The Standard - 2015 November 28 - Saturday

VOL. XXIX  NO. 289  3 Sections 32 Pages P18  SATURDAY : NOVEMBER 28, 2015  www.thestandard.com.ph  editorial@thestandard.com.ph

Justice dept probe of SAF slays gets going

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MAKING IT OFFICIAL

Duterte files certificate of candidacy; Comelec to study bid

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By Sara Susanne D. Fabunan

DAVAO Mayor Rodrigo Duterte filed his Certificate of Candidacy to run for president in the 2016 elections after withdrawing his bid to seek reelection as mayor, the Commission on Elections said Friday.

Comelec spokesman James Jimenez said the poll body would have to evaluate Duterte’s CoC before his candidacy is accepted. He added that the Comelec was expected to come up with the final list of candidates by Dec. 15.

“By that time, we will know the validity of his candiNext page dacy,” Jimenez said.

Duterte’s certificate. A Comelec employee holds up a copy of the Certificate of Candidacy filed by Davao mayor and presidential candidate Rodrigo Duterte. Danny

Indonesian jihadist’s ISIS links confirmed

By Francisco Tuyay THE Indonesian terrorist killed in an encounter with security forces in Sultan Kudarat is one of 10 jihadists with links to the Islamic State who are in the country for still unknown reasons, an intelligence source told The Standard Friday.

Sucipto Ibrahim Ali, a member

of the Mujahidin Indonesia Timur, had slipped into the country with nine other foreign jihadists and were not hiding in Mindanao, the source added.

Sucipto, he added, was one of the core group members of Ansar Khilafa Philippines, along with five Malaysians, three Syrians and another Indonesian, who sought sanctuary

among local Islamists in Mindanao.

He was also said to have received international funding for his operations here and in Indonesia.

Malaysian authorities have sought cooperation from their Philippine counterparts to interdict the five Malaysians linked to ISIS, who have recruited some of their citizens to fight in Syria and Iraq.

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Book on Aquino legacy launched

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Binay says GDP rise meaningless to poor

By Vito Barcelo

VICE President Jejomar Binay on Friday described the country’s 6-percent growth in its gross domestic product as worthless because it did not translate to more jobs and a better life for the poor.

“Economic growth is meaningless if it excludes the poor and working class Filipinos. We have claims of growth in the midst of unmitigated poverty, unemployment and hunger. The job of any administration is to address poverty by providing jobs and economic opportunities,” Binay said.

“The country’s economic growth would have been more meaningful if it induced the creation of more jobs and opportunities for our people,” he added.

President Benigno Aquino III boasted the country’s economic achievements under his watch before the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation leaders.

Binay cited the recent Social Weather Survey survey that showed 50 percent or around 11-million Filipino families consider themselves poor. The survey also showed that poverty incidence in the Vi-

sayas increased to 66 percent compared to June’s 58 percent while Mindanao’s poverty incidence remained at 70 percent over the same period.

According to the SWS, 54 percent of Filipinos considered themselves poor in 2014, a six-point rise from 2010’s 48 percent when President Benigno Aquino III was proclaimed president.

“We witnessed how good intentions are not enough to run a country. Only a few benefited, but millions still are poor, hungry, and unemployed. It’s a pity if this would continue in the next six years,” he said.

Binay said government needs to bring in more foreign direct investment, considering Philippines ranks among the lowest in Association of South East Asian Nations in terms of FDI. He also noted how the Philippines is second to the last among its Asean peers in

terms of the ease of starting a business, dealings with construction permits, registering property, and enforcing contracts.

The Philippines attracted $6 billion worth of investments in 2014.

However, the country’s FDI inflows remain low compared to other Southeast Asian neighbors like Singapore with $68 billion, Indonesia with $23 billion, Thailand with $13 billion, Malaysia with $11 billion, and Vietnam with $9 billion.

Binay also reiterated how his administration would focus on inclusive growth and making sure that the country’s economic gains are felt by all.

“My vision is for every Filipino to have an equal share in the nation’s progress. No one should be left behind,” he said.

He said inclusive growth is possible with the right mix of social and economic policies by a government that is sensitive to both the needs of its residents and those who do business in the country.

He said that his administration will strive to create jobs and provide adequate social services that will especially help the poor.

83rd birthday. President Benigno Aquino III joined his family and friends in celebrating what would have been the 83rd birthday of his father, Benigno Aquino Jr., on his grave at the Manila Memorial Park on Friday.

Malacañang Photo Bureau

Making...

From A1 At 11:50 a.m, Duterte’s representative, Salvador Medialdea filed the mayor’s CoC along with the certificate of nomination and acceptance from the Partido Demokratiko Pilipinas-Lakas ng Bayan (PDP-Laban).

The certificate of nomination and acceptance was signed by Duterte and the party’s vice president, Salvador Ty. Along with the documents submitted were a photocopy of Duterte’s passport and his curriculum vitae.

Until recently, Duterte insisted he was not interested in seeking the presidency, but speculation that he would run as a substitute candidate for the PDP-Laban was fueled when the party’s standard bearer, Martin Diño, withdrew his Certificate of Candidacy.

Diño was among 125 presidential aspirants that the Comelec was considering to declare as nuisance candidates.

Former Comelec commissioner Gregorio Larrazabal said Duterte may have a problem if the Comelec declares Diño as nuisance candidate, even though he has withdrawn his candidacy.

“The Comelec can still determine the validity of Diños CoC,” Larrazabal said.

“If there’s a problem with Diño’s CoC, there’s a problem with Duterte’s,” he added, citing the case of Lucy Torres-Gomez, in which the Supreme Court ruled that her replacing her husband Richard Gomez was invalid, since his candidacy was invalid from the start.

Former Comelec chairman Sixto Brillantes, however, said if Diño withdrew his candidacy, the poll body could no longer rule on his status, and the PDP-Laban had a chance to nominate another legitimate candidate.

“There is no issue about substitution. It is the prerogative of the PDP-Laban. You cannot deprive a political party [of the right to choose] another candidate,” Brillantes said.

Duterte, who earlier filed his candidacy for reelection as mayor in Davao City, said he decided to run for president because he was disappointed with the decision of the Senate Electoral Tribunal to junk the disqualification case against Senator Grace Poe, the survey frontrunner in the presidential race.

Duterte said he could not accept an American president, referring to the time the senator gave up her Philippine citizenship to become an American citizen.

He also insisted that Poe was not qualified to run for president because as a foundling, she could not be considered a natural-born citizen, which is a requirement to be senator or president.

In withdrawing his CoC for Davao City mayor, Duterte named his daughter, Sara Duterte, as his substitute for the local party Hugpong sa Tawong Lungsod.

The Dutertes appeared before the office of the Commission on Elections in Davao City Friday morning, Nov. 27, along with their lawyers and supporters. With John Paolo Bencito and Vito Barcelo

Indonesian...

dismissed the group as “lawless elements [who are just] professing ties with the terrorist organization ISIS.” From A1 Armed Forces spokesman Col. Restituto The source said Ansar Khilafa Philippines is composed of local militants from Padilla said they have received information the Abu Sayyaf, Bangsamoro Islamic relating to the three Syrian nationals but Freedom Fighters, the Rayah Solaiman they have yet to validate the report.

The military said the slain terrorists were Movement, and jihadists who pledged allegiance to ISIS to become soldiers of the part of the AKP group seen in a recent posted videos expressing their support to Caliphate.

National Security Adviser Cesar Garcia the extremists group purportedly to gain had described Sucipto’s killing as a signifi- attention.

Despite the killing of the Indonesian tercant victory in the global fight against terrorist, Padilla ruled out a link between the rorism, but the Armed Forces on Friday

group and ISIS. The source further revealed that ISIS is trying to establish a regional cell in Southeast Asia as part of its plan to launch operations worldwide.

“ISIS has the capacity to conduct operations [here] on the level of sophistication that they showed in Europe, Africa and the Middle East,” the source said.

He cited the attack of six ISIS suicide commandos in France that left 130 dead, the hotel assault in Mali, in West Africa killing 20 people and Tunisia that killed 13 people, including the suicide bomber.

Padilla said operations would continue against “lawless elements” in Sultan Kudarat.

Troops killed Sucipto and seven jihadists in a clash reported Thursday. Western Mindanao Command spokesperson Maj. Felimon Tan Jr. said the eight killed were members of the Ansar Al Khalifa, an ISIS terror cell operating in Mindanao.

The military is still verifying if the slain Indonesian was indeed Sucipto, a member of the Mujahidin Indonesia Timur, which has direct links to the ISIS. With PNA

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Book launching. President Benigno Aquino III delivers his message during the launching of the book ‘The Aquino Legacy: An Enduring Narrative’ at the Raffles Hotel in Makati City on Thursday. Lauro MonteLLano

Probe on death of SAF 44 starts THE Justice Department on Friday started its preliminary investigation on the criminal charges field against 90 commanders and members of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front, Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters, and private armed groups for the death of 44 Special Action Force commandos in a clash in Mamasapano in Maguindanao on Jan. 25.

But none of the respondents showed up before the department’s prosecutors despite the summons served to the MILF leadership and local officials last month.

“We notified them but I don’t know why they did not attend today’s hearing,” Assistant State Prosecutor Alexander Suarez said.

Nonetheless, Suarez said the prosecutors decided to give the respondents another time by scheduling another hearing on Dec. 17.

“If ever on December 17

these respondents do not again participate, then we will have the case against them submitted for resolution,” Suarez said.

Only two lawyers appeared before the panel on Friday and they represented only four of the 90 respondents.

Lawyer Ronald Hallid Torres appeared for Mustapha Tatak, a village chairman in Sapakan, Mamasapano, former teacher Khalim Keda and civilian Lakiman Dawaling, who is accused of being one of the field commanders of the MILF who is accused of involvement in the

killing of 35 SAF men in Tukanalipao village.

“We’re really surprised how come their names were included as respondents,” Torres said.

Lawyer Carlos Valdez represented alleged MILF field commander Pendatun Utek Makakua.

He said his client was not an MILF commander but a farmer.

The lawyers have not yet submitted the counter-affidavits of their respective clients as they have just received copies of the referral complaint and report of the department’s fact-finding team. rey e. requejo

Experts slam China’s reclamation activities CHINA damaged the marine ecosystem in the South China Sea when it built infrastructure in the disputed territories, the Philippine team told the Permanent Court of Arbitration in The Hague on Friday.

“Today [Friday], the Philippines presented two expert witnesses to the Tribunal: Professors Kent E. Carpenter, Ph.D., and Clive Schofield, Ph.D.,” Deputy Presidential Spokeswoman Abigail Valte said in her Bulletin No. 4 on Day 3 of the hearing of the Philippines’ case against China in The Hague.

Paul Reichler, principal counsel for the Philippines, said Carpenter and Schofield were independent experts who were presented to give their own analyses based on their areas of specialization.

Schofield presented his findings on 47 features requested by the tribunal in The Hague to be studied to determine whether they are insular, low- tide or high-tide elevations.

Schofield is the current director of research at the Australian Center for Ocean Resource and Security at the University of Wollongong.

Images of Scarborough Shoal at

high tide and low tide were also presented by Schofield.

“One of our advocates, Professor Alan E. Boyle, presented to the Tribunal the damage China has done to the marine ecosystem; more specifically, to the complex ecosystem of coral reefs, biological diversity, and living resources in the South China Sea,” Valte said.

“Boyle stated that, if unchecked, China’s activities will continue to pose a significant threat to the marine environment of the South China Sea and of all the states which border the sea.”

Boyle argued that China has violated its obligation under the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea or UNCLOS to protect and preserve the marine environment, citing instances of harmful fishing practices such as blast fishing, cyanide fishing, the harvesting of giant clams, and the catching of turtles and other endangered species.

Boyle also stressed that China, as a flag state, is responsible for its failure to prevent its fishermen and vessels from engaging in illegal fishing activities. Sandy araneta

PNoy launches book on Martial Law years PRESIDENT Benigno Aquino III on Thursday launched the book “The Aquino Legacy: An Enduring Narrative,” in Makati City that chronicles the Martial Law years, among other things.

The book, written by Elfren Sicangco Cruz and Neni Sta. Romana Cruz, is a collection of historical accounts and commentaries and human-interest essays, and is dedicated to the youth to help them understand the lessons of Martial Law and the struggle to restore democracy.

“The ‘past’ chronicled in the

book we are launching today includes events significant to our country’s history: the dark days of Martial Law, for example, as well as the challenges my mother faced in restoring and safeguarding democracy after the Filipino people won the country back from the iron fist of the dictator,” Aquino said.

“Everyone here also knows that there are many different accounts of what happened.

Those who were left-leaning at that point in time have docu-

mentation of their own struggles. Those who were once part of the regime have also released their version of what took place at the time. Here, we have an alternative account, one that is inextricable from the life of our family.”

Aquino said the book was written with its personal bias or viewpoint based from the title of the book alone.

“All accounts of history are written with the personal biases and views of the authors,” Aquino said. Sandy araneta

Preliminary hearing. Relatives of the 44 members of the Special Action

Force who were killed in an encounter with Muslim rebels in Mamasapano, Maguindanao, in January this year attend the preliminary hearing on the case at the Justice department on Friday. Danny Pata

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Vote counters to arrive Dec

By Sara Susanne D. Fabunan The Smartmatic-Total Information Management Corp. consortium assured the public it will be able to deliver another 21,000 Optical Mark Reader machines by the end of December, its official said on Friday.

Overtaxed, underserved. Workers picket the Bureau of Internal Revenue in Quezon City as part of the campaign to lower personal and corporate income taxes. EY ACASIO

Labor hits govt on tax rate cuts

By Vito Barcelo VARIOUS labor groups slammed the Aquino administration for rejecting the proposed bill lowering income taxes, as it vowed to reject Aquino’s candidates in the 2016 national elections.

“We will not let our people suffer under this government and this can only be realized by not electing Aquino’s candidates,” Antonio Almongera, founder and chairman of the Samahang Manggagawang Pilipino.

The Partido ng Manggagawa also condemned the administration’s attempt to block the passage of any tax cut bill in Congress even if there is enough time to pass an appropriate measure.

“Inclusive growth is just a marketing gimmick if it cannot be made concrete by tax reform benefiting workers,” said PM

chairman Renato Magtubo.

“Workers, as fixed income earners subject to withholding taxes, carry the onerous burden of primarily financing the coffers of the state but suffer from poor social services that are subject to political patronage,” Magtubo added.

He challenged presidential candidates to heed the clamor of workers for progressive taxation and lowering of income taxes.

“Mar Roxas’ alibi that tax reform during the election season is not timely is a lame excuse. If [the administration’s] Daang Matuwid does not lead to tax reform, then it is a dead end for workers,” Magtubo said.

PM vowed to push for tax breaks for workers as part of its electoral platform.

The labor partylist group’s “Apat na Dapat” platform includes lowering of prices,

living wages, regular jobs and quality public services.

PM insists public services must be funded from the proceeds of progressive taxation that shifts the burden from workers and the poor to the rich and employers.

The Kilusang Mayo Uno and the Confederation for Unity, Advancement, and Recognition of Government Employees also condemned Malacañang’s action to cancel the tax reform bill hearing.

Chairman Elmer Labog of the KMU said its members will wear black clothes and ribbons and are urging the people nationwide to wear black.

“We are one in calling for lower income taxes, as taxes are eating up our meager wages, which do not even reach livingwage levels,” Courage president Ferdinand Gaite said.

Contrary to previous reports, Smartmatic Philippines project manager Marlon Garcia said that by mid-January, there will be a total of 51,040 machines that will be used for the national and local election on May 9, 2016.

He also assured that by March, Smartmatic-TIM will be able to ship to Manila the remaining 40,343 OMRs from their factory in Taiwan.

“We are confident that we will be able to produce the 91,383 OMRs two months before the 2016 May elections,” Garcia said in a phone interview, reacting to reports that there will be only 40 machines available by January.

He said that so far they have delivered 40 machines during the first week of November to be used for voter education.

“There are a total of 40 machines that have been delivered to date. These will be mostly used for voter education,” he said.

Commission on Elections Commissioner Christian Robert Lim recently said five vote counting machines arrived in the country last Oct. 2 and another 34 units in early November.

The senior commissioner also said that the warehouse in Sta. Rosa, Laguna, where the machines will be stored, is expected to be fully functional by mid-January.

Aside from using the warehouse as storage, he said it will also have a separate room called “memory configuration room” where they will store all the SD cards, among others.

The Laguna warehouse has an area of 48,000 square meters and will be leased for one year for P69 million.

On Thursday, the Comelec announced that Smartmatic-TIM won the contract to supply the electronic transmission gadgets, worth P507 million, for next year’s election.

According to the Comelec, Smartmatic should complete the transmission of the election results within 24 hours from the time voting closes in each of the clustered precincts.

The ERTS is the system used in the city/ municipal, provincial, and national canvassing centers to send and receive transmitted results of voting.

Aquinos mark Ninoy birthday PRESIDENT Benigno Aquino III and presidential sisters Ballsy and Viel went to Manila Memorial Park on Friday to commemorate the 83rd birth anniversary of their father, former Senator Benigno Aquino Jr. No program was held at the cemetery and the Aquinos only prayed the rosary before their parents’ graves, which were adorned with yellow f lowers.

Aquino earlier declared the birth anniversary of his father as a regular working holiday each year to be known as “Araw ng Pagbasa.”

In Republic Act 10556, signed by the

President last May 15, 2013, Aquino ordered the Department of Education to lead story-telling and reading sessions in all elementary and secondary schools in the country on Nov. 27 of every year.

The new law also encourages schools in the country to use regional languages, in addition to Filipino and English, in “Araw ng Pagbasa” activities.

The new law was signed to “promote reading and literacy, motivate awareness and uphold our Filipino heritage and culture, including educational activities focusing on the life of Ninoy.

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Tech on your wrist. Officials of Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd. introduce their company’s newest technology, the Samsung Gear S2, at the SM Mall of Asia.

DANNY PATA

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Palace names judges, officials

Pushing for mall voting.

Commission on Elections Chairman Andres Bautista stresses a point during the first public hearing on mall voting at the Comelec office in Intramuros, Manila.

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By Sandy Araneta President Benigno s. Aquino iii has appointed new officials to various government positions, including 19 judges in courts across the country, the Palace announced on Friday.

Appointed as judges were Paul Jagmis Jr. of roxas, Palawan; romeo Buenaventura of Lucena City; rudiger Falcis ii of Cavite City; Mary Charlene Villas Hernandez of imus, Cavite; Glenda Mendoza ramos of Calamba, Laguna; Maria Luwalhati Carandang Cruz of Alfonso-General Aguinaldo, Cavite; May Hazel tagupa, of silangAmadeo, Cavite; Liezel rosario Mendoza of tagaytay City; ireneo Lustre of sta. rosa, Laguna; Conrado estreller Jr. of Cauayan, negros Occidental; Mary Ann Charisma Kho of Hinobaan, negros Occidental; Carmela Mae tunguia of Cabatuan-Maasin, iloilo; Clarence Zerrudo of Jordannueva Valencia-sibunag, Guimaras; Angie Logarta of tagbilaran, Bohol; erwin Ucat of tagbilaran, Bohol; Alwen Paqueo of san Fernando, Cebu; Gerry robertson Mira of LaziMaria-san Juan, siquijor; Fidelina Grapilon of Carigara, Leyte and Allan Cornejo of Catamaran-Lope de Vega in northern samar.

Aquino also named Zenen dalisay as nFA Council member and administrator, and edgardo Zaragoza as ntA administrator, to serve until June 30, 2016. their appointment papers were signed on nov. 6. the President also appointed three new Acting directors iii of the department of Agriculture, namely, Lucia Campomanes, Lorenzo Caranguian, and Joel elumba. sammy Malvas was also named as new Acting director ii of the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic resources.

Malacañang also announced new appointments to department of transportation and Communications with Aquino naming Jaime Caringal as Acting Assistant secretary; Mohammad nasser Abbas as Acting director iii; Herminio estaniel Jr. as executive director of the standards of training, Certification and Watchkeeping Office, Maritime industry Authority; and Alfredo Haboc as director iV.

Palace lauds okay of P3-T budget bill

By Sandy Araneta MALACAÑANG lauded on Friday the passage of the proposed P3.002-trillion national budget for next year from the Senate, calling the initiative an important step in executing the principle of good governance.

President Communications Operations Office secretary Herminio Coloma Jr. said its final approval is a crucial step towards timely implementation of the national budget on the first day of 2016, same that happened during the last five years.

Coloma made the remark after the senate approved the budget on third and final reading on thursday with 14 affirmative votes and one negative vote. Only senator Aquilino Pimentel iii voted against the budget. the sectors of education and infrastructure got the biggest

share in the budget, with the department of education receiving an allocation of P411.89 billion, a 28 percent, or 90-billion increase from its P321-billion budget in 2015. the department of Public Works and Highways, on the other hand, received the second largest share in the budget, with an allocation of P382.42. the department of national defense came in third with P126.64 billion, followed by the department of Health with P124.76 billion, and the department of interior and Local Gov-

ernment with P124.26 billion.

According to senator Loren Legarda, chairperson of the senate Committee on Finance, the senate version of the 2016 national budget “aims to proactively address the impacts of climate change and disasters in the country and promote inclusive and sustainable growth.” senate President Franklin drilon said that with the budget’s approval in the senate, lawmakers from both houses of the Congress will devote their time next week for the bicameral conference committee meetings on the 2016 budget.

He, likewise, expressed confidence that the budget will be signed by President Benigno Aquino iii before the year ends.

“We expect to submit the budget to the President by december 14. that’s our target date so that the President will have a week to 10 days to review the budget and see whether he will exercise his line-

item veto as he would traditionally,” drilon said.

As mandated by the 1987 Constitution, the educational sector received the highest budget priority. “the deped’s budget increased by 28 percent of its budget for 2015 because the implementation of the senior high school curriculum under the K-12 program begins next year,” Legarda said. deped’s P411.89-billion budget includes allocation for hiring of additional teachers and school feeding programs. deped also allocated P82.3 billion “for the construction of 47,553 classrooms and technical-vocational laboratories.” the senate version of the proposed 2016 budget of the 113 state universities and colleges across the country also increased by P4.27 billion. According to Legarda, the funds will be used for construction of structures, acquisition of equipment and scholarship grants, among others.

42 Visayas towns rebel-free tACLOBAn CitY—in the past two years, the Philippine Army has declared 42 towns in eastern Visayas as insurgency-free, raising military’s confidence that the region will attain the rebelfree status by next year. in a report to the regional development Council, Lt. Col. Ferdinand Bajarin, assistant chief of staff for intelligence of the Army’s 8th infantry division, said that of the 42 areas, nine are in northern samar, four in samar, four in eastern samar and 25 in Leyte. “this is in line with our effort to declare samar, eastern samar, northern samar and Leyte as insurgency-free by 2016,” Bajarin said. since October 2013, declared as insurgentfree are the towns of Allen, Biri, Capul, san Antonio, san Vicente, rosario, Lavezares, san Jose, and san roque in northern samar; Alamagro, tagapul-an, sto. nino, and daram in samar; Guiuan, Mercedes, Lawaan, and salcedo in eastern samar. in Leyte, listed as rebel-free are Palompon,

Bato, Matalom, inopacan, tabon-tabon, dulag, Julita, Babatngon, tabango, Abuyog, Mahaplag, Hindang, Barugo, san Miguel, Leyte, Pastrana, Hilongos, tolosa, Mayorga, Matagob, Merida, dagami, Calubian, sta. Fe, and Alangalang. these areas have been jointly declared as free from threats of new People’s Army by local government units and Army battalions in the region.

Bajarin admitted that nPA remained a major security threat in the region since it is undertaking terrorist activities such as murder, extortion, ambuscade, raid and mass mobilizations.

However, the organization has been weakening in the past few years as it is not anymore capable of launching major attacks. “this year, there were only two ambush incidents in samar provinces. With those enemy activities, we could already see that that insurgency in eastern is on the downtrend,” he added.

Scene of the season. After fending off sun and rain, these umbrellas morph into a colorful Christmas tree in Pikit, North Cotabato. AMIEL MARK CAGAYAN

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15,000 children benefit from ‘nutribun’ program

By Joel E. Zurbano

MORE than 15,000 public school students have benefited from the nutribun feeding program which was revived by the local government of Manila to address the malnutrition problem among children in the city.

Manila Mayor Joseph Estrada last year initiated to bring back the vitamin-enriched bread of the 1970s following reports that at least 7,500 students from Grade 1 to 6 in Manila public schools are severely malnourished.

“Mayor Estrada himself conceptualized this program. He was already a local executive when the nutribun program was first introduced in the country in the 1970s during the Marcos presidency, and he witnessed, first

hand, its positive impact,” said Dr. Benjamin Yson, head of the Manila Health Department, in a statement.

International advocacy group Stop Hunger Now has said that 66-million primary school-age children attend classes hungry across the developing world. Of the number, 30 percent go to schools with empty stomachs and not be able to understand the class lectures.

“Our department is now tak-

ing a pro-active role in ensuring that the children of Manila are healthy and strong so that they can concentrate on their studies,” said Yson.

Estrada issued Executive Order 50 (An Act creating Committee to Fight Against Hunger Among School Children) in May 2014 recognizing the undernourishment and malnutrition problem affected the psychological, emotional and physical development of schoolchildren.

In compliance with the order, the Manila Health Department subjected the school children to physical examination and later found out that 7,500 of them were malnourished. The program then started July 2014.

“As compared to the previous

plain nutribuns, Manila’s version of it is an 88-gram round, dense bread fortified with Vitamins A and C, iron, iodine and calcium, and comes in three different flavor variants—chocolate, raisins and buttermilk; and we even pair it with milk or chocolate drinks in tetra packs. The children were given these nutritious snacks every day for 120 days,” Yson said.

After 120 days, the children were again subjected to physical examination which yielded positive results. It showed that all participants in the program registered improved health condition.

A new batch of 8,000 children in public elementary schools comprise the participant-beneficiaries of the current second phase of the program.

He knows him. President Benigno Aquino III visits the wake of former Iloilo Gov. Niel Tupas Sr. in Quezon City.

QC to adopt Japan’s tech for disaster prevention

By Rio N. Araja THE Quezon City government is looking at the adoption of some of the registered disaster prevention technologies developed by Japan’s Kochi Prefecture.

According to Mayor Herbert Bautista, those being considered are the water filtration system developed by Kochi’s Aqua Designs System Ltd. and the silent piling technology by Giken Construction Ltd., he said.

Both technologies were presented by members of the Kochi Prefectural Government before local officials.

The Kochi prefecture is prone to natural disasters, especially earthquakes and tsunamis.

Bautista personally welcomed the delegation from Japan, and instructed action officer Elmo San Diego to coordinate with the group relative to the procurement process.

