The Standard - 2016 January 11 - Monday by Manila Standard

VOL. XXIX NO. 333 3 Sections 32 Pages P18 mONday : JaNUaRy 11, 2016 www.thestandard.com.ph editorial@thestandard.com.ph

Napeñas hits LP ‘lies’ on massacre

ROW OVER GRACE DIVIDES COMELEC By Rey E. Requejo and Sandy araneta

THE row within the Commission on Elections deepened Sunday as Commissioner Rowena Guanzon tore into Chairman Andres Bautista for taking her to task for submitting without his clearance a comment to the Supreme Court defending the poll body’s decision to disqualify Senator Grace Poe from the presidential race.

“My question is, does he want us to win or lose in the Supreme Court?” Guanzon said in Filipino in an interview over radio dzBB. “My question to all of you listening is, do you want us to lose in the Supreme Court? I don’t want us to lose because I don’t like losing.” Bautista drew Guanzon’s ire after he sent her a memo requiring her to explain within 24 hours why she filed a comment to the Supreme Court without letting him read and sign it. He added in the memo that if she did not explain herself, he would inform the Supreme Court that the comment was unauthorized.

But Guanzon said the comment filed last week had the authority of the Comelec en banc, even if it was not signed by Bautista. She noted that the Comelec was given only 10 days to file a comment from Dec. 28, 2015—and that if they did not submit it by Jan. 7, they might lose the case. Bautista, on the other hand, said the Comelec had sought and was given a five-day extension, or up to Jan. 12 to file its comment, so Guanzon did not need to rush her Jan. 7 submission, an assertion she also disputed. Guanzon, who voted with the majority to disqualify Poe, described Bautista’s attitude as “peculiar.” Next page

Countdown. Officials release doves during the kickoff ceremonies for the start of the gun ban and the countdown for the election period for this year’s elections at the Palacio del Gobernador in Intramuros, Manila, on Sunday. Danny Pata

Population advocates blast budget cut By Christine F. Herrera FAMILY planning advocates on Sunday chided the Senate, for removing the P1billion budget for free condoms, IUDs and birth control pills for distribution by the Department of Health this year. Former Albay Rep. Edcel Lagman and the Philippine Legislators’ Committee on Population and Development

said Congress reneged on its obligation to adequately fund the speedy and full implementation of the Responsible Parenthood and Reproductive Health Law (R.A. No. 10354) after Senator Vicente Sotto III caused the deletion of P1 billion of the P1.157 billion for the procurement of “modern and natural family planning supplies.” Lagman, the principal author of the

RH Law, underscored that the remaining P157 million is not nearly enough for the purchase of family planning commodities. “This reverses the progress we have achieved so far in promoting reproductive health and ensuring that couples, especially women, are given better choices in planning their families Next page

‘Peace body gave bogus attendance documents’

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A2 Row... From A1

“The Comelec has an interest in filing its comment on time. It is so peculiar that our chairman has become the obstacle to this filing,” she said. Bautista had voted in the minority in favor of Poe. Guanzon said that while Bautista is chairman, the poll body’s authority emanates from the seven-person en banc. She added that Bautista could not have written the Comelec comment on Poe’s petitions because he was one of two commissioners who dissented from the majority decision. “It would be awkward because his heart is not in it. His mind is not in it because he wrote a dissenting opinion. Besides, the en banc designated me to write the comment,” she said. Guanzon said the Comelec en banc had decided during its Jan. 5 session that she would prepare and file the Comelec’s comment on Poe’s petitions. In fact, Bautista was present when the commissioners decided on the course of action. “Bautista was present during the meeting. Just because he didn’t sign the comment doesn’t mean it’s not valid,” Guanzon said. She said as a co-equal member of the Comelec en banc, Bautista had no authority to discipline her. “He has no power over me. He has no authority to discipline me. How dare he issue a memorandum to me telling me to reply to him within 24 hours. What does he think of me? His employee?” she said. Guanzon also asked why Bautista chose to issue a memo instead of talking to her on the phone or in person. She said she was compelled to air her side because Bautista made his sentiments known in public. Despite the row, Guanzon denied suggestions that the Comelec was in disarray. She said she and other commissioners who have been tasked to represent the Comelec in the oral arguments on Poe’s case Jan. 19 are already preparing for them. “We want to assure the public… [that] we’re getting ready for the oral arguments,” she said. Bautista declined to comment further on Bautista’s statements, saying that these would be taken up in the Comelec en banc meeting Monday. The Palace on Sunday said it would wait for the results of Monday’s meeting. “In our opinion, the stability of the Comelec is important, especially [now] that the election period has already started,” said Communications Secretary Herminio Coloma Jr., during an interview over state-run radio dzRB. “The Comelec is an independent constitutional body, so it would be best that we wait for the results of their meeting,” Coloma said. The camp of Poe on Saturday expressed alarm that the Comelec was “in disarray” following Guanzon’s filing. Poe’s spokesman Valenzuela City Mayor Rex Gatchalian called on Bautista to “put the house in order.” “It is alarming to see the very institution tasked to oversee the conduct of the orderly elections in disarray. We are calling on the good chairman of Comelec to put the house in order,” Gatchalian said. In his Jan. 7 memo to Guanzon, Bautista said her filing was “not only irregular but personally disrespectful.” Gatchalian said Guanzon was wrong in usurping the powers of the en banc. “From day 1, we have been saying that certain personalities inside Comelec have political agendas against Senator Poe. These personalities have been driven by political and partisan biases against Senator Poe,” Gatchalian said. “Chairman Bautista should unmask these personalities and make them publicly accountable. The actions of Commissioner Guanzon are undermining our electoral process and endangering our very democracy,” he said. Poe’s running mate, Senator Francis Escudero, also called on Bautista to expose “saboteurs” within the poll body and to fight attempts to undermine the poll body’s integrity. “I implore Chairman Bautista to stand his ground and expose these people who are seeking to sabotage the electoral process,” said Escudero. He said it is his duty to the Filipino people if only to reassure voters that their sacred right to vote, to choose the next leaders of this country is protected. Escudero said he was appalled at Guanzon’s insubordination and disrespect toward the chairman. “Even assuming that she is not a subordinate of the chairman as she claims, the Comelec is a collegial body that always acts collectively, and not individually,” Escudero said. “This validates our observation that Commissioner Guanzon is threat to our democracy and the conduct of elections come May,” he added. Escudero also urged the public to remain vigilant against the dangerous tendencies of some Comelec officials to weaken the institution and erode the foundation of the democratic right to vote. With Macon Ramos-Araneta

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‘Peace body filed fake attendance records’ By Rio N. Araja

THE Office of the Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process appears to have submitted bogus attendance records for its conferences, meetings and forums in 2014, a Commission on Audit report says, noting that the signatures that appeared on the documents to support its expenses were “doubtful.” “In a number of attendance sheets, different names were printed, but the handwriting and strokes were similar,” said the report that was posted on the CoA website. The state auditors also noted that several attendance sheets that included the same name had different signatures. “We reviewed on a sampling basis the attendance sheets and accomplishment reports for the meal expenses incurred by the International Monitoring Team and Government of the Philippines-Coordinating Committee on the Cessation of Hostilities and observed inconsistencies in the handwriting of different signatories,” CoA said. “This was also true with Ars, where ARs from the same establishments showed different signatures although the names indicated were the same,” the CoA said. Moreover, a review on a sampling of the attendance sheets for the 2014 meal expenses also showed discrepancies.

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to give their children a better future,” Romeo Dongeto, PLCPD executive director, said. “The P1 billion, which was meanly cut by Sotto, is a drop in the bucket in the P3-trillion 2016 national budget and it is a minuscule amount compared to government mega projects which have fewer number of beneficiaries,” Lagman said. Lagman said the original funding of P1.157 billion, which was emasculated by Sotto, was recommended by President Benigno Aquino III in his National Expenditure Program and adopted en toto by the House of Representatives in its version of the 2016 appropriations bill. Lagman said that Sotto, after failing to block the passage of the RH Law, is now deliberately stalling its implementation. The Supreme Court declared on April 8, 2014 the RH Law constitutional on the whole after the bill was approved by Congress on Dec. 19, 2012 and signed into law by President Aquino on Dec. 21, 2012. Section 2 of the law mandates the state to guarantee universal access to legitimate and quality reproductive health care services, devices and supplies with priority to the poor. Section 9 provides for the inclusion in the Philippine National Drug Formulary of non-abortifacient, legal and medically safe hormonal contraceptives, intrauterine devices, injectables and other family planning products and supplies. The PNDF system is the basis for

The commission warned that errant personnel would face charges, and urged the OPAPP to conduct an investigation. Under CoA Circular 2012-001 issued on June 14, 2012, claims against government funds should be supported by complete, sufficient and relevant documents to establish the validity of the claim. CoA also questioned OPAPP’s use of P45.33 million worth of car rental services in 2014 without the necessary authorization and with dubious supporting documents. Based on an annual audit report, CoA said OPAPP leased 294 vehicles, 89 of which were rented on a monthly basis, while 205 were rented on a “per activity” arrangement. These were in addition to 56 vehicles owned by the agency, the CoA found. The OPAPP’s financial plan and schedule of expenses under its own 2014 budget showed only P7.97 million appropriated for rent of motor vehicles, but this limit was not observed as actual spending on car rentals showed an excess of 469 percent, the auditor said. To cover the shortfall, state auditors said OPAPP channeled funds from other programs without the prior approval of the Department of Budget and Management. “We verified compliance of OPAPP to the above requirements and found that 89 motor vehicles rented on a monthly basis for calendar year 2014 were not covered by an authority from the DBM. The necessity of renting 294 motor vehicles cannot be adequately established since the purposes or activities were not always indicated in the supporting documents,” the CoA said.

the purchase by all national hospitals as well as for the procurement and distribution by the Department of Health of such family planning supplies. Both Sections 2 and 9, among other provisions of the RH Law, are clear directives for the Congress to appropriate the requisite funds for the law’s effective implementation. Due to the lack of funding in the 2016 General Appropriations Act, Lagman said that the government’s purchases of family planning commodities must be sourced by the DoH from its share in the incremental revenues from sin taxes or from the President’s Contingent Fund, in addition to the donations from foreign agencies. The PLCPD decried the defunding of the reproductive health program that will deny poor Filipino couples access to medically safe, non-abortifacient and effective reproductive health care services and commodities. “The Senate removed from the 2016 national budget the P1-billion fund earmarked by the Department of Health to provide free condoms, IUDs and birth control pills,” Dongeto said. “This is unacceptable, especially now that we have a national law specifically mandating the provision of family planning services. It deeply saddens us that the same institution that crafted the RH Law agreed to defund its implementation,” Dongeto added. He said the RH Law was enacted in 2012 after more than 10 years in the legislative mill. It became effective in 2014 after the Supreme Court upheld

its constitutionality. Citing official figures from the Commission on Population, Dongeto said the contraceptive prevalence rate for modern family planning has steadily increased in recent years, from 39 percent in 2012 to 46 percent in 2014. “Despite this, seven million Filipino women still have unmet needs in family planning services according to the DoH,” Dongeto said. The rise in use of modern family planning methods has contributed to a decrease in maternal mortality ratio, or the number of deaths per 100,000 live births, from 129 in 2013 to 114 in 2015 based on United Nations estimates, he said. This, he said, however, falls short of our Millennium Development Goal to reduce maternal deaths to 52 per 100,000 live births. “Without sufficient funding for family planning, we will not be able to achieve our goals to improve maternal health, especially of poor and young mothers,” Dongeto said. Dongeto added that denying couples better reproductive health choices hurts their health, as well as their capacity to provide their children adequate food, health care and education, with far-reaching implications on country’s workforce productivity and national economy. He urged the DoH to aggressively pursue other sources of funds to sustain the provision of reproductive health services and supplies. “We cannot stand idle knowing women and families are denied their rights. We have to defend their right to better reproductive health and a brighter future,” Dongeto said.

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Santiago warns over ad expenses SENATOR Miriam Defensor-Santiago said Sunday her rivals in this year’s presidential elections would steal from public funds or be tempted to do so to recoup the millions of pesos they would have spent on advertisements. She also said it was likely that her opponents would give favors to their rich supporters to the detriment of the public. Santiago was reacting to reports that Manuel Roxas II, Vice President Jejomar Binay, Senator Grace Poe and Davao City Mayor Rodrigo Duterte had spent a total of P2.3 billion on television commercials from January to December 2015. Roxas, the Liberal Party’s standard bearer, was the top spender, shelling out P774 million, followed by Binay (P695 million), Poe (P694 million) and Duterte (P129 million). Santiago, who is running under the People’s Reform Party, said the presidential candidates’ election spending should be treated as “red flags” for corruption. “The question we must ask is this: How will these politicians recover the scandalous amounts they spend for their campaign?” Santiago said. She said almost all the candidates had already spent beyond the limit for campaign expenses. By Commission on Elections standards, every presidential candidate may spend only P10 per voter, or a total of P545 million for the projected 54.5 million voters in 2016. “A president’s salary is only P120,000 a month. He or she may thus expect to earn only P8.64 million for the six years that he or she is in office,” Santiago said. “Of course, they can say they are not spending their own money, and that their campaign is being fueled by contributions. Who are their contributors? What kind of favors will they ask from the president whose candidacy they bankrolled?” Santiago said that while the Supreme Court ruling on the 2009 case of Peñera v. Comelec allowed politicians to campaign outside the identified period, excessive ad spending contradicted the constitutional principle that “a public office is a public trust.” “The provision of the Constitution is our guide: They are campaigning to occupy an office, which is a public trust. It might not express a strict legality but a matter of moral conduct on the part of the public officials,” Santiago said. Macon Ramos-Araneta

Binay to address Filipinos in UAE VICE President Jejomar Binay said Sunday he will leave for the United Arab Emirates on Tuesday to address the Filipino communities in Abu Dhabi and Dubai. “Every time I go abroad, I always ensure that I could get in touch with our countrymen, listen to their concerns and see how our office could help them,” said Binay who served as Presidential Adviser on Overseas Filipino Workers’ Concerns for almost five years. “I deem it important to talk personally with our migrant workers and check how they are doing. Just like our countrymen in the countryside, our migrant workers need the attention and constant care from our government. “Distance shouldn’t hamper our government leaders from reaching out to the Filipinos working and living abroad or outside the metro. In fact, it should encourage them to leave their offices once in a while to see and hear first-hand the plight of our people.” Binay will visit migrant worker centers at the Philippine Embassy in Abu Dhabi and the Philippine

consulate in Dubai. He will also serve as a witness in the mass wedding of 25 couples at the Philippine consulate in Dubai. Binay will also meet with the students and faculty of Far Eastern School and attend the Alpha Phi Omega 96 and APO EMARAT 121 General Membership Meeting and Fellowship Night. UAE is home to 574,336 Filipinos, according to 2014 figures from the UAE Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Most of them are skilled and semi-skilled employees followed by household workers and professionals. In previous statements, Binay said his administration would endeavor to create more domestic jobs to reduce the number of Filipinos leaving to work abroad in case he won the presidency this year. “My administration will focus on strengthening the five biggest creators of employment—agriculture, manufacturing, mining, business process outsourcing, and export—to provide more jobs,” Binay said. “Working abroad should be a choice, not a necessity.” Macon Ramos-Araneta

Officials start gun ban for May 2016 election MALACAÑANG said Sunday the implementation of the nationwide gun ban would ensure peaceful and orderly elections especially now that the campaign period had started. “The implementation of the gun ban is one of the most effective ways to ensure the security of the citizens and maintain order during elections,” Communications Secretary Herminio Coloma Jr. told dzRB radio. The Commission on Elections started the nationwide gun ban and the countdown for the 151-day election period for this year’s elections on Sunday. With the start of the gun ban, which will last until June 8, the Philippine National Police announced the establish-

ment of more checkpoints to intercept violators. Police spokesman Wilben Mayor said the checkpoints would reduce electionrelated violence. He made his statement even as Senator Ferdinand Marcos Jr. called on the Comelec to give the teachers serving in the May 2016 elections additional benefits because of the failure of the poll body to increase their honorariums. With the retention of the P4,500 honorarium for the public school teachers serving as Board of Election Inspectors in the May 2016 elections, he said, they should be entitled to additional nonmonetary benefits in the form of insurance coverage and other assistance to protect them and their families. “Despite their appeals for a raise, the Comelec is retaining their P4,500 honorarium, the same amount they re-

ceived in the 2013 midterm polls,” Marcos said. Government officials launched the Secure and Fair 2016 Elections campaign with a peace walk from the Rizal Park to the Comelec offices. Joining the program were Comelec chairman Andres Bautista, Interior Secretary Mel Sarmiento and officials from the Army, the police, government agencies and non-government organizations. “One of the important aspects for the preparations for peaceful and orderly elections is the implementation of the gun ban, and we have learned about this during the past,” Coloma said. He said Malacañang expected the police and military PNP personnel deputized by the poll body to strictly enforce the gun ban. Sandy Araneta and Macon Ramos-Araneta, with PNA

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Napeñas slams LP on massacre OppOsitiOn senatorial candidate Getulio napeñas Jr. on sunday criticized the statements made by a leader of the administration Liberal party questioning his credibility to testify about the Mamasapano massacre last year. “Let the people and the authorities decide if I am not credible or a polluted witness,” Napeñas said in an interview in response to Caloocan City Rep. Edgar Erice’s statement that he is a “polluted source.”

“It would be better if [Erice] does good on his own instead of destroying other people in order to gain publicity,” said Napeñas, the commander of the elite Special Action Force at the time of the massacre last Jan. 25 who is now running

under the banner of the opposition United Nationalist Alliance. Napeñas said that he would not have reacted if Erice’s statements had been true and had a factual basis. “Spreading false stories destroys other people’s honor. I hope they have their facts straight before making any statements,” Napeñas said of Erice. The retired Philippine National Police director led the Mamasapano operation, which resulted in the killing of Malaysian bomb-maker Zulkifli bin Hir alias “Marwan” but also left 64 other people dead, including 44 SAF

members. Napeñas said that he is not even sure if he will be invited in the reopening of the Senate investigation but will appear if he is summoned. “We should respect Senator [grace] Poe if she calls me to testify based on the urging of Senator [Juan Ponce] Enrile,” he said. Meanwhile, presidential candidate Poe, who is also chairman of the Senate committee on public order that will reopen its investigation, should inhibit herself, according to vice presidential candidate Senator Alan Peter Cayetano. Cayetano, who promised to inhibit himself from the probe, said all senators running for top posts should do the same to ensure that the inquiry remains impartial and free from partisan politics. “It would be better if Senator Poe lets the vice chairman [of the committee] or a senator who is not running [conduct the probe] and she could just monitor the hearings. I would do the same,” Cayetano said. Cayetano said he will just submit his questions to the committee and have a lawyer ask them on his behalf, a practice common in the US Congress. The senator said most of his questions would be from those directly affected by the tragedy, such as the families of the victims. Since July 2015, Cayetano said he has been pushing for the reopening of the Senate probe. Cayetano said that had the Mamasapano investigation been reopened earlier, the current allegations of political motives would not have surfaced. Cayetano wrote Poe in July to reopen the Mamasapano case, but was turned down. Poe, however, gave her approval when it was Senator Enrile who called for the reopening. “If only the committee chaired by Senator Poe heeded my request, the Senate will not be reopening the inquiry so near the opening of the campaign period [when] its intention [would be] doubted by certain quarters,” Cayetano said. With Macon Ramos-Araneta

Palace says govt never lied about MRT issues By Sandy Araneta MALACAÑANg said on Sunday that the government has always told the truth about the controversial and breakdown-prone Metro Rail Transit 3. “The government has always been open and transparent regarding issues on the MRT,” said Communications Secretary Herminio Coloma Jr., during an interview over state-run radio station dzRB. Coloma was reacting to calls made by Senator Francis Escudero for former MRT general manager Al Vitangcol III to reveal what he knows about the $1.5-million contract awarded for the commuter train’s maintenance in October 2012, which became the basis of the graft case filed against him. “It is up to Mr. Vitangcol what his next move will be regarding Senator Escudero’s call,” said Coloma. A month after the Sandiganbayan anti-graft court affirmed his indictment, Vitangcol lamented the apparent haste in resolving the case against him, insisting that it was the Department of Transportation and Communications that awarded the contract. The controversial MRT maintenance deal with Philippine Trams Rail Management Service Corp. was allegedly “perfected” when the DoTC was headed by current Liberal Party presidential candidate Mar Roxas.

Cathedral backdrop. Young people take photographs using the Manila Cathedral as a background on

Sunday. EY ACASIO

‘Yolanda’s victims forced into prostitution’ By Christine F. Herrera THE militant women’s organization gabriela on Sunday said President Benigno Aquino III’s failed disaster response effort after super Typhoon “Yolanda” has forced women and children into prostitution in the Eastern Visayas region. Two years after Yolanda, gabriela Rep. Emmi de Jesus accused President Aquino’s Department of Social Welfare and Development of aggravating poverty and pushing womenfolk to sell their bodies. “Law enforcement efforts to stem human trafficking of women and girls will not prevent

hordes of Yolanda victims from falling prey to the lure of prostitution to ease hunger and poverty,” De Jesus said. Congressional candidate Yedda Romualdez of the Yolandadevastated first district of Leyte, which includes Tacloban City, echoed her husband senatorial candidate and incumbent Leyte Rep. Martin Romualdez’s plea for gotvernment to be responsive and to show caring for vulnerable sectors of society. “Vulnerability of women and children is an offshoot of poverty and lack of livelihood opportunities in the disaster-stricken areas. At this point of rehabilitation, it is essential to create more jobs

and sustainable livelihood opportunities so they do not fall prey to trafficking schemes,” Yedda Romualdez said. De Jesus, who attended the local launch of the global One Billion Rising campaign among women activist groups in Leyte, said that despite the establishment of a Committee on Violence Against Women and Children in Tacloban, called the Aquino administration’s rehabilitation efforts “too little and too late.” Romualdez said Taclobanons did not only see relief goods rotting but also witnessed donated bancas or fishing boats lying unused. “Fishing alone cannot provide for their families,” Romualdez said.

Barista skills. Students practice their bartending skills at the Cultural Center of the Philippines complex in Pasay City on Sunday. EY ACASIO

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Three Kings. Filipinos dressed as the ‘Three Kings’ offer candies to children in Manila on Sunday, Jan. 10, marking the Feast of the Epiphany, observed every first Sunday of January, which is also the end of the Christmas season for many Catholics in the Philippines. DANNY PATA

SC aspirant debunks P50-m bribery charge By Rey E. Requejo

A COURT of Appeals magistrate aspiring to become an associate justice at the Supreme Court has denied receiving a P50-million bribe as alleged by Senator Antonio Trillanes IV in connection with a CA decision to stop the Office of the Ombudsman from suspending then Makati City Mayor Jejomar Erwin “Junjun” Binay Jr. During his interview before the Judicial and Bar Council on Friday, Associate Justice Jose Reyes Jr. said he and other members of the CA Sixth Division who issued a temporary restraining order

against the Ombudsman have been vindicated by the lack of evidence in the alleged bribery. Reyes stressed that their ultimate vindication was when the high court affirmed their TRO and sub-

sequently the writ of preliminary injunction order last November 2015 against the Ombudsman. “With the decision of SC last November 10, we all felt in the division we were effectively vindicated because no less than the Supreme Court said... quite empathically... the WPI we issued was correct,” Reyes told the JBC members headed by Chief Justice Ma. Lourdes Sereno during public interview for his nomination to a post in the SC. Reyes authored the appellate court’s ruling stopping Mayor Binay’s preventive suspension stem-

ming from charges of alleged overpricing in the construction of the Makati City Hall Building II. It was the first time one of the two magistrates accused of bribery addressed the issue directly in public. The CA earlier called for an ethics probe on Trillanes’ bribery allegation but no complaint has come out of it, nor was the magistrate required to formally comment about it. “So for now, there is really no case, probably no case, probably there is really no evidence, so that’s why,” the magistrate said.

MIAA urged to probe overcharging taxicabs By Macon Araneta SENATOR Sonny Angara has urged airport authorities to look into the alleged overcharging by taxicabs at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport, a malpractice that can drive away tourists and tarnish the country’s image. Angara noted that there are a lot of dreadful stories circulating online about airport taxis notoriously overcharging and duping passengers whether they are local tourists, overseas Filipino workers or foreigners visiting our country. “Our transportation and airport authorities

should look into this matter seriously and resolve this right away or else, Philippine tourism will suffer,” said Angara, vice chairman of the Senate tourism committee. Regular taxis charge a flagdown rate of P40 and P3.50 for every 300 meters while airport taxis charge a P70-flagdown rate and P4 for every 300 meters. In April last year, Angara said the Manila International Airport Authority allowed unaccredited metered taxis to pick up passengers at the arrival areas of Naia Terminals 2 and 3 but only during peak hours to meet the demand from airline companies and travellers.

Slowdown. An empty airport carousel shows the significant slowdown of arriving international passengers at the Naia Terminal 1. ERIC APOLONIO

Palace still open to peace gab with Reds By Sandy Araneta MALACAÑANG reiterated on Sunday that the government is still open to having peace negotiations with the Communist Party of the Philippines-New People’s Army-National Democratic Front. “The peace table of the OPAPP [Office of the Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process] remains open for the CPPNPA-NDF, in consonance with the commitment of the government to have a significant peace process that would lead to a peace agreement,” Communications Secretary Herminio Coloma Jr. said on state-run radio dzRB. “The military operations are only being conducted in order to stop the violence being made by the NPA on the people, as well as ensure security and order in the communities where there is chaos,” said Coloma. “In light with this, the government programs are continuing to be implemented to address poverty and lack of job opportunities, which are the root of the problems on insurgency in the country,” said Coloma. “Just like what President [Benigno] Aquino [III] had said in the past, the opening of peace negotiations would depend on their [CP-NPA-NDF] willingness to participate in the peace process and go back to the negotiations,” said Coloma. The military in December said that the half-century existence of theCommunist Party of the Philippines was laden with crimes perpetrated by its armed wing even as leaders of the communist group boast expanding reach in Northern Mindanao.

