The Standard - 2015 December 14 - Monday

VOL. XXIX NO. 305 3 Sections 32 Pages P18 MONday : dECEMBER 14, 2015 www.thestandard.com.ph editorial@thestandard.com.ph

‘Junking of BBL to encourage terrorism’

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PaLaCe OKs rights PrOBe Of duterte

By Sandy Araneta

THE Palace said Sunday it supported the Commission on Human Rights decision to investigate presidential aspirant and Davao City Mayor Rodrigo Duterte, who admitted to killing criminals without an investigation or a trial.

“As a democratic country, we conform to the principle of the rule of law. We recognize that every citizen has the right to be given protection by our Constitution and other laws, including the right to live, and the right to be given due process on any legal action,” said Communications Secretary Herminio Coloma Jr., in an interview over state-run radio station dzRB. “That is why the CHR is doing its duty to know the truth on the allegations of human rights violations [against Duterte],” Coloma said.

“Whoever they are referring to, the implementation of the law should be fair,” Coloma added.

On his own radio program Sunday, Duterte hit back at the administration candidate Manuel Roxas II, who said the reputation of Davao as a safe city was a myth.

“I’d like to ask [him], you claim that you have graduated from the Wharton School of Economics, Next page

Storm coming. This satellite image from the Joint Typhoon Warning Center of the United States military shows the location of storm ‘Nona’ as of 1 p.m. local time.

Authorities raise warning on storm ‘Nona’ A STRONG tropical storm barreled toward the country Sunday, threatening the east coast with giant waves, flooding and landslides, civil defense officials warned.

Forecasters said Tropical Storm “Nona” (international name Melor) could strengthen into a full-fledged typhoon by Monday afternoon when it is expected to strike the central island of Samar.

“We should not underestimate the dangers posed by this storm,” civil defense chief Alexander Pama told a meeting of rescue officials.

No evacuations were ordered, but authorities said they could be if the storm, with gusty winds reaching 140 kilometers an hour, hits the impoverished farming island of Samar, which is home to 1.5 million people. The storm was moving west-northwest over the Pacific Ocean Sunday.

Food packs and other emergency items were stockpiled in the areas forecast to be hammered by Melor and the military was put on standby to evacuate people if necessary.

Heavy rain, flooding and landslides were forecast in areas within 150 kilometers of its eye between Monday and Wednesday.

Melor is expected to cut across Samar, Masbate, Marinduque and Mindoro islands before heading out to the South China Sea near Manila early by Wednesday.

Storm surges, or giant crashing waves, were also a risk in some areas, said Pama, executive director of the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council.

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Poe’s name must stay on ballot, says Chiz

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Negotiator plays terror card to push BBL signing

By Christine F. Herrera

WITH only three session days left to push the Bangsamoro Basic Law through Congress, the government’s chief negotiator Miriam Coronel Ferrer warned Sunday that a breakaway group of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front might be emboldened to tie up with foreign terrorist cells to sow terror in the country.

In an interview over radio dzBB, Ferrer also warned that the peace process would be back to square one if the present Congress failed to approve the BBL, the lynchpin in the government’s peace agreement with the MILF. While the MILF has trust and confidence in the Aquino administration, she could not say if the same level of trust would be accorded to the next president.

If the bill is refiled in the next Congress under a new administration, the BBL would be an altogether different piece of legislation.

Ferrer said the MILF’s patience was already being stretched too thinly and urged lawmakers to attend the last three session days to pass the BBL. Ferrer said trouble might not come from the MILF, but the Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters, which broke away from the MILF over the peace talks.

“The BIFF founder, the late Umbra Kato, rejected the peace negotiations because they believed nothing good will come of it. So if we are not able to implement [the peace accord], some of them will say, see, now do you believe us? We know how attractive [an option] terror-

Authorities...

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A tropical storm becomes a typhoon when maximum sustained winds are stronger than 120 kilometers, according to the state weather service. Melor had maximum sustained winds of 110 kilometers an hour on Sunday morning.

The Philippines is battered by an average 20 typhoons or storms a year, many of them deadly.

Typhoon “Yolanda” (international name Haiyan), the strongest to ever hit land, destroyed the central city of Tacloban and nearby towns in 2013 and left more than 7,350 people dead or missing.

Typhoon “Lando” (international name Koppu), the last deadly storm to hit the country, killed 54 people and forced tens of thousands of others to flee their homes in the northern Philippines in October.

ism can be,” Ferrer said in Filipino.

If the BBL is not passed, resentment will develop and some sectors will lose patience, she said.

In the end, no matter how hard the Aquino administration promises to keep the peace, the Moro rebels would no longer believe anything.

Ferrer said she cannot rule out the possibility that foreign terror cells would capitalize on the failure to pass the BBL and tie up with the BIFF. “That’s possible, and it is really frightening,” she said, noting that the tactics used would be far different from those adopted by previous rebel movements, as recent events elsewhere in the world have shown.

But Ferrer said negotiators on both sides were not losing hope that the BBL would be approved.

What is important, she said, is that both sides were not backing down and no one is declaring war.

However, the new administration would likely bring its own negotiators and policy advisers, she said, which would further delay the implementation of the peace accord by as much as two years.

“The process takes long. When the 17th Congress opens, it will have to set up their committees. This could take two years. If they are fast, we could be looking at 2017, but that’s wasted time during which you create uncertainty,” Ferrer said.

If Congress cannot muster a quorum in the last three days, it will be even more difficult in January after the recess as election fever sets in.

Buhay Rep. Lito Atienza said the House members show up at the plenary if Congress needs to pass important major bills like the Salary Standardization Law of 2015 but disappear when the plenary debate on BBL is initiated.

“The Palace and lobbyists should realize it by now that congressmen do

President Benigno Aquino III ordered all concerned agencies to prepare the local communities that will be affected by the typhoon.

“President Aquino and his Cabinet continue to monitor and do preparations for the coming of severe tropical storm Nona, which is now in the Philippine area of responsibility,” said Communications Secretary Herminio Coloma Jr. over staterun radio dzRB. “The concerned government agencies are now doing the prepositioning of the resources needed. The communities are also being prepared for possible evacuation of residents from danger zones,” Coloma added.

In its forecast, the weather bureau said the provinces that would be affected are Samar and Bicol on Monday, Marinduque and southern Quezon on Tuesday, and Oriental Mindoro on Wednesday, Coloma said.

Tropical Storm ‘‘Nona’’ is

not want the Palace-crafted BBL. The number of those who wanted to interpellate on BBL has even increased from 15 to 21. Then we still have the period of amendments before voting ensues.

We are running out of time,” Atienza said.

The secretary general of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation Iyad Ameen Madani on Sunday expressed grave concern about the delays in the BBL’s passage. In a statement, Madani said the OIC was particularly concerned about amendments to the BBL which would reduce the autonomy granted to the new Bangsamoro political entity that is supposed to replace the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao.

Despite pressure from the Palace, the BBL faced further delays in the Senate, where Senator Ferdinand Marcos Jr. said a constitutional issue could snag the bill’s approval.

President Aquino last Tuesday held a luncheon meeting with some 120 members of the House to expedite the passage of the proposed Bangsamoro law.

But Senator Juan Ponce Enrile pointed out that if the bill is of local application, the House must approve it before the Senate acts, as required by the Constitution.

“As much as we want to speed up the Senate deliberations...we must heed the caution of a legal expert like Senator Enrile to observe the required procedure, otherwise it may provide a basis later for questioning the legality of [the law],” Marcos said.

Marcos noted that despite reports of a Dec. 16 deadline for the passage of bill, House Speaker Feliciano Belmonte later admitted it was unlikely that the House would be able to complete the period of interpellation before it adjourns for the Christmas break. With Sandy Araneta and Macon RamosAraneta

expected to make landfall Monday night in northern Samar.

Authorities likened Nona’s expected rainfall to that of Typhoon “Seniang,” which dumped 15 millimeters of rain per hour over Mindanao in December 2014 and left 66 people dead.

The Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration raised Public Storm Warning Signal No. 1 over 11 more areas at midmorning Sunday as Nona continued to gain strength as it headed toward Samar and Bicol.

Pagasa said that as of 10 a.m. Sunday, the center of the storm was estimated at 565 kilometers east of Catarman, Northern Samar.

Its maximum sustained winds increased from 95 kilometers per hour (kph) to 110 kph near the center and its gustiness also went up from 120 kph to 140 kph.

PSWS No. 1 (30-60 kph winds expected in 36

hours) was hoisted over the provinces of Catanduanes, Camarines Sur, Albay, Sorsogon and Masbate, including Burias and Ticao Islands in Luzon; Northern Samar, Eastern Samar, Samar, Biliran, Leyte and Southern Leyte in the Visayas; and Dinagat province in Mindanao.

The Department of Social Welfare and Development said it has prepositioned relief packs in its field offices as part of preparations in areas expected to be hit by Nona.

The department said it had P25 million in standby funds, 263,223 family food packs and P185.67 million worth of food and non-food items available at the field offices in Regions IV-A (Calabarzon), IV-B (Mimaropa), V (Bicol), VI (Western Visayas), VII (Central Visayas), and VIII (Eastern Visayas).

Disaster teams in the regions were also ordered to be on alert status. Sandy Araneta, AFP, PNA

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that is a myth. You did not graduate from the Wharton School of Economics, Mr. Roxas. Your name is not on the list of those who graduated from four- or five-year degree courses. Ask Wharton. Show me [a photo] of you wearing a toga at Wharton, with your mother at your graduation,” Duterte said.

The CHR earlier formed a special fact-finding team to investigate Duterte’s supposed role in executing suspected outlaws in his city.

CHR chairman Chito Gascon said Saturday the probe was triggered by Duterte’s own repeated admission of killing several persons accused of heinous crimes.

In a recent radio interview, Duterte recalled the instance when he shot to death three men who abducted a Chinese girl.

In a speech after the PDP-Laban proclaimed him as its standard bearer, Duterte also hinted at how he punishes drug traffickers.

“I said, do not go to Davao [or] you will die.

Others who went there, they died. When their bodies were sprawled there, I said play Mona Lisa, that’s the theme song of these animals. They just lie there and they die there,” Duterte said.

Gascon said the CHR fact-finding team will start gathering complaints of human rights violation against Davao’s local chief executive and search for possible prior cases against him.

The commission also reiterated its appeal to Justice Department and the Philippine National Police to conduct a separate probe on Duterte.

Human Rights Watch earlier denounced Duterte for the Davao Death Squad that has killed over 1,000 suspected criminals since the late 1990s.

Amnesty International Philippines also said it was disturbed by the presidential candidacy of Duterte.

But presidential candidate Vice President Jejomar Binay on Sunday slammed the Aquino administration for failing to make Filipinos feel safe amid an increase in the country’s crime rate.

The increasing number of crimes is alarming.

Government should do all it can to protect its constituents, especially those in the marginalized sector: the children, the women and the elderly,” Binay said.

He noted that economic growth is senseless if people don’t feel safe and secure in their surroundings.

“How can we enjoy development if we are scared to go out of our house?” he said.

Binay cited data from the Philippine National Police, showing a total of 885,445 crimes reported from January to June, higher than the 603,085 incidents during the same period last year.

The Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency also reported 17,619 drug-related cases filed in various courts nationwide in 2014.

The Vice President also condemned the increased attacks on media practitioners.

“Freedom of the press is vital in a democracy.

The rising cases of media practitioners being killed or pressured because of their jobs shows government’s failure to keep its people safe,” Binay said.

“The fact that no suspects involved in media killings have been convicted in the past 13 years will only enforce our notorious tag of being one of the most dangerous places for journalists to work,” he added.

Recently, armed men attempted to take over a radio station in Iloilo City. The PDEA-Western Visayas has concluded the incident to be drugrelated as the radio station had a program, Aksyon Night Patrol, that aired critical commentaries on the proliferation of illegal drugs in the province.

“We should encourage freedom of expression, not curtail it. It is appalling that journalists are being pressured for simply doing their job. Violence against the members of the press has no place in a democratic and civilized society,” Binay said.

The Volunteers Against Crime and Corruption estimated that from January-June 2015, there were 46 rapes a day, 40 murders a day, and 36 homicides daily.

“Three journalists were murdered in August.

Three judges were shot dead in a span of three months. A number of extrajudicial killings were also recorded. I call on our police to help ensure the safety of our citizens and see to that that they remain free from harassment and acts of violence,” Binay said. With Macon Ramos-Araneta

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‘Poe’s name must stay on ballot’ THE Commission on Elections should keep the name of Senator Grace Poe on the 2016 ballot despite the ruling by its two divisions disqualifying her from next year’s presidential elections, Poe’s running mate Francis Escudero said Sunday.

One-peso decline in gas prices expected CONSUMERS may expect a rollback in petroleum prices of at least P1 per liter next week to reflect the downward movement of world oil prices, the Energy Department said over the weekend.

Energy Secretary Zenaida Monsada said the price cuts “may be close to more than one peso per liter” depending on the type of product.

The oil firms cut the price of kerosene by P0.70 per liter and diesel by P0.50 per liter last week, but left gasoline prices untouched.

Pilipinas Shell Petroleum Corp. country chairman Ed Chua said the movements of world oil prices were hard to predict, adding “no one knows” whether oil prices had bottomed out.

“The price of oil was around 60 dollars at the start of the year, but now it is currently 38 dollars per barrel,” Chua said.

Eastern Petroleum chief executive Fernando Martinez earlier said “analysts expect the ongoing oversupply would push prices to fall further.”

The Philippines imports more than 90 percent of its fuel requirements, and domestic pump prices are adjusted weekly to reflect the movements in world oil prices. Alena Mae S. Flores

For the planet. Environmentalists took part in a bicycle ride to show solidarity for climate justice in Manila on Dec. 13 as envoys from 195 nations approved an accord to stop global warming. AFP

Until the Supreme Court rules with finality on the disqualification cases filed against her, Poe should remain in the presidential race, Escudero told the Cauayan City Leadership Summit in Isabela attended by more than 3,000 mayors, vice mayors and village officials.

“I repeat that Senator Grace is still a candidate for president,” Escudero said.

He said the rulings of the First and Second Divisions on the four petitions filed against Poe would still be tackled by the Comelec en banc.

“There are four cases [against Poe] and the [rulings] will reach the Comelec en banc. The en banc will decide, and that will not be final and executory because there is still time to bring it to the Supreme Court,” Escudero said.

He talked about the apparent haste with which the Comelec’s two divisions decided the disqualification cases against Poe who, her detractors claim, may not run for president because she is not a natural-born Filipino citizen.

Escudero said Poe is a natural-born citizen and a resident of the country, and thus qualified to run for the highest office.

“I and Senator Grace are trusting that the law is with us and the Supreme Court will upheld the truth,” Escudero said. Macon Ramos-Araneta

Coalition to endorse six senators FIFTY-SIX lawmakers belonging to 39-member Party-List Coalition Foundation on Sunday said they wanted six of their current and former colleagues elected to the Senate and vowed to consolidate their resources to boost their chances of winning.

Cibac Rep. Sherwin Tugna, the coalition’s spokesman, said the senatorial candidates being endorsed were incumbent Reps.

Ferdinand Martin Romualdez (Lakas-CMD, Leyte), Sherwin Gatchalian (Nationalist People’s Coalition, Valenzuela) Samuel Pagdilao (ACT CIS Party-list) and Crescente Paez (Coop-Natco Party-list).

Former Reps. Joel Villanueva of Ciback and Risa Hontiveros of Akbayan are among the six that will be supported. Villanueva is also former Secretary of Tesda.

Tugna said the six candidates

had been assured of solid support from the various party-list organizations that comprise their group.

He said the 39 party-list groups decided to form the Party-List Coalition Foundation to be active in campaigning for their anointed ones who share the same advocacies.

The official announcement of the coalition’s endorsement will be made on Tuesday, he said.

“I would like to express my gratitude to my fellow congressmen from the party-list groups for their support for my senatorial candidacy,” Romualdez said.

“I am very happy and honored that they have included me among those qualified and deserving of a seat in the Upper House.”

The coalition, which represents the marginalized sectors of

society, said their endorsement of Romualdez is based on his proven track record in Congress and their confidence in the Leyte congressman’s sincerity and commitment to fight for their common causes in the Senate.

Romualdez, who is also the leader of the Independent Minority Bloc in Congress, was already in talks with the coalition congressmen to discuss their shared interests and advocacies.

The lawmaker, who is on his last term as congressman, has vowed to pursue reforms anchored on the government’s compassion for those who have less in life.

Romualdez is running for the Senate as a guest candidate of the United Nationalist Alliance. He has also been endorsed by presidential aspirant Rodrigo Duterte.

christine F. Herrera

On the road. Children play around a driftwood stall along Coastal Road in Bacoor, Cavite, on Sunday. Ey AcASiO

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Nations cheer climate accord PARIS—Cheering envoys from 195 nations on Saturday (Sunday in Manila) approved a historic accord to stop global warming, offering hope that humanity can avert catastrophic climate change and usher in an energy revolution.

French Foreign Minister Laurent Fabius ended nearly a fortnight of grueling UN negotiations on the outskirts of Paris with the bang of a gavel, marking consensus among the ministers, who stood for several minutes to clap and shout their joy, with some shedding tears of relief.

“I see the room, I see the reaction is positive, I hear no objection. The Paris climate accord is adopted,” declared Fabius, the president of the talks.

The post-2020 Paris Agreement ends decades-long rows between rich and poor nations over how to carry out what will be a multitrillion-dollar campaign to cap global

warming and cope with the impact of a shifting climate.

With 2015 forecast to be the hottest year on record, world leaders and scientists had said the accord was vital for capping rising temperatures and averting the most calamitous effects of climate change.

Without urgent action, they warned, mankind faced increasingly severe droughts, floods and storms and rising seas that would engulf islands and coastal areas populated by hundreds of millions of people.

“The Paris agreement establishes the enduring framework the world needs to solve the climate crisis,” US

President Barack Obama said.

“We came together around the strong agreement the world needed.

We met the moment.”

German Chancellor Angela Merkel added: “Paris will always be connected with this historic turning point in climate policy.”

The crux of the fight entails slashing or eliminating the use of coal, oil and gas for energy, which has largely powered prosperity since the Industrial Revolution.

The burning of those fossil fuels releases invisible greenhouse gases, which cause the planet to warm and disrupt Earth’s delicate climate system.

Ending the vicious circle requires a switch to cleaner sources, such as solar and wind, and improving energy efficiency. Some nations are also aggressively pursuing nuclear power, which does not emit greenhouse gases.

The Paris accord sets a target of

Terminal case. Michael Morran, who arrived from Bangkok and ended up begging at the Naia for food money, said he paid for his Thai girlfriend’s cosmetic surgery and fled to Manila to escape the woman’s relatives, who wanted to beat him up. ERIC APOLONIO

limiting warming of the planet to “well below” 2.0 degrees Celsius (3.6 Fahrenheit) compared with the Industrial Revolution, while aiming for an even more ambitious goal of 1.5C. To do so, emissions of greenhouse gases will need to peak “as soon as possible”, followed by rapid reductions, the agreement states.

The world has already warmed by almost 1C, which has caused major problems in dry developing countries, according to scientists.

Some environmentalists said the Paris agreement was a turning point, predicting the 1.5C goal would help to doom the fossil-fuel industry.

“That single number, and the new goal of net zero emissions by the second half of this century, will cause consternation in the boardrooms of coal companies and the palaces of oil-exporting states,” Greenpeace International chief Kumi Naidoo said. AFP, Sandy Araneta

Decision on GMOs, Bt corn praised

By Rey E. Requejo E N V I R O N M E N TA L advocates, farmers and agricultural scientists hailed the decision of the Supreme Court permanently banning field trials of Bt eggplant and the temporary ban on the development of other genetically modified organisms.

Environmental organization Greenpeace Southeast Asia, Magsasaka at Siyentipiko para sa Pag-unlad ng Agrikultura and other petitioners in the case described the ruling as a “major victory for Filipino farmers.”

“It is high time that the Philippine government looks at new, innovative and sciencebased ecological farming,” said Virginia Benosa-Llorin, food and ecological agriculture campaigner for Greenpeace, in a statement.

The petitioners were reacting to a landmark decision of the court last week imposing a permanent ban on field trials of Bt eggplant and the temporary prohibition on GMO development.

The tribunal affirmed the decision of the Court of Appeals which granted the writ of kalikasan to Greenpeace Southeast Asia, as well as other activists, academics and politicians.

Aussie roaming Naia goes missing AFTER allegedly spending a fortune for his Thai girlfriend’s cosmetic surgery, an Australian national who arrived at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport last month has been roaming the terminals begging passengers for money for food.

Michael Morran, 46, slept in the airport’s public areas since he arrived from Bangkok until he disappeared last week.

In an interview with reporters earlier, Morran said he stayed with his girlfriend in Thailand for over two months before flying to Manila.

Morran said he went to Bangkok last September with money to help his girlfriend undergo plastic surgery to “improve her looks because she has an ugly face. “ “My girlfriend became pretty after the surgery but after a couple of weeks her attitude became so different from the first

time I knew her. She even treated me like a nobody and her relatives threatened to maul me if I lay my hands on the girl,” he said.

He said he almost slapped her once and when she shouted for help “her relatives ran after me to beat me. That’s when I went to Manila with the money left in my pocket.”

He arrived at Naia the first week of November. He said he sold his cellular phone to buy food and bottled water and “slept in every corner of the airport.”

Morran said he sought help from the Australian Embassy but was told his case was “not an emergency.”

Since last week, Morran has not been seen at the airport and terminal employees who have been providing him food and water have been asking about him. Eric Apolonio

Grand parade. An estimated 150 students from San Jose Elementary Special Education

Center in Montalban, Rizal gathered at the SM San Mateo lobby to kick off the ‘First Christmas Grand Parade’ celebration. The children are the beneficiaries of SM’s Bears of Joy donation during the Christmas season. MANNY PALMERO

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Blast kills 3, hurts 15 in Compostela TWO soldiers and a civilian died while 15 others were wounded including a civilian who was in critical condition after communist rebels detonated a landmine that hit a military truck Saturday in Mabini, Compostela Valley.

According to Captain Benedict Joy Corpuz, civil-military offi cer of the Army’s 1001st Infantry Brigade, the landmine explosion hit the victims around 6:30 p.m. at KM 11 in Barangay Cabuyoan.

“A soldier and a CAFGU [Citizen Armed Force Geographical Unit] Active Auxiliary [CAA] were killed while 14 soldiers were slightly injured after the blast,” Corpuz aid.

“Unfortunately, a civilian was also killed and another was wounded and is in critical condition,” he added.

Corpuz said the victims were travelling along the provincial road going to Barangay Anitapan, Mabini when members of the New People’s Army exploded the landmine. Florante S. Solmerin

Army pays ‘ghost soldiers’ P21m—CoA

By Christine F. Herrera

January to March 2014 showed that the Philippine Army has an averTHE Philippine Army paid the salaries and wages of “297 age monthly payroll of 2.2 billion salaries and wages of 81,674 ghost soldiers” amounting to P21 million in the first quar- for personnel [average] consisting of ter of 2014, according to the Commission on Audit.

80,795 military personnel and 879 civilian employees,” it said.

A CoA Annual Audit Report nel who were paid P20.04 million.”

It said the payment of salaries of the Philippine Army for 2014, Out of the 81,674 average month- and wages of those no longer in the showed that out of the 297, at least ly personnel of the Army included service resulted in the “overpay37 were confirmed retired, de- in the payroll for the period Janu- ment/doubtful payment of salaries ceased and discharged from the ary to March 2014, CoA said, the and wages.” service but continued to be paid 297 personnel were not included CoA revealed that 297 persontheir salaries. in the masterlist/roster maintained nel in the Philippine Army pay“The Philippine Army paid sala- by the Plans and Research Branch, roll for January to March 2014 ries and wages totaling more than Office of the Assistant Chief of were not included in the master P21 million to personnel no longer Staff for Personnel, G1 since they list maintained by the Plans and in active service or in the employ of are military and civilian personnel Research Branch of the Office of the Army,” CoA said. who are already retired, deceased the Assistant Chief of Staff for For this reason, the CoA ordered or discharged/terminated from the Personnel. the Army to “require the refund of service; hence, resulted in the payThe CoA found “gaps in the payP1.24 million by 37 military per- ment of salaries and wages totaling ment of salaries and wages of milisonnel and determine the status of P21,293,423.26. tary and civilian personnel of the the remaining 260 military person“Regular account for the period Philippine Army.”

CoA also found the discrepancy in the master list and payroll roster was due to the G1 and the Electronic Data Processing branch of the Philippine Army using different reference documents in the updating/preparation of the master list and payroll files.

Inquiry from the Plans and Research Branch, Operations Group 1, the updating of the masterlist/ roster of personnel of the Philippine Army is based on the roster of troops submitted by the G1 of each Philippine Army Major Units, it added.

Each unit, CoA said, conducts daily head count of their personnel to determine their status (on official leave, on official travel, Awol, etc.), which is summarized in the Morning Report and serves as the basis in the preparation of the roster of troops.

Playing Santa. Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corp. Assistant VP for Corporate Communications and Services Maricar Bautista (left) distributes Christmas gift packs to the less privileged children who are under the care of Payatas Orione Foundation Inc. Joining her in the gift-giving activity are (from right) PAOFI Executive Director Fr. Julio Cuesta, Pagcor Assistant VP Albert Villarama, Assistant VP Bong Quintana, president and COO Jorge Sarmiento and CoA Supervising Auditor Belen Ladines.

Pagcor adds P2b to funding for public schools

By Sandy Araneta PRESIDENT Benigno Aquino III has approved a P2-billion additional funding for the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corp. to build more classrooms in public schools nationwide, bringing to P12 billion the total funding for the agency.

According to Pagcor, the country’s public education sector received one of the biggest Christmas presents from the agency this year.

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Pagcor chairman and CEO Cristino Naguiat Jr. is expected to formally turn over the allocation to Education Secretary Armin Luistro and Secretary Rogelio Singson of the Department of Public Works and Highways today.

Both the DepEd and DPWH are Pagcor’s partners in the school building program.

DepEd identifies the schools with severe classroom shortage, DPWH constructs the school buildings and Pagcor provides the funding for the project.

Naguiat said the additional P2 billion for the

“ Matuwid na Daan sa Silid-Aralan”projec will widen the project’s reach. Last April, the staterun gaming agency also released P3 billion for the school building program.

“All public school students—especially those living in remote communities nationwide— must have access to comfortable learning facilities. Quality education is the greatest gift that we can give them. By helping our government build sturdier classrooms for the youth, Pagcor became instrumental in shaping their future. This is also one of the best Christmas presents that we

can offer them,” he said.

DPWH Secretary Rogelio Singson said that Pagcor’s additional funding for the schoolbuilding project only shows how the government values the education of the Filipino youth. “This additional P2 billion will help provide more comfortable learning venues to thousands of public school students. Hopefully, through this program, we can continue to inspire the Filipino youth to study well, realize their full potential and eventually do their part in building a better nation someday,” he said.

