The Standard - 2015 October 21 - Wednesday

VOL. XXIX NO. 251 3 Sections 32 Pages P18 WEDNESDay : OCTOBER 21, 2015 www.thestandard.com.ph editorial@thestandard.com.ph

Air traffic can also be fatal, says bet

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LP, UNA VS GRACE

Dick says 2 parties asked him to file suit against Poe

By Macon Ramos-Araneta and John Paolo Bencito

FORMER Senator Richard Gordon revealed Tuesday that members of the ruling Liberal Party and the opposition United Nationalist Alliance had asked him to file a disqualification case against Senator Grace Poe.

“I was approached by members of UNA [and] some members of the Liberal Party.

Some of my schoolmates in UP, some of my friends,” Gordon said on ANC’s Headstart program.

Poe, the frontrunner in the 2016 presidential polls based on recent opinion surveys, has been questioned on her status as a natural-born citizen—a requirement for being President—because she was a foundling.

Since she filed her Certificate of Candidacy, three suits seeking her disqualification have been filed.

Gordon did not identify the politicians who approached him, saying the Poe question would be decided by the Supreme Court either way.

Poe’s spokesman, Valenzuela Mayor Rex Gatchalian, said the Gordon revelation was proof that there was “a concerted effort to gang up on Senator Grace Poe and pull her ratings down through dirty politics.”

Poe has said the disqualification petitions do not face her and was confident that she would overcome all of them.

Gatchalian added: “We know the law is on our side. And in the proper forum, we

will face them and answer their allegations point per point.”

He said Poe is a natural-born Filipino and has met all the requirements for those seeking the presidency, including residency requirements.

He also guaranteed that the Poe camp would not respond with “dirty tactics” but raise the level of discourse to programs and platforms.

“We will see to it that when we campaign, we focus on our platform of good governance, inclusive growth and improving competitiveness,” he further said.

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Temporary shelter. Evacuees take a rest inside a school building serving as a temporary shelter after Typhoon ‘Lando’ inundated homes in Cabanatuan City. AFP

Miriam won’t show medical records

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Dinky campaigns while ‘Lando’ devastates

By Vito Barcelo and Sandy Araneta THE camp of Vice President Jejomar Binay slammed Department of Social Welfare and Development Secretary Corazon Soliman for campaigning for Liberal Party bets in Mindanao while Typhoon “Lando” was battering Luzon.

Soliman, along with the LP candidates for President and vice president, Manuel Roxas II and Camarines Sur Rep. Leni Robredo, spoke in Koronadal, South Cotobato, about the government’s dole program, the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program.

Around 5,000 recipients of the program from Central Mindanao attended

the event.

“The DSWD and its programs should not be the domain of partisan politics and politicians,” said Binay’s spokesman, Rico Quicho.

“Instead of helping our people devastated by Typhoon Lando, Secretary Dinky Soliman was busy campaigning for Liberal Next page Party candidates,” he added.

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Dinky...

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Quicho said that the Social Welfare secretary should be leading the government’s efforts to help and mitigate the impact of the typhoon on the affected areas.

“As secretary of the DSWD, she should be leading from the frontlines for the relief and recovery of our countrymen affected by Lando,” Quicho said. “She is not doing that. She is instead leading the campaign of the LP bets.”

But Quicho praised the DSWD personnel who were actually risking their lives to provide immediate relief to the typhoon victims. They did what Soliman should have been doing, he said.

The Palace on Tuesday said it saw nothing wrong with candidates taking the opportunity to distribute relief to families affected by the typhoon.

“I don’t think it is right to prohibit those people who want to help the affected families. That’s how we look at it. We respect those who want to help, and for now, what is important is to ensure that the affected families are given help,” said Communications Secretary Herminio Coloma Jr. For those who will violate the law, we have basis which could be used to investigate if they used the opportunity for politicking. And in our view, the people are intelligent enough to know,” said Coloma.

Coloma said President Benigno Aquino III will continue to focus on the situation and if needed, he will go to these places affected by the typhoon and provide help to the families affected.

Coloma said Aquino chose Nueva Ecija on Monday as the place to visit since this was a safe place to be even as the typhoon was still in the country.

The President used the opportunity to know from local leaders what the effected residents needed and how the national government could help.

Casualty. A farmer checks out a rice field that was inundated by Typhoon ‘Lando.’ Ted Aljibe

Storm causes P5.9-b crop damage SUPER Typhoon “Lando” damaged P5.9 billion worth of crops and livestock in Luzon, where 33 people died and rescuers continued to pour into the hard-hit areas to bring relief.

In Isabela and Cagayan, the Office of Civil Defense said the damage to fishponds, fish cages and fishing boats reached P5,817,562, while the damage to the agriculture sector in Luzon

LP...

reached P4,253,650.

Lando submerged at least 497 areas in Region 2, where the hardest hit were Cagayan and Isabela with 185 and 154, respectively, followed by Region 3 with 96.

Regional disaster reports said 446,322 people were affected by Lando’s and that they remained in various evacuation centers.

The National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council said Lando damaged 73 road networks and 24 bridges.

The Quirino, Kalinga, Nueva

vealed that he was approached by people associated with the United Nationalist Alliance and the LibFrom A1 eral Party to file a disqualification Gatchalian said they were not case against leading presidential surprised by Gordon’s revelation, candidate Senator Grace Poe. and praised the former senator “Both the President [Benigno as an “esteemed public servant” Aquino III] and Former Secretary known for his integrity.

[Manuel] Roxas [II] have given Gordon, who is also chairman the Liberal Party clear marching of the Philippine Red Cross, is instructions on how the campaign running for the Senate as a guest should be waged,” Quimbo said. candidate of both the UNA and “We have always campaigned on Poe’s ticket.

Daang Matuwid [the straight path] He said Poe thanked him for [and] are focused on issues and not commenting on the disquali- our platform, not on personalities. fication case filed against her be- Winning through a smear camfore the Senate Electoral Tribunal paign will make governance diffiwhich seeks to unseat her from cult. We don’t want that,” he added. the Senate.

Quezon City Rep. Winston In a statement, a spokesman for Castelo, on the other hand, dethe LP ticket, Marikina Rep. Miro nied his links with Philip Lustre, Quimbo, said the ruling party has the public relations man who not and will not authorize any spread the false rumor that Davperson to engage in a smear. ao Mayor Rodrigo Duterte had Top Liberal Party stalwarts throat cancer. took the defensive on Tuesday Castelo said he knows Lustre after Senator Richard Gordon re- because he is a constituent and

Viscaya, Aurora and Mountain Province remained without power while three cities and 55 municipalities in regions 1, 2, 3, 4-A and 4-B and the Cordilleras were still experiencing power interruptions.

In Aurora, soldiers from the 703rd Infantry Brigade based in Bongabon, Nueva Ecija, aboard four Air Force choppers landed in Baler to help the typhoon victims.

Elements of the 56th Infantry Battalion based in Baler town continued clearing the major roads of debris and penetrating isolated areas particularly

talks to him from time to time, but said he had no knowledge of his statements about Duterte.

Ramon Casiple of the Institute for Political and Electoral Reform in a text interview with The Standard said the Roxas camp “is the natural suspect” in the attacks against Vice President Jejomar Binay and Poe, as Roxas would benefit from their elimination from the presidential race.

Binay, Poe and Duterte have repeatedly pointed to Roxas and the Liberal Party as the group behind the smear campaigns against them.

The long-time political analyst added that the attacks on the other candidates, whether started by Roxas or not, can ultimately affect his candidacy.

“If it found an audience among voters, it may well produce an anti-Roxas sympathy vote,” Casiple said.

On the other hand, he said, this is unlikely to hurt his running mate, Camarines Sur Rep. Leni

in Casiguran, Dilasag and Dinalungan, the hardest hit areas.

In Gabaldon, a rice-producing town in Nueva Ecija, rice fields were covered by mud and boulders that cascaded down from the Sierra Madre ridges.

The town connecting to Laur, Nueva Ecija, was also isolated as the link bridge collapsed.

In Bulacan, many villages remained flooded up to waist deep, but the floods had started to recede as the weather improved. Francisco Tuyay and Othel V. Campos

Robredo or the senatorial candidates in the LP lineup.

Poe’s running mate, Senator Francis Escudero, said Gordon’s revelations were making it “harder and harder to give the leaders of LP and UNA the benefit of the doubt.”

“When your leaders say one thing and do another, it does not speak well of their character nor of their capacity to lead the nation. Our people expect honesty, not doublespeak; integrity, not deceit,” Escudero said.

“C.S. Lewis said that integrity is doing the right thing even when no one is watching. Not let’s try this and see if we can get away with it. If Mar believes that Grace is Filipino, he should explicitly tell LP members and supporters to stop making an issue of it.

The same holds true for VP Binay, who also invited Grace to be his VP,” Escudero added.

After appearing on Headstart, Gordon issued a statement say-

ing he did not say that the current disqualification petitions were due to partisan politics.

“I would like to think that those who called me about a disqualification case against Senator Poe did so in the context that her disqualification would mean my elevation to the present Senate. I wish to stress that I dismissed such talk out of hand, on the grounds of delicadeza. This was my consistent stance, whether those who discussed the matter were ordinary citizens, or politicians from the administration or opposition side,” Gordon said.

“I believe that the matter of Senator Poe’s qualifications for national office has already been referred to the proper legal venues, and I deem it counter-productive to say anything more about this issue, aside from the statements I have already made.” With Maricel V. Cruz and Macon RamosAraneta

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Prof files another case against Poe

By Sara Susanne d. Fabunan and Maricel V. Cruz

A professor and a political analyst on Tuesday filed a petition seeking to cancel senator Grace poe’s Certificate of Candidacy for president, a third petitioner since she made official her intention to run.

In his petition, De La Salle University Professor Antonio Contreras accused Poe of making a false entry in her COC when she claimed that she met the 10-year residency requirement for those seeking to be President.

“As such, she made a false entry in her CoC on information, which is material to her qualifications to run for President, which is ground to cancel such certificate,” Contreras said.

The political analyst questioned why Poe wrote in her CoC that she have been a resident of the Philippines for 10 years and 11 months by May 9, 2016.

Contreras said the period of residency should have been figured from the day she re-acquired her Philippine citizenship on July 18, 2006.

He explained that Poe’s physical presence in the country while she was still an American citizen cannot be counted and be considered as valid evidence of have a Philippine domicile.

This would mean Poe would be two months and nine days short of the 10 years residency required by the Constitution for a President.

This was the third case filed against Poe’s presidential bid after she filed her CoC. The other cases were filed by lawyer Estrella Elamparo and former senator Francisco Tatad.

In an interview, Contreras said he decided to file a petition after being irked by Poe’s camp’s accusations that the earlier cases were being backed by unseen individuals.

“It is repulsive that one is being labelled as being paid by

someone else or has an evil plot just because you are questioning her qualifications as a candidate,” Contreras said.

He said he is filing the petition as an ordinary citizen of the Philippines, as a registered voter, and as a naturalborn Filipino, using his own money.

Contreras also noted that his petition did not touch on the citizenship issue of Poe unlike the first two petitioners.

The Comelec has already raffled the case filed by Elamparo to the Second Division.

Comelec Chairman Andres Bautista said they have decided to consolidate all the cases against the senator with the Second Division.

He added that he hoped they would decide the cases before Election Day. An earlier case filed by Rizalito David that seeks to unseat Poe from the Senate will not be consolidated, Bautista added, because it does not deal with her presidential bid.

Despite Contreras’ statements, lawmakers said the case filed by Tatad was obviously politically motivated.

1-BAP party-list Rep. Silvestre Bello III said that the disqualification case filed by former senator Francisco Tatad, a former ally of the senator’s father, late action star Fernando Poe Jr., was “definitely a political move to discourage the supporters of Senator Poe, especially her financiers.”

Bello, a House deputy minority leader, said that Poe’s popularity among the Filipino people in many parts of the country as shown by surveys could have threatened her rivals in the presidential race.

“But I am confident [that these black propaganda against strong presidential candidates like Poe] will boomerang on her detractors,” Bello, a former justice secretary, added.

Valenzuela Mayor Rex Gatchalian, a spokesman for Poe, said the petitions were aimed at conditioning the minds of voters that the senator will be disqualified.

He added that they were aimed at sowing confusion and turning the electoral process into a mockery.

“Why can they just not wait for the initial one to be decided on? Clearly, these people do not respect our electoral process, and we will not allow them to do so,” he said.

Back in business. Workers have started putting up billboards in Caloocan after the devastation wreaked by Typhoon ‘Lando.’ andrew raBuLan

Santiago rejects call to present medical clearance SENATOR Miriam DefensorSantiago on Tuesday rejected a doctor’s request that she release her medical records to prove she has been cured of Stage 4 lung cancer and is fit to run for President next year.

Sylvia Estrada Claudio, in an open letter to Santiago circulated in the social media, asked her to make public her medical records, saying there was a great possibility she would not be able to serve for six years if she won the election.

In a phone patched interview at the Senate, Santiago said Clau-

dio might just be out to ruin her presidential campaign. She said the burden of proof was not on her but on Claudio.

“It seems like she was saying it’s my burden to prove that I’m healthy for the presidency,” Santiago said.

“If that’s the case, all those who are running can be asked aside from his or her health such issues like do you have mental health issues? Do you have financial issues?

“Now if she wants to she can go to St. Luke’s Global in Makati

and she can formally ask there in writing.’’

Santiago said she had records at the hospital and a panel of doctors to prove that she was there almost every week for treatment while she was suffering from Stage 4 lung cancer.

Santiago said she had already licked her cancer when she announced her bid for the presidency last week. She said she had been regularly going to St. Luke’s Medical Center in the Global City for treatment and check-ups for the past year and a half.

“What did she mean I didn’t have cancer? Then why was I absent for one and half years [from the Senate]?” Santiago said.

In her open letter, Claudio said that while she recognized the value of confidentiality between doctor and patient, she said Santiago “broke” part of the deal when she announced her illness for which she “got admiration and political mileage.”

“There is no clear demarcation when the public’s need to know exceeds your right to confidentiality. But as a physician and

as a concerned citizen, I believe you tipped the balance when you filed your certificate of candidacy. Please release your medical records now,” Claudio said.

Due to their lack of resources, Santiago said, she and Senator Ferdinand Marcos Jr., her running mate, might go campaigning on their own although sometimes they might go together.

Santiago said she will draw strength from the Internet. She said the country would be much better off if she was elected President. Macon ramos-araneta

Comelec eyes extension of listup

Protest. Farmers press for agrarian reform during a rally at the University of the Philippines in Quezon City. Lino SantoS

THE Commission on Elections may extend the voter registration period in the areas devastated by Typhoon “Lando,” Comelec Chairman Andres Bautista said Tuesday.

He said the voter listing could be extended in Regions 1, 2 and 3, the areas that were hit badly by the typhoon.

“We will see whether those areas merit a special extension,” Bautista said.

He made his statement even as he said that the 100 individuals who filed their certificates of candidacy for President may be tagged as nuisance candidates after their law department files a petition for it today, Wednesday.

But Bautista said the 100 candidates may be given the opportunity to be heard and to justify their filing of Certificates of Candidacy for next year’s elections.

Bautista said the Comelec’s offices in

the areas hit by Lando were forced to close down and to suspend voter registration during its onslaught.

“We are talking about Regions 1, 2 and 3,” Bautista said.

Lando devastated several provinces in North and Central Luzon on Saturday afternoon, leaving several areas flooded.

But Bautista said the Comelec was now coordinating with the regional election directors in the Ilocos, Cagayan Valley and Central Luzon to find out if there is a need to extend the voter registration period there.

“I would think by next week [we will decide],” Bautista said.

“We have to get feedback from the [directors].”

Bautista said the Oct. 31 deadline for voter registration was still in effect for the rest of the country. Sara Susanne d. Fabunan

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PH, VN open talks on new strategic pact

By Vito Barcelo THE Philippines and Vietnam will officially meet in Hanoi on Wednesday in a bid to forge a strategic partnership agreement that will bolster their bilateral ties and reach cooperation on regional security and defense issues.

Foreign Affairs Secretary Albert del Rosario will head the Philippine delegation to the eighth Philippines-Vietnam Joint Commission on Bilateral Relations, a mechanism for cooperation between the two countries.

Both sides has already pledged close consultations on maritime issues, including the West Philippine Sea, which Vietnam refers to as the East Sea, during the ministerial meeting held on Sept. 14 at Hanoi, the Department of Foreign Affairs said in a statement.

Bilateral trade in 2012 stood at $1.6 billion in 2012, adding that talks on an action plan will provide a target of $3-billion bilateral trade by 2016.

The two countries also agreed to intensify cooperation in agri-

culture and convene a joint working group on agriculture.

Del Rosario will co-chair the meeting along with his Vietnamese counterpart, Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Pham Binh Minh.

Del Rosario said “the meeting is an opportunity to discuss developments in our bilateral relations which have expanded significantly and strengthened and diversified through cooperative activities.”

“The future of Philippines and Vietnam is closely linked and it is natural that the bilateral relations of both countries should strengthen and intensify,” the DFA said.

The Philippines and Vietnam are in the process of finalizing a strategic partnership agreed by both the Philippines and Vietnam in 2014 during a meeting on the sidelines of the 26th APEC Summit.

“This strategic partnership is being established with a view to elevating the level and intensity of bilateral exchanges between the two countries,” the DFA added.

No politics here. President Benigno S. Aquino III hands over government disaster aid to a victim of Typhoon ‘Lando’ at an evacuation center in Nueva Ecija hours before Malacañang Palace said there was nothing wrong in Liberal Party candidates giving away taxpayers’ aid to disaster victims. MALACAÑANG PHOTO

SC suspends Arroyo trial

By Rey E. Requejo, Maricel V. Cruz and Rio N. Araja THE Supreme Court has issued a restraining order stopping the Sandiganbayan from proceeding with its trial of detained former President and now Pampanga Rep. Gloria Macapagal Arroyo, who invoked a United Nations panel recommendation backing her bid for bail during the pendency of her plunder case.

During its en banc session, the SC resolved to issue an order suspending the trial of the plunder case against Arroyo before the anti-graft court’s First Division, in connection with her alleged involvement in the P366-million Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office fund anomaly.

The suspension order, which is effective for 30 days, was issued purportedly to allow the SC justices

to decide on the merits of the case without the Sandiganbayan proceeding with the trial, Court insiders revealed.

The SC also directed the Sandiganbayan to answer the new petition filed by Arroyo last week seeking immediate resolution of her bail petition and questioning the dismissal of her demurrer to evidence last month.

The detained leader had already

asked the SC last April to reverse the Sandiganbayan’s denial of her bail motion last February. The SC already ordered the anti-graft court last June to answer the petition.

In her latest appeal, Arroyo urged the tribunal to rule on her case, citing the recent report from the UN Technical Working Group on Arbitrary Detention recommending her release from detention because it violates international human rights standards.

Arroyo argued that the UN panel’s position was consistent with her petition for bail and demurrer to evidence.

“Not a single exhibit of the 637 exhibits offered by the prosecution nor a single testimony of the 21 witnesses of the prosecution was offered by the prosecution

to prove that respondent Arroyo amassed, accumulated, or acquired even a single peso of the alleged ill-gotten wealth amounting to P365, 997,915.00 or any part of that amount alleged in the Information,” the Arroyo petition read.

Most of Arroyo’s co-accused in the case—board of directors Manuel Morato, Jose Taruc, Raymundo Roquero and Ma. Fatima Valdes, budget and accounts manager Benigno Aguas; exCommission on Audit chairman Reynaldo Villar; and ex-chief of CoA fs CIF Fraud Audit Unit, Nilda Plaras—were all granted bail because of weak evidence, but Mrs. Arroyo fs bail plea was repeatedly dismissed.

While government lawyers alleged the crime was a conspiracy, almost all of Arroyo fs co-accused are either out on bail or had been

acquitted of the charges.

Laurence Hector Arroyo, one of Arroyo fs lawyers, said they are optimistic that the high court would also gtake judicial notice h of its recent ruling allowing Senator Juan Ponce Enrile to post bail for the same offense of plunder.

I am hoping that the high court would be able to resolve our bail plea in her favor in November or December, h lawyer Arroyo said.

Arroyo said the high court had ruled in many cases that detainees are entitled to bail “if their continuous confinement during the pendency of their case would be injurious to their health or endanger their life.”

But given her condition, the former president pleaded that hospital detention would not suffice for her recovery.

Russia backs code of conduct

By Macon Ramos-Araneta

The Masskara of resilience. Leyte Rep. and senatorial candidate Ferdinand Martin Romualdez (right) and Bacolod City Mayor Monico Puentebella (left) join a street dancer during the 36th Masskara Festival in Bacolod City. The Masskara Festival was launched in the 1980s to help deal with the crisis caused by falling sugar prices. VER NOVENO

RUSSIA supports a peaceful solution to territorial disputes in the West Philippine Sea and the conclusion of a legally binding code of conduct to govern such disputes.

This was the position Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov told Senate President Franklin Drilon, who led a delegation of Philippine officials who visited Moscow at the invitation of the Russian parliament.

Drilon said Russia is neutral on the issue of claims “but supportive of peaceful settlement in accordance with international law.” He informed the Russian Foreign Minister that “both countries can still work together to strengthen regional peace and stability.”

Drilon noted that our efforts at the regional level should be complemented by our work at the bilateral level.

“This is why the Philippine is keen on

deepening relations with Russia on all fronts. I believe we need not be held back by history and traditional alliances. Pragmatism and imagination should guide us instead,” he said.

Drilon said they also discussed pressing global issues, including recent developments in East Asia, the Middle East and Europe.

Drilon also handed to Lavrov the letter of President Benigno S. Aquino III to President Vladimir Putin officially inviting the latter to attend the 23 APEC Economic Leaders’ Meeting in Manila next month. He said Putin will be warmly welcomed in the Philippines.

On behalf of Putin, Lavrov expressed deep appreciation for the invitation and said that President Putin is looking forward to visiting Manila next month.

They also said they looked forward to the bilateral meeting between Aquino and Putin at the sideline of APEC Manila next month.

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Metro spruces up for ApeC summit; vendors protest

By Joel e. Zurbano LoCAL government units have begun driving away illegal vendors from Metro Manila streets to rid them of eyesore in time for the Asia Pacific economic Cooperation meeting in November.

This was the claim made by members of the Metro Manila Vendors Alliance , pointing out that the city government of Parañaque was the first LGu to enforce the campaign by initially cleaning the area of Redemptorist Road and dismantling push carts, steel racks and stalls of vendors.

In Manila, ambulant vendors were told by local authorities that their merchandise is prohibited even in the areas that were remote from the routes and venues of the APeC conference from Nov. 17 to 20, the MMVA said.

MMVA coordinator Flor santos said they were informed by Malacañang “insiders” that local officials in the National Capital Region would declare a “vendors’ holiday” during the summit.

“We worry that the Aquino government will impose extra measures with total disregard for the civil and economic rights protecting the welfare and livelihoods of street vendors just to save its face from humiliation from its foreign guests,” said santos. “street vendors live by a hand-to-mouth existence. To deny them their daily earnings for three entire days without any alternative livelihood or government stipend is going to kill their families in a slow and painful manner,” she added.

The MMVA said that violence erupted in the past when demolition teams of the city government dismantled stalls outside the Cebu south Bus terminal at the height of the APeC committee meetings two months ago.

House pushes crackdown vs illegal aliens By maricel V. Cruz A House leader has proposed a crackdown against foreigners working in the country without permit.

In seeking the passage of his House Bill 5887, House assistant majority leader and Davao City Rep. Karlo Nograles said stiffer penalties shall be imposed on foreign nationals who will violate the country’s labor laws and regulations.

“We must protect the welfare of the country’s human resource against undue incursion of foreign labor in consonance with our commitments to international labor agreements,” Nograles, chair of the House committee on labor and employment, said.

HB 5887, or the substituted HB 5470, or “An Act strengthening the regulation of employment of foreign nationals, seeks to amend specific provisions of the The Labor Code of the Philippines.”

Nograles’ bill provides that an employment permit may be issued to a non-resident foreign national but subject to the labor market test based on the non-availability of a qualified Filipino national.

It also mandates that foreign nationals who are issued employment permits shall transfer technology to Filipino understudies within a prescribed period, Nograles underscored.

“Any non-resident foreign national who shall work without a valid employment permit, as well as the employer who hires him, shall be imposed a fine of fifty thousand pesos [P50,000] for every year of a fraction thereof,” Nograles said The bill also carries a penalty for violators: a fine of fifty thousand pesos (P50,000) to one Hundred Thousand Pesos (P100,000) and/or imprisonment of sic (6) months to six years.

If passed into law, HB 5887 shall “update the terminologies used in the country’s policy on employment of foreign nationals, in consonance with those we have used in our agreements with the World Trade organization and the General Agreement on Trade in services.”

Pricey veggies. A vendor sorts out vegetables from Northern Luzon at a wet market in Quezon City, days after Typhoon ‘Lando’

battered northern provinces. Despite the announcement of the Department of Trade and Industry that prices and supply of goods are not affected by the typhoon, vendors say that vegetables and other goods are getting costlier. Jansen RomeRo

Air traffic can be fatal—Romualdez

By Christine F. Herrera

DUE to horrible traffic congestion at Ninoy Aquino International Airport, an opposition lawmaker was forced to brave the storm and was left battling turbulence for an hour hovering over dangerous Sierra Madre Mountains until shis plane was given clearance to land Monday night.

Following the near death experience, Leyte Rep. Ferdinand Martin Romualdez demanded answers from Transport and Airport officials for sending passengers like him in harm’s way as a result of the unresolved heavily congested air traffic while Typhoon “Lando’’ was pummeling Luzon with sustained winds of 85 kilometers per hour and gustiness of up to 100 kph.

Romualdez was not the only one who had a scare. Passengers of commercial flights shared the same harrowing experiences.

“Congressman Romualdez was luckier, he had only an hour to agonize. We were made to literally pray for our lives for three hours on air and there was not even a strong typhoon when it happened. We were simply told we cannot land and we had to wait. My fellow passengers got worried we would crash if we ran out of fuel,” according to Belna Cabasan, who complained about the unattended chronic and debilitating air traffic condition. on Aug. 25, Cabasan said she took a Cebu Pacific flight from Manila to Roxas City but due to bad weather, they were not able to land and were told to go back to Manila.

“When we were already in Manila, the pilot attempted to

land three times and was told to hover at the final approach for another 30 minutes due to traffic congestion,” Cabasan said.

“The agony of the passengers did not end there.

Aside from delayed flights, we thought we could already heave a sigh of relief but then I had to negotiate another five hours of traffic from the airport to Fairview in Quezon City where I live,” Cabasan told The Standard. she said when they landed, the passengers were either quiet because of exhaustion and trauma or laughing and joking, “Buhay pa naman kayo di ba?” echoing the line of President Benigno Aquino III when businessmen in Tacloban City sought a declaration of a state of emergency to remedy the chaotic situation when killer Typhoon “Yolanda’’ flattened eastern Visayas in November 2013.

“Walang malasakit at awa sa publiko ang gobyernong eto,” said Cabasan.

“This is a tragedy waiting to happen. Do we have to wait for someone to die before authorities do something about this nagging issue? Air traffic is fatal, too. Thank God we are all safe,” said Romualdez, who took potshots at Transportation and Communications secretary Joseph emilio Abaya, who claimed traffic in

this country was “not fatal.”

Romualdez vowed to demand an investigation into the sorry state of the country’s congested airport, which was labeled one of the worst airports in the world.

Romualdez, a frequent air traveller, said the Monday night flight was his “scariest yet.”

This prompted Romualdez to demand an explanation from Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines director general William Hotchkiss III and Abaya to conduct a probe into the real situation of the air traffic situation at the country’s airports.

“Hindi lamang po ako ang nakakaranas ng ganitong delikadong flight kundi maging ang maraming mga pasahero.

Kailangan ng ‘malasakit’ sa pagtiyak ng kanilang kaligtasan sa pagbiyahe. The air turbulence was too much,” Romualdez said.

Romualdez’s close aide Ver Noveno said their private plane was permitted by airport authorities to depart Bacolod silay International Airport at 5:45 pm., almost two hours late from their original 4 p.m. scheduled flight.

“We expect to arrive in Manila after one hour and 30 minutes. When we were given permission to leave by 5:45 p.m., it means that we can immediately land at Manila airport,” Romualdez lamented after the airplane landed around 8:30 in the evening of Monday.

“Kaya naman nating maghintay sa ere, pero masyadong matagal ang nangyari.

Mabuti na lamang na hindi naubos ang aming gasolina,” said Romualdez.

Romualdez’s pilots protested to the air traffic controller why were they being directed to fly

at low altitude over the dangerous sierra Madre Mountain ranges at Infanta, Quezon, when the air turbulence was strong, there was heavy concentration of rains and dark clouds formation.

A CAAP source, who requested anonymity, said Romualdez’s plane was already at the far end of the 60-mile radius because there were other airplanes ahead of him hovering over Cavite, Antipolo and Bulacan areas that were also on their final approaches but could not land.

“Literally speaking, na-traffic ang eroplano ni Congressman Romualdez. May nauna sa kanya sa pila na kelangan din mauna mag-landing,” the source said.

“Are the personnel of CAAP especially the air traffic controller competent enough to give air guidance to the pilots? Why were we asked to move to unsafe areas? Nararamdaman ang bagyo doon,” Romualdez asked. “our pilots were even ordered to take low altitude, which they refused because that was very dangerous.

Mabuti na lamang at mahuhusay ang aming mga piloto at kabisado ang lugar,” Romualdez stressed.

Ver Noveno, Romualdez’s close-in photographer, recounted that he almost thought they would all die.

“Grabe ang air turbulence, nauntog kami sa lakas ng alog.

May mga kidlat pa at napakalakas ng ulan. Binabayo talaga ang eroplano sa loob ng isang oras. Natapos ko ang Holy Rosary ko ng dalawang beses, salamat sa Diyos na nakaligtas kami,” said Noveno who was also joined by nurse Adrian ortiz, sPo1 Dominador Logon, a mechanic, a pilot, and co-pilot in the flight.

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NEWS

editorial@thestandard.com.ph

PALACE, MILITARY BLAME NPA

Lumad peace advocate, son slain

By Lance Baconguis

MALACAÑANG and the military on Tuesday condemned the abduction and killing of Loreto, Agusan del Sur Mayor Dario Otaza and his son Daryl by alleged communist rebels disguised as National Bureau of Investigation agents on Oct. 19, 2015 at his residence in Barangay Baan, Butuan City.

The Army’s 4th infrantry division said it joined all tribal communities and the peaceloving people of Northern Mindanao in condemning the New People’s Army for killing a lumad and peace advocate.

The bodies of Otaza and his son Daryl were found in Baran-

gay Bitan-agan, Butuan City at around 6 a.m. Tuesday after their abduction.

In Malacañang, Communications Secretary Herminio Coloma Jr. described the abduction and killing as an cowardly act even and said that the Aquino administration “hopes

that Otaza’s death unites the people of Agusan del Sur, the Manobos and the entire lumad community in working sincerely towards lasting, meaningful peace.”

The military for its part decried “ the terroristic act and brutality of the NPA bandits.

The killing of Mayor Otaza and his son was brutal and blatant execution,” Major Gen. Oscar T Lactao, Commander of 4th Infantry Division said, “This is another Lumad killing purposely to sow threat and violence among the peace-loving Lumads and to the Filipino people as a whole,” Lactao added.

Otaza was an icon of Local Chief Executives in

the campaign for peace and development.

Otaza was a former member of NPA who later on surrendered after realizing that the armed struggle was not the solution to the country’s problem.

As mayor and member of the Provincial Tribal Council in Agusan del Sur, he liberated his town from NPA exploitation and manipulation.

“He was successful in encouraging 246 NPA leaders and members, majority of whom are Lumad, to surrender and return to their normal and peaceful lives. Under his leadership, development has started to set-in in his town of Loreto benefiting his constituents,”

Lactao added.

“The attack on Mayor Otaza is a clear and undeniable proof of the NPA’s human rights atrocities in Lumad communities. This is also a solid proof of the NPA’s continuing campaign to take control of our Lumads and anyone who gets in their way is killed in the process.”

Lactao stressed.

Lactao urged the Filipino Nation to join us in our cry for justice and calling on Karapatan and other organizations who are calling for the end of Lumad killings to similarly condemn this dastardly act and denounce the NPA’s human rights violations.

“Let not Mayor Otaza’s death be the end of his advocacy for

his people, but rather an inspiration to others to pursue peace and development for Loreto.”

Lactao added.

“We sympathize with his family, relatives, friends, love ones, and constituents. The AFP will intensify operations to go after the perpetrators of this cowardly attack and at the same time ensure that Lumad tribesmen loyal to Mayor Otaza will not conduct revenge killings as the attack could trigger a new wave of violence among Lumad factions. This is unfortunate because the AFP, PNP and our LGUs have been working hard to de-escalate the situation,” Lactao said.

With Florante Solmerin and Sandy Araneta

Army colonel in Basilan carnage back in harness

By Florante S. Solmerin LIEUTENANT Colonel Leonardo Peña, one of the four Army officers who were court-martialed in connection with the October 2011 bloodbath in Basilan that left 19 special forces killed and 18 others wounded, has returned to duty as a commander.

The bloodbath involving the 4th SF Battalion, then under the operational command of Peña, took place in Barangay Cambug. The special forces were to serve arrest warrants on hardened criminals when they were attacked by combined elements of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front, Abu Sayyaf Group and private armed groups.

Peña then was barely in his three months as commander of the SF battalion when the incident happened.

The rebels and bandits were led by Long Malat Sulayman and Furuji Indama of the MILF and ASG, respectively.

On Monday, Peña, a member of the Philippine Military Academy “Sambisig” Class 1991, was installed commander of the 61st Infantry Battalion based in Visayas.

Apart from Peña, also subjected to court martial were Col.

Aminkadra Undug, former commander of the Special Forces Regiment who was convicted for violation of articles of war 96 (Conduct Unbecoming an Officer and Gentleman) and 97 (Disorders and Neglect to the Prejudice of Good Order and Military Discipline); Col. Alexander Macario, former commander of the Special Force Task Force-Basilan, who was acquitted of 96 and 97; and Lt. Col. Orlando Edralin, former commandant of the Special Forces School, was also acquitted of AW 97 charges.

Originally, Pena was charged with violations of AW 96, 97 and 84 (Willful or Negligent Loss, Damage or Wrongful Disposition), the first and last of which he was able to get away with.

“The verdict against Lt. Col. Pena is 200 -files-down in rank and two years suspension both in command,” the court martial CM panel member and now retired Col. Jose Feliciano Loy said.

“Wala tayong magagawa, Unang-una, hindi natin ginusto ang nangyari. As far as I am concerned I have to accept the verdict even with a heavy heart. This I can tell you, dito ako nadapa, dito rin ako babangon,” Pena then said.

Back in the saddle. Lt. Col. Leonardo Peña (middle) accepts his new flag of command responsibility as commander of the 61st Infantry Battalion . CONTRIBUTED PHOTO

Graft raps filed vs CamSur ex-congressman, mayor

Graft complaint. National Coalition of Filipino Consumers Board of Director Jayson Luna show his judicial complaint affidavit which he has filed before the Office of the Ombudsman against Renan Dalisya, administrator of the National Food Authority for violation of the anti-graft and corrupt practices act. LINO SANTOS

ZEROTOLERANCE.ORG, a grassroots organization that aims to expose corrupt practices in the Philippines, has filed a plunder case against former House Speaker and former Camarines Sur Congressman Arnulfo Fuentebella and his wife, incumbent Sangay Mayor Evelyn Fuentebella, stating that both respondents “have to be made accountable for illegally amassing of wealth and for plunder of public funds to the great prejudice of the Filipino people.”

In the complaint filed before the Office of the Ombudsman, ZeroTolerance.Org said that Arnulfo Fuentebella should be held accountable for the unexplained wealth that he allegedly accumulated or misappropriated during his terms as Camarines Sur congressman, including the alleged misdeclaration of assets in his Statement of Assets, Liabilities, and Networth. This complaint states that the respondents have, without any acceptable explanation, accumulated wealth valued at around P186.6 million, while in public office, Zero Tolerance said.

The group listed several incidents of the former House Speaker’s misappropriation, malversation, and misuse of public funds: (1) construction of a multi-purpose building, a pavement, and other

infrastructures, worth an estimated P10.9 million, in their family’s privately owned property in Sagnay, Camarines Sur; (2) construction of a sports complex, roads, and another multi-purpose building, worth P28.7 million, in the family-owned Abo Farm in Tigaon, Camarines Sur; and (3) construction of an irrigation system in another privately owned estate in Tigaon, Camarines Sur, worth at least P5.6 million of government funds from the National Irrigation Administration.

Apart from these, the organization also took note of Fuentebella’s unaccounted PDAF worth P 11,360,000, which was allegedly used to buy rice from the National Food Authority but was unsupported by any project proposals.

ZeroTolerance.Org conducted its own investigation into the alleged ill-gotten wealth of the Fuentebellas, including one accomplice, Fidelis Apalisok, who allowed property registration in his name for the purpose of hiding illegally amassed assets. Part of its initial research came from the Commission on Audit Special Audits Office report on “Priority Development Assistance Fund and Various Infrastructures including Local Projects” and the Department of Public Works and Highways official website.

w e d n e s d ay : o c t o b e r 2 1 , 2 0 1 5

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news

editorial@thestandard.com.ph

Health brings ‘High Impact’ campaign to Region 10

By Lance Baconguis CAMIGuIN Island—Representatives of the Department of Health in Region 10 converged on this island province to deliver medical-surgical services to the island’s residents as part of its High Impact 5 for Hospital campaign.

Director Nimfa Torrizo, DoH 10 regional director, said that the program is part of the advocacy to the country’s commitment to the universal health care and the Millennium Development Goals.

