The Standard - 2015 October 12 - Monday

VOL. XXIX NO. 242 3 Sections 32 Pages P18 mONday : OCTOBER 12, 2015 www.thestandard.com.ph editorial@thestandard.com.ph

‘Bongbong entry will spice up VP race’

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‘luMad diVested’ Tandag bishop slams killing of indigenous people A CATHOLIC bishop on Sunday issued a strongly worded apostolic message condemning the killings of lumad leaders in Surigao del Sur and demanding that the government immediately disband the paramilitary groups in the province.

“Our lumad brothers and sisters who live in their ancestral land in the mountains are divested in many ways.

Divested of their right to education, [and] equal opportunity to basic services of the government. They continue to experience discrimination, human rights violations and [are] victims of persecution and exploitation of those

in power,” Tandag Bishop Nereo Odchimar said in his message that was also signed by Indigenous Peoples Apostolate director Fr. Fortunato Estillore.

“The death of their leaders and displacement of thousands among them only reflect their situation—a situation without security for their lives, a

situation of being always under threat, a situation without protection even under our laws. This is not just. This is not the will of God!” added Odchimar, who issued the apostolic message to mark Indigenous People’s Sunday.

The bishop pressed the Aquino administration to ensure a truthful and Next page

Hearing Mass. Dismissed Makati Mayor Junjun Binay carries his daughter as he attends Mass with his father Vice President Jejomar Binay (far right) and the rest of his family at the Santo Niño Parish Church in Tondo, Manila on Sunday. Ey AcAsio

Nobel Prize winner Heck passes away in Manila

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Junjun can still run for Makati mayor

By Rey E. Requejo DISMISSED Makati Mayor Jejomar Erwin Binay Jr. can still seek reelection despite an order from the Office of the Ombudsman perpetually disqualifying him from holding public office, law experts said Sunday.

Former Commission on Elec-

tions chairman Sixto Brillantes, former University of the East law dean Amado Valdez, former University of the Philippines law dean Pacifico Agabin and veteran election lawyer Romulo Macalintal agreed that Ombudsman Conchita CarpioMorales’ decision, though immediately executory, is still not

final and can still be subject to judicial review before it can be carried out.

Brillantes said Binay can still file a motion for reconsideration with the Ombudsman, and if that is denied, bring the case to the Court of Appeals, and ultimately to the Supreme Court.

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Lanao LP ‘originals’ sign up with UNA

By Christine F. Herrera

TWENTY-SEVEN original members of the ruling Liberal Party in Lanao del Norte have jumped ship to join the United Nationalist Alliance on the eve of the filing of certificates of candidacy for the 2016 elections, the opposition group UNA said Sunday.

The Lanao del Norte politicians—including two congressmen—joined 23 other LP members, mostly incumbent officials from Batanes and 12 LP officials from Bulacan who joined UNA on Sept. 14.

Pantao Ragat Mayor Eleanor Dimaporo-Lantud, who is running for governor, brought the 27 LP members to UNA a day after they said they were shabbily treated by LP officials at the Balay headquarters in Cubao, Quezon City. “[On Thursday], we were at Balay headquarters of the Liberal Party. They just passed by us like they don’t know us. Like they did not see us. The true character of LP people showed,” Dimaporo-Lantud said.

“The users in them showed. They have been using us since 2010 and 2013. They don’t know how to pay their debt of honor,” she said in Filipino. “And now, they acted as if they did not know us.”

The 23 Batanes officials who shifted allegiance to UNA were led by Gov. Vicente Gato and Nicanor Abad, elder brother of Budget Secretary Florencio Abad.

Batanes is the home province of the budget secretary, a stalwart of the Liberal Party.

Gato ran and won under LP in the 2013 elections.

Nicanor will be slugging it out with his sister-in-law and Abad’s wife Henedina, incumbent representative of the lone district of Batanes, in the 2016 polls.

Dimaporo-Lantud said the LP was aware of the LP originals in Lanao del Norte but gave preference to the newcomers.

“They brought in newcomers like Gov. Khalid Dimaporo, who is the nephew of my first cousin, but they did not recognize us as being original LP members in Lanao del Norte. That hurts,” she added.

Lumad...

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impartial investigation on the murder of Emerito Samarca, executive director of the lumad school Alternative Learning Center for Agriculture and Livelihood Development, and community leaders Dionel Campos and Bello Sinzo in Lianga, Surigao del Sur on Sept. 1.

The government earlier turned down the request of the UN special rapporteurs to visit the coun-

Junjun...

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“If he files COC [certificate of candidacy] this week, the Comelec will accept that. They cannot reject that,” Brillantes said.

Candidates seeking election next year can file their certificates of candidacy from Oct. 12 to 16.

“If the CA sustain the dismissal, he can still elevate the case to the Supreme Court,” the former Comelec chairman said.

Besides, Brillantes said, the dismissal cannot be enforced yet because Binay is still serving a sixmonth suspension over a separate case involving alleged irregularities in the construction of the Makati City Science High School.

The preventive suspension was issued last July and would end in January next year. Currently serving as acting Makati mayor is Binay’s vice mayor Romulo Peña.

“The dismissal order cannot actu-

Dimaporo-Lantud singled out one LP official, whom she identified only as “Congresswoman Chato” that she described as being particularly rude to them, walking away when they had not finished speaking.

For this reason, she said, they took their oath as new UNA members before Vice President Jejomar Binay.

Others who jumped ship to UNA were Munai Mayor Muammar Maquiling, representative of District 1; Balo-i Mayor Hanifa Ali, representative of District 2; and 24 other provincial candidates.

They all won in the 2010 and 2013 elections under the LP banner.

Dimaporo-Lantud also mocked the administration’s “matuwid na daan” or straight path, saying it was actually crooked.

Dimaporo-Lantud is the daughter of the late Caromatan Mayor Sultan Naga Dimaporo, brother of the late congressman Mohammad Ali Dimaporo.

She told Binay that she and other Liberal members in Lanao went to LP’s headquarters but were given the cold shoulder.

Dimaporo-Lantud would likely be running against Rep. Imelda Dimaporo, wife of her cousin Rep. Abdullah Dimaporo of the province’s 2nd District.

Khalid is serving his third and last office term as Lanao del Norte governor.

At the same ceremony Friday, Binay also swore in 12 new UNA officials from Bulacan, led by San Miguel Mayor Roderick Tiongson.

Tiongson also ran and won under LP in the 2013 elections.

“This is a big deal, especially with Secretary Butch Abad’s joining us,” Binay said after the oathtaking.

Binay is the chairman of UNA and the party’s standard bearer in the 2016 elections.

He said the defections were a victory for UNA in Batanes, which has been a bulwark of the LP. “The people we swore in today were not with us in the past. Now they are. That’s a big deal, isn’t it?” Binay added.

Binay also said there were LP members who sent feelers about joining UNA, but they still had reservations because fear still prevailed.

He added he believed more incumbent officials would take their oath and join UNA in the coming days.

Nicanor Abad said majority of the incumbent officials in Batanes are now with the opposition. With macon Ramos-Araneta

Ready for Christmas. A worker makes the finishing touches on a papier mache Christmas decoration that he will be offering for sale. Amiel mARk CAgAyAn

try to look into reports of killings and human rights abuses committed against tribal communities in Mindanao. A human rights group had asked the UN rapporteurs to investigate the killings, but the envoys are not allowed to conduct an investigation without an invitation from the government.

In refusing to invite the UN envoys, the government said it needed to follow its own “internal processes.”

The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees earlier dis-

closed that based on their records, more than 6,000 indigenous people have fled their homes in Mindanao because they have not been given state protection from atrocities and threats from the military and militias.

In Surigao del Sur alone, the UN agency said 5,590 persons, or 1,075 families, were displaced from August to October.

These included the latest evacuees—173 families or close to 1,000 persons—who fled Barangay Mahaba in Marihatag town on Oct. 2 because of “fear of the presence of the

Armed Forces of the Philippines and Magahat Bagani paramilitary forces.”

The UNHCR said the villagers were allegedly interrogated by the Magahat about their links to the New People’s Army.

An internal report by the Army’s 4th Infantry Division also revealed that there are at least eight paramilitary groups operating in Surigao del Sur and Agusan del Sur provinces, including the Magahat group led by Manobo tribal chieftain Jomar Bocales and Bobby Tejero, a primary suspect in the killings in Lianga.

The Palace on Sunday said the government was continuing to address the situation of the indigenous people in Mindanao.

Communications Secretary herminio Coloma said there would be no vacuum even after the UNHCR announced the pullout of its office in Mindanao because of the increasing risks of operating in the south.

Coloma added that the Armed Forces and the police were working closely to pursue those responsible for the lumad killings. Sandy Araneta and Froilan gallardo

ally be implemented because there’s no one to dismiss since Junjun remains suspended up to now. Once the suspension is served, that’s the only time you can dismiss,” he said.

Brillantes said another option that Binay has is to apply for a substitute who will run as Makati mayor next year. His sister, Makati Rep. Abigail Binay, has already said she would take the place of his brother if he finally gets perpetually disqualified from public office.

Valdez, who is also president of the Philippine Association of Law Schools, agreed that the Ombudsman’s order does not prevent Binay from joining the 2016 mayoral race. “[Junjun Binay] can file his COC and argue that the decision is not yet final,” Valdez added.

Valdez also questioned the Ombudsman’s authority to impose the penalty of perpetual disqualification.

“The penalty of perpetual disqualification is penal in nature, which only the court of Sandiganbayan can impose,” he said.

Valdez urged Binay to question

the Ombudsman’s authority before the Supreme Court and seek an injunction so he can reassume his post once his six-month preventive suspension gets served.

“Definitely, the Ombudsman order created legal obstacles that have to be resolved,” Valdez said.

The former law dean said in case Binay ends up winning in the May 2016 elections, he can once again invoke the “Aquinaldo doctrine” or the condonation doctrine, which states that an elected official can be cleared from past administrative liability so long as he gets reelected.

Agabin agreed that Binay cannot be prevented from running in 2016 unless a court stops him from it.

“Yes he can file COC if he appeals the Ombudsman order,” he said in a text message.

The Ombudsman had tried to suspend Binay in March, but the mayor succeeded in convincing the Court of Appeals to issue a restraining order, and later an injunction, to stop the suspension.

This prompted the Ombudsman

to bring the matter to the Supreme Court, contesting the Court of Appeals’ authority to restrain preventive suspensions by the Ombudsman. The case remains pending.

Without waiting for the Court’s decision, Morales announced Binay’s dismissal and perpetual disqualification from holding public office on Friday.

She said there was strong evidence presented during the administrative adjudication of the complaint that proved Binay was guilty of grave misconduct and serious dishonesty over the alleged overpriced construction of the P2.28-billion structure, also referred as the Makati parking building.

She said Binay failed to ensure that the contracts the city government was entering into were fair, reasonable and advantageous to the government.

Senator Nancy Binay, the mayor’s brother, on Sunday said the ruling Liberal Party was behind his dismissal.

In an interview over radio dwIZ,

Binay said the timing of the Ombudsman’s decision was very suspicious as it came a few days before the start of the filing of certificates of candidacy for those running in next year’s elections.

“The Liberal Party has to resort to disqualification so that their pet [candidate] will win in 2016. I want to highlight that his political rival in Makati is an LP [member]. So one plus one equals two—the only way to win is if they remove the name of my brother from the ballot,” the senator said.

She said this was also the reason the current administration pressured former Ombudsman Merceditas Gutierrez to resign, so they could control her successor.

Despite the Ombudsman’s ruling, she said her brother will file his COC after their father, Vice President Jejomar Binay and his running mate do so on Monday.

The senator also blasted Morales, saying she could not nullify the will of the people. With macon RamosAraneta

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Escudero: Poe is her own woman CABANATUAN CITY—Presidential front-runner Senator Grace Poe is her own woman who cannot be dictated upon when she makes any decision, Senator Francis Escudero said Sunday.

Escudero, Poe’s running mate, said Poe demonstrated her independence when she criticized President Benigno Aquino III and said he was responsible for the Mamasapano massacre.

Escudero said Aquino was the one who gave Poe her break in the government when he appointed her chairwoman of the Movie and Television Review and Classification Board.

“Yet when it came to Mamasapano, it was Senator Poe herself who said the President was responsible for Mamasapano,” Escudero said, referring to the massacre of 44 Special Action Force commandos in Maguindanao on Jan. 25 this year.

Escudero was responding to suggestions that Poe, being new and inexperienced, may only be manipulated and dictated upon by advisers including him once she became President.

“No, she cannot be dictated upon,” Escudero said.

He made his statement even as Poe said the country’s reliance on imports to secure enough rice supply for some 100 million Filipinos during the El Niño months showed how vulnerable the agricultural sector was in the face of extreme weather.

She said this was not the first time the country had experienced El Niño and the sad reality was that it would not be the last.

“We have to look for longterm solutions that will help our farmers prepare for and overcome the challenges

posed by extreme weather events,” said Poe whose platform of government as a presidential candidate includes more help to the agricultural sector.

Escudero said experience should not be made an issue in the presidential race since Aquino himself was relatively inexperienced when he ran for President.

“Why was experience not so important then and why has it suddenly become so important now?” he said.

He downplayed the lack of an established party to back the Poe-Escudero tandem, saying it was the people and not the party that would ensure their victory in 2016.

He said parties never played a crucial role in the presidential elections in 1992, 1998 and 2010.

“If you recall, President Ramos had no established party when he ran for President in 1992 because he lost in the LDP convention to Ramon Mitra. He founded Lakas-Tao,” Escudero said.

“The same with President Joseph Estrada in 1998 when he formed LAMP, and President Aquino who only had 21 LP stalwarts in 2010.”

One exception was President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo in 2004 because she was then the sitting President, Escudero said.

“It’s the people who vote, not the party. You may have a party but if you don’t have people down there, it’s nothing,” he said. Ferdie G. Domingo and Macon ramos-Araneta

ready for Monday. A worker installs new flags at the Palacio del Governador in Intramuros, Manila, where people are

expected to converge on Oct. 12 for the first day of the filing of certificates of candidacy for next year’s elections. ey AcAsio

Comelec eyes 200 vote-counting machines THE Commission on Elections is expecting the delivery of the first 200 vote-counting machines representing the first batch of the 93,977 machines manufactured by SmartmaticTotal Information Management Corp. in Taiwan.

Comelec Chairman Andres Bautista is confident Smartmatic will be able to ship all leased machines by Jan. 31 next year.

The second delivery of 10,000 units will be made in November, he said.

“The earlier they are delivered, the better for all of us so we can practice and

familiarize,” Bautista told reporters.

He said he is seeking to amend the Omnibus Election Code mandating local government units to provide space for local election offices, citing the Comelec’s “independence.”

Bautista said many election offices had very limited space and some of those were in dilapidated buildings.

He wants more spacious rooms for the 2016 elections.

The Comelec decided to lease an entire set of votecounting machines for P8

billion for next year’s national and local elections as it has run out of time to refurbish the machines used in the past elections.

“This is an upgraded version. It will address some of the issues encountered in the 2010 and 2013 elections,” Bautista said.

Last month, Smartmatic initially delivered five machines that are now up for review by the international certifying agency SLI Global Solutions based Denver, Colorado.

“We are forming a group that will go to Taiwan to observe the manufacturing

process of the machines,” Bautista said.

He said some senators and congressmen had signified their interest to join the trip.

Early next year, the Comelec will also conduct a roadshow in all provinces to help voters and teachers familiarize themselves with the functions of the vote-counting machines.

The old precinct count optical scan or PCOS machines used in the past elections will be refurbished and used for the 2019 mid-term elections, Bautista said. PNA

‘Marcos adds spice to VP contest’

Barangay Day. Leyte Rep. Ferdinand Martin Romualdez delivers his message to some 1,500 government workers during the 24th Local Government Day and Barangay Day celebrations in Baguio City. Ver NoVeNo

THE entry of Senator Ferdinand Marcos Jr. in the vice presidential race next year will spice up the contest in that sector, Leyte Rep. Ferdinand Martin Romualdez said Sunday.

“The entry of Senator Bongbong will add spice to the vice presidential race, making it equally exciting as the fight for the presidency,” Romualdez said.

“But let’s see the final alignments next week. Surely, Senator Bongbong will push for true reforms toward the genuine achievement of inclusive growth that will benefit the poorest of the poor.”

Romualdez is the leader of the House’s independent bloc, president of the LakasChristian Muslim Democrats political party, and president of the Philippine Constitutional Association.

“He [Marcos] brings excellent credentials to the vice presidential post after acquiring a great deal of ex-

perience as a local executive and legislator, being a former congressman, governor and currently senator,” Romualdez said.

Misamis Occidental Rep. Jorge Almonte also believes Marcos’ declaration to run for vice president will make the race more interesting.

“Definitely, it will add flavor to the contest. It should be noted that in our jurisdiction, the plurality of votes do make a candidate win,” Almonte said.

Iloilo Rep. Jerry Treñas, head of the ruling Liberal Party’s organizing and membership committee, said Marcos’ candidacy, backed by former President and now Manila Mayor Joseph Estrada, and Senate Minority Floor Leader Juan Ponce Enrile will affect the votes of the United Nationalist Alliance and the camp of Senators Grace Poe and Francis Escudero.

“The entry of Senator Mar-

cos will definitely affect the ranks of both UNA and the Poe-Chiz tandem since Erap [Estrada] and Enrile are supporting Bongbong. Their ranks are now in disarray while the administration remains solid,” Treñas said.

Meanwhile, Romualdez welcomed the P1-billion budget allocation in the national budget for the treatment of the human immunodeficiency virus and Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome cases.

“The P1.08-billion budget against HIV/AIDS for 2016 should be taken as a signal to everybody that the situation is getting serious. This budget would definitely help battle HIV-AIDS,” Quezon City Rep. Alfred Vargas said.

Senator Ralph Recto said the P1.08-billion budget to combat HIV/AIDS in 2016 will finance the treatment and testing of 35,000 confirmed and suspected cases. rio N. Araja

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Canberra confirms refugee talks Sydney, Australia—Thousands of Australians Sunday joined rallies calling for the closure of Pacific island camps for asylum-seekers, just days after the Canberra government confirmed it was in talks with the Philippines to resettle detained refugees.

Flag-burners. Student activists protest in front of the US Embassy along Roxas Boulevard in Manila during the first anniversary of the death of Filipino transgender Jennifer Laude at the hands of US serviceman Joseph Pemberton. DAnny PAtA

Under Canberra’s tough immigration policy, asylum-seekers attempting to reach the island continent by boat are turned back or sent to camps on Nauru or Papua New Guinea and barred from resettling in Australia even if found to be refugees.

Chanting “free, free the refugees,” the protesters in Sydney, Melbourne and other cities said the government and new Australian Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull should close the Pacific detention centers, which have been harshly criticized by rights groups.

With Australia set to resettle 12,000 Syrian refugees amid the crisis in Europe, some demonstrators waved Syrian and Kurdish flags and said the government should move those held in the camps to the mainland.

One asylum seeker, “Adbi,, who has reportedly been held on Manus Island for more than two years, called on Turnbull—who came into power in midSeptember after replacing Tony Abbott in a party coup—to help the detainees.

“They are traumatizing us,” Abdi said on a phone call broadcast to the Sydney crowd, adding that conditions at the Papua New Guinea facility were “indescribable.”

Medical professionals at the rallies also expressed fears a new law could block their colleagues working at the camps from speaking out if they had allegations asylum-seekers being abused.

“The government is using the Border Force Act to intimidate people from speaking out,” refugee advocate and rally organizer Ian Rintoul told AFP in Sydney.

“It’s being used as a form of censorship.”

UN Special Rapporteur on the human rights of migrants Francois Crepeau last month postponed a visit to Australia due to restrictions on his access to detention centers and fears that people who spoke to him could face legal reprisals.

The rallies came as doctors from the Royal Children’s Hospital Melbourne told the Sunday Herald Sun newspaper that children should be removed from the camps, in a move supported by lobby group the Australian Medical Association.

“The detention centers are not suitable environments for the health of all detainees, but the effects on children are far worse,” AMA president Brian Owler said in a statement.

Some 1,589 asylum-seekers—1,382 men, 114 women and 93 children—are held on Manus Island and Nauru, according to immigration figures ending Aug. 31.

Canberra has struck a deal with Cambodia to accept refugees in exchange for millions of dollars in aid over the next four years, although only four asylumseekers have so far opted to take up the offer. AFP,

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‘Tacloban didn’t get aid Baguio received’

By Dexter A See

BAGUIO CITY—Recovery in areas devastated by Super Typhoon “Yolanda” has been slow because of the government’s inability to pour in resources in the affected areas, compared to the fast-paced redevelopment of Baguio City and other places devastated by the July 16, 1990 killer earthquake.

Leyte Rep. Ferdinand Martin Romualdez gave this assessment Saturday when he was the guest speaker during the 24th anniversary of the Local Government Code and the Barangay Day celebrations spearheaded by the city government and the Liga ng mga Barangay at Burnham Park.

“The pace of development in the Yolanda-stricken areas in the Visayas has been very bad because of the inability of the government to infuse sufficient funds into Tacloban City and other Leyte areas,” Romualdez said.

The Leyte lawmaker said that the government only spent around P15 billion for the relief, recovery and rehabilitation of Tacloban City and other typhoon-hit areas, compared to its programmed budget of P180 billion, in order to return the Yolanda-stricken areas to full development.

Even the multi-billionpeso pledges of foreign governments through international non-government organizations have not yet been released to the people of the Visayas, he said.

He said the people of Leyte are fed up with the unfulfilled promises of the government, which is why there is a need for reforms in the policies concerning calamity-stricken areas like Tacloban City.

Nobel laureate dies in PH hospital NOBEL laureate Richard Heck, whose work led to breakthroughs in drug development and DNA sequencing, died on Friday in Manila, the Delaware Online new site reported over the weekend.

The report said Heck’s death was announced on Saturday by the University of Delaware where the American chemist worked for 18 years and later became professor emeritus.

Heck, 84, won the Nobel prize in chemistry in 2010 along with Japanese Ei-ichi Negishi and Akira Suzuki for inventing groundbreaking ways to bind carbon atoms used in research to fight cancer.

“I had the opportunity to speak to professor Heck after he received the Nobel Prize and he spoke of how much he enjoyed his time in Delaware,” said Delaware Gov. Jack Markell.

“I am sorry to hear of his passing but

feel fortunate for his time in our state and the impact he had in both the realm of science and in the personal connections he made with those fortunate enough to have known him.”

Heck’s discovery enabled the production of new classes of pharmaceuticals for treating cancer, HIV, asthma, migraine headaches and stomach ailments, among other maladies.

The Heck Reaction also revolutionized DNA sequencing by making it possible to couple organic dyes to DNA bases— a process essential to the Human Genome Project, an international scientific research to determine the sequence of chemical base pairs that make up human DNA. Heck retired in the Philippines in 2006 with his Filipina wife Socorro, who died two years after he won the Nobel prize.

Breast cancer. Avon recently held its 13th annual rally against breast cancer at the Mall of Asia concert grounds. Avon ambassadors Jennylyn Mercado and Rocco Nacino joined in the walkathon. teDDy PeLAeZ

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Yolanda art collection on display in London LONDON—A remarkable 100-frame Haiyan inspired art collection from Tacloban, the city hardest hit by the Super Typhoon “Haiyan,” will be on display at the Temple Church in London on Nov. 8, 2015.

Solely created by 64-yearold artist-survivor Eduardo Echavez Rompal, the unique visual anthology is coming off a successful staging of “Sketches—One Hundred faces of Yolanda” held in Tacloban last June. “Yolanda” is the local name for Haiyan in the Philippines.

Organized under civic group One Tacloban, “Sketches” was hailed by University of the Philippines Leyte Samar Heritage Center as the biggest oneman-art-exhibition ever held in their region. “I agree with the word milestone. It is culturally and historically significant for the people of Eastern Visayas”, said UPLSHC executive director Joycie Dorado-Alegre. She also describes the collection as a lasting memoir depicting the trials and triumphs of the region who, along with a community of nations, successfully turned the tide against one of history’s worst natural calamities.

Titled “Answered Prayers” in London, the art exhibition falls on Remembrance Sunday where British and allied soldiers from the two World Wars are honored across the United Kingdom. Fittingly, the Haiyan mission marks the second time British and Filipinos worked together in a major international operation since 1951. The biggest battle in the Korean War (Battle of Yultong) was fought by British, Filipino and Turkish forces putting to test the then 6-year-old United Nations alliance. Their victory led to the re-establishment of the 38th parallel which holds to this day.

Typhoon survivor Eduardo Echavez Rompal created a unique visual anthology coming off the successful staging of his one-man art exhibition entitled ‘Sketches—One Hundred Faces of Yolanda.’

‘Tax cuts without strings attached’ VICE presidential bet Senator Francis Escudero on Sunday scored the government’s “tax-reforms-with-strings-attached” position on the need to update income tax brackets that have remained unchanged since 1997, and said that if the current administration failed to enact legislation to reduce income taxes during its term, Senator Grace Poe would prioritize this measure if elected into office.

“Senator Grace said in her declaration speech that no sector or region would be left behind, and that it is the government’s duty to exhaust any means possible to lighten the load of our people. She has also repeatedly stressed that lowering the income tax would be one of her priorities, and that

is the essence of our call, Walang Maiiwan,” explained Escudero.

Poe stressed in September that for many Filipinos, “hard work is often not enough,” and that her aim was to lower taxes in the country as “we have one of the highest tax rates in the world.

“Everyone needs a helping hand.

Shouldn’t this be the measure of a responsive government and society—how it uplifts everyone and leaves no one behind?”

This, Poe said, was why we she would push “for true reforms that will achieve inclusive growth, global competitiveness and transparent government.”

According to Escudero, while he appreciates that “the Administration, or the LP, or whoever Secretary Lacierda speaks for, has acknowledged the need for tax reform,” he stressed that the government “need not impose conditions before it can support measures to lower the income tax.”

Lacierda this week said that while there was “no debate” about the need for tax reform, the government wanted “comprehensive tax reform.” LP presidential bet Mar Roxas earlier slammed

proposals to lower the income tax, and said the government would need to cut projects to allow the passage of such measures. Roxas also said that the issue should not be discussed during the elections as it was being politicized.

“Lowering the income tax is justifiable in and by itself, and should be acted on now, not later. May pagkakataon ngayon para itama ang mali, para tulungan ang mga nangangailangan—bakit pa nila ipagkakait sa tao?

Kaya paulit-ulit naming sinasabi na kailangan talaga natin ng Gobyernong may Puso.” (There is an opportunity now to right a wrong and help those in need—why should they deny our people that? That is why we repeatedly say we really need a government with a heart.)

Teach them how to fish—solon

By Rio N. Araja

Blue economy. Senate President Franklin Drilon, Environment Secretary Ramon J. P. Paje (5th and 4th from left, front row) and Agriculture Secretary Proceso Alcala (3rd from right, front row) join representatives of the APEC (Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation) member economies in a photo ops taken prior to the start of the High-Level Policy Dialogue on Food Security and Blue Economy at the Iloilo Convention Center in Iloilo City from Oct. 4 to 5, 2015. The meeting is jointly hosted by the Department of Environment and Natural Resources and the Department of Agriculture.

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THE Department of Social Welfare and Development is prodded to include in the coverage of its conditional cash transfer, more popularly known as the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program or 4Ps, the grant of college scholarship and not just universal primary education.

Making the proposal is Nueva Ecija Rep. Magnolia Rosa Antonino who on Sunday said the “government must not only give fish but must teach the citizens how to fish.”

Education is the best “antidote” to extreme poverty, Antonino added.

She authored House Bill 1494 designed to expand the coverage by providing government scholarship grant to the 4Ps beneficiaries and appropriating funds therefor.

According to Antonino, the House committee on poverty alleviation, chaired

by Camarines Sur Rep. Salvio Fortuno has already approved the measure and endorsed it for approval.

HB 1494 or the 4Ps Government Scholarship Grant for University and TechnicalVocational Education Act aims to expand the coverage of the CCT program through the provision of a college scholarship program to high school graduates of the pro-

gram.

Under the proposal, the coverage expansion could only allow at least one family member graduate from college or technical-vocational institution.

A P300-million initial budget must be allocated to the Commission on Higher Education.

“Certainly, this will help open windows of opportunities to land a better paying job upon entering the labor force and eventually alleviate their plight or improve their standard of living,” Antonino said.

The 4Ps covers 79 provinces, 1,261 towns and 138 key cities of four million beneficiaries as of May 2013.

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editorial@thestandard.com.ph

P9b earmarked for 31 airports

By Rio N. Araja The Department of Transportation and Communications is asking for P9.1 billion to upgrade 31 international and domestic airports in the countryside in 2016, an opposition lawmaker said on Sunday.

LPG-MA Rep. Arnel Ty, House deputy minority leader, said the amount was cited in the proposed budget of DoTC. The lion’s share of the department’s 2016 budget for aviation-related development projects would go to Panglao International Airport at P2.136 billion, Clark International Airport at P2.093 billion and Naga Airport at P1.002 billion.

Ty is a member of the House transportation committee.

“Some of the money would be allocated for the new construction facilities, and some for continuing projects,” he said.

