The Standard - 2015 November 12 - Thursday

VOL. XXIX  NO. 273  3 Sections 32 Pages P18  THURSDAY : NOVEMBER 12, 2015  www.thestandard.com.ph  editorial@thestandard.com.ph

House OKs wage hike for state workers

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‘PNOY WAS INVITED’ Tacloban mayor: No response to invite; Palace insists he wasn’t

By Christine F. Herrera

CONTRARY to Palace claims, President Benigno Aquino III was officially invited to the ceremonies in Tacloban City marking the second anniversary of Typhoon “Yolanda,” which killed more than 7,000 people and devastated Eastern Visayas in November 2013.

Tacloban City Mayor Alfred Romualdez on Wednesday confirmed that the President was invited as early as Oct. 27 or 12 days before the second anniversary of the Yolanda tragedy.

“The Palace did not RSVP,” Romualdez told The Standard.

The President drew flak for skipping the Tacloban rites to attend a wedding in Pasay City of business tycoon Andrew Tan’s son Kester on Nov. 8, but a spokesman said he did

not go because he was not invited.

But in a letter to the President obtained by The Standard, Romualdez invited the President to one of the most important events, the unveiling of the Astrodome Memorial marker on Nov. 8 at the Tacloban City Convention Center.

It was at the Astrodome where thousands had sought refuge and were saved from the killer storm surge.

“Knowing your continuing concern

for all of us victims who fortunately survived this tragedy, I shall greatly appreciate your being with us once again on this commemorative occasion,” Romualdez said in the letter.

“On November 8, 2015, the City of Tacloban commemorates the second anniversary of Super Typhoon Yolanda in memory of our fellow Taclobanons who lost their lives during this horrendous disaster,” Romualdez’s letter said.

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Apec meetings venue. President Benigno Aquino III, accompanied by his Cabinet, inspects the PICC in Manila, the venue of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation meetings this month.

Malacañang Photo Bureau

Malacañang ignores Senate position on treaty

By Sandy Araneta THE Palace ignored a Senate resolution Wednesday that said the country’s Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement or Edca was a treaty and therefore needed the approval of the Senate, and said it would await a Supreme Court decision on the issue.

“We are abiding by the legal process; hence we are awaiting SC decision. [The] Senate is well within its rights to deliberate on and enact resolutions,” said Communications Secretary Herminio Coloma Jr., in a text message to the press.

Most senators on Tuesday agreed with Senantor Miriam Defensor-Santiago that the Edca,

which allows American troops access to Philippine military bases, is a treaty that requires the concurrence of the Senate.

Voting 15-1-3, the senators approved Santiago’s resolution as the Supreme Court postponed its vote on the constitutionality of the agreement, which was supposed to take place on Tuesday, to Nov. 16.

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Poe warns Aquino: No quick fixes to PH’s ills

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House OKs wage hike for state employees

By Maricel V. Cruz and Macon Ramos-Araneta

THE House of Representatives approved on second reading Wednesday night the Palace-backed measure to increase the salaries and benefits of 1.3 million state workers.

Camarines Sur Rep. Rolando Andaya Jr., vice chairman of the House committee on appropriations, defended House Bill 6268 or the Salary Standardization Law of 2015, saying the measure will provide great relief to the government workers once it is passed into law.

The bill was tackled in the plenary despite the absence of quorum.

The measure was principally authored

by Speaker Feliciano Belmonte Jr. and coauthored by Reps. Isidro Ungab, Majority Leader and Mandaluyong Rep. Neptali Gonzales II, Romblon Rep. Jesus Eleandro Madrona, chairman of the House committee on accounts and Minority Leader and San Juan Rep. Ronaldo Zamora.

HB 6268 was immediately calendared for committee and plenary actions after it was submitted by Malacañang last Monday.

The House committee on appropriations, chaired by Ungab, approved the measure Wednesday and had it referred to the plenary for approval on the same day.

Only Alliance of Concerned Teachers party-list Rep. Antonio Tinio voted against the measure. He said the Budget Department was misleading the government workers, es-

‘PNoy...

From A1

“May we look forward to your presence—most especially during the unveiling of the Astrodome Memorial marker on Nov. 08, 2015 at Tacloban City Convention Center,” the mayor said.

Romualdez attached a schedule of activities on Nov. 7 and 8 to his letter.

In a radio and TV interview, Communications Secretary Herminio Coloma Jr. defended Aquino, saying he was not invited.

“First of all, I checked with the Appointments Office. No invitation was received by the Office of the President,” Coloma said.

“The President and the government continue to implement comprehensive rehabilitation program for building more resilient communities. Actual implementation of rehabilitation programs is the government’s primary focus,” he added.

Coloma said Aquino did not intend to skip the commemoration rites to avoid meeting Mayor Romualdez, who has been critical of the slow pace of the administration’s relief and rehabilitation efforts.

On Nov. 8, three hours before the President was supposed to unveil the marker, Romualdez and his cousins senatorial candidate Leyte Rep. Ferdinand Martin Romualdez and vice presidential candidate Senator Ferdinand Marcos Jr. led an hour-long commemorative walk from city hall to the Astrodome Memorial Ground.

They were joined by the mayor’s

pecially the teachers, when it claimed salaries of public school teachers will double if the bill becomes a law by January 2016.

Andaya, in his sponsorship speech, said the proposed pay hike will be implemented in four tranches over four years starting January 2016 and, upon full implementation, will bring the compensation of all government workers to at least 70 percent of market rate or up to a 45-percent increase.

“The proposed compensation plan is composed of across-the-board salary increase plus a mid-year bonus equivalent to one-month basic salary and the new Performance-based Bonus as an added bonus contingent on performance,” Andaya said.

As stated in the proposed measure, Andaya said, the 14th month pay or mid-year bonus, in addition to the present year-end bonus or 13th month pay, will account for an 8-percent increase in annual salaries.

Andaya said the PBB will be equivalent to one to two months basic salary or an 8 to 16 percent increase depending on the employee’s position.

The House was expected to approve the measure on third and final reading on the same night it approved the measure on sec-

wife Cristina, United Nationalist Alliance standard bearer Vice President Jejomar Binay, UNA senatorial candidates Alma Moreno, Jacel Kiram and Rey Langit, independent senatorial candidate Francis Tolentino and vice presidential candidate Gregorio Honasan, Binay’s running mate.

Despite Romualdez’s letter, the Palace insisted Wednesday that it received no invitation, but said it would continue to help victims of the tragedy.

“As of today (Nov. 11), Office of the President records do not include an invitation to Nov. 8 commemorative program, but we do not regard this as a significant factor as it has no bearing on the government’s commitment to rebuild the lives of affected families,” Coloma said in a text message to The Standard.

“It is best that we move forward and work harder to ease the burdens of our people in the calamity areas,” Coloma also told The Standard.

Coloma also said the government continues to work on implementing post-Yolanda rehabilitation programs beyond the commemoration of the second anniversary of the severe calamity that has afflicted thousands of Filipinos.

“We continue to work together with organizations and individuals that believe in the objective of building back disaster-resilient communities,” he said.

On Wednesday, congressman Romualdez urged the government to provide potable water to Yolanda survivors, who continue to be deprived of the basic necessity two years after the killer storm.

ond reading.

The leader of the independent minority bloc in the House, Leyte Rep. Ferdinand Martin Romualdez, welcomed the bill’s approval.

“I congratulate our colleagues from the House committee on appropriations for immediately approving the SSL 2015 because this is a long-overdue legislation to extend economic assistance to our state workers,” Romualdez said.

“But we should further examine the measure by pushing for a higher increase than the proposal offers for low-level and middle-level employees like teachers and nurses because they need better pay the most,” he added.

“I suggest to reduce the performancebased bonus so that we can generate funds to support the basic salary instead,” he added.

Senate President Franklin Drilon filed a counterpart bill on Wednesday that provides a weighted average increase of 45 percent in the total compensation of all government personnel over a four-year period.

“The economy is in the right course and we will take advantage of the favorable condition to raise the pay scheme in the government and align it with the compensation received by employees from the private sector,” Drilon said.

“It is about time that we adjust the salaries of the hardworking men and women who have helped the government to fulfill its mandates to the people,” he added.

Malacañang...

From A1 Those who voted in favor of the resolution were Santiago and Senators Juan Edgardo Angara; Nancy Binay; JV Ejercito; Francis Escudero, Teofisto Guingona III, Lito Lapid, Loren Legarda, Ferdinand Marcos Jr., Serge Osmeña III, Aquilino Pimentel III, Grace Poe, Ralph Recto, and Cynthia Villar.

The 15th vote came from Senator Pia Cayetano, who was not at the session hall during the vote, but later manifested that she was voting in the affirmative.

Only Senator Antonio Trillanes IV voted against the resolution.

Senate President Frank Drilon and Senator Juan Ponce Enrile abstained.

Santiago argued that “other than concurrence of the Senate, no authority expressly transforms a treaty into law,” and cited the Constitution’s treaty provision, which states: “No treaty or international agreement shall be valid and effective unless concurred in by at least two-thirds of all the members of the Senate.’’

The Supreme Court was set to vote on a petition challenging the Edca on Tuesday, but since two justices—Associate Justices Jose Mendoza and Arturo Brion—were on sick leave, the court reset the voting to Nov. 16.

The two main petitions against Edca were filed in May last year by a group led by former senators Rene Saguisag and Wigberto Tañada and congressmen, led

by Bayan Muna Representatives Neri Colmenares and Carlos Zarate.

Two other similar petitions were filed by Kilusang Mayo Uno and the Confederation for Unity, Recognition and Advancement of Government Employees and the family of slain transgender woman Jennifer Laude in June and November last year, respectively. With Rey E. Requejo and Florante S. Solmerin

Arms show. Davao City Mayor Rodrigo Duterte, an advocate of responsible gun ownership, checks out an assault rifle during an arms show at the SM Megamall in Mandaluyong City. MANNY PALMERO

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Keepsake. Cardinal Luis Antonio Luis Tagle receives a native handkerchief from a member of the lumad tribe in Manila. Danny Pata

No quick fixes, Poe warns Noy

By Macon Ramos-araneta

INDEPENDENT presidential candidate Senator Grace Poe on Wednesday warned the Aquino administration against quick fixes, last-minute remedies or “band-aid solutions” to brag about its accomplishments before its term ends on June 30 next year.

“Rushing things can ruin things, and I’m afraid this is what’s happening now,” said Poe, the frontrunner in all presidential surveys.

She made her statement even as Senator Francis Escudero blasted Liberal Party presidential candidate Manuel Roxas II for his “antibusiness” and “anti-poor” proposal when he suggested canceling all bus franchises to solve the traffic woes in Metro Manila.

He said Roxas’ “knee-jerk” solution would have a negative effect on the riding public who depends on buses in the absence of an efficient rail transport system.

“That proposal is detrimental

to the welfare of the riding public,” Escudero said.

“He should also take into consideration the welfare of the people who are dependent on the bus industry for their livelihood.”

Poe made her warning amid the administration’s frenzied efforts to complete or repair infrastructure projects and fulfill unfinished commitments.

She cited the “seemingly endless road repairs these past weeks that have inconvenienced the public so much that we have started to be swallowed up into a way of life forever marred by traffic.”

“A legacy should have a lasting

positive effect rather than further embroiling society in problems once this administration leaves office,” Poe said.

She also cited the spate of infrastructure projects that were started too late but were now being rushed like the Skyway extension and the flyover from the Ninoy Aquino International Airport complex to Diosdado Macapagal Avenue in the reclamation area in Pasay City.

Poe also cited the victims of Super Typhoon “Yolanda.”

“It has been two years since the calamity and yet there is still so much to be accomplished, so many still to be helped,” she said.

For the requirements of permanent shelters alone, the government hardly made a dent in alleviating the plight of more than 200,000 families who were displaced by the typhoon.

“From the government’s own admission, it was only able to provide permanent housing for 298 families in the last two years,” Poe said.

Binay’s birthday wish: Improve lives of poor VICE President Jejomar Binay said Wednesday his birthday wish is to improve the lives of all the Filipinos and wipe out poverty in the country.

He celebrated his 73rd birthday on Wednesday with the residents of a poor community in Pasay and vowed to work to address the problem of widespread poverty.

“If I would make a birthday wish, I want to improve the lives of every Filipino,” Binay said. “This is one article, my primary article of faith under my administration: to uplift the lives of Filipino people.”

Binay recounted when his mother died because of poverty.

He then vowed, when he got appointed mayor of Makati, that his administration would see to it that no one in Makati would die because of poverty.

He said his mother was a teacher in Pasay City and he grew up in Libertad, but then he transferred to Makati and lived there.

He said he wished Filipinos would be able to rise above poverty and create a better life for themselves. Vito Barcelo

Bayan blasts Roxas’ policy of ‘winning at all costs’ THE left-leaning Bagong Alyansang Makabayan on Wednesday warned against administration standard-bearer Manuel Roxas II’s “win at all costs” strategy, saying it showed “telltale signs” of his “dictatorial tendencies” should he get elected as President.

“If how Mar Roxas campaigns is a preview of how he will govern, then I’m afraid we must be prepared for a de facto MAR-tial

law,” Renato Reyes Jr., Bayan secretary-general, said in a statement sent to The Standard.

“The systematic elimination of your rivals; the use of government resources to secure victory; and the use of threats to coerce politicians to support you if Roxas is willing to do this to win, then he will not hesitate to do the same to attain his objectives when he is in power,” Reyes said.

He said Roxas’ had earlier promised to run a clean campaign based on the principles of the so-called straight path.

He warned of LP members beingpressured to support the candidacy of Roxas or else they would be dropped.

“If in [the Ninoy Aquino International Airport] there is laglagbala, in LP there are laglag-partymates,” Reyes said. John Paolo

Bencito

73 and counting. Vice President Jejomar Binay blows out the

candles on his cake to celebrate his 73rd birthday with the residents of Tramo in Pasay City on Wednesday. With him is Senator Gringo Honasan. Lino SantoS

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Junk ‘tanim bala’ charge, missionary asks court

By Joel E. Zurbano AMERICAN missionary Lane Michael White on Wednesday asked the Pasay City regional trial court to dismiss the illegal possession of ammunition case filed against him, claiming he was only a victim of the bulletplanting [locally called, tanim-bala] syndicate at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport last month.

Philippine bet. Miss Earth Philippines Angel Ong acknowledges the applause of supporters at the send-off ceremony at a Pasay City hotel on Wednesday. This year’s Miss Earth beauty pageant will be held in Vienna, Austria on Dec. 5. DANNY PATA

In a hearing presided by Judge Pedro Gutierrez of the Pasay City RTC Branch 119, White’s lawyer Ernesto Arellano said airport security personnel Maria Elma Cena and Marvin Garcia scanned the baggage of White on the x-ray machine several times until they found a .22 cal. ammunition from its pocket.

“Garcia brought the baggage to the xray machine and found a bullet after he [rummaged through the luggage using his] bare hands,” he said.

Arellano said it was impossible for his client to pass through Florida’s Jacksonville Airport if he had a bullet inside his baggage.

The lawyer said they filed a nine-page motion before the court armed with a

video footage taken by White’s relative showing Garcia was seen putting his hand inside the baggage instead of using an inspection stick.

The court ordered Cena and Garcia 10 days to comment on the motion filed by White.

Arellano said they are considering filing an administrative case against SPO2 Rolando Clarin of the PNP Aviation Security Group who allegedly asked P30,000 from White in exchange for his release.

Reports showed that White, who was traveling to Coron, Palawan, was taken to the Office of the Transport Security, where he said someone asked for P30,000 to “make the case go away,” but he refused.

Sabotage of transmission towers escalates

By Alena Mae S. Flores THE National Grid Corp. of the Philippines said Tuesday sabotage of transmission facilities in Mindanao has been escalating with 10 towers bombed to date, putting at risk the power supply situation in the region.

National Grid said eight days after three towers in Patani, Marawi City were bombed, another tower in the same area was targeted last Nov. 6.

Tower No. 13 along Agus 2 - Kibawe 138-kilovolt line 2 in Guimba, Marawi City was bombed by still unidentified perpetrators, making it the 10th tower bombed this year.

“This is the 10th tower bombed by lawless elements in 2015 alone, with five towers bombed within the month of October. We are very concerned that this situation seems to be escalating, with each incident happening progressively closer

to each other,” the company said.

The company said that while the explosion did not topple the tower, the damaged it sustained caused it to lean, putting the transmission facility in a more critical condition.

Last Oct. 29, three towers along the same transmission line were also bombed.

Of the three, two structures, Towers No. 19 and No. 20, were toppled. The third tower, No. 21 sustained damage, but

did not topple.

National Grid said that at 1:50 p.m. Nov. 9, it was able to fully restore the Agus 2-Kibawe 138kV line 2 after implementing temporary measures to transmit electricity produced by Agus 1 and 2 hydropower plants to the rest of the Mindanao grid.

The PNP and AFP are leading the investigation and exerting all efforts at catching the perpetrators of the bombings.

“With the help of the local au-

thorities, several other bombs were found on our facilities, but these did not detonate and were safely disposed of,” said NGCP. National Grid appealed to the public to help monitor the safety of the towers so that transmission services remain uninterrupted.

“If anyone sees anything suspicious at or around our towers and facilities, please inform us immediately. You may text us your tips and other information at (0917)879-1077,” it said.

Don’t hide truth, govt told

By Sara Susanne D. Fabunan THE Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines will closely monitor homeless families during the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation summit next week and hoped that the Aquino administration will not try to hide the truth from visiting dignitaries.

“Let us see what they will do.

Hopefully, they will not try to hide them, but instead look for solutions to the street families,” said Manila Auxilliary Bishop Broderick Pabillo, chairperson of the CBCP permanent committee on public affairs, in an interview over Radio Veritas.

Pabillo confirmed that the Department of Social Welfare and Development has been distributing P4,000 to each homeless family in Manila so they can rent a tem-

porary home in time for the arrival of 21 heads of state from Nov. 15 to 20.

Pabillo also lamented that the government’s programs for the poor were never effective because they did not address the root causes of the problem, like employment, education and proper relocation.

He also said that most of the programs of the DSWD actually do not improve the lives of the poor and the street dwellers although the government has allocated almost P10 billion for the hosting of the Apec Leaders Summit.

He said during the visit of Pope Francis in the country, the DSWD has spent more than P4.8 million to hide at least 100 street families.

Pabillo recommended the government make clear its program for the poor.

Women power. Former Palestinian hijacker Leila Khaled (2nd from left) joins a protest during the International Women’s Alliance General Assembly forum in Manila Wednesday. AFP PHOTO

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High court heeds poll list-up plea

By Rey E. Requejo

US Ambassador Philip S. Goldberg (left) and Armed Forces chief Hernando Iriberri offer a wreath in honor of war veterans at the Manila American Cemetery and Memorial in Fort Bonifacio, Taguig City on Wednesday Nov. 11 on the occasion of Veterans Day. DANNY PATA

AFP using paramilitary groups, says probe team

By John Paolo Bencito and Sara Fabunan The Armed Forces of the Philippines must be held accountable for the creation, arming and continued use of paramilitary groups in military operations in Mindanao, according to an international fact-finding mission.

“There is adequate basis to compel the AFP to account for the deployment of its troops and conduct of its operations in Surigao del Sur to ascertain its role in incidents leading to the September 1 massacre of Emerito Samarca, Dionel Campos and Datu Juvello Sinzo and the present crisis of forcible evacuation in the lumad communities,” the International Fact-Find-

ing Mission said.

Meanwhile, Manila Archbishop Luis Antonio Cardinal Tagle urged the military and the communist rebels to leave the indigenous peoples alone and make their community a “peaceful zone.”

In a statement he issued after visiting the lumad members at Liwasang Bonifacio in Manila, Tagle urged the Aquino administration to provide

water, medicine, compassion and understanding to the displaced lumad who have taken shelter in evacuation centers in Mindanao.

A copy of the full report of the International Fact Finding Mission, an independent probe commissioned through “ecumenical efforts” by church-led groups, was obtained by The Standard through Bishop Rhee Timbang of the Aglipay Diocese of Tandag. The report was released Tuesday.

The IFFM report scored the military’s continuing incursions to areas formerly occupied by lumad who fled to evacuation centers, adding that human rights violations continue to plague indigenous peoples despite earlier calls by residents to leave their communities amid attacks of paramilitary groups in the area.

“According to police and military statements, PNP and the Alpha Coy of the 75th IB have been in Han-ayan and surrounding communities since September 2, 2015 to secure and protect the property of the evacuees who left their communities. Despite their presence however, the destruction, burning, divestment and defacement of property still occurred, proof of their failure to do their task in safeguarding the communities,” the report read.

“Despite these, there is continuing presence of the regular troops deployed in the communities that are currently forcibly evacuated. This situation persist despite the repeated calls to pull out troops from areas that have been affected by forcible evacuation because of heavy troops deployment in communities.”

THE Supreme Court has directed the Commission on Elections to answer the petition filed by a party-list lawmaker seeking to compel the poll body to reopen the registration of voters for the 2016 elections.

SC spokesman Theodore Te disclosed that the high court gave the Comelec 10 days to answer the petition filed by Kabataan partylist Rep. Terry Ridon and his group.

“The Court directed respondent Commission on Elections to comment on the petition for certiorari and mandamus with application for preliminary mandatory injunction and/or temporary restraining order within a non-extendible period of 10 days from notice of resolution,” the high court said, in a resolution adopted during its regular en banc session on Tuesday.

In its petition, the Kabataan Party-list sought the nullification of Comelec Resolution No. 99853 dated Feb. 19, 2014 and Resolution No. 9981 dated Aug. 18, 2015, both of which fix the deadline of application of registration of voters on Oct. 31, 2015, which is more than two months earlier than what Republic Act 8189 or the Voter’s Registration Act of 1996 provides.

The petitioner noted that the Voter’s Registration Act clearly states that the personal filing of application of registration of voters shall be prohibited only during 120 days before a regular election and 90 days before a special election.

Because of this, the petitioner asserted that the deadline of application of registration of voters should still be on Jan. 8, 2016 and not on Oct. 31, 2015, which is 69 days earlier than is prescribed by the statute.

The petitioner was joined by Anakbayan Vencer Crisostomo and National Union of Student of the Philippines president Sarah Jane Elago, national president of the National Union of Students of the Philippines in the petition.

Petitioners cited aggravating circumstances to justify the extension of the registration period, which already lasted for a year-and a-half.

For instance, they cited the latest admission of the poll body that some three million voters stand to be delisted, as they still have no biometrics data a few days before the deadline.

“An aggravating factor in this issue is the respondent’s implementation of the ‘No Bio, No Boto’ policy, which automatically delists registered voters who fail to have their biometrics data captured, pursuant to Republic Act No. 10367 or the Mandatory Biometrics Voter Registration Act,” the petitioners said.

Commish draws avalanche of climate change proposals

By Sandy Araneta THE Climate Change Commission has received 13 proposals from local government units on ways to mitigate the effects of climate change but expressed fear its P1-billion allocation for the purpose under the People’s Survival Fund may not be adequate to meet the requirements.

“We issued the call for proposals last October 28, and even before the call for proposals, we already have received about 13 proposals from the local government; and looking at their proposal, in terms of the amount that they are requesting, it will go beyond the P1billion allocation,” said CCC acting deputy executive director Joceline Goco during a press briefing in Malacañang.

“So while in the process, we really have to increase the amount of P1 billion, but

we have to prove first and to see what are the different proposals that will be submitted, and we’re looking at that this proposal should be a real proposal on climate change adaptation and not just a proposal to, for example, develop an infrastructure by the local government,” Goco said.

The PSF is a fund created through Republic Act 10174 signed by President Benigno Aquino III in 2012. At least P1 billion should be allotted as the PSF annually.

Last month, the DoF asked LGUs to submit their proposals on climate change mitigation projects which will have to undergo the process of evaluation.

Meanwhile, religious organizations and civil society groups on Wednesday called on the government for a strong and fair global climate agreement ahead of the international climate talks to start on Nov. 30.

Bimmers for Apec. Asian Carmakers Corp., the official importer and distributor of BMW in the Philippines, has turned over a fleet of BMW 7 Series vehicles to the Apec 2015 National Organizing Council. BMW vehicles will be used by ministers and heads of states participating in the upcoming Apec Economic Leaders’ Meeting on Nov. 18 and 19. ACC Chairman Emeritus Gov. Jose Ch. Alvarez (left) makes the ceremonial turnover of BMW 7 vehicles to Apec-NOC Chairman Ambassador Marciano Paynor at the Philippine International Convention Center.

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INC case trial: Menorca witnesses testify at CA

Junjun’s victory at SC may be short-lived

By Rey E. Requejo

DISMISSED Makati City Mayor Jejomar Erwin “Junjun” Binay Jr. may have succeeded in stopping the first suspension order imposed by the Office of the Ombudsman, but his legal victory is short-lived as he can no longer invoke the condonation doctrine in questioning the dismissal order issued by the antigraft body against him last month over the Makati City Hall building 2 project.

Supreme Court spokesman Theodore Te made the statement on Wednesday even as the Court released its promulgated decision abandoning the jurisprudence on condonation that extinguishes the administrative liabilities of reelected officials for acts committed in their previous terms.

Te admitted reports that the application of the abandonment would be prospective in effect, as specifically mandated in the dispositive portion of the ruling written

by Associate Justice Estela Perlas– Bernabe.

“The incident that was raised to the court is very specific. That incident [injunction order of the Court of Appeals on the suspension order] is very specific. As far as that incident is concerned, it is not covered by the abandonment,” Te said in a media briefing.

But the SC official stressed that abandonment of the doctrine, as stated in the ruling, would apply in future cases, including possible actions of Binay in questioning his dismissal from government service.

When asked if Binay could invoke the doctrine against his dismissal, which arose from the same charges related to the Makati parking building, Te expressed the belief that the sacked Makati City mayor no longer could.

In its decision, the SC ruled that the condonation doctrine, which became part of Philippine jurisprudence in 1959 upon ruling also of the high court, should be abandoned for lack of basis in the 1987 Philippine Constitution and law.

“As can be seen from this discourse, it was a doctrine adopted from one class of US rulings way back in 1959 and thus, out of touch from—and now rendered obsolete by—the current legal regime,” the decision stated. Rey E. Requejo

WITNESSES in the alleged abduction and detention of expelled minister Lowell Menorca II on Wednesday took the stand before the Court of Appeals, but cross examination made by lawyers of Iglesia Ni Cristo elicited inconsistencies in their testimonies.

During the cross examination by lawyers of INC leaders named respondents in the habeas corpus and amparo cases, inconsistencies in the testimonies of Menorca’s wife Jinky, brother Anthony and nanny Abegail Yanson were produced.

Jinky even admitted that she did not witness her husband being taken by armed men last July in Bulan, Sorsogon, contrary to the claim of her twin sister Jungko Otsuka in the petition.

Menorca’s wife said it was Yanson who just told her about the incident.

“So, you did not see how Ka Lowell was picked up?” INC lawyer Salvador Peña asked, to which Jinky answered, “I did not see it with my eyes.”

Jinky also admitted that her sis-

Bill pushes tax perks for socialized housing

By Maricel V. Cruz A LAWMAKER has filed a bill that seeks to exempt all forms of socialized housing programs and projects from the payment of capital gains tax.