High Impact 5 focuses on the enhancement of the DoH’s Service Delivery Network and centered on Maternal Health, HIV/ AIDS, Infant Health and Child Health.

Torrizo said that the program aims to deliver the services of the government down to the grassroots level and also compliment the government’s No Balance Billing carried by the Philippine Health Insurance Corp., where patients’ billing are paid by PhilHealth.

In Camiguin, volunteer doctors with specialties in surgery are scheduled to operate to 200 patients with various surgical conditions at the Camiguin General Hospital.

Dr. Jose Chan, the chief of hospital of the Northern Mindanao Medical Center, the region’s apex hospital said that his team of doctors and from the Philippine Orthopedic Society, this means giving back to the community their expertise.

Seventy-one-year-old Alberto Zulueta, one of the patients awaiting cataract operation, the service he is going to get is vital to his health, as his age advances, his vision gets affected.

Zulueta said that he is glad that he is one of the 200 patients to get the operation for free.

Bayanihan. Residents of Barangay San Francisco in San Fernando City, La Union carry a hut to protect it from strong winds brought by Typhoon ‘Lando’. CHRISTINE JUNIO

Authorities launch manhunt for intelligence agent’s killer

By Ali G. Macabalang

COTABATO CITY—Police and military elements have been deployed to track down suspects in an ambush here over the weekend that left a military intelligence agent dead and another wounded Saturday afternoon.

Senior Supt. Rex Anongos, city police director, named the slain soldier as Private First Class Denver Maguate, 25, of Pagadian City, and the wounded as PFC Aldrin Junsay Asejo, 27, of Libungan, North Cotabato.

The victims, both elements of the intelligence unit of the

11th Company of the Army’s 1st Mechanized Battalion, were riding a motorbike en route to their official base in Maguindanao when gunmen fired at them in front of the MC Square department store along Sinsuat Avenue here.

The gunmen were aboard Sept.

motorcycles.

Anongos said the victims’ companion, PFC Jovert Bad-e who was riding a separate motorbike, was tailing them but did not see the attack since there was a passenger jeep between him and his comrades.

He said Maguate and Asejo, both wearing civilian clothes, were armed but failed to return fire as they crashed right after the attack. Responding police investigators recovered empty shells of cal. 45 pistol at the crime scene, he said.

The Army’s 6th Infantry Division, which has jurisdictions

over all military units in Maguindanao and parts of Sultan Kudarat and North Cotabato, condemned the attack.

Military intelligence operatives suspected Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters members for the attack. The BIFF has reportedly resorted to “hit and run” attacks after its organizational camps in Maguindanao had been overrun by the military in a series of offensives last February and March.

Anongos said his command was closely working with the 11th Mechanized Battalion in tracking down the suspects.

Govt rescuers save flash flood victims on Pangasinan slopes

By Dexter A. See

Investigation. Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao Gov. Mujiv Hataman and Lanao del Sur Gov. Mamintal Adiong Jr. preside over a meeting to discuss possible actions following the killing of Marawi City police chief Abner Wahab Santos. OMAR MANGORSI

LINGAYEN, Pangasinan— Residents in barangays situated along the mountain slopes of Labrador, Bugallon, Aguilar, Mangatarem and Mabini who were affected by flash floods caused by Typhoon “Lando” have been rescued and transferred safely to evacuation centers.

Rescue operations were conducted by teams from attached agencies and offices of the Pangasinan Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council on Monday, instruction of Gov. Amado T. Espino Jr. As of press time, teams

were still deployed in various areas in Pangasinan to rescue typhoon-affected residents.

Espino, in an interview at the Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office Tactical Operations Center in Lingayen, explained that flash floods that occurred in parts of these towns were due to the bulk of accumulated rain waters from the mountains brought about by the typhoon and “not because of swelling of the rivers.”

“Continuous rain causes the flash floods on the side of the mountain,” Espino said.

It was learned that spill gates of the San Roque dam in San Manuel are still closed, thereby there is no truth that swelling of rivers is caused by the release of dam waters.

As of 8 a.m. Tuesday, water level in San Roque dam is at 277.78 meters above sea level or 2.22 meters below the 280 masl spilling level.

Portions of major roads in some parts of towns affected by flash floods, specifically the Camiling, Tarlac to Lingayen, Pangasinan road, are not passable at the moment due to fallen trees.

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

A8

OPINION

ADELLE CHUA EDITOR

lettertotheeditor@thestandard.com.ph

OPINION

BACK CHANNEL ALEJANDRO DEL ROSARIO

AN ‘INTHE-BOX’ FOREIGN POLICY

[ EDI TORI A L ]

TAXING OUR CREDULITY PRESIDENT Aquino enjoys bragging about how the Philippines has improved its image in the world—and takes obvious joy in claiming credit for the change in perception.

In speeches, he rarely passes up the opportunity to boast that the country’s credit rating has gone up under his economic stewardship.

The President so values these credit ratings that he even uses them to justify his insensitive refusal to support measures to lower the tax burden on millions of low- to middle-income earners, who are among the most heavily taxed in Southeast Asia.

But all the bragging in the world will not alter the facts, and the credit ratings merely affect our ability as a nation to repay our debts; they don’t put food on the table.

Nor will Mr. Aquino’s boasting erase the black mark he left on the country’s reputation when the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights recently found that his government’s detention of his political opponent, former President Gloria Arroyo, was arbitrary, illegal and politically motivated.

This week, the administration was trying to put out another kind of fire.

The international audit firm PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC) ranked the Philippines 127th among 189 economies in terms of ease of paying business taxes, observing that the system of filing taxes here is very complicated and time consuming.

In contrast, our neighbors Malaysia and Thailand ranked 32nd and 62nd, respectively.

In the Philippines, PwC said, a businessman takes 193 hours to pay 36 kinds of fees and taxes per year.

At the same time, the average income tax rate and contributions paid by a Philippine employer is 42.5 percent, or 6 percent higher than the average tax rate in the Asia-Pacific region.

Citing the PwC study, Senator Francis Escudero said the Philippines implements one of the most tedious processes for paying taxes in the world and has the highest income tax rate in Asia.

“The Philippines is just three notches above Sierra Leone and 12 notches above Sudan in the rankings,” Escudero observed. “Where else will you find a country that taxes its people severely and then makes it hard for them to pay?”

Given this President’s fondness for collecting taxes, the senator’s rhetorical question is embarrassing and suggests that under Mr. Aquino’s watch, nothing significant has been done to ease the tax burden or to make it easier for businesses to pay their taxes.

This failure highlights the insensitivity that has become the hallmark of the Aquino administration, and lays bare Mr. Aquino’s lie when he calls the people his “bosses.”

TAX TO THE MAX LOWDOWN JOJO A. ROBLES WHAT kind of government would demand some of the highest and the most number of taxes in the world, and yet would simultaneously make the process of paying them one of the most difficult? Would that be Iran, Iraq or Afghanistan?

Of course not. It would have to be our “more fun” motherland, which beat all of those

three strife-torn countries in the ease of paying the exorbitant tributes exacted by government on businesses.

The ninth edition of a study, conducted on 189 economies worldwide by the international auditing firm Pricewaterhouse Coopers (PwC) and called “Paying Taxes 2015,” found that the Philippines ranked 127th in the ease of paying taxes and fees for a hypothetical mediumsized domestic company. And yet, according to the same study, the Philippines already charges taxes and other fees—the average

total tax rate—at 42.5 percent of a company’s commercial profit; that’s 6 percentage points higher than the Asia-Pacific average and 1.5 percentage points more than the world rate.

The PwC study, which covered the year 2013, also found that a medium-sized company in the Philippines pays 36 kinds of taxes and fees every year and spends 193 hours preparing to pay them. The rest of the world collects, on average, 25.9 taxes and fees annually.

Bolivia, the country adjudged to have the worst tax procedure

A9

What does the taxpayer get in return for all of these taxes, which the government makes it so hard to pay?

of the 189 countries surveyed, requires 42 taxes and fees annually. Now compare that—and the Philippines—to the winners in the list: co-leaders United Arab Emirates (four payments in 12 hours), Qatar (four payments, 41 hours) and thirdplacer Saudi Arabia (three payments, 64 hours).

Closer to home are the fourthand fifth-ranked countries: Hong Kong with only three tax payments, and Singapore, with five tax payments. No wonder these two are regional economic powerhouses and magnets for investors in this part of the world.

Even closer to home are the

stratospheric rankings—compared to ours, of course—of Thailand (62nd) and Malaysia (32nd). And the Philippines only beat Laos (129th) by two notches and was soundly trounced by Myanmar (116th).

Senator Francis Escudero, who divulged the results of the PwC study and is a longtime advocate of reforming our 19-year-old tax reform program, was quite naturally incensed. He urged voters, whom he is asking to elect him vice president next May, to make tax

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-

reforms an election issue so that more leaders would throw their support behind legislative efforts to amend the Tax Reform Act of 1997.

“How can we encourage investors to come and put their money here when a third of that will go to taxes that will be difficult to pay?” he asked. “What does that say about us?” *** Malacañang Palace, which is so proud of its supposed economic gains and the humongous “savings” that it stockpiles

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

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from its national budget, has been caught red-handed once again. All the chief Palace spokesman, Herminio Coloma, could say is that the government, through the Bureau of Internal Revenue, is doing everything to make paying taxes more efficient to boost the economy.

There is really nothing that the Aquino administration can do but ‘fess up. After all, it is already doing its best to stop congressional initiatives to lower both personal and corporate income taxes.

Continued on A11

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

Chairman President & Chief Executive Officer Board Member & Chief Legal Adviser Director of Operations Finance Officer Edgar M. Valmorida Circulation Manager

LATE Saturday night, I received a call from someone asking me to speak at a forum on foreign policy the next Monday.

It was short notice and I almost declined.

However, when told by the caller, Melo Acuña, that I was to be a member of a three-man panel which included former congressman and National Security Adviser Roilo Golez and UP professor Roland Simbulan, I accepted, considering I would be in good company.

Golez, who spent four years at the US naval academy in Annapolis, was the right resource person to speak on the country’s security concerns. He came armed with a video presentation of China’s island- building in the disputed territory. He explained how reclaimed land to build military installations in the South China Sea poses a threat to the region’s peace and stability and destroys the coral reefs under the ocean floor.

As a former ambassador, I was asked by someone in the audience if we actually have a foreign policy. Some 20 years in the foreign service gives one a better look at other countries’ foreign policy —how they deal with international issues and challenges confronting them and how we can adapt some of the things they do right. We have a foreign policy but it is an “in the box” foreign policy —constrained from charting a truly independent foreign policy. So much for thinking out of the box.

There is no such thing as independent foreign policy because interdependence among nations and governments is the essence of diplomatic relations. Professor Simbulan and I were on the same page that the formulation of foreign policy is dictated by domestic policy and national interests. For example, we cannot have a credible, decent foreign policy in dealing with Middle East countries where we send our workers. We are strait-jacketed in our bilateral relations with countries who host our overseas Filipino workers which give our millions of unemployed the jobs our own government cannot provide. Our Civil Aeronautics Board granted Emirates and Etihad airlines additional flights to the Philippines because the UAE employs hundreds of thousands of Filipino workers.

Although protecting our OFWs is one of the pillars in our foreign policy, it is difficult for a Filipina maid who had been abused by her Arab employer to get justice because we are “boxed in” by the imperatives of our domestic priorities. The government itself is one big job recruitment agency placing our people overseas lest the number of unemployed contribute to the build-up of a social 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

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

A8

OPINION

ADELLE CHUA EDITOR

lettertotheeditor@thestandard.com.ph

OPINION

BACK CHANNEL ALEJANDRO DEL ROSARIO

AN ‘INTHE-BOX’ FOREIGN POLICY

[ EDI TORI A L ]

TAXING OUR CREDULITY PRESIDENT Aquino enjoys bragging about how the Philippines has improved its image in the world—and takes obvious joy in claiming credit for the change in perception.

In speeches, he rarely passes up the opportunity to boast that the country’s credit rating has gone up under his economic stewardship.

The President so values these credit ratings that he even uses them to justify his insensitive refusal to support measures to lower the tax burden on millions of low- to middle-income earners, who are among the most heavily taxed in Southeast Asia.

But all the bragging in the world will not alter the facts, and the credit ratings merely affect our ability as a nation to repay our debts; they don’t put food on the table.

Nor will Mr. Aquino’s boasting erase the black mark he left on the country’s reputation when the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights recently found that his government’s detention of his political opponent, former President Gloria Arroyo, was arbitrary, illegal and politically motivated.

This week, the administration was trying to put out another kind of fire.

The international audit firm PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC) ranked the Philippines 127th among 189 economies in terms of ease of paying business taxes, observing that the system of filing taxes here is very complicated and time consuming.

In contrast, our neighbors Malaysia and Thailand ranked 32nd and 62nd, respectively.

In the Philippines, PwC said, a businessman takes 193 hours to pay 36 kinds of fees and taxes per year.

At the same time, the average income tax rate and contributions paid by a Philippine employer is 42.5 percent, or 6 percent higher than the average tax rate in the Asia-Pacific region.

Citing the PwC study, Senator Francis Escudero said the Philippines implements one of the most tedious processes for paying taxes in the world and has the highest income tax rate in Asia.

“The Philippines is just three notches above Sierra Leone and 12 notches above Sudan in the rankings,” Escudero observed. “Where else will you find a country that taxes its people severely and then makes it hard for them to pay?”

Given this President’s fondness for collecting taxes, the senator’s rhetorical question is embarrassing and suggests that under Mr. Aquino’s watch, nothing significant has been done to ease the tax burden or to make it easier for businesses to pay their taxes.

This failure highlights the insensitivity that has become the hallmark of the Aquino administration, and lays bare Mr. Aquino’s lie when he calls the people his “bosses.”

TAX TO THE MAX LOWDOWN JOJO A. ROBLES WHAT kind of government would demand some of the highest and the most number of taxes in the world, and yet would simultaneously make the process of paying them one of the most difficult? Would that be Iran, Iraq or Afghanistan?

Of course not. It would have to be our “more fun” motherland, which beat all of those

three strife-torn countries in the ease of paying the exorbitant tributes exacted by government on businesses.

The ninth edition of a study, conducted on 189 economies worldwide by the international auditing firm Pricewaterhouse Coopers (PwC) and called “Paying Taxes 2015,” found that the Philippines ranked 127th in the ease of paying taxes and fees for a hypothetical mediumsized domestic company. And yet, according to the same study, the Philippines already charges taxes and other fees—the average

total tax rate—at 42.5 percent of a company’s commercial profit; that’s 6 percentage points higher than the Asia-Pacific average and 1.5 percentage points more than the world rate.

The PwC study, which covered the year 2013, also found that a medium-sized company in the Philippines pays 36 kinds of taxes and fees every year and spends 193 hours preparing to pay them. The rest of the world collects, on average, 25.9 taxes and fees annually.

Bolivia, the country adjudged to have the worst tax procedure

A9

What does the taxpayer get in return for all of these taxes, which the government makes it so hard to pay?

of the 189 countries surveyed, requires 42 taxes and fees annually. Now compare that—and the Philippines—to the winners in the list: co-leaders United Arab Emirates (four payments in 12 hours), Qatar (four payments, 41 hours) and thirdplacer Saudi Arabia (three payments, 64 hours).

Closer to home are the fourthand fifth-ranked countries: Hong Kong with only three tax payments, and Singapore, with five tax payments. No wonder these two are regional economic powerhouses and magnets for investors in this part of the world.

Even closer to home are the

stratospheric rankings—compared to ours, of course—of Thailand (62nd) and Malaysia (32nd). And the Philippines only beat Laos (129th) by two notches and was soundly trounced by Myanmar (116th).

Senator Francis Escudero, who divulged the results of the PwC study and is a longtime advocate of reforming our 19-year-old tax reform program, was quite naturally incensed. He urged voters, whom he is asking to elect him vice president next May, to make tax

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-

reforms an election issue so that more leaders would throw their support behind legislative efforts to amend the Tax Reform Act of 1997.

“How can we encourage investors to come and put their money here when a third of that will go to taxes that will be difficult to pay?” he asked. “What does that say about us?” *** Malacañang Palace, which is so proud of its supposed economic gains and the humongous “savings” that it stockpiles

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

from its national budget, has been caught red-handed once again. All the chief Palace spokesman, Herminio Coloma, could say is that the government, through the Bureau of Internal Revenue, is doing everything to make paying taxes more efficient to boost the economy.

There is really nothing that the Aquino administration can do but ‘fess up. After all, it is already doing its best to stop congressional initiatives to lower both personal and corporate income taxes.

Continued on A11

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

Chairman President & Chief Executive Officer Board Member & Chief Legal Adviser Director of Operations Finance Officer Edgar M. Valmorida Circulation Manager

LATE Saturday night, I received a call from someone asking me to speak at a forum on foreign policy the next Monday.

It was short notice and I almost declined.

However, when told by the caller, Melo Acuña, that I was to be a member of a three-man panel which included former congressman and National Security Adviser Roilo Golez and UP professor Roland Simbulan, I accepted, considering I would be in good company.

Golez, who spent four years at the US naval academy in Annapolis, was the right resource person to speak on the country’s security concerns. He came armed with a video presentation of China’s island- building in the disputed territory. He explained how reclaimed land to build military installations in the South China Sea poses a threat to the region’s peace and stability and destroys the coral reefs under the ocean floor.

As a former ambassador, I was asked by someone in the audience if we actually have a foreign policy. Some 20 years in the foreign service gives one a better look at other countries’ foreign policy —how they deal with international issues and challenges confronting them and how we can adapt some of the things they do right. We have a foreign policy but it is an “in the box” foreign policy —constrained from charting a truly independent foreign policy. So much for thinking out of the box.

There is no such thing as independent foreign policy because interdependence among nations and governments is the essence of diplomatic relations. Professor Simbulan and I were on the same page that the formulation of foreign policy is dictated by domestic policy and national interests. For example, we cannot have a credible, decent foreign policy in dealing with Middle East countries where we send our workers. We are strait-jacketed in our bilateral relations with countries who host our overseas Filipino workers which give our millions of unemployed the jobs our own government cannot provide. Our Civil Aeronautics Board granted Emirates and Etihad airlines additional flights to the Philippines because the UAE employs hundreds of thousands of Filipino workers.

Although protecting our OFWs is one of the pillars in our foreign policy, it is difficult for a Filipina maid who had been abused by her Arab employer to get justice because we are “boxed in” by the imperatives of our domestic priorities. The government itself is one big job recruitment agency placing our people overseas lest the number of unemployed contribute to the build-up of a social Continued on A11 Rolando G. Estabillo Jojo A. Robles Ramonchito L. Tomeldan Chin Wong/Ray S. Eñano Francis Lagniton Joyce Pangco Pañares Adelle Chua Romel J. Mendez Roberto Cabrera

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

Emil P. Jurado Chairman Emeritus, Editiorial Board

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OPINION

lettertotheeditor@thestandard.com.ph

QUESTIONS ABOUT POE AND MIRIAM TO THE POINT EMIL P. JURADO SOME people claim that the disqualification cases in connection with the citizenship and residency status of Mrs. Mary Grace Poe Llamanzares, one pending at the Senate Electoral Tribunal and two others at the Comelec, are part of the smear campaign against the frontrunner in poll surveys.

I don’t think so. Nobody so far has made a direct link between any of the opposing presidential candidates and Rizalino David, who filed Poe’s disqualification as a senator claiming she is not natural-born. Neither has anybody questioned the link of lawyer Estrella Elamparo or former Senator Kit Tatad to any presidential aspirant.

Are they really fit to run for the highest office?

The problem with our kind of politics is that anything thrown against a candidate is deemed politically motivated.

Insofar as Mrs. Llamanzares is concerned, questions about her residency and citizenship as required for a senator, much more a candidate for President are valid.

The law is precise.

If we cannot follow the mandate of the Philippines just because Mrs. Llamanzares got more than 20 million votes when she ran for the Senate in 2013, Santa Banana, we may as well throw the 1987 Constitution into the trash can.

Besides, my gulay, if elected President, Mrs. Llamanzares would swear on the Bible that she is duty-bound to preserve and defend the Constitution.

Wouldn’t it be the height of hypocrisy if she is shown not to believe in the fundamental law of

the land?

That’s why I say that Mrs. Llamanzares is duty-bound to answer the questions about her residency and status before the public. She owes that to the over 20 million who voted for her in 2013, and to millions of others who believe in her. The burden of proof is on her.

This is no longer a case where the people become the ultimate judge. The Constitution is very clear.

As far as I am concerned, Mrs. Llamanzares is not a natural-born citizen, and she does not have the required 10-year residency. *** There is also a suspicion that after the smear campaign against Mrs. Grace Poe Llamanzares and more recently against Davao Mayor Rodrigo Duterte, who apparently has withdrawn from the presidential race because he has throat cancer, Senator Miriam Santiago, another presidential candidate, would be next in line.

Santa Banana, what can be said to smear Miriam?

Yesterday I asked questions about her alleged Stage 4 lung cancer and her chronic fatigue syndrome that prevents her from attending Senate sessions. Recall that after Miriam alleged publicly that she had Stage 4 lung cancer, she rejected her appointment at the UN Criminal Court of Justice.

But I was not smearing her. I was asking a legitimate question.

My gulay, oncologists will tell you that once you are diagnosed with Stage 4 cancer of any kind, that’s already a death sentence.

You may undergo chemotherapy, but that can only prolong life.

Being a Filipino, I would like my President healthy and strong, who can hit the ground running once elected. We cannot afford to have a President with a history of cancer and chronic fatigue syndrome.

I believe Miriam should tell the people once and for all whether she is healthy enough to withstand the rigors of a stressful presidential campaign.

If a miracle had happened that Miriam is now cancer-free and no longer suffering from chronic fatigue syndrome, she must be blessed. I can only wish her the best of luck. *** The Philippines is now suffering from the drug menace. Every day over television, we see authori-

BI-HON, BINGO OR BIGO BIGO is the Pilipino word for frustrated, disappointed, failed. It is usually used in the context of a suitor whose love is unrequited by his love object. He is bigo sa pag-ibig— unsuccessful in love.

My hope is that Vice President Jejomar “Jojo” Binay will not be bigo (unsuccessful) in his quest for the presidency as he seeks the love and support of his people. He offers them Bi-Hon (Binay-Honasan).

Incumbent Senator Gregorio “Gringo” Honasan is Binay’s vice presidential running mate. Hence, the terms Bi-Hon, for Binay and Honasan, or Bingo for Binay and Gringo, or Bigo for Binay and Gringo.

The former army-officer-turnedpolitician can come in handy with the feared massive cheating employing counting machines procured by the Comelec to boost the candidacy of third placer (in surveys) the Liberal Party’s Manuel Araneta “Mar” Roxas II. It is believed Honasan could lead a military offensive against people who commit fraud in May 2016 to thwart the people’s will. In the 1998 presidential elections, Honasan served as consultant to candidate Joseph Estrada on security and antielection fraud.

Barely eight months ago, in the March 1-7, 2015 survey of Pulse Asia, Binay, 70, was still unbeatable, with 29 percent of the vote, if elections were held at that time, more than twice the 14 percent of second place Senator Grace Poe, and far ahead of Rodrigo Duterte’s 12, Miriam Defensor Santiago’s 9 and Roxas’s 4 percent. In March, Binay led in all regions, except Mindanao, by wide margins, and all income classes, also by wide margins. The VP was, therefore, a cinch for the presidency.

Today, Jojo, my good friend and kababayan, is no longer sure to win.

His son, Junjun Binay, has been removed as mayor and not allowed to seek election to any public office, forever, by the Ombudsman, for alleged corruption. With Junjun out of Makati City Hall and the Binays’ bank accounts all frozen, the spigots for endless flow of campaign donations are turned off, perhaps, for good.

In the Sept. 8-14, 2015 Pulse Asia survey, Poe bested Binay in the race for President, 26 percent vs.19 percent, a 7-point advantage equivalent to 3.5 million votes assuming 50 million vote on election day, ties raiding drug dens in Metro Manila and hauling off operators and traffickers to jail. Santa Banana, the police has admitted that drugs have affected 93 percent of Metro Manila’s barangays.

And yet, President Aquino has not lifted a finger to address this menace.

No less than the dreaded Mexican drug cartel—the Sinaloa—is now operating in the Philippines. A West African drug cartel has also made the country a transshipment point of drugs.

President Aquino may now be busy campaigning for his anointed, Liberal Party candidate Mar Roxas, but it’s no reason

in contention for the presidency that was once his to lose.

How does the veep do that? Well, by simply retailing endlessly his manual laborer-to-moneyed man story. He says: “Like most of our countrymen, I was also born to a poor family. When May 9, 2016. my mother died and our house in Binay was even outdistanced, by a Pasay was gutted by fire, I was lucky hairline, by previously perennial cel- to have been adopted by my uncle, lar dweller, former Interior and Local the brother of my father, thus, I had Government Secretary Mar Roxas of to transfer to Makati. the ruling Liberal Party who had 20 “I dreamed and I strived. I am percent. Since the margin of error is well-adept in house chores includ2 percent, a 1 percent edge indicates ing washing the laundry, ironing a tie for second place for both Binay them afterwards, collect food for and Roxas. the pigs from our neighbors and Poe dominated the Sept. 8-14 Pulse feed them (pigs).

Asia survey, leading over Binay in the “Every morning I have to sweep National Capital Region (26 percent the surroundings and bring out vs. 22 percent), Balance of Luzon (31 the fighting cocks of my uncle to percent vs. 21 percent), Visayas (20 their scratching pens before I atpercent vs. 16 percent), Mindanao tend to marketing. Only after then (20 percent vs. 17 percent) and in all could I start studying my lessons for income classes—ABC (22 percent my classes at the University of the vs. 17 percent), D (26 percent vs. 19 Philippines. percent), and E (25 percent vs. 20 “Not are blessed with opportunipercent). The poor—Binay’s once ties like me, and until now, many are solid constituency—have shifted still lurking deep down in the abyss support to Poe. of poverty even as they struggle to Binay has lost a third of his voter keep afloat. And for the longest time, support following 25 hearings in one under the leadership of different adyear by the Senate anti-graft Blue ministrations, one thing remains neRibbon Committee that looked into glected: that is the effort to address alleged corruption by the Binay fam- the concerns of the poor. ily in 29 years of rule in the premier “Progress is useless if it will not business city of Makati. include everyone. This is what the The allegations are disturbing to government should focus on. This the uninitiated—a grossly overpriced is what I’m going to focus on if I beMakati parking building, an over- come President. priced science high school build“With the help of God, the suping, overpriced birthday cakes for port of the people, and the unity of Makati’s senior citizens, a sprawling all, we will begin the journey toward 350-hectare estate (3.5 times the size real change that will uplift the lives of of Makati’s central business district) each and every Filipino.” in Batangas designed ala Versailles On Monday, Oct. 12, Binay was and whose value cannot possibly be accompanied to the Commission explained by Binay’s official earn- on Elections by Honasan. Greg led ings as a lawyer and Makati hizzoner. a number of coup attempts against The veep opted not to belabor an Binay’s boss, the late President explanation and a credible narrative Corazon Aquino. of his wealth. He wants to bring his The diminutive former Makati maycase to the ultimate court—the court or earned the monicker Rambotito of public opinion which decides in for the oversized camouflage combat May 2016. uniform he wore while manning the Filing his Certificate of Candidacy ramparts of Malacañang, the riverfor President on Monday, Oct. 12, side presidential palace, defending 2015, Binay reiterated his desire to President Cory from the mutinous serve the people and address issues soldiers of Honasan. concerning the poor.

Today, Binay’s biggest enemy is “It is a goal which guided me in my Cory’s son, President BS Aquino III. 29 years of public service to address He wants Mar Roxas to win the presithe issues of the poor,” declared the dency to ensure the President doesn’t vice president. send him to jail. Bingo for ingratitude.

Clearly, Binay must recapture the broad support of the masa to remain biznewsasia@gmail.com

for not finding time to address the illegal drugs menace.

In so many instances, when the police and illegal enforcement agencies raid a den, there’s almost always Chinese and West Africans concerned. How were they able to enter the country?

This is something that should be looked into by the justice department. These people make a mockery of our justice system, knowing the drug den operators and illegal drug traffickers have all the cash needed for them to bribe their way out.

Together with the eradication of drug trafficking and drug dens, especially

VIRTUAL REALITY TONY LOPEZ

in Metro Manila, comes the problem of drug rehabilitation, which I consider just as important as addressing the drug menace.

The illegal drug menace in the country is so serious that its tentacles now extend all over the country, especially in urban centers.

Doesn’t President Aquino realize that the drug menace, if not addressed soon enough, can destroy Philippine society? BS Aquino III’s lackadaisical attitude towards the problem reflects on his lack of empathy and leadership towards people he loves to call his “bosses.” *** I am happy that the Subic Bay Freeport has

been recognized as the best in Asia by the publication The Financial Times.

I often spend weekends at the Freeport.

Credit should go to Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority chairman administrator Roberto Garcia for this recognition. The Freeport also received commendations for infrastructure developments and investments.

It also highlights the Subic Freeport’s attractiveness and potential as an investment site.

I have always cited Garcia among the few outstanding appointees of the Aquino administration.

The Financial Times of London proved me right.

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OPINION lettertotheeditor@thestandard.com.ph

STILL… ‘EWAN’

SO I SEE LITO BANAYO MY APOLOGIES for having been “absent” last Monday. I was planning to jot down my Monday article after the Sunday lunch, while my grandchildren were playing in the living room.

I suddenly felt dizzy, and after a quick blood pressure check, my son-in-law brought me to the doctor. Happily, it was nothing serious. It must have been the stress and the stress-eating of the last few days, plus so many less-than-restful nights.

The week that passed was quite eventful in a bizarre way.

But let me just recount the Friday (Oct. 16) experience.

At around 10:30 that Friday morning, I was informed that the private plane that was to bring Mayor Rodrigo Duterte was taking off at the NAIA. No less than the plane’s owner, who himself went on that flight, confirmed this. I figured that if they fly back from Davao by 1:30 or thereabouts, it would be a photo-finish still to beat the 5:00 p.m. Comelec deadline.

But not to worry, I was told. A chopper would be waiting at the hangar to bring the mayor to the helipad at Century Park Hotel in Vito Cruz, which would be at most a fifteen-minute ride to Intramuros.

While having lunch at Bonifacio Global City, my friends and I received an Internet-posted copy of Inday Sara Duterte’s CoC for Mayor of Davao City. In our excitement,

we did not bother to check whether it was duly received by the Davao Comelec office.

We just jumped with joy, and assumed the long wait for the Digong Duterte run was over.

En route to Intramuros at around 2:15 that Friday afternoon, I got a cryptic text message from the plane owner: “Mukhang malabo na. Am still here at Davao airport.”

I called up a lawyer-friend, whose firm, I assumed, would have prepared the documents for filing. No, they did not have a special power-of-attorney to file for the Davao mayor, just in case. By then, we were already straddling Bonifacio Drive beside the Intramuros Golf Course. Oh my God! Getting down past the Comelec and near the BF Condominium after the Ayuntamiento, I immediately called Davao. This was past 2:30, to my recollection. And I could imagine the scene inside the simple home of Mayor Duterte. The “movie in my mind.”

He was still holed up inside his room with a family member.

Not Inday Sara, who had earlier signed her CoC in anticipation, even perhaps—resignation to the inevitability of her father’s presidential run. The mayor still refused to sign the notice of withdrawal of his mayoral CoC filed Thursday before the Davao Comelec by his city administrator and chief-of-staff, with whom I was on the phone that Friday afternoon.

An ‘in-the-box’... From A9 volcano waiting to explode. The daily passport applicants at the DFA’s consular office are those mostly with intention to work abroad. They outnumber 10 to one applicants for tourist visas in the various foreign embassies here.

Our Department of Foreign Affairs and our embassies abroad must be commended when they evacuate our OFWS in strife-torn areas. But then, their being over there in the first place is because they were driven in their desperation to try their luck in Libya, Syria and even in such places in West Africa like Nigeria, Liberia and Guinea where they have to cope with health hazards like ebola and the Middle East respiratory syndrome corona virus or MERS COV for short. This, aside from dodging bullets when caught in the crossfire of a raging civil war.

National security is one of the other pillars in our foreign policy.

Despite the territorial dispute with Beijing in the South China Sea, this President has not convened the National Security Council since he assumed power five and half years ago. Even the administrationconceived Bangsamoro Basic Law is fraught with national security

I will not break confidences about the family drama that was happening in those precious moments leading to the deadline.

The Saturday before (Oct. 10), the mayor repeated to me the problem of his wife Elizabeth, who was suffering from cancer, and refused further treatment in Singapore at a specialty hospital bearing her own name.

She had asked him not to run, and have time for the children instead. (The three children were all grown-up adults, but a suffering woman thinks of all her children as kids nonetheless.)

Later Saturday evening, upon entering the small sing-along bar which was his nocturnal hang-out, and where close friends from all over the country congregated, in what seemed to be a final reunion before the filing, Duterte strode right beside the pianist and belted out a number of songs. No speech, just singing. In retrospect, that scene seemed a foreboding of the gut-wrenching events of Friday the 16th.

It was already 3 p.m. on Friday the 16th. There was no way he could make it to Manila.

There was no special power of attorney for somebody to file in his stead. The only way was for someone to file as a candidate of his party, the PDP-Laban, so there would be a window for the possibility of substitution before the Dec. 10 deadline.

Phone calls were made (not by this writer) to PDP head

implications because the BBL creates a state within a state and the framework agreement was brokered by Malaysia, a country with a conflict of interest in our claim to Sabah. It is doubtful that the next government will focus on foreign policy given that not one of the four candidates for President has spoken out on the subject. Poll surveys give us a glimpse of voter preference for presidential candidates and their popularity but not on how they would like to see them lead the nation. Hopefully, the presidential debates proposed by the Commission on Elections will provide us with the right questions and answers.

How can an archipelago without a credible navy deal with external threat? The rusting and half submerged MV Sierra Madre manned by a handful of Marines serves as an outpost in the West Philippine Sea. It also symbolizes the sorry state of our naval capability. The country is being destabilized internally. It’s alarming when drug busts involving Chinese nationals are reported almost daily in the six o’clock news. There is a saying “we have seen the enemy and it is us.”

Foreigners with intent to engage in criminal activity come in with the connivance of immigration of-

Senator Koko Pimentel. But my friend was told that the good senator wanted clearance from the mayor himself, for good reason.

By 3:30 that afternoon, I left Intramuros for home. We had a “waiting room” in a watering hole near the Luneta but I did not bother to drop by. “Bahala na si Batman,” I thought. “Que sera, sera (What will be, will be).”

Reaching home at a little past four, I switched on the TV, and monitored the scenes at the Comelec. A series of phone calls from the “intervenors” peppered the anticipatory watch of the “countdown” to 5 p.m. Finally, at 4:40 p.m., I was told that Martin Dino, PDPLaban stalwart in Manila, had entered the Legal Department office and would file his Certificate of Candidacy for President.

Later that evening, while preparing dinner, my daughter sobbingly uttered: “Bakit ganoon?

Para namang pinaglaruan niya ang aming mga sentiments.” In my mind I could imagine that so many other young netizens must have felt abandoned.

I could not respond. I could not tell her about the drama inside the Duterte household that must have been quite painful to the mayor, but which in his characteristically tough-talking stance, he hid from the public while he was being interviewed by Anthony Taberna and Gerry Baja over their Dos por Dos teleradyo show that Friday evening.

ficials.When arrested for drug trafficking, these criminals who erode the moral fiber of our people, are merely deported for a fee. Filipinos also serve as distributors of shabu which is now manufactured locally. The Philippines is no longer a transshipment point of drugs but the source itself.

With the external threat posed by an aggressive China, the Philippines acquired two refurbished frigates and nine helicopters from the United States. Earlier, 10 choppers were also purchased from Poland.

Primarily to be used for counter insurgency operations, the Polish manufacturer Swidnik equipped the helicopter gun ships with rocket launchers and night vision capability.The choppers were in Zamboanga after ferrying President Aquino, his security men, Department of National Defense and Department of the Interior and Local Government officials.Why they were not sent in during the Mamasapano encounter to assist the embattled PNP-SAF commandos has to be asked. Was Aquino waiting for the commandos to deliver the head (just a figure of speech) of international terrorist Marwan? All Aquino got was Marwan’s index finger cut off for DNA testing. A middle finger might have been more fitting.

Duterte cried when he saw the dead bodies sprawled in Tacloban the second day after Yolanda left. He weeps unabashedly when he sees a young cancer patient in a care center he built for them in his city. But before the public, in a public interview, he had to hide the feelings welling up in his heart because it was a choice between the desire to answer the public clamor, and the private entreaties of family, especially that of a woman whose life was being eaten up by cancer.

Which probably explains why he bitterly denounced in that interview an attempt by a blogger a month or so ago, to falsely “expose” that the mayor himself was suffering from a cancer of the throat.

Epilogue: Saturday night, the mayor was in Manila to attend a birthday of a friend. The following night, he attended another social event, much smaller and more intimate, with close friends. Going up to the venue at Greenbelt 5, he was mobbed by the public, some pleading with him to run, even if the deadline had passed.

A Rappler journalist happened to be on the scene, and using her cellphone to record an impromptu interview, he uttered, “may December pa naman,” after repeated “kakulitan” about whether there was still a chance that he would change his mind.

And to the readers of The Standard, if I were to be asked, my answer is “still… ewan.”

Tax... From A9 And if the PwC study proves anything, it’s that the government not only demands that you pay more and then makes it very hard for you to pay. Once it gets its hands on your tax money, it can’t even spend it on needful projects like infrastructure, preferring instead to amass stockpiles of savings.

And the Filipino taxpayer, individual or corporate, won’t even utter a peep about the oppressive tax regime imposed by this money-hungry but incompetently stingy administration. That’s the strangest thing of all.

