The Standard - 2015 December 02 - Wwednesday

VOL. XXIX NO. 293 3 Sections 32 Pages P18 wedNeSday : deCeMBeR 2, 2015 www.thestandard.com.ph editorial@thestandard.com.ph

Marine gets jail for killing ‘Jennifer’

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coMelec ruliNg disqualifies poe by sara susanne D. fabunan and Macon ramos-araneta

THE Commission on Elections on Tuesday night disqualified Senator Grace Poe, the frontrunner in opinion polls for next year’s presidential race, saying she was guilty of material misrepresentation in her Certificate of Candidacy.

Disqualified. The file photo on the left shows lawyer Estrella Elamparo submitting her petition to disqualify Senator Grace Poe from running for

president. Poe spokesman Mayor Rex Gatchalian, right, explains the ruling in favor of the petition in a press conference. sarah fabunan/ey acasio

‘No bio, no boto’ scheme halted

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In a resolution, the Comelec 2nd Division granted the petition of Estrella Elamparo to deny due course to Poe’s COC. “Based on the Constitution, law, and jurisprudence, and viewing it solely from the legal perspective, shorn of emotional and other extraneous considerations, we are led to no other result than to grant the petition and find respondent Mary Grace Natividad Sonora Poe Llamanzares committed a material misrepresentation,” said the 2nd Division, chaired by Comelec Commissioner Al Parreño.

“Accordingly, the Certificate of Candidacy for President of the Republic of the Philippines in the May 9, 2016 national and local elections filed by respondent Mary Grace Natividad Sonora Poe Llamanzares is hereby cancelled,” the 2nd Division said.

In its ruling, the Comelec said Poe made a deliberate attempt to mislead or hide a fact in her residency, which she declared as “10 years and 11 months” in her COC. It mainly cited Poe’s COC in the 2013 polls, when she ran for senator, as making her a resident of the Philippines for only nine years and six months up to May 9, 2016.

“In short, the declaration of ‘10 years and 11 months’ in her present COC for President was intended to hide the fact earlier stated under oath in her 2013 COC for Senator Next page

Duterte: I was sexually abused as a child by sara susanne D. fabunan and John Paolo bencito CATHOLIC Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines president Socrates Villegas expressed his disgust Tuesday over PDP-Laban standard bearer Rodrigo Duterte for cursing Pope Francis in a speech Monday, and denounced his

adultery, killing and vulgarity as forms of corruption.

While Duterte supporters sought to do damage control, the Davao City mayor shot back at the Catholic Church, saying he was abused as a child by a Catholic priest when he was studying at the Jesuitrun Ateneo de Davao University.

“I was abused by one of you when I

was young,” Duterte said, addressing himself to Church leaders who criticized him. “Priests are also corrupt.”

When pressed for details about his abuse, Duterte blurted: “The priest was holding my penis, where else?”

He said his revelations would “destroy the church and the present status of so many priests.”

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that she had actually resided in the Philippines since November 2006. In her present COC for President, she made it appear that she has been a Philippine resident since May 2006 so as to meet the residency requirement of 10 years for said office,” the decision stated.

“All told, respondent’s deliberate action of contradicting the sworn data earlier given in her 2013 COC betrays an indubitable attempt to mislead or misinform the electorate and hide from them the fact that she is actually not compliant with the requirement prescribed in the Constitution that a candidate for president of the Philippines should have been a resident of the Philippines for at least 10 years immediately preceding the election,” it added.

As for the issue of her citizenship, the Comelec noted that while Poe did not commit material misrepresentation, she still failed to prove that she is indeed a naturalborn citizen.

“Even if the wordings of (international) conventions are deemed to have declared that a foundling found in the Philippines is a natural-born Filipino citizen, these international conventions cannot supplant or override the Constitution, which requires a bloodline to a Filipino parent to confer the status of being a natural-born Filipino citizen,” said the commission.

“Consequently, it stands to reason that respondent’s claim in her subject COC that she is a natural-born Filipino citizen is false,” it added.

The Comelec stated that they would have wanted to declare that Poe is eligible, but had to follow what the law stated.

“We would have wanted to declare the respondent eligi-

Duterte...

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“I will tell you the names of the prominent persons who were my batch mates [in the Ateneo.] All of us were victims of sexual abuses committed against minors at that time, including me. And I will tell you my story.”

“We are all abused! Sexually!” Duterte exclaimed.

In a statement posted on his personal Facebook account, the CBCP president urged all Filipino voters to think twice before choosing Duterte as president.

“Is this the leadership by example that Mayor Duterte excites in us? Is this the leadership by example that makes a public official deserving of the title “Honorable”? I grieve for my country,”Villegas said.

Villegas’ statement came after Duterte delivered a speech on Monday where he cursed Pope Francis for causing traffic during his visit to Manila in January.

Duterte said that he was trapped in traffic in Manila for five hours because of that.

“I wanted to call out, Pope,

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ble to seek the highest position in the land within the gift of our people. After all, she is not only popular, she is potentially, a good leader,” the resolution stated.

“However, it is our bounden duty to resolve this case by applying the Constitution, law, jurisprudence, and none other,” it added.

The division is composed of Commissioners Al Parreño, Arthur Lim, and Sheriff Abas.

Poe’s lawyer, George Garcia, said they were caught by surprise by the swift decision of the Comelec’s 2nd Division.

“Definitely, we will be filing a motion for reconsideration with the Comelec en banc,” Garcia said.

Aside from the petition of Elamparo, Poe is also facing three other disqualification cases at the Comelec 1st Division on the petitions filed by former University of the East Law dean Amado Valdez, former senator Francisco Tatad, and De La Salle University Professor Antonio Contreras.

On Dec. 3, Poe’s camp is scheduled to submit its memorandums on the cases before the 1st Division, which is composed of Commissioners Christian Lim, Luie Guia, and Rowena Guanzon.

Poe said Tuesday night she was disappointed by the Comelec ruling, but said that was not the end of the process. ‘‘I will continue to fight for the rights of foundlings and the fundamental right of the people to choose their leaders,” said Poe, who is the frontrunner in all presidential surveys.

“I maintain that I am a natural-born Filipino and have complied with the 10-year residency requirement based on settled applicable jurisprudence,” she added.

Poe said her critics will use any excuse to exclude her, much like they tried to do when her father, the late Fernando Poe Jr., ran for

president in 2004.

In the process, she said, the disqualification cases will disenfranchise the people.

“They show a lack of trust in the ability of Filipinos to make the right decision,” Poe added.

She added that she was confident that the Comelec en banc “will side with the interest of the people.”

Her spokesperson, Valenzuela Mayor Rex Gatchalian said Poe will remain a presidential candidate in the upcoming 2016 elections.

“The senator is confident that she will stay a candidate [for president] until 2016,” Gatchalian said.

He told Poe’s supporters and followers not to be scared because the law is on their side because the senator is a natural-born Filipino citizen.

He also said “what happened today is not a disqualification” but merely the decision of the 2nd Division.

“We have legal remedies.

There is an appeal. We will definitely appeal,” he said.

He also said they can prove that Poe has met all the requirements for running for public office.

Poe’s running mate, Senator Francis Escudero, said she can still file an appeal before the Comelec en banc. Whoever loses in the en banc can then make an appeal before the Supreme Court, he added.

Earlier, the camp of Poe expressed hope the Comelec would defer to the decision of the Senate Electoral Tribunal, which dismissed the disqualification filed against her.

The Palace, which had failed to recruit Poe as the running mate for the Liberal Party standard bearer Manuel Roxas II, declined to comment on the Comelec decision.

“We haven’t seen the decision yet,” said presidential spokesman Edwin Lacierda, in a text message. With Sandy Araneta and Rio N. Araja

son of a b----, go home. Don’t visit us here,” he said.

Villegas also said he grieved for Filipinos who found Duterte’s vulgarity funny, saying that individuals who tolerated such behavior by laughing at it were themselves becoming “beastly and barbaric.”

“Vulgarity is corruption.

When we find vulgarity funny, we have really become beastly and barbaric as a people,” Villegas said.

“When a revered and loved and admired man like Pope Francis is cursed by a political candidate and the audience laughs, I can only bow my head and grieve in great shame. My countrymen have gone to the dregs,” he said.

He said that the kind of president that voters should choose are “visionaries and exemplary.”

“What the world desperately needs now is leadership by example. We have so many leaders in office and many more aspiring to sit in office but are they examples of good citizenship? If the leaders we choose are to be leaders for national progress they must be visionaries and exempla-

ry,” Villegas said.

He said that corruption may be rooted to Philippine politics, but said that “killing, adultery and vulgarity” are also forms of corruption.

“Corruption is indeed a great scourge of Philippine politics. The usual face of corruption that we recognize easily is stealing from public funds. Corruption, like a monster, is a devil with many faces. Killing people is corruption. Killing is a crime and a sin whether it is done by criminals or public officials no matter what the intention. Adultery is corruption.

It makes married love cheap and uses people for pleasure.

Adultery corrupts the family; it destroys children and victimizes the weak. Vulgarity is corruption,” he said.

Duterte, who substituted PDP-Laban presidential aspirant Martin Diño, has admitted earlier that he is a womanizer and has already killed some 1,000 criminals in Davao.

Other bishops also lambasted Duterte, calling him “irresponsible and disrespectful.” With Macon Ramos-Araneta and Sandy Araneta

Pemberton gets 6 to 12 years for killing of Laude

By Rio N. Araja and Rey E. Requejo

THE Olongapo City Regional Trial Court on Tuesday found US Marine Lance Cpl. Joseph Scott Pemberton guilty of homicide and ordered his immediate commitment to the National Bilibid Prison to serve a term of six to 12 years for killing Filipino transgender Jennifer Laude in October 2014.

Branch 74 Judge Roline Ginez Jabalde also ordered Pemberton to indemnify the heirs of Laude P4.32 million for loss of earning capacity, P155,250 for funeral and burial expenses, P50,000 for civil damages, P50,000 for moral damages and P30,000 for exemplary damages.

In a statement, the US embassy said: “We will continue to proceed in full compliance with the Visiting Forces Agreement.”

The judge denied the P100 million in exemplary damages sought by Laude family’s, calling it “excessive and outrageous.”

Jabalde ruled that Pemberton was considered a “national prisoner” under Philippine law, and that he must suffer imprisonment at the NBP or any other national penal colony.

The court said Pemberton’s surrender could not be considered voluntary because a warrant of arrest had been issued before his appearance in court.

Jabalde said, however, that Pemberton was not a habitual drinker, and that “he did not have any plan to kill Laude since he [Pemberton] and his buddies were just out on liberty.”

In addition, the judge said, there was no evidence of cruelty, treachery, use of superior strength and premeditated plan in the commission of the crime.

The prosecution failed to establish the elements of murder, including treachery since Laude was facing Pemberton during their altercation, which provoked the US serviceman to kill the Filipino.

The judge also threw out Pemberton’s defense that Laude had committed acts of lasciviousness on him, noting that Laude did not use force or pose any threat to Pemberton’s life.

“The fear or threat on Pemberton is merely imaginary,” the court said.

The court also dismissed Pemberton’s claim of self-defense, and asked why he left Laude gasping for life in Room No. 1 of the Celzone Lodge without asking for help to bring him to a hospital.

The Olongapo judge also anchored her decision on the positive identification of two witnesses—Mark Clarence “Barbie” Caguioa Gelviro, also a transgender, and Elias Aran Gallamos Jr., the motel receptionist-cashier—that Pemberton checked in at the lodge with Laude and was last seen with Laude alive on Oct. 11 last year.

Laude was found dead in the motel room with his head slumped inside the toilet bowl.

The court gave weight to the autopsy reports of doctors of the Philippine National Police in the conviction of Pemberton.

Pemberton earlier alleged that another

person was able to enter the room after he left, but the Olongapo City lower court said “there was insufficiency amount of genetic data” that could prove his defense.

Government and private prosecutors sought a murder conviction for Pemberton, but Jabalde reduced the suit from murder to homicide.

Private prosecutor Harry Roque said they could no longer appeal the court’s decision.

“It is a bittersweet conviction. We welcome the commitment of Pemberton to the NBP. Right now, a commotion is taking place upstairs [at the courtroom] over the refusal of the US guards to turn him over to the Philippine National Police,” he told reporters at a news conference after the promulgation.

Julieta Laude, the victim’s mother, expressed disappointment over the homicide conviction of Pemberton, but said they appreciated the judge’s decision to order his detention at the NBP. As of 5:50 p.m. Tuesday, another private prosecutor, Virginia Suarez, slammed the Department of Justice for its issuance of a legal opinion to allow the confinement of Pemberton at Camp Aguinaldo, Quezon City.

“The lawyer of Pemberton immediately filed a handwritten motion for clarification. What is there to clarify? The order is clear. There is nothing ambiguous or vague [in the judge’s order]. Their motion is frivolous. What saddens us is that the DoJ issued an opinion,” she said.

“Right now, there are 12 US Americans shielding Pemberton at the third floor. Police could not get hold of him.”

Laude, 26, met Pemberton, who was then 19, at the Ambyanz disco bar in Olongapo on Oct. 11, 2014.

They went to Celzone Lodge, where Laude and Gelviro performed oral sex on Pemberton.

Thirty minutes after they had checked in, Pemberton was seen leaving their rented room, where Laude was later found dead.

The Justice Department insisted that Pemberton would remain in detention at Camp Aguinaldo.

“Following promulgation of the Olongapo trial court’s judgment of conviction in the case of Pemberton, he will be transported, under the guard of personnel of the Philippine National Police, to Camp Aguinaldo in Quezon City,” the department said.

“He shall be received by personnel of the Bureau of Corrections and immediately be detained there until his appeal is decided with finality by our courts,” the Justice Department said.

The Justice Department also hinted at the possibility that Pemberton could be transferred to another detention facility as provided under the Visiting Forces Agreement between the Philippines and the United States.

“In any case, his detention shall at all times be carried out within Philippine territory, under the guard by and in line with existing regulations of the BuCor,” it added.

The DOJ cited as basis for the arrangement for the detention of Pemberton on a Supreme Court ruling in which Lance Cpl. Daniel Smith was convicted of the 2005 rape of Suzette Nicolas alias Nicole in Subic.

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Binay: Loans to farmers too little VICE President Jejomar Binay on Tuesday criticized the Department of Agriculture for lending only P106.5 million out of the P1-billion Agriculture and Fishery Financing Program credit facility to farmers and fishermen in 2014.

“We urge the Department of Agriculture, through the Agricultural Credit Policy Council, to maximize the use of this fund to benefit thousands of farmers and fisherfolk who need sources of funding to procure needed materials and equipment to earn and provide for their familys’ daily needs,” Binay said.

“The AFFP is a P1-billion credit facility, and yet only P106.5 million has been released to farmers and fisherfolk borrowers in 2014.”

Binay made his statement even as Malacañang on Tuesday said he was “sour-graping” because he was not endorsed by President Benigno Aquino III. Presidential Spokesperson Edwin Lacierda made the statement in reaction to Binay’s earlier charge that Aquino was “flipflopping” on the issue of reducing the income tax rates in the country and that there was no inclusive growth under his administration.

“What do you expect Vice President Binay to say? He’s sour-graping [because] he was not endorsed by the President,”

said Lacierda.

He also said Binay was not even bothering to answer the allegations of corruption against him.

The AFFP is a flexible credit facility that aims to increase the productive capacity, competitiveness, and income-earning potential of small farming and fishing households registered in 20 priority provinces.

Binay says the fund will greatly help the agricultural sector, especially in achieving food security, if it is made available to borrowers.

In its 2014 audit findings, the Commission on Audit said its partners Land Bank of the Philippines and People’s Credit and Finance Corp . approved P421.64 million in loans but only P106.5 million or only 10.7 percent of the fund had been released to small farmers and fishermen borrowers.

Binay said the CoA report “is reflective of the program’s slow delivery that impacts on the timely attainment of its objectives.” Vito Barcelo and sandy araneta

Patriotic tree. A 70-foot Christmas tree inspired by the Philippine flag is ready to be switched on in Tacloban City. Mel CasPe

Robredo still supportive of lower taxes LIBERAL Party vice presidential candidate Leni Robredo said Tuesday she will remain supportive of the proposed measure lowering the income tax rates in the country.

“I am all for it,” Robredo told reporters, adding taxpayers were shouldering the burden of high taxation in the country.

She made the statement even as she admitted having a slim chance of winning the vice presidency being a neophyte in politics.

But she will strive harder to get more exposure to win the

hearts of the voters in next year’s elections.

She said winning the second highest post in the land would be an uphill battle.

“It’s everyone’s game.

We have seven months to go, but I feel I’m the underdog so I have much work to do,” Robredo said.

She said the issue on taxation was a social justice issue, and that “there should be an equal distribution of wealth.”

Her stance is contrary to the position of President Benigno Aquino III who is against lowering

the tax rates, although she says Aquino is not completely opposed to the idea.

She says she shares the position of her running mate, LP standard-bearer Manuel Roxas II, that the tax measure would provide relief to millions of Filipino workers.

Earlier, House Speaker Feliciano Belmonte Jr. said Congress would not be able to pass the measure for “lack of time.”

House Bill 4829, or the Tax Reform for Inclusive Growth written by Marikina Rep. Romero Federico Quimbo, head

of the House committee on ways and means, proposes a two-step reform in the income taxes imposed on individuals and corporations.

The measure seeks to exempt those earning P180,000 and below annually from paying taxes, while those who annually earn above P180,000 to P500,000 will pay 9 percent.

Meanwhile, the individuals whose yearly income is above P500,000 to P10 million will pay 17 percent, while those with more than P10 million in annual income will have to pay 30 percent. Maricel V. Cruz

Marcos optimistic on Moro law SENATOR Ferdinand Marcos Jr. said Tuesday Congress would likely pass the proposed Basic Law for the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region if the House could muster a quorum to tackle its own version of the bill.

Marcos, chairman of the Senate committee on local governments, said he was ready to answer his colleague’s questions on the BLBAR as the Senate would resume its deliberations on the bill this week.

“The deliberations on the BLBAR in the House had been stalled because of a lack of quorum.

Now, if they can muster a quorum to proceed with their discussions, it

may be possible to pass the bill before our session ends,” Marcos said.

House ad hoc committee chairman Rufus Rodriguez admitted that, because of the coming elections, many lawmakers preferred to spend most of their time in their respective districts.

Earlier, Marcos said the Senate would try to pass the BLBAR within the remaining session days of Congress.

“We are still in the period of interpellation, but after that we will take up the amendments that the other senators will propose. Then we will vote on it and pass it,” Marcos said.

“I think the substitute bill that I wrote, once

it has been properly amended by the senators, should pass.”

Marcos said he had no control over the length of the interpellations, but he remained confident the Senate could speed up their deliberations on the measure that is meant to bring peace to Muslim Mindanao.

“The peace process cannot end. We cannot allow it to end. We must continue to find a way to bring peace to Muslim Mindanao,” he said.

Senate President Franklin Drilon said there was still a chance that the Bangsamoro law would be passed in the Senate, but he could not speak for the House.

Macon Ramos-araneta

Ready for questions. Liberal Party vice presidential candidate Leni Robredo faces House reporters on Tuesday. MaRiCel V. CRuz

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Military hunting foreign jihadists

By Francisco Tuyay ALTHOUGH the military is already conducting operations against 11 suspected foreign terrorists in the country, Armed Forces chief of staff Hernando Iriberri insisted that the local group harboring these foreigners is only “claiming” to have links with international terrorist groups.

“The Armed Forces is trying its best and doing within its power in order to suppress whatever plan by any group wanting to sow violence in the country,” Iriberri said.

“I cannot give you the details of the operations, but rest assured that we’re doing our best to stop or prevent any terrorist act,” the military chief said in a press briefing after reports that these foreigners are training local jihadists in terroristic activities.

An intelligence source earlier told The Standard the jihadist are believed to have established four training camps in Sarangani province, Cararao in Lanao province, Patikul town in Sulu and Palimbang town in Sultan Kudarat.

Iriberri said the military has been aware of reports that several foreign nationals are hiding out with jihadists in Mindanao since last year.

“I think there was a report that there are about 11 operating in Mindanao, but we have not yet confirmed they are here,” the military chief said.

Iriberri stressed they have not established the nationalities of the 11 foreigners, but he admitted the military believes that one of the extremists killed in Palimbang, Sultan Kudarat on Thursday is indeed Indonesian jihadist Ibrahim Ali Sucipto.

Climate vulnerable. President Benigno Aquino III speaks before a high-level event of the Climate Vulnerable Forum in Paris where he outlined the Philippine position on the Framework Convention on Climate Change. MALACAÑANG PHOTO

Poe calls out govt on energy expenses

By Macon Ramos-Araneta

AFTER President Benigno Aquino III asked for global solidarity on climate change issues in Paris, independent presidential candidate and Senator Grace Poe hit the Aquino administration for failure to heed its own call in saving energy and conserving water.

“The greatest push for climate change mitigation and adaptation should begin with the government.

It’s the basic principle of practicing what you preach,” Poe said after Aquino said during the Climate Vulnerable Forum in Paris that debates should now focus on the contributions of individual countries rather than which countries should

be doing what.

Citing annual financial reports by the Commission on Audit, Poe pointed out that since 2011, the government’s utilities spending has increased by an average of P1 billion every year for its national agencies alone. About 80 percent of this goes to paying power bills.

For 2016, the proposed allocation

for utilities expenses is P14.13 billion.

“This is a billion more than the P12.9 billion allocated in 2015 for electricity and water bills, which means national government offices are spending more than P1 billion a month for utilities alone,” she said.

“We often hear the government asking the public to be judicious in their energy and water consumption, but it seems the government is not doing its part,” said Poe, citing the need for government agencies to adhere to measures that aim to reduce the country’s carbon footprint.

She said the water and electricity expenses of national government agencies reached P12.30 billion in 2014, P11.64 billion in 2013, P10.48 billion in 2012, and P9.26 billion in 2011.

There are times when the actual expenditure exceeded the projected budget. In 2012, for example, the budget allocation was only P9.2 billion but the government spent almost P2 billion more.

“How can we ask the public to find ways to contribute to a better planet when the government itself does not employ measures to cut its huge electricity and water consumption?” she asked.

She called on the government to implement the mechanisms of the Renewable Energy Act of 2008, which encourages the “development and utilization of renewable energy sources as tools to effectively prevent or reduce harmful emissions” while balancing the goals of economic growth and protecting the environment.

China may rebut case until Jan. 1

Fight against HIV. Nursing students of the University of Perpetual Help in Las Piñas light candles to show their support for the fight against the human immunodeficiency virus, which has claimed 646 new cases in the Philippines. DANNY PATA

THE Philippines has sought to debunk China’s claims to disputed islands in the South China Sea, court officials said Monday as an international tribunal wrapped up a fiveday hearing.

Although Beijing has refused to take part in the hearing before the Permanent Court of Arbitration, judges have now given China until Jan. 1 to write a rebuttal to the case laid out by Manila in The Hague.

“We view China as a valued friend, and it is precisely to preserve that friendship that we initiated this arbitration,” Philippine Foreign Secretary Albert Ferreros del Rosario

said Monday as he closed his country’s case, according to a court statement.

Beijing claims sovereignty over almost the whole of the South China Sea on the basis of a segmented line that first appeared on Chinese maps in the 1940s, pitting it against several neighbors.

But it is also a party to the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea. Manila has called for the tribunal, set up in 1899, to rule on the dispute, accusing Beijing of flouting the convention.

The Philippines argued “China’s claims to sovereign rights jurisdiction, and to ‘historic rights’, with respect

to the maritime areas of the South China Sea... are contrary to the Convention,” the court said in a statement issued late Monday.

The Philippines also believes China has failed “in its duty to prevent its nationals from exploiting resources over which the Philippines has sovereign rights and has failed to respect traditional fishing rights at Scarborough Shoal,” the statement said.

Beijing had also failed to protect the marine environment by using destructive fishing methods such as cyanide and explosives, while its ships were proving a hazard in the sea. AFP

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Kids’ safety. The EcoWaste Coalition launches a campaign to ensure that children are protected from hazardous toys and urges consumers to apply the motto ‘Safety First’ when selecting and purchasing toys during the launching event held at the EcoWaste office in Quezon City. LINO SANTOS

High court stops ‘no bio, no boto’

By Rey E. Requejo

The Supreme Court on Tuesday restrained the Commission on elections from implementing its policy that compwelled voters to register using biometrics before they would be allowed to vote in next year’s general elections.

In an en banc session, the SC justices resolved to issue a temporary restraining order enjoining the poll body from carrying out its “No Bio, No Boto” policy, which provides for disenfranchisement of voters without digital photograph, signature and fingerprints in their registration records.

The SC acted on the petition filed by youth groups led by Kabataan party-list Rep. Terry Ridon last week in issuing the TRO, which is “effective imme-

diately and continuing until further orders from the Court,” SC spokesman Theodore Te said in a media briefing.

According to Te, the SC also has also required the Comelec to answer the petition and submit its comment within a non-extensible period of 10 days from notice.

In the same order, the SC ordered the Office of the Solicitor General to submit its separate comment on the petition also within the same period.

Should the high tribunal grant

the petition in ruling on the merits of the case, over three million voters who failed to register their biometrics, as required by the Comelec policy, would be allowed to vote in the May 2016 general elections.

In their petition, Ridon and company also asked the SC to nullify the Comelec resolutions issued for implementation of the policy as well as the law it was based from, Republic Act No. 10367, the law mandating biometrics voter registration.

The petitioners asserted that the new policy violates the Constitution as it adds a substantive requirement for Filipinos to be able to exercise their right to suffrage. petitioners stressed that the Constitution clearly states that “no literacy, property, or other substantive requirement shall be imposed on the exercise of suffrage.”

Karapatan blasts AFP ‘evil tactics’

By John Paolo Bencito and Florante Solmerin HuMAN rights group Karapatan on Tuesday denounced the Aquino administration for failing to solve the murders of 94 victims of extrajudicial killings by alleged paramilitary groups backed by the Armed Forces of the philippines as of Nov. 30, 2015.

