The Standard - 2015 October 26 - Monday

VOL. XXIX NO. 256 3 Sections 32 Pages P18 MONday : OCTOBER 26, 2015 www.thestandard.com.ph editorial@thestandard.com.ph

Morales acting in bad faith, VP claims

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‘MORE INC BRASS BEING DETAINED’

By John Paolo Bencito

EXPELLED Iglesia ni Cristo minister Lowell Menorca said Sunday more ministers and their families were being illegally detained like he was inside the church’s Central Temple in Quezon City.

In a press conference, Menorca said he was abducted, threatened, tortured and interrogated, then held with his family for three months in an apartment inside the church’s Central Compound in Quezon City, because they suspected him of creating a blog that exposed corruption in the INC. “For three months we were there, for three months we were incarcerated. We were never free to go out,” Menorca said, even though they were told that they would be gradually introduced to the outside world and that everything would go back to normal. “I told them I don’t want my child growing up

knowing we were prisoners here.”

Menorca denied that he was Antonio Ebangelista, the creator of the blog that detailed anomalies in the church.

“I am not Antonio Ebangelista,” Menorca said. “But all of us are Antonio Ebangelistas— all of us who want a cleansing inside the Iglesia.”

Menorca said other victims like him were also in need of help.

“I cannot divulge right now how many are inside the Central Temple, but they are also in dire need of our help and prayers,” he said.

INC leaders denied Menorca’s allegations in a statement Sunday.

“The officials of INC are surprised and saddened by the recent turn of events, and the statements of Mr. Lowell Menorca II,” the statement said.

The church also said they would address Menorca’s allegations in the proper venue, and that they were confident that if they were treated fairly and given due process, they would establish their innocence and clear their names.

Speaking to reporters, Menorca said he was abducted from his church in Sorsogon on July 16 by three uniformed police officers Next page

Ordeal. Former Iglesia Ni Cristo minister Lowell Menorca and his wife Seiko Otsuka Menorca recount before reporters at a hotel in Manila their supposed ordeal after they were kidnapped by alleged Iglesia members. Danny Pata

Online poll has Miriam ahead by big margin

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Loan sharks benefit from Lando victims

By Joel Guinto RICE farmer Francisco Santo Domingo’s life is in ruins after losing yet another gamble with nature, but the typhoon that destroyed his crops means gleeful loan sharks have again hit the jackpot.

Like thousands of other farmers, Santo Domingo will be forced to go back to the “shadow” bankers who dominate the country’s agricultural economy and take on even more debt at exorbitant interest rates.

“My life is an endless cycle of borrowing money to plug more

money that I owe,” a disconsolate Santo Domingo, 37, said as he looked over crops that were just a week away from harvest but ruined

by Typhoon “Lando.”

“This storm will mean we will go hungry for a very long time.

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‘Lando’ worsened NAIA congestion By christine F. Herrera

AN Airport official admitted Sunday that heavy air traffic congestion developed at the height of typhoon “Lando” on Monday because the Ninoy Aquino international Airport could only accommodate 40 flights per hour—20 takeoffs and 20 touchdowns.

Ready for All Saints’ Day. Relatives spruce up the graves of their departed at the South Cemetery on Sunday in preparation for All Saints’ Day. Ey AcASio

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We bet everything on this harvest.”

Lando (international name Koppu) brought floods as high as three meters to one of the country’s most important rice growing regions, the fertile central plains of Luzon.

Santo Domingo’s three-hectare tract is in Santa Rosa, a sleepy farming town about two hours’ drive north of Manila.

He took out a P60,000 loan—a massive amount for any small-time farmer—just a few months ago to buy rice seeds, fertilizers and equipment.

With zero savings or collateral to offer banks for a loan, Santo Domingo said he had no choice but to seek out a village loan shark and agree to terms of 25 percent interest per month.

If the typhoon had not come, the fatherof-three had planned to sell his rice quickly enough to pay off most of the loan, while earnings from other crops would have helped manage the rest of the debt.

Now, he faces going back to a loan shark to try and finance another rice crop.

“The loan sharks only have to deal with delayed payments, they will get their money. But we farmers are condemned to die in debt,” the 37-year-old said.

This cycle of debt and disaster haunts millions of farmers and their families across the Philippines, where an average of 20 major storms smash the country each year.

According to the central bank, 604 of the country’s 1,600 cities and towns do not have a bank, denying many residents access to formal credit.

It is in these remote and rural environments that backyard credit operations thrive, with scandalous interest rates sometimes reaching up to 20 percent a day, analysts said.

In Santa Rosa, one loan shark admitted there were seven of them operating in a single government building.

“We expect the farmers to come to us for more loans after this typhoon. We are just helping them,” the lender, a 43-year-old accounting clerk, said.

The woman, a mother of two, spoke on the condition her name was not published, explaining she had not declared taxes on her loan earnings.

She said she got into the lending game a year ago with just a few thousand pesos and, charging monthly interest of 10 percent, she was quickly amassing a fortune.

The woman said she already had more than P1 million lent out to customers, meaning revenues of P100,000 a month.

“I am earning countless times more than my government paycheck. I hope to expand,” said the loan shark.

Because she works at the government office, she can get authorization from the farmers to take money from their relatives’ paychecks, reducing the risk for default.

Some loan sharks also ask for the ATM cards of the farmers or their relatives, which they will keep until the loan is paid, she said.

Five percent of all Filipino adults owe money to informal lenders, Central Bank Governor Amando Tetangco said, adding that authorities were trying to encourage banks to lend to the poor.

Many of the farmers who bite the bullet with loan sharks will never recover from debt, said financial planner Salve Duplito, a celebrity personal finance coach.

“The more they get into these schemes, the harder it will be for them to lift themselves out of this debt quicksand,” she said.

Poor farmers, many of them illiterate, fail to realize how the scandalous interest rates add up, sometimes up to 1,000 times the principal amount, she said.

Duplito added that violence and intimidation were common tools in the industry.

“They would shame the farmers by cursing at them in front of their houses. Some would take farm animals, pots and pans in place of cash,” she said.

“People also kill for money. Often, we hear of farmers found dead.” AFP

Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines spokesman Eric Apolonio said over radio dzRH that the limited capacity of NAIA forced the authorities to give priority to bigger aircraft.

He added that unscheduled flights that day had to return and seek an emergency landing because they failed to land at their destination because of bad weather.

Apolonio also admitted they were losing their more experienced air traffic controllers to countries like Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Singapore and Hong Kong that offer more pay—$10,000 as against the Philippines’ $1,000 a month.

Leyte Rep. Ferdinand Martin Romualdez, who had to circle over the Sierra Madre mountains for an hour Monday, demanded a probe of the chronic air congestion.

Belna Cabasan, a regular traveller, said she had experienced the same predicament faced

by Romualdez in her recent trips to Roxas and Davao on Aug. 25 and Sept. 2, respectively.

Cabasan said she and her co-passengers had to contend with air turbulence for an hour when her Cebu Pacific flight was ordered to hover due to heavy traffic at the runway.

“I pitied the kids because they were already throwing up because of air turbulence and the mothers had nothing to offer but comforting words that everything will be fine even as all of us feared we might run out of aviation fuel,” Cabasan told The Standard.

“Last Monday, Typhoon ‘‘Lando’’ affected Metro Manila. You have to understand NAIA can only handle 40 flights per hour, 20 takeoff, 20 touchdown. The problem at the time was that there were many flights bound for the

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wearing the badge of the Quezon City Police District and three civilians bearing high-powered firearms, led by Benefrido Santiago, a former member of the church’s powerful ruling council, the Sanggunian.

“While they were entering, they saw that I saw them, they ran towards me and said ‘Drop to the ground if you don’t want to get hurt!’ Their weapons were all pointed at me,” Menorca said.

En route to Dasmariñas in Cavite, Menorca said, the policemen who handcuffed him threw a live grenade onto his seat while he was being transported to a safe house.

“I was thrown a live hand grenade before my very eyes.

Luckily, it didn’t [go] off,” Menorca said.

Later on, Menorca said, a police officer was dispatched to finish the job by shooting him, but the minister begged for his life.

“I was begging the policeman to let me live,” Menorca said, telling him that he was a minister of the INC and was

North that were ordered to return to Manila because they could not land. So there was really congestion in NAIA,” Apolonio told dzRH. The North-bound planes had to return and make unscheduled and emergency landings at NAIA, he said.

Apolonio added that the flight controllers gave priority to larger plains and that small aircraft had to wait their turn.

He added that Romualdez’s flight was allowed to take off from Bacolod because the weather was still clear at the time. But on their final approach to Manila, because of the bad weather, more returning planes from the north arrived ahead of the lawmaker’s aircraft.

“We cannot control the weather. We gave them clearance, but the situation changed during the travel time of one to one-and-a-half hours,” he said.

Romualdez on Sunday proposed a review of salary structure of the country’s air traffic controllers, saying this would effectively prevent their continued departure for greener pastures abroad.

Romualdez, a senatorial candidate, underscored the need to increase the salaries and benefits of air traffic controllers.

“Now is the time to review their [air traffic controllers] salary structure and package of benefits to prevent them from leaving their work for greener pastures abroad. We have to do something to retain the most skilled personnel by giving them the best compensation at par with their competence,” Romualdez said.

“Their excellent talent would help us prevent an air tragedy waiting to happen because of horrible traffic congestion in Manila airport,” he added.

Romualdez said his latest air experience was a common ordeal of all air passengers at NAIA, where aircraft are asked to fly “overtime” or beyond flight schedules because of congestion.

Romualdez described his experience Monday as the “scariest flight” of his life, after the pilots rejected the instructions of the air traffic controller to take a low altitude while circling the Sierra Madre Mountains.

While denying that inexperienced air traffic controllers are now manning the NAIA, Apolonio admitted over dzRH interview that the country is losing 3 percent annually out of the 450 regular air traffic controllers because of better compensation abroad.

innocent of any crime.

The policeman said he was willing to let Menorca live as long as he agreed to any charge that would be filed against him.

In Dasmariñas, Menorca was charged with possession of an explosive device.

After he was detained, top church officials, including Santiago, interrogated him for days to find out who Antonio Ebangelista was, before bringing him to the Central Compound of the INC in Quezon City on July 20, where he was detained for three months.

Menorca said he was only allowed to leave the compound when he would deliver “scripted interviews” to show that he was fine.

During this time, he denied that he had been abducted and detained.

Menorca said the Sanggunian, through the INC’s legal department, forced him and his wife Jinky to sign nondisclosure and waiver documents that would silence him.

After signing the papers, Menorca was transferred to a safe house in Fairview, where he was eventually rescued by his lawyer, Trixie Cruz-Ange-

les, in October.

Angeles said they are planning to file multiple charges— including illegal detention and grave coercion—against the INC leadership and some members of the Quezon City Police District.

“We have a shopping list of charges but the obvious ones would be illegal detention and grave coercion,” Angeles said.

Earlier, Menorca’s younger brother Anthony and the twin sister of his wife filed a petition for a writ of habeas corpus, asking the Supreme Court to order the church to produce their missing relatives.

On Friday, the Supreme Court ordered the INC leadership to produce Menorca and bring him before the Court of Appeals on Nov. 3.

Menorca’s brother has since been placed under the Witness Protection Program of the Justice Department, after saying there were threats to his life.

Menorca also said church leaders were threatening to stage another “show of force” like they did in August, after Executive Minister Eduardo V. Manalo became one of the respondents in the cases filed against the church. With Rio N. Araja

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Public utility operators back Roxas, Robredo A PARTY-LIST group of commuters and public utility drivers and operators on Sunday said it will support Liberal Party standard bearer Manuel Roxas II and his running mate, Camarines Sur Rep. Leni Robredo, in the 2016 national elections.

The 1-United Transport Koalisyon or 1-Utak, however, said it will stay away from the congressional race.

“Due to numerous inquiries, I would like to formally announce that 1-Utak will not participate in

the 2016 elections, but will instead focus in supporting the campaign of Mar-Leni,” 1-Utak chairman Vigor Mendoza told The Standard in a text message.

“We have set up a command center in Quezon City for this purpose.

Details on this will be announced later on,” he said.

The 1-Utak party-list fielded bus operator Homer Mercado as its first nominee in the 2010 elections and won one congressional seat.

In 2012, however, Mercado left 1-Utak for another party-list group, the Alliance of the Marginalized or 1Jam, and was replaced by Zenaida Maranan of the Federation of Jeepney Drivers and Operators of the Philippines.

Mendoza earlier told The Standard that the transport sector was represented by several transport party-lists, and that was “the reason why 1-Utak is no longer running.” Rio N. Araja

VP slams Ombudsman for ‘acting in bad faith’ THE camp of Vice President Jejomar Binay blasted Ombudsman Conchita Carpio-Morales on Sunday for allegedly acting in bad faith following its recommendation to file charges against him.

“The Ombudsman clearly abused its power and exceeded its authority, and it acted in bad faith when it recommended charges against the vice president,” said Binay’s spokesman Rico Quicho.

He said the Ombudsman’s action “was intended to malign and discredit the vice president, who cannot be the subject of an indictment during his term of office.”

He said the Office of the Ombudsman itself, through Field Investigating Office Acting Director Mar-

ia Janina Hidalgo, had admitted that the vice president was immune from suit.

He quoted Hidalgo as saying that, since Binay was immune from suit, the Ombudsman would have to wait until the end of Binay’s term to file the charges.

Hidalgo also said that in case Binay won in the 2016 elections and became President, the Ombudsman would then have to file the charges after his six-year term.

“Yes, he is immune, which is why our investigation and indictment will have

to wait until the end of his term,” Hidalgo said earlier.

In a motion for reconsideration filed on Oct. 19, Binay’s lawyers said the law requires that an impeachable officer must first be removed from office by impeachment before charges against him could be investigated to determine probable cause.

They said the law does not give the Ombudsman jurisdiction to investigate impeachable officers like the vice president and to issue a resolution indicting an impeachable officer.

“In proceeding with the investigation and subsequently issuing the Questioned Resolution, this Honorable Office clearly violated the Constitution and established jurispru-

Grace calls on government: Fight poverty, malnutrition THE government and the private sector will do well to implement development programs for women to alleviate poverty and prevent malnutrition, Senator Grace Poe said Sunday.

She made the call following the release of a Food and Agriculture Organization report saying gender-sensitive programs could produce better results for food security and better nutrition.

“Women are usually the ones who have to manage the household budget and, more often than not, they will prioritize the needs and welfare of family members, especially their children,” said Poe, a leading candidate for President in next year’s elections.

“When women have access to income, they will surely put food on the table,” she said.

Poe reiterated the need to protect the rights of marginalized sectors, to provide equal opportunities for livelihood and social services like education and health, and to create more programs and services to alleviate poverty all over the country.

She said the government should intensify programs on disaster rehabilitation so that affected families and communities could recover quickly.

“This is why we are proposing the creation of a permanent and dedicated agency for disaster risk reduction and management,” Poe said.

dence on the matter. It acted without jurisdiction,” Binay’s lawyers said in their motion.

They said Binay’s right to due process was violated by the Ombudsman when it ignored the objection posed by Binay that the Ombudsman had no jurisdiction over the case as he was an impeachable official.

“It was only when the Questioned Resolution was issued that Respondent Binay

was informed of this Honorable Office’s contrary position that it has jurisdiction and would therefore proceed with the investigation and render a resolution on the charges against him,” the lawyers said.

“Hence, Respondent Binay was deprived of any available remedy to question this Honorable Office’s position before the proper court.” Macon R. Araneta

Santiago ahead in online survey THE young people again proved to be allies of Senator Miriam Defensor-Santiago after she continued to widen her lead in the presidential and vice presidential surveys in the official fan page of the state-run Polytechnic University of the Philippines.

In the university-led online poll, Santiago, who filed her candidacy for President on Oct. 16, received 71.3 percent of the 80,000 votes cast.

She was the top choice in the online poll among the presidential aspirants in the May 2016 elections.

Santiago recalled that when she ran for President in 1992, her campaign was fueled by the hopes and dreams of the young Filipinos who wanted reform.

“This survey shows that I can replicate that in 2016,” said Santiago who fulfilled her promise of seeking the presidency once she was cured of cancer.

In July last year Santiago said she was diagnosed with Stage-4 lung cancer, but months later she was able to recover from the ailment.

Santiago’s rivals in the presidential contest lagged behind in the PUP poll, with Senator Grace Poe garnering only 12.4 percent of the total votes, former Interior Secretary Manuel Roxas II 11.9 percent, and Vice President Jejomar Binay 3.2 percent.

The survey was launched on Oct. 19, three days after the deadline for candidates to file their Certificates of Candidacy with the Commission on Elections. Santiago was the last to file her candidacy among the presidential aspirants.

Santiago’s lead in the online poll comes after her surprise entry into the 2016 presidential race, which analysts had initially expected to be a three-way fight between Binay, Poe and Roxas.

“The Internet has radically revolutionized the way young people think and how they affect their own families—their parents, their siblings and the people who live with them,” Santiago said. Macon Ramos-Araneta

Need for improved pre-hospital care heightens in Phl Better emergency response protocols and technology can save lives—Philips Healthcare

Reviving emergency response in the Philippines. Jim Weston, an advanced life support provider and clinical specialist, demonstrates how to use Philips DFM 100 Defibrillator during the ALS Resuscitation Workshop held at Health Cube, San Juan. The workshop which focused on pre-hospital care, was attended by nurses and emergency response teams from Quezon City, Pasig, San Juan, as well as Philippine General Hospital, Cardinal Santos Medical Center, Makati Medical Center and St. Lukes.

MANILA – According to the Department of Health (DOH), 170,000 Filipinos die from cardiovascular disease every year. While general healthcare plays a pivotal role in addressing this national threat, one specific area holds particular significance: pre-hospital care. “Heart attack is a deadly disease because you don’t know when it will strike,” warned Jim Weston, a clinical specialist for Philips Healthcare, during the two-day ALS Resuscitation Workshop series. “In such situations, early and proper resuscitation is key to saving lives.”

Speaking to emergency response teams and critical care nurses from hospitals like St. Luke’s (BGC and Quezon City), PGH, Cardinal Santos, and Makati Medical Center, Weston shared best practices and American Heart Association Guidelines for emergency response to cardiac arrest and stressed the importance of immediate recognition and activation of the emergency response system, early CPR with emphasis on chest compressions and early defibrillation.

Philips Healthcare is currently tapping both public and private healthcare organizations to inform the general public on the standards and developments in emergency response procedures. “Most people think patients only belong to the hospital. But there’s much that can be done in the pre-hospital environment. If we educate more pre-hospital emergency medical providers and improve bystander involvement, then we have a potential to improve resuscitation outcomes,” Weston remarked. The activity introduced the Philips Efficia DFM100 and the Philips HeartStart FR3 Defibrillator as tools for early emergency care response. For more information, log on to www.philips.com.ph.

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NPA hit for lumad mayor’s slay

By Lance Baconguis and Sandy Araneta

CAGAYAN de Oro City—The Philippine Army on Sunday denounced a statement from the communist New People’s Army on the killing of Loreto, Agusan del Sur Mayor Dario Otaza as “deceitful and superficial.”

Capt. Patrick Martinez, spokesperson of 4th Infantry Division disputed NPA Southern Mindanao command spokesman Rigoberto Sanchez’s accusations against Otaza and his son regarding their alleged “crimes against humanity.”

“Ironically, these accusations are all coming from the Number 1 Human Rights Violators [who are] criminals [themselves],” Martinez said.

NPA Southern Mindanao Command spokesman Rigoberto Sanchez, in a statement claiming responsibility for the killings, alleged that Otaza masterminded the murder and torture of lumad and other civilians, including the killing of Benjie Planos and Gabriel Alindao last September 2013.

Martinez said that Planos and Alindao are former NPA rebels who were killed by the rebels themselves.

“It was the NPA that killed Pla-

nos and Alindao in 2013 after they turned their back on the NPA after Otaza [told them that they have] a better future [outside the movement],” Martinez said.

This was “just like what Otaza did in 1986, [when he] turned his back on the NPA,” Martinez added.

Otaza and his son Daryl were abducted on Oct. 19 from their home in Barangay Baan, Butuan City and were found the following day, hogtied and riddled with bullets.

Planos and Alindao were sentenced to death by the NPA because of their betrayal, so “they were killed in September 2013 by the NPA, [which said they were killed by] Mayor Otaza,” Martinez said.

Martinez added that the other killings mentioned in Sanchez’ statement were all perpetrated on orders of the NPA’s kangaroo courts.

The military spokesman de-

scribed as “fabricated” the statement about four minors subjected to illegal arrest and illegal detention

by Otaza.

Martinez said that the four were no ordinary minors but were “child warriors” of the NPA involved in the murder of Ramon Diaganon, barangay chairman of Kauswagan, Loreto, on July 19, 2013.

The four were arrested by the 26th Infantry Battalion and the police and were immediately turned over to the Patin-ay Municipal Social Welfare and Development department.

Martinez said Sanchez’ statement only proved that “the NPA is losing control over Loreto,” Martinez said.

He said Otaza was instrumental in the surrender of 246 NPA rebels.

Meanwhile, Malacañang said on Sunday that it is supporting calls to stop violence against the lumads, even as as it continues to push for peace in Mindanao.

“The government supports all calls to stop violence against our brother lumad in Mindanao. The government is continuing to work on achieving peace and development in all places affected in order to assure the continuity of providing public services,” said Communications Secretary Herminio Co-

loma Jr. in an interview over staterun radio station dzRB. Coloma said the government condemns the killing of Otaza, who pursued peace and development in lumad and Manobo communities.

Coloma described the abduction and killing as a cowardly act, saying the Aquino administration “hopes that Otaza’s death unites the people of Agusan del Sur, the Manobos and the entire lumad community in working sincerely towards lasting, meaningful peace.”

Meanwhile, Bayan Muna partylist Rep. Carlos Isagani Zarate called on the Aquino administration to scrap its Oplan Bayanihan counterinsurgency program” among the indigenous peoples.

Zarate called for the immediate pullout of Army soldiers from lumad communities and the disarming of paramilitary groups to stop the spate of killings among indigenous peoples.

There have been 58 killings of lumad under the Aquino presidency, Zarate said.

“Almost 60 percent of government troops are in Mindanao. Beefing this up are another 20 or so paramilitary organizations terrorizing lumad villages,” Zarate pointed out.

Hazy view. The Cebu City skyline is blanketed with haze believed to have come from Indonesia, reducing overall visibility. The Department of Health advised Cebuanos to wear eye goggles and dust masks and, if possible, to stay indoors. RALPH PIEZAS

Chinese making PH turtle extinct CHINESE demand for forest turtles is threatening an endangered species found only on one Philippine island, wildlife officials said Sunday.

The Philippine forest turtle, found only in the western island of Palawan, is one of numerous freshwater turtles being taken by poachers for sale to China, said Adelina Villena, chief of staff at the Palawan Council for Sustainable Development.

“They sell them mainly to the Chinese exotic food and medicine trade and the pet trade. They are smuggled out of the country, some are even traded on the high seas,” she told AFP. The Palawan forest turtle is listed as “critically endangered,” by the International Union for the Conservation of Nature and is found in forests and streams.

It has a brown or black shell and can be recognized by a light-colored stripe across its head, behind its ears.

About 20 of these rare animals were seized on Oct. 18 among a haul of almost a thousand forest turtles collected by illegal wildlife traders in Palawan, Villena said.

She said the poaching of such turtles has increased recently with over 4,000 freshwater turtles, many of them of the endangered variety, also seized in Palawan in June.

“They are easy to find and easy to catch because they don’t move quickly. They can’t really escape.”

The crime of catching such animals is punishable by only six to 12 years in jail and is bailable, Villena added. AFP

Abad defends DAP constitutionality anew BUDGET Secretary Florencio Abad Jr. defended anew on Sunday the Aquino administration’s Disbursement Acceleration Program, insisting that the measure was crafted in good faith.

Abad, who is now facing an Ombudsman investigation together with President Benigno Aquino III and others over the DAP, clarified that only certain provisions in the program were declared unconstitutional by the Supreme Court.

“DAP itself was not declared unconstitutional. In fact, it was even praised as having been able to address the serious underspending at that time,” Abad said in an interview over ANC’s Inside Business.

“DAP was identified with PDAF [Priority Development Assistance Fund, or pork barrel], which I think is unfair. Certainly it was [spun],” Abad also said.

Abad said that they had problems trying to explain to the public that DAP is not the same as PDAF, because of public outrage.

“People always tend to suspect government.

People always suspect politicians. And so, if there is something seriously wrong with government, it must be true,” Abad said.

Abad, who is one of the ruling Liberal Party’s top officials, said he is prepared for the possibility of confronting the DAP issue in courts in case the ruling party fails to win the presidency in the 2016 polls.

“That can happen. But at the end of the day, my conscience, the President’s conscience, is clean. And so if we become the victims of political harassment as a result, well, that’s how it is,” Abad said.

Abad said the controversy over DAP was brought about as a “consequence of certain interests being pushed aside” when implementing reforms within the government.

“Change is a risky business. When you begin to reform certain ways of doing things, there is resistance always [not only] from the bureaucracy, but also from those who benefit from the old ways of doing things,” he said. Sandy Araneta

Ople backer. Davao City Mayor Rodrigo Duterte raises the hand of lone Nacionalista Party senatorial candidate Susan “Toots” Ople, endorsing her bid in next year’s elections. During a casual dinner last Friday in Hotel Elena, Davao City, both Duterte and Ople vowed to protect overseas Filipino workers against all forms of human trafficking.

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Lumad caravan. Activists who join the Manilakbayan or caravan in support of the lumad (indigenous peoples) get a rousing welcome from several organizations as they enter Parañaque on Sunday, Oct. 25, 2015. DANNY PATA

Haze thickens, cancels flights

The Philippines cancelled flights and put hospitals on alert on Sunday, as its southern and central islands were covered by thickening haze from Indonesian forest fires.

Smog from Indonesian slashand-burn farming has choked vast expanses of Southeast Asia for weeks, killing at least 10 people, forcing events to be shut down and schools to close across the region.

International efforts to douse the blazes have done little to clear the air, and Filipino authorities warned ash levels were becoming increasingly dangerous in the southern islands.

“The department of health is advising those who have breathing problems or respiratory diseases to wear face masks in areas covered by haze,” presidential spokesman Herminio Coloma told reporters.

Hospitals in the south were

ready to receive anyone affected by the haze, he added.

Six flights to central and southern islands were cancelled or delayed Sunday due to the thickening smog, after thousands were left stranded over the past 10 days.

Pilots flying in the central city of Cebu could only see eight kilometres (five miles) ahead, said government weather observer John Agbay, adding that visibility was also impaired in the western island of Palawan.

Indonesian forest fires are an annual occurence, but dry weather has made them particularly bad this year and Malaysia, Singapore, Australia and Japan have all sent help to fight

the blazes.

While the haze in the Philippines has been mild compared to other parts of Southeast Asia, the smoke has been largely unexpected as the islands affected lie thousands of kilometres away from the fires.

Singapore, one of the worst hit, on Sunday urged fellow ASEAN members to take “firm and decisive action” against ahead of a group summit in Malaysia next month.

The city-state issued the call after Singaporean troops and firefighters returned from an international assistance mission in Indonesia’s Sumatra island.

Experts say Typhoon Koppu, which passed over the northern tip of the Philippines last week, may have contributed to the problem in the archipelago by dragging the smoke across from Indonesia. AFP

Chiz makes a strong pitch for biometrics ExPrESSINg alarm that at least three million qualified voters face the prospect of not being able to vote in next year’s presidential elections should they fail to have their biometrics captured by the end of this month, vice presidential frontrunner Senator Francis Escudero called on voters in the country to validate their registration and asked their supporters to help boost the Commission on Elections’ information drive.

Escudero said that the call for voters to have their biometrics captured is consistent with the platform of independent presidential candidate Senator grace Poe, “Walang Maiiwan” (No One Left Behind), which is anchored on the principle of inclusiveness.

“We are running under a platform of inclusiveness. Yet at least three million qualified voters will be left behind and will not be able to vote in 2016 if we will not help Comelec. I encourage all our supporters to convince their friends and relatives to check their registration records and have their biometrics taken before the deadline,” Escudero said.

Pursuant to republic Act 10367, registered voters whose biometrics (photograph, fingerprint and signature) have not been captured must submit themselves for validation before the city or municipal election officer.

Voters who fail to submit for validation before the deadline shall be deactivated and shall not be able to vote in May 2016.

Comelec has set the deadline for validation on Oct. 31 of this year.

It launched the “No Bio, No Boto” campaign early this year and scheduled satellite registrations in malls and barangay halls to make the voter registration and validation procedures accessible.