San Diego informed the Japanese delegates about the initiatives taken by the city government in terms of disaster preparedness.

Included in the presentation was the city’s preparedness plan during the earthquake that could be triggered by the movement of West Valley Fault system.

San Diego said he informed the group of the rehabilitation efforts that would be extended by the city government to the municipalities devastated by Typhoon “Lando” that have been adopted by the city government.

“The city’s assistance will cover the restoration of some government buildings or structures damaged by the typhoon, such as sports center, market, health centers, schools and barangay halls, as well as construction of farm-to-market roads,” he said.

Caloocan City to lead Bonifacio Day activities

By Jun David

Taxmen. Lawyer Serafin Salvador (right) talks with Fernando Gandioli and Tim Wach during the Tax and Asia Conference in Makati City. LINO SANTOS

CALOOCAN City Mayor Oscar Malapitan will lead the day-long activities in commemoration of the 152nd birth anniversary of Andres Bonifacio on Nov. 30.

The festivities will kick off with the civic-military parade along Edsa toward the Bonifacio Monument Circle to be led by a parade including the Northern Police District, local police, firemen, jail guards, nongovernment organizations, rescue and disaster volunteers and city employees.

A flag raising ceremony will follow to be led by Malapitan, Vice Mayor Macario Asistio III, Rep. Edgar Erice, Councilor Dale Gonzalo III, NPD director General

Eric Serafin Reyes, relatives of Bonifacio and National Historical Commission of the Philippines representatives.

Wreathlaying will also take place followed by 21-gun salute and taps to be performed by the Army Reserved Command.

Metro Manila Development Authority officer in charge Emerson Carlos is the city government’s guest of honor.

In the evening, a countdown will feature the opening of Christmas lights at BMC to be followed by a musical concert featuring local band group, Brownman Revival.

Motorists and commuters are advised to observe traffic reroutings leading to the venue on Monday.

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Seized ‘hot logs’ rotting in Aurora DENR office

By Ferdie G.Domingo

Climbers. Children in Baguio City, bundled up in their cold-weather garments, continue playing despite the drop in temperatures.

DAVID CHAN

ARMM exec to residents: Consume brown, black rice

By A. Perez Rimando

COTABATO CITY, Maguindanao—Department of Agriculture and Fisheries Secretary for the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao Laisa Alamia has urged the region’s residents to patronize locally produced organic brown and black rice.

Alamia, concurrent ARMM executive secretary, said colored rice is “more nutritious than its regular and commercial counterpart.”

She also said that aside from being organic, brown and black rice are 100-percent halal.

Alamia said that Maguindanao’s Mamasapano town is

the region’s leading producer of brown staple food even as other areas in the province and the region “are now converting commercial rice fields into organic rice farms.”

Since November is “Rice Awareness Month”, the region’s provincial and municipal agriculture officers and technicians have been promoting organic rice farming which is “cheaper and better to consumers’ health.”

Alamia said her agency has steadily been advancing

the “Riceponsible” campaign throughout Basilan, Lanao del Sur, Sulu, Tawi-Tawi and Maguindanao. Over P20 million worth of machinery and agriculture equipment have been distributed under the AgriPinoy Program and Payapa at Masaganang Pamayanan.

Guide books, in five dialects, on these equipment have been shared to farmers, according to Kadiguia Abdullah, chairman of the Regional Agricultural and Fisheries Information Division.

BALER, Aurora—Thousands of board feet of illegally cut logs confiscated in a series of operations are left rotting inside the compound of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources here and may no longer be usable for construction of school buildings.

Cyril Coliflores, provincial environment and natural resources officer, said the seized logs, which consists of dipterocarp species among others, are exposed to the elements in the absence of an impounding area in Barangay Pingit in this capital town.

The log haul, numbering 7,000 board feet, has an estimated value of P140,000 at P20 per board foot.

Coliflores said they could not dispose of the seized logs because they are the subject of pending court cases for violations of Presidential Decree 705 or the Forestry Laws, Rules and Regulations.

“Much as we would like to dispose of them, we could not because they are being used as evidence in court.

It’s a different thing if they have been abandoned, we can dispose of them right away,” he said.

Aside from the seized logs, also rendered useless is a Starex van used as conveyance of the log haul which was confiscated during joint operations of the DENR provincial office and its community environment and natural resources offices.

Coliflores said they are eyeing to build an impounding area in Barangay Florida in nearby Maria Aurora town for the seized logs.

He said that their men were closely monitoring illegal logging operations in Barangay Diteki in San Luis and Dinadiawan in Dipaculao as well as in the so-called Dicadi area, referring to the northern Aurora towns of Dinalungan, Casiguran and Dilasag.

The DENR last August uncovered illegally cut logs being mounted on “kolong-kolong,” a locally assembled conveyance normally used in farming activities. Last September, Coliflores said they have in their possession up to 15,000 board feet of seized forest products worth P300,000.

DILG secretary tells ousted Benguet cop to return to work

By Dexter A. See

Machinery. The Japan International Cooperation Agency has donated 17 new heavy machines to the Region 8 office of the Department of Public Works and Highways under the rehabilitation and recovery program for Typhoon ‘Yolanda.’

CAMP DANGWA, La Trinidad, Benguet—Interior and Local Government Secretary Mel Cenen Sarmiento ordered ousted Benguet Provincial Police Office commander Senior Superintendent David Q. Lacdan to report back to work and reclaim his old position.

The order was based on the recommendation of the independent task force created to look into whether or not he was remiss in his job during the onslaught of Supertyphoon “Ineng” and Tropical Storm “Lando.”

Eighteen people died in Benguet as a result of Ineng; 14 out of the 21 dead from Lando were also from the province.

Sarmiento said the task force recommended Lacdan’s re-installed as the provincial director of Benguet after finding that he was able to adhere to the policies and guidelines of the agency during the onslaught of the two typhoons that pummeled the province.

“Lacdan’s relief was a matter of procedure at that time. The red flag was already up considering that heavy death toll in Benguet last August during the height of Super Typhoon Ineng and last October when Tropical Lando took over most parts of Northern Luzon. We had to subject him to investigation whether or not he was able to perform his assigned job pursuant to our Oplan

Listo,” Sarmiento said.

However, the DILG official informed members of the media during an interaction that Lacdan was informed about the positive decision of the task force.

It seemed, however, that Lacdan would make his upcoming retirement next year a priority.

Gov. Nestor B. Fongwan cited Lacdan should not be blamed for the relatively high toll in the province as a result of the wrath of the two typhoons because it was purely the work of nature.

Fongwan added that Lacdan’s experience should not be repeated in the future and that it should serve as a lesson for DILG officials to be circumspect in their decisions.

S AT U R D AY : N O V E M B E R 2 8 , 2 0 1 5

A8

OPINION

ADELLE CHUA EDITOR

lettertotheeditor@thestandard.com.ph

OPINION

POWER POINT ELIZABETH ANGSIOCO

‘CARPE DIEM!’

[ EDI TORI A L ]

ALL THAT TROUBLE

THE Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board has launched 1342, a 24/7 hotline to which commuters can place complaints regarding public utility vehicles.

The hotline, according to the Palace, is operational nationwide.

Among the complaints that may be raised are those on reckless or arrogant drivers, defective taxi meters, and hit-and-run incidents.

Aside from the four-digit hotline, the agency has also launched mobile numbers which commuters can text or call for similar complaints.

The idea is that once the complaints are lodged, these will be forwarded to the Board’s Legal Department which will in turn schedule a hearing and issue summons to both parties. The caller will be asked if he or she is willing to attend a hearing. If not, the Board would send the respondent a reprimand letter which also asks him to explain why there should be no punishment for the alleged violation. The respondent must give an answer within five days.

In a perfect world, where everything works and everybody does as he should, this would be a good way to seek redress for complaints. Filipinos using public transportation all have horror stories of their daily commuting experiences. There will be no dearth of complaints, especially now that traffic is perennially bad and bound to get worse with the coming holiday season.

In a perfect world, too, the LTFRB will have no difficulty acting on each and every complaint. It will have enough manpower to take the messages, screen them for legitimacy, farm them out to the respective legal desks, accomplish the paperwork and then conduct the hearings as if the agency did not already have efficiency issues addressing its current responsibilities.

Commuters will likely have the same reaction to this scheme, which has been tried by other frontline agencies and which has achieved different levels of success. They will laud the intention but question the belated implementation and doubt whether it would generate the response as envisioned.

The next time we find ourselves aggrieved by PUV drivers, or frustrated at the state of public transportation in this country, we will remember, and painfully, that a hotline for complaints is not the answer.

It is, instead, better enforcement of the law and provision of services.

After all, public transportation must be driven, less by profits but more by public good.

THE TELL-TALE SET VOTE OF BAM AQUINO HAIL TO THE CHAIR VICTOR AVECILLA

BY NOW, everybody knows that Senator Paolo Benigno “Bam” Aquino IV was among the five politicians who voted to dismiss the disqualification case which election watchdog Rizalito David filed against Senator Grace Poe in the Senate Electoral Tribunal.

The three justices in the ninemember SET—Antonio Carpio, Teresita Leonardo-de Castro, and Arturo Brion—ruled that

Poe is not qualified to remain in the Senate because she is not a natural-born citizen. Senator Nancy Binay sided with the justices.

The vote of Aquino IV was quite unexpected since he belongs to the proadministration Liberal Party (LP), which is fielding exSenator Mar Roxas against Poe, who is running for president as an independent candidate in the May 2016 elections.

Speaking to the news media, Aquino IV said that he voted according to his conscience.

Good grief!

Recent history makes it is very difficult to believe that Aqui-

no IV cast a conscience vote.

When he ran for the Senate in 2013, Aquino IV anchored his campaign on opportunism, and used his famous surname to the hilt. As early as 2012, Aquino IV had been going around town trying to look like his very famous uncle, the late Senator Benigno “Ninoy” Aquino Jr. He imitated everything about his uncle—from his eyeglasses to his haircut.

Despite his lack of sufficient experience in public service, Aquino IV exploited his family ties and got his first cousin, President Benigno Aquino III, to give him a berth in the senatorial ticket of the LP. It’s dis-

A9

Aquino IV said that he voted according to his conscience.

Good grief!

turbing enough that the Aquino cousins had no qualms about breaching delicadeza. What is completely unsettling is that the Aquino cousins have the temerity to call the Binay family a political dynasty.

Although Aquino IV is almost halfway through his term in the Senate, no outstanding piece of legislation, something which could at least justify his attempt to identify himself with Ninoy, has been associated with him. So far, his ostensible role in the Senate is to support legislation favored by his cousin in Malacañang.

By casting his vote for Poe in the SET, Aquino IV now wants to project to the people that he is a statesman. The young senator may not realize it yet, but his vote invites suspicion

towards President Aquino III and the LP’s promised support for Roxas.

There is public suspicion that President Aquino III desperately needs an ally to succeed him in 2016. Aquino III knows that an ally in Malacañang will be very helpful in the event that he, as ex-president, is named a respondent in the numerous criminal cases his enemies and critics intend to lodge against him after his term.

Unfortunately for President Aquino, Roxas is not doing very well in the latest suveys. The recent entry of Davao City Mayor Rodrigo Duterte in the

Published Monday to Sunday by Philippine Manila Standard Publishing Inc. at 6/F Universal Re Building, 106 Paseo de Roxas, corner Perea St., Legaspi Village, Makati City.

Telephone numbers 832-5554, 832-5556, 832-5558 (connecting all departments), (Editorial), 832-5546, (Advertising), 832-

presidential race isn’t good news for the LP. According to the latest poll, voters in Metropolitan Manila prefer a Duterte presidency, with Poe in second place.

All the foregoing suggests that President Aquino may end up supporting Poe’s candidacy in the event that Roxas remains a losing proposition in the weeks prior to election day. In fine, Poe is the president’s alternative candidate and insurance policy. If Poe is eliminated from the race on the ground that she is not a natural-born citizen of the Philippines, President Aquino

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

may find himself in a bind. Evidently, it is in the best interests of President Aquino to keep Poe in the derby. This may be the real reason why his cousin Bam Aquino voted in favor of Poe in the SET. Can Poe really be a secret candidate of President Aquino? The surrounding circumstances seem to suggest it.

Early in her unofficial campaign for the presidency, Poe annnounced that she will continue the daang matuwid of the Aquino regime. Although Poe has been critical of a number of top Continued on A11

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

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

LIFE is fleeting. Life is short. Before we know it, we are at that stage when we look back more than forward. We learn to care more for people, feelings, relationships, rather than material things.

We value the intangibles better.

Memories, happy and sad become more frequent visitors. We are reminded of people and things past through the smallest of ways. We search our cabinets for those old, faded pictures that transport us to a different time. We stare at the faces trying to remember what we shared with those with our young selves in the photographs.

We go back and reminisce. Before we had families, before we had to work our asses off to send kids to school and make our families comfortable, we were reckless, we did silly things that would make our children cringe in disbelief. We had fun, laughed a lot, we partied. We found, made, lost, and found new love along the way. We cried at times but after, we dealt with life like we were invincible. We were young, carefree, full of ideals.

The songs of our generation flood us with feelings long gone. This happens to me a lot. Sometimes, I catch myself smiling because of a song that I have not heard for many years that gets played on the radio. I sing despite my voice that goes from one extreme to the other. The exhilaration of my youth comes back.

As years pass us by, the news we get about family and friends are increasingly about serious illnesses, or the worst, their passing on. We help as much as we can. After all, this is the only thing we can do now. We visit wakes and condole with families more frequently than we would like.

We grieve over the loss of people important to us. But we also celebrate their lives, and the time, no matter how brief, we shared with them. Eventually, in our solitude, we are confronted by, and become acutely aware of our own mortality. We deal with the reality we have always known, that we, too, shall pass —hindi tayo forever. Our time, this life, is limited. Each day we live is a day less from the rest of our lives.

So we take stock of our life. At 57, or just a few years before I enter that privileged phase of being a senior citizen, I am at that point of making new choices.

I intend to embrace this new life. I intend to seize the moment, to make each day count. Surely, I am not alone in this.

It is time to be kinder to ourselves as we continue to do things for others.

There is nothing wrong with loving ourselves first. It is not selfish. Taking care of our well-being is the biggest responsibility we have most particularly now that because of age, we are more vulnerable to health problems.

Being advance in age is not an excuse to stagnate and be idle. Inactivity can accelerate ageing. Now that we may have time, it will be good to pursue interests, old or new. Reopen that book on crafts Continued on A11 Rolando G. Estabillo Jojo A. Robles Ramonchito L. Tomeldan Chin Wong/Ray S. Eñano Francis Lagniton Joyce Pangco Pañares Adelle Chua Romel J. Mendez Roberto Cabrera

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

Emil P. Jurado Chairman Emeritus, Editiorial Board

S AT U R D AY : N O V E M B E R 2 8 , 2 0 1 5

A8

OPINION

ADELLE CHUA EDITOR

lettertotheeditor@thestandard.com.ph

OPINION

POWER POINT ELIZABETH ANGSIOCO

‘CARPE DIEM!’

[ EDI TORI A L ]

ALL THAT TROUBLE

THE Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board has launched 1342, a 24/7 hotline to which commuters can place complaints regarding public utility vehicles.

The hotline, according to the Palace, is operational nationwide.

Among the complaints that may be raised are those on reckless or arrogant drivers, defective taxi meters, and hit-and-run incidents.

Aside from the four-digit hotline, the agency has also launched mobile numbers which commuters can text or call for similar complaints.

The idea is that once the complaints are lodged, these will be forwarded to the Board’s Legal Department which will in turn schedule a hearing and issue summons to both parties. The caller will be asked if he or she is willing to attend a hearing. If not, the Board would send the respondent a reprimand letter which also asks him to explain why there should be no punishment for the alleged violation. The respondent must give an answer within five days.

In a perfect world, where everything works and everybody does as he should, this would be a good way to seek redress for complaints. Filipinos using public transportation all have horror stories of their daily commuting experiences. There will be no dearth of complaints, especially now that traffic is perennially bad and bound to get worse with the coming holiday season.

In a perfect world, too, the LTFRB will have no difficulty acting on each and every complaint. It will have enough manpower to take the messages, screen them for legitimacy, farm them out to the respective legal desks, accomplish the paperwork and then conduct the hearings as if the agency did not already have efficiency issues addressing its current responsibilities.

Commuters will likely have the same reaction to this scheme, which has been tried by other frontline agencies and which has achieved different levels of success. They will laud the intention but question the belated implementation and doubt whether it would generate the response as envisioned.

The next time we find ourselves aggrieved by PUV drivers, or frustrated at the state of public transportation in this country, we will remember, and painfully, that a hotline for complaints is not the answer.

It is, instead, better enforcement of the law and provision of services.

After all, public transportation must be driven, less by profits but more by public good.

THE TELL-TALE SET VOTE OF BAM AQUINO HAIL TO THE CHAIR VICTOR AVECILLA

BY NOW, everybody knows that Senator Paolo Benigno “Bam” Aquino IV was among the five politicians who voted to dismiss the disqualification case which election watchdog Rizalito David filed against Senator Grace Poe in the Senate Electoral Tribunal.

The three justices in the ninemember SET—Antonio Carpio, Teresita Leonardo-de Castro, and Arturo Brion—ruled that

Poe is not qualified to remain in the Senate because she is not a natural-born citizen. Senator Nancy Binay sided with the justices.

The vote of Aquino IV was quite unexpected since he belongs to the proadministration Liberal Party (LP), which is fielding exSenator Mar Roxas against Poe, who is running for president as an independent candidate in the May 2016 elections.

Speaking to the news media, Aquino IV said that he voted according to his conscience.

Good grief!

Recent history makes it is very difficult to believe that Aqui-

no IV cast a conscience vote.

When he ran for the Senate in 2013, Aquino IV anchored his campaign on opportunism, and used his famous surname to the hilt. As early as 2012, Aquino IV had been going around town trying to look like his very famous uncle, the late Senator Benigno “Ninoy” Aquino Jr. He imitated everything about his uncle—from his eyeglasses to his haircut.

Despite his lack of sufficient experience in public service, Aquino IV exploited his family ties and got his first cousin, President Benigno Aquino III, to give him a berth in the senatorial ticket of the LP. It’s dis-

A9

Aquino IV said that he voted according to his conscience.

Good grief!

turbing enough that the Aquino cousins had no qualms about breaching delicadeza. What is completely unsettling is that the Aquino cousins have the temerity to call the Binay family a political dynasty.

Although Aquino IV is almost halfway through his term in the Senate, no outstanding piece of legislation, something which could at least justify his attempt to identify himself with Ninoy, has been associated with him. So far, his ostensible role in the Senate is to support legislation favored by his cousin in Malacañang.

By casting his vote for Poe in the SET, Aquino IV now wants to project to the people that he is a statesman. The young senator may not realize it yet, but his vote invites suspicion

towards President Aquino III and the LP’s promised support for Roxas.

There is public suspicion that President Aquino III desperately needs an ally to succeed him in 2016. Aquino III knows that an ally in Malacañang will be very helpful in the event that he, as ex-president, is named a respondent in the numerous criminal cases his enemies and critics intend to lodge against him after his term.

Unfortunately for President Aquino, Roxas is not doing very well in the latest suveys. The recent entry of Davao City Mayor Rodrigo Duterte in the

Published Monday to Sunday by Philippine Manila Standard Publishing Inc. at 6/F Universal Re Building, 106 Paseo de Roxas, corner Perea St., Legaspi Village, Makati City.

Telephone numbers 832-5554, 832-5556, 832-5558 (connecting all departments), (Editorial), 832-5546, (Advertising), 832-

presidential race isn’t good news for the LP. According to the latest poll, voters in Metropolitan Manila prefer a Duterte presidency, with Poe in second place.

All the foregoing suggests that President Aquino may end up supporting Poe’s candidacy in the event that Roxas remains a losing proposition in the weeks prior to election day. In fine, Poe is the president’s alternative candidate and insurance policy. If Poe is eliminated from the race on the ground that she is not a natural-born citizen of the Philippines, President Aquino

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

may find himself in a bind. Evidently, it is in the best interests of President Aquino to keep Poe in the derby. This may be the real reason why his cousin Bam Aquino voted in favor of Poe in the SET. Can Poe really be a secret candidate of President Aquino? The surrounding circumstances seem to suggest it.

Early in her unofficial campaign for the presidency, Poe annnounced that she will continue the daang matuwid of the Aquino regime. Although Poe has been critical of a number of top Continued on A11

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

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

LIFE is fleeting. Life is short. Before we know it, we are at that stage when we look back more than forward. We learn to care more for people, feelings, relationships, rather than material things.

We value the intangibles better.

Memories, happy and sad become more frequent visitors. We are reminded of people and things past through the smallest of ways. We search our cabinets for those old, faded pictures that transport us to a different time. We stare at the faces trying to remember what we shared with those with our young selves in the photographs.

We go back and reminisce. Before we had families, before we had to work our asses off to send kids to school and make our families comfortable, we were reckless, we did silly things that would make our children cringe in disbelief. We had fun, laughed a lot, we partied. We found, made, lost, and found new love along the way. We cried at times but after, we dealt with life like we were invincible. We were young, carefree, full of ideals.

The songs of our generation flood us with feelings long gone. This happens to me a lot. Sometimes, I catch myself smiling because of a song that I have not heard for many years that gets played on the radio. I sing despite my voice that goes from one extreme to the other. The exhilaration of my youth comes back.

As years pass us by, the news we get about family and friends are increasingly about serious illnesses, or the worst, their passing on. We help as much as we can. After all, this is the only thing we can do now. We visit wakes and condole with families more frequently than we would like.

We grieve over the loss of people important to us. But we also celebrate their lives, and the time, no matter how brief, we shared with them. Eventually, in our solitude, we are confronted by, and become acutely aware of our own mortality. We deal with the reality we have always known, that we, too, shall pass —hindi tayo forever. Our time, this life, is limited. Each day we live is a day less from the rest of our lives.

So we take stock of our life. At 57, or just a few years before I enter that privileged phase of being a senior citizen, I am at that point of making new choices.

I intend to embrace this new life. I intend to seize the moment, to make each day count. Surely, I am not alone in this.

It is time to be kinder to ourselves as we continue to do things for others.

There is nothing wrong with loving ourselves first. It is not selfish. Taking care of our well-being is the biggest responsibility we have most particularly now that because of age, we are more vulnerable to health problems.

Being advance in age is not an excuse to stagnate and be idle. Inactivity can accelerate ageing. Now that we may have time, it will be good to pursue interests, old or new. Reopen that book on crafts Continued on A11 Rolando G. Estabillo Jojo A. Robles Ramonchito L. Tomeldan Chin Wong/Ray S. Eñano Francis Lagniton Joyce Pangco Pañares Adelle Chua Romel J. Mendez Roberto Cabrera

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

Emil P. Jurado Chairman Emeritus, Editiorial Board

S AT U R D AY : N O V E M B E R 2 8 , 2 0 1 5

A10

OPINION

lettertotheeditor@thestandard.com.ph

NOT FOR POE TO CLAIM AS FOUNDLING BACK­ BENCHER ROD P. KAPUNAN THE verdict made by the Senate Electoral Tribunal made up of the members of the Senate and justices of the Supreme Court, as usual, disastrously ended up not in a miscarriage of justice, but something worse than that—an insult to the intelligence of the Filipino people. The decision was most repulsive for it seems we elected senators who are willing to abnegate their duty of upholding and defending the Constitution for the sake of a misplaced collegiality and camaraderie.

They paraded their ignorance with all alacrity that they voted on the basis of sentiment and sympathy lumped into one called travesty of the law.

She failed two vital tests.

Every time a special court is formed pursuant to the mandate of the Constitution, like the creation of a Senate Impeachment Court and the SET, they come out with a disgraceful verdict. As the ancient Greeks would say, “Even the Gods in heaven cried in shame for their stupidity.” The Filipino people too wriggle in shame on that moronic decision of our senators as if to live up to the saying that “birds of the same feathers truly flock together.”

It was not the first time that verdict jointly participated in by members of the Senate ended up as a judicial disaster. It was reminiscent of the Senate Impeachment Court that was reduced to that of a Kangaroo Court when they impeached President Joseph “Erap” Estrada in 2001 and Supreme Court Chief Justice Renato Corona Jr. in 2012. The decision was all based on fabricated evidence and testimony of hallucinating witnesses, and here comes now a senator neatly stitching her lies as a foundling to cover her falsification of documents.

Justice Antonio Carpio was right that citizenship cannot automatically be conferred to one claiming to be a foundling. We

might even add that citizenship is a privilege that the Constitution clearly defines. Interpretations as to who are the citizens of this country, natural-born or naturalized, are to be strictly interpreted, more if the one claiming to be a citizen is exercising power and authority. To quote what Justice Carpio wrote, “There is no treaty, customary international law or a general principle of international law granting automatically Philippine citizenship to a foundling at birth. Respondent failed to prove that there is such customary international law. At best, there exists a presumption that a foundling is domiciled and born in the country where the founding is found.”

Even if the court will accept her fantasy that she was found at the door of the cathedral in Jaro, Iloilo, she nonetheless failed to pass two vital tests, and both are crucial to her claim as a natural-born citizen: First, it is not for Grace Poe-Llamanzares or for her acknowledged parent Jesusa Sonora, a.k.a.

Susan Roces, to say she is a foundling. It is for the person, a certain Edgardo Militar, who found her to prove that she is a founding. Yet, the very person who could have testified on her status failed to testify and submit sufficient evidence to support Poe’s claim. Second, even if the one who found her has proven that indeed she is a foundling, the person (Militar) must have proven that he is a citizen of this country.

This country does not subscribe to the principle of jus soli in determining who its citizens are, which is based on the place where one is born. Even her claim of being a foundling is a mere presumption, for aside from not being of age to consciously know that fact, nobody knows whether she was in fact given by somebody to be adopted or sold, which could effectively pull her out from that status as foundling. Besides, there is no such thing as foundling under international law which could be the proper subject in determining the nationality or citizenship of a person.

The nearest thing a foundling could be classified is that of a stateless person.

Without the person testifying, at most the claim of Grace Poe of being a founding stands on a precarious—or worse, selfser ving—presumption.

The person who found her must prove that fact much that nobody really knows whether she is a foundling

EAGLE EYES DEAN TONY LA VIÑA

ON THE EVE OF PARIS CLIMATE SUMMIT

TWO days from now, world leaders will converge in Paris, France for the 21st Conference of Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC). Meeting on the first day of the two week conference, the heads of state are expected to adopt a political declaration that will provide direction to the negotiations that will immediately follow the summit. COP 21 is the culmination of a long negotiation process for a new climate change agreement—one that will hopefully be ambitious, effective and adequate—that have been going on for four years. President Aquino and several department secretaries will be attending the leaders’ summit while a number of top officials led by Emmanuel De Guzman, a member of the Climate Change Commission, supported by technical staff and civil society advisers, will negotiate for the country.