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Romualdez seeks crisis gab ‘

By Rio N. Araja and Jess Malabanan SENATORIAL aspirant and Leyte Rep. Ferdinand Martin Romualdez on Sunday said the government must call for a metro-wide dialogue as a show of “compassion” for commuters and motorists suffering monstrous traffic jams as Christmas Day nears, and find ways to address the gridlock due to last-minute shopping.

Good to go. Bargain hunting is the name of the game for these shoppers who check the used RTWs at an ambulant store along West Zamora street in Manila. EY ACASIO

Iglesia beats ‘nuisance suits’ in US iF THERE are nuisance candidates that make a mockery of philippine elections, there are also “nuisance cases” filed by detractors of the iglesia ni Cristo as part of “a concerted effort to harass and embarrass the Church and its officials.”

This according to inC spokesperson Edwil Zabala, who on Sunday revealed that the inC has again won another case—this time in the united States— wherein an expelled church member wanted weekly offerings she previously made as an inC member returned to her after she was removed from the church. in a decision handed down last week, virginia Beach Judge Salvador iaquinto denied a petition filed by Lilibeth Rose against inC minister Steven inocencio.

The uS judge declared Rose’s testimony as “erroneous” after she claimed in court that weekly offering “deposits” she made before her removal should be returned to her “since the expulsion precludes her from continuing in the weekly offering towards what inC members refer to as the Annual Thanksgiving Offering.”

Judge iaquinto reminded Rose that any church offerings were made voluntarily and “made to honor god.” The offerings, the court declared, were “also what she would have devoutly agreed to when still a member of the Church of Christ.” The magistrate then asked Rose if she would be satisfied if inocencio gave her what she had already set aside, and after she responded no, the Judge then remarked that “it seems like you just want to get back at the Church.”

Zabala said that the inC’s legal victories “only reinforce what we have said from the beginning; that when the facts and the evidence are weighed by a court of law, we have nothing to fear as these charges will be exposed for what they really are: nuisance cases filed in an attempt to besmirch the reputation of the Church and our officials.”

Rose was reported to have been influenced by the “Restore the Church (RTC)” movement, a group composed of former inC members based in the uS, which called on existing inC members to stop mak-

ing offerings to the church. RTC had campaigned for the filing of a class action suit against the Church and its officials, but the plan did not materialize as Rose was the lone plaintiff in the virginia court case.

Before the dismissal of the case, RTC boasted in online posts that Rose’s action could lead to RiCO (Racketeering, influenced and Corrupt Organizations), FACTA (Fair and Accurate Credit Transactions) and wire fraud convictions against inocencio and inC leaders.

“We continue to be vindicated by court and prosecutor rulings here and abroad.

The DOJ cases filed by disgruntled exmembers were dismissed a month ago for lack of evidence and absence of probable cause. And now we have another legal victory, this new uS court decision,” said Zabala.

“Our detractors know they cannot win in a court of law, which is why their only option is to take their baseless and fantastic stories to the media—which, sadly, has provided them an undeserved forum for their empty accusations,” explained Zabala.

Romualdez traced the traffic crisis in Metro Manila to poor planning and mismanagement.

“That is why a metro-wide dialogue on this traffic crisis must be held at the soonest. We must find out once and for all who really are responsible for such mess and what would it take to actually ease the traffic burden,” said Romualdez, head of the House independent bloc and president of the philippine Constitution Association.

He questioned transportation officials why they kept on blaming the huge volume of vehicles, and undisciplined drivers and commuters for the metro’s congestion, and not their ineptness to draw up efficient and effective traffic solutions.

“The blame game or the finger-pointing must stop. if the people are the real bosses, this will be a very good chance for the government to prove it,” he said.

“Responsible traffic officials and personnel must not remain unaccountable for the suffering caused by their lack of compassion for the suffering of all commuters and the motorists.”

Romualdez said it’s not the job of shoppers to manage traffic. in another venue, Romualdez chided the Highway patrol group for saying that the Christmas shopping rush had caused the vehicular volume on Edsa to triple.

“Traffic management agencies should have anticipated the increase of vehicles brought about by the Yuletide season,” the Leyte lawmaker said.” They should have come up with contingency measures months in advance.”

He urged the Hpg and Metro Manila Development Authority to show concern to the people and stop putting the blame solely on Christmas shoppers.

Las Piñas fest promotes recycling Living up to its billing as Metro Manila’s lantern capital, Las piñas City held the 10th parol Festival.

Led by former Senate president Manny villar, Senator Cynthia villar and Las piñas Rep. Mark villar, this year’s staging of the festival was marked with friendly competition and colorful festivities.

“Each year, we look forward to this event where we showcase the craftsmanship and creativity of three generations of Las piñas parol makers. The festival helps us promote the livelihood of our people and also keeps parol-making an enticing venture for the youth,” said the senator.

The competing lanterns are on display at villar Sipag (Social institute for poverty Alleviation and governance) in pulang Lupa i, Las piñas from 18 participants. A street dance competition among elementary school students was also held during the festival.

The festival was a brainchild of the senator as a way to attract attention to the city’s parol makers.

When she was Las piñas congresswoman, she convinced the lantern makers to organize themselves into a group. She also set up the Las piñas parol Center which serves as their training area.

“We have been holding this festival for a decade now; each year the festival was able to attract more tourists because our parol entries are more impressive, more grandiose than the last,” she added.

The senator said the festival also highlights the importance of environmental protection with the use of recycled materials such as shampoo sachets/bottles, cans, bottles, tetra packs, newspapers, etc. and natural or indigenous materials such as coconut husk, dried leaves, feathers, shells, etc. The frame of the lantern was made of bamboo. Macon Araneta

Unsafe. Oblivious to the danger that lurks amid surging vehicles, two children play by the roadside in Sangandaan, Caloocan City. ANDREW RABULAN

M O N D AY : D e c e M b e r 14 , 2 0 1 5

A7

NEWS

editorial@thestandard.com.ph

Cops kill 2 bandits in Zambo

By A. Perez Rimando

Flowers for the table. A

shopper in Lucena City looks at some poinsettias to decorate her Christmas table. DIANA B. NOCHE

Two bullets remain in Bulacan engineer’s head after ambush

By Orlan L. Mauricio MALOLOS CITY—San Jose del Monte City engineer Rufino Gravador is still healing his broken left arm while two slugs of M-16 Armalite bullets are still stuck at the back of his head.

Gravador survived the ambush attempt by two unidentified gunmen in Barangay Bulac, Sta. Maria, Bulacan while he was on his way home from his office on the afternoon of Dec. 2.

“The doctors are waiting for the back of my ears to heal before they take out the bullets,” he said.

“They cannot operate on it just yet. They are waiting for the swelling to subside. I also cannot see too well because of the splinters in my eye from the broken glass,” he added.

Gravador, 55, was driving his Montero Sport when the two suspects, who had been waiting at the side of the road, immediately pulled out their M-16 rifles and peppered his car with bullets.

A video of the incident captured by a CCTV of the barangay showed the two suspects firing their rifles on Gravador’s car which eventually smacked an electric post.

The vehicle rolled backward and hit a tree on the other side of the road. Perhaps thinking that Gravador had died, the assassins

immediately boarded their 150cc Suzuki Raider motorcycle and fled towards the direction of San Jose del Monte City.

In April, a local tabloid MetroNEWS Bulacan reported Gravador’s exposé of alleged anomalies in the construction of the new San Jose Del Monte city hall after he had refused to certify the plan of the project which cost P300 million. He said he believed the project was overpriced by almost P97 million.

After the reelection of Mayor Reynaldo San Pedro, Gravador found himself relieved as city engineer and assigned as officer-incharge/ City Agriculture Office in July 2013.

Gravador was able to safely drive to his residence in Barangay Dulong Bayan at the Sta. Maria Poblacion where he immediately requested that he be brought to

the nearby St. Mary’s Hospital for first aid treatment.

Gravador said there was no other person who should be blamed for the ambush incident except the mayor. “He is the only one who would want me killed. I live a simple life; I do not have any enemies.”

San Pedro had allegedly offered him a one-percent commission if he would just sign but he declined.

Gravador also blasted San Pedro for claiming that the ambush was fake, politicallymotivated and a “moro-moro” because he was wearing a bulletproof vest during the incident.

“There is no truth to what the mayor has been saying to media. I was wearing a t-shirt when the ambush took place. I was not wearing a bullet-proof vest. I cannot come up with a drama to kill myself,” Gravador told The Standard.

IPIL, Zamboanga Sibugay— Two bandits were killed while six of their followers were wounded during a police operation last Friday at barangay Poblacion in Talusan town, police said.

A report received here by Senior Supt. Celso L. Bael, provincial police director, said operatives of the Provincial Public Safety Co., led

by P/Supt. William Gadayan were armed with a search warrant against wanted bandit leader Edris Mohammad and his two assistants, Basilisa Llanos and his brother Noel.

While the raiding cops were approaching the two houses occupied by Mohammad, the Llanos brothers and their followers at the Poblacion outskirts, the suspects opened fire at law enforcers.

This ensued a 30-minute exchange of fire which resulted in the killing of Mohammad and Llanos and the wounding and capture of five of Mohammad’s followers whom police identified as Noraiba Amsani, Kisma Mohammad, Albaina Mohammad, Fatima Ayesha and Lydio Mohammad.

Gadayan said also wounded in the shootout was PO2 Noriel Laureata who, together with the five wounded bandits, was taken by the raiding cops to the Talusan Emergency Hospital for treatment.

After the exchange of fire, law enforcers forced open the bandits’ two hideouts where they recovered an M1 Garand rifle owned by Mohammad, an AK47 rifle, a 12-gauge shotgun, a carbine rifle, a Baby Armalite rifle, a 45 caliber pistol and assorted ammunition, Gadayan said.

He added that Mohammad had been a long-wanted bandit leader in the province.

Benguet town widens search for waste tech

By Dexter A. See LA TRINIDAD, Benguet—The municipal government is still searching for a suitable solid waste management technology in order to solve the town’s solid waste disposal problems brought about by the rapidly increasing volume of garbage generated by the significant increase in the population, Mayor Edna C. Tabanda said here recently.

Tabanda said the local government has not stopped evaluating proposals on how to effectively and efficiently handle its solid waste.

This, even as La Trinidad has already started the development of cell no. 3 of its Alno controlled dumpsite which will form part of the interventions to prevent the occurrence of a serious garbage problem by the locality.

“We continue to accept proposals on the suitable solid waste management technology that could be applied in the municipality for us to have a long-term solution to our solid waste disposal concerns. We want to address the garbage problem the soonest so as not to put an added burden to the local govern-

ment in the future,” Tabanda stressed.

Earlier, the municipal government appropriated more than P7 million to improve cell no. 3 of its Alno controlled sanitary landfill in order to effectively and efficiently address its existing garbage concern while the appropriate solid waste technology will be determined by the municipal solid waste management board.

She pointed out the approach of the local government in addressing the garbage problem could be integrated or a combination of various proven technologies in order to lessen the expenses of the locality in solid waste management.

At present, the municipality has embraced the hauling of its residual waste from the locality to the Capas-engineered sanitary landfill in Tarlac as a temporary solution to the garbage disposal concerns that cropped up after the closure of its Alno controlled dump facility.

There is a need to tap the suitable technology simultaneous with the operation of cell no. 3 of its Alno controlled dump facility as one of the much cheaper modes of solving the town’s garbage problem.

Refurbished. The Department of Education’s division office in Leyte in Candahug, Palo town, through the help of aid groups and government agencies, has been reconstructed after suffering heavy damage from Typhoon ‘Yolanda’ two years ago. RONALD O. REYES

M O N D AY : D E c E M b E R 14 , 2 0 1 5

A8

opinion

ADELLE chuA EDIToR

lettertotheeditor@thestandard.com.ph

opinion

talking abOut traffic

[ EDI TORI A L ]

BacK channEl alEJanDRo DEl RosaRIo

Typhoon noynoy A SEVERE tropical storm heading straight for the Philippines this week underwent what only some humans and tilapia go through—a sex change.

The state weather bureau admitted Saturday that the tropical storm that it originally dubbed Tropical Storm “Nonoy” was changed to “Nona” because the former sounded too much like the nickname of President Benigno “Noynoy” Aquino III. The name change, we are told, was ordered by Science Secretary Mario Montejo to spare the President the embarrassment of being associated with the storm, particularly if it turns out to be damaging.

On this score, the concern is probably overstated. After all, nothing that Nona does over the next few days can surpass the damage wrought over the last five-and-a-half years by a vengeful, callous, divisive and ultimately incompetent leader.

Where should we begin?

Arguably the worst damage Mr. Aquino has done is to the country’s democratic institutions. So eager was he to oust an uncooperative chief justice of the Supreme Court that he bribed lawmakers with millions of pesos in “development projects” to ensure the magistrate’s conviction at an impeachment trial.

Even earlier in his term, Mr. Aquino’s own Justice secretary defied a direct order of the Supreme Court, signifying to all that rules will be observed selectively, only if they are convenient to those in power.

When the smoke has cleared from his six-year disaster, Mr. Aquino will also be called to task for human rights violations that no less than the United Nations has highlighted, from the unjust and prolonged detention of his political enemy, former President Gloria Arroyo, to the state-sanctioned campaign of terror waged against the indigenous people of Mindanao.

Mr. Aquino, who likes to chide his predecessor for “the lost decade,” has himself been guilty of gross underachievement, with no major infrastructure projects completed under his six-year term.

Despite pouring billions of pesos of tax money into a dole program that is now shamelessly being used for political purposes, the number of poor Filipinos has increased during Mr. Aquino’s term.

None of this seems to matter to Mr. Aquino, however, who seems impervious to the suffering he causes to millions of Filipinos who must put up with the deteriorating public services under his watch—a direct result of his unwillingness to discipline his errant friends and allies in government.

Perhaps if Mr. Aquino had devoted as much time and energy into building things instead of tearing them down, the President would not be so concerned with being compared to a tropical storm.

Overrating experience pEnséEs fR. RanhIlIo callangan aquIno It happens to many a graduate, applying for a first job, that there is a requirement that immediately aborts all prospects: experience. the fallacy should not be too difficult to spot. If a new entrant is not entertained because he lacks experience, he is denied all further opportunity of acquiring it!

But the very premise should be questioned: Is it in fact true that experience makes all the difference? I want to steer clear of the other extreme— denying the importance of experience. It is important. a bungling neophyte bungles things precisely because he is new at the job and is learning the ropes. But in due time, she will learn and might make the difference between the sheer repetition and monotony that those with nothing more than experience have to their credit.

Invention and discovery occur precisely because one is willing to break with experience and with habit. all the pivotal points in cultural evolution and history occurred when people mustered the courage to depart from experience and to dare the untried. experience is comforting and assuring, because one merely repeats what has been from the beginning and threatens ever to be until the consummation of time!

Whether it be in science, in academe, in political life or in

A9

The preference for one with experience, who knows how to get things done, is deleteriously many times also an option against that necessary boldness that alone can promise a new way of doing things.

the more quotidian concerns we humans have, the dogged determination to keep to experience stultifies. We insist that aspirants to public office bear the weight of experi-

ence—but when we have more of the same decadence that has afflicted us for so long, we whine. But is that not the result of the idolatry of experience that has become the new

religion? What a conflicted lot we indeed are. experience, richard posner writes, is many times our unwillingness to correct our mistakes and sheer inertia of what has been. It is the encrustation of habit, and not all habits are good. the preference for one with experience, who knows how to get things done, is deleteriously many times also an option against that necessary boldness that alone can promise a new way of doing things.

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

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

persons with a more scholarly inclination who pursue advanced studies are often derided for being “too theoretical,” lacking in experience. that is exactly what their contribution consists in: the introduction of theory, of novelty, that can break the habits that weigh down, the repetition of the same. It is those who have given themselves to the examination of new and varied theories who can nudge us from out of the rut with which we have be-

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

MST ONLINE

can be accessed at: www.manilastandardtoday.com

MEMBER

PPI

Philippine Press Institute The National Association of Philippine Newspapers

come so comfortable. of course, people with plenty of theory who “lack experience” because they have not been given a chance at it are a threat to the guardians of an established order. this is one of the reasons that the mantra about “the virtue of experience” is enunciated with unction very close to religious fervor. It is actually the line Continued on A10

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

everyone’s talking about traffic but there’s no solution in sight anytime soon from this gridlocked government.With 26,000 new vehicles sold during the month of november alone and 200,000 more sales projected next year, the paralyzing traffic can only get worse before it gets better. There’s no such thing anymore as peak and off-peak traffic hours.

This has resulted in road rage. The whole metropolis is choked at all points, and traffic is more pronounced during this Christmas holiday season when everyone is out shopping for gifts. Without any rational urban planning, malls are located along the major arteries, contributing to the chaos. senator Joseph victor ejercito talked about how traffic has become the bane of daily life. at the philippine Council of Management event held by philcoman president Cecil arillo at the Intercontinental hotel last Thursday where he was guest speaker, Jayvee offered some sound solutions at the core of his advocacy. he sees the problem as needing long-term planning, something the aquino administration squandered in five years when it could have hit the ground running.

There are now last-minute construction projects like the skyway from the ninoy aquino International airport terminal 3 all the way to Bulacan. There’s also the MMDa’s experimental point-to-point express buses along edsa. But with these buses using the traffic-clogged major highway, the time spent by commuters in these transport vehicles is almost the same as when they ride the regular buses. senator ejercito, a successful construction businessman before he entered politics, traces Metro Manila’s traffic problem to the lack of a mass transport system. “people will not be buying cars if we have an effective public transport. They would leave cars at home,” Jv pointed out, adding that even the middle class wage earner is paying for a car on installment to get to the work place.There are also middle-income employees who rent a small place near their office to be able to come on time. Imagine how much that cuts into take-home pay. yet, the government is adamant about reducing income tax while the private sector is reluctant to increasing workers’ salaries. Is it any wonder why Filipinos are leaving to work abroad?

The senator said his advocacy, aside from pushing for a mass transit program, would be to prod public spending for road construction to augment the current number of roads that have been outpaced by a growing population and the increased volume of vehicles.

Continued on A11 Rolando G. Estabillo Jojo A. Robles Ramonchito L. Tomeldan Chin Wong/Ray S. Eñano Francis Lagniton Joyce Pangco Pañares Adelle Chua Romel J. Mendez Roberto Cabrera

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

Emil P. Jurado Chairman Emeritus, Editiorial Board

M O N D AY : D E c E M b E R 14 , 2 0 1 5

A8

opinion

ADELLE chuA EDIToR

lettertotheeditor@thestandard.com.ph

opinion

talking abOut traffic

[ EDI TORI A L ]

BacK channEl alEJanDRo DEl RosaRIo

Typhoon noynoy A SEVERE tropical storm heading straight for the Philippines this week underwent what only some humans and tilapia go through—a sex change.

The state weather bureau admitted Saturday that the tropical storm that it originally dubbed Tropical Storm “Nonoy” was changed to “Nona” because the former sounded too much like the nickname of President Benigno “Noynoy” Aquino III. The name change, we are told, was ordered by Science Secretary Mario Montejo to spare the President the embarrassment of being associated with the storm, particularly if it turns out to be damaging.

On this score, the concern is probably overstated. After all, nothing that Nona does over the next few days can surpass the damage wrought over the last five-and-a-half years by a vengeful, callous, divisive and ultimately incompetent leader.

Where should we begin?

Arguably the worst damage Mr. Aquino has done is to the country’s democratic institutions. So eager was he to oust an uncooperative chief justice of the Supreme Court that he bribed lawmakers with millions of pesos in “development projects” to ensure the magistrate’s conviction at an impeachment trial.

Even earlier in his term, Mr. Aquino’s own Justice secretary defied a direct order of the Supreme Court, signifying to all that rules will be observed selectively, only if they are convenient to those in power.

When the smoke has cleared from his six-year disaster, Mr. Aquino will also be called to task for human rights violations that no less than the United Nations has highlighted, from the unjust and prolonged detention of his political enemy, former President Gloria Arroyo, to the state-sanctioned campaign of terror waged against the indigenous people of Mindanao.

Mr. Aquino, who likes to chide his predecessor for “the lost decade,” has himself been guilty of gross underachievement, with no major infrastructure projects completed under his six-year term.

Despite pouring billions of pesos of tax money into a dole program that is now shamelessly being used for political purposes, the number of poor Filipinos has increased during Mr. Aquino’s term.

None of this seems to matter to Mr. Aquino, however, who seems impervious to the suffering he causes to millions of Filipinos who must put up with the deteriorating public services under his watch—a direct result of his unwillingness to discipline his errant friends and allies in government.

Perhaps if Mr. Aquino had devoted as much time and energy into building things instead of tearing them down, the President would not be so concerned with being compared to a tropical storm.

Overrating experience pEnséEs fR. RanhIlIo callangan aquIno It happens to many a graduate, applying for a first job, that there is a requirement that immediately aborts all prospects: experience. the fallacy should not be too difficult to spot. If a new entrant is not entertained because he lacks experience, he is denied all further opportunity of acquiring it!

But the very premise should be questioned: Is it in fact true that experience makes all the difference? I want to steer clear of the other extreme— denying the importance of experience. It is important. a bungling neophyte bungles things precisely because he is new at the job and is learning the ropes. But in due time, she will learn and might make the difference between the sheer repetition and monotony that those with nothing more than experience have to their credit.

Invention and discovery occur precisely because one is willing to break with experience and with habit. all the pivotal points in cultural evolution and history occurred when people mustered the courage to depart from experience and to dare the untried. experience is comforting and assuring, because one merely repeats what has been from the beginning and threatens ever to be until the consummation of time!

Whether it be in science, in academe, in political life or in

A9

The preference for one with experience, who knows how to get things done, is deleteriously many times also an option against that necessary boldness that alone can promise a new way of doing things.

the more quotidian concerns we humans have, the dogged determination to keep to experience stultifies. We insist that aspirants to public office bear the weight of experi-

ence—but when we have more of the same decadence that has afflicted us for so long, we whine. But is that not the result of the idolatry of experience that has become the new

religion? What a conflicted lot we indeed are. experience, richard posner writes, is many times our unwillingness to correct our mistakes and sheer inertia of what has been. It is the encrustation of habit, and not all habits are good. the preference for one with experience, who knows how to get things done, is deleteriously many times also an option against that necessary boldness that alone can promise a new way of doing things.

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

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

persons with a more scholarly inclination who pursue advanced studies are often derided for being “too theoretical,” lacking in experience. that is exactly what their contribution consists in: the introduction of theory, of novelty, that can break the habits that weigh down, the repetition of the same. It is those who have given themselves to the examination of new and varied theories who can nudge us from out of the rut with which we have be-

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

MST ONLINE

can be accessed at: www.manilastandardtoday.com

MEMBER

PPI

Philippine Press Institute The National Association of Philippine Newspapers

come so comfortable. of course, people with plenty of theory who “lack experience” because they have not been given a chance at it are a threat to the guardians of an established order. this is one of the reasons that the mantra about “the virtue of experience” is enunciated with unction very close to religious fervor. It is actually the line Continued on A10

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

everyone’s talking about traffic but there’s no solution in sight anytime soon from this gridlocked government.With 26,000 new vehicles sold during the month of november alone and 200,000 more sales projected next year, the paralyzing traffic can only get worse before it gets better. There’s no such thing anymore as peak and off-peak traffic hours.

This has resulted in road rage. The whole metropolis is choked at all points, and traffic is more pronounced during this Christmas holiday season when everyone is out shopping for gifts. Without any rational urban planning, malls are located along the major arteries, contributing to the chaos. senator Joseph victor ejercito talked about how traffic has become the bane of daily life. at the philippine Council of Management event held by philcoman president Cecil arillo at the Intercontinental hotel last Thursday where he was guest speaker, Jayvee offered some sound solutions at the core of his advocacy. he sees the problem as needing long-term planning, something the aquino administration squandered in five years when it could have hit the ground running.

There are now last-minute construction projects like the skyway from the ninoy aquino International airport terminal 3 all the way to Bulacan. There’s also the MMDa’s experimental point-to-point express buses along edsa. But with these buses using the traffic-clogged major highway, the time spent by commuters in these transport vehicles is almost the same as when they ride the regular buses. senator ejercito, a successful construction businessman before he entered politics, traces Metro Manila’s traffic problem to the lack of a mass transport system. “people will not be buying cars if we have an effective public transport. They would leave cars at home,” Jv pointed out, adding that even the middle class wage earner is paying for a car on installment to get to the work place.There are also middle-income employees who rent a small place near their office to be able to come on time. Imagine how much that cuts into take-home pay. yet, the government is adamant about reducing income tax while the private sector is reluctant to increasing workers’ salaries. Is it any wonder why Filipinos are leaving to work abroad?

The senator said his advocacy, aside from pushing for a mass transit program, would be to prod public spending for road construction to augment the current number of roads that have been outpaced by a growing population and the increased volume of vehicles.

Continued on A11 Rolando G. Estabillo Jojo A. Robles Ramonchito L. Tomeldan Chin Wong/Ray S. Eñano Francis Lagniton Joyce Pangco Pañares Adelle Chua Romel J. Mendez Roberto Cabrera

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

Emil P. Jurado Chairman Emeritus, Editiorial Board

A10 Plagued by a dearth of choice THE year is about to end but there is not much for any Filipino to gloat about, neither rita linda in the political state of v. jimeno the nation nor in his day-to-day life. For starters, the Filipino looks at the list of presidential aspirants for the 2016 national elections.

He sees hardly any choice. Of the five top contenders, the most neophyte, although widely popular, is in danger of being eliminated from the race on issues of citizenship and residency. One is hounded by issues of corruption; another by an absence of leadership and a pathetic performance in government. One who used to be known for her feistiness and grit now appears frail on account of health problems. The latest to join the race could be a good alternative for his anti-crime stand but is feared by many to self-destruct because of his brash, devil-maycare manners. The Filipino then asks himself: What made me deserve such limited choices for the top post in government?

Pondering this, I realized that we are all trapped in countless dearth-of-choice dilemmas. In the transportation sector of our society, we rant but cope, just the same, with the daily traffic monstrosity. We accept the fact that the government has failed to give us a decent and working mass transport system that most countries of the world enjoy. In all countries in Europe, Singapore, Hong Kong, etc., practically everyone rides the trains to move around, from executives to regular How do these employees to visiproviders get away tors. Here, driving one’s own car is a with what they do? necessity for lack of a viable choice. And one has to contend with the fear too that because of weak government regulation, one just might be the next victim of the Mitsubishi Montero’s sudden un-commanded acceleration which has killed many pedestrians and motorists.

In the telecommunications sector, we have been proclaimed as the social media capital of the world, the biggest user of text messaging, and the core of the world’s call center industry which relies heavily on telecommunications. Ironically, we get the poorest telecommunications service in the whole world. Filipinos have been made to live with the poor quality of service from the two giants which monopolize or duopolize telecommunications in the Philippines, that is, PLDT/Smart and Globe.

