The Standard - 2015 October 22 - Thursday

VOL. XXIX  NO. 252  3 Sections 32 Pages P18  THURSDAY : OCTOBER 22, 2015  www.thestandard.com.ph  editorial@thestandard.com.ph

Marcos: Respect Miriam’s privacy

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LENI: LP ALSO HIT

BY SMEAR DRIVE

By John Paolo Bencito, Macon RamosAraneta and Maricel V. Cruz

AMID mounting accusations that the ruling Liberal Party was using dirty tricks to discredit their opponents, LP vice presidential candidate and Camarines Sur Rep. Leni Robredo said both she and her presidential running mate Manuel Roxas II were also victims of black propaganda.

“There are reports from social media that we have tarpaulins on Edsa, in Taft… but obviously they’re Photoshopped. It’s saddening that those who want to ruin us would go so low as to make something without basis,” Robredo said in Mangatarem, Pangasinan.

“Criticism is better, because it already has basis,” she added.

Robredo said she hoped people would not believe the smear tactics and said she never placed a tarpaulin along a congested thoroughfare.

Robredo admitted she needed to exert an extra effort because most people in the provinces did not know her.

“I need to work very hard, [because] many people don’t know me yet,” she said. “But I’m very hardworking and I like who I’m with. In my opinion.

Things won’t be very hard for me soon,” Robredo added.

In the same interview, Roxas slammed the frontrunner for the presidency, Senator Grace Poe, for promising businessmen in the vote-rich prov-

ince of Pangasinan that she would build an international airport in Santa Barbara to serve the people of Northern Luzon and to boost travel and tourism there if she were elected president.

Roxas said Poe’s proposal was not feasible and was similar to a plan by the previous administration to build an international airport in Alaminos City.

“All of these [projects] go under the Neda (National Economic and Development Authority). Those with Next page

Relief. Air Force personnel unload relief for the victims of Typhoon ‘Lando’ in Baler, Aurora, on Wednesday. JANSEN ROMERO

Dinky denies leaving aid work to campaign

By Sandy Araneta and John Paolo Bencito THE Palace on Wednesday denied accusations from the camp of Vice President Jejomar Binay that Social Welfare Secretary Corazon Soliman was campaigning instead of leading relief operations to help victims of Typhoon

“Lando.”

“This is in response to the statements made by the Vice President’s Spokesperson accusing me of being remiss of (sic) my responsibilities by attending a Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD)-organized event in Region XII instead of ‘leading from the frontlines for the relief and recovery’ of

those affected by Typhoon Lando,” Soliman said in a statement read by presidential spokesman Edwin Lacierda.

Soliman said efforts to prepare and respond to the typhoon did not involve just one day, and that on Oct. 16, as vice chairman of the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council, Next page

Just lower tax, Drilon, Belmonte advised

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2 Chinese envoys shot dead in Cebu

By Francisco tuyay and Florante S. Solmerin

A CHINESE deputy consul and the consulate finance officer in Cebu City were killed while the consul general and another companion were wounded in a gun attack inside a restaurant in Cebu City Thursday.

Supt. Renato Dugan, spokesman of Region-7 Police Office, identified the two Chinese fatalities as Sun Shan, Chinese deputy consul and Hui Li, finance officer. Consul General Song Rong Hua was wounded and taken to Cebu City Hospital where he is in stable condition.

Police arrested a Chinese couple identified as Li Qing Liang, 60 and Gou Jing, 57, also a Chinese consul, minutes after the shooting.

Reports said the group of Chinese nationals were having lunch inside a function room at the Lighthouse Restaurant along Magno Avenue, Barangay Carreta in Cebu City, when a burst of gunfire could be heard coming from the room at about 1:30 p.m.

Reports said the group had been celebrating Sun’s birthday when Li Qing Liang entered and had a heated argument with the deputy consul. Li then drew his

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she was in the briefing for President Benigno Aquino III and continued to work with her colleagues in planning and implementing the disaster response plan.

The day after, Soliman said, she flew to Koronadal City to participate in an event celebrating the successes of the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps) beneficiaries.

The event, which had been planned long ago, was organized by the DSWD Field Office, she said.

Former Interior Secretary Manuel Roxas II and Camarines Sur Rep. Leni Robredo—the presidential and vice presidential candidates for the ruling Liberal Party—were invited by the Field Office as resource persons, she said.

Roxas talked about sustainable livelihood while Robredo discussed food security, Soliman said.

On the same day, Soliman said, she flew back to Manila and went straight to the operations center to attend an NDRRMC meeting.

On Oct. 19, together with the President, Soliman and the DSWD staff distributed relief goods and visited affected com-

gun and started to shoot.

Lighthouse manager Stephen John Patero said the shooting occurred in a private room of the upmarket restaurant, which is a favorite among local politicians.

“We did not really see the actual shooting. They were inside a private function room. There was a series of gunshots,” Patero said.

But he said waiters who served them beforehand had heard the guests shouting at each other.

“They are all friends who apparently figured in an argument,” he said, citing the waiters.

Li was with his wife, Gou Jing, who hid her husband’s gun in her bag. The two were arrested by pursuing policemen at the Cebu Business Park and are now detained and awaiting the filing of charges.

The two consulate officials were pronounced dead upon arrival at the Perpetual Succor Hospital.

Dugan said police found a .45 cal. pistol Colt Defender, three empty shells, two deformed slugs and one live bullet.

Chinese Embassy officials declined to comment on the incident as they were still verifying the facts surrounding the case.

Police in Cebu City said they were investigating further to determine the motive behind the gun attack. With aFP

munities in Region III. “Given these, I believe that not only the management but the whole department has successfully led the relief and recovery efforts, and even the preparation and planning phases,” Soliman said.

“It is sad that the calamities such as this are being used as an opportunity to criticize the government in order to pursue their interests,” she added.

Lacierda lashed out at Baler Mayor Nelianto Bihasa for saying that the administration was politicizing the relief operations in Baler, Aurora.

Bihasa, not a member of the Liberal Party, accused Roxas and Robredo of politicking by bypassing his office in distributing relief.

But Lacierda said: “First of all, what is important here? That the relief goods be given to the mayor or given to the people? Please clarify, Mayor Bihasa.”

Lacierda said photos showed that relief was reaching the people of Baler.

“What is important is that the relief goods were received by the people and not the mayor. And, PDPLaban is not the enemy, they are included in the coalition. Why would he politicize something that does not need to be politi-

cized?,” said Lacierda.

Lacierda also said the relief distributed by Roxas and Robredo were aimed at augmenting the goods from the DSWD. In Pangasinan, Roxas defended Soliman against the Vice President’s camp.

“I think that we should not take notice of that senseless statement from them because it’s clear that the government is doing everything to do its job.

All of the departments, all of the branches of government are pointed towards caring and attending to the needs of our countrymen especially those affected by Typhoon Lando,” Roxas said.

Speaking to reporters, Roxas said, “You are witnesses that there are no speeches… no yellow colors,” Roxas said. “We are here just for the distribution of relief goods.’’

Also on Wednesday, the Commission on Elections said it was not premature campaigning for candidates for next year’s polls to distribute relief to victims of Typhoon Lando.

Comelec Chairman Andres Bautista noted that there is no existing provision from the Omnibus Election Law that prohibits candidates from donating or distributing relief goods to people affected by natural disasters. With Sara Susanne D. Fabunan

Checkup. Former President and now Pampanga Rep. Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo arrives a the St. Luke’s Medical Center in Quezon City on Wednesday for a medical checkup. Lino SantoS

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experience in governance know [this], and we’re watching closely how the limited money of the government is allocated to projects that can help the many,” Roxas added, taking a dig at Poe’s inexperience.

Roxas also urged former Senator Richard Gordon to identify those LP members who tried to convince him to file a disqualification case against Poe, adding that he would expel them if Gordon’s claim was proven true.

“It’s better [for him] to mention who is this person so we can investigate… If we need to expel him, we’ll expel him from the party,” Roxas said.

Poe and her vice presidential running mate Senator Francis Escudero came under renewed attack with text messages circulating that said they were against call centers because they opened the youth to social ills and vices.

In a statement Tuesday night, Poe and Escudero denied the content of the text message and said they fully supported the growth and further development of the business process outsourcing BPO industry.

In their platform for inclusive growth, they said, “horizon industries” such as BPO should be nurtured to spur economic development and create new jobs.

The senators said the text message was part of the smear campaign against them.

Poe’s spokesperson, Valenzuela Mayor Rex Gatchalian, said some quarters were sowing misinformation and lies to discredit Poe and Escudero.

“This is part of an organized black propaganda [campaign] to demolish Senator Grace

Poe and Senator Francis Escudero, who are leading various pre-election presidential and vice presidential surveys,” he said.

Also on Wednesday, leaders from the LP and the opposition United Nationalist Alliace denied the revelation by Gordon that their members had asked him to file a disqualification complaint against Poe. UNA president and Navotas Rep. Tobias Tiangco said the opposition would not resort to such a desperate act.

“I am not aware of that,” Tiangco told The Standard in a text message, in response to Gordon’s claim that he was approached by politicians to orchestrate the disqualification of Poe to take her out in the political equation in 2016.

Parañaque Rep. Gus Tambunting also defended the UNA and its members.

“I don’t think our members are capable of doing that,” Tambunting said in a separate interview, saying that their standard bearer, Vice President Jejomar Binay, is himself was a victim of black propaganda to diminish his chance of winning the presidency in next year’s elections.

LP stalwarts also played down the Gordon revelation.

House Speaker Feliciano Belmonte Jr. said it would be unfair to pinpoint Roxas or even the administration party as the source of any black propaganda against certain presidential candidates.

Belmonte, campaign manager of the Koalisyon ng Daang Matuwid and vice LP vice chairman, said Gordon’s revelation was “a general vague and unsubstantiated statement.”

“It was also self-serving,” Belmonte told The Standard. He urged Gordon to make public details of the incidents.

Quezon City Rep. Jorge Banal laughed off Gordon’s revelation, saying it was baseless.

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‘Mercado owned the dummies’ Drilon and Belmonte told: Just lower taxes SENATOR Francis Escudero on Wednesday challenged Senate President Franklin Drilon and House Speaker Feliciano Belmonte to “just do it” and move to pass a bill lowering the personal and corporate income taxes.

“If, as they claim, both the Senate president and the speaker are in favor of tax relief, then we should pass it,” said Escudero who is running for vice president in the next year’s elections.

He said Congress may pass a law to lower personal and corporate income taxes as part of its mandate even without Malacañang’s backing.

He cited the principle of separation of powers as he questioned the two leaders’ position that they would have to consult the Palace on the proposed measures pending in both chambers.

“Why does Congress have to ask permission from the Executive department before doing its job?” Escudero said.

“Whatever happened to the separation of powers and the independence of the three co-equal branches of government?”

Escudero said that, with ample political will and determination, the passage of the tax reform bill would be guaranteed with or without the Palace’s blessing.

“This can be done without the consent of the Executive.

Congress has just to reassert its power to legislate on taxation,” Escudero said.

During his first term as a senator, Escudero sponsored a measure that would exempt minimum wage earners in the private and public sectors from paying income tax, which later became Republic Act 9504. The law covers the basic pay, holiday pay, overtime pay, night shift differential and hazard pay received by minimum-wage earners.

Escudero had earlier urged Malacañang to certify as urgent the pending proposals to reduce the income tax rates, and in particular the personal income tax which, at 32 percent, is the highest in Southeast Asia. Macon Ramos-Araneta

VICE President Jejomar Binay’s trusted aide and alleged bagman Gerardo Limlingan says former Makati Vice Mayor Ernesto Mercado originally owned the two “dummy” corporations that won anomalous contracts with the Makati city government when Binay was still its mayor.

Limlingan made the revelation in his 88-page urgent motion filed with the Court of Appeals, which seeks to lift a freeze order on 170 bank and financial accounts supposedly under his name.

Limlingan, who broke his si-

lence for the first time since being dragged into the alleged irregularities in Makati City government projects, said Mercado was the original owner of OMNI Security Investigation and General Services and Meriras Realty & Development Corp.

Mercado had claimed that Binay used dummies like OMNI to hide his assets. The former vice mayor claimed OMNI cornered most of the security and janitorial and maintenance services in Makati City.

“Contrary to the false accusations of Mercado, OMNI and MERIRAS were originally Mercado’s companies,” Limlingan said in his motion.

“It was Mercado who incorporated and managed the business and affairs [of] the foregoing companies

Marcos: Respect Santiago’s right to privacy SENATOR Ferdinand Marcos Jr. on Wednesday said Senator Miriam Santiago’s right to privacy should be respected.

Santiago had earlier invoked her right to privacy in rejecting a doctor’s request to release her medical records. Sylvia Estrada Claudio had said Santiago should bare such records to prove she was fit for the

presidency.

“Ako, pag sinabi niya na kaya niya ang mangampanya, na magaling na siya, eh di sino pa ba paniniwalaan ko kung hindi si Senator Miriam?”

Marcos told GMA-7’s morning show “Unang Hirit.”

Santiago declared that she had won her bout with cancer before filing her candidacy for next year’s elections.

Divina T. Fabra

The Blessed Teresa of Calcutta Award is bestowed to outstanding individuals in the country who have dedicated their lives and passion to serving the poorest of the poor. Named after Mother Teresa, who was worldrenowned for her humanitarian works, this annual project began in 1983 as a joint undertaking of the Junior Chamber International Manila and the AY Foundation, the philanthropic arm of the Yuchengco Group of Companies under the leadership of Ambassador Alfonso T. Yuchengco. Other notable winners of this award include the late Manila Archbishop Jaime Cardinal Sin, and philanthropist and founder of Chosen Children Village Foundation, Inc., Ms. Ma. Angela Fullerton.

until the year 2000, when he sold his shares to Respondent Limlingan as payment for the loan extended by the Respondent to him.”

Limlingan said when OMNI was incorporated in December 1999, its president was Mercado’s long-time friend and business partner Jose Orillaza.

William Co, meanwhile, was Orillaza’s nominee in OMNI. On the other hand, Remedios Zoriaga, Zenaida Yato, and Lucia Salvador had been the nominees of Mercado in the firm.

In September 2014 Orillaza claimed it was Binay who had sent Limlingan to work at OMNI, although both the names of the vice president and Limlingan never appeared in the firm’s incorporation papers. Rey E. Requejo

She later named Marcos as her vice presidential running mate.

According to Marcos, talks are still ongoing between his camp and Santiago’s to discuss the details of their alliance.

“Mabuti naman ang takbo ng usapan namin dahil ang ginagawa namin ay we are forming a loose coalition sa aming mga kampo,” Marcos said.

A fierce advocate of the rights of Philippine indigenous peoples, Ms. Divina T. Fabra has devoted her vocation as a missionary and evangelist to the poor communities of the Calamain Tagbanua in Coron, Palawan and the Aetas in Zambales.

DIVINA HAS BEEN EDUCATING AND LIVING THE TEACHINGS OF THE BIBLE FOR OVER 27 YEARS, SPREADING THE GOOD NEWS OF LOVE AND CHARITY TO THE MOST DEPRIVED INDIGENOUS POPULACE IN THE COUNTRY. A NATIVE OF BOTOLAN, ZAMBALES, SHE WAS FIRST ASSIGNED TO WORK AMONG THE CALAMAIN TAGBANUA PEOPLE IN A SMALL, ISOLATED ISLAND IN CORON. Divina fully immersed herself in the local culture, living with the community and even learning their native language. After over a year of studying the Tagbanua language, she set herself to educating young girls and mothers who are mostly illiterate.

In 1994, she began working among the Aeta population of the remote village called Banawen, located at Barangay Sapat in the Municipality of San Felipe in Zambales. This work proved to be perilous, including a three-hour hike along lahar-filled rivers.

Since then, she has successfully raised funds from various government bodies such as the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) and supporters from the Church for the benefit of the residents of Banawen.

Her programs and initiatives include the facilitation of several medical missions, institution of Bible teaching and church planting ministries, and the development of banana plantations to serve as a stable source of livelihood for the local population. Aeta parents, who have yet to legalize their union with the blessing of the Church have also benefited from her mass wedding projects.

Despite numerous hazards posed to her health, Divina proved her resilience in serving the Aeta community of Banawen. Five years ago, she suffered a heart attack that almost forced her to leave her calling.

However, she displayed remarkable persistence and integrity in continuing her mission to serve others until the present.

After a nationwide selection process, Ms. Divina Fabra has been chosen as this year’s Blessed Teresa of Calcutta Awardee for embodying the Christian values of compassion and selflessness. Through her admirable work of charity and community development among the marginalized indigenous groups in the country, she has served as an inspiration and leader in the advocacy to preserve and enforce the rights of all indigenous peoples in the Philippines.

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AFP world’s 6 worst army th

By Florante S. Solmerin THE Philippines landed in another negative list after the Armed Forces of the Philippines was ranked as the sixth worst army in the world, according to a group of former American soldiers who have turned to the Internet to cater to the information needs of United States servicemen.

United Nations Day. Pupils from Morning Star and DMC Daycare Center in Caloocan City celebrate United Nations Day with mini-flags of different countries. ANDREW RABULAN

Benguet police chief sacked

By Francisco Tuyay MIRRORING events after Typhoon ‘‘Yolanda’’ hit the country in November 2013, the provincial police chief of Benguet was sacked by Interior and Local Government Secretary Mel Senen Sarmiento on Wednesday for the substantial number of deaths due to Typhoon ‘‘Lando.’’

Sr. Supt David Lacdan, provincial director of Benguet was ordered relieved by PNP chief Director General Ricardo Marquez on the instruction of Sarmiento, over the high casualty rate in Benguet.

“I asked the PNP chief to relieve the Benguet provincial director for the big number of casualties,” Sarmiento admitted, adding that he was disappointed at the supposed lack of preparation by police authorities to soften the effects of Lando.

“There were preparations that were undertaken, but they were not enough.

The job of the police is to serve and protect,” he added.

Sarmiento claimed that Lacdan did not follow the instruction of the national government to evacuate people to safer and higher grounds when Lando hit the country last Sunday.

Days before Lando made a landfall at Casiguran, Aurora, the National Disaster Risk Reduction Management Council adviced local officials to conduct preemptive evacuations of residents in low lying and flood and landslide prone areas.

“We warned them that the rain will be long and that because of the terrain, it is possible that there will be landslides,” Sarmiento said.

This developed as police officers in Camp Crame and even military person-

nel voiced disgust over the sacking of Lacdan, saying the moved was improper because Lacdan did everything he could short of stopping a natural disaster.

The case of Lacdan was similar to the circumstances behind the relieved of Eastern Visayas regional director Chief Supt. Elmer Soria in the aftermath of Yolanda that struck in the region in January 25, 2013 that resulted in the death of tens of thousands residents.

It was Soria who projected that the deaths in Yolanda’s devastation could reach 10,000 after President Benigno Aquino III told Christian Amanpour of CNN that the death toll would only be in the hundreds. The official death toll was later pegged at 7,000.

But Soria was later reinstated after the interior depatment acknowledged that he had a good record as regional police chief.

PH protests China lighthouses

By Vito Barcelo CHINA claimed on Wednesday that the two lighthouses it had just completed at Cuarteron and Johnson Reefs in the Spratly’s group of islands was part of China’s sovereignty despite the Philippines’ protestation that Beijing violated the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea. In a statement posted on its website, China’s Foreign Ministry spokesperson Hua Chunying said the two reefs, which they called Huayang and Chigua reefs, are “completely within China’s sovereignty,” and denied that China was trying to bolster its hold over the islands.

The Department of Foreign Affairs strongly protested Chi-

na’s construction and operation of lighthouses on the two reefs and reiterated that these features are either part of the Philippine’s continental shelf or exclusive economic zone under the UNCLOS. DFA spokesperson Charles Jose said that these actions are obviously intended to change actual conditions on the ground and aimed at bolstering China’s territorial claim in the South China Sea. “I want to stress that China has indisputable sovereignty over the Nansha islands and surrounding waters,” Hua said.

“We have expounded our principled position on the construction and operation of lighthouses on Huayang Reef and Chigua Reef on different occa-

sions. China has unquestionable sovereignty over the Nansha Islands and the adjacent waters,” Hua said.

“There is no need for us to bolster sovereignty claims by building lighthouses. The construction activities on the relevant islands and reefs of the Nansha Islands are carried out fully within the range of Chinese sovereignty,” she added.

The Chinese Ministry spokesperson said that the setting up of civilian facilities and facilities for public interests on its territory, aims to better serve the littoral countries of the South China Sea and vessels passing through these waters.

“There is no such a thing as changing actual conditions,” Hua added.

Calling themselves “We Are The Mighty,” the group said President Benigno Aquino III vowed to upgrade the country’s aging navy and air force to the tune of $1.7 billion and the Congress has passed a bill appropriating $2 billion for the effort, but that is about it.

“Despite the Chinese military buildup in the region, with aggressive moves by the Chinese to claim areas and build islands close to the Philippines, the Philippines’ Naval and Air Forces are still nearly 60 years old and its ships are old US Coast Guard cutters,” the article remarked.

That places the Philippines as the sixth worst army in the world behind Costa Rica, Iraq, North Korea, Eritrea, and Nigeria. Seventh on the list is Tajikistan, followed by Mongolia, Saudi Arabia, and Afghanistan.

But Army spokesman Colonel Benjamin Hao said in a telephone interview he could not give an appropriate reaction on We Are The Mighty’s list and said the army is still more than a decade away from its target.

“I can only speak of our 85,000-strong Army which is already in its second base camp in its quest to become a world-class army by 2028,” Hao said, stressing, however, that the army is very much up to par “in terms of skills and training.”

“We’ve also started to modernize our individual force protection and rifle capabilities. As you can see, our mechanized armor capabilities have been tremendously upgraded like our tanks and artillery,” Hao added.

Hao was apparently referring to recent purchases of the military that was part of the P75 billion that Aquino allotted in 2011 to modernize the military.

But the modernization program of the AFP had been stalled by allegations of corruption and even the Senate Blue Ribbon committee, headed

by Senator Teofisto Guingona, questioned why 98 percent of contracts of the Department of National Defense were only awarded through negotiated procurement.

Only 2 percent of the contracts awarded by the department in the last two years underwent competitive public bidding.

“In 2013, the data submitted by the DND shows that out of 35,000 contracts, only 650 contracts have undergone competitive biddings,” Guingona said in the Senate probe on the AFP modernization.

List-up validation.

Voters use a bench to fill up their voter registration forms as the Commission on Elections resumed the biometric registration of voters on Wednesday.

AMIEL MARK CAGAYAN

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Aviation clarifies air traffic congestion

By Eric B. Apolonio

ThE Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines on Wednesday clarified the reported air traffic congestion that caused flight delays at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport particularly last Monday.

Gen. Rodante Joya, CAAP deputy director general for operations, was referring to safety concerns raised when landing aircraft were compelled to hover for an extended period over the airport while Typhoon “Lando” was pounding Northern Luzon.

Joya pointed out that NAIA is limited to only 40 runway events in an hour. “NAIA has only one runway that can accommodate jetliners.

The secondary runway that was recently activated can only accommodate small aircraft.”

Stressing runway limitations, Joya thanked Leyte Rep. Ferdinand Martin Romualdez for giving the aviation authority the chance to clarify the issue on air traffic congestion.

Romualdez claimed that the “horrible traffic congestion” forced the plane he was in to hover for an hour over the metropolis until the aircraft was given clearance to land on Monday night.

Joya explained that aircraft coming from the southern part of the Philippines, particularly from the Visayas and Mindanao, could not immediately land on Monday because of other north-bound planes that had to cancel and needed to return toNAIA. “Those [aircraft] returning to Manila were not scheduled to arrive during that time. So they eventually clustered. Therefore there is no choice for our air traffic controllers but to make them hover over Metro Manila so they can line up for landing,” Joya said, adding that priority landing or takeoff is given to commercial jetliners and other big aircraft.

The CAAP official said that the fact that every airplane was able to land safely on Monday despite the inclement weather spoke volumes on the capability of air traffic controllers.

Solon fears tribal war in wake of lumad slays

By Maricel V. Cruz

FearIng an escalation of violence among warring lumad tribes in Surigao del Sur and its nearby provinces following the abduction and killing of Loreto Mayor Dario Otaza and his son Daryl, a Visayan lawmaker on Wednesday called on the armed Forces of the Philippines and the Philippine national Police to step up peacekeeping operations in and around lumad communities.

Iloilo City Rep. Jerry Trenas said that it is very likely that lumads who are loyal to Otaza and his extended clan might launch retaliatory attacks on lumad members who are known sympathizers and members of the New People’s Army which is being blamed in the abduction and killing of the Otazas.

This developed as the government’s chief peace negotiator saw

an opening for resumption of talks with the communist rebels who the Palace and the military blamed for the killing of the Otazas.

Alexander Padilla condemned the twin killings and stressed that this would be another game changer in the peace process involving the CPP-NPA-NDF. “Government continues to work on this issue but any violence on the ground makes the peace process

more difficult than it is now.”

Trenas, for his part, expressed fears of tribal war among the lumad groups. “I’m afraid that the death of Mayor Otaza could trigger a new wave of violence among the Lumad. It’s just unfortunate that this atrocious attack against him and his son happened just as the AFP, the PNP and the Surigao provincial government are pursuing mediation efforts among warring lumad factions,” Trenas said.

Trenas lamented that lumad communities in Surigao del Sur and its nearby provinces have been torn into various factions because of persistent attempts by the NPA to assert control over their ancestral territories prompting certain tribes to form their own private armed groups, also known as Bagani.

“There are now a pro-NPA and

anti-NPA lumad factions and Mayor Otaza was attacked because of his strong stand against the communist insurgents. lumad factions that are said to have connections with NPAs on the other hand are blaming anti- NPA lumads for the attacks on some of their leaders. This is a cycle that must be stopped,” Trenas said.

Trenas said that the PNP and the AFP should intensify operations to neutralize the people responsible for the death of Otaza and his son while ensuring that no lumad groups supporting Otaza will carry out revenge killings.

Otaza, a Manobo lumad, and son were abducted and killed by people who posed as agents of the National Bureau of Investigation but government officials and the military put the blame on the NPA. With F. Solmerin

No to deportation. Militant students and an LGBT group stage a protest in front of the Immigration office in Manila on Wednesday Oct. 21, to

denounce the BI’s deportation order on US serviceman Joseph Scott Pemberton who is facing trial for the murder of transgender Filipina Jennifer Laude.

BI clarifies that the deportation order could only be enforced if ever Pemberton has served his sentence. DANNY PATA

Samahang Plaridel relaunches Kapihan sa Manila Hotel KAPIhAN sa Manila hotel, the acclaimed mother of all local media fora, will be relaunched on Oct. 26, 2015— same time (9 to 11 a.m.) and venue—with Comelec Chairman Andres Bautista and election lawyer Romulo Macalintal as guests.

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The Kapihan is being relaunched by the Association of Philippine Journalists (also known as Samahang Plaridel), in cooperation with Manila hotel, after the recent demise of its long-time host/ producer, former Philip-

pine Daily Inquirer columnist Neal h. Cruz.

Moderator of the Oct. 26 Kapihan will be Jullie Yap Daza (Manila Bulletin columnist and Samahang Plaridel vice chairperson) with Ariel Ayala (Catholic Mass Media) as

co-host.

The revived Kapihan will allow Chairman Bautista to discuss Comelec’s role in next year’s national elections.

“We hope our guests at the Kapihan will set the tone for a more cerebral

rather than theatrical election campaign,” said Samahang Plaridel president Rolando G. Estabillo.

Invited Kapihan guests have traditionally used the forum to expound their positions on various issues.

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SC upholds graft filing vs PEA execs

By Rey E. Requejo

The Supreme Court has sustained the resolution of the Office of the Ombudsman indicting former officers of the Public estates Authority over the anomaly in the 2002 construction of the Diosdado Macapagal Boulevard in Pasay City.

In a decision, the high court upheld the 2003 resolution of the anti-graft body approving the filing of graft charges against the former PEA directors before the Sandiganbayan.

The tribunal dismissed the petition filed by the former PEA officials Victor Lacson, Raphael Pocholo Zorilla, Cristina AmpostaMortel, Manuel Berina Jr., Jaime Millan, Bernardo Viray, Frisco Francisco San

Juan, Carmelita de LeonChan, Daniel Dayan, Salvador Malbarosa, Leo Padilla and Elpidio Damaso.

According to the high court, the Ombudsman’s “finding of probable cause did not touch on the issue of guilt or innocence of the accused.”

“The Ombudsman simply weighed the evidence presented together with the counter-allegations of the accused and determined that

there was enough reason to believe that a crime has been committed and that the accused are probably guilty thereof,” the SC said.

It also found that the antigraft office “did not exercise its wide prerogative whimsically, capriciously or arbitrarily.”

The SC stressed that it “cannot interfere in the exercise by the Office of the Ombudsman of its investigatory and prosecutorial powers” without good and compelling reasons.

The Macapagal Boulevard was constructed to address the problem of flooding in the area, alleviate traffic congestion along Roxas Boulevard, and link the reclamation with circumferential and radial road system of Metro Manila.

