The Standard - 2016 January 14 - Thursday

VOL. XXIX NO. 336 3 Sections 32 Pages P18 THURSday : JaNUaRy 14, 2016 www.thestandard.com.ph editorial@thestandard.com.ph

Abaya imposes gag order at DoTC

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PH FILES PROTEST AGAINST BEIJING

By Vito Barcelo

THE Philippines on Wednesday branded China’s test landing of a plane on Fiery Cross Reef in the Spratlys a provocative action that raises tensions in the region, and said it was the start of Beijing’s “air defense zone” over the disputed areas of the South China Sea. Foreign Affairs spokesman Charles Jose

said a diplomatic protest was handed to a Chinese Embassy representative, after two more test flights touched down on Fiery Cross Reef, which the Philippines claims as its own.

“We formally protested on 8 January 2016 the recent test flights conducted by China to the Kagitingan Reef [Fiery Cross Reef] and its provocative actions restricting the freedom of navigation and overflight in the West Philippine Sea,” Jose said.

“The Philippines’ criticism has ulterior motives and is not worth refuting,” replied Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Hong Lei in a news briefing in Beijing Japan also complained of Chinese intrusions in the East China Sea and warned that

foreign naval vessel that enters Japanese territorial waters for reasons other than “innocent passage” will be told to leave by a Japanese naval patrol.

Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshihide Suga said Tokyo had informed Bijing of its decision in November, after Chinese navy ships sailed near the disputed island called Senkaku island by Japan and Diaoyu by China.

Japan’s government, Suga said, had approved this course of action last May. Hong Lei, asked about the remarks, said China was determined to protect its territory, repeating its standard line that the islands had been Chinese “since ancient times.”

Jose said China’s actions elevated the already high tensions in the region after Vietnam condemned China’s first test flight in the disputed area.

“These actions by China have elevated tensions and anxiety in the region and are in violation of the spirit and letter of the Asean China Declaration on the Conduct of Parties,” Jose said.

The Philippines denounced the flights and warned that if China was not challenged it was likely to impose an “unacceptable” air defense zone over the area.

China has asserted its claim to almost all of the South China Sea by rapidly building artificial islands including airstrips said to be capable of hosting military jets.

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US meetings. Defense Secretary Voltaire Gazmin (leftmost) and US Defense Secretary Ashton Carter (rightmost) listen as Foreign Affairs Secretary Albert del Rosario and US Secretary of State John Kerry speak during meetings on Jan. 12, 2016 at the US State Department in Washington, DC. AFP

Marcos: Why did pact not pass Senate? be ratified in the Senate,” said Marcos, one of those who favored the resolution filed by Senator Miriam Defensor Santiago stating that Edca needs the conSENATOR Ferdinand Marcos Jr. said currence of the senators.

Wednesday he was baffled why the Marcos made the statement in reEnhanced Defense Cooperation Agree- sponse to the Supreme Court’s dement was not drafted as a treaty that cision this week stating that Edca, would require the Senate’s approval. as an executive agreement, did not “Perhaps, they were scared it will not need the Senate’s approval because

By Macon Ramos-Araneta, Florante S. Solmerin and Maricel V. Cruz

it merely implemented existing treaties.

“While the Supreme Court already made a decision, I beg to disagree with the Supreme Court. I believe that this is in fact a treaty, and as an international treaty, it must be ratified by the Senate.

That is our procedure, that is the way we in the Senate handle international Next page treaties,” Marcos said.

Comelec, media to host bets’ debates

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Abaya imposes gag order on DoTC execs the same facilities with men in several train stations and Land Transportation Office branches, and persons with disabilities were left with no option but to use regular restrooms, the CoA said.

Also as a result, the transacting public had to bear the inconvenience of long toilet queues in DoTC line agencies, including the LTO, the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board, Manila International Airport Authority, Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines, Mactan Cebu International Airport Authority, Metro Rail Transit Line 3, Philippine Ports Authority, Cebu Ports Authority, Philippine National Railways and Light Rail Transit Authority.

In the same report, CoA said Abaya’s office bought 1,271 desktop computers worth P110.46 million in 2013 at the request of the House of Representatives for distribution to their constituents, but these “are still in the stockroom and remain undistributed to the intended beneficiaries, thus defeating the purpose for which the procurement was undertaken.”

“If the computers would remain unutilized, they become obsolete and outdated after several years, hence, the government is losing money out of these procurements,” the report added.

The undistributed computers were part of the 4,810 purchased by the DoTC at the request of members of the House of Representatives and most of the beneficiaries were constituents of various congressmen from their respective congressional districts.

“The delay in the distribution and transfer of the computers to the recipients was largely caused by the difficulty on the part of the recipients in complying with the requirements of

the DoTC before transfer could take place,” the CoA said.

The audit body urged the DoTC to call the attention of the concerned congressmen who made the requests, otherwise, the agency should identify other interested beneficiaries or use the units instead.

A resolution filed by Leyte Rep. Martin Romualdez to investigate the toilet controversy drew support Wednesday from Bayan Muna Rep. Carlos Zarate and Parañaque Rep. Gus Tambunting.

Zarate said the toilet program of the department under Abaya’s watch is what “Daang Matuwid” is all about and he called once again for Abaya to resign.

Zarate also urged the Office of the Ombudsman to look into other anomalous transactions and contracts entered into by the DoTC under Abaya.

“Abaya and his cabal at DoTC should be investigated by Congress in the exercise of its oversight functions. While at it, we also challenge the Office of the Ombudsman to also conduct its own investigation into the many anomalous transactions in that now graftridden department,” Zarate said.

“Ideally, Aquino should have kicked him out as Abaya is not really expected to resign voluntarily. But as it is now, it is just wishful thinking because Aquino and Abaya belong to the same Tuwad Na Daan mold,” Zarate said.

Tambunting, of the United Nationalist Alliance of Vice President Jejomar Binay, also sought answers about the P351-million toilet improvement program.

“I think they should be held accountable for how they spent that budget.

Secretary Abaya should account for it,” Tambunting said.

man-made disasters, traditional security challenges, to include territorial and maritime disputes, remain to be From A1 fundamental concerns,” he said.

The Spratly islands chain is claimed “Given this strategic context, we

by China, Vietnam and the Philip- should be in a position to address such pines. common concerns, as well as contribute Foreign Affairs Secretary Albert del to regional peace and stability,” he added.

Rosario has earlier said that the PhilGazmin said the Philippines is lookippine government is very concerned ing forward in deepening its strategic about the landings on Fiery Cross Reef. partnership with the US to ensure that ‘If this is not challenged, we will an “effective alliance that is responsive have a situation where China will take to the challenges of the 21st century.” a position that an air defense identifiGazmin added this year’s meeting is cation zone could be imposed. a manifestation of the strong state of ‘These are provocative actions Philippine and American allegiance. which we need to think about and we “We have come a long way since we need to take positions on,” he said. signed the Mutual Defense Treaty in Last week, Beijing rejected a protest 1951, and our frameworks of cooperafrom Vietnam over its first test flight, tion continue to evolve, from the Vissaying the operation took place within iting Forces Agreement to Enhanced Chinese territory.

Defense Cooperation Agreement Defense Secretary Voltaire Gazmin [Edca] in 2014,” Gazmin said. said there was a need for the PhilipIn a 10-4-1 vote on Tuesday, the Supines and the United States to create a preme Court declared the Edca consticredible defense posture and enhance tutional. the interoperability of both military It also upheld the position of the forces. government that the latter is an execuHe made this statement during the tive agreement and does not need the Philippine-US 2+2 ministerial meet- Senate concurrence. ing held in Washington D.C. Tuesday Finalized after eight rounds of talks night (Philippine time). that began in August 2013, Edca, Gazmin said that the US and the which was signed in 2014, allows US Philippines share common security troops access to designated Philipconcerns including territorial and pine military facilities, the right to maritime disputes, emphasizing that construct facilities, and pre-position working together to address them equipment, aircraft and vessels, but would bring peace in the region. rules out permanent basing.

“While we grapple with nontradiVietnam on Wednesday accused tional security concerns and natural China of making “erroneous state-

ments” over their diplomatic spat over flights to Fiery Cross Reef.

Hanoi fired off the latest barb late Tuesday in the increasingly bitter diplomatic spat, saying China was making “erroneous statements” by claiming it had informed Vietnamese air traffic control about the flights.

“Ho Chi Minh... Control Center did not receive any notification by China of the flight plans,” Foreign Ministry Spokesman Le Hai Binh said in a statement released late Tuesday.

The flights are “aimed at asserting their illegal sovereignty claims over the Trong Sa archipelago,” he said, referring to the Spratlys by their Vietnamese name.

Vietnam this year logged at least 46 incidents of Chinese planes flying without warning through airspace monitored by air traffic control in the southern metropolis of Ho Chi Minh City, formerly known as Saigon, according to authorities cited by local media.

State media also reported that Vietnam sent a protest letter about the flights to Beijing, as well as the United Nations’ International Civil Aviation Organization.

Beijing began work in 2014 on a 3,000-meter runway on Fiery Cross Reef, around 1,000 kilometers from China’s island province of Hainan.

China’s claim to almost all of the South China Sea puts it at odds with regional neighbors the Philippines, Vietnam, Malaysia, Brunei and Taiwan, which also stake partial claims. With PNA, AFP

By John Paolo Bencito and Maricel V. Cruz

TRANSPORT Secretary Joseph Emilio Abaya has ordered officials and employees of the Department of Transportation and Communications to stop speaking to the press about the scandals that have been swirling around it and its attached agencies, a highly placed source told The Standard Wednesday.

The order comes amid mounting calls for his resignation over a string of failures at his department, including its inability to build new comfort rooms and rehabilitate existing ones in train stations, ports and airports under the P351-million “Kayo ang Boss Ko” toilet facilities improvement project.

KBK, a foreign-assisted project, was named after a favorite motto used by President Aquino to suggest that the people are his ultimate boss.

The Commission on Audit noted that funds for the KBK project were originally earmarked for the improvement of airport facilities but were then re-aligned to line agencies of the DoTC for “toilet improvement” in support of the President’s infrastructure program in 2012.

The CoA added that construction of new restrooms and the rehabilitation of old ones have been delayed, suspended or terminated or declared failed bids because of complicated contract details.

Because of this failure, women shared

PH...

Marcos: ...

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He added that he was not opposed to Edca per se, but felt the Senate must play a role in its ratification.

In contrast, Senate Minority Leader Juan Ponce Enrile applauded the Supreme Court ruling because the government was not prepared on its own to secure the country and needs to ally with a strong power like the United States.

“We already slapped China. We started the fiery statements.

The worst that you can do to China... is make them lose face and now it is difficult to mend,” Enrile said in a radio interview.

“So what do we have to do? We have to act on our own. And since we can’t act on our own, we have to ally ourselves with a stronger power and that is America, that’s why I said recently, we must stay with America under our present condition to survive,” he added.

Senator Antonio Trillanes IV also applauded the Court’s decision, saying it validated his position that Edca does need not to be ratified by the Senate.

“But, more importantly, our country can now optimize the security opportunities this agreement has given us,” he added.

Trillanes was the lone senator to oppose Santiago’s resolution and maintained that Edca was an executive agreement that implements the 1951 Mutual Defense Treaty between the two countries, and the 1998 Visiting Forces Agreement.

A spokesman for the Armed Forces said Wednesday that all major military camps are being considered as bases under the Edca. Under the agreement, the US can build military facilities under the supervision of the Defense Department and the Armed Forces of the Philippines.

Some of these camps are Fort Magsaysay, the home of the Army’s 7th Infantry Division and Special Operations Command in Nueva Ecija; Camp Aguinaldo, the AFP General Headquarters in Quezon City; Camp Peralta, home of the 3rd ID in Capiz; and Benito Ebuen Airbase (Mactan Airbase).

Major camps in Central Visayas, especially the headquarters (Camp Lapu-Lapu) of the Central Command in Cebu would become “jumping boards for the disaster response operations” and all other agreed locations where American troops and equipment would be stationed.

Existing camps in Palawan, home of the Western Command, can also be used by American troops.

“As long as there is agreement, yes, it was part of the list that was offered,” AFP spokesman Restituto Padilla said.

Padilla added that the AFP is keen to develop Ulugan (Oyster) Bay in Palawan facing the West Philippine Sea as a possible major navy port where American warships could be stationed.

The list also includes the former US base in Subic Bay, where visiting warships from the US and other allies dock and land, as well as Army bases in Mindanao.

Padilla said discussions on how the Edca would be implemented could resume soon.

In the House, lawmakers said the government must capitalize on the favorable Edca ruling to fully modernize the country’s military hardware.

“The government should take the opportunity to fully modernized the country’s military equipment by urging the United States to provide us tanks, war ships, patrol boats, surveillance and fighter aircrafts, and extend other support such as training,” said Leyte Rep. Martin Romualdez, leader of the independent minority bloc in the House and president of the Philippine Constitution.

“This will help secure the sovereignty and integrity of the country’s national territory.”

“Edca would establish a minimum credible territorial defense, maritime security and maritime domain awareness for the country. We laud and support the ruling as Philconsa is for protecting and defending the Constitution, which talks about securing the Filipino people and the pact enhances this mandate,” Romualdez added.

Isabela Rep. Rodolfo Albano III, said the Court ruling should pave the way for the government to ensure that the AFP will become fully modernized in terms of war materiel and equipment before President Benigno Aquino III steps down in June.

Albano said it is about time that the AFP upgrade its air and naval assets so that frequent surveillance of the contested islands in the West Philippine Sea can be conducted.

Gabriela party-list Rep. Luz Ilagan, however, lamented the Supreme Court decision.

“The SC just gave its imprimatur to an agreement that transforms the entire nation into a military outpost and exposes us to war. Bad news,” Ilagan said.

In an en banc session, the Court affirmed the validity of Edca that provided for the increased rotational presence of US troops in the country.

Under the Edca, the US government is permitted to build structures, store as well as preposition weapons, defense supplies and materiel, station troops, civilian personnel and defense contractors, transit and station vehicles, vessels, and aircraft for a period of 10 years from 2014 to 2024.

The SC decision affirming the constitutionality of the Edca comes amid an ongoing dispute between the Philippines and China over overlapping claims in the South China Sea. The Philippines and the US signed Edca in April 2014, widely seen as a response to China’s aggressive acts in the West Philippine Sea.

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Comelec, media to host debates UAE eyeing more investments here THE United Arab Emirates plans to invest more money in the Philippines, particularly in the energy and infrastructure sectors, Vice President Jejomar Binay said after his meeting with Sheik Mohammad Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, the Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi.

Binay, who is in UAE, said he discussed a number of issues with the prince including the welfare of the thousands of Filipino workers in his country.

“Sheik Mohammad said he would very much like to visit the Philippines,” Binay said.

“We also talked about potential investment opportunities in the areas of power and infrastructure in the Philippines,” he said.

The UAE is host to 900,000 Filipino workers, according to the 2013 Commission of Filipino Overseas Compendium of Statistics.

Binay also met UAE Labor Minister Shaqr Ghobash and they discussed the UAE’s new labor decrees.

“Ministerial Decrees 764, 765 and 766, which were unveiled last year, will pave the way for improved labor relations between the Philippines and UAE,” the UAE’s labor ministry said.

The decrees, Ghobash said, will secure more stable practices to protect the Filipino workers who are legally sponsored to enter the UAE. Binay said that during his previous stint as Presidential Adviser for OFW Concerns, he strove to repay the contributions of migrant workers through programs that would best serve their needs. Vito Barcelo

THE Commission on Elections and several media entities have agreed to collaborate in holding the “Pilipinas Debates 2016,”, the initial salvo of which will be on Feb. 21 in Cagayan de Oro City.

“The first debate is going to be held on February 21, 5 to 7 p.m.,” Comelec Chairman Andres Bautista said after the Comelec signed the Memorandum of Agreement with some of its media partners.

“I have been advised that the venue will be Capitol University in CDO.” Bautista said there will be three presi-

dential debates, one each in Luzon, the Visayas and Mindanao, while the lone vice presidential debate will be held in Metro Manila.

He said the Visayas leg of the debates will be held in Cebu on March 20, while the Luzon leg has been set on April 24 and either in Central or Southern Luzon.

The vice presidential debate is scheduled on March 10 in a place in Metro Manila that is yet to be announced.

Under Republic Act 9006 or the Fair Election Act, the Comelec may require national television and radio networks to sponsor at least three national debates among the presidential candidates and at least one national debate among the vice presidential candidates during the campaign period.

This year will mark the first time that

the Comelec will be holding a series of national debates since the 1992 presidential elections.

“We want to assist the voters in making an informed choice in respect of their candidates,” Bautista said.

He said the attendance of the presidential and vice presidential candidates would not be compulsory, but he advised the candidates against skipping the opportunity to present their platform to the voters on a nationwide scale.

“We just think that them not showing up is already a message in itself,” Bautista said.

“I believe in freedom. They are free to attend or not to attend, but [by not attending] they obviously will miss a great opportunity to speak to the Filipino people.”

Rey E. Requejo

Poe: Drug enforcement agency needs help PRESIDENTIAL candidate Grace Poe said Wednesday there is a need to boost the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency’s ability to prosecute the distributors of illegal drugs because of the low conviction rate of pushers in the country.

The senator made her statement following a raid by the agency and the police that yielded 36 kilograms of shabu worth P180 million.

Police and PDEA agents on Tuesday raided a storage facility in Valenzuela that was being

used as a transshipment point for illegal drugs from abroad.

In its 2014 Annual Report, the PDEA said only 3,301 cases had been resolved since 2002 and that of those, 636 or 19 percent resulted in convictions, 903 or 27 percent in dismissals, and 1,762 or 54 percent in acquittals.

That meant only one in five drug-related cases lodged by the PDEA and resolved by the courts resulted in a conviction, Poe said.

“The low conviction rate not only renders our drug raids in vain but threatens our commu-

nities by allowing drug dealers back on the streets to prey on our children and friends again and again,” said Poe who heads the Senate committee on dangerous drugs.

The PDEA attributes the low conviction rate to legal technicalities and the failure of authorities to comply with the provision on the custody and disposition of seized illegal drugs under the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002.

This was amended in 2014

through Republic Act 10640, which reduced the number of inventory witnesses from three to two: an elected public official and a representative from the National Prosecution Service, or an elected official and a member of the media.

“The PDEA should direct its personnel to prioritize court duties in order to guarantee the prosecution of arrested drug personalities. Otherwise, any success we have at addressing the drug problem will be shortlived,” Poe said.

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Presidential debate. The Commission on Elections, led by Chairman Andres Bautista, has signed an agreement with media partners to hold presidential debates for the May

9 elections. DANNY PATA

‘Not politics, Mr. President’

By Macon Ramos-Araneta

SENATE Minority Leader Juan Ponce Enrile said on Wednesday there is no need for President Benigno Aquino III to appear at the resumption of the Senate investigation on the Mamasapano incident, but he may have to explain why he is being held “ultimately reponsible” for the incident.

“I don’t need the President there.

He may have to explain, but I don’t need him to show this incidents.

He can just watch, he can just listen,” Enrile said The 91-year-old senator conceded that it was the President’s prerogative whether to appear in a congressional investigation, “but he must not say that I have any grudge against him or this is just politics.”

“This is not politics, Mr. President. This is a job for the nation.

There are no exceptions for me here, whether you are the president or a janitor or a senator like myself, you will be accountable and I will

answer his accusations. I also have accusations against him, he has to answer that if he can,” he said.

In seeking the reopening of the Mamasapano probe, Enrile wanted to know the President’s role during the deadly operation, and in particular, what he did to rescue the government forces.

When informed that the President, as a commander in chief, had reportedly admitted responsibility over the death of the SAF 44, the senator said: “It is easy to say that, but he must be accountable to the [victims’] families, to the public, to the country and to himself. We are

talking about the country here.”

“If China attacks us and his character and actions are like that, is that appropriate?” Enrile asked, noting Aquino’s “repeated failure of leadership” in several instances during his presidency which ends on June 30.

But Malacañang replied that despite the Mamasapano incident, Aquino has maintained the people’s approval and trust as shown by public opinion surveys.

“President Aquino has demonstrated his capability as a leader through several crisis situations during his administration. He has kept faith with the people’s mandate by serving with integrity, dedication and courage,” said Communications Secretary Herminio Coloma Jr. “This is reflected in the people’s support for the President’s candidates during the 2013 elections and the consistently-high performance, approval and trust ratings which he has maintained throughout the last five-and-ahalf years,” said Coloma.

RH law author hits P1-b allocation cut

By Rio N. Araja THE principal author of Republic Act 10354, of the Reproductive Health Law enacted in 2012, said the cut in the government budget for the procurement of family planning commodities effectively violates and impairs the law.

Former Albay Rep. Edcel Lagman said the “improvident and tragic” slash of P1 billion from the original appropriation of P1.157 billion for “Modern and Natural Family Planning Supplies” violated and impaired the law.

Lagman said certain provisions of the law “are indubitable directives for the Congress to appropriate the requisite and adequate amounts for family planning supplies. Unfortunately, these statutory authorizations have been eroded by the Congress, more particularly the Senate, when the P1-

billion cut was accorded congressional approval,” he said.

“I place the onus of culpability for the unforgivable cut on Senator Tito Sotto as the principal proponent of the gross reduction and on Senator Loren Legarda as Chairman of the Senate bicameral panel, who until now vainly justifies the slash,” he said.

Lagman reacted to the cut of the original budget of P1.157 billion by P1 billion or 86 percent, saying the balance of P157 million was inadequate to address the contraceptive needs of the poor women.

The other expense items in the appropriations for Family Health and Responsible Parenthood do not pertain to contraceptives, he said.

“Both Sotto and Legarda know that integral to the RH Law is the provision for family planning supplies,” Lagman said.

Group scores early campaign materials THE EcoWaste Coalition, a waste and pollution watchdog , has expressed serious concern over the explosion of politicians’ tarpaulins on streets even before the campaign period for the May 2016 election commences.

The uncontrolled display of tarpaulins in public places to plug the candidacy of aspiring public servants outside the official campaign period has become a public nuisance as well as an environmental issue, the group said.

According to the Commission on Elections calendar, the cam-

paign period for candidates for president, vice president, senator and party-list groups will start on Feb. 9 while that for the candidates for congressmen and local officials will begin on Mar. 25. The campaign period will finish on May 7.

“In Manila, for example, ‘happy fiesta’ tarpaulins from contending politicians filled the streets of Quiapo as the mammoth Feast of the Black Nazarene was observed last weekend,” said Aileen Lucero, Coordinator, EcoWaste Coalition.

“The ‘battle of tarpaulins’ is now underway in Pandacan and Tondo

ahead of the popular feast of Santo Niño on January 17,” she added.

“This ‘battle’ will continue to rage as politicians take advantage of all imaginable occasions from Chinese New Year, Valentine’s Day, Lent, Easter to school graduation rites to publicize their names and faces among voters,” she said Aside from being annoying or offensive to the senses and posing risk to public safety, the EcoWaste Coalition pointed out that the unrestrained use and disposal of tarpaulins are adding to the nation’s garbage and toxic woes.

All ears. Vice President Jejomar Binay listens to Filipinos sheltered the Labor Center of the Philippine Embassy in Abu Dhabi before pledging assistance in having them repatriated at the soonest possible time.

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Reyes camp turns to House for help on SC decision

7 presidential bets ousted

By Rey E. Requejo

THE Supreme Court has affirmed the decisions of the Commission on Elections disqualifying seven presidential candidates in the May national elections.

By Maricel V. Cruz THE camp of Marinduque Rep. Regina Ongsiako-Reyes will ask the leadership of the House of Representatives to appeal the Supreme Court decision removing the congresswoman from her post for allegedly failing to meet residency and citizenship requirements.

This was revealed by Reyes’ husband, former Batangas Rep. Hermilando Mandanas, stressing that they are still awaiting the copy of the ruling where the high court asked the House to officially declare former Marinduque Rep. Lord Allan Jay Velasco as the winning representative in the lone district of the province. Velasco is the son of SC Associate Justice Presbitero Velasco Jr. “We will wait for the official notice and we will consult lawyers for legal action [appeal] when decision is received,” Mandanas said in a text message.

House Speaker Feliciano Belmonte Jr. said the House being the respondent to the case would only act on the order only after it becomes final and executory.

“Once the decision is final, that is the time that I will comply on the ruling,” Belmonte, a lawyer, said.

But Oriental Mindoro Rep. Reynaldo Umali, a lawyer and stalwart of the ruling Liberal Party where Reyes is a member, expressed belief that the House of Representatives Electoral Tribunal has the sole power to decide on the issue.

Umali said the HRET is the “sole judge of all contests relating to the election, returns, and qualifications of their respective members.”

“That is [HRET has the sole prerogative and power to remove a member] the letter of the Constitution which is the supreme law of the land. We will try to find out the collective decision of the House as an institution,” Umali, chair of the House committee on energy, said.

“I am just wondering how it was done without remanding the case to the court of origin, which as a general rule has the mandate to execute a final and executory judgment,” Umali added.

Malasakit meets Manila exec. Senatorial candidate Rep.Ferdinand Martin G. Romualdez (Mr. Malasakit) and another senatorial bet Manila Vice Mayor Isko Moreno greet each other during the San Pablo Coconut Festival in San Pablo City, Laguna. SONNY ESPIRITU

In its en banc session on Tuesday, the SC dismissed the separate petitions filed by Rizalito David, Elly Pamatong, Juanita Trocenio, Ephraim Defino, Buenafe Briggs, Antonio Obiña and Luisito Falcon questioning the decisions of the Comelec to cancel their Certificates of Candidacy for president.

“The Court, in minute resolutions, uniformly dismissed the petitions on the ground that the Comelec did not act with grave abuse of discretion,” SC spokesman Theodore Te said in a statement.

David, who filed the disqualification case against Senator Grace Poe in the Senate Electoral Tribunal, earlier petitioned his disqualification before the SC assailing the Comelec ruling that he is a nuisance candidate.

Pamatong, self-proclaimed US Armed Forces in the Far East general, also insisted on his presidential poll with a petition before the SC. He ran in the 2004 and 2010 presidential polls and was also disqualified in both instances.

The tribunal dismissed their petitions outright, seeing no need to first require an answer from the Comelec.

Another candidate disqualified by the Comelec was vice presidential bet Nid Anima, who also filed his petition before the high court.

The candidate, who claimed to be from “Aasenso Sabungero” party-list and to know the secret of how to campaign in elections without spending, likewise questioned his disqualification by the Comelec.

The SC also dismissed his petition outright and upheld his disqualification.

The tribunal also resolved to dismiss the petitions of four party-list groups disqualified by the poll body—Mindanao Alliance for Reforms, Bagong Alyansang Manggagawang Pangtransportasyon Para sa Edukasyon at Reporma, Political Party of the People’s Movement for Democratic Governance and Aasenso sa Barangay.

