manila to choose the winner for her beauty, poise and advocacy.

During their visit, the guests caught a glimpse of Tawi-Tawi’s virgin coral reefs, white beaches, the colorful sunsets and quaint stilt houses.

Tawi-Tawi Representative Ruby Sahali hopes that more visitors will visit Tawi-Tawi and enjoy its natural beauty and cultural heritage.

Present during the event were Gov. Nurbert Sahali, Dona Juana Sahali and others.

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21 23 25 27 28 29 30 34 35 36 37 38 40 41 43 44 45 47 48 49 50 52 53 55 56 57 58 61

Noncom Pecan shape Catch on (2 wds.)

Extinct bird Adventure tale Dainty sweet Reindeer’s kin Grand — Opry Jam in tightly Griffin of TV Shrink’s reply (2 wds.)

Alan or Cheryl Dirty tricks (2 wds.)

Famous Chairman Pant Slowest Most parched Gym iteration Prove false City in New York Barrel slat Humorous Ogden Mets’ former ballpark Type of swan Boarding school Unhurried gait Latin I verb Common ID

Miss Tawi-Tawi with Manila and local celebrities

Speaking of their chart-topping drama series, there are reports that the Kapuso management plans to extend its run but allegedly, Jen didn’t agree due to their misunderstanding.

“That’s not true! We don’t have any personal trouble whatsoever. The reason why our soap can’t be extended is conflict of schedule. I mean, Jen and I have other projects waiting so an extended run is not possible.”

Their fight and confrontation scenes in My Faithful Husband are very realistic, prompting some to think it happens to them in real life.

“Of course not!” says Dennis. “As I’ve mentioned earlier, Jen and I are fine.

Our relationship is going on smoothly. What our characters in My Faithful Husband go through in the story, we don’t experience in reality. Perhaps, Jen and I are just professional with our work. We give it our best shot that’s why our scenes turn out well!”

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SHOWBITZ isahred @ gmail.com

ceB rAtes ‘Felix MAnAlo’ with A

Dennis Trillo is Ka Felix Manalo in the movie of the same title

“A”

Mother and son: Annie Brazil and Richard Merk

Lani Misalucha's concert will be held at the new Hotel de Oriente Convention Centre at Las Casas Filipinas de Acuzar

Lani Misalucha to serenade guests of Las Casas Filipinas de Acuzar

Filipino artistry at its best at Hotel de Oriente Convention Centre

Lani Misalucha at Las Casas Filipinas de Acuzar

From c8

was the grade the Cinema Evaluation Board (CEB) gave the Viva Films’ biopic Felix Manalo last Thursday.

The film had its gigantic premiere at the Philippine arena last night.

The film stars Dennis Trillo. It’s a monumental event as Viva made an unprecedented move including advanced ticket selling for the films starting on Sept. 28.

Joel Lamangan directed the movie that centers on Ka Felix Manalo, founder of the religious sect Iglesia Ni Cristo. The film, according to secular observers, is now in the league of Hollywood blockbusters The Avenges, Twilight, and Hunger Games.

Advance ticket selling was done in over 300 box offices across the country in order for the audience to reserve seats for the days they want to watch the film opening on Wednesday (Oct. 7).

Some 40,000 guests made it to the premiere last Sunday to watch the epic at the 55,000-seater Philippine Arena in Bocaue, Bulacan, including about a hundred actors who play special roles in the movie.

The film was projected on a five-story (120 meters by 40 meters) screen, The premiere hopes it would land on the Guiness Book of World Records as the largest audience at a film premiere. Also, it is looking forward to mark another record as the biggest film screening ever.

HHHHH Annie BrAzil in town Lifetime Achievement awardee of the Filipino American Jazz Society of New York Annie Brazil will have a series of shows with son Richard Merk at The Café Hyatt City of Dreams Manila. Romy Posadas Trio will accompany the jazz legend. Titled Jazz Together, Brazil and Merk with the Romy Posadas Trio will be at Murphy’s Makati, 8 p.m. on Oct.17.