The PEA Board in 1998 approved the construction of

the road project as well as the P1-billion loan facility in the form of convertible notes to finance the same.

But a Commission on Audit report showed that apart from the original contract price of more than P584 million, the total project cost of Package I with contractor J.D. Legaspi amounted to more than P837 million, excluding two variation orders at the time were still subject to PEA approval.

In October 2002, Sulficio Tagud, a former member of the PEA Board, then filed a complaint-affidavit with the Ombudsman against officers and members of the 20012002 board directors and other accused.

In the assailed ruling, the Ombudsman approved the filing of charges for violation

of Sec. 3 (e) of Republic Act No. 3019 or the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act against the petitioners before the anti-graft court.

Then Ombudsman Simeon Marcelo alleged that the said public officials gave unwarranted benefits, advantage, and preference to accused Legaspi by bidding out the project and illegally awarding the same to the latter despite the lack of compliance with the mandatory requirements and procedure for bidding, even if no funds are yet available to finance the project.

The Ombudsman also averred that it caused the allowance and payment of several claims of Legaspi amounting to an unlawful overprice of more than P532 million.

Damage assessment. Vice President Jejomar C. Binay visits the towns in Region III submerged in floodwater due to Typhoon ‘Lando.’ Binay also talked with the local disaster council officials know the extent of the typhoon’s damage to the municipalities and the needs of the affected residents. Binay is scheduled to visit Isabela, his mother’s home province, on Thursday.

Fuentebella ally slams recycled graft case REhAShED and rotten, old lies!

This was the reaction of Mayor Jimmy Deleña of Presentacion, Camarines Sur over the alleged plunder charges hurled against former house Speaker Arnulfo Fuentebella and his wife, incumbent Sagñay, Camarines Sur Mayor Evelyn Fuentebella by a certain Danilo hassan the other day.

In a statement, Deleña said that charges need not be dignified for the people already know the truth and official records speak for themselves.

“All allegations had already been dismissed in court for lack of merit.

They are being raked up and spiced up every election by Fuentebella’s political foes,” he added.

Deleña hinted that a perennial political critic of the Fuentebellas is behind this malicious and sinister move.

Fuentebella refused to comment on what he called “latest political antics of his nefarious bashers.” “Napanood na yan. They are nothing but ridiculous and amusing,” he stated.

Fuentebella appealed for the elevation of election issues from muckraking to discussion of high-level issues that concern the welfare of the people.

“Let us exercise political maturity.

Our people call for it,” he continued.

Fuentebella was referring to the charges filed before the Office of the Ombudsman by Zero Tolerance.Org, allegedly a grassroots group.

More to lose than gain from TPP —Aquino

By Sandy Araneta PRESIDENT Benigno Aquino III will not support any plan to amend the Constitution just so that the Philippines can be accepted as a member of the Trans-Pacific Partnership, a USled group which accounts for 40 percent of world trade, Malacañang said on Wednesday.

“We are taking steps to align ourselves with TPP norms.

There is no change in the President’s stated position on charter change,” stressed Communications Secretary herminio Coloma Jr., in a text message to the Malacañang Press Corps.

For his part, Presidential Spokesperson Edwin Lacierda cited the recent interview of Aquino with Steve Forbes, saying that the Philippines would want to participate in the TPP, but could not.

“We really want to participate in it. We were not the first group that was invited to it. We have been invited, in a sense, afterwards. But for instance, America continues to be one of our biggest trading partners,” said Aquino.

“Number three currently in terms of trade. The bottom line is: We are used to dealing with you. The rules seem to be very clear. Everybody would want to have an increase in their potential market. So why not deal where there is stability in the relationship, where, again, you can expect the assumptions are valid, rather than going somewhere where the gains are potentially very large but at the same time the risks are undetermined, or unknowable,” Aquino said.

“So joining TPP does make very good sense to us, especially because of those already in it who we find ourselves in very close alliances in so many different fronts.

Japan comes to mind. Vietnam comes to mind. And other countries,” Aquino also said.

Truck ban modified for Apec meet

By Joel Zurbano ThE Metro Manila Development Authority on Wednesday said it would impose a modified truck ban on south route in connection with the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation meeting from Nov. 17 to 20.

The ban will take effect from 6 a.m. to 10 p.m. which will complement the total closure of both lanes of Roxas Boulevard on the same dates.

The agency advised truckers to use the following alternate routes going to and from South Luzon Expressway/Cavite Area to Port Area, Manila.

From Port of Manila straight to Radial 10, right at Circumferential Road-3, left at Andres Bonifacio Avenue and take the flyover toward Quirino highway, right at Mind-

anao Avenue, left at Congressional Avenue right at Luzon Avenue and straight to Katipunan/Circumferential Road-5 to destination.

The MMDA came up with the traffic rerouting scheme after consulting members of the Metro Manila Council during a meeting held at the MMDA central office in Makati City on Wednesday.

The regular truck ban hours, being enforced daily from 6 a.m to 10 a.m. and 5 p.m. to 10 p.m. will be reinstated immediately after the Apec Summit.

“This will assure the efficient mobility of the Apec delegates in our major thoroughfares, especially in Manila, Pasay and Makati areas where the summit’s major events will take place,” said lawyer Emerson Carlos, MMDA officer-in-charge.

Early this month, Carlos met Po-

lice Director Gen. Ricardo Marquez and discussed about the government’s security and traffic management preparations for the four-day Apec meeting.

Carlos said major road construction and rehabilitation in Manila like the Ninoy Aquino International Airport Elevated Expressway project, Skyway Stage 3 and Ayala Bridge will be temporarily stopped during the summit.

The MMDA will also designate for Apec delegates two lanes on both northbound and southbound lanes of Epifanio de los Santos Avenue from Shaw Boulevard in Mandaluyong City to SM Mall of Asia in Pasay City.

The agency will deploy more than 2,500 personnel to provide security for 21 leaders of different countries participating in the meeting.

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

A7

NEWS

editorial@thestandard.com.ph

Massacre victims’ kin lead caravan to Manila

Motherhood. Leveryn Alcoriza, with her child in her arms, leaves her flooded house to go to an evacuation center. AFP

‘Course donations through people’s orgs, not DSWD’

By Maricel V. Cruz

A PARTY-LIST lawmaker has urged the public to direct all donations to the victims of Typhoon “Lando” to people’s organizations in Aurora province, Cagayan Valley, Cordillera, Ilocos and Central Luzon regions and not through the Department of Social Welfare and Development.

Anakpawis Rep. Fernando Hicap said the DSWD has had a “disastrously ineffectual record” when it comes to distributing aid to typhoon victims.

He added that the DSWD under the stewardship of Secretary Corazon Soliman should not be trusted anymore in terms of being the government’s caretaker of donations for

victims of typhoons and calamities.

“Give aid directly to the victims or through their organizations and never through DSWD as we all know what happened to the victims of typhoon Yolanda, Pablo, Ruby, Seniang and other calamities. Give your contributions directly to the peoples’ organization and NGOs that are directly coordinating with

them,” Hicap said.

Hicap noted that in Januay 2013, victims of Typhoon “Pablo” in Mindanao were so neglected that they were driven to set up roadblocks just to get the attention of the Aquino government. As a result, Hicap recounted that Soliman promised to deliver 10,000 sacks of rice.

After a month, Hicap said, Soliman’s promise had not materialized and so, again, more than 3,000 victims set up camp at the DSWD Region 11 office where tons of relief were being stored.

“During Typhoon Yolanda, [President] Aquino boasted that the government was prepared even mentioning that the planes and helicopters of the DND were all geared up, but as the typhoon left, when we all saw its destructive im-

pact, we all realized how inept and neglectful the government really is in responding that even up to now, many victims have yet to avail of the Emergency Shelter Assistance or ESA,” Hicap said.

Citing the Severe Weather Bulletin No. 13 of the National Disaster Risk Reduction Management Council, in Aurora, Cagayan Valley and Ilocos provinces, Hicap said reports increasingly point to significant damages to houses, banana, coconut and rice crops.

“With severe damages to crops that are their source of livelihood, affected families of farmers could be in for a long period of food shortage or starvation as they would have no source of income and so they would not only need relief but rehabilitation,” Hicap said.

CAGAYAN DE ORO—Family members of the victims of the Bugna and the Pangantucan massacres lead the kickoff program of the Manilakbayan ng Mindanao 2015 in Northern Mindanao.

Hermenio Samia Jr.—son of Pangantucan massacre victim Hermenio Samia Sr.—is journeying with three other relatives from Barangay Mendis to Manila to press for justice for their five family members who were killed on Aug. 18. “We promised to our family that we would seek justice no matter what hardships we might encounter,” Samia said.

“The Manilakbayan will be just one among many journeys we are willing to take to achieve this.”

“We have for so long demanded that the Special Forces Batallion, the ‘massacre batallion’ under Col. Nasser Lidasan be held accountable,” said Kalumbay chairperson Jomorito Goaynon. “The Pangantucan 5 had not been their first massacre. The relatives of the victims of the Bugna massacre which happened earlier this year are also here with us.”

There had been a barrage of accusations coming from the military and some government institutions that the victims of the massacres, and many of the rights violations committed against indigenous communities, were members or supporters of the New People’s Army.

“Here are the people they have accused to be rebels,” said Goaynon. “It is very easy for the government to put our demands aside because we are far. So, here we are, once more marching towards them. And we are marching as we are in our communities, without guns but with our determination to assert our rights.”

Other members of the Northern Mindanao contingent include members of the Manobo community under the Tribal Indigenous Oppressed Group Association in Bukidnon, and the Higaonon organization Pangalasag. Both organizations are fighting against monocrop plantations in their ancestral domains.

Representatives from the communities forced to evacuate because of harassment and threats have also joined the caravan. Individuals and organizations that advocate human rights make up the rest of the delegates.

Ombudsman suspends Camarines Norte gov THE Office of the Ombudsman has suspended for one year Camarines Norte Gov. Edgardo Tallado for defying the order of the Civil Service Commission to reinstate provincial veterinarian Edgardo Gonzales, whom he dismissed in 2012.

In a nine-page ruling signed by Ombudsman Conchita Carpio Morales, also suspended for one year were two other officials—provincial legal officer Sim Mata and human resource officer Mario dela Cruz.

The three were administratively found liable for oppression or grave abuse of authority and were ordered suspended without pay.

“Evidently, the oppression in this case emanated from the adamant and sustained refusal of Tallado to implement the CSC resolution, in collaboration with [provincial legal officer] Mata,” read the suspension order.

Considering the gravity of the offense, Morales said the imposition of the penalty of suspension for one year is warranted.

She also warned the respondents that further defiance to implement any CSC order in the future “would warrant [their] dismissal from the service.”

Tallado, who is seeking a third term, earlier

filed a motion for reconsideration on the CSC order, but the commission rejected his appeal. Still, he refused to reinstate Gonzales.

Records showed that on Nov. 19, 2012, Tallado removed Gonzales from his position due to alleged unauthorized absences for more than 30 working days from March 1 to Nov. 18, 2012, following his reassignment from the Provincial Veterinary Office to the Provincial Informatiin Office. Tallado’s memorandum was implemented on Nov. 26, 2012.

However, the CSC ruled that Gonzales was able to present evidence, which included his biometrics and log-in and log-out records, to prove his presence in the office.

The CSC also gave weight to the testimony of Gonzales that he was not given time to appeal because Tallado gave him the memo only on Jan. 18, 2013.

Tallado is seeking his last ferm as governor of the province. The other contenders for the gubernatorial post are Catherine Barcelona Reyes, Clint Marcel Mera, Antonio Balce and Jesus Tiopaco Jr. Tallado’s wife, Josefina, will run for Congress in the province’s first district.

Falling in line. Residents look on after receiving relief goods at Barangay Delfin, Albano, Isabela. AFP

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

A8

OPINION

ADELLE CHUA EDITOR

lettertotheeditor@thestandard.com.ph

OPINION

DUTY CALLS FLORENCIO FIANZA

TYPHOON ‘LANDO’

[ EDI TORI A L ]

A REASONABLE REQUEST MANY people are dazzled by Senator Miriam Defensor Santiago. Her intelligence, feistiness and wit captivate Filipinos even if they do not agree with everything she says. In 1992, during her run for the presidency, she almost made it, propelled by the votes of young people who were idealistic and on the lookout for something new.

In recent years, the senator has continued to be relevant—and interesting—because of her ability to hold the people’s attention through her pick-up lines and strong social media presence. Of course, we know Santiago is not all puff. Sure, her books on stupidity are bestsellers, but before all these, she has authored countless law books that show her firm grasp of the country’s laws, specifically the Constitution.

On the Senate floor, Senator Santiago has not hesitated to speak her mind and show her exasperation every time somebody turns in a less-than-stellar performance.

This is why nobody was surprised when she got elected to the International Court of Justice, and why many were saddened when news of her illness—chronic fatigue syndrome and eventually, cancer—broke.

Last week, however, the senator emerged from her medical issues and announced she had been completely healed—so healthy that she was running for President.

There were mixed reactions to her decision—her choice of a running mate, her defense of the Marcoses, but mostly her filing of a Certificate of Candidacy at a time when people are not sure about her fitness to run a campaign, much less lead more than 100 million Filipinos for the next six years if she wins.

As any Filipino who meets the basic requirements for the presidency, Mrs. Santiago can run for any position she likes. Her intelligence and her tough-as-nails attitude may just be what the country needs to propel it to the long-overdue resolution of its complex ills.

What we cannot afford, however, is a leader who may not be able to keep up with the physical demands of her job. But in response to an open letter asking that she release her medical records to the public, Santiago insisted that compelling her to release her records would be a violation of her human rights.

If anybody truly wanted to find out, she added, he or she could try asking the hospital for her documents and the request would be duly processed by the hospital according to its protocol.

The question of whether candidates should release their records has been brought up since the previous presidential race, when some quarters demanded to see documents describing the mental state of the current president. Nothing came out of that, too, except allegations that it was just one of the many dirty tricks played on a string contender.

There are no tricks here, though. The need to know the physical and mental state of candidates who are applying for the most difficult job in the country is only reasonable.

Even companies look at a job applicant’s records before they hire them—why shouldn’t we, especially so since the presidency is daunting and taxing? The performance of the chief executive would have a profound impact on our collective life.

Senator Santiago is correct, as always, that there can be no law to compel her to show her medical records to the people. As with most issues of governance, however, not everything is covered. We only have to be governed by our understanding of what is just and fair. Keeping us in the dark would be a violation of our rights, as well.

WEAPONIZED AID LOWDOWN JOJO A. ROBLES I DISTINCTLY recall Liberal Party presidential candidate Mar Roxas saying, post-‘‘Lando,’’ that now is not the time for political campaigning, but to come to the aid of typhoon-stricken Filipinos.

I really hope the people of Casiguran, Aurora remember that statement, as they await the release of aid that is already in their midst —but which cannot be given out until President Noynoy Aquino

himself arrives to do the honors.

Yesterday, a Philippine Air Force C-130 cargo aircraft arrived in hard-hit Casiguran, on the province’s Pacific coast, carrying government relief aid. Television reports said the relief goods have been stockpiled in the Casiguran municipal hall and haven’t been distributed to the typhoon’s victims.

These include hundreds of Agta folk, members of the province’s indigenous community, who walked three hours to get to the municipal center. The mayor of Casiguran, Reynaldo Bitong,

told television reporters that the goods could not be distributed right away because the authorities wanted to make sure that those who would receive them were legitimate typhoon victims.

At least two Cabinet secretaries, Interior and Local Government’s Mel Sarmiento and Social Welfare’s Corazon Soliman are already in Casiguran together with the relief goods. But because Aquino is only scheduled to arrive in Casiguran today, none of the estimated 5,000 families affected by the typhoon can get their hands on them.

A9

Why do relief goods have to wait for the arrival of the President before they are handed out, nearly a week after a typhoon hit?

Meanwhile, the official schedule of Aquino today, according to Malacañang Palace, has the President making a “fly-in, flyout” trip to Aurora province. Presumably, the Agta and other residents of Casiguran who lost their homes and livelihood to Lando will be given their relief goods as soon as Aquino is done with his picture-taking.

Now, why in the name of all that is good do relief goods have to wait for the arrival of the President before they are handed out, nearly a week after a typhoon hit? Do Aquino and his officials think that, since the people of Casiguran have already waited this long to get aid from the government, they can afford to wait one more day?

This is exactly the sort of “weaponizing” of calamity aid that was seen earlier in the week, when the President was joined by his chosen successor Roxas and his running mate Leni Robredo in Cabanatuan City, Nueva Ecija in another aid-giving sortie. And these are the same people who say they are not campaigning when they give out aid—even if they really have no business providing disaster relief.

But at least the people of Casiguran will get their relief goods, even after the

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-

unconscionable and indefensible delay.

It was Roxas, after all, who famously told the officials of Tacloban City two years ago, after super-Typhoon “Yolanda’’ hit, that they had to fend for themselves because the President was an Aquino and their mayor was a Romualdez.

Maybe Mayor Bitong is not as “bad” as a Romualdez to the Aquino who is still the President. But I wonder how Bitong would explain the delay to his constituents, particularly those who looked on longingly at the reopened Casiguran air-

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port at the aid they could not yet receive. *** It’s rare these days to find a private corporation that remains committed to the values of its founder, especially after it has found commercial success. But for the past seven decades, the country’s oldest wholly Filipino-owned tobacco manufacturer, Mighty Corp., has stayed true to the core beliefs of the man who built the company, Wong Chu King.

“The founder established this Continued on A10

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

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

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

TYPHOONS have become more frequent and more destructive in recent years. Typhoon “Yolanda’’ that devastated the Visayas two years ago was a prime example.

It was the strongest storm ever to hit land anywhere in the world.

A quick look at our country’s map will show that our country is one of the frontline states when it comes to typhoons. It is squarely located in the so-called typhoon belt. Yet, we seem to fall short every time we confront and mitigate the destructiveness of these natural calamities. Yes, we have learned a lot as a result of Yolanda.

Information dissemination is now more intense and government authorities both local and national are more proactive in forcing residents along danger areas to evacuate to safer grounds. Weather prediction has also improved with better equipment.

But we need to do a lot more. Given the frequency and destruction caused by these natural calamities, our frontline agencies are totally lacking in equipment for them to do their work efficiently. Television footage showing the police and other agencies doing rescue work are poorly equipped but to their credit, they continue to work with what they have. There is a need to upgrade planning, preparations, efficiency and standards. It is also about time that the Aquino administration considered upgrading disaster and emergency work to a fully functioning department instead of a coordinating agency.

The slow-moving Typhoon “Lando’’ “once again brought a lot of destruction in its wake. This is in spite of ample warnings.’’ As I write this piece, 26 persons are known to have died; scores have been wounded. The rain Lando brought caused a lot of flooding in many towns in Central Luzon. A lot of infrastructures both public and private were damaged. Agriculture was also devastated. Up to this writing, the estimated damage caused by the typhoon is still being assessed by government authorities.

We here in Baguio have not been spared by Lando’s fury. At the height of the typhoon, many of the city roads were closed because of falling electrical posts and mature pine trees. Baguio is used to rain. After all, it is the 10th rainiest city in the world receiving about 169 inches of rain each year. But the rain that Typhoon Lando dumped into the city was more than a meter in the span of less than two days—and it has not yet stopped raining.

About 330,000 people live in the city, not counting the nearby towns. Visitors who come to the city are by now familiar with the sight of several mountains with all the trees gone replaced by a multitude of squatter homes. Every now and then during a storm, it is not uncommon in some areas in these mountains to have 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

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

A8

OPINION

ADELLE CHUA EDITOR

lettertotheeditor@thestandard.com.ph

OPINION

DUTY CALLS FLORENCIO FIANZA

TYPHOON ‘LANDO’

[ EDI TORI A L ]

A REASONABLE REQUEST MANY people are dazzled by Senator Miriam Defensor Santiago. Her intelligence, feistiness and wit captivate Filipinos even if they do not agree with everything she says. In 1992, during her run for the presidency, she almost made it, propelled by the votes of young people who were idealistic and on the lookout for something new.

In recent years, the senator has continued to be relevant—and interesting—because of her ability to hold the people’s attention through her pick-up lines and strong social media presence. Of course, we know Santiago is not all puff. Sure, her books on stupidity are bestsellers, but before all these, she has authored countless law books that show her firm grasp of the country’s laws, specifically the Constitution.

On the Senate floor, Senator Santiago has not hesitated to speak her mind and show her exasperation every time somebody turns in a less-than-stellar performance.

This is why nobody was surprised when she got elected to the International Court of Justice, and why many were saddened when news of her illness—chronic fatigue syndrome and eventually, cancer—broke.

Last week, however, the senator emerged from her medical issues and announced she had been completely healed—so healthy that she was running for President.

There were mixed reactions to her decision—her choice of a running mate, her defense of the Marcoses, but mostly her filing of a Certificate of Candidacy at a time when people are not sure about her fitness to run a campaign, much less lead more than 100 million Filipinos for the next six years if she wins.

As any Filipino who meets the basic requirements for the presidency, Mrs. Santiago can run for any position she likes. Her intelligence and her tough-as-nails attitude may just be what the country needs to propel it to the long-overdue resolution of its complex ills.

What we cannot afford, however, is a leader who may not be able to keep up with the physical demands of her job. But in response to an open letter asking that she release her medical records to the public, Santiago insisted that compelling her to release her records would be a violation of her human rights.

If anybody truly wanted to find out, she added, he or she could try asking the hospital for her documents and the request would be duly processed by the hospital according to its protocol.

The question of whether candidates should release their records has been brought up since the previous presidential race, when some quarters demanded to see documents describing the mental state of the current president. Nothing came out of that, too, except allegations that it was just one of the many dirty tricks played on a string contender.

There are no tricks here, though. The need to know the physical and mental state of candidates who are applying for the most difficult job in the country is only reasonable.

Even companies look at a job applicant’s records before they hire them—why shouldn’t we, especially so since the presidency is daunting and taxing? The performance of the chief executive would have a profound impact on our collective life.

Senator Santiago is correct, as always, that there can be no law to compel her to show her medical records to the people. As with most issues of governance, however, not everything is covered. We only have to be governed by our understanding of what is just and fair. Keeping us in the dark would be a violation of our rights, as well.

WEAPONIZED AID LOWDOWN JOJO A. ROBLES I DISTINCTLY recall Liberal Party presidential candidate Mar Roxas saying, post-‘‘Lando,’’ that now is not the time for political campaigning, but to come to the aid of typhoon-stricken Filipinos.

I really hope the people of Casiguran, Aurora remember that statement, as they await the release of aid that is already in their midst —but which cannot be given out until President Noynoy Aquino

himself arrives to do the honors.

Yesterday, a Philippine Air Force C-130 cargo aircraft arrived in hard-hit Casiguran, on the province’s Pacific coast, carrying government relief aid. Television reports said the relief goods have been stockpiled in the Casiguran municipal hall and haven’t been distributed to the typhoon’s victims.

These include hundreds of Agta folk, members of the province’s indigenous community, who walked three hours to get to the municipal center. The mayor of Casiguran, Reynaldo Bitong,

told television reporters that the goods could not be distributed right away because the authorities wanted to make sure that those who would receive them were legitimate typhoon victims.

At least two Cabinet secretaries, Interior and Local Government’s Mel Sarmiento and Social Welfare’s Corazon Soliman are already in Casiguran together with the relief goods. But because Aquino is only scheduled to arrive in Casiguran today, none of the estimated 5,000 families affected by the typhoon can get their hands on them.

A9

Why do relief goods have to wait for the arrival of the President before they are handed out, nearly a week after a typhoon hit?

Meanwhile, the official schedule of Aquino today, according to Malacañang Palace, has the President making a “fly-in, flyout” trip to Aurora province. Presumably, the Agta and other residents of Casiguran who lost their homes and livelihood to Lando will be given their relief goods as soon as Aquino is done with his picture-taking.

Now, why in the name of all that is good do relief goods have to wait for the arrival of the President before they are handed out, nearly a week after a typhoon hit? Do Aquino and his officials think that, since the people of Casiguran have already waited this long to get aid from the government, they can afford to wait one more day?

This is exactly the sort of “weaponizing” of calamity aid that was seen earlier in the week, when the President was joined by his chosen successor Roxas and his running mate Leni Robredo in Cabanatuan City, Nueva Ecija in another aid-giving sortie. And these are the same people who say they are not campaigning when they give out aid—even if they really have no business providing disaster relief.

But at least the people of Casiguran will get their relief goods, even after the

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-

unconscionable and indefensible delay.

It was Roxas, after all, who famously told the officials of Tacloban City two years ago, after super-Typhoon “Yolanda’’ hit, that they had to fend for themselves because the President was an Aquino and their mayor was a Romualdez.

Maybe Mayor Bitong is not as “bad” as a Romualdez to the Aquino who is still the President. But I wonder how Bitong would explain the delay to his constituents, particularly those who looked on longingly at the reopened Casiguran air-

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

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port at the aid they could not yet receive. *** It’s rare these days to find a private corporation that remains committed to the values of its founder, especially after it has found commercial success. But for the past seven decades, the country’s oldest wholly Filipino-owned tobacco manufacturer, Mighty Corp., has stayed true to the core beliefs of the man who built the company, Wong Chu King.

“The founder established this Continued on A10

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

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

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

TYPHOONS have become more frequent and more destructive in recent years. Typhoon “Yolanda’’ that devastated the Visayas two years ago was a prime example.

It was the strongest storm ever to hit land anywhere in the world.

A quick look at our country’s map will show that our country is one of the frontline states when it comes to typhoons. It is squarely located in the so-called typhoon belt. Yet, we seem to fall short every time we confront and mitigate the destructiveness of these natural calamities. Yes, we have learned a lot as a result of Yolanda.

Information dissemination is now more intense and government authorities both local and national are more proactive in forcing residents along danger areas to evacuate to safer grounds. Weather prediction has also improved with better equipment.

But we need to do a lot more. Given the frequency and destruction caused by these natural calamities, our frontline agencies are totally lacking in equipment for them to do their work efficiently. Television footage showing the police and other agencies doing rescue work are poorly equipped but to their credit, they continue to work with what they have. There is a need to upgrade planning, preparations, efficiency and standards. It is also about time that the Aquino administration considered upgrading disaster and emergency work to a fully functioning department instead of a coordinating agency.

The slow-moving Typhoon “Lando’’ “once again brought a lot of destruction in its wake. This is in spite of ample warnings.’’ As I write this piece, 26 persons are known to have died; scores have been wounded. The rain Lando brought caused a lot of flooding in many towns in Central Luzon. A lot of infrastructures both public and private were damaged. Agriculture was also devastated. Up to this writing, the estimated damage caused by the typhoon is still being assessed by government authorities.

We here in Baguio have not been spared by Lando’s fury. At the height of the typhoon, many of the city roads were closed because of falling electrical posts and mature pine trees. Baguio is used to rain. After all, it is the 10th rainiest city in the world receiving about 169 inches of rain each year. But the rain that Typhoon Lando dumped into the city was more than a meter in the span of less than two days—and it has not yet stopped raining.

About 330,000 people live in the city, not counting the nearby towns. Visitors who come to the city are by now familiar with the sight of several mountains with all the trees gone replaced by a multitude of squatter homes. Every now and then during a storm, it is not uncommon in some areas in these mountains to have 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

LIES AND INCONSISTENCIES TO THE POINT EMIL P. JURADO A MEDICAL doctor, on social media, asked presidential candidate Senator Miriam Santiago to disclose whether she had indeed been cured of her Stage 4 lung cancer. Miriam refuses, claiming her right to privacy.

I disagree. The people should know if she is fit, healthy and strong to be the next President for six years. What is Miriam so afraid of?

When Miriam came out publicly that she was suffering from cancer and chronic fatigue syndrome, which conditions prevented her from attending Senate sessions and assuming her role at the International Court of Justice, we believed her.

Many people pitied and sympathized with her.

I know for a fact that when one has Stage 4 lung cancer, that’s already a death sentence. And when one starts feeling well, that’s what is called remission. Soon enough, the cancer returns with a vengeance. *** The camp of Senator Mary Grace Poe Llamanzares is now making it appear that the four cases filed against her, questioning her residency status and citizenship, are part of a smear campaign because she now tops the poll surveys.

That sounds like a usual excuse.

Santa Banana, we don’t have to be a rocket scientist to know that in October 2012, when Mrs. Llamanzares field her CoC to run for the 2013 senatorial race, she stated that she had been a resident of the Philippines for the last six years and six months.

But, my gulay, when she filed her CoC for President last week, Mrs. Llamanzares stated under oath that her residency period is 10 years and 11 months, no longer nine years and six months.

This inconsistency in her Certificates of Çandidacy is so blatant that should compel the Comelec to disqualify her. She lied when she stated in

her notarized oath for Dual Citizenship under The Dual Citizenship Act that she had been born of the union of Ronald Allan Kelly Poe (Fernando Poe Jr.) and Jesusa Sonora (Susan Roces). We all know that they were childless and had adopt Mary Grace, supposedly a foundling. She is lying again on her residency status.

Do we really want a President who lies?

