The Standard - 2016 January 24 - Sunday

VOL. XXIX  NO. 346  3 Sections 24 Pages P18  SUNDAY : JANUARY 24, 2016  www.thestandard.com.ph  editorial@thestandard.com.ph

ROADSIDE COURTS MULLED

A8

PALACE RULES OUT PNOY TESTIMONY

By Maricel V. Cruz

PRESIDENT Benigno Aquino III will no longer submit an affidavit to the Senate committee which will reopen its investigation into the Mamasapano incident that resulted in the 67 people, including 44 police commandos, killed on Jan. 27, 2015.

“I don’t see why there would be a reason for the President to submit an affidavit,” Communications Undersecretary Manuel Quezon III said in an interview with staterun radio dzRB on Saturday.

“Let us not forget that the Senate has already conducted its hearing and that it has concluded its probe. It was a very extensive hearing,” Quezon said of the probe to be conducted by the Senate committee on public order and dangerous drugs, chaired by Senator Grace Poe. Poe reopened the probe at the behest of Senate Minority Leader Juan Ponce Enrile

who claimed he had evidence to prove that Aquino did nothing to stop the clash between the Moro Islamic Liberation Front and the Philippine National Police Special Action Force.

The commandos were killed in the course of “Oplan Exodus,” a mission to arrest Malaysian terrorist Zulkifli Bin Hir, who was hiding with the Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters in Mamasapano, Maguindanao.

Marwan was killed in the operation but the operation turned into a disaster when the SAF commandos ran into fighters of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front, triggering a

day-long series of clashes.

Aside from the slain commandos, 17 MILF fighters and three civilians were also killed and the Mindanao peace process almost scuttled.

Retired police general Diosdado Valeroso, a former Special Action Force official, also claimed on Saturday he had “critical” proof of an attempted cover-up of the Mamasapano encounter.

Valeroso, a former leader of the Young Officers Union who is now running the Senate, said he is in possession of an audio recording Next page

HOME IS MISS UNIVERSE. Pia Wurtzbach arrived back in the country for the first time since she won the Miss Universe beauty pageant in the United States last month. Story on Page A2. DANNY PATA

‘SNOWZILLA’ BLIZZARD BLANKETS EASTERN US

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‘JAPAN VISIT INSTRUMENT OF HEALING’

By Maricel V. Cruz MALACAÑANG said on Saturday the visit of Japanese Emperor Akihito to the Philippines could be an “instrument of healing and reconciliation” but the visiting dignitary can likely do little about the issue of Filipino comfort women during

World War II. “Let’s understand the role of the Emperor of Japan. It would surprise many of us, but he is not a head of state. He is a symbol of Japan,” Presidential Communications Undersecretary Manuel Quezon III said in an interview on state-run dzRB. Quezon made the statement in re-

sponse to questions whether President Benigno Aquino III will raise the issue of comfort women during the Emperor’s visit next week.

“The Emperor has always made a point to be an instrument of healing and reconciliation between the Japanese and the Filipino people,” Quezon said.

Next page

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news

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QUEEN PIA BACK FOR 1ST TIME

By Eric B. Apolonio

MISS Universe Pia Alonzo Wurtzbach returned to the country for the first time on Saturday since she won the title last Dec. 20 in Las Vegas, Nevada.

“I’m so excited. I wasn’t able to sleep last night,” Wurtzbach said upon arrival at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport on board Philippine Airlines flight PR538.

She will be in the country until Jan. 28.

“Every time I think about my trip back here I tear up a little bit because I feel like it has been so long and I have so many things to share. I can’t wait to share it all with you,” the 26-year-old Filipino-German beauty queen said.

Wurtzbach, however, said she was saving her stories for a press conference on Sunday.

On Monday, she is expected to pay a courtesy call on Manila Mayor Joseph Estrada and receive a Citation of Excellence from the Senate before a homecoming parade from Manila to Makati City to Quezon City.

On Tuesday, she will call on President Benigno Aquino III at Malacañang Palace and the mayors of Makati and Quezon City.

Wurtzbach is also set to visit the House of Representatives on the same day where she is expected to be conferred the Congressional Medal of Distinction.

Speaker Sonny Belmonte will lead legislators in giving Wurtzbach the highest honor the House can bestow on anyone in a nonpolitical field in addition to a bill exempting her paying taxes on her winnings from the Miss Universe pageant.

“For 42 years, we have a drought, we were never able to

get the Miss Universe, and so it’s time that we should honor her and give her this tax exemption,” Cagayan de Oro Rep. Rufus Rodriguez said in an interview with ABS-CBN News Channel on Saturday.

Rodriguez is hopeful that the bill will be passed before the Filipino-German beauty visits Congress although the House has had problems mustering a quorum in the past few days apparently because of lawmakers’ preparations for the elections.

UNITED FOR THE FUTURE. Leaders of the group Yugtong Mamamayan para sa Mayabong Hinaharap join hands with senatorial candidate and Leyte Rep. Martin Romualdez during its general assembly in Antipolo City. VER NOVENO

PALACE...

From A1

between two officials who were apparently talking about a coverup a day or two after the incident.

Valeroso did not identify the two people in the audio recording, adding that he will submit the recording to the Senate Committee on Public Order and Dangerous Drugs.

But Quezon said no one would know the nature of these supposed evidence until the hearing itself, but he announced that Aquino will confer the PNP Medal of Valor on Chief Insp. Gednat G. Tabdi and PO2 Romeo C. Cempron, both among the slain police commandos now known as the SAF 44.

“This is the awarding ceremony that will take place, I believe, in Camp Crame. The President authorized the award and among

the awards that will be conferred is the PNP Medal of Valor,” Quezon said.

Tabdi was the head of the SAF 84th Company, which led the “main effort” in the operation to capture international terrorist Zulkifi Bin Hir alias “Marwan,” while Cempron was the lead gunner of the 55th company.

Quezon said only two SAF members would receive the Medal of Valor, as other 42 other slain troopers would receive the Distinguished Conduct Medal as previously recommended by the National Police Commission.

“My understanding is that besides the awarding of the PNP Medal of Valor, which will be [given] to two individuals, there will also be the Medalya ng Kabayanihan or the PNP Distinguished Conduct Medal, which will be awarded to the SAF 44,” Quezon said.

Quezon announced the awarding of the medals after public

criticism of Aquino’s behavior in extending military honors to the slain commandos and the extension of benefits to their families.

As late as Jan. 13, the National Police Commission said it is was still awaiting Aquino approval of the recommended posthumous awards for the slain policemen, leading security veterans to say the awards could have been given upon their burial if Aquino had wanted to.

Qualified children of the Medal of Valor and Distinguished Conduct Medal awardees can avail of scholarships under the Reward Education Assistance Program of the PNP. Medal of Valor awardees are also entitled to a monthly pension of P20,000 a month which “shall accrue in equal shares and with the right of accretion to the surviving spouse until she remarries and to the legitimate, adopted or illegitimate children until they reach the age of 18 or until they marry, whichever comes earlier.”

‘JAPAN...

From A1

Quezon seemed to have agreed to the opinion of UP Third World Studies Center professor Ricardo Jose who has said “the issue of comfort women is a historical wrong that has not been righted.”

But Quezon said he will have to defer to the Foreign Affairs department, saying that the agency and the Office of the President “will pursue what is the appropriate approach over this painful chapter in our history.”

As the country prepares for the visit of Akihito and his wife Empress Michiko from Jan. 26 to 30, comfort women group Lila Pilipina expressed hope that Aquino will bring up the issue on WW II Filipino comfort women in behalf of former sex slaves of Japanese soldiers.

Lila Filipina has asked from the Japanese government a just com-

pensation, recognition that sex slavery occurred at the time, and a public apology.

On Friday, Rechilda Extremadura, executive director of Lila Pilipina (League for Filipino Grandmothers), echoed the stance of the comfort women victims that Japan must still “apologize, uphold the truth and extend just compensation.”

“They are calling on the President to raise their concerns when Japanese Emperor Akihito, along with his wife Empress Michiko, arrives in the Philippines for a state visit from Jan. 26 until Jan. 30.

The Philippines and Japan will commemorate the 60th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations after the end of World War II. “We may be older than him but our memory is far clearer. The grandmothers never heard an official statement of apology nor received compensation from the Japanese government. Perhaps, he is the one suffering from dementia,” Extremadura said.

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NEWS

editorial@thestandard.com.ph

OVERRIDE OF PNOY’S SSS VETO UNLIKELY

By Maricel V. Cruz DESPITE a mounting public demand, Congress may not have the time to override President Benigno Aquino III’s veto of the bill increasing the monthly pension of Social Security System retirees

by P2,000, Speaker Feliciano Belmonte Jr. said Saturday.

Belmonte said the quorum problem at the Lower House persists, thus delaying the passage of significant measures and it seems impossible to muster the needed two-thirds vote, or at least 194 out of 290 congressmen, to overturn the presidential veto.

“It is hard to muster a quorum now. We need two-thirds vote of everybody, not just the people who are present but everybody,” Belmonte said.

Article VI, Section 27 of the 1987 Constitution provides that Congress can pass a bill into law despite the President’s veto if twothirds of the members of each chamber vote for its approval.

Bayan Muna party-list Rep. Neri Colmenares, principal author of House Bill 5842, has filed a resolution overriding the President’s veto.

“The Makabayan bloc will still push through with the campaign to override the veto of the P2,000 pension hike,” Colmenares said.

“There are several members of the lower chamber, some came from the majority bloc, texting me to say that they will support my proposal to override President’s veto,” he added.

But House Majority Leader and Mandaluyong Rep. Neptali Gonzales II maintained that overriding the President’s veto will not likely happen in the remaining six session days of Congress before it adjourns on Feb. 5.

While Congress wants to provide relief to millions of SSS pensions, Gonzales said time may not permit it for lawmakers to pass a measure for the purpose.

“In my experience as a member of the House, there were no records that Congress overrides President’s veto because it will require two-thirds vote of all the members of both houses of Congress,” Gonzales said.

“It will be hard because of this requirement of the Constitution,” he said.

The President vetoed the bill increasing the SSS pension by P2,000 (HB 5842) for fear that it would bankrupt the SSS, a view disputed by lawmakers.

Belmonte earlier proposed that instead of P2,000, the SSS pension should just be increased by P1,000 as a win-win solution to break the impasse caused by the presidential veto.

Belmonte said he would write the President to consider his proposal as a compromise.

Belmonte said the SSS leadership has told the lawmakers that a P500 increase would be “manageable” since it could only lessen the state-owned pension agency by three to four years.

FAN CRUSH. Senator Ferdinand ‘Bongbong’ Marcos greets Pasay City residents who rushed to greet him when he appeared at the Libertad public market. EY ACASIO

PINOYS IN MIDDLE EAST WARN VS LOSS OF JOBS

By Ronald O. Reyes

THE migrant worker group Migrante warned on Saturday against the possibility of mass retrenchment of workers in Saudi Arabia because of the economic situation in the country where there are at least 2.3 million working Filipinos.

“We have been observing the current economic woes. Saudi Arabia, as an example, incurred a huge budget deficit due to the drop of oil prices below the $30 per barrel,” said Migrante’s regional coordinator John Leonard Monterona.

“Due to the Kingdom’s budget cuts and other austerity measures, government projects including infrastructures and the development of various cities were also impacted,” he reported.

“Some of these projects have been delayed and some have been temporarily stopped. Hence, there are OFWs and other nationals

working for private construction firms who have received termination notices,” Monterona added.

While the Saudi Arabian government has already instituted austerity measures and other reforms, Monterona urged the Philippine government to prepare measures to mitigate the impact on retrenched OFWs. “At least 30 OFWs recently retrenched by the construction firm they worked for. All are still under a three-month probationary period.

We are also receiving queries and request for assistance from OFWs based in Qatar as they, too, are also being ter-

minated from work,” he said.

“They were told that their project with the Doha government has been temporarily on hold due to budget constraints,” Monterona added.

Migrante suggested measures the Philippine government must be readying right now to assist retrenched OFWs. “In the short term, OWWA’s livelihood assistance loan and similar assistance package must be readily and easily availed by the retrenched OFWs, and job placement support, too,” Monterona said in a statement.

Aside from its economic situation, there is also growing concern about the deterioration of diplomatic ties between Saudi Arabia and Iran and Bangko Sentral Deputy Governor Diwa C. Guinigundo said it will have a serious impact on OFW remittances.

“In the past, we had the 1991 Gulf War and the 2003 Second Gulf War, but our OFWs were able to move elsewhere and find alternative employ-

ment,” Guinigundo said recently.

“My concern is if the Saudi and Iran conflict extends beyond their respective borders and affect all the contiguous jurisdictions, then we will have some challenges,” he said.

Last year, Filipinos based in Saudi Arabia were the second largest source of cash remittances at $2.401 billion while those employed in the United Arab Emirates were in third with $1.581 billion.

Money sent home by overseas Filipinos stood at $22.83 billion at end-November, up by 3.6 percent from a year earlier and closer to the central bank’s downwardly revised projection of P25.3 billion in total cash remittances for 2015.

The BSP expects OFW remittances to grow by 4 percent this year, slower than the 5 percent rise initially seen in May. In 2014, the central bank said remittances grew by 5.9 percent to $24.348 billion and accounted for 8.5 percent of the economy.

CHURCH GAB OPENS IN CEBU

KEY EVIDENCE. Former police general

Diosdado Valeroso explains to journalists how he came to possess an audio recording between unidentified police officials who were apparently talking about a cover-up of the Mamasapano massacre. JANSEN ROMERO

THE 51st International Eucharistic Congress opens on Sunday at a newly-built pavilion that can seat 14,000 Roman Catholics from at least 71 countries and will culminate in an outdoor mass that is expected to be attended by one million people, church organizers said Saturday.

“Modesty aside, we are 125 percent ready. We are down to our last two percent of things that remain to be done, the nitty gritty,” said Monsignor Joseph Tan of the IEC committee, less than two days before the event kicks off.

Tan said the IEC, which was last held in the country in 1937, is to adults what World Youth Day is to the younger generation of Catholics and it is a rare opportunity for the Visayan hub to shine as a pilgrim and festival city.

“We hope that we will make a very impressive opening day given the number of people expected to attend although we know there are many who registered for the second half of the congress.

“We are excited to listen to our top-caliber speakers. We invite everyone to enjoy the special cultural devotional events [Cebu has to offer],” he added.

Preparations for the IEC began in 2012 when then Pope Benedict XVI announced in a satellite message to the 50th IEC in Dublin, Ireland that the next congress will be hosted by the

Archdiocese of Cebu.

In his presentation at the Vatican in October last year, Cebu Archbishop Jose Palma noted that the congress will be extra meaningful because it will begin at the end of a week-long celebration for the Holy Child and amid preparations for the 500th anniversary of the evangelization of the Philippines.

“In recent years, Asia is the continent that has become one of the great engines of world growth in the economic and social point of view. From the religious point of view, however, it is still a continent that has to be evangelized,” Palma said in is presentation.

“It is our prayer that many will come to Cebu, home of the Santo Niño—he who would eventually offer his body to each and blood to drink in the Eucharist,” the archbishop said.

Palma thanked “the many people who certainly because of their prayers, because of their involvement, because of their generosity, because of their volunteerism, the preparation is practically done.”

Because of the IEC, Palma said he witnessed “a lot of volunteerism and support in the private sector” for this event.

As what had been done during the Papal Visit of Pope Francis in January 2015, Radio TV Malacañang will provide the live television feed to other media outlets covering the event.

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OPINION

ADELLE CHUA EDITOR

lettertotheeditor@thestandard.com.ph

OPINION

YOUR REPUBLICAN TIP SHEET: THE UPDATED ODDS

[ EDI TORI A L ]

TRANSIENT ISSUES

By Jonathan Bernstein ON THE eve of the second-to-last weekend before the voting starts in Iowa, the Republican contest remains unsettled. Not much seems to have changed in the last month.

Donald Trump still leads national polls. He and Ted Cruz are dead even in Iowa. Jeb Bush remains the endorsement leader, with Marco Rubio second, but most Republican governors and members of Congress are still on the sidelines.

Once again, let’s look at the race through the odds posted on prediction markets, this time the aggregator PredictWise.

Donald Trump (43 percent): Big sell.

Yes, he received some lukewarm praise from a few high-profile Republicans who were mainly interested in bashing Cruz. But there’s no serious sign that any party actors want him to be their nominee. His polling lead, meanwhile, is not as impressive as it might seem. As Steve Deace says, “Trump probably needs to be at least five points ahead to withstand Cruz organizational advantage” in Iowa. There’s a chance he’ll deflate if he loses in Iowa, though he probably wouldn’t win the nomination even if his support remained at current levels.

Marco Rubio (28 percent): Big buy. Remains the most likely nominee. The bad news? His momentum with high-profile endorsements has stalled. So has his polling, nationally and in the early states. He’s beenheavily targeted by other candidates, especially Bush. He has no buzz in the national press right now.

The good news? Despite all the attack ads, Rubio remains solidly third in Iowa polling, and essentially tied for second in New Hampshire. Below the surface, he’s still picking up endorsements at the state level. Since Dec. 21, he’s added 70 current or former state lawmakers (for a total of 228), compared to 26 for Cruz (191 overall), 31 for Bush (185), 9 for John Kasich (140), and 24 for the rest of the field combined.

He remains the most likely of the mainstream conservative group to survive Iowa and New Hampshire, and the most likely of that group to win if he makes it through the early events.