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Senatorial candidate Rep. Martin Romualdez (left) delivers an inspirational message to 500 leaders of Tricycle Operators Drivers Association and other sectoral groups of Taguig City during an assembly held at the PUP campus. Romualdez vowed to donate cold-water containers to all TODA terminals in Taguig City. VER NOVENO

Funds for dengue vaccine sought By Rio N. Araja LEYTE Rep. Martin Romualdez, a senatorial bet, on Sunday urged the government and Congress to allocate more resources for the administration of dengue vaccine to show malasakit (compassion) to poor students in public schools nationwide and even persons below 45 years of age. Romualdez, a House independent bloc leader, lauded President Benigno Aquino III and Health

Secretary Janet Garin for approving the dengue vaccine to poor students with an initial fund of P3 billion

under this year’s national budget, but the amount is not sufficient for the information, education and communication materials needed to fight the dreaded disease. “The news about the discovery of vaccine against dengue and the vaccine administration to poor students at no cost is a welcome development. Let us now work on appropriating more funds as malasakit to the poor,” said Romualdez,

president of the Philippine Constitution Association. “Let us invest on the procurement of this lifesaving vaccine to further strengthen our drive against the killer dengue. This will certainly benefit the poor people in the dengue-prone areas,” he added. He also batted for an increased funding for the purchase of the vaccine to boost the health department’s efforts under the

expanded immunization program. Earlier, Garin welcomed approval of the dengue vaccine Dengvaxia, manufactured by Sanofi Pasteur, a division of French pharmaceutical firm Sanofi. “It is a common knowledge that the government sometimes could not prioritize the health of the people, especially the marginalized. Only an increase in the budget will improve the administration of basic

health care in the country,” Romualdez said. According to Garin, the vaccination will be given to 1,077,623 children in grade four to grade five in public schools or from nine to 10. Most dengue cases were recorded in Metro Manila, Region III and Region IVA, DoH said. The dengue vaccine is only recommended for people between nine and 45, Garin said.

Iglesia expands anti-poverty projects FOLLOWING directives from Iglesia ni Cristo Executive Minister Ka Eduardo V. Manalo to expand the Church’s antipoverty projects, particularly the Lingap sa Mamamayan Program under the Felix Y. Manalo Foundation, the INC continued its 2016 outreach program by distributing more than 20,000 goodie packs to indigent residents of Taguig City on Jan. 9 at the Maharlika Trade Center, Mindanao Avenue, Maharlika, Taguig City. Aside from receiving basic commodities, thousands of Taguig residents also availed of the dental and medical

services offered onsite. Some 1,500 medical and security personnel were deployed to ensure the safety and convenience of the beneficiaries. The activity was conducted in coordination with the office of Yasser Garnace Pangandaman, president of the Association of Barangay Chairmen of Taguig City. Immediately after the Lingap sa Mamamayan in Taguig, another Lingap Pamamahayag was conducted in The INC locale of Tondo Chapel where 10,000 residents from Baseco, Tondo and Parola were also given goodie packs.

INC general auditor Glicerio B. Santos Jr. said that intensified programs to combat poverty and assist struggling communities in the country will be the top priorities of Church’s outreach programs in 2016, and that under the leadership of Ka Eduardo, “much emphasis has been placed on the Church’s outreach and socio-civic activities, which seek to benefit not just INC members, but also less fortunate communities around the country who need help.” The Lingap sa Mamamayan activities for 2016 kicked

off at the Culiat Muslim compound on Jan. 2, as part of an annual activity held to commemorate the birthday of former INC Executive Minister Ka Eraño G. Manalo, a tradition now being continued by Ka Eduardo. The activity likewise involved free medical and dental services and the distribution of basic goods. Immediately following these three activities is the launching of a new ecofarming site in Cotabato, which is expected to provide livelihood for 8,400 members of the lumad and b’laan communities.

Parañaque villages’ league chief ousted CITING loss of trust and confidence, officials of local government units in Parañaque had decided to ease out barangay captain Jeremy Marquez from his post as president of the Liga ng mga Barangay in their city last week. Marquez, son of a former mayor this city, was booted out after his fellow leaders held a special meeting last Dec. 23 and came out with a resolution declaring his position vacant. An election for a new president was subsequently held last Jan. 4 during which barangay captain Christopher Aguilar of Marcelo Green was unanimously elected to replace Marquez.

Their group is under the Liga ng mga Barangay sa Pilipinas, the umbrella organization of all village leaders in the Philippines with 42,000 members, giving it the distinction of having the largest membership among all government associations in the country. Johnny Co, barangay captain of Sto. Niño, said they decided to replace Marquez because of his overbearing attitude and for using his post to further his personal interests instead of working to help promote the interests of their constituents. “Ang gusto namin sa pangulo ng aming grupo ay iyong kapakanan ng taum-

bayan ang uunahin at hindi ang pansariling interes ang inaatupag at isa pa ay dapat marunong din siyang tumupad sa kanyang mga pangako at pinasok na kasunduan,” Co said. (We want a leader who is willing to sacrifice his personal ambitions in favor of the interests of the ordinary people, and also he should know how to honor his commitments and promises.) At least 12 barangay leaders signed a resolution during a special meeting last Dec. 23, 2015 during which they declared Marquez’s position vacant before scheduling an election for the position last Jan. 4.

Back in business. Vendors are back at Plaza Miranda, plying their wares on Sunday after celebrating the Feast of the Black Nazarene. DIANA B. NOCHE

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Emirates to resume operations in Clark March 30 By Romeo M. Dizon CLARK International Airport—After more than a year of absence, the Dubaibased Emirates Airlines is set to resume operations on March 30, according to Emigdio Tanjuatco III, president and chief executive officer of Clark International Airport Corp., said. Tanjuatco said that the return of Emirates was the result of the negotiations between CIAC and the airline’s officials during the World Routes Convention held in South Africa September last year. Emirates had already been operating here since October 2013 but stopped in May 2014 due to excise tax on fuel and low number of passengers. The airline will launch the daily Dubai-Cebu-Clark route using two Boeing 777 aircraft. The Boeing 777 can seat 42 for business class and 386 for economy. Guy Hickling, manager for procurement and logistics, and Jie Zhu, senior regional manager for airport services in Asia, said they were happy upon seeing for themselves the improvements in the passenger terminal. Zhu expressed his gratitude to the CIAC management for their full support to the return of their flights at the airport. The airline expects its revenues to come from overseas Filipino workers in the Middle East and North Africa who come from Northern and Central Luzon and Cebu, as well as from local and foreign tourists. Passengers will also enjoy additional baggage allowance of 30 kilograms for economy and 40 kg for business class.

Gold digger. Small-scale miner Jaime Lugiton from Itogon, Benguet shows the result of three days of hard work. Two grams of 18-karat gold is worth around P3,000. DAVE LEPROZO

Veterans office wants pension increased to P20,000 monthly LINGAYEN, Pangasinan—The Philippine Veterans Affairs Office has sought the increase of the monthly pension of surviving World War II veterans from P5,000 to P20,000. This is the reason PVAO wants the bill seeking a P1.8-billion annual budget for the agency approved. The budget will allow the bureau to provide additional benefit to around 12,000 living WWII veterans throughout the country. PVAO Administrator Ernesto

Carolina said the bill had already been passed by the House Committees on Veterans Affairs and Appropriations and is now being tackled before the Senate. He added that they are awaiting certification from the Department of Budget and Management that there is available

fund for this purpose. “This DBM certification would speed up the passage of the bill,” noted Carolina in a talk to newsmen after he delivered his speech as guest speaker during the 71st Anniversary of the Lingayen Gulf Landings and 9th Pangasinan Veterans’ Day held at the Veterans Memorial Park, Capitol Complex, Lingayen on Saturday, Jan. 9. Carolina is optimistic that the DBM would eventually find appropriation for the P1.8 billion.

“Through the years, the P1.8 billion will be decreased as the World War II veterans are dying at an average of 300 to 350 veterans per month,” he said, noting that after the war, there were 360,000 veterans. He said further that the national government has approved in its 2016 budget an appropriation worth P3.5 billion to provide a P1,700 monthly disability pension to the more than 20,000 war veterans’ surviving spouses.

DoH intensifies drive vs. leptospirosis in Mindoro By Macon Ramos-Araneta WITH the death of four residents, the Mimaropa (Oriental/Occidental Mindoro, Marinduque, Romblon, Palawan) office of the Department of Health has intensified its efforts to combat leptospirosis in Oriental Mindoro particularly in the municipalities of Baco, Naujan, Gloria, San Teodoro and Calapan City. Regional Director Eduardo C. Janairo said the three deaths were from Baco, Oriental Mindoro, while one was from San Jose, Occidental Mindoro. From Dec. 27, 2015 to Dec. 31, 2015, Janairo said the DoH-Mimaropa Regional Epidemiological Surveillance Unit reported a total of 50 suspected cases of leptospirosis in Oriental Mindoro.

A total of 24 males and 26 females were affected. Age of patients ranged between six and 76 years old. As of Jan. 6, 2016, three more suspected cases were reported. They were from the municipalities of Baco with 43 cases (86 percent) were from the Municipality of Baco; Calapan City with 3 cases; and 1 case (2 percent) each from Naujan, Gloria, San Teodoro and San Jose. “We have already coordinated with the Research Institute for Tropical Medicine for confirmation of the suspected cases,” said Janairo. He said Doxycycline capsules had been distributed to evacuation centers and given to evacuees to prevent them from contracting leptospirosis disease.

Flooded with onions. Bigger, cheaper onions from Taiwan are shipped to Port Irene in Cagayan Valley. DAVID CHAN

M O N D AY : J A N U A R Y 1 1 , 2 0 1 6

OPINION

ADELLE CHUA EDITOR

lettertotheeditor@thestandard.com.ph

OPINION

BACK CHANNEL ALEJANDRO DEL ROSARIO

THE SMELL OF GUNPOWDER

[ EDI TORI A L ]

ASKED BUT NOT ANSWERED THE ruling Liberal Party’s response was predictable. The moment the Senate moved to reopen its investigation into the January 2015 Mamasapano massacre—in which 44 police commandos were killed in a covert operation approved by the President—Palace allies in the House of Representatives fell over each other to say that the move was politically motivated. LP spokesman and Caloocan Rep. Edgar Erice said the reopening of the investigation was aimed at discrediting President Benigno Aquino III and dragging down the administration candidate for president, Manuel Roxas II, who had overall supervision of the police at the time as Interior and Local Government secretary. Roxas’ campaign spokesman, Rep. Ibarra Gutierrez, urged Senator Grace Poe, head of the Senate committee on public safety, to inhibit herself from the hearings because she was running against Roxas and might use the investigation to benefit her own campaign. Once the public hearing started, he added, it would be difficult to distinguish between her role as an investigator and as a candidate. Even the President suggested there were political motives behind opposition Senator Juan Ponce Enrile’s motion to reopen the hearings, and Poe’s decision to do so—arguing that both senators had a grudge against the administration. Other Liberal Party lawmakers and their allies chimed in with different objections. Some said it would unnecessarily open old wounds. Others said there was little time left in the current Congress, and that lawmakers should focus instead on priority legislation. Still others said reopening the case was a waste of time, and that the massacre had been adequately investigated, not only by the police, but by both by the Senate and the House. Of course, those who offered this last argument need to explain to the public why the House has not released its own findings almost one year after the fact. The government also needs to explain why, despite the Senate finding that the President was ultimately responsible for the deaths of the 44 Special Action Force commandos, no action was taken to address this liability. On the other hand, those who argue political motives might want to explain why only three opposition senators—including Enrile—were targeted for prosecution over the pork barrel scandal—or why the President used billions of pesos in public funds to grease the wheels in the campaign to oust a politically unfriendly chief justice of the Supreme Court. Finally, those who argue that reopening the case is a waste of time should explain why senators allied with the administration used more than 20 hearings spaced out over a year to tar and feather another opposition candidate for president, Vice President Jejomar Binay, with corruption charges. Enrile, the target of the administration’s campaign to rid itself of opposition senators, said he wants to reopen the case because he was detained at the time and was unable to ask questions during last year’s hearings. He also suggests he has new information on the case. These sound like valid reasons to reopen the investigation—particularly since one year after the massacre, so many questions about it remain unanswered.

SORRY FOR WHAT? PENSÉES FR. RANHILIO CALLANGAN AQUINO SHORTLY after Bongbong Marcos announced his bid for the vice presidency, Marcos bashers demanded of him that he apologize to the people for the “sins of his father.” I decry the abuses that martial law spawned, in the same measure that I denounce the abuses of an administration that has, from Day 1, proclaimed its righteousness, but, for the past six years, has successfully staved off the investigation of its cronies

and relentlessly pursued its foes! But I admire Bongbong Marcos. He is brilliant and, as far as I can tell, his heart is in the right place. He has deported himself as a statesman and has kept his distance from the tar-and-feather tactics of credentialed trapos! Aside from the fundamental precept of moral theory that every person answers for his own acts and omissions, exactly what should he apologize for, and beg the nation’s absolution? That his father declared martial law? The Constitution of 1935 allowed him to, and it left the Commander-inChief virtually unfettered discretion to determine when the con-

Ferdinand Marcos had the decency and intellectual integrity to provide a theoretical framework for his political decision.

fluence of facts required the exercise of this power. Very rarely will there be unanimity in the appreciation of facts, or agreement on judgment calls that must be made, which is why the Constitution then wisely entrusted such discernment and the exercise of concomitant emergency measures to the President. At least, Ferdinand Marcos had the decency and intellectual integrity to provide a theoretical framework for his political decision. This framework, he articulated with characteristic acumen, attentiveness to history and analytic thoroughness in Today’s Revolution: Democ-

racy, an oeuvre we are sure was the product of his cogitation and not merely read off some teleprompter! Political opponents were jailed, censorship was rigid and many freedoms were egregiously suppressed. All this is condemnable. But there was at least the forthrightness of the General Orders that made clear that it was an authoritarianism that had been imposed on the country, ostensibly on the basis of the provisions of the 1935 Constitution and the jurisprudence that Marcos, ever the good lawyer, plentifully cited in support of his exercise of emergency

powers. And by no stretch of logic or right thinking can the transgressions of the regime be for Bongbong to own, for which he must beg forgiveness! We have not been rid of this authoritarianism yet, protestations to the contrary notwithstanding. And more sinister is it when it becomes covert and uses the institutions of democracy— investigators, prosecutors, judges and courts —to perpetrate itself. Then it becomes very like HIV that deludes the human body into believing that it is warding of disease when it is in fact nurturing

it! Is not the continuous detention of Gloria Macapagal Arroyo, after six years of failed attempts to convict her and a string of dismissals in her favor, a glaring example of how human rights are egregiously trifled with in our times, especially when a UN monitoring body says just that, and when the government shrugs off official findings? Bongbong Marcos may have his own share of human failings, as all heirs of Adam do. But certainly, being the son of Ferdinand Marcos is not one of them, and to ask that he besmirch his father’s

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Published PublishedMonday MondaytotoSunday SundaybybyPhilippine Philippine Manila ManilaStandard StandardPublishing PublishingInc. Inc.atat6/F 6/F can canbebeaccessed accessedat:at: Universal UniversalReReBuilding, Building,106 106Paseo Paseode deRoxas, Roxas, ONLINE www.manilastandardtoday.com www.manilastandardtoday.com corner cornerPerea PereaSt., St.,Legaspi LegaspiVillage, Village,Makati MakatiCity. City. ONLINE Telephone MEMBER Telephonenumbers numbers832-5554, 832-5554,832-5556, 832-5556, MEMBER Philippine PhilippinePress PressInstitute Institute 832-5558 832-5558(connecting (connectingall all departments), departments), The TheNational NationalAssociation Association (Editorial), ofofPhilippine (Editorial),832-5546, 832-5546,(Advertising), (Advertising),832832PhilippineNewspapers Newspapers

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memory by apologizing for Martial Law is to attempt yet one more violation of human rights, and a travesty of every son’s right to hold sacrosanct the memory and the deeds of his father! If you ask me what one of his most memorable achievements as senator is, I will not read the list of bills and legislative initiatives rightly attributed to him, nor his active participation in committee hearings and investigations. I will applaud him once more, as I did then, for taking the podium and announcing that Continued on A11

MST MSTManagement, Management,Inc. Inc. Philip PhilipG. G.Romualdez Romualdez Arnold ArnoldC. C.Liong Liong Former FormerChief ChiefJustice Justice Reynato ReynatoS.S.Puno Puno Jocelyn JocelynF.F.Domingo Domingo Ron RonRyan RyanS.S.Buguis Buguis Anita F.Grefal Grefal Treasury Manager Anita F. Treasury Manager

Chairman Chairman President President&&Chief ChiefExecutive ExecutiveOfficer Officer Board BoardMember Member&&Chief ChiefLegal LegalAdviser Adviser Director DirectorofofOperations Operations Finance FinanceOfficer Officer Edgar M. Valmorida Circulation Manager Edgar M. Valmorida Circulation Manager

CHINA continues to ignore and defy world opinion with its military buildup in the disputed South China Sea. The latest Chinese provocation—landing planes on Fiery Reef, one of the man-made islands they constructed from the reefs and shoals in the Spratlys—drew protests from Vietnam and the Philippines which have overlapping claims to the area. The reef, well within the Philippines’ 200-mile exclusive economic zone, is called Kagitingan Reef by the locals. Although the three Chinese planes that landed on the 3,000-meter airstrip were civilian aircraft, the US said the action is inimical to the stability in the region. American and Australian planes have conducted surveillance flights over the area. A US warship also sailed by close to one of the man-made islands. There’s so much activity going on in the South China Sea an accidental collision could happen in the sky or at sea. An airstrip for its warplanes and a naval base for submarines on the manmade islands give China an extended military reach in the disputed area. China is building a second aircraft carrier to add to the Liaoning as defense spending surged to $132 billion even as its economy suffers. The Shanghai stock exchange suspended trading twice as prices plunged, wiping out $47 billion worth of stocks owned by American investors. The outlook for Chinese financial woes is having a ripple effect on Asian, US and European markets. Amid the uncertain security and economic environment came the announcement from Pyongyang that North Korea tested its first hydrogen bomb. This is like lighting a match in a room smelling of gunpowder.United Nations Secretary General Ban Ki-moon and the US urged China to use its influence over the rogue state to stop its nuclear weapons testing. Aside from Beijing being Pyongyang’s main economic partner, China provided aid to North Korea during the war between North and South in the fifties while US troops fought alongside South Koreans. It is doubtful that Beijing could or would rein in the unhinged North Korean leader Kim Jong-Un. Having North Korea as a foil against the US and treaty allies Japan and South Korea is a card China wants to keep. Russia, traditionally a Chinese ally, does not look ready to jump into the fray. For its own strategic reasons, Russia does not want to see its giant neighbor grow more powerful than it already is. Tension in the Middle East While ominous clouds hang over the AsiaPacific region, tension is rising in the Middle East. The execution of a prominent Shiite cleric by Saudi Arabia on terrorism charges triggered violent protests and the burning of the Saudi embassy in Tehran prompting Riyadh to break diplomatic relations with Iran. Sunni ally Bahrain followed and Continued on A11 Rolando RolandoG. G.Estabillo Estabillo Jojo JojoA. A.Robles Robles Ramonchito RamonchitoL. L.Tomeldan Tomeldan Chin ChinWong/Ray Wong/RayS.S.Eñano Eñano Francis FrancisLagniton Lagniton Joyce JoycePangco PangcoPañares Pañares Adelle AdelleChua Chua Romel RomelJ.J.Mendez Mendez Roberto RobertoCabrera Cabrera

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M O N D AY : J A N U A R Y 1 1 , 2 0 1 6

OPINION

ADELLE CHUA EDITOR

lettertotheeditor@thestandard.com.ph

OPINION

BACK CHANNEL ALEJANDRO DEL ROSARIO

THE SMELL OF GUNPOWDER

[ EDI TORI A L ]

Ferdinand Marcos had the decency and intellectual integrity to provide a theoretical framework for his political decision.

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Emil EmilP.P.Jurado JuradoChairman ChairmanEmeritus, Emeritus,Editiorial EditiorialBoard Board

M O N D AY : J A N U A R Y 1 1 , 2 0 1 6

A10

OPINION

lettertotheeditor@thestandard.com.ph

RELIGION, WEALTH AND HAPPINESS OUT OF THE BOX RITA LINDA V. JIMENO IN LAST week’s article in this column, we discussed the connection between good relationships and happiness. We presented the 70-year-old study done by the Harvard University which said that good relationships result in happiness, good health and the good life. But is there a co-relation between religiosity and economic well-being, on one hand, and religiosity and happiness, on the other? We ask this because once again we witnessed how tens of millions of devotees risked their lives and limb to be part of the procession of the image of the Black Nazarene on the streets of Manila. We see how, during the Holy Week,

If one were to be truly happy, he must remember that the quality of his relationships— with his family and friends, and with God—hold the key.

penitents get themselves tied or nailed to a cross in much the same way as Jesus’ crucifixion. Then there are the different town fiestas all over the country to honor patron saints, a practice that has been passed down from the era of the Spanish conquest of the Philippines to this day. What could be the underlying motivation why people cling to these religious practices? Is religiosity connected with happiness, economic circumstances and a sense of contentment? The 2015 Global Attitudes Survey of the United Statesbased Pew Research Center revealed that about nine in every 10 Filipinos (87 percent of the population) consider religion very important in their lives. Of the 40

countries surveyed around the world, the Philippines ranked 10th while it ranked third among Asia Pacific nations, next to Indonesia and Pakistan. Senegal and countries in Sub-Saharan Africa such as Ethiopia and Uganda topped the countries which said that religion played an important part of their lives. The least religious among the 40 countries surveyed were China where only three percent of the population believed in the importance of religion, followed by Japan with 11 percent, and France with 14 percent. The survey revealed that most of the nations which put importance to religion were poor. The question that now comes to mind is, do people living in poverty cling to religion only because they expect an improved economic status—and life satisfaction—by praying? A sociologist, Brother Clifford Sorita, said that economic circumstances can influence a person’s cling to religious beliefs. He has personally observed that during paydays, church attendance is scant while churches are generally packed on lean days. Faith, he explained, brings hope. However, he said, there is yet no study that shows a direct correlation between religiosity and poverty. In fact, the study further revealed that in the United States of America—considered the wealthiest nation in the world—53 percent of the population said religion was important in their lives. Moreover, there has been no conclusive study linking the vastness of wealth to one’s degree of happiness or satisfaction with life. On the contrary, another study says that there is a limit to the sense of satisfaction (often mistaken as happiness) that money can bring. It says that earning 60,000 dollars a year (approximately P2.8 million) can make a person content with life but if he earns more than that, it does little, if any at all, to make him any happier. Thus, for as long as one lives comfortably and has enough resources to meet one’s needs, earning more will not add to one’s happiness quotient. Is there then a correlation between religiosity and happiness? In several tests done in the United States using the Oxford Happiness Inventory and the Francis Scale of Attitude toward Christianity tests, the date gathered show that the happiest individuals are those who score low on neuroticism, high on extroversion and high in the scale

CATCHY PHRASES THE campaign rhetoric lacerating the nation is long on phrase mongering but short on details. Complex solutions to complicated problems are shrunk into 30-second sound bites or crammed into 140 characters. Key programs are packaged into easy-to-remember slogans, reduced into tag lines for the sake of creating top-ofmind awareness. In the days ahead, one will never, for example, encounter a short treatise on how a candidate would fix the colossal logistical shortfall of the K 12 program. Instead, what would be fed the electorate is the jinglelized assurance that “bawat bata ay nasa paaralan.” Forget about the brass tacks. The important thing, it seems, is to forge a catchphrase. Take for example another issue that bothers the nation —employment, a concern surveys capture. That one million new jobs must be created annually is one conservative estimate. Ask any presidential aspirant why he wants the job for himself, “to create jobs for others” would be among the top five reasons, echoing the public pulse as taken by polls. Everyone on the soapbox styles himself as a job generator-in-chief. But ask each candidate how his administration would create a million jobs a year, meaning the policies he would pursue from human capital formation that will train an employable workforce to investments that will absorb them, and you would be lucky to get a cogent reply. If any , what one would get is a beauty contest-type response, about “trabaho para sa lahat” sprinkled with other market-tested slogans whose spiel is punctuated with a

toothpaste-commercial smile. It seems that only the decibel level of the campaign is increasing. The depth of the discourse is not. Even on a hot-button topic like criminality, the solutions being peddled are like blurbs on an action-movie poster, as if to give the audience the impression that the candidate is a swashbuckling crimefighter. On this, and in other issues, personal monikers replace policies. Thus, simply labelling oneself “kaibigan ng mga masa” or “kaaway ng kriminal” or “kasangga ng edukasyon” amounts to an intellectual shortcut which conveniently spares the candidate the rigors of explaining the details of his advocacy. This is so because in an election, every candidate gets to be reinvented as Mr. Excitement. To be perceived as bland and boring is a death knell to a candidacy. Of course, practicality dictates that a candidate should not view the election as a geekfest, where the best thesis gets the prize. The imperative of winning also makes polls far from a Woodstock of nerds, I agree. But the adjustment a candidate should undertake so that he would be understood by the people does not necessarily mean that he has to go to the other extreme of the pendulum swing—that he has to talk down to them. Nowhere is it written that the first commandment of a candidate is to be condescending. And that the second is to find the least common denominator and make it the tenor of his conversation with the public. There is also no third commandment that for a candidate to get his message across, he has to shed IQ points, in massive doses. On the contrary, when one only spews out what his listeners want to hear then such patronizing attitude bares a lack

of respect for an electorate ready and raring to be taken to an elevated kind of discourse. If we want our country to soar to new heights, then we have to begin with leaders talking about lofty ideals, by bringing people out of their comfort zones to the dizzying heights of what could be possible. Candidates should not find refuge in safe topics. Convention is the sanctuary of the vision-less. There is a huge market out there for brave new ideas, explained in detail, and not just in a string of slogans. This is the segment of the electorate who is not easily swayed by 30-second TV ads, those who do not choose based on brands, those who are not moved by the poetry of campaign but by the prose of governance, those who would parse think papers, and reward those who comprehensively and not condescendingly explain their plans. It also wrong to think this sector is found in one narrow class only, usually in the upper echelons, or the tip of the social pyramid. This is the kind of thinking which views the bottom strata as a homogenously uninterested in programs—the mass which can be won over by glitzy commercials during telenovela breaks. The D crowd can be as incisive as penthouse dwellers. Go to a fiesta, or to a party in the barrios and while the people there may not quote the PSE index, they are hungry for well thought-out programs that will improve their lot. They also have the endurance to listen, thus slaying the myth that Filipino voters suffer from an attention deficit syndrome with a listening span as long as an average TV commercial. In a tight race, who knows whether platforms could make the difference? Serve the people with a good program of government and that may just supply the winning edge.

of attitude toward Christianity. Additionally, in a study done in the University of Kuwait on the relation of religiosity, health and happiness, it was established that religiosity and the strength of religious beliefs had significant and positive correlation to health, happiness and life satisfaction. In my view, these findings correlating religiosity and happiness are not surprising at all. When one has a relationship of trust with his Creator, one is better able to handle trials and crises. Belief and trust in a Supreme Be-

ing reduce stress and misery because one’s faith that God will not abandon him makes life easier to live. In much the same way that a person in a loving relationship with his family and friends knows that he has people he can rely on in times of need, a person who has a relationship with God believes that whatever happens to him has a reason and it is always for his best interest, whether in the short or the long term. I have personally seen God’s hands work in my life. Sometimes I would pray for something I thought was good for

me but was given something else instead. In time I would realize that had my specific wish been granted I would either have been in trouble or would have been unhappy. Practicing religious rituals, however, is not the same as having a meaningful and profound relationship with one’s Creator. If one were to be truly happy, he must remember that the quality of his relationships—with his family and friends, and with God—hold the key.