Mrs. Mary Grace Poe Llamanzares claimed she came back to the Philippines to attend the 2004 funeral of her adoptive father, FPJ but, her status was still that of an American citizen. At that time, she was still carrying a US passport because she had lost her Philippine citizenship on Oct. 18, 2001.

Logic dictates that the earliest Mrs. Llamanzares could have established her Philippine domicile was on July 18, 2006, the date when she became a

Do we want to have a President who lies?

Filipino citizen by virtue of Republic Act 9225.

I am not very good at math. But in this case, we just need to know how to add and subtract to realize that Mrs. Llamanzares lacks the required 10-year residency status.

I rest my case. *** There are two things the Aquino administration would not like to see nor go through when the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation delegates start coming to town next month.

First are street children living in makeshift tents along Roxas Boulevard and many other places.

Second, the congestion at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport.

For that reason, Social Welfare Secretary Dinky Soliman once again will hide these squatters and say they need to attend seminars in resorts out-

LITERARY EVENTS AND ACTIVITIES “LITERATURE is the soul of the people,” said someone or other, and certainly it is the written word that creates, documents, and relays narratives with less ambiguity than other forms of art, capturing the inner essence of our people and culture.

These coming months are an exciting time for the world of Philippine letters and art in general, with events and activities that manifest the vibrancy of the writing community today. Below is a roundup of some of them. *** On Oct. 24: Award-winning fictionist and creative non-fiction (CNF) pioneer Cristina Pantoja-Hidalgo will hold a soft launch of her latest book “To Remember to Remember: Reflections on the Literary Memoirs of Filipino Women” at the University of Santo Tomas.

Dr. Pantoja-Hidalgo, director of the UST Center for Creative Writing and Literary Studies and University of the Philippines professor emerita, says the book “is a narrative of my encounter with the literary memoirs of seven writers,” and is part CNF, part literary commentary.

The seven writers are Paz Policarpio Mendez, Solita Camara Besa, Gilda Cordero Fernando, Merlie Alunan, Rica Bolipata Santos, Criselda Yabes, and myself, for my essay “Turn for Home: Memories of Santa Ana Park.”

(Google the title to read it online.)

A formal launch open to the public will be held within the coming months for this book and other new UST Publishing House titles. *** On Oct. 31: Entries are now being accepted for this year’s Doreen Gamboa Fernandez (DGF) Food Writing Award with the theme “Herbs”.

The DGF is the first food writing award in the Philippines and was named after the late pioneering food anthropologist and dean of food writ-

WEAPONIZED... From A9 culture of dedication and hard work and made sure that everyone of us was appreciated,” said Rosario Marigomen, who has been serving the company for the past 52 years and who is still there when the company recently celebrated its 70th anniversary. “Over the years, Mighty has become more of a big family than a company.”

Marigomen was one of 147 employees given special awards and recognition for outstanding work side Metro Manila.

There’s also the fourday lockout of planes, coming in and out of the international airport forcing the cancellation of domestic and international flights next months. My gulay, this is a neat way of Apec delegates not knowing about how bad our airport situation is because of Transportation

ers and columnists.

The contest offers cash prizes and is “dedicated to inspiring research in Philippine culinary culture and sustaining a pool of increasing new talents in food literature and food journalism.”

Essays must be in English, around 800 words or 5,000 characters in length. Writers may submit up to two essays, but each entry must have a different pen name. The writer’s pen name, real name, and contact information should be submitted in a separate file.

Send entries to dgfawards@yahoo. com.ph no later than Oct. 31. For more information, visit the Facebook page “Doreen Gamboa Fernandez Food Writing Award”. *** Congratulations to lawyer and educator Raymundo T. Pandan Jr. for bagging this year’s Cirilo F. Bautista Prize for his novel “When Will This War End?” He will receive a cash prize of P100,000, while Special Jury Prize winner Zeno Antonio Denolo will receive P50,000 for his novel “Uberman” at the awards ceremony on Nov. 14.

Out of 73 qualified entries, eight novels made the shortlist. The contest judges were National Artist Cirilo F. Bautista (chairman), Katrina Tuvera, Roland Tolentino, Dean Francis Alfar, and Joselito de los Reyes.

Pandan, a Palanca Award-winning poet, served as dean of the University of St. La Salle College of Law in Bacolod City from 1998 to 2010, and still teaches there. *** and longevity in service at the simple anniversary celebrations of the company last Sept. 19. In gratitude, Mighty contributes to the enhancement of the lives of its employees, distributors and tobacco farmers by giving them livelihood and by sending their deserving sons and daughters to school.

Today, the company continuously strives to improve the lives of about 293,000 families of employees, business and trade partners in adherence to its mission and core values.

In 1945, Wong Chu King and his partners Ong Lowa, Baa Dy and Ong

Secretary Emilio “Jun” Abaya’s failure to address the problem.

Come to think of it, why is Malacañang not doing anything to address the continuing international airport congestion?

Planes have to fly around for 30 minutes to one hour before landing, and departing planes have to fall in line and taxi for as long.

Anthropologist Padmapani L. Perez recently released “Shelah Goes to a Da-Ngah,” a lighthearted children’s story about a cherished custom of cooperation similar to bayanihan and practiced by the Kalanguya people of the Cordilleras.

Dr. Perez says, “I did fieldwork in Tawangan, in the municipality of Kabayan, Benguet… on indigenous people’s rights and the protection of nature…The da-ngah is one of the most important customs of the Kalanguya…” that the elders said should not be lost or forgotten. “Writing this story was a way for me to give something back to the community that welcomed me and taught me so much.”

Visit the Mt. Cloud bookshop Facebook page to find out how to order the book and purchase copies to donate to the families of Tawangan, where the story is set. *** Congratulations to the Philippine delegation for their successful participation in the Frankfurt Book Fair (held Oct. 14 to 18), the biggest global gathering of publishers, agents, authors, media agents, illustrators, and trade professionals.

The National Book Development Board was represented by its chair Neni Sta. Romana Cruz and executive director Graciela Mendoza-Cayton, and the UST Publishing House by its director John Jack Wigley. Representatives from other local publishing houses including powerhouses Abiva, Adarna, Anvil, Diwa, Lampara, Precious Pages, and Rex were also there.

The collaboration came about through the advocacy and support of the Book Development Association, Philippine Educational Printers Association, and NBDB. Facebook: Jenny Ortuoste, Twitter: @ jennyortuoste, Instagram: @jensdecember, Blog: http://jennyo.net Pay set up La Campana Fabrica de Tabacos Inc., which built its first factory in Tayabas Street, Manila. The second factory was built in 1948 in Pasong Tamo, Makati, and in 1951, the company acquired the present site of its head office.

In 1963, Wong Chu King founded the Tobacco Industries of the Philippines on a nine-hectare property in Barrio Tikay, Malolos, Bulacan which would become the future site of their manufacturing operations. Wong Chu King’s company was reestablished in 1985, becoming what is known as Mighty Corp. today.

*** The Supreme Court has suspended the plunder trial of former President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo.

To me, this a big slap on Malacañang which has been adamant in continuing the hospital detention of BS Aquino III’s predecessor, despite the fact that most of GMA’s co-accused in the alleged

plunder of P336 million of Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office intelligence funds had been allowed to post bail.

I think the suspension of the Arroyo trial for plunder is already an indication of how the Supreme Court justices think of the continued hospital detention of the former President. I foresee a release.

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OPINION lettertotheeditor@thestandard.com.ph

IMPROVING THE COCONUT INDUSTRY THE Philippines is the secondlargest producer of coconuts globally. It is the top exporter of 47 coconut products and byproducts, with the United States, Japan, Germany, the Netherlands, and China being the top destinations for our local coconut products. These export products include coconut sap sugar, coconut water, coconut oil, desiccated coconut, coco shell charcoal, coconut water, activated carbon, and handicrafts which have become sought-after items in many trade exhibits annually held abroad.

Currently more than 3.5 million farmers derive income from the billion-dollar coconut industry, while 23 million depend on it for livelihood. About 12 million hectares of farmland of the country’s total 3.4 million hectares of farmlands are coconut plantations; and 68 of the country’s 79 provinces are coconut-growing areas.

Ironically, even as the coconut oil is the largest dollar earner among Philippine agricultural exports, coconut farmers remain the poorest among our farmers earning a meager P40-P50 a day.

Years of neglect together with the cocolisap infestation and the se-

vere calamities brought about increasing change in the global climate are among the serious challenges that the local coconut industry continue to face. During the recent Super Typhoon “Yolanda,’’ more than 33 million trees in the provinces of Quezon, Guimaras, Iloilo, Negros Occidental, Cebu, Eastern Samar and Leyte were damaged in varying degrees. Data from the Philippine Coconut Authority reports that about 15 million trees have been totally destroyed and even with the most ideal conditions, it is going to take six to nine years before coconuts return to full production. In the interim, our coconut farmers will have nothing to look forward to unless alternative livelihood solutions are developed almost immediately.

Definitely just replanting coconut trees isn’t going to be enough to help solve the dilemma of our coconut farmers. What is saddening is that a number of published studies have already declared that the coconut sector offers numerous opportunities for livelihood

and job generation. Moreover, if our government should choose to capitalize on these opportunities, it is expected to increase not only the productivity and income of our coconut farmers, but more importantly, it can provide as a strong hedge to alleviate poverty.

Of course the potential mentioned will require capital for technologies and infrastructure to harness the value-added products from coconut, and the way things are, our coconut farmers will continue to remain poor unless serious interventions are undertaken by both government and private sector. Government should work on giving due benefits to the coco farmers particularly through adequate programs to combat the cocolisap, the improvement of coconut breeds and projects that will allow our farmers to diversify, become more productive and benefit firsthand, particularly on the wise use of the Coco Levy funds.

The funds which were started in during the Marcos era was successfully grown through the busi-

ness and management acumen of Danding Cojuangco. Compared with other government projects, the fund steadily grew under his supervision. From an initial estimate of P9.695 billion in 1986, coco levy funds have since ballooned to about P93 billion. To make wise use of the funds and ensure that our farmers directly benefit from it, PNoy should probably appoint a coconut czar before his term ends, and hopefully this should continue under the next President.

Talking about national priorities and continuity of governance, I would like to stress the point that few of our countrymen notice that we are on the brink of anarchy. Among those vying for the 2016 elections, the BinayHonasan tandem is the only one putting the state of criminality of the country as one of their priority. As I have stated before, our streets have descended into anarchy because of the neglect this administration has given our peace and security. The country will surely benefit from the visionary leadership, experience and strong political will that have been demonstrated by both men during their long years in public service.

WHAT CAMPAIGN DONATIONS CAN’T BUY

By Megan McArdle “MONEY can’t buy you everything.”

“The best things in life are free.”

“I don’t care too much for money. … Money can’t buy me love.”

Turns out timeless clichés and the Beatles understood the 2016 election season before the rest of us did. All that dangerous, dastardly outside money that people have been worrying about since the Citizens United decision? Stunningly irrelevant.

The New York Times has a nice summary of campaign fund raising and spending to date.

Hillary Clinton has done well in both traditional and PAC fundraising, but that might be effect as much as cause: The obvious frontrunner and already-crowned establishment candidate is going to do well in fundraising, even if the money isn’t needed. So let’s look at the Republican race.

By June, Jeb Bush was the GOP PACman; he had raised more than $100 million, and spent over $10 million of it. Second in such fundraising is Ted Cruz, who raised $38.4 million in outside money.

The two of them together have 60 percent more cash than all the other candidates combined. They are currently tied for fourth place in polling.

Meanwhile, Scott Walker, who used to be running third in the PAC race, has already dropped out, as have Rick Perry and his $13.8 million worth of outside funds. Marco Rubio, with a comparatively dainty $17.3 million, is doing better than the three early leaders in outside fundraising—and yet he’s still being blown away in polling by Donald Trump and Ben Carson, who have raised, to a first approximation,

zero in outside funds.

As Paul Blumenthal, Sam Stein and Scott Conroy write at the Huffington Post: “According to reports filed with the Federal Election Commission, outside groups—super PACs and political ‘nonprofits’—have already poured in more than $33 million to promote Republican candidates in the primary campaign through mass communication like television, radio, online advertising, direct mail and phone-banking... Meanwhile, two candidates whose most significant source of outside help has been free media attention—Trump and Carson—have consistently remained the top two candidates in both national and statewide polls.”

Where are all those shadowy billionaires we were warned out?

The ones subverting American democracy with their ill-gotten lucre?

The lucre is being spent, in vast amounts. But $200 million in PAC funds is no match for a billionaire openly campaigning to get a hold on the levers of political power, and a neurosurgeon on book tour. No wonder Larry Lessig’s single-issue campaign to get money out of politics isn’t going anywhere.

How are Trump and Carson doing it? It’s that free media.

While campaign ads may work (campaigns are certainly convinced that they do), they’re no match for getting your face on the nightly newscast. People tune out advertising, even when they haven’t gotten up to get a snack or go to the bathroom. It’s much better to have your candidate talked about on the program itself. And boy, we’ve certainly been talking about Donald Trump.

Of course, we also talked about Ebola. It wouldn’t poll well. Carson and Trump obviously thrive not

only because they get attention but also because they appeal to a GOP base that is rebelling against the party’s establishment. The establishment candidates—which is to say, the ones tapped into longstanding networks of advisers, donors and campaign staff—are the ones who are doing best on the PAC front … and nonetheless taking a beating at the polls.

This doesn’t quite mean that money doesn’t matter. It tells us that money is at best an amplifier. It cannot make a terrible candidate into a winner, and it cannot overcome broad and strong democratic preferences. And frankly, I don’t find that surprising, because it’s consistent with what I know about lobbying. Ask a lobbyist, and you’re apt to hear that money can get you in the door of a lawmaker’s office but is not getting you out with much unless you can also explain to this politician how your proposal is going to a) make people better off and therefore b) encourage more people to vote for that politician. In Washington, the ultimate currency remains votes, not cash.

One could say that money doesn’t matter of our existing campaign finance rules: Rick Perry had plenty of PAC money, but he still had to drop out because that money couldn’t be used to pay his campaign staff. Even looking at the campaigns that still have plenty of ordinary contributions, it’s hard to tease out any relationship between outside funds and doing well at the polls. If money mattered as much as those who excoriate the Citizens United decision seem to believe, Jeb Bush should be walking away with this election. Instead, he’s already starting to look like an also-ran.

Meanwhile, we should also count the cost of some of those

campaign reforms: They’ve helped sideline the political parties’ establishment leadership, and helped create the current partisan gridlock that so many people lament.

People keep asking why John Boehner can’t control his caucus, even though the answer is obvious: He has neither carrots nor sticks with which to keep them in line. He can’t use earmarks to give anything, and he can’t take anything away, because parties no longer control either ballot access or fundraising the way they once did.

What’s left? Jawboning them about the good of the party, which he has tried, endlessly, with little success.

At this point, both the Democratic and Republican parties look more like heritage brands than the powerful institutions they used to be.

One by one, we’ve stripped away the means that parties used to control their membership: replaced party bosses with primary elections, limited the ability of big donors to directly fund and influence campaigns, cracked down on earmarks and other pork-barrel policies, torn down the congressional institutional structures that used to let a few powerful politicians essentially control what bills made it to a vote. Each step was hailed as a progressive move toward a more flourishing democracy, and perhaps they were. But the more perfect our democracy gets, the more it seems to tend towards chaos. Witness the astonishing longevity of Trump as an electoral force.

So far this election season, the good news seems to be that all that outside, unregulated money isn’t nearly as powerful as people thought. Oddly, that may also be the bad news.

Bloomberg

TYPHOON... From A9 landslides that would cause a lot of destruction to families living along the dangerous slopes as it happened a few years ago. Happily, there were no reports of deadly landslides this time. But with the many old pine trees uprooted by the typhoon, there are now less trees in the city. Already, there are home owners with workers cutting trees located close to their houses for fear that these trees would fall on their houses.

In the area where we live, two pine trees went down. One closing our main road and the other destroying the roof of a neighbor.

There is one big tree only inches away from our house and we had to watch it for two days for signs that it might also go down but it held. Although we loathe cutting trees, we might have to get a permit to cut this tree and plant replacements where it is not dangerous.

Country Club also had some of its trees falling on cottages, so was the more-than-a-century-old campus of Brent School where quite a number of trees fell down. Clearing operations are now going on and the working crews of the electric cooperative are also going around trying to restore power throughout the city which they are doing much faster this time. During typhoons, people would go to the only mall in town to spend their time. But this typhoon forced the closure of the mall up to now because strong rains flooded a lot of the mall stores.

There are now just too many people living in Baguio nowadays. And it is not the only place whose environment is under pressure due to increasing population. The original plan was for a city of 25,000. Now, there are 330,000—and counting. People are simply allowed to build houses anywhere including areas that are not safe. This is similar to people in the lowlands being allowed to build houses along flood prone river banks.

Climate change is a phenomenon that has arrived and we are perhaps the first generation of humans that are experiencing the destructive effects of changing climate patterns. Although our country is in the forefront in the fight to mitigate climate change, so far, aside from the rhetoric, we have not seen concrete programs undertaken.

Yes, we read in the papers requests from some government agencies asking for funding for climate change mitigation projects but no tangible accomplishments. Baguio which prides itself as the premier vacation city has done everything to destroy that reputation by not planning and implementing a sustainable urban growth that would preserve the environment. From what I have been informed, Tagaytay is now a much better alternate destination to Baguio. And why not?

Baguio is a prime example of how to destroy a beautiful city by bad governance and politics.

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sports sports@thestandard.com.ph

USC Warriors end 57-year title drought

By Mikey Izumi

Salute to women. Women’s Sports Foundation CEO Deborah Slaner Larkin speaks onstage during the 36th Annual Salute to Women In Sports at Cipriani Wall Street in New York City. AFP

CEBU City—The University of San Carlos Warriors came from behind to fashion out a 64-53 victory over the University of Visayas Green Lancers in the fifth and deciding game in the finals to shatter a 57-year-old drought and capture their first-ever CESAFI Basketball championship before a huge crowd at the Cebu Coliseum on Tuesday.

The Warriors came out flat in the first three quarters before coming up with a strong finish in the final 10 minutes of the game.

The USC Warriors last won a title in a collegiate championship in Cebu in 1958 when the school was a member of the now-defunct Cebu Amateur Athletic Association.

The Warriors started slow even as the Green Lancers came out red-hot to take the lead 17-6 at the end of the first quarter.

In the second period, the Warriors finally got their bearings and went on an offensive burst in the last two minutes of the quarter to cut the Green

Lancers’ lead to five, 30-25 at halftime.

Both teams exchanged baskets in the third quarter, but the Green Lancers still had the lead 46-40 lead going into the pivotal fourth quarter.

But during the first three minutes of the final period, USC’s Cameroonian import Shooster Olago and Kiefer Lim teamed up in the Warriors’ searing 12-0 run, including a fastbreak slam dunk off Olago’s steal to grab the lead, 52-46 midway through the quarter.

The Lancers tried to fight back in the closing minutes but could only muster seven points during the final 6-minute stretch of the game with veteran Nico Magat breaking the Lancers’ hearts by hitting his only three pointer from the right baseline with under two minutes remaining in the game en route to the rousing victory.

“I would like to thank all of the USC supporters, to the USC community, and to the Lord for giving us the win. I feel so blessed that I end the championship drought with the team.

I felt I’m on cloud nine already after the win,” said USC coach Britt Reroma in the post-game interview.

Miss Brulay wins Don Juan Derby TALENTED filly Miss Brulay won the coveted honors in the Klub Don Juan de Manila Derby held recently at the Metroturf racecourse as part of the annual KDJM racing festival.

Miss Brulay, longshot winner of the 3rd leg of the Philippine Racing Commission Triple Crown series on July 12, beat Court of Honor, likewise a longshot victress of the 2nd leg of the Triple Crown, to the wire in the grueling 2,000-meter race.

Kelvin Abobo rode the Cat Brulay x Near Miss filly

trained by Renato Hipolito.

The P900,000 first place purse went to Miss Brulay’s owner Running Rich Racing. Second place went to the connections of Court of Honor, third to Dikoridik Koridak, fourth to Breaking Bad, and fifth to Princess Ella. The total prize money for the race was P1.5 million sponsored by

KDJM and Metroturf.

The 1,400-meter KDJM Juvenile races were sponsored by Philracom with P500,000 each. The Colts version was won by Stony Road Farm’s Underwood, followed by Stark, Mount Iglit, and Security Chief, while the Fillies race was topped by Port Angeles, another Stony Road entry, followed by Most Trusted, Sky Glory, and Hehehe.

The 1,800-meter Klub Don Juan Golden Girls stakes race backed by the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office was won by

Henedino Guianan’s Silver Sword, followed by Eugenie, Strong Champion, and Security Model.

KDJM President Lamberto C. Almeda Jr. thanked sponsors, fellow industry members, and racing fans for contributing to the success of the event. “We are grateful,” said Almeda, “for the outpouring of support and the enthusiastic participation in this annual event, and we promise an even more exciting KDJM racing festival next year.”

The event’s other spon-

sors were Magic Millions Australia, Manila Rep. Lito Atienza, 3rd district-Manila councilor-candidate Maile Atienza, Manila Barangay 306 Chairman Joey Uy Jamisola, Pancit Malabon Express, John and Yoko Resto-Uptown Center,Organique, Inc., Manila Horse Power, Equine International Air Freight, All Creatures Great and Small veterinary supply, FR Sevilla Industrial and Development Corp., SC Stockfarm, Mercury Freight, Fundador, and Edong Diokno.

All set for Guam’s Ko’Ko’ Half Marathon, Ekiden Relay AN ENERGETIC and fun-filled weekend is set to take over the Gov. Joseph Flores Memorial Park (Ypao Beach) in Guam next month, as the Guam Visitors Bureau holds the Ko’Ko’ Kids Run, and the 10th Annual Guam Ko’Ko’ Half Marathon and Ekiden Relay —slated on Nov. 7 and 8, respectively.

One of the most anticipated annual events in Guam, the Ko’Ko’ Half Marathon and Ekiden Relay is already on its 10th year and has attracted thousands of runners from countries such Taiwan, Hong Kong, Korea, Japan, and the Philippines to compete alongside the local running community—making it a true international sporting competition.

In past editions of the said event, Filipino participants that includes competitive and celebrity runners, were successful in

Particpants of last year’s Annual Guam Ko’Ko’ Half Marathon wait for the starting gun.

testing their skills against the best, while conquering Guam’s challenging, yet fun and scenic, trail.

Always aiming to improve each year, organizers of the event believe that this year’s race will be grander and more exciting. Participating runners can start their competi-

tive juices flowing as they can look forward to more awards per each division —as compared to previous years.

Also new this year is Guam’s repositioned finish line. While maintaining it’s iconic race trails that highlight the islands scenic views, half-mar-

athon runners will now end their run closer to Guam’s iconic shores— allowing them to have a quick celebratory dip.

This year, interested runners can register to either the 13.2-mile run for $65, or the 5K ekiden relay for $100 per team until Nov. 3, 2015, online at

www.guamkokoroadrace. com. or the Pacific Islands Club front desk in Guam.

Aside from the halfmarathon and ekiden relay, families visiting Guam can also start a healthy and competitive lifestyle for their kids with the Ko’Ko’ Kids run happening a day before the Ko’Ko’ Road Race.

Interested parents can sign-up their kids until race day for the 1K, 2K, and 3K runs for $15— while those who register in advance will only pay $10.

Located in west of the Pacific, Guam is the closest US destination from Manila and is accessible via a short 3 ½ hours via Philippine Airlines, or United Airlines.

To know more about the latest events and news in Guam, you may also visit the Guam Visitors Bureau’s Facebook page at https://www.facebook. com/visitguamph.

60 teams clash for PGAP’s top purse THE Professional Golfers Association of the Philippines holds its pro-am 2-man Scramble tournament today with at least 60 teams expected to clash for the top P20,000 purse at the Villamor Golf Club.

Robert Pactolerin, who has won a number of Philippine Masters crowns at Villamor, heads the pro cast that includes Orlan Sumcad, Juanito Pagunsan, Mario Manubay and Caloy Nival while a slew of lowhandicap amateurs and foreign bets are also tipped to join the 18-hole tournament presented by Myzzun Philippines, Inc. Meanwhile, Noh Jung Hoon and Oh Sea Jong, senior director and district president, respectively, of Myzzun Philippines, Inc., will hit the ceremonial drive at 7 a.m. along with Col. Oscar Calingasan of PAF (Ret.), general manager of the host club, Abang Lingkod Party List’s Joseph Paduano, PGAP president Jesus Bustamante Jr. and PGAP vice president Vic Santia Jr. Format is best-ball except for the par-3 holes where the scores of both players of each team will be added.

The team with the lowest gross after 18 holes will win the top P20,000 purse.

The second placer will receive P17,000 while the next three finishes will get P13,000, P10,500 and P9,500, respectively.

t hurs day : o cto b e r 2 2 , 2 0 1 5

A13

sports sports@thestandard.com.ph

Mets close in on World Series berth CHICAGO—Daniel Murphy homered in a record-tying fifth straight post-season game Tuesday to help the New York Mets beat the Chicago Cubs 5-2 and move within one win of a World Series berth.

Juan Lagares (12) and Curtis Granderson of the New York Mets celebrate after their team defeated the Chicago Cubs in Game 3 of the 2015 MLB National League Championship Series at Wrigley Field in Chicago, Illinois. The Mets defeated the Cubs with a score of 5 to 2. AFP

Yoenis Cespedes scored a go-ahead run on a wild pitch in the sixth inning and added two runs-batted-in for the Mets, who took a commanding 3-0 lead in the best-ofseven National League Championship Series.

The Cubs, seeking their first World Series title since 1908 and their first appearance in 70 years, will try to fend off elimination when they host game four on Wednesday, when the Mets will be trying to book a return to Major League Baseball’s title showcase for the first time in 15 years.

Mets starting pitcher Jacob deGrom improved to 3-0 in the post-season after working seven strong innings and was feeling confident.

“Hopefully we can win it tomorrow and get some days off heading into the World Series,” he said.

The Boston Red Sox, in the 2004 American League Championship Series, are the only team to erase an 0-3 deficit to win a seven-game series, getting past the New York Yankees on their way to ending their own World Series drought.

“Of course you think about those things, you think about the parallels, think about the fact that that happened against a New York team,” Cubs manager Joe Maddon said.

“We think about all that stuff, but it’s up to us to go out and play and execute.”

DeGrom allowed two runs on four hits, walked one and struck out seven, recovering from a shaky first inning in which Chicago’s Kyle Schwarber launched a 3-2 pitch to the left field bleachers for a solo homer.

That pulled the Cubs level at 1-1 after Cespedes’ twoout double had plated a run in the top of the frame.

Tri United 3 set Sunday inside Subic Bay port WITH the resumption of Unilab Active Health’s Tri United series on Sunday, the challenge has been set several notches higher and roughly 800 triathletes from around the nation will experience that in Tri United 3, which will commence at 6 a.m.

In this year’s edition, the event organized by Bike King (headed

by Raul Cuevas) and presented by ULAH, is a 1.9 Kilometer swim – 90 Km bike – 21 Km run long distance race course that will start from ACEA Resort (Dun-

garee Beach) inside the Subic Bay Freeport, traversing through the Subic-Clark-Tarlac Expressway and reaching Alviera in Porac, Pampanga, where the run course and finish line are located at.

Also set up is the Triking Distance course of 1 Km swimming – 60 Km bike – 10 Km run.

At stake in the event supported

by ULAH, Enervon Activ, Active Health Carb Gel, Enervon HP, NLEX-SCTEX Cycling, Orbea, Saucony, WeatherPhilippines, TIMEX, Gardenia, The Light-

house Marina Resort, Court Meridian Hotel and Suites, Oxford Hotel and Casino, SwimBikeRun.ph, Multisports magazine, RaceDay and SPIN.ph are cash prizes worth P10,000, P6,000 and P4,000 for the Top 3 Male Elite and Top 3 Female Elite winners.

All Top 3 Male, Top 3 Female, Relay and Team category winners will receive medals and giftpacks, while the Top 3 Team Competition winners will get trophies, medals and giftpacks.

The Tri United 3 race awarding

Sevilla stuns top seed Tan, makes quarterfinals MARIYA Sevilla continued to dish out top form as she shocked top seed Pauline Tan, 13-21, 21-18, 21-18, to lead the other fancied bets into the quarterfinals of the Open women’s singles of the Bingo Bonanza National Open Badminton Tournament at the Rizal Memorial Badminton Hall yesterday.

Meanwhile, action in the country’s premier badminton championship, a P1.5 million ranking tournament sponsored by Bingo Bonanza, shifts to Glorietta 5 Atrium in Makati City today with the quarterfinal matches in the women’s and men’s singles and mixed doubles.

Bucking a lopsided first set setback, Sevilla got Tan all figured out in the next frame, foiling Tan with her repertoire of shots then outlasting the top Maynilad-Allied/NVBA bet in a tight finish to force a decider.

It was more of the same in the third with Sevilla, who whipped Klowie Garcia, 21-11, 21-11, in Tuesday’s opener of the event sanctioned by the Philippine Badminton Association headed

by Vice President Jejomar Binay and sec-gen Rep. Albee Benitez, matching Tan’s smashes and drop shots before pulling through in another down-tothe-wire finish.