Ted Cruz (13 percent): Mild buy. Sure, those who have worked with him can’t stand him. That doesn’t seem to prevent other party actors from supporting him.

Continued on A6

A FORMER official of the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency is arrested in a raid of a laboratory for illegal drugs. He claims he is innocent and that he is working as an undercover.

A former minister of the religious sect Iglesia ni Cristo is arrested by plainclothes policemen by virtue of a warrant of arrest issued by a court down south. He derides the arrest, saying the sect is behind it in retaliation for his revelations about corruption and power play.

A senator seeks the reopening of the Mamasapano case, claiming he has new information that would establish who was responsible for the deaths of 44 police commandos and who told lies in succeeding days. Others say the senator is out for revenge, for being jailed as a result of his supposed involvement in the pork barrel scam.

Two other senators, other former government workers and the alleged mastermind of the said scam are detained. Many cry selective justice because other officials, including those in the President’s own circle, have committed the same crime.

In all these and many other issues, Filipinos become witness to numerous allegations and counter-allegations by and about their government officials. These topics hog the headlines, fuel conversations and debates, and create confusion. They also divide the nation between, essentially, those who believe and those who don’t.

Eventually the issues go away, because other newer controversies emerge and the people are supposed to have short memories—easy on forgetting, easy on exacting accountability. That is, until the issues come back, presenting greater consequences and longer-term implications.

Filipinos are no strangers to unresolved issues. We also never expect to know the exact truth on any one issue. On the contrary, we have come to accept that a certain topic has several different versions of truths depending on who is talking, and that the people involved exploit the public’s short attention span to bide time without paying for what they have done, or what they haven’t.

Now that elections are near, there will be more transient issues bound to compete for our attention. Some will be floated by political opponents. Some will be created as distractions by the candidates themselves. Yet some will be manufactured to ensure that they will elude justice when they are no longer in power. Some of these will be noise, but many are legitimate issues that must be discussed and dissected, never forgotten.

The Filipino people must reject this supreme insult. We should assert that we are no longer a nation of entertainment-seekers who are soothed by motherhood statements and catchy slogans. If there is an issue, we must delve on it and be critical of the facts presented. We must recognize the topics that demand our attention and dismiss those that are meant to confuse us.

We should stop talking about superfluous details and get to the closest approximation of the truth. In the end, we should say no to all attempts to keep us in the dark and discourage us from asking the difficult questions.

A CONTINUING CONVERSATION

IN TACLOBAN City on Thursday, Jan. 21, the Center for Community Journalism and Development, DRRNet and the Australian Embassy-The Asia Foundation held what they called “Ideas Exchange Forum: The Concluding Community Conversation.”

It was the culminating event of a project that sought to generate insights from various sectors and recommendations on the scheduled review of the Disaster Risk

Reduction and Management Act. The activity was held to present the results of the project, which had three components: an online survey, community dialogs, and the generation of good-practice stories from the field, all designed to reflect on the effects of the law.

The DRRM law, passed in the final weeks of the Arroyo administration in 2010, distinguishes among four thematic areas in dealing with disasters: prevention and mitigation; preparedness; response; and rehabilitation and recovery. Different government agencies are in charge of initiatives for each area: the departments of Science and Technology, Interior

It’s the narratives that bring out how communities work to achieve resilience, with or without the guidance of the law.

and Local Government, and Social Welfare and Development

A5

and the National Economic and Development Authority, respectively.

Out of the law arose the NDRRM framework, which envisions a country of “safer, adaptive and disaster-resilient Filipino communities toward sustainable development.” A 15-year plan— a road map—was also drafted with 14 objectives, 24 outcomes, 56 outputs and 93 activities.

But as we Filipinos know too well, what is on paper could be starkly different from how the law is actually implemented on the ground. After Yolanda and the many other disasters that took place since then, it was necessary to evaluate whether the law pro-

vided enough basis and was implemented adequately to address the needs of the people.

The ones in the best position to provide input to the review of the law are not lawyers, legislators or technical personnel, but the citizens. It is the citizens’ and communities’ actual experiences that serve as legitimate basis for assessing the law’s strong and weak points alike, and how it may be improved.

••• What the survey reveals is something that can be worked on.

Between May and August 2015, at least 187 respondents from media, government and civil society said that majority has enough general knowledge of the existence of the

law but not its particulars and that just a few are aware of the actual composition of local DRRM councils and of the fact that the law says CSOs MUST be among the members of these councils.

How do they know these? Not from media, but from formal activities like seminars and training sessions.

Most of the respondents also said they knew the council to help in the coordination of disaster efforts; just a few knew these could actually exert influence at the policy level. DRRM plans were not entirely based on risk assessment activities,

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and many said just a handful had a direct participation in its crafting, defeating the participatory nature prescribed by the law.

Many of the respondents also had just a vague idea how DRRM initiatives are funded at the local level.

Note that the respondents are workers/ members of the media, government and CSOs. Imagine how much less the average citizen is likely to know.

From the community dialogs emerged challenges recommendations in structure, plans and CSO participation. For example, local councils are not regularly convened,

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DRRM officers are appointed without commensurate qualification, and many of them hold other concurrent positions in the LGU when DRR is supposed to be a fulltime concern.

If there are plans to begin with, these are not disseminated to the barangay level.

Much less are CSOs involved in planning.

Local media are remiss in the duty to spread information and education.

••• Then again, it’s the narratives that bring out how communities work to achieve resilience, with or without the guidance of the law.

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

Chairman President & Chief Executive Officer Board Member & Chief Legal Adviser Director of Operations Finance Officer

Anita F. Grefal Treasury Manager Edgar M. Valmorida Circulation Manager

In a town in Eastern Samar, a mayor just four months into the job dug up the files of his predecessor and used an old disaster preparedness plan as his bible just so he would know what to do given the threat of a coming strong typhoon. This ran counter to the practice of politicians of rejecting everything that belonged to the previous administration especially if they came from different political camps.

Two Samar towns empowered their women after Yolanda by revitalizing a weaving industry that enabled them—and their famiContinued on A6 Rolando G. Estabillo Jojo A. Robles Ramonchito L. Tomeldan Chin Wong/Ray S. Eñano Francis Lagniton Joyce Pangco Pañares Adelle Chua Romel J. Mendez Roberto Cabrera

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

Emil P. Jurado Chairman Emeritus, Editiorial Board

S U N D AY, J A N U A R Y 24 , 2 0 1 6

A4

OPINION

ADELLE CHUA EDITOR

lettertotheeditor@thestandard.com.ph

OPINION

YOUR REPUBLICAN TIP SHEET: THE UPDATED ODDS

[ EDI TORI A L ]

TRANSIENT ISSUES

By Jonathan Bernstein ON THE eve of the second-to-last weekend before the voting starts in Iowa, the Republican contest remains unsettled. Not much seems to have changed in the last month.

Donald Trump still leads national polls. He and Ted Cruz are dead even in Iowa. Jeb Bush remains the endorsement leader, with Marco Rubio second, but most Republican governors and members of Congress are still on the sidelines.

Once again, let’s look at the race through the odds posted on prediction markets, this time the aggregator PredictWise.

Donald Trump (43 percent): Big sell.

Yes, he received some lukewarm praise from a few high-profile Republicans who were mainly interested in bashing Cruz. But there’s no serious sign that any party actors want him to be their nominee. His polling lead, meanwhile, is not as impressive as it might seem. As Steve Deace says, “Trump probably needs to be at least five points ahead to withstand Cruz organizational advantage” in Iowa. There’s a chance he’ll deflate if he loses in Iowa, though he probably wouldn’t win the nomination even if his support remained at current levels.

Marco Rubio (28 percent): Big buy. Remains the most likely nominee. The bad news? His momentum with high-profile endorsements has stalled. So has his polling, nationally and in the early states. He’s beenheavily targeted by other candidates, especially Bush. He has no buzz in the national press right now.

The good news? Despite all the attack ads, Rubio remains solidly third in Iowa polling, and essentially tied for second in New Hampshire. Below the surface, he’s still picking up endorsements at the state level. Since Dec. 21, he’s added 70 current or former state lawmakers (for a total of 228), compared to 26 for Cruz (191 overall), 31 for Bush (185), 9 for John Kasich (140), and 24 for the rest of the field combined.

He remains the most likely of the mainstream conservative group to survive Iowa and New Hampshire, and the most likely of that group to win if he makes it through the early events.

Ted Cruz (13 percent): Mild buy. Sure, those who have worked with him can’t stand him. That doesn’t seem to prevent other party actors from supporting him.

Continued on A6

A FORMER official of the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency is arrested in a raid of a laboratory for illegal drugs. He claims he is innocent and that he is working as an undercover.

A former minister of the religious sect Iglesia ni Cristo is arrested by plainclothes policemen by virtue of a warrant of arrest issued by a court down south. He derides the arrest, saying the sect is behind it in retaliation for his revelations about corruption and power play.

A senator seeks the reopening of the Mamasapano case, claiming he has new information that would establish who was responsible for the deaths of 44 police commandos and who told lies in succeeding days. Others say the senator is out for revenge, for being jailed as a result of his supposed involvement in the pork barrel scam.

Two other senators, other former government workers and the alleged mastermind of the said scam are detained. Many cry selective justice because other officials, including those in the President’s own circle, have committed the same crime.

In all these and many other issues, Filipinos become witness to numerous allegations and counter-allegations by and about their government officials. These topics hog the headlines, fuel conversations and debates, and create confusion. They also divide the nation between, essentially, those who believe and those who don’t.

Eventually the issues go away, because other newer controversies emerge and the people are supposed to have short memories—easy on forgetting, easy on exacting accountability. That is, until the issues come back, presenting greater consequences and longer-term implications.

Filipinos are no strangers to unresolved issues. We also never expect to know the exact truth on any one issue. On the contrary, we have come to accept that a certain topic has several different versions of truths depending on who is talking, and that the people involved exploit the public’s short attention span to bide time without paying for what they have done, or what they haven’t.

Now that elections are near, there will be more transient issues bound to compete for our attention. Some will be floated by political opponents. Some will be created as distractions by the candidates themselves. Yet some will be manufactured to ensure that they will elude justice when they are no longer in power. Some of these will be noise, but many are legitimate issues that must be discussed and dissected, never forgotten.

The Filipino people must reject this supreme insult. We should assert that we are no longer a nation of entertainment-seekers who are soothed by motherhood statements and catchy slogans. If there is an issue, we must delve on it and be critical of the facts presented. We must recognize the topics that demand our attention and dismiss those that are meant to confuse us.

We should stop talking about superfluous details and get to the closest approximation of the truth. In the end, we should say no to all attempts to keep us in the dark and discourage us from asking the difficult questions.

A CONTINUING CONVERSATION

IN TACLOBAN City on Thursday, Jan. 21, the Center for Community Journalism and Development, DRRNet and the Australian Embassy-The Asia Foundation held what they called “Ideas Exchange Forum: The Concluding Community Conversation.”

It was the culminating event of a project that sought to generate insights from various sectors and recommendations on the scheduled review of the Disaster Risk

Reduction and Management Act. The activity was held to present the results of the project, which had three components: an online survey, community dialogs, and the generation of good-practice stories from the field, all designed to reflect on the effects of the law.

The DRRM law, passed in the final weeks of the Arroyo administration in 2010, distinguishes among four thematic areas in dealing with disasters: prevention and mitigation; preparedness; response; and rehabilitation and recovery. Different government agencies are in charge of initiatives for each area: the departments of Science and Technology, Interior

It’s the narratives that bring out how communities work to achieve resilience, with or without the guidance of the law.

and Local Government, and Social Welfare and Development

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and the National Economic and Development Authority, respectively.

Out of the law arose the NDRRM framework, which envisions a country of “safer, adaptive and disaster-resilient Filipino communities toward sustainable development.” A 15-year plan— a road map—was also drafted with 14 objectives, 24 outcomes, 56 outputs and 93 activities.

But as we Filipinos know too well, what is on paper could be starkly different from how the law is actually implemented on the ground. After Yolanda and the many other disasters that took place since then, it was necessary to evaluate whether the law pro-

vided enough basis and was implemented adequately to address the needs of the people.

The ones in the best position to provide input to the review of the law are not lawyers, legislators or technical personnel, but the citizens. It is the citizens’ and communities’ actual experiences that serve as legitimate basis for assessing the law’s strong and weak points alike, and how it may be improved.

••• What the survey reveals is something that can be worked on.

Between May and August 2015, at least 187 respondents from media, government and civil society said that majority has enough general knowledge of the existence of the

law but not its particulars and that just a few are aware of the actual composition of local DRRM councils and of the fact that the law says CSOs MUST be among the members of these councils.

How do they know these? Not from media, but from formal activities like seminars and training sessions.

Most of the respondents also said they knew the council to help in the coordination of disaster efforts; just a few knew these could actually exert influence at the policy level. DRRM plans were not entirely based on risk assessment activities,

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and many said just a handful had a direct participation in its crafting, defeating the participatory nature prescribed by the law.

Many of the respondents also had just a vague idea how DRRM initiatives are funded at the local level.

Note that the respondents are workers/ members of the media, government and CSOs. Imagine how much less the average citizen is likely to know.

From the community dialogs emerged challenges recommendations in structure, plans and CSO participation. For example, local councils are not regularly convened,

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DRRM officers are appointed without commensurate qualification, and many of them hold other concurrent positions in the LGU when DRR is supposed to be a fulltime concern.

If there are plans to begin with, these are not disseminated to the barangay level.

Much less are CSOs involved in planning.

Local media are remiss in the duty to spread information and education.

••• Then again, it’s the narratives that bring out how communities work to achieve resilience, with or without the guidance of the law.

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

Chairman President & Chief Executive Officer Board Member & Chief Legal Adviser Director of Operations Finance Officer

Anita F. Grefal Treasury Manager Edgar M. Valmorida Circulation Manager

In a town in Eastern Samar, a mayor just four months into the job dug up the files of his predecessor and used an old disaster preparedness plan as his bible just so he would know what to do given the threat of a coming strong typhoon. This ran counter to the practice of politicians of rejecting everything that belonged to the previous administration especially if they came from different political camps.

Two Samar towns empowered their women after Yolanda by revitalizing a weaving industry that enabled them—and their famiContinued on A6 Rolando G. Estabillo Jojo A. Robles Ramonchito L. Tomeldan Chin Wong/Ray S. Eñano Francis Lagniton Joyce Pangco Pañares Adelle Chua Romel J. Mendez Roberto Cabrera

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

Emil P. Jurado Chairman Emeritus, Editiorial Board

S U N D AY, J A N U A R Y 24 , 2 0 1 6

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OPINION

lettertotheeditor@thestandard.com.ph

IRAN NUCLEAR TALKS: THE DAY THE STORY DIED

By Simon Sturdee VIENNA—When it finally came late on a Saturday night, the announcement was momentous: the Iran nuclear deal had entered into force. The UN atomic watchdog announced that yes, Iran really had curbed its nuclear program.

Sanctions were lifted and after 13 years, a dangerous standoff was over.

But for me, who has covered the ins and outs of the story for nearly five years, this was also a moment tinged with sadness— the twisting, fascinating and often infuriating saga was finally over.

Well, probably.

Page-turner The epic story was about so much more than stopping Iran getting nuclear weapons—something which Tehran always denied.

It was about ties between the “Great Satan” United States and “axis of evil” Iran; it was about ordinary people in Iran, with its young population, wanting a better life.

It was about the struggle of different factions in the Islamic republic, about the shifting sands of power in the Middle East and the West’s— and Russia’s and China’s—role there. And it was about oil.

Arriving in Vienna for AFP in 2011, the epic was already several chapters in, its previous pages dating back to 2002 and a depressing read. Nine years in, there was no end in sight. Sanctions were piling up and Iran was defiantly expanding its activities, inching ever closer—in theory— to getting an atomic bomb.

But when Hassan Rouhani became president in June 2013,

MAIL MATTER JANUARY 24-31, 2016 will mark the observance of the 51st International Eucharistic Congress in Cebu.

With the theme, “Christ in you, our hope of glory (Col 1:27),” the week-long Eucharistic Congress is intended to strengthen the faith of the people and to promote awareness of the central place of the Eucharist in the life and mission of the Catholic Church. It is also believed to be a pause for commitment and a pause for prayer.

As Pope Francis said in his letter addressed to the participants in the plenary of the Pontifical Committee for International Eucharistic Congress, “The 51st International Eucharistic Congress offers the opportunity to experience and comprehend the Eucharist as a transformative encounter with the Lord in his word and in his sacrifice of love, so that all may have life, and live in abundance (cf. Jn 10:10). It is a propitious occasion to rediscover the faith as a source of Grace that brings joy and hope in personal, familial and social life.”

The Philippines is blessed to be chosen to be the venue of the 51st International Eucharistic Congress, because it could help strengthen the faith of the people and the devotion to the Eucharistic in our country.

It is a reminder that it is important for all of us to join the Eucharist to commemorate the life, crucifixion,

John Kerry and Mohammad Javad Zarif in Vienna on Jan. 16. AFP

promising improved relations with the outside world, everything suddenly changed. With him and the US-educated new Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif, there seemed to be a real willingness to put the nuclear standoff to bed.

The waiting game And here the fun really began. If that’s what you can call the sleepless nights, stress and excruciating boredom of waiting, and waiting, and waiting through hours, and hours, and hours of talks that journalists covering the diplomatic sparring had to endure.