PLUMBLINE PASTOR APOLLO QUIBOLOY

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

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OPINION lettertotheeditor@thestandard.com.ph

MAR’S ‘MARATHON’ SO I SEE LITO BANAYO VICE PRESIDENT Jejomar Binay declared very early in the game that he would run for president in 2016. Mar Roxas, who gave way to PNoy in 2009 after Tita Cory died, then ran a campaign he was expected by all to win, lost to the man whom nobody even gave a second look at earlier. But there was no denying Roxas wanted a second try. And that the president he gave way to in 2009 would obligingly support him. But for a formal declaration, the signs were all there that Mar would run in 2016. He strengthened his Liberal Party in the usual, traditional way: addition through turncoatism. He placed his confreres in positions of power: The Departments of Budget and Management, Interior and Local Government, Finance, Trade and Industry, Agriculture, Social Welfare and Development, Tourism and and other major agencies. These critical public spenders went to either his trusted friends or his Liberal Party officers. A year after the elections, during which he hibernated from the public eye, Roxas took on the Department of Transportation and Communication, the premier infrastructure agency where most big-ticket projects fall under. And in late 2012, after the unexpected demise of Sec. Jesse Robredo, he took over the DILG

THE SMELL... From A9 severed diplomatic ties with Shiite-ruled Iran. The religious divide between Sunnis and Shiites is deep and historical although both profess the Islamic faith. It’s as hard to understand as the sectarian violence between Catholics and Protestants in Northern Ireland. The rift between Iran and Saudi Arabia, both oil-producing countries, is having repercussions on the supply and price of crude oil in the world

and got his by now president of the LP and erstwhile Appropriations committee chair in the House, to succeed him in DoTC, with almost all of his “boys” in place and untouched. Nobody but a dolt would have otherwise thought Mar Roxas was not loading the dice in his favor for his eventual run for the presidency. And his President willingly obliged. But as fate would have it, many of his confreres did not deliver effectively. Some embroiled themselves in major controversies. Other columnists, the most recent being my friend Dick Pascual writing for the Star, identified them as the three As—Abad, Abaya and Alcala. Tatlong alas. Add the President himself, another A, who declared Mar officially as his preferred heir right after his last State- of-the-Nation Address, and you have a “Cuadro de Alas.” How lucky can one get? Because of these, plus the lackluster performance, as judged by the public, of his own stints in DoTC and thence DILG, peppered by a gaggle of faux pas, in the aftermath of “Yolanda,” in the Zamboanga siege, and the “snub” at Mamasapano, luck began to wear thin for Roxas. The survey numbers remained in the single digits throughout most of 2014 and even 2015. With PNoy’s endorsement in late July, and therefore, the automatic transference of the “yellow vote” (surveys estimate this at 11-12 percent), Mar entered doubledigit territory and by the third quarter of 2015, was almost at par with the reluctant candidate, Digong Duterte, at number three. market which dropped to $30 a barrel, the lowest in 12 years. A shortage looms if Iran and Saudi Arabia cut back production. Iraq, also an oil producing country presently ruled by a Shiite regime after the fall of Sunni strongman Saddam Hussein, is busy fighting ISIS extremists who are in control of several oil fields. IS sells the oil in the black market to use for carrying out terrorists attacks such as the ones in Paris, France and San Bernardino, California.

#FAILOCRACY

Binay had receded from the 40s, but stayed in the mid-20s, while newcomer Grace Poe had sprinted quickly to Numero Uno. In the midst of the final surveys of 2015, his political patron, the President (mismo), said in Davao City last week that he was “very happy” with Mar’s numbers, and declared that he would throw in his political weight in the hustings for Mar. Mar for his part, said “slow and steady” was just right, comparing the presidential race to a “marathon.” Long distance, as in “matira ang matibay.” To be succinct, as already written in several articles in this column, this is yet (at this vantage point, judging from the survey trends), anybody’s game. Binay was a sure winner in 2014, now no longer. Poe zoomed to dizzying heights in SeptemberOctober, now no longer. Duterte zoomed in late November, corrected drastically in December just because of an impecunious remark. Mar may just be right about Mar the Marathon Man. After all, judging from his precampaign spending, he has the most Money. He has the biggest Machinery. In short, he has the Means at his disposal. But, he has no resonating Message. And he hasn’t got the Momentum. “Daang Matuwid” may please PNoy, the yellows, and its creative progenitor, Mon Jimenez, now on top of the tourism department. But it has failed to resonate with the voters of 2016. These are the voters who patiently endure long lines toward

The US and the UN are calling on Iran and Saudi Arabia to exercise restraint. Back channeling by third-party peace brokers is at work to avert an armed conflict similar to the eight-year war between Iran and Iraq which raged from August 1980 to September 1988, one of the longest-running conventional wars. The war was triggered by a border dispute with Iraq invading its neighbor to take advantage of the chaos cre-

decrepit trains, day in and day out. These are the voters who endure hours and hours caught in endless traffic, day in and night out. These are the voters who have to reserve an entire day for a travel to and from Manila to destinations at most an hour and a half away, day in and day out. And these are the E voters who believed in 2010 that “kung walang corrupt, walang mahirap” but in 2016 still find themselves poor and hopeless despite glowing GDP reports. Something went wrong…something is terribly wrong, as far as majority perception goes. So much so that the third quarter front-runner, the woman whom he wooed to be his vice, has been cut down to size, but the windfall is not going in Mar’s place. It’s been going to brash and “profane” Duterte, and reviving Binay. Not to Mar…still not to Mar. And it’s just 120 days before E-Day. Mar’s latest ads have been one of silent despair. In black and white, recipients of the humongous 4 Ps or Conditional Cash Transfer and Philhealth benefits are made to swear how their benighted lives got better in the era of “Daang Matuwid.” They then issue a veiled threat: what happens if the voters do not choose the “daan”? Yet most viewers turn cold when Mar’s brief appearance in the last frame appears like “Dating Daan.” Or as some critics would pan, “daang baluktot, daang baku-bako, daang ma-trapik, daang nadidiskaril,” ad nauseam. But let not the competition gloat. Mar may have sputtered, momentum-wise. Mar’s mes-

ated by the Iranian Revolution. Iran fought back and recovered all the territory taken by Iraq. The war ended only when both sides agreed to a ceasefire and accepted a peace treaty brokered by the UN. Casualties on both sides reached one million, including child soldiers Iran conscripted into battle. The Philippines with its more than one million workers in the Saudi Kingdom, is one with the world in praying a war does not break out.

sage may not resonate. Even the A and B, the rich, do not seem to prefer their own kind. Or maybe, Mar is simply too rich, too unreachable, not only to the “masa,” but to his own class. But Mar has Money, whether personal, contributed, or used to his advantage because administration money could be expended in these last four months by imprimatur of a newly passed budget authored by “his” Abad. And Mar has the Machinery: the humongous Liberal Party, though some are recruits and retreads from the “ancien regime” of PNoy’s mortal enemy now languishing in hospital prison; a large portion of the NUP and the NPC; plus a gaggle of party list groups under the aegis of “his” Akbayan. Will a combination of Money and Machinery turn the tide for Mar? Ask the handlers of the late Monching Mitra and the retired Joe de Venecia. The comparisons may not ring exact (Mitra had the machinery but FVR had the incumbent Cory’s endorsement, and Joe de V had both endorsement and machinery); but they are good templates of what could happen in 2016. Of course, malicious minds keep warning about the “hocusPCOS” and Comelec machinations. But that may be raising the usual hobgoblins that do not in the end materialize. Yes, it’s a marathon, but Mar’s momentum does not inspire hopes of a strong finish at the end mile. Four months in a long marathon are all there is left, and Mar’s pacing will need to be revved up quick.

SORRY... From A9 he was not going to join the shameful charade of unseating a Chief Justice because of misstating a SALN. Three, and only three, senators deserved the title “Honorable” that day: the cancer-stricken Miriam, the truly heroic Joker whose passing the present administration has decided to ignore, and the now-maligned Bongbong! Such is our strange version of democracy in the Philippines. rannie_aquino@sanbeda.edu.ph rannie_aquino@csu.edu.ph rannie_aquino@yahoo.com

CHONG ARDIVILLA

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Horford helps Hawks stop Bulls LOS ANGELES—Atlanta center Al Horford made sure the Hawks measured up on Saturday, scoring 33 points in a 120-105 victory that ended the Chicago Bulls’ winning streak at six games. Horford also pulled down 10 rebounds, handed out six assists and blocked four shots as Atlanta led throughout. “We understood that this was a good measuring-stick game for us,” Horford said. “We knew that the effort had to be there more than ever. “We’ve been playing hard, but we knew we had to play harder. From the beginning of the game, we did that.” The Hawks, who improved to 2315, had six players shoot in double figures and forced 22 turnovers from the Bulls, who at 22-13 are clinging to the number two spot

in the Eastern Conference behind Cleveland. Horford said the Hawks will need to produce more of the same to move up. “We need to continue to do what we did today, moving the ball and hustling on defense consistently,” Horford said. “As a team, I feel that we sometimes have lapses in those areas.” Horford set the tone with 11 first-quarter points. He made 15 of 21 shots and his points total was one short of his career high. “Al Horford was very vintage,”

Hawks coach Mike Budenholzer said. “Everyone kind of followed his lead.” The Bulls had 27 points and 10 rebounds from guard Jimmy Butler and 24 points form Nikola Mirotic, but rarely matched the Hawks’ intensity. “We dug ourselves a big hole obviously early in the game,” Chicago coach Fred Hoiberg said. “They had way more energy coming out of the gate than we did.” Los Angeles Clippers point guard Chris Paul scored 25 points, handed out seven assists and grabbed seven rebounds in a 97-83 victory over short-handed Charlotte -- and said it’s defensive commitment that has fueled the team’s eight-game winning streak. The Clippers blocked nine Hornets shots—a rejection by Luc Mbah a Moute early in the first

quarter showing Charlotte what they were in for. By halftime DeAndre Jordan had added two more blocks and Paul Pierce and Wesley Johnson one apiece -- part of an overall defensive effort that saw the Clippers hold the Hornets to 36.7 shooting for the game and force 16 turnovers. Paul said the defensive effort was allowing the Clippers to thrive in the absence of leading scorer Blake Griffin, sidelined by a torn quadriceps tendon. “The only way we can really score without the big fella (Griffin) is if we defend and get out in transition,” he said. Hornets guard Jeremy Lin led all scorers with 26 points, but it wasn’t enough to stop the Hornets from dropping their seventh straight on the road. afp

Al Horford (right) of the Atlanta Hawks fights for the position against Pau Gasol of the Chicago Bulls at Philips Center in Atlanta, Georgia. afp

Azarenka storms to Brisbane crown BR I SBA N E — For me r world number one Victoria Azarenka stormed to her second Brisbane International title when she downed Germany’s Angelique Kerber in straight sets on Saturday. Azarenka, who won her maiden WTA title in Brisbane in 2009, overwhelmed the fourthseeded Kerber, winning 6-3, 6-1 in 73 minutes, her sixth win over the German in six meetings. It was Azarenka’s first title since she won in Cincinnati in August, 2013. She sustained a foot injury in 2014 and only played nine tournaments. In 2015, she suffered a thigh strain that saw her slip down the

world rankings. Azarenka admitted that she hadn’t played at 100 per cent fitness during 2015. “I was hurt the whole year—there was not a moment where I felt good and had no pain,” she said. “It was a constant battle with pain, with my own fear. Like is it going to hurt again? I don’t want to go through that.” The two-time Australian Open champion steadily improved in each round in Brisbane and showed in the final she will be a serious contender in Melbourne. “The focus is still there on Melbourne,” said Azarenka, who brought a young fan on court to join her victory celebration. afp

Spieth stretches lead to 5 shots LOS ANGELES—World number one Jordan Spieth is showing no sign of rust, closing with an eagle Saturday to extend his lead to five shots at the US PGA Tour Tournament of Champions. The 22-year-old Texan continued his brilliant putting in the third round, firing a eightunder 65 to reach 24-under 195 at the Plantation Course at Kapalua. “I was glad to get that last putt into the hole to give me a confidence boost for tomorrow,” Spieth said. “This is as far under par as I have ever been after 54 holes.” Spieth is well positioned for his seventh US PGA Tour title which would equal the total that Tiger

Jordan Spieth plays a shot on the 16th hole during the third round of the Hyundai Tournament of Champions at the Plantation Course at Kapalua Golf Club in Lahaina, Hawaii. afp

Woods achieved before turning 23. Horton Smith, who won

14 times from 1928-30, is the only other golfer to have more victories before that age.

CIS bets spearhead qualifiers for jungolf final round SIBLINGS Wei Wei and Weiyu Gao joined hands with Ryo Haga and LK Go in leading Centre for International Education to an overpowering victory in the juniors’ division in the recent Visayas qualifier of the ICTSI-JGFP Inter-School at the Cebu Country Club. Wei Wei tallied 102 as the team’s top scorer, while Go added 100, Weiyu made a 98 and Haga chalked up a 94 in two rounds for a twoday team total of 304 and a 37-point win over SHSAteneo de Cebu in the event backed by the International Container Terminal Services, Inc. Foundation. Cebu International School topped both the Aspirants’ 1 and Girls’ 2 categories to join CIE as Visayas qualifiers in the forthcoming national finals on Jan. 18 and 19 at the Player course of the Orchard Golf and Country Club in Dasmarinas, Cavite. The tourney also supported by the Philippine Golf Foundation and Philippine Airlines featured the best jungolfers in the Visayas representing CIE, SHS-Ateneo de Cebu, Cebu International School, British International School, Pajo National High School, PAREF Springdale, St. Anthony Montesorri, Singapore School Cebu, University of San Carlos, SHS Hijas De Jesus, Cebu Learning Center, St. Paul Learning Center, Mery Help Christian School, Blessed Trinity Achiever’s Academy, Cebu Eastern College, Cebu Doctor’s University, Asian School of Technology, Abbas Orchard, Bright Academy, The Masters Academy and St. Theresa’s College Cebu. Making up CIE Aspirants squad were Yuhi Oga, John Lee, Harvey Bell, Kim Sung-hoon and Yoshiki Hirasawa while the Girls trio was made up of Misaki Imai, Vivian Lee and Riko Nagai. The individual champions in the various divisions including Keisuke Tatara of Velez College (senior), Wei Wei Gao (juniors), Joaquin Velez of CIE (Aspirants’ 1), Ren Moramasa of CIE (Aspirants’ 2), Erica Lim of Cebu Doctors University (Girls’ 1), Junia Gabasa of Bright Academy (Girls’ 2) and Jordan Page Quano of Singapore School Cebu (Girls’ 3) also earned finals slots.

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Lady Stags earn 1st seat in finals By Peter Atencio THE San Sebastian Lady Stags completed a nine-game sweep in the women’s division, while the University of Perpetual Help Altas bagged a twice-to-beat incentive in the men’s action Sunday in the 91st National Collegiate Athletic Association volleyball tournament at the Arena in San Juan. Gretchel Soltones hit 32 points, 24 of which came on her attacks to lead the Lady Stags to a 25-20, 2225, 25-17, 25-18 smashing of the College of St. Benilde Lady Blazers in the women’s side. This enabled the Lady Stags to finish their nine-game assignment with a sweep, earning them an outright finals slot. The University of Perpetual of Perpetual Lady Altas, who toppled Letran, 25-12, 25-23, 25-21, ended the elims with a 7-2 win-

loss record in third. They will meet the Lady Blazers in a stepladder semis playoff starting on Tuesday. In the men’s action, the Altas prevailed over Letran, 25-15, 25-22, 2518, to figure in a playoff for the top Final Four slot. Bonjomar Castel and Rey Taneo, Jr. powered the Altas with 11 apiece to end up tied with the defending champion Emilio Aguinaldo Generals at no. 1 with the same 8-1 win-loss slates. The Altas figure in a playoff with EAC tomorrow and will seek to avenge their second-round loss. In the junior side, defending champion Perpetual Help turned back Letran, 25-14, 25-14, 25-21, to forge a playoff for the top seeding. They are tied with Emilio Aguinaldo, with identical 6-1 slates at no. 1. Ivan Encila unloaded 13 hits, 12 of which came on spikes.

Skyway marathon lures 15,000 runners

Novak Djokovic of Serbia poses for a photo with his winning trophy and the tournament’s ballboys and girls after beating Rafael Nadal of Spain in the final of the Qatar Open tennis tournament in Doha. AFP

Novak playing his best tennis ever DOHA—Novak Djokovic will begin the defense of his Australian Open title from Jan. 18 with the ominous warning to flagging rivals that he is in the form of his life. Speaking after his destruction of Rafael Nadal at the Qatar Open on Saturday—with both players saying afterwards that the Serb played perfect tennis—the world number one said he “expected” to play at the same level at this year’s first Grand Slam. “I’m hoping that I can actually peak and play as well as I did today in Melbourne,” Djokovic told reporters. If he does then Australia is in for a treat, even if it is bad news

for his competitors. He beat a hapless Nadal 6-1, 6-2 with a level of tennis rarely seen, even by his 14-times Grand Slam opponent, who described Djokovic’s game as “perfect” and “stratospheric”. “I know nobody playing tennis like this ever,” said Nadal, which suggested that not even Roger Federer, in his prime, could have matched the Serb. Among Djokovic’s achievements in the week-long Doha

warm-up was the fact that he did not drop a set in five matches, secured a 60th career title and edged ahead of Nadal in their personal rivalry, 24 matches to 23. But now the world number one turns his attention to Melbourne and the Australian Open, the season’s opening Grand Slam. “My thoughts are only directed to Melbourne and what I need to do there,” he said. “The week that I have before the Australian Open starts will actually be very useful also for me because I have played a lot, trained very hard, played a great five matches here.” Last year he beat Britain’s Andy Murray in four sets, to secure his fifth Australian Open.

MORE than 15,000 runners are expected to join the Condura Skyway Marathon 2016 Run For a Hero. Slated on Feb. 7, this annual foot race has championed various causes since its inception in 2008. For the second consecutive year this year, the beneficiary of the marathon is the HERO Foundation, which gives supplemental financial support for the orphans of military personnel killed in action or have become incapacitated in the line of duty. HERO stands for Help Educate and Rear Orphans. Last year, the Condura Skyway Marathon has donated P1 million to the foundation organized by the late President Corazon C. Aquino in 1988. Registration for the race is done online at www.conduramarathon. com and can be paid via prepaid cards which are available in the following Asics stores: Greenbelt 3 in Makati City, Bonifacio High Street in Taguig City, Trinoma Mall in Quezon City; Centrio Mall in Cagayan de Oro City; Ayala Fairveiw Terraces in Quezon City, and Ayala Center in Cebu City. Entry fees are as follows: P900 for the 6K race, P1,000 for 10K, P1,700 for 21K and P2,000 for the

centerpiece 42K full marathon. Registrants can select where and when they would pick up their race kits in any of the participating ASICS store nationwide from Jan. 31 to Feb. 5. Race kits include the runner’s race bib, timing chip and the official Condura Skyway Marathon running shirt. Prepaid card selling ends on Jan. 17 and registration of the said cards ends on Jan. 24. Runners, who have registered via Credit Card Payment may start claiming their Race Kits from Jan. 18 to 30, while Prepaid Card Registrants may start claiming their Race Kits from Jan. 31 to Feb. 5 at the Asics Store they selected during registration. All finishers will get a finisher’s medal, while finishers for the 42K and 21K races will also get a special finisher’s shirt. This multi-distance charity race, co-presented by ASICS and held in partnership with Summit Natural Drinking Water, Gatorade, Filinvest City Alabang, Inc., LTime Studio, Blue Ant, Salonpas, GoPro, Urban Ashram and The Bellevue Manila will fire off at exactly 12 midnight at Filinvest City in Alabang.

Nietes ordered to fight Fuentes again By Ronnie Nathanielsz DESPITE scoring an impressive ninth-round knockout over Moises Fuentes, who was dropped three times in Round 9 on May 10, 2014, Donnie Nietes was ordered by World Boxing Organization president Francisco “Paco” Valcarcel to defend his title against Fuentes. This after Fuentes won a 12-round split decision over 22-year-old former unified WBO and International Boxing Federa-

tion minimumweight titlist Francisco Rodriguez Jr. Boxing Scene reported that it was a bout marked by wild exchanges and several shifts of momentum that left fans giving them an encore round of applause at the end, with Fuentes winning by a split decision. ALA Promotions president Michael Aldeguer is prepared to follow the WBO directive and plans to stage the fight in the sprawling Cebu City Sports Complex where

Z “The Dream” Gorres drew some 25,000 fans in a WBO flyweight title bout against Mexico’s Fernando Montiel. Aldeguer added he is not averse to holding the Nietes title defense in Mexico should they come to terms with Zanfer Promotions, headed by Fernando Beltran. Nietes has successfully defended his world minimum weight title in Mexico against several contenders and is not afraid to fight Fuentes in his homeland.

Making a splash. Peugeot’s French driver Sebastien Loeb and co-driver Daniel Elena compete during the Stage 7 of the Dakar Rally 2016 from Uyuni, Bolivia to Salta, Argentina. AFP

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IN HIS FIGHT WITH FLOYD

Pacman got less than he deserved By Ronnie Nathanielsz

Princess Superal will head to the 54-hole championship in top form, having racked up five victories, including the Hong Kong Ladies Amateur Open last week.-

STRENGTH and conditioning coach Alex Ariza, who worked with Manny Pacquiao for six years and was later recruited by Floyd Mayweather Jr., said that the eightdivision world champion Filipino was short-changed in his May 2 “Fight of the Century” with the unbeaten pound-forpound No.1 on May 2, 2015.

Superal seeks end to Thai domination RED-HOT Princess Superal hopes to bring her winning act to the Philippine Ladies Open Golf Championship and end Thailand’s domination of the country’s premier championship presented by Champion Infinity when it is held Jan. 20-22 at the Midlands of the Tagaytay Highlands Golf and Country Club course. Superal, the former US Girls’ Open champion, will head to the 54-hole championship in top form, having racked up five victories, including the Hong Kong Ladies Amateur Open last week where she turned what was expected to be a tight finish into a runaway triumph with an impressive closing six-under 66 and won by four of local ace Mimi Ho. Listup is ongoing. For details, email to maisa_catindig@yahoo.com (WGAP

Donaire... From A16

Nietes, meanwhile, began 2015 by officially becoming the longest-reigning Filipino world champion after surpassing the long standing record of seven years and three months held by the late great Gabriel ‘Flash’ Elorde. But the pride of Murcia, Negros Occidental and top fighter of Cebu-based ALA boxing promotions, showed he was out to extend his reign as WBO light flyweight title holder. The 33-year-old Nietes successfully defended his 108-lbs belt against Gilberto Parra, Francisco Rodriguez Jr., and Juan Alejo in a smashing

tournament chair), or secretariat@ wgap-golf.com (WGAP president Anna Haurie). Entry forms can be downloaded at www.wgap-golf.com. With her The Country Club teammates, Superal plunges into serious training this as she plans to toughen up for the event, hoping to familiarize herself with the up-and-down Midlands layout, which is expected to challenge the field’s mental toughness with its windy condition. “Midlands is a tough course so we have to prepare hard and hopefully end Thailand’s domination,” said Superal, who struggled to finish seventh in last year’s staging of the event at Wack Wack but has won four tournaments to end her 2015 campaign, including two in Malaysia and one each in Singapore and Jakarta.

12-round unanimous decision during his US debut at the StubHub Center in Carson, California. And then, there’s Tabuena. The young pro overcame Scott Barr of Australia by a single stroke to win his first ever Philippine Open championship. The 22-year-old Tabuena highlighted his victory by sinking six birdies in the homestretch to conquer once anew the Luisita Gold and Country Club in Tarlac, where he just set the course record just three months prior to the Open. Inclement weather forced organizers to reduce the tournament into a 54-hole event, but still not enough to take the luster away from Tabuena’s very first victory in the

CYAN MAGENTA YELLOW BLACK

Pimnipa Panthong fended off TCC’s Pauline del Rosario’s rally and edged compatriot’s Kanyalak Preedasutthijit by one to keep the crown for the Thais after now pro Supamas Sangchan scored back-to-back victories at Mt. Malarayat and Forest Hills from 2013-14. The organizing Women’s Golf Association of the Philippines said Thailand has confirmed its participation in the event backed by Filinvest Alabang, Inc., Metro Pacific, Philippine Daily Inquirer, Taishan Insurance Brokers, Inc., MEC, Jewelmer, G&W Clubshares, inc., Vermogen and Tagaytay Highlands Ladies Chapter and will field in another crack squad ready to extend their reign. Top players from Malaysia and Australia are also seeing action in the annual event won by LPGA campaigner Jennifer Rosales five straight times and

Asian Tour. Aside from the Athlete of the Year, major awardees and citations will also be given out to athletes, entities, and organizations, which did the country proud in the year just passed. Also to be honored are the gold medal winners during the country’s campaign in the 28th Southeast Asian Games in Singapore. The PSA will also hand out the President’s Award, Executive of the Year, National Sports Association of the Year, Lifetime Achievement Award, and Posthumous. Others to be recognized include the Tony Siddayao Awards for outstanding athletes aged 17 or younger, and the MILO Outstanding Athletes for boys and girls.

In a wide-ranging, exclusive interview aired on Viva Sports “The Main Event” on Pinoy Box Office on Saturday at 8:30 p.m. and replayed Sunday at10:30 a.m., Ariza revealed that Mayweather “was concerned about how much money Manny Pacquiao got. There were things that didn’t add up to Floyd and Manny should have made much more than he got.” Ariza alleged that Mayweather “was shocked at what he (Pacquiao) got.” While various amounts have been mentioned in the media, nobody has really confirmed how much Pacquiao ultimately received. “That’s another reason that Floyd says Manny is in the upper echelons and should become independent so he gets what he deserves,” said Ariza, although Mayweather pointed out that “Manny is a man and can speak for himself.” The strength and conditioning coach revealed that Mayweather made almost half-a-billion dollars and would like to give something back to the Philippines by setting up a TBE, The Best Ever, rehabilitation, recuperation and wellness center for all athletes. Ariza said Mayweather has a great deal of respect for Pacquiao and the Philippines and believes Manny is a good fighter and has some fight left in him.

