The Standard - 2016 February 27 - Saturday

VOL. XXX NO. 17 3 Sections 32 Pages P18 SATURdAy : FEBRUARy 27, 2016 www.thestandard.com.ph editorial@thestandard.com.ph

Marcos: leave the past to historians

A2

‘cct useD to buy votes For roxas’

By Christine F. Herrera

TAYABAS CITY, Quezon—Opposition United Nationalist Alliance presidential bet Vice President Jejomar Binay on Friday accused a Cabinet official and the ruling Liberal Party of using the P64.7 billion Conditional Cash Transfer funds to buy votes, in the guise of recruiting poll watchers.

“The recruitment of poll watchers is happening already. A Cabinet official is involved. They are using public funds, particularly 4Ps or CCT funds to buy votes,” Binay told reporters, referring to the government’s dole program.

Binay would not name the Cabinet official involved, but the Cabinet member who has authority over the distribution of CCT benefits under the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino

Program or 4Ps is Social Welfare Secretary Corazon Soliman.

“They kept saving and saving, and even underspent [on government projects] so they could use the money during the election. Now, they are suddenly spending, and the money is flowing,” Binay said in Filipino.

Also on Friday, Malacañang said the Commission on Elections should investigate complaints that the Liberal Party was using government ve-

hicles in the campaign sorties of administration standard bearer Manuel Roxas II, after users of social media posted photographs of these.

“We’re glad that citizens were vigilant. There is no excuse for the use by the local government of their vehicle by any supporter for any candidate,” said Presidential Spokesman Edwin Lacierda. “The Comelec has the responsibility and the mandate to act Next page accordingly.”

No Plan B. Vice presidential candidate Leni Robredo greets voters in Pagadian City as the Libreal Party denied supposed plans to drop her in mid-campaign to prevent the election of Senator Ferdinand

Marcos Jr.

Duterte to visit MILF camp

A3

LP bet denies ‘Plan B’ to dump Robredo other Marcos in Malacañang.

“I would like to clear things up. There’s PAGADIAN CITY, Zamboanga Del no truth to these claims. We don’t have Sur—Liberal Party candidate for a Plan B, or even a Plan C, D or others. president Manuel Roxas II on Friday Our plan is to win because what we are dismissed rumors of a plan to ditch coming from is a strong foundation of the administration’s vice presidential clean, orderly and plunder-free governcandidate, Camarines Sur Rep. Leni ance,” Roxas told reporters in a chance Robredo, in favor of Senator Francis interview Friday noon.

Escudero, to prevent the return of anAmid worries from her party mates

By John Paolo Bencito

that her numbers remained low, Robredo said nothing is impossible, and that with hard work and persistence, she could beat Escudero and Marcos, who are leading in the opinion surveys.

“I’m accustomed to this kind of fight,” Robredo said. “In Congress, I fought the most powerful politician in our province. I was the underdog at Next page

s at u r D aY : f e b r u a r Y 2 7, 2 0 1 6

A2

news

editorial@thestandard.com.ph

Focus on helping people—Marcos ‘CCT...

and said, ‘Hey get as many watchers, we’ll pay for them using money from 4Ps’,” Binay said.

From A1 He also accused the Liberals and the Lacierda was reacting to posts on so- Cabinet secretary of using scare tactics cial media showing government vehicles that said Binay would stop the 4Ps probeing used in the Roxas campaign. gram if he were elected.

Yellow posters of Roxas were shown The 4Ps, a straight dole program for being put up, and a photo of a red-plate the poor, was created by Soliman when government vehicle was being used for she was still Social Welfare secretary unthe campaign. der the Arroyo administration. Aquino The Comelec said complainants increase funding to the program and should file formal complaints if they turned it into his flagship poverty allehave sufficient evidence against any can- viation program. didate, as social media was being used as “My opponents are scaring the public, an instrument to gather reports of cam- particularly the poor who are recipients paign violations. of the 4Ps that I will discontinue the proComelec Chairman Andres Bautista gram should I win the presidential race. said the poll body does monitor social That is a big lie. That is not true,” Binay media complaints—particularly those told the crowd. addressed to the Comelec’s accounts and On the contrary, Binay said his adthe hashtag #SumbongKo. ministration would expand the coverHowever, he acknowledged they have age of the 4Ps that would include senior been flooded by complaints. citizens.

During his sortie speech in nearby “We will include the senior citizens in Candelaria, Binay told supporters about our 4Ps. They have served our country well the Liberal’s alleged plot to cheat in the in their younger days. It is but right that May 9 polls to favor Roxas. we would make it our turn to take care of He said the Cabinet secretary was with them in their remaining days,” Binay said.

Roxas’ entourage when the Liberals went The vice president said at age 73, he to Laguna to start the vote buying and is a senior citizen himself and he clearly recruitment. understood that the old men and women Reports reaching his camp, Binay said, did not want to feel they are a burden showed the secretary issued the march- to their children, particularly when in ing orders to the local agency officials their old days, they acquire all kinds of to start recruiting poll watchers for the illnesses that needed constant medical May presidential polls. attention and hospitalization.

“Based on reports reaching me, one “Our senior citizens cannot afford government secretary went to Laguna maintenance medicine. Most of them

LP...

From A1 the time and I didn’t have allies, but I made it.”

She said it was to be expected that Escudero and Marcos would be leading because they were senators.

But she said she was confident that the LP would not junk her and support her until the end of the vice presidential race.

“First of all, they’re the ones who laid their bets on me even when my ratings were still very low. How much more now that I’ve already picked up? They’re giving me all the support, I don’t have a reason to worry,” she said.

Robredo, the widow of Naga City mayor and former Interior Secretary Jesse Robredo, was thrown into the national spotlight after Roxas failed to recruit Senator Grace Poe—who is now running against him for president—to be his running mate.

Earlier, political strategist Malou Tiquia, a staunch Robredo supporter, said in her Facebook page that “two different but credible sources” told her the party might junk the congresswoman if her poll numbers did not pick up.

But Tiquia retorted that Robredo’s survey numbers, from zero in September 2015 to 19 percent in January 2016 was “no small feat.”

“Yes, she is plateauing but that is because there is not enough support to get her message out via [the] air [waves],” Tiquia said.

Tiquia said Robredo “remains loyal to a fault to LP” and that the ruling party’s possible decision to junk her “at this early stage is cruel.”

But her source said: “Can she stop Marcos? Another candidate said he can”—referring to Escudero.

On the 30th anniversary of the Edsa Revolution, President Aquino made it clear he was leading a personal crusade to stop Marcos from winning.

Tiquia, founder of the political management firm Publicus Asia, said she asked her source if the LP would abort the plan to junk Robredo if her ratings rose to 25 percent.

Her source remained quiet, she said.

“I ended the conversation with: ‘you don’t junk Leni, you give her the wherewithal to fight,” Tiquia said.

He then asked Tiquia not to get angry. “This is just politics,” he said.

On Thursday, Malacañang denied Tiquia’s claims that the ruling party would drop Robredo and likened her to “Wormtongue”—a fictional character in the Lord of the Rings trilogy who whispered the wrong advice to his king.

“Is it true that she [Tiquia] was a consultant for [Vice President Jejomar] Binay in his terrible debate performance and that she is rooting for Binay as president and Leni for VP? If so, I am not surprised at her efforts to Wormtongue a different tandem considering the debacle of Binay last Sunday,” Presidential Spokesman Edwin

would rather keep quiet about their illnesses than be a burden to their children.

“Under my administration, we will accord our senior citizens the respect that they deserve. Our senior citizens will have their dignity intact until their last days,” said Binay, whose declaration was met by a loud cheer from senior citizens who attended the campaign rally.

Binay warned that it would not be long that the administration candidates would reach them and bribe them.

“Money and public funds from the administration will flood this election. My advise to you, take the money because that is your money coming from the taxpayers, use it to buy your basic needs but do not put in your ballot the names of those who tried to buy your votes. Write in the ballot the rightful and deserving candidates.

Write Binay and Gregorio Honasan, my running mate, and UNA senatorial candidates in your ballots,” Binay said.

Also on Friday, the online news site Rappler.com said it had detected “systematic, organized gaming” of a digital survey it conducted in December 2015 that gave Roxas the win.

The website said an “irregular surge” in the first three days of polling in January led them to reevaluate the December results.

“Roxas was clearly the beneficiary of this manipulation, but the numbers and the sources of the vote surge do not allow us to identify who may have been behind the attempt to game the survey. This could be either his supporters or people out to discredit him,” the report added.

Lacierda said.

“But here are the facts, Mar [Roxas] and Leni have been going out on a tandem campaign and both have been reinforcing Daang Matuwid and each other in their speeches. So, why listen to her when all you need to watch and listen are Mar and Leni on the campaign trail?” Lacierda said.

Tiquia slammed Lacierda’s claims of her working relationship with Binay.

“I also disclosed to Leni that I am with Binay. I am not a scheming person,” she said, adding that the Liberal Party could not deny the plan.

The President’s sister, Ballsy Aquino-Cruz, on Thursday said the entire Aquino family was behind Robredo.

“There’s nothing to worry about because Leni [Robredo] didn’t force herself to be the vice presidential candidate,” Aquino-Cruz said. “She has still time. The campaign has just started, and we just need to exert more efforts for her numbers to rise.”

Aquino-Cruz added that she and her sisters would also join the campaign trail soon to support LP bets in the May elections.

The latest Social Weather Stations survey released February 2016 showed Marcos tying for the first time with consistent frontrunner Escudero.

Marcos’ ratings climbed from 25 percent in January to 26 percent while Escudero’s slipped from 28 percent to 26 percent.

Also on Thursday, Gov.

Joey Sarte Salceda of Albay said his province may junk the administration ticket after the failure of Transportation Secretary Joseph Emilio Abaya to award the Bicol International Airport project.

Salceda, the LP’s provincial chairman, had previously jumped ship in 2010 to the Liberal Party after it was clear that Aquino would become president.

“If Mar Roxas will lose in Albay in the May 2016 election, it’s [the Liberal Party’s] problem because they did not fulfill the construction of Bicol International Airport as promised,” Salceda told Albay-based reporters.

“How can I campaign for Roxas when the Albayanos are losing trust because of the DoTC’s failure to follow through President Aquino’s vital project in Bicol despite the availability of funds?” he added.

Roxas denied Salceda’s claims, adding that he was not afraid to lose Albay because he’s “sticking with the truth.”

Roxas said there was already earth moving equipment at the site of the airport, and that work on access roads were about halfway completed.

Salceda, who is running for a congressional seat for Albay’s second district, urged Abaya earlier this month to hasten the awarding of the contract for Phase 2A of the Bicol International Airport project, which would cover the construction of land side facilities.

By Macon Ramos-Araneta

THE target of an administration campaign to stamp out his resurgent bid for the vice presidency, Senator Ferdinand Marcos Jr. said Friday the country’s leaders should strive to find solutions to problems besetting the country and let historians make an objective assessment of his father’s Martial Law regime.

“We need to respond to our people,” said Marcos in a press briefing in Balungao town in Pangasinan.

“They’ve asked for help on… the problems they are facing and that is what we should be doing.”

The remark came as reporters pressed him to comment on President Beningo Aquino III’s call for voters to oppose his vice presidential bid, saying that people should learn from the lessons of the past.

“Let us leave history to our professors, those who studied the history of the Philippines. That’s not our job. Our job is to look at the needs of our people,” he said.

Marcos said today’s situation is vastly different from the situation three decades ago and so current problems require solutions different from what were done in the past.

In reply to a question, he said he did not want to see another declaration of martial law.

“Oh, God no. Because if there’s martial law, that would mean we are in crisis,” he said in Filipino. “We don’t want to see the Philippines in crisis.”

Marcos said he was thankful that President Aquino’s campaign against him did not seem to affect his campaign so far.

A crowd of over 3,000 at the covered auditorium of the municipality of Umingan welcomed Marcos, who was guest speaker at the multi-sectoral forum held there earlier in the day.

“We have not felt that. The support, the welcome of the people remained warm. It has not changed. so we are thankful,” he said.

The Palace on Friday denied there was politics involved in the celebration of the 30th anniversary of the Edsa Revolution on Thursday.

Communications Secretary Herminio Coloma Jr. said President Aquino’s speech, particularly his attacks on Marcos and Senate Minority Leader Juan Ponce Enrile, as well as Martial Law implemented by former President Ferdinand Marcos, were based on “the truth.”

“Every time he delivers a speech, President Aquino expresses the truth. That is the basis of the trust of his bosses,” Coloma said.

The administration marked the 30th anniversary of the Edsa Revolution Thursday but largely ignored the roles played by key figures in the uprising three decades ago.

The President’s speech denounced Martial Law and the Marcos family—including Senator Marcos.

In an “Experiential Museum” set up in Camp Aguinaldo to mark the event, not a word was said about former President Fidel V. Ramos, at the time the vice chief of staff of the Armed Forces; or Senator Juan Ponce Enrile, who was then defense minister, to document how the two broke away from the government of then President Ferdinand Marcos.

Together, the two provided the armed might in the civilian-backed military revolt of 1986 that ignited People Power, but they appeared only in photos at the museum, with no captions to identify them.

Ramos did attend the “Salubungan” reenactment at Edsa, however, along with ranking military and police personnel shortly after a mass at the Edsa monument.

For ceremonies marking the event, no invitations were sent to Vice President Jejomar Binay, then a human rights lawyer, or Senator Gregorio Honasan, a colonel at the time who joined Ramos and Enrile in the military revolt. The two are running for president and vice president, respectively, under the opposition United Nationalist Alliance banner.

“I don’t know why Ramos and Enrile’s role were not given prominence. Instead, the exhibit only capsulized the bad things and memories of the late President Ferdinand Marcos during the dark days of Martial Law,” said one visitor who asked not to be named.