Quezon City Rep. Winston Castelo said the proposal under House Bill 6122 is meant to encourage wider participation in comprehensive and continuing urban development and housing program as well as access to land and housing for the underprivileged and homeless citizens.

Under the bill, exemption of payment of capital gains tax is applicable to all institutions, whether national government’s Key Shelter Agencies or local government units, private sector, non-government organizations or civil society

organizations, people’s or cooperative organizations engaged or who shall engage in any form of socialized housing projects and programs.

The bill states that any disposition by way of sale or donation of lands for socialized housing programs and projects shall be exempt from the payment of capital gains tax or donor’s tax, as the case may be.

Castelo said socialized housing program is the most appropriate solution that resolves underprivileged and homeless families’ need for security of tenure and shelter.

“Housing is a basic human need—a matter of concern since it directly and significantly affects public health, safety, the environment and in sum, the general welfare,” he said.

ter did not visit her, while they were held inside the INC compound in Quezon City, but Jungko denied this in her affidavit and admitted she visited the former several times.

The INC lawyer also compelled Jinky to admit that she and the rest of her family were able to leave their apartment/quarters for church, the gym, badminton court, the canteen and the other facilities inside the INC Central compound in Quezon City, go to the hospital, and even bring their balikbayan visitors to the Philippine Arena in Bulacan during the duration of their alleged detention.

The petition earlier alleged that the family was harassed and made to live deplorable conditions while

under INC custody, but Yanson revealed upon cross examination that the family “was treated well.”

Anthony, for his part, testified that his knowledge of the alleged abduction of his brother only came from the Menorca couple, prompting the INC lawyer to call it “hearsay.”

Another INC lawyer, Patricia Ann Prodigalidad, asked the CA’s Seventh Division to impose sanctions on the Menorca camp for failure to furnish respondents with copies of the judicial affidavits of their witnesses on the deadline set by the court last Nov. 5 as agreed upon during the first hearing last Nov. 3.

Prodigalidad also called out Menorca counsels Trixie CruzAngeles and Ahmed Paglinawan for manifesting intent to furnish respondents with copies of the affidavits of Lowell and his brother, Anthony, only today, calling this an act to “clearly ambush respondents” and “surprise respondents” with affidavits not previously provided them.

“We are baffled how come they

could have themselves interviewed and not do their duty as lawyers... We call on this court to give them sanctions under the Judicial Affidavit Rule.

This court has been lenient with them already in the past hearing when they asked for time to print their affidavits; how many times will this court be lenient to them?” she said.

Angeles and Paglinawan apologized to the court, but stressed that they got sick, including their lone assistant, and the reason why the copies e-mailed to respondents were unnotarized was because there was difficulty in scanning the notarized pages.

“All our scanners decided to conk out at the same time, your honors.

This is a simple technical difficulty,” Angeles told the Court.

Prodigalidad attempted to have the Menorcas’ affidavits stricken off since they were submitted beyond the agreed deadline, but the court decided to accept them “in the interest of justice” with a corresponding fine of P2,000 consistent with the Judicial Affidavit Rule.

Mangrove nursery. Manila Mayor Joseph Estrada and Regina Paz Lopez, chair-

person of the Pasig River Rehabilitation Commission, inspect the Mangrove Nursery Plant and Baseco Access Road Development Project in Tondo, Manila. LINO SANTOS

Dashcams on patrol. To raise the level of operational efficiency of the south toll road operators, Skyway O&M Corp., Manila Toll Expressway Systems, Inc. and Star Tollway, have equipped 20 each of their patrol vehicles with dashboard cameras mounted on the vehicle’s windshield to continuously monitor and record traffic situations on the toll road. Time, date, speed and flow of traffic are recorded real-time. As a recording eyewitness, the dashcam helps in emergency situations and in the apprehension of violators. Photo shows a patroller and the dashcam at work. The video-cam recordings are compiled for use by and reference of the toll road operator to enhance service, effectively enforce traffic rules and discipline and plan future improvements. The dashcam also features a lane departure warning system and speed alarm to alert patrollers as they perform their duties in keeping the toll facilities safe and secured for the motorists all-the-clock.

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

A7

NEWS

editorial@thestandard.com.ph

Another day. The sun rises in Tacloban City which recently commemorated the second year anniversary of Typhoon ‘Yolanda.’ SONNY ESPIRITU

High Court looks into detainees’ complaint

By Rey E. Requejo

THE Supreme Court will investigate the issues raised by detainees of the Pampanga provincial jail, especially their complaint on the snail-paced resolution of their cases in the lower courts.

Court Administrator Jose Midas Marquez, who exercises supervision over trial court judges in the country, acknowledged that his office had received the letter of hundreds of detainees about the supposed “very slow setting of hearings in various courts and judges” handling their criminal cases.

“I have already instructed our Legal Office to look into the veracity of the allegations,” Marquez said in a text message Wednesday.

The Court administrator said there was a need to look into the complaint “more so now that the Supreme Court has come out with the Guidelines on Continuous Trial which is being pilot tested in some first- and second-level courts in the National Capital Judicial Region.”

In a three-page handwritten letter last Monday, the detainees told the high court that most of their cases are being heard by the regional trial courts only once a year while some of their cases have run for 10 to 15 years and still have no resolution up to this day.

The detainees said they have already sought relief from San Fernando, Pampanga regional trial court Executive Judge Divina Luz Simbulan “about our sorry condition here.”

“But she had no action.... We told her about our concerns but she just ignored us,” they said.

They reported to the high court that instead of addressing their problems, Judge Simbulan has interfered with the management by the jail warden.

Bulacan judge shot dead

By Orlan L. Mauricio

MALOLOS CITY—A 63-year-old judge of the Regional Trial Court of Bulacan based in this capital city was shot dead at about 4:30 Wednesday afternoon along McArthur Highway in Barangay Tikay.

The victim was identified as Wilfredo T. Nieves, presiding judge of Bulacan RTC-Branch 84, a special court handling heinous crimes and drug-related cases.

Nieves was alone driving at the time of the ambush.

Police probers who arrived at the crime scene minutes after the ambush gathered that at least two armed suspects, on board separate motorcycles, alighted just as the Fortuner-SUV with plate 16-C-84 (UOC-273) stopped at the redlight at the junction of Barangay

Tikay, a kilometer away from the Tabang entry plaza of the North Luzon Expressway.

The suspects, believed to be hired assassins, shot Nieves at close range from both sides of the car. The car sustained three bullets holes from the passenger side and another three from the back window. Five bullet holes penetrated the window glass of the driver’s side. Judge Nieves left his office past 4 p.m. and was on his way home in Quezon City via NLex.

Ambush. Judge Wilfredo Nieves was shot dead inside his vehicle Wednesday afternoon. ORLAN MAURICIO

Court sources said Nieves had been receiving death threats after he convicted a member of the Dominguez brothers group

sometine last year.

The Bulacan RTC has 27 salas composed of family courts, drugs courts and heinous crime courts.

Ombudsman charges ex-Benguet mayor of graft

By Rio N. Araja THE Office of the Ombudsman on Wednesday ordered the filing of graft raps against a former Benguet mayor with the Sandiganbayan for alleged irregular purchase of P1.9 million worth of liquid fertilizers in 2004.

Ombudsman Conchita Carpio Morales approved the indictment of ex-Bacun mayor Bartolome Sacla Sr., ex-municipal treasurer Manuel Bagayao, ex-accountant Virginia Kigisan and Dolly Villaflor of Bry Crin Enterprises for violation of Section 3(e) of Repub-

lic Act 3019, or the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act. In a 19-page resolution, the municipality of Bakun received P1.95 million from the Department of Agriculture under its farm inputs and farm implements program that formed part of the supposed P728-million fertilizer fund scam in 2004.

The municipal government used the funds to buy 1,300 bottles of Nutro Ocean fertilizers at P1,500 per bottle from Bry Cin Enterprises.

The inspection and payment for the supplier were made on May 7,

2004, but the items were actually delivered only on May 14 on that same year.

In its audit, the Commission on Audit found there was no public bidding conducted since the municipal government was not able to create its bids and awards committee, and that the fertilizers were grossly overpriced by as much as P1.74 million.

Based on the investigation of CoA, suitable fertilizers were readily available at the market at much lower prices, and that the products delivered were substandard and not registered with the Fertilizer

and Pesticides Authority.

As a result, CoA issued a notice of disallowance in January 2006.

“All these circumstances showed that public respondents, in conspiracy with Dolly Villaflor, acted with manifest partiality and gross inexcusable negligence in the procurement of nutro ocean fertilizers thereby causing undue injury to the municipality of Bakun and giving unwarranted benefit, advantage and preference to Bry Cin Enterprises and/or Dolly Villaflor,” the resolution read.

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

A8

OPINION

ADELLE CHUA EDITOR

lettertotheeditor@thestandard.com.ph

OPINION

DUTY CALLS FLORENCIO FIANZA

OVERKILL

[ EDI TORI A L ]

IN THE HEART THE President’s smile, captured in a photo now circulating online, appears genuine. In that wedding of a son of a businessman, he is in the company of friends—people he knows. Why should the people expect Mr. Aquino to spend his Sunday in unfamiliar territory, never mind if it was the second anniversary of a killer typhoon that devastated a large part of the country?

He did go to Eastern Visayas last year, during the first anniversary, even as he skipped Ground Zero—Tacloban City—of the disaster and proceeded instead to Guiuan, Eastern Samar. There was a big crowd protesting in Tacloban last year, and perhaps the President figured he would rather not face them and subject himself to the inconvenience of answering their difficult questions.

The bereaved need their time to grieve. Mr. Aquino has always believed this, which is why in January, he never bothered to show up at Villamor Air Base as the bodies of the slain Special Action Force commandoes were flown in from Maguindanao. He chose instead to grace the inauguration of a car manufacturing plant in Laguna.

And how dare other people accuse him of insensitivity. He knew of loss; was he not an orphan, too?

The Palace offered a perfectly good excuse for the President’s absence in Tacloban last weekend. They did not receive any invitation from the city government. Palace spokesman Herminio Coloma even took the trouble of checking with the appointments office—nothing. The Tacloban City government says otherwise. A photo of the letter was circulated on the Internet to show there was an invitation.

Letter or not, however, Mr. Aquino could have gone anyway to show his compassion is beyond whatever differences he may have with the people running the local government. The fact that he chose not to speaks volumes. The fact that he exchanged pleasantries with his fellow wedding guests at an inopportune time, even louder.

House Speaker Feliciano Belmonte Jr. attempted to be profound when he said that commemoration is in the heart, and not in the show. The attempt fails—the claim sounds hollow and trite, a lame excuse.

After five years of the Aquino administration, the people know better than expect their President to be there when it matters. It’s a sad reality that we have become used to. Our hearts are thankful we no longer have to suffer for long.

NO-WIN MAR LOWDOWN JOJO A. ROBLES I SOMETIMES feel sorry for Mar Roxas, the presidential candidate of the Liberal Party and President Noynoy Aquino. If you ask me, he is really in a “no-win” situation —in more than one sense of that phrase.

It’s bad enough that Roxas is basically tied down to swearing allegiance to the

A9

philosophy, politics and programs of Aquino as the chosen future steward of the daang matuwid. It also basically means that Roxas is attacked—and justifiably so —for his oft-stated promise to continue all that his predecessor started, including, by force of immutable logic, all the things bungled by government during Aquino’s now-ending term.

At the same time, Roxas’ promise to ape everything that Aquino did precludes him from coming up with

anything that strays from the Yellow path, even the good things that he dreams up on his own. When he does that – and again, with actual justification—Roxas lays himself open to this charge: “Why didn’t you think of that when you were in government?”

I was reminded of the difficult situation that Roxas constantly finds himself in when I heard him propose a solution to the traffic situation that I actually agree with. I’m talking about Roxas’ plan to cancel all existing

Ultimately, of course, Roxas has no one to blame for his nowin situation except himself.

franchises given to private bus companies and to bid out major routes to one company each per route, say, to operate buses exclusively on Edsa.

Under this system, which enlightened metropolises like Hong Kong use, the government will accept bids for only one company to ply the length of Edsa in exchange for very specific performance deliverables, like adhering to strict schedules and having a minimum number of buses to service commuters. The renewal of a firm’s franchise and even the expansion of its area will be contingent on the

ratings given by government and passengers after a fixed, reasonable amount of time that represents the length of the franchise term.

The proposal has a lot of things going for it because, done correctly, it will not only stop the trafficcausing cutthroat competition among bus companies. It will also end the “boundary” system that forces competing firms to cause traffic jams by forcing their vehicles to stay too long in one bus stop

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-

in the first place.

Of course, anyone who gets behind this proposal can expect opposition from the bus companies. But that doesn’t mean it’s not a good idea —even if does come from Roxas. *** Because it’s Roxas who’s supporting the proposal, he deservedly gets flak for not pushing it when he was in a real position to do so, as secretary of transportation and communications. And this is not

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

just the expected pushback from bus owners, who will quite naturally resist such an idea.

If Roxas really felt so strongly about the idea, he could have implemented it when he was appointed DoTC secretary as the second year in office of the Aquino administration was about to start.

Instead, Roxas exacerbated the problem by allowing—through the Land Transportation Franchising

Anita F. Grefal Treasury Manager

Continued on A11

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

THE plan that will be put in place during the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation meeting in Manila from Nov. 18 to 19 is an overkill.

For all intents and purposes, the whole Metro Manila, with about 12 to 13 million people, and the center of economic activity of the country will be locked down for three to four days. One wonders whether all the actions that will be taken by the government are all necessary.

Let us consider the following: About 1,125 domestic flights will be canceled. This excludes the international flights that will also have to be canceled. Manila Bay has been declared as a no-sail zone.

Cargo trucks will be banned. The four non-working days in Metro Manila will deprive daily wage earners of their salaries which they badly need considering that Christmas is just 42 days away. In spite of a Holy Week scenario that will decongest the streets of Metro Manila, many roads will still be closed and restricted during the conference. The roads that will lead to the Philippine International Convention Center will be limited to the delegates and the hundreds or even thousands of security personnel assigned to secure the venue which is a great inconvenience. It would have been a lot simpler to declare an odd-andeven scheme and reduce vehicular traffic by 50 percent. This would also save motorists from figuring out which road to take and avoid all the confusion.

The choice of holding the conference in Manila is also another matter. Would it have been better, perhaps, to have selected a different venue? Given the slowing economy of the country, three or four days lost in economic productivity is a lot. Maybe a more secluded place where there is a beach will probably be more appreciated by the leaders of countries located in the northern hemisphere where winter is about to set in. Maybe the selection of Manila is our President’s choice so that there will be less expenses. But hosting events like this will entail expenses no matter what and because of the loss of economic productivity, we might be losing more instead of saving. Maybe if Boracay, Cebu or Subic were chosen, this would be better in the long run since the money that will be spent to improve the

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

Rolando G. Estabillo Jojo A. Robles Ramonchito L. Tomeldan Chin Wong/Ray S. Eñano Francis Lagniton Joyce Pangco Pañares Adelle Chua Romel J. Mendez Roberto Cabrera

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

Emil P. Jurado Chairman Emeritus, Editiorial Board

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

A8

OPINION

ADELLE CHUA EDITOR

lettertotheeditor@thestandard.com.ph

OPINION

DUTY CALLS FLORENCIO FIANZA

OVERKILL

[ EDI TORI A L ]

IN THE HEART THE President’s smile, captured in a photo now circulating online, appears genuine. In that wedding of a son of a businessman, he is in the company of friends—people he knows. Why should the people expect Mr. Aquino to spend his Sunday in unfamiliar territory, never mind if it was the second anniversary of a killer typhoon that devastated a large part of the country?

He did go to Eastern Visayas last year, during the first anniversary, even as he skipped Ground Zero—Tacloban City—of the disaster and proceeded instead to Guiuan, Eastern Samar. There was a big crowd protesting in Tacloban last year, and perhaps the President figured he would rather not face them and subject himself to the inconvenience of answering their difficult questions.

The bereaved need their time to grieve. Mr. Aquino has always believed this, which is why in January, he never bothered to show up at Villamor Air Base as the bodies of the slain Special Action Force commandoes were flown in from Maguindanao. He chose instead to grace the inauguration of a car manufacturing plant in Laguna.

And how dare other people accuse him of insensitivity. He knew of loss; was he not an orphan, too?

The Palace offered a perfectly good excuse for the President’s absence in Tacloban last weekend. They did not receive any invitation from the city government. Palace spokesman Herminio Coloma even took the trouble of checking with the appointments office—nothing. The Tacloban City government says otherwise. A photo of the letter was circulated on the Internet to show there was an invitation.

Letter or not, however, Mr. Aquino could have gone anyway to show his compassion is beyond whatever differences he may have with the people running the local government. The fact that he chose not to speaks volumes. The fact that he exchanged pleasantries with his fellow wedding guests at an inopportune time, even louder.

House Speaker Feliciano Belmonte Jr. attempted to be profound when he said that commemoration is in the heart, and not in the show. The attempt fails—the claim sounds hollow and trite, a lame excuse.

After five years of the Aquino administration, the people know better than expect their President to be there when it matters. It’s a sad reality that we have become used to. Our hearts are thankful we no longer have to suffer for long.

NO-WIN MAR LOWDOWN JOJO A. ROBLES I SOMETIMES feel sorry for Mar Roxas, the presidential candidate of the Liberal Party and President Noynoy Aquino. If you ask me, he is really in a “no-win” situation —in more than one sense of that phrase.

It’s bad enough that Roxas is basically tied down to swearing allegiance to the

A9

philosophy, politics and programs of Aquino as the chosen future steward of the daang matuwid. It also basically means that Roxas is attacked—and justifiably so —for his oft-stated promise to continue all that his predecessor started, including, by force of immutable logic, all the things bungled by government during Aquino’s now-ending term.

At the same time, Roxas’ promise to ape everything that Aquino did precludes him from coming up with

anything that strays from the Yellow path, even the good things that he dreams up on his own. When he does that – and again, with actual justification—Roxas lays himself open to this charge: “Why didn’t you think of that when you were in government?”

I was reminded of the difficult situation that Roxas constantly finds himself in when I heard him propose a solution to the traffic situation that I actually agree with. I’m talking about Roxas’ plan to cancel all existing

Ultimately, of course, Roxas has no one to blame for his nowin situation except himself.

franchises given to private bus companies and to bid out major routes to one company each per route, say, to operate buses exclusively on Edsa.

Under this system, which enlightened metropolises like Hong Kong use, the government will accept bids for only one company to ply the length of Edsa in exchange for very specific performance deliverables, like adhering to strict schedules and having a minimum number of buses to service commuters. The renewal of a firm’s franchise and even the expansion of its area will be contingent on the

ratings given by government and passengers after a fixed, reasonable amount of time that represents the length of the franchise term.

The proposal has a lot of things going for it because, done correctly, it will not only stop the trafficcausing cutthroat competition among bus companies. It will also end the “boundary” system that forces competing firms to cause traffic jams by forcing their vehicles to stay too long in one bus stop

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-

in the first place.

Of course, anyone who gets behind this proposal can expect opposition from the bus companies. But that doesn’t mean it’s not a good idea —even if does come from Roxas. *** Because it’s Roxas who’s supporting the proposal, he deservedly gets flak for not pushing it when he was in a real position to do so, as secretary of transportation and communications. And this is not

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

just the expected pushback from bus owners, who will quite naturally resist such an idea.

If Roxas really felt so strongly about the idea, he could have implemented it when he was appointed DoTC secretary as the second year in office of the Aquino administration was about to start.

Instead, Roxas exacerbated the problem by allowing—through the Land Transportation Franchising

Anita F. Grefal Treasury Manager

Continued on A11

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

THE plan that will be put in place during the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation meeting in Manila from Nov. 18 to 19 is an overkill.

For all intents and purposes, the whole Metro Manila, with about 12 to 13 million people, and the center of economic activity of the country will be locked down for three to four days. One wonders whether all the actions that will be taken by the government are all necessary.

Let us consider the following: About 1,125 domestic flights will be canceled. This excludes the international flights that will also have to be canceled. Manila Bay has been declared as a no-sail zone.

Cargo trucks will be banned. The four non-working days in Metro Manila will deprive daily wage earners of their salaries which they badly need considering that Christmas is just 42 days away. In spite of a Holy Week scenario that will decongest the streets of Metro Manila, many roads will still be closed and restricted during the conference. The roads that will lead to the Philippine International Convention Center will be limited to the delegates and the hundreds or even thousands of security personnel assigned to secure the venue which is a great inconvenience. It would have been a lot simpler to declare an odd-andeven scheme and reduce vehicular traffic by 50 percent. This would also save motorists from figuring out which road to take and avoid all the confusion.

The choice of holding the conference in Manila is also another matter. Would it have been better, perhaps, to have selected a different venue? Given the slowing economy of the country, three or four days lost in economic productivity is a lot. Maybe a more secluded place where there is a beach will probably be more appreciated by the leaders of countries located in the northern hemisphere where winter is about to set in. Maybe the selection of Manila is our President’s choice so that there will be less expenses. But hosting events like this will entail expenses no matter what and because of the loss of economic productivity, we might be losing more instead of saving. Maybe if Boracay, Cebu or Subic were chosen, this would be better in the long run since the money that will be spent to improve the

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

Rolando G. Estabillo Jojo A. Robles Ramonchito L. Tomeldan Chin Wong/Ray S. Eñano Francis Lagniton Joyce Pangco Pañares Adelle Chua Romel J. Mendez Roberto Cabrera

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

Emil P. Jurado Chairman Emeritus, Editiorial Board

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

A10

OPINION

lettertotheeditor@thestandard.com.ph

LACK OF EMPATHY AND COMPASSION TO THE POINT EMIL P. JURADO

DESPITE all the efforts of President Aquino and his lapdogs to hide the true state of the nation—closing down the airport, canceling domestic and international flights, providing special lanes for participants in the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation summit, and giving money to the homeless so they can make themselves scarce during the event—they will not be able to hide the truth.

Can Mr. Aquino stop the Apec participants from using media to know what’s going on?

They will know that in this country, one can get mugged anywhere.

There are scams galore, from the streets to the airport.

And Mar Roxas thinks we want more of this?

Does the President really believe he can hide the truth on how inept and insensitive his administration is? *** Both President Aquino and his anointed Mar Roxas gave a copout that the reason they snubbed the second year commemoration of Typhoon “Yolanda” is that they had not been invited to Tacloban City.

Speaker Sonny Belmonte made it worse. Remembering those who died from the typhoon is “in the heart,” he said. That’s plain baloney, and Sonny knows it.

The thousands of survivors are disappointed that the President had a more important appointment—the wedding of the son of a billionaire friend. And to think Mr. Aquino was not even a sponsor.

He could have gone to Tacloban to show “malasakit” to the people. But he did not, and that says a lot.

This reminds me of the time the President was caught smiling when he surveyed the bus where the hostage tragedy of 2010 took place. Eight tourists from Hong Kong were killed that time.

He did it again when the bodies of the slaughtered police commandoes were brought to Villamor Air Base from Maguindanao. Instead of being there, he chose to go to the inauguration of a car manufacturing plant.

This President really does not have empathy or compassion in his veins.

A President doesn’t need a formal invitation to attend an event so important.

Recall what Mar Roxas said when he wanted to take over Tacloban City in the wake of the looting, and when so many dead bodies were still lying along the streets. “Remember you are a Romualdez, and the President is an Aquino.” Roxas added “bahala na kayo sa buhay ninyo,” when the mayor refused to hand Tacloban over to him.

It could be true that the Yolanda survivors would protest the snailpaced delivery of relief and rehabilitation. But a caring President would welcome that if he really had empathy and compassion for them.

Then again, that would be asking too much of the President, whose five-year reign has been anchored on lies, and whose straightpath mantra has been exposed to be hypocritical.

In my over 65 years as

PROTECTING OFW INTERESTS MINORITY REPORT DANILO SUAREZ

THE peso’s six-year low against the dollar has its pros and cons—it will be bad for the importers but contrarily, it bears good tidings for the exporters. Definitely, the continuing debility of the peso against the dollar will be manna from heaven for our overseas Filipino workers and their families here who are recipients of their regular remittance in dollars.

Overseas Filipino workers around the world sent $26.92 billion (P1.20 trillion) back to the Philippines last year, up 6.2 percent from $25.35 billion (P1.13 trillion) in 2013, according to the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas. Moreover the Philippine Overseas Employment Administration noted 1.6-million Filipinos were deployed abroad in 2014 and their remittances similarly contributed as much as 8.5 percent to the Philippine gross domestic product last year. The expected annual remittances for this year will be about 27 billion dollars. The a journalist, I have never seen a President more hypocritical and so insensitive to the poor and the needy than BS Aquino III. And Mar Roxas thinks we want more of this? *** With the Comelec deadline for the printing of official ballots for next year’s May elections less than a month away, senator and presidential aspirant Mrs. Mary Grace Poe Llamanzares is getting desperate. She is facing numerous cases, one of which has been filed against her by Rizalito David, a rival in the 2013 senatorial race.

David contends that Mrs. Llamanzares is not a natural-born Filipino and is therefore barred by the Constitution from seeking office as a senator. The SET decision is due on the 17th of this

additional two pesos per dollar would definitely be a boost to the spending power of the families of OFWs in the country. I would also like to take note of the fact that according to the National Economic and Development Authority the inflow of remittances is about 30 percent the earnings of our exports sector, and additionally it is even higher than the foreign direct investments that we are getting.

Remittance inflows from overseas Filipino workers therefore have become our second-largest source of foreign exchange, effectively keeping our national economy afloat. Therefore, next to their families, it is this administration that has much to thank our OFWs, better known as our modern heroes, for. Despite its bungling, inutile and delusional sense of governance and leadership, our country is still functionally “alive” and can still manage to cross over to the next elections.

The significant contribution of our OFWs in propping up our economy alone is enough reason why this month, and if the SET rules against her, she could well be ousted as a senator and even as a presidential contender.

With all the troubles besetting her, Poe is frantically in search of that bridge that will take her over troubled waters.

But, unlike the lyrics of the ‘60s song of the same title, her time to shine has not yet come —and may not come at all. In fact, her dream of a stay in Malacañang is in danger of being swept away in a raging political tempest.

At the moment, there are four other petitions before the Comelec seeking her disqualification from the presidential elections next year. These are the cases she can’t simply dismiss as harassment suits because they are based on solid constitutional grounds. The complainants are highly

administration should not be so careless about disregarding issues that affect them like the “tanim-bala” scam which primarily gained notoriety at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport, victimizing both local and foreign nationals alike.

Since the time media took an eager eye to monitor and expose the extortion racket, there have been a total of 84 incidents of ammunition found in luggage and bags of airline travelers in the Naia alone for the year. One of the victims was an aging grandmother who, judging by her situation as reported by newspapers covering the scam, could not have had any reason to bring one bullet (take note, just one bullet) in her luggage which security personnel at the Naia so conveniently found leading to her ordeal over her apprehension.

Despite this unnerving pattern in the reported incidents by victims, it actually took considerable time after a much publicized exposé of a whistle blower and at the heels of consequent investigations to be held both at the House of Representa-

tives and in the Senate, before Malacañang actually decided to “seek” the truth in the matter in response to public indignation. Of course this also meant keeping the Naia general manager/ presidential relative free and safe from any form of accountability whatsoever.