Dakar collision kills 63-year-old man SALTA, Argentina—A 63-year-old man was killed at the Dakar Rally on Saturday when he was involved in a collision with a car driven by French competitor Lionel Baud during the rain-lashed seventh stage, organizers said. “An accident occurred at the 82km mark of the day on Bolivian territory when competitor 409 Lionel Baud collided with a 63-year-old man who had become isolated on the track,” said a statement from the organizers. The seventh stage of the grueling race between Uyuni in Bolivia and Salta in Argentina had already been held up due to violent thunderstorms. The 38th edition of the Dakar had already got off to a dramatic start when a car driven by Chinese duo Guo Meiling and Min Liao smashed into a group of spectators watching the prologue in Buenos Aires. AFP

Ball control. Fiorentina’s defender from Spain Marcos Alonso Mendoza controls the ball during the Italian Serie A football match Fiorentina vs Lazio at the Artemio Franchi Stadium in Florence. AFP

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Aces zero in on 1st finals berth By Jeric Lopez ONE more win. That’s the only thing Alaska needs now to enter the big stage after it repeated another drubbing of GlobalPort, 109-84, in Game 4 of their best-of-seven semifinals series, holding a commanding 3-1 advantage the 2015-16 Philippine Basketball Association Philippine Cup Sunday at the Smart Araneta Coliseum. Calvin Abueva’s efficiency and energy on both ends of the floor boosted Alaska’s cause as he poured in a double-double of 20 points, on 9-of-14 shooting, to go with 13 rebounds. The Aces can finish off the Batang Pier and enter the finals with another victory in Game 5, slated Tuesday, 7 p.m. at the Big Dome. This third straight victory of Alaska after dropping Game 1 placed it in a good position to make the finals for the third time in the last four conferences while avenging last season’s bitter championship series defeat. ‘’Isang laro pa, isang panalo pa para sa finals. Sana makuha na LOCKER ROOM RANDY CALUAG

Game Today (Game 4, Semifinals - Smart Araneta Coliseum): 7 p.m. - San Miguel vs. Rain or Shine

namin,’’ said Abueva. Alaska coach Alex Compton praised his wards and how they stamped their class. ‘’I can’t ask for more. I thought the guys responded really well,’’ said Compton of his team’s performance. ‘’I hope we can finish it in Game 5.’’ From the get-go, the top-seeded Aces continued their mastery of the ailing Batang Pier as their stellar play on both sides of the floor gave them a sizeable 32-20 double-digit lead at the end of one.

The trend continued in the second frame as Alaska just kept the pounding going, grabbing a halftime 54-40 lead. Dondon Hontiveros scored 13 of his 16 points in the opening half to pace Alaska’s decisive attack. In the third, Alaska further upped its play and stretched its lead to an insurmountable one, a whopping 82-62 spread entering the final 12 minutes of play. The final tally was actually the Aces’ largest lead of the contest. RJ Jazul also came up huge off the bench, adding 14 points for the Aces. GlobalPort’s one-two punch of Terrence Romeo and Stanley Pringle were limited to 24 and 16 points, respectively, and they barely got any help from their pals as the Batang Pier was never in it at any point of the game. Meanwhile, Rain or Shine, leading the series 2-1 at the moment, will shoot for its third straight win against San Miguel tonight as it looks to move within a game of the finalsas well in their own best-of-seven semis clash at GlobalPort’s Dorian Pena and Alaska’s Chris Exciminiano ﬁght for ball 7 p.m. today at the Smart Araneta possession as Aces’ Sonny Thoss look on in a PBA Philippine Cup semiﬁnal game won by the Wilfred Uytengsu franchise, 109-84. Coliseum as well.

Will MMA be united in its weigh-in system?

EXTREME weight cutting is a common practice for fighters in combat sports of MMA and boxing, where fighters have to significantly shed weight. To make the desired weight class, fighters have to jog around in their sauna suit or hop in and out of sauna room for hours, or sometimes, a few minutes leading to the fight just to make the cut--leaving them severely dehydrated. This system has caused deaths among fighters in the past. The most recent of which was the case of Chinese Yang Jian Bing, who died a day after trying to make the weight for his fight in the ONE Championship in Manila in December. His bout, supposedly against Filipino Eugene Eustaquio, was cancelled for failing to make the grade. The next day after the weigh in, he collapsed and was sent to the nearest hospital, expiring the day later due to heart attack. The ONE organization must have felt it has to make drastic measures to prevent a repeat of the incident. One (death) is enough and it must act fast. Weeks after the incident, the ONE announced the ban on weight-cutting by dehydration and introduced a new weigh-in program for its fighters. The new system, which is definitely the first of its kind on combat sports, calls on fighters to undergo multiple weigh-ins and tests (physical examinations) before and during fight week, including three hours be-

fore an event begins. This means that the ONE wants to make its fighters compete in their walking weight, which is their normal body weight. *** In some cases, fighters compete in a weight class that is 20 pounds lighter than their normal body weight because they want to compete competitively and look bigger than their opponent. That weigh-in system allows a fighter to vary his weight classes. That’s why in boxing, there are socalled multiple division champions. The best case is Manny Pacquiao, who is the only eight-weight division champion. By introducing what it claims to be an innovative weigh-in system, will it make the ONE the trendsetter in combat sports? First and foremost, the ONE claims this new weigh-in program is for the benefit of the fighters. But the ONE could not deny itself of engaging in a marketing blitz by making the move as a brand-building strategy for its organization when it said that the “ONE Championship has paved the way for MMA in Asia and we have always been at the forefront of innovation for the sport.” ONE Championship CEO Victor Cui pushed it further by inviting other MMA organizations to follow suit. “We believe that through the implementation of this new weigh-in program, our fighters will enjoy a

Dunkin... From A16

Dunkin, who made the statement after talking to Donaire and his wife Rachel on Sunday. Gradovich took the fight against Galicia to see how he fares in making the bantamweight limit. By all accounts, he wasn’t able to make the super bantamweight limit and was pushed to the limit in an ac-

safer and healthier life inside and outside of the cage. I invite the other two major global MMA organizations, Bellator and UFC, to follow in our footsteps to protect athletes and to eliminate the process of weight cutting by dehydration.” *** Obviously, however, the Big Boys are not budging, especially the UFC. Just recently, UFC president Dana White has talked about the possibility of having a two-division champion. When newly minted UFC featherweight champion Connor Mcgregor hinted his desire to fight lightweight champion Rafael Dos Anjos while keeping his own belt, White could only express his support. “If anybody can, he could. He’s done everything he said he would. I’m interested. Normally I’d say if you move up in weight, you have to give up the belt. He wants to fight. He really likes money. If anyone can do it, it’s him,” White said on UFC Tonight on Fox Sports. If allowed, it will be unprecedented on the part of the UFC and will totally contradict the ONE Championship’s newly introduced weigh-in system, which takes effect beginning with the ONE Championship in China on Jan. 23. The ONE organization has a lot prove that this is going to work. Surely, the rest of the MMA world is watching.

tion-packed bout. The manager of Bedak, Felix Racz earlier said that his ward, who represented Hungary in the 2004 Athens Olympic Games, where he scored an impressive victory over eventual world champion Abner Mares, “can be a risky defense for Donaire as he is still hungry.” Bedak’s only loss was in a super bantamweight title fight against Puerto Rico’s Wilfredo Vazquez Jr., when, according to Racz, Bedak

Bullpups, Jr Archers make presence felt By Peter Atencio THE defending champion National University Bullpups and the La Salle Zobel Junior Archers continued to make their presence felt in the 78th University Athletic Association of the Philippines junior basketball tournament at the Arena in San Juan. The Bullpups, behind John Lloyd Clemente and Justine Baltazar, sizzled with their outside shooting, outplayed the Ateneo Blue Eaglets, 81-69, in their start of their second-round campaign. Aljun Melecio fired a season high 41 points for the Junior Archers as they downed the Far Eastern University Baby Tamaraws, 78-58. The Bullpups stayed unbeaten after eight matches, while the Junior Archers overtook the Blue Eaglets for second place with their 6-2 win-loss record. The Blue Eaglets, with Gian Mamuyac leading with 19

“boxed with a broken jaw from the third round onwards.” After he was dropped once in the 10th round, his corner threw in the towel shortly after at 1:12 of the round. Prior to the title fight, the Hungarian, who is ranked No. 4 by the WBO, won by a seventh-round knockout over Filipino veteran Ramie Laput in a clash for the WBO Intercontinental title on Dec. 4, 2009.

points, fell to a share of third with the Adamson Baby Falcons at 5-3. Jayson Celis tallied 11 points, while Jose Antiporda shot 10 for the Baby Falcons, after they came away with a 66-61 win over UP Integrated School. Miguel Ratuiste made 22 points for the University of Santo Tomas Tiger Cubs after they turned back the University of the East, 95-94, and improved at 2-5. The Bullpups took charge from the start with a 7-0 run behind Clemente, who scored on a drive and triple in the last 5:03. After the Blue Eaglets got close, they moved away, 21-16, off Clemente’s charities and a triple, in the remaining 3:20 of the second period. Clemente’s all-around presence allowed NU to remain ahead, 2620, off another triple and a two charities. They then nursed a 30-20 spread in the last 9:38 of third off Daniel Atienza’s attacks.

LOTTO RESULTS

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

P16M

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

CYAN MAGENTA YELLOW BLACK

A16

m o n day : Ja n ua ry 1 1 , 2 0 1 6 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

For their sporting excellence in and out of the country in 2015, golfer Miguel Tabuena, and world champion boxers Donnie Nietes (above) and Nonito Donaire (right) were named the Philippine Sportswriters Association’s Athletes of the Year.

Donaire, Nietes, Tabuena are PSA’s Athletes of Year TWO battle-scarred warriors and a young, promising golfer gave Philippine sports something to cheer about in 2015. Boxing champions Donnie Nietes and Nonito Donaire Jr., along with Asia Tour winner Miguel Tabuena carved out memorable victories one after the other on a year when success came few and far between for Filipino athletes. For their triumphant campaigns, the three will share centerstage on Feb. 13 when the Philippine Sportswriters Association honors them with the prestigious Athlete of the Year award during its Annual Awards Night present-

ed by MILO and San Miguel Corp. at One Esplanade in Pasay City. It marks the first time in the last three years that there will be multiple awardees for the coveted title solely bestowed by the country’s oldest media organization on deserving athletes and teams, who made their mark during the year. Donaire, lady boxer Josie Gabuco, Team Manila, and the Ateneo Blue Eagles shared the Athlete of the Year honor in 2012. This is the fourth time Donaire

horford cArries hAwks pAst bulls

(2007, 2011, 2012) will be feted by the sportswriting fraternity with the same award, while it will be the first for both Nietes and Tabuena. “Nonito Donaire Jr., Donnie Nietes, and Miguel Tabuena again showed and proved to the world what Filipino athletes are made of as proof of their triumph and success in their respective fields last year. As the country’s sources of pride, all three are truly deserving of the Athlete of the Year honor,” said PSA president Riera Mallari of The Standard. Donaire made a successful ring comeback in 2015 as he went down in weight and fought again as a super-bantamweight.

Fighting for the first time since losing to Nicholas Walters in their world featherweight title match, the ‘Filipino Flash’ pounded out a second-round technical knockout win over William Prado in March, and then did the same against Anthony Settoul four months later. But the 33-year-old Donaire saved his best for last after surviving tough Mexican Cesar Juarez in a war of attrition to win the vacant World Boxing Organization super-bantamweight title in San Juan, Puerto Rico. The Filipino knocked down Juarez twice in the fourth round, but settled for a unanimous decision win after going through the wringer in this ‘Fight of the Year’ candidate. Turn to A14

AlAskA neArs pbA finAls

turn to A12 turn to A15

Dunkin finalizing Bedak fight by ronnie nathanielsz THE manager of former fivedivision world champion Nonito “The Filipino Flash” Donaire said he’s working to finalize a super bantamweight title defense by his ward against Zsolt Bedak of Hungary on April 23 at the Smart Araneta Coliseum after original choice Evgeny Gradovich had a tough fight before scoring a majority decision against Mexican journeyman Jesus Galicia in Spain on Saturday night. Cameron Dunkin told The Standard/box ingmirror.com that Gradovich was 128 pounds for the Galicia fight. “He looked pretty dry and I don’t think he can make the weight (122 pounds). I’m going forward with Bedak and I think I can get it done,” said Turn to A15

MONDAY: JANUARY 11, 2016

RAY S. EÑANO EDITOR

RODERICK T. DELA CRUZ ASSISTANT EDITOR

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

BUSINESS

First Gen renewal.

First Gen Corp., a Lopez Group company, earns again a recertification from the International Organization for Standardization, the world’s largest developer and publisher of international standards based in Geneva, Switzerland. The ISO renewed First Gen’s certificate of registration for its compliance with ISO’s Quality Management System. First Gen president and chief operating officer Francis Giles Puno (second from left) receives the certificate of registration from AJA Registrars vice president Paul Bagatsing (center). With them are (from left) Renato Castillo, senior vice president and concurrent chief risk officer; Luis Aningat, quality, environment, safety and health senior manager; and Margarita Pambid, QESH management system senior specialist.

PSe comPoSite index Closing January 8, 2016

8000 8340 7880 7420 6960 6500

6,575.43 43.45

PeSo-dollar rate

Closing JANUARY 8, 2016 48.00

SkyCable expanding to satellite television By Darwin G. Amojelar

46.00 45.00 44.00

43.00

HIGH P46.900 LOW P47.170 AVERAGE P47.019 VOLUME 663.100M

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

oPriceS il P today

P25.03-P28.48 Diesel P34.55-P39.15 Kerosene Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas Friday, January 8, 2016

F oreign e xchange r ate Currency

Unit

US Dollar

Peso

United States

Dollar

1.000000

47.0700

Japan

Yen

0.008504

0.4003

Pound

1.462300

68.8305

Hong Kong

Dollar

0.128964

6.0703

Switzerland

Franc

1.007049

47.4018

Canada

Dollar

0.709320

33.3877

Singapore

Dollar

0.698032

32.8564

Australia

Dollar

0.702198

33.0525

Bahrain

Dinar

2.655690

125.0033

Saudi Arabia

Rial

0.266418

12.5403

Brunei

Dollar

0.695604

32.7421

Indonesia

Rupiah

0.000072

0.0034

Thailand

Baht

0.027579

1.2981

UAE

Dirham

0.272264

12.8155

Euro

1.093900

51.4899

Korea

Won

0.000839

0.0395

China

Yuan

0.151678

7.1395

India

Rupee

0.014986

0.7054

Malaysia

Ringgit

0.227790

10.7221

New Zealand

Dollar

0.663790

31.2446

Taiwan

Dollar

0.030130

1.4182 Source: PDS Bridge

THE cable unit of ABS-CBN Corp. has secured a green light from the National Telecommunications Commission to venture into satellite TV services, despite opposition from Philippine Long Distance Telephone Co. and other cable TV operators. NTC, in an order dated Dec. 23, 2015, granted Sky Cable Corp., a unit of ABS-CBN, a provisional authority to install, operate and maintain a direct broadcast satellite in 251 cities and municipalities for 18 months. NTC said Sky Cable was “technically feasible” to roll out DBS services in the country. DBS, also known as “direct-to-home,” transmits signals to subscribers using satellite technology. Cignal TV of PLDT, Phil-

ippine Cable Television Association, TV5 Network Inc. and Dream Satellite TV have opposed Sky Cable’s bid to offer DTH, citing violation of the anti-monopoly law. Sky Cable’s new satellite service would compete with Cignal TV, Dream Satellite TV and GSat, which all offer DTH services nationwide. Sky Cable said the estimated cost of starting the project would be P250 million, with an initial capital outlay of P122

million to cover the purchase of various equipment, while the remaining P130 million would serve as working capital. The company projected to acquire 49,500 subscribers in first year of operation and increase it to 864,600 subscribers in 10 years. Sky Cable proposed a onetime installation fee of P3,990 and a charge P390 for DTH prepaid card for 30 days. Sky Cable said it anticipated to post a gross revenue of P69.42 million in first year operation, with a net loss of P290.22 million. It said by the tenth year of operation, it expected to post a profit of P467 million out of P2.97 billion in gross revenues. SkyCable said the financial projection would be “attainable” as there were currently 2.53 million subscribers for cable and DTH services in the country, or mere 17 percent of the 14.17

million TV households. This means that 83 percent of the TV households or 11.76 million households remain to be connected to CATV or DTH services. Rival Cignal TV had 1.2 million subscribers as end-2015, while Sky Cable had more than 800,000 subscribers as of September last year. ABS-CBN Group chief financial officer Rolando Valdueza earlier said Sky Cable’s capital expenditure for 2016 would be “slightly higher” than P2 billion this year because of the broadband and planned rollout of the DTH service. “As soon as we get the license from NTC, I think that’s the time we are ready to roll out the DTH,” Valdueza said. Sky Cable posted a revenue of P5.8 billion in the first nine months of 2015, up from P5.2 billion in the same period last year.

Maynilad Water allots P13.6b for infra projects By Anna Leah E. Gonzales MAYNILAD Water Services Inc., the concessionaire that supplies water to the west zone of Metro Manila, is investing about P13.6 billion this year to improve its service. Maynilad said it would spend more than half of the programmed investments this year, or around P7.5 billion, for water infrastructure projects. “We start the year right by providing the necessary investments to continue meeting our service obligations and contributing to the job generation efforts of the govern-

ment,” said the new Maynilad president and chief executive Ramoncito Fernandez. The company is earmarking over P3.9 billion for operation support programs, such as the construction, rehabilitation and upgrade of treatment plants, pumping stations and reservoirs, and the laying of primary pipelines for water service expansion. Maynilad said it would allot P2 billion for non-revenue water reduction program, which covers meter management, leak repairs, pipe replacements and district metered area management. It will use the rest of the budget for the

modernization of data management and information systems, improvement of existing facilities, development of new water sources and refurbishment of common purpose facilities in the Bicte Basins and Ipo Dam. Maynilad, meanwhile, will spend 45 percent or around P6 billion of the 2016 capital investment for wastewater management projects. The company plans to allot P4.6 billion for the construction of sewage treatment plants in central Manila and Cavite province, as well as for the improvement of existing facilities in Quezon City and central Manila.

MONDAY: JANUARY 11, 2016

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

The STandard BuSineSS Weekly STockS revieW JANUARY 4-8, 2016 Close Volume AG Finance Asia United Bank Banco de Oro Unibank Inc. Bank of PI China Bank BDO Leasing & Fin. Inc. Bright Kindle Resources COL Financial Eastwest Bank Filipino Fund Inc. First Abacus 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

2.5 45 99.50 82.00 37 2.45 1.18 14.4 18.3 6.82 0.63 1.63 655.00 0.460 74.4 0.93 16.50 22.00 51.00 99 278.8 32.8 136 1340.00 57.00 1.7

Aboitiz Power Corp. Agrinurture Inc. Alliance Tuna Intl Inc. Alsons Cons. Asiabest Group C. Azuc De Tarlac Century Food Conc. Aggr. À’ 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. Macay Holdings Manila Water Co. Inc. Maxs Group Megawide Mla. Elect. Co À’ Panasonic Mfg Phil. Corp. Pepsi-Cola Products Phil. Petron Corporation Phil H2O Phinma Corporation Phoenix Petroleum Phils. Phoenix Semiconductor Pryce Corp. À’ RFM Corporation 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.

40.9 4.4 0.7 1.35 10.18 99.00 16 34 18.7 42.1 2.2 2 11.62 8.000 8.90 5.70 5.41 1.66 21.1 63 11.96 13.82 5.5 2.310 205.00 11.64 25.80 1.75 3.01 40.00 24.9 17.5 5.69 310.00 4.00 3.4 6.46 3.5 11.26 3.80 1.50 2.22 3.88 4.4 117 4.17 2.59 0.137 0.96 2.06 180.3 4.55 0.56 22.50 1.06

Abacus Cons. À’ Aboitiz Equity Alliance Global Inc. Anglo Holdings A Anscor À’ ATN Holdings A ATN Holdings B Ayala Corp À’ Cosco Capital DMCI Holdings F&J Prince ‘A’ Filinvest Dev. Corp. Forum Pacific GT Capital House of Inv. IPM Holdings JG Summit Holdings Keppel Holdings `B’ Lopez Holdings Corp. Lodestar Invt. Holdg.Corp. Mabuhay Holdings À’ Metro Pacific Inv. Corp. MJCI Investments Inc. Pacifica À’ Prime Media Hldg Prime Orion Republic Glass ‘A’ San Miguel Corp À’ Seafront À’ SM Investments Inc. Solid Group Inc. South China Res. Inc. Top Frontier Unioil Res. & Hldgs Wellex Industries Zeus Holdings

0.360 56.3000 15.20 1.11 6.30 0.210 0.205 700 7.9 12.58 5.6 4.25 0.200 1340 5.44 9.89 67.10 6.09 0.69 14.6 0.49 5.19 3.5 0.0290 1.100 1.780 2.53 52.00 2.38 808.00 1.12 0.70 63.700 0.2700 0.1900 0.231

8990 HLDG Anchor Land Holdings Inc. A. Brown Co., Inc. Araneta Prop À’ Arthaland Corp. Ayala Land `B’ Belle Corp. À’ Cebu Holdings Centennial City City & Land Dev. Cityland Dev. À’ Crown Equities Inc. Cyber Bay Corp. Double Dragon Empire East Land Ever Gotesco Global-Estate Filinvest Land,Inc. Interport À’ Megaworld Prop.

7.000 7.30 0.69 1.090 0.210 31.750 2.7 5 0.52 0.91 0.96 0.117 0.420 22.7 0.770 0.141 0.99 1.67 1.16 3.88

Value

FINANCIAL 2,638,360.00 4,309,225.00 769,350,801 897,033,618.50 6,505,065.00 88,200.00 1,033,210.00 1,176,000.00 4,683,720.00 23,402 20,760 80,530.00 632,065.00 205,400.00 917,765,114.50 518,510.00 1,697,622.00 28,850.00 14,222,309.50 117,335.00 815,810.00 5,687,005 329,478,351.00 552,800.00 798,882.00 1,981,740.00 INDUSTRIAL 6,282,700 261,453,400.00 6,501,100 30,751,981.00 121,000 82,680.00 1,350,000 1,833,290.00 16,500 170,122.00 3,990 397,571.50 3,450,700 55,662,102 1,100 34,070.00 3,676,300 68,978,054.00 193,200 8,250,435 8,511,000 18,754,290.00 27,736,000 51,012,350.00 639,900 7,958,150.00 24,225,100 203,668,085.00 2,338,300 20,678,617.00 42,179,200 249,089,415.00 2,475,200 13,178,322.00 45,000 74,700.00 7,495,100 163,384,315.00 1,991,610 127,485,922.00 10,900 130,468.00 293,400 4,164,704.00 2,312,700 12,783,781.00 20,554,000 48,559,350.00 3,556,560 745,050,463.00 237,300 2,814,288.00 2,400 63,405.00 321,000 565,690.00 14,000 42,790.00 1,200 47,400.00 6,400,700 159,248,540.00 2,007,200 37,457,146.00 1,438,500 8,121,066.00 732,860 229,351,086.00 49,000 195,850.00 19,175,000 69,026,460.00 8,820,300 59,183,886.00 1,000 3,500.00 91,800 1,056,988.00 541,000 2,044,390.00 1,450,000 2,341,670.00 1,181,000 2,710,010.00 8,353,000 32,791,760.00 145,000 635,080.00 261,390 31,078,728.00 41,000 171,270.00 10,537,000 27,634,360.00 20,880,000 2,967,180.00 150,000 145,850.00 15,502,000 32,906,830.00 7,733,720 1,426,051,203.00 124,000 564,600.00 1,849,000 1,096,010.00 10,100 227,250.00 2,289,000 2,358,270.00 HOLDING FIRMS 5,630,000 2,067,850.00 6,016,640 344,025,210.50 26,732,300 424,806,378.00 2,000 2,230.00 98,800 622,440.00 2,190,000 463,950.00 1,010,000 209,550.00 1,330,350 964,273,570.00 15,738,100 127,852,416.00 19,453,200 256,037,526.00 110,100 629,115.00 527,000 2,286,250.00 1,120,000 227,500.00 781,155 1,050,314,165.00 212,200 1,163,925.00 4,903,800 48,382,646.00 7,976,380 548,151,320.50 1,181,300 7,510,272.00 566,000 387,600.00 9,237,700 136,900,430.00 20,000 9,800.00 110,308,000 579,778,724.00 8,000 27,940.00 226,100,000 6,762,900.00 222,000 249,020.00 6,329,000 11,232,840.00 4,000 10,120.00 2,049,930 105,037,206.00 129,000 307,440.00 741,190 617,092,255.00 143,000 162,620.00 72,000 50,400.00 91,660 5,961,137.00 10,780,000 3,089,400.00 1,170,000 235,150.00 480,000 112,600.00 PROPERTY 482,900 3,360,858.00 2,300 15,177.00 3,074,000 2,169,240.00 63,000 68,890.00 2,010,000 442,410.00 68,665,500 2,243,079,445.00 9,424,000 25,918,120.00 67,800 336,932.00 10,015,000 5,378,380.00 6,000 5,460.00 136,000 134,560.00 9,160,000 1,058,950.00 2,940,000 1,274,150.00 3,956,500 93,039,005.00 242,000 180,570.00 1,220,000 175,290.00 15,229,000 15,424,930.00 116,338,000 200,763,250.00 125,000 141,010.00 178,390,000 719,057,570.00 992,000 94,100 7,529,620 10,932,630 175,400 36,000 817,000 79,900 258,200 3,400 30,000 47,000 950 426,000 11,859,900 557,000 103,200 1,300 276,440 1,190 2,960 173,800 2,334,410 395 14,030 821,000

DECEMBER 28-29, 2015 Close Volume Value 2.86 46.15 105.00 83.85 37.2

133,000 72,500 3,897,920 778,110 109,600

383,370.00 3,322,410.00 407,534,867 65,275,124.50 4,080,640.00

1.32 15 18.94

53,000 2,200 217,700

68,950.00 9,000.00 4,128,272.00

0.74 1.85 695.00 0.490 80.5

1,500,000 119,000 20 729,000 2,635,260

1,110,000 218,570.00 13,900.00 366,950.00 213,936,916.50

16.98

275,700

4,636,086.00

52.00 102.9 275 33 142 1440.00 57.05 3.14

81,200 9,080 39,530 5,262,100 1,118,100 485 111,440 687,000

4,210,273.00 1,895,186.50 11,049,914.00 171,071,110 157,166,500.00 699,150.00 6,356,321.00 2,135,030.00