Labor vows to make OFWs ‘bullet-proof’

By Vito Barcelo THE Department of Labor and Employment on Wednesday assured the safety and protection of departing overseas Filipino workers from “tanim bala” or bullet-planting scheme at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport.

Labor Secretary Rosalinda Baldoz said that the DoLE and other concerned government agencies agreed to protect OFWs from the “bullet planting” by immediately extending legal assistance to the victims perpetrated by unscrupulous persons at the airport.

“Several steps have been taken by the InterAgency Committee [IAC] to make sure that proper and immediate assistance will be provided to OFWs who will be apprehended for alleged possession of ammunitions or bullets at Philippine international airports,” Baldoz said.

Labor Undersecretary Ciriaco Lagunzad III met with the officials of the

Philippine Overseas Employment Administration, Overseas Workers Welfare Administration, Department of Transportation and Communications, Department of Justice, Manila International Airport Authority, Office for Transportation Security, Aviation Security Group, National Prosecution Service and the Public Attorney’s Office to layout a groundwork that would protect and assist an OFW who may fall victim to “laglag bala” syndicate.

Baldoz said the IAC will make coordination on the investigation of OFWs who were allegedly in possession of ammunitions or bullets in any international airports in the country.

She said if an OFW was caught with a bullet in his/her possession, the OTS shall immediately inform the POEA, OWWA-Repatriation and Assistance Division and will require the OFW to produce an Overseas Employment Certificate.

Filmfest mess. MMDA Chairman Emerson Carlos, also head of the Metro Manila

Film Festival and MMFF member Dominic Du attend the public hearing on the alleged irregularities in the recent MMFF at the House committee on Metro Manila Development on Wednesday. LINO SANTOS

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Fil-Ams close ranks for Grace LOS ANGELES—Buoyed by the recent decision of the Office of the Solicitor General backing the ruling of the Senate Electoral Tribunal that Senator Grace Poe is a natural-born Filipino, Filipino-Americans in key cities in the United States and other countries declared they are ready for the electoral campaign to help ensure her victory in the May 2016 polls.

The Fil-Ams were also elated by the Supreme Court decision affirming its ruling to keep Grace Poe in list of presidential candidates running for the 2016 polls.

Lauding the OSG’s move in affirming the tribunal’s decision that embodies a “legally grounded, reasonable and just interpretation”

of the 1935 Constitution, Jun Caringal of the Grace Poe For President MovementNorth America and the United States also expressed optimism that the Supreme Court magistrates will uphold the rights of foundlings and the sovereignty of every Filipino to choose his own leader following the 12-3

ruling affirming the TROs issued by Chief Justice Maria Lourdes Sereno on the Commission on Elections en banc decision disqualifying Grace Poe. According to Caringal, all GPPM chapters in North America and other global areas have been organized to make Poe win and make her the 3rd woman to become president of the Philippines in May 2016.

“We have organized chapters and ad hoc chapters in 20 states in the United States and Canada, 10 regional cities in California and seven global posts all over the world,” Caringal said.

GPMM has 10 city chapters in California, namely: San Francisco (Crispin Mendoza, Ago Fedalizo);

Los Angeles, San Diego (Maggie Galvan); Milpitas (Elpidio Estioko); San Jose (Beth Duzon, Evelyn delos Santos Rabanal); Anaheim/ OC (Lino Caringal, Sonia Sanchez); San Mateo (Cesar Felipe Ballesteros); Glendale (Jerry Esguerra: Chino Hills Joe Sarmiento, San Fernando Valley Sid Balatan, Santa Clarita James Dullas and Riverside.

GPPM State or Regional City chapters have been also organized in: New York (Rodrigo Luis); New York/New Jersey (Josefino Pacis); Chicago, Illinois (Jose Sumait Diana Gummell); Tampa, Florida; Virginia (D. Goroza Mamaril Andrada: Toronto, Canada (Isaias Agatep, Jing Corl, Cesar Locquiao); Richmond; British Colombia (Neri

Cardona); Washington (Athanasius Francis C Catalan; Oklahoma (Ferdinand Erolin); Massachusetts (Ging Fontanilla); Philadelphia; Portland; Oregon; San Antonio, Texas (Sandra Arellano Parish Gerry Casison/ Alfonso Godoy); Fairfax, Virginia; Las Vegas, Nevada (Deo Batarina, Jimmy Erollin, Resurreccion Locquiao Israel, Cynthia Managan Ellazar Banquit: Hawaii (Eliel Corpuz, Perle Ladiana, Cecilia Cabanilla, Rosebella Martinez); Guam (Ronnie Redilla); Tennessee (Richard Gubatan); Rocksville (Belsky Santos); Maryland (Ramon Rosario); Pennsylvania (Aurora Jacob).

The Ad Hoc National Organizing Committee, in charge of organizing chapters based in Los Angeles, is composed of Jun Caringal,

Dr. Orlando Cagampan, Dr. Veronico Agatep, Arturo P. Garcia, Macky Fortu, Dina Companion, Lissa Pacheco, Reynaldo Vitug and Melvin Barcenas. They are supported by Urdaneta/Pangasinan, Philippines led by Norma Villasoto Dacanay, Rodolfo Fajardo, and Fe Ranada.

Caringal also announced formation of other GPPM chapters in other parts of the world, namely: Tel Aviv, Israel (Ruth Surop, Yolly Locquiao Salvador, Julie Amor Caringal; Rome (Hilda Deriza Abriam, Vida Ave); Milan/ Italy (Adelaida Intendencia); Riyadh, Saudi Arabia (Romeo Jun Rupisan); Singapore (Celia Diaz Defato); London UK (Gloria Balbastro, Rodelix Dacanay); and, Cataluna, Spain (Lilia Duzon Pascua).

Ex-lawmaker indicted for graft, malversation

By Rio N. Araja

ARMM sortie. Liberal Party’s standard bearer Manuel Roxas II accompanied by ARMM Gov. Mujiv Hataman visits a market in Cotabato City on Wednesday, Jan. 13 during his two-day visit to the provinces of ARMM and Cotabato City.

OMAR MANGORSI

THE Office of the Ombudsman has indicted a former congressman of Eastern Samar for malversation and graft arising from his alleged role in the “pork barrel” scam in 2007.

Former congressman Teodulo Coquilla is facing two counts of malversation and violation of Section 3(e) of Republic Act 3019 before the Sandiganbayan.

Also named as co-respondents were Alan Javellana, Encarnita Cristina Munsod, Ma. Julie Villaralvo-Johnson and Romulo Relevo of the National Agri-Business Corp., along with Gabay Masa Foundation officials Margie Luz and Ma. Cristina Vizcarra. According to the Ombudsman, Coquilla received P5 million as part of his pork barrel fund for the acquisition of instructional materials and seedlings in October 2007.

To implement the project, Coquilla entered into a memorandum of agreement and

chose NabCor as the implementing agency and GabayMasa as project partner.

The project called for the procurement of 32,887 calamundin, rambutan, chico and mango seedlings, and 10,470 instructional materials for his constituents in the towns of Dolores, Maslog, Jipapad, Lawaan and Guiuan.

Documents showed Coquilla signed the certificate of acceptance and acknowledgment receipt for the project.

Gross violations of procurement rules were uncovered as the suppliers were unregistered business entities with non-existent addresses, the Ombudsman said.

A surveillance conducted by the Ombudsman’s field investigation office disclosed that the supplier of the seedlings was a garden shop engaged in the sale of rocks, pebbles, grass and landscaping services.

The supplier of the instructional materials was located in a residential area, and selling car batteries and wheel interiors.

Crackdown: 131 people nabbed

By Joel E. Zurbano and Francisco Tuyay TWO Chinese nationals were arrested and 31 kilos of shabu were found in their possession during a buy-bust operations in Quezon City on Wednesday, police said.

This brought to 131 people collared and P90 million worth of shabu seized by police afer two weeks of crackdown on drug dealing in Metro Manila.

National Capital Region Police Office-Regional Anti-Illegal Drugs Special Operations Task Group conducted the buy-bust in Quezon City that resulted in the arrest of Geng Qing Chuan, 35; and Xiangfan Yao, 28, both residents of Ongpin, Binondo in Manila.

Last Monday, a buy-bust operation was conducted in Mulawin Street, Purok 3 in Barangay New Lower Bicutan which resulted in the arrest of Gongli Li, 36 years old and resident of Sta. Cruz, Manila.

Metro Manila police chief Joel Pagdilao said these were accom-

plished as part of the efforts of the NCRPO supporting the anticrime program of National Police director Ricardo Marquez.

The arrest of Chuan and Yao came a day after PNP operatives nabbed two Filipino-Chinese in Valenzuela City confiscating from the suspects 37 kilos of shabu with a street value of P187 million, bringing to a total of 67 kilograms of chemical substance seized after the PNP waged a relentless drive against the proliferation of drugs in the country.

Sonny Ang, 67, and Tiusecon Benito, 47, were arrested last Monday in front of Flying V Gas Station along Narciso Street, Barrage Lawang Bato, Valenzuela at about 8:30 a.m.

Marquez disclosed that the suspects bought three kilos of shabu to a poseur-buyer that lead to the eventual confiscation of 27 kilos of shabu.

“So it’s high time that we intensified our campaign against illegal drugs and there’s also a

need to determine where the illegal drugs were coming from,” Marquez said.

He said that police were trying to verify if the Valenzuela arrest was linked to that in Quezon City.

Meanwhile, the Bureau of Customs also scored a hit with the seizure of more than half a million pesos worth of shabu at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport in three separate parcels bound for the Saudi Arabia and United Kingdom.

Customs deputy commissioner Ariel Nepomuceno said the parcels were found inside Naia warehouse by customs Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency agents were tipped off about the illegal drugs.

He said the parcels contained 50 grams of white crystalline substance, believed to be shabu, hidden in a children’s book bound for the United Kingdom.

Nepomuceno did not disclose the identities of the parcels’ senders and recipients so as not to jeopardize follow-up operations.

National Capital Region Police OfficeRegional AntiIllegal Drugs’ chief Roberto Razon leads the buy-bust operation that resulted in the arrest of two Chinese nationals in Quezon City. The illegal drugs and money were confiscated by the police.

LINO SANTOS

t h u r s d ay : J a N u a r y 14 , 2 0 1 6

A7

news

editorial@thestandard.com.ph

Governor appoints education official amid ban

By John Paolo Bencito

Spider games. A young man in Baguio City enjoys watching spiders on a stick. DAVID CHAN

‘N. Ecija power plant has no compliance certificate’

By Ferdie G. Domingo

SAN JOSE CITY—A 10-megawatt capacity power plant is now under construction in this city even without the required Environmental Compliance Certificate in violation of environmental laws.

The Sto. Niño Photovoltaic Power Generation Plant in Barangay Sto. Niño clearly violates environmental laws for operating without first securing an eCC, an

official of the environment and Management Bureau disclosed.

Local officials and businessmen led groundbreaking rites for the power plant

in a 17-hectare site in Sto. Niño, some eight kilometers away from the city proper on Dec. 29.

The plant, set to operate in March, is the fourth alternative power source to rise in Nueva ecija after rice husks-fueled biomass plants established in the town of Talavera, in the Science City of Muñoz and in this city.

Businessman Mario Salvador, chairman of VMARS Solar energy Corp. which owns the facility, said

the plant would address the shortage of electricity in the province without environmental hazards posed by traditional fossil fuel-dependent power plants such as coal.

But Lormelyn Claudio, eMB regional director for Central Luzon, said the facility, while envisioned to be environment-friendly, does not have yet an eCC. She said the firm applied for the issuance of the eCC only last Jan. 4. “The eCC

application was filed last Monday (Jan. 4) based on our records,” Claudio said in a text message.

An eCC is required to be secured from the eMB for any project in the Philippines that poses a potential environmental risk or impact (such as mining, agriculture projects and construction).

The eMB issues the eCC after a thorough and positive review of the project’s application.

A NeW DIVISION superintendent for Marawi City was appointed by Lanao del Sur Gov. Mamintal “Bombit” Adiong despite a ban for transfer and suspension of government workers, including public school teachers during the election period, an official in the province said Wednesday.

“Our governor had illegally officiated a new Deped superintendent for Marawi City in violation of the Comelec’s rule on election Ban just last Sunday,” said Mona Macatanong, Marawi City Schools Division superintendent, told The Standard in a phone interview.

On Sunday, Adiong allegedly appointed former assistant superintendent Pharida Sansarona to assume the Division Superintendent post for Deped-Marawi City in a meeting with provincial teachers to prepare them for the visit of Liberal Party standard bearer Manuel Roxas II, who visited the Muslim-dominated province Tuesday.

Also on the same day, Sansarona announced the closure of two major public schools in Marawi City, which are known to be the pride of Marawi bagging national awards in the recent Philippine Boy Scouts Jamboree.

Teachers in Marawi City allegedly failed to hold classes on Tuesday after Adiong threatened to deduct an amount from their salaries if they failed to attend Roxas’ provincial sortie on that day.

“We were mad. We teachers should be non-partisan but they forced us to go here,” Macatanong said.

PNP tags 44 Eastern Visayas towns as watchlist areas

By Mel Caspe

Payout. Yolanda survivors claim their pay from the Kalahi-CIDSS cash for work program in Guiuan, Eastern Samar. MEL CASPE

The Philippine National Police has tagged 44 towns in eastern Visayas as election watchlist areas in relation to the May 9 elections.

In the list of areas of concern list are 15 towns in Samar, 12 towns in Leyte, nine in Northern Samar, seven in eastern Samar, and one in Biliran.

Sr. Supt. Brigido Unay, chief of the police regional intelligence division, said these have been consistently included in the list of places of concern in the past elections.

Calbayog City and all towns within the first legislative district of Samar are

included in the areas of concern. These are Almagro, Gandara, Matuguinao, Pagsanghan, San Jorge, Santa Margarita, Santo Niño, Tagapul-an, Tarangnan.

Outside Samar’s first district identified in the watchlist are hinabangan, Paranas, Pinabacdao, San Jose de Buan, and Tarangnan.

The police official declined to disclose the specific areas in Leyte, Biliran, Northern Samar and eastern included in the watchlist for 2016 polls, but he said the list are the same in 2013.

Listed as hotspots in the last elections are Baybay and Ormoc cities and the towns of Bato, Inopacan, Kananga,

Matag-ob, Tabango, San Miguel, Albuera, Burauen, Carigara, and Jaro in Leyte.

In eastern Samar, these areas are Arteche, Taft, Canavid, Dolores, hernani, General MacArthur, Jipapad and Quinapondan.

In Northern Samar, these places are Bobon, Catubig, Mapanas, Mondragon, Palapag, San Isidro, Gamay, Las Navas, Lavezares, Lope de Vega, Pambujan, Capul and Victoria. The only town in Biliran province tagged as watchlist in the past elections was Kawayan.

Only the Southern Leyte province was not included in the police areas of concern this year.

T H U R S D AY : J A N U A R Y 14 , 2 0 1 6

A8

OPINION

ADELLE CHUA EDITOR

lettertotheeditor@thestandard.com.ph

OPINION

POP GOES THE WORLD JENNY ORTUOSTE

CHROMATEXT REVISITED

[ EDI TORI A L ]

INCOMPETENT MANAGERS LEADERSHIP is about steering a nation’s ship, but it is also about picking the right people to steer the ship with.

Because a leader’s capacity, attention and reach are finite, equally important are the choice of the men and women who would be the face of governance to the people they are expected to serve, whose interests they are expected to champion.

When the President assumed the top post several years ago, there was much hope that the next six years would be better than the years before. There were a lot of promises. The aim was to reduce corruption, because without corruption, Mr. Aquino said, there would be no poverty.

There were also grand scenarios of economic progress dangled before a nation so desperate for opportunities in their own land. We would be the next first-world economy, we were told. Investors and tourists would flock to the Philippines. It would be a different era for the country, whose people are so used to the grime and the stink of unlivable working conditions, and who were coming from the dark days of the previous administration.

The President and his team practically styled themselves as saviors.

Nearly six years on, the people are still desperate, perhaps even more so because of the empty posturing of the managers who overpromised but underdelivered.

Worst of all, these executives remain smug and arrogant, convinced of their infallibility even as their incompetence runs the country to the ground.

If there were perhaps a symbol for this administration’s six-year reign, it would be the Metro Rail Transit 3. The MRT 3 was doing well when these managers came in—not spectacularly, but at least respectably. Now it has become notorious for its coaches that never come on time, the dangerous rails and a system operating beyond its capacity.

It could be the airport, named by travelers as one of the worst in the world, and which makes suspects out of hapless extortion victims. It could be the traffic, or the continued suffering of the victims of calamities, or the unresolved extra-judicial killings, or the ever-widening gap between the rich and the poor amid supposed credit rating upgrades and nominal growth of the Gross Domestic Product.

Through it all, these managers operate in self-congratulation, pat each other on the back for their trial-and-error work and continue to receive their undeserved salaries at the expense of the people whose lives they make more miserable. Meanwhile, they score their critics and reject any suggestion that they could have done their jobs better.

We heave a collective sigh of relief that their contract is nearing its end— God forbid we give them another crack at leading us.

A BELEAGUERED PRESIDENCY DUTY CALLS FLORENCIO FIANZA AS PRESIDENT Aquino begins to wind down his presidency, his administration is beleaguered in many fronts.

Instead of preparing the nation for a smooth transfer of power to whomever will be elected as the next president, he is busy ensuring that his anointed successor wins the election at all cost. This is the

same thing that his predecessor tried to do and look at where she is now—in detention.

President Aquino is committing the same mistake.

The President wants everyone to believe that his administration is turning over a government with less problems than what he inherited.

It is in fact exactly the opposite. He is turning over a government to his successor with more challenges and too many unfinished programs.

The Mamasapano opera-

tion that resulted in the death of 44 SAF personnel is being resurrected and continues to haunt the President personally. This situation that he is in is of his own making. For the first time in our history, a President participated in the planning and conduct of a tactical combat operation. I agree that there are so many unanswered questions as to his participation and no matter what he does, he cannot sweep this under the rug.

Even if the motive to reopen the Senate hearing is politi-

A9

This could be the beginning of the end for President Aquino.

cal, it is immaterial so long as the truth comes out.

Instead of showing leadership at the Villamor Air Base after the operation by meeting the remains of his men whom he sent to their deaths, he was shown frolicking in the inauguration of a car manufacturing company.

That was his first serious mistake. Another is when he scolded a senior SAF official questioning why the operation was mounted on his mother’s birthday. Senator Enrile’s remark that there are new information that have surfaced is cryptic. Although he did not elaborate, he must

be in possession of new information that can incriminate the President. The Palace is certainly nervous. Maybe the senator has a “deep throat” coming from the Palace itself who provided the so-called new evidence. If so, this could be the beginning of the end for President Aquino. *** The Commission on Elections is a powerful government agency in the country especially during elec-

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

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

tions. It can control the whole machinery of government and the seven members of the commission can only be removed by impeachment.

It is not actually unusual for members of the commission to have serious differences but this is normally hidden from the prying eyes of the public. This commission, however, is different. Four months before the May 2016 presidential elections, it is in disarray. And contrary to media reports that the hatchet has al-

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

MST ONLINE

can be accessed at: www.manilastandardtoday.com

MEMBER

PPI

Philippine Press Institute The National Association of Philippine Newspapers

ready been buried, the differences seem to be a lot deeper and far from being resolved.

Continued on A11

LOWDOWN JOJO A. ROBLES Mr. Robles’ column will resume tomorrow.

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

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

THE common perception is that writers aren’t usually visual artists also, because working with words is different from creating images.

Art show Chromatext Rebooted gives a chance, not only to spectators, but also to writers themselves, to show how they can expand into other forms of artistic expression.

The show, curated by Jean Marie Syjuco and Krip Yuson for the Philippine Literary Arts Council, opened last Nov. 6 at the Cultural Center of the Philippines.

The show features the artworks of over 120 writers, poets, journalists, and visual artists. The individual and collaborated works are related to words, poems, and prose, and includes abstract, sculptural, conceptual, and digital works.

On one wall hangs Butch Dalisay’s framed short story, about a man who buys a pen and a bottle of rare Persian Rose ink online—and what happens when he tries them out.

Poems by Krip Yuson, Marne Kilates, Gemino Abad, and Eileen Tabios, among others, line the walls.

Danny Sillada’s Constipated Time is a gleaming white porcelain toilet that somewhere in its innards contained a recorder that played the sound of a flushing toilet in a continuous loop. Padma Perez created a blanket fort strewn with Dr. Seuss books, a recorded poem playing in the background.

There are also wooden book stools by the late Edd Aragon. A sculpture of a house rising out of a book— Homage to Gibran—by Maxine Syjuco. A red crop top embroidered with words, a collaboration between Frank Cimatu and Dumay Solinggay.

A tall canvas completely covered with words written in black ink that in places had run out to light grey, only to be continued with a fresh marker.

A neon sign by Cesare AX Syjuco.

The piece that I wanted to take home was a magnificent black velvet and gold winged throne by Jean Marie Syjuco that proudly bore the sign “Salumpuwet.” Imagine a set of six of those around the dinner table—now that’s living it up.

I was entranced by the coffee art of Rev Cruz. His painting “Fifty Shades of Coffee” depicts a man and woman contorted around each other in a yinyang shape, while text—“Smell me!

Touch me! Coffee Beans! Coffee Stains!

Continued on A11

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

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

Emil P. Jurado Chairman Emeritus, Editiorial Board

T H U R S D AY : J A N U A R Y 14 , 2 0 1 6

A8

OPINION

ADELLE CHUA EDITOR

lettertotheeditor@thestandard.com.ph

OPINION

POP GOES THE WORLD JENNY ORTUOSTE

CHROMATEXT REVISITED

[ EDI TORI A L ]

INCOMPETENT MANAGERS LEADERSHIP is about steering a nation’s ship, but it is also about picking the right people to steer the ship with.

Because a leader’s capacity, attention and reach are finite, equally important are the choice of the men and women who would be the face of governance to the people they are expected to serve, whose interests they are expected to champion.

When the President assumed the top post several years ago, there was much hope that the next six years would be better than the years before. There were a lot of promises. The aim was to reduce corruption, because without corruption, Mr. Aquino said, there would be no poverty.

There were also grand scenarios of economic progress dangled before a nation so desperate for opportunities in their own land. We would be the next first-world economy, we were told. Investors and tourists would flock to the Philippines. It would be a different era for the country, whose people are so used to the grime and the stink of unlivable working conditions, and who were coming from the dark days of the previous administration.

The President and his team practically styled themselves as saviors.

Nearly six years on, the people are still desperate, perhaps even more so because of the empty posturing of the managers who overpromised but underdelivered.

Worst of all, these executives remain smug and arrogant, convinced of their infallibility even as their incompetence runs the country to the ground.

If there were perhaps a symbol for this administration’s six-year reign, it would be the Metro Rail Transit 3. The MRT 3 was doing well when these managers came in—not spectacularly, but at least respectably. Now it has become notorious for its coaches that never come on time, the dangerous rails and a system operating beyond its capacity.

It could be the airport, named by travelers as one of the worst in the world, and which makes suspects out of hapless extortion victims. It could be the traffic, or the continued suffering of the victims of calamities, or the unresolved extra-judicial killings, or the ever-widening gap between the rich and the poor amid supposed credit rating upgrades and nominal growth of the Gross Domestic Product.

Through it all, these managers operate in self-congratulation, pat each other on the back for their trial-and-error work and continue to receive their undeserved salaries at the expense of the people whose lives they make more miserable. Meanwhile, they score their critics and reject any suggestion that they could have done their jobs better.

We heave a collective sigh of relief that their contract is nearing its end— God forbid we give them another crack at leading us.

A BELEAGUERED PRESIDENCY DUTY CALLS FLORENCIO FIANZA AS PRESIDENT Aquino begins to wind down his presidency, his administration is beleaguered in many fronts.

Instead of preparing the nation for a smooth transfer of power to whomever will be elected as the next president, he is busy ensuring that his anointed successor wins the election at all cost. This is the

same thing that his predecessor tried to do and look at where she is now—in detention.

President Aquino is committing the same mistake.

The President wants everyone to believe that his administration is turning over a government with less problems than what he inherited.

It is in fact exactly the opposite. He is turning over a government to his successor with more challenges and too many unfinished programs.

The Mamasapano opera-

tion that resulted in the death of 44 SAF personnel is being resurrected and continues to haunt the President personally. This situation that he is in is of his own making. For the first time in our history, a President participated in the planning and conduct of a tactical combat operation. I agree that there are so many unanswered questions as to his participation and no matter what he does, he cannot sweep this under the rug.

Even if the motive to reopen the Senate hearing is politi-

A9

This could be the beginning of the end for President Aquino.

cal, it is immaterial so long as the truth comes out.

Instead of showing leadership at the Villamor Air Base after the operation by meeting the remains of his men whom he sent to their deaths, he was shown frolicking in the inauguration of a car manufacturing company.

That was his first serious mistake. Another is when he scolded a senior SAF official questioning why the operation was mounted on his mother’s birthday. Senator Enrile’s remark that there are new information that have surfaced is cryptic. Although he did not elaborate, he must

be in possession of new information that can incriminate the President. The Palace is certainly nervous. Maybe the senator has a “deep throat” coming from the Palace itself who provided the so-called new evidence. If so, this could be the beginning of the end for President Aquino. *** The Commission on Elections is a powerful government agency in the country especially during elec-

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

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

tions. It can control the whole machinery of government and the seven members of the commission can only be removed by impeachment.

It is not actually unusual for members of the commission to have serious differences but this is normally hidden from the prying eyes of the public. This commission, however, is different. Four months before the May 2016 presidential elections, it is in disarray. And contrary to media reports that the hatchet has al-

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

MST ONLINE

can be accessed at: www.manilastandardtoday.com

MEMBER

PPI

Philippine Press Institute The National Association of Philippine Newspapers

ready been buried, the differences seem to be a lot deeper and far from being resolved.

Continued on A11

LOWDOWN JOJO A. ROBLES Mr. Robles’ column will resume tomorrow.

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

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

THE common perception is that writers aren’t usually visual artists also, because working with words is different from creating images.

Art show Chromatext Rebooted gives a chance, not only to spectators, but also to writers themselves, to show how they can expand into other forms of artistic expression.

The show, curated by Jean Marie Syjuco and Krip Yuson for the Philippine Literary Arts Council, opened last Nov. 6 at the Cultural Center of the Philippines.

The show features the artworks of over 120 writers, poets, journalists, and visual artists. The individual and collaborated works are related to words, poems, and prose, and includes abstract, sculptural, conceptual, and digital works.