According to Ty, the Bicol International Airport would be given P747.4 million for its development; Sanga-Sanga Airport, P577.7 million; Siargao Airport, P264.1 million; Calbayog Airport, P203.6 million; Cauayan Airport, P198.0 million; Tuguegarao Airport, P194.6 million; San Jose Airport, P185.7 million; Zamboanga International Airport, P160.1 million; Roxas Airport, P95.4 million; Puerto Princesa International Airport, P68.1 By Macon Araneta million; Cotabato Airport, P51.5 million; Siquijor Airport, P40.8 million; San THe 50-kilometer metrorail Vicente Airport, P34.0 million; Basco system has been overburdened Airport, P33.2 million; Virac Airport, by one million daily riders, acP32.6 million; Dipolog Airport, P25.4 cording to Senator Francis esmillion; Ozamiz Airport, P20.0 million; cudero.

He cited the need to expand Laoag International Airport, P13.5 milthe Philippines’ train system lion; Bagabag Airport, P11.8 million; Antique Airport, P10.0 million; Taytay Air- up to the provinces around port, P8.8 million, and Butuan Airport, Metro Manila as part of the long-term solution to the P2.0 million.

“If we look at how Filipinos are spend- worsening traffic in the couning their savings from cheaper air fares, try and the increasing number the money appears to be going mainly of daily commuters.

He said the total length of the to travel-related expenses including three existing main passenger increased food consumption in airport railway networks in Metro Materminals,” Ty said.

The higher consumption spending nila is only 50.35 km, and yet it spurred by the drop in fuel prices contrib- provides transportation to over one million riders daily. utes to overall economic growth, he said.

“The Philippines lags behind Meanwhile, Ty said DoTC is spendother Asian countries in terms ing another P700 million for “consulof a functional train system— tancy payments” for public-private we see and feel that every single partnership projects at Davao International Airport, Iloilo International day. Riding the MRT or LRT Airport, Bacolod International Airport, has become a dehumanizing Laguindingan International Airport experience for Filipinos, but it’s a choice between that or taking and Panglao International Airport.

Recycling. A boy recycles paper along United Nations Avenue in Manila that he will sell to the junk shop on Sunday, Oct. 11. The Philippine Statistics Authority’s July 2015 Labor Force Survey shows a decline in the unemployment rate from 6.7 percent last year to 6.5 percent this year. DANNY PATA

Expand train system, ease traffic—solon the bus and being stuck on the road for hours,” he said. escudero said the Philippines can study the mass transport system of its Asian neighbors, who have developed efficient rail transit systems, as models for future infrastructure development.

Hong Kong, for example, has a population of over seven million people and a 218-km Mass Transit Railway network that caters to around five million passengers daily.

Singapore has a total population of only 5.47 million but is serviced by a 360-km Mass Rapid Transit and Light Rail Transit system, with an average ridership of 2.6 million every day.

According to World Bank, the population of Thailand’s capital and urban center, Bangkok, grew from 7.8 million people in 2000 to 9.6 million in 2010. It has a 100.1-km Bangkok Mass Train System carrying 580,000 riders daily.

The Philippines has a total population of about 100 million, of which 12 million are in Metro Manila. Despite the concentration of political and economic activities in this area, the Philippines only provides its riding public a 16.9-km Metro Rail Transit with a maximum design capacity of 350,000 passengers.

At the start of the year, the MRT 3 had an average ridership of 540,000 daily but this dropped to 330,000 because many of the trains had fallen into disrepair. The number of operational trains went down from around 15 to 20 trains daily to only eight, as of September, according to the Department of Transportation and Communications.

The Light Rail Transit has two operational lines: LRT 1 has a 19.8-km train system, with an average daily ridership of 500,000 people, while LRT 2 has a 13.65-km train network

and an average of 240,000 passengers daily. escudero, who is running as the vice president of presidential bet Senator Grace Poe, said the next government should focus on infrastructure development if it wants to sustain the country’s economic growth and make it truly inclusive.

The senator said the focus should be on the train system since this is the most efficient and most economical mode of transportation. Its expansion will ease the traffic in Metro Manila by integrating the urban center with the provinces around the metropolis.

“We have to start dispersing the city center away from Metro Manila, and the only way to do that is via an efficient train system connecting the metropolis to Bulacan, Pampanga up to Tarlac in the north, and then Laguna, Batangas, down to Quezon in the south,” escudero said.

De Lima: No whitewash on SAF case

By Rey E. Requejo

Lion’s share. The Panglao International Airport in Bohol gets P2.1-billion share in the DoTC’s aviation-related budget for a much-needed upgrading.

JuSTICe Secretary Leila de Lima on Sunday debunked insinuations that there could be whitewash in the investigation of the Department of Justice on the case of nine of the 44 slain Special Action Force commandos in the Mamasapano clash last January.

De Lima made the statement following criticisms on the second part of the Mamasapano investigation report released last week where no charges were filed—unlike in the case of the 35 SAF men where 90 commanders and members of Moro Islamic Liberation Front, Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters and private armed groups were charged with complex crime of direct assault with murder.

De Lima deplored the insinuation made by former SAF Director Getulio Napeñas, that there could be whitewash in the probe, saying it was “very unfair and unfounded.”

“I suggest that Napeñas and the other critics read first the full text, albeit reducted, of the 2nd Report, before passing judgment,” De Lima said in a text message.

The outgoing Justice secretary stressed that the team of DoJ prosecutors and National Bureau of Investigation agents failed to establish the identities of the killers of the commandos from the 84th SAF company in Barangay Pidsandawan.

“We can only do so much. We cannot invent our findings,” De Lima said.

In the 120-page report, which forms the second part of the DoJ fact-finding report on the Mamasapano clash, probers concluded there was indeed crime committed as the death of the nine members “were the result of a series of deliberate acts by armed individuals with whom the 84th Seaborne engaged in a brief firefight in the course of the assault on Marwan’s [international terrorist Zulkifli bin Hir] hut.”

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

A7

NEWS

editorial@thestandard.com.ph

Former allies now political rivals in Abra BANGUED, Abra—Two former political allies who have worked together for orderly elections here in the past decade will go against each other in the May 2016 elections.

The relationship of Gov. Eustaquio Bersamin and Rep. Maria Jocelyn Valera-Bernos was severed after the latter allegedly announced her intention to run for the gubernatorial post which the former would vacate when she still has one term remaining.

Bersamin, who is on his last term as local chief executive of the province, will run for mayor of the capital town of Bangued. He will face incumbent Mayor Dominique Valera, father of the lawmaker, in a one-on-one matchup.

For the province’s gubernatorial post, Bernos will be facing Ruby Bersamin, wife of the incumbent governor.

Three-term San Juan Mayor Marco Bautista will be fielded by the Liberal Party in the congressional post; he will face La Paz Mayor Joseph Bernos, brother-in-law of Maria Jocelyn, to be fielded by a still-undisclosed political party.

The administration party, chaired by Gov. Bersamin, will also be fielding former Vice Governor Rolando Somera for the vice gubernatorial position while incumbent Vice Governor Rosario Charry Bersamin, daughter of the late Rep. Luis Bersamin Jr., will run for vice mayor of Bangued.

Gov. Bersamin remains confident, however, that with the peaceful and orderly atmosphere established in previous elections would hold.

“We have adhered to the policy of peaceful and orderly elections and we hope that our political rivals will do the same so as not to bring back the dark image of the province,” Gov. Bersamin stressed.

Ripe for the picking.

Lanzones fruits are ready to be harvested at Barangay Camansi, San Fernando City, La Union. CHRISTINE JUNIO

Street dancers. High

school students participate in a street dance festival in Guinobatan, Albay.

DANNY PATA

Cotabato supermarket opening shows confidence, boosts jobs

By Ali Macabalang COTABATO CITY—The opening of a supermarket chain in this city signals investors’ confidence and translates into more job opportunities for its residents, despite incidents of petty crime that officials say are “sporadic.”

City Information Officer Halima S. Ibrahim, said for this quarter alone, at least 250 workers are set to be hired by the PureGold Inc., one of the biggest hypermarket franchises in the country and the latest of giant business investments here.

Cotabato City Mayor Japal Guiani Jr. expressed pride in the state of his city being the first Moro-dominated area in the south to host a PureGold branch.

He said the influx of investments in the city is partly because of the city government’s drive to attract business and to the improved

behavior of residents.

PureGold executives conducted interviews last Oct. 5-7 at the city hall here for batches of job seekers being processed through the city government’s employment program, Ibrahim said.

PureGold Mindanao area manager Ferdinand Binluan said their job offerings including management, supervisorial and utility works are available only for city residents in keeping with the culture of “symbiotic benefits.”

Sam Tampugao, a 23-year-old job applicant

from resident of Barangay Tamontaka, was all praises for the PureGold’s preference for city residents.

“I am happy because unemployed people like me are given the chance to earn a living and help our families,” said Tampugao, noting that “ jobless people are prone to hunger” and that “hungry ones tend to be angry.”

Officials of local business chambers and the city hall here say more than a hundred new big establishments ranging from hotels, food chains and other trading enterprises have opened businesses here this year alone.

As a result, there are more job openings in the private sector, complementing the recruitment in the government sector, notably by the regional offices of ARMM-affiliated agencies and those of the national government, officials of the Cotabato chamber and the city hall said.

Military to deploy more troops to Mindoro

By Robert A. Evora CALAPAN CITY—The Armed Forces of the Philippines will deploy more government troops to this island to end, by December 2016, the threat of the long-running insurgency war in Mindoro’s two provinces, even as some sectors are concerned this would not send the right message given the proximity of the 2016 elections.

The Oriental Mindoro provincial government and the military have agreed, through a Memorandum of Understanding, to end the “capabilities and violent activities” of the Communist Party of the Philippines, the National Democratic Front, and the New People’s Army by next year to “pave the way for further development,” military and civilian officials said.

Completed and ongoing devel-

opment projects in agriculture, infrastructure and social services, are often hampered by the on-andoff fighting between government forces and remnants of the rebel group.

Thus, “we have to put an end to this,” Oriental Mindoro Gov. Alfonso V. Umali Jr. said.

“There are still remaining elements of rebel armed groups which need to be addressed by the government. That is the main reason why the AFP will bring in more troops to this island,” Solcom commander, Lt. Gen. Ricardo R. Visaya, said.

The deployment of more government combatants to the two Mindoro provinces, however, does not sit well with concerned groups, saying that “why it coincides with the start of the election period and the 2016 local and national elections.”

General Visaya made it clear, however, that the deployment of augmentation forces to Mindoro is to “contain the remaining communist rebels still holding out in this island’s boondocks and not for anything else.”

“It has nothing to do with the coming election.”

The AFP is determined to “make it a peaceful election as we encourage local politicians to submit their plans. We’re talking to candidates not to give in to the financial demands of armed groups,” he said.

The Army augmentation force that will come from Camp Capinpin, in Tanay, Rizal, will beef up elements of the 203rd Infantry Brigade, of the Philippine Army, presently based here in Oriental Mindoro. The brigade’s area of operation also covers its sister province of Occidental Mindoro.

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

A8

OPINION

ADELLE CHUA EDITOR

lettertotheeditor@thestandard.com.ph

OPINION

MANAGING SDSDFDSF THE METROPOLIS

[ EDI TORI A L ]

PLUMBLINE PASTOR APOLLO QUIBOLOY

‘JUST AN OPINION’ WITH typical disregard for what is just and right, a spokesman for President Aquino last week dismissed a finding by a United Nations panel that the government violated international law and the human rights of former President Gloria Arroyo through its arbitrary, illegal and politically motivated detention of her since 2012.

The panel that the spokesman was so quick to dismiss as “just a group expressing an opinion” was the Working Group on Arbitrary Detention, composed of five recognized experts on international law and human rights. Working under the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, the panel is mandated to examine individual complaints regarding alleged cases of arbitrary detention, render its opinion and make its recommendations to the government involved.

In the course of its investigation, if the group considers that further information is required from the government or the complainant, then it may keep the case pending until that information is received.

In this instance, international human rights lawyer Amal Clooney filed a case on behalf of Mrs. Arroyo in February, questioning the government’s continued detention of the former president and its refusal to allow her to post bail, given that all her other coaccused in the same case had already been able to do so.

On June 15, the government filed its reply to Arroyo’s complaint through the Philippines Permanent Mission to the UN in Geneva, arguing that the former President’s detention was legal and the UN working group should dismiss the case.

The government’s participation in the proceedings before the working group was significant, because it was a tacit acknowledgment of its authority and expertise to render a legal opinion.

How that acknowledgment turned into a dismissal of the UN panel as “just a group” can be explained by this administration’s penchant to only follow the rules when they prove favorable, and to simply disregard them when they are not.

The UN Working Group itself observed this tendency when it highlighted Justice Secretary Leila de Lima’s defiance of the Supreme Court in November 2011, when she ordered a travel ban on Arroyo and prevented her from boarding a plane to seek medical treatment abroad.

It is the height of hypocrisy for this government to wave away the findings of the Working Group, yet take the country’s territorial complaint against China to a UN tribunal.

Should the judgment go against the Philippines, will the President’s mouthpiece once again dismiss a UN body as “just a group expressing an opinion?”

Regardless of the administration’s denials, the UN Working Group’s opinion on the Arroyo case marked the Philippines as a violator of human rights. This was a black mark on the country’s reputation—and it was the self-righteous President Aquino and his minions who put it there.

THE HORROR CALLED CHECKING IN PENSÉES FR. RANHILIO CALLANGAN AQUINO JUST when the harried probinsiyano like me starts to breathe more easily as he nears the airport, glad to be leaving behind him the monstrous traffic of Manila that provides daily evidence of official incompetence, he must face a no less daunting crucible—

A9

that horrible experience called “checking in.” I write of my experience as a frequent flier to and from Tuguegarao, the capital city of Cagayan. So, what I describe is not some isolated incident but what is disturbingly the common experience of all who are crammed into NAIA 3.

I regularly take Cebu Pacific because it has more flights to Tuguegarao, uses larger aircraft, and flies in and out of Tuguegarao earlier. Philippine Airlines by contrast arrives

late in the afternoon, if it ever arrives at all, and flies out five minutes before “sunset limitation” into the turbulent skies of late afternoon. Never mind that Cebu Pacific must routinely delay its departures because of traffic conditions at the airport. It is not to blame for that. Government is, for the gross stupidity of maintaining four terminals using only one or two runways!

It used to be the case that every destination had its own

What I describe is not some isolated incident but what is disturbingly the common experience of all who are crammed into NAIA 3.

counter, with other counters helping in whenever there was a surge in the number of passengers. But, contrary to all good sense, the company seems to have a “herd-fetish” because now, all passengers to all destinations, whether terrestrial or extraterrestrial, must mill

around the same counters.

And that long, agonizing wait is the piece de resistance of the perfectly honed scheme of torture visited on the passenger.

Every effort is made to keep the lines long, and the passengers cursing under their breath as they await their turn. No, it is not

that the personnel are overwhelmed. In fact it is not uncommon to see a group of them huddled in some corner taking up the spirited discussion left off by Parmenides and company: the insoluble problem of the one and the many!

As passengers mark the agonizingly slow march of minutes with children scampering, shrieking, peeing and pooping all around you, threatening to divest you of your last shred of sanity, your benevolent disposition notwithstanding, murder soon seems

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-

an attractive proposition when you see the employee at the “Last Call Counter” doing nothing because there are no last calls, smiling sympathetically at the passengers begging her to pay them heed, which she will never do because they are not on “last call”. In total disbelief, I watched as a counter clerk, who obviously had some trouble with a passenger’s ticket, had to consult another employee. The modern marvels of communication notwithstanding, he made use of stone-age means: he left his

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

desk, smiled sweetly at the bedraggled passengers, gave them a “pabebe” wave as he made his way to his superior’s lair. It was a full 20 minutes before he returned to his station and, from the look of puzzlement on his face, still bewildered by the very same problem that sent him wandering off in the first place. I was irate because I was next in line. Soon it was my turn, but as luck would have it, the computer system had to be rebooted at just that instant. This Continued on A10

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

IF ALL the new cars registered in Metro Manila in the first six months of this year were to be parked on Edsa, how much space would they occupy ?

Arrayed five abreast and bumper to bumper, they would occupy both the north and south bound sections of the 23.8-kilometer highway end to end.

When I first heard this calculation from a friend, on how the National Capital Region’s six-months’ worth of car registration, if paraded on Edsa, would turn it into a stagnant carpark, my first reaction was that of disbelief.

To convince me, my friend hurriedly scribbled some back-of-napkin calculation while we were waiting in a Makati building for both the rush-hour traffic and the flood water to subside outside.

Look, car sales this year would reach the 300,000 mark, was his preamble to his lecture.

“And if we follow the rule-of-thumb that one in three vehicles driven out of casas will spill onto Metro Manila’s streets, then that’s 100,000 adding to road constipation.”

Edsa is a 23.8-kilometer-long, or 23,800 meters, he explained, after Googling this factoid.

“If we round off the average length of a four-wheel motor vehicle to 5 meters, then one lane of Edsa, from Monumento to MOA, can contain 4,760 vehicles. Multiply it by 10 lanes, for both directions, then that would be 47,600 vehicles—or half of the projected number of new cars registered in Imperial Manila this year.”

This figure, he harrumphed, does not include the motorbikes sold, which, my friend stressed, “are being sold at bargainbasement prices .”

At that point, I did not know if my friend’s finger-math was accurate. But when in comes to traffic, you don’t need statistics to convince yourself of the cargameddon in our midst.

Now let’s ditch my friend’s imaginary crystal ball for official statistics.

The Chamber of Automotive Manufacturers of the Philippines and the Truck Manufacturers Association announced that automotive sales from January to September surged to 206,284 units from 169,727 units during the same period last year.

This prompted vehicle assemblers to giddily forecast that the year would close with total sales reaching 310,000, or 10,000 more than my friend’s guess.

As to size of the national car pool, Land Transportation Office statistics showed that of the 7.690 million motor vehicles registered in 2013, 2.101 million, or a whisker short of 30 percent, were registered in Metro Manila.

This count of course includes motorbikes 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 1 2 , 2 0 1 5

A8

OPINION

ADELLE CHUA EDITOR

lettertotheeditor@thestandard.com.ph

OPINION

MANAGING SDSDFDSF THE METROPOLIS

[ EDI TORI A L ]

PLUMBLINE PASTOR APOLLO QUIBOLOY

‘JUST AN OPINION’ WITH typical disregard for what is just and right, a spokesman for President Aquino last week dismissed a finding by a United Nations panel that the government violated international law and the human rights of former President Gloria Arroyo through its arbitrary, illegal and politically motivated detention of her since 2012.

The panel that the spokesman was so quick to dismiss as “just a group expressing an opinion” was the Working Group on Arbitrary Detention, composed of five recognized experts on international law and human rights. Working under the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, the panel is mandated to examine individual complaints regarding alleged cases of arbitrary detention, render its opinion and make its recommendations to the government involved.

In the course of its investigation, if the group considers that further information is required from the government or the complainant, then it may keep the case pending until that information is received.

In this instance, international human rights lawyer Amal Clooney filed a case on behalf of Mrs. Arroyo in February, questioning the government’s continued detention of the former president and its refusal to allow her to post bail, given that all her other coaccused in the same case had already been able to do so.

On June 15, the government filed its reply to Arroyo’s complaint through the Philippines Permanent Mission to the UN in Geneva, arguing that the former President’s detention was legal and the UN working group should dismiss the case.

The government’s participation in the proceedings before the working group was significant, because it was a tacit acknowledgment of its authority and expertise to render a legal opinion.

How that acknowledgment turned into a dismissal of the UN panel as “just a group” can be explained by this administration’s penchant to only follow the rules when they prove favorable, and to simply disregard them when they are not.

The UN Working Group itself observed this tendency when it highlighted Justice Secretary Leila de Lima’s defiance of the Supreme Court in November 2011, when she ordered a travel ban on Arroyo and prevented her from boarding a plane to seek medical treatment abroad.

It is the height of hypocrisy for this government to wave away the findings of the Working Group, yet take the country’s territorial complaint against China to a UN tribunal.

Should the judgment go against the Philippines, will the President’s mouthpiece once again dismiss a UN body as “just a group expressing an opinion?”

Regardless of the administration’s denials, the UN Working Group’s opinion on the Arroyo case marked the Philippines as a violator of human rights. This was a black mark on the country’s reputation—and it was the self-righteous President Aquino and his minions who put it there.

THE HORROR CALLED CHECKING IN PENSÉES FR. RANHILIO CALLANGAN AQUINO JUST when the harried probinsiyano like me starts to breathe more easily as he nears the airport, glad to be leaving behind him the monstrous traffic of Manila that provides daily evidence of official incompetence, he must face a no less daunting crucible—

A9

that horrible experience called “checking in.” I write of my experience as a frequent flier to and from Tuguegarao, the capital city of Cagayan. So, what I describe is not some isolated incident but what is disturbingly the common experience of all who are crammed into NAIA 3.

I regularly take Cebu Pacific because it has more flights to Tuguegarao, uses larger aircraft, and flies in and out of Tuguegarao earlier. Philippine Airlines by contrast arrives

late in the afternoon, if it ever arrives at all, and flies out five minutes before “sunset limitation” into the turbulent skies of late afternoon. Never mind that Cebu Pacific must routinely delay its departures because of traffic conditions at the airport. It is not to blame for that. Government is, for the gross stupidity of maintaining four terminals using only one or two runways!

It used to be the case that every destination had its own

What I describe is not some isolated incident but what is disturbingly the common experience of all who are crammed into NAIA 3.

counter, with other counters helping in whenever there was a surge in the number of passengers. But, contrary to all good sense, the company seems to have a “herd-fetish” because now, all passengers to all destinations, whether terrestrial or extraterrestrial, must mill

around the same counters.

And that long, agonizing wait is the piece de resistance of the perfectly honed scheme of torture visited on the passenger.

Every effort is made to keep the lines long, and the passengers cursing under their breath as they await their turn. No, it is not

that the personnel are overwhelmed. In fact it is not uncommon to see a group of them huddled in some corner taking up the spirited discussion left off by Parmenides and company: the insoluble problem of the one and the many!

As passengers mark the agonizingly slow march of minutes with children scampering, shrieking, peeing and pooping all around you, threatening to divest you of your last shred of sanity, your benevolent disposition notwithstanding, murder soon seems

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-

an attractive proposition when you see the employee at the “Last Call Counter” doing nothing because there are no last calls, smiling sympathetically at the passengers begging her to pay them heed, which she will never do because they are not on “last call”. In total disbelief, I watched as a counter clerk, who obviously had some trouble with a passenger’s ticket, had to consult another employee. The modern marvels of communication notwithstanding, he made use of stone-age means: he left his

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

desk, smiled sweetly at the bedraggled passengers, gave them a “pabebe” wave as he made his way to his superior’s lair. It was a full 20 minutes before he returned to his station and, from the look of puzzlement on his face, still bewildered by the very same problem that sent him wandering off in the first place. I was irate because I was next in line. Soon it was my turn, but as luck would have it, the computer system had to be rebooted at just that instant. This Continued on A10

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

IF ALL the new cars registered in Metro Manila in the first six months of this year were to be parked on Edsa, how much space would they occupy ?

Arrayed five abreast and bumper to bumper, they would occupy both the north and south bound sections of the 23.8-kilometer highway end to end.

When I first heard this calculation from a friend, on how the National Capital Region’s six-months’ worth of car registration, if paraded on Edsa, would turn it into a stagnant carpark, my first reaction was that of disbelief.

To convince me, my friend hurriedly scribbled some back-of-napkin calculation while we were waiting in a Makati building for both the rush-hour traffic and the flood water to subside outside.

Look, car sales this year would reach the 300,000 mark, was his preamble to his lecture.

“And if we follow the rule-of-thumb that one in three vehicles driven out of casas will spill onto Metro Manila’s streets, then that’s 100,000 adding to road constipation.”

Edsa is a 23.8-kilometer-long, or 23,800 meters, he explained, after Googling this factoid.

“If we round off the average length of a four-wheel motor vehicle to 5 meters, then one lane of Edsa, from Monumento to MOA, can contain 4,760 vehicles. Multiply it by 10 lanes, for both directions, then that would be 47,600 vehicles—or half of the projected number of new cars registered in Imperial Manila this year.”

This figure, he harrumphed, does not include the motorbikes sold, which, my friend stressed, “are being sold at bargainbasement prices .”

At that point, I did not know if my friend’s finger-math was accurate. But when in comes to traffic, you don’t need statistics to convince yourself of the cargameddon in our midst.

Now let’s ditch my friend’s imaginary crystal ball for official statistics.

The Chamber of Automotive Manufacturers of the Philippines and the Truck Manufacturers Association announced that automotive sales from January to September surged to 206,284 units from 169,727 units during the same period last year.

This prompted vehicle assemblers to giddily forecast that the year would close with total sales reaching 310,000, or 10,000 more than my friend’s guess.

As to size of the national car pool, Land Transportation Office statistics showed that of the 7.690 million motor vehicles registered in 2013, 2.101 million, or a whisker short of 30 percent, were registered in Metro Manila.

This count of course includes motorbikes 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 POLITICS AND ARROYO’S DETENTION THE United OUT OF THE Nations Working BOX Group on Arbitrary Detention has RITA LINDA rendered an V. JIMENO opinion that former President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo’s continued detention violates international laws on human rights. According to international human rights lawyer, Amal Alamuddin-Clooney, the UN body viewed Arroyo’s detention as politically motivated. On the other hand, the Office of the President has maintained that former President Arroyo has been accorded due process under the law and has availed herself of all legal remedies. He said that neither the Philippine government nor any international body can interfere with the ongoing judicial process in the Sandiganbayan.

Who will prevail in this apparent clash between a Philippine court that handles Arroyo’s case and the United Nations of which the Philippines is a member?

Legally, there is no real clash because the UN body can only give an opinion which it, in fact, gave. It cannot order a Philippine court to rule one way or the Although the UN other. An opinion, technically, has no body’s opinion that binding effect on a Arroyo’s detention local court because even the Philippine violates human rights g o v e r n m e n t does not carry a binding cannot order the effect on our courts, it Sandiganbayan how it should rule. causes embarrassment to the Philippine The Philippine Constitution government. guarantees the independence of one branch of government from the two others.

However, the former President has reason to question her continued detention. For one, as explained by lawyer and former law dean, Antonio Abad, Arroyo was denied her right to equal protection under the law. The equal protection clause in the Philippine Constitution guarantees equality of rights among persons similarly classified. It will be recalled that Arroyo, along with former Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office directors, Manuel Morato, Rey Roquero and Jose Taruc V, and former Commission on Audit Chairman Reynaldo Villar, were charged with conspiracy in committing plunder involving P366-million intelligence funds of the sweepstakes office. Conspiracy means the act of one is the act of all. Yet, while all her co-accused in the case for plunder were granted bail and later, their motions to dismiss the charges against them by way of a demurrer to evidence were likewise granted, Arroyo’s petition for bail and her Motion to dismiss were both denied by the Sandiganbayan. Thus, all of Arroyo’s alleged co-conspirators have been freed while she alone remains in detention. Dean Abad was correct in saying that Arroyo’s right to the equal protection of laws guaranteed by the Constitution to the citizens have been violated.

Moreover, it will be recalled that Senator Juan Ponce Enrile, formerly detained for the crime of plunder as well, was granted bail several months ago for humanitarian reasons. Arroyo, for her part, has been reportedly suffering from cervical spondylosis, a degenerative disease of the bones and cartilage of the neck. Her doctors at the Veterans Memorial

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OPINION

lettertotheeditor@thestandard.com.ph

A PEACE PRIZE FOR TUNISIA’S EXCEPTIONALISM

By Noah Feldman THE quartet of Tunisian civil society leaders who won the Nobel Peace Prize on Friday played an important part in the country’s thus-far successful democratic, constitutional revolution. But their role was no more decisive than that of the leaders who shepherded the country from the Arab Spring protests to the election of the constituent assembly, or of the elected assembly members who produced, negotiated and ratified a liberal democratic constitution.

The best way to think about it is that the Nobel committee wanted to reward the Tunisian people for being the only Arab state to have achieved democracy since the regional upheaval in 2011, and they picked the civil society leaders as the stand-in.

The Peace Prize is being given to the Tunisian exception.

Seen as a victory for Tunisia as a whole, the prize is extremely well deserved. Nothing produces peace better than a domestic constitutional process in which elected representatives of stakeholders negotiate patiently to reach consensus.

A quick look at Egypt, where elections failed to produce durable democracy, and the constitutional process was hijacked by all sides in turn, should show how remarkable Tunisia is. In Syria, things are much worse, and the Arab Spring produced nothing but vicious civil war.

What went right in Tunisia? The Nobel committee isn’t wrong to think that a robust civil society contributed significantly to the conditions that allowed negotiation to succeed.

It’s worth noting that all four organizations—the general labor union, which includes many teachers; the trade union; the human rights league; and the lawyers’ association—grew into prominence under the authoritarian presidencies of Habib Bourguiba

THE HORROR... From A9 gave the counter clerk the excuse to take one more excursion, this time to check on the latest escapade of Alden and Yaya Dub. Soon there were giggles in one corner where airline employees had once more congregated, this time to speculate on the reasons that Nora Aunor was not running for President.

The result was nothing less than a long line of annoyed passengers dangerously nurturing a taste for lynching, with only three counters attending to them.

Another clerk finally arrived.

She was cheerful and courteous but impertinent. Aside from asking me to recite a litany of what I had packed into my luggage, she read off a list

and Zine El Abidine Ben Ali. All dictatorships aren’t created equal.

The Tunisian regimes from 1957 to 2011 drastically limited basic rights, and jailed and tortured opponents.