For years now, when one complains about dropped calls or lack of reception in many areas, one is given the wornout excuse that there is an ongoing systems upgrade. A friend of mine recently lost a foreign lessee in her condo unit in the Bonifacio Global City because of poor Internet service. She gave the lessee two pocket Wi Fis, one Globe and the other Smart, but neither of them worked to the satisfaction of the lessee.

In a survey in August this year, the Philippines was found to be way behind its neighbors in Asia in Internet speed. Singapore, for instance, has an average Internet speed of 133.1 mbps. The Philippines, in contrast, has a miserable speed of 3.7 mbps. In most democratic countries, when one is not happy with the service one gets from a provider all that he needs to do is to shift to another one. In the Philippines, the tens of millions of consumers do not seem to have the power of choice or the power to pressure the telecommunications companies to improve their service. PLDT/Smart and Globe, being the duopolies, can dictate upon the consumers the limits of their service.

In other words, because there is no real alternative for

out of tHe box

M O N D AY : D e c e M b e r 14 , 2 0 1 5

OPINION

lettertotheeditor@thestandard.com.ph

facebook transformation ienation the supposed receiver of that information would feel for the plumbline source. pastor To those who boost their candiapollo date by bashing the competition, quiboloy remember this: If you jeer more were once a park with soothing than you cheer, you hurt more greenery, it has become a riotous than you help your cause.

Plaza Miranda where everyman For this is the truth: When hard with a bullhorn has a soapbox to sell turns off the objects of your mount. courtship, then far from adding Still, all of this would have been votes for your candidate, it actutolerable if the pamphleteering ally deducts votes from them. were confined to articles propping Partisans should remember that up one’s chosen candidate. Unfor- they’re agents of their principal, tunately, the dominant kind are ar- and their behavior, even in cyticles pulling down the opponent. berspace, would affect the overall As a result, FB has become a campaign. battlefront in the propaganda war. For example, if a partisan One nasty meme begets a nastier with 1,500 FB friends habitualreply. Satirical pieces are produced ly jeers the 20 or so friends who in industrial scale. Not long after a support other candidates, the candidate has put out an ad, a lam- majority of his friends who are poon version would soon be com- still sitting on the fence would peting for viewership. surely notice the abrasive way Thankfully, FB has an unfollow he pursues his crusade. button, a click of which has the efHe would not only lose friend fect of canceling subscription from but lose votes for his candidate as a friend. well.

That’s the way of blocking his The truth is there is a large “marposts from contaminating your ket vote” out there waiting to be newsfeed once he annoyingly auto- convinced. No candidate has yet shares everything positive about reached the tipping point. Because his candidate without having to every vote counts, then verbally unfriend him. bamboozling supporters of other But partisans should be told candidates

is not the way to win that oversharing and overreact- them over. ing in social media, and engaging The way to make believers out in tit-for-tat, toe-to-toe propagan- of them is through language that da war with friends in the other is kind, gentle and understandcamps harm more than help their ing, and used in a discourse that candidate. respects healthy contrarian views.

Whether it is a politico or a de- As they say, words that generate tergent, aggressive marketing de- light, not heat. stroys whatever is being peddled.

And if your candidate is leading Even soap vendors don’t knock at the polls, the greater the humility doors at midnight. Timing is the be. Tolerance beats triumphalism key. anytime of the day.

In other words, there are betOne should leave the acerbic, ter ways to convince social media below-the-belt, ad hominem atfriends to vote for your candidate tacks

to the main actors and their other than bombarding them with surrogates on the national stage. campaign literature.

Civility should guide the way we And if it’s hate speech that is campaign among friends and in being retailed, the greater the al- the community.

FACEBOOK was once the quiet place where one can unwind after a day’s labor. It was the decompression chamber that can all purge all the stress.

I remember a friend telling me that reading the cascading newsfeeds of his account was like resting on rocking chair with a lemonade on hand while enjoying the cool evening breeze on a veranda.

A high school chum posts a joke and you let out the same loud guffaw that greeted his schoolyard pranks many decades ago. You click the “like” button on a cousin’s announcement that she is now a lola.

A former co-worker pins a high-def photo of a basin of humba, and before the neurons in your brain can rouse the hunger pangs in you, you PM him for the recipe. A neighbor posts a clip of a movie, and you make a mental note of it.

You use it as a tracking device in following a relative’s sojourn across the United States and once he shares an album of photos of cousins you grew up with and had migrated there, nostalgia overcomes you—but not powerful enough to suppress your chuckles as you survey the expanding waistlines and receding hairlines of once reed-thin teens with mops of hair.

But FB nowadays has undergone a transformation. I hope it is temporary.

Digital “slam books” routed among friends no longer dominate its contents. In their place are propaganda pieces, virtual posters of candidates who have brought their campaign to cyberspace.

Instead of personal updates, political communiqués are being spilled out.

It has become an LED billboard where ads of wannabes are shared by partisans. Youtube spots by candidates blare constantly. If it

overrating... From A9

mode of thinking of things.

Of those who braved the perils of the sea to discover new worlds, there will be enough naysayers who always called out to them: “Turn back”—because returning to what one has been used to is the safety of mediocrity. But, with

of defense that the present occupants of position and the beneficiaries of privilege defend with all their might against the intrusion of those who offer a new way of doing things, a new

the consuming public, the two telcos giants can very well conspire to not compete since the people have no other choice but to accept what they dish out.

And hear this. Wikipedia says that as of 2015, the Philippines has the slowest Internet speed in Southeast Asia and the one of the slowest in the entire Asia; yet it has the most expensive Internet service. The Philippines ranks 103rd in terms of average connection speeds having an average Internet speed of only 2.5 Mbit/s. In February 2014, OpenSignal, a company that specializes in wireless coverage mapping, issued a report saying that the Philippines has the poorest and slowest LTE broadband Internet access and coverage in the world. Yet, on the average, Filipinos pay about P1,995.00 a month for a 5 Mbit/s DSL

the courage that makes all novelty and the evolution of our species possible, these persons of discovery would insist: “Forge ahead.” rannie_aquino@sanbeda.edu.ph rannie_aquino@csu.edu.ph rannie_aquino@yahoo.com

connection while in Singapore, a 2000 Mbit/s connection only costs as low as P1,950.00 a month.

How do these telcos duopolies get away with overcharging pitiably poor service? Clearly, allowing these two giants to monopolize the industry is not only hurting the people but turning away foreign investors, too. Why do we allow ourselves to live with no choices whether in the elections or in our day-to-day life? If the Philippines is the social media capital of the world, surely, its people can find ways to demand what they legally and equitably deserve.

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

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OPINION lettertotheeditor@thestandard.com.ph

An egregious miscAlculAtion THE politicians in the Senate Electoral Tribunal could not vote against a fellow senator. It could have been camaraderie.

Or it could have been political calculus. What if she just makes it to the presidency? But for one senator whose father was in the competition, they either did not have the heart to expel her from the Senate, or they chose to be “smart.” Better for others to do the “dirty” job of upholding the Constitution; not they.

The justices in the SET thought otherwise. To them, it was a case of the law, in fact, the fundamental law, that had to be upheld. Never mind the political fall-out, if any.

The Comelec was likewise swamped with similar cases questioning the senator’s eligibility to run for president of the land. Two issues were before them: whether she was a natural-born citizen, and whether she had satisfactorily complied with a 10-year residency prior to her would-be election.

Both were requirements clearly spelled out in the Constitution.

Two weeks after she narrowly won her case by the vote of five politicians in the SET, a division of the Comelec unanimously ruled that she did not qualify.

Ten days thereafter, the other division ruled against her by a vote of 2-1. While procedure calls for an en banc resolution, it is clear that five of seven would deem her not qualified to run for president.

The battle goes now to the

highest tribunal. First the SET where she was deemed qualified was elevated by Rizalito David.

Thereafter, the Comelec resolution that deems her unqualified will be raised by her lawyers to the Court.

Three justices who voted to strike her out as senator will likely inhibit themselves in the David appeal. But not in the Comelec ruling which her lawyers will appeal, especially since the issue of residency was stricken off the petition before the SET. Why did she run for president at all?

Surely, she must have known about the legal impediments.

Even if she is not a lawyer, she has a battery of them, beginning with her vice presidential partner, scholarly at the State University, mastered in international law at Georgetown, and a senator of the realm twice over.

What was it they advised her?

That those legal impediments will be brushed aside because of her popularity? Because she was Numero Uno in the Senate race of 2013? Because she was the adopted daughter of the legendary FPJ, whose run for the presidency was so popular until stopped by the machination of “Hello Garci”?

And that because of all these, the Senate Electoral Tribunal would rule for her, including the justices therein? And the Comelec, despite their members having been recommended by one of her competitors and

talking... From A9

the metropolis from choking itself and improve the quality of people’s lives.

Another solution to decongest Metro Manila, Ejercito suggested, is to encourage the dispersal of industries to the provinces by granting investment incentives to business willing to relocate.

This, he said, would reduce the migration of people from the rural areas who come to look for work in Metro Manila.

Asked about the graft case filed against him by the Office of

As chairman of the Senate committees on economic affairs, urban planning and resettlement, Jayvee has his work cut out for him. He said he would work with the incoming government to prioritize a network of mass rail transport to ease the pressure off road vehicular traffic in the metropolis. It may seem easier said than done. But Jayvee is optimistic a new administration will have the political will to save

#failocracy

appointed by the patron of her competitor, would not dare rule against the “darling of the masses?’’

And that even if perchance they did, as long as her “sure to soar” numbers prevailed, even the Supreme Court would sustain her right to be president?

Or, assuming the erudite members of the Court would tarry and dither, her “coronation” by the people come May 9, 2016, would render the tribunal’s ruling “moot and academic” on the “democratic” theory of “vox populi est vox Dei”?

So many “ifs,” so many “buts.”

So many assumptions, so many variables.

If she had accepted the offer to be Mar’s vice president, would not the same cases have been filed?

After all, the same Constitutional requirements for the presidency hold true for the vice presidency.

But, perhaps the Comelec would be kinder. Maybe not the justices at the SET. If she had contained her ambition, knowing fully well that there were serious constitutional impediments, and opted to serve her first term in the Senate until 2019, then ran for re-election she would surely win, wouldn’t she be qualified to run for president by 2022,

as far as her residence is concerned? Maybe by then as well, she could have diligently produced a perfect DNA match to prove her natural-born status.

Quietly, sans the glare of high public attention.

But no, on Sept. 17, after spurning the courtship of Mar and PNoy, she cast her die for the presidency.

Was she experienced enough for such a daunting task? She had a bit more than two years as the movie and television censor; she had two years as senator, during which she asked the right questions over the slaughter at Mamasapano, grilled an unpopular PNP chief who was the pet of the president, and rode an MRT train to experience the travails of the man on the street. Oh, and lest I forget, she got her fellow senators to approve of the freedom of information bill, even as the same languishes at the House of Representatives because the president is not that interested.

Was she experienced enough to take on the challenge of running a contentious, troubled, divided country of 104 million?

Well, why not, she thought? If PNoy could run, and win, why could she not?

What motivates her? “Serving the people” is so “motherhood”; everybody and his mother intones the same with utmost solemnity.

Ambition? Or to redress the wrong committed against her adoptive father, who “won but

lost” in the counting of 2004?

Did she agree with those who told her that she should “strike while the iron is hot”? That her popularity might have a lesser appeal by 2022? That whatever she does in the Senate for a term and a half would not be enough to sustain her present voter appeal?

Well, she listened to them.

She did not divine their intentions enough.

And she listened to the heartstrings of her own ambition. �Not for her the humility of introspection: Am I prepared enough? Do I have a clear vision of what ought to be done?

How do I explain to tribunals and the people why I renounced my Filipino citizenship once, took allegiance before a foreign country, and then again, discarded said foreign allegiance for the convenience of a government job which could well be the ticket to Olympian-height political office?

Of course she tells us all the fight ain’t over. That she has a will of steel.

I wonder if she has not thus far realized that she should not have listened to insincere, “user-friendly” advice. That she made a terrible miscalculation.

When her adoptive father was cheated, and the masses were angered, there was no lynch mob at the gates of the Palace. Does she expect a “revolt of the masses” before Comelec? Before the Supreme Court? Because her ambitions were denied?

Such an egregious miscalculation.

the Ombudsman, Ejercito said: “It’s obviously political harassment.. Ang cheap naman kung P2 million lang. I have made more money than that as a legitimate businessman.”

Poe’s fate with Supreme Court I have purposely refrained from commenting on the travails of Senator Grace Poe at the Commission on Elections which rules in en banc session today on her qualification to run for president in 2016. Simply stating the facts,

the Comelec’s second division ruled she did not meet the citizenship /residency requirement, a decision affirmed by the poll body’s second division. The Comelec ruling also wrote a searing indictment that the senator knowingly and willfully committed an act to mislead and hide the truth about her citizenship in her Certificate of Candidacy for president when she stated she was a natural-born citizen with Fernando Poe Jr., as her father.

The senator has filed a motion

for reconsideration but is doubtful the Comelec sitting en banc with its five members will change its decision. Poe’s final recourse is to bring her case to the Supreme Court where three members— Senior Associate Justice Antonio Carpio, Associate Justices Teresita Leonardo de Castro and Arturo Brion—have already cast negative votes as members of the Senate Electoral Tribunal.

Grace Poe’s fate now hangs with the 12 other magistrates in the high court.

So i See lito banayo

chong ardivilla

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sports sports@thestandard.com.ph

McGregor KOs Aldo in 13 seconds NOTHING is more unpredictable than a Mixed Martial Arts contest.

This was validated once again when Conor McGregor knocked out long-reigning champion Jose Aldo in the first round of their UFC 194 main event on Saturday evening (Sunday, Manila time) at the MGM Grand Garden in Las Vegas.

Aldo rushed forward as he tried to unload a flurry of punches but was caught flush with a left hand counter

by McGregor. The Brazilian crashed to the mat and McGregor dropped hammer fists before referee John McCarthy waved off the Irishman to

stop the contest.

“Nobody can take that left-hand shot. He’s powerful and he’s fast. But precision beats power and timing beats speed. He deserved to go a little bit longer, but it was going to happen eventually,” McGregor said during his post-fight interview.

The brash, trash-talking McGregor arrived in the UFC in 2013 and predicted that he would shoot to the top of his division. He proved to be a man of his word.

McGregor taunted Aldo for months

before the fight just as he had done to all other of his previous victims.

His trash talking alienated most fans but he backed up his many boasts and went undefeated until the fateful victory over Aldo.

McGregor knocked out Chad Mendes in the second round in July at UFC 189. The fight against Aldo was as decisive as McGregor proved too fast and too accurate for Aldo.

The two fighters refused to touch gloves and tore at it each other right at the outset. And seconds later, it was all over after Aldo stepped in and was caught flush with a counter punch.

With Aldo on the ground McGregor

landed two more hammerfists as the referee stepped in to stop the carnage.

Despite the hostile build-up to the fight McGregor was magnanimous in victory as he praised the veteran Aldo.

“He’s a phenomenal champion.

We deserved to go a little bit longer,” said the undefeated and undisputed 145-pound UFC champion.

It was as stunning an upset as Ronda Rousey’s shock loss to Holly Holm.

Aldo had been undeafeated for the past 10 years. His last defeat was in a lightweight fight in Brazil in 2005.

Aldo was regarded by most as the best fighter in the sport. And he was eager for a rematch.

Snedeker, Dufner win annual Templeton Shootout MIAMI, United States Americans Jason Dufner and Brandt Snedeker combined for an 11-under par 61 in Saturday’s closing better-ball format to win the 27th annual Franklin Templeton Shootout by two strokes.

The first-time pairing won the title at 30-under par 186 with the US duo of Harris English and Matt Kuchar, the 2013 winners, second on 188 and Americans Daniel Berger and Charley Hoffman third, another shot adrift.

The three-day invitational event hosted by retired Australian star Greg Norman in Naples, Florida, matched 12 pairs of men’s golfers in three different styles, starting with Thursday’s scramble and Friday’s modified alternate shot.

Kuchar missed a four-foot birdie putt at 15 that would have grabbed a share of the lead, running it past on the right side. He also missed a 20-foot eagle putt at the par-5 16th to seize the lead, but his tap-in birdie matched him and English with Dufner and Snedeker at 28-under. AFP

La Salle, Ateneo complete qualifiers Connor McGregor celebrates after a first-round knockout victory over Jose Aldo in their featherweight title fight during UFC 194 in Las Vegas, Nevada. AFP

Makati girls breeze past Nueva Ecija MAKATI City flashed superb hitting and solid defense to deal Cabiao, Nueva Ecija its second straight shutout loss, 7-0, while Pampanga Province rebounded from a stinging setback to Miriam College with a 10-5 victory over Baguio City in the 2015 National Inter-Secondary Girls Softball Championships at the Sto. Niño Baseball Field in Marikina yesterday.

The Makati belles came out smoking on the hot bats of Charlotte Sales then kept their rivals from scoring with their defense to dominate the Nueva Ecijanos and join San Mateo, Rizal and Miriam College in the early Bracket A lead in the tournament organized and conducted by the Amateur Softball Association of the Philippines (Asaphil) headed by Cebuana Lhuillier president Jean Henri-Lhuillier.

The Pampanga girls, on the other hand, struck back with five runs in the sixth inning, turning a two-run deficit into a resounding 10-5 victory over a stunned Baguio City side to wheel back into contention after absorbing a crushing 0-10 loss to Miriam in Saturday’s opener of the tournament which lured 22 teams from all over the country.

San Mateo, Rizal matched Miriam’s impressive start with an 11-0 romp over Cabiao in the event aimed at discovering and developing young talents and creating a national pool for future international competitions.

Henry claims Heisman Trophy RUNNING back Derrick Henry snapped a five-year streak of quarterback winners when he won the Heisman Trophy -- the coveted award given to the top American football college player -late Saturday.

University of Alabama’s Henry received 378 first place votes for a total of 1,832 points, finishing 293 points ahead of runner-up Christian McCaffrey of Stanford University.

Clemson University quarterback Deshaun Watson finished third with 1,165 points.

“I am so honored. I almost feel off my chair I was so happy,” Henry said. “Those are two great athletes who were up there with me.”

Henry broke a long run of quarterbacks claiming the award, comprising Cam Newton (2010), Robert Griffin (2011), Johnny Manziel

(2012), Jameis Winston (2013) and Marcus Mariota (2014).

Mark Ingram, who is now with the NFL’s New Orleans Saints, and Henry are the only University of Alabama players to win the award.

Henry won the closest vote

since Ingram edged out Stanford’s Toby Gerhart in 2009.

Henry used his six-footthree size and 242 pounds to become the country’s top rusher, tallying a school-record 339 carries for a total of 1,986 rushing yards. AFP

Former PBA player Vince Hizon makes the the ceremonial toss between host Centro Escolar University and Enderun Colleges to kick off the 12th Men’s National Collegiate Athletic Association (MNCAA) yesterday at the Rizal Memorial Coliseum. Also in photo are league executive director Ma. Vivian Manila (left) and CEU president Dr. Ma. Cristina Padolina (right).

LA SALLE and Ateneo teams completed the cast of qualifiers after topping the Seniors and Girls 1 divisions at the conclusion recently of the JGFP-ICTSI Inter-School golf tournament in various courses.

La Salle survived the late charge of the fancied Lyceum squad to capture the top plum with the team of Miggy Yee, Inigo Raymundo, AR Ramos, Ton Ton Arevalo and Mike Uy compiling a 442 to preserve their big lead and a 28-point win over Lyceum.

Lyceum got back the services of Rupert Zaragosa and Jelbert Gamolo in the closing rounds but managed just 414 to settle for second with Dan Cruz, JP De Claro and Luigi Guerrero as their teammates.

DLSU 2 placed third at 365 then came three Ateneo teams in the three-month series that drew hundreds of jungolfers from at least 30 schools.

Ateneo’s Nikki Bruce, Yeun Jae Baek and Charlene Abalos finished with 266 to beat La Salle’s Kelly Chua, Sandra Nocum, Luli Cuenca in Girls 1.

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sports sports@thestandard.com.ph

Chinese fighter dies in bid to make weight

Brandon ‘The Truth’ Vera celebrates after he knocked out Paul ‘Typhoon’ Cheng in 26 seconds to win the UFC Heavyweight world title at the ONE: Spirit of champions at the Mall of Asia Arena. Brosi Gonzales

Vera grabs ONE Heavyweight title FIL-AMERICAN mixed martial arts superstar Brandon “The Truth” Vera knocked out Paul “Typhoon” Cheng in 26 seconds to capture the inagural ONE Heavyweight World Championship at the Mall of Asia arena.

Vera dropped Cheng with a counter left hook after Cheng missed punch. As Cheng tried to stand up Vera knocked him out with a high kick that landed flush, sending Cheng down to the canvas. Vera rained down hammer fists to force a stoppage.

In another bout Reece “Lightning” McLaren of Queensland, Australia shocked the hometown crowd by beating Mark “Mugen” Striegl by submission in the second round of a bantamweight contest.

McLaren invested in leg kicks early, slowing down an aggressive yet composed Striegl who was de-

termined to use his wrestling to take McLaren to the ground.

Striegl dropped McLaren with a short right elbow followed up by a technical ground kick, but failed to finish off the Australian.

In the final round, McLaren had just enough to outlast Striegl, as he locked in a rear naked choke to earn the victory.

Filipino striking specialist, Eugene Toquero stopped previously unbeaten Li Wei Bin of China in an intense matchup of aggressive flyweights.

Toquero utilized his unorthodox striking techniques to bring the fight to Li, who tried his best

to weather the storm. Toquero increased his offensive output in round two, battering Li from end to end with well-placed combinations.

Toquero was awarded with a technical knockout victory after Li failed to answer the call for round three.

Irina Mazepa of St. Petersburg, Russia barrelled through her opponent to score her second victory inside the ONE Cage, defeating former women’s boxing world champion Ana “Hurricane” Julaton.

Julaton began the bout looking to take Mazepa down to the mat but had difficulty with Mazepa’s exceptional takedown defense. Striking superiority belonged to the former Russian kickboxing standout, as Mazepa stifled Julaton throughout the fight with powerful strikes.

In the end, Mazepa owned the advantage in both the stand-up and in the clinch, doing just enough to receive a unanimous decision from all three judges.

Guangzhou earns shot at Barca FORMER Spurs midfielder Paulinho snatched a dramatic injury-time winner as China’s Guangzhou Evergrande stunned Mexico’s Club America 2-1 on Sunday to clinch a Club World Cup semi-final against Barcelona.

The Brazilian climbed to head in a corner with virtually the last touch of the game in Osaka, completing an improbable comeback for the Chinese and leaving dazed America players sobbing on the turf at the final whistle.

Veteran striker Oribe Peralta ended Guangzhou’s stubborn resistance with a diving header five minutes after the break, only for substitute Zheng Long to equalise

against the run of play for Luiz Felipe Scolari’s side with 10 minutes left.

Paulinho, the architect for Zheng’s classic sucker punch after a swift counter-attack, then sent Chinese fans wild as he set up a clash with European champions Barcelona in Yokohama in midweek.

Congolese side Mazembe, surprise finalists five years ago, were taking on Japanese champions Sanfrecce Hiroshima in Sunday’s second quarter-final.

Earlier, Guangzhou Evergrande boss Luiz Felipe Scolari backed his side to pull off a shock at the Club World Cup in Japan.

The 67-year-old Brazilian,

known as “Big Phil” in his native country, led the Asian champions past Mexico’s Club America to a shot at Spanish giants Barcelona.

“It will be difficult but after winning the Chinese Super League and the Asian Champions League, we can dare to dream,” Scolari said. “Guangzhou should finish higher than they did last time.”

Two years ago, the Chinese champions finished fourth under Italian Marcello Lippi in Morocco.

“Beating that is our target,” insisted Scolari. “We are going to give everything we have in the tournament.” AFP

MIXED martial arts fighter Yang Jian Bing of China died after collapsing from severe dehydration in his attempt to make the weight for a flyweight bout in the Philippine capital.

Organisers, ONE Championship, said that the 21-year-old had been pronounced dead at a Manila hospital from cardiopulmonary failure on Friday, hours before the scheduled fight.

“Yang, a native of China was hospitalised at the San Juan De Dios Hospital... after a sudden collapse on the morning of 10 December 2015,” said a statement on the organisers’ website Sunday.

The statement did not say what caused the collapse of Yang who last fought in June.

On Friday, ONE Championship had said in a sep-

arate statement that Yang’s fight with a Filipino flyweight “has been cancelled due to Yang’s severe dehydration from attempting to make weight”.

It said the Chinese fighter was suspected to have suffered from “dehydration and suspected heat stroke” and had been taken to hospital to undergo “intensive rehydration treatment”.

Loren Mack, a spokesman for ONE Championship, on Sunday referred questions put to him by AFP to the statement on the website.

A one-minute silence was held at the venue Friday to honor the Chinese fighter, Mack said.

The One Championship website home page was partly blacked out with a one-line announcement: “In Loving Memory of Yang Jian Bing (1994-2015).” AFP

Mono Vampire Club survives Pilipinas MX3 Kings challenge THE Mono Vampire Basketball Club leaned on the game-long excellence of Anthony McClain and timely contributions from Kannut Samerjai to hold off a game Pilipinas MX3 Kings, 76-74 at the Chualongkorn University Stadium in Thailand.

The Kings also sported a new import in this game, as former ABL best import Nakiea Miller made his debut for the last placed squad. He immediately made his presence felt in the middle, something that the Philippine squad was badly missing. In what was a close game for four quarters, the Mono Vampire was able to grab the early lead in the first quarter, 15-11 before the Kings made a run led by Jason Deutchman and Eric Salamat courtesy of an 11-0 run. This gave the Kings the lead at the end of the first, 22-17.

However the home team would respond. Fueled by McClain and outside sniping from Jittaphon Towaroj and Samerjai, Mono Vampire would enter the half with the lead, 40-37.

The third quarter saw both teams trading baskets, neither squad unable to gain a significant advantage.

Reid did the heavily lifting with the

Kings with support from Sam Marata, while Mono Vampire was led yet again by McClain and Paul Butorac.

It set up a thrilling fourth quarter, with both squads hanging tough desperate for a win.

Mono Vampire raced to a 72-67 lead with 3:04 remaining, threatening to pull away from the Kings.

However the Philippine squad made four straight free throws coming from Salamat and Reid to trim the deficit to one, with 1:36 remaining.

However Samerjai would rebound his own miss from the perimeter leading to a McClain shot that gave Mono Vampire a three point lead, 74-71. The Kings would still have their chance, as the had the ball with 22 seconds left. However Reid would have the ball stolen from him

by Samerjai, who went coast to coast for a basket to put away the game for good. A Salamat trey at the buzzer set the final score at 76-74.