This is what the President always does for his many political allies and other relatives who have been subject to allegations of corruption, impropriety and graft in the past five years.

Overall, the number of registered OFWs has reached 6.3 million.

Despite their number and extremely significant contribution to our economy, OFWs and their families have remained below the radar of priorities under this administration much like it goes for the rest of us outside the yellow fence of the benign one in Malacañang. Ironic to PNoy and reminiscent of an oppressive era, we could justifiably tell our OFWs “hindi kayo nag iisa” (you are not alone). Similarly, we join you in saying “tama na, sobra na, palitan na (enough already, this is too much, we need change now).”

credible individuals, former Senator Kit Tatad, former GSIS lawyer Estrella Elamparo, De La Salle University political science professor Antonio Contreras and lately, former UE College of Law Dean Amado Valdez.

Now, even some big names in the entertainment industry who supported Poe for senator could find themselves respondents in criminal and administrative suits due to alleged violations of the Corporate Code (Batas Pambansa Blg. 68) that bars companies from giving donations to any political party or candidate, or for purposes of any partisan political activity.

It appears from records when Poe ran for the Senate in 2013, she received campaign contributions from a wellknown company that produces a highly rated

noontime show over television. And as expected, Poe herself submitted to the Comelec of the SOCE or Statement of Contributions and Expenses that showed a donation of P3,307,390.80 from the producers of the show. And this was stated in a notarized report dated June 15, 2013 and duly signed by the producer.

The prohibition against political campaign contributions by corporations is specified in Section 36 (9) of the Corporation Code.

Section 144 of the code says that violators may face fines of not less than P1,000, but not more than P10,000, or imprisonment for not less than 30 years, but more than five years, or both. The penalty may cause dissolution of the company by the SEC. It is also in the Omnibus Election Code.

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OPINION

lettertotheeditor@thestandard.com.ph

POP GOES THE WORLD JENNY ORTUOSTE

ELECTIONS–IT’S A HORSE RACE

ELECTIONS are like horse races, and when they come around, everyone’s a handicapper.

From the pundits in the papers to the driver in taxicabs, they all have opinions as to what might transpire in 2016. They’re imagining likely scenarios and making book on who the favorite and longshot are in this most important of races.

But nothing is as constant, the wise man said, as change; and what seems likely now might not be the case in the future.

Here are possible scenarios I’ve heard: Vice President Jojo Binay’s chances looked dismal after the allegations of plunder against him in connection with Makati City spending on the new city hall. But the Supreme Court’s junking of his son Mayor Jun Binay’s case could turn things around. Binay could win due to his foresight of laying strong grassroots mechanisms during his years

as Makati administrator.

As a presidential hopeful, Senator Miriam Santiago will have to overcome the number of supporters of the candidates ahead of her in the surveys. Her teammate Bongbong Marcos is rallying strong support and looks well-poised in the vice presidential race.

If Grace Poe loses the cases questioning her citizenship and residency, her high survey ratings are rendered moot. If the cases are thrown out, it still won’t be easy going for her given the number of opponents.

Mar Roxas is still constructing his narrative that hinges on continuity of the present administration’s plans and goals. The Ilonggo vote that might be expected to support him would perhaps be divided between him and Santiago.

Davao City Mayor Rodrigo Duterte has up to Dec. 10 to decide whether to run for President or not as the substitute of Martin Diño.

If he runs, he is expected to carry Mindanao and many in the Visayas. Support for him in Luzon is also growing. If Senator Alan Cayetano manages to hitch his wagon to this rising star, this might be the tandem to beat.

Leni Robredo is so far looking shiny and untarnished, and looks like the top favorite in the race for veep.

As we always say in the races, anything can happen.

Even the top favorite that punters believed could not lose, may break badly or clip his heels or stumble at the start. But an election is not a horse race where you can hedge your bets; you only have one vote, and you have to make it count.

The temptation will be strong to vote for the candidate who will give you an advantage—a good job, a government contract, some other favor. But the country deserves better. Vote according to your conscience. Vote for the people who will do

Overkill... From A9

she has children or spouse who holds foreign citizenships. The military also has the power to appoint 25 percent of the members of parliament and reserved all the national security portfolios under its control.

In spite of that, however, it appears that the NLD has defied the odds and might win more than 70 percent of the votes which would allow NLD to form the government. The way they do it in Myanmar is different how we do it here. Theirs is a little more complicated. We will have to wait until April of next year to see the shape and form of government that will be formed.

Since she cannot be President, we will also have to wait and see how she will navigate the legal prohibition and still be able to lead and govern the country. She has already stated in an interview that she will be above the President. It would be interesting to see whether the military would allow this or not.

Senator Grace Poe must be following the developments in Myanmar with keen interest. If at all, her problem is somewhat similar to Aung San Suu Kyi. It is all about citizenship which

prevents both from becoming officially the Presidents of their countries. Suu Kyi because of her children who are British and Senator Poe because of her citizenship and residency requirements.

I have it from a good source as I have written a few weeks back that Senator Poe will almost certainly be disqualified by the Senate Electoral Tribunal. The administration will see to that. This after President Aquino tried so hard to convince her to be the running mate of Mar Roxas which really goes to show the kind of people running this government.

If this happens, Senator Poe will not only be disqualified from running for President but will also lose her seat in the Senate. Chiz Escudero could still possibly take her place and if he wins, Senator Grace could also be above the President like Aung San Suu Kyi of Myanmar. Senator Grace it seems is becoming more popular as her political problems grow. Already, her ratings are above 40 percent and approaching 50 percent. The maneuvering of this government is dangerous, to say the least. Let us hope it will not drive the country to a precipice that it will regret later.

infrastructure in these places will also improve their potential as tourist destinations. ***** One Asian country that is undergoing profound changes is Myanmar. It has just concluded its elections that might propel the opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi to the pinnacle of political power of her country.

This is despite the efforts of the Myanmar military establishment to prevent her from becoming the President. Aung San Suu Kyi is the daughter of the Burmese independence leader General Aung San who was assassinated in 1947. He is a revered hero of the Burmese people.

The National League for Democracy party of Aung San Suu Kyi also won the elections of 1990 but the results were annulled by the military. Instead, Aung San Suu Kyi was put under house arrest for over 20 years. In 2008, the military establishment drafted a constitution that made it impossible for Suu Kyi to become President. The constitution banned any citizen from becoming President if he or

the best job. Vote for the candidates who will lift us up, not bring us down. *** The Polytechnic University of the Philippines, with the Department of Education and the National Book Development Boar, is holding the 1st PUP Litfest dubbed “Booklatan sa Bayan” from Nov. 11 to 13 at PUP-Sta. Mesa campus.

Yesterday’s speakers were Alvin Buenaventura, Eros Atalia, and Beverly Siy. Today, catch Manix Abrera, Mervin Malonzo, and Adam David. Tomorrow, listen to Mina Esguerra and Edgar Calabia Samar. *** Mia Alvar, Ondrej Neff, and other writers and academics will speak at the 6th Philippine International Literary Festival, which explores the theme “Lalang (likha): Writing in Place, Creating Your Place.”

Alvar is the Fil-American author of the acclaimed In The Country, a collection

No-win... From A9 and Regulatory Board— the continuation of the old policy of basically just giving bus franchises to anyone who asked for them.

In fact, by the time Roxas moved to the interior department, he had already set the stage for the near-total collapse of all manner of public transport systems through his chosen successor, the now infamous Secretary Joseph Emilio Aguinaldo Abaya.

So, yes, if Roxas really had some bright ideas about improving transportation, he could have very well have tried them out when he was still the head of DoTC—not now, when he is a candidate.

Beyond coming up with brilliant ideas, Roxas should understand that he is the inheritor of a legacy that is no slouch in pitching “killer” programs that never leave the drawing board. To cite just one big program of this administration that never got off the ground, there’s the much-ballyhooed public-private partnership scheme that got investors all excited at the start of Aquino’s term—and which ended up only with a still-

of short stories about the Filipino diaspora. Neff is a Czech science fiction writer and journalist.

The two-day literary event, organized by the NBDB, will be held for the first time in Davao City, on Nov. 20-21 at the Seda Hotel. Other guest speakers include University of the Philippines literature and creative writing professor Jose Y. Dalisay Jr., writers Mina Esguerra and Kristian Sendon Cordero, and NBDB executive director Ciela Cayton.

Topics include readership, regional literature, language, and the publishing challenges faced by authors from the regions. Artistic performances, literary exhibits, and a book fair are among the event’s activities.

To register, email litfest@ nbdb.gov.ph. * * * Facebook: Jenny Ortuoste, Twitter: @jennyortuoste, Instagram: @jensdecember, Blog: http://jennyo.net unfinished four-kilometer connector road linking Daang Hari to the South Luzon Expressway.

And every time Roxas attempts to improvise on daang matuwid, he even gets criticized by the Yellow faithful, who suspect that what Mar is saying when he does so is that Aquino may not really be “the best President the Philippines ever had,” as the true believers profess. So what’s a Yellow candidate to do except to just act like a dummy and a parrot?

Ultimately, of course, Roxas has no one to blame for his no-win situation except himself. In spite of his own elitist roots, he has tried so hard to act like an indentured slave of the Aquino family in order to secure the anointment that he so desperately sought.

Now that he’s received the Yellow baton, he can’t act like he’s his own man. Or at least he can’t while he hasn’t been elected President yet.

Of course, all of this means that Roxas’ campaign has been preordained to fail. And that’s something that immediately makes any feelings of sympathy I may have for him immediately evaporate.

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SPORTS sports@thestandard.com.ph

Rory’s European no. 1 rank hangs by a thread

Justin Rose of England, Henrik Stenson of Sweden, China’s Wu Ashun and Li Haotong chip golf balls during a photo session ahead of the BMW Shanghai Masters golf tournament at the Lake Malaren Golf Club in Shanghai.

AFP

SHANGHAI—Rory McIlroy has skipped the BMW Masters starting Thursday but will still be keeping one eye firmly on the scores from Shanghai knowing that his status as Europe’s number one is hanging by a thread.

World number six Justin Rose is one of five players who could topple McIlroy from the top spot in the Race to Dubai standings at Lake Malaren, the final stop before the seasonending DP World Tour Championship next week.

Second-placed Danny Willett, after his fourth-round 62 and third place in the $8.5 million WGC-HSBC Champions across the city last weekend, is just 74,213 points adrift and needs only to finish 28th or higher to overtake McIlroy at the top of the Race to Dubai standings.

Shane Lowry, Louis Oosthuizen, Rose and Branden Grace

also have the chance to knock four-time major champion McIlroy off his perch, with the first three players each needing to finish second or better to move into the number one spot, while only victory would be good enough for sixth-placed Grace.

McIlroy won the Race to Dubai last year and in 2012 but may find by Sunday night he needs nothing less than a win in Dubai to win his third Harry Vardon trophy.

The world number three is determined to give himself every chance by arriving early in the Middle East after skipping the second Shanghai event this week.

“I’ll get to Dubai next weekend, so I’ll be there a few days early,” McIlroy told AFP after his final round 66 at Sheshan International Golf Club on Sunday left him in a tie for 11th place in the World Golf Championships event.

Shamed ex-IAAF head resigns LAUSSANNE—Disgraced former IAAF president Lamine Diack on Tuesday resigned as president of the International Athletics Foundation in the wake of damaging corruption charges that have rocked track and field.

“The IAAF confirms it has tonight (Tuesday) received a letter from Lamine Diack resigning his position as President of the International Athletics Foundation (IAF),” the IAAF said in a statement.

“This information has been passed to IAF Honorary President HSH Prince Albert II of Monaco.

“Discussions will be held in due course regarding the IAF and the appointment of a new IAF President.”

Established by the IAAF

in 1986 by then-IAAF president Primo Nebiolo, the foundation’s “primary mission is to charitably assist the world governing body for track and field athletics... and its affiliated national governing bodies in perpetuating the development and promotion of athletics worldwide”.

Diack took over as foundation president after Nebiolo’s death in 1999.

The foundation is best known in the public eye for organising the prestig-

ious black-tie gala awards, which honour the best athletes of the year.

The IAAF last week cancelled this year’s annual gala just days after Diack was charged by French police with corruption over suspicions he took bribes to cover up doping cases.

Meanwhile,The head of Russia’s anti-doping laboratory resigned late Tuesday, an advisor to the sports minister told Russian news agencies, after he was accused of being part of a state-sponsored doping programme.

The World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) has accused Grigory Rodchenkov of being at the heart of a scheme to cover up widespread use of illegal drugs among Russian athletes, including deliberately destroying posi-

tive test samples.

His resignation comes after the WADA suspended Moscow’s heavily criticised anti-doping laboratory on Tuesday, the day after releasing its explosive, 335page report on the scandal.

“The acting director of the Moscow anti-doping laboratory Grigory Rodchenkov announced his resignation,” an aide to Russian Sports Minister Vitaly Mutko was quoted as saying by Interfax news agency.

“The minister accepted his resignation and one of the specialists at the laboratory was appointed in his place, Maria Dikunets,” Natalya Zhelanova said, adding that “the laboratory’s accreditation is temporarily halted”.

IAAF president Sebastian Coe has given the

Russian athletics federation (ARAF) “until the end of the week” to respond or risk possible suspension, with the IAAF Council set to meet in Monaco on Friday.

With concerns mounting Russia could be banned from the Rio Olympics, Mutko met the heads of Russian organisations singled out for criticism by IAAF. “Today I held consultations with the presidents of WADA and IAAF and I can say that I don’t see insurmountable obstacles to dealing with the situation,” Mutko said.

“We have young athletes for whom it will be their first Olympics. And there are those for whom it will be the fifth games. Innocent athletes should not suffer,” Mutko said. AFP

Seiko boss captures Solane golf crown KAZUKO Ushiyama of Nagano Seiko bagged the championship title at the Solane LPG 2nd Golf Tournament.

Ushiyama made a total of 72 net points in the 9-hole play-offs to win the title cup. He also received the Best Flight and Nearest to the Pin awards.

Nagano Seiko, a Cavite-based manufacturer of reduction gear boxes end parts and shaft for agricultural machinery, is one of Solane’s customers who participated in the tournament.

The Solane LPG Golf Tournament is an annual and exclusive sporting event organized by Isla Petroleum & Gas Corporation as part of their customerappreciation and nurturing activity. The competition was

attended by company executives and officers from IPG’s biggest clients.

This year’s tourney was held at the Manila Southwoods Golf and Country Club and participated by 34 challengers from 17 companies, namely, Angel’s Burger, Chooks to Go, EMME, Gardenia, Isuzu, JG Summit, McDonald’s, Mister Donut, Monde M.Y. San, Nagano Seiko, Ortigas & Company, Puyat Steel, Royal Tern, Sofitel, SurTec, Swedish Match, and Pilipinas Shell.

Joining the play-offs were the big bosses of IPG Group of Companies, led by chairman of the executive committee Ricky Delgado, Jr., IPG chief executive officer Shoichi Watanabe,

IPG chief financial officer Willy Sarmiento (left) is shown with (starting second from left) Kazuho Ushiyama, Yasuyuki Kondo, and IPG chief executive officer Shoichi Watanabe.

IPG chief finance officer Willie Sarmiento, Isla LPG Corporation CEO Ruben Domingo, and ILC general manager for sales Tonito Gonzales.

Other winners in the Solane

LPG 2nd Golf Tournament included Ricky Sta. Ana of Chooks to Go, Sumio Tange of SurTec and Leo Obias of Swedish Match who placed first, second and third runners up, respectively.

Cagayan Valley nails 2nd victory A FEW days after handing erstwhile unbeaten Caida Tiles its first defeat in the PCBL Founders’ Cup, Cagayan Valley made it two in a row after whipping Supremo Lex, 74-60, to strengthen its bid for a twice-to-beat advantage in the quarterfinal round of the tournament Tuesday night at the JCSGO gym.

Mark Brana, the hero in the previous game, picked up form where he left off as he finished with a game-high 23 points to power the Rising Suns to their fourth win in seven games in this tournament supported by Spalding, Ambucore, Accel and Aquabest.

Point guard Carlo Isit had a double-double performance of 13 points and 10 rebounds, while Stephen Siruma contributed 10 for the Rising Suns of coach Ronnie Dojillo.

Cagayan Valley flexed its muscles in the shaded lane as it out-rebounded Supremo Lex, 51-41. That resulted in 50 points inside the paint for the Rising Suns compared to only 36 for their rivals.

The Rising Suns also got 10 more second-chance points than Supremo Lex, 16-6.

Kama Motors pulled off an 82-78 upset win over sister team Caida Tiles in the second game.

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SPORTS sports@thestandard.com.ph

Westbrook heroics carry OKC Thunder WASHINGTON—Russell Westbrook’s first triple-double of the season more than made up for Kevin Durant’s early exit Tuesday in the Oklahoma City Thunder’s 125-101 NBA triumph over the Washington Wizards.

Westbrook sat out the entire fourth quarter after amassing 22 points, 11 rebounds and 11 assists for Oklahoma City, who led 68-50 at halftime and by as many as 29 points in the second half.

But the news wasn’t all good for the Thunder as Durant clutched his left leg late in the second quarter and didn’t play the second half because of a hamstring strain.

“We knew we had to come out and play the right way and not be relaxed,” Westbrook said of the Thunder’s determination to keep the pressure on in the second half. “I thought we did a great job of sticking together.”

Durant, who played just 27 games last season as he battled to recover from a broken foot suffered in October 2014, downplayed Tuesday’s injury.

“I can walk, it’s just a little sore,” said the former NBA Most Valuable Player, who put up a double-double of 14 points and 10 rebounds before exiting.

“I’ll just get treatment and see how it goes,” he added.

Durant, who hails from the Maryland suburbs near Washington, is a fan favorite in the nation’s capital, with many hoping he might opt to join the Wizards when he becomes a free agent at the end of the season.

But after Durant said this week that his

Russell Westbrook (left) of the Oklahoma City Thunder puts a shot over the defense of John Wall of the Washington Wizards in the first half at Verizon Center on November 10, 2015 in Washington, DC. AFP

warm reception in Washington was “disrespectful” to the hometown team, he was actually booed sporadically on Tuesday.

The Wizards didn’t give their supporters much to cheer.

They committed only eight turnovers after a combined 49 in their prior two games, but were out-rebounded 53-41 and shot just 39.2 percent from the field.

Washington felt the absence of guard and leading scorer Bradley Beal, who hurt his left shoulder in Saturday’s road loss at Atlanta, and forward Nene, who was sidelined by back spasms.

- Pelicans finally win The New Orleans Pelicans finally notched their first win of the season, snapping a sixgame losing streak with a 120-105 victory over the Dallas Mavericks.

However, the triumph was shadowed by an injury to star forward Anthony Davis, who exited with a hip contusion early in the third quarter after scoring 17 points and pulling down seven rebounds in 19 minutes on the floor.

Guards Eric Gordon, Ish Smith and Toney Douglas also each scored 17 points for the Pelicans, who handed the Mavs their third defeat in four games. AFP

Kramers to grace Tempra Family Run vs Dengue Iglupas eyes POPULAR Team Kramer comprising of pro cager Doug Kramer and actress Cheska Garcia and their children will be gracing the 2015 Run Against Dengue Family Run on Nov. 14 (Saturday) at the Quirino Grandstand.

The Kramers, who are also composed of their adorable kids Kendra, Scarlett and Gavin, are the latest Tempra endorsers expected to add more fun and prestige to the advocacy run offering distances of 5k, 3k, 2k Family Run (any combination of parent-kid/s) and 1k Kids Run.

Registration is available at the SM Manila Toby’s branch and at the Rizal Park Administration office. Interested participants may also call Subterranean Ideas at 504-5990 (landline), 09179790803 (Globe) or 0928-2618028 (Smart) for further details.

The advocacy run, backed by the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office, Bonamine, Tempracof, Deuter, Toby’s, Medicard, Guard Insect Repellent, Goldlife, Maynilad, Emilio Aguinaldo College, Colegio De La Immaculada Concepcion (Concordia), and media

partner Malaya Business Insight, is a social marketing collaboration among stakeholders from the private sector, government and NGOs. With a significant spike in the cases of the deadly dengue disease, Tempra is staging the fun run, which also offers handsome raffle prizes ranging from mountain bikes, to tablets and phones and SM gift cheques, among other giveaways. Participants just have to bring emptry Tempra wrappers and blister packs to avail of discounts and

Southern Luzon stuns NCR, gains volley semis SOUTHERN Luzon racked up two victories, including a thriller of a three-setter over fancied National Capital Region, 25-22, 23-25, 32-30, to clinch the first semifinal berth in the Shakey’s Girls’ Volleyball League Season 13 national finals at the Astrodome last Tuesday.

Composed of the De La Salle-Lipa spikers, Southern Luzon, led by skipper Janel Maraguinot, Jewel Encarnacion, Justine Jazareno and Mary Bautista, first trounced Northern Mindanao, 25-18, 25-14, then displayed awesome form and staying power to outlast NCR champion National U, including in the back-andforth decider.

Counting their scrambling 25-16, 24-26, 25-21 win over Central Visayas Monday, the SLU squad swept the fourteam Pool B and booked the

first slot in the crossover semis of the two-group finals featuring the eight regional winners of the annual event sponsored

by Shakey’s, which revived the sport in 2003.

NCR, which earlier ripped Northern Mindanao, dropped to 1-1 and must hurdle its last game against Central Visayas to nail the other semis berth in their side.

Defending champion Western Visayas and Southern Mindanao took the two semis slots in the Pool A with a sweep of their first two games in the event organized by Metro Sports headed by Freddie Infante and backed by Asics, Mikasa and My Phone.

Western Visayas, represented by Central Philippine U headed by Princess Robles, Julie Ann Robles and Claudine Troncoso, dominated Eastern Visayas, 25-18, 25-17, while

be eligible of the raffle.

The cases of dengue have skyrocketed the past two months, with 23,000 affected in just a span of a less than a month (Aug. 9 to Sept. 5, 2015). This is the primary reason why this Tempra is continuing its advocacy against the water-borne disease.

The project also aims to demonstrate the power of collaborative efforts, using sports as one of the main tools, to provide information campaign about the danger of dengue and conduct activities to fight this epidemic.

Southern Luzon’s Justine Jazareno unloads a kill against NCR’s Joyme Cagande (6) and Thea Gagate during their Shakey’s GVL Pool B showdown at the Astrodome.

Southern Mindanao, led by Lycha Ebon and Georgie Loreto, thwarted Northern Luzon, 25-18, 25-22. EV and NL bowed out of the race with 0-2 cards.

Meanwhile, Western Visayas and Southern Mindanao, repre-

sented by Davao City National High School, were disputing the top spot in Pool A at presstime with the winner taking on the No. 2 team in Pool B and the loser facing Pool B topnotcher Southern Luzon in today’s crossover semis.

PSC-Phinma net repeat

KHIM Iglupas sets out for the PSC-Phinma International Juniors Tennis Championships next week, upbeat of her chances to score a repeat in Week 1 of the two-stage Grade 4 ITF event at the Manila Polo Club in Makati City.

Iglupas knocked off five foreign rivals, including Indonesian Rifanty Kahfiani, 6-2, 6-4, in the finals, to claim the singles crown in the first of two legs of the annual event featuring some of the world’s top juniors last year.

She also bagged the doubles plum with Kahfiani but the Philippine Tennis Academy standout fell short of her sweep bid in Week 2, bowing to Japanese Ayumi Miyamoto in the semis of the event backed by major sponsors Phinma Group of Companies and the Philippine Sports Commission.

But the Filipina ace is all primed up for the event set Nov. 17-22 although she will be up against a souped-up roster that includes Miyamoto and fellow Japanese Naho Sato, Satoko Sueno, Anri Nagata and Himari Sato.

Others in the 32-player main draw are Taiwan’s Ho Chao Hsia and Ting Chieh Wei, the Netherlands’ Lian Tran and Demi Tran, Koreans Hyeran Yun and Yuseung Suh, Indonesian Joleta Budiman and Sara Tsukamoto of the US. Meanwhile, 24 players will slug it out for the last 10 spots in the main draw in the two-day qualifying set Nov. 15-16, including local hopefuls Monica Cruz, Frances Santiago, Shaira Rivera and Rafella Villanueva.

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SPORTS sports@thestandard.com.ph

3 gutsy ladies share V-League top honors A 27-YEAR-OLD mom, a young breadwinner, and a reserve but talented setter took the spotlight over the weekend by dishing out big games to share the Player of the Game honors in the Shakey’s V-League Season 12-Reinforced Conference at the Filoil Flying V Arena in San Juan City.

Aiza Maizo-Pontillas starred in PLDT’s win over Philippine Navy.

Republic of the Philippines C AV I T E S TAT E U N I V E R S I T Y (C v S U ) D o n S eve r i n o d e a l a s C a m p u s I n d a n g , c av i t e (0 4 6) 415 010 /415 - 0 011 415 - 0 012 w w w.c v s u .e d u c . p h

INVITATION TO BID Cavite State University, through its Bids and Awards Committee (BAC), invites all interested bidders to bid for the Construction of Five Storey Interdisciplinary Research, Phase I amounting to PHP 41, 186,062.37, contract duration is 270 calendar days: Proj ec t 1. C onstr uc tion of Researc h,Phase I

Five

Cont rac t Durat ion

A pp roved Bud g et for t he Cont rac t (A BC)

Storey

Interdisc iplinar y

PhP 41,18 6,0 62.37

270 CD

Prospective 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. Instruction to Bidders.

Bidding will be conducted through open competitive bidding procedures using nondiscretionary pass/fail criterion as specified in the Revised Implementing Rules and Regulations (IRR) of Republic Act 9184 (RA 9184), otherwise known as the “Government Procurement Reform Act”. Bidding is restricted to Filipino citizens/sole proprietorships, partnership, or organizations with at least seventy five percent (75%) interest or outstanding capital stock belonging to citizen of the Philippines.

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

The schedule of activities is listed as follows: 1.

Is suanc e of Bidding D oc ument s

N ovember 12, 2015 (8:0 0 A M) to D ec ember 1, 2015 (12 N N)

2.

Pre - bid C onferenc e

November 20,2015(3:00 PM) at S. L. Lasap Hall, CvSU, Indang, Cavite

3.

Submission and Opening of Bids

December 1, 2015 (3:00 PM) at S. L. Lasap Hall, CvSU, Indang, Cavite

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

Interested bidders may purchase a complete set of Bidding Documents from the address below upon payment of the following nonrefundable fee: Proj e c t 1.

A m ount of Bi d ding D o cu m ent s PhP 2 2, 5 0 0.0 0

C onstr uc tion of Five Storey Interdisc iplinar y Researc h, Phase I

Pre-bid Conference shall be open only to all interested bidders who have purchased the Bidding Documents. Bids must be delivered to the Office of the BAC Chairman, Administration Building, CvSU, Indang, Cavite on or before the above mentioned date and time. All bids must be accompanied by a bid security in any of the acceptable forms and in the amount stated in ITB Clause 18. Bids will be opened in the presence of the bidders’ authorized representatives who choose to attend the bidding. Late bids shall not be accepted.

Cavite State University assumes no responsibility whatsoever to compensate or indemnify bidders for any expenses incurred in the preparation of the bid.

Cavite State University 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.