The tax-burdened working class, in particular, seems perfectly all right with giving back nearly 50 percent of their pay in income taxes and contributions on a monthly basis for questionable services. (The math is really simple: a middle-income wage earner already pays 32 percent in income tax, 12 percent in VAT and mandatory pension, housing and PhilHealth contributions that take such a huge bite from his or her monthly paycheck.)

And what does the corporate and individual taxpayer get in return for all of these taxes, which the government makes it so hard to pay? Underspent budget items impounded as savings and no infrastructure to speak of, that’s what.

So the next time you hear about the huge amounts spent for suspicious dole outs, calamity aid and even television ads for administration candidates, maybe you should repeat what those “epal” politicians say: This is where your taxes go.

But maybe you’re one of those who don’t really care about where your taxes are spent. In that case, you deserve all the non-services you’ve been getting—and all the hardship and grief that paying taxes causes you.

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SPORTS sports@thestandard.com.ph

Nietes defends title in Bacolod

By Ronnie Nathanielsz WORLD Boxing Organization light flyweight champion Donnie “Ahas” Nietes, who put on a clinical display of boxing to score a near shut-out victory against Mexican champion Juan “Pinky” Alejo at the StubHub Center in Carson City, California last Sunday, will return to the ring in Bacolod in March.

Nietes, the longest-reigning Filipino world champion will make the ninth defense of his title, which he won on Oct. 8, 2011, at the University of St. La Salle Coliseum in Bacolod City, which is near his hometown of Murcia.

ALA Promotions president Michael Aldeguer told The Standard/boxingmirror.com that they had acceded to a fervent request from the fans of Nietes in his hometown to have his next title defense. He won the title from Ramon Garcia Hirales four years ago.

Nietes will be the special guest at the 28th WBO Convention in Orlando, Florida, which opens with a golf tournament on Oct. 25.

Nietes, who reiterated his desire to fight undefeated, pound-for-pound No.1 Roman “Chocolatito” Gonzalez of Nicaragua, who scored a dominating ninth-round TKO over a gallant former two-division champion Brian Viloria, said he would have a couple of tune-up fights at flyweight, which is four pounds heavier than the light flyweight limit, before he plunges into action against Gonzalez sometime in late 2016 or early 2017.

Aldeguer also said that the Pagara brothers, undefeated International Boxing Federation Intercontinental super bantamweight champion Prince Albert Pagara, who scored an impressive and measured sixth-round knockout over hard-hitting, aggressive Nicaraguan southpaw William “Chiro” Gonzalez to add the WBO Youth Intercontinental title to his trophy room, will headline a card in Manila in February.

WBO light flyweight champion Donnie “Ahas” Nietes (right), who beat Mexican champion Juan “Pinky” Alejo at the StubHub Center in Carson City, California last Sunday, is congratulated by Peter Musngi, ABS-CBN’s consultant for sports.

Torre defends title in National Open

By Arman Armero GRANDMASTER Eugene Torre, Asia’s first grandmaster and the country’s most senior chess grandmaster, will be back to defend his title when the Battle of Grandmasters, also known as the National Open Chess Championship, gets going on Friday, at the Dining Hall of the Philippine Sports Commission Bldg. at the Rizal Memorial Sports Complex.

Aside from Torre, who

will turn 63 years old in

Nov. 4, also joining the tournament organized by the National Chess Federation of the Philippines and supported by the PSC, are last year’s runner-up GM John Paul Gomez and fellow Grandmasters Joey Antonio and Richard Bitoon, IM Paolo Bersamina, and this year’s qualifiers and IMs Mari Joseph Turqueza, Roel Abelgas and Haridas Pascua.

Women’s IM Janelle Mae Frayna, who finished fourth

in the men’s side of the tournament last year, will again join his male counterparts in the event, which will play its first round on Saturday, Oct. 24.

Also expected to defend her national women’s title is WIM Catherine Perena against 11 other bidders.

Before the opening ceremony, there will be a drawing of lots for the participating players, who will play using the roundrobin format.

NCFP Executive Director and GM Jayson Gonzales said all participating players will be billeted in a hotel near the venue.

“This is a special tournament for our top players so they deserve nothing but the best,” said Gonzales.

Gonzales added that the qualifying tournament for next year’s Chess Olympiad in Baku, Azerbaijan, will be held sometime in April, 2016.

Sevilla, 3 others rip rivals

Mariya Sevilla hits a forehand shot against Klowie Garcia during their Open women’s singles match in the Bingo Bonanza National Open at the Rizal Memorial Badminton Hall.

PBA-Smash Pilipinas’ Mariya Sevilla overpowered Klowie Garcia and fashioned out a 21-11, 21-11 rout while Jessica Muljati, Aldreen Mae Concepcion and Charmaine Salvador pulled off similar straight-set wins in the Open women’s singles of the P1.5 million Bingo Bonanza National Open Badminton Tournament at the Rizal Memorial Badminton Hall yesterday.

Sevilla flashed top form to dominate her rival from the FEU/Equiparco-BBC team but the national pool mainstay will have her hands full when she goes for a quarterfinal berth against top seed Pauline Tan of Maynilad in today’s (Wednesday) resumption of the top-ranking tournament sponsored by the country’s premier gaming and amusement center.

Muljatic, of Shamrock, blasted Irish Molina, 21-6, 21-3, Concepcion, of Allied-NVBA, trounced Joy Tubongbanua of Lyceum in just 13 minutes, 21-6, 21-8, while Salvador,

also of PBA-Smash, ripped Mae Pomar, 21-7, 21-14, to move to the Last 16 phase of the event sanctioned by the Philippine Badminton Association headed by Vice President Jejomar Binay and sec-gen Rep. Albee Benitez.

Tan and the other seeded bets, including No. 2 Sarah Joy Barredo and defending champion third ranked Gelita Castilo, drew opening day byes and will also see action in the second day of action in the week-long event backed by Gatorade, Glorietta, Smash Pilipinas and the Philippine Olympic Committee and organized by EventKing Corp.

Timothy Alvar kicked off hostilities with a 21-7, 21-16 romp over Arsen Alvarez to arrange a second round clash with Lyceum’s Adrian Ramos, while Christian Sison scored a walkover win over Renz Lumaday to advance against La Salle’s Joaquin Pangilinan in the full-packed Open men’s singles draw.

Spieth headlines Singapore Open golf SI NGA POR E —Jord a n Spieth, the 2015 USPGA Tour player of the year, will headline the Singapore Open in January when it returns after a three-year absence, organisers said Tuesday.

The 22-year-old world number two, who counts the Masters and US Open among five wins during a breakout 2015, said he was “really looking forward” to playing at the tournament.

“I’m very fortunate to play golf around the world and can’t wait to visit Singapore for the first time,” Spieth, a member of the US team who won the Presidents Cup in South Korea earlier this month, said in a statement.

Under a three-year deal with Japan’s Sumitomo Mitsui Banking Corporation, the SMBC Singapore Open will offer a minimum prize fund of $1 million and will be held at Sentosa Golf Club from January 28-31.

Formerly one of Asia’s richest with a $6 million purse when last held in November 2012, the tournament was cancelled in 2013 after British bank Barclays chose not to renew its sponsorship.

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SPORTS sports@thestandard.com.ph

Blu Jays’ big bats wake up vs Royals TORONTO—Toronto’s big bats woke up Monday as the Blue Jays belted three home runs in an 11-8 victory over Kansas City to claw back a game in their Major League Baseball playoff series.

Troy Tulowitzki, Josh Donaldson and Ryan Goins homered for Toronto, who led the major leagues with 232 home runs in the regular season but didn’t hit a homer in dropping the first two games of the best-of-seven American League Championship Series in Kansas City.

With the win they trimmed the deficit to 2-1 and will try to pull level when they host game four on Tuesday.

The winner of the series will face the National League champion, either the Chicago Cubs or New York Mets, in the World Series starting on October 27.

“We desperately needed that break-out,” Blue Jays manager John Gibbons said. “You look at how the game finished up, those runs really came in handy. It wasn’t an easy game, even though we had a big lead.”

Shortstop Tulowitzki keyed Toronto’s six-run third inning with a three-run homer off Royals starting pitcher Johnny Cueto, who didn’t retire a batter in the inning.

Tulowitzki’s blast to centerfield was followed by a run-scoring double by Kevin Pillar off Cueto, who departed having given up eight runs on six hits in two-plus innings.

He was replaced by Kris Medlen, who surrendered a two-run homer to Donaldson as Toronto emerged from the third with a 9-2 lead.

“It was only a matter of time before we broke out, and guys broke out in a big way today,” said Toronto starting pitcher Marcus Stroman, who allowed four runs, 11 hits and one walk in 6 1/3 innings and picked up the win.

The Royals scored twice in the fifth to trim the lead to 9-4 before Goins homered with two outs in the bottom of the fifth to give Toronto a 10-4 lead. AFP

Kevin Pillar (right) of the Toronto Blue Jays scores a run in the second inning against the Kansas City Royals during game three of the American League Championship Series at Rogers Centre in Toronto, Canada. AFP

Dalupan’s ‘The Maestro’ launched

By Lito Cinco LEGENDARY basketball coach Virgilio “Baby” Dalupan celebrated his 92nd birthday last Monday night and it was a basketball starstudded affair that coincided with the formal launching and publication of his book “The Maestro.”

The well-attended launch was held at the Mariano Singson Hall in Ateneo in Katipunan.

The book will take the readers through the decades in Philippine basketball history that saw Dalupan emerge as the country’s winningest coach with different amateur and professional teams.

He won 16 titles with the Crispa Redmanizers’ amateur team, 4 MICAA crowns and three National Seniors’ championship, among others.

Dalupan also steered the Uni-

Azkals... From A14 According to Araneta, the Azkals are focusing on their coming FIFA World Cup Qualification match with Yemen on Nov. 12, and their preparation for the Asian Cup. “We are certain of this. No Filipino player is involved. Dapat lang na parusahan sila (Nepal players),” said PFF General Secretary Ed Gastanes.

Nepal team captain Sagar Thapa and four others were arrested last Wednesday after they were accused of taking money from bookmakers in Malaysia and Singapore to lose matches.

According to the Himalayan Times, a police official said the alleged match-fixing dated from 2009 and also included matches against Afghanistan, Bangladesh and Malaysia.

The AFC, in a statement Monday, said a year-long investigation in conjunction with Sportradar and Nepali police resulted in the provisional suspension.

It also asked the sport’s international governing body, FIFA to have them

versity of the East Red Warriors to 12 UAAP and six National Invitational titles from 1956 to 1971, and won back-to-back crowns for the Ateneo Blue Eagles in 1975 and 1976, aside from stints with the national teams in the Asian Games, Pesta Sukan, Universiade, and the World basketball Championship.

In the PBA, Dalupan’s Crispa team won a total of nine crowns, plus five with the Great taste team. His last and 15th title, he won for Purefoods in 1991.

A total of nine players, who played under Dalupan, emerged PBA Most Valuable Players--Atoy Co, Bogs, Adornado, Philip Cesar, Freddie Hubalde, and Abet Guidaben, all with Crispa, Ricky Brown and Allan Caidic , Robert Jaworski, and Alvin Patrimonio. Only Guidaben, Brown, and

banned worldwide.

Aside from Thapa, the other players identified to be also involved in gamefixing were Bikash Singh Chhetri, Sandip Rai and Ritesh Thapa, and the official is listed as Anjan K.C. Goalkeeper Ritesh Thapa told police investigators in Nepal of his involvements following his arrest last week, admitting he received money for doing so.

He added that it was teammate KC Anjan, who made arrangements when he went to Manila and Kuala Lumpur before their games with the Philippine Azkals and the Malaysian national men’s football team.

“Anjan visited Manila and Kuala Lumpur. We decided to fix matches as we concluded that they were just friendly matches,” said Thapa in his confession which was published by goalnepal.com.

Thapa said he was told that they will get good money for doing so.

“We are to lose the matches against the Philippines and Malaysia. Anjar said we will get good money, and we did the same,” Thapa told probers.

Caidic missed the book-launching event.

Also joining those, who paid tribute to Dalupan were PBA Commissioner Chito Narvasa, his brother Ogie, Joy Carpio, Steve Watson, Louie Rabat, Maling Estrella, Ricky Palou, Joey Pengson, Pons Valdez, all from Ateneo, and from UE came Jimmy Mariano, Rey Franco, and Pilo Pumaren.

Even the Floro family that owned the Crispa franchise was in full attendance, while Purefoods was represented by Patrimonio, Monchito Mossessgeld and Butch Alejo.

Great Taste had a daughter of team manager Ignacio Gotao gracing the occasion. Tim Cone, who wrote the foreword of the book and ironically, was the one who broke the record of Dalupan in the PBA, also came.

The Philadelphia Eagles cheerleaders perform during their team’s game against the New York Giants at Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The Eagles defeated the Giants, 27-7. AFP

Coach K planning Rio swansong LOS ANGELES—United States basketball coach Mike Krzyzewski said Monday he plans to step down after next year’s Rio Olympics.

Krzyzewski, currently the head coach at Duke University, coached the US to back-to-back gold medals at the 2008 and 2012 Olympics but told ESPN he wanted to quit after Rio. “It is. It definitely is,” Krzyzewski said when asked if this would be his final spell with USA Basketball.

“I think it’s time to move ahead. During the next season there will be a number of decisions made about the future of USA Basketball with Rio (the roster) and coaching.”

Krzyzewski said he anticipated his successor would be decided before next year’s Olympics.

“There has to be a succession... a planned succession with really good people so we can keep the continuity of the program going,” he said.

Krzyzewski, who has a 75-1 record since he was hired by USA Basketball’s Jerry Colangelo in 2005, said he hoped to bow out with another gold.

“Hopefully we can finish things up well with Rio and I would move onto something else with USA Basketball,” Krzyzewski said. AFP

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

A14

SPORTS sports@thestandard.com.ph

‘Azkals not involved in fixing of matches’

By Peter Atencio

NO member of the Philippine Azkals national football team has been involved in game-fixing.

Rockets win. James Harden of the Houston Rockets shoots the ball against

the New Orleans Pelicans during a preseason game at the Toyota Center in Houston, Texas. The Rockets won, 120-100. AFP

REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES AUTONOMOUS REGION IN MUSLIM MINDANAO PROVINCIAL GOVERNMENT OF BASILAN BIDS AND AWARD COMMITTEE

Provincial Capitol Bldg., Isabela City, Basilan Province, 7300

Invitation to Bid FOR supply and delivery of construction materials

Under BAC Publication No. 003-2015 1.

2.

The Provincial Government of Basilan intends to apply part (Construction materials cost only ) of the sum of THIRTY EIGHT MILLION AND EIGHT HUNDRED THOUSAND PESOS (P38,800.000.00), being the approved Budget for the Contract for the CONCRETING OF 2KMS ROAD FROM BARANGAY LOWER MAHAYHAY-UPPER MAHAYAHAY-PUNO MAHAJE, MALUSO, BASILAN. Bids received in excess of the ABC shall be automatically rejected at bid opening.

The Provincial Government of Basilan now invites bids for supply and delivery of the needed construction materials for the above project. Completion of the Works is Within 148 calendar days for the CONCRETING OF 2KM ROAD FROM BARANGAY LOWER MAHAYAHAY –UPPER MAHAYAHAY - PUNO MAHAJE , MALUSO ,BASILAN .Bidders should have completed within ten (10) years from the date of submission and receipt of bids, a contract similar to the project. The description of the eligible bidder is contained in the Bidding Document, particularly, in Section II, Instruction to Bidders.

3.

Bidding will be conducted through open competitive bidding procedures using non-discretionary pass/fail criterion as specified in the Implementing Rules and Regulations (IRR) of Republic Act 9184 (RA 9184), otherwise known as the “Government Procurement Reform Act”.

4.

Bidding is restricted to Filipino citizens/sole proprietorships, partnerships, or organizations with at least seventy five percent (75%) interest or outstanding capital stock belonging to citizens of the Philippines.

5.

Interested bidders may obtain further information from The Provincial Government of Basilan and inspect the Bidding Documents at the address given below from 8:00am to 5pm.

6.

A complete set of Bidding Documents may be purchased by interested Bidders from the address below and upon payment of a nonrefundable fees for the Bidding Documents in the amount of TWENTY FIVE THOUSAND PESOS (P25,000.00) and ONE THOUSAND PESOS (P1,000.00) for the letter of intent.

It may also be downloaded free of charge from the website of the Philippine Government Electronic Procurement System (PhilGEPS) and the website of the Procuring Entity, provided that bidders shall pay the fee for the Bidding Documents not later that the submission of their bids.

7.

The Provincial Government of Basilan will hold a Pre-Bid Conference on 10:00 am, October 26, 2015 at BAC Office, Provincial Capitol, Isabela City, Basilan Province, which shall be open to all interested parties.

8.

Bids must be delivered on Bid Opening to the address below on or before 10:00 am, November 8, 2015 , at BAC Office, Provincial Capitol, Isabela City, Basilan Province. All bids must be accompanied by a bid security in any of the acceptable forms and in the amount stated in ITB Clause 18.

Bids will be opened in the presence of the bidders’ representatives who choose to attend at the address below. Late bids shall not be accepted.

9.

10.

The Provincial Government of Basilan reserves the right to accept or reject any bid, to annul the bidding process, and to reject all bids at any time prior to contract award, without thereby incurring any liability to the affected bidder or bidders.

For further information, please refer to: The BAC CHAIRPERSON LGU- BASILAN Bids and Award Committee C/O BAC Secretariat Ground Floor, Provincial Capitol Building, Isabela City, Basilan Province, 7300 Fax No.: 062 200 3416 & 062 200 3417

This was the declaration made by Philippine Football Federation president Mariano “Nonong” Araneta in response to the news item reporting that members of the Nepal national football team had admitted that they played the Azkals in a “fixed” game in 2011.

“Ang importante, hindi involved ang mga players natin di-

ERRORS & OMISSIONS

In Classified Ads section must be brought to our attention the very day the advertisement is published. We will not be responsible for any incorrect ads not reported to us immediately.

ELECTION OF NEW BOARD OF DIRECTOR PRIME MARINE SERVICES, INC. ATTY. AUGUSTO Y. ARREZA, JR. ATTY. EDUARDO J. MARIÑO, JR. 1377 A. MABINI STREET, ERMITA 1000 (TS-OCT. 21, 2015)

NOTICE OF DISSOLUTION The public is hereby notified that the Philippine Representative Office of GET INTERNATIONAL PTE. LTD., with registered address at Unit 607 Page 1 Bldg., Acacia Ave., Madrigal Business Park, Ayala Alabang, Muntinlupa City, will be CLOSED. The closure of the Philippine representative office will take effect upon approval by the Securities and Exchange Commission.

(TS-OCT. 21,28 & NOV. 4, 2015

ORIENTAL MINDORO ELECTRIC COOPERATION, INC. (ORMECO) Simaron, Calapan City

INVITATION All interested parties are invited to participate in the actual bidding for this one (1) LOT listed below: LOT – I Supply of Reconditioned Distribution Transformer (10 KVA, 15 KVA, 25 KVA, 37.5 KVA & 50 KVA) Approved Budget Cost: Php7,400,000.00 Source of Funding: 5% Reinvestment Fund

Delivery Schedule: To be announced during the pre-qualification proper.

GENERAL GUIDELINES 1.

Interested parties may secure BID DOCUMENTS / INFORMATIONS from the Procurement Section, ORMECO, Inc., Simaron, Calapan City, Oriental Mindoro.

A non-refundable fee of Php 15,000.00 and shall be collected as payment for BID DOCUMENTS.

2.

Interested Bidder must be accredited as supplier/contractor before joining the bidding proper and must notify us the confirmation of interest not later than October 26, 2015 of 5:00 p.m..You can call at telephone number 043-2882349 or email at ormeco_coop@yahoo.com.

3.

PRE-BID CONFERRENCE will be held at ORMECO, Inc. compound at 2:00 p.m. of October 27, 2015.

4.

SEALED PROPOSALS will be received at 2:00 p.m. of November 10, 2015, immediately after which, the said proposals will be opened during the actual bidding in the presence of the attending bidders.

5.

ALL BIDS must be accompanied by a BID BOND payable to ORMECO in the form of CASH, CASHIER’S CHECK, MANAGER’S CHECK or BANK DRAFT issued by a reputable bank equivalent to TWO PERCENT (2%) of the ABC. No Bid Bond in the form of Surety Bond shall be accepted.

6.

The winning bidder shall issue FIVE PERCENT (5%) in the form of CASH, CASHIER’S CHECK, MANAGER’S CHECK or BANK DRAFT from a reputable bank, representing the PERFORMANCE BOND.

7.

If the bidder who submitted the best offer refuses to push through with his / her proposed BID during and after the bidding, his / her Bid Bond shall be forfeited, and failure of bidding shall be declared.

8.

ORMECO reserves the right to reject all Bids, declare failure of bidding and not to award the contract without incurring any liability to the affected bidder or bidders.

ORMECO also has no responsibility whatsoever to compensate or indemnity bidders for any expenses incurred in the preparation of their bids.

(SGD) INTAN GORDANA A. ABUBAKAR Vice Chairperson, Bids and Award Committee (TS-OCT. 21, 2015)

yan. Malinis ang ang ating mga participation,” said Araneta.

The Nepalese players, according to probers, have been involved in gamefixing incidents since 2008, including in friendly games with the Philippine Azkals and Malaysian team in 2011. The Azkals beat Nepal, 4-0, at the Rizal Football Stadium in Manila on that year.

Araneta said he had

already received communications from the Asian Football Confederation, which has already banned the four Nepalese players and an official.

Because of the incident, Araneta said the Azkals won’t be having any friendlies with Nepal’s national team for the meantime.

“Friendlies? I don’t think so with Nepal,” said Araneta, who added that the Azkals have no schedule with other countries for the moment as well.

According to Araneta, the Azkals are

ORMECO, INC.

(TS-OCT. 21, 2015)

(SGD) ENGR. PATROCINIO M. PANAGSAGAN, JR. General Manager

focusing on their coming FIFA World Cup Qualification match with Yemen on Nov. 12, and their preparation for the Asian Cup. “We are certain of this.

No Filipino player is involved. Dapat lang na parusahan sila (Nepal players),” said PFF General Secretary Ed Gastanes.

Nepal team captain Sagar Thapa and four others were arrested last Wednesday after they were accused of taking money from bookmakers in Malaysia and Singapore to lose matches.

Continued to A13

Tigers...

From A16

But the Blue Eagles, who are coming off an 87-72 win behind Kiefer Ravena’s near triple-double over the Adamson Falcons to improve to 5-4, will be standing on the way of the Tigers.

With Ravena regaining his shooting touch, the Eagles will be tough to beat.

Meanwhile, the Ateneo management suspended reserve player John Apacible for the remainder of the season after he was identified as the drunk man seen recently in a video that went viral.

Ateneo team manager Epok Quimpo said Apacible will be barred from attending the games and practices of the Blue Eagles because of the incident.

“Yes, (Apacible is suspended) for the rest for the regular season,” said Quimpo in a message to The Standard.

Quimpo said, however, that is up to coach Bo Perasol if he will field Apacible if they make it to the Final Four, and if Apacible is ready.

Quimpo said Apacible’s action “will not be tolerated.”

In the video, a drunk Apacible was caught having an altercation with a fellow driver, while bragging of his ‘Councilor’ special plate.

The incident led to a commotion on Timog Avenue in Quezon City.

Apacible later apologized to the whole team following the incident, according to Ateneo board representative Em Fernandez.

“John deeply regrets his behavior and sincerely apologizes to all parties concerned,” Fernandez said.

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

SPORTS sports@thestandard.com.ph

A15 LOTTO RESULTS

6/49 00-00-00-00-00-00 6/42 00-00-00-00-00-00 6 DIGITS 0-0-0-0-0-0 3 DIGITS 0-0-0 2 EZ2 0-0

P0.0 M+ P0.0 M+

Miss Brulay wins KDJM Derby

PATAFA President Philip Ella Juico (center) is shown with FilSports Basketball Association CEO LJ Serrano (left) and FBA Commissioner Vince Hizon during their appearance Tuesday at the PSA Forum. EY ACASIO

PH hogs spotlight as host of Asian Council Meeting NO less than the head of the athletics’ association in the region leads more than 30 officials from 20 countries coming over for the country’s hosting of the 83rd Asian Athletics Association Council Meeting set Oct. 25 to 27 at Solaire Resort and Casino.

AAA president Dahlan AlHamad of Qatar will be attending the three-day meet that focuses on advancing athletics in the region.

“This is a huge honor for the country because once again the Philippines is being given the distinction as a prime mover in athletics in Asia,” announced Philippine Athletics Track and Field Association president Philip Ella Juico in Tuesday’s Philippine Sportswriters Association Forum at Shakey’s Malate.

The hosting highlights the reascendance of the Philippines in

the Asian athletics stage since the late Governor and Patafa president Jose Sering blazed the trail by spearheading the formation of the 4As (forerunner of the AAA) in 1973 and staged the first Asian Athletics Championships at the Rodriguez Sports Center in Marikina.

The country again staged the 4As in 1993 under then athletics’ chief Go Teng Kok. But the hosting of the bi-annual council meeting marks the fourth time the Philippines will be host after 1973, 1993, and 2003.

“Aside from Japan, no other

country has hosted the council meeting more than three times,” said Juico, who was with Patafa secretary-general Renato Unso in the public sports program presented by San Miguel Corp., Accel, Shakey’s, and the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corp. “And we’re the only Asean (Association of Southeast Asian Nations) country doing this.”

Included in the meeting’s agenda is the approval of the formation of AAA Commissions, submission of the final report of the 21st Asian Athletics Championships held in Wuhan, China last June, review of the progress reports on the recent Asian competitions, and the council decision on hosts of upcoming AAA Championships.

Juico, who is also AAA vice president, also expressed hopes to use the hosting in advancing

the proposal for the establishment of regional centers of excellence in athletics within the continent and give significance to the intensive effort of the country in popularizing and developing athletics in the country.

“With this hosting, hopefully highlight could be given to the Philippines’ proactive role in the development of Asian athletics especially among the youth as its strengthens its Street Athletics and Kids Athletics programs, and its weekly relays which has definitely helped raised the standards of Philippines athletics,” said the Patafa head.

The 83rd AAA council meeting also marks the integral cooperation of the Patafa and the private sector, with the PCSO, Toyota, Asia Brewery, RC Cola, PNB, Foton Motors, and Asia Carmakers Corporation as event partners.

Take 2: Painters fight Hotshots as pro league opens

By Jeric Lopez AFTER being derailed by Typhoon Lando, the Philippine Basketball Association-Philippine Cup finally unfolds today.

The league’s 41st season officially opens with no less than two perennial contenders going at each other’s throat to open hostilities at the Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay City.

Former champions Star and Rain or Shine battle at 7 p.m. today, right after a two-hour opening ceremony slated at 5 p.m. aimed at bringing back the fans who are expected to come in droves after a three-day postponement because of inclement weather brought about by Typhoon Lando. As in past openings, the ceremony will feature the traditional parade of teams

with their respective muses The Star Hotshots will start this season’s campaign minus head coach Tim Cone, and will have former assistant Jason Webb taking on the top coaching job.

The rookie coach, however, said his team’s hunger is one of its biggest assets heading into the season as they try to reclaim lost glory.

“If we have a positive thing going for us, it is that these players are hungry. We’re one full season away from that Grand Slam in 2014, so expect our players to be championship hungry coming in,’’ said Webb.

Also gone from the Star’s line-up is versatile forward Joe Devance, who joined Cone at Ginebra San Miguel, but the Hotshots retained most of the core players, who had won titles

Game today (Mall of Asia Arena, Pasay City) 5 p.m. - Opening Ceremony 7 p.m. - Star vs. Rain or Shine

for the team in James Yap, Marc Pingris, Peter June Simon, Mark Barroca, Alex Mallari, Justin Melton and Rafi Reavis and the returning Ian Sangalang.

The Hotshots are also expected to get key contributions from rookie big man Norbert Torres and capable forwards Jake and Ronald Pascual.

While Star underwent some drastic changes, Rain or Shine did minor tinekring in an attempt to contend better and enhance its chances of finally bagging that elusive second championship.

The Elasto Painters will once again rely on longtime weapons

Paul Lee, Jeff Chan, Gabe Norwood, Jireh Ibanes, Beau Belga, JR Quinahan, and Chris Tiu, alongside rising big man Raymund Almazan, Jericho Cruz and Jeric Teng.

They will be joined by new acquisition Jewel Ponferrada, who will add more ceiling to the team, No. 3 overall pick Maverick Ahanmisi and his fellow first-rounder newbie Josan Nimes, who will join the team once his stint with Mapua ends in the ongoing NCAA tournament.

Meanwhile, the PBA vowed to donate all the proceeds from this opening playdate to the victims of typhoon Lando.

“We in the PBA feel for our countrymen who have been affected by the storm,’’ said PBA chairman Robert Non in a statement.

THE longshot winner of the 3rd leg of the Philippine Racing Commission Triple Crown series held last July cemented her status as the filly of the season by claiming top honors in this year’s Don Juan de Manila Derby.

The 2,000-meter race held Oct. 4 at Metroturf Racecourse saw the Cat Brulay x Near Miss filly guided by Kelvin Abobo beat to the finish eventual second placer Court of Honor, likewise a talented filly who scored an upset victory in the 2nd leg of this year’s Triple Crown.

The race, sponsored by KDJM and Metroturf, was allotted P1.5 million in total prize money for first to fifth. The P900,000 top prize went to Miss Brulay’s owner Running Rich Racing. The rest of the placers were, in order: Dikoridik Koridak, Breaking Bad, and Princess Ella.

In the other KDJM major races, Underwood won the Juvenile Colts and Port Angeles the Juvenile Fillies, both 1,400-meter races backed by Philracom; the 1,800-meter Golden Girls race sponsored by the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office was won by Silver Sword.

Congratulations to KDJM President Jun Almeda and the group’s officers and members on staging yet another successful racing event! *** The Oct. 18 races at Santa Ana Park were cancelled due to the jockeys refusing to ride in the face of strong winds whipped up by Typhoon Lando (Koppu). The PCSO Racing Committee will announce soon whether or not the PCSO Anniversary Race, which had been scheduled for that day, will be reset. *** The declared entries in the Oct. 31 PCSO Maiden race at San Lazaro Leisure Park are lawyer Narciso Morales’s filly Guantanamera, to be guided by jockey Kelvin Abobo; Albert Dichaves’s filly Mahayana Budur with Jesse B. Guce; Joseph Dyhengco’s filly Yes Kitty with Patricio Dilema; Nathaniel Velasco’s filly Ellie’s Charm with Val Dilema; Felizardo Sevilla Jr.’s colt Purging Line with Mark Alvarez; Cool Summer Farm’s filly Striking Colors with Jordan Cordova; Stony Road Horse Farm’s colt Mt. Rainier with John Alvin Guce; and Mayor Sandy Javier’s filly Yong Yong with Jonathan Hernandez.

This being a a set-weight handicap race, fillies will carry 52 kgs. and colts 54 kgs. *** Philracom will be launching the Philippine Horseracing Hall of Fame in December to recognize and honor those who have made significant achievements in the sport.

The program also seeks to enhance the image of racing and generate national interest in a sport that has existed in an organized form in the country since 1867.

Nominations may be made by anyone from the public, including industry members, the media, and racing fans, for deliberation by the nominating committee.

There are three categories in the Hall of Fame: thoroughbred horses, jockeys and trainers, and associates.

The Associates category includes horseowners, breeders, industry members, and also members of the media “who have told the story of horseracing in the print or visual media over a significant period of time.” *** Facebook: Gogirl Racing, Twitter: @ gogirlracing, Instagram: @jensdecember, Blog: http://jennyo.net

A16

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

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

Letran guard Rey Nambatac (no. 16) gets tagged by Mapua center Allwell Oraeme (no. 10) as he goes for as another Mapua player looks on in the NCAA Final Four action at the Mall of Asia Arena yesterday. BROSI GONZALES

San Beda, Letran down foes, clash for NCAA title

By Peter Atencio

SAN Beda College swamped Jose Rizal University, 78-68, even as Letran nipped Mapua, 91-90, in their Final Four matches before a huge crowd yesterday at the Mall of Asia Arena to arrange a finals reunion for the 91st National Collegiate Athletic Association men’s basketball tournament.

The Red Lions and the Knights last met in the finals in 2013, and the Intramuros dribblers will finally have a chance to get back at San Beda, which won their fourth title in a row at their expense.

The Red Lions are now in their 10th finals appearance and are looking to clinch an unprecedented sixth straight NCAA men’s senior crown to match the Red Cubs’ record.

Nietes to defend title in Bacolod TURN TO A12

The Red Lions and the Knights play Game 1 of their best-of-three series at 4 p.m. at the MOA Arena on Friday.

In fashioning out the win, the Red Lions drew big baskets from second-stringers Donald Tankoua, Roldan Sara, Ranbill Tongco and Javee Mocon, who took over the veterans in scoring entering the fourth.

Tankoua completed a three- bounds, and Marco Balagtas and point play barely three minutes Tey Teodoro did their share but into the fourth period to break their efforts fell short against San the game’s last deadlock. Seconds Beda’s scoring juggernaut. later, Sara had his own Sara finished with 11 Games Friday three-point play to give (Game points along with Baser 1, MOA Arena) San Beda a six-point 2 p.m. • San Beda vs Amer, while AC SoberaArellano (jrs) cushion, 62-56. no and Tankoua had 10 4 p.m. • San Beda vs Tongco and Mocon then apiece.

Letran (srs) joined the scoring fray as The Letran Knights, the Red Lions stayed in control, 66-58, meanwhile, earlier made sure that with 5:33 to go. they would be back in the finals.

“Big game. Biggest game so far The Knights relied on top gunto make it to the finals. And, guess ners Mark Cruz and Kevin Racal, what, the bench delivered. The who drilled pressure-packed free starting unit was struggling. So I throws to lead the Knights back asked the second unit if they still into the championship series. have the energy. They said yes, so Cruz finished with 24 points, capI kept them,” said Red Lions coach ping his game-long brilliance with a Jamike Jarin. free throw in the final 8.1 seconds JRU’s big man Abdoul Potouo- for the Knights, who, like the Lions, chi had 14 points and eight re- hold a twice-to-beat edge.

Blue Jays’ big bats wake up against Royals TURN TO A13

Tigers eye Final 4; Blue Eagle in road rage suspended

By Peter Atencio THE University of Santo Tomas Growling Games Today Tigers are (Araneta Coliseum) l o o k i n g 2 p.m.

-- NU vs Adamson 4 p.m. -- UST vs Ateneo not only to extend their win streak to six, but more importantly, earn the first Final Four spot when they take on the embattled Ateneo Blue Eagles at 4 p.m. today in the 78th University Athletic Association of the Philippines men’s basketball tournament at the Araneta Coliseum.

The Tigers again climbed into a tie with idle Far Eastern University Tamaraws for the top spot (8-1), following their vengeful 65-57 victory over the National University Bulldogs last Saturday.

But UST coach Bong Dela Cruz said the Tigers need to outdo themselves every game from hereon.

“Every practice, every game, we must improve. ‘Yun ang target namin, one game at a time,” said Dela Cruz.

In the other match, the defending champions Bulldogs will try to to arrest a three-game slide when they battle last-place Adamson in the curtain raiser at 2 p.m.

The Growling Tigers will again rely on their Big 3 of Kevin Ferrer, Ed Daquioag and Karim Abdul, and scoring support from Louie Vigil and Marvin Lee.

Continued to A14

WEDNESDAY: OCTOBER 21, 2015

RAY S. EÑANO EDITOR

RODERICK T. DELA CRUZ ASSISTANT EDITOR

business@thestandardtoday.com.ph extrastory2000@gmail.com

BUSINESS

B1

Max’s awards. Max’s Group Inc. bags four major awards at the 2015 Franchise Excellence Awards, a platform that recognizes the country’s best-managed companies in the franchising business held at the Manila Marriott Grand Ballroom. Shown during the awarding of the PricewaterhouseCoopers Iconic Filipino Franchise award for Max’s Restaurant are (from left) Trade Undersecretary Zenaida Maglaya, Isla Lipana and Company chairman Alex Cabrera, MGI chief finance officer and director Dave Fuentebella, MGI president and chief executive Robert Trota, MGI chairman and director Sharon Fuentebella, MGI director Jimmy Trota, Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry honorary chairman Sergio Ortiz-Luis and Philippine Franchise Association vice chairman Bing Sibal-Limjoco.

PSe comPoSite index Closing October 20, 2015

8000 7700 7400 7100 6800 6500

7,060.85 5.99

PeSo-dollar rate

Closing OCTOBER 20, 2015 43.50 44.60 45.40

P46.210

46.20

CLOSE

47.00

HIGH P46.140 LOW P46.240 AVERAGE P46.184 VOLUME 712.000M

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 P20.75-P21.75 Auto LPG Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas Tuesday, October 20, 2015

F oreign e xchange r ate Currency

Unit

US Dollar

Peso

United States

Dollar

1.000000

46.0890

Japan

Yen

0.008367

0.3856

UK

Pound

1.546100

71.2582

Hong Kong

Dollar

0.129034

5.9470

Switzerland

Franc

1.045806

48.2002

Canada

Dollar

0.768049

35.3986

Singapore

Dollar

0.720305

33.1981

Australia

Dollar

0.725584

33.4414

Bahrain

Dinar

2.656395

122.4306

Saudi Arabia

Rial

0.266745

12.2940

Brunei

Dollar

0.717721

33.0790

Indonesia

Rupiah

0.000074

0.0034

Thailand

Baht

0.028289

1.3038

UAE

Dirham

0.272301

12.5501

Euro

Euro

1.132300

52.1866

Korea

Won

0.000886

0.0408

China

Yuan

0.157230

7.2466

India

Rupee

0.015420

0.7107

Malaysia

Ringgit

0.237812

10.9605

New Zealand

Dollar

0.679995

31.3403

Taiwan

Dollar

0.030916

1.4249 Source: PDS Bridge

PLDT to build $40-m Mindanao cable link

By Darwin G. Amojelar

PHILIPPINE Long Distance Telephone Co. plans to build a $40-million cable landing station in Mindanao that will be linked to the US and Japan.