High-level corruption was endemic. Yet unlike the dictators in Egypt or Syria or Iraq, these regimes worked out a complex relationship with civil society institutions, allowing them to organize in exchange for their willingness to live with the regime. Protests by the labor union took place under Ben Ali, and supporters of the union will sometimes say they laid the groundwork for the Arab Spring protests.

At the same time, civil society alone can’t account for the Tunisian exception. Some credit also goes to a culture of political consensus. During my multiple visits Tunisia to observe the constitutional process, I was constantly told by the delegates that they felt a powerful impulse from the expectations of their constituents that they reach a result the overwhelming majority of Tunisians could live with.

The origins of political culture are always hard to pin down, and Tunisia’s need for consensus is no exception.

But it’s probably fair to say that the revolutionary period against France helped create a sense of national unity. Tunisia is very small, which can contribute to a sense of collective identity. (But doesn’t always: see Lebanon.)

Tunisia also has the legacy of the first constitution in any Arabicspeaking country, dating back to 1861. Although I was frequently struck by how little the delegates referred to that history, nonetheless it shows that at least the idea of elite cohesion in a fundamental agreement has deep roots.

But the most decisive feature of the Tunisian exception, arguably slighted by the Nobel committee, is that the potential for conflict between secularists and Islamists was reined in repeatedly by acts of

compromise and realistic negotiation on both sides. Key to this process was Rashid Ghannouchi, an Islamic democrat who went from being an important theorist of how Islam can be compatible with democracy to the leader of the movement and party known as Ennahda, the Renaissance.

At several crucial moments, Ennahda under Ghannouchi chose to pursue concession rather than going for a maximal role for Islam in the constitution. After protests in 2012, Ennahda decided to remove Shariah from its constitutional draft or ideology. And after the killing of prominent leftists led to further protests and crisis, Ennahda, which had been democratically elected as the plurality party in the assembly, agreed to resign from the government.

As for the secularists, they deserve credit for treating Ennahda as a genuine, legitimate, democratically elected political force.

Comparing Tunisia to Egypt emphasizes how enormously important these decisions were. The Egyptian Muslim Brotherhood tried to govern without much compromise.

Faced with protests against it, it rammed through a constitution by a bare majority that had no chance of achieving consensus. The Egyptian army ultimately decided not to compromise with the Brotherhood and to remove it from power in a coup.

Ghannouchi has been criticized by hard-line Salafists, who think he sold out Islam, and many secularists continue to think he’s secretly a hard-liner himself. The truth is that Ghannouchi, whose party voluntarily resigned and was perfectly happy to run in and lose a national election, is the architect of a liberal democratic Islamic model that offers just the alternative to radicalism that Westerners and secularists alike claim to be looking for.

He may never win the Nobel himself.

But without him, Tunisia couldn’t have won it either. Bloomberg

of endangered species that I might have concealed in my bags: parrots, cockatiels, hedgehogs, chimpanzees, moon bears, gorillas! I preempted her on what I correctly foresaw were the next questions: Did I have open heart surgery lately, or probably a brain replacement? Even before I was asked, I gave assurances I was no zombie. The passenger in front of the neighboring kiosk was not as fortunate. The clerk wanted to be assured of her health in embarrassing detail: Any lumps anywhere? Did her last sexual activity compromise her cardiac functioning? Was she in full possession of her mental faculties? I wonder why passengers must be harassed by questions like this that would better be asked of candidates for public office!

Finally, I made my way to the assigned gate, my cabin bag in tow, and clutching a bag of pasalubongs with my free hand. Finding an empty seat, I plopped down, thankful that my ordeal had come to an end, but the canticle of gratitude came too soon.

Not long after, we were told that the gate assignment had been changed, and we were to haul ourselves up a flight of steps to another gate.

This time there were no more seats available, because, in its supreme wisdom, airport management had decided that it would make for a tourist attraction to have all passengers of 20 destinations waiting at the same gate!

Delightful, don’t you think?

Hospital have said too that she has been complaining of weakness, pain in her left shoulder, numbness of both hands and frequent choking. If Enrile was granted bail on humanitarian grounds, this should strengthen Arroyo’s petition for bail on top of the legal argument that she is entitled to equal protection of laws guaranteed by the Constitution. Although the UN body’s opinion that Arroyo’s detention violates

rannie_aquino@sanbeda.edu.ph rannie_aquino@csu.edu.ph

human rights does not carry a binding effect on our courts, at the very least, it causes embarrassment to the Philippine government. It has just been given the burden of proving that politics has nothing to do with Arroyo’s continued detention.

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

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OPINION lettertotheeditor@thestandard.com.ph

THE DEMONSTRATION EFFECT ONE of the social phenomena we learned in economic development is called the “demonstration effect.” Broadly described, it refers to public motivations when engaging in economic activity, whether it is a choice of products to consume or spending patterns, as it is in flows of investment.

Call it “aspirational” as marketing specialists describe—consumers buy a product or service because they have seen it used or patronized by others in a socio-economic class they aspire to one day be part of.

In fine, the class or group they aspire to be part of “demonstrate” to them.

The same demonstration effect may likewise affect how our people these days view the kind of society we live in. Our people (or most of them, particularly the nonsenior citizens) now aspire for a society similar to those they have been exposed to, either as an overseas Filipino worker, a traveler, or even through the information highway. In recent years, with the exponential increase

MANAGING... From A9 and tricycles. The latter numbered 4.250 million—two years ago. The jeepneys are no longer the kings of the road, long been sideswiped by the swarm of motorcyles.

The buses, which ought to be a vital cog of mass transport, is in the minority too , accounting for 1.8 percent of the total.

Based on data, these people carriers are not the main culprit of NCR road congestion. But this is not to say that they can’t clog roads. In fact, a few of them are Occupy Edsa stalwarts.

So what’s my point in rattling off these numbers? I am tying these to the role of the head of the Metro Manila Development

in social media usage, this demonstration effect has become more pronounced.

Through the eyes of our OFWs, which they recount to their kin and friends back home, they see a polity where things work, where rules are followed, where laws are not made to be broken but are strictly enforced. And they marvel at the quantum leap in progress achieved by the kind of polity where law and order is a given.

The Filipino diaspora, now almost four decades old, even longer when we look at the Filipino communities in North America, has created a clear demonstration effect on the minds and aspirations of family and members back home. If things work in Singapore, or Hong Kong, Europe, some affluent Middle Eastern countries, and elsewhere, what is it in the Philippines back home that is not working?

Eventually they realize that it is the breakdown of law and order, that it is the utter lack of discipline, the lack of national purpose which hobble the path for Authority, now recently vacated.

Whoever will be appointed will not just assume a thankless job but also the crown and scepter of being the national “kontrabida.”

To be an MMDA chairman is to be a national punching bag, whiplashed by cruel memes, constantly smacked in social media.

There are systemic problems in the megapolis that will be pinned on him, but whose roots can be traced to the design of the governance software long passé and outdated.

One, NCR is Balkanized into several republics. One set of rules doesn’t seamlessly pass throughout this warren of 17 local

#FAILOCRACY

SO I SEE LITO BANAYO meaningful growth, and a development where everyone has his share of benefits.

And examining further, the overseas Filipino discovers that in these countries, it all began with the right kind of leadership.

Thus, we see Filipinos from all walks of life, here and all over the world post in their Facebook pages a growing clamor for a different kind of leadership come 2016— leadership that is proven in terms of experience, competence and character.

There is another component to this demonstration effect.

Our people see that in the countries where progress has grown through the years, there is a realized egalitarianism, where being a citizen or a resident entitles one to the same benefits and quality of services as the rich and upwardly mobile enjoy.

On a trip to Italy last year, a long-time Filipino resident governments. A traffic fine in one city costs triple in the other.

One LGU will tolerate street parking, for a fee. In another, cars are towed, for a fine.

While the conveyor belt of the motor vehicle industrial complex would disgorge its output on Metro Manila streets, MMDA has no power nor the funds to build more roads, which is the province of the DPWH. Increasing NCR’s roadcarrying capacity is not its primary mandate. Yes, MMDA can direct traffic, but what if the sheer volume of cars have overwhelmed city streets?

What if we now have a de facto unmanageable vehicular surplus in the nation’s capital?

there shared his experiences with us. Sure, Italy is not exactly a model of efficiency and great wealth such as Germany or Switzerland, he explained, but here, when you get sick, the public hospitals are world-class, and everything is chargeable to public health insurance.

Education is free, although books can be expensive, but it is not like the public school system in our country, said he, where unless your kid excels in class, a public school education is looked down upon even for entry to the State University. Honest toil gets you somewhere, he said. The guy was a driver for mostly Philippine tourists who rent a van to travel all over Europe, and acts as an excellent tourist guide as well. Without tips, he earns the equivalent of some P180,000 a month. Can you imagine a driver getting even a third of that in this country, and not having to worry about getting quality education for his children and health care for himself and family? Sure the taxes are high, but you get back

your money’s worth. Back home, he says, the VAT is just about the same, and the income taxes are even more regressive, but what do you get in return?

The demonstration effect has produced a citizenry more awake to the realities of a world without borders, and compare how life has become back home.

Predictable growth and social development versus a “brokedown” society and unending deterioration in the quality of life.

In 2016, during the campaign that Filipinos here and abroad will follow keenly, and when they finally cast their choice of the next leader, this phenomenon will truly engage their minds and hearts.

Candidates for public office who think of poor voters as “command-driven” and peddle the same old promises the “trapo” way, treating the Filipino voter as unintelligent fools who can be hoodwinked by money and machinery, will have their comeuppance after May 9, 2016.

What if, as my friend had illustrated, a mere half-a-year’s worth of new car registration, all parked on Edsa occupies its entire stretch, then what can MMDA do?

A good train system would have provided an escape valve to depressurize NCR’s traffic.

Again, the MMDA has no say on MRT’s operation. Worse, the floundering trains’ human overflow constantly spill onto the roads managed by the overworked men in blue.

Against these challenges, the MMDA can only provide palliative care, and with abbreviated relief at that.

Metro Manila’s mess is the elephant in the national living

room. Presidential hopefuls must have a cogent plan on how to end the daily torture 12 million people have to undergo daily.

Prescriptions which go beyond bashing, because repeating the problem is not solving it. Merely reciting the obvious is to provide superfluous commentary. What’s needed is an action plan, not annotation.

The next commander-inchief will have to serve as the NCR’s CEO, or at least coCEO. He or she has to clean the imperial front yard, making it a shining city on the hill, before he or she can convince the rest of the country that the miracle done in NCR can and will be replicated.

CHONG ARDIVILLA

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sports sports@thestandard.com.ph

US wins emotional Presidents Cup INCHEON—The United States on Sunday won their sixth Presidents Cup in a row by edging out the International team 15.5-14.5 in a day of high drama and emotion.

Bill Haas brought tears to the eyes of his father, US captain Jay Haas, when he closed out the slender victory on the 18th hole of a nail-biting final singles match, beating hometown hero Bae Sang-Moon at the Jack Nicklaus Golf Club in Incheon, South Korea.

Fighting back his emotions, Haas senior said: “Yeah, I don’t know if I’m going to get through this. I can’t,” and then burst into tears, his voice breaking.

“Before Bill played 17, and I said, ‘Come on, Bill, win one for your mom here. Your mom deserves this’.”

It was heartbreak for Bae and the

huge home galleries watching as he fluffed a chip from short of the green attempting to win the hole and square the match, which would have given the Internationals a 1515 tie and a share of the cup for only the second time.

Haas was in the greenside sand but safely escaped to six feet, and when Bae could not hole his fourth he conceded the match to the American.

It was a dramatic denouement to a see-saw day in which the US at

one point had looked firmly in the driving seat.

Midway through the final 12 singles the US led in eight matches and were all square in two others needing just six points to secure the golden trophy for the ninth time in the event’s 11th edition.

Slowly but surely the Internationals reeled in their opponents to set up a nail-biting finish that had seemed highly unlikely when the US had raced to a 4-1 lead after Thursday’s foursomes.

US team players Jordan Spieth (center), Bubba Watson (third from right) and Rickie Fowler (second from right) pose with International Team supporters on the 18th hole after the final round singles matches at the 2015 Presidents Cup at the Jack Nicklaus Golf Club in Incheon, west of Seoul. AFP

Cubs level NL series with Cards LOS ANGELES—Jorge Soler’s home run capped a five-run second inning as the Chicago Cubs beat the St. Louis Cardinals 6-3 to even their National League playoff series at one game each.

Left-handed pitcher Travis Wood recorded the victory with 2 1/3 innings of relief, allowing just one hit and striking out two for the Cubs, who have won 10 of their last 11 games with the majority of those victories coming on the road.

Right-hander Trevor Cahill and closer Hector Rondon got the final six outs of Saturday’s game, with Rondon notching the save in front of a crowd of 48,000 at Busch Stadium.

Game three of the best-of-five Division Series is Monday at Chicago’s Wrigley Field, with 22-game winner Jake Arrieta taking the mound for the Cubs against Cardinals right-hander Michael Wacha.

St. Louis starter Jaime Garcia took the loss, leaving after two innings with what officials said was a stomach virus.

Garcia, who was making his first start against the Cubs this season, surrendered four hits and five runs, walking one and striking out two batters. AFP

Wawrinka too much for Paire, bags title TOKYO —Top seed Stan Wawrinka won the Japan Open after thrashing Frenchman Benoit Paire 6-2, 6-4 in a one-sided final to capture his fourth title of the year.

French Open champion Wawrinka needed just 65 minutes to complete victory in Tokyo with Paire, who underwent a scan on his swollen left ankle before the match, clearly struggling.

Fierce pressure from Wawrinka earned the Swiss a break for 4-2 in the first set and he pressed home his advantage with a thumping crosscourt forehand which wrong-footed his close friend Paire.

With little left in the tank after toppling defending champion Kei Nishikori in Saturday’s semi-finals, Paire took a tumble early in the second set but gamely battled on despite his obvious discomfort.

The “lucky” sneakers held together by tape he wore in his victory over Nishikori granted Paire no such mystical powers against Wawrinka as he looked to become the first Swiss to win the Japan Open since Roger Federer in 2006.

Several times Wawrinka’s dipping one-handed backhand, one of the most potent weapons in men’s tennis, fizzed past a grimacing Paire, who finally succumbed with a double-fault on match point.

Wawrinka, who has won 11 career titles, is a perfect 4-0 in finals this year after winning in Chennai, Rotterdam and Roland Garros.

Stan Wawrinka of Switzerland hits a return against Benoit Paire of France during their men’s singles final match at the Japan Open tennis tournament in Tokyo. AFP

Cavaliers’ Love feeling good after full practice LOS ANGELES—Cleveland Cavaliers forward Kevin Love said Saturday he “felt good” after his first full-court, fullcontact practice since he dislocated his left shoulder in April.

“I felt good,” Love said in comments posted on the NBA team’s website from the team’s training camp in Ohio.

“Just getting into the rhythm of the plays more than anything, just getting my legs under me and contact -- five-on-five felt really good.”

Love was injured in the Cavaliers’ first-round playoff series against the Boston Celtics.

He needed surgery and has been painstakingly working his way back since.

He admitted he had been “pretty anxious” for a chance to join in full-court practice during the team’s training camp.

“As far as progressing from the pad into one-onone, to three-on-three, I was ready to get back out there in five-on-five.

“As time goes I’ll get more and more accustomed to being out there playing, but today was the first step.”

Love is hoping he’ll be read for the Cavaliers’ season-opener on October 27.

Cavaliers superstar LeBron James was pleased with what he saw from Love, whose return will bring added inside strength and rebounding. AFP

Pedrosa takes Japan GP; Rossi places 2nd MOTEGI—Dani Pedrosa came from behind to grab his first win of the season in stunning fashion at the Japan Grand Prix Sunday, while championship leader Valentino Rossi finished second.

The Spanish Honda rider clocked 46min 50.767sec, 8.573sec ahead of Rossi on Yamaha and 12.127sec in front of Rossi’s team-mate Jorge Lorenzo.

The results meant the Italian stretched his championship points lead over Lorenzo to 18, with three races to go.

Pedrosa, who was placed fourth early in the race, stunned rivals and spectators with an electrifying charge from lap 15 of the 24-lap race.

He stormed past Rossi and then Lorenzo two laps later.

“I couldn’t go fast in the beginning,” Pedrosa said.

“But at the end my pace was faster and could win the race. I am very happy.”

Lorenzo controlled the first half of the race as drizzle fell and appeared destined for another victory.

The Spanish Yamaha rider, who won the Japan Grand Prix in 2014, 2013 and 2009 and finished second in 2012 and 2011, went wide on the first corner after the start and allowed Rossi briefly to take the lead. AFP

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sports sports@thestandard.com.ph

Petron’s Brazilian import Inck Furtado smashes one against Cignal defenders in a Superliga Grand Prix game won by the HD Spikers, 18-25, 17-25, 25-16, 25-18, 16-14, Saturday at the Alonte Sports Arena. ROMAN PROSPERO

PH poised to host world volley tilt INTERNATIONAL Volleyball Federation executive council member Stav Jacobi sat down with the country’s top volleyball executives and pushed them to prepare for the country’s possible hosting of the FIVB World Women’s Club Championship in October next year.

The meeting yielded a very positive result.

Philippine Superliga president Ramon Suzara yesterday bared that the Philippines has a very good chance of hosting the prestigious world tourney after Jacobi was impressed with the competition venue and hotels that would accommodate the world’s top volleyball players, coaches and officials arriving for the 10-day battle.

Aside from Suzara, Jacobi also sat down with PSL chairman Philip Ella Juico, Sports 5 president Vincent Reyes and Larong Volleyball sa Pilipinas, Inc. vice president Peter Cayco, who threw the federation’s

all-our support behind the massive endeavor.

Jacobi -- the owner of a top-flight European club team in Volero Zurich and FIVB’s in-charge of the World Women’s Club tourney -- also visited the Mall of Asia Arena, Solaire Resort and Casino, and Sofitel Philippine Plaza Hotel.

He also served as guest of honor in the opening of the 2015 Philippine Superliga Grand Prix at the Alonte Sports Arena in Binan, Laguna where he got a clear view of the Filipinos’ passion for women’s volleyball.

“He liked what he saw,” said Suzara, also an FIVB executive council member and chairman of the marketing

and development committee of the Asian Volleyball Confederation.

Suzara added that the country needs at least P100 million to host the top-caliber tournament, where top club teams from Brazil, Serbia, Russia, Turkey, Italy and the United States are competing for pride and prestige.

“Our meeting turned out to be very positive. Mr. Jacobi laid down all the FIVB requirements and all the stakeholders involved are all willing to comply. I think we have a very good chance. It’s just a matter of working hard and making sure that everything is covered.”

Jacobi validated Suzara’s claim, saying that he was surprised with the facilities and the massive crowd that trooped to the venue to witness the PSL’s opening-day salvo featuring Cignal against reigning champion Petron and Foton against Meralco over the weekend.

La Salle, OB Montessori, Ateneo girls stay ahead ATENEO, La Salle Zobel and OB Montessori Las Pinas remained in full control after two rounds of competition in the girls’ division of the ICTSI-JGFP InterSchool Golf Championships at the Ayala Greenfield course in Calamba, Laguna recently.

Nikki Bruce fired 38 points and Yeun Jae Baek made 27 as Ateneo posted a 65 to break away from La Salle by 82 points with a 119 total in the Girls’ 1 (college) division of the tourney backed by the International Container Terminal Services, Inc. Foundation and organized by the Jungolf Foundation of the Philippines.

Parading ICTSI pool teammates Bernice Ilas and Pauline del Rosario who made 48 apiece, La Salle Zobel chalked up 96 for 194 and a commanding 32-point lead over Immacu-

late Concepcion Academy’s Mariel Tee and Tomita Arejola. Tee had 42 and Arejola 38 for 80-162.

OB Montessori’s Burberry Zhang added a 37 to her previous 45 for 82 and a ninepoint advantage over La Salle Zobel’s Laurea Duque.

The other sponsors of the event are the Philippine Golf Foundation, Philippine Airlines, Cleantech, Cleanpak and Inquirer Golf.

St. Pauls Pasig actually set the most points for the round with Missy Legaspi shooting a 55 and recently turned national player Annika Cedo adding a 47 for 102.

But SPP did not play the first round and will have to play the remaining three rounds to remain in contention as the format calls for the best four rounds out of five to be counted.

The tourney resumes with the Juniors playing at Valley and the girls at Aguinaldo.

Southwoods crowned PAL champ a 5th time BACOLOD CITY – Manila Southwoods Masters rode on Abegail Arevalo’s 54 points to capture its fifth straight championship in the 10th Philippine Airlines Ladies Interclub Saturday at the Negros Occidental Golf and Country Club course.

Arevalo, bouncing from a pedestrian 49 points on the opening round, sizzled with six birdies against two bogeys for a tournament best four-under par 68.

“I was very disappointed with my play in the first round, but I knew I could play much better.

Today, I proved it,” said Arevalo who won two international tournaments this year.

The final day charge also earned Arevalo the individual title, edging Lois Kaye Go via countback.

Both finished with 107 points.

Southwoods, two points ahead at the start of the day, again outscored CCC by two points in the final round to finish the event with 559 points,

four points clear of CCC. The other scorers were Maria Sofia Chabon 50, Loralie Roberto 46, Annika Guangko 44, Missy Legaspi 43 and Ong 40.

Go had 53 points as CCC scored 279 points. Other players who counted for CCC were Junia Gabasa 52, Mary Kim Hong 51, Crystal Faith Neri 46, Josephine Siguan 39 and Riko Nagai 38.

Alabang Country Club and Valley Golf Club won the Founders and Sportswriters divisions in overpowering fashions while Lady Eagles Australia topped the Friendship class.

ACC put together rounds of 219 and 253 to finish with 472 points, 26 points clear of Camp Aguinaldo. Manila Golf settled for third place.

Valley, on the other hand, posted a similar 26-point win over NOGCC after totalling 452 Members of the champion Southwoods take a selfie after their win. points. Bacolod placed third with 407.

CYAN MAGENTA YELLOW BLACK

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SPORTS sports@thestandard.com.ph

Ultera spikers sink Coast Guard ALYSSA Valdez-less PLDT Home Ultera sank Philippine Coast Guard, 25-10, 25-11, 25-20, yesterday to jumpstart its title bid in the Shakey’s V-League Season 12-Reinforced Conference at The Arena in San Juan City.

Newly picked Janine Marciano paced her team with 13 hits while Laurence Ann Latigay unloaded 12 as the Ultrafast Lady Spikers, who beat the

Armylast May to snare, the Collegiate Conference championship, booked their first victory.

Reigning Third Conference

MVP Aiza Maizo-Pontillas, who was acquired from defending champion Cagayan Valley along with Marciano, had a quiet debut for PLDT with seven hits.

“We’re still missing some players. Hopefully we’ll be complete soon,” said PLDT Home Ultera coach Roger Gorayeb.

PLDT played with just 10 of

the 14 players allowed and is still missing its top two players Valdez, who has yet to suit up because she is still playing in the ongoing UAAP beach volleyball competition, and reigning NCAA MVP Gretchel Soltones, who sat out due to studies.

Skipper Suzanne Roces, Charo Soriano and Rysabelle Devanadera helped in plug-

ging the holes left by Valdez and Soltones as the theree combined for 17 points while doing most of the defensive chores.

Rossan Fajardo paced the Lady Dolphins with 10.

Game Saturday (The Arena, San Juan) 12:45 p.m.- Coast Guard vs Navy

Future Gilas BIDS AND AWARDS COMMITTEE – HEAD OFFICE INVITATION TO BID 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 requirements: Approved Budget for the Contract (ABC) Name of Requirement/Brief Description (VAT Inclusive) Supply and Delivery of Various Printer Consumables, as per BSP Technical Specifications and Terms of Reference:

PhP3,746,000.00 ==============

Lot 1 – Consumables for Brother HL-4570CDW Laser Printer No.

Qty.

Item /s

1

150 p cs.

2

110 p cs Toner Cartridge, Brother, TN-348C,Cyan (up to 6,000 pages)

3

13 0 pcs.

Toner Cartridge, Brother, TN-348M,Magenta (up to 6,000 pages)

4

115 pcs.

Toner Cartridge, Brother, TN-348Y,Yellow (up to 6,000 pages)

5

45 p cs.

Drum Kit, Brother, DR-340CL (up to 6,000 pages)

Toner Cartridge, Brother, TN-348BK, Black (up to 6,000 pages)

Lot 2 – Consumables for Fuji Xerox DocuPrint C2200 Laser Printer No.

Qty.

Item/s

1

100 pcs. Toner Cartridge, Fuji Xerox CT350674, Black (up to 9,000 pages)

2

15 pcs.

Toner Cartridge, Fuji Xerox, CT350675, Cyan (up to 9,000 pages)

3

25 pcs.

Toner Cartridge, Fuji Xerox, CT350676, Magenta (up to 9,000 pages)

4

15 pcs.

Toner Cartridge, CT350677, Yellow (up to 9,000 pages)

5

15 units

Belt Unit, Fuji Xerox, EL300727 (up to 100,000 pages)

6

10 pcs

Fuser Unit, Fuji Xerox, EL300729 (up to 100,000 pages)

Lot 3 – Consumables for Canon i-Sensys LBP7780Cx Laser Printer No.

Qty.

Item/s

1

250 cartridges cts.)

Toner Cartridge, Canon 332-II, Black (up to 12,000 pages)

2

60 cts.

Toner Cartridge, Canon 332, Cyan (up to 6,400 pages)

3

60 cts.

Toner Cartridge, Canon 332, Magenta (up to 6,400 pages)

4

60 cts.

Toner Cartridge, Canon 332, Yellow (up to 6,400 pages)

Lot 4 – Consumables for Lexmark 2581 + Forms Printer (dot matrix) I t e m No. 1

Qty.

Item/s

PhP1,648,000.00 ==============

Php4,492,710.00 =================

IT’S called reality.

Why in the world would business competitors help each other? Because it’s for a national cause?

How many business entities have been involved in this supposed “national cause”? Check the jerseys, billboards, TV, radio and print ads and you tell me that the interest of our nation is the one at stake.

Whether it was profitable, break even or a losing proposition is none of our business because private money was spent in this project.

Is the current leadership exploiting Gilas to gain sponsorships for the team via advertising? I don’t think so, simply because the conglomerate currently backing the team spent millions to form support our national team.

For doing so, methinks they have earned some privilege to find ways how to recoup a few millions of the money they spent for the team.

On the other hand, other team owners are being accused of treachery for supposedly not allowing their top players to be part of the national

training pool? Not really because again, the PBA is all about business.

Companies join the PBA to promote their products which in the process will benefit their employees.

And all teams in the PBA employ hundreds of thousands of Filipinos here and abroad. Now who is unpatriotic?

Team owners, however, can start convincing themselves support a national team that will be composed of young, non-PBA talents who will be playing together in the next 3-5 years.

The idea is to name a pool composed of 15-20 players carefully chosen by a coaching staff that will exclusively be coaching the team for the next five years.

The agreement among PBA teams is that no one among the training pool members will be allowed to join the rookie draft until they turn 25 years old.

If one player is chosen but refuses to join the pool, he will technically be considered a national team material, but because of his refusal to join the squad, he will only be allowed to enter the PBA at age 25.

Through this, PBA teams, specifically those having high picks, would

not be tempted to convince a future PBA star to snub a national team invite and directly join the draft.

Now for national team players, who are concerned about their future financially, the PBA could probably make exemptions to these rookies by making them eligible to receive the maximum allowable salary once they complete their mission with the national team.

The PBA will greatly benefit from this proposal since most of their potential first-round picks in every draft have already built a name and huge following for being longtime members of the national team.

The sacrifice for the PBA would be in the first two years where the first two rookie drafts will most likely be bereft of talent.

Looking at the basketball landscape the next two to three years, don’t you think the likes of Kiefer Ravena, Ray Parks, Mac Belo, Kevin Ferrer, Jeron Teng, Arnold Van Opstal, Matthew Aquino, Arvin Tolentino, together with a naturalized player, a handful of Fil-foreigners and possibly Jordan Clarkson can form a potent Pilipinas national team?

Php255,440.00 =============

310 cts. Ribbon Cartridge, Lexmark Part No. 3070169 (11A3550) (up to 8 Million characters)

Contract Duration: Per issued Delivery Order Contract/s 1.

This project shall be procured through an Ordering Agreement arrangement for a period of one (1) year, in accordance with the Revised Guidelines on the Use of Ordering Agreement under GPPB Resolution No. 01-2012 dated 27 January 2012.

2.

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.

The bidding is restricted to Filipino citizen/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.

4.

All particulars and activities relative to Eligibility of Bidders, 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).

a.

Activities Issuance of Bid Documents

b.

Pre-bid Conference

c.

Opening of Bids

1.

Schedule/Location Starting 12 October 2015 (from 9:00 A.M. to 2:00 P.M. only) Procurement Office, Room 212, 2/F, 5-Storey Bldg., BSP Main Complex, Malate, Manila Tel. / Fax Nos. 306-2229; 708-7115 23 October 2015; 4:00 PM MR2A Conference Room, 2nd Floor, 5-Storey Bldg., BSP Main Complex, Malate Manila 04 November 2015; 2:00 PM MR2A Conference Room, 2nd Floor, 5-Storey Bldg., BSP Main Complex, Malate Manila

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 following amounts, at the address above prior to, or upon submission of their bids.

Total ABC/s of the lot/s to be bid

500,000.00 and below More than Php500,000.00 up to Php1,000,000.00

Cost of Bidding Documents 500.00 1,000.00

More than Php1,000,000.00 up to Php5,000,000.00

5,000.00

More than Php5,000,000.00 up to Php10,000,000.00

10,000.00

More than Php10,000,000.00 up to Php50,000,000.00

25,000.00

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.