Binay, an opposition candidate running for president, challenged President Benigno Aquino III and the ruling Liberal Party to stop distorting the truth by revising history.

S AT U R D AY : f e b R U A R Y 2 7, 2 0 1 6

A3

NEWS

editorial@thestandard.com.ph

Poe’s camp slams talk she faces disqualification PRESIDENTIAL candidate Grace Poe’s lawyer on Friday slammed the insinuations the senator will suffer the same fate as the local official who was recently disqualified by the Supreme Court for using his foreign passport after renouncing his American citizenship.

George Garcia said the case of disqualified Kauswagan, Lanao del Norte, Mayor Rommel Arnado was different from Poe’s because she never used a passport other than her Philippine passport after she renounced her US citizenship in October 2010, when she assumed the chairmanship of the Movie and Television Review and Classification Board.

“Lest the public be misled, the recent SC decision in Arnado vs Comelec is inapplicable to the case of Senator Grace Poe. No rhyme or reason to conclude that they are the same,” Garcia said.

Election lawyer Romulo Macalintal agreed with Garcia, saying the high court’s decision on that case “will not have any adverse effect on Senator Poe’s citizenship case.”

In its decision in the Arnado case that became final last December, the high court said the use of a foreign passport by dual citizens was proof of ineligibility to hold public office.

Court records showed that Arnado used his passport just 11 days after he renounced his US citizenship. Such act, the high tribunal said, was tantamount to recantation of his Oath of Renunciation abandoning his American

citizens h ip.

Some reports insinuated that the ruling in the Arnado case set a precedent that would have a bearing on the disqualification case against Poe, who has asked the high court to reverse two Comelec decisions canceling her Certificate of Candidacy for president due to alleged false material representations on her citizenship and residency.

But Garcia said there was “absolutely no basis” to compare Arnado’s case to that of his client.

“Records would show that Senator Grace Poe did not use her US passport after her renunciation of her US citizenship in October of 2010,” Garcia said.

“The last time it was used by her was in March of 2010 or several months before said renunciation.

“This was confirmed by the entries on the US passport itself and the travel records at the Bureau of Immigration, and this was further amplified during the oral arguments.”

Macalintal said Arnado, a natural-born Filipino citizen who was naturalized as an American citizen, reacquired his Filipino citizenship by executing an Oath of Allegiance to the Republic of the Philippines and later an Affidavit of Renunciation of his foreign citizenship.

However, he continued to use his American passport after executing his affidavit of renunciation, prompting the high court to sustain the Comelec’s ruling that his continued use of his US passport negated his Affidavit of Renunciation.

Rey E. Requejo

Home is the Rody. Davao City Mayor Rodrigo Duterte, whose family hails from Cebu City, interacts with workers of the Mactan Export Processing Zone along with his running mate Senator Allan Cayetano

Duterte to discuss war in Mindanao DAVAO City Mayor Rodrigo Duterte will meet with the leaders of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front in Sultan Kudarat today to discuss the conflict in Mindanao and the Bangsamoro Basic Law, his camp said Friday.

Duterte, a presidential candidate, is pushing for a federal form of government, saying it is the only solution to the unrest in Mindanao.

“Nothing but federalism will appease the Muslims in Mindanao but federalism only,” Duterte said earlier, although he expressed his opposition to the BBL. At 2 p.m. today Duterte, along with his running mate Senator Alan Peter Cayetano, will proceed to a campaign rally at the Cotabato City Plaza on Rufino and Sinsuat.

At 6 p.m. he will attend a Mindanao women’s forum at the Garden Oases in

Barrio Obrero in Davao City.

Meanwhile, the Duterte-Cayetano camp slammed the Aquino administration “for telling the people that they have 100 percent [PhilHealth] coverage and for advertising its zero billing health services when this is simply not true.”

Cayetano said the government must not mislead the people.

“You have been giving the people false hope, this is what the Department of Health and Philippine Health Insurance have been doing in the last few administrations. It’s time for real change,” he said.

“What good is PhilHealth if there is no available hospital or if the hospital available does not have the facilities or equipment needed by the patient?

The Duterte-Cayetano tandem has vowed to ensure an orderly healthcare system that could accommodate all Filipinos, particularly those from the marginalized sector.

Citing a 2013 report by the Philippine Society for General Internal Medicine, Cayetano said six out of 10 Filipinos die without seeing a doctor.

“This is simply unacceptable.

There is so much chaos as the people are too burdened. Even the [government’s] health-care service cannot be depended on,” he said.

“A healthy Filipino is a productive Filipino. Not a single Filipino must be deprived of medical assistance and health-care services.”

Cayetano said the lack of a healthcare system in the provinces adds to the suffering of ordinary people.

If elected, Duterte and Cayetano vowed to ensure full PhilHealth coverage and full implementation of PhilHealth’s “zero billing” services to members.

They said they will put regional safety hospitals in the Visayas and Mindanao.

Meanwhile, Duterte became emotional when he visited Danao City in Cebu over the weekend.

“I was close to tears while still aboard the helicopter,” he said.

The Davao City mayor’s father, the late governor Vicente Durano, once served as Danao City mayor before the family migrated to Mindanao. Rio N. Araja

Displaced workers top priority

Celebrity welcome. A woman enthusiastically embraces independent presidential candidate Senator Grace Poe who campaigned in Bangued, Abra, on Friday.

A BINAY administration will give priority to providing jobs to the thousands of Filipino workers abroad affected by the continuing slump in oil prices and the war in the Middle East, the United Nationalist Alliance said Friday.

The group said employment abroad would be a matter of choice and not of necessity for the Filipino workers.

Migrante International earlier warned that at least 50,000 Filipinos in Saudi Arabia would be jobless by March as a re-

sult of the oil crisis in the Middle East.

Thousands of Filipinos are working at Bin Laden Co. and Saudi Oger Ltd., two of the biggest contractors hired by the Saudi government for construction projects.

Binay worked closely with distressed Filipino workers when he was presidential adviser on Overseas Workers Affairs.

Binay’s running mate, Senator Gregorio Honasan II, said a Binay presidency would provide better job opportunities to

encourage Filipinos to stay home.

Honasan said that while improving government support and making legal assistance available to migrant workers, these were short-term solutions to the problem of unemployment and underemployment in the country.

He said the Aquino administration had no contingency plan to help the distressed Filipino workers abroad who would be coming home but could expect nothing from their government.

Vito Barcelo

s at u r D aY : f e b r u a r Y 2 7, 2 0 1 6

A4

NEWS

editorial@thestandard.com.ph

US warns vs ‘de facto’ control

By Vito Barcelo and Francisco Tuyay THE Philippines called on all countries with claims to disputed waters in the South China Sea to respect the rule of law in order to preserve peace and security in the region even as the US Pacific Command warned that China means to exercise “de facto” control of the disputed waters.

Desirable aliens. Foreigners line up at the Bureau of Immigration’s Alien Registration Division to list up as required by the Alien

Registration Act of 1950 which provides that foreigners shall, within the first 60 days of every year to report in person to the bureau.

DANNY PATA

Don’t forget ‘Yolanda’, bets say

By Maricel V. Cruz and Macon R. Araneta SENATORIAL candidates Neri Colmenares and Susan Ople urged the people of Eastern Visayas not to forget inutility, disorganization and criminal negligence of the Aquino administration during Typhoon ‘‘Yolanda’’ in 2013 when they vote in the May 9 elections.

“It must be noted that the day before Yolanda made its first landfall, President Benigno Simeon Aquino III appeared on national television assuring the nation that the government is well-prepared to meet the effects of the typhoon, even claiming that a number of aircrafts, helicopters and ships are already in place in various areas

and relief goods are already pre-positioned to provide immediate relief right after the typhoon but what actually happened?” Colmenares said .

Colmenares said the Filipino people should not vote for Roxas who has no concrete platforms of government except to continue the President Benigno Aquino III’s “Daang Matuwid” which does not have a heart for the poor.

The militant lawmaker said President Aquino and Roxas should be held accountable for Yolanda mess.

Colmenares also urged the electorate “to help each other to elect officials of the country that are truly serving and would continue to serve the people and not those who just make promises and do photo ops.”

Meanwhile, Ople lamented that some 300 families who have been living in bunkhouses in the aftermath of super typhoon Yolanda that devastated the eastern Visayas region have been groping in the dark since last week.

“They are without electricity for a week now due to unpaid electric bills. Soon, their water supply will be cut off,” Ople said.

Aside from their inhumane living conditions, Ople said affected Yolanda victims also complained about the big rats in the bunk houses.

Because of this, she called on the Department of Social Welfare and Development to look into the concerns raised by these families about non-payment of electricity bills and rat infestation.

“Sustainable peace and security are made possible by a rules-based regime, generally accepted by countries, that equalizes powerful actors and their less influential ones. Sustainable peace and security are direct products of the reason and ascendancy of the rule of law,” Philippine Ambassador to the United Nations Cecilia Rebong said during a meeting of other UN organizations in Geneva.

Rebong made the appeal in New York as a US Navy admiral expressed concern that China will exercise “de facto” control of the South China Sea following its recent activities in the disputed sea.

“Short of war with the United States, China will exercise de facto control of the South China Sea,” Adm. Harry Harris, commander of the US Pacific Command said, adding that developments prove that China is determined to achieve military control in the region.

“If China continues to arm all of the bases they have reclaimed in the South China Sea, they will change the operational landscape in the region,” Harris said.

The Philippines earlier filed an arbitration case against China before the Permanent Court of Arbitration at The Hague, Netherlands due to its massive reclamation activities in the South China Sea. China recently deployed surface-to-air missiles in the Woody Island of the Paracel group in the disputed sea, raising protest from neighboring Asian countries.

The Philippines and other UN members underscored the importance of the rule of law in the conduct of diplomacy and international relations, particularly in the field of disarmament and collective security during a panel discussion in Geneva entitled “Disarmament and Collective Security, the Department of Foreign Affairs said.

“As an example on the importance of the rule of law in disarmament and collective security, Rebong presented the Philippines’ arbitration case before the Tribunal of the United Nations Convention of the Law of the Sea,” the DFA said.

Gun ban raps eyed vs 1,485

By Florante S. Solmerin THE Philippine National Police has arrested 1,485 individuals for violating the Commission on Elections gun ban, said PNP Spokesperson Chief Superintendent Wilben Mayor.

Of the number, Mayor said 1,428 were civilians, 10 police officers, 14 government officials, six from the Armed Forces of the Philippines, one from the Bureau of Fire Protection, 19 security guards, five employees of a law enforcement agency, and two members of the Civilian Armed Forces Geographical Unit, Mayor said.

Police confiscated 1,110 firearms, 13,691 deadly weapons, 69 grenades, 128 other explosives, 54 firearm replicas, 414 bladed/ pointed weapons and 12,949

ammunition.

The gun ban is being implemented by the PNP and other law enforcement agencies in line with the country’s national and local elections on May 9. The ban will last until June 8.

Meanwhile, the AFP and PNP in Eastern Mindanao have started to discuss on how to jointly deploy their forces in areas of immediate and concern and hotspots in preparations for the local campaign period for the 2016 polls.

Newly promoted Lieutenant General Rey Guerrero, commander of Eastmincom, said he met Thursday with his PNP counterpart in the Directorate for Integrated Police Operations-Eastern Mindanao and they have forged a joint action plan.

“The joint action plan will enable both parties to have a common understanding of the actions that will be implemented for the year,” Guerrero said.

Guerrero has just been promoted to three-star general, the first among the members of the Philippine Military Academy “Maharlika” Class 1984.

He said combined troops from the military and police are ready for deployment once the Comelec ordered them for posting.

“We discussed the preparations for the 2016 national elections that include risk and threat assessment dubbed SAFE 16,” Guerrero said.

“We have special units ready for deployment to provide security to our NGCP Towers and cell sites,” he added.

Still jobless. Thousands of Manila residents flocked to the San Andres Sports Complex in Malate, Manila on Friday in search of work during the Manila Mega Job Fair 2016. LINO SANTOS

s at u r D aY : f e b r u a r Y 2 7, 2 0 1 6

A5

NEWS

editorial@thestandard.com.ph

Require receipts, lawyers urge SC

By Rey E. Requejo

Back home. Devotee Bernadeth Manzano prays in front of the image of Mary Help of Christians at Manila Cathedral where the icon was after 74 years in the safekeeping of the Our Lady of Loreto Church in Sampaloc, Manila. DANNY PATA

42 extremists killed 5-day AFP offensive

By Francisco Tuyay FORTY-two extremists were killed while several others were wounded as security forces pounded their lair in Lanao del Sur with artillery fire and aerial attacks over five days, the military reported on Friday.

The military also suffered three deaths and 11 wounded after Army forces captured an encampment of rebels in the province, said Major Filemon Tan, spokesman of the Army’s Western Mindanao Command.

But the military has so far recovered the bodies of only three rebels and the other fatalities may have been hastily buried hastily in consonance with Muslim tradition.

Air Force OV-10 bomber planes and 105mm howitzers hit rebel positions while attack helicopters fired rockets at the camp in Butig town, Tan said.

“Our troops were able to capture a terrorist camp on Thursday night,” Tan said, adding that security forces recovered from the camp two rocket-propelled grenades, two armalite rifles and a homemade caliber 50 rifle.

Col. Resoeller Murilla, commander of the Army’s 103rd Infantry Brigade said about 400 extremists were inside the camp when the bombardment and shelling commenced.

The wife of Omar Maute, a Jordanian-trained terrorist who was among those killed earlier in the week, is still hiding somewhere in Central Mindanao and is now being hunted by intelligence operatives.

Tan said said Army Armored Personnel Carrier tanks with thermal imaging continue to pursue fleeing rebels who scampered in different directions following the bombing raids and shelling.

“They are still there and we are continuing to pound them with artilleries and rockets

from helicopters, supported by armors on the ground,” said Tan. Tan said Butig town has been one of the key training areas of Islamic militants in Mindanao.