Eric Alberto, executive vice president of PLDT and president and chief executive of ePLDT, told reporters the new cable landing facility in Mindanao would be funded by a consortium of telecom companies in the region.

“We’re looking at variety of consortium with the Indonesian, Brunei and Malaysian telcos that want to partner with us,” Alberto said.

“We have two to three options, just finding or what is the feasible for us,” he added.

PLDT currently has cable landing stations in Batangas, La Union and Daet in Camarines Norte.

PLDT’s first international cable is the $550-million AsiaAmerica Gateway, a 20,000-kilometer high-bandwidth optical fiber linking Southeast Asia to the US. PLDT contributed $50 million to the project.

The AAG consortium consists of 19 parties providing connectivity among the Philippines, Malaysia, Singapore, Thailand, Brunei Darussalam, Vietnam, Hong Kong SAR, Guam, Hawaii and the US West Coast.

The facility also supplies seamless interconnection with other major cable systems connecting Europe, Australia, other parts of Asia and

Africa and using dense wavelength division multiplexing technology to provide upgradeable, future-proof transmission facilities for telecommunications traffic.

PLDT leads the country among providers with the most number of international cables as well as landing stations.

The AAG cable will be PLDT’s fourth international cable link up for upgrade to 100G technology, following the Asia Pacific Cable Network 2 and the Japan-US Cable system. The Asia Submarine Cable Express 100G upgrade is ongoing.

PLDT is also the first network operator in the Philippines to deploy 100G in its domestic fiber optic network.

PLDT Home Fibr recently launched the country’s first and fastest broadband at 1 gigabyte per second.

PLDT HOME Fibr runs on fiber-optic technology which is touted as the world standard for

broadband making it capable to deliver the country’s fastest plan.

PLDT’s most robust and widest reach of fiber-to-the-home facility spans to 100,000 kilometers nationwide enabling it to provide the digital lifestyle needs of Filipino homes.

PLDT Home Fibr also upgraded the speeds of all its plans from a minimum speed of 8 Mbps to 20 Mbps, all the way up to the 100 Mbps plan which was boosted to 200 Mbps.

“These massive speed boosts and the new symmetrical speeds combined with our unparalleled offers let our subscribers experience the ultimate digital lifestyle at the comforts of their home. As the country’s most powerful broadband, PLDT HOME Fibr stands firm on its commitment to provide topnotch services for its consumers, reinforcing the strongest connections at home,” PLDT Home vice president and Home marketing director Gary Dujali said.

CebuPac wants unused PAL flights to Emirates THE operator of Cebu Pacific has asked the Civil Aeronautics Board to reallocate the unused seat entitlements to United Arab Emirates previously granted to rival PAL Express.

Cebu Air Inc., in a filing with the CAB, requested the reallocation of seven weekly frequency entitlements to UAE from the unutilized frequency entitlements previously allocated to PAL Express.

PAL Express, however, said it

was evaluating the possibility of operating the routes to the UAE. “We are keen on keeping our seven weekly frequency entitlements to the UAE,” PAL Express said.

PAL Express operated the Manila to Dubai route from November 2013 to March 2015.

Cebu Pacific has seven weekly flights to Dubai, three weekly flights to Riyadh, four weekly flights to Kuwait and two weekly flights to Doha in Qatar.

The combined passenger traf-

fic of Cebu Pacific and Cebgo grew 8.4 percent to 12.21 million in the first eight months of 2015 from 11.26 million passengers in the same period last year.

The two airlines’ passenger traffic expanded 7.4 percent to 1.52 million in August from 1.41 million a year ago.

Cebu Pacific and Cebgo’s seat load factor dropped 2.9 percentage points to 81.5 percent in January to August period from 84.4 percent last year.

The two airlines’ load factor inched up by 1.1 percentage point to 81.9 percent in August from last year’s 80.8 percent.

Cebu Pacific’s net profit grew 64 percent to P5.2 billion in the January-to-June period from P3.18-billion a year earlier.

Cebu Pacific and Cebgo, formerly Tigerair Philippines, generated revenues of P29.51 billion in the first six months of the year, up 10 percent from P26.72 billion last year. Darwin G. Amojelar

WEDNESDAY: OCTOBER 21, 2015

B2

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

The STandard BuSineSS daily STockS review Tuesday, OcTOber 20, 2015

52 Weeks

Previous

High Low

STOCKS

7.88 75.3 124.4 107 56.5 2.49 4.2 17 30.45 2.6 1.01 100 1.46 30.5 75 91.5 137 361.2 57 180 1700 124 3.26

2.5 66 88.05 88.1 45.45 1.97 1.68 12.02 19.6 1.02 0.225 78 0.9 17.8 58 62 88.35 276 41 118.2 1200 59 2.65

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

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

47 5 1.46 2.36 15.3 20.6 125 36 65.8 2.97 4.14 21.5 21.6 11.96 9.13 11.8 17 31.8 109 15.3 9.4 0.98 241 3.95 74 33.9 90 13.26 293 5 5.25 12.98 6.75 15 7.03 3.4 4.5 6.3 7.86 7.34 238 3.28 0.315 2.18 2.65 234 1.3 2.17

35.9 1.11 1.01 1.86 7.92 15.32 62.5 10.08 29.15 1.5 1.5 10.72 9.55 9.04 6.02 8.86 8.61 20.2 71.5 13.24 5.34 0.395 173 2.3 33 23.35 17.3 5.88 250.2 3.37 3.87 8.45 3 10.04 3.03 1.95 1 4.02 1.65 5.9 161 1.55 0.138 1.02 2.09 152 0.640 1.2

Aboitiz Power Corp.

Agrinurture Inc. Alliance Tuna Intl Inc. Alsons Cons.

Asiabest Group Century Food Chemphil Cirtek Holdings (Chips) Concepcion Crown Asia Da Vinci Capital Del Monte DNL Industries Inc. Emperador Energy Devt. Corp. (EDC) EEI Federal Res. Inv. Group First Gen Corp.

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

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

Pepsi-Cola Products Phil.

Petron Corporation Phil H2O Phinma Corporation Phoenix Petroleum Phils.

Phoenix Semiconductor Pryce Corp. `A’ RFM Corporation Roxas and Co. Roxas Holdings San Miguel’Pure Foods `B’ Splash Corporation Swift Foods, Inc. TKC Steel Corp.

Trans-Asia Oil Universal Robina Vitarich Corp.

Vulcan Ind’l.

0.59 59.2 30.05 2.16 7.39 3.4 3.35 823.5 10.2 84 3.35 3.68 4.92 0.66 1455 7.5 76 6.5 9.25 0.85 17.3 0.71 5.53 6.55 0.0670 1.61 84.9 974 1.66 1.39 156 0.710 0.435 0.510

0.44 48.1 20.85 1.6 6.62 0.23 0.23 634.5 7.390 12.8 2.6 1.15 2.26 0.152 837 5.3 49.55 3.43 4.84 0.59 12 0.580 4.2 4.5 0.030 0.550 59.3 751 1.13 0.93 80 0.211 0.179 0.310

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

Forum Pacific GT Capital House of Inv. JG Summit Holdings Jolliville Holdings Lopez Holdings Corp.

Lodestar Invt. Holdg.Corp.

LT Group Mabuhay Holdings `A’ Metro Pacific Inv. Corp.

Minerales Industrias Corp.

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

10.5 1.99 1.75 41.4 5.6 5.59 1.44 1.48

6.74 0.65 1.2 30.05 3.36 4.96 0.79 0.97

8990 HLDG A. Brown Co., Inc. Araneta Prop `A’ Ayala Land `B’ Belle Corp. `A’ Cebu Holdings Century Property Cityland Dev. `A’

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

SHARES 14,219,277 102,742,797 486,930,138 179,367,418 161,376,393 410,163,573 1,357,865,686

Close

High

Low

FINANCIAL 2.85 2.74 69.55 96.35 103.40 102.20 83.40 82.50 40.5 40.05 2.48 2.46 1.30 1.29 15.4 15.3 19.8 19.5 1.77 1.74 0.670 0.600 83.2 82.5 0.94 0.93 18.28 18.02 24.00 24.00 53.20 52.90 108 100.5 296 296 30.25 29.9 145 143.2 1495.00 1495.00 56.25 56.00 3.15 3 INDUSTRIAL 41.95 42 40.5 1.53 1.6 1.47 0.91 0.92 0.9 1.6 1.66 1.59 11.92 11.92 11.12 16.9 16.98 16.84 106 105 105 26.3 26.2 24 42.5 42.5 40.1 2.41 2.42 2.38 1.7 1.76 1.68 10 10.06 9.76 9.360 9.850 9.41 7.45 7.58 7.45 6.82 6.95 6.75 7.74 7.82 7.72 12.2 12.1 11.76 25.2 26.3 25.3 68.7 70.45 68.6 13.00 13.00 13.00 6.01 6.01 5.88 2.840 2.850 2.600 205.00 208.00 205.00 2.4 2.38 2.14 46.25 44.90 42.00 24.45 24.45 24.35 24 24 23.7 5.8 5.95 5.62 310.00 315.00 309.20 3.86 3.93 3.93 4.32 4.27 4.18 7.42 7.42 7.35 4.35 5.1 4.37 11.50 11.50 11.50 3.55 3.59 3.43 1.99 1.99 1.99 2.3 2.3 2.24 4.10 4.10 4.04 2.86 3.05 3 5 5.02 4.93 140.2 140.8 140.6 2.15 2.17 2.05 0.149 0.150 0.148 1.33 1.33 1.20 2.15 2.17 2.12 199.6 200 195.1 0.7 0.69 0.68 1.15 1.20 1.13 HOLDING FIRMS 0.410 0.415 0.395 57.8000 57.8500 56.0000 18.20 18.36 17.94 1.05 1.07 1.07 6.32 6.78 6.78 0.270 0.275 0.249 0.270 0.26 0.255 753 760 753 7.25 7.29 7.2 12.50 12.60 12.44 3.73 3.95 3.68 3.8 3.61 3.5 3.90 3.99 3.97 0.280 0.280 0.260 1294 1325 1290 5.80 5.84 5.81 71.50 71.50 70.20 4.6 6.2 4.9 6.28 6.4 6.21 0.89 0.91 0.87 11.6 12.1 11.62 0.53 0.54 0.53 5.15 5.2 5.14 8.58 8.6 8.49 0.0370 0.0370 0.0330 2.030 2.150 1.960 48.00 49.50 48.00 860.50 876.00 870.00 1.21 1.21 1.19 0.96 1.00 0.82 102.000 108.000 100.000 0.3400 0.3400 0.3350 0.2310 0.2300 0.2270 0.310 0.345 0.320 PROPERTY 6.390 6.400 6.350 0.76 0.76 0.70 1.100 1.090 1.080 35.400 35.750 34.850 3.38 3.42 3.25 5.06 5.02 5.02 0.6 0.61 0.59 1.01 1.01 1.01 2.66 69.5 103.70 82.80 40.5 2.53 1.32 15.54 19.5 1.77 0.630 83.35 0.96 18.20 24.00 53.00 108.1 295.6 29.85 143 1490.00 56.90 3

Close

%

Net Foreign

Change Volume

Trade/Buying

2.74 69.5 102.70 82.90 40.1 2.46 1.30 15.3 19.6 1.74 0.600 82.75 0.93 18.28 24.00 53.20 108 296 30 143.4 1495.00 56.25 3

3.01 0.00 -0.96 0.12 -0.99 -2.77 -1.52 -1.54 0.51 -1.69 -4.76 -0.72 -3.13 0.44 0.00 0.38 -0.09 0.14 0.50 0.28 0.34 -1.14 0.00

81,000 7,240 2,267,010 2,134,000 45,900 10,000 22,000 17,700 8,600 115,000 6,781,000 1,413,250 680,000 49,300 1,000 46,440 180 200 91,100 135,640 40 1,420 11,000

40.85 1.6 0.92 1.65 11.6 16.98 105 24 42.5 2.4 1.73 9.79 9.740 7.45 6.80 7.72 12.1 26.25 70.45 13.00 6 2.610 206.00 2.14 44.90 24.4 24 5.62 311.80 3.93 4.24 7.41 4.88 11.50 3.49 1.99 2.25 4.06 3.05 5.02 140.8 2.05 0.149 1.20 2.16 197.7 0.68 1.13

-2.62 4.58 1.10 3.12 -2.68 0.47 -0.94 -8.75 0.00 -0.41 1.76 -2.10 4.06 0.00 -0.29 -0.26 -0.82 4.17 2.55 0.00 -0.17 -8.10 0.49 -10.83 -2.92 -0.20 0.00 -3.10 0.58 1.81 -1.85 -0.13 12.18 0.00 -1.69 0.00 -2.17 -0.98 6.64 0.40 0.43 -4.65 0.00 -9.77 0.47 -0.95 -2.86 -1.74

8,503,300 36,000 53,000 183,000 2,000 539,100 110 736,700 67,300 385,000 1,482,000 15,100 24,963,500 1,007,800 28,423,800 59,800 8,200 4,084,000 1,197,950 10,000 59,500 7,219,000 1,970,270 45,000 7,800 1,350,400 64,100 18,500 573,820 5,000 201,000 1,243,700 343,000 4,900 561,000 31,000 137,000 7,303,000 78,000 101,400 70 1,726,000 1,380,000 516,000 2,653,000 1,197,590 420,000 119,000

0.395 57.5000 18.06 1.07 6.78 0.255 0.255 755 7.28 12.52 3.95 3.5 3.97 0.265 1325 5.81 71.20 5.05 6.39 0.89 11.98 0.53 5.19 8.6 0.0330 1.970 49.50 876.00 1.19 0.83 108.000 0.3400 0.2290 0.335

-3.66 -0.52 -0.77 1.90 7.28 -5.56 -5.56 0.27 0.41 0.16 5.90 -7.89 1.79 -5.36 2.40 0.17 -0.42 9.78 1.75 0.00 3.28 0.00 0.78 0.23 -10.81 -2.96 3.13 1.80 -1.65 -13.54 5.88 0.00 -0.87 8.06

900,000 1,268,130 -2,260,822.50 2,599,000 -16,709,766.00 5,000 200 7,300,000 150,000 23,400.00 102,660 16,816,920.00 2,247,700 -699,467.00 6,626,900 16,230,912.00 141,000 20,000 16,000 1,740,000 75,395 -3,097,820.00 15,300 -88,768.00 951,010 6,176,113.00 97,000 3,035,200 -2,443,705.00 581,000 16,726,200 -993,902.00 325,000 23,951,800 69,874,666.00 1,305,000 369,000,000 395,000.00 25,049,000 -959,700.00 202,100 -3,222,775.00 244,020 -24,184,475.00 436,000 2,043,000 26,700.00 46,530 -819,690.00 2,680,000 410,000 15,220,000 -3,300.00

6.390 0.71 1.080 34.850 3.35 5.02 0.61 1.01

0.00 -6.58 -1.82 -1.55 -0.89 -0.79 1.67 0.00

68,300 3,070,000 341,000 8,450,900 881,000 200 2,091,000 305,000

159,235.50 -150,798,105 146,673.50 204,255.00 -70,840.00 -17,746.00 490,990.00 20,874,868.00 9,140.00 1,340,800.00 1,002.00 -494,045 3,053,555.00 59,800.00

52 Weeks

Previous

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

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

10.5 66 1.09 15.82 0.1430 5.06 99.1 2.6 7.67 1700 2720 8.41 70.5 1.97 119.5 12.5 0.017 0.8200 2.2800 5.93 12.28 3.32 95.5 1 2.46 15.2 0.62 1.040 22.8 6.41 18 185 22.9 3486 0.760 2.28 46.05 90.1

1.97 35.2 0.63 8.6 0.0770 2.95 56.1 1.6 4.8 830 1600 5.95 17.02 1.23 102.6 8.72 0.011 0.041 1.200 2.34 6.5 1.91 3.1 0.650 1.8 6 0.335 0.37 14.54 3 8.8 79 4.39 2748 0.435 1.2 31.45 60.55

STOCKS

Close

Crown Equities Inc. Cyber Bay Corp.

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

Phil. Realty `A’ Primex Corp.

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

11.6 0.85 2.95 10 0.490 1.9

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

Cebu Air Inc. (5J) Discovery World DFNN Inc. FEUI Globe Telecom GMA Network Inc. Grand Plaza Hotel Harbor Star I.C.T.S.I. IPeople Inc. `A’ IP E-Game Ventures Inc. Island Info ISM Communications Jackstones Leisure & Resorts Liberty Telecom Manila Broadcasting Manila Bulletin Manila Jockey Melco Crown MG Holdings NOW Corp.

Pacific Online Sys. Corp.

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

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

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

1.14 Yehey

0.0098 5.45 17.24 12.7 12.8 1.19 1.62 9.5 4.2 0.48 0.420 0.440 0.022 8.2 49.2 4.27 1.030 3.06 0.020 0.021 7.67 12.88 10.42 0.040 420 9

0.0043 1.72 6.47 6.5 5.11 0.85 0.77 5.99 1.17 0.305 0.2130 0.2160 0.013 3.240 18.96 2.11 0.365 1.54 0.012 0.013 5.4 7.26 2.27 0.015 115.9 3.67

Abra Mining Apex `A’ Atlas Cons. `A’ 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’ Marcventures Hldgs., Inc. Nickelasia Nihao Mineral Resources Omico Oriental Peninsula Res. Oriental Pet. `A’ Oriental Pet. `B’ Petroenergy Res. Corp.

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

TA Petroleum

70 553 120 515 8.21 12.28 111 1060 78.95 84.8

33 490 101.5 480 5.88 6.5 101 997 74.5 75

1.34

1

ABS-CBN Holdings Corp.

Ayala Corp. Pref `B1’ First Gen G GLOBE PREF P GMA Holdings Inc. Leisure and Resort MWIDE PREF PCOR-Preferred A SMC Preferred B SMC Preferred C SMC Preferred E SMC Preferred F Swift Pref

-60,311.00 0.00

6.98

0.8900 LR Warrant

-115,089,505.00 898,380.00

15 88 12.88

3.5 13.5 5.95

130.7

105.6 First Metro ETF

-258,053,685.00

1,002,604.00 2,222,585 35,950.00 -15,120.00 -73,180,148.00 4,033,525.00 14,629,774.00 -292,376.00 2,936,580.00 8,544,105.50 6,500.00 125,910.00 33,847,838.00 -2,559,475.00 16,640.00 40,660,012.00 848,030.00 1,606,402.00 60.00 -17,450.00 -669,240.00 9,852.00 -115,850.00 2,986,830.00 -4,269,427.00

-555,030.00

Makati Fin. Corp.

IRipple E-Business Intl Xurpas

High

%

Net Foreign

Change Volume

Trade/Buying

0.130 0.125 0.130 0.610 0.510 0.540 19.9 19.54 19.6 0.900 0.900 0.900 0.163 0.163 0.163 1.14 1.10 1.10 1.72 1.68 1.70 1.30 1.27 1.30 4.42 4.32 4.32 0.084 0.083 0.083 0.3050 0.3050 0.3050 0.4500 0.3900 0.3900 8.35 8.17 8.35 29.45 28.95 29.40 1.63 1.55 1.55 3.1 3.04 3.1 21.60 21.25 21.60 0.74 0.72 0.74 8.18 8.18 8.18 1.140 1.040 1.040 5.500 5.390 5.400 SERVICES 8.09 8.09 8.02 8.07 63.3 64.5 63.4 64.4 0.610 0.600 0.570 0.590 6.50 6.50 6.36 6.48 0.0550 0.0560 0.0540 0.0540 3.95 3.97 3.8 3.8 83.35 84.3 83.5 84 1.66 2 1.76 2 5.48 5.55 5.31 5.54 955 955 950 950 2300 2338 2298 2300 6.68 6.70 6.68 6.70 21.00 21.50 21.50 21.50 1.26 1.23 1.18 1.22 77 78 77 77.7 12.3 11.46 11.4 11.4 0.011 0.012 0.011 0.011 0.185 0.186 0.181 0.180 1.4200 1.4200 1.4100 1.4100 2.25 2.25 2.25 2.25 8.50 8.50 8.50 8.50 3.65 3.77 3.30 3.41 34.00 33.00 32.80 32.80 0.610 0.610 0.610 0.610 2 2 2 2 3.85 3.89 3.8 3.8 0.300 0.300 0.295 0.300 1.000 1.130 0.970 0.990 18.88 18.38 18.36 18.36 4.55 4.56 4.50 4.56 9.5 9.5 9 9 99.95 100.00 96.00 96.00 20.45 21.00 19.50 20.50 2208.00 2226.00 2202.00 2218.00 0.600 0.580 0.570 0.580 1.120 1.150 1.120 1.120 33.55 35.50 33.55 34.80 73.00 74.85 73.55 74.85 6.50 6.55 6.40 6.46 5.19 5.34 5.12 5.20 0.46 0.48 0.46 0.46 1.55 1.52 1.51 1.51 4.04 4.06 4.03 4.04 0.355 0.370 0.345 0.355 4.450 4.600 4.380 4.480 MINING & OIL 0.0048 0.0049 0.0038 0.0038 2.13 2.20 2.14 2.20 5.96 5.96 5.64 5.88 5.8000 5.8 5.8 5.8000 5.9000 5.9 5.9 5.9000 0.72 0.72 0.72 0.72 0.64 0.64 0.64 0.64 8.73 8.76 8.51 8.68 1.01 1.04 0.94 0.97 0.305 0.325 0.305 0.310 0.198 0.194 0.191 0.191 0.208 0.206 0.205 0.205 0.0100 0.0110 0.0100 0.0110 2.34 2.32 2.24 2.26 7.7 7.7 7.42 7.58 2.93 2.96 2.85 2.87 0.6000 0.6100 0.6100 0.6100 1.3800 1.4300 1.3700 1.3700 0.0100 0.0100 0.0100 0.0100 0.0099 0.0100 0.0100 0.0100 3.88 3.87 3.87 3.87 5.22 5.250 5.170 5.24 1.39 1.390 1.350 1.35 0.0130 0.0140 0.0130 0.0130 129.00 131.00 129.00 131.00 2.33 2.37 2.34 2.37 PREFERRED 66.9 68 66.7 66.75 530 524 512 524 118 116 115.6 115.6 519 520 520 520 6.4 6.5 6.43 6.5 1.1 1.1 1.1 1.1 109 112.8 109 112.8 1065 1075 1075 1075 78 78.2 78.2 78.2 82.1 82.5 82.5 82.5 79 79.05 78.9 78.9 80 80 79.95 80 2.5 3.49 2.5 2.9 WARRANTS & BONDS 2.900 2.880 2.810 2.810 SME 2.85 2.9 2.8 2.8 63 64.5 62.7 64.5 14.4 14.4 13.9 14.1 EXCHANGE TRADED FUNDS 115.3 115.6 115.3 115.3

2.36 -10.00 -1.11 0.00 -2.98 -3.51 1.19 0.78 -1.82 -6.74 1.67 -15.22 3.09 1.38 -4.91 2.65 0.00 0.00 0.00 -8.77 -1.10

8,130,000 88,450,000 756,100 1,031,000 110,000 5,731,000 5,693,000 439,000 27,540,000 1,790,000 130,000 80,000 216,400 3,301,800 1,348,000 9,000 9,101,600 440,000 7,000 5,504,000 4,345,400

-0.25 1.74 -3.28 -0.31 -1.82 -3.80 0.78 20.48 1.09 -0.52 0.00 0.30 2.38 -3.17 0.91 -7.32 0.00 -2.70 -0.70 0.00 0.00 -6.58 -3.53 0.00 0.00 -1.30 0.00 -1.00 -2.75 0.22 -5.26 -3.95 0.24 0.45 -3.33 0.00 3.73 2.53 -0.62 0.19 0.00 -2.58 0.00 0.00 0.67

43,500 13,280 943,000 1,825,500 40,330,000 1,606,000 238,820 111,000 46,100 1,200 42,945 141,800 200 150,000 474,880 2,900 3,600,000 3,200,000 413,000 6,000 430,700 2,152,000 200 115,000 10,000 3,528,000 2,120,000 63,372,000 700 4,000 21,100 1,060 97,500 46,350 895,000 2,211,000 4,280,000 620,130 1,852,100 11,389,500 8,570,000 29,000 5,144,000 300,000 828,000

-20.83 3.29 -1.34 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 -0.57 -3.96 1.64 -3.54 -1.44 10.00 -3.42 -1.56 -2.05 1.67 -0.72 0.00 1.01 -0.26 0.38 -2.88 0.00 1.55 1.72

142,000,000 323,400.00 51,000 191,600 -12,200.00 500 6 1,180.00 136,000 521,000 7,500 41,308,000 -17,846,510.00 800,000 2,210,000 190,000 -16,450.00 14,300,000 398,000 22,800.00 4,177,400 -3,681,291.00 1,332,000 29,000.00 1,000 138,000 13,900.00 112,200,000 6,000,000 3,000 308,900 214,000 -45,970.00 82,900,000 464,020 -12,809,479.00 256,000

-0.22 -1.13 -2.03 0.19 1.56 0.00 3.49 0.94 0.26 0.49 -0.13 0.00 16.00

4,060 2,020 11,950 100 28,300 3,000 393,340 150 1,000 662,740 64,910 211,040 71,000

-3.10

125,000

-1.75 2.38 -2.08

68,000 4,810 2,992,100

0.00

1,180

-2,629,930.00 -7,156,070.00 -317,400.00 739,760.00 -46,896,900.00

24,888,530.00 -153,720.00 -17,032,800.00 56,442.00 -17,180.00 -3,780,642.00 8,030.00 -2,051,199.00 108,000.00 -1,193,839.50

-76,367,760.00

-9,375,256.00

-21,300.00 3,006,450.00 -136,410.00

-6,945,920.00 120,000.00 -1,300,620.00 180,000.00 96,000.00 141,320.00 -36,842,350.00 -220,100.00 44,183,515.00 9,445,909.50 341,692.00 -17,469,705.00 -3,512,300.00 -12,784,910.00 -133,190.00

24,737.00

-8,136,334.00

T op L oSerS

STOCKS

FINANCIAL 1,555.06 (down) 6.47 INDUSTRIAL 11,271.53 (down) 12.72 HOLDING FIRMS 6,562.40 (up) 49.44 PROPERTY 2,952.13 (down) 23.17 SERVICES 1,707.42 (up) 12.54 MINING & OIL 11,165.57 (down) 21.11 PSEI 7,060.85 (up) 5.99 All Shares Index 4,063.85 (up) 4.33 Gainers: 81 Losers: 103; Unchanged: 39; Total: 223

Close

0.127 0.600 19.82 0.900 0.168 1.14 1.68 1.29 4.4 0.089 0.3000 0.4600 8.1 29.00 1.63 3.02 21.60 0.74 8.18 1.140 5.460

T op g ainerS VALUE 623,032,480.16 2,041,865,421.50 1,275,925,549.18 834,372,866.82 675,651,159.33 145,253,652.369 5,638,916,583.36

Low

Close (P)

Change (%)

STOCKS

Close (P)

Change (%)

Discovery World

2

20.48

Abra Mining

0.0038

-20.83

Swift Pref

2.9

16.00

Phil. Realty `A'

0.3900

-15.22

Phil H2O

4.88

12.18

South China Res. Inc.

0.83

-13.54

Manila Mining `A'

0.0110

10.00

LMG Chemicals

2.14

-10.83

Jolliville Holdings

5.05

9.78

Pacifica `A'

0.0330

-10.81

Zeus Holdings

0.335

8.06

Cyber Bay Corp.

0.540

-10.00

Anscor `A'

6.78

7.28

TKC Steel Corp.

1.20

-9.77

Roxas and Co.

3.05

6.64

Suntrust Home Dev. Inc.

1.040

-8.77

F&J Prince 'A'

3.95

5.90

Cirtek Holdings (Chips)

24

-8.75

Top Frontier

108.000

5.88

Ionics Inc

2.610

-8.10

WEDNESDAY: OCTOBER 21, 2015

B3

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

Absolut building biomass plant Market advances; First Gen, D&L rise STOCKS rose slightly Tuesday, as investors picked up several blue chips ahead of the release of third-quarter financial reports.

The Philippine Stock Exchange index, the 30-company benchmark, gained 5 points, or 0.1 percent, to close at 7,060.85.

The gauge is still down 2.3 percent since the start of the year.

The heavier index, representing all shares, also added 4 points, or 0.1 percent, to settle at 4,063.70, on a value turnover of P5.6 billion.

Losers outnumbered gainers, 103 to 81, while 39 issues were unchanged.

Power producer First Gen Corp. emerged as the biggest gainer among the 20 most active stocks, as it climbed 4.2 percent to P26.25 Chemical producer D&L Industries Inc. advanced 4.1 percent to P9.74, while retailer Puregold Price Club Inc. climbed 3.7 percent to P34.80.

LT Group Inc., the holding company of tycoon Lucio Tan, added 3.3 percent to close at P11.98. GT Capital Holdings Inc., the investment company of tycoon George Ty, picked up 2.4 percent to P1,325.

Meanwhile, nervous investors dumped high-yielding, risky assets in Asia Tuesday on fears about the global economy, with the Indonesian rupiah and Malaysian ringgit taking a hit and most Asian stock markets retreating.

Comments from a top Federal Reserve official suggesting a US rate hike could come this year also dented confidence.

While data Monday showing China’s economy growing at its slowest rate in six years did not have an overly negative impact on markets, there are fears a rally across equities, currencies and commodities this month may have run its course.

After they suffered the worst quarter in four years during July-September, global traders have been on a buying spree in October as expectations of a US interest rate hike this year recede and hopes rise for a fresh batch of Chinese stimulus.

However, confidence has taken a knock this week following the Chinese figures and Matthew Sherwood, head of investment strategy at Perpetual Ltd. in Sydney, said in an email to clients: “The three-week recovery is approaching an exhaustion point.

“The key question for investors is how much can growth accelerate in the December quarter and will there be more policy stimulus. The answer to both questions is—not a lot,” he said.

With AFP, Bloomberg

By Alena Mae S. Flores

LIAN, Batangas--Absolut Distillers Inc., a beverage company controlled by tycoon Lucio Tan, plans to invest P500 million in a sugar mill and biomass plant, an executive said Tuesday.

“The next would be setting up a mill so that we can buy cane and take advantage of its bagasse to run a cogeneration biomass boiler plant,” Absolut Distillers chief operating officer Gerardo Tee told reporters during the launching of the company’s bioethanol plant.

Tee said the investment in biomass plant would be a part of the company’s expansion plan into the renewable energy sector.

Absolut Distillers on Tuesday launched a new 30-million-litersper-annum bioethanol facility in Lian.

Tee said the construction of the sugar mill and cogeneration plant

with power generation capacity of 3 megawatts to 4 MW would to take nearly two years.

“We will start construction as soon as funding is available,” Tee said.

The sugar mill is estimated to produce 1,800 to 2,000 metric tons of sugarcane juice per day.

The mill will crush the sugar cane and process the juice into bioethanol. Bagasse from the sugarcane will be used as fuel for the cogeneration power plant.

“The mill can also use sweet sorghum,” he said.

Absolut Distillers will supply bioethanol from the newly com-

pleted bioethanol plant that is utilizing molasses as feedstock to small oil players Seaoil Philippines and Flying V. “Even prior to the passage of the Biofuels Law of 2006, we already have a blue print of the project.

We only waited for the right time.

Finally, well-defined rules were integrated to the implementing rules and regulations of the law, so we think now is the time to begin the operations of the facility,” Tee said.

Ethanol is used in the gasoline blend and comes from agricultural crops such as sugar. The Biofuels Act of 2006 mandated a 10-percent ethanol blend in gasoline.

Companies are importing bulk of their requirements to to comply with the government’s E10 requirement for gasoline.

The Philippines has an annual demand of 400 million liters of bioethanol but production from local players reaches only 222 million liters.

The Energy Department, however, mandated the oil companies to acquire ethanol from local producers before resorting to importation.

“We see a great opportunity to provide fuel-grade ethanol with the opening of this facility. It also reflects our continuous commitment to green energy as we continue to provide a sustainable environment to the community,” Tee said.

Absolut Distillers last year also launched the first two megawatt solar power generation plant in Batangas. The first renewable energy investment of ADI is a biogas production facility established in the 1990s.

Absolut Distillers was established in 1990 under Absolut Chemicals Inc., which was engaged in the manufacture of ethyl alcohol and liquefied carbon dioxide as fermentation byproducts used for producing soft drinks.

UCPB’s housing partner. UCPB taps the AXEIA Group of Companies as one of its partner developers in the Southern, Eastern and

Central Luzon regions. As an accredited developer, AXEIA clients will be able to apply for UCPB housing loans for a minimum of P500,000 at special interest rates and maximum loan term of 20 years. Shown are (from left) UCPB account officer Michael Paulo Geronimo, vice president and real estate department head Smile Wambangco, first vice president and consumer banking division head Philip Pabelico, AXEIA president Paul Tanchi, chief finance officer Peter Tanchi Jr., sales documentation and support department manager Myra Salvador and UCPB Dela Rosa branch sales officer Bernadette Marcelo.

Ayala Land, Prime Orion to expand Tutuban Center

By Jenniffer B. Austria PRIME Orion Properties Inc. plans to more than double the leasable space of crown jewel Tutuban Center in Manila, following the entry of property developer Ayala Land Inc. Prime Orion chairman Felipe Yap said in an interview following the annual stockholders’ meeting the company planned to use the P5.62-billion proceeds from the investment of Ayala Land to expand Tutuban Center, a retail complex in the shopping district of Divisoria in Tondo, Manila.

Tutuban Center sits on a

20-hectare lot and has a leasable space of 60,000 square meters.

The company hopes to double the space in less than three years.

Prime Orion is now in talks with the Transportation Department and the Philippine National Railways to finalize the master plan for the property.

The expansion of Tutuban Center is also expected to increase the property’s current annual leasing income of P400 million and foot traffic by 400,000.

Yap said the expansion would be implemented in stages in order not to disrupt the cash-flow of the retail complex.

Tutuban Center will also be location of the North South Railway Project Transfer Station which will interconnect with the LRT 2 West Station.

Yap said despite the entry of Ayala Land, the market for Tutuban Center would remain the same.

“The concept of Divisoria is still there. But there will be some improvements,” he said.

Shareholders approved Ayala Land’s acquisition of 51.36 percent in Prime Orion for P5.62 billion. Under the agreement, Ayala Land will subscribe to 2.5 billion shares in Prime Orion at P2.25

per share.

The shares to be issued to Ayala Land will come from the increase in the Prime Orion’s authorized capital stock to P7.5 billion from P2.4 billion.

Ayala Land earlier said the acquisition of a majority interest in Prime Orion was aligned with the company’s thrust of expanding its leasing business.

Ayala Land has been expanding its leasing revenues, by building new malls, hotels, resorts and offices in line with its aim to achieve a 50:50 revenue sharing between real estate sales and leasing/recurring revenues.

B4 IN BRIEF

Computer kiosks.

Alveo Land upbeat

Western Union collaborates with the Philippine Overseas Employment Administration to provide computer kiosks in the BalikManggagawa center of POEA, confirming a commitment to improve the lives of migrant Filipino workers and their families. The kiosks will enable returning workers to apply for their overseas employment certificate online. Shown sealing the partnership are (from left) Amorfina Reyes, POEA Deputy Administrator; David Thompson, Western Union executive vice president for global operations and chief information officer; and Patricia Riingen, Western Union senior vice president for Southeast Asia and Oceania.

ALVEO Land Inc., a unit of Ayala Land Inc., said Tuesday it booked over P5.5 billion worth of sales from Solinea, a multitower residential development project in Cebu City.

Alveo Land project development manager VC Bacungan said in a press briefing the group sold 1,400 condominium units from the first three residential towers of Solinea since its launch in 2010.

Bacungan said tower 1 was 89 percent sold while tower 2 was 83 percent sold.

Lazuli, the third tower launched in 2014, is now 53 percent sold. Units are being sold from P2.6 million for a 25-square meter studio to P18.8 million for a 150-sq. m. three-bedroom unit.

Two more residential buildings are scheduled for launching in the next few years.

“Solinea is proving to be our most successful project in Cebu. It is aimed towards urban achievers, typically in their 30s to 50s, who are looking for a respite within the city and with their workplace nearby. It also cater to investors who are looking for an investment that will generate recurring income,” Bacungan said.

Jenniffer B. Austria

EJAP Awards on Friday THE Economic Journalists’ Association of the Philippines will recognize its members’ best works for the year 2014 at an awards ceremony in Makati Friday.

This year’s EJAP Business Journalism Awards, being handed out in cooperation with Ayala Corp. and its subsidiaries, aims to encourage excellence in the coverage of the local business sector.

Journalists from eight business “beats” will receive “Reporter of the Year” trophies from the organization.

The awards are in recognition of the best work in covering specific business sectors, namely banking, capital markets, commodities (agriculture and mining), energy, finance, infrastructure, macroeconomy and trade and investments.

More in-depth reporting will also share the limelight. The year’s best investigative or explanatory story will be recognized as the “Feature Story of the Year.”

For the second year in a row, EJAP will give out an award for the feature story published either in a newspaper or a news Web site.

Pepsi assists Isabela SOME 180 impoverished residents of Barangay San Manuel, Naguilian, Isabela are now assured of readily accessible fresh and safe drinking water, made possible through a partnership with PepsiCola Products Philippines Inc. Cagayan Valley-based Pepsi general manager Ricci Manansala recalled the villagers used to walk for at least one hour to fetch water for their household needs, such as drinking and washing. “With the two freshwater pumps donated by Pepsi, clean and safe water is now within their midst,” Manansala said.