The Philippines is in a unique position in the negotiations. It is currently the Chair of the Climate Vulnerable Forum, a collaboration of climate vulnerable countries that aims to elevate the voice of those who are at the frontlines of climate change impact in the international arena.

By holding the chairmanship at what could perhaps be one of the most crucial times in history, our country has the privilege and the responsibility to ensure that what comes out of Paris is an agreement that does right by those who are most affected by climate change.

Commissioner De Guzman frames very well the work we have to do in Paris—our position on a 1.5 degree-cap on increase of global temperature, our emphasis on human rights, and our hope for an ambi-

tious and effective climate change agreement that will reduce emissions, ensure adaptation, and provide adequate support—finance, technology transfer, and capacity building—for the mitigation and adaptation efforts of developing countries.

The Philippine delegation will take its cue from the speech of President Aquino on Monday. That is one of the most awaited speeches because he will speak not only for us but for many vulnerable countries. I am certain President Aquino will do well and will be one of the most influential heads of state in the one day leaders’ summit on Nov. 30.

He will likely repeat his call for all countries to act on climate change based on common but differentiated responsibilities and to abandon the politics of blame. He will tell his fellow leaders that the Philippine is walking its talk by committing to reduce its emissions by 70 percent in 2030 based on its business-as-usual emissions between 2000-2030.

The delegation, over 50 of us, will take over from the President after the leaders’ summit. For the first time since Kyoto, we have negotiators from all the critical departments—Office of the President, Climate Change Commission, Foreign Affairs, Agriculture, Energy, Transportation and Communication, Neda, Pagasa, Finance, and Science and Technology. We will also have the benefit of the presence of key legislators Senator Loren Legarda and Rep. Rodel Batocabe, ensuring that we can consult on legislative actions that might be taken after Paris. And of course there are a number of us from civil society organizations, including a number of lawyers, technical experts,

and youth delegates from Ateneo de Manila, providing support to our negotiators.

I write this column just before I board my plane to Paris. This is my 15th conference of the parties as a negotiator for the Philippines; President Aquino is the fourth president I have served on this issue. I am humbled and honored by this and promise to do my best and help our government and people to secure the best deal possible.

As reported by Rappler, Commissioner De Guzman eloquently points that: “This is really the defining moment in our history. This agreement will essentially define the fate of humanity and our planet.” He adds: “We are an important player here, in these climate talks. We are considered the face of climate vulnerability.”

De Guzman emphasizes the human rights message we will be bringing as a country and delegation to Paris. The truth is what we will decide in Paris can mean life or death, prosperity or poverty, health or sickness, and above all hope or despair not for states or countries but for real individuals, families, communities and whole peoples.

The worse outcomes will happen if, in Paris, we fail to adopt the most ambitious mitigation and adaptation goals possible, if we don’t back up these goals with right levels of finance and strong technology cooperation initiatives, and if we also fail to respect peoples’ rights when countries implement mitigation and adaptation programs.

I have told the story once before of the first time I visited Paris 34 years ago. It was spring of 1981, in fact it was May 1, 1981—workers’ day. This was a few weeks before the second round of presidential elec-

tions that Francoise Mitterrand would eventually win, the first time in generations that a socialist was going to become the president of France. And so on May 1, 1981, here I was, this young activist and myself a socialist, who came from a country that was then ruled by a dictator where we could not even protest, where socialism was a bad name and could get you jailed and even killed, there I was marching in the streets of Paris with fellow socialists, communists who supported Mitterrand, workers, and young people. Victory was in the air. I have to say it was exhilarating.

At the end of that day, I recalled the words of the great French writer Albert Camus: “In the depths of winter, I finally learned that there was in me an invincible summer.” That’s my hope in Paris for all of us negotiators: that we discover in ourselves, all of us who are there, discover an invincible summer that will allow us to see things clearly with light and warmth.

In the city of light and of love, in the city where the United Nations in 1948 adopted the Universal Declaration on Human Rights, in the city where the people of France more than 200 years ago overthrew a despotic monarchy and issued the French Declaration of the Rights of Man, lets add one more accolade—Paris, this is the city where the countries and peoples of the world finally turned around and once for all grappled with climate change, stared and wrestled it down together, and begin to overcome it—all of us, all countries and all peoples, and all, to use words from Camus again, in communion and solidarity.

or a fruit of a crime like snatching or kidnapping.

Proving that she was found in the Philippines by a Filipino citizen is mandatory.

This is important because what we observe in this country is based on the principle of jus sanguinis, that in order for her to qualify as a Filipino citizen, she must prove that the one who found her is also a citizen of this country. This we say because the one who found her stands as her father. This is the reason his citizenship needs to be verified.

Hence, when Grace Poe claimed to be a foundling, in effect there is no person she could point to as her biological parents to bolster her claim of being a Filipino citizen by blood. Poe and those who have been hooting for her

to run for president, are obviously ignorant or stupid, or both, and are out to put to trash what is clearly provided for in the Constitution. Their legal strategy to position herself as a foundling, in effect, placed her in the category of a stateless person. International law does not mention anything about foundlings. The United Nations High Commissioner on Refugees, which is the agency tasked to determine the status of persons, particularly refugees, says that the person’s nationality or citizenship are classified into two: 1) persons with nationality/ citizenship; and 2) persons without nationality or stateless persons.

The determination by the UNHCR of nationality or citizenship is necessary

to give those persons the status of refugees, thereby allowing them to apply for citizenship in the country where they intend to settle.

To quote the UNHCR definition of “statelessness”: “The international legal definition of a stateless person is set out in Article 1 of the 1954 Convention relating to the Status of Stateless Persons, which defines a stateless person as “a person who is not considered as a national by any State under the operation of its law”. This means that a stateless person is someone who does not have a nationality of any country. Some people are born stateless, while others become stateless over the course of their lives.”

It added: “To understand how a person can lack a nationality, it helps to know

how nationality works in practice. In simple terms, you acquire a nationality automatically at birth or you obtain one later on in life. Those who acquire nationality at birth do so because they were born in a country that gives nationality through birth on their territory (jus soli) or because their parents were able to transmit their nationality to their children (jus sanguinis), which usually applies regardless of where the child was born. Sometimes, however, people need to apply to become a national of a country and base their application on years of residence or a family link with the given country.”

The question now is this: Where does Grace PoeLlamanzares go from here?

Facebook: Dean Tony La Vina Twitter: tonylavs

rpkapunan@gmail.com

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OPINION lettertotheeditor@thestandard.com.ph

WHAT I EXPECT FROM THE UN CLIMATE CHANGE CONFERENCE IN PARIS

By Ban Ki-moon FOR the nearly nine years that I have been secretary-general, I have traveled the world to the front-lines of climate change, and I have spoken repeatedly with world leaders, business people and citizens about the need for an urgent global response.

Why do I care so much about this issue?

First, like any grandfather, I want my grandchildren to enjoy the beauty and bounty of a healthy planet. And like any human being, it grieves me to see that floods, droughts and fires are getting worse, that island nations will disappear and uncounted species will become extinct.

As His Holiness Pope Francis and other faith leaders have reminded us, we have a moral responsibility to act in solidarity with the poor and most vulnerable who have done least to cause climate change and will suffer first and worst from its effects.

Second, as the head of the United Nations, I have prioritized climate change because no country can meet this challenge alone. Climate change carries no passport; emissions released

The tell-tale..From A9 officials of the Aquino administration lately, Poe has never said anything damaging to the president himself. Just recently, President Aquino III welcomed the ruling of the SET, and said that the Filipino people should be allowed to resolve the Poe issue at the ballot box.

Unfortunately for Roxas, the LP has a record of abandoning even some of its staunch-

Carpe...From A9 that you have been wanting to pursue for years. Intrigued about the magic of the worldwide net? Take short courses or have your son or daughter tutor you. You taught them virtually everything, they should be able to spare some hours so you become a techie. Whatever your interest is, pursue it.

Reconnect with friends. Attend class reunions and go back in time together. Nothing can be more fun than doing this.

anywhere contribute to the problem everywhere. It is a threat to lives and livelihoods everywhere. Economic stability and the security of nations are under threat.

Only through the United Nations can we respond collectively to this quintessentially global issue.

The negotiation process has been slow and cumbersome.

But we are seeing results. In response to the UN’s call, more than 166 countries, which collectively account for more than 90 percent of emissions, have now submitted national climate plans with targets. If successfully implemented, these national plans bend the emissions curve down to a projected global temperature rise of approximately 3 degrees Celsius by the end of the century.

This is significant progress.

But it is still not enough. The challenge now is to move much further and faster to reduce global emissions so we can keep global temperature rise to below 2 degrees Celsius. At the same time, we must support countries to adapt to the inevitable consequences that are already upon us.

The sooner we act, the greater

the benefits for all: increased stability and security; stronger, more sustainable economic growth; enhanced resilience to shocks; cleaner air and water; improved health.

We will not get there overnight.

The climate change conference in Paris is not the end point. It must mark the floor, not the ceiling of our ambition. It must be the turning point towards a lowemission, climate-resilient future.

Around the world, momentum is building. Cities, businesses and investors, faith leaders and citizens are acting to reduce emissions and build resilience.

The responsibility now rests with governments to conclude a meaningful, binding agreement in Paris that provides clear rules of the road for strengthening global ambition. For this, negotiators need clear guidance from the top.

I believe this is forthcoming.

The leaders of the G20, who met earlier this month in Antalya, Turkey, showed strong commitment to climate action.

And more than 120 Heads of State and Government have confirmed their participation in Paris, despite heightened security concerns in the wake of the terrorist attacks.

I see four essential elements for Paris to be a success: durability, flexibility, solidarity and credibility.

First, durability. Paris must provide a long-term vision consistent with a below 2 degrees trajectory, and send a clear signal to markets that the low-carbon transformation of the global economy is inevitable, beneficial and already under way.

Second, the agreement must provide flexibility so it does not need to be continually renegotiated. It must be able to accommodate changes in the global economy and strike a balance between the leadership role of developed countries and the increasing responsibilities of developing countries.

Third, the agreement must demonstrate solidarity, including through financing and technology transfer for developing countries.

Developed countries must keep their pledge to provide $100 billion a year by 2020 for adaptation and mitigation alike.

Fourth, an agreement must demonstrate credibility in responding to rapidly escalating climate impacts. It must include regular five-year cycles for governments to assess and

strengthen their national climate plans in line with what science demands. Paris must also include transparent and robust mechanisms for measuring, moni-toring and reporting progress.

The UN stands fully ready to support countries in implementing such an agreement.

A meaningful climate agreement in Paris will build a better today —and tomorrow. It will help us end poverty. Clean our air and protect our oceans.

Improve public health. Create new jobs and catalyze green innovations. It will accelerate progress towards all of the Sustainable Development Goals.

That is why I care so deeply about climate change.

My message to world leaders is clear: success in Paris depends on you. Now is the time for common sense, compromise and consensus. It is time to look beyond national horizons and to put the common interest first.

The people of the world—and generations to come—count on you to have the vision and courage to seize this historic moment.

est supporters when to do so best suits the interests of its top leaders.

Back in 1968, a disqualification case was filed against LP Senator Ninoy Aquino in the SET. NP Senator Rodolfo Ganzon of Iloilo cast his vote in favor of Ninoy. Ganzon’s vote gave Ninoy a 5-4 victory. Because he voted for Ninoy, Ganzon was expelled from the NP. In 1969, Ganzon joined the LP, ran for re-election, but lost.

After being detained during the Martial Law years, Ganzon found himself running against candidates fielded against him by the LP leaders in Iloilo.

During the Martial Law period, the LP was in hibernation because its top leaders fled to the United States. Ex-Senator Eva Estrada-Kalaw was the only LP stalwart who bravely kept the LP involved in the political opposition. Kalaw aligned the LP with other opposition groups

led by then Assemblyman Salvador “Doy” Laurel. Thus organized, the political opposition won a third of the seats in the Batasang Pambansa in the 1984 elections. After the 1986 People Power Revolution, the old LP leaders came back from abroad, seized the LP from Kalaw, and kicked her out of the party.

Esteban Salonga, son of exSenator Jovito Salonga of the LP and a party supporter himself, sought the blessings of the par-

ty in his bid for the provincial leadership of Rizal Province.

The LP ignored Salonga and decided to field somebody else.

All told, the political scenario seems bleak for Mar Roxas. If Roxas intends to win in May 2016, he must re-invent his campaign strategy, and prepare his own alternative plan in the event that the LP abandons him for Poe. His dedicated supporters deserve nothing short of that.

Rekindling friendships is NEVER wrong.

Forgive those who wronged you. Make amends with those you wronged. Let go of regrets.

Such negative feelings will stress and bog you down. Saying sorry though belatedly will make baggages go away. Humility is always good. At this point, we should be able to accept things that we can no longer change. Acceptance, forgiveness, letting go, and apologizing will lighten our feelings.

Go and have an adventure. Do things you have always wanted to

do but never had the time or the energy to. Visit exotic places, take up sports, cook and prepare that dish that has always intrigued you. Having a sense of accomplishment knows no age.

Exercise. Run, walk, dance.

Do something physical. Develop those muscles and burn the fat that has made you feel sluggish and ugly. Physical fitness makes us feel young. There is no rule that says oldies cannot be physically sound.

Smile. Laugh. Even at yourself.

Smiling makes us prettier and

laughter, as they say, is the best medicine. Have fun and others will have fun with us. No one wants to be around a grumpy old person.

Give. Do things for others. Get involved in a community project or a charity no matter how small.

Be thankful that we are in a position to help. Doing good will never go out of fashion. More importantly, it gives us a different high.

Love. And show your love whether its for family or, if you are free, love that someone you have always dreamed of. Age is

of no importance. Feelings do not count the lines on our faces.

In fact, they give us more character. Romantic love can happen at any stage of our lives. Let us not deny ourselves.

Tell people we love that we love them. Do it today. Do it everyday we can. We do not know until when we will be able to do this.

Live our life to the fullest. Seize the moment. Carpe diem!

#FAILOCRACY

The writer is secretary-general of the United Nations.

bethangsioco@gmail.com @bethangsioco on Twitter Elizabeth Angsioco on FaceBook

CHONG ARDIVILLA

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sports sports@thestandard.com.ph

Coe vows to steady ‘rocking’ IAAF Sebastian Coe has vowed to guide the IAAF “back to trust” after a series of corruption and doping scandals that has seen global athletics crash into its darkest ever days.

Home Ultera, Army start Shakey’s V-L title duel Games today 12:45 p.m. – PLDT vs Army (Finals) 3 p.m. – Navy vs UP (Battle for third)

WOmEN’S volleyball goes a notch higher as powerhouse teams PLDT Home Ultera and Army collide in what is tipped to be an explosive opener of their best-of-three series for the Shakey’s V-League Season 12 Reinforced Conference crown at The Arena in San Juan City.

Though the Ultra Fast Hitters appear to enjoy a slight edge in manpower with the return of ace hitter Alyssa Valdez and the presence of imports Victoria Hurtt and Sareaa Freeman, the Lady Troopers hope to lean on their vast championship experience, guaranteeing a slam-bang action right in the first serve up to the last hit.

Gametime is at 12:45 p.m. to be shown live on GmA News TV Channel 11.

The battle for third place between Navy and University of the Philippines will also be aired live starting at 3 p.m, according to the organizing Sports Vision.

Army and Home Ultera are coming into the finals oozing with confidence following lopsided victories over their respective rivals in the Final Four of the seasonending conference sponsored

by Shakey’s. The top seeded Lady Troopers swamped the Navy Lady Sailors, 25-16, 2510, 25-22, while the Ultra Fast Hitters waylaid the UP Lady maroons, 25-11, 25-17, 25-17.

While Hurtt and Freeman are expected to provide the power and net defense for Home Ultera, focus will also be on Valdez, who will be playing in his first game after sitting out the elims and the semis of the tournament presented

by PLDT Home Ultera and backed by mikasa and Accel.

World number one Jordan Spieth of the US tees off on the 12th hole on the first day of the Australian Open golf tournament at the Australian Golf Club in Sydney on November 26, 2015. AFP

Spieth trails by five in Australian Open WORLD number one Jordan Spieth trailed five shots behind leader Lincoln Tighe after the first round of the Australian Open in Sydney Thursday, with the defending champion and double major winner citing tough, windy conditions.

Texas-born Spieth was tied 19th place on the first day after he recorded three birdies and an equal number of bogeys in a level par 71 on the Australian Club course.

Australian Tighe, 26, who is the reigning New South Wales PGA champion and is also into the final qualifying stage of next month’s PGA Tour’s secondary Web.com Tour, meanwhile enjoyed a one shot lead with a five under par 66.

He was followed by fellow Australian matthew Jones, who shot a 67, as former Australian Open winner Geoff Ogilvy shared third place with Taiwan amateur Chun-An Yu and Australia’s Todd Sinnott -- all scoring three under par 68s.

Spieth began his day holing a 12foot right-to-left birdie at the par four 10th hole, which he later singled out as the highlight of a frustrating day.

He then moved to two under par with a birdie at his fifth hole but dropped a shot at the next before getting back to two under par with a birdie at his ninth.

The 22-year old then bogeyed his 13th and final holes where he pulled the wrong club to leave his second shot well short of the green.

“It was difficult out there as we played a lot of holes in side-winds, so it was just a guessing game really,” he said.

“It’s been a while since I’ve played in wind like this and with the toughest part in deciding what shot to hit. You can use the same club and end up with a 30-yard difference based on if you hold the ball up or ride the wind.”

And there was no better example than at the par-4 ninth hole and the 18th of his round where Spieth’s second shot was a good 10-yards short of the putting surface.

“That last hole was really tough as I just didn’t know what to hit and I ended up two clubs off, thinking the wind was helping when it was actually hurting,” he said.

“Lee (Westwood) and Geoff (Ogilvy) had the same trouble. We

just had no idea. But I still should have made par.

“If you give me 100 balls, I’ll get down in two 95 times from where I was. It was a brain-fart there.”

Tighe is contesting his second Australian Open appearance after missing the cut a year ago.

“I am very pleased as I have always loved the Australian Club as it seems to set up so well for me, so I am not surprised as my game has been good for some time now,” he said.

“And this round is good timing as I head back to the States on December 7th for the final round of qualifying for the Web.com Tour.

“I am already assured my card but then if I manage to finish top45 you get a full Tour card.”

Australia’s Adam Scott gamely fought back from double bogeys at his seventh and ninth holes, managing to complete his inward nine in three under to join Spieth sharing 19th place at level par.

COmPLETED SCORES Leading first round scores at the Australian Open on the par 71 Australian Club course, Sydney, Australia on Thursday.

Speaking after an IAAF Council meeting on Thursday, Coe stepped down from his lucrative ambassadorial role for Nike over what some people dubbed as a conflict of interest, notably over the award of the 2021 world championships to Eugene, located in the same Oregan state as the giant US sportswear company.

“The journey back to trust is not a scientific one, there’s is no certainty in this,” said Coe. “But it does have to start with making sure that we have an organisation that is fit for purpose and can deliver the services that it needs to, and can maintain and rebuild the reputation that clearly has been hit very hard in the last few weeks.”

Coe’s alleged conflict of interest to one side, his predecessor Lamine Diack is under French police investigation for allegedly having accepted more than one million euros in bribes to allow athletes compete despite them having tested positive for banned substances.

In the wake of those shocking revelations, the IAAF then acted on a bombshell report by an independent commission of the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) by banning Russia from all international competition because of what it called systematic state-sponsored doping of its athletes.

Coe, a two-time Olympic 1500m gold medallist for Britain, was in no doubt that the transformation of the IAAF and athletics, the Olympic’s main sport, would take some time.

Otico barges into Phinma semis JOHN Bryan Otico moved closer to a dream crack at the PSC-Phinma International Juniors Tennis Championships crown when he toppled muhammad Althaf Dhaifullah, 6-2, 6-3, to advance to the Final Four of the Week 2 tilt at the Rizal memorial Tennis Center yesterday.

Otico, who earlier dominated Yusuke miyai of Japan and thwarted David marshall Nguyen of the US, flashed top form from start to finish to dominate his Indonesian rival and arrange a tough semis duel with Week 1 winner Naoki Tajima of Japan.

Tajima, bidding to complete a sweep of the two-leg Grade 4 ITF tournament sponsored by Phinma Group of Companies and the Philippine Sports Commission, foiled compatriot Kazuki Shimizu, 6-4, 6-3.

But the top-seeded Tajima expects a tougher challenge from Otico, one of the mainstays of the Philippine Tennis Academy, headed by Rommie Chan, Oscar Hilado and Jean Henri Lhuillier with Jun Toledo as coach, who hopes to draw inspiration from the crowd as he tries to keep his title bid going.

Japan’s James Trotter pulled off a thrilling 6-7(1), 6-4, 7-5 escape win over Thai Kittirat Kerdlaphee to seal the other semis duel with No. 2 Yeongseok Jeong, who routed Taiwan’s Ho Jun Lee, 6-1, 6-3.

But while Otico stayed in the hunt, fellow PTA member and Week 1 champion Khim Iglupas fell in ambush, dropping a 6-2, 6-4 setback to Japan’s Ayumi Hirata in their quarterfinal clash in the girls’ side of the event backed by mariposa Foundation, Dunlop Fort All Court Balls and Orchids Garden Suites.

Friendly game. ARMM Governor Mujiv Hataman (center) leads the ceremonial toss during the Shoot for Peace friendly game between Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) legends of Team Trabaho led by former TESDA Secretary Joel Villanueva (2nd from right) and selected ARMM employees of the ARMM All Stars last Wednesday, , Nov. 25. With Hataman is ARMM Vice Governor Haroun Al-Rashid Lucman. OMAR MANGORSI

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sports sports@thestandard.com.ph

Fury faces acid test vs Klitschko TySOn Fury faces the acid test of his boasts that he will end Wladimir Klitschko’s four-year reign as undisputed world heavyweight champion when the pair clash in Duesseldorf on Saturday.

The 27-year-old english challenger is undefeated in his 24 fights with 18 knock-outs as he faces the vastly more experienced champion, 12 years his senior, who holds the WBa, IBF, IBO and WBO belts.

Fury has much to prove at Duesseldorf’s esprit arena, having insisted he has spotted ‘chinks’ in Klitschko’s armour and has promised to ‘expose’ him in the ring.

“Old guy, young guy. Old champion, new champion. enough said,” was Fury’s succinct appraisal.

Klitschko, 39, suffered the last of his three defeats more than a decade ago and plans to make Fury the 54th knock-out and 65th win of his career.

British captain Leon Smith (eft British Andy Murray attend the drawing of the games ahead of the Davis Cup World Group final between Belgium and Great Britain, on November 26, 2015 at the Flanders Expo in Gent.

The final will be played from 27 to 29 November 2015. AFP

Olympics places up for grabs in Senegal Senegal host an eight-nation Olympics football qualifying tournament during the next 15 days with the top three finishers securing places at the 2016 Rio games.

South africa, Tunisia and Zambia are in group a with the Senegalese and group B comprises algeria, egypt, Mali and 1996 gold medallists nigeria.

Owen Da gama of South africa could have been speaking for all eight coaches when he spoke about the opening game against Senegal at Stade leopold Sedar Senghor in Dakar.

“This match will define our destiny. Our aim is to start well because an opening-round loss will place us under pressure in the remaining two group games,” he said. group matches are scheduled for the 60,000-seat national stadium in Dakar and the 5,000-capacity Stade Caroline Faye in M’Bour, 70 kilometres (44 miles) south of the capital city.

Murray, Edmund lead Britain in Davis Cup hunt Kyle edmund will have a Davis Cup baptism of fire for Britain in Ghent on Friday when he leads the way in a final against Belgium that no-one expected at the start of the year.

The 20-year-old newcomer will be a big underdog against top Belgian player David goffin, but the British team has a safety net in that their spearhead, world number two andy Murray, then takes on lowly-ranked Ruben Bemelmans.

The likely outcome is a 1-1 tie at the end of the first day that will set the scene for a potentially decisive doubles on Saturday when Murray and older brother Jamie will take on the untested pairing of Steve Darcis and Kimmer Coppejans.

Both sides are set on making history in a tennis showpiece shrouded in doubt for a while over the Belgian-based terrorist

attacks on Paris.

Britain’s last win in the Davis Cup came in 1936 when Fred Perry was the kingpin.

Belgium have only reached the final once and that came 111 years ago, in the early days of the competition, when they lost to what was then the British Isles team.

Murray, Britain’s outstanding player of the modern era, has already etched his name in the record books with his US Open grand Slam win in 2012 and above all his 2013 Wimbledon triumph, which was also the first time that had happened for a British player since Perry won in 1936. a Davis cup triumph would

doubly seal his place in tennis history, having already won all eight rubbers he has played this year -- six singles and two doubles.

Only two players before him -John Mcenroe and Mats Wilander -- have won all eight singles games since the Davis Cup World group was started.

Murray though insists it is more than just a matter of him against the Belgians on a specially prepared indoors claycourt in the Flanders expo centre as many are portraying the final to be.

- lot of pressure -”I think if you look at it that way, they’re actually putting a lot of pressure on their own players in the other matches, to be honest,” he said.

“I’m happy to take as much pressure on my shoulders as is needed.

I’ve been in that position I think a lot of times in my career. I think I will be able to deal with it okay.” edmund, who won a second-tier

Challenger title on clay in Buenos aires earlier this month to grab the attention of team captain leon Smith, said that he knew he would be wading into unchartered waters on Friday.

“This is definitely going to be the biggest crowd I’ve played in front of.

Probably the biggest occasion,” the world number 100 said.

“The experience I’ve had close to that is probably in Paris in my (French Open) first round when I played a French guy in front of a loud French crowd. That’s my experience in that regard.

“But, yeah, this will definitely be louder, a lot more people watching.

It a new experience for me.”

Belgian coach Johan van Herck agreed that while Belgium would start as the underdogs due to the Murray factor, having home advantage, as the Belgians have had throughout their 2015 campaign, could be a real boost.

Finns’ feud adds spice to Abu Dhabi finale THe rest of the world may only be looking on with mild curiosity, but for two feuding Finns this weekend’s season-ending abu Dhabi grand Prix has more meaning than most.

Valtteri Bottas of Williams and his quiet, near-taciturn compatriot Kimi Raikkonen of Ferrari are separated by just a point in the drivers’ championship, with the former ahead in fourth place.

That means much for Bottas whose recent clashes with his compatriot have ignited his pride and, he says, made him want to hang on to his position at least for the sake of his team.