Escudero reminded voters of how precious the right to vote is, quoting the US Supreme Court decision Wesberry v. Sanders, which states that “no right is more precious in a free country than that of having a voice in the election of those who make our laws, under which, as good citizens, we must live.”

“To paraphrase retired Chief Justice reynato Puno,” said Escudero, “the polls are the great equalizer because all of us, regardless of our status or background, have one vote, and it is our responsibility to use the elections as our opportunity to get our voices heard.”

According to Escudero, the respected jurist was also right in pointing out that “who you put in Malacañang or in Congress will determine how much taxes you pay, where your taxes will go, and whether the rights you enjoy today will still be yours tomorrow.”

8 lawmakers boost anti-cancer drive EIgHT lawmakers are pushing for the establishment of a National Cancer Institute of the Philippines, hoping to address or at least minimize the third leading cause of death in the country.

“Cancer is afflicting some 189 per 100,000 Filipinos. It kills about 105 victims a day or four deaths per hour,” stressed the authors of about six similar bills now under consideration by the House Committee on government reorganization.

These bills are: 1) HB 181 filed

by rep. gustavo S. Tambunting; 2) HB 1782 by Buhay Party-list reps.

Mariano Michael Velarde Jr., Lito Atienza, Jr., and Irwin C. Tieng; 3) HB 2077 authored by rep. georgina P. De Venecia; 4) HB 3384 by rep. Mark A. Villar; 5) HB 3765 filed by rep. Hermina B. roman; and 6) HB 5321 by AngNars Party-list rep. Leah S. Paquiz.

Paquiz, a registered nurse noted that the top cancer sites in the country, according to the Department of Health, include cancers of the lung/larynx, liver, cervix and

colon/rectum/stomach.

“These are cancers whose major causes are known and where action can therefore be taken for primary prevention. For example, anti-smoking campaign for cancer of the lung/larynx, vaccination against hepatitis B virus for cancer of the liver, safe sex for cancer of the cervix, and a healthy diet for cancer of the colon/rectum/stomach. Except for liver cancer, the top Philippine cancer sites are also the top cancer sites worldwide,” Paquiz stressed. PNA

Zombie Zumba. Residents of Mandaluyong City add a Halloween twist to the Zumba dance craze complete with make-up, costume and props as they join the annual ‘Zombie Zumba’ Fitness Caravan 2015.

MANNY PALMero

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editorial@thestandard.com.ph

‘Brain drain’ hits energy sector

By Rio N. Araja The Department of energy is beset by a “brain drain” as a result of “poaching of energy officials by private companies,” according to Rep. Arnel Ty of the LPG Marketers Association.

“The DoE has been losing managers who are now working for private corporations whose business activities are being regulated by the department,” said Ty, a House deputy minority leader.

Several Energy depart-

ment undersecretaries, assistant secretaries and directors left their jobs to work for private petroleum firms, power producers and distribution utilities in the past years, he noted.

“The poaching has somewhat weakened the DoE as

a regulator. Our sense is, the individuals in charge of enforcing our energy laws have become reluctant to reprimand or warn violators who could be their future employers,” he said.

He said there is a need to amend the Code of Con-

duct and Ethical Standards for Public Officials and Employees, or Republic Act 6713, to discourage “poaching.”

Ty also slammed the lack of enforcement of a DoE circular requiring liquefied petroleum gas importers to

maintain at all times at least seven days of in-country, ready-to-market inventory, plus 45 days of inbound shipment.

“Enforcement of the circular is absolutely imperative because we as a country import more than 80 percent of our LPG requirements,” he said.

“If the DoE does not properly manage our supply of the cooking gas, the risk of a temporary shortage and profiteering by abusive suppliers is always there to the detriment of consumers.”

According to Ty, some parts of Metro Manila experienced an insufficiency of LPG supplies when Typhoon ‘‘Lando’’ hit Luzon last week.

Liquigaz Philippines Corp., a big importer of the cooking fuel, ran out of ready-to-market supplies because the arrival of a shipment was delayed by the storm, he said.

“This would not have happened if the DoE is rigorously enforcing the circular on mandatory inventory levels at all times,” he added.

Opinion new KBL president; Balagtas is sec gen

By Rey E. Requejo

Upsilonians. Senatorial candidate and Leyte Rep. Martin Romualdez (5th left, standing) and Upsilon Sigma Phi Alumni Association president Jessie

Andres (3rd right, standing) pose with members of Upsilon Sigma Phi Batch ’80 during the 50 th anniversary celebration of Upsilon Sigma Phi Batch ’65 held at Alabang Country Club in Muntinlupa City. The late President Ferdinand Marcos and the late Senator Benigno Aquino Jr. were among the prominent members of the fraternity. VER NoVENo

PSALM head faces plunder raps over IPP deal THE Department of Justice has been asked to prosecute the head of the state-run Power Sector Assets and Liabilities Management Corp. for plunder in connection with the alleged P14-billion loss over its 2009 contract with an independent power producer for the Sual Power Plant in Pangasinan.

In a 20-page complaint filed by the San Miguel Energy Corp., PSALM president and chief executive officer Lourdes Alzona was accused of violating the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act. Also impleaded in the complaint were Suguru Tsuzaki, president of Team Philippines Energy Corp.; and Kochi Tamura, executive vice president of Team Sual Corp.

The complainant alleged that the Memorandum of Agreement entered into in June 2009 by PSALM with TPEC and TSC, which served as the Independent Power Producer for the Sual Power Station, was disadvantageous to the government.

The said MoA entitled “Memorandum of Agreement in Respect of the Excess Capacity of the Sual Power Station” gave birth to the concept of “excess capacity” wherein it was agreed that the “ECA [Energy Conver-

sion Agreement] Contracted Capacity would be 100 megawatt net per unit. TSC shall be entitled by itself and/or through TPEC, to market, offer, sell and supply the nominal Excess Capacity to any customer, independent of and without payment of any fee to PSALM and/or nPC.” In June 2009, SMEC won the bidding as the SUAL IPP Administrator and was granted the rights to 1,000 Megawatt net Contracted Capacity of the Sual Power Station.

SMEC alleged that they were not able to get the net Contracted Capacity of 500 Megawatt per Unit because TPEC’s 100 Megawatt nominal Capacity was given priority in accordance with the 2009 MOA on Excess Capacity.

“The TPEC Trading amount is settled first and kept intact most of the time while the PSALM Trading Amount [for SMEC] is only the balance after the TPEC Trading Amount is deducted from the Total Trading Amount,” the complaint alleged.

SMEC, then requested the PSALM to review the question of MoA, but the latter eventually sided with TPEC and “practically endorsed pro rata sharing proposal saying that both SMEC and TPEC should share

these [generation] imbalances.”

SMEC pointed out that TPEC illegally benefited from the excess capacity to the detriment of the Philippine government and SMEC. It stressed that from november 2009 to September 2013, TPEC was able to gain P17. 2 billion from the P2.82 million MWh generated as the “excess capacity” using the MoA settlement formula.

The complaint stressed that from the said amount, P14 billion should have gone to the government in accordance with ECA which states that the “entire Power Station output” should be dedicated to nPC while P3.3 billion should have been given to SMEC corresponding to the capacity that was taken from SMEC’s 1000 net Contracted Capacity.

SMEC highlighted that the ill-gotten wealth in this case came from a series or combination of payments made to TPEC anchored on the illegal MOA executed by PSALM, TPEC and TS. In addition, it noted that all elements of plunder are present because of the connivance of Alzona with TPEC and TSC by continuing the implementation of the questioned MoA. Rey E. Requejo

A vETERAn lawyer has been named chairman and president of the Kilusang Bagong Lipunan political party, a coalition of parties that was formed in 1978 and supported the late President Ferdinand Marcos during the Interim Batasang Pambansa.

In a notice to its members, KBL said Jose vicente Opinion has succeeded former Commission on Elections commissioner Jaime Opinion.

The change in leadership was formalized in a KBL resolution duly filed before the Comelec on Oct. 5.

The party said all election-related documents, including acceptance of membership applications, appointment of regional chairperson, as well as certificates on nomination and acceptance should be signed by any two of three duly appointed KBL officials— Opinion, the new president and chairman; party secretary-general George Balagtas; and consultant Rogelio Luis.

“Representations made and/or documents bearing the signatures of persons other than those specified will not be recognized by the KBL or the Comelec,” the party said.

The party also called on the public to report any incidents of persons offering appointments or asking for personal representation on behalf of KBL other than Opinion, Balagtas and Luis.

Opinion was earlier elected governor for Eastern visayas of the Integrated Bar of the Philippines.

m o n D AY : o c t o b e r 2 6 , 2 0 1 5

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NEWS

editorial@thestandard.com.ph

Tamaraws increasing in number, still ‘critically endangered’

By Robert A. Evora RIZAl, Occidental Mindoro— The country’s largest wild land mammal, the tamaraw, is consistently increasing in number, officials of the government’s Tamaraw Conservation Program have announced.

The TCP, however, said that despite the success in the government-led conservation campaign, the tamaraw (bubalus mindorensis), is still listed by the International Union for the Conservation of Nature as “critically endangered” because the safe level for animal species to survive is “not less than 500 heads.”

From 154 bull heads in year 2000 where the conservation program started, the 2015 count is 405 bulls.

The 2015 figure represents an increase of 23 heads or 16 percent from the 2013-2014 count of 382 heads or “young recruits” (calves).

The count was 327 heads in 2011 and 345 heads in 2012.

The tamaraws now roam freely in the wilds of the vast mountainous grasslands of the 106,000-hectare Mount Baco-Mt. Iglit National Park. It straddles eight southern municipalities of Oriental Mindoro and Occidental Mindoro.

Forester Rodel M. Boyles, TCP coordinator, said their counting was accurate since the TCP used two methods in head counting, the Intensive Concentration Count and the Simultaneous Multi-Vantage Point Count. “We also use GPS [global positioning system] in monitoring movements of the tamaraws,” he said.

But, he added that the TCP is not resting on the success of the government-led conservation program.

“There is still much left to be desired in our campaign because there are still threats to the animal’s survival,” Boyles said in front of science students and teachers from Oriental Mindoro, headed by Environmental and Natural Resources officer Maximino Jumig, who toured the 208-hectare Tamaraw Gene Pool farm last Friday.

The field visit is part of the island-wide information dissemination campaign among the youths of the two Mindoro provinces that coincides with the joint celebration of the Tamaraw Month this October.

The visitors told TCP officials this is the first time they have seen a tamaraw.

“Kalibasib,” a 16-year-old male tamaraw, is the first tamaraw born in captivity on June 24, 1999. He is the only survivor of 20 captive tamaraws who were raised and later died from several causes, including diseases and poaching several years ago.

“Kalibasib,” who is blind on his left eye, is now a lonely figure inside the pool since his mother, “Mimi,” and 19 others died several years ago. He now appears to be tamed or domesticated, like a carabao, to live with or near people or accustomed as a pet.

“It could be the result of his 16 years of confinement, since his birth, inside the gene pool,” Danilo Z. Roca, TCP field operations officer, said.

Taming a tamaraw. A science pupil gives some grass to Kalibasib, a 16-year-old captive tamaraw in Occidental Mindoro. ROBERT EVORA

3 Abu Sayyaf bandits killed in Basilan clash

By Florante S. Solmerin At leAst three members of the Abu sayyaf Group were killed and scores were wounded, including four soldiers in a 40-minute firefight sunday in Barangay Baiwas, sumisip, Basilan.

According to Captain Roy Trinidad, chief of staff of the Joint Task Force “Zambasulta” (Zamboanga, Basilan, Silu, and Tawi-Tawi), “Operating troops of Joint Task Group-Basilan encountered an estimated 50 combined members of the ASG under

sub-leader Radzmil Jannatul at around 11:50 o’clock this morning that resulted in the deaths of the bandits.”

Trinidad said that in the middle of the firefight, another group of lawless elements led by a certain Katatuh Balaman joined

Jannatul’s group. This, he said, prolonged the fighting.

“The troops were conducting clearing operations when they chanced upon Jannatul’s group. They were joined later by the group of Balaman,” Trinidad added.

Government reinforcements forced the bandits to withdraw into different directions.

“Troops are now relentlessly pursuing the Abu Sayyaf,” Trinidad said.

Meanwhile, the Joint Task Group Basilan has inserted more elite forces into areas where the bandits likely withdrew.

Archdiocese bans use of church for campaign

Scouring a stream. Small-scale miners hunt for precious gold through the ‘barkis’ sluicing method. DAVID CHAN

CEBU CITY—The Archdiocese of Cebu has issued a circular that prohibits politicians from using the church as a campaign venue.

The circular issued by Cebu Archbishop Jose Palma contains guidelines on the use of church premises and the celebration of sacraments during the campaign period, including the ban on political speeches during any part of the mass.

The guidelines aim to “safeguard the non-partisan stance of the Church and the sacredness of the sacraments.”

Palma said it is commendable for candidates and their parties to get the blessing of the church, but he urges them to follow the guidelines.

Palma issued the order

following reports that some churches, particularly those based in Cebu City, were being used as venues for political parties to introduce their candidates.

The Cebu Archdiocese also prohibits the introduction of candidates before, during and after mass.

Candidates and their parties are not allowed to bring campaign materials, such as placards and streamers, in the church and its premises. Politicians and their supporters, however, can wear their party shirts.

Political rallies are also prohibited inside the church or chapel.

Palma said priests must excuse themselves from having photos taken with the candidates to avoid being accused of partisanship.

PNA

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opinion

ADELLE chuA eDitoR

lettertotheeditor@thestandard.com.ph

opinion

So i See Lito banayo

YOlanda, landO, atbp…

[ EDI TORI A L ]

Mocking the Un The Palace last week praised the UN as a beacon of hope as the world celebrated United Nations Day, a gesture that seemed duplicitous, given the Aquino administration’s recent moves to dismiss or disregard the supranational body’s findings on its actions here at home.

“Now, more than ever, the significance of United Nations cannot be overemphasized as governments continue to resort to the UN and its various agencies for the promotion of peace, health, and development,” a Palace spokesman said. The fulsome praise follows her colleague’s flippant dismissal earlier this month of a UN agency’s finding that the government violated international human rights law with its illegal, arbitrary and politically motivated detention of former President Gloria Arroyo. In that instance, another spokesman for President Benigno Aquino III, said the finding of the Working Committee on Arbitrary Detention under the UN high Commissioner for human Rights was “just a group expressing their own opinion.”

Sadly, this was not the first time that President Aquino’s administration has pushed aside the UN. In September, the administration turned down a request by UN special rapporteurs to visit the country to look into reports of killings and human rights abuses committed against tribal communities or lumad in Mindanao.

A human rights group based in the Philippines had asked the UN special rapporteurs to investigate the killing of lumad leaders Dionel Campos and Juvello Sinzo and lumad teacher emerito Samarca in Surigao del Sur, but the UN envoys are not allowed to conduct an investigation without an invitation from the government.

While thousands of lumad fled their ancestral homes in fear, this administration said it needed to undertake its own “internal processes” before any international bodies could get involved.

“It is best to leave the investigation to relevant authorities in the Philippines,” a Foreign Affairs spokesman said to justify the government’s rejection of an independent UN probe.

The disastrous consequence of the administration’s refusal to allow UN investigators into the country came home to roost last week, when a village leader led a mob of townsmen and some soldiers in destroying a school run by a private organization and named after an Italian priest who was killed for championing the rights of indigenous people.

Lawmakers from Bayan Muna said the Fr. Fausto Tentorio Memorial School in Kitaotao, Bukidnon, was destroyed by a mob led by the barangay chairman and aided by some soldiers.

The school, run by the Mindanao Interfaith Services Foundation Inc., was named after Italian priest Fausto Tentorio of the Pontifical Institute for Foreign Missions who was killed on church grounds in Arakan, North Cotabato in 2011 by members of the same paramilitary group accused of killing the three lumad leaders in September.

Given this government’s dismal failure to abide by international human rights conventions, its praise of the UN is a mockery of the principles for which it stands.

Silence, not lies, would have been the more honest way for this government to mark UN Day.

One and plural penSéeS fR. RanhiLio caLLangan aqUino The Synod of Bishops has ended and the Vatican website has made available—in Italian —the “Relatio”, the report, on the world meeting of bishops (that included priests, assessors from other faiths, and representatives of the laity.) Alarmists had predicted that the synod would end in perilous dissension. Some went even so far as to predict that a schism was in

the offing. After all, the history of the Catholic Church records divisions spawned by apparently innocuous disagreements: whether it should be “Father and Son” or “Father through the Son,” on what day easter should be celebrated, whether a person’s good deeds are creditable to him or are the result of grace at work in him, etc. Things ended well, though, and it remains the one, holy, Catholic and apostolic Church.

Pope Francis’ closing address is as acute as it is pastorally sensitive. What some bishops from one part of the world propose

as solicitous and charitable, bishops from another part of the globe consider scandalous, he observed. Those who complain that the teachers of the Church—the Pope and the bishops—are not in touch with reality better pay heed, because there is no surer sign that the pastors of the church are fully immersed in the contexts of the people they serve than the pluralism that manifested itself quite dramatically at the Synod!

The Church is fully aware that the source of cohesion that was to be found in lifeworlds within which people thought, lived and

A9

‘in the end, only three things remain— faith, hope and charity, and the greatest of these is prudence!’

acted has been shot through by a plurality of divergent, conflicting world-views, perspectives, schemes and norms.

Phronesis—prudentia: these are the virtues of the post-traditional age. With grand narratives discredited, what remains is for each to respond thought-

fully, responsibly and humanly to the exigencies of circumstances and to the particularities of one’s life. The church remains a community set apart by non-negotiable credal articles, but how these dogmas and canons are understood and lived, these have not been spared the

sweep of pluralism. That is the significance of the synod’s invitation to persons in difficult situations—such as divorced and re-married Catholics —to turn to the “internal forum”. The external forum is the sphere of the judicial and the administrative. The internal forum has to do with conscience, with the dispositions of soul, with the particular promptings of human intelligence in response to the concreteness of one’s life-circumstances. It is to me a convincing sign that the Spirit

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-

breathed new life into the Church, that the Synodal Fathers responded to the prompting to urge phronesis—prudentia when recourse to overarching dogmas and precepts would otherwise result in complete separation from the communion of Christ’s faithful.

There is one more thing.

Propositions are important. The Church has always placed a premium on the careful articulation of what it believes, hence the “symbola fidei” and the “definition” of dogma. And

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

MST ONLINE

can be accessed at: www.manilastandardtoday.com

MEMBER

PPI

Philippine Press Institute The National Association of Philippine Newspapers

what might seem to be pointless semantic disputes are not pointless at all. Thought is mediated by language and clarifying terms is indeed clarifying thought.

But propositions alone do not do justice; propositions alone do not fulfill the precept of charity. Invocation does.

Invocation is the language of the ethical, taught Levinas. So does the synod teach. There might be so much that the members of the Church do Continued on A11

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

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

TWo weeks from now, we will be commemorating the destructive visit of the strongest typhoon in the history of the world—Typhoon ‘‘Yolanda’’ (internationally known as haiyan). It killed close to 10,000 Filipinos, most of them in Leyte and Samar. It devastated the beautiful and historic city of Tacloban, in a scale reminiscent, if not worse than how Manila was ravaged by the liberators during the Pacific War. Up until now, many of the survivors of that catastrophe are still living, nay, existing, in makeshift bunkhouses and shelters.

Two years after, normalcy eludes the seminal lives of thousands in Tacloban, Tanauan, Tolosa and other parts of Leyte, as in Guiuan, Basey and other parts of Samar, not to mention livelihoods displaced as far as Bantayan and Panay.

Last week, a less powerful typhoon hit Northern Philippines, bringing with it a deluge of rainfall that caused mudslides and flooding in Northeastern and Central Luzon. As of this writing, 58, (perhaps more) lives were counted as lost. Damage to the country’s rice bowl has been extensive, as most of Nueva ecija, Pampanga and Bulacan’s ricefields have been flooded, not just by tons of water, but tons of mud.

“Dumapa ang palay na aanihin na sana,” a farmer in Nueva ecija tearfully told media. Casiguran in Aurora is flattened, as much as Tacloban was in Yolanda’s wrath.

Government has announced plans to augment its stock of imported rice, because estimates of the current rice crop lost would reach a million tons at least. I recall that in 2011, Typhoon ‘‘Pepeng’’ also hit Nueva ecija, Sept. 26, to be exact. And in one single day and night of cascading waters from the Sierra Madre, 980,000 metric tons were lost.

In Yolanda, tall and sturdy coconut trees were shattered to pieces, which will take years to recover. Victims of such calamities, mostly subsistence farmers, just have to bear the brunt of nature’s wrath, pick up the pieces, and cling to the hope that the heavens will show some mercy.

To make things worse, the drought has already begun in Mindanao. And soon, the entire country will suffer from what is supposed to be the worst el Niño in six decades. We experienced a terrible drought during the last year of Ramos, and well into the first year of estrada’s aborted rule. happenstance it may be, but the el Niño cycle somehow hits us, mild or strong, every time there is a national election.

The impact of a prolonged el Niño will be felt even more severely in our food production next year, and in the supply of water for residents of Mega Manila. The next president, whoever he or she may be, will have his hands full dealing with a major, major crisis right on Day one of his administration.

It is not as if no one tried to warn the present government about the inevitability Continued on A11 Rolando G. Estabillo Jojo A. Robles Ramonchito L. Tomeldan Chin Wong/Ray S. Eñano Francis Lagniton Joyce Pangco Pañares Adelle Chua Romel J. Mendez Roberto Cabrera

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

Emil P. Jurado Chairman Emeritus, Editiorial Board

M O N D AY : O c T O B E R 2 6 , 2 0 1 5

A8

opinion

ADELLE chuA eDitoR

lettertotheeditor@thestandard.com.ph

opinion

So i See Lito banayo

YOlanda, landO, atbp…

[ EDI TORI A L ]

Mocking the Un The Palace last week praised the UN as a beacon of hope as the world celebrated United Nations Day, a gesture that seemed duplicitous, given the Aquino administration’s recent moves to dismiss or disregard the supranational body’s findings on its actions here at home.

“Now, more than ever, the significance of United Nations cannot be overemphasized as governments continue to resort to the UN and its various agencies for the promotion of peace, health, and development,” a Palace spokesman said. The fulsome praise follows her colleague’s flippant dismissal earlier this month of a UN agency’s finding that the government violated international human rights law with its illegal, arbitrary and politically motivated detention of former President Gloria Arroyo. In that instance, another spokesman for President Benigno Aquino III, said the finding of the Working Committee on Arbitrary Detention under the UN high Commissioner for human Rights was “just a group expressing their own opinion.”

Sadly, this was not the first time that President Aquino’s administration has pushed aside the UN. In September, the administration turned down a request by UN special rapporteurs to visit the country to look into reports of killings and human rights abuses committed against tribal communities or lumad in Mindanao.

A human rights group based in the Philippines had asked the UN special rapporteurs to investigate the killing of lumad leaders Dionel Campos and Juvello Sinzo and lumad teacher emerito Samarca in Surigao del Sur, but the UN envoys are not allowed to conduct an investigation without an invitation from the government.

While thousands of lumad fled their ancestral homes in fear, this administration said it needed to undertake its own “internal processes” before any international bodies could get involved.

“It is best to leave the investigation to relevant authorities in the Philippines,” a Foreign Affairs spokesman said to justify the government’s rejection of an independent UN probe.

The disastrous consequence of the administration’s refusal to allow UN investigators into the country came home to roost last week, when a village leader led a mob of townsmen and some soldiers in destroying a school run by a private organization and named after an Italian priest who was killed for championing the rights of indigenous people.

Lawmakers from Bayan Muna said the Fr. Fausto Tentorio Memorial School in Kitaotao, Bukidnon, was destroyed by a mob led by the barangay chairman and aided by some soldiers.

The school, run by the Mindanao Interfaith Services Foundation Inc., was named after Italian priest Fausto Tentorio of the Pontifical Institute for Foreign Missions who was killed on church grounds in Arakan, North Cotabato in 2011 by members of the same paramilitary group accused of killing the three lumad leaders in September.

Given this government’s dismal failure to abide by international human rights conventions, its praise of the UN is a mockery of the principles for which it stands.

Silence, not lies, would have been the more honest way for this government to mark UN Day.

One and plural penSéeS fR. RanhiLio caLLangan aqUino The Synod of Bishops has ended and the Vatican website has made available—in Italian —the “Relatio”, the report, on the world meeting of bishops (that included priests, assessors from other faiths, and representatives of the laity.) Alarmists had predicted that the synod would end in perilous dissension. Some went even so far as to predict that a schism was in

the offing. After all, the history of the Catholic Church records divisions spawned by apparently innocuous disagreements: whether it should be “Father and Son” or “Father through the Son,” on what day easter should be celebrated, whether a person’s good deeds are creditable to him or are the result of grace at work in him, etc. Things ended well, though, and it remains the one, holy, Catholic and apostolic Church.

Pope Francis’ closing address is as acute as it is pastorally sensitive. What some bishops from one part of the world propose

as solicitous and charitable, bishops from another part of the globe consider scandalous, he observed. Those who complain that the teachers of the Church—the Pope and the bishops—are not in touch with reality better pay heed, because there is no surer sign that the pastors of the church are fully immersed in the contexts of the people they serve than the pluralism that manifested itself quite dramatically at the Synod!

The Church is fully aware that the source of cohesion that was to be found in lifeworlds within which people thought, lived and

A9

‘in the end, only three things remain— faith, hope and charity, and the greatest of these is prudence!’

acted has been shot through by a plurality of divergent, conflicting world-views, perspectives, schemes and norms.

Phronesis—prudentia: these are the virtues of the post-traditional age. With grand narratives discredited, what remains is for each to respond thought-

fully, responsibly and humanly to the exigencies of circumstances and to the particularities of one’s life. The church remains a community set apart by non-negotiable credal articles, but how these dogmas and canons are understood and lived, these have not been spared the

sweep of pluralism. That is the significance of the synod’s invitation to persons in difficult situations—such as divorced and re-married Catholics —to turn to the “internal forum”. The external forum is the sphere of the judicial and the administrative. The internal forum has to do with conscience, with the dispositions of soul, with the particular promptings of human intelligence in response to the concreteness of one’s life-circumstances. It is to me a convincing sign that the Spirit

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-

breathed new life into the Church, that the Synodal Fathers responded to the prompting to urge phronesis—prudentia when recourse to overarching dogmas and precepts would otherwise result in complete separation from the communion of Christ’s faithful.

There is one more thing.

Propositions are important. The Church has always placed a premium on the careful articulation of what it believes, hence the “symbola fidei” and the “definition” of dogma. And

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

MST ONLINE

can be accessed at: www.manilastandardtoday.com

MEMBER

PPI

Philippine Press Institute The National Association of Philippine Newspapers

what might seem to be pointless semantic disputes are not pointless at all. Thought is mediated by language and clarifying terms is indeed clarifying thought.

But propositions alone do not do justice; propositions alone do not fulfill the precept of charity. Invocation does.

Invocation is the language of the ethical, taught Levinas. So does the synod teach. There might be so much that the members of the Church do Continued on A11

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

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

TWo weeks from now, we will be commemorating the destructive visit of the strongest typhoon in the history of the world—Typhoon ‘‘Yolanda’’ (internationally known as haiyan). It killed close to 10,000 Filipinos, most of them in Leyte and Samar. It devastated the beautiful and historic city of Tacloban, in a scale reminiscent, if not worse than how Manila was ravaged by the liberators during the Pacific War. Up until now, many of the survivors of that catastrophe are still living, nay, existing, in makeshift bunkhouses and shelters.

Two years after, normalcy eludes the seminal lives of thousands in Tacloban, Tanauan, Tolosa and other parts of Leyte, as in Guiuan, Basey and other parts of Samar, not to mention livelihoods displaced as far as Bantayan and Panay.

Last week, a less powerful typhoon hit Northern Philippines, bringing with it a deluge of rainfall that caused mudslides and flooding in Northeastern and Central Luzon. As of this writing, 58, (perhaps more) lives were counted as lost. Damage to the country’s rice bowl has been extensive, as most of Nueva ecija, Pampanga and Bulacan’s ricefields have been flooded, not just by tons of water, but tons of mud.

“Dumapa ang palay na aanihin na sana,” a farmer in Nueva ecija tearfully told media. Casiguran in Aurora is flattened, as much as Tacloban was in Yolanda’s wrath.

Government has announced plans to augment its stock of imported rice, because estimates of the current rice crop lost would reach a million tons at least. I recall that in 2011, Typhoon ‘‘Pepeng’’ also hit Nueva ecija, Sept. 26, to be exact. And in one single day and night of cascading waters from the Sierra Madre, 980,000 metric tons were lost.