41.7 4.73 0.79 1.34 10.28

2,392,000 500,000 349,000 2,338,000 1,600

99,334,725.00 2,337,550.00 273,680.00 3,140,910.00 16,398.00

16.48

193,400

3,195,266

20.75 43 2.35 1.6 13.44 9.150 8.95 6.20 5.40 1.66 22.6 65.05

5,668,900 219,300 774,000 565,000 378,600 5,690,000 147,100 13,547,900 1,155,000 20,000 1,598,200 294,630

117,342,815.00 9,532,140 1,811,940.00 903,270.00 5,029,544.00 52,427,236.00 1,316,951.00 83,860,529.00 6,243,135.00 33,200.00 36,146,515.00 19,390,656.00

14.24 5.64 2.460 219.00 12 26.00 1.77 3.1

1,000 115,000 8,118,000 1,704,740 136,200 2,900 153,000 5,000

14,240.00 651,531.00 20,430,430.00 376,278,864.00 1,627,590.00 76,650.00 272,310.00 15,500.00

24.8 19.98 6.2 320.00 3.95 3.68 6.99 3.7 11.80 3.65 1.61 2.38 3.95 4.79 129

857,600 3,808,300 901,900 126,670 1,000 1,079,000 14,581,100 9,000 87,000 77,000 584,000 320,000 35,000 2,000 52,830

21,136,690.00 76,926,302.00 5,430,300.00 40,331,274.00 3,950.00 4,195,950.00 103,518,938.00 31,790.00 1,018,320.00 293,900.00 927,560.00 722,600.00 139,290.00 9,570.00 6,636,462.00

2.46 0.144 1.00 2.18 186 4.7 0.6

258,000 1,820,000 66,000 482,000 3,175,310 2,000 247,000

637,870.00 262,790.00 65,740.00 1,049,350.00 585,311,435.00 9,250.00 147,840.00

1.08

205,000

221,400.00

0.380 57.9500 16.10 1.05 6.38

40,000 2,398,800 7,126,400 74,000 3,100

15,200.00 138,766,100.00 118,547,952.00 75,590.00 19,570.00

756 8.2 13.80 5.81 4.40 0.225 1320 5.51 9.94 73.30 6.6 0.69 14.78 0.47 5.2 3.5 0.0310 1.200 1.830

377,810 7,011,300 2,009,500 26,500 185,000 20,000 131,310 35,000 2,007,600 1,358,790 3,612,600 377,000 3,342,200 20,000 27,585,900 15,000 54,800,000 10,000 1,076,000

285,271,420.00 58,348,063.00 27,676,266.00 153,920.00 803,870.00 4,500.00 175,551,235.00 192,850.00 19,580,701.00 101,492,283.50 23,881,308.00 255,980.00 49,756,914.00 9,400.00 144,082,977.00 52,500.00 1,659,700.00 12,000.00 1,989,370.00

49.90

534,700

26,532,815.00

864.00

231,360

199,067,445.00

0.71 67.600 0.2800 0.2100 0.255

57,000 53,020 1,070,000 2,080,000 130,000

40,470.00 3,661,703.00 302,500.00 405,930.00 31,350.00

7.100

573,800

4,078,350.00

0.75 1.120 0.220 34.450 2.91 5.18 0.56 0.97 1.03 0.120 0.445 24.4 0.770

1,448,000 10,000 560,000 9,358,100 4,940,000 29,900 5,088,000 34,000 92,000 770,000 510,000 2,075,500 106,000

1,095,030.00 11,200.00 117,400.00 323,606,500.00 14,085,970.00 153,670.00 2,799,260.00 32,980.00 94,750.00 92,720.00 227,000.00 50,692,345.00 81,600.00

1.03 1.81 1.13 4.25

2,187,000 9,950,000 75,000 41,867,000

2,215,560.00 18,023,280.00 86,160.00 179,497,640.00

STOCKS

JANUARY 4-8, 2016 Close Volume

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

0.073 0.2400 0.385 8.55 25.00 1.35 3.18 20.60 0.76 4.7 0.830 4.930

2GO Group ABS-CBN Acesite Hotel APC Group, Inc. Asian Terminals Inc. Berjaya Phils. Inc. Bloomberry Boulevard Holdings Calata Corp. Cebu Air Inc. (5J) Centro Esc. Univ. Discovery World DFNN Inc. FEUI Globe Telecom GMA Network Inc. Grand Plaza Hotel Harbor Star I.C.T.S.I. IPeople Inc. `A’ IP E-Game Ventures Inc. Island Info ISM Communications Jackstones Leisure & Resorts Liberty Telecom Lorenzo Shipping Macroasia Corp. 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

6.55 61.1 1.12 0.440 11.7 27 3.67 0.0380 3.14 79.75 9.64 1.75 5.56 955 1758 6.60 21.45 1.17 63.7 11.12 0.0093 0.136 1.3800 2 7.10 4.41 1.08 2.32 0.500 1.98 1.69 3.78 0.260 0.680 18 4.35 3 100.00 21.00 1958.00 0.470 0.470 33.00 65.00 5.20 2.90 0.410 1.51 3.79 0.320 3.380

Abra Mining Apex À’ Atlas Cons. À’ Basic Energy Corp. Benguet Corp À’ Benguet Corp `B’ Century Peak Metals Hldgs Coal Asia Dizon Ferronickel Geograce Res. Phil. Inc. Lepanto À’ Lepanto `B’ Manila Mining À’ Manila Mining `B’ Marcventures Hldgs., Inc. Nickelasia Nihao Mineral Resources Omico Oriental Peninsula Res. Oriental Pet. À’ Oriental Pet. `B’ Petroenergy Res. Corp. Philex À’ PhilexPetroleum Philodrill Corp. À’ Semirara Corp. TA Petroleum United Paragon

0.0049 1.84 4.00 0.195 5.4800 5.6000 0.58 0.55 6.21 0.51 0.270 0.167 0.202 0.0100 0.011 1.62 4.86 2.43 0.5400 1.1500 0.0094 0.0098 3.38 4.45 1.26 0.0110 130.90 2.1 0.0070

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 PNX PREF 3A PNX PREF 3B SMC Preferred B SMC Preferred C SMC Preferred D SMC Preferred E SMC Preferred F Swift Pref

62 525 530 103.4 110.5 526 6.5 1.07 107 1030 1077 104 106 81 82.5 79 79 79.8 2.4

Leisure & Resort Warr.

1.920

Alterra Capital Makati Fin. Corp. Italpinas Xurpas

3.1 2.57 2.79 14.64

First Metro ETF

108

DECEMBER 28-29, 2015 Close Volume Value

Value

3,480,000 20,000 750,000 700,200 11,366,100 245,000 11,300 55,780,800 7,494,000 61,320 1,283,000 25,540,300

256,430.00 4,860.00 298,000.00 5,986,557.00 297,904,070.00 335,980.00 44,770.00 1,174,816,825.00 5,876,240.00 256,798.00 1,062,130.00 126,691,064.00 SERVICES 299,100 2,035,764.00 70,300 4,347,402.50 152,000 174,730.00 3,130,000 1,408,200.00 2,000 23,400.00 1,500 32,300 47,847,000 188,843,240.00 56,500,000 2,234,400.00 1,399,000 4,411,230.00 2,078,620 168,449,492.50 36,100 351,788.00 42,000 77,410 3,638,400 19,459,517.00 2,220 2,122,810.00 429,300 768,553,940 384,600 2,578,573.00 600 12,140 276,000 324,180.00 2,939,670 194,603,261.50 4,400 48,928.00 622,500,000 6,307,700.00 8,530,000 1,223,680.00 1,355,000 1,884,140.00 60,000 120,700.00 35,467,600 249,227,250.00 27,164,000 131,061,780.00 10,000 10,800.00 8,000 17,570.00 235,000 129,800.00 614,000 1,198,810.00 69,469,000 135,002,590.00 44,901,290.00 11,734,000 6,890,000 1,999,800.00 25,041,000 17,995,830.00 39,400 705,744.00 74,000 329,750 51,000 154,650.00 600,560 60,056,720.00 7,195,200 144,019,220.00 528,770 1,054,669,725.00 2,210,000 1,014,000.00 341,818,000 180,599,430.00 5,704,700 191,224,470.00 5,348,930 352,220,597.00 14,198,100 78,831,342.00 25,684,000 81,045,540.00 34,980,000 13,955,200.00 4,000 6,040.00 5,129,000 20,146,340.00 430,000 141,000.00 532,000 2,053,870.00 MINING & OIL 476,000,000 2,303,700.00 473,000 868,160.00 259,000 1,041,730.00 3,010,000 601,700.00 3,400 18,632.00 11,000 60,820.00 1,322,000 778,310.00 768,000 412,950.00 115,800 772,945.00 32,242,000 18,830,700.00 3,760,000 996,250.00 25,670,000 4,351,000.00 2,060,000 400,970.00 492,000,000 4,921,500.00 51,700,000 563,200.00 4,126,000 7,325,590.00 24,366,500 130,119,420.00 383,000 984,280.00 14,000 7,550.00 2,046,000 2,504,820.00 159,600,000 1,500,240.00 100,000 980.00 154,000 526,160.00 1,416,000 6,216,380.00 1,647,000 2,129,980.00 115,800,000 1,283,300.00 1,382,090 184,009,901.00 137,000 286,310.00 1,000,000 7,000.00 PREFERRED 187,960 11,770,227.50 44,040 23,090,500.00 6,040 3,054,200 10,030 1,037,600.00 5,740 638,091.00 5,470 2,882,860.00 10,000 65,611.00 456,000 505,920 100 10,700.00 575 596,850.00 130 139,990.00 41,310 4,292,400.00 57,060 6,073,318.00 8,410 678,439.00 158,390 13,131,032.50 4,720 368,180.00 59,010 4,640,329.00 264,520 21,118,788.00 8,000 17,150.00 WARRANTS & BONDS 1,090,000 2,226,760.00 SME 339,000 1,043,400.00 16,000 41,120.00 1,849,000 5,383,060.00 4,304,300 64,522,096.00 EXCHANGE TRADED FUNDS 66,050 7,242,987.00

0.082 0.2850 0.4450

10,000 350,000 300,000

820.00 89,400.00 122,850.00

27.50 1.4 3.13 21.70 0.78 7 0.840 5.180

2,207,700 136,000 93,000 38,805,200 4,631,000 100 638,000 2,398,100

59,990,165.00 194,670.00 286,750.00 841,469,435.00 3,527,540.00 700.00 527,920.00 12,432,881.00

6.88 61.9 1.26 0.450 11.7 28.5 4.54 0.0410 3.29 82.35 9.89

55,300 114,390 65,000 5,710,000 5,000 2,100 11,101,000 23,900,000 6,059,000 556,130 4,900

379,160.00 7,105,947.00 80,310.00 2,618,750.00 58,568.00 59,850 50,427,150.00 972,000.00 19,921,520.00 45,676,251.50 47,981.00

5.30

54,600

287,063.00

1852 6.90 17.80 1.17 70.3 11 0.0053 0.155 1.4000 2.03 7.63 4.36 1.08 2.35 0.540 2 2.29 3.98 0.280 0.750 18.48 4.59 2.99 100.00 23.10 2060.00 0.490 0.640 34.70 63.00 6.18 3.45 0.430

90,070 101,100 51,900 52,000 2,360,370 600 2,000,000 6,520,000 161,000 31,000 288,800 889,000 20,000 1,000 78,000 232,000 36,239,000 26,459,000 320,000 11,971,000 6,000 19,000 28,000 25,060 374,400 122,440 1,840,000 163,083,000 2,911,600 2,035,480 1,165,500 4,234,000 3,030,000

171,696,040 694,720.00 923,820 30,940.00 165,119,695.00 6,600.00 10,600.00 1,038,370.00 223,250.00 62,670.00 2,218,398.00 3,851,600.00 21,600.00 2,350.00 41,540.00 460,270.00 81,514,630.00 104,524,130.00 88,700.00 9,250,210.00 108,480.00 84,030 83,720.00 2,506,000.00 8,539,175.00 251,676,160.00 884,600.00 106,071,330.00 100,548,090.00 128,223,496.00 7,183,437.00 14,530,240.00 1,280,100.00

4.4 0.340 4.100

55,960,000 360,000 87,000

240,891,810.00 117,250.00 364,050.00

0.0050 1.80 4.07 0.210

127,000,000 59,000 133,000 230,000

632,900.00 106,940.00 540,250.00 46,530.00

5.5000 0.6 0.58 7.22 0.69 0.275 0.174 0.202 0.0100 0.011 2 6.25 2.8 0.5700 1.4000 0.0100

5,000 293,000 121,000 3,800 2,781,000 160,000 3,190,000 110,000 307,300,000 1,000,000 426,000 1,335,700 66,000 2,000 1,138,000 1,000,000

27,500.00 173,850.00 69,680.00 27,474.00 1,906,320.00 44,100.00 556,750.00 22,220.00 3,110,700.00 11,000.00 851,450.00 8,320,939.00 182,250.00 1,140.00 1,586,320.00 10,000.00

4.40 1.30 0.0120 136.50 2.28 0.0072

4,103,000 351,000 146,500,000 720,960 292,000 1,000,000

18,088,230.00 453,960.00 1,688,900.00 97,859,656.00 623,300.00 7,200.00

62.7 523 549 120

174,620 44,680 60 10

10,989,226.00 23,278,600.00 32,940 1,200.00

522 7.22 1.11

100 50,800 180,000

52,200.00 366,440.00 199,800

1070

8,975

9,553,500.00

103 106

7,500 15,300

772,500.00 1,628,050.00

83 85 76 79.9

111,910 73,100 24,420 20,660

9,287,854.50 5,750,553.00 1,873,600.00 1,650,558.00

2.400

74,000

172,510.00

3.28 2.83 3.25 15.22

39,000 96,000 2,957,000 1,010,500

121,980.00 277,000.00 9,702,230.00 15,476,622.00

113.5

62,810

7,152,623.00

WEEKLY MOST TRADED STOCKS IP E-Game Ventures Inc. Manila Mining À’ Abra Mining Premium Leisure Pacifica À’ Megaworld Prop. Oriental Pet. À’ Filinvest Land,Inc. Philodrill Corp. À’ Metro Pacific Inv. Corp.

VOLUME 622,500,000 492,000,000 476,000,000 341,818,000 226,100,000 178,390,000 159,600,000 116,338,000 115,800,000 110,308,000

STOCKS Ayala Land `B’ Universal Robina SM Prime Holdings PLDT Common GT Capital Ayala Corp `A’ Metrobank Bank of PI Banco de Oro Unibank Inc. Globe Telecom

VALUE 2,243,079,445.00 1,426,051,203.00 1,174,816,825.00 1,054,669,725.00 1,050,314,165.00 964,273,570.00 917,765,114.50 897,033,618.50 769,350,801 768,553,940

MONDAY: JANUARY 11, 2016

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

LRT Line 1 operator to finalize financing By Jenniffer B. Austria

LIGHT Rail Manila Corp., a joint venture of Metro Pacific Investments Corp. and Ayala Corp., is set to finalize the financing package for the P65billion Light Rail Transit Line 1 Cavite extension project. First Metro Investments Corp., the investment banking unit of Metrobank group, is one of the arrangers tapped by the rail operator to handle the transaction. First Metro executive vice president Justino Juan Ocampo confirmed the company was one of the arrangers for the project financing of LRT 1 Extension project. Ocampo said a syndicate of banks would be involved in the deal and that the loan facility would have a minimum tenor of 10 years. “The financing for LRT 1 Extension is on track for closing in the first two months of 2016, February at the latest,” Ocampo said. Ocampo did not disclose the value of the loan agreement and how many local banks would be involved in the deal. Under the concession agreement signed by LRMC with the Light Rail Transit Authority, the consortium is allowed to finance 70 percent of the project cost through borrowings and loans and the 30 percent through equity infusion by the members of the consortium. The company earlier said it was in talks with five banks for the financing of the project. LRMC was the only bidder that submitted the technical and financial proposals for the LRT 1 project in 2014. The P65-billion project will extend the existing 20.7-kilometer LRT Line 1 system, which runs from Roosevelt Ave. in Quezon City to Baclaran in Parañaque, by an additional 11.7 km. southward to Bacoor, Cavite. Once operational, the new line will increase the number of daily passengers at LRT 1 from 500,000 to 700,000. Under the bidding contract of the LRT 1 project, half of the P65-billion project would be invested by private sector for the civil works on the extension to Bacoor, while the government would spend the other half to procure 39 new train sets for the mass transit line, apart from acquiring and delivering the required right of way. The extended rail line is envisioned to help ease the worsening traffic condition in the Parañaque-Las PiñasCavite corridor. It is also expected to enhance commercial development around the rail stations.

BDOI-Blue Cross partnership. BDOI, a wholly-owned subsidiary of BDO Unibank Inc. whose portfolio of

insurance products covers auto, home, personal accident and travel, launches the BDOI-Blue Cross Weblink Project, which allows travelers to get insurance online even the night before scheduled trip and in the comfort of their homes. Blue Cross, a leading provider of travel insurance, is an existing partner of BDOI. Shown are (from left) Blue Cross assistant vice president Lyn Ong, Blue Cross president and chief executive John Casey, BDOI senior vice president Ma. Theresa Tan and BDOI vice president Carmelita Teresa Tan.

Stock index likely to drop to 6,300 level ANALYSTS expect another lackluster trading at the Philippine Stock Exchange this week, which could signal the local market’s entry to the “bear” category. Regina Capital Development Corp. managing director Luis Limlingan said the 30-company benchmark index could go down to 6,300 points this week, after it breached the major support level of 6,600 last week. “This level [6,600] could be a possible rebound area since we project prices to form its channel support there. However, this only strengthens the case of a medium to longterm downtrend as successive lower highs and lows are being formed,” Limlingan said. “On the positive side, the index may still able to prevent this bearish scenario if prices recover above the

6,600 level and hold above it,” said Limlingan. BDO Unibank Inc. chief investment strategist Jonathan Ravelas said the index could trade between 6,500 and 6,800 points over the near term. Ravelas conceded that a break below the 6,500 level could push the market further down to 6,400 level. The Philippine Stock Exchange Index ended lower by 5.4 percent in the first trading week of 2016 to close at 6,575.43 on Friday, tracking the movement of China’s stock market. The broader all-share index also declined 5.1 percent last week to 3,700.28, as all major sub-indices ended in the red, led by mining and oil (-7 percent), property (-6.8 percent), services (-5.9 percent), holding firms (-5.1 percent), industrial

(-4.4 percent) and financials (-4.1 percent). Some P641 million worth of foreign funds exited the local equities market, as total overseas selling hit P12.31 billion while foreign buying amounted to only P11.67 billion. Top gainers last week were IP EGame Ventures Inc., which gained 75.4 percent to P0.0093; Da Vinci Holdings Inc., which rose 25 percent to P2; and Grand Plaza Hotel Corp., which advanced 20.5 percent to P21.45. Heavy losers were Premium Leisure Corp., which plummeted 25.6 percent to P0.47; Melco Crown (Philippines) Resorts Corp., which fell 26.2 percent to P1.69; and Global Ferronickel Holdings Inc., which retreated 26.1 percent to P0.51. Jenniffer B. Austria

SEC recommends Asean blueprint for corporate governance THE Securities and Exchange Commission said it will push for the creation of an Asean roadmap for corporate governance to promote and strengthen it in the region. SEC chairman Teresita Herbosa said the development of an Asean blueprint for corporate governance would be one of her top agendas as the Philippines assumed the chairmanship of the Asean Capital Markets Forum Corporate Governance Initiative in 2016. “We have big plans to pro-

mote corporate governance in the region,” Herbosa said in an interview. “Last year, we have the Asean scorecard and the publication of the results. Under my term, we would like to go a step higher involving not only listed firms, trying to meet other OECD principals of corporate governance but involve also the regulators, the exchanges, shareholder organizations and NGOs advocating for corporate governance,” she said. The Philippines, Indonesia

and Malaysia already have their own respective roadmaps for corporate governance. Herbosa said the proposed creation of an Asean roadmap for corporate governance would also help other Asean members to further improve their compliance with international corporate governance standards. “If we consolidate the experience of top five Asean economies, then we could serve as example to others. Then, maybe we could have concerted efforts towards corporate governance

compliance,” Herboasa said. ACMF is responsible for the Asean corporate governance initiative, which includes the Asean Corporate Governance Scorecard and the ranking of Asean publicly-listed companies. The SEC in the first half of 2015 conducted a series of roundtable discussions on ACGS, which is believed to have contributed to the increased scores of Philippine publicly listed companies and led to the inclusion of 11 companies in the top 50 Asean PLCs.

ACGS and the consequent ranking of Asean PLCs were the bases for the recognition of the top 50 Asean PLCs. The 11 corporations from the Philippines in the Top 50 Asean PLCs in 2015 were Aboitiz Equity Ventures, Ayala Corp., Ayala Land Inc., BDO Unibank Inc., Globe Telecom Inc. GT Capital Holdings Inc., Manila Electric Company, Manila Water Company Inc., Philex Mining Corp., Philippine Long Distance Telephone Co. and SM Prime Holdings Inc. Jenniffer B. Austria

B4 Govt urged to lead LNG industry By Alena Mae S. Flores ABOITIZ Power Corp., one of the country’s biggest power generators, urged the government to jumpstart the construction of a liquefied natural gas terminal to spur the development of the emerging industry. Aboitiz Power chief executive Erramon Aboitiz told reporters over the weekend that an LNG terminal alone was expensive to build. An LNG terminal is estimated to cost $1 billion to construct based on industry estimates. He said if government built the LNG terminal, the private sector could purchase the fuel if they needed it. “Several groups in the power industry have been actually looking at LNG. We know that First Gen group is very big in LNG and Meralco is also looking at it, but I believe all of us face the same problem which is the cost of building a terminal of a certain size,” Aboitiz said. “It’s massive, its something very difficult for one party to do that alone, maybe that’s something government should do. Power producers can just buy the LNG,” he said, adding the facility would bring up the consumption of LNG. “LNG makes sense from an economic point of view even if the cost of fuel is more expensive. It makes sense for peaking, mid merit operations so you will see that people will start building power plants to be able to supply that portion of the demand,” Aboitiz said. “To do it alone and put up your own facility by yourself, it cannot be done.” The Shell Group in the Philippines, First Gen Corp., Energy World Corp. and Manila Electric Co. have expressed interest to put up LNG facilities in the country as they prepare for the eventual depletion of the Malampaya gas field by 2022 to 2024. International Finance Corp., the investment arm of the World Bank, earlier, urged the government to come up with the policy that would pave the way for the construction of LNG terminals in the country.

New gallery. Sun Life Financial Philippines Foundation Inc. sponsors the construction of a new gallery at the National Museum of Natural

History. The philanthropic arm of Sun Life Financial Philippines is providing P30 million for ‘Gallery I: Biodiversity of the Philippines, which will showcase a stuffed version of Lolong, the largest crocodile in the world caught in Agusan del Sur. At the recent signing ceremony at the Sun Life Centre in BGC in Taguig are (from left) Phinma Foundation executive director EJ Qua Hiansen, National Museum director Jeremy Barns, Philippine National Museum Foundation Inc. chairman of the board of trustees Ramon Del Rosario Jr., Sun Life Foundation vice president Michael Gerard Enriquez, Sun Life Foundation treasurer Benedict Sison and Sun Life Foundation executive director Anne Zillah Flores.

Filinvest, BCDA sign deal to develop Clark By Othel V. Campos

THE Bases Conversion and Development Authority and Filinvest Land Inc. signed a landmark joint venture partnership to develop a 288-hectare parcel of Clark Green City in ceremonies held at the BCDA Corporate Center in Taguig City. The deal is the first step toward the full development of the BCDA’s flagship project—the 9,450-hectare modern, intelligent and sustainable Clark Green City. “We celebrate a momentous event as the signing of this joint venture agreement with Filinvest Land Inc. jumpstarts the full development of Clark Green City as the country’s first smart, green and disaster-resilient metropolis,” said BCDA president and chief executive Arnel Paciano Casanova in a statement over the

weekend. “With the signing of the joint venture agreement, BCDA generated P160 million for Filinvest’s right to become BCDA’s partner for the development of the new urban core for innovation, commerce, trade and industry in the country,” he said. Filinvest Land under the joint venture has the right to develop the property and manage it for 50 years, renewable for another 50 years. BCDA will own 45 percent of the joint venture while Filin-

vest Land owns 55 percent. “As the pioneer developer involved in Clark Green City, we are excited to be a catalyst of growth in such a visionary endeavor. At the same time, this is also a prime opportunity for us to expand our geographic footprint in Northern Luzon,” said Filinvest Land president and CEO Josephine Gotianun-Yap. She said the company would soon be mapping out development plans for the project. “Based on the terms of the joint venture, the Filinvest parcel will have two distinct components: an industrial zone and a mixed-use development with residential, office, commercial and institutional elements,” she said. She added the comprehensive planning for the development would be programed in the next nine months, with development to start within the next two years. Clark Green City is envisioned to be a modern, sustainable com-

munity that promotes inclusive growth among all stakeholders. Casanova noted that Clark Green City would benefit from the development track record of Filinvest Land. “Filinvest Land Inc.—as the developer of the 244-hectare Filinvest City in Alabang and the P5-billion business process outsourcing complex called Filinvest Cyberzone Cebu—will bring its expertise in the development of large master-planned township projects to Clark Green City,” he said. The Clark Green City is a 9,450-hectare master planned property within the Clark Special Economic Zone in Tarlac province. At full development, Clark Green City will have some 1.12 million residents, 800,000 workers and contribute a gross output of approximately P1.57 trillion a year to the national economy, or roughly four percent.

PDIC takes over Abra bank on order of Monetary Board THE Monetary Board, the policy-making body of Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas, placed the Rural Bank of Villaviciosa (Abra) Inc. under the custody of Philippine Deposit Insurance Corp. for unhealthy financial condition. It was the first rural bank closed this year by the board. The board did not provide further details as to the number of branches of the closed bank, its owners and total deposit

liabilities. The board in 2015 closed a total of 14 financially-ailing rural banks, matching the same number of banks closed in 2014. These were the Penafrancia Rural Bank of Calabanga (Camarines Sur) Inc., La Unionbased Rural Bank of Caba, Pangasinan-based Rural Bank of Calasiao Inc., Benguet-based Rural Bank of Buguias Inc. and Bukidnon-based Xavier-Punla Rural Bank Inc.