“The regime’s monstrosity, that even children are not spared, speaks of the evil tactics of the counterinsurgency program of BS Aquino, Oplan Bayanihan. The attempt to pit the people in the community against each other ‘through winning

the hearts and minds’ is simply sugar-coating its ‘divide and rule’ tactic.

In truth, the AFp provides arms to those who can be used against its perceived enemies,” Karapatan secretary-general Cristina palabay said in a statement. palabay dared the Aquino administration and security forces to enforce the arrest warrants against brothers Bobby and loloy Tejero and Margarito layno, suspects in the kilings of lumad leaders in Surigao del Sur, who were all members of the Magahat-Bagani group, accused of fronting for the 36th Infantry Battalion/4th Infantry division

of the philippine Army.

“We call on the Aquino regime to enforce the warrant of arrest against the members of the Magahat-Bagani paramilitary groups involved in the September 1 massacre of Alcadev executive director Emerito Samarca and lumad leaders dionel Campos and Juvello Sinzo,” palabay said. “It has been three months since the massacre yet, these AFp-backed paramilitary members and the AFp units responsible for the massacre remain scot-free and continue to sow terror in the lumad communities,” palabay said. With Maricel Cruz

MRT deal gets ex-GM into trouble

By Rio N. Araja THE Office of the Ombudsman on Tuesday filed graft charges against former MRT-3 general manager Al Vitangcol and executives of a private corporation before the Sandiganbayan in connection with the MRT-3 interim maintenance contract in 2012.

Named as Vitangcol’s co-accused were executives of the pH Trams incorporators Wilson de Vera, Marlo de la Cruz, Manolo Maralit, Federico Remo and Vitangcol’s uncle-in-law, Arturo Soriano, who is now the provincial accountant of pangasinan.

Vitangcol allegedly conspired with pH Transcom officials to ensure the awarding of the contract despite that pH Trams could have been automatically disqualified from participating in the procurement of the MRT-3 maintenance contract since Vitangcol was Soriano’s relative, the Ombudsman said.

Vitangcol as the head of the ne-

gotiating team and bids and awards committee member, “intentionally concealed” his relationship with Soriano to ensure the awarding, instead of disqualifying pH Trams from the bidding.

Based on the affidavit of disclosure submitted to the government, pH Trams allegedly gave a false statement after indicating that “none of pH Trans incorporators is related by consanguinity or affinity up to the third civil degree to the Head of the procuring Entity, members of the Bids and Awards Committee, Technical Working Group, the BAC Secretariat, and Head of the project Management Office.” “[Vitangcol] in his official capacity... while having a direct or indirect financial or pecuniary interest in pH Trams, being the nephew-inlaw of accused Soriano, with all of the accused fully knowing, yet concealing, such financial or pecuniary interest of Vitangcol in pH Trams,” the charge sheet read.

Flawed affidavit keeps ex-minister from testifying

By Rey E. Requejo ExpEllEd minister of the Iglesia Ni Cristo lowell Menorca II on Tuesday failed to testify before the Court of Appeals in connection with his case against INC leaders.

At the continuation of the hearing on his habeas corpus and amparo petition, Menorca was supposed to take the witness stand to narrate his allegations of abduction, harassment and illegal detention against the top

INC ministers.

But before he could start his testimony, lawyers of the respondents urged the CA’s Seventh division to suspend their cross examination of Menorca due to flaws and questionable entries in his 53-page judicial affidavit.

INC lawyer patricia-Ann prodigalidad informed the appellate court they have found at least 117 objections in the affidavit submitted by Menorca’s lawyers ahead of the hearing.

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

A6

NEWS

editorial@thestandard.com.ph

Palace chided over rotting rice

By Maricel V. Cruz

HOUSE Independent Bloc leader and Leyte Rep. Ferdinand Martin Romualdez on Tuesday chided the Aquino administration’s absence of “malasakit” (compassion) with the discovery of 500 sacks of rice bearing the logo of the National Food Authority buried in a pit in Dagami town, Leyte.

“The lack of ‘malasakit’ on this shocking discovery is unthinkable and beyond human comprehen-

sion. I can’t understand why this had to happen given the continued hunger among Yolanda survivors

who continue to hope for government assistance. The lives of survivors remain uncertain and this negligence and wastage of relief goods in the disaster-hit areas were unforgivable,” Romualdez pointed out in a press conference after learning of the buried rice from the report from Senior Insp. Anthony Florencio, the town’s police chief.

“It seems that the government is unmindful or oblivious of their [Yolanda survivors] fate,” Romualdez lamented.

Abakada party-list Rep. Jonathan

dela Cruz, member of Romualdez’s The Bloc, demanded accountability from concerned government officials led by Social Welfare Secretary Corazon Soliman for the dumping of relief goods intended for calamity victims.

Dela Cruz expressed belief that it was Soliman’s duty and responsibility more than anybody else to facilitate the supposed distribution of hundred of sacks of rice that was rotten at the warehouse of the DSWD in Leyte.

“She must explain and accept responsibility,” Dela Cruz said.

Romualdez said all donations espe-

cially relief goods must be distributed immediately or they may be accused of “ignoring the people’s need.”

“The pictures of rotten rice sacks speak for itself (absence of malasakit).

It needs to be distributed right away.

Dapat bigay ng bigay kasi maraming nangangailangan,” Romualdez said.

Florencio said Dagami Mayor Abundio Delusa was shocked to learn about the incident especially his area is a third-class municipality with annual income of P35 million to P45 million and was among hit by Yolanda.

R E PUBLI C O F TH E PH I LI PPI NES CO M M I SS I O N O N ELECTI O NS

M anila E N BAN C I N T H E M AT T E R O F A M E N D I N G C O M E L EC R ES O LU T I O N N O. 10 0 01 P R O M U LG AT E D ON O C TO B E R 5 , 2 015 .

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

Bautista, J.A.D Lim, C.R.S.L., Parreño, A. A., Guia, L.T.F., Lim, A.D., Guanzon, M.R.A.V. Abas, S.M.,

Chairman Commissioner Commissioner Commissioner Commissioner Commissioner Commissioner

P r o m u l g a t e d: D e c e m b e r 1, 2 015

R E S O LU TI O N N o . 10 018 W H E R E A S,, o n O c t o b e r 5 , 2 015 , t h e C o m m i s s i o n E n B a n c p r o m u l g a t e d R e s o l u t i o n N o. 10 0 01 En t i t l e d “ R U L E S A N D R E G U L AT I O N S FO R T H E C O N D U C T O F R A FFL E O F AC C R E D I T E D PA R T Y- L I S T G R O U P S TO D E T E R M I N E T H E O R D E R O F T H E I R L I S T I N G O N T H E O FF I CA L B A L LO T ”.

W H E R E A S, i n t h e s a m e R e s o l u t i o n , t h e O f f i c e o f t h e C l e r k o f t h e C o m i s s i o n w a s d i r e c t e d t o g i ve n o t i c e t o a l l p a r t y - l i s t g r o u p s , o r g a n i z a t i o n s , o r c o a l i t i o n s , n o t l a t e r t h a n t e n (10) d ay s b e f o r e t h e scheduled conduct of the raf f le for the determination of the order of the listing of the par ty-list groups, organizations, or coalitions o n t h e o f f i c i a l b a l l o t s , o f t h e d a t e, t i m e a n d p l a c e o f t h e s a m e; W H E R E A S, vo l u m i n o u s n u m b e r o f p e t i t i o n s a n d m o t i o n s f o r r e c o n s i d e r a t i o n , f i l e d u n d e r R e p u b l i c A c t N o. 7 9 41, o r t h e P a r t y List, System Act, are stilI pending before the Commission En Banc; W H E R E A S, t h e f i n a l l i s t o f c a n d i d a t e s t o a p p e a r i n t h e b a l l o t s s h a l l b e a p p r ove d by t h e C o m m i s s i o n E n B a n c o n D e c e m b e r 15 , 2 015; W H E R E A S, a f t e r c a r e f u l d e l i b e r a t i o n a n d i n d u e r e g a r d t o t h e strict implementation of the timeline of the preparator y activities for the upcoming elections, the Commission En Banc finds a need t o r e s e t t h e s c h e d u l e o f c o n d u c t o f r a f f l e; W H E R E A S s u c h r e s e t t i n g w i l l g i ve t h e C o m m i s s i o n m o r e time to study the pending cases and will af ford the Clerk of the Commission time to f inalize the list and to notif y the par ticipants i n t h e s a i d r a f f l e; N O W, T H E R E FO R E , t h e C o m m i s s i o n o n E l e c t i o n s , by v i r t u e o f t h e p o w e r s ve s t e d i n i t by t h e C o n s t i t u t i o n , R E S O LV E D, a s i t h e r e by R E S O LV E S, t o A M E N D R e s o l u t i o n N o. 10 0 01 a n d R E S E T t h e d a t e o f c o n d u c t o f r a f f l e f r o m 0 5 D e c e m b e r 2 015 t o 14 D e c e m b e r 2 015 , 10 : 0 0 A M , a t t h e C o m m i s s i o n E n B a n c S e s s i o n H a l l .

Let the Of f ice of the Clerk of the Commission implement this Resolution.

F U R T H E R , l e t t h e Ed u c a t i o n & I n f o r m a t i o n D e p a r t m e n t c a u s e t h e p u b l i c a t i o n o f t h i s R e s o l u t i o n i n t w o (2) d a i l y n e w s p a p e r s o f general circulation.

S O O R D E R E D.

J. A N D R E S D. B AU T I S TA Chairman

CHRISTIAN ROBERT S. LIM Chairman

A L A . PA R R E Ñ O Commissioner

LU I E T I T O F. G U I A Commissioner

A R T H U R D. L I M Commissioner

M A . R O W E N A A M E L I A V. G UA N Z O N Commissioner ( T S - D E C . 2 , 2 015 )

SHERIFF M. ABAS Commissioner

Starting over. A couple rebuilds a shanty in Barangay Addition Hills in Mandaluyong City almost a week after fire razed 500 shanties in the area and left thousands homeless. EY ACASIO

Livelihood projects MMDA sets to combat poverty moratorium on diggings

WITH most sections of the country still mired in poverty, the Iglesia ni Cristo through the Felix Y. Manalo Foundation, has stepped up efforts to assist the less fortunate—particularly indigenous peoples and communities lacking in economic opportunities.

“The Iglesia wants residents in local communities, INC members or not, to fight and eradicate poverty,” explained Glicerio Santos, INC’s general auditor.

“It’s the church’s way of showing we should provide succor and concrete assistance to the least of our brethren,” said Santos.

Apart from enriching the lives of people through spirituality, the INC has been actively engaging members and non-members alike in various livelihood and assistance programs in needy areas throughout Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao.

A Nov. 8, 2015 launching of INC’s self-sustaining “ecocommunity” in Barangay Bakal, Paracale, Camarines Norte was the church’s immediate followup to the “EVM Self-Sustainable Eco-farming Community” in Alangalang, Leyte launched earlier this year. The Visayas project was made in response to clamor for livelihood for local residents in the aftermath of Typhoon “Yolanda”, which struck the province in November 2013.

The Paracale project involves a 100-hectare site for the Kabihug indigenous peoples, and

benefited 300 households.

The EVM community in the Visayas, meanwhile, is a 3,000-hectare property meant to shelter and sustain Yolanda victims. The site has its own agriculture facilities, such as tractors and other essential farm implements needed to bring residents up to speed in their economic recovery.

INC has established 10 such self-sustaining communities all over the country. The first one was built in 1965 in Nueva Ecija.

Mindanao has benefited from eco-farming projects in Agusan del Sur and Lanao del Norte. The Agusan location helps sustain 3,000 families.

Other INC-initiated eco-farming sites are located in San Miguel, Bulacan, Pinugay and Tanay in Rizal and in Naic, Cavite. There is also a “mushroom house” inside the main campus of the New Era University in Quezon City, where most of the workers come from Yolanda-affected areas in Leyte.

Beneficiaries have expressed gratitude for the INC’s efforts.

Sainma Romeric, a resident of the Lanao livelihood community, said that “in a span of one year, since we started in this area, we maintain a steady income. We are able to send our children to school and we have food on the table.”

Santos said the success of these communities have encouraged the INC to continue the projects in other areas.

THE Metropolitan Manila Development Authority will impose a threeweek moratorium on road diggings and excavations in major streets in the metropolis starting Dec. 14, in anticipation of the traffic buildup during the Yuletide season.

During Tuesday’s Metro Manila Council meeting, MMDA Traffic Engineering Center Director Noemi Recio said that the temporary stoppage of road works will begin on the midnight of Dec. 14, 2015 up to the midnight of Jan. 3, 2016.

“No reblocking. Aside from this, a moratorium on road works and repairs will be implemented effective Dec. 14 to Jan. 3,” she said, adding that the moratorium covers road diggings of power and water utilities as well.

Recio cited the numerous road projects by the Department of Public Works and Highways, totaling 146 all around Metro Manila.

“If we can stop these projects, we are hopeful that traffic in the Metro Manila would not be that heavy and would somehow ease the burden of shoppers during the holiday rush,” she told the MMC, the policy-making body of the MMDA composed of the 17 local government units.

Recio, however, pointed out that there would be exemptions to the moratorium including the flagship projects of the national government such as the said Ninoy Aquino International Airport Expressway project and the Skyway project 3 road works that do not obstruct or block vehicular traffic. PNA

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

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NEWS

editorial@thestandard.com.ph

Farmers’ group asks Congress to investigate irrigation fiasco

By Dexter A. See

Getting in line. Survivors of Typhoon ‘Yolanda’ await their turn to sign the declaration supporting community-based measures to combat climate change. MEL CASPE

Storm victims, church sign climate change declaration

By Mel Caspe

THE Archdiocese of Palo’s Relief and Rehabilitation Unit (Caritas Palo) and at least 200 Yolanda survivors have signed a declaration supporting community-managed disaster risk reduction in Palo, Leyte Tuesday.

Caritas-Palo director, Rev. Al Cris Badana, said it was important for members of the communities to be part of all processes addressing climate and disaster risk, especially after the province experienced the wrath of Typhoon “Yolanda” last Nov. 8, 2013.

He added that the impact of climate change cuts across all sectors regardless of gender, culture economic or political status, with

the poor suffering the greatest impact.

In Paris, France, world leaders, negotiators and activists are attending a climate conference.

“Therefore, a plan of action to address climate and disaster risk must be undertaken using community-managed disaster risk reduction as the strategy,” Badana added.

Also present during the com-

mitment signing are representative from various church groups and government agencies such as the Provincial Government of Leyte, Department of Social Welfare and Development, Department of Interior and Local Government, Media, Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office and the Office of Civil Defense.

Aside from the declaration signing, the Yolanda survivors from 15 communities in the town of Palo, Santa Fe, Alangalang, Mayorga, Dulag, and Macarthur each gave a presentation of how their communities are presently engaged in community-managed disaster risk reduction measures and system.

There was also a mini-exhibit

of the organic products produced

by Yolanda survivors to show its support for sustainable agriculture which is part of the climate change action.

After the devastation of said typhoon, Caritas Palo and NASSA/ Caritas Philippines helped Yolanda-affected communities craft their own resiliency and contingency plans, which were already adopted by their barangays.

As of Dec. 1, Caritas Palo has invested P150 million to build resilient communities.

The said communities also installed early warning systems and evacuation plans, which resulted in zero casualties and minimal damages during the onslaught of Typhoon Ruby, the strongest typhoon in 2014.

TABUK CITY, Kalinga—Two groups are seeking a legislative probe into the implementation of the P425-million World Bankfunded irrigation rehabilitation project on the Upper Chico Irrigation System in this city.

The Upper Chico River Irrigation System Tabuk and Pinukpuk Federation of Irrigators’ Association, frustrated by lack of what they deem as satisfactory executive action, have asked Agri Party-list Rep. Delphine Gan Lee to take the cudgels for them on their loss of livelihood due to the “dereliction of duty” of National Irrigation Administration Administrator Florencio Padernal.

The groups accused Padernal of failing to “act on the valid recommendations of the KalingaIrrigation Management Office and the Irrigators Associations and the gross negligence of the contractor of the rehabilitation of the UCRIS, Markbilt Construction/RD Policarpio and Co. Inc. for his refusal to deploy his equipment and manpower to the project site despite the availability thereof resulting to the wash-out of the NIA main canal, non-completion and defect of all items of work of the project.”

The farmer leaders related to Lee have repeatedly warned Padernal of the irresponsibility and incompetence of the contractor as reflected in his runaway slippage and that Padernal had in turn promised three times to have the contract of Markbilt Construction/RD Policarpio and Co. Inc. rescinded but reneged on his word each time.

In the letter to Lee, the groups called the disaster man-made.

On the other hand, the influential local clergy group KalingaApayao Religious Sector Association has sent a resolution to all members of the Senate seeking a probe of what it calls mismanagement of the World Bank-funded irrigation rehabilitation projects.

Palace creates trial court sala in Meycauayan City signing of the law was done without fanfare because of the PresiPRESIDENT Benigno Aquino III dent’s busy schedule.

“Finally, this will be a big boost to has signed last Nov. 20 Republic Act No. 10792—“An Act Creating the administration of justice as well a Regional Trial Court Branch in as afford justice to the under- privileged and the disadvantaged, espeMeycauayan City.”

The bill was authored by 4th cially for my constituents in the 4th District Rep. Linabelle Ruth R. District of Bulacan,” Villarica said.

At present, there are 27 RTC saVillarica. las based at the provincial capitol Residents of the City of Meycaucompound in Malolos City. ayan involved in civil and criminal Concerns about the security of proceedings need not go anymore to the City of Malolos where all the judges were raised following the offices of the Regional Trial Courts ambush of RTC-Br. 84 Judge Wilof Bulacan are housed in one roof fredo T. Nieves along McArthur at the Hall of Justice at the provin- Highway in Barangay Tikay in Malolos on his way home from ofcial capitol compound.

According to the lawmaker, the fice last Nov. 11.

By Orlan L. Mauricio

Hello, December. Women dressed as Christmas presents elicit smiles from mascots and shoppers alike at a mall in Antipolo City. MANNY PALMERO

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

A8

OPINION

ADELLE CHUA EDITOR

lettertotheeditor@thestandard.com.ph

OPINION

SO I SEE LITO BANAYO

PEACEFULNESS INDEX

[ EDI TORI A L ]

CROSSING THE LINE THERE is candor, and then there is just plain boorishness.

This week, the reluctant candidate Davao City Mayor Rodrigo Duterte clearly crossed the line and showed us the kind of national leader he would be, just as the PDP-Laban proclaimed him as its presidential standard bearer.

In a rambling, obscenity-laced speech at the Century Park Hotel in Manila, Duterte said he would take a zero-tolerance approach to crime and admitted to personally killing criminals.

He bragged about killing a group of kidnappers and then burning their bodies during his time as mayor, but did not provide details.

“I really finished them. This was a good killing,” he told a cheering crowd.

The mayor even lashed out at Pope Francis, blaming him for causing traffic jams in Metro Manila when he visited in January.

“Pope, you son of a -----, why don’t you go home,” Duterte said.

Duterte also admitted he was a womanizer.

“That’s correct. I have a wife. I have a second wife. “I have two girlfriends. You want me for president? You need to know who I really am,” he said.

The 70-year-old Duterte, who credited the efficacy of viagra, said he would not give up his worldly pleasures simply because he is running for president.

“That’s my happiness. If you don’t want me as president because I have four or five women, then vote for one of the other candidates,” he said.

The night before, during a concert to drum up support for Duterte, the mayor bragged that he didn’t have to spend government money to take care of his girlfriends, and joked that he could only afford to house them in a rented room at a boarding house for P1,500 a month.

Duterte also said one of his girlfriends wanted him to buy her a car, but he turned her down, saying, “What trips do we take anyway? I just pick you up and we go to a motel, and it’s only for a short time.”

He also over-shared by saying he was old and could no longer perform well in bed—one erection and that was it.

Earlier, Duterte’s vice presidential running mate, Senator Alan Peter Cayetano, tried to defend him against criticism that he too quickly favored violence—just as Duterte was telling reporters in Davao City that he had a dark side—“the usual, women, killing. But that is but normal.”

In just two short days, the mayor managed to anger Catholics, alienate anyone who believes in human rights, and denigrate women, whom he reduces contemptuously into objects for his lust and enjoyment—but only if it doesn’t cost him too much.

It is time to take the mayor’s advice. If we don’t like him, we really should vote for one of the other candidates.

REMOVING GRACE LOWDOWN JOJO A. ROBLES THAT was a stunning decision rendered by the Commission on Elections in the case of Senator Grace Poe last night. Wherever he is right now, Mar Roxas must be laughing himself silly.

In the last Standard Poll, this newspaper’s in-house pollster Junie Laylo included a “drop one” question to

confront the issue of who benefits from the hypothetical removal of any one candidate, in turn, from the presidential race. And this is who benefits from the withdrawal of Poe: the Liberal Party’s Roxas.

According to Laylo’s nationwide survey, conducted from Sept. 21 to Oct. 1, Roxas, who got 19 percent of the vote of all the candidates surveyed, would jump to the lead with 31 percent, gaining 12 percentage points from Poe’s top-ranking 32 percent,

if she is not in the race. Vice President Jejomar Binay (14 percent overall) would also register a second-best increase of 8 percentage points, to 22 percent of the total, if Poe does not run.

Davao City Mayor Rodrigo Duterte (10 percent) would post a four-point gain, to 14 percent overall. Senator Miriam Defensor Santiago, the fifth candidate for President (6 percent), would improve by 2 percent overall, to 8 percent.

What does this mean?

A9

I am convinced that Roxas has every reason to back any plot to have Poe disqualified.

Well, if you’re aware of the supposed strategy of Roxas to eliminate all opposition to his bid for the presidency, you’ll be practically forced to conclude—as Poe herself once did—that President Noynoy Aquino’s anointed candidate is behind the senator’s disqualification.

Of course, the disqualification of Poe has just started with the resolution issued by Comelec upholding the allegation of petitioner lawyer Estrella Elamparo that the candidate lacks residency to qualify for the race. The resolution was issued by a mere division, after all, something

that still has to be reviewed by the Comelec en banc.

But because the poll agency has already set the start of the printing of the official ballots for the May 9 elections on Dec. 10, Job Number One for the Poe camp is to get her name on the ballot. This means that Poe will probably not wait for an en banc ruling from Comelec and will go directly to the Supreme Court to get a temporary restraining order to prevent her disqualification.

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.

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If Poe fails to get an order from the court to stop Comelec from disqualifying her, she may not get on the ballot at all. And that would mean the end of her presidential campaign.

There is very little time left for Poe and even less wiggle room. She may be the hands-down leader in virtually all the surveys taken since she joined the race, but that will mean nothing if she doesn’t get on the ballot and is given a chance to get se-

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lected by voters on Election Day. *** But I started this piece by saying that Roxas stands to benefit the most from the removal of Poe from the presidential race. I am convinced that Roxas has every reason to back any plot to have Poe disqualified.

Many political observers have posited that because Roxas continues to trail Poe, Binay and Duterte in the surveys, his strategy is to 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

I READ Leni Robredo’s statement comparing Davao City and her native Naga where the good lady compared how “they” (her late husband Jesse was a longtime Naga City mayor before he was drafted to PNoy’s cabinet as DILG secretary) made the Bicol heartland of some 200,000 population peaceful and progressive without the Davao mayor’s unorthodox ways.

Alan Cayetano, Duterte’s vice presidential candidate and spokesman, challenged Leni’s “tirade.” (I place this word on quotes because it is highly possible that her name was made as attribution to a press release created by the Liberal Party’s PR people, a common practice which should, however, require a clearance from the person being “quoted”). Without demeaning what the late Jesse Robredo achieved in Naga, Alan rightly placed the issue in its proper context: It’s not about violence, it’s about law and order. People must learn to respect and follow the law. That is the foundation of societal order. It’s about discipline, not the abuse of the law or the rights that the law entitles citizens in a democratic society.

But beyond comparing a city like Davao with almost 2 million people of diverse cultures and ethnicities, versus Naga with 200,000 and a much much smaller territory to govern, let’s get the bigger picture about the state of peace and order in the whole country.

Now let me share with readers a recent Global Peace Index for 2015 by the Institute for Economics and Peace.

The Philippines is ranked 18, qualifying it to be the second most dangerous place in the Asia-Pacific region. Rank 19, the most dangerous country, is North Korea, with a score of 2,977. Ours was a tad better, at 2,462 points. At number three in the dangerous country list is Myanmar, with a score of 2,323, and Thailand, with 2,303.

Singapore, which ranks one notch higher than Davao City among the “safest cities in the world,” per Numbeo. com has a score of 1,490, qualifying it to be No. 4 in the Asia-Pacific region.

Which means that despite Davao City’s encomium as one of the safest cities in the world, the rest of the country, Naga City included, brought us down in the Global Peace Index to become the second most dangerous country in Asia.

Truly, Davao is a pride to behold.

Continued on A11

BACK CHANNEL ALEJANDRO DEL ROSARIO Ambassador Del Rosario’s column will resume Friday.

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

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

Emil P. Jurado Chairman Emeritus, Editiorial Board

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

A8

OPINION

ADELLE CHUA EDITOR

lettertotheeditor@thestandard.com.ph

OPINION

SO I SEE LITO BANAYO

PEACEFULNESS INDEX

[ EDI TORI A L ]

CROSSING THE LINE THERE is candor, and then there is just plain boorishness.

This week, the reluctant candidate Davao City Mayor Rodrigo Duterte clearly crossed the line and showed us the kind of national leader he would be, just as the PDP-Laban proclaimed him as its presidential standard bearer.

In a rambling, obscenity-laced speech at the Century Park Hotel in Manila, Duterte said he would take a zero-tolerance approach to crime and admitted to personally killing criminals.

He bragged about killing a group of kidnappers and then burning their bodies during his time as mayor, but did not provide details.

“I really finished them. This was a good killing,” he told a cheering crowd.

The mayor even lashed out at Pope Francis, blaming him for causing traffic jams in Metro Manila when he visited in January.

“Pope, you son of a -----, why don’t you go home,” Duterte said.

Duterte also admitted he was a womanizer.

“That’s correct. I have a wife. I have a second wife. “I have two girlfriends. You want me for president? You need to know who I really am,” he said.