“I think the main thing would be for us, as a team, to be at least ahead of one quicker car in the championship and with me that would be nice,” said Bottas.

“It doesn’t change at all if it’s Kimi or someone else I’m fighting with for that position,” he added with the corporate perfection of a professional and a deadpan expression that was at odds with recent feelings between the two men. “as a driver, I want to get every position that’s possible, of course. “and with the car we have and with what we are doing as a team I want to get the maximum out of it -- and the maximum ranking in the championship.”

De-coded by most F1 paddock observers, this translated into a personal feud that both men prefer to ignore.

Raikkonen, for his part, remained low-key and said that all he cared about was trying to win Sunday’s race.

The real feelings of both are not likely to be revealed until after what promises to be a spectacular finale.

Raikkonen had earlier given his customary shrug and admitted he had been “pretty average” in racing for Ferrari this year with fourtime champion Sebastian Vettel as a team-mate.

“Pretty average, I must say,” he summed up. “Better than last year, but still far away from what it should be, but that is life “and next year we try again.”

Raikkonen, 131 points adrift of Vettel, added that he felt Ferrari had improved on 2014.

“We improve a lot from last year, but still we are not happy. When I don’t finish five races, however many we have done, you don’t expect to be very high up.

Ferrari’s Finnish driver Kimi Raikkonen (in red jersey) and Lotus F1 Team’s French driver Romain Grosjean sit during the press conference at the Yas Marina circuit in Abu Dhabi on November 26, 2015 ahead of the Abu Dhabi Formula One Grand Prix. AFP

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SPORTS sports@thestandard.com.ph

Serena headlines 2nd int’l tennis tilt in PH

Coach Aldin Ayo celebrates with the Letran Knights after they beat the an Beda Red Lions in the recent NCAA championship.

Ayo, however, left the Knights for good after he accepted an offer from La Salle to coach the Green Archers.

THE country’s most powerful broadband PLDT HOME Fibr is set to bring in the world’s top tennis players for season two of the International Premier Tennis League (IPTL) once again.

Commencing on December 2 in Kobe, Japan, the IPTL’s three-day Manila-leg will be played from December 6-8 at the Mall of Asia Arena as part of a five-nation tour.

Scheduled stops at New Delhi, Dubai, and Singapore will follow.

Headlining this year’s crop of tennis superstars for the newly-branded Philippine Mavericks team is none other than the current number one Women’s Tennis Association (WTA) pro, Serena Williams.

Known as ‘Meka’ and ‘Momma Smash’, Williams has won the most major singles, doubles, and mixed doubles titles combined for active players, male or female. Her assault on the four major tennis competitions, also known as the Grand Slam—the Australian Open, the French Open, Wimbledon and the US Open, played in that order—has elevat-

ed Williams to such lofty status that winning four of those tournaments in a row is now referred to as a “Serena Slam”.

She has achieved this twice in her career: once between 2002 and 2003, and recently with her win at the 2014 US Open and through the first three Grand Slams of 2015. Williams holds a total of 34 Grand Slam titles, putting her seventh on the record books.

Only the fourth player in WTA history to reach 250 weeks as the world’s top seed, Williams recently surpassed Chris Evert, who was ranked number one by a total of 260 weeks, by an additional week. The only players ahead of Williams are the retired greats Martina Navratilova (332 weeks) and Steffi Graf (377 weeks).

Since Williams still actively competes and shows no signs of slowing down, it is likely that she will soon hold the all-time record.

A powerful server, Williams was once clocked at a peak serve of 128.6 mph (207.0 km/h), the third fastest in history, putting her behind her sister Venus (at 129 mph) and Sabine Lisicki (131 mph).

No replacement yet for Ayo

By Peter Atencio

LETRAN has agreed to part ways with its champion coach Aldin Ayo. Fr. Vic Calvo, Letran’s athletic moderator, said, however, that the Letran management has yet to find a replacement for Ayo, who steered the Knights into the championship in the 91st season of the National Collegiate Athletic Association men’s basketball tournament in their title duel against the San Beda Red Lions. The feat also ended Letran’s ten-year title drought.

But barely a month after guiding Letran to the NCAA title, Ayo was approached by officials of De La Salle University and asked him to coach the Green Archers in the University Athletic Association of the Philippines. The Green Archers failed to make it to the Final Four of the league’s 78th season, and their coach, Juno Sauler, resigned.

Calvo said that Letran officials have already convened a search committee, which will, in turn, set up a criteria in their search for the Knights’ next head coach, who is expected to continue where Ayo left off as the team prepares to defend its title next season.

But the school officials said that the committee has yet to draw up a list.

“Wala pa kaming coach. Wala pa knga aming listahan,” said Calvo, who added that the selection of the new coach will undergo the same process. “Kung ano iyung ginawa namin, at kung paano na-

kita si Aldin Ayo, iyun din ang gagawin namin,” added Calvo.

But while Letran has yet to draw an official list, the names of former PBA player Glen Capacio, Ayo’s assistant coach Louie Gonzales, and former Letran cager Kerby Raymundo have surfaced as possible candidates as the Knights’ new coach.

Ayo, meanwhile, has reportedly come to terms with La Salle management with regards with his contract with the team.

According to sources, Ayo has accepted La Salle’s offer following his meeting with La Salle officials

led by its manager Danding Cojuangco, and that La Salle will buy out Ayo’s multi-year contract with Letran.

In other developments, the University of Perpetual Help also took in a new coach in former Altas cager Nick Omorogbe.

The news was confirmed by NCAA Management Committee representative Jeff Tamayo in a message on twitter.

“Yes, nagpalit na tayo ng coach.

We will have our alumni Nick Omorogbe,” said Tamayo, Omorogbe will take over the post from Aric del Rosario.

Diale gets crack at OPBF title, Claveras eyes vacant WBC crown IN an exciting fight card staged

by United International Boxing Promotions under Japan’s Ryuta Kato, Ardin “The Jackal” Diale gets another crack at the Oriental and Pacific Boxing Federation title when he faces countryman Renoel Pael on December 2 at the Highway Hills Integrated School Gymnasium in Mandaluyong City which is a hotbed of boxing in Metro Manila.

The 27-year old Diale who is ranked No. 1 by the OPBF has a record of 29-9-3 with 15 knockouts and is coming off a win over Indonesia’s tough Heri Amol who retired in the 6th round last July 11.

It was Diale’s sixth win in a row

after he lost his first crack at the vacant OPBF title by an 8th round knockout to Japan’s Koki Eto at the famed Korakuen Hall in Tokyo last June 17, 2014.

Diale’s has trained hard and looked impressive in his six fight winning streak and is slightly favored over 25 year old Renoel “Singwancha” Pael who has a record of 19-1-1 with 9 knockouts.

Pael who is ranked No. 5 by the OPBF is coming off an impressive 3rd round knockout over Renante Suacasa in a scheduled ten round bout last July 14 .

However, Asian Fight Scene reported that Pael’s best showing was against the heavy handed

Japanese Yuki Onaha which was not even close, with Pael putting on a master-class against a man who looked out of his depth. In August last year.

The internet site suggested that fight fans keep an eye on Pael who lost a hometown decision to Noknoi Sithpraesert in a WBC International Silver title fight in Thailand on Feb. 28, 2014.

In a clash for the vacant WBC International light flyweight championship Richard Claveras faces Jerry Tomogdan in the main supporting bout.

Claveras has a record of 13-1-2 with 12 knockouts and his only loss was a 1st round TKO to WBC world champion Pedro Guevara last April

Diale (left) in action

when he went toe-to-toe with the Mexican and paid the price.

He then returned to the ring to retain his WBC Asian Boxing

Council title with twelve round unanimous decision over Benezr Alolod last July 11. Ronnie Nathanielsz

S AT U R DAY : N 0 V E M B E R 2 8 , 2 0 1 5

A15

SPORTS sports@thestandard.com.ph

Tamaraws wary of Tigers as Game 2 unfolds today THERE is no reason for the Far Eastern University Tamaraws to think that the series is over just because they won Game 1 of the Finals of the University Athletic Association of the Philippines by a comfortable margin, 75-64 against the University of Santo Tomas Growling Tigers.

FEU coach Nash Racela said he continues to remind the Tamaraws that if they play too confident and too complacent, the Growling Tigers can come back and tie the series, which is something that they don’t want to happen.

“We have a win. But, it’s not over. We need another one,” said

Aces...

From A16

Games Today (Mall of Asia Arena, Pasay City) 3 p.m. - Mahindra vs. Meralco 5:15 p.m. - San Miguel vs. Star

Racela, as the Tamaraws prepare for their Game 2 showdown set at 3:30 p.m. today at the Araneta Coliseum.

Racela said there is absolutely no room for complacency since things could easily turn around, a lesson which they learned from their heartbreaking loss to the National Uni-

versity Bulldogs in the finals has the most number of league titles last season. with 19, followed by UST and Uni“We expect them (Tigers) to versity of the East with 18 each. come back strong. We But UST’s top gun learned our lesson from and skipper Kevin Game today (Game 2, Finals) last year,” added Racela.

Ferrer said they need 3:30 p.m. -- FEU vs UST In the finals against to get back big, even the Bulldogs, the as he rued the Tigers Tamaraws took Game 1, only to losing the rebounding battle lose the next two games and the against the Tamaraws. title to NU, which won a UAAP “Ito (rebounds) ang strength title after 60 years. ng FEU. Natalo kami sa re“We lost that (against the bounds. Iwo-work out namin Bulldogs) series. We’re hoping ito,” stated Ferrer. that this will be a good reminder Ferrer added that their coach, for us,” added Racela.

Bong De la Cruz, had said that The Tamaraws are eyeing to they need to keep FEU from pocket its first crown in nearly a controlling the boards again. decade and their 20th overall. FEU Peter Atencio

Rey Mark Belo of FEU is surrounded by UST defenders Louie Vigil and Mario Bonleon of during Game 1 of the UAAP Finals at the Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay City. LINO SANTOS

in the first and then coasted to a double-digit lead in the second period before establishing a gigantic 20-point bubble, 64-44, at the 3:11 mark of the third frame after a basket from Jvee Casio.

At that point, it seemed that the Aces were headed for a relatively easy finish especially after carrying a comfortable 68-52 spread heading into the final quarter.

But the stubborn Road Warriors, led by Sean Anthony who suddenly caught fire, rallied and uncorked a 12-2 run with under five minutes left to threaten as the 20-point Alaska lead turned into just four, 82-78, after back-to-back baskets from Enrico Villanueva that capped off the surge with under two minutes remaining.

But successive baskets from Jvee Casio and Cyrus Baguio put Alaska out of harm’s way as its lead was restored to a safer seven-point edge, 87-80, heading into the final minute.

Anthony scored a gamehigh 21 points, 17 of which in the fourth quarter alone as his exploits led NLEX’s comeback.

LOTTO RESULTS 6/45 00-00-00-00-00-00 P0.0 M+ 4 DIGITS 00-00-00-00 3 DIGITS 00-00-00 2 EZ2 00-00

PCU makes semis, Sta. Lucia wins PHILIPPINE Christian University outplayed Games on Sunday (Nov. 29) Macway Marikina Sports Center Tr a v e l s , 7:00p.m.- Hobe Bihon-Cars 9 1 - 8 2 , Unlimited vs Our Lady of Fatima University Thursday Sta. Land Inc. vs Austen night to 8:30p.m.-Morris Associates claim the number one spot in Group B and earn an outright semifinal slot in the 5th DELeague Basketball Tournament at the Marikina Sports Center, Marikina City.

In the other game, former champion Sta. Lucia Land Inc. defeated Austen Morris Associates, 70-64, for its fourth straight victory.

PCU Dolphins and Sta. Lucia Realtors finished tied for first place in Group B with identical 4-1 records but the top spot was given to the Dolphins who defeated the Realtors, 97-91, in their season opener.

Thus, PCU will advance to the semis and Sta. Lucia will have to go through the quarterfinal phase of the league supported by PSBank, Accel Sportswear, PCA -Marivalley, Angel’s Burger, Mckie’s Construction Equipment Sales and Rentals, Luyong Panciteria, Azucar Boulangerie and Patisserie, JAJ Quick Print Advertising, Mall Tile Experts Corporation, Jay Marcelo Tires, Polar Glass and Aluminum Supply and Mr. and Mrs. Dot Escalona.

At the start of the quarterfinal round on Sunday, Hobe Bihon-Cars Unlimited takes on Our Lady of Fatima University and Sta. Lucia Land collides with Austen Morris anew.

Group A leader Far Eastern University- NRMF will join PCU in the semis while winless teams Fly Dragons and Philippine National Police are already ousted from the tournament.

Tickets are available at the gates at P10 each. For stats and game results, visit www.sports29.com.

Canelo deserved to win INSIDE SPORTS RONNIE NATHANIELSZ

WHEN Floyd Mayweather Jr., the retired, undefeated pound for pound king bitterly criticized the three judges who turned in lopsided scorecards favoring Mexico’s popular youngster Saul “Canelo” Alvarez in his showdown last Saturday against an ageing Miguel Cotto to win the World Boxing Council middleweight title, he was perfectly right.

Nobody took issue with the fact that the younger and stronger “Canelo” con-

trolled the tempo of the fight and landed the more powerful punches that ultimately counted more than the jabs of Cotto who in terms of overall numbers landed more punches.

“Canelo” finished strong in the so-called championship rounds and in the eighth had Cotto in trouble but as the father/trainer of five division world champion Nonito “The Filipino Flash” Donaire—“Dodong” Donaire correctly observed , the smaller and lighter Cotto couldn’t risk slugging it out with Alvarez and wisely stayed on survival mode by merely trying to out-box “Canelo” which, in the end, paid off.

There was no doubt it was a closely contested bout with some rounds quite even and a little difficult to score.

However, it was clear that Alvarez won because he deserved to win, although we ourselves who keenly followed the action on television in Manila felt the three judges scorecards were ridiculous.

Dave Moretti dared give Cotto only one round in his 119-110 scorecard while Burth Clements gave the Puerto Rican champion two rounds for 118-110 and John McKae, the least known among the three turned in the more realistic 117-111 tally which translated to mean Cotto won three rounds

which basically tallied with Mayweather’s sentiment that Cotto should have been credited with winning three or four rounds. We felt the same way.

What boxing fans really need to understand is that with the retirement of Mayweather and eight division world champion Manny Pacquiao, the most exciting fighter of the last decade about to hang up his gloves, Las Vegas and its boxing community needs to find a successor and “Canelo” Alvarez is the obvious heirapparent.

He is young, attractive, a fighter who is unafraid to exchange punches with anybody in his weight divi-

sion and has a tremendous following especially among Mexicans who filled the Mandalay Bay Events Center to near capacity.

“Canelo’s bravado reflected in his post-fight comment to Gennady Golovkin who was watching at ringside that “we can fight right now” and his subsequent statement that he is afraid of nobody, feeds into the desire of fight fans and media to listen to the words they want to hear, so the hype can continue.

It is obviously a measure to build up “Canelo” and save the boxing industry from the inroads being made by mixed martial arts which was best reflected in

the publicity surrounding Holm’s smashing victory over Rhonda Rousey who was featured on the cover of Sports Illustrated, weeks before their fight.

The true test will come when—and if—“Canelo” Alvarez fights Gennady Golovkin and proves he is the best fighter on the planet today. Otherwise, the Las Vegas moguls will have to join hands with the Nevada State Athletic Commission, the media and the bookmakers to find another flamboyant fighter in the mold of Floyd Mayweather Jr or one who draws the unadulterated adulation of a Manny Pacquiao. And that is no easy task.

S AT U R DAY : N O V E M B E R 2 8 , 2 0 1 5

A16

RIERA U. MALL ARI EDITOR

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

sports@thestandard.com.ph

SPORTS

Aces show poise in scary win

By Jeric Lopez

DESPITE a scare in the closing minutes, Alaska still showed poise to keep its winning run going.

The Aces regained sole possession of first place after recovering down the stretch against gutsy NLEX side en route to an 89-81 triumph and move closer to securing a berth in the next phase of the 2015 Philippine Basketball Association Philippine Cup last night at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.

Sonny Thoss had a solid double-double output to pace Alaska, scoring 16 points and grabbing 10 rebounds while Vic Manuel and surprise package Rome Dela Rosa each scored 11 markers.

After squandering most of its 20-point second half lead, Alaska scored timely baskets and had enough left in the tank to secure the victory even as NLEX provided a courageous fightback in the fourth period that made a game out of it in the endgame.

This was the Aces’ third win in

a row as they are now at 6-1, half a game ahead of San Miguel for first place. Another victory in their next game will secure for the Aces a seat in the quarterfinals.

Although he wasn’t quite satisfied with how his team closed out the game, Alaska coach Alex Compton was still happy with the victory and the defensive effort of his wards.

“I thought we were a little soft in the fourth and missed a lot of open shots. We needed a defensive mindset for this game and I thought we had it,’’ Compton said.

The Road Warriors saw their twogame winning streak snapped as they slipped into a fifth place tie with the vastly-improving Barangay Ginebra as they now share 4-3 marks.

It was all Alaska for the first three quarters as it gained control Continued on A15

Asi Taulava of NLEX jockeys for position against Nonoy Baclao of Alaska as Baclao’s teammate Vic Manuel looks on.

THE STANDARD THE STANDARD

2015 2015 VISIONARY VISIONARY

AWARDEES:

Awards Awards

RACHEL HARRISON (AUTISM AWARENESS AND EDUCATION) • WAYA ARAOS WIJANGCO (SPECIAL NEEDS CULINARY ARTS EDUCATION) • CHARIE VILLA (CITIZEN JOURNALISM) • JAAFAR KIMPA (MUSLIM RIGHTS)• CASIMIRO OLVIDA (WATERSHED PROTECTION) • SLIM’S FASHION & ARTS SCHOOL SANDY AWARDEES: HIGGINS AND MARK HIGGINS (FASHION EDUCATION) • LENORA CABILI (FASHION) • QUINTIN PASTRANA (READING AND LITERACY ADVANCEMENT)• RACHEL HARRISON (AUTISM AWARENESS AND EDUCATION) • WAYA ARAOS WIJANGCO (SPECIAL CULINARY ARTS EDUCATION) • CHARIE VILLA MAIKI ORETA (CHILDREN ADVOCACY) • HINDY TANTOCO (SUSTAINABLE LIVING) • ROBERTA DANSNEEDS THOMAS (ARTS AND CULTURE) • CRISTINA LIAMZON (CITIZEN JOURNALISM) • JAAFAR KIMPA CASIMIRO (WATERSHED PROTECTION) • SLIM’S FASHION & ARTSBACANI SCHOOL SANDY AND EDGARDO VALENZUELA, KEVIN LEE,(MUSLIM MA. INESRIGHTS)• FERNANDEZ, JOHN OLVIDA PAUL MAUNES (SOCIAL ENTREPRENEURSHIP) • XYZA CRUZ (YOUNG HIGGINS AND MARK HIGGINS (FASHION LENORA CABILI (FASHION) QUINTIN PASTRANA (READING AND LITERACY ADVANCEMENT)• VISIONARY FOR PHOTOGRAPHY) • AISAEDUCATION) MIJENO AND• RAPHAEL MIJENO (YOUNG•VISIONARY FOR SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY) • CHARLENE TAN MAIKI ORETA (CHILDREN HINDY TANTOCO (SUSTAINABLE LIVING) • ROBERTA DANS VISIONARY THOMAS (ARTS CULTURE) • CRISTINA LIAMZON (YOUNG VISIONARY FORADVOCACY) COMMUNITY•SHARED AGRICULTURE) • JASON BUENSALIDO (YOUNG FORAND ARCHITECTURE) • CRISTALLE BELO AND EDGARDO VALENZUELA, LEE, MA. INES FERNANDEZ, JOHN PAUL MAUNES (SOCIAL ENTREPRENEURSHIP) • XYZA CRUZ BACANI (YOUNG HENARES (YOUNG VISIONARY KEVIN FOR ENTREPRENEURSHIP) • ROLANDREI VIKTOR VARONA (YOUNG VISIONARY FOR ENTREPRENEURSHIP) VISIONARY FOR PHOTOGRAPHY) • AISA MIJENO AND RAPHAEL MIJENO (YOUNG VISIONARY FOR SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY) • CHARLENE TAN (YOUNG VISIONARY FOR COMMUNITY SHARED AGRICULTURE) • JASON BUENSALIDO (YOUNG VISIONARY FOR ARCHITECTURE) • CRISTALLE BELO HENARES (YOUNG VISIONARY FOR ENTREPRENEURSHIP) • ROLANDREI VIKTOR VARONA (YOUNG VISIONARY FOR ENTREPRENEURSHIP) SPECIAL THANKS TO SPECIAL THANKS TO

B1

SATURDAY: NOVEMBER 28, 2015

RAY S. EÑANO EDITOR

RODERICK T. DELA CRUZ ASSISTANT EDITOR

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

BUSINESS

Abad: GDP to grow 6.9% in Q4 PSe comPoSite index Closing November 27, 2015

8000 7700 7400 7100 6800 6500

6,927.07 136.18

PeSo-dollar rate

Closing NOVEMBER 27, 2015 43.50 44.60 45.40

P47.145

46.20

CLOSE

47.00

By Gabrielle H. Binaday

THE economy will likely expand 6.9 percent in the last quarter of the year on faster government spending, the Budget Department said Friday.

“We have now the momentum after a slow start in the first quarter at 5 percent, recovery in the second quarter at 5.8 percent, and sustained growth in the third quarter.

It’s still possible to grow at 6 percent for the whole year of 2015,” Budget Secretary Florencio Abad said.

The economy expanded 6 percent in the third quarter, making the Philippines the third fastest-growing economy in Asia, after China and Vietnam, amid higher public spending and household consumption.

Philippine gross domestic product growth in the third quarter of the year was up 0.2 percentage points from 5.8 percent in the previous quarter and higher than 5.5 percent year-on-year.

The figure, however, was below the government’s target of 7 percent to 8 percent for the full year.

The economy should grow at least 6.9 percent in the fourth quarter to be able to reach the “realistic” growth target of 6 percent to 6.5 percent for the full year.

“As in the third quarter, public spending will once again play a pivotal role in the economic expansion in the fourth quarter.

Historically, Q4 has always been a strong quarter in terms of public spending as agencies rush to finish their projects,” Abad said.

“Because of the reforms introduced, like the elimination of the need for SAROs, the significant reduction of lump sums and the advance procurement of goods and services, the DBM is certain to match its yearly average of 98 percent releases. As of end September, 96 percent of agency budgets have already been released,” Abad said.

The average government final consumption expenditure in the first nine months rose 7.2 percent, a reversal from last year’s contraction of 0.2 percent and up from a

2014 full-year rate of 1.7 percent.

“This simply shows that the government is proving successful in its efforts to overcome the spending bottlenecks that hampered growth in the first semester,” Economic Planning Secretary Arsenio Balisacan said earlier.

“What will further boost spending is the pressure to finish infrastructure projects from political leaders in the run up to the May 2016 elections.

Performance is always an election platform and political leaders demonstrate that through the delivery of social services and public works projects,” Abad said.

Balisacan cited risks to economic growth, such as the lingering effects of El Niño and the uncertainties to be created by a change of leadership as a result of the upcoming elections.

HIGH P47.120 LOW P47.200 AVERAGE P47.168 VOLUME 470.500M

P487.00-P682.00 LPG/11-kg tank P35.15-P42.40 Unleaded Gasoline

oPriceS il P today

P25.03-P28.48 Diesel P34.55-P39.15 Kerosene Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas Friday, November 27, 2015

F oreign e xchange r ate Currency

Unit

US Dollar

Peso

United States

Dollar

1.000000

47.0690

Japan

Yen

0.008157

0.3839

UK

Pound

1.510100

71.0789

Hong Kong

Dollar

0.129029

6.0733

Switzerland

Franc

0.977231

45.9973

Canada

Dollar

0.752445

35.4168

Singapore

Dollar

0.710328

33.4344

Australia

Dollar

0.722909

34.0266

Bahrain

Dinar

2.655478

124.9907

Saudi Arabia

Rial

0.266489

12.5434

Brunei

Dollar

0.707814

33.3161

Indonesia

Rupiah

0.000073

0.0034

Thailand

Baht

0.027972

1.3166

UAE

Dirham

0.272279

12.8159

Euro

Euro

1.061000

49.9402

Korea

Won

0.000871

0.0410

China

Yuan

0.156504

7.3665

India

Rupee

0.015024

0.7072

Malaysia

Ringgit

0.237135

11.1617

New Zealand

Dollar

0.656685

Taiwan

Dollar

0.030740

30.9095

SCG wins award.

Jakkrit Suwansilp (second from left), vice president of sales and marketing of Mariwasa Siam Ceramics Inc., accepts the Top 50 Asean Publicly Listed Companies award at the Asean Corporate Governance Conference and Awards in Manila on behalf of parent SCG. SCG, one of the leading conglomerates in Southeast Asia was awarded one of the Top 50 Asean Publicly Listed Companies in the inaugural Asean Corporate Governance Awards. The award is given by the Asean Capital Markets Forum to publicly listed companies who ranked in the Top 50 after an assessment based on the Asean Corporate Governance Scorecard.

1.4469 Source: PDS Bridge

PH passes labor rights review to enjoy US trade privileges

By Othel V. Campos THE Philippine has passed the country review conducted by the Office of the United States Trade Representative, citing the country’s progress in addressing workers rights, which is a condition to enjoying US trade privileges.

The USTR said Friday it closed the country review of the Philippines with respect to labor rights under the US Generalized System of Preferences.

It said the decision to close the

review was “based on progress by the Philippine government in addressing worker rights issues in that country, including through reforms of labor laws and regulations.”

Labor rights is one of the areas being monitored by USTR, if the Philippines will continue to enjoy the preferential and duty-free privileges for some of its products entering the United States.

“The US acknowledges our initiatives towards creating decent jobs and upholding workers’ rights. The closing of the GSP

country review on the Philippines is indeed a major milestone for Philippine trade and labor,” said Trade Undersecretary Adrian Cristobal Jr. The US GSP aims to promote economic growth in developing countries through preferential and duty-free entry to the US market of products from 122 designated beneficiary countries and territories, including the Philippines.

The trade benefits, however, are tied to a number of conditions which include intellectual prop-

erty rights protection, upholding of workers’ rights and protection against child labor.

The GSP country review on Philippine labor standards and practices focused on monitoring the country’s progress on laborrelated issues and labor reform legislations.

Philippine exports under the US GSP reached $1.25 billion in 2013, making it the fifth largest user of the program.

Major Philippine exports under the US GSP are measuring and

checking instruments, appliances and machines, other cane sugar, telescopic sights for rifles not designed for use with infrared light, other acyclic monoamines and their derivatives and insulated electric conductors.