Also, you can watch My Jazz Life, which features the Queen of Jazz Annie Brazil with the Romy Posadas Trio on Oct. 6, 8 p.m. at My Club, 134 Jupiter St., Makati City.

Annie Brazil, regarded as the “Grand Dame” of Pinoy Jazz by her contemporaries for her unique jazzy voice and singing style, sings twice a week at Cusina Stagionale, a popular Italian restaurant and jazz joint in Greenwich

Village, New York.

For ticket reservations, call 5518779 or text 09178191135.

HHHHH weekend with lAni MisAluchA Have an extraordinary weekend at the country’s only heritage resort by the sea, Las Casas Filipinas de Acuzar, on Oct.31 as Asia’s Nightingale Lani Misalucha serenades guests for a night of sweet musical experience.

Harana: A Weekend at Las Casas Filipinas de Acuzar with Lani Misalucha, Mel Villena and the AMP Band is a oneof-a-kind concert at the newly opened Hotel de Oriente Convention Centre, a replica of the first ever luxurious hotel in Manila. Guests will enjoy great music and a four-course dinner in the midst of the picturesque hall featuring outstanding Filipino crafts and artworks. Musical director Mel Villena and the AMP Band will be join Misalucha.

This will be the first huge musical event at Las Casas Filipinas de Acuzar, a history-in-the-making as it opens grounds for grand meetings, exhibits and shows with Hotel de Oriente Convention Centre. Its two large venues, Manila and Binondo Halls, can each accommodate up to 1,000 guests.

Tickets for two and four persons are available with exciting perks such as overnight room accommodation at the resort for Oct. 31-Nov 1, dinner, set breakfast, guided heritage tour, and pool and beach access. Individual tickets are also available just for the dinner and show.

Book your tickets now via Ticketworld and at selected major National Bookstore branches, selected Robinsons Department Stores, in Ayala Malls - Greenbelt I and Trinoma Cinema Box Office, and at Resorts World Manila Box Office. Visit www.ticketworld.com. ph or call 891-9999, 0917-550-6997 (Globe) and 999-954-5922(Smart) for inquiries and reservations. You may also call Las Casas Filipinas de Acuzar - Manila sales and reservation office at (63-2) 3325338 and (63-2) 3325286.

Limited seats available.

Las Casas Filipinas de Acuzar is located in Bagac, Bataan, easily accessible via NLEX and SCTEX. It is a project of New San Jose Builders, Inc. and managed by Asian Grand Legacy Hotels Corp.

Clear TV and free Channels wiTh aBs-CBn TVplus

M

ore Filipino families will be able to experience a crystal clear and more enjoyable TV viewing experience with ABS-CBN TVplus, which is now available at an affordable price of P1,999 this October. This promo price is brought to consumers by ABS-CBN TVplus in partnership with Surf and Knorr.

To avail of the new promo price, just look for specially marked ABS-CBN TVplus boxes with the sticker bearing P1,999 at any outlet that sells the ‘mahiwagang black box.’ It is available at SM Appliance Center, Automatic Center, Abensons, True Value, Handyman, Robinsons Appliance Center, SM Supermarket,

SM Department Store, Puregold Supermarket, Landmark Supermarket, Octagon, Villman, Silicon Valley and other electronic, appliance, and hardware stores.

Authorized ABS-CBN TVplus sales agents will also be going house-to-house to sell the TVplus box, which gives viewers access to exclusive free-to-air channels.

ABS-CBN TVplus users, meanwhile, can look forward to the new offerings of all-day movie channel CineMo and children’s entertainment channel Yey! this October.

CineMo will air a weekly five-day episode marathon of the newly launched FPJ’s Ang Probinsyano with Coco Martin in a jam-packed two and a half hours, 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. without

commercial break.