The 70-year-old Duterte, who credited the efficacy of viagra, said he would not give up his worldly pleasures simply because he is running for president.

“That’s my happiness. If you don’t want me as president because I have four or five women, then vote for one of the other candidates,” he said.

The night before, during a concert to drum up support for Duterte, the mayor bragged that he didn’t have to spend government money to take care of his girlfriends, and joked that he could only afford to house them in a rented room at a boarding house for P1,500 a month.

Duterte also said one of his girlfriends wanted him to buy her a car, but he turned her down, saying, “What trips do we take anyway? I just pick you up and we go to a motel, and it’s only for a short time.”

He also over-shared by saying he was old and could no longer perform well in bed—one erection and that was it.

Earlier, Duterte’s vice presidential running mate, Senator Alan Peter Cayetano, tried to defend him against criticism that he too quickly favored violence—just as Duterte was telling reporters in Davao City that he had a dark side—“the usual, women, killing. But that is but normal.”

In just two short days, the mayor managed to anger Catholics, alienate anyone who believes in human rights, and denigrate women, whom he reduces contemptuously into objects for his lust and enjoyment—but only if it doesn’t cost him too much.

It is time to take the mayor’s advice. If we don’t like him, we really should vote for one of the other candidates.

REMOVING GRACE LOWDOWN JOJO A. ROBLES THAT was a stunning decision rendered by the Commission on Elections in the case of Senator Grace Poe last night. Wherever he is right now, Mar Roxas must be laughing himself silly.

In the last Standard Poll, this newspaper’s in-house pollster Junie Laylo included a “drop one” question to

confront the issue of who benefits from the hypothetical removal of any one candidate, in turn, from the presidential race. And this is who benefits from the withdrawal of Poe: the Liberal Party’s Roxas.

According to Laylo’s nationwide survey, conducted from Sept. 21 to Oct. 1, Roxas, who got 19 percent of the vote of all the candidates surveyed, would jump to the lead with 31 percent, gaining 12 percentage points from Poe’s top-ranking 32 percent,

if she is not in the race. Vice President Jejomar Binay (14 percent overall) would also register a second-best increase of 8 percentage points, to 22 percent of the total, if Poe does not run.

Davao City Mayor Rodrigo Duterte (10 percent) would post a four-point gain, to 14 percent overall. Senator Miriam Defensor Santiago, the fifth candidate for President (6 percent), would improve by 2 percent overall, to 8 percent.

What does this mean?

A9

I am convinced that Roxas has every reason to back any plot to have Poe disqualified.

Well, if you’re aware of the supposed strategy of Roxas to eliminate all opposition to his bid for the presidency, you’ll be practically forced to conclude—as Poe herself once did—that President Noynoy Aquino’s anointed candidate is behind the senator’s disqualification.

Of course, the disqualification of Poe has just started with the resolution issued by Comelec upholding the allegation of petitioner lawyer Estrella Elamparo that the candidate lacks residency to qualify for the race. The resolution was issued by a mere division, after all, something

that still has to be reviewed by the Comelec en banc.

But because the poll agency has already set the start of the printing of the official ballots for the May 9 elections on Dec. 10, Job Number One for the Poe camp is to get her name on the ballot. This means that Poe will probably not wait for an en banc ruling from Comelec and will go directly to the Supreme Court to get a temporary restraining order to prevent her disqualification.

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If Poe fails to get an order from the court to stop Comelec from disqualifying her, she may not get on the ballot at all. And that would mean the end of her presidential campaign.

There is very little time left for Poe and even less wiggle room. She may be the hands-down leader in virtually all the surveys taken since she joined the race, but that will mean nothing if she doesn’t get on the ballot and is given a chance to get se-

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lected by voters on Election Day. *** But I started this piece by saying that Roxas stands to benefit the most from the removal of Poe from the presidential race. I am convinced that Roxas has every reason to back any plot to have Poe disqualified.

Many political observers have posited that because Roxas continues to trail Poe, Binay and Duterte in the surveys, his strategy is to 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

I READ Leni Robredo’s statement comparing Davao City and her native Naga where the good lady compared how “they” (her late husband Jesse was a longtime Naga City mayor before he was drafted to PNoy’s cabinet as DILG secretary) made the Bicol heartland of some 200,000 population peaceful and progressive without the Davao mayor’s unorthodox ways.

Alan Cayetano, Duterte’s vice presidential candidate and spokesman, challenged Leni’s “tirade.” (I place this word on quotes because it is highly possible that her name was made as attribution to a press release created by the Liberal Party’s PR people, a common practice which should, however, require a clearance from the person being “quoted”). Without demeaning what the late Jesse Robredo achieved in Naga, Alan rightly placed the issue in its proper context: It’s not about violence, it’s about law and order. People must learn to respect and follow the law. That is the foundation of societal order. It’s about discipline, not the abuse of the law or the rights that the law entitles citizens in a democratic society.

But beyond comparing a city like Davao with almost 2 million people of diverse cultures and ethnicities, versus Naga with 200,000 and a much much smaller territory to govern, let’s get the bigger picture about the state of peace and order in the whole country.

Now let me share with readers a recent Global Peace Index for 2015 by the Institute for Economics and Peace.

The Philippines is ranked 18, qualifying it to be the second most dangerous place in the Asia-Pacific region. Rank 19, the most dangerous country, is North Korea, with a score of 2,977. Ours was a tad better, at 2,462 points. At number three in the dangerous country list is Myanmar, with a score of 2,323, and Thailand, with 2,303.

Singapore, which ranks one notch higher than Davao City among the “safest cities in the world,” per Numbeo. com has a score of 1,490, qualifying it to be No. 4 in the Asia-Pacific region.

Which means that despite Davao City’s encomium as one of the safest cities in the world, the rest of the country, Naga City included, brought us down in the Global Peace Index to become the second most dangerous country in Asia.

Truly, Davao is a pride to behold.

Continued on A11

BACK CHANNEL ALEJANDRO DEL ROSARIO Ambassador Del Rosario’s column will resume Friday.

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

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

Emil P. Jurado Chairman Emeritus, Editiorial Board

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

A10

OPINION

lettertotheeditor@thestandard.com.ph

IMMORAL AND DANGEROUS TO THE POINT EMIL P. JURADO I KNEW that sooner or later, PDP-Laban presidential candidate Davao City Mayor Rodrigo Duterte would cross the line and show himself as somebody without morals. True enough, he has admitted to having two wives and two girlfriends and that he would not hesitate to kill in the name of peace and order.

Santa Banana, would we Filipinos vote for a man who cursed Pope Francis?

As a Roman Catholic who believes that the Pope is the successor of Jesus Christ, I cannot tolerate anybody cursing the head of my church.

And for that, my gulay, I will not ever vote for Duterte and will in fact campaign against him in my column. He may ignore and disregard me, but I must make my point.

If Duterte wins, then God save the Philippines!

Can you imagine Duterte, obviously in an attempt at bizarre humor, bragging about killing a group of kidnappers and then burning their bodies during his time as Davao City mayor?

If there are some who think that Duterte is their man because he can stop criminality and corruption, let them. But I must warn them: Duterte is not only a dangerous man. He is a public official without any sense of morality.

If he is elected, God save the Philippines!

I cannot understand why a senator like Alan Peter Cayetano is so enamored with Duterte. He is sticking to him like a leech and toning down the profane rhetoric.

Does Cayetano really believe Duterte stands a chance?

*** The camp of candidate Mrs. Mary Grace Poe Llamanzares is asking the Comelec to defer to the decision of the Senate Electoral Tribunal in dismissing the disqualification case against her as a senator.

The lawyers of Mrs. Llamanzares do not realize that the 5-4 majority decision of the SET was made possible because five of the six senators who voted against the disqualification did not follow the law. They instead decided based on personal/ sentimental reasons.

The composition of the Comelec is entirely different. The commissioners are lawyers, who are presumed to know the law.

They are mandated by law to decide cases based on legal and constitutional grounds.

Nonetheless, whatever the Comelec decides before the printing of election ballots on Dec. 10 will surely be relegated to the Supreme Court, like the SET decision.

And then, whatever the high court decides will rule the day. Whether we like it or not, that’s the law. *** Along with the government proponents of the Bangsamoro Basic Law, Senate President Frank Drilon is optimistic that the BBL will also hurdle all objections in the Senate.

To me, and a lot of others observers, the BBL is already dead in the water. First of all, how can the BBL be enacted by the House of Representatives when for all intents and purposes, the election period for 2016 has already started? This is resulting in the lack of quorum in the House.

In the Senate, there are still many senators who want to interpellate and debate over the BBL. Minority Senator Juan Ponce Enrile, for instance, believes that the BBL is a local or municipal law, and thus, should first be enacted at the House of Representatives.

Santa Banana, how can you justify having a parliamentary system of government in the Bangsamoro juridical entity when the national government is unitary in form and presidential in system?

We had a parliamentary system under strongman and dictator Ferdinand Marcos which was embodied in the 1973 Marcos Constitution. But, when

DUTERTE, TANIM-BALA, AND DOTC THERE is only one word to describe the Rodrigo Duterte phenomenon.

Frustration.

People are exasperated. Fed up.

Angry. With the way things are under the 65-month-old administration of President Benigno Simeon (BS) Aquino III. People think Duterte can deliver a government much better than Aquino’s.

The BS Aquino government is stupid, incompetent, corrupt and insensitive. I have never seen an administration as stupid, as incompetent, as corrupt, and as insensitive as BS Aquino’s.

And I have covered seven presidents—the last year of Diosdado Macapagal (when I was a high school journalist), the 20 years of Ferdinand Marcos, the six years and four months of Corazon Cojuangco Aquino, the six years of Fidel V. Ramos, the three years of Joseph Ejercito Estrada, the nine years of Gloria Macapagal Arroyo, and this one, BS Aquino’s.

That’s more than half a century of journalism. During the last 50 years, the Philippines descended from the second richest country in Asia into an economic basket case where less than 100 families own the economy and the politics of the country, and where income inequality is one of the worst in the world.

In Metro Manila, the national capital and where income distribution is much better than the rest of the archipelago and where the balance of terror and power is more or less even although it hosts half of the nation’s squatters, you have the worst mass transit system in the world (MRT3), the worst traffic in the world, and the worst airport in the world, the Naia.

An efficient and reliable mass transit, traffic management, and a decent international airport are hallmarks of good governance.

Since the Philippines gets the worst ratings on mass transit, traffic, and airports, you can say Filipinos have their worst government ever.

One of the kindest and most talented people on earth have for their fate and karma one of the worst governments on earth.

And people cannot seem to do anything about it. They are not the revolutionary government of the late President Cory Aquino came into being, the country’s parliamentary system was abrogated and we returned to the unitary presidential system. My gulay, how incongruous would it be to have a parliamentary system for the Bangsamoro under the unitary presidential system of the central government? *** The intramurals within the Iglesia Ni Cristo with the alleged kidnapping of INC ministers who refused to toe the line of the INC Sanggunian or Council is still pending in Court. Nonetheless, it has already done enough

exponentially.

Under LTO’s Alfonso Tan, all motor vehicles no matter their age, from motorbikes to cars to trucks, have to buy new plates, costing an average of P400 per set, even as the old plates were still useful and much better in quality. Why? sharpening their knives, accu- Money. Five million license plates mulating stones, assembling their times P400 is P2 billion. Yet, when weaponry, conducting mass actions you pay the P400, you don’t get the in preparation for an assault on plates. Why? Because LTO didn’t Malacañang, the seat of power and order the plates. the hub of so much stupidity, inUnder LTO’s Tan, when you recompetence, corruption and insen- new your driver’s license, you pay sitivity in this government. the money but you don’t get the li BS Aquino III must be made cense. Why? Because LTO didn’t to account why he employs such order the driver’s licenses. people like Secretary Joseph Under LTO’s Tan, the agency Emilio Aguinaldo Abaya of the has thought of requiring all new Department of Transportation and driver applicants and applicants Communications, Alfonso Tan of for professional driver’s license the Land Transportation Office, and to get clearance certificates from Jose Angel Honrado of the Ninoy the Philippine National Police and Aquino International Airport.

National Bureau of Investigation.

This trio—Abaya, Tan and But before you could apply for Honrado—almost singlehand- police and NBI clearance, you have edly destroyed the image of the BS to get clearance from your barangay.

Aquino III who began his presiden- In effect, an applicant must get cy promising decency, honesty and three clearances—barangay, police competence in governance but has and NBI. Yet, the clearances do not delivered exactly the opposite. guarantee your getting a professional During Abaya’s watch at DOTC, driver’s license. Why? Because a cabal of incompetent and corrupt the LTO did not order enough officials, including some related to professional driver’s licenses. ranking DOTC honchos, took over Under LTO’s Tan, the agency has management and maintenance of thought of cartelizing the third party MRT3, dislodging a huge and repu- liability (TPL) insurance business. It table Japanese company. The cabal used to be that when you are a car helped themselves with the money owner, you could procure your own but paid little attention to mainte- TPL from your favorite insurance nance. The result: a railway for the company which invariably quotes masses that barely operates, incon- you a lower price. With Tan’s TPL veniencing more than 500,000 pas- cartel, you have no choice. This sengers daily. is corruption per se. And Abaya For 2016, DOTC asked Congress is not doing anything about it. to appropriate P7.09 billion in MRT- Aquino is not doing anything about related expenses, namely: P1.96 bil- it. Dodo Dulay estimates the TPL lion for operation and maintenance; insurance business to be worth P8.3 P1.5 billion for rehabilitation and billion. LTO wants to institutionalcapacity expansion; and P3.63 bil- ize its share of the loot.

lion as subsidy for “mass transport.” How come agencies under Abaya’s That means the corruption pie is DOTC instead of making things expanding exponentially, even as easier for the people—Aquino’s supthe unlamented BS Aquino regime posed bosses—keep making things winds down gradually. difficult and expensive and oppresAn incompetent and corrupt ca- sive for them? bal also took over the LTO. There, Another corrupt and oppressive driver’s licenses and car plates take agency is DOTC’s NAIA under BS ages to manufacture even as the Aquino III’s favorite general cousin price for getting them has risen, also —Honrado.

Continued on A11

damage to the sect. It has made Iglesia fanatics doubt their faith.

While the charges of kidnappings of ministers who refuse to kowtow to Iglesia council members have not really put a dent on INC followers, the charges of money laundering and evasion of taxes being brought about by expelled INC ministers in the United States have once again rocked the sect.

If those in power at the Iglesia cannot patch up things with their former ministers, it could mean a bigger problem for them.

Lest I am misunderstood, I’m not saying that the Iglesia will be shattered. What I’m saying

VIRTUAL REALITY TONY LOPEZ

is that while the faith of INC members will remain with the sect, their faith in their leaders will not be as strong and committed as their faith in their founder Felix Manalo and his son Ka Erdy Manalo. *** I heard Leni Robredo answer difficult questions from among students of the University of the Philippines. The questions were on the failure of the Aquino administration to solve day-to-day problems like the MRT and traffic gridlocks in Metro Manila.

I must admit I admire her sincerity and her candid answers to questions, like when she said

that there is need to address the problem of mass transit. She also said that she did not agree that the worsening traffic problem is a sign of progress.

What is needed, Robredo added, is an effective mass transit system. On this, I agree with her.

The problem with President Aquino and Transportation and Communications Secretary Joseph “Jun” Abaya is that they cannot seem to understand Metro Manila’s traffic problem and what the people need.

Or, better still, they refuse to understand the problem because of incompetence and insensitivity.

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

OPINION

ADELLE CHUA EDITOR

lettertotheeditor@thestandard.com.ph

A11

THE YUAN GROWS UP Bloomberg editorial AT A board meeting on Monday, the International Monetary Fund announced that China’s currency, the yuan, will join the dollar, yen, euro and pound as part of the global currency basket known as the Special Drawing Right. Don’t dismiss this as an inconsequential technical adjustment. It’s a milestone for the world economy.

Beijing has been seeking the decision for a while, arguing that the yuan’s importance in world trade warrants this new status as a global reserve currency. Earlier this month the IMF staff reported that the

Peacefulness... From A9 Here are the Asian countries by regional rank: 1 New Zealand (overall rank in the world, 4) 2 Japan (8) 3 Australia (9) 4 Singapore (24) 5 Malaysia (28) 6 Taiwan (35) 7 Laos (41) 8 South Korea (42) 9 Mongolia (43) 10 Indonesia (46) 11 Vietnam (56) 12 Timor L’este (58) 13 Papua New Guinea (96) 14 Cambodia (113)

Removing...From A9 have his opponents removed from the picture altogether. At the very least, if Roxas succeeds in disqualifying Poe on either citizenship or residency grounds and Duterte for being late in submitting his Certificate of Candidacy and for making an illegal substitution in order to run as the candidate of his PDPLaban party, then Roxas will only have to contend with one opponent—Binay.

(Readers of this space know my bias in favor of Santiago. But

yuan now met the criteria for inclusion in the SDR. It remains only for the board, representing the views of the US and the IMF’s leading members, to sign off. They should do so.

The point of the SDR is to assure IMF members that, if necessary, they can borrow the basket’s constituent currencies to meet balance-of-payment needs. Now that more trade is transacted in yuan than in yen, China’s currency easily passes the first test for inclusion—that it be “widely used.” And China has made changes (such as opening up its bond market) to satisfy the other criterion, that the currency should also be

15 China (124) 16 Thailand (126) 17 Myanmar (130) 18 Philippines (141) 19 North Korea (153)

“freely usable.” (On Monday, it was announced that Michael R. Bloomberg, the founder and majority owner of Bloomberg LP, will lead a finance and industry working group to establish the trading and clearing of the Chinese currency in the US) Granted, deciding what’s “freely usable” isn’t black and white—some discretion is involved, and China hasn’t fully liberalized its capital market— but refusing to include the yuan in the SDR would at this point look like a deliberate snub. After all, the decision is not just about the technicalities of currency baskets, it’s even more about

granting China standing as one of the world’s leading economies. In that regard, the change is overdue.

Beijing will see the move as a recognition of its efforts to reform its economy and liberalize its financial markets. The decision will likely strengthen the hand of those who want reform to go further and faster— which would benefit China and its trading partners alike. In the short term, the direct effects on currency markets will probably be modest, but with time use of the yuan will widen further, which is all to the good.

Further changes are needed to give China and other big emerg-

ing economies a greater say in the IMF and global economic governance more broadly. Since 2010, the US Congress has delayed moves to bring such nations’ voting strength at the fund into better alignment with their new economic weight—not because of deep convictions on the matter but out of lawmakers’ sheer inability to get anything done.

Such neglect is unacceptable.

The shape of the world economy has changed dramatically in the past few years, and there’s more to come. The institutions that governments have created to manage global finance need to keep up.

So there. I remember when President Erap used to rue how the Philippine economy had fallen through the years, from being second only to Japan in the 1960s, to being where we were in 1998.

“Talo natin ang lahat, pwera Japan. Ngayon, lamang na lang tayo sa Vietnam, Cambodia, Myanmar at Laos,” Estrada said. “Hindi magtatagal, baka pati Laos matalo tayo ‘pag hindi tayo nagbago (he was

pushing for amendments to the economic provisions of the Constitution then]. Talagang mala-laos tayo,” he claimed in jest.

Well, in the peacefulness index, which is extremely important because public safety and security is the principal responsibility of government, in fact, before the Industrial Revolution, the raison d’etre of all nationstates, talagang laos na laos na tayo.

Being a tad better off than that rogue state, North Korea, is the ultimate humiliation.

Which is likely why a Rodrigo Duterte with his

unorthodoxy, his profanities and his admission of private sins, has become the darling of the ordinary people.

With all the overseas Filipino workers scattered all over the globe, who have seen and experienced the difference between life in their host countries (which has improved) and life back home (which has deteriorated to such alarming levels), and who communicate with their kin and friends about the stark comparisons, we can say that people ache—nay, are hungry—for change.

Duterte’s message resonates.

Duterte’s persona rocks.

the sad truth is that Miriam, who could not even make it to the Senate recently to read a prepared privilege speech, will probably not be a real factor in next year’s election because of her health issues.)

Going back to the Laylo survey, I also fail to understand why most voters would vote for Roxas if Poe is disqualified. My guess is that Binay, Roxas and even Santiago already have their fixed “bases” which do not depend on any candidate’s withdrawal in order to go up or down significantly.

All I know is that disqualifying

Poe, the leading candidate so far, is going to have very serious repercussions on the election of the next president. Poe did not get to be the hands-down consistent survey leader for most of this year if she does not have the following—a following that is certain to protest if their candidate is disqualified on legal grounds and fails to even get to the starting gate.

Meanwhile, when (not if) Poe goes to the Supreme Court for a stay of her disqualification by Comelec, the 15 justices could end up with the unenviable job

of deciding the elections long before the polling places open.

And given that three of those 15 have already decided to disqualify Poe in the Senate Electoral Tribunal, that means that there is already a small but significant group of justices who are convinced that the senator really shouldn’t be in the race to begin with.

Let’s see how that turns out.

And if Roxas’ calculations that removing everyone else from the race will lead to his victory by virtual default next May are correct, as well.

#FAILOCRACY

Duterte...From A10 By this time, you know about the tanim-bala extortion racket and how it has scared the daylights out of our millions of airline passengers.

BS Aquino has justified the racket by claiming tanim-bala has victimized only a few out of millions of airline passengers.

In 1983, there were 51 million Filipinos. Yet, only one was assassinated at the airport tarmac—Ninoy Aquino was murdered by the military in broad daylight. That one incident changed the course of Philippine history.

Comes now Digong Duterte. He is a tanimbala specialist. He can inject bullets into the mouths and innards of drug lords and other unsavory characters. If he says he will murder the incompetents and the corrupt at DoTC, MRT3, LTO and Naia, I am sure those people will disappear almost overnight.

And quite possibly, corruption would disappear overnight.

Mabuhay ka, Pangulong Duterte. And your tanimbala specialty.

biznewsasia@gmail.com

CHONG ARDIVILLA

we dn e s day : de ce m b e r 2 , 2 0 1 5

A12

sports sports@thestandard.com.ph

Unbeaten Warriors march on LOS ANGELES—Stephen Curry scored 26 points as the Golden State Warriors survived a furious late onslaught from the Utah Jazz on Monday to stretch their recordbreaking unbeaten season start to 19 games.

Reigning NBA MVP Curry came to the Warriors rescue once again, producing a superb three-pointer with seconds left to put Golden State ahead 104-101 just moments after Utah had leveled.

It was yet another moment of inspiration from Curry, a talismanic figure for the reigning NBA Champions who have now edged one game closer to the Los Angeles Lakers’ all-time winning streak record of 33 games.

“This ranks up there. There have been some battles. We have had some lopsided victories, too,”

said Curry.

“What gets lost in the record are the tough games that we have had to claw our way out of. Like tonight. Hard-fought win to start the road trip.”

Curry contributed six rebounds and five assists as the Warriors held their nerve in the face of a spirited Utah performance at the Vivint Smart Home Arena in Salt Lake City.

Draymond Green and Klay Thompson were the other standouts for the Warriors, contributing 20 points each. Green also had nine

rebounds and seven assists.

The defeat saw Utah’s season record fall to 8-8.

Utah’s points came through Gordon Hayward (24) and power forward Derrick Favors (23) while center Rudy Gobert had 13 points and 11 rebounds.

“It was fun. We knew this was going to be one of the tougher challenges for us,” Warriors interim coach Luke Walton said. “(Utah) is very well-coached and they execute. They’ve got those bigs (Derrick Favors and Rudy Gobert) that are a lot to deal with. Their crowd, once their crowd got into it, they had their confidence going.”

Favors put Utah up by one late in the fourth quarter, only for Golden State to hit back immediately through Curry and Green.

Monday’s game marked the start of a demanding seven-game road trip for the Warriors, with tough assignments in Charlotte, Toronto and Indiana.

- Gasol leads Bulls charge Elsewhere on Monday, Spanish star Pau Gasol inspired the Chicago Bulls with 18 points in a 92-89 win over the San Antonio Spurs.

The Bulls victory snapped a five-game winning streak for San Antonio, who lost for just the second time in 11 games.

The Spurs are 14-4 for the season, second only to the all-conquering Warriors in the Western Conference.

Gasol was one of five Chicago players to finish in double figures as the Bulls survived late pressure from San Antonio to hang on for the win. AFP

UCLAA games begin Monday EIGHT of nine participating schools will see action in the basketball games of the 8th Universities and Colleges of Luzon Athletic Association competitions when it begins on Monday at the Marikina Sports Complex.

PATTS School of Aeronautics, which reached the finals last season, is back in this cagefest hosted this year

by Colegio de San Lorenzo.

Host CDSL takes on Asian Institute of Maritime Studies in the opening encounter at 9 a.m.

The day’s four-game bill will also see De Ocampo Memorial College clashing with National College of Business Administration at 10:30 p.m., followed by a showdown between St. Francis of Assissi College and Philippine Nautical and Technological College at 12nn.

Known as the PATTS Seahorses, the Renzie Aranzaso-coached squad meets Philippine State College of Aeronautics at 1:30 p.m.

Lyceum-Alabang is also around with Technological Institute of the Philippines, which will just limit their participation in the volleyball games. Peter Atencio

EAC tossers open bid with a win Klay Thompson of the Golden State Warriors shoots the ball during the game against the Utah Jazz at EnergySolutions Arena in Salt Lake City, Utah. AFP

US champ wants Fury

By Ronnie Nathanielsz AMERICAN World Boxing Council heavyweight champion Deontay Wilder wants to fight newly crowned World Boxing Organization, International Boxing Federation and World Boxing Association champion Tyson Fury of Britain, telling BBC Sports he is ready to go to the United Kingdom for the fight.

Fury won the belts with a comfortable victory over Wladimir Klitschko in Dusseldorf, Germany, in which he ended the undefeated nine-year reign of the champ.

BBC Sports reported that immediately after the 27-year-old Fury scored what was considered a stunning upset of Klitschko, the 30-year-old Wilder tweeted, he was “coming” for Fury.

Wilder told BBC Radio 5 live on Monday: “I want the fight to happen as soon as possible,” although the American has a scheduled fight in January.