(SGD.) ANTONIO A. GRAGEDA Vice-Chairman

(TS-OCT. 12, 2015)

CYAN MAGENTA YELLOW BLACK

Sister Eva Maano and Globalport owner Mikee Romero hold the replica of the team’s donation to the Foundation of Our Lady of Peace Mission during Globalport’s team building last Thursday. Also shown here are coach Pido Jarencio, team manager Bonnie Tan, players and the Aetas.

Globalport team brings joy to Aetas THE Aetas of Galas, Zambales got a pleasant surprise last Thursday when they received an early Christmas present from the Globalport Batang Pier.

Globalport owner Mikee Romero led the delegation that included Board Representative Erick Arejola, coach Pido Jarencio, team manager Bonny Tan and the players in providing cash donation and goods to the Aetas residing in the mountains of Galas.

Aside from the P1-million cash donation by the family of Romero to the Foundation of Our Lady of Peace Mission – headed by Sister Eva Maano – the team also gave P250,000 to the foundation.

“This is part of our team building, providing joy and sharing our blessings to the Aeta community,” said Romero, who likewise joined the team building in Morong, Bataan.

The cash donation, according to Romero, will be used to put up training center inside the mountains of Zambales. The training center will be a model livelihood and medical training center for all other ethnic tribes.

With the improvements and maturity showed by Terrence Romeo during the recent FIBA Asia tournament in China, the return of Jay Washington and the acquisition of veterans Joseph Yeo and Jervy Cruz and rookie Roi Sumang, Romero and Arejola are con-

vinced the team can now contend for a semis berth.

“Our goal is to make it to the semis, with this kind of lineup I believe we can achieve our initial goal,” added Arejola.

Aside from the cash donation, the team also provided uniforms, food, basketball balls, towels and tumblers to the community.

The Aetas were even more delighted when Romeo, Washington, Cruz, Yeo and Sumang and the rest of the teams – team captain Billy Mamaril, Keith Jensen, Anthony Semerad, Mark Isip, Paolo Taha, Doug Kramer, Dorian Pena, Jonathan Uyloan, Philip Paniamogan and Lui Bercede – visited their homes.

M O N DAY : O CTO B E R 1 2 , 2 0 1 5

A15

SPORTS sports@thestandard.com.ph

Ladon a win away from Rio Olympics

By Ronnie Nathanielsz

LIGHT flyweight Rogen Ladon is one win away from securing a coveted berth in the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil next year after another masterful performance against Poland’s David Jagodzinski in a quarterfinal bout at the AIBA World Boxing Championships at the classy Ali Hamad Al Attiya Arena in Doha, Qatar on Saturday.

However, welterweight Eumir Felix Marcial faced Asian Boxing Championships tormentor, world champion and No. 1-ranked Daniyar Yeleussinov of Kazakhstan and lost, 30-27, on the scorecards of all three judges, although the score did not reflect the closeness of the bout.

The Kazakhstan champion mixed his fine defense with some rapid-fire sneak attacks that frustrated Marcial, who still has an opportunity to make it to the Olympics in three more Olympic qualifiers next

year, including one for APB and WSB boxers.

Ladon, the fleet-footed southpaw, whose style of throwing quick combinations and darting in and out even before his opponent could react, continued to win praise from the TV panelists covering the AIBA World Boxing Championships, with the commentators saying his style was similar to that of his idol Manny Pacquiao, who was at special ringside when the southpaw stunned Mexico’s champion and No. 1 ranked

Joselito Velazquez.

Philippine delegation head and ABAP executive director Ed Picson reported that Ladon “who is known as an explosive boxer, who is constantly on the attack followed the game plan drawn up by coaches Nolito Velasco and Romeo Brin,” who had scouted the Polish fighter’s somewhat boring style.

Ladon bided his time and the moment Jagodzinski launched an attack, the 21-year-old Filipino countered with a flurry of punches.

Global games. Michael Jordan looks on during a game between the Los Angeles Clippers and the Charlotte Hornets as part of the 2015 NBA Global Games China at the Shenzhen Universiade Center in Shenzhen, China. AFP

Mahindra, Blackwater eye better PBA showing

By Jeric Lopez

Winner. Repsol Honda Team rider Dani Pedrosa of Spain (right) celebrates his victory on the podium by

spraying champagne next to second-placed Movistar Yamaha MotoGP rider Valentino Rossi of Italy (center) during the awards ceremony at the MotoGP Japanese Grand Prix in Motegi, Tochigi prefecture. AFP

Salud confident new PBA chief will deliver

By Jeric Lopez IN just a few days, the 41st season of the Philippine Basketball Association will unfold and league President and Chief Executive Officer Chito Salud is confident that new Commissioner Chito Narvasa will do just fine in his first season on the hot seat.

The former commissioner, who served for five years at the helm, is optimistic that his successor will get the job done in handling and monitoring the games and happenings around the league. ‘’We have a new commissioner and he has bright ideas,’’ said Salud of his replacement. ‘’Commis-

LOTTO RESULTS

6/49 00-00-00-00-00-0

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

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sioner Chito Narvasa is there and he will monitor everything on and off the court. I expect him to do a really good job in handling situations that arise throughout the new season.’’

For his part, Narvasa himself is confident as he looks forward to starting his first season as the new commissioner.

He hopes that he’ll be able to do his part and fulfill the expectations of league officials, owners, players and fans. ‘’The confidence in me not only inspires me but humbles me. I hope I live up to all the expectations.

All I can assure the PBA family and the fans is that I will do my best to make this league much better than what it is today, ‘’ said Narvasa.

Being in his first season at the helm, Narvasa acknowledges that he will need all the support and guidance from everyone around for him to succeed as a leader of the league. ‘’I will also seek the support, wisdom, guidance, understanding and patience of all the players and coaches.’’

That being said, Narvasa vows to give his all to help the league further improve. ‘’Rest assured, that I will work tirelessly and make your workplace a place of fairness and integrity where your brilliance will shine and where basketball excellence can be achieved,’’ he said.

ENTERING their second season in the Philippine Basketball Association, both Mahindra and Blackwater are looking to continue their growth and establish themselves as viable teams in the league.

The sophomore teams are looking to improve this 41st season with a year of experience in the bag and an improved roster.

For Mahindra, formerly known as Kia, it aims to move past all the distractions and pull off more surprises on the playing court in the coming season.

Its build up wasn’t actually the smoothest as the team encountered several issues in the past two weeks regarding contract disputes with current and former players. But after resolving all the issues and putting all those distractions aside, the Enforcers are now looking forward to their campaign in the coming season.

Line-up wise, the Manny Pacquiao-mentored squad added some much-needed veteran presence after it acquired capable scorer and shooter Niño Canaleta, as well as improving swingman Aldrech Ramos to lead the team’s charge.

Key holdovers LA Revilla, who had a breakout showing last season, Hyram Bagatsing and Mark Yee as well as new acquisitions Paolo Hubalde and Nard Pinto are all expected to be key contributors.

In its debut season, Mahindra actually had a promising run in both the Commissioner’s and Governors’ Cup, where it even contended for a playoffs slot before falling short. The

team was able to shock teams such as Talk ‘N Text, Star, San Miguel and Alaska and it now looks to improve on that showing this season.

In the off-season, the Enforcers played in several pocket tournaments. They showed the most improvement when they finished second behind GlobalPort in a tourney in General Santos.

After a forgettable initial season where it didn’t win a game until the Commissioner’s Cup, Blackwater did its own retooling as well.

The Elite will have key additions to its team. They acquired veteran point guard Mike Cortez and promising shooting guard Carlo Lastimosa through trades. They also added promising rookies Arthur Dela Cruz, Almond Vosotros and Keith Agovida to help out.

Blackwater coach Leo Isaac noticed the development of his team as the Elite was able to do really well in an international tournament in Malaysia where it placed second. ‘’We can see the improvement of the team this early,’’ said Isaac. ‘’There were a lot of positives in our off-season training so far. We were able to get guys who can help us out.

We’re hoping to translate that to more wins this season.’’

The frontline of Blackwater is intact as it was able to keep big men Jason Ballesteros, Frank Golla, Poy Erram, Reil Cervantes and Gilbert Bulawan. They also added veteran big John Sena for further ceiling.

The immediate goal of the Elite is to avoid finishing in last place in all three conferences

CYAN MAGENTA YELLOW BLACK m o n d ay : o c t o b e r 1 2 , 2 0 1 5

A16

rIera U. maLL arI EDITOR

reUeL vIdaL A S S I S TA N T E D I T O R

sports@thestandard.com.ph

sports Tamaraws, Tigers share cage lead By reuel Vidal

THE University of Santo Tomas Growling Tigers bared their fangs to post a bruising 81-79 come-from-behind victory over the La Salle Green Archers in the UAAP Season 78 men’s basketball tournament Sunday at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.

Kevin Ferrer unloaded seven consecutive points as he led a 13-2 UST explosion, which turned a 60-66 deficit into a three-point 73-68 advantage with 7:08 to go in the game.

La Salle’s Prince Rivero scored on a pair of field goals inside the paint to tie the count at 73-all. But UST big man Karim Abdul imposed his will inside, scoring on back-to-back incursions just underneath the goal to power the Tigers to the scrambling victory.

With the victory, the Tigers (7 wins, 1 loss) stayed in a tie at the top of the standings with the Far Eastern University University Tamaraws (7-1). The Green Archers (4-4) dropped into a tie at third with the Ateneo De Manila Blue Eagles (4-4).

In the opening game, Far Eastern University relied on an early fourthquarter explosion to subdue stubborn Ateneo De Manila, 66-61.

The Tamaraws scored seven unanswered points at the start of the payoff fourth period to break a close 47-47 deadlock and go on to post the the hard-earned victory over the Blue Eagles.

FEU’s Alfrancis Tamsi drilled a three-pointer, Achie Iñigo added a long jumper and Mac Belo converted two free throws as FEU vaulted ahead 54-47.

The Tamaraws posted their sixth consecutive victory to grab a share of the top spot with a 7-1 card.

UST’s Marvin Lee drilled backto-back triples, the second bouncing

us Wins emotionAl presidents cup golf turn to A12

on the ring three times before dropping in, followed by a power move inside the paint by Karim Abdul to cut the La Salle lead to just three points, 56-53, with 3:00 to go in the third period.

Teng took matters into his own hands as he scored a pair of jumpers to push La Salle to a a slim 66-59 lead after the third period.

Rivero, not particularly tall nor particularly quick, exploited the absence of UST defensive anchor Karim Abdul as he scored three consecutive baskets from inside the paint to push La Salle to a 28-23 lead early in the second period.

With Abdul continuing to warm his seat on the bench La Salle’s big men continued to pound the ball inside. Abu Tratter scored on a followup to push the Green Archers to a fat 10-point advantage, 42-32, late in the second quarter.

Josh Torralba converted three-ofthree free throws as La Salle held on to a 45-37 advantage at halftime.

The Green Archers hung on to the coattails of big-time scorer Teng to post a slim 22-21 first quarter advantage.

Ateneo’s Kiefer Ravena, shadowed all game long by the burly Belo, was woeful from the field on 5-of-15 shooting but managed to finish with 15 points, five rebounds and three assists. Ateneo endured its third loss in their last four matches and now sport an even 4-4 card to start the second round.

Ateneo’s Kiefer Ravena stretches to score a basket against FEU’s Mark Belo in a UAAP game won by the Tamaraws, 66-61. Brosi gonZAles

Ateno spikers nail 4th straight win By peter Atencio THE pair of Bea Tan and Jhoanna Maraguinot came up with big serves and kills as the Ateneo Lady Eagles put away the Adamson Lady Falcons, 21-13, 21-15, yesterday in Day 3 of the 2015 University Athletic Association of the

WAWrinkA rules tokyo open net tourney turn to A12

Philippines beach volleyball tournament at the SM Mall Asia Sands.

Their efforts with reserve player Alyssa Valdez sent the Lady Eagles to their fourth straight victory in the women’s division.

“Maayos naman ang mga galaw at receives. Iyung mga

kills ni Bea ang nagpa score sa kanila,” said Lady Eagles coach Parley Tupas.

The Lady Eagles are now in front of the Adamson Lady Falcons Jessica Galanza and Mylene Paat, who took their first loss after four matches.

Galanza and Paat share the same 3-1 slate with Far Eastern University Lady Tamaraws, Bernadeth Pons and Kyla Atienza.

In the opener last Friday, Tan teamed up with Valdez for a 21-9, 21-19 victory over the University of the Philippines pair of Arielle Estranero and Vina Alinas.

On Saturday, they got past FEU’s Pons and Atienza, 2422, 21-17; and the National University duo of Jaja Santiago and Jasmine Nabor, 21-18, 21-14.

Pons and Atienza eventually bounced back with 21-12, 21-12 beating of Santiago and Nabor.

MONDAY: OCTOBER 12, 2015

RAY S. EÑANO EDITOR

RODERICK T. DELA CRUZ ASSISTANT EDITOR

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

BUSINESS

B1

CoA ruling ruffles oil explorers

By Alena Mae S. Flores

OIL and gas companies warned the government against the tax opinion of the Commission on Audit on the Malampaya gas field, saying it will bring exploration in the Philippines to a halt.

The CoA ruled in May that the income tax payment of oil and gas service contractors in the Malampaya project amounting to P53.14 billion was not included in the government’s 60 percent royalty share.

“The Petroleum Association of the Philippines wants us to have fiscal stability. So it’s the desire of

our service contractors that are here already operating that there’s fiscal stability. Whatever was agreed upon should be followed,” PAP president Sebastian Quiniones told reporters.

Quiniones, who is the managing director of Shell Philippines Exploration B.V., said the indus-

try raised the concerns with the Energy Department.

“We have discussed it with [Energy] Secretary Naydee [Monsada]. We verbalized what we’re aiming for and we’re working with the DoE,” he said.

Otto Energy director Rufino Bomasang said said the CoA ruling would not only have an impact on service contract 38 off northwest Palawan, or the Malampaya project, but also on all other service contracts.

“All the service contracts, they all have that same provision that income tax is paid out of government share. It’s incorporated in the contract. For us, that’s a very

serious matter. If that’s upheld by the government, it’s going to bring the upstream petroleum industry in this country to a grinding halt,” Bomasang said.

“Are you saying, we’ve been wrong for the long time? All the lawyers have been wrong?” he asked.

The Energy Department also warned that imposing the P53.14 billion in taxes to the contractors of the Malampaya project would create havoc on the petroleum industry.

The SC 38 contractors are Spex, Chevron Malampaya LLC and state-owned PNOC Exploration Corp.

The Energy Department, in a 30-page position paper, said the CoA decision has “sent a very wrong signal to the existing and future petroleum exploration investors in the country.”

It said petroleum exploration, especially offshore, involves great risk, huge capital and high technical capability and that foreign investors decide where to put their money based on “the certainty and stability of investment riles and regulatory regime of a country.”

It said the CoA decision had totally wreaked havoc on the promise of the government to the investors to honor and respect the sanctity of contracts and agreements.

PSe comPoSite index Closing October 9, 2015

8000 7700 7400 7100 6800 6500

7,138.91 32.12

PeSo-dollar rate

Closing OCTOBER 9, 2015 43.50 44.60 45.40

P45.870

46.20

CLOSE

47.00

HIGH P45.855 LOW P46.000 AVERAGE P45.926 VOLUME 1,049.200M

P417.00-P640.00 LPG/11-kg tank P35.85-P43.35 Unleaded Gasoline P24.55-P28.00 Diesel

oPriceS il P today

P34.55-P39.15 Kerosene

Luxe store. Trade Secretary Gregory Domingo (left) and wife Rowena (right),pose with US Ambassador-at-Large for Global Women’s Issues Catherine Russel at the Luxe Store during the Apec Women and Economy 2015 Fora at the Philippine International Convention Center in Pasay City.

Amid a very competitive global business landscape, the Trade Department sees stories of local companies such as the Luxe store symbolizing the new Philippines, which is emboldened to capture global attention on its creative and innovative capital.

P20.75-P21.75 Auto LPG Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas Friday, October 9, 2015

F oreign e xchange r ate Currency

Unit

US Dollar

Peso

United States

Dollar

1.000000

46.1250

Japan

Yen

0.008341

0.3847

UK

Pound

1.535000

70.8019

Hong Kong

Dollar

0.129034

5.9517

Switzerland

Franc

1.035411

47.7583

Canada

Dollar

0.768699

35.4562

Singapore

Dollar

0.712099

32.8456

Australia

Dollar

0.721397

33.2744

Bahrain

Dinar

2.650060

122.2340

Saudi Arabia

Rial

0.266667

12.3000

Brunei

Dollar

0.709572

32.7290

Indonesia

Rupiah

0.000072

0.0033

Thailand

Baht

0.027785

1.2816

UAE

Dirham

0.272264

12.5582

Euro

Euro

1.127600

52.0106

Korea

Won

0.000865

0.0399

China

Yuan

0.157389

7.2596

India

Rupee

0.015390

0.7099

Malaysia

Ringgit

0.236239

10.8965

New Zealand

Dollar

0.662998

30.5808

Taiwan

Dollar

0.030726

1.4172 Source: PDS Bridge

PH firms on billion-dollar global shopping spree

By Joel Guinto PHILIPPINE companies are on an unprecedented global shopping spree, spending billions on everything from vineyards to food manufacturers and casinos, reflecting the nation’s recent economic rise.

A combination of strong domestic growth, bargain prices in retreating economies abroad and rock-bottom borrowing rates have fuelled the acquisitions, analysts said.

The Southeast Asian nation

has for years exported shopping malls and junk food to the region, but cashed-up Filipino firms have diversified in recent years with acquisitions around the world and in many sectors.

“It has not happened in this rapid succession. It’s like a colonial mentality in reverse,” said Luis Limlingan, research head at Manila stock brokerage Regina Capital.

The pace of the acquisitions has startled both local and foreign investors, according to BDO Unibank chief market

strategist Jonathan Ravelas.

“Filipino companies are moving into the global space and it’s not limited to just one sector. The opportunities abound,” he said.

In one of the most-recent bigticket acquisitions, local instant noodle firm Monde Nissin said last month it was buying British meat substitute manufacturer Quorn for 550 million pounds ($833 million).

In the last two years, the private company also snapped up popular fruit juice brand Nudie and chilled dips manufacturer

Black Swan, both from Australia, for undisclosed amounts.

Monde Nissin is owned by Betty Ang, who started her company 30 years ago and is now the nation’s 19th richest person with a net worth of $900 million, according to Forbes.

Meanwhile, Emperador, a company controlled by the Philippines’ fourth richest man, Andrew Tan, and which specialises in cheap brandy at home, is looking to spend more than one billion dollars on diversifying in Europe.

Continued on B6

MONDAY: OCTOBER 12, 2015

B2

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

The STandard BuSineSS Weekly STockS revieW STOCKS

OCTOBER 5-9, 2015 Close Volume

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. 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

2.6 69.45 108.50 83.50 41.1 2.45 1.24 15.6 19.64 8.00 1.84 705.00 0.630 83.85 0.96 18.50 25.60 54.20 108.1 122 296 30.45 144.2 1510.00 55.50 2.99

Aboitiz Power Corp.

Agrinurture Inc. Alliance Tuna Intl Inc. Alsons Cons.

Asiabest Group Bogo Medellin Century Food Chemphil Conc. Aggr. `A’ 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.

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

Pepsi-Cola Products Phil.

Petron Corporation Phinma Corporation Phoenix Petroleum Phils.

Phoenix Semiconductor Pryce Corp. `A’ RFM Corporation Roxas and Co. 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 1.67 12.2 51.2 16.82 97.05 50 25.1 42 2.39 2 10.2 10.300 7.50 6.10 7.85 1.82 12 23.4 67 11.70 13.00 5.98 2.660 197.40 31.25 2.1 3.05 46.85 23 22.5 5.53 301.20 3.93 4.34 7.10 11.50 3.55 2.12 2.35 4.01 3.1 140 4.19 2.3 0.149 1.38 1.93 195 4.77 0.68 23.00 1.28

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

Forum Pacific GT Capital House of Inv. JG Summit Holdings 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. Transgrid Top Frontier Unioil Res. & Hldgs Wellex Industries Zeus Holdings

0.420 57.5000 18.46 1.12 6.60 0.250 0.260 775 669.50 7.23 12.60 3.5 4.08 0.260 1371 5.78 70.50 5.95 0.83 11.58 0.52 5.21 8.65 0.0370 1.250 1.940 2.83 49.95 2.86 879.00 1.22 0.75 188.00 90.600 0.3400 0.2170 0.250

8990 HLDG Anchor Land Holdings Inc. A. Brown Co., Inc. Araneta Prop `A’ Arthaland Corp.

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’ Keppel Properties

6.430 7.58 0.67 1.150 0.240 37.600 3.06 5 0.63 0.94 1.07 0.112 0.430 19.98 0.930 0.163 1.17 1.78 1.28 4.79

Value

FINANCIAL 288,000 751,130.00 79,950 5,511,875.00 10,236,190 1,100,532,362 8,037,590 749,230,017.00 394,900 16,287,980.00 58,000 139,810.00 93,000 118,240.00 232,000 3,601,354.00 2,556,325 13,561,235.00 9,000 69,788 1,890,000 3,782,240.00 130 92,200.00 23,821,000 14,937,850.00 13,361,070 1,122,772,178.50 41,000 38,550.00 5,209,400 94,406,846.00 13,400 325,560.00 1,302,390 67,419,766.50 25,550 2,730,664.00 40 4,860.00 2,300,679,036 582,258.00 1,494,300 45,291,130 3,367,900 476,705,317.00 1,040 1,555,225.00 106,280 5,485,692.50 15,000 44,870.00 INDUSTRIAL 7,731,500 336,063,005.00 150,000 227,780.00 1,217,000 1,103,980.00 2,991,000 4,706,780.00 98,200 1,149,834.00 700 35,867.50 4,375,700 73,210,726 180 16,978.50 30 1,500.00 3,805,900 98,845,310.00 2,459,800 104,651,160 9,138,000 22,102,280.00 85,109,000 194,976,360.00 1,228,300 11,743,719.00 22,842,900 236,586,034.00 18,551,000 132,980,619.00 100,437,700 599,045,236.00 1,580,700 12,180,655.00 335,000 623,290.00 1,217,200 14,622,316.00 15,250,400 356,015,785.00 1,531,400 101,975,571.50 2,800 31,766.00 361,700 4,696,660.00 3,838,300 22,178,205.00 88,075,000 253,246,260.00 2,816,610 554,143,763.00 100 3,125.00 120,000 252,960.00 170,000 641,070.00 1,800 81,010.00 7,353,800 167,407,055.00 916,700 20,000,740.00 5,265,400 29,607,653.00 2,724,600 822,442,200.00 60,000 235,320.00 6,041,000 24,919,560.00 11,254,900 78,472,469.00 24,100 275,230.00 1,439,000 4,980,300.00 2,200,000 4,540,880.00 12,643,000 28,138,440.00 12,343,000 49,350,430.00 657,000 1,955,610.00 21,120 2,955,819.00 14,000 58,210.00 26,728,000 67,363,310.00 67,830,000 10,606,710.00 21,384,000 38,382,650.00 7,800,000 15,394,340.00 12,085,510 2,333,898,275.00 1,177,000 5,521,180.00 5,443,000 3,721,900.00 5,300 121,940.00 4,769,000 5,906,140.00 HOLDING FIRMS 1,260,000 506,650.00 9,006,510 518,947,715.50 64,103,200 1,072,866,434.00 12,000 13,090.00 26,900 179,038.00 15,990,000 4,088,080.00 600,000 159,300.00 2,016,670 1,551,025,775.00 10 6,695.00 9,381,200 66,309,900.00 33,137,700 416,216,234.00 504,000 1,645,890.00 47,000 188,190.00 5,360,000 1,459,900.00 1,266,490 1,706,665,445.00 2,766,700 16,214,321.00 13,008,120 923,265,479.00 34,484,700 197,892,214.00 14,135,000 11,623,020.00 63,907,500 694,891,961.00 55,000 28,800.00 181,803,400 927,410,755.00 8,434,100 71,779,807.00 1,272,000,000 52,063,700.00 33,000 37,400.00 40,457,000 80,132,990.00 10,000 28,300.00 913,930 44,599,161.50 76,000 206,580.00 1,575,120 1,388,224,060.00 3,447,000 4,073,480.00 737,000 535,800.00 10 1,880.00 161,940 13,785,182.50 31,440,000 10,405,950.00 1,380,000 308,330.00 5,250,000 1,272,110.00 PROPERTY 2,021,000 13,058,901.00 15,100 114,628.00 7,332,000 5,037,050.00 50,000 55,640.00 1,160,000 265,450.00 61,167,100 2,175,281,925.00 14,621,000 44,409,860.00 185,700 927,483.00 30,026,000 18,344,050.00 177,000 165,500.00 73,000 76,480.00 37,980,000 4,161,280.00 1,380,000 582,350.00 6,022,400 123,341,557.00 82,780,000 78,150,820.00 50,000 8,150.00 112,169,000 141,866,840.00 62,413,000 107,411,710.00 1,294,000 1,666,490.00 31,000 127,460.00

SEPTEMBER 28-OCTOBER 2, 2015 Close Volume Value 2.7 69.3 105.00 80.30 41.3 2.45 1.33 15.3 19.9 7.40 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

212,000 43,780 15,908,130 8,221,540 1,072,900 58,000 586,000 77,500 221,400 6,000 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

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 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

43.5 1.53 0.9 1.55 10.92 51.5 16.62

6,556,300 73,000 607,000 6,022,000 64,200 10 1,048,800

281,803,680.00 109,570.00 552,190.00 9,388,130.00 689,796.00 515.00 17,350,388

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

2,974,900 444,800 18,130,000 55,587,000 718,200 40,723,900 24,610,100 150,765,900 1,012,900 36,000 150,800 12,057,000 1,157,880 34,600 272,600 858,800 296,028,000 2,895,090 32,800 128,000 458,800

77,056,385.00 17,883,155 46,850,490.00 114,109,540.00 7,110,612.00 415,179,451.00 172,640,935.00 862,035,191.00 7,792,291.00 65,030.00 1,832,262.00 268,766,500.00 76,366,024.50 414,546.00 3,512,958.00 4,872,542.00 1,062,031,160.00 554,506,362.00 1,017,440.00 267,440.00 2,200,428.00

21.8 21.3 5.5 297.60 3.93 4.1 6.84 11.40 3.33 2.00 2.26 3.93 2.85 139 4.19 2.17 0.150 1.32 1.91 189 4.56 0.67 23.95 1.08

12,107,800 701,600 3,604,700 1,773,060 18,000 9,137,000 7,696,900 31,900 218,000 1,588,000 15,232,000 6,781,000 114,000 170,990 10,000 3,784,000 17,230,000 6,164,000 11,966,000 10,455,430 855,000 7,510,000 5,600 1,186,000

270,676,625.00 14,825,880.00 20,082,682.00 525,819,512.00 68,850.00 37,302,440.00 53,243,344.00 363,616.00 718,840.00 3,110,230.00 32,245,810.00 27,152,180.00 317,720.00 23,236,147.00 40,450.00 8,145,810.00 2,516,540.00 7,312,550.00 22,565,040.00 1,976,922,514.00 3,934,360.00 5,098,490.00 128,895.00 1,271,560.00

0.425 56.8500 16.18

1,040,000 8,583,960 73,071,600

426,400.00 493,031,228.00 1,185,326,728.00

6.60 0.238 0.233 756

78,700 1,570,000 340,000 1,218,530

489,385.00 367,410.00 79,220.00 919,564,000.00

6.7 12.42 3.35 3.85 0.290 1298 6.00 69.90 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

4,512,300 24,859,000 10,000 362,000 31,030,000 837,740 105,100 10,104,230 16,935,600 2,646,000 35,907,100 4,239,000 125,798,300 8,872,700 739,000,000 32,000 32,204,000 26,003 1,618,530 359,000 1,124,950 6,993,000 22,000

30,761,394.00 309,869,800.00 30,550.00 1,418,860.00 8,443,220.00 1,071,939,515.00 599,117.00 710,860,037.00 96,211,838.00 1,874,550.00 369,090,352.00 2,257,460.00 625,175,839.00 73,843,743.00 28,710,200.00 36,350.00 59,638,070.00 80,450.00 78,159,524.50 990,150.00 983,643,840.00 7,805,480.00 14,920.00

75.100 0.3150 0.2220 0.230

305,800 68,100,000 14,140,000 3,840,000

21,912,674.00 23,415,900.00 3,199,860.00 929,450.00

6.450 8.30 0.59 1.040

4,120,500 8,400 1,171,000 376,000

26,877,038.00 68,024.00 691,870.00 394,730.00

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 3.72

46,024,800 8,153,000 137,300 16,773,000 11,000 31,000 19,950,000 4,350,000 8,202,300 1,716,000 2,030,000 3,655,000 185,464,000 3,541,000 39,000

1,546,157,495.00 24,489,080.00 687,551.00 9,502,110.00 10,670.00 30,330.00 1,997,400.00 1,826,800.00 167,590,014.00 1,305,490.00 332,600.00 3,709,330.00 311,432,910.00 4,647,340.00 157,840.00

STOCKS

OCTOBER 5-9, 2015 Close Volume

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

4.75 0.085 0.3050 0.3850 19.02 7.7 29.00 1.6 3.18 21.65 0.73 8.17 1.300 5.180

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.