McClain was brilliant leading his team, notching 26 points and 17 rebounds to go along with three blocks. He got great support from Kruatiwa who scored 17 points on 5/9 from the perimeter, and Butorac with 10 points and seven blocked shots.

Back on tour. Richard Abaring (left) shakes the hand of Eagle Ridge’s Dan Cruz after topping the ICTSI Philippine Golf Tour Qualifying School at the Eagle Ridge Golf and Country Club’s Aoki course in Cavite to retain his tour card.

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SPORTS sports@thestandard.com.ph

IF HE WAS OUT OF SHAPE

‘Donaire would have been KOd’

By Ronnie Nathanielsz DODONG Donaire Sr., the father/ trainer of former five-division world champion and newly crowned World Boxing Organization super bantamweight champion Nonito “The Filipino Flash” Donaire, said he was worried that when his son was pinned against the ropes by the bull-strong Cesar Juarez during their title fight on Saturday.

Rivera brothers Milo (left) and Estefano (right) celebrate their National Slalom success with their chief tuner, former race car driver and renowned tuner Fil Gulfin.

Rivera brods secure 1-2 slalom finish MILO Rivera of Tough Gear Racing-Casino Alcohol Active once again captured the overall and production series best time of the day in the recent 12th and final leg of the 2015 RACE Motorsports Club National Slalom Series at Robinsons Starmills San Fernando, Pampanga.

Rivera, backed by Casino Alcohol Active, steered his Toyota Starlet, prepared by former race car driver and renowned tuner Fil Gulfin, to a winning time of 46.34 seconds.

Coming in second to make it a 1-2 finish for the Riveras was Vios Cup star and Milo’s younger brother, Estefano, who finished with a time of 46.56 seconds.

Veteran Dr. Peewee Mendiola of Big Chill Racing Team bagged third with a time of 47.20.

The drivers had to deal with a challenging,

technical track in which tight corners and short bursts paved the way for a showdown between the two Riveras.

The brothers swapped one fastest time after another until the season leader Milo was able to pull off an exemplary move in the last few runs to eventually secure another victory, giving him his 10th win out of the 12-race season and officially securing his second straight National Slalom crown.

Besides Milo’s back-to-back overall crown, the season was made even sweeter after the brothers were able to pull off a 1-2 overall championship finish.

It was a first time in Philippine motorsports history that a premier national championship was finished with siblings covering the Top 2

overall spots.

The National Slalom title actually capped a scintillating season for Milo Rivera.

He was the first and only Filipino to have been named as a Young Driver Ambassador for Motorsports and Road Safety to the Federation Internationale del’Automobile after becoming the Philippine Representative to the 2013 and 2014 editions of the FIA Young Drivers Excellence Academy -- Asia Pacific (Australia and China, respectively).

As a result of his FIA feats, Rivera was also certified as a Driver Instructor in the 2015 AAP-FIA Motorsport Development Program, aside from being the 2015 Golden Wheel Awards and the Automobile Association Philippines “Slalom Driver of the Year.”

Sison’s 3 goals lead Marist past Biñan, 7-0 MARIKINA’S Marist School improved its Division I standing with a win and a draw to lead the League of Southern Metro Schools at the Brent International School in Binan, Laguna yesterday (Saturday).

Juan Pablo Sison and Japheth Lico again starred

for the defending two-peat champion, Marist Bears.

Striker Sison led his team with a hat trick (3 goals in one game) against Colegio San Agustin Binan, which they drubbed, 7-0.

Winger Lico had a total of 4 goals--2 goals in the first

game against Don Bosco Canlubang and another 2 against CSA Binan.

Sison sat through the first game because of 2 yellow cards last week.

The other goals were scored by Austin Papa and Brian Tagudin.

“We are taking this one game at a time. Hopefully, it can be a three-peat for Marist!,” said team captain Geo Juico.

So far, Marist has defeated De La Salle Lipa, Tanauan High School, CSA Binan, and managed a draw against DB Canlubang.

“The guy might hit him with a good punch. He (Juarez) threw a lot of punches (in Rounds 8 and 9) and Nonito might have gone down,” said Donaire Sr. The elder Donaire recalled that he had “seen a lot of fights when a fighter is winning, but got knocked out by staying on the ropes.”

“It was a good thing that Nonito was really in shape. If not, he could have been knocked out,” the father/trainer said, indicating that in the next training camp, “we have to do more.”

He pointed out that during sparring with bigger fighters in Fidel Navarette and Fred Bowen, “Nonito was able to move and didn’t get caught on the ropes and was able to evade those kind of punches thrown

by Juarez. With the accident (when referee Ramon Pena accidentally tripped Donaire in the sixth round), you don’t know what’s going to happen.”

He added: “When he was tripped, Nonito started to slow down, but I give the guy Juarez credit. He is really tough and took all the punches of Nonito.”

The Filipinio Flash was unable to get the leverage to punch as Juarez pushed him against the ropes, negating their game-plan, which was not to stay on the ropes during the offensive of his foe.

He revealed that Nonito was looking for an opening while on the ropes because his foot was bothering him.

“He wanted to take him out with one big punch,” Donaire Sr. said.

The elder Donaire added that his son changed a lot from his previous fights and trained harder than ever before and his counter-punching in the early rounds and the two knockdowns he scored in Round 4 made him think that Juarez “would give up, but he was like a truck. I thought it wouldn’t last six rounds.”

This was the same assessment of Atty. Ed Tolentino and this commentator who did the coverage for ABSCBN, but the amazing resilience of Juarez, who has never been knocked out before, helped him survive and turn the tide in the middle round after Donaire was hampered by the injury, which saw him hobbling to his corner at the end of Round 6.

Donaire Sr. said that his son had seven stitches on the deep cut on his right eye, adding he didn’t notice what happened because after “Nonito turned around from the corner, I saw blood dripping from the cut which he said was caused by a headbutt,” even as referee Pena cautioned the fighters to “watch your heads.”

New head of South American football calls for a ‘clean slate’ ASUNCION, PARAGUAY — The new head of South America’s football federation called Saturday for a “clean slate” as it regroups from the scandal that led to the arrest of his predecessor.

“We have to start over from scratch,” the organization’s president Wilmar Valdez told AFP in an interview in Asuncion, one day after starting his new job.

“We need a clean slate,” he said.

Valdez officially started his

new job on Friday, after the federation’s previous chief was arrested in the FIFA corruption probe.

Valdez previously was the first vice president to Juan Angel Napout of Paraguay, who was arrested last week in a dawn raid on a Zurich luxury hotel -- the latest twist in the multi-million-dollar corruption saga at world football’s governing body.

Napout, a FIFA vice president who had been CONMEBOL chief since 2014, is one

CYAN MAGENTA YELLOW BLACK

of 16 Latin American football officials indicted by US authorities last week.

CONMEBOL is the umbrella group for 10 South American football associations.

Valdez, a former sportswriter, is optimistic despite the unprecedented scandal.

“I am sure that CONMEBOL will be back, and soon, to become an organization completely different from what it used to be,” he said.

That’s the challenge and we’ll rise to it.”

Staying alive. Members of Jumbo Plastic squad celebrate after staying alive and winning Game 2 (72-65) of their best-of-three semis encounter with Sta. Lucia Realty in the PCBL Founders Cup on Saturday at the JCSGO Gym. Jumbo and SLR clash in Game 3, with the winner taking on Caida Tiles, which shut the door on Euro-Med, 75-69, to secure the first finals berth.

M O N DAY : DE CE M B E R 1 4 , 2 0 1 5

A15

SPORTS sports@thestandard.com.ph

Barako 5 routs Star, 101 to 83

By Jeric Lopez

A BURST of firepower in the payoff period propelled Barako Bull to an impressive rout of Star, 101-83, to improve its stand in the 2015-16 Philippine Basketball Association Philippine Cup Sunday at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.

Josh Urbiztondo found his touch, scoring a game-high 24 points, including five triples, while Willie Wilson and JC Intal were both solid as well, adding 18 points apiece for Barako Bull’s balanced attack.

Barako Bull emphatically owned Star in the decisive fourth quarter after a nipand-tuck battle in the first three frames.

Following a 71-all standoff with under 11 minutes left, the Energy suddenly flexed their muscles and unleashed a blistering 17-2 blast in the middle of the fourth to suddenly take a huge 88-73 advantage with under five

Games Wednesday (Smart Araneta Coliseum) 4:15 p.m. - Meralco vs. Rain or Shine 7 p.m. - Alaska vs. San Miguel

minutes remaining.

In that stretch, Barako Bull held Star scoreless for more than five minutes as its suffocating defense took charge.

While the veteran trio of Urbiztondo, Wilson and Intal remained the catalyst for Barako Bull, it was vastly improving guard Jeric Fortuna, who filled in the void left by injured star RR Garcia as he spearheaded the

Energy’s charge in the fourth.

The pint-sized spitfire scored all his 14 points in the fourth quarter as he gave the Energy a huge boost and the Hotshots simply had no answer to his surprise barrage.

Already assured of a berth in the quarterfinals, the Energy improved their placing with the win and rose to 5-5, still good for seventh place.

Barako now has a good shot of landing a spot in the Top 6, which offers a twice-to-beat incentive in the next round.

Should the Energy win their last game against Blackwater, they will be in good position Star’s Norbert Torres tries to score against the leech-like defense of Barako Bull’s Mick Pennisi in a PBA Philippine Cup game won by the Energy, 101-83.to finish in the Top 6.

A busy fight week LOCKER ROOM RANDY CALUAG WHAT a busy week it has been for fight sports.

The most shocking news of all was the 13-second annihilation of Connor McGregor of Brazilian Jose Aldo to crown himself the new UFC featherweight champion.

All it took for the trash-talking Irish was a sleek, counter-left hook that hit the jaw of the former champion, who fell to the canvas out cold as McGregor celebrated in the ring.

McGregor credited the one-punch “KO” to perfect timing.

“No power, just precision. No speed, only timing. That’s all it takes. Nobody can take that away from my left hand,” said McGregor after the bout.

Oh, Mcgregor’s trash-talks may have also played a big factor psychologically.

The Irishman got into the head of the 10year undefeated fighter, who, in a hurry to punish the challenger, got careless and boom! Lights out.

Prior to the main event, Luke Rockhold rocked the MMA world as he pounded Chris Weidmann to become the new UFC middleweight champion.

Rockhold’s vicious ground and pound proved too much for Weidmann and referee Herb Dean stepped in to stop the carnage in the fourth round of their five-round bout. *** In the Asian scene, Filipino-Italian Brandon Vera completed his MMA comeback when he put a lock on the inaugural heavyweight championship of the ONE Championship with a oneround knockout of Paul Cheng on Friday night at the Mall of Asia Arena.

Vera, a former top contender in the

UFC, will always cherish this victory, crafted in front of his beloved countrymen.

“Mahal ko kayo! Mahal ko ang Pilipinas,” Vera, who traces his roots in Quezon province, would always say to the Filipino crowd whenever he’s here for an MMA gathering.

Another Filipino, Eugene Toquero, made the day for the huge Friday crowd at the Mall of Asia Arena as he stopped previously unbeaten Li Wei Bin of China in an intense stand-up fight. Toquero, a muay thai practitioner, used his unorthodox fighting style to punish Li in the first two rounds. The Chinese fighter failed to answer the call for Round 3.

It was sad day for two other Filipino fighters, however, as Mark Striegl suffered a submission loss to Australian Reese McLaren via rear-naked choke in the third round, while former women’s boxing world champion Ana “Hurricane” Julaton bowed to Russian Irina Mazepa, who earned the nod of the judges by unanimous decision. *** In San Juan, Puerto Rico, Nonito Donaire once again made Filipinos proud as he engaged a younger and gritty foe in Cezar Juarez and prevailed in their 12-round brawl to win by decision and claim the vacant WBO super bantamweight title on Saturday. *** In the local fight scene, boxing promoters like Elmer Anuran of Saved by the Bell Promotions and Master Emmanuel Sabrine, president of the National Muay Thai and Kickboxing Council of the Philippines, continue to keep fight talents coming.

Anuran, who has reactivated his love for boxing, held a 10-bout boxing card in Guiguinto, Bulacan, bannered by his ward Roberto Gonzales, who taught RJ Anoos of Cebu a neat lesson in the ring to win

by unanimous decision in their 10-round superlightweight bout. Gonzales is one of the fast-rising pugilists being developed

by Anuran for international fight.

Sabrine, meanwhile, has partnered with Angeles City-based Korean businessman Kwang Rae Jo in getting the Southeast Asian Fighting Champion off the ground.

Fifteen fights were on tap in the eliminations of this ladder-type of competition aiming to discover elite fighters, who will someday see action in top regional MMA organizations, like ONE Championship and Pacific Extreme Combat.

“We are very thankful for the support of Mr. Kwang for helping the Filipino enhance their talents. Soon, fighters from all over country will come down here in Angeles City to show their skills,” said Sabrine.

The SAFC octagon is now set up beautifully at Mr. Kwang’s classy Venus Hotel and Sports Club that will host exciting MMA events every weekend. No wonder, the Metro-based Sabrine is planning to relocate to Pampanga for good to make his brainchild a long-term commitment.

Supporting the SAFC are some of the best MMA clubs in the country such as Hybrid YawYan, YawYan Kampilan, Baguio-based Kafagway MMA, Tough Guys International, D Elements MMA, De Tomas Fabricio MMA, Fist Gym, New Blood, Lucero Fight Gym, USA Sikaran, JMC MMA, Hyper MMA, New Blood MMA, Team Spar and Ramos Fighting System. **** COMBO PUNCH. Tune in to Fightnews Hour every Wednesday from 7:30 to 9 p.m. over DZSR Sport Radio for more news and analysis about combat sports.

Like our Fightnews Asia Facebook page to keep track of the activities to be sponsored by this corner, Locker Room, and Fightnews Hour, and win exciting prizes like MMA shirts, globes and other fight sport merchandise

Pacman’s random chess tourney offers P1.5m GENERAL SANTOS – Chess players of all ages and sizes troop to the SM General Santos City today for the 2nd Manny Pacquiao Random Chess Championship, which offers a total cash prize of P1.5 million pesos.

A brainchild of the late American Grandmaster Bobby Fischer, the Fischer Random Chess, also known as Chess 960, is a novel chess concept developed by Fischer in 1993, while traveling in Hungary with Asia’s first GM Eugene Torre, a close friend of the American chess genius.

“It was in 1993 when Bobby (Fischer) and I were traveling in Hungary when my friend developed the random chess. Fischer and I arrived in Haviz, Hungary and I remember that we went straight to a spa in Haviz because Bobby wanted to relax after a long travel,” said Torre, whom Pacquiao tapped to head the MP Chess Organization.

Torre said it was called Chess 960 because there are possible 960 chess openings in random chess, compared to around 250 for regular chess.

Torre, who popularized random chess in the country, said his fellow chess masters and players’ skills

Magramo KOs foe, wins WBC flyweight title

By Ronnie Nathanielsz UNDEFEATED 21-year-old Giemel Magramo, the fifth fighter in the exciting Magramo clan, won the vacant World Boxing Council International flyweight title in an actionpacked battle against Jeny Buca at the Flash Elorde Grand Ballroom on Saturday.

International referee Bruce McTavish said he stopped the bout in the sixth round after Giemel “threw around 20 unanswered

punches against the game, equally hardhitting Buca, who engaged Magramo in a fierce give-and-take brawl in the first and second rounds.”

Magramo, however, was clearly the superior fighter, technically.

With the win, Magramo, son of former champion Melvin Magramo, improved his record to 15-0 with 12 knockouts.

Magramo was coming off a fourth round TKO victory over journeyman Roilo Golez

in a scheduled 10-round bout last Sept. 12.

Magramo, a stylish fighter with a powerful right hand, didn’t have an easy fight against Buca, a 21-year-old fighter with a record of 10 knockouts in 10 wins with 2 defeats.

Buca is coming off a second-round knockout win over Michael Padayag in a six-round bout last Sept. 26 after he was forced to retire with a broken nose in a title fight against Ardin Diale, who recently won the OPBF title.

in playing the novel chess concept will be tested when the 3-day tournament opens today with no less than Pacquiao, a skillful chess player himself, in attendance for the opening ceremony and the ceremonial moves.

Torre, along with co-organizer, NMs Roel Abelgas said they expect more than 50 teams to join the team event and more than 500 players to see action in the individual side of the competition.

Pacquiao will be giving away P400,000 for the winner in the team event. Second placer gets P220,000, while the third placer pockets P130,000.

In the individual event, the winner will take home P50,000, while the second and third placers will win P30,000 and P20,000 respectively.

Aside from Torre, already here in General Santos City to join the event in both the team and individual events are some of the country’s top chess players such as GMs Jayson Gonzales, Joey Antonio, Darwin Laylo, Mark Paragua, IMs Ronald Dableo and Rolando Nolte and WIM Janelle Mae Frayna, among others.

Arman Armero

LOTTO RESULTS

6/49 00-00-00-00-00-0

P16M

3 DIGITS 0-0-0 2 EZ2 0-0

CYAN MAGENTA YELLOW BLACK

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m o n day : de c e m b e r 1 4 , 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

The fans of Milwaukee Bucks cheer them on during the game against the Golden State Warriors at the BMO Harris Bradley Center in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. AfP

Streak stops here as Bucks stun Warriors LOS ANGELES—The Golden State Warriors suffered their first defeat of the season Saturday with a shocking 108-95 loss to the last-place Milwaukee Bucks, halting their season-opening win streak at 24 games.

The stunning defeat came at the end of a grueling seven-game road trip for the weary Warriors, who needed a double overtime marathon to beat the Boston Celtics on Friday and extend the streak to 28 straight regular season wins dating back to last season.

“Losing sucks even if you are 24-1,” said Warriors interim head coach Luke Walton of the loss to the lowly Bucks.

The Warriors fell just five wins shy of equaling the NBA all-time record of 33 straight victories set by the Los Angeles Lakers in the 1971-72 season.

“Nobody wanted to see it come to an end,” said Golden State guard Stephen Curry. “Thirty three wins was within our grasp.”

Golden States’ win streak stands as the second longest in league history, and the longest to start a season. It has been 2 1/2 weeks since they set the record for the best start in history at 16-0.

In a strange twist of flashback fate, the Bucks were also the team that ended the Lakers’ streak with a 120-104 victory on January 9, 1972.

Reigning NBA MVP Curry paced the Warriors’ attack with a

team high 28 points in front of a crowd of 18,700 at Harris Bradley Center arena in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.

Both clubs were playing the back end of consecutive FridaySaturday contests.

But Bucks were able to battle through the fatigue better than Golden State, who were hoping to become the first NBA team to sweep a seven-game road trip.

Golden State knew it wouldn’t be easy as they were coming off their most trying contest of the season, a hard-fought 124-119 win over the Celtics in Boston.

‘Another notch in the belt’ Forward Draymond Green said he feels like a weight has been lifted off his shoulders now that the streak is over.

“I am not happy it is over be-

cause at the end of the day what we did was pretty cool. But it is almost like a sense of relief,” Green said.

“When you turn on the TV and all you see is Warriors streaking, Warriors making history. Who is going to stop them? You start to believe that.

“Through all this you get caught up and trapped inside of what is going on.

“Now we can focus on what we need to focus on.”

Curry said they can be proud of their achievement, but now it is time to move on.

mcgregor’s foe gone in 13 seconds turn to A12

Giannis Antetokounmpo recorded a triple-double for the Bucks, which shot as a team just a shade under 50 percent from the field and drained six-of-14 three-point attempts.

MONDAY: DECEMBER 14, 2015

RAY S. EÑANO EDITOR

RODERICK T. DELA CRUZ ASSISTANT EDITOR

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

BUSINESS

PSe comPoSite index Closing December 11, 2015

8000 7700 7400 7100 6800 6500

6,735.01 85.59

PeSo-dollar rate

Closing DECEMBER 11, 2015 43.50 44.60 45.40

P47.235

46.20

CLOSE

47.00

HIGH P47.175 LOW P47.260 AVERAGE P47.229 VOLUME 486.700M

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

oPriceS il P today

P25.03-P28.48 Diesel

B1 Eco-friendly jeeps.

Metro Express Connect Inc., a unit of Vista Land & Lifescapes Inc., launches two electric jeepneys that will ply the C5 Extension Road, or Quirino Avenue, Pulanglupa to Sucat Road and vice versa. The route covers four kilometers round trip and is perfect for the Ejeepneys. Cutting the ribbon on the Ejeepney launch (from left) are Krizia Cano, marketing officer, ePrime Business Solutions Inc.; Rommel Juan, Electric Vehicle Association of the Philippines president; Sen. Cynthia Villar; Imelda Aguilar, former Las Piñas mayor; Princess; and Ernesto Solis Jr., general manager of MetroExpress Connect Inc.

Palay production to fall 3.5% in ’15

By Anna Leah E. Gonzales

PALAY or unmilled rice production may fall 3.5 percent this year due to the contraction of harvest areas and a drop in yield caused by El Niño, the Philippine Statistics Authority said over the weekend.

The PSA said in said palay production in 2015 was forecast to hit 18.30 million metric tons, down from 18.97 million tons last year.

The harvest area may decrease 1.58 percent from 4.74 million hectares in 2014 to 4.66 million hectares this year, while yield per hectare may also drop by 1.99 percent to 3.92 million mt this year from 4 million mt in 2014.

The PSA said production in the fourth quarter of the year might be lower by 1.84 percent to 7.42 million tons from 7.56 million last year.

“Probable reductions in production are expected in Cordillera Administrative Region, Central Luzon, Bicol Region and Caraga,” the PSA said.

The agency said production in

the first quarter of 2016 might increase 0.31 percent from 4.37 million tons to 4.38 million tons due to the expansion of harvest area.

The PSA said corn production this year might fall 2.8 percent to 7.55 million tons from 7.77 million tons in 2014.

Harvest area may contract to 2.57 million hectares, down 1.73 percent from last year’s 2.61 million hectares. Yield may also decline by 1.09 percent to 2.94 metric tons per hectare from 2.98 metric tons per hectare.

The PSA said corn production in the fourth quarter might decrease to 1.76 million tons from 1.84 million tons last year due to lower production in Isabela, Nueva Vizcaya, Calabarzon and Davao Region.

Agriculture Secretary Proceso Alcala said based on farmers’ planting intentions, corn production in the first quarter of the coming year might increase by 0.48 percent.

Alcala said from 2.37 million metric tons in the first quarter of 2015, production of corn might grow to 2.38 million tons in the first three months of 2016.

“Almost all regions expect increases in production with probable higher outputs noted in SOCCSKSARGEN, Ilocos Region, Davao Region and Northern Mindanao,” Alcala said.

He added more farmers in SOCCSKSARGEN had plans to plant earlier due to the pronouncement of a stronger El Niño in the succeeding quarter.

SMC, Globe seen fighting for Cure’s 3G frequency

P34.55-P39.15 Kerosene

By Darwin G. Amojelar

Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas Friday, December 11, 2015

F oreign e xchange r ate Currency

Unit

US Dollar

Peso

United States

Dollar

1.000000

47.1820

Japan

Yen

0.008224

0.3880

UK

Pound

1.516400

71.5468

Hong Kong

Dollar

0.129026

6.0877

Switzerland

Franc

1.012043

47.7502

Canada

Dollar

0.734322

34.6468

Singapore

Dollar

0.712606

33.6222

Australia

Dollar

0.730620

34.4721

Bahrain

Dinar

2.657666

125.3940

Saudi Arabia

Rial

0.266581

12.5778

Brunei

Dollar

0.710076

33.5028

Indonesia

Rupiah

0.000072

0.0034

Thailand

Baht

0.027816

1.3124

UAE

Dirham

0.272301

12.8477

Euro

Euro

1.094100

51.6218

Korea

Won

0.000850

0.0401

China

Yuan

0.155333

7.3289

India

Rupee

0.014996

0.7075

Malaysia

Ringgit

0.234962

11.0860

New Zealand

Dollar

0.676590

31.9229

Taiwan

Dollar

0.030526

1.4403 Source: PDS Bridge

ANOTHER round of radio frequency war is expected to heat up next year between San Miguel Corp. and Globe Telecom Inc. as the National Telecommunications Commission is set to auction off the third-generation frequency held by Connectivity Unlimited Resources Inc. Philippine Long Distance Telephone Co. divested the Cure frequency in 2011 as a condition to the acquisition of Digital Telecommunications Philippines Inc. Gamaliel Cordoba, commissioner of the National Telecommunications Commission, said the regulator tapped the Commission on Audit to determine the cost recovery for the divest-

ment of Cure’s 3G frequency.

“They are helping us for the cost recovery amount. We expect it within December or early January,” Cordoba said.

Cordoba said the agency planned to bid out and award the 3G frequency of Cure before the end of the Aquino administration.

PLDT earlier said the cost recovery for Cure’s 3G frequency should not be less than P2.125 billion, so that it could recover its investment in Cure.

The divestment of Cure’s 10-megahertz 3G frequency was one of the conditions set by the NTC in approving the sale of the 51.55-percent stake of Digitel to the PLDT group for P69.2 billion.

Smart bought Cure for P419.54 million from the group of former

trade minister Roberto Ongpin in 2008.

Globe and San Miguel earlier expressed interest in bidding for Cure’s 3G frequency. Aside from Cure, Smart also had 15 MHz of 3G frequency; Globe, 10; and Sun Cellular 10.

The San Miguel Group, meanwhile, owns 90 Mhz in the 700 MHz band spectrum, which the industry described as the most powerful wireless bandwidth.

Besides the 700 MHz, the San Miguel Group owns spectrum under the 900 Mhz, 800 Mhz and 1,800 Mhz. PLDT and Globe were asking NTC to reallocate the excess 700 Mhz frequency held by San Miguel.

PLDT chairman Manuel Pangilinan said the the NTC should re-

distribute the 700 MHz frequency in an equitable way between the incumbent players and new player.

“San Miguel should keep a portion of that, but Globe deserves some and Smart deserves some,” Pangilinan said.

Globe president Ernest Cu agreed with Pangilinan, saying that each telecom company should be allowed to have 20 Mhz of the 700Mhz spectrum.

“That’s really important for coverage. Ideally, we should split up evenly, 30 each even networks with no customers,” Cu said.

PLDT Group currently holds frequency in the 800 Mhz, 900 Mhz and 2,100 Mhz bands, while Globe owns frequency in the 900 Mhz, 1,800 Mhz and 2,100 Mhz bands.

MONDAY: DECEMBER 14, 2015

B2

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

The STandard BuSineSS Weekly STockS revieW STOCKS

DECEMBER 7-11, 2015 Close Volume

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

MEDCO Holdings Metrobank Natl Reinsurance Corp.

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

2.75 46.15 100.20 82.35 38.1 2.51 1.29 9.98 15 18.2 7.59 1.8 710.00 0.510 77.2 0.93 16.60 22.45 50.85 102 290 33 136.2 1480.00 57.00 3

Aboitiz Power Corp.

Agrinurture Inc. Alliance Tuna Intl Inc. Alsons Cons.