In Yolanda, tall and sturdy coconut trees were shattered to pieces, which will take years to recover. Victims of such calamities, mostly subsistence farmers, just have to bear the brunt of nature’s wrath, pick up the pieces, and cling to the hope that the heavens will show some mercy.

To make things worse, the drought has already begun in Mindanao. And soon, the entire country will suffer from what is supposed to be the worst el Niño in six decades. We experienced a terrible drought during the last year of Ramos, and well into the first year of estrada’s aborted rule. happenstance it may be, but the el Niño cycle somehow hits us, mild or strong, every time there is a national election.

The impact of a prolonged el Niño will be felt even more severely in our food production next year, and in the supply of water for residents of Mega Manila. The next president, whoever he or she may be, will have his hands full dealing with a major, major crisis right on Day one of his administration.

It is not as if no one tried to warn the present government about the inevitability Continued on A11 Rolando G. Estabillo Jojo A. Robles Ramonchito L. Tomeldan Chin Wong/Ray S. Eñano Francis Lagniton Joyce Pangco Pañares Adelle Chua Romel J. Mendez Roberto Cabrera

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

Emil P. Jurado Chairman Emeritus, Editiorial Board

A10 OppOrtunity in crisis DreAMS do come true and old sayings can become a reality. riTa Linda When my family v. jimeno and I first set foot in the municipality of Lobo in Batangas more than 10 years ago, the roads were all rough and bumpy and the people’s only steady source of living was fishing. People lived simple lives and had simple dreams. We fell in love with that quiet, laid-back town just the same because it had pristine beaches, lush mountains and a welcoming people. Thus, we took the leap of faith and put whatever little savings we had to become adopted children of Lobo. Our leap was coupled with a vision that one day this undiscovered paradise will rise from the rubble of poverty. recently, we realized that our dream was now taking shape and the old saying that “Crisis is the mother of opportunity” is fast becoming a reality in Lobo.

Only some six months ago, crisis erupted in the once-sleepy town when its people learned that its Sangguniang Bayan had endorsed to the Mines and Geosciences Bureau of the Department of environment and Natural resources the operation of open-pit mining for gold by an Australian company. The oncequiet municipality which prides itself in being along the coast of the Verde The rest of the nation Island Passage—the center of the center will soon get to see the of the world’s marine well-kept secrets of biodiversity—and Lobo. of having rich flora and fauna, was threatened by the destructive effects of open-pit mining.

The church leaders, resort owners, the Lobo Water District officials who became gravely concerned about the devastating effect on Lobo’s watersheds, the media, especially ABS CBN network and several columnists, and people’s organizations quickly joined hands to avert the destructive consequences of mining on the Verde Passage and Lobo’s mountains and rich vegetation. The stakeholders formed a coalition that was to employ a multi-pronged courses of action.

Gina Lopez of the Lingkod Kapamilya Foundation stepped in to persuade the local government of Lobo that mining would impoverish the people of Lobo even more, apart from permanently destroying the Verde Passage. She promised to lift the municipality’s economy by introducing trainings toward organic farming and food processing and manufacturing.

She also promised to market Lobo’s products and promote it as a tourist destination.

Several rallies and protests were staged at the town’s plaza and at the environment Department.

Finally, listening to what the people wanted, the Sangguniang Bayan revoked the endorsement it earlier gave to the mining company. This was also promptly followed by a resolution issued by the regional ecotourism Committee composed of several government agencies, led by the Department of Tourism, which declared that Lobo, being part of the Batangas and the Verde Island Passage coastlines, is included in the National Tourism Development Plan of the government. Thus, the ecotourism Committee said, no application for mineral contracts such as mining shall be allowed pursuant to executive Order 79, dated 6 July 2012.

Then, last week, the local government of Lobo led

by Mayor Gaudioso Manalo signed a Memorandum of Agreement with the ABS-CBN Lingkod Kapamilya Foundation, headed by Gina Lopez. In

ouT of The box

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OPINION

lettertotheeditor@thestandard.com.ph

prOsperity is gOOd fOr marriage, and vice versa By megan mcardle LAST week I was on a panel at the American enterprise Institute about families and state-level economic performance. We were discussing a new report from AeI and the Institute of Family Studies that shows that the share of married adults, and especially, married parents, are associated with higher per-capita gross domestic product and lower levels of violent crime.

It’s one of the best predictors of better outcomes that they studied. “In fact,” write authors W. Bradford Wilcox, Joseph Price and robert I. Lerman, “it’s a better predictor of states’ economic mobility, child poverty, and median family income than are the educational, racial, and age composition of the states.”

Saying that family structures predict outcomes is not, of course, the same as saying that they caused them. If I look out the window and see icy streets, I can make a pretty good prediction that it’s cold outside. That does not tell me that the cold is being emitted from the ice.

And so, unsurprisingly, much of the discussion focused on causality. Does a strong economy help people form strong families, or do strong families make for a stronger economy? I don’t have to tell you why this question matters: The direction of the causation should shape countless government policies. Liberals tend to believe that the causation mostly runs from the economy to the family, and conservatives tend toward the opposite explanation.

Both arguments have some evidence to back them up. In the worst year of the Great Depression, marriage rates were down about 20 percent from their precrisis levels. No one thinks that the Great Depression happened because the world experienced a huge decline in the desire to marry, so we can be pretty sure that the causation ran from economic disaster to young people declining to tie the knot. We also have studies showing that people who get better-paying, more stable jobs are more likely to marry.

Unfortunately, we don’t have similarly elegant studies looking at the opposite question.

Any social scientist who proposed dividing people randomly into two groups—one forced to marry, the other forbidden to—would hear some very sharp

words from the folks who monitor research on human subjects.

We can look at differences between people who are married and people who aren’t, and see that married men, for example, tend to have higher earnings and otherwise superior outcomes to those who are unmarried.

The problem is that there are probably selection effects: People who get and stay married may be different sorts of people from folks who don’t, in ways that researchers would have a hard time observing and controlling for.

They may be more patient, more conscientious, better plugged in to an extended family network that helps them survive the slings and arrows of outrageous fortune.

But even if we have trouble teasing out a causal relationship in the data, there are nonetheless strong reasons to think that twoparent families may help promote economic growth. For starters, two parents living in one household can devote more income and time to their children than even dedicated parents living separately, simply because it’s cheaper to live together than separately, and more parental time can be spent with the children than is possible when the parents are living in separate homes. Moreover, multipartner fertility sets up competition for paternal resources between families in a way that you don’t see in two-parent families.

Beyond that, single parenting can be more stressful than coparenting; ideally having another person there means you can distribute the load. The adults in a two-parent household can also specialize in the tasks they are good at. And as any economist will tell you, specialization and gains from trade are among the major drivers of economic productivity. Instead of two people taking 45 minutes to cook dinner for themselves, one person can cook for both in the same 45 minutes, freeing 45 minutes of labor for something else.

Having a spouse facilitates this specialization more than having an unmarried partner does. If I decide to invest less in my career in order to invest more time in raising kids and making the household run smoothly, while you devote time to boosting your earning power, that can make all of us better off. But if we’re just cohabiting, I might not want to make that investment. The easier it is for one partner to leave, and walk off with the benefits they’ve

the agreement, the LGU made a commitment to environmental protection and conservation in all its activities and policies, and to the provision of counterpart contribution for projects identified by partner people’s organizations. For its part, ABSCBN Foundation committed to provide technical support for livelihood training, tourism and marketing, as well as media promotion. To jumpstart all the projects planned, First Gen Corporation, the leading producer of renewable energy in the country, pledged P5 million for use in livelihood training and tourism development.

With all the projects and infrastructure that are on the drawing board, the rest of the nation will

gained from specializing, the less specialization and investment we would expect to see.

So even if we don’t have a good way to test the economic benefits of married, two-parent families, we do see a plausible mechanism by which marriage could enhance economic performance both at the individual and macroeconomic level. That, along with the evidence that children from married, two-parent families have better outcomes on a variety of measures than those from singleparent or blended families, makes me think that there probably is a causal effect.

But as everyone on the panel agreed, we don’t actually have to choose. It can be true that marriage promotes economic growth, and also that economic growth promotes marriage.

Of course, that leaves us with the muddled question of what we should do about the decline in both economic opportunity and family stability that we’ve seen over the last few decades.

There’s not much evidence that the government can successfully promote marriage—at least, not without undesirable measures like curtailing legal divorce.

On the other hand, the liberal arguments often end up sounding something like this: “Fixing marital decline is hard, so we need to do something easier, like ending poverty and reversing labor market polarization!” I was airily informed on Twitter that we knew what to do about the economic problems, so let’s at least do that.

In fact, we don’t know what to do about the economic problems; if it was truly so obvious, we’d already have done it.

The decline of middle-class jobs results from a complex tangle of factors—in declining order of importance, technological change, trade and possibly immigration—that would not be easy to attack and would have substantial costs if we did. Cash transfers remain unproven, have costs of their own, and will run up against other budget priorities, like the massive cash transfers we’re scheduled to make to our nation’s old via Social Security and pension programs.

The problem the panel spent the most time discussing was establishing causation. But even if we solve that problem, the harder and longer discussions are yet to come.

Bloomberg

soon get to see the well-kept secrets of Lobo: its rice terraces, mangrove forest, an old lighthouse, waterfalls, a sea turtle sanctuary, and its marine life which is unparalleled in richness. Lobo’s plump sweet atis, its tamarind and mango wines, sardines and other organic products will soon be in markets.

My dream, and the Loboeños’ dream, that this once-undiscovered paradise will rise is fast becoming a reality, with credits to the crisis that hit it months ago.

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

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OPINION lettertotheeditor@thestandard.com.ph

Benghazi, Watergate and the muddle of motivation

By Stephen l. Carter on ThurSday, hillary clinton testified before the house Benghazi committee. if you’re a democrat, you’re certain by now that the investigation existed only to embarrass her. if you’re a republican, you think journalists intentionally bury every democratic sin and exaggerate every g.o.P. gaffe. Either way, the chances are that you ascribe a single unsavory motivation to the other side. a useful if perhaps unintentional corrective to such dangerous simplicity is “The last of the President’s Men,” Bob Woodward’s brisk, provocative and often frustrating portrait of richard nixon as seen through the eyes of his trusted aide alexander Butterfield. although history barely remembers him, Butterfield is the man who told the Senate Watergate committee about nixon’s tapes, thus ensuring the embattled president’s downfall. Toward the end of the book, Woodward asks Butterfield why he did it.

The answer is of considerable importance because of our habit of viewing the past through the lens of today’s knowledge. as Woodward reminds us, until the tapes came to

light, some two-thirds of american adults thought nixon innocent of involvement in the Watergate cover-up. The secret was known only to three or four top White house staffers, along with the small team of Secret Service technicians who installed the microphones and serviced the machines. nixon, in his autobiography, insists that he never thought the public would learn that the tapes existed. Without the inculpatory evidence they contained, the chances are good that he would have clung to office.

Politically, Butterfield had been a true believer, recruited from the air force by his friend h. r. haldeman to man a desk right outside the oval office. he managed nixon’s paper flow and, as time went on, carried out his smallest whims —including installing a spy within Edward Kennedy’s Secret Service detail. When Butterfield decided he wanted something more, nixon rewarded him with the job of head of the federal aviation administration, adding a promise that Secretary of the navy was likely in his future.

Why would such a man betray his boss?

The committee didn’t know about the tapes. one lawyer for the

one... From A9 that, expressed in propositions, would be opposed to what the church teaches. But the supreme law of charity is that which should set the disciples of the lord apart, not propositions, no matter how crucial or defining! and because it is law of the most exalted kind, the church heeds the command. The Synod calls on bishops, priests, laypersons to invite,

yolanda... From A9 of natural calamities and the need to pro-act in a permanent “crisis” footing, given the seemingly irreversible effects of climate change in our lives, reversible only if the whole world takes concerted and sustained action. right after yolanda devastated his hometown and district, along with neighboring areas, rep. ferdinand Martin romualdez authored house Bill 3486, which provided, among others, for the creation of a department of disaster Preparedness and Emergency Management, to plan, proact, and oversee not just relief

the line correctly, but here some context is helpful. for le carré, the fifth floor is where the bureaucrats sit. his hero george Smiley is listening as connie Sachs, a retired researcher, talks about a Soviet intelligence officer named Kirov who in the past had been targeted for recruitment as a British spy. connie argues that Kirov had tagged onto a man named otto in part because he was ordered to but also because otto was “dishy, and anti-authoritarian, and light on his feet”—in short, everything Kirov “could never be, not in a thousand years.” The point is that the bureaucrats could never understand the mixture of motives that might give them the chance to turn Kirov against his employers.

To the fifth floor, Kirov could have been following orders; he could have been half in love; he could never have been both.

People are complicated. Woodward’s engrossing volume gives us an alexander Butterfield of enormous complexity. We needn’t be like the fifth floor, and imagine that he must have had one motive only for disclosing the secret that brought nixon down. Perhaps the reason Butterfield is unable to explain himself to our satisfaction is

to invoke, to welcome persons in difficult situations and tangled relations.

There is one common entry in facebook profiles that never ceases to fascinate me: “in a complicated relationship” or “it’s complicated”. complicated, perhaps, when one wants to classify, when one is obsessed by status. important though this juridical preoccupation may be, it is not as important as being charitable, being pastoral, and the language of charity, of respect, of welcome

efforts but implement measures that would minimize loss of lives and property on account of natural calamities.

The “hugot,” as most filipinos use a fashionable descriptive, stared all of us right before our eyes: the tragedy in Tacloban on nov. 8, 2013. Even cnn broadcast the “miserable” relief efforts for all the world to see, with its on-field reporter wondering where government was. now lando came, and again, in a few hours of nature’s wrath, casiguran upon picturesque aurora province was flattened. The only consolation, if at all, was that their mayor had ordered earlier evacua-

#failocracy

republican side suspected, but nobody was sure. had Butterfield parried the lawyer’s questions, which he very easily could have done, the secret might very well have stayed safe. Butterfield assures us that the others on the senior staff who knew —haldeman and larry higby— would never betray the president.

So what was his motive?

Butterfield proves elusive. he just thought it was time the truth came out. or maybe he held a grudge against nixon, who was often rude and dismissive. Perhaps at heart he’s an honest man. The fits and starts go on for pages.

Part of the problem may be that Butterfield himself comes across as not terribly self-examining: “i don’t feel i had a motive. i’m not sure i like the term ‘motive.’ i was just the guy who happened to know all this stuff and i had a bad start with nixon.”

Woodward understands the futility of trying to reduce any action to a simple cause-and-effect explanation. he quotes various literary luminaries on the topic.

What jumps out is a line from John le carré’s masterwork “Smiley’s People”: “Why did the fifth floor always think people had to have one motive only?” Woodward quotes

tion. But the homes of those inhabitants of a marginal economy on the coastline of the mighty Pacific were almost totally shattered. romualdez’ bill gathers dust in the house of representatives. i hope it is really because government reorganization is always a tedious task, and not because the author bears a surname that the powers-that-be dislike, memorably etched in the words of a presidential candidate who was in charge, and on the ground in Tacloban when yolanda struck.

There is so much about our bureaucracy that needs to be reengineered. There is so much “ad-hocracy” in our reaction to

precisely that there were more motives under his hat than a person can reasonably keep track of.

Which brings us back to the Benghazi committee. i suspect that there, too, nobody is acting out of one motive only. a republican member of congress could perfectly well believe, with utmost sincerity, that what happened when ambassador christopher Stevens and the others died needs to be investigated— and at the same time be delighted that she might have the chance to wound the democratic frontrunner. Similarly, a democrat might well be certain that it’s all a partisan witch hunt aimed at tarnishing his candidate—and at the same time believe, for reasons independent and sincere, that there’s nothing about Benghazi worthy of all the hoopla. democracy can’t work if we’re constantly assuming that those on the other side are acting for bad reasons. So let’s try to stay off the fifth floor. People are complicated.

Motives are complicated. When we think we know what’s “really” motivating someone—especially someone we dislike—the chances are we haven’t yet looked deeply enough. Bloomberg

is not the forceful enunciation of propositions, but the respectfulness of invocation and address.

There is an interesting paraphrase of Thomas aquinas that i owe to archbishop emeritus diosdado Talamayan: in the end, only three things remain—faith, hope and charity, and the greatest of these is prudence! rannie_aquino@sanbeda.edu.ph rannie_aquino@csu.edu.ph

events, no matter how predictable, that on the ground, when disaster strikes, response is often—well, “crazy.”

The benighted land faces so many problems, many a result of our past leaders’ inaction over the right and prescient things, or their over-action on things that matter little. climate change, which has resulted in weird patterns of weather and almost irreversible damage to our environment, is one of those things which matter most, but, save for conferences here and there, is largely unnoticed.

Which is one of many reasons why citizens these days wonder if

the choices for the elections next year present them with any alternative for change. The choices present little hope for real and meaningful change. one promises “continuity.” another promises a return to the bad old days, which it claims is better than continuing the “ineffectual.”

Still another promises a “new beginning,” harking to the promises of an adoptive father who, may he rest in peace, had never begun anything in public service. and one more whose self-proclaimed debilitating illness she now proclaims to be miraculously gone, as in will over science.

What a country!

chong ardivilla

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sports sports@thestandard.com.ph

LeBron wants to be like Mike LOS ANGELES—LeBron James is aiming to emulate the fearless approach of his idol Michael Jordan as he prepares for another tilt at glory with the Cleveland Cavaliers following last season’s heartbreak.

The world’s best basketball player is girding himself for the new season after suffering yet another disappointment in the NBA Finals, when the Cavs lost out to the Golden State Warriors.

James produced a remarkable individual contribution to the Cavaliers’ unsuccessful challenge, becoming the first player in history to lead both teams in points, assists and rebounds for the entire series.

Yet the statistics -- which included an eye-popping average of 35.8 points across six games -- could not mask the bitter sting of disappointment felt by the 30-year-old for-

ward, who has now finished on the losing side four times in six visits to the NBA Finals.

James admitted recently that the latest defeat was even harder to stomach, joking he had almost got to the point where he’d prefer not to reach the postseason rather than fall at the final hurdle.

“Every year you lose in the Finals, it gets worse and worse to get over,” James said following another summer of discontent.

“Last year during the post-season (I asked) would I rather not even make the playoffs than lose in the Finals?

“It’s a very valid question to

myself. You get all the way there and you lose, it’s like, ‘I could have those two months back, be laying out, helping my body get better.”

In a revealing recent interview with ESPN, James said he often felt encumbered by a fear of failure -- something he believes sixtime NBA champion Jordan rarely suffered from during his career.

“I look at it like this: MJ wasn’t perfect. MJ had bad games. He had turnovers. He had games where he felt like he should’ve been better.

“But I think the greatest thing about MJ was that he never was afraid to fail. And I think that’s why he succeeded so much -- because he was never afraid of what anybody ever said about him.

“Never afraid to miss the gamewinning shot, never afraid to turn the ball over. Never afraid,” James said, adding that he had struggled

to mirror Jordan’s sense of boldness.

“That’s one of my biggest obstacles,” James said. “I’m afraid of failure. I want to succeed so bad that I become afraid of failing.”

The remedy comes through victory, James said. “Keep winning and I don’t have to worry about it.

Keep winning,” he said.

Certainly in the eyes of their rivals, James and the Cavaliers are this season’s team to beat.

In a poll of NBA general managers last week, the Cavs received 53.6 of votes as the likeliest winners of the 2015-2016 season, with James the overwhelming favourite (39.3) to finish as the season’s MVP. James believes the return to fitness of power forward Kevin Love —injured during the playoffs last year—will allow him to take more time off in 2015-16. AFP

BASEL—Roger Federer will aim to profit from the public adoration of his hometown crowd as he bids for a seventh title at the Swiss Indoors starting on Monday.

The 34-year-old world number three will have certainly put aside his unexpected loss last week in Shanghai, where he was ambushed by Spain’s Albert Ramos in an opening match and went back to Europe only a few days after arriving to a hero’s welcome in China.

But that’s all part of the past for Federer, who claimed a sixth Swiss title at the St Jakobshalle a year ago in well under an hour against David Goffin.

The player who got his start in the game at the tournament as a ballboy, owns six trophies from 11 Basel finals over a span of 15 years, standing 56-9 on home ground.

Federer opens on Tuesday in the first round against Kazakh Mikhail Kukushkin with his drive and confidence not particularly dented by his early Shanghai surprise.

Korean seeks 2nd straight ladies’ crown AMATEUR Hwang Min Jeong tries to close out the ICTSI Ladies Philippine Golf Tour season in style, shooting for a second straight victory in the P.5 million Manila Southwoods Ladies Classic unfolding Tuesday at Southwoods’ Legends course in Carmona, Cavite.

Hwang humbled Cyna Rodriguez and fellow amateur ace Princess Superal in a thrilling finish to snare the ICTSI Mt. Malarayat Classic crown last month with the 14-year-old Korean looming as the player to beat in this closing leg of the eight-stage circuit organized by Pilipinas Golf Tournaments, Inc. But she will be as much tested as the rest of the field in the upcoming 54-hole tournament, which includes eight Thailand players out to duplicate their compatriot Meechai Wichanee’s title romp at ICTSI Splendido last April.

Saraporn Chamchoi, for one, sets out with a personal mission of ending a string of heartbreak finishes in the country’s premier ladies circuit this year, including two second runnerup efforts at Wack Wack and Luisita, making her a top contender for the top P100,000 purse.

Other Thai players tipped to join the chase for top honors are Sarauttaya Ngam-usawan, Mookharin Ladgratok, Wannasiri Sirisampant, Jaruporn Palakawongnaayuttawa, Chayuda Singhsuwan, Chattarat Chatwarrarat and Supakchaya Pattaranakrueang, who tied Chamchoi at third at Luisita.

But focus will still be on the young Hwang, a Grade 9 student at Holy Infant School in Muntinlupa, who will be trying to become only the double leg winner in the circuit put up by International Container Terminal Services, Inc. and backed

by Nike Golf, Pacsports, Custom Clubmakers and Sharp.

GRANDMASTER Rogelio “Joey” Antonio outsteadied qualifier Fide Master Jose Mari Turqueza to grab a share of the lead after two rounds in the open division of the 2015 Battle of the Grandmasters-National Chess Championships at the Philippine Sports Commission Athletes Dining Hall in Vito Cruz, Manila .

Antonio, who drew his first match with fellow GM Eugene Torre, climbed into a tie for the lead with Jerad Docena, who scored a win and a draw in the first two rounds.

The 17-year-old Docena, Board 2 player of De La Salle University in the UAAP, downed National Master Roel Abelgas and drew his match against Woman International Master Janelle Mae Frayna in the second.

Defending champion and 4th seed Torre posted his second draw to lead three other players with a full point each in the tournament organized by the National Chess Federation of the Philippines and supported by the Philippine Sports Commission.

“Makunat kalaban itong si Abelgas,” said Torre of his opponent after a tight endgame between the GM’s two bishops and Abelga’s knight-bishop combo. AFP

Diale gets crack at vacant title

LeBron James of the Cleveland Cavaliers is a picture of focus during the game against the Dallas Mavericks at Quicken Loans Arena in Cleveland, Ohio. AFP

Federer eyes 7th Basel title

Antonio gets share of lead

Hwang Min Jeong tries will be tested this time around in the P.5 million Manila Southwoods Ladies Classic.

By Ronnie Nathanielsz FORMER Oriental Pacific Boxing Federation flyweight champion Arden Diale gets another crack at the vacant title when battles Renoel Pael at Le Pavillion in Pasay City on Dec. 2 in a fight card presented by United Boxing International Promotions of Japan’s Ryuka Kato.

The hard-hitting and aggressive Diale is the current Philippine champion and is ranked No.1 by the OPBF while Pael is ranked No. 1 in the Philippines and No. 5 by the OPBF. The 27-year-old Diale has a record of 29-9-3 with 15 knockouts, while the 25-yearold Pael from the stable of Rex “Wakee” Salud has a record of 19-1-1 with 9 knockouts.

Diale won the vacant title with a third-round TKO over Jernie Jaael on Aug. 1, 2010, but then challenged Julio Cesar Miranda for the world title and lost by a fourth-round TKO in Mexico on February 26, 2011.

The fight card will be covered by Viva Sports and telecast on the top-rating weekly boxing show The Main Event at 8:30 p.m. on Saturday with a replay at 10:30 a.m.on Sundays over Pinoy Boz Office on Sky Cable nationwide.

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sports sports@thestandard.com.ph

Cignal blasts RC Games Tomorrow (The Arena, San Juan) 4:15 p.m—Foton vs RC Cola-Air Force 6:15 p.m.—Petron vs Cignal

Moto king. Red Bull KTM Ajo’s Miguel Oliveira celebrates his victory during the awards ceremony for the Moto3-class race at the Sepang International Circuit. AFP

More LGU help for sports sought SENATOR Grace Poe yesterday said local government leaders should help the sports sector in identifying potential talents who could become the country’s next sports heroes.

Poe made the remark amid the Philippines’ campaign to win more slots in next year’s Rio de Janeiro Olympics.

Only Filipino-American Eric Shawn Cray has so far made it in athletics, with more Filipino athletes still set to campaign in various Olympic qualifying tournaments to earn their tickets to the world’s biggest sporting event.

“Our country is made up of a hundred million people. To have only one Olympian to represent a hundred million Filipinos doesn’t seem right,” Poe a taekwondo blackbelter and one-time silver medalist in the National Open, said.

Poe said that current government funding for elite athletes, or those competing in international tournaments as members of various national teams, cannot compare with the high budgets allocated by other countries for their sports programs, but local government units could boost grassroots sports devel-

opment by helping spot and develop more athletes with the potential to qualify for the various national teams.

“Our youth is our future. Let us invest in them-- their overall wellbeing, including sports development. This should be our collective responsibility. Let us give our young athletes the push and the support they deserve,” Poe said.

Poe also said government leaders should not rely solely on the Philippine Sports Commission and its partner-stakeholders—the Philippine Olympic Committee and the various national sports associations. She pointed out that most Filipinos start their involvement in sports right in their communities.

“Our children get their first exposure to sports in their own backyards,” Poe said. “Nakikita nila mga kuya at mga tiyo nila na nagba-basketball, mga ate at tita na nagba-badminton. We are responsible for giving them the chance to improve in the

sport they prefer. Local government units should make those sports opportunities available to them.”

Poe also lamented the diminishing minutes allocated to sports in schools.

“The only saving grace our young student-athletes have are the Palarong Pambansa and the Batang Pinoy Games. But these are normally undertaken by the schools, the LGUs must involve themselves deeper in these activities. Hindi puwede na basketball at volleyball summer leagues lang ang pinagkakaabalahan ng barangays.”

“Many of the athletes who emerge from these Games have already been pinpointed by coaches and scouts from the NSAs. We pass on the opportunity of discovering more athletes in the mold of Shiella Mae Perez, the retired champion driver who was discovered playing in the port of Davao City. Marami pang kabataan na katulad nya ang hindi natin nakikita dahil hindi tayo tumutulong na maghanap.”

Poe said the PSC, government’s funding agency for sports, could help map which sports LGUs would have a strong chance of developing further.

ARIEL Usher unleashed another explosive performance as she powered Cignal to an impressive 2519, 24-26, 25-23, 25-17 victory over RC Cola-Air Force in the 2015 Philippine Superliga Grand Prix women’s volleyball tournament yesterday at the Cuneta Astrodome.

Usher, a gem of an import from Oregon, unloaded 29 kills and six service aces for a conference-high 36 points as the HD Spikers formally completed a clean sweep of the first round of this prestigious inter-club tournament presented by Asics and backed by Milo with Mueller, Mikasa and Senoh as technical partners and TV5 as official broadcast partner.

Her partner, Amanda Anderson, had nine kills and five blocks for 14 points while veteran Michelle Laborte chipped in 10 markers for Cignal, which is now regarded as the team to beat after flying under the radar in several pre-season analyses and predictions.

“I honestly have no idea how many points I scored,” said the blonde and charming Usher, who obviously won her first-round battle against another super import in Puerto Rican Lynda Morales of the Raiders.

SM Bowling Cup slated

By Lito Cinco THE SM Bowling Millionaire’s Cup that has the biggest cash prize staked at P4 million is back for its second season with more prizes, more divisions and definitely more participants in the four divisions that will be contested in seven SM bowling centers all over the country.

“We expect over a thousand entries for all the four divisions, the Junior Masters for bowlers 20 and below, the Senior Masters for those over 50, the Classified Masters for bowlers with PBC average scores of 186 pins and below, and the Open Division, where male and female bowlers play each other as they did last year. We are also allowing former and current national team members to participate and make it truly an Open tournament,” said CJ Suarez, a former world bowling champion and the Sports Development Head of the SM Bowling & Leisure Center.