The US GSP program covers 5,000 products or tariff lines or roughly 47 percent of the 10,600 total US tariff lines and includes most dutiable manufactures and semi-manufactures, and selected agricultural, fishery and primary industrial products.

SATURDAY: NOVEMBER 28, 2015

B2

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

The STandard BuSineSS daily STockS review Friday, November 27, 2015

52 Weeks

Previous

High Low

STOCKS

7.88 75.3 124.4 107 56.5 4.2 4 17 30.45 10.4 0.92 2.6 890 1.01 100 30.5 75 91.5 361.2 57 180 1700 124

2.5 66 88.05 88.1 45.45 1.68 8.7 12.02 19.6 6.12 0.74 1.02 625 0.225 78 17.8 58 62 276 41 118.2 1200 59

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

MEDCO Holdings Metrobank PB Bank Phil Bank of Comm Phil. National Bank PSE Inc. RCBC `A’ Security Bank Sun Life Financial Union Bank

2.76 49 104.20 85.90 39.1 1.39 10 15.28 19 8.00 0.65 1.80 775.00 0.460 81.05 17.70 23.05 52.00 294 32.25 135 1500.00 57.00

47 5 2.36 15.3 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

35.9 1.11 1.86 7.92 15.32 10.08 29.15 1.5 1.5 10.72 9.55 9.04 6.02 8.86 1.06 20.2 71.5 13.24 5.34 0.395 173

79 3.95 4 33.9 90 13.26 293 5 5.25 12.98 6.75 7.03 3.4 4.5 6.3 238 5.5 3.28 0.315 2.18 2.65 234 1.3 26 2.17

34.1 2.3 1.63 23.35 17.3 5.88 250.2 3.37 3.87 8.45 3 3.03 1.95 1 4.02 161 4.1 1.55 0.138 1.02 2.09 152 0.640 10.02 1.2

Aboitiz Power Corp.

Agrinurture Inc. Alsons Cons.

Asiabest Group Century Food Cirtek Holdings (Chips) Concepcion Crown Asia Da Vinci Capital Del Monte DNL Industries Inc. Emperador Energy Devt. Corp. (EDC) EEI Euro-Med Lab First Gen Corp.

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

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

Pepsi-Cola Products Phil.

Petron Corporation Phil H2O Phoenix Petroleum Phils.

Phoenix Semiconductor Pryce Corp. `A’ RFM Corporation San Miguel’Pure Foods `B’ SPC Power Corp.

Splash Corporation Swift Foods, Inc. TKC Steel Corp.

Trans-Asia Oil Universal Robina Vitarich Corp.

Vivant Corp.

Vulcan Ind’l.

42.7 4.47 1.5 10.9 17.46 20.9 42 2.57 1.46 10 9.380 9.15 6.24 5.07 1.67 22.55 67.1 14.80 5.8 2.120 206.00 12.5 42.00 1.99 3.22 24.65 23 6.2 305.00 3.93 3.75 7.65 3.17 3.75 1.80 2.28 4.20 132.5 3.3 2.24 0.147 1.10 2.12 206 0.66 22.50 1.10

0.59 59.2 30.05 7.39 3.4 3.35 823.5 10.2 84 3.35 0.66 1455 76 9.25 0.85 17.3 0.71 5.53 6.55 0.0670 1.61 2.99 84.9 3.5 974 1.66 1.39 156 0.710 0.435 0.510

0.44 48.1 20.85 6.62 0.23 0.23 634.5 7.390 12.8 2.6 0.152 837 49.55 4.84 0.59 12 0.580 4.2 4.5 0.030 0.550 2.26 59.3 1.5 751 1.13 0.93 80 0.211 0.179 0.310

Abacus Cons. `A’ Aboitiz Equity Alliance Global Inc. Anscor `A’ ATN Holdings A ATN Holdings B Ayala Corp `A’ Cosco Capital DMCI Holdings F&J Prince ‘A’ Forum Pacific GT Capital JG Summit Holdings Lopez Holdings Corp.

Lodestar Invt. Holdg.Corp.

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

Minerales Industrias Corp.

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

0.395 57.7500 17.98 6.34 0.248 0.236 755 7.52 13.84 6.32 0.255 1290 73.70 7.69 0.74 14.8 0.53 5.3 9.93 0.0310 1.770 2.51 47.00 2.70 880.00 1.18 0.72 75.500 0.3000 0.2160 0.265

10.5 1.99 1.75 41.4 5.6 5.59 1.44 1.97

6.74 0.65 1.2 30.05 3.36 4.96 0.79 1.1

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

7.050 0.85 1.150 34.650 3.16 5.1 0.57 0.91

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

SHARES 20,395,033 127,876,211 133,633,207 276,063,015 90,146,869 71,204,385 719,982,404

Close

High

Low

FINANCIAL 2.75 2.75 48 44.1 104.00 100.70 85.90 83.40 39.3 39 1.43 1.35 10 8.56 15.5 15.1 19 18.8 7.60 7.00 0.65 0.65 1.80 1.79 750.00 745.00 0.470 0.460 81.05 80.5 17.70 17.56 23.00 23.00 52.00 51.00 293.8 293.8 32.3 30.65 139.5 136.2 1505.00 1505.00 57.10 57.00 INDUSTRIAL 43.15 41.3 4.6 4.19 1.53 1.49 10.9 10.3 17.4 17.18 21 20.35 41.8 41.8 2.68 2.45 1.45 1.4 11 9.96 9.5 9.320 9.18 9.12 6.27 2.10 5.16 4.54 1.67 1.67 23 22.5 68.7 66.1 14.90 14.52 5.84 5.81 2.180 2.090 207.00 200.20 12.2 12.5 45.00 42.00 1.96 1.9 3.55 3.5 24.6 24.45 23 22.1 6.35 6.1 305.80 301.20 3.92 3.92 3.75 3.6 7.75 7.46 3.17 3.17 3.75 3.70 1.79 1.71 2.39 2.29 4.21 4.20 133 133 3.69 3.69 2.29 2.22 0.148 0.147 1.10 1.03 2.14 2.12 206 198.4 0.66 0.65 23.00 23.00 1.11 1.08 HOLDING FIRMS 0.390 0.385 58.3000 56.6000 18.20 17.70 6.40 6.40 0.240 0.240 0.239 0.237 760 741.5 7.52 7.42 13.84 13.48 6.55 6.1 0.231 0.230 1291 1265 72.90 70.25 7.69 7.41 0.73 0.7 14.96 14.6 0.51 0.51 5.3 5.2 9.95 9.85 0.0310 0.0300 1.780 1.770 2.7 2.7 47.45 46.70 2.70 2.40 880.00 845.00 1.18 1.18 0.72 0.72 79.900 75.000 0.3000 0.2950 0.2150 0.2100 0.270 0.265 PROPERTY 7.100 7.020 0.84 0.82 1.140 1.090 34.650 33.700 3.23 3.11 5.1 5.06 0.57 0.56 0.91 0.91

Close

%

Net Foreign

Change Volume

Trade/Buying

2.75 44.65 101.00 83.50 39 1.40 10 15.38 19 7.60 0.65 1.80 750.00 0.460 80.5 17.70 23.00 51.00 293.8 30.65 137.6 1505.00 57.10

-0.36 -8.88 -3.07 -2.79 -0.26 0.72 0.00 0.65 0.00 -5.00 0.00 0.00 -3.23 0.00 -0.68 0.00 -0.22 -1.92 -0.07 -4.96 1.93 0.33 0.18

5,000 1,471,000 4,957,930 4,822,810 53,500 135,000 900 700 103,500 18,000 20,000 9,000 290 570,000 7,014,080 106,700 300 73,460 1,040 565,500 442,200 125 19,010

42 4.24 1.5 10.86 17.2 20.35 41.8 2.5 1.4 11 9.400 9.15 6.20 4.54 1.67 22.5 66.1 14.52 5.84 2.120 201.00 12.5 42.00 1.9 3.5 24.5 22.5 6.35 305.80 3.92 3.6 7.46 3.17 3.70 1.72 2.3 4.21 133 3.69 2.25 0.148 1.10 2.12 202 0.65 23.00 1.11

-1.64 -5.15 0.00 -0.37 -1.49 -2.63 -0.48 -2.72 -4.11 10.00 0.21 0.00 -0.64 -10.45 0.00 -0.22 -1.49 -1.89 0.69 0.00 -2.43 0.00 0.00 -4.52 8.70 -0.61 -2.17 2.42 0.26 -0.25 -4.00 -2.48 0.00 -1.33 -4.44 0.88 0.24 0.38 11.82 0.45 0.68 0.00 0.00 -1.94 -1.52 2.22 0.91

11,473,700 3,636,000 272,000 6,500 159,700 520,700 100 4,815,000 282,000 106,200 16,511,300 8,708,500 28,087,900 7,738,700 2,000 2,557,800 354,410 3,600 24,400 1,150,000 1,110,150 19,500 3,800 49,000 3,000 21,290,600 2,841,000 1,354,100 207,920 4,000 1,432,000 882,900 1,000 85,000 1,060,000 682,000 140,000 90 4,000 310,000 980,000 105,000 309,000 7,884,330 622,000 500 76,000

0.390 56.6000 17.70 6.40 0.240 0.237 743 7.48 13.48 6.44 0.230 1265 70.75 7.5 0.73 14.9 0.51 5.24 9.95 0.0300 1.770 2.7 46.80 2.70 845.00 1.18 0.72 75.000 0.2950 0.2100 0.270

-1.27 -1.99 -1.56 0.95 -3.23 0.42 -1.59 -0.53 -2.60 1.90 -9.80 -1.94 -4.00 -2.47 -1.35 0.68 -3.77 -1.13 0.20 -3.23 0.00 7.57 -0.43 0.00 -3.98 0.00 0.00 -0.66 -1.67 -2.78 1.89

80,000 12,072,370 7,448,000 4,000 200,000 200,000 699,140 2,451,000 12,110,400 165,100 50,000 224,495 5,867,970 4,480,200 255,000 2,397,500 2,000 55,928,200 416,300 15,100,000 342,000 20,000 280,700 5,000 557,640 80,000 6,000 3,048,790 770,000 2,060,000 110,000

7.050 0.82 1.090 33.850 3.18 5.1 0.56 0.91

0.00 -3.53 -5.22 -2.31 0.63 0.00 -1.75 0.00

37,300 1,311,000 202,000 26,958,800 3,252,000 8,400 902,000 35,000

-11,698,130.00 -156,800,156 -194,028,392.00 -417,300.00

76,428.00

37,250.00 -7,108,479.00 -2,698,135.00 -6,313,300 3,036,505.00 188,125.00 -28,073,000.00 13,550.00 226,500.00 -923,492.00 -4,180 -412,160.00 -13,356,260.00 -70,638,121.00 -48,716,789.00 -21,476,402.00 -14,901,735.00 -8,526,956.50 -4,067.00 213,950.00 -81,826,290.00 97,100.00 -517,731,835.00 11,316,270.00 6,350,000.00 -8,965,632.00 -3,774,560.00 -3,799,829.00 -37,000.00 138,550.00 369,600.00 -11,970.00

363,464,713.00

-68,449,420.00 -2,263,484.00

-75,022,555.00 1,357,088.00 -39,073,864.00 -42,755,100.00 -104,581,358.00 11,826,374.00 14,856,806.00 -85,256,668.00 26,700.00 -11,670,275.00 -196,664,380.00 -3,009,382.50 98,900.00 134,226.00 -42,840.00 -100,070.00 -315,400,585.00 -236,570.00 -2,240.00

52 Weeks

Previous

High Low

STOCKS

Close

1.48 0.201 0.69 10.96 0.97 0.305 2.22 2.1 1.8 8.4 5.94 0.180 0.470 0.72 8.54 31.8 2.29 4.9 21.35 1.06 1.62 8.59

0.97 0.083 0.415 2.4 0.83 0.188 1.15 1.42 1.27 3.1 4.13 0.090 0.290 0.39 2.69 22.15 1.6 3.1 15.08 0.69 0.83 5.73

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

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

Phil. Realty `A’ Primex Corp.

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

10.5 66 1.44 1.09 28.5 15.82 0.1430 5.06 99.1 12.3 2.6 7.67 4 1700 2720 8.41 1.97 119.5 12.5 0.017 0.8200 2.2800 12.28 3.32 2.53 95.5 1 2.46 15.2

1.97 35.2 1 0.63 18.2 8.6 0.0770 2.95 56.1 10.14 1.6 4.8 2.58 830 1600 5.95 1.23 102.6 8.72 0.011 0.041 1.200 6.5 1.91 1.01 3.1 0.650 1.8 6

0.62 1.040 22.8 6.41 18 185 22.9 3486 0.760 2.28 46.05 90.1

0.335 0.37 14.54 3 8.8 79 4.39 2748 0.435 1.2 31.45 60.55

11.6 0.85 10 0.490 1.9

7.59 0.63 5 0.315 1.14

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

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

Discovery World DFNN Inc. Easy Call “Common” FEUI 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 Lorenzo Shipping Manila Broadcasting Manila Bulletin Manila Jockey Melco Crown Metro Retail MG Holdings NOW Corp.

Pacific Online Sys. Corp.

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

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

SSI Group STI Holdings Travellers Waterfront Phils.

Yehey

0.0098 5.45 17.24 1.19 1.62 9.5 4.2 0.48 0.420 0.440 8.2 49.2 4.27 0.020 7.67 12.88 10.42 0.040 420 9

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

Abra Mining Apex `A’ Atlas Cons. `A’ Century Peak Metals Hldgs Coal Asia Dizon Ferronickel Geograce Res. Phil. Inc. Lepanto `A’ Lepanto `B’ Marcventures Hldgs., Inc. Nickelasia Nihao Mineral Resources Oriental Pet. `A’ Petroenergy Res. Corp.

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

TA Petroleum

70 553 525 8.21 12.28 111

33 490 500 5.88 6.5 101

1047 84.8

1011 75

ABS-CBN Holdings Corp.

Ayala Corp. Pref `B1’ Ayala Corp. Pref ‘B2’ GMA Holdings Inc. Leisure and Resort MWIDE PREF PCOR-Preferred B PF Pref 2 SMC Preferred C SMC Preferred D SMC Preferred E SMC Preferred F

6.98

0.8900 LR Warrant

15 12.88

3.5 5.95

130.7

105.6 First Metro ETF

Alterra Capital Makati Fin. Corp.

Xurpas

High

VALUE 1,629,057,910.30 3,550,771,230.55 3,467,204,738.66 5,903,734,206.74 1,689,726,200.34 158,272,091.584 16,417,223,440.47

FINANCIAL 1,530.79 (DOWN) 27.78 INDUSTRIAL 11,154.52 (DOWN) 145.92 HOLDING FIRMS 6,502.88 (DOWN) 171.69 PROPERTY 2,923.02 (DOWN) 51.71 SERVICES 1,585.64 (DOWN) 9.06 MINING & OIL 10,738.29 (DOWN) 91.00 PSEI 6,927.07 (DOWN) 136.18 All Shares Index 3,996.91 (DOWN) 59.69 Gainers: 60; Losers: 111; Unchanged: 45; Total: 216

Close

1.07 0.127 0.465 24.1 0.840 0.163 1.07 1.80 1.20 4.00 4.57 0.083 0.2500 0.4000 8.65 30.00 1.49 3.24 21.85 0.74 0.890 5.400

%

Net Foreign

Change Volume

Trade/Buying

1.070 1.070 1.07 0.130 0.126 0.127 0.465 0.465 0.465 24.25 23.8 23.9 0.880 0.840 0.880 0.164 0.164 0.164 1.08 1.05 1.06 1.84 1.78 1.78 1.18 1.18 1.18 4.02 4.00 4.00 4.57 4.44 4.44 0.079 0.079 0.079 0.2500 0.2490 0.2490 0.4000 0.4000 0.4000 8.7 8.65 8.69 31.00 29.65 30.15 1.49 1.42 1.42 3.23 3.23 3.23 22.30 21.10 21.50 0.75 0.72 0.75 0.940 0.890 0.900 5.470 5.300 5.320 SERVICES 7.3 7.34 7.29 7.34 64.5 64.8 63.2 63.45 1.2 1.27 1.16 1.16 0.540 0.540 0.500 0.510 25.5 27 27 27 5.26 5.35 5.22 5.22 0.0420 0.0430 0.0430 0.0430 3.48 3.49 3.49 3.49 84.25 84.35 83 83.5 9.93 9.93 9.5 9.92 1.66 1.65 1.65 1.65 5.86 5.80 5.40 5.79 3.30 3.28 3.28 3.28 955 950 950 950 1995 2010 1978 2000 7.25 7.25 7.18 7.19 1.22 1.26 1.22 1.26 74.8 74.8 72.6 73.5 11.4 11.2 11.2 11.2 0.010 0.010 0.010 0.010 0.170 0.175 0.170 0.170 1.4000 1.3900 1.4100 1.3900 9.00 9.01 9.01 8.99 4.20 4.44 4.20 4.30 1.15 1.15 1.15 1.15 27.00 29.90 29.00 29.90 0.560 0.570 0.560 0.570 2 2.01 2.01 2.01 3.49 3.51 3.34 3.34 3.98 4.00 3.81 3.82 0.255 0.250 0.250 0.250 0.650 0.670 0.630 0.640 17.86 18.98 17.68 18 4.74 4.60 4.60 4.60 9.44 9.44 9.44 9.44 101.00 107.80 101.00 107.80 21.00 21.00 20.50 20.90 2048.00 2082.00 2048.00 2050.00 0.470 0.470 0.470 0.470 0.960 0.980 0.950 0.960 34.55 34.75 34.20 34.40 73.70 73.80 70.05 72.15 5.58 5.63 5.53 5.54 4.05 4.05 4.03 4.11 0.410 0.410 0.405 0.410 3.9 3.9 3.88 3.9 0.345 0.345 0.320 0.345 4.250 4.400 4.250 4.260 MINING & OIL 0.0049 0.0049 0.0048 0.0049 2.05 2.05 2.05 2.05 4.57 4.56 4.14 4.14 0.69 0.69 0.66 0.69 0.64 0.64 0.61 0.61 8.05 8.05 7.88 8.03 0.75 0.80 0.76 0.76 0.300 0.300 0.295 0.300 0.184 0.186 0.184 0.186 0.200 0.200 0.200 0.200 2.25 2.33 2.16 2.16 6.75 7.04 6.53 6.54 2.9 3 2.88 2.93 0.0100 0.0110 0.0100 0.0100 3.60 3.56 3.50 3.55 5.04 5.070 5.00 5.00 1.38 1.460 1.38 1.41 0.0120 0.0120 0.0110 0.0120 136.00 137.00 135.00 136.00 2.29 2.29 2.25 2.27 PREFERRED 65 64.5 62.05 63 525 525 525 525 525 525 524 524 7.1 7 6.95 6.95 1.13 1.12 1.12 1.12 108.5 109 109 109 1072 1073 1073 1073 1029 1029 1020 1020 82.55 83 83 83 79.25 79.4 79.4 79.4 79.8 80 79.95 80 80.8 80.85 80.7 80.7 WARRANTS & BONDS 2.800 2.700 2.620 2.650 SME 3.25 3.83 3.25 3.5 2.83 2.78 2.57 2.63 16.14 16.28 16.06 16.06 EXCHANGE TRADED FUNDS 114.8 115 113 113

T op g ainerS STOCKS

Low

0.00 0.00 0.00 -0.83 4.76 0.61 -0.93 -1.11 -1.67 0.00 -2.84 -4.82 -0.40 0.00 0.46 0.50 -4.70 -0.31 -1.60 1.35 1.12 -1.48

10,000 3,980,000 1,000,000 7,691,400 161,000 150,000 2,908,000 23,199,000 32,000 7,000 35,846,000 1,000,000 360,000 40,000 84,700 123,732,400 59,000 1,000 37,029,700 905,000 308,000 3,994,300

0.55 -1.63 -3.33 -5.56 5.88 -0.76 2.38 0.29 -0.89 -0.10 -0.60 -1.19 -0.61 -0.52 0.25 -0.83 3.28 -1.74 -1.75 0.00 0.00 0.72 -0.11 2.38 0.00 10.74 1.79 0.50 -4.30 -4.02 -1.96 -1.54 0.78 -2.95 0.00 6.73 -0.48 0.10 0.00 0.00 -0.43 -2.10 -0.72 0.50 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.24

30,100 43,140 24,000 7,653,000 200 2,077,700 6,700,000 63,000 685,310 700 2,000 68,200 1,000 2,200 110,160 46,400 31,000 2,983,470 6,500 1,800,000 170,000 320,000 9 1,533,000 4,000 500 370,000 7,000 2,342,000 49,754,000 90,000 1,988,000 1,300 5,000 100 2,830 90,700 440,595 180,000 4,274,000 189,600 187,100 559,000 2,584,000 1,560,000 258,000 250,000 53,000

0.00 0.00 -9.41 0.00 -4.69 -0.25 1.33 0.00 1.09 0.00 -4.00 -3.11 1.03 0.00 -1.39 -0.79 2.17 0.00 0.00 -0.87

21,000,000 1,000 8,590,000 21,000 177,000 400 6,303,000 120,000 680,000 40,000 627,000 4,157,000 16,000 20,400,000 48,000 98,500 1,025,000 7,200,000 625,800 10,000

-3.08 0.00 -0.19 -2.11 -0.88 0.46 0.09 -0.87 0.55 0.19 0.25 -0.12

171,930 525 57,870 4,300 15,000 50 200 5,225 36,200 7,500 50,800 23,470

-5.36

134,000

7.69 -7.07 -0.50

103,000 59,000 400,800

264,658.00

-1.57

100,300

182,580.00

-38,700.00 86,947,685.00 50,290.00 11,942,040.00 -62,693,640.00

506,025.00 578,489,770.00 7,100.00 193,236,255.00 -10,737,861.00 36,700.00 -3,761,790.00 -9,410,201.00 3,470.00 -16,215,901.00

85,500.00 -58,312,605.00 24,400.00 17,200,030.00

513,699.00 59,090.00

-1,166,370.00 6,309,730.00 10,000.00 195,000.00 -23,000.00 284,846.00 -741,720.00 -325,915,680.00 -980,160.00 3,066,095.00 -6,797,709.50 4,134,810.00 8,200.00 -350,300.00

-27,432,090.00

816,560.00 29,950.00

4,188,924.00 -8,890.00 -93,653.00 -72,510.00 -1,262,188.00 -7,993,557.00 78,750.00 -10,440.00

T op L oSerS Close (P)

Change (%)

STOCKS

Close (P)

Change (%)

SPC Power Corp.

3.69

11.82

EEI

4.54

-10.45

Manila Broadcasting

29.90

10.74

Forum Pacific

0.230

-9.80

Del Monte

11

10.00

Atlas Cons. `A'

4.14

-9.41

Mabuhay Vinyl

3.5

8.70

Asia United Bank

44.65

-8.88

Alterra Capital

3.5

7.69

Makati Fin. Corp.

2.63

-7.07

Republic Glass 'A'

2.7

7.57

APC Group, Inc.

0.510

-5.56

Phil. Seven Corp.

107.80

6.73

LR Warrant

2.650

-5.36

Berjaya Phils. Inc.

27

5.88

Araneta Prop `A'

1.090

-5.22

Empire East Land

0.880

4.76

Agrinurture Inc.

4.24

-5.15

Harbor Star

1.26

3.28

Filipino Fund Inc.

7.60

-5.00

SATURDAY: NOVEMBER 28, 2015

B3

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

Interest rate freeze weighs on PH bonds

By Ditas Lopez and Lilian Karunungan

PHILIPPINE government bonds, the worst emerging-market performers, have become a victim of the nation’s success as the economy grows without interest-rate cuts.

Peso sovereign notes have dropped 3.2 percent over the last three months, the most among around 30 developing nations and the only Asian sovereign securities to decline, according to Bloomberg indexes.

The bonds fell on Thursday as official data showed economic expansion accelerated to 6 percent last quarter, the fastest in Southeast Asia.

Quickening growth makes it harder for the central bank to justify rate cuts, and Goldman

Sachs Group Inc. sees an increase next as an El Niño weather pattern pushes up food costs.

The government’s acceptance of higher yields at a sale in October was a trigger for a drop in the notes, which are set for the biggest monthly decline since December 2013, according to BDO Private Bank Inc. “The local economy is strong and inflation might even be a worry,” said Paolo Magpale, the Manila-based treasurer at BDO Private Bank, a unit of the coun-

try’s largest lender. “Other countries cut rates because they need to stimulate their economies. The Philippines is not in that position.”

While the increase in gross domestic product last quarter trailed the 6.3 percent median estimate of economists, it was still the most since the final three months of 2014. Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas has held its policy rate at 4 percent since September 2014 and 6 of 12 analysts surveyed by Bloomberg see one or more increases in borrowing costs next year.

“GDP turnout confirms the economy doesn’t really need further monetary stimulus at the moment,” central bank Governor Amando Tetangco said in mobile-phone message to reporters on Thursday. “But we are mindful of risks from natural disasters

and global developments including slower-than-expected growth among our trading partners.”

The El Niño, which brings drier weather to Asia, will push up Philippine inflation by more than 0.8 percentage point next year, according to a Goldman note released Nov. 20. The US lender sees inflation of 2.8 percent in 2016, 6.1 percent annual growth and an interest-rate cut in the fourth quarter. Consumer- price gains eased to just 0.4 percent in September and October.

“Although Philippine fundamentals remain very solid—we have resilient growth and we have benign inflation—we’re still not immune to price actions,” said Jill Singian, a portfolio manager at Bank of the Philippine Islands in Manila. “The El Niño is a persistent risk to domestic inflation.”

The Manor’s awards.

The Manor at Camp John Hay receives three prestigious hotel awards this year, including the 2015 Outstanding Labor-Management Cooperation for Industrial Peace – Uncategorized Category, the WWFPhilippines Environmental Leadership Award and the Asean Green Hotel Award.

Shown is The Manor at Camp John Hay general manager Ramon Cabrera (center) receiving a certificate of recognition from outgoing WWF board chairman Vince Perez (left) and president and chief executive Jose Angelito Palma (right) during the WWF Partners’ Night 2015 at Raffles & Fairmont Makati.

ARC building 2 factories to boost beverage capacity

By Jenniffer B. Austria ARC Refreshments, the exclusive distributor of RC Cola products in the Philippines owned by Macay Holdings Inc., said Friday it plans to build two manufacturing facilities by 2017 or 2018 to expand its capacity by 20 percent.

Macay Holdings chief operating officer Gerardo Garcia said the planned expansion would be in line with the company’s strategy of growing its business faster than the industry’s growth.

It said the construction of new plants would provide the company with provision for expansion, as the utilization rate of existing

plants was now between 70 percent and 80 percent.