“We are always looking for ways on how to support our communities through our TAYO Na CSR commitments.

We can only do it with open minds and hearts, and with people who are willing to partner with us in our desire to make a positive impact on society,” PCPPI vice president for corporate affairs and communications Jika Dalupan said. TAYO stands for Talino (health and education), Asenso (entrepreneurship), Yaman (environment) and Oras (volunteerism).

Toys and gifts fair up AROUND 1,500 manufacturers, mall suppliers, importers, wholesalers and retailers are participating in the ongoing 22nd Philippine Toys, Gifts, Housewares and Christmas Decor Fair at the Greenhills Shopping Center on Ortigas Avenue, San Juan City.

The 25-day fair (October 9 to November 2) is the country’s widest collection of products under one roof—Christmas decors, lanterns and lights, novelty items and giveaways, RTWs, jewelry, footwear, leather goods, undergarments, local arts and crafts, furniture, food and cellphone units and accessories.

Organized by Prime Asia Trade Planners and Convention Organizers, the fair is in keeping with its advocacy of helping local entrepreneurs sustain and grow their business and in support of the government’s “Buy Filipino Movement.”

PATEPCO headed by president and chief executive Henry Babiera formed a team of consultants to enlighten green horn stallholder-entrepreneurs on the nitty-gritty of running the stalls, like the proper arrangement of displays, sourcing of their products, pricing, sales talks and other marketing strategies.

ING less optimistic on 2015 remittances

By Julito G. Rada

THE government’s forecast of a 5-percent growth in remittances this year may not be achieved due to slower expansions in the previous months, an economist said Tuesday.

ING Bank senior economist Joey Cuyegkeng said remittances this year though might reach the same level posted last year, which was a record high.

“A flat growth this year, an unlikely scenario, would still mean a cash remittance of $24.3 billion,” Cuyegkeng said in a report.

“Current account is likely to remain in surplus while structural inflows this year could amount to $45 billion-$46 billion,” he

added.

Remittances contracted 0.6 percent in August to $2.044 billion from $2.057 billion yearon-year due to the stronger dollar against most currencies, reducing the value of the migrant workers’ remittances to the Philippines.

It was the first contraction in more than 12 years, or since the 10.9-percent decline in April 2003. Cash remittances in

the first eight months reached $16.206 billion, up 4.1 percent from $15.572 billion a year ago.

Cuyegkeng said a recovery in remittance growth was not farfetched historically.

“In the past 11 years, a weak growth of a month is normally followed by a recovery. Remittances softened to a 0.8-percent growth in December 2008 followed by an almost flat YoY growth in January 2009. We hope that the recent development would usher in a rebound for September/October reports,” Cuyegkeng said.

He said part of the weakness of remittances could be attributed to a strong US dollar against the currencies of host economies, such as in Eurozone, Japan and Singapore.

“Growth rates of remittances from these regions have eased significantly. The 8M [eight months] remittances growth from Japan slowed to 3.8 percent YoY against the more robust 8.7 percent in 2014,” he said.

“Eurozone remittances dropped 6 percent for 8M 2015 from a full year 2014 drop of 4.9 percent and 15.6 percent growth in 2013. Modest Eurozone growth and an 18 percent drop in the value of Euro since end of 2013 are reasons for the weakness. These three regions account for 24.3 percent of 2014 total remittances,” he said.

He said slower growth or contraction in remittances from these regions would continue to weigh on remittances.

iflix is leading PH video-on-demand service provider LESS than five months since launching in Southeast Asia, iflix has established itself as the country’s leading subscription videoon-demand service provider with over 280,000 subscribers in the Philippines alone.

With more than half a million subscribers in the region, including those in Malaysia and Thailand, iflix is hands down as Southest Asia’s most popular SVoD service.

Iflix co-founder and group chief executive Mark Britt said the company would continue to roll out its world-class service to more key emerging markets globally in the coming year.

“We’re thrilled at the outstanding reception iflix has received to date. We are 100 percent com-

mitted to delivering the best content and service available to our rapidly growing, loyal subscriber base across the region, with award winning exclusive programming such as Mr. Robot, Fargo, UnReal and Black Sails, and all new game changing features, to be announced soon,” he said.

“We are currently discussing collaborations with many of leading brands both regionally and worldwide to bring greater value to our customers and theirs,” he added.

With the addition of the critically acclaimed series Mr. Robot, exclusively available on iflix, to its vast content library, iflix looks to further extend its considerable lead in content viewership.

The company said it streamed 150

million minutes of the Philippines’ favorite movies and TV programs.

The figure is 15 times greater than the reported video-minute consumption of the closest competitor.

“We are also grateful to have PLDT, the Philippines’ broadband leader as a partner to power our content platforms with their strong network. With PLDT HOME’s extensive reach, we are able to bring premium entertainment to millions of Filipinos all over the country,” Britt said.

In partnership with over 50 of the world’s top studios including Disney, MGM, Paramount, Warner Brothers,Twentieth Century Fox and CBS, iflix delivers premium TV programming and the largest library of compelling and family-friendly Hol-

lywood content across a wide range of genres. iflix’s notable TV titles include hits such as The Big Bang Theory, Arrow, Modern Family, American Horror Story, Glee, How I Met Your Mother, Vampire Diaries, Sherlock, Attack on Titan, Marvel’s Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D., Scandal, Once Upon a Time and Conan.

Its movie library carries classic movie trilogies such as The Godfather, The Lord of The Rings and The Matrix. It also boasts of an extensive kids’ library with titles including Peppa Pig, HI-5, Adventure Time, Dora the Explorer, SpongebobSquarepants, and Ben 10. K-drama lovers can also enjoy top Korean hits such as Boys Over Flowers, Secret Garden and My Sassy Girl.

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

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

B5

Govt re-issues P16.22-b bonds THE government awarded P16.22 billion of re-issued five-year Treasury bonds in Tuesday’s auction at slightly higher rates, the Bureau of Treasury said Tuesday.

Rates of the treasury bonds averaged 3.169 percent, or 8 basis points higher than 3.089 percent in the previous auction.

“We were just following our internal guidelines. Well around this rate, these are the upper end of our internal guideline based on our assessment. [This] is a little over r2 [secondary market],” said National Treasurer Roberto Tan. Tan said the market was still uncertain on how to react over the impending US Federal rate hike in

December.

“The market is still uncertain about the future still and therefore they would like to play on the safe side of the price range,” Tan said.

“There is still uncertainty although there has been [a] change of view by many... on how the Fed will be deciding in the next meeting in December,” he added.

The re-issued treasury bonds has two years and seven months remaining in their life and will mature on May 23, 2018.

Total tender amounted to P36.17 billion, or over P16 billion from the original offer of P25 billion.

The government thought of raising the rates to 3.215 percent and 3.170 percent before settling for an average of 3.190 percent.

Tan, meanwhile, said the government had no immediate plan for an international bond offering.

“We are giving ourselves an opportunistic stand on this there is a good window when there is very good opportunity and we will consider it. Right now there’s no plan.

Although we monitor the market closely,” he said.

He said the government was waiting for a less volatile market and reasonable pricing.

Tan also said the government

had no decision yet in joining the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank.

“There’s no decision yet. That is still being discussed by the president and the principals,” he said.

The Bureau of Treasury earlier said it would keep a domestic borrowing cap of P135 billion in the last quarter of the year.

The agency said in a notice posted in its Web site last month it maintained the fourth-quarter local borrowing ceiling through the auction of treasury bills and bonds in October to December 2015 to finance this year’s budget deficit.

The government plans to sell P20 billion worth of 91-, 182-, and 364-day debt papers on Nov. 4 and Dec. 9. It will also sell P25 billion

worth of treasury bonds through auctions on Oct. 22, Nov. 20 and Dec. 17.

The auctions of the various debt paper with short and long tenors were the same as programmed in the first three quarters of the year.

The government is keeping a borrowing mix of 14 percent foreign and 86 percent domestic in 2015.

The government plans to borrow about P95 billion from the international market and P605.1 billion from domestic sources.

The government in 2014 borrowed P369 billion—the lowest amount since P275 billion in 2002.

The gross borrowings last year were also 33.5 percent lower than P555 billion in 2013.

Gabrielle H. Binaday

Aboitiz subsidiary to put up own cable

By Alena Mae S. Flores

World Food Day artists. Agriculture Secretary Proceso Alcala (left, center) and Food and Agriculture Organization Representative in the Philippines Jose Luis Fernandez congratulate the top five winners of the World Food Day On-the-Spot Mosaic Poster Making Contest held on October 10, 2015 at the Bureau of Soils and Water Management in Quezon City. The five young artists, namely (from left) Oscarjay Cuer (South Cotabato), Kaiza Marie Otero of Sto. Domingo Elementary School, Iloilo; Reynolo Gannapao (Abra), Kristine Shayne Obillo (Pangasinan) and Patrick Lance Santos (Nueva Vizcaya), are adjudged this year’s best for expressing the WFD ’15 theme—Social protection and agriculture: Breaking the cycle of rural poverty in creative and unique works of arts.

NGCP seeking military help to restore power lines

By Alena Mae S. Flores NATIONAL Grid Corporation of the Philippines has sought immediate assistance from the government and the Philippine Army to address right-of-way problems that could cause more brownouts in Mindanao.

National Grid’s right-of-way problems reached a critical level with the sustained tripping of the Agus 2-Kibawe Line 1 in Mindanao at 9:39 a.m. on October 17.

National Grid head of operations and maintenance Gildo Listano said the restoration of the line had also been hampered by the security problem in Marawi City.

“The tripping of the line was caused by a fallen tree cutting the line conductors. This leaves NGCP with only one line [Agus-

Kibawe line] catering to the Agus 1 and 2 power plants and threatening the entire Mindanao island with complete isolation from these hydropower plants should the remaining line become unavailable,” Listano said.

He said the isolation of an additional 260 megawatts of power capacity from Agus 1 and Agus 2 power plants would translate into around one to two hours of brownouts in the Mindanao grid, on top of the current shortfall experienced in the area.

“Outage of the hydroelectric plants along the Agus River due to vegetation problem further increases the generation deficiency in Mindanao which can be translated into several hours of rotating brownouts,” Listano said.

National Grid, in a separate statement, said the situation was

further aggravated when landowners barred NGCP personnel to clear and restore the critical lines.

“It has become the practice of some uncooperative landowners to intentionally plant trees or build structures under high voltage transmission lines, and demand for recompense when we seek entry into the property to conduct maintenance activities. The trees and other structures under our facilities breach our safety clearances and endanger the reliability of the entire grid,” NGCP said.

The company sought an urgent request to the Energy Department and the Philippine Army to assist in the negotiations with landowners and clearing of the lines, respectively, as soon as possible.

The frequent dips in voltage and frequency severely affect both

household appliances and industrial equipment.

“NGCP is seeking all avenues of support, from the DoE to the military to the public. We are also appealing to the local government units for a resolution prohibiting tree-planting and building any structure under transmission lines. This does not only affect NGCP or the hydro-plants, which form the bulk of their power supply, but all the power consumers in Mindanao stand to bear even longer power interruptions,” the company said.

National Grid said three transmission lines remain out due to R0W issues. These are Baloi-Agus 2 138 kV Line (out since July 26, 2014), Baloi-Agus 2 138 kV line 2 (out since November 18, 2014) and Baloi-Agus 6 69 kV line (out since December 27, 2014).

ASEAGAS Corp., a company controlled by the Aboitiz Group, has sought approval to construct point-to-point transmission facilities to connect an 8.8-megawatt power plant to the Luzon grid.

Aseagas asked the Energy Regulatory Commission to test, commission and dispatch the output of the plant to the 69 kV Calaca-Nasugbu transmission line of National Grid Corp. of the Philippines.

The company is currently constructing a biomass plant in Lian, Batangas, which is expected to go onstream this year.

“To enable Aseagas to comply, at the shortest time possible, with the requirements and the installation target for biomass energy as set by the DoE, urgency exists as to the project plant’s commissioning and testing. The grant of a provisional authority will greatly aid Aseagas in contributing to the biomass supply availability,” Aseagas said.

“The proposed Aseagas pointto-point project is the shortest, most economical and viable option to connect the project plant to the transmission system. The point-to-point project, which shall be used exclusively by the project plant, is required to test, commission, dispatch and connect the project plant to the transmission system,” it said.

The company has already secured the environmental compliance certificate from the Environment Department and a certificate of confirmation of commerciality under the feed-in tariff system of the Energy Department.

“Based on the system impact study conducted by JC Electrofields Power System Inc., the proposed Aseagas point-to-point project of the 8.8-MW project plant is technically feasible,” the company said.

K U WA I T A I R WAYS G E N E R A L C O N D I T I O N S O F C A R R I AG E ( PA S S E N G E R A N D B AG G AG E ) A R T I C L E 1: W H AT PA R T I C U L A R E X P R E S S I O N S M E A N IN THESE CONDITIONS As you read these conditions, please note the following abbreviations & glossar y of terms: " W e ", " o u r ", " o u r s e l v e s " a n d " u s " m e a n s ( K u w a i t A i r w a y s , K u w a i t a i r w a y s , K u w a i t a i r, K u w a i t - a i r, K u w a i t air lines, K AC or KU. " Yo u", " yo u r " an d " yo u r s e l f " m e ans any p e r s o n (s), exc e pt m e mb e r s of t h e c rew, c ar r i e d o r to b e c ar r i e d in an air c r af t p ur suant to a t i c ket . (S e e al s o d ef init i o n fo r " Pas s e n g e r " ).

"AG R E E D S T O P P I N G P L AC E S " m e a n s t h o s e p l a c e s , exc ept the plac e of depar ture and the plac e of destination, s e t o u t i n t h e t i c ke t o r s h o w n i n o u r t i m e t a b l e s a s scheduled stopping places on your route.

"A I R L I N E D E S I G N AT O R C O D E " m e a n s t h e t w o c h a r a c t e r s or three letters, which identif y par ticular air carriers.

"A U T H O R I S E D AG E N T " m e a n s a p a s s e n g e r s a l e s a g e n t who has been appointed by us to represent us in the sale of air transpor tation on our ser vices. " BAG G AG E " m e ans yo ur p e r s o nal p r o p e r t y ac c o mpany in g yo u in c o nne c t i o n w it h yo ur t r ip. U nl e s s ot h e r w i s e sp e c i f i e d it c o nsi st s of b ot h yo ur Ch e c ke d an d U nc h e c ke d B ag g ag e. " BAG G AG E CH ECK " m e ans t h o s e p o r t i o ns of t h e t i c ket w hi c h re late to t h e c ar r i ag e of yo ur C h e c ke d B ag g ag e. " B AG G AG E I D E N T I F I C AT I O N TAG " m e a n s a d o c u m e n t i s s u e d s o l e l y f o r i d e n t i f i c a t i o n o f c h e c ke d b a g g a g e .

"CARRIER" means an air carrier other than ourselves, w h o s e a i r l i n e d e s i g n a t o r c o d e a p p e a r s o n y o u r t i c ke t o r o n a c o n j u n c t i o n t i c ke t .

"CHECKED BAGGAGE" means baggage of which we take custody and for which we have issued a baggage check. " C H E C K- I N D E A D L I N E " m e a n s t h e t i m e l i m i t s p e c i f i e d b y t h e a i r l i n e (s) b y w h i c h y o u m u s t h a v e c o m p l e t e d c h e c k- i n formalities and received your boarding pass. " CO N D I T I O N S O F CO NT R AC T " m e ans t h o s e st ate m e nt s c o nt ain e d in o r de li ve re d w it h yo ur t i c ket o r I t in e r ar y/ Re c e ipt , i de nt i f i e d as suc h an d w hi c h inc o r p o r ate by refe re nc e, t h e s e C o n dit i o ns of C ar r iag e an d n ot i c e s. " C O N J U N C T I O N T I C K E T " m e a n s a t i c ke t i s s u e d t o y o u w i t h r e l a t i o n t o a n o t h e r t i c ke t , w h i c h t o g e t h e r c o n s t i t u t e a single contract of carriage.

"CONVENTION" means whichever of the following instruments are applicable: The Convention for the Unif ic ation of Cer tain Rules R e l a t i n g t o I n t e r n a t i o n a l C a r r i a g e b y A i r, s i g n e d a t W a r s a w, 12 O c t o b e r 19 2 9 ( h e r e i n a f t e r r e f e r r e d t o a s t h e W a r s a w C o n v e n t i o n) ; The Warsaw Convention as amended at the Hague on 2 8 S e p t e m b e r 19 5 5 ; The Warsaw Convention as amended by Additional P r o t o c o l N o .1 o f M o n t r e a l (19 7 5 ) ; The Warsaw Convention as amended at the Hague and b y A d d i t i o n a l P r o t o c o l N o . 2 o f M o n t r e a l (19 7 5 ) ; The Warsaw Convention as amended at the Hague and b y A d d i t i o n a l P r o t o c o l N o . 4 o f M o n t r e a l (19 7 5 ) ; Guadalajara supplementar y Convention (19 61) (G u a d a l a j a r a) ; o r T h e M o n t r e a l C o n v e n t i o n (19 9 9) i n f o r c e o n 4 /11/ 2 0 0 3 .

"COUPON" means both a hard paper Flight Coupon and/ or an Electronic Coupon, each of which entitle the named passenger to travel on the par ticular f light identif ied on it. " D A M AG E " i n c l u d e s d e a t h , w o u n d i n g , o r b o d i l y i n j u r y t o a p a s s e n g e r, t h e f t , l o s s , p a r t i a l l o s s o r o t h e r d a m a g e , arising out of or in connection with carriage or other ser vic es incidental thereto per for med by us. " D AY S " m e a n c a l e n d a r d a y s , i n c l u d i n g a l l s e v e n d a y s o f the week; provided that, for the purpose of notif ication, the day upon which notic e is dispatched shall not be c o u n t e d; a n d p r o v i d e d f u r t h e r t h a t f o r p u r p o s e s o f d e t e r m i n i n g d u r a t i o n o f v a l i d i t y o f a t i c ke t , t h e d a y u p o n w h i c h t h e t i c ke t i s i s s u e d , o r t h e f l i g h t c o m m e n c e d s h a l l not be counted. " D G CA" m e ans D ire c to r ate G e n e r al of Ci v i l Av i at i o n of t h e S t ate of Ku wait . " ELECTRONIC COUPON" means an Electronic Flight Coupon or other value document held in our database. " E LEC T RO N I C T I CK E T " o r " E-T i c ke t " m e ans t h e I t in e r ar y/ Re c e ipt i s sue d by us o r o n o ur b e hal f, t h e El e c t r o ni c C o up o ns an d, i f ap p li c ab l e a b o ar din g d o c um e nt . T h e E- t i c ket , t h e C o n dit i o ns of C ar r i ag e an d o ur Te r m s an d C o n dit i o ns (inc lu din g ap p li c ab l e Tar i f f s) to g et h e r c o nst itute t h e te r ms an d c o n dit i o ns of t h e C o nt r ac t of C ar r i ag e b et we e n yo u an d us. T h e s e C o n dit i o ns of C ar r i ag e an d o ur Te r ms an d c o n dit i o ns c an b e fo un d, p r inte d an d ac c e s s e d in f ull o n o ur We bs ite. " FLIGHT COUPON" means that por tion of the ticket that bears the notation "good for passage" or in the case of an Electronic Ticket, the Electronic Coupon, and indicates the par ticular places bet ween which you are entitled to be carried. “ F O R C E M A J E U R E E V E N T S ”: A n y c o n d i t i o n b e y o n d K A C ’s control including, but without limitation, meteorological conditions, acts of nature, riots, civil commotion, embargoes, wars, hostilities, disturbances or unsettled international conditions-actual, threatened or repor ted.

A l s o , b e c a u s e o f a n y d e l a y, d e m a n d , c i r c u m s t a n c e s o r r e q u i r e m e n t d u e , d i r e c t l y o r i n d i r e c t l y, t o s u c h c o n d i t i o n s , o r a n y s t r i ke , w o r k s t o p p a g e , s l o w d o w n , l o c k o u t o r a n y o t h e r l a b o r r e l a t e d d i s p u t e i n v o l v i n g o r a f f e c t i n g K A C ’s s e r v i c e /o p e r a t i o n , o r a n y g o v e r n m e n t r e g u l a t i o n , d e m a n d o r r e q u i r e m e n t , o r a n y s h o r t a g e o r u n a v a i l a b i l i t y o f l a b o r, fuel, electr icit y or facilities of K AC or others, or any fact not reasonably foreseen, anticipated or predicted by K A C ”. " I T I N E R A RY/ R ECE I P T " m e ans d o c um e nt(s) we i s su e to pas s e n g e r s t r ave ling o n El e c t r o ni c T i c ket s t hat c o nt ains t h e pas s e n g e r 's nam e, f li g ht info r mat i o n an d n ot i c e s. " PA S S E N G E R " m e a n s a n y p e r s o n (s) , e x c e p t m e m b e r s o f t h e c r e w o n d u t y, c a r r i e d o r t o b e c a r r i e d i n a n a i r c r a f t p u r s u a n t t o a t i c ke t . (S e e a l s o d e f i n i t i o n f o r " y o u ", " y o u r " and "yourself "). " PA S S E N G E R C O U P O N " o r " PA S S E N G E R R E C E I P T " m e a n s t h a t p o r t i o n o f t h e t i c ke t i s s u e d b y u s o r o n o u r b e h a l f, w h i c h i s s o m a r ke d a n d w h i c h u l t i m a t e l y i s t o b e retained by you. " S T O P O V E R " m e a n s a s c h e d u l e d s t o p o n y o u r j o u r n e y, at a point bet ween the place of depar ture and the place of destination. " SPECIAL DR AWING RIGHT " or " SDR" means the composite unit of currency that is the of f icial unit of exchange if the International Monetar y Fund. " TA R I FF " m e ans t h e pub li sh e d f ar e s, c har g e s an d /o r re late d C o n dit i o ns of C ar r i ag e of an air lin e f i l e d, w h e n r e quir e d, w it h t h e ap p r o p r iate aut h o r it i e s. " T I CK E T " m e ans e it h e r t h e d o c um e nt e nt it l e d " Pas s e n g e r T i c ket an d B ag g ag e Ch e c k " o r t h e El e c t r o ni c T i c ket , in e ac h c as e i s sue d by us o r o n o ur b e hal f, an d inc lu d e s t h e C o n dit i o ns of C o nt r ac t , N ot i c e s an d C o up o ns. " T R AV E L R E G U L AT I O N S " m e a n s t h e r u l e s , o t h e r t h a n t h e s e C o n d i t i o n s o f C a r r i a g e , p u b l i s h e d b y u s (a s amended) and in ef fect on the date the booking is made w h i c h g o v e r n t h e c a r r i a g e o f p a s s e n g e r s B a g g a g e a n d /o r c a r g o a n d s h a l l i n c l u d e a p p l i c a b l e Ta r i f f s i n f o r c e; t h e s e are available on our Website and at our of f ic es upon request. " U N C H E C K E D B AG G AG E " m e a n s a n y o f y o u r b a g g a g e o t h e r t h a n C h e c ke d B a g g a g e . " VA L I D I T Y P E R I O D " m e a n s t h e p e r i o d f o r w h i c h y o u r E -T i c ke t i s v a l i d " W E B S I T E " m e a n s K u w a i t A i r w a y s i n t e r n e t s i t e w w w. kuwaitair ways.c om or any alter native site you may be notif ied or directed to use.

ARTICLE 2: APPLICABILIT Y 2 .1. G E N E R A L E x c e p t a s p r o v i d e d i n a r t i c l e s (2 . 2 , 2 . 4 & 2 . 5 ) , o u r Conditions of Carriage apply only on those flights, or flight segments, where our name or Airline Designator C o d e i s i n d i c a t e d i n t h e c a r r i e r b o x o f t h e t i c ke t f o r t h a t flight or flight segment.

2 . 2 . C H A R T E R O P E R AT I O N S If carriage is per formed pursuant to a char ter agreement, these Conditions of Car r iage apply only to the ex tent they are inc or porated by referenc e or other wise, in the char ter a g r e e m e n t o r t h e t i c ke t .

2.3. CODE SHARES On some ser vices we have arrangements with other c a r r i e r s k n o w n a s " C o d e S h a r e s ". T h i s m e a n s t h a t e v e n i f y o u h a v e a r e s e r v a t i o n w i t h u s a n d h o l d a t i c ke t w h e r e our name or airline designator code is indicated as the c a r r i e r, a n o t h e r c a r r i e r m a y o p e r a t e t h e a i r c r a f t . I f s u c h arrangements apply we will advise you of the carrier operating the aircraft.

2 . 4 . O V E R R I D I N G L AW To t h e e x t e n t t h a t a n y p r o v i s i o n c o n t a i n e d o r r e f e r r e d t o herein is c ontrar y to any thing c ontained in the Convention, where applic able, and any applic able laws, gover nment regulations, orders, or requirements that cannot be waived by agreement of the par ties, such provision shall n o t a p p l y. T h e i n v a l i d i t y o f a n y p r o v i s i o n s h a l l n o t a f f e c t the validit y of any other provision herein.

2 . 5 . C O N D I T I O N S P R E VA I L O V E R R E G U L AT I O N S E xc ept as provided in these Conditions of Car riage, in the event of inc onsistency bet ween these Conditions of Car r iage and any other regulations we may have dealing with par ticular subjects, these Conditions of Carriage shall prevail.

ARTICLE 3: TICKETS 3 .1. G E N E R A L P R O V I S I O N S 3 .1.1. a W e w i l l p r o v i d e c a r r i a g e o n l y t o t h e p a s s e n g e r n a m e d i n t h e E -T i c ke t , a n d y o u m a y b e r e q u i r e d t o produce appropriate identification. As used in this c o n t r a c t : " e l e c t r o n i c t i c ke t " m e a n s a n e l e c t r o n i c e n t r y / c o u p o n s t o r e d i n o u r r e s e r v a t i o n s s y s t e m (a n d , w h e r e applicable the reser vations system of one or more o t h e r c a r r i e r s) r e c o r d i n g a f l i g h t b o o k i n g f o r w h i c h t h e c a r r i e r o r i t s a u t h o r i z e d a g e n t h a s i s s u e d a n E -T i c ke t receipt /itinerar y and of which these conditions and all of the notices contained herein form par t, "carriage" is e q u i v a l e n t t o " t r a n s p o r t a t i o n ", " c a r r i e r " m e a n s a l l a i r c a r r i e r s t h a t c a r r y o r u n d e r t a ke t o c a r r y t h e p a s s e n g e r or their baggage hereunder or per for m any other ser vic e incidental to such air c arriage, " Montreal Convention" means the Convention for the Unif ic ation of Cer tain Rules Relating to Inter national Car riage by A ir signed at M o n t r e a l , 2 8 M a y 19 9 9 , " S D R " m e a n s t h e c o m p o s i t e u n i t of currency known as the Special Drawing Right that is the of f icial unit of exchange of the Inter national Monetar y Fu n d , " W a r s a w C o n v e n t i o n " m e a n s t h e C o n v e n t i o n f o r the Unification of Cer tain Rules Relating to International

C a r r i a g e b y A i r s i g n e d a t W a r s a w, 12 O c t o b e r 19 2 9 , o r t h a t C o n v e n t i o n a s a m e n d e d a t T h e H a g u e , 2 8 S e p t e m b e r 19 5 5 , whichever may be applic able. Car riage hereunder is subject to the rules and limitations relating to liability established by the Warsaw Convention or the M ontreal Convention unless such carriage is not "international carriage" as d e f i n e d b y o n e o f t h o s e C o n v e n t i o n s . To t h e e x t e n t n o t i n conflict with the foregoing conditions, carriage and other s e r v i c e s p e r f o r m e d b y e a c h c a r r i e r a r e s u b j e c t t o: ( i ) p r o v i s i o n s c o n t a i n e d i n t h e E -T i c ke t r e c e i p t / i t i n e r a r y ; ( i i ) applic able tarif fs; and (iii) c arrier 's Conditions of Carriage a n d r e l a t e d r e g u l a t i o n s w h i c h a r e m a d e p a r t h e r e o f (a n d a r e a v a i l a b l e o n a p p l i c a t i o n a t o u r o f f i c e s o r o n o u r W e b s i t e) .

These Conditions of Carriage, Baggage Policy and other terms and conditions can be found, printed and accessed in full on our Website.

3 .1.1. b T I C K E T P R I M A FA C I E E V E I D E N C E O F C O N T R A C T The E-ticket, these Conditions of Carriage and our Terms and Conditions (including applicable Tarif fs) together constitute the terms and conditions of the Contract of Carriage bet ween you and us which are available on our Website We will only provide c ar r iage to the customer named in t h e E - t i c ke t w h o p r e s e n t s v a l i d c o n f i r m a t i o n , d u l y i s s u e d b y u s i n r e s p e c t o f t h a t p e r s o n f o r t h e f l i g h t . Yo u w i l l a l s o be required to produce positive photographic identif ication identif ying you as the customer named in the booking and valid travel documentation in the form of passpor t, and any visa or other documentation required, satisf ying the relevant authorities for the jour ney you are under taking.

3 .1. 2 . A t i c ke t i s n o t t r a n s f e r a b l e .

3 .1. 3 . S o m e t i c ke t s a r e s o l d a t d i s c o u n t e d f a r e s w h i c h m a y b e p a r t i a l l y o r c o m p l e t e l y n o n - r e f u n d a b l e . Yo u s h o u l d c h o o s e t h e f a r e b e s t s u i t e d t o y o u r n e e d s . Yo u m a y a l s o wish to ensure that you have appropriate insurance to cover i n s t a n c e s w h e r e y o u h a v e t o c a n c e l y o u r t i c ke t .

3 .1. 4. I f yo u have a t i c ket as de sc r ib e d ab ove in 3 .1. 3 . w hi c h i s c o m p l ete ly unus e d, an d yo u are p reve nte d f r o m t r ave ling du e to Fo r c e M aj eure, p r ov i de d t hat yo u p r o mpt ly adv i s e us an d f ur ni sh ev i de nc e of suc h Fo rc e M aj eure, we w ill p r ov i de yo u w it h a c r e dit fo r t h e n o n - ref un dab l e am o unt of t h e f are, fo r f utur e t r ave l w it h us, "subj e c t to de duc t i o n of a re as o nab l e admini st r at i o n fe e".

3 .1. 5 . T h e t i c ke t i s a n d r e m a i n s a t a l l t i m e s t h e p r o p e r t y o f t h e i s s u i n g c a r r i e r.

3 .1. 6 . T h e E -T i c ke t y o u h a v e p u r c h a s e d i s v a l i d f o r t r a n s p o r t a t i o n o n l y a s s h o w n o n t h e E - t i c ke t f o r t h e customer named, from the place of origin to the final destination on the date and f light number shown. If you wish to change your f light you must contact us in advance.

All changes must be made at least 24 hours prior to the f l i g h t ' s d e p a r t u r e; s u c h c h a n g e s m a y o n l y b e m a d e b y t h e c u s t o m e r n a m e d i n t h e b o o k i n g a n d /o r t h e p e r s o n w h o m a d e the or iginal booking. A ny additional fare due, in ac c ordanc e w i t h o u r Tr a v e l R e g u l a t i o n s a n d Ta r i f f s a n d a n y a p p l i c a b l e administration fees, will be calculated and you will be given the option of accepting the new price or maintaining y o u r o r i g i n a l t r a n s p o r t a t i o n a s E - t i c ke t e d . D e t a i l e d r u l e s r e l a t i n g t o f a r e s a n d c h a n g e s t o E - t i c ke t s a r e a v a i l a b l e upon request. We shall not be liable to any person entitled to be c ar r ied by us or for any refund in c onnection with a p r o p o s e d f l i g h t i f, i n g o o d f a i t h , w e p r o v i d e c a r r i a g e t o a p e r s o n p u r p o r t i n g t o b e e n t i t l e d t o c a r r i a g e o r m a ke a n y r e f u n d t o t h e p e r s o n e n t i t l e d i n a c c o r d a n c e t h e A r t i c l e10 .

3 .1.7. a I n c a s e o f l o s s o r m u t i l a t i o n o f a t i c ke t (o r p a r t o f i t) b y y o u o r n o n - p r e s e n t a t i o n o f a t i c ke t c o n t a i n i n g t h e Passenger Coupon and all unused Flight Coupons, upon y o u r r e q u e s t w e w i l l r e p l a c e s u c h t i c ke t (o r p a r t o f i t) b y i s s u i n g a n e w t i c ke t , p r o v i d e d t h e r e i s e v i d e n c e , r e a d i l y a s c e r t a i n a b l e a t t h e t i m e , t h a t a t i c ke t v a l i d f o r t h e f l i g h t (s) in question was duly issued and you sign an agreement to reimburse us for any c osts and losses, up to the value of t h e o r i g i n a l t i c ke t , w h i c h a r e n e c e s s a r i l y a n d r e a s o n a b l y i n c u r r e d b y u s o r a n o t h e r c a r r i e r f o r m i s u s e o f t h e t i c ke t .

We will not claim reimbursement from you for any such loss which results from our own negligence. The issuing carrier may charge a reasonable administration fee for this ser vic e, unless the loss or mutilation was due to the negligence of the issuing carrier or its agent.

3 .1.7. b W h e r e s u c h e v i d e n c e i s n o t a v a i l a b l e , o r y o u d o not sign such an agreement; the carrier issuing the new t i c ke t m a y r e q u i r e y o u t o p a y u p t o t h e f u l l t i c ke t p r i c e f o r a r e p l a c e m e n t t i c ke t , s u b j e c t t o r e f u n d i f a n d w h e n t h e original issuing carrier is satisfied that the lost or mutilated t i c ke t h a s n o t b e e n u s e d b e f o r e t h e e x p i r y o f i t s v a l i d i t y.

I f, u p o n f i n d i n g t h e o r i g i n a l t i c ke t b e f o r e t h e e x p i r y o f i t s v a l i d i t y, y o u s u r r e n d e r i t t o t h e c a r r i e r i s s u i n g t h e n e w t i c ke t , t h e f o r e g o i n g r e f u n d w i l l b e p r o c e s s e d a t t h a t t i m e .

3 .1. 8 . A t i c ke t i s v a l u a b l e a n d y o u s h o u l d t a ke a p p r o p r i a t e measures to safeguard it and ensure it is not lost or stolen.

3 . 2 . P E R I O D O F VA L I D I T Y 3 . 2 .1. E x c e p t a s o t h e r w i s e p r o v i d e d i n t h e t i c ke t , t h e s e c o n d i t i o n s , o r i n a p p l i c a b l e t a r i f f s , (w h i c h m a y l i m i t t h e v a l i d i t y o f a t i c ke t , i n w h i c h c a s e t h e l i m i t a t i o n w i l l b e s h o w n o n t h e t i c ke t) , a t i c ke t i s v a l i d f o r : 3 . 2 .1. a . O n e y e a r f r o m t h e d a t e o f i s s u e; o r 3 . 2 .1. b . S u b j e c t t o t h e f i r s t t r a v e l o c c u r r i n g w i t h i n o n e y e a r from the date of issue, one year from the date of f irst travel u n d e r t h e t i c ke t .

3. 2 . 2 . When you are prevented from traveling within t h e p e r i o d o f v a l i d i t y o f t h e t i c ke t " b e c a u s e a t t h e t i m e you request reser vations we are unable to conf irm a r e s e r v a t i o n ," t h e v a l i d i t y o f s u c h t i c ke t w i l l b e e x t e n d e d , o r you may be entitled to a refund in acc ordanc e with A r ticle 10 h e r e i n a f t e r.

3 . 2 . 3 . I f a f t e r h a v i n g c o m m e n c e d y o u r j o u r n e y, y o u a r e prevented from traveling within the period of validit y of the t i c ke t b y r e a s o n o f i l l n e s s , w e m a y e x t e n d t h e p e r i o d o f v a l i d i t y o f y o u r t i c ke t u n t i l t h e d a t e w h e n y o u b e c o m e f i t t o travel or until our f irst f light af ter such date, from the point where the jour ney is resumed on which spac e is available in the class of ser vice for which the fare has been paid. A medical cer tificate must attest to such illness. When the F l i g h t C o u p o n s r e m a i n i n g i n t h e t i c ke t , o r i n t h e c a s e o f a n E l e c t r o n i c T i c ke t , t h e E l e c t r o n i c C o u p o n , i n v o l v e o n e o r m o r e s t o p o v e r s , t h e v a l i d i t y o f s u c h t i c ke t m a y b e e x t e n d e d for not more than three months from the date shown on such c er tif ic ate. In such circumstanc es, we will similar ly ex tend t h e p e r i o d o f v a l i d i t y o f t i c ke t s o f o t h e r m e m b e r s o f y o u r immediate family ac c ompanying you.

3. 2 .4. In the event of the death of a passenger en route, t h e t i c ke t s o f p e r s o n s a c c o m p a n y i n g t h e p a s s e n g e r m a y be modif ied by waiving the minimum stay or ex tending the v a l i d i t y. I n t h e e v e n t o f a d e a t h i n t h e i m m e d i a t e f a m i l y o f a passenger who has commended travel, the validit y of t h e p a s s e n g e r ' s t i c ke t s a n d t h o s e o f h i s o r h e r i m m e d i a t e f a m i l y w h o a r e a c c o m p a n y i n g t h e p a s s e n g e r m a y l i ke w i s e be modif ied. A ny such modif ic ation shall be made upon rec eipt of a valid death c er tif ic ate and any such ex tension of validit y shall not be for a period longer than for t y- f ive (4 5 ) d a y s f r o m t h e d a t e o f t h e d e a t h .