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

Manila Bulletin Manila Jockey Melco Crown MG Holdings NOW Corp.

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

7.75 63 1.1 0.600 11.24 29 5.95 0.0570 3.8 84.6 9.82 5.49 974 2242 6.56 16.90 1.21 77.7 5.79 11.86 0.010 0.180 1.4400 2.15 8.36 3.98 1.14 2.26 0.620 2 3.88 0.320 0.570 18.7 4.58 2.89 9.5 97.00 18.92 2260.00 0.580 1.080 32.65 75.00 7.03 5.70 0.47 1.5 3.51 0.360 3.650

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. `A’ Oriental Pet. `B’ Petroenergy Res. Corp.

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

TA Petroleum United Paragon

0.0048 2.15 4.89 10.58 0.189 5.8000 5.9000 0.72 0.65 8.36 0.93 0.290 0.183 0.199 0.0097 0.011 1.99 6.87 2.77 0.5900 1.3600 0.0094 0.0090 3.89 4.96 1.37 0.0120 139.80 2.4 0.0070

ABS-CBN Holdings Corp.

Ayala Corp. Pref ‘B1’ Ayala Corp. Pref ‘B2’ First Gen F FPH Pref C 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

65 532 525 110 500 520 6.4 1.12 110 1080 1141 1028 78.9 82 79 78.6 79.95 2.5

Leisure & Resort Warr.

2.880

Makati Fin. Corp.

Ripple E-Business Intl Xurpas

3.22 64.5 15.34

First Metro ETF

117.1

SEPTEMBER 28-OCTOBER 2, 2015 Close Volume Value

Value

145,710,000 675,311,660.00 4,160,000 358,500.00 320,000 97,300.00 50,000 19,250.00 200 3,804.00 794,900 6,157,730.00 21,033,400 609,162,615.00 1,200,000 1,886,580.00 659,000 2,044,640.00 68,717,500 1,469,277,590.00 10,934,000 7,738,430.00 54,300 430,426.00 191,553,000 268,608,950.00 49,305,700 258,136,814.00 SERVICES 326,800 2,531,393.00 96,860 6,051,293.50 67,000 76,070.00 22,100,000 12,924,450.00 1,000 11,240.00 11,500 315,200 83,722,900 477,724,145.00 366,790,000 22,314,390.00 1,018,000 3,883,890.00 2,534,350 218,196,502.50 8,100 79,560.00 3,405,800 17,647,641.00 40 38,955.00 550,970 1,277,869,160 757,900 4,952,367.00 1,500 25,350 166,000 209,330.00 15,874,270 1,221,324,632.50 14,000 68,250 22,200 263,064.00 36,600,000 401,500.00 17,820,000 3,207,920.00 5,703,000 8,370,140.00 38,000 80,920.00 1,613,000 16,864,105.00 12,998,000 51,510,850.00 8,000 9,120.00 21,000 46,340.00 716,000 438,000.00 83,000 166,250.00 54,617,000 210,952,060.00 1,860,000 544,000.00 14,852,000 8,383,390.00 5,900 109,880.00 23,000 107,870 16,000 46,130.00 309 4,350.00 205,530 18,178,593.00 504,500 9,510,148.00 876,255 2,016,553,100.00 2,096,000 1,188,090.00 83,234,000 88,335,280.00 8,135,700 262,348,260.00 2,994,680 225,917,854.50 29,559,600 200,377,335.00 69,321,100 395,783,333.00 38,770,000 18,606,650.00 104,000 157,780.00 10,691,000 36,599,820.00 1,620,000 578,300.00 6,695,000 24,209,600.00 MINING & OIL 3,892,000,000 22,901,800.00 188,000 409,710.00 678,000 3,276,500.00 4,200 40,436.00 170,000 31,800.00 43,800 252,025.00 24,700 145,638.00 787,000 578,330.00 1,162,000 760,060.00 506,600 4,213,704.00 35,935,000 32,718,800.00 1,330,000 387,300.00 28,910,000 5,220,500.00 1,710,000 326,520.00 130,000,000 1,264,300.00 12,000,000 125,900.00 2,627,000 5,056,860.00 45,523,000 297,696,931.00 4,817,000 13,425,500.00 605,000 354,560.00 696,000 924,990.00 88,000,000 795,900.00 4,000,000 36,900.00 332,000 1,270,760.00 2,653,000 12,876,440.00 2,124,000 2,917,890.00 905,900,000 10,386,700.00 3,446,310 482,171,522.00 1,466,000 3,602,380.00 17,000,000 119,000.00 PREFERRED 2,388,380 148,980,151.00 8,760 4,650,320.00 8,280 4,364,305 36,388,070 4,002,698,932.00 1,200 600,000.00 12,790 6,662,715.00 2,750,000 17,376,376.00 122,000 136,240 31,640 3,533,320.00 9,780 10,562,360.00 755 861,205.00 7,160 7,376,320.00 2,000 157,800.00 190,360 15,652,360.50 387,940 30,614,978.00 588,240 46,270,168.00 1,703,420 136,074,819.00 7,000 17,500.00 WARRANTS & BONDS 1,361,000 3,994,160.00 SME 71,000 227,120.00 27,730 1,814,121.50 18,649,000 277,860,002.00 EXCHANGE TRADED FUNDS 195,000 22,469,242.00

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

104,024,000 5,320,000 530,000 20,000 1,200 2,315,200 17,879,300 256,000 110,000 57,389,600 1,968,001 726,800 600,000 33,743,300

454,338,420.00 476,660.00 156,400.00 7,700.00 23,206.00 18,104,437.00 508,131,290.00 395,400.00 343,210.00 1,170,741,000.00 1,461,690.00 5,698,060.00 408,990.00 169,428,112.00

7.6 60.45 1.07 0.560 11.86 27 4.87 0.0520 3.88 87.35 9.96 4.80 950 2354 6.40

733,800 306,930 48,000 15,221,000 1,400 100 60,677,900 142,790,000 1,749,000 1,360,070 5,400 1,257,200 1,030 365,530 157,800

5,756,109.00 18,408,014.00 53,030.00 8,629,850.00 15,896.00 2,700 323,252,570.00 7,871,080.00 6,550,160.00 117,619,058.00 53,964.00 6,020,430.00 978,500.00 859,711,460 1,010,224.00

1.27 74

660,000 9,672,440

807,990.00 734,648,587.50

11.98 0.010 0.180 1.4400 2.15 7.99 3.89 1.14 2.09 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

114,900 45,900,000 20,790,000 10,935,000 232,002 1,514,800 54,090,000 43,000 91,000 61,000 197,000 14,933,000 2,510,000 3,572,000 1,200 87,000 48,000 7,400 97,210 1,017,300 842,370 6,254,000 65,952,000 5,230,000 3,691,260 40,524,000 19,745,700 37,480,000 877,000 12,215,000 7,970,000 24,391,000

1,364,810.00 483,300.00 3,810,060.00 16,454,490.00 502,960.00 12,352,657.00 225,205,470.00 49,770.00 197,340.00 36,250.00 396,450.00 56,798,240.00 751,200.00 1,820,185.00 22,364.00 392,180 134,260.00 70,561.00 9,188,234.00 18,931,506.00 1,838,074,040.00 3,513,210.00 65,580,080.00 163,575,995.00 270,548,148.50 275,462,257.00 116,780,131.00 18,201,550.00 1,251,110.00 40,803,580.00 2,752,850.00 84,059,160.00

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

2,369,000,000 251,000 237,000 10,200 550,000 5,000 8,900 3,239,000 1,519,000 604,100 47,086,000 2,750,000 19,250,000 2,670,000 59,000,000 26,000,000 1,096,000 24,459,400 6,040,000 326,000 778,000

12,528,300.00 573,960.00 1,095,870.00 100,178.00 102,040.00 34,572.00 52,452.00 2,358,370.00 962,750.00 4,598,853.00 44,663,060.00 808,400.00 3,463,500.00 499,120.00 582,540.00 287,300.00 2,160,770.00 162,556,230.00 17,086,730.00 192,390.00 1,046,010.00

0.0090 3.24 4.77 1.35 0.0110 136.20 2.42 0.0070

3,000,000 308,000 1,853,300 2,795,000 167,700,000 2,509,930 3,889,000 28,000,000

27,000.00 1,054,980.00 9,069,063.00 3,833,810.00 1,822,200.00 340,800,421.00 9,532,850.00 198,000.00

61 531 540

3,882,950 18,020 24,280

236,351,564.00 9,536,500.00 12,867,105

521 6.1 1.12 111 1080 1140 1030 78.7 81.5 79 78.4 79.4 1.83

113,230 288,500 982,000 45,230 50 4,115 8,630 13,300 691,900 440,630 988,940 3,776,030 31,000

59,773,840.00 1,850,373.00 1,098,560 4,995,000.00 54,000.00 4,569,125.00 8,914,110.00 1,046,710.00 56,486,378.00 34,627,918.00 77,501,134.50 297,315,626.00 56,800.00

2.680

1,177,000

3,304,330.00

3.15 67.65 14.26

35,000 40,360 24,381,300

112,540.00 2,423,406.00 349,253,242.00

112.1

144,980

16,337,100.00

WEEKLY MOST TRADED STOCKS Abra Mining PSE Inc. Pacifica `A’ Philodrill Corp. `A’ Boulevard Holdings Suntrust Home Dev. Inc. Metro Pacific Inv. Corp.

Megaworld Prop.

Manila Mining `A’ Global-Estate

VOLUME 3,892,000,000 2,300,679,036 1,272,000,000 905,900,000 366,790,000 191,553,000 181,803,400 145,710,000 130,000,000 112,169,000

STOCKS First Gen F Universal Robina Ayala Land `B’ PLDT Common GT Capital Ayala Corp `A’ SM Prime Holdings SM Investments Inc. Globe Telecom I.C.T.S.I.

VALUE 4,002,698,932.00 2,333,898,275.00 2,175,281,925.00 2,016,553,100.00 1,706,665,445.00 1,551,025,775.00 1,469,277,590.00 1,388,224,060.00 1,277,869,160.00 1,221,324,632.50

MONDAY: OCTOBER 12, 2015

B3

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

Rockwell expects P11-b sales

By Jenniffer B. Austria

Laduree’s first-day sales hit record LADURÉE, home of the original French macaron, recently opened an outlet in the Philippines and set a record first-day sales in Asia. Filipinos who had travelled to Paris and tasted the sweet macarons during the trip most likely trooped to the opening of Laduree’s outlet in Rockwell Center, Makati on Aug. 28.

Laduree sold 5,667 pieces of macarons, at P150 apiece, during the opening day, setting a new record for Laduree’s stores in Asia. Total sales amounted to an astounding P850,000, easily surpassing the P350,000 first-day sales achieved by Laduree’s boutique in Hong Kong.

Mark “Jappy” Gonzalez, managing partner of H&F Retail Concepts Inc., the local group that brought Homme et Femme and Univers, was also the one behind Ladurée’s arrival in the Philippines. Jenniffer B. Austria Lopez Museum finds a new home The distinguished art collection of the Lopez family will soon have a new home, according to the top executive of the group’s real estate unit.

Rockwell Land Corp. president Nestor Padilla said the Lopez Museum, currently located at Benpres building in Ortigas, would be transferred to Rockwell Center, Makati, just a few steps away from The Proscenium Residences. Rockwell Land is the real estate arm of the Lopez Group.

The Lopez Museum, whose collection of books, manuscripts and maps remains unrivaled in the country, will occupy two floors for visual arts and performing arts.

The museum is well known for its collection of paintings by old masters, Juan Luna and Felix Ressurreccion Hildago, as well as works by National Artists Carlos “Botong” Francisco, Vicente Manansala, H.R. Ocampo, Cesar Legaspi and Arturo Lopez.

Jenniffer B. Austria Rockwell ventures into beach resort Speaking of Rockwell Land Corp., the property arm of the Lopez Group, is close to acquiring a beach resort in Cebu province.

Rockwell Land president Nestor Padilla said the company had plans to bring its Aruga Hotel brand to Mactan Cebu.

“We are bullish about Cebu, especially with the airport project.

At this point, we will want to make sure we have the right components for the project,” Padilla said.

This will be the first beach resort project of Rockwell Land, which started operations in 1995 with the redevelopment an old thermal power plant complex into an upscale mixed-use community now known as Rockwell Center in Makati City. Jenniffer B. Austria Salalima writes a new book on telecom Globe Telecom Inc. chief legal counsel and senior advisor Rodolfo Salalima, one of the country’s telco pillars, has written a new book titled “Telecommunications in the Information Revolution.”

Salalima’s book aims to help ordinary readers comprehend current technologies on telecommunications, broadcasts and disruptive innovations. “I hope that this may help influence others in understanding these technologies or contribute in the utilization of these technologies not only as tools for better social networking and communications but also, for nation building and growth,” Salalima said.

The book is a compilation of the law and jurisprudence on telecommunications and of insights on the evolving language and fundamental issues of the Internet revolution. “We now live in the era of ‘digital freedom of expression ‘ characterized by the obtrusive, invasive and seemingly omnipotent Internet and some other current or emergent technologies whose use can make or unmake individuals, societies, corporations and governments,” Salalima said.

Salalima is the president of the Philippine Chamber of Telecommunications Operators; chief legal counsel and spokesperson of Globe Telecom; and vice chairman of the International Telecommunication Union Council working group for the amendment of the ITU Constitution and Convention, where he represents the Asia-Pacific region. Darwin G. Amojelar

ROCKWELL Land Inc. expects to raise P11 billion in proceeds from the sale of a recentlylaunched fifth tower at the master-planned residential development in Rockwell, Makati.

Rockwell Land president Nestor Padilla said in an interview the residential condominium, called The Proscenium Residences, would have a total of 563 units, selling at P215,000 per square meter.

The 59-story building will be the tallest among the five towers within the 3.6-hectare development designed by worldrenowned architect Carlos Ott. Rockwell Land said the building’s 563 units would include 100 studio units, 122 one-bedroom units, 241 two-bedroom units and 100 three-bedroom units.

The tower is expected to be completed by 2020.

The company said since launching the first tower in the Proscenium in 2012, the price of condominium units increased from P175,000 per square meter

to current P215,000 per square meter.

Meanwhile, Rockwell Land vice president for finance Ellen Almodiel said the company remained aggressive with project launches and lined up three new projects with P4.6 billion.

Rockwell Land is also expanding the Power Plant Mall that will add roughly 6,000 square meters of additional space. Total capital spending is estimated at P600 million.

The expansion of the premier upscale mall to house top fashion brands and food and beverage outlets is slated for completion by 2017.

The property firm is allocating P3 billion to develop a one-hectare lot at the corner of United and Sheridan Streets in Mandaluyong City with the

project called RBC United.

Under the plan, RBC United will initially will offer nine floors of prime office space and two floors of retail shopping.

Another P1 billion will be set aside for the development of a 1.3-hectare lot in San Juan City to be called Retailscaped Santolan.

Retailscapes Santolan will have a shopping mall and office component.

These projects are expected to add 68,000 square meters of leasable space to the company’s office and retail space portfolio.

Rockwell Land focuses on ramping up its recurring income streams to complement the residential business.

Rockwell Land expects to complete this year 8 Rockwell, the company’s first traditional office building, which would add 32,371 square meters of leasable space.

The company expects these projects to double its commercial development portfolio to more than 200,000 square meters of gross leasable space.

Top employer. The Social Security System recognized the Federation of Filipino-Chinese Chambers of Commerce and Industry Inc. as this year’s national winner of the small/medium Top Employer category during the SSS Balikat ng Bayan Awards at the Ramon Magsaysay Hall of the SSS main office in Diliman, Quezon City on Sept. 18. Shown is Social Security Commission chairman Juan Santos (center) handing the award to FFCCII executive vice president Henry Lim Bon Liong (third from right). With them are SSS senior vice president and awards committee chairman Judy Frances See, FFCCCII vice chairman Stanley Sy, FFCCCII secretary general Fernando Gan, SSS president and chief executive Emilio de Quiros Jr. and SSS senior vice president Jose Bautista.

Market to trade sideways on profit-taking STOCKS are expected to move sideways this week, as investors may engage in profit-taking, after last week’s strong rally.

“We expect some profit-taking in the coming week, especially as equities rallied the entire week,” BPI Asset Management said in its weekly outlook.

Some investors may also start position, ahead of the third-quarter earnings report, another analyst said.

“Chartwise, expect the market to range between the 6,900 and 7,300 levels in the week ahead.

A break above 7,300 could signal retests of the 7,500 to 8,000 levels in the near term,” BDO Unibank chief investment strategist Jonathan Ravelas said.

The Philippine Stock Exchange index, the 30-company benchmark, surged 4.2 percent last week to close at 7,138.91 on Friday, while the all-share index jumped 3.1 percent to 4,079.75.

All major sub-indices ended in the green, led by property (up 8 percent), services (4.1 percent), financials (3.3 percent), holding firms (3.2 percent), mining and oil (3.1 percent) and industrial (2.7 percent).

“Local investors ignored several Philippine GDP growth forecast downgrades from the likes of the World Bank and IMF this week as the PSEi tracked the upbeat mood in the US where an interest rate hike is expected to be pushed further to 2016,” RCBC Securities

research head Raul Ruiz said.

“Given this sentiment, the market will likely ride the ongoing rally in the equity markets but gains could be limited by profit-taking in the lull before third-quarter corporate earnings begin rolling out later this month,” he said.

Foreign investors were net sellers last week by P566.2 million, as total overselling hit P22.13 billion while overseas buying amounted to P21.56 billion.

Top gainers last week were Suntrust Home Developers Inc., which surged 88.4 percent to P1.30; BHI Holdings Inc., which jumped 45.8 percent to P669.50; and Imperial Resources “A” shares which advanced 34.3 percent to P5.79. Jenniffer B. Austria

B4 Parañaque housing.

Standard Insurance Co.Inc. president Patricia EchauzChilip, Parañaque Mayor Edwin Olivarez and officials of Rotary Club Homes Foundation lead the ceremonial capsule laying and shoveling of the second phase of the Bagong Parañaque Housing Project along C-5 Road Extension in Barangay La Huerta. The city’s socialized project called Parañaque Ancop Rotary Homes will have additional 100 housing units and a chapel donated by St. Lukes Medical Services. Standard Insurance will donate a day care school where the Molding Optimism and Values trough Education Foundation will run its early childhood education programs. DMCI Homes donated P9 million to fund the construction of 90 homes at PAR Homes 1 and P14.7 million to fund the construction of 100 homes in phase two of the housing project located in a 4.2-hectare government property near the airport.

MVDP is still open to other auto firms

By Othel V. Campos

AUTOMOTIVE manufacturers have the option to register with the Motor Vehicle Development Program to obtain fiscal incentives that will not be granted under the newly-drafted rules of the Comprehensive Automotive Resurgence Strategy program.

Newly-appointed Board of Investments governor Henry Co said the MVDP was still open and available for automotive stakeholders excluded from the CARS program.

“It [MVDP] is still there and remains operational, companies can still register. But unlike the CARS program that is like a college degree, while MVDP is more like going through high school compared to CARS,” he said.

He added incentives in CARS were significantly better and of more value compared with the

benefits in the MVDP. Co declined to confirm reports MVDP would be scrapped once the CARS program was fully implemented as hinted by the Trade Department earlier.

Co was part of the planning for the CARS program as a private sector representative from the time it was conceptualized to the drafting of the implementing rules and regulations of the new automotive program.

Co, who once headed Ford Motor Philippines as president, said

the government expects car companies to register with the CARS program as soon as the regulations are released.

Ford was the only car company exporting completely builtup units when the MVDP was implemented.

The Philippine government approved EO 877-A, or the MVDP, in June 3, 2010 to give a boost to car companies and parts manufacturers and make make local vehicle assembly an attractive opportunity.

Fiscal incentives under the MVDP are limited to tax rebates and income tax holiday compared with those in the CARS program.

CARS offers P27 billion worth of time-bound and performance based fiscal and non-fiscal incentives to support new investments in fixed capital expenditures in new parts making capability and to encourage large scale production in vehicle assembly.

The CARS program will give three car manufacturers the proper set of incentives to help increase vehicle production in the country.

Each company will be required to produce at least 200,000 units within six years, with incentives kicking in as soon as the company produced its 101,000th unit.

President Benigno Aquino III approved the CARS in May that will provide incentives to the local production of vehicles and attract more than P27 billion in new parts manufacturing investments.

The program aims to locally produce at least 600,000 vehicles and generate a total economic activity estimated to be worth P300 billion over a six-year period.

It calls for fiscal and non-fiscal incentives to jumpstart the revitalization of the country’s automotive industry, improve its competitiveness and elevate the country into an auto manufacturing hub in the region.

PNOC Exploration gets coal gasification offers

By Alena Mae S. Flores STATE-OWNED PNOC Exploration Corp. received unsolicited proposals to convert a planned 100-megawatt coal-fired power plant in Isabela into a coal gasification project.

“In Isabela, we have received unsolicited proposals. [We] cannot disclose due to confidentiality agreement,” PNOC Exploration president Pedro Aquino Jr. told reporters.

He said the company was evaluating the proposals of two foreign companies with local partners.

“The proposal is not the traditional coal-fired power plants.

What they will do is they will

gasify the coal, turn coal into gas and... the gas they are going to produce, which is called synthetic gas, will be used to power the plants,” Aquino said.

“For government, we have to do it through a bidding process. Since they are unsolicited proposals, we’ll do it via Swiss challenge so that somebody else will match their offer,” he said.

Aquino said the interested parties offered to do the project on a modular scale.

“What they’ll do is they will try to enhance the calorific value of the coal. then they will bag it and they can transport that to other site... The process is complicated... ,” he said.

He said PNOC Exploration hopes to complete the evaluation of the proposal before the end of the year before conducing a Swiss challenge.

“Once we have submitted this to a Swiss challenge, then that’s the time we’ll make an award... Except that we have a problem, because of the election ban. But we can always seek an exemption from the Comelec,” Aquino said.

Aquino earlier said coal gasification was environment-friendly “because all the pollutants and environmental [concerns] have already been addressed by the gasification.”

He also said coal gasification would address the transport of

coal to the power plant, which is about 12 to 13 kilometers.

“My concern is from the mine to the proposed power plant site... That means you have to transfer the coal from the mine source to the power plant. Now with this new concept, what you do is you gasify the coal and pass this through a pipeline. So there’s not going to be any mess,” Aquino said.

The Isabela power plant will tap the lignite coal within PNOC Exploration’s coal concession in the area.

PNOC Exploration, the oil and gas unit of Philippine National Oil Co., plans to take a minority stake in the coal-fired power plant project.

Exec says lower rice production cost is key

By Anna Leah E. Gonzales THE next administration should focus on lowering the cost of production of palay, instead of relying on imports, an official of the Philippine Confederation of Grains Association said Sunday.

Philcon grains President Joji Co said in an interview the cost of palay production in the country remained high.

“The government should study our irrigation. There are areas which can be rehabilitated to retain the hectarage of irrigated areas,” Co said.

Earlier studies showed while Philippines spent P10 to produce a kilogram of palay, farmers in Vietnam and Thailand shelled out just P5 and P8, respectively, to make the same volume.

“We need to look at the milling efficiency and lower the wastage because it is currently at 5 to 25 percent,” Co said.

He said 8 percent of palay production went to waste due to sun drying.

“What we are importing is the wastage. What we really need is irrigation, farm-to-market roads and dryers,” Co said.

He also urged the government to conduct a stricter monitoring of rice importation.

“From the start we are not in favor of joining the World Trade Organization because the minimum access volume became a channel for smuggling,” Co said.

“Those who joined the WTO have very efficient Customs. We are more confident if the government will do the importation instead of the private sector,” he added The official noted an oversupply of rice this year as most of the harvest commodity during the dry months were not yet sold.

“This year we actually see an oversupply, a glut because some of the local harvests during the summer were not yet sold. The NFA has also not yet disposed of all their stocks,” he said.

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

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

B5

Leadership and management lessons from Heneral Luna HENERAL Luna is a huge hit, raking more than P230 million in tickets sales. This is probably the REYNALDO C. LUGTU, JR. first movie ever that had REEN IGHT struck emotional, cultural, and historical chords among all classes of Filipinos, including management students like me. It shows the complex interplay of power, politics, and leadership in much the same way we are experiencing today.

G

L

A great planner and organizer

We learned in MBA class various concepts in business and management such as planning, organizing, leading, and controlling.

General Luna is not the perfect example of a great leader or manager but the movie is rife with examples of what a great leader and manager is and what is not.

For one, General Luna showed excellence in planning and organizing the assaults and defense mechanism of the Philippine military gained from his studies in military science from Belgium under Gen. Gerard Leman, a World War I hero and training in guerrilla warfare and defense fortification. He would always plan for and prepare alternative actions to engage the Americans. He was an astute planner who even gets into the intricate details of things. He even commissioned his brother, Juan Luna, a renowned painter, to design the military’s uniform.

A complete disciplinarian

As a leader, General Luna was a complete disciplinarian and autocrat. In the movie, he said to the President Emilio Aguinaldo— “Kung ganun pabayaan mo akong mamuno! Pabayaan mo akong magturo ng tamang disiplina!“ (In that case, let me lead! Let me teach the right discipline).

In one scene, General Luna got hold of a captain’s private organ and drag the officer in front of his soldiers. This is literally and physically controlling the captain in order for him to understand the importance of chain of command and obedience. In the corporate setting, we don’t do this. We do it through measurable metrics guided by steps in control process.

But General Luna was able to lead his troops despite their limited skills, experience, and maturity. In one scene, he said “Nasa maling ulo ang utak ng inyong pinuno” (Your leader’s brain is in the head).

This was General Luna’s brutal rebuke to a captain who disobeyed him. From this, we can say that empowering the wrong person to lead and manage will definitely compromise the goals and objectives of an organization. Insubordination may arise because of the inability of the follower to understand the mechanics of followership. They don’t understand that those followers who effectively perform the tasks assigned by their leaders are the most likely to be promoted or assumed a leadership role when opportunities appear.

But nonetheless, General Luna capitalized on his followers’ ability and experience to successfully lead them to their goals.

An effective manager of resources and image

General Luna also showed how he managed his limited resources. He said “kaunti ang salapi ng hukbong sandatahan pero, kelangang ipakita sa mga Amerikano na kagalang-galang tayo” (the armed forces has limited financial resources, but we need to show the Americans that we are worthy to be revered).

He knew that respect of enemies in times of war is as important as gaining victory. This is also a requirement in the corporate setting to dress appropriately known as impression management. But this goes beyond wearing the right dress, it includes speaking and behaving acceptably.

An expert strategist

General Luna also displayed skills in strategy and tactics. He said “Hindi natin sila matatalo sa teknolohiya, pero matatalo natin sa taktika.” (We cannot defeat them with technology, but we can defeat them with tactic). He had a strategy to defeat the Americans by staging a guerrilla warfare in the Cordillera Region. But this strategy was never implemented. He was not able to overcome the organizational obstacles and challenges in the early stage of the Philippines.

Despite the untimely death of General Luna in the movie, he was able to impart invaluable lessons to us that we can use in our professional and personal lives.

The author is a senior executive in an information and communications technology firm. He also teaches management and marketing courses in the MBA Program of the Ramon V. del Rosario College of Business, De La Salle University.

Jerry Victorio is a student in the MBA Program of the Ramon V. del Rosario College of Business, De La Salle University.

PLDT partner. Philippine Long Distance Telephone Co. president and chief executive Napoleon Nazareno and Phunware chairman, chief executive and co-founder Alan Knitowski (seated from left, respectively) formalize the partnership between the PLDT Group and Phunware during a signing ceremony in El Segundo, California. The partnership involves a direct investment by PLDT Capital in US mobile platform leader Phunware and the creation of a joint venture that will allow PLDT’s ICT unit, ePLDT, to market and exclusively distribute Phunware targeted mobile and multiscreen solutions in Southeast Asia.

PAL subcontracts ground operations

By Darwin G Amojelar

PHILIPPINE Airlines expects to turn over its ground handling activities in domestic stations to a third party service provider by next month after laying off 117 employees.

“We are still finalizing it, maybe by November,” PAL president and chief operating officer Jaime Bautista said over the weekend.

Bautista said the company expects to incur savings with the manpower reduction as well as operational efficiency. He added no other employees would be laid off.

The layoffs will take effect November 9 and involve the payment of a separation package of 125 percent of monthly basic salary per year of service and a gratuity pay of P100,000.

The Philippine Airlines Employees Association last week filed a notice of strike with the Department of Labor and Employment after PAL terminated 117 employees

“We ask for the understanding of the public but a strike is necessary to defend the working conditions of PAL workers as the company is illegally interfering and coercing employees in the exercise of their constitutional right to self-organization,” Palea president Gerry Rivera said earlier. “Also the mass termination of more than 100 Palea members constitute another element of unfair labor practice.”

The union cited alleged unfair labor practice as basis for the strike. Palea under the law has 15 days before it can actually hold a strike.

PAL on Sept. 2 sent notices of termination to 117 employees, almost all Palea members. The

notice cited an alleged organizational restructuring which had rendered “several positions in the company redundant.”

Rivera dismissed the redundancy claim, saying the workers to be retrenched would be replaced by new employees from agencies.

“The new round of layoffs is another wave of contractualization, changing regular unionized workers with contractual employees using agencies who will be paid less in wages and benefits,” he said.

Rivera said PAL was laying off workers at a time when PAL was registering huge profits.