(Sgd.) MA. AGNES P. NUESTRO, Ph.D. BAC Chairman 1F Administration Building Don Severinodelas Alas Campus Cavite State University Indang, Cavite (046) 862-0806 / 862-0853 / 415-0014 loc. 270 or 209 (TS-NOV. 12 & 19 2015)

University of the Philippines Manila The Health Sciences Center

2.

3.

4.

Name of Project:

Supply and Installation of Fiber Optic Cabling for UP Manila

Supply and Installation of Electrical System, UPM Computer Center

Supply of Portable Gait Analysis System and Activity Monitor with AccessoriesREBID

Requesting Unit/ Location:

CAD-Information Management Services

CAD-Information Management Services

CAMP

Approved Budget for the Contract:

Php 4,189,729.12

Php 2,619,902.62

Php 2,145,000.00

Bid Documents

Php 5,000.00

Php 5,000.00

Php 5,000.00

120 Days

120 Days

120 Days

IMS2015-02

GAA 15-04

Source of Fund:

ITF

ITF

LRTE2015

(TS-NOV. 12, 2015)

Republic of the Philippines Department of Transportation and Communications CIVIL AERONAUTICS BOARD IN RE : PETITION FOR AUTHORITY TO IMPOSE CARGO SECURITY SURCHARGE ON ITS INTERNATIONAL AIRWAY BILL

ROUTE (v.v.)

MNL/CEB/CRK/DVO/KLO/ILO - All Destination

Security Surcharge International

USD 0.10 / Kg

The above entitled case is scheduled for hearing on November 26, 2015 at 10:00 A.M. at the CAB Conference Room, Old MIA Road, Pasay City, before the undersigned Hearing Officer, at which hearing the petitioner shall present evidence.

Under Section 16 of R.A. 776, the applicant is hereby required to have this Notice of Hearing published at least once, two (2) weeks before the scheduled hearing in a newspaper of general circulation and have copies hereof and the application be sent to all Philippine carriers with international scheduled operations, either by personal service or by registered mail with return card at least five (5) days before the scheduled hearing.

27 October 2015.

Pasay City, Philippines.

All particulars relative to Eligibility Statement and Screening, Bid Security, Performance Security, Pre-Bidding Conference(s), 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 Regulation (IRR).

The complete schedule of activities is listed, as follows:

Schedule

1

Issuance of Bid Documents

Starting – November 12, 2015

2

Pre-bid Conference

November 24, , 2015 – 1:30 pm (For Project 1 & @ only)

3

Opening of Bids

December 8, 2015 – 1:30 pm

4

Bid Evaluation

Within two (2) weeks after the opening

5

Post-qualification

Within one (1) week after the bid evaluation

6

Issuance of Notice of Award Seven (7) days after Post-qualification

5.

Bid Documents will be made available only to eligible bidders upon payment of a non-refundable amount stated above for each project to the U.P. Manila Cashier’s Office.

6.

UP Manila assumes no responsibility whatsoever to compensate or indemnify bidders for any expenses incurred in the preparation of the bid.

7.

The University of the Philippines Manila reserves the right to reject any or all bids, to waive any formality or defects therein, or to accept such as may be considered most advantageous to UP Manila.

8.

All inquiries shall be directed to the BAC III Secretariat at tel. no. 525-4322 / 526-2275. This is also posted at the UP Manila Official Web: http://www.upm.edu.ph/procurement.

(SGD) DR. TRISTAN NATHANIEL C. RAMOS Chair, BAC 3

(SGD) ARLENE A. SAMANIEGO, MD Vice Chancellor for Administration

Firmus Distribution Corporation Bldg., No. 12, Tayabas St., Corner 2nd Ave., Sta. Maria Ind`l Estate, Bagumbayan, Taguig City, 1631

Philips, Cignal clash for lead Games Today (The Arena, San Juan) 4 p.m. -- Philips Gold vs Cignal 6 p.m. -- RC Cola-Air Force vs Foton

WITH the semifinal cast now complete, heavyweights Philips Gold and Cignal clash for the solo leadership as the double-round eliminations of the 2015 Philippine Superliga Grand Prix women’s volleyball tournament enters its final stretch today at The Arena in San Juan.

Action starts at 4 p.m. before the encounter between Foton and also-ran RC Cola-Air Force in the 6 p.m. main offering of this prestigious interclub tourney presented by Asics and backed by Milo with Mueller, Mikasa and Senoh as technical partners and TV5 as official broadcaster.

After pulling off an emphatic straight-set conquest of RC Cola-Air Force last Tuesday, Philips Gold joined reigning champion Petron and Cignal in a three-way logjam on top of the team standings with a 6-2 mark, while shoving the Raiders out of title contention together with winless Meralco.

With that, the semifinal cast has been formally completed with Petron, Cignal, Philips Gold and Foton using their remaining games to determine their placing in the knockout, kill-or-be killed semifinal showdown scheduled next week.

Let a copy of the petition and this Notice of Hearing be posted at the CAB Bulletin Board beginning today.

Prospective bidders should have experience in undertaking a similar project within the last two (2) years with an amount of at least 50% of the proposed project for bidding. The Eligibility Check/Screening as well as the Preliminary Examination of bids shall use non-discretionary “pass/fail” criteria. Post-qualification of the lowest calculated responsive bid shall be conducted.

Activities

Any transactions covered by this OR Nos. would not be honored by the company.

NOTICE OF HEARING

INVITATION TO BID

IMS2015-01

Notice is hereby given to the public that Firmus Distribution Corporation’s Receipts with OR No. 08610-08611 were lost.

Pursuant to the provisions of R.A. 776, as amended, notice is hereby given that CEBU AIR, INC. (CEBU PACIFIC AIR) has filed with the Civil Aeronautics Board a petition for authority to impose security surcharge on all its international cargo shipments, detailed as follows:

The University of the Philippines Manila through its Bids and Awards Committee III (BAC 3), invites suppliers/manufacturer/distributors/contractors to apply for eligibility and to bid for the hereunder projects:

Contract Duration:

NOTICE OF LOSS

CAB Case No. EP-15-3756/HED082015/5J/403 SC1

P.Faura St. corner Ma. Orosa St., Manila Telefax # 525-43-22 / 526-22-76

PR No.:

FIRMUS

Distribution Corporation

CEBU AIR, INC. (CEBU PACIFIC AIR), Petitioner.

X--------------------------------------------------------X

BIDS AND AWARDS COMMITTEE 3 2nd Floor, BAC Conference Roon, Damian Hall University of the Philippines Manila

1.

Aiza Maizo-Pontillas, drawing inspiration from her three-year-old son AJ, blasted in 15 points to power PLDT Home Ultera to a 25-20, 20-25, 25-13, 25-13 victory over Philippine Navy and into the semifinal round of the season-ending conference of the league where it all started.

Pretty Mina Aganon, 22, who has been supporting her family while she was still playing for and studying at National University, tallied 15 points to help snap Kia Forte’s three-game skid for the newcomer’s first victory in the league

sponsored by Shakey’s, a 25-22, 19-25, 25-15, 2519 decision over University of the Philippines.

And given the chance the to shine, Sarah Jane Gonzales seized the moment to become the second Army player to earn the best player honors after helping steer the Lady Troopers to a 25-4, 25-12, 33-31 win over the Coast Guard Lady Dolphins. The 24-year-old playmaker also became the second player in the conference, presented

by PLDT Home Ultera, to win back-to-back best player titles after UP’s Ma. Isabel Molde.

Gonzales, who hails from Biñan, Laguna, said she never got discouraged for spending much of her time on the bench, particularly during crucial games. But when coach Kungfu Reyes opted to rest starter Tina Salak, Gonzales quickly proved her worth, displaying near-flawless setting from the start on her way to snatching her first ever VLeague best player honors.

“I’m privileged to be playing with teammates who keep supporting and encouraging me,” said Gonzales, formerly of Lyceum, one of the pioneers of the league. “Their excellent receives and digs make my job as a setter a little bit easier.”

(TS-NOV. 12, 2015)

Copy Furnished:

(Sgd.) MARIA ELBEN SL. MORO Hearing Officer

MR. JOSEPH G. MACAGGA VP – Fuel and Cargo Operations CEBU AIR, INC. (CEBU PACIFIC) Airline Operations Center Manila Domestic Airport ATTY. ENRIQUE ANTONIO J. ESQUIVEL, Ill Assistant Corporate Secretary and Head of Aeropolitical Division Philippine Airlines, Inc. PNB Financial Center Pres. Diosdado Macapagal Avenue CCP Complex, Pasay City ATTY. KHRISTIAN B. ALVAERA Manager, Aeropolitical Affairs CEBU AIR, INC. (CEBU PACIFIC AIR) Airline Operations Centre Domestic Airport, Pasay City ATTY. MICHAEL JOURDAN NAVARRO Legal Services Department PAL Express Legal Services Department Air Philippines Corporation d.b.a. PAL Express 8TH Floor, PNB Financial Center President Diosdado P. Macapagal Avenue CCP Complex, Pasay City ATTY. ANNA ROSARIO V. PANER Counsel for AirAsia, Inc. PANER HOSAKA & YPIL 502 Pacific Center Bldg., 33 San Miguel Ave., Ortigas Center Pasig City, 1600 MS. MARIA INEZ F. JOSE Strategy, Airport and Planning ZEST AIRWAYS, INC. (AIR ASIA ZEST) Air Asia Zest Corporate & Cargo Office Domestic Road cor. Andrews Avenue Pasay City ATTY. LEILANI N. DE LEON Chief Legal and Corporate Affairs Officer Southeast Asian Airlines (SEAIR), Inc. 3rd Floor, Cebu Pacific Building 8006 Domestic Road Pasay City (TS-NOV. 12, 2015)

Aguilas break into win column Games on Thursday (Marikina Sports Center) 7 p.m. Far Eastern University vs Metro Pacific Toll Corporatiom 8:30 p.m. Hobe Bihon-Cars Unlimited vs Our Lady of Fatima University MINDANAO’S Aguilas finally entered the win column after escaping with a 78-72 victory over Our Lady of Fatima University in a battle of winless teams Tuesday night in the 5th DELeague Basketball Tournament at the Marikina Sports Center, Marikina City.

Jerome Juanico scored on a jumper to cut Mindanao’s lead down to three, 74-71, with 50 seconds remaining in the game.

The OLFU Phoenix, however, failed to contain Gino Jumao-as in the next play as he scored on a difficult basket that gave the Aguilas a more comfortable 76-71 lead.

OLFU had two golden chances to inch closer, but Juanico split his free throws and Edwin Bargola faltered in his attempt. Jonathan Pareno of Mindanao grabbed the defensive rebound and was immediately fouled by Bargola with seven seconds to go.

Pareno sank both free throws and the Phoenix was not able to score again in the game.

T H U R S DAY : N O V E M B E R 1 2 , 2 0 1 5

A15

SPORTS sports@thestandard.com.ph

LOTTO RESULTS

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

PH Azkals in must-win situation

By Peter Atencio

Las Vegas-bound. Bowling World Cup national champions Liza del Rosario and Biboy Rivera will fly to Las Vegas, Nevada today to represent the Philippines in the Qubica AMF BWC international finals set at Sam’s Town in Las Vegas on Nov. 13 to 20. Del Rosario and Rivera are shown receiving their roundtrip tickets from Puyat Sports Group Vice President Jose R. Puyat III (left) and Coronado Lanes General Manager Engr. Gilbert V. Gavino.

The organizers also thanked All Nippon Air, Prima Pasta and Boysen Paints for support to the two bowlers’ participation in the prestigious event.

GMs Gupta, Demchenko rip foes, share chess lead GRANDMASER Abhijeet Gupta of India turned back GM Alexander Zubov of Ukraine in the battle of the top two seeds in the fourth round yesterday to climb into a share of the lead with GM Anton Demchenko of Russia in the 2015 Philippine International Chess Championship at the Subic Peninsular Hotel, Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority in Olongapo City.

Standings after four rounds (Open Division) Demchenko, Gupta 3.5, Belous, Shomoev, Lin, Sivuk, Deepan 3.0, Zubov, Sunilduth Lyna, Lu, Laylo, Savchenko, Nguyen, Ranola 2.5, Mozharov, Torre, Sean, Nolte, Rohan, Antonio, Bitoon, Abelgas, Gotel 2.0, Smirnov, Puranik, Bersamina 1.5, Kotanjian, Pederson, Pascua, Frayna, Secopito, Mariano III 1.0, Docena, Dimakilng .5, Fronda, Galas 0.

(Challenger Division, after three rounds) Mirano K., Mendoza 3.0, Morado, Salgados, Alora, Mirano J.F. Salcedo 2.5, Lim, Miciano, Evangelists, Aviles F., Diaz, Marimla 2.0, Rapanot, Pradas, Morsalim, Bernardo, Bagamasbad, Cerezo, Ricana 1.5, Pidor, Polao, Alidani, Doroy, Medina, Vicente, Romero, Salanga, Morsalim 1.0, Segundo, Fagon, Valdez, Graspela 0.5, Bautista, Crisologo 0.

The 26-year old former world junior champion Gupta outwitted his Ukranian foe and erstwhile co-leader in 41 moves of the Various Indian Defense to collect 3.5 points in four rounds, the same score of Demchenko, who agreed to a draw with fellow Russian GM Vladimir Belous after 42 moves of a SicilianScheveningen Defense.

Also making headway were Indian GM Chakkravarthy Deepan, ninth seed GM Anton Shomoev, IM Chen Lin of China and GM Vitaly Sivuk of Ukraine, who beat their respective opponents to improve their total to 3.0 points, along with Belous, Zubov and Indian IM Narayanan Suldith Lyna.

Deepan, the no. 14 seed, upset no. 7 GM Mikhail Mozharov of Russia after a marathon 72 moves of a Queen’s Indian, Shomoev downed Winshand Cuhendi Sean of Indone-

sia in 33 moves of a Sicilian-Sveshnikov, Lin topped GM Eugene Torre while Sivuk outlasted Filipino IM Rolando Nolte in 57 moves of a King’s Indian Defense.

Following Torre and Nolte’s losses, GM Darwin Laylo and IM Yves Ranola emerged as the best Filipino campaigners with 2.5 each after four rounds. Laylo defeated IM Abhimaryu Puranik of India, while Ranola drew with Fide Master Ahuja Rohan of India.

Also with 2.5 points are India’s GM Narayanan Sulduth Lyna, Chinese GM Shanglei Lu, Russian GM Boris Savchenko and Vietnamese GM Duc Hoa Nguyen.

Torre, Nolte trail with 2.0 points along with seven others, including fellow local campaigner sGM Joey Antonio and NM Roel Abelgas.

In the Challenger Divison of the week-long tournament organized by the National Chess Federation of the Philippines and supported by the Philippine Sports Commission, Philippine Olympic Committee, Puregold, Asian United Bank and Burlington Socks, Far Eastern University varsity players WIM Shania Mae Mendoza and Kevin Mirano are tied for the lead with perfect 3.0 points. Mirano topped Samson Lim, while Mendoza turned back Alfredo Lapanot.

SHORT on manpower, the Philippine Azkals national men’s football team promises to do a better job when they clash with Yemen in their 2016 FIFA World Cup qualifying match at 8 p.m. today at the Rizal Memorial Football Stadium.

The Azkals come into the fight sporting a 2-1-2 win-draw-loss record for seven points in Group H. Unfortunately, they will play without team captain Phil Younghusband, defender Luke Woodland and goalie Neil Etheridge.

Younghusband is suspended after he was penalized with his second yellow card in their match with Bahrain, while Woodland won’t make it because of his commitment to his club in England.

Etheridge, on the other hand, is nursing a thigh injury and will sit out the game.

“It’s been four weeks since our game with Bahrain and North Korea. This will be exciting tomorrow. It’s a game we have to win,” said coach Thomas Dooley during a press conference yesterday at the Manila Hotel.

Because of the multiple positions that he can play inside the pitch, Fil-German striker Stephan Schrock will take the place of Younghusband as team captain.

On the other hand, Roland Muller will assume Etheridge’s position in front of the net.

Woodland’s position can be filled up

by Javier Patiño, Rob Gier, Simone Rota and Juani Guirado.

Also suiting up against Yemen are Amani Aguinaldo, Misagh Bahadoran, Kenshiro Daniels, Patrick Deyto, Kevin Ingreso, Jerry Lucena, Paul Mulders, Manny Ott, Stephan Palla, OJ Porteria, Iain Ramsay, Patrick Reichelt, Daisuke Sato, Stephan Schrock, Martin Steuble and Dennis Villanueva.

Developments on the Cheating Controversy 04 NOVEMBER—Poland withdrew from EBL Champions’ Cup. Here is the statement of SYLVIA LOPEZ the players: ALEJANDRO In connection with accusations of unfair play

by Cezary Balicki and Adam Żmudziński, which have not been supported so far, and having great regard to the reputation of the Polish bridge, we decided to withdraw our team from this year’s edition of the European Champions’ Cup. 05 November—Angelini Team (Italy) in 2015 EBL Championships’ Cup Following the withdrawal of Poland, Italy has been invited to participate in the upcoming EBL Champions’ Cup, scheduled in

Milton Keynes (England) from Nov. 12 to 14, 2015. Italy will be represented by Angelini Team from Rome, winner of the Italian Club Open Teams Championship 2014.

06 November—Cezary Balicki Statement Extracts of statement: As our Chairman already pointed out, we garnered quite a few enemies, like those who lost to us in different events, those who felt we had taken spots that belonged to them or those on various international teams or the Polish National team. Without going further on this subject, I’ll get to the issue at hand. I strongly suspect that all the arguments against us were manipulated and calculated to appear in such a way that none of the

readers would be able verify them, for the long and painstaking work that would be required. This is how we have been treated by those accusing us. We were attacked three times after each preceding attempt ended in failure.

When the first accusation did not deliver the expected result, the next attack was launched— on our mannerisms on opening lead. And here the method of operation was very similar. There were no analyzed hands, intentionally chosen clips from the video recordings and no correlation to the leads made. Of course, no one bothered to check what the typical mannerisms are for us or many other pairs in stressful or tiring situations. This is exactly how players behave who

have for their entire bridge lives filled out scorecards and entered the scores into the bridge mates.

After analyzing 336 deals from Opatija 2014, half of which were on lead, you wont see one hand, including part score deals, where a lead, you won’t see one hand, including part score deals, where a lead was suspicious or very lucky. On the other hand there are several deals in which we didn’t lead well in simple situations that cost us a lot of points. Take the deal against Brogeland, where I personally made a serious error from lack of knowledge about declarer’s distribution. Despite the lead of the ace of hearts and club continuation, we managed to let the contract make, although that would have seemed impossible.

Poland —Norway Deal 24 3NT. Lead ♥A

West ♠DW72 ♥DW106 ♦AD ♣643

North ♠K96 ♥AK ♦853 ♣AW985

South ♠108 ♥98752 ♦W76 ♣1072 Result: -400

East ♠A543 ♥43 ♦K10942 ♣KD

Comments to: sylgen717@gmail.com

A16

T H U R S DAY : N O V E M B E R 1 2 , 2 0 1 5 RIERA U. MALL ARI EDITOR

REUEL VIDAL A S S I S TA N T E D I T O R

sports@thestandard.com.ph

SPORTS

Rookie Chris Newsome of Meralco (no. 11) is sandwiched by Talk N Text defenders Matt Ganuelas-Rosser and Troy Rosario as he goes up for a basket.

Archers win, stays on track for F4 berth

By Peter Atencio JERON Teng returned to the floor just in time to save De La Salle from losing its momentum late in the third quarter, igniting a crucial 15-0 as the Green Archers escaped with a hard-earned 72-68 win over the University of the Philippines Fighting Maroons last night in the 78th University Athletic Association of the Philippines (UAAP) men’s basketball tournament at the Araneta Coliseum.

The victory kept the Archers in the thick of the race for a berth in the Final Four with a 6-7 (win-loss) card in a tie with defending champion National University Bulldogs.

Teng, who hurt his back after a bad fall in the first quarter and had to be rested for several minutes, finished with a game-high 20 points.

Still, Teng had a lot of help from Prince Rivero and Jason Perkins in the decisive final last minutes, as the two alternated in scoring against the Maroons’ zone defense.

After Jet Manuel gave UP a 60-54 edge, Rivero drove in twice and Perkins forced his way underneath for a layup, touching off a decisive scoring run which put La Salle on top, 69-60, with 2:52 to go.

Teng then knocked in two charities to cap the run in the last 2:52 and added two more in the last 18.4 seconds to seal the win, 71-66.

Manuel led the Maroons with 15 points, while Christian Moralde added 14 as UP stayed near the bottom at 3-10.

Games Saturday (MOA Arena) 2 p.m. Ateneo vs UE 4 p.m. NU vs FEU

Texters rout Bolts, 105-91

By Jeric Lopez

A WALK in the park.

That’s what Talk ‘N Text had when it hardly broke a sweat in manhandling listless Meralco in carving an impressive 105-91 rout last night for its second straight win in the 2015 Philippine Basketball Association Philippine Cup at the Philsports Arena in Pasig City.

Four Texters tallied in twindigits, led by Matt GanuelasRosser who had a game-high 19 points along with six rebounds off the bench while Mo Tautuaa almost had a double-double with 18 points and nine rebounds. The other two are Jayson Castro with 15 and Troy Rosario with 14 as a reserve.

Talk ‘N Text improved to 2-1 in a four-way logjam with NLEX, GlobalPort and San Miguel.

Westbrook triple-double carries Thunder TURN TO A13

The hapless Bolts, meanwhile, still couldn’t catch a break as they remain winless and fell further at the bottom at 0-3.

“We played better than our last two games. Mas maganda ipinakita namin,’’ said Talk ‘N Text coach Jong Uichico of his team’s performance. “We’re all continuing to progress and understand each other as we go and this will help.’’

From the get-go, the loaded

Tropang Texters In that excepGames Friday showed their sister (Philspors tional first half, the Arena, Pasig City) team absolutely no 4:15 p.m. - NLEX vs. Mahindra Tropang Texters had 7 p.m. - Rain or Shine love as they pounced seven triples and vs. GlobalPort hard right away and they scored on 14 made sure that they points off turnovers will cruise the rest of the way. after forcing the helpless Bolts Behind 10 quick points from to 13 errors.

Ganuelas-Rosser, Talk ‘N Text Castro, Tautuaa, Ganuelasignited a dazzling 23-3 surge Rosser and Larry Fonacier comto end the first period and bined for 41 points for Talk ‘N zoom to a commanding 33-17 Text in the first half as the fourspread heading into the second some led the charge for their period. squad.

The Tropang Texters carried Talk ‘N Text was never in their momentum into the second harm’s way as the slumping Bolts frame by ripping the game apart, , just didn’t provide any threat.

52-25, in the middle of the period Slotman Rabeh Al-Hussaini after another 19-8 blast. led Meralco with his team-high By halftime, Talk ‘N Text’s 16 points and five rebounds. cushion stood at 22 points, 60Meanwhile, the Beermen (2-1) 38, and it never looked back from are currently looking move ahead there as it kept pounding Meralco to solo third as they are currently in the second half all the way to battling Blackwater (1-2) as of this the final buzzer. report.

3 gutsy ladies share V-League honors TURN TO A14

B1

THURSDAY: NOVEMBER 12, 2015

RAY S. EÑANO EDITOR

RODERICK T. DELA CRUZ ASSISTANT EDITOR

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

BUSINESS

PhilRice anniversary. Agriculture Secretary Proceso Alcala speaks before the officials and employees of the Philippine Rice Research Institute during the agency’s anniversary on Nov. 9, 2015. Alcala cites the contribution of PhilRice in uplifting the life of rice farmers and increasing the rice production in the country. PhilRice is developing new rice varieties and rice technologies in the country.

SMC rebuffs Smart, Globe plea

By Darwin G. Amojelar

SAN Miguel Corp. on Wednesday turned down the plea of Globe Telecom Inc. and Smart Communications to share some of its “very powerful” frequency band, which the conglomerate plans to use to build a new mobile broadband company in joint venture with Telstra Corp. of Australia.

“They [Globe and Smart] have more than enough frequency between them. They have almost 300 megahertz of LTE [long-term evolution] frequency, why do they need more? All they need is to improve and fine-tune what they have,” San Miguel president Ramon Ang said at the sidelines of the special stockholders’ meeting of Liberty Telecoms Holdings Inc. “They want what we have, so that we could not operate,” Ang

said.

San Miguel, which owns wiTribe Telecommunications Inc. and High Frequency, holds 80 Mhz and 10 Mhz of the spectrum in the 700 Mhz band, respectively.

Telstra chief executive Andy Penn earlier said San Miguel would be a “very strong” partner in the Philippines because of its spectrum holdings.

Philippine Long Distance Telephone Co., the parent

company of Smart, earlier said the 700 Mhz band is a “very powerful” frequency, because the coverage is wider and the capital spending requirement is lesser. The spectrum was previously used for analog television broadcasting.

PLDT and Globe asked the National Telecommunications Commission for their fair share in the 700 Mhz band.

The 700 MHz band, located above the TV broadcast channels, penetrates buildings and walls and covers larger areas. Mobile wireless service providers in other countries have been using the spectrum to offer mobile broadband services.

Ang said talks with Telstra for possible mobile broadband joint venture was still “ongoing.”

The planned joint venture between San Miguel and Telstra would see the local conglomerate holding a majority stake, in

compliance with the 1987 Constitution, which limits the foreign ownership of utilities to a maximum of 40 percent.

Telstra plans to invest less than $1 billion in the Philippines to roll out the telecom network.

Penn also described the telco experience in the Philippines as “lousy.”

Telstra currently operates customer service centers in the Philippines that serves its clients globally. San Miguel earlier said it planned to launch mobile broadband services as early as January next year.

San Miguel has four telecommunications companies under its portfolio, including Express Telecommunications Inc., Eastern Telecommunications Philippines Inc., Bell Telecommunications Philippines Inc. and Liberty Telecoms Holdings Inc.

PAL’s income jumped to P6.55b in nine months THE operator of Philippine Airlines said Wednesday comprehensive income in the first nine months jumped to P6.55 billion from P169.1 million on higher revenues.

PAL Holdings Inc. said the sharp increase in comprehensive income in the January-September period was led by strong revenues, which climbed 10.8 percent to P81.98 billion from P73.98 billion a year ago.

“The growth was attributable mainly to higher passenger revenues and other revenues generated during the period,” PAL Holdings said.

PAL’s passenger revenue rose

12.5 percent to P68.37 billion from last year’s P60.78 billion, as the number of passengers increased 30 percent, mainly for Americas, Australia, Japan and the Middle East routes.

PAL said the effect of interlining arrangement with PAL Express in the domestic sectors contributed to the favorable revenue performance during the period.

Maintenance expenses, one of PAL’s biggest costs, rose 36.6 percent to P8.26 billion from P6.05 billion last year.

Flying operations, which represent the biggest expense of PAL, dropped 3.9 percent to P15.34 billion from P15.97

billion, following the decline in fuel cost. This was partially offset by the increase in aircraft lease charges, transportation expense and cockpit crew costs.

Fuel costs declined 22.9 percent over last year’s figure of P9.89 billion, as a result of the huge drop in jet fuel prices pfrom an average of $129.74 a barrel in 2014 to $83.06 in 2015.

PAL president Jaime Bautista earlier said the airline revived a plan to take strategic investors who could support its expansion in Europe and other international markets.