3.3. COUPON SEQUENCE AND USE 3 . 3 .1. T h e t i c ket yo u have purc has e d i s vali d o nly fo r t r ansp o r t at i o n as sh ow n o n t h e t i c ket , f r o m t h e p lac e of d e par ture v ia any Agre e d S to p p in g Plac e s to t h e f inal d e st inat i o n. T h e f are yo u have pai d i s bas e d up o n o ur t ar i f f an d i s fo r t h e t r ansp o r t at i o n as sh ow n o n t h e t i c ket . It fo r ms an e s s e nt i al par t of o ur c o nt r ac t w it h yo u. T h e t i c ket w ill n ot b e h o n o r e d an d w ill l o s e it s vali dit y i f all t h e c o up o ns are n ot us e d in t h e s e que nc e p r ov i de d in t h e t i c ket .

3.3. 2 . Should you wish to change any aspect of your transpor tation you must contact us in advance. The fare for your new transpor tation will be calculated and you will be given the option of accepting the new price or maintaining y o u r o r i g i n a l t r a n s p o r t a t i o n a s t i c ke t e d . S h o u l d y o u b e required to change any aspect of your transpor tation due to Forc e Majeure, you must c ontact us as soon as possible and we will use reasonable ef for ts to transpor t you to your nex t Stopover or f inal destination, without rec alculation of the fare.

3.3.3. Should you change your transpor tation without any agreement, we will assess the correct price for your actual t r a v e l . Yo u w i l l h a v e t o p a y a n y d i f f e r e n c e b e t w e e n t h e p r i c e you have paid and the total price applic able for your revised transpor tation. We will refund you the dif ferenc e if the new price is lower but other wise, your unused coupons have no value.

3.3.4. Please be aware that while some types of changes will not result in a change of fare, others, such as changing t h e p l a c e o f d e p a r t u r e (f o r e x a m p l e i f y o u d o n o t f l y t h e f i r s t s e g m e n t) o r r e v e r s i n g t h e d i r e c t i o n y o u t r a v e l , c a n r e s u l t i n an increase in price.

Many fares are valid only on the dates and for the f lights s h o w n o n t h e t i c ke t a n d m a y n o t b e c h a n g e d a t a l l , o r o n l y upon payment of an additional fee.

3 . 3 . 5 . E a c h F l i g h t C o u p o n c o n t a i n e d i n y o u r t i c ke t w i l l b e accepted for transpor tation in the class of ser vice on the date and f light for which space has been reser ved. When a t i c ke t i s o r i g i n a l l y i s s u e d w i t h o u t a r e s e r v a t i o n b e i n g specif ied, spac e may be later reser ved subject to our tarif f and the availabilit y of space on the f light requested.

3.3.6. Please be advised that in the event you do not show up for any f light without advising us in advanc e, we may c a n c e l y o u r r e t u r n o r o n w a r d r e s e r v a t i o n s . H o w e v e r, i f y o u do advise us in advance, we will not cancel your subsequent f light reser vations.

3.4 NAME AND ADDRESS OF CARRIER O ur nam e m ay b e ab b rev iate d to o ur A ir line D e si gnato r C o de, o r ot h e r w i s e, in t h e t i c ket . O ur ad dre s s shall b e de e m e d to b e t h e air p o r t of de par ture sh ow n o p p o site t h e f ir st ab b rev iat i o n of o ur nam e in t h e "c ar r i e r " b ox in t h e t i c ket , o r in t h e c as e of an El e c t r o ni c T i c ket , as in di c ate d fo r o ur f ir st f li ght s e gm e nt in t h e It in e r ar y Re c e ipt .

A R T I C L E 4 : FA R E S , TA X E S , F E E S A N D C H A R G E S 4 .1. FA R E S Fa r e s a p p l y o n l y f o r c a r r i a g e f r o m t h e a i r p o r t a t t h e point of origin to the airpor t at the point of destination, u n l e s s o t h e r w i s e e x p r e s s l y s t a t e d . Fa r e s d o n o t i n c l u d e ground transpor t ser vice bet ween airpor ts and bet ween a i r p o r t s a n d t o w n t e r m i n a l s . Yo u r f a r e w i l l b e c a l c u l a t e d i n a c c o r d a n c e w i t h o u r Ta r i f f i n e f f e c t o n t h e d a t e o f p a y m e n t o f y o u r t i c ke t f o r t r a v e l o n t h e s p e c i f i c d a t e s a n d i t i n e r a r y shown on it. Should you change your itinerar y or dates of travel, this may impact the fare to be paid by you, or as the c ase may be, refunded by us, in acc ordanc e with our regulation.

4 . 2 . TA X E S , F E E S A N D C H A R G E S A pplic able ta xes, fees and charges imposed by gover nments o r o t h e r a u t h o r i t y, o r b y t h e o p e r a t o r o f a n a i r p o r t , s h a l l b e p a y a b l e b y y o u . A t t h e t i m e y o u p u r c h a s e y o u r t i c ke t , y o u will be advised of taxes, fees and charges not included in the fare, most of which will normally be shown separately o n t h e t i c ke t . T h e t a x e s , f e e s a n d c h a r g e s i m p o s e d o n a i r travel are constantly changing and can be imposed af ter the d a t e o f t i c ke t i s s u a n c e . I f t h e r e i s a n i n c r e a s e i n a t a x , f e e o r c h a r g e s h o w n o n t h e t i c ke t , y o u w i l l b e o b l i g e d t o p a y i t .

L i ke w i s e , i f a n e w t a x , f e e o r c h a r g e i s i m p o s e d e v e n a f t e r t i c ke t i s s u a n c e , y o u w i l l b e o b l i g e d t o p a y i t . S i m i l a r l y, i n the event any ta xes, fees or charges which you have paid to u s a t t h e t i m e o f t i c ke t i s s u a n c e a r e a b o l i s h e d o r r e d u c e d such that they no longer apply to you, or a lesser amount is due, you will be entitled to claim a refund in accordance w i t h A r t i c l e 10 i f t h e g o v e r n m e n t o r o t h e r a u t h o r i t y i m p o s i n g the tax, fee, or charge grants us a corresponding refund.

4 . 3 . C U R R E N CY Fa r e s , t a x e s , f e e s a n d c h a r g e s a r e p a y a b l e i n t h e c u r r e n c y o f t h e c o u n t r y i n w h i c h t h e t i c ke t i s i s s u e d , u n l e s s a n o t h e r cur rency is indic ated by us or our Authorized Agent, at or b e f o r e t h e t i m e p a y m e n t i s m a d e (f o r e x a m p l e , b e c a u s e o f t h e n o n - c o n v e r t i b i l i t y o f t h e l o c a l c u r r e n c y) . W e m a y a t o u r d i s c r e t i o n , a c c e p t p a y m e n t i n a n o t h e r c u r r e n c y.

A R T I C L E 5 : R E S E R VAT I O N S 5 .1. R E S E R VAT I O N R E Q U I R E M E N T S 5 .1.1. W e o r o u r A u t h o r i z e d A g e n t w i l l r e c o r d y o u r r e s e r v a t i o n (s) . U p o n r e q u e s t w e w i l l p r o v i d e y o u w i t h w r i t t e n c o n f i r m a t i o n o f y o u r r e s e r v a t i o n (s) .

5 .1. 2 . Yo u s h o u l d r e a d t h e r e s e r v a t i o n r e q u i r e m e n t s carefully because cer tain fares have conditions, that limit or exclude your r ight to change or c anc el reser vations.

5 .1. 3 . Yo u a r e r e q u i r e d t o p r o v i d e v a l i d m o b i l e p h o n e numbers and email address at the time of making reser vations so that we c an c ontact you in c ase of any c h a n g e s t o t h e f l i g h t s c h e d u l e /o p e r a t i o n . C o n t a c t w i l l b e made with Passengers by tex t message/SMS to the mobile phone number or via the e -mail address, as provided at the time of making the reser vation in respect of schedule c h a n g e (s) , f l i g h t c a n c e l l a t i o n o r g e n e r a l c o r r e s p o n d e n c e .

Ev i d e n c e o f d i s p a t c h o f t h e t e x t m e s s a g e /e - m a i l w i l l b e d e e m e d t o b e e v i d e n c e o f r e c e i p t and we shall not be responsible for your failure to provide correct mobile phone number or email address at the time of making reser vation.

5 .1. 4 . I f y o u h a v e n o t p r o v i d e d u s w i t h a v a l i d m o b i l e phone number or email address, you should re - check your out ward/return f light timings with our local of f ices or call center in Kuwait at least 72 hours prior to the scheduled t i m e o f d e p a r t u r e .”

5.2. TICKETING TIME LIMITS I f y o u h a v e n o t p a i d f o r t h e t i c ke t p r i o r t o t h e s p e c i f i e d t i c ke t i n g t i m e l i m i t , a s a d v i s e d b y u s o r o u r A u t h o r i z e d Agent, we may c anc el your reser vation.

5 . 3 . P E R S O N A L D ATA Yo u re c o gnize t hat p e r s o nal dat a has b e e n gi ve n to us fo r t h e pur p o s e s of : mak in g a re s e r vat i o n, pur c hasing a t i c ket , o bt aining anc illar y s e r v i c e s, deve l o p ing an d p r ov i ding s e r v i c e s, f ac ilit at ing im mi gr at i o n an d e nt r y p r o c e dur e s, an d mak ing availab l e suc h dat a to g ove r nm e nt ag e nc i e s, in c o nne c t i o n w it h yo ur t r ave l. Fo r t h e s e pur p o s e s, yo u aut h o r ize us to ret ain an d us e suc h dat a an d to t r ansmit it to o ur ow n of f i c e s, Aut h o r ize d Ag e nt s, G ove r nm e nt Ag e nc i e s, ot h e r C ar r i e r s o r t h e Pr ov i de r s of t h e ab ove - m e nt i o ne d s e r v i c e s.

5 . 4 . S E AT I N G We will endeavor to honor advanc e - seating requests; h o w e v e r, w e c a n n o t g u a r a n t e e a n y p a r t i c u l a r s e a t . W e reser ve the r ight to assign or reassign seats at any time, even af ter boarding of the aircraf t. This may be nec essar y for operational, safety or security reasons.

5 . 5 R E C O N F I R M AT I O N O F R E S E R VAT I O N S 5 . 5 .1 Yo u s h o u l d c h e c k t h e r e c o n f i r m a t i o n r e q u i r e m e n t s o f a n y o t h e r c a r r i e r s i n v o l v e d i n y o u r j o u r n e y. W h e r e i t i s required, you must reconfirm with the carrier whose code a p p e a r s f o r t h e f l i g h t i n q u e s t i o n o n t h e t i c ke t .

5 . 6 C A N C E L L AT I O N O F R E S E R VAT I O N S 5 . 6 .1 W e w i l l c a n c e l t h e u n u s e d p a r t o f y o u r o n w a r d r e s e r v a t i o n i f y o u d o n o t c h e c k- i n f o r a n y f l i g h t o r i f, h a v i n g c h e c ke d - i n , y o u f a i l t o p r e s e n t y o u r s e l f a t t h e b o a r d i n g g a t e with your boarding pass within the time limit specif ied by u s a t c h e c k- i n o r y o u a r e d e c l a r e d a s " n o - s h o w." Yo u w i l l also be declared as "no show" if you fail to connect on our f light due to delay of another air line f light. In such c ases your return booking also shall be cancelled and hence it is necessar y for you to reconf irm your return reser vations before f lying. If you are required to reconfirm your reser vation before a f light, you should approach us or our Authorized Agent immediately or at least 72 hours before y o u r r e t u r n j o u r n e y t o r e c o n f i r m y o u r r e t u r n j o u r n e y.

5.6.2 If you fail to reconfirm a reservation for any flight where it is required that reconfirmation is necessary, we may cancel all of your onward or return reservations. No refund of the fare paid will be available in respect of such cancelled reservation unless permitted by the conditions applicable to your Ticket.

5 . 6 . 3 I f, a f t e r w e h a v e c a n c e l l e d y o u r r e s e r v a t i o n b e c a u s e of your failure to reconf irm your reser vation where it is r e q u i r e d t h a t r e c o n f i r m a t i o n i s n e c e s s a r y, w e m a y r e i n s t a t e your reser vation at your request and carr y you if there is space on the f light to which your cancelled reser vation relates. If there is no space available on the f light, we will use reasonable ef for ts to tr y to carr y you on another of our f lights to your nex t or f inal destination, but we are not obliged to do so or pay any c ompensation or damages in connection therewith.

5 . 6 . 4 Yo u s h o u l d c h e c k t h e r e c o n f i r m a t i o n r e q u i r e m e n t s o f any other air lines involved in your c ar r iage with them and, w h e r e n e c e s s a r y, r e c o n f i r m w i t h t h e a i r l i n e w h o s e A i r l i n e D e s i g n a t o r C o d e i s e n t e r e d i n t h e T i c ke t f o r t h e f l i g h t i n question. We will have no liabilit y to you if another air line cancels one or more reser vations because you failed to reconf irm that reser vation where you were required to do s o . Yo u r r i g h t t o o n w a r d t r a v e l o r a r e f u n d w i l l b e g o v e r n e d by the Conditions of Car riage of the other air line.

5.6.5 If you miss your c onnecting f light on K AC due to the delay of another air line's f light and you or the air line which c aused the delay fail to rec onf ir m your retur n sector on K AC, then K AC reser ves the right to c anc el your retur n or o n w a r d j o u r n e y w i t h o u t l i a b i l i t y.

5 .6 .6 We w ill n ot b e liab l e to yo u fo r any l o s s o r ex p e ns e w hat s o eve r re sult in g f r o m yo ur f ailure to c o mp ly f ully w it h t h e re quire m e nt s as st ate d ab ove.

A R T I C L E 6 : C H E C K- I N A N D B O A R D I N G 6 .1 C h e c k- i n D e a d l i n e s a r e d i f f e r e n t a t e v e r y a i r p o r t a n d w e r e c o m m e n d t h a t y o u i n f o r m y o u r s e l f a b o u t t h e s e C h e c k- i n D e a d l i n e s a n d h o n o r t h e m . Yo u r j o u r n e y w i l l b e s m o o t h e r if you allow yourself ample time to comply with applicable C h e c k- i n D e a d l i n e s . W e r e s e r v e t h e r i g h t t o c a n c e l y o u r r e s e r v a t i o n i f y o u d o n o t c o m p l y w i t h t h e C h e c k- i n D e a d l i n e s i n d i c a t e d . C h e c k- i n D e a d l i n e s f o r o u r f l i g h t s c a n b e f o u n d in our timetable or on our Website, or may be obtained from our of fices or our Authorized Agents.

6 . 2 Yo u m u s t b e p r e s e n t a t t h e b o a r d i n g g a t e n o t l a t e r t h a n t h e t i m e s p e c i f i e d b y u s w h e n y o u c h e c k- i n .

6.3 We may c anc el the spac e reser ved for you if you fail to arrive at the boarding gate in time.

6. 4 We will not be liable to you for any loss or expense incurred due to your failure to comply with the provisions of this ar ticle.

6 . 5 Yo u a r e s o l e l y r e s p o n s i b l e f o r c o m p l y i n g w i t h a l l laws, regulations, orders, demands and requirements of countries to be f lown from, into or over and with our Car rier 's Regulations and instr uctions given by us relating thereto. We shall not be liable in any way whatsoever to you in connection with obtaining necessar y documents or complying with such laws, regulations, orders, demands, requirements or instructions, whether given orally or in writing or other wise, or for the consequences to you resulting from your failure to obtain such documents or to comply with such laws, regulations, orders, demands, requirements or instructions.

6.6 If specif ied on your booking c onf ir mation, you may be a s ke d t o p r e s e n t t h e c r e d i t c a r d u s e d t o p a y f o r t h e T i c ke t a t c h e c k- i n . O t h e r r u l e s m a y a p p l y f o r v a l i d a t i o n o f o t h e r for ms of payment.

6 .7 Yo u w i l l s u b j e c t y o u r s e l f t o a n d c o m p l y w i t h a s e c u r i t y check in accordance with the rules at the point of depar ture A R T I C L E 7: R E F U S A L A N D L I M I TAT I O N O F C A R R I AG E 7.1 R I G H T T O R E F U S E C A R R I AG E We may refuse c ar r iage of any passenger or passenger 's b a g g a g e f o r r e a s o n s o f s a f e t y o r i f, i n t h e e x e r c i s e o f i t s reasonable discretion, we determine that: 7.1.1. S u c h a c t i o n i s n e c e s s a r y i n o r d e r t o c o m p l y w i t h any applic able laws, regulations, or orders of any State or c ountr y to be f lown from, into or over;, or 7.1. 2 T h e c o n d u c t , a g e , o r m e n t a l o r p h y s i c a l s t a t e o f t h e p a s s e n g e r i s s u c h a s t o: (i) Cause discomfor t or m a ke himself or herself objectionable to other passengers crew members;, or (ii) Involve any hazard or r isk to himself or herself or to other persons or to proper ty; or 7.1. 3 S u c h a c t i o n i s n e c e s s a r y b e c a u s e t h e p a s s e n g e r h a s failed to obser ve any of DGCA , K AC by- laws or instr uctions; or not to obser ve the law ful commands of the Pilot- in C o m m a n d o r a n y i n s t r u c t i o n s s u c h a s a n d n o t l i m i t e d t o: Smoking, use of Electronic Devices, Consumption or c a r r y i n g o f A l c o h o l , Fa s t e n i n g S e a t B e l t s o r S t o w a g e o f C a r r y - o n - B a g g a g e; o r 7.1.4 The passenger has refused to submit to a security check; or 7.1. 5 T h e a p p l i c a b l e f a r e o r a n y c h a r g e s o r t a x e s p a y a b l e have not been paid, or credit arrangements agreed bet ween u s a n d t h e p a s s e n g e r (o r t h e p e r s o n p a y i n g f o r t h e t i c ke t) h a v e n o t b e e n c o m p l i e d w i t h; o r 7.1. 6 T h e p a s s e n g e r d o e s n o t a p p e a r t o b e p r o p e r l y d o c u m e n t e d; o r 7.1.7 T h e t i c ke t p r e s e n t e d b y t h e p a s s e n g e r i) Has been acquired unlaw fully or has been purchased from an entity other than us or our Authorized Agent, or i i ) H a s b e e n r e p o r t e d a s b e i n g l o s t o r s t o l e n; o r i i i ) I s a c o u n t e r f e i t t i c ke t ; o r i v) A n y f l i g h t c o u p o n h a s b e e n a l t e r e d b y a n y o n e o t h e r t h a n u s o r o u r A u t h o r i z e d A g e n t , o r h a s b e e n m u t i l a t e d; a n d w e r e s e r v e t h e r i g h t t o r e t a i n s u c h t i c ke t ; o r 7.1. 8 . T h e p e r s o n p r e s e n t i n g t h e t i c ke t c a n n o t p r o v e t h a t h e o r s h e i s t h e p e r s o n n a m e d i n t h e N A M E O F PA S S E N G E R b o x , a n d c a r r i e r r e s e r v e s t h e r i g h t t o r e t a i n s u c h t i c ke t (s) .

7. 2 R E F U S A L O F E N T R Y 7. 2 .1. I f y o u a r e r e f u s e d e n t r y t o a c o u n t r y ( i n c l u d i n g a countr y you transit through while en route to your d e s t i n a t i o n) , y o u m u s t r e i m b u r s e u s i n f u l l o n r e q u e s t any f ine, penalt y or charge assessed against us by the g o v e r n m e n t c o n c e r n e d ( i n c l u d i n g d e t e n t i o n c o s t s) a s w e l l as the fare for transpor ting you, and an escor t if required, f r o m t h a t c o u n t r y. W e w i l l n o t r e f u n d t o y o u t h e f a r e p a i d f o r c a r r i a g e t o t h e a i r p o r t w h e r e y o u w e r e r e f u s e d e n t r y.

7. 2 . 2 . Yo u m u s t r e i m b u r s e u s i n f u l l o n r e q u e s t t h e a m o u n t o f a n y f i n e , p e n a l t y, d e t e n t i o n c o s t s , d e p o r t a t i o n o r r e m o v a l e x p e n s e s , e s c o r t i n g c h a r g e s ( i f a n y) , c o s t o f t i c ke t (s) i s s u e d for you, or any other expenditure we incur bec ause you have failed to c omply with any laws, regulations, orders or other travel requirements of the countr y you have travelled to or because you have failed to produce the required travel documents on seeking entr y to a countr y or you have been r e f u s e d a d m i s s i o n i n t o t h e c o u n t r y. W e m a y u s e t h e v a l u e o f a n y u n u s e d c a r r i a g e o n y o u r T i c ke t o r a n y o f y o u r f u n d s i n our possession to pay sums due to us from you.

7. 2 . 3 . W e w i l l n o t b e l i a b l e t o y o u f o r t h e r e t u r n o f a n y o f y o u r t r a v e l d o c u m e n t s , i d e n t i f i c a t i o n d o c u m e n t s o r T i c ke t s c o n f i s c a t e d b y a g o v e r n m e n t a l o r o t h e r a u t h o r i t y.

7. 3 S P E C I A L A S S I S TA N C E / L I M I TAT I O N O N C A R R I AG E E x c e p t o n f l i g h t s t o a n d f r o m t h e U . S ., a c c e p t a n c e f o r carriage of unaccompanied children, incapacitated persons, pregnant women, persons with illness or other people requiring special assistance are subject to prior arrangement with us. Passengers with disabilities who have advised us of any special requirements they may have at t h e t i m e o f t i c ke t i n g , a n d b e e n a c c e p t e d b y u s , s h a l l n o t subsequently be refused carriage on the basis of such disabilit y or special requirements. The above shall be in a c c o r d a n c e w i t h o u r r e g u l a t i o n s , i f a n y, a p p l i c a b l e f r o m time to time.

A R T I C L E 8 : B AG G AG E Yo u m a y c a r r y s o m e B a g g a g e f r e e o f e x t r a c h a r g e . T h e amount of your free Baggage allowance and restrictions o n s i z e a r e s h o w n i n y o u r e -T i c ke t R e c e i p t / I t i n e r a r y a n d also as per our Regulations in force on the date of your f light which are available on our Website for referenc e.

8 .1 I T E M U N AC C E P TA B L E A S B AG G AG E 8 .1. a . Yo u s h a l l n o t i n c l u d e i n y o u r b a g g a g e: (i) Items, which do not c onstitute baggage as, def ined in A r ticle 1 hereof;, ( i i ) Ite m s w hi c h ar e like ly to e n dan g e r t h e air c r af t o r p e r s o ns o r p r o p e r t y o n b o ar d t h e air c r af t , suc h as t h o s e sp e c i f i e d in t h e D an g e r o us G o o ds Re gulat i o ns of t h e Inte r nat i o nal Ci v il Av iat i o n O r g aniz at i o n (I CAO) an d t h e Inte r nat i o nal A ir t r ansp o r t A s s o c iat i o n (I ATA) an d in o ur Re gulat i o ns & By - L aws (f ur t h e r info r m at i o n i s availab l e o n o ur We bsite o r f r o m o ur of f i c e s up o n r e que st); (iii) I t e m s t h e c a r r i a g e o f w h i c h i s p r o h i b i t e d b y t h e applic able laws, regulations or orders of any State to b e f l o w n f r o m , o r t o; ( i v) I t e m s w h i c h i n o u r o p i n i o n o f u n s u i t a b l e f o r c a r r i a g e b y r e a s o n o f t h e i r w e i g h t , s i z e o r c h a r a c t e r, s u c h a s fragile or perishable items; or (v) L i v e a n i m a l s , e x c e p t a s p r o v i d e d f o r i n p a r a g r a p h (10) of this ar ticle.

8 .1. b . F i r e a r m s a n d a m m u n i t i o n o t h e r t h a n f o r h u n t i n g and spor ting purposes are prohibited from carriage as baggage. Firearms and ammunition for hunting and s p o r t i n g p u r p o s e s m a y b e a c c e p t e d a s c h e c ke d b a g g a g e in accordance with our Regulations. Firearms must be u n l o a d e d w i t h t h e s a f e t y c a t c h o n , a n d s u i t a b l y p a c ke d .

C a r r i a g e o f a m m u n i t i o n i s s u b j e c t t o I C A O a n d I ATA Dangerous Good Regulations.

8 .1.c . T h e pas s e n g e r shall n ot inc lu de in c h e c ke d bag g ag e, f r agil e o r p e r i shab l e ite m s, m o ney, j ewe lr y, p r e c i o us m et als, silve r war e, ne g ot iab l e pap e r s, s e c ur it i e s o r ot h e r valuab l e s, busine s s d o c um e nt s, pas sp o r t s an d ot h e r i de nt i f i c at i o n d o c um e nt s o r s amp l e s.

8 .1.d. We ap o ns suc h as ant i que f ir e ar m s, swo r ds, k ni ve s an d similar ite m s m ay b e ac c e pte d as c h e c ke d bag g ag e, in ac c o r danc e w it h o ur r e gulat i o ns, but w ill n ot b e p e r mit te d in t h e c abin.

8 .1. e . I f any ite m s r efe r r e d to in sub - par agr ap hs (a) o r (b) of t hi s par agr ap h ar e c ar r i e d, w h et h e r o r n ot t h ey ar e p r o hibite d f r o m c ar r iag e as bag g ag e, t h e c ar r iag e t h e re of shall b e subj e c t to t h e c har g e s, limit at i o ns of liabilit y an d ot h e r p r ov i si o ns of t h e s e c o n dit i o ns ap p li c ab l e to t h e c ar r iag e of bag g ag e.

8 . 2 . R I G H T T O R E F U S E C A R R I AG E 8. 2 . a . We may refuse c ar r iage as baggage of such items d e s c r i b e d i n p a r a g r a p h (1) o f t h i s a r t i c l e a s a r e p r o h i b i t e d from c ar riage as baggage and may refuse fur ther c ar riage o f a n y s u c h i t e m s o n d i s c o v e r y t h e r e o f.

8. 2 .b. We may refuse to c ar r y as baggage any items b e c a u s e o f i t s s i z e , s h a p e , w e i g h t o r c h a r a c t e r.

8. 2 .c. Unless advance arrangements for its carriage have been made with us, we may c ar r y baggage on a later f light, if it is in exc ess of the applic able free allowanc e.

8 . 2 . d . W e m a y r e f u s e t o a c c e p t b a g g a g e a s c h e c ke d b a g g a g e u n l e s s i t i s p r o p e r l y p a c ke d i n a s u i t c a s e o r other suitable containers to ensure safe carriage with ordinar y care in handling.

8.3. RIGHT OF SEARCH F o r r e a s o n s o f s a f e t y a n d s e c u r i t y, y o u p e r s o n a l l y a r e subject to search and sc an, X- ray of your baggage, and search of your baggage in your absence, for the purpose of determining whether you are in possession of or whether your baggage c ontains any items descr ibed in paragraph 1 (a) a b o v e o r a n y a r m s o r a m m u n i t i o n s w h i c h h a v e n o t b e e n p r e s e n t e d t o u s i n a c c o r d a n c e w i t h p a r a g r a p h 1 ( b) above. If you are unwilling to comply with such request we may refuse to c ar r y you or your baggage. If required, you will at tend inspection of our Baggage by Customs or other gover nment of f icials. We will not be liable to you for damage suf fered by you in the c ourse of such inspection o r a s a r e s u l t o f y o u r f a i l u r e t o a t t e n d . Yo u m u s t a l l o w securit y checks, searches and sc ans of your person by us, our handling agents, government of f icials, airpor t of ficials, police or militar y of ficials and other airlines involved in your c arriage. If you do not allow all such security checks, searches and scans to be conducted, we will refuse to carr y you and your Baggage.

8 . 4 . C H E C K E D B AG G AG E 8.4.a. Your baggage shall be checked upon deliver y to us, at which time we shall take custody thereof and issue a baggage identif ication tag for each piece of checked baggage.

8.4.b. If baggage has no name, initials or other personal identification, you shall af f ix such identification to the baggage prior to our acceptance of the baggage.

8 . 4 . c . C h e c ke d b a g g a g e w i l l b e c a r r i e d o n t h e s a m e aircraf t as you unless we decide that this is impracticable, i n w h i c h c a s e w e s h a l l c a r r y t h e c h e c ke d b a g g a g e o n o u r nex t f light on which spac e is available.

8 . 5 . F R E E B AG G AG E A L L O WA N C E Yo u m a y c a r r y f r e e o f c h a r g e b a g g a g e a s s p e c i f i e d a n d subject to the conditions and limitations in accordance with our regulations as published on our Website.

8 . 6 . E XC E S S B AG G AG E Yo u shall pay a c har g e fo r t h e c ar r iag e of bag g ag e in exc e s s of t h e f r e e bag g ag e all owanc e at t h e r ate an d in t h e m anne r p r ov i de d in o ur r e gulat i o ns as pub li sh e d o n o ur We bsite.

8 .7. E XC E S S VA L U E D E C L A R AT I O N A N D C H A R G E 8 .7. a . I f i n a c c o r d a n c e w i t h o u r r e g u l a t i o n s a n d a s published on our Website , we of fer an exc ess valuation facilit y through which you may declare a value for c h e c ke d b a g g a g e i n e x c e s s o f t h e a p p l i c a b l e l i a b i l i t y l i m i t s . I f y o u m a ke s u c h a d e c l a r a t i o n y o u s h a l l p a y a n y applicable charges.

8 .7. b . W e s h a l l r e f u s e t o a c c e p t a n e x c e s s v a l u e d e c l a r a t i o n o n c h e c ke d b a g g a g e w h e n a p o r t i o n o f t h e c a r r i a g e i s t o b e p r o v i d e d b y a n o t h e r c a r r i e r, w h i c h d o e s n o t o f f e r t h e f a c i l i t y.

8 . 8 C A R R Y- O N B AG G AG E 8.8.a. Baggage which you carr y on to the aircraf t must f it under the seat in front of you or in an enclosed storage c ompar tment in the c abin. Items deter mined by us to be of exc essive weight or size will not be per mit ted in the c abin a n d m u s t b e t r a n s p o r t e d a s c h e c ke d b a g g a g e .

8.8.b. Objects not suitable for transpor t in the cargo c o m p a r t m e n t (s u c h a s d e l i c a t e m u s i c a l i n s t r u m e n t s a n d t h e l i ke) w i l l o n l y b e a c c e p t e d f o r t r a n s p o r t a t i o n i n the cabin compar tment if due notice has been given in advanc e and per mission has been granted by us. The t r a n s p o r t o f s u c h o b j e c t s m a y b e c h a r g e d f o r s e p a r a t e l y.

8 . 9 . C O L L E C T I O N A N D D E L I V E R Y O F B AG G AG E .

8 . 9. a . Yo u shall c o ll e c t yo ur bag g ag e as s o o n as it i s avai lab l e fo r c o ll e c t i o n at p lac e s of de st inat i o n o r sto p ove r.

8.9.b. Only the bearer of the baggage check and identif ication tag, delivered to you at the time the b a g g a g e w a s c h e c ke d , i s e n t i t l e d t o d e l i v e r y o f b a g g a g e .

Fa i l u r e t o e x h i b i t t h e b a g g a g e i d e n t i f i c a t i o n t a g s h a l l n o t prevent deliver y provided the baggage check is produced or the baggage is identif ied by other means.

8.9.c. If a person claiming the baggage is unable to produc e the baggage check and identif y the baggage by m e a n s o f a b a g g a g e ( i d e n t i f i c a t i o n) t a g , w e s h a l l d e l i v e r the baggage to such person only on condition that you establish to our satisfaction of your right thereto, and if required by us, such person shall fur nish adequate secur it y to indemnif y us for any loss, damage or expense w h i c h m a y b e i n c u r r e d b y u s a s a r e s u l t o f s u c h d e l i v e r y.

8.9.d. If your baggage is lost, delayed, or damaged, you m u s t n o t i f y t h e c a r r i e r i m m e d i a t e l y a t t h e t i m e o f d e l i v e r y.

Yo u r a c c e p t a n c e o f b a g g a g e b y t h e b e a r e r o f t h e b a g g a g e check without complaint at the time of deliver y shall be c onsidered as prima-facie evidence that the baggage has been delivered in good condition and in accordance with the contract of carriage.

8 .10 . A N I M A L S / P E T S 8 .10 . a . A n i m a l s s u c h a s d o g s , c a t s , h o u s e h o l d b i r d s and other pets, when properly crated and accompanied by valid health and vaccination c er tif ic ates, entr y per mits, and other documents required by c ountries of entr y or transit will, with an advance agreement with us, be ac c epted for c ar r iage, subject to our or any other involving c arriers' regulations.

8 .10 . b . I f a c c e p t e d a s b a g g a g e , t h e a n i m a l , t o g e t h e r w i t h its container and food carried, shall not be included in your free baggage allowanc e but will c onstitute exc ess baggage, for which you shall pay the applic able rate.

8 .10 . c . G u i d e d o g s a c c o m p a n y i n g s i g h t / h e a r i n g i m p a i r e d and physic ally handic apped passengers together with containers and food, will be carried free of charge in addition to the normal free baggage allowance, subject to our or any other involving c ar r iers' regulations.

8.10.d. Acceptance for carriage of animals is subject to the condition that you assume full responsibility for such animal.

We shall not be liable for injur y to or loss, delay, sickness or death of such animal in the event that it is refused entr y into or passage through any countr y, State or territor y.

8 .11 C A B I N B AG G AG E P O L I CY Pas s e ng e r s ar e r e min de d t hat all c abin bag g ag e must b e of a size t hat e it h e r f it s un de r t h e s e at in f r o nt of yo u o r in t h e ove r h e ad l o c ke r s. Ite m s w hi c h ar e in exc e s s of t h e m a x imum limit at i o ns as gi ve n in o ur We bsite m ay n ot b e p e r mit te d in t h e air c r af t c abin o n o ur f li ght s. I f c abin bag g ag e i s n ot ac c e pte d by o ur gr o un d st af f it w ill b e c har g e d ac c o r din g to K AC E xc e s s B ag g ag e Char g e s p e r ite m m ay ap p ly.

T h e bag g ag e w ill b e t r ansfe r r e d to t h e air c r af t h o l d an d a c h e c ke d bag g ag e r e c e ipt w ill b e i s sue d. Re st r i c t i o ns o n t h e c ar r iag e of li qui ds, ae r o s o ls an d g e ls in han d bag g ag e ap p ly at c e r t ain air p o r t s, inc lu din g Ku wait Inte r nat i o nal A ir p o r t .

Pas s e ng e r s sh o ul d c h e c k w it h t h e de par tur e air p o r t fo r sp e c i f i c s e c ur it y r e st r i c t i o ns.

A R T I C L E 9 : S C H E D U L E S , D E L AY S , C A N C E L L AT I O N O F FLIGHTS 9 .1. S C H E D U L E S 9 .1.1. T h e f l i g h t t i m e s s h o w n i n t i m e t a b l e s m a y c h a n g e bet ween the date of publication and the date you actually travel. We do not guarantee them to you and they do not form par t of your contract with us.

9 .1. 2 . B e f o r e w e a c c e p t y o u r b o o k i n g , w e w i l l n o t i f y y o u of the scheduled f light time in ef fect as of that time, and i t w i l l b e s h o w n o n y o u r t i c ke t . I t i s p o s s i b l e w e m a y need to change the scheduled flight time subsequent to i s s u a n c e o f y o u r t i c ke t . I f y o u p r o v i d e u s w i t h c o n t a c t infor mation, we will endeavor to notif y you of any such c h a n g e s . I f, a f t e r y o u p u r c h a s e y o u r t i c ke t , w e m a ke a signif icant change to the scheduled f light time, which is not acceptable to you, and we are unable to book you on an alternate f light which is acceptable to you, you will b e e n t i t l e d t o a r e f u n d i n a c c o r d a n c e w i t h a r t i c l e (10 . 2) .

9 . 2 . C A N C E L L AT I O N , R E R O U T I N G , D E L AY S , E T C .

9.2.1. We will take all necessary measures to avoid delay in carrying you and your baggage. In the exercise of these measures and in order to prevent a flight cancellation, in exceptional circumstances we may arrange for a flight to be operated on our behalf by an alternative carrier and/or aircraft.

9. 2 . 2 . E xc ept as other wise provided herein, if we c anc el a flight, fail to operate a flight reasonably according to the schedule, fail to stop at your destination or Stopover destination, or cause you to miss a connecting f light on which you hold a conf irmed reser vation, we shall, at your option, either: 9 . 2 . 2 .1. C a r r y y o u a t t h e e a r l i e s t o p p o r t u n i t y o n a n o t h e r

W e D n e s D aY : o c t o b e r 2 1 , 2 0 1 5

WORLD

editorial@thestandard.com.ph

cesar barrioquinto EDITOR

B7

Climate pact negotiators regroup Freezing migrants complain as the cold bites in Germany BERLIN\—As the thermometer dips towards zero in Germany, thousands of asylum seekers spending their nights in tents are pleading for authorities to find them alternative housing.

“They say they are going to do something, but they are not telling us what.

Maybe we are all going to turn to ice,” said a 25-year-old Afghan who went by the name Hussein, and who has been living in one of several tent cities set up by authorities in the northern city of Hamburg.

“We cannot be under the tent for more than an hour at night,” he said.

At the major northern port, as in other parts of the country, sleeping without heating is quickly becoming a nightmare as the temperatures tumble close to freezing.

And the German winter, infamously harsh and biting, has not even begun.

In Hamburg alone, 4,000 asylum seekers are sleeping in unheated tents, and some migrants, fed up with the cold and damp, have taken to the streets to complain about their lodgings.

“We are freezing,” they wrote on a cardboard sign.

But the problem is not unique to the city. With between 800,000 and one million asylum seekers expected this year, Germany is facing an unprecedented refugee relief crisis. of our scheduled ser vices on which space is available w i t h o u t a d d i t i o n a l c h a r g e a n d , w h e r e n e c e s s a r y, e x t e n d t h e v a l i d i t y o f y o u r t i c ke t , o r 9.2.2.2. Within a reasonable period of time re -route you to t h e d e s t i n a t i o n s h o w n o n y o u r T i c ke t b y o u r o w n s e r v i c e s o r t h o s e o f a n o t h e r c a r r i e r, o r b y o t h e r m u t u a l l y a g r e e d means and class of transpor tation without additional charge. If the fare and charges for the revised routing are lower than what you have paid, we shall refund the d i f f e r e n c e; o r 9 . 2 . 2 . 3 . M a ke a r e f u n d i n a c c o r d a n c e w i t h t h e p r o v i s i o n s o f A r t i c l e 10 . 3 .