PAL’s parent firm, PAL Holdings Inc., recorded a consolidated total comprehensive income of P5.94 billion in the first half of the year, up 1,500 percent from just P362.4 million year-on-year.

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

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

Silahis hotel takeover illegal—Panlilio OWNERS of Silahis International Hotel Inc. and Pacific Hotel Corp. urged the Supreme Court to review the seizure of the five-star hotel, saying they were deprived of their properties without due process of law.

Jocel Panlilio, scion of the owners of Silahis Hotel, alleged that Judge Lyliha Abella-Aquino of RTC Manila Branch 24 railroaded the cancellation of the SIHI and PHC ownership titles of the family to the properties.

The Manila sheriff backed, by a 15-fully-armed men of Pacific Wide Realty and Development Corp., wrested the properties of SIHI and PHC with an illegal court order of execution that had a pending appeal.

“We filed an administrative

complaint against Judge Aquino and the sheriff of Branch 24 and petitioned the court for a change of venue,” Panlilio said.

Panlilio said Aquino’s court order was illegal as he was merely asked to rule against the winning bid of Pacific Wide Realty.

The case, he said, did not involve the possession and ownership of SIHI’s and PHC’s properties.

SIHI and PHC were not parties nor were they summoned as parties or informed of the pendency of the case in Judge Aquino’s sala, Panlilio said.

“I believe it is basic in the rules that a co-equal branch of court cannot intrude into the sphere of another on a matter already pending before it,” Panlilio said. The issue of possession and ownership

is pending before Judge Alisuag of RTC-Manila Branch 1.

Panlilio claimed that his family was in a no-win situation in Manila courts owing to the alleged close relationship of plastic magnate William Gatchalian, who owns Pacific Wide Realty, and Manila Mayor Joseph Estrada.

Gatchalian was presidential adviser for OFW Affairs and among the personalities involved in the plunder case filed against Estrada when he was president, Panlilio said.

SIHI and PHC appealed the case with Court of Appeals, which denied it. The Panlilios then filed with the Supreme court a petition to review for Certiorari before the SC. The high court also denied the petition.

SEC-accredited appraiser; and the proposed purchase price of the shares to be acquired.

4.2.

GCG MEMORANDUM CIRCULAR NO. 2015 - 01 SUBJECT

:

DATE

:

I.

GUIDELINES FOR THE CREATION OF GOCCs AND RELATED CORPORATIONS 08 APRIL 2015

PURPOSE AND LEGAL AUTHORITY

This Memorandum Circular covers the underlying principles, policies and procedural guidelines for the creation of Nonchartered GOCCs or Related Corporations pursuant to Section 27 of the “GOCC Governance Act of 2011 “ (RA No. 10149), which states: SEC. 27. Requisites for the Creation of a New GOCC or Related Corporation under The Corporation Code. -A government agency seeking to establish a GOCC or a Related Corporation under ‘The Corporation Code of the Philippines’ shall submit its proposal to the GCG for review and recommendation to H.E. the President for approval before registering the same with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The SEC shall not register the articles of incorporation and bylaws of a proposed GOCC or a Related Corporation, unless the application for registration is accompanied by an endorsement from the GCG stating that the President has approved the same.

4.3.

Formal Consultations. -The establishment of the Proposed GOCC shall be evaluated and pursued in close coordination with the Supervising Agency, which shall exercise supervision over said GOCC for purposes of policy and program coordination. In addition, the evaluations relative to the establishment of the Proposed GOCC shall also be in close coordination with all the stakeholders affected.

4.4.

Recommendation. -The Governance Commission shall decide on the Proposal only from the time it deliberates the matter with the Head or authorized representative/s of the Proponent; thereafter, the Proponent shall be informed of whether

Under Sec. 3 (w) and (a) of R.A. No. 10149, a “Related Corporation refers to a subsidiary or affiliate of a GOCC,” and that an “Affiliate refers to a corporation fifty percent (50%) or less of the outstanding capital stock of which is owned or controlled, directly or indirectly, by the GOCC.” II.

CREATION OF NONCHARTERED GOCCs

1.

COVERAGE. -This Circular shall cover the creation of Nonchartered GOCCs through the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) pursuant to the provisions of the Corporation Code.

1.1.

1.2.

2.

3.

4.

5.

Proponent. -The following may initiate the proposal to establish a Nonchartered GOCC (a) National Government Agencies (NGAs); (b)

Local Government Units (LGUs)

(c)

GOCCs, either Chartered or Nonchartered;

(d)

The Governance Commission, on its own initiative, when the expediency of public service may require it.

A Stock GOCC is one where the government owns majority (i.e. more than 50%) of the corporation’s outstanding capital stock.

(b)

A Non-Stock GOCC is any GOCC created at the behest of the NGA or LGU to undertake governmental functions and controlled by the government through its members.

II. 1.

The functions of the proposed GOCC do not duplicate or unnecessarily overlap with existing functions in the government;

(b)

The mandate of the proposed GOCC is consistent with the Philippine Development Plan;

(c)

The purpose of the proposed GOCC is not adequately served by the private sector;

(d)

The nature of operation of the proposed GOCC: • when it is a Stock GOCC, is primarily commercial with a clear value proposition and should serve public interests; and • when it is a Non-Stock GOCC, the eleemosynary purpose is pursuant to the performance of a governmental function or a mandate of the proponent;

The proposal has been recommended for approval in a formal Memorandum for the President of the Philippines; or

(b)

The proposal cannot be recommended since it fails to comply with the State Ownership Policy and/or other relevant laws, rules and regu lations.

ENDORSEMENT AND REGISTRATION WITH THE SEC. -If the proposal to establish the GOCC based on the recommendation of GCG is approved by the President, the Governance Commission shall inform the GOCC and/or the Proponent in writing and provide an endorsement for the establishment of the GOCC stating that the President has approved the same. The GOCC shall include the endorsement in their application for registration with the SEC.

CREATION OF A RELATED CORPORATION APPLICABILITY OF THE NEDA’s REVISED JV GUIDELINES. -Since a JV Company falls within the legal definition of a Related Corporation, this Circular shall be suppletory to the provisions of the NEDA Revised Guidelines and Procedures for Entering Joint Venture (JV) Agreements Between Government and Private Entities (NEDA JV Guidelines) dated 03 May 2013.

Section 7.4 of the NEDA JV Guidelines requires that all JV proposals that involve the establishment of a JV Corporation/Company to be submitted to GCG for review and recommendation to the President of the Philippines through the NEDA Board Investment Coordination Committee (ICC).

2.

STATE OWNERSHIP POLICY. -In reviewing proposals to create a Nonchartered GOCC, the Governance Commission shall ensure that: (a)

(a)

The GOCC shall furnish the GCG with a copy of all the documents pertaining to the registration with the SEC, including the General Information Sheet (GIS) and SEC Certificate of Registration, among others.

Classification of Nonchartered GOCCs. -GOCCs may be created either as stock or non-stock. and may be owned directly or indirectly by the National Government or LGU. or indirectly through another GOCC. (a)

Technical Working Group (TWG). -The Governance Commission shall review the proposal and convene a TWG meeting within thirty (30) working days from the complete submission of the requirements above.

The TWG shall consist of senior officers from GCG and the Proponent, who shall clarify all issues and make the necessary adjustments in order to comply with the State Ownership Policy and other relevant laws, rules and regulations from the time the TWG is convened. The representatives of GCG may require from the Proponent the submission of additional documents or information of such reasonable period as provided for in the notice. Failure to timely provide such additional documents or information shall result in the return of the proposal, without prejudice to resubmission with the additional documents or information.

Matters that cannot be agreed upon shall be elevated to the Governance Commission and if necessary, the various positions shall be discussed with the Head or Governing Board of the Proponent, as the case may be.

PARTICULAR GCG PROCEDURE FOR REVIEW AND APPROVAL. -A government agency seeking to establish a JV Company shall submit to GCG, for review and recommendation to the President of the Philippines through the NEDA. shall comply with the following requirements: 2.1.

Documentary Requirements. -The Governance Commission shall review proposals to establish the JV Company upon complete submission of the following requirements: 2.1.1.

MODES OF CREATION. -Nonchartered GOCCs may be created through the following modes: (a) CORPORATlZATlON of an existing government agency;

JV Agreement, which should clearly reflect the following:

(a)

Clearly defined business objectives;

(b)

Specified degree of participation and the management roles of each party in the JV activity;

(c)

Defined contribution of capital and ownership rights to property;

(d)

Specified division of the profits, risks and losses;

(e)

Identified dispute mechanism to avoid management impasses that may produce deadlock or litigation;

(f)

Specified termination/liquidation of the JV Company and indicate buy-out provisions;

(b)

CREATION of a new corporate entity;

(c)

SPIN-OFF, where an existing GOCC’s mandate is segregated. resulting in the creation of a new corporate entity, which may be a subsidiary or an entirely independent corporation of the GOCC; and

(g)

Specified confidentiality terms; and

(h)

Stipulated indemnification mechanisms.

(d)

ACQUISITION of the controlling interest in a private corporation.

2.1.2.

Feasibility study showing, as a minimum, the business model, 5-year projected financial statements, market/industry study, and if applicable, exit plan for the proponent government agency.

2.1.3.

Proposed Articles of Incorporations and By-Laws. , ,

2.1.4.

Projected Financial Statements of the proposed JV Company for 5 years beginning from the target date of incorporation, showing, among other things:

PROCEDURE FOR REVIEW, RECOMMENDATION AND APPROVAL 4.1 . Documentary Requirements. -Regardless of the mode of creation, the proposal to establish a GOCC shall include the following common requirements: (a)

Feasibility study, which shall contain, as a minimum. the business model, capitalization, 5-Year Projected Financial Statements, market/industry study. and if applicable, the exit plan for the NGA, LGU or GOCC;

(b)

Endorsement from the proposed Supervising Agency, in the case where the proponent is an LGU there must be a favorable endorsement of the establishment of a GOee from the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG);

(c)

Executive Summary and relevant supporting documents on the proceedings undertaken for genuine and effective Stakeholders consultations;

(d)

Endorsement from Stakeholders affected, including the LGUs where the proposed GOCC will be operating/situated, if applicable;

(e)

Proposed Articles of Incorporation and By-Laws (not applicable to Acquisition of GOCC);

(f)

Due Diligence Report on investors, co-incorporators, or co-stockholders from the private sector, if applicable; and

(g)

Any other documentation showing that the Proposed GOCC complies with State Ownership Policy pursuant to RA No. 10149, the “Ownership and Operations Manual for GOCCs” (GCG MC No. 2012-06), and this Circular.

3.

4.1.3.

Capital investments of the Parent Company;

(b)

Capital structure of the company at incorporation;

(c)

Commitments for future cash infusions into the company;

(d)

Working fund requirements for the programs/project;

(e)

Amounts to be funded from borrowings, if any;

(f)

Contingent liabilities/subsidies from the NGA and/or LGUs; and

(g)

Projections on cash flow and profitability during the life of the programs/ projects,

TECHNICAL WORKING GROUP. -The Governance Commission shall review the proposal and convene a TWG meeting within thirty (30) working days from the complete submission of the requirements above,

(a)

5-year historical audited financial statements, or for the period of existence of the government agency if less than 5 years;

The TWG shall consist of senior officers from GCG and the Proponent, who shall clarify all issues and make the necessary adjustments in order to comply with the State Ownership Policy and other relevant laws, rules and regulations from the time the TWG is convened.

The representatives of GCG may require from the Proponent the submission of additional documents or information of such reasonable period as provided for in the notice. Failure to timely provide such additional documents or information shall result in the return of the proposal, without prejudice to resubmission with the additional documents or information.

(b)

Updated version of the government agency’s charter incorporating all subsequent amendments, and supported by relevant executive issuances and regulations and the original version of its charter and the amendments;

Matters that cannot be agreed upon shall be elevated to the Governance Commission and if necessary, the various positions shall be discussed with the Head or Governing Board of the Proponent, as the case may be.

(c)

The plan for transferring assets and obligations to the Proposed GOCC, if applicable; and

(d)

Proposed Executive Order (EO) approving the corporatization of the functions and mandate of the government agency, pursuant to the delegated authority of the President of the Philippines under R.A. No. 10149 to create GOCCs and under the Administrative Code of 1987 (E.O. No. 292) to reorganize the Executive Branch of Government.

4.1.1. Additional Requirements for Corporatization. -Proposals for Corporatization shall also include:

4.1.2.

(a)

4.

Additional Requirements for Spin-Off. -The proposal for spin-off shall also include: (a)

For Chartered GOCCs, Proposed EO transferring the functions to the Proposed GOCC pursuant to the delegated authority of the President of the Philippines under R.A. No. 10149 to create GOCCs and under the Administrative Code of 1987 (E.O. No. 292) to reorganize the Executive Branch of Government;

(b)

For Nonchartered GOCCs, proposed amendments to the Articles of Incorporation of the existing GOCC; and

(c)

Change Management Plan for the orderly and efficient transfer of the functions, services, assets and obligations from the existing GOCC to the Proposed GOCC.

Additional Requirements for Acquisition -The proposal for Acquisition shall also include: (a)

Certified true copies of the latest: Articles of Incorporation, Bylaws and General Information Sheet;

(b)

Due Diligence Report on the private entity, which should also include the list of stockholders with their respective subscribed and paid-up capital certified under oath by the Corporate Secretary, and notarized Secretary’s Certificate or equivalent that there is no pending case of intra-corporate dispute or other legal controversies;

(c)

5-year audited financial statements, or for the period of existence of the private entity if less than 5 years; and

(d)

Current market valuation of listed shares to be acquired, or the appraised value of unlisted shares to be issued by a reputable auditing firm or an

RECOMMENDATION. -The Governance Commission shall decide only from the time it deliberates on the same with the Head of Agency of the proponent government agency.

Thereafter, the proponent government agency shall be informed through a formal written notice of whether: (a)

The proposal has been recommended for approval in a formal Memorandum for the President of the Philippines through the NEDA Board ICC; or

(b)

The proposal cannot be recommended since it fails to comply with the policies and principles herein, the NEDA JV Guidelines, and/or other applicable laws, rules and regulations,

5.

ENDORSEMENT AND REGISTRATION WITH THE SEC. -If the proposal to establish the JV Company based on the recommendation of GCG and the NEDA Board ICC is approved , the Governance Commission shall inform the proponent government agency in writing and provide an endorsement for the establishment of the JV Company stating that the President has approved the same, which the proponent government agency and the Private Sector Partner shall include in their application for registration with the SEC, .

III.

EFFECTIVITY This Circular shall take effect immediately upon its publication in a newspaper of general circulation and on the Governance Commission’s website at www.gcg.govph.

VILLANUEV CESAR L. VILLANUEVA Chairman

V PURISIMA CESAR V. DOF Secretary

MA. ANGELA E. IGNACIO Commissioner

FLORENCIO B. ABAD DBM Secretary

RAINIER B. BUTALID BUT Commissioner

MONDAY: OCTOBER 12, 2015

PH firms...From B1 In May, the company said it would bid to acquire French cognac maker Louis Royer SAS. There has been no resolution in that attempt yet but last year it paid 430 million pounds ($726 million) for Scottish whisky maker Whyte and Mackay.

Emperador also spent 60 million euros ($82 million) last year for half of Spanish brandy producer Bodega Las Copas.

The Philippines’ thirdrichest man, Enrique Razon, has made headlines by expanding on the port operator business that has made him his fortune by setting his sights on the Asian gaming market.

He opened a billiondollar casino in Manila in 2013, and then in March this year his Bloombery Resorts firm announced it was buying an island and part of another one in South Korea for his first overseas gaming foray.

Analysts said these were some of the highest-profile acquisitions overseas, but there were many others in a wide range of sectors, including telecommunications, power, fast food and oil.

Awash with cash Filipino firms are leveraging their earnings from a robust local economy to snap up bargains in countries where growth has slowed, analysts said.

“These companies have huge stashes of cash and they are maximizing it to compliment their existing businesses,” said Astro del Castillo, managing director at Manila stock brokerage First Grade Holdings.

The Philippines had for decades endured low economic growth compared with other Asian tiger economies, partly due to crippling corruption and red tape.

But in recent years, the economy has been one of the strongest in Asia, averaging growth of 6.3 percent between 2010 and 2014.

President Benigno Aquino, whose six-year term ends in 2016, has been widely credited overseas for the economic gains due to his efforts to tackle graft and stifling government bureaucracy.

This year the economy has slowed but still expanded by 5.3 percent in the first half.

But many of the enduring problems remain at home and these are forcing the local firms to look elsewhere, according to Victor Abola, an economist at the University of Asia and the Pacific. Agence France-Presse

be consolidated into the Surviving GOCC;

GCG MEMORANDUM CIRCULAR NO. 2015 - 03 SUBJECT

:

DATE

:

1.

(d) The Surviving GOCC shall possess all the rights, privileges, immunities, properties and franchises of each of the constituent corporations, and all receivables due on whatever account, including subscriptions to shares and other choses in action, and all other interests belonging to or owned by each constituent GOCC, shall be deemed transferred to and vested in the surviving GOCC, without further act or deed; and

GUIDELINES COVERING THE MERGER OR ABOLITION DISSOLUTION OF GOCCs 08 APRIL 2015

PURPOSE AND LEGAL AUTHORITY This Memorandum Circular covers the underlying principles, policies and procedures for the merger or abolition of GOCCs pursuant to Section 5(a) of the “GOee Governance Act of 2011” (R.A. No. 10149), as well as the dissolution and liquidation resulting from abolition.

3.6.

Implement the . . . merger . . . of the GOCC, unless otherwise directed by the President; or

(ii) Recommend to the President the abolition . . of the GOCC, and upon approval of the President, implement such abolition ... unless the President designates another agency to implement such abolition or privatization.

2.

In determining whether it shall recommend to the President of the Philippines whether to abolish a GOCC or merge two (2) or more GOCCs, the Governance Commission shall evaluate the GOCC/s guided by the following statutory principles:

3.7.

2.3.

2.4.

2.5.

2.6.

2.7.

2.8.

3.

3.2.

3.8.

3.3.

3.4.

3.9.

The manner by which the abolished Nonchartered GOCC shall be liquidated shall be in accordance with the terms and conditions provided for in the approval, which seeks to safeguard the assets, business enterprise, programs and activities of the abolished GOCe under the terms and procedures which are for the best interests of the GOee’s stakeholders.

Legal Effects of De Facto Merger. -Pursuant to the jurisprudence arising from the application of Section 40 of the Corporation Code, the following are the legal effects of a De Facto Merger:

During the liquidation process, the Governing Board shall continue to possess its corporate powers but only to effect the liquidation of the GOCe in accordance with the terms of the approval and procedure laid down by the TWG. 4.5.3. Manner of Formal Dissolution of Nonchartered GOCC. -The formal dissolution of the Nonchartered GOCC approved for abolition shall be through any of the methods of dissolution provided for in the Corporation Code that best adheres to the terms of the approval, thus: (a) Voluntary Dissolution Where No Creditors Are Affected under Section 118; (b) Voluntary Dissolution Where Creditors Are Affected under Section 119; (c) Dissolution by the Shortening of the Corporate Term under Section 120.

4.5.4. Termination of Nonchartered GOCC. -The juridical entity of the Nonchartered GOCC shall cease to exist for any and all purposes at the end of the three (3) year period from the date of the approval, as provided in Section 122 of the Corporation Code.

4.6.

Matters to Be Resolved by the TWG on the De Facto Merger. -The TWG formed to implement the merger of the GOCCs shall resolve the following matters:

(b) Surrender of original copies of corporate books of account and financial records to the Commission on Audit, and officially received by the latter;

(b) Surrender of original copies of corporate books of account and financial records to the surviving corporation, and officially received by the latter;

(c) Inventory of abolished GOCC’s existing programs and projects which are to be terminated or transferred to the appropriate agency, as the case may be;

(c) Inventory of absorbed GOCC’s existing programs and projects which are to be transferred to the surviving corporation;

Formation and Composition of the Technical Working Group (TWG). - Upon the issuance of the President’s approval of the merger or abolition of a GOCC, a TWG shall be formed to resolve all matters involving the implementation of the merger or abolition. The TWG shall be composed of the President/CEO of the concerned GOCC as well as other officers, and duly designated representatives from the Governance Commission, DOF, DBM, COA, and when applicable, the SEC, with a rank not lower than that of a Director.

(d) Inventory of absorbed GOCC’s assets and liabilities, if any and the manner by which said assets and liabilities shall be disposed of and settled;

(d) Inventory of abolished GOCC’s assets and liabilities, if any and the manner by which said assets and liabilities shall be disposed of and settled;

(e) Inventory of all pending cases brought by and against both GOCCs, the status of such cases, and corresponding actions to resolve said cases, as well as the amount of contingent liabilities from said cases, if any;

(e) Change Management Plan for affected stakeholders other than the creditors and employees

(f)

(f)

Change Management Plan for affected stakeholders other than the creditors and employees;

Coverage of “Merger”.-The term “merger” shall cover GOCCs whether Chartered or Nonchartered, and shall cover either of the following restructuring modes:

(g) The formal submission of the Plan of Integration of the merged GOCCs and their Subsidiaries and Affiliates, which shall then be approved by at least two-thirds (2/3) of the members of the TWG for implementation of the surviving corporation;

(a) De Jure Merger refers to the process whereby one or more existing GOCC/s are absorbed by another GOCC which survives and continues the combined businesses of the absorbed GOCCs; and

(h) Such other matters to be resolved for the effective and expeditious merger of the GOCCs. 4.

(h) Such other matters to be resolved for the effective and expeditious abolition, dissolution and liquidation of the concerned GOCC.

Coverage of “Abolition”. -”Abolition” under Section 5(a) of R.A. No. 10149 is a generic term that lawfully covers the following legal processes:

4.7.

Integration of a GOCC into the National Agency Framework. -In order to avoid the legal effects of the Business Enterprise Doctrine of Succession of Liabilities, especially when the liabilities incurred by the GOCC were unwarranted, a formal dissolution of the GOCC may be pursued instead of a formal transfer, sale or assignment of all or substantially all of the assets of the GOCC to the Supervising Department The liquidation process allows the payment of all claims to be limited to the GOCC, and any remaining assets shall then be brought up to the Supervising Agency to a unit, office or division that would take over the programs and activities of the abolished GOCC.

4.8.

Integration of a GOCC into the Parent GOCC. -If the exigencies of public service require the avoidance of incurring the legal effects and consequences of merging a Subsidiary GOCC with the Parent GOCC (e.g. , absorbing unwarranted liabilities incurred by the Subsidiary), the proper route is for the Subsidiary GOCC to be formally abolished and liquidated, and any remaining assets and activities shall be absorbed by the Parent GOCC as an integral process of liquidation.

(a) Dissolution, which is the point in time when a GOCC ceases to exist as a going concern or for pursuit of its business purpose, and its juridical capacity remains only for purposes of winding-down its affairs and the liquidation of its assets. The date of dissolution shall be effective upon the issuance of the President’s approval of the Governance Commission’s recommendation to abolish a GOCC.

Additional Guiding Standards in the Mergers of GOCCs. - Nothing in this Circular shall be construed to preclude the Governance Commission from considering other guiding standards in recommending the merger of GOCCs, which may include, but is not limited to, the following: Operational Efficiency; Enhanced Market Power and Extensive Market Reach ; Increased Sources of Funds; Access to New or Better Technology; Access to and Enhancement of New Product Lines; Widened Geographic Reach; and Expanded Source of Management and Technical Talents.

(b) Liquidation, which takes place immediately after dissolution and involves, but is not limited to, the settlement and adjustment of claims against the GOCC. payment of its just debts, and collecting all that is due the corporation.7 In no case shall the period of Liquidation of a GOCC exceed three (3) years pursuant to the Corporation Code. (c) If applicable, Integration of a GOCC Into the National Agency Framework, which has the effect of transferring its assets, programs and activities into a unit, office or division of the Supervising Agency.

Executive Order for the De Jure Merger of GOCCs. - Since directing the merger of existing GOCCs is inherently an exercise of legislative power, the quasi-legislative power granted to the President of the Philippines to merge GOCCs under RA No. 10149 shall formally be covered by an Executive Order (EO) issued for that purpose.

(d) If applicable, Integration of a GOCC into the Parent GOCC, which is the formal abolition of a GOCC with the intention to effect the transfer of its assets, programs and activities into its Parent GOCC, which achieves more efficiently the ends of a De Facto Merger.

4.2.

The process of formally dissolving and liquidating the Subsidiary GOCC shall then follow the applicable procedures covered in either Sections 4.4 or 4.5 above.

5.

Public Policy Considerations for the Abolition of GOCCs. -The abolition of GOCCs under RA No. 10149 shall be pursued consistent with the following policies:

(b) Safeguarding the Civil Service Interests and Employees’ Entitlement to Reasonable Separation Benefits. -The civil service rights of employees in GOCCs which have been approved for abolition, as well as providing for the separation pay to which they may be entitled, shall be one of the highest considerations in pursuing the liquidation process of an abolished GOCC.

3.4.3. Combining Chartered and Nonchartered GOCCs. -When the constituent corporations involve both Chartered and Nonchartered GOCCs, the procedure to be pursued to effect the merger shall be as follows:

(c) Safeguarding the Priority Claims of Legitimate Creditors of GOCCs. The liquidation of a GOCC that has been approved for abolition shall be undertaken in full consideration of the security and property rights of legitimate creditors.

4.3.

General Procedures for the Abolition of GOCCs. -Upon the issuance of the formal approval for the abolition of a GOCC, the Governance Commission shall constitute a TWG consisting of the representative/s from the Supervising Agency and Concerned Agencies/GOCCs, who shall implement the abolition based on the following:

Legal Effects of a De Jure Merger.1 -A De Jure Merger pursued under this Circular shall have the following effects:

4.4.

Abolition of a Chartered GOCC 4.4.1. Executive Order to Effect Abolition. -Under Section 5(a) of RA No.

CESAR V V. PURISIMA DOF Secretary

MA. ANGELA E. IGNACIO Commissioner

FLORENCIO B. ABAD DBM Secretary

RAINIER B. BUT BUTALID Commissioner

1

(a) Chartered GOCC. -The state of dissolution of the Chartered GOCC takes effect upon formal issuance of the EO; and (b) Nonchartered GOCC.-Treatment of the assets, business enterprise, programs and activities of the Nonchartered GOCC which has been approved for abolition shall be in accordance with the terms of the formal approval issued for the purpose, and under terms and procedures that would ensure safeguarding of the assets, business enterprise, programs and activities of the abolished GOCC that best serves the public’s interest. The formal dissolution of the juridical entity of the Nonchartered GOCC shall be pursued strictly in accordance with the provisions of the Corporation Code.

CESAR L. VILLANUEVA Chairman

_____________________________ 2

(b) When the Surviving Corporation Is a Nonchartered GOCC, a formal procedure for merger covering all the constituent corporations, including those which are Chartered GOCCs, pursuant to the terms of the Corporation Code, which would effect the merger of the constituent corporations into the Surviving Nonchartered GOCC.

EFFECTIVITY This Circular shall take effect immediately upon its publication in a newspaper of general circulation and on the Governance Commission’s website at www.gcg.gov.ph.

(a) Safeguarding the Public Purpose of Public Funds/Properties. -The manner of abolition of every GOCC shall be pursued in a manner that preserves the value of its assets and business enterprise that would provide for the highest possible liquidation value to cover the legitimate interests of all stakeholders, and allow the public service interests to be pursued in the agency that will take-over the abolished GOCC’s social development functions.

3.4.2. Nonchartered GOCCs. -When the constituent corporations are all Nonchartered GOCCs, the procedure for merger under Sections 76, 77 and 78 of the Corporation Code of the Philippines, including the relevant and binding rules and regulations issued by the SEC, shall be followed, in order to bring about to full fruition the legal consequences of the merger.

Inventory of all pending cases brought by and against the dissolved GOCC, the status of such cases, and corresponding actions to resolve said cases, as well as the amount of contingent liabilities from said cases, if any;

(g) The formal submission of the Plan of Liquidation of the GOCC which shall then be approved by all members of the TWG for implementation of the dissolved GOCC, Parent GOCC, or Supervising Agency, as the case may be;

ABOLITION OF GOCCs 4.1.

Matters to Be Resolved by the TWG on Abolition. -The TWG shall resolve the following: (a) Settlement of separation pay of affected employees;

(a) Settlement of separation pay of affected employees;

Approval of the President.-The formal approval of the President of the Philippines of the recommendation of the merger or abolition of a GOCC shall be the legal authority for the Governance Commission to pursue the merger or abolition of such GOCC.

(b) The separate existence of the constituent GOCCs shall cease and

4.5.2. Legal Effects of the MO Abolishing a Nonchartered GOCC. -The issuance of the formal approval of the dissolution of a Nonchartered GOCC legally authorizes the Governance Commission to pursue the formal dissolution, liquidation and termination of the Nonchartered GOCC.

Unless there is basis for piercing the veil of corporate fiction to make the “Surviving GOCC” liable,5 the claims of the employees against the Transferring GOCCs cannot be pursued against the “Surviving GOCC.”6

Memorandum to the President.-If after the above consultations the Governance Commission still determines that it is to the best interest of the State that the GOCC/s should be merged or abolished, the evaluation and findings of the Governance Commission, as well as the results of the above consultations, shall be contained in a Memorandum for the President of the Philippines recommending the merger or abolition, the manner by which to pursue the same, as well as the formal dissolution and liquidation of the GOCC in case of abolition.