“I’ve got to fight someone in January and after that fight I would love to have a unification bout – and guess what. I wouldn’t mind coming to the UK for that one,” said Wilder. “No matter where it might be, I want to be the undisputed champion of the world.”

ALA plans blockbuster card on Feb. 27

By Ronnie Nathanielsz ALA Promotions president Michael Aldeguer plans a blockbuster fight card titled “Stars of the Future” at the Waterfront Hotel and Casino in Cebu on Feb. 27, featuring three of the young rising stars of the ALA Gym, including Prince Albert Pagara, Mark “Magnifico” Magsayo, Kevin Jake “KJ” Cataraja and possibly Melvin Jerusalem.

Prince Albert and Magsayo, who were described

by Nonito Donaire and his father/trainer Dodong Donaire as “the future of Philippine boxing,” put on a scintillating display in “Pinoy Pride 33” at the StubHub Center in Carson

City, California.

The undefeated IBF International super bantamweight champion Prince Albert and unbeaten IBF Youth world featherweight champion Magsayo scored explosive victories over touted opponents.

The 21-year-old Prince Albert won the vacant WBO Youth super bantamweight title with a sixth-round knockout of highly fancied Nicaraguan William Gonzalez, who was dropped in both the second and sixth rounds before he was counted out at 2:20 of the sixth by referee Jack Reiss.

The 20-year-old Magsayo lived up to his name with a

stunning first-round knockout of Mexico’s Yardley Suarez to win the vacant IBF Youth featherweight title.

The 20-year-old Cataraja followed up his sixth-round KO win in his pro debut with a fourth-round TKO over Faris Nenggo when the fight was stopped after the Indonesian sustained a significant laceration on his left eyebrow, caused by a punch.

The 21-year-old Jerusalem, who was unbeaten in eight fights with 7 knockouts, hammered Philippine champion Cris Omayao to score a smashing secondround knockout to earn the admiration of fight fans at the Hoops Dome in Lapu Lapu City.

EMILIO Aguinaldo College fended off an upset try by unheralded San Beda College and escaped with a 21-25, 25-21, 25-20, 2325, 15-10 win yesterday to open its back-to-back title bid with a bang in the 91st NCAA men’s volleyball tournament at The Arena in San Juan City.

Howard Mojica, the reigning MVP, unloaded a match-best 31 points, 24 coming on kills, five on service aces and the other two on blocks as he helped the Generals, who turned back the College St. Benilde Blazers last season to clinch their first volleyball championship, seal the win.

Keith Melliza scattered 18 points, including 17 off spikes to help back up the powerspiking Mojica.

Perpetual Help, the former champion two years ago, likewise got off to a strong start after it steamrolled San Sebastian, 25-19, 25-20, 25-19.

Rey Tano, Jr. and Manuel Doliente fired seven hits apiece, while skipper Bonjomar Castel, Jon Patrick Ramos and Neil Barry Ytorzaita combined for 17 to help seal the win for the Sammy Acaylar-mentored Altas.

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sports sports@thestandard.com.ph

MOA’s outdoor skating rink gives hockey a boost

Three-peat for Team Eton. The 4th World Chinese Basketball Invitational championship trophy went to Team Eton, supported by Philippine Airlines, for the third straight year. The team is composed of Lucio Bong Tan Jr., Louie Kaw, Jack Santiago, Lawrence Chongson, Alfonso Kaw, Jean Alabanza, Braulio Lim, Joey Santamaria, Ernesto Ballesteros, Benny Cheng, Gerry Esplana, Joseph Realista, assistant coach Michael Tan, head coach Lawrence Chongson and Gerard Cantada, team consultant.

Air Force, Cignal brace for face-off AIR Force and Cignal gear up for what promises to be a classic face-off between the league’s top spiking teams as they dispute the Spikers’ Turf Season 1-Reinforced Conference crown in a winner-take-all match at The Arena in San Juan City on Sunday.

Both teams have emphasized the need to toughen up on their defense given both sides’ spiking prowess with the HD Spikers shackling the vaunted Air Force hitters to score a series-tying 2516, 25-17, 25-18 victory in Game Two last week.

“We really need to improve more on our defense since we’ve been relying too much on our libero (Sandy Montero),” said Cignal HD coach Michael Carino.

The HD Spikers did slow down Airmen’s Jeffry Malabanan, who wound up with just 10 points after scoring 17 in their 25-15, 19-25, 25-19, 25-19 triumph in the opener of the best-of-three series in the season-ending conference of the pioneering

Games on Dec. 6 12:45 p.m. – Navy vs UP (Shakey’s V-League-for third) 3 p.m. – Home Ultera vs Army (Shakey’s V-League-finals) 5 p.m. – Air Force vs Cignal (Spikers’ Turf Game 3)

men’s league presented by PLDT Home Ultera.

Cignal HD also held Rodolfo Labrador, Reyson Fuentes and Ruben Inaudito to a combined 18-point output in Game Two after the troika scored 34 together in Game One. Herschel Ramos bounced back from a dismal four-hit performance in the opener with an 11-point effort in Game Two, including six blocks to anchor

Cignal’s victory and underscore the HD Spikers’ solid net defense.

“We’re a bit lousy in Game One that’s why we made some adjustments in our attacks and blocking,” said Carino.

But the long break to the rubbermatch should give Air Force coach Rhovyl Verayo and his wards enough time to make their own corrections, particularly in quick sets, combination plays and blocking, ensuring a slam-bang Game Three tipped to go down-to-thewire.

Gametime is at 5 p.m. following Game Two of the PLDT Home Ultera-Army title duel in the Shakey’s V-League, according to the organizing Sports Vision.

The Ultra Fast Hitters rallied to edge the Lady Troopers in a thriller of a five-setter, 16-25, 20-25, 26-24, 29-27, 18-16, last Saturday to likewise gain a 1-0 lead in their side of the bestof-three.

A NEWLY OPENED outdoor skating rink at the SM Mall of Area is receiving a lot of positive reviews.

Tournament director Francois Gautier said this during the ongoing Philippine International Ice Hockey Tournament, which drew participants from four countries during the four-day competition.

“The building is terrific. It’s so nice to have a rink like this that’s built outside a mall,” said Gautier.

Gautier said the rink will be ice hockey’s new home, boosting the popularity of the sport.

Team Pilipinas is competing in the tournament, which is not just for adults this time around, because it will also involved a younger set of enthusiasts as well.

The national team has recently taken the gold and the top awards in Malaysia, in the Peewees’ category.

They also bagged a title in the men’ division in Hong Kong.

The international meet has competition in the men’s division, the bantams’ 16-under, the peewees’ 12-under and the squirts’ 10-under.

As a sport, ice hockey has been gaining a following in the last five years, and this is the reason why they went international this year.

Peter Atencio

Hamburg gets Olympic stage fright over terrror LAUSANNE—Olympic leaders on Monday called Hamburg’s referendum rejection of a bid for the 2024 Games a “lost” opportunity for the city, but fear of terrorism and bankruptcy along with sporting scandal all played a role.

A referendum in the German city on Sunday voted by 51.6% against a bid for the 2024 Games. It made Hamburg the latest in a growing line of European cities to shun an Olympic campaign for financial and political reasons.

The surprise vote left Budapest, Los Angeles, Paris and Rome as the remaining candidates for the race to be decided in mid-2017 at an International Olympic Committee (IOC) meeting in Lima.

German organizers blamed the Paris terror attacks and worries about the cost for the rejection. Polls in September had shown a large majority in favour.

“We regret the decision which should be seen in the light of the very particular and difficult circumstances the referendum was held in. This is a missed opportunity for Hamburg and Germany,”

said IOC president Thomas Bach.

The vote came only 16 days after the Paris attacks and the country is embroiled in a debate on the cost of the mass arrival of migrants from the Middle East and Africa. Germany has also been dragged into the FIFA corruption scandal -- with allegations that it bought the 2006 World Cup finals.

But Bach added: “We are aware that the decision came at a time, in which Germany has to manage a historic challenge with an extremely high number of refugees coming into the country.

“This requires a great effort by German government and society and is causing widespread feelings of uncertainty.

“The decision also may have been influenced by regrettable incidents with regard to doping and corruption in other sports organisations.”

It is the second time in two years that a German city has voted against an Olympic bid however. In 2013, Munich, the last German city to host the Games in 1972, rejected a bid for the 2022 Winter Games. AFP

Messi voted La Liga’s top striker MADRID—Barcelona star Lionel Messi, the favourite to win FIFA’s prestigious Ballon d’Or title, was on Monday voted the top striker in the Spanish league last season ahead of Real Madrid rival Cristiano Ronaldo.

It is the sixth time that the Argentinian has won the title in seven editions of the trophy given by the Spanish football league, with the prize presented during a gala ceremony in Barcelona on Monday night.

Messi, who scored 43 goals

and was the catalyst for Barcelona’s run to three titles last season -- the Champions League, La Liga and the Spanish Cup -- was selected following a computer analysis of the players’ statistics in the championship.

“I’m proud to receive this award ahead of so many important players in La Liga,” said Messi.

“This award in particular I want to dedicate to my son Thiago (aged 3) even if he still doesn’t understand very well.

Every time I leave the house he gets angry and asks me: ‘Papa, are you going again to score goals?’ This award is for him.”

Messi also won the vote for the best striker following a poll of the captains of each of Spain’s top flight sides.

Barcelona’s Claudio Bravo was voted the best goalkeeper and Luis Enrique top coach while Real Madrid’s Sergio Ramos and James Rodriguez were named best defender and midfielder respectively. AFP

Former pound-for-pound no. 1 Floyd Mayweather takes a picture with Jordan Crawford of the Westchester Knicks during the game against the Grand Rapids Drive at the Westchester County Center in Westchester, New York. AFP

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SPORTS sports@thestandard.com.ph

Donaire lauds son for hard work

By Ronnie Nathanielsz

DODONG Donaire, father/trainer of former five-division world champion Nonito Donaire Jr., said he “can’t ask for anything more” from his son.

CPR Coordinator Ronaldo Grande (second from right) demonstrates the proper use of a Defibrillator in administering CPR during Tuesday’s PSA Forum. He is joined by PHA Council on Cardio Pulmonary Resuscitation Chairman Dr. Francis Lavapie (right), PHA Council on CPR Member Dr. Regidor Encabo (third from right) and The Heart News and Views Managing Editor Gynna Gagelonia. EY ACASIO

PH Heart Association backs Samboy Bill EFFORTS requiring students to undergo Cardio Pulmonary Resuscitation Training in coordination with the Department of Education are now underway even if a bill pertaining on the matter is still pending on both the Upper and Lower Houses.

Dr. Francis Lavapie, chairman of the Philippine Heart Association Council, made the disclosure Tuesday when he appeared at the Philippine Sportswriters Association Forum at Shakey’s Malate to discuss the need for every-

one – young and old alike – to learn the application of Cardio Pulmonary Resuscitation or commonly known as CPR. “More lives will be saved if everyone is equipped with proper knowledge in CPR especially in sporting activities where participants can be a victim of heart attack,” said Lavapie.

At present, House Bill 5891 otherwise known as the ‘Samboy Lim Bill,’ has yet to be passed as a law that seeks to require students in both private and public schools to undergo CPR training at least

once prior to graduation.

The bill is authored by Pampanga 1st District Representative and Rain or Shine coach Yeng Guiao and which he named after the popular basketball great, who fell to a coma after suffering a heart attack last year while playing in an exhibition game.

Under the proposed bill, the PHA will provide training to personnel of government agencies such as the DepEd and the Department of Health, while at the same time, making CPR as part

of the curriculum of every school.

In front of media men present during the sessions presented by San Miguel Corp., Accel, Shakey’s, and the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corp, PHA member Dr. Regidor Encabo demonstrated the proper method of applying CPR to a heart attack victim.

“We support the Samboy Lim Bill as part of our advocacy,” stressed Lavapie. “It’s everybody’s role to save lives.

We also make sports safe for everyone.”

Rotary Club of Baywalk hosts darts tournament THE Rotary Club of Baywalk Manila, one of the most active members of the Rotary International District 3810, will host the

Gov. Obet Pagdanganan darts tournaAction in the event being held in ment on Dec. 5 at the Tres Marias de Ma- cooperation with the Darts Council of nila along Malvar St. in Malate. the Philippines will take place from 3 to 8 p.m.

The proceeds of the tournament will go to the club’s trust fund to support such projects as “Alay Sagip Pamilya sa Kalye” and “Alay Tulong sa mga Preso” for street families in the Ermita area and inmates in National Bilibid Prison in Muntinlupa.

Details of the tournament were presented to the media during the weekly Philippine Sportswriters Association Forum at Shakey’s Malate on Tuesday.

Other flagship projects of the Rotary Club of Baywalk Manila include feeding programs for the poor, livelihood training and medical missions, community service that focuses on disease prevention and treatment, maternal and child health, and economic and community development.

Only Rotarians are allowed to join the tournament. Entry fee is P3,000 per club with a maximum of three teams of Rotary Club of Baywalk Manila President Willy Uy (center) is flanked by RCBM Vice two players each with no substitute.

President Edgardo Jose (left) and Darts Council of the Philippines President Luigie The double knockout bracket will be Estacio as they announced RCBM’s hosting of the Gov. Obet Pagdanganan Cup Darts Tournament on Dec. 5 during their appearance at the PSA Forum on Tuesday. EY ACASIO applied.

He told The Standard/boxingmirror.com that Nonito will wind up sparring 10 rounds on Tuesday and Thursday (Las Vegas) time before leaving for Puerto Rico on Friday.

“Nonito did what he wants to do in the ring and looks very good. The guys give him a lot of work and keep on pressuring him and even if he hurts them, they keep on coming. If Nonito feels that he hurt them he slows down a little bit,” said the elder Donaire.

Dodong said the clash with WBO International super bantamweight champion and world No.1ranked Cesar Juarez is going to be a good fight, adding: “Nonito is back. He’s a lot better now.

They way he boxes, the way he thinks. Now, he lands his punches very accurately. Nonito trained very hard for this fight and was not like the old Nonito. He’s a much better boxer, a thinker and the power is there.”

Dodong said they are all looking forward to a truly Merry Christmas after the fight which will be telecast by ABS-CBN Channel 2 and Sports and Action Channel 17.

There’s been no word from the training camp of Juarez, the 24-year-old Mexican with a record of 13 knockouts in 17 wins with 3 losses.

In his last fight on July 25, Juarez won the vacant WBO International super bantamweight title by a 12-round unanimous decision over Juan Carlos Sanchez Jr.

Spain ousts PH beach volley bets

By Arman Armero THE last remaining pair from host Philippines tried its best but still fell short in the battle for a quarterfinal slot, leaving the contest wide open for at least four countries, which emerged on top after the elimination rounds late Tuesday in the Spike For Peace International Beach Volleyball Tournament held at the Multi-Purpose Arena, Philsports Arena in Pasig City.

Charo Soriano and FilAmerican Alexa Micek, who made it to the next phase despite finishing dead-last in the four-team Group D (0-3), proved no match to the Spanish pair of Amaranta Fernandez and Ester Ribera, who pulled off an easy 21-14, 21-10 straight sets victory to advance into the quarterfinal round which starts today in the tournament organized by the Philippine Sports Commission.

The Philippines-Spain tiff was actually one of the four pairings held late Tuesday, with the matches pitting the United States against Brazil, Australia B vs New Zeland and Australia A vs Sweden still being played as of press time.

The winners of yesterday’s matches will join the top four teams which

made it to the quarterfinal round outright by topping their respective brackets. These are The Netherlands in Group A, Indonesia in Group B, Japan in Group C and Thailand in Group D. Japan completed its eliminations assignment with a 3-0 card, Thailand and Indonesia had similar 2-0 records, while the Netherlands had a 2-1 mark.

The other Filipino pair of the reigning Philippine Super Liga Beach Volleyball titlist Danika Yolanda Gendrauli and Norie Jane Diaz was earlier ousted after dropping all their matches in Group C. Soriano, a member of Ateneo’s women volleyball squad, anchored the Philippines’ offense and scored 10 points to Micek’s single point, but both failed to contain Fernandez and Ribera’s incursions at the net. The Spaniards combined for 33 attack points, 18 from the taller Fernandez, who was unstoppable at the middle.

The only bright moment came for the Filipinas in the first set, when they held the Spaniards scoreless for a while after trailing 5-8 to threaten at 9-12 on Soriano’s kill. But the Spaniards quickly doused the rally behind a 6-2 run to pull away for good, 19-12.

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

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SPORTS sports@thestandard.com.ph

LOTTO RESULTS

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

P0.0 M+ P0.0 M+

Salud quits as PBA chief

PBA Commissioner Chito Narvasa speaks during the 2015 PBA D-League Rookie Draft at the Metro Walk in Pasig City.

Beermen face Enforcers, seek solo PBA cage lead

By Jeric Lopez

CURRENTLY the hottest team in the league, San Miguel Beer has no plans of slowing down.

The defending champion aims to reclaim sole possession of first place when it shoots for a fifth straight win in the resumption of the 2015 Philippine Basketball Association Philippine Cup. Winners of four straight heading in, the Beermen (6-1) have all the momentum going when they lock horns with energized Mahindra (2-5) at 7 p.m. today in the main attraction at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.

Before this is a battle between two rising teams GlobalPort and NLEX, currently tied at fifth with similar 4-3 marks, as they test each other at 4:15 p.m.

San Miguel Beer is involved

in a three-way logjam at the top with fellow contenders Alaska and Rain or Shine.

Another possible victory for San Miguel Beer will not only put it back to solo first, it will also formalize its entry into the next round. The Beermen can be the first team to qualify in the quarterfinals should they get past the dangerous Enforcers.

San Miguel coach Leo Austria commended the effort and leadership of his two best players, Arwind Santos and two-time reigning Most Valuable Player June Mar Fajardo, saying they are the big reasons why the Beermen are looking really good in the middle of their title defense.

‘’The main reaWarriors and the Games Wednesday sons for our surge Batang Pier are (Smart Araneta Coliseum): are Arwind (San- 4:15 p.m. - GlobalPort vs. NLEX continuing to tos) and June Mar 7 p.m. - Mahindra vs. San Miguel prove that they are (Fajardo). They both capable of really want to win and nakaka- being considered dark horses. hawa sa buong team,’’ said AusThis encounter will be a vital tria of his stars’ impact. ‘’We’re one as the victor will claim solo hoping to sustain it para maka- fifth place—a good position to pasok na sa quarterfinals.’’ enter the next round.

Fajardo and Santos combined GlobalPort and NLEX are for 49 points in San Miguel’s coming off contrasting results statement 101-90 rout of sister in their last assignments. team Star last Saturday.

The Batang Pier snapped On the other hand, Mahin- their two-game skid by domidra is a team also coming off a nating Blackwater, 120-105, last morale-boosting win.

Sunday behind superstar TerThe Enforcers carved out rence Romeo’s 26 points, while a hard-fought 86-83 triumph the Road Warriors bowed to over Meralco also last Saturday Alaska, 89-81, last Friday. to move to 10th place and hold ‘’Malakas pa rin kalaban nathe last ticket to the quarters as min. NLEX naman ngayon, so of the moment. ituloy lang namin ‘yung effort While the league’s peren- para makuha namin ang pananial powerhouses are enjoying lo,’’ said GlobalPort coach Pido their places at the top, the Road Jarencio.

ATTY. Chito Salud stepped down as head of the Philippine Basketball Association. Again.

In a shocking turn of events, Salud surprised everyone by resigning as the PBA’s President and Chief Executive Officer yesterday saying that he is ready to move forward towards another direction.

Salud released an official statement Tuesday afternoon, confirming that he was indeed stepping down from his dual-post in the PBA and will only serve out until the end of this year.

The outgoing five-year PBA leader went further by saying the league is in good hands now and it is the perfect time for him to walk away from his duties. ‘’The organizational structure of PBA as we have envisaged is already in place. The handover to the new Commissioner has been smoothly executed. And the Board under Chairman Non’s leadership continues to be as it is -- a source of strength, stability and continuity as the PBA charts its way forward,’’ added Salud. ‘’It is for these reasons that I believe the time is right for me to move on, confident as I am that I have already made my modest contributions to the critical transition into this current PBA season.’’

Though Salud’s sudden announcement came as a shocker, it wasn’t exactly the first time he did it.

Salud also stepped down from his previous role early in 2014 only to be blocked by the Board of Governors.

The PBA Board instead changed the organizational structure of the league and named him as the first President and CEO and then placed Narvasa as the Commissioner.

Just less than two years after that, Salud indicated again that he is set on leaving the PBA. Jeric Lopez

Low Profile wins PCSO Anniversary Race STAGING a stunning upset over a track icon, Ruben Dimacuha’s Low Profile carved a decisive wire-to-wire win in the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office Anniversary mile held last Sunday at Santa Ana Park in Naic, Cavite.

The 4YO bay colt steered

by Mark Alvarez and trained

by CM Vicente took the lead at the jump and ran in a relaxed fashion a length-anda-half ahead of the favorite Hagdang Bato, who opted to

run off-the-pace. They were followed four lengths back

by Tap Dance, Messi, and Penrith.

Low Profile’s lead over the Jonathan Hernandez-guided Hagdang Bato shorted to half-a-length at the far turn.

The latter rallied at the home turn but could not get past Low Profile, who gained his second wind down the stretch and pulled away to win by three under unnecessary mild whipping. “[Alvarez] didn’t need to whip his mount, but he wanted to make sure,” said a racing insider. “But in the last 50 meters he was just waving his whip happily,

paikot [showing off] na.”

Hagdang Bato was 2nd, Tap Dance 3rd, Penrith 4th, Messi 5th and last. Time: 1:39 (25’-23’-23’-26’).

The defeat was a crushing blow for Mayor Benhur Abalos’s Hagdang Bato, who had just come off an easy win in the Nov. 8 Marho PlatinumSan Miguel Beer Classic also at Santa Ana Park, handily defeating the likes of Kanlaon, Biseng Bise, Hot and Spicy, King Bull, Marinx, and Manalig Ka. That same day, Low Profile (Tribal Rule x Lacquaria) dominated the 2,000-meter Philippine Racing Commission Amb. Eduardo M. Co-

juangco Jr. Cup. A proven frontrunner, the colt won in similar style—wire-to-wire by eight lengths over Messi, Tap Dance, and Eugenie, among others.

The PCSO Anniversary race had originally been set for Oct. 18, but was reset after races that day were cancelled because of Typhoon Lando. *** The Abalos stable did not go home empty-handed last Nov. 29, having earned a total of P1,087,500 in the in the 1,800-meter Philracom Sampaguita Stakes.

Their 4YO roan filly Malaya’s convincing win was worth P900,000, and her

coupled entry Never Cease placed third and earned P187,500.

Love Na Love 2nd, Marinx 4th, Cleave Ridge 5th and last. Time: 1:56 (13’-24’-25’25-27’). *** Nov. 29, which saw the running of both the PCSO Anniversary Race and Sampaguita Stakes, was an actionpacked day – it was also the staging of the 16th Philtobo Grand Championship Day. Elite horses competed in four major races—the Juvenile Fillies, Juvenile Championship (open), 3YO Colts and Fillies, and Classic. More on that next column.

*** Philracom will be holding four stakes races in December, including the PCSO Presidential Gold Cup of which it is co-sponsor, as a windup of the year’s racing calendar.

Dec. 13, SLLP: PCSO Presidential Gold Cup, 2,000 meters; Philracom Juvenile Championship mile.

Dec. 20, Santa Ana Park: Philracom Chairman’s Cup mile.

Dec. 27, Metroturf: Philracom Grand Derby, 2,000 meters. *** Facebook: Gogirl Racing, Twitter: @gogirlracing, Instagram: @jensdecember, Blog: http://jennyo.net

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

RIERA U. MALL ARI EDITOR

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

sports@thestandard.com.ph

SPORTS

Moment of truth for Tams, Tigers

By Peter Atencio

THE team that’s tougher in the endgame will win the 78th University Athletic Association of the Philippines men’s basketball crown.

FEU Tamaraws’ Mike Tolomia (right) fights for ball possession with UST’s Ed Daquioag as Tigers’ Marvin Lee rushes to help his teammate in Game 2 of the UAAP Finals. EY ACASIO

Unbeaten Warriors march on TURN TO A12

PH Heart Association backs Samboy Bill TURN TO A14

University Games Today of Santo To- (Mall of Asia Arena) mas coach 10 a.m. Ateneo vs NU (women’s Game 1) Bong dela 3:30 p.m. FEU vs UST Cruz said (men Game 3) this after the Growling Tigers took Game 2 with a 62-56 beating of the Far Eastern University Tamaraws and equalized their best-of-three finals series last Saturday.

“Game 3 will be very physical. Hindi madali. Ang basketball ring, sisikip. Mental toughness ang magse-save sa team,” said Dela Cruz.

Gametime is at 3:30 p.m. today at the Mall of Asia Arena.

When the Growling Tigers took Game 2, they were able to hold down prolific Tamaraw Mike Tolomia, who failed to score on his 15 attempts.

But, this time around, Dela Cruz believes that Tolomia, one of the Tams’ three prolific shooters with 12.4 points per game, will be harder to stop.

“Hindi na siya mali-limit. Basta sa amin, depensahan lang nang mabuti. We will just stay on the ground and challenge his shots.

At kung ano ang outcome ng tira niya, that’s it,” said Dela Cruz.

While hotshot Kevin Ferrer was able to outscore the Tamaraws in the third period, where he shot 24 of his career-high 29 points, including six straight three-pointers, the Growling Tigers will also need to limit their turnovers.

The last time around, UST only had seven turnovers, while FEU gave up the ball up 16 times, leading to 14 turnover points for the Growling Tigers.

“Everybody as a group has to defend, kailangan namin gawin ito,” said Dela Cruz.

This is the fifth time that UST got involved in a deciding Game 3 encounter with an opponent, winning three of them.

FEU has only played in a Game 3 situation for a second time, the first when it bowed to the National University Bulldogs.

Despite their lack of experience in such a situation, coach Nash Racela has faith in the Tamaraws, believing that the team has what it takes to be able to bounce back from their loss.

“There’s a lot of frustration from the players (on the loss). But, I ‘m confident they will come back,” said Racela.