9. 2 .3. Upon the oc cur renc e of any of the events set out in A r ticle 9. 2. 2, exc ept as other wise provided herein, the o p t i o n s o u t l i n e d i n A r t i c l e s 9 . 2 . 2 .1 t h r o u g h 9 . 2 . 2 . 3 a r e t h e sole and exclusive remedies available to you and we shall have no fur ther liabilit y to you.

9. 2 . 4 I f we are unab l e to p r ov i d e p rev i o us ly c o nf ir m e d spac e, we shall p r ov i de c o m p e ns at i o n to t h o s e pas s e n g e r s d e ni e d b o ar din g in ac c o r danc e w it h ap p li c ab l e law an d o ur d e ni e d b o ar din g c o mp e ns at i o n p o li c y.

9. 2 . 5 I f yo u f ai l to re c o nf ir m a r e s e r vat i o n fo r any f li ght w h e re it i s re quire d t hat re c o nf ir m at i o n i s n e c e s s ar y, we m ay c anc e l all of yo ur re s e r vat i o ns. N o r ef un d of t h e f ar e pai d w i ll b e availab l e in re sp e c t of suc h c anc e ll e d r e s e r vat i o n unl e s s p e r mit te d by t h e c o n dit i o ns ap p li c ab l e to yo ur T i c ket .

A R T I C L E 10 : R E F U N D S 10 .1. G E N E R A L On failure by us to provide carriage in accordance with the contract of carriage, or where a passenger requests a voluntar y change of his or her arrangements, refund for an unused ticket or por tion thereof shall be made by us in accordance with our regulations applicable from time to time.

10 . 2 . P E R S O N T O W H O M R E F U N D W I L L B E D U E 10 . 2 . a . E x c e p t a s h e r e i n a f t e r p r o v i d e d i n t h i s p a r a g r a p h , w e s h a l l b e e n t i t l e d t o m a ke r e f u n d e i t h e r t o t h e p e r s o n n a m e d i n t h e t i c ke t , o r t o t h e p e r s o n w h o h a s p a i d f o r t h e t i c ke t u p o n p r e s e n t a t i o n o f s a t i s f a c t o r y p r o o f.

10. 2.b. If a ticket has been paid for by a person other than the one named on the ticket, and we have indicated on the ticket that there is a restriction on refund, we shall make a refund only to the person paying for the ticket or to that person's order.

10 . 2 . c . E x c e p t i n t h e c a s e o f l o s t t i c ke t s , r e f u n d s w i l l o n l y b e m a d e w h e n y o u r t i c ke t c o u p o n / o r y o u r r e c e i p t / a n d a l l unused flight coupons are surrendered to us.

10 . 3 . d . A r e f u n d m a d e t o a n y o n e p r e s e n t i n g y o u r t i c ke t coupon or receipt and all unused flight coupons and holding you out as a person to whom refund may be made i n t e r m s o f s u b - p a r a g r a p h s (a) o r ( b) o f t h i s p a r a g r a p h shall be deemed a proper refund and shall discharge us from liabilit y and any fur ther claim for refund.

10 . 3 . I N V O L U N TA R Y R E F U N D S If we cancel a flight, fail to operate a flight reasonably according to schedule, fail to stop at a point to which y o u a r e d e s t i n e d o r t i c ke t e d t o s t o p o v e r, a r e u n a b l e t o provide previously c onf irmed space or c ausing to miss a connecting f light on which you hold a reser vation, the a m o u n t o f t h e r e f u n d s h a l l b e: 10 . 3 . a . I f n o p o r t i o n o f t h e t i c ke t h a s b e e n u s e d , a n a m o u n t e q u a l t o t h e f a r e p a i d; l e s s a n y a p p l i c a b l e s e r v i c e c h a r g e s or cancellation fees.

10. 3 . b. I f a p o r t i o n of t h e t i c ket has b e e n us e d, t h e r ef un d w ill b e t h e hi gh e r of : i.

The one way fare (less applic able disc ounts and c h a r g e s) f r o m p o i n t o f i n t e r r u p t i o n t o d e s t i n a t i o n o r p o i n t o f n e x t s t o p o v e r, o r ; ii. The dif ference bet ween the fare paid and the fare for the transpor tation used.

10 . 4 . V O L U N TA R Y R E F U N D S I f y o u a r e e n t i t l e d t o a r e f u n d o f y o u r t i c ke t f o r r e a s o n s other than those set out in this Ar ticle, the amount of the r e f u n d s h a l l b e: 10 . 4 . a . I f n o p o r t i o n o f t h e t i c ke t h a s b e e n u s e d , a n amount equal to the fare paid, less any applic able ser vic e charges or cancellation fees; or 10 . 4 . b . I f a p o r t i o n o f t h e t i c ke t h a s b e e n u s e d , t h e r e f u n d will be an amount equal to the dif ference bet ween the fare paid and the applicable fare for travel bet ween the points f o r w h i c h t h e t i c ke t h a s b e e n u s e d , l e s s a n y a p p l i c a b l e ser vice charges or cancellation fees.

10 . 4 .1. R e f u n d o n L o s t T i c ke t I f y o u l o s e y o u r t i c ke t o r p o r t i o n o f i t , u p o n f u r n i s h i n g us with satisfactor y proof of the loss, and payment of a reasonable administration charge, refund will be made as soon as practic able af ter the expir y of the validit y per iod o f t h e t i c ke t , p r o v i d e d t h a t : 10 . 4 .1. a . T h a t t h e l o s t t i c ke t , o r p o r t i o n o f i t , h a s n o t b e e n u s e d , p r e v i o u s l y r e f u n d e d o r r e p l a c e d , (e x c e p t w h e r e t h e use, refund or replac ement by or to a third par t y resulted f r o m o u r o w n n e g l i g e n c e) ; a n d 10 . 4 .1. b . T h a t t h e p e r s o n t o w h o m t h e r e f u n d i s m a d e u n d e r t a ke s , i n s u c h f o r m a s m a y b e p r e s c r i b e d b y u s , t o repay to us the amount refunded in the event of fraud and/ o r t o t h e e x t e n t t h a t t h e l o s t t i c ke t o r p o r t i o n o f i t i s u s e d b y a t h i r d p a r t y (e x c e p t w h e r e a n y f r a u d o r u s e b y a t h i r d p a r t y r e s u l t e d f r o m o u r o w n n e g l i g e n c e) .

10 . 4 . 2 . I f w e o r o u r A u t h o r i z e d A g e n t l o s e t h e t i c ke t o r p o r t i o n o f i t , t h e l o s s s h a l l b e o u r r e s p o n s i b i l i t y.

10 . 5 . R I G H T T O R E F U S E R E F U N D 10 . 5 .1. W e m a y r e f u s e a r e f u n d w h e r e a p p l i c a t i o n i s m a d e a f t e r t h e e x p i r y o f t h e v a l i d i t y o f t h e t i c ke t .

10 . 5 . 2 . W e m a y r e f u s e a r e f u n d o n a t i c ke t w h i c h h a s been presented to us, or to Government Of f icials, as e v i d e n c e o f i n t e n t i o n t o d e p a r t f r o m t h a t c o u n t r y, u n l e s s you establish to our satisfaction that you have permission to remain in the countr y or that you will depar t from that

Some 42,000 asylum seekers were sleeping in tents across the country at the beginning of October, according to the newspaper Die Welt.

And the situation has become critical, warned Ulrika Kostka, director of aid group Caritas.

“We can no longer rule out the risk that people could die” from the cold, she was quoted as saying by newspaper Tagesspiegel.

In the eastern Saxony region, the Red Cross also sounded a similar warning about tent cities.

“It has become a health problem.

People are falling ill because of the cold,” said spokesman Kai Kranich.

“We have distributed all the sleeping bags and blankets that we have but they are not enough.”

Mobile heaters have been placed in tents to provide some warmth for now, said Kranich, but he warned that it was only a temporary solution.

German authorities have been scrambling to find lodgings for the record number of new arrivals.

In Berlin a special hall, which is used every January for an annual agriculture exhibition, has been transformed into an emergency shelter with bunk beds for 1,000 refugees. AFP

BONN—Diplomats crafting a global climate pact will on Tuesday try to bounce back from an acrimonious start to the final negotiating session before a UN summit to seal the ambitious deal.

There were heated moments as the talks opened on Monday when developing nations accused the rich ones of sidelining their interests, even as UN chief Ban Ki-moon warned: “We don’t have any ‘plan B’ because we don’t have any ‘planet B’.”

The five-day meeting in the German city of Bonn must craft a workable blueprint for the climate rescue pact to be signed at the November 30-December 11 summit in Paris, meant to crown more than two decades of fraught negotiations.

It must serve as a working document for ministers and heads of state who need to take the tough political decisions needed for the agreement to take shape.

But instead of getting down to line-by-line bartering on Monday, the crucial first day of the 195-nation talks was spent rehashing the well-rehearsed divides between rich and developing nations, with Ban describing the process as “frustrating”.

The vast G77 developing nation bloc, led by South Africa, complained of “apartheid” treatment at the hands of rich nations, saying their core demands had been summarily excised from the draft.

The document had been slimmed down from 80 pages to 20 by two diplomats guiding

c ountr y by another c ar rier or another means of transpor t.

10 . 6 . C U R R E N CY 10 . 6 .1. A l l r e f u n d s w i l l b e s u b j e c t t o g o v e r n m e n t l a w s , r u l e s a n d r e g u l a t i o n s o r o r d e r s o f t h e c o u n t r y i n w h i c h t h e t i c ke t was originally purchased and of the countr y in which the refund is being made. Subject to the foregoing provision, refunds will normally be made in the currency in which the t i c ke t w a s p a i d f o r, b u t m a y b e m a d e i n a n o t h e r c u r r e n c y i n accordance with our regulations.

10 . 6 . 2 . Vo l u n t a r y r e f u n d s w i l l b e m a d e o n l y b y u s w h o o r i g i n a l l y i s s u e d t h e t i c ke t o r b y o u r a g e n t i f s o a u t h o r i z e d .

A R T I C L E 11: C O N D U C T A B O A R D A I R C R A F T 11.1. G E N E R A L I f, i n o u r r e a s o n a b l e o p i n i o n , y o u c o n d u c t y o u r s e l f a b o a r d the aircraf t so as to endanger the aircraf t or any person or proper ty on board, obstruct the crew in the per formance of their duties, fail to c omply with any instr uctions of the crew including but not limited to those with respect to smoking, alcohol, drug consumption, or behave in a manner which c auses disc omfor t, inc onvenience, damage or injur y to y o u r s e l f /o t h e r p a s s e n g e r s o r t h e c r e w, w e m a y t a ke s u c h measures, as we deem reasonably necessar y to prevent c o n t i n u a t i o n o f s u c h c o n d u c t , i n c l u d i n g r e s t r a i n t . Yo u m a y b e d i s e m b a r ke d a n d r e f u s e d o n w a r d c a r r i a g e a t a n y p o i n t , and may be prosecuted for of fenc es c ommit ted on board the aircraf t in accordance with all applicable laws.

11. 2 . E L E C T R O N I C D E V I C E S For safet y reasons, we may for bid or limit operation aboard the aircraf t of electronic equipment, including, but not limited to, cellular telephones, laptop computers, por table rec orders, por table radios, CD players, electronic games or transmit ting devices, including radio controlled toys and walkie -talkies. Operation of hearing aids and hear t p a c e m a ke r s i s p e r m i t t e d .

ARTICLE 12: ARR ANGEMENTS FOR ADDITIONAL SERVICES 12 .1. I f w e m a ke a r r a n g e m e n t s f o r y o u w i t h a n y t h i r d p a r t y t o p r o v i d e a n y s e r v i c e s o t h e r t h a n c a r r i a g e b y a i r, o r i f w e i s s u e a t i c ke t o r v o u c h e r r e l a t i n g t o t r a n s p o r t a t i o n o r s e r v i c e s (o t h e r t h a n c a r r i a g e b y a i r) p r o v i d e d b y a t h i r d p a r t y s u c h a s h o t e l r e s e r v a t i o n s , c a r r e n t a l e t c ., i n d o i n g s o we act only as your agent. The terms and conditions of the t h i r d p a r t y s e r v i c e p r o v i d e r w i l l a p p l y.

12. 2. If we are also providing sur face transpor tation to you, other conditions may apply to such sur face transpor tation and are available from us upon request. We shall have no liabilit y to you except for negligence on our par t in making such arrangements.

A R T I C L E 13 : A D M I N I S T R AT I V E F O R M A L I T I E S 13 .1. G E N E R A L Yo u shall b e s o l e ly re sp o nsib l e fo r c o m p ly ing w it h all law s, r e g ulat i o ns, o r de r s, de m an ds an d t r ave l re quire m e nt s of c o unt r i e s to b e f l ow n f r o m, into o r ove r, an d w it h us o r any ot h e r invo lv in g c ar r i e r s' re gulat i o ns an d inst r uc t i o ns. We shall n ot b e li ab l e fo r any ai d o r info r mat i o n gi ve n by any ag e nt o r e m p l oye e of c ar r i e r to any pas s e ng e r in c o nne c t i o n w it h o bt ainin g ne c e s s ar y d o c um e nt s o r v i s as o r c o m p ly ing w it h suc h law s, r e gulat i o ns, o r de r s, de m an ds, an d re quire m e nt s, w h et h e r gi ve n in w r it in g o r ot h e r w i s e, o r fo r t h e c o ns e que nc e s to any pas s e ng e r re sult in g f r o m hi s f ailure to o bt ain suc h d o c um e nt s o r v i s as o r to c o mp ly w it h suc h laws, re gulat i o ns, o r d e r s, d e man ds, re quire m e nt s, r ul e s o r inst r uc t i o ns.

13 . 2 . T R AV E L D O CU M E NT S Pr i o r to t r ave l, yo u must p re s e nt all ex i st , e nt r y, h e alt h an d ot h e r d o c um e nt s re quire d by law, re gulat i o n, o r de r, de m an d o r ot h e r r e quir e m e nt of t h e c o unt r i e s c o nc e r ne d, an d p e r mit us to t ake an d r et ain c o p i e s t h e re of. We re s e r ve t h e r i ght to ref us e c ar r i ag e i f yo u have n ot c o mp li e d w it h t h e s e re quire m e nt s, o r yo ur t r ave l d o c um e nt s d o n ot ap p e ar to b e in o r de r.

13 . 3 . R E F U S A L O F E N T R Y Yo u s h a l l p a y t h e a p p l i c a b l e f a r e w h e n e v e r w e o r a n y o t h e r i n v o l v i n g c a r r i e r, o n g o v e r n m e n t o r d e r, i s r e q u i r e d to return to your point of origin or elsewhere, owing to y o u r i n a d m i s s i b i l i t y i n t o a c o u n t r y, w h e t h e r o f t r a n s i t o r o f destination. We may apply to the payment of such fare any funds paid to us for unused c ar r iage, or any funds of yours in our possession. The fare collected for carriage to the point of refusal of entr y or depor tation will not be refunded.

13 . 4 .

PA S S E N G E R RESPONSIBLE FOR FINES, DETENTION COSTS, OR FEES, ETC. I f y o u c a n c e l y o u r t r a v e l p l a n a f t e r b e i n g c h e c ke d - i n w i t h o r without baggage, you are required to pay a f ine or penalt y or to incur any expenditures c aused by reason of your failure to comply with laws, regulations, orders, demands or other travel requirements of the carrier or the countries c o n c e r n e d o r t o p r o d u c e a n y r e q u i r e d d o c u m e n t s . Yo u s h a l l reimburse us on demand, any amount so paid or expenditure so incur red. We may apply towards such payment or e x p e n d i t u r e t h e v a l u e o f a n y u n u s e d c a r r i a g e o n y o u r t i c ke t , or any of your funds in our possession.

13 . 5 . C U S T O M S I N S P E C T I O N If required, you shall attend inspection of your baggage, by Customs or other government officials. We are not liable to you for any loss or damage suffered by you in the course of such inspection or through your failure to comply with this requirement.

13 . 6 . S E C U R I T Y I N S P E C T I O N Yo u s h a l l s u b m i t t o a n y s e c u r i t y c h e c k s b y g o v e r n m e n t s , air por t of f icials, c ar riers or by us.

A R T I C L E 14 : S U C C E S S I V E C A R R I E R S Car riage to be per for med by us and other c ar riers under o n e t i c ke t , o r a C o n j u n c t i o n t i c ke t i s r e g a r d e d a s a s i n g l e o p e r a t i o n f o r t h e p u r p o s e s o f t h e c o n v e n t i o n . H o w e v e r, y o u r a t t e n t i o n i s d r a w n t o a r t i c l e (15 . 2 . b) .

A R T I C L E 15 : L I A B I L I T Y F O R D A M AG E

15 .1. C a r r i a g e h e r e u n d e r i s s u b j e c t t o t h e r u l e s a n d limitations relating to liabilit y established by the Convention unless such carriage is not international carriage to which the Convention applies.

15 . 2 . I n c a r r i a g e w h i c h i s n o t i n t e r n a t i o n a l c a r r i a g e t o w h i c h the Convention applies: 15 . 2 . a . W e s h a l l b e l i a b l e f o r d a m a g e t o y o u o r y o u r c h e c ke d baggage only if such damage has been c aused by our negligence. If there has been contributor y negligence on your par t, our liability shall be subject to the applicable law relating to contributor y negligence.

15 . 2 . b . E x c e p t i n t h e c a s e o f a c t s o r o m i s s i o n s d o n e w i t h intent to cause damage or recklessly and with knowledge that damage would probably result; (i) our liabilit y with respect to you for death, wounding or other bodily injur y shall be limited to the sum of US$ 20,0 0 0; provided that if in accordance with applicable law a dif ferent limit of liability is applicable such d i f f e r e n t l i m i t s h a l l a p p l y. ( i i ) W i t h r e s p e c t t o d e l a y, w e s h a l l b e u n d e r n o l i a b i l i t y exc ept as provided in these Conditions of Car r iage.

15 . 3 . To t h e e x t e n t n o t i n c o n f l i c t w i t h t h e f o r e g o i n g a n d whether or not the Convention applies: 15 . 3 . a . W e s h a l l b e l i a b l e o n l y f o r d a m a g e o c c u r r i n g o n o u r o w n l i n e . I f w e i s s u e a t i c ke t o r c h e c k b a g g a g e o v e r t h e l i n e s o f a n o t h e r c a r r i e r, w e o n l y a s a g e n t f o r s u c h o t h e r c a r r i e r.

Where transpor tation of your baggage is per for med by s u c c e s s i v e c a r r i e r s (a s d e f i n e d b y t h e W a r s a w o r M o n t r e a l C o n v e n t i o n) , y o u s h a l l h a v e a r i g h t o f a c t i o n a g a i n s t t h e f i r s t o r l a s t c a r r i e r.

15 . 3 . b . E x c e p t t o t h e e x t e n t i n c o n s i s t e n t w i t h t h e W a r s a w Convention or the Montreal Convention, we are not liable for any damage ar ising from our c omplianc e with any laws or government regulations, orders or requirements, or from your failure to comply with the same.

15 . 3 . c . O u r l i a b i l i t y s h a l l n o t e x c e e d t h e a m o u n t o f p r o v e n damages. We shall fur ther more not be liable for indirect or consequential damage.

15 . 3 . d I f a n y o f y o u c a r r i e d w h o s e a g e o r m e n t a l o r p h y s i c a l c ondition is such as to involve any hazard or r isk to himself o r h e r s e l f, w e s h a l l n o t b e l i a b l e f o r a n y i l l n e s s , i n j u r y o r d i s a b i l i t y, i n c l u d i n g d e a t h , a t t r i b u t a b l e t o s u c h c o n d i t i o n o r for the aggravation of such condition.

15 . 3 . e . A n y e x c l u s i o n o r l i m i t a t i o n o f l i a b i l i t y o n o u r p a r t shall apply to and be for the benef it of agents, employees and representatives of us and any person whose aircraf t is used by us and such person's agents, employees and representatives. The aggregate amount recoverable from us and from such agents, employees, representatives and p e r s o n s h a l l n o t e x c e e d t h e a m o u n t o f o u r l i m i t o f l i a b i l i t y.

15 . 3 . f . U n l e s s s o e x p r e s s l y p r o v i d e d n o t h i n g h e r e i n c ontained shall waive any exclusion or limitation of liabilit y on our par t under the Convention or applic able laws.

15 . 4 . D A M AG E T O B AG G AG E A N D D E L AY O F B AG G AG E 15 . 4 . a . W e a r e n o t l i a b l e f o r d a m a g e t o u n c h e c ke d b a g g a g e unless such damage is c aused by our negligenc e. If there has been contributor y negligence on your par t, our liability shall be subject to the applicable law relating to contributor y negligence.

15 . 4 . b . E x c e p t i n t h e c a s e o f a c t s o r o m i s s i o n s d o n e w i t h intent to cause damage or recklessly and with knowledge that damage would probably result, our liability in the case o f d a m a g e t o c h e c ke d b a g g a g e o r o f i t s d e l a y s h a l l b e l i m i t e d t o a m a x i m u m o f 19 S D R s p e r k i l o g r a m a n d i n t h e c a s e o f d a m a g e t o u n c h e c ke d b a g g a g e s h a l l b e l i m i t e d t o a maximum of 332 SDRs per passenger if the carriage is subject to the Warsaw Convention/ Hague Protoc ol/ M ontreal Protoc ol. If we are liable in under the Montreal Convention, o u r l i a b i l i t y f o r c h e c ke d a n d u n c h e c ke d b a g g a g e a n d f o r d a m a g e a n d /o r d e l a y o f c h e c ke d b a g g a g e w i l l b e l i m i t e d t o 1,131 S D R s p e r p a s s e n g e r.

15 . 4 . c . I f i n t h e c a s e o f c h e c ke d b a g g a g e a h i g h e r v a l u e i s d e c l a r e d p u r s u a n t t o A r t i c l e 8 p a r a g r a p h 7, o u r l i a b i l i t y s h a l l be limited to such higher declared value.

15 . 4 . d . I f t h e w e i g h t o f t h e b a g g a g e i s n o t r e c o r d e d o n the baggage check, it is presumed that the total weight of t h e c h e c ke d b a g g a g e d o e s n o t e x c e e d t h e a p p l i c a b l e f r e e baggage allowance for the class of ser vice concerned, as provided in our Regulations.

15 . 4 . e . W e a r e n o t l i a b l e t o y o u f o r i n j u r y o r f o r d a m a g e y o u r baggage c aused by proper t y c ontained in your baggage. A ny passenger whose proper ty causes injur y to another person or damage to another person's proper t y or to our proper t y shall indemnif y us for all losses and expenses incur red by u s a s a r e s u l t t h e r e o f.

15 . 4 . f . E x c e p t t o t h e e x t e n t i n c o n s i s t e n t w i t h t h e W a r s a w Convention or the Montreal Convention, we are not liable f o r d a m a g e t o f r a g i l e o r p e r i s h a b l e i t e m s , m o n e y, j e w e l r y, precious metals, silver ware, negotiable papers, securities, or other valuables, business documents, passpor ts and other identification documents, or samples, which are i n c l u d e d i n y o u r c h e c ke d b a g g a g e .

15 . 4 . g . W e w i l l n o t b e l i a b l e f o r c o s m e t i c o r s u p e r f i c i a l damage caused to baggage as a result of normal wear and tear caused during carriage.

15 . 5 . P E R S O N A L D A M AG E O R I N J U R Y S h o u l d w e b e l i a b l e f o r y o u r d e a t h , i n j u r y, o r o t h e r b o d i l y har m on a f light c overed by the Warsaw Convention or the M o n t r e a l C o n v e n t i o n: 15 . 5 . a . W e w i l l n o t i n v o ke a n y l i m i t a t i o n o f l i a b i l i t y w i t h regard to any claim for proven c ompensator y damages arising under the Convention.

15 . 5 . b . W e w i l l n o t b e l i a b l e f o r d a m a g e s e x c e e d i n g 131,10 0 SDRs per passenger where we can prove that the Damage was not due to the wrongful act, omission, or negligence of u s o u r a n o t h e r c a r r i e r, o r s u c h D a m a g e w a s s o l e l y d u e t o t h e n e g l i g e n c e o r w r o n g f u l a c t o r o m i s s i o n o f a t h i r d p a r t y.

the process.

But the 130-plus G77 group of countries, which include China and India, insisted on reinserting dropped phrases on finance and fairness, a process which took the whole day and grew the text back again to 34 pages.

In Paris, French President Francois Hollande cautioned against an empty deal coming out of the forthcoming summit, saying countries’ actions will have to be reviewed “regularly” to make sure progress is being made.

“There will be a deal in Paris. The question is at what level the agreement will be reached,” he said.

A key pillar of the pact will be a list of national pledges to cut greenhouse gas emissions to limit global warming to two degrees Celsius (3.6 degrees Fahrenheit) over pre-Industrial Revolution levels.

Scientists warn that the pledges submitted by more than 150 nations so far place Earth on course for warming closer to 3 C—a world of dangerous rises in sea levels, super storms and the spread of disease.

A key disagreement at the talks concerns a mechanism to regularly review and ramp up countries’ actions so that the 2 C goal is achieved.

Another cause for dispute is developing countries’ demand for money to finance a shift to less carbon-polluting economies, and to shore up their defenses against the impact of climate change.

The Paris pact, due to take effect in 2020, will be the first climate agreement to include all the world’s nations.

“The whole world is looking at us,” Peruvian Environment Minister Manuel Bulgar Vidal told negotiators on Monday. AFP 15 . 5 . c . U n l e s s o t h e r w i s e s p e c i f i e d i n t h i s s e c t i o n , w e reser ve all defenses available to us under the Convention a n d a p p l i c a b l e n a t i o n a l l a w. W e a l s o r e s e r v e a l l r i g h t s o f recourse against third par ties.

15 . 5 . d . S h o u l d y o u s u f f e r d e a t h , b o d i l y i n j u r y, o r b e other wise severely wounded on one of our f lights, we w i l l m a ke , w i t h i n f i f t e e n (15 ) d a y s o f d e t e r m i n i n g w h o i s entitled to c ompensator y damages, an advanc e payment for you or your nex t- of- kin to address your immediate f inancial needs. The amount being advanced will be determined in acc ordance with the applic able Convention.

15 . 5 . e . T h e pay m e nt of suc h an advanc e i s n ot an ac c e pt anc e of o ur liabilit y. We w ill de duc t t h e advanc e pay m e nt f r o m any ad dit i o nal liabilit y we are re quire d to pay, as ap p li c ab l e. I f it i s subs e que nt ly p r ove n t hat yo u c aus e d o r c o nt r ibute d to yo ur ow n de at h o r injur y t hr o u gh yo ur ow n ac t i o ns o r ne gli g e nc e, o r i f yo ur de at h was c aus e d o r c o nt r ibute d to by an ex i st ing si c k ne s s o r im pair m e nt , yo u w ill have to r etur n t h e advanc e pay m e nt to us. T h e advanc e pay m e nt w ill als o have to b e r etur ne d i f it s r e c ip i e nt c aus e d o r c o nt r ibute d to t h e de at h o r injur y t hr o u gh ne gli g e nc e, o r i s n ot e nt it l e d to c o m p e ns ato r y dam ag e s.

15 .6 . LI A B I L I T Y I N T H E C A S E O F D E L AY Our liabilit y for damage c aused by delay of your c ar riage is limited by and subject to the Warsaw Convention or the Montreal Convention, as applic able. Where neither Convention applies, we will have no liabilit y to you exc ept as provided in these Conditions of Carriage.

15 .7. L I A B I L I T Y I N T H E CAS E O F CO D ES H A R E FL I G HT S Fo r f li ght s o p e r ate d by us as c o de shar e s e r v i c e s to g et h e r w it h an ot h e r c ar r i e r, we w ill b e liab l e o nly to t h o s e pas s e ng e r s o n w h o s e t i c ket s we ar e sh ow n as t h e C ar r i e r by o ur A ir line D e si gnato r C o de. We ar e o nly liab l e to dam ag e s c aus e d to t h e pas s e n g e r s of o ur c o de shar e par t ne r i f we ar e t h e o p e r ato r of t h e f li ght o n w hi c h t h e dam ag e o c c ur r e d.

EU NOTICE A s r e q u i r e d b y E U l a w, t h i s n o t i c e s e t s o u t a n o n exhaustive summar y of the liabilit y of Kuwait A ir ways for passengers and their baggage. Kuwait A ir ways , its s u b s i d i a r i e s a n d f r a n c h i s e e s m a ke e v e r y e f f o r t t o o p e r a t e their flights as per their published schedules. There are o c c a s i o n s h o w e v e r, w h e r e i t i s n o t p o s s i b l e t o d o s o a n d a f light may be delayed or c anc elled. This notif ic ation informs you of your rights under EC Regulation No 2 61/ 2 0 0 4 s h o u l d t h i s h a p p e n; i t d o e s n o t g i v e y o u a n y additional contractual rights. This law is applicable to all passengers depar ting from an air por t within the EU and to all passengers travelling into an EU Member State on an EU c ar rier unless they have rec eived assistanc e in the countr y of depar ture. In the event of a disruption of f light schedule, KU will be taking steps to minimize t h e i n c o n v e n i e n c e a n d m a ke a n y w a i t i n g t i m e a s comfor table as possible. All our actions shall meet with t h e r e q u i r e m e n t s o f t h e E u r o p e a n U n i o n ' s R e g u l a t i o n ( E C) N o 2 61/ 2 0 0 4 e s t a b l i s h i n g c o m m o n r u l e s o n c o m p e n s a t i o n and assistance to passengers in the event of denied boarding and of c anc ellation or long delay of f lights.

ARTICLE 16: TI ME LI M ITATI ON ON CL A I MS AND ACTI ONS 16 .1. N o t i c e o f C l a i m s N o a c t i o n s h a l l l i e i n t h e c a s e o f d a m a g e t o c h e c ke d baggage unless the person entitled to deliver y complains to us for thwith af ter the discover y of the Damage, and, at the latest, within (7) days from the date of rec eipt; and in c a s e o f d e l a y, u n l e s s t h e c o m p l a i n t i s m a d e a t t h e l a t e s t w i t h i n (21) d a y s f r o m t h e d a t e o n w h i c h t h e b a g g a g e h a s b e e n p l a c e d a t h i s d i s p o s a l . Ev e r y c o m p l a i n t m u s t b e made in writing and dispatched within the times aforesaid.

16. 2. Limitation of Actions Generally any right to damages shall be extinguished if an action is not brought within t wo years from the date of arrival at the destination, or from the date of which the aircraf t ought to have arrived, or from the date on which the carriage stopped. The method of calculating the law of the cour t shall determine the period of limitation seized of the case.

ARTICLE 17: MODIFICATION AND WAIVER No Agent, employee or representative of us has authority to alter, modify or waive any provision of these Conditions of Carriage.

A R T I C L E 18 : I N T E R P R E TAT I O N 18 .1 We w ill us e r e as o nab l e ef fo r t s to m ake c o r r e c t de c i si o ns ab o ut t h e inte r p r et at i o n of ap p li c ab l e laws, r e gulat i o ns, o r de r s o r g ove r nm e nt al p o li c y fo r t h e pur p o s e s e sp e c ially of A r t i c l e s r e g ar ding o ur r i ght to r ef us e c ar r iag e an d yo ur c o n duc t ab o ar d air c r af t . S o m et im e s suc h de c i si o ns m ay have to b e m ade in c ir c um st anc e s w h e r e limite d t im e i s availab l e an d n o p r o p e r o p p o r tunit y ex i st s to c ar r y o ut any o r su f f i c i e nt e n quir i e s. A s a r e sult , any suc h de c i si o n m ade by us w ill b e f inal an d bin ding o n yo u eve n i f subs e que nt ly p r ove d to b e inc o r r e c t , p r ov i de d t hat at t h e t im e we m ade o ur de c i si o n we had r e as o nab l e gr o un ds fo r b e li ev ing t hat it was c o r r e c t .

18 . 2 W h e r e w e e x p r e s s l y s t a t e i n t h e s e C o n d i t i o n s o f Carriage that you must comply with applicable law or a p p l i c a b l e g o v e r n m e n t a l , I C A O o r I ATA r e q u i r e m e n t s , y o u m u s t m a ke s u r e t h a t y o u c o m p l y w i t h s u c h a p p l i c a b l e l a w or requirements at all times and especially on the date or dates of your carriage.

18 . 3 A l l d a t e s a n d p e r i o d s o f t i m e r e f e r r e d t o i n t h e s e Conditions of Carriage will be ascer tained in accordance w i t h t h e G r e g o r i a n c a l e n d a r.

18 . 4 T h e t i t l e o f e a c h A r t i c l e o f t h e s e C o n d i t i o n s o f C a r r i a g e i s f o r c o n v e n i e n c e o n l y, a n d i s n o t t o b e u s e d f o r inter pretation of the tex t. ( T S - O C T. 14 & 21, 2 015 )

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B8 Fukushima worker is diagnosed with cancer TOKYO—A former Fukushima nuclear plant worker has been diagnosed with radiation-linked cancer, Japanese authorities said Tuesday, the first such confirmation more than four years after the worst atomic accident in a generation.

An official with the health ministry said the ex-employee, who was in his thirties while working at the plant following the 2011 crisis, has developed leukemia. He is now 41 years old, local media reported.

“The case has met the criteria” to link his illness to the accident, the official told a Tokyo press briefing on condition of anonymity, adding that other possible causes have been ruled out.

“This person went to see a doctor because was not feeling well.

That was when he was diagnosed with leukemia.”

The ministry revealed few details about the man, but said he had worked at a destroyed building that housed one of the crippled reactors.

The man, who wore protective equipment during more than a year spent at Fukushima, will be awarded compensation to pay for his medical costs and lost income, the official said, without elaborating on the amount.

Three similar cases of cancer in plant workers are still awaiting confirmation of a link to the accident.

Public broadcaster NHK said about 45,000 people have worked at the Fukushima plant since the accident as part of a massive, multi-billion-dollar cleanup effort.

There has been hot debate about whether the accident would lead to a spike in cancer among employees of the plant and those who lived in the surrounding area.

The announcement Tuesday will likely further inflame widespread public opposition to nuclear power. It comes less than a week after Japan restarted a second nuclear reactor following a shutdown of all plants after the Fukushima crisis.

No deaths have been directly attributed to the radiation released during the 2011 accident, but it has displaced tens of thousands of people and left large areas uninhabitable, possibly for decades. AFP

CESAR BARRiOquiNTO EDITOR

editorial@thestandard.com.ph

world Theory of relativity stands test of time WASHINGTON—Albert Einstein’s general theory of relativity is about to celebrate its 100th anniversary, and his revolutionary hypothesis has withstood the test of time despite many expert attempts to find flaws.

In attendance. Actress Zoey Deutch attends the 22nd Annual ELLE Women in Hollywood Awards at the Four Seasons Hotel Los Angeles in Beverly Hills on Oct. 19, 2015. AFP

“Einstein changed the way we think about the most basic things, which are space and time. And that opened our eyes to the universe, and how the most interesting things in it work, like black holes,” said David Kaiser, professor of the history of science, technology and society at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.

Einstein, a celebrated German-born theoretical physicist who spent the final years of his life at Princeton University in the northeastern United States, presented his theory on November 25, 1915, before the Prussian Academy of Science.

The document was published in March 1916 in a journal called Annalen der Physik.

The general theory of relativity was among the most revolutionary in history; it marked a major leap from the law of universal gravitation put forth

by Sir Isaac Newton in 1687.

Einstein believed that “space and time are not fixed, which was what others had thought, but are flexible, dynamic phenomena like other processes of the universe,” said Michael Turner, director of the Kavli Institute for Cosmological Physics.

“So space bends and time warps, and it was a whole new way at looking at gravity.”

Einstein had put forth a more restrained version of his theory in 1905, the special theory of relativity, which left out gravity but described the relationship between space and time. It held that the speed of light is the same in a vacuum, and the laws of physics do not change regarding inert objects.

He also came up with his famous equation, E=mc2, which says that energy equals mass times the speed of light in a vacuum, squared. In other words, mass and energy are the same but in different forms.

Ten years later, the general theory of relativity offered a larger and more explanatory vision, adding gravity’s role in the space-time continuum.

Therefore, time would move more slowly in proximity to a powerful gravitational field, such as that of a planet in the void of space. AFP

250,000 road deaths a year in China BEIJING—More than 250,000 people are killed on China’s notoriously dangerous roads every year, the World Health Organization said, or over four times official government statistics.

In a global status report on road safety, the WHO estimated 261,367 people were killed in 2013 in the world’s most populous country.

China is the world’s biggest auto market and its growing middle class is increasingly able to afford cars.

The WHO figures are strikingly higher than official pronouncements, in a country where official statistics are often questioned.

According to China’s National

Bureau of Statistics, 58,539 traffic fatalities were reported in 2013— less than a quarter of the WHO’s approximation.

Fatal road accidents are a serious problem in China, where traffic regulations are often flouted.

The country’s frequently overcrowded long-distance buses are prone to accidents, with individual incidents regularly causing dozens of deaths.

“It is not enough to adopt laws,” China’s WHO representative Bernhard Schwartlaender wrote in state media in May. “They must also be properly and rigorously enforced.”

According to the WHO report,

released Monday, China’s estimated traffic-related death rate of 18.8 per 100,000 people was in line with the 18.5 average for middle-income countries but higher than the 9.3 seen in high-income nations.

The death rates remain comparatively high in China because of inadequate rescue systems and poor treatment, according to a study by Chinese researchers published in April by medical journal The Lancet.