Laughter is in store for viewers every Sunday with a re-runat 1 p.m. of the It’s Showtime comedy search “Funny One More Taym,” and at 4 p.m. of Mga Kwento ni Marc Logan.

ABS-CBN TVplus will also air the timeless classics of the one and only Fernando Poe Jr. in the FPJ: Hari ng Aksyon movie block 7 p.m. every Saturday. Watch out for Asedillo, Karnabal, Roman Rapido, and Alupihang Daga.

The action goes on every Saturday in Binoe’s Best, 5 p.m. with Oops Teka Lang Diskarte Ko ‘To, Tulak ng Bibig, Kabig ng Dibdib, Grease Gun Gang, and Bad Boy. Viewers can also get their weekly dose of fun from the Dol-

phy: Hari ng Comedy block every Sunday, 5 p.m. with Espadang Patpat, Kalabog En Bosyo, and Dobol Trobol airing this month.

Kids are also in for a treat as Yey! airs more fun-filled and edutainment programs.

Watch the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles defend New York City beginning Oct 10, 9:30 a.m with replays at 1:30 p.m.. It also has a regular weekend marathon every Saturday from 8:30 until 10:30 a.m. with replays at 12:30 p.m..

Starting Oc.12, follow the adventures in Superbook Re-imagined every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday at 6 a.m with replays at 10:30 a.m... Meanwhile, join Remi in her journey to finding her real family on the same days at 6:30

a.m., with replays at 11 a.m..

Aside from CineMo and Yey, ABS-CBN TVplus also offers DZMM TeleRadyo and Knowledge on top of ABS-CBN and ABS-CBN Sports + Action.

Consumers may also purchase ABS-CBN TVplus online by visiting www.abs-cbnstore.com or sending a text message to 23661.

The box will be delivered free of charge within the area of digital coverage. Digital signal transmission is currently available in Metro Manila, Rizal, Cavite, Laguna, Bulacan, Pampanga, Nueva Ecija, Tarlac, Pangasinan, Benguet, and Metro Cebu.

For more information, visit the official website at www.abs-cbntvplus.com.

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ISAH V. RED EDITOR isahred @ gmail.com

SHOWBITZ

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5 1 #SuperCutey Boys! Boys! Boys! Chinoys Roppie Eusebio and Gio Hinahon, Filipino-Portuguese Jojo Casimiro, Filipino-American Jason Allen, and Filipino-German Sky Cornejo—have already ignited fire on social media. 2 JBK: music with style. Joshua Bulot, Bryan del Rosario, and Kim Lawrenz Ordonio. 3 The most popular and successful Filipino boy band today, multi-awarded 1:43 (pronounced as “one forty-three”): Anjo Resurreccion, Gold Aquino, Yheen Valero and Yuki Sakamoto 4 The talented Neo Domingo 5 Fifth Dynamics: the Happy Band. Mark Cordovales (vocals), Peter Leyva (lead guitar), Kelvin Bendijo (bass guitar), Wence Escabas (rhythm guitar), and Aldrin Condat (drums),

TalenT agenCy sTrengThens TalenT pool ISAH V. RED #TeamCahilig of music and film producer and public relations entrepreneur Chris Cahilig is fast becoming the hub of the hottest artists for corporate events, festivals, and mall and campus shows today.

Each performer or group offers the total package and brings something unique to the table, so to speak. Swoon-worthy all, the incredibly talented young men aren’t only certified crowd-drawers; they likewise enjoy a formidable following on social media. opM pop hearTThrobs 1:43 The most popular and successful Filipino boy band today, multi-awarded 1:43 (pronounced as “one forty-three”) has seamlessly morphed from teenyboppers to serious musical idols.