He noted that FEU was held to its lowest output in four years at 56, but Racela said the excitement of the series probably got into the players.

WEDNESDAY: DECEMBER 2, 2015

RAY S. EÑANO EDITOR

RODERICK T. DELA CRUZ ASSISTANT EDITOR

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

BUSINESS

B1

MVP shakes up management PSe comPoSite index Closing December 1, 2015

8000 7700 7400 7100 6800 6500

7,060.60 133.53

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Closing DECEMBER 1, 2015 43.50 44.60 45.40

P47.180

46.20

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HIGH P47.090 LOW P47.235 AVERAGE P47.153

By Darwin G. Amojelar

THE Salim group of companies on Tuesday announced its biggest management shakeup since mid-2000, assigning new roles for at least 10 senior executives.

Philippine Long Distance Telephone Co. and Smart Communications Inc. chairman Manuel V. Pangilinan, or MVP, will assume the position of president and chief executive after the mandatory retirement of Napoleon Nazareno effective December 31, 2015.

Nazareno will remain in the board of directors of PLDT until a replacement is named.

He will also remain as nonexecutive director of Hong Kongbased First Pacific Co. Ltd. and a board member of Rocket Internet.

“We don’t have a specific time frame... [but] clearly we will engage the governance and nominations committee by early next year to start the search and recommendation process for senior officers,” Pangilinan said.

“So I think we are not in a hurry and I’m myself would be involved as a member of the governance committee in the search process,” he added.

Pangilinan said the most important pre-requisite for the new president was he must be “experi-

enced in digital.”

“The preference is to promote someone inside or to look someone inside because a number of these appointments announced are really all insiders,” he said.

Metro Pacific Investments Corp. also announced the replacement of Victorio Vargas as president and chief executive of Maynilad Water Services Inc. and his appointment as an officer of First Pacific Co. effective January 2016.

Vargas will be replaced by Metro Pacific Tollways Corp. president and chief executive Ramoncito Fernandez as the new president of Maynilad.

Rodrigo Franco will assume as the president and chief executive of MPTC, while concurrently holding its functions as president and chief executive of Manila North Tollways Corp.

Roberto Bontia will then assume the position as president and chief executive of Tollways Management Corp.

Pangilinan said the management reorganization in the group would help cut the group’s expenses.

When asked if there is another round of changes, Pangilinan said, “No more, we have announced the changes in Maynilad and the consequence change in the toll road. I think that’s it.”

“But it would open up opportunities and I think as a whole it is good to refresh the organization,” Pangilinan said.

Cignal TV chief operating officer Oscar Reyes Jr. was appointed head of PLDT Home operations, while Albert Mitchell Locsin, vice president of the corporate of PLDT ALPHA Enterprise, will head SME Business, replacing Katrina Luna.

VOLUME 583.200M

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 Tuesday, December 1, 2015

F oreign e xchange r ate Currency

Unit

US Dollar

Peso

United States

Dollar

1.000000

47.1680

Japan

Yen

0.008125

0.3832

UK

Pound

1.505500

71.0114

Hong Kong

Dollar

0.128982

6.0838

Switzerland

Franc

0.971817

45.8387

Canada

Dollar

0.748895

35.3239

Singapore

Dollar

0.708617

33.4240

Australia

Dollar

0.724113

34.1550

Bahrain

Dinar

2.655478

125.2536

Saudi Arabia

Rial

0.266525

12.5715

Brunei

Dollar

0.706115

33.3060

Indonesia

Rupiah

0.000072

0.0034

Thailand

Baht

0.027925

1.3172

UAE

Dirham

0.272272

12.8425

Euro

Euro

1.056800

49.8471

Korea

Won

0.000865

0.0408

China

Yuan

0.156296

7.3722

India

Rupee

0.015048

0.7098

Malaysia

Ringgit

0.234962

11.0827

New Zealand

Dollar

0.657289

31.0030

Taiwan

Dollar

0.030654

Montero tested.

Mitsubishi Motor Philippines Corp., maker of Montero Sports, welcomes the government probe on a recent vehicle malfunction case, but will not recall ‘flawed”’models on claims of sudden unintended acceleration. Shown is MMPC marketing services senior manager Arlan Reyes Jr. leading a test drive of the Montero vehicle, along with journalists at the facade of Edsa Shangri-La Hotel in Mandaluyong City.

See related story on B4.

MANNY PALMERO

1.4459 Source: PDS Bridge

Villar to build a hospital chain with 3,000 beds over 5 years

By Jenniffer B. Austria REAL estate tycoon and former senator Manuel Villar is diversifying into the healthcare sector, with a plan to build a chain of hospitals with 3,000 beds across the country over the next five years.

Vitacare Healthcare Inc., the newly-formed unit of the Villar group, recently signed a partnership agreement with a group of doctors to construct a 100-bed hospital in Vista City in Daang-

hari, Muntinlupa that would cost P500 million.

The first hospital under the group will be branded as Vitacare Unimed Hospital and Medical Center.

Villar said the group could easily expand its hospital business as the company has the land bank for expansion.

“This will be moving very fast.

We may have different partners or same partners for different locations,” Villar said.

It also identified 13 other locations for future hospital projects.

Among the potential locations are Paranaque City (Lake Front), Bataan (Balanga), Bulacan (Malolos and San Jose del Monte), Cavite (General Trias and Tanza), Batangas (Santo Tomas), Pampanga (San Fernando), Naga (Camarines Sur), Cebu (Talisay), Iloilo (Boton), Davao and Cagayan de Oro. Villar said the company opted to build its own chain of hos-

pitals, instead of acquiring existing hospitals, because it will contribute land to the projects.

The Villar group will maintain majority ownership in these hospitals.

“We want to have a chain hospitals across the country and one big flagship hospital in Daanghari that will contain all the major facilities,” Villar said.

The group’s venture into hospital business is expected to complement its real estate develop-

ment as it plans to develop several integrated mixed-use projects.

Villar said the construction Vitacare hospital in Daanghari would commence in May 2016 and would be completed in two years.

Villar group’s venture into hospital business signaled its readiness to compete with Ayala Land Inc. and Metro Pacific Investments Corp., two companies that are also aggressively expanding in the same space.

WEDNESDAY: DECEMBER 2, 2015

B2

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

The STandard BuSineSS daily STockS review Tuesday, december 1, 2015

52 Weeks

Previous

High Low 7.88 75.3 124.4 107 56.5 2.49 4.2 4 17 30.45 10.4 2.6 1.01 100 1.46 30.5 91.5 137 361.2 57 180 1700 124 3.26 47 5 1.46 2.36 15.3 20.6 36 65.8 2.97 4.14 21.5 21.6 11.96 9.13 11.8 31.8 109 15.3 9.4 0.98 241 79 3.95 4 33.9 90 13.26 293 5 5.25 12.98 15 7.03 3.4 4.5 6.3 7.86 7.34 238 3.28 0.315 2.18 2.65 234 5.28 1.3 26 2.17 0.59 59.2 30.05 7.39 3.4 823.5 10.2 84 3.35 4.92 0.66 1455 76 6.5 9.25 0.85 17.3 5.53 6.55 0.0670 1.61 84.9 974 1.66 156 0.710 0.435 10.5 1.99 1.75 0.375 41.4 5.6 5.59 1.44

STOCKS

Close

High

Low

FINANCIAL 2.52 2.52 46.15 44.75 106.20 102.80 84.00 82.85 39.3 38.9 2.50 2.48 1.43 1.38 10 10 15.5 15.1 18.98 18.78 7.50 7.50 1.80 1.80 0.455 0.455 82.7 80.4 0.96 0.93 17.70 17.50 51.50 50.60 102 101.9 294 293.8 31.55 31.3 139 138 1516.00 1504.00 57.05 57.00 30.6 3.06 INDUSTRIAL 35.9 Aboitiz Power Corp.

42 42 41 1.11 Agrinurture Inc. 4.24 4.56 4.1 1.01 Alliance Tuna Intl Inc. 0.84 0.82 0.61 1.86 Alsons Cons.

1.5 1.53 1.53 7.92 Asiabest Group 10.86 10.88 10.28 15.32 Century Food 17.2 17.6 17.02 10.08 Cirtek Holdings (Chips) 20.35 21.9 20.4 29.15 Concepcion 41.8 42 41.05 1.5 Crown Asia 2.5 2.51 2.41 1.5 Da Vinci Capital 1.4 1.45 1.39 10.72 Del Monte 11 11 10 9.55 DNL Industries Inc. 9.400 9.39 9.260 9.04 Emperador 9.15 9.85 9.19 6.02 Energy Devt. Corp. (EDC) 6.20 6.41 6.20 8.86 EEI 4.54 4.89 4.75 20.2 First Gen Corp.

22.5 23.8 22.55 71.5 First Holdings ‘A’ 66.1 67.2 66.1 13.24 Holcim Philippines Inc. 14.52 14.80 14.50 5.34 Integ. Micro-Electronics 5.84 5.9 5.78 0.395 Ionics Inc 2.120 2.140 2.090 173 Jollibee Foods Corp.

201.00 207.40 201.20 12.5 12.2 LBC Express 12.5 34.1 Liberty Flour 42.00 43.00 42.00 2.3 LMG Chemicals 1.9 1.88 1.87 1.63 Mabuhay Vinyl 3.5 3.4 3.3 23.35 Manila Water Co. Inc. 24.5 24.5 24.15 17.3 Maxs Group 22.5 22.5 20.65 5.88 Megawide 6.35 6.35 6.29 250.2 Mla. Elect. Co `A’ 305.80 307.00 302.00 3.37 Panasonic Mfg Phil. Corp. 3.92 4.40 4.30 3.87 Pepsi-Cola Products Phil. 3.6 3.8 3.6 8.45 Petron Corporation 7.46 7.60 7.41 10.04 Phinma Corporation 11.32 11.60 11.40 3.03 Phoenix Petroleum Phils. 3.70 3.78 3.72 1.95 Phoenix Semiconductor 1.72 1.78 1.70 1 Pryce Corp. `A’ 2.3 2.31 2.27 4.02 RFM Corporation 4.21 4.21 4.20 1.65 Roxas and Co. 2.8 2.47 2.47 5.9 Roxas Holdings 5.97 5.75 5.7 161 San Miguel’Pure Foods `B’ 133 132 129 1.55 Splash Corporation 2.25 2.43 2.23 0.138 Swift Foods, Inc. 0.148 0.149 0.147 1.02 TKC Steel Corp.

1.10 1.03 1.03 2.12 2.12 2.12 2.09 Trans-Asia Oil 152 Universal Robina 202 198 191 4.28 Victorias Milling 4.72 4.55 4.55 0.640 Vitarich Corp.

0.65 0.65 0.63 10.02 Vivant Corp.

23.00 23.00 23.00 1.2 Vulcan Ind’l.

1.11 1.17 1.12 HOLDING FIRMS 0.44 Abacus Cons. `A’ 0.390 0.395 0.395 48.1 Aboitiz Equity 56.6000 58.0000 57.4000 20.85 Alliance Global Inc. 17.70 18.10 17.70 6.62 Anscor `A’ 6.40 6.44 6.35 0.23 ATN Holdings A 0.240 0.249 0.249 634.5 Ayala Corp `A’ 743 771 739 7.390 Cosco Capital 7.48 7.56 7.49 12.8 DMCI Holdings 13.48 13.96 13.38 2.6 F&J Prince ‘A’ 6.44 6.44 6 2.26 Filinvest Dev. Corp.

4.10 4.15 3.95 0.152 Forum Pacific 0.230 0.235 0.230 837 GT Capital 1265 1299 1277 49.55 JG Summit Holdings 70.75 73.90 71.80 3.43 Jolliville Holdings 3.7 3.7 3.7 4.84 Lopez Holdings Corp.

7.5 7.6 7.32 0.59 Lodestar Invt. Holdg.Corp. 0.73 0.77 0.72 12 LT Group 14.9 15.24 14.9 4.2 Metro Pacific Inv. Corp. 5.24 5.33 5.21 4.5 Minerales Industrias Corp. 9.95 9.95 9.62 0.030 Pacifica `A’ 0.0300 0.0310 0.0300 0.550 Prime Orion 1.770 1.780 1.760 46.80 46.30 59.3 San Miguel Corp `A’ 46.80 751 SM Investments Inc. 845.00 858.50 832.50 1.13 Solid Group Inc. 1.18 1.18 1.18 80 Top Frontier 75.000 79.900 75.000 0.211 Unioil Res. & Hldgs 0.2950 0.2950 0.2900 0.179 Wellex Industries 0.2100 0.2230 0.2100 PROPERTY 6.74 8990 HLDG 7.050 7.290 7.000 0.65 A. Brown Co., Inc. 0.82 0.86 0.82 1.2 Araneta Prop `A’ 1.090 1.190 1.190 0.192 Arthaland Corp.

0.210 0.209 0.209 30.05 Ayala Land `B’ 33.850 34.100 33.100 3.36 Belle Corp. `A’ 3.18 3.22 3.18 4.96 Cebu Holdings 5.1 5.05 5.05 0.79 Century Property 0.56 0.57 0.56 2.5 66 88.05 88.1 45.45 1.97 1.68 8.7 12.02 19.6 6.12 1.02 0.225 78 0.9 17.8 62 88.35 276 41 118.2 1200 59 2.65

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

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

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

SHARES 12,987,718 106,916,481 97,848,356 143,496,733 264,009,444 1,089,880,388 1,718,641,460

2.75 44.65 101.00 83.50 39 2.45 1.40 10 15.38 19 7.60 1.80 0.460 80.5 0.94 17.70 51.00 103 293.8 30.65 137.6 1505.00 57.10 3

Close

%

Net Foreign

Change Volume

Trade/Buying

2.52 46 105.50 84.00 38.9 2.48 1.43 10 15.38 18.9 7.50 1.80 0.455 82 0.93 17.50 50.90 102 293.8 31.5 139 1516.00 57.05 3.06

-8.36 3.02 4.46 0.60 -0.26 1.22 2.14 0.00 0.00 -0.53 -1.32 0.00 -1.09 1.86 -1.06 -1.13 -0.20 -0.97 0.00 2.77 1.02 0.73 -0.09 2.00

1,000 520,900 3,727,600 3,402,700 46,500 3,000 43,000 100 2,300 41,400 500 10,000 470,000 938,460 2,764,000 59,500 201,630 110 100 13,700 643,180 80 94,980 2,000

41.7 4.5 0.82 1.53 10.78 17.4 21.5 41.05 2.41 1.45 10.58 9.290 9.40 6.28 4.76 23.7 67.1 14.80 5.9 2.100 207.00 12.5 42.00 1.87 3.4 24.5 21.7 6.29 306.20 4.40 3.61 7.47 11.40 3.78 1.77 2.28 4.20 2.47 5.75 131 2.38 0.147 1.03 2.12 193.7 4.55 0.63 23.00 1.12

-0.71 6.13 -2.38 2.00 -0.74 1.16 5.65 -1.79 -3.60 3.57 -3.82 -1.17 2.73 1.29 4.85 5.33 1.51 1.93 1.03 -0.94 2.99 0.00 0.00 -1.58 -2.86 0.00 -3.56 -0.94 0.13 12.24 0.28 0.13 0.71 2.16 2.91 -0.87 -0.24 -11.79 -3.69 -1.50 5.78 -0.68 -6.36 0.00 -4.11 -3.60 -3.08 0.00 0.90

4,304,300 2,404,000 126,000 4,000 12,300 45,700 6,309,500 84,700 537,000 697,000 46,300 8,120,900 32,787,600 21,530,900 1,736,000 2,780,400 185,950 9,600 480,900 1,892,000 1,506,640 30,000 700 118,000 14,000 2,983,100 954,700 49,700 264,850 41,000 991,000 734,700 11,000 6,000 261,000 182,000 2,081,000 121,000 17,600 27,720 1,391,000 1,160,000 53,000 200,000 8,420,610 8,000 272,000 23 92,000

0.395 57.8500 17.80 6.35 0.249 770 7.54 13.66 6.01 4.10 0.230 1290 73.00 3.7 7.6 0.76 15.1 5.29 9.95 0.0310 1.770 46.80 855.00 1.18 75.000 0.2950 0.2100

1.28 2.21 0.56 -0.78 3.75 3.63 0.80 1.34 -6.68 0.00 0.00 1.98 3.18 0.00 1.33 4.11 1.34 0.95 0.00 3.33 0.00 0.00 1.18 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00

20,000 4,106,720 14,735,500 100,600 40,000 509,260 1,815,200 6,867,200 39,700 21,000 90,000 258,280 4,489,560 1,000 3,217,400 258,000 8,285,000 14,324,000 405,500 32,100,000 1,753,000 173,000 292,640 10,000 1,090 1,220,000 2,590,000

7.030 0.84 1.190 0.209 34.700 3.22 5.05 0.57

-0.28 2.44 9.17 -0.48 2.51 1.26 -0.98 1.79

445,400 2,405,000 3,000 90,000 17,093,400 815,000 3,700 983,000

2,050,710.00 187,596,898 -58,103,751.00 -732,830.00

-567,830.00

24,618,600.00 -255,976.00 -365,235 32,211,217.00 37,900.00 -3,781,380.00 -18,416,465.00 -118,300.00

-522,138.00 -648,220.00 12,315 -203,120.00 8,340.00 -155,468.00 -3,249,414.00 -136,987,616.00 20,356,053.00 2,482,480.00 26,863,475.00 -1,088,030.00 2,269,800.00 -93,880.00 143,846,020.00

-45,025,830.00 -4,515,055.00 -47,175.00 -34,114,112.00 -1,422,960.00 1,256,817.00 88,700.00 600,580.00 -99,955.00 -2,222,938.00 -9,520.00

-410,905,905.00 -9,100.00 2,300.00

11,719,335.50 -150,125,508.00 175,834,795.00 -4,478,060.00 23,164,378.00 36,300.00 -41,258,180.00 185,427,652.50 -1,683,728.00 48,886,572.00 10,799,284.00 -198,600.00 52,850.00 -3,454,140.00 -81,021,635.00 12,750.00

134,977.00 -40,180.00 -36,316,200.00 9,620.00

52 Weeks

Previous

High Low

STOCKS

Close

1.48 0.201 0.69 10.96 0.97 2.22 2.1 1.8 5.94 0.180 0.470 8.54 31.8 2.29 4.9 21.35 1.06 7.56 1.62 8.59

0.97 0.083 0.415 2.4 0.83 1.15 1.42 1.27 4.13 0.090 0.290 2.69 22.15 1.6 3.1 15.08 0.69 3.38 0.83 5.73

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

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

Primex Corp.

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

10.5 66 1.44 1.09 15.82 0.1430 5.06 99.1 12.3 2.6 7.67 2720 8.41 1.97 119.5 12.5 0.017 0.8200 2.2800 5.93 3.32 2.53 3.2 95.5 1 2.46 15.2

1.97 35.2 1 0.63 8.6 0.0770 2.95 56.1 10.14 1.6 4.8 1600 5.95 1.23 102.6 8.72 0.011 0.041 1.200 2.34 1.91 1.01 1.95 3.1 0.650 1.8 6

0.62 1.040 6.41 18 185 22.9 3486 0.760 2.28 46.05 90.1

0.335 0.37 3 8.8 79 4.39 2748 0.435 1.2 31.45 60.55

11.6 0.85 10 1.9

7.59 0.63 5 1.14

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

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

Discovery World DFNN Inc. Globe Telecom GMA Network Inc. Harbor Star I.C.T.S.I. IPeople Inc. `A’ IP E-Game Ventures Inc. Island Info ISM Communications Jackstones Liberty Telecom Lorenzo Shipping Macroasia Corp.

Manila Broadcasting Manila Bulletin Manila Jockey Melco Crown Metro Retail MG Holdings NOW 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 Yehey

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

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

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

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

TA Petroleum

70 553 525

33 490 500

118 515 8.21 111 1047 78.95 84.8

101 480 5.88 101 1011 74.5 75

1.34

1

ABS-CBN Holdings Corp.

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

6.98

0.8900 LR Warrant

12.88

5.95

130.7

105.6 First Metro ETF

Alterra Capital Xurpas

High

VALUE 886,477,188.84 3,237,129,997.18 2,174,655,960.03 1,887,009,824.115 1,695,976,608.53 52,757,908.27 9,988,529,203.97

FINANCIAL 1,559.64 (up) 28.85 INDUSTRIAL 11,109.08 (down) 45.44 HOLDING FIRMS 6,631.52 (up) 128.64 PROPERTY 3,001.29 (up) 78.27 SERVICES 1,626.02 (up) 40.38 MINING & OIL 10,798.90 (up) 60.61 PSEI 7,060.60 (up) 133.53 All Shares Index 4,054.35 (up) 57.44 Gainers: 104; Losers: 68; Unchanged: 42; Total: 214

Close

1.07 0.127 0.465 23.9 0.880 1.06 1.78 1.18 4.44 0.079 0.2490 8.69 30.15 1.42 3.23 21.50 0.75 6.3 0.900 5.320

%

Net Foreign

Change Volume

Trade/Buying

1.050 1.050 1.05 0.129 0.126 0.127 0.475 0.465 0.465 23.9 22.2 23.3 0.850 0.850 0.850 1.06 1.04 1.05 1.83 1.78 1.82 1.20 1.20 1.20 4.7 4.41 4.65 0.084 0.078 0.084 0.2490 0.2490 0.2490 8.79 8.6 8.79 31.00 29.50 30.00 1.45 1.41 1.44 3.2 3.2 3.2 22.50 21.10 22.30 0.75 0.74 0.75 6.3 6.3 6.3 0.890 0.870 0.880 5.400 5.260 5.400 SERVICES 7.34 7.37 7.35 7.37 63.45 64.4 63.4 64.2 1.16 1.27 1.19 1.19 0.510 0.510 0.510 0.510 5.22 5.34 5.14 5.34 0.0430 0.0440 0.0430 0.0440 3.49 3.6 3.46 3.47 83.5 84.6 83.5 84 9.92 9.93 9.63 9.93 1.65 1.8 1.6 1.7 5.79 5.31 4.80 4.97 2000 2042 1972 2034 7.19 7.19 7.00 7.00 1.26 1.36 1.23 1.27 73.5 74.75 73.3 74.6 11.2 11.2 11.2 11.2 0.010 0.010 0.010 0.010 0.170 0.174 0.170 0.173 1.4000 1.4000 1.3900 1.3900 2.12 2.05 2 2 4.30 4.31 4.15 4.31 1.15 1.15 1.15 1.15 2.40 2.18 2.05 2.15 29.90 29.90 29.90 29.90 0.570 0.590 0.570 0.590 2.01 2 2 2 3.34 3.41 3.34 3.37 3.82 3.89 3.81 3.84 0.250 0.260 0.250 0.255 0.640 0.710 0.640 0.690 4.60 4.68 4.68 4.68 9.44 9.44 9.44 9.44 107.80 107.00 101.10 103.00 20.90 21.10 20.65 21.10 2050.00 2162.00 2050.00 2144.00 0.470 0.470 0.470 0.470 0.960 0.990 0.940 0.990 34.40 34.95 34.65 34.70 72.15 73.50 71.50 71.50 5.54 6.09 5.53 6.01 4.05 4.20 4.05 4.14 0.410 0.460 0.410 0.460 3.9 3.95 3.9 3.95 4.390 4.800 4.260 5.200 MINING & OIL 0.0049 0.0049 0.0048 0.0048 4.14 4.20 4.15 4.15 5.7100 5.8 5.8 5.8000 0.69 0.67 0.65 0.67 0.61 0.63 0.61 0.61 8.03 8.03 7.77 8.00 0.76 0.78 0.76 0.76 0.300 0.305 0.290 0.290 0.186 0.190 0.184 0.190 0.200 0.200 0.198 0.200 0.0100 0.0110 0.0100 0.0100 2.16 2.16 2.15 2.15 6.54 6.78 6.49 6.7 2.93 2.93 2.88 2.9 0.5600 0.5900 0.5500 0.5900 1.4300 1.3600 1.3500 1.3500 0.0100 0.0100 0.0100 0.0100 3.55 3.63 3.50 3.63 5.00 5.050 5.00 5.00 1.41 1.410 1.39 1.40 0.0120 0.0120 0.0100 0.0120 137.00 136.00 137.00 134.00 2.27 2.29 2.25 2.29 PREFERRED 63 64 62.1 64 525 521 521 521 524 524 523 523 20.3 18.5 18.5 18.5 110.7 110.8 110.8 110.8 519.5 519 519 519 6.95 6.93 6.93 6.93 109 109 109 109 1020 1024 1022 1024 79.05 80 80 80 83 84 82.6 83 79.4 79.2 79.2 79.2 80 80 80 80 80.7 80.85 80.8 80.85 2.7 2.69 2 2.69 WARRANTS & BONDS 2.650 2.700 2.620 2.630 SME 3.5 3.88 3.6 3.68 16.06 16.2 15.32 15.5 EXCHANGE TRADED FUNDS 113 115.4 114 115.4

T op g ainerS STOCKS

Low

-1.87 0.00 0.00 -2.51 -3.41 -0.94 2.25 1.69 4.73 6.33 0.00 1.15 -0.50 1.41 -0.93 3.72 0.00 0.00 -2.22 1.50

15,000 3,390,000 1,740,000 2,547,500 54,000 3,652,000 19,489,000 21,000 51,755,000 50,000 10,000 106,000 14,528,600 21,000 20,000 20,367,000 72,000 100 601,000 1,539,700

0.41 1.18 2.59 0.00 2.30 2.33 -0.57 0.60 0.10 3.03 -14.16 1.70 -2.64 0.79 1.50 0.00 0.00 1.76 -0.71 -5.66 0.23 0.00 -10.42 0.00 3.51 -0.50 0.90 0.52 2.00 7.81 1.74 0.00 -4.45 0.96 4.59 0.00 3.13 0.87 -0.90 8.48 2.22 12.20 1.28 12.68

41,300 3,340 9,000 25,000 1,199,500 15,900,000 107,000 401,410 1,300 82,000 1,403,600 157,265 209,200 522,000 2,106,430 1,900 10,300,000 1,140,000 201,000 216,000 904,000 1,000 115,000 1,100 16,000 10,000 1,121,000 13,160,000 750,000 9,990,000 1,000 1,000 850 46,600 262,565 400,000 5,205,000 10,807,100 356,620 3,868,500 5,631,000 173,780,000 471,000 3,000,000

-2.04 0.24 1.58 -2.90 0.00 -0.37 0.00 -3.33 2.15 0.00 0.00 -0.46 2.45 -1.02 5.36 -5.59 0.00 2.25 0.00 -0.71 0.00 0.74 0.88

46,000,000 493,000 -1,726,380.00 300 62,000 191,000 2,700 1,570,000 -82,390.00 330,000 3,010,000 200,000 2,400,000 95,000 34,560.00 1,964,500 -3,782,672.00 364,000 -2,930.00 336,000 110,000.00 23,000 20,100,000 11,000 342,500 -331,094.00 106,000 -4,230.00 1,012,100,000-5,500,000.00 150,820 4,564,030.00 23,000

1.59 -0.76 -0.19 -8.87 0.09 -0.10 -0.29 0.00 0.39 1.20 0.00 -0.25 0.00 0.19 -0.37

8,710 6,510 21,930 200 90,000 100 3,000 9,150 615 1,400 62,700 500 4,000 26,220 32,000

-0.75

59,000

5.14 -3.49

41,000 3,458,300

2.12

3,040

19,192,560.00 -17,000.00 -1,122,350.00 -17,577,360.00 52,896,240.00 258,000.00 235,003,360.00 -7,050.00 214,965,515.00

420,212.00

-8,890.00 2,550.00 -1,413,086.00 284,000.00 -21,951,728.50 8,250.00 -120,467,845.00 111,880.00 -4,142,208.00 -21,280.00

-171,200.00 47,790.00

120,660.00 4,879,090.00 115,000.00 -249,000.00 85,893.00 177,459,850.00 -885,900.00 36,930,905.00 -1,780,524.50 29,050.00 4,770,540.00 43,104,300.00 47,300.00

243,810.00

-39,600.00

-1,966,846.00

T op L oSerS Close (P)

Change (%)

STOCKS

Close (P)

Change (%)

Yehey

4.800

12.68

DFNN Inc.