The Moro Islamic Liberation Front, which siged a truce with the government, has forces just outside Butig town but they have repositioned themselves to avoid a misencounter with the military. About 8,000 people have been by the fighting.

Saripada Pacasum, assistant head of the Lanao del Sur Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office, said that at least 335 families have already fled to Marawi City and another 657 families have temporarily resettled in Masiu, Lanao del Sur.

THE Supreme Court has been asked to compel the Commission on Elections to implement the receipt-printing feature of votecounting machines to be used for the May 9 polls.

In a petition for mandamus, senatorial candidate Greco Antonious Beda G. Belgica along with lawyers Glenn A. Chong and Manuelito R. Luna pleaded for the issuance of a writ of mandamus or a mandatory injunction mandating the Comelec to activate the Voter-Verified Paper Audit Trail.

According to them, the Comelec has the responsibility to comply with the minimum system capabilities set forth by the poll automation law.

“With due respect, Comelec has been unlawfully neglecting its duty to enable the VVPAT, print voting receipts on election day as well as make provision for an on-screen verification of votes, and to fully comply with the minimum system capabilities and other safeguards of the AES [automated election system] in order to ensure a transparent and credible elections,” petitioners argued.

They said for the previous two automated elections in 2010 and 2013, the Comelec has been “remiss of its duties.”

The petitioners also disputed the Comelec’s claims that to be compelled to enable the VVPAT would cause time constraints to the election preparations because it entails compiling a new trusted build for the VCM. The trusted build is the firmware used in the final configuration of the machines, final ballot design, and data to be used by the AES. The petitioners also stressed that the poll body compiled the final trusted build on Feb. 8 to 9, but only announced the final decision to disable the VVPAT on Feb. 13, which delayed their legal action.

They said the Comelec should have allowed opposing parties to seek legal remedies first so it would not be burdened with the problem of redoing the final trusted build in the event they win.

“If the Comelec were straightforward enough, it should have announced its final decision to disable the VVPAT before making the final trusted build to enable the opposing parties to seek appropriate remedies before the compilation of the final trusted build,” the petitioners pointed out.

Bets’ tax duties reiterated

By Gabrielle H. Binaday THE Bureau of Internal Revenue on Friday reminded candidates, political parties and campaign contributors to comply with their tax duties and obligation, adding that these parties should register and secure official receipts with the tax agency.

Under Revenue Regulations 07-2011 issued by Commissioner Kim Henares on Feb. 16 2011, any unused or excess campaign funds shall be treated as income for purposes of taxation and all contributions received by the candidate should be reported.

The said ruling is also backed by Revenue Memorandum Order No. 7-2015 wherein any single non-issuance of official receipt upon receipt of contribution shall be penalized with a fine of not less than P1,000 but not more than P50,000 and imprisonment of not less than four years.

BIR said political parties and party-list

groups should register with the Revenue District Offices having jurisdiction over their head office or principal office.

Individual candidates, on the other hand, should register with the RDO having jurisdiction over the political subdivision where the candidate is seeking election and if this is not applicable, registration shall be made at the RDO having jurisdiction over their principal residence or registered address.

Upon registration, BIR will tag them as withholding tax agents, and they must withhold the corresponding withholding tax for election related expenses, such as but not limited to purchases of campaign materials.

Further, expenditures incurred shall be reported and unreported expenses, as well as those not subjected to appropriate withholding tax, will not be allowed as deductions from contributions.

Preliminary injunction. Former Senator Francisco Tatad, Greco Belgica, Glen Chong

and Rizalino David file a petition for mandamus with application for a writ of preliminary mandatory injunction for the Comelec to issue vote receipts to voters in the May 9 elections. DANNY PATA

s at u r d ay : f e b r u a r y 2 7, 2 0 1 6

A6 Graduate students not covered by transpo discount

By Rio N. Araja THE Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board on Friday said post-graduate students are not covered by the 20-percent student fare discount.

In a statement, Ariel Enrile Inton, one of the LTFRB’s board members, reacted to a recent altercation between a female student and Edel Barcoso, a conductor of Jasper Jean Transit, when the latter slapped the former after she failed to show her student identification card.

Though the current memorandum circular on student fare discount does not require the presentation of identification, Enrile Inton said student passengers must still have proof of enrollment.

He said there is a need to review the circular.

Under its guidelines, students taking up medicine, law, master’s or doctorate degrees are not covered by the student fare discount, he said.

Out-of-school youth are also not entitled to the discount, he added.

“Student fare discount is not a law. It is only a Memorandum Circular under the LTFRB not mandated by the law like discounts for senior citizens and PWDs [persons with disabilities],” he said.

news

editorial@thestandard.com.ph

Traders sued for attempt to smuggle jewels, tires

By Vito Barcelo

The Bureau of Customs filed smuggling charges before the Department of Justice against two traders for attempting to smuggle diamonds, assorted jewelry and used tires worth P18 million.

Charged were Jubannie B. Berces, general manager, of Respawnable Enterprises who tried to smuggle used tires at the Manila International Container Port

and Rosemarie G. Clemente, for bringing undeclared jewelry at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport.

Customs Commissioner Al-

berto Lina said that Berces’ company declared the shipment as goods. They turned out to be used tires worth P3 million.

Importation of used tires has been banned since 1980, under Section 101 of the Customs Law. Clemente brought in 259 pieces of assorted jewelry worth P15 million. These include 55 pieces of rings, 116 pieces of earrings, 18 pieces of bracelets, 40 pieces of necklace and 30

pieces of pendants.

Clemente arrived in the Philippines from Hong Kong in September last year but did not declare the jewelry.

“Travelers who bring in commercial goods and importers doing unlawful act of importation will not be tolerated by the Bureau of Customs. They harm legitimate traders which can bring further negative effect on our economy if neglected,” Lina said.

Makeshift shelter. A homeless family rests under an MMDA vehicle at Luneta Park. LINO SANTOS

Lacson says strict terminal scheme may solve Metro traffic

By Macon Ramos-Araneta

Sniff, sniff. This bomb-sniffing dog is one of several deployed by security officials at the perimeter fence of the airport complex. ERIC APOLONIO

A STRICTLy enforced terminal scheme for provincial and metro buses may help decongest Epifanio delos Santos Avenue and other major thoroughfares in Metro Manila, former Senator Panfilo M. Lacson said.

Lacson said that while the Philippine National Police’s Highway Patrol Group had been managing traffic along Edsa, their effectiveness is limited because of the sheer volume of vehicles on the road.

He said the Road Measured Capacity at Edsa has become too small for the number of vehicles using it.

During a budget hearing he attended in the Senate, Lacson asked the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board representative about the Road Measured

Capacity in terms of buses along Edsa.

The LTFRB representative said that while Edsa can accommodate 3,500 buses, the agency had already granted more than 6,000 franchises—about double Edsa’s capacity.

But Lacson also said the LTFRB representative also said there are also about 6,000 illegal buses, bringing the number of buses using Edsa to about 13,000.

“They can no longer be accommodated due to the many buses,” said Lacson.

“So enforcement remains a must.

Of course control is still necessary,” he said.

Lacson has been batting for a more equitable distribution of resources in the budget to decongest Metro Manila.

s at u r d ay : f e b r u a r y 2 7, 2 0 1 6

A7

news

editorial@thestandard.com.ph

Aurora gov, local execs face graft over wheel loader scam

By Ferdie G.Domingo BALeR, Aurora—Gov. Gerardo A. Noveras and 10 other officials of the provincial government, including his elder brother, have been charged with graft before the Office of the Ombudsman for the anomalous purchase of a heavy equipment three years ago.

Aside from Noveras, also charged for violations of Republic Act 3019, also known as the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act, gross negligence, misconduct in office and irregularity in the performance of duties before the Office of the Ombudsman for Luzon were Noveras’ elder brother and executive assistant, Isaias A. Noveras Jr. , provincial administrator Simeon De Castro, provincial legal counsel lawyer Paz Torregosa.

Provincial general services officer Ricardo Bautista, provincial budget officer Norma Clemente, provincial treasurer Norberto herminigildo, provincial equipment pool officer Cornelio P. Ancheta, assistant provincial engineer Benedicto Rojo, engineer Alfredo e. Penzon and Joel D. Friginal.

De Castro was charged as chairman of the bids and awards committee whose members include Torregosa, Bautista, Rojo, Clemente and Noveras Jr., a former vice governor.

Penzon and Friginal were included as head and member of the provincial government’s technical working group, respectively.

The nine-page joint complaint-affidavits were filed by engineer Amado elson A. egargue of Barangay Suklayin and engineer Rodante A. Tolentino of Barangay 5 Poblacion, both of this capital town.

Final touches. A woman finishes the design on her float in time for the flower festival parade on Sunday. DAVID CHAN

Catholic leaders warn public vs sect’s deceit

By Sara Susanne D. Fabunan

The Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Lingayen-Dagupan on Thursday warned its priests and the faithful against a sect offering church services to Catholics in several barangays in Pangasinan.

Archbishop Socrates Villegas, in a circular, cautioned

his priests about the “deceptive operations” of supposed

priests of the Ancient Catholic Church of the east.

“The sect is not a Catholic group and contrary to their presentation, there are no steps to ‘unite’ our churches,” Villegas said.

The circular has been posted on the official website of the Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines website.

“Please warn our Catholic faithful about their deceptive operations and consequently never to participate in their religious rites,” the circular said. he added the group is headed by a certain Anthony Obinque of San Gonzalo, Labrador, Pangasinan.

The archdiocese said the group is prohibited from

using its chapels for their liturgies which simulate the Catholic rites.

“Let this malicious group be a wake-up call for us Catholic priests to reach out to the barangay communities who truly thirst for the spiritual care of the Church, and hence, become vulnerable to such groups,” he added.

DoST launches new Doppler radar in Visayas

By Macon R. Araneta

Comparing notes. Leyte Rep. Martin Romualdez talks to former rehabilitation czar Panfilo Lacson on empowering local government units to cope with disaster. VeR NoVeNo

The weather bureau has inaugurated the Iloilo Doppler Radar and Synoptic Station located in WeSVIARC, Barangay hamungaya, Jaro, Iloilo City.

Department of Science and Technology Secretary Mario G. Montejo said Pagasa is bracing to further improve and upgrade its weather forecasting by covering the entire Visayas.

“This will empower the people. It will keep them safe and well-informed.”

The Pagasa put up the Iloilo station in May 2015 to provide more accurate weather data for the Visayas.

Montejo also said this would ensure the safety of vulnerable communities from natural hazards like typhoons and floods.

“This Doppler Radar and Synoptic Station is the 13th of the targeted 15 Doppler radars by year end that will provide more accurate forecasting to enable our farmers, our communities to prepare ahead of time when there is a coming typhoon because this will give us detailed data to predict the amount of rainfall in particular areas at a particular given time,” explained the DoST chief.

The radar is capable of scanning and monitoring rain clouds as far as Mas-

bate and Sorsogon area in the north and Surigao and Davao area plus the whole of Visayas.

This would enable “nowcasting” where an impending typhoon can be easily detected and tracked, allowing a lead time of three hours.

Montejo said the radar can provide data sets to manage crop planting so farmers would know weather conditions suitable for planting, applying fertilizer and harvesting.

The Doppler radar will likewise enhance the capability of Pagasa to mitigate the negative effect of el Niño by detecting rain clouds used for cloud seeding to induce rain.

S AT U R D AY : F E B R U A R Y 2 7, 2 0 1 6

A8

OPINION

ADELLE CHUA EDITOR

lettertotheeditor@thestandard.com.ph

OPINION

HAIL TO THE CHAIR VICTOR AVECILLA

MARCOSBASHING AND THE REAL EDSA REPORT CARD

[ EDI TORI A L ]

‘EXPERIENTIAL’

ON THE grounds of Camp Aguinaldo this week stood the Edsa People Power Experiential Museum, a makeshift structure that combines elements of theater, cinema, photography, performances and installations.

The Edsa People Power Commission said the interactive museum sought to relive the experiences of the victims of the 14 years of Martial Law under former President Ferdinand Marcos, specifically for young Filipinos who were too young to remember or who had not yet been born during the Martial Law years until Edsa I in 1986.

The tour could be “disturbing, haunting, and uncomfortable,” warned the organizers.

The tour recreated the struggle for democracy and the events leading to the bloodless People Power I. That each hall was interactive was intended to attract and engage young people, millennials who are more attuned to multiple media forms.

At the end of the guided tour, a hologram of President Benigno Aquino III appears, exhorting visitors to cherish the democracy that was achieved because of Edsa and to never allow martial law to happen again.

The youth have to learn the mistakes, pains, sorrows and joys of the past, the organizers added. “Only then can the country move forward.”

Sadly, the words of the President himself may hinder the process of moving forward. His People Power Anniversary speech was characteristically full of innuendoes, bitterness, blame and self-righteous claims. He went to the extent of rabidly campaigning against the son of the man who declared Martial Law and who is seeking the vice presidential post in May. The experiential museum is a good move to make more young people care about Filipinos’ collective story. But a better way to let them experience the lessons of history is to show how the country has advanced from 1986 to the present. This is what they will experience for themselves, a reality they will not be merely told about.

How far, indeed? Has the income gap between the rich and the poor shrunk?

Do workers have enough opportunity to earn and raise the quality of their living?

Have the agricultural and manufacturing sectors been developed enough? Have more children gained access to education? Has corruption at all levels and in all places been abated? Do Filipinos have more choices? Have institutions been strengthened, or do old ills continue to plague the country albeit under different names or political colors?

These firsthand experiences and not a museum tour would give the younger generation a sense of how we have progressed. We don’t need a hologram of one of Edsa I’s main beneficiaries telling us about moving on when he seems to have been stuck, engulfed in his own bile.