On one wall hangs Butch Dalisay’s framed short story, about a man who buys a pen and a bottle of rare Persian Rose ink online—and what happens when he tries them out.

Poems by Krip Yuson, Marne Kilates, Gemino Abad, and Eileen Tabios, among others, line the walls.

Danny Sillada’s Constipated Time is a gleaming white porcelain toilet that somewhere in its innards contained a recorder that played the sound of a flushing toilet in a continuous loop. Padma Perez created a blanket fort strewn with Dr. Seuss books, a recorded poem playing in the background.

There are also wooden book stools by the late Edd Aragon. A sculpture of a house rising out of a book— Homage to Gibran—by Maxine Syjuco. A red crop top embroidered with words, a collaboration between Frank Cimatu and Dumay Solinggay.

A tall canvas completely covered with words written in black ink that in places had run out to light grey, only to be continued with a fresh marker.

A neon sign by Cesare AX Syjuco.

The piece that I wanted to take home was a magnificent black velvet and gold winged throne by Jean Marie Syjuco that proudly bore the sign “Salumpuwet.” Imagine a set of six of those around the dinner table—now that’s living it up.

I was entranced by the coffee art of Rev Cruz. His painting “Fifty Shades of Coffee” depicts a man and woman contorted around each other in a yinyang shape, while text—“Smell me!

Touch me! Coffee Beans! Coffee Stains!

Continued on A11

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

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

Emil P. Jurado Chairman Emeritus, Editiorial Board

T H U R S D AY : J A N U A R Y 14 , 2 0 1 6

A10

OPINION lettertotheeditor@thestandard.com.ph

THE HIDDEN FACTS OF MAMASAPANO TO THE POINT EMIL P. JURADO

THE accolade given by some 300 industry experts across the region to Ms. Margarita Fores as “Asia’s Best Female Chef ” is both an honor to the Philippines and to the industry where she belongs.

Gaita Fores, who has spent years in Italy to perfect her expertise, has put up several restaurants and establishments, and, together with another well-known chef, Glenda Barretto, prepared dinner for some 700 delegates and guests of the Asia-Pacific Eco-

I’m afraid that the people will never know the truth about the Mamasapano massacre.

nomic Cooperation Summit.

One of the many restaurants Gaita has put up is Cibo, which is my favorite. Congratulations, Gaita, may the force be with you always. *** Senate Minority Leader Juan Ponce Enrile is not the only one who would like to clarify from President Aquino his role in the botched “Oplan Exodus” which led to the slaughter of 44 police commandos in Mamasapano, Maguindanao on Jan. 25, 2015.

The people are likewise still asking questions on how the massacre of the “Fallen 44” happened when there is a battalion of the

Armed Forces of the Philippine stationed not too far away. Why didn’t the military aid the PNP Special Action Force when they were being butchered by a combined force of the Moro rebels led by the Moro Islamic Liberation Front and the Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters despite calls for assistance?

These are the questions that BS Aquino III’s “bosses,” the Filipino people, would like answered when the Senate re-opens its probe into the Mamasapano massacre.

But BS Aquino III is not happy over the Senate reinvestigation scheduled next Monday, the anniversary of the massacre.

According to BS Aquino III, it’s “politically motivated,” and that Enrile holds a grudge against him for his incarceration for his supposed involvement in the pork barrel scam. People around the President echo the fact that he has already accepted “ultimate responsibility and liability,” but Santa Banana, he never apologized for it like a leader should.

Enrile stated that one of the reasons he would want the Mamasapano massacre to be reopened was that he was under detention when the Senate committee of Mrs. Mary Grace Natividad Kelly Poe Llamanzares started the probe.

Enrile wonders why on the day of the massacre, nothing was heard from Malacañang. Was President Aquino, as commander-in-chief of the Armed Forces, in control of the Oplan Exodus?

I don’t know why BS Aquino III refuses to have the Mamasapano massacre investigated again. Doesn’t he realize that by claiming that the reopening of the massacre is “politically motivated” would make the people sus-

BREAKING THE BOC’S LOSING STREAK IT HAS been a rough 2016 for the Bureau of Customs, and it has only been the first two weeks into the new year.

Last Monday, the BoC released a statement that the agency missed its P436.5-billion collection targets for 2015. The agency’s P366.9-billion collection was even down 0.6 percent from 2014. November and December collections also underperformed compared to last year’s. The BoC leadership has less than six months to shape up before it adds a whimpers of sour notes to the Aquino administration’s swan song after the May elections.

The same Monday saw the BoC giving seven district collectors the boot, all of which were said to have military backgrounds and were calling the shots in important ports since 2013. This development carries its own ironic twist, as the Department of Finance itself put the retired generals and former military officers in those plum positions based on their integrity, management skills, and capabilities as part of the Office of Revenue Agency Modernization, in the name of improving revenue collection.

Rumors swirled surround the firings as somehow electionrelated because of allegations of raising campaign money through the notorious tara system, but that’s beside the point that I want to make when it comes to getting BoC personnel to do their jobs as public servants. If there’s anything I’ve seen in BoC’s 2016 so far, it is the call for the Aquino administration—however late in the game they are—to fully implepect that he is hiding something?

I am not surprised, knowing BS Aquino III’s lack of empathy and compassion for the survivors and relatives of the Fallen 44. He did not even care to see the arrival ceremonies at Villamor Air Base, and instead chose to attend the inauguration of a Japanese car manufacturer. Former President Fidel Ramos was there; why didn’t BS Aquino III make the effort to be present?

JPE wants President Aquino to be invited to the probe in Jan. 25, but, I am sure he would not attend.

I’m afraid that the

MINORITY REPORT DANILO SUAREZ ment and enforce Republic Act No. 9335, or the Lateral Attrition Act. The Lateral Attrition Act has been part of the law of the land for more than a decade now and its constitutionality has been upheld by the Supreme Court in 2008. Daang Matuwid, however, has yet to come around this way to improving the collection capabilities of the BoC. This law provides that Customs employees, as well as those from the Bureau of Internal Revenue, who fail to achieve their collection targets by at least 7.5 percent would be dismissed from service. It gives incentives to those who go above and beyond their collection goals.

The Lateral Attrition Act also requires the BoC leadership to submit regular reports on the status of tax collections to the Department of Finance-led Revenue Performance Evaluation Board.

The usual attitude of an ordinary Customs collector towards the law is to fear the repercussions of bad performance. But that shouldn’t be the default attitude of a law-abiding, hardworking, and patriotic public servant. Instead, the leadership in the DoF and the BoC should focus more on the incentives.

Studies in behavioral economics have shown that incentivizing people for a job well done works wonders, and this is also holds true for the civil service. I remember in 2007, the BoC gave

people will never know the truth about the Mamasapano massacre.

This President can never accept his mistakes. *** Why all this fuss over the budget cut of P1 billion by the bi-cameral committee during the final deliberations of the 2016 General Appropriations Act which has already been signed into law by President Aquino?

Some sectors, including the Reproductive Health Law advocates, are beating their breasts and shouting to high heavens that the P1billion budget cut was supposed to be used for the purchase of contra-

3,000 customs employees more than P500 million in incentives for surpassing collections for the previous year. The Lateral Attrition Law gives Customs employees a chance to earn additional and honest earnings, and in the same way gives the bureau a chance to veer off from its notoriety towards the opposite direction.

Not only is the lack of enforcement of the Lateral Attrition Law a loss for commendable Customs employees. It is also the loss of revenue for an administration that has been consistently missing its customs collections targets at a worsening rate. Rumors of campaign fund drives through the bureau would have been nipped in the bud had the administration consistently implemented this law throughout its regime. Incentivizing Customs employees to rally towards a come-from-behind win in the dying seconds of the Aquino administration could might as well break the Bureau of Customs’ losing streak.

That being said, the country should look forward to the new administration fully implementing and enforcing the Lateral Attrition Law. The law needs to realize its potential in improving the government’s revenue generation capabilities and its concerned agencies. In addition, the new administration should also champion the computerization and automation of Customs transactions and procedures as part of the country’s commitment to the Asean integration, which would also bring down smuggling and corruption in the agency. We need to bring the Bureau of Customs to the winning track.

ceptives, like condoms, birth control pills and IUDs for family planning purposes. They fear that the problem of teenage pregnancies will worsen.

But if we look hard enough at the Department of Health’s budget, there remains P1.6 billion that the government can use for the full implementation of the Aquino family planning program. Like what Senate Finance Committee chairperson Loren Legarda said, “the DoH has enough budget to fund for family planning for this year. The 2016 budget for Family Health and Responsible Parenting was reduced

by P1 billion, but the budget for the procurement of contraceptives is not zero. There remains P1.6 billion that can be used for this.”

Aside from P1.6 billion under the 2016 budget, there are other sources of funds for family planning commodities, she added.

In other words, Reproductive Health Law advocates like Senator Pia Cayetano and many others are attacking anti-RH law senators headed by Tito Sotto for nothing.

And that’s the problem, my gulay! Critics fire first before they study and ask questions.

Continued on A11

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OPINION lettertotheeditor@thestandard.com.ph

WIN OR LOSE, TAIWAN’S WOMEN GET A VICTORY

By Adam Minter IF, AS many expect, the Democratic Progressive Party’s Tsai Ing-Wen is elected as Taiwan’s next president this weekend, she’ll become the island’s first female leader. Given that Taiwan granted suffrage to women less than a decade before the 59-year-old Tsai was born, that in itself would be a remarkable achievement.

What’s equally striking is the contrast to mainland China, which regards the island as a renegade province. Not only has modern China never had a female leader, but unless deeply ingrained cultural and bureaucratic barriers are lifted, it’s also unlikely ever to do so.

That picture would seem to contradict early Communist ideals, which embraced a shared revolutionary burden in which women, in Mao Zedong’s words, held up “half the sky.” Like so much else in contemporary China, old ideals have diverged from reality. Not only has no woman ever served in China’s top job, but no woman has ever sat on the Politburo Standing Committee, the seven-member organization that serves as China’s top authority. One step below, two women currently serve in the 25-member Polit-

A beleaguered... From A9 The country cannot afford a Comelec with senior members squabbling in public before an election. It does not only affect the confidence of the electorate that the Commission can conduct the often-abused phrase of fair and honest election but will also open the commission to interference and pressure from powerful people in the country.

The differences between Chairman Bautista and Commissioner Guanzon do not seem to involve differences in the interpretation of law and the rules that govern the administration of the Commission but are personal. Commissioner Guanzon seems to be openly challenging the legal competence of the

Chromatext... From A9 Instant! Ground!”—fills the blank spaces around them.

The entire work was created using only different shades of coffee.

It inspired me to try coffee as a pigment, so back at home, I laid a wash of home-brewed Arabica on a sheet of watercolor paper. The paper took on a lovely warm beige stain and smelled sweet, like coffee with

buro (akin to a US presidential cabinet), a necessary stepping stone to China’s top job. That brings to seven the number of women who have served in the body since 1949.

Like other East Asian societies, including Taiwan, China continues to be influenced by hierarchical Confucian values. Those values, in turn, “are linked to societal lack of support and even disapproval of women’s leadership,” according to a 2013 joint study by the National University of Singapore’s Lee Kuan Yew School of Public Policy and the New York-based Asia Society. For example, during a 2013 panel on women’s leadership at the summer World Economic Forum, a well-known male CEO told the audience: “There must still be division of labor, with men working outside and women at home supporting the family.”

Though few public figures would dare speak so bluntly, the sentiment is far from rare in contemporary China, where single women over the age of 25 are widely known as “leftover,” and highly educated and independently successful women are considered undesirable for marriage.

In the corporate world, stereotyping also plays a dam-

aging role, with women held back from promotion because of fears that they’ll stall their careers to have children. To make matters worse, Chinese law gives white-collar women the right to retire at 55—a full 10 years before men. Thus, even the most talented often fail to get promotions since employers assume that they’re leaving.

Many of these barriers aren’t unique to China, of course; gender discrimination is common in Taiwan, too, especially in the private sector. But the road to political promotion is particularly fraught on the mainland. In rural China, for instance, tradition has women marry into their husband’s villages —a huge disadvantage in a culture where local kinship and patronage networks are crucial to launching a political career.

Indeed, one study posits a “newcomer premium” of 6.6 years to be on the same political footing as a native woman.

The implication—that a woman’s worth reflects her husband’s—echoes throughout China’s political system, further reducing opportunities for advancement. A drinking-and-karaoke culture that remains critical to political networking puts female

officials at a disadvantage.

Above all, while the Communist Party’s promotion system is self-professedly meritocratic, it’s also extremely opaque: The whim of entrenched political patrons often decides who moves up and how fast.

By contrast, Taiwan has actively promoted women’s participation in politics, first reserving seats for them in the legislature as early as 1951.

Both of the island’s main parties have introduced quotas for the number of female candidates they nominate, while the constitution now sets aside 15 percent of the legislature for women. In 1986, women held less than 10 percent percent of the seats in Taiwan’s legislature; today they hold onethird, and head 10 central government departments.

True, gender disparities persist: Men run 76 departments.

But there’s little question that Taiwan has set an example that the mainland—where 64 percent of Chinese women over the age of 15 now participate in the labor force—is going to have to follow at some point. The first step would be admitting that China’s powerful leaders have something to learn from their cross-Strait brethren. Bloomberg

chairman to interpret the law.

Every administration tries its best to appoint allies to the Comelec to ensure favorable decisions for administration candidates in any election. Commissioner Guanzon is a Liberal Party loyalist while Chairman Bautista is a true-blue yellow army soldier.

If the difference of the two is about legal interpretation, this is tolerable. But if the squabble is about something else like division of the loot, then this is something worrisome. The corruption that goes on inside the Comelec is not as well publicized as the corruption in the police, Customs or the DPWH. This is because the Comelec is not as exposed to the public as these government agencies. But talk to any politician and they

will tell you that there is nothing free in the Comelec.

There is this true story about a commissioner who has since retired that just to get an appointment with him would cost a lot. If he agrees to do what you want, the charge will be different. There was also another commissioner, also now retired, handling a protest case. He accepted money from both parties to the case which goes to show that there is no such thing as honor among thieves. This commissioner made millions and is now in happy retirement.

How about our current crop of commissioners? Are they as squeaky clean as we are made to believe? For instance, did they decide on the disqualification of Senator Poe without any pressure

or bribe from anyone? One would hope so, although based on experience, and what I learned in the conduct of the 2010 elections, I doubt this very much. I know that a lot of people also believe in the honesty and integrity of the current chairman but being a loyal follower of the President, it is hard to believe that he would not comply if asked to do something simply because President Aquino is struggling to get his anointed successor elected no matter the price. He is also a president who does not leave anything to chance.

So for starters, has President Aquino been calling Chairman Bautista about election-related matters? It would be nice to get an answer from the good Chairman.

plenty of brown sugar. This is how art informs, teaches, and inspires the creation of new works, in a cycle of birthremix-rebirth.

Among the viewers at the gallery when I visited the show last Jan. 5 were some college students. Sandra, 24, said, “It was interesting to see how different artists interpreted the theme in their own unique ways.” Rose, 17: “Art is a way of communicating on

deeper level. Art and language are inextricable. And it’s fascinating to see how different people use the power of words in their art.”

Not all the works are easy to interpret, understand, or appreciate. Then again, art is relative, it is subjective—one man’s art is another man’s “what the hell is that?”

On Jan. 15, a closing party will be held, to be attended by the exhibit participants, along

with the launching of Krip Yuson’s latest collection of poetry, Islands of Words And Other Poems, released by UST Publishing House.

Chromatext Rebooted closes on Sunday (Jan. 17) —do try to catch it if you haven’t seen it yet. The next one might not be for a long time yet.

Facebook: Jenny Ortuoste, Twitter: @jennyortuoste, Instagram: @jensdecember

The hidden... From A10 *** Politicians make a lot of promises before Election Day, many of which will never come to pass. But, there’s one promise made

by Senator Bongbong Marcos, vice presidential candidate, which I believe is doable.

Bongbong has promised to revive the country’s arts and culture, which form the heart and soul of a nation.

Not since the Marcos regime when former First Lady Imelda Marcos gave priority to Philippine arts and culture has there been anybody in power who gave value and priority to these.

During the years of the Marcos regime, Philippine arts and culture flourished.

There was emphasis on the visual arts, music, literature, stage and even the Filipino movies, sculpture and language. The Cultural Center of the Philippines was precisely built for this and so was the now-neglected Film Center. Philippine Arts and culture flourished to an extent that the country was then known for its culture and arts around the world.

There were even moves to declare ancestral homes as national heritage. Those were the years of national artists in their own area of influence.

But, somehow, the country’s national leaders failed to continue what Imelda did. *** A new audit report on Abaya’s department has shown his failure to build clean comfort rooms in train stations, ports and airports under the P351million “Kayo ang boss ko” toilet improvement project. This, despite the availability of funds.

In other words, despite the fact that the money is there for Abaya to use to improve all those stinking toilets at LRT 1 and 2, and more importantly, at MRT3, Abaya did nothing. The negligence is just criminal!

The KBK is a foreignassisted project, and was named after BS Aquino III’s motto suggesting that the people are his ultimate boss. But this mantra has become more of a joke.

I suggest all LRT and MRT commuters band together and throw Abaya into the polluted Pasig River where he belongs.

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sports sports@thestandard.com.ph

Spieth tops golf money ranking Police arrest football official

Reigning Masters and US Open champion Jordan Spieth topped the golf Digest 50 money list revealed Tuesday while Tiger Woods, who topped the first 13 lists, settled for third place.

Jordan Spieth celebrates on the 18th green after putting for birdie to go 30 under and win the final round of the Hyundai Tournament of Champions at the Plantation Course at Kapalua Golf Club in Lahaina, Hawaii. AFP

PoLIce in Guatemala on Tuesday captured the former head of the country’s football federation Brayan Jimenez, wanted by the United States in the FIFA bribery scandal, an official said.

Jimenez, 61, was detained in an apartment in a posh suburb of Guatemala city, the head of the national civil police force Nery Ramos told reporters.

As well as being president of the Guatemalan soccer federation, Jimenez was a member of the FIFA committee for fair play and social responsibility.

Ramos said Jimenez “was in a bad physical state” having been on the run since December 3 when US courts issued a warrant for his extradition.

He was one of 16 Latin American football officials indicted by US authorities.

They are suspected of taking bribes to grant marketing rights for major FIFA fixtures, violating US laws on wire fraud, racketeering and money laundering.

Another Guatemalan, the federation’s former secretary general Hector Trujillo, 62, was arrested in Florida last month. He was freed on bail last week.

The Guatemalan courts must now decide whether to extradite Jimenez.

The scandal over allegations of multimillion-dollar bribes has led to the suspension of numerous other top officials including Sepp Blatter, longtime president of FIFA. AFP

Team owners pave Rams’ return to Los Angeles NFL team owners approved the return of the Los Angeles Rams from St. Louis on Tuesday, relocating the club to end a 21-year NFL drought for the Southern california metropolis.

The NFL announced that owners voted 30-2 to support Rams owner Stan Kroenke’s move for the 2016 season and proposal for a 70,000-seat stadium in suburban Inglewood, a $1.86 billion complex that could crack $2 billion before its 2019 completion.

“This is the hardest undertaking I’ve ever faced,” Kroenke said. “It is a difficult process and it is bittersweet.

We understand the emotions of our fans. It’s not easy to do these things.

It’s purposefully made hard.”

Three teams were looking to relocate to Los Angeles as early as next season, but while the Rams will move for the 2016 campaign, another team could join them later.

The San Diego chargers have up to one year to decide if they want

to join them in the new stadium. If not, the oakland Raiders then will get a year to decide about making the same move.

While LA fans were overjoyed, St. Louis NFL supporters were heartbroken, stung again after luring the Rams from LA in 1994 after having lost the cardinals to Arizona in 1988.

“The NFL ignored the facts, the loyalty of St. Louis fans who supported the team through far more downs than ups and a strong market and vi-

able plan for a new stadium,” St. Louis mayor Francis Slay said.

But NFL commissioner Roger Goodell has long warned cities that modern venues mean more than loyal ticketbuyer support when it comes to providing proper support for NFL teams.

“Relocation is a painful process,” Goodell said. “It was a difficult decision for the ownership but we also recognized this was our opportunity.” AFP

Woods, whose run to 14 major titles from 1997 to 2008 boosted prize money and television rights fees, has struggled with injuries and turned 40 two weeks ago with a back injury and no timetable for his return to competition.

World number one Spieth, 22, made more than $53 million in combined winnings and endorsement deals to top the magazine’s list of 2015 golf revenue producers, with $30 million from sponsor Under Armour boosting Spieth’s total.

Spieth had five PGA triumphs, including the two major wins.

At $48.5 million with only $551,000 in prize money, Woods trailed 45-year-old Phil Mickelson and finished just ahead of 26-year-old Northern Ireland star Rory McIlroy.

Arnold Palmer, the 86-year-old legend whose popularity and skill made him a pioneer in golf endorsement deals and branding, was fifth with fellow retired icon Jack Nicklaus sixth.

Australia’s Jason Day was seventh with American Rickie Fowler eighth.

Japan’s Hideki Matsuyama was 22nd, 12 spots ahead of countryman Ryo Ishikawa.

New Zealand’s Lydia Ko, the LPGA teen star who dominated the season, was 47th, one spot behind Kiwi men’s golfer Danny Lee and one ahead of South Korean men’s standout Bae SangMoon. AFP

20-year-old Russian grandmaster dies after presumed stroke RUSSIAN chess grandmaster Ivan Bukavshin, who was ranked in the world’s top 100 players, has died of a presumed stroke at the age of just 20, the Russian chess federation said on Tuesday.

“Ivan Bukavshin unfortunately died in the night,” chess federation spokesman Kirill Zangalis told AFP. “It is 98 percent sure that he died from a stroke.”

It was not immediately clear if he died late Monday or early Tuesday.

Zangalis said he had last seen Bukavshin in late December and that the 20-year-old had not showed any sign of poor health. The cause of the stroke remains unknown.

“He felt unwell and tried to get up,” Zangalis said of the multi-time Russian and european junior champion. “He fell.”

Bukavshin, who was ranked 92nd by the World chess Federation, has been listed as high as 5th in the world among juniors. AFP

Sand-trapped. Peugeot’s driver Stephane Peterhansel and co-driver Jean Paul Cottret are stuck in the sand during the Stage 9 of the 2016 Dakar Rally around Belen, Argentina. AFP

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sports sports@thestandard.com.ph

Rio mayor insists Olympics will weather Brazil crisis The mayor of 2016 Olympic host city Rio de Janeiro insisted Tuesday authorities had the finances to avoid disruption to the summer Games despite Brazil’s recession.

“We have enough money to make sure everything is presented as it is supposed to be, as you can see here,” Mayor eduardo Paes told reporters, after unveiling an Olympic basketball court.

Brazil is suffering from a deep recession and soaring inflation -- a contrast to the boom times of 2009, when Rio won the right to host the Olympics.

The International Monetary Fund expects Brazil will stay in recession in 2016 and the World Bank has forecast a 2.5 percent contraction this year.

Paes insisted the crisis “is not affecting the finishing of the (sporting) installations” in the city’s Olympic park, however. he said Brazil would not “plunder” public resources to fund the Games.

“We are not China, we are not england. We are not a rich country. Wherever we can cut the budget, we will,” he said.

“The playing fields will be perfect and the spectators’ experience will be perfect, but they will not see a stadium like the Bird’s Nest,” the eyecatching venue at Beijing’s 2008 games, he said.

The total budget for the 2016 Games is $10 billion, with 60 percent of that coming from private capital, he said.

Anger over public spending on events such as the Olympics and Brazil’s 2014 football World Cup fuelled street riots across the country in 2013 and 2014.

Paes was presenting the Carioca 1 Arena, a 16,000seat ground that will host the Olympic and Paralympic basketball tournament.

It was the second venue to be unveiled as finished in the city’s Olympic park, after the handball court. AFP

Novak Djokovic of Serbia practices on Rod Laver Arena in preparation for the Australian Open in Melbourne. AFP

Djokovic eyes ‘Golden Slam’ Novak Djokovic is hitting ever greater heights ahead of the australian open—posing problems for his rivals, and raising distant hopes of the first ever men’s “Golden Slam”.

Picking up where he left off after a blistering 2015, Djokovic destroyed Rafael Nadal in last week’s Qatar Open final, in a performance the Spaniard called “stratospheric”.

“I played against a player who did everything perfect. I know nobody playing tennis like this ever,” said the 14-time Grand Slam-winner.

No male player, and only Steffi Graf on the women’s side, has ever achieved the “Golden Slam”: winning all four major titles and Olympic singles gold in a single year.

Last season Djokovic fell just one victory short of the first calendaryear Grand Slam since Rod Laver in 1969, after losing the French Open final to Stan Wawrinka.

Acknowledging his form, the 28-year-old said in Doha: “I’m hoping that I can actually peak and

play as well as I did today in Melbourne.”

A strong performance looks likely in Melbourne, Djokovic’s most successful Grand Slam where he has won five out of five finals, including last year against Andy Murray.

But the 10-time major champion will not be looking too far beyond the year’s opening Grand Slam, which starts on Monday.

“My thoughts are only directed to Melbourne and what I need to do there,” he said.

- ‘It’s a huge challenge’ -Murray, who will be in the bottom half of the men’s draw and seeded to face Djokovic in the January 31 final, sees the Serb as a huge challenge.

“What Novak is doing... last year he had an incredible year,” he said. “Final of every tournament bar one.

“It’s been tough playing in an

era with Novak, Roger (Federer) and Rafa (Nadal) but at the same time to have guys like that to always be trying to catch up to, to have to improve to try and beat them, it’s a huge challenge.”

Murray carries the baggage of losing four Melbourne finals— three of them to Djokovic—but is continuing his dogged pursuit of a breakthrough.

“I’m doing everything I can to try and win here,” said the 28-year-old Scot, who has promised to leave early if his wife Kim Sears gives birth.

“My number one goal is to try and win here. It’d mean a lot because of how many times I’ve been close.”

Federer, as the third seed on rankings, could face either Djokovic or Murray in the semifinals as the 17-time Grand Slam champion looks to win his first major title since Wimbledon 2012.

- Classic final -The Swiss maestro has won four Australian Opens, but lost to Djokovic at last year’s Wimbledon and US Open finals. At 34, he is running out of

time to add to his all-time record haul of Grand Slam titles.

“Of course, Novak is the favourite for the Australian Open.

Plus he’s played well there historically,” Federer said last week.

Nadal has won once in Australia, over Federer in a classic five-set final in 2009, and has had some of his career low points with tournament-ending injuries in Melbourne.

But he maintains he can do well as he pursues his comeback from a disappointing 2015, when he failed to any Grand Slam titles.