Over two years, the nuclear talks’ traveling circus of diplomats, technical experts, analysts, press flacks and journalists would set up tent many times in many places.

The first breakthrough was in Geneva in the early hours of Nov. 24, 2013. But not a full deal, no, this was an interim

agreement to buy time and build confidence. The band of blearyeyed journalists knew this was just the start.

In April 2015, perhaps helped by some Swiss spring air, came two rounds in Lausanne, culminating on April 2 with the main outlines of the final deal. This really was progress. Now all they had to do, by June 30, was work out the details. But this turned out to be the worst bit, working out the technical nuts and bolts of how it would work.

The deal was finally done and dusted on July 14, 2015 in Vienna—but only after an 18-day diplomatic marathon.

Iranians celebrated and a historic breakthrough was hailed.

Six months on, it has all fallen into place—although with a sting in the tail with a 13-hour wait for the IAEA announcement—and the merry circus has disbanded.

It was a story of different personalities: from John Kerry (on

crutches in July) to Zarif, from France’s mischievous negotiator Nicolas de Riviere to China’s Wang Qun and his “arsenal” of bow ties. “The IAEA is more than welcome to come and inspect them,” Wang quipped in Lausanne.

The never-ending wedding Reporters with no prior knowledge, or indeed interest, soon came to learn what a uranium centrifuge does (increases a proportion of a fissile isotope), and what a Separative Work Unit (a unit measuring centrifuge efficiency) and a “snapback” (a mechanism to reapply sanctions) are.

The press would hang out in the adjacent Marriott, local beer gardens or in an air-conditioned large marquee generously provided by the Austrians. It was a bit like a never-ending wedding.

Vienna, which hosted the majority of the talks, started to grate for some though.

Chief US negotiator Wendy Sherman suffered a twisted ankle, a broken nose, “and a ruptured pinkie finger.” She talked wearily of her “hotel buffet that specializes in turkey schnitzel.”

And the locals were bemused.

“Who are you waiting for?” said one passerby, seeing all the cameras. “John Kerry,” we said.

“Cool! The actor?”

Covering the IAEA and its inspection work in Iran will continue, but basically the excitement is over.

Unless, of course, the whole deal falls apart. Which—as those of us who’ve covered the ins and outs know—is not entirely impossible. AFP

‘THE EUCHARIST IS WHAT MAKES THE CHURCH’—POPE FRANCIS death and resurrection of Jesus Christ.

This is also the time when we nurture our soul; we grow our relationship with God, because we always need His love and mercy that comes to us through the bread and the wine that is changed into the Body and Blood of Jesus Christ by the words of Jesus himself and the power of the Holy Spirit. Thus, we are receiving Jesus every time we receive the Holy Eucharist. It is Christ’s continuing and lasting presence in the community of faith.

The great mission of the Congress is to make people who are mostly poor, understand the Eucharist. This year’s IEC is also a dialogue with the poor.

According to a new report from Oxfam International, a global organization working to right the wrongs of poverty, hunger, and injustice, the world’s 62 richest billionaires have as much wealth as the bottom half of the world’s population. And two-thirds or 700 million of the world’s poor live in Asia, according to the report from Asian Development Bank, while in the Philippines, according to the data from the National Statistical Coordination Board, more than one-quarter (25.8 percent) of the population fell below the poverty line in the first semester of 2014.

They are poor not because our country lack natural and material resources but because of the oppressive and unjust social, economic, and political structures that keep the poor and marginalized away from enjoying the rich natural wealth of their lands—all rooted from selfishness and greed.

Pope Francis once said, that the Eucharist is not just a weekly way of celebrating our faith, but should radically affect our relationship with others, especially with those most in need.

All the hungers of the world, physical and spiritual, become the concern of a community that celebrates the Last Supper of the Lord, just as they became Jesus’ concern during His life and ministry. As the Ordinary General Assembly of Bishops in 2005 declared, “Christians need help in seeing the faith implications of the presence of Christ in the Eucharist and his presence in their brothers and sisters, especially in the poor and those on the periphery of society.

Love for the poor and those on the periphery of society was not simply the subject of Jesus’ preaching; it gave meaning to His entire life.”

As Catholics, we are called to give ourselves generously to our brothers and sisters, just like Jesus Christ who gave himself to all on

the Cross. And since receiving the Eucharist means receiving Jesus Christ, we become like Him, we become a part of Him, so we have to be ready and willing to do what he did.

In this modern world, where society is becoming uninterested to the values of the Gospel and where people are led away from the teachings of the Church, this year’s International Eucharistic Congress is a great avenue for the Filipinos and to all the people around the world to experience and understand the Eucharist as a transforming encounter with the Lord in His word and in His lifegiving sacrifice of himself.

Let us all reflect, pray and celebrate the Eucharist during and even after IEC. Let us continually accept Jesus Christ every time we participate in the celebration of the Holy Eucharist to find inner strength and power that we need to win against temptation and establish a stronger relationship with our Lord Jesus Christ who brings joy and hope in our personal, familial and social life. As one liturgical song would put it, “Let us be bread, blessed by the Lord, broken and shared, life for the world.”

REV. FR. ANTON C.T. PASCUAL President, Radio Veritas 162 West Ave. cor Edsa, Quezon City

YOUR... From A5 That backing still doesn’t appear to be a conventional winning majority within the party, but he would have a real chance of winning a three-way contest with any two others after the field winnows, and would probably beat Trump one-on-one. At the moment, he’s the candidate most likely to survive the first four events and get to March; that’s worth something.

Jeb Bush (10 percent): Hold.

His polling numbers are terrible, but if he can manage to beat Rubio, Kasich and Chris Christie in New Hampshire, he would become a strong contender, and he’s only a few percentage points behind them in the polls.

Chris Christie (2 percent): Buy. His December media surge never really showed up in polling numbers. And if he does make it through New Hampshire, he’s probably too liberal (among other difficulties) to defeat anyone but Trump one-onone. He would be a surprise, but a path still remains for him.

John Kasich (2 percent) Buy. Polling averages put him either third or second in New Hampshire right now. So he’s somewhat more likely than Christie or Bush to win the mainstream conservative (Rubio, Kasich, Christie, Bush) primary in the Granite State, and probably more likely than Christie and perhaps as likely as Bush to be nominated if he can make it out of the early states.

Ben Carson (1 percent). Sell.

Not even a glimmer of a late Iowa resurgence.

Mike Huckabee and Rick Santorum (0). Sell, if the rules allow it. Until this week’s Iowa polls, they would have been a buy. Dramatic late movement is possible in Iowa, and there was always a chance that Cruz would collapse for some reason. If either of these former Iowa winners had recaptured social conservatives, even with a second- or thirdplace finish, there could be a case for them to go all the way. But it hasn’t happened.

Everyone else (0). No, it’s not going to be Carly Fiorina, Rand Paul, Jim Gilmore or some compromise candidate at a contested convention. Bloomberg

A CONTINUING... From A5 lies—to recover after the typhoon.

The provincial DRRM office of Leyte also shared its experience— highs and lows, really—in building a reliable early warning system that would alert residents if it was time to evacuate.

Finally, the city DRRM officer of Zamboanga City talked about how they are trying to bounce back from the horrifying experience of the September 2013 siege. After all, disasters are not just brought by nature—they can also be human-induced.

In the end, these stories and experiences lent a human face to the process of reviewing where the law succeeds and where it fails. This becomes more and more urgent as the effects of climate change are more pressing, nay, threatening.

Let’s keep the conversation going by continuing to tell stories— painful, happy, heartbreaking, redeeming—and by electing only leaders who show an appreciation of how crucial DRRM truly is. adellechua@gmail.com

s u n d ay : j a n u a r y 24 , 2 0 1 6

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news

editorial@thestandard.com.ph

Carbon deteCtors in sChools sought

By Maricel V. Cruz

A lAwmAker has proposed the mandatory installation of carbon monoxide detectors in elementary and secondary school buildings where there is a substantial risk of exposure to carbon monoxide.

In his House Bill 6372, Quezon City Rep. Alfredo Vargas III warned that “long-term exposure to carbon monoxide can affect the memory, brain function, behavior and cognition of humans.”

“In extreme cases, exposure to this toxic gas results in

death,” Vargas said.

Vargas cited an incident in Catbalogan City, Samar where 15 public school teachers were hospitalized after suffering from carbon monoxide poisoning after they had a seminar at a two-story building of the City

Schools Division office.

“In accordance to the State policy of protecting the physical, moral, spiritual, intellectual and social well-being of the Filipino youth, we must ensure that our students are not susceptible to this particular toxic gas,” Vargas said.

Vargas’ measure defines carbon monoxide as a colorless, odorless, tasteless and non-irritating toxic gas that poses extreme danger to people when inhaled.

If passed into law, Vargas said the Department of Education shall directed to adopt regula-

tions requiring the installation of carbon monoxide detectors in every elementary and secondary school buildings with substantial risk of exposure to carbon monoxide.

The DepEd shall be assisted by the Department of Health and the Local Government Units where the particular school building is located.

Vargas said he is hopeful that Congress, particularly the House committee on ecology, chaired

by Manila Rep. Amado Bagatsing will due consideration to the measure.

HELP FROM THE OUTSIDE. through his star apple Foundation, pascal canning, an irishman who now lives in maasin city, southern leyte

continues to support the survivors of typhoon ‘nona’ which hit catarman, northern samar in december 2015. his foundation gives 70 pieces of lumber (2”x4” 2”x3” & 2”x2”), 5 kg of various nails, 14 sheets of gi roofing, roof capping for each of the 10 families, like in this photo of a family in barangay doña pulqueria (himbang), catarman , northern samar. in leyte province, pascal also led various housing projects for the victims of super typhoon ‘Yolanda’ in november 2013.

sm, bdo build 4-room school building

A Two-SToRy, four-classroom schoolbuilding in the Efraim Santibañez National High School campus has been turned over to school officials and local government officials by donors, SM Foundation and BDo Foundation.

In a lot donated by Edmund Santibañez, the National High School is home to 200 students from barangays Sto. Tomas, Nueva Union, Pataugan, Agtambo, Sarapan, Aglalana, Mola-pola, Cabunga and Passi.

The donation came complete with chairs, blackboards, electric fans, teachers’ tables and toilets. Books were likewise donated to the school library.

Mayor Jesry Palmares as well as school principal Nelson Palma and Maura Pail, Schools Division superintendent, received the donation from Mesdames Debbie P. Sy of SM Foundation, Maureen Abelardo of BDo Foundation and Linda Atayde, SMFI executive director for Education.

at the turnover rites are (from left) edmund santibañez, lot donor, principal, nelson p. palma; maura F. pait, schools division superintendent; mayor Jesry t. palmares; deborah p. sy, smFi executive director; maureen abelardo, bdo Foundation president; carmen linda atayde, smFi executive director.

big-time oil price rollback proposed

By Joel E. Zurbano MILITANT group Anakbayan on Saturday demanded a “big-time rollback” of oil prices from top three firms in the country, citing reports that the global crude oil prices dropped to a historic low at $27 a barrel.

Vencer Crisostomo, chairman of Anakbayan, said the oil firms are making a killing by extracting profits from motorists and the riding public, with local oil prices not following the global downtrend.

Comparing the change in prices of crude oil and local pump prices from August 2014 to January 2016, according to Anakbayan, will show that while oil prices in the world market have dropped by 72.16 percent, local pump prices declined by around 56 percent for diesel and 36 percent for gasoline.

Citing the data reported by the Department of Energy, the youth group said the price of diesel decreased from P41 to P18 while the price of gasoline decreased from P50 to P32 between August 2014 and January 2016.

It added the world price of crude oil is now in its 19th month of plunging down because of unabated oversupply and concerns over China’s cooling economy.

Crisostomo praised jeepney drivers and operators for showing concern to the public by initiating the rollback of jeepney fare from P7.50 to P7 due to the low oil prices.

But he lambasted the big oil companies which, he said, are only concerned about profits.

“They are slow to rollback and only do so in trickles but quick to hike oil prices,” he said.

Based on its world oil Prices monitoring (Jan. 1115 trading days) report, the Energy Department said crude prices were on steady downtrend over the week, reaching an average decline of around US$4 a barrel.

The agency also said Asian Dubai posted Monday at US$28/bbl down to US$25/bbl as the week ends.

Likewise, Brent and wTI dropped this week by about 10 percent, reaching its 12year low level of US$30/bbl.

“Persistent oversupply that battered oil prices since mid of last year remained the main reason behind the price slump.

The drop was later heightened by fresh concerns about China’s economic health that provided worries over demand for the world crude oil,” the DoE said.

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SUNDAY: JANUARY 24, 2016

NEWS editorial@thestandard.com.ph

SUSPECTED DRUG DEALER, 8 OTHERS FALL IN BASILAN

By Francisco Tuyay

BRIGHT PROSPECTS. A night photo of Metro Manila’s skyscrapers. Seoul-based debt watcher NICE has issued its latest poll saying that it has upgraded the credit rating of the Philippines to investment-grade category. JANSEN ROMERO

ROADSIDE COURTS MULLED

By Joel E. Zurbano

CHAIRMAN Emerson Carlos of the Metro Manila Development Authority wants his agency to set up roadside courts to address complaints of motorists victimized by erring traffic enforcers.

The program is one of the topics to be discussed next month by the MMDA with representatives of the Technical Working Group composed of the Department of Transportation and Communications, Land Transportation Office, Police Highway Patrol Group and Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board.

The MMDA will also coordinate with 17 Metro Manila mayors or members of the Metro Manila Council—the agency’s policymaking body—if there is a need to come up with a resolution on the project.

“We are considering this project. We have to discuss this in the next meeting,” said Carlos in a press briefing.

The project is the agency’s answer to the numerous cases and complaints of motorists who were caught violating traffic rules but end up being the victims of extortion.

The MMDA identified the five areas of concern namely -- Epifanio de los Santos Avenue, Circumferential Road-5, Quirino Avenue, Commonwealth Avenue and Roxas Boulevard.

Under the program, the MMDA proposed that the complainant can visit the roadside court even during 12 midnight where he or she will be assisted by the receiving clerk and hearing officer.

If there is evidence, the roadside court presiding officer then will decide on the complaint.

The traffic enforcers involved in the case can file his appeal before the special jury group composed of city bus operators, automobile association, members of the academe and church representatives that the agency will also create.

The appeal will be made within the period of 15 days but the justice on the part of the victim will be made on the day the complaint was filed.

The enforcers can also file a complaint against motorists who will try to bribe them.

This is the first time that a government agency in the Philippines would have a roadside court that would act immediately regarding road activities involving erring traffic enforcers.

The MMDA proposed the project on the heels of several reports about traffic enforcers involved in extortion. It said illegal street activities will not be tolerated among the agency’s personnel.

The MMDA encouraged the public to use video cameras to record and document perceived illegal or unlawful activities by MMDA employees to “help attain a disciplined society, and also for evidentiary purposes.”

It urged the public to use the agency’s website aimed at fostering transparency and active civic participation in finding solutions to various metro-wide concerns.

SECURITY forces and narcotics operatives killed a suspected drug dealer and arrested eight others during a raid at a terrorist lair in Basilan on Friday.

Major Filemon Tan, Western Mindanao Command spokesperson, identified the slain suspect as Abubakar Adali Asa, who was killed in an ensuing shootout with the government raiding party at the outskirts of Maluso, Basilan at about 5:45 a.m.

Tan said government forces from the Marine Battalion Landing Team (4th Special Forces Battalion) and PDEA operatives swooped down on Sitio Canas, Barangay Calangcanas to arrest Asa for his illegal drug trading.

The arresting team members were approaching their target when Asa’s group fired at them, triggering a shootout. Asa died on the spot while eight of his companions were cornered.

The operatives seized 2-M16 rifles, M203 grenade launcher, one caliber .22 pistol, one rifle grenade, several rounds of ammunition and magazines, undetermined cash, suspected shabu and other drug paraphernalia.

The confiscated items were turned over to the Maluso Police Station while the 8 arrested persons were detained.

Charges for violation of the dangerous drug act would be filed against the suspects, the military said.

The operations followed numerous complaints against Asa’s alleged illegal drug dealing in Maluso town and other neighboring areas in Basilan.

Tan said the military will assist law enforcement agencies in the efforts to stamp out illegal drug activities.

ECOWASTE HITS USE OF PLASTIC BAGS AS FIESTA DECOR AN ENVIRONMENTAL watchdog pursuing preventive measures to stem the growing garbage problem in Metro Manila has denounced the use of plastic bags as fiesta decoration.

The EcoWaste Coalition described the increasing practice of hanging plastic bag garlands across the streets as “extremely wasteful” and should stop at once.

“It seems to be getting out of control as we can see in San Andres, Manila with many neighborhood streets festooned with plastic bag banderitas that will surely end up as garbage,” observed Aileen Lucero, coordinator, EcoWaste Coalition.

“The banderitas consisting of plastic sando bags, ultra-thin plastic bags and other plastic-based materials compete with the countless plastic tarpaulins of local politicos for space and attention. It’s plastic

all over,” she noted.

The Sagrada Familia Parish in the vote-rich San Andres Bukid is set to observe the Feast Day of the Holy Family on Sunday, Jan. 24.

The EcoWaste Coalition earlier decried the wide and wild usage of new plastic bags as fiesta banderitas in some streets of Pandacan and Tondo, which recently celebrated the feast of the Santo Niño.

“Hanging banderitas has become an extremely wasteful practice that only contributes to Manila’s huge garbage disposal expenditure,” she said.