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

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

LBC Express Liberty Flour LMG Chemicals Mabuhay Vinyl Corp.

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

Pepsi-Cola Products Phil.

Petron Corporation Phil H2O Phinma Corporation Phoenix Petroleum Phils.

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

Splash Corporation Swift Foods, Inc. TKC Steel Corp.

Trans-Asia Oil Universal Robina Victorias Milling Vitarich Corp.

Vivant Corp.

Vulcan Ind’l.

40 4.9 0.76 1.45 10.48 91.00 16.78 100 21.35 44 2.3 1.59 12.38 7.980 9.00 5.70 5.20 1.67 22 66.6 11.70 14.40 5.75 2.150 209.00 12.46 27.00 1.83 3.2 24.9 21.2 5.65 318.00 3.93 3.69 7.02 3 11.50 3.76 1.65 2.26 4.01 2.2 4.6 126.1 3.7 2.54 0.144 1.09 2.18 181 4.72 0.64 22.50 1.10

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

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

Lodestar Invt. Holdg.Corp.

Mabuhay Holdings `A’ Metro Pacific Inv. Corp.

Minerales Industrias Corp.

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

0.385 54.9000 15.60 1.10 6.40 0.223 0.232 725 7.78 13.30 5.69 6 4.25 0.238 1223 5.50 72.00 5.5 7.03 0.7 13.8 0.5 5.05 9.43 0.0310 1.160 1.810 2.6 46.55 2.4 820.00 1.20 0.72 150.00 74.000 0.2950 0.1950 0.260

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

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

Double Dragon Empire East Land Ever Gotesco

6.990 7.20 0.83 1.070 0.220 35.500 3.04 5.12 5.01 0.57 0.98 1.04 0.121 0.455 24.75 0.830 0.157

Value

FINANCIAL 1,062,100.00 26,813,125.00 670,110,830 653,880,148.00 8,284,585.00 116,430.00 953,320.00 1,996.00 4,759,984.00 6,090,146.00 12,696 205,140.00 462,000.00 8,358,020.00 470,706,610.50 134,280.00 8,112,566.00 1,186,080.00 33,190,887.00 15,345.00 1,233,750.00 334,861,480 202,077,251.00 635,050.00 19,635,075.50 471,200.00 INDUSTRIAL 15,228,500 610,295,080.00 5,223,200 25,248,780.00 3,970,000 2,879,350.00 982,000 1,429,780.00 3,300 35,298.00 2,150 208,701.50 1,418,000 23,964,502 20 1,950.00 14,780,800 319,092,515.00 2,647,500 26,525,650 4,734,000 10,922,020.00 13,060,000 19,753,090.00 543,400 6,370,622.00 65,367,800 563,820,924.00 4,485,500 40,474,548.00 72,148,100 427,707,323.00 2,888,100 15,041,125.00 25,000 42,920.00 8,221,600 189,524,995.00 765,750 51,188,600.00 27,200 322,050.00 356,100 5,157,958.00 439,200 2,553,005.00 8,463,000 18,430,310.00 6,740,590 1,406,899,294.00 201,400 2,507,328.00 6,900 199,170.00 73,000 135,080.00 13,000 42,380.00 19,154,700 477,516,260.00 1,204,600 25,642,865.00 10,009,200 55,356,725.00 1,419,260 449,939,596.00 12,000 47,400.00 1,497,000 5,493,370.00 3,671,100 26,445,453.00 10,000 30,000.00 23,700 275,464.00 323,000 1,227,540.00 671,000 1,128,070.00 1,116,000 2,475,400.00 857,000 3,453,550.00 4,000 9,140.00 70,700 332,166.00 456,980 57,740,569.00 1,000 3,700.00 3,964,000 9,786,720.00 72,290,000 10,484,870.00 735,000 805,930.00 4,400,000 9,526,630.00 12,804,530 2,356,930,829.00 91,000 414,210.00 3,117,000 1,930,370.00 1,000 22,500.00 253,000 280,510.00 HOLDING FIRMS 2,570,000 995,850.00 5,217,150 294,929,033.00 32,097,400 524,202,670.00 133,000 126,110.00 114,900 733,397.00 5,990,000 1,372,080.00 2,100,000 493,710.00 1,338,580 977,304,250.00 15,518,200 118,530,842.00 9,922,300 133,767,998.00 1,808,200 10,610,755.00 748,900 4,492,480.00 91,000 383,090.00 3,470,000 881,110.00 420,970 520,517,565.00 35,000 192,500.00 10,046,860 706,315,780.50 100 550.00 10,927,200 77,892,433.00 485,000 358,300.00 3,560,800 51,113,808.00 1,150,000 575,030.00 84,558,100 437,581,372.00 3,312,100 32,402,431.00 458,500,000 15,045,500.00 193,000 238,790.00 1,810,000 3,216,100.00 20,000 52,000.00 1,079,700 50,882,980.00 77,000 185,440.00 1,153,600 965,079,065.00 166,000 193,350.00 136,000 97,730.00 200 30,100.00 195,500 14,626,954.50 6,380,000 1,926,400.00 2,160,000 440,510.00 4,830,000 1,291,050.00 PROPERTY 2,221,200 15,622,215.00 41,300 269,649.00 13,987,000 12,183,690.00 1,125,000 1,237,530.00 430,000 96,120.00 59,661,100 2,053,798,465.00 13,805,000 43,027,640.00 32,096,000 163,689,888.00 18,100 100,089.00 5,664,000 3,194,050.00 2,000 1,880.00 34,000 35,490.00 10,550,000 1,281,340.00 29,830,000 13,792,400.00 12,473,000 308,527,555.00 2,095,000 1,738,850.00 6,360,000 1,031,800.00 376,000 591,700 6,680,340 7,947,110 217,800 47,000 731,000 200 317,000 326,800 1,700 114,000 650 14,542,000 84,629,085 144,000 483,500 52,000 645,630 150 4,250 10,496,300 1,466,470 430 344,240 155,000

DECEMBER 1-4, 2015 Close Volume Value 2.74 46 101.50 82.85 39.35 2.49 1.49 10 15.1 18.56 7.60 1.87 750.00 0.520 82.5 0.96 17.50 23.00 50.95 102 293 32.75 138.7 1535.00 57.00 3.1

35,000 1,166,200 8,845,520 9,481,070 191,800 20,000 255,000 100 42,500 335,400 8,500 60,000 3,990 3,700,000 4,524,430 2,963,000 575,700 45,000 483,110 1,940 25,730 7,308,500 1,875,100 835 140,090 61,000

90,960.00 52,512,370.00 915,470,720 791,527,798.50 7,458,755.00 49,770.00 359,610.00 1,000.00 640,248.00 6,267,974.00 64,200 108,750.00 3,087,250.00 1,904,850.00 368,011,533.50 2,844,180.00 9,950,066.00 1,035,000.00 24,674,228.00 189,034.00 7,544,280.00 239,987,165 334,671,539.00 1,277,895.00 7,985,646.50 187,000.00

40.6 5.15 0.79 1.5 10.62

15,246,300 9,236,600 389,000 300,000 14,100

628,650,495.00 44,148,714.00 309,910.00 450,010.00 152,878.00

17.18

1,000,300

17,271,048

21.9 41.05 2.43 1.58 10.36 9.300 9.20 6.18 5.15 1.67 24 67.55

13,467,200 142,300 1,319,000 21,832,000 67,600 24,113,900 49,925,800 57,473,700 4,319,100 12,000 9,468,500 946,040

290,342,595.00 5,946,830 3,215,930.00 35,824,940.00 696,782.00 224,606,621.00 465,599,257.00 358,748,034.00 21,232,195.00 20,190.00 227,716,855.00 63,754,929.00

14.50 5.85 2.150 205.00 12.48 31.00 1.87 3.6 24.6 21.8 5.7 312.20 4.40 3.65 7.36 3.03 11.76 3.78 1.74 2.32 4.06 2.85 5.26 130 3.66 2.5 0.148 1.12 2.20 185.3 4.55 0.66 22.50 1.17

27,000 539,400 11,635,000 3,349,700 204,600 10,600 140,000 29,000 11,171,400 2,002,100 2,032,100 1,305,580 41,000 3,900,000 3,995,100 107,000 23,000 156,000 1,838,000 864,000 34,190,000 122,000 23,400 74,360 9,000 6,086,000 21,140,000 1,599,000 3,062,000 26,228,470 40,000 473,000 123 1,233,000

393,310.00 3,168,278.00 25,616,020.00 692,119,212.00 2,553,450.00 403,085.00 262,010.00 100,390.00 272,962,790.00 43,093,045.00 12,205,786.00 404,933,790.00 180,270.00 14,313,690.00 29,612,756.00 330,320.00 265,518.00 574,750.00 3,121,150.00 1,980,980.00 143,585,210.00 301,720.00 132,102.00 9,650,383.00 33,000.00 15,037,650.00 3,177,090.00 1,907,830.00 6,810,680.00 4,984,389,722.00 182,000.00 305,210.00 2,350.00 1,423,180.00

0.390 57.3500 17.10 1.02 6.45 0.249 0.237 736 7.54 13.64 5.06 5.4 4.15 0.265 1265 5.50 71.35 5.5 7.5 0.74 14.88 0.5 5.26 9.94 0.0310 1.370 1.780 2.56 47.20 2.70 849.00 1.17 0.72 160.00 73.000 0.3000 0.2070 0.265

110,000 5,758,140 20,581,300 30,000 206,000 135,000 690,000 1,087,490 8,221,700 14,923,000 708,900 42,500 720,000 680,000 572,000 163,100 7,991,100 4,000 7,712,500 1,274,000 21,353,700 760,000 72,208,400 4,639,800 192,700,000 108,000 3,047,000 26,000 1,173,500 1,000 916,340 130,000 66,000 4,820 12,080 6,400,000 3,790,000 2,180,000

43,300.00 333,954,392.00 366,232,136.00 30,700.00 1,317,670.00 134,460.00 163,490.00 817,524,485.00 61,984,773.00 206,224,650.00 3,873,109.00 236,329.00 3,039,140.00 173,200.00 733,007,905.00 897,430.00 578,482,973.50 21,000.00 58,231,413.00 941,810.00 320,434,852.00 383,700.00 380,440,974.00 46,107,768.00 6,043,300.00 144,870.00 5,385,430.00 70,060.00 54,668,765.00 2,700.00 780,679,275.00 153,150.00 47,540.00 8,000.00 895,865.00 1,928,800.00 802,950.00 577,950.00

7.100 7.25 0.90 1.190 0.209 34.100 3.16 5.05

5,483,430 700 48,447,000 4,000 90,000 59,223,300 3,894,000 3,700

4,363,852.00 5,477.00 45,050,230.00 4,760.00 18,810.00 2,042,499,330.00 12,438,830.00 18,685.00

0.56 0.92 1.03 0.126 0.480 23.5 0.830 0.163

5,060,000 19,000 63,000 7,480,000 31,480,000 3,767,600 70,000 146,000,000

2,854,060.00 17,480.00 65,780.00 941,190.00 15,285,050.00 87,461,675.00 59,400.00 23,798,000.00

STOCKS

DECEMBER 7-11, 2015 Close Volume

Global-Estate Filinvest Land,Inc. Interport `A’ Keppel Properties Megaworld Prop.

MRC Allied Ind. Phil. Estates Corp.

Phil. Realty `A’ Primex Corp.

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

1.02 1.83 1.18 3.75 4.2 0.078 0.2500 0.4100 8.67 25.75 1.41 3.21 21.20 0.73 7 0.880 5.150

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

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

DFNN Inc. FEUI Globe Telecom GMA Network Inc. Grand Plaza Hotel Harbor Star I.C.T.S.I. IPeople Inc. `A’ IP E-Game Ventures Inc. Island Info ISM Communications Jackstones Leisure & Resorts Liberty Telecom Lorenzo Shipping Macroasia Corp.

Manila Broadcasting Manila Bulletin Manila Jockey Melco Crown Metro Retail MG Holdings NOW Corp.

Pacific Online Sys. Corp.

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

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

SSI Group STI Holdings Transpacific Broadcast Travellers Waterfront Phils.

Yehey

7.15 63.7 1.15 0.490 11.56 22.6 4.41 0.0430 3.33 82.4 10 5.34 955 1790 7.00 21.45 1.23 70.05 11.2 0.010 0.164 1.3800 2.05 8.18 4.20 1.24 2.30 28.90 0.560 2 2.43 3.84 0.255 0.850 18.98 4.67 2.7 101.10 20.90 1972.00 0.435 0.740 33.75 66.30 6.00 3.72 0.465 1.51 3.69 0.330 4.200

Abra Mining Apex `A’ 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’ Manila Mining `B’ Marcventures Hldgs., Inc. Nickelasia Nihao Mineral Resources Omico Oriental Peninsula Res. Oriental Pet. `A’ Oriental Pet. `B’ Petroenergy Res. Corp.

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

TA Petroleum

0.0048 1.85 4.18 5.5000 0.64 0.62 7.32 0.72 0.280 0.189 0.200 0.0100 0.011 2.02 6.4 2.7 0.5600 1.2800 0.0100 0.0092 3.54 4.87 1.31 0.0120 135.00 2.18

ABS-CBN Holdings Corp.

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

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

65 520 510 119.8 115.6 519 6.59 1.12 108.6 1050 1075 1023 80.7 83 79.2 79.5 80.5

Leisure & Resort Warr.

2.630

Alterra Capital Makati Fin. Corp.

Italpinas Xurpas

3.45 2.7 3.64 15.1

First Metro ETF

110.1

DECEMBER 1-4, 2015 Close Volume Value

Value

7,785,000 8,064,400.00 71,815,000 129,785,930.00 919,000 1,057,820.00 4,000 15,500.00 109,446,000 482,276,670.00 6,430,000 813,390.00 1,700,000 426,000.00 970,000 414,250.00 242,800 2,086,104.00 25,101,200 683,871,045.00 102,000 145,480.00 42,000 133,030.00 44,689,600 953,294,865.00 5,737,000 4,159,110.00 13,900 98,255.00 2,615,000 2,372,470.00 14,815,400 76,784,182.00 SERVICES 439,800 3,176,267.00 87,950 5,637,436.00 122,000 140,440.00 7,248,000 3,624,755.00 9,000 101,036.00 5,900 152,780 38,461,200 180,827,303.00 119,200,000 5,268,900.00 447,000 1,524,810.00 1,409,710 117,051,649.50 1,500 14,924.00 796,800 4,113,991.00 510 486,770.00 420,440 790,016,790 482,900 3,318,977.00 265,900 5,710,300 653,000 799,830.00 8,284,150 587,633,483.00 600 6,720.00 24,100,000 244,300.00 6,150,000 1,027,630.00 1,304,000 1,805,580.00 199,000 405,380.00 2,272,800 19,771,118.00 2,064,000 8,598,930.00 32,000 39,330.00 14,000 31,100.00 1,000 24,460.00 1,094,000 612,210.00 473,000 931,660.00 71,137,000 189,310,330.00 165,165,810.00 43,016,000 2,790,000 712,700.00 116,750,000 102,136,540.00 400 7,364.00 20,000 90,830 128,000 378,650.00 154,000 15,707,883.00 129,700 2,714,540.00 462,980 957,824,105.00 2,980,000 1,338,650.00 112,835,000 91,074,830.00 16,346,900 555,399,125.00 3,875,800 263,573,002.50 6,550,500 40,405,142.00 37,287,000 149,904,430.00 11,570,000 5,330,850.00 135,000 204,150.00 1,849,000 6,760,490.00 1,060,000 358,250.00 1,559,000 6,720,730.00 MINING & OIL 1,068,000,000 5,282,200.00 392,000 739,700.00 654,000 2,749,910.00 18,700 103,448.00 722,000 461,470.00 646,000 396,530.00 62,100 472,288.00 19,125,000 14,273,390.00 1,290,000 368,150.00 11,120,000 2,089,160.00 9,800,000 1,960,020.00 85,300,000 853,200.00 216,400,000 2,375,700.00 712,000 1,495,560.00 13,212,500 85,199,810.00 731,000 2,037,780.00 5,523,000 3,094,930.00 1,682,000 2,189,740.00 329,500,000 3,295,500.00 3,700,000 32,440.00 58,000 205,700.00 1,711,700 8,538,898.00 3,422,000 4,651,260.00 545,600,000 6,048,800.00 1,287,420 174,380,273.00 372,000 829,380.00 PREFERRED 446,930 29,054,725.00 32,120 16,739,400.00 1,020 518,380 9,210 1,021,478.00 84,310 9,772,368.00 4,300 2,231,860.00 42,100 286,100.00 397,000 444,640 22,910 2,464,776.00 1,240 1,304,000.00 925 992,520.00 56,605 57,887,310.00 316,490 25,201,114.50 99,300 8,251,573.50 9,780 775,704.00 96,320 7,631,631.00 436,840 35,246,339.50 WARRANTS & BONDS 56,000 137,250.00 SME 419,000 1,402,880.00 16,000 42,460.00 69,104,000 301,013,310.00 23,243,400 347,955,888.00 EXCHANGE TRADED FUNDS 25,050 2,797,613.00

1.04 1.86 1.19 4.01 4.54 0.083 0.2550 0.4350 8.78 28.65 1.46 3.2 21.30 0.75 7.4 0.910 5.300

9,470,000 80,439,000 301,000 4,000 104,388,000 1,370,000 680,000 520,000 220,000 44,429,100 498,000 1,098,000 42,597,100 661,000 1,700 10,639,000 4,280,400

9,990,010.00 148,766,180.00 359,140.00 16,040.00 479,753,350.00 110,950.00 179,690.00 229,650.00 1,916,671.00 1,320,703,575.00 719,030.00 3,556,430.00 939,793,350.00 486,290.00 12,250.00 10,192,650.00 22,897,760.00

7.33 64.3 1.2 0.500 11.08

130,200 36,310 428,000 2,924,000 10,070,400

953,017.00 2,331,116.00 538,250.00 1,477,360.00 111,869,752.00

5.18 0.0430 3.43 83.65 10 5.00 955 1988 6.91

9,797,300 68,600,000 337,000 976,890 15,700 2,320,600 20 346,835 654,600

52,175,503.00 2,989,700.00 1,178,530.00 81,980,697.00 156,266.00 11,446,089.00 19,100.00 700,431,985 4,599,389.00

1.29 71.9 11.2 0.011 0.173 1.4400 2.1 8.99 4.24 1.23 2.20 28.90 0.570 2 3.36 3.86 0.255 0.800 18.98 4.52 2.53 102.00 20.65 2140.00 0.460 0.940 33.30 68.85 6.32 4.43 0.465

1,069,000 6,898,730 1,900 42,000,000 2,570,000 1,602,000 330,000 796,400 2,552,000 10,000 245,000 1,400 29,000 50,000 10,544,000 29,742,000 1,770,000 101,710,000 500 29,000 13,000 2,060 208,300 639,735 1,510,000 13,174,000 15,918,300 3,611,650 15,394,300 31,079,000 196,570,000

1,385,140.00 508,182,444.00 21,280.00 451,700.00 441,030.00 2,232,610.00 662,620.00 7,171,214.00 10,884,790.00 11,700.00 523,140.00 41,580.00 16,790.00 100,120.00 35,719,970.00 115,207,310.00 450,200.00 81,430,650.00 9,356.00 131,380 34,970.00 213,238.00 4,307,195.00 1,371,035,240.00 699,500.00 12,656,010.00 545,506,365.00 252,742,362.00 96,493,897.00 135,866,150.00 84,540,300.00

3.86 0.350 4.530

766,000 7,670,000 5,351,000

3,003,030.00 2,479,350.00 25,647,820.00

0.0051 2.00 4.31 5.7000 0.66 0.63 7.60 0.77 0.295 0.189 0.200 0.0110 0.012 2.18 6.57 2.87 0.5900 1.3700 0.0100

2,239,000,000 87,000 1,114,000 9,600 299,000 453,000 33,900 23,920,000 810,000 12,890,000 3,170,000 197,700,000 1,500,000 253,000 12,213,400 1,795,000 355,000 141,000 72,000,000

11,213,400.00 175,100.00 4,689,300.00 54,752.00 197,160.00 278,660.00 262,105.00 18,074,040.00 240,650.00 2,454,820.00 635,020.00 2,053,500.00 16,600.00 545,330.00 80,351,560.00 5,162,040.00 199,050.00 194,440.00 735,000.00

3.68 5.00 1.42 0.0120 136.10 2.33

36,000 588,500 506,000 1,070,700,000 487,380 300,000

130,530.00 2,945,766.00 713,890.00 11,793,200.00 66,578,525.00 691,960.00

65 515.5 500 119.8 120 519 6.91 1.11 108 1050

244,820 28,270 49,500 90,100 2,610 7,780 14,100 143,000 30,930 2,670

15,913,158.00 14,672,070.00 25,678,500 9,983,980.00 309,300.00 4,038,470.00 97,620.00 160,130 3,351,590.00 2,810,200.00

1022 80 83.05 79.4 80 80.7

4,050 3,520 197,280 540 81,210 216,640

4,143,355.00 281,600.00 16,398,339.50 42,772.00 6,503,692.00 17,498,921.00

2.710

160,000

424,570.00

3.52 2.7

729,000 9,000

2,747,860.00 24,020.00

14.46

13,418,600

201,823,358.00

113.4

60,490

6,893,649.00

WEEKLY MOST TRADED STOCKS Abra Mining Philodrill Corp. `A’ Pacifica `A’ Oriental Pet. `A’ Manila Mining `B’ Boulevard Holdings NOW Corp.

Premium Leisure Megaworld Prop.

Manila Mining `A’

VOLUME 1,068,000,000 545,600,000 458,500,000 329,500,000 216,400,000 119,200,000 116,750,000 112,835,000 109,446,000 85,300,000

STOCKS Universal Robina Ayala Land `B’ Jollibee Foods Corp.

Ayala Corp `A’ SM Investments Inc. PLDT Common SM Prime Holdings Globe Telecom JG Summit Holdings Robinson’s Land `B’

VALUE 2,356,930,829.00 2,053,798,465.00 1,406,899,294.00 977,304,250.00 965,079,065.00 957,824,105.00 953,294,865.00 790,016,790.00 706,315,780.50 683,871,045.00

MONDAY: DECEMBER 14, 2015

B3

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

MoneyGram campaign.

The local unit of MoneyGram Inc. continues to beef up its compliance programs to protect customers’ remittance transfers against fraud or scams. MoneyGram country manager Alex Lim (center) said the company has invested in experts and sophisticated systems to give consumers increased security.

Shown with Lim are MoneyGram sales support and operations manager Rita Reyes (left) and senior regional compliance manager Guada de Dios (right).

Xurpas creates ‘AldubYou’ mobile game RIDING on the phenomenal success of the “AlDub” team of Alden Richards and Maine Mendoza, mobile content provider Xurpas Inc. has teamed up with Eat Bulaga producer Tape Inc. to launch a mobile game.

Xurpas said in a statement AlDub, which broke a world record of 41 million tweets in a single day, may also set a new record in the mobile game space, with the launch of a game called “AldubYou: Ang Hamon ni Lola Nidora.”

“We’re absolutely excited to work with a property as massive as AlDub,” said Xurpas chairman and chief executive Nix Nolledo.

Nolledo said the “AldubYou” mobile game is just the start of the rich portfolio of digital content that Xurpas will be building for AlDub. The partnership is expected to boost Xurpas’ revenues, considering that mobile games are the largest revenue contributor to the company’s business.

Tape senior vice president Jenny Ferre said the game was tightly integrated into Eat Bulaga’s top-rating ‘Kalyeserye.’

Jenniffer B. Austria

Another Tan expected to head BAP

BDO Unibank Inc. president and chief executive Nestor Tan could possibly become the next Bankers Association of the Philippines president, succeeding his younger brother, Rizal Commercial Banking Corp. president and chief executive Lorenzo Tan. The imminent succession is among the hot topics among bankers’ these days, as BAP’s next annual membership meeting is scheduled in the first quarter next year.

“Next BAP president? I don’t know… That is what people are talking about. I’m now the first vice president and naturally… Maybe…,” Tan told reporters during BDO’s media appreciation party on Friday night in Makati City.

Lorenzo was re-elected for the second time as BAP president during its annual membership meeting and board election on March 23, 2015. He was first elected president in 2013 and reelected in 2014.

Nestor was elected first vice president, Union Bank chairman Justo Ortiz as second vice president, Development Bank of the Philippines president Gil Buenaventura as secretary and Roberto Panlilio of JP Morgan Chase Bank as treasurer. Cesar Virtusio remained executive director.

BAP currently has 35 commercial banks, 21 local banks and 14 foreign bank branches as its members. Julito G. Rada

Del Monte attempts to raise $360m

Del Monte Pacific Ltd. is making another attempt to raise as much as $360 million through the issuance of dollar-denominated preferred shares. The shares aim to convert a substantial amount of its debt from short- to medium-term, which would significantly improve the group’s current ratio and liquidity.

The fruit producer already filed an application with the corporate regulators in 2014 to issue 36 million preferred shares at an indicative price of $10 per share to refinance a bridge loan with BDO Unibank Inc., which partially funded the company’s acquisition of US-based Del Monte Foods.

This would have been the first dollar-denominated preferred shares offering to be listed with the Philippine Stock Exchange.

Del Monte, however, decided to defer the fund raising activity because of volatile market condition at that time.

Another reason why Del Monte did not push through with the deal was because the company was required to secure prior Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas approval, as the transaction would affect money supply in the local financial system.

Bangko Sentral reportedly did not want investors in the first dollar-denominated preferred shares offering to buy dollars from the local banking system to invest in the offering.

To ensure that the second attempt of Del Monte to issue dollar-denominated preferred shares would succeed, underwriters involved in the transaction said the company needed to assure Bangko Sentral that investors in the fund raising activity would not source their funds from the local financial system.

So where will the investors in Del Monte’s preferred shares offering get their dollars to invest in the financial instrument?

Maybe from other channels outside the banking system, such as the currency black market, if that exists in the country.

Jenniffer B. Austria

PSE: 10 companies going public in 2016

By Jenniffer B. Austria

THE Philippine Stock Exchange said it expects eight to 10 companies to go public next year, including two that recently deferred their plans amid the current market volatility.

PSE president Hans Sicat said companies would have an opportunity to conduct IPOs in the first quarter of 2016, just before the May presidential elections, or in the third quarter next year, after the election period.

“Some may say they want to do most of the deals in the first quarter when funds are allocated and elections are not at the back of people’s minds,” Sicat said.

“There might be a slight slowdown in the second quarter because they are waiting for election results and another round of activity in the third quarter,” he said.

Sicat said the target of eight to

10 IPOs for 2016 would include companies planning backdoor listing.

Two property and construction firms, including Datem Inc. and DM Wenceslao & Associates Inc., earlier decided to defer their planned IPOs to 2016 due to volatile market conditions.