“I am playing well, and I’m gonna keep working hard to try to be ready for Australia. And I think I will be. I am motivated for it,” the Spanish left-hander said.

Switzerland’s Stan Wawrinka will also be a contender after he conquered Djokovic on the way to winning the 2014 Australian Open, and beat him again in last year’s French Open final.

The world number four tuned up by beating Croatia’s Borna Coric for a third straight Chennai Open title in India last week. AFP

Messi named ambassador for Dubai Expo 2020 FReSh from being awarded a record fifth Ballon d’Or, Lionel Messi was on Tuesday named as global ambassador for the Dubai World expo in 2020.

“Lionel Messi’s performances on the football pitch bring people together, and as a result his influence reaches far beyond it,” said the Dubai event’s general manager Reem alhashimy in a statement. “he is the ideal person to be our first

global ambassador. he overcame youthful health challenges to achieve his dreams of international excellence through hard work; making him an inspiration. “he is perfectly placed to reach out to young people around the world, bringing them together to join us as we work towards hosting our World expo in 2020.”

Dubai plans to recruit other ambassadors for its world fair from a variety of

fields including sport, arts, music, culture and the media.

Argentina and Barcelona superstar Messi, 28, is widely regarded as one of the top footballers of all time, and by many as the very best.

On Monday he was picked ahead of great rival Cristiano Ronaldo to win FIFA’s Ballon d’Or for the world player of the year for 2015.

he previously won that award four times in a row from 2009 to 2012. he has also won many trophies with his Spanish team including the Champions League four times, the Spanish league seven times, and three Spanish Cups.

At international level, he helped his country win the Olympic Games gold medal in 2008, although they lost to Germany in the 2014 World Cup final. AFP

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SPORTS sports@thestandard.com.ph

Pacquiao vs Mayweather named ‘Event of the Year’

By Ronnie Nathanielsz

WHILE the May 2, 2015 showdown between eightdivision world champion Manny Pacquiao and unbeaten pound-for-pound king Floyd Mayweather Jr. may have been a disappointment to fight fans, who expected a classic encounter, it was still named “Event of the Year” by the World Boxing Council in a fight the American won by a unanimous 12-round decision.

Mayweather was also to be bestowed with the “Lifetime Achievement Award” for his undefeated record of 49-0, which equaled the mark set by heavyweight champion Rocky Marciano.

The award was announced by WBC president Mauricio Sulaiman, who had earlier released the process to choose the best of 2015 in different categories.

The amazing comeback of Francisco Vargas, who knocked out champion

Takashi Miura of Japan in the ninthround of an action-packed bout that swung one way and then the other was chosen as “Fight of the Year.”

Kevin Iole of Yahoo Sports wrote: “Back and forth, Miura and Vargas pounded each other in a compelling war filled with clean power punches that tested each man’s will to the fullest extent and culminated in one of the great comebacks in boxing history.

“Vargas’ ninth-round knockout of Miura to win a junior lightweight world title was perhaps the most dramatic comeback since the late Diego Corrales used a legendary 10thround rally to stop Jose Luis Castillo and unify lightweight titles in 2005.”

Middleweight champion Saul

“Canelo” Alvarez and Interim champion Gennady Golovkin shared honors as “Champions of the Year,” while Alvarez’s spectacular third-round KO of veteran James Kirkland was named “Knockout of the Year.”

It was described as “an all-out war in the Lone Star State in which Canelo stopped Kirkland with a picture-perfect kayo in front of over 30,000 fans at Minute Maid Park in Houston, Texas.”

The end came at 2:19 of the third round, courtesy of a dead-on right hand from El Canelo that spun Kirkland like a top and dropped him into an immobilized clump. Kirkland had previously been down twice in the fight, once in the first round and once in the third, before the final KO.

Llamas eyes 2-title romp TRACY Llamas sets out for another two-title romp against a field toughened up by a slew of local aces as she banners the field in the alawan Pawnshop-Palawan Express Pera Padala regional tennis circuit presented by Slazenger second leg beginning today at the Dumalag Tennis Club in Dumalag, Capiz.

Llamas toppled Louise Clavaton twice to sweep the girls’ 16- and 18-and-under crowns with the La Carlota, Negros Occidental ace all primed up for a repeat in this week’s staging of the event sponsored by Palawan Pawnshop and hosted by Mayor Amado Eriberto Castro Jr. Rising players from Negros, San Carlos, La Carlota, Pontevedra, Bacolod, Kalibo, Cabatuan, Passi, Roxas and Dao have also signed up for the five-day Group 2 tournament backed by Slazenger as the official ball of the age-group circuit and the Open Festival.

Clavaton is also in the fold, eager to get back at Llamas while the likes of Nina Sumacolub, Ann Mariz Singson, Milca Dumaniel, Jane Diangco, Avril Suace and Shanaiah Faegane are also out to stamp their class in the premier category of the event, the second leg of a 52-stage, nationwide, year-long circuit.

“We expect some reversals and a number of new faces to emerge, not only in this tournament but also in the other legs of the circuit,” said Palawan Pawnshop president/CEO Bobby Castro. “The tour has continued to generate interest from the youth which only inspires up to keep the circuit going and provide a venue for these youngsters where they could hone their talent and skills in a sport where we can be at par with the best.”

US boxer Floyd Mayweather Jr. (right) and Manny Pacquiao of the Philippines fight during their welterweight unification boxing bout which was named Event of the Year at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada. AFP

LeBron...

From A16 as the Spurs improved to 34-6.

Veteran center Tim Duncan added 14 points and nine rebounds with Boris Diaw supplying 12 points.

French star Parker, 33, described his performance as a blast from the past.

“Just young Tony, I guess,” Parker said modestly.

“It’s very rare, just one of those nights,” said Parker, who had his highest-scoring game since finishing with 32 points against Chicago last season.

Spurs coach Gregg Popovich revealed he had placed the onus of the scoring on Parker during the game.

“At the start of the third quarter, I told him, ‘We’re going to need you to score. You’ve got all kinds of opportunities.’”

Kobe limps out Meanwhile, Kobe Bryant’s

Achilles injury flared again as the Los Angeles Lakers ended a fourgame losing streak with a 95-91 win over the New Orleans Pelicans on Tuesday.

Bryant, who had missed Sunday’s loss to the Utah Jazz with an Achilles problem, limped out of the contest in the second quarter after scoring seven points in 16 minutes.

The NBA legend, who is retiring at the end of the season, missed all five of his three-point attempts before exiting.

Guard Lou Williams was the hero for the Lakers, scoring 19 points and supplying eight assists.

Williams also made a crucial late basket with 18.5 seconds left to give the Lakers a three-point lead.

Jordan Clarkson finished with 18 points for the Lakers and point guard D’Angelo Russell added 13 points.

Tyreke Evans top-scored with 21 points for the Pelicans. AFP

Athletics’ coach eyes long period of training for SEAG A NATIONAL team will be formed as early as possible and will have a long period of preparation for the 2017 Southeast Asian Games.

Jojo Posadas, who is back as a coach of the Philippine Amateur Track and Field Association, said this after he formally signed up for a job he last held 10 years ago.

“We will have two years.

Maaga ang builup,” said Posadas, who was asked to return last July by Renato Unso, Patafa secretary general.

Posadas, who is the husband and coach of former track ace Elma Muros, are among the four new coaches, who will help the national team. The others are former track and field stars Arniel Ferrera, Rene Herrera and John Lozada.

He said he will be around to help identify new talents for the national pool and get potentials based on their rankings.

For the last 10 years, Posadas dabbled into coaching collegiate athletes and helped Jose Rizal University win five titles in the National Collegiate Athletic Association, and with University of the East in the University Athletic Association of the Philippines with his wife.

Among the outstanding talents Posadas discovered and coached were Mercedita Manipol, Fidel Gallenero, Jesson Ramil Cid and Christopher Ulboc, who was a gold medalist in the steeplechase of the recent Singapore SEA Games.

Posadas said he will encourage newcomers to come in and train with the national pool.

He is eyeing the inclusion of Far Eastern University’s Kenny Gonzales, a pole vaulter, along with Jose Rizal University’s Dave Albarico, UE’s Leslie Angco and six-time discus throw champion John Mantua. Peter Atencio

Cyclo-cross. Rider Calum Fernie reacts after finishing the Junior Men’s Championship of the 2016 British Cycling National Cyclo-Cross Championships at Shrewsbury Sports Village on in Shrewsbury, Central England. The sport of cyclo-cross, featuring lightweight bikes with off-road tyres, has dramatically increased in popularity over the past few years. AFP

T H U R S DAY : J A N U A R Y 14 , 2 0 16

A15

SPORTS sports@thestandard.com.ph

LOTTO RESULTS

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

Guiao slapped a P35k fine GlobalPort’s Stanley Pringle loses the ball to the defense of Alaska’s Calvin Abueva in a PBA Philippine Cup semifinal game won by the Aces, 118-89.

Alaska Aces optimistic, but aware of tough task ahead

By Jeric Lopez

FOR the third time in the last four conferences and for the second straight time in the Philippine Cup, Alaska has made the finals of the Philippine Basketball Association.

Following heartbreaks in their last two finals appearances, the Aces, who are currently waiting who it will take on in the last phase of the tournament, are looking forward to the challenge ahead in the big stage as they will have yet another chance to bag a championship.

Alaska team owner Wilfred Uytengsu is optimistic of his team’s chances and he certainly wants nothing more than to hoist the coveted All-Filipino trophy.

‘’I would want nothing more than to present championship rings for our next AllFilipino win,’’ said the jubilant Uytengsu right after his Aces finished off inexperienced GlobalPort in the semifinals Tuesday night.

It was another day in the office for Alaska in its close-out game as it completely outclassed GlobalPort, 118-89, in Game 5 to wrap the semis series at 4-1 and barge to yet another finals appearance.

This is Alaska’s 29th stint in the finals, 10th in the Philippine Cup. It will shoot for its 15th overall championship in the league.

Following a surprising Game 1 loss against the Batang Pier in the semifinal opener, the top-seeded Aces got their bearings immediately and dominated the series with ease the rest of the way.

Alaska is now playing the waiting game, either facing rival and defending champion San Miguel Beer or Rain or Shine, who are currently tied at 2-2 in their fierce best-of-

seven semis clash, in the finale.

Though optimistic and confident, Uytengsu admitted that it will be a tough task for his team in the finals whoever they face between the two powerhouses fighting for the last ticket in the championship series. ‘’We’re going to play who wins in that series and either way, it’s going to be hard,’’ said Uytengsu. ‘’To be the best, you have to beat the best so whoever comes out there, what matters is for us to win.’’

Alaska coach Alex Compton echoed the sentiments of his boss on what lies ahead for the Aces in the finals. ‘’I really think they’re both excellent teams,’’ said Compton, referring to San Miguel and Rain or Shine. ‘’We just have to be ready for the finals and be at our best and play at a high level consistently.’’

The Aces will also try to end their 15-year All-Filipino title drought in the process.

Alaska will head the finals with a lot of momentum and a completely healthy line-up.

Best Center listup on

2016 IMSA Elite Games THE inaugural IMSA Elite Mind SYLVIA LOPEZ G a m e s ALEJANDRO (IEMG) will be held February 25, to March 3, 2016, in Huai’an City, Jiangsu Province, China. The venue has not been announced yet.

All five members of IMSA will be featured: Bridge, Chess Draughts, Go, and Xiangqi.

This new event replaces the previous Sport Accord World Mind Games (SAWMG) held in December from 2011 to 2014.

The winning gold, silver and bronze medalists from the Bermuda Bowl (Poland, Sweden, USA2) and Venice Cup (France, USA2, England) together with the Chinese team will be invited to compete in this tournament.

-oOoThe Importance of Preemptive Bids I had written in my previous articles

how important it was to use the tool of preemptive bids.

Two days ago when I was playing on Bridge Base Online such a deal came up.

The deal:

North Malik ♠AQ1084 ♥987 ♦K43 ♣K7

West Sylgen 1 ♠95 ♥632 ♦AQJ10986 ♦2 ♣52 South Del Higny ♠9762 ♥KQ9 ♦75 ♣QJ84

West Pass 3♦ 4♥

North 1♠ Pass Pass

East Dbl 3NT Pass

South Pass Pass Dbl

I was the dealer sitting West and I preemptive three diamonds.

West 3♦ East Edassk ♠KJ3 ♥AJ104 ♣A10963

North Pass

East Pass

South Pass

In the other table, the bidding proceeded in this manner.

West Pass 3♦ 4♥

RAIN or Shine coach Yeng Guiao was penalized P35,000 for bashing officiating, as well as flashing a middle finger in the Elasto Painters’ 105-92 Game 4 loss to San Miguel Beer in the Philippine Basketball Association Philippine Cup semifinals Monday night.

Guiao’s fines include P20,000 for statements detrimental to the league, P10,000 for gesturing a dirty finger in the game and P5,000 for leaving the bench and involving himself in an altercation.

For the same offense of leaving the team’s bench in an altercation, Painters’ coach Mike Buendia and assistant team manager Jay Legacion were likewise slapped P5,000.

Moreover, San Miguel swingman Arwind Santos and Rain or Shine center Jewel Ponferrada were also meted with the same amount of P5,000 for committing Flagrant 1 fouls.

Lastly, Rain or Shine star Paul Lee was also fined P1,000 for committing his first technical foul of the season.

Overall, a total of P56,000 fine was handed out by the league for Game 4 of the heated San Miguel-Rain or Shine semis war.

Guiao boldly said to the press the he believes his team would hardly have a chance given how the games are being officiated.

“Wala kaming pag-asa lalo kung ganu’n ang tawagan,’’ said Guiao following Game 4. Jeric Lopez

North 1♠ Pass Pass

East Dbl 3NT Pass

South Pass Pass Dbl

My preempt silenced all players.

I made three diamonds. The double heart contract went down two. On this last board we won the match.

Comments to: sylvia.alejandro@yahoo

NEW registrants are still being accepted for the three ongoing basketball clinics of the BEST Center (Basketball Efficiency and Scientific Training Center).

The Ateneo courts host Saturday-only clinics for Preparatory Level and Levels 1 to 5 from 8:30 to 11:30 a.m.

The clinics, sponsored by Milo, are also being held at the Xavier School gym from 1 to 4 p.m. for classes in Preparatory Level and Levels 1 to 3.

Sunday classes are set from 1 to 4 p.m. at the Starmall in Alabang for students in Preparatory Level and Levels 1 to 3.

Lady...

the Red Spikers, who needed one hour and 41 minutes to finish off the Chiefs.

Hariel Doguna added 11 points for the Generals, who will meet the Red Spikers on Thursday.

The Altas, who got 10 points from Manuel Doliente and John Patrick Ramos, will meet the third-ranked College of St. Benilde Blazers in the fight for the other finals slot.

In the junior playoffs, Darwin Salopaso had 13 points in leading Perpetual Help to a 25-18, 27-25, 17-25, 25-13 smashing of EAC-ICA.

From A16

Howard Mojica showed the way with 30 points as the Generals put away the Perpetual Help Altas, 21-25, 25-20, 25-17, 25-19.

They then found themselves in a semis confrontation with the San Beda Red Spikers, who prevailed in a playoff for the fourth seeding with the Arellano University Chiefs, bouncing back from a third-set loss with a 25-22, 25-20, 22-25, 25-22 win.

Mark Enciso had 19 hits for

A16

T H U R S DAY : J A N U A R Y 14 , 2 0 16 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

LeBron James (23) of the Cleveland Cavaliers handles the ball against Chandler Parsons of the Dallas Mavericks at the American Airlines Center in Dallas, Texas. AFP

LeBron to the rescue as Cavaliers edge Mavs DALLAS—Lebron James scored 27 points as the Cleveland Cavaliers snatched a thrilling overtime victory from the Dallas Mavericks on Tuesday.

James led the scoring for Cleveland after the Cavaliers had trailed for much of the contest as the Mavericks raced into an early 23-7 lead.

The pivotal moment in a 110-107 win for the Cavaliers -- their eighth consecutive victory -- came with 13 seconds to go in overtime, when Kyrie Irving nailed a long-range threepointer to seal the win.

It capped a remarkable

transformation in fortunes for the Cavaliers, who struggled to find the basket all night, with Irving and Kevin Love both missing a succession of attempts.

Cleveland’s winning streak might have come to an end had Dallas veteran Dirk Nowitzki not squandered a gilt-edged opportunity in the closing seconds of regulation.

Nowitzki looked certain to score after finding him-

self isolated with Cleveland guard Iman Shumpert. But Shumpert managed to strip Nowitzki and the chance was gone.

A nerve-jangling final quarter saw the lead change 10 times, while the game was tied three times in the final two minutes.

Cleveland now lead the Eastern Conference standings with a record of 27-9, ahead of the Toronto Raptors (24-15).

- Durant late show In Minneapolis, Kevin Durant underscored his importance to the Oklahoma City Thunder once again with a 30-point haul

which helped see off the Minnesota Timberwolves.

Durant reeled off 12 points in the final three minutes to steer the Thunder safely to a 101-96 victory which left them with the third best record (27-12) in the Western Conference behind Golden State and the San Antonio Spurs.

However, Durant was unhappy that he left it late to deliver the goods.

“I’ve got to get it going there in the first three quarters,” Durant said.

“Can’t just come out and try to save the game and make shots in the fourth. I’ve got to get it

Pacman’s fight with Floyd is top event

Alaska aware of tough task ahead

TURN TO A14

TURN TO A15

going early.”

Russell Westbrook added 22 points for Oklahoma City, narrowly missing out on a triple double with 11 assists and seven rebounds.

San Antonio meanwhile extended their winning streak to nine games after a scintillating 31-point performance from Tony Parker helped the Spurs to a 109-99 victory over the Detroit Pistons.

LaMarcus Aldridge weighed in with 22 points and 13 rebounds while shooting guard Manu Ginobili finished with 15 points and five rebounds Turn to A14

Lady Blazers advance

By Peter Atencio THE College of St. Benilde Lady Blazers leaned on the big plays of Janine Navarro and Ranya Musa as they came up with a 16-25, 25-19, 25-11, 25-21, stopping of Perpetual Help on Tuesday at The Arena in San Juan.

With the Lady Altas’ former assistant coach Macky Carino calling the shots, the Lady Blazers unleashed well-timed shots to get past their rivals and advance to the last phase of the 91st National Collegiate Athletic Association women’s volleyball stepladder semifinals Navarro and Musa led the Lady Blazers with 15 points each, while Jeanette Panaga had 11 markers.

The Lady Altas tried to force a decider with a closing 10-5 rally in the fourth frame to move ahead, 16-15, on a block/kill by Ma. Lourdes Clemente on Panaga.

But the Lady Blazers refused to crumble and banked on Carino’s familiarity of the Altas’ system of play to turn the tables in their favor.

Meanwhile, the defending champion Emilio Aguinaldo College Generals earned the no. 1 seeding in the Final Four semifinals in the men’s division.

Turn to A15

B1

THURSDAY: JANUARY 14, 2016

RAY S. EÑANO EDITOR

RODERICK T. DELA CRUZ ASSISTANT EDITOR

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

BUSINESS

Cloud partners. Globe Telecom teams up with AppDirect, a global commerce platform for selling cloud services, to provide Philippine enterprises and small and medium enterprises access to cloud-based solutions and applications. Shown sealing the partnership are Globe president and chief executive Ernest Cu (second from left) and AppDirect Asia regional director Lincoln Jack Lincoln (second from right). With them are Globe IT enabled services group vice president for sales Rey Lugtu (left) and AppDirect senior account manager for North America Chris Messick.

SMC eyes 2 foreign beer brands

By Jenniffer B. Austria

Philippine conglomerate San Miguel Corp. is interested in acquiring European beer brands Peroni and Grolsch owned by SABMiller Plc. of the United Kingdom.

“Yes we will join,” San Miguel president and chief operating officer Ramon Ang said in a text message, when asked if San Miguel would join the bidding for the well-known beer brands, which were being sold to obtain regulatory approval for the merger of Anheuser-Busch InBev NV and SABMiller Plc. San Miguel, the largest beer manufacturer in the Philippines, will join other big beer and beverage companies in Asia that are also interested in the two brands.

Anheuser Busch InBev SA, the world’s largest brewer, earlier offered to buy SABMiller for 71 billion pounds or $100 billion.

Reports said aside from San Miguel, other Asian companies planning to submit bids of more than $3 billion to acquire the two beer brands included Asahi Group Holdings Ltd. of Japan and Thai Beverage PCL of Thailand.

San Miguel, through unit San Miguel Brewery Inc., sells nine of 10 beers in the Philippines.

The conglomerate, which started as a beer company 125 years ago, has diversified into various growth industries including infrastructure, power generation, mining, oil manufacturing, real estate, banking and telecommunications.

Several Philippine companies made significant overseas acquisition in 2015 to

boost their businesses.

Among them are Universal Robina Corp., which acquired New Zealand’s snack food business Griffin for $576 million; Monde Nissin which bought UKbased Quorn Foods for $835.6 million; Emperador Inc. which purchased Spanish brandy Fundador and three other liquor brands from Beam Suntory for P13.8 billion; and Jollibee Foods Corp., which acquired a 40-percent stake in US-based burger chain Smashburger for $99.47 million.

First Metro Investments Corp. executive vice president Justino Juan Ocampo said he expected more Filipino companies to make cross-border acquisitions, given the healthy balance sheets of local companies and access to domestic acquisition financing.

Share price of San Miguel surged 15.4 percent to P60 on Wednesday.

Exchange ordered to seize LBC stocks, assets

By Jenniffer B. Austria THE Philippine Stock Exchange said Monday it received an order from the Makati regional trial court to seize the stocks and personal properties of LBC Express Holdings Inc. The order stemmed from the P1.8-billion collection case filed by state-run Philippine Deposit Insurance Corp. against the LBC Group of the Araneta family.

PSE said in a memorandum posted on its Web site the notice of garnishment involved all goods, effects, stocks, interests in stocks and shares and any other personal properties of the LBC Express and affiliates in the possession of the exchange or under control of the exchange in the amount of P1.82 billion.

“Said notice of garnishment further notified the exchange not to deliver, transfer or otherwise dispose of such property to any person or entity other than the deputy sheriff of RTC Makati Branch 143,” the PSE said.

Araneta Properties Inc., another Araneta-led listed company, said it had not received any notice of garnishment from any court or tribunal relating to company shares owned by LBC Express.

“In the event that we receive a notice of garnishment, said garnishment will have no material effect on ARA’s business, operations and financial condition,” Araneta Properties said.

“There will only be an effect if such garnishment results in the legal transfer of the concerned

ARA shares from LBC to another party. In such event, there may be a change in the list of stockholders of ARA,” it said.

The Makati court sheriff last week garnished six bank accounts of courier company LBC Express, one of the country’s leading courier and freight forwarding services companies. The six bank accounts had a combined balance of P9.976 million.

PDIC is seeking payment from the LBC Group, following the closure of LBC Development Bank in September 2011. PDIC, the appointed receiver and liquidator of LBC Development Bank, said the defendants owed P1.8 billion.

LBC Development is the parent company of listed company LBC Express Holdings, which in turn owns LBC Express Inc.

LBC Express earlier said while the initial garnishment had no immediate material impact on business operations, further garnishments of its bank accounts could pose some administrative and operational challenges in terms of payment to suppliers and business partners.

LBC Express said it advised its customers, suppliers, lessors and other counter-parties to coordinate with the company to ensure continued payments and services.

LBC Express said it would continue to exert utmost effort to fully attend to the needs of customers and ensure regular ongoing operations.

The company said it also commenced the process of communicating with its bankers.

PSe comPoSite

index

Closing January 13, 2016

8000 8340 7880 7420 6960 6500

6,494.13 163.58

PeSo-dollar rate

Closing JANUARY 13, 2016 48.00 46.00 45.00

P47.545

44.00

CLOSE

43.00

HIGH P47.350 LOW P47.550AVERAGE P47.457 VOLUME 858.800M

P417.00-P627.00 LPG/11-kg tank P33.30-P40.75 Unleaded Gasoline

o

il P PriceS today

P20.40-P23.80 Diesel P34.55-P39.15 Kerosene Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas Wednesday, January 13, 2016

F oreign e xchange r ate Currency

Unit

US Dollar

Peso

United States

Dollar

1.000000

47.3250

Japan

Yen

0.008494

0.4020

UK

Pound

1.444700

68.3704

Hong Kong

Dollar

0.128848

6.0977

Switzerland

Franc

0.997506

47.2070

Canada

Dollar

0.700918

Singapore

Dollar

0.695459

32.9126

Australia

Dollar

0.697885

33.0274

Bahrain

Dinar

2.661769

125.9682

Saudi Arabia

Rial

0.266610

12.6173

Brunei

Dollar

0.693049

32.7985

33.1709

Indonesia

Rupiah

0.000072

0.0034

Thailand

Baht

0.027533

1.3030

UAE

Dirham

0.272301

12.8866

Euro

Euro

1.085700

51.3808

Korea

Won

0.000827

0.0391

China

Yuan

0.152077

7.1970

India

Rupee

0.014951

0.7076

Malaysia

Ringgit

0.226809

10.7337

New Zealand

Dollar

0.652997

Taiwan

Dollar

0.029980

30.9031 1.4188 Source: PDS Bridge

THURSDAY: JANUARY 14, 2016

B2

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

The STandard BuSineSS daily STockS review Wednesday, January 13, 2016

52 Weeks

Previous

High Low 7.88 75.3 124.4 107 56.5 2.49 30.45 10.4 2.6 890 1.01 100 1.46 30.5 91.5 137 361.2 57 180 1700 124 3.26 47 5 2.36 15.3 89 148 20.6 85 36 65.8 2.97 4.14 21.5 21.6 11.96 9.13 11.8 2.89 31.8 109 20.75 15.3 9.4 0.98 241 4 74 33.9 90 13.26 293 5 5.25 12.98 15 7.03 3.4 4.5 6.3 7.34 238 3.28 0.315 2.65 234 1.3 2.17 0.59 59.2 30.05 2.16 7.39 823.5 10.2 84 3.35 4.92 0.66 1455 7.5 76 9.25 0.85 17.3 5.53 0.0670 2.31 1.61 84.9 974 1.66 156 0.710 0.435 0.510 10.5 1.99 1.75 0.375 41.4 5.6 5.59 1.44

STOCKS

Close

High

Low

FINANCIAL 2.25 2.05 45.9 45.2 98.90 96.00 84.90 83.10 36.4 35.95 2.50 2.45 17.2 17.08 7.00 6.60 1.84 1.61 630.00 600.00 0.440 0.440 73.95 71 0.91 0.91 15.76 15.68 49.90 49.50 99 98.9 274 272.4 32.1 31.9 135.4 134.1 1328.00 1328.00 56.95 56.50 1.6 1.54 INDUSTRIAL 35.9 Aboitiz Power Corp.