More than one in four who died on China’s roads were pedestrians, the WHO report said, citing statistics from China’s ministry of public security, and the vast majority of fatalities—72 percent—were men. AFP

The migration continues. A woman carrying her child walks on

a dirt road after crossing the Macedonian-Serbian border near the village of Miratovac on Oct. 20, 2015. Tens of thousands—many fleeing violence in Syria, Africa and Afghanistan—have been making their way from Turkey to the Balkans in recent months, hoping to reach Germany, Sweden and other EU states. 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 WRITER

life @ thestandard.com .ph

@LIFEatStandard

H OME & L I V ING

LIFE Toscana Dining Collection in Teal

Provence Storage Collection, Eveline Blackboard, Mercer Laundry Hamper, LAUNDRY Wooden Signage Eiffel Tower, Pineapple, La Maison Royale & Lavande Throw Pillows

Vintage French Postcard Set of 4

JE NE SAIS QUOI CHEZ MOI: Domesticity Handicrafts

BY ANA WARREN GONZÁLEZ PHOTOS BY SONNY ESPIRITU

F

rench fashion is one thing: long-legged, blasé waifs stalking around Paris in red lipstick, exhaling cigarette smoke like it were a political statement. French food is another: the standard by which worldwide cuisine is unforgivably judged according to technique, innovation, and aesthetic. French romance is an enigma all unto itself: the debonair men whose sugary words enthrall, the ravishing and proud women smiling mysteriously. But what about French décor? Over generations, it has been established that the French have an effortless way of being irritatingly, endlessly stylish; their homes are no exception.

Coco Chanel bedecked 31 Rue Cambon with marble busts, opulent carpets, and her own take on the design aesthetic of the Orient, in a delectable confection of East-meets-West.

Playful Rococo, developed in late 18th Century Paris, was a rebellion against the strict regulations and grandeur of the Baroque period. Succeeding it, the period of Louis XVI moved away from Rococo’s scandalous curves and flirtatious lines, and reverted to more classical forms and a reliance on subtle elegance.

Then there’s the French countryside. The sweet, romantic and comfortable homes are a nod to the best of shabby chic and country style designs. Homes are casual and lived-in; they are the design equivalent of a warm embrace and a chocolat chaud. The décor style is a celebration of the homey, the cozy, and joie de vivre.

BIENVENUE AND MABUHAY

Mariel San Agustin, the lady behind the Philippine handicrafts line Domesticity, takes a great deal of inspiration from French country décor. Paris itself may be her go-to when searching for that je-ne-sais-quoi for her next collection, but her aesthetic is driven by

Mariel San Agustin, the lady behind the Philippine handicrafts line Domesticity.

that romantic and welcoming vibe of French country. And how à propos: Mariel herself is the epitome of affability – the perfect gracious hostess, with an easy laugh and a gentle manner.

Domesticity is made entirely out of Philippine materials sourced out of the San Agustin farm in San Carlos City, Negros. The design aesthetic behind the products may be French country in philosophy, but the materials and construction are proudly Pinoy. And what

chic aesthetic in your home by displaying your cutlery in Domesticity’s mason jars on a kitchen shelf, or your pens and notepads in a lovely desk tray.

The tissue boxes, vanity trays, hampers and bath sets of the bathroom line will infuse a little bit of sunshine into your powder room.

The bathroom may be a very utilitarian space – but that doesn’t mean it has to look plain or unsightly. Domesticity’s bathroom line will

Médoc Cheese Platter Set

Alain Office Collection, Marché Desk Organizer, OFFICE Wooden Signage

a great combination the marriage makes.

Domesticity carries four different categories: storage, bathroom, dining, and gifts. Each one of the categories carries items that bring a special artisanal charm to every home.

“Everyone should have access to beautiful things,” Mariel explains as she brings us through the different categories. Storage contains delightful items to organize brica-brac – but so prettily that hiding these items seems a shame. Implement true shabby

Toulon Wire Basket with faux leather handles, Provence Water Bottle with Chalkboard Hangtag

organize hand towels and decorative soaps for a prettier option.

The dining line meanwhile is perfect for the hostess in all of us. Rustic and enchanting pieces introduce French chic onto the table.

How tempting it suddenly is to help yourself to seconds –even if you aren’t necessarily indulging in Michelin-star fare!

Last but not least, the gifts section is full of delightful and thoughtful items that anyone would appreciate – from the stylish Parisian

throw pillows, to lovely tea boxes, to linen sprays and spa sets. There is also the option, after all, of loving yourself as the French teach us, and to buy one or more of these gift items for you!

The best thing about these items is that in spite of the elegant design and careful attention to the crafting behind each product, they are affordable – giving everyone access to items that will beautify their sanctuary.

POUR LES PEUPLES

Delve deeper into the philosophy behind Domesticity, past the Philippine handicrafts and materials, past the French-inspired décor, past the effortless ability of infusing every home with comfort and charm, and you will discover that Domesticity is all about people.

A few years ago, Mariel was an avid exporter, but was discouraged by the price wars among exporters. She decided to focus her business on the Philippines instead, where she could maintain a higher cost while still remaining reasonably priced – and that meant paying her workers what they deserved. “It’s not right to cut down (on wages). I believe in rewarding employees with what they rightly deserve.”

As such, every Domesticity product directly benefits the workers – farmers who have been taught new skills, encouraged to improve and grow – and Gawad Kalinga in Mariel’s province of Negros. Through this consciencedriven approach, Mariel has found incredible fulfillment in doing the right thing.

Beautifully, with effortless French style married with Filipino heart and soul.

The complete range of products is available at mydomesticity.com. Follow Domesticity on Instagram/Facebook/Twitter through MyDomesticityPH.

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

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LIFE life @ thestandard.com .ph

@LIFEatStandard

PET PULSE

THINGS TO CONSIDER BEFORE GETTING A PET

P

ets are a big part of our lives and an important part of the family.

Adults consider them as a constant companion and best friend; kids learn about responsibility from them and to the family, they are a source of constant joy. Having your first pet usually is an exciting experience. The endless shopping for the perfect furry friend, the creative brainstorming of the names, the first moment you look into their eyes and realize, “Yes, I know it’s you I want to take home,” and finally, their first time coming home with you.

But with all the cuteness and the fluff, owning a pet is first and foremost a big responsibility. Experts agree that an indepth lifestyle check is helpful for future pet owners in the long run. With the aim of championing the value of responsible pet ownership through the Well Fed, Well Nurtured campaign, the Pet Food Institute and the Veterinary Practitioners Association of the Philippines pose some questions future pet owners should ponder on before keeping a pet. If you think you are ready for one, here are some questions you should ask yourself:

WHAT IS THE BEST KIND OF PET FOR ME?

Just like humans, pets are cut out differently, dogs and cat breeds vary

Like humans, pets need tender loving care

in needs and temperament, different physiques, eating habits and grooming needs. If you are a condo dweller make sure you get a pet that is the right size for your unit; otherwise you will end up with broken furniture and a stressed dog.

If you want a pet that is independent and doesn’t need much tending to, a cat might be better than a dog. As a responsible pet owner, it is vital that you are able to supply the proper lifestyle that satisfies the needs of your pet. You should also consider if you have the patience for grooming and if your place is often cold or warm. For instance, short-haired breeds such as beagles, Chihuahuas and Siamese take less time to groom than long-haired breeds like terriers, Shih Tzus, Pomeranians, and ragdolls. There are a lot of online guides on which pets might suit you best. Read up on the breed first before you decide to get one.

Aside from regular grooming needs, Pomeranian breeds are small dogs but big balls of energy that requires constant walks and exercise.

DO I HAVE THE TIME TO TAKE CARE OF THE PET?

Getting a pet is like getting a new baby for the house, it has needs that you need to address. Make sure that you have time for grooming, walking, and regular visits to the vet. Pets need attention and comfort from their owners to be happy.

Your pet must not feel neglected. Of course, there might be times when pet owners have to attend to other matters.

If you’re going to be away for a long time, entrusting your pets to the most trusted pet hotel, kennel or a pet sitter are good options.

WHAT WILL BE MY FAMILY’S REACTION?

You should be considering everyone in the household before bringing home a pet. Talk to each family member if they are okay with having a pet in the house and if there are any medical issues that might cause concerns. You should also consider the kind of pet to get if you have a baby or toddler in the house.

Small breeds are not best for kids as they might end up hurting the pet; bigger breeds like Golden Retrievers or Labradors are usually perfect around kids because of their caring and friendly nature. Identifying these issues can narrow down the options in selecting the right kind of pet. You should also decide who is the pet’s primary caretaker to make sure that the pets’ needs are taken cared of.

If you're a condo dweller, make sure you give your dogs enough outdoor playtime and walks in the park

WHAT WILL BE THE EXPENSES?

Like what was mentioned, owning and taking care of a pet is a responsibility, and so with it comes financial duties. A regular visit to the vet is costly and should be properly budgeted. Food, hygiene products, pet accessories are usually more expensive than what you use for yourself, so make sure that you have allotted a space for them in your grocery budget.

A healthy diet is good for your pet and it is also a good investment. When it comes to wise spending, products and edibles like treats and pet foods made from wholesome ingredients are contributory to the pet’s health. Table scraps and homemade pet foods can only give inadequate amounts of vitamins and minerals pets need. It’s best to purchase complete and balanced commercial pet foods that are scientifically formulated which support the pet’s good health wellbeing. Pet Food Institute and VPAP’s Well Fed, Well Nurtured campaign aims to raise awareness on proper nutrition and veterinary care as vital elements in responsible pet ownership. As the trade association of the US pet food industry, PFI encourages pet owners, old and new, to take pet nutrition forward by providing pet foods that are healthy and safe.

Now that you have the basics, go around and shop for your purrfect buddy. Check out dogs for adoption as well and see if you can give any rescued pets a new home.

For more information on PFI and proper pet nutrition, visit www.petfoodinstitute.org.

THE FUN OF LEARNING AT GALILEO

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ho says learning is only for kids? At Galileo, parents can also learn all about Singapore Math from ongoing workshops offered by the educational institution.

Galileo, which is celebrating its 10th year, has a lot of activities and offerings plus discounts that will benefit enrollees.

Knowing the important role that parents play to make kids learn faster and better, Galileo Enrichment Learning Program, Inc. encourages parents to participate in workshops such as the recent “Workshop for Parents” held at the B Hotel in Alabang where attendees got to learn about the Concrete Pictorial Abstract (CPA) approach to parents in teaching Singapore Math to their children.

In collaboration with Galileo Madrigal Center’s Director Paula Lamagna, Galileo head office Operations and Training chief Beth Lamis facilitated fun math games like Math Bingo, which enriches both the computation and math vocabulary skills of learners, as well as Fast Addition using integer tiles which help extend students’ thinking process by figuring out the sum of integers at the fastest possible time. Model

Galileo head office Operations and Training head Beth Lamis demonstrates using number balance to show that learning Math is also fun.

drawings and number balance presentations were also utilized. The “number balance” is used to demonstrate number relationships to help children better understand the concept of addition, subtraction, multiplication,

division and comparison (greater than or less than).

To avail of the 50 percent tuition fee promo, visit www.galileoenrichment.com. Those in

the Alabang area may visit Galileo Madrigal at Unit 101, Energy OPT Building, Prime Street, Madrigal Business Park 2, Alabang, Muntinlupa City, or call (02) 831-0008 or (0917) 602-7949.

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LIFE life @ thestandard.com .ph

A store dedicated to the 116 year old brand, Miele, found home at The Residences at Greenbelt.

@LIFEatStandard

A 1910 washing machine by Dr. Miele himself was shipped all the way from Germany.

MIELE: BUILDING KITCHENS OF THE FUTURE “What kind of coffee would you like today?” was the question thrown to the group. I eagerly CALEIDOSCOPE volunteered, “Cappuccino, WORLD please!” The

BY CAL TAVERA person beside me asked for a latte. After a few clicks on the touchscreen, the coffee machine came to life and a few seconds after, we were both happily enjoying our cups.

Hold on a second, did the person just give out instructions on a touchscreen? In case you were wondering, we weren’t enjoying our caffeine in one of those major coffee shop chains. We were invited to attend the event of the 116-year old German brand of appliances, Miele. Founded in 1899, the brand is currently run by the fourth generation family members of Founders Carl Miele and Reinhard Zinkann and continues to be a pioneer in creating premium appliances. We got to experience firsthand the collection of Miele’s Generation 6000 Series in its new 110-square meter gallery at The Residences, Greenbelt. The brand introduced its latest line of evolved kitchen equipment but still stayed loyal to its design principle of “form follows function.”

Customers now have more options with Miele’s new generation microwave ovens, gourmet warming drawers, convection ovens, combi-steam ovens, steam ovens and coffee machines.

Focus Global’s Loli and Steve Sy, together with Ms. Margarita Fores, during the new Miele Gallery and Miele Generation 6000 appliances launch.

Ms. Margarita Fores demonstrates her cooking prowess using the new Miele Generation 6000 appliances.

Being a coffee lover, I made a beeline for their machines. These new coffee makers offer users additional innovative features to make their morning routines more efficient. Each product comes with the M Touch, an intuitive feature similar to tablets and smart phones.

You can swipe or scroll down for directions to select and control the type of beverage with the tip of a finger and play barista in your own home. The coffee makers come with a new Cupsensor, EasyClick Milk System and One Touch for Two features. The Cupsensor has a direct sensor that automatically adjusts the height of the spout to various cup and glass sizes. The “One Touch for Two” feature allows the user to prepare a couple of cups simultaneously whether the order is for a short macchiato or tall hot mocha. The EasyClick Milk System, a component exclusive to Miele, is a glass milk flask that is dishwasher-safe that conveniently snaps into position at the front of the machine. The high-quality flask not only makes it effortless to rinse, it also makes it visible for the user to check the fullness and quality of milk due to its transparency. After customizing all our preferences for that perfect cup of joe, the information can also be saved for the next coffee session, eliminating the hassle of repeating the process!

Next, we experimented with the New Generation 6000 Miele Oven. As a mother, I enjoy kitchen sessions with my daughter.

We have baked bread, cookies, and cake together and it serves as a bonding time for us. However, I remember constantly opening the door to check because I have burned food before. Haha! This oven takes out the confusion in the process. Equipped with more than 100 automatic programs, all one has to do is pick one function, place the food and it will do everything else. It comes with a Moisture Plus function, perfect for baking bread and cooking meat, and also a wireless food probe which measures the core temperature. That means we no longer need to monitor the cooking process. Instead, we can utilize the time doing other errands.

One of the interesting set-ups in the kitchen was the invisible dishwasher due to its seamless aesthetic. No one would know that a fully integrated dishwasher was hiding behind the cabinet unless they knock twice.

The appliance with the Knock2Open feature is Miele’s top-of-the-line dishwasher. Worried about your water bill? According to their research, Miele’s dishwashers consume less water compared to washing dishes by hand, using 6.5liters of fresh water per cleaning.

The new Knock2Open feature enables you to completely hide your Miele dishwasher and achieve that handle-less and seamless look for your kitchen.

All these appliances also come in the beautiful color of Brilliant White, a modern look that will complement sleek spaces. If you are intimidated by the state-of-theart technology, don’t be. They actually aid amateur cooks (like me) in creating a meal with just a few steps.

Miele Gallery, Makati is located at the GF, The Residences at Greenbelt, Esperanza Street, Makati 1224. The gallery is open on Mondays to Saturday 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. and Sundays 11 a.m. to 7 p.m.

For more information, contact Miele at +63 2 7942095 to 96 or via Telefax at +63 2 7942097.

Follow me on Instagram @cal_tavera

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

LIFE life @ thestandard.com .ph

@LIFEatStandard

Every square meter of Alphaland Makati Place is carefully designed to ensure a natural fusion of aesthetics and efficiency. Premium furnishings and fixtures are handpicked from global brands based on both quality and design.

SUITE PERKS AT ALPHALAND MAKATI PLACE

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estled in the corner of Ayala Avenue Extension and Malugay St. in Makati is Alphaland Makati Place, an intelligent, state-of-theart residential and leisure complex whose concept and execution is so advanced that those who have seen model units describe it as “science fiction become reality.”

Its strategic location makes it perfect for dynamic executives, young families, and upwardly mobile singles. Alphaland Makati Place consists of three residential towers, an upscale shopping center and The City Club – a members-only leisure, entertainment and business haven.

Among the unique features of Alphaland Makati Place, which recently launched the Alpha Suites, are fiber optic infrastructure that makes it receptive to future technology; premium furnishings and fixtures handpicked from global brands based on both quality and design; and “home automation” with each unit featuring a tablet that contains a home automation interface that allows residents full access and control of the security system, the music and even the blinds and other utilities. The home automation application can be installed on any tablet, laptop, smartphone or any device with an IP address – intelligent, indeed. This premier development is also registered under the United States Green Building Council rating system, which administers the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design. Makati Place is aiming for a Gold level of certification.

As the complex was designed from the ground up as an intelligent development with state-of-the-art building management

Alphaland chairman Roberto Ongpin and Buhay party list Rep. Lito Atienza

Alphaland's Atty. Mario Oreta with Babe Romualdez

Linda Velayo and Greggy Araneta

and security systems, as well as energyefficient mechanical, electrical, and sanitary systems. Alphaland Makati Place will consume far less water and energy than similar developments, minimizing carbon emissions and unnecessary costs, while achieving a high level of comfort for residents.

Every square meter of Alphaland Makati Place is carefully designed to ensure a natural fusion of aesthetics and efficiency. The open-

Alphaland president Mario Oreta

Joe Assad and Babot Oreta

plan kitchen, living, and dining areas allow for a natural freedom of movement around the unit. Cleverly concealed built-in storage areas in hallways and under windows also maximize the space in the units, whether 1-Bedroom, 2-Bedroom, Premium 2-Bedroom, or 3-Bedroom type.

The best perk however is that guests and unit owners will have access to the facilities of the three-hectare The City Club whose topof-the-line facilities are dedicated to fulfilling

the most demanding lifestyle needs. The City Club’s three floors of leisure, business, and entertainment options provide the conveniences of work, home, and everywhere in between, all under one roof.

For inquiries, you may email to sales@alphaland.com.ph or contact +632.846.6205; +632.737.0042; +63.999.886.4420. You may also visit www. makatiplace.com.ph.

W EDNES DAY : OCTOBER 2 1 : 2015

SHOWBITZ

ISAH V. RED EDITOR

isahred @ gmail.com

The Greenwich barkada – Robbie Doningo, Yassi Pressman, JM de Guzman, and Andre Paras

Meet GreenwIch new ‘barkada’

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t’s time to meet Greenwich’s new barkada for another barkada food trip this month. This coincides with the launch of Greenwich’s new pizza flavor, the Cheesy Steak and Fries Overload.

This limited edition pizza is the latest offering from the country’s favorite barkada pizza and pasta brand, a definite must-try for everyone and best shared with friends and loved ones.

Greenwich Cheesy Steak and

Fries Overload is an experience that you and your friends would want to try over and over again.

It satisfies your craving for that melt-in-your-mouth steak and oozing three types of cheeses made up of mozzarella, cream cheese, and cheddar cheese topped with crunchy potato strings. Add the other Greenwich staples and your barkada’s all set to discover the #NewestBarkadaCraze to hit town.

The barkada having fun with the Greenwich Cheesy Steak and Fries

At the launch of Greenwich Cheesy Steak and Fries, brand ambassadors Robbie Domingo, Yassi Pressman, and Andre Paras

“Our customers will discover a new barkada experience with the Greenwich Cheesy Steak and Fries Overload,” said Marla Buencamino, Greenwich brand manager. “It’s available for a limited time only so we hope that everyone will be able to satisfy their pizza cravings and bring their barkada and loved ones along for the trip.”

Launched on the first day of October at the Greenwich BGC

branch, members of the media and guests were invited to a sneak peek of the newest pizza flavor and join in the fun activities with the brand ambassadors Yassi Pressman, Andre Paras, JM De Guzman, and Robi Domingo.

As the guests sampled the new #CheesySteakandFriesOverload, they were introduced to Greenwich’s new campaign, which focuses on discovering a new barkada experience.

‘SiCario’ bagS beSt opening indie film

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olden Globe® winner agent, in the lawless border area Emily Blunt takes on an- stretching between the U.S. and other strong female char- Mexico, who is enlisted by an elite acter in Sicario opposite government task force official, Matt Benicio Del Toro and Josh Brolin. Graver, played by Josh Brolin to aid The film is about an agent hired to in the escalating war against drugs.

Led by Alejandro, an enigmatbust drug cartels in Mexico. ic consultant with a questionable While the film opened first on past, played by Benicio Del Toro, a limited release screening in only the team sets out on a clandestine six theaters, it sure made a strong journey forcing Kate to question impact in box-office records due to everything that she believes in its rave reviews when it earned alorder to survive.

Even as Kate most $ 67,000 per theatre, earning tries to convince herself she’s on a over $400,000 and making it the hunt for justice, she is thrust into highest grossing title on a limited the dark heart of a secret battlerelease achieved by an independent film for the year. With its follow up ground that has swept up ruthless wide release on its second week- cartels, kill-crazy assassins, clanend, it continued to seize this year’s destine American spies and thouindie-film arena, with $26.7million sands of innocents.

The jagged line of the U.S. and in earnings to-date (and counting), Mexican border is now awash in it is now US’ second in the top 5 insome of the most pressing quesdependent releases of 2015. tions of our times – drugs, terror, Sicario, which means hit man in illegal immigration, corruption Mexico, brings Emily Blunt’s charand an escalating swath of dark acter, Kate Macer, an idealistic FBI

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crime that has left people on both sides frightened and vigilant. Sicario explores the journey of an intelligence operation that pushes the rules to engage with those who don’t play by any.

“Kate is tempted by this world,” says Blunt, who breaks the mold with her portrait of a fierce female character whose life is in jeopardy throughout every second of the film. “She realizes she was barely scratching the surface doing things by the book and now she wants to believe she can do something that will make a real difference. Yet the very idea of no longer following the rules turns Kate’s whole world upside down.

Nothing makes sense anymore.”

“Sicario is partly about a phantasm: the old idea that North America will be able to solve the most violent problems of the world in a very efficient and invisible way. That was once a comforting

thought – but the world seems to have become more and more complicated.” says director Dennis Villeneuve, a four time winner of the Canadian Screen Awards for Best Director. Villeneuve is currently in pre-production on two additional projects “Story of Your” Life, starring Amy Adams, Jeremy Renner and Forest Whitaker and the Untitled Blade Runner Project, starring Harrison Ford and Ryan Gosling.

He goes on, “We have a need for super heroes. However, in today’s reality, heroes don’t usually have clean hands. Heroes are in contact with the most difficult moral choices, the choices we must make when confronted by evil. Sicario’s moral choices fascinate me.”

Sicario opens on Oct. 28 in cinemas nationwide from Pioneer Films.

Check out the movie’s latest trailer here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qKzjpLrztYw

Greenwich PR and Corporate Affairs Head, Cookie Cabrera, adds, “From music to new interests, hobbies, and especially food, Greenwich supports every barkada anywhere that welcome the adventure and enjoy sharing these new experiences. This new product is definitely for food-loving groups of friends all over the country.”

The new Greenwich Cheesy Steak and Fries Overload will be available until December 2015 only.

Benicio del Toro in Sicario

Emily Blunt is an FBI Agent in Sicario

W EDNES DAY : OCTOBER 2 1 : 2015

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SHOWBITZ isahred @ gmail.com

Liam Hemsworth and Kate Winslet The Dressmaker The Dressmaker

A scene from The Dressmaker

Kate Winslet is The Dressmaker

KAtE WinSLEt’S COUtURE ROCKS SLEEPy tOWn

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ased on the wickedly hilarious and couture-filled book of the same title by Rosalie Ham, The Dressmaker is set in 1951 in a town called Dungatar, a one-horse town deep in the wheat belt of south-east Australia.

The sleepy town of Dungatar is suddenly alarmed at the return of Tilly Dunnage (Kate Winslet), a beautiful, talented misfit, who’s been working as a dressmaker in France for the great haute couture designers. She returns to Dungatar deep in the wheat belt of south-east Australia after 20 years away. Tilly has been driven back by a recent tragedy, to do two things – look after her ailing, eccentric mother Molly (Judy Davis), and right the wrongs of the past that continue to haunt her. Tilly Dunnage has revenge in her heart.

Tilly feels instinctively that she was wronged as a child, but she also feels cursed and can’t clearly remember what happened. The Dungatarians are drawn in by Tilly’s bewitching skills of transformation, and one by one, she extracts from them the information necessary to piece the truth together. The extraordinary gowns she creates become her means for revenge against those who did her wrong. There’ll be a price for looking this good.

Along the way Tilly bares her heart and, against her better judgment, falls in love with local football hero, Ted-

dy McSwiney (Liam Hemsworth).

Most importantly, she forms an initially volatile but finally tender reconciliation with her mother Molly.

Director Jocelyn Moorhouse says, “A designer friend of mine once said to me, couture is a weapon and that stuck with me. I like the idea of a woman being able to use her skills at designing extraordinary clothes that can transform the people wearing them, and to use that as a weapon against those people.”

Clothes are crucial to The Dressmaker – costuming is key to any film, but here it takes on a profound level of importance. Rosalie Ham had the clothes close in mind when writing the source book, “Clothes as a disguise, something to cover the flaws of your body, was what I wanted to explore, but in this case, it exacerbates the flaws in the people - things like vanity and jealousy - and so it all came from that.”

Fashion in The Dressmaker is about disguise. Tilly Dunnage takes advantage of the women in the town and appeals to their sense of competition and vanity. The women of Dungatar haven’t looked or felt good for a very long time, so it’s a way of luring people and giving them a false sense of hope. Tilly simply gives them enough rope – or ribbon – to hang themselves with.

She lets them “bring themselves unstitched”, as Rosalie puns.

CROSSWORD PUZZLE 45 46 48 50 51 52 54 58 62 63 65 66 67 68 69 70 71 ANSWER FOR PREVIOUS PUZZLE ACROSS 1 Latch onto 5 Yodeler’s answer 9 Tangy 14 “Fancy” singer 15 Conk out 16 Wagner opus 17 F — — foxtrot 18 Off the hook 19 More helpful 20 Grain container 22 Pompous

24 26 27 30 35 36 37 38 39 42 43

Aluminum source Mrs. Lennon Museum piece Got cozy Consumer advocate Coup d’— Rural structure Every one Pessimistic on Wall Street Bavarian peak Thwart a villain

Sinister Think alike Open Over-refined Louis XIV, e.g.

Fouled up Annoyed Blah Buenos — Spinach has it Whit Rooster’s pride — qua non Festive nights “The Mermaid Tavern” poet Woman on campus Quit working

DOWN 1 — Zeppelin 2 — -majeste 3 Drama award 4 Edict 5 Blot out 6 Freighter load 7 Rush off 8 Flamenco shouts 9 Urban concern 10 Play wrap-ups (var.)

11 Faction 12 It has rings 13 Cookout spot

Winslet says, “Tilly has trained as a couture dressmaker in France with Balenciaga and Dior and Madame Vionnet. The Dungatarians don’t really understand quite how magical and beautiful her creations truly are, they think it’s ‘dress up’. It’s kind of a gift that she’s giving them, as well as carrying out little bits of revenge along the way. They go from looking pale and a bit tea stained to looking like they’re all walking down a red carpet. It’s really quite striking.”

The post war 1950s were a time in which fashion had two competing movements - Christian Dior created ‘the new look’ in 1947, which took women back a little bit to the corset and the cinched waist.

Madame Vionnet and Balenciaga were both couturiers that didn’t use artifice; they used what was already there and the way fabric was draped on the body to enhance the good qualities and disguise the bad.

Ham says, “I wanted to make the distinction between those two things in The Dressmaker. You can be feminine and beautiful but you don’t have to wear a corset or alter yourself particularly to be able to do that.”

Check out Winslet’s runway-worthy creations in The Dressmaker when it opens on Nov. 4 in theaters nationwide from Axinite Digicinema.

Watch “The Dressmaker” trailer here: https://www.youtube.com/ watch?v=UZavDxSOhCE

WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 21, 2015

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Book jacket ad Talks up On a bicycle Big mix-up Hawk’s gripper Improvise (hyph.)

Hit dead-center Polygraph flunkers Cherbourg shes A bit obtuse Gutter locale Hair-raising Sultan’s menage Guinness category More lightheaded Drags out of bed Did an orchard chore Geneva’s river Wolf gang?

Onetime Trevi Fountain coins Type of rug Part of CD Drift here and yon Sporty trucks Pole on a ship “Road” movie locale

Boy ABundA honors exemplAry teAChers

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s Boy Abunda celebrates his birthday in a month-long manner, the host featured teachers who have been exemplary in their profession in The Bottomline last Saturday Abunda talked to Cristina Medina, a blind teacher, Adrian Cobardo, who utilizes a boat to hop from island to

Boy Abunda with the teachers

island to teach kids, a mother and son teaching tandem in Editha and Paul Carpio, life coach Trece Academia, and Eul-Shalom Learning Centre principal, Bing Lavara.

They talked about their teaching career and lessons about their profession, imbibing knowledge and values to those they get to interact with.

W EDNES DAY : OCTOBER 2 1 : 2015

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SHOWBITZ isahred @ gmail.com

aiai de las alas signs 2-picTuRe deal wiTh Regal From c8

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fter nearly two decades, AiAi De las Alas returned to Regal Entertaimnet, not to play another supporting role but to be the lead role in an upcoming film for Mother’s Day next year.

De las Alas signed a two-movie contract with Regal matriarch Lily Y. Monteverde and her daughter Roselle. The cameras will start rolling in January next year, after the Metro Manila Film Festival. De las Alas has an entry to the annual film festival.

De las Alas in her early years in show business has starred in Regal movies but she played mostly supporting roles.

“Naku, ang dami kon g movies na ginawa sa Regal, lahat yata ng roles na-portray ko na. Kaya lang ngayon lang ako magbibida

talaga at masayang-masaya ako sa pagtitiwala ni Mother Lily,” De las Alas told members of the press that attended the contract-signing between her and Regal Enteratainment.

The older Monteverde was very vocal about her affection for De las Alas. “She’s a very nice person.

Kaya naman mahal na mahal ko siya. I am very, very happy that she will be in our Mother’s Day presentation,” she said.

Of late, AiAi’s magic is back on TV as her new shows on GMA Network – Sunday PinaSaya and CelebriTV – are performing very well in the ratings game and are trending fairly well on Twitter and other social media sites.

Roselle Monteverde could only say, “She’s our perfect choice for a Mother’s Day presentation!”

AiAi de las Alas returns to Regal Entertainment for a Mother's Day movie

HHHHH alden RichaRds launches album GMA Artist Center’s multi-talented heartthrob Alden Richards marks another milestone in his career as he launched his first solo album for GMA Records, Wish I May, on Oct. 17 at the SM North EDSA Cinema 11.

The five-track album features his rendition of “God Gave Me You” and “Thinking Out Loud,” songs that highlight the AlDub love team in the Kalyeserye segment of award-winning noontime show, Eat Bulaga. It also includes the backing tracks of the five songs, and a bonus track.

“Wish I May” has been topping the charts since its digital release and remains to be no.1 on the sales chart of iTunes Philippines.

Alden expresses how the HHHHH Top new game app With over 55,000 installs within the first 3 days of its launch, Catch the Guava is the top new free Android app in the Philippines.

The game was launched on Oct. 11 as a companion app for GMA Network’s hit show Juan Tamad, starring Sef Cadayona.

Juan pitches the idea of a game app about catching golden guavas to his brainiac best friend Miong. The friends design the Catch the Guava game and it becomes a nationwide hit … so addictive in fact, that a senator proposes a bill to ban the game.

Showing just how quickly the game has picked up since its launch... when ranked among

Alden Richards debuts as a recording star

height of his career leaves him in awe, “Hanggang ngayon nao-overwhelm pa rin po ako sa mga nangyayari. It’s really good to wake up each day feeling motivated. And other than being supportive, the fans are also

Catch The Guava app has become a sensation

longstanding games on Google Play, Catch the Guava is now second only to the epic Clash of Clans and has even bested Candy Crush.

Catch the Guava game me-

very concerned about my health, that’s why I’m very thankful po talaga with everything. I have the best people with me.”

The album’s carrier single, “Wish I May” premiere its music video on Sunday PinaSaya on Oct. 18. chanics are simple: keep Juan’s mouth open to catch fresh guavas, close his mouth to avoid the rotten ones. The more guavas Juan catches, the closer he gets to winning the love of Marie – just as he does on the TV show.

With the creation of an actual game app, the Network hopes to engage Juan Tamad’s fans or Juanatics beyond the television screen.

Download and play Catch the Guava for android now: https:// play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.catchtheguava The iOS version of the game follows by Nov.11.

Catch the Guava was developed by 88GamePub for GMA Network.

1st KeriBeKs joB fair at sM North eDsa sKyDoMe THE United LGBT Of The Philippines (ULP), with the support of Korina Sanchez-Roxas and her top-rating Sunday magazine show Rated K, mounted the first ever KeriBeks job fair yesterday at SM North EDSA Skydome.

This whole day event that kicked off at 9 a.m. and ended at 5p.m., was a follow-up event to the KeriBeks National Gay Congress, which happened at Araneta Coliseum last August.

KeriBeks is the brainchild of several gay men from the entertainment industry. These gay men have gone through many trials and challenges in their lives and yet they still managed to hold jobs and support their families and loved ones. With the many issues that gay men face on a daily basis, the group aspired to mount an event that would inspire, motivate, celebrate, and educate gay men, who like them, come from different walks of life.

Upon its conception, it was Korina who helped in forming the

Korina Sanchez-Roxas with her KeriBeks

group and mounting its first major event. It should be noted that aside from Rated K’s “Handog Tsinelas Campaign,” KeriBeks is one of the major advocacies of Korina, which

husband Presidential candidate Mar Roxas fully supports. “The LGBT community is very dear to me and my husband,” says Korina.

“I’ve been in the business for over

30 years and gays has always been there for me. They were with me through thick and thin, through the good times and the bad times of life. They accepted me for who

I am unconditionally. For me they are heroes because they support their families, they send their nephews and nieces to school, and they still manage to be fabulous.”

As part of its advocacy of empowering the LGBT community of the Philippines, the 1st KeriBeks job fair is open to all Filipino lesbians, gays, bisexuals, and transgender men and women who are seeking employment.

Project Red Ribbon will also conduct a free seminar on HIV/ AIDS awareness and prevention.

The event culminated with special performances by boy band 1:43 and singing sensation Dessa.

ULP is also currently gearing up for a series of events such as livelihood program that will provide professional trainings and seminars for the LGBT community and a talent contest titled May K Ka Ba? LGBT Got Talent.

Applicants may simply register for free at the venue to avail of the chance to apply in over 50 companies that will be part of the job fair.

W EDNES DAY : OCTOBER 2 1 : 2015

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ISAH V. RED EDITOR isahred @ gmail.com

SHOWBITZ Anne Curtis

Mr. and Ms. Pastillas

Madlang Cebu

Lip Swak Champions

Billy Crawford and Vhong Navarro

Enrique Gil and Liza Soberano with Gerald Anderson

Pastillas Girl Picks admirer from ozamis ISAH V. RED Nothing could stop the madlang Cebuanos from partying with It’s Showtime family. The cast and crew went to Cebu in full force for a live show at the Hoops Dome last Saturday. It was part of the highly-anticipated “Kapamilya, Thank You: It’s Showtime, Biyaheng Cebu.”

Thousands of screaming fans welcomed Vice Ganda, Anne Curtis, Vhong Navarro, Billy Crawford, Jhong Hilario, Karylle, Jugs Jugueta, Teddy Corpuz, Ryan Bang and Eruption the moment they entered the popular indoor arena in Lapu Lapu City.

The long wait definitely paid off as the crowd enjoyed an afternoon of laughter, excitement, and “kilig” led by Everyday I Love you stars Enrique Gil, Liza Soberano, and Gerald Anderson.

The “kilig” vibes continued when Angelica Yap a.k.a. Pastillas Girl chose Richard Parajinog of Ozamis to be her Mr. Pastillas as the story of “Nasaan Ka Mr. Pastillas” finally concluded.

Team Diyosa, composed of Manuel Chua, Kiray, and Aira Bermudez, meanwhile, was hailed champion with their “Proud to be Me” concept and won P200,000 in the biggest lip sync battle, “Lip Swak Olympics.”

Also joining the celebration were Pinoy rap icon Andrew E. and Abra, who sang their hits “Humanap Ka ng Panget” and

“Gayuma.”

Doubling the fun and antics were “Funny One’s” Crazy Duo with Jhong Hilario, Teddy Corpuz, and Jugs Jugueta.

As early as 7am, fans were already lining up outside the venue, according to a report from TV Patrol. Kapamilyas from different parts of Cebu battled with the shifting weather just to express their love and support for their favorite Kapamilya celebrities.

With the month-long ANIMversary of It’s Showtime came the much-awaited “Magpasikat” week, which started on Monday.

Watch out as the hosts surprise the madlang people with their explosive “Magpasikat” performances.

Don’t miss the fun and good vibes in It’s Showtime, Monday to Friday, 12nn on ABS-CBN.

Ang Probinsyano lead star Coco Martin

HHHHH anG Probinsyano dominates Primetime Ang Probinsyano, top billed by the King of Teleserye, Coco Martin, once again won the ratings game after it scored its new all-time high TV rating last Thursday (Oct 15).

The hit teleserye got a national TV rating of 42.9 percent or 24 points higher than its rival show Marimar with only 18.5 percent,

according to the data from Kantar Media.

The story gets more and more intense as Cardo now assumes the identity of his deceased twin brother Ador. How long can he keep his cover? Will Cardo be able to fulfill his mission?

Don’t miss the thrilling episodes of the top-rating primetime teleserye weeknights after TV Patrol. ➜ continued on c7