“We are happy with our partnership with SM. Last year’s tournament resulted to more people getting in to the sport of bowling and this is good as we are in

the stage of rebuilding the sports to bring back its glory days when Filipino bowlers in Asian tournaments were so feared that other competitors would already concede the title to our bowlers,” Philippine Bowling Congress Secretary General Francis de Leon said.

The tournament opens with its qualifying tournament on Oct. 26 in all SM Bowling & Leisure Centers in Fairview, Megamall, Southmall, Mall of Asia, North EDSA, Cebu, and Lanang in Davao.

The grand finals are set on Dec. 16 at the SM Clark to coincide with the opening of the mall’s new 12lane bowling center in Clark.

A total of 44 players will qualify for the national finals that will stake P1 million for the Open champion, P500K for the Classified masters’ champion, and P50,000 each for the Junior and Senior Masters’ champions.

Bowlers are allowed to join more than one division for the same entry fee, paid one time.

Expected to defend her crown this year is 2014 champion Diana Galendez, a youth bowling champion from Davao City.

4 Americans share Vegas lead as 3rd round starts LAS VEGAS—A bogey at the par3 eighth hole on Saturday dropped Brett Stegmaier into a share of the lead with three other Americans after 36 holes at the Shriners Hospitals for Children Open.

Making only his fifth career US PGA Tour start, the 32-yearold ranked 483rd in the world parred the seventh and ninth as

well in finishing off his second round at TPC Summerlin.

That allowed back-nine starter Stegmaier to complete his second five-under par 66 in a row and match countrymen Tyler Aldridge, Chad Campbell and Morgan Hoffmann atop the leaderboard as the third round began on 10-under 132.

Stegmaier was among 14 players who failed to finish their second rounds on Friday due to darkness.

Zimbabwe’s Brendon de Jonge was among a group on 133 that also included Americans Nick Watney, Daniel Summerhays, Jimmy Walker and Cameron Tringale. AFP

Winners in the 19th DanceSport Council of the Philippines National Championships are shown here. They are (from left) Standard Grade A winners German Enriquez and Ma. Danella Renee Publico (1st place); Sean Mischa Aranar and Ana Leonila Nualla (2nd); Tristan John Ducay and Willane Rose Ducay (3rd); Mark Jayson Gayon and Mary Joy Renigen (4th); Reynald Santos and Ikuko Inaba (5th); Ra’mu Ramos and Margaretha Christina Schrijver (6th), with Flawless Business Director Drew Donovan-Mendoza, Chairman of the Board of Adjudicators Gheorghe Raducan and DSCPI President, Becky Garcia.

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Barredo, Alcala bag badminton titles SARAH Barredo staked her claim as the country’s top shuttler while young Mark Alcala continued to stamp his class in the men’s side as they copped the Open singles crowns in the Bingo Bonanza National Open Badminton Tournament at Glorietta 5 Atrium in Makati City yesterday.

Barredo recovered from an erratic start with a dominant performance in the second set then turned what had been expected as a thriller of a decider

into a runaway triumph behind crisp smashes and clever drop shots, yielding just six points in the third to post a 1521, 21-16, 21-6 scoreline.

The 50-minute romp primed up the PBA-Smash Pilipinas standout for another big tournament this week where Barredo is eyeing to complete a sweep of this year’s major Open women’s singles titles, counting her triumph in the recent FDG Cup. Barredo took the P100,000 purse

while Albo settled for P60,000 in the tournament sponsored by Bingo Bonanza and sanctioned by the Philippine Badminton Association headed by Vice President Jejomar Binay and sec-gen Rep. Albee Benitez.

Alcala, on the other hand, bucked the top seeded Kevin Cudiamat’s challenge and went on to pound out a 21-14, 21-17 victory to clinch the men’s singles diadem

in the top ranking tournament backed by official equipment Victor PCOME and official sports drink Gatorade.

It was another convincing win for the 16-year-old Alcala, who has been dominating men’s badminton with his quickness, power and class, humbling even the most veterans in the fold.

His straight-set, 33-minute victory over Cudiamat, also worth

Republic of the Philippines NUEVA ECIJA UNIVERSITY OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY Cabanatuan City 044-463-0228 www.neust.edu.ph

Marissa Vita (left) and Rommel Estanislao are shown in action against Alyssa Ysabel Leonardo and Alvin Morada Rommel Estanislao in the finals of the 2015 Bingo Bonanza National Open Badminton Tournament mixed doubles event. Vita and Estanislao won, 21-17, 21-15.

Ey AcAsio

INVITATION TO APPLY FOR ELIGIBILITY AND TO BID The Nueva Ecija University of Science and Technology through the Bids and Awards Committee (BAC) invites bidders/ supplier to apply for eligibility and if found eligible, to bid for hereunder contract 1.

Name of Project: Approved Budget for the Contract (ABC): Location: Contract Duration: Source of Fund:

2.

3.

4.

6.

7.

Name of Project:

4 Sets Pneumatics complete package trainer with hardware components, teachware, simulation and web-based training software & laboratory Workstation

Name of Project:

PhP 1,544,179.20 NEUST Gen Tinio Street Campus 60 Calendar Days Special Trust Fund

PhP 5,083,904.00 NEUST Gen Tinio Street Campus 60 Calendar Days Special Trust Fund 4 Sets Electro-Pneumatics Trainer with hardware components, Teachware, simulation and Web-Based Trainig Software with USB interfacing unit (Virtual to Virtual) and (Virtual to Hardware) connection PhP 4,174,656.00 NEUST Gen Tinio Street Campus 60 Calendar Days Special Trust Fund

Name of Project: Approved Budget for the Contract (ABC): Location: Contract Duration: Source of Fund:

1 Set MecLab – Complete Package

Name of Project:

2 Sets Electro-hydraulics Trainer with hardware components Teachware, Simulation, and web-based training software with USB Interfacing unit for (virtual to virtual) and (virtual to hardware) connection

Republic of the Philippines NUEVA ECIJA UNIVERSITY OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY Cabanatuan City 044-463-0228 www.neust.edu.ph

PhP 1,180,400.00 NEUST Gen Tinio Street Campus 60 Calendar Days Special Trust Fund

Approved Budget for the Contract (ABC): Location: Contract Duration: Source of Fund:

PhP 2,690,649.60 NEUST Gen Tinio Street Campus 60 Calendar Days Trust Fund

Name of Project:

Personnel Management Attendance and Payroll Solutions for NEUST

Approved Budget for the Contract (ABC): Location: Contract Duration: Source of Fund: 8.

PhP 4,922,579.20 NEUST Gen Tinio Street Campus 60 Calendar Days Special Trust Fund 4 units Programmable Logic Controller compact WBT PLC Programming

Approved Budget for the Contract (ABC): Location: Contract Duration: Source of Fund: 5.

2 Sets of Hydraulics Complete Package Trainer with Hardware Components, Teachware, Simulation and Web-based training software and Laboratory Workstation

Name of Project: Approved Budget for the Contract (ABC): Location: Contract Duration: Source of Fund:

Approved Budget for the Contract (ABC): Location: Contract Duration: Source of Fund:

P100,000, thus capped the top Allied-NVBA bet’s superb showing in the event which he ruled without dropping a set. Drawing a bye in the lower half of the full-packed draw, Alcala eased out Emilio Mangubat Jr., 21-16, 21-10; beat Alexis Geverjuan, 21-17, 2110, trounced Alvin Morada, 21-12, 21-11, in the quarters before whipping R-Jay Ormilla, 21-17, 21-12, in the Final Four.

INVITATION TO APPLY FOR ELIGIBILITY AND TO BID The Nueva Ecija University of Science and Technology through the Bids and Awards Committee (BAC) invites Contractors registered with and classified by the Philippine Contractors Accreditation Board (PCAB) to apply for eligibility and if found eligible, to bid for hereunder contract: 1. Project Title

PhP 955,000.00 NEUST Gen Tinio Street Campus 90 Calendar Days Special Trust Fund

Name of Project:

3 UNITS Standby/Power Generator 100KVA, 220/440 volts, 0.8 Power Factor, Three Phase , 60hz speed: 1800 rpm frequency, silent type

Approved Budget for the Contract (ABC): Location: Contract Duration: Source of Fund:

PhP 4,500,000.00 NEUST Campuses 45 Calendar Days Special Trust Fund

Approved Budget for the Contract: Location : Contract Duration : Source of Fund : 2. Project Title

:

Approved Budget for the Contract: Location : Contract Duration : Source of Fund :

The BAC will use non-discretionary pass/fail criteria in the Eligibility Check/Screening as well as the Preliminary Examination of Bids. The BAC will conduct post qualification of the lowest calculated bid.

All particulars to the Eligibility Statement and Screening, Bid Security, Performance Security, Pre-Bidding Conference, Evaluation of bids, Post Qualification and Award of Contract shall be governed by the pertinent provisions of R.A. 9184 and its Implementing Rules and Regulations (IRR).

Schedule of Activities

Date

1.

Advertisement/Receipt of Letter of Intent

2.

Pre-bid Conference

November 3, 2015

3.

Submission of Bid

November 16, 2015

4.

Bid Evaluation

November 17, 2015

5.

Post-Qualification

November 18, 2015

October 26 – November 2, 2015

PROPOSED THREE STOREY ENGINEERING BUILDING, PHASE IV, GRIDS I-M, 1-8 Php 9,026,396.30 NEUST Main (Sumacab) Campus, Cabanatuan City 180 Calendar Days Special Trust Fund PROPOSED THREE STOREY ENGINEERING BUILDING, PHASE V, GRIDS I-M/M-O, 1-8 Php 5,587,821.90 NEUST Main (Sumacab) Campus,Cabanatuan City 150 Calendar Days GAA 2015

Prospective bidder should possess a valid PCAB license applicable to the contract, have completed a similar contract with the value of at least 50 % of the ABC, and have key personnel and equipment (Listed in the Eligibility Forms) available for the prosecution of the contract.

The BAC will use non-discretionary pass/fail criteria in the Eligibility Check/Screening as well as the Preliminary Examination of Bids. The BAC will conduct post qualification of the lowest calculated bid.

All particulars to the Eligibility Statement and Screening, Bid Security, Performance Security, Pre-Bidding Conference, Evaluation of bids, Post Qualification and Award of Contract shall be governed by the pertinent provisions of R.A. 9184 and its Implementing Rules and Regulations (IRR).

Schedule of Activities

The BAC will issue to prospective bidders Eligibility Forms at the Office of the BAC Chairman, Nueva Ecija University of Science and Technology, Cabanatuan City upon their submission of a Letter of Intent (LOI) to the Nueva Ecija University of Science and Technology. Prospective bidders shall submit the Eligibility Requirements to the BAC at the said address. They may also obtain the results of the Eligibility Check by the BAC at the same address.

The BAC will issue bidding documents only to bidders declared by the BAC to be eligible for the bidding upon payment of the non-refundable amount of: PhP 5,000.00 for the 2 Sets of Hydraulics Complete Package Trainer with Hardware Components, Teachware, Simulation and Web-based training software and Laboratory Workstation PhP 5,000.00 for the 4 units Programmable Logic Controller compact WBT PLC Programming PhP 10,000.00 for the 4 Sets Pneumatics complete package trainer with hardware components, teachware, simulation and web-based training software & laboratory Workstation PhP 5,000.00 for the 4 Sets Electro-Pneumatics Trainer with hardware components, Teachware, simulation and Web-Based Training Software with USB interfacing unit (Virtual to Virtual) and (Virtual to Hardware) connection PhP 5,000.00 for the 1 Set MecLab – Complete Package PhP 5,000.00 for the 2 Sets Electro-hydraulics Trainer with hardware components Teachware, Simulation, and web-based training software with USB Interfacing unit for (virtual to virtual) and (virtual to hardware) connection PhP 1,000.00 for the Personnel Management Attendance and Payroll Solutions for NEUST

Date

1.

Advertisement/Receipt of Letter of Intent

October 26 – November 2, 2015

2.

Pre-bid Conference

November 3, 2015

3.

Submission of Bid

November 16, 2015

4.

Bid Evaluation

November 17, 2015

5.

Post-Qualification

November 18, 2015

The BAC will issue to prospective bidders Eligibility Forms at the Office of the BAC Chairman, Nueva Ecija University of Science and Technology, Cabanatuan City upon their submission of a Letter of Intent (LOI) to the Nueva Ecija University of Science and Technology.

Prospective bidders shall submit the Eligibility Requirements to the BAC at the said address.

They may also obtain the results of the Eligibility Check by the BAC at the same address.

The BAC will issue bidding documents only to bidders declared by the BAC to be eligible for the bidding upon payment of the non-refundable amount of: PhP 10,000.00 for the PROPOSED THREE STOREY ENGINEERING BUILDING, PHASE IV, GRIDS I-M, 1-8 PhP 10,000.00 for the PROPOSED THREE STOREY ENGINEERING BUILDING, PHASE V, GRIDS I-M/M-O, 1-8 to the Nueva Ecija University of Science and Technology Cashier Office.

PhP 1,000.00 for the Standby/Power Generator 100KVA, 220/440 volts, 0.8 Power Factor, Three Phase , 60hz speed: 1800 rpm frequency, silent type To the Nueva Ecija University of Science and Technology Cashier Office.

The Nueva Ecija University of Science and Technology reserves the right to accept or reject any Bid to annul the bidding process, and to reject all Bids at any time prior to contract award, whether thereby incurring any liability to the affected bidder or bidders.

Approved by:

The Nueva Ecija University of Science and Technology reserves the right to accept or reject any Bid to annul the bidding process, and to reject all Bids at any time prior to contract award, whether thereby incurring any liability to the affected bidder or bidders.

Approved by: (SGD) FELICIANA P. JACOBA, Ed.D. BAC Chairman Email: neustmain@yahoo.com NEUST Gen. Tinio Street, Cabanatuan City 3100 Tele Fax no.: 044-600-3594 | 044-463-0226 | 044-600-1533

(SGD) FELICIANA P. JACOBA, Ed.D. BAC Chairman Email :neustmain@yahoo.com NEUST Gen. Tinio Street, Cabanatuan City 3100 Tele Fax no.

044-600-3594 | 044-463-0226 | 044-600-1533 (TS-OCT. 26, 2015

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(TS-OCT. 26, 2015)

Dy,Jorge banner jungolf tilt cast WORLD titleholders Jed Dy and Josh Jorge lead the cast in the ICTSI Mindanao Junior Open slated Oct. 27 to 30 at the Apo Golf Club and Rancho Palos Verdes Golf and Country Club in Davao.

Dy and Jorge will be joined by fellow National Capital Region bets Sean Granada and Sean Ramos in the tourney conducted

by The Junior Golfers League that will feature team and individual competitions.

Sponsored by the International Container Terminal Services, Inc. Foundation, the tourney will feature teams from Apo Golf, Eastridge, Navy, Orchard, Pueblo de Oro, Del Monte and Rancho Palos Verdes.

There are 80 confirmed registrants making up 12 teams in Mindanao’s biggest jungolf tournament this year participated in by the region’s rising talents who will take on the challenge of players from the Big City.

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SPORTS sports@thestandard.com.ph

Pacquiao told: Avoid Crawford

HK golf champ. Justin

Rose of England celebrates with the championship trophy after the final round of the Hong Kong Open at the Hong Kong Golf Club. AFP

By Ronnie Nathanielsz THE American trainer, who handled eight-division world champion Manny Pacquiao when he won his first world title, the World Boxing Council flyweight crown with an eighth-round knockout of Thai hero Chatchai Sasakul, has advised the Filipino ring icon to avoid a fight with World Boxing Organization light welterweight champion Terence Crawford, who demolished Manny’s sparring partner Dierry Jean in 10 rounds on Sunday.

Staheli told The Standard/ boxingmirror.com that “it’s a dangerous fight. Just stay away from him. Crawford is not a huge name and Manny won’t make big money.”

The undefeated Omaha native has a record of 27-0 with 19 knockouts.

“Crawford is going to be tough for anybody,” said Staheli of the “Fighter of the Year” last year.

He said former sparring partner and one-time stablemate Amir Khan would be the

best fight.

“But they are claiming negotiations never started,” said Staheli, who is an astute analyst and a fine trainer.

He believes that Argentina’s Lucas Matthysse, who has also been prominently mentioned as a possible opponent “is an easy fight for Manny. He’s got decent power but is not that good.”

Crawford dominated every round against Jean, a Canadian by way of Haiti, who was one of Pacquiao’s

sparring partners when he was preparing for the “Fight of the Century” against Floyd Mayweather Jr. last May 2.

Crawford dropped Jean three times in the fight before referee Tony Weeks called a halt to the contest at 2:30 of the 10th round. At that time, Crawford was battering Jean, whose trainer Marc Ramsay had stepped onto the apron to want to stop the fight, but apparently had a change of heart and stepped down, only postponing the inevitable.

Pacman’s farewell fight in PH? LOCKER ROOM RANDY CALUAG IN ANY combat sport like boxing or MMA, or in sports in general, the real battle is not when the bell rings or the buzzer sounds. After the long, arduous preparation, the real battle begins in the locker room, for it is where final strategies are laid down. It becomes the war room.

This is where the battle secrets are kept, hidden from the prying eyes of the opponent’s camp, or even the media.

The locker room was a silent witness when Manny Pacquiao tried to conceal his shoulder injury when he fought Floyd Mayweather and lost by decision in May this year in a fight that was marketed to be the Fight of the Century. Of course, it was not to be.

Prior to the fight, Pacquiao was kept by the Nevada Athletic Commission from taking a pre-fight shot in the locker room to treat his shoulder injury. The few people who knew about Pacquiao’s injury were all there and kept silent about it.

For this enthusiast, the locker room represents the source of information that is reserved only for the inner circle.

Now, this enthusiast is willing to tell more, if not all, restricted information behind the news. ****** Let’s begin with Sarangani congressman Pacquiao’s next stint in the ring.

A source close to Congressman Pacquiao said the Pambansang Kamao plans to hold his next fight in Manila in April next year. And it could be his farewell fight in the ring.

There is no particular venue floated around, but the most obvious choice should be the 50,000seat Philippine Arena, a world-class

sports facility in Bulacan owned by the powerful religious sect Iglesia ni Kristo.

Business mogul Manny Pangilinan, a long-time commercial backer of Pacquiao, is said to be interested in making the Manila fight possible.

If this is true, then it’s something that has to be planned out carefully.

The planned Manila fight augurs well with Pacquiao’s candidacy for senator. He is running under the banner of the United Nationalists Alliance of Vice President Jejomar Binay, who will be going after the presidency.

Yes, it’s definitely a big boost to his candidacy but the rigorous campaign sorties could affect his training for the fight. ******* April is still part of the campaign period and Manny will have to divide his time joining provincial campaign sorties or he could just elect to focus on his training, while getting free publicities that are not part of the election campaign ads that fall under the regulation of the Commission on Elections.

The last time Manny fought before his countrymen was in 2006 when he won via unanimous decision over Mexican Oscar Larios at the Araneta Coliseum to retain the WBC International Superfeatherweight title.

Pacquiao’s stature in boxing has grown tremendously big since then, becoming the only boxer to have won eight world division titles. He’s currently title-less, but remains a top draw, especially among Filipino boxing fans.

That’s why everybody in boxing still wants to have a piece of Pacquiao even at the tailend of his career. ******* Pacquiao wanted a rematch with Floyd, hoping to be at his best and without injury, as he seeks another crack against the undefeated American. Floyd, however, dismissed the idea right away.

Several names have cropped up as possible opponents for Pacquiao.

Here are some of them according to his priorities: Manny Pacquiao vs. Amir Khan.

Among the possible foes, Khan has the inside track. He has been talking a lot recently and even hoped for a fight with Floyd, who instead chose and beat Andre Berto.

Then Khan aimed for Pacquiao.

Khan has lost three of his last six fights. Khan is now regarded as one of the best fighters in the welterweight division, winning five fights in a row since moving from the lightwelterweight division.

Even Pacquiao’s promoter, Bob Arum of Top Rank, seems to approve of this match-up, saying he will make it easy for the fighters if both of them agrees to a fight.

Arum revealed that a group in the Middle East is interested to put up the fight there. But of course, Manila may still be a priority venue if Pacquiao insists.

Manny Pacquiao vs. Juan Manuel Marquez V This should be very difficult to happen as the semi-retired Marquez already ditched the idea long ago. But then, the Mexican star can still be attracted by another huge payday.

Pacquiao won two, drew one and lost the last against Marquez in one of the longest, and most followed rivalries in boxing history. For the fifth time? Yes it’s still possible and remains very interesting, especially for the Filipino fans, aching for a Pacquiao revenge after that onepunch TKO victory by the Mexican in their last fight.

Manny Pacquiao vs.Timothy Bradley III This should be interesting to watch as Timothy prefers to trade punches with Pacquiao, although very cautiously. Although they split their two matches as Bradley won by controversial decision and the second a convincing decision for Pacquiao, the third should be a similarly easy win for Pacquiao.

This can’t be possible, especially due to differences in TV contracts between Showtime and HBO.

Army foils PLDT, grabs share of V-League lead Games Saturday 12:45 p.m. – PLDT vs UP 3 p.m. – Coast Guard vs Kia Forte 5 p.m. – Navy vs Army

ARMY survived an undermanned PLDT Home Ultera’s gritty stand and pulled through in a pulsating decider, 25-23, 23-25, 25-11, 19-25, 15-13, to join idle University of the Philippines in the Shakey’s V-League Season 12-Reinforced Conference at The Arena in San Juan City yesterday.

Honey Royse Tubino hammered in a crosscourt spike to give the Lady Troopers a 14-11 cushion in the fifth set then Jovelyn Gonzaga blasted in a kill on a well-placed set by Tina Salak to finish off the Ultra Fast Hitters, who threatened last at 13-14 on a Gretchel Soltones hit and an Army

net violation.

It was a tough win for the starstudded Lady Troopers, who found their rivals a tough nut to crack despite the absence of ace spiker Alyssa Valdez, down by a back pain following a stint with Ateneo in the UAAP beach volley tournament. But the two-hour, two-minute victory bolstered the Lady Troopers semifinal drive as they caught up with the Lady Maroons at 2-0 in the short single round elims of the season-ending conference of the league sponsored by Shakey’s.

“We made the necessary adjustment.

We struggled with our reception that we couldn’t control the play even on a simple serve or hit,” said Salak, who outplayed ace counterpart Rubie de Leon with 45 excellent sets.

Red Cubs near historic 7th straight junior crown The Red Cubs enjoy a thrice-tobeat incentive over the Braves after entering the finals on an 18-sweep of the eliminations.

Meanwhile, Michael Enriquez of Mapua captured the MVP honors.

He won it after La Salle Greenhills’ Ricci Rivero was disqualified after getting thrown out of their game with Perpetual Help in the first round.

Arellano’s Lars Sunga is the Rookie of the Year, while EAC’s Mau Cruz claimed the Most Improved Player honors.

By Peter Atencio

THE San Beda Red Cubs moved closer to a record-setting seventh straight crown after they turned back the Arellano University Braves, 76-68, in Game 1 of the 91st National Collegiate Athletic Association junior division basketball finals Friday at the Mall of Asia Arena.

Evan Nelle struck with 16 points, while Albert Bordeos made 12 for the Mendiola dribblers, who moved a win closer to their seventh straight title, a feat which has never been achieved in league history.

This gave the Red Cubs a commanding advantage in their showdown with the Braves, who need to beat San Beda thrice to wrest the crown.

The Red Cubs, coming off a three-week layoff, quickly took charge with their running DIGITS game, establishing an 18-13 lead in the first period.

“We’re not expecting a sweep.

EZ2 We’ll just take it one game at a time,” said San Beda coach JB Sison.

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m o n day : o cto b e r 2 6 , 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

Elasto Painters claim 2 win nd

By Jeric Lopez games wednesday (Smart Araneta Coliseum) 4:15 p.m. - NLEX vs. Barako Bull 7 p.m. - Meralco vs. San Miguel

RAIN or Shine bucked a slow start and an early resistance from Mahindra before stepping on the gas in the third and cruising to a second straight victory, 107-94, to remain the early leader in the 2015 Philippine Basketball Association Philippine Cup at the Smart Araneta Coliseum yesterday.

As in most of their games, the wealth was well distributed among the Elasto Painters. They drew 14 points and five rebounds from consistent veteran JR Quiñahan, who shot 6-of-7 from the field for 83 percent. Third overall pick Maverick Ahanmisi bounced back from a poor first game with a solid showing as he scored 14 points.

Following a so-so first half where they even trailed by double-digit early on, the Elasto Painters turned on the heat in a decisive third-quarter spurt to put the Enforcers away for good.

Entering the second half with only a four-point lead, Rain or Shine stamped its class in the third when it outplayed Mahindra. The Elasto Painters exploded for 41 points in the period compared to just 20 points by the Enforcers. Rain or Shine eventually held a commanding 79-64 advantage heading into the final period.

The experienced Elasto Painters held on from there and took care of business the rest of the way for a 2-0 start and keep its hold on the tournament lead. Mahindra started its campaign at 0-1 to drop to the bottom along with GlobalPort, Star, Talk ‘N Text and NLEX. ‘’Unti-unti nakukuha na namin yung laro namin. We’ll know where we’re at when we play the tough teams. This is a really good win for us,’’ said Rain or Shine coach Yeng Guiao of his team’s second win. ‘’Everytime you play in this league against anyone, you give your hundred percent.

Walang easy game talaga.’’

Tigers rip Maroons, secure Final 4 berth

By Peter Atencio

games wednesday (moA Arena) 2 p.m. Adamson vs Feu 4 p.m. nu vs La salle

THE University of Santo Tomas Growling Tigers relied on the inside-outside game of versatile big men Kevin Ferrer to beat the University of the Philippines Fighting Maroons, 83-76, in Season 78 of the University Athletic Association of the Philippines men’s basketball tournament at the Mall of Asia Arena, yesterday.

Ferrer relied on a soft shooting touch to score at will from the outside when given even the slightest space. When pressed too closely, Ferrer was too big and too strong to be stopped inside when he drove into the paint.

Ferrer finished with a career-high 29 points (including 11 in the fourth period), grabbed 14 rebounds and issued six assists.

With the victory, the Growling Tigers (9 wins, 2 losses) formally advanced to the Final Four behind the leagueleading Far Eastern University Tamaraws (9-1).

The Fighting Maroons (3-7) dropped to a tie at sixth and seventh with the University of the East Warriors (3-7).

Bringing up the rear are the Adamson University Soaring Falcons (2-9).

Meanwhile, Kiefer Ravena, still hurting from a sprained ankle he sustained in the middle of the week, unloaded six triples in the opening minutes of the game to tow the Ateneo Blue Eagles to a 68-59 victory over the National University Bulldogs.

Sarangani Congressman Manny Pacquiao finally scored his first field goal in his career in the league at exactly the 10-minute mark of the second period when his left corner jumper gave Mahindra a slim 27-25 lead. Pacquiao played a total of six minutes.

diALe gets crAck At vAcAnt crown turn to A12

LeBron wAnts to Be Like mike turn to A12

MONDAY: OCTOBER 26, 2015

RAY S. EÑANO EDITOR

RODERICK T. DELA CRUZ ASSISTANT EDITOR

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

BUSINESS

B1

Govt to award bus hub to Ayala

By Darwin G Amojelar

THE Transportation Department said it expects to award this month the second integrated terminal system in Metro Manila to property developer Ayala Land Inc., the winning bidder for the project.

“Hopefully this month, we are just awaiting some documentary requirements. The remaining issue is the MYOA [multi-year obligational authority] that we applied to DBM in purchasing FTI property. Once we get that, we are ready to award,” Transportation Secretary Joseph

Emilio Abaya said.

Ayala Land topped the auction in August for the P4-billion South Integrated Terminal System under the government’s public-private partnership program.

Ayala Land offered a lower annual grantor payment of P277.88 million for the project,

compared with the P1 billion offered by Filinvest Land Inc. The annual grantor payment is a fee to be paid by the government to the concessionaire.

The site of the ITS South Project was right next to Arca South, where Ayala Land is developing an integrated mixed-use estate.

About 4,000 buses and 160,000 passengers are expected to feed into the ITS South from the South Luzon Expressway every day.

Construction will begin by May 2016 and is expected to be completed and ready for operation by October 2017.

The winning bidder will take care of the design, construction

and operations and maintenance of the terminal for a concession period of 35 years.

The project covers the construction of a terminal within a 4.7-hectare lot along the FTI Compound in Taguig City. It will connect passengers coming from the south, specifically Batangas and Laguna provinces, to other public utility vehicles that are serving inner Metro Manila.