39.95 40.5 39.95 1.11 Agrinurture Inc. 3.92 4.4 4 1.86 Alsons Cons.

1.25 1.28 1.23 7.92 Asiabest Group 10.08 10.2 9.92 40.3 Bogo Medelin 49.4 38.65 38.6 32 C. Azuc De Tarlac 95.00 100.00 100.00 15.32 Century Food 15 15 14.96 20.2 Conc. Aggr. ‘A’ 34 35 35 10.08 Cirtek Holdings (Chips) 17.78 18.2 17.78 29.15 Concepcion 41.95 44 41.95 1.5 Crown Asia 2.2 2.24 2.11 1.5 Da Vinci Capital 1.8 1.87 1.8 10.72 Del Monte 11.92 11.9 11.52 9.55 DNL Industries Inc. 7.040 7.460 7.300 9.04 Emperador 8.36 8.80 8.36 6.02 Energy Devt. Corp. (EDC) 5.55 5.76 5.56 8.86 EEI 5.35 5.35 5.32 1.06 Euro-Med Lab 1.66 1.66 1.66 20.2 First Gen Corp.

20.15 20.7 20.2 71.5 First Holdings ‘A’ 60.3 60.3 59 13.86 Ginebra San Miguel Inc. 11.80 11.60 11.60 13.24 Holcim Philippines Inc. 13.90 14.30 14.30 5.34 Integ. Micro-Electronics 5.1 5.28 5.11 0.395 Ionics Inc 2.200 2.280 2.200 173 Jollibee Foods Corp.

199.00 205.20 199.00 LBC Express 8.7 8.8 8.6 1.63 Mabuhay Vinyl 3.01 3.14 3.14 33 Macay Holdings 38.50 39.90 39.90 23.35 Manila Water Co. Inc. 24 24.75 24 17.3 Maxs Group 16.6 16.8 6.58 5.88 Megawide 5.5 5.53 5.5 250.2 Mla. Elect. Co `A’ 304.80 310.00 304.40 3.37 Panasonic Mfg Phil. Corp. 4.00 4.00 3.90 3.87 Pepsi-Cola Products Phil. 3.19 3.33 3.18 8.45 Petron Corporation 5.85 6.10 5.85 10.04 Phinma Corporation 11.60 11.58 11.22 3.03 Phoenix Petroleum Phils. 3.68 3.80 3.63 1.95 Phoenix Semiconductor 1.45 1.44 1.40 1 Pryce Corp. `A’ 2.19 2.25 2.16 4.02 RFM Corporation 3.87 3.88 3.85 5.9 Roxas Holdings 4.4 5 4.8 161 San Miguel’Pure Foods `B’ 120 120 120 1.55 Splash Corporation 2.5 2.6 2.48 0.138 Swift Foods, Inc. 0.137 0.137 0.137 2.09 Trans-Asia Oil 2.00 2.04 2.00 152 Universal Robina 175.1 182 175.1 0.640 Vitarich Corp.

0.6 0.6 0.58 1.2 Vulcan Ind’l.

0.98 1.04 1.00 HOLDING FIRMS 0.44 Abacus Cons. `A’ 0.320 0.320 0.300 48.1 Aboitiz Equity 55.0000 57.1000 54.9500 20.85 Alliance Global Inc. 14.78 15.14 14.90 1.6 Anglo Holdings A 1.08 1.07 1.07 6.62 Anscor `A’ 6.20 6.20 6.12 634.5 Ayala Corp `A’ 660 682 670 7.390 Cosco Capital 7.59 7.6 7.56 12.8 DMCI Holdings 11.74 12.08 11.82 2.6 F&J Prince ‘A’ 5.2 5.25 5.25 2.26 Filinvest Dev. Corp.

4.20 4.40 4.20 0.152 Forum Pacific 0.200 0.196 0.193 837 GT Capital 1287 1312 1292 5.3 House of Inv. 5.40 5.35 5.20 IPM Holdings 9.82 9.83 9.61 49.55 JG Summit Holdings 64.15 67.50 64.15 4.84 Lopez Holdings Corp.

5.8 5.85 5.76 0.59 Lodestar Invt. Holdg.Corp. 0.62 0.64 0.6 12 LT Group 13.72 14.16 13.8 4.2 Metro Pacific Inv. Corp. 5.14 5.27 5.16 0.030 Pacifica `A’ 0.0290 0.0300 0.0280 1.23 Prime Media Hldg 1.030 1.030 1.030 0.550 Prime Orion 1.710 1.740 1.700 59.3 San Miguel Corp `A’ 52.00 60.00 52.00 751 SM Investments Inc. 775.00 812.00 781.00 1.13 Solid Group Inc. 1.10 1.09 1.08 80 Top Frontier 62.900 64.950 62.900 0.211 Unioil Res. & Hldgs 0.2550 0.2650 0.2600 0.179 Wellex Industries 0.1800 0.1820 0.1800 0.310 Zeus Holdings 0.235 0.237 0.230 PROPERTY 6.74 8990 HLDG 6.900 6.900 6.800 0.65 A. Brown Co., Inc. 0.62 0.64 0.60 1.2 Araneta Prop `A’ 1.120 1.130 1.090 0.192 Arthaland Corp.

0.200 0.200 0.200 30.05 Ayala Land `B’ 30.000 31.100 30.250 3.36 Belle Corp. `A’ 2.49 2.49 2.4 4.96 Cebu Holdings 4.76 5 5 0.79 Century Property 0.48 0.49 0.48 2.5 66 88.05 88.1 45.45 1.97 19.6 6.12 1.02 625 0.225 78 0.9 17.8 62 88.35 276 41 118.2 1200 59 2.65

AG Finance Asia United Bank Banco de Oro Unibank Inc. Bank of PI China Bank BDO Leasing & Fin. INc. Eastwest Bank Filipino Fund Inc. I-Remit Inc. Manulife Fin. Corp.

MEDCO Holdings Metrobank Natl. Reinsurance Corp.

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

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

SHARES 11,406,134 68,825,124 97,954,188 198,202,399 128,937,140 137,163,151 644,381,246

2.2 45.9 95.90 83.10 36.4 2.40 17.16 7.00 1.63 630.00 0.400 69.95 0.9 15.80 50.00 98.9 275 32.1 134 1325.00 56.60 1.6

Close

%

Net Foreign

Change Volume

Trade/Buying

52 Weeks

Previous

High Low

STOCKS

Close

0.201 0.69 10.96 0.97 2.22 2.1 5.94 0.180 0.470 0.72 8.54 31.8 2.29 4.9 21.35 1.06 7.56 1.62 8.59

0.083 0.415 2.4 0.83 1.15 1.42 4.13 0.090 0.290 0.39 2.69 22.15 1.6 3.1 15.08 0.69 3.38 0.83 5.73

Crown Equities Inc. Cyber Bay Corp.

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

Phil. Realty `A’ Primex Corp.

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

10.5 66 1.44 1.09 14.88 15.82 0.1430 5.06 99.1 12.3 2.6 7.67 2720 8.41 119.5 12.5 0.017 0.8200 2.2800 12.28 3.32 2.53 3.2 1 15.2

1.97 35.2 1 0.63 10.5 8.6 0.0770 2.95 56.1 10.14 1.6 4.8 1600 5.95 102.6 8.72 0.011 0.041 1.200 6.5 1.91 1.01 1.95 0.650 6

1.040 22.8 6.41 185 22.9 3486 0.760 2.28 46.05 90.1

0.37 14.54 3 79 4.39 2748 0.435 1.2 31.45 60.55

11.6 0.85 10 0.490 1.9

7.59 0.63 5 0.315 1.14

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

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

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

Manila Bulletin Melco Crown Metro Retail NOW Corp.

Pacific Online Sys. Corp.

PAL Holdings Inc. Phil. Seven Corp.

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

SSI Group STI Holdings Travellers Waterfront Phils.

Yehey

0.0098 5.45 17.24 12.8 1.19 1.62 9.5 4.2 0.48 0.420 0.440 0.022 0.023 8.2 49.2 4.27 1.030 3.06 0.020 7.67 12.88 10.42 0.040 420 9

0.0043 1.72 6.47 5.11 0.85 0.77 5.99 1.17 0.305 0.2130 0.2160 0.013 0.014 3.240 18.96 2.11 0.365 1.54 0.012 5.4 7.26 2.27 0.015 115.9 3.67

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

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

TA Petroleum

70 553 8.21 12.28 111

33 490 5.88 6.5 101

-11,435,084.00 68,799,460.00

1047

1011

-3,387,318.00

78.95 84.8

74.5 75

ABS-CBN Holdings Corp.

Ayala Corp. Pref `B1’ GMA Holdings Inc. Leisure and Resort MWIDE PREF PCOR-Preferred B PF Pref 2 PNX PREF 3A PNX PREF 3B SMC Preferred B SMC Preferred C SMC Preferred D SMC Preferred E SMC Preferred F

6.98

0.8900 LR Warrant

2.1 45.85 98.00 84.90 36.05 2.45 17.08 7.00 1.81 600.00 0.440 72.2 0.91 15.68 49.55 99 272.4 31.95 135 1328.00 56.90 1.54

-4.55 -0.11 2.19 2.17 -0.96 2.08 -0.47 0.00 11.04 -4.76 10.00 3.22 1.11 -0.76 -0.90 0.10 -0.95 -0.47 0.75 0.23 0.53 -3.75

52,000 21,400 1,932,480 4,334,440 86,700 12,000 49,400 7,000 10,000 230 90,000 2,169,660 154,000 22,600 52,740 300 5,590 45,900 1,674,685 20 100,150 81,000

40.5 4.32 1.24 9.92 38.65 100.00 14.96 35 17.78 41.95 2.2 1.84 11.82 7.320 8.38 5.68 5.33 1.66 20.45 59.35 11.60 14.30 5.22 2.210 205.00 8.6 3.14 39.90 24.65 16.6 5.53 308.60 3.90 3.19 5.90 11.58 3.80 1.43 2.21 3.86 4.8 120 2.52 0.137 2.02 182 0.59 1.00

1.38 10.20 -0.80 -1.59 -21.76 5.26 -0.27 2.94 0.00 0.00 0.00 2.22 -0.84 3.98 0.24 2.34 -0.37 0.00 1.49 -1.58 -1.69 2.88 2.35 0.45 3.02 -1.15 4.32 3.64 2.71 0.00 0.55 1.25 -2.50 0.00 0.85 -0.17 3.26 -1.38 0.91 -0.26 9.09 0.00 0.80 0.00 1.00 3.94 2.04

490,000 1,000,000 466,000 5,300 800 1,000 3,834,900 100 172,100 43,100 370,000 1,048,000 190,400 19,679,700 1,157,300 12,650,500 5,293,900 11,000 1,562,100 316,600 200 200 52,900 1,359,000 661,400 54,600 1,000 200 782,400 669,100 12,400 58,040 2,000 5,457,000 2,994,900 15,100 281,000 129,000 45,000 5,236,000 15,000 47,050 289,000 50,000 512,000 1,249,270 126,000 273,000

0.305 56.1000 14.90 1.07 6.12 670 7.58 12.02 5.25 4.40 0.193 1299 5.20 9.81 66.45 5.76 0.62 14 5.25 0.0290 1.030 1.740 60.00 810.00 1.09 63.350 0.2650 0.1800 0.235

-4.69 2.00 0.81 -0.93 -1.29 1.52 -0.13 2.39 0.96 4.76 -3.50 0.93 -3.70 -0.10 3.59 -0.69 0.00 2.04 2.14 0.00 0.00 1.75 15.38 4.52 -0.91 0.72 3.92 0.00 0.00

3,880,000 1,237,620 3,099,900 4,000 8,400 392,800 5,210,600 3,559,600 300 292,000 20,000 100,370 25,500 1,988,500 1,712,130 791,900 123,000 2,346,000 24,600,700 44,000,000 21,000 1,045,000 693,270 138,820 80,000 67,040 500,000 1,490,000 370,000

6.800 0.61 1.090 0.200 30.600 2.42 5 0.49

-1.45 -1.61 -2.68 0.00 2.00 -2.81 5.04 2.11

20,900 537,000 10,000 500,000 19,714,000 7,020,000

-3,500.00 12,200.00 -52,741,425.00 -3,972,590.00

12.88

5.95

2,090,000

24,000.00

130.7

105.6 First Metro ETF

421,165.00 -12,639,989 82,011,839.50 -264,346.00

44,008,427.00 -1,792,451.00 606,810 5,881,561.00 -26,560.00 -650,288.00 15,700.00 3,961,765.00 -645,490.00

46,701,838.00 599,885 111,620.00 2,063,044.00 -32,276,873.00 650,033.00 23,686,887.00 913,541.00 634,360.00 -6,318,059.00

-417,360.00 43,054,604.00

10,282,165.00 476,448.00 -1,706,880.00 -106,180.00 2,735,547.00 18,150.00 2,250.00 577,840.00 -363,600.00 25,280.00 6,850.00 46,962,535.00

-180,000.00 -6,715,735.50 12,153,258.00 -18,450.00 28,737,690.00 1,637,816.00 2,613,084.00 1,192,690.00 -106,200,650.00 117,000.00 15,431,388.50 -833,090.00 59,894.00 13,862,377.00

138,600.00 -25,300.00

Alterra Capital Italpinas Xurpas

High

VALUE 989,560,727.05 901,344,266.50 1,065,722,544.59 2,233,951,363.355 939,217,166.187 71,363,334.571 6,224,251,203.257

FINANCIAL 1,478.88 (up) 25.45 INDUSTRIAL 10,424.47 (up) 234.19 HOLDING FIRMS 6,182.40 (up) 169.79 PROPERTY 2,645.48 (up) 71.56 SERVICES 1,405.20 (up) 14.54 MINING & OIL 9,329.68 (up) 139.70 PSEI 6,494.13 (up) 163.58 All Shares Index 3,724.31 (up) 78.85 Gainers: 109; Losers: 71; Unchanged: 32; Total: 212

Close

0.112 0.390 21.15 0.680 0.88 1.58 3.58 0.073 0.2210 0.385 8.45 23.45 1.39 3.15 19.82 0.74 4.8 0.760 4.550

%

Net Foreign

Change Volume

Trade/Buying

0.112 0.112 0.112 0.420 0.410 0.410 22.25 21.4 21.7 0.740 0.740 0.740 0.99 0.89 0.95 1.62 1.58 1.60 3.88 3.63 3.88 0.075 0.075 0.075 0.2210 0.2110 0.2120 0.39 0.350 0.350 8.6 8.45 8.45 24.20 23.30 23.70 1.4 1.3 1.4 3.18 3.17 3.18 20.90 19.80 20.65 0.76 0.74 0.76 4.5 4.5 4.5 0.810 0.760 0.760 4.600 4.320 4.500 SERVICES 6.5 6.5 6.48 6.48 60 60.1 59.75 59.8 1.12 1.13 1.13 1.13 0.410 0.410 0.410 0.410 10.98 11.4 10.98 10.98 3.44 3.56 3.44 3.51 0.0400 0.0400 0.0390 0.0400 3.15 3.16 3.07 3.16 76.5 79.5 76.5 79.5 9.5 9.57 9.5 9.57 1.5 1.49 1.49 1.49 5.85 5.87 5.55 5.55 1681 1711 1686 1707 6.47 6.51 6.45 6.51 58.8 60.4 58.55 59.1 11.12 11.8 11 11.12 0.0085 0.0086 0.0086 0.0086 0.125 0.128 0.124 0.128 1.3100 1.3200 1.3000 1.3000 6.80 7.10 6.78 6.83 4.42 4.54 4.42 4.45 1.08 1.05 1.05 1.05 2.24 2.28 2.27 2.28 0.490 0.480 0.480 0.480 1.55 1.59 1.54 1.54 3.60 3.67 3.56 3.57 0.640 0.660 0.640 0.640 18 18 17.8 18 4.38 4.40 4.35 4.35 101.00 101.00 100.00 101.00 20.00 20.40 19.90 20.40 1930.00 1962.00 1935.00 1940.00 0.430 0.410 0.410 0.410 0.445 0.470 0.450 0.460 30.75 32.20 31.35 32.00 65.00 65.10 64.40 65.10 4.74 5.14 4.75 4.95 2.44 2.58 2.43 2.56 0.400 0.410 0.405 0.405 3.52 3.8 3.53 3.75 0.315 0.320 0.320 0.320 3.500 3.500 3.400 3.500 MINING & OIL 0.0043 0.0043 0.0041 0.0042 1.70 1.75 1.70 1.70 3.93 4.22 3.99 4.00 5.6000 5.34 5.3200 5.3200 0.55 0.55 0.53 0.53 0.5 0.53 0.51 0.51 5.92 6.08 5.92 5.95 0.5 0.52 0.49 0.49 0.260 0.270 0.245 0.255 0.159 0.160 0.153 0.153 0.180 0.185 0.160 0.185 0.0100 0.0100 0.0099 0.0100 0.010 0.012 0.011 0.012 1.58 1.58 1.55 1.57 4.38 4.5 4.35 4.4 2.4 2.6 2.36 2.36 0.5100 0.5100 0.5100 0.5100 1.0600 1.1000 1.0500 1.0500 0.0097 0.0091 0.0091 0.0091 3.25 3.33 3.03 3.30 4.15 4.19 4.11 4.11 1.21 1.23 1.21 1.23 0.0100 0.0110 0.0100 0.0110 125.60 130.70 127.00 129.00 1.95 1.96 1.92 1.96 PREFERRED 59 61.2 59 59.55 525 525.5 525.5 525.5 6.4 6.4 6.4 6.4 1.07 1.07 1.06 1.06 109 110 110 110 1065 1063 1063 1063 1024 1024 1023 1024 104 104.1 104.1 104.1 106.8 106.5 106 106.5 80.9 80.8 80.8 80.8 82.55 82.6 82.5 82.5 78.2 79 79 79 79 79 78.9 79 79.6 79.6 79.5 79.6 WARRANTS & BONDS 1.680 1.750 1.420 1.590 SME 3.15 3.3 3.18 3.3 2.63 2.79 2.58 2.61 13.42 13.8 13.42 13.72 EXCHANGE TRADED FUNDS 103.5 106 104.5 106

T op g ainerS STOCKS

Low

0.00 5.13 2.60 8.82 7.95 1.27 8.38 2.74 -4.07 -9.09 0.00 1.07 0.72 0.95 4.19 2.70 -6.25 0.00 -1.10

300,000 250,000 2,424,300 12,000 3,736,000 14,081,000 81,908,000 80,000 1,580,000 510,000 16,100 1,565,900 164,000 13,000 54,661,000 55,000 3,000 205,000 5,406,000

11,200.00

-0.31 -0.33 0.89 0.00 0.00 2.03 0.00 0.32 3.92 0.74 -0.67 -5.13 1.55 0.62 0.51 0.00 1.18 2.40 -0.76 0.44 0.68 -2.78 1.79 -2.04 -0.65 -0.83 0.00 0.00 -0.68 0.00 2.00 0.52 -4.65 3.37 4.07 0.15 4.43 4.92 1.25 6.53 1.59 0.00

19,800 35,340 1,000 2,750,000 500 23,314,000 5,000,000 38,000 345,260 1,100 8,000 351,700 160,820 39,200 547,580 3,500 1,000,000 1,530,000 348,000 12,000,100 686,000 6,000 2,000 30,000 7,088,000 2,048,000 3,135,000 16,300 38,000 4,870 69,100 91,110 50,000 43,660,000 1,362,700 448,740 1,535,000 15,147,000 1,740,000 810,000 10,000 51,000

-2.33 0.00 1.78 -5.00 -3.64 2.00 0.51 -2.00 -1.92 -3.77 2.78 0.00 20.00 -0.63 0.46 -1.67 0.00 -0.94 -6.19 1.54 -0.96 1.65 10.00 2.71 0.51

71,000,000 32,000 13,000 1,000 730,000 64,000 19,900 3,034,000 620,000 6,850,000 30,000 30,600,000 7,300,000 285,000 2,633,000 12,000 117,000 1,099,000 3,000,000 20,000 311,000 24,000 6,600,000 404,730 77,000

0.93 0.10 0.00 -0.93 0.92 -0.19 0.00 0.10 -0.28 -0.12 -0.06 1.02 0.00 0.00

44,190 1,710 4,500 732,000 1,000 100 135 4,500 3,800 3,200 20,830 11,600 13,600 87,730

-5.36

195,000

5,800.00

4.76 -0.76 2.24

78,000 268,000 1,536,300

7,095,996.00

2.42

10,810

6,977,080.00 -5,936,610.00 -333,960.00

-22,111,390.00 197,080.00 -3,983,870.00 -4,500.00 -11,874,490.00

-58,313,830.00 -19,500.00 9,240.00 -7,350,836.50 -813,480.00 -46,099,790.00 -15,283,542.00 -38,850.00 82,825,681.00 133,280.00

-7,837,160.00 338,580.00 111,600.00 30,800.00 476,950.00 -315,147.00 -31,108,660.00 -48,600.00 29,152,310.00 1,026,281.50 -149,550.00 -5,636,730.00 222,750.00 -533,110.00

8,090.00 -5,330.00 7,950.00 -75,500.00

-1,459,440.00 34,170.00

-103,610.00 5,067,310.00 -41,160.00 -1,309,312.50

31,890.00 -416,400.00 -564,158.00

T op L oSerS Close (P)

Change (%)

STOCKS

Close (P)

Change (%)

Manila Mining `B'

0.012

20.00

Bogo Medelin

38.65

-21.76

San Miguel Corp `A'

60.00

15.38

Phil. Realty `A'

0.350

-9.09

I-Remit Inc.

1.81

11.04

Starmalls

4.5

-6.25

Agrinurture Inc.

4.32

10.20

Oriental Pet. `A'

0.0091

-6.19

MEDCO Holdings

0.440

10.00

LR Warrant

1.590

-5.36

Philodrill Corp. `A'

0.0110

10.00

DFNN Inc.

5.55

-5.13

Roxas Holdings

4.8

9.09

Benguet Corp `B'

5.3200

-5.00

Empire East Land

0.740

8.82

Manulife Fin. Corp.

600.00

-4.76

Megaworld

3.88

8.38

Abacus Cons. `A'

0.305

-4.69

Global-Estate

0.95

7.95

PremiereHorizon

0.410

-4.65

THURSDAY: JANUARY 14, 2016

B3

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

Upbeat.

A woman walks past an electric quotation board flashing the Nikkei key index of the Tokyo Stock Exchange in front of a securities company in Tokyo on January 13, 2016. Tokyo shares rebounded sharply on January 13, finishing in positive territory for the first time in 2016 as an upbeat Chinese trade report supplied some much-needed good news. AFP

Market surges; SM issues advance THE stock market surged for a second day Wednesday on continued bargain-hunting, amid upbeat Chinese trade data that provided some much-needed respite from a volatile start to 2016.

The Philippine Stock Exchange Index jumped 163.58 points, or 2.6 percent, to 6,494.13 on a value turnover of P6.2 billion. Gainers beat losers, 109 to 71, with 32 issues unchanged.

SM Investments Corp., the holding company of retail tycoon Henry Sy, advanced 4.5 percent to P810, while unit SM Prime Holdings Inc., the biggest integrated property company, climbed 4.2 percent to P20.65.

Megaworld Corp., the thirdlargest property developer, jumped 8.4 percent to P3.88, while Metropolitan Bank & Trust Co., the second-biggest lender in terms of assets, gained 3.2 percent to P72.20.

Universal Robina Corp., the largest snack food maker, rose 3.9 percent to P182.

Shanghai, meanwhile, fell Wednesday, bucking a regional trend that saw markets rise.

After more than a week of sharp losses fueled by worries over China’s economy, news that the country’s exports had picked up in December provided some incentive to buy after a strong lead from Europe and New York.

The rise in overseas shipments, from a fall in November, indicated authorities’ weakening of the yuan currency against the dollar was beginning to filter through.

The figures came against a backdrop of contracting global trade last year, Bloomberg News reported, meaning China’s export performance was relatively strong. With AFP

PAL seeking action vs Kuwait Airways

By Darwin G. Amojelar

PHILIPPINE Airlines wants the Philippine government to revoke the fifth freedom rights of Kuwait Airways under a bilateral air treaty agreement, after the Kuwait government rejected the country’s flag carrier request to enjoy the same privilege.

The Lucio Tan-owned carrier said it filed a petition with the Civil Aeronautics Board seeking to revoke Kuwait Airways’ rights to carry passengers between Bangkok and Manila on its Kuwait-Bangkok-Manila route.

PAL said the bilateral air treaty between Kuwait and the Philippines allowed airlines to carry out 5th freedom, or the right to pick up passengers from a foreign country, after flying from point of

origin to to the first foreign country) and carry them to a second foreign country or final destination.

Kuwait Airways operates the Kuwait-Bangkok-Manila route and exercises 5th freedom between the Bangkok-Manila leg and vice versa.

Kuwait Airways, which operates six weekly flights, has been granted fifth freedom rights and has been operating the same routes for more than 20 years.

PAL’s flight route will be Manila-Dubai-Kuwait, which will start on January 17.

“Similarly, invoking 5th freedom rights, the flag carrier should be allowed to pick up passengers in Dubai to be flown to Kuwait and vice versa,” PAL said.

The Directorate General of Civil Aviation on January 5 of Kuwait rejected PAL’s application for fifth freedom rights.

This means PAL has no rights to carry passengers from Dubai and bring the passengers to Kuwait on its Manila-Dubai-Kuwait flights.

PAL earlier said it was ready to compete on a level playing field. The Middle East and Europe routes, however, are unique because the competitive field is distorted by the massive subsidies enjoyed by Gulf carriers such as Emirates Airlines and Etihad.

PAL stopped flying to the Unit-

ed Arab Emirates in 1997, to Europe in 1998 and to Saudi Arabia in 2006 due to unfair competition, mainly because of massive and well-funded efforts by MidEast carriers to siphon passenger traffic via their hubs in Dubai, Abu Dhabi and other airports in the Gulf region.

Six European airlines also suspended their routes to Manila during the same period as MidEast carriers employed their multi-million-dollar advantage to devastating effect.

In 2014, Emirates cancelled its Dubai-Clark route in anticipation of receiving permanent additional entitlements to the congested Ninoy Aquino International Airport. Emirates was also penalized by the Civil Aeronautical Board in December 2014 for selling without prior authorization flights that exceeded their weekly maximum entitlement.

Manila Water signs deal to serve Ayala projects

By Jenniffer B. Austria MANILA Water Co. Inc. signed an agreement to provide water and used water services to all real estate developments of Ayala Land Inc. as well as its subsidiaries and affiliates.