ADDRESSING SRHR POWER POINT ELIZABETH ANGSIOCO I WRITE this in the very interesting city of Nay Pyi Taw in Myanmar as I attend the 8th Asia-Pacific Conference on Reproductive and Sexual Health and Rights along with 20 or so other Filipino delegates. Thanks to the Philippine Center for Population and Development, one of my group’s partners on RH initiatives for sending me here.

This conference is held every two years and the last one was held in Manila. It will be remembered that the last Manila event became controversial because anti-RH groups picketed the event and petitioned the Court to stop it.

They claimed that it violated the Constitutional prohibition against abortion because there were sessions that discussed abortion. Belatedly (because the three-day conference was already over), the Court denied the petition. The decision said that the event did not violate any law because there was no

abortion being performed, and, discussing abortion is not a crime. We kidded international delegates that they had a taste of the kind of intolerance we face in the country.

This Myanmar conference is quite interesting as it brings together sexual and reproductive health and rights stakeholders from various disciplines; country experiences from both government and non-government organizations are shared; successful interventions are discussed; problems and challenges are surfaced and analyzed; and possible solutions are put

A9

Situations in Asia and Pacific regions are similar and different at the same time.

forward and debated.

Noticeably, the SRHR situations in Asia and Pacific regions are similar and different at the same time. Common problems exist across countries like: adolescent pregnancy, high unmet need for family planning, inadequate financing for RH (remember the recent controversial defunding of contraceptives by Senators Legarda and Sotto?), discrimination against LGBT, violence against women, and adolescent reproductive and sexual health and right.

Some countries however, have SRHR-related problems peculiar to them. For instance child/forced marriages common in South Asian countries like Pakistan, Bangladesh, and

Nepal; highly restrictive abortion laws such as what the Philippines has; criminalization of sex “work”; the declaration in 17 countries that same-sex relations are illegal; also the absence of a divorce law in the Philippines. SRHR contexts of countries are similar with some distinct peculiarities.

This conference also raised warning signals about emerging threats against SRHR brought about by changes in how we live our lives. Datuk Dr. Raj Abdul Karim of the Malaysian Council of Child Welfare, and Malaysian AIDS

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

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

Council sounded the alarm on two problems: trafficking and sexual exploitation of girls and women in travel and tourism, and online sexual exploitation. Dr. Karim said that 47 percent of those trafficked for forced labor and sexual exploitation in domestic setting are women and girls. She also emphasized that in 2013, 74 percent of children victimized online was victimized by someone in their circle of trust like family and friends. Certainly these problems are SRHR-related issues needing attention.

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

MST ONLINE

can be accessed at: www.manilastandardtoday.com

MEMBER

PPI

Philippine Press Institute The National Association of Philippine Newspapers

Throughout the three days, interesting presentations were made highlighting different approaches and strategies in addressing the various identified SRHR problems. What stand out for me are the following which, when taken together or integrated could make for an effective framework that can be used by stakeholders in their interventions: The presentations that focused on the importance and effectiveness of community women’s actions in Continued on A11

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

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

HISTORY marks Feb. 25, 1986 as the culmination of the so-called 1986 Edsa “people power” uprising. This event triggered the end of the strongman administration of then-President Ferdinand Marcos, and the installation of President Corazon “Cory” Cojuangco Aquino, the widow of Benigno “Ninoy” Aquino Jr., the charismatic political opposition leader assassinated in 1983 at the airport which now bears his name.

The uprising took place in the wake of a mutiny staged by then-Defense Minister Juan Ponce Enrile and General Fidel Ramos, then the deputy chief of the Armed Forces of the Philippines and a relative of President Marcos. After Marcos learned of the mutiny and demanded their surrender, Enrile and Ramos prepared for a last stand at their respective offices at Camp Aguinaldo and Camp Crame along Epifanio de los Santos Avenue in Quezon City.

Fortunately for Enrile and Ramos, Manila Archbishop Jaime Cardinal Sin and Ninoy sibling Agapito Aquino heard about their plight and called on Filipinos all over the metropolis, through Radio Veritas, to shield both camps from any reprisals from soldiers loyal to President Marcos. In the end, the soldiers dispatched to fight the mutineers joined the rebellion.

President Marcos refused to authorize any attack against the civilians surrounding both camps. Rather than instigate what could have been a bloody civil war, Marcos left Malacañang together with his family. American consular officials arranged for his departure for Hawaii.

The Marcos departure was quickly praised by anti-Marcos groups as a peaceful, bloodless revolution which deposed a despot, with the credit going to the Filipino people in general, and to Cory, Enrile, Ramos, and Sin in particular. It was peaceful and bloodless, all right, but not only because the crowds around the camps were uninjured. ProCory propagandists conveniently failed to mention that it was peaceful and bloodless because Marcos refused to authorize the use of violence on the people who surrounded the mutineers.

A year or so later, a shopping mall was erected near the vicinity of the uprising, and a Roman Catholic Church was constructed at the corner of the site. This came to be called the Edsa Shrine.

During the next few years following the uprising, a program was held every Feb. 25 at the Shrine, with President Cory Aquino in attendance. The theme of each program was always the same —the bloodless uprising that ended the Marcos dictatorship.

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

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

Emil P. Jurado Chairman Emeritus, Editiorial Board

S AT U R D AY : F E B R U A R Y 2 7, 2 0 1 6

A8

OPINION

ADELLE CHUA EDITOR

lettertotheeditor@thestandard.com.ph

OPINION

HAIL TO THE CHAIR VICTOR AVECILLA

MARCOSBASHING AND THE REAL EDSA REPORT CARD

[ EDI TORI A L ]

‘EXPERIENTIAL’

ON THE grounds of Camp Aguinaldo this week stood the Edsa People Power Experiential Museum, a makeshift structure that combines elements of theater, cinema, photography, performances and installations.

The Edsa People Power Commission said the interactive museum sought to relive the experiences of the victims of the 14 years of Martial Law under former President Ferdinand Marcos, specifically for young Filipinos who were too young to remember or who had not yet been born during the Martial Law years until Edsa I in 1986.

The tour could be “disturbing, haunting, and uncomfortable,” warned the organizers.

The tour recreated the struggle for democracy and the events leading to the bloodless People Power I. That each hall was interactive was intended to attract and engage young people, millennials who are more attuned to multiple media forms.

At the end of the guided tour, a hologram of President Benigno Aquino III appears, exhorting visitors to cherish the democracy that was achieved because of Edsa and to never allow martial law to happen again.

The youth have to learn the mistakes, pains, sorrows and joys of the past, the organizers added. “Only then can the country move forward.”

Sadly, the words of the President himself may hinder the process of moving forward. His People Power Anniversary speech was characteristically full of innuendoes, bitterness, blame and self-righteous claims. He went to the extent of rabidly campaigning against the son of the man who declared Martial Law and who is seeking the vice presidential post in May. The experiential museum is a good move to make more young people care about Filipinos’ collective story. But a better way to let them experience the lessons of history is to show how the country has advanced from 1986 to the present. This is what they will experience for themselves, a reality they will not be merely told about.

How far, indeed? Has the income gap between the rich and the poor shrunk?

Do workers have enough opportunity to earn and raise the quality of their living?

Have the agricultural and manufacturing sectors been developed enough? Have more children gained access to education? Has corruption at all levels and in all places been abated? Do Filipinos have more choices? Have institutions been strengthened, or do old ills continue to plague the country albeit under different names or political colors?

These firsthand experiences and not a museum tour would give the younger generation a sense of how we have progressed. We don’t need a hologram of one of Edsa I’s main beneficiaries telling us about moving on when he seems to have been stuck, engulfed in his own bile.

ADDRESSING SRHR POWER POINT ELIZABETH ANGSIOCO I WRITE this in the very interesting city of Nay Pyi Taw in Myanmar as I attend the 8th Asia-Pacific Conference on Reproductive and Sexual Health and Rights along with 20 or so other Filipino delegates. Thanks to the Philippine Center for Population and Development, one of my group’s partners on RH initiatives for sending me here.

This conference is held every two years and the last one was held in Manila. It will be remembered that the last Manila event became controversial because anti-RH groups picketed the event and petitioned the Court to stop it.

They claimed that it violated the Constitutional prohibition against abortion because there were sessions that discussed abortion. Belatedly (because the three-day conference was already over), the Court denied the petition. The decision said that the event did not violate any law because there was no

abortion being performed, and, discussing abortion is not a crime. We kidded international delegates that they had a taste of the kind of intolerance we face in the country.

This Myanmar conference is quite interesting as it brings together sexual and reproductive health and rights stakeholders from various disciplines; country experiences from both government and non-government organizations are shared; successful interventions are discussed; problems and challenges are surfaced and analyzed; and possible solutions are put

A9

Situations in Asia and Pacific regions are similar and different at the same time.

forward and debated.

Noticeably, the SRHR situations in Asia and Pacific regions are similar and different at the same time. Common problems exist across countries like: adolescent pregnancy, high unmet need for family planning, inadequate financing for RH (remember the recent controversial defunding of contraceptives by Senators Legarda and Sotto?), discrimination against LGBT, violence against women, and adolescent reproductive and sexual health and right.

Some countries however, have SRHR-related problems peculiar to them. For instance child/forced marriages common in South Asian countries like Pakistan, Bangladesh, and

Nepal; highly restrictive abortion laws such as what the Philippines has; criminalization of sex “work”; the declaration in 17 countries that same-sex relations are illegal; also the absence of a divorce law in the Philippines. SRHR contexts of countries are similar with some distinct peculiarities.

This conference also raised warning signals about emerging threats against SRHR brought about by changes in how we live our lives. Datuk Dr. Raj Abdul Karim of the Malaysian Council of Child Welfare, and Malaysian AIDS

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

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

Council sounded the alarm on two problems: trafficking and sexual exploitation of girls and women in travel and tourism, and online sexual exploitation. Dr. Karim said that 47 percent of those trafficked for forced labor and sexual exploitation in domestic setting are women and girls. She also emphasized that in 2013, 74 percent of children victimized online was victimized by someone in their circle of trust like family and friends. Certainly these problems are SRHR-related issues needing attention.

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

MST ONLINE

can be accessed at: www.manilastandardtoday.com

MEMBER

PPI

Philippine Press Institute The National Association of Philippine Newspapers

Throughout the three days, interesting presentations were made highlighting different approaches and strategies in addressing the various identified SRHR problems. What stand out for me are the following which, when taken together or integrated could make for an effective framework that can be used by stakeholders in their interventions: The presentations that focused on the importance and effectiveness of community women’s actions in Continued on A11

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

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

HISTORY marks Feb. 25, 1986 as the culmination of the so-called 1986 Edsa “people power” uprising. This event triggered the end of the strongman administration of then-President Ferdinand Marcos, and the installation of President Corazon “Cory” Cojuangco Aquino, the widow of Benigno “Ninoy” Aquino Jr., the charismatic political opposition leader assassinated in 1983 at the airport which now bears his name.

The uprising took place in the wake of a mutiny staged by then-Defense Minister Juan Ponce Enrile and General Fidel Ramos, then the deputy chief of the Armed Forces of the Philippines and a relative of President Marcos. After Marcos learned of the mutiny and demanded their surrender, Enrile and Ramos prepared for a last stand at their respective offices at Camp Aguinaldo and Camp Crame along Epifanio de los Santos Avenue in Quezon City.

Fortunately for Enrile and Ramos, Manila Archbishop Jaime Cardinal Sin and Ninoy sibling Agapito Aquino heard about their plight and called on Filipinos all over the metropolis, through Radio Veritas, to shield both camps from any reprisals from soldiers loyal to President Marcos. In the end, the soldiers dispatched to fight the mutineers joined the rebellion.

President Marcos refused to authorize any attack against the civilians surrounding both camps. Rather than instigate what could have been a bloody civil war, Marcos left Malacañang together with his family. American consular officials arranged for his departure for Hawaii.

The Marcos departure was quickly praised by anti-Marcos groups as a peaceful, bloodless revolution which deposed a despot, with the credit going to the Filipino people in general, and to Cory, Enrile, Ramos, and Sin in particular. It was peaceful and bloodless, all right, but not only because the crowds around the camps were uninjured. ProCory propagandists conveniently failed to mention that it was peaceful and bloodless because Marcos refused to authorize the use of violence on the people who surrounded the mutineers.

A year or so later, a shopping mall was erected near the vicinity of the uprising, and a Roman Catholic Church was constructed at the corner of the site. This came to be called the Edsa Shrine.

During the next few years following the uprising, a program was held every Feb. 25 at the Shrine, with President Cory Aquino in attendance. The theme of each program was always the same —the bloodless uprising that ended the Marcos dictatorship.

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

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

Emil P. Jurado Chairman Emeritus, Editiorial Board

A10

S AT U R D AY : F E B R U A R Y 2 7, 2 0 1 6

OPINION

lettertotheeditor@thestandard.com.ph

THE IDEOLOGICAL BANKRUPTCY OF THE LEFT BACK­ BENCHER ROD P. KAPUNAN THE greatest political swindle that was committed by the oligarchy and the US imperialist against the Filipino people occurred not when they ousted Ferdinand Marcos from power, but on the day they steered this country full-speed to being recolonized.

Every year, these selfrighteous hypocrites make their annual orgy at Edsa, mouthing their unbridled hatred and promise of revenge against the Marcoses. For that, they only deepen the wounds of political divisiveness among our people. As the years pass by, the recollection of Edsa has become the catalytic point to compare the past from the present. As history continues to move on, our people are able to judge the difference be-

They have been engrossed in their hate campaign.

tween glory and infamy, and today, they realize that it was a political swindle sanctified by the very institutions that spearhead in oppressing them.

As these conceited hypocrites deliriously celebrate Edsa, the man at the helm, as usual, capitalizes his theme on hatred, using it as his political ammunition to gloss over his gross incompetence and to divert from the public mind his record of unparalleled corruption. But that pathetic method of enchanting our people has long lost its spell. Many could only ask what have they gained after 30 years of tumultuous greed and idolatry to a make-believe freedom.