The project also covers the construction of arrival and departure bays, public information systems, ticketing and baggage facilities and park-ride facilities.

The Transportation Department earlier awarded the P3.27-

billion contract to build and operate a public transport terminal in southwest of Metro Manila to MWM Terminals, the consortium of Megawide Construction Corp. and WM Property Management Inc. The Megawide Group offered the lowest annual grantor payment of P100 million for the ITS Project southwest terminal. The project has a 35-year cooperation period.

The terminal, set to be built along the Manila-Cavite Expressway in Parañaque City, is designed to provide seamless transfers between different modes of transportation.

PSe comPoSite index Closing October 23, 2015

8000 7700 7400 7100 6800 6500

7,236.38 118.60

PeSo-dollar rate

Closing OCTOBER 23, 2015 43.50 44.60 45.40

P46.440

46.20

CLOSE

47.00

HIGH P46.440 LOW P46.520 AVERAGE P46.454 VOLUME 1,101.500M

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

oPriceS il P today

P34.55-P39.15 Kerosene

New Apple store. Chinese customers browse products at the opening of a new Apple store in Dalian, China’s Liaoning province on October

24, 2015. US technology giant Apple will keep investing in China despite slowing growth in the world’s second-largest economy, chief executive Tim Cook said, as the company prepares to open its newest store in the mainland. AFP

P20.75-P21.75 Auto LPG Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas Friday, October 23, 2015

F oreign e xchange r ate Currency

Unit

US Dollar

Peso

United States

Dollar

1.000000

46.5280

Japan

Yen

0.008285

0.3855

UK

Pound

1.539700

71.6392

Hong Kong

Dollar

0.129032

6.0036

Switzerland

Franc

1.027855

47.8240

Canada

Dollar

0.763709

35.5339

Singapore

Dollar

0.717463

33.3821

Australia

Dollar

0.721189

33.5555

Bahrain

Dinar

2.656325

123.5935

Saudi Arabia

Rial

0.266745

12.4111

Brunei

Dollar

0.714898

33.2628

Indonesia

Rupiah

0.000073

0.0034

Thailand

Baht

0.028082

1.3066

UAE

Dirham

0.272287

12.6690

Euro

Euro

1.111300

51.7066

Korea

Won

0.000884

0.0411

China

Yuan

0.157297

7.3187

India

Rupee

0.015406

0.7168

Malaysia

Ringgit

0.233645

10.8710

New Zealand

Dollar

0.678380

31.5637

Taiwan

Dollar

0.030855

1.4356 Source: PDS Bridge

PAL spending $500m to purchase 7 new aircraft PHILIPPINE Airlines is spending $500 million to acquire seven brand-new aircraft next year as part of a re-fleeting program, its chief executive said over the weekend.

“Some will be leased, but the value of the reflecting program may be more than half a billion US dollars. That’s the fleet value that we will take next year,” PAL president and chief operating officer Jaime Bautista told reporters.

Bautista expects to take delivery of five Airbus 321s and two Boeing 777-300s next year. The aircraft would be used for PAL’s regional and long-haul destinations.

“The financing of the airplanes will not be a problem. There are many companies who will be willing to finance us, especially if you are a profitable airline,” he said.

Bautista added the company completed the delivery of five A321s for the year.

The PAL executive earlier said the airline planned to sell its A340s and replace with either A350s or Boeing 787 Dreamliner, a long-range, twin-engine wide-body jet.

“We are in the process of evaluation because we can only operate one-type of additional long-haul aircraft. Right now,

we are operating B777 and A340 and when we phase out the A340, we will replace this with only one-type of aircraft. So, it’s either A350 or B787,” he said.

Bautista said PAL would made the decision on which aircraft to acquire within the year.

PAL currently operates six Airbus 340-300s for long-haul destinations. The A340 is being used on the new route to New York via Vancouver.

Besides A340, PAL uses six Boeing 777-300ERs in operating daily flights to Los Angeles, San Francisco, Vancouver, Toronto and London.

The airline, which is aggressively expanding its international destinations, plans to fly to Port Moresby in October and Cairns, Australia and Auckland, New Zealand on Dec. 2, 2015.

PAL’s parent firm, PAL Holdings Inc., earlier reported a consolidated total comprehensive income of P5.94 billion in the January-to-June period, up 1,500 percent from just P362.4 million year-on-year.

PAL Holdings posted a total comprehensive income of P2.16 billion in the second quarter, up 49 percent from P1.45 billion on year. Darwin G Amojelar

MONDAY: OCTOBER 26, 2015

B2

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

The STandard BuSineSS Weekly STockS revieW STOCKS

OCTOBER 19-23, 2015 Close Volume

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

MEDCO Holdings Metrobank Natl Reinsurance Corp.

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

2.7 70.1 107.50 84.30 40.4 2.50 1.26 10 15.74 19.82 7.70 1.73 750.00 0.600 83.25 0.98 18.42 23.50 54.00 103.9 299.6 30.55 142.9 1560.00 57.00 3.13

Aboitiz Power Corp.

Agrinurture Inc. Alliance Tuna Intl Inc. Alsons Cons.

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

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

Liberty Flour LMG Chemicals Mabuhay Vinyl Corp.

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

Pepsi-Cola Products Phil.

Petron Corporation Phil H2O Phinma Corporation Phoenix Petroleum Phils.

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

Trans-Asia Oil Universal Robina Victorias Milling Vitarich Corp.

Vivant Corp.

Vulcan Ind’l.

42.6 1.65 0.9 1.61 11 49.4 95.00 16.98 105 24.9 43 2.58 1.76 9.98 10.200 7.70 6.97 7.61 1.69 12.46 26.7 72.2 11.76 13.02 5.96 2.610 207.60 34.00 2.13 3.99 41.50 24.3 25 6 320.00 3.93 4.4 7.25 4.5 11.50 3.57 2.00 2.6 4.09 3.04 4.93 141.5 2.24 0.171 1.22 2.23 204 4.55 0.68 23.00 1.15

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

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

Lodestar Invt. Holdg.Corp.

Mabuhay Holdings `A’ Metro Pacific Inv. Corp.

Minerales Industrias Corp.

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

0.410 57.7500 18.00 1.12 6.48 0.255 0.255 774 7.45 12.60 4.06 3.65 3.80 0.260 1322 5.81 73.00 4.02 6.89 0.86 12.34 0.53 5.23 8.8 3.79 0.0340 1.210 1.920 2.84 48.50 2.93 885.00 1.20 0.81 179.00 107.800 0.3300 0.2330 0.330

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

Ayala Land `B’ Belle Corp. `A’ Cebu Holdings Centennial City City & Land Dev. Cityland Dev. `A’ Crown Equities Inc. Cyber Bay Corp.

Double Dragon Empire East Land Ever Gotesco Global-Estate

6.520 7.60 0.70 1.170 0.225 35.300 3.49 5.05 0.59 0.99 1.02 0.130 0.550 21.5 0.890 0.162 1.13

Value

FINANCIAL 720,010.00 10,129,767.00 1,313,593,738 627,347,325.00 25,143,750.00 212,110.00 207,580.00 19,338.00 2,925,178.00 2,683,678.00 4,620 709,180.00 2,693,000.00 7,278,210.00 663,511,867.50 2,741,190.00 14,589,914.00 1,679,760.00 23,306,378.00 648,486.00 1,167,876.00 19,963,905 295,880,554.00 4,029,585.00 8,255,689.00 48,580.00 INDUSTRIAL 20,640,500 852,296,330.00 87,000 132,690.00 966,000 867,480.00 1,703,000 2,715,530.00 19,300 229,090.00 220 11,008.00 290 27,967.00 3,743,600 63,522,680 120 12,600.00 3,736,000 93,965,885.00 897,500 37,422,955 16,009,000 41,802,930.00 11,705,000 20,498,770.00 261,100 2,607,277.00 104,405,600 1,020,555,709.00 13,454,600 101,698,277.00 82,997,800 569,403,796.00 1,635,900 12,619,649.00 17,000 28,800.00 90,300 1,073,712.00 13,356,800 344,341,455.00 3,111,830 220,667,947.50 6,600 76,632.00 929,700 12,086,810.00 425,700 2,533,879.00 27,859,000 74,857,030.00 4,622,530 954,959,364.00 200 6,800.00 147,000 320,490.00 56,000 227,160.00 39,000 1,644,075.00 11,657,000 282,345,560.00 1,295,200 32,085,310.00 8,372,400 50,209,188.00 2,590,750 816,607,766.00 57,000 223,630.00 2,366,000 10,302,120.00 5,026,800 36,951,243.00 397,000 1,854,720.00 16,500 189,090.00 951,000 3,306,040.00 1,714,000 3,401,210.00 4,176,000 10,339,590.00 11,603,000 47,177,920.00 84,000 254,790.00 125,500 629,195.00 52,100 7,400,379.00 3,102,000 6,551,370.00 320,400,000 58,837,080.00 1,354,000 1,686,610.00 16,310,000 35,578,940.00 7,960,550 1,592,926,258.00 47,000 214,140.00 2,554,000 1,786,500.00 1,000 23,000.00 970,000 1,091,630.00 HOLDING FIRMS 2,110,000 842,100.00 5,034,290 290,575,997.50 28,444,400 515,315,592.00 24,000 26,630.00 33,700 218,144.00 37,090,000 10,068,010.00 5,260,000 1,449,950.00 863,960 659,108,360.00 10,677,900 78,606,458.00 23,650,200 296,494,228.00 293,000 1,146,070.00 22,000 78,530.00 351,000 1,360,590.00 6,090,000 1,587,650.00 541,610 715,140,020.00 515,800 2,992,264.00 4,969,220 357,789,211.00 196,800 955,110.00 13,860,400 91,070,799.00 6,802,000 6,026,330.00 66,110,200 769,831,396.00 9,164,000 5,095,020.00 115,463,400 599,311,079.00 7,476,900 64,459,725.00 4,000 14,180.00 765,300,000 26,807,700.00 303,000 358,940.00 47,097,000 95,400,830.00 99,000 277,360.00 2,878,400 138,904,990.00 41,000 112,900.00 1,547,960 1,356,064,265.00 819,000 984,240.00 11,570,000 10,966,660.00 40 7,160.00 572,910 61,350,361.00 23,010,000 7,847,050.00 2,510,000 582,140.00 19,370,000 6,389,400.00 PROPERTY 1,837,800 11,890,602.00 4,200 31,920.00 11,047,000 8,170,290.00 533,000 580,340.00 120,000 27,000.00 58,298,400 2,055,030,615.00 10,828,000 36,299,100.00 319,200 1,616,366.00 35,248,000 20,808,500.00 1,653,000 1,524,280.00 319,000 322,620.00 101,320,000 13,353,450.00 407,100,000 235,163,890.00 10,984,500 228,540,201.00 2,968,000 2,661,330.00 5,010,000 920,540.00 15,708,000 17,887,980.00 265,000 145,260 12,608,070 7,530,860 627,200 85,000 162,000 2,100 188,500 136,400 600 391,000 3,620 11,901,000 8,018,480 2,877,000 792,100 72,000 436,970 6,120 3,930 663,000 2,067,050 2,630 144,940 16,000

OCTOBER 12-16, 2015 Close Volume Value 2.74 69.45 103.10 82.90 40.8 2.52 1.32 10.1 15.5 19.88 7.70 1.76

224,000 63,630 9,360,660 8,086,180 510,300 669,000 562,000 100 12,800 534,300 7,000 365,000

598,420.00 4,385,744.00 976,762,411 670,855,666.00 20,906,305.00 1,395,830.00 756,860.00 1,010.00 199,034.00 10,457,938.00 53,930 647,420.00

0.630 84 0.96 18.24 24.00 53.10 108.1 296 29.25 145.6 1495.00 57.00 3.15

31,812,000 11,468,050 53,000 3,278,700 18,000 1,440,820 13,880 5,870 1,349,000 2,359,570 395 15,810 1,000

21,426,650.00 960,718,725.00 50,880.00 59,697,965.00 437,190.00 75,409,367.00 1,499,764.00 1,738,250.00 40,416,855 342,367,519.00 595,940.00 880,925.00 3,150.00

40.85 1.46 0.93 1.64 11.9 50 83.20 16.76 106 25.95 41.2 2.44 1.75 9.99 9.300 7.49 6.65 7.91 1.7 11.8 24.55 69 11.50 13.58 5.89 2.740 205.40 34.65 2 4.2 46.40 23.9 23.45 6 309.80 3.86 4.28 7.34 4.35 11.50 3.58 2.00 2.35 4.01 2.86 5.01 140 2.21 0.148 1.38 2.15 193.9 4.58 0.68

17,661,200 15,000 897,000 3,902,000 54,400 1,840 6,440 4,776,500 40 2,028,200 2,954,800 2,366,000 44,795,000 1,865,400 90,659,900 5,976,800 106,165,700 1,399,500 74,000 117,100 15,636,200 619,150 51,800 42,800 1,299,300 130,538,000 4,336,480 2,500 101,000 433,000 24,800 12,042,600 2,796,800 407,900 2,350,630 23,000 842,600 10,866,200 15,000 5,300 566,000 2,002,000 1,220,000 8,614,000 190,000 49,600 92,140 3,142,000 12,870,000 3,627,000 35,568,000 5,533,200 132,000 5,838,000

737,020,955.00 22,180.00 809,200.00 1,945,710.00 687,380.00 93,856.00 538,844.00 80,014,796 4,220.00 52,575,755.00 122,810,830 5,746,690.00 87,362,360.00 18,669,619.00 871,983,524.00 44,050,972.00 682,674,015.00 11,023,716.00 126,720.00 1,384,976.00 378,815,215.00 42,052,706.00 570,742.00 554,228.00 7,883,854.00 349,367,660.00 881,409,298.00 82,490.00 201,510.00 1,731,620.00 1,133,985.00 279,220,620.00 63,897,415.00 2,396,571.00 720,160,782.00 89,680.00 3,891,610.00 78,201,873.00 62,150.00 60,950.00 1,989,270.00 4,035,400.00 2,793,480.00 34,553,400.00 548,850.00 249,276.00 12,898,917.00 7,163,860.00 1,920,760.00 5,163,860.00 74,502,860.00 1,064,215,601.00 614,790.00 4,122,380.00

1.22

2,073,000

2,605,130.00

0.410 57.0000 18.26 1.05 6.60 0.260 0.260 751.5 7.2 12.50 3.73 3.8 3.99 0.270 1296 5.80 71.80 3.14 6.16 0.88 11.32 0.56 5.06 8.58 2.6 0.0360 1.200 1.980 2.84 48.00 2.70 871.50 1.21 0.77 188.00 104.400 0.3450 0.2310 0.310

12,500,000 9,401,860 43,599,600 66,000 760,000 11,660,000 1,660,000 761,395 8,042,100 30,130,000 397,000 66,000 1,140,000 20,180,000 890,275 973,300 11,820,040 15,000 11,816,300 8,258,000 14,332,700 588,000 93,258,200 5,774,200 3,000 799,400,000 86,000 9,332,000 47,000 1,512,600 16,000 1,215,950 2,008,000 319,000 60 230,240 112,670,000 19,720,000 68,660,000

5,179,950.00 533,648,816.50 793,908,196.00 70,590.00 4,939,221.00 2,967,470.00 432,350.00 874,867,940.00 57,942,494.00 385,255,232.00 1,558,230.00 260,570.00 4,467,400.00 5,908,600.00 1,168,314,865.00 5,643,018.00 834,738,444.00 58,160.00 72,492,402.00 7,192,810.00 162,354,268.00 327,980.00 476,979,442.00 48,991,658.00 7,800.00 29,118,600.00 108,180.00 18,315,620.00 132,150.00 70,628,835.00 43,240.00 1,064,062,990.00 2,488,540.00 244,690.00 11,280.00 22,470,594.50 42,601,750.00 4,821,700.00 22,216,040.00

6.330

2,435,000

15,524,187.00

0.78 1.150 0.225 35.700 3.28 5.02 0.61 0.94 1.01 0.131 0.600 19.92 0.910 0.172 1.18

25,689,000 384,000 110,000 41,430,100 24,321,000 246,100 13,801,000 18,000 29,000 113,760,000 269,470,000 4,887,100 24,578,000 250,000 39,261,000

19,924,920.00 430,010.00 24,850.00 1,492,112,060.00 75,581,810.00 1,238,751.00 8,532,790.00 16,920.00 29,580.00 13,542,730.00 160,018,550.00 78,531,014.00 22,389,810.00 41,760.00 47,924,350.00

STOCKS

OCTOBER 19-23, 2015 Close Volume

Filinvest Land,Inc. Interport `A’ Megaworld Prop.

MRC Allied Ind. Phil. Estates Corp.

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

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

1.73 1.31 4.73 0.090 0.2950 0.4550 19.12 8.66 30.05 1.53 3.1 22.65 0.72 8.47 1.080 5.470

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

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

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

Pacific Online Sys. Corp.

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

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

SSI Group STI Holdings Transpacific Broadcast Travellers Waterfront Phils.

Yehey

8.21 64.65 1.12 0.590 11.34 28 6.69 0.0540 3.75 86.75 9.51 2 5.93 955 2328 6.86 21.50 1.20 81.3 11.4 0.011 0.184 1.4200 2.16 8.78 3.48 1.25 31.50 0.610 2 4.01 0.295 0.970 18.88 4.90 2.8 9.5 99.90 20.35 2364.00 0.570 1.200 35.95 76.00 6.52 5.40 0.46 1.51 4.34 0.350 4.150

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

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

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

TA Petroleum United Paragon

0.0051 2.33 5.90 11.78 0.205 5.8 5.8000 0.81 0.64 8.63 1.03 0.320 0.193 0.208 0.0100 0.011 2.28 8.77 3.25 0.6400 1.4100 0.0100 0.0100 4.00 5.37 1.38 0.0130 133.50 2.37 0.0083

ABS-CBN Holdings Corp.

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

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

66 515 525 115.6 518 6.75 1.12 109 1074 1050 1035 78.2 82.75 79.2 79 79.95 2.9

Leisure & Resort Warr.

3.000

Makati Fin. Corp.

Ripple E-Business Intl Xurpas

2.97 61.35 15.7

First Metro ETF

118.2

OCTOBER 12-16, 2015 Close Volume Value

Value

77,892,000 134,432,640.00 1,825,000 2,348,300.00 129,872,000 587,405,630.00 89,780,000 8,993,280.00 1,020,000 305,650.00 310,000 135,250.00 75,000 1,434,000.00 902,800 7,647,151.00 20,824,500 619,207,710.00 11,503,000 18,391,700.00 21,000 64,440.00 70,615,600 1,559,872,405.00 5,555,000 4,027,210.00 27,700 227,079.00 25,085,000 27,063,010.00 23,804,000 129,867,546.00 SERVICES 418,700 3,365,289.00 223,770 14,417,897.00 106,000 121,700.00 5,269,000 3,094,260.00 6,400 72,234.00 4,100 114,890 19,812,800 131,412,128.00 133,470,000 7,374,040.00 8,149,000 31,823,190.00 1,427,160 121,497,009.00 2,000 19,028.00 111,000 202,310 3,524,100 20,540,823.00 2,340 2,229,550.00 231,440 534,701,810 1,292,200 8,745,697.00 200 4,300 482,000 581,500.00 7,617,900 598,690,549.50 75,300 896,636.00 26,400,000 281,500.00 10,070,000 1,849,800.00 1,921,000 2,712,870.00 24,000 53,330.00 1,845,100 15,828,269.00 4,719,000 16,302,650.00 37,000 47,220.00 4,800 142,810.00 406,000 255,640.00 130,000 259,900.00 77,888,000 309,868,740.00 26,110,000 8,090,900.00 207,397,000 205,155,620.00 2,800 51,582.00 247,000 1,140,840 3,000 8,400.00 408,900 3,842,870.00 1,180 113,964.00 805,400 16,331,012.00 358,220 820,926,760.00 3,385,000 1,942,700.00 104,260,000 125,430,750.00 16,317,700 568,685,605.00 1,628,870 121,114,316.00 14,126,700 92,555,552.00 56,758,300 301,672,049.00 51,600,000 23,454,950.00 53,000 80,380.00 20,791,000 85,256,050.00 710,000 252,900.00 6,421,000 27,121,970.00 MINING & OIL 938,000,000 4,611,200.00 10,363,000 22,810,610.00 626,600 3,713,600.00 400 4,356.00 300,000 61,500.00 12,700 73,660.00 1,006 6,000.00 22,931,000 18,045,620.00 5,280,000 3,469,640.00 168,400 1,478,582.00 158,000,000 160,039,870.00 6,490,000 2,030,200.00 11,750,000 2,259,960.00 2,740,000 561,780.00 129,100,000 1,360,200.00 22,900,000 252,000.00 2,933,000 6,739,840.00 48,153,100 390,567,817.00 25,290,000 77,137,730.00 542,000 346,450.00 579,000 811,180.00 149,400,000 1,494,100.00 6,000,000 60,000.00 20,000 78,150.00 2,254,000 11,857,889.00 1,399,000 1,906,570.00 242,400,000 3,201,400.00 5,413,640 705,716,313.00 891,000 2,077,930.00 5,000,000 40,600.00 PREFERRED 313,550 20,810,053.50 5,470 2,828,220.00 8,000 4,200,000 11,950 1,382,840.00 15,130 7,854,360.00 162,100 1,062,279.00 473,000 529,180 393,420 42,882,994.00 200 214,950.00 1,920 2,016,000.00 2,535 2,599,725.00 26,970 2,103,864.00 1,037,870 85,573,833.50 109,070 8,619,040.50 319,900 25,263,230.00 1,544,830 123,566,588.00 524,000 1,600,300.00 WARRANTS & BONDS 561,000 1,641,590.00 SME 394,000 1,123,320.00 21,110 1,305,887.50 13,237,800 199,084,776.00 EXCHANGE TRADED FUNDS 87,870 10,309,265.00

1.69 1.32 4.41 0.089 0.3000 0.4800

42,172,000 2,242,000 143,928,000 2,740,000 1,430,000 360,000

73,503,230.00 2,901,750.00 651,704,850.00 230,330.00 432,350.00 166,100.00

8.2 28.95 1.61 3.05 21.50 0.72 8.17 1.190 5.400

846,100 18,787,800 1,274,000 150,000 79,794,900 3,137,000 28,100 63,684,000 39,349,200

6,784,428.00 544,123,430.00 2,030,750.00 459,800.00 1,718,424,500.00 2,269,420.00 225,885.00 79,322,790.00 214,390,465.00

8.06 63 1.1 0.600 11.8 29 6.64 0.0540 3.89 82.9 9.66 1.66 5.31 955 2294 6.63 21.00 1.25 78 12.5 0.011 0.181 1.4200 2.25 8.54 3.80 1.25 34.00 0.610 2 4.08 0.315 1.010 19 4.50 2.9

1,929,200 302,430 237,000 8,193,000 1,000 31,600 78,650,400 397,260,000 4,764,000 1,551,260 56,000 15,000 1,621,400 2,350 318,645 482,900 100 496,000 7,554,110 55,600 56,800,000 46,820,000 3,438,000 49,000 2,985,900 6,987,000 39,000 2,900 429,000 131,000 68,142,000 93,950,000 510,233,000 12,638,600 65,000 22,000

16,077,765.00 19,251,696.50 271,810.00 4,924,620.00 11,800.00 826,400 488,746,913.00 21,396,760.00 18,549,740.00 131,099,892.00 538,504.00 26,070 8,506,051.00 2,254,250.00 716,080,670 3,162,762.00 2,100 608,600.00 591,339,032.00 669,812.00 625,100.00 8,728,820.00 4,947,660.00 110,540.00 25,159,892.00 26,664,160.00 48,030.00 80,935.00 266,420.00 262,650.00 273,807,640.00 31,641,350.00 493,765,420.00 240,113,348.00 294,890 63,800.00

97.00 19.04 2260.00 0.570 1.180 32.80 72.00 6.61 5.45 0.47 1.5 4.05 0.370 4.470

35,570 1,665,100 578,870 8,498,000 125,743,000 8,141,200 2,283,530 24,761,900 42,150,400 109,220,000 58,000 36,307,000 2,600,000 8,986,000

3,420,410.00 31,426,784.00 1,289,399,460.00 4,882,110.00 141,700,680.00 271,520,045.00 169,136,257.50 171,144,435.00 236,571,055.00 51,448,000.00 87,110.00 141,914,820.00 931,900.00 38,140,740.00

0.0049 2.20 5.88 11.96 0.210 5.8000

850,000,000 341,000 5,029,900 1,900 4,270,000 13,600

4,131,600.00 788,200.00 26,043,932.00 19,982.00 885,040.00 80,632.00

0.72 0.65 9.03 1.12 0.295 0.196 0.208 0.0110 0.012 2.26 7.23 2.8 0.6300 1.3700 0.0098 0.0099 4.04 5.30 1.36 0.0130 130.00 2.35 0.0084

1,097,000 882,000 559,700 226,938,000 20,520,000 68,840,000 8,100,000 668,400,000 206,100,000 7,036,000 40,716,600 1,527,000 1,151,000 3,875,000 183,500,000 11,000,000 42,000 6,271,300 2,588,000 1,415,400,000 5,797,220 1,208,000 48,000,000

791,500.00 588,740.00 4,915,066.00 265,559,020.00 6,205,100.00 13,258,660.00 1,674,080.00 6,693,600.00 2,263,900.00 16,132,600.00 291,217,143.00 4,354,090.00 735,830.00 5,697,000.00 1,854,610.00 108,100.00 166,990.00 33,102,890.00 3,613,600.00 18,519,100.00 764,254,476.00 2,890,760.00 365,800.00

66.95 530 526 118 520 6.4 1.11 109 1065 1130 1019 78.2 82.1 79 79 79.95

3,064,920 18,430 320 50,000 15,270 3,762,800 501,000 65,060 1,115 1,170 20,540 70,000 307,090 204,420 461,590 1,967,280

204,188,331.50 9,572,260.00 168,600 5,820,000.00 7,957,400.00 23,950,683.00 556,420 7,105,015.00 1,187,475.00 1,322,100.00 20,974,815.00 5,485,645.00 25,237,220.00 16,152,069.00 36,473,256.00 156,969,988.50

2.910

641,000

1,876,550.00

3.09 63 14.4

168,000 12,990 6,931,000

520,700.00 826,045.50 101,940,480.00

115.5

69,670

7,972,917.00

WEEKLY MOST TRADED STOCKS Abra Mining Pacifica `A’ Cyber Bay Corp.

Swift Foods, Inc. Philodrill Corp. `A’ NOW Corp.

Ferronickel Oriental Pet. `A’ Boulevard Holdings Megaworld Prop.

VOLUME 938,000,000 765,300,000 407,100,000 320,400,000 242,400,000 207,397,000 158,000,000 149,400,000 133,470,000 129,872,000

STOCKS Ayala Land `B’ Universal Robina SM Prime Holdings SM Investments Inc. Banco de Oro Unibank Inc. DNL Industries Inc. Jollibee Foods Corp.

Aboitiz Power Corp.

PLDT Common Mla. Elect. Co `A’

VALUE 2,055,030,615.00 1,592,926,258.00 1,559,872,405.00 1,356,064,265.00 1,313,593,738 1,020,555,709.00 954,959,364.00 852,296,330.00 820,926,760.00 816,607,766.00

MONDAY: OCTOBER 26, 2015

B3

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

Nido drilling new Galoc well

By Alena Mae S. Flores

BSP to change color of P100 bills THE Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas has found a solution to the persistent problem of the public being confused with the color of P100 and P1000 bills.

Bangko Sentral Governor Amando Tetangco Jr. said in an interview the banking regulator would be issuing newly-colored P100 bills in January next year, to help the public avoid mistaking them for P1000 bills.

The P100 bills will now be printed in mauve color to easily differentiate it from the P1000 bills, he said.

“It will have the same design, but only different in color. It will be issued in January 2016. Here, the difference between the two banknotes will be easily seen,” Tetangco said.

Mauve is a pale purple color and slightly reddish. It is similar to lavender and lilac. The current P100 bill has a violet color while the P1000 bill is colored grayish blue.

“The people are complaining, but the US dollar bills are all green that is why these are called greenbacks. They slightly changed the color just recently,” Tetangco said.

He said the Americans were seldom confused by the bills because they examined them thoroughly during payments.

Senator Aquilino “Koko” Pimentel earlier asked Bangko Sentral to explain why the P1000 and P100 banknotes are almost identical to each other. Several complaints from the public were reported due to the similarity between the two banknotes, both known as the New Generation Currency. Julito G. Rada

NIDO Petroleum Ltd. of Australia and its joint venture partners plan to drill a new exploratory well in Galoc oil field northwest off Palawan to confirm the commercial potential of a phase three development.