Manila Water said in a disclosure to the stock exchange wholly-owned unit Manila Water Philippine Ventures signed the agreement with Ayala Land’s 24 other subsidiaries and affiliates, including Cebu Holdings Inc., Cebu Property Ventures and Development Corp. and Ayalaland

Hotel and Resorts Corp.

MWPV under the agreement will provide water and used water services to all ALI Group projects nationwide.

“The objective of the MoA is to leverage on the respective expertise of the parties in order to provide optimum services and facilities to their customers and clients,” Manila Water said.

The Ayala Land Group earlier provided in-house water and used water services and facilities in it property development projects.

Ayala Land and Manila Water are both majority-owned by con-

glomerate Ayala Corp.

Ayala Land is one of the biggest integrated property developers in the Philippines with several projects nationwide. It is primarily engaged in development of residential, commercial and leasing businesses.

The company recently focused on developing several integrated mixed-use developments in various parts of the country, including Cavite, Pampanga, Alabang, Bacolod, Iloilo, Quezon City, Cagayan de Oro, Bulacan, Cebu, Laguna, and Taguig.

Ayala Land earlier unveiled

a new business plan that would boost the company’s net income by 20 percent annually to as high as P40 billion by 2020.

The company aims to achieve the goal by aggressively rolling out residential projects while increasing investments in recurring businesses and optimizing the utilization of its landbank.

The property firm also remains positive on key economic drivers, especially consumer spending, overseas remittances, strong revenues business process outsourcing industry and bigger tourist arrivals.

B4

PTT fuels achieve Euro 4 quality ALL fuel products of PTT Philippines are now Euro 4-compliant, the local subsidiary of PTT Public Co. Ltd. of Thailand said Wednesday.

PTT said as early as November 2015, gasoline products Performa 97, Superb 95 and Eco 93 and diesel product Dynamic products were rolled out at all retail stations.

PTT Philippines currently has more than 90 retail stations in Metro Manila, Luzon and Cebu.

PTT Philippines’ compliance came ahead of the Jan. 1, 2016 deadline set by the Energy Department for oil companies to upgrade to cleaner emission standards of fuel from Euro 2 to Euro 4.

Euro 4 is a globally accepted European emission standard for vehicles that requires the use of fuel with significantly low sulfur (0.005 percent or 50 parts per million) and benzene (maximum of 1 percent by volume) contents.

Under Euro 2 standards, fuels have up to 0.05 percent sulfur or 500 parts per million and up to five percent benzene.

Euro 4 fuel contains only 35 percent of aromatics, by volume compared to Euro 2, which prescribes no limit.

“Our Euro 4 fuels now contain less sulphur than Euro 2 that we had before. Meaning, our fuels now are more environment-friendly,” PTT Philippines president and chief executive Sukanya Seriyothin said.

Seriyotin said that as PTT had no refinery in the Philippines, the company was importing the Euro 4 fuels from Thailand which had been producing and offering Euro 4 emission standard fuels for years already.

NIA visitor. National Irrigation Administration administrator Florencio Padernal (seated, second from right) welcomes Israel Ambassador to the Philippines Ephraim Ben Matityau and his delegates for a discussion about irrigation system and development in the Philippines. With them are other NIA officials and Israeli delegates.

Science agency hits court’s GMO ruling

By Anna Leah E. Gonzales

THE National Academy of Science and Technology Philippines on Wednesday expressed concern over the impact of the Supreme Court decision to stop the field tests for genetically modified organisms on food security and scientific research.

NAST-PHL in a statement asked the high tribunal to review the decision in light of the issues and serious consequences it might cause.

The Supreme Court ordered a ban on the field trials of genetically modified organisms including the Bt eggplant last year.

It also ordered a temporary ban on ap-

proving applications for the contained use, import, commercialization and propagation of GMO crops.

The court said the Agriculture Department’s Administrative Order No. 8 lacked minimum safety requirements under Executive Order 514.

NAST-PHL said the court’s conclusion that there was a lack of consensus on the safety of genetically modified crops was derived from a very limited literature survey and some from questionable sources.

The science body said none of the references covered the statements of the academies of science of many developed and developing countries that there was no difference in the risks between GM crops and conventionally-bred crops.

“The information sources cited by the court, in fact, recommend that further research be conducted to assess the risks in the deployment of GM crops. Unfortunate-

ly, by permanently stopping the field tests of Bt eggplant, the research that would have provided the answers to the reservations on the safety of Bt eggplant can no longer be continued,” the group said.

The group said DAO-08 was a carefullycrafted document and provided effective guidance “for the importation and release into the environment of plants and plant products derived from the use of modern biotechnology” for the last 12 years.

“It must be pointed out that this move, if not clarified, will have serious repercussions on the research and development activities especially in plant breeding as well as the flow of the supply of food and feed specifically those that are based on crops largely harvested from transgenic lines, like soybean and corn,” the group said. “ The possible disruption in the supply chain may cause food security issues in the near future,” the group said.

SPC Power seeking review of Naga plant decision

By Alena Mae S. Flores SPC Power Corp. said it will ask the Supreme Court to reconsider its decision on the sale of the 153.1-megawatt Naga power plant complex in Cebu.

SPC Power senior vice president Alfredo Ballesteros said in a statement while the company was willing to comply with the high tribunal’s ruling, a “no rebid” scenario would be disadvantageous to the government.

The court earlier nullified the right of SPC Power to top the highest bid which was stipulated in the agreement approved by the Power Sector Assets and Liabilities Management Corp.

Senator Sergio Osmeña III filed a case with the Supreme Court in 2014, seeking to stop the sale of the Naga power plant complex in Cebu to SPC Power and nullify the stipulation in the lease agreement.

Ballesteros said the case questioning SPC’s right to top in the bidding for the Naga power plant complex was far from over.

“We are asking for the Supreme Court’s reconsideration of its decision,” he said.

“Even the petitioner in the case, Sen. Sergio Osmeña, is asking for a reconsideration, so this case still has a number of issues to be clarified,” he said.

Therma Visayas Inc., a unit

of Aboitiz Power Corp., earlier said it should be awarded the contract after the Supreme Court invalidated the right to top condition imposed by PSALM. “Merely awarding the plant to what is now the lower bidder would be disadvantageous to government. This is changing the rules of the game. All the interested parties to the bid were aware of the right to top, as a condition on the Naga sale.

By participating in the bid, they recognized SPC’s right to top and cannot assert their right to win,” Ballesteros said.

“Of course, we will comply with the final decision of the

court. But a no rebid scenario for the government would change the rules of the game.

I’m sure all bidders for Naga considered the right to top in their bids, because the right was the primary condition in the bidding. It cannot simply be deleted,” Ballesteros said.

He said while there was a question on what assets were included in the bid, the bidders understood that what was involved was the area of the Naga plant.

“In fact the leased premises for the Naga land-based gas turbines and the Naga plant are located in just one complex. The bidding rules are specific in that regard,” Ballesteros said.

T H U R S D AY : J A N U A R Y 14 , 2 0 1 6

B5

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

Exports expected to rebound 7% in ‘16 EXPORTS are expected to rebound 7 percent in 2016, after dropping in 2015, Singaporebased DBS bank said Wednesday.

“At this juncture, we expect export growth to rebound to about 7 percent in 2016, pretty decent given the projected 6-percent fall last year,” the bank said.

It said the outlook might have an impact on Bangko Sentral’s policy stance this year.

DBS said with the export growth projection, Bangko Sentral might raise key policy rate by 25 basis point in 2016.

Data from the Philippine Statistics Authority showed that merchandise exports fell 5.8 percent in the first 11 months of 2015 to $54 billion from $57.3 billion a year earlier.

Exports in November alone retreated 1.1 percent to $5.1 billion from a year ago, pulled down by the decreases in shipments of garments (-42.7 percent), chemicals (-40.2 percent) and woodcrafts and furniture (-9.5 percent).

Electronic exports, however, rose 9.3 percent to $2.774 billion in November 2015 from $2.539 billion recorded in the same month in 2014.

“Export growth of electronic products is currently trending at circa 8 percent annual pace, pretty strong when compared to the performance elsewhere in the region,” DBS said.

“Considering that global growth was also somewhat disappointing in 2015, the sustained growth in electronic exports is also an encouraging sign for the medium-term,” it said. Gabrielle H. Binaday

IC grants license to EastWest Ageas

By Gabrielle H. Binaday

THE Insurance Commission on Wednesday approved the life insurance license of EastWest Ageas Life Insurance Corp. and Ageas Insurance International NV. EastWest Ageas Life, the joint venture between EastWest Bank and Ageas Insurance of Belgium, said the life insurance license received from the IC on Wednesday would enhance the bank’s offerings to customers.

Insurance Commissioner Emmanuel Dooc said the P2-billion joint venture of the two companies was a developing force in the insurance industry.

“There is strong commitment

evidenced by the joint venture’s P2-billion capitalization which is double our minimum requirement. The focus on protection products for youth and the mass market will help in the financial inclusion of Filipinos and will give them a better future,” he said.

Both companies share an equal equity stake in EastWest Ageas Life.

The license allows EastWest to

underwrite life insurance, but the bank would still need to get another approval from Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas to sell its products in EastWest Bank’s branches nationwide.

Bangko Sentral’s license would also allow Ageas to cross-sell bancassurance products in EastWest banks.

“Bancassurance is a vital strategy for us, as it makes us a truly one-stop shop for our clients’ financial and insurance needs. We are confident that the diversification of our products to include protection solutions will enhance our competitive edge, increase customer loyalty, and create greater value for our customers while expanding our revenue stream,”

said EastWest Bank president and chief executive Antonio Moncupa Jr. said.

The newly formed insurance company is expected to benefit from EastWest’s fast-growing customer base, consisting of 433 branch stores, representing the seventh largest distribution network among banks in the Philippines.

“The Philippines is basically a one product market for life insurance as over 75 percent of all such products sold here are single premium Universal Life Insurance contracts. Our approach is different. We believe in building and nurturing relationships for life with our customers.,” EastWest Ageas Life chief executive Hans Loozekoot said.

Singapore home price drop. Residential buildings stand in Singapore. A further slide in residential home prices in 2016 may finally persuade the Singapore government to take its foot off the brakes in Asia’s worst-performing property market. BLOOMBERG

Govt spending accelerated 16% in fourth quarter—Abad GOVERNMENT spending likely increased by up to 16 percent in the fourth quarter of 2015 on robust infrastructure activities, Budget Secretary Florencio Abad said Tuesday evening.

Abad told reporters the fourth quarter saw a 10-percent to 16-percent increase in government disbursement, following higher infrastructure and other capital outlays meant to support economic growth.

“In terms of fourth-quarter outlook, I think you are going to see about anywhere from 10 to 16-percent increase in disbursement. That is highlighted by easily about 13-percent increase in infrastructure spend-

ing over the fourth quarter of 2014,” Abad said.

“Well, I mean.. You know that’s a very small part of [economic] growth but if it were to depend on public spending, then we can project that robust increase,” he said.

The inter-agency Development Budget Coordination Committee set the target expenditures for the fourth quarter of 2015 at P651.97 billion, bringing full-year disbursement program to P2.55 trillion.

Abad said the 6-percent growth in 2015 was still achievable as long as private consumption remained robust.

“Well, you have to look at pri-

Abad

vate consumption and there is reason to hope that it will be as robust considering that Christmas season, election season and traditionally everybody rushes to close the book to spend as much at the end of the year.

Especially since this year, you know it’s election year and with March 25 election ban, they all want to avoid that,” Abad said.

The economy grew 6 percent in the third quarter of 2015, pushing average growth for the nine months to 5.6 percent.

Economists said to achieve a “realistic” 6-percent full-year growth, the economy should grow around 6.9 percent in the fourth quarter of 2015.

Abad said he expected a faster growth in the fourth quarter. “[Economic growth will] definitely better than the previous quarter. If I were just to base it on public spending, I will be more confident,” Abad said.

Economic Planning Secretary Arsenio Balisacan said he was also optimistic about achieving a higher growth rate in the fourth quarter.

“I am hoping it would be better than the third quarter.

That’s my hope,” Balisacan said.

He said growth in the fourth quarter was likely driven by robust manufacturing and household consumption amid low inflation rate. Gabrielle H. Binaday

B6

THURSDAY: JANUARY 14, 2016

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

Bigger Leyte power auction eyed What voters think about the candidates

BY THE middle of 2015 it had become clear that there would at least be three candidates for the Presidency of the Philippines. Jejomar Binay had declared, on the day that he took his oath as Vice-President, that he would be a candidate for the Presidency in the 2016 election. Having given way to P-Noy Aquino in the 2010 election, it was virtually unthinkable that Secretary of the Interior and Local Government Mar Roxas would not receive the Presidential blessing as standard-bearer of the Liberal Party in 2016. And Grace Poe was bound to want to vie for the nation’s highest position in the wake of her No. 1 finish in the 2013 Senatorial election.

The number of candidates for the Presidency has now risen to five. Senator Miriam Santiago announced her candidacy after an apparently victorious battle against cancer, and the mayor of Davao City, Rodrigo Duterte, likewise, threw his hat into the ring thereafter.

The voters who will troop to the polling precincts less than four months from now can, essentially, be divided into two groups: the thinking and the unthinking. Among the unthinking are those who believe that Jejomar Binay will make a great Chief Executive because he dispenses goodies to the captains and residents of barangays and has so-called ‘boodle fights’ with them and also those who believe that Rodrigo Duterte will solve the nation’s numerous and multifarious ills with peace-and-order actions that mock the Constitution’s Bill of Rights and negate the concept that human beings have rights.

As the word suggests, thinking involves analysis, reflection, evaluation and judgment. The thinking element of the voter population takes a good look at the Presidential candidates, examines their track records, evaluates the things that they have done and have failed to do and monitors what they offer as solutions to the problems of Philippine society and governance. In the process questions arise in the thinking voters’ minds regarding the candidates’ capacity to maintain a viable campaign to reach the finish line, to cross the finish line first and, most important of all, to be a competent and decent President of the Philippines.

With barely four months to go before Election Day, the thinking voters—what percentage of the total voting population they represent, I don’t know—are wrestling with difficult questions as they decide whose name to place on the ballot space reserved for Presidential choice. My discussions with both acquaintances and strangers have led me to believe that the questions that continue to nag the thinking voters are the following.

One question relates to the Liberal Party standard-bearer’s continued poor showing in the opinion polls. Is Mar Roxas really unelectable, or is there an enormous disconnect between the survey numbers and Mar Roxas’s (and the Liberal Party’s) basic political strength? After all, the daang matuwid administration is not without significant economic and social achievements— indeed, it has many such achievements to show—and the Liberal Party has the No. 1 functioning political machinery in this country. And Mar Roxas, a rich individual, does not have to worry about not having financial support sufficient to carry him to the campaign finish line.

The big question that both the supporters and critics of Vice-President Binay are wrestling with is whether the continued fairly high opinion-poll numbers of Binay really represent a winning support level or whether between now and Election Day Binay’s steadfast refusal to face the music of the Senate Committee on Accountability of Public Officers and the Anti-Money Laundering Council will come home to roost and convince even the D and E income groups that the former Makati City mayor cannot be trusted with power and public funds.

Binay’s supporters are hanging tough and are hoping that nothing bad will happen to his candidacy between now and Election Day. Binay’s critics believe the D and E will eventually recognize his unwillingness to accept the concept of public accountability.

The big question that is troubling thinking voters about Grace Poe is not whether the Supreme Court will grant her candidacy its imprimatur—they believe that the High Court will find a judicial formula that will allow her to run—but what she will bring to the national table. They note that thus far Senator Poe has not said anything that has not sounded daang matuwid-ish, and they believe that her service as movie-censors board chief hardly qualifies her as an experienced administrator. They feel that Grace Poe will be a highly manipulable Chief Executive.

The thinking voters I have been speaking with have no issues with Senator Santiago’s capability to be a competent President of the Philippines. What they have an issue with is the credibility of the medical reports on the state of her health. Has she really been fully cured of her cancer? If not, is the remission likely to last for six years?

Admittedly, some thinking voters are attracted to San Beda-trained lawyer Duterte’s rough-and-tough approach to criminality, especially to the drug trade. More thinking voters will be attracted to Duterte if, between now and Election Day, he begins to—in the words of former President Ramos—sound and act Presidential. The thinking voters think that Rodrigo Duterte will be an excellent foil to Jejomar Binay and will draw many votes away from the Vice-President. Will the Supreme Court allow him to run also? The High Court will likely not be uninfluenced by continued high opinion-poll numbers for Duterte.

These are things that this country’s thinking voters have in mind four months before Election Day. E-mail: rudyromero777@yahoo.com

By Alena Mae S. Flores

POWER Sector Assets and Liabilities Management Corp. is seeking approval from the Energy Department to auction the contract to manage the remaining 40-megawatt capacity of the Unified Leyte geothermal power plants.

PSALM president Lourdes Alzona told reporters at the sidelines of a conference the agency was seeking guidance from the department on the inclusion of 40 MW of so-called security capacity to the bidding of the 160-MW bulk energy of the Unified Leyte power project.

“For 2016, we target to privatize that subject to further policy direction of DoE. Because in our proposal to the board, we will include the remaining 40 MW, so it will be the bulk plus the 40-MW

security asset,” Alzona said.

The official said the bulk energy auction was scheduled for negotiated bidding in the first semester this year while the balance of 40 MW would need approval of the department.

“We have decided to sell the security assets because there will be a security requirement in Luzon because in the Visayas we don’t see any need any more,” she said.

PSALM has already privatized the 200-MW strips of energy contracts of the Unified Leyte

power plant.

PSALM earlier bid out the bulk energy contract where only one made an offer.

PSALM received the go-signal to conduct a negotiated bidding with lone bidder Unified Leyte Geothermal Energy Inc., a unit of Energy Development Corp.

Unified Leyte Geothermal offered a bid of P215 bid million in November 2013 during the first auction.

The company, however, decided to withdraw from the privatization, citing the damage suffered by the plants from typhoon Yolanda in 2013. Unified Leyte Geothermal’s withdrawal promptedPSALM to rebid the bulk energy contract this year.

PSALM has already awarded 200 MW of total capacity from strips of energy from the Unified Leyte geothermal plant to the winning bidders.

CBRE award. CBRE

Philippines wins the recognition of Best Lettings (Leasing) Agency– Asia Pacific for the fourth consecutive year at the International Property Awards 2015 held in London, England. Since joining the real estate industry competition in 2012, CBRE Philippines has received numerous top awards at national, regional and international levels. CBRE Philippines operations director Celia Rocamora accepts the award at the International Property Awards 2015 in London.

Agus-Pulangi hydro sale bucked again THE Mindanao Development Authority wants the Agus-Pulangi hydro power complex to remain with the government instead of privatizing it.

MinDA Investments Promotion director Romeo Montenegro is pushing for the creation of Mindanao Power Corp. that will take over the operations of the AgusPulangi facilities.

“We remain consistent with what we have put forward moving towards the end of this administration in terms of pushing for a legislating the proposed bill that Mindanao Power Corp. shall take over, manage and operate Agus and Pulangi, spilling it off from PSALM [Power Sector Assets and Liabilities Management Corp.],” Montenegro said.

Montenegro said with less than

two months before the current Congress ends, the bill may have to be refiled.

“But our argument, our business proposition remains the same in so far as what benefits Mindanao can get by having Agus and Pulangi operated and its revenues float back to Mindanao rather than remitted to the national,” he said.

He said a large section of Mindanao stakeholders supported the creation of Mindanao Power Corp.

“Electric cooperatives, local government units and even the Mindanao bloc in Congress is supporting the proposition... If its earning between P5 billion and P7 billion annually for Mindanao, then it should be made available and be used by Mindanao,” he said.

“The reason why it is not yet viable to be privatized, its still contrib-

uting a large part to the Mindanao grid and distributed pro-rated to electric cooperatives.”

Montenegro stressed the hydro power plants were the only remaining cheaper source of electricity to cooperatives. It is Mindanao’s comparative advantage compared with Luzon and Visayas, where rate averages around P10 to P11 against Mindanao’s P8 per kilowatt hour.

“At the end of the day if we have control over that cheaper source of electricity for Mindanao, then there’s always the opportunity to have it equally, proportionately distributed especially to far flung electric cooperatives. Otherwise, if its handed to a private sector, the private sector will be at a liberty to contract it to whoever it wants,” he said.

T H U R S D AY : J A N U A R Y 14 , 2 0 1 6

WORLD

CESAR BARRIOQUINTO EDITOR

editorial@thestandard.com.ph

B7

Heckled over missing publishers HONG KONG—Democratic lawmakers heckled Hong Kong’s leader in parliament on Wednesday, slamming him for not speaking out over five missing booksellers feared to have been detained by authorities in mainland China.

The five from Mighty Current publishing house, known for books critical of Beijing, disappeared last year, stoking fears that Chinese control is tightening in semi-autonomous Hong Kong.

The latest to vanish is Lee Bo, 65, last seen in Hong Kong on December 30. Three others went missing in southern China and one in Thailand, all in October.

Hong Kong leader Leung Chun-

ying was lambasted as he delivered a key policy speech, with several democratic lawmakers shouting at him before they were removed by security.

“Where is Lee Bo? Why don’t you answer Hong Kong people,” the Labor Party’s Lee Cheuk-yan yelled.

Pro-democracy lawmakers, activists and some residents believe the publishers were kidnapped by Chinese mainland authorities, and

Infatuation with actress led to drug lord’s arrest MEXICO CITY—Mexican drug lord Joaquin “El Chapo” Guzman was infatuated with actress Kate del Castillo and his desire to see her again contributed to his downfall after six months on the run, officials said Tuesday.

Del Castillo, a Mexican-American who played a drug kingpin in a television series, brokered the now-notorious meeting between Guzman and US actor Sean Penn at an undisclosed jungle clearing in October, three months before the fugitive’s capture.

The government officials said investigators had monitored Penn and Del Castillo, taking photographs of the actors when they landed in Mexico, before their get-together with Guzman.

Following the meeting, troops entered Guzman’s remote mountain stronghold in northwestern Mexico in order to flush him out “toward a city,” a government official said on condition of anonymity.

Marines nearly captured Guzman in the mountains straddling the states of Sinaloa and Durango on October 6.

But Guzman grabbed his cook’s daughter and used her “as a human shield,” holding her in front of him as a helicopter hovered overhead, prompting the soldier to hold fire, the official said.

Guzman eventually made his way last week to the seaside city of Los Mochis in his native Sinaloa state, where he was captured Friday in a deadly military operation.

The other factor that led Guzman to Los Mochis was that he was “really very interested in meeting the actress again,” the official told reporters.

“This was an almost obsessive interest that turned into another incentive to go down to the city, where he wanted to meet with her,” the official said, adding that Guzman did not see the 43-year-old actress again. AFP

INVITATION TO BID FOR THE SUPPLY AND INSTALLATION OF TRAFFIC LIGHTS The City Government of Naga, through the Local Development Fund (LDF) Program-Urban Infrastructures (Other Structures), intends to apply the sum of Five Million Eight Hundred Sixty Two Thousand Eight Hundred Twenty Six & 65/100 (P 5,862,826.65) Pesos, being the Approved Budget for the Contract (ABC) to payments under the contract for the Supply and Installation of Traffic Lights at Ninoy-Cory AvenuePanganiban Drive-Blumentritt-Misericordia St. Intersection, Naga City (1 lot), Contract Reference Number: 2016-002. Bids received in excess of the ABC shall be automatically rejected at bid opening.

Item No. I

INVITATION TO BID

1.

2.

3.

Name of Project

ABC

Cost of Proposal Booklet

1

2 016 - 3 6 C o n s t r u c t i o n of C h i l d r e n`s P11, 0 3 3 , 8 4 0 . 0 0 P r o t e c t i o n C e n t e r ( P h a s e I I) a t DSWD Compound at Barangay # 62 A , San Roque, Cavite Cit y

P25,000.00

2

2 016 - 41 C o n s t r u c t i o n o f S c h o o l B u i l d i n g P12 , 0 0 0 , 0 0 0 . 0 0 for Senior High School, At Cavite National School, Caridad, Cavite Cit y

P25,000.00

II

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

4.

Interested bidders may obtain further information from LGU-CITY GOVERNMENT OF CAVITE and inspect the Bidding Documents at the address given below during office hours from 8:00 a.m - 5:00 p.m.

5.

A complete set of Bidding Documents may be purchased by interested Bidders from the address below and upon payment of a nonrefundable fee for the Bidding Documents in the amount indicated above.

It may also be downloaded free of charge from the website of the Philippine Government Electronic Procurement System (PhiIGEPS) and the website of the Procuring Entity, provided that bidders shall pay the fee for the Bidding Documents not later than the submission of their bids.

6.

The LGU-ClTY GOVERNMENT OF CAVlTE will hold a Pre-Bid Conference on January 21, 2016 - 2:00PM at the JULIAN C. MEDINA, JR. MEMORIAL HALL, CITY HALL BUILDING, SAMONTE PARK, SAN ROQUE, CAVITE CITY, which shall be open only to all interested parties who have purchased the Bidding Documents.

7.

BIDS MUST BE SUBMITTED SEPARATELY BY EACH LOT AND PROPERLY MARKED IN THE OUTER ENVELOPE.

8.

Bids must be delivered to the address below on or before 10:00 AM, February 4, 2016 at the BIDS & AWARDS COMMITTEE SECRETARIAT, CITY HALL BUILDING, SAMONTE PARK, SAN ROQUE, CAVITE CITY. All bids must be accompanied by a bid security in any of the acceptable forms and in the amount stated in ITB Clause.

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.

9.

The LGU-CITY GOVERNMENT OF CAVITE 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.

10. For further information, please refer to: Rommel S. Santos Head, BAC Secretariat City Hall Building Samonte Park San Roque, Cavite City Tel. 046-431-1652 cavitecitymis@yahoo.com Telefax: 046-431-1655

1. Traffic Controller: Microprocessor Traffic Signal Controller (with surge suppressor, voltage regulator, lightning protection) - 1 unit

600,000.00

2. Traffic Signal Lanterns (Ninoy-Cory-Panganiban) 6 Aspect signal heads, 300mm dia. - 4 sets 3 Aspect signal heads, 200mm dia. - 4 sets 2 Aspect dynamic pedestrian 300mm dia. with timer - 8 sets 2 digits traffic countdown timer - 4 sets

192,000.00 100,000.00 200,000.00 140,000.00

2.1 Traffic Signal Lanterns (Misericordia-Panganiban) 6 Aspect signal heads, 300mm dia. - 4 sets 3 Aspect signal heads, 200mm dia. - 4 sets 2 Aspect dynamic pedestrian 300mm dia. with timer - 8 sets 2 digits traffic countdown timer - 4 sets

192,000.00 100,000.00 200,000.00 140,000.00

2.2 Traffic Signal Lanterns (Blumentritt-Panganiban) 6 Aspect signal heads, 300mm dia. - 3 sets 3 Aspect signal heads, 200mm dia. - 3 sets 2 Aspect dynamic pedestrian 300mm dia. with timer - 4 sets 2 digits traffic countdown timer – 3 sets

144,000.00 75,000.00 100,000.00 105,000.00

3. Traffic Signal Poles (Hot-dipped Galvanized) High Mast Arm Poles, 5.80m. height with 4m. arm, HDG – 10 sets Straight Pole 4.20m height with 42mm dia. X 600mm nipple with cap – 12 pcs.