“There’s no rush, but of course it will be good for the airline if

there is a strategic investor as we expand, take delivery of more airplanes and as we compete more in Asia, US and Europe,” he said.

PAL is spending $500 million to acquire seven brand-new aircraft next year as part of a re-fleeting program.

Bautista said he expected 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 airline plans to launch flight to Port Moresby and Cairns, Australia and Auckland, New Zealand in December.

Darwin G. Amojelar

PSe comPoSite

index

Closing November 11, 2015

8000 7700 7400 7100 6800 6500

6,983.72 16.39

PeSo-dollar rate

Closing NOVEMBER 10, 2015 43.50 44.60 45.40

P46.9750

46.20

CLOSE

47.00

HIGH P46.950 LOW P47.240 AVERAGE P47.131 VOLUME 753.700M

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

o

il P PriceS today

P24.55-P28.00 Diesel P34.55-P39.15 Kerosene Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas Wednesday, November 11, 2015

F oreign e xchange r ate Currency

Unit

US Dollar

Peso

United States

Dollar

1.000000

47.2100

Japan

Yen

0.008120

0.3833

UK

Pound

1.512100

71.3862

Hong Kong

Dollar

0.129017

6.0909

Switzerland

Franc

0.994135

46.9331

Canada

Dollar

0.754034

Singapore

Dollar

0.703136

33.1951

Australia

Dollar

0.703185

33.1974

Bahrain

Dinar

2.657595

125.4651

Saudi Arabia

Rial

0.266660

12.5890

Brunei

Dollar

0.700673

33.0788

35.5979

Indonesia

Rupiah

0.000073

0.0034

Thailand

Baht

0.027855

1.3150

UAE

Dirham

0.272301

12.8553

Euro

Euro

1.072300

50.6233

Korea

Won

0.000863

0.0407

China

Yuan

0.157188

7.4208

India

Rupee

0.015108

0.7132

Malaysia

Ringgit

0.228964

10.8094

New Zealand

Dollar

0.652401

Taiwan

Dollar

0.030533

30.7999 1.4415 Source: PDS Bridge

THURSDAY: NOVEMBER 12, 2015

B2

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

The STandard BuSineSS daily STockS review Wednesday, november 11, 2015

52 Weeks

Previous

High Low 7.88 75.3 124.4 107 56.5 2.49 4.2 17 30.45 10.4 2.6 1.01 100 30.5 75 91.5 137 361.2 57 180 1700 124 47 5 1.46 2.36 15.3 148 20.6 36 65.8 2.97 4.14 21.5 21.6 11.96 9.13 11.8 2.89 31.8 109 15.3 9.4 0.98 241 79 4 74 33.9 90 13.26 293 5.25 12.98 6.75 15 7.03 3.4 4.5 6.3 238 3.28 0.315 2.18 2.65 234 5.28 1.3 2.17 0.59 59.2 30.05 7.39 3.4 3.35 823.5 10.2 84 3.35 4.92 0.66 1455 76 9.25 0.85 17.3 5.53 6.55 0.0670 2.31 1.61 84.9 3.5 974 1.66 1.39 156 0.710 0.435 0.510 10.5 1.99 41.4 5.6 5.59 1.44

STOCKS

Close

High

Low

FINANCIAL 2.7 2.6 49.2 47.25 101.00 99.50 84.75 84.00 40.1 39.95 2.50 2.50 1.60 1.55 15.6 15.6 19.3 19.18 7.53 7.52 1.65 1.62 0.520 0.500 84.95 84.35 18.00 17.94 23.55 23.50 52.70 52.10 103.9 100 303 303 32 31 139 135 1559.00 1555.00 56.70 57.00 INDUSTRIAL 35.9 Aboitiz Power Corp.

40.85 41 40.5 1.11 Agrinurture Inc. 1.84 1.9 1.66 1.01 Alliance Tuna Intl Inc. 0.85 0.88 0.84 1.86 Alsons Cons.

1.57 1.6 1.57 7.92 Asiabest Group 11 11.1 10.5 32 C. Azuc De Tarlac 95.00 95.00 95.00 15.32 Century Food 17.7 18 17.5 10.08 Cirtek Holdings (Chips) 20.7 21.8 20.8 29.15 Concepcion 44 46.85 41.1 1.5 Crown Asia 2.39 2.54 2.39 1.5 Da Vinci Capital 1.59 1.62 1.54 10.72 Del Monte 10.18 10.02 9.98 9.55 DNL Industries Inc. 9.000 9.170 8.96 9.04 Emperador 8.90 9.08 8.72 6.02 Energy Devt. Corp. (EDC) 6.21 6.24 5.94 8.86 EEI 6.11 6.11 5.92 1.06 Euro-Med Lab 1.7 1.8 1.79 20.2 First Gen Corp.

23.7 24.15 23 71.5 First Holdings ‘A’ 68.15 68.15 67.8 13.24 Holcim Philippines Inc. 13.40 14.50 13.98 5.34 Integ. Micro-Electronics 6.11 6.2 6.15 0.395 Ionics Inc 2.060 2.140 2.070 173 Jollibee Foods Corp.

205.80 204.40 200.00 LBC Express 12.06 12.8 12 34.1 Liberty Flour 42.00 42.00 42.00 1.63 Mabuhay Vinyl 3 3.06 3 33 Macay Holdings 41.15 41.15 41.00 23.35 Manila Water Co. Inc. 24 24.05 23.7 17.3 Maxs Group 23.2 23.8 22.7 5.88 Megawide 6.01 6.37 6.01 250.2 Mla. Elect. Co `A’ 337.00 343.80 339.00 3.87 Pepsi-Cola Products Phil. 4.16 4.17 4.13 8.45 Petron Corporation 8.10 8.14 8.00 3 Phil H2O 3.6 3.8 3.6 10.04 Phinma Corporation 11.98 11.96 11.96 3.03 Phoenix Petroleum Phils. 3.60 3.70 3.43 1.95 Phoenix Semiconductor 1.99 2.02 1.98 1 Pryce Corp. `A’ 2.37 2.49 2.38 4.02 RFM Corporation 4.12 4.13 4.11 161 San Miguel’Pure Foods `B’ 133 133 131.6 1.55 Splash Corporation 2.16 2.24 2.16 0.138 Swift Foods, Inc. 0.148 0.150 0.148 1.02 TKC Steel Corp.

1.14 1.15 1.14 2.09 Trans-Asia Oil 2.16 2.17 2.01 152 Universal Robina 201 201.6 199.8 4.28 Victorias Milling 4.72 4.6 4.6 0.640 Vitarich Corp.

0.67 0.7 0.67 1.2 Vulcan Ind’l.

1.23 1.25 1.18 HOLDING FIRMS 0.44 Abacus Cons. `A’ 0.400 0.400 0.390 48.1 Aboitiz Equity 56.5000 56.6000 56.0000 20.85 Alliance Global Inc. 18.34 18.46 18.02 6.62 Anscor `A’ 6.35 6.40 6.40 0.23 ATN Holdings A 0.255 0.255 0.255 0.23 ATN Holdings B 0.239 0.26 0.250 634.5 Ayala Corp `A’ 767 767.5 748.5 7.390 Cosco Capital 7.46 7.46 7.27 12.8 DMCI Holdings 13.30 13.18 12.82 2.6 F&J Prince ‘A’ 4.36 4.7 4.5 2.26 Filinvest Dev. Corp.

3.70 3.70 3.60 0.152 Forum Pacific 0.240 0.250 0.249 837 GT Capital 1330 1331 1316 49.55 JG Summit Holdings 72.10 72.65 71.50 4.84 Lopez Holdings Corp.

7.31 7.3 7.1 0.59 Lodestar Invt. Holdg.Corp. 0.75 0.75 0.73 12 LT Group 12.4 14.24 12.6 4.2 Metro Pacific Inv. Corp. 5.3 5.29 5.23 4.5 Minerales Industrias Corp. 9.4 9.54 9 0.030 Pacifica `A’ 0.0300 0.0420 0.0310 1.23 Prime Media Hldg 1.350 1.450 1.350 0.550 Prime Orion 1.900 1.950 1.900 59.3 San Miguel Corp `A’ 48.50 48.00 47.70 1.5 Seafront `A’ 2.69 2.69 2.69 751 SM Investments Inc. 855.00 858.00 850.00 1.13 Solid Group Inc. 1.19 1.19 1.19 0.93 South China Res. Inc. 0.75 0.75 0.75 80 Top Frontier 78.100 78.000 77.350 0.211 Unioil Res. & Hldgs 0.3300 0.3300 0.3200 0.179 Wellex Industries 0.2280 0.2290 0.2160 0.310 Zeus Holdings 0.265 0.280 0.255 PROPERTY 6.74 8990 HLDG 6.540 6.750 6.540 0.65 A. Brown Co., Inc. 0.89 0.92 0.85 30.05 Ayala Land `B’ 35.150 35.100 34.700 3.36 Belle Corp. `A’ 3.21 3.21 3.1 4.96 Cebu Holdings 5.1 5.1 5.07 0.79 Century Property 0.59 0.6 0.57 2.5 66 88.05 88.1 45.45 1.97 1.68 12.02 19.6 6.12 1.02 0.225 78 17.8 58 62 88.35 276 41 118.2 1200 59

AG Finance Asia United Bank Banco de Oro Unibank Inc. Bank of PI China Bank BDO Leasing & Fin. INc. Bright Kindle Resources COL Financial Eastwest Bank Filipino Fund Inc. I-Remit Inc. MEDCO Holdings Metrobank PB Bank Phil Bank of Comm Phil. National Bank Phil. Savings Bank PSE Inc. RCBC `A’ Security Bank Sun Life Financial Union Bank

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

SHARES 9,375,396 73,272,114 1,186,514,946 196,998,722 112,242,638 76,080,795 1,658,376,441

2.62 49.35 100.50 84.60 40.1 2.50 1.59 15.68 19.3 7.52 1.61 0.530 85 17.92 23.60 52.50 100 303 30.9 135.4 1554.00 56.75

Close

%

Net Foreign

Change Volume

Trade/Buying

2.7 49.2 100.50 84.35 39.95 2.50 1.57 15.6 19.18 7.52 1.63 0.500 84.5 18.00 23.50 52.35 103.9 303 32 136.1 1559.00 56.70

3.05 -0.30 0.00 -0.30 -0.37 0.00 -1.26 -0.51 -0.62 0.00 1.24 -5.66 -0.59 0.45 -0.42 -0.29 3.90 0.00 3.56 0.52 0.32 -0.09

31,000 28,600 3,042,980 1,943,240 71,400 3,000 47,000 400 70,000 300 74,000 1,033,000 1,673,630 80,700 35,500 160,700 590 90 136,600 241,720 310 232,890

-2,700.00 310,940.00 41,611,617 63,671,905.00 1,232,005.00

41 1.9 0.85 1.57 11 95.00 18 21.3 44 2.48 1.58 9.98 9.000 8.98 6.05 5.97 1.8 23 68.15 14.40 6.19 2.100 204.00 12.5 42.00 3.01 41.00 23.95 23 6.37 343.80 4.14 8.05 3.6 11.96 3.70 1.99 2.38 4.12 131.8 2.16 0.148 1.14 2.09 201 4.6 0.67 1.20

0.37 3.26 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 1.69 2.90 0.00 3.77 -0.63 -1.96 0.00 0.90 -2.58 -2.29 5.88 -2.95 0.00 7.46 1.31 1.94 -0.87 3.65 0.00 0.33 -0.36 -0.21 -0.86 5.99 2.02 -0.48 -0.62 0.00 -0.17 2.78 0.00 0.42 0.00 -0.90 -0.19 0.00 0.00 -3.24 0.00 -2.54 0.00 -2.44

2,133,900 76,000 540,000 168,000 400 20 106,700 3,113,300 58,800 1,998,000 544,000 19,000 7,656,700 4,967,600 16,132,700 1,539,400 9,000 1,632,000 157,540 66,600 1,433,100 3,055,000 1,279,020 74,800 100 7,000 200 790,400 117,100 2,500 818,530 11,234,000 679,400 2,000 5,000 87,000 363,000 77,000 231,000 26,310 165,000 850,000 46,000 2,075,000 1,834,400 6,000 415,000 464,000

0.390 56.6000 18.20 6.40 0.255 0.250 749 7.34 13.18 4.5 3.60 0.250 1323 71.70 7.27 0.75 13.88 5.25 9.5 0.0400 1.400 1.910 47.70 2.69 854.50 1.19 0.75 77.350 0.3300 0.2290 0.280

-2.50 0.18 -0.76 0.79 0.00 4.60 -2.35 -1.61 -0.90 3.21 -2.70 4.17 -0.53 -0.55 -0.55 0.00 11.94 -0.94 1.06 33.33 3.70 0.53 -1.65 0.00 -0.06 0.00 0.00 -0.96 0.00 0.44 5.66

310,000 2,198,990 -3,122,083.50 3,278,300 -25,522,928.00 20,000 370,000 100,000 156,130 -69,975,590.00 1,505,300 9,044,819.00 3,904,400 -22,505,384.00 38,000 49,000 200,000 149,600 -40,124,585.00 1,081,280 -39,595,703.50 2,027,500 -2,335,208.00 94,000 84,419,600 45,448,596.00 24,686,300 2,667,388.00 1,617,000 1,052,200,000 -207,000.00 107,000 478,000 131,800 -1,256,740.00 11,000 281,150 -207,140,185.00 6,000 30,000 5,760 -422,693.50 630,000 240,000 210,000

6.730 0.87 34.800 3.14 5.1 0.57

2.91 -2.25 -1.00 -2.18 0.00 -3.39

391,100 4,290,000 22,711,800 682,000 64,100 7,379,000

1,560.00 -1,020,944.00 50,000.00 44,051,972.50 470,000.00 -1,989,754.00 21,210.00 1,076,115 -7,214,271.00 388,730.00 -554,788.50

52 Weeks

Previous

High Low 1.48 0.201 0.69 10.96 0.97 0.305 2.22 2.1 1.8 5.94 0.180 0.72 8.54 31.8 2.29 21.35 1.06 7.56 1.62 8.59

0.97 0.083 0.415 2.4 0.83 0.188 1.15 1.42 1.27 4.13 0.090 0.39 2.69 22.15 1.6 15.08 0.69 3.38 0.83 5.73

10.5 66 1.09 14.88 15.82 0.1430 5.06 99.1 12.3 2.6 7.67 2720 8.41 1.97 119.5 12.5 0.017 0.8200 2.2800 12.28 3.32 95.5 1 2.46 15.2 0.62 1.040 22.8 6.41 185 22.9 3486 0.760 2.28 46.05 90.1

1.97 35.2 0.63 10.5 8.6 0.0770 2.95 56.1 10.14 1.6 4.8 1600 5.95 1.23 102.6 8.72 0.011 0.041 1.200 6.5 1.91 3.1 0.650 1.8 6 0.335 0.37 14.54 3 79 4.39 2748 0.435 1.2 31.45 60.55

STOCKS

Close

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

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

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

11.6 0.85 10 0.490 1.9

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

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

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

Pacific Online Sys. Corp.

PAL Holdings Inc. Phil. Seven Corp.

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

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

1.14 Yehey

0.0098 5.45 17.24 0.330 12.7 1.19 1.62 9.5 4.2 0.48 0.420 0.022 0.023 8.2 49.2 4.27 1.030 7.67 12.88 10.42 0.040 420 9 0.016

0.0043 1.72 6.47 0.236 6.5 0.85 0.77 5.99 1.17 0.305 0.2130 0.013 0.014 3.240 18.96 2.11 0.365 5.4 7.26 2.27 0.015 115.9 3.67 0.0100

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

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

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

TA Petroleum United Paragon

70 553 525 120 515 12.28 111 1060

33 490 500 101.5 480 6.5 101 997

1047 78.95 84.8

1011 74.5 75

ABS-CBN Holdings Corp.

Ayala Corp. Pref `B1’ Ayala Corp. Pref ‘B2’ First Gen G GLOBE PREF P Leisure and Resort 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

1,669,424.00

6.98

0.8900 LR Warrant

-71,686,920.00 -931,240.00

88 12.88

13.5 5.95

130.7

105.6 First Metro ETF

-4,979,225.00 7,480.00

391,468.00 -879,400.00 -2,074,360

-23,468,408.00 -34,910,654.00 -19,646,382.00 -3,902,081.00 -21,132,710.00 -2,843,085.00 950,848.00 7,129,197.00 -426,280.00 17,105,800.00 -60,760.00

8,763,670.00 -1,723,525.00 104,207,244.00 761,550.00 -532,977.00 -3,700.00 650,960.00 -807,206.00

-13,047,674.00 42,000.00

-812,380.00

IRipple E-Business Intl Xurpas

High

VALUE 725,188,456.13 1,562,812,855.902 2,828,205,910.072 1,708,533,498.83 874,243,377.82 31,286,862.2036 7,800,588,271.958

FINANCIAL 1,554.07 (down) 1.97 INDUSTRIAL 11,289.72 (down) 21.31 HOLDING FIRMS 6,556.07 (down) 22.16 PROPERTY 2,979.67 (up) 11.86 SERVICES 1,556.79 (down) 18.23 MINING & OIL 11,149.76 (up) 12.65 PSEI 6,983.72 (down) 16.39 All Shares Index 4,039.03 (down) 1.83 Gainers: 70 Losers: 89; Unchanged: 53; Total: 212

Close

%

Net Foreign

Change Volume

Trade/Buying

1.01 0.117 0.470 20.55 0.880 0.164 1.13 1.70 1.27 4.52 0.080 0.4050 8.4 28.95 1.5 21.50 0.74 7.78 0.900 5.750

1.03 1.00 1.03 0.125 0.117 0.124 0.480 0.475 0.480 20.8 20.4 20.75 0.910 0.880 0.880 0.164 0.164 0.164 1.17 1.13 1.14 1.70 1.65 1.65 1.28 1.27 1.27 4.54 4.42 4.42 0.083 0.083 0.083 0.4050 0.4050 0.4050 8.52 8.4 8.41 30.65 28.90 30.65 1.48 1.48 1.48 22.00 21.00 22.00 0.75 0.73 0.74 7.75 7.73 7.73 0.940 0.890 0.920 5.900 5.600 5.640 SERVICES 7.82 7.99 7.45 7.6 65.5 65.8 64.2 64.5 0.560 0.560 0.550 0.560 11.3 11.12 11.12 11.12 5.48 5.46 5.25 5.25 0.0520 0.0530 0.0510 0.0520 3.59 3.62 3.4 3.56 85.85 87 85.5 86.4 9.94 9.51 9.51 9.51 1.66 1.89 1.66 1.66 5.70 5.90 5.60 5.90 2138 2118 2072 2084 7.35 7.40 7.22 7.34 1.24 1.22 1.20 1.22 68 69.35 67.2 68 11.42 11.42 11.42 11.42 0.010 0.010 0.010 0.010 0.178 0.177 0.172 0.174 1.4000 1.4000 1.3900 1.3900 8.99 8.99 8.76 8.96 4.26 4.58 4.30 4.58 29.95 29.90 29.90 29.90 0.620 0.620 0.620 0.620 2 2 1.98 2 3.59 3.65 3.59 3.64 0.265 0.265 0.260 0.260 0.750 0.750 0.700 0.700 18.14 18.1 17.98 18.1 4.55 4.90 4.58 4.58 110.00 109.00 101.00 109.00 20.30 20.10 19.60 20.10 1990.00 1987.00 1970.00 1970.00 0.550 0.570 0.550 0.570 1.040 1.040 1.000 1.000 34.50 34.65 34.00 34.00 72.00 71.50 71.00 71.00 6.14 6.24 6.11 6.15 4.50 4.64 4.47 4.50 0.465 0.47 0.455 0.455 4.27 4.27 4.18 4.25 0.320 0.310 0.300 0.300 4.100 4.120 4.000 4.080 MINING & OIL 0.0048 0.0048 0.0048 0.0048 2.10 2.09 2.07 2.07 5.18 5.19 5.15 5.15 0.220 0.212 0.212 0.212 5.7 6.09 6 6.0000 0.7 0.68 0.68 0.68 0.65 0.67 0.64 0.67 8.50 8.55 7.75 8.50 0.8 0.83 0.80 0.83 0.300 0.300 0.295 0.300 0.190 0.190 0.188 0.189 0.0100 0.0100 0.0100 0.0100 0.012 0.012 0.012 0.012 2.71 2.82 2.6 2.62 7.22 7.5 7.04 7.26 2.88 2.96 2.85 2.88 0.5900 0.5800 0.5800 0.5800 3.76 3.90 3.88 3.88 5.08 5.100 5.030 5.03 1.44 1.490 1.420 1.45 0.0130 0.0140 0.0130 0.0130 136.70 137.00 135.80 137.00 2.25 2.39 2.3 2.3 0.0078 0.0078 0.0077 0.0077 PREFERRED 65 67.9 62.5 64 513 520 520 520 525 525 525 525 116 120 120 120 519.5 519.5 519 519.5 1.14 1.13 1.13 1.13 109 109.5 109.5 109.5 1065 1060 1050 1050 1065 1129 1098 1129 1035 1035 1035 1035 78.7 79 79 79 83 83.45 82.5 83 79.05 79.15 79 79.05 79.1 79.2 79 79.2 80.05 80.2 80.05 80.15 WARRANTS & BONDS 2.800 2.800 2.710 2.710 SME 80 86 75.7 86 16.7 17.22 16.7 17.12 EXCHANGE TRADED FUNDS 114.5 114.5 113.8 114.1

T op g ainerS STOCKS

Low

1.98 5.98 2.13 0.97 0.00 0.00 0.88 -2.94 0.00 -2.21 3.75 0.00 0.12 5.87 -1.33 2.33 0.00 -0.64 2.22 -1.91

3,000 710,000 490,000 1,896,600 3,000 10,000 1,443,000 22,832,000 127,000 23,816,000 30,000 60,000 72,900 4,372,200 224,000 12,867,100 352,000 6,200 180,000 6,043,600

-2.81 -1.53 0.00 -1.59 -4.20 0.00 -0.84 0.64 -4.33 0.00 3.51 -2.53 -0.14 -1.61 0.00 0.00 0.00 -2.25 -0.71 -0.33 7.51 -0.17 0.00 0.00 1.39 -1.89 -6.67 -0.22 0.66 -0.91 -0.99 -1.01 3.64 -3.85 -1.45 -1.39 0.16 0.00 -2.15 -0.47 -6.25 -0.49

529,200 28,970 220,000 100 8,439,700 35,190,000 332,000 234,460 1,000 3,000 6,300 54,995 231,700 35,000 2,721,500 200 8,500,000 860,000 268,000 8,400 3,549,000 100 1,000 11,000 5,021,000 550,000 6,037,000 11,500 52,000 18,360 84,500 130,330 6,000 8,662,000 1,058,700 347,510 978,200 22,785,000 2,350,000 1,055,000 1,470,000 107,000

0.00 -1.43 -0.58 -3.64 5.26 -2.86 3.08 0.00 3.75 0.00 -0.53 0.00 0.00 -3.32 0.55 0.00 -1.69 3.19 -0.98 0.69 0.00 0.22 2.22 -1.28

42,000,000 32,000 108,800 90,000 1,200 363,000 346,000 4,300 3,591,000 120,000 480,000 2,000,000 200,000 450,000 2,501,800 89,000 41,000 8,000 446,100 308,000 20,500,000 28,850 43,000 2,000,000

-1.54 1.36 0.00 3.45 0.00 -0.88 0.46 -1.41 6.01 0.00 0.38 0.00 0.00 0.13 0.12

146,240 10 50,000 1,200 1,900 27,000 17,090 11,790 455 2,015 10,590 26,650 31,840 25,340 94,990

-3.21

107,000

7.50 2.51

26,260 3,842,800

19,579,504.00

-0.35

22,770

-34,140.00

-20,838,340.00 -126,030.00 -18,103,990.00 -46,567,990.00 59,640.00 -320,215.00 -81,009,155.00

-9,151,410.00 46,860.00

-18,543,977.00 -103,000.00 4,360,821.00

-28,703,270.00 2,400.00 -28,524,320.00 -31,330.00 -17,840.00 -10,640.00

-1,370,740.00 397,180.00 243,454.00 -792,844.00 -115,494,870.00 -570.00 385,880.00 -6,311,180.00 -6,827,761.50 30,954,780.00 -432,250.00 -1,284,470.00

-33,600.00 -369,256.00 14,840.00 68,000.00 16,200.00

6,798,838.00

557,266.00 -372,484.00 -80,500.00 4,736,355.00 26,250,000

10,353,000.00

T op L oSerS Close (P)

Change (%)

STOCKS

Close (P)

Change (%)

Pacifica `A'

0.0400

33.33

NOW Corp.

0.700

-6.67

LT Group

13.88

11.94

Waterfront Phils.

0.300

-6.25

Liberty Telecom

4.58

7.51

MEDCO Holdings

0.500

-5.66

IRipple E-Business Intl

86

7.50

Centro Esc. Univ.

9.51

-4.33

Holcim Philippines Inc.

14.40

7.46

Bloomberry

5.25

-4.20

PCOR-Preferred B

1129

6.01

Premium Leisure

1.000

-3.85

Megawide

6.37

5.99

Basic Energy Corp.

0.212

-3.64

Crown Equities Inc.

0.124

5.98

Century Property

0.57

-3.39

Euro-Med Lab

1.8

5.88

Marcventures Hldgs., Inc.

2.62

-3.32

Robinson's Land `B'

30.65

5.87

Trans-Asia Oil

2.09

-3.24

THURSDAY: NOVEMBER 12, 2015

B3

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

BPI books P13.8-b net profit

By Julito G. Rada

Bank of the Philippine Islands, the third-largest bank in the country, posted an 8-percent increase in net income in the first nine months to P13.84 billion from P12.8 billion year-on-year on the strength of its core businesses.

Total revenues increased 9 percent or P3.67 billion to P44.1 billion year-on-year as both net interest income and non-interest income grew P2.98 billion and P0.68 billion, respectively.

Operating expenses rose 6.7 percent to P22.89 billion on year, a slower rate than revenue growth.

As a result, the bank’s cost-to-income ratio improved to 51.9 percent from 53.1 percent a year ago. Return on equity decreased to 12.6 percent, from last year’s 13.3 percent.

Both total loans and total deposits rose in double digits year-on-year. Total loans stood at P780.07 billion, an increase of 11.2 percent on year. Corporate loans accounted for 76.6 percent while retail loans stood at 23.4 percent.

“Gross 90-day non-performing loans rose slightly to 1.9 percent from 1.8 percent of total loans, while loan loss cover remained 107 percent.

Total deposits stood at P1.18 trillion, up 13.3 percent higher year-on-year. CASA ratio ended the quarter at 72.5 percent,” the bank said.

Total assets during the period stood at P1.41 trillion, 8.8 percent or P113.78 billion higher than that of the same period last year.

Investment securities closed at P303.28 billion, a 15.2 percent hike year-on-year. The bank’s investment securities remained mostly held-to-maturity, at P240.87 billion.

Capital, net of cash dividends of P3.54 billion paid to shareholders on Sept. 2, 2015, ended at P150.44 billion. This represents a 9.3-percent growth in total capital versus September last year.

Capital adequacy ratio was at 14.9 percent from 15.7 percent a year ago. CET1 stood at 14.0 percent.