Nido said in its quarterly report the joint venture continued to progress on the relevant subphase and preliminary engineering studies.

Nido managing director Mike Fisher said the appraisal would confirm the commerciality of the phase three development. The company is the operator of service contract 14C1 of the Galoc oil field, holding a 55.88-percent stake.

“Nido is well positioned to capitalize on opportunities in this current low environment and we are looking forward to meeting the challenges ahead as we strive to build a significant regional upstream E & P business,” Fisher said.

Nido and joint venture partners unveiled the plan to develop

the mid-Galoc area northwest off Palawan to increase production of the country’s largest oil field as early as July.

Nido said the mid-Galoc area was being considered a potential development project using horizontal drilling and sub-sea completion technology. Galoc Production Company WLL, which owns a 33-percent stake, is the service contract operator.

The preliminary development plans for mid-Galoc are based on drilling two horizontal, subsea development wells tied back to the Galoc field floating production storage and offloading facilities.

Crude oil will be sold by shipto-ship transfer from the FPSO to the shuttle tanker.

Gaffney Cline and Associates had recently completed an inde-

pendent contingent resources assessment of the mid-Galoc area of the Galoc oil field.

GSA said the mid-Galoc area was estimated to contain resources of 6.2 million to 14.6 million stock tank barrels.

Nido earlier said oil production from the new field was expected to start on Jan. 1, 2018, with uncertainty range in initial per well oil rate between 2,500 barrels a day and 3,000 a day, attributable to variable reservoir performance.

It said production decline rates in the range of 19 percent to 23 percent per year were applied, consistent with the well performance observed in the Galoc 1 phase development wells.

Nido executive chairman William Bloking earlier said the independent assessment of the mid-Galoc area “represents a significant step-forward in the further development of the Galoc oil field.”

The Galoc oil field is estimated to continue production beyond 2020. The Galoc oil field was earlier estimated to contain 25 million barrels of oil. The Galoc field first produced oil in 2008.

Herbosa seen as another Kim Henares

One of the most feared government officials under the Aquino administration is probably Bureau of Internal Revenue commissioner Kim Henares, because of how she goes after tax-cheats.

Finance Secretary Cesar Purisima believes the private sector should also fear Securities and Exchange Commissioner Teresita Herbosa, who heads the agency that regulates various corporations, including listed companies.

Purisima said in a recent corporate governance forum the name “Tess Herbosa” should also generate the same fear, when the name of “Kim Henares” is mentioned.

Purisima said one problem why SEC was not being feared in the same intensity as BIR was because of the small fines and penalties the law allows the corporate regulator to impose against violators.

Still, Purisima urged the SEC to “have some teeth” and go after violators of the Securities Regulation Code. Jenniffer B. Austria

Group wants Harbour Center license revoked

A non-government organization wants state-run Philippine Ports Authority to investigate the alleged rice smuggling in all port communities nationwide.

The call of the Alliance for Good Philippine Government came after the National Coalition of Filipino Consumers filed a graft complaint before the Office of the Ombudsman against the National Food Authority and Harbour Centre Port Terminal Inc. for the alleged illegal storage of imported rice.

“If the allegations were true, then PPA must not renew the license of HCPTI which expires on January 2017 or better yet, revoke or cancel it at once,” he said.

HCPTI serves as a transshipment hub of the government’s rice importation program although its permit is being questioned. Representatives from PPA and HCPTI were unavailable for comment as of press time.

In a five-page complaint affidavit dated Oct. 19, Jayson Luna, a member of the board of directors of NCFC, said HCPTI’s warehouse was being used illegally to store imported rice without written authorization from the NFA, which is headed by administrator Renan Dalisay.

“The NFA, despite knowledge of this illegal storage of imported rice, has not acted on the illegal act,” Luna said, adding that this is in blatant violation of the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act, or Republic Act 3019.

Luna said the NFA admitted in a news statement posted on its website that “HCPTI does not have NFA accreditation, but their facilities have been used for transshipment of imported rice, under the government-to-government rice importation program.” Darwin G. Amojelar

Easier way to reload MRT beep cards

There is an easier way to reload the beep cards used in Light Rail Transit and Metro Rail Transit lines in Metro Manila. Reloading of regular beep cards still requires passengers to line up at the reloading machines and LRT or MRT counters, but Smart eMoney Inc. said users of PayMaya cards had more options.

Smart eMoney said PayMaya reloading is now available in more than 15,000 establishments nationwide. PayMaya accounts can also be funded through Smart Money and BDO accounts, via Internet banking, with many more partners coming onboard soon.

“By making more convenient channels available for our PayMaya reloading as well as spurring more use cases in retail and transport, we hope that more Filipinos will be encouraged to adopt digital financial services. We don’t want anyone to miss out in the emerging digital economy,” Smart eMoney president and chief executive Orlando Vea said.

Introduced in August by Smart eMoney, PayMaya is the first of its kind, all-in-one digital payments mobile app that can be used for online shopping, peer-to-peer transfers and telco airtime reloading. It also comes with a physical PayMaya Visa card that can be used for any face-to-face transaction with any merchant accepting Visa as well as ATM withdrawals.

They can also withdraw PayMaya funds from Bancnet ATMs using their physical PayMaya card. Train commuters can also get a physical PayMaya Visa Card with beep at activation booths in LRT and MRT stations.

The physical card with beep gives commuters access to the same advantages of online and face-to-face payments, but can also be used to pay seamlessly for LRT and MRT fares. Darwin G. Amojelar

Smart’s award.

A multi-awarded program to encourage young Filipinos to promote their hometowns as tourist destinations using digital multimedia materials wins an international award in Johannesburg, South Africa. ‘Doon Po Sa Amin’ of Smart Communications is recognized as the best communications program in the community relations category of the Golden World Awards for Excellence, considered the world’s most prestigious awards program for public relations. Smart vice president for corporate communication Sally Aldaba (left) receive the GWA trophy from International Public Relations Association secretary general Philip Sheppard.

Stock market likely to test 7,300 points

By Jenniffer B. Austria STOCKS are expected to sustain the upward momentum this week, as investors position ahead of the release of corporate earnings and US Federal Reserve meeting.

F. Yap Securities investment analyst Jason Escartin said a consensus the Fed would keep interest rates at current levels would likely benefit the local equities market.

“Given the interest rate hike postponement from the Fed, the consensus for a status quo is supported, given persistent weakness in the global economy—a scenario that would be favorable for equities. This would give enough breathing room for investors to realize gains, at least until the next policy decision and final meeting

this December,” Escartin said.

Talks of a rate hike could prove negative to stock prices, he said.

BDO Unibank chief investment strategist Jonathan Ravelas said the market’s positive movement last week suggested a test towards the 7,300 level, and then further to 7,500 level.

The PSEi, the 30-company benchmark index of the Philippine Stock Exchange, last week climbed 2.6 percent last week to close at 7,236.38 on Friday, while the broader all-share index also gained 2.6 percent to 4,160.64.

“Local equities rose with optimism from Wall Street, with the indication of an extended stimulus program from the ECB. Adding to the optimism is the expectation that the US Fed would

maintain its policy at its meeting next week,” Escartin said.

All major sub-indices ended in the green, led by services (up 4.1 percent), industrial (3.9 percent), mining and oil (3.6 percent), property (2.2 percent), holding firms (2 percent) and financial (1.3 percent).

Despite the market’s strong uptick this week, foreign investors remained net sellers last week by P1 billion, as total foreign selling hit P16.3 billion while foreign buying amounted to P15.3 billion.

Top gainers last week were MJC Investments Corp., which climbed 45.7 percent to P3.79; Jolliville Holdings Corp., which advanced 28 percent to P4.02; and Nickel Asia Corp., which rose 20.4 percent to P8.77.

B4 Young design talents.

Trade Secretary Gregory Domingo (second from left) and Center for International Trade Expositions and Missions executive director rosario Virginia Gaetos (second from right) join the Red Box design talents during the Manila FAME on October 15, 2015 at the SMX Convention Center in Pasay. With Domingo are design talents Mariel Nina Lazo (left), Diana Ramirez (third from left) and Edward Sibunga (third from right) and Filipino design icon Budji Layug.

Red Box is a platform to discover and nurture young designers.

PCCI readies reform agenda

By Othel V. Campos THE Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry will propose 12 resolutions to the current and incoming administrations to improve the business and economic conditions in the Philippines.

The PCCI agreed to submit the set of resolution during the two-day 41st Philippine Business Conference and Expo in hopes they will be adopted by Malacañang.

It identified specific areas of reforms in areas that the country needs—legislative, energy, environment, industry, education, logistics, transportation

infrastructure, information and communication technology and services, intellectual property, capital market small and medium enterprises development and taxation.

The two-day 41st Philippine Business Conference will be held on October 26 to 27, 2015 at the Marriott Hotel in Pasay City.

The group called for the enact-

ment of several bills such as customs modernization and tariff, electricity rate reduction, income tax reform, the use of incinerators for waste management and the creation the of Information and Communication Technology Department, among others.

The PCCI recommended more public discussions on the competitive selection process along with the objectives of the electric power industry reform act to establish a reasonable electricity rate.

Resolutions on the environment call for reviewing the implementation of the Ecological Waste Management Act and and proposing water conserving ini-

tiatives, like rain water harvesting facilities in municipalities and building designs.

The group proposed the creation of an inter-agency task force headed by a Cabinet official to assess regulations and programs to improve doing business in the Philippines.

It recommended the K to 12 program of the Education Department and the adoption of technical or vocational courses by more schools as well as the dual training program in coordination with the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority and the Labor and Science Departments.

On logistics, PCCI members

advocated a shift in cargo traffic from Manila ports to Subic and Batangas to prevent another traffic congestion.

The business group recommended the creation of a multiairport at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport, Clark and a future airport to serve the country’s current and prospective aviation requirements.

It urged the Trade Department to speed up the e-Commerce roadmap and the Intellectual Property Office Philippines to sign an agreement on the IP Depot Initiative, a digital platform where IP owners can promote their assets for potential commercialization.

Asian Alcohol studies Rice exports to 4 European states sought wind project in Negros

By Alena Mae S. Flores ASIAN Alcohol Corp., controlled by airline and tobacco tycoon Lucio Tan, may put up a wind project in Negros Occidental province.

Gerry Tee, overall in-charge of the Lucio Tan Group distillery operations, told reporters the group was still studying the wind project.

“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 project can be considered,” he said, Tan’s LT Group Inc. 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, maybe wind farm,” Tee said.

The distillery is embarking on a rehabilitation program for completion early next year.

Tee said Asian Alcohol’s site had strong wind speeds that 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 is the second biggest distillery in the Philippines with operations in Negros Occidental.

It has a distillation process that uses molasses, yeast, water and other ingredients. It operates 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

THE Philippine plans to take full advantage of a forthcoming bilateral trade agreement with the European Free Trade Association by asking for increased market access on certain agricultural products.

Trade Assistant Secretary Rodolfo Ceferino said the Philippines would request the four EFTA states—Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway and Switzerland— to include rice and meat in the list of commodities under the free trade agreement.

“The Philippines and EFTA recognize that both parties have sensitivities particularly in agriculture. For this reason, we do not foresee 100 percent coverage for agricultural [products]. But for Philippines, we are ensuring that the covered products include those which are of export interest to us,” Ceferino said.

He said Philippines products, including those in agriculture, were complementary in terms of types of products and prices.

He noted that the four EFTA na-

tions and the Philippines were not producing the same products.

EFTA, meanwhile, said it did not have serious concerns on intellectual property rights, although the group was wary on Philippine rules and laws on foreign ownership rules.

The Philippines identified potential exports to EFTA, such as footwear, ceramic wares, motor cars, upholstered seats, mineral or chemical fertilizers, fuel oils, cigarettes, lubricating oils and granulated sugar.

Also in the list are breakfast cereals, non-alcoholic food preparations, ground nuts, unroasted coffee, corn feeds, frozen seafoods, air conditioning units, apparels, navigational aids, telescopes, periscopes and food preparations like sauces.

Trade with EFTA is still relatively small with exports to EFTA at less than 1 percent. Investments from EFTA countries also declined to P37.81 million in 2013 from P13.81 billion in 2010.

Only 4.61 percent of EFTA investments in Southeast Asia goes to the Philippines.

EFTA imports from the Philippines are about 2.78 percent of the total from Southeast Asia.

EFTA imports from the Philippines consist of electronic integrated circuits, semiconductors, artificial teeth, fresh or chilled fish fillets, prepared or preserved tunas, pneumatic tyres, traveling bags, t-shirts, jackets, bicycles, desiccated coconut, crude coconut oil, pineapple juice, prepared or preserved pineapples and raw cane sugar.

EFTA has a combined gross domestic product of $1.22 trillion and an average gross domestic product per capita of $91,928 and a population of just 13.52 million.

The ongoing bilateral negotiations with EFTA are part of the Philippine European strategy to maximize availment of the European Union generalized system of preferences plus.

Othel V. Campos

M O N D AY : O C T O B E R 2 6 , 2 0 1 5

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

B5

DMCI Homes eyes P10-b notes

By Jenniffer B. Austria DMCI Homes, the property unit of DMCI Holdings Inc. of the Consunji family, plans to raise P10 billion next month through the issuance of corporate notes.

DMCI Homes chief finance officer Ramil Lombos said in an interview the company hired BDO Capital and Investment Corp. as lead arranger of the notes issue.

“The signing will happen on Nov. 12 but the drawdown will happen first quarter of next year,” Lombos said.

The notes will have tenors of five and seven years with interest rates of between five percent and 5.5 percent. The planned issue may involve several financial institutions, including Security

Bank Corp. and Bank of the Philippine Islands.

DMCI Homes plans to use proceeds from the notes issuance to finance P5 billion in maturing corporate notes in 2016 and fund the property company’s aggressive expansion plans.

“The P5-billion notes maturing next year carry an interest rate of seven percent so we’re getting a cheaper money,” Lombos said.

Lombos said DMCI Homes’ capital spending in 2016 had been

set at P12 billion, up from the P10-billion programmed spending this year.

Meanwhile, Lombos said the demand for company’s P500million bond issuance under the HomeSaver Bonds haf been strong.

Lombos said the total subscription had reached 70 percent of the total with still two weeks go to before the end of the offering period.

He said the company might consider increasing the size of the offering by another P500 million if the demand exceeded the original amount.

The SEC earlier approved the plan of DMCI Homes to issue P1 billion worth of HomeSaver Bonds.

The company initially offered

P500 million and kept the balance of P500 million under shelf registration.

HomeSaver Bonds is an interest-earning financial instrument that primarily targets retail investors who wish to set aside funds that may be used as full or partial downpayment to purchase units in any DMCI Homes development.

The bonds are available for a minimum subscription of P5,000 per month, while the offering period started on Sept. 23 and would end on Nov. 5. The company hired SB Capital as underwriter for the bond sale.

DMCI Homes is issuing the bonds in three tranches. Tranche A bonds will have minimum investment of of P180,000 and payable in equal monthly subscrip-

tion payments of P5,000 over a period of three years.

Tranche B bonds will have a minimum investment of P300,000 and payable in equal monthly subscription payments over a period of five years, while tranche C bonds will be issued one-time with a minimum investment of P180,000.

Tranche A and tranche C bonds will both carry a fixed interest rate of 4.5 percent per annum while tranche B bonds will have a fixed interest rate of 5 percent per annum.

DMCI Homes earlier projected net income reaching P3.6 billion in 2015, up 11 percent from P3.2 billion in 2014, as it plans to launch five new residential projects offering more than 3,000 units.

Dubai oil firm quitting Palawan

By Alena Mae S. Flores Dragon Oil plc, controlled by the government of Dubai, plans to withdraw from service contract 63 in northwest Palawan, according to one of the joint venture partners.

Dragon Oil owns 40 percent of SC 63, while PNOC Exploration Corp. holds an equal 40 percent. Nido Petroleum Ltd. of Australia owns a 20 percent interest.

“During the quarter, Dragon Oil gave notice of its intention to withdraw from SC 63, subject to government approval,” Nido said in its quarterly report ending September.

Dragon Oil is an independent international oil and gas exploration company with a principal producing asset in Turkeminstan. The group’s headquarters is in Dubai.

Emirates National Oil Co. Ltd. L.L.C., a company ultimately owned by the government of Dubai, owns Dragon Oil. The company decided to acquire a 40-percent stake in SC 63 in April 2014.

Nido, meanwhile, said PNOC Exploration as operator, was conducting post studies after drilling the Baragatan-1A well last year.

It said the company and PNOC Exploration were reviewing options to drill another well in the area.

The joint venture partners earlier plugged and abandoned the Baragatan-1A well prospect due to “low gas saturation.”

Nido officials said despite the setback, the Baragatan-1A well provided the SC 63 partners with valuable new technical information that now requires integration into the current subsurface models.

‘Most Transformative School.’ The Excellence in Educational Transformation Awards is now accepting entries for its fourth year of search for the best schools that defied challenges and demonstrated the most innovation and transformation in its learning environment, school processes, and systems towards learning effectiveness and school efficiency. A cash prize of P500,000 for the ‘Most Transformative School’ and a trophy is a reward for the efforts of the school. Shown at the search launching are(from left) Gina Lopez, vice chairman, Bayan Academy and chairman of ABS-CBN Lingkod Kapamilya Foundation Inc.; Dominador Buhain, chairman and president, Rex Bookstore Inc.; Fr. Aristotle Dy, president, Xavier School; Rina Lopez-Bautista, president, Knowledge Channel Foundation; and Don Timothy Buhain, chief operating officer, Rex Bookstore Inc.

PIDS chief recommends increased petroleum tax

By Gabrielle H. Binaday STATE-RUN Philippine Institute in Development Studies urged the government to consider an increase in the petroleum tax amid weak global oil prices.

PIDS president Gilberto LLanto told reporters over the weekend “now is the best time” to increase fuel tax.

“I’ll grant this [lowering of income tax] but let’s find a replacement. One replacement [is] fuel tax. Now’s the best time to do it.

We have no computation [on fuel tax], but that has a big possibility,” he said.

Llanto said aside from fuel tax increase, lawmakers should also look into the possibility of a

higher value added tax. “[The bigger revenues is the] consumption based [tax],” he said.

Llanto said the consumption tax was transparent, unlike the income tax which people could hide and avoid.

Llanto also recommended the adoption of the United Nation’s 17 Sustainable Development Goals.

“There was a big discussion about resources that we would need for the SDGs. The public should not be deluded to think that we can have it very easily, with just the right decisions,” he said.

He said the country should not look up into the developed coun-

tries to finance the sustainable goals.

“The situation is different now.

There is a big pitch for more responsible and accountable policies in domestic economies, and concretely, including reforming the tax system,” he said.

“I am not against lowering of income tax, what I am saying is we have to look at it from a more holistic point of view. It’s not just a case of reforming, increasing personal exemption. You have to look at the whole system of taxation in the country,” he added.

He said the full study on the possible outcome of tax reform in the country would be published within the week.

Llanto cited that some tax re-

forms pushed by different sectors just benefitted the middleincome tax payers.

Under the proposed tax reform bill proposed by Marikina Rep Miro Quimbo, those earning below P180,000 annually would be exempted from paying taxes while those with income of P180,000 to P500,000 would pay 9 percent.

Individuals whose annual income averages from P500,000 to P10 million would pay 17 percent, while those exceeding the P10-million mark will have to pay 30 percent.

Sen. Sonny Angara, meanwhile proposed a tax exemption for those earning up to P500,000 annually.

MONDAY: OCTOBER 26, 2015

B6

BUSINESS business@manilastandardtoday.com extrastory2000@gmail.com

Economists see low inflation My husband as an entrepreneur DOES one need a business degree to be an entrepreneur? I guess many ROSALIA EGUICO will say yes, but CELESTIANO based on my experience and observation, not necessarily. I have a business degree, but I am not entrepreneurial. My husband has an engineering degree, but he is more entrepreneurial. What therefore motivates and guides a person to be an entrepreneur?

My husband works in a government office. He was in his 40s when we got married and around 44 when we had our only son. With the age difference between my husband and my child, my husband believes that he needs to double his time to prepare for the future of our son. Our son will be in Senior High when my husband retires. His meager salary will not be enough to save for our son’s future. That is a very strong internal locus of control for him.

GREEN LIGHT

Recognizing opportunities

Shane (2003) posited that there are three factors that influence the likelihood that people will gain early access to information valuable for recognizing opportunities: previous life experience, social network structure and information search. Coming from a farming family and an entrepreneurial mother who was into convenience store and backyard piggery, he thought that the best business that we are going to enter into is rice farming.

After the death of my mother-in-law in early 2005, my husband started to manage the 0.75 hectare rice land put in his name by his mother as part of the Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Program of the Department of Agrarian Reform. With that piece of land, we started our farming business.

By Julito G. Rada

PRIVATE sector economists expect the inflation rate to remain low until 2017, amid slower increases in food and oil prices, results of a survey released by Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas over the weekend show.

The survey conducted in September 2015 yielded lower mean inflation forecasts for 2015 to 2017 relative to the results in June 2015.

“In particular, the mean inflation forecast for 2015 was lower at 1.7 percent [from 2.3 percent in June 2015]. Similarly, the average annual inflation forecasts for 2016 and 2017 declined to 2.7 percent and 2.9 percent [from 3.1 percent and 3.0 percent], respectively,” the survey said.

The private sector analysts attributed the lower inflation expectations mainly to lower international food and oil prices.

These are likely to outweigh the upside risks brought by the El Niño dry spell, the possible Federal rate hike, increased expenditure in the upcoming national

elections, holiday spending and the normalization of oil prices.

The probability distribution on the forecasts provided by 23 of 28 respondents showed there was a 62.8-percent chance that average inflation for 2015 would settle within the 1 to 1.99 percent range, below the 2 to 4 percent target range for the year.

Respondents said there was a 19.8-percent chance that 2015 inflation rate would fall within the 2 to 4 percent target range in 2015.

“Meanwhile, for 2016, the respondents said that there is a 64.3-percent chance that inflation will fall within the 2 to 4 percent target band,” the survey said.

Results of the September 2015 Consensus Economics inflation forecast survey for the country

also showed lower mean inflation forecast for 2015 and 2016 at 1.9 percent (from 2.4 percent in June 2015) and 3.2 percent (from 3.5 percent), respectively.

Bangko Sentral said in the inflation report for the third quarter that inflation would likely settle below the target range of 2 percent to 4 percent this year, due to slower increases in food prices.

Citing its latest baseline inflation forecasts, Bangko Sentral said inflation would settle slightly below the target range of 2 percent to 4 percent for 2015 before rising gradually toward the midpoint of the target range of 2 to 4 percent in 2016-2017.

“Risks to the inflation outlook continue to be broadly balanced.

Pending petitions for power rate adjustments and the impact of stronger-than-expected El Niño weather conditions on food prices and utility rates are seen to pose upside risks to the outlook,” it said.

Downside risks, on the other hand, could stem from slowerthan-expected global economic activity and petitions for lower transport fares.

Managing the business

With his Civil Engineering background, he felt a need to research on modern ways of rice farming to add to his limited knowledge when he was helping in the farm during his teens. He also sought the help of a relative to maintain the farm for us. Through reading, observing, and interviewing relatives for the best farm practices that involve seed variety, pesticides and fertilizer application yield the most, my husband was able to improve his farm management. Later, we sold a residential land to finance the purchase of one-hectare land from his brother. He also got additional capital from the cooperative wherein we are members. Then we saved the income from the farm and were able to get another half hectare and just recently another one-hectare mortgage land.

Managing a farm is not an easy task for someone who has a full time job from a place which is forty-five minutes away. He generally travels to the farm on weekends when he is not scheduled to come home to us in Ozamiz City where I am teaching. He purchases the farm inputs and decides with the farm maintainer what inputs to use and when to apply them. During harvest time, he contacts buyers for the rice, buys viands for the thresher in-charge and manages the process. Rain or shine, he is there. He believes that when you have a business, you must be hands on. Farm management also requires record keeping. Even if he is not a business graduate, he has a good sense of maintaining a record of the inputs and outputs of the farm.

Seeing opportunities

My husband always thinks on how to expand into other businesses. Rice farming is not the only business he entered into. He makes use of his judgmental decision-making most of the time.

For an entrepreneur to perceive an opportunity, he must believe that the value of resources must be higher than the cost of obtaining and transforming them (Casson as cited in Shane, 2003). There was a time that whenever he comes home, he first goes to a neighboring city, which is two hours away from our place just to buy dried fish of around fifteen to twenty kilos to sell.

He observed that dried fish was expensive in Bukidnon and that was an entrepreneurial activity that he would be able to recover his fare in coming home. He was even teased by his colleagues for entering into that odorous endeavor despite being an engineer.

Earning money honestly

For him, as long as he steps on no one’s shoes and he will be able to earn extra income, there is nothing wrong with doing hard labor. He said the best way to earn money is by honest means and never by dishonest means such as accepting bribes. However, he stopped selling dried fish because of the travel risks of sleepy morning bus drivers and the armed conflicts here in Mindanao.

One time, my husband ventured into buying and selling garlic and onions which he got from cheaper sources in Bukidnon . When he goes home to Bukidnon, he weighs the spices by half kilo and sells them to his officemates. Since the cost of potato was also expensive here in Ozamiz, there was also a time that he came home with those goods for sale.

Late last year, we bought a second hand car for his safe travel from Bukidnon to Ozamiz which takes around eight hours. It is also used for his entrepreneurial activities. He is now supplying the rice needs of many of his colleagues. When he comes home here in Ozamiz, he will also bring around five sacks of rice, which I sell to my neighbors and colleagues. When he returns to Bukidnon, he will bring fish crackers to sell there. My husband always thinks that the profit we are earning will compensate for the gas the car consumed.

I am very lucky to marry such an entrepreneurial, responsible, hardworking, honest and loving husband and father.

Rosalia Eguico Celestiano is an Assistant Professor in the College of Business of La Salle University, Ozamiz.

The views expressed above are her own and does not necessarily reflect the official position of De La Salle University, its administration, and faculty.

Storm-BPI partnership.

Storm Benefits, a local pioneer in flexible benefits, signs a deal with Bank of the Philippine Islands. Storm operates a platform similar to an e-marketplace, where individuals can purchase products using Flex points, which can be used within the system like any other currency. Shown during the signing ceremony are Storm Benefits president and chief executive Peter Cauton (left) and BPI senior vice-president and head of human resources Randy Maranan.

Albay, Yamanashi explore sisterhood LEGAZPI CITY—World famous Mt. Fuji in Yamanashi prefecture in Japan and Mt. Mayon in Albay will soon be kins. Both are active volcanoes and enticingly beautiful tourist attractions, even as they are similarly furious and destructive when they erupt.

Officials of Yamanashi prefecture and Albay started discussions last week on a sisterhood agreement for their two top assets which would benefit their development programs, especially tourism.

Albay Gov. Joey Salceda said the “planned sisterhood between two of the world’s most beautiful and stunning volcanoes -- Mt Fuji and Mt. Mayon—is a major mar-

keting coup for the Philippines and the Department of Tourism, and there is no doubt Albay and the whole Bicol region will gain a major boost from this tourism alliance.”

Salceda said aside from tourism, the sisterhood agreement also explored partnership in disaster risk reduction and climate change adaptation for which Albay is a global model, as well as on education, agriculture, trade and investments.

Four representatives from Yamanashi’s Fuefuki City headed by Mayor Seiji Kurishima met with Salceda and other Albay provincial officials on Oct. 21 at the Diamond Hotel in Manila and started

talks on areas of partnership that could link up their development programs.

With Mayor Kureshima were Fuefuki City secretary Makoto Hashimoto, director for international relations Koichi Kubota and tourism inbound manager Majed Kmiyama. The group visited Albay province following the Diamond Hotel conference.

The partnership was initially proposed by Salceda earlier this year, in a letter to Gov. Shomei Yokouchi of Yamanashi prefecture, pointing out the noted resemblance between the two provinces, and the possibility of “partnership and collaboration, pooling of resources and expertise.”

M o n D aY : o c t o b e r 2 6 , 2 0 1 5

WORLD

cesar barrioquinto EDITOR

editorial@thestandard.com.ph

Actress O’Hara dead at age 92 DUBLIN—Maureen O’Hara, the flamehaired star of “How Green Was My Valley” and “Miracle on 34th Street” who was one of Ireland’s most successful acting exports, has died aged 95, her family and the Irish president said Saturday.

O’Hara, an iconic figure in Hollywood’s Golden Age of the 1940s and 1950s who was once considered one of the world’s most beautiful women, also played a string of feisty women opposite John Wayne, including in “The Quiet Man”.

In her memoir, O’Hara recalled Wayne saying: “I’ve had many friends, and I prefer the company of men, except for Maureen O’Hara...