The value of Edsa already outlived its usefulness but it remains the main propaganda weapon of the Aquino administration and his yellow acolytes to keep them in power. As what many would say now,

they cannot keep on making Marcos their whipping boy.

They have to translate their hoot in having restored to our people their freedom and democracy to something tangible. Instead, they have been engrossed in their hate campaign. The more they rub it in, the more our people are turned off because hatred and revenge have never been a platform of government, unless PNoy has become a barbarian that revenge has become his forte. The hypocrites could only blame themselves for elevating Bongbong Marcos as the most serious contender for the vice presidential post. He has become the vortex in this coming election because people are now judging and anticipating him as their replacement to this good-for-nothing administration that has been lording it over this country since 1986.

People are again rejuvenated into participating in this coming electoral exercise.

In fact, many of those rooting for Bongbong Marcos are not blueblooded pro-Marcos or loyalists as they are called, but people determined to cast their votes in his favor to protest against the incomparable incompetence and corruption of this regime. While we can say that there were negative aspects of the Marcos government, he nonetheless had technically been vindicated by the yellow horde’s act of achieving nothing. The twist about their claim of having restored our freedom is that, it is equally and vigorously being foisted on our people by the Communist Party of the Philippines, the National Democratic Front and its various front organizations.

Even if admittedly many of them were arrested and paid their dues for their rebellion and subversion during the period of Martial Law, they remain intransigent even if it is clear that they are already parroting the line of the oligarchy and the US imperialist.

One could deduce that the so-called militant Left has been reduced to the category of a sub-puppet, while the Aquino administration remains their top dog.

Their branding of the Marcos government as a puppet of the US imperialist

EAGLE EYES DEAN TONY LA VIÑA EVEN if it were not election season, this would have been a good time to reflect and talk about the 1986 Edsa People Power revolution, its meaning and implications for today’s Philippines. After all, just last Thursday, we celebrated 30 years of that momentous event in our history. With what seems to be the electoral strength of Bongbong Marcos, a culmination of the return to power of the Marcos family, it is even more imperative to have these conversations.

The last two weeks, in the run up to the 30th anniversary of the Edsa revolt and even as things have heated up in the election campaign, my conversations have become more intense even as I explore different ways to have effective discussions.

Most of my students are millennials, with a majority of them born after the Edsa revolution. The first challenge I have in my conversations with them is how to bring them back to the state of our rights during the Marcos dictatorship. Those great freedoms, as I call them—free expression, free press, freedom to associate, freedom to travel, freedom from illegal detention and torture, and freedom to choose our own political convictions—are taken for granted now. It’s difficult, even for me, 30 years later, to imagine that once we lost those freedoms.

I have discovered that has already lost its substance and validity, much that it is now on record that Marcos was the one who completed our national independence when he allowed the so-called “parity rights agreement” to expire on its date, terminated the US military bases in this country, sought to realign the country’s foreign policy with the non-aligned countries, and was a co-founder of the Asean adhering to the five principles of peaceful coexistence and neutrality.

Today, the government where the militant Left has sought to align to bring down the Marcos government is the same government that allowed the re-colonization of the country. It has not broken off its modus vivendi with PNoy despite its open declaration of being the most despicable puppet state of the US in Asia. Their continued partnership with this puppet government is precisely the reason why

CONVERSATIONS ABOUT EDSA AND MARCOS the most effective way to have a conversation about Edsa and the Marcos dictatorship and why we must never again repeat the latter experience is through story telling. Thus I always tell my students my own experience of martial law and my personal Edsa experience.

I tell them how I woke up early morning of Sept.

23, 1972 to hear my parents whispering that martial law had been proclaimed. Only years later did I find out that my father had assisted student activists to escape arrest on that day by giving them sanctuary in what is now our ancestral home.

I tell them of my direct encounter with the Marcos government when I led relief efforts conducted by my Jesuit high school, Xavier University, for evacuees from the 1974-76 war between the government and the Moro National Liberation Front.

I share with them the return of student activism in the late 1970s and the early 1980s, my small part as a philosophy teacher and formator/spiritual director in guiding students in Xavier University and Ateneo de Manila who were navigating difficult political choices from 1981-85, and my own attraction to armed struggle and how that was resolved after seeing some people I know in the movement being tortured and killed during the purges of the mid1980s. I always end talking

about this phase of my life with how I ended up in law school, convinced that my weapon against the dictatorship and against any form of human rights violations will be the word and not the sword.

I tell them about what exactly I did on Edsa, about the UP Law Liberation Forces, about being in Malacañang as Marcos and his family departed, and how my last memory was that of the looting and hearing the voice of Lean Alejandro saying on radio that not much will change with the change of regime that was happening.

In my conversations with my students, I recommend to them several books (in fact, I give them bonuses if they read at least one of them) and ask them to go to two important museums.

I suggest that they read “The Unusual Journey of Edgar Jopson”—Benjamin Pimentel’s biography of Edgar Jopson, a classic story of a moderate being radicalized, to understand why one of the most destructive consequences of the dictatorship was to lose leaders like Edjop and later on Lean Alejandro.

Although assassinated after Edsa, Lean was killed in the spirit of the messianic complex the military still harbored to save the country from communists.

I also recommend “Subversive Lives” which provides riveting, both sad and inspiring, stories of the Quimpo siblings who

fought the Marcos dictatorship and eventually their own comrades. This book is a testimony to a family’s nobility and patriotism. I know for a fact that there are several families like the Quimpos.

Bantayog ng Mga Bayani’s latest book “Nang Mamatay ng Dahil sa Iyo” is a must-read. The book shares stories of those martyred during the Marcos regime as well as those who were heroes in the resistance even if they were able to survive and saw the dictatorship fall during the Edsa revolution.

For my Mindanawon students, and those who are interested in knowing what was happening in the rest of the Philippines, the book “O Susana,”, just published by Ateneo de Davao University, tells interesting stories of how a few good men and women in Davao City kept hope alive during dark times.

I am happy that one of the authors in “Oh Susanna” is my uncle Herminio La Viña. I would not be thinking and believing the way I do now, especially about a faith that must do justice and that must serve the poor, without the influence of Tito Emy. I also look forward to reading Raissa Robles’ latest book “Marcos Martial Law: Never Again.” I suspect there is old and new material in there but I am sure the eyes are fresh and we will learn something new.

Continued on A11

they have been politically marginalized and often treated as some kind of ideological psychopath.

They have been entrapped into that pathetic state that they have to succumb to the enticement of bribery, nicely called “compensation,” for once that lifeline is cut-off, they would simply wither away.

Their anti-Marcos chanting is of equal political value to the oligarchy much that they serve to divert public attention of the kind of government that came to power after Marcos and for which people are made to believe that freedom has been restored to them. In fact, this brand of democracy has diminished the value of our sovereignty as seen in the sellout agreement entered into by the PNoy government, and is even pushing this country to go to war against China to appease its brokers in Washington.

Perhaps from the Left’s point of view, it is they that

are taking advantage of the democratic space accorded them by this pretending to-be-honest government.

But for those who could see the truth, it is this puppet government that is taking advantage of them. As a group supposedly guided by ideology, whatever pronouncement they say on issues crucial to the future of this nation have already lost much of their intrinsic value because people now see their collaboration with this puppet government as a matter of survival. Once they detach themselves from that link, they could easily become a thing of the past where people could only remember their bloody episode in our history.

Moreover, if one would analyze the aggressiveness of the militant Left and the so-called Martial Law “victims” in their vain attempt to discredit the candidacy of Bongbong Marcos, one could see that they are doing the most servile act

of betrayal to their cause, viz. to the people they promised to liberate. The US and the local oligarchy have more reasons to fear the victory of Bongbong because they know it would put to an end the era of untrammeled and rambunctious capitalism.

But maintaining the façade of neutrality, the oligarchy chose to assign the dirty job of barking out at the candidacy of Bongbong to the so-called “Martial Law victims.” They would not hesitate to accept that assignment provided they get their cash reward.

Having lost their ideological equanimity, they have no inkling that as they continue to drumbeat their anti-Marcos chant, they are further marginalized and isolated, and their candidates suffer because people look at them now as the de facto defender of the corrupt and puppetry status quo. rpkapunan@gmail.com

S AT U R D AY : F E B R U A R Y 2 7, 2 0 1 6

A11

OPINION

lettertotheeditor@thestandard.com.ph

AN AGENDA FOR HUMANITY

By Ban Ki-moon MORE people desperately need humanitarian assistance than at any time since the founding of the United Nations. More warring parties are brazenly violating international humanitarian law. More resources than ever are needed to meet sharply escalating humanitarian needs. Yet we face the largest-ever funding shortfalls.

For these reasons and more, I am convening the first-ever World Humanitarian Summit, on 23 and 24 May in Istanbul. I am urging global leaders, international organizations and others to commit to deliver more and better for those in greatest need. There is no time to lose.

Climate change is affecting lives and livelihoods across our fragile planet. Brutal and seemingly intractable conflicts, vio-

lent extremism, transnational crime and growing inequality are devastating the lives of millions of men, women and children and are destabilizing entire regions. More people have been forced to flee their homes than at any time since the Second World War. Around the world, more than 125 million people need humanitarian assistance. If they were all in one country, it would be the 11th largest nation on Earth, and one of the fastest growing.

Today’s complex challenges cross borders. No single country or organization can address them alone. We need to restore trust in the ability of our national, regional and international institutions to confront these challenges.

A sense of shared humanity must shape our politics and drive financial decisions. In ad-

Marcos-bashing...From A9 The annual event at the Shrine also became a forum where Aquino blasted her political enemies and critics. On one occasion, Aquino took a swipe at her vice president, Salvador “Doy” Laurel. Aquino forgot it was Laurel who gave way to her in December 1985 to form a united opposition ticket against the Marcos administration candidates in the February 1986 elections.

As the years passed, the crowds at the annual event dwindled, and the uprising was quietly remembered each year with a small, isolated celebration.

Although the festivities at the Shrine eventually became infrequent, each anniversary of the Edsa uprising continued to be the focus of attention in feature articles published in newspapers and magazines, and in hour-long local and foreign television documentaries broadcast on cable TV channels. These documentaries were intense in their anti-Marcos sentiments, and they usually included just a few remarks from Marcos family members—a possible attempt to make the documentary appear fair and objective.

Inevitably, the TV documentaries added one more accusation against President Marcos—that he was responsible for the assassination of Ninoy Aquino. From the way the documentaries were presented, however, the accusation against Marcos is largely conjectural, owing to the absence of any convincing evidence of the direct involvement of Marcos in the assassination, and in view of the refusal of some prominent persons allied with Aquino to believe that Marcos ordered Ninoy’s elimination. The documentaries usually end with a query about who really was behind the assassination of Ninoy.

The attacks against President Marcos and his family were not confined to the anniversaries of the February uprising. Any occasion that can be associated with Marcos or either of the

Conversations... From A10 Finally, there are two museums that I encourage my students to visit.

One is the Bantayog ng Mga Bayani. I frequently bring my constitutional law classes to this great place where they can contemplate on the names in the wall of memory and also see for themselves various exhibits that portrayed the excesses of the Marcos regime.

The other museum, and I hope it will extend to the next few weeks, is the Edsa

vance of the Summit, I have set out an Agenda for Humanity as a framework for action, change and mutual accountability. It has five core responsibilities.

First, leaders must intensify efforts to find political solutions to prevent and end conflict. The enormous human and economic cost makes conflict the biggest obstacle to human development.

We must move from managing crises to preventing them.

Second, countries must uphold the norms that safeguard humanity. This means complying with international humanitarian and human rights law, and stopping the bombing and shelling of civilian targets and areas. It also means committing to national and international justice and ending impunity.

Third, we must leave no one behind—and we must reach those who are furthest behind,

Aquino spouses, like the anniversary of the proclamation of martial law in the Philippines, and the birth and death anniversaries of Marcos, Ninoy, or Cory, became the right time for some relentless Marcos-bashing.

Year after year, the members of the Marcos family kept silent, and refused to take any retaliatory measures against their detractors.

They continued to keep silent even when they were back in power in the years following the 1986 Edsa uprising.

Indeed, despite all the bad stories peddled against the Marcoses in the decades after the 1986 Edsa uprising, members of the Marcos family got elected to office in Ilocos Norte and in Leyte, known bailiwicks of the late strongman. His only son and namesake, Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. enjoys the trust and confidence of the Filipino voters as seen in his recent election to the Senate. Bongbong is running for vice president in May 2016, and the polls reveal that he has a very strong chance of winning.

As expected, the 30th anniversary of the Edsa uprising last Thursday provided the moribund administration of President Benigno Aquino III and his political allies another occasion to denounce President Marcos and his family.

The usual anti-Marcos propaganda were all over the newspapers, and on cable TV as well.

Groups composed of individuals who claim to be torture victims during the Martial Law years have suddenly appeared in the news, and they are all opposed to Bongbong’s bid to become vice president.

One alleged torture victim could not even get his story right. In an interview published last Thursday in another newspaper, the alleged victim blamed President Marcos for allowing a famous labor leader to be tortured to death in November 1986. Good grief! How can Marcos be blamed for that when he was already in Hawaii earlier in February 1986?

TO BE CONTINUED ON TUESDAY

30 Experiential Museum hosted currently in Camp Aquinaldo. My family was able to experience this museum last Thursday and definitely it was a powerful experience. The museum makes us peek into the famous parties of Imelda Marcos attended by high society, provides a ring side view of how political prisoners were tortured during that time, has a moving portrayal of the disappeared and how their children looked for them, gives eyewitness accounts of the deaths of Edgar Jopson, Lorena Barros, Evelio Javier,

first. This means transforming the lives of the most vulnerable, including those living in conflict and in chronic poverty, and those living with the risk of natural hazards and rising sea levels.