26mm x 900mm anchor bolts, nuts and washers, HDG – 60 sets 22mm x 500mm anchor bolts, nuts and washers, HDG – 48 sets

300,000.00 180,000.00 75,600.00

4. Signal Cable and Power Cables Signal Cable, 4 core, numbered – 160 ln.m.

Signal Cable, 8 core, numbered – 160 ln.m.

Signal Cable, 19 core, numbered – 400 ln.m.

Signal Cable, 25 core, numbered – 400 ln.m.

No. 10 THHN Power Cable – 180 ln.m.

30,400.00 60,800.00 190,000.00 220,000.00 12,240.00 P 5,862,826.65 (1 lot)

INSTALLATION OF TRAFFIC CONTROL SYSTEM 1. Electrical Works and Installation of Equipment

28,750.00

2. Installation of Poles

85,268.00

3. Installation of Signal Lanterns

107,100.00 26,180.00 5,440.00

CIVIL WORKS 1. Excavation Works 2. Construction Aggregates 3. Formworks and Shorings 4. Rebar Works

IV

850,000.00

2,700.00 7,300.00 2,550.00 8,100.00 27,000.00 2,800.00 12,240.00 5,625.00 680.00 900.00 1,180.00 2,160.00 300.00 1,330.00 9,000.00

5. Installation of Service Entrance, Wires Conduits, Circuit Breaker and Service Caps III

Approved Budget for the Contract (ABC) for 1 lot

SUPPLY OF TRAFFFIC CONTROL SYSTEM

4. Installation of Traffic Signal Controller

The LGU-CITY GOVERNMENT OF CAVITE, through the,CY2016 20% Development Fund1 & CY2016 Local School Board Fund2, Intends to apply the sum as indicated above being the Approved Budget for the Contract (ABC) to payments under the contract for the above mentioned project. Bids received in excess of the ABC shall be automatically rejected at bid opening.

The LGU-CITY GOVERNMENT OF CAVlTE now invites bids for the above LOT Number. Delivery of Works required is 180 CALENDAR DAYS. Bidders should have completed similar contract to the project, within TEN (10) years from the date of submission and receipt of bids, a contract similar to the Project. The description of an eligible bidder is contained in the Bidding Documents.

Approved Budget for the Contract (ABC) per item

Items

5. Miscellaneous, Consumables and Electrical Supplies Copper Bonded Ground Rod – 2 lengths Cadweld Mold for Cable to Rod Connection – 1 pc.

Cadweld Metal Powder – 3 tubes Bare Copper Wire 100 sq.mm – 10 mtrs.

SUS Strap ¼” – 6 rolls SUS Buckles ¾” – 1 box Perma Gum – 18 boxes PVC Pipe 63mm dia x 3m – 15 lengths PVC Long Elbow 63mm dia – 8 pcs.

Cable Clips – 30 pcs.

NEMA 3R Outdoor Breaker Box with Circuit Breaker – 1 set Wire Nuts – 160 pcs.

Electrical Tape – 10 rolls Rubber Tape – 10 rolls Plastic Cable Tie 10” black- 20 bags

Republic of the Philippines CITY GOVERNMENT OF CAVITE

Project No.

finished,” Lee said.

Another lawmaker, Raymond Chan, shouted: “Even the basic safety of Hong Kong people can disappear, why aren’t you talking about this?”

Dozens of demonstrators also gathered outside the legislative council building where Leung was speaking.

“He does not make Hong Kong people’s well-being a priority,” activist James Hon told AFP. AFP

Republic of the Philippine CITY OF NAGA BIDS & AWARDS COMMITTEE

1 lot

Lot. No.

the disappearances have triggered outrage and protests in recent weeks amid fears the freedoms in the city are eroding.

Critics accuse Beijing of trampling on the “one country, two systems” agreement under which Hong Kong was guaranteed civil liberties when it was returned by Britain to China in 1997.

“This is the important matter.

Any other policy is meaningless if the ‘one country two systems’ is

48,153.75 298,621.85 75,380.00 127,160.00

5. Associated Civil Works

51,708.05

PRELIMINARIES AND TAX

718,160.00

The City Government of Naga now invites bids for Supply and Installation of Traffic Lights at Ninoy-Cory Avenue-Panganiban DriveBlumentritt-Misericordia St. Intersection, Naga City (1 lot). Delivery of the Goods is required within thirty (30) calendar days. Bidders should have completed, within ten (10) years, from the date of submission and receipt of bids, a contract similar to the Project. The description of an eligible bidder is contained in the Bidding Documents, particularly in Section II. Instructions to Bidders.

Bidding will be conducted through open competitive bidding procedures using a non-discretionary “pass/fail” criterion as specified in the Implementing Rules and Regulations (IRR) of Republic Act (RA) 9184, otherwise known as the “Government Procurement Reform Act”. 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 City Government of Naga and inspect the Bidding Documents at the address given below starting from 8 AM until 5 PM. A complete set of Bidding Documents may be purchased by interested Bidders starting on Thursday, January 14 to February 5, 2016, from the Office of the BAC Secretariat c/o City Planning & Development Office, 2nd Floor City Hall Building, City Hall Compound, Naga City, and upon payment of a nonrefundable fee for the Bidding Documents in the amount of Ten Thousand (P 10,000.00) Pesos and an Annual Registration Fee of Three Thousand (P 3,000.00) Pesos, and upon presentation of Document Request List (DRL) from PhilGEPS showing your company name.

It may also be downloaded from the website of the Philippine Government Electronic Procurement System (PhilGEPS) and the website of the Procuring Entity (www.naga.gov.ph), provided that Bidders shall pay the nonrefundable fee for the Bidding Documents not later than the submission of their bids.

The City Government of Naga will hold a Pre-Bid Conference on Friday, January 22, 2016 at 3:00 PM at City Procurement Office, Ground Floor, City Hall Building, City Hall Compound, Naga City, which shall be open to all interested parties who have purchased the Bidding Documents. Bids must be delivered to the City Procurement Office, Ground Floor, City Hall Building, City Hall Compound, Naga City, on or before Friday, February 5, 2016 at 3:00 PM. All bids must be accompanied by a bid security, either in the form of cash or cashier’s/manager’s check issued by a universal or commercial bank (2% of ABC), or, Bid Securing Declaration (BSD).

Bids will be opened in the presence of the Bidders’ representatives who choose to attend on Friday, February 5, 2016, at 3:00 PM at the City Procurement Office, Ground Floor, City Hall Building, City Hall Compound, Naga City. Late bids shall not be accepted.

The City Government of Naga 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:

(SGD) ARCH. ALLISON B. SANTIAGO City Administrator (BAC Chairman) ( T S - J A N . 14 , 2 016)

MR. FLORENCIO T. MONGOSO, JR. Acting City Administrator, City Hall Compound, J. Miranda Avenue, Naga City Telephone Number: 054-4732240, 054-4723235 Email address: bac@naga.gov.ph, Website: www.naga.gov.ph ( T S - J A N . 14 , 2 016)

(SGD) FLORENCIO T. MONGOSO, JR. BAC Chairperson

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CESAR BARRIOQUINTO EDITOR

editorial@thestandard.com.ph

WORLD

Police identify attackers’ house BRUSSELS—Belgian police have found two apartments and a house used by the suspects before they carried out the terror attacks in Paris, prosecutors said on Wednesday.

“The investigators were able to identify three premises that have been used by the conspiring perpetrators of the attacks of 13th November 2015,” a spokesman for federal prosecutor Eric Van Der Sypt said in a statement in English.

The premises included a flat in the city of Charleroi where investigators found fingerprints of suspected ringleader Abdelhamid Abaaoud and of Bilal Hadfi, who blew himself up outside the Stade de France on the night of the attacks.

Prosecutors also cited a flat in the Brussels district of Schaerbeek already identified on Friday, and a small house in the rural village of Auvelais, near the French border.

The Auvelais house was searched on November 26 and the Charleroi apartment on December 9, they said. No traces of explosives or weapons were found in either of those lodgings.

All of the accommodation was rented using false names and paid for in cash, prosecutors said.

In the case of the Auvelais house, the fake identity was that of a person picked up in Budapest on September 9 by key suspect Salah Abdeslam, who is now on the run.

An international manhunt has been under way for Belgian-born Abdeslam, 26, since suicide bombers and assailants firing automatic weapons killed 130 people and wounded 350 in a wave of attacks across Paris.

Prosecutors on Friday said one of Abdeslam’s fingerprints, three hand-made belts for possible use in suicide attacks and traces of explosives, were discovered during a search in December of the apartment in the Schaerbeek. AFP

In attendance. Actress Wendi McLendon-Covey attends the Qatar Airways Los Angeles Gala at Dolby Theater on January 12, 2016, in Hollywood, California. AFP

Obama: Don’t fear the future WASHINGTON—President Barack Obama told Americans nervous about terror and a changing economy that they should not fear the future, in a farewell State-of-the-Union address Tuesday that drew sharp contrast with the Republicans.

In a prime time address that bubbled with 2016 election politics, Obama assailed the Republicans for talking up the threat posed by the Islamic State group and talking down the American economy.

A self-assured and optimistic Obama cast himself as the foil of foes who warn the country is going in the wrong direction because of his seven years in office.

Hailing an epoch of “extraordinary change” laden with risk and opportunity, Obama called for a

new “moonshot” to cure cancer, a shift away from dirty energy to power the world’s biggest economy and for a thaw in the last remnants of the Cold War by ending the embargo on Cuba.

Obama insisted “America has been through big changes before,” as he took thinly veiled shots at Donald Trump, Ted Cruz and the other leading Republican presidential candidates.

“Each time, there have been those who told us to fear the future,

who claimed we could slam the brakes on change, promising to restore past glory if we just got some group or idea that was threatening America under control. And each time, we overcame those fears.”

With less than three weeks until the Iowa caucuses—the first votes cast in the process to replace him—Obama berated Republican economic rhetoric, saying “anyone claiming that America’s economy is in decline is peddling fiction.”

But some of his toughest words were for the Republican statements over the rise of the Islamic State group.

He painted the jihadists as “masses of fighters on the back of pickup trucks, twisted souls plotting in apartments or garages.”

He admitted that the extremists,

who have overrun large areas of Syria and Iraq, pose an “enormous danger,” but made clear: “They do not threaten our national existence.”

“Our answer needs to be more than tough talk or calls to carpetbomb civilians. That may work as a TV sound bite, but it doesn’t pass muster on the world’s stage,” he said pointedly.

“Over-the-top claims that this is World War III just play into their hands.”

And in a volley clearly aimed at Trump, Obama warned that “when politicians insult Muslims... that’s not telling it like it is. It’s just wrong.

It diminishes us in the eyes of the world.”

The Republican front runner Trump was not impressed, describing the speech on Twitter as “really

boring, slow, lethargic—very hard to watch!”

Tuesday’s address was arguably Obama’s last big opportunity to sway a national audience and frame the 2016 White House race.

Around 30 million viewers were expected to watch live, a nationwide audience that may only be matched in political terms during the Democratic nominating convention later this year.

But it risked being overshadowed by news that 10 US Navy personnel had been taken to an Iranian naval base in the Gulf.

Senior US officials said they had received assurances the crews would sail onwards come first light, but Republicans held up the crisis up as evidence that Obama was naive to engage Tehran. AFP

Woman uses ‘bushcraft’ to survive

Protest. Students clash with police during a protest against the rise of the transport fare in Sao Paulo, Brazil, on January 12, 2016. Amid a marked economic downturn and high inflation bus fares went up in Sao Paulo, Brazil’s largest city, from 3.50 to 3.80 reais. AFP

SYDNEY—A Dutch woman lost in a “dense and unforgiving” Australian forest for five days used “bushcraft”, including covering herself with mud and stuffing her clothing with river moss, to stay alive, police said Wednesday.

Veronique Biunkens, 41, was staying at a retreat in Victoria state when she went for a walk in the bush last Thursday near Buchan, about 355 kilometers east of the state capital Melbourne, and did not return.

She was only reported missing by the retreat’s staff on Monday, with rescuers finding her Tuesday afternoon next to a creek some 1.3 kilometers from W Tree, a remote

area that police said had “dense and unforgiving” terrain.

She had not eaten for five days and survived by drinking water from the creek bed, Victoria police said.

“When they found her she was absolutely covered in mud from head to toe, and she’s told the searchers she’s put the mud all over her to protect herself from the sun during the day,” Inspector Mark Edwards told the Australian Broadcasting Corporation.

“Her clothing was stuffed with river moss, and she’s used the river moss to keep herself warm during the night. It’s acted like a bit of a doona [quilt/duvet].”

Biunkens also built a small

shelter between two trees, using branches and bracken, to “make herself a little hut”, Edwards said.

“She’s been very, very smart, and used some bushcraft to keep herself alive.”

The policeman praised Biunkens for staying at one spot after realizing she was lost.

“People always say when you start walking in the bush and you lose all sense of direction you basically end up going round in circles, and you can end up really hopelessly lost,” Edwards said.

“So stay put, don’t keep walking, and if you’ve got shelter and water, it’s probably not a bad place to stay.”

Despite her ordeal, Biunkens did not need hospital treatment. AFP

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TATUM ANCHETA EDITOR

BING PAREL

A S S O C I AT E E D I T O R

BERNADETTE LUNAS

life @ thestandard.com .ph

WRITER

@LIFEatStandard

W EL L BEING

LIFE

GET YOUR SWEAT ON

5 fitness trends to watch out for in 2016

P

eople who have listed “lose weight” or “be more active” on their New Year’s resolutions have hundreds of physical activities to choose from. Want to improve circulation and endurance? Go jog. Want to enhance strength or build muscles?

Go for intense exercises.

It’s hard to make an excuse when you’ve got these many options. But for those who are just starting on their physical journey or want to try something new, these choices could be overwhelming.

To help us kick-off our healthiest, fittest year yet, fitness experts and enthusiasts share what will be big in fitness – from exercise to workout wear – this 2016.

1. HIGH INTENSITY INTERVAL TRAINING OR HIIT

This form of cardiovascular exercise, which combines short periods of intense exercise with moderate to low intense recovery periods, has been steadily gaining ground last year due to versatility, efficiency and effectivity. This year, the trend is seen to continue.

Three reasons why this exercise is such a hit are because (1) It’s the ideal workout for someone who has a busy schedule. It can be as short as four minutes to as long as 30 minutes. “Research shows you can achieve more progress in a mere 15 minutes of interval training (done three times a week) than the girl jogging on the treadmill for an hour,” fitness expert Charlotte Hilton Andersen said in her article on www.shape.com; (2) You’ll burn more fat during and after an intense bout of exercise than with a steady-pace run as it kicks the body’s repair cycle into hyperdrive.

It also has an “afterburn” effect or EPOC (excess-post exercise oxygen consumption) which burns fat and calories even after exercise; (3) You don’t need any equipment, thus the exercise can be done practically anywhere. An example of HIIT is sprinting (30 seconds fast jog followed by 60 seconds of walk or slow jog) – you don’t need anything but comfortable clothes, shoes and space.

Many fitness buffs swear by HIIT, and one of them is actormodel Derek Ramsay who said he follows a non-stop 15-minute, three step exercise paired with healthy eating to keep his lean and strong physique.

2. STRENGTH AND BODYWEIGHT TRAINING

These types of exercise have long been tagged as “men’s exercise,” but not anymore. Men and women are seeing the potential and benefits of bodyweight training and strength training.

minutes before doing any physical activity, be it aerobic (cardio) or anaerobic (intense physical exercise).

The Standard LIFE fitness columnist Bubbles Paraiso had written about the benefits of foam rolling in enhancing performance (before workout) and healing muscles (after). According to her, foam rolling increases and improves blood flow throughout the body, reduces recovery time as it helps with muscle repair, helps remove toxins from muscles, and increases range of motion. Paraiso adds that foam rolling is best done before exercise to get the blood flowing and reduce tension in the muscles.

4. TECH ACTIVEWEAR

Burn more and burn quick with high intensity interval training or HIIT

Strength and bodyweight training is ideal for those who want to exercise but have limited access to gym equipment

Foam rolling is an effective way in enhancing performance before workout and healing muscles after

Fitness becomes more high-tech with the debut of smartshirts

The year 2015 has seen the rise of smart watches, fitness trackers and heart-rate monitors that count our steps, calculate calories burned and record blood pressure, and this year, these monitors are expected to become even more prevalent.

Chief business officer of popular activity tracker brand Fitbit says that giving an individual ability to track their activity level, sleep and nutrition can have a positive impact on health and wellbeing. Monitors are seen to be more popular among people struggling with weightrelated chronic diseases who want to improve their lifestyle.

But could 2016 be the year of high-tech activewear? Industry experts are looking at the potential of athletic shirts in gathering a person’s physical data. Blazing a trail in this front is luxury fashion label Ralph Lauren. Last year, Ralph Lauren debuted the PoloTech smartshirt, a high-tech and machine-washable men’s t-shirt that contains tiny silver fibers that measure heart rate, breathing depth and other metrics, all of which are sent to an accompanying mobile app.

5. MINDFUL EXERCISE

People are now looking into holistic fitness programs and mindful activities like yoga and meditation

Strong is the new sexy, they say.

And since gyms are moving from actual fitness centers to homes and offices, people are now looking for exercises that don’t need complex equipment.

Bodyweight training uses the person’s weight in building strength and muscles. Compound exercises such as push-ups, pull-

ups, planking, headstand, legraise, lunges, and squats are a few of the many examples of bodyweight exercise. Resistance bands and weights take the training a few notches higher.

Aside from building muscles and strong bones, these exercises help reduce the risk of diabetes and heart disease.

3. FOAM ROLLING AND STRETCHING

With the increasing popularity of intense exercises, the importance of loosening the muscles pre- and post-workout is catching on. Chris Everingham of the Philippine Volcanoes, the country’s national rugby union, stresses the significance of stretching for at least 10 to 15

In this busy, fast-paced age, more and more people are looking into mindfulness activities to relieve stress and achieve mindbody balance. In an article on www.stylecaster.com, Sakara Life founders Whitney Tingle and Danielle DuBoise stated that “people nowadays are starting to look for more than just a sexy body from their exercise, but also a space for them to develop their mindfulness practice.”

The popularity of yoga may have dwindled in the previous year but it is expected to return in 2016. Not only it is beneficial for weight loss and muscle toning, it also helps in decluttering our mind.

So there you go – a bevy of options that can help you get started on the road to fitness and health.

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LIFE life @ thestandard.com .ph

@LIFEatStandard

HEALTHY FOOD TRENDS FOR 2016

O

ver the past couple of years, we’ve seen people becoming more conscious of healthy eating habits.

From vegan-friendly restos to organic grocery deliveries down to healthier restaurant offerings and everything plant based and gluten free – almost everyone has tried out healthy food fads. There were also a lot of wellness centers that have started offering juice cleansing retreats and healthy detoxing with organic table menus.

This year, the highlight on certain healthy food and styles in preparing healthier dishes will be the talk among healthy food consumers. We’ve rounded up a few global trends and some that we’ve seen in our local market that are becoming word of mouth.

THROW NOTHING AWAY

Chefs and home cooks are beginning to embrace stem-to-root, nose-to-tail, or even finto-tail food preparation. It’s not rocket science food style prep, it simply means no food is wasted as all parts of the meat, vegetable, or fruit are used to create different dishes.

According to the Food and Agriculture Organization, a third of the world’s food is thrown away – that’s money down the drain.

For vegetables, food prep usually involves snipping away parts of the produce that are still edible but not appetizing to look at on a plate. Certain vegetables like carrot tops and broccoli leaves are handy greens to add as garnishing to soups or as salad toppings, while the peel of some root crops can be fried to make crunchy and healthy chips.

Practically every green part of leeks, asparagus, cabbage cores, cauliflower and broccoli can be used to create vegetable stock.

After juicing lemons or other citrus fruits, save up the peels as they can be used for candied fruits, or use the zest for juices and flavoring. In the province, moringa fruits are commonly used for pinakbet and sautéed vegetables or added to soupy meals, while leaves of kamias and tamarind are used to make sour broths.

Juju Eats

HEALTHY FAST FOOD

The rise of healthy offerings in restaurants has become a norm as more and more people

usually ask for healthy options when dining, and business owners are catching on the trend and have started to put up healthy fast food joints. In Manila, there are so many healthy fast food restaurants popping up in almost every corner, making the fast food competition a little tougher for your usual burger or fries joint.

It used to be that you have to go all the way to a certain part of the Metro just to get a taste of fresh and healthy fast food. But today, there’s probably at least one or two healthy fast food joints near your office.

It won’t be surprising if favorite fast food places like Juju Eats, Detoxify Bar, Sprout, Go! Salads are within striking distance to where people usually work or hangout. Even Singapore-based SaladStop already opened five stores since it started in December 2014.

This year, we might be seeing some more of these healthy options ready for on-thego healthy eaters. There’s no more excuse to say, “I have no choice but to eat these greasy fries!”

CHICK(PEAS)

Look at healthy menus in restaurants and you will likely spot chickpeas as a main ingredient, and most common uses would be for hummus (chickpea dip), curries, soups, and salads. With the current trend of glutenfree produce, chickpea is being used more and more as a flour alternative that is not only gluten-free but also high in protein. It can be used to make chickpea fritters, breads, veggie burgers, as a thickener for soups and crust for meats.

moringa products (well, if they haven’t thought of everything moringa already) sold in the market for kitchen use, or as body care and skincare products.

nutritious meals-in-a-bowl, and one of the crowd favorites is the Protein Power Bowl made with quinoa, chickpeas, carrots, mixed mushrooms, herbs, and beansprouts in a tahini sauce.

Healthy snacks from Cocogreen and Co

HEALTHY SNACKING

We usually take snacks more religiously than eating proper meals. But like smoking, it is no secret that it is bad for our health, more so our figure as sporadic snacking causes excess bulge in areas where we don’t usually want them. There are currently so many options in the market and snacks are getting less and less sweet and salty.

Last year, everyone went gaga over kale chips as they became available in healthy food stores. Today, more snacks are being made from lentils, chickpeas, and quinoa.

Healthy snack choices also include packed nuts, granola or muesli bars.

Cocogreen and Co has quite a selection of plant-based, gluten-free and whole-food alternative snacks. Visit the store at 2F Picasso Hotel, Leviste St., Salcedo Village in Makati or drop by Salcedo market every Saturday and indulge in its offering of Figs and Dates Power Balls and Fireball Chewy Choco-chips Cayenne Cookies (brown rice based, soy-free, dairy-free dark chocolate chips, cacao nibs, coco nectar and spiked with cayenne) among many other healthy snacks in the menu and are usually the favorite among local celebrities.

Maca powder

CLEAN FOOD

We’ve all heard of grass-fed animals and non-GMO produce served in newly opened restaurants last year. People are becoming more careful about where they get their food and if they can’t make it at home, they will head to a restaurant and bombard the establishment with so many questions as to the food origin of dishes offered. In the Philippines, there are a lot of organic produce already available for regular home deliveries and this has been going on for years. As for restaurants, we need more chefs willing to use seasonal organic produce for their daily menu rather than opt for regularly available GMO vegetables.

If you want fresh organic vegetables for cooking at home, you may subscribe to Good Food Community, an organization that uses a “Community Shared Agriculture” system that allows you to become part of the sustainable process of farming the produce by paying upfront and helping the farmers produce their crops.

Subscribe and take part in co-producing your weekly basket of fresh, seasonal, organic produce for a fixed period. You may also opt to get your daily organic products from Holy Carabao. The products are available in select grocery stores or at Holy Carabao Farmers’ Market City Stop in a corner along Poblacion, Makati. You may also check out The Green Grocer Manila’s home delivery of fresh harvest organic produce, grass-fed and naturally raised meats, artisan breads and other gourmet grocery eats.

SUPER HERBS

Move over superfood, herbs are making a comeback and they are indeed “super.”

Super Ashwagandha seeds herbs are high in vitamins and are very nutritious. One of the super herbs that is getting some renown is ashwagandha, a powerful herb used in Ayurvedic healing and is reputed to strengthen the immune system, improve learning, enhance memory, and combat the effects of daily stress. Maca is also one of the supers; it is a root plant more commonly available in powder form and can be added to food or consumed for medicinal purposes to boost stamina, energy and, ahem – sexual performance and fertility.

Maca powder is good for smoothies, salads, drinks, savory dishes, and juices.

Another super herb is the nutritious plant moringa whose rise to stardom surprised us Filipinos years ago as we usually just ignore it in our backyards.

This year, we will still see more and more

Pasta salad bowl

BOWL FOOD

So we went overboard with mason jars over the last couple of years, and yes, last Christmas we still opened packs of these jars. This year, we wish to see less and less of them in stores and in dining options. And speaking of food containers, a global trend might be a mix of different cuisines served in a classic or contemporary bowl. These are called “Globowls” – breakfast, lunch, or dinner in a bowl packed with nutritious dishes that usually contain a salad mixture of different influences, mixed grains with different toppings, noodles, or quinoa-based recipes crammed in a bowl. You can order these in restaurants or make one from home. SaladStop SaladStop Oh Crab Lah! offers all these salad bowl fun and playful salad options in a bowl, same as Juju Eats. The Wholesome Table also serves w h ol e g r ai n ,

NUT MILKS

Cold pressed juices have reigned supreme over the last couple of years. This time, there is a growing trend in nut milks as alternative for milk and soy milk. A lot of over-thecounter bespoke brands have been popping up globally and it is just a matter of time before these brands reach our shores. There are combinations available in the global market though that show a playful side of nut milks without compromising the nutrition value. You may look for combinations made with almonds, walnut, cashew, macadamia, and pistachio.

Back-to-basics seems to be the theme of healthy food trends, and people are focusing on their holistic wellness more than anything. So, don’t be left behind. If being healthy is cool, then jump on the bandwagon as soon as possible.

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LIFE life @ thestandard.com .ph

@LIFEatStandard

HEALTHY FUN ON THE RUN WITH PHILAM VITALITY

I

t is said that wealth is useless if one is suffering from poor health – and chances are a person’s riches can be greatly diminished if not depleted due to the high cost of medicines and prohibitive medical procedures and treatments.