Datem was planning to raise P4.65 billion from its maiden share sale while DM Wenceslao was targeting to generate as much as P12.3 billion in proceeds from the IPO. Other companies with pending IPO applications with the corporate regulator were Pointwest Technologies Corp. (P2.09 bil-

lion); TVI Resource Development Phils. Inc. (P1.51 billion); Philippine Primark Properties Inc. (P1.2 billion); Gweilo Corp. (P95 million); Philstocks Financial Inc. (P188 million); and Green Power Panay Philippines Inc. (P290 million).

BDO Capital and Investments Corp. president Eduardo Franciso said while many companies were still interested in listing their shares in the stock market, the average size of the IPOs would most likely be less than P1 billion.

“There are still opportunities for IPOs but most of these are bite-size that will be geared towards the domestic investors,” Francisco said.

Only four IPOs were completed this year, including those of SBS Philippines Corp. (P1.15 billion); Crown Asia Chemicals Corp.

(P222.7 million); Metro Retail Stores Group Inc. (P5.6 billion); and Italpinas Development Corp.

(P242 million).

US Fed rate hike seen to affect stocks SHARES at the Philippine Stock Exchange are expected to move sideways with a downward bias this week, as analysts see a little chance of holiday rally before the end of the year.

Analysts said investors opted to stay on the sidelines before the projected 25-basis-point rate hike by the US Fed in its policy meeting this week.

Aside from the anticipated rate hike announcement, investors will also closely monitor the pace of successive increases that the Fed will take in 2016.

“Expectations on the trajectory of rate hikes would reflect in regional central bankers’ move, to pacify spikes in capital outflow, in case of non-action on policies.

Given the usual lagged effect of global measures, local monetary authorities would likely remain

on status quo due largely to tame inflation,” F. Yap Securities investment analyst Jason Escartin said.

Aside from the US interest rate hike, investors are also concerned about the impact of El Niño dry spell on the domestic economy next year.

The Philippine Stock Exchange index, the 30-company benchmark, last week closed at 6,735.01, down 2.7 percent from previous week’s close, while the broader all-share index ended the week at 3,894.86, also down 2.46 percent.

BDO Unibank Inc. chief investment strategist Jonathan Ravelas said prospects of an interest rate hike by the US Fed weighed on the market last week and dampened investor sentiment, triggering a sell-off.

All major sub-indices were in

the red led by services (-6.38 percent), holding firms (-2.94 percent), financials (-2.46 percent), mining and oil (-2.13 percent), industrial (-2.05 percent) and property (-0.06 percent).

The market was also down 6.9 percent since the start of the year.

Foreign investors reduced their positions in the Philippine market, as total overseas selling amounted to P16.35 billion while overseas buying amounted to P13.89 billion.

Net selling reached P60.59 billion this year.

Among the top gainers last week was Del Monte Pacific Ltd., which climbed 19.5 percent to P12.38 as the company expects to sustain profits in the remainder of the year and return to profitability in fiscal year 2016.

Jenniffer B. Austria

B4 Illicit trade.

Mighty Corp. initiates the destruction and disposal of fake Mighty cigarettes seized by authorities from unscrupulous traders and retailers in line with its strong commitment to curb illicit trade. The efforts run jointly with force of the Bureau of Customs, National Bureau of Investigation, Philippine National Police-Criminal Investigation and Detection Group and the Bureau of Internal Revenue as fake cigarettes have circulated in various parts of the country. Alex Dalino Calderon witnessed the condemnation and disposal of fake Mighty cigarettes. Right photo shows the actual shredding of fake Mighty cigarettes.

Sun Life allots funds for infra investments

Refinery upgrade completed, says Shell

SUN Life of Canada (Philippines) Inc. said it is ready to spend a maximum of P2 billion on every infrastructure project as part of its investment portfolio, the company’s chief executive said over the weekend.

PILIPINAS Shell Petroleum Corp. has completed the multimillion dollar upgrade of its 110,000-barrel-per-day oil refinery in Tabangao, Batangas early this month, its chairman said over the weekend.

Pilipinas Shell country chairman Ed Chua told reporters the Batangas refinery had been up and running since early this month.

“Yes, it’s completed but this is the period wherein we still have to observe if it is running smoothly,” Chua said.

He said the refinery would have the same capacity following its completion and be able to produce Euro IV compliant diesel and gasoline fuels, which were mandated by January 2016.

Chua said that the refinery was upgraded at a cost lower than the earlier estimate of $150 million.

Chua, meanwhile, said the Shell is set to complete its P6-billion fuel import facility in Cagayan de Oro by early next year.

The Cagayan de Oro facility is expected to meet the rising energy needs of residents, motorists and other consumers in Visayas and Mindanao.

Shell, a unit of Royal Dutch/ Shell Group, owns the country’s second oil refinery. It is preparing to conduct its initial public offering by next year in compliance with the Oil Deregulation Law of 1998.

The law required oil refiners to list at list 10 percent of their shares in the local bourse. Shell said it was timing the planned IPO, depending on market conditions.

Shell recently raised concerns on the decision of the Commission on Audit to impose P53.14 billion in taxes on the contractors of the Malampaya gas-to-power project in northwest Palawan.

By Gabrielle H. Binaday

Sun Life Philippines president Rizalina Mantaring said the insurance company wanted to get into infrastructure investment, which had long-term liabilities as well as long-term assets.

“We really want to get into infrastructure investing because we were already telling that for the long time because [it’s] long term assets [and] long term liabilities. It’s really a good match with the insurance industry,” Mantaring said during the sidelines of the Sinag Financial Literacy Journalism awards in Makati.

Mantaring said Sunlife Philippines had around P320 billion in funds for investments in mutual

funds, viable universal life insurance and infrastructure.

She said Sun Life Philippines could invest part of its P170-billion investible fund on insurance on infrastructure.

“Our general funds alone to insurance is already about P170 billion so we can invest certainly a portion of those to infrastructure,” she said.

Mantaring said said the company was capping investment on each infrastructure project at P2 billion. “[We can go as far as] it may be more the amount that we were willing to risk because it’s initial investment, no experience. You wouldn’t put in huge amounts.

I think initially were looking at capping at 2 billion per one project,” she said.

“It depends on the investments. That cap of P2 billion is just a theoretical cap. For a particular project you might say no more than 500 million,” she said.

Mantaring said the company considered infrastructure projects attractive because of better yield and duration.

Mantaring earlier disclosed a plan to contribute to a 12-year private loan in a power-generating project in Mindanao.

Sun Life Philippines’ 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 securing the nod from the head office in Canada.

Meanwhile, Mantaring said Sun Life Philippines would do better than last year’s performance in terms of total premi-

ums and new business.

“We’re already passed last year. We will be higher than last year, both total premiums and new business,” she said.

Sun Life reported a total premium income of P30.7 billion in 2014 slightly higher than P29.6 billion in 2013, enabling it to retain leadership in the country’s life insurance industry.

The insurance industry’s premium income in the first nine months of the year reached P172.40 billion, up 30 percent year-on-year.

Mantaring, however, said regulatory changes remained of the risks in the insurance industry next year.

“The other challenge facing the industry would be the... regulatory changes. You’re going to have changes in the financial framework, changes in the risk based capital requirements, changes in the reserving requirements, all of which can have huge impact on a company,” she said.

Montero ‘victims’ eyeing class suit vs Mitsubishi

By Othel V. Campos VICTIMS of Mitsubishi Montero’s alleged “sudden unintended acceleration” plans to file a class suit against Mitsubishi Motors Philippines Corp. if the Trade Department will not order a recall of the defective units.

Charlie Tumaru, one of the victims and lawyer of other Mitsubishi SUA victims, prepared a group position paper calling for the recall of “defective units” and the prosecution of officers of Mitsubishi Philippines for violation of the Penal Provision of the Consumer Protection Law. “The penal provisions of the con-

sumer act calls for fine and imprisonment for the officer of the corporation that introduced to the market dangerous or injurious product,” he said over the weekend.

The group demanded a ban on Montero Sports from the market “until after a definite and conclusive finding establishing the cause or error on the Montero Sports is made.”

It also asked the Trade Department to stop Mitsubishi Philippines from making public announcements that the Montero Sports unit had no defects “and is safe to use on the roads.” The group said the public notice gave a false sense of security and safe-

ty to Montero owners and users and “unduly exposed them to the danger of SUA.” Tumaru said the group wanted to file its position paper in the interest of public safety and welfare.

“This position paper is not intended to destroy, demolish or condemn MMPC but to provide facts, cite opinion, theories and principles in law that hopefully could help or assist the Honorable Committee in arriving at a judicious decision that will ensure the safety and well-being of the public in line with the mandate of the law,” he said.

Among the victims who filed the position paper as a group were Tu-

maru, Bernardino Bernardo, Benty Tan, Anne Sirikit del Mundo, Irma Delfin, Roderick Sy, Darry Obordo, Gemma Gregorio, Manuel Castaneda, Reynaldo Pilar, Rolina Borres, Selyna Siena, Jesus Manubay, Delfin Garcia, Henry Anisco Jr., Julia Aguila, Bernardina Capangyarihan, Lerma de Villa-Sudar, Pauline Gabaldon Co, Prosepero Berango, Alan Barona, Jose Ma. Antonio Padua, Jayson de Mesa and Gabriel Dominguez.

Meanwhile, Mitsubishi officials asked the Trade Department to subject the defective units to tests and assessment by a third party for non-partial assessment of all pending claims.

By Alena Mae S. Flores

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

MetroPac plans submarine road

By Darwin G. Amojelar

THE Philippine unit of Hong Kong-listed First Pacific Co. Ltd. may replicate an underwater highway in Florida state of United States to link its expressway in the north and south of Manila without passing through Roxas Boulevard in Manila.

“It’s just a thought on my part and I’ve been telling to our people that we should study the way to connect the Harbor area because that’s where our tollways pass through before it switches to the east towards PUP [Polythecnic University of the Philippines],” Metro Pacific Investments Corp. chairman Manuel Pangilinan said.

“Maybe we should connect it to Coastal so that people can travel north to south without having to enter the city unless they wanted to,” he said.

Pangilinan said the proposed underwater road or a bridge connecting the expressways was presented to the government “very informally.”

“I think we should have to do our feasibility study. There are two alternatives go underwater or go above the water. I think we can build it as a technical matter, but how much it would cost is another matter,” he said.

“In the States, particularly if you build an offshore road, there should have some distance from the shoreline. So, you doesn’t spoil the scenery. You’ve seen that in Florida and San Francisco.”

MPIC’s unit Manila North Tollways Corp. is building the P11.5-billion NLEx Harbor Link, a 5.6-kilometer elevated highway in northwest of Manila linking MacArthur Highway in Valenzuela City and C3 Road in Caloocan City near the port area. It also plans to spend an additional P5 billion to extend the NLEx Harbor Link up to R10 in the Port of Manila area.

The company is also building the P16.5billion NLEx-SLEx Connector Road Project, an eight-kilometer, six-lane elevated expressway extending the NLEX southward from the end of Segment 10 in C3 Road Caloocan City to PUP Sta. Mesa and connect to the Common Alignment of Skyway Stage 3, and traversing mostly along the PNR rail track. The government has not yet approved the project, pending a Swiss Challenge.

With (from left) Patricia Chilip, president and CEO of Standard Insurance; Rosalind Wee, Go Negosyo trustee and founder of Marine Resources Development Corporation and the W Group of Companies; Go Negosyo founder Joey Concepcion; TV5 News and Current Affairs head Luchi Cruz-Valdes; Senator Grace Poe; Go Negosyo executive director Mon Lopez; Manila Overseas Press Club president Babe Romualdez; and Myrna Yao, president and CEO of RichPrime Global Inc.

The Grace to keep going IT COULDN’T have come at a more appropriate time.

The day before Senator Grace Poe appeared on the third leg of the GO NEGOSYO Meet the Presidentiables Series held last December 2 at the Grand Ballroom of the Solaire Hotel, the Commission on Elections (COMELEC) Second Division handed down its decision disqualifying her as a presidential candidate for not meeting residency requirements.

This development was foremost on everybody’s mind, and everyone, whether friend or foe, wanted to know how the Good Senator felt and what her next course of action would be.

I had the honor once again to be a panelist in this leg of the series, which is co-produced together with PLDTSMART SME Nation, TV5, and Bilang Pilipino 2016. And suffice it to say, (pardon the pun) the Senator showed enough grace under pressure to take

on the forum and the no-holds-barred questions that followed her keynote speech.

She was very composed and dignified in answering even the most difficult questions from the panelists and from the audience, and what struck me most about her was her self-deprecating humor that seemingly disarmed and charmed everyone. She had this ability to connect with her audience, composed mainly of entrepreneurs and students, and had the clear vision and grasp of governance that showed she knew what she was going to do if elected to the highest office in the land.

Oracle Clinic in PH. Oracle Clinic, the largest networked dermatology, plastic surgery, and obesity clinic in South Korea, opens its doors to Filipinos with its first franchise in the Philippines—Oracle Beauty Clinic. Officials and employees of Oracle Beauty lead the opening ceremony of the clinic. Founded by renowned Korean dermatologist, Dr. Ro Young Woo, Oracle Clinic has branches in Thailand, Vietnam, Taiwan, and China and Hong Kong.

E-trike maker set to expand

By Othel V. Campos EMOTORS Inc., maker of ZüM electric 3-wheel vehicles or e-trike, plans to expand its footprint as a leading company against climate change.

EMotors president and chief executive Elizabeth Lee said the 100-percent Filipino-owned company planned to convince local government units to start investing in green technology for transportation because of environmental concerns and as a sustainable means of livelihood.

“I’m not losing hope for LGUs especially now that after the Apec and COP21 wherein we took charge on our initiatives. I think more and more LGUS will take a look at how they can use e-trikes but our aim is not to replace but complement,” said Lee. He added EMotors would give opportunity to micro, small and medium enterprises to save on cost while protecting the environment.

The company is holding talks with LGUs

to boost the government fleet and with local tricycle groups to replace pollutiongenerating trikes.

EMotors started operating to help create an impact on climate change by offering zero-emission electric vehicles, generating jobs and alleviating poverty by raising the incomes of the underprivileged entrepreneurs.

EMotors is the only social enterprise company registered with the Board of Investments under Executive Order 156, or the Comprehensive Industrial Policy and Directions for the Motor Vehicle Development Program, and EO 226 or the Omnibus Investment Code.

The company uses about 50 percent to 60 percent local parts and imports big components from China.

Despite a low base due to the low penetration rate of the sub-industry, EMotors clinched several corporate accounts since fielding out e-trikes in 2013, including a partnership with Pepsi-Cola Product Philippines Inc.

During the roundtable discussion with moderator Luchi Cruz-Valdes, head of TV5’s News and Current Affairs and the guest of honor Senator Grace Poe

With Go Negosyo founder Joey Concepcion, Senator Grace Poe, and Sta. Elena Construction & Development Corporation president and CEO Alice Eduardo

Senator Grace Poe

MONDAY: DECEMBER 14, 2015

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BUSINESS business@manilastandardtoday.com extrastory2000@gmail.com

BDO to open 100 new branches

By Julito G. Rada

BDO Unibank Inc., the country’s largest lender controlled by tycoon Henry Sy, plans to open 50 to 100 new branches next year, as a part of an aggressive expansion nationwide, a top executive said over the weekend.

BDO president Nestor Tan said the exact number of additional branches would depend on growth opportunities.

“We do not have a specific number, but if you look at our past history, maybe we are looking at between 50 and 100… but we don’t run on having so many,” Tan told reporters during the bank’s media appreciation party Friday evening in Makati City.

“What we do is that we look at which size makes sense. If it

is more than a hundred, we roll out. If it’s less than 50, we roll out. So, you cannot foresee… it is to be driven by opportunities.

The 50 to 100 is historical, every year. That is what we are anticipating,” Tan said.

Tan did not provide the specific amount to be spent for the establishment of each branch.

“It is substantial. We can’t disclose that but you have to appreciate that it varies by site, size and the nature of the branch…

I’m not in a position to disclose

that,” Tan said.

BDO has one of the largest distribution networks nationwide. It has more than 1,000 operating branches and over 3,000 automated teller machines, including those of the Davaobased One Network Bank, which it acquired in July.

It also has a branch in Hong Kong as well as 27 overseas remittance and representative offices in Asia, Europe, North America and the Middle East.

Tan said the bank would assess its next move, after the recent establishment of a representative office in Dubai.

“We are just using Dubai as a rep office to service our requirements in the Middle East. So we will assess it, after we have stabilized that operation,” Tan said.

BDO posted a 5.4-percent increase in net income in the first nine months to P17.6 billion

from P16.7 billion a year ago, on the strength of its core businesses.

Total deposits increased 12 percent to P1.6 trillion, led by the 16-percent hike in low-cost deposits. As such, net interest income rose 12 percent year-onyear to P41.8 billion.

The third-quarter results incorporated the completion of BDO’s acquisition of One Network Bank in July this year, adding over P20 billion to BDO’s total loans and deposits.

The bank’s fee-based service income contributed P13.9 billion to non-interest income, followed by trading and foreign exchange income at P6.3 billion. Overall, BDO’s gross operating income went up by 11 percent to P65.6 billion.

BDO said despite the increased business volumes and sustained branch expansion, it managed the

growth of its operating expenses at 11 percent.

BDO prudently managed its balance sheet and set aside provisions amounting to P2.7 billion.

Gross non-performing loan ratio stood at 1.2 percent, compared to 1.4 percent a year-ago while NPL cover settled at 182 percent, after the consolidation of ONB. The bank’s total capital increased to P192 billion, with both the capital adequacy ratio and common equity Tier 1 ratio comfortably above the regulatory minimum under the Basel III framework at 13.4 percent and 11.4 percent, respectively.

BDO completed the acquisition of Davao City-based One Network Bank Inc. in July this year. ONB, the largest rural bank in the country in terms of assets, has 105 branches and microbanking offices in Mindanao and Panay Island.

HealthwayPMAP deal.

Healthway Medical, an operator of mallbased clinics, renews partnership with the People Management Association of the Philippines to provide premium healthcare to the organization’s members. Shown during the signing of the agreement are (from left) Roberto Policarpio, chairperson of Associate Fellow; Rene Gener, executive director of PMAP; Carmie de Leon, vice president of sales and marketing of Healthway; and Noreen Arellano, sales manager of Healthway.

DoE still wants 3rd party to select power supplier

By Alena Mae S. Flores THE Energy Department and the Energy Regulatory Commission must thresh out unresolved issues on the role of the third party in the competitive selection process for the procurement of power supply of distribution utilities.

The department still wants a third party to conduct the controversial CSP, even after the ERC excluded it on a recently issued resolution. ERC under the resolution declared CSP as mandatory, but did not endorse the delegation of a third party to conduct CSP. “We think there is a need to define and set the timeline for aggregation and third party,” Energy Secretary Zenaida Monsada told reporters.

Monsada said the department would submit the proposed implementing guidelines to the ERC for final approval.

“We are preparing the implementing guidelines as necessary pursuant to the circular issued by [former] Secretary [Jericho] Petilla, which includes the third party but it’s really up to ERC as regulator on how or what they see fit,” she said.

The energy official said the department was pursuing the delegation of a third party, as stated under the circular issued by Petilla.

“The CSP is effective so for those filed before Nov. 4, they’re okay but those after, we are still making the rules, like how mandatory and on aggregation,” Monsada said.

Emperador expects strong sales overseas

By Jenniffer B. Austria EMPERADOR Inc., the liquor unit of billionaire Andrew Tan which acquired European companies Whyte & Mackay and Fundador, said it expects the international business to grow by double digits annually over the next three years.

“When you look three years down the road, you will see the significant contribution of our international business. Double-digit growth or 10 percent up? Yes, definitely,” Emperador president Winston Co told reporters at the sidelines of a recent analysts’ briefing.

Co said the recent acquisitions would accelerate Emperador’s target of doubling net income to P11.6 billion by as early as 2016, from an initial target of 2017.

“We will come very close to

the number [by 2016],” Co said.

Emperador, through whollyowned subsidiary Emperador UK Limited, acquired 100 percent of Whyte & Mackay Group Limited and its subsidiaries for an enterprise value of 430 million pounds or P31 billion in 2014.

Emperador signed a definitive agreement in November 2015 to buy Spanish brandy Fundador and three other liquor brands from Beam Suntory, as well as its sherry business, with an allcash offer of 275 million euros or P13.8 billion.

Co said the acquisition of Spanish brandy Fundador would enable Emperador to consolidate its position in the brandy market.

“We have consolidated our position in the brandy business—Emperador which is the dominant market leader and for

the premium segment, we have Fundador. So from mass market to premium market we control the brandy segment,” Co said.

Co said the company would likely to take a “pause” from acquisitions after completing these two deals.

Emperador is the world’s largest selling brandy and is also the largest liquor company in the Philippines. Its flagship product Emperador brandy is sold all over the Philippines and is consumed more than other liquor products combined in the country.

Meanwhile, Co said it expected Emperador to close the acquisition of Fundador in the first quarter of 2016.

Co said the company would finance the acquisition of Fundador through debt. HSBS is the lead arranger for the fund raising activity.

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WORLD

CESAR BARRIOQUINTO EDITOR

editorial@thestandard.com.ph

B7

Data to fight China pollution BEIJING—In the future, China will shut down a factory before it even pollutes,or so it hopes, as it deploys big data in the fight against bad air.

Inter-Korea talks failure highlights mistrust SEOUL—The mutual recriminations after the failure of North and South Korea’s latest talks underline the depth of distrust and animosity that has plagued cross-border relations for decades.

The rare high-level talks ended Saturday night after two days of marathon negotiations produced no agreement on any issues—not even an agreement on whether to meet again.

The talks between vice ministers, with a mandate to address a broad but unspecified range of inter-Korean issues, were the first of their type for nearly two years.

While no substantial breakthrough had been expected, hopes for some tangible progress in stalled cooperation projects were dashed as the meeting became deadlocked from the very beginning over the agenda.

The cash-strapped North wanted the South to resume the lucrative tours to its scenic Mount Kumgang resort, which Seoul suspended in 2008 after a female tourist was shot dead by a North Korean guard.

But Seoul refused to talk about the issue and sought instead to focus on ways to hold another round of family reunions for those separated by the 1950-53 Korean War. Pyongyang tried to make the resumption of the tours a precondition for the discussions on reunions, according to Seoul’s chief delegate Hwang Boo-Gi. The North’s state agency KCNA later accused Seoul of refusing to discuss “core issues” and resorting to “unreasonable assertion” that hobbled the talks.

Previous efforts to establish a regular dialogue have often quickly faltered after an initial meeting -a reflection of the deep mistrust between two countries that have remained technically at war since their conflict six decades ago.

Since both sides refuse to budge on key issues, a breakthrough in relations will be hard to achieve in coming months, said Cheong Seong-Chang of the South’s Sejong Institute think-tank. AFP

Promotional event. Australian actress and model Miranda Kerr poses for photographers during a promotional event in Tokyo on December 13, 2015. AFP

In Beijing’s environmental bureau, a team of engineers tends to giant mainframe computers that keep a watchful eye on the city’s pollution.

Using everything from factories’ infrared profiles to social media posts, the machines can call up three-day pollution forecasts with resolution of up to one kilometer squared and detect trends up to 10 days out.

The computer program, developed by IBM, is one of several high-tech measures, ranging from drones and satellites to remote sensors, that China is deploying to deal with its chronic pollution.

It seeks to solve an incongruous reality: In a country where security cameras are ubiquitous and Communist authorities operate a vast public surveillance system, accurate information about pollution remains scarce—even to officials.

As a result, Beijing and its neighboring provinces “can’t coordinate joint defense and joint control” of their anti-smog efforts, leaving rogue companies to “secretly discharge and secretly dump”, said Chen Long, chief executive officer of Encanwell, which develops air quality monitoring and early warning systems.

The company is trying to achieve total pollution awareness: the ability to know, with perfect accuracy, where haze comes from and use that information to predict and preempt its future sources.

China has found itself in a double bind in the face of a relentless assault from bad air that put the capital on its first-ever air quality red alert this month.

Ahead of the 2008 Olympics, China closed factories across the region, halting construction and pulling half of all private cars off the roads. It was an effective strategy, but came at an estimated cost in the hundreds of millions of dollars.

Ensuring blue skies for major events such as last year’s APEC summit, the World Athletics Championships in August and a World War II anniversary parade, required a similar brute force approach that inflicted collateral damage on the economy in the country, where growth is slowing. AFP

No answers for parents of massacre victims PESHAWAR—Peshawar’s parents are seeking retribution not only from the Taliban gunmen who slaughtered their children one year ago, but from a state they say has not yet answered for the nightmare they are still living.

The massacre saw nine extremists scale the walls of an armyrun school in the northwestern Pakistani city, lobbing grenades and opening fire on terrified children and teachers, murdering them one by one before being killed by security services.

Many of the mothers and fathers of the more than 130 children murdered in the December 16 attack are ethnic Pashtun, their lives infused with the tribal code of ethics of which badal—or revenge—is a cornerstone.

As such, they take grim satisfaction in knowing that the military has wreaked its vengeance on the insurgents with hangings, arrests, and an offensive in the tribal areas where militants had previously operated with impunity.

But the same parents are railing against a deafening silence from

authorities over how a security apparatus put in place to protect them could have failed their children so completely.

“At least someone at some level was responsible... Why don’t they talk about it?” asks Abid Raza Bangash, whose 15-year-old son Rafiq was among those slaughtered.

The assault—in which 134 children and 17 adults died, according to the army—shocked and outraged the Pakistanis already scarred by nearly a decade of attacks, and prompted a crackdown

on extremism in civil society.

But no government, security or military official has yet been held to public account.

Bangash left his job as an engineer to become head of the Shuhada (Martyrs) Forum, a lobbying group of parents of the victims who gather on the 16th of every month in the city’s cultural center, Nishtar Hall.

“We want a fact-finding inquiry commission headed by a senior judge to probe this incident. The findings of that commission should

be made public,” he told AFP. “Still my heart is crying,” he says, remembering his bright son. “How can I forget him?”

In August, after a military trial that took place behind closed doors, the army announced that six militants linked to the Peshawar assault would be executed, while a seventh was given a life sentence.

On December 2, four were hanged at dawn in a prison in the northwestern city of Kohat, enraging parents who wanted to witness their deaths. AFP

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CESAR BARRIOQUINTO EDITOR

editorial@thestandard.com.ph

WORLD

Sun farm to help light up Morocco

OUARZAZATE, Morocco—On the edge of the Sahara desert, engineers make final checks to a sea of metal mirrors turned towards the sun, preparing for the launch of Morocco’s first solar power plant.

The ambitious project is part of the North African country’s goal of boosting its clean energy output with what it says will eventually be the world’s largest solar power production facility.

Morocco has scarce oil and gas reserves, and is the biggest importer of energy in the Middle East and North Africa.

The plant is part of a vision to move beyond this heavy dependency and raise renewable energy production to 42 percent of its total power needs by 2020.