The hunky heartthrobs of 1:43— Anjo Resurreccion, Gold Aquino, Yheen Valero and Yuki Sakamoto—are the voices behind the iconic song “Sa Isang Sulyap

Mo,” popularized by PBB Teens and Juan dela Cruz in ABS-CBN. The YouTube videos of the song have collectively garnered over 70 million views so far and the song is continuously being used as soundtrack for various TV shows, including Eat Bulaga and It’s Showtime.

Likewise, 1:43’s family-oriented song “Ang Saya-Saya” became the official song of Ismol Family on GMA 7, while “Hayop sa Ganda” has a cult following among the LGBT audience.

Fresh from performing in a series of shows in Singapore for BellaVita Land Corp., 1:43 is scheduled to fly to the United Arab Emirates, Italy, and Spain for more shows. The boy band also continues to be a staple in corporate events of big clients like Coca-Cola, Great Taste, Talk ‘N Text, Levi’s, and BellaVita in various parts of the archipelago.

Finally, the members of 1:43 have jumpstarted their acting careers—they’ll all be launched in the horror-comedy flick Echorsis with John Lapus, Kean Cipriano, and Alex Medina. Meanwhile, Gold is starring

in the independent film Water Lemon, an entry to the upcoming Quezon City International Film Festival by director Lem Lorca.

JbK: MusiC wiTh sTyle Exceptionally talented Filipino boy band JBK composed of Joshua Bulot, Bryan del Rosario, and Kim Lawrenz Ordonio became popular on Facebook for the a cappella cover videos of OPM, Indonesian, and Malaysian songs.

Usually done in a condominium’s fire exit—and constantly getting into trouble with the security guards for it—JBK gained the moniker #FireExitBoys.

JBK was discovered after the group won the McJim Classic Leather’s “Dreams Get Real” Season 1 talent search. It has since launched a string of successful singles including the radio hits “Anong Meron Ka” and the viral song “Damang-Dama,” which has so far gained over 1.2 million views on Facebook. “Damang-Dama” later on became the official single of Camella Homes.

This month, the boy band will release their self-titled album JBK featuring five original songs.

The TalenTed neo doMingo Singer Neo Domingo is the voice behind the hit “Pagbigyan Mo Na.” Together with Fifth Dynamics, he started the dance craze “KachingKaching” for Lumina Homes.

Neo, who will soon release his debut album Ano Tayo?, wields strong influence on social media.

With his wonderful voice, Neo is easily a crowd favorite during corporate shows, bar gigs, and other special events.

An actor, musician, dancer and songwriter, Neo was a member of the erstwhile boy band Take Off—a finalist in X-Factor Philippines and one of the grand champions of Dreams Get Real.

FiFTh dynaMiCs: The happy band Fifth Dynamics is bound to leave a mark in Filipino pop culture with their playful type of music and certified hits in “Anyare” and “Pogi Kame.”

Composed of Mark Cordovales (vocals), Peter Leyva (lead guitar), Kelvin Bendijo (bass guitar), Wence Escabas (rhythm guitar), and Aldrin Condat (drums), the band will soon release its de-

but album Pogi Kame.

Totally cool, unpretentious, and relatable, Fifth Dynamics aspires to bring the fun back into Pinoy music in the tradition of Eraserheads, Kamikazee, and Parokya Ni Edgar. #superCuTey boys! boys! boys!

And it’s not only about singing at #TeamCahilig.

Celebrity all-male dance group Boys! Boys! Boys! is a show-stopping blend of good looks and talent.

The five multi-racial members— Chinoys Roppie Eusebio and Gio Hinahon, Filipino-Portuguese Jojo Casimiro, Filipino-American Jason Allen, and Filipino-German Sky Cornejo—have already ignited fire on social media.

Trained by celebrity choreographer Mich Garong, Boys! Boys!

Boys! aims to take over the pop dance scene just like Universal Motion Dancers (UMD) and StreetBoys in the ’90s. #TeamCahilig talents are available for local and international shows. For bookings and inquiries, please contact chriscahilig2011@ gmail.com or call 0917-4180808. ➜ Continued on C7