The tough one-hour victory sent the PBA-Smash Pilipinas ace into the Last 8 phase with Tricia Pomar of FEU/Equiparco-BBC, who subdued Marie Lorenzana, also in three, 21-15, 19-21, 21-15, while defending champion No. 3 Gelita Castilo of University of the Philippines, also went through wringer before repulsing Air Force’s Jennifer Cayetano, 19-21, 21-9, 21-10, in the lower half of the draw.

Lefty Airah Albo goes for a backhand return against Indonesian Jesica Muljati, whom she turned back in three to clinch a berth in the Open women’s singles quarterfinals.

ceremony will be held at around 2 p.m at the Active Health Village located at Alviera.

To cap the 2015 Tri United series, the top age groupers and teams of the year will be honored on Nov. 6 with an awarding party that will be held at the BBZ Bar in Makati City.

To know how you fare, check the TU series points by visiting our website http://bikekingphilippines.com/images/results/ T U%2 02 015%2 0 SE R I E S%2 0 POINTS.pdf.

Thai eyes breakthrough victory at Southwoods SARAPORN Chamchoi hopes to break a couple of heartbreaks with a victory as she heads seven other Thailand players vying against the local aces and a slew of other foreign bets in the Manila Southwoods Ladies Classic firing off next week at Southwoods’ Legends course in Carmona, Cavite.

Chamchoi missed joining the ICTSI Wack Wack Ladies Invitational title playoff by one last April and tied for third again in the ICTSI Luisita Ladies Challenge last July, making her hungry for title and a top contender in the season-ending tournament of the circuit organized by Pilipinas Golf Tournaments, Inc. Other Thai players signing up for the P500,000 tournament are Sarauttaya Ngam-usawan, Mookharin Ladgratok, Wannasiri Sirisampant, Jaruporn Palakawongnaayuttawa, Chayuda Singhsuwan, Chattarat Chatwarrarat and Supakchaya Pattaranakrueang, who tied Chamchoi at third at Luisita.

Sherwood leg winner Sarah Ababa, meanwhile, shoots for her second crown as she spearheads the local challenge along with former leg champion Jayvie Agojo, hardluck Chihiro Ikeda, Apple Fudolin, Lucy Landicho, Eva Miñoza, Anya Tanpinco, Sylvia Torres, Lovelyn Guioguio, Tracy Que, Majorie Pulumbarit and former Philippine Ladies Open winner Heidi Chua.

T H U R S DAY : O C T O B E R 2 2 , 2 0 1 5

Justice Party (UBJP) as a regional political party based in the Bangsamoro and Mindanao for the purpose of the upcoming May 2016 elections and subsequent elections and for the corresponding CERTIFICATE OF REGISTRATION and ACCREDITATION to be issued in favor of the aforesaid United Bangsamoro Justice Party and that it be accorded all the rights and privileges of a political party under the Constitution and other pertinent laws.

OTHER RELIEFS and REMEDIES as may be proper and appropriate under the circumstances are likewise prayed for.

RESPECTFULLY SUBMITTED. Darapanan, Sultan Kudarat, Maguindanao for the City of Manila, Philippines,8 May 2015

Republic of the Philippines COMMISSION ON ELECTIONS Intramuros. Manila FIRST DIVISION IN THE Matter OF THE PETITION FOR R E G I S T R AT I O N AND A C C R E D I TAT I O N O F S P P N O. 15 0 5 2 ( P P) “ U N I T E D B A N G S A M O R O JUSTICE PA R T Y ( U B J P) AS A REGION A L POLITICAL PA R T Y BASED IN MINDA N AO

Y YASSER EBRAHIM President United Bangsamoro Justice Party Darapanan, Sultan Kudarat, Maguinadano Assisted By: S P P N O. 15 - 0 5 2 ( P P) ATTY. FARID ESHWER C. DETICIO PTR No. 8147255 IBP No. 0982497 Roll of Attorneys No. 58541 MCLE Compliance No.V-0001864

UNITED BANGSAMORO JUSTICE PA R T Y ( U B J P), R E P R E S E N T E D

BY PA R T Y P R E S I D E N T Y A S S E R EBR AHIM, P e t i t i o n e r.

ORDER

VERIFICATION AND CERTIFICATION OF NON-FORUM SHOPPING

Acting on the verif ied petition of “ UNITED BANGSAMORO J U S T I C E PA R T Y ( U B J P) ” f i l e d o n M a y 0 6 , 2 015 f o r r e g i s t r a t i o n a s a r e g i o n a l p o l i t i c a l p a r t y, t h e C o m m i s s i o n ( F i r s t D i v i s i o n) h e r e b y s e t s t h e h e a r i n g o f t h i s c a s e o n O c t o b e r 2 8 , 2 0 15 a t 10 : 0 0 o ’c l o c k i n t h e m o r n i n g . C o m e l e c S e s s i o n H a l l , 8 t h F l o o r, P a l a c i o d e l G o b e r n a d o r, Intramuros, Manila.

To s i m p l i f y t h e p r o c e e d i n g s , p e t i t i o n e r i s r e q u i r e d t o s u b m i t p r i o r to the scheduled hearing the following: 1. T h e n a m e s o f I w o (2) w i t n e s s e s w h o s h a l l b e t h e C h a i r p e r s o n or President and Secretar y General of the political par ty; 2. Judicial af f idavits of the witnesses; and 3. Proof of publication Meantime, all evidence on f ile with the records of the Commission, t o b e p r e s e n t e d b y p e t i t i o n e r s h a l l b e p r e - m a r ke d i n c l u d i n g e v i d e n c e to prove compliance with the jurisdictional requirements before the C l e r k o f t h e C o m m i s s i o n o n O c t o b e r 2 6 , 2 0 15 a t 10 a . m . C o u n s e l shall manifest dur ing the mar king of exhibits his/ her appearanc e and the same be entered in the minutes. In no case shall representatives o f p a r t i e s , o t h e r t h a n c o u n s e l , (f o r p u r p o s e s o f m a r k i n g b e a l l o w e d .

Fu r t h e r, c o u n s e l i s r e q u e s t e d t o p r e p a r e h i s / h e r s u m m a r y o f e x h i b i t s a s a g u i d e d u r i n g t h e m a r k i n g / s t h e r e o f.

The Commission requires the petitioner to publish at its own e x p e n s e i n t h r e e (3) n a t i o n a l n e w s p a p e r s o f g e n e r a l c i r c u l a t i o n the petition without annexes together with the instant Order of the Commission requiring the publication with the date of the scheduled hearing.

S O O R D E R E D. G i v e n t h i s 12 t h d a y o f O c t o b e r 2 015 , a t M a n i l a , P h i l i p p i n e s .

FOR THE DIVISION: CHRISTIAN ROBERT S. LIM Presiding Commissioner

Republic of the Philippines COMMISSION ON ELECTIONS Intramuros, Manila IN THE MATTER OF THE PETITION FOR REGISTRATION AND ACCREDITATION OF “UNITED BANGSAMORO JUSTICE PARTY’ (UBJP) AS A REGIONAL POLITICAL PARTY BASED IN MINDANAO,

SPP NO. 15-052 (PP) For: Registration as Regional Political

I , YA S S E R E B R A H I M , o f l e g a l a g e , F i l i p i n o w i t h p o s t a l a d d r e s s at Darapanan, Sultan KudaratMaguindanao af ter having sworn in a c c o r d a n c e w i t h l a w, d e p o s e a n d s t a t e , T H AT: 1. I am the President of the UNITED BANGSAMORO JUSTICE PARTY (UBJP), the organization seeking registration and accreditation as a regional political party based in the Bangsamoro and Mindanao in the foregoing Petition; 2. I was authorized by said organization to prepare and file the foregoing Petition, as attested to by the Secretary’s Certificate attached as Annex “H” hereof; 3. I have caused the preparation and filing of the foregoing PETITION FOR REGISTRATION for and on behalf of the United Bangsamoro Justice Party (UBJP); 4. I have read the contents thereof, and I verify that the facts stated therein are true and correct to the best of my personal knowledge and/or are based on authentic records; and 5. In compliance with Supreme Court Administrative Circular No. 04-94. I hereby certify that I have not commenced any other action of proceeding involving the same issues in the Supreme Court, the Court of Appeals, or different Divisions thereof, or any other tribunal or agency; that to the best of my knowledge, no such action or proceeding has been filed or is pending before the above tribunals or agency, I hereby undertake to report that fact within five (5) days therefrom to the Court or agency wherein the original pleading and sworn certification contemplated herein have been filed.

URTHER AFFIANT SAYETH NAUGHT. FURTHER YASSER EBRAHIM Petitioner-Affiant SUBSCRIBED AND SWORN TO before me,this 4th of May, 2015. Affiant being known to me and identified himself to me by exhibiting his competent evidence of identity, as follows: NAME TYPE & SERIAL NUMBER YASSER EBRAHIM MOI-97-54177 Doc No. 78 Page No. 16 Book No. 1 Series of 2015.

a

UNITED BANGSAMORO JUSTICE PARTY (UBJP) REPRESENTED BY PARTY PRESIDENT YASSER EBRAHIM. Petitioner.

DATE & PLACE OF ISSUE/EXPIRY COTABATO CITY 12-12-2014

ATTY. FARID ESHWER C. DETICIO Notary Public for Cotabato City and Maguindanao Commission No. 17 Until December 31, 2016 Roll of Attorneys No. 58541 PTR No. 8147255 IBP No. 0982497

Republic of the Philippines COMMISSION ON ELECTIONS Intramuros, Manila

x-------------------------------------------------x

PETITION COMES NOW the PETITIONER, UNITED BANGSAMORO JUSTICE PARTY (UBJP), through the undersigned party President, unto the Honorable Commission most respectfully states THAT:

PREFATORY STATEMENT 1. Political exclusion has been one of the causes of the Mindanao conflict that stymied the progress and development, not only of the Bangsamoro but also of the Philippines; 2. The Comprehensive Agreement on the Bangsamoro recognizes “the justness and legitimacy of the cause of the Bangsamoro people and their aspiration to chart their political future through a democratic process that will secure their identity and posterity and allow for meaningful self-governance”; 3. The creation of a political party would allow the Bangsamoro to participate in a democratic and peaceful process to advance their legitimate causes; 4. Peace, justice, and political participation is crucial to the progress of the Bangsamoro and the Philippines; 5. Political action is the highest responsibility of a citizen “ (John F. Kennedy).

In our time and in this country, the greatest gain of the peace agreement between the government and the Bangsamoro, is the restoration of the greater guarantee of people empowerment affording even those who are in Mindanao and the Bangsamoro increased participation in governance thereby ensuring equality, justice and even improving quality of life for all.

This is the wisdom and life of a healthy democracy enshrined in the 1987 Constitution, where a free and open party system shall be allowed to evolve according to the free choice of the people (Article IX-C Section 6); 6. Petitioner firmly believes that new politics and the new breed of leadership and the democratic space afforded by the peace agreement would greatly contribute to a healthy democracy and an empowered people which will contribute to the strengthening of peace and development not only in the Bangsamoro but in the whole country; 7. The instant petition is filed pursuant to the provisions of the Constitution specifically section 2 (5) Subdivision C of Article IX as implemented by Article VII sections 60 to 61 of the Omnibus Election Code in relation to Rule 32 of the COMELEC Rules of Procedure;

THE PETITIONER 8.

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The petitioner, United Bangsamoro Justice Party (UBJP) represented herein by YASSER EBRAHIM, its President, is a Regional Political Party based in the Bangsamoro and Mindanao advocating the aspirations of the Bangsamoro for peace and development, a culture of performance and the highest degree in transparency governance and people empowerment; Petitioner United Bangsamoro Justice Party’smembership spreads throughout Mindanao. The UBJP spreads at the very grassroots of the barangays of the entire island of Mindanao. It is open for all qualified individualsall over the region, irrespective of ethnic origin, religion, place of birth, social or economic status. It is open for coalition with organizations pursuing the same political aims, ideals, principles, vision and mission, platforms of government as is consistent with its Constitution and By-Laws; Petitioner United Bangsamoro Justice Party (UBJP) is a political party of principles and ideas that transcends the covenants of the traditional populis.

UBJP shall be a pioneer of social, economic, environmental, cultural and political transformation in the Bangsamoro and in Mindanao. Likewise, UBJP shall be steward of a peaceful, progressive and globally-competitive populace led by able, honest, decent and responsible leaders who are pro-God, pro-Bangsamoro, pro-country, pro-peace, pro-people, prodevelopment and pro-environment; The principal headquarters and postal address of the petitioner for purposes of registration, elections and various notices is atDarapanan, Sultan Kudarat, Maguindanao; The United Bangsamoro Justice Party (UBJP) was initially conceived after the signing of the Framework Agreement on the Bangsamoro on October 15, 2012 and was formally organized on December 23-25, 2014; The first General Assembly and organizational meeting was held on December 23-25, 2014, the party’s political aspirations were defined, the declaration of principles and program of government set, the vision and the mission inscribed, and the Constitution and By-Laws ratified; The UBJP’s Constitution and By-Laws (Annex “A”), Declaration of Principles, Program of Government and the Party’s Manifesto (Annex “B”), Photographs of the First General Assemblyand Party Meetings (Annex “C”)are hereto attached and made integral parts hereof; On December 23-25, 2014, the party electedits officers in accordance with the its Constitution and By-Laws.Copy of the names of elected Officers of the United Bangsamoro Justice Party are hereto attached and made integral parts hereof as Annex “D”; The initial and official list of members of the United Bangsamoro Justice Party in the different provinces, districts, cities, municipalities, and barangaysare hereto attached as ANNEXES “E”; To give way for the realization of United Bangsamoro Justice Party’s primary objectives for the transformation and uplifting of the socio-political and economic conditions of the people in the area and the urgent need to institutionalize good governance, accountability and able leadership, and bring about progress and development of the Region, the party finally decided to register United Bangsamoro Justice Party (UBJP) with the Commission on elections as a Regional Party in Mindanao; That as of date, petitioner United Bangsamoro Justice Party (UBJP) has already organized its chapters and established offices in the region, the provinces, districts, cities, municipalities. Photographs of the Party Headquarters are hereto attached and made integral parts hereof as Annex “F” with sub-markings; Petitioner United Bangsamoro Justice Party (UBJP) intends to participate in the 2016 political exercise by fielding candidates in the future Bangsamoro Parliament and in the different local elective positions from Congressman, Governor, Vice-Governor, Provincial Board Members, Mayors, Vice-Mayors and down to Councilors. Party leaders and members in pursuit of their political aspirations will adhere and will be guided by the party’s platform of government such as but not limited to the following: a. Advocacy and implementation of programs to sustain the gains of the peace agreement between the government and the Bangsamoro. b. Implementing reforms and empowerment in local governance from the Barangay level up, through a new breed of leadership, that is civic and service oriented and in active collaboration with a pro-active citizenry; c. Values formation and family reformation through quality education; and d. Social political and economic transformation through people’s participation, sound stewardship and efficient public service that will lead to a progressive Bangsamoro.

The United Bangsamoro Justice Party (UBJP) is a social political party and not a religious sect or denomination or an organization or association organized for religious purposes; The United Bangsamoro Justice Party (UBJP) shall not pursue its goal through violence or any other unlawful means; The United Bangsamoro Justice Party (UBJP) is not a foreign party or organization; The United Bangsamoro Justice Party (UBJP) is not supported by nor does it accept financial contribution from any foreign government or their agencies; The United Bangsamoro Justice Party (UBJP) shall uphold and adhere to the Constitution of the Republic of the Philippines and shall obey all laws and legal orders promulgated by the duly constituted authorities; As stated, the United Bangsamoro Justice Party (UBJP) intends to participate in the forthcoming 2016 elections by fielding candidates to different local positions.

Appropos, the United Bangsamoro Justice Party (UBJP) has sufficient manpower and financial resources to wage a regional campaign to ensure victory in the election of its official candidates. Copy of the Certificateof Bank Deposit is hereto attached and made integral parts hereof as Annex “G”.

PRAYER WHEREFORE, premises considered, Petitioner most respectfully prays of the Honorable Commission to REGISTER and ACCREDIT the United Bangsamoro

IN THE MATTER OF THE PETITION FOR REGISTRATION AND ACCREDITATION OF “UNITED BANGSAMORO JUSTICE PARTY’ (UBJP) AS A REGIONAL POLITICAL PARTY BASED IN MINDANAO,

SPP NO. 15-052 For: Registration as a Regional Political Party

UNITED BANGSAMORO JUSTICE PARTY (UBJP), REPRESENTED BY PARTY PRESIDENT YASSER EBRAHIM. Petitioner. x-------------------------------------------------- x

SUPPLEMENTAL PLEADING COMES NOW the petitioner, UNITED BANGSAMORO JUSTICE PARTY (UBJP), through the undersigned counsel, unto the Honorable Commission most respectfully statesTHAT: 1. Petitioner filed before the Honorable Commission on May 6, 2015 an action for the Registration and accreditation of the United Bangsamoro Justice Party (UBJP) as a regionl political party based in Mindanao docketed as SPP No. 8148095; 2. After the filing of the aforesaid petition, certain events have occurred that necessitated the filing of this supplemental pleading; 3. Petitioner originally intended to participate in the 2016 elections of the Bangsamoro Parliament but given the delay in the passage of the Law creating such political entity, it now intends to participate, in the alternative, in the 2016 elections in the ARMM as well as the local elective positions in the ARMM Region and its neighboring provinces such as the ARMM Region and its neighboring provinces such as North Cotabato, Sultan Kudarat, South Cotabato, Lanao del Norte, Palawan, Davao del Sur, Davao del Norte, and Sarangani as well as the Cities of Cotabato, Davao, General Santos, Iligan, Zamboanga, Pagadian, and Isabela; 4. That instead of registering as a Mindanao wide regional Political Party, it now intends to register as a Regional Party in the ARMM with additional participation in the elections in the neighboring provinces where it has constituencies such as the ARMM Region and its neighboring provinces such as North Cotabato, Sultan Kudarat, South Cotabato, Lanao del Norte, Palawan, Davao del Sur, Davao del Norte, and Sarangani as well as the Cities of Cotabato, Davao, General Santos, Iligan, Zamboanga, Pagadian and Isabela; 5. This pleading is filed in good faith and is not intended to delay the proceedings.

PRAYER WHEREFORE, premises considered, Petitioner most respectfully prays of the Honorable Commission to admit the Supplemental Pleading and REGISTER and ACCREDIT the United Bangsamoro Justice Party (UBJP) as a regional political party based in the ARMM and its neighboring provinces and cities for the purpose of the upcoming May 2016 ARMM elections or in the alternative, in the Bangsamoro elections and subsequent elections, and for the corresponding CERTIFICATE OF REGISTRATION and ACCREDITATION to be issued in favor of the aforesaid United Bangsamoro Justice Party and that it be accorded all the rights and privileges of a political party under the Constitution and other pertinent laws.

OTHER RELIEFS and REMEDIES as may be proper and appropriate under the circumstances are likewise prayed for.

RESPECTFULLY SUBMITTED. Darapanan, Sultan Kudarat, Maguindanao for the City of Manila, Philippines, 9 July 2015.

ATTY. RAISSA JAJURIE PTR No. 2622147 IBP No. 908930 Roll of Attorneys No. 40219 MCLE Compliance No. III-00168839

ATTY. NAGUIB G. SINARIMBO PTR No. 8148095 IBP No. 03025 Roll of Attorneys No. 46550 MCLE Compliance No.

ATTY. MARIA JULITA T. ASIS PTR No. IBP No. Roll of Attorneys No. 50725 MCLE Compliance No. IV-0002080

ATTY. ISHAK V. MASTURA PTR No. IBP No. 930267 Roll of Attorneys No. 42802 MCLE Compliance No.

ATTY. ROSELAINE M. MANIRI PTR No. IBP No. Roll of Attorneys No. MCLE Compliance No.

ATTY. FARID ESHWER C. DETICIO PTR No. 8147255 IBP No. 0982497 Roll of Attorneys No. 58541 MCLE Compliance No. V-0001864

A14 SPORTS sports@thestandard.com.ph

Narvasa vows to improve PBA officiating

By Jeric Lopez

THE 41st season of the Philippine Basketball Association was officially underway, with new Commissioner Chito Narvasa promising better officiating.

Asia’s first play-for-pay league heroes this season,’’ said Narvasa. opened its new season with a colorful The veteran basketball official then ceremony and parade to kick off the went on that under his watch, officiPhilippine Cup yesterday at the Mall ating will be handled accordingly and of Asia Arena in Pasay City. will be better.

All 12 teams and their respective “The officiating will be more undergovernors paraded along with their stood and more appreciated. The calls beautiful muses, while will be consistent,’’ said Games Friday PBA officials officially Narvasa.

(Smart Araneta Coliseum): opened the new season 4:15 p.m. - Blackwater vs. NLEX Smart Gilas Pilipinas and its opening All-Fil- 7 p.m. - Talk ‘N Text vs. Alaska was also recognized as ipino conference. the National team was saPBA President and CEO Chito luted after the parade as highlights from Salud, Commissioner Narvasa and its silver medal finish in the 2015 FIBA Chairman Robert Non led the entire Asia Championship were shown. league in opening and welcoming the The players from Smart Gilas were new season. all called out for more recognition.

Narvasa vowed to the basketballNon, as chairman, was the one who loving nation that the season ahead is officially declared the new season open. something to look forward to.

Performances from Ogie Alcasid, “The PBA has become an essential who sang a prayer-song, as well as part of Filipinos’ every day lives. The Asia’s Got Talent grand winner El PBA always manages to grow due in Gamma Penumbra, rappers Abra large to the loyal following from its fans. and Aya and Junior New System and We promise better and more exciting Buganda dance groups also spiced up games and to also build more basketball the ceremonies.

Bulls gore Pacers. Jimmy Butler (right) of the Chicago Bulls shoots against Paul George of the Indiana Pacers during the preseason game on at United Center in Boston, Massachusetts. The Bulls won, 103-94. AFP

By: ATTY. TTY. FARID ESHWER C. DETICIO PTR No. 8147255 IBP No. 0982497 Roll of Attorneys No. 58541 MCLE Compliance No. V-0001864

VERIFICATION AND CERTIFICATION OF NON-FORUM SHOPPING I , YA S S E R E B R A H I M , o f l e g a l a g e , F i l i p i n o w i t h p o s t a l a d d r e s s at Darapanan, Sultan Kudarat Maguindanao af ter having sworn in a c c o r d a n c e w i t h l a w, d e p o s e a n d s t a t e , T H AT: 1.

I am the President of the UNITED BANGSAMORO JUSTICE PARTY (UBJP), the organization seeking registration and accreditation as a regional political party based in the Bangsamoro and Mindanao in the foregoing Petition; 2. I was authorized by said organization to prepare and file the foregoing Petition, as attested to by the Secretary’s Certificate attached as Annex “H” hereof; 3. I have caused the preparation and filing of the foregoing PETITION FOR REGISTRATION for and on behalf of the United Bangsamoro Justice Party (UBJP); 4. I have read the contents thereof, and I verify that the facts stated therein are true and correct to the best of my personal knowledge and/or are based on authentic records; and 5. In compliance with Supreme Court Administrative Circular No. 04-94. I hereby certify that I have not commenced any other action of proceeding involving the same issues in the Supreme Court, the Court of Appeals, or different Divisions thereof, or any other tribunal or agency; that to the best of my knowledge, no such action or proceeding has been filed or is pending before the above tribunals or agency, I hereby undertake to report that fact within five (5) days therefrom to the Court or agency wherein the original pleading and sworn certification contemplated herein have been filed.

FURTHER AFFIANT SAYETH NAUGHT. YASSER EBRAHIM Petitioner-Affiant SUBSCRIBED AND SWORN TO before me,this 4th of May2015. Affiant being known to me and identified himself to me by exhibiting his competent evidence of identity, as follows: NAME TYPE & SERIAL NUMBER YASSER EBRAHIM MOI-97-54177 Doc No. 78 Page No. 16 Book No. 1 Series of 2015.

DATE & PLACE OF ISSUE/EXPIRY COTABATO CITY 12-12-2014

ATTY. FARID ESHWER C. DETICIO Notary Public for Cotabato City and Maguindanao Commission No. 17 Until December 31, 2016 Roll of Attorneys No. 58541 PTR No. 8147255 IBP No. 0982497 ( T S - O C T. 2 2 , 2 015)

Braves make cage finals THE Arellano University Braves leaned on the late-game heroics of Marlon Espiritu to score an upset over the second-seeded Mapua Red Robins, 85-79, in the second stepladder semis playoff and clinch their first-ever championship appearance in the junior division of the 91st National Collegiate Athletic Association basketball tournament at the Mall of Asia Arena.

The victory sent the Braves into a finals collision against the defending champion San Beda Red Cubs, who

earned an automatic championship slot two weeks ago via an 18-game sweep.

Espiritu finished with only seven points, but made the most crucial baskets in the endgame, scoring a triple and drilling two charities in the last two minutes to give Arellano enough cushion in the end.

Lars Sunga and Guilmer de la Torre had 23 points each for the Braves, who need to hurdle an Red Cubs squad, which hold a thrice-to-beat incentive over them when Game 1 starts this Friday. Peter Atencio

T H U R S DAY : O C T O B E R 2 2 , 2 0 1 5

A15

SPORTS sports@thestandard.com.ph

LOTTO RESULTS

6/55 00-00-00-00-00-00 P0 M+ 6/45 00-00-00-00-00-00 P0 M 4 DIGITS 0-0-0-0 3 DIGITS 0-0-0 2 EZ2 0-0

Leaders Cignal, Philips Gold try to stretch runs

Petron’s Abby Marano (right) fails to penetrate the defense of RC Cola’s Sarah Mc Clinton in a PSL game won by the Blaze Spikers, 25-22, 25-20, 21-25, 25-10, on Tuesday at The Arena in San Juan.

ROMAN PROSPERO

PACESETTERS Cignal and Philips Gold try to extend their scorching runs when they lock horns with separate foes today in the 2015 Philippine Superliga Grand Prix women’s volleyball tournament at The Arena in San Juan.

The HD Spikers stake their immaculate slate when they battle a dangerous Foton side at 6:15 p.m., while the Lady Slammers test the mettle of a struggling RC Cola-Air Force in the 4:15 p.m. opener of this prestigious inter-club tourney presented by Asics and backed by Milo with Mikasa, Senoh and Mueller as technical partners and TV5 as official broadcaster.

Probably the biggest surprise this conference, Cignal is ahead of the pack after racking up three consecutive wins in convincing fashion, while Philips Gold dropped its debut game to the HD Spikers before scoring back-to-back triumphs over reigning champion Petron and Meralco to occupy the second spot with a 2-1 win-loss card.

Not far behind are the Tornadoes and the Raiders at 1-1, while the young Power Spikers -- composed of the nucleus of UAAP heavyweight De La Salle University -- have yet to find their groove as they closed the first round without a single win in five games.

But things will not be easy for Cignal, especially with Foton dead serious in bouncing back from a sorry 25-21, 20-25, 13-25, 25-12, 9-15 setback at the hands of Petron last week.

Cignal coach Sammy Acaylar said all teams are on equal footing and everybody is capable of pulling a surprise.

He also downplayed speculations that they are the team to beat, saying they are still working on their chemistry since most of them are new to the system.

La Salle spikers crowned beach volleyball queens

By Peter Atencio

DE La Salle’s Kim Fajardo and Cyd Demecillo rallied in the final set of Game 2 to turn back Far Eastern University’s Bernadeth Pons and Kyla Atienza, 21-16, 26-23, and capture their first-ever women’s crown in the 78th University Athletic Association of the Philippines beach volleyball tournament at the Mall of Asia Sands by the Bay. The Lady Green Spikers fought back from a 3-7 deficit and banked on the plays of Fajardo, who scored two of three crucial points in the final set.

The victory capped Fajardo and Demecillo’s two-game sweep of their best-of-three final series.

The De La Salle pair earlier bundled out crowd favorites Alyssa Valdez and Bea Tan of At-

eneo, 20-22, 21-14, 16-14, in their rubber match of their Final Four semifinal showdown earlier.

The Lady Green Spikers took Game 1, 21-17, 16-21, 15-21. “‘Pag lamang kami, nagrelax kami. Kaya kailangang magadjust,” said Fajardo, who is concentrating on indoor volleyball next year, now that Demecillo is on her last season.

In men’s action, Ateneo duo Karl Baysa and Mark Espejo, who held a thrice-to-beat advantage, took Game 2, 19-21, 21-15, 15-11, over the University of Santo Tomas pair Anthony Arbasto and Kris Guzman.

The victory tied the men’s finals at 1-all after Guzman and Arbasto earlier won, 21-13,2117 verdict in Game 1.

Meanwhile, Ateneo seeks another golden double in the men’s and women’s divisions as the UAAP Season 78 swimming competitions open at 8 a.m. today at the Rizal Memorial Swimming Pool.

With reigning MVP Jessie Khing Lacuna and last season’s Rookie of the Year winner Aldo Batungbacal leading the charge, the Blue Eagles amassed 540 points to dethrone University of the Philippines, which placed second with 325 points.