Earlier in the year, the Asian Banker named BPI as the Best Retail Bank in the Philippines for 2015. BPI also received the Best Electronic Delivery Channel award during the inaugural Bank Marketing Awards night, organized by the Bank Marketing Association of the Philippines.

The award recognizes the bank that successfully implemented the most innovative electronic delivery systems and achieved the desired results in terms of usage and acceptance.

Remittance firm ties up with BDO PALAWAN Pawnshop is expanding the menu of its financial services following the availment of BDO Unibank’s Point-of-Sale cash service, also known as Cash Agad.

Through the POS cash service, clients of Palawan Pawnshops will have the convenience of withdrawing money from their selected branches nationwide. BDO plans to roll out over 500 POS terminals in Palawan Pawnshops’ branches this month.

“For over 30 years, we remain committed to provide fast and easy service to our customers at all times. With our strong partnership with BDO, we are confident that we can go further,” said Palawan Pawnshop president and chief executive Bobby Castro.

“With Palawan Pawnshop’s wide branch network, many customers can have access to cash using their ATM/Debit Cards,” BDO executive vice president and transaction banking head Edwin Reyes said.

“It is our aspiration to provide suitable solutions to the varying needs of our clients and our Cash Agad POS Service is another example of the many benefits achieved through our synergistic partnership with Palawan Pawnshop,” he said.

Disaster resilience forum. DHL Supply Chain Philippines country managing director Suzie Mitchell makes a

strategic disaster management presentation during the 3rd Building Resilience Forum hosted by the Philippine Disaster Resilience Foundation, formerly the Philippine Disaster Recovery Foundation. The forum was followed by an inter-cluster coordination meeting for the PDRF disaster operations center with more than 40 companies participating. Other presentations were made by Pilipinas Shell country health, safety, security and environment (HSSE) manager Oliver Ortega, earthquakes and mkgacities initiative chairman Fouad Bendimand and Manila Observatory executive director Ma. Antonio Yulo-Loyzaga. PDRF is co-chaired by Cardinal Luis Antonio Tagle, Manuel Pangilinan and Jaime Augusto Zobel de Ayala.

M A N I L A B A N K E RS L I FE I N S U R A N C E CO R P O R AT I O N SY N O PS ES O F T H E A N N UA L S TAT E M E N T A s o f D e c e m b e r 31, 2 014 , 2 013 & 2 012 ADMITTED ASSETS

2 014

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P

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STO CK H O LD E RS’ EQ U I T Y C a p i t a l S to c k Pai d U p* C a p i t a l Pai d i n E xc e s s of Pa r Va lu e C o nt r i b ute d S ur p lu s C o nt i n g e n c y S ur p lu s Flu c t u at i o n Re s e r ve - B o n ds Flu c t u at i o n Re s e r ve - S to c ks Reva lu at i o n Re s e r ve - Re a l Est ate Ret ai n e d E a r ni n g s

175 ,0 0 0,0 0 0.0 0 175 ,0 0 0,0 0 0.0 0 4,6 87, 5 0 0.0 0 13 , 5 8 9, 3 4 0.0 0 13 , 5 8 9, 3 4 0.0 0 3 ,6 0 0,0 0 0.0 0 14 8 ,6 51,6 9 6 .0 0 412, 8 0 0.0 0 9 5 9, 8 9 0. 5 0 3 4,0 21,15 4. 8 4 7, 219,10 0.0 0 (12, 4 37,14 6 . 3 9) (152, 5 8 4, 24 3 . 8 0)

TOTA L STO CK H O LD E RS’ EQ U I T Y

P 2 5 0,07 7, 9 5 0. 0 5

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TOTA L L I A B I L I T I ES A N D STO CK H O LD E RS’ EQ U I T Y

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B4

EDC’s net income falls 43% to P5.9b

By Alena Mae S. Flores ENERGY Development Corp., the country’s largest renewable energy producer, said Wednesday consolidated recurring core income attributable to equity holders of the parent fell 10 percent in the first nine months to P7 billion from P7.8 billion a year ago.

EDC attributed the decline in core income to lower output of the 112.5-megawatt Tongonan geothermal power plant, resulting from the unplanned outage of a 37.5-MW unit early in 2015.

Higher operating expenses largely spent on typhoon resiliency works and the start of income tax payments of the Pantabangan Masiway hydro plants following the expiration of its income tax holiday in April 2014 also affected the core income.

EDC said including non-recurring items, consolidated net income attributable to equity holders of the parent or reported net income went down by 43 percent in the January-September period to P5.9 billion from P10.4 billion a year earlier.

“The decrease was primarily driven by higher foreign exchange losses of P1.2 billion [versus P0.2 billion last year] and the absence of any impairment reversals this year. Last year, the company recognized a P2-billion impairment reversal on its Northern Negros power plant,” it said.

EDC’s consolidated revenues increased 10 percent in the nine-month period to P25.3 billion from P23 billion recorded in the same period in 2014.

The company said the revenue growth was led higher energy sales coming from the newly rehabilitated Bacon-Manito geothermal power plants that contributed P1.2 billion and the recently commissioned Nasulo power plant that contributed an additional P600 million.

Voyager’s partner. Voyager Innovations Inc., the digital unit of PLDT and Smart Communications, teams up with finance technology com-

pany Cash Credit of Bulgaria to bring easier and more convenient consumer micro loans to mobile subscribers in the Philippines. Shown during the signing of the agreement are (from left) Voyager product manager Clarice Cruz-Ogena, chief operating officer Benjie Fernandez, founder Orlando Vea, PLDT-Smart Foundation executive director Esther Santos, PLDT chairman Manuel Pangilinan, Cash Credit founder and chief executive Georgi Krumov, co-founder and executive director Plamen Petrov, chief commercial officer Diana Krumova and Voyager vice president Lito Villanueva.

Economy expected to grow 5.5%—HSBC

By Julito G. Rada

HONGKONG and Shanghai Banking Corp., one of the world’s largest banks, said Wednesday the Philippines will continue to outperform other Asian countries, with a gross domestic product growth of 5.5 percent this year.

“The fundamentals of the economy remain strong… Even if the economy grows at 5 percent, it will remain one of the bright spots in the Asian region,” HSBC Asia-Pacific economist Joseph Incalcaterra said in a news briefing.

Incalcaterra said this year, the Philippine economy was poised to expand by 5.5 percent, lower than the government’s official tar-

get of 7 percent to 8 percent.

“If the economy grows by 5 percent, this is not a cause for concern [because of high base last year],” he said.

HSBC said in an earlier report the growth prospects for the Philippines remained bright, given the country’s indirect exposure to the Chinese economic slowdown and lower commodity prices.

HSBC cited the Philippines along with economic powerhouse Japan as two of the countries that could be less vulnerable to external shocks.

It said the Philippines’ outlook could be better than its neighboring countries in the region, such as Malaysia and Indonesia. It said commodity weakness hurt both countries, affecting their foreign exchange reserves and current account balances.

“By being close to China, both geographically and in terms of trade linkages, the downturn in Chinese data has hit sentiment.

Currencies have weakened and borrowing costs have risen, putting the sustainability of

the corporate sector at risk,” HSBC said.

It said the Philippines was one of the few emerging markets that were relatively unexposed to a slowdown in Chinese growth and lower commodity prices.

It said trade in goods played a small part in exports and so the same risks to growth did not exist.

Economic growth averaged 5.3 percent in the first half. The government vowed to accelerate fiscal spending in the remainder of the year to boost economic growth.

The Philippine economy grew by 6.1 percent in 2014, making it one of the fastest growing markets in the region.

Meanwhile, Incalcaterra said inflation would continue to be benign this year, even if a severe El Nino phenomenon happened. “Inflation will remain within the 2 to 4 percent target range of the Bangko Sentral this year,” he said.

Inflation in the first 10 months averaged 1.5 percent, below the official target of 2 percent to 4 percent.

Dubai company investing P250m to build clinics in PH

By Othel V. Campos ASTER DM Healthcare, a company based in Dubai, is investing P250 million to build at least five ambulatory clinics in the Philippines over the next 18 months.

Aster teamed up with local company Casam Holdings Inc. of businessman Sammy Lim to roll out the investment, beginning with an ambulatory clinic, which recently opened at St. Francis Square in Ortigas.

“We are building a network of ambulatory clinics to fill the gap in hospital and healthcare management. The Philippines is one of the countries with insufficient

healthcare facilities. We intend to provide service where it is needed,” Aster DM president and country manager Joyce Alumno said in news briefing at Oakwood Hotel in Mandaluyong City.

Aster has a 90-percent in the joint venture, while Casam Holdings has 10 percent.

“Aster would like to make the Philippines a medical center in Asia. We’ll set a new standard now in the industry and the others will have to upgrade. Aster have the most modern equipment in the whole of Asia,” said Lim. Aster DM is the largest healthcare network in the Gulf Cooperation Countries with over

290 establishments composed of a network of 14 hospitals, five medical centers, a medical university and nearly 145 pharmacies in India, the United Arab Emirates, Qatar and Oman.

The company said in the Philippines, it planned to penetrate places where there was a dearth of healthcare management and facilities.

Alumno said there were more hotel beds than hospital beds in the Philippines.

She said the Philippines had only 100,000 hospital beds for a population of nearly 102 million Filipinos, translating to a ratio of 1:1,000.

Philippines hotels have more than 200,000 beds for about 6 million foreign visitors and 45 million local tourists.

“This can be the reason why healthcare and health management in the Philippines hasn’t grown in previous years,” she said.

Alumno said the Aster had the capability to grow “because we have the system, the infrastructure is there. It’s a matter of duplicating them from one model to another,” she said.

Ambulatory clinics are healthcare facilities where patients walk in and walk out after treatment.

Minor surgeries can also be performed in these clinics.

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

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

World Bank report rankles Purisima FINANCE Secretary Cesar Purisima found the World Bank’s latest edition of Doing Business Report very unf lattering, prompting him to write a strong response and express his “grave concerns” on the lender’s scorecard.

He did not mince words in his strongly-worded letter dated Nov 5, 2015 to World Bank Group president Jim Yong Kim. Purisima set aside decorum and dispensed with preliminaries to point out the bank’s “inaccurate” report.

“I write to raise again the Philippines’ grave concerns on the World Bank’s Doing Business Report, the 2016 edition of which again brings to the fore its most glaring flaws and inconsistencies, doing member countries like the Philippines a great disservice by damaging investor perceptions while at the same time serving as an unhelpful and unreliable basis for further improvement,” Purisima said in the very first paragraph of his letter.

“The Philippines is keen to use competitiveness studies as tools for improvement, but reports like the Doing Business Report lose their utility and value if methodologies change almost yearly, and if they are inconsistent with majority of the other reports gauging improvement across a variety of indicators,” he added.

The Philippines lately slid six spots in the World Bank’s global ranking of countries in terms of ease of doing business this year. It ranked 103rd among 189 economies in this year’s survey, dropping six notches from last year’s 97th place. The World Bank said the drop was reflected in nine of the 10 indicators used to compute the index score.

Compared with most of Southeast Asian nations, the Philippines did a poor job in making the country an ideal investment location. Malaysia placed 18th in the global ranking; Thailand, 49th; Brunei, 84th; Vietnam, 90th; Indonesia, 109th; Cambodia, 127th; and Laos, 134th.

The report noted that the Philippines in terms of starting a business slipped eight spots from 157th in 2014 to 165th this year. “In starting a business, the Philippines falls among the lowest ranked countries at 165th. It takes 16 steps to do this in the country, which is higher than the average in the region,” says Roberto Galang, operations officer of International Finance Corp., the investment arm of the World Bank.

The Philippines’ latest poor rating on the ease of doing business came hardly as a surprise. Foreign and local businessmen have often complained about the cumbersome steps required in opening a business in this country, not to mention the corruption one has to deal with in various transactions. Just ask the big and small businessmen who have opened their business in Makati City, for instance, where even the city hall has an issue with the brand of fire extinguishers that must be installed in the business premises.

Erratic methodology Purisima, meanwhile, considered the World Bank report inaccurate and damaging. Excerpts from Purisima’s letter are as follow: “First, we question the accuracy of the report’s title, given that it only selects 1 or 2 cities as its sample. For the Philippines, the report collects sample data from Quezon City only, as the most populous city. It disregards the fact that countries like the Philippines have islands of excellence such as those operated by the Philippine Economic Zone Authority, which were precisely established in order for investors to easily do business in the Philippines.

“Apart from fiscal and non-fiscal incentives, businesses accredited to operate in these zones have simpler registration processes—evidence that the experience of doing business in the Philippines, or in any country for that matter, is never homogenous.

“A suggestion made was to rename the report “Doing Business Across Selected Cities,” but was not considered. Thus the report fails to provide an accurate representation of the country, and is misleading to foreign investors who inadvertently use the report in their decision-making.

“We reiterate the more troubling issue at hand: the report’s methodology is erratic and unsound. For one, the sample data collected is not empirical data but based on surveys, whose respondents may not be upto-date with reforms or active in the city under review. We have given the Doing Business team actual, empirical data to help them understand the procedures and regulations to the conduct of doing business in the sample city, but the Doing Business team discounted these.

“There is also an over-reliance of looking at legislation as evidence of reforms, when in fact most of the effective reforms done in the Philippines have been administrative and executive in nature, and do not even require Congressional or Presidential action.

“The report changes methodologies year after year, and ranks/scores are subsequently retroactively revised a year after publication. These changes are done unilaterally and retroactively, defeating the purpose of the report as a helpful benchmark for improvement, as the baseline measures keep shifting. Repeated changes in the numbers are not only confusing, they undermine the utility of the report as a basis or tool for improvement.”

Purisima gave a parting shot: “We are not alone in voicing critiques on the report. Many countries such as Malaysia, and even the private sector community in South Korea, have also expressed the same sentiment. Even the Independent Review Panel of the Doing Business Report in 2013 expressed serious concern on the fundamentals of the report.

With the chorus of criticism against the report’s conduct and methodology—we wonder why the World Bank has failed to respond to serve its members better.”

E-mail: rayenano@yahoo.com or business@thestandard.com.ph or extrastory2000@gmail.com

B5

SEC raises questions on merger of bourses

By Jenniffer B. Austria

THE Securities and Exchange Commission is not yet ready to give its nod on the merger of Philippine Stock Exchange and Philippine Dealing System & Holdings Corp. because it may undermine competition.

“It is really the issue of competition, especially since we have a new competition law. We are mindful that the unification of two exchanges might result in dominance by a single entity,” SEC chairman Teresita Herbosa said in a news briefing.

Herbosa said there should also be a timetable for the PSE to comply with the ownership requirement, as provided under the Securities Regulation Code.

Under the SRC, no single in-

dustry or business group should own more than 20 percent of an exchange. PSE is asking for an exemptive relief from the SEC regarding the rule.

Herbosa said the corporate regulator wanted to determine if the unification of the two exchanges would really benefit the public in terms investing in the capital markets.

“We cannot just give the license now and give conditions post-requirements. If

we are going full steam ahead of the unification of two exchanges, every thing should be in place before approval,” she said.

PSE has been waiting for SEC’s approval for the merger of the two exchanges, after the bourse signed share purchase agreements with major shareholders of PDSHC, including Bankers Association of the Philippines and Finex Research and Development Foundation Inc. Closing date for the agreements was targeted not later than Nov. 27, 2015.

The SPAs are subject to SEC approval.

PSE president Hans Sicat last month said he expected PSE to acquire as much 95-percent stake in PDSHC, the operator of the country’s markets for fixedincome securities and foreign exchange.

Shinhan Bank opening.

Trade Undersecretary for industry promotion Ponciano Manalo Jr. (left) congratulates Shinhan Bank president and chief executive Cho Yong-byoung during the opening ceremony of Shinhan Bank Manila Branch at Makati Shangri-La. Manalo is optimistic that the presence of Shinhan Bank in the Philippines will facilitate expansion of existing Korean companies and attract more Korean firms to set up their operations in the country.

Sweetened beverage tax to hurt the poor

By Gabrielle H. Binaday THE Beverage Industry Association of the Philippines said Wednesday a bill proposing a 10-percent ad valorem tax on sweetened beverages, including softdrinks, juice drinks and instant coffee would hurt ordinary consumers.

BIAP described House Bill 3365, which was approved by the House ways and means committee, as “anti-poor” and “antibusiness.”

“We also believe that these fiscal initiatives must be fair, sustainable and holistic. Tax measures that simply trade one form of revenue for another do not and will not address the problems of fiscal reform,” BIAP said in a statement.

Under the proposed bill, an ad-

ditional 10-percent ad valorem tax will increase taxes already slapped on sweetened beverages.

“To impose a tax on soft drinks and other sweetened beverages like powdered juice drinks, threein-one coffee, and ready-to-drink juice is taking away this power [to plow back into the broader economy through spending on goods and services] from the Filipino consumer,” BIAP said.

“This additional tax on basic goods and products commonly purchased by majority of Filipinos, particularly those in the lower socio-economic classes will make items like coffee, juice and soft drinks more expensive for ordinary consumers,” the group said.

It said HB 3365 “exempts 100-percent pure and natural fruit and vegetable juices, 100-percent pure or fresh milk,

all milk products and alternatives as well as yogurt and yogurt beverages—all products typically positioned in the premium market and consumed by more affluent consumers.”

BIAP said the proposed bill put the burden of taxation on commodities consumed by middle, lowermiddle and lower-income classes.

“We understand the need to offset the estimated revenue loss from income tax reform, but to do so in the form of a new commodity tax on consumer goods like sweetened beverages is antipoor and goes against the very spirit of income tax reform,” BIAP said.

The Finance Department earlier said the government would raise additional P10 billion in annual revenues from taxed sweetened beverages.

B6

THURSDAY: NOVEMBER 12, 2015

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

Filinvest Land earns P3.24b DoST programs not making a difference IT IS almost certainly correct to say that of the approximately 25 Cabinetrank agencies of the government, the Department of Science and Technology is one of the most low-key. Rarely does DoST figure in the headlines and the TV evening newscasts, and the only DoST component that the average Filipino gets to hear or read about is Pagasa.

This is regrettable and incomprehensible, considering that science and technology—more precisely research and development—should be in the forefront of government economic-related activity. If First World countries continue to budget enormous amounts for R&D, Third World countries, which have much catching up to do, need to financially support R&D activities to an even greater extent. Some First World countries devote as much as 6 percent of their gross domestic product to R&D; by contrast the Philippines devotes less than 2 percent, one of the lowest percentages in Asean.

There is an intimate connection between resource availability and performance. It is a well-known fact that the government has only so much money to divide among the myriad of important public-sector operations. But it is also true that the fiscal authorities would probably be inclined to give DoST a bigger share of the General Appropriations Act if they could see a greater stream of substantive results from that Department’s activities. Unfortunately this appears to not have been the case. Apart from the operations of PAGASA—as well as the activities of the institutes devoted to the mining and textile industries—DoST has not been reported as providing results that measure up to the executive and legislative steps taken to enable DoST to play a more meaningful role in Philippine economic development. These include Executive Order No. 128 of January 1987 and the Inventors and Investment Incentives Act (RA No. 7459).

In line with the mandate of RA No. 7459, DoST established TAPI (Technology Application and Promotion Institute) I doubt very much if many readers of this column knew of TAPI’s existence. I certainly did not.

Did you, dear readers, know that TAPI is divided into three divisions bearing the initials TIPD (Technology Information and Promotion Division), IBOD (Investment and Business Operations Division) and IDD (Investment Development Division)? Again I say that I did not. Nor had I heard or read about the operations and results of these TAPI entities.

TIPD has established two centers—Business Assistance Center and Technology Training Center—and maintains programs concerned with technology-based enterprise development, institutional support for trade and exhibitions, and prototype development assistance.

IBOD maintains programs relating to venture financing, technology-based enterprise development, agricultural productivity enhancement, manufacturing productivity extension and S&T exports volunteer pooling.

The third TAPI division, IDD, concerns itself with intellectual property rights assistance, tax and duty exemption assistance, invention testing analysis assistance, travel assistance for inventors, school inventing and invention guaranteeing.

This is a very broad and an exceedingly ambitious program for a single institute, public or private. TAPI has taken upon itself a very heavy workload.

To repeat, I had not previously heard of TAPI, its divisions and its programs. Perhaps I have been sleeping. Or—and this is probably the reality—TAPI has not been living up to the expectations of those who legislated it into existence. It has not made a difference to this country’s economic development. Things don’t look good for DoST and its leadership.

The next time the members of Congress examine DOST’s budget, I suggest that they ask the Secretary of Science and Technology searching questions about the effectiveness of the GAA allocation for his department. If DoST continues to be underperforming, it will remain a low-priority part of the government. That would be a grave mistake, considering the vast amount of R&D work that remains to be done.

Shape up, Mr. Secretary. Start with a good look at TAPI. E-mail: rudyromero777@yahoo.com

By Jenniffer B. Austria

FILINVEST Land Inc., the real estate unit of the Gotianun Group, said net income in the first nine months of the year rose 12 percent to P3.24 billion from P2.89 billion year-on-year on higher residential sales and rental income.

Filinvest Land said in a disclosure to the stock exchange consolidated revenues increased eight percent to P12.71 billion from P11.82 billion on-year, as real estate sales climbed seven percent to P9.75 billion, while revenues from rental assets rose eight percent to P1.8 billion “We expect FLI’s growth to be sustained as we execute our plans for the residential sales business as well as the recurring income business. We will continue to provide a wide range of housing products that range from house and lots, mid-rise building units and select high rise building units to cater to the different needs of home buyers in different locations across the country,” FLI president

and chief executive Josephine Gotianun-Yap said.

“We are also on track with our plans to triple the GLA of our rental assets by the end of 2019,” she added.

Filinvest Land operates 14 buildings in Northgate Cyberzone and one on EDSA in Mandaluyong, all fully occupied.

Cyberzone Cebu Tower 1 with a gross leasable area of 20,000 square meters is in the final completion stage and will start generating revenues by the fourth quarter of 2015.

Two additional buildings with a combined area of 48,000 square meters at the Northgate Cyberzone are slated to start operations in the next few months and are

already being pre-leased.

Filinvest Land’s office rental portfolio will increase to 275,000 square meters by the end of this year.

For its residential business,Filinvest Land said it would continue to launch projects addressing the needs of its core market, which are the first time home buyers and ultimate end-users.

Among the projects in the pipeline are a 10.5-hectare premier housing development in Daang Hari; a 4.3-hectare affordable housing development in Subabasbas, Lapu-lapu City in Cebu; and a mixed-used development along on EDSA near the GMAKamuning MRT station in Quezon City called Studio 7 Filinvest Land is also expanding its retail rental space portfolio.

Among the planned retail developments are the Fora Mall, which will have 32,000 square meters of mall space in Tagaytay City, and the 36,000 square meter Il Corso Mall, a seaside lifestyle mall in City di Mare, a township development at the South Road Properties in Cebu.

SSS campaign. The Social Security System and the Quezon City office of the Vice Mayor, lead the 2nd Grand Launching of AlkanSSSya Program at the Quezon City Memorial Circle Basketball Court on October 9. The event highlights include the awarding of AlkanSSSya units to two tricycle operators and drivers associations and a group of job order and contractual workers from a local government unit covered by the SSS Commonwealth branch. Shown are SSS Commonwealth branch head Liberty Gordovez (second row, seventh from right) and officials and members during the turnover of the AlkanSSSya unit by SSS president and chief executive Emilio de Quiros Jr. (third row, third from left) and Quezon City Vice Mayor Joy Belmonte (second row, seventh from left).

MNTC honors bus, trucking companies MANILA North Tollways Corp., the concessionaire of the North Luzon Expressway, recognized this year’s awardees of the NLEXcellence Safety Awards from the bus and trucking companies.

A total of 15 companies that showed exemplary performance in ensuring road safety were honored in an awards night Wednesday at The Manila Hotel. MNTC also inducted one company to the Hall of Fame, and also featured a company from their roster of companies in the Hall of Fame.

The NLEXcellence Safety Awards, launched in 2013, is accorded as a “seal of honor” to companies who share MNTC’s best practices in road safety. It first started as a simple Appreciation Night for bus and truck

companies who are heavy users of the NLEX back in 2007. It was the cornerstone activity to develop meaningful ties with MNTC’s key customers.

“From the time we began the NLEXcellence Safety Awards, we have set our sights to make it a benchmark recognition that gives credence to companies that are committed to road safety, “ said MNTC vice president for marketing Renato Ticzon.

“Being an NLEXcellence awardee singles them out as role models for other companies to emulate when it comes to best practices in company operations in general and road safety in particular,” Ticzon added.

The 15 awardees, who were announced at the awards night,

were chosen from over 40 nominees. “They exemplify the culture of safety that we want ingrained among NLEX motorists,” said Ticzon.

MNTC president Rodrigo Franco said safety was part of MNTC’s culture. “Aside from safe infrastructure, the features of the road, as well as the pleasant but firm enforcement of traffic rules and regulations are all intended to promote road safety,” he said.

While MNTC provided all the safety features along NLEx, “we expect motorists, particularly truck and bus drivers using the NLEx, to do their part for road safety. Safety is a basic need, and at the end of the day, what we want is to come home to our families safe,” Franco added.

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WORLD

cesar barrioquinto EDITOR

editorial@thestandard.com.ph

B7

China in online buying spree BEIJING—Shoppers spent around $9 billion in the first 12 hours of China’s “Singles Day” sale on Wednesday, e-commerce giant Alibaba said, in the world’s biggest online shopping day.

The total gross merchandise volume, a measure of sales, matched the 2014 US dollar total of $9.3 billion just after 12:30 pm (0430 GMT), after the promotion began at midnight.

“The 2015 sale has eclipsed last

year’s final results in a little over half the time,” it said.

In an earlier release Alibaba’s chief executive officer Daniel Zhang said: “The whole world will witness the power of Chinese consumption this November 11.”

“Singles Day” is not a traditional Chinese festival, but Alibaba has been pushing November 11―11/11 being a date heavy on ones―since 2009 as it looks to tap an expanding army of Internet shoppers in China, which has the world’s biggest online population of 668 million.

At first it was marketed as an “anti-Valentine’s Day”, featuring hefty discounts to lure the country’s singletons and pricesensitive buyers.

Onstage. Bridgette Tatum and Kalisa Ewing perform during “Songwriters 4 Songwriters-Ladies’ Night,” a fundraiser to benefit The Pen Fund at 3rd and Lindsley on November 10, 2015, in Nashville, Tennessee. AFP

Club fire toll climbs to 50 BUCHAREST—Four more people have died of injuries sustained in a devastating nightclub blaze in Romania, taking the toll in the inferno that brought down the government to 50, hospital sources said Wednesday.

Two of the four latest victims of the October 30 fire at a Bucharest club had been undergoing treatment in Britain, where they were transferred at the weekend.

The other two were in hospital in Romania.

Colectiv nightclub was packed with revelers attending a rock concert when fireworks were let off, triggering a blaze and a stampede.

Twenty-six people died on the spot, with another 200 suffering injuries.

Around a dozen people were still listed in critical condition in Romanian hospitals Tuesday. More than 30 others have been flown abroad for treatment. AFP

With sales hitting new highs year after year, “Singles Day” has become a lucrative business opportunity embraced by all online retailers in China, with competition between them turning increasingly fierce.