ARC Refreshments currently has nine production facilities.

Among its softdrink brands are RC Cola, Zesto Fruit Soda and Arcy Rootbeer.

Meanwhile, the company said it was also preparing for the planned expansion in other Southeast Asian markets, particularly Vietnam and Myanmar.

Garcia said to strengthen its position in the domestic market, the company was focusing on improving distribution channels by penetrating modern retail channels such as supermarkets and convenience stores.

“Our distribution channels remain traditional like going to sari-sari stores. But the modern channels like supermarket and convenience stores are growing faster than traditional channels.

So we want to participate in that,” Garcia said.

ARC Refreshments is also expanding its product offerings to cater to the demands of the consumers, he said.

The company is scouting for acquisitions and partners that will allow the company to expand its beverage offerings and venture into the food business as part of the plan to become a consumerfocused holding firm in the next

five years, Garcia said.

Garcia said Macay Holdings’ planned $200-million secondary share sale was deferred because of current market conditions.

The company was originally set to conduct the share sale in the fourth quarter to widen its public float, but market conditions turned volatile due to possible rise in US interest rates.

Macay Holdings said it would review the share sale plan next year. The company hired HSBC, Deutsche Bank and Credit Swiss as underwriters for the offering.

Shares of Macay Holdings were lasted traded on Nov. 23 when it closed at P40.90.

Market retreats; Globe, RLC rise STOCKS tumbled Friday, as the third-quarter growth of 6 percent fell below investors’ expectation, while falling Chinese industrial profits fueled concern the world’s second-largest economy was struggling to bounce back.

The Philippine Stock Exchange index, the 30-company benchmark, lost 136 points, or 1.9 percent, to close at 6,927.07 Friday. The gauge was also down 4.2 percent since the start of the year.

The heavier index, representing all shares, dropped 59 points, or 1.5 percent, to settle at 3,996,91, on a value turnover of P16.4 billion.

Losers outnumbered gainers, 111 to 60, while 45 issues were unchanged.

Only three of the 20 most active stocks ended in the green, led by property developer Robinsons Land Corp., which rose 0.5 percent to P30.15. Globe Telecom Inc. gained 0.3 percent to P2,000, while rival Philippine Long Distance Telephone Co. added 0.1 percent to close at P2,050.

Conglomerate JG Summit Holdings Inc. of tycoon John Gokongwei declined 4 percent to P70.75, while SM Investments Corp. of tycoon Henry Sy also fell 4 percent to P845.

Meanwhile, China’s economic slowdown has eroded investor confidence in Asian equity markets this year as a slump in manufacturing and commodity-intensive industries overshadowed government efforts to support growth.

Odds of a Federal Reserve interest-rate increase in December are holding above 70 percent even as anticipation builds that the European Central Bank may surprise analysts with the size of its stimulus next week.

“Concern over the Chinese economic slowdown will continue to weigh on the financial markets, especially those of developing countries,” said Win Udomrachtavanich, the Bangkok- based chief executive officer at One Asset Management Ltd., which oversees about $3.5 billion. “Most investors are reluctant to take any big positions before the Fed rate decision next month.”

In Japan, Tokyo shares closed lower in quiet trade Friday as profit-taking set in and tepid Japanese data aggravated worries about the health of the world’s number three economy.

A key inflation gauge showed Japan’s consumer prices fell again in October from a year ago, while spending by households also dropped in a double blow for Prime Minister Shinzo Abe’s high-profile growth blitz, dubbed Abenomics.

The weak figures came despite signs of a tight labour market, with the headline unemployment rate at a two-decade low of 3.1 percent, down from 3.4 percent in September. With Bloomberg, AFP

SATURDAY: NOVEMBER 28, 2015

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

IN BRIEF

NGCP complains

NATIONAL Grid Corp. of the Philippines on Friday criticized a landowner for charging exorbitant land valuation that prevented transmission line clearing operations and maintenance in Mindanao.

National Grid, which operates the country’s transmission network, said in a statement despite months of amicably negotiating with landowner Balao Pundag, who refused NGCP entry into his property, it was successful in its attempt to resolve right-of-way issues.

“We have been coordinating with Mr. Pundag for more than 16 months now to settle the issue so that NGCP may have access to the property and clear the trees posing a threat to our lines. Around 1,500 trees planted along NGCP’s ROW are within his property.

These trees continue to threaten ourAgus 2– Kibawe 138kV line,” National Grid said.

It said the valuation of the trees, based on the Local Government of Lanao del Sur’s own schedule of kmarket value, amounted to P77,750. The landowner, however, demandd P478,650 as payment for the trees, six times the National Grid’s valuation. Alena Mae S. Flores

Globe-SingTel deal GLOBE Telecom Inc. said on Friday it signed an agreement with Singapore Telecommunications Ltd. to help Philippine enterprises fight against cybercrime through Trustwave managed security services.

Globe Managed Security Services, powered by Trustwave, will provide a security offering to enterprises that will enable coverage in areas such as vulnerability assessment, network security, application security and content security, endpoint security and access control and security management.

The partnership with Singtel leverages its recent acquisition of Trustwave, a global leading managed security services company that helps businesses fight cybercrime, protect data and reduce security risk.

“We are in the midst of a digital revolution. Cybersecurity threats have been constantly evolving and we believe that a more proactive stance against attacks is necessary. Because we recognize that not everyone is capable of implementing a comprehensive solution, the need for Managed Security Services is more apparent,” Globe chief technology and information officer and chief strategy officer Gil Genio said.

Darwin G. Amojelar

Center warns PAL THE Center for Asia Pacific Aviation wants Philippine Airlines to take a break from expanding its international routes, and instead plan ahead of possible higher fuel prices.

“Low fuel prices and improved profitability give PAL an opportunity to take a pause to let all the international capacity added in recent years be fully absorbed. Now is the time to pursue relatively modest expansion and plan for a possible future with higher oil prices,” CAPA said in a report.

The think tank said PAL’s international expansion over the couple of years was “extremely ambitious,” which increases the size of its international network by 70 percent in three years.

“PAL is extremely fortunate to have oil prices plummeted just as it was expanding rapidly, particularly given its acquisition of A340s. But PAL cannot bank on oil prices remaining at its current level,” CAPA said.

PAL’s international network will exceed 40 destinations in January 2016 compared with only 25 in January 2013.

Darwin G. Amojelar

Gardenia cuts prices PREMIUM bread maker Gardenia

Bakeries (Philippines) Inc. will reduce the price of its white bread loaf by another P0.50 starting December 15, 2015, in time for the holiday season.

The bread company announced the price rollback after it received commitment from local flour suppliers that they would reduce the price of highprotein flour.

This is the second time that Gardenia will cut bread prices after reducing the price of its classic white bread loaf by P0.50 and the 12-piece pack of pandesal by6 another P0.25.

The price rollback is in response to the Trade Department’s call to lower the price of breads after global flour prices softened in previous months.

“We have successfully negotiated with the flour millers to reduce their flour prices as world prices of wheat have declined likewise. We are passing on the savings to consumers in the form of a price reduction,” said Gardenia president Simplicio Umali. Othel V. Campos

Bell awardees. Philippine Stock Exchange Inc. holds the 4th PSE Bell Awards to honor listed companies and trading participants that practice

the highest standards of corporate governance in the country in ceremonies held on November 25, 2015 at the Makati Shangri-La Hotel. Aboitiz Equity Ventures Inc., China Banking Corp., Globe Telecom Inc., Philex Mining Corp. and Philippine Long Distance Telephone Co. won the Bell Awards this year.

Shown (from left) are PSE director and Bell Awards core committee chairman Edgardo Lacson, National Treasurer Roberto Tan, Globe Telecom president and CEO Ernest Cu, China Bank chairman Hans Sy, China Bank president and CEO Ricardo Chua; Singapore Ambassador to the Philippines Kok Li Peng, Aboitiz Equity assistant corporate secretary Catherine Atay, PSE chairman Jose Pardo, PLDT chairman and Philex chairman Manuel Pangilinan, PLDT treasurer Annabelle Chua. Philex CFO Danny Yu, Philex president and CEO Eulalio Austin Jr., De La Salle University president and chancellor Br. Raymundo Suplido, FSC and PSE president and CEO Hans Sicat.

Mall owners bullish, eye more retail space PHILIPPINE builders like SM Prime Holdings Inc. and Ayala Land Inc. can’t add retail space fast enough to satisfy demand from Southeast Asia’s most-confident consumers that pack Manila’s malls.

A record 724,620 square meters (7.8 million square feet) of new retail space will be added in thePhilippine capital next year, according to Colliers International. That is a 10th of the existing stock as of the third quarter, according to the real estate broker.

“All of us are looking into adding retail space,” said Teresita SyCoson, vice chairman at SM Investments Corp., whose unit SM Prime is the country’s largest mall operator. The retail market is still growing and “we’re all OK with it,” she said in a Nov. 16 interview.

Rising remittances from Fili-

pinos working and living abroad and a business-process outsourcing boom are fueling household spending in one of Asia’s fastestgrowing economies. Private consumption accounts for at least 60 percent of the Philippine economy, which is seen expanding by 6 percent this year and 6.3 percent in 2016, according to the Asian Development Bank.

Consumer spending remains resilient in an economy that expanded less than analysts estimated in the last quarter from a year earlier. A buying spree during the Christmas holidays can

sustain growth at 6 percent this year, Economic Planning Secretary Arsenio Balisacan said on Thursday.

Filipinos were the third-most confident consumers in the world in the third quarter, behind Indians and Americans, according to Nielsen Holdings Plc’s Global Consumer Confidence Index report, which uses an online survey of people’s job prospects, personal finances and spending intentions. Consumer sentiment remains positive and buying intentions will be broadly steady next year, according to the latest survey by the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas.

SM Prime and Ayala Land are adding retail space to meet the spending habits of shoppers like Jeanne Jampac, a 26-yearold marketing consultant who spends at least $100 on each

shopping trip to Ayala Land’s Greenbelt Mall in the Makati business district.

“I know I have a steady income to spend for products that I know I’ll use daily; I think it makes perfect sense,” said Jampac, who on a recent weekly shopping trip spent $150 on makeup from brands Benefit Cosmetics LLC and The FaceShop Ltd. SM Prime will account for about 28 percent of Manila’s new mall space next year and Ayala Land about 25 percent, according to Colliers. Filinvest Land Inc. and Federal Land Inc. will also contribute to the retail-space supply in 2016.

Retail sales may increase to $155 billion next year, up 10 percent year-on-year and the fastest pace since 2010, according to Hamburg-based statistics company Statista Inc. Bloomberg

SunAsia building big 60-MW solar plant in Toledo

By Alena Mae S. Flores SUNASIA Energy Inc. is building a 60-megawatt solar power plant in Toledo, Cebu province that could cost around $120 million, the biggest renewable energy facility in the island.

SunAsia president Tetchi Capellan, a former agriculture undersecretary, said in a statement the plant would occupy approximately 70 hectares of land and install about 200,000 hi-grade solar panels, all manufactured according to European stan-

dards.

Capellan said unlike other solar projects, SunAsia would align itself with nature to preserve the existing landscape of the project area.

“Baltao Farms is presently home to a number of cattle, carabao, goats, and chicken. As planned and designed, the present land use will be preserved for livestock production and only a fraction of the the area in the farms will contain panels and infrastructure,” said Capellan.

She said the solar modules

would be arranged in 5,000 arrays spread in the 70-hectare property. The plant layout allows the modules to be raised off the ground to allow small animals to graze the area.

“Grass will be grown under and in between the solar arrays, thereby preserving the feedstock production for consumption by the animals,” Capellan said.

SunAsia Energy tapped global engineering partners from Germany to accommodate the existing stock-

ing density to harmonize agribusiness with solar plant operations. SunAsia Energy plans to complete the plant

by February 15, 2016, ahead of the March 2016 target, to avail of the feed-in tariff for solar power projects under the Renewable Energy Law. The 60-MW solar plant is expected to generate some 861,199 megawatthours annually, based on the system impact study report prepared by Power Systems Research and Consultancy Group,.

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cEsar BarriOquiNtO EDITOR

editorial@thestandard.com.ph

world

Tribute. Members of the French Red Cross accompany people wounded in the Paris terror attacks as they arrive for the “national and republican” tribute, a solemn ceremony in honor of the 130 people killed in the November 13 Paris attacks, on November 27, 2015, at the “Hotel des Invalides”. The families of those killed in France’s worst-ever terror attack, claimed by the Islamic State group, will join some of the wounded at ceremonies at the Invalides. AFP

Jihadists flee as sirens ring out IS claims responsibility for attack in Bangladesh

BEIRUT—In the Islamic State group’s Syrian stronghold of Raqa, sirens ring out whenever a warplane approaches as jihadists flee their posts and vehicles to hide, activists say.

DHAKA—The Islamic State group has claimed responsibility for a deadly attack on worshipers at a Shiite mosque in northern Bangladesh, the USbased monitoring organization SITE said Friday.

The attackers entered the mosque in Shibganj, some 125 kilometers north of Dhaka, during early evening prayers on Thursday and opened fire on the gathered worshipers before fleeing.

Television footage showed the heavily guarded Shiite mosque with broken windows and blood stains on the floor.

Police said the muezzin had been killed and three worshipers wounded in the shooting, a rare attack on minority Shiite Muslims in the mainly Sunni nation.

Detectives say they are questioning two people over the

A US-led coalition and Russia have stepped up air strikes on the jihadists’ de facto Syrian capital since IS claimed to have downed a Russian passenger plane over Egypt’s Sinai in October and the deadly jihadist attacks in Paris two weeks later.

“The sirens are on the roofs of high buildings, in the squares and in the streets,” Taym Ramadan, a city resident and anti-IS activist, told AFP. “When a warplane enters Raqa’s air space, the sirens ring out to warn [IS] members,” said the activist from the “Raqa is Being Slaughtered Silently” campaign group.

“As soon as they hear the sirens, they immediately leave their posts,” he said. “Some of them have been seen to leave their vehicles in the middle of the road” to hide.

A fellow activist who calls himself

shooting although they had not been formally arrested.

“We have picked up two Sunni locals for interrogation in connection to the shootout,” Shibganj police chief Ahsan Habib told AFP. The SITE Intelligence Group, which monitors jihadist activity, said on its website that the Islamic State IS group had claimed responsibility in a message posted on Twitter.

Bangladeshi authorities have previously said there is no evidence that IS extremists are active in the country.

However, the group has claimed a series of attacks in Bangladesh, including the shooting and wounding of an Italian priest and the killing of a Sufi Muslim shrine chief, both this month. AFP

Abu Sham al-Raqa added: “Whenever the jets fly over they set off the sirens to warn the fighters and the residents, and the problem is that the bombing is going on night and day.”

Raqa has been under IS control since January 2014 after heavy fighting between the jihadists and opposition fighters, who had seized it from regime control in March 2013.

“Raqa is Being Slaughtered Silently” has secretly documented IS abuses in the city since April 2014 when it became off-limits for journalists after several were taken hostage and killed.

With more air strikes, IS has taken further measures to protect its members.

“The group has resorted to tunnels some previously used and others now being dug out inside the city,” Ramadan said.

According to Abu Sham, “The

group has moved all its control posts that used to be on the city outskirts to heavily populated residential areas” after some of these were targeted.

On November 15, French fighter jets targeted weapon caches and a training camp on the southern and western outskirts of the city, according to the French army.

Researcher and writer Hisham al-Hashimi said that the group’s latest measures included “moving its stores to residential areas and abandoning its training camps”, as well as “depending on tunnels to hold its meetings”.

IS “holds its general meetings in hospitals and mosques” as it knows that the coalition and Russia do not target them to avoid killing civilians, he said.

The jihadist group’s leaders communicate using “verbal communication in code”, he said.

Rami Abdel Rahman, director of the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights monitor, said a large number of IS fighters had been moved from Syria to Iraq. AFP

PM: Turkey seeks to calm tensions LONDON—Turkish Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoglu on Friday sought to ease tensions with Moscow over the downing of a Russian warplane on the Syrian border, calling for unity against the Islamic State group.

“While the measures to defend our territory will remain in place, Turkey will work with Russia and our allies to calm tensions,” Davutoglu wrote in Friday’s edition of The Times in London.

“The downing of an unidentified jet in Turkish airspace was not and is not an act against a specific country,” he said.

Davutoglu emphasised that the international community should unite against a “common enemy”.

“The international community must not turn on itself.

Otherwise the only victors will be Daesh... and the Syrian regime,” he said, using an Arabic term for IS jihadists.

“The focus should be to tackle, head-on, the international threat that Daesh poses, securing the future of Syria and seeking a solution to the current refugee crisis,” he said.

Russia has vowed to carry out broad retaliatory measures

against Turkey’s economy to avenge the downing of its warplane by Turkey earlier this week.

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Thursday angrily rebuffed the Kremlin’s demands for an apology and said his Russian counterpart, Vladimir Putin, had snubbed a phone call from him after the incident.

The downing of the plane on the Syrian border has raised fears it could fuel a wider geopolitical conflict, and highlighted the difficulty of forging a consensus on Syria. AFP

Anticipation. Children wearing T-shirts bearing images of Pope Francis smile for the camera as they wait for the arrival of the pontiff at the Church of St. Joseph the Worker in the Kangemi shanty town in Nairobi on November 27, 2015. Pope Francis lashed out at the wealthy minorities who hoard resources at the expense of the poor. AFP

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WORLD

cesar barrioquinto EDITOR

editorial@thestandard.com.ph

ADB warns over emissions cut MANILA—Climate disasters may double in the next two decades unless the world cuts its carbon dioxide emissions, the Asian Development Bank said Friday, with “high-risk” nations in Asia set to be hard hit.

Two days before a world climate summit opens in Paris, the Manilabased lender said deadlier storms, floods and heat waves were linked to rising global temperatures, adding to a growing chorus on the catastrophic effects of climate change.

The report, which looked at disasters from 1970 to 2013, said if carbon dioxide concentration in the atmosphere continued to rise at an annual rate of two parts per million, the frequency of climate disasters could double in 17 years.

This meant the average country could experience 1.55 climate disasters per year, compared to the

current average of 0.775, the study added.

It said three “high-risk” countries the Philippines, Indonesia and Thailand would be particularly affected, citing Super Typhoon Haiyan in 2013, which left 7,350 people dead or missing after it wiped out poor fishing communities in the Philippines’ central islands.

“Any further increases in CO2 [carbon dioxide] would hit these countries hard,” the ADB said.

Also at risk were the emerging nations’ economic growth rates, the bank added, stressing that tack-

Republic of the Philippines Office of the President National Irrigation Administration (PAMBANSANG PANGASIWAAN NG PATUBIG) UPPER PAMPANGA RIVER INTEGRATED IRRIGATION SYSTEM DIVISION I-BALBALUNGAO SRIP Muñoz Science City, Nueva Ecija Office Address : CLSU Cmpd. Science City of Muñoz, Nueva Ecija TELEPHONE Nos. : (044) 456-0043/456 7346 Website : www.nia.gov.ph

Telefax No. TIN No.

: (044) 456-0043 : 005-154-569

INVITATION TO BID NO. UPRIIS-DI-CW-RRP(SANTI)-2014-01 1.

The National Irrigation Administration - Upper Pampanga River Integrated Irrigation Systems (NIA-UPRIIS), Division I, Science City of Muñoz, Nueva Ecija, through the RA 10633 (FY 2014 GAA) Rehabilitation and Reconstruction Program intends to apply the hereunder Approved Budget for the Contract to payment of the corresponding contract packages below.

Bids received in excess of the ABC shall be automatically rejected at bid opening.

1.

a. b. c. d. e. f. g.

2.

a. b. c. d. e. f. g.

3.

a. b. c. d. e. f. g.

4.

a. b. c. d. e. f. g.

Package No.: Project Name: Location: Scope of Work: Approved Budget for the Contract (ABC): Contract Duration: Min. PCAB ARC Size Range (lrrigation & Flood Control):

RRP-D1-2014-01 Repair/ Improvement of Kinatictican, Caputatan & Labong Dike @ Licab, N. E. Municipality of Licab, Nueva Ecija Dredging, GradinglLeveling and Resurfacing Works

Package No.: Project Name: Location: Scope of Work: Approved Budget for the Contract (ABC): Contract Duration: Min. PCAB ARC Size Range (lrrigation & Flood Control):

RRP-D1-2014-02 Repair/ Improvement of Bical & Kinamatayan Dam @Talavera, N. E. Municipality of Talavera, Nueva Ecija Dredging Works

Package No.: Project Name: Location: Scope of Work: Approved Budget for the Contract (ABC): Contract Duration: Min. PCAB .ARC Size Range (Irrigation & Flood Control): Package No.: Project Name: Location: Scope of Work: Approved Budget for the Contract (ABC): Contract Duration: Min. PCAB ARC Size Range (Irrigation & Flood Control):

Php 9,360,301.44 60 Cal. Days Small B

Php 3,751,974.07 60 Cal. Days Small B RRP-D1-2014-03 Repair/ Improvement of Main Canal, SDA @ Quezon, N. E. Municipality of Quezon, Nueva Ecija Earthworks & Installation of Gabions Php 1,885,183.25 60 Cal. Days Small B RRP-D1-2014-04 Repair/ Improvement of Main Canal, SDA & Butid Creek@Sto. Domingo, N. E. Municipality of Sto. Domingo, Nueva Ecija Earthworks & Installation of Gabions PhP 1,885,136.30 60 Cal. Days Small B

2.

The National Irrigation Administration - Upper Pampanga River Integrated Irrigation Systems (NIA-UPRIIS), Division I, Science City of Munoz, Nueva Ecija, now invites bids for contract on CY 2015. Bidders should have completed, within two (2) 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.

3.

Bidding will be conducted through open competitive bidding procedures using non-ruscretionruy pass/fail criterion as specified in the Implementing Rules and Regulations (IRR) of Republic Act 9184 (RA 9184), otherwise known as the “Government Procurement Reform Act”.Bidding is restricted to Filipino citizens/ sole proplietorships, partnerships, or organizations with at4least seventy five percent (75%) interest or outstanding capital stock belonging to citizens of the Philippines.

4.

Interested bidders may obtain further information and inspect the Bidding Documents from National Irrigation Administration - Upper Pampanga River Integrated Irrigation Systems (NIA-UPRIIS), Division I, Science City of Munoz, Nueva Ecija from 8:00 A.M. to 5:00 P.M.,Monday to Friday.

5.

A complete set of Bidding Documents may be purchased by interested Bidders from the address below and upon payment of a non-refundable fee for the Bidding Documents in the amount shown below.

PACKAGE NO. RRP-Dl-2014-01 RRP-Dl-2014-02 RRP-Dl-2014-03 RRP-Dl-2014-04

AMOUNT Php 10,000.00 Php 5,000.00 Php 5,000.00 Php 5,000.00

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

6.

The National Irrigation Administration - Upper Pampanga River Integrated Irrigation Systems (NIA-UPRllS), Division I, Science City of Muñoz, Nueva Ecija will hold a Pre-Bid Conference on Dec. 7,2015 @ 2:00 PM at NIA-UPRllS, Division I Conference Hall, CLSU Compound, Science City of Munoz, Nueva Ecija, which shall be opened only to all interested parties who have purchased the Bidding Documents.

7.

Bids must be delivered on or before December 21, 2015 @ 12:00 NN at NIA-UPRIIS, Division I Conference Hall, CLSU Compound, Science City of Munoz, Nueva Ecija. All bids must be accompanied by a bid security in any of the acceptable forms and in the amount stated in ITB Clause 18.

Bids will be opened in the presence of the bidders’ representatives who choose to attend at the address above. Late bids shall not be accepted. 8. The complete schedule of activities is listed as follows:

8.

The complete schedule of activities is listed as follows

1. Posting of Invitation to Bid (PhilGEPS, NTA-Bulletin Boards) 2. Issuance of Bid Documents 3. Pre-Bid Conference 4. Deadline of Submission of Bids 5. Opening of Bids

Nov. 27 - Dec. 21,2015 Nov. 27 - Dec 21,2015 until 12:00 NN Dec. 7, 2015 @2:00 PM Dec. 21 , 2015 @ 12:00 NN Dec. 21,2015 @ 1:00 PM

9.

The National Irrigation Administration - Upper Pampanga River Integrated Irrigation Systems (NIA-UPRIIS), Division I, Science City of Munoz, Nueva Ecija reserves the right to accept or reject any bids, 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.

10.

For further information, please refer to: WILFREDO C. RAMOS Chairman, Bids & Awards Committee Head, Operations Unit NIA-UPRIIS, Division I CLSU Compound, Science City of Muñoz, Nueva Ecija Fax No. (044) 456-0043 Tel. No. (044) 456-7346 Email Address: niaupriis_divisionl@yahoo.com

Approved by: (SGD) WILFREDO C. RAMOS Chairman, Bids and Award5 Committee

Noted by: (SGD) FREDDIE M. TOQUERO, Ph.D. Manager, Division I, NIA-UPRIlS (SGD) REYNALDO D. PUNO Department Manager, NIA-UPRllS

(TS-NOV. 28, 2015)

ling climate change would boost prosperity levels.

The ADB, a Japan-led institution modeled on the World Bank, said the global damage bill from natural disasters was steadily rising, with the most recent decade, 2005-2014, costing some $142 billion, up from $36 billion during 1985-1994.

It said climate-related disasters had cut into the growth rates of Australia, China, Indonesia, Thailand and Vietnam and the trend was “set to worsen”.

Countries should invest in a shift from fossil fuels to renewable energy to reverse this, it said.

“Policymakers and economic advisors have long held the view that climate action is a drain on economic growth,” the ADB’s Vinod Thomas, a co-author of the study, said.

“But the reality is the opposite: the vast damage from climaterelated disasters is an increasing obstacle to economic growth and well-being.”

The goal of the Paris summit is to negotiate a pact to keep global warming below two degrees Celsius (3.6 degrees Fahrenheit) over pre-industrial levels.

The Paris meeting represents the first bid for a truly global climate rescue pact since the chaotic 2009 summit in Copenhagen ended in disappointment. AFP

Miss Canada criticizes Beijing for barring her HONG KONG—A Canadian beauty queen lashed out at Beijing Friday, saying she was barred from boarding a flight from Hong Kong to China to compete in a pageant because of her human rights activism.

Chinese-born Anastasia Lin, a 25-year-old actress crowned Miss World Canada in May, said China was blocking her from traveling to the seaside resort city of Sanya for the Miss World contest.

Lin, who told AFP late Thursday that Chinese authorities were suppressing people who “dare to speak their minds”, was speaking from Hong Kong’s international airport where she was blocked from taking a flight bound for mainland China.

“I believe the Chinese government is angry at me because my work brings attention to these [human rights] issues,” Lin said at a press conference on Friday morning.