4.97

-14.16

Panasonic Mfg Phil. Corp.

4.40

12.24

Roxas and Co.

2.47

-11.79

STI Holdings

0.460

12.20

Macroasia Corp.

2.15

-10.42

Araneta Prop `A'

1.190

9.17

BC Pref A

18.5

-8.87

SBS Phil. Corp.

6.01

8.48

AG Finance

2.52

-8.36

NOW Corp.

0.690

7.81

F&J Prince 'A'

6.01

-6.68

MRC Allied Ind.

0.084

6.33

TKC Steel Corp.

1.03

-6.36

Agrinurture Inc.

4.5

6.13

Jackstones

2

-5.66

Splash Corporation

2.38

5.78

Oriental Peninsula Res.

1.3500

-5.59

Cirtek Holdings (Chips)

21.5

5.65

Phil. Seven Corp.

103.00

-4.45

WEDNESDAY: DECEMBER 2, 2015

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

Ayala Land set to raise P50b

By Jenniffer B. Austria

PROPERTY developer Ayala Land Inc. said Tuesday it plans to raise up to P50 billion in fresh capital from the sale of corporate bonds and commercial papers.

Ayala Land said in a disclosure to the stock exchange its board of directors approved the filing of a shelf registration of up to P50 billion with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

“Proceeds, net of issue-related costs, will be used for general corporate purposes. The bonds and

commercial papers will be sold through general public offerings,” Ayala Land said.

Under the shelf registration rule of the Securities Regulation Code, securities to be issued in tranches may be registered for an offering to be made on a continuous or delayed basis for a period

not exceeding three years.

Ayala Land chief finance officer Jaime Ysmael earlier said the property company would spend between P85 and P90 billion in capital expenditures in 2016.

The company’s aggressive spending program is consistent with its positive outlook on the domestic retail market.

Ayala Land said it spent P60 billion in in the first nine months of 2015 and expected full-year capital spending below the original target of P100 billion.

Ayala Land president and chief executive Bernard Vincent Dy said he expected the domestic real estate market to remain robust

based on economic indictors.

“If you look at various indicators, it remains supportive of our various business lines,” Dy said.

“The GDP continuous to be quite healthy and OFW remittances, although there has been a slowdown, continues to grow.

Business process outsourcing is still growing, tourism continues to be strong, interest rates remain at its historic lows. Over all, those indicators bode well for our different business lines,” he said.

Ayala Land saw its net income increase 19 percent in the first nine months to P12.8 billion from P10.79 billion a year ago, as the company accelerated growth

through acquisitions and new project launches.

Consolidated revenues in the first nine months reached P75.1 billion, up 10 percent from P68.3 billion posted in the same period a year ago.

Ayala Land launched three estates in the first three quarters, including Cloverleaf in Quezon City, Capitol Central in Bacol od City and the 700-hectare Vermosa in Cavite.

The company also won the government’s contract to build and operate the Integrated Transport System South Terminal project, adjacent to its fast-rising residential and business district, Arca South in Taguig.

Standard maintains investment debt rating GLOBAL Credit Rating Co., a highly reputable rating agency operating across four continents, has affirmed Standard Insurance’s investment grade rating of A- for its claims paying ability.

A highly capitalized non-life insurer and a cooperative partner of Zurich Insurance Co. Ltd., Standard Insurance also maintained its international scale rating of BB- with a stable outlook for US-dollar denominated claims paying ability.

Standard Insurance president Patricia Echauz-Chilip said the rating upgrade reflected the company’s improved performance in the recent year, saying “we remain committed to its strategy of underwriting discipline and sustainable profitability for its traditional lines of business.”

The rationale behind Standard Insurance rating was anchored on its strengths in terms of capitalization, earnings capacity and liquidity, according to GCR, significantly owned by DEG/KFW, a banking group of the German government.

The international rating company highly-rated the insurance company for supporting the levels of underwriting and market risks and competitive position within the industry and reinsurance.

These factors are expected to remain strong over the rating horizon, thus earning a stable outlook for both the national and international investment grade ratings.

Standard Insurance, backed by more than 350 car-dealer tieups nationwide, has been also awarded the best non-life insurance company in the Philippines by World Finance and by the Global Banking & Finance Review.

Both prestigious Londonbased publications cited Standard Insurance as the best in customer service.

Financial literacy. British life insurer Pru Life UK hosts its second Cha-Ching Educators’ Conference on Financial Literacy following its successful launch in 2014. This year’s event brings over 200 principals and teachers both from private and public schools nationwide for the oneday conference, highlighting relevant and valuable lessons to help them champion fundamental money-smart values in the classroom and in their daily lives. Shown is Junior Achievement – Asia Pacific president Vivian Lau as one of the speakers.

Market rebounds; Megaworld, PLDT lead gainers STOCKS rebounded Tuesday, pushing up the benchmark index above the 7,000-point mark, as investors favored emerging markets’ assets before monetary policy reviews in Europe and the US this month.

The Philippine Stock Exchange index, the 30-company benchmark, jumped 133 points, or 1.9 percent, to close at 7,060.60. The gauge, however, was still down 2.4 percent since the start of the year.

The heavier index, representing all shares, also advanced 57 points, or 1.4 percent, to settle at 4,054.35, on a value turnover of P10 billion.

Seventeen of the 20 most active stocks ended in the green, led by property developer Megaworld Corp., which climbed 4.7

percent to P4.65, and Philippine Long Distance Telephone Co., which gained 4.6 percent to P2,144.

BDO Unibank Inc., the largest lender, advanced 4.5 percent to P105.50, while SM Prime Holdings Inc. added 3.7 percent to close at P22.30.

Meanwhile, Shanghai stocks closed higher Tuesday as the International Monetary Fund’s decision to include the yuan in its reserve currency basket offset news that a gauge of Chinese factory activity had hit a more than three-year low.

The benchmark Shanghai Composite Index rose 0.32 percent, or 10.91 points, to 3,456.31. But the Shenzhen Composite Index, which tracks stocks on China’s second ex-

change, slipped 0.24 percent, or 5.33 points, to 2,198.28.

The benchmark Hang Seng Index in Hong Kong rose 1.75 percent, or 384.93 points, to finish at 22,381.35 after falling in the previous six sessions.

Tokyo’s benchmark stock index closed above the key 20,000 mark for the first time since late August, thanks to upbeat data on investment by Japanese companies.

The better-than-expected 11.2 percent jump in third-quarter capital spending opens the door to an upward revision of the GDP figure next week, analysts said.

Initial estimates showed the world’s number three-economy fell into recession during the April-September period, the

second time since Prime Minister Shinzo Abe came to power almost three years ago on pledges to boost growth.

“Japan’s capex [capital expenditure] numbers were exceptionally good,” Akio Yoshino, chief economist in Tokyo at Amundi Japan, told Bloomberg News.

“It’s giving investors peace of mind. Japan’s economy isn’t as bad as people thought,” he said.

At the close, the Nikkei 225 at the Tokyo Stock Exchange had surged 1.34 percent, or 264.93 points, to 20,012.40.

The broader Topix index of all first-section shares advanced 1.37 percent, or 21.70 points, to finish at 1,601.95.

With Bloomberg, AFP

B4 Unilever expands, launches BPO unit UNILEVER Philippines has launched the second wave of its expansion program with the inauguration of its business process outsourcing company, Enterprise and Technology Solutions, in Bonifacio Global City.

“This is LEED-certified platinum building that we worked really hard to put up is part of our commitment to continue our sustainable platform for the environment. We have expansion initiatives that cost us more than €100 million in the past three years for the Philippines alone,” Unilever Global CEO Paul Polman said during the soft opening of the company’ BPO services unit in the Philippines.

ETS Manila is the second biggest office next to Bangalore. ETS also has offices in Poland and the United Kingdom.

Polman said Unilever planned to develop the Philippines as it biggest BPO office in the future.

The new office will be one of Unilever’s most important ETS hubs, delivering a range of IT and business services to global clients.

Unilever and ETS will coshare the LEED-certified building in BGC, with ETS occupying nine out of 16 floors.

The BPO unit has approved the initial hiring of 84 personnel, who will start operating by the end of 2015. The entire building will be available for occupancy

by April to May 2016.

Unilever decided to relocate its main office to BGC through a shared facility center agreement with ETS to showcase almost 90 years of operations in the Philippines, Polman said.

“The BCG office will be our second headquarters. We continue to invest heavily. The [BPO] office is a good example. Bringing in the BPO is a very important thing for us. This is a new way of looking at investments next to factories,” he said.

The company will keep its Manila office as its manufacturing hub, along with two other factories in the Philippines.

Polman noted that the Philippine remained one of the company’s fastest growing markets with an economic growth that is expected to support new opportunities for big companies.

Othel V. Campos

CDO-Foodsphere fun run. CDO-Foodsphere Inc. president Jerome Ong (right) turns over a check worth over P800,000, representing the proceeds from a fun run to Odyssey Foundation officials Charmaine Ong-Castro (left) and Dindo Danao. More than 2,000 running enthusiasts joined the fun run organized by CDO-Foodsphere on November 8, 2015 at the Bonifacio Global City in Taguig in support of the campaign to fight malnutrition. Participants, including CDO Foodsphere employees, industry partners, loyal customers and supporters joined 5k, 10k and 21k races during the event dubbed ‘CDO @ 40: Run for Odyssey.’ Odyssey is a non-profit organization that conducts supplemental feeding programs for undernourished children in different parts of the country.

Meralco, banks sign P42-b coal plant loan

By Alena Mae S. Flores

SAN Buenaventura Power Ltd. Co., a company controlled by Meralco PowerGen Corp., has tapped P42.15 billion in funding from a consortium of local banks to finance a 455-megawatt coalfired power plant in Mauban, Quezon province.

The company signed an omnibus agreement on the funding with BDO Unibank Inc., China Banking Corp., Metropolitan Bank & Trust Co.; Philippine National Bank; and Rizal Commercial Banking Corp.

BDO Unibank-Trust and Investments Group served as the loan facility agent, while Metrobank-Trust Banking Group acted as

collateral trustee.

The loan is the biggest all-peso project finance facility in the country to date.

San Buenaventura is a partnership between affiliates of Meralco PowerGen, the power generation unit of Manila Electric Co., and New Growth BV, a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Electricity Generating Public Co. Ltd. of Thailand.

BDO Capital & Investment Corp. and First Metro Investment Corp., meanwhile, were appointed as joint book-runners and joint issue coordinators. Along with Chinabank, PNB Capital and Investment Corp. and RCBC Capital Corp., they also acted as joint lead arrangers for the transaction.

“Proceeds of the loan will be used to fund the construction of SBPL’s coal power project, which will be the first in the country to utilize state-of-the-art supercritical technology,” San Buenaventura said in a statement.

Supercritical coal-fired power plants operate at higher pressures leading to higher efficiencies and significant reductions in emis-

sions over the expected life of the plant.

The San Buenaventura plant will provide efficient and reliable base-load supply for electricity consumers in Luzon once it starts operations in the first half of 2019.

The company plans to start construction by the first half next year.

Electricity generated by the power plant will be sold to Manila Electric Co. under a 20-year power supply agreement approved by the Energy Regulatory Commission earlier this year.

“We are doing site preparation [in San Buenventura] and by the first half, we will turn over to the EPC contractor,” Meralco PowerGen senior vice president Angelito Lantin said earlier.

San Buenaventura, in which MGen has a significant interest, has started work on plant site preparation.

The coal-fired power plant is expected to begin commercial operations by the first half of 2019, with construction slated in the first half of next year.

Mitsubishi welcomes Montero probe, dismisses calls for model recall

By Othel V. Campos MITSUBISHI Motor Philippines Corp., maker of Montero Sports, welcomed the government probe on a recent vehicle malfunction case but would not recall “flawed” models on claims of sudden unintended acceleration.

“SUA, while possible in other vehicles and models, is not applicable to Montero Sports. The technology used to make this vehicle can be considered superior enough to discount the pos-

sibility of SUA,” vice president for marketing Froilan Dytianquin said in a briefing Tuesday at the Shangri-La Edsa Plaza Hotel.

He said recall was often resorted by manufacturers once defect was in the electronics.

“There’s no flaw or defect in Montero. Therefore there is no reason to recall the model,” he said.

The Montero assembler said it would cooperate and assist the Trade Department-led investigation to determine if there was a valid reason to issue a recall order

of affected units based on pending cases of complaints.

Mitsubishi has sold 260,000 units globally and 88,000 units of Montero Sports in the Philippines since 2011.

The company conceded sales of the model had started to dip after the issue on SUA surfaced, but was optimistic of reversing the trend once it proved claims of superior vehicle technology used

by Mitsubishi.

The company said it was confident of convincing the investi-

gation team that Montero Sports units were error-free.

All Montero units, it said, were equipped with a “black box” that records all errors and flaws” of the vehicles.

“We will know for sure once we open the box if there technical errors that will lead to claims of SUA. Only our diagnostic team can open and retrieve the information in the black box...,” Dytianquin said.

Local complaints on SUA started piling in 2011 with 97

customers filing for complaints before the Trade Department.

Some cases were either dismissed, while other customers agreed on a compromise to expedite the resolution of the cases.

Only two pending cases on SUA are being processed to date.

The Trade Department is set to open the investigation today on the SUA case filed by complainants against Mitsubishi Montero.

Mitsubishi said it was confident the results would favor the company.

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BSP okays rules on 3rd party bank deals

By Julito G. Rada THE Monetary Board, the policy-making body of the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas, has strengthened the oversight and control standards on related party transactions of financial institutions to protect all stakeholders.

The bank regulator said Tuesday the board approved the guidelines in a recent meeting.

“The BSP issuance is in recognition of the unique landscape of the Philippine financial industry largely composed of banks that are either part of conglomerates or small network of businesses owned by the same family group,” the Bangko Sentral said.

“The guidelines highlight that while transactions between and among the entities within the same group create financial, commercial, and economic benefits, higher degree of standards should be applied to protect the interest of all stakeholders,” it said. “It is emphasized that RPTs are generally allowed for as long as these are done on an ‘arm’s length’ basis.”

The bank said related party transactions should be conducted in the regular course of business and not undertaken on more favorable economic terms than similar deals with non-related parties under similar circumstances.

The guidelines provide that the board of directors, as an oversight body, should have the overall responsibility in ensuring that transactions with related parties are handled in a sound and prudent manner, with integrity and in compliance with applicable laws and regulations.

“The board is expected to approve an overarching policy on the handling of RPTs that should cover the scope of its RPT policy, guidelines in ensuring arm’s length terms, management of conflicts of interest, materiality thresholds and limits, whistle blowing mechanisms, and restitution of losses and other remedies for irregular RPTs,” it said.

Banks that are part of conglomerates, meanwhile, are required to create an RPT Committee, which should be entirely composed of independent directors as the majority and non-executive directors.

“The said committee shall be responsible for the continuing identification and review of existing relations between and among businesses and counterparties, and for ensuring that RPTs are processed in the regular course of business, and are priced fairly,” the Bangko Sentral said.

Sun Life investing in PH power plant

By Gabrielle H. Binaday

SUN Life of Canada (Philippines) Inc., one of the major insurance companies in the Philippines, is set invest in infrastructure development, especially in power generation, the company’s top executive said late Monday.

Sun Life Philippines president Riza Mantaring told reporters her company was securing government approvals for a first-ever power investment.

“One of the things that [Finance] Secretary Purisma has been challenging insurance companies is investing in infrastructure. From our side, we’ve

been telling the government we want to invest in infrastructure because it’s a great match—long term assets, long term liabilities,” Mantaring said at the sidelines of an insurance forum in Makati.

“So we have been really working on it [because] you need to look on terms and conditions so finally even

from our corporate office, we got approval [for] Sun Life to make its first infrastructure investment,” she said.

Mantaring declined to give details of the project and the company’s partners.

“We’re [still] getting the approvals, until it’s fully approved we can not disclose the terms yet.

But it’s an investment in power.

We’re doing equity,” she said.

The project will feature a 12year loan agreement between Sun Life and private partners. “[It is a] power plant. Unfortunately it’s not solar, we had been hoping it would be one of those either wind or solar renewable energy [but it’s not]

renewable energy,” she said.

Sun Life’s investment division said the project was expected to be fully operational by the third quarter of 2018.

Mantaring expressed optimism the company could get the approvals of the industry regulators within the year, after Sun Life Philippines secured the nod of the head office in Canada just three weeks ago.

“From our perspective we got our approval already from headquarters. But we [still need] to get regulatory approvals from the Insurance commission. It’s just have to go to approval processes, but we’re very happy that we’re finally able to invest power in generation,” she said.

Exporting to Canada.

Trade Department Export Marketing Bureau director Senen Perlada (left) welcomes Trade Facilitation Office of Canada executive director Steven Tipman (right) to the seminar on exporting to Canada on October 29, 2015 at the Industry and Investments Building in Makati City. Perlada said while major Philippine exports to Canada include garments, processed foods and furniture, the country can still offer a lot of products to Canada.

8990 upbeat on condominium project in Tondo

By Jenniffer B. Austria LEADING mass housing developer 8990 Holdings Inc. is expected to generate P20 billion in sales from the newly-launched 8.4-hectare Deca Homes Manila project in the former soap factory of Procter and Gamble in Vitas, Tondo, Manila.

8990 Holdings president Januario Jesus Atencio said Deca Homes Manila would feature 13 mid-rise residential buildings offering over 13,000 units and a full-size shopping mall.

“We believe that this project will be a market disruptor because we will be offering units in an exclusive community as low as P1.2 million,” Atencio said.

8990 Holdings has tapped Megawide Construction Corp. as contractor of the project, Megawide committed to complete one tower every three months.

The real estate development will target the average typical working class Filipinos, after 8990 Holdings drew up a small downpayment financing program for potential buyers.

Units can also be financed through banks, Pag-IBIG Fund or the company’s own financial program—CTS Gold.

Unit sizes range from 22.95 square meters to 32.18 sq. m. at an average selling price of between P1.2 million and P1.6 million.

Atencio said the company

would spend P8.05 billion to build 13 residential buildings and another P500 million to construct a two-story mall, tentatively called the DECAmall.

The condominium township project will have shopping, dining, and recreational facilities, on top of the regular amenities that include parks, playgrounds, and basketball courts.

The whole development is slated for completion by 2019.

Atencio said the 8.4-hectare property was the former site of Procter and Gamble’s soap factory, which was earlier sold to a private group before 8990 Holdings bought it in 2014.

After the Tondo project, 8990 Holdings is also set to launch a

similar project in Ortigas Avenue extension in Pasig City. The project will consist of 26 buildings and 24,720 housing units.

The company acquired the 13-hectare property from Consolidated Tobacco Industries of the Philippines and Center Industrial and Investment Inc. for P2.2 billion in February last year.

Earnings of 8990 Holdings grew 11.8 percent to P3.16 billion from January to September this year from P2.83 billion year-onyear. Gross revenues increased 13 percent to P7.06 billion from P6.24 billion.

Share price of 8990 Holdings on Tuesday closed at P7.03, down P0.02.

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

Nexus training.

Nexus Technologies Inc. president Juan Chua (third from left) awards an IT completion certificate to a Catmon Integrated School (Malabon) high school student, who finished basic training exercises on Microsoft Word, Excel and PowerPoint at the Nexus head office. Joining Chua in congratulating the graduates are (from left) Catmon English teacher Jonathan Mababa; Alexandra Birk, partner sales lead of Microsoft Philippines; and Ma. Magdalena Lacsamana, education technical program specialist at World Vision Philippines.

RCBC bullish on remittance

By Julito G. Rada

RIZAL Commercial Banking Corp., one of the country’s largest universal banks, said Tuesday it expects its remittance business to grow 20 percent in 2016, on the back of robust transactions from four major sources.

Manny Narciso, first senior vice president and head of RCBC’s global transaction banking group, said in a news briefing in Makati the bank would take advantage of its strong tie-ups with remittance partners overseas.

“We are confident of our remittance business… We are targeting a 20-percent growth [in remittance volume] in 2016. We hope

to do more next year,” Narciso said.

The bank’s remittance transactions reached $2.5 billion in the first nine months, up by 18 percent from the same period last year. “We are going to exceed that because of strong growth in four countries,” he said.

Data showed of the $2.5 billion which RCBC handled in the

nine-month period, remittances from Japan jumped 1,503 percent; Hong Kong, 112 percent; the United Kingdom, 102 percent; and Taiwan, 53 percent.

Narciso said RCBC made the right decision in the past to team up with the right companies. He said this month, RCBC was set to tie up with the US-based Xoom Corp., a leading digital money transfer or remittance provider.

Narciso said RCBC would leverage on its partnership with Cathay Life Insurance Co. Ltd. of Taiwan, which was forged in December last year to ensure that money sent home from overseas Filipinos in Taiwan would continue to be robust in the coming months.

“We are taking advantage of that partnership,” Narciso said. RCBC sealed a P17.92-billion deal with Cathay Life in December 2014 that allowed the latter to acquire a 20-percent stake in the bank.

Narciso said remittances’ volume was expected to grow by around 38 percent year-on-year in the fourth quarter, as Filipinos usually send more money to their relatives at home during the Christmas season.

“We want to grow steadily and increase our market share every year. But to do that, we must work harder. We also want to partner with pawnshops to widen our distribution nationwide,” Narciso said.

BDO Unibank Inc. holds the

top spot when it comes to remittance business among banks. It is followed by Bank of the Philippine Islands, the Philippine National Bank and RCBC. RCBC has 2,828 remittance partners worldwide.

RCBC posted a net income of P3.64 billion in the first nine months, up 21 percent from P3.01 billion a year ago.

This translated into an annualized return on equity of 9 percent from 8.56 percent a year ago, while return on assets was also better at 1.1 percent compared to 0.95 percent as of end-September 2014.

Net income grew 11 percent in the third quarter to P1.11 billion from P995 million a year earlier.

Emperador acquires Albay asked to buy local products Fundador for $291m THE Philippines largest liquor producer Emperador said Tuesday it would purchase a major Spanish brandy and sherry brand, representing its latest foreign acquisition after obtaining Iberian vineyards and a Scottish whisky giant.

Emperador said in a disclosure to the stock exchange it had reached an agreement to purchase Spain’s Fundador from US-based Beam Suntory for 275 million euros ($291 million).

Fundador produces popular brandies including one of the same name and the Terry Centenario and Tres Cepas brands. It also makes Harveys, a sherry.

“This will further strengthen Emperador’s position as the number one brandy company in the Philippines and in the world,” the statement added.

Emperador, which started as a brandy maker in the Philippines, has been expanding its global presence in recent years.

Last year, it paid 430 million pounds for Scottish whisky maker Whyte and Mackay and 60 million euros for half of Spanish brandy producer Bodega Las Copas.

It has also been acquiring Spanish vineyards and brandy stocks.

“With the combined global reach of Whyte and Mackay and Fundador, our expanded product portfolio will have access to more than 100 countries internationally,” the company said.

“In our pipeline are several proudly Philippines-made products that we intend to introduce to the international markets starting next year,” Emperador president Winston Co was quoted as saying. AFP

LEGAZPI CITY—Albay Governor Joey Salceda has asked residents of his province to buy more local products during the Karangahan Green Christmas Festival to boost the domestic economy.

Salceda’s call to support the native industry comes as Albay celebrates the month-long Karangahan festival, which is now in its fifth year.

The festival aims to showcase Albay’s environment protection and its pioneering ‘zero casualty’ initiative. It strictly bans firecrackers and indiscriminate use of plastics.

Salceda said Karangahan Albay Green Christmas represented “the artisans who craft our products, beautify our homes and surroundings and the chefs and homegrown restauranteurs who offer native cuisine and specialties

and make Culinaria Albay the centerpiece of our festival.”

“As your Christmas gift for me, buy local, eat local, buy from our own stalls and vendors. Eat in our local restaurants,” Salceda said in a post on his social media account.

The festival’s centerpiece Green Christmas Tree is made of the native material Karagumoy, which is used in most local handicraft products.

The Christmas tree, which stands 36 feet tall, has been fashioned from 3,750 bundles of Karagumoy, composed of 250 strips per bundle, or about 937,500 leaves of the plant gathered from the coastal communities of Bacacay and Santo Domingo towns and the island of San Miguel.