(a) The constituent GOCCs shall become a single corporation which shall be the Surviving GOCC designated in the EO and in the Plan of Merger;

Therefore, when it is a Nonchartered GOCC which the President has approved for abolition, such approval may take the form of a Memorandum Order (MO) from the President to the Governance Commission, and thereafter the formal dissolution and liquidation of such Nonchartered GOCC, consistent with the Corporation Code of the Philippines.

(c) Employment Contracts and Employee Claims. -Unless otherwise specifically taken by the “Surviving GOCC,” employees of the Transferring GOCCs do not become employees of the “Surviving GOCC”, and the sale of the business enterprise entitles the Transferring GOCCs to legally terminate the employment of their employees, but subject to payment of separation pay.4

3.4.1. Chartered GOCCs. -When the constituent corporations are all Chartered GOCCs, the terms of the EO shall constitute the full authority to effect combination of the assets and businesses, programs and projects into the Surviving GOCC, and to bring into effect the legal consequences of the merger.

3.5.

Procedure for De Facto Merger. -A de facto merger shall be formally covered by an EO issued for that purpose.

However, under the “Business Enterprise Doctrine of Succession of Liabilities” recognized in Philippine jurisprudence, the creditors (other than employees’ claims) of the Transferring GOCCs, in the event the latter are insolvent or not in a position to pay their debts, have the common-law right to proceed against the “Surviving GOCC”.3

Coordination with other Concerned Agencies.-In addition to the concerned Regulatory Agencies, the merger or abolition of a GOCC shall also be evaluated and pursued in coordination with the Commission on Audit (COA), the Department of Finance (DO F), the Department of Budget and Management (DBM), the SEC, when applicable, and such other concerned agencies.

(a) When the Surviving Corporation Is a Chartered GOCC, a formal procedure for merger shall be filed with the SEC covering the constituent Nonchartered GOCCs pursuant to the terms of the Corporation Code, which would effect the merger of the Nonchartered GOCCs into the Chartered GOCC;

4.5.1. Memorandum Order to Effect Abolition. -Under Section 5(a) of RA No. 10149, although the “point of abolition” of a Nonchartered GOCC is upon the approval of the President of GCG’s recommendation to abolish it, nonetheless, it is only after such approval that the Governance Commission may implement the legal processes of dissolution, liquidation and termination which must all be in accordance with the procedures mandated under the Corporation Code of the Philippines.

(b) Liabilities of Transferring GOCCs. -All existing liabilities of the Transferring GOCCs shall remain their separate liabilities, to be paid purportedly from the proceeds or consideration received from the Surviving GOCCs.

Coordination With Regulatory Agencies Involved.-The merger or abolition of a GOCC shall be evaluated and pursued in coordination with the regulatory agencies which have jurisdiction over the GOCC, e.g., GFls which are under the supervision of the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP), Nonchartered GOCCs which are also under the jurisdiction of the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) and GOCCs which are insurance companies under the jurisdiction of the Insurance Commission (IC).

Procedure for the De Jure Merger. - Once the merger of GOCCs is formally approved by the President of the Philippines in a covering EO, the Governance Commission shall constitute a TWG composed of the relevant agencies involved. which shall pursue the merger based on the following circumstances:

Abolition of a Nonchartered GOee

(a) Assets and Business Enterprise of the Transferring GOCCs. -Upon completion of the transfer, the Surviving GOCC assumes all the assets and business enterprise so transferred to it, but only from the date of actual delivery.

Participation of the Head of the Supervising Agency.-The pursuit of the merger or abolition of a GOCC shall be done with the participation of the Secretary or highest ranking official of the Supervising Agency to which the GOCC is attached.

(a) (b) (c) (d) (e) (f) (g)

4.5.

(c) For Nonchartered ‘Transferring GOGGs”, their Governing Boards shall pass the resolution formally transferring their assets, business enterprise, programs and activities, and such liabilities arising therefrom to the Surviving GOCC as directed under the terms of the EO, and shall cause the holding of a special stockholders’ meeting for the ratification of such board resolution , pursuant to the requirements of Section 40 of the Corporation Code.

PES and Consultation with GOCC Governing Board.-The Governance Commission’s evaluation of the performance and determination of the relevance of a GOCC shall be tied to the Performance Evaluation System (PES) institutionalized under GCG Memorandum Circular No. 2013-02 (Re-Issued). The results of the evaluation and determination of relevance of a GOCC shall be discussed with the Governing Board of the GOCC and of its parent GOCC, if any.

(b) De Facto Merger refers to the process whereby all or substantially all the assets and business enterprise of an existing GOCC are transferred to another GOCC, which continues the purpose, functions and programs of the transferring GOCC.

4.4.3. Termination of Chartered GOCC. -The juridical entity of the Chartered GOCC shall cease to exist for any and all purpose(s), and its Governing Board shall be deemed to have reached the stage of functus officio upon completion of the liquidation process as declared by the Governance Commission.

(b) For Chartered “Transferring GOGGs”, their Governing Boards shall pass the resolution formally transferring its assets, business enterprise, programs and activities, and such liabilities arising therefrom to the Surviving GOCC as directed under the terms of the EO; and

MERGER OF GOCCs 3.1.

The Governing Board of the abolished GOCC shall continue to possess powers but only to effect the liquidation of the GOCC in accordance with the terms of the EO and procedure laid down by the TWG.

(a) For the “Surviving GOGG” (i.e., the transferee or absorbing GOCC), its Governing Board shall formally pass a resolution to purchase or take-over the assets, business enterprise, programs activities, and liabilities of the transferring GOCCs under the terms and conditions directed under the EO;

(a) The functions or purposes for which the GOCC was created are no longer relevant to the State or no longer consistent with the national development policy of the State; (b) The GOCC’s functions or purposes duplicate or unnecessarily overlap with the functions, programs, activities or projects already provided by a Government Agency; (c) The GOCC is not producing the desired outcomes, or no longer achieving the objectives and purposes for which it was originally designed and implemented, and/or not cost efficient and does not generate the level of social, physical and economic returns vis-avis the resource inputs; (d) The GOCC is in fact dormant or non-operational; (e) The GOee is involved in activity best carried out by the private sector; and (f) The functions, purpose or nature of operations of any group of GOCCs require consolidation under a holding company.

2.2.

The abolished GOCC shall be liquidated shall be in accordance with the terms and conditions provided for in the EO which seeks to safeguard the assets, business enterprise, programs and activities of the abolished GOCC under the terms and procedures for the best interests of the GOCC’s stakeholders.

De Facto Merger. -A De Facto Merger among GOCCs partakes basically of a sale of all or substantially all of the assets of one or more GOCCs to the Surviving GOCC pursuant to Section 40 of the Corporation Code.2 The effect of a de facto merger is to strip the transferring GOCCs of their assets and business enterprise, leaving the shell of the juridical personality.

After a de facto merger has been effected , the following options are available to the Supervising Agencies of the absorbed GOCCs: (a) to shelve the remaining juridical entity as “Inactive or Non-Operational” but maintain their status for any future use, subject to prior approval from the Governance Commission; or (b) to pursue separate procedures for their formal abolition.

GUIDING PRINCIPLES 2.1.

4.4.2. Legal Effects of the EO Abolishing a Chartered GOCC. -The issuance of the EO effects the formal dissolution of the GOCC, which thereafter ceases to exist as a going concern, and triggers the process of liquidation of its business enterprise.

(e) The Surviving GOCC shall be responsible and liable for all the liabilities and obligations of each of the constituent corporations in the same manner as if such Surviving GOCC had itself incurred such liabilities or obligations, which shall include existing employment contracts; and any claim, action or proceeding pending by or against any of such constituent GOCC/s may be prosecuted by or against the Surviving GOCC. Neither the rights constituent corporation shall be impaired by such merger.

Under Section 5(a) of RA No. 10149, upon determination by the Governance Commission that it is to the best interest of the State that a GOCC should be merged or abolished, it shall: (i)

10149, the “point of abolition” takes effect “upon the approval of the President” of the recommendation of the Governance Commission to abolish the GOCC/s. Since a Chartered GOCC exists pursuant to a special legislation issued by Congress, its abolition under the terms of Section 5(a) of RA No. 10149 requires the President to exercise his quasi-legislative power through an EO, which requires full public notice of essentially a repeal of a legislative primary franchise .

(c) The Surviving GOCC shall possess all the rights, privileges, immunities and powers and shall be subject to all the duties, functions and liabilities of each of the constituent GOCC, unless otherwise specified in the EO and the Plan of Merger;

3

4 5 6 7

Sec. 80. Corporation Code of the Philippines.

Sec. 40. Sale or other disposition of assets.-Subject to the provisions of existing laws on illegal combinations and monopolies. a corporation may, by a majority vote of its board of directors or trustees, sell. lease, exchange, mortgage. pledge or otherwise dispose of all or substantially all of its property and assets, including its goodwill, upon such terms and conditions and for such consideration, which may be money, stocks, bonds or other instruments for the payment of money or other property or consideration, as its board of directors or trustees may deem expedient, when authorized by the vote of the stockholders representing at least two-third (2/3) of the outstanding capital stock, or in case of non-stock corporation, by the vote of at least two thirds (2/3) of the members, in a stockholders’ or members’ meeting duly called for the purpose. x x x Provided, That any dissenting stockholder may exercise his appraisal right under the conditions provided in this Code.

Sale or other disposition shall be deemed to cover substantially all the corporate property and assets if thereby the corporation would be rendered incapable of continuing the business or accomplishing the purpose for which it was incorporated. x x x In non-stock corporations, where there are no members with voting rights, the vote of at least a majority of the trustees in office will be sufficient authorization for the corporation to enter into any transaction authorized by this section.

Edward J. Neli Co. v. Pacific, 15 SCRA 415 (1965); Philippines National Bank v. Andrada Electric & Engineering Co..

381 SCRA 244 (2002): McLeod v. NLRC, 512 SCRA 222 (2007); Jiao v. NLRC, 670 SCRA 184 (2012). Caltex (Phils.), Inc. v. PNOC Shipping and Transport Corp, 498 SCRA 400 (2006).

Central Azucarera del Danao v. CA, 137 SCRA 295 (1985); Barayoga v. APT, 473 SCRA 690 (2005).

National Federation of Labor Union v. Ople. 143 SCRA 124 (1986); Peñafrancia Tours and Travel Transport v.

Sarmiento. 634 SCRA 279 (2010).

Sunio v. NLRC, 127 SCRA 390 (1984); San Felipe Neri School of Mandaluyong, Inc. v NLRC, 201 SCRA 478 (1991 ); Yu v. NLRC, 245 SCRA 134 (1995); Complex Etectronics Employees Assn. v. NLRC, 310 SCRA 403 (1999).

China Banking Corp v. M. Michelin & Cie, 58 Phil. 261 (1933); Yu v. Yukayguan, 589 SCRA 588 (2009) (TS-SEPT. 12, 2015)

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CEsAR BARRiOquiNTO EDITOR

editorial@thestandard.com.ph

world

Performance. The Cast performs Stephen Schwartz’s Magic To Do Premiere aboard the Crown Princess on Oct. 10, 2015, in San Pedro, California. AFP

Palestinian unrest widens Aussies rally to support detained asylum seekers SYDNEY—Thousands of Australians Sunday joined rallies calling for the closure of Pacific island camps for asylum-seekers, just days after the government confirmed it was in talks with the Philippines to resettle detained refugees.

Under Canberra’s tough immigration policy, asylum-seekers attempting to reach the island continent by boat are turned back or sent to camps on Nauru or Papua New Guinea and barred from resettling in Australia even if found to be refugees.

Chanting “free, free the refugees”, the protesters in Sydney, Melbourne and other cities said the government and new Australian Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull should close the Pacific detention centers,

which have been harshly criticized by rights groups.

With Australia set to resettle 12,000 Syrian refugees amid the crisis in Europe, some demonstrators waved Syrian and Kurdish flags and said the government should move those held in the camps to the mainland.

One asylum seeker, “Adbi”, who has reportedly been held on Manus Island for more than two years, called on Turnbull—who came into power in mid-September after replacing Tony Abbott in a party coup—to help the detainees.

“They are traumatizing us,” Abdi said on a phone call broadcast to the Sydney crowd, adding that the conditions at the Papua New Guinea facility were “indescribable”. AFP

GAZA CITY—An Israeli air strike in Gaza killed a pregnant woman and her toddler, as a Palestinian woman set off a bomb in the West Bank Sunday in the first such attack in over a week of violence.

The sharp escalation led to mounting fears that Palestinian unrest was tumbling toward a wider uprising, or third intifada.

After days of unrest elsewhere, Gaza has been drawn into the violence since Friday, with clashes along the border leaving nine Palestinians dead, including teenagers, from Israeli fire.

Overnight, Israel said it targeted “two Hamas weapon manufacturing facilities” after Gaza militants fired two rockets and following attempts by Palestinians to violently cross the border.

One of the rockets had hit an open field in southern Israel and the other was intercepted.

Israel’s retaliatory air strikes demolished a house in the northern area of Zeitun, killing Nur Hassan, 30, and her two-yearold daughter Rahaf, Gaza medics said, and trapping three others under the ruins.

Border clashes that broke out Friday came as Hamas’s chief in Gaza, Ismail Haniya, called the overall violence an intifada and urged further unrest.

Hamas, which rules Gaza, remains deeply divided from president Mahmud Abbas’s West Bankbased Fatah.

In Sunday morning’s bomb blast near Jerusalem, a policeman spotted a “suspicious” vehicle close to the Israeli settlement of Maale Adumim and ordered the 31-yearold woman to stop, police said.

She exited the car and the explosives inside it detonated, police spokesman Micky Rosenfeld said, wounding her seriously and the of-

ficer lightly.

The woman, from Jericho in the West Bank, shouted “God is great” in Arabic before the bomb went off. It was not clear whether she intended to carry out an attack at that location or elsewhere.

It was also unclear if she intended it be a suicide attack. According to photos distributed by police, the bomb did not appear especially powerful, with the car still intact after the blast.

Explosives had not been used in the week of violence that has led to an Israeli security crackdown, with a wave of stabbings sparking fear among Israelis.

A settler couple was also shot dead in the West Bank on October 1 in front of their children and rioting has shaken annexed east Jerusalem and the occupied West Bank.

While Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Abbas have sought to avoid an escalation, frustrated Palestinian youths have defied efforts to restore calm. AFP

War correspondents win French award BAYEUX, France—France’s prestigious Bayeux-Calvados award for war correspondents on Saturday honored journalists covering conflicts in Syria and Ukraine, as well as Europe’s worst migrant crisis since World War II. Two of the awards went to correspondents covering the Islamic State group’s game plan and its atrocities.

The text category award went to German Der Spiegels’ Christoph Reuter, who wrote an in-depth story on the shadowy mastermind of IS’ strategy in Syria and Iraq.

The article, published on April 18 this year, plows through a set of documents left behind by Haji Bakr after his death, which Reuter describes as “the source code of the most successful terrorist army in recent history”.

In the article, Reuter also revealed that the IS strategist was a former officer of the secret services of Iraq’s Saddam Hussein.

Reading Reuter’s article “was like someone switching on the light,” said a member of the Bayeux jury who has also covered Syria.

The long-format television award went to Xavier Muntz of

French-German channel Arte for “Surrounded by the Islamic State”, a feature shot on Mount Sinjar, which last year became a terrible symbol of IS persecution of the Yazidi minority.

For the photography category, the international jury of the Bayeux-Calvados’ 22nd edition chose a report on Gaza by Sipa Press’ Heidi Levine from the United States.

Levine also took home the audience award for her “sober, ultraeffective and beautiful” project, as jury chair Carlotta Gall of the New York Times described it. AFP

Onstage. Donald Fagen of Steely Dan performs onstage at Beacon Theater on Oct. 10, 2015, in New York City. AFP

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TATUM ANCHETA EDITOR

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

BERNADETTE LUNAS

life @ thestandard.com .ph

WRITER

@LIFEatStandard

E AT, DRINK , T R AV EL

LIFE

The newly opened B Hotel Quezon City offers a new concept to the mid-scale hotel market with its Brutalist architectural style and contemporary industrial design.

Bold colored furniture accent the concrete-based lobby

Metal fixtures and accessories further enhance the industrial feel of the hotel Unwind with friends and associates at the Mezzanine Bar

RUGGED COMFORT B Hotel Quezon City tracks the unbeaten path with new design concept

BY BERNADETTE LUNAS PHOTOS BY SONNY ESPIRITU

T

he northern part of the metro gets a taste of the B Hotel brand of service and comfort as Bellevue Hotels & Resorts opens the second branch of its midscale business hotel at 14 Scout Rallos St., Diliman, Quezon City.

B Hotel QC rises up to the increasing need for accommodations in the area, offering corporate travelers and weekend staycationers exquisite amenities at reasonable rates. But the hotel, which is currently on soft opening since September 1, brings with it not just the basic conveniences but also a new design concept unusual for hotels in its category.

B Hotel managing director Ryan Chan

Standing 11 stories high, B Hotel QC appears like the usual modest contemporary lodge from the outside. The inside, however, is a different story. The hotel’s interior design looks nothing like its Alabang counterpart or other business hotels, for that matter.

NEW LOOK

The Arch. Edward Co Tan-designed B Hotel QC features a concretebased architectural design concept after the Brutalism movement, a modernist architectural concept prominent in the 1950s to the 1970s. With bare walls, wooden panels, metal accents and fixtures, leather couches, and black-graybrown-red contemporary palette, B Hotel QC is not trying to exude the elegant and homey vibe. It’s industrial: rough, raw, and modern.

“We wanted something different for the aesthetics of our new branch,” declares B Hotel managing director Ryan Chan. He continues, “The hotel’s distinctly rugged texture will surely be a welcome change for businessmen and locals.”

Amid the edgy masculine appeal of the hotel, white blooms, bold colored carpets,

accent furniture (swivel couches in mustard yellow and cherry red), and hanging jar lamps add touches of warmth and vibrancy.

Hotel manager Carlo Librea believes they are the first one in the market to offer this kind of concept.

And it is with this that they are optimistic to become the number one mid-scale hotel in the area.

“Because we’re offering something new, we’re banking on the curiosity of the market,” he shares.

But curiosity can only take an establishment so far.

SAME SERVICE

People are drawn to a hotel because of its interesting appeal, but guests come back for the excellent service.

And while B Hotel QC offers a different experience, it still banks heavily on top-notch service and convenience BH&R has mastered through the years.

With all things considered, comfort is still the key for any hotel. And comfort remains the top priority for the B Hotel staff. Each room is well appointed with all guest necessities, from cozy queen size or twin size bed, cable TV, Wi-Fi access, to basic bathroom amenities, among others.

Outdoor lap pool

Superior Room

Designed to be a four-star hotel, the Quezon City venture was furnished with a complete roster of in-house amenities. The Lobby Café offers filling meals and refreshing drinks for breakfast, lunch and dinner; the Mezzanine Bar is perfect for unwinding with friends and associates over cocktails or beers; and the Pastry Corner lets guests indulge in sweet decadent treats they can enjoy in the hotel or take home with them.

Guests may do a couple of laps in the outdoor pool or break a sweat at the fully-equipped gym.

For its corporate clients, B Hotel has a Business Center with two function rooms that can sit 15 to 30 people. It’s also capable of hosting events at its ballroom that can accommodate 200 seated guests.

The Pastry Corner

Safety is assured with security personnel deployed in and around the property, and CCTV cameras installed in all spots and corners.

Chan posits that a great business hotel goes beyond outward beauty and basic features. “We believe that focus on guest experience and satisfaction is the new business amenity,” he says.

And while B Hotel still has some fine-tuning and finishing touches to do for its grand opening on October 30, it arguably has the head start against its competition: accessible location, new concept and an established brand of service. Its success now depends on improving and maintaining these assets.

For inquiries and reservations, call (02) 990-500 or visit www. thebellevue.com/b-hotel-qc

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M ONDAY : OCTOB ER 12 : 2015

LIFE life @ thestandard.com .ph

@LIFEatStandard

Gerald Singson, Rea Cruz, Willie Ocier, Tim Tan, Freddie Siy, Eddie Baffoe, Matthew Crabbe and Nathan Smith

Babe Romualdez and Jason Go

John Dee Super Gold Black Angus T-Bone

Wagyu Steak Tartare

Seafood on Ice

Crabbe Cake Donut with Jalapeno Tartare

Mango Cajeta Pavlova

Lutz Kunack and Pepe Rodriguez

Horseshoe Bar

Dioceldo Sy, Mike Toledo and Sinan Batur

Bianca Valerio

RUBY JACK’S ARRIVES IN MANILA W ine connoisseurs and steak lovers welcomed the opening of Ruby Jack’s Steakhouse and Bar at the upper ground floor of City of Dreams, Manila’s latest dining and entertainment hub.

Classic and contemporary steakhouse dining meet at Ruby Jack’s Manila – the first store chosen outside Tokyo – with a premium menu showcasing imported meats set in the grandest display, a stunning glass-cased wine cellar of 900 bottles of over 150 iconic and cult labels and an open action packed kitchen emblazoning live preparations of scrumptious steaks, meats, seafood and greens.

Conceived by the team behind Two Rooms Grill & Bar in Japan – Matthew Crabbe, Nathan Smith, and Edward Baffoe – long dining halls and inviting surroundings modeled after its Japanese counterpart, Ruby Jack’s Manila offers an inviting menu of great cuts of steaks, abundant Big Reds, along with top shelf whites and champagnes to perfectly accompany freshly shucked oysters, crustaceans or even a Ruby Jack’s favorite, “Crabbe Cake Donut.”

“Focusing on uncompromised, benchmark standards and promising a vibrant space with only the finest food and beverage offerings yet to be seen in the Manila restaurant scene, the creators and producers of the ever popular Ruby Jack’s Tokyo are very excited to bring Ruby Jack’s to the City of Dreams Manila,” shares Frederick Siy, president of Ruby Jack’s Manila, Inc. “Luxurious yet inviting, polished to the highest of standards yet unpretentious, and with clean and crisp interior design allowing our food and service to take focus – Ruby Jack’s Manila redefines what upscale steakhouse dining experience is to Filipinos,” Siy adds.

Signature Mojitos

What make Ruby Jack’s distinct from other fine-dining restaurants that have commanded Manila’s upscale dining scene over the years is that everything offered in the menu and the preparation itself are showcased live in the open kitchen, sure to capture every diner’s attention as a rich culinary experience unfolds right before their eyes. Ruby Jack’s takes pride in its 100 percent all-imported and carefully selected aged and fresh chilled non-aged beef cuts, premium lamb, and poultry showcased in a glass-enclosed working showpiece meat cellar.

A well-trained team will greet and lead guests to the bar or dining room on the locally sourced wooden floor under stunning high ceilings.

Guests will relish an extraordinary fine dining experience at Ruby Jack’s 80-seater high-end dining hall complete with comfortable booths backing onto the glass-cased wine cellar and a long leather upholstered banquette, perfected with crisp linen set tables and Cattelan Italia’s Margot Chairs. An exhilarating ending awaits each guest with a private dining room at the end of the hall adorned with a grand painting

by Masashi Ozawa, aptly named “Wagyu,”

Signature Cocktail

providing a vista over the entire space ensuring seclusion and grandeur.

Guests who fancy a drink or two may choose from cocktails ranging from classic to contemporary variations at the sleek up bottle squared horseshoe bar housing seasonal delights and rare whiskeys, complete with bar stools designed by renowned French engineer and designer, Jean Prouve. Adjoining the bar area and specializing in Cuban and Dominican Republic’s finest cigars is The Cigar Room, a customized, intimate, lounge style room for cigar and fine spirit aficionados.

Ruby Jack’s Manila is located at the Upper Ground Floor, City of Dreams Manila, Diosdado Macapagal Blvd., Entertainment City, Paranaque City. For inquiries and table reservations, you may contact Ruby Jack’s via +63 2 801 8888 (telephone), +63 2 886 9646 (fax), or email to contact_cod@ rubyjacks.ph. To know more about Ruby Jack’s Steakhouse & Bar Manila, visit www. rubyjacks.ph. For updates, visit www.

Facebook.com/RubyJacksManila or follow at @RubyJacksManila on Instagram and Twitter.

Event photos by Ramon Ruiz

M ONDAY : OCTOB ER 12 : 2015

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LIFE life @ thestandard.com .ph

@LIFEatStandard

BIG ON VIGAN MERCURY RISING

BY BOB ZOZOBRADO

I didn’t have qualms about posing in front of the photo-op corner along the city’s famous Calle Crisologo that says “I Love Vigan” because I AM “big” on Vigan. Although I spent only a couple of days touring its attractions, it was enough for me to realize that this is one city in the country that certainly stands out. It has a lot of character, a lot of history.

I like its old world charm and the way the city government goes out of its way to preserve the “period” look of everything in it, making this capital city of Ilocos Sur look like one big museum.

So, why do I love Vigan? Let me count the ways. Mayor Eva Marie Medina herself rolled out the red carpet for my team and me, and took time off from her official chores just to chat with us about the city’s tourism boom and the latest infrastructure development. She also presented me several books on the city and its heritage preservation.

Now, who wouldn’t be mesmerized by a nice gesture like that?

I also like that fact that the entire city, not just a part of it, is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Every nook and cranny we went to showcased old, well-preserved houses, streets and landmarks. I felt like I was transported into the early Spanish era and imagined myself as an Ilustrado, walking around the streets in my Americana with coattails, a top hat and a cane. But then, the 36-degree heat and 90 percent humidity snapped me out of Fantasyland and brought me back to reality, grateful to whoever invented the T-shirt, walking shorts and sandals – my ultra-comfortable outfit that day.

At the city’s center, I had this nagging thought. Is our National Commission for Culture and the Arts (NCCA) interested only in controversies that give them maximum media mileage? They showed how upset they are about that “national photobomber” behind Rizal’s statue in Luneta, but, nary a “beep” I heard from them about the monument for Leona Florentino at the front portion of historic Calle Crisologo in Vigan. She is the “Mother of Filipino Women’s Literature” and is regarded as a heroine of sorts in the province. Seven meters directly behind her monument is the big sign of a local fast food chicken restaurant.

At first, I thought it was a statue of its founder. Only when I read the tablet on the pedestal did I realize the historical value of the monument.

I had a hard time positioning my camera, while taking the photo on this page, so that the restaurant’s sign would not show. So, NCCA, why are you so quiet on this? It’s the same problem as what we have in Luneta.

Isn’t this transgression of your rules not “high-profile” enough?

At the plaza downtown is a big concrete marker proclaiming Vigan as one of the Seven Wonder Cities of the World, announced by New 7 Wonders Foundation president Bernard Weber.

Text and online voting by supporters from around the globe made it possible for this Heritage City to join the prestigious list which includes Beirut, Doha, Durban, Havana, Kuala Lumpur, and La Paz. Another reason why my heart beats, nay, pumps for this city, much to the consternation of my doctor, are the many calories the dining tables offer. There’s the Vigan empanada, bagnet, longganisa, the whole array of Marsha’s delicacies, and many, many more. Just by looking at them, I gained 10 pounds… and because I had to try them all, “just to please my hosts” (wink, wink), I must have gained 20 pounds more! Now, how will I explain this to my daughter who keeps on nagging me to go on a diet?

The photo-op corner at Calle Crisologo says it all

It took great skills for me to snap this photo of the “Mother of Philippine Women’s Literature” without showing the name of the restaurant directly behind it, but taking a close look, small parts of it still show.

The famous and historic Calle Crisologo with an old fashioned calesa

Vigan Mayor Eva Marie Medina presenting me with books on the city

But what makes Vigan really very special to me? Its people. I couldn’t have found the nicest people in this archipelago. I know that we, Cebuanos, are known to be very friendly and hospitable, too, but the people of this “Wonder City” have taken these traits several notches higher. They go out of their way to REALLY please guests. I thought it was only the mayor who showed exceptional congeniality but everybody I came in contact with leveled up in this aspect. I was thoroughly impressed.

Could it be the city’s heritage ambience that has made everybody über friendly and courteous? Or could it be the “X-rated” culinary delights they feast on, like the puki-puki (tortang talong), utong (sitaw), kabatiti (patola) and the

The downtown marker proclaiming the city as one of the 7 Wonder The Bantay Bell Tower, a favorite setting of many FPJ movies Cities of the World

warek-warek (sisig)? Hmmm. Or, are they just following the lead of their “favorite son,” the honorable former president Elpidio Quirino?

He went out of his way to bring the government closer to his people through his “fireside chats,” in which he shared with the citizenry, through radio broadcasts from Malacañang, the activities of the Republic.

Whichever it is, I love the city and its people. It probably would be nice to live in such an environment where

the past is very much a part of the present, where life is much simpler, slower and less stressful. I can almost imagine myself setting up residence in that “period” setting, interacting with genial, neighborly individuals who are proper and well-mannered.

But then again, in such slow-paced and tranquil surroundings, can I still… Twerk It Like Miley?

For feedback, I’m at bobzozobrado@gmail.com

YOUR MONDAY CHUCKLE: A 20-year-old blonde calls her mom excitedly, “Mom, mom!

I’m a genius!” The mother replied calmly: “Really dear?

How’s that possible?” “I finished a puzzle I’ve been working on for one year and on the box it said, “For 2-5 Years.”

Travel to Singapore, Australia, New Zealand and Europe in exclusive low fares

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aving up to see the Lion City, go on a sunset kangaroo safari in Australia, paraglide against the dramatic Southern Alps of New Zealand, or experience that dreamy European vacay? Now is the time to take advantage of Singapore Airlines’ special allinclusive Economy Class round trip fares starting from just $190.