Eagles...

From A16 Alejandro three free throws.

To make matters worse, Garcia complained bitterly and was assessed a technical, which gave NU a fourth free throw and ball possession as well.

Alejandro converted four free throws to push NU ahead, 71-70, with 19 seconds to go. Pao Javelona then split his charities to hike the NU lead to two points, 72-70.

Advamson’s Ivan Villanueva scored from inside to tie the game at 72-all and send the game into overtime.

The Falcons bolted out of the gates to take an early lead. They lost that advantage but regained their composure late in the third quarter. Arvin Margallo stole an errant pass, dribbled the length of the court then glided to the hoop to score on a fastbreak layup as Adamson forged ahead by three points, 53-50, after the third period.

EBL Investigation Committee update ON Oct. 14, 2015 the European Bridge Leag ues (EBL) has published the following statement: The investigation Committee has now completed the first phase of its brief in relation to the three pairs already notified.

Evidence files have been completed and presented to the pairs involved for their response. Upon receipt of their responses and any exculpatory evidence presented, the files will be forwarded to the expert panel for evaluation.

The findings will be referred back to the EBL Executive Committee and, where necessary, the EBL Disciplinary Committee.

The pool from which the expert panel will be drawn presently consists of David Bakshi, John Baldursson, Per-Ola Cullin, Bas Drijver, Andrey Gomov, Mark Horton, Zia Mahmood, Marion Michielsen, Fernando Piedra, Jacek Pszczola and Peter Schaltz.

An investigation into the activities SYLVIA LOPEZ ALEJANDRO

of a fourth pair has been commenced.

The EBL Investigation Committee has been created on September 24th, 2015, in order to investigate the allegations of cheating by the two partnership, Fisher-Schwartz and FantoniNunes. Later the case of German pair Piekarek-Smirnov was included. EBL President, Yves Aubry, nominated Eric Laurant to act as Chairman of an Investigation Committee, assisted by Jan Kamras and Disciplinary Committee member, Jean Paul Meyer.

Today an expert panel has been announced and then EBL has pointed out that there is a fourth pair under investigation.

What is a vise squeeze?

I read about this vise squeeze from the article of Bart Bramley “Bourbon Street Venderbilt” (The Bridge World, October, 2015). The round of 32 xxx# Diamond ended # 10 Kasle, s hope xxx. In the Diamond victory, Geoff pulled off a rare vise squeeze: In the DIAMOND victory, Geoff Hampson pulled off a rare vise squeeze: West dealer North-South vulnerable

North ♠J42 ♥962 ♦J865 ♣K65 West ♠965 ♥K8753 ♦Q ♣Q973

North ♠ ♥962 ♦♣K6 East ♠10 ♥J104 ♦AK9742 ♣J108

South ♠AKQ873 ♥AQ ♦103 ♣A42 South West North East Hampson Greco 2♥* Pass 4♥ 4♠ Pass Pass Pass *weak; five-plus hearts, four-plus of a minor West led the diamond queen, a likely singleton, and shifted to a club, to the ace. Two high trumps gave declarer a full inferential count. With the heart king marked offside. Hampson ran trumps. This was the position, with East still to discard to trick eight:

West ♠♥K87 ♦♣Q9

East ♠♥J104 ♦A ♣J8

South ♠♥AQ ♦10 ♣42 East must keep the high diamond.

If he throws a club, declarer will play king and another club to endplay West. At the table, East threw a heart, so Hampson played ace-queen of hearts to squash East’s jack-ten and set up dummy’s nine. One reason the vise squeeze is so rare is that it requires a precise layout.

Note that East couldn’t have foiled the ending by overtaking the diamond queen at trick one to return a low diamond for West to ruff. Declarer could have won the club shift and run all but one trump to

reach this position, with East to discard: North ♠ ♥962 ♦J ♣K West East ♠♠♥K87 ♥J104 ♦♦A ♣Q9 ♣J8 South ♠3 ♥AQ ♦♣42 As before, East must save his red cards; if he throws a club, declarer over-comes the club blockage by leading a club to dummy, ruffing dummy’s diamond, and exiting in clubs. The only winning defense is an opening club lead.

On Oct. 16, 2015 a meeting of the Board of Polish Bridge Union was held.

“Depending on the decision by the EBL, PBU will take the request according to the laws and regulations of international organization which PBU is a member.”

Comments to: sylvia.alejandro@yaho

A16

T H U R S DAY : O C T O B E R 2 2 , 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 Eagles stun Tigers, 80-74

By Reuel Vidal

SOPHOMORE Arvin Tolentino played the best game of his collegiate career to push the Ateneo Blue Eagles to an 80-74 decision over erstwhile league-leading University of Santo Tomas Growling Tigers in Season 78 of the University Athletic Association of the Philippines at the Smart Araneta Coliseum on Wednesday.

NU’s Rod Alejandro (left) is fouled hard by Adamson’s Gerald Fernandez in a UAAP game won by the Bulldogs, 85-79. BROSI GONZALES

Mets close in on World Series TURN TO A13

All set for Guam’s Ko’Ko’ Half Marathon TURN TO A12

Tolentino drilled three triples and a fastbreak layup to lead an explosive Blue Eagles’ run, which pushed Ateneo to a 14-point lead, 73-59, with just 4:36 left to play.

UST’s Ed Daquioag, picking up the scoring slack after star player Kevin Ferrer missed his every single field goal attempt, cut the gap to just eight points, 73-65. But Tolentino drilled another field goal as the Blue Eagles kept the Growling Tigers at bay.

With the victory, the Blue Eagles (6 wins, 4 losses) climbed to solo third place behind the Far Eastern University Tamaraws (8-1) and UST (8-2). De La Salle University Green Archers (5-4) are at fourth place.

Defending champion National University Bulldogs (4-6) are in solo fifth place ahead of the University of the East Red Warriors (3-6), the University of the Philippines Fighting Maroons (3-6) and the Adamson University Soaring Falcons (1-9).

Meanwhile, the defending champion National University Bulldogs got a big lift from unheralded JJay Alejandro to post a scrambling 8579 overtime victory over the Adamson University Soaring Falcons.

Alejandro converted four free throws in the last 22 seconds of regulation period to send the game into overtime and then scored six more points in extension to push the Bulldogs to the scrambling victory.

Alejandro finished with a careerhigh 22 points to win Player of the Game honors.

Adamson virtually snatched defeat from the jaws of victory as they lost a 70-67 advantage in the last 22 seconds of regular time.

Adamson’s Jerome Garcia fouled Alejandro, while the NU forward was attempting a triple giving

Continued to A15

THURSDAY: OCTOBER 22, 2015

RAY S. EÑANO EDITOR

RODERICK T. DELA CRUZ ASSISTANT EDITOR

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

PSe c omPoSite

BUSINESS

index

Closing October 21, 2015

8000 7700 7400 7100 6800 6500

7,092.90 32.05

PeSo-dollar rate

Closing OCTOBER 21, 2015 43.50 44.60 45.40

P46.470

46.20

CLOSE

47.00

HIGH P46.335 LOW P46.490 AVERAGE P46.414 VOLUME 1,101.500M

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

o

il P PriceS today

P34.55-P39.15 Kerosene P20.75-P21.75 Auto LPG Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas Wednesday, October 21, 2015

F o r e i g n e x c h a n g e r at e Currency

Unit

US Dollar

Peso

United States

Dollar

1.000000

46.1840

Japan

Yen

0.008346

0.3855

UK

Pound

1.544600

71.3358

Hong Kong

Dollar

0.129032

5.9592

Switzerland

Franc

1.045588

48.2894

Canada

Dollar

0.770654

35.5919

Singapore

Dollar

0.719476

Australia

Dollar

0.726375

33.5469

Bahrain

Dinar

2.652520

122.5040

Saudi Arabia

Rial

0.266738

33.2283

12.3190

Brunei

Dollar

0.716897

33.1092

Indonesia

Rupiah

0.000073

0.0034

Thailand

Baht

0.028257

1.3050

UAE

Dirham

0.272287

12.5753

Euro

Euro

1.134400

52.3911

Korea

Won

0.000886

0.0409

China

Yuan

0.157510

7.2744

India

Rupee

0.015398

0.7111

Malaysia

Ringgit

0.234742

10.8413

New Zealand

Dollar

0.675083

Taiwan

Dollar

0.030925

31.1780 1.4282 Source: PDS Bridge

B1

Govt to execute MRT buyout by early 2016

By Darwin G. Amojelar

THE Transportation Department expects to execute the buyout of the Metro Rail Transit Line 3 by early 2016, after two government financial institutions expressed willingness to divest their stake in the rail system.

Transportation Secretary Joseph Emilio Abaya told a forum the government was pursuing the equity value buyout of MRT3 from the private sector and the “actual execution might happen early 2016.”

“We want to push it. In fact, there’s an EO [executive order] signed by the President, directing DoTC and DoF [Finance Department] to execute the EVBO [equity value buyout],” he said.

President Aquino issued Executive Order No. 126 in 2013, directing the Transportation and Finance Departments to buy Metro Rail Transit Corp. out of MRT 3, pursuant to the build-leasetransfer agreement.

He said the funding for EVBO was not an issue, but the “real challenge now is really talking with the GFIs and talking with the DOF because they might take a loss in execution of the buyout.”

Abaya, however, said that staterun Land Bank of the Philippines and the Development Bank of the Philippines, which hold 80-percent economic interest in MRT 3, were “comfortable” with the buyout plan.

The remaining stake is held by creditors of MRTC. He said the Transportation Department, Landbank, DBP and DOF were set to meet this month to resolve issues on the planned MRT3 buyout.

Abaya said the government would need over P40 billion to take over the MRT 3 today, down from as high as P53.9 billion two years ago.

“It [EVBO] has been lowered because we pay almost half a billion a month for equity rental payments,” he said.

Metro Pacific Investments

Corp. earlier proposed a $524-million expansion of MRT 3, which was lower than the government’s $1.13-billion buyout plan. MPIC’s proposal is still pending with the Transportation Department.

Metro Pacific signed a cooperation agreement in 2011 with various groups holding rights and interests in MRT 3, including MRTC, Metro Rail Transit Holdings Inc., Metro Rail Transit 2 Inc. and Monumento Rail Transit Corp., giving the Pangilinan-led company an option to acquire 48 percent.

Metro Pacific has yet to exercise the option.

MRT 3, which runs along Edsa from North Avenue in Quezon City to Taft Avenue in Pasay City, serves 500,000 passengers a day, beyond its rated capacity of 350,000 passengers.

iflix, PH’s no.1 subscription video-on-demand service provider, reaches 300k users 15 times more streamed content than of its nearest competitor MANILA, Philippines—Less than five months since launching in Southeast Asia (SEA), iflix has established itself as the country’s leading subscription video-ondemand (SVoD) service provider with over 300k subscribers in the Philippines alone. With more than half a million subscribers regionally, including those in Malaysia and Thailand, iflix is hands down SEA’s most popular SVoD service.

According to iflix Co-founder and Group CEO Mark Britt, they will continue to roll out its world-class service to additional key emerging markets globally throughout the coming year.

“We’re thrilled at the outstanding reception iflix has received to date. We are 100% committed 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. We are currently discussing collaborations with

many of leading brands both regionally and worldwide to bring greater value to our customers and theirs,” he said.

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 recently revealed it has streamed 200 million minutes of the Philippines’ favorite movies and TV programs. This figure is 15 times greater than the reported video-minute consumption of its 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 added.

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 Hollywood 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, Spongebob Squarepants, and Ben 10. K-drama lovers can also enjoy top Korean hits such as Boys Over Flowers, Secret Garden and My Sassy Girl.

Strategic partnership to reach more homes PLDT HOME continues to fortify its over 70 percent market share broadband leadership in the country by giving subscribers more reasons to enjoy the finest

entertainment at home. It now offers thousands of movies and TV shows from iflix and other content providers bundled with its broadband subscriptions.

PLDT VP and Head of HOME Marketing Gary G. Dujali noted, “We’re proud of how significantly iflix has grown in just a few months. We are confident that with our most trusted brand and the country’s number one broadband, PLDT HOME DSL, we will continue to build the strongest connections at home with our family-sized entertainment offers.”

Subscribers of PLDT HOME DSL Family Plan 1299 and up will have free and unlimited access to iflix as part of their broadband subscriptions across multiple smart devices at home such as laptops, computers, Telpad and the most recent game-changing innovation that transforms HDMI-ready TVs into a full suite PC, the TVolution Stick.

To access iflix using your PLDT HOME DSL subscription, log on to www.pldthome.com.

THURSDAY: OCTOBER 22, 2015

B2

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

The STandard BuSineSS daily STockS review Wednesday, OctOber 21, 2015

52 Weeks

Previous

High Low

STOCKS

7.88 75.3 124.4 107 56.5 2.49 4.2 4 17 30.45 2.6 890 1.01 100 1.46 30.5 75 91.5 137 361.2 57 180 1700 124

2.5 66 88.05 88.1 45.45 1.97 1.68 8.7 12.02 19.6 1.02 625 0.225 78 0.9 17.8 58 62 88.35 276 41 118.2 1200 59

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

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

47 5 1.46 2.36 15.3 89 20.6 36 65.8 2.97 4.14 21.5 21.6 11.96 9.13 11.8 2.89 17 31.8 109 15.3 9.4 0.98 241 3.95 4 33.9 90 13.26 293 5 5.25 12.98 6.75 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 40.3 15.32 10.08 29.15 1.5 1.5 10.72 9.55 9.04 6.02 8.86 1.06 8.61 20.2 71.5 13.24 5.34 0.395 173 2.3 1.63 23.35 17.3 5.88 250.2 3.37 3.87 8.45 3 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 Bogo Medelin Century Food Cirtek Holdings (Chips) Concepcion Crown Asia Da Vinci Capital Del Monte DNL Industries Inc. Emperador Energy Devt. Corp. (EDC) EEI Euro-Med Lab Federal Res. Inv. Group First Gen Corp.

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

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

Pepsi-Cola Products Phil.

Petron Corporation Phil H2O 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 3.4 3.35 823.5 10.2 84 3.35 4.92 0.66 1455 76 6.5 9.25 0.85 17.3 0.71 5.53 6.55 0.0670 1.61 2.99 84.9 3.5 974 1.66 1.39 156 0.710 0.435 0.510

0.44 48.1 20.85 0.23 0.23 634.5 7.390 12.8 2.6 2.26 0.152 837 49.55 3.43 4.84 0.59 12 0.580 4.2 4.5 0.030 0.550 2.26 59.3 1.5 751 1.13 0.93 80 0.211 0.179 0.310

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

Forum Pacific GT Capital 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 Republic Glass ‘A’ San Miguel Corp `A’ Seafront `A’ SM Investments Inc. Solid Group Inc. South China Res. Inc. Top Frontier Unioil Res. & Hldgs Wellex Industries Zeus Holdings

10.5 1.99 1.75 41.4 5.6 5.59 1.44

6.74 0.65 1.2 30.05 3.36 4.96 0.79

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

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

SHARES 11,453,421 360,328,695 169,450,391 285,647,707 218,259,294 297,454,041 1,343,380,789

Close

High

Low

FINANCIAL 2.89 2.56 69.85 69.45 103.40 102.50 83.90 82.90 40.55 40 2.54 2.50 1.28 1.28 10 8.48 15.6 15.2 19.88 19.74 1.74 1.74 750.00 730.00 0.640 0.600 82.95 82.4 0.96 0.93 18.72 18.30 24.00 23.00 54.30 53.10 105 104 299 299 30.3 29.9 145.7 143.4 1524.00 1501.00 56.00 56.25 INDUSTRIAL 40.85 41.85 40.85 1.6 1.65 1.6 0.92 0.9 0.89 1.65 1.65 1.56 11.6 12.1 11.12 50 50.1 50.1 16.98 17 16.86 24 25.2 24.35 42.5 43.5 42.5 2.4 2.73 2.37 1.73 1.87 1.74 9.79 9.82 9.79 9.740 10.040 9.82 7.45 7.58 7.47 6.80 6.90 6.70 7.72 7.85 7.71 1.76 1.69 1.69 12.1 11.74 11.7 26.25 26.75 25.9 70.45 74 70 13.00 13.00 13.00 6 6.01 5.87 2.610 2.700 2.500 206.00 209.00 205.40 2.14 2.35 2.15 4.4 4.2 4 24.4 24.65 24.35 24 24.5 23.9 5.62 5.8 5.72 311.80 314.60 310.80 3.93 3.90 3.90 4.24 4.38 4.3 7.41 7.41 7.34 4.88 4.82 4.28 3.49 3.50 3.49 1.99 2.00 1.98 2.25 2.36 2.23 4.06 4.14 4.06 3.05 3.09 3.09 5.02 4.93 4.93 140.8 142.5 141 2.05 2.11 2.05 0.149 0.205 0.150 1.20 1.30 1.19 2.16 2.20 2.15 197.7 201 197 0.68 0.72 0.69 1.13 1.13 1.11 HOLDING FIRMS 0.395 0.410 0.400 57.5000 57.8000 56.6000 18.06 18.18 17.84 0.255 0.260 0.249 0.255 0.26 0.250 755 763 755 7.28 7.51 7.28 12.52 12.60 12.40 3.95 4.1 4 3.97 3.98 3.88 0.265 0.270 0.250 1325 1346 1320 71.20 72.00 71.00 5.05 5.18 4.8 6.39 6.54 6.39 0.89 0.9 0.85 11.98 12.36 11.78 0.53 0.6 0.53 5.19 5.2 5.15 8.6 8.65 8.5 0.0330 0.0350 0.0330 1.970 2.060 1.980 2.85 2.81 2.81 49.50 49.45 46.50 2.98 2.97 2.70 876.00 878.00 871.00 1.19 1.25 1.20 0.83 0.91 0.79 108.000 108.000 106.000 0.3400 0.3700 0.3400 0.2290 0.2350 0.2280 0.335 0.335 0.320 PROPERTY 6.390 6.400 6.360 0.71 0.75 0.70 1.080 1.080 1.070 34.850 35.300 34.800 3.35 3.48 3.37 5.02 5.06 5.05 0.61 0.62 0.6 2.74 69.5 102.70 82.90 40.1 2.46 1.30 10.1 15.3 19.6 1.74 705.00 0.600 82.75 0.93 18.28 24.00 53.20 108 296 30 143.4 1495.00 56.25

Close

%

Net Foreign

Change Volume

Trade/Buying

2.84 69.85 102.80 82.95 40 2.50 1.28 10 15.6 19.88 1.74 735.00 0.610 82.5 0.96 18.30 23.50 54.30 104 299 30.05 143.9 1524.00 57.00

3.65 0.50 0.10 0.06 -0.25 1.63 -1.54 -0.99 1.96 1.43 0.00 4.26 1.67 -0.30 3.23 0.11 -2.08 2.07 -3.70 1.01 0.17 0.35 1.94 1.33

98,000 15,960 2,836,640 1,087,550 106,000 26,000 1,000 1,600 16,600 30,400 7,000 1,640 1,330,000 2,036,980 1,955,000 218,500 71,000 64,300 1,000 50 115,800 231,380 340 8,640

7,400.00 562,166.00 -117,768,955 -9,399,583.50 8,040.00 -2,520.00

40.85 1.65 0.9 1.6 11.62 50.1 17 25 42.6 2.59 1.78 9.82 10.000 7.50 6.81 7.78 1.69 11.74 26 71.6 13.00 5.87 2.520 207.00 2.15 4 24.6 24.5 5.8 311.80 3.90 4.32 7.36 4.6 3.50 1.98 2.28 4.07 3.09 4.93 142 2.07 0.175 1.30 2.20 199.5 0.69 1.12

0.00 3.12 -2.17 -3.03 0.17 0.20 0.12 4.17 0.24 7.92 2.89 0.31 2.67 0.67 0.15 0.78 -3.98 -2.98 -0.95 1.63 0.00 -2.17 -3.45 0.49 0.47 -9.09 0.82 2.08 3.20 0.00 -0.76 1.89 -0.67 -5.74 0.29 -0.50 1.33 0.25 1.31 -1.79 0.85 0.98 17.45 8.33 1.85 0.91 1.47 -0.88

6,754,600 2,916,330.00 18,000 16,000.00 673,000 -590,700.00 704,000 2,000 200 185,100 -88,026.00 713,700 43,600 1,851,100 8,260,000 -1,027,660.00 3,683,000 -195,800.00 1,000 21,088,200 55,886,101.00 91,200 -300,192.00 15,548,400 -15,156,934.00 140,900 -194,799.00 13,000 48,800 1,752,000 -22,256,375.00 524,550 -6,919,185.50 3,800 40,300.00 115,300 -59,900.00 5,685,000 -123,040.00 478,970 39,074,290.00 21,000 15,000 689,700 1,550,860.00 122,700 568,800.00 9,800 317,650 59,609,218.00 8,000 530,000 2,291,860.00 356,900 373,882.00 40,000 23,000 87,000 5,940.00 143,000 425,000 -296,160.00 1,000 100 46,250 -1,295,056.00 62,000 232,740,000 -1,730.00 356,000 6,961,000 11,020,200.00 1,075,910 49,206,771.00 1,675,000 180,000

0.410 57.7000 18.00 0.260 0.250 758.5 7.4 12.48 4.06 3.88 0.255 1325 71.35 4.8 6.48 0.89 12.18 0.57 5.2 8.65 0.0340 1.990 2.81 47.50 2.97 875.50 1.25 0.85 106.000 0.3450 0.2340 0.320

3.80 0.35 -0.33 1.96 -1.96 0.46 1.65 -0.32 2.78 -2.27 -3.77 0.00 0.21 -4.95 1.41 0.00 1.67 7.55 0.19 0.58 3.03 1.02 -1.40 -4.04 -0.34 -0.06 5.04 2.41 -1.85 1.47 2.18 -4.48

130,000 924,440 5,661,900 2,260,000 140,000 91,040 2,625,800 7,537,700 96,000 90,000 1,880,000 129,790 328,410 21,800 3,071,500 892,000 2,473,900 4,721,000 13,587,700 1,334,000 93,600,000 4,332,000 10,000 1,834,700 4,000 246,050 122,000 1,413,000 485,320 5,630,000 780,000 1,260,000

6.390 0.71 1.070 35.150 3.46 5.06 0.6

0.00 0.00 -0.93 0.86 3.28 0.80 -1.64

318,900 1,829,000 50,000 5,582,000 1,903,000 115,600 3,317,000

-97,920.00 469,020.00 36,500.00 91,500.00 -74,855,620.50 -732,000.00 236,500.00 2,486,190.50 -178,865 10,975,782.00 144,780.00 -26,132.00

52 Weeks

Previous

High Low 1.97 1.48 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

1.1 0.97 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 1.44 1.09 28.5 15.82 0.1430 5.06 99.1 12.3 7.67 1700 2720 8.41 1.97 119.5 0.8200 2.2800 5.93 12.28 3.32 2.53 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 1 0.63 18.2 8.6 0.0770 2.95 56.1 10.14 4.8 830 1600 5.95 1.23 102.6 0.041 1.200 2.34 6.5 1.91 1.01 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

City & Land Dev. Cityland Dev. `A’ Crown Equities Inc. Cyber Bay Corp.

Double Dragon Empire East Land Ever Gotesco Global-Estate Filinvest Land,Inc. Interport `A’ 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 Acesite Hotel APC Group, Inc. Berjaya Phils. Inc. Bloomberry Boulevard Holdings Calata Corp.

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

DFNN Inc. FEUI Globe Telecom GMA Network Inc. Harbor Star I.C.T.S.I. Island Info ISM Communications Jackstones Leisure & Resorts Liberty Telecom Lorenzo Shipping 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 0.330 12.7 1.19 1.62 9.5 4.2 0.48 0.420 0.022 0.023 8.2 49.2 4.27 1.030 3.06 0.020 7.67 12.88 10.42 0.040 420 9

0.0043 1.72 6.47 0.236 6.5 0.85 0.77 5.99 1.17 0.305 0.2130 0.013 0.014 3.240 18.96 2.11 0.365 1.54 0.012 5.4 7.26 2.27 0.015 115.9 3.67

Abra Mining Apex `A’ Atlas Cons. `A’ Basic Energy Corp.

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

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

TA Petroleum

70 553 525 515 8.21 111 1047 84.8

33 490 500 480 5.88 101 1011 75

1.34

1

ABS-CBN Holdings Corp.

Ayala Corp. Pref `B1’ Ayala Corp. Pref ‘B2’ GLOBE PREF P GMA Holdings Inc. MWIDE PREF PF Pref 2 SMC Preferred C SMC Preferred D SMC Preferred E SMC Preferred F Swift Pref

196,910.00 -29,200.00

6.98

0.8900 LR Warrant

-79,157,610.00 3,188,230.00

15 88 12.88

3.5 13.5 5.95

130.7

105.6 First Metro ETF

-2,757,174.50 -27,397,294.00 -21,154,175.00 6,699,080.00 13,564,656.00 10,000.00 56,163,405.00 380,619.50 -2,945,139.00 -6,205,686.00 110,000.00 -10,030,214.00 6,000.00 -20,458,025.00 -84,696,340.00 48,050.00 -731,802.00 20,400.00

-1,564,990.00

Makati Fin. Corp.