Based on the 2013 year-end report of the Commission on Audit, the City Government of Manila spent P512.6 million for garbage hauling expenses, second to Quezon City that spent P999.6 million, the top garbage spender in Metro Manila, which totally spent a mind-boggling P4.2 billion.

Aside from insisting for a ban

on plastic bag banderitas, the group also sought the enforcement of Manila City Ordinance 8282 that bans the use of plastic bags for dry goods and regulate their use for wet goods, as well as bans polystyrene (styrofoam) as container for food, produce and other products.

The Manila-wide regulation on plastic bags and polystyrene containers should have taken effect in September 2013.

‘With effective public education and vigilant implementation, Manila’s plastic bag regulation has the potential to succeed in reducing garbage spilled onto the streets and esteros, and in cutting the staggering costs of waste disposal and flood control,” she emphasized.

“We also hope that Manila will take action against wasteful plastic banderitas and ban them at once,” she added.

HEALTH HUB. Caloocan Mayor Oca Malapitan leads the formal opening of Calaanan Health Center in Barangay 50. He is joined by (third from left) SM Foundation Inc. member Connie Angeles, city health officer Dr. Maybelle Sison and city councilors Carol Cunanan and Rose Mercado (partly hidden). JUN DAVID

SUNDAY: JANUARY 24, 2016

Roderick T. dela Cruz EDITOR business@thestandard.com.ph extrastory2000@gmail.com

BUSINESS

B1

WHY WEALTHY FILIPINOS

ACQUIRE NEW CITIZENSHIP JURG Steffen has recently met a wealthy Filipino couple who wants to acquire another citizenship, one that will allow their children to go to a European school or travel anywhere without applying for a visa. Steffen says this is now a normal thing among the rich, with thousands of them around the world acquiring a new passport.

Steffen, a former banker in Switzerland, is the managing partner at the Singapore office of Henley & Partners, a market leader in residence and citizenship planning.

The company has 20 offices around the world that help thousands of wealthy individuals and their families acquire second residence or citizenship.

“Our clients are wealthy families who just want to look at their options. It is just a normal thing,” Steffen says in a news briefing at Fairmont Hotel in Makati City.

“There are a lot of entrepreneurs here in the Philippines who want to travel more easily who do not want to get a visa all the time and they make a donation or real estate investment between $200,000 and $400,000 and then they don’t need a visa anymore. They can travel with St. Kitts [Caribbean] passport visa-free even to Schengen countries,” he says.

Steffen says Filipinos also have the option for the European citizenship program, where in one and a half years, they can have the Cyprus or Malta citizenships.

Steffen has had a lot of dealings with the world’s richest families, having established and developed a private bank operation for one of the leading banks in Switzerland.

He was also a director in the crossborder wealth planning department of UBS in Zurich, advising high-net worth individuals and key clients regarding financial, residence and citizenship planning.

Before joining Henley & Partners, he was a personal advisor for the members of one of the wealthiest families in Europe and a member of the management board and head of the wealth planning department of a leading private bank in Austria.

He has been leading the Singapore office of Henley & Partners since April 2013, where he met some Filipino families looking at

Henley & Partners Singapore Pte. Ltd. managing partner Jurg Steffen their options. “The [residence and citizenship] market in general is growing. There are now more Filipinos, there are more people in the region who do this, but we cannot say why they are doing it. Every situation is different. I just met a wealthy family here in the Philippines, and they said you have to advise us. Show us to Antigua, St. Kitts, Malta or Cyprus. They said it is good for our children to have more than one passport,” Steffen says.

“If you have Filipino passport, you can’t travel to many countries.

If you are wealthy, you want the best for your children. Why not get another citizenship?’ he says.

A Filipino passport holder can travel to only 60 countries visafree, while a Caribbean citizen can go to more than 130 countries without applying for a visa. A European citizen can travel to over 160 countries.

Steffen says Henley & Partners helps rich individuals or families, with good reputation, to acquire residence or citizenships in Caribbean countries such as St. Kitts and Nevis as well as Antigua and Barbuda. It also offers European citizenship programs through Malta and Cyprus.

Steffen says it is difficult to know the exact number of Filipinos that they were able to help. “We have

plenty of offices. Some Filipinos go to our Hong Kong office, some to our Singapore office,” he says.

What is clear is that these Filipinos are among the richest in the country, or those with a net worth of at least US$3 million to US$4 million for the Caribbean program applicants and 20 million euros for the Cyprus citizenship program.

“There are wealthy Filipinos and if they can afford, why not. We also see that it is an educational thing.

When your friends said it is okay, why should I not do it? It is like you have a Porsche, and suddenly your friends also want their own Porsche,” he says.

Steffen says the Philippines is a

new market for citizenship. “But it is a good market, because Filipinos are very open. They speak very well English and they travel a lot.

A good passport is an important plus for them, because they can travel easily,” he says.

Henley & Partners, however, stays away from people who are politically exposed and those with tarnished reputation. “It is very important for us. Before we accept the clients, we ask them about their background, where their wealth comes from. We do Internet check and also database, which shows whether you are in the terrorist list or politically exposed. We are very careful. We ask professional companies that specialize on background checks,” he says.

Steffen says some applicants are trying to acquire a new citizenship for the wrong reasons. “If they have convictions, you don’t take them. Often, it is also difficult.

The reputation is very important for us. There are people here in the Philippines that we did not accept as clients. There are people who wanted a new citizenship for the wrong reasons,” he says.

He says even wealthy individuals from the US, Europe, Russia and China also want to move to other countries, for various reasons ranging from education, lifestyle, retirement security to tax jurisdiction.

Steffen says while other Southeast Asian countries have good investor programs for other nationals, the Philippines is not on the radar of foreign retirees.

“The Philippines does not have a real investor program, where you can invest money and get residence permit. Malaysia is a good example… It is now an interesting option for wealthy people,” he says.

“We don’t have a lot of inquiries regarding the Philippines.”

Steffen says applicants need to prove their wealth in order to qualify for Caribbean or European citizenships. “For the citizenship program, the cheapest starts with $300,000 all inclusive for donation and for investment, around $500,000. If a family or a single applicant decides to do that, they should have, let us say at least $3 million to $4 million. They have to spend $300,000 to $500,000 for new citizenship,” he says.

He says the European citizenship program is three to four times more expensive. “The family of four in Malta costs around 1 million euros. In Cyprus, you need around $2.5 million in real estate investment. Clients usually have 20 million [euros] plus plus,” he says.

For the residence program, it ranges from $80,000 to $5 million. “In Malaysia, you have to TURN TO B3

SUNDAY: JANUARY 24, 2016

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

ACCOUNTING FIRM FOUNDER REVEALS FORMULA FOR SUCCESS

By Othel V. Campos

RAMON Garcia was only 26 years old when he helped establish a general professional partnership in a rented apartment in Makati City that provided accounting and advisory services in the fields of audit, tax, advisory, risk and outsourcing.

Thirty-five years later, Ramon F. Garcia & Company is now a globally-respected financial and tax advisory firm known for applying Christian values, principles and technology in assisting and helping clients’ business grow.

A self-made man, Garcia founded his company in 1981. “I started when I was just 26 years old. I helped grow this company through hard work, and we didn’t step on anyone’s toes,” says Garcia.

“We have grown organically, since then. We have a group of very competent partners and accountants that are willing to take the extra mile to give what is due our clients,” he says.

Together with his partners including a younger brother, Garcia saw his company grow with dignity and integrity, based on the teachings of the Holy Scripture.

Garcia and his family are devout Christians who believe in the Divine Providence and in doing what is just and right.

“Our vision is to be a sociallyresponsible topnotch global professional accountancy and consultancy firm applying Christian values in assisting and helping our clients business grow and providing our staff with excellent professional growth and above industry remuneration,” he says.

He says in a span of three decades, the company has managed to hone globally-competitive accountants, who in many times in the past, have been prone to piracy by major international financial companies.

But the company has only taken this in a stride, knowing fully-well that what they seed in their staff is quality branding that only RFG & Co. can do.

RFG & Co. picks out graduates from the top ten percentile, a practice that assures only top level people manages and runs the company together with the management and office staff.

With the K to 12 program leaving a two-year dearth of accounting graduates, RFG & Co. is not at all bothered it will run out of talents to train as able and competent professionals.

It plans to utilize the two-year period to increase the knowledge and help fresh hires develop personal as well as professional attributes that will create world-class auditors and accountants.

The company is also supported

by seasoned workforce consisting more than 120 people, mostly accountants and auditors.

RFG & Co. is an organization bounded by eight core values that, over time, became the pillar of the company’s success. Among them are service excellence, integrity and values. For clients, RFG & Co. provides practical solutions while working hand-in-hand to get the desired results when it comes to financial management.

“Our experience shows that we’ve achieved more than 95-percent good results. Our clients are comfortable with us because the moment we say we will do it, they trust us that we can do it,” says Garcia.

The company has, in fact, initially thrived on referrals and repeat engagements. There were times when clients could only think of circumventing rules and the law to easily get out the mess they were into, but Garcia managed to always have them see what is legally-sound.

Garcia says he has worked very hard on building credibility for the firm for the past 35 years, and he won’t ever destroy his company’s name and integrity just for money.

He cited the case of an auditing firm involved in Enron, a USbased energy company. After the discovery of the fiasco, the more than half-a-century-old firm collapsed in less than six months.

“I’ve always said that intelligence and technical skills will help you succeed, but it is integrity and credibility that will sustain you,” he says, adding that the lack of integrity will start the downfall of any organization.

“That is what businesses should

Ramon F. Garcia & Company founder and managing partner Ramon Garcia

in their systems. Still, he knows that technology is meant to supplement, not take over the minds of his people.

“We embraced technology for further productivity, but it is still the human brain that processes everything; you have to maintain solid knowledge on the basics

I’ve always said that intelligence and technical skills will help you succeed, but it is integrity and credibility that will sustain you. learn,” he advises start-ups.

RFG & Co. also became dynamic in order to survive, particularly in this world of fast-paced technology.

Garcia is also proud to note that RFG & Co. is among the pioneers that use information technology

of accounting and auditing, and that’s important,” he says.

RFG & Co. has recently celebrated its 35th anniversary.

“We nurtured our people by providing them with professional growth to help them grow from

within because we wanted to protect and maintain our culture, our ‘values system.’ It is important yet very hard to maintain, and I’m happy to say that it was a slow but steady growth over the years,” Garcia says.

A few years ago, the company was approached by no less than top global financial network Crowe Horwath International to be its partner not only in the Philippines but in the region.

Garcia says the company’s effort to practice global standards in service and maintain excellent performance have brought this feat to add to the company’s achievement list.

Crowe Horwath International is one of 10 biggest accounting networks worldwide with 205 independent accounting and advisory services firms in 125 countries globally.

This reputation has not only brought fame and glamor to the company but more importantly

added to its status as a credible, reliable and reputable accountancy and consultancy firm in the Philippines.

“Just being affiliated with Crowe Horwath already lends so much to our credibility,” Garcia says.

With the influence of Crowe Horwath, RFG & Co. now ranks as the ninth biggest finance advisory in the world and the 6th biggest in the Asia Pacific with 732 partners globally.

“Clients want consistency in cross border advisories particularly for business ventures, something that we are more than able to provide especially with the Asean region,” says Garcia.

RFG & Co. currently services big-ticket clients in many industries, particularly in manufacturing, food, import/export and other general businesses. It also provides advisory services to celebrities in the entertainment and sports sectors.

SUNDAY: JANUARY 24, 2016

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

FILIPINO FOOD BRANDS GO GLOBAL FILIPINO food brands continue to grow and go global, boosted by the growing Filipino communities around the globe.

This is revealed by food industry player Binalot Fiesta Foods president Rommel Juan.

Binalot has recently opened its first overseas store in Dubai.

There are 700,000 Filipinos living in the United Arab Emirates and 450,000 of them are in Dubai.

Filipinos constitute 21.3 percent of the population in Dubai, so a good Filipino food brand is needed in the market, says Juan.

Binalot has granted a franchise to a local company in Dubai to ensure that it can serve the local market the best way possible.

They plan to open two more stores in Dubai and eventu-

ally open more stores across the Gulf.

Binalot is joined by local food giants Jollibee Food Corp. and the Max’s group which also bared plans for their international expansion.

Jollibee brands now have more than 3,000 outlets, including 630 abroad. In January 2015, the company announced a joint venture to open 1,400 Dunkin Donut outlets in China. The Filipino food giant also bought a 40-percent stake in Smashburger, an American fast casual burger joint.

Max’s group, the largest fast casual dining company in the Philippines, announced that it

WHY WEALTHY... FROM B1 put in around $80,000 in bank account. A lot of Europeans retire in Malaysia, where the cost of living is affordable. Australia, they have an investor visa. It is $5 million program. Again, clients have to be very wealthy,” he says.

On why people are willing to spend millions of euros to become European citizens, Steffen says: “the European citizenship program is for people who want to have more security.”

“It is like an insurance solution.

When you have European citizenship, you can choose where you want to live in Europe. All the European countries have signed agreements of free movements.

That means if you are European, you can actually move to any European country. You just have to prove you have basic health insurance and that you have sufficient funds in the form of bank statements. People like to have additional European passport because if something happens, somewhere around the world, you can choose any European country, and you can live there,” he says.

Steffen says even US or Israeli citizens prefer to use other passports for personal safety. “We have clients mainly from the US who are concerned when they travel with US passport because perhaps they are going to Middle East countries.

They want another passport that they can travel with. Then they check in hotels with their European passports and nobody knows they are also US citizens,” he says.

“I had a client recently from

Singapore office. They were an Israeli family whose children study in Singapore. They said if their children travel on a school trip to Indonesia, they cannot go because Indonesia does not allow Israelis to get a visa. Their family got another citizenship so their children can go on school trips. So there are things that you will never think about, but they are actually relevant,” he says.

Steffen says while around half of the countries in the world do not allow their people to switch citizenships, many countries offer investor programs that accept foreign investments in real estate.

“There are options in the world.

It depends on where the family wants to live and how long the family will spend in these countries. But a lot of countries have interesting investor schemes,” he says.

He says St. Kitts & Nevis citizenship program is the oldest in the world, which started in 1984. “You can make a donation of $250,000 or you make an investment of $400,000 and you can get citizenship. You don’t even have to go there. Antigua is a new program which is now three and a half years old. It is available for a donation of $200,000 or a real estate investment of $400,000.”

“In Europe, there are two citizenship programs, mainly Malta and Cyprus. Malta is the smallest European country. They had only 420,000 inhabitants. You can travel visa-free to 160 countries. The program is not the easiest. You

would enter the Chinese market with its Yellow Cab Pizza brand/ The group signed a development agreement with JuYangYiTong of China’s privately owned Zhongfa Group to open at least 15 upscale pizza parlors in Hebei near Beijing and Tianjin.

The venture aims to get a slice of the $2-billion pizza market in China.

Max’s group owns 550 outlets across all its brands and aims to open 200 overseas branches by

2020. They already have 34 outlets in North America.

Binalot hopes to open 20 more outlets in the Middle East in the next five years

and announced that it is looking for foreign partners who wish to promote Filipino food and culture in their own country.

“We believe that Binalot can succeed wherever there are Filipino communities looking for fresh and clean Filipino food,” says Juan.

Binalot now has 34 branches around the Philippines and is known for Pinoy favorite meals all wrapped in banana leaves.

have to make a donation to the government of 650,000 euros for the main applicant. Clients have to get a residence permit in Malta.

After one year, they get a citizenship. For six years, you have to be in Malta. Additionally, once they received the citizenship, they have to invest 150,000 euros in government bonds in Malta. It doesn’t sound easy for you, or it sounds expensive but it is up and running now. Over 900 families applied for it,” he says.

Steffen says with a Cyprus passport, one can travel to more than 150 countries. The difference is

Henley & Partners developed the concept of residence and citizenship planning in the 1990s, as globalization expanded. However, the quickening pace of globalization has given rise to a growing demand for greater transparency among financial institutions and tax authorities. The Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development has called for the global implementation of its Standard for Automatic Exchange of Financial Account Information, which addresses automatic disclosure of financial account information between countries and is

en the security of wealthy individuals and families, especially those in developing countries since there is a risk of this information becoming available to the wrong sources,” he says.

He says if wealthy families have security concerns regarding a possible exchange of information with their home country, an option is to consider moving to a country where the overall situation is more favorable with regard to security, tax, lifestyle and education.

Steffen says this is where Henley & Partners comes in, as it provides the best and most appropriate residence options in the world. He says other residence options that are tailor-made to the needs of wealthy families are the UK tier 1 investor program, Portugal’s golden visa program, the Australian significant investor visa, Singapore’s global investor program, the capital investment entrant scheme of Hong Kong and Malaysia’s second home program.

Steffen says wealthy Filipinos usually apply for residence or citizenship programs for the education of their children. “Usually, it is easy for education. But Filipinos usually, they do not move together with their children to the UK or to Canada. Their children go there, but their families stay here,” he says.

Steffen says even with a new citizenship, wealthy Filipinos choose to stay in the Philippines.

“What we see in the end, if they lived here their whole life, they don’t want to move to another country,” he says.

Roderick T. dela Cruz

Our clients are wealthy families who just want to look at their options. It is just a normal thing. that the Cyprus scheme is an investment scheme, while Malta is a donation program. In Cyprus, you can buy residential, property or villa at the beach for 2.5 million euros. In Cyprus, you can get it in four months.”