For a minimum of two passengers travelling together, avail of the all-inclusive round trip fare to Singapore from just $190, add $48 per person and get to experience over 20 different attractions (worth SGD420), including Gardens by the Bay, Madame Tussauds, Singapore Cable Car, Singapore Zoo, Singapore Flyer and free rides on the SIA Hop on Bus. But if leaving Asia is more your thing, book a flight

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for $630 to Australia and choose Adelaide, Brisbane, Cairns, Darwin, Melbourne, Perth or Sydney as your city of destination.

For New Zealand adventurers, an attractive all-inclusive fare of just $800 and add one-way add-on rates from just $100 to either the Southern Alps of Queenstown or the capital city Wellington awaits. Now for an old world getaway, take advantage of the VISA offers to European destinations, namely Amsterdam, Athens, Barcelona, Copenhagen, Frankfurt, Istanbul, London,

Manchester, Milan, Moscow, Munich, Paris, Rome and Zurich from $890. The special deal covers options to hop on from select cities to other favorite destinations such as Brussels, Dublin, Geneva, Hamburg, Madrid, Venice and Vienna via SIA’s airlines partners from $60 to $120.

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Aside from the low price, the Economy Class fares come with 30kg baggage allowance, and you get to enjoy delicious inflight meals that the airline is known for. Also enjoy a personal KrisWorld inflight

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Also thrown in is a complimentary SGD20 Changi dollar voucher (that can be used in participating shops, restaurants and lounge at the Singapore Changi Airport), and free city tour for transit passengers with at least 5-hour transit time.

The promotion is exclusive to Visa credit, debit and prepaid cardholders, valid for sale from October 5 until October 31, 2015 for travel out of Manila until 19 March 2016. For travel out of Cebu, Davao and Kalibo to Singapore and Australia, surcharges may apply.

For bookings, visit Singapore Airlines or SilkAir Ticketing & Reservations offices, participating travel agents, or via singaporeair. com using promo code 328936256.

Singapore Airlines flies from Manila to Singapore four times daily which conveniently connect to onward flights to the rest of the world. For more information, visit singaporeair.com or follow them on Facebook under Singapore Air, and @SingaporeAir on Twitter and Instagram

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@LIFEatStandard

TASTE TEST (Part One)

Laddie (unpeated), Porte Charlotte (heavily peated) and the Octomore 6.1 (the world’s peatiest Scotch whisky)

TIPPLE TALES

BY ICY MARIÑAS Writing this column has gotten me some perks. I get somewhat of a front row seat on the bar and alcohol scene. I’ve been to five whisky tasting events in the past few months. These events are good signs for the Philippine bar scene.

These big liquor brands coming in and showcasing their premium products shows that the market here is viable and is just continuing to grow, and it’s not just limited to whisky.

It’s great that they have sent their brand ambassadors to present at the whisky tastings. They know their brand inside and out, give interesting tidbits about the making of the whiskies, and are able to introduce each product distinctly from the rest. Basically, these guys know their stuff.

The series of whisky tasting kicked off with the Bruichladdich brands (Islay Whisky), bringing in their Southeast Asian brand ambassador Richard Guillam.

Him being a bartender worked to their advantage. He was extremely knowledgeable about the products and was able to describe the differences in each kind of whisky, clearly and with precision, and in a way that we understood immediately. Talking about alcohol came naturally to him; he taught us how to drink and how to make great cocktails out of them. This combination made learning about the Bruichladdich line even more exciting. He introduced the Laddie (unpeated), Porte Charlotte (heavily

Richard Guillam showed us how Bruichladdich Islay peat smells and looks like

peated) and the Octomore 6.1 (the world’s peatiest Scotch whisky).

The Glenmorangie (Highland Whisky) tasting was paired with a great 8-course set meal from the Yurakuen Restaurant at the Diamond Hotel. The line up of whiskies for the night were Glenmorangie 10-yearold, 12-year-old, Glenmorangie 18 (extremely rare), Glenmorangie Nectar D’Or and Lasanta, Quinta Ruban. A sizable list of whiskies I know! But the whole portfolio just oozed distinction and delightful surprises. The food pairing and whisky lineup were a match made in heaven. The speaker for the event, Gerald Savigny, is an international consultant to hotels, as well as a wine sommelier and whisky master.

While he knew enough about the products, since he is not the brand ambassador, there was something missing. I personally think brand ambassadors carry a piece of the brand’s soul. Maybe this was what was missing.

The relatively new kid on the whisky block is Monkey Shoulder (mix of three Single Malts: Glenfiddich, Balvenie, and Kininvie). The brand was only recently officially launched in Manila last August 2015. The name pays homage to the malt men whose job it was to keep turning the barley by hand. The long hours they put in doing this caused their arm to hang down a bit like a monkey’s, so they nicknamed it “monkey shoulder.”

Glenmorangie Quinta Ruban paired with Oyster raddish in vinegared sauce, Umebudo Natameno Hana

Diamond Hotel's Yurakuen special food pairing The author with Monkey Shoulder's ambassador The Monkey Shoulder whisky tasting and Masterclass finished with a game of Cards with exquisite Glenmorangie Whisky portfolio Zachary De Wit Against Humanity

It will be important to note that while Monkey Shoulder still has their barley turned manually, work conditions have drastically changed, so this injury does not happen anymore. They sent their brand ambassador Zachary De Wit to introduce the whisky to Manila.

He was very chill and took a relaxed take on this modern brand. He presented his slides with ease and he made his presentation in such a fresh manner, you had no reason not to listen to him even with a cool playlist playing on the background. He has mastered the art of cocktail making and is now the master of Monkey Shoulder in Asia. He embodies his brand; cool, confident and fun. This brand is meant to be enjoyed with a group of friends and really was created to make whisky cocktails stand

ARE YOU A T REAL CHEF? Lady’s Choice issues challenge to chefs and cooks

Monkey Shoulder used to make Rob Roy cocktail

out! The tasting ended with Zach introducing the card game, Cards Against Humanity, allowing him to connect more with remaining guests. He allowed you to be part of Monkey Shoulder. So, you went home not just learning about the brand, you feel like forever connected to the brand as well.

Whisky tasting events aren’t just a one-size-fits-all kind of occasion. Each brand has its own particular style and identity that translates to how the event feels.

The brand ambassadors certainly have a big impact on that. Richard of Bruichladdich has a wide knowledge of spirits, having been a multi-awarded bartender, and has managed to shift into a bigger role by becoming a brand ambassador. He has passion and knowledge that was palpable. Gerald on the other hand

he challenge has been issued and the final call is being made for all cooks and chefs all over the country to submit their best recipe ideas made extraordinary with Unilever Food Solutions’ Lady’s Choice Real Mayonnaise.

The first of its kind culinary competition that invites chef and cooks all over the Philippines to showcase their best tasting creations with top mayonnaise brand Lady’s Choice, The Real Chef Challenge will see the winner taking home P100,000 in cash plus a shot at fame via a TV exposure for his/her winning dish and his food establishment.

“We are very excited about the new and big mayonnaise-infused recipe ideas coming in from cooks and chefs around the Philippines,” said Seanta Pasic-Reyes, UFS Philippines marketing manager. “We are ecstatic to find out how they can bring the use of mayonnaise, a staple ingredient in the kitchen, to a new level of experience for diners.”

is an expert on a lot of the aspects of liquor, so technical information was taught to you. Zach was a great choice for being Monkey Shoulder’s brand ambassador. Young, hip, and cool, plus being in the know about alcohol, he shared knowledge of the brand impressively. It was so fun, I felt like I’ve acquired a drinking buddy. Just like each spirit, each tasting event speaks to you in a different way.

Next week, I’ll share a few more tasting experiences that are also unique in their own ways.

For people who are interested in attending tasting events and being in the know, you can drop me a line at tippletales@gmail.com and I’ll keep you guys posted. Cheers!

Follow me on Instagram @sanvicentegirl

Chefs and cooks across the country are challenged to test their culinary acumen by innovating the use of mayonnaise in a Hot Signature Dish or a Salad and Sandwich Combo recipe entry, which they can submit online via www.ufs.com/realchef until October 31, 2015.

The top 24 finalists will face each other in a grand taste testing event to be attended by diners and culinary experts on November 25, 2015. Their creations will be carefully scrutinized by celebrity Chef Pablo “Boy” Logro; Chef Edward Bugia, owner of Pino Kitchen Studio and Backyard MNL; and Chef Brando Santos, Senior Sous Chef of UFS, to find out the best #LCRealChef mayo innovation dish from the Real Chef Challenge.

To know more about the Real Chef Challenge and to see how you can make your dishes tastier and more creative using Lady’s Choice Real Mayonnaise, visit www.

UFS.com/realchef.

M ONDAY : OCTOBER 1 2 : 2015

SHOWBITZ

ISAH V. RED EDITOR

isahred @ gmail.com

Coco Martin in Ang Probinsiyano television adaptation

Ningning gains an average national ratings of 16.8 percent

On the Wings of Love is now the most watched series online

C5

Recently concluded Nathaniel earned an average rating of 35.2 percent

Celebrity Playtime host Billy Crawford

KapaMilya unbeatable in national tV ratings M ore households in urban and rural areas nationwide tuned in to ABS-CBN in September, leading all TV networks in terms of viewership with an average national audience share of 44 percent, or eight points higher than its rival network GMA’s 36 percent, according to data from Kantar Media.

Kantar Media uses a nationwide panel size of 2,609 urban and rural homes that represent 100 percent of the total Philippine TV viewing population, while the other ratings data supplier AGB Nielsen reportedly has only 1,980 homes based solely in urban areas that represent only 57 percent of the Philippine TV viewing population.

The Kapamilya network also maintained its dominance in primetime (6 p.m.-12 midnight)

as it hit an average national audience share of 50 percent, which is 19 points higher than GMA’s 31 percent. The primetime block is the most important part of the day when most Filipinos watch TV and advertisers put a larger chunk of their investment in to reach more consumers effectively.

ABS-CBN’s primetime lead was sustained by its top-rating programs, led by the Coco Martin-starrer FPJ’s Ang Probinsyano, which garnered an average national TV rating of 40.4 percent and shot to the top of the most watch programs nationwide. Its pilot episode on Sept. 28 also hit a whopping national TV rating of 41.6 percent.

It was followed by the recently concluded Nathaniel, which earned an average rating of 35.2 percent, or almost double than

that of Marimar’s 18.2 percent.

ABS-CBN’s newest talk-comedy-game show Celebrity Playtime is making waves as it immediately landed on the list of the top 10 programs with 28.7 percent.

The return of Your Face Sounds Familiar, meanwhile, also hooked audiences as it earned a national TV rating of 26.5 percent for September.

Viewers, meanwhile, continue to get their news from TV Patrol, which got a national TV rating of 30.5 percent, versus 24 Oras ‘s 18.3percent.

Rounding up the list of the most watched programs nationwide for the month of September are Pangako Sa ‘Yo (32.8 percent), Maalaala Mo Kaya (31.7 percent), Wansapanataym (30.2 percent), and Rated K (27.3 percent).

Meanwhile, primetime family drama Pasion de Amor main-

tained its winning position with 24.4 percent, or more than twice the 10.9 percent-rating recorded by rival program Starstruck.

In the morning, ABS-CBN won the ratings game with series Ningning gaining an average national TV rating of 16.8 percent versus The Ryzza Mae Show (11.1 percent).

Afternoon block Kapamilya Gold, on the other hand, remained strong in September with Doble Kara and All of Me registering 15.3 percent and 14.6 percent, respectively.

ABS-CBN, the only Philippine media company in FinanceAsia’s list of “Asia’s Best Companies 2015,” also remained as the most watched TV network in key territories such as Balance Luzon (all areas in Luzon outside Mega Manila) where it got an average

total day audience share of 46 percent vs. GMA’s 37 percent, in the Visayas with 56 percent vs. 26 percent, and in Mindanao with 57 percent vs. 27 percent.

Meanwhile, more and more online and smartphone users continue to watch ABS-CBN programs online via the video-on-demand and livestreaming service iWanTV, which received a total of 89.4 million page views in September, up from the previous month’s 83.8 million views. On The Wings of Love is now the most watched program online with 3.7 million views, followed by Pangako Sa ‘Yo with 2.7 million views, and Pinoy Big Brother 737 with 941,117 views. All Of Me (870,019 views) and Doble Kara (751,405) are also online favorites, along with Pasion de Amor (775,511).

M ONDAY : OCTOBER 1 2 : 2015

C6

SHOWBITZ isahred @ gmail.com

Sam PRaiSES JEnnyLyn’S WORking habitS JOSEPh PEtER gOnZaLES Sam Milby has only good words for Jennylyn Mercado, his leading lady in the upcoming romantic comedy titled Prenup produced

by Regal Entertainment.

“She is so nice,” he starts.

“When you have the chance to work with someone who is not only physically alluring but kind-hearted as well, it’s a great feeling. You find it exciting to report to the set every shooting day, which is my exact experience in our maiden film together.”

Some kibitzers ask if he doesn’t have any plan of courting Jen especially in the midst of speculations that her relationship with Dennis Trillo has allegedly ended.

“Personally, I don’t want things to appear forcing through if ever since we have a movie to promote.

It’s not as easy as that. I’ve always believed in right timing. Maybe, one of these days, it will just happen naturally. Let’s wait and see!”

Sam admits that with Jen, he’s shy.

“It’s not that I’m too much overwhelmed by her. But yes, I’m shy where getting romantically linked with her off-cam is concerned.

Jen is so lovely, kind and has a good heart. Perhaps, it can be attributed to my being basically shy and quiet.

But I definitely enjoyed every moment when we were doing this project.”

The handsome Kapamilya star knows though that if a guy really wants to pursue someone, he will do everything just to win her by his side.

“Of course!” avers Sam. “You have to go out of your comfort zone, so to speak to make things happen. As they say, no guts, no glory, right?”

Curiously, has it ever crossed his mind asking Jen for a date?

3rd most visited website ABS-CBN.com, the online website of ABS-CBN’s entertainment arm, catapulted to the third spot on the list of the most popular websites in the country as more

Regine Velasquez Alcasid

Jennylyn Mercado and Sam Milby

“Well, as I’ve said earlier, she is a beautiful person inside and out. What happened to us in the entirety of Prenup is all work. A date? Why not, especially that the film will get shown soon. But of course, it’s something I won’t announce in public if ever!”

It’s been years since he had a love life. His last was with Anne Curtis. Doesn’t he miss having a girlfriend? “ To be honest, it took time to pick up from my last re-

and more Filipinos visit the site to get news and information about the network’s stars and programs, based on Alexa’s latest rankings.

ABS-CBN.com has risen to the third spot from the 30th spot, in just two years, jumping ahead of local online news sites Inquirer. net and Rappler. ABS-CBN’s news site abs-cbnnews.com remains to be the most viewed online site in the country at number one.

Alexa is a website that runs analytics for internet traffic and monitors website traffic and interaction.

CROSSWORD PUZZLE 45 47 48 49 50 53 54 58 61 62 63 64 65 66 67

ANSWER FOR PREVIOUS PUZZLE ACROSS 1 Wild country 5 Man’s man 10 A little, to Liszt 14 Hairy twin 15 Soldering tools 16 Kauai neighbor 17 Wagon pullers 18 Snoop (2 wds.)

20 Bad move 22 Call — — cab 23 Memory joggers 24 Punjab potentates

26 27 30 34 35 36 37 38 40 41 42 43

Opposite of ruddy Some cats Clanged Up and at ‘em Mesh fabrics Shoe width Budget item Rather Business letter abbr.

Clock numeral Knot on a tree Lay down

Intrude (2 wds.)

Hot Search engine find Ulna neighbors — -toothed tiger Peace gesture Charley horse Tortilla melt Dots in the Seine Toga party site Almost boil Looks sleepy Youngsters Austin’s state Puff of wind

DOWN 1 — noire 2 Software buyer 3 German industrial region 4 Wag or wit 5 Coq au — 6 Good smells 7 Forfeits 8 Irish chanteuse 9 Recipe amt.

10 Reading closely 11 Full-grown acorns 12 Guitarist — Atkins 13 Not his and hers 19 Greenspan and Turing

Another highlight for ABS-CBN Entertainment’s online portal is its YouTube channel, ABS-CBN Entertainment, which has breached the two billion view mark, the highest in the Philippines. It also boasts the biggest subscriber base in the country of over two million. This puts the channel ahead of Kids’ Toys, which is now part of ABS-CBN’s Chicken Pork Adobo multi-channel network, which ranks second, and ABS-CBNNews.com, which ranks third.

“Our YouTube channel has

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lationship. There are really people who just enjoy being single at the moment, just like me. I don’t get to meet anybody new since I don’t really go out. I want to leave it at that temporarily.”

For his next serious love life, the be-dimpled actor-singer has a wish.

“Yes! Given the choice, I want someone not from the ‘biz this time. Maybe, it’s more peaceful...less controversies and pressures,” ends Sam.

Rev the engine Yellow flower Sprinkled Ersatz chocolate Skybox locale Hard-hit drive 747 or DC-10 Espresso with milk Fridge raider Sharp dresser Zilch Coffee dispenser Hopeful Oft-quoted catcher Large-scale Hosts’ counterparts Saffron dish Unwind Room meas.

(2 wds.)

Mystique Droplet Bad habit Felipe or Moises Docs prescribe them Library sound Summer hrs.

Blurbs

HHHHH According to Regine Velasquez, doing a movie is not part of her immediate plans at this point. Her last mainstream silver screen offering was Of All the Things opposite Aga Muhlach shown three years ago.

“That’s true! Right now, it’s not just my priority. My focus is to do more recordings and concerts but films? It’s not something that I would rush myself to do,” she says.

Doing on screen kiss with her leading man is one factor why the talented singer-actress is not so keen on the idea of a movie comeback.

“Partly yes! Ha-ha-ha! It’s hard with my current stature unlike before when I was still

become a significant revenue contributor for online. We have reached rank 17 in global ranking, with 58 million views for just one week. Worthy to note though that last year, the average views hover in the vicinity of 10-12 million a week, compared to this year’s high of 58 million views a week.

This gives us an indication of the shifting media consumption and behavior of our audiences,” said Richard Reynante, head of ABSCBN digital content publishing.

Aside from that, the Kapam-

single. For one, there’s my son Nate who is very inquisitive. He might see me kissing my leading man on screen and ask why I’m doing that.

He’s very observant.”

But the Songbird points out that this doesn’t mean she is turning her back on doing movies.

“Perhaps, I’m just waiting for the right project. In fact, Boss Vic (del Rosario) has already mentioned to me probable projects I can consider in the coming days. I want a project that would not make me compromise or sacrifice things in exchange of my role as wife and mom.

I guess, my ‘lagare’ days are over now that I’m already a homemaker,” states Regine.

ilya network’s Facebook page (ABS-CBN) also continues to have the strongest following and community in the media category in the country, hitting 11 million Likes and reaching out to more than 24 million people on the social media network.

The numbers, data, and rankings continue to prove that the Kapamilya online community, with the help of its subscribers, followers, and fans, continue to be strong in the online entertainment category.

M ONDAY : OCTOBER 1 2 : 2015

C7

SHOWBITZ isahred @ gmail.com

Lucky chrisTMas wiTh kapuso MiLyonaryo season 8 From c8

Over P23 million worth of prizes to be given away to lucky Kapuso viewers.

An exciting Christmas season begins today as seasoned actor-comedian and longtime Kapuso Milyonaryo ambassador Joey de Leon, and Pambansang Bae Alden Richards, invite Kapuso viewers nationwide to join the highly successful Network promo, Kapuso Milyonaryo, in its biggest installment to date.

The promo, which was launched in 2012, has produced 74 Kapuso millionaires and 6 new homeowners and continues to change lives as it embarks on its 8th season.

This year, over P23 million worth of prizes will be given away including 13 lucky winners of P1 million each and 64 winners of P7,000 in cash. There will also be over 100 smartphones, 200 appliances, 3 brand new cars, and a house and lot from Bria up for grabs. Winners may also get a chance to be awarded

by Richards himself.

All interested participants will get a chance to become instant millionaires by submitting their entries through Kapuso Milyonaryo drop boxes located in all GMA stations and selected Mercury Drugstore outlets nationwide.

Entries must include a proofof-purchase from any of the participating brands enclosed in an envelope with the participant’s name and contact details.

Kapuso Milyonaryo ambassadors Joey de Leon and Alden Richards

The promo period is from today until Dec. 8. Weekly and grand draw winners will be announced on GMA’s comedy-musical variety program, Sunday PinaSaya.

Kapuso Milyonaryo Season 8 participating sponsors are Del Forever Fabric Softener, Porksavor All-InOne Seasoning Mix, Tang, Nescafé 3in1, Milo, Zonrox Bleach, Bear Brand Powdered Milk Drink, Sun-

silk, Datu Puti Vinegar and Eden.

The Kapuso Milyonaryo mobile app, which became the Top Free App in the Entertainment Category of both the App Store (for iOS mobile devices) and Google Play Store (for Android mobile devices), will also make a comeback with the lovable character, Tobz.

The game app will be available for download for FREE by Oct. 25.

aBs-CBn moBile parTners wiTh CloudFone ABS-CBNmobile has partnered with homegrown mobile giant CloudFone, for the mobile shop establishment at the recently opened KidZania Manila, an 8,000 square-meter interactive play world for children. The play city, which is located at Park Triangle in Bonifacio Global City, allows kids aged 4 to 14 to discover, explore, and learn about the adult world. Kids are given a chance to take on grown-up roles through over 100 immersive role playing activities.

Given that kids today live in the age of mobile devices, KidZania has identified ABS-CBN mobile to power up and complement the mobile service factor for their interactive play world.

In turn, ABS-CBNmobile tapped homegrown brand CloudFone to provide the devices that will complete this experience.

Nandy Villar, Head of ABSCBN Mobile said, “We are

For more details, visit the Kapuso Milyonaryo Facebook page, www. facebook.com/GMAKapusoMilyonaryo.

HHHHH Lesbians in ‘ThaT’s My ToMboy’ The most astig tomboys take center stage once again as the hit and trending segment “That’s My Tomboy” finally returns to It’s

Showtime for another season.

Members of the lesbian community showcase their charms and wit in the casual question and answer interview as well as their talents in the talent portion. At the end of the day, a distinguished panel of judges, as well as the audience, choose who among the contestants deserves to advance to the next level of the competition.

“That’s My Tomboy” was launched in 2013 and was dubbed the first lesbian beauty pageant in the country. It was a consistent social media trend and received commendations from LGBT advocates.

With the much awaited comeback of “That’s My Tomboy” comes the tougher celebrity lipsync battle in “Lip Swak.”

Now, Kapamilya stars unite and clash in the “Lip Swak Olympics” where every week, three groups of celebrities, which will be led by It’s Showtime hosts Vice Ganda (Team Ganda), Vhong Navarro (Team Suave), and Anne Curtis (Team Dyosa), will compete and show their intense lip-sync skills.

Meanwhile, another surprise awaits the madlang people as “Magpasikat” week comes closer.

Watch out for the stunning performances of “It’s Showtime” hosts that will surely impress viewers.

Don’t miss the fun and excitement in the month-long ANIMversary of It’s Showtime, Monday to Saturday noon.

Gilas Championship Bid Tops TV Viewership

T A Kidzania staffer explains what kids can do at the play zone

proud to be partners with CloudFone to enrich the experience of kids visiting Kidzania Manila. CloudFone is one of our closest allies in our business. Their vision of providing affordable devices – that are both easy-to-use and durable – is one of the reasons why they are one of the most loved brands by many Filipinos today.”

Kids visiting Kidzania can expect a whole lot of fun experience using their CloudFone devices. For example, when you avail yourself a handset from the phone shop, you will be able to playback a video that gives you a tour inside the facility. Incidentally, you may also use these mobile phones to watch iWant TV, take photos, or broadcast messages. Visit Kidzania today and let your kids experience a world created just for them.

A staff helps her kid choose a cloudfone

he gallant stand of Gilas Pilipinas against a taller Chinese team in the recently concluded 2015 FIBA Asia Championship finals in the Chinese’s own home court in Changsa, Hunan province that aired on TV5 on Oct. 3 drew the most number of viewers nationwide according to the National Urban Television Audience Measurement (NUTAM) of AGB Nielsen.

The championship game landed first in the 9 to10 p.m. timeslot garnering 32.4 percent audience share for National Urban Philippines overall; with 33.6 percent share for Mega Manila, 36 percent for Urban Metro Manila and 31.4 percent for Urban Luzon.

The game which was broadcast live on TV5 and carried through all corners of the archipelago by Cignal TV, the country’s no. 1 pay TV service provider, drew Filipino fans from all walks of life once again reaffirming the oft repeated adage of our being a “basketball country”.

It was just an ordinary Saturday night of Oct. 3, but not for the millions of basketball fanatics who stayed tuned to

watch one of the most anticipated games of this season’s FIBA Asia Championship finals, the game between Gilas Pilipinas and China that would decide which team advances to the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. According to AGB Nielsen’s, AMR data, 4,277,944 households had their eyes glued into the Gilas-China game on TV5 making it the most watched show in its time slot and one of the most watched sporting events in recent times.

Also bolstering Gilas Pilipinas high followership among Pinoys is Sports5’s blanket coverage of the team’s bravura performance in the 2015 FIBA Championship through its video streaming and minute-by-minute updates during each game. The livestream of the 2015 FIBA Asia Championship attracted 1.2 million total views on Sports5.ph and the Sports5 Youtube channel from Sept. 23-Oct. 3. Sports5.ph hosts a wealth of content in the world of sports, from original content, to the livestream and video on demand, plus exclusives of Gilas, PBA, and the Philippine Super Liga.

M ONDAY : OCTOBER 1 2 : 2015

C8

ISAH V. RED EDITOR isahred @ gmail.com

SHOWBITZ Filipino businessmen have bloomberg philippines to watCh Tony Abad

ISAH V. RED JP Ong

Michael Alimurung

Regina Hing Lay

If you’re a businessman you could be watching Bloomberg Interna International on your cable TV the whole day waiting for some important news that might dramatically change your business prospects.

Now, you don’t have to watch news from abroad 24/7 as the Philippines recently got its own Bloomberg TV. The regular broadcasts of Bloomberg TV Philippines (BloombergTVPh), the country’s first 24-hour English business news channel has been on the air since Oct. 5.

It telecasts on the country’s no.1 pay TV service provider, Cignal TV. This collaboration between two of the country’s top media companies, Cignal TV and the News5 together with global media giant Bloomberg Television gives Filipino businessbusiness men the most up-to-date business and economic news and informainforma tion across the Philippine archipelarchipel ago. You can watch Bloomber TV Philipppines on Cignal’s Channel 8 (Standard Definition) and Channel 127 (High Definition).

According to Cignal’s Chief Operating Officer Oscar A. Reyes Jr., BloombergTVPh would be available to about 20-million Smartphone users and 30-million Internet users in the country through Bloomberg TV Philippines’ digital platforms.

Adding punch to BloombergTVPh’s nationwide reach is it’s highly seasoned news anchors and program presenters which are a mix of fresh faces and veteran broadcast journalists with an impressive track record in both media and business. They are solidly backed by Bloomberg Television’s global network of 2, 400 news professionals in 150 bureaus across 73 countries worldwide.

Get to know more also about the multi-talented hosts of Bloomberg TV Philippines this October as they let the Filipino audience into the intricacies of today’s business and economics.

Meet BloombergTVPh’s incredible team that includes top-notch entrepreneur and social advocate Quintin Pastrana; seasoned TV correspondent Shawn Yao; finance analyst, management specialist and the team’s Bloomberg Termi-

nal whiz, JP Ong; corporate lawyer and commercial arbitration specialist, Jean de Castro; and veteran international business reporter who came home to join Bloomberg TV Philippines, Regina Lay. Joining them also are the country’s foremost expert on international trade, economist and law professor, Tony Abad; Silicon Valley geek slash marathoner slash social entrepreneur, Michael Alimurung; and marketing whiz and media man, Rod Nepomuceno.

They face the entertainment press last week most of whom were stunned to face no-showbiz folks and whose language are restricted to market movements, inflation or deflation of economy, lower or higher interest rates, blue chips and so on that most of the writers are not proficient in.

When someone asked what is the channel’s target audience, most of the those at the presidential table said they were aiming to reach the widest audience possible, which means from economic class A to the bottom E. It nearly mortified me as most Filipinos, even those who are micro entrepreneurs are not visibly interested in business news.

But, I laud Cignal ang News 5 in bringing Bloomberg TV to the country. At least I have an alternative channel to switch on to if CNN International, BBC World or Al Jazeera, and even CNBC News begin to bore me.

Said the guys at the presidential table at Cerchio that Wednesday night, “Bloomberg Television Philippines is a manifestation of the important role that business and finance plays in the country’s development, now and in the future. This 24-hour, 7-day business news channel underscores the economic gains of the country as one of the fastest growing economies in the world today.”

Well, good luck guys. TV is such a challenging sector in mass communication. For many people, it’s like a bad habit you can’t easily break. But, who knows, you might just find the right mix in programming that would make your channel short of phenomenal.

Get the latest in the world of business with Bloomberg TV Philippines now airing over Cignal TV’s Channel 8 SD; and Channel 127 HD and follow them in their official Facebook page, https://www.facebook.com/BloombergTVPH. ➜ Continued on C7

Rod Nepomuceno

Jean De Castro

Quintin Pastrana

Shawn Yao