The event has received vocal support from the government at a time when China’s economic expansion is slowing and Beijing is trying to transform the growth model into a more sustainable one driven by consumption.

Chinese Premier Li Keqiang’s office phoned Alibaba chairman Jack Ma hours ahead of the promotion kicking off, “congratulating and encouraging the creation and achievement of the 11.11 event”, said a posting on a social media account of Tmall, the group’s business-to-consumer arm.

Chinese Internet users showed off their acquisitions Wednesday —with many lamenting that they had spent far too much money.

“I can only afford to eat dirt for the next half year,” said a user on the Twitter-like Sina Weibo, with an attached screengrab of a Taobao app showing she had bought 42 items.

But some consumers also expressed concerns about fake products.

“Good luck. Hope you guys will not get phoney products or things that turn out to be useless,” said a Weibo user.

Headquartered in the eastern city of Hangzhou, Alibaba does

Republic of the Philippines Office of the President NATIONAL IRRIGATION ADMINISTRATION (PAMBANSANG PANGASIWAAN NG PATUBIG) Region 3

Republic of the Philippines Office of the President NATIONAL IRRIGATION ADMINISTRATION (PAMBANSANG PANGASIWAAN NG PATUBIG) Region 3

Bulacan-Aurora-Nueva Ecija Irrigation Management Office

Office Address: Telephone Nos. Email Address:

Tambubong, San Rafael, Bulacan (044) 766-3888/766-4142/766-0157/766-3524 niabaneimoafs@yahoo.com

Telefax No. (044) 766-3888 TIN 000-578-009-000

Bulacan-Aurora-Nueva Ecija Irrigation Management Office

Office Address: Telephone Nos. Email Address:

INVITATION to BID

ITB No. R3-BANE-RRENIS 2015 – BU-38 AMRIS Lateral D WS#2, Pandi, Bulacan. The approved Budget for the Contract (ABC) is P 4,834,790.71 with contract duration of 60 calendar days. Bid Documents cost 5,000.00 ITB No. R3-BANE-RRENIS 2015 – BU-39 Maasim RIS San Rafael & San Ildefonso, Bulacan and Candaba, Pampanga. The approved Budget for the Contract (ABC) is P 9,549,686.39 with contract duration of 90 calendar days. Bid Documents cost P 10,000.00 ITB No. R3-BANE-RRENIS 2015 – BU-40 Lower Maasim RIS – Improvement of NMC – LMD#1 @ WS#7 Candaba, Pampanga. The approved Budget for the Contract (ABC) is P 9,376,302.92 with contract duration of 90 calendar days. Bid Documents cost P 10,000.00 ITB No. R3-BANE-RRENIS 2015 – BU-41 AMRIS, Lateral 1-D and Sto. Niño Drainage/ Canal San Luis, Pampanga.The approved Budget for the Contract (ABC) is P 9,637,284.26 with contract duration of 60 calendar days. Bid Documents cost P 10,000.00 ITB No. R3-BANE-RRENIS 2015 – BU-42 Angat RIS (AMRIS NMC) San Rafael, Bulacan.

The approved Budget for the Contract (ABC) is P 6,788,244.21 with contract duration of 90 calendar days. Bid Documents cost P 7,000.00 ITB No. R3-BANE-RRENIS 2015 – AU-43 AMRO RIS, Casiguran, Aurora. The approved Budget for the Contract (ABC) is P 5,146,253.75 with contract duration of 120 calendar days. Bid Documents cost P 6,000.00 Interested bidders must have experience in undertaking similar project within the last three (3) years with an amount of at least 50% of the proposed project for bidding.

Any bid above the ABC as stated above each ITB shall be rejected outright.

Issuance of Bid Documents; (upon payment of non-refundable amount as stated above each ITB)

November 12, 2015 @ 10:00 AM NIA BANE, Tambubong, San Rafael, Bulacan

Schedule of Activities; NIA, BANE IMO

Pre-Bidding November 17, 2015

Submission/ Opening of Bids December 1, 2015

ITB No. R3-BANE-RRENIS-2015-BU-38 ITB No. R3-BANE-RRENIS-2015-BU-39 ITB No. R3-BANE-RRENIS-2015-BU-40

9:00 AM 10:00 AM 11:00 AM

1:00 PM 2:00 PM 3:30 PM

ITB No. R3-BANE-RRENIS-2015-BU-41 ITB No. R3-BANE-RRENIS-2015-BU-42 ITB No. R3-BANE-RRENIS-2015-AU-43

November 17, 2015

December 2, 2015

1:00 PM 2:00 PM 3:00 PM

1:00 PM 2:00 PM 3:30 PM

The NIA-BANE IMO assumes no responsibility whatsoever to compensate or indemnify bidders for any expenses incurred in the preparation of bids. Also, NIA reserves the right to reject any or all bids at any time prior to award, waive any defects therein and to declare the bidding a failure for whatever reasons it may deem appropriate.

(TS-NOV. 12, 2015)

SGD.ROBERTO J. DELA CRUZ BAC Chairman

Tambubong, San Rafael, Bulacan (044) 766-3888/766-4142/766-0157/766-3524 niabaneimoafs@yahoo.com

Telefax No. (044) 766-3888 TIN 000-578-009-000

INVITATION to BID

November 6, 2015 The National Irrigation Administration (NIA) Bulacan-Aurora-Nueva Ecija Irrigation Management Office (BANE IMO) Tambubong, San Rafael, Bulacan, through its Bids and Award Committee (BAC), invites Contractors to bid for:

not sell products directly but acts as an electronic middleman, operating China’s most popular consumer-to-consumer platform, Taobao, which is estimated to hold more than 90 percent of the market.

Nasdaq-listed rival online marketplace JD.com reportedly filed a complaint with the government last week, accusing Alibaba of monopolising the market by restricting suppliers from participating in other operators’ promotion events on November 11.

But Alibaba listed on the New York Stock Exchange―shrugged off the allegations, asserting that it owns the “Singles Day” brand.

“Today the chicken reported on the duck, accusing the duck of monopolizing the lake,” said a spokeswoman for Alibaba’s promotional event, according to Chinese media report.

Ahead of the shopping spree, Alibaba mounted a television spectacular at Beijing’s Water Cube Olympic swimming venue, featuring Chinese and foreign celebrities including James Bond actor Daniel Craig, and Hollywood star Kevin Spacey in his role as President Frank Underwood from the Netflix series “House of Cards”.

In comparison with Singles Day, desktop sales for the five days from Thanksgiving through Cyber Monday in the United States last year stood at $6.56 billion, according to Internet analytics firm comScore. AFP

November 9,

2015

The National Irrigation Administration (NIA) Bulacan-Aurora-Nueva Ecija Irrigation Management Office (BANE IMO) Tambubong, San Rafael, Bulacan, through its Bids and Award Committee (BAC), invites Contractors to bid for: ITB No. R3-BANE-RRENIS 2015 – BU-44 Improvement of North Main Canal I and Various Irrigation Facilities, Pulilan, Bulacan.

The approved Budget for the Contract (ABC) is P 18,915,599.97 with contract duration of 120 calendar days. Bid Documents cost P 20,000.00 Interested bidders must have experience in undertaking similar project within the last three (3) years with an amount of at least 50% of the proposed project for bidding.

Any bid above the ABC as stated above each ITB shall be rejected outright.

Issuance of Bid Documents; November 12, 2015 @ 10:00 AM (upon payment of non-refundable NIA BANE, Tambubong, San amount as stated above each ITB) Rafael, Bulacan Schedule of Activities; NIA, BANE IMO ITB No. R3-BANE2015-RRENIS-BU-44

Pre-Bidding November 18, 2015 9:00 AM

Submission/ Opening of Bids December 3, 2015 1:00 PM

The NIA-BANE IMO assumes no responsibility whatsoever to compensate or indemnify bidders for any expenses incurred in the preparation of bids. Also, NIA reserves the right to reject any or all bids at any time prior to award, waive any defects therein and to declare the bidding a failure for whatever reasons it may deem appropriate.

SGD.ROBERTO J. DELA CRUZ BAC Chairman (TS-NOV. 12, 2015)

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B8 AB InBev takes over SABMiller for $121b LONDON—The world’s biggest brewer Anheuser-Busch InBev said Wednesday it has reached a formal agreement on a mega-takeover of its nearest rival, Britain’s SABMiller, for $121 billion (112 billion euros) including debt.

After a long-running saga, the giant behind top lager brands like Beck’s, Budweiser and Stella Artois has finally agreed on the terms to buy the London-listed maker of Foster’s, Miller Genuine Draft and Peroni, the pair said in a statement.

InBev will pay 44 pounds per share for SABMiller, which has also agreed to sell its stake in US unit MillerCoors for $12 billion to Molson Coors as part of the deal, in a move aimed at winning regulatory approval.

“The boards of Anheuser-Busch InBev and SABMiller are pleased to announce that they have reached agreement on the terms of a recommended acquisition of the entire issued and to be issued share capital of SABMiller by AB InBev,” the statement read.

The transaction is expected to complete in the second half of 2016, subject to shareholder and regulatory approvals.

The blockbuster deal is the world’s third biggest takeover in corporate history, according to financial information provider Dealogic, and is also the largest ever takeover of a British firm.

InBev, which also brews Hoegaarden and Leffe beers, added that the takeover will “create a truly global brewer, drawing on a similar heritage and shared passion for brewing and commitment to quality”.

The transaction will also “strengthen AB InBev’s position in key emerging regions with strong growth prospects such as Asia, Central and South America, and Africa”, it said.

The group is meanwhile targeting annual efficiency savings of at least $1.4 billion, stoking fears of job losses.

The two brewing giants had already agreed in principle last month on the 44-per-share deal that will see Belgian-Brazilian behemoth AB InBev swallow its closest rival. AFP

cEsAr BArriOquiNtO EDITOR

editorial@thestandard.com.ph

world Suu Kyi calls for dialog with Myanmar military YANGON—Aung San Suu Kyi called for “national reconciliation” talks with Myanmar’s president and the nation’s powerful army chief on Wednesday as her pro-democracy party stood poised for a landslide election victory.

Remembrance service. Australian Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull and wife Lucy Turnbull look on during a remembrance service attended by Britain’s Prince Charles and Camilla, Duchess of Cambridge, at the Australian War Memorial in Canberra on November 11, 2015. Armistice Day is observed on November 11, the anniversary of the 1918 signing of the peace that ended fighting in World War I. AFP

Power beckons for her National League for Democracy or NLD party after it took nearly 90 percent of the seats declared so far.

Although poll officials are yet to announce the NLD as winners, Myanmar’s balance of power, dominated for half a century by the army and its allies, appears set to be redrawn.

But Suu Kyi’s supporters remain anxious at how the army will respond to a mauling at the polls, with memories still keen of the 1990 election won by the NLD but then swatted away by the army.

“Citizens have expressed their will in the election,” she said in letters addressed to President Thein Sein, Commander-in-Chief Min Aung Hlaing as well as influential parliamentary speaker Shwe Mann.

“I would like to invite you to discuss national reconciliation next week at a time of your convenience.”

The letters, shared by the NLD on Facebook, come as her democracy movement continued its blitz of ruling party bases following Sunday’s poll.

Thein Sein has agreed to a meeting once the official election results are announced, the country’s Information Minister said on Wednesday afternoon.

Suu Kyi’s early move to reach out to the army and its political allies shows willingness to work with her former captors who kept her under house arrest for 15 years to cut through Myanmar’s tangled politics.

Analysts say difficult months lie ahead, with the army-scripted constitution gifting the military 25 percent of all parliamentary seats and key security posts.

The document also blocks the 70-year-old Suu Kyi from becoming president despite her position as the democracy movement’s magnetic force.

On Wednesday, election officials said the NLD took its haul to 163 of the 182 seats declared so far across the lower and upper houses.

Suu Kyi retained her seat in Kawhmu constituency.

The NLD needs 67 percent of the contested seats to form a majority. But it is eyeing a much bigger margin—and greater clout inside the new parliament. AFP

Japan’s first passenger jet in test flight NAGOYA—Japan’s first passenger jet made its maiden test flight Wednesday, a landmark in a decadelong program to launch the plane aimed at competing with Brazilian and Canadian rivals in the global market for smaller aircraft.

About half a century after the last Japanese-made commercial plane took to the skies, the Mitsubishi Regional Jet (MRJ), painted with dark blue, red and beige stripes, took off from Nagoya airport under clear skies for a 90-minute trip.

After being barred from developing aircraft following World War II, Japan―and its MRJ jet―is

competing with other regional passenger jet manufacturers such as Brazil’s Embraer and Canada’s Bombardier.

Hiromichi Morimoto, president of Mitsubishi Aircraft Corp.—a subsidiary of Mitsubishi Heavy Industries—voiced his delight and relief at the successful flight.

“We were able to see the beautiful fuselage of the MRJ taking off into the sunny autumn sky,” he told a press conference.

“The fact that I was able to see that with you, as someone who was involved in its development, there is no greater joy.”

Its pilot also praised the jet.

“The operation performance of the MRJ was far better than expected,” Yoshiyuki Yasumura said, according to a Mitsubishi Aircraft release.

“We had a significantly comfortable flight.”

The two-engine MRJ marks a new chapter for Japan’s aviation sector, which last built a commercial airliner in 1962 -- the YS-11 turboprop that was discontinued about a decade later.

The MRJ is approximately 115feet long, has a pointed nose and will seat about 80 passengers. AFP

Caring for the disabled. This handout picture received on November 11, 2015, and taken by Japan’s Kyoto University associate professor Michio Nakamura in 2011 shows a female chimpanzee holding her disabled sister’s baby chimpanzee in her arms at the Mahale Mountains National Park in Tanzania. AFP

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TATUM ANCHETA EDITOR

BING PAREL

A S S O C I AT E E D I T O R

BERNADETTE LUNAS WRITER

life @ thestandard.com .ph

@LIFEatStandard

W EL L BEING

LIFE

The 44th annual New York City Marathon last November 1.

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PHOTO COURTESY OF F11PHOTO / SHUTTERSTOCK.COM

SEVEN THINGS I LEARNED RUNNING THE NEW YORK CITY MARATHON

BY SARA BLACK

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lmost 55,000 marathoners from 139 countries ran through the five boroughs of New York City during the 44th annual New York City Marathon last November 1. New York is one of the most difficult courses among the four major marathons (including London, Boston, and Berlin) because of the inclines on its bridges.

At least 131 Filipinos ran the NYM, and it was a privilege for me to run this as my first marathon. Your slot in the NYM is determined through a lottery system; many sign up but only a few can be accommodated.

For me, it was a life-changing experience.

HERE’S WHAT I LEARNED FROM RUNNING THE NYM:

1. Have fun, even in the most difficult of situations. Forty-two kilometers is no easy task but New Yorkers knew how to dish it to us in style. There were bands playing from all genres of music – jazz,

The author was all smiles while braving the 42k distance

hip-hop, soul, blues, pop, rock – you name it. There were people with banners like “Smile, if you peed a little,” and “Press this mushroom to power up (alluding to Mario Bros.).”

2. Be joyful, even when in pain! I was literally smiling through the whole course except for the last 5-km when I really had to dig deep to make my target time of five hours (I clocked in at five hours one minute).

Aside from the amusing entertainment we runners got from the crowd, what really plastered that smile on my face was this immense sense of gratitude that I am running this 42-km right here, right now, in New York City, one of the most coveted marathons in the world.

3. The human connection is priceless. There were so many moments when I thought to myself, “No more, I don’t think I can take another step,” but thanks to the ironon print of my name I had on my shirt (a veteran’s suggestion), the crowd kept cheering me on and chanting my name. To see and hear complete strangers wanting to see you succeed in your goal is a feeling that left me in pure awe. The solidarity felt like a mass prayer.

4. Energy ebbs and flows. There are times when you can let others ignite your energy as the crowd did to us; and there are times when you need to create it to propel yourself forward. When the crowd was thick and crazy I found my pace very much accelerated with no effort; when there was no crowd, like on the difficult bridges, my

The author’s victory photo op

Finisher- the fruit of all the training and hard work

pace slowed down and I had to dig deep within me to push forward.

given this body as a gift, in this lifetime, and I want to use it to expand myself.

5. Life’s a journey, not a destination. I’ve been running for over a year, but the four months of intense training leading up to the marathon changed my life for the better. I was never an athletic person and this marathon allowed me to find that inner athlete in myself. It is a very empowering experience to know with certainty that you have immense command over your body.

When you exercise it regularly, nourish it with the proper food and nurture it with love, your body can take you to heights you have never known before. I came to the concrete understanding that I was

6. Let your spirit run free. For me, the marathon was also a spiritual exercise. The journey allowed me to experience freedom from all the blocks that told me I can’t do it. I came to the conclusion, that should I choose, I can live a life more and more without limits.

I am limitless, abundant and eternal.

7. Be an inspiration to others. If you saw the way the crowd looked at us runners, your heart would be full. They gave us that I-wanna-be-like-you-some-day look.

And guess, what? You can be. Get up and let’s run!

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LIFE life @ thestandard.com .ph

@LIFEatStandard

HEALTH BULLETIN THE HEART DISEASE THAT SILENTLY KILLS

Unlike rheumatic and congenital heart diseases, aortic aneurysm – despite its fatal consequences – is not commonly known and discussed. And often, people who have this cardiovascular illness do not know about it until it’s too late.

According to the medical professionals of the Aortic Endovascular Unit at the Heart Institute of the Chinese General Hospital and Medical Center, the number of Filipinos at risk of aortic aneurysms continuously increases but the awareness on it remains low.

There are two kinds of aortic aneurysms: Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm or AAA, which occurs in the abdominal area, and Thoracic Aortic Aneurysm or TAA, which happens in the chest area. The condition develops when the wall of the aorta deteriorates and weakens due to cholesterol deposits. The main artery then enlarges and becomes thinner, thus becoming vulnerable to rupture.

Aneurysms can develop quietly and slowly over the years, usually without symptoms, until the aorta begins to leak or expand to 6-cm in diameter. Without warning, it can rupture and cause death.

Aortic aneurysms have a near 50 percent fatality rate upon rupture.

This raises the urgency for screening, especially for those who have hypertension, high level of cholesterol, existing clogged arteries, history of the condition in the family and lead a sedentary lifestyle. “If one has any of these risk factors, he or she is a candidate and is advised to get a diagnosis through vascular screening,” urges Dr. Timothy Dy. Those who who test positive for the disease should go through Endovascular Aneurysm Repair (EVAR) for abdominal aneurysms, or Thoracic Endovascular Aortic Repair (TEVAR) – and both procedures are available at CGHMC. While aortic aneurysms are generally asymptomatic, there are signs that may hint of this such as: hoarseness, difficulty swallowing, pain in the chest, back, side for TAA or stomach with pain ranging from mild to severe for AAA. The experts, however, assert that no two cases are alike and stress the need for proper screening. “There are cases where the aneurysm is small and can be addressed with monitoring, medication, and with the patient choosing an overall healthy lifestyle. Earlier diagnosis is still the optimal course of action,” reiterates Dr. Dy.

LOSING WEIGHT IS MORE FUN WHEN DONE WITH FRIENDS

They say one of the effective ways to truly lose weight and commit to your plan is to tell your friends about it so you’ll feel accountable. Support from people close to you will also strengthen your resolve to stick with your goal. But wouldn’t it be more fun if you actually have people who will join you on your journey?

BodyKey by Nutrilite, a weight management program from Amway, is calling groups of four friends to participate in the 60-day weight management challenge. The prizes?

Losing those pesky extra pounds and an all-expenses paid luxury cruise to China, Japan and Korea.

BodyKey by Nutrilite is a personalized weight loss program. It starts with an extensive assessment and follows with a recommendation of meal plans based on nutrition guidelines endorsed by the

Nutrilite Health Institute and exercise strategies. To jumpstart your weight loss, the program also comes with scientifically formulated meal replacement shakes in chocolate or vanilla flavors, Nutrilite All Plant Protein Powder, Nutrilite Nutri Fiber Blend Chewable Tablets and Nutrilite Double X (31-Day Supply).

Those who will avail the program and interested to take the challenge only need to share their story. The team that shows the most dramatic results wins a six-day luxury cruise. Other prizes include iPad minis for the 1st runners up, and iPod touch units for the 2nd runners up.

Registration is open until November 30, 2015. For more details on the contest mechanics and criteria, go to: http:// www.bodykey.ph/en_us/get-started/ challenge-activities.html

5 MYTHS AND FACTS ABOUT DIABETES

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iabetes has become one of the leading chronic diseases in the world as well as here in the Philippines. In fact, the World Health Organization reveals that our country is one of the world’s emerging hotspots of the metabolic condition. Proof is the 2012 survey of the Philippine Council for Research and Development Library which found that 11 million Filipino adults had diabetes or pre-diabetes.

Diabetes is a serious, life-long condition with grave consequences such as blindness or diabetic retinopathy, foot amputation due to nerve damage, kidney failure and cardiovascular diseases. However, there are many misconceptions regarding the disease that only make people misinformed and paranoid. Hence, Dr. Nicky Montoya of MediCard Philippines sets the record straight.

MYTH: Diabetes is caused by eating too much sugar.

FACT: Not directly. Drinking sugary drinks such as sodas has been linked to excess weight and people with excess weight or have 23 and up BMI (body mass index) are at risk of developing diabetes.

However, it is not yet proven that too much sugar in itself causes the disease.

bad source for carbohydrates. But carbohydrates, broken down into glucose, are the body’s primary source of energy and total restriction will result in complications. The key is to get the right amount of carbohydrates by consuming the right amount of its food source.

If you can’t give up rice, opt for brown or black rice instead.

Diabetics should never consume alcoholic drinks.

FACT: One drink a week is fine. People diagnosed with the disease are advised against drinking alcohol since it may lead to a major drop in blood sugar. But several studies posit that one drink is allowed once week, depending on one’s health condition.

Women with diabetes should not get pregnant.

FACT: Women who manage their diabetes well can have a normal pregnancy and give birth to a healthy baby. It is, however, crucial for the expectant mother to keep her blood glucose within the target range, before she becomes pregnant and during pregnancy to avoid long-term diabetes problems for the mother and birth defects for the infant.

MYTH:

People with diabetes should not eat rice.

FACT: Rice, especially the white variant, is avoided because it’s tagged as a MYTH:

MYTH:

Diabetics cannot donate blood.

Diabetics are eligible to donate blood as long as their sugar level is controlled, are in good health, their blood pressure is below 180/100, and are not anemic. On the day of the blood donation, they need to eat an adequate meal, drink extra fluids, and avoid drinking caffeinated beverages.

MYTH: FACT:

People with diabetes are not recommended to eat white rice

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LIFE life @ thestandard.com .ph

Samsung Electronics Philippines’ Corporate Marketing Head Chad Sotelo with PhilCare CEO & President, Noemi Azura

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@LIFEatStandard

During the media launch of PhilCare’s NFC-capable membership cards

Hospitals and clinics can now determine coverage and benefits of a member, as well as other details of the member’s account via a single tap.

PhilCare and Samsung revolutionize healthcare availment with NFC cards

ining up for clinic services gets really tedious with all the waiting, processing, and requesting numerous letters before getting medical services. Health care provider PhilCare has partnered with Samsung Electronics Philippines Co. to create a faster and more efficient availment of healthcare services with the use of NFCcapable membership cards.

NFC is a radio frequency technology that allows a reader device and a storage device to send and receive information via brief contact.

Close to paperless – PhilCare membership cards simply need to be tapped on Samsung devices to ensure the secure transfer of data. Hospitals and clinics can now determine coverage and benefits of a member, as well as other details of the member’s account via a single tap. NFCpowered PhilCare cards can be handed over to any of the 200 service providers of PhilCare and members can use it as long as they have an NFC-capable phone from Samsung.

“We are proud to introduce this new technology to the HMO industry. We’ve been

PhilCare’s NFC-capable membership cards

looking for the best technology to make medical services smoother and more convenient for our clients and providers and NFC seems to be the perfect fit for this goal,” says Noemi Azura, CEO and president of PhilCare.

Samsung smartphones have long been equipped with NFC technology which is widely used by banks, retail, transport, and service providers worldwide to accommodate wireless payments. The mobile device is equipped with security features from the hardware level, and can be further enhanced with Samsung’s

Samsung smartphones equipped with NFC technology will be used in PhilCare centers and partner hospitals.

propriety security platform to protect such transactions from being leaked or breached.

“R&D is at the heart of what we do, allowing us to continuously produce innovative products and offer progressive solutions for like-minded, forward looking institutions like PhilCare. Ultimately, it is our goal to enrich the lives of people,” says Chad Sotelo, Samsung Electronics Philippines Corporate Marketing head.

The partnership provides a much-needed upgrade in the way healthcare is delivered

to thousands of Filipinos. The use of NFC for healthcare is the first of its kind in the Philippines and it allows patient information to be updated in real-time, ensuring quick, efficient, and accurate service. “We are very excited with this technology and in the future we hope to set up a rewards program for members with the NFC cards,” Azura said.

The launch of its new membership card is one of the many innovations PhilCare has set up since 2013. Two years ago they launched the mobile application GO! Mobile, designed as a quick reference guide for members on their coverage and benefits while also giving access to a complete list of PhilCare-affiliated hospitals, clinics, and doctors. Just last year, the mobile app introduced various updates in addition to being made compatible with iOS devices alongside Android devices. In addition to its mobile app, PhilCare also recently launched its e-commerce website, becoming the first HMO provider to offer online purchases for its health care packages.

A WEEKEND OF SOOTHING SOUNDS AND TRACEABLE TREATS

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The Mandala Park weekend market heralds the kind of community offered by the soon-to-rise mixed-use 3.2-hectare enclave that promotes a lifestyle anchored on sustainability and wellness

A spread of Whisk’s unique salad dressings which is made from vegetables and herbs sourced from local markets

A crowd favorite–Mister Fluffies’ fairy floss (cotton candy) made from stevia

andala Park recently held its popular weekend market with good food and soulful music set in a space fit to accommodate families and guests. The 3.2-hectare enclave was set up with white canvas tents to serve as an avenue for people to partake of the different produce from artisans and merchants.

A lot of homegrown produce were sold in the market and the merchants featured focused on sustainability and support for the local industries, particularly in the agricultural sector. Merchants included crowd favorites like Fog City Creamery’s organic preservative-free ice cream, Scout Honor’s made-on-the-spot cookies, Ribs Manila’s smoked pulled pork, B&T Mexican Kitchen, Ramen Iroha, and IAmKim. Fruit Magic brought back their cold-pressed juices, while Stanford & Shaw delighted second-timers and newbies with a taste of their guilt-free citrusy ginger ale. New additions included the makers of Hawaiian ceviche Poke Boy, farmer-owned natural dairy cooperative Arla, handcrafted delicatessen Mister Delicious, organic salad dressing brand Whisk, organic cotton candy makers Mister Fluffies, and Laguna-based in-house brewery Pedro Brewcrafters.

“Weekend markets are great ways of meeting our customers because we get to interact with them. I think it’s awesome that we get to hear people’s feedback right away,” shares Nadine Howell-Fanlo of Pedro

Litton & Co. President and CEO Dr. Joseph LittonGallego talked about the company’s bigger plans for wellness and sustainability programs during the weekend market

Brewcrafters. “Mandala Park is different from the weekend markets we usually join because this one seems to be more focused on the ingredients merchants use.”