He says the citizenship program is a fast growing multi-billion industry. “In Malta, there was an opposition against it. But you have to see that it also brings a lot to these countries. Some European countries were against it. The most important is the reputation of the program. If you ensure that not the wrong people get these citizenships, then usually it is not a concern,” he says.

comprised of detailed rules contained in the Common Reporting Standards.

“When the governments start exchanging information, they don’t know who sees the information. The same is true here in the Philippines. They fear the security impact on them because they don’t know who will get the information,” says Steffen.

Steffen says the CRS is a big step towards a globally coordinated approach to the disclosure of financial information from both individuals and organizations. “If governments begin to exchange information of income earned by individuals, then this could threat-

B4 3 More nabbed in MiSSing StUdentS caSe MExiCAN authorities have arrested three more suspects in connection with the disappearance and presumed slaughter of 43 students in 2014.

Authorities have now detained 113 people, including police officers and drug cartel suspects, in a case that has caused international outrage and challenged President Enrique Pena Nieto’s administration.

National Security Commissioner Renato Sales said Friday that three suspected members of a criminal group were detained in iguala, the city in the southern state of Guerrero where the 43 students vanished on Sept.

26, 2014.

Two of the suspects, aged 19 and 28, “received the young men from iguala municipal police officers” that night, Sales said, without specifying what happened next.

Prosecutors say that iguala police abducted the students after they seized buses for a protest and handed them over to the Guerreros Unidos gang, which killed them and incinerated their bodies at a landfill.

The third suspect, a 40-year-old man, is the “main” person involved in the murder of Julio Cesar Mondragon, a student whose body was found in iguala with his facial skin peeled off, Sales said.

Relatives of the students and independent investigators have rejected the official conclusions in the case. The attorney general’s office agreed to create a special unit for the case and is looking at new lines of investigation. AFP

world

UN meets AfricAN UNioN for BUrUNdi crisis tAlks UN Security Council ambassadors and African Union leaders met Saturday for crisis talks on Burundi, after the government refused a proposed AU force to stem violence in the troubled country.

The meeting, in the AU headquarters in Ethiopia, comes a day after the UN envoys met with President Pierre Nkurunziza in Burundi, where they appealed for him to take urgent action to stop the violence sparked by his re-election.

UN council envoys have pushed for the government to hold talks with the opposition and agree to the presence of international troops—such as a proposed 5,000-strong African Union force —to restore stability.

AU Peace and Security Council chief Smail Chergui said Saturday it was crucial the international community “remain united on Burundi”, which has been gripped by violence since April.

Chergui said there was a “strong convergence of views” between AU and UN envoys on the “urgent need for inclusive political dialogue” to resolve the crisis.

Street protests, a failed coup and now a simmering rebellion began when Nkurunziza announced his

intention to run for a controversial third term, which he went on to win in July elections.

United States Ambassador Samantha Power, speaking after meeting Nkurunziza late on Friday, said the envoys “didn’t achieve as much, frankly, as i think we would have liked”.

“There is a ‘cri de coeur’ from many, many people in Burundi for outside help and for urgent, urgent mediation to get a solution,” Power added.

More than 400 people have died since then and at least 230,000 have fled the country, but Burundi’s government insists there is no need for foreign troops and has branded AU peacekeepers an

“invasion force”.

Nkurunziza took a hard line during the meeting at his hilltop residence in Gitega, some two hours outside of Bujumbura, where he rejected calls for inclusive dialogue, renewed mediation efforts and an international intervention force. “i can guarantee that there will not be a genocide in Burundi,” Nkurunziza said, adding that Burundi is “99 percent secure”.

Nkurunziza’s refusal to compromise has raised the prospect of tougher measures ahead to stop almost nightly outbreaks of violence.

The proposed force is expected to be a key element of talks at an AU summit in Ethiopia on Jan. 30-31. AFP

burundian protesters hold banners as the US ambassador to the United nations (not seen) arrives at bujumbura airport on Jan. 21, 2016.

Un Security council ambassadors arrived in burundi to protesters telling them not interfere, as they came to push the government to open up serious talks with the opposition and accept peacekeepers. AFP

MaMMoth ‘Snowzilla’ blizzard blanketS eaStern US

a “chose life” advertisement is displayed along a snow covered U.S. highway 34 in thayer, iowa. Presidential candidates seeking the nomination for the republican and democratic Party will campaign across the state of iowa ahead of the iowa caucus taking place Feb. 1. AFP

A dEAdly blizzard with bonechilling winds and potentially record-breaking snowfall slammed the eastern US Saturday as officials urged millions in the storm’s path to seek shelter, warning the worst is yet to come.

US news reports said at least eight people had died by late Friday from causes related to the monster snowstorm, which is expected to last until early Sunday.

Forecasters predict the storm could dump more than two feet (61 centimeters) of snow in Washington, dC and the surrounding area by late Saturday, bringing life to a wintry halt as residents ride out the rough weather.

“The real teeth of this #winterstorm will be after midnight thru early Sat afternoon. Heavy snow, increasing winds, lightning threat,” the National

Weather Service (NWS) tweeted.

A blizzard warning was in effect for a large swath of the eastern United States from Washington up to New york.

The storm is expected to affect about 85 million Americans -- about one quarter of the inhabitants of the United States. Before it’s all over, it could cause more than $1 billion in damage, NWS officials said.

Several southern states, meanwhile, were already hit by snow and sleet— unusual for the region—with tens of thousands without power.

Frantic shoppers emptied grocery store shelves in preparation for the storm, dubbed “Snowzilla” by some US media, and schools and government offices in Washington were all closed. “i think it’s going to be a disaster,” Sharonda Brown, a nurse, said as she waited for an Uber car with a full cart

of groceries at a Washington supermarket stormed by shoppers.

Winds were expected to pick up overnight, prompting Washington’s police chief Cathy lanier to urge residents to stay indoors.

“With the increasing winds and increasing snow accumulation, now we’re going to see more and more people stranded,” she told CNN. Crews were out clearing the roads throughout the US capital, while others turned to shovels.

Among them was 28-year-old William duren, who was clearing a sidewalk outside a downtown Washington hotel.

“Usually when we see snow in the forecast, it turns out to be only an inch or so. They always exaggerate on TV,” he said, before adding that this time, the forecasters appeared to be right. AFP

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WORLD editorial@thestandard.com.ph

Four die in Canada sChool shooting

us secretary of state John Kerry (r) is pictured during a meeting with saudi arabia Foreign minister adel al-Jubeir in central london on Jan. 14, 2016. us secretary of state John Kerry met his saudi counterpart Foreign minister adel al-Jubeir in london on thursday amid concerns over the dramatic breakdown in relations between his country and iran. aFp

By Michel Comte

Kerry in riyadh amid iran-saudi tension US Secretary of State John Kerry arrived in Saudi arabia on Saturday hoping for an easing of tensions between the Sunni power and its predominantly Shiite rival Iran.

Kerry was attending a joint meeting with his Saudi counterpart Adel al-Jubeir and other foreign ministers from the six-nation Gulf Cooperation Council.

The US chief diplomat is also scheduled to meet with top officials of the Syrian opposition ahead of UN-sponsored peace talks with the regime of President Bashar al-Assad.

He will hold talks with King Salman and his powerful son, Deputy Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, who is the defence minister.

Saudi Arabia and some of its allies cut diplomatic ties with Iran

this month after protesters there burned Riyadh’s embassy in Tehran and a consulate in the second city of Mashhad.

The violence against Riyadh’s missions occurred after the kingdom executed dissident Shiite cleric Nimr al-Nimr, a driving force behind anti-government protests.

Nimr was one of four Shiites put to death on January 2 alongside 43 Sunnis. All were convicted of “terrorism”.

“We understand the Saudi anger over the attack on their facilities in Iran,” a senior US State Department official said before

Kerry’s arrival.

“But we also understand that lessening tensions is an important objective not only for the United States but for the region”.

Saudi Arabia and its Gulf neighbours perceive a lack of US engagement in the region, particularly in the face of what they see as Iran’s “interference” in Yemen, Syria, Lebanon and elsewhere.

Those feelings crystallised with a historic international deal which this month lifted crippling economic sanctions on Iran in return for a scaling back of its nuclear capabilities.

Kerry has long sought to reassure his Gulf allies about the overtures to Iran, and will continue those efforts in Riyadh.

Tensions between Saudi Arabia and Iran, the foremost Sunni and Shiite powers, have caused

concern around the globe. China, France and Pakistan have all sought a de-escalation.

Iran’s supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei on Wednesday said the embassy attack was wrong, and against Islam.

“That was, I think from our perspective, extremely noteworthy,” the State Department official said.

“And hopefully, maybe that will open up the possibility that the situation will resolve and that the Saudis will find their way forward in reopening their embassy in Tehran.” on Tuesday Saudi Arabia issued a 58-point “fact sheet” which it said illustrates “Iran’s aggressive policies” over nearly four decades.

Saudi Arabia and Iran support opposite sides in the Syria and Yemen wars. AFP

SHoTS rang out at a school in western Canada Friday, leaving four people dead and several others critically injured in the nation’s worst such shooting in a quarter of a century. “obviously, this is every parent’s worst nightmare,” said Prime Minster Justin Trudeau.

Trudeau held a news conference in Davos, Switzerland, where he was attending the World Economic Summit, to announce the death toll in the remote northern aboriginal community of La Loche in the province of Saskatchewan.

Trudeau earlier said five people had been killed and two others were in critical condition but a Royal Canadian Mounted Police spokeswoman later revised the death toll down to four.

The suspected shooter was taken into custody after police received an emergency call about “a person discharging a weapon in the community,” RCMP superintendent Maureen Levy told reporters.

She said police were also investigating a second location in a nearby residential neighborhood, but provided no further details.

Authorities did not disclose the age and identify of the shooter and victims.

“We all grieve with and stand with the community of La Loche and all of Saskatchewan on this terrible tragic day,” Trudeau said.

La Loche students said they heard six or seven shots ring out at around 1:00 pm (1900 GMT).

Several witnesses reported seeing a “boy,” who was either a student or formerly attended the school, opening fire inside the building.

“I ran outside the school,” Noel Desjarlais, a Grade 10 student at the school, told public broadcaster CBC. AFP

haiti in limbo as eleCtion postponed aFter unrest HAITI was once again plunged into political limbo Friday after plans to hold an imminent presidential run-off were abandoned in the face of an opposition boycott and fierce street protests.

As angry crowds flooded into the streets of the capital, the chairman of the Provisional Electoral Council (CEP), Pierre-Louis opont, said Sunday’s planned vote had been pushed back because of “obvious security concerns.”

No new date has been set. opont complained that CEP personnel had been attacked and that several polling stations had been burned overnight.

After his announcement, there were scenes of panic outside CEP headquarters as police violently dispersed a crowd. An AFP reporter heard gunfire within a hundred yards (meters) of the presidential palace in downtown Portau-Prince.

At least one protester was shot and wounded and shop windows were smashed in the busy Petionville commercial district near the electoral agency headquarters.

The poorest country in the Americas had been due to go to the polls to elect a successor to President Michel Martelly and seek a way out of a deep crisis

that now threatens to leave a political vacuum. opposition activists feared the vote would be rigged in favor of Martelly’s hand-picked successor, Jovenel Moise, and their champion Jude Celestin is boycotting the poll.

Martelly was initially scheduled to broadcast a national address on the crisis but later canceled it, leaving the government’s position on the CEP’s decision unclear. opont said that, having concluded it was impossible to hold a vote on Sunday, he was waiting for “the response of the executive” before deciding how to proceed. AFP

demonstrators march during a protest in port-au-prince, against the presidential elections. haiti’s electoral authority has postponed sunday’s planned presidential run-off amid mounting opposition street protests and voting fraud allegations. the second round of presidential elections was scheduled for January 24 between ruling party candidate Jovenel moise and Jude Celestin but was suspended by Cep. AFP

B6

S U N D AY : J A N U A R Y 24 , 2 0 1 6

SPORTS

REUEL VIDAL EDITOR

sports@thestandard.com.ph

San Sebastian College spiker Gretchel Soltones is foiled at the net by CSB’s double block set up by Ranya Musa (17) and Chelsea Chloe Santillan (9).

PETER ATENCIO

EAC Generals spiker Howard Mojica (15) is foiled at the net by the triple block of Perpetual’s Allan Rey Sala-an (15) Bonjomar Castel (3) and Warren Catipay (8). PETER ATENCIO

ALTAS, LADY BLAZERS NEAR NCAA CROWNS

snatch the crown away from the Lady Staglets.

Panaga once again took charge for the Lady Blazers, hitting 23 points, with one of his six aces helping CSB to an 11-3 advantage.

Soltones still came up big for the Lady Stags, notching 27 points, and including three straight points off her attacks to threaten 7-14.

The 5-11 Panaga then found ways to stop Soltones.

She scored on a kill and then blocked Soltones’ attempt. Jonah Corpuz also blocked Soltones before Panaga scored from the middle to put CSB further ahead, 22-9.

By Peter Atencio

AFTER being foiled by upstart Emilio Aguinaldo College Generals last year perennial title contenders University of Perpetual Help Altas are poised to return to the throne of men’s volleyball in the 91st National Collegiate Athletic Association volleyball tournament.

The Altas stopped the prolific Howard Mojica’s game and went on to post a 20-25, 25-21, 25-20, 2519, beating of the defending champion Emilio Aguinaldo College in Game 2 of their best-of-three finals showdown at the Arena in San Juan.

They leaned on the 6’3 Bonjomar Castel’s defensive efforts on Mojica, and they went on tie the series at 1-all.

The Altas will have all the momentum they need when they meet the Generals in a decisive Game 3 on Tuesday, Jan. 26 at 3 p.m.

Meanwhile, climbing all the way up from fourth place in the step-ladder semifinals College of St. Benilde could win its first ever women’s volleyball title.

Middle blocker Ranya Musa came up big for CSB as they again beat the San Sebastian College Lady Stags.

Musa led two other teammates, Janine Navarro and Jeanette Panaga in stepping up in the last two sets.

Her frontline plays helped the Lady Blazers put away the defending champion

San Sebastian Lady Stags, 25-23, 21-25, 25-22, 25-16, in Game 2 of the women’s finals.

Musa, along with Navarro and Panaga hit 16 points in a big effort which pushed the Lady Blazers a win closer to an historic title conquest.

“At first, walang kuwenta ang laro ko. Pero, sinubukan kong bumawi sa huli,” said the 17-year-old Musa.

After the Lady Stags equalized in the second set, they managed to hang on keep the fight close, 22-23, off Dangie Encarnacion’s placement shot.

The 5’11” Musa then scored on a kill in the next play, Navarro added an ace to take the third set.

In the fourth set, Musa, Panaga and Navarro scored a point each as they led an attack which put the Lady Blazers ahead, 10-5.

After the Lady Stags managed to catch up, 12-13, off Nikka Dalisay’s drop shot and veteran Gretchel Soltones’ kill, Panaga hit 3 of 5 points during another scoring run which allowed CSB to move ahead on a decisive 8-1 run.

The Lady Stags struggled to catch up right after Musa unleashed another placement shot, 22-15.

“It’s about time na gumawa tayo ng history,” said Lady Blazers coach Michael Carino during his huddle with the team.

It was their second consecutive championship victory in their finals showdown with the Lady Stags, who hold a thrice-to-beat incentive over the Lady Blazers.

The Lady Blazers will claim the championship trophy if they beat SSC again on Tuesday.

“History tayo na makakauna na magkaroon ng tatlong beses na panalo sa championship,” said Carino.

It was a great campaign for the Lady Blazers, who emerged from a fourth place finish during the eliminations.

To make it to the finals, they first beat Perpetual Help and then eased out defending champion Arellano University in the knockout stepladder semifinals.

The Lady Stags are known to rely on their scor-

San Sebastian College Lady Stags Nikki Dalisay (8) makes a dig pass with the volleyball while SSC teammate Vira Guillema (9), CSB’s Chelsea Santillan and Jeannette Panaga (6) look on. PETER ATENCIO

ing from Soltones, who had 27 points.

They can stretch the finals series if they deny the Lady Blazers in Game 3.

Last week, the Lady Blazers made a big effort to stop the Soltones in the fourth set, and it paid off as they pulled off a 24-26, 25-21, 25-19, 25-13 upset over the Lady Stags.

In holding down Soltones, the Lady Blazers came away with the first of three wins they need to

University of Perpetual Help’s Ranidean Abcede (2) and Keith Melliza (4) of the defending champion Emilio Aguinaldo College Generals joust at the net.

PETER ATENCIO

S U N D AY : J A N U A R Y 24 , 2 0 1 6

SPORTS

ARMAN ARMERO EDITOR

sports@thestandard.com.ph

A SPORTS FESTIVAL FOR THE YOUNG

By Danny Simon

THOUSANDS of students from different elementary and high school from Manila filled the Cuneta Astrodome to the rafters over the weekend for the 7th edition of the KABAKA Sports Festival 2016.

A brainchild of Manila Rep. Amado Bagatsing under his KABAKA Foundation Inc., the sports festival opened with a colofrul opening ceremony participated by the students from Manila, a city known for producing elite athletes who carry the country’s colors in different local and international leagues, most of whom were honed under the KABAKA sports programs in the last seven years.