About 20 kilometers outside Ouarzazate, half a million U-shaped mirrors—called “parabolic troughs”—stretch out in 800 rows, slowly following the sun as it moves across the sky.

Spread over an area equivalent to more than 600 football pitches, they store thermal energy from the sun’s rays and use it to activate steam turbines that produce electricity.

King Mohamed VI launched construction of the plant, called Noor 1, in 2013, at a cost of 600 million euros ($660 million) and involving roughly 1,000 workers.

Its start of operations by the end of this month was set to coincide with the conclusion of high-stakes COP21 global climate talks in Paris.

“Construction work has finished,” said Obaid Amran, a board member of Morocco’s solar power agency.

“We are testing components of the production units with a view to connecting them to the national grid at the end of the year.”

The project’s next phases—Noor 2 and Noor 3—are to follow in 2016 and 2017, and a call for tenders is open for Noor 4.

Once all phases are complete, Noor will be “the largest solar power production facility in the world”, its developers say, covering an area of 30 square kilometers.

It will generate 580 megawatts and provide electricity to a million homes. AFP

Tribute. People pay tribute to the victims in front of the music hall Bataclan in Paris on December 13, 2015, a month after the Paris terror attacks on November 13, 2015, that claimed 130 lives. AFP

US, Italy call meeting for peace deal in Libya ROME—Italy and the United States will hold talks on Sunday to press Libya’s divided political factions to quickly sign up to a United Nations-backed peace agreement.

Western capitals fear that unless Libya swiftly forms a united government, Islamic State radicals will strengthen their grip on their new coastal territory.

And, without a recognized central authority and amid ongoing faction-fighting, Libya could once again become a major source of refugees and migrants headed for Europe.

But critics of the proposed deal, which could be signed by Wednesday, warn that rushing the political reconciliation process might only deepen Libya’s political fault lines.

Italy’s Foreign Minister Paolo Gentiloni will co-chair the talks with US counterpart John

Kerry, who was to fly in to Rome on Sunday from the UN climate summit in Paris.

“We have to demonstrate that the action of governments and diplomacy can be faster and more effective than the threat of terrorism which we face here,” Gentiloni said.

“We cannot allow it to develop and we have to back our ability to stop it with a negotiated approach involving the Libyan parties,” he added, at a conference Friday.

After Libyan political representatives had agreed to sign a version of the UN-mediated deal on Wednesday, he said, the Rome talks are supposed to show international solidarity.

The talks will first bring together ministers from the region and beyond, then they will be joined by about a dozen Libyans representing rival groups.

This, he said, would “provide framing and momentum for the signing ceremony” to take place in Morocco.

The United Nations deal has the benefit of

unifying the negotiation process and has the support of the regional powers supporting rival factions in Libya’s conflicts.

For these reasons, US and Italian officials, believe it is time to end the division of Libya between two rival governments and a patchwork of warring factions.

But others warn forcing Libyans into a foreign-mediated process could strengthen existing resistance to the pact and undermine future peace efforts.

Former Italian foreign minister Emma Bonino and the head of International Crisis Group Jean-Marie Guehenno called the signing “an irresponsible bet.”

Writing in Politico, the pair said it is “wishful thinking” to believe a majority of Libyans will back a relative unknown, Faez Serraj, as head of a sole national authority.

“It is highly likely that security conditions will prevent Serraj and his colleagues from taking office in Tripoli,” they warned. AFP

Sentence upheld in mosque bombing

Victims. Pakistani men gather beside the victims of a bomb explosion at a market in Parachinar, the capital of Kurram tribal district, on December 13, 2015. At least 10 people were killed and 30 wounded when a bomb ripped through the crowded Sunday bazaar. AFP

KUWAIT CITY—Kuwait’s appeals court Sunday upheld the death penalty for the main organizer of the bombing of a Shiite mosque claimed by the Islamic State group that killed 26 people.

The court, however, reduced the death sentence handed out to the alleged leader of IS in Kuwait, Fahad Farraj Muhareb, to 15 years in prison.

A lower court in September issued the death penalty to Muhareb and Abdulrahman Sabah Saud, who drove the suicide bomber to the mosque site on June 26.

It also handed out jail terms of

between two and 15 years to eight others, including five women, and acquitted 14 others.

In Sunday’s ruling, the appeals court acquitted one of the five women.

There was tight security for the hearing, with armored vehicles outside the Kuwait City court complex and helicopters patrolling overhead.

Judge Hani al-Hamdan said that the cases of five men sentenced to death in absentia for their role in the bombing were not reviewed because they remained at large.

Under Kuwaiti law, sentences issued in absentia are not reviewed by higher courts until convicts appear.

Four of the men at large are Saudis, including two brothers who smuggled the explosives belt used in the attack into Kuwait from neighboring Saudi Arabia. The fifth is a stateless Arab.

A total of 29 defendants, seven of them women, had been on trial on charges of helping the Saudi suicide bomber carry out the attack on a Shiite mosque in the capital, which was the bloodiest in Kuwait’s history. 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

@LIFEatStandard

E AT, DRINK , T R AV EL

LIFE

C

hristmas is perhaps the only time when all members of the family get together for a little salo-salo to welcome the holiday cheer. Relatives often come back home from overseas to attend this special day as it is somewhat the clan’s mini reunion. So, where are you off to this Christmas? Are you spending the countdown at home for a festive Noche Buena or are you scouting for other lively celebrations outside the confines of your home or Lola’s home? We’ve gathered a few places where you can spend the holiday celebration starting today until the Christmas Eve. Check on the festivities these places have in store for their guests this season:

RESORTS WORLD MANILA

Yes, we can all hear the woman’s breathy voice whispering the name of the hotel. One of the country’s premier lifestyle and tourism destinations, Resorts World Manila (RWM) recently launched its annual Grand Fiesta Manila with a ceremonial Christmas tree and parol lighting. The sixth Grand Fiesta Manila is comprised of a series of marathon events that celebrate the holiday thrills as traditionally observed

by Filipinos and is inspired by the Bacolod festival MassKara.

For the entire duration of December, catch the Megaworld Christmas Sale at The Plaza in Newport Mall, and take a culinary adventure at selected RWM restaurant outlets that will serve traditional Christmas treats puto bungbong and bibingka exclusively prepared by RWM chefs.

Simbang Gabi will be held at The Plaza from December 15 to 23 while the Christmas High Mass will commence at the Newport Performing Arts Theater on Christmas Day with Bishop Leopoldo S. Tumulak and Fr. Peter Coching. Celebrate Christmas Day at the annual Christmas Day Show at The Plaza and be serenaded by jazz crooner Arthur Manuntag together with the UP Singing Ambassadors.

Now if you’re looking for last minute gift ideas, Café Maxims at RWM offers the perfect Yuletide Christmas Gifts and Hampers from its gourmet kitchen.

Choose from Café Maxims’ special set of Holiday Baskets and Season’s Treats.

Make sure to allow at least five days lead time and call as soon as possible to place your orders.The signature coffee bar and lounge opens up its pantry to guests who want to sample their delectable holiday treats.

Visit www.rwmanila.com or call the Tourist/Visitor Hotline at (632) 9088833 for the complete schedule of events and promos for Grand Fiesta Manila 2015. Search #GandFiestaManila2015 for updates on their activities.

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LIFE life @ thestandard.com .ph

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CCA MANILA PARTNERS WITH HONG KONG CULINARY SCHOOL TEXT AND PHOTOS BY NOIME DAGOHOY

T

he country’s premier culinary school Center for Culinary Arts, Manila signs a groundbreaking academic partnership with Hong Kong’s Institut Culinaire Disciples Escoffier in a bid to further boost its French cuisine programs.

ICDE is a professional institute dedicated to upholding the classic foundations of French cuisine. Through CCA Manila’s agreement with the culinary school, ICDE will handle all culinary classes and programs related to French cuisine, that include Disciples Escoffier Diploma in Culinary Arts, French Bakery and pastry courses.

CCA students stand to benefit immensely from the academic partnership with ICDE such as access to world-class facilities, renowned chef-instructors and other careerbuilding opportunities.

“Escoffier is very pleased to partner with the Philippines’ finest, CCA Manila, which is a

prestigious institution that is not only renowned for its track record in the industry, but also for its proactive thrust and commitment to progress topnotch culinary education and sustainable practices in the kitchen,” says ICDE chief operating officer Benjamin Grenier.

The Cravings Group chief executive officer Marinela Trinidad is likewise honored with CCA’s milestone partnership with Escoffier as it boosts their standing as the leading hub of world-class professional culinarians and also strengthens their programs and efforts to create lasting, positive impacts on culinary education in the Philippines.

Both CCA and ICDE offer high quality handson learning experience. They both strive and share the same vision to offer the best culinary programs in their respective institutes. With this development, culinary students and educators expect more promising endeavors in 2016.

Master Chef from Escoffier, director of ICDE and president of the Disciples Escoffier delegation in Hong Kong, Vincent Leroux conducts a special one-day cooking demonstration

Partners in culinary education. From left: Institut Culinaire Disciples Escoffier of Hong Kong chief financial officer Thierry Muller, chief operating officer Benjamin Grenier, Center for Culinary Arts Manila founder and president Susana Guerrero and chief executive officer Marinela Trinidad sign the Memorandum of Agreement between CCA Manila and ICDE

CCA Manila has been partnering with some of the world’s leading culinary institutions which includes Canada’s Northern Alberta Institute of Technology, Australia’s William Angliss Institute, and the US’ American Culinary Federation and The Sushi Institute.

Aside from improving and expanding its culinary programs, CCA is also aggressive in its expansion through satellite campuses. In February 2016, it is expected to launch its Makati

facility which will offer various lifestyle classes.

Also included in the pipeline is the opening of its second branch at the Bonifacio Global City.

For a colder altitude, head to The Manor at Camp John Hay. Book now ‘til January 2, 2016 and beat the traffic jam going up the mountainside. This season, partake of the hotel’s gift of sharing as it sells unique Christmas candles for the benefit of children diagnosed with cancer. If you’re bringing your little ones, make sure they catch Santa Claus and his elves at The Manor lobby on December 18, 2015 to January 2, 2016, from 5:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m.

All throughout The Manor Garden, from 5:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m., hear the voices of angels

as The University of Baguio Voices sing for the public from December 18 to December 26, and then the Voices Ensemble will serenade guests from December 27 to January 2, 2016.

The latter part of the evening will see the Sanglaw Dancers performing for the audience.

As we suggested earlier, head to Baguio as early as today to avoid the congested roads and catch the hotel’s carnival shows, fun games, and food festival that happen daily at Camp John Hay up ‘til January 3, 2016.

For guests who want to catch the special masses for the holidays, the Misa de Navidad

will be on December 24 from 5:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m., while the Misa de Año Nuevo will be on December 31 from 5:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. There will be a special shuttle service available to and from The Manor and Camp John Hay Trade and Cultural Center.

Back to the hustle and bustle of Manila, you can fill your festive hunger at Diamond Hotel as it has prepared exquisite dishes from around the world in an eat-all-you-can style at Corniche which offers Christmas Eve and Christmas Day lunch and dinner buffets.

The dinner buffets are made more special with the inclusion of a complimentary glass of Cava (Spanish sparkling wine). If you and your family are craving for Japanese, the Yurakuen Japanese Restaurant offers an authentic spread of Japanese specialties with its special Christmas Set Menu, inclusive of

a complimentary glass of umeshu (Japanese plum wine) or Cava, available during dinner on December 24 and 25.

After dinner, catch a few cocktails and tapas at the Lobby Lounge. Order a set menu of Signature Tapas which includes a free flow of Cava or house wine. Or you can unwind with your favorite drink or cocktails at the Sky Lounge while listening to the featured band performers which starts at 8:30 p.m.

The hotel’s bakery also prepared Christmas goodies, hampers, party platters or gift certificates for your gift

giving. Yes, we can hear you say Diamond Hotel ensaïmada. Deliveries cover Greater Metro Manila only and pick-up venue will be at the Christmas Lobby Counter of Diamond Hotel.

THE MANILA HOTEL

On this side of Manila, your youngsters will definitely love the hotel’s very own Colonial Christmas Village. Yes, they have turned the hotel into a whimsical Christmas holiday experience for the whole family. Grab your map and take the tour inside the colorful hotel, head down to Parsons street and be taken back to Spanish colonial times with street lampposts to guide the tour.

Drop by the Town Mayor’s office to get the passes and enjoy each stop along with the hotel’s little surprises. Next stop is Willy’s

Emporium, here kids and the young-at-heart can redeem or buy their own “Willy” the bear and unique finds like colonial toy trains from UK-based toy shop, Hamleys. Visit the Page, Turner, & Co., and catch storytelling activities every Saturday and Sunday as they read books from Adarna House. Of course, don’t miss out on the sweets! Enjoy a can of cookies and a hearty kiddie meal prepared by the chefs of The Manila Hotel at the Patisserie Bakeshop and Tea Hall. And if movies are your thing, get the family together and pop those popcorn

bigger number, 25-49 adults, get the addedvalues that include two bottles of sparkling wine, Christmas cake and holiday hamper; Lunch Buffet for two at Market Café; and complimentary valet service. For a group of 50 or more adults, enjoy three bottles of sparkling wine, Christmas cake and holiday hamper, overnight stay in a guest room with buffet breakfast for two at Market Café, special turndown amenity during stay and complimentary valet service.

Ready for some videoke? Celebrate your inner pop diva or rock star persona at Music Bar and enjoy endless sing-along fests with

friends and loved ones. Be armed with your Justin or Selena lyrics because you and your friends are in for quite a long party while enjoying irresistible culinary delights. The Holiday Glee at P1,200 per person includes maple glazed peanuts and bacon bits; tortilla chips with spicy beef, sour cream; cheddar cheese; sausage pizza; baked penne and forest ham in tomato cream sauce; Dak Gang Jeong; wok fried beef and vegetables; sweet and sour pork; Jasmine rice; seasonal fruit platter; and one round of iced tea. For a more lavish party, take the Holiday Shindig at P1,400 per person.

For inquiries and more details on CCA Manila, call (02) 218-5266 or email talktoccamanila@gmail.com you may also log on to www.cca-manila.com or visit CCA, Manila’s main campus at 287 Katipunan Ave., Loyola Heights, Quezon City.

WHERE ARE YOU OFF TO THIS CHRISTMAS? From C1

THE MANOR AT CAMP JOHN HAY

DIAMOND HOTEL

NEW WORLD MANILA BAY

At the New World Manila Bay, the hotel’s award-winning restaurants are the ideal setting for your holiday party. Enjoy bonus gifts and goodies for group bookings of at least 10 guests with the regular rate at Market Café, call in your family or your friends and spend your Christmas party for a special rate of a minimum of P1,000 per person at Li Li and a special rate of a minimum of P2,000 per person at The Fireplace.

Now for a bigger familia of 10-24 adults, enjoy one bottle of sparkling wine, Christmas cake and holiday hamper, and complimentary valet service. For an even

Diamond Hotel Philippines is located at Roxas Boulevard corner Dr. J. Quintos Street, Manila.

For inquiries, call (632) 528-3000 or email bizcenter@diamondhotel.com. For more information on Diamond Hotel Philippines, visit www.diamondhotel.com. For hotel updates and special offerings, follow the

The Manor at Camp John Hay is located at Loakan Road, Baguio City. For details and bookings call Baguio (074) 424-0931 to 47/5053, Baguio hotline (02) 584-4892 and (02) 5844911, or email reservations@campjohnhay.ph.

Or visit www.campjohnhay.ph.

hotel on Facebook, YouTube and Google+ at Diamond Hotel Philippines, and Instagram and Twitter at DiamondHotelPh. bags and enjoy all-time Christmas movies inside the Grand View Cinema.

The Manila Hotel’s Christmas Village is open every day until January 02, 2016 from 1:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. Christmas Village ticket prices are at P1,500.00 (Golden Ticket) and P800.00 (Companion Ticket). For inquiries about Room Packages, please call the hotel’s Reservations Team at 527-0011 local 1175 to 1179. And for ticket inquiries and purchase, call the Concierge Team at 527-0011 local 7.

For inquiries and orders, please call + 63 2 252 6888 or e-mail dining.manilabay@newworldhotels.com or e-mail reservations.manilabay@newworldhotels.com.

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@LIFEatStandard

12 DAYS OF CHRISTMAS (Part 1)

O TIPPLE TALES

BY ICY MARIÑAS

n average, there may be roughly two dozen Christmas carols in sporadic rotation in the playlist in our heads at any given time (I’m being very conservative with that estimate).

There might be disputes as to which persistent seasonal tunes are in the top 10, but it’s a safe bet that The Twelve Days of Christmas is in the top 20.

Traditionally, the celebration of the 12 days begins on Christmas day and ends on January 5 (called the

FIRST DAY - A Partridge in a Pear Tree (this columnist’s own) 45ml Mount Gay Rum 20ml Grilled pear and cinnamon puree 10ml Pedro Jimenez nectar 10ml lemon juice 1 whole egg 5ml maple Syrup 1-2 dash of Black Cloud Bitters salt

Twelfth Night). I decided to switch it up and start it early.

As luck would have it, the day this column comes out (Dec. 14) is 12 days before Christmas, so it works out!

I thought it would be fun to go through the whimsical list and put a twist of alcohol to it. I’ve asked a few bartender friends and yours truly to create cocktails based on a particular day in the song. This week, we’ll be sharing concoctions from the first six days of Christmas.

THIRD DAY - Three French Hens by Sophie Douse (Smith Butcher & Grill Room, Makati City)

30ml Chateau de Laubade No.5 Armagnac 5ml Dubonnet Rouge 10ml Crème Du Cassis 30ml sparkling wine

Add all ingredients in a shaker without ice to emulsify the egg until frothy. Add ice and shake until cold. Fine strain over ice.

Garnish with pear slice and dash of Black Cloud Bitters.

SECOND DAY - Two Turtle Doves by Jay Doy (Hooch Bar, Salcedo Village) 50ml Bombay sapphire 15ml cinnamon syrup 15ml sugar syrup 20ml egg white 20ml lillet rouge 25ml lemon juice 1 dash each Angostura and Peychaud bitters

Add all ingredients in a chilled champagne flute and top with sparkling wine.

FOURTH DAY Four Calling Birds

by Sophie Douse

(Smith Butcher & Grill Room, Makati City)

Add all ingredients in a shaker, shake it long to make the egg white froth. Transfer the mixture in a glass. Add one dash each of Angostura and Peychaud bitters. Torch the top of the cocktail lightly to get the turtle shell effect.

45ml Wild Turkey Rye 30ml apple juice 15ml lemon juice 25ml homemade gingerbread syrup Top with hot water. Garnish with cinnamon bark and orange twist. (Take on a hot toddy.)

FIFTH DAY - Five Golden Rings

(Ced Cello, Ebeneezer’s BGC)

45ml Bacadi Oro 30ml simple syrup 20ml fresh orange juice 20ml fresh lemon 1 egg white 2-dash dark chocolate bitters Put all ingredients in a shaker, dry shake.

Add ice, hard shake. Add a pinch of salt around the foam top.

SIXTH DAY - Six Geese a-Laying (Neil Ocampo, Liquid Sensation) 45ml Cognac 20ml Ginger Liqueur 15ml Agave Extract 90ml Ginger Tea (Hot) Put everything inside the metal tea pot (stirred). Light it up and slowly pour mixture into a tea cup while pouring drizzle with cinnamon powder.

Garnish with dehydrated orange slice and cinnamon stick.

I hope that these song-inspired drinks will put a smile on your face. I strongly encourage you to try them out at some point during the season. Check out my column next week for six more recipes.

Add me on IG @sanvicentegirl or drop me a line at tippletales@gmail.com or visit me at my bar for a drink or two.

WHERE ARE YOU OFF TO THIS CHRISTMAS? From C2

MAKATI SHANGRI-LA, MANILA

RAFFLES AND FAIRMONT MAKATI

THE PENINSULA MANILA

How about spicing up a hotel stay by trying your luck at getting a chance to take home a grandiose getaway for two at Kowloon Shangri-La, Hong Kong and Shangri-La Hotel, Singapore? From December 15 to January 31, 2016, guests staying at Makati Shangri-La, Manila will be entitled to one raffle entry to this holiday raffle promo. The winner gets to take a companion for a two-night stay at Kowloon Shangri-La, Hong Kong and Shangri-La Hotel, Singapore and a round-trip airfare via Cathay Pacific Airways. Sweet deal, right? The raffle is open to all guests booking any rate or package.

The winner will be immediately notified via

telephone and email after the raffle draw on February 5, 2016.

For hotel bookings, avail of a Seasons of Suite Luxury that offers local residents a complimentary third night when they book a Deluxe Room for two nights from December 15 to January 10, 2016 at a special rate at P13,800+++ per night. The package includes buffet breakfast for two adults and two children below six years old at Circles Event Café.

Another promo option is Yuletide Escape; book any room for stays from December 15 to 28 and on January 1 to 10, 2016 at special rates starting at P6,800+++. The package

includes buffet breakfast for two adults and two children below six years old at Circles Event Cafe. Call your family and decide today as advance booking is required and confirmation is subject to room availability.

In the heart of CBD, celebrate with Raffles and Fairmont Makati and enjoy special rates on rooms and banquets. For dining options choose from the array dining offers at Raffles and Fairmont’s restaurants and bars for your get-togethers. Spectrum’s special holiday buffets can get your entire family’s festive palates satiated on Noche Buena favorites. If you and your family are more into fun by the pool side, head to the 9th Floor and be part of the Pool Bar party where you can revel in exciting salsa beats from a live band. At the stroke of midnight enjoy a 360 picturesque view of Makati’s bustling district.

After spending the entire day shopping in the nearby Ayala malls, regain your energy and relax your tired feet while indulging in leisure hours of conversation and music over Afternoon Tea. Enjoy Holiday

Teatime Traditions at Writers Bar with a tower of nostalgic Christmas treats while listening to well-loved Christmas Carols.

For chocoholics, Sundays in December at Fairmont Lounge are your best days. Indulge in a tower of delectable pastries, sweets and cookies to dip in their very own tabletop chocolate fountain, with a cascade of chocolate flavors to choose from. Holiday Teatime Traditions at Writers Bar is available at P995 for two, while Christmas Chocolate Afternoon Tea at Fairmont Lounge is P1,200 for the first three persons, and P400 for every additional guest.

Ever wonder how they make those aromatic gingerbread houses? On December 20, from 2:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m., get your youngsters and decorate together your very own gingerbread house with frosting,

candies and icing. Each gingerbread house set is priced at P950, and comes with edible embellishments for decorating. For lastminute gift shopping, they also have the Raffles and Café Macaron gift hampers in charming picnic baskets made of wicker with leather and brass trimmings, filled to the brim with goodies made of chocolates, traditional sweets and pastries.

How many of your balikbayan relatives are heading to Manila for the holidays? Take advantage of the special holiday rates at The Peninsula Manila and enjoy the festive celebrations all around the hotel.

The Festive Room offerings include a daily buffet breakfast for two adults and two children under 12, a P1,000 food and beverage credit, access to The Peninsula Fitness Center and outdoor

pool, complimentary internet access and a special gift on Christmas Day. Catch The Peninsula’s holiday ambassador SnowPage, now dressed for the holidays in fashionable clothing by toy art collective Papinee outfit for the hotel’s annual fundraising campaign.

The limited edition snowman is priced at P4,000 each; proceeds of the purchase will be donated to Make-A-Wish Philippines.

Now if you buy one, make sure you check

the box as some will contain lucky “Golden Tickets” hidden inside that allows you to redeem Peninsula family experiences, including a suite stay, sumptuous dinners and afternoons teas.

For inquiries and room reservations, please call (63 2) 813 8888 or email reservations.slm@shangri-la.com. To learn more about Makati Shangri-La, Manila’s holiday offerings, please see the e-brochure at bit.ly/SpectacularChristmas. For more updates, follow Makati Shangri-La, Manila on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram @MakatiShangriLa.

For more information on the dining offers, please call 795 1840. For more information on any of the room offers, contact 795 0711, or email bookus.makati@raffles.com for Raffles Makati and Raffles Residences, and reservations.makati@fairmont.com for Fairmont Makati. Visit raffles.com/Makati for Raffles Makati and Raffles Residences, and fairmont.com/Makati for Fairmont Makati.

For inquiries please call The Peninsula Manila Festive Hotline at +63 (2) 887 2888 extension 6630, e-mail pmn@peninsula.com or visit www.peninsula.com.

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@LIFEatStandard

CHRISTMAS GREETINGS Christmas is a time for sharing, so I decided to invite a few friends, who are leading personalities MERCURY RISING in the Tourism Industry, to share my column and send you their Yuletide Greetings to help perk

BY BOB ZOZOBRADO up the Season. Here are their meaningful and sincere messages: MINA GABOR

BENITO BENGZON, JR.

Former Secretary Department of Tourism

Undersecretary, Tourism Development Department of Tourism The yuletide season is a time when we turn to our families and loved ones for happy memories and reminiscing.

It evokes the longing to come home.

It is a beautiful reminder that no matter how far we may have reached, however long a time we may have been gone, and whatever successes we may have achieved, we will always, always, come home.

But most importantly, Christmas is the season to express our gratitude for all the blessings we have received this year. The true meaning of the season is certainly not seen in those fancy decors, expensive gifts or overflowing feasts – it is instead felt through those little acts of humanity. The real essence of Christmas is to open ourselves and our homes to others.

On behalf of the Department of Tourism, I wish you all the merriest Christmas and happiest holidays! Let us rejoice in the opportunities to reunite with our kin and friends. Let our guests feel the warmest welcome and have them experience Filipino Christmas that we deem more heartfelt, more real, and definitely more fun.

Mabuhay!

NARZALINA LIM

Former Secretary Department of Tourism This has been a difficult year for humankind, with terrorist attacks demonstrating man’s inhumanity to man; millions of refugees dying as they seek new homes, away from the terror of theirs; people displaced from their communities by extreme weather disturbances; war; injustice; and unimaginable hatred.

Christmas is always a time for reflection about what is important to each of us. It is also a time of hope. This Christmas, as we reflect on the birth of our Savior – He who became man to save us – we pray that we do not give in to despair but instead to trust that love, prayers, kindness, and empathy for the suffering of others will triumph over hatred.

While domestic tourism is on the rise and is helping in the sharing of wealth – I hope tourism development will not be dominated by developers seeking quick returns at the expense of the environment and the community.

My Christmas wish is for tourism development to begin with one’s immersion of the site so development will be in harmony with nature and for the benefit of the community.

The local community must know everything about their people, place, history, event, food and produce. Only then can a people truly say they are ready for tourism. Meantime, a very Merry Christmas, everyone!

MARILEN SANDEJAS

President and CEO, Baron Travel Past two-term president, Philippine Travel Agencies Association

Christmas is the Season of Love, no matter how you look at it. Love for others, love for self, and most of all, love for Our Creator. It’s the season to show how much love we have in our hearts and in our lives. Let’s show off Our Lord’s beautiful creation in ourselves by being kind and generous to others.