Salceda said the festival showcased the best of what is grown

in Albay. “In 2012 our Christmas tree was made of Pili nut seedlings; in 2013 we used coconut husks which came from our most abundant tree—14 million coconuts that support our lives; in 2014 we used camote since we are the Philippines’ second largest producer of this staple food,” he said.

Karangahan started in 2010 with recycled materials—PAF oil drums. In 2011, more oil drums were used and the tree was moved from the Albay Astrodome to the Penaranda Park to enable more people to see and enjoy it.

“Green is the color of life, the color of our environment. It is in consonance with the imperatives of our times, in accord with the second encyclical of Pope Frances: Laudato Si: care for our common home, our earth, our environment,” Salceda said.

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WORLD

CESAR BARRIOQUINTO EDITOR

editorial@thestandard.com.ph

B7

Japan fleet sets sail for Antarctic for whales TOKYO—A Japanese whaling fleet set sail for the Antarctic on Tuesday, on a mission to resume the slaughter after a one-year pause, with environmentalists slamming the move as a “crime against nature”.

Government officials and families of crew members stood on the quayside and waved as ships—at least one fitted with a powerful harpoon—left a southern port, television footage showed.

“Two whaling ships departed from Shimonoseki with a Fisheries Agency patrol boat this morning, while the factory ship also left another port to form a fleet,” an agency official told AFP. “A fourth whaler already left a northeastern port yesterday to join the fleet.”

Despite a worldwide moratorium and opposition from usuallyfriendly nations like Australia and New Zealand, Japan persists in hunting whales for what it says is scientific research.

Tokyo claims it is trying to prove the whale population is large enough to sustain a return to commercial hunting, and says it has to kill the mammals to carry out its research properly.

However, it makes no secret of the fact that the animals’ meat ends up on the dinner table or served up in school lunches.

In 2014, the United Nations’ highest court, the International Court of Justice, ruled that Japan’s annual Southern Ocean expedition was a commercial hunt masquerading as science to skirt the moratorium.

In response, Japan’s 2014-15 mission carried out only “nonlethal research” such as taking skin samples and doing head counts.

But the government has said for months it intended to resume butchery in the current season, which runs to around the end of March.

The announcement Monday that the hunt was to begin drew condemnation from around the world. AFP

Victory. Supporters of Burkina Faso’s newly elected president celebrate at his victory at the party’s headquarters in Ouagadougou on December 1, 2015. Roch Marc Christian Kabore has won Burkina Faso’s presidential election, official results showed, after a year of turmoil that saw the west African country’s former leader deposed and the military try to seize power. AFP

Race under way to seal global pact on climate LE BOURGET, France—A day after world leaders vowed to unite in a war on climate change, the negotiators at the UN talks get down Tuesday to the nitty-gritty to tackle a slew of bitterly divisive issues.

The heads of more than 150 nations gathered in the northern outskirts of Paris on Monday in a bid to inject political momentum into what many described as the last chance to avert climate calamity.

“Never have the stakes of an international meeting been so high, because it concerns the future of the planet, the future of life,” French President Francois Hollande said in an opening speech.

“The hope of all of humanity rests on all of your shoulders.”

US President Barack Obama, China’s Xi Jinping and many other leaders vowed their na-

tions would strive to limit heat-trapping “greenhouse” gases that stoke global warming.

The result would be a post-2020 pact that would save Earth’s climate system for generations to come, they promised.

“The future is one that we have the power to change, right here, right now,” said Obama.

But similar lofty promises have come crashing down during more than two decades of United Nations negotiations.

The UN climate process concerns the use of fossil fuels, the backbone of the world’s energy supply—and that means huge interests are at stake.

For years, the annual parlay has been hobbled by finger-pointing and nit-picking, riven especially by arguments between rich and poor nations over who should bear most of the carboncurbing burden.

Those divisions were quickly exposed on Monday, as leaders of developing nations hit out at rich countries for perceived hypocrisy in

NYT article on Thai economy censored BANGKOK—The International New York Times said its printer in Thailand removed an article on the moribund state of the kingdom’s economy Tuesday, forcing the edition to carry blank spaces including on the cover.

It was the second time in 10 weeks that the paper has said its local printer declined to run an article, in a country where media freedoms have been increasingly curtailed since last year’s military takeover.

Tuesday’s newspaper was supposed to run a report headlined “Thai

economy and spirits are sagging” and exploring the junta’s inability to jumpstart the flagging economy.

It also touched briefly on the succession concerns surrounding 87-year-old King Bhumibol, the world’s longest serving monarch who is revered but ailing.

Instead, chunks of the front page and page six were blank and carried the sentence: “The article in this space was removed by our printer in Thailand. The International New York Times and its editorial staff had no role in its removal.”

A spokeswoman for the paper gave the same reply when asked for comment by AFP. Eastern Printing PCL, the paper’s Thai printer, did not comment on why it pulled the piece when contacted by AFP. The article was still accessible online in Thailand.

On September 22 Eastern Printing failed to publish the entire newspaper because the Asia edition featured a detailed front-page article on the health of King Bhumibol, a hugely controversial topic in Thailand.

It also discussed anxieties over the succession.

Crown Prince Maha Vajiralongkorn, who does not enjoy his father’s widespread popularity, is next in line for the throne. AFP

N O T I C E NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN THAT THE ESTATE OF THE LATE RIZALINA T. GERVACIO WAS E X T R A J U D I C I A L LY SETTLED BY HEIRS AS PER DOC. 468, PAGE 95; BOOK NO. I; SERIES OF 2015 BEFORE NOTARY PUBLIC ATTY. SHERWIN DWIGHT O. EBALO OF MAKATI CITY. ( T S - D E C . 2 , 9 & 16 , 2 015 )

making demands to use fewer fossil fuels after carbon-burning their way to prosperity.

“The prosperous still have a strong carbon footprint and the world’s billions at the bottom of the development ladder are seeking space to grow,” Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi said.

Diplomatic efforts to bridge the divide will begin Tuesday with Hollande holding a summit with 12 heads of state from Africa on how to combat drought and the slow the spread of deserts on the continent.

Obama will also meet with leaders of low-lying island nations to highlight his commitment to help the most climate-vulnerable.

With the debates echoing in their ears and the leaders heading home, lower-level negotiators in the 195-member UN forum have been tasked with creating such a pact by December 11.

They need to start on Tuesday morning slimming down a 54-page draft text that is a labyrinth of opposing positions. AFP

PRIME MEDIA HOLDINGS, INC. NOTICE OF ANNUAL MEETING OF STOCKHOLDERS Please be advised that PRIME MEDIA HOLDINGS, INC. will hold its Annual Shareholders’ Meeting on 22 December 2015, 9:30 am at Room 201, The Metropolitan Club Inc., Estrella corner Amapola Sts., Guadalupe Viejo, Makati City,with the following agenda: 1.

2.

3.

4.

5.

6.

Call to Order Certification of Quorum Approval of Minutes of the previous meeting Approval of Management Report and Audited Financial Statements Ratification of Management’s Act Authority to enter into Management Agreement with RYM Business Management Corp.

7. Election of Directors 8. Appointment of External Auditor 9. Other Matters 10. Adjournment The Board of Directors has fixed the close of business on the 08 December 2015 as the record date for the determination of stockholders entitled to notice of and to vote at the Annual Stockholders’ Meeting.

All proxies (which must be acknowledged before a notary public) must be submitted to the Corporate Secretary on or before 11 December 2015, 5:00 p.m. at the following address: Prime Media Holdings, Inc. c/o Ocampo and Manalo Law Firm 6th Flr. Pacific Star Building Makati Ave. cor. Sen. Gil Puyat Ave. Makati City Attention: Monica Isabelle I. Villanueva Very truly yours, (SGD) DIANE MADELYN C. CHING Asst. Corporate Secretary

(TS-DEC. 2,8 & 15, 2015)

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B8 AirAsia jet crash due to faulty equipment JAKARTA—Faulty equipment and the crew’s “inability to control the aircraft” led an AirAsia A320 to crash into the Java Sea last year, killing all 162 people on board, a report said on Tuesday.

Flight QZ8501 went down in stormy weather on December 28, during what was supposed to be a short flight from the Indonesian city of Surabaya to Singapore.

The crash of the Airbus A320200 triggered a huge international search, with ships and aircraft from several nations involved in a lengthy hunt that was hampered by strong currents and bad weather. The bodies of 56 victims were never recovered.

In their final report into the accident released Tuesday, Indonesia’s official National Transportation Safety Committee said a major factor was a fault with a system that helps control the rudder’s movement.

Cracked soldering in the component caused it to malfunction and send repeated warning messages to the pilots.

When they received the fourth warning, the pilots pulled circuitbreakers on one of the aircraft’s computers, removing power from the faulty system in a bid to reset it. But in doing so, they also turned off the plane’s autopilot.

“Subsequent flight crew action resulted in inability to control the aircraft,” said the report. The plane went into a “prolonged stall condition that was beyond the capability of the crew to recover”, it said.

It added the flight data recorders did not indicate the weather had affected the aircraft.

The report said the faulty component, the Rudder Travel Limiter, had suffered 23 problems in the past 12 months, citing maintenance records.

A minister previously described how the plane climbed fast and then went into aerodynamic stall, losing lift, before it went down, while an investigator said the warning alarms were “screaming” as the pilots desperately tried to stabilize the aircraft.

Investigators had also revealed that the French co-pilot, Remi Plesel, was at the controls of the AirAsia plane in the moments before it crashed, rather than the more experienced pilot, Captain Iriyanto, who had around 20,000 hours of flying time. AFP

CESAR BARRIOQUINTO EDITOR

editorial@thestandard.com.ph

WORLD Pope: Fundamentalism disease of all religions ABOARD THE PAPAL PLANE— Pope Francis said Monday that fundamentalism is “a disease of all religions”, including the Roman Catholic Church, as he returned from a threenation tour of Africa in which he preached reconciliation and hope.

World Aids Day. Indian Bollywood actress and UNAIDS International Goodwill Ambassador Aishwarya Rai Bachchan gestures during her visit to Cooper Hospital in Mumbai on December 1, 2015, on World Aids Day. AFP

“Fundamentalism is always a tragedy. It is not religious, it lacks God, it is idolatrous,” the Argentine pontiff told journalists on the plane back from the Central African Republic.

There, on the final leg of his first trip to Africa, the leader of the world’s 1.2-billion Catholics called on Christian and Muslim “brothers and sisters” to end the sectarian conflict that has torn the country apart.

He was given a rapturous welcome by thousands of people as he visited a mosque in the flash point Muslim PK5 neighborhood of the capital Bangui, on what was the most dangerous part of his 24hour visit to the country.

“Together, we must say no to hatred, to revenge and to violence, particularly that violence which is perpetrated in the name of a religion or of God himself,” he said.

Speaking later in the day as he flew back to Rome, Francis said Islam was not the only religion to suffer from violent extremists, such as the ones behind the deadly attacks in Paris which were claimed by the Islamic State.

“We Catholics, we have a few, even many fundamentalists. They believe they know absolute truth and corrupt others,” he said, adding: “I can say this because this is my Church.”

Francis also visited Kenya on his trip, where he denounced the radicalization of young people, citing “barbarous attacks” by Islamic extremists in Nairobi, Garissa and Mandera.

The country has been hit by many deadly attacks since sending its army into neighboring Somalia in 2011 after a string of kidnappings it blamed on AlQaeda’s east Africa branch, the Shebab.

In Uganda, huge crowds celebrated as he honored the Christians martyred for the faith and hailed Africa as “the continent of hope”.

But it was in Central African Republic, torn apart by brutal violence between mostly Muslim rebels and Christian militias for more than two years, that his visit appeared to have made the most powerful impression. AFP

Workers save turtles from grisly death TOKYO—Railway workers in Japan have devised an ingenious scheme to prevent daredevil turtles from meeting a grisly end—and delaying trains—while crossing train tracks.

The slow-moving reptiles in western Nara prefecture were responsible for 13 disruptions to train services between 2002 and 2014 after tumbling into the spaces between rail switches and getting squashed, according to West Japan Railways officials.

So the rail company teamed up with the Suma Aqualife aquarium in Kobe to find a novel solution: installing shallow trenches under

the tracks that allow the plodding creatures to cross without getting crushed to death.

“The turtles are basically just going about their daily business and have to cross the lines to get to a pond,” a spokesman told AFP on Tuesday. “When the point blades move, unfortunately they get squashed between them and die.

“There are a lot of turtles in the area and they are simply moving from A to B,” he added. “But they can cause long delays to operations, so we consulted with a turtle specialist to find the best way to help them.”

Since the ditches—dug close to the deadly points—were complet-

ed last month, a total of 10 turtles have been spared a gruesome end, said officials.

Workers now check the trenches regularly for errant reptiles and any found are removed and sent on their merry way, the spokesman added.

While the Nara turtles may lack ambition beyond a quick dip in the pond, other testudines have advanced to positions of symbolic authority in Japan.

A hefty African tortoise called Kotaro, weighing some 40 kilos (88 pounds), was given the role of station-master of Ibusuki station in the far south, complete with a tiny station-master’s hat. AFP

Choking smog. Commuters drive on a road in heavily polluted Beijing on December 1, 2015. Beijing ordered hundreds of factories to shut and allowed children to skip school as choking smog reached over 25 times safe levels on December 1, casting a cloud over China’s participation in the Paris climate talks. AFP

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TATUM ANCHETA EDITOR

BING PAREL

A S S O C I AT E E D I T O R

BERNADETTE LUNAS

life @ thestandard.com .ph

WRITER

H OME & L I V ING

A TOUCH OF WHIMSY: RUSTIQUE CALEIDOSCOPE WORLD

BY CAL TAVERA I was browsing through Instagram when I saw a recommendation to follow a new brand called Rustique on my feed. The picture showcased three cutout boards in the shape of a pineapple, apple and leaf. My friends and I have this bias for boards created out of wood and stone because they make great backgrounds for our cheeses and fruits when we have wine night… which happens every time we have a house party. I decided to check out their Instagram and got introduced to more home decorations constructed with bold

@LIFEatStandard

LIFE

patterns and vibrant colors. I was hooked. I knew instantly they would make pretty presents to gift my girlfriends this Christmas and thought it would be selfish not to share this newcomer.

The three-month-old brand was created by two longtime best friends, lawyer Kitzi Purugganan Roxas and entrepreneur Flora Magsaysay. Due to the limited home products found locally, Kitzi proposed the concept of designing a fresh line of home decor to Flora. Since both friends share the same design aesthetic, Flora jumped at the idea of becoming partners and after a few months, Rustique was launched.

Flora explained, “One of the things we have in common is our love for interior design and creative styling. We actually sought each other’s advice when we planned both our weddings so we always felt we would eventually start a business that would allow us to explore this shared interest of ours.”

Continued on C4

Make Christmas colorful by giving Rustique fabric placemats as gifts. From top: Agua, Hombruno, Tropicana and Rucio placemats in the Aguamarina wooden tray

Fresh and bright with the Agua placemat

All aboard! Our cutout boards are handmade using mahogany wood. From left: Rama, Manzana and Piña boards

VISIONARIES VISIONARIES 2 015 2 015

Passion. Purpose. Insight. Creativity. Compassion. Innovation. Dedication. Inspiration.

Passion. Purpose.

Insight.

Creativity.

Innovation.

And the resolution to takeCompassion. a stand, and match it withDedication. hard work.Inspiration.

And the resolution to take a stand, and match it with hard work.

It’s not just about doing good. It’s about changing the world, and ourselves, into something better.

It’s notwe just doingingood.

It’s about 2015 changing the world, something better.

The men and women areabout honoring The Standard Visionaries are and just aourselves, few; theyinto are only the first.

There will be more.

The men and women wemore are honoring The Standard 2015 some Visionaries are just atofew; they only the first.itThere be more.

Because there are out there,inall working silently, unobtrusively, take thisare country where needs will to go.

Because there are more out there, all working silently, some unobtrusively, to take this country where it needs to go.

SPECIAL THANKS TO SPECIAL THANKS TO

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LIFE life @ thestandard.com .ph

@LIFEatStandard

SM City Seaside Cebu is part of the sprawling 30-hectare expanse in one of Cebu’s booming development areas. When completed, the SM Seaside City Cebu Complex will include a five-star hotel with a convention center, high-rise office and residential buildings, and an event center

SM Seaside City Cebu Foodcourt offers diverse cuisine choices

SM OPENS WORLD-CLASS MALL IN CEBU T he recent opening of SM Seaside City Cebu gave Cebuanos a first look at the state-of-the-art, environmentally sustainable urban center in Cebu, the Philippines’ second largest city and a major tourism hub in the country.

The 429,917-square meter mall is SM Prime Holdings’ 55th mall and the third in the Queen City of the South, after SM City Cebu and SM City Consolacion. The new mall is one of the first developments in the master plan of SM Prime Holdings for its 30-hectare space at the South Road Properties (SRP), a prime property development project on reclaimed land located a few meters from Cebu’s central business district.

This first-of-its-kind urban development at the SRP designed by Miami-based international architecture, interior design, and planning firm Arquitectonica will be a landmark in the region that would transform the way people live, work and play in the said community. When completed, the complex will include residential towers, hotels, a convention and exhibition center, a school, and hospital.

The development has been compared to that of the SM Mall of Asia since both are located beside the waterfront: SM Seaside City Cebu has a spectacular view of the Cebu Channel, while SM Mall of Asia has Manila Bay and its glorious sunset as a picturesque backdrop. SM Mall of Asia has the Globe

The Sky Park is an elevated area set amongst a landscape of verdant foliage and soothing water features with a playground that will have installations designed by world-renowned Cebuano designer Kenneth Cobonpue

as its iconic landmark and SM Seaside City Cebu has the Cube – a steel 21-meter by 21-meter sculptural piece that symbolizes strength and stability and serves as a tribute to the resilience of Cebuanos in particular and the Filipino people in general.

The nautilus inspired design of expanding, concentric arcs from a central multi purpose space, with the mall having multiple anchors including a two-storey SM Store, as well as an SM Hypermarket and SM mainstays like SM Appliance Center, ACE

The Cube is a sculptural steel piece symbolizing the Cebuanos’ strength and resilience. It is envisioned to be an iconic landmark at the mall in the same way the Globe has been to the SM Mall of Asia

Hardware Watsons, Our Home, Kultura Filipino, Toy Kingdom, Surplus, and Sports Central will have over 400 food and retail shops, including international brands.

Specialty restaurants, international and local food chains as well as a Food Court provide a wide variety of dining options.

Cebuanos will also enjoy the leisure and entertainment excitement of an IMAX Theater, a 16-lane bowling and amusement center, plus an Olympic size ice skating rink.

It will also have four state-of-the-art cinemas,

two Director’s Clubs, and one live theater.

Several features make SM Seaside City Cebu a must see, and these include: l A nautilus design concept inspired by the spiral shell with a pale pearly partition, which includes a series of expanding, concentric arcs.

The Cube. Viewed from any angle, this sculptural piece consistently appears the same, reflecting the philosophy of giving the same high level of quality service in all areas it operates. Interestingly, the words Cube, when re-arranged, form the word Cebu. l The Sky Park that features diverse dining outlets situated amongst verdant trees and charming ponds, with installations by renowned Cebuano designer Kenneth Cobonpue when completed. l The Iconic Seaside Tower. The 25-storey tower has a roof deck, viewing deck, and restaurants, offering sensational panoramic views of the entire city of Cebu, while serving as a landmark of the Queen City of the South. l Global Brands. SM Seaside City Cebu will raise shopping standards in the Queen City of the South as home to major global brands such as Sweden’s H&M, Japan’s Uniqlo, US-based Forever 21, Spain’s Sfera, and the UK’s The Body Shop.

SM Seaside City Cebu will also showcase homegrown brands while a covered parking area with 4,336 slots is also incorporated in the design for customer convenience.

Make it Wellworth this Christmas M

ake the family’s shopping activities worth the trip at Wellworth Department Store branches at Fairview Terraces Mall and the UP Town Center that have an exciting lineup of activities and promotions for the Christmas holidays.

Kids will marvel at the Christmas scenes captured in life-sized snow globes with the stores windows all decked out with a winter forest, snow-capped mountains, a cozy cabin, holidays in the city, the gingerbread man, and a charming snowman, plus all the essential looks and home accessories perfect for the season’s cool weather.

Instant prizes also await shoppers with the department store’s Let it Snow promo. For a minimum single receipt purchase of P2,500 until December 13, customers get to pick from the ball ornaments on the Wellworth Christmas Tree. These ornaments correspond to awesome prizes like sweet treats, dinnerware and cookware, home and sports items.

Shoppers get to pick one prize per receipt, with up to three picks allowed per day.

Kids from all over will also get a chance to meet and have a photo opportunity with Santa Claus – the man of the hour – with any

Wellworth Department Store is the ultimate retail destination this holiday season with exciting activities and promotions for shoppers

purchase made at the department store when he visits Wellworth Fairview Terraces on December 6 and 12 from 1:00 to 4:00 p.m., and at the UP Town Center on December 5 and 13 at from 1:00 to 4:00 p.m.

Kids can also join in Santa’s Workshop on December 6 and 12, from 10:00 a.m. to 12 noon at the Fairview Terraces store, and on December 5 and 13, also from 10:00 a.m. to 12 noon, at the UP Town Center branch.

Kids will receive a Christmas Kit containing all the materials they’d need to create their chosen ornament like a snow globe, a Snowman, or hanging Santa ornaments, while Mom and Dad shop at the store.

Wellworth Department Stores are located at Fairview Terraces Mall, Novaliches, Quezon City, and U.P. Town Center, Katipunan Avenue, Quezon City. Wellworth also has a Bills Payments Center, a Foreign Exchange

counter and offers free gift wrapping with a minimum purchase. For more information, visit the website at www.wellworth.com.ph.

Follow Wellworth on Facebook: facebook.com/ WellworthPhilippines and Twitter, Instagram, Pinterest and Youtube @WellworthPH.

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LIFE life @ thestandard.com .ph

@LIFEatStandard

FOSHAN: A City Representing Evolving China URBAN MATTERS

BY KARIMA PALAFOX Many cities around the world are being challenged by demographic shifts, globalization, technological innovation, and environmental changes. Their economic performance will be determined by how proactive they are at addressing these, and by the collective decision of the leaders and the citizenry to adapt. Some Chinese cities that have benefited from trade and traditional manufacturing for decades are currently undergoing these challenges. The “factory of the world” has been threatened with rising incomes among its labor force, aging population, technologies such as robotics, as well as emerging production centers in other countries.

ADVISORY PANEL

Recently, I was in Foshan, China to serve for a second time in the Urban Land Institute’s (ULI) Advisory Panel Services. The ULI puts together seven to eight experts, with diverse backgrounds in land use, from its pool of 36,000 members around the world.

It is an opportunity to visit a new place, and learn from esteemed colleagues in the Panel. I readily said yes as it is an honor to represent the most trusted real estate think tank in the world. I was the first Filipino, as well as the first Young Leader (member below 35) outside of the US, to have been invited to be part of an advisory panel.

The Panel was chaired by Tom Murphy, who was Mayor of Pittsburgh in 1994 to 2005. The "Steel City" of Pennsylvania, which was recently named as one of the 11 most livable cities in the world, shifted its economy from one dominated by steel mills. He is credited for the difficult decisions that had to be made for the city to de-industrialize successfully. Pittsburgh, as well as Austin in Texas, Barcelona in Spain and Birmingham, UK have become the envy of traditionally industrial cities such as Detroit – that are currently going through recession.

Other members of the Panel include In Keun Lee, who served the government of Seoul for 32 years. He led various urban planning and infrastructure-related projects that helped transform the Korean capital into a first-class city. Most notable of which is the restoration of the Cheong Gye Cheon waterway. Zongbo Tan, an urban planning professor in Tsinghua University, represented

ULI Advisory Panel to Foshan

Lingnan Tiandi, is a must-visit. Shui on Land successfully transformed a heritage district into a high-quality retail hub

the academe. Developers were represented

by Jane Lloyd, who has led big real estate developments in Australia, and Ken Rhee, who has advised several investments in China. There were two architects in the Panel – Allen Folks and Phil Kim, who respectively are leaders in AECOM, the world’s biggest engineering and design firm, and Jerde which was involved in successful retail hubs such as Roponggi Hills in Tokyo and Mall of America. We were supported by key ULI staff – vice president Tom Eitler, an urban planner who has been in several panels around the world, and Abel Xu who translated our whole presentation to Mandarin.

The panel work was characterized by site visits, stakeholder interviews, meetings, research and a lot of brainstorming within our team. At the end of the week, we presented our recommendations to the city government, and a report will soon be published. Our sponsor was Shui on Land, a developer that has been successful in

Senior citizens practice tai chi daily in Foshan's public parks

creating high quality real estate centered on heritage. They developed Xintiandi, which transformed historical buildings into a carfree, live-work-play district in Shanghai.

FOSHAN?

Foshan is a city in Guandong Province, southeast China. It is 30 kilometers west of Guangzhou, and 140 kilometers northwest of Hong Kong. Its output value in manufacturing ranked fifth in the country at RMB 2 trillion ($313 billion). Foshan has been a center of production of furniture, lighting, ceramics and textiles. Twothirds of the world’s household ceramics are produced in Foshan, particularly the districts of Shunde and Nanhai. Seventy percent of its economy is from the private sector, and this is rare as most Chinese economies are dominated by state-owned enterprises. It has a long history of trade and entrepreneurial culture, and many

successful businessmen in Hong Kong and Macau trace their roots in Foshan.

It is the cradle of Lingnan culture, which characterizes the civilization of southern China, including Cantonese culture. It was one of only four “gatherings” in ancient China – with the others being Beijing, Suzhou and Hankou. These gateway cities of the Ming and Qing dynasties were the hubs of the rest of China, before goods were traded with other countries. Cantonese opera and cuisine, Chinese herbal medicine, and martial arts flourished in Foshan. One of the city’s famous sons is martial arts legend Ip Man, who had several students such as Bruce Lee. The city of seven million has such a great story to tell, and yet the well-travelled and international Panel has not heard of Foshan until this assignment.