Also closed last year Batangas-based Farmers’ Rural Bank Inc., Rural Bank of Taysan (Batangas) Inc., Surigao-based Siargao Bank (A Rural Bank), Rural Bank of Sta. Magdalena (Sorsogon), Community Rural Bank of Magsaysay (Davao del Sur) Inc.; Surigao City-based Surigaonon Rural Banking Corp.; Rural Bank of Labrador (Pangasinan); Rural Bank of Magsingal (Ilocos Sur) Inc.; and Alfonso, Cavite-based Commu-

nity Bank (Rural Bank of Alfonso Inc.). The Monetary board in 2014 placed 14 rural banks under the custody of PDIC. These were Leyte-based Rural Bank of Burauen Inc., Batangas-based Synergy Rural Bank, Cooperative Bank of Tarlac Inc., Bulacan-based Fil-Agro Rural Bank, Rural Bank of Lobo Inc. in Batangas, Rural Bank of Padre Burgos in Southern Leyte and Cavite-based Banco Carmo-

na Inc. ( A Rural Bank). Also shut down were Rural Bank of Oroquieta (Misamis Occidental) Inc., Asian Consumers Bank (A Rural Bank) in Basista, Pangasinan, Gulf Bank (Rural Bank of Lingayen Inc.), Rural Bank of Pres. M.A. Roxas Inc. in Zamboanga del Norte; Rural Bank of Montevista in Davao del Norte, Rural Bank of Reina Mercedes in Isabela, and Cavite-based Silangan Savings and Loan Bank. Julito G. Rada

M O N D AY : J A N U A R Y 1 1 , 2 0 1 6

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

WESM keeps P32 price cap By Alena Mae S. Flores

A TRIPARTITE committee of the Wholesale Electricity Spot Market will continue to implement the P32 per kilowatt-hour offer price cap, which has helped temper price volatilities in the spot market. Philippine Electricity Market Corp. president Melinda Ocampo told reporters the secondary price cap at the WESM, the country’s trading floor of electricity, would also remain. “Actually, it’s already permanent but there is a colatilla that there will be a continuing review. There is a provision that there will be a review so depending on the situation, they will look at it,” Ocampo said. PEMC, the Energy Regulatory Commission and the Energy Department are members of the WESM tripartite committee. The ERC earlier issued a resolution adopting and establishing a pre-emptive mitigation measure in the WESM once the P9 per kWh threshold is breached. ERC said a breach in the P9 per kWh

cumulative price threshold over a sevenday period triggers an imposition amounting to P6.245 per kWh. Both the P32 price cap and the secondary price cap were implement following the unprecedented increase in power rates in November and December 2013 as a result of arising from the Malampaya natural gas shutdown. The tripartite committee reduced the interim offer price cap to P32 per kWh from P62 per kWh following the 30-day Malampaya shutdown. The market clearing price at that time reached the maximum offer of P62 “more often than usual and even during off-peak hours when demand for electricity is low.” The tripartite committee was created in 2006 to coordinate efforts in the monitoring of price volatilities and setting of mitigation measures during the initial years of the WESM implementation. The committee convened shortly after the November-December rate issue in 2013 to discuss possible adjustments to the price ceiling and recognized “the need to constantly put in place procedures and measures to address extreme price spikes or prolonged price volatility.” ERC, meanwhile said the secondary cap, now a permanent mitigating measure, was aimed to avoid sharp increases in bid prices at the WESM, especially when power supply is tight.

British Ambassador Asif Ahmad and Foreign Secretary Philip Hammond with President Benigno Aquino

UK State Secretary Hammond visits Manila RULE, Britannia! I must confess that I am—unabashedly – a certified Anglophile, and I have to thank two life circumstances for that seeming bias I have towards the United Kingdom: my having pursued and completed a Master of Laws degree in International Economic Law at the prestigious London School of Economics and Political Science, under a full Chevening scholarship grant; and my unassuming youthful admiration for James Bond. Last week, I had the privilege to be part of a small group of business leaders that met with Philip Anthony Hammond PC MP, Secretary of State and Commonwealth Affairs of the United Kingdom, who was in Manila as part of his three-day tour around East Asia. He was accompanied to the meeting by two good friends, the hardworking and amiable British Ambassador to the Philippines, H.E. Asif Ahmad, and by former British Ambassador to the Philippines, H. E. Stephen Lillie, now Director for Asia-Pacific of Her Majesty’s Foreign Office, and who I was very happy to see once again. The meeting with Secretary Hammond was organized by the ever-efficient staff of the British Embassy here and was held to discuss opportunities and challenges in boosting trade and investments between the two countries. As shown in one of the photos here, I was able to share with the good Secretary the profile and current interests of the MVP Group. Secretary Hammond was highly pleased to note that I was not just a Chevening scholar but also President of the Chevening

Alumni Association in the Philippines. He was also pleased that there were a number of Chevening alumnus and alumna in the meeting group, an indication, perhaps, of the program’s success. Other notable business leaders present at the meeting were Philippine Airlines president Jaime “Jimmy” Bautista; Bank of the Philippine Islands president and CEO Cezar “Bong” Consing; Banco De Oro president Nestor V. Tan; HSBC (Philippines) president and CEO Jose Arnulfo “Wick” Veloso; Rustan’s and Store Specialist Inc. executive vice president Anton Huang; and Ayala and Max’s Group director Anton Periquet. The gracious host of the meeting was my good friend from UP days and co-Trustee in the Children’s Hour, Robina Gokongwei Pe, who held it at the Costa Coffee branch at the Bonifacio Global City. Robina was instrumental in bringing the iconic Costa brand to the Philippines. Coffee aficionados know that Costa Coffee is the second largest coffeehouse chain in the world and the largest in the UK. Secretary Hammond also had the opportunity to have an audience with President Aquino and Foreign Affairs Secretary Albert Del Rosario.

Energy storage. AES breaks ground on its battery-based energy storage array at Masinloc in Zambales province, which will provide 10 megawatts of interconnected capacity and enhance the reliability of the Luzon grid. The project is expected to be completed by mid2016. It will be one of the first advanced energy storage installations in South East Asia and among the largest in all of Asia. Leading the ground-breaking ceremony are (from left) Energy chief of technical services and management division Gaspar Escobar, Masinloc Mayor Desiree Edora, Zambales Governor Hermogenes Ebdane Jr., AES Philippines managing director Neeraj Bhat, AES Asia Strategic Business Unit president Marty Crotty and National Grid Corporation of the Philippines District 3 head Alan Sandoval.

HSBC expects rate cut in Q2 By Julito G. Rada BANGKO Sentral ng Pilipinas will likely reduce rates in the second quarter this year as inflation remains manageable and stays within the target range of 2 percent to 4 percent, British bank Hongkong and Shanghai Banking Corp. said over the weekend. HSBC expects Bangko Sentral to have enough room “to maneuver” in its monetary policy stance, especially with the implementation of an interest rate corridor in the second quarter of 2016. “On the monetary front, the BSP will transition to an interest corridor framework in 2016. This will consist of narrowing the spread be-

tween the lending and deposit rates to guide the policy rate—the reverse repurchase rate. This should allow more effective monetary policy and a greater deal of market “price discovery” as banks bid for limited term deposits—which are expected to partly replace the special deposit account--hich is currently used to mop up most liquidity,” the bank said. “Policy changes will mostly be operational as the upper and middle bounds are lowered. As such, we have penciled in a Q2 policy rate cut [from 4 percent to 3.75 percent]. The BSP has a large degree of maneuverability as inflation has moderated to record lows and will likely stay within the BSP’s 2-4 percent target,” it said.

British Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, The Right Honourable Philip Hammond MP (middle) with business leaders

The columnist in a discussion with Secretary Hammond and business leaders

Foreign Sec. Philip Hammond (rightmost) and other guests discuss the GREAT campaign, a celebration of the best of British business and culture

MONDAY: JANUARY 11, 2016

BUSINESS business@manilastandardtoday.com extrastory2000@gmail.com

BRT coming to Manila

R E C E N T news indicated that President DENNIS L. BERINO Aquino has approved the REEN IGHT installation of a P4.78-billion bus rapid transit system between Manila and Quezon City. This will involve the construction of dedicated lanes for public buses in the middle section of the main road to start from the Manila City Hall all the way to Quezon Memorial Circle. An Edsa BRT is also in the drawing board. What is BRT? A source describes the BRT as a bus-based mass transit system, which is sometimes described as a “surface subway” and aims to combine the capacity and speed of light rail with the flexibility, lower cost and simplicity of a bus system. It is further explained that to be considered BRT, buses should operate for a significant part of their journey within a fully dedicated right of way (busway) to avoid traffic congestion. In addition, the source specifies that a true BRT system has most of the following elements: (1) Alignment in the center of the road (to avoid typical curb-side delays); (2) Stations with off-board fare collection (to reduce boarding and alighting delay related to paying the driver); (3) Station platforms level with the bus floor (to reduce boarding and alighting delay caused by steps); and (4) Bus priority at intersections (to avoid intersection signal delay). If you think this is a new transportation infrastructure, think again since the world’s first BRT system, the Rede Integrada de Transporte in Curitiba, Brazil, was opened in 1974. As of October 2014, 186 cities in all continents have implemented BRT systems, accounting for 4,757 km. of BRT lanes. It is described that vehicle capacity can range from 50 for a conventional bus up to some 200 for an articulated vehicle arranged for standing passengers. Use ERT as the rolling stock component A related news said that the Department of Science and Technology has recently started roadworthiness tests of its hybrid electric road train project. Designed by Filipino engineers and made with locally available parts, the 40-meter long train-like bus can run with a maximum speed of 50 kph and carry up to more than 200 passengers. It is mainly powered by hybrid diesel fuel and electric-powered battery. Moreover, the train is designed to be energy-efficient, which means it does not need electricity and suspended cables to operate. It would be great if the planned BRT will make use of the DOST ERT as its rolling stock component since the ERT is locally developed and sourced. Convert the current railroad system There is also another possibility which we may consider where a BRT system can be installed. The Philippine National Railways currently operates a train system called the Metro Commuter starting from the Tutuban station and runs all the way to Alabang in Muntinlupa and Calamba in Laguna. It should be a good mass transport system which already has an existing rail track but is plagued with insufficient rolling stocks which affect the efficiency of its service. Why not convert the Manila rail road tracks into paved roads where the DOST-developed ERT can run? It will be an efficient way of setting up the BRT system since there is already an existing pathway which only needs to be upgraded with necessary infrastructure. The train system, which is also being considered for improvement and upgrade, can serve more points north of Manila as well as south of Alabang. The above are whiffs of fresh air which can only bring salvation to the long suffering metro population as they travel around the metropolis, reducing the billions of pesos lost annually in productivity, time, health issues, useless gas consumption and generated pollution due to traffic.

Dr. Berino is an Associate Professional Lecturer with the Decision Sciences and Innovation Department of the Ramon V. del Rosario College of Business, De La Salle University. He can be reached at dennis.berino@dlsu. edu.ph. The views expressed here are the author’s and do not necessarily reflect the official position of DLSU, its faculty, and its administrators.

Chemical restriction reduces Peza exports By Othel V.Campos

COMPANIES operating at economic zones have threatened to stop operations, if they are not allowed to bring in chemicals needed for manufacturing. The Philippine Economic Zone Authority said exports from economic zones in the first 10 months of 2015 could have been higher, if not for the slow release of imported chemicals as a result of a memorandum circular issued by the Philippine National Police. The PNP circular expanded the list of imported dangerous chemicals. “More or less, this has affected the performance of our exports. The circular was implemented June. This has already taken its

toll on many companies. We’ll see the extent of the damage when the full year [2015] figures are released,” Peza said. Peza exports dropped 0.6 percent in the first 10 months of 2015 to $36.63 billion from $36.83 billion a year earlier. The PNP in its circular added 41 chemicals traditionally used for processing by electronics and other manufacturing companies to the list of dangerous chemicals and required importers to secure permits to sell,

import, unload and purchase chemical substances, which in effect made it difficult for manufacturers to operate. The PNP temporarily suspended the new circular from December 2015 until February 2016. The PNP said the circular was issued to prevent the entry of dangerous chemicals that could be used for explosives. An industry source said escort fee collected from companies importing ‘regulated’ chemicals amounted to P2,500 per trip regardless of volume. Escort fees are collected on top of other fees. “Companies are complaining that since they have big operations, their escort fees run to millions,” the source said. Peza has yet to deter-

mine the cost of lost opportunities in 2015 as a result of the circular. It said many orders were cancelled due to inaccessibility of required chemicals. The PNP said it was open to discussions and review of the circular to determine what chemicals should be tagged as dangerous and/or controlled. Exporters and PNP officials exchanged data on how they would manage importation of chemicals during a recent meeting at the Board of Investments. Some sectors suggested chemical importation, based on volume and concentration. “What the industry wants is to have an open list and set criteria. The provisions in the circular are very general,” the source said.

Investment guide. KPMG RGM&Co. teams up with University of the Asia and the Paciﬁc to launch the 2016 annual investment guide titled ‘Moving Across Borders: The Philippines and the Asean Economic Community’ at the Tower Club in Makati City. Shown are (from left) KPMG RGM&Co. head of audit Sharon Dayoan, John Clements Consultants Inc. president and chief executive Maria Carolina Dominguez, UA&P professor Bernardo Villegas, URC executive vice president Cornelio Mapa Jr., KPMG RGM&Co. chairman and chief executive Roberto Manabat, Bank of the Philippine Islands president Cezar Consing, UA&P school of economics vice dean George Manzano, Convergys managing director Marife Zamora

Govt extends P66-b subsidies to GOCCs By Gabrielle H. Binaday THE national government spent P66 billion to subsidize the operations of government-owned and controlled corporations in the first 11 months of 2015, data from the Treasury show. Subsidies extended by the government to GOCCs slightly declined from P66.323 billion in January to November 2014. The bulk of the amount went to Philippine Health Insurance Corp., with P34.871 billion; National Irrigation Administration, P8.301 billion; National Housing Authority, P4.414 billion; and National Food Authority, P4.250 billion. State subsidies jumped 38 percent in November to P3.707 billion from

P2.685 billion in November 2014. The biggest recipient of government subsidies in November was PhilHealth, which cornered more than half of the amount or P2.255 billion. It was followed by NIA with P720 million and Local Water Utilities Association with P527 million. Subsidies given by the government to GOCCs cover the agencies’ operational expenses. The government plans to increase support for GOCCs in 2016. The budget of expenditures and sources of financing document for fiscal year 2016 showed that the proposed allotment for GOCCs would increase to P127.1 billion from around P75 billion in 2015 and P80.3 billion in 2014.

Of the proposed amount, P96.1 billion would be in the form of subsidies, P31 billion would be equity and P26.5 million would be net lending. The national government incurred a P6-billion budget surplus in November as public spending continued to miss target expenditures. Government revenues in November climbed 12 percent year-on-year to P177.5 billion but fell 21 percent short of the P224.065-billion programmed collections for the month. Spending in November also increased 13 percent to P171.4 billion from P151.397 billion recorded a year ago, but was 23 percent below the target, marking the sixth consecutive month the government missed the programmed expenditures.

M O N D AY : J A N U A R Y 1 1 , 2 0 1 6

WORLD

CESAR BARRIOQUINTO EDITOR

editorial@thestandard.com.ph

Merkel warns refugees on rapes

COLOGNE—German Chancellor Angela Merkel on Saturday backed stricter laws to expel convicted refugees, as clashes erupted at farright protests in Cologne over a rash of sexual assaults blamed on asylum seekers. Cologne police said they have now recorded 379 cases of New Year’s Eve violence—ranging from groping to theft to two reported rapes— with asylum seekers and illegal migrants making up the majority of suspects. With anger growing at the scale of the attacks, supporters of the xenophobic PEGIDA movef the Philippines ment marched in proT OF AGRICULTURE tests that briefly turned violent in the western CCO ADMINISTRATION ner Panay Avenue, Quezon City city. 87 Fax. No. (02) 374-2505 Police used tear gas and water cannon to clear the rally of far-right vices for the Offices of the TRATION (NTA), at theafter protestsupporters Regions I,ers II and IV-A flung firecrackers and they TION (NTA),bottles throughattheofficers Corporate apply the sum PhPfailed 6,694,013.32 saidofhad to prevent ct (ABC), for the first year only, to the New attacks ervices, broken downYear’s by lots, Lot 1on women. 0; Lot 3 – PhP1,635,478.56; Lot 4 – 00, for the Offices of thetough NATIONAL Vowing action, he National Capital Region (NCR), Merkel that ceived in excess of thedeclared ABC for each ing. any refugee handed a jail term—even if it was Security Services, including Security a suspended sentence— paraphernalia, for the offices of the or a period of one (1) be year. Delivery of of should kicked out ear, from March 01, 2016 to February the country. within five (5) years from the date of milar to the Project. The description “If the law does ofnot Documents, particularly, in Section suffice, then the law must be changed,” she mpetitive bidding using a to said, procedures pledging action ecified in the Revised Implementing protect not just (RA) 9184, otherwise known German as the citizens, but innocent refugeespartnerships, too. ole proprietorships, or (60%) interest Witnesses or outstandingdescribed capital s, and to citizens or organizations a terrifying scenes ofofhunnt similar rights or privileges to Filipino dreds of women running o Commonwealth Act 138. a gauntlet of groping whether local or foreign, subject to e IRR of RAhands, 9184. lewd insults and robberies inthethe mob n from the NTA and inspect Bidding violence. orking days from 8:00 am to 5:00 pm. Of the cases reported e purchased by interested Bidders on so far,upon 40 payment percentof areaddress below and n the amounts respectively, as follows: lated to sexual violence, Cologne police said in a 00.00 000.00 andstatement. “Those in focus of criminal police investifrom the website of the Philippine m (PhilGEPS) and are the mostly website peoof gations e nonrefundable fee for the Bidding heir bids. ple from North African countries. The majority January 19,of2016, at the them10:00a.m. are asylum seekStreet and Panay Avenue, Quezon ers and people who ed parties who have purchased theare in Germany illegally,” police added,02,confirmw on or before February 2016, ing witness ors. Scout Reyes Street accounts. and Panay panied by a bid security in any of the The allegations have the Bidding Documents. stoked criticism of 6, 10:00 a.m.at the 3rd Floor NTA Merkel’s liberal opennay Avenue, Quezon City. Bids will door policy—which presentatives. who choose to attend 1.1 million ccepted. brought new asylum seekers to eject any bid, to annul the bidding Germany last year. or to contract award, without thereby r bidders. As questions grew over the country’s ability to integrate the newcomers, it emerged late , Quezon City Saturday that a man who was killed trying to attack a police station in Paris on Thursday had lived in an asylum seeker shelter in Germany. (TS-JAN. 11, 2016)AFP

Thousands seen gathering to remember terror attacks PARIS—Tens of thousands are expected to attend an event in Paris Sunday to mark a year since 1.6 million people thronged the French capital in a show of unity after attacks on the Charlie Hebdo newspaper and a Jewish supermarket. The gathering on January 11, 2015, was fronted by dozens of world leaders including German Chancellor Angela Merkel and French President Francois Hollande, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Palestinian leader Mahmud Abbas. A total of four million people took to the streets across France in the biggest mass demonstrations since the Liberation from the Nazis in 1945. Many showed their solidarity with the slain editors and cartoonists of satirical weekly

Charlie Hebdo by holding up black-and-white signs reading: “Je suis Charlie” (I am Charlie). Just as it was last year, the vast Place de la Republique will be the focus of the gathering as people reiterate their support for freedom of expression and remember the other victims of what would become a year of jihadist outrages in France, culminating in the November 13 coordinated shootings and suicide bombings that killed 130 people and were claimed by the Islamic State (IS) group. Paris’s three days of terror last January

began when jihadist brothers Said and Cherif Kouachi stormed the Charlie Hebdo offices on January 7, gunning down 12 people. The next day, another extremist, Amedy Coulibaly, shot dead a policewoman before killing four people in a siege at a Jewish supermarket. The one-year anniversary on Thursday of the Charlie Hebdo shootings was overshadowed when a man was killed by police as he approached a police station in northern Paris wielding a meat cleaver and wearing what later turned out to be a fake explosives vest. The man, a Tunisian called Tarek Belgacem, shouted “Allahu Akbar” (God is great) before trying to attack an officer at the entrance of the police station in the ethnically-mixed Goutte d’Or district near the tourist hot

spot of Montmartre. He was found to be carrying a handwritten letter claiming he was acting in the name of IS. He had been living in an asylum seeker shelter in Germany, a source close to the matter told AFP on Saturday. The thwarted attack underlined the authorities’ concerns that another terror assault remains highly likely in France. Hollande responded to the November massacre by vowing to crush IS in Syria and Iraq. French jets have been bombing IS targets in both coun-

NATIONAL TOBACCO ADMINISTRATION Scout Reyes Street, corner Panay Avenue, Quezon City Tel No. (02) 374-3987 Fax. No. (02) 374-2505

Re-Invitation to Bid for Security Services for the Offices of the NATIONAL TOBACCO ADMINISTRATION (NTA), at the National Capital Region (NCR), Regions I, II and IV-A 1.

The NATIONAL TOBACCO ADMINISTRATION (NTA), through the Corporate Operating Budget for CY 2016, intends to apply the sum of PhP 6,694,013.32 being the Approved Budget for the Contract (ABC), for the first year only, to payments under the contract for Security Services, broken down by lots, Lot 1 – PhP2,341,050.28; Lot 2 – PhP 908,599.20; Lot 3 – PhP1,635,478.56; Lot 4 – PhP 1,107,557.28;and Lot 5 –PhP701,328.00, for the Offices of the NATIONAL TOBACCO ADMINISTRATION (NTA), at the National Capital Region (NCR), Regions I, II and IV-A (PB 2016-01). Bids received in excess of the ABC for each lot shall be automatically rejected at bid opening.

The NTA now invites bids for the provision of Security Services, including Security Guards and ammunitions and other security paraphernalia, for the offices of the NTA, at the NCR and Regions I, II and IV-A, for a period of one (1) year. Delivery of the Goods is required for a period of one (1) year, from March 01, 2016 to February 28, 2017. Bidders should have completed, within five (5) years from the date of submission and receipt of bids, a contract similar to the Project. The description of an eligible bidder is contained in the Bidding Documents, particularly, in Section II. Instructions to Bidders.

I nv i t a t i o n t o B i d T h e M u n i c i p a l i t y o f Ta m b u l i g t h r o u g h i t s B i d s a n d A w a r d s C o m m i t t e e ( B AC) i nv i t e s c o n t r a c t o r s t o a p p l y t o B i d f o r t h e f o l l o w i n g c o n t r a c t : :

Contract Location Scope of Work Approved Budget for t h e C o n t r a c t ( A B C) Project Duration S o u r c e o f Fu n d Minimum Bid Security Bid Closing Date

: :

C O N S T R U C T I O N O F M U N I C I PA L H A L L P H A S E -1 Ta m b u l i g , Z a m b o a n g a d e l S u r Construction of Building

: : : : :

P h p 7, 3 6 3 , 3 7 2 . 3 7 240 Calendar Days A R C P- I I P B G S a n d L o c a l Fu n d P h p 147, 2 6 7. 4 4 J a n u a r y 2 6 , 2 0 16

B i d s m u s t b e d e l i v e r e d t o t h e a d d r e s s b e l o w o n o r b e f o r e J a n u a r y 2 6 , 2 016 a t t h e O f f i c e o f t h e B AC , M u n i c i p a l i t y o f Ta m b u l i g , P r o v i n c e o f Z a m b o a n g a d e l S u r. A l l b i d s m u s t b e a c c o m p a n i e d by a b i d s e c u r i t y i n t h e f o r m o f B a n k G u a r a n t e e a n d i n t h e a m o u n t o f P h p 147, 2 6 7, 4 4 .

Fo r f u r t h e r I n f o r m a t i o n , p l e a s e r e f e r t o: E n g r. B l e nv e n i d o C . S u c o B AC C h a i r p e r s o n f o r I n f r a s t r u c t u r e M u n i c i p a l i t y o f Ta m b u l i g Province of Zamboanga del Sur Te l e p h o n e N o . 0 9 4 6 4 3118 2 6 (S G D) B I E N V E N I D O C . S U C O Municipal Engineer B AC C h a i r p e r s o n f o r I n f r a s t r u c t u r e ( T S - J A N . 11, 2 016)

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It may also be downloaded free of charge from the website of the Philippine Government Electronic Procurement System (PhilGEPS) and the website of the NTA, provided that Bidders shall pay the nonrefundable fee for the Bidding Documents not later than the submission of their bids. The NTA will hold a Pre-Bid Conference on January 19, 2016, 10:00a.m. at the 3rd Floor NTA Building, Cors. Scout Reyes Street and Panay Avenue, Quezon City, which shall be open only to all interested parties who have purchased the Bidding Documents. Bids must be delivered to the address below on or before February 02, 2016, 10:00 a.m.,at the 3rd Floor NTA Building, Cors. Scout Reyes Street and Panay Avenue, Quezon City All Bids must be accompanied by a bid security in any of the acceptable forms and in the amount stated in the Bidding Documents.

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Bid opening shall be onFebruary 02, 2016, 10:00 a.m.at the 3rd Floor NTA Building, Cors. Scout Reyes Street and Panay Avenue, Quezon City. Bids will be opened in the presence of the Bidders’ representatives. who choose to attend at the address below. Late bids shall not be accepted.

Bids cho dea at e time

The NTA reserves the right to accept or reject any bid, to annul the bidding process, and to reject all bids at any time prior to contract award, without thereby incurring any liability to the affected bidder or bidders.

For further information, please refer to:

The bid, to c bidd doc

Bids will be opened in the presence of the bidder 's representatives who c h o o s e t o a t t e n d a t t h e a d d r e s s b e l o w. L a t e b i d s s h a l l n o t b e a c c e p t e d . T h e d e a d l i n e f o r t h e s u b m i s s i o n o f b i d s m u s t n o t b e l a t e r t h a n J a n u a r y 2 6 , 2 016 a t ex a c t l y 10 : 0 0 a m . T h e o p e n i n g o f b i d s w i l l p r o c e e d i m m e d i a t e l y a f t e r t h e time set for the deadline of submission of bids as indicated. T h e M u n i c i p a l i t y o f Ta m b u l i g r e s e r v e s t h e r i g h t t o a c c e p t o r r e j e c t a ny b i d , t o a n n u l t h e b i d d i n g p r o c e s s , a n d t o r e j e c t a l l b i d s a t a ny t i m e p r i o r t o c o n t r a c t a w a r d , w i t h o u t t h e r e by i n c u r r i n g a ny l i a b i l i t y t o t h e a f f e c t e d b i d d e r o r b i d d e r s . T h e I nv i t a t i o n t o B i d i s n o t a n i n t e g r a l p a r t o f t h e b i d d i n g document.