Mandala Park, Mandaluyong’s new bastion of healthy living, was borne out of Litton & Co.’s desire for sustainably built communities that enrich people’s wellbeing and cultivate an environment of wellness that is accessible to all. According to Litton & Co. president and CEO Dr. Joseph Litton-Gallego, the weekend market series is just the beginning; there will be more in activities that they will organize in the future that are anchored towards wellness and sustainability.

For more information on Mandala Park and the Mandala Park weekend market series, follow them on facebook at Mandala Park Ph, and @mandalaparkph on Instagram.

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LIFE life @ thestandard.com .ph

@LIFEatStandard

7 DAY WATER FAST: FINE FETTLE

How I got rid of my food allergies

BY BUBBLES PARAISO

A

few months ago, I did something most people would deem crazy. I was getting allergic to most of my favorite food like peanuts, mangoes and pineapples – yes, it’s possible to acquire new allergies later in life, it’s something accumulated especially if you eat those allergy triggers a lot. Lets face it, almost anything with peanuts are delicious. And I wasn’t ready to give up my love for seafood kare-kare or my once-in-a-while Reese’s peanut buttercups for life. So for one whole week, I did not eat anything and drank nothing but water.

See, water fasting isn’t anything new. I’ve been researching about this for a couple of years now and what got me was the repairing process it does to your body. Losing weight is just a side effect but the more important aspect is the healing. Truth be told, I was not quite as healthy as people may think – when I was young I had primary complex, I grew up suffering from severe asthma and doctors would say I really have very weak lungs. Then I developed all these food allergies. I found it quite annoying really. So that week, my goal was to just really get rid of my allergies, but it became more than that. It was a mental game, it was a healing journey, and yes, I did lose some weight... Which I gained back in no time. (Saying this now is a disclaimer that this is not a form of extreme dieting.)

Experts at curezone.com outline the first two stages of fasting which one will experience in seven days:

STAGE 1 (DAYS 1-2)

“On the first day of fasting, the blood sugar level drops below 70mg/dl. To restore the blood to the normal glucose level, liver glycogen is converted to glucose and released into the blood. This reserve is enough for a half day.

The body then reduces the basal metabolic rate (BMR). The rate of internal chemical activity in resting tissue is lowered to conserve energy.

The heart slows and blood pressure is reduced.

Glycogen is pulled from the muscle causing some weakness. The first wave of cleansing is usually the worst.

“Headaches, dizziness, nausea, bad breath, glazed eyes and a heavily coated tongue are signs of the first stage of cleansing. Hunger can be the most intense in this period.”

STAGE 2 (DAYS 3-7)

“Fats, composed of transformed fatty acids, are broken down to release glycerol from the glyceride molecules and are converted to glucose. The skin may become oily as rancid oils are purged from the body. People with problem-free skin may have a few days of pimples or even a boil. A pallid complexion is also a sign of waste in the blood. Ketones are formed by the incomplete oxidation of fats.

It is suspected that the ketones in the blood suppress the appetite by affecting the foodsatiety center in the hypothalamus called the appestat. You may feel hungry for the first few days of the fast. This effect is temporary. The desire to eat will disappear. Lack of hunger may last 40-60 days.

“The body embraces the fast and the digestive system is able to take a much-needed rest, focusing all of its energies on cleansing organs and the lungs are in the process of being repaired. Periodically, the lymphatic system expels mucoid matter through the nose or throat. The volume excreted of this yellowcolored mucus can be shocking. The sinuses go through periods of being clogged, then will totally clear. The breath is still foul and the tongue coated. Within the intestine, the colon is being repaired and impacted feces on the intestinal wall start to loosen and are autolyzed.”

I kept a journal all throughout my fast, so for those interested to take on this challenge, here’s how I fared. Take note that I started my fast midday, but the way to count it is per 24 hours, so it’s a bit awkward when you look at it.

DAY 1 (Sunday 2:00 p.m. to Monday 2:00 p.m.)

Day one seemed pretty normal for me. I was still digesting the heavy lunch I had but at dinner time, I started getting hungry. It was hard to ignore the stomach growling but I did anyway. I just drank a lot of water and still did whatever I had to do that day. Monday morning I still had the energy to workout, although all I did was run on the treadmill for 3-km because I was getting hunger pangs and was beginning to feel weak already. I felt weak but strong, also a little bit bloated.

Day 2 (Monday 2:00 p.m. to Tuesday 2:00 p.m.)

Day 2 was hard. I felt very weak and spent most of the day on the bed and on the couch. I was marathoning documentaries like Crazy Sexy Cancer and Food, Inc. to keep me sane (I will talk about these films on another week), but I would fall in and out of sleep. All I wanted was to sleep all day – I felt very “low batt.”

Day 3 (Tuesday 2:00 p.m. to Wednesday 2:00 p.m.)

The hardest part was when I had to get up and teach Kids Yoga at 4:00 p.m. despite being in a fasted state. It was a full class and boy, was it a challenge. As their teacher I had to keep up with their energy and show them how to do everything. Thank goodness I survived. I also managed to go to a rock concert and go up and down four floors to the parking lot. Keyword is managed. That night, going up the stairs had me gasping for air. I was so winded. Fell asleep for 10 hours after that.

You can tell by my face, voice and even skin how weak I was on the third going on the fourth day. My skin was also beginning to purge, it had little spots on my face – like the reaction I get when I have allergies.

My tongue also felt gross and chalky. My breath stank. I had to walk one kilometer (to and from) to a meeting nearby because I couldn’t trust myself to drive. I wasn’t the best person to have a meeting with because I found myself only saying yes and no to most questions. My brain could not power through it. My energy level could not afford to say anything more than that. I was a zombie. I felt exceptionally weak after that business meeting, and fell asleep as soon as I got home.

I did not feel hungry at all though.

Day 4 (Wednesday 2:00 p.m. to Thursday 2:00 p.m.)

Day 4 wasn’t so bad. There were no more hunger pangs. But I had all sorts of aches and pains all over my body. My legs started to hurt and especially my lower back. As I mentioned before, I got into a car accident two years ago that made me unable to walk for a couple of days so I think it was the body repairing that old injury. I was cold but hot at the same time.

I was feverish without fever. Am I making sense? I started expelling mucus in the form of sniffles and a bit of phlegm (yeah, gross, I know, but it’s part of the healing process).

Day 5 (Thursday 2:00 p.m. to Friday 2:00 p.m.)

I honestly can’t share much about this day as this was my weakest day and all I did was sleep the whole day. I literally only got up to drink water then went back to sleep.

Day 6 (Friday 2:00 p.m. to Saturday 2:00 p.m.)

Surprise! I had so much energy this day and was able to walk on the treadmill again although the speed was only 3.4kph. I was slower than a turtle. But slow as it was, I kept walking around home the whole day.

My skin also began to clear up and I had a little glow. You can tell by just looking at me that I wasn’t as weak as the days before.

I would also like to mention that although I wasn’t feeling hungry, I still thought about food a lot and started writing down recipes of food I would like to eat the whole day.

I semi-tortured myself by going to a steakhouse with my friend and watched him eat as I enjoyed my water. Good thing I don’t eat meat so I didn’t really get enticed by his food. I was able to convince myself that I was happy with the variety of what I’ve been having the past week: cold water, hot water, warm water. How exciting. My sense of smell seemed heightened though, so I enjoyed smelling all the food in the restaurant.

I’d also like to take note that my legs seemed to keep cramping up that night. I couldn’t wear heels as it was very painful to do so.

Day 7 (Saturday 2:00 p.m. to Sunday 2:00 p.m.)

I had enough energy Saturday morning to walk on the treadmill again with a faster

speed of 4.4 kph this time. I was energetic yet weak. I felt like I was gasping for air most of the time, as if I ran a marathon even if I just walked a few steps. There were little spurts of energy which I took advantage of by walking. But when I wasn’t walking, I’d be on the couch being a little potato. When Sunday arrived, I tried to workout but my legs didn’t want to.

SUNDAY 2:00 p.m.

WOOHOO! I’ve completed 168 hours! I was very chirpy and energetic when I hit it but also couldn’t wait to finally put something in my belly. But of course, after seven days of no eating, I had to be careful. I couldn’t just eat what I wanted right away. To exit a fast you have to ease your way into eating food again, and that’s what I did.

Breaking my fast I went to one of my favorite healthy places and ordered a pineapple malunggay smoothie plus a salad. I ate at 3:30 p.m. which made my fast officially 169.5 hours long. The first taste of that pineapple was oh, so delicious! I ate slowly, and didn’t finish the salad – I did not want to shock my body after the prolonged period it went without sustenance. I lost eight pounds. and an inch off my waist as a side effect, but of course the main reason for this fast was healing, and I couldn’t wait to test it right away.

My salad had mangoes in it, and as I ingested them, my body did not show any signs of allergy at all. As the days went by, I reintroduced all kinds of food again, and carefully took note of how my body reacted to it. Two months later, I was enjoying a bag of peanuts without breaking out in hives or rashes. Yup, my allergies have entirely disappeared.

In conclusion, I think this fast wasn’t as hard as people think it would be. It is not impossible to do. Impossible is a state of mind. And if your mind wills it, your body will follow. I believe that if your mind is strong, you can do anything. And doing this 7-day water fast to heal myself was all worth it. It’s a mental game. All it takes is willpower and dedication. If I can do it, so can you.

Follow me on Instagram and Twitter @bubblesparaiso

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SHOWBITZ isahred @ gmail.com

Peter Berg

Ron Howard

ISAH V. RED EDITOR

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Angela Bassett

Ackiva Goldsman

Brett Ratner Paul Giamatti

NatioNal GeoGraphic’S iNNovative ScieNce SerieS

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ignaling a committed shift to premium programming, National Geographic Channel (NGC) will be airing the highly anticipated science series Breakthrough this November. Breakthrough, a show that will bring to life the stories, people and technology behind the world’s most advanced scientific innovations that determine how our lives shall evolve, made its Philippine premiere, the first in Asia, on Nov. 5 at 9 p.m., with all six one-hour episodes showing on Thursdays on NGC. Executive produced by Ron Howard, Brian Grazer, Steve Michaels, Jonathan Koch and Mark Dowley, this groundbreaking series will highlight the most important and fascinating innovations that are currently making waves in the scientific community and are set to affect how we live our lives in the

immediate future and beyond. Not only will Breakthrough outline the science behind these innovations, but it will also explore the courage, imagination, passion and self-sacrifice of the scientists who brought them to life. Their stories will be portrayed with compassion and yet instill a sense of wonder as each episode will be directed by a different Hollywood visionary including Ron Howard, Brett Ratner, Peter Berg, Angela Bassett, Akiva Goldsman, and Paul Giamatti.

Tackling diverse scientific realms ranging from brain science to cyborg technology, Breakthrough promises an exciting and thorough preview of the future, ably presented by Hollywood’s best talents. Howard undertakes human longevity and Giamatti expounds on innovations in technology, while Ratner explores the brain, Berg examines pandemics,

and Bassett and Goldsman present on the necessary resources of water and energy, respectively.

Breakthrough is co-produced

by NGC and GE, both long-time proponents of innovation, science and exploration. However, what makes their partnership for this project unique is that they not only financed the series but shared equally in its creative direction.

“Modern science and technology are the keys to addressing the challenges the world is facing today,” said Courteney Monroe, CEO, National Geographic Channels. “By partnering with GE — as dedicated to science and innovation as we are — and by working with top-tier directors at the helm, Breakthrough will celebrate the curiosity, innovation and exploration of our world, and spotlight the individuals and institutions at the center of these

groundbreaking achievements.”

“GE’s involvement brings a certain poetic justice to this endeavor,” said producer Grazer. “Thomas Edison, GE’s founder, and Alexander Graham Bell, a founding member of the National Geographic Society, are two of our greatest inventors.

Their breakthroughs laid the foundation for tremendous innovation and continue to inspire generations of scientists and engineers. That same spirit will, no doubt, be evident in every episode.”

NGC and GE have united to produce a series that will inspire and cultivate global interest in science and innovation, possibly spawning brilliant individuals who may one day become leading innovators in various scientific fields. Breakthrough is a remarkable television event that will leave its mark on young minds, especially in Asia, from which many of the world’s

leading scientists have hailed.

“We take great pride in presenting Breakthrough to viewers in the Philippines as it is a celebration of the relentless efforts of the scientific community to better our lives and improve our environment,” said Jude Turcuato, Senior Vice President and General Manager of FOX International Channels Philippines, which carries NGC, said. “We hope that it helps viewers appreciate how science has shaped our existence and how it will continue to help us evolve into the future.”

Breakthrough’s succeeding episodes will be shown on Thursdays at the same time. The show’s premiere episode, a truly important milestone in Philippine television history, will also be simulcast on FOX, FOX Filipino Channel, Star Movies and Star World by FOX International Channels, which carries NGC in the country.

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SHOWBITZ isahred @ gmail.com

‘BLinDSPOt’ WOWS viEWERS

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ans of the very best action TV were treated to one of the most astonishing openings of any pilot, as Blindspot made an impressive Philippines debut on Warner TV. With the show airing just a few hours after the US premiere, clips and comments buzzed around social media with audiences around the world already hooked.

The opening sequence is arguably one of the most ambitious in television history, with New York City’s Times Square completely emptying to reveal a mysterious duffel bag. After the bomb squad descends, the viewers finally learn its contents: a lady with no memory of what happened, and completely naked except for head-to-toe tattoos.

“It was really intimidating but super-exciting at the

same time,” revealed Jamie Alexander who plays Jane Doe – the lady in the bag.

“I think it’s one of the most epic scenes I’ve ever shot in my life. To see Times Square that empty was pretty unusual but it was incredibly cold at that time in New York, so that made it even more eerie and atmospheric.”

This is not a series that hangs around; the story moves quickly and clues as to Jane’s identity are instantly discovered. An obvious one is her FBI connection. Agent Kurt Weller’s name is tattooed right across her back.

Along with a team of agents, they later discover that her intricate tattoos are actually a map of crimes leading to a vast conspiracy that’s just waiting to be solved.

According to Sullivan Stapleton, who plays

Poster for Blindspot

Agent Weller, the beauty of Blindspot is down to the surprising plot twists that often the cast doesn’t even know about yet. “We’re not locked-in to a one way [plot] and it’s kind of refreshing,” added Stapleton.

The first few episodes of Blindspot have already set the tone for an incredibly fast-paced series, with a distinctly non-formulaic storyline that will keep viewers hungry for more.

Warner TV is available on SKYcable Channel 77, SKYcable HD Channel 197, Cignal HD Channel 119, Destiny Cable (Digital) Channel 77, Destiny Cable (Analog) Channel 80, and Cable Link Channel 30. For more updates on the best in action, comedy and drama, follow the channel on Facebook. com/WarnerTVAsia.

Jimboy and miho Pbb 737 big winners

J

Miho Nishida, PBB737 Big Winner

Jimboy Martine PBB 737 Teen Big Winner

CROSSWORD PUZZLE 39 40 41 42 43 44 45 47 51

55 56 57

ANSWER FOR PREVIOUS PUZZLE ACROSS 1 Cause a blister 4 Large cay 8 Syrup brand 12 Movie theater 13 Drop anchor 14 Gossip tidbits 16 Elephant owner, perhaps 17 Move about confusedly 18 Grassy places 19 Ms. Hagen

20 22 24 25 26 28 31 34 35 36 37 38

imboy Martin and Miho Nishida were declared the Big Winners of Pinoy Big Brother 737 after garnering the highest number of public votes at the program’s Big Night held at the Albay Astrodome in Legazpi City on Nov 8.

Jimboy, the 17-year-old “Barrio Rapper of Nueva Vizcaya,” was named the Teen Big Winner for getting 56.76 percent of the votes, while Teen Second Big Placer Ylona Garcia got 43.24 percent.

Big Winner Miho Nishida, the “Sexy Mommy of Japan” won by landslide with 81.96 percent of the votes, while Second Big Plac-

Superfast ride (2 wds.)

Licks a stamp Whodunit suspect I-90 Consumer Mr. DeLuise S-shaped moldings The one there Costa — Glamorous Dry-heat bath Freeze starter?

58 59 60 61 62 63 64

Online info Down to the — Light bulb filler Good name for a cook?

Benefit, often “... the giftie — us” Horror-film servant Lowest stratum Gun in the Smithsonian?

(2 wds.)

“Annabel Lee” poet Object Bumper-sticker word Part of G.T.O. — Dame Wild about Marshal Dillon Take advice Bonny miss T’ai — ch’uan

DOWN 1 Gaucho’s rope 2 Fix, as a copier 3 Ms. Arthur 4 Vaccinated 5 Gets dirty 6 Lounge about 7 Gardner of mystery

THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 12, 2015

8 9 10 11 12 15 20 21 23 26 27 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 37 41 43 44 46 47 48 49 50 51 52 53 54 58

Out of — (awry) Video game pioneer Worthwhile Old Dodge model Filth Form 1040 info Wagers Iota preceder Hunts, with “on” Kirk’s lieutenant Feasible Caesar’s eight Might’s partner Ons and — Capricorn symbol Lovely Follow More scarce Travel like gnats — -de-camp Overcharged Sticky-footed lizards Rock or country Aptitudes Winfrey of TV Raccoon kin Smallville name Atlas abbr.

Oops! (hyph.)

Noted groundhog Hebrides isle Truck mfr.

er Tommy Esguerra gathered 18.04 percent.

When asked what he wants to do now that his PBB journey is over, Jimboy said, “A simple life is okay for me as long as I’m with my family. But they helped me build my dream to be the Teen Big Winner… I will grab whatever opportunity comes my way.”

Miho, meanwhile, cheerfully thanked the Albay crowd for their support after hugging her mother and daughter Aimi.

Jimboy and Miho were both granted an Asian tour package, a house and lot, and P1 million. This is the first time that PBB announced

two Big Winners in a Big Night.

Both Ylona and Tommy, meanwhile, won P500,000 each.

Awarded on Nov. 7 were third Big Placers Franco Rodriguez and Roger Lutero who won P300,000 each, while Fourth Big Placers Bailey May and Dawn Chang were given P200,000.

People from Albay also showed their support from the program as more than 17,000 people were estimated to have showed up at the venue on the first night of the Big Night last Saturday.

Mariel Rodriguez-Padilla, Robi Domingo, Enchong Dee, and Toni Gonzaga-Soriano hosted the finals.

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SHOWBITZ isahred @ gmail.com

alden ricHards Marks anOtHer MilestOne From c8

Unstoppable. That’s how people describe Alden Richards’ s popularity these days. This also refers to how people are getting crazier over the young matinee idol.

In Iloilo, more than 50,00 fans filled up the venue where Richards was scheduled to have a meet and greet session with his Ilonggo fans who waited for the actor to arrive as the flight he took had been delayed.

The crowd, said an observer, was really record-breaking in number. No actor of this generation has gathered that much people in one venue.

Also, last Friday, the social media was abuzz when the video of the recording session of GMA Network’s Christmas Station ID was uploaded on YouTube. In no time, it had 1.5 million views and why? Alden Richards was in that video recording “MaGMAhalan Tayo Ngayong Pasko”!

HHHHH Majasty reigns in MOa arena 2015 is a big year for Maja Salvador not only in acting but also in her singing career. Aside from platinum albums and a teleserye with Coco Martin (FPJ’s Ang Probinsyano) that gained 39.4 percent national ratings on the previous Kantar Media, Maja proves she is a performer ready to set the stage on fire in her second concert on Nov. 13, Friday 8 p.m. at the Mall of Asia Arena.

After her successful out-of-thecountry shows with Jericho Rosales, Maja continued to prepare for her upcoming concert.

The dance queen is very much excited than ever as she once again promises to give an all-out performance on stage. It can be remembered that she did her first solo concert on July 12 at the Music Museum.

Maja will groove to the latest dance hits with Hotlegs and G

Katrina Velarde, RJ de la Fuente and Monique Lualhati perform their #Setlist

Alden Richards gathered 50 thousand Ilonggos last Friday night

Maja Salvador

Force and will share her musicality in different genre with her special guests – Paulo Avelino, Kakai Bautista, Rayver Cruz, Enchong Dee, JC De Vera, Enrique Gil and Piolo Pascual.

Majasty ticket prices are available via www.smtickets.com and all SM Ticket outlets.

HHHHH #setlist at Music Hall Monique Luahalti, Katrina Velarde and RJ dela Fuente continue to take the bar scene by storm with their series #Setlist, as they return to Music Hall, Metrowalk 8 p.m. on Nov. 13. #Setlist, is a night of musical

revelry showcasing their musical prowess, singing songs of different genres. Performers and fans refer to a setlist as a roster of songs that a performing artist chooses to sing or play. The setlist is played or sang for every performance on a given show or concert series. For RJ, Katrina, and Monique, their setlists represent their passion for their craft and their music.

RJ dela Fuente started singing at special concerts and events in California, U. S. A., guesting in shows of Sharon Cuneta, Martin Nievera, and Brian McKnight. He was a contestant in the 2011 American Idol Season10 and made it past the early rounds singing before judges J Lo, Randy Jackson, and Steve Tyler.

He was Celebrity Chronicle’s Most Promising Male Performer in 2011 and he auditioned and got in The Voice of the Philippines season 1, and was one of team Lea’s finalists.

Katrina Velarde started as an amaturista at the age of seven. In 2012, she became a part of AKA

JAM, an all female group (of which Monique was also a part of) from the first season of X-Factor Philippines and was mentored by Gary Valenciano. She is known popularly as the “Suklay Diva” because her video of Beyonce’s “Dangerously in Love” using her “suklay” as a makeshift microphone has gone viral. Because of this, TV-5 cast her in a show titled Trenderas and was nominated as New Female Artist by ENPRESS and PMPC Star Awards For Television. Her recent video, which she uploaded on her Facebook account, impersonating different singers has reached the three million mark in views.

Monique Lualhati started competing in amateur singing contests.

This year, Monique joined the second season of The Voice Of The Philippines, and was part of coach Sarah Geronimo’s team. Being part of the Top 8 opened doors for her. Monique has been busy with shows all over the Philippines.

RJ, Monique and Katrina are co-managed by Manila Genesis and Viva Artists Agency. For ticket reservations, please contact 09293154086 and 0915-3082308.

4th ImpaCt Gets Into top 9, seann mIley moore elImInated All-Filipino girl group, 4TH Impact, opened the second live performance show of The X Factor UK this week to resounding applause from the judges and the audience. They performed “Sound Of The Underground,” the song that launched Cheryl Fernandez-Versini and her own group Girls Aloud, as one of the biggest pop sensations in the UK. They mashed up the track with another pop hit, “The Clapping Song.”

Simon Cowell praised the group, “I thought you looked better than last week. The choreography was better, vocals great, harmonies great. You are a band who rehearse like crazy, are ready for the real world. You’ve done great; you always do great.”

Rita applauded the girls for

Fil-Aussie Seann Miley Moore said goodbye to The X-factor UK crowd last Monday

4TH Impact moves on to the next The X Factor UK round

their solid performance and said, “Can I just say what I love the most is that your identity now is coming into your own.

Even though you are sisters, you are each individuals at the same time. Vocally, it sounded great.”

During the Results show, 4TH Impact was the first group announced to be safe and moving on to the third live show next week on The X Factor UK. Filipino-Australian singer Se-

ann Miley Moore sang “California Dreaming.” Rita Ora and Boys’ mentor Nick Grimshaw gave him a standing ovation after the performance. Rita said, “It was like I was watching a movie in slow motion. Vocally, you are very solid. You’re just intoxicating.” Cheryl Fernandez-Versini was also impressed and said she was “spellbound”. Though Simon Cowell admitted that Seann has an “amazing presence and a spec-

4TH Power will compete next week with the remaining acts in The X Factor UK. These include Reggie n Bollie, Mason Noise, Ché Chesterman, Anton Stephans, Max Stone, Louisa Johnson, Lauren Murray, and Monica Michael.

The X Factor UK airs first and tacular voice,” he described the exclusive on RTL CBS Entertainperformance as “lazy”. ment HD as live via satellite on At the Results show, Mason Sundays and Mondays at 10:30am Noise and Seann sang for survival. with a 9 p.m. primetime encore.

The judges were split two and two; The weekly episodes repeat on this left the decision to the public Thursdays at 9 p.m. and 10 a.m. vote which revealed that they opt- and 4:40 p.m. on Saturdays.

RTL CBS Entertainment HD ed to save Mason Noise and send Seann home leaving the audience is available on SkyCable channels in shock. “It’s been an incredible 53(SD) and 196(HD), Destiny journey. But the show must go Cable channel 53, Dream Satellite on,” said Seann when asked about channel 17 and Cablelink channels 37(SD), 313 and 800(HD). his reaction to his elimination.

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ISAH V. RED EDITOR isahred @ gmail.com

SHOWBITZ

BamBoo mañalac says ‘Bless This Mess’ ISAH V. RED PolyEast Records and one of the country’s most prominent names of OPM, Bamboo Mañalac announced the release of Bless This Mess. The album was officially launched on Oct. 26 at 12 Monkeys Music Hall and Pub in Makati City.

Nearly four years after beginning a solo career with the brilliant No Water, No Moon (2011), Bamboo eases into his second phase with the new album.

Taking subtle risks such as the bluesy but energy-boost kick-off single “Firepower”, Bamboo said

the song was written at the time of his 2011 No water, No Moon, but didn’t think it matched the tone of the other songs in his first solo album.

He added, “So it was shelved and developed and was ready for this new album. I think listeners have to figure out for themselves what the songs mean. I wanted folks to feel the music, the kick, then they’ll get the lyric”.

“Firepower” was officially heard on digital platforms like Spotify, iTunes, Deezr, Spinnr, Amazon, Guvera Music as well as local radios all over the country on Oct. 15. PolyEast Records’ YouTube channel also premiered a prelude song “Nothing Like You” which connects to Firepower music video directed by Paolo Valenciano.

“In the video, both songs are together because they are meant to be the same thing. If you see the video, you’ll get to interpret how both connect to each other,” Bamboo added.

The album was recorded in Grand Street Recording Studio in Brooklyn, New York and features 10 brand new well-crafted compositions. “After the whole experience, I think it was the only place on the planet I could have recorded this album-- with all the elements needed and the different characters for each track. It’s the songs that dictate the direction of the album where all just fit. It wasn’t easy but that’s the fun part”.

There’s definitely a shake up-from the quiet feeling of the last album, I wanted this one to be a punch in the face

Bamboo Mañalac releases Bless This Mess, his new album this year

– Bamboo Mañalac, recording artist

In a five-month process during his TV stints as coach of The Voice, Bamboo produced and wrote most of the songs winding up a renewed energy pushing different styles as he said, “There’s definitely a shake up-- from the quiet feeling of the last album, I wanted this one to be a punch in the face”.

As the album title Bless This Mess signifies more than it seems, he explained, “I’ll let folks figure that out but it’s something I’ve whispered to myself before sessions or gigs in past years”.

“I could be wrong with how

long the break was and that’s the challenge of why it took so long.

There was just so much swimming in my head and this album is part moving forward as well as just fitting another piece to the puzzle -in regards to how my current sets will sound and look like”.

Bamboo Mañalac’s new offering, Bless This Mess CD, is available at all music and video stores nationwide. Digital tracks can also be downloaded on iTunes, Amazon and Guvera Music. You may also listen to the full album on Spotify. ➜ continued on c7