We must reduce forced displacement, provide more regular and lawful opportunities for migration, empower women and girls and ensure quality education for all. We cannot meet the Sustainable Development Goals, agreed by world leaders last September, if we do not reach these people.

The fourth core responsibility is to move from delivering aid to ending need. We need to close the humanitarian-development divide for good. We must also anticipate crises, not wait for them to happen. We must strengthen local leadership and capacity, reduce vulnerability, and increase the resilience of people and communities, who

Addressing... From A9 organizing, educating, and facilitating the delivery of SRHR services to those who want and need these.

When it comes to SRHR, women are the primary rights-holders.

Empowering initiatives are key for the women and their communities in demanding for the realization of their health and rights. Implementation of laws and programs cannot be as effective if not understood and owned by those they seek to benefit.

This was expounded on by Shireen Pervin Huq, a well-known feminist from Bangladesh when she spoke about ‘Claiming Accountability for the Fulfillment of Women’s Rights’. The various presented community women-led programs proved that women are not mere beneficiaries, they are enablers of others and facilitators of achieving rights as well.

As important are initiatives highlighting the fulfillment of government commitments in addressing the SRHR of citizens. A major plenary presentation was made by former Department of Agrarian Reform, now president of the Zuellig Family Foundation Ernesto Garilao on ‘Bridging Leadership in Local Governance for Maternal and Child Health’. Garilao spoke of how their foundation works in developing perspectives and building capacities on reproductive health of Mayors of Local Government Units.

The Zuellig Foundation initiative has shown some level of success in relation with maternal mortality rate reduction in certain LGUs.

and Macling Dulag which ends with the showing of raw footage of the last minutes of Ninoy Aquino as he was escorted out of the plane to die in the Naia tarmac.

The experience of course ends with the triumph in Edsa.

Did the Filipino people win in Edsa?

Yes. I paraphrase words posted by the author Candy Gourlay in Facebook: For the first time, many in my generation experienced hope.

Was that victory final and decisive?

Definitely not. The fight against corrup-

will always be the first and last responders in crises.

Fifth, we must find smart and innovative ways of mobilizing funds. This will require diversifying and expanding the resource base and using a wider variety of financing tools. I have proposed a new international financing platform with the World Bank to identify mechanisms to finance our response to protracted crises.

The Agenda for Humanity provides key actions and strategic shifts which the world requires to reduce humanitarian needs and contribute to achieving the Sustainable Development Goals. I urge world leaders to come to the World Humanitarian Summit committed to promote sustainable human progress and a life of dignity and security for all.

The writer is secretary-general of the United Nations.

He ended by saying that mayors are key and they should be made health champions.

Influencing key government players is truly important but sustainability must also be looked into since officials have term limits.

Thus, beyond influencing Local Chief Executives and other government decision-makers, relevant institutions like the Departments of Health, Social Welfare and Development, and Budget must also be engendered with the rights-based paradigm in implementing laws and policies especially those that deal with people’s welfare, like the RH law.

Quality SRHR care is the other very important cornerstone in effectively responding to needs on family planning, gender-based violence, adolescent pregnancy, etc. Quality care delivered primarily by public and private medical professionals, etc. is vital in the fulfillment of people’s health-related rights.

Women-led community initiatives that empower communities to demand for their rights, government officials and institutions committed to their role as duty-bearers in actualizing human rights, quality care from the service delivery sector, coordination between these players are the major factors in addressing people’s SRHR needs.

The Philippines’ RH Law has this in place. There is no reason why the law’s implementation cannot be fast-tracked now. bethangsioco@gmail.com @bethangsioco on Twitter Elizabeth Angsioco on Facebook

tion and the struggle against poverty and for social justice, as well as sustainable development are unfinished. And yes, even who prevails in the memory of our country is uncertain.

The elections on May 9, 2016 will be decisive for this last battle and could be significant also for what remains to be done on corruption, poverty, social justice and sustainable development.

Facebook: tonylavs5 or Dean Tony La Viña Twitter: tonylavs

SAT URDAY : F E B RUA RY 2 7 , 2 0 1 6

A12

SPORTS sports@thestandard.com.ph

Yachting race backed. The organizers and sponsors of the 7th Standard Insurance Subic Bay to Boracay Race again sealed their partnership after signing a memorandum of agreement during a simple ceremony at the Century City Mall in Makati City Thursday night. The annual regatta race is part of the prestigious Asian yachting grand prix circuit.

Present during the signing are (seated, from left) Raul Marcelo, director of Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority; Jun Avecilla, president of Lighthouse Marina Resort; Jie Saldavia, marketing head of Standard Insurance; Ricky Sandoval, chairman organizing committee Subic Bay to Boracay Race; Commodore Athelo Ybanez, deputy commandant of Philippine Coast Guard; and Marlon Alberto, area sales head for regional Luzon of PLDT-Smart. Also in photo are (standing) Renato Ticzon, director of Papaya Charter and Services and Carmela Castillo, Marketing Officer of Sperry Philippines.

Tough battles await Blaze Spikers FROM what he saw in the first round, Petron coach George Pascua yesterday admitted he thinks it will take a long and difficult journey before his Tri Activ Spikers could win 2016 PLDT Home Ultera Philippine Superliga Invitational crown.

One of the country’s brightest young mentors, Pascua noted that RC Cola-Army remains a force to reckon with while Foton, F2 Logistics and San Jose BUilders are all capable of springing sur-

Games on March 8 (The Arena) 4 p.m. —F2 Logistics vs San Jose Builders 6 p.m. —Petron vs Cignal

prises in this premier inter-club tournament bankrolled by Asics, Mikasa, Senoh, Mueller and Grand Sports with TV5 as official broadcast partner.

The Lady Troopers, despite taking a

Republic of the Philippines NUEVA ECIJA UNIVERSITY OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY Cabanatuan City Telefax No. 044-463-0228 Website: www.neust.edu.ph

Republic of the Philippines Province of Bataan Municipality of Dinalupihan Procurement of 2 Units Ambulance Vehicle GOODS 100-16-02-021 1.

The Local Government of Dinalupihan, through LDRFFMF Funds intends to apply the sum of Three Million One Hundred Sixteen Thousand Four Hundred Pesos (Php3,116,400.00) being the Approved Budget for the Contract (ABC) to payments under the contract for the Procurement of 2 Units Ambulance Vehicle. Bids received in excess of the ABC shall be automatically rejected at bid opening.

INVITATION TO APPLY FOR ELIGIBILITY AND TO BID The Nueva Ecija University of Science and Technology through the Bids and Awards Committee (BAC) invites Contractors registered with and classified by the Philippine Contractors Accreditation Board (PCAB) to apply for eligibility and if found eligible, to bid for hereunder contract: Name of Project Location Approved Budget for the Contract (ABC) Contract Duration Source of Fund

: :

PROPOSED PERIMETER FENCING (Phase 1) NEUST Gabaldon Campus, Gabaldon, Nueva Ecija

: : :

Php 34,708,00.00 210 Calendar Days GAA 2016

2.

The Local Government of Dinalupihan now invites bids for Procurement of 2 Units Ambulance Vehicle. Delivery of the goods is required on March 29, 2016.

Bidders should have completed, within two (2) from the date of submission and receipt of bids, a contract similar to the Project equivalent to at least fifty percent (50%) of the ABC. The description of an eligible bidder is contained in the Bidding Documents, particularly, in Section II. Instructions to Bidders.

Prospective bidder should possess a valid PCAB license applicable to the contract, have completed a similar contract with the value of at least 50 % of the ABC, and have key personnel and equipment (Listed in the Eligibility Forms) available for the prosecution of the contract. The BAC will use non-discretionary pass/fail criteria in the Eligibility Check/Screening as well as the Preliminary Examination of Bids. The BAC will conduct post qualification of the lowest calculated bid.

3.

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

All particulars to the Eligibility Statement and Screening, Bid Security, Performance Security, Pre-Bidding Conference, Evaluation of bids, Post Qualification and Award of Contract shall be governed by the pertinent provisions of R.A. 9184 and its Implementing Rules and Regulations (IRR).

4.

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.

5.

Interested bidders may obtain further information from the Bids and Awards Committee and inspect the Bidding Documents at the address given below during office hours at eight o’clock in the morning to five o’clock in the afternoon.

Schedule of Activities

Date

1.

Advertisement/Receipt of Letter of Intent

February 27, 2016 to March 5, 2016

2.

Pre-bid Conference

March 7, 2016

3.

Submission of Bid

March 18, 2016

4.

Bid Evaluation

March 21, 2016

5.

Post-Qualification

March 22, 2016

The BAC will issue to prospective bidders Eligibility Forms at the Office of the BAC Chairman, Nueva Ecija University of Science and Technology, Cabanatuan City upon their submission of a Letter of Intent (LOI) to the Nueva Ecija University of Science and Technology. Prospective bidders shall submit the Eligibility Requirements to the BAC at the said address. They may also obtain the results of the Eligibility Check by the BAC at the same address.

6.

A complete set of Bidding Documents may be purchased by interested Bidders on February 27 to March 7, 2016 from the address below and upon payment of a nonrefundable fee for the Bidding Documents in the amount of Five Thousand Pesos (Php 5,000.00).

7.

Pre-bid Conference will be held on March 3, 2016 at 11:00 in the morning at BAC Office 2nd Floor Municipal Bldg, Dinalupihan, Bataan

8.

Bids must be delivered to the address below on or before March 8, 2016 at 11:00 in the morning. All Bids must be accompanied by a bid security in any of the acceptable forms and in the amount stated in ITB Clause 18.

The BAC will issue bidding documents only to bidders declared by the BAC to be eligible for the bidding upon payment of the non-refundable amount of PHP 25,000.00 for the PROPOSED PERIMETER FENCING (Phase 1) to the Nueva Ecija University of Science and Technology Cashier Office.

Bid opening shall be on March 8, 2016 at 11:00 in the morning at BAC Office 2nd Floor Municipal Bldg, Dinalupihan, Bataan. Bids will be opened in the presence of the Bidders’ representatives who choose to attend at the address below. Late bids shall not be accepted.

The Nueva Ecija University of Science and Technology 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, whether thereby incurring any liability to the affected bidder or bidders.

The LGU of Dinalupihan 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.

Approved by:

9.

For further information, please refer to:

(SGD) ENGR. ERNESTO A. DELA CRUZ Email: neustmain@yahoo.com NEUST Gen. Tinio Street, Cabanatuan City 3100 Tele Fax no.: 044-600-3594 | 044-463-0226 | 044-600-1533

AMELITA E. PEÑAFLOR BAC Chairman San Ramon, Dinalupihan, Bataan

(TS-F E B . 2 7, 2016 )

(SGD) ARCELI SAMSON BAC Secretariat San Ramon, Dinalupihan, Bataan

(TS-FEB. 27, 2016

three-conference hiatus, have not lost their deadly form as they raced to three consecutive victories in emphatic fashions.

Their latest feat -- a straight-set triumph over the Victorias -was so impressive that it took only an hour and 11 minutes to be decided with the starstudded cast of Jovelyn Gonzaga, Honey Royse Tubino and Rachel Anne Daquis doing damage from the attack zone.

The Cargo Movers are also a team to beat as former De La Salle University stars Cha Cruz and Aby Marano starting to jell with their teammates while Paneng Mercado is expected to join their campaign in the second round to give them another solid option in the attack zone.

The Toplander, of course, are still there as the core of University Athletic Association of the Philippines supremo University of Santo Tomas in Rhea Dimaculangan, Angeli Tabaquero, Maika Ortiz is starting to gain more confidence playing with young guns like Angeli Araneta, Patty Orendain and Danna Henson.

“It’s a very competitive field,” said Pascua, whose Tri Activ Spikers will plunge into action in the second round on March 8 against fellow powerhouse Cignal bannered by veteran Michelle Laborte with National Collegiate Athletic Association champions Djanel Cheng, Jeanette Panaga and Janine Navarro.

SAT URDAY : F E B RUA RY 2 7 , 2 0 1 6

A13

SPORTS sports@thestandard.com.ph

PH ladies’ tour goes international THE ICTSI Ladies Philippine Golf Tour goes international again with its first two legs serving as part of the Taiwan LPGA Tour, guaranteeing another crack international rosters for the twin events set at Splendido and Manila Southwoods.

Alcalas start title bids in Prima Badminton DEFENDING champions Marky and sister Malvinne Poca Alcala aim to defend their respective singles’ open titles, when they play in the ninth Prima Pasta Badminton Championship beginning Friday at the Powersmash Badminton Courts in Pasong Tamo, Makati City.

Marky was the winner of the men’s open singles’ crown last year after beating Ross Leenard Pedrosa, while his elder sister Poca grabbed the women’s open singles’ title at the expense of Bianca Ysabelle Carlos.

Both players are now playing for the Philippine Badminton Association national team.

Other players, who will be seeing in action in the annual badminton tournament organized by Alex Lim are seeded entries Michael Kevin Cudiamat, RJ Ormilla, Rabbie Jason Obaob, Kenneth Monterubio, Sarah Joy Barredo and Airah Mae Nicole Albo, among others.

The men’s pair of Ronel Estanislao-Paul Jefferson Vivas, and Peter Gabriel Magnaye-Alvin Morada, while the women’s pair of Jessie Francisco-Eleanor Inlayo, and Poca Alcala-Gelita Castillo will also be seeing in action in the men’s and women’s doubles open category, respectively.

The tournament, sponsored

by Babolat and SMART Communications, through MVP Sports Foundation, will include the following events: Men’s Doubles and Mixed Doubles from Open Class, to Levels A to G, while Open Class and Levels B to F will only be available in the Women’s Doubles.

The event is also supported

by Boysen Paints, Morning Star Milling Corporation., Mabz Builders, ILO Construction, Monolith Construction, Monocrete Construction, Pioneer Insurance, Promax International, Regent Foods Corp., RFM Corp and powered by Forthright Events.