She is a great guy.”

Her family said that the star, who had dual US-Irish citizenship and starred in more than 60 films, died at home in Boise, Idaho.

“It is with a sad heart that we share the news that Maureen O’Hara passed away today in her sleep of natural causes,” they said in a statement cited by The Irish Times newspaper.

“Maureen was our loving mother, grandmother, great-grandmother and friend. She passed peacefully surrounded by her loving family as they celebrated her life listening to music from her favorite movie, ‘The Quiet Man’,” they said.

“Her characters were feisty and fearless, just as she was in real life.

She was also proudly Irish and spent her entire lifetime sharing her heritage and the wonderful culture of the Emerald Isle with the world.”

Ireland’s President Michael Higgins spoke of his “great sadness” at the news in a statement.

“She will be remembered as an outstanding and versatile actress, whose work especially in film, will endure for many years to come,” he said.

Irish Arts Minister Heather Humphreys added: “Maureen O’Hara left Ireland to carve a successful life in America but in the hearts and minds of every Irish person, Maureen was the quintessential Irish success story.” AFP

B7

Comedian hot favorite in Guatemala election GUATEMALA CITY—A comedian with no political experience looks poised to become Guatemala’s next president when the country votes Sunday in a runoff election, amid the fallout of a massive corruption scandal.

In attendance. Actress Claudia Jordan attends the Maxim

Halloween Party presented By Karma International on Oct. 24, 2015, in Los Angeles, California. AFP

Jimmy Morales, a comic actor famous for playing a country bumpkin who nearly becomes president, heads into the vote with a huge lead—68 percent to 32 percent for former first lady Sandra Torres, according to the final opinion poll.

It has been a remarkable ride for the conservative candidate, who started the race with just 0.5 percent support back in April.

His surge has capped a tumultuous campaign rocked by president Otto Perez’s resignation and arrest on corruption charges on September 3, three days before the first round of voting.

Perez, who is in jail awaiting trial, is accused of masterminding a corrupt network of politicians and customs officials that allowed businesses to pay bribes to get illegal discounts on import duties.

Prosecutors and United Nations investigators say the network collected $3.8 million in bribes between May 2014 and April 2015—

InvItatIon to BId Provision of Driving Services for PPP Center for CY 2016 1.

2.

3.

The Public-Private Partnership Center of the Philippines (PPP Center), through the General Appropriations Act of 2016,intends to apply the sum of TWO MILLION THIRTYTWO THOUSAND PESOS (PhP2,032,000.00) being the Approved Budget for the Contract (ABC) to payments under the contract for the Provision Driving Services. Bids received in excess of the ABC shall be automatically rejected at bid opening.

The PPP Center now invites bids for the Provision of Driving Services for CY 2016. Delivery of the Services is required from 01 January to 31 December 2016. Bidders should have completed, within the last three (3) years from the date of submission and receipt of bids, a contract similar to the Project, the value of which must be at least fifty percent (50%) of the Approved Budget for the Contract (ABC) to be bid. The description of an eligible bidder is contained in the Bidding Documents, particularly, in Section II. Instructions to Bidders.

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

Bidding is restricted to Filipino citizens/sole proprietorships, partnerships, or organizations with at least sixty percent (60%) interest or outstanding capital stock belonging to citizens of the Philippines, and to citizens or organizations of a country the laws or regulations of which grant similar rights or privileges to Filipino citizens, pursuant to RA 5183 and subject to Commonwealth Act 138.

4.

Interested bidders may obtain further information from PPPC-BAC Secretariat and inspect the Bidding Documents at the address given below between 8:00AM to 5:00PM (Mondays to Fridays) from October 26 to November 16, 2015.

A complete set of Bidding Documents may be acquired by interested Bidders from the address below and upon payment of a non-refundable fee for the Bidding Documents pursuant to the latest Guidelines issued by the GPPB in the amount of Five Thousand Pesos (PhP5,000.00).

BAC Secretariat c/o General Services Division Public-Private Partnership Center of the Philippines 8th Floor, One Cyberpod Centris, EDSA cor. Quezon Avenue, Quezon City

5.

The PPP Center will hold a Pre-Bid Conference on November 3, 2015 at 11:00 a.m., PPPC Board Room, 8th Floor, One Cyberpod Centris, EDSA cor. Quezon Avenue, Brgy.

Pinyahan, Quezon City which shall be open to all interested parties who have purchased the Bidding Documents.

6.

Bids must be delivered to the address below on or before 10:00 a.m. of November 16, 2015. All Bids must be accompanied by a bid security in any of the acceptable forms and in the amount stated in ITB Clause 18.

Bid opening shall be on November 16, 2015 at 12:00 pm at PPPC Board Room, 8th Floor, One Cyberpod Centris, EDSA cor. Quezon Avenue, Brgy. Pinyahan, Quezon City.Bids will be opened in the presence of the Bidders’ representatives who choose to attend at the address below. Late bids shall not be accepted.

7.

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

8.

For further information, please refer to:

(TS-OCT. 26, 2015)

Republic of the Philippines Province of Romblon MUNICIPALITY OF ALCANTARA -oOoInvitation to Bid for EXPANSION OF ALCANTARA LEVEL III WATER SYSTEM

The Municipal Government of Alcantara, Romblon through the 2015 General Appropriations Act of the Department of Interior and Local Government (SALINTUBIG Program)1 intends to apply the sum of Twelve Million Five Hundred Thousand Pesos Only (Php12,500,000.00) being the Approved Budget for the Contract (ABC) to payments under the contract for the Expansion of Alcantara Level III Water System (Alcantara, Romblon)/2015-002. Bids received in excess of the ABC shall be automatically rejected at bid opening.

The Municipal Government of Alcantara, Romblon now invites bids for Expansion of Alcantara Level III Water System2. Completion of the Works is required 240 calendar days. Bidders should have completed, within ten (10) years from the date of submission and receipt of bids, a contract similar to the Project. The description of an eligible bidder is contained in the Bidding Documents, particularly, in Section II. Instructions to Bidders.

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

Bidding is restricted to Filipino citizens/sole proprietorships, partnerships, or organizations with at least seventy five percent (75%) interest or outstanding capital stock belonging to citizens of the Philippines, and to citizens or organizations of a country the laws or regulations of which grant similar rights or privileges to Filipino citizens, pursuant to RA 5183 and subject to Commonwealth Act 138.

Interested bidders may obtain further information from Municipal Government of Alcantara, Romblon and inspect the Bidding Documents at the address given below from 8:00 am to 5:00 pm.

A complete set of Bidding Documents may be purchased by interested Bidders on October 26, 2015 to November 16, 2015 from the address below and upon payment of a nonrefundable fee for the Bidding Documents in the amount of Php 25,000.00.

It may also be downloaded free of charge from the website of the Philippine Government Electronic Procurement System (PhilGEPS) and the website of the PPP Center at http:// www.ppp.gov.ph, provided that Bidders shall pay the nonrefundable fee for the Bidding Documents not later than the submission of their bids. Payment for the bidding documents shall be in cash or Manager’s Check.

DICK J. BORBE Head, BAC Secretariat 8th Floor One Cyberpod Centris EDSA cor Quezon Ave., Quezon City

including $800,000 each to Perez and jailed ex-vice president Roxana Baldetti.

The scandal, the worst in a string of recent corruption cases, has created an unprecedented climate of outrage in Guatemala, an impoverished Central American country torn by gang violence and still recovering from a 36-year civil war that ended in 1996.

Thousands of protesters, including from the country’s large and historically marginalized indigenous population, took to the streets in the weeks leading up to the elections, pressing an ultimately successful campaign for Perez to quit.

Morales rode that wave of anger to a surprise victory in the first-round vote, claiming 24 percent to 20 percent for social democrat Torres in a crowded field of candidates.

The two contenders have radically different styles.

Morales, 46, is all smiles and charisma on the campaign trail, with few concrete policy pledges.

He has though called fighting graft is his biggest aim and on the eve of the vote said he wanted the UN commission on high-level corruption in the country to carry on its work.

Torres, 60, has an image as a steely and uncompromising manager from her time running the government’s social programs during the administration of her ex-husband, Alvaro Colom (2008-2012). AFP

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

A pre-bid conference will be held at MPDC/ME Office, Alcantara, Romblon on November 4, 2015 at 9:30 A.M. Bids must be delivered to the address below on or before 9:30 A.M. of November 16, 2015. All bids must be accompanied by a bid security in any of the acceptable forms and in the amount stated in ITB Clause 18.1.

Bid opening shall be on November 16, 2015 at 9:30 A.M. at MPDC/ME Office.

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

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

For further information, please refer to: PERLITA M. MONTAÑO MPDC/LGU-BAC Chairperson BAC Secretariat: Mrs. Vaughn G. Pascual Mrs. Emilyn G. Magracia LGU-Alcantara, Romblon Poblacion, Alcantara, Romblon

(SGD) LELINA A. QUILATES Director IV and Chairman Bids and Awards Committee

(Sgd.) PERLITA M. MONTAÑO BAC Chairperson

(TS-OCT. 26, 2015)

M O N D AY : O C T O B E R 2 6 , 2 0 1 5

B8

CEsAR BARRiOquiNTO EDITOR

editorial@thestandard.com.ph

world

Hallowen Party. Guests attend the annual Halloween Party hosted by Playboy and Hugh Hefner at the Playboy Mansion on Oct. 24, 2015, in Los Angeles, California. AFP

‘Israel to calm holy site unrest’ Hurricane spares Mexico CHAMELA, Mexico—Patricia flattened a fishing hamlet on Mexico’s Pacific coast, but authorities were relieved to see Saturday that the record-breaking hurricane largely spared the country and dissipated as it moved north.

The wood and brick homes with tin and palm leaf roofs of 40 families in the village of Chamela were blown away when Patricia made landfall as a Category Five monster in Jalisco state late Friday.

The families survived because they evacuated to a shelter before landfall, which occurred just 20 kilometers to the south.

The villagers returned to pick up the pieces on Saturday and complained that the government had not provided any help.

“We have nothing. My property’s gone,” said Griselda Hernandez, looking at the space without walls or roof that used to

be her home.

While the residents of Chamela lost nearly everything, most of the region incredibly suffered relatively little damage and the authorities rejoiced that no deaths were reported.

President Enrique Pena Nieto lifted the hurricane alert for Jalisco, Colima and Nayarit states as he visited the region, saying that the damage was “smaller than expected.

“Maybe (the warnings) were exaggerated, but it’s better to be warned,” said Ruben Fregoso, a restaurant owner who reopened his business in the popular resort of Puerto Vallarta after the storm.

Seafront hotels were cleared of their guests in Puerto Vallarta before Patricia’s arrival, while thousands of tourists were evacuated by bus or plane, many taken to shelters. But the town had little damage in the end. AFP

AMMAN—US Secretary of State John Kerry said Saturday that Israel had agreed on steps to calm the tensions over Jerusalem’s Al-Aqsa mosque, at the center of Palestinian unrest, including 24-hour security cameras.

Several hours later, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu repeated his pledge of “upholding unchanged the status quo of the Temple Mount”, as Jews refer to the highly-sensitive site, which allows Muslims to pray at the site, and non-Muslims to visit but not pray.

But he did not expand on the measures that Kerry mentioned after meeting in Amman with Jordan’s King Abdullah II and Palestinian leader Mahmud Abbas.

The Kerry visit is part of a diplomatic scramble to defuse tensions many fear could herald a new intifada, or Palestinian uprising.

Kerry said Netanyahu had agreed to “an excellent suggestion

by King Abdullah”—custodian of

the Al-Aqsa mosque compound in Israeli-annexed east Jerusalem” to provide 24-hour video coverage of all sites” in the compound, which is sacred to both Jews and Muslims.

“This will provide comprehensive visibility and transparency and that could really be a game changer in discouraging anybody from disturbing the sanctity of the holy site,” he said.

The Israeli prime minister said in his statement that he welcomed increased coordination with the Jordanian Waqf which administers Al-Aqsa “including to ensure that visitors and worshipers demonstrate restraint and respect for the sanctity of the area.”

“We support the call for the immediate restoration of calm, and

for all the appropriate steps to be taken to ensure that violence ceases, that provocative actions are avoided, and that the situation returns to normalcy in a way that promotes the prospects for peace,” said Netanyahu.

The latest wave of violence erupted over the status of the AlAqsa mosque compound, a site sacred to both Jews and Muslims that has long been a crucible for tensions fueling the decades-old Israeli-Palestinian conflict.

Muslims, citing a recent increase in Jewish visitors to the cite, some of whom secretly pray there despite this being forbidden, fear Israel is plotting to change the longstanding rules at the holy compound.

Netanyahu accuses Abbas of fanning the flames by making such accusations.

Clashes at the site between Israeli police and Palestinian protesters in September spiralled into a wave of violence that has also seen knife and gun attacks against Israelis. AFP

International push urged on Syria RIYADH—US Secretary of State John Kerry and King Salman of Saudi Arabia on Saturday called for greater international efforts to restore stability to Syria without President Bashar alAssad at its helm.

The two countries backed the aim of a “unified, pluralistic and stable country for all Syrians,” State Department spokesman John Kirby said.

“Both sides noted the importance of mobilizing the international community to

support this goal and reiterated the need for a transition away from Assad.

“They pledged to continue and intensify support to the moderate Syrian opposition while the political track is being pursued.”

Kerry flew in to Riyadh from Amman where he held separate talks with Jordan’s King Abdullah II and Palestinian president Mahmud Abbas on Palestinian-Israeli unrest.

He first went into a meeting with Saudi Foreign

Minister Adel al-Jubeir before heading out to Dhiraya Farm, the king’s country residence.

Kerry thanked the king “for Saudi Arabia’s support to multilateral efforts to pursue a political transition in Syria,” Kirby said.

Washington and Riyadh are part of a US-led coalition that last year launched an air campaign targeting the Islamic State jihadist group which controls swathes of territory in Syria and neighboring Iraq. AFP

EMA Awards. Actress Constance Zimmer attends the 25th annual EMA Awards

presented by Toyota and Lexus and hosted by the Environmental Media Association at Warner Bros. Studios on Oct. 24, 2015, in Burbank, California. AFP

M O N D AY : O C T O B E R 2 6 : 2 0 1 5

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

E AT, DRINK , T R AV EL

LIFE

C1

WHERE TO THIS HALLOWEEN?

T

he wind is getting cooler everyday and it signals that the best holidays of the year are coming. But before we say ho ho ho to Christmas, let’s first celebrate one of the most favorite holidays of the year where people can be whoever they want to be and celebrate in spook, fright, and so much fun.

Halloween has been celebrated in most parts of the world from generation to

generation, and it’s not just about the candies, the endless parties and the costumes, but embracing our uneasiness about death and supernatural mysteries and celebrating them instead. From pastries, candies, trick or treating, and endless parties in the Metro or out of town, here are a few stops you can visit this Halloween for you, your friends, family and kids:

SHANGRI-LA’S BORACAY RESORT AND SPA

SISTERFIELDS IN TAGAYTAY

Get your kids ready for their favorite villain or superhero costume and go on a road trip to Ridge Tagaytay than your usual village roundabout. On October 31, Saturday, 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., join fellow caped crusaders in an out of town Halloween bash by availing of Sisterfields’ special lunch buffet (P599 net) to get one free ticket pass at the Superheroes and Villains Halloween Party. The buffet lunch includes an array of choices, starting with a Bread Station (with assorted bakery products with butter, jam, and blueberry toppings), a Splurge on Salad station, a Pasta Station and a Rice Station (Spicy Hawaiian Adobo Rice and Mushroom Pilaf). This also includes Carving Stations for the Roasted Pork Loin in Three Sauces and Crackling Belly Infused with Star Anise and Moreish Caramel Sauce. For the main dishes, indulge in Potato Colcannon, Seafood Pomodoro, Pasta Carbonara, Pasta Bolognese, Vegetable

Broccoli Al Horno, Chicken Ragout and Coq Au Vin. Enjoy the calorie worthy desserts – Carrot Cake, Pot de Crème and Tiramisu Shot. The ticket includes a pass to a Halloween-themed dessert buffet and loads of fun games and activities that include a magic show, a costume party, face painting, photo booth, yummy treat bags plus a chance to win more prizes in the raffle draw.

If you want to skip lunch and head on to the main activity, the entrance ticket is only P299 and it includes a treat to a chocolate fountain with assorted fruits and mallows, chocolate smores and assorted cakes as dippers.

Sisterfields family restaurant is located at Summit Ridge Hotel, Km. 58 Gen. Aguinaldo Highway, Maharlika West, Tagaytay City. For reservations contact (632) 240-6888 or (0922) 852-6800; for more information visit www.summithotels.ph. and follow Sisterfields on Facebook.

Feel like heading out further from the traffic blues in Manila for this most celebrated holiday? Book a flight now and experience Halloween in the island of Boracay. ShangriLa’s Boracay Resort & Spa, Philippines will hold an enchanting celebration with the magical world of pirates and fairies from October 31 to November 1.

If you reside in the Philippines, show your proof of residency and enjoy a special rate of P11,700++ per night in a Deluxe Room for stays from October 30 to December 20. The offer is inclusive of a Halloween feast of international breakfast buffet for two adults favorites and desserts by the and children 11 years old and beach under a starry night. The below, and land and sea round Halloween dinner buffet is trip transfers from Caticlan. priced at P2,000++ and includes Activities for your kids during free-flowing iced tea. Shangrithe festivity will include a pirate La’s Boracay Resort & Spa boasts Chef Omar Ugoletti's hat and fairy wand making, of exquisite dining options heartwarming pumpkin face painting, costume contest, soup, at Sirena, a cliff-top seafood truffle, and roasted trick or treat, movie screening, shrimp is served at Rima this restaurant; buffet restaurant Halloween season treasure hunt and water balloon Vintana; al fresco dining at canon match. It is a loaded Cielo; Alon beach bar; the Lobby Lounge; adventure that will and the cliff-top Solana bar. For a special keep kids busy Halloween romantic dinner, you may check and let parents out Rima, a Southern European restaurant enjoy their own perched on a rustic tree house amidst a paradise retreats. forested hill.

On October 31, indulge in a For inquiries and reservations, contact (63 36) 288 4988 or email: slbo@shangri-la.com.

Rima's Pumpkin Menu features as its main course a braised Australian beef cheek, foam of pumpkin, spinach, and eggplant

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WHERE TO THIS HALLOWEEN? From C1

ACACIA

Another venue to go to in the South is the Acacia Hotel Manila. On October 31, join The Witch’s Brew Halloween Party from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Grand Acacia Ballroom.

Celebrate with costume fanatics for only P995 per person. The package includes a sumptuous brunch buffet, parlor games, activity booths, surprise entertainment and the highly anticipated trick or treating for guests, plus kids get to take home a bag of goodies. If you’re up for an overnight staycation, extend your celebration and

take advantage of Acacia’s Halloween room packages which are available from October 31 to November 2. Book the Witch’s Spell Room Package for just P5,688++ and enjoy an overnight stay in a Deluxe room with buffet breakfast and tickets to the Witch’s Brew Party all good for two persons. Guests who would just like to spend a nice weekend on those dates may avail of the Candy House Room Package for just P4,388++ which includes an overnight stay in a Deluxe room with buffet breakfast for two at Acaci. All

checked in guests may take advantage of free Wi-Fi, use of swimming pool and fitness center, and the complimentary shuttle within the Alabang area.

Tickets are available at the Guest Services desk. For inquiries and bookings, call 7202000 or email enquiry@acaciahotelsmanila. com. Visit www.acaciahotelsmanila.com for more information. Follow Acacia Hotel Manila on Facebook and Instagram @ acaciahotels for updates and recent offers.

BELLEVUE BOHOL

DIAMOND HOTEL

How about a trip near the chocolate hills of magical Bohol?

The Bellevue Resort in Bohol will hold a spooky fun trickor-treat party on October 31, 12:00 noon to 4 p.m. at the resort’s garden.

Get to enjoy ghoulish delights with your kids and family for a “spooktacular” Halloween adventure. Ticket price is at P650 net.

For more details on the activities call (02) 771-8181, email info@thebellevuebohol.com or visit the website www. thebellevue.com/bohol. For real time updates, like the Facebook page at The Bellevue Resort Bohol.

For city slickers, the Metro has a lot of Halloween activities and you can prepare for a spooky celebration perfect for the entire family.

HOLIDAY INN

Avail of a staycation full of treats at Holiday Inn Manila Galleria with the Stay Spooktacular package! Experience a Deluxe Room stay for as low as P2,500++ inclusive of Halloween goodies for the whole family to bond over.

Package is inclusive of 50 percent off buffet breakfast at Fab restaurant, a Halloween loot bag and Kiddie Play Pack, 50 percent discount voucher at Kidzoona, and passes to Holiday Inn Manila Galleria’s Halloween activities on October 31 or November 1. Kids will be able to go trick or treat at different outlets in

BELLEVUE

In Alabang, The Bellevue Manila’s Vue Bar is celebrating with Spooky Nights promo on October 31. Get your friends together and party in your spooky, spiky, or any of your fave costumes and indulge in the bar’s signature cocktails and drinks.

For inquiries, call (02) 771-8181, email tbmnl@thebellevue. com or visit the website www.thebellevue.com. For real time updates, like the Facebook page at www.facebook.com/ thebellevuemanila.

the hotel and join a face painting activity on November 1 for a bewitching day full of fun.

Reservation is open until November 2 for stay dates October 28 – November 2.

Dedicated to creating a family-friendly experience, Holiday Inn Manila Galleria offers a Kids Stay and Eat Free program. This is the Holiday Inn commitment of providing families a relaxing getaway at an affordable value. Also, with the launch of its Kids Menu, the hotel’s kiddie guests can enjoy meals that are not just designed to be fun but also healthy!

To avail of the program, kids must be accompanied by at least one adult who is registered as a hotel guest and must order at least one main course from the full priced menu.

For more information and reservations, call +632-633-7111 or email higm.reservations@ihg.com

DUSIT THANI MANILA

On October 31st, the new dining offering of Dusit Thani Manila’s The Pantry offers a special treat to kids with trick loots bags filled with wonderful toys and other treats.

If you’re a cosplay fanatic and itching to wear your costume, head on to Slash: A Cosplay Happy Hour Halloween Celebration happening at UMU Japanese Restaurant from 6-9 p.m. and indulge in free-flowing drinks and Japanese eats. Tickets are priced at P1,600 net per person and are inclusive of unlimited sushi, sashimi, teppan-grilled meats, sake cocktail drinks, chilled juices, and one raffle ticket where guests stand a chance to bring home cash prizes and gift vouchers from The Pantry and Devarana Spa as well as cool gift packs. And if your costume is declared the best, you can get to win overnight accommodations, cash prizes, and special gift certificates.

“We have always wanted to host an event where costume players and cosplay enthusiasts can be free to express themselves

If you missed the “HowlO-Ween” celebration at Diamond Hotel Philippines, there’s still room to celebrate in the hotel and treat yourselves to a Howl-O-Ween Room Package at P5,800 net per night in a Deluxe room valid until October 31. The hotel stay is inclusive of buffet breakfast for two at Corniche restaurant, 10-hour Internet access, 20 percent off on massage, 20 percent off on laundry. And if you stay for 2 nights you may avail the room rates for only Php 5,500 net per night.

For inquiries, call (632) 528-3000 ext. 8414 and for room reservations call (632) 528-3000 ext. 8414. For more information on Diamond Hotel Philippines, visit www. diamondhotel.com. For hotel updates and special offerings, follow the hotel on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter at DiamondHotelPh.

AMELIE HOTEL MANILA

For those celebrating near the Malate area, check out Amelie Hotel Manila – the 70-room boutique hotel at 1667 J. Bocobo St. in the bohemian district of Malate in Manila. Their “Halloween Trick or Treat” promo is available from October 29 to November 5. Guests may avail of the Deluxe-1 and Deluxe-2 rooms for only P2,600 and P3,100. The stay includes a complimentary breakfast for two, and access to Wi-Fi, gym and pool. The Executive rooms

will only cost P3,600 and it will include all of the aforementioned amenities as well as a complimentary set-up of a Mini-Bar. Malate is still crawling with clubs and bars and for sure there are a lot of parties you can attend while staying at the hotel.

For inquiries and reservations please call +63 (2) 875 7888 or email hello@ameliehotelmanila. com and visit www.ameliehotelmanila.com

MARCO POLO ORTIGAS MANILA

and have a good time. Halloween is that time of the year when we can go all-out with creative outfits and just have a blast.

If you are an avid cosplayer or even just a budding hobbyist, Slash is the Halloween party for you,” said Dusit Thani Manila general manager Bruno Cristol.

Slash: A Cosplay Happy Hour Halloween Celebration is exclusive for guests aged 18 and above. You may purchase your tickets at Dusit Thani Manila reservations desk or call +63 (2) 238 8888 for more information.

The city hotel features Halloween treats for kids at heart starting with a hearty meal at Cucina, then enjoy an Apple Cold Blood Drink with your buddies. The drink is a refreshing concoction made from cranberry juice, Smirnoff vodka and peach slices.

For your Halloween appetite you may indulge on the colorful Spooky Halloween Burger at the Connect Lounge at the 24th Floor Sky Lobby on October 31st. For those who want to strut their creative costumes (best chic black Halloween costume preferred) and win hotel staycations and dining gift certificates, celebrate the weekend early on a Thursday and join A Black Party

to Remember, the Halloween party at Vu’s Sky Bar and Lounge.

For inquiries and table reservations, guests may call 720-7720 or email restaurant.mnl@ marcopolohotels.com. Get updates from their Facebook account Marco Polo Ortigas Manila or follow @MarcoPoloManila on Twitter or Instagram.

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LIFE life @ thestandard.com .ph

ABS-CBN’s Bang Pineda, Mega’s Peewee Isidro and H&M’s Dan Mejia

@LIFEatStandard

The dining table set up for H&M Studio’s event at BGC’s Mind Museum

DJs Mars Miranda and Kat Razon

SWEDISH SWISH Vasteras is a city in central Sweden, and is one of the oldest in the country and in Northern MERCURY RISING Europe. Its main tourist

BY BOB ZOZOBRADO attraction is its Flight Museum which offers visitors an opportunity to try out one of its flight simulators. People from other parts of the country also go to this city during the winter, when Lake Malaren freezes over and becomes one big skating rink.

But those in the fashion industry know Vasteras as the home of one of the bigger fashion companies in the world – H&M. It was in this small city west of Stockholm where this fashion giant started in 1947, with a store named Hennes, selling women’s clothing. Through the years, Hennes became a popular brand in Sweden and continued to grow in domestic sales.

In 1968, its founder Erling Persson bought a hunting and fishing equipment store named Mauritz Widforss, adding men’s and children’s

David Beckham does justice to H&M’s Beyonce models beach wear for H&M Body Wear

clothing to its line, under its new name, Hennes & Mauritz. But six years later, as it grew even bigger, the company listed itself in the Stockholm Stock Exchange as “H&M.” Last year, the company posted close to $24 billion in worldwide gross sales, from more than 3,500 stores in 61 countries, manned by approximately 94,000 employees. No doubt, the tiny store that started in Vasteras 68 years ago has become a global fashion brand under the H&M Group, offering fashion for everyone under its many brands – H&M, Weekday, Other Stories, Cheap Monday, Monki and COS, as well as home furnishings under H&M Home.

What makes H&M even more significant is the fact that it has become a training “school” for budding designers. In fact, many of Sweden’s popular designers of today have been employed by and have learned their craft from the fashion giant at one time or another.

So what makes H&M designs stand out in the international scene? When you see their

mannequins “swishing” along the fashion ramp, you’ll notice their apparel is trendy, wearable, functional, has toned down colors and a refined look. Swedish fashion has always followed the principle of “less is more.”

Not too long ago, H&M Philippines presented a preview of their Autumn/Winter H&M Studio collection at the Mind Museum in Bonifacio Global City, which buzzed with excitement as the brand flaunted sporty futurism and starburst shine in the galaxy-themed venue.

Seen bubbling with enthusiasm were the local H&M officers, press and communications manager Dan Mejia and showroom manager Nikki Verzo, together with key style figures Sarah Meier, Jenni Epperson and Pam Quinones. Guests were treated to a sumptuous sit-down dinner, while DJs Mars Miranda and Kat Razon kept the party spirit on fire with the latest and hottest beats.

Local fashion enthusiasts are happy that the Swedish apparel giant has opened a number of outlets in the country, in line with its direction of spreading affordable Swedish style around the globe. Who would think that a small, nondescript store in a not-too-popular city in central Sweden would eventually conquer the world through fashion? Could it be the Viking blood in the Swedes? I’ve always been interested to find out what made those Vikings brave conquerors of their era. The only Vikings I know make me put on a lot of weight through the million calories on their buffet. Hmph!