“Nakaka-inspire pagmasdan ang entusiyasmo ng ating mga kabataang Manilenyo na sadyang malapit sa aking puso kung kaya sa pamamagitan ng larangan ng sports ay atin silang nabibiyayaan ng oportunidad

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Manila Representative and mayoralty candidate Amado Bagatsing performs the ceremonial toss signalling the start of the 7th Inter-School Sports Festival held at the Cuneta Astrodome over the weekend. HENRY VARGAS

PH TO HOST WORLD UNIVERSITY CYCLING CHAMPIONSHIP NO LESS than 17 countries led by powerhouse Poland, Germany and Netherlands will compete in the 7th edition of the World University Cycling Championship (WUCC 2016) which will be held March 16-20 in Tagaytay City.

The four-day championship, to be contested for the first time outside Europe, is sanctioned by both the Union Cycliste Internationale (UCI) and the International University Sports Federation (FISU).

Luis Miguel Loureiro, UCI commissaire and FISU technical director for cycling, said this year’s WUCC would feature four main races along the Tagaytay City—Batangas route: the 122km. Road Race; the 80-km. Criterium; the 35-km Cross Country Olympic; and, the 1.2-km. Cross Country Eliminator.

Loureiro, in town to assess the condition of the race venues, praised the efforts of the Federation of School Sports Association of the Philippines (FESSAP) to stage a truly world class cycling event.

FESSAP, headed by businessman David Ong, is the National University Sports Federation which outbid other countries for the right to give WUCC a memorable introduction in Asia and the Pacific.

For Customs Commissioner Alberto Lina, a well-known patron of Philippine cycling, hosting this international cycling competition “is a dream

Republic of the Philippines Office of the President

PHILIPPINE DRUG ENFORCEMENT AGENCY BIDS AND AWARDS COMMITTEE PDEA Bldg., NIA Northside Road, National Government Center, Barangay Pinyahan Quezon City 1100, Philippines www.pdea.gov.ph

INVITATION TO BID For the SUPPLYON QUALIFYING AND NEURO-PSYCHOLOGICAL EXAMINATIONS FOR DEOBC CLASS 16-09 Bid Ref. No. 2016-07 Funding Source: Government Appropriation Act 2016 1.

The Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA), thru its Bids and Awards Committee (BAC) with office address at NIA Northside Road, National Government Center, Quezon City invites registered PhilGEPS suppliers to bid for the following item;

ITEM

Quantity

Item/Description

Approved Budget for the Contract

Price of Bidding Documents (NonRefundable)

Delivery Period

1

1 LOT

SUPPLY ON QUALIFYING AND NEURO-PSYCHOLOGICAL EXAMINATIONS FOR DEOBC 16-09

P 2,250,000.00

P 5,000.00

60 calendar days

A prospective bidderof the project should have completed within 2010-2014 from the date of submission and receipt of bids, at least one (1) single contract of similar nature amounting to at least 50% of the ABC for the said project.

2.

The Schedule of Bid Activities shall be as follows:

3.

Union Cycliste International (UCI) international commissaire Luis Miguel Loureiro (2nd from left) shakes hands with David Ong, president of the Federation of School Sports Association of the Philippines (FESSAP) during the launch of the 2016 World University Cycling Championship in Tagaytay City. Others in photo are Christian Tan (left) FESSAP vice-president and Johnny Tam (right) who represented Customs Commisioner Alberto Lina, chair of WUCC 2016.

come true.” Lina, overall chair of WUCC 2016, said staging this 7th edition of WUCC in the country will generate a lot of benefits, the most important of which is its potential to inspire university students to take their passion for cycling to a higher level.

According to Ong, WUCC 2016 “is part of FESSAP’s continuing effort to revive interest in competitive cycling in the Philippines and catalyze, in the process, the transformation of Filipino bikers into cyclists equipped with upgraded technical skills.”

Christian Tan, FESSAP vice-president, revealed that the final lineup of the Philip-

pine contingent would be announced in two weeks’ time as two more tryouts would be held today (Jan. 24) in Silang, Cavite for mountain bikers and on Jan. 31 in Pillilia, Rizal for road racers.

Tan made it clear that the tryouts would be open only to cyclists enrolled in educational institutions recognized by the Commission on Higher Education (CHED).

“This is in keeping with FISU and FESSAP’s advocacy of encouraging athletes to get an education during their prime so they may have an even chance for a secure and stable future when their playing days are over,” Tan added.

sa pag-angat ng kanilang estado bilang Batang Maynila na malusog at malakas ang pisikal na aspeto at matalas ang isip sa mga positibong desisyon at aspeto bilang makabuluhang mamamayan sa hinaharap.Kaya nga tuluy-tuloy ang ating Kabaka sa pangmatagalang panahon,” said Bagatasing in his message to the Manila youth during the opening rites.

Bagatsing, who is one of the mayoralty aspirants for the city, vowed to further strengthen the city’s sports program once he is elected as the next mayor of the City of Manla.

The opening ceremony was highlighted by the parade of lovely muses representing schools in both the elementary and high school divisions.

Pasay City Mayor Tony Calixto also warmly welcomed the participants and the visiting Manila officials to the Pasay-baed venue.

Advertisement/Posting of Invitation to Bid

January 19-25, 2016

Issuance and Availability of Bid Documents

January 19, 2016

Pre-Bid Conference

January 27, 2016 9:00 AM

Deadline Submission and Opening of Bids

February 9, 2016 9:00 AM

4.

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

5.

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

6.

Complete set of Bidding Documents may be acquired by interested Bidders from the PDEA-BAC Secretariat (see Address Below) and upon payment of non-refundable fee for the Bidding Documents, in amount pursuant to the schedule, The Bidding Documents shall be received personally by the prospective Bidder or his duly authorized representative upon presentation of proper identification of document.

The Invitation to Bid and Checklist of Requirements may be downloaded from the website of the Philippine Government Electronic Procurement System (PhilGEPS) and PDEA Website at www.pdea.gov.ph.

7.

For purpose of having a legal personality to raise or submit written queries or clarification in the PreBidding Conference relative to the bid project, Bidder must first pay the non-refundable fee for the Bidding Documents on or before the date of Pre-Bidding Conference.

8.

PDEA-BAC will hold a Pre-Bidding Conference on January 27, 2016, Wednesday at 9:00 AM which shall be open to all interested parties.

9.

All bids must be accompanied by a bid security in any of the acceptable forms and in the amount stated in ITB Clause 18.

Bid opening shall be conducted at the PDEA Conference Room, PDEA Building, NIA Northside Road, Brgy. Pinyahan, Quezon City. Bids will be opened in the presence of the Bidder’s Representatives who choose to attend the opening. Late Bids shall not be accepted.

10.

Bidders shall drop their duly accomplished eligibility requirements, technical and financial proposals in two separate sealed envelopes in the designated bid box located at the conference room.

11.

PDEA 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.

12.

Bidders may obtain further information from the PDEA-BAC Secretariat c/o Ms Aroceli E. Sonido and Ms Jerishria S. Colonia at theLogistics Management Service-Procurement Division, PDEA Compound, NIA Northside Road, National Government Center, Quezon City from 8:00 AM to 4:00 PMonly, Mondays to Fridays starting January 20, 2016 at Tel No. (632)920-8082/ (632)927-9702 Loc. 127.However, any queries relative to the contents of the bid documents and the project requirements can only be made by bidders who purchased the bid documents not later than Ten (10) days prior to the Submission and Opening of Bids.

(TS-JAN. 24, 2016)

(Sgd) ASEC. RENE M. ORBE Deputy Director General for Administration Chairman, PDEA- Bids & Awards Committee

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S U N D AY : j A N U A r Y 24 , 2 0 1 6

reirA mAllAri EDITOR sports@thestandard.com.ph

sports

The Circuit Makati Open Dome will be the home to future UGB-WSOF events.

Living up to its biLLing

By Randy Caluag

THE UGB13 MMA: Foreign Invasion lived up to its billing when an American and a couple of Pakistan fighters trounced their respective Filipino foes on Friday night to win the inaugural championship titles before an appreciative crowd at the Circuit Makati Open Dome in Makati City.

Brad Robinson of Oklahoma USA became the first-ever middleweight champion of this aggressive MMA promotion under the co-partnership of Underground Battle and the World Series of Fighting-Global Championship, following a submission victory over the game Mark Palomar in the third of their fiveround title bout.

Robinson, who trains at FightG MMA Academy, found Palomar a hard nut to crack in the first two rounds and decided to bring the fight to the ground where he maneuvered an arm triangle on the way to the victory.

Palomar, a muscular 5’10” dynamo out of Hyper Biagtan MMA team, actually got the 2nd round with his effective striking that put Robinson on the defensive most of the time.

“I give to Mark (Palomar), he is a very game opponent. Thankfully, I had my ground game going that put me to victory. Thank you so much for this opportunity,” said Robinson.

In the co-main event, Uloomi Karim of Team Fight Fortress knocked out Michael Mondradgon of Catalan Fighting System right in the first of their three-round bout to bag the inaugural bantamweight title.

His teammate, Ahmed Mujtaba, made it a double celebration for Pakistan when he pocketed the featherweight title at the expense of Ro-

dian Menchaves, winning by way of submission, also in the first round.

Karim, who upped his amateur record to six victories, won the hearts of the crowd, saying he is “one of the good guys” back in his native country that is one of the most affected by global terrorism.

“I want to put my country in the map of global MMA. I admire Filipinos because you are great warriors. You are against and I am against terrorism. Together, we will fight,” said the proud son of Gilgit, Islamabad.

Mujtaba, a native of Queta, Islamabad, matched Karim’s impressive victory when he put Menchavez to sleep using a sleek rear-naked choke. It took time for referee Arnel Lomibao to halt the bout, as he wanted to give more chance to the Masbate native to escape with the belt on the line.

Menchaves could not afford to tap anymore as Lomibao removed Mujtaba from top position, declaring the bout a TKO victory in favor of the Pakistani.

Presenting the specially crafted gold-minted belts to the winners were UGB MMA president and founder Ferdie Munsayac, business partner Toots Aldeguer, WSOF vice president for operations and international matchmaker Jason Lilly and WSOF owner Dunessa Hesser.

American Brad Robinson has his hands raised by referee Rolando Dy following a submission win over Filipino Mark Palomar in their middleweight championship bout. With them is UGB MMA president and founder Ferdie Munsayac (first from left).

WSOF vice president for operations and matchmaker Jason Lilly (center) with newly crowned champs, featherweight Ahmed Mujtaba and bantamweight Uloomi Karim, both from Pakistan.

Undercards Two more foreign fighters displayed excellent skills on the cage to emerge victorious against their respective foes.

Czech fighter Michal Vostry, who trains in Legacy MMA in Boracay, scored a TKO win over muay thai specialist Patrick Manicad of Makati City, right in the first round of their lightweight bout.

Vostry and Manicad furiously traded punches and one of their left hooks hit both fighters simultaneously.

Vostry suffered a cut on his nosetrils, while Manicad was instantly down, prompting the referee to jump in and stop the fight in favor of Vostry.

Another Legacy MMA fighter, Anton Larsson of Sweden, also scored an impressive win—a 25-second TKO over RJ Redula of Team Elorde Tandang Sora—in their catchweight bout at 120 pounds.

In the only women’s bout of the night, Jeneylyn Olsim of Tribal Torogi Baguio City, submitted Dolores Meek via armbar right in the first round of their pinweight battle.

The rest of the bouts saw Franz Galvez of Hitman Extreme Boxing win via TKO over Junboy Kim-ay (Team Lucero Fitness Gym) in the

strawweight division; Arben Escayo (Real Men Fighters) triumphed by submission against Jorlan Formentera (Hyper Biagtan MMA); Norman Agcopra (D Elements MMA) stopped Reiner Gervacio (De Tomas MMA); Arnel Ylanan (Project 360 X) submitted a win via armbar Chu Borbon (Real Men Fighters); lightweight Mario Sismundo (Team Fit Box) knocked out John Rey Larena (Elorde Tandang Sora) and featherweight Jojo Orao (Elorde Tandang Sora) trounced Mark Valero (Lucero Fitness).

Bigger and better Munsayac said the success of the UGB13 has opened bigger opportunities, not only to the promotion, but also the Filipino fighters.

“We will have more events in the coming months. More talented Filipino fighters will definitely come out and will definitely challenge the current champions. And with the WSOF on board, it’s getting more exciting,” said Munsayac, who revealed that he will organize at least 10 UGB-WSOF events this year.

“The WSOF will also hold its own Philippine launch that will formalize its entry to the Asian market.

More top foreign fighters will be pa-

raded in two one or two big WSOF events. We are proud to be part of all these. MMA is definitely exploding in this part of the world,” said Munsayac.

The former US Navy chief also revealed plans to have future succeeding events gain a “professional” tag.

He said all the requirements are being prepared to have the promotion and officials and players under it are registered with the Philippines’ Games and Amusement Board.

With this, UGB-WSOF will be in the same league as the Pacific Extreme Combat and One Championship as the country’s top pro MMA promotions, parading top-caliber Filipino and foreign athletes using professional rules.

This means that UGB fights will be more exciting using professional rules like allowing knees and elbows to the head.

The UGB13Foreign InvasionWSOF, supported by Padi’s Point Bar and Restaurant, Hotel SOGO, Circuit Makati, Phenon fightwear, Berkshire Hathaway and Bex Sunglases will be telecast by Viva Sports TV over its PBO cable channel on Jan. 30 at 8:30 p.m. and will have replay on Jan. 31 at 10:30 a.m.

S U N D AY : J A N U A R Y 24 , 2 0 1 6

TATUM ANCHETA EDITOR

BING PAREL

A S S O C I AT E E D I T O R

BERNADETTE LUNAS WRITER

life @ thestandard.com .ph

@LIFEatStandard

S U NDAY L IF E

LIFE

Justin Pinon a.k.a. The Mental Assassin

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THE MENTALIST PHOTOS BY STAR SABROSO

CAROTID ARTERY

BY TATUM ANCHETA Ever since I saw the television series Lie To Me, I’ve become fascinated by micro expressions and body language. The now defunct TV show Lie To Me is an American drama series about Dr. Cal Lightman, played by actor Tim Roth whose character is based on the real life of Paul Ekman, a renowned expert on facial expressions. The show was very entertaining and educational and I started to read up on body language and the psychology behind micro expressions and I found it very interesting to the point that I would already observe it with my colleagues and peers.

If they shrug their shoulders while they talk it means they don’t believe a thing they just said and they are lying; if they smirk a little before smiling then it means they’re not happy with what I said; if they enter the door last and let you in first, then it means they want to be the person in control; if they’re covering their “down there” while talking, it means they are hiding something; if they’re covering their lips with their hand while talking to you then they want to say something but something hinders them – and so on and so forth. Noticing all these things and constantly looking for it can be a little tiring but knowing what to look for opens up a different level of communication all together.

“So read me,” I told Justin after finishing our interview. “Well,

Justin performing his mind reading skills where he asks people to write the first word that comes to their mind and he will tell them what it is.

you’re a person who easily gets bored.” I laughed; I felt a little embarrassed as I was talking to him for almost an hour and he was sensing this from me the entire time. Justin Pinon a.k.a. The Mental Assassin, is a mentalist and probably the most well known if not the only Pinoy mentalist in the country. If you’ve seen Lie To Me or The Mentalist TV series then yes he is like the lead character.

“Mentalism is performance art where you show the power of your mind,” explains Justin. “There are different types of mentalists – psychic, spiritualist, psychological.

For me it’s psychological.” Which means he doesn’t know the things he knows because of external or paranormal force, but just by studying human behavior. You’ve probably encountered him in an event entertaining everyone with

his mind reading skills, or you’ve probably seen him on his numerous TV guestings, or heard about him on the radio. More than a decade ago before he became a popular mentalist, this young man was just a lonely heart broken lad who studied the art of mentalism because he wanted to lure his ex-girlfriend back. “What if I can read minds?

Kung nakakabasa ako ng isip, baka malaman ko na ipagpapalit na pala ako. What if I can hypnotize people, baka ma-hypnotize ko siyang bumalik sa ‘kin – that was my motivation,” he recounts.

His story sounds like a suspense thriller version of One More Chance. He then studied under Jaime Licauco, renowned parapsychologist in the Philippines, but kept failing on his goal because as his teacher said, his third eye was probably blocked.

He researched about his problem and after encountering the book The Definitive Book of Body Language written by Barbara Pease and Allan Pease, he then shifted his studies to body language. “I learned that if you read body language, you can also read what’s on people’s mind,” he says.

Fast forward to 2016, he now has more than a dozen TV guestings, had his own TV show, numerous performances, conducts seminars, trainings and talks for corporate and business management industries, including coaching people to get their dream dates, and currently published his book The Three Hit Combo. Now that’s not a poker game secret move – but yes, he is also a master player of poker, but he is banned in all the PAGCOR facilities in the Philippines because everyone

knows what he does. It’s about his study and learning on the threecombination body movement technique that builds instant rapport to anyone one uses it on.

You have to buy the book to fully master it, but I will tell you about his combo hit - the eyebrow flash, smile, and head nodding. These things are not new knowledge, we all know that if we flash our eyebrows then a person would do the same to us, same with a smile. If you smile at people they instantly smile back, and nodding always gets you plus points when you’re talking to a person because it signals you’re agreeing with him. But Justin discovered that when you simultaneously do it all together then it builds instant connection with another person.

“I’ve been doing it to you the entire conversation that’s why you keep nodding your head and agreeing with me,” he told me with faint laughs. Sheesh, scary.