Milo Sports executive Robbie De Vera (left), Larong Volleyball sa Pilipinas, Inc. president Jose Romasanta, BEST Center founder Nic Jorge and WVL Commissioner Florentino ‘Kid’ Santos make the ceremonial toss.

Women’s Volleyball League spikes off THE 20th season of Best Center Women’s Volleyball League, one of the country’s longest-running and biggest volleyball tournaments for girls in the 13-and-under and 17-and-under divisions, has officially started. Organized by the Basketball Efficiency and Scientific Training Center and sponsored by Milo, the annual interschool tournament welcomed 60 teams from top-ranked schools in the National Capital Region.

This year, St. Paul College of Makati will defend its title against 12 other teams in the 13 Under Developmental Division while Colegio de San Agustin Makati will battle against 5 teams to retain its crown in the 13 Under Competitive Division.

In the 17 Under Developmental Division, Hope Christian High School will try to retain its title against 20 other teams while La Salle College Antipolo will try to thwart 19 other teams aiming for championship victory in the 17 Under Competitive Division.

Making WVL more exciting and competitive this season is the participation of new teams from

St. Dominic Savio College, Young Achiever’s School of Caloocan, Inc., Sisters of Mount Carmel Catholic School, Inc. and San Pedro Relocation National High School.

Welcoming the participants at the opening ceremony at Xavier High School Courts were BEST Center founder Nic Jorge, Milo Sports executive Robbie De Vera and WVL commissioner Florentino “Kid” Santos. The event was also graced by Jose Romasanta, president of Larong Volleyball sa Pilipinas, Inc. and the spokesperson of the Philippine Olympic Committee.

“We’re very excited to host another season of the WVL. This is a great avenue for young girls to showcase their volleyball skills and test their abilities in a major competition. With this tournament, we hope to train and produce more promising volleyball players who will dominate the game in the big leagues someday,” said Jorge.

“WVL has greatly contributed to the development of Philippine volleyball. Aside from building future champions, it also pro-

motes sports and physical fitness to young girls. I won’t be surprised if WVL becomes a permanent fixture in the schools’ sports calendar someday and that future volleyball stars will make it from these ranks,” said De Vera.

Romasanta, on the other hand, commended BEST Center for supporting sports development in the country. “BEST Center has been bringing sports closer to Filipino children and has greatly contributed to the overall development of sports in the country,” he said.

For 20 years, WVL serves as a breeding ground for young girls to showcase their talent and passion for volleyball. BEST Center is confident that the sport will continue to grow in both popularity and equality.

For more information about the BEST Center Women’s Volleyball League and BEST Center’s volleyball clinics and tournaments, call 411-6260, 3723066 and 372-3065, email bestcentersports@gmail.com or follow its official Facebook page at https:// www.facebook.com/pages/BESTCenter-Sports-Inc/66172039922.

Korean Ye-Nah Hwang nipped local amateur ace Princess Superal by one for the inaugural ICTSI Ladies Open at Southlinks last year with this year’s ICTSI Champion Tour at Splendido presented

by Champion Infinity and Taiwan LPGA slated March 9-11 at the windraked Splendido Taal Golf Club in Tagaytay.

Recognizing the growing status of the LPGT in the region, the Taiwan LPGA has also made the next LPGT leg at Southwoods part of its circuit with the same Splendido field tipped to vie for the ICTSI Champion Tour at Manila Southwoods presented by Champion Infinity and Taiwan LPGA on March 16-18 at the Legends Course in Carmona, Cavite.

The LPGT events, serving as the sixth and seventh legs of the 22-stage Taiwan LPGA, offer a total prize fund of $75,000 each.

That ensures a slambang action along with the rest of the LPGT schedule, now stretched to 10 legs, the biggest thus far in the four-year old circuit sponsored by International Container Terminal Services, Inc. and organized

by Pilipinas Golf Tournaments, Inc.

Lhuillier confident of Cuppers’ chances CEBUANA Lhuillier-Philippine Davis Cup team manager Jean Henri Lhuillier is confident of his team’s chances when it faces Kuwait on March 4 to 6 at Valle Verde Country Club.

“I think we have assembled the strongest team in recent years. It’s a great combination of experience and youth. All of them have been campaigning actively and have been producing great results in recent international competitions the past months. All players can play singles and doubles, which will make it hard for our opponent to prepare for us. I strongly believe we will

emerge victorious in this upcoming match versus Kuwait,” said Lhuillier Lhuillier has very good reasons for his optimism.

The team is laden with so much talent composed of world no. 35 doubles’ player Treat Huey, 2009 Australian Open Juniors doubles’ champion Francis Casey Alcantara, former world no. 9 juniors’ player Jeson Patrombon and the highly dependable veteran Ruben Gonzales.

Huey is having a good start this year, highlighted by his quarterfinal run in the Australian Open.

Alcantara went on a giant-

killing run making it to the finals of the doubles of the ATP Challenger held in Manila last month.

Patrombon has gained valuable experience playing in several ITF Futures in Asia starting last year, while Gonzales has been consistently producing good results in doubles while campaigning in US and Europe.

The team has also named a new non-playing captain in Karl Sta. Maria, a veteran coach in collegiate wars in the country, as part of its quest to break back into the elite Group 1 of the tough Asia/Oceania division.

Tennis patron Jean Henri Lhuillier (right) with Francis KC Alcantara

S AT U R DAY : F E B R U A R Y 2 7, 2 0 16

A14

SPORTS sports@thestandard.com.ph

Cajeras cashes in on blitz crown

By Arman D. Armero

ERRORS & OMISSIONS

In Classified Ads section must be brought to our attention the very day the advertisement is published. We will not be responsible for any incorrect ads not reported to us immediately.

GENERAL NOTICE In compliance with MARINA Memorandum Circular 177, NOTICE is hereby given that the vessel M/Bea. “HYACINTH ROSE” owned and operated by JEFFREY C. CARNAJE had undergone the following changes: CHANGES FROM TO Change of Jeffrey C. Carnaje E d i l m a r Ownership Thaddeus V. Catalan Change of M/Bea Hyacinth M/Bea Stella Vessel Rose Maris-C

NOTICE OF LOSS Notice is hereby given that the Philippine Life Financial Assurance Corporation [formerly known as Asianlife Financial Assurance Corporation]Stock Certificate Nos. 06 and 16 for 1 and 2,097,484 shares respectively, issued under the name of Eusebio H. Tanco were declared lost per “Affidavit of Loss” dated 9 February 2016 registered in the Notarial Register of Atty. Le Iris T. Lucido as Doc. No. 295, Page No. 60, Book No. I, Series of 2016. ( T S - F E B . 13 , 2 0 , 2 7, 2 016)

NOTICE OF LOSS

Any rights or interest on the said ships is hereby advised to file his/her claims immediately and within Ten (10) days from the date of posting/publication directly with Maritime Industry Authority, Block E, 2F Units 15-21, Caedo Commercial Center, Calicanto, Batangas City.

Notice is hereby given that the Philippine Life Financial Assurance Corporation [formerly known as Asianlife Financial Assurance Corporation] Stock Certificate No. 15 for 3,499,999,998 shares issued under the name of Eujo Phils. Incorporated was declared lost per “Affidavit of Loss” dated 5 February 2016 registered in the Notarial Register of Atty. Le Iris T. Lucido as Doc. No. 271, Page No. 56, Book No. I, Series of 2016.

( T S - F E B . 2 7, 2 0 1 6 )

( T S - F E B . 13 , 2 0 , 2 7, 2 016)

Republic of the Philippines CITY OF SAN PEDRO Province of Laguna BIDS AND AWARDS COMMITTEE INVITATION TO BID The City Government of San Pedro Laguna through the 2016 Approved by Sangguniang Panglungsod intends to apply the sum of Php 5,359,011.25 being the Approved Budget for the Contract (ABC) to payments under the contract for the hereunder project: NAME OF PROJECT

:

LOCATION ABC SOURCE OF FUND

: : :

CONTRACT DURATION

:

Proposed Perimeter Fence, Main and Rear Entrance Gate New City Hall, Brgy. Poblacion Php 5,359,011.25 Budget Approved by the Sangguniang Panglungsod 180 Calendar Days

GENERAL SANTOS City—Meet Jerich Cajeras, the quickest blitz player of the Bobby D. Pacquiao Random Chess Festival 2016.

Final Standings: Cajeras 11 points, Laylo, Elorta, Dableo 10.5; Salcedo Ra., 10, Pascua, Salcedo Ri., Yap 9.5; Magdalaga, Antonio, Ganzon, Lluch, Asuela, Roque M., Dimakiling, Salubre Ocido, Rancap, Nolte, Garcimo 9; Severino, Makinano, Bitoon, Verdun, Pimentel, Barzuela, Mariano, Montoya, Pasco, Ruaya, Balquin.

The 22-year-old Bacolod native shone in the 5-minute (with a 2-second increment) event, scoring 11 points out of a possible 13 to rule the event and take home the P20,000 cash prize in the tournament held at the Trade Hall of the SM City mall here. Cajeras toppled some of the biggest guns in the tournament, first dispatching National Master David Elorta in the 11th round, before scoring stunning upset victories against IM Ronald Dableo and Grandmaster Joey Antonio in the 12th and 13th rounds on the way to the title.

Meanwhile, it was Antonio’s second runner-up finish after finishing second to IM Joel Pimentel in the rapid event held Thursday.

In both instances, Antonio lost to a Bacolod native twice in a row, since Pimentel and Carejas came from the same region.

Also, Pimentel is currently enrolled at the College of St. Benilde as a College Application student,

Republic of the Philippines Province of Kalinga City of Tabuk BIDS AND AWARDS COMMITTEE

The City Government of San Pedro, Laguna now invites contractors registered with and classified by the Philippine Contractors Accreditation Board (PCAB) to apply for eligibility and if found eligible, to bid for the above-mentioned projects. Completion of the Works is required on or before the contract duration.Bidders should have completed, two (2) calendar years from the date of submission and receipt of bids, a contract similar to the Project.

The description of an eligible bidder is contained in the Bidding Documents, particularly, in Section II. Instructions to Bidders. Bids received in excess of the Approved Budget for the Contract shall be automatically rejected at bid opening Bidding will be conducted through open competitive bidding procedures using nondiscretionary pass/fail criterion as specified in the Implementing Rules and Regulations (IRR) of Republic Act 9184 (RA 9184), otherwise known as the “Government Procurement Reform Act”. Bidding is restricted, unless otherwise stated, to Filipino citizens/sole proprietorships, partnerships, or organizations with at least seventy five percent (75%) interest or outstanding capital stock belonging to citizens of the Philippines, and to citizens or organizations of a country the laws or regulations of which grant similar rights or privileges to Filipino citizens, pursuant to Republic Act 5183 (RA 5183) and subject to Commonwealth Act 138 (CA 138).Only bids from eligible bidders will be opened. In accordance with the IRR-A of R.A 9184, the contract/ project shall only be awarded to the Lowest Calculated and Responsive Bidder who was determined as such during post-qualification.

Interested bidders may obtain further information from the City Government of San Pedro, Laguna and inspect the Bidding Documents at the address given below from 8:30AM to 9:30 AM only.

Office of BAC Secretariat 4/F Conf.Rm. City Administrator’s Office San Pedro City Hall A complete set of Bidding Documents may be purchased by interested Bidders from the address above and upon payment of a non-refundable fee for the Bidding Documents in the amount of PESOS: 10,000.00.

Bids must be delivered to the address below on or before March 11, 2016 at 10:00AM: Office of BAC Secretariat 4/F Conf.Rm. City Administrator’s Office San Pedro City Hall

while Cajeras graduated from the same school, with the same course.

GM Darwin Laylo, who scored 2.5 points in the last three rounds, finished a close second with 10.5 points in a tie with Elorta and Dableo.

NM Raymond Salcedo ended up at solo fifth with 10 points, followed by IM Haridas Pascua, NM Richelieu Salcedo and Cebuano Kim Steven Yap at sixth, seventh and eighth, respectively.

Lufie Magdalaga and Antonio complete the Top 10 finishers in the blitz event, the third and final tournament in the week-long tournament organized by the Eugene Torre Chess Foundation and sponsored by Sarangani Cong. Manny Pacquiao.

Torre later said that the tournament was a huge success, pointing to the big number of participants in all three events.

“I think it went well and was very successful. Like the previous tournament, we have a big number of participants. We have 64 teams in the team tournament and a total of 239 participants in the rapid tournament.

Dito sa blitz, marami rin. But I think that the most important things is that the players are now beginning to appreciate the Chess 960 format, which is also known as the Fischer Random Chess,” said Torre.

Torre later led the awarding of cash prizes and trophies to the winners.

Date Posted: February 26, 2016

INVITATION TO BID ITB No. CW-2016-003 The Local Government Unit of Tabuk through its Bids and Awards Committee (BAC) invites Contractors registered with and classified by the Philippine Contractors Accreditation Board (PCAB) to bid for the hereunder contract/project: Lot Name of Project

1 R echanneling of Chico River, A pps t o Cabar uan Location A ppas- Cabar uan, Tabuk Cit y ABC 11,000, 000. 00 Amount of Bid Documents 25,00 0. 00 Contract Duration 65 CD Brief Description of the Project D red ging wor ks P r o s p e c t i ve b i d d e r s s h o u l d p o s s e s s a va l i d P C A B l i c e n s e a p p l i c a b l e t o t h e c o nt r a c t , h ave c o m p l ete d a s i m i l a r c o nt r a c t w i t h a va l u e o f at l e a s t 5 0 % o f t h e A B C. T h e B AC w i l l u s e n o n - d i s c r et i o n a r y p a s s / f a i l c r i te r i a i n t h e e l i g i b i l i t y c h e c k /s c r e e n i n g a s we l l a s t h e p r e l i m i n a r y ex a m i n at i o n o f b i d s . T h e B AC w i l l c o n d u c t p o s t - q u a l i f i c at i o n o f t h e l o we s t c a l c u l ate d b i d.