(ii) Bidding is open to all interested bidders, whether local or foreign, subject to the conditions for eligibility provided in the IRR of RA 9184. Interested bidders may obtain further information from the NTA and inspect the Bidding Documents at the address given below during working days from 8:00 am to 5:00 pm.

Lot 1 – PhP5,00000; Lot 2 – PhP1,000.00 Lot 3 – PhP5,000.00; Lot 4 – PhP5,000.00 and Lot 5 – PhP1,000.00

I t m ay a l s o . b e d o w n l o a d e d f e e o f c h a r g e f r o m t h e w e b s i t e o f t h e P h i l g e p s (w w w. P h i l g e p s . g o v. p h) p r o v i d e d t h a t b i d d e r s s h a l l p ay t h e n o n - r e f u n d a b l e fee for the Bidding Documents not later than the submission of their bids.

T h e M u n i c i p a l i t y o f Ta m b u l i g w i l l h o l d a P r e - B i d C o n f e r e n c e o n J a n u a r y 18 , 2 016 a t t h e C o n f e r e n c e H a l l , M u n i c i p a l H a l l , M u n i c i p a l i t y o f Ta m b u l i g , P r o v i n c e o f Z a m b o a n g a d e l S u r, w h i c h s h a l l b e o p e n t o a l l i n t e r e s t e d par ties.

Bidding is restricted to Filipino citizens/sole proprietorships, partnerships, or organizations with at least sixty percent (60%) interest or outstanding capital stock belonging to citizens of the Philippines, and to citizens or organizations of a country the laws or regulations of which grant similar rights or privileges to Filipino citizens, pursuant to RA 5183 and subject to Commonwealth Act 138.

A complete set of Bidding Documents may be purchased by interested Bidders on January 11, 2016 to February 01, 2016 from the address below and upon payment of a nonrefundable fee for the Bidding Documents in the amounts respectively, as follows:

A c omplete set of Bidding D oc ument s may be purc hased by an interested bidder s on Januar y 11, 2016 f rom the addres s below and upon payment of a non - ref undable fee for the bidding doc ument s in the amount of Php 10,0 0 0.0 0.

T h e b i d d e r m ay r e q u e s t t h a t t h e B i d D o c u m e n t s b e s e n t t o t h e m by m a i l o r c o u r i e r, a n d f o r t h i s , t h e b i d d e r s h a l l p ay t h e a m o u n t I n P h i l i p p i n e P e s o t o c o v e r t h e c o s t o f m a i l o r c o u r i e r d e l i v e r y. T h e f e e f o r o b t a i n i n g ·a c o py o f t h e B i d D o c u m e n t s a n d t h e c o s t o f m a i l o r c o u r i e r s h a l l b e p a i d by t h e b i d d e r t h r u a C a s h i e r ' s o r M a n a g e r ' s C h e c k i s s u e d i n f av o r o f t h e M u n i c i p a l i t y o f Ta m b u l i g .

Bidding will be conducted through open competitive bidding procedures using a non-discretionary “pass/fail” criterion as specified in the Revised Implementing Rules and Regulations (IRR) of Republic Act (RA) 9184, otherwise known as the “Government Procurement Reform Act”. (i)

T h e B AC w i l l c o n d u c t t h e p r o c u r e m e n t p r o c e s s i n a c c o r d a n c e w i t h t h e R ev i s e d I R R o f R . A . 918 4 . B i d s r e c e i v e d i n exc e s s o f t h e A B C s h a l l b e a u t o m a t i c a l l y r e j e c t e d a t t h e o p e n i n g . o f b i d . T h e B AC w i l l v e r i f y t h e f i n a l C P E S r a t i n g o f t h e c o n t r a c t o r, w h i c h m u s t b e a t l e a s t s a t i s f a c t o r y, a s p r o v i d e d u n d e r S e c . 2 3 . 5 . 2 . 4 o f R ev i s e d I R R o f R . A . 918 4 . Bidding will be conducted in accordance with National Competitive procedures, and is open to bidders from eligible source. Interested bidders m ay o b t a i n f u r t h e r i n f o r m a t i o n f r o m t h e LG U - B AC o f Ta m b u l i g , P r o v i n c e of Zamboanga del Sur and inspect the Bidding Documents on Januar y 26, 2 016 a t t h e a d d r e s s g i v e n b e l o w f r o m B AC O f f i c e . Ta m b u l i g , Z a m b o a n g a d e l S u r.

love life. Maryse Wolinski, the widow of another of the murdered cartoonists, Georges Wolinski, said: “I don’t understand why they are having Johnny Hallyday. It should have been jazz for my husband and for Cabu and Charb,” referring to the slain Charlie Hebdo editor, Stephane Charbonnier. An oak tree in memory of the victims has been planted in Place de la Republique, which has become the rallying point for mourners of France’s terror attacks. AFP

Republic of the Philippines DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Re p u b l i c o f t h e Ph i l i p p i n e s Pr ov i n c e o f Z a m b o a n g a d e l S u r M u n i c i p a l i t y o f Ta m b u l i g O FFI CE O F T H E B I D S A N D AWA R D S CO M M I T T E E

Contract Name

tries. Johnny Hallyday, the 72-year-old singer who remains immensely popular in France, will perform a song he wrote about the remarkable outpouring of solidarity on French streets a year ago, called “Un dimanche de janvier” (One Sunday in January). Ironically, Hallyday was often the subject of mocking cartoons drawn by Cabu, one of the best-known of the Charlie Hebdo staff to be killed, that jibed at his closeness to politicians and his colourful

Fo r

CRISTINA C. LOPEZ, DBA National Tobacco Administration Cors. Scout Reyes Street and Panay Avenue, Quezon City Tel No. 372 3188; cclnta@yahoo.com Fax No. 373 2095 Website Address:nta.da.gov.ph (SGD) CRISTINA C. LOPEZ, DBA Chairman, NTA-BAC

Eng B AC Mun Pro Te l e

(TS-JAN. 11, 2016)

(TS -JA

M O N D AY : J A N U A R Y 1 1 , 2 0 1 6

CESAR BARRIOQUINTO EDITOR

editorial@thestandard.com.ph

WORLD

Onstage. Madonna performs at the 5th Annual Sean Penn & Friends HELP HAITI HOME Gala Benefiting J/P Haitian Relief Organization at Montage Hotel on January 9, 2016, in Beverly Hills, California. AFP

US bomber in a show of force Sean Penn interview helped arrest Guzman MEXICO CITY—A meeting between US actor Sean Penn and Joaquin “El Chapo” Guzman in the Mexican jungle helped lead to the drug kingpin’s capture this week, a Mexican official said Saturday. The US rock magazine posted online on Saturday an interview between Penn and Guzman as well as an October 2 picture showing the Oscar-winning actor shaking hands with the mustachioed Sinaloa drug cartel leader, who is wearing a blue shirt. Penn writes that the 58-yearold Guzman gave him a “compadre” hug when they met at a Mexican jungle clearing and had a seven-hour sit-down followed by phone and video interviews. “I supply more heroin, meth-

amphetamine, cocaine and marijuana than anybody else in the world,” Guzman told Penn in a stunning admission of his criminal enterprise over sips of tequila. “I have a fleet of submarines, airplanes, trucks and boats,” Guzman said in the meeting, which Mexican actress Kate del Castillo helped to arrange. A Mexican federal official told AFP that authorities “had knowledge of this meeting” and that it helped lead to Friday’s recapture of the world’s most wanted man in his northwestern home state of Sinaloa. Mexican Attorney General Arely Gomez said on Friday that Guzman had met with unnamed actors and producers in the hope of making a biopic about himself, which helped locate him. AFP

OSAN AIR BASE, South Korea—The US sent a heavy bomber over South Korea on Sunday in a show of force as North Korean leader Kim Jong-Un insisted his country’s latest nuclear test was carried out in selfdefense. The test on Wednesday of what the North claimed was its first hydrogen bomb has sparked international alarm and raised tensions along the inter-Korean frontier, with Seoul reviving cross-border propaganda broadcasts. Sunday’s overflight saw a B52 Stratofortress, which is capable of carrying nuclear weapons, briefly roar over the Osan Air Base, some 70 kilometersouth of the inter-Korean border, the US military and an eye-witness said. It was escorted by a South Korean and an American jet. The B52 conducted a lowlevel flight before heading back to Andersen Air Base in Guam, where it is stationed. The mission was conducted “in

response to recent provocative action by North Korea”, US Forces Korea said in a statement. The aircraft are known to have taken part in joint annual USSouth Korea military exercises that have enraged Pyongyang, but their flights over South Korea are rarely publicized. The last time such a flight was made public was in 2013, after North Korea carried out its third nuclear test. At that time, the US dispatched both a B52 and the more sophisticated B2 stealth bomber to South Korea in a show of military muscle against the North. Wednesday’s nuclear test was Pyongyang’s fourth, though experts have questioned North

Korea’s claim of the explosion having been triggered by a hydrogen bomb. On Friday, the North’s state broadcaster also released video footage of a submarine-launched ballistic missile test, though South Korean media have suggested the footage was an edited compilation of a previous test. Lieutenant General Terrence J. O’Shaughnessy, commander of the US 7th Air Force and Deputy Commander of the US Forces Korea, said on Sunday that the United States maintained an “ironclad” commitment to the defense of South Korea. This commitment includes “extended deterrence provided by our conventional forces and our nuclear umbrella”, he said in a statement. “B52 missions reinforce the US commitment to the security of our allies and partners, and demonstrate one of the many alliance capabilities available for the defense” of South Korea, he said. AFP

2 dead as Australians battle bushfires PERTH—Two people have died and more than a hundred homes have been destroyed in a huge bushfire, Australian authorities said Sunday, as firefighters battled to tame the out-of-control blaze. The inferno—which has razed about 71,000 hectares in Western Australia state—is the most recent in a series of bushfires that have kicked off a hot summer season, with the latest deaths lifting the national toll to eight. The two bodies were found in burned-out houses in Yarloop, a historic mill town some 110 kilometers south of Perth that has been devastat-

ed by the bushfire—one of the worst to hit the region in recent years. The bodies are believed to be those of two missing men aged 73 and 77, Western Australia Police told AFP. “It’s just another day of catastrophe, isn’t it?” Tania Jackson, the head of the regional council, told the Australian Broadcasting Corporation after news of the men’s deaths. “Each day that has gone by seems to bring worse news. It’s devastating.” The bushfire—which is entering its fifth day after reportedly being started by a lightning strike—has destroyed 143 properties, includ-

ing 128 homes in Yarloop, the state’s Department of Fire and Emergency Services told AFP. Some 250 firefighters are fighting the blaze, which has a perimeter of about 226 kilometers, and authorities said Sunday afternoon that it was “contained” within the fire zone, but not yet under control, amid cooler weather on Sunday. “Overnight and today, favorable conditions came in and it’s a lot cooler here today and that has allowed firefighters to gain more ground on the fire and to increase containment lines,” a DFES spokeswoman told AFP. AFP

In attendance. Actress Gina Rodriguez attends Moet & Chandon Celebrates 25 Years at the Golden Globes on January 8, 2016, in West Hollywood, California. AFP

M O N D AY : J A N U A R Y 1 1 , 2 0 1 6

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

The Amazing Food Challenge: Fun in the Philippines 3 judge, Chef Margarita Fores, the show's new host celebrity chef, Aaron Craze, and TAFC resident judge, Chef Fernando Aracama

Flavors and beauty of the Philippines captured in AFC reality TV show

T TAFC resident judges Chef Fernando Aracama and Chef Rob Pengson, Scripps Networks Interactive managing director for Asia Pacific Derek Chang and TAFC host Aaron Craze

Maddy Barber and TPB OIC for Media Relations Arnold Gonzales

Chef Fernando Aracama, Vangie Reyes, Chef Rob Pengson, Gabbie Tatad and Chef Aaron Craze

Margarita Locsin Chan and Consuelo Garcia-Jones

Scripps Network Interactive for Asia Pacific managing director Derek Chang

Arina Che Azlan of Kosmo! Malaysia and Denissa Goh of The Sun

Skii Chung, Managing Editor of Popspoken and Maria Kuvshinova, Co-founder of Clubvivre/Bon Viviant

he Tourism Promotions Board (TPB) and the Department of Tourism (DOT), in collaboration with the Asian Food Channel (AFC) showcased the beauty and diverse culinary offering of the country in the third season of The Amazing Food Challenge: Fun in the Philippines that started to air on AFC last December 22, 2015. From the UNESCO Heritage Site in Banaue, to festive Quezon down to the tuna capital GenSan and other parts of the Philippines, 12 individuals from all over Asia faced challenges where their endurance, wit, and culinary skills are put to the test to compete for $50,000 worth of prizes. Hosted by renowned celebrity chef, Aaron Craze, The Amazing Food Challenge: Fun in the Philippines is a fun adventure trip for the contestants as they wade through rough waters and cook up delectable regional Filipino cuisine as they transfer to each leg of the challenge. The show does not only feature heritage local dishes but at the same time also helps feature the country’s unique culture and sites that hopefully will help boost our tourism. “We are pleased to be working with AFC as we eagerly await the third season. The contestants will experience a vast array of what the Philippines has to offer and we are happy to share the great wonders of the Philippines with all of AFC’s viewers,” says TPB chief operating officer Domingo Ramon Enerio III. “The Amazing Food Challenge: Fun In The Philippines is a unique concept that combines the exhilarating world of food and travel with competition and reality,” explains Scripps Networks Interactive Asia Pacific managing director Derek Chang. “We believe this to be the most entertaining season yet as we deliver

exciting new personalities competing fiercely to demonstrate their culinary skills while testing their limits for adventure against the backdrop of the physical beauty and rich cultural heritage of the Philippines,” he adds. The show was launched to international media in Singapore last year and was attended by the show’s new host, Chef Aaron Craze, and resident judges Chef Fernando Aracama and Chef Rob Pengson, including Chang and TPB’s Lito Jones, Arnold Gonzales and Geraldine Juachon. Contestants who have undergone quick culinary education while filming the challenges of the show are not only pressured with competing with the others as they traveled every region, they also had to learn how to prepare traditional dishes in their most authentic form. In each place, they are shown how particular dishes are made, then taste them and study the dishes but only for a small amount of time. They were also given tasks to shop for local produce at the nearby palengke or talipapa and then recreate the recipes. The judges also served as mentors, engaging in dialogues about some of the local ingredients mostly foreign to the contestants. So, who will emerge the champion? Catch The Amazing Food Challenge: Fun in the Philippines 3 every Tuesday at 9:00 p.m. on Cignal Ch26, Dream Satellite TV Ch27, SkyCable Ch22 and Ch248, and Destiny Cable Ch22 and Ch72 to see who had the most fun in the Philippines and who will take home the pot money. For updates visit www.asianfoodchannel. com/shows/the-amazing-food-challenge/ or follow Asian Food Channel on Facebook.

M O N D AY : J A N U A R Y 1 1 , 2 0 1 6

LIFE life @ thestandard.com .ph

@LIFEatStandard

Raffles Makati Launches its Third Pret-A-Portea series with Charriol

affles collaborated with Swiss luxe brand Charriol to launch its third Prêtà-Portea series at the Writers Bar. Inspired by the timeless timepiece of Charriol St. Tropez 35, experience this classy high tea from January 15 to March 31, 2:30 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. daily for only P1,500++ for two persons. Indulge in a medley of savory teacup sandwiches such as the mini club sandwich Riviera, Pisaladiere, and melt-in-your-mouth Focaccia Caprese, and pair it with your tea of choice. A delectable assembly of French pastries will also be served. A three-tier collection of scones, Tarte Tropezienne with lemon mousseline, chocolate hazelnut éclairs, and plush pink-berry tartlet mascarpone, will be served to embody the silver, gold, and pink-gold design of the St. Tropez 35. The highlight of the day is the blackcurrant macaron dipped in silver and gold along with the divine whitechocolate lemon cake in tribute to Charriol’s shimmering lunar mood. If you’re feeling more than drinking tea, add the refined touch of a glass of Rosé

Zomato and Microsoft Join Forces to Empower SMEs

champagne for P1,000++ and enjoy a sparkling afternoon. For more information and reservations, please call the Raffles Makati Restaurant Reservations at 795 1840, or email dining.makati@raffles.com.

Everyday fun with delectable donuts from J. CO

FOOD AND TECH:

leverly named delights make eating more fun, and J. CO certainly knows how to pile on the pun with its delectable flavors that make it feel like everyday is Christmas or – okay – New Year. Enjoyable flavors in every cup, and newly created lifestyle concept stores take everyday celebrations a notch higher, with Forest Glam and glamour and glaze rolling easily in one’s tongue. The sumptuous J. CO dough is packed with Blackforest, Chocolate Flakes, and Sugar Ice glaze. Topping them off are dark, sultry cherries to balance off the sweetness. All these donut delights are perfect with Iced Mocha Espresso – rich, creamy mocha goodness balanced with a smooth espresso shot. Forest Glam is available at all J. CO branches for P42 each and P252 for half a dozen and P380 for one dozen. Two dozens at P595 will save you a lot. No one can resist this delectable offering at an affordable price. Whether as a snack, lunch, or pasalubong, J. CO makes everyday feel special.

omato partners with the world’s leading software provider Microsoft for the Zomato x Microsoft Summit Session, Metro Manila leg. The summit will bring the brightest minds to share their knowledge and open discussions on topics such as Integrating Technology in your Restaurant Business and Wooing the Millennials. The summit will be held at the Raffles Fairmont Hotel in Makati on Friday, January 15, and aims to empower leaders and learners to become groundbreakers in the local Food and Beverage (F&B) scene by conquering the digital space. The union of the two platforms will help elevate SMEs through technology and digital solutions. “Being present in the digital space is not just about letting people know about your brand. It is about reaching out to them,” says Anton Ojeda, Country Manager of Zomato Philippines. Today, with the advent of multiple social media accounts, the competition becomes tougher with big and small restaurants also being part of the game. “SME’s aren’t just competing amongst themselves – they’re competing with every player in the F&B industry, big and small, because food is such an integral part of our culture,” says Karrie Ilagan, Microsoft Philippines general manager. “If there’s any

business that can most benefit from the power of technology, it is the SMEs which, because of the cloud and subscription based models, now have access to world class and enterprise grade products that were too expensive before.” Visibility online is one part formula, while maintaining an interactive platform that creates dialogues with your patrons helps in sustaining loyalty, and improving your brand plays a big role. But this entails time and effort to maintain. Aside from attention to their business, SMEs now are tasked to exert effort on the digital space. The main problem now is to find effective solutions to maximize productivity for their businesses. The summit aims to provide solutions for the current challenge the SMEs are faced with. The summit is patterned after the successful healthy discussion among restaurateurs at the Zomato Restaurant Summit last May 2015. During last year’s summit, over 800 entreprenuers and players in the local food industry participated in the open discussion. It helped attendees discover trends and business strategies from the industry’s most successful figures with its theme “Conquering the digital age.” Interested participants may register by visiting: http://aka.ms/MS-ZomatoManila

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LIFE life @ thestandard.com .ph

My sons making noise to welcome the New Year

@LIFEatStandard

The most popular item in the buffet

The fog, slowly covering the city

Fun and Frolic in the Fog

know that the best time to stay in Metro Manila is during the Christmas and MERCURY RISING break Holy Week BY BOB ZOZOBRADO because vehicular traffic is at its lowest, and going from one point to another is always a breeze. However, the invitation from my friend Marla Fresnido, Marketing Communications manager of Taal Vista Hotel, to spend the New Year’s countdown with them was too exciting to pass up on. So, the morning of the last day of 2015 found me leaving Manila, with my sons in tow, driving up to that iconic hotel in Tagaytay. We decided to leave our Malate abode early because we have heard of the horrendous traffic jam in the Sta. Rosa area, and we wanted to arrive at the hotel with enough time to laze around and rest before the start of the New Year’s Eve Mass and the countdown party. Tagaytay is really an ideal place for relaxation. The fresh air and the cool environment is definitely what every stressed individual like me should have, to combat the pressures that fire up a success driven world. Staying at the balcony of my hotel room, looking out into verdant fields below, was enough to soothe my frayed nerves, making me simmer down from my “harassed state” which came as a result of the frenzy of activities that was the norm during the holidays. From my vantage point, I could see the fog slowly creeping over the fields and, in no time, there was almost-zero visibility.

Taal Vista Hotel’s Dennise Javier, Marla Fresnido and Hazel Sarmiento

Everybody enjoyed the ’80s tunes on the dancefloor and the others like me, beside our respective tables

The sight of the fog blanketing the entire area around me was soothing to the senses, to say the least. Even if I wasn’t seated, I felt so relaxed; it had such a calming effect on me… better than taking tranquilizers! The New Year’s Eve Mass was scheduled for 6:00 p.m. so we made sure we’d be on time as, from past experience, the function room they usually hold it in is always too small for the crowd that attends it. Sure enough, when we got there, the attendees spilled over to the corridor and foyer but it was not a problem as the hotel staff immediately furnished us with chairs, and cool fresh air from outside the hotel somehow found its way to where we were seated. After the Mass, ultra-efficient Marla and her team – Marketing Communications assistant Hazel Sarmiento and Guest Services supervisor Dennise Javier – escorted us to the Ballroom for the show, dinner and the countdown. Practically circling the entire Ballroom were the buffet tables which offered a mesmerizing array of food choices that would please any royalty. Naturally, newly

Taal Vista Hotel’s new general manager James Bevans

installed hotel general manager James Evans, who dropped in on us just to say “Hello,” was beaming with pride as he watched the satisfied guests enjoying the culinary offerings. I was thrilled to see the venue spruced up for an “’80s” theme party and was even more excited to hear sultry singer Suy Galvez performing all my jazz favorites, and the super energized band, Music Network, playing the ’80s disco music that dominated my evenings and energized my physique 50 pounds ago. After a sumptuous meal, I had so much fun waiting for the countdown to start. The songs played by the band were too tempting and I wanted so much to revive my “cool moves” on the dance floor but was too shy to just grab anybody to partner with. So I did the next best thing – I danced stationary beside my table, especially upon seeing the other guests doing the exact same thing. I enjoyed myself so much, I didn’t realize I have been “dancing” for more than an hour – until some muscles and joints inside me creaked their age. I had to stop and give my no-longer-a-spring-chicken musculature a rest.

At the stroke of midnight, the cacophony of horns, noisemakers, screams, laughter and Auld Lang Syne erupted and, shortly thereafter, we were all herded towards the garden of the hotel where a colorful fireworks display lit up the evening fog, creating a surreal effect on the environment. Again, like how it was earlier in the afternoon, the fog not only cooled down every happy partygoer, it had a calming effect on all of us watching the bright and blazing pyrotechnics that welcomed the start of the New Year. Looking back at what the fog does to my psyche, I equate it with what it means in my life – Faith. No matter how many challenges I encounter, my Faith always calms me down so I can take life’s “pyrotechnics” in stride, dust myself off and continue to move on along the pathway to Success. For feedback, I’m at bobzozobrado@gmail.com

YOUR MONDAY CHUCKLE: Boy: “Our Principal is such a dummy!” Girl: “Say, do you know who I am?” Boy: “No.” Girl: “I’m the Principal’s daughter.” Boy: “And do you know who I am?” Girl: “No.” Boy: “Thank goodness!”

Baskin-Robbins’ flavor of the month will make you go nuts

ick off the new year with Brown Butter Cheesecake, the January flavor of the month of the world’s most beloved ice cream brand Baskin Robbins. The yummy mix of brown butter cheesecake ice cream swirled together with luscious brown butter sugar ribbon with tasty bits of real Baskin-Robbins signature cheesecake will make your taste buds go nuts with satisfaction. Sweet, salty and savory, brown butter is a staple in French cooking that provides a rich, nutty flavor to a wide range of dishes. This erstwhile culinary secret has become a growing international food trend.

Whether in a scoop, sundae or shake, you can enjoy Baskin Robbins’ one-of-a-kind January flavor of the month ice cream treat in all Baskin-Robbins outlets in Central Square and SM Aura in Bonifacio Global City; Greenbelt 5 and Glorietta 5 in Makati; Fairview Terraces and Trinoma Mall in Quezon City; SM Southmall, Las Piñas; and Solenad in, Sta Rosa, Laguna. For more information, log on to www.baskinrobbins.ph or check out their accounts: facebook.com/baskinrobbinsph, Twitter, and Instagram @baskinrobbinsph.

M O N D AY : J A N U A R Y 1 1 , 2 0 1 6

LIFE life @ thestandard.com .ph

@LIFEatStandard

NEW YEAR’S RESOLUTIONS Time really flies. Just like that (*snap of fingers*), in the blink of an eye, in the space between breaths, it’s the end of the year and the beginning of the next. It will take a while for us to get used to Happy New Year, my dearest imbibers! TIPPLE TALES The New Year brings with it BY ICY MARIÑAS hope, rejuvenation and fresh ideas. Usually, this is the time when we make a pledge to make changes for the better or to swear to stop doing something. This is the time for (*ominous sounds*) New Year’s Resolutions. We’ve all made resolutions at one point in our lives or another, and we’ve all broken them at one point or another as well. So in the spirit of helping you guys out, and also getting your drink on (of course; this is a column about alcohol, after all), I’ve come up with some drinks that could help you keep the usual New Year’s resolutions you make.

LOSE WEIGHT

TRAVEL

Wanderlust is something that grips us all. And what with the affordable means of travel, it’s been easier to scratch that itch only the travel bug can cause. You don’t have to wait to board a boat, plane or bus to get that feeling of being in your vacation spot (the beach, maybe). Get that sitting-on-the-sand-at-sunset sensation with this refreshing cocktail.

RECIPE FOR JUANDERLUST 45ml Sous Vide Myers Rum with oranges and ginger 30ml lime juice 10ml ginger syrup 10ml blue curacao Top with Ginger Beer Glass: Mason jar

First up is the ubiquitous “lose weight” resolution. Everyone has made this vow at least once. It might be the copious amount of food and drink and seemingly endless parties that contribute to the collective expansion of our waistlines at the start of the year. Coupled with the general desire to be our healthiest selves (and maybe some glutinous regret), this one is definitely at the top of most people’s lists. While alcohol is deemed fattening (and what with the sugar, it really is, and gives a new meaning to liquid calories), I want to present you with an option that will help you keep this vow while still enjoying a tipple or two (or three).