Part of his show is asking people to think of something in their mind and he will say what it is you’re thinking. The secret is not really mind reading; it’s observing people and knowing things like, “If a person looks down, he’s thinking of an emotion or feeling, when he looks sideways it’s probably a sound or something you can hear, if he looks up it’s something visual,” he explains.

“For me to get answers I also make sure I stimulate their mind for me to see movements. That’s when they put out micro expressions.”

During our conversation, more than entertained, I actually learned a lot. Justin is currently mastering Neuro Linguistic Programming and he shared some of the basics like how to spot a person who is auditory, visual, or kinesthetic so you would understand how to actually treat or deal with such people.

Continued on C2

S U N D AY : J A N U A R Y 24 , 2 0 1 6

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LIFE life @ thestandard.com .ph

@LIFEatStandard

PORTRAIT

Chadleen Lacdo-o flashes a big smile, something that was made possible with the help of Operation Smile Philippines

CHADLEEN LACDO-O The miracle of a smile

E

very three minutes, a child is born with a cleft lip or a cleft palate – facial deformities that occur when one side (or both sides) of the upper lip or the roof of the mouth do not fuse.

These are common birth defects whose causes remain unknown to this day.

Cleft lips and palates are facial deformities that occur when one or both sides of the upper lip or the roof of the mouth fail to fuse. One in about 1,000 children worldwide are born with both a cleft lip and palate, says the American Academy of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, but for some reason, the prevalence has been higher in the Philippines.

Chadleen Lacdo-o was one of those born with a cleft palate – something that as a child made her think of it as her worst nightmare, since she grew up being bullied and laughed at. Despite being judged for her condition, she tried to reach out to other people, and started to weave dreams of being a singer, hoping and patiently waiting that some day, a miracle would happen.

With her unfailing faith in God, Chadleen’s impossible dream became a reality when Operation Smile Philippines conducted a medical mission in Cebu. The volunteer doctors operated on her cleft palate deformity – giving her the “gift of smile” that has changed the life of this talented young lady.

THE MENTALIST From C1

PHOTOS BY STAR SABROSO

During the launch of Chadleen's album Sana Ikaw Na Nga

Pursuing her dream to be a very good singer, she joined different singing competitions, figuring in the spotlight at Kanta Pilipinas, a nationwide reality television search of TV5 in 2013 which had Ryan Cayabyab, Rico Blanco, and Lani Misalucha as judges.

She emerged as the Kanta Pilipinas grand winner with “Himala” (Miracle) as her winning piece – impressing composer Rico Blanco himself who complimented her for singing the piece with such emotion.

That stint was followed by many doors of opportunities opening up for Chadleen, who saw herself performing with well known local and international singers that include Martin Nievera, Charice, Neon Trees (an American rock band) and David Pomeranz. She also performed in different events in Los Angeles, New York, Salt Lake City in Utah, Washington, D.C., China, Australia and Vietnam. She also gained added exposure when she sang the Philippine National Anthem at the boxing

If a person sits backward and leans on the chair, that person is kinesthetic and responds to touch. A person who comes closer to the table while seated and does not lean back, means this is a visual person and cares a lot about what he sees and reacts on visual cues.

The auditory person can be spotted when he tends to tilt his head on the side while seated as if about to listen to you. As to how they usually speak, these personalities usually say, “I feel,” “I see,” or “I hear.”

“I’ve been performing for 10 years now, and If I’m not performing I do lectures about body language reading because I like to educate people,” he shares. More than the fame and the money, he said that helping people learn from what he knows and actually doing something good in their lives is what keeps him going. He currently holds talks and seminars for corporate companies, including training for MLM (multilevel marketing) industries and most often they get great results. One story that stands out is one of his students who works for an

match between the country’s pugilist AJ Banal and Panama’s Rafael Concepcion.

Miracles and blessings continue to pour down on Chadleen, and proof is the launch of her new album under 12 Stone Records with the title Sana Ikaw Na Nga. This is also the title of her self-composed song with Ruru Madrid as her partner in the music video.

Other songs include Thank You, Footprints in the Sand, When You Believe, the Op Smile Song, Salamat sa Ngiti and Himala, all of which were chosen by Chadleen who dedicates the album to Operation Smile which played a big role in turning her life around by giving her the gift of a smile.

Despite the challenges, the 21-year-old singer is seeing her dreams turn into reality, serving as an inspiration and role model for young people just like her who were born with deformities but continued to aim high and worked hard to become successful – of course with the help of such organizations as Operation Smile Philippines.

“Now that I can sing, I will sing for all the children throughout the world who are like me who once cannot sing. (I will) sing for those who dream, sing for those who need a miracle, sing for Operation Smile who made my dreams and hopes come true,” Chadleen shared, a beautiful smile beaming from her face.

– Mariella Mae Masangkay

MLM. “Ang gusto lang nya makabili ng BMW, and after the lessons, in two months, he was able to buy his BMW!” he exclaims.

Well, if simply learning how to get instant rapport, how to spot body language and how to use them can get you a luxury car in a short amount of time, then you can get and gain anything you want. As for Justin's ex girlfriend, he actually moved on after embarking on mentalism, he even thanked her after for being instrumental in making him the mentalist he is today.

To know more about Justin Pinon, catch his seminar or guesting schedules, visit mentalassassin.com or follow his page on Facebook under Justin Pinon and @justinpinon on Twitter.

For comments, suggestions and violent reactions, you may email me at tatum@thestandard.com.ph. For my crazy life’s adventures follow me at @tatumancheta on Instagram and Twitter.

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LIFE life @ thestandard.com .ph

@LIFEatStandard

MANAGING FINANCES THE CITI WAY

D

eveloping good financial habits enables people to make smart decisions, and this is what Citi hopes to encourage by supporting financial education programs that encourage people to take charge of their financial future. One of these programs is Moneyversity, a roadshow that teaches both about credit management.

During the most recent leg of Moneyversity, award-winning inspirational speaker and lecturer Francis Kong urged attendees to

be more disciplined when it comes to the use of credit cards. As Kong advised, “Be in control of your card; not the other way around.”

He also reminded participants that credit is a powerful and convenient tool especially during emergencies – but people must also remember that having that plastic tool is also a big responsibility.

Having a good credit history is also advisable, he stressed, as implicit in the use of the card is trust and the expectation that the user will honor credit obligations.

Award-winning inspirational speaker and lecturer Francis Kong (third from left with glasses) with participants of Citi’s Moneyversity financial education program

Consuelo Garcia (third from right) country manager and managing director of ING Bank in Manila, and Leah Bautista (second from left), Bayanijuan sa Calauan project head, led the turnover of 10 pedicabs to residents of the Bayanijuan resettlement site in Calauan, Laguna as part of the ING Bike for Livelihood project. With them are officers of the ABS-CBN Lingkod Kapamilya Foundation and ING Bank

T

‘Ondoy’ survivors pedal their way out of poverty with ING Bank

he Philippines is one of the world’s most disaster prone countries, with over 274 natural disasters and calamities inflicting damage in the last two decades. To this day, many are still reeling from the aftermath of Typhoon Ondoy (Ketsana) that submerged most parts of Metro Manila and resulted in the displacement of close to five million people and the death of hundreds.

Five years since Typhoon Ondoy destroyed their shanties along the esteros on Pasig River, families that have been resettled in Calauan, Laguna are building back their lives, raising ducks, selling fruit jams, and other activities for their livelihood.

The self-employed residents of Bayanijuan sa Southville 7 admit, however, the they still face a lot of challenges in life. Mercedita Daro, a 47-year-old mother who plants vegetables in her small garden and carries 10 kilos of fresh produce every day to sell to the market located at the foot of the mountain several kilometers away, knows that hard work is needed for her family to survive.

Pedaling their way out of poverty

Some residents of the Bayanijuan resettlement site in Calauan, Laguna received pedicabs as part of Dutch banking giant ING Bank’s ‘ING Bike for Livelihood’ project, a partnership with ABS-CBN Lingkod Kapamilya Foundation

Fortunately for Daro, she is getting a lot of help from Dutch banking giant ING Bank that launched its “ING Bike for Livelihood” project that awarded pedicabs to several lucky residents of Southville 7.

Partnering with ABS-CBN Lingkod Kapamilya Foundation, ING Bank says the locally sourced pedicabs are inspired by the Dutch tradition of biking and is envisioned to promote “non-motorized mobility” within the area. “These are people who come

from various backgrounds and will use the pedicabs for different purposes: bringing the community kids to school, delivering mineral water, and selling their goods,” said ING Bank country manager and managing director Consuelo Garcia.

Many of the pedicab beneficiaries hail from the ING Village, which was built by ING Bank using proceeds from a oneday running event it mounted in 2010 to celebrate its 20th year in the Philippines.

Together with Habitat for Humanity, ING Bank built the second ING Village to provide shelter to a number of informal settlers hit by Typhoon Ondoy. The first ING Village was built in Baseco, housing 170 families whose homes were damaged by fire.

Bayanijuan sa Calauan project head Leah Bautista of Lingkod Kapamilya cited the multi-sectoral approach in building and sustaining the Calauan village. “These are different NGO partners coming together to help these families get better integrated in their new community,” Bautista said of the 107-hectare resettlement site.

Part of empowering the pedicab beneficiaries is a 20-percent equity stake in the bicycle units, which they will pay monthly to the Humanityville Homeowners Association over one year. Payments will be funneled into more community projects, such as livelihood trainings. “This will give them a sense of ownership and heighten their responsibility over the bicycle, which symbolizes renewed hope for them,” shared Garcia.

For the beneficiaries, the orange-andblue pedicab is indeed symbolic of new beginnings, one that would empower them to “stay a step ahead in life and in business.”

“Poverty is the absence of opportunity, as they say. So we build initiatives that will uplift these people. But it is ultimately their next empowered move that will help them realize their own vision for a better future,” said Garcia.

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S U N D AY : J A N U A R Y 24 , 2 0 1 6

LIFE life @ thestandard.com .ph

Si Mentong Matibay educates the students on the proper and safe way of crossing busy roads

@LIFEatStandard

Deonides Bacon, a hero in his own right

A COMPANY OF HEROES D Cemex H.E.R.O. volunteers and community locals form a human chain to transport relief goods to the island of Inabanga, Bohol

Volunteers show people in need that they are not alone

eonides Bacon will never forget how he and his colleagues felt after they braved the heat to deliver relief goods to the 7.2-magnitude earthquake victims in Bohol in 2013.

“I was touched by the heartwarming scene that greeted us when we arrived in Inabanga, Bohol to unload the goods,” he recalls.

For Katrina Flores, her involvement in road safety advocacy is one of the memorable experiences she had in her volunteering endeavors. Dubbed “Listo Tayo!” the program aims to educate children on the Dos and Don’ts of street walking.

“I am particularly Cemex Philippines Foundation executive director Chito Maniago joins other H.E.R.O. volunteers in their relief mission in Inabanga, Bohol interested in efforts involving children and the less fortunate,” says “Be it a remote island or far-flung community, Flores. “Listo Tayo! remains to be the most the determination of our modern day heroes significant for me year in and year out.” to brave the waters and heat just to extend Bacon and Flores are both heroes in their own help is palpable,” remarks CEMEX corporate right. Bacon is a shift superintendent at Apo communication and public affairs director and Cement Corporation, a subsidiary of CEMEX CEMEX Philippines Foundation executive Philippines Group of Companies, in which Flores director Chito Maniago. is a logistics administration manager. The two Some of H.E.R.O. notable activities include employees are part of H.E.R.O. (Help. Engage. Brigada Eskwela, Christmas Wish Gift-Giving, Reach. Out.) Volunteerism Program of CEMEX Tree Planting, and Community Cleanup Drives.

Philippines Group of Companies.

Moreover, the company also enlists the aide of its The said program encourages CEMEX employees’ family members in some of its programs. employees to invest their time and effort to the Its subsidiaries – Solid Cement Corporation cement manufacturing company’s CSR initiatives and Apo Cement, for instance, have their own such as disaster relief operations, livelihood organizations composed of the workers’ spouses. programs, and safety advocacies, among others. Called Solid Ladies Club and Apo Ladies Club, these “H.E.R.O. gives a chance to employees to groups actively participate in community relations reach out and help those who are in need,” projects and H.E.R.O. initiatives. shares CEMEX treasury operations team lead Maniago says that despite not getting any in Asia Daisy delos Angeles. She also believes compensation from their efforts, H.E.R.O. that employee volunteerism, like what they do, volunteers are always willing to go the extra mile. is indicative of employee-company’s unified “In the office or plants, they are doing different mission to demonstrate concern for society. jobs but once they don the hat of an employee Since the launch of H.E.R.O. in 2011, volunteer, they transform into people who are the management has been continuously capable of doing extraordinary things for others,” amazed with the workers’ warm reception he sahres with pride. and overwhelming amount of support for its “Our battlecry in the field will always be in the different projects. service of others.”

S UNDAY : JA NUA RY 24, 2016

SHOWBITZ isahred @ gmail.com

ISAH V. RED EDITOR

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Kev Adams and William Lebghil in the new thrilling big screen adaptation of Aladdin

Thieves in Robin hood Task In the magical action-packed movie The New Adventures of Aladdin, best friends Sam (Kev Adams) and Khalid (William Lebghil) dress up as Santa Claus to steal everything they can from Galleries Lafayette.

But, children quickly caught Sam..

In the skin of Aladdin , Sam begins then a trip to the heart of Baghdad, a city with Arabian wealth. While telling the tale, the people suffered from the terrible tyranny known Vizier for his ferocity and his questionable breath and the young thief taking on his alter ego Aladin tries to save the day and win the heart of a princess.

The movie’s hero, Kev Adams who plays Sam and Aladdin in The New Adventures of Aladdin, is the actor’s debut starring role after playing support roles in movies.

“I really wanted to be back on a carpet driving alongside a Genius but also to participate this story full of humor while confronting the real world. The original script was 250 pages, it was a monumental epic and I loved it!” shares Adams on his casting.

“I was indeed very happy to play a hero even if it’s not from my roots, especially since the cast is made actors who mostly have no link to this part of the world. I would add that we shot in Morocco, the only country Maghreb where I have no family roots! But when you are in

three, worked on “Zak”. Four years together, writing mounting through filming or post-production, it is a full time job. We knew each other perfectly and operate as a trio since then,” says Benzaquen on landing the director’s seat.

Moreover, Benzaquen notes that what is great about the story is that A scene from the adventure film it was written there are hundreds written by Dave Cohen of years but it remains extremely the cinema, as part a story or a fairy modern. “We considered a lot of tale, the religious affairs or ethnicity countries for filming, especially have no place to be. It remains India, but Morocco prevailed. First, essential the characters, the sets. because by our roots, Daive, Daniel That being said, the story of and I are from Morocco. Seriously, Aladdin reminded me of the there was the scenery we needed ones who instilled values in me like and especially for me the most my Tunisian my grandfather. And important: a hand extremely skilled in Morocco, every day we saw and and very flexible. The Morocco worked with people who do not now receives a very large number have much but who are all willing foreign film, especially Americans. to give. It’s very touching, very For example, we used the sets of motivating,” continues Adams.

Kingdom of Heaven by Ridley Scott.

The New Adventures of Aladdin is Our Moroccan experience has also director Arthur Benzaquen’s been a real pleasure, in Marrakech, first feature film. Written by Daive in the studios of Ouarzazate, as in Cohen, the movie had found its the desert. I also filmed Galleries way to production 10 years after the Lafayette sequences for the part script was conceived. “He had never present in the film and some actually found the opportunity technical additions backgroundto do so. Daniel Tordjman, the green in Belgium.” producer offered him this occasion. The New Adventures of Aladdin When they asked me to realize I opens Jan.27 from Pioneer Films. have admit that a big doubt came Check out the film’s trailer here: over me, given the ambition project ht t p s : / / w w w. y o u t u b e . c o m / ... But Daniel and Daive insisted. watch?v=M2DzpQZjrkM&feaThis adventure is like us. We, all ture=youtu.be

Movie poster of The New Adventures of Aladdin helmed by Arthur Benzaquen

Join thousands who will watCh Madonna’s return to ConCert stage

M

ore lucky Sun subscribers are set to catch Madonna perform live for FREE in Hong Kong and Sydney.

In the sea of enthusiastic fans at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas to witness Madonna’s much talked about return to the concert stage is a lucky Sun subscriber who managed to catch the highly anticipated concert for free.

Sandy Bulaong and her son won a free trip for two to Las Vegas for three days and two

nights to watch Madonna’s spectacular concert — and it didn’t disappoint. They were treated to an hour and a half of the Queen of Pop’s music set against the kaleidoscopic visage of special effects filled with personal and interactive performances of Madonna’s endless reservoir of artistry.

“It was a very happy experience. Thanks to Sun for the free Madonna concert in Las Vegas! I was able to watch my favorite artist live,” says Sandy.

Luckily, more subscribers can now get the opportunity to watch Madonna’s return to the concert stage! Sun has increased the number of winners for its new Madonna fly-off promo — this time in Hong Kong and Sydney, Australia.

For this round, seven lucky Sun subscribers are set to go to Hong Kong on Feb.17 while six winners will be chosen for the Rebel Heart concert in Sydney on March 19.

To join the promo, Sun subscribers just need to register

for free on the award winning music app Spinnr by going to the promo registration page within the app, or at www.spinnr.ph.