No wonder then that more and more Filipinos are giving priority to maintaining good health, knowing its importance to longevity as well as a happy and satisfying life. According to an AIA survey, some 44 percent of middle class Filipinos considers having good health as a top goal in life.

Additionally, over 60 percent of deaths worldwide is caused by chronic diseases like diabetes, cardiovascular disease, chronic lung disease and cancer. Philam Life, one of the biggest insurance companies in the Philippines, has made it a goal to help prevent premature death and incapacity by such illnesses by introducing Philam Vitality to the Philippines.

The country’s first science-backed wellness program that rewards members for living and leading healthier lives, Philam Vitality is helping Filipinos address three major risk factors: tobacco consumption, poor diet, and physical inactivity. Just recently, the company launched The Music Run™ event to help Filipinos learn that getting into shape does not mean spending countless hours at the gym or depriving one’s self of good food and fun activities.

Music Runners are treated to the Philam Vitality-sponsored Dance Zone at The Music Run

Music RunTM Manila was one of Philam’s initial steps to promote a healthy, active and fulfilled lifestyle. Thousands of runners filled the Philippine Arena in Bulacan to participate in one of the fastest growing fun runs in the world and at the same time experience the Pinoy spirit of fun and community with the goal of getting fit.

During the activity, the Music RunnersTM danced to a pre-party set from rock band Sponge Cola (in cooperation with Globe Telecom) and a warm-up Zumba session facilitated by Philam Vitality’s official partner Gold’s Gym. After working up a sweat and getting heart rates up, Philam Life CEO J.

Music Runners warm up with a Zumba class from Philam Vitality’s gym partner Gold’s Gym before the start of the 5K run

Axel Bromley signaled for the first wave of Music Runners™ to hit the track.

The Music RunTM saw a 5-kilometer track divided into five different soundscapes: Rock, Pop, Old School, Hip Hop and Dance that offered participants a fun run experience combined with invigorating exercise mixed with a full sensory party experience. Philam Vitality sponsored the cherry on top of The Music RunTM, a dance zone set in the dance soundscape of the track where runners could step on the disco floor, strike a few poses under the strobe lights, and leave all of their stress on the dance floor.

“Through Philam Vitality, we want our customers to achieve real changes in their health so they could enjoy a full life that is

healthy, fun and rewarding. We want to be part of that process,” said Bromley.

Booths promoting good health and total wellness were made available for the runners along with financial health check and needs analysis conducted at the Real Life Planner booth while relaxation and wellness activities were conducted at the BPI-Philam station. There were also sports and fitness challenges at the Philam Vitality station with runners getting rewards from Toby’s Sports and Garmin.

To know more on how you can live a healthier lifestyle, visit philamvitality.com, email ask@philamvitality.com, or call 528-2000.

The Philippines’ first freestanding breast cancer clinic to open at Centuria Medical Makati

T

he Philippines is said to have the highest incidence of breast cancer in Asia, an alarming situation since this type of cancer is the most prevalent in the country, accounting for 16 percent of the 50,000 diagnosed breast cancer cases.

Experts say one out of every four women in the country is likely to develop breast cancer in their lifetime, with half of this number projected to die of the disease. What makes it worse is that those diagnosed with the disease often think this is synonymous with death and mutilation.

The good news is that early detection of breast cancer can result in better treatment outcomes, and less invasive procedures.

Dr. Norman San Agustin, a Fellow of the American College of Surgeons and also the founder and president of Morristown Surgical Associates at the Morristown Medical Center in New Jersey, strongly believes that “We have to break the cycle of fear about breast cancer with awareness, correct information and the appropriate treatment. Most recent statistics show that

The Asia Breast Center is scheduled to open in April 2016 at the 8th floor of Centuria Medical Makati in Century City (photo by Patrick Bingham Hall)

survival rate for very early detected breast cancer is 99 percent.”

The doctor certainly knows whereof he speaks, as he has a successful practice in the United States dedicated to breast cancer and was immediate past chairman of the Comprehensive Cancer Care Program and the Breast Cancer Program at Saint Clare’s Hospital, the Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center affiliate satellite in New Jersey, for about 10 years.

It is these misconceptions about breast cancer that has encouraged the doctor to open his own breast cancer clinic, the Asia Breast Center at Centuria Medical Makati. Scheduled to open this April, Asia Breast Center will be the first freestanding For Profit-For-Charity ambulatory comprehensive cancer care center in the country and the region affiliated with a Major Cancer Institution in the United States dedicated solely to the management of breast diseases.

Occupying about 400-sqm of space on the eighth floor of Centuria, the center will be manned by a team of US trained Filipino physicians led by Dr. San Agustin who has 45 years of experience in medicine and surgery.

A strong advocate for a multidisciplinary approach in the management of breast cancer, San Agustin, who has been recognized by the “Best Doctors” ranking service for breast surgery, envisions the breast center to be the first outside the US to be recognized and certified as a legitimate breast center by the American College of Surgeons.

The center offers modern facilities and excellent services – from preventive care to early detection and treatment – that include early screening tests, radiation therapy, breast and cosmetology services, counseling, patient education, and close post-operative follow up supportive services. It will also provide complementary medical services including a free standing ambulatory center, a Serenity

Dr. Norman San Agustin, a Fellow of the American College of Surgeons and founder and president of Morristown Surgical Associates at the Morristown Medical Center in New Jersey

Dr. Norman San Agustin and wife Biba at their home in Mendham, New Jersey with a portrait of their daughter Nikki in the background

Suite, a boutique shop, nutritional counseling and emotional and psychological support.

Aside from high-quality service and advanced features, the center will also engage in charity work, with profits to be used to enable indigent women to have breast cancer screenings and treatments. With San Agustin is a team of highly trained Filipino doctors including Dr. Sammy Ang, Dr. Ed Santos, Dr. George Bocobo and Dr. Max Basco with help from business leaders Ramon del Rosario Jr. and Jose E.B. Antonio, as well as Philippine Ambassador to the US Jose Cuisia. The first beneficiaries of the center will be indigent patients of De La Salle University Hospital.

“We are aware of many women’s fatalistic attitude towards their health because of poverty and lack of access to health care.

Generally, Filipino women tend to stay in denial which then leads to late diagnosis, poor treatment, and ultimately a high

mortality rate,” Dr. San Agustin said. Critical to a successful breast cancer treatment is early detection that can only be done through regular self-breast examinations and screenings such as mammography.

The establishment of the Asia Breast Center at Centuria Medical Makati is in line with the world-class IT-medical facility’s thrust towards quality outpatient care and the advancement of medical tourism in the Philippines.

Centuria is the first outpatient IT building in the Philippines that offers topnotch outpatient medical care through advanced healthcare facilities and services. With the turnover of clinic spaces now ongoing, the medical arts center will be home to more than 500 doctors’ clinics and a wide range of health support facilities including a day surgery center, recovery suites, radiology center, and diagnostic laboratory once it becomes fully operational this 2016.

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LIFE life @ thestandard.com .ph

@LIFEatStandard

Women, weights and the truth about bulking Many moons ago, I was what you would call a “cardio bunny.” I would work out for hours in the gym but most of them are purely cardio workouts – the treadmill, elliptical and bike machines were FINE FETTLE my best friends. I’d do the

BY BUBBLES PARAISO sporadic ab workouts, but only those that require just my body weight and nothing else. Why? Because I was scared to bulk up. I, like many women, believed in the notion that weights/strength training = bulky bulgy muscles that don’t look feminine at all.

About five years ago, I remember having a bet with some of my guy friends that if they attended my plana forma (it’s a mix of yoga, Pilates and dance in one) class with me, I’d join them in cross fit, too. The soreness of my muscles the next day made me hate it. I felt like my arms became too big and bulky right away (in just one day!!! Incredulous!), so I thought I’d never lift anything heavy again. WRONG. Fast forward to a couple years later, I got properly educated and learned that lifting weights will definitely NOT bulk women up – it’s just not possible. What it does, however, is tone you up. It makes you burn more calories in your workouts and gives you those arms you’ve been coveting.

See, I used to believe that in order for me to not bulk up, I’ll just lift three-pound dumbbells and let them do the trick. But in reality, if the exercise doesn’t challenge your muscles, then it won’t really do anything. Strength training will not only make your muscles strong, it will also help you burn tons of calories while toning your body. Don’t be afraid to go heavy, to lift heavy. Also, always remember that muscle is denser than fat. More often than not, when you do strength training/weight lifting for the first time, you might notice your weight increasing. You shouldn’t worry too much because if you check your measurements, you’re probably a few centimeters smaller, not bigger.

Don’t be afraid to do those 20-kg deadlifts – they won’t make your legs ginormous.

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LET ME GIVE YOU FIVE REASONS WHY WOMEN CANT BULK UP:

1.Women have about 10-20 times less testosterone than men. Men have an abundance of testosterone, which is the main hormone responsible for muscle mass and girth increase. Women, on the other hand, have the same testosterone level as that of a 10-year-old boy. So it’s really impossible for us to gain that much muscle mass or “bulk up” as men do. Unless aided by steroids or heavy supplements, women cannot bulk up.

2.Women will certainly promote hypertrophy in their muscles but bodybuilding without testosterone only means toning and not bulking. To be toned means that the muscle is not being covered by fat, hence giving those muscles more visible definition. Think Izabel Goulart or Kayla Itsines – they are slim but strong.

3.Strength, not size. Lifting heavy gives primary stress to your nervous system and not the muscles so your strength will improve more through a neurological effect rather than muscle size increase. Women who train heavy strengthen not only their muscles but also cause their bones and connective tissues to have positive adaptations.

4.Bulking up cannot happen overnight. It takes years of bodybuilding to really bulk up.

5.If you eat more than you are burning, then you will gain weight. But weight gain does not equate to bulking up.

It just means you are getting fatter, but your muscles are also somewhat getting more “swollen” so you think it’s bulk. You are misinterpreting your spot-bulk as muscle when in reality it is just fat tissue.

Weighted back squats strengthen your legs and immensely work on that nice booty, too

So ladies, don’t be scared to go to the heavy weights and strength training mechanisms in the gym. Get a trainer and ask how to properly do these exercises and do them regularly.

Don’t believe people when they say that heavy weights will bulk you up; you have to see it for yourself. Or better yet, prove them wrong! And at the end of the day, it’s your body.

Work hard, train hard and unleash the superhero in you.

Follow me on Instagram and Twitter @bubblesparaiso

Deadlifts strengthen and tone your back and butt with the proper form of lifting

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ISAH V. RED EDITOR

isahred @ gmail.com

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‘The RevenanT,’ ‘The MaRTIan’ bIg wInneRs

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n the United States, the event was broadcast with a delay of a few seconds to bleep out Gervais’s dirtiest jokes -- and other on-air obscenities -- for a primetime audience.

Other films that vied for the best drama prize -- and should figure in the Oscars conversation -- were 1950s lesbian romance Carol,

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harrowing kidnap tale Room, and the summer action blockbuster Mad Max: Fury Road.

Brie Larson won the Globe for best actress in a drama for her portrayal of a young mother held captive with her child in Room, besting Carol co-stars Cate Blanchett and Rooney Mara.

In the best foreign movie

category, Hungarian Holocaust drama Son of Saul was the winner.

Unlike the Oscars, the Golden Globes also honors television shows.

Mr Robot, about a computer programmer and vigilante hacker, took home the prize for best drama series. Amazon’s comedy Mozart In The Jungle took the

prize for best comedy series.

Jon Hamm won his second Golden Globe for best actor in a drama for his portrayal of womanizing advertising executive Don Draper in Mad Men, whose finale aired last year.

And for best actress in the TV drama category, Taraji P. Henson won the Golden Globe for her

2016 Golden Globe AwArds winners Best motion picture, drama The Revenant Best motion picture, musical or comedy Joy Best performance by an actress in a motion picture, drama Brie Larson, Room Best performance by an actress in a motion picture, musical or comedy Jennifer Lawrence, Joy Best performance by an actor in a motion picture, drama Leonardo DiCaprio, The Revenant Best performance by an actor in a supporting role in a motion picture Sylvester Stallone, Creed Best performance by actress in a supporting role in a motion picture Kate Winslet, Steve Jobs Best director, motion picture Alejandro González Iñárritu, The Revenant Best performance by an actor in a motion picture, musical or comedy Matt Damon, The Martian Best screenplay, motion picture Aaron Sorkin, Steve Jobs Best original score, motion picture Ennio Morricone, The Hateful Eight Best motion picture, animated Inside Out Best original song, motion picture “Writing’s on the Wall,” Spectre Best motion picture, foreign language Son of Saul Best television series, drama Mr. Robot, USA Best television series, musical or comedy Mozart in the Jungle, Amazon Video Best television limited series or motion picture made for television Wolf Hall, PBS Best performance by an actor in a television series, drama Jon Hamm, Mad Men Best performance by an actor in a television series, musical or comedy Gael García Bernal, Mozart in the Jungle Best performance by an actor in a leading role in a series, limited series or motion picture made for television Oscar Isaac, Show Me a Hero Best performance by an actor in a supporting role in a series, limited series or motion picture made for television Christian Slater, Mr. Robot

role in Empire, which looks at the struggle inside the family behind a major hip-hop label.

The awards are decided by the Hollywood Foreign Press Association, made up of some 90 entertainment editors and writers from 55 countries who report on the industry yearround. –AFP

Sylvester Stallone

The Revenant director Iñárritu and Leonardo DiCaprio Kate Winslet winning Best performance by actress in a supporting role

Best Director winner Alejandro González Iñárritu

Denzel Washington

Oscar Isaac

Best performance by an actress in a TV series, drama Taraji P. Henson, Empire Best performance by an actress in a supporting role in a series, limited series or motion picture made for television Maura Tierney, The Affair Best performance by an actress in a leading role in a series, limited series or motion picture made for television Lady Gaga, American Horror Story: Hotel Best performance by an actress in a television series, musical or comedy Rachel Bloom, Crazy Ex-Girlfriend

Host Ricky Gervais

Best supporting actor ( in a TV series) Christian Slater

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SHOWBITZ isahred @ gmail.com

ChRiS BOtti anD Sting at RESORtS WORLD ManiLa

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remier lifestyle and entertainment destination Resorts World Manila (RWM), in cooperation with Hi Definition Radio Inc., presents an exclusive one-night only event that will truly make for an unforgettable gift as Grammy award winner, trumpeter, and composer Chris Botti takes the stage for up close and personal at the Marriott Grand Ballroom, 8 p.m. on March 3. The show also features Sting.

Since the release of his 2004 critically acclaimed CD When I Fall In Love, Chris Botti has become the largest-selling American instrumental artist. His success has crossed over to audiences usually reserved for pop music and his ongoing association with PBS has led to four no.1 jazz albums, as well as multiple Gold, Platinum and Grammy Awards. Most recently, his latest album Impressions won the Grammy for Best Pop Instrumental Album at the 2013 55th Grammy Awards. Performing worldwide and selling more than four million albums, he has found a form of creative expression that begins in jazz and expands beyond the limits of any single genre.

Grammy Award-winning musician, singer-songwriter, multi-instrumentalist, activist, actor, and philanthropist Sting was the principal songwriter, lead singer, and bassist for the new wave rock band The Police from 1977 to 1983, before launching a successful solo career with hits such as “Fragile”, “Englishman in New York”, “Fields of Gold”, “If I Ever Lose My Faith in You”, and “Brand New Day” to name a few.

As a solo musician and a member of The Police, Sting is one of the world’s best-selling music artists. He has received 16 Grammy

Sting

Awards, his first for best rock instrumental in 1984, three Brit Awards, including Best British Male in 1994 and Outstanding Contribution in 2002, a Golden Globe, an Emmy, and three Academy Award nominations for Best Original Song. He was inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame in 2002 and the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame as a member of The Police in 2003. Most recently, he received a Tony nomination for his score written for the Broadway musical, The Last Ship.

The post-Valentine concert brings together for the first time in the Philippines two iconic musicians of contemporary pop and jazz in a one-of-a-kind intimate setting for audiences via stage seats.

The unique VIP seating provides 60 guests the opportunity to sit on the stage while Botti and Sting perform their greatest hits.

“This concert has a unique value proposition,” said Martin Paz, chief Integrated Marketing officer, Resorts World Manila.

“Unlike other shows with VIP seating that are typically restricted to front row seats, meet-and-greets, or autograph signing sessions, we now take things to a whole new level wherein those in stage seats get to watch the concert on the stage itself and just a breath away from the artists.”

Ticket prices start at Php11,000 for Bronze, Php17,000 for Silver, Php28,000 for Gold, Php34,000 for VIP, and Php40,000 for SVIP. For Stage Seats, contact the RWM Sales team at 0917-8728012.

As the Marriott Grand Ballroom has a 3,180 seat capacity for this intimate show, which is relatively limited compared to arena concerts, tickets are expected to sell out quickly due to the unique opportunity it presents Botti and Sting fans.

Tickets for Chris Botti with special guest Sting Up Close and Personal are now available at the Resorts World Manila Box Office (632) 908-8000 loc. 7700 and TicketWorld (632) 891-9999. RWM members may exclusively avail of two VIP tickets by earning points from Jan.15 until Feb.15.

Visit www.rwmanila.com or call the Tourist/Visitor Hotline at (632) 908-8833 for more details and upcoming special events at Resorts World Manila.

CROSSWORD PUZZLE 43 44 45 46 48 51 52 54 59 60 62 63 64 65 66 67 68 ANSWER FOR PREVIOUS PUZZLE ACROSS 1 Bunk preference 6 Maine, from Utah 10 Cozy 14 Tara’s Scarlett 15 Run words together 16 Comics pooch 17 George Burns prop 18 El —, Texas 19 Soothe 20 Threw a party 22 Got the deck ready

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Offer Coves Of years past (hyph.)

El — Campeador Enamel Tact, to a diplomat Cold War org.

Checkbook no.

Melanges Island near Kauai Jamie — Curtis

Enthusiasm Bunnylike Apply makeup Undertook Frothy dessert NFL gains On parade Hidebound Baroness Karen Dreyfus defender Posh hotel lobbies Glut Used thriftily Rhubarb unit Row Ten, in Toledo Caterwauls

DOWN 1 — Lomond 2 Columbus’ home 3 Quipsters 4 Was, to Ovid 5 Cheese dish 6 Sixth sense 7 Woe is me!

8 Raw fish dish 9 Drubs 10 Gobbled down 11 Man or woman 12 Rubs the wrong way 13 Canasta play 21 Murky

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Emulate a hummingbird Mergers and buyouts Fiery gem Add some brandy Mince Explosive letters Roost Like a chimney Marx or Malden Clarified butter Melville’s “Billy —” Bigger than normal Wood for floors Nasty cut Sheer joy Prepare to kiss Website clutter African tribe Spout rhetoric Japanese mushroom Refresh the fern Merriment Conductor — Klemperer Oater challenge Respiratory organ Tibetan oxen Carpentry tool

Chris Botti

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SHOWBITZ isahred @ gmail.com

Dennis was a hit at the Bayanihan Festival which aims to promote the communal spirit among Filipinos in Dubai

Kapuso stars in Filipino Festivals in Middle east

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MA International continues to touch the hearts of Filipinos in the Middle East through a commemoration of Filipino heritage and culture last December.

Celebrating the 10th anniversary of its flagship international channel GMA Pinoy TV, GMA brought a taste of home to Filipinos in the region through a series of events featuring Dennis Trillo, Betong Sumaya, and Mikael Daez.

Kicking off the festivities in Dubai, Kapuso Drama King Dennis Trillo entertained kababayans at the Bayanihan Festival 2015 on Dec. 4.

The whole day event was spearheaded by the Bayanihan Festival Organizing Committee and the Philippine Consul General in Dubai and Northern Emirates

with GMA Pinoy TV, GMA Life TV and GMA News TV International as media sponsors.

The huge turnout at the Al Mamzar Park warmly welcomed Trillo who had enamored audiences both locally and abroad in the recently concluded drama series My Faithful Husband. With upbeat musical numbers that enlivened the mood of his throngs of admirers, Trillo’s performance was the highlight of the day’s program.

The Kapuso booth at the venue also drew a large crowd with various activities and a meet and greet with the award-winning actor who signed autographs and posed for photographs with each person in line.

Meanwhile, GMA International also took part in a significant

Mikael Daez serenades the crowd at the Philippine Fiesta sa Dammam

occasion among the Filipino community in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, paying tribute to the hardworking overseas Filipino workers at the Philippine Fiesta sa Dammam on Dec. 18.

Leading the event in KSA were Kapuso leading man Mikael Daez, who co-starred with Dennis in My Faithful Husband, and the talented actor-comedian and Bubble Gang mainstay Betong Sumaya. As first time visitors to Saudi Arabia, both Mikael and Betong enjoyed meeting and spending time with their kababayans in the Kingdom.

Organized in partnership with Lins Fip Music Production International and United Entertainment, the annual event drew countless participants from all over the Easter Province at the Co-

Dennis performed live and energetic song numbers to the delight of the audience

bra Amusement Park, Dammam Eastern Province, KSA. Last year, the Philippine Fiesta sa Dammam coincided with the first-ever Filipino Expo Festival, a whole day event for the family featuring booths, rides and backto-back live band performances from local Filipino talents. A dental medical mission was also conducted for the benefit of Filipinos in the region.

“It is a great honor for GMA to be able to reach out to our fellow Filipinos in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia,” shares GMA First Vice President for International Operations Joseph T. Francia.

“Being able to gather the Filipino community in the country is a rare opportunity, and one which we truly grateful to have been given.”

Bubble Gang mainstay Betong Sumaya showcased his many talents in the special tribute to kababayans in Dammam

From demo and baCk up singer to solo artist Daryl Ong, a talented and promising singer now dubbed as the “RNB Heartthrob” is very vocal about his humble beginnings.

He used to be a “Demo Singer” and a backing singer of a famous local artist.

Daryl’s first major achievement was winning second place for his interpretation of “Torpe” in the PhilPop 2014 competition. It was followed with a People’s Choice Award for “Hangga’t May Tinig Ako” in A Song of Praise Music Festival.

After making a mark during his stint and as one of the top contenders under

Team Apl of The Voice of the Philippines Season 2, finishing as one of the semifinalists, Daryl shared his voice and story through his self-titled album released by Star Music.

With the success of his Thankful concert last year iat Music Museum, he will

“On the heels of GMA Pinoy TV’s 10th anniversary in 2015, we welcome another year of bridging Filipinos abroad with their home country through significant events that promote Filipino heritage such as those in Dubai and Saudi Arabia, as well as our continued commitment to providing quality programming and services overseas,” he added.

GMA Pinoy TV, GMA Life TV and GMA News TV International are available in the Middle East through MyHD. For subscription information, please call 9 20000 6234 or email gma@my-hd.tv for inquiries.

For more information on GMA shows, artists and international events, visit the website, www. gmapinoytv.com

start the year 2016 with another concert entitled INTIMATE. It is the most awaited Valentine Event at Teatrino in Promenade Greenhills, 8 p.m. on Feb. 13.

Produced by Aqueous Events and Star Image, headed by young producers in the Philippine Music Industry, Vince Abasolo

and David Cabawatan, the tandem that brought to the concert arena the soldout Darren Espanto’s Total Performance concert series.

Daryl will be performing with the most promising boy band Upgrade. The group has an album out in the market now, their very first album under the distribution of Star Music. Other guests will also share center stage.

Daryl said in a post on his Facebook account, “Para sa mga mag di-date etong parating na Valentines Day, let me add romance to your special moment by singing for you your favorite love songs kitakits tayo this coming Valentines Day at my Intimate Valentine Concert.

The producers say you’ll fall in love this Valentine month espcially if you’d watch Intimate.

Tickets are now available at SM Tickets or call 470 2222 and Star Image office 906 0555, 0977 8171013.

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ISAH V. RED EDITOR isahred @ gmail.com

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Leonardo Dicaprio and Brie Larson winning top acting awards in this year's Golden Globes

‘The RevenanT,’ ‘The MaRTian’ big winneRs aT goLden gLobes

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os Angeles – Epic survival thriller The Revenant and space blockbuster The Martian won big at the Golden Globes, boosting their chances for Oscars glory next month.

The Revenant -- the story of 19th century fur trapper Hugh Glass, played by Leonardo DiCaprio -- won three top awards at the star-studded gala on Sunday, for best drama, best actor (DiCaprio) and best director (Alejandro Gonzalez Inarritu).

The Martian, the tale of an astronaut stranded alone on Mars, won two top prizes -- best comedy film and best actor in a comedy for actor Matt Damon.

The two films -- split in separate categories

by Globes organizers, meaning they were not

Matt Damon won the Golden Globe for Best Actor in a Comedy

competing against each other -- are now in prime position as Hollywood’s annual awards season heats up ahead of the Oscars on Feb. 28.

“I cannot say how surprised I am and how proud I am to have survived this movie,” Inarritu said, referring to the harsh conditions in which the movie was filmed, mainly in Canada and Argentina.

Inarritu’s movie Birdman won four Oscars last year including for best picture and best director, and many critics believe the Mexican director could emerge triumphant again this year.

DiCaprio, who got a standing ovation from his Hollywood peers at the first major awards show of the year, said he wanted to share the award with indigenous communities around the world.

“It is time that we recognize your history and that we protect your indigenous lands from corporate interests and from people that are out there to exploit them,” said DiCaprio.

Critics believe the 41-year-old actor may finally win his first Oscar for the movie. He went all out for the role, even eating raw bison liver for a scene.

Film director Alejandro González Iñárritu and Leonardo DiCaprio

A-listers Kate Winslet and Sylvester Stallone also took home acting prizes at the ceremony held in Beverly Hills, which is seen as a good indicator of which movies and actors will fight for Oscars glory.

Winslet won for best supporting actress in a film for her role in the biopic Steve Jobs, and Stallone won for best supporting actor in Creed, in which he reprised his iconic role of boxer Rocky Balboa.

Spotlight, an early Globes favorite about journalists from The Boston Globe who uncovered sexual abuse in the Catholic Church, went home empty-handed despite three nominations.

Also snubbed was The Big Short, based on a book about the financial crisis of 2007-2008.

Hosting the glittering gala considered Hollywood’s biggest party of the year was British comedian Ricky Gervais, who dished out his trademark raunchy humor, targeting Caitlyn Jenner, Mel Gibson and Sean Penn, among many others.

“Shut up, you disgusting, pill-popping deviant scum!” he said by way of greeting the champagne-guzzling crowd at the event organized by the Hollywood Foreign Press Association.

He also poked fun at Bill Cosby, saying he would rather spend an evening in a hotel room with Gibson -- the target of his hosting gags in the past -- than with the disgraced US comedian accused of sexual assault by ➜ Continued on C7 some 50 women.

Kate Winslet scored her fourth Golden Globe