By living our lives as Christ taught us, we will manifest how much love our Lord has for all His creatures. Merry Christmas, everyone!

ATTY. ROBERTO P, LAUREL President, Lyceum of the Philippines University 2015 Mabuhay Gold Awardee

Christmas is the quintessential holiday of hospitality. In Christendom, it is a celebration of God’s dwelling among people.

The key characters in the nativity story – despite the irony of divinity being born in a lowly manger – are the shepherds and the magi, representing a broad variety of humanity who welcomed the Christ child. Even among people who belong to other religious traditions, the Christmas season has become a cultural occasion for gathering together to celebrate being at home with one another.

And so, as we prepare to celebrate this grand feast, may we see how the twinkling lights are visual echoes of that first night when the world welcomed God in its midst.

And when we unwrap our presents, what gets revealed is the wonderful present: that we are in each other’s lives and that we wish to care for one another by making each other feel at home.

Happy holidays!

WHERE ARE YOU OFF TO THIS CHRISTMAS? From C3

CROWNE PLAZA MANILA GALLERIA

HOLIDAY INN MANILA GALLERIA

If you will be staying at the middle part of the town, head to Holiday Inn Manila Galleria and experience the hotel’s holiday activities and feasts prepared to ensure a Christmas filled with cheer. Room promo Stay Joyful costs only P3,799++ for a relaxing and spacious Deluxe Room. Also included with your stay is a tray full of Christmas treats, a Christmas themed Kiddie Play Pack, and two tickets to Kidzooona, and a chance to win P10,000 worth of toys for the youngsters.

For the corporate junkies all the way in Ortigas, take advantage of Bar One’s special offers every day of the week this season.

While waiting for traffic to subside get unlimited servings of Mojito for only P500 nett from 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. on Mojito

SHANGRI-LA’S BORACAY RESORT & SPA

For more information and reservations, call +632-633-7111 or visit holidayinn.com/higalleria.

Another venue for your holiday staycation is Crowne Plaza. For only P4,799++, get the Silent Night package and avail of a Deluxe Room and buffet breakfast for two, Christmas treats, tickets to Kidzooona, and a Christmas Kiddie Play Pack. Stay for two consecutive nights and receive a raffle ticket for the chance to win at least P10,000 worth of toys.

On December 24, 25, 31, and January 1, visit Seven Corners for a sparkling white Christmas feast featuring traditional favorites such as pine honey leg of ham, prosciutto wrapped chicken, and roasted pork loin.

And for those craving for some Chinese cuisine, check out Chinese restaurant Xin Tian Di with its special Christmas menus, available for four to 10 guests. If you’re bringing your kids, make sure they sit on

Have you booked your tickets to the most sought after destinations for the holidays? We hope you did already as plane tickets get really expensive this season. If you’ll be in Boracay, don’t miss out Shangri-La’s Boracay Resort & Spa “Pasko! Pasko!”, a traditional Filipino Christmas, all of December.

Enjoy a series of folk activities, yuletide feasts, as well as private festivities amidst the beautiful landscape and sea view of the hotel. Overnight accommodation starts at P23,000 plus beginning December 21, and includes breakfast for two adults and two children below 12 years old,

with roundtrip speedboat transfers via Caticlan.

Bring your whole family and let the kids enjoy Christmas craft-a-thon, parol or lantern making, candy cane hunting, snowman face painting, and reindeer cupcake making that’s unique from all the lists we’ve mentioned above.

For the kids-at-heart, the adults can join in the fun with Christmas Bingo, family olympics, beach snowman contests and sandman making. There will be gift giving, an outdoor movie showing and learning of Filipino Christmas carols. Of course, the dining option in this part of paradise is endless. Choose from

Mondays. Tick your calendars and get the chance to get 50 percent off on your drink on Flip Night Tuesdays, special promos on Boys Night Out on Wednesdays and Ladies Night on Thursdays, and unlimited draft beer on Happy Fridays.

Santa’s lap and make their Christmas wish on December 12-13, and December 19-20.

They can also partake of the cupcakes and gingerbread cookies decorating activity, Christmas goodies and holiday hampers at Santa’s Shop. Guests may opt to create their own hampers and they’ll wrap it up for you! Fruitcakes, assorted pies, and Yule logs, among others, are also available.

For more information, call +632 633-7222. a festive banquet at beautiful Punta Bunga beach, fresh and succulent seafood feasts by Chef Hamed Ghayedi at Sirena, or romantic dining on a treetop at Chef Omar Ugoletti’s Rima modern Mediterranean restaurant.

Multi-course menus are available at Rima, with the option to upgrade with wine pairings.

For more information call (036) 288 4988 or visit www.shangri-la.com/boracay. Or follow them on Facebook at ShangrilaBoracay, access their social media feed on Twitter and Instagram via hashtag #MyShangriLaBoracay.

M ONDAY : DECEMBER 14 : 2015

SHOWBITZ

ISAH V. RED EDITOR

isahred @ gmail.com

C5

SoundS oF the SeaSon at the Shang

F

rom the soulful and slow, to the joyful and upbeat, all the heartwarming and beloved musical favorites performed by some of the country’s top acts are at the Shangri-La Plaza this holiday season.

Fill your December with the sounds of the merry season with the rest of the Shang’s exciting roster.

Catch the famed ABS-CBN Philharmonic Orchestra as this 40-musician group serenades mall-goers with moving symphonic music under the baton of music director Gerard Salonga on Dec.19, 7:30 p.m. at the Main Wing’s Grand Atrium.

Another exciting performance follows quickly after, with the University of the Philippines Madrigal Singers taking the stage 6:30 p.m. at the East Atrium, East Wing also on Dec.19.

Under the direction of Mark Anthony Carpio, the acclaimed ensemble will perform their extensive repertoire of classic and renaissance tunes, opera and popular music The weekend of Dec. 20 is all set to welcome two anticipated performances the entire family will be sure to enjoy while at the leading lifestyle destination. The unique vocalizations and eclectic sounds of the Ateneo Chamber Singers (ACS) at 6:30 p.m. will fill the East Atrium. The audience will have a wonderful time as the group presents its wide variety of choral literature spanning postmodern periods, to highly-textured indigenous music.

Touted as one of the most versatile in the industry, the Manila Philharmonic Orchestra unleashes its breadth of repertoire styles and flexibility, with an expected well-lauded live performance also on Dec.20, 7:30 p.m. at the Grand Atrium.

A number of the most talented young voices will be heard at the Shang as the De La Salle Zobel Chorale, Philippine Montessori Center Instrumental Ensemble & Temple Hill International School Ensemble, St. Paul College Pasig, St Theresa’s College, Ateneo Grade School Primary, Ateneo Boys Choir, and the Immaculate Conception Academy wow the crowds until Dec.12-18 at the Grand Atrium.

For the complete schedule and inquiries, call 370-2500 loc. 593 or visit www.facebook.com/shangrilaplazaofficialfanpage. Follow the Shang on Instagram: @shangrilaplazaofficial.

The Ateneo Chamber Singers

The famed Madrigal Singers of the University of the Philippines

Musical Group De La Salle Zobel Chorale

The 40-piece ABS-CBN Philharmonic Orchestra

Kiana ValenCiano joins ‘Gary V Presents¼ Award-winning singer and recording artist Kiana Valenciano joins the talented gang of Bullet Dumas, Carla Guevara-Laforteza, Jannice Javier, Jimmy Marquez, Katrina Velarde, Lara Maigue, Maki Ricafort, Mitoy Yonting, Monique Lualhati, Timmy Pavino, RJ Dela Fuente, and Gary Valenciano in the much-awaited repeat of Gary V Presents… tomorrow at Newport Performing Arts Theater, Resorts World, Manila.

Kiana’s love for fashion took her to fashion schools like Sofa after a few years at DLSU and graduated with a course in fashion design from Raffles Design Institute. She recently took some special workshops on fashion design at the University Of The Arts London, Central Saint Martins for 5 weeks.

Also an accomplished lifestyle blogger, Kiana was chosen as 2015’s favorite blogger at the Reader’s Choice Awards of Candy magazine. Kiana is included in the presti-

Lifestyle blogger, singer and upcoming recording artist Kiana is making a name for her own self

gious line-up of Metro magazine’s “Women To Watch Out For In 2016.” She was also featured on the 23rd anniversary cover of Mega magazine in February as well as on the cover of Hola magazine in January.

In the field of recording, Kiana was named the Most Promising New Female Singer on Magic 89.9 for the duet he she recorded with Gary V titled “With You,” which was part of Gary’s inspirational CD of the same title under Universal Records.

She was also one of the interpreters in Philpop 2014 where she recorded “Dear Heart” and performed live, which was written and arranged by Mike Villegas which earned her a Best New Female Recording Artist Nomination at the Awit Awards for 2015.

It should be noted that Kiana’s special participation in the repeat of Gary V Presents is part of her comeback to the music industry. She was the only performer in the recent launch of Calvin Klein in the Philippines at SM AURA. Gary V Presents… is a spectacular musical event that will feature Gary with his personal choice of new and up and coming artists whom he feels need to be recognized in greater measure for their excellent vocal talent.

the rePeat’

These artists, which now includes Kiana, are all known for their exceptional artistry and the respective musical genres they each represent. Most of them were catapulted to mainstream recognition after most of them became part of different talent competitions on national TV. Gary personally assembled them to be part of the concert on the basis of their individual achievements as solo artists as they are rapidly conquering the fields of recording, live shows and local bar circuits, theater, and television.

With the award-winning Mon Faustino as music-director, Gary prepared a repertoire for the critically acclaimed concert that will showcase his timeless hits as well as a sampling of songs that have been identified with him for the past 32 years.

Gary V Presents… The Repeat is for the benefit of the scholarship programs of Shining Light Foundation and UNICEF. For ticket inquires call Ticketworld at 891-999 or contact 0917-5413389

M ONDAY : DECEMBER 14 : 2015

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SHOWBITZ isahred @ gmail.com

Max Collins flew to Qatar to film Footprints on the Moon, a romantic indie film

Martin Nievera treated fans to an unforgettable musical extravaganza

ShOOtinG in QataR JOSEPh PEtER GOnZaLES Max Collins couldn’t contain her excitement now that shooting has officially commenced for her international movie titled Footprints on the Moon directed by Jan Xavier Pacle whose major scenes will be shot in Qatar.

“I’m really happy and proud to be the female lead,” she says. “I auditioned for the part way back in early 2014 and now, I can’t believe the cameras have started grinding.

Actually, the project’s original title was Remembering Ada. It’s an epic romance about how love endured the tests of time.

“It tells the story of Adeline and Ethan, the central characters who gave up the hope of seeing each other again after 50 long years. But there’s this aspiring novelist named Franz who will bring them back together. It’s a touching love story for sure and I’m simply thrilled to play Adeline.”

Supposedly, Alden Richards will play the role of the novelist in the story but he was replaced by indie actor Jess Mendoza.

“Yes! Originally, he was part of the project. But when he was cast last year, his schedule wasn’t as hectic as it is now. Because of his intense popularity these days

as the other half of the sensational AlDub love team, his workload tripled, so to speak.

So, because of that conflict, he had to be replaced for the shooting to start.”

Many are asking if she had regrets with this development.

“In the first place, who wouldn’t want to do a project with the Pambansang Bae? Alden’s everywhere at this point. He’s very popular.

Actually I don’t have huge regrets because I was able to do projects with him on television before, like in Ilustrado and Sunday All Stars.

It would have been my maiden vehicle with him on the silver screen though, and for international release!” avers Max. The pretty star is actually happy for her fellow Kapuso with his present success.

“Oh yes! Alden deserves whatever triumph he enjoys right now. Basically a kind guy, he is just blessed. Everything happens for a reason. Maybe it’s not yet time for us to do a film together. I will miss the opportunity of working with him again. And it would have been nice to see him in an international movie like Footprints on the Moon.”

The cast and crew are set to fly to Qatar in January. For her role, the Bubble Gang mainstay needed to undergo violin lessons.

“Yes, that’s one of the main requirements when I officially got the part. So my next step was to hire an expert violin teacher and watch movies with a character playing the said musical instrument like Meryl Streep in Music of

CROSSWORD PUZZLE 48 49 51 53 55 56 59 61 65 68 69 70 71 72 73 74

Itty-bitty Flocks of geese Took back Normandy port Home furnishings Zorro’s disguise Fair-hiring letters Dryden works Party streamers (2 wds.)

Europe-Asia range Mr. Spock’s forte “I kid you not” comic — May Clampett Prefix for second Fishtail Caviar, actually

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ANSWER FOR PREVIOUS PUZZLE ACROSS 1 Hwy. 4 Little rascals 8 North 40 unit 12 Import car 13 Part of speech 14 Coach Don — 16 Rudely ignore 17 Chance to sing (2 wds.)

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— — moment too soon Limp, as hair Wheel cover End a shutdown Vocalist — Sumac Jetties Myanmar, once Sardine holders Water nymph Baste, in sewing “— la vista, baby!”

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DOWN 1 Scream and shout 2 Under tension 3 On the wane 4 Washday challenge (2 wds.)

5 Once a bird 6 Happy rumble 7 Aquarium scavenger 8 Grill, maybe 9 Review (2 wds.)

10 Cartoonist — Goldberg 11 High spirits 12 FICA funds it

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Louvre display FitzGerald’s poet Sudden ouster It’s been — — pleasure!

Colo. neighbor Ancient tales Kayak cousin Ball for Yvette Basement appliance Shrimp TV show host Ready to streak More prudent Tie holder Photography pioneer Wheel buy (2 wds.)

Falls behind Leak slowly Dispenser Tide types 1150, to Livy Elvis’ middle name Nintendo rival Libra’s stone Woody’s son New England campus Foxy “Green” prefix Cannes water

the Heart. I realized it’s hard to play the violin and until now, I’m still learning.”

Footprints on the Moon came in at the right time.

“Perfect timing, I should say since I still don’t have a major soap opera to work on.

Right now, I’m just doing Bubble Gang and Juan Tamad. I can really concentrate on my character here. I hope that the viewers will like it as I vow to do my best,” ends Max. HHHHH Martin Nievera was in his best element during his grand concert at The Theatre of the Solaire on Dec. 1. Dubbed as Martin Home for Christmas, the Concert King treated the audience to an unforgettable musical extravaganza.

From his classic hits like “No Way to treat a Heart,” “Each Day with You,” “Be My Lady,” and “You are My Song “to his rendition of some OPM pieces like “Ikaw Lang ang Mamahalin” to Frank Sinatra ditties like “Let Me Try Again” and timeless Christmas songs like “Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas,” Martin wowed the crowd with his depth and vocal pizzazz.

His special guests included his son Robin who did a duet with him, Matteo Guidicelli who also did a duet with him of the classic Basil Valdez hit “Corner of the Sky” and KZ Tandingan.

There was also a portion in which Martin sang a touching song he wrote for an old couple.

Double win for DisCovery Discovery claimed top honors at the Asian Television Awards 2015 in Singapore winning the Cable and Satellite Channel of the Year and Discovery Networks Asia-Pacific taking home the coveted Cable & Satellite Network of the Year award.

Discovery also picked up three wins – Best Documentary Series for Abalone Wars 3 (Discovery Channel), Best Natural History or Wildlife Programme for Revealed: Rann Of Kutch (Discovery Channel), and Best Cinematography for The Minority (Discovery Channel); and was Highly Commended in six other categories (please refer to the appendix).

Arthur Bastings, president and managing director, Discovery Networks Asia-Pacific, said, “Bagging the two top awards in the cable and satellite category is a huge honor. Discovery has spent the last 21 years telling great local stories across Asia Pacific.

From natural history to extreme jobs, we are focused on delivering content that resonates and deepens our connection with viewers. The recognition across various categories is testament to the strength and quality of our productions, talent, and teams. This only inspires us to further raise the bar and embrace opportunities of a fast-changing media landscape.”

In September, Discovery announced a slate of 13 new local productions out of Asia Pacific including from Singapore, Malaysia, Taiwan, India, Australia and Japan, further reinforcing the company’s commitment to investing in content and boosting its localization efforts.

Now in its 20th year, the Asian Television Awards is the only event of its kind within the region, and upholds a prestigious reputation of showcasing quality television production. The awards attract more than 1,200 entries across over 30 categories annually.

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SHOWBITZ isahred @ gmail.com

sOrsOGOn enAmOrs heArt evAnGelistA

Heart Evangelista can be Sorsogon's tourism ambassadress

A

Kapamilya actor Diether Ocampo stars in a special project on TV5

ctress Heart Evangelista is very much awed by the natural beauty of Sorsogon, the home province of her husband Chiz Escudero. She never misses a chance to go with her husband who is aspiring to be the next Vice President of the Philippines whenever he asks her to go with her to his place in the Bicol Region.

And to show her love for the place, she posts on her Instagram account photos of interesting spots she visits with the hashtag #mahalkongsorsogon.

Heart is enamored by the province’s awe inspiring sights of unspoiled nature, especially the area around Bulusan Lake, which she finds refreshing in its natural beauty. This was where her pre-nuptial photos with Senator Chiz Escudero were shot.

Reports say that the province has been getting a lot of visitors and the Sorsogueños credit this to Heart’s Instagram posts. Donsol town in particular is experiencing some kind of renewed tourism boom. It has been known where visitors can spot butanding or whale sharks.

Recently, a 400-square meter surfers; pavilion was opened in Barangay Buenavista in Gubat town. The Gubateños are anticipating a surge of surfers in the

From c8

next couple of months.

Sorsogueños also credit the surge of tourist to the electrification of the province, now a hundred percent energized.

HHHHH Diether OcAmpO bAck in WAttpAD presents Beginning tonight until Dec. 18 at 9 p.m., fans of Diether Ocampo can watch him again in the long-running series Wattpad Presents, and this time he is in the episode “Seducing Mr Wong.”

The story of this weeklong episode is like this. Once crazy night, Aliyah plans the perfect seduction scheme for Kristoff the man she has been pining for all her life.

But the universe has a weird sense of humor. She wakes up the next morning and realizes she seduced the wrong guy by accident.

“Seducing Mr. Wrong” is a sexy and funny story by Wattpad Writer Gabriela_gii with over 200,000 reads.

Diether Ocampo is Jasper or the “Mr. Wrong” who happens to be at the wrong place at the right time. He is the guy whom Aliyah accidentally seduces one crazy and passion-filled night.

Sam Pinto is Aliyah, the go-getter who believes that one should make her own destiny. She maps out her life in pursuit of the man of her dreams, but destiny has other

Sam Pinto is a go-getter in a new series

plans for her and she ends up sleeping and falling for the wrong man.

HHHHH the 700 club AsiA Airs On GmA-7 Beginning tonight, The 700 Club Asia will continue to inspire and bring miracles to Filipino homes.

It now airs weeknight from 12 midnight until 12:30 a.m. on GMA Network.

The 700 Club Asia (TSCA) features stories of broken relationships that have been reconciled; people who have been healed from sickness and released from bondages through a personal encounter with Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior.

The program is hosted by Peter Kairuz, Kata Inocencio, Felichi Pangilinan-Buizon, Mari Kaimo, Camilla Kim-Galvez, Alex Tinsay and Miriam Quiambao-Roberto.

Filipino abroad can catch the inspiring program on GMA Pinoy TV.

Countdown begins for MMff’s ‘My bebe Love: KiLig Pa More!’

Undeniably the most-awaited and much-anticipated from among this year’s entries to the Metro Manila Film Festival (MMFF), My Bebe Love: Kilig Pa More has got everyone excitedly doing the countdown till Christmas Day, the first day of showing of the groundbreaking movie starring comedy royalties Vic Sotto and Ai-Ai Delas Alas, and the phenomenal love team of Alden Richards and Maine Mendoza.

Produced jointly by five giant film outfits OctoArts Films, M-Zet Television Productions, Inc., APT Entertainment, GMA Films and Meda Production, it is written and directed by Jose Javier Reyes.

The 2015 MMFF box-office race has been sealed this early by early predictions of runaway victory by the entry, My Bebe Love… as young and old alike, all self-confessed fans and followers of the box-office king and queen of comedy Vic Sotto and Ai Ai Delas Alas, and the millions and millions of Aldub followers around the globe, have already been flooding social media with their excitement to see the film.

The countdown has begun. Movie observers know that My Bebe Love: Kilig Pa More! is going to make a killing at the box-office and is likely to set a brand new record in MMFF history.

The phenomenal love team of Alden Richards and Maine Mendoza otherwise known as AlDUb joins comedy royalties Vic Sotto and Ai-Ai Delas Alas

Expect waves of high-spirited excitement, heartwarming romance, wholesome fun, and excellent Filipino values from the movie written by Bibeth Orteza and Jose Javier Reyes to take the

holiday season’s film festival by storm. To add to the excitement, Joey de Leon, the “Eat Bulaga” lolas Paolo Ballesteros, Jose Manalo, and Wally Bayola, and Ryzza Mae Dizon will be making

special appearances in the movie.

Vic Sotto plays the role of Vito who finds himself at odds and in a bitter professional rivalry with Cora, played by Ai-Ai. The two are both in the business of mounting

special events and productions and have both made a successful name in the same profession. The conflict happens when their respective wards – Anna (played by Maine) daughter of Vito, gets romantically entangled with Cora’s beloved nephew Dondi (played

by Alden). As expected, the “parents” actively reject the budding romantic involvement between the star-crossed lovers and willingly struck an unexpected truce to prevent this romance from happening.

The plot thickens when the unexpected alliance of the Vito and Cora starts blooming into something else. Now, it’s the turn of the youngsters to feel disconcerted with the idea of having their folks enter into a different relationship zone. Now it was the turn of Dondi and Anna to react to the situation. They did not like the idea of his auntie and her father falling in love with each other. Now it was the younger generation vehemently reacting to this new romance.

So where will all this end?

What are the possible solutions and resolutions to bring closure and new beginnings to these young, exciting lovers? Catch the excitement, the love, the fun and romance when My Bebe Love: Kilig Pa More! starts showing on Christmas Day at the MMFF.

M ONDAY : DECEMBER 14 : 2015

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ISAH V. RED EDITOR isahred @ gmail.com

SHOWBITZ

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StarS on #StartCreating DeliCiouSly layereD Coffee at Home ISAH V. RED What do actress Denise Laurel, TV host Raymond Gutierrez, and actress Bianca King have in common?

Well, they just discovered that you can have coffee at home just like in the best coffee shops in the metro. Thanks to Nescafé’s new Red Mug Machine, a unique innovation that easily creates café style coffee at home.

The convenient and easy to use machine lets them create a wide range of delicious and pretty cups of coffee.

Developed in Switzerland by Nestlé coffee machine experts, the Nescafé Red Mug Machine boasts a coffee chamber with a unique cyclone that brings out Nescafé Classic coffee aroma and flavor.

It also has a foaming jet technology that creates foam with ease, inspired by the barista steam jets you see in local coffee shops.

In around two minutes, the machine lets them and their guests have a foamy Cappuccino, layered Latte, fancy Mocha, velvety Americano and other delicious coffee creations just by using Nescafé Classic and Nestlé Coffee-Mate.

With this new innovation, they say, you can easily #StartCreating so many exciting coffee recipes at home to suit any occasion.

Glossy in Nescafé’s signature red, the sleek machine is sure to add an element of style to the buffet table or kitchen counter.

The compact machine is suitable

for any home, whether a studio apartment, condo, or house.

Nescafé has aligned with four coffee lovers and asked them to develop their own personal coffee creations using machine. They are now Nescafé Red Mug Machine’s ambassadors – are singer and actress Denise Laurel, marketing wiz Raymond Gutierrez; artist-turned-foodie and restaurateur Bianca King, and interior designer Tessa Prieto-Valdes.

It’s the scent Of NESCAFÉ CLASSIC that puts a smile on Denise Laurel’s face. “I love the smell of coffee in the morning. The smell alone is enough to perk me up.

Having a cup in the morning is like getting a warm, fuzzy hug from my fiancé Sol,” she adds. Denise’s coffee creation with the Nescafé Red Mug Machine, a Hug in a Mug Latte, mixes cookie butter with the flavor of Nescafé Classic and Nestlé Coffee-Mate. “It’s my very own pick me up when I get home from a long shoot, tiring day, or anything in between! It’s so fun to use and you can have fancy coffee in a snap!”

Raymond Gutierrez likes his coffee on the rocks. “I usually don’t have much time to myself since my work keeps me constantly on the go. So my coffee moment first thing in the morning is really just enjoying a nice, iced glass of my own creation, the Vanilla Chilled Coffee made with Nescafé Red Mug Machine. My coffee officially starts my day.” Having a nice iced coffee prepared in a jiff anytime Raymond needs it, helps in keeping him relaxed despite his busy schedule. “It’s also the perfect thing to serve to friends when they come over and hang out!”

For a foodie like actress Bianca King, it’s all about taste and creation.

“As with most of my culinary creations this is something that I have tweaked to achieve the best possible drink.” she shares. “I love being able to create a gourmet cup of coffee at home anytime I want with the Nescafé Red Mug Machine,!”

Her culinary coffee creation, Double Chocolate Mocha, blends flavors of Nescafé Classic with the creaminess of Nestlé Coffee-Mate and the sweetness of an extra helping of chocolate.

“Anyone who knows me knows that I am a creative spirit. I love putting my own spin on things to make anything and everything I do uniquely me!” said Tessa Prieto Valdes. “Christmas is just around the corner, I decided to theme my creation with Nescafe Red Mug Machine around my favorite time of the year. So this creation is my Christmas Cinnamon Cappuccino.” Tessa loves the foaming feature because it makes her feel like a legit barista when she uses it. “It’s so fun to use, and you can have a fancy coffee in a snap!” #StartCreating your own special coffee moments at home with Nescafé Red Mug Machine, just like Denise, Raymond, Bianca, and Tessa.

Available in select SM, Robinsons, Landmark, Puregold and Merkado Supermarket branches in Metro Manila at a special introductory price of P1,999.00 until the end of December only. This special package will come with a transparent glass mug, 100 grams of Nescafé Classic, and 250 grams of Nestlé Coffee-Mate.

For more details, log on to www. nescafe.com/ph ➜ Continued on C7

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1 Bianca King, Raymond Gutierrez, Denise Laurel, and Tessa Prieto-Valdes make their own coffee creations using the Nescafe Red Mug Machine. 2 The Nescafe Red Mug Machine 3 Emma Chavarot, Soluble System Business Development Manager for Nestle Phils.

4 Don Howat, Business Executive Manager of Coffee and Creamer Creations 5 Bianca King takes pride in her own coffee creation, the Double Choco Mocha. 6 Raymond Gutierrez and his Vanilla Chilled Coffee 7 The Hug in a Mug Latte by Denise Laurel is a combination of Cookie Butter, Nescafe Classic Coffee, and Nestle Coffee Mate 8 Vibrant Interior Designer, Tessa Prieto-Valdes creates the Christmas Cinnamon Cappuccino just in time for the holidays