IRipple E-Business Intl Xurpas

High

VALUE 741,039,722.806 1,440,874,386.444 1,170,093,117.516 917,102,554.80 821,792,474.88 199,887,765.356 5,301,810,568.802

FINANCIAL 1556.67 (up) 1.61 INDUSTRIAL 11,333.36 (up) 61.83 HOLDING FIRMS 6,570.51 (up) 8.11 PROPERTY 2,991.04 (up) 38.91 SERVICES 1,724.35 (up) 16.93 MINING & OIL 11,235.46 (up) 57.64 PSEI 7,092.90 (up) 32.05 All Shares Index 4,083.95 (up) 20.18 Gainers: 120 Losers: 62; Unchanged: 38; Total: 220

Close

0.94 1.01 0.130 0.540 19.6 0.900 0.163 1.10 1.70 1.30 4.32 0.083 0.3050 0.3900 8.35 29.40 1.55 3.1 21.60 0.74 8.18 1.040 5.400

%

Net Foreign

Change Volume

Trade/Buying

1.00 0.92 1.00 1.06 1.06 1.06 0.134 0.125 0.134 0.570 0.530 0.530 21.35 19.54 21.35 0.900 0.900 0.900 0.178 0.162 0.162 1.17 1.14 1.14 1.74 1.71 1.74 1.30 1.27 1.29 4.49 4.37 4.44 0.114 0.084 0.099 0.3000 0.3000 0.3000 0.3900 0.3900 0.3900 8.62 8.38 8.54 29.70 29.35 29.55 1.57 1.49 1.49 3.1 3.06 3.1 22.15 21.60 22.00 0.74 0.71 0.74 8.47 8.18 8.47 1.100 1.010 1.010 5.500 5.390 5.400 SERVICES 8.07 8.08 7.99 8 64.4 64.6 63.85 64.4 1.1 1.12 1.12 1.12 0.590 0.590 0.580 0.590 29 25.15 25.15 25.15 6.48 6.75 6.35 6.71 0.0540 0.0580 0.0540 0.0570 3.8 3.92 3.76 3.89 84 84.8 83.95 84.5 9.51 9.51 9.51 9.51 5.54 5.85 5.53 5.80 950 955 950 955 2300 2328 2252 2300 6.70 6.76 6.70 6.76 1.22 1.25 1.18 1.21 77.7 78 77.7 77.8 0.180 0.187 0.181 0.185 1.4100 1.4200 1.4000 1.4100 2.25 2.3 2.2 2.25 8.50 8.61 8.50 8.61 3.41 3.50 3.30 3.42 1.31 1.18 1.18 1.18 0.610 0.620 0.610 0.620 2 2 2 2 3.8 4.1 3.79 4.1 0.300 0.320 0.300 0.300 0.990 1.030 0.920 0.940 18.36 18.88 18.18 18.88 4.56 4.56 4.45 4.46 9 9 8.85 9 96.00 100.00 100.00 100.00 20.50 21.50 20.00 20.90 2218.00 2284.00 2224.00 2250.00 0.580 0.600 0.560 0.580 1.120 1.250 1.110 1.190 34.80 35.50 35.00 35.15 74.85 74.30 72.80 73.75 6.46 6.66 6.52 6.60 5.20 5.32 5.19 5.23 0.46 0.47 0.45 0.45 1.51 1.51 1.51 1.51 4.04 4.2 4.04 4.18 0.355 0.365 0.350 0.365 4.480 4.510 4.010 4.050 MINING & OIL 0.0038 0.0050 0.0048 0.0049 2.20 2.35 2.13 2.33 5.88 6.10 5.60 6.08 0.210 0.207 0.207 0.207 5.8000 5.8 5.8 5.8 0.72 0.74 0.72 0.72 0.64 0.66 0.64 0.64 8.68 8.70 8.32 8.60 0.97 1.02 0.96 0.99 0.310 0.315 0.300 0.300 0.191 0.197 0.191 0.195 0.0110 0.0110 0.0100 0.0110 0.011 0.011 0.011 0.011 2.26 2.33 2.21 2.21 7.58 8 7.64 7.87 2.87 2.96 2.87 2.91 0.6100 0.6700 0.6000 0.6700 1.3700 1.3700 1.3700 1.3700 0.0100 0.0100 0.0100 0.0100 3.87 3.90 3.90 3.90 5.24 5.250 5.180 5.24 1.35 1.380 1.340 1.35 0.0130 0.0130 0.0130 0.0130 131.00 132.50 129.80 129.80 2.37 2.45 2.32 2.35 PREFERRED 66.75 67 65.1 67 524 520 512 512 526 525 525 525 520 520 519 519 6.5 6.56 6.53 6.55 112.8 110 110 110 1019 1035 1035 1035 82.5 82.5 82.1 82.1 79 79.05 79 79 78.9 79.1 78.5 78.5 80 80 79.95 80 2.9 4 2.31 2.9 WARRANTS & BONDS 2.810 2.960 2.800 2.960 SME 2.8 3 2.8 2.8 64.5 63 62.1 63 14.1 14.76 14.1 14.7 EXCHANGE TRADED FUNDS 115.3 116 115.4 115.9

T op g ainerS STOCKS

Low

6.38 4.95 3.08 -1.85 8.93 0.00 -0.61 3.64 2.35 -0.77 2.78 19.28 -1.64 0.00 2.28 0.51 -3.87 0.00 1.85 0.00 3.55 -2.88 0.00

1,630,000 6,000 24,820,000 71,765,000 5,650,400 771,000 2,180,000 4,099,000 32,490,000 530,000 14,407,000 76,670,000 60,000 20,000 317,500 3,133,500 1,687,000 3,000 11,732,500 2,427,000 3,600 6,576,000 914,400

-0.87 0.00 1.82 0.00 -13.28 3.55 5.56 2.37 0.60 0.00 4.69 0.53 0.00 0.90 -0.82 0.13 2.78 0.00 0.00 1.29 0.29 -9.92 1.64 0.00 7.89 0.00 -5.05 2.83 -2.19 0.00 4.17 1.95 1.44 0.00 6.25 1.01 -1.47 2.17 0.58 -2.17 0.00 3.47 2.82 -9.60

97,300 27,000 5,000 837,000 200 6,148,200 26,490,000 1,347,000 339,690 1,300 987,800 780 13,120 407,400 168,000 563,150 4,150,000 327,000 7,000 704,100 1,349,000 3,000 54,000 55,000 33,788,000 2,300,000 24,618,000 1,400 134,000 61,800 10 222,800 48,525 579,000 61,753,000 5,422,400 10,270 2,874,000 7,526,800 28,900,000 11,000 3,206,000 50,000 2,451,000

28.95 5.91 3.40 -1.43 0.00 0.00 0.00 -0.92 2.06 -3.23 2.09 0.00 0.00 -2.21 3.83 1.39 9.84 0.00 0.00 0.78 0.00 0.00 0.00 -0.92 -0.84

96,000,000 10,206,000 -166,850.00 132,600 176,116.00 10,000 2,400 408,000 213,000 20,500 17,136,000 -7,451,110.00 350,000 1,070,000 109,200,000 2,000,000 577,000 -90,420.00 4,604,200 12,264,069.00 440,000 156,000 13,800.00 110,000 10,100,000 3,000 349,600 260,000.00 137,000 -41,780.00 43,200,000 -26,000.00 873,370 -5,950,263.00 136,000 -13,980.00

0.37 -2.29 -0.19 -0.19 0.77 -2.48 1.57 -0.48 0.00 -0.51 0.00 0.00

102,680 2,450 2,720 10,490 45,000 40 35 70,520 30,070 54,490 316,810 409,000

5.34

43,000

0.00 -2.33 4.26

79,000 5,150 701,000

0.52

1,990

4,379,700.00 -45,912,328.00 -45,000.00 165,000.00 -564,090.00 26,296,470.00 17,697,280.00 21,400.00

44,789,835.00 -43,650.00 28,220,335.00 16,360.00 145,290.00 -2,214,276.00 -64,000.00

-15,308,429.00 598,500.00 -3,451,665.00

-17,306,460.00 6,504,359.00 -18,600.00 1,420.00 1,267,300.00 -57,130.00

-61,594,360.00 213,000.00 -2,035,200.00 540,000.00 2,102,515.00 47,814,970.00 -21,969,530.00 166,671,050.00 -177,598.00 -18,769,206.00 -5,154,250.00 -9,736,130.00 81,000.00

-3,420,103.00

-13,160.00 2,565,852.00

T op L oSerS Close (P)

Change (%)

STOCKS

Close (P)

Change (%)

Abra Mining

0.0049

28.95

Berjaya Phils. Inc.

25.15

-13.28

MRC Allied Ind.

0.099

19.28

Lorenzo Shipping

1.18

-9.92

Swift Foods, Inc.

0.175

17.45

Yehey

4.050

-9.60

Omico

0.6700

9.84

Mabuhay Vinyl

4

-9.09

Double Dragon

21.35

8.93

Phil H2O

4.6

-5.74

TKC Steel Corp.

1.30

8.33

NOW Corp.

0.940

-5.05

Crown Asia

2.59

7.92

Jolliville Holdings

4.8

-4.95

Melco Crown

4.1

7.89

Zeus Holdings

0.320

-4.48

Mabuhay Holdings `A'

0.57

7.55

San Miguel Corp `A'

47.50

-4.04

City & Land Dev.

1.00

6.38

Euro-Med Lab

1.69

-3.98

THURSDAY: OCTOBER 22, 2015

B3

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

Megaworld finishing 6 towers

By Jenniffer B. Austria

OFFICE and condominium builder Megaworld Corp. said it accelerated the construction of six campus‐type office towers in the 34.5‐hectare McKinley West, Fort Bonifacio on increased demand from the business process outsourcing industry.

The planned six campus-type office towers will have 60,000 square meters of office spaces, and will be part of the 350,000‐sq. m. office expansion in the entire Fort Bonifacio in the next three years.

“We are now experiencing an overwhelming demand for office spaces in our various townships

and a big chunk of the demand pie comes from Fort Bonifacio. In McKinley West, the demand is focused on campus‐type buildings which have higher efficiency floor plates, easy access to office floors via internal staircases and branding rights for whole building occupiers,” Megaworld senior vice

president Jericho Go said.

The six office towers could generate around 20,000 jobs once completed. It will be highlighted with green features to be registered under the Leadership in Energy and Environment Design of the US Green Building Council.

“Megaworld continues to attract more locators to set up or expand their businesses in the Philippines, especially after we built 8 Campus Place in McKinley Hill, which is the first LEED gold‐certified BPO office building in the country. We look forward to our LEED certification for the new office towers in McKinley West as well,” Go said.

The McKinley West was recent-

ly declared a “special economic zone” for information technology under the supervision of the Philippine Economic Zone Authority.

As a special economic zone, business owners and investors operating inside the township will obtain certain privileges from the national government, like income tax holidays, duty-free importation of capital equipment and other non‐fiscal incentives.

Developers, meanwhile, pay real property taxes on the land.

Go said IT and BPO companies can now avail of the incentives enjoyed by a special economic zone when they lease an office space from Peza‐accredited buildings in McKinley West.

Megaworld is the largest developer and lessor of office spaces in the country with over 700,000 square meters of inventory today.

Around 300,000 sq. m. of the inventory are in Fort Bonifacio, especially in McKinley Hill.

The world’s top IT and BPO companies are among Megaworld’s biggest office clients, which include Accenture, HP, Wells Fargo, United Health Group, IBM and Thomson Reuters.

The property firm earlier announced it was allocating P20 billion to expand its office portfolio in Fort Bonifacio until 2018.

The company aims to build one million square meters of leasable office space before 2018.

Market up; PLDT, SM Prime advance

THE stock market rose Wednesday in step with the rest of Asia, on expectations that Tokyo will unveil fresh stimulus to boost the Japanese economy.

The Philippine Stock Exchange Index gained 32.05 points, or 0.5 percent, to 7,092.90 on a value turnover of P5.3 billion. Gainers swamped losers, 120 to 62, with 38 issues unchanged Philippine Long Distance Telephone Co., the biggest telecommunications firm, added 1.4 percent to P2,250, while SM Prime Holdings Inc. of retail tycoon Henry Sy advanced 1.9 percent to P22.

Chemical producer D&L Industries Inc. climbed 2.7 percent to P10, while DoubleDragon Properties Corp.jumped 8.9 percent to P21.35.

Japan’s official data, meanwhile, showed shipments to China slipped 3.5 percent in September, while those to other Asian countries were also down, putting pressure on the yen and helping the country’s main stock market lead most Asian equity markets higher Wednesday. Export volume to the key US market was also down.

The latest weak trade figures add to increasing pressure on the Bank of Japan as the economy struggles to gain traction and a hoped-for pick-up in inflation fails to materialize.

Seoul edged up 0.18 percent by the close and Sydney rose 0.24 percent. There were also gains in Singapore, Jakarta and Wellington.

Hong Kong was closed for a public holiday.

The dollar bought 119.90 yen compared with 119.84 yen in New York and well up from 119.44 yen earlier Tuesday in Asia.

The euro bought 136.10 yen and $1.1355 against 135.97 yen and $1.1346 in US trade. It bought 135.30 yen and $1.1328 in Asia Tuesday.

Japanese trade figures highlight the ongoing weakness in China, a crucial driver of global growth that is expanding at its slowest annual pace in a quarter of a century. With AFP

25 year. Mabuhay Holdings Corp. holds a special bell ringing ceremony at the Philippine Stock Exchange to celebrate its 25th listing anniversary. Mabuhay listed its shares at the PSE on October 22, 1990. Shown (from left) are IRC Properties Inc. director Georgina Monsod; Mabuhay treasurer Araceli Molina; Mabuhay director Ana Maria Katigbak; IRC Properties Inc. director Miguel Gil Puyat; Mabuhay president Esteban Peña Sy; Mabuhay chairman Roberto San Jose; PSE chairman Jose Pardo; PSE chief operating officer Roel Refran; PSE director Alejandro Yu; and PSE marketing services department Head Jose Antonio Vilar. th

SEC stops Klikmart, units from selling securities THE Securities and Exchange Commission issued a ceaseand-desist order against Klikmart Shopping Club Corp., also known as Klikmart Rewards, after selling investment securities without any authority or license.

The SEC in an order posted on its Web site directed Klikmart Shopping and units Kilkmart Dragon Corp., Klikmart Rewards, Klikmart Distribution and Marketing Services as well as officers and agents to stop offering securities or investment contracts to the public until it filed a registration statement.

The SEC also directed the Klikmart Shopping to stop offering the same unregistered securities through the Internet.

“The Commission will institute the appropriate administrative and criminal action against any persons or entities found to act as solicitors, information providers, salesmen, agents, brokers, dealers or the like for and behalf of the subject corporations,” the SEC said.

Klikmart Shopping was registered with the SEC in March 2015 with an authorized capital stock of P500,000. The company is engaged in the business of marketing and distribution of goods, such as soap, perfumes, wares and merchandise for every kind in wholesale of retail basis.

The SEC after surveillance and ocular inspection found

Klikmart Shopping luring investors to put in their money into the company with the promise that it will earn 33 percent interest after a minimum of 21 days to a maximum of one month.

Requiring a minimum investment ofP15,000, the company offers two boxes of coffee and one box of soap for every P1,500 investment.

An investor may also get P50 per every direct referral who will invest a minimum of P1,500.

Klikmart Shopping has branches in Cavite, Laguna Quezon City, Mindoro, La Union and Davao.

The SEC, however, said investment contracts being sold by the company were not registered

with the corporate regulator.

An investment contract refers to a transaction or a scheme in which a person invests his money in a common enterprise and is led to expect profits primarily from the efforts of others.

“Obviously, Klikmart Shopping’s business model and capitalization cannot sustain the promised returns of investments, especially if no new investors will come in. Obviously, pay-outs for investors are financed from investment contracts. This is a clear fraudulent scheme which will likely cause grave or irreparable injury of prejudice to the investment public,” the SEC said.

Jenniffer B. Austria

B4 2 firms eye tidal power project

100 years of cooperativism.

The Cooperative Development Authority leads the celebration of the Philippine Cooperative Centennial Year with a four-day Culmination Rites and Cooperative Expo at the Philippine Trade Training Center in Pasay City. The Filipino Inventors Society Producer Cooperative supports the celebration by taking four booths at the expo to showcase the inventions and products of FISPC memberentrepreneurs. Shown are FISPC president and chief executive Francisco Pagayon and CDA chairman Orlando Ravaneta as give the thumbs up sign at the entrance to the main hall of the PTTC.

By Alena Mae S. Flores

Tetangco rules out real estate bubble

By Julito G. Rada

BANGKO Sentral ng Pilipinas Governor Amando Tetangco Jr. said there is no asset bubble happening in the real estate sector despite the increase in property prices.

“There is no asset bubble [in the real estate sector]. The increase in property prices are actually demand driven,” Tetangco said during a panel discussion at the Philippine International Convention Center in Pasay City.

Tetangco said property builders and developers were wiser and now more aware of the risks associated with the property business.

“Before, most developers build, let’s say four towers first, before

selling it to potential buyers. But now, they see to it that almost 80 percent of the first tower is sold before building another tower,” Tetangco said.

Asset bubbles are characterized by an upshot in asset prices, such as those in the real estate sector, that they no longer reflect real market rates due to perceived demand. Such is seen as detrimental to the economy.

Global debt watcher Fitch Ratings earlier said in a report that

there was a limited clarity over macro-prudential risks stemming from the country’s real estate market.

Fitch said the lack of data on property prices and affordability indicators made it difficult for the rating agency to assess the effect of credit growth on the real estate market.

Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas Deputy Governor Diwa Guinigundo said the macro-prudential measures employed by the banking regulator made the risks of asset price inflation manageable.

“The risks of asset price inflation appear manageable and have in fact been addressed by a number of macroprudential measures,” Guinigundo said in an earlier statement.

Guinigundo said a significant runup in real estate prices

in Makati and elsewhere could be true but at best anecdotal. He said there should be a residential real estate price index to make a general characterization of the real estate sector and the likely path of property prices.

“It is also useful to produce a decomposition into residential and commercial property prices which are driven by different dynamics. For housing, we continue to have a large backlog while the capacity of the clients has increased due to overseas remittances, higher employment and business process outsourcing,” Guinigundo said.

He said for commercial establishments, the robust economic tempo had generated great interest among investors and their corresponding demand for commercial space was shooting up.

RENEWABLE energy company H&WB Asia Pacific (Pte Ltd.) Corp. teamed up with Sabella of France to develop and finance tidal power plant projects in Sorsogon and Leyte.

The two companies signed a memorandum of agreement for the development and financing of the country’s first ocean tidal power plant project in H&WB’s three concession areas at San Bernardino Strait between Matnog, Sorsogon and Capul and Dalupiri, Leyte.

Sabella chairman and president M. Jean-Francois Daviau and H&WB president and chief executive Antonio Ver signed the agreement.

The event was witnessed by Embassy of France deputy chief of mission Laurent Le Godec.

“The project commences a 5-MW demonstration plant that can supply clean, reliable energy to Sorsogon Electric Cooperative I, and II, in Sorsogon; thus, commits to pursue Renewable Energy in the Philippines, and consistent with Climate Change initiatives of both countries,” the parties said in a statement.

Energy Department director Mario Marasigan said the project boded well for the country’s energy security efforts. Marasigan, however, said tidal ocean energy had no approved feed-in tariff yet and predevelopment stage would take three years.

Sabella is an engineering and project management firm in the field of marine energies, and more specifically tidal turbines. The company installed the first French submarine tidal stream turbine in 2008.

Rail consortium spending P500m to upgrade LRT 1

By Darwin G. Amojelar LIGHT Rail Manila Consortium, led by Metro Pacific Investments Corp. and Ayala Corp., will invest P500 million for the facelift of LRT Line 1, the oldest metro system in Southeast Asia.

LRMC president and chief executive Jesus Francisco told reporters the company allotted P500 million for the improvement of 20 passenger stations at the existing LRT Line 1.

“We are actually targeting to start by December and complete it in 15 to 18 months,” Francisco said.

The Station Improvement Project will start with Doroteo Jose Station, the interchange terminal of LRT Lines 1 and 2 in Sta. Cruz, Manila.

He said after the improvements, the stations would be well-lit and better organized to allow better passenger flow.

Construction for Doroteo Jose Station is targeted to start in December 2015.

Under the plan, the improvement of the two biggest stations, Central and Baclaran, and three smaller stations, R. Papa, Abad Santos, and Gil Puyat will start March 2016, . The rest of the 14 stations will start between May

and August 2016.

“The Station Improvement Project complements our plan to enhance passenger safety, comfort and convenience and is aligned with our objective of improving the efficiency of the LRT1 system.” Francisco said.

Francisco said the improvement of LRT stations was also in preparation for the delivery of brand-new 120 light rail vehicles, which the government was currently procuring.

“When government brings in new light rail vehicles, we expect passenger traffic to increase, thus, the need to make sure that the stations are ready

to handle the expanded capacity,” he said.

The new LRVs are expected to be delivered between 2017 and 2018.

LRT Line 1 currently accommodates a daily average of 400,000 commuters from Baclaran in Pasay City to Roosevelt in Quezon City.

LRMC took over the operation and maintenance of LRT Line 1 on Sept. 12. It will also be responsible for the construction of the 11.7-kilometer extension from the present end point at Baclaran to the Niog area in Bacoor, Cavite.

The extended rail line is ex-

pected to help increase the capacity of LRT 1 from 500,000 to 800,000 passengers daily and benefit more than four million residents in the southern part of Metro Manila and of Cavite.

LRMC won the P65-billion LRT Line 1 extension project, with a premium bid of P9.35 billion in September 2014.

Metro Pacific Light Rail Corp. controls 55 percent of the consortium while AC Infrastructure Holdings Corp. has 35 percent. The Philippine Investment Alliance for Infrastructure’s Macquarie Infrastructure Holdings (Philippines) Pte Ltd. has 10 percent.

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

NGCP’s plea serious; Alliance cries sabotage NATIONAL Grid Corporation of the Philippines, the country’s power grid operator, is finding it increasingly difficult to deliver electricity to consumers and commercial establishments. Right-of-way problems and uncooperative residents have hindered NGCP’s job, prompting the grid company to directly seek the help of the Philippine Army.

The right-of-way problems reached a critical level with the frequent tripping of the Agus 2-Kibawe Line 1 in Mindanao on October 17. “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,” an NGCP official said.

About 260 megawatts of power capacity from the Agus 1 and Agus 2 power plants are in danger of being cut off, translating into about one to two hours of brownouts in the Mindanao grid, on top of the current shortfall experienced in the area.

Fixing the broken lines is the only solution to the power outage but this is easier said than done. NGCP has complained that the situation is being aggravated by landowners after they barred its 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 situation has turned serious. NGCP has appealed to local government units to issue 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.

Three major transmission lines are disconnected to the grid because of RoW issues. These are the 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).

The same RoW issues are delaying the upgrade of the critical San JoseQuezon 230-kiloVolt transmission line in Luzon. The project has suffered a two-year delay because of unresolved issues involving informal settlers along the path of the transmission line. The project was originally scheduled to be completed in 2013.

NGCP said despite negotiations and repeated pleas, informal settlers in Quezon City, Caloocan City, Valenzuela City and San Jose del Monte City in Bulacan refused to allow its linemen to enter the properties to conduct line and tower inspection, maintenance and upgrading activities.

There are 1,022 houses and structures along the San Jose-Quezon line.

Of these, only 85 households have agreed to a payment, and only 24 were relocated. The rest are in various stages of validation, processing and negotiations.

NGCP said it could not maintain and upgrade the line properly amid the resistance from the residents and warned the breakdown of power transmission structures would result in the loss of bulk power supply to Metro Manila.

Untenable grievances

Calls for change in corporate management by two disgruntled minority shareholders of Alliance Select Foods International Inc. are now being questioned by various sectors in light of the group’s suspect motives.

Singaporean investors Albert Hong and Hedy Chua have impeded ASFI’s reorganization and expansion efforts over the past year, turning an intra-corporate feud into a media smear campaign.

The minority shareholders went as far as insinuating that government had not been diligent enough to protect shareholders.

The Singaporeans’ recent call culminates several months of grievances stemming from the minority group’s disagreement with the tuna canning firm’s new administration and their initiatives.

ASFI late last year appointed Raymond See as new president and CEO. Dismayed by the decision, the Singaporean group questioned See’s capabilities as a professional, implying See was a mere puppet of former CEO Jonathan Dy and his family, founders of the corporation.

Given the minority group’s unwillingness to work with both the old and new management, any alternative administration would only be deemed “independent” based on the Singaporeans’ standards.

The Singaporean group seems to have a history of imposing individual interest on the rest of the company. The shareholders reportedly insisted that the company provide a P600,000 monthly compensation for an auditor that had worked exclusively for them. Higher salaries, based on prevailing rates in Singapore, were also requested for the offspring of one minority shareholder. Hong and Chua, likewise, proposed that Alliance establish an office in Singapore with the company paying a monthly management fee of S$20,000. ASFI currently holds no operations in the city state.

The group’s latest actions against the See-led initiatives have cast doubt over their real motives. Just last August, the Singapore group filed a TRO against ASFI’s planned stock rights offering to preserve their minority shares from further dilution. The petition was denied by the Pasig Regional Trial Court, effectively rendering the group’s slew of grievances untenable.

BSP sees typhoon pushing up inflation

By Julito G. Rada

BANGKO Sentral ng Pilipinas will assess the impact of the agricultural damage caused by typhoon Lando on consumer prices.

Bangko Sentral Governor Amando Tetangco Jr. said the bank expected to receive a report soon from the Agriculture Department about the extent of the damage on agricultural sector.

“We have not [yet] received the assessment from the Department of Agriculture. Once we get that assessment, we will estimate the potential impact [to inflation],” Tetangco said at the Philippine International Convention Center in Pasay City Wednesday evening.

“But you know, inflation is very low, [only] 0.4 percent [ in

September). So in terms of the target, it is not an issue,” Tetangco said.

The National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council said that typhoon Lando’s damage to agriculture was estimated at P5.3 billion while damage to infrastructure reached P520,000. The agency said these figures were expected to increase in the coming days.

Inflation in September further slowed down to 0.4 percent from 0.6 percent in August. It was also significantly slower than the 4.4 percent

during the same month last year.

This brought the first nine months’ average to 1.6 percent, way below the government’s official target of 2 percent to 4 percent for 2015. The downtrend was primarily due to the annual declines in the indices of housing, water, electricity, gas and other fuels and transport.

Tetangco said there was a need to recalculate the inflation path to see how it was “affected by the recent developments, particularly on oil prices [which slightly recovered] and the impact of the latest natural calamities.”

“But we are right now below the target range, [actually below] the lower bound of the target range of 2.6 percent for 2016 and 3 percent for 2017,” Tetangco said.

Globe taps 7-Eleven for cash transfer

By Darwin G Amojelar G-XCHANGE Inc., a whollyowned subsidiary of Globe Telecom, said Wednesday it teamed up with Philippine Seven Corp. that will allow GCash users to fund their accounts in more than 1,000 7-Eleven convenience stores nationwide.

“We are excited over our partnership with PSC. 7-Eleven is the largest convenience store network in the Philippines.

With its wide reach, GCash customers can now fund their GCash accounts at any 7-Eleven store as well as enjoy speed, ease, and safety when it comes to money transfer services. Together with 7-Eleven, cash-in

transactions will definitely become easier and convenient,” GXI president and chief executive Xavier Marzan said.

He said 7-Eleven also boosted the current roster of GCash outlets which would help the company provide more accessible and convenient ways for customers to cash-in at any 7-Eleven branch.

Mapúa partners with NCCA to preserve Philippine cultural heritage Mapúa Institute of Technology partnered with National Commission for Culture and the Arts (NCCA) and recently signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to promote and preserve the country’s cultural heritage.

This is in response to the call of the NCCA to higher education institutions (HEI) to stimulate a balanced atmosphere between the historic past and the modern society for future generations. Distinguished guests from local government units, government agencies, and various HEIs graced the ceremonial event.

Mapúa, alongside NCCA experts, will undertake cultural mapping of historical and heritage sites to identify structures that may need preservation or restoration. The MOU will give way to research grants and funding of cultural projects that will be initiated by the Institute.

“We will approach this commitment in an integrated and holistic manner, cutting across all relevant disciplines and technologies that the Institute may offer. Through this MOU with the NCCA, we want to showcase Mapúa as an Institute that not only creates and innovates but also preserves and safeguards the structures, sites, and other paraphernalia that identify us as Filipinos,” Project Head and School of Languages, Humanities, and Social Sciences (SLHS) professor Juan Carlos G. Santos said.

Mapúa’s SLHS will serve as a conduit in tapping the different schools of the Institute for their respective expertise in terms of registration, evaluation, assessment, planning and design, and preservation of national

Mapúa will showcase the collection of works of Lope K. Santos in an exhibit entitled “Mga Sulyap sa Buhay at mga Akda ni Lope K. Santos” as part of the Institute’s commitment to promote and preserve Philippine cultural heritage

cultural heritage structures, sites, and documents. One of these is the preservation of the collections of Lope K. Santos, which will be showcased in an exhibit entitled “Mga Sulyap sa Buhay at mga Akda ni Lope K. Santos.”

Lope K. Santos is a former senator of the Philippines and is known as the “Father of the Filipino grammar.”

“The MOU signing is a fruition of a long process of project proposals, planning, and project tie-ups between the SLHS and the NCCA,” Prof. Santos added.

The NCCA also conducted a talk on the Taoid Heritage Program, the flagship program of its Subcommission on Cultural Heritage. Roundtable discussions on the National Cultural Heritage Registry and the West Valley Fault, also known as the “Big One,” were held as well.

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THURSDAY: OCTOBER 22, 2015

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Honda PH eyes Mobilio assembly BSP must approve all foreign borrowings THERE are a number of items in the BBL (Bangsamoro Basic Law) bill that made me gasp when I first read them, but one item made me gasp more than any other.

That was the provision granting the Bangsamoro Administration authority to incur external approval of foreign indebtedness without the knowledge and prior approval of the BSP (Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas).

Of two things I am certain. One is that the BSP’s comments on and support for the provision were not sought by the members of the OPAPP (Office of the Presidential Assistant on the Peace Process). The other is that the OPAPP folk and their friends in Congress didn’t—and probably still don’t—know the sad and tortured story of the provision in the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas Act requiring BSP approval of external borrowing by all government institutions and private business enterprises in this country.

If the proponents of the BBL had bothered to do the research on the matter, they would have learned about the role that uncoordinated and unregulated external borrowing played in the economic debacle of 1969-1970 and about the rationale for the government’s decision to review the entire external-borrowing situation and install a system where there had been none.

After the ruinous presidential campaign of 1969—Ferdinand Marcos wanted at all cost to become the first president to be reelected— the Philippines had no choice but to run to the IMF (International Monetary Fund) for a financial rescue package. Then-newly appointed Secretary of Finance Cesar Virata and Central Bank of the Philippines Governor Gregorio Licaros had to fly to Washington, in representation of a humbled and contrite Philippine government, to request the IMF to immediately provide a financial lifeline and, thereafter, to provide the Philippines with technical assistance for the reform of its financial and banking systems. For the latter purpose the Marcos administration proposed the creation of a Joint CBP-IMF Banking Survey Commission, which would be housed in the CBP. The Commission had two co-chairmen, namely Cesar Virata for the Philippine government and S. Kanesa Thasan, a Sri Lankan national, for the IMF. Two other members for the Philippine side were Dr. Armand Fabella, the renowned Harvard-trained economist, and Jose Fernandez Jr., president of Far East Bank & Trust Co. and the Bankers Association of the Philippines (who would, two decades later, become CBP Governor himself).

After the needed emergency measures were decided—chiefly the approval of a standby loan and the freeing of the peso to seek its market value—the Commission went to work. The Virata-Thasan group were at work right through 1970, poring over official records and interviewing everybody who was worth interviewing. By the beginning of 1971 it was ready to release the Joint Commission’s Report.

One of the salient conclusions of the Joint Commission was that because of the non-reporting and no-prior-approval of pre-1970 external fund raisings, the Philippines’ external debt was far higher than had been thought—even by the CBP itself—and that the resulting debt-service explosion had been one of the principal causes of the 1969-1970 economic debacle. The Virata-Thasan group resolved that that situation would not be allowed to recur.

Accordingly, the Report of the Joint Commission, as one of its key recommendations, stated that henceforth all seekers of foreign financing, private as well as government, would have to seek the prior approval of the CBP, which would evaluate the foreign-loan application from the standpoint of a number of criteria, chiefly the magnitude, maturity and interest profile of the loan and the probable debt-service capacity of the borrower. Subsequently, the CBP set up a special office, MEDIAD (Management of External Debt and Investments Accounts Department) to undertake the evaluation and according of externalborrowing applications.