P r e - B i d c o n f e r e n c e w i l l b e o n M a r c h 4, 2 016 , 9: 0 0A M at t h e B AC M e et i n g R o o m , C i t y En g i n e e r i n g O f f i c e, Ta b u k C i t y H a l l, D a g u p a n C e nt r o, Ta b u k C i t y

Pre-Bid Conference: February 29,2016 All bids must be accompanied by a bid security in any of the acceptable forms and in the amount stated in ITB Clause 18. Bids will be opened in the presence of the bidders’ representatives who choose to attend at the address above. Late bids shall not be accepted.

All particulars relative to Eligibility Statement and Screening, Bid Security, Performance Security, Pre-Bidding Conference, Evaluation of Bids, Post-Qualification and Awards of Contract shall be governed by the pertinent provisions of R.A. 9184 and its Implementing Rules and Regulations (IRR).

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

For further information, please refer to:

B i d D o c u m e nt s a r e ava i l a b l e d u r i n g o f f i c e h o u r s s t a r t i n g M a r c h 1, 2 016 at t h e B AC - S e c r et a r i at , C i t y En g i n e e r i n g O f f i c e a n d u p o n p ay m e nt o f a n o n - r ef u n d a b l e a m o u nt o f b i d d o c u m e nt s a s s t ate d a b ove t o t h e LG U C a s h i e r, O f f i c e o f t h e Tr e a s u r e r.

A l l b i d p r o p o s a l s s h o u l d b e r e c e i ve d by t h e B AC C h a i r m a n / S e c r et a r i at o n o r b ef o r e M a r c h 18 , 2 016 , Fr i d ay, 9: 0 0 A M at t h e B AC M e et i n g R o o m , C i t y En g i n e e r i n g O f f i c e, Ta b u k C i t y H a l l, D a g u p a n C e nt r o, Ta b u k C i t y.

T h e B i d s a n d Awa r d s C o m m i t te e ( B AC) r e s e r ve s t h e r i g ht t o r e j e c t a ny a n d /o r a l l b i d s o r p a r t t h e r e o f, o r t o wa i ve f o r m a l i t y t h e r e i n a n d /o r t o a c c e pt t h e b i d s a s m ay b e c o n s i d e r e d m o s t a d va nt a g e o u s t o t h e L o c a l G ove r n m e nt U n i t o f Ta b u k .

Ve r y t r u l y yo u r s ,

Mr. Merlin B. Paala Office of the BAC Secretariat San Pedro City Hall San Pedro, Laguna Telefax No. 808.2020 loc.320 (sgd.) ENGR. FILEMON I. SIBULO Chairman Bids and Awards Committee

(S G D.) C O N S TA N T E C. D O C TO R B AC C h a i r m a n (TS-FEB. 27, 2016)

( T S - F E B . 2 7, 2 016)

Vargas KOs Thai, nails title

By Ronnie Natanielsz UNRANKED Filipino minimumweight Jessie Espinas won the WBO Oriental light flyweight title with a stunning eighth-round knockout of Thai champion and world-rated Phaipharob Kokietgym in Surin, Thailand.

Espinas stunned the Thai, who is ranked No. 2 behind champion Donnie Nietes in the WBO rankings and is also ranked No. 6 by the IBF and No. 4 by the WBA. The 32-year-old Thai was also previously unbeaten with a record of 32-0 with 25 knockouts and was known as “The King of Knockouts.”

But he fell prey to the 23-year-old Espinas, nicknamed “Little Giant,” whose record was an unimpressive 12-2, although he did have 8 knockouts.

WBO Asia Pacific head Leon Panoncillo informed The Standard that Espinas is a fighter of Sammy Gello-ani and was previously worldranked by the WBO, but dropped out of the rankings after he lost to undefeated Christian Araneta who was a flyweight with a record of 10-0 with 9 knockouts.

Curry sets record in Dubs’ win WA S H I N G T O N — Golden State Warriors guard Stephen Curry set an NBA record with his first three-pointer of the night against the Magic in Orlando on Thursday —and he was just getting warmed up.

Curry’s three-pointer with 5:42 remaining in the first quarter marked his 128th straight regularseason game with at least one basket from beyond the arc, breaking the record he shared with Kyle Korver.

“This was Steph’s night,” Magic coach Scott Skiles said. “He tricked us so many times. He runs.

He stops. He relaxes, causes you to relax, and then he’s gone. That happened at least a dozen times.

“And it’s not like he didn’t do anything else,” Skiles added. “He never gets tired. He just runs and runs and runs. It’s very impressive.”

That energy was key for the Warriors, coach Steve Kerr said, a night after their hard-fought victory in Miami.

“Our guys were tired,” Kerr said. “There was no enthusiasm. He just lit a fire under us tonight.” AFP

S AT U R DAY : F E B R U A R Y 2 7, 2 0 16

A15

SPORTS sports@thestandard.com.ph

Morales is virtual champ MALAYBALAY, Bukidnon—The Mindanao Leg of the LBC Ronda Pilipinas 2016 concludes with today’s fifth and final stage serving as Navy-Standard insurance rider Jan Paul Morales’ coronation lap at the City Plaza here.

The 30-year-old Morales has virtually snared the Mindanao Leg crown after he dominated the 21.7-kilometer Stage 4 Time Trial that started at the Del Monte farm in Manolo Fortich and ended at scenic Dahilayan Forest Park last Thursday.

It was an impressive performance by Morales, a time trial

specialist, who overtook eight riders on his way to the Stage 4 victory with a clocking of 48 minutes and 26.69 seconds.

The stage win gave Morales 10 extra points as he hiked his total to 49 points, a clear 14 ahead of closest pursuer and Navy teammate Ronald Oranza, who has 34 points, sealing for him the Mind-

anao Leg crown with still a lap to go.

All Morales needs to do to claim his first race win is if he finishes in the last stage—a three-kilometer criterium.

For Oranza and Lloyd Lucien Reynante, the only way they can win is if Morales will not finish.

And that is what Morales would like to prevent.

“It’s finished,” said Morales, who was from Taytay, Rizal but now lives in Calumpang, Marikina, in Filipino. “I’ll just try to play it safe and just finish the race.”

It was a race to remember for

Boxing needs all the help it can get INSIDE SPORTS RONNIE NATHANIELSZ

BOXING in the Philippines is slowly, but surely not just strengthening its following among fans around the country but is also seeing the development of promotional outfits and the emergence of several promotional organizations that seek to follow the example of the celebrated ALA Promotions, headed by its president, youthful Michael Aldeguer and renowned patron Tony Aldeguer of Cebu.

In cooperation with giant broadcast network ABS-CBN, ALA Promotions became the first Filipino promotional outfit to break into the American market when they staged the pretty successful “Pinoy Pride” fight card at the StubHub Center in Carson City, California on Oct. 17 last year .

Flag-waving Filipinos came out with banners to cheer our boxers, who didn’t disappoint with a scintillating performance by the longest-reigning Filipino world champion, WBO light flyweight king Donnie Nietes, the Pagara brothers, Jason and Prince Albert and Mark “Magnifico” Magsay,o who demolished their Latino opponents, touted as being ready to wage war against the Filipinos.

ALA Promotions plans a return to the StubHub Center this September, headlined by the mandatory title defense of Nietes against tough Mexican Moises Fuentes, who was demolished by Nietes in their last meeting in which he dropped him three times in the ninth round before winning by a spectacular knockout.

Mexican legend Marco Antonio Barrera handled Fuentes in that fight, but this time around, Zanfer Promotions Fernando Beltran has assigned the task to an arch rival of Barrera, Erik “El Terrible” Morales.

Before the StubHub fight card ALA Promotions, ABS-CBN and the widely followed the Fili-

pino Channel will once again team-up to present an initial venture at the San Mateo Events Center in San Francisco in July.

The StubHub Center card will be the big one in what is being billed as a Philippines-Mexico showdown in partnership with the leading Mexican promoter Fernando Beltran of Zanfer.

The PH-Mexico battle is certain to bring in the Hispanic crowd in addition to a larger number of Filipinos and FilAmericans after word of the

1.

2.

3.

first successful promotion at the StubHub Center spread around.

Also emerging into the promotional mainstream is Sanman Promotions of youthful Jean Claude “JM” Manangquil of General Santos City, who manages a stable of talented fighters who continue to get more exposure on a regular basis, which helps them make a name for themselves among fight fans.

A welcome entry into the promotional mix is Ryuta

Kato, the Japanese promoter, who heads the United International Boxing Promotions outfit based in Tokyo and is assisted by executive director and trainer Warren Evison of Britain.

Kato has staged several successful fight cards, the latest being a five-championship event in the Taguig City sports complex which was a major success due largely to the excellent match-making and the quality of the fights.

Desirous of attract-

Morales, who also topped the Stage 3 criterium in Pueblo de Oro in Cagayan de Oro Tuesday and finished runner up to Stage 1 and 2 winner Oranza in Butuan City last week.

Navy bets Daniel Ven Carino, Rudy Roque, Joel Calderon, El Joshua Carino, and John Mark Camingao were at fourth to eighth spots with 30, 26, 23, 16 and 12 points, respectively.

Team LBC-MVP Sports Foundation’s Ronnilon Quita and Team LCC Lutayan’s James Paolo Ferfas rounded up the Top 10 with 12 and nine points.

Reynante emerged the leg’s ing Japanese fight fans, Kato regularly features Japanese boxers on the card like he did last Saturday when, for the first time, two Japanese boxers scored knockout victories, bringing a smile to the faces of Kato and Evison, who have seen their fighters suffer a string of defeats in past promotions.

Kato’s commitment of resources to the presentation of worthwhile fight cards in various places such as Mandaluyong City, Taguig, Angono, Rizal and Taal, Batangas helps provide entertainment to fight

LOTTO RESULTS 6/45 00-00-00-00-00-00 P0.0 M+ 4 DIGITS 00-00-00-00 3 DIGITS 00-00-00 2 EZ2 00-00 Mitsubishi King of the Mountain titlist after ruling the lone KOM lap in Stage 1 in Butuan a week ago.

Morales has also ran away with the ASG Sprint King title with plenty to spare.

The only award that is still being contested is the Petron Local Hero plum, which is given to the best Mindanao rider.

fans in diverse settings, promote the sport and reinforce interest in the fight game.

Kato’s fight cards are covered regularly by Viva Sports and telecast on the top-rated weekly boxing show “The Main Event” on Pinoy Box Office over Sky Cable at 8:30 p.m. on Saturdays, with a replay on Sunday mornings at 10:30 a.m.

MP Promotions of eightdivision world champion Manny Pacquiao is not as active in promoting boxing as we would expect since he also dabbles in basketball, darts, chess etc., which

somehow dissipates his resources considering the big money prizes.

Besides, the fight cards are few and far between and this is a pity because he has some talented boxers under MP Promotions, who regrettably don’t get the attention they deserve.

We hope that after Pacquiao wins a seat in the Senate and bids farewell to the sport which has been his life over the past 20 years or so, he will concentrate on his duties as a legislator and promote boxing, a sport near to his heart and one which has given him so much.

Republic of the Philippines Province of Bataan Municipality of Dinalupihan

Republic of the Philippines Province of Bataan Municipality of Dinalupihan

Invitation to Bid for the “Concreting of Road at Dinalupihan Heights Brgy. Saguing, Dinalupihan, Bataan”

Procurement of Generator Set GOODS 100-16-02-015

The LGU Dinalupihan, Bataan, through its Municipal Fund for the contract approved by the Municipality of Dinalupihan for 2016 intends to apply the sum of Six Million Two Hundred Ninety Eight Thousand One Hundred Forty Seven Pesos (Php 6,298,147.00) being the Approved Budget for the Contract (ABC) to payments under the contract Concreting of Road at Dinalupihan Heights Brgy. Saguing, Dinalupihan, Bataan. Bids received in excess of the ABC shall be automatically rejected at bid opening.

The LGU Dinalupihan, Bataan now invites bids for Concreting of Road in accordance with the attached drawings and technical specifications. The said project shall include the provision of labor, materials, equipment, application and securing of all permits and other incidentals necessary to complete the works for, but not limited to: excavation clearing and grubbing, and general/other requirements as identified in the official documents for the Concreting of Road. Completion of the Works is required

by Eighty Five (85) calendar days. Bidders should have completed at least one (1) contract that is similar to the contract to be bid, and whose value, adjusted to current prices using the NSO consumer price indices, must be at least fifty percent (50%) of the ABC to be bid. The description of an eligible bidder is contained in the Bidding Documents, particularly, in Section II. Instructions to Bidders.

1.

The Local Government of Dinalupihan, through LDRFFMF Funds intends to apply the sum of Two Million Seven Hundred Fifty Six Thousand Pesos (Php2,756,000.00) being the Approved Budget for the Contract (ABC) to payments under the contract for the Procurement of Generator Set. Bids received in excess of the ABC shall be automatically rejected at bid opening.

2.

The Local Government of Dinalupihan now invites bids for Procurement of Generator Set. Delivery of the goods is required on March 29, 2016. Bidders should have completed, within two (2) from the date of submission and receipt of bids, a contract similar to the Project equivalent to at least fifty percent (50%) of the ABC. The description of an eligible bidder is contained in the Bidding Documents, particularly, in Section II. Instructions to Bidders.

3.

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

4.

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.

5.

Interested bidders may obtain further information from the Bids and Awards Committee and inspect the Bidding Documents at the address given below during office hours at eight o’clock in the morning to five o’clock in the afternoon.

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

Bidding is restricted to Filipino citizens/sole proprietorships, partnerships, or organizations with at least seventy five percent (75%) interest or outstanding capital stock belonging to citizens of the Philippines.

4.

Interested bidders may obtain further information from LGU