For feedback, I’m at bobzozobrado@gmail.com

YOUR MONDAY CHUCKLE: An ugly, fat, bad woman with two kids enters a supermarket, shouting angrily at the kids with no reason. The man at the counter says cheerfully, “Good morning, Ma’am, welcome! Cute kids! Are they twins?”

The horrible woman stopped shouting, just enough to say, “Hell, they’re not twins. One is nine and the other is seven. Are you blind or just stupid?” “No, Ma’am, I’m neither blind nor stupid. I just can’t believe there’s a man out there who had sex with you twice.”

The original H&M store which opened as Hennes in Vasteras, Sweden in 1947

SPOOKTACULAR HALLOWEEN IN HONG KONG

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ant to experience the best and scariest Halloween ever? Then Hong Kong is the place for you, with the city’s most-loved attractions and shopping malls dressed up in their “spook-tacular” finery.

Visitors will have fun with special shopping mall activities and seasonal themed menus, sensational street parties and elaborate theme park celebrations. No place in Asia will be scarier to play and party.

At Ocean Park Halloween Fest, get thrilled by otherworldly scares as The Walking Dead come to life. The entire family

One of Ocean Park Halloween Fest highlights – The Puppet Master’s Deadly Workshop, tells the story of an aging puppet master who curses his lovely puppets and turns them into evil murderous machines.

Unearthly haunting surprises await at Disney Haunted Halloween.

will also enjoy Doraemon @The Halloween Movies Studio and the longest outdoor trick-or-treat walkthrough at Trick or Treat Pumpkin Trail. More nerve-wracking frights await at the park’s haunted attractions and special shows.

At Disney Haunted Halloween, frightful fun extends to the great outdoors, as the happiest place on earth transforms into a Ghost Town inhabited by the dead. Warning: don’t lose your way on the cursed Jungle River Cruise, the abandoned mines of Miners and Cowboys, and the exciting Mystic Manor.

On October 31, rock all the way with the Lan Kwai Fong Halloween Street Party 2015. Guests are advised to make a reservation at their favorite bar or restaurant for special Halloween menu and drinks, and a great seat to watch and enjoy the festivities.

Visitors may also visit popular malls for wonderful activities.

Lok Fu Plaza’s Horror Challenge presents a frightening carnival of interactive games and food and beverage booths. Ride in the PAC-MAN shuttle cars to The Peak with The Peak Galleria’s Running PAC-MAN until November 1, and get prepped at the “University of Halloween” workshops as Fashion Walk presents Halloween Styloween – Monster Lab on October 31.

For more information, log on to DiscoverHongKong.com.

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HALLOWEEN WITH A TWIST I don’t know about you guys, but I love Ha l lowe en!

The sacred h o l i d ay TIPPLE TALES oc of m pcaannide ys

BY ICY MARIÑAS (ahead of Va l e nt i n e’s Day), playing dress-up (apart from comic cons), and general debauchery. No longer just for kids, Halloween is one of the craziest times of the year. Wild events are being thrown during this time, especially this year when it falls on a Saturday. Halloween is the quintessential party holiday.

My fondest memories of Halloween are of dressing up with friends and planning a night of debauchery. One Halloween in particular stands out, Cream Ball 20++ (remember those?), when a group of my friends wanted to dress like nurses (slutty, of course, because Halloween is like the holiday for slutty outfits). It took a long time for them to confirm on a group outfit and by the time they decided on going as a fleet of nurses, I had already bought my own nun costume (slutty, of course). It’s okay. I don’t think the sisters are reading my column) and I decided I would just spend the night “praying” for their sins (while committing my own). A guy friend of ours even joined and dressed in the finest nurse drag Manila could offer (complete with professional makeup artists who specialize in prosthetics to make him look ultra-feminine). We partied so long that by the crack of dawn, he had a 5 a.m. shadow (instead of the customary 5 p.m.). Ah…. fun times.

There are a lot of Halloween events to choose from. But for those who still want to throw their own party, here are some fun drinking games you can play to spice up your

Halloween is like the holiday for slutty outfits

Your columnist decided to wear a not-so-virginal nun costume

Halloween drinking, to ensure maximum fun and get people hammered.

BOOZY APPLE BOBBING

Apple bobbing is one of those American traditions associated with Halloween. We’ve all seen those pictures of people (young and old alike) happily dunking their faces in barrels of water, trying to get a coveted apple.

Not really sure why, but it seems fun (if not somewhat unhygienic). To make it even more fun, why not fill the barrel with alcoholic punch (plus points for somewhat making the whole activity a little more hygienic, what with alcohol being a sanitizer of sorts).

Have the apple sitting in the concoction for a few hours to let it absorb some of the alcohol, so that when the revelers start playing, it won’t just be the punch that gives them the boozy kick. You can carve numbers into the apples that correspond to a bottle of liquor, so that when a player gets to take a bite, the player needs to take a shot out of that bottle (or if you’re being generous and merciful, give the bottle as a prize). The numbers can also indicate how many shots the player has to drink of a particular spirit.

TRICK OR TREAT

Ah. Another Halloween tradition made into something naughty. There are several variations

Cream Ball 20++ (Remember those?)

to this drinking game, but the end result is the same: punking (or puking) revelers. One version requires a dice and six non-see-through cups. Put three nice tasting drinks in three of the cups (the “treat” shots) and not-so-nice tasting drinks in the other three (the “trick” shots). Line them up and each player must roll a dice and drink whatever number shot they get. Change the order of the drinks and cups every once in a while to mix it up and keep players on their toes.

Another version requires shot glasses and similar looking drinks and the dice. Same concept but the players won’t really know what’s in the glasses. Could be a shot of gin, vodka, vinegar, sugar water or clear syrup.

Same effect. Get people drunk and mess with their heads. Fun all around.

GUESS WHO

This is one of those games that are played the whole night, sort of like a background game. Guests will have a post-it stuck on their backs with a Halloween-related character on it. You could have a theme, like movie monsters or serial killers. Or you can have a free-for-all, just to make things harder on everyone. Throughout the night, the guests can only ask questions only answered by yes or no to be able to guess what is written on their backs. Each person who can figure his character out gets a premium prize, like a shot of really expensive tequila or even a small bottle of spirit. Last one to guess must perform something appalling, like take six shots of cheap gin in rapid succession, to give your partygoers an incentive to really play the game.

Now these are just a few of the many fun, “adult” games you can play during your Halloween shindig. There are many more out there. And just like your costume ideas, the only limit to coming up with these boozy games is your imagination. I will leave you

with a classic punch recipe that is sure to kick up any Halloween party. ★★★★★

HALLOWEEN PUNCH RECIPE JACK O’ RUIN

Purist bartenders have revived the centuriesold ritual of the formal punch service. Here, we make a potent libation named Jack O’ Ruin, taking from an old English slang with a Halloween twist.

INGREDIENTS:

500 ml Bombay Saphire 1/2 cup granulated sugar 500 ml pineapple or grapefruit juice 250 ml Schweppes Club Soda 250 ml fresh lemon juice 250 ml sweet vermouth 50 ml Martini Prosecco ***add ice and grapefruit wheels for garnish

PROCEDURE:

In a large punch bowl, stir in the white sugar with the club soda until dissolved. Mix in the gin, grapefruit and lemon juices and Martini Rosso sweet vermouth and chill in fridge for an hour or more.

After chilling gently, stir in Martini Prosseco and float the grapefruit or pineapple wheels on top. Serve in punch glasses over ice.

If you do decide to go out to get your costume party on, here are some places you can check out: ABV Bar and Bugsy’s or Hooch Bar, which will be playing some of these Halloween games for grown-ups on Oct. 30, if you’re up for it.

Follow me on Instagram @sanvicentegirl

WHERE TO THIS HALLOWEEN? From C2

EDSA SHANGRI-LA MANILA

Book now until October 31, 2015 for an overnight stay in a deluxe room inclusive of daily breakfast for two adults and two kids below six years old. Get two complimentary tickets at Edsa Shangri-La Manila’s Hotel Transylvania-inspired Halloween event, and All Hallow’s Eve treats. Spot Dracula and his legendary monster friends roaming around the hotel premises and make sure you get those Instagram-worthy photos with them. Aside from enjoying a themed room package, don the spookiest costumes and join the action-packed movie adventure at the Lower Lobby.

Horror fest starts at 1 p.m. for P2,000 net per person, including an exclusive screening of Hotel Transylvania right inside the comfort of Edsa Shangri-La. The hotel has prepared exciting shows and kids’ activities such as Light Dance performances featuring the Buganda Dancers and dazzling performance of illusionist Kent Oliver, to be hosted

by Shahein Abraham. Families can enjoy ghost-

hunting expeditions inside the room of terror and get to take home creepy snacks and loot bags for the little monsters.

For inquiries and reservations, contact (63 2) 633 8888 or email esl@shangri-la.com. Tickets are available at Edsa Shangri-La, Manila’s Event Lounge and Business Center daily from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Visit www.shangri-la. com/manila/edsashangrila or follow their social media accounts: Facebook.com/edsashangrila, @edsashangrila on Twitter and Instagram.

So whether you celebrate here in the city or out of town, there’s a variety of options to choose from.

Now, all you have to worry about is prepping up that creative costume.

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ISAH V. RED EDITOR

isahred @ gmail.com

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1 Beautiful Strangers' Lovi Poe and Benjamin Alves 2 Benjamin Alves 3 Fabio Ide, Ken Chan, Lovi Poe, and Ben Alves 4 Lovi Poe 5 Ken Chan and Fabio Ide of Destiny Rose 6 Jake Vargas 7 Buena Familia’s Julian Trono, Julie Anne San Jose, and Jake Vargas 8 Julie Anne San Jose

KapusO stars in MassKara Festival 2015

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MA Network stars added color to one of the most colorful festivals in the country with their early invasion of the Negros Occidental capital on Oct. 11 and 12. Prior to the peak of the week’s celebration of this year’s Masskara Festival, Kapuso fans in Bacolod City gathered together in energizing the festive mood of the recently concluded Kapuso Mall Shows at SM City Bacolod Atrium.

First to tickle the hearts of the Bacoleños were the stars of the GMA afternoon prime series

Destiny Rose. Last Monday, a big crowd estimated to be 2,500 went wild when Gabriele, played by actor-model Fabio Ide, serenaded a Bacoleña on stage. The fans went crazier when lead star Joey, played

by Ken Chan, serenaded not only one or two, but three girls all at the same time.

There was non-stop excitement when Beautiful Strangers stars Lovi Poe and Benjamin Alves joined the fun. Together with Ken and Fabio, the award-winning actress and Kapuso heartthrob performed special numbers. The

Bacoleños’ warm reception made the Kapuso stars at home.

The celebration continued the next day with crowd growing bigger, estimated at 3,500. The Kapuso supporters gathered to meet and greet the stars of Buena Familia. The audience was not able to contain their excitement as prior to the mall show, throngs of people were already cheering for their favorite Kapuso stars. The crowd went wild when their idols showed up onstage.

K-Pop system-trained Julian Trono wowed the audience

with his moves and did a showdown with three girls. Jake Vargas took a selfie with the crowd and serenaded a girl. Asia’s Pop Sweetheart Julie Ann San Jose performed two of her singles, “Tidal Wave” and “Right Where You Belong.” All performances elicited deafening shrieks from their supporters.

MassKara Festival is considered one of the most colorful festivals in the country. It’s dynamic with the burst of colors through dresses, large masks, and headpieces reflective of the happy personali-

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ties of the Bacoleños. The Kapuso stars felt the color and energy among those that flocked for the two-day meet and greet sessions.

“GMA Network, especially the Kapuso stars, always look forward to joining the annual MassKara Festival. The festival has gone a long, long way since our first participation 10 years ago.

Bacoleños never cease to amaze us. They have taken the festival spirit to new levels,” said Oliver Amoroso, GMA’s Head for Regional Strategy and Business Development Division.

Jennifer Lawrence and Robert de Niro in Joy

Lawrence and Edgar Ramirez in a scene from the biographical comedy drama

Jennifer LawrenCe, BradLey Cooper, and roBert de niro in ‘Joy’

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scar and Golden Globe nominee director David O. Russell collaborates anew with this generation’s most admired multi-generational team of incredible actors led by Jennifer Lawerence in the titular role along with Robert De Niro and

Bradley Cooper in the highly-inspirational story of Joy about a woman, a mother who became one of America’s most powerful entrepreneurs.

Joy is the story of a mother, an ordinary citizen whose determination led her to invent the miracle mop while trying to find a

way to make both ends meet and provide for her family despite insurmountable obstacles. A ragsto-riches story about a girl who becomes a matriarch in her own right by inventing the miracle mop that lifted a heavy burden off from millions of housewives across the globe.

Also starring Edgar Ramirez, Isabella Rossellini, Diane Ladd, and Virginia Madsen, Joy is the wild story of a family across four generations that defies genre of themes on family, love and loyalty as allies become adversaries and adversaries become allies, both inside and

outside of Joy’s clan.

Joy opens Feb. 17 in cinemas (Phils.) nationwide from 20th Century Fox to be distributed by Warner Bros.

Check out the film’s latest trailer release here: https://www. youtube.com/watch?v=Y5fsJXxOMaU

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SHOWBITZ isahred @ gmail.com

WynWyn MaRqUEZ nOt REaDy fOR MaRk HERRaS JOSEPH PEtER GOnZaLES Mark Herras admits that at this point in his life, he is more patient when it comes to relationships.

“Definitely, I’m no longer a kid who wants to jump into a commitment right away. If your time for love will come, then it will regardless how long it takes or who your partner will be. I guess I’ve already matured when it comes to matters of the heart. Now I know the value of waiting, of being patient. I also want a relationship which is of the lasting kind,” he avers.

Many say that this admittance has something to do with the news that he already gave up on courting Wynwyn Marquez. It can be recalled that they

became very close during those times when they were mainstays of the defunct GMA Sunday musical variety show Party Pilipinas and Sunday All Stars.

But Wynwyn stated then that she didn’t want to entertain the idea of courtship since she values her friendship with Mark and she doesn’t want to ruin it.

In spite of this, Mark remained persistent but then again, Wynwyn said she’ll get very busy supporting the political ambitions of mom Alma Moreno and brothers Jeremy Marquez and Vandolph Quizon in the coming elections.

“Maybe, it is not yet the right time for us to be together. Let’s just wait and see in the coming days.”

The so-called Bad Boy of the Dance Floor reveals that he gained maturity over the years with all his previous relationships including that with Ynna Asistio.

“That’s the most painful! I really loved her and her family. That’s the reason why I couldn’t tell her face-to-face about my daughter Ada… that I’d become a dad already.

It was really painful.”

Instead, Mark just wants to count his blessings. He is doing three shows under home studio GMA-7.

“That’s right! I’m with Dangwa as the leading man of Janine Gutierrez. I’m also proud to be part of Little Nanay, which is top-billed by no less than Superstar Ms. Nora Aunor. Then, I have a guest role in Miguel Tanfelix and Bianca Umali’s Wish I May. I’m simply thankful for these blessings.”

Speaking of Ate Guy, many are curious to know how Mark feels working with the cinema legend.

“I’m star-struck! I feel that on the set, she has given us a lot of inspiration. It’s my first time to see her personally and work with her.

It’s really a huge honor!”

The appealing Kapuso star is doubly hardworking these days due to his daughter Ada. “She is my lucky charm.

Because of her, my life has direction now. Before, I was so extravagant but nowadays, I always think of her welfare. I became more responsible.”

This is one of his conditions when he finds a new girlfriend.

“She should accept me and Ada as a package deal.

If not, let’s just forget the whole thing.”

HHHHH Ai-Ai delas Alas admires the relationship of Vic Sotto and Pauleen Luna and even see similarities with her current relationship with steady Gerald Sibayan.

“I just think that they’re perfect for each other!” she says. “When it comes to love, age is just a number. It doesn’t matter…as long as you two

get along fine. Just like me and Gerald, we jibe very well!”

Despite the fact that Vic is 61 and Pauleen is just 26, the Comedy Queen can sense that the soon-to-be newlyweds are a perfect match.

“As I’ve said, they get along well and they don’t fight, which is very important.”

Ai Ai and Vic are doing a movie together called My Bebe Love, an entry in this year’s Metro Manila Film Festival.

“Yes! In fact, in one of our shooting days, Pauleen was just on the set, taking care of Bossing. She’s not part of the film but she was just there to look after him…to give support. It’s sweet.”

The MMFF entry serves as a bonding moment for her and Vic. “It’s a very light set.

During lull breaks, Bosing asks if I am the jealous type.

Then, he also asks Gerlad if I am. It’s funny and cute at the same time,” Ai Ai states.

Romance between Mark Herras and Wynwyn Marquez was aborted

. The relationship between AiAi de las Alas and Gerald Sibayan is going strong

Will Daniel anD Kathryn let go of eaCh other?

I

s it the end of the road for Yna and Angelo’s love in Pangako Sa ‘Yo? The test of true love has begun in the top-rating primetime series as Yna (Kathryn Bernardo) finally decided to let go of Angelo (Daniel Padilla) after he met an accident while following her. But as she tries to forget about Punta Verde and Angelo, Yna will find it hard to start her life anew despite the efforts of David (Diego Loyzaga) to make her smile.

After the accident, Angelo sees Yna and Diego together, which angers him. Convinced that Yna

has already forgotten him, will Angelo finally find the courage to let go of Yna? Also not to be missed are the exciting developments in the tumultuous dynamics among Amor (Jodi Sta. Maria), Eduardo (Ian Veneracion), and Claudia (Angelica Panganiban).

Will Amor finally admit that she still loves Eduardo? And to what lengths would Claudia go to to prevent her husband and Amor from rekindling their romance?

Meanwhile, the program continues to thank its fans for their unwavering support as the cast

CROSSWORD PUZZLE 47 49 50 53 55 57 61 62 64 65 66 67 68 69 70

ANSWER FOR PREVIOUS PUZZLE ACROSS 1 Fleshy mushroom 4 Utter chaos 9 Qt. parts 12 Galileo’s town 13 Nail-groomer 14 Cursed the day 16 Pitbull sound 17 Sound thinking 18 “Bus Stop” author 19 Like fish 21 Bitterly cold 23 Plunge

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Eaves hanger Nulls “Peer Gynt” writer St. Teresa’s home It may be square Stare Muscle used in push-ups Most gung-ho Casual farewell Shut forcefully Swerve For — — (cheap)

Stirring Deposits eggs Where Leo is Keep subscribing Tympanum Juicy morsels Suits to — — Dig in (2 wds.)

Navajo foes Bend forward Slur together Laird’s household Rural rtes.

Knight’s mount Eur. airline

DOWN 1 Fifi’s five 2 Hairy twin 3 Gay Nineties prop 4 Greek sun god 5 BP acquisition 6 — out (relax) 7 Not a repro.

8 Tour de France rivals 9 Yard sale chore 10 Medieval garment 11 “Blume in Love” star 12 Putter’s org.

15 Edit out 20 Fine-tune 22 Crack pilot 24 Trailblazer

Yna and Angelo's relationship seems to be near the end

graces the “One Kapamilya Go” in Oakland, California, USA, held at the Oracle Arena on yesterday. This is the second stop of the Pangako Sa ‘Yo Thanksgiving Tour that kicked off in Biñan, Laguna.

Kathryn and Daniel also re-

MONDAY, OCTOBER 26, 2015

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Ray gun blasts Mr. Knievel Costa — Transvaal trekker Awful smell What the cast takes (2 wds.)

Actor Keenan — Tavern inventory Displaced persons Used a camcorder Damsels Two fins Tolstoy title word Made catty remarks Enthusiasm Movie with a posse Cringe at Recital piece Germinated grain “— cost you” Bench sitters Form 1040 info Dressy accessory

cently bonded with fans as they led the launch of the Pangako Sa ‘Yo Promise Wall along Eugenio Lopez Drive in Quezon City on Oct 20. Many KathNiel fans trooped to the event, where the love team put their signed lovelock on the Promise Wall.

Daniel Padilla and Kathryn Bernardo play the lead roles Angelo and Yna in Pangako Sa 'Yo

M ONDAY : OCTOBER 26 : 2015

C7

SHOWBITZ isahred @ gmail.com

Brian Poe a registered voter sinCe 2010

B

rian Poe can only smile when he hears about the intrigues thrown at his mother, Senator Grace Poe, soon after she made her intention to run for president in 2016.

Says Brian, “There is no truth that he and his father Niel Llamanzares can’t vote for Grace because of their dual citizenship. Both he and his dad are Americans but also hold Philippine passports.

“I have been voting as a Filipino since 2010,” declared the son of Senator Poe. He was one of the more than 20 million voters that put Grace in the Senate in 2013. Sen. Poe

from C8

had also reacted on this issue about her husband and son.

In a radio interview, Sen. Poe said that the parents of her husband are both Filipinos who went to the US for further studies on account of scholarships they were both granted.

“Since his parents are Filipinos, he is a Filipino, too. They say he can’t vote for me because he isn’t a Filipino. That’s not true.

Since 1986, he was voting here in the Philippines, also in 2010 and 2013, and hopefully in 2016,” explained Sen. Poe. Her two daughters are not of voting age yet, according to SuSu

san Roces, mother of the Senator and widow of Fernando Poe, Jr..

HHHHH Charo as iCon of style and suBstanCe Metro celebrates the dignified strength and beauty of empowered Filipina women by putting ABSCBN president and CEO Charo Santos-Concio on the cover of its November issue, dubbing the most influential woman in media as an icon of style and substance.

In a special gatefold cover, Metro trains the spotlight on Charo as she celebrates the milestones of her illustrious career in media together with different superstars

of this generation –Anne Curtis, Bea Alonzo, Charlene Gonzalez, Dawn Zulueta, and Judy Ann Santos, the five chosen stars of Charo who will uphold her legacy.

“In this day and age of flash in the pan fame, there is something massively disarming about a woman that can truly hold her own, unflinching in the midst of hype and chaos. This November, Metro upholds a legacy,” says Metro editor-in-chief Sarah Meier.

Metro also celebrates nine women who are breaking barriers and thriving in their own various fields, calling them “the women of now.” Part of the rosros

Potpot and Friends

Wanted Sweetheart

One sOund frO frOm Om LuzOn tO Visayas and mindanaO

u

nifying its listeners in Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao under one Barangay and one sound, the key programs of GMA’s flagship FM radio station, Barangay LS 97.1, are now airing simultaneously across the nation beginning this month.

Barangay LS programs that were previously heard only in Manila are extended to the regions thru RGMA FM stations in Cebu, Davao, Bacolod, Baguio, Cagayan De Oro, Dagupan, General Santos, Iloilo, Kalibo, Legazpi, Lucena, Naga, Palawan and Tuguegarao.

“On Barangay LS, we are all about providing ‘crazy fun’ to a diverse listenership,” explains RGMA Vice President for Operations, Glenn F. Allona. “With the integration of our key programs across our regional stations, we endeavor to amp up the fun and connect our listeners from Luzon all the way to Visayas and Mindanao under one sound and one Barangay.”

Listening is made more interactive and entertaining through

ter are Kapamilya actress Julia Montes, director Antoinette Jadaone, musician Nicole Asensio, fashion blogger Kiana Valenciano, reporter Marie Lozano, advocate Sec. Lucille Sering, choreographer Georcelle Dapat, model Sabina Gonzalez, and photographer Shaira Luna.

Metro aims to showcase not just trends in the Philippine fashion scene, but also pays homage to the people that have become pillars of the industry. It is one of the monthly titles published by ABS-CBN Publishing, Inc. the home of the country’s bestselling magazines and books.

a simulcast of the key programs with DJs from the various stations interacting with each other, as well as the listeners. “More than providing a good listening experience, we want to initiate a conversation with our listeners,” Allona continued.

Hopeless romantics can tune in to Wanted Sweetheart with Papa Dan in Manila and his counterpart DJs from the different regional stations as they match male and female callers searching for love on air. For the last hour of the program, Papa Dan will take over and match one caller from Luzon and one caller from Visayas or Mindanao. It airs from 9p.m.-12 midnight, Monday to Friday.

Listeners can also join Papa Dudut in Barangay Love Stories as he reads real stories of love, life, and hope from real people.

Find about these interesting stories and new episodes, 12 noon to 3:p.m. Sundays.

Mornings have never been more fun with Potpot & Friends, featuring the fun trio Papa Jepoy, Papa Buboy and Mama Cy as they call

random households, stores, and offices and create lively conversations and entertainment. Papa Jepoy will also be interacting with local DJs of the parallel regional programs from Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao during the last hour. Anticipate their surprise calls from 6 to 9 a.m., Monday to Friday.

Meanwhile, listeners can be the talk of the town by calling in, sharing their personal stories and requesting their favorite songs on Bida sa Barangay with Papa Carlo from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. Monday to Friday.

Barangay FM radio stations nationwide include: Barangay LS 97.1 Mega Manila, Barangay RT 99.5 Cebu, Barangay 103.5 Davao, Barangay 107.1 Bacolod, Barangay 92.7 Baguio, Barangay 100.7 Cagayan De Oro, Barangay 93.5 Dagupan, Barangay 102.3 General Santos, Barangay 93.5 Iloilo, Barangay 92.9 Kalibo, Barangay 96.3 Legazpi, Barangay 91.1 Lucena, Barangay 101.5 Naga, Barangay 97.5 Palawan and Barangay 89.3 Tuguegarao.

Papa Dan, Wanted Sweetheart

Papa Carlo, Bida sa Barangay

Papa Dudut, Barangay Love Stories

Papa Jepoy, Potpot and Friends

M ONDAY : OCTOBER 26 : 2015

C8

ISAH V. RED EDITOR isahred @ gmail.com

SHOWBITZ

love BlooMs in ‘dAnGwA’ ISAH V. RED Love, they say, blooms in the most unexpected places.

The hashtag #DangwaGirl went viral recently as university belt students posted about a mysterious girl giving roses away on the streets of Manila. The lovely flower girl was revealed on GMA’s 24 Oras newscast as Janine Gutierrez – who found a unique way to promote her upcoming series. Janine spent a day giving out red roses to strangers she met along the way, similar to her role in the Network’s upcoming series entitled Dangwa. The recipients - particularly the young men - were thrilled and quickly posted their encounters on social media.

In the series, the lives of various characters are changed by a chance meeting with Rosa (played

by Janine), an enchantingly beautiful flower vendor in Manila’s most popular flower market.

Each character who buys a flower from Rosa will discover that love unexpectedly blooms in his or her own life. A new love story will be introduced to viewers every Monday and end on a Friday… except for the story of Rosa herself, which will slowly unfold as the season progresses.

Rosa’s heartwarming smile and mischievous ways capture the hearts of flower delivery boy Baste (played

by Mark Herras) and furniture designer Lorenzo (played by Aljur Abrenica), but there is more to the girl than they ever expected.

Dangwa’s pilot week, which stars Kapuso teens Barbie Forteza and Ruru Madrid, is penned by Jerome Zamora and directed by Adolf Alix, Jr. and Rember Gelera. This is followed by equally engrossing love stories portrayed by Carla Abellana

and Rafael Rosell, Rhian Ramos and Geoff Eigenmann, Bianca Umali and Miguel Tanfelix, and Pauleen Luna and Gerald Napoles.

Dangwa also boasts an appealing theme music entitled “Pagibig” written and arranged by Simon Tan and performed by OPM rock band Spongecola.

Discover the mystery behind Rosa and fall in love every week with the stories to be featured on Dangwa , which airs Monday to Friday at 11 a.m. starting today only on GMA 7.

HHHHH GMA Afternoon PriMe stArs At MArket! MArket!

Market! Market! had never seen such a big crowd when the stars of The Half Sisters, Buena Familia and Destiny Rose went to promote their shows. At the activity center, the stars barely had an inch to move from their holding area to the stage, the mall security had to double their personnel to insure the stars wouldn’t get hurt.

HHHHH BuBBle GAnG cAst sAys ‘iMBG’ Proudly In the two decades of Bubble Gang on the air, it is without a doubt that to many Filipinos, the show has become a Friday habit.

The cast of the longest gag show on Philippine television is really proud to say IMBG (I am Bubble Gang).

For them, Bubble Gang isn’t just a gag show, but it mirrors the Philippine society.

HHHHH oh, kris BernAl sinGs One of Kris Bernal’s dreams is to sing one of the theme songs of the upcoming series Little Nanay, in which she plays an important role. Guess, what? She will really sing one of the songs and she will be with Chlaui Malayao. So, it’s a duet! Good luck, Kris! ➜ continued on c7

Spread love with flowers from Dangwa, the new GMA morning series, with Janie Gutierrez, Mark Herras, and Aljur Abrenica