With the passage of time, the basic target of the external-borrowing reform—the reversal of the Philippine external debt profile in favor of borrowings with longer maturities—was gradually attained, so that today, long-term and medium-term foreign borrowings account for the most of this country’s external debt. Barring the occurrence of a really serious foreign exchange market crisis, the Philippines is not going to find itself in a 1969-1970 hole again.

With the inclusion of the no-prior-BSP-approval provision in the BBL bill, all of that hard and patient work stands in danger of being thrown away. If the BBL becomes law in its present configuration—God forbid—any Bangsamoro entity, governmental or private, will be able to run up all manner and magnitude of external borrowings, with the BSP, the DOF and the National Economic and Development Authority as mere observers.

Which begs the quintessential questions. Why should a group of Mindanaoans, which neither represents all Mindanaoans nor all our Muslim brothers, enjoy a right denied to the rest to the Filipino people?

And why should a small group of Filipinos be allowed to again place in jeopardy a financial-security structure as painstakingly erected and dedicatedly maintained during the last few decades, with highly felicitous results?

Am I in favor of the BBL bill in its present form? The answer is obvious.

By Othel V. Campos

HONDA Cars Philippines Inc. is seriously considering the domestic production of Honda Mobilio as the company’s second flagship model in the Philippines.

Honda Cars Philippines president and general manager Toshio Kuwahara told reporters Tuesday night at the Solaire Resort and Casino that a faster turnaround of Mobilio sales might trigger the local production of the sevenseat mini, family van.

“Mobilio is our second pillar product next to the City. Sales are going pretty fast for all our models but Mobilio has been the second best-selling vehicle after Honda City since it’s introduction in April of this year,” he said.

Sales of Mobilio averaged 500 units a month, compared to City’s average monthly sales of 900 units.

Kuwahara said while the plan was not immediate, it would not wait for ten years to make Mobilio as Honda’s second Philip-

pine-produced unit.

Honda Cars Philippines currently imports Mobilio from Thailand.

“We only need sales figure close to that of the City,” Kuwahara said.

Honda’s sales in the first three quarters of 2015 already surpassed by 7 percent the full-year sales in 2014.

Kuwahara said nine-month sales grew 50 percent year-onyear.

“And particularly last month, we were able to gather 2,093 vehicle sales and new customers. This is a 54-percent increase compared to the same month last year. And this is so far, HCPI’s best-selling month for 2015,” he said.

Honda launched four brand-

new models in 2014, including Odyssey, Mobilio, HRV and the luxury sedan Legend.

Kuwahara said the new models, especially Mobilio, were instrumental in achieving better sales performance in 2015.

Honda used to sell only five models in the country, including Civic, City, Jazz, CRV and Accord.

“Accord was top of the line up until tonight. Legend is Honda’s top of the line luxury car comparable to some Mercedez Benz, BMW and Audi models. Although, it’s not a cheap car, people can expect more than what competitor has,” Kuwahara said.

The Philippines became the third country next to Japan and Korea to welcome Honda Legend.

Honda said the country’s macroeconomic fundamentals would allow the entry of luxury sedans.

Total industry sales grew by more than 20 percent in the first nine months.

Honda Cars Philippines expects to sell up to 10 Legend units a month.

Unilab donation.

United Laboratories Inc., the leading pharmaceutical and healthcare company, recently turns over Enervon vitamins, Neozep tablets, raincoats and face masks to the Highway Patrol Group as part of its Husay at Malasakit campaign. Shown are (from left) Unilab external affairs director Claire Papa, Unilab assistant vice president for consumer health group Kathrine Margaret Claire Martinez, HPG head Chief Superintendent Arnold Gunnacao, Unilab senior product manager Jazmin De Vera and HPG deputy for operations Senior Superintendent Amador Corpus.

Lucio Tan’s firm studies wind project

By Alena Mae S. Flores ASIAN Alcohol Corp., a company controlled by tycoon Lucio Tan, plans to build a wind project in Negros Occidental province.

Gerry Tee, overall in-charge of the Lucio Tan Group distillery operations, told reporters the wind project was still being studied.

“The Asian Alcohol wind farm is still being studied. So nothing concrete there yet. It’s just something that we can embark on if the conditions are ripe. Any RE [renewable energy] project can be considered,” he said.

The Lucio Tan Group has been pursuing renewable energy projects such as bioethanol, solar and

biomass.

“We will have Asian Alcohol operating from January and February. It’s part of LT group. We will check what we can do, may be wind farm,” Tee said.

The distillery is embarking on rehabilitation program.

Tee said Asian Alcohol’s site had strong wind speed which could be ideal for a wind project.

“Wind speed is very encouraging. We have yet to check the area [to determine capacity],” he said.

Asian Alcohol in Negros Occidental is the second biggest distillery in the Philippines.

Its distillation process uses molasses, yeast, water and other ingredients. The company has a

10-hectare plant in Negros, which is the center of the country’s sugar industry.

The plant has the capacity to convert distillery waste into biogas energy for its power requirements.

It has a daily rated capacity of 210,000 liters of quality ethyl alcohol. It sells 100 percent of the output to Tanduay Distillers, which owns a controlling stake in the company.

This output comprises 70 percent of Tanduay Distillers ethyl alcohol requirements.

Asian Alcohol has a methane gas capture system that enables it to use the methane generated from distillation to power its boilers.

t H u r s D aY : o c t o b e r 2 2 , 2 0 1 5

WORLD

cesar barrioquinto EDITOR

editorial@thestandard.com.ph

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Koreans reunite after 60 years SEOUL—Around 400 elderly South Koreans met privately Wednesday with the North Korean relatives they haven’t seen for more than 60 years, on the second day of a highly charged reunion for families torn apart by the Korean War.

General audience. Pope Francis gives his weekly general audience at St Peter’s square on Oct. 21, 2015, at the Vatican. The Vatican has described an Italian media report that Pope Francis has a treatable brain tumor as “unfounded and seriously irresponsible.” Quotidiano Nazionale, the newspaper that made the claim, said it stood by its story that a “small dark spot” had been detected on the 78-year-old pontiff’s brain earlier this year. AFP

Church leaders convicted of fraud SINGAPORE—Six Christian church leaders in Singapore who spent $36 million on a bid to turn the pastor’s glamorous wife into a global pop star were convicted Wednesday of fraud and could face long prison terms.

After a two-year trial that captivated Singapore with tales of lavish spending and financial deceit, pastor Kong Hee and five aides were found guilty of diverting S$24 million ($17 million) to finance his wife Sun Ho’s singing career, which failed to take off.

The six, who insisted the project was conceived for religious reasons, were also found guilty of misappropriating another S$26 million from the evangelical City Harvest Church to cover their tracks, prosecutors said.

Ho, 43, who appeared in a 2007 music video with rapper Wyclef Jean in an attempt to cross over

from Mandarin pop and reach a wider English-language audience, was not charged.

The church tried to justify the use of the money saying Ho’s music could be used to attract followers overseas, and spent large sums on high glitz music videos.

In one for a reggae-tinged song titled “Mr Bill”, Ho appeared as a skimpily-clad Asian wife and sings about killing her AfricanAmerican husband, played by supermodel Tyson Beckford.

Judge See Kee Oon found Kong and one other church leader guilty of criminal breach of trust. The four others, including the church accountants, were convicted of varying counts of criminal breach of trust as well as the falsification of accounts.

Criminal breach of trust carries a maximum penalty of life imprisonment, but state prosecutors said

the actual prison term is limited to a maximum of 20 years.

The six used a practice called “round-tripping”, channeling money allotted for a building fund into sham bonds in linked companies, to finance Ho’s music career, prosecutors said. They also falsified church accounts to make it appear as though the bonds were redeemed.

“The accused persons chose to engage in covert operations and conspiratorial cover-ups. They contrived to create cover stories and clever round-trips concealing their unlawful conduct,” Judge See said in court.

He said there was “no evidence of any wrongful gain” by the accused, but stressed that this was not an issue in the trial.

The six were granted bail before the sentencing date, which has not yet been set. AFP

Assad in surprise visit to Moscow MOSCOW—Syria’s embattled President Bashar al-Assad made a surprise visit to Moscow Tuesday for talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin, his first foreign trip since the Syrian conflict erupted in 2011.

Putin pledged to continue to support Damascus militarily, while calling for a political solution involving all groups to try to end the war, the Kremlin said Wednesday.

For his part, Assad told Putin that Russia’s air strikes launched in Syria last month had helped stop the spread of “terrorism” in his country, it said.

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov described the lightning trip Tuesday as a “working visit”, and by Wednesday morning

Assad was back in Damascus, the Syrian presidency told AFP. It appears the Kremlin waited for the Syrian leader to return home before breaking the news of the visit.

“We are ready to make our contribution not only during armed hostilities in the fight against terrorism but also during a political process,” Putin told Assad.

The Syrian leader also stressed the importance of “further political steps,” according to a Kremlin statement.

He thanked Putin for his decision to launch its air campaign in Syria on September 30, Russia’s first military foray outside the former Soviet Union since its occupation of Afghanistan in 1979.

“I need to say that the political

steps that Russia has taken since the start of the crisis prevented the events in Syria from developing along a more tragic scenario,” Assad said in quotes released by the Kremlin.

“Terrorism, which has now spread through the region, would have consumed much larger areas and would have spread throughout much more territory if it were not for your actions and your decisions,” he said in comments translated into Russian.

Around 250,000 people have been killed since the conflict first began in March 2011, and half the population has been made homeless.

Putin said it was the Syrian people that should decide the fate of their country. AFP

In contrast to the previous day when their tearful and, in some cases, clearly traumatic meetings were played out in front of TV cameras, they were allowed two hours in their own rooms to try to bridge the decades of separation.

Millions of people were displaced by the sweep of the 1950-53 Korean conflict, which saw the front line yoyo from the south of the Korean peninsula to the northern border with China and back again.

The chaos and devastation separated brothers and sisters, parents and children, husbands and wives.

This week’s reunion in a North Korean mountain resort is only the second to be held in five years, and the tightly controlled event –spread over three days—allows just 12 hours of actual face-to-face time.

And when it’s over, it’s really over.

The advanced age of so many participants means the chance of another

meeting is almost non-existent on a divided peninsula that allows no civilian cross-border contact of any sort.

Nam Soon-Ok, 80, said Wednesday’s private sit-down with her North Korean sister, Nam ChulSoon, was more comfortable and intimate than the initial mass meet-up the day before, which had carried an undercurrent of mild hysteria.

“It was a bit awkward yesterday as it was the first time,” Nam said. “But we could talk more comfortably today, laughing and chatting.”

Lee Min-Hee, who was meeting her 85-year-old North Korean uncle, also testified to a warmer, more genuine atmosphere during the private sit-downs.

“But two hours felt far too short,” said Lee who was upset about the one-hour enforced break between the private sessions and a communal luncheon.

“It would have been so much better if we could have just gone outside, taken some photos and then walked to the lunch venue together,” she said.

“Why split us up when we are going to meet again so soon after?”

The reunion program began in earnest after a historic North-South summit in 2000, but the numbers clamoring for a chance to take part have always far outstripped those actually selected.

Among the generation that actually experienced the division of their families, the vast majority died without ever having any contact with their relatives in the North. AFP

BIDS AND AWARDS COMMITTEE- HEAD OFFICE INVITATION TO BID 1.

The Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP), through its Bids and Awards Committee (BAC), invites bidders to apply for eligibility and to bid for the hereunder requirement: Name of Requirement

Approved Budget for the Contract (ABC), VAT inclusive

One (1) Lot – Maintenance Service for Checkpoint Endpoint Protection System for a period of One (1) Year, as per BSP Terms of Reference

Php3,382,000.00, VAT inclusive

Completion Period:One (1) year to commence from the date stipulated in the Notice to Proceed to be issued by the Information Technology Sub-sector.

2.

Bidders should have completed from Y2010 to present a contract similar to the requirement. The Eligibility Check/Screening and Preliminary Examination of Bids shall use non-discretionary “pass/fail” criteria.

3.

Bidding is restricted to Filipino citizens/sole proprietorships/partnerships/, or organizations with at least sixty percent (60%) interest or outstanding capital stock belonging to citizens of the Philippines, and to citizens or organizations of a country the laws or regulations of which grant similar rights or privileges to Filipino citizens.

4.

All particulars and activities relative to Eligibility of Bidders, Bid Security, Performance Security, Pre-bid Conference(s), Evaluation of Bids, Post-qualification and Award of Contract shall be governed by Republic Act No. 9184 and its revised Implementing Rules and Regulations (IRR).

Activities

Schedule

Venue

a. Issuance of Bid Documents

Starting 21 October 2015 Procurement Office, Room 212, 2/F, 5-Storey (from 9:00 A.M. to 2:00 P.M. only) Bldg., BSP Main Complex, Malate, Manila Tel. / Fax Nos. 708-7118/306-2567; 708-7115

b. Pre-bid Conference

04 November 2015, 10:30 A.M.

c. Opening of Bids

23 November 2015, 2:00 P.M.

MR2A Conference Room, 2/F, 5-Storey Bldg., BSP Main Complex, Malate, Manila

5.

The bidding documents are posted at the website of the Philippine Government Electronic Procurement System (PhilGEPS) and the BSP Website (www.bsp.gov. ph). Prospective bidders may download the bidding documents from any of these websites; provided that bidders shall pay a non-refundable fee of Php5,000.00 at the address above prior to, or upon submission of their bids.

6.

The pre-bid conference shall be open to interested parties. However, only those who have purchased the bidding documents shall be allowed to participate in the pre-bid conference and raise or submit written queries or clarifications. To ensure completeness and compliance of bids, bidders are advised to send not more than two (2) technical and/or administrative representatives who will prepare the bidding documents.

7.

The BSP assumes no responsibility whatsoever to compensate or indemnify any bidder for expenses incurred in the preparation of bid.

8.

The BSP reserves the right to reject any bid, declare a failure of bidding, not award the contract, annul the bidding process and reject all bids at any time prior to award of contract, without thereby incurring any liability to affected bidders. Further, the BSP reserves the right to waive any minor defects or formality and to accept the proposal most advantageous to the agency.

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(SGD) ANTONIO A. GRAGEDA Acting Chairman

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CESAR BARRiOqUinTO EDITOR

editorial@thestandard.com.ph

world

Korean pianist wins Chopin tilt WARSAW—South Korean pianist Seong-Jin Cho won Poland’s prestigious Chopin competition on Tuesday, a prize that opens the doors to some of the world’s top concert halls.

Cho, 21, beat 77 other young pianists from 20 countries to take home the gold medal and 30,000euro ($33,500) prize at the event, held every five years in the Polish capital Warsaw and named after the 19th century pianist and composer.

“First of all I couldn’t believe it,” said Seoul-born Cho, who studies at the Paris Conservatoire, after winning.

“Of course being famous is good but I just want to make good music,” he added.

The second prize went to 26-year-old Canadian Charles Richard-Hamelin, and the third place was awarded to Chinese-American Kate Liu, from a group of 10 finalists.

This year’s Chopin competition notably featured 14 contestants from Poland, 13 from China, 12 from Japan and eight from South Korea.

The contest began in 1927. Winning is seen as a ticket to playing the greatest venues in the world and has helped to launch the careers of pianists such as Maurizio Pollini (1960) and Martha Argerich (1965).

The juried performances are open to the public and always sell out.

Born in 1810 in Zelazowa Wola, near the Polish capital, Frederic Chopin fled his homeland just before the 1830 uprising against the occupying forces of Tsarist Russia.

The composer later lived in the Austrian capital Vienna before moving to Paris, where he died aged 39 after years of poor health. AFP

Festival. Indian ‘garba’ performers carry ‘selfie sticks’ during a dance performance at the Rajpath Club in Ahmedabad on Oct. 20, 2015. The nine-day Navratri festival culminates in the celebration of Dussehra. AFP

Migrants rush to flee winter LJUBLJANA, Slovenia—Slovenia on Tuesday called in the army to help it manage a flood of refugees seeking to reach northern Europe ahead of winter, as the small EU state became the latest trouble spot on the migrant trail.

The Slovenian government amended the country’s defense law early Wednesday to allow soldiers to join border police in patrolling the 670-kilometer border with Croatia, and said it would ask for financial backup from the EU to deal with an influx that had “exceeded all manageable possibilities”.

Since Saturday, when Hungary sealed off its border with Croatia, more than 19,460 migrants have arrived in Slovenia, a nation of two million people.

Under the new measures approved by parliament, Slovenian soldiers can assist police in patrolling the border, detain people and hand them over to police, and issue orders to civilians in the border area.

Until now, the army could only provide technical and logistical support to police.

With at least 9,000 people landing on Europe’s beaches every day, there appeared to be no end in sight to the continent’s biggest migration wave since World War II. “The last 24 hours have been the toughest and most demanding since the start of the crisis,” the Slovenian government said, warning it was “delusional” to expect small countries to succeed where larger ones had failed.

Prime Minister Miro Cerar told journalists on the sidelines of the parliamentary session it would also ask the bloc for backup from police forces in other EU countries and extra equipment for its own officers.

EU Commissioner for Migration

Dimitris Avramopoulos is expected to visit Slovenia on Thursday to discuss the request.

In Greece, the crisis showed no sign of abating with a clear “spike in arrivals” that left 27,500 people packed on the Greek islands by Tuesday morning, the UN said.

And thousands were left stranded in wet, freezing weather on Croatia’s frontier with Serbia, after traveling up through Greece and Macedonia.

More than 600,000 migrants and refugees, mainly fleeing violence in Syria, Iraq and Afghanistan, have braved the dangerous journey to Europe so far this year.

The trip that many have made on inflatable boats from Turkey to Greece has left over 3,000 dead or missing.

The goal for many is the EU’s biggest economy Germany, which expects to take in up to one million refugees this year.

Last month, the EU announced plans to relocate 120,000 asylum seekers from over-

stretched front-line states Italy and Greece by means of a compulsory quota system that was fiercely opposed by some eastern members of the bloc.

The plan requires most of the 28 member states to accept a share of 160,000 people from the two Mediterranean nations over two years.

So far only 19 Eritrean asylum seekers have been relocated from Italy to Sweden although another 100 people are due to be flown to other cities in the coming days.

Out of the 23 member states that are legally required to admit a share of the human burden, only six have offered immediate places so far— Austria, France, Germany, Luxembourg, Spain and Sweden, the source said.

Member states have also been slow to follow up with promised financial help—out of the 2.8 billion euros ($3.2 billion) pledged at an emergency EU summit on September 23, only about 474 million euros has materialized. AFP

Indonesia to castrate pedophiles

Banquet. Chinese President Xi Jinping raises a glass with Britain’s Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge, during a state banquet hosted by Queen Elizabeth II (unseen) at the Buckingham Palace in London on Oct. 20, 2015. AFP

JAKARTA—Indonesia will begin chemically castrating convicted pedophiles in an effort to combat child sex abuse, an official said, after a string of high-profile attacks. “[It] will make people think a thousand times before committing such crimes,” Attorney-General Muhammad Prasetyo said late Tuesday after the move was agreed at a cabinet meeting led by President Joko Widodo.

“This crime is extraordinary and there have been so many victims.”

He said the punishment would be authorized soon through a presidential directive, which means it will automatically become law without parliament having to vote on it.

It would be carried out by injecting pedophiles with female hormones, he said.

Indonesia joins a small group of places that use chemical castration against child sex offenders, including Poland and some states in the US. In 2011, South Korea became the first Asian country to legalize the pun-

ishment.

Indonesia has been shocked by a series of highprofile child sex attacks. The most recent case was the kidnap, rape and murder of a nine-year-old girl.

Her body was discovered stuffed in a cardboard box in the capital Jakarta earlier this month, and an autopsy revealed that she had been repeatedly sexually assaulted.

Under current laws, child sex abuse is punishable by 15 years in jail but in many cases pedophiles have been handed short sentences. 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

W EL L BEING

LIFE

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Karada Serendra branch; the clinic has two branches in Taguig City and five more in other parts of Metro Manila.

KARADA: REALIGNING YOUR BODY, JAPANESE STYLE Tomo showing me what needs to be realigned

Tomo realigning my pelvis, since my right hip is higher than the left

There's a feeling of relief when you hear your bones crack after these twists

AP balance test

A few years ago, Yuki Koyasu got involved in a car accident in Japan, wherein he suffered from whiplash that caused him a lot FINE FETTLE of pain. He began

BY BUBBLES PARAISO searching for ways to recover and underwent chiropractic therapy, Chinese foot reflexology, Thai massage – the works. From all of these treatments, he decided to integrate all the things that worked for him and create his own system. This is how AP Balance – “AP” stands for atlas (the topmost vertebra of the backbone) and pelvis – began, to balance the spine. When he did this new treatment, Yuki’s body condition felt a lot better and from there, “Karada” (a Japanese word for body) was born.

Karada is a Japanese body therapy that carries the original technique AP Balance plus a body treatment in the form of a shiatsu-like massage.

The AP Balance treatment claims to revitalize both the body and the mind. The first thing that this treatment will do is realign your first cervical bone, then the atlas and the pelvis. AP Balance focuses on bone alignment and muscle treatment. One of the benefits of Karada is giving the body the natural healing ability by realigning the bones and improving blood circulation through the body.

When I went to their 8 Forbestown Road branch, I met Tomo, one of their Japanese master trainers.

They have both Japanese and Filipino therapists, all of whom trained for at least two months to acquire full knowledge about the body’s pressure points and stress-prone areas to make sure that every one is competent to treat with utmost precision and care.

I walked in semi-limping, no thanks to a knee injury I currently am nursing, and I asked Tomo if that could be treated along with my back pain. He

Karada Japanese master trainer Tomo checking my alignment Realigning my shoulders using the drop bed

assessed my mobility and alignment and concluded that one of the reasons I injured my knee was due to the fact that my pelvis wasn’t aligned. My right hip is apparently higher than the left which would give strain to my left knee when standing.

It made a lot of sense especially after having the final diagnosis for my knee (that’s another story). He realigned my bones using chiropractic techniques and a drop bed – the mechanical bed that helps the therapist align your bones better with the help of the tension put in your body – but you won’t even feel it. Hearing your bones crack as you are being realigned isn’t as scary as one would believe, but rather very relieving.

Before realignment, Tomo tested my balance by pushing down my hands, which were interlocked behind my body. I kept falling over as he did that but after my realignment, he did the test again and I kept my balance. After the realignment came the body therapy which was relaxing in a weird way – it was pleasurable but oh-so-painful.

The body treatment is a dry massage – no oil – which loosens up stiff muscles in the body.

The massage is unlike a regular one wherein it’s usually the thumbs that give pressure; rather, it’s the full body weight of the therapist that is applied for more pressure.

As stated earlier, it is somewhat painful but pleasurable when you’re undergoing it. In Filipino

we call it “masakit na masarap” and in Japanese they have a word for it – “itakimochii.” It is not a relaxing massage but it’s a more functional one.

I fell asleep when I had this treatment, though, so I guess it somewhat relaxed me.

This treatment is perfect for everybody – older people must have their bones in check because we tend to lose our posture when we grow older, athletes or anyone active for proper circulation and posture, and pre-teens, too, as their bones are still developing and growing (just a light load for kids, though). Those who go for realignment must do so regularly, because the body has yet to get used to going back to its natural and correct alignment. So if you don’t do this regularly, your body will just go back to bad posture or uneven alignment.

In my case, I have to go back every week. For those who think bone realignment is too much, it’s okay. You can still go just for the body treatment and have your blood circulation flowing. A bit of a warning though – if this is entirely new to you, don’t be surprised if you feel a bit off after; that’s normal, as your body is just getting used to it. But hey, wouldn’t you want your body to get used to having great circulation and proper alignment? I know I do.

Follow me on Instagram and Twitter @bubblesparaiso

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LIFE life @ thestandard.com .ph

@LIFEatStandard

MIND YOUR DIET

MakatiMed shares recent research showing undeniable links between the food you eat and the state of your mental health

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here’s a Latin phrase that goes “mens sana in corpore sano” – meaning “a healthy mind in a healthy body.”

According to the country’s premier healthcare institution Makati Medical Center, there is an established consistent connection between the quality of food one eats and the state of health of the mind. Apparently, diet has a direct impact on the biological influencers that are linked to cognitive performance and mental health disorders. Diet should not be seen simply as a means to achieve a slimmer body but one that could spell the difference between mental health that is characterized by emotional balance and enhanced cognitive function, or on the other hand, excessive mood swings and even depression, schizophrenia, anxiety, and bipolar disorder, in worse cases.

Nutrients in fruits, vegetables, whole grains, nuts, and fish contain antiinflammatory properties that affect brain chemicals that regulate emotions and cognition. Omega-3 fatty acids found in fish oil, meanwhile, preserve the integrity of brain cell membranes that inf luence the way brain cells communicate with one another.

Lovie Hope O. Go-Chu, MD, head of MakatiMed’s section of Psychiatry, remarks that “When people think of mental health, they think of it more on a psychological level. We are taught to take care of our brains by keeping happy thoughts and learning

new things. But what we choose to eat also greatly affects our mental health.”

That is the reason why people should shift to fresh, healthy diets based on natural products rather than processed foods. The impact goes beyond just affecting our weight. It actually spells the way we think and perceive things, continues Dr. Go-Chu. To add muscle to your brain and keep it in tip-top shape, Dr. Ma. Luisa C. Cagingin, head of Clinical Support Services, prescribes

loading up on fruits and vegetables rich in antioxidants such as vitamins C and E, and beta-carotene that lessen free radical damage that could lead to depression, bipolar disorder, and schizophrenia. Food rich in Vitamin B9 (folate) is also known to help in the production of serotonin, a neurotransmitter that maintains mood balance. So if you want to avoid getting pesky mood swings, stock up on beans, leafy greens, and fruits such as mangoes and oranges.

Fatty fish such as salmon, sardines, and mackerel are rich in omega-3 fatty acids, and these reduce symptoms of mental illnesses and also support the synapses in the brain leading to enhanced learning and memory. Lean proteins like fish, turkey, chicken, eggs, and beans also keep mood balance in check, apart from being the building blocks of muscles that make you look fit.

Glucose serves as the brain’s primary source of energy and keeps it functioning at optimum levels, but remember, your glucose should be composed of complex carbohydrates like whole wheat products, oats, wild rice, barley, beans, and soy. Unlike those found in simple carbs, complex carbs are released slowly, thus making you feel fuller longer while also fueling your brain and body.

It’s all about making wiser, healthier choices in one’s diet. “The direct connection between the quality of food and mental health is proof that what we consume not only affects the shape of our bodies but the state of our mind as well. This only means that the call to follow a cleaner, nutrientrich diet must be stronger than ever, to keep everyone’s mental health at its best as well,” notes Dr. Cagingin.

For more information, please contact MakatiMed On-Call at 8888.999, email mmc@makatimed.net.ph, or visit www. makatimed.net.ph.

UNLIMITED VISION WITH ESSILOR’S VARILUX S SERIES

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A new breakthrough technology in ophthalmic lenses allows glasses wearers to enjoy comfortable and unlimited vision.

eople between the ages of 40 and 50 may experience presbyopia, a natural change in vision linked to the loss of flexibility in the crystalline lens, an eye condition characterized by difficulties in seeing things up close.

While the characteristics of presbyopia are known among consumers, its symptoms may be underestimated. Nearly six out of 10 people said they have difficulties seeing or reading something at 20 or 40-cm distance, but significantly lower number of people described themselves as presbyope.

Fortunately, there is the new Varilux S series which is the result of Essilor’s unique and rigorous R&D program “Live Optics” that delivers the highest levels of performance. Test wearers around the world highlighted the excellence of the Varilux S series and ranked it No.1 – on every lens’ features, in motion and when surroundings move, and for quality and fields of vision.

Created from the latest advances in optics and in-depth understanding of human physiology, Essilor’s Varilux S series is the first progressive lens to offer wearers both balance in motion and wide-angle vision.

The S series is a revolutionary approach to breaking the usual compromise between a large scale of vision and the loss of balance sensation known as “swim effect” that lens wearers were faced with in the past, with

the breakthrough innovation allowing lens wearers to enjoy unlimited vision.

“As our society is in a constant state of change, advanced technologies and new electronic devices are leading to a faster pace of life for individuals and thus, a set of new visual needs. The Varilux S series equips active consumers with the optic technology to live life in today’s modern world to its fullest,” says Dr. Emelita Roleda, Essilor Philippines general manager.

Using revolutionary technologies known as Nanoptix (a breakthrough in lens technology that virtually eliminates the off-balance feeling often experienced by progressive lens wearers) and SynchronEyes (a revolution in physiological science wherein progressive lens wearers don’t need to constantly move their head to target what they see as images remain clear from edge to edge), Essilor makes the visual experience more comfortable for lens wearers.

“Essilor has long been a leader in providing lenses with unequalled visual performance.

We are proud that the innovative new Varilux S series will provide consumers with vision without limits in their daily lives. For Filipinos who wear, or who are in need of progressive lenses, the groundbreaking Varilux S series technology helps provide better vision, both near and far, off- and online,” Roleda stated.

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LIFE life @ thestandard.com .ph

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@LIFEatStandard

A TOOTHBRUSH REVOLUTION

ccording to the Department of Health’s latest National Monitoring Evaluation Dental Survey, 87 percent of Filipinos suffer from tooth decay and 48 percent have gum disease.