RECIPE FOR “SKINNY DRINK” (less than 200 calories) 45ml Bacardi White ½ of a kiwi, diced 2 pcs. strawberry, diced 3-4 pcs. tarragon leaves 1 pack Stevia 1 ½ cup crushed ice Put all ingredients in a blender. Serve in a martini glass. Garnish with a tarragon sprig and a kiwi wheel.

STOP PROCRASTINATING

Putting things off until the last minute is a habit we are all prone to – or at least, when it comes to certain things we don’t really want to do. Hello there taxes. I’ll see you right before the deadline for filing in a wave of utter panic. And not one minute sooner! While drinking booze might seem counterproductive, here’s something that will give you that boost of energy to finally start (and hopefully finish) that thing you’ve been putting off and give you that buzz to do it with a smile on your face.

RECIPE FOR “WHAT’S SUMATRA WITH YOU?”

(The Naughty Room at Ebeneezers at The Net Quad Building, BGC) 30ml rum blend (Mount Gay, Bacardi Black and Bacardi White) 30ml dark coffee 20ml Frangelico 20ml raspberry liqueur Put all ingredients together in a tin shaker. Dry shake. Add ice and shake vigorously till very cold. Strain into a coup. Serve. Enjoy.

EAT HEALTHIER

This resolution goes with the one for losing weight. While the liquid calories do pile up and most alcoholic beverages have little nutritional value, there are drinks out there that can give you some nutrients. (In tiny quantities, sure, but that’s better than nothing, right?) Also, there are some drinks that can alleviate some ills, like a cough or stuffy nose. (Sorry, broken hearts are a particular ailment that requires different cure and a separate column.) So I made a drink that is somewhat nutritious, sure to make you feel a teensy bit healthier, and a little buzzed as well.

20/20

GET OUT OF YOUR COMFORT ZONE

The beginning of the year always makes us want to expand our horizons and try new things, like bungee jumping or river rafting or whatever adrenalininducing activity. They say life begins at the end of your comfort zone. So here’s a drink that will test this desire to try new and adventurous things.

SCORPION OR COBRA INFUSED VIETNAMESE WINE

SAVE MONEY

45ml Don Julio 30ml orange juice 30ml carrot juice 30ml lemon juice 15ml dry curacao 15ml vanilla syrup

Put all ingredients together in a tin shaker, add ice and shake vigorously till very cold. Strain into a coup. Garnish with a micro carrot.

QUIT DRINKING

The Christmas season has left us fat, but filled with holiday cheer. Unless you are a minor, you were expected to give gifts and no longer received “aguinaldo” from ninongs and ninangs. But as full-fledged adults, we do get perks. We get to receive customary gift bottles of wine, whisky and champagne. If you have been following my column, you would have been able to set up your home bar by now and surely, with the free bottles over Christmas you are now reaping the benefits of it. You will now be able to save money and enjoy the comforts of drinking and entertaining at home… at least while your stocks last.

Sorry, I can’t help you there. This is a booze column, you know! There are other articles and other columns for that. I wish you well. Here’s to a fun-filled, exciting, boozy New Year! Cheers! Feel free to add me on IG @sanvicentegirl, email me at tippletales@gmail.com or drop by my bar for a drink or two.

A tastier Madrid Fusión Manila 2016 with DOT-ICEX Spain partnership

T From left: Spanish Ambassador Luis Antonio Calvo, Tourism Secretary Ramon Jimenez, Jr. and Spain’s Economy and Competitiveness Minister Jaime Garcia-Legaz

he ties between Spain and the Philippines run deep considering the hispanic heritage and culture shared by both. The bond between these two countries are made even tighter with the Department of Tourism sealing the partnership with ICEX España Exportacion e Inversiones, the public export promotion agency belonging to the Ministry of Economy and Competitiveness of Spain for another edition of Madrid Fusión Manila. Madrid Fusión is one of the most important international gastronomy gatherings in the world, and MFM is the only Asian edition of Madrid Fusión.This year, the theme is “The Manila Galleon: East meets West” in commemoration of the 450th anniversary of the Manila-Acapulco Galleon Trade that linked Asia with the Western world.

Confirmed presenters are some of the world’s top-ranked chefs: Joan Roca, Daní Garcia and Jordi Butrón from Spain; Virgilio Martinez from Peru; Enrique Olvera and Jorge Vallejo from Mexico; José Andrés, Leah Cohen, Amy Besa, Romy Dorotan, and Paul Qui from the US; Yoshihiro Narisawa from Japan; Jungsik Yim from South Korea; David Thompson from Thailand; Nurdin Topham from Hong Kong; Kevin Cherkas from Indonesia; and Myke Sarthou from the Philippines. MFM 2016 is one of the highlight events of Visit the Philippines Again (VPA) 2016 campaign of the Tourism Promotions Board, the marketing arm of DOT. Present during the signing of a memorandum of understanding were Spanish Ambassador Luis Antonio Calvo, Tourism Secretary Ramon Jimenez, Jr. and Spain’s Economy and Competitiveness Minister Jaime Garcia-Legaz.

M ONDAY : JA NUA RY 11, 2016

SHOWBITZ

ISAH V. RED EDITOR

isahred @ gmail.com

Pia Wurtzbach is coming home by eton b. concePcion

Grand parade and celebration await Miss Universe 2015 Pia Alonzo Wurtzbach in her homecoming come last week of January

urtzbach was a little bit touched when informed of the plan to give her a ‘Victory Walk’ by her Bb. Pilipinas Charities, Inc. family led by Chairman Stella Marquez-Araneta in an interview (via Skyhype) from New York. The victory walk was new to her and she could not express her excitement saying that she would want to hold a little Philippine flag when that happens before her countrymen. Wurtzbach is scheduled to arrive on Jan. 23 from Jakarta, Indonesia.A welcome press conference will be held for her. A grand homecoming parade around Metro Manila will follow on the 25th, then a courtesy call at Malacanang, Senate and Congress on the 27th, and then her ‘Victory Walk’ ceremony on the 28th. Posting in her Instagram account from New York, Wurtzbach in her New Year message said, “I know it took me a long time to post this. I needed some time to get settled in as everything was happening so fast. Now everything is sinking in and I’m almost done replying and thanking everyone as much as I can. “Thank you for cheering and rooting for me. Whether you were at the Axis Theater in Las Vegas or a silent supporter just watching on TV, especially, to those who voted for me during the Global Fan vote. You were all instrumental to my victory. Mga kababayan ko (my countrymen), when I was walking on stage in that blue gown, wearing the Philippine sash in front of billions of viewers on TV and online, I’ve never been more proud to be a Filipina. I’ll never forget it. It was a proud yet humbling experience. “And now as I continue on with my journey as Miss Universe, I hope I inspire you all. Keep your faith, fight for what you believe in and hold on to your dreams. They do come true. I know, I still have much to learn and a huge responsibility ahead of me. So thank you 2015 and bring it on, 2016. Happy New Year!” Wurzbach began her official duties as Miss Universe appearing in a series of TV shows as part of her media tour starting a day after her highly controversial crowning, and quickly turning into American press’ newest darling with paparazzi in constant hot pursuit every time she stepped out of her New York apartment in 5th Avenue like when she made

Live the Smart Life with P888 Every Filipino can finally join the digital revolution as Smart Communications, Inc. (Smart), the country’s unrivaled mobile services leader teams up with MyPhone to launch an unprecedented Android Smartphone Kit aimed at allowing even more Filipinos to experience the Smart Life. The irresistible offer is swiftly converting Pinoys to embrace the digital lifestyle via Smart Prepaid’s Android Smartphone Kit, available for an unbelievable one-time payment of only P888. The deal, which offers savings of up to P1,279.00 considering the handset’s retail price, also comes with a Smart Prepaid Sim packed with FREE mobile data of 100MB valid 30 days per month for 12 months, and a load rebate of P30 for an accumulated topup of P100 every month for 12 months. “Many Filipinos still rely on feature phones with just the basic call and text

functionality, and they miss out on the many benefits of staying connected online and enjoying the Smart Life experience anytime, anywhere,” said Ariel P. Fermin, executive vice president and head of Consumer Business at PLDT and Smart. “We want to change that this 2016, and we have teamed up with pioneer Filipino mobile phone brand MyPhone to come up with a compelling offer that will bring

the smartphone into the hands of more Filipinos, who may now live the Smart Life with entertainment, convenience and peace of mind on the go,” said Fermin. With the Smart’s Prepaid Android Smartphone Kit, subscribers can easily kick start their mobile lifestyle with the FREE 100MB data, which they can use for browsing, chatting and enjoying their favorite apps. They can also load up and register to Smart Prepaid’s Big Bytes offers to go all out on their Smart Life experience. Smart’s Prepaid Smartphone has a quadcore processor that runs Android Lollipop, allowing for efficient multitasking. It also features a dual-SIM functionality and comes preloaded with the hottest apps like iflix, Southeast Asia’s leading internet TV service, and Spinnr, Smart’s award-winning music streaming app, among many others. The phone is equipped with a 5MP main camera and 2MP front camera, which are perfect for taking photos and selfies that they can upload and share in popular apps like Facebook, Instagram and Twitter, as well as chat apps like Viber and Messenger. Subscribers can also make the most of the phone’s 8GB expandable memory (up to 32GB), by saving all their favorite apps and top mobile games like Clash of Clans, Boom

her first walk at Central Park. Wurtzbach was first seen in Good Morning America with host Lara Spencer, her first ever TV interview as Miss Universe, followed by an appearance in Kelly and Michael where she was asked to do her winning Miss Universe walk. Wurtzbach also faced Don Lemon in CNN Tonight who engaged her in a tough rapid-fire round of Q & A, which she smartly answered in 45 seconds. She was in NightLine with Juju Chang, where her “the only comments that matter to me are from the people that matter” became a hot topic on a US pageant board. Wurtzbach had urged her fans not to engage in hateful bashing on social media in the aftermath of Steve Harvey’s honest mistake even as she reminded them that they had already won. She reiterated her hope to carry on with her three personal goals as Miss Universe, to help promote HIV awareness in the country, improve relief operations for the victims of calamities, and to help address the crime of cyber bullying, a new advocacy for herself. Wurtzbach also expressed hope to be in the county for the crowning of her successor as Miss Philippines-Universe 2016 during the Bb. Pilipinas grand coronation in April.

With Benjamin Higgins of The Bachelor

Beach and Bejeweled, among many others. Smart’s latest offer is part of the company’s two-pronged approach when it comes to putting the power of digital services into the hands of more and more Filipinos: first, by leading the way in making the smartphone a lot more attainable through compelling promos and second, by further expanding its range of digital services in the fields of connectivity, entertainment, home security, urban convenience and financial services – which are at the core of the Smart Life. “Smart Life continues to breathe life to our commitment of bringing an even better digital experience to our subscribers nationwide. With the power of their phones and Smart’s unrivaled network and digital services in their hands, Filipinos are surely in for an exciting mobile experience in the year ahead,” said Fermin. Smart Prepaid’s Android Smartphone Kit is just the first in a series of irresistible offers lined up for the year, and it is available for a limited time at selected Smart Stores and MyPhone retail outlets nationwide as well as the Smart Online Store (store.smart.com.ph). What are you waiting for? Join the Smart Life for only P888!

M ONDAY : JA NUA RY 11, 2016

SHOWBITZ isahred @ gmail.com

Living thE LifE Of a fREELanCE Mark Bautista

JOSEPh PEtER gOnZaLES Mark Bautista welcomes 2016 as a freelance and is just fine with such development. “I believe that at this stage, it’s okay even if I’m not associated or tied with any network,” he says. “It gives me a refreshed feeling, as if I’m starting all over again… that I have to prove myself again. Honestly, it’s kind of inspiring.” His contract with GMA expired two years ago. with Sunday All Stars as his last show for the network. “Right after that, I felt I was hanging since they didn’t have any offer for another regular program. It’s good that various guesting stints from other channels came along, like ABS-CBN. For me, it’s good that no door was closed.” Does he have any regret with the turn-out of his contract with the Kapuso network? “None at all,” reveals Mark. “Actually, my relationship with them remains okay. In fact, they still give me guesting stints in some of their programs like Sunday Pinasaya and StarStruck. It was just hard when SAS got axed and we talents weren’t prepared then. “You know, when it comes to having regular shows, frustration has no room in my vocabulary. Over the years, I’ve learned to accept that it’s not a permanent thing. Be thankful if you are a mainstay of a particular program, go with the flow. But if by chance it gets off-air, don’t feel frustrated. It’s part of the package.” His next big show will be on TV 5. It’s a reality talent program reminiscent of Star for a Night, only updated. He will co-host it with Ogie Alcasid.

Derek Ramsay

“I’m excited with this because it’s something close to my heart. It’s where I started, right? First and foremost, I’m a singer. I’m grateful to Viva who will handle the show for considering me as one of the main hosts.” Apart from this, Mark has no acting assignments with the Kapatid network. “That’s right! It’s ABS-CBN which offers me to do some acting jobs like in Maalaala Mo Kaya and Ipaglaban Mo. They’ve invitations for me to appear in their future episodes. I just have to improve my physique first. Actually, this is the positive side of being a freelance artist, you can appear in all the networks.” If there is one thing though that the singer misses doing is the theater. He was part of the successful London musical presentation titled Here Lies Love. “It’s been a year now since it ended. How I miss the production! But there are talks that it will have a re-run on 2017. I don’t want to expect but definitely, I would love to be part of that again.” Lastly, many want to know about the present state of his love life. “Zero! Ha-ha-ha! My last

CROSSWORD PUZZLE 40 42 43 44 45 48 49 50 52 57 58 60 61 62 63 64 65 66

Fault finder? Sign up for Jargon Just — — Hail, to Caesar Shore eagle Wayfarer’s refuge Deli buy Math “must” Use a spatula Gaelic language Old Greek colony River in England Swerve Ravi’s forte Bulrush or cattail Ecol. watchdog He has his pride

ANSWER FOR PREVIOUS PUZZLE ACROSS 1 Look intently 5 Gem-grade coal 8 Peanut shell 12 Venus does it 14 Positive 15 Cyrus’ realm, now 16 Yemeni neighbor 17 Injure 18 Citrus fruit 19 Bequeathed (2 wds.)

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Moon, in poetry Carried through on Stamp backing — Vegas Hungarian wines “Great blue” bird Residence K, to a chemist Goddess sacred to joggers? Verdi numbers Team of oxen

DOWN 1 Tigger’s pal 2 Ms. Bombeck 3 Bean anagram 4 Marmalade chunk 5 Evita’s spouse 6 Foul up 7 Teriyaki alternatives 8 Port near Kilauea 9 Archangel of light 10 Bossa nova kin 11 Trouser parts 13 Wild T-shirt (hyph.) 14 Not barefoot

relationship was with Gwendolyn (Ruais), our 2011 Miss World First Princess. After her, I didn’t have another one. I want my next relationship to be for keeps already,” ends Mark. HHHHH Derek Ramsay was very happy to celebrate Christmas with son Austin in Palawan. It’s one rare occasion in which their bonding was long. “We truly had a good time together. I can say that it’s my best trip ever with my son. We were out in the cold, enjoyed our time on the beach. Austin and I really made some catching up and it was great. I can’t compare it to any other Christmases I’ve had! ” he avers. Apart from swimming, what other activity did they enjoy doing together on this vacation? “Boat riding! Yes, we really enjoyed it. It’s good that my family owns a property in San Vicente, Palawan a beachfront one so we truly enjoyed the waters!” The hunky actor’s present flame, Joanne Villablanca was also there to spend the holidays with him. Both posted sweet messages in their Instagram accounts professing their love for each other.

MONDAY, JANUARY 11, 2016

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Bad-mouth RN employers Suggest (2 wds.) Lemony taste Theater award “Shimmy, Shimmy, — — -Bop” Forster’s — QuestDerrick or crane “Bye Bye Bye” band Infectious particle Smidgen Luau strummers Like a pittance Hurt someone’s feelings Provo neighbor Boredoms Business abbr. Regarding (2 wds.) Prize “Fur —” Cake decorator Mimicked Not in harbor Muddy the waters Opposed Aloha in Rome Tall tale Gym iteration

M ONDAY : JA NUA RY 11, 2016

SHOWBITZ isahred @ gmail.com

Durara

Heart Evangelista and Chiz Escudero exchanged wedding vows on Feb. 14 last year

chiz, heart getting ready for wedding anniversary

from c8

he date is getting closer for the first wedding anniversary of Senator Chiz Escudero and wife Hear Evangelista. They were married Feb. 15 last year at Balesin Island. The couple is set to renew their marital vows on the same day this year and will have a simple reception for families – this time with the Ongpaucos who didn’t attend their wedding last year – and friends. One of the reasons the couple is holding a first year anniversary renewal of vows is their desire to have a photograph with Heart’s parents. The celebration, which falls a day after Heart’s 31st birthday, is also the couple’s way of thanking everyone as their relationship as married couple becomes even stronger as well as the cordial relatonship between the in-laws. “I like being married a lot! I feel very much secure. I feel like I have a solid home. I feel that even there is ‘gulo’ outside your world or whatever

you go through like controversies, at the end of the day, you have this home and not everybody gets this solid home. It’s comforting,” Heart shared in a recent interview. Heart is grateful to her husband as he is very supportive of her endeavors as an actress and her other projects like the book she wrote and the time she spends to pursue painting. “I don’t have a selfish husband and I think that’s a huge factor. I don’t know if because he’s older but he allows me to do whatever I want, so that’s why I kind of spread my wings a bit more now that I got married. I’m like, ‘I’m ready for the world!’” Heart says. This is Me, Love Marie is the beauty book published by Summit Books which was made available at National Bookstore branches nationwide. She is looking forward to her next exhibition of her painting. The exhibit will be called Oceans Apart and held at Ayala Museum from Jan. 30 till Feb. 9.

‘Vinyl’ Debuts Hbo Richie Finestra, the founder and president of American Century Records, is trying to save his company and soul without destroying everyone in his path. With his passion for music and discovering talent gone by the wayside, and American Century on the precipice of being sold, he has a life-altering event that reignites his love of music, but severely damages his personal life. Kicking off its ten-episode season same time as the US, Monday, Feb. 15 at 10 a.m. on HBO, with a same day primetime encore at 10 p.m., Vinyl debuts with a pilot directed by Martin Scorsese, from a story by Rich Cohen & Mick Jagger & Martin Scorsese and Terence Winter, and teleplay by Winter and George Mastras. New hour-long episodes debut every Monday on HBO at the same time, or catch them anytime anywhere on HBO GO. Vinyl is a ride through the sexand drug-addled music business of 1970s New York at the dawn of

Vinyl stars Bobby Cannavale and Olivia Wilde

punk, disco and hip-hop. Vinyl stars two-time Emmy® winner Bobby Cannavale (HBO’s Boardwalk Empire), as Richie Finestra, SAG Award nominee Olivia Wilde (HBO’s Doll and Em) and multiple Emmy® winner Ray Romano (Everybody Loves Raymond). Richie Finestra’s wife, Devon (Olivia Wilde), a former actress and model who was part of Andy Warhol’s Factory scene in 1960s New York City, is now a suburban mother of two. Richie’s personal and professional crises

put additional stress on their relationship, inspiring a desire to return to her Bohemian roots. Meanwhile, as head of promotions and a partner at American Century, Zak Yankovich’s (Ray Romano) experience in the industry and hundred-dollar handshakes make him an invaluable part of the company, though he works in Richie’s shadow. Their professional relationship is strained by disagreements over how to guide the company through the music landscape of 1973.

Assassination Classroom

AnimAx kiCks off 2016 The festive season may just be over, but fans in Asia can continue to rejoice at the spectacular line-up on Animax. The first 24-hour anime channel in Asia is serving up a fresh crop of anime including express-from-Japan series Pandora in the Crimson Shell: Ghost Urn, GRIMGAR, Ashes And Illusions, and blockbuster series Assassination Classroom and The File of Young Kindaichi R. That is not all – fans of the hit Durarara franchise will also get to catch the final chapter of the new season on the same day as Japan, on Animax. Unleashing the chaos, one final time Adapted from the light novel of the same name, Durarara is popular among anime lovers for its engaging storytelling – each event is retold in different perspectives, making for more episodes to look forward to. Back to stir up trouble in the dangerous Ikebukuro underground are the franchise’s distinct and eccentric characters – the headless rider Celty Sturluson, Mikado Ryugamine, leader of the notorious colour gang Dollars, and his childhood friend Masaomi Kida, who incidentally is the head honcho of another gang, the Yellow Scarves. With some new characters and the return of original director Takahiro Omori, the stage is set for what’s been described as “an ending that no one will see coming”. Durarara x2 3rd Arc premiered on the same day as Japan, 10 p.m, last night. Premiering first is the highly-anticipated television anime adaption of Pandora in the Crimson Shell: Ghost Urn. The sci-fi action series follows Nanakorobi Nene, a cybernetically-enhanced girl who moves to Cenancle, where she will learn that there is more to the island than meets the eye. When a super-powered terrorist attacks the island, she teams up with her new-found friends and discovers powers she never knew she possessed. Pandora in the Crimson Shell: Ghost Urn premieres at

Pandora

11.30 p.m. on Jan. 23 and airs every Saturday. The next title to premiere is Grimgar, Ashes And Illusions. The anime centers on the adventures of Haruhiro. His world is surrounded by darkness – purpose and mission undefined. He remembers nothing but his name. And when he emerges from the darkness, he is greeted by a world that seems like a scene out of a video game. To survive the seemingly dangerous and uncharted world of Grimgar, Haruhiro has to form an alliance with like-minded people and equip themselves with essential fightin abilities. Grimgar, Ashes And Illusions premieres 8 p.m. on Feb. 2 Feb. and airs every Tuesday. Also on Animax is the absolute hit of a manga turned anime series Assassination Classroom, which is about an endearing homeroom teacher who is also an octopus-like alien plotting to ruin Earth. With a plot like that, it is no wonder that the series is already expecting another season PLUS its second film. Assassination Classroom premiered on Jan. 4 and airs with two back-to-back episodes 10 p.m. every Monday and Tuesday. Everyone’s favourite detective Kindaichi is back. Fans of renowned mystery manga Kindaichi Case Files will soon get to go on more adventures with their favourite detective. In the latest anime adaptation Files of Young Kindaichi R, the high school student has to solve the mystery of his missing friend Miyuki Nanase, who has been kidnapped while pursuing stardom as a movie body double in Hong Kong. The File of Young Kindaichi R starts Mar. 21 and airs 8 p.m. every Monday and Tuesday. Animax is seen on SKYCable Channel 46, Cignal Digital TV Channel 34 and Dream Channel 07.

M ONDAY : JA NUA RY 11, 2016

ISAH V. RED EDITOR isahred @ gmail.com

SHOWBITZ

The phenomenal AlDub with the rest of the cast of the noontime show Eat Bulaga

GMA Network uNrivAlled iN viewer-rich urbAN luzoN ANd MeGA MANilA ISAH V. RED Cementing its status as the country’s leading broadcast company, GMA Network grabbed supremacy in nationwide TV ratings for 2015, based on full year ratings data from the industry’s most trusted ratings service provider Nielsen TV Audience Measurement. According to Nielsen’s full year 2015 NUTAM (National Urban Television Audience Measurement) household shares (with the dates of Dec. 27 to 31 based on overnight data), GMA was ahead of other networks in total day ratings with 35.4 percent, leading ABS-CBN’s 34.9 percent and TV5’s 9.2 percent. GMA overtook its closest rival in NUTAM in September 2015, and has since sustained nationwide ratings leadership. Full year 2015 data also showed that GMA remained the undisputed number one TV network in viewerrich Urban Luzon and Mega Manila, and reigned supreme across all day parts, including primetime. Urban Luzon accounts for 77 percent of all urban TV households in the country, while Mega Manila represents 59 percent. Urban Luzon continued to be a strong area for GMA as it registered 39.7 percent, surpassing ABS-CBN’s 30.6 percent by 9.1 points and TV5’s 8.2 percent by

31.5 points. GMA also further secured its dominant position in its bailiwick Mega Manila with 41.7 percent, up 14.7 points from ABS-CBN’s 27 percent and up 33.2 points from TV5’s 8.5 percent. The list of top programs for full year 2015 in Urban Luzon and Mega Manila was also dominated by the Kapuso Network with Kapuso Mo, Jessica Soho (KMJS) leading the list of GMA shows in both areas. The multi-awarded news magazine program was also the top Kapuso program in NUTAM. Other top performing programs of GMA last year include Magpakailanman, Eat Bulaga, Marimar, Little Nanay, Sunday Pinasaya, Pepito Manaloto, and Strawberry Lane. Rounding out the list are 24 Oras, Ismol Family, Because of You, Pari ‘Koy, Once Upon A Kiss, Empress Ki, Beautiful Strangers, Celebrity Bluff, Hiram na Alaala, The Half Sisters, More Than Words, Let the Love Begin, Mundo ni Juan Sa Japan, Second Chances, and Karelasyon. For December 2015, GMA posted a stronger total day lead with 38.9 percent in NUTAM, outscoring ABS-CBN’s 33.6 percent by 5.3 points, and TV5’s 7.8 percent by 31.1 points. Compared to ABS-CBN, more programs from GMA also figured in the list of top programs across all areas last December. KMJS emerged as the number one program in Urban Luzon and Mega Manila, and led the list of GMA programs in NUTAM.

Moreover, more viewers across the country tuned in to GMA during the Christmas holiday break (covering December 24 to 31) as revealed by its 38.4 percent audience share, higher than ABSCBN’s 32.5 percent by 5.9 points. In particular, GMA’s countdown to 2016 was the most viewed New Year countdown by urban viewers. Nielsen has a nationwide urban sample size of 2,000 homes; while in Mega Manila, it increased its sample size to 1,200 homes effective this 2016. “The Nielsen sample of TV households is robust and representative of the TV viewing audience,” says Nielsen Philippines Managing Director Stuart Jamieson on the accuracy of its TAM or TV Audience Measurement service. “Its household panel section is anchored on an Establishment Sur-vey whose sampling design cap-tures the geographic complexities of the Philippines and ensures fair representation of Mega Manila, cit-ies outside Mega Manila and other provincial areas. Rigid data quality controls put in place further pro-vide assurance of a superior and reliable TV audience measurement service,” he adds. As the leading ratings service provider, Nielsen TV Audience Measurement service boasts a total of 31 clients/subscribers including 8 local TV networks, 4 regional clients, 2 blocktimers, and 17 media agencies. ➜ continued on c7

(From top to bottom) Alden Richards, AiAi delas Alas, Mel Tiangco, Michael V, Megan Young and Jessica Soho