“I knew there was a big risk I could be barred but I didn’t want to give in, didn’t want to give up, unless I had exhausted all my op-

tions,” she said, adding that she officially remained a contestant in the pageant even if she could not travel to the venue.

The actress has appeared in films depicting sensitive issues in China ranging from corruption to the suppression of religion.

She called on the media to question why China would be concerned about a beauty queen.

“Ask them whether they would also bar Olympic athletes from participating in the winter Olympic Games just because they have different views that the Communist Party doesn’t agree with,” she said.

Beijing in July won the right to host the 2022 Winter Olympics. It hosted the Summer Games in 2008 and will be the only city to have held both events.

The beauty queen has actively denounced human rights abuses in China, both on film and in public comments, notably its persecution of practitioners of Falun Gong, a spiritual group banned in mainland China.

Republic of the Philippines The BuddhistMariano Marcos State University inspired group was Batac City 2906, Ilocos Norte outlawed in 1999 and branded an “evil BIDS AND AWARDS COMMITTEE cult” by Chinese authorities.

INVITATION TO BID: I N F R A Herself a practitioner 2015-014 of Falun Gong which 1. The Mariano Marcos State University (MMSU), with offices at Quiling Sur, City of emerged in the 1990s Batac, Ilocos Norte, invites bidders for the following projects: combining Taoist phiDuration Bid Docs Project Title ABC of the losophy, meditation Fee Project and qigong exercises 1. Proposed Communication Arts Building – Php4,945,834.79 60 working days Php 5,000.00 Lin testified in July at a Phase I US congressional hear2. Proposed Communication Arts Building – Phase II Php19,947,401.71 170 working days Php20,000.00 ing on religious persecution in China.

3. Expansion of CAFSD Building (10 classrooms) Php9,965,574.68 120 working days Php10,000.00 Grid 3-Grid 9 Lin told US lawmakers she “wanted 4. Replacement of 25 units Classrooms at CETC Php28,928,484.05 200 working days Php29,000.00 to speak for those in 2. The bidding will be conducted via open and public competitive bidding using nonChina that are beaten, discretionary pass/fail criterion in accordance with Republic Act 9184, otherwise burned and electrocutknown as the “Government Procurement Reform Act,”and its Implementing Rules ed for holding to their and Regulations (IRR), particularly, but not limited to the following: beliefs people in prison a) A bidder must be a Filipino citizen;for corporations, partnerships, or organizations, at least seventy five percent (75%) interest, or outstanding who eat rotten food capital stock,must be owned by Filipino citizens. with blistered fingers b) All bids must be accompanied by a valid bid security in any of the acceptable because they dare have forms and in the amount stated in Clause 18, of the Instruction to Bidders. c) A bidder must have been awarded a contract similar to the Project, as convictions.” described and specified inSection II of the Instruction to Bidders,completed Lin had previously and accepted within a ten (10) year period, reckoned from the date of delivery/ submission of bids as herein below indicated, claimed Chinese sed) Bids received in excess of the ABC will be automatically rejected. curity agents coerced her father, who lives in 3. Bids must be submitted to the Conference Room, FEM Hall, Mariano Marcos State University, Quiling Sur, City of Batac, Ilocos Norte on or beforeDecember 17, 2015; 2:00 PM. China, into pressuring her to abandon her hu4. The Mariano Marcos State University will hold a Pre-Bid Conference on December 3, man rights advocacy.

2015; 2:00 PM at the Conference Room, FEM Hall, MMSU, Batac City, which shall be open only to all interested parties who have purchased the Bidding Documents “When I was crowned Miss World 5. Public bidding is an invitation to make an offer. It is therefore understood that any bid may be accepted or rejected orthe bid process invalidated, at any time prior to Canada, my father was contract award, without liability to anyone. so proud of me,” she said then.

6. Complete set of bid documents may be secured from the MMSU BAC Secretariat at the address below or downloaded from the MMSU website or from the “He received hunPhilippine Government Electronic Procurement System (PhilGEPS) website. dreds of congratulatory messages. But within a 7. For further information please contact the MMSU BAC Secretariat at the address indicated below, Monday thru Friday between 8:00 AM and 5:00 PM: couple days, my father’s tone changed. He told AGNES L. GABRIEL Office of the MMSU BAC Secretariat me nervously that I must FEM Hall, Mariano Marcos State University stop my advocacy for Quiling Sur, Batac City human rights in China, 09985773240/600-0461 aslgabriel@yahoo.com or else he would have no www.mmsu.edu.ph. choice but to sever contact with me.” AFP (SGD) RAMON A. LEAÑO (TS-NOV. 28, 2015)

BAC Chair

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PROPERTY

JOEL D. L ACSAMANA EDITOR

jdlacsamana@gmail.com

us$ 150-M aerOpark prOJect in clark

Global Gateway Development Corp. (GGDC) recently broke ground for the first phase of the Aeropark Campus in the 177-hectare Global Gateway Logistics City (GGLC) at Clark Freeport Zone. The campus is a part of GGLC, a major real estate development that will absorb US$5 billion in infrastructure and services from Kuwait-based investors. The project will have five Grade A office buildings that will meet the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) standards, with current building submissions qualifying as precertified LEED Gold, with a target of LEED Platinum. Mark Williams, CEO of GGDC, personally thanked Sheikh Sabah Al Ahmad Al Jaber Al Sabah, the Amir of Kuwait, for supporting the planned investment in GGLC. He also expressed appreciation to the KGL Group of Companies, an investment management firm specializing in equity investments in emerging markets, led by chairman Saeed Dashti, and managing director Marsha Lazareva.

Quo vadis PHi real estate in 2016?

The Philippine economy grew at a slower rate of 5.2 percent in the first quarter of 2015, and 5.6 percent in the second, causing experts to lower their end-of-2015 forecast to around 6 percent.

But despite the turn to less impressive numbers, the local real estate market continues to thrive, and investing in real estate remains safe and ideal for the remainder of the year and for the foreseeable future.

NEDA chief Arsenio Balisacan said the country’s economic gains have been a boon to the property sector. “The shape of real estate industry in the Philippines has changed dramatically over the years,” he said. “In particular, the property market has grown robustly over the last 20 years as increasing demand for residential and commercial properties in the country became ever more evident against the backdrop of our changing economic landscape.”

“While the property industry has already been doing very well in the past few years, the sector is seen to grow even more robustly, driven by the continued positive outlook on the economy and the projected expansion of outsourcing industry within the next five years,” he said..

Balisacan believes that the growing population of the country’s young professionals will be a source of future demand for residential properties, “as population projections point to an increasing share of the population aged 30-

‘Wellness’ partnership. Real estate developer New San Jose Builders recently hooked up with Italian fitness brand, Technogym, for its venture into the biggest all indoor and social club membership project in the country. The company signed an agreement with E-Sports International, the exclusive distributor of Technogym in the Philippines, for the latter to provide P26 million worth of workout equipment to Victoria Sports gym, which will open later this year at Victoria Sports Tower along EDSA in South Triangle, QC. Technogym is known for its design of biomechanically precise equipment.

Shown in photo are (sitting, from left to right): NSJBI president Engr. Cesar Sanqui; E-Sports International managing director Audris Romualdez; NSJBI chairman Jose Acuzar and co-chairman Dr. Isagani Germar. Standing, from left: Princeps Prime Properties VP Dennis Morada; E-Sports International GM Pamela Romualdez; E-Sports sales executive Jose Antonio Herbosa; and Victoria Sports GM Amor Salud.

Alviera in Porac, Pampanga.

By JOel d. lacsaMana

Builders’ market. The real estate scene remains bullish despite slower-than-expected economic growth by end 2015

49 in the next couple of decades.”

“The property sector in the Philippines is at the forefront of Philippine growth in the medium and long term,” he said.

Property portal Lamudi Philippines recently listed some of the trends forecasted for next year.

BpO sectOr still a Winner Business process outsourcing (BPO) companies continue to buoy Metro Manila’s commercial real estate. Observers, in fact, do not foresee the supply of office space surpassing demand soon, meaning commercial properties (and offices in particular) remain a splendid investment for 2016.

Apart from the BPO companies’ direct need for real estate, investors can also look to benefit via renting out to traditional offices and commercial and retail establishments looking to take advantage of the opportunities provided by the market comprised of BPO employees. BPOs have also increased the demand in residential properties, especially high-end condos in the major business districts. With the BPO sector workforce also expected to double in 2016 and revenue from the industry to surpass remittances from overseas Filipino

workers (OFW), now is a better time than any to invest in rental properties in the cities where these companies are based. appreciatiOn Of land values in MM Despite slower gross domestic product (GDP) growth in 2015, land values still continue to appreciate, albeit at a slower pace. Colliers International said growth rates of land values in Metro Manila accelerated in the second quarter of 2015.

Land values in the Makati central business district, growing at only 0.85 percent during the first three months of the year, also rebounded in the next three by growing at a rate of 2 percent.

This raised the area’s average price to Php452,704 per sqm. Values similarly rose in the business districts of Fort Bonifacio and Ortigas Center, increasing at 1.97 and 2.1 percent, respectively.

Metro Manila’s skyrocketing land prices (fueled mainly by lack of supply) have driven real estate developers to look further afield for their future projects. Big-ticket projects outside the capital include Megaworld’s Southwoods project in Cavite and Laguna, and Ayala Land’s

B7

GrOWth in city Outskirts As a direct effect of tight supply of land in Metro Manila, rural–urban fringe areas, otherwise known as outskirts, are the locations where the urban and rural transitions into each other. Developers have begun exploring rural–urban fringe for development, embarking on mixed-use projects in these areas in 2015,. Industry experts see this continuing in 2016.

The growth in these fringe areas is projected to constitute more than a third of the annual new office supply on average for the next three years alone, indicative of the increased importance these locations have for local real estate.

lead in terms of office rates, with the average central business district price already hovering at P1,073 a square meter, followed

by P848.34 a sqm in Fort Bonifacio and P650.5 a sqm in Pasay City, CBRE data showed.

GrOWinG sectOrs According to Balisacan, rapid urbanization and the accompanying rise of the residential sector are key sources of growth for the property market.

The demand for residential properties is mainly driven by the middles class, and particularly overseas Filipinos who repatriated about $24.3 billion last year — nearly a third ( $7 billion) of which went to property investments, he observed.

“Without a doubt, this is a MOre cautiOus apprOach great time for the Philippine ahead Of phi pOlls property market,” Balisacan said.

CBRE Philippines chair and CEO But he pointed out that major Rick Santos expressed agreement challenges — such as weak pubover the continuing strong growth lic infrastructure, low property in the property sector during the market transparency, and relast full year of President Aquino’s strictive ownership rules —have term, before businesses take a to be addressed in order to maxmore cautious approach ahead of imize the sector’s full potential. the election season in 2016.

He noted that the office sector, challenGes reMain in particular, ended strong in There is a constant need for the 2014 and would likely post fur- infrastructure system to keep ther gains in 2015. up with rising demands in the CBRE data showed that vacan- “fast-growing economy, especy rates in prime Metro Manila cially these days as new property office buildings remained under investments flood the market,” 3 percent. By the end of 2014, the acknowledged the NEDA chief. vacancy rate slipped from 2.53 Although Balisacan said that percent to 2.13 percent quarter investors and developers look for on quarter, CBRE said. During stable laws and regulations surthis period, Metro Manila lease rounding their investments, he rates grew 2.6 percent. noted that “in some cases, how“Even with the increase in rent- ever, the legislation is weak or al rates across all business dis- not even in place to support the tricts, the good news remains that property industry. As a result, investors are willing to pay for the property buyers face high transquality and value that they can get action costs, petty corruption in the Philippines,” Santos said. and red tape, and substandard Makati City will continue to building practices.”

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JOEL D. L ACSAMANA EDITOR jdlacsamana@gmail.com

PROPERTY ‘last dance’ for avIda land In Bgc

skyline laps. Amenity area.

“last dance last chance for love yes, it’s my last chance for romance tonight¼ .”

N

o Donna Summer he, but Herbert Herrero, Avida senior division manager, project and strategic management group and South Luzon Area head, could have been referring to the iconic swan song when he unveiled this week what may be Ayala-led Avida Land’s final project in the booming Bonifacio Global City property market: the two-tower Avida Towers Turf BGC. Industry observers tend to agree, noting that with the few remaining parcels of landbank meant for real estate sprucing up in BGC, the development, which brings P7 billion worth of new residential inventory to the metropolis, could be Avida’s farewell croon in this fast-growing market.

IntroducIng, 3Br famIly unIts In north Bgc Avida Towers Turf BGC rises in the North Bonifacio neighbor-

hood, and highlighted in this newest Avida Land offering are three-bedroom units designed with space maximization in mind.

With only 18 residential units per floor, Avida Towers Turf BGC is a rare low-density condominium in the district, assuring residents of their own private space.

Located in the “active side” of North Bonifacio on 9th Avenue cor. Lane S, the project’s location allows residents to live a well-balanced lifestyle. Schools, offices, parks and leisure and recreational activities are all within reach.

Among the “active North” attractions are Turf BGC all-weather football field, Flying Trapeze Philippines, Kidzania, and the upcoming BGC Sports Complex.

Avida Towers Turf BGC will have two residential towers, each having 30 low-density residential floors and six levels of podium parking. Units come in one-bedroom, two-bedroom and

aseana 3 In full swIng. Groundbreaking activities were recently held at Aseana 3, the latest project of real estate developer D.M. Wenceslao and Associates, Inc. (DMWAI), at the corner of Pres.

Diosdado Macapagal Boulevard and Aseana Avenue in Parañaque City.

Aseana 3 is the third office project inside Aseana City, and is specifically designed to for Business Process Outsourcing locators. The development is one the key business moves of DMWAI this year. By end of 2015, the company hopes to launch its Initial Public Offering (IPO). “We believe that Aseana 3 is the next big development in the metro,” said DMWAI CEO Buds Wenceslao. “All these efforts form part of our commitment to the local and global community that we are building within Aseana City.”

new kid on the block. Herbert Herrero and Avida Land marketing head Tess Tatco check out a model of Avida Towers Turf BGC.

three-bedroom configurations ranging from 37 square meters to 56 square meters in total living area. Each tower will have only 537 units. Unit prices range from P5.2 million to P10 million.

8th project In the dIstrIct “Avida Towers Turf BGC’s appeal lies in its versatility, aided by its optimal location and its distinct feature as a premium space in the heart of BGC,” said Herrero. It’s

appealing for urban dwellers looking to be near their places of work, business, education and home.”

The twin towers are bound on all sides by streets, located across Turf BGC and with ample distance from other tall buildings. Thus, all units at the Avida Towers Turf BGC will have free-flowing air and access to direct sunlight and clear views of the BGC skyline. The tower aesthetics will reflect the modernity and warmth of the surroundings with amenities that include two

swimming pools, one for adults and another for kids, a stand-alone clubhouse, children’s play area, indoor gym, garden area and a view deck that overlooks Central Bonifacio.

Avida Towers Turf BGC is the developer’s 8th project in the district, since building its first residence there in 2010. “This is the best and perhaps one of the last opportunities to invest in a BGC lifestyle through Avida. It is one of the last residential parcels of Avida in the area,” said Herrero.

affordaBle housIng In spotlIght. Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razal and 8990 president Januario Jesus Atencio met at one of the sessions of the recent Asia Pacific-Economic Cooperation (APEC) conference in Makati City. The two officials discussed mutual concerns, and shared ideas about affordable housing in both countries under an ASEAN integration framework.

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TATUM ANCHETA EDITOR

BING PAREL

A S S O C I AT E E D I T O R

BERNADETTE LUNAS

life @ thestandard.com .ph

WRITER

@LIFEatStandard

P OP CU LT U RE

LIFE

Look at Me When You Talk to Me Technology almost changed the way I spoke to others, until I received a wake up call.

#COFFEEWITHKAI

BY KAI MAGSANOC

“M

ommy, look at me when you talk to me.”

It was 2011, and my son Basti was 11 years old. He grew up with me being a single parent, and our “mother and son bonding” (as he would call it) dates were precious to him.

I had gotten immersed in my work as a journalist that involved the heavy use of social media.

We use it either to monitor the news, exchange information, or to participate in online discussions. My smartphone had become an extension of my body, and it became natural to me to be speaking to someone while looking at my phone.

“You can talk, I’m listening,” I would say, to reassure the other person that I was there. But the truth was that while my body was there, my mind was somewhere

else. I was hearing the words without really understanding them. And without understanding them clearly, I was not able to really process what the other person was saying. “I’m sorry, can you say that again?” I would end up saying.

I certainly did not fool my 11-year-old son.

It was a simple thing he asked me to do but it was a big jolt to my conscience. I was brought back to my days in school when we were taught basic manners, respect, and politeness, and how we should treat others the way we want to be treated. It is basic. It can be done by the most powerful person and the simple man on the street, and should be extended to everyone. I repeat: everyone.

I certainly do not appreciate it when someone is looking at his phone while we are talking.

In such instances, my instinct would be to stop talking and to wait until I have the other person’s full attention, until he is looking me in the eyes and is present in the moment with me.

(It would lessen the need for me to repeat what I had said, too.)

Something in what Basti said changed me that very moment.

From then on, during meetings

where we would instinctively open our laptops and work while having a meeting, I would make the conscious effort of keeping mine closed (I would bring it only in case there was breaking news).

When I did, I found that I was able to participate in the meeting more, come up with better ideas, and contribute more actively to the discussion. These, aside from sharing more laughs with my colleagues and exchanging looks of understanding with the few I had gotten close to.

It’s fascinating to watch a person speak. It is wonderful to see his eyes light up, his lips move as he pronounces his words, and his hands move in small or big gestures as he expresses himself. These communicate to us many things about the person that we miss if we’re looking at a screen while talking to them.

When dining with someone, unless I knew there was something pending, I would put my phone on silent mode and keep it in my bag. If I feel the need to check it, I would ask the other person for permission (this gives her the chance to check her phone, too). And if I need

to answer a message, I ask for permission again.

It is my way of telling them "I am here with you, you are my priority, and I respect you. But I need to take a few minutes to address a concern that is urgent, if it is okay with you. Thank you for allowing me to do so."

The same gesture applies if I need to take or make a call, and I have found that people appreciate

it, at a time when politeness seems to be rare.

It pays to be a little oldfashioned.

How has technology affected the way you deal with others?

What do you love about it? What do you hate about it? Share your thoughts with me by emailing coffeewithkai@gmail.com. Follow me on Twitter and Instagram: @kaimagsanoc.

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LIFE life @ thestandard.com .ph

@LIFEatStandard

PHENOMENAL! (Part 2 of 2)

THE GIST

BY ED BIADO

N

eedless to say, AlDub is a novelty. It will eventually run out of steam. But as with all things entertainment, its creators will milk it for all its worth until the (cash) cow is shriveled, dry and empty. The amazing supporting cast of the Kalyeserye saga is really what keeps the story from going stale too quickly. There are only a number of ways you can keep lovebirds apart and the introduction of subplot after subplot serves as the proverbial pause button to delay our gratification and extend our suspension of disbelief.

The massive Philippine Arena event (which we'll call a fan convention because that's really what it appears to be) that finally brought Alden and Maine together can be seen as the closing of the first chapter of the story. After months of teasing, it really was the moment everyone was waiting for. And, for Eat Bulaga, it was the opportunity to see if the supercouple would have real chemistry, being the first time that they were in each other's physical presence.

The whole thing was staged like a theatrical play, SNL-style, that gave most of the noontime show's hosts the chance to be part of the story and flex

their acting muscles. We all know that Eat Bulaga cast members are talented and this was a showcase of that. This is precisely why we believe that AlDub would only work for Eat Bulaga and not for a lesser production. There are no weak links – only individuals who can stand on their own and are willing and able to work as a team.

As most of them are show veterans, they have more or less mastered the “Eat Bulaga shtick” – that Tito, Vic and Joey way of comedic timing and delivering punchlines, even those who did not come from a comedy background. It's this kind of unabashed commitment and willingness to portray hyper-inflated characters that has made the segment the phenomenon that it is – the same one that has ensured the show's longevity and continued cross-generational popularity.

Add to that the fact that the segment is no longer just a segment. It's a major production with formidable guest stars like Celia Rodriguez and Ai Ai Delas Alas. There's a concerted effort to keep the wheels turning and the audience engaged.

However, some critics dismiss Kalyeserye as a regression, opining that it teaches outdated values and morals, that by suggesting that young women should dress modestly on dates to avoid improper sexual advances, it promotes the misogynistic idea of victim blaming. But what they fail to consider is that Kalyeserye is a reaction – a #throwback – to the Filipino life and an exaggeration of

the Mara Clara-type of soap operas. Its characters are based on actual members of the Filipino family, no matter how un-modern their persuasions may be. I mean, what else do you expect an overprotective grandmother to say?

In fact, that's part of what makes the story a hit. We relate to it on a personal level. Lola Nidora really is a fully realized character whom we know to exist in our very own families.

Her statements and backward views on gender and sex are funny because we've heard them before from our own grandmothers or aging aunts.

We laugh because it's all too familiar and we find out how effective it is as comedy fodder.

As timing is indeed everything, this lighthearted

COSMOPOLITAN MAG SIZZLES WITH 8 SEXIEST MODELS

tale came at the time when we most need it. It was the #hugot to end all #hugots. As a people, we Filipinos are done with the tragic stories of loss, unrequited love and verbally abused protagonists. It's the era of That Thing Called Tadhana, where conflicts are shallow and dialogues are straightforward and sometimes humorous. #Hugots, while real and emotional, are often in jest and parodies of themselves. The AlDub narrative fits in nicely with this post-modern iteration of Romeo and Juliet.

The challenge now is until when this can be sustained.

But that doesn't seem to be a problem as all the players have already cashed in their chips – Alden and Maine are already stars and have snagged multiple

C

osmopolitan Magazine sizzles with Miss World 2013 Megan Young on the cover of its November issue.

Flaunting her curves, the Marimar star looks red-hot in her white dress.

The November issue also boasts of its annual Cosmo’s 8 Sexiest Models with Kelsey Merritt leading the list. Joining Kelsey are Alaiza Malinao, Shermaine de Ramos, Emerald Villahermosa, Emerald Alshammari, Jach Manere, Patch Magtanong, and Lisette Bendicion, all of whom embody Cosmo’s fun, fearless, fashionable, and foxy vibe. The eight are featured in a beautiful fashion editorial shot by up-and-coming photographer Jack Alindahao.

Cosmo first launched the annual Cosmo’s 8 Sexiest Models list in 1999, catapulting to the top the careers of many of the country’s top models through the years, among them Joey Mead, Phoemela Baranda, Amanda Griffin, Cristina Garcia, Rissa Mananquil, Isabel Roces, Ornusa

endorsements. They even have a Metro Manila Film Festival movie coming up (which, if we may add, is the ultimate test of their partnership and will determine if their noontime chemistry and social media influence can translate into actual box-office sales). The three lolas are similarly experiencing a surge in fame.

And Eat Bulaga has reached a new peak.

Even if its popularity wavers – and it will – it's all part of the cycle. It's only a matter of time before the geniuses at TAPE Inc. find another concept – accidental or contrived – to hook us once again. And trust me, if history is any indication, they will.

Follow me on Twitter and Instagram @EdBiado

Cadness, Ria Bolivar, Kelly Misa, Georgina Wilson, Pauline Prieto, Ana Sideco, Jessica Yang, Jasmine Maierhofer, Samantha Lewis, Monika Sta. Maria, Kylie Verzosa, Olivia Medina, and Hye Won Jang, among others.

“This year's set of Cosmo's 8 Sexiest Models proves that true sexiness is more than merely f launting sexy body parts but is a combination of confidence, attitude and that Cosmo smolder that can only come from being comfortable in your own skin.

These women revel in their beautiful diversity and inspire us to emulate their effortless style and sass,” says Myrza Sison, editorial director of Cosmopolitan.

Catch Cosmo’s November 2015 issue at your nearest newsstands, bookstores, and supermarkets. For news and updates visit Cosmopolitan. ph on Facebook, and follow Cosmo on Twitter via @cosmo_ph, and on Instagram via @cosmopolitan_ philippines.

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LIFE life @ thestandard.com .ph

@LIFEatStandard

Hieroglyphics give this hat an Egyptian touch

Shine like a star with this embroidered design

Classic stripe patterned hat

Cheer up with this one

Make a statement – black is awesome!

SM Men’s Accessories has put together a fun line-up of baseball hats with attitude

PUT ON THAT ATTITUDE WITH A BASEBALL CAP

B

aseball caps are no longer just accessories to be worn by sports team members or as corporate identification. Over the years, the look of baseball caps has also changed, with the rim now narrower and longer, with the shape more round rather than boxy.

Baseball caps have certainly gone a long way, with unlimited colors and patterns to convey one’s mood or attitude.

At SM Men's Accessories, you can find baseball caps with a lot of attitude - with Rubik's Cube and Egyptian hieroglyphics inspired designs; in black or in a surge of colors; in classic stripes or embroidered stars.

Check out these caps that are now available at the Men's Accessories Department of the SM Store.

Eye of Horus. Be seen and noticed with the embroidered Eye of Horus

The American dream

Game time. Baseball hat for the hardcore gamer

Mechanical Stretch

Tokyo Tapered

Kanagawa Slim Straight

Denim Men's Stretch

Lycra Tokyo Tapered

4 Way Stretched Tokyo Tapered

Feeling playful with this Rubik’s Cube inspired design with a smiley icon hat

Hand game. Ornamented in your hat! Hi-Five ¼

rock, paper, scissors!

Hot new Denim Men’s Stretch from Bobson

J

apanese denim brand Bobson’s latest jeans for active men are a cut above the rest – and it’s not limited to looks alone. These hot new denims highlight the use of stretch fabric for form-enhancing, lightweight and comfortable bottoms designed to flow with the wearer’s movements.

Guys can take their pick from Denim Men’s Stretch’s two premium designs: the 4 Way Stretch in black with the Tokyo tapered fit that stretches both vertically and horizontally and recovers well to allow men a wider range of motion during activities they engage in daily; and the Lycra which also features the Tokyo tapered fit but in cool navy blue, showcasing unique stretch and recovery properties that make for durable and trendy denims that allow for freedom of movement whether for work or play.

Also check out cutting edge jeans – the Mechanical Stretch uses an advanced process that makes your pair strong and stylish. Choose your perfect fit from the Kanagawa slim straight in a medium color wash or the Tokyo tapered in hip indigo.

Quick to dry and breathable, the Mechanical Stretch not only wicks sweat away from the body (especially with the country’s humid weather), it also prevents shrinkage to maintain that great shape.

Crafted for better mobility and flexibility, these new Bobson jeans drive performance, and lets males ace whatever daily challenges they encounter.