Two companies, one committed to providing consumers with natural personal care alternatives and the other dedicated to change the world with eco-friendly toothbrush, come together to provide oral care products to all and bring dental services to the country’s poorest.

The partnership came naturally between Human Nature and Minka Ventures. Human Nature’s Natural Toothpaste—that is 100 percent free from harmful chemicals and water-polluting plastic microbeads—complements Minka’s bamboo toothbrush, dubbed as “The Toothbrush Movement Bamboo Toothbrush.”

Mark Rivera, co-founder and managing director of Minka Ventures explains the bamboo toothbrush is the best replacement for the plastic toothbrush which takes a long time to degrade. Its highquality and eco-friendly toothbrush is antimicrobial and water-resistant.

“Minka is a South American word that means ‘collaborating for a common purpose.’ It’s similar to the Filipino concept of bayanihan

and we strongly go by this,” says Rivera.

As a social enterprise, proceeds from Minka’s bamboo toothbrushes support programs that promote sanitation, clean water supply and overall hygiene.

Rivera adds that partnering with pro-poor and pro-environment brand Human Nature is “perfectly in line” with their goal of making a direct and positive impact on Filipinos.

Human Nature and Minka partnered with Gawad Kalinga for Project Smiles of Goodness which aims to bring dental services to at least 1000 GK residents before the year ends. The first two stops of the project are at GK Jose Rizal Village in Calamba, Laguna and GK Central Village in Quezon City.

“With Project Smiles of Goodness, [we promote that] doing something as simple as brushing your teeth in the morning can help save the smiles of those who cannot afford dental care,” says Barbara Benesa, Human Nature category associate for Oral Care.

Human Nature Natural Toothpaste and The Toothbrush Movement Bamboo Toothbrush are available at Human Nature branches, dealers and via the Human Nature website at www. humanheartnature.com.buy

The Toothbrush Movement Bamboo Toothbrush, P199.75

Human Nature Natural Toothpaste and Minka's Toothbrush Movement join forces to bring all-natural oral care to all.

The young residents of GK Jose Rizal are all smiles as they hold up their free bamboo toothbrush from Minka.

Kids receive fluoridation to help strengthen their teeth.

The Medical City doctors specializing in cardiology, ophthalmology, women’s health and pediatric health provide free full medical consultations to more than one thousand people.

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BE HEALTHY ALWAYS: A MOVEMENT TO TAKE CHARGE OF YOUR HEALTHCARE

hen was the last time you visited your doctor just for a check-up? Scheduling a health-related appointment when you feel fine can seem like an unnecessary investment of time, effort, and expense. That’s why some busy adults only see the doctor when there’s an emergency. But many common illnesses and medical conditions can be avoided or managed more effectively with preventive healthcare measures.

“Prevention should be integrated into all aspects of our lives,” says Dr. Alfredo R.A. Bengzon, president and chief executive officer of The Medical City (TMC). “Through regular check-ups, diseases can be detected in their early stages, allowing doctors to immediately manage them effectively without the expensive treatments.”

In line with its commitment to advancing healthcare in the country through world-class service and a network of specialized experts, TMC launched “Be Healthy Always,” a movement that advocates the power of prevention and encourages people to take charge of their

The ‘Be Healthy Always Movement: Get Checked!’ activity comes to TriNoma Mall in Quezon City; this project aims to ensure that quality healthcare is accessible to all.

health and well-being by scheduling regular check-ups.

Last October 10-11, TMC brought its preventive healthcare practice to TriNoma Mall in Quezon City with “Be Healthy Always Movement: Get Checked!” activity. The two-day event

gave more than one thousand people access to free full medical consultations with TMC doctors specializing in cardiology, ophthalmology, women’s health and pediatric health. TMC’s experts stressed that the ideal prevention approach includes not just healthy lifestyle

choices but also early and proactive detection, diagnosis and management of conditions and illnesses throughout one’s entire lifecycle. Discussions covered heart disease prevention, aging well, customized care for diabetics, and the basic to-do’s for expecting mothers.

“At TMC, we are committed to empowering families to making healthier choices by expanding our services to ensure that quality healthcare is accessible to all,” says Dr. Bengzon. “Through the Be Healthy Always Movement, we want to inspire and push every Filipino to start taking an active role in caring for his health, to see families live life to its fullest and as burden-free as possible.”

Joining TMC in advocating for a healthier Philippines are partners Zenith Medical Equipment, Inc., Unilab Consumer Health, Rebmann, Inc., Marben Commercial, Biocare Medical System, Aimed Advance Imaging Solutions, Scientific Biotech Specialties, Inc., Slimmers World, Watsons, and Johnson & Johnson Phils., Inc. For more information on the Be Healthy Always Movement, visit www.themedicalcity.com

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LIFE life @ thestandard.com .ph

Push up demo with Coach Jim Saret

@LIFEatStandard

High knees on agility ladder

Weightlifting demo with Coach Jim Saret

ACHIEVE YOUR FITNESS GOALS WITH THE 4-MINUTE FWD MOTION

BY EULA SEE

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n fitness, consistency is key. But how can you be consistent if you’re hustling through your job and scrambling to meet your deadlines everyday? Each workout usually requires only an hour to finish. But, truth be told, most would rather sleep or go home earlier to their families than spare an hour for a nice workout.

Just recently, FWD Life Insurance introduced the health and wellness movement called Live to Move. This advocacy encourages every Filipino to take their first step to a healthier lifestyle because FWD Life believes that attaining better health is key in living life to the fullest.

The campaign is centered on the FWD motion developed by topnotch fitness gurus, Jim and Toni Saret. It is a specially designed 4-minute metabolic fitness (MetaFit) workout that can equal an hour’s worth of exercise. Its four key steps – jump, squat, push up and lunge – are so simple. Whether you are a fitness newbie or a gym rat, you can easily integrate this routine into your daily activities anytime, anywhere. As tried and tested by the Saret couple, this 4-minute MetaFit workout can make you burn as much as 600 calories.

Six hundred calories in four minutes!

With FWD Motion’s effectiveness, it can

To further FWD Life’s efforts to promote its advocacy, they started the campaign with the FWD Motion online video challenge that allows the participants to post their 15-second workout videos showcasing their passion and incorporating it into FWD Motion’s four primary steps. It doesn’t matter if it’s a rock star lunge or a cheerleader jump; just own the FWD Motion and enjoy it!

This campaign continues to bring the healthy lifestyle to the Filipinos with the Live to Move Tour around the Metro. Each event includes various activities such as Move to the Beat (Hip Hop), Move to the Groove (Zumba), Move to Fight (boxing and cardio), and Move to the FWD Motion (MetaFit). If you haven’t gone to one of the pocket events, it’s not too late as you can still join the Live to Move Grand Festival at SM Mall of Asia Central Plaza on October 24.

Toni Saret, the author, Jim Saret, Antonio Dimaguila

Demo on resistance training

Move to the Beat: HipHop stop

definitely lessen your need to visit the gym or attend workout classes.

Celebrity coaches Jim and Toni Saret are also healthy lifestyle ambassadors of the Philippine Heart Association (PHA), the official advocacy partner of Live to Move.

FWD Life supports PHA to promote its

52100 advocacy, a simple guide to remind people of the essentials of good health: five (5) servings of fruits and vegetables, two (2) hours maximum of recreational screen time, one (1) hour of moderate activity, zero (0) sugared drinks, and zero (0) smoking/ secondhand smoke.

All campaign participants are entitled to raffle entries that give them the chance to win exciting gadgets during the entire campaign duration. For more information about the Live to Move campaign, visit FWD Life Philippines on Facebook or check www.livetomove.ph to upload your FWD Motion videos until October 23.

YOGA, FOOD, MUSIC, AND ART AT L!FE

T Elmer La Peña, Charmaine Palermo, Ann Ong, Neil Paras and Noelle Rodriguez

Vinyasa Class

he most appealing part of the yoga lifestyle is the promise that it will influence and improve all aspects of your well-being.

You’ll be less stressed and anxious and more mindful and appreciative of what’s going on around you. You’ll crave better food to fuel your practice.

All this good energy will allow you to connect to yourself and other people in a new way.

The L!FE Yoga studio, Bonifacio Global City’s newest one-stop health hub, brings together yoga, music, food and art to create a community for wellness enthusiasts seeking harmony of mind, body, and spirit.

Located at Eight Forbestown Road in Burgos Circle, BGC, the two-story lifestyle center houses a yoga studio with heated and non-heated classes; a health Prana Square food café called Vibe that serves whole foods, salads, snacks, and fresh juices by Sprout and Fruit Magic; and a space for art installations and trunk shows.

L!FE also creates events and conducts workshops that combine yoga with live music and sound therapy.

These activities occasionally bring yoga out of the studio and into pool clubs, parties, and parks.

At L!FE’s Yoga Pool Parties at Palace Pool Club, live DJ sets power the yoga practitioners. “There’s no denying that music can affect our emotions, which also affect our entire body. Music can help bring us into deeper states of meditation, which is ideal for yoga. A DJ can directly set the vibe and provide the right tempo to flow through the class. Aside from that, it also adds a bit more fun and funk to what otherwise could be just another session,” say L!FE’s founders.

L!FE uses a “holistic approach to health in a fun atmosphere” to build a community with a shared love for wellness as a lifestyle.

“We hope that people will ‘vibe’ together and meet like-minded individuals in our studio. Aside from attention to healthy food and drink, we will also focus on holistic health – relationships, laughter, good vibes, and other such life-affirming things.”

Visit www.lifeyogacenter.com for more information.

T HUR S DAY : OCTOBER 2 2 : 2015

SHOWBITZ

ISAH V. RED EDITOR

isahred @ gmail.com

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Hillarie Danielle Parungao is Miss WorlD PHiliPPines 2015

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ith a stunning beauty of face, Hillarie Denielle Parungao will surely give the more than 120 participants in Miss World 2015 a run for their money. Sweeping most of the special awards, Parungao bested 25 lovely contestants to win the Miss Philippines World 2015 title at the exciting finals held at the Theater Solaire Resort and Casino on Sunday night.

Parungao, a 24-year-old, print and commercial model from Solano, Nueva Vizcaya, was asked about her philosophy in life during the Top 5 final interview to which she simply answered, “To always rely on compassion. I believe that compassion could open doors for many challenges in life, through compassion, we get to understand other people, and in understanding other people we become a better society.”

The Ilocana beauty was earlier named best in swimsuit, long gown, fashion runway and sports challenge as well as Miss Solaire, Miss Zen Institute, Miss Technomarine and Miss Phoenix. Parungao was crowned by Valerie Weigmann, Miss World 2014 semi-finalist, to

earn a ticket to Sanya, China for the Miss World 2015 pageant to be held at the Crown Beauty Theatre on December 19, 2015.

Marita Cassandra Naidas was named First Princess, Mia Allyson Howell, Second Princess, Ma. Vanessa Wright, Third Princess and Emma Mary Tiglao, Fourth Princess. Naidas won Miss Bench, Howell was Miss Word Ilocos and Miss Talent jointly with Avonlea Paraiso and Vianca Louise Marcelo, Wright was Miss Jazzy France and Tiglao was Miss Photogenic and Miss PAL. Christelle Abello was voted Miss Friendship while Jannine Loudette Alipo-on and Tiglao were co-winners of Miss Unique Talent.

The 25 candidates were trimme down to the Top 13 that also included Ma. Jackielyn Dulay, Vianca Louise Marcelo, Christelle Abello, Jannine Loudette Alipo-on, Jessica Rose McEwen, Jeddahliz Maltezo, Janelle Tee and Kiaragiel Gregorio.

Parungao is embarking on a social cause to help eradicate child mortality in her hometown which she will take to the Miss World pageant as her “Beauty with a Purpose” project. A grad-

uate of BS Nursing at Aldersgate College, Parungao has organized fun run to raise funds for the project, led medical volunteers in education families on proper nutrition and has started a 120-day feeding program in coordination with the DepEd and DSWD. Miss World Philippines Director Cory Quirino said she sees in Parungao the perfect candidate at Miss World, in the same breath as when Megan Young won the title.

She added that Parungao will undergo intensive training preparation in anticipation of the stiff challenge expected during the Miss World competition.

Megan Young, Ex-gov. Chavit Singson, former Senator Migz Zubiri, Cris Albert, Celine Matias, GMA network First VP Jose Mari Abacan, Bench CEO Ben Chan and “Rosalinda” lead Fernando Carillo, among others, comprised the board of judges. The Finals was telecast on GMA 7 and was hosted

by Tim Yap, Iya Villana and Miss World 2011 First Princess Gwen Ruais. Kapuso heartthrobs Martin del Rosario, Derrick Monasterio, Jeric Gonzales and Kiko Estrada performed during the evening gown competition.

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1 Miss World Philippines 2015 and her court with Miss World Director Cory Quirino 2 Hillarie Danielle Parungao was crowned Miss World Philippines 2015 last Sunday

glan glaMs WitH rico Blanco, Moonstar88, BanDa ni Kleggy

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t might not be the country’s most fabulous tourist spot, but the town of Glan, Sarangani is glamorous in its own right.

This glam shone as the top rock artists stormed the Lubi-Lubi Festival to mark the town’s 101st founding anniversary.

The Banda ni Kleggy quintet led by vocalist Kleggy Abaya kicked off the three-day extravaganza on Oct. 6 as they belted their popular hits which included “Discolamon” from Only in the Philippines album.

Moonstar88 band sustained the musical momentum with the charming Maychelle Baay on vocals and guitars on Oct. 7. Selections from the albums “Popcorn”, “Press to Play”, “Todo Combo” and the award-winning “This Year” rocked the night away in the quaint coastal town.

Bringing the curtains down was sensational solo act Rico Blanco on Oct. 8, to conclude Glan’s weeklong foundation day festivity. A founding member of Rivermaya, Blanco traveled back in memory lane as he sang some of the beloved hits of the famed pop band.

Situated on the easternmost coast of Sarangani, Glan is regarded as the province’s tourist capital with its mile-long powdery Gumasa Beach and heritage village due to its cluster of American colonial-era houses.

Now on its 16th edition, the locus of the Lubi-Lubi Festival is the street dance parade and competition with revelers dressed in colorful costumes made out of lubi (coconut).

Street presentations portrayed old religious and animistic belief of the townsfolk about the tree of life, as well as traditional dances from Moro and lumad tribes.

Glan is a melting pot of Maguinadaon, Taosug, Blaan and Tboli indigenous tribes who live in peaceful coexistence. It traces its roots to Oct. 8, 1914, when the pioneering batch of Colony No. 9 from Cebu landed to populate the area.

The town broke into the national scene when it posted a record 120,000 attendance in the three-day Sarangani Bay Festival last May which featured sports and fitness events, musical concerts, beach-themed activities and coastal cleanups.

Moonstar 88

Banda ni Kleggy

Rico Blanco

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SHOWBITZ isahred @ gmail.com

REnaiSSanCE Man WinS ‘R U TOUgh EnOUgh’

K

IX, the ultimate destination for action-entertainment recently concluded R U Tough Enough competition, which was about finding the toughest Pinoy who is not just physically tough, but mentally and emotionally tough as well.

It is doubtful that anyone could have predicted that the actual winner Reyn “The Daring Dreamer” Talosig, would embody that concept of toughness so completely and perfectly.

The RUTE course was alternately and often all at once grueling, mind numbing, and dizzying. All the elite finalists who competed that day finished, but every single one struggled to do so, incurring multiple penalties along the way.

Talosig however, blasted through the course as though it was his personal playground, only one of the other competitors was even close to his time. His victory at RUTE though is just the tip of the iceberg, this deeply religious single dad, and avid classical music enthusiast approaches life in a manner that is simply inspiring.

KIX could not have invented a better champion than Reyn Talosig, a renaissance man in a sense of the word we rarely see. He cultivates

QCinema Forum SerieS In addition to a stellar movie selection, the Quezon City Film Festival (QCIFF) 2015 will also hold “Qcinema Forum Series”, a string of film discourses participated by illustrious names in the industry from Oct. 26 to 29 at Quezon City Museum, Gateway Mall, Trinoma, and Robinson’s Galleria cinemas.

many interests, but far from being a jack-of-all-trades, Talosig more often than not succeeds at excelling at the endeavors he pursues.

Talosig is a graduate of one of UP’s more selective and difficult programs, as if that weren’t difficult enough, he had to earn most of his degree as a young single dad.

A believer in the sound mind sound body philosophy, Reyn has always been a runner, something he still does religiously three to four times a week. This worked for him as the RUTE course really required exceptional cardio-vascular fitness.

Reyn is also a “fan of martial arts” practicing Karate, Muay Thai. He was a competitive wrestler in college.

However, he credits his current martial art Brazilian Jiu-jitsu with giving him an edge during RUTE: “It helped with movement, and body positioning. There was a challenge wherein we had to spin around a bat several times, and in Jiu-Jitsu, we have to spin and roll a lot, so I think that helped.” After the bat spinning challenge contestants had to ride a bicycle through a short slalom, and while most of the contestants struggled just to stay on the bike, Reyn appeared completely unaffected,

QCIFF is an annual film festival that promotes Quezon City as the filmmaking capital of the country.

It is also best known for allocating generous grants for the creation of new films through contests such as Circle Competition for New Filmmakers and DoQC International Documentary.

Traditionally, the QCIFF stages informative seminars in directing and cinematography. Now on its third year, the festival continues to expand its reach by offering more workshops that explore a wider range of topics including anima-

CROSSWORD PUZZLE 45 46 47 48 49 51 53 58 62 63 64 65 66 67 68 69 70 ANSWER FOR PREVIOUS PUZZLE ACROSS 1 Pointed 6 Urban problem 10 Weight rebate 14 Boring tool 15 Docile 16 The yoke’s on them 17 Goody-goody 18 Mgr. 19 Watch chains 20 Metamorphic rock 21 Easy trips (2 wds.)

23 25 26 29 32 37 38 39 40

43 44

Santa — winds Job-ad letters Bean for sprouting Soften Why? (2 wds.)

I knew it!

Writer — Vidal Bowl filler Neanderthals and Cro-Magnons (hyph.)

For the few Young horse

Dessert pastry Tier Venomous snakes NBA part PC button Gullet Twinkling “— it’s at” Lure Valhalla host Felt crummy Pinnacle — colada Old war story Vegas sight Vamoose Misty-eyed

DOWN 1 Weakens gradually 2 Fling 3 Water, in Baja 4 Kind of sale (2 wds.)

5 Groom carefully 6 Cherry leftover 7 Ankle-length 8 Brunch fare 9 Sticky-footed lizard 10 Soy product 11 Dendrite’s partner 12 Yank foes 13 Naval off.

and got through the challenge quickly.

Reyn is a believer in functional training, and has varied his training routine over time. He had a specific routine for his rock climbing days, and then another for his wrestling days: “You have to make sure that every exercise you do is tailored to your sport.”

Reyn was actually at a disadvantage during RUTE, as he was suffering from the flu, and on medication. Not only that, his girlfriend Cheann Kubota, a model who was supposed to have been one of only two female competitors, was sidelined with an even worse case of the flu. As is typical of him though, Reyn is quick to dismiss this as a credit to his own prowess, and to give credit to God, “It was grace, I prayed very hard for the Holy Spirit to give me strength.” Reyn also intimates that Cheann’s sidelining gave him an extra push, “It motivated me to dedicate my performance to her.”

A true example of what a person can accomplish with the right spiritual and mental attitude and emotional toughness, through R U Tough Enough? KIX has found the embodiment of the tough Pinoy spirit in model, writer, all around athlete, and musician Reyn Talosig.

tion, film restoration, and the production process among others.

On Oct. 26, QCIFF competition directors will talk about their journey in producing their works in “Reality Bites: DoQC Documentary Filmmakers” and “Indie Circle: Circle Competition Filmmakers.” Award-winning playwright and film critic Ed Cabagnot will preside the forum An in-depth discussion about the celebrated history film, Heneral Luna will take place on Oct.27.

Interaksyon editor-in-chief Roby Alampay will moderate the dis-

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 22, 2015

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Fix a shoe Love in a gondola Taj — “Star Trek” lieutenant Mrs. Reagan Joule fraction Thumbs through Bruins’ great Shows remorse Calcutta attire Merlin of the NFL Mystery and sci-fi Gulf — kwon do Apply icing Sour For some time Has a ball at the mall Hold off for Confront Airport vehicle Two fives for — — 1492 caravel Troublesome bug Charles Lamb Raise, as kids Circular current Forbid

Talosig receives prize from Daniel Matsunaga and KIX executive

cussion entitled “The Heneral Luna Revolution: Game Changer in Film”. This will be co-presented with InterAksyon.com.

On the same day, First Academy of Computer Arts (FACA), one of the country’s leading providers of digital design technology courses, will talk about “Animation” and the processes involved in this 21st century art form.

Meanwhile, Andrew Leavold, an expert on Filipino B films, will touch on the history of local films in a discourse entitled, “Classic Films, Cult Movies, and Sleeper

Hits” on Oct. 27. Joining him in this insightful forum is ABS-CBN Film Restoration Project head Leo Katigbak. Multi-award winning editor Manet Dayrit will handle the arbitration in this discourse.

On the same day, Circle Competition screenwriters Monster Jimenez, Lilit Reyes, Jen Chuaunsu, Bryan Gonzales, and Arnel Mardoquio will share to the audience their storytelling wisdom in a forum called “From Concept Development to Final Draft”. Actress Jinky Laurel will lead the discussion.

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SHOWBITZ isahred @ gmail.com

Gabby ConCepCion joins new Kapuso drama series from C8

Gabby Concepcion

Sef Cadayona

Max Collins

o

ne-time matinee idol Gabby Concepcion has hopped over to the Kapuso lot after lingering for some time in the Kapamilya compound. Concepcion is in the cast of an upcoming drama series.

He will join Rafael Rosell, Valerie Concepcion, Iya Villania, Joyce Ching, Enzo Pineda, Kuh Ledesma, Celia Rodriguez, and Carla Abellana. Interesting cast, I guess.

So, will Concepcion have a renaissance as a Kapuso? We will see.

HHHHH sef Cadayona wants yaya dub in bubble GanG He is amazed at the phenomenal #AlDub and the kalyeserye.

He says it’s “all in one” because it has action, comedy, dram and most of all love story. That is why the audience love the Kalyeserye so much, Sef Cadayona added.

And it’s not just the audience in the Philippines, but also overseas.

Alden Richards was at one time a guest in Bubble Gang, but Cadayona hopes Maine Mendoza would also make a guest appearance. He thinks she has a lot of talent that isn’t discovered yet, especially in comedy.

HHHHH max Collins wants to be youth’s role model Role model for the youth. That’s what Max Collins wants to be and that’s the reason she likes Juan Tamad very much because it imparts a lot of lessons to the audience.

Says Collins, she’d like to use her talent in inspiring the youth.

She is very happy that Juan Tamad is doing very well in the ratings.

Sarah Geronimo

HHHHH GettinG ready for sG from the top Sarah Geronimo is now looking at the designs of gowns that she might wear in her concert on Dec. 4 at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.

Apart from that, she is also looking at the line of songs she will perform in the show.

This is her 8th major concert.

Her previous show was called Perfect 10 in 2013. The first night, Araneta was filled to the rafters, so Viva Live decided to hold a repeat at the Mall of Asia Arena.

This early, fans are already excited to go and watch SG From The Top. General Admission and VIP tickets are now sold out.

On Oct 1, Sarah’s fans went to see her personally at the Araneta, the day the tickets were announced to be available. Now, we’re not surprised the general admission and VIP tickets were easily sold out.

HHHHH filipinos love pepito manaloto, ismol family It’s not surprising that Pepito Manaloto and Ismol Family are leading in the ratings in their respective timeslots.

The shows are both child friendly and relatable to all the audience.

The shows are continuously evolving, too so that the audience won’t complain that they are watching the same shows every week.

Andrea Torres

HHHHH men wait for andrea torres’s booK siGninG A lot of men are asking if there would bee another book signing for Andrea Torres’ Road Trip. The social networking sites have been flooded with that question.

We asked Torres who immediately answered that there is a plan to hold another one before yearend. So, gentlemen, calm down and you will have the chance to be up close with Andrea Torres.

HHHHH alden, aiai bondinG Alden Richards and AiAi delas Alas have grown closer since their trip to Japan for GMA Pinoy TV. Fans of Alden and AiAi jam packed the venue to have a closer look at the current phenomenon on TV. Alden said he felt the motherly care of AiAi while they were in Japan. That is why he is giving everything he could to make Sunday Pinasaya in which they are both in it a happy show.

Star-Studded NOVeMBer ShOwS

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asino Filipino (CF) Angeles will continue to treat its patrons to star-studded shows Among the country’s top celebrity performers who will be spotted at the Angeles casino branch are It’s Showtime host Vice Ganda (Nov. 14), singer-song writer Jose Mari Chan (for the VIP Night on Nov. 20), and the country’s undisputed concert king Martin Nievera (Dec.29).

According to Nievera, he is proud to have been chosen as one of the Filipino artists who will perform in Casino Filipino. “After years of performing in some of the major casino resorts all over Las Vegas and the world, it’s about time I perform here at home,” he excitedly said.

Since it will be his first time to hold a show in CF, Nievera vows to “squeeze in as many of my 33 years of music as I can in one show. It’s an honor to be added to Casino Filipino’s already very prestigious line-up of performers,” he added.

Besides Nievera, Vice Ganda and

Jose Marie Chan, CF Angeles will also feature Luke Mejares on Oct. 23, and KZ Tandingan on Oct.28.

In November, among the featured celebrity performers are The Company (Nov. 4), Ivy Violan (Nov. 11), Liezl Garcia (Nov. 13), Vina Morales (Nov. 18), Frenchie Dy (Nov. 25) and Willie Nepomuceno (Nov. 28).

Meanwhile, Aldub fans in Pampanga and northern Philippines will have one of the best Christmas gifts from CF Angeles come Dec. 2, as Alden Richards, the “Pambansang Bae” holds a show at the branch together with former Sexbomb dancer Rochelle Pangilinan.

Comedians Le Chazz and AJ Tamiza will also bring the house down on Dec. 16 with their unique brand of comedy while Randy Santiago will serenade casino patrons on Dec. 23. Jose Manalo and Wally Bayola, along with a live band, will also entertain the Angeles casino guests on Dec. 11 while Erik Santos is slated to hold another exciting show in the branch on Dec. 26.

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ISAH V. RED EDITOR isahred @ gmail.com

SHOWBITZ

‘One night Of Queen’ rOcks Manila cOncert scene ISAH V. RED It takes just one song to bring back a thousand memories. Take for example the song “Bohemian Rhapsody” by the Queen.

Everytime you hear this song played on the radio or television or sang in karaoke bars, you easily recall the golden days of rock and all there is to it, from fashion to Woodstocklike concerts to the lifestyle in that era. To some it flashes back special events in their lives and it sort of became a soundtrack of a certain generation as well.

Watching a concert wherein you hear your favorite songs gives you the same feeling of nostalgia.

Now, if you’re into that kind of vibe and you expect songs to bring back memories of youthful years and reminisce the golden era of rock, you shouldn’t miss out One Night of Queen, a concert which pays homage to one of the greatest bands of all time.

Performed by Gary Mullen and The Works, One Night of Queen is a two-hour energy-filled concert which never fails to amaze their audience that had even toddlers and grandparents dancing in the concert halls and venues around the world.

Gary’s spot-on imitation of the legendary frontman of the Queen, Freddie Mercury, has been wellreviewed by international critics, which makes him the closest thing to seeing the iconic singer perform live.

For more than a decade now, Gary Mullen and The Works have been touring the world to bring to life the timeless rock anthems of Queen. And on Oct. 24 and 25 at The Theater of Solaire Resorts and Casino, they’ll finally set their foot on Philippine concert stage.

Re-live Queen’s most-lauded performances with songs such as “Radio Gaga,” “A Kind of Magic,” “Another One Bites the Dust,” “Love of My Life,” “We Are The Champions,” “Bohemian Rhapsody,” “I Want to Break Free,” “We Will Rock You,” to name a few.

Mullen is excited to perform in Manila because he learned that Filipinos love the music of Queen.

“We will definitely have a good time as we rock the night away,” says the best Freddie Mercury tribute artist.

Joining Gary Mullen & The Works as their special guest is actress-singer Glaiza de Castro who recently headlined a sold-out concert at the Music Museum. She is looking forward to returning to the concert stage and ecstatic to hear some of the most popular rock anthems. “I love rock music and I listen to the songs of Queen.

I can’t wait for this show to happen,” Glaiza says.

One Night of Queen is proudly presented by Solaire Resorts & Casino, MKFAE Productions and Royale Chimes Concerts and Events Inc. with New World Manila Bay Hotel as the official residence..

For tickets, head to any SM Tickets, TicketWorld or TicketNet Outlet. You may also call them at 8919999 (TicketWorld), 4702222 (SM Tickets) and 9115555 (TicketNet). ➜ continued on c7

Glaiza de Castro

Gary Mullen and The Works perform as a tribute to the legendary rock band Queen. Mullen sings the songs of the band as a tribute to Freddie Mercury