Raffle entries can be earned by subscribing to Spinnr’s Live Package in-app or by texting LIVE to 4067. This gives Sun subscribers 30 days of all-day music access with no added data charges for only 99 pesos. Promo period is from November 2, 2015 to January 30, 2016 for the Hong Kong concert, and until February 18, 2016 for the Australia concert.

And if that’s not enough, Madonna fans can also win a special opportunity to enjoy the full Madonna music experience through an upcoming online promo for her Manila concert.

So what are you waiting for?

Join the bandwagon and enjoy the full music experience from Sun and Spinnr to watch the Queen of Pop return to the stage for free in Hong Kong and Australia! For more information, just visit www.suncellular.com. ph or spinnr.ph.

S UNDAY : JA NUA RY 24, 2016

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SHOWBITZ isahred @ gmail.com

‘WaNtED: PRESIDENt’ fEatURES 2016 PRESIDENtIaL aSPIRaNtS

I

t’s a series of job interviews every Filipino should not miss.

As the country gears for the upcoming Eleksyon 2016, GMA News and Public Affairs takes a closer look at the candidates seeking the country’s highest government position through its special Wanted: President.

The Election Special, which will air on weekends beginning today, is a series of one-on-one interviews with the frontrunners of the 2016 presidential race and will be facilitated by GMA News pillars Mike Enriquez and Mel Tiangco.

In an hour-long episode, each presidential aspirant will pass through the scrutiny of the esteemed Kapuso broadcast journalists, answering questions that aim to help the voting public decide who to elect in May.

The “job interview” will touch on various topics ranging from the candidate’s personality, his/her stand on various national and international issues, his/her involvement in various controversies, and his/her concrete action plans for the country’s future.

For its pilot episode, Mike sits down with Vice President Jejomar Binay, who answers the allegations of corruption hurled against him regarding the so-called “Hacienda Binay”, the alleged overpriced Makati City Hall building II, and the Boy Scout land deal.

As he puts his best foot forward, the Vice President shares his thoughts about the Commission on Audit and his ideas as to how best to eradicate corruption in the government. Binay also takes a stand on the death penalty, the freedom of information

Wanted: President is a 2016 election special produced by GMA News and Public Affairs and hosted by Mel Tiangco and Mike Enriquez

bill, and other controversial issues.

On a lighter note, the Vice President opens up about his personal life, even sharing his latest spat with his wife, Elenita.

Furthermore, Binay explains why Pambansang Bae Alden Richards is the perfect actor to portray him in a biopic.

Wanted: President’s second episode,

airing on Jan. 30, Saturday, will feature former DILG Secretary Mar Roxas as interviewed by Mel Tiangco. The rest of the presidential aspirants are scheduled to grace the said program on the following weekends.

Catch Wanted: President on Saturday and Sunday starting, 9:30 p.m. tonight on GMA7.

SpookS and SparkleS to Start new Year

N

ew shows Hollywood Medium with Tyler Henry and Just Jillian, with live coverage show Live From the Red Carpet make for a jam-packed January on E!.

Tough talk, strength, agility and an unmatchable drive to motivate herself and others are the hallmarks of Jillian Michaels. However, there’s more to the uber-successful celebrity than meets the eye.

Between two kids, the longtime love of her life, a steadfast business partner, a family of dear friends, and 15 pets, viewers will get an exclusive backstage pass into Jillian’s personal life.

For the first time, fans who have seen Jillian in front of the lights will get an unfiltered look at the woman behind the empire built one drop of sweat at a time and meet the people inside her private world who help her juggle the chaos and support her through it all. Just Jillian premieres 10 p.m. Jan. 23.

Medium, clairvoyant, medical intuitive – and an LA newbie – Tyler Henry has an undeniable gift that he’s ready to share with the world.

E!’s newest series, produced by 44 Blue Productions, explores the life of this clairvoyant medium as he brings messages from the

CROSSWORD PUZZLE 77 78 79 82 83 84 88 89 90 91 92 93 94 95 97 98 99 100 ANSWER FOR PREVIOUS PUZZLE ACROSS 1 Slalom obstacles 6 Gill or lung 11 Cool place, perhaps 16 Retail giant 21 Favored set (hyph.)

22 Piggy bank coin 23 Gave an edge to 24 Knight wear 25 Slowly, in music 26 Meter reading 27 Had lots of status 28 Gaucho’s rope 29 Sunset remnant 31 Vail haulers (hyph.)

33 Bleachers shout 35 — de guerre 36 Ave. crossers 37 Ship bottoms 38 — 500 39 Rose-petal oils 41 Compass pt.

42 Gossips 44 Tightwad

46 51 52 53 57 58 59 60 61 62 63 64 66 67 68 69 70 72 73 74 75

Plans in detail (2 wds.)

Find a buyer Beyond the — Pakistan’s language Orchard pests Aquarium fish Guys like Hamlet Email provider Prize Slowly vanishes Gets frizzy Pellet shooter (2 wds.)

Environmental prefix Savoir-faire Rash, as a decision Pop singer — Brewer Coming up Band together Bottle tops Trouser features Zany

Tours de force Thin pancakes Picks up on Fountain for wishes Very funny person Pas de — Sirens Full of dandelions Flat-topped hill 66 or I-90 Jeweler’s magnifier Hippie attire Turns to liquid Sausalito’s county Hosp. employee Good farm soils Uncertain Ornate 18th-century style Sherpa’s sighting Opens the window Blondie’s shrieks Old pro “No — at All” Rough sack Avg. size Rathskeller orders Sari sporter — boom Walk silently Boring tool?

Ran into Jung’s inner self Like carnivores A Judd They turn litmus

101 103 104 105 106 108 110 111 114 115 117 120 121 123 125 127 129 red 131 Orange box 133 Hand-held dryer 134 Armless sofa 135 Lawn products brand 136 “M*A*S*H” clerk 137 Helen, in Madrid 138 Stone monument

beyond to Hollywood celebrities.

In each episode Tyler delivers jaw-dropping readings to celebrities looking for advice, connection and closure with loved ones who have passed on, balancing his unique abilities with trying to be a regular millennial.

The combination of Tyler’s youthful exuberance and startling revelations has made him the most sought after medium in Hollywood. Hollywood Medium With Tyler Henry premieres 10 p.m. Jan. 27.

Only E! brings the real magic of the red carpet to life, and beginning this January, Live From The Red Carpet will return

to deliver that spark to millions of pop culture fans around the world. Hosts Ryan Seacrest, Giuliana Rancic, and the rest of the E! Live From The Red Carpet team will immerse fans in every part of the red carpet action to capture each unpredictable moment, all the gorgeous fashion, and the most memorable and buzz-worthy conversations with the biggest celebrities.

Through E!’s unprecedented camera coverage, second screen experiences and personal relationships with the Hollywood elite, Live From the Red Carpet will truly take fans behind the velvet ropes for all of the exciting,

Live From The Red Carpet returns with hosts Ryan Seacrest and Giuliana Rancic

spontaneous, and headlinemaking moments as they happen, and bring viewers the unique and authentic interviews that pop culture fans crave. Live From The Red Carpet – Screen Actors Guild Awards premieres 7 a.m. Jan. 31.

SUNDAY, JANUARY 24, 2016

139 Mild protest (hyph.)

140 Jugs 141 Showed in the summer DOWN 1 Big bashes 2 Hang — — (turn) 3 Salon rinses 4 This, to Juan 5 Chimney nester 6 Lavish 7 Fix a shoe 8 Tackles a bone 9 Filmmaker — Lee 10 “Da” opposite 11 Drew up 12 Stockpiles 13 On pins and needles 14 Aberdeen’s river 15 Vortex 16 Black-belt sport 17 Hi-tech scan 18 Freezer name 19 Helicopter blade 20 Cable cars 30 Biological group 32 — the Kid 34 Slackens off 40 Play about Capote 42 Home of a brave 43 Hannibal’s route 44 Like John Wayne 45 Dots in the Seine 46 Acknowledged expert 47 Swiftly 48 Fragrant perennial 49 Carbondale sch.

50 Lyric poem 51 Like dishwater 52 Hairdo features 54 Storms around 55 Extinguish 56 Humerus neighbors 58 Merrily

59 62 63 64 65 67 68 69 71 73 74 76 77 78

Twilights Mom and Pop Cholla and nopal “How’ve ya —?”

Uniform trim Treaties Bad guy in films Heard too often Nerd Requirements Gets lumpy Crowning point Astaire and Flintstone Very small

79 80 81 82 83 85 86 87 89 90 93 94

Flirt Split to join Jeer at Coaches’ charges Governs Scoreboard posting City on the Mohawk Kin of argon Bushed Tom Sawyer’s sweetheart More than simmer Bearing

95 96 98 99 100 102 105 107 108 109 110 111 112 113

Witticism Poker card Expire, as a policy Tough fabric Started over High dudgeon Facades Weasel, in winter Ben Kingsley film Complete accord Pestle partner Docks Hold off for Mitt

114 “Nick of Time” artist 115 Digging tool 116 Supply a banquet 117 Juice, so to speak 118 Stadium 119 Protest song writer 122 McCloud’s hometown 124 Ranch measure 126 Decorated tinware 128 — de mer 130 Dernier — 132 Untrained

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SHOWBITZ isahred @ gmail.com

Four concerT royALTies on vALenTine’s DAy show

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From c8

or over a decade, the partnership of Anna Puno and Cacai Mitra of Starmedia Entertainment and I-Music Entertainment respectively has spawned some of the most note-worthy OPM concept concerts we have seen today.

Just last year, twenty thousand witnessed the unparalleled team-up of Martin Nievera, Gary Valenciano, Regine Velasquez, and Lani Misalucha in Ultimate that has earned the nod as 2015’s PMPC Star Awards for Music Concert of the Year Awardee.

This year, in the tradition of giving OPM fans the best in concert entertainment every Valentine season, Starmedia Entertainment and I-Music now present an entirely different concept putting together on one stage four of today’s reigning concert and recording royalties - the Concert King, Martin Nievera, Philippine Prince of Pop, Erik Santos, Queen of Teleserye Theme songs, Angeline Quinto and social media trending Queen of OPM, Asia’s Songbird, Regine Velasquez in Royals.

This will be the very first time Martin, Erik, Angeline and Regine will headline a show together and sky’s definitely the limit with what these four powerhouses can do. Royals is sure to be a magnificent event where audiences will be treated to an impressive showcase of vocal excellence, hearing songs of old and new, fusions of classic and current chart-toppers

from these exceptional artists that have made their own mark in the Philippine music industry.

Each with their respective royal titles and each creating a unique impact in the hearts of the Filipino people, no doubt now is their time to reign supreme, together.

Be royally entertained and join Martin, Erik, Angeline and Regine in Royals on Feb. 13 (Saturday, 8 p.m). at the Mall of Asia Arena and Feb. 14 (Sunday, 8 p.m.) at the Waterfront Hotel and Casino, Cebu City Tickets for the Feb. 13 Mall of Asia Arena show are available at SM Tickets (all branches / online at www.smtickets.com / 470-2222). Tickets for the Feb. 14 Waterfront Cebu show are available at SM City Cebu Customer Service Counter, Ayala Center Cebu Concierge, and Waterfront Concerts and Events Counter. For reservations, call TSE Live, Inc at (0925) 5200222 / (032) 232-6888.

HHHHH LuciLLe, ALex connive AgAinsT Twins Kara and Sara’s (Julia Montes) battle for their right as daughters of Antonio (Allan Dizon) continues as Lucille (Carmina Villarroel) and Alex (Maxene Magalona) join forces in destroying their family in the haponserye Doble Kara.

With Alex’s help, Lucille puts her plans to work as Sara joins a networking business, which promises her instant growth of investment.

However, little does she know that Lucille is behind this investment scam and flashes

her even more with grand promises to entice her in investing more of her inherited wealth. With Alex on Lucille’s side, how can Kara and Sara protect their family? Will Lucille successfully take back everything the twins inherited from their father?

Don’t miss the exciting scenes in Doble Kara, Monday to Friday, after It’s Showtime on ABS-CBN Kapamilya Gold.

For more information about the program, visit the official social networking site of Dreamscape Entertainment Television at Facebook.com/DreamscapePH, Twitter.com/DreamscapePH, and Instagram.com/DreamscapePH.

Top vocal act The CompanY drops its latest album today

Royals will be staged in Cebu and Manila featuring the music of pop icons Regine, Martin, Erik and Angeline

Music royalties (from left) Erik Santos, Martin Nievera, Regine Velasquez and Angeline Quinto

HHHHH More Fun wiTh i-BiLiB You can have fun and excitement on Sunday mornings. Just watch Christ Tiu, James and Roadfill of Moymoy Palaboy with Cosplay Queen Alodia Gosiengfiao in I-Bilib.

What is the scientific explanation when one throws a ball? Find out where the ball will hit when you throw it from a moving truck in “Discover Science” in “The Ball Comes Back experiment.

How can a light bulb change its shape without breaking it? Find out in “Light bulb and Blowtorch Experiment.”

Then join James and Roafill in their

I-Bilib hosts Chris Tiu, James and Roadfill with Cosplayer Alodia Gosengfiao

exciting ride – Speedboat Trivia – where you will know why the boat moves at a very high speed while you’re in it.

And Chris will show how to make a Self-powered Light Bulb.

I-Bilib is not just an entertaining program.

The audience also learns a lot from it.

Brand new alBum from The CompanY

T

he CompanY launches a brand new album at the Shang.

Asia’s premiere vocal harmony act, The CompanY, marks a milestone with the launch of their 25th album Nostalgia.

At 6:30 p.m. today, leading lifestyle destination Shangri-La Plaza will host members Sweet Plantado, Annie Quintos, Cecile Bautista, Oj Mariano and Moy Ortiz at the mall’s Grand Atrium as they give the audience a taste of the music that has touched and inspired the long-running group during the last three decades.

Including beloved classics such as “Laughter In The Rain,” “Afternoon Delight,” “Never My Love,:” “Up, Up and Away,” and many other favorites, the album is, according to The CompanY, “Reflective of the lessons learned, the people we’ve met, the places we’ve been to, and the all the good and tough times we’ve had together.”

The versatile quintet continues to expand their musical boundaries, and have, over the past 30 years, received 54 music industry awards, making them the most awarded recording vocal group in the land. Part of this success includes the release of 24 critically and

commercially successful studio albums.

Catch The CompanY and celebrate their newest album release at the Shang’s Grand Atrium today.

For inquiries, call 370-2500 loc. 597 or visit www. facebook.com/shangrilaplazaofficialfanpage. Follow the Shang on Instagram: @shangrilaplazaofficial.

S UNDAY : JA NUA RY 24, 2016

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ISAH V. RED EDITOR isahred @ gmail.com

SHOWBITZ

Rising television star Shy Carlos stars in the latest small screen adaptation of a fantasy series

Pretty Newcomer is 2016’s ‘tasya FaNtasya’ AJ Muhlach

Shy and Mark Neumann

Mark plays Shy's love interest in Tasya Fantasya

ISAH V. RED From the ranks of today’s most promising young stars, Shy Carlos pulls away from the pack just as easily being gifted with one of showbiz’s most beautiful faces and undeniable talents in acting and singing.

This year, the 20-year old SwissFilipino actress from the VIVA Artists Agency stable gets the biggest break of her career as she plays the title role in the iconic Tasya Fantasya series, which will premiere Feb. 6 on TV5.

Tasya Fantasya is a series from the creative mind of Carlo J. Caparas, about an ugly but kindhearted yaya who dreams about her prince charming. Tasya later finds out that her faith is entangled with that of a magical tree that will lead her to a series of colorful adventures.

VIVA’s Veronique del RosarioCorpus says, “The role of Tasya Fantasya seems to be cut out for

Shy. The character exudes what we see in her - kind, imaginative, youthful, wholesome and pleasant.

We didn’t have any doubts that Shy will be able to give justice to this project.”

The role of Tasya’s leading man in the series is being played by Mark Neumann, who, interestingly, is half German and is considered as TV5’s Kilig Prince.

Shy’s Tasya Fantasya will be the third rebirth of the iconic komiks character, having been played by Kris Aquino in 1994 and by Yasmien Kurdi in 2008. When asked how she will tackle the role, Shy simply quips, “I haven’t seen the movie and the GMA show. I hope to play the role in a different way.”

Shy, who did around 20 commercials when she was a child,

appeared in some shows from the top three networks before clinching a place in the all-female group Pop Girls along with Nadine Lustre. She also had a stint in the Star Cinema movie Para Sa Hopeless Romantic where she realized that comedy is a genre that she is very comfortable with.

Shy is also part of VIVA Films’ Lumayo Ka Nga Sa Akin, which

in theaters nationwide now. She co-stars with Maricel Soriano and Herbert Bautista in the episode “Shake, Shaker, Shakest.”

Unlike most young show biz stars today, Shy gives premium on her education. While she also works as a VJ for the music channel MTV Pinoy, the young actress is still in school as a junior student at College of St. Benilde taking up Consular and Diplomatic Affairs.

She will be the first to tell you that she is not what her name suggests.

“I am not shy. Otherwise I will not be in showbiz, right?” quips the engaging and outgoing young head-turner.

From the looks of it, 2016 is going to be the year where Shy Carlos’ star will reach higher heights in the local showbiz industry. Just wait and see.

Tasya Fantasya also stars Freddie Webb, Ara Mina, John Lapus, Candy Pangilinan, Giselle Sanchez, AJ Muhlach, Kim Molina, Jasmine Hollingworth, Malak So, Arvic Rivero, Donnalyn Bartolome and many more. ➜ continued on c7