Visit BOBSON’s official Facebook page for updates: http://www.facebook.com/ BOBSONJapan or bobsonjapan.com for more information.

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LIFE life @ thestandard.com .ph

@LIFEatStandard

IG SPY

THE FUSION OF SCIENCE AND FOOD

W

e all know of someone who, when served with food, grabs not a fork but his camera or smartphone first to take a perfect shot of his meal. It's hard to blame these people actually, especially when the world is filled with photogenic fares that we just need to share – only visually, of course – with our friends on social media. Speaking of photogenic food or #foodporn, perhaps there are only a few more attractive and amusing than those that resulted from the application of molecular gastronomy.

In essence, molecular gastronomy is a sub-discipline of food science

@bradyhaseler

focused on investigating the transformation of ingredients and used to alter the physical and chemical aspects – texture and taste – of the food. Using techniques and apparatuses, innovative and creative dishes come forth. Think spherical cocktails, olive oil spiral, soup in a spoon and more, stunning and often dumbfounding creations that look more like a décor than food.

If you're looking for something to spice up your food-filled Instagram feed, or want to learn more about this style of cooking, we've rounded up five IG accounts that focus or feature food created using equal portions of creativity and science.

  

Brady Heseler is an Australian-based photographer who loves to capture food with different presentations. On his Instagram account, most of the photos posted are dishes that showcase molecular gastronomy. His 229 followers so far are treated to an interesting array of edible works of art that include dessert with toffee crown, Olive Oil Isomalt drops, bubbly sea urchin and more.

@molecularrecipes

 

As the leading online source of molecular gastronomy recipes and  techniques for professional chefs, amateur cooks, and scientists, this account makes the food science discipline and recipes accessible to everyone. Moving on to a different platform, molecularrecipes.com makes it easier for viewers to get a glimpse and appreciate stunning food made with the help of non-traditional kitchen equipment and hard-to-find ingredients through its Instagram account, which has 935 followers, as of this writing. Indulge in eye-catching Wafer-thin Raspberry Caramel Crisp, Edible Film Canapé, and Strawberry Spheres, among others.

@chefaz

  

Handled by American TV personality, chef and food writer Andrew Zimmern, this account features his day-to-day encounters, mostly with food he made or discovered. His over 289,000 followers, to date, get a peek of his life and different kinds of food from different parts of the world. Although he didn’t put the term molecular gastronomy in the images, a few of those that get a space in his IG are undoubtedly molecular gastronomy such as beet salad with goat cheese fashioned into foam.

@chefsofinstagram

  

This account, with over 196,000 followers, serves as a community that “brings together amateur and professional chefs of Instagram” from around the world. Although not entirely dedicated to molecular gastronomy, a couple of photogenic entrées and desserts made with the help of spherification and other tools and techniques are occasionally featured. The beautiful chocolate ice cream served in caramel cones, passion fruit mousse cake bombs and more deserve not just a place on a plate but also in a museum.

@pocotapas

A restaurant in Curitaba, Brazil, Poco Tapas offers tapas from countries around the world prepared using molecular gastronomy. All of the dishes in the menu are results of the combination of science and food. For example, instead of using the usual pasta for spaghetti, the restaurant uses jelly-like pasta, and calls it “Spaguetti molecular de shoyu.” Through its Instagram account, people on the Web can see the restaurant’s photogenic menu and learn some of the recipes. The account has 1,582 followers and counting.

  

SAT URDAY : NOV EMBER 2 8, 2015

SHOWBITZ

ISAH V. RED EDITOR

isahred @ gmail.com

Alden and Maine in one of their photoshoots

ALDub’s recipe for success

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Alden and Yaya Dub’s first picture together

Yaya Dub with her equally popular grandmothers

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by J. A. s. GAvino

e’re all too familiar with the tales often spun by our primetime teleseryes – from the tried-and-tested love stories of men and women with vastly differing backgrounds falling for each other despite opposition from a wealthy, domineering family, to the newer, more “experimental” sagas of underage mothers and fathers, of mistresses and extramarital affairs, with an occasional misplaced baby as a plot twist thrown in for good measure.

And then there’s AlDub. The latest craze to sweep across the nation, AlDub is a tale of an unlikely romance between Alden Richards, a man who mostly communicates via cheesy pick-up lines written on a small whiteboard, and Maine “Yaya Dub” Mendoza, a maid whose main form of communication is through famous soundbites taken from the interwebs and beyond.

Their budding love story is met with various challenges, often brought forth

by Yaya Dub’s loud, overbearing grandmother, Lola Nidora, played by Wally Bayola. Accompanying them is an equally zany cast of colorful characters, such Lola Tinidora and Lola Tidora, Nidora’s less intimidating, but equally demanding sisters, played by Jose Manalo and Paolo Ballesteros, respectively.

When a segment on a noontime variety show portraying the struggles of a man and a woman’s young romance against a controlling grandmother starts getting millions of viewers and stirs up a huge social media frenzy, one cannot help but wonder, what exactly makes this romance truly stand out?

What does AlDub actually do, that it pulls in such a large amount of views and pushes ratings through the roof?

“It’s certainly something different,” says Gabriel del Rosario, a Sociology graduate from the University of Santo Tomas. “It comes up with a tried-andtested formula for a romance, with young lovers separated by distance and a controlling ‘family element’ – Lola Nidora, which appeals to an older, more ‘traditional’ audience,” argues del Rosario, “but it also puts its own spin on that formula to appeal to a younger audience, with the funny jokes and Yaya Dub’s Dubsmash antics.” With a broader audience, coupled with a “focused, close-tohome theme,” AlDub actually charmed a lot of people, “even the ones that don’t watch teleseryes,” del Rosario reasons.

“I think what makes AlDub truly resonate with a lot of people is that it isn’t as far-fetched as most teleseryes,” muses del

Rosario, “Sure, the elements from a generic teleserye love story are there, but its themes are grounded in reality – we actually see Alden going through the motions of a standard, real-life relationship, [with Alden] courting, meeting Maine’s grandparent(s), etcetera, unlike most teleseryes.”

“There isn’t a crazy-evil, greedy stepmother who cooks up an equally diabolical and convoluted plan to murder or separate the two,” states del Rosario, “There’s just Lola Nidora, the grandmother, who just wants Alden to actually put effort into courting her granddaughter, Yaya Dub … She may be somewhat exaggerated in some of her motivations, but she’s nothing compared to the larger-than-life characters from other teleseryes … you can’t exactly call her an antagonist, is what I’m saying – just a grandmother who wants the best for her granddaughter.”

“Other than that, there’s also the fact that it’s a feel-good show, like ABSCBN’s Be Careful with My Heart,” del Rosario explains, “You see people who watch AlDub on YouTube after a day of work just to relax, as a way to get away from the day’s stress … The show gives out that vibe, it portrays that tone so well – with just a simple home, not a mansion, as a backdrop – and you can genuinely tell that the actors are having a good time, joking [and] laughing throughout the show.”

“I think that’s what truly makes AlDub the hit that it is – it styles itself as a kalyeserye, not a teleserye – a fresh, new take on the old-school teleserye formula, a genuinely funny and entertaining cast portraying easily-relatable characters, and a close-to-home, relaxing, feel-good theme,” concludes del Rosario.

Asked on what problems AlDub may face in the long run, del Rosario says that “They’ll probably need to make the story progress … to make it evolve and grow at some point, mahirap ‘yung puro ligawan lang [it’s difficult to just keep the story stuck on just the courtship]. I think they’re aware, and they’re heading in that direction, with the introduction of Lola Babah (Ai-Ai de las Alas) and Cindy (Alina Bogdanova). I just hope that they’ll know when to end the story and not just stretch it to ludicrous lengths.”

With such difficulties to face, and with a massive fan base eagerly awaiting the next development, this begs the question – what comes next in the following days, weeks, months, or perhaps even years, of the AlDub saga?

(J. A. S. Gavino is a senior student of Journalism at University of Santo Tomas.)

Celebrities at levi’s pre-holiday sale at sM

L Charice Pempengco

evi’s Philippines kicks off the most wonderful time of the year with a pre-holiday sale on select items from today till the 30th —and a chance to meet some of the country’s fashion icons and fashion-forward celebrities.

These include international singer Charice Pempengco who will be at SM Dasmariñas; socialite, columnist, and interior designer Tessa Prieto Valdes,

who will hobnob with Levi’s fans at SM Megamall; menswear blogger AJ Dee at SM Mall of Asia; and Spongecola lead vocalist Yael Yuzon at SM North The Block.

And because you are special to Levi’s, the iconic blue jeans brand is also bringing back Levi’s Tailor Shop today and tomorrow at selected SM Malls where these celebrities will interact with all the Levi’s fans. At the shop, Levi’s

customers can avail of free customization of their Levi’s jeans for every P3,000.00 single receipt purchase, inclusive of any men’s bottoms, women’s bottoms, or trucker jacket.

Kaths Laudit, Levi’s Philippines Marketing Head, says, “Levi’s is giving its fans a very early Christmas gift—the pre-holiday sale—because they are very special to us. Through Levi’s Tailor shops, too, people can have

their perfect-fitting pairs of Levi’s in no time at all and customized it based on their style “And for the fun factor, Levi’s is treating its fans to meet-andgreet sessions with celebrities at the Tailor Shops.”

Levi’s first sale this season will offer 30-percent discounts on all regular-priced women’s bottoms and men’s tops at all SM Original Levi’s stores and at SM Department Stores nationwide.

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SHOWBITZ isahred @ gmail.com

Gladys Reyes

SKY’S ‘MaSterChef aSia’ flY-in treat

Donita Rose

TV CELEbS SELL WaRES aT baZaaR

V

ermosa, Ayala Land’s sprawling 700 hectare modern suburban community in Cavite that integrates healthy living with everyday life, holds Vermosa Holiday Escape, a unique Christmas bazaar that offers a much needed escape from the stressful, crowded and run-of-the-mill shopping experience in the metro.

On Dec. 12 and 13, meet, greet and shop with celebrity merchants as they sell some of their famous wares as seen on TV. Led by celebrity entrepreneur Christine ‘Tintin’ Bersola-Babao, shoppers can look forward to a wide range of products such as delectable and healthy Spanish-style bangus from Pinoy Big Brother winner Nene Tamayo, sandwiches and deli products from Donita Rose, skincare products from TV host and actress Gladys Reyes, curtains, bed sheets and linens from singer-comedienne Marissa Sanchez, and children’s clothes and shoes from award-winning actress and singer Vina Morales.

The Christmas vibe will fill the air as holiday shoppers go full throttle in picking gift items from products that promote a healthier and more active lifestyle.

Fresh, healthy and organic wares

straight from nearby farms and local markets in Cavite will be featured at the bazaar’s GO GREEN section.

Shoppers can also unwind and treat themselves to a refreshing massage and other natural treatments from Nurture Wellness Spa. Meanwhile, GO ACTIVE booths have athletes and sports enthusiasts in mind; expect sporting gears, apparels, and accessories to choose from.

The bazaar will also feature top Instagram sellers offering a new platform to shoppers who are active and always on the go.

At its core, holiday bazaars bring families to spend time together and Vermosa Holiday Escape has prepared many family activities to enjoy such as musical entertainment from OPM, food trucks, kite flying, remote control cars, and art workshops for kids.

Located at Daang Hari, Cavite, Vermosa is 30 minutes away from Makati via the Muntinlupa Cavite Expressway (MCX).

If you’re interested to be a merchant, please contact Valorie Marie Dela Cruz vmdcevents@gmail.com or 09179341402 Be updated on the latest news on Vermosa and its upcoming events. Visit www. vermosa.ph andfacebook.com/VermosaPH

CROSSWORD PUZZLE

ANSWER FOR PREVIOUS PUZZLE ACROSS 1 Queen — of Jordan 5 Three tsps.

9 Fizzy drink 12 Nave neighbor 13 Mature compost 15 Use a beeper 16 Hope/Crosby venue 17 Seize power 18 — — foot pole 19 Motto

21 23 25 26 29 31 35 36 38 39 41 43

Grumbled In the buff Foot warmer — Paulo Bluish-green Pack animals Oz. or lb.

Stadium fixture From square one Sombreros Tractor-trailers “Cope Book” aunt

44 46 48 49 51 52 53 55 57 61 65 66 68 69 70 71 72 73 74

All thumbs Boat runways Avg. size Wooden container Recital piece Fabric meas.

Not know from — Itches Leader of a flock Tree sprites Shaman’s quest Postmen have one Gershwin et al.

Scientific principles Zoo heavyweight Cheerful tone Explosive letters Bygone despot New singles

DOWN 1 Makes a collar 2 Outback mineral 3 Kon-Tiki Museum site 4 Get crowned 5 Booms overhead 6 Shuttle, maybe 7 Gloating 8 Happy rumbles 9 Hiker’s trail 10 Type of arch 11 Await action

SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 28, 2015

14 15 20 22 24 26 27 28 30 32 33 34 37 40 42 45 47 50 54 56 57 58 59 60 62 63 64 67

Reel FedEx delivery Traffic clogger Kareem’s alma mater More than willing Bwana, in India Fridge maker Aquatic mammal Sand mandala builders Take vows Focused Disadvantages “Star Trek” regular Ankle problems Grandeur Danson and Koppel Walkman brand Shoot the bolt Kind of raise Act glad Drop feathers Somali supermodel Kid in “Aliens” Gym iterations Monaco’s Grand — Comet — -Bopp Mach 1 breakers PCB monitor

The MasterChef franchise has transformed the lives of aspiring chefs across the world.

A program originating from the United Kingdom as far back as 1990, it has been continuously adapted and improved in countries that adopted the show.

The success of the MasterChef Australia series is what made it explode internationally, showcasing a truly feel-good, uplifting vibe, as very talented culinary amateurs compete and work together to succeed in every challenge.

The format’s renown led to further adaptations in the US, a creation of a MasterChef All Stars and Professionals version, and MasterChef Junior, which even enjoyed a localized series in the Philippines.

To bring the life-changing program to Asia, Lifetime, in collaboration with regional partners, developed Masterchef Asia – where skilled home cooks in the Pan-Asian region can vie for the very first MasterChef Asia title. As a treat for the series fans, SKYcable and Destiny Cable offer subscribers a unique opportunity to be part of the finale.

MasterChef Asia brought together a stellar cast of judges to mentor the batch of 15 talented culinary amateurs. In honor of her talent and the impact of her MasterChef experience to her career, Audra Morrice, a MasterChef Australia alum, is part of the judges’ panel. Two all-star chefs join her, the genius Susur Lee, and three-star Michelin Chef, Bruno Ménard.

Now thanks to SKYcable and Destiny Cable’s special fly-in promo, lucky fans can meet them and the contestants during the finale party by sending-in their answer to this simple question: “Who is your favorite MasterChef Asia contestant and why?”.

SKYcable and Destiny Cable postpaid subscribers with Lifetime included in their plan or SELECT channel line-up can join this fly-in promo by simply visiting either www.mysky.com.ph/masterchefasia or

Nene of PBB fame

www.destinycable.com.ph/masterchefasia.

Once on the webpage, all subscribers have to do is answer the contest question and fill-out essential details. The full contest mechanics are listed on both websites.

In the grand raffle draw, one SKYcable or Destiny Cable subscriber can get a chance to win round-trip air tickets (Philippines- Singapore), a twin-sharing accommodation, and admission passes to the MasterChef Asia Finale Party for two.

Any non-Metro Manila subscriber who wins will also receive round trip tickets for two to Manila, including an overnight stay. This special fly-in treat is part of SKY’s commitment to provide its subscribers exclusive perks and unmatched entertainment that enriches their lives.

Stay tuned to Lifetime every Thursdays at 9 p.m. to watch new episodes of MasterChef Asia. SKYcable subscribers can watch via Ch. 199 for HD, or Ch. 65 for SD. Destiny Cable subscribers can catch the show on Ch. 44 (analog) or Ch. 65 (digital).

If you’re interested to know more about Lifetime and SKY’s fly-in promo, simply log on to www.mysky.com.ph, or call the 24hour customer service hotlines at 02 3810000 for Metro Manila, CAMANAVA, and Rizal; 046-484-4701 for Cavite; 049-5342814 for Calamba and Binan, Laguna; 02520-8560 for San Pedro, Laguna and Carmona, Cavite; 044-693-5877 for Bulacan; 032-421-1818 for Cebu; 082-305-5456 for Davao; 074-442-4841 for Baguio; 034-4320051 for Bacolod; 033-300-1210 for Iloilo; 035-225-1010 for Dumaguete; and 083 3013134 for Gen. Santos City. You may also send a text for free to the text hotline 23662.

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C7

SHOWBITZ isahred @ gmail.com

Tippy Dos sanTos in ‘arT 2 arT’ from c8

Lea Salonga returns to Manila stage next year for Fun Home

Lea in ‘Fun Home’

a

rt 2 Art celebrates fresh, young talent in its Nov. 29 episode as host Lisa Macuja welcomes Tippy Dos Santos, a singer, VJ and musical theater and movie actress.

Tippy has just launched her first solo album under Universal Records and is cast in a special role as the Pink Fairy in Ballet Manila’s full-length children’s ballet Pinocchio. She also plays the lead in the independent film Abomination, directed by Yam Laranas, which is set for international release.

On top of her various showbiz commitments, Tippy has continued with her studies at the University of the Philippines and expects to graduate in June 2016 with a B.S. degree major in Family Life and Child Development.

Produced by the Manila Broadcasting Company, Art 2 Art is aired every Sunday, 3:30 to 4 p.m., on DZRH (666 khz on the AM band), on cable television via RHTV and online through DZRH Live Streaming at www.dzrh.com.ph.

For inquiries, please e-mail art2artdzrh@ gmail.com. On Facebook, check out the account Ballerina ng Bayan for updates on Art 2 Art episodes.

HHHHH shows aT harD rock café Catch an exciting line-up of performances at Hard Rock Café (HRC) of the energy-charged Part 3 on Nov. 29. Groove to beat of show band Streetbeat tonight and chill out with best of soul music and R&B with Red Picasso on Nov. 30.

Fans and hard rockers can look forward to a series of evenings of great music with these amazing Filipino bands as they dish out the best chart-toppers, party anthems, homegrown favorites, and party anthems in their unique and unforgettable sets.

Also, HRC is gearing up for its grand and much-awaited 20th anniversary this December.

“We have prepared an exciting line-up of artists and bands in celebration of our upcoming anniversary,” says HRC AdProm Manager Mean Marcial. “It has been two decades of great food

Lisa Macuja and Tippy Dos Santos in Art 2 Art

and fabulous music and we are happy that we have reached our 20th year. December is a very exciting month for our loyal hard rockers and us. Come and see the fantastic shows at Hard Rock Cafe.” All shows start at 9:00 p.m.

HHHHH 4noiz inks conTracT wiTh GMa recorDs Internet sensation 4Noiz signed a distribution contract with GMA Records on Nov. 24 at the GMA-7 Employees’ Multi-Purpose Cooperative (GEMPC) Building.

4Noiz is a band composed of Aaron De Tommaso, Aisaku Yokogawa, Eric Buzbee, and Gui Adorno, who are self-proclaimed AlDub fanatics that wrote and performed “MahAlden Kita, Please Be Maine,” a song inspired by the love story of the phenomenal love team.

The boy band was formed out of the friendship that was built in Eat Bulaga’s segment “You’re My Foreignoy”, a competition in which different foreigners showcase their talents while harboring the qualities of a Filipino. Their love for music strengthened their bond and this collaboration was born out of their obsession with Eat Bulaga’s Kalyeserye.

Being a true-blue Eat Bulaga fan, Aisaku was the one who influenced the rest of the group to follow the love story of Alden Richards and Yaya Dub. The song “MahAlden Kita, Please Be Maine” is the brainchild of all their creative juices and crazy imagination, which eventually resulted to the filming of its music video. With their goal to express their support for the love team, they uploaded it online and became an instant hit.

Now that GMA Records will be officially releasing their first single, 4Noiz is thankful for the opportunity to share their music with all the Filipinos around the world. Eric fluently shared in Tagalog the experience of seeing the comments on their video, “Natuwa ako nung nakita ko yung mga comments dahil halos puro positive, walang negative.”

As for the future of the band, Gui proudly expresses his excitement to make a fusion of

culture. “We are staying here in the Philippines, and we are embracing the culture. So we want to do this mix of English and Tagalog songs.”

Meanwhile, Aisaku admits to be a fan of OPM. From Imelda Papin’s music to Ogie Alcasid’s tunes, he prides himself of the influence he gets from the Philippines. “A lot of boy bands here do a lot of covers, so I had the idea of making our own original compositions that not only the band can enjoy, but also what Filipinos can relate to as well.” Aaron can’t believe the dedication of their supporters, “The appreciation that people have in this country is amazing, so thank you Philippines for teaching me how to appreciate properly in life.”

HHHHH coco saves onyok The scenes get more action-packed in FPJ’s Ang Probinsyano as Cardo (Coco Martin) saves Onyok (Simon Pineda) and his classmates from being held hostage.

Due to the governor’s continuous abuse of power, Dencio (Tutti Caringal) plots revenge by abducting the governor’s son.

Dencio and his friend successfully get inside the school where the governor’s son studies and post harm to the students, including Onyok. As Cardo learns about the incident, he immediately rushes to the crime scene and faces the kidnappers.

Meanwhile, Cardo is still on in finding the truth behind Diego’s apparent (Ping Medina) death. However, his Lolo Delfin (Jaime Fabregas) decides to assign him to the Highway Patrol Group to redirect his attention from Diego’s case. But Cardo has confidence that Diego is still out there and continues to find evidences to support his speculation.

Don’t miss the exciting and action-packed scenes in FPJs Ang Probinsyano, weekdays on ABS-CBN. Coco Martin

4Noiz

Tutti Caringal

Streetbeat Band

Lea Salonga will play Helen Bechdel in the first international production of Fun Home, opening in Manila in 2016.

Fun Home is the most awarded and acclaimed musical of the year, winning five Tony Awards including Best Musical.

When her father dies unexpectedly, graphic novelist Alison dives deep into her past to tell the story of the volatile, brilliant, one-of-a-kind man whose temperament and secrets defined her family and her life. Moving between past and present, Alison relives her unique childhood playing at the family’s Bechdel Funeral Home, her growing understanding of her own sexuality, and the looming, unanswerable questions about her father’s hidden desires.

Fun Home is a based on Alison Bechdel’s best-selling graphic memoir Fun Home features music by Jeanine Tesori and book and lyrics by Lisa Kron who won the Tony Award this year scheduled to grace the shows opening night in Manila next year.

Fun Home marks Lea’s first musical in Manila since she played Grizabella in Cats in 2010. Her last stage appearance in Manila was in Atlantis Productions’ critically acclaimed play God Of Carnage in 2012. She is currently appearing as Kei in the Broadway musical Allegiance.

Director Bobby Garcia, says, “Dreams do come true.

It is an honor to be able to stage Fun Home in Manila with Lea Salonga as Helen. It is a ground breaking musical that needs to be seen by audiences all over the world. I am thrilled that it will premiere internationally in Manila and that we will be welcoming Jeanine Tesori and Lisa Kron to our Opening Night. We hope you will all come to the Fun Home next year.”

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ISAH V. RED EDITOR isahred @ gmail.com

SHOWBITZ Gary V puttinG enerGy into preVention ISAH V. RED Nothing describes Gary Valenciano quite like his moniker “Mr. Pure Energy,” he is the very image of youthful vibrancy, whether onstage or not. That’s why it shouldn’t come as a surprise that he values the way he looks the same way that he values the core of who he is: a prayerful, faithful husband, dependable father, and an outstanding entertainer.

Part of what makes Gary stay young looking is his hair. What many people don’t know is that, like all other men his age, Gary once worried about hair thinning and hair loss. That’s why, at the first signs of the problem, Gary sought to find ways to prevent it from becoming worse.

“I first noticed the hair loss in the shower, after I toweled my hair dry. Then one day, my team of hairstylists noticed that my hair was thinning, too. That’s when they told me to look for the product that Fanny Serrano was using, a product called Novuhair,” remarked Gary on his journey to regaining control over his hair loss.

Novuhair is a topical scalp lotion that is a unique combination of 14 different natural ingredients and essential oils for a healthier hair and scalp. One of the factors of hair loss, according to studies, is stress, something that Gary experiences on almost a daily basis. Other factors include hereditary disorders, a persistent illness, major surgery, hormonal problems, childbirth & delivery, medications, infections, pollutants, and even excessive exposure to sunlight.

And contrary to popular belief, hair loss is as much a problem for women as it is for men. In many cases, hair loss may be prevented or alleviated through early detection.

In the case of Gary, his decision to try Novuhair to prevent his symptoms from worsening made a big difference, and within a few months, he saw remarkable results.

Gary shares his experience with Novuhair as he tells the story of their family hair history, “Hair loss runs in our family, too, even if it sometimes skips a generation. My brother and grandfather both lost their hair, but my dad still has a full head of hair at 87. I just wanted to make sure I take control of my symptoms. Now, I use Novuhair everyday, and I’ve noticed that I don’t shed as much hair as I did before, especially after toweling my hair dry. And my hairstylists noticed it, too. I love using Novuhair because it has this minty, cool effect that makes me feel like my hair is always clean and fresh.”

“In less than a month and half, I already saw results even if I was told to wait three to four months before I can see a difference.

The effects on me were much faster. There were fewer strands on my white towel, which basically was within the normal boundaries of hair loss for an average person. Before using Novuhair, I used to shed more.”

This is due to the fact that Novuhair penetrates deep to help rejuvenate, nourish, and maintain moisture in the scalp and hair. By improving the blood circulation in the scalp, Novuhair helps stimulate hair growth and aid in preventing further, excessive hair fall, while also improving the overall appearance of the hair.

“I never endorse a product that I did not experience first. I have to make sure it is really effective. With Novuhair, I can say that it has really contributed to my peace of mind and overall wellbeing. And, heads up, as Novuhair is now part of my daily routine, which includes prayer, diet, and medication. God has truly lived up to his promise in my life, and as he says in Psalm 92:14 ‘I will keep you fruitful even in old age. Fresh and green.’ I am very happy now that Novuhair is a part of that.”

Novuhair, Nature’s Answer to Hair Loss is available at all Mercury Drug outlets, Watsons, Rose Pharmacy, South Star Drug & Manson Drug, Metro Gaisano Pharmacy, The Landmark (Makati & TriNoma), J Centre Mall (Cebu), KCC Malls (Gen. Santos City & Koronadal City), NCCC Malls (Palawan & Davao), Gaisano Malls (Davao & Gen. Santos City) and online at www.regaloservice.com and www.lazada.com.ph. For inquiries, call 413-6570 or 0922-8830575. ➜ Continued on C7

Gary Valenciano