(Part 2 to be published on December 16.)

Follow me on Instagram @karmipalafox

ULI Staff Abel Xu and Tom Eitler; and Panelists Tom Murphy, Karima Palafox, Allen Folks and Ken Rhee

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LIFE life @ thestandard.com .ph

@LIFEatStandard

PET PULSE

HOW TO TEACH YOUR CATS NEW TRICKS N ot many owners realize that like dogs, cats can also be taught tricks, although unlike dogs, most cats perform tricks only if they feel like it as they are less instinctively driven to work with their pet parents or human companions. There is however a way to learn the language of felines, and motivate these furry friends to be responsive. With a bit of creativity and the right methods, your cat just may amaze you with some things that it can learn to do like fetch, or useful behavior like sit, stay and to come when called.

Here are some tips and techniques to keep in mind when teaching cats to do tricks.

But remember, extra pateince is needed.

It helps if you avoid creating undue stress on your feline home companions, and this can be more easily done by using positive reinforcement rather than punishment. Opt for premium brands of treats with healthy ingredients that do not add extra calories. That way, you can keep showing your cat that good things happen during your training sessions.

Bow & Wow suggests quality brands of treats like Natural Balance, which allows you to reward your feline for performing cat tricks many times, or while practicing at different times of the day, gradually allowing the cat to perform the trick in various situations.

The next step is to keep practicing, but do not overdo it. While the training process requires repetition, you do not want your cat to feel bored or worn out. Do this by teaching only one trick or command at a given time, and limit each training session to a few minutes. You can continue the next day so that your feline will not forget the commands or tricks taught.

Make use of other rewards besides food, like quality accessories such as a cat scratching post. Remember that cats need some challenge. Play with your

furry friend using a non-toxic toy and let your cat romp around, providing physical stimulation in the process.

For more feature articles that can guide pet parents on how to raise healthy and happy pets, check out the Bow & Wow Times, an online newsletter of the country’s first and only all-natural pet store for dogs and cats.

Check out Bow & Wow stores located at Level 6 of Shangri-La Plaza Mall,

Mandaluyong City; the lower ground floor of Greenbelt 5, Makati City; 2nd floor, Al Fresco, Robinsons Magnolia in New Manila, Quezon City; ground floor of Excelsior in Eastwood City, Libis; and at Level 3 at the New Wing of Ayala Center, Cebu. Learn more about techniques and tips on raising pets at www.bowandwow.com.ph/blog. For overall information, visit the Bow & Wow website at www.bowandwow.com.ph

A TOUCH OF WHIMSY: RUSTIQUE From C1

Prior to the brand’s birth, both friends were already equipped with experience in the creative and retail industry. Kitzi is one of the founders of Quiver, a playful clothing line designed for the beach lifestyle. Flora is the owner of the bag brand Ethnique, a collection of handcrafted goods that embraces both traditional materials and craftsmanship.

Currently, the brand offers statement pieces with a modern rustic touch for the living and dining collection. For the dining area, the brand offers mahogany cutout boards, fabric and woven placemats and ceramic plates. For the living room, interested parties can find wood trays accentuated with abaca handles and bed trays. Flora shares, “We only make things that we would love to have in our own homes. For this reason, we work hard on the designs, and put much emphasis on quality.

Pieces are made by hand with much care to ensure that they successfully combine function and beauty. These qualities, paired with our competitive prices, make our products great gifts. People can gift loved ones (with) Rustique items that are truly special without breaking the bank.”

While the partners agree that the design stage is fast flowing, it is the editing of the actual samples that requires more time.

It is during this phase that the partners take their time curating and refining the functions and look of the items until they are comfortable with the final product.

While they offer home accessories, their main goal really is to pave the way for clients to infuse more character to their interiors with details that spell whimsical yet manage to stay fresh and modern. Flora adds, “It is about informal elegance… modern living that is warm and comfortable and with a touch of romance.”

For Christmas, they highly recommend the eye-catching and charming fabric placemats.

Due to their vibrancy, the colors and accents are ideal for the festive season and will brighten any table for entertaining. They also recommend the piña board made from

Make dining fun by mixing and matching fabric placemats. Rucio and Tropicana placemats in Purpura wooden tray

One of the bestsellers, Clara Tray

Informal elegance: the Hombruno placemat is modern and fun

An instant vacation by pairing the Piña board and the Meandro placemat for that island feel

local mahogany wood, which is one of their bestsellers and shaped like a pineapple. It plays many functions, from a cheeseboard, appetizer tray to a charger. Another popular item is the Clara Tray, a whitewashed tray created from repurposed wood from old

homes and abaca rope for the handles. A special collection will also be revealed this season so wait for it. The duo is presently working on their abel blankets from the Ilocos region as well as hand woven dhurrie rugs with hand block prints from India.

Make it festive! Serve appetizers on the Manzana board this Christmas

Since they are relatively new, customers can view the items through their Instagram account, Rustique.ph, and place their orders through rustique.ph@gmail.com.

Happy shopping!

Follow me on Instagram @cal_tavera

W EDNES DAY : DECEMBER 2, 2015

SHOWBITZ isahred @ gmail.com

InspIrIng smIle

ISAH V. RED EDITOR

C5

Anne Gerbuyos Ghasemi

By roBBIe pangIlInan

Born in Toronto, Canada, she grew up in Chicago, Illinois and found herself in the Philippines where she decided to stay.

“Moving away from home was definitely challenging for me, especially leaving the people I care about the most. However, being in the Philippines has taught me so much about myself. During my senior year in high school I became very productive in school and in the community. From there I was given numerous opportunities to project my talent, inner beauty, and knowledge,” shares Julie Anne Gerbuyos Ghasemi, or Julz.

Born to an Iranian father and a Filipino mother, Julz has a distinct beauty that makes heads turn. Add to that her lovely smile that catches attention and captivates hearts.

The 20-year-old medical technology major at Centro Escolar University (CEU) Makati has appeared in a bakeshop TV commercial. She was also second runner-up in the Miss Mandaluyong pageant where she also bagged the title “Darling of the Crowd”.

The multi-talented Julz is into badminton, plays the violin, sings, dances, acts, and draws. Her eloquence has made her a nominee

for PRO in English of her school’s Student Council, and the choice master of ceremonies in many events at CEU like the 5th Jobs and Careers Fair, University Recognition Day, 6th Sampaguita Interlude and San Rafael’s Parish project’s The Voice Angels.

The first crown holder of Miss Young San Pedro (also Best in Ethnic Creation, Best in Rave Wear, Best in School Uniform, and Best in Formal Wear) is a

Viva Records artists and a talent of Imaj Modeling Agency.

“Looking back at my years here in the Philippines, I realized that a simple smile can bring happiness to other people’s lives,” says Julz.

And Fashion Smile Dental Spa maintains her smile, the only one she trusts. The founders of Fashion Smile, dental doctors Farzaneh Shamsi and Shahideh Nikbin, are half-Persian and half-Filipino like Julz.

Both doctors believe that self-assured smile is powerful and can open doors, break ice and create connections.

Julz believes this, too. “I don’t know how many smiles I have given which I hope have inspired others,” she says.

An advice Julz gives to those who admire her is to never give up on their dreams.

“No matter how many obstacles we go through in life we must learn

to have hope and always be strong.

Being in the entertainment industry has always been a goal of mine, just having a chance to show my talent and to inspire others,” Julz says.

Get Julz’s lovely smile and inspire others as well, with the help of Fashion Smile Dental Spa, Unit 601 Heart Tower 108 Valero St., Salcedo Village, 1227 Makati City.

Call (02) 4787738, 09175092010 or 09178207827 for inquiries and appointments.

Charles M. sChulz’s legaCy debuts on the big sCreen

C Charlie and the gang in a cinema The entire characters of Charles M.Schultz Peanuts

Charlie Brown and Snoopy

Charlie and Lucy in the Winter Dance

harlie Brown, Snoopy, Lucy, Linus and the rest of the beloved Peanuts Gang finally make their big-screen debut, like they’ve never been seen before, in state of the art 3D animation.

Charlie Brown, the world’s most beloved underdog, embarks upon an epic and heroic quest, while his best pal, the lovable beagle Snoopy, takes to the skies to pursue his arch-nemesis, the Red Baron. From the imagination of Charles M. Schulz and the creators of the Ice Age films, Snoopy and Charlie Brown The Peanuts Movie will prove that every underdog has his day.

It was on Oct. 2, 1950 when Schulz introduced the characters of Charlie Brown, Shermy and Patty in just seven newspapers, launching a 50-year journey for the cartoonist that forever changed the landscape of popular culture and humor. Schulz’s comic strip was hailed as one of the greatest of the twentieth century, and his characters launched a bona-fide industry, while providing a much-needed voice for the underdog, via Charlie Brown.

Over the years, many studios had pursued a big screen version of Peanuts, but the Schulz family

resisted. Their thinking began to change when director Steve Martino expressed his passion and ideas for the project. Moreover, Craig Schulz had admired Martino’s work, including the way his film Dr. Seuss’ Horton Hears a Who! was true to the style of Dr. Seuss.

In 2012, Schulz phoned Fox Animation Studios executive Ralph Millero to say that he had a script that he had written with his son Bryan Schulz and the younger Schulz’s writing partner, Cornelius Uliano. (The three screenwriters also serve as producers.)

Moving with the speed of one of those fastballs that always seem to whiz by Charlie Brown, Millero took the script to Fox Animation Studios president Vanessa Morrison, who immediately set the wheels in motion. Blue Sky and Fox had accomplished what every major studio had attempted: secure the film rights to one of the world’s most coveted properties.

Best seen on the big screen replete of Charles M. Schulz’s heartwarming themes and with Blue Sky Studios’ impressive details and colors, Snoopy and Charlie Brown The Peanuts Movie opens 2016 with big dreams when it hits cinemas on Jan. 8 nationwide.

W EDNES DAY : DECEMBER 2, 2015

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SHOWBITZ isahred @ gmail.com

IS ‘A SECOnD ChAnCE’ thE bIggESt fILm Of thE yEAR? nICKIE WAng

An hour after midnight on Nov. 26, Star Cinema, through its official Instagram account, announced the P43.3 million first day gross of the film A Second Chance top-billed by John Lloyd Cruz and Bea Alonzo.

It came with a caption “The highest non-MMFF 1st day opening for a Filipino movie.”

Three days later, the film production arm of ABS-CBN updated its more than 300 thousand followers on the mobile photo-sharing app that the romantic film posted a whopping P200-million gross receipts, which is the same as the five-day gross of the Daniel Padilla-Kathryn Bernardo starrer romcom, Crazy Beautiful You only the first did it in less than five days. Should this estimate hold, John Lloyd and Bea’s film can surpass KathNiel’s blockbuster teen flick that is currently the highest-grossing film of 2015 and no. 7 on the all-time highest-grossing local movie list.

It has breached the P300-million mark as of this writing.

It came as no surprise to many that this Star Cinema film has been doing very well at the tills, its prequel was a monster hit and the lead

actors have starred in a string of highly successful movies together.

What really made A Second Chance so successful? Why, it’s on its way to break box office records.

Encouraged by its outstanding first day performance at the box office, I decided to give A Second Chance a visit at the nearest cinema. I bought two tickets, the last two seats for a 9:45 p.m. screening.

While fixing my snack tray, John Lloyd Cruz appeared on the screen.

There were audible sounds among the audience, a validation that they came to the movie house for the actor. But that’s not the movie yet; it was the trailer of Honor Thy Father. It was then followed by another trailer, this time a Kris Aquino-starrer, another Metro Manila Film Festival movie, then another MMFF entry followed – the Coco Martin – Vice Ganda film. All Star Cinema movies shown in quick succession as if telling me (in not so subtle way) that these are the films that I should see next. Then finally, the movie I came to see began.

To say it succinctly, the romantic drama ended the way it started. The film unfolds with Popoy (John Lloyd) and Basha (Bea) being interviewed by a Psychology student on how they’ve been since tying the knot almost seven years ago. Looking tired and uncomfortable, the couple answers with less enthusiasm – a totally different picture of what they were when they made their vows

CROSSWORD PUZZLE 43 44 46 48 49 50 53 59 60 61 62 63 64 65 66 67

ANSWER FOR PREVIOUS PUZZLE ACROSS 1 — el-Sadat 6 Mighty steed 10 Ice-cream treat 14 Rim 15 Bartok or Lugosi 16 Prompted 17 Windy City airport 18 With, to Pierre 19 Fjord port 20 Very close 22 AAA suggestions

23 24 26 30 34 35 36 37 38 40 41 42

Millennial couple Popoy and Basha played by John Lloyd Cruz and Bea Alonzo

Bird abode Snapshot Gamboled Drive-in servers Shake a leg Insect resins Placed Wednesday’s god Fake bullet Translucent mineral Hamm of soccer Income sources

Full of crud Self-important Generosity It may be poached Highway hauler Veers Lead? (2 wds.)

Touched down Get bored — coon cat Freeway strip Europe-Asia range Odds’ opposites Cal Tech grad Ink sources Update a watch

DOWN 1 Bard’s river 2 Radar O’Reilly’s drink 3 Stole, for example 4 Taj Mahal site 5 NASA splashdown 6 Diminished 7 Ziegfeld offering 8 Baldwin of films 9 Hiker’s gear 10 Pressing problem?

11 Supplant 12 Edit out 13 Hubbubs

before the altar and was enjoying their first years of marriage.

At the end of the movie, the Psychology student, a follow up on their aborted first meeting, interviews Popoy and Basha again.

This time the couple looks relaxed and obviously happy.

What happened in between is the real meat of this Cathy Garcia-Molina helmed project. Of course, it’s the collection of cheesy lines; romantic platitudes and other conversations that sounded so real one would think he’s listening to a bipolar couple living just next door. And that’s what most people came to the movie house for – to wait for hugot lines good enough as a Facebook status.

It’s tempting to classify A Second Chance as a beautiful romantic drama because it mirrors the real challenges of millennial couples. And yet, as clear as the film’s message, it’s distinctly just about two people

TUESDAY, DECEMBER 2, 2015

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Rapper Dr. — W-2 collectors Eat like a horse Video companion Troy’s last king Sea eagle “Little Engine” verb Hazard a guess Hockey needs Visits Refrain syllables Cleared the shelves (2 wds.)

Deli units Coffee holder Get some exercise More bleak Bother Floors or stories A Vanderbilt See-through sealer Type of lock Novelist — Paton Annex Blarney Stone locale Chalet feature Makes a bow Murray or Rice Perchance

who have matured, like the actors that play them, but did not grow in creative sense. And we have to blame the writers here. They’re too constricted with the formula and they’re afraid to travel around other marital complexities. They just toy around (for two hours) with Popoy being a failure and Basha as a submissive wife. Then turn of events happens too quickly it lasts for four minutes or the same length of the default soundtrack of the movie, “I’ll Never Go.” The truth is, the romance between Popoy and Basha is simply like a big screen extension of a wellloved teleserye - it bites then it will bite you more until you get hooked on it that even when already annoying you still follow the long harrowing love and hate journey of the central characters. Yet, this weakness, apparently, turns out to be its strength since people are still into teleseryes, which use a single

formula, only different characters.

It’s inevitable to compare it with One More Chance that offers raw emotions and explores more relationship possibilities than rebuilding a marriage that’s on the brink of collapse. Though it’s predictable that the sequel was headed to that direction, it could have been much more sweeping if the reason of their conflict and tears were a complete perplexing test love, loyalty and faithfulness.

A Second Chance falls short in giving the viewers a more mature storytelling, even the ending, although sweet, is not as impressive as most people expected.

That’s commercial romantic drama for you. If not because of John Lloyd and Bea’s perfect chemistry, A Second Chance wouldn’t stand any chance of making it big at the box office. Had they cast a different tandem, the film would be boring and forgettable.

W EDNES DAY : DECEMBER 2, 2015

SHOWBITZ isahred @ gmail.com

C7

dingdong danTes and Kiehl’s PhiliPPines ParTnershiP From C8

T

his Holiday season, Kiehl’s Philippines will make a charitable impact though Kiehl’s Gives, the skincare company’s philanthropic platform. Since 2010, Kiehl’s Gives has raised $800,000 for children’s causes through its holiday initiatives.

In the Philippines, Kiehl’s partnered with actor Dingdong Dantes to benefit the YesPinoy Foundation. Kiehl’s will donate the net proceeds from the December sales of the brand’s no.1 bestselling product, the Midnight Recovery Concentrate, to YesPinoy Foundation’s One Chair, One Child Program.

YesPinoy is an advocacy championed by Jose Sixto “Dingdong” Dantes III, with the support of his industry associates. The foundation is focused on developing the Youth, promoting Education, and Serving the Philippines through its

nationwide programs and projects.

One of its core projects is the One Chair, One Child program, which aims to provide new school chairs for all the students of Estancia Central School in Iloilo.

Estancia was hit by Typhoon Yolanda and suffered through an oil spill off their coast.

For more information about Kiehl’s and our charitable efforts in the Philippines, visit facebook. com/KiehlsPhilippines, Instagram at @KiehlsPhilippines, and Twitter at @KiehlsPH. HHHHH TV5 and Waze Waze has become a byword among netizens when it comes to coping with Metro Manila’s notorious traffic. TV5 Network is extending Waze’s use to the general public through its strategic partnership with one of the most popular apps to expand local

Dingdong Dantes, founder of YESPinoy Foundation

awareness of the crowd-sourced navigation app and help Pinoys save not only time but prevent frayed nerves on their daily drive.

The main platform for bringing Waze to the general public is TV5’s news program, Aksyon: Aksyon sa Umaga (5 a.m.), and Aksyon Prime (6 p.m.). The primetime and late-night editions of the newscast are both simulcast on radio through 92.3 News FM in Mega Manila and its provincial Radyo5 stations nationwide.

With the Waze app, Aksyon viewers will see traffic reports in real time based on constantly changing road conditions such as heavy traffic or accidents, especially in the Metro Manila area with its reputation for having one of the worst vehicle congested streets in the world. The users are provided with the fastest routes, lowest gas price alerts, slow-downs, collisions, weather conditions, and

other details beneficial for those always on the road.

What makes this possible for TV5 are the interactive map optimized for broadcast, the embedded Waze live map, and the Waze team engagement feature where viewers connect with the station through their Waze app to share live updates, photos and reports directly to the network’s traffic department.

The network is also proud to use the newest version of Waze 4.0 that shows easier-to-read map, cleaner look catered to driving-mode with faster visual reporting menu, and color-coded reports and alerts, so one can instantly recognize the map. Voyager Innovations, Inc., the digital innovations arm of PLDT and its wireless unit, Smart Communications, Inc. (Smart) will serve as a critical partner, working with Waze in technology integration and exchanges of map data.

“Waze is one of the most innovative and fast-rising mobile apps in the world and we’re proud to make this available to our subscribers.

With our fast-growing smartphone subscriber base, Waze is an exciting addition to the growing number of Smart and Sun’s leading global mobile apps partners,” said Orlando B. Vea, Smart chief Wireless advisor and president and CEO of Voyager Innovations.

TV5 President and CEO Noel C. Lorenzana welcomes Waze’s coming into the network’s News and Public Affairs offering to the Public.

“We are most enthusiastic about this partnership that will provide practical and immediate solutions to our suffering commuters. We would like to encourage the public to participate in this crowd-sourcing program in helping alleviate the worsening traffic situation in Metro Manila.”

Dingdong with the kids of YesPinoy Foundation

Triple TreaT wiTh ZsaZsa, ChariCe, and MarTin aT resorTs world Manila

o ZsaZsa Padilla Charice

Martin Nievera

n New Year’s Eve, the thrills come in threes as premier integrated entertainment and tourist destination Resorts World Manila (RWM) prepares to go fullon party mode with The Grand Countdown at the Marriott Grand Ballroom, Dec. 31, 7 p.m., marking the start of a magnificent tradition in one star-studded event.

Headlined by three icons of the local music scene, the main event of The Grand Countdown will feature numbers by none other than the Divine Diva Zsa Zsa Padilla, International Pop Star Charice, and Concert King himself Martin Nievera who will belt out their signature hits and more all throughout the evening.

Zsa Zsa Padilla started as a member of the Manila Sound band, Hotdog, in the mid-70s and then in 1982 launched a solo career. In 1987, she appeared in a TV series entitled Lovingly Yours Helen and made her film debut

in Mga Anak Ni Facifica Falayfay with comedian Dolphy, her eventual partner of more than 20 years. She is the mother of Filipina singer and actress Karylle and singer Zia Quizon.

Charice, who was famously dubbed by Oprah Winfrey as “the most talented girl in the world”, rose to fame through social network YouTube and released her first international studio album in 2010. Her single “Pyramid”, featuring singer Iyaz, is her most successful single to date. In May 2015, she reunited with her former mentor David Foster by performing her version of Sam Smith’s “Lay Me Down” in Asia’s Got Talent.

In a career spanning four decades, Martin Nievera aka Concert King has been in the limelight since 1982. He began co-hosting a TV variety show entitled Penthouse Live! with Concert Queen Pops Fernandez, who would later become his wife.

As an actor, Nievera has appeared

in 11 movies and seven television series and specials. He continues to release albums and make television appearances, including as a celebrity judge in 2012’s The X Factor Philippines.

Interspersed throughout the program will be a variety of entertainment numbers, such as a comedy suite starring funnyman and Bituing Walang Ningning: The Musical star Jon Santos, performances by Asia’s Got Talent champions El Gamma Penumbra, and a spectacular jaw dropping performance from Resorts World Manila’s international acrobats, Universo Robots and Mark Mabasa & Friends.

Throughout the evening, guests will indulge in a grand spread of only the finest cuisine fit for royalty prepared by Marriott Hotel Manila’s top chefs consisting of a salad bar, seafood specialties, spit roasts, cast iron skillet specialties, and a wide range of main courses and desserts complemented

by overflowing wine and liquor while power vocal trio Primo serenades them over dinner As The Grand Countdown is a complete New Year’s Eve celebration for the whole family, an activity zone for kids will also be provided where they may participate in fun games or kick back in a movie marathon room.

The countdown proper will feature a coordinated presentation by El Gamma Penumbra followed by a waiter’s ‘Baked Alaska Parade’ with sparklers, a Champagne toast with artists, and a skyline video during the countdown to 2016. After ushering in the New Year, guests will be invited to party the night away with live music by Juan Miguel Salvador & the Authority.

Don’t miss out on this spectacular New Year celebration. For more information on events and offerings at RWM visit www.rwmanila. com or call the Tourist/Visitor Hotline at (02) 908-8833.

W EDNES DAY : DECEMBER 2, 2015

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ISAH V. RED EDITOR isahred @ gmail.com

SHOWBITZ Carlo J. Caparas resurreCts ‘angela Markado’ ISAH V. RED

Angela Markado and the rapists

The cast: Felix Roco, Epi Quizon, Paolo Contis , Andi Eigenmann, Polo Ravales, and CJ Caparas.

Carlo J. Caparas, the writer of the komiks serial Angela Markado made into film by Lino Brocka in the 80s, translates his illustrated novel into film for the new generation

In 1980, Lino Brocka the eminent filmmaker of that era directed a film called Angela Markado. When it was released across the nation, despite the notorious censorship then, the film was a big hit.

Angela Markado, in Brocka’s universe, tells of the empowerment of a woman after going through the cruelty of men. A rape victim, she rises to avenge the humiliation she suffered in the hands of her rapists.

The film affirmed Hilda Koronel as a pre-eminent actress of Philippine cinema and underscored Brocka’s influence as a filmmaker.

It won the Golden Montgolfiere (the grand prize) at Festival des 3 Continents in Nantes, France validating Brocka’s masterful handling of material and performers.

Now, after 25 years at rest, Angela Markado is resurrected in a film directed by its original writer, Carlo J. Caparas who serialized it in a local comic book. The film goes by the same title as the 1980 Lino Brocka film. The new film that opens nationwide today stars Andi Eigenmann as Angela Markado. As controversial, perhaps, as the character she plays in the film, Caparas believes she is destined to be elevated to superstar status soon after the run of the film not only across the nation but overseas as well.

“Watching the skill and intensity of Andi’s acting prowess, she can deliver the kind of Angela Markado in my imagination. A vengeful victim, unmerciful and most brutal woman to invade the screen that will shock the audience and wrack their nerves...

Andi’s powerful acting will make it happen!”

And we better believe Caparas, the undisputed master of movies of this genre. Movie people in the know can attest to his pronouncement that after this movie, a bigger and a much better Andi Eigenmann will emerge ... that will catapult her to superstardom.

“I believe in the project, a byword and multi-awarded movie

by Lino Brocka, and now, to be handled by another multi-award-

Atty. Persida Rueda -Acosta

ed filmmaker Carlo J. Caparas... this is really a big one for me! A different kind of drama-thriller-shocker movie ... a dream role and project...hindi ko po pakakawalan at sasayangin ito ...matagal kong hinintay ang role na ito ... it’s worth the wait!” Andi gushed.

“At ang husay po nang makakasama ko rito... ang limang rapist ko, na paghihigantihan ko!”

It is indeed a big cast, composed seasoned and young actors and actresses, all known and big in television and the movies. They include Epi Quizon. Paolo Contis, Felix Rocco, Polo Ravales, and CJ Caparas. They play the antagonists - rapists of Angela Markado.

Also in the film are Mika Dela Cruz,Ysabelle Peach, Bugoy C Arino, and Buboy Villar, Anna Roces, Marita Zobel and the consummate actor Bembol Rocco. `Bret Jackson will play the role of the boyfriend of Angela Markado.

Public Attorney’s Office ChiefAtty. Percida Rueda-Acosta and Kayla Acosta, an actress with the Philippine Educational Theater Association will play special roles.

The movie industry is anticipating that this new version of Angela Markado would be monster box office hit for the project.

A veteran movie writer predicted, “Hindi lamang si Andi Eigenmann ang naghihintay nang ganitong project…the moviegoing public deserves this kind of film.

This is going to make a tremor at the box-office! In the tradition of Carlo J. Caparas and Donna Villa blockbuster movies, this will shatter box-office records!”

Oro De Siete Productions, Inc. and Viva Films produced Angela Markado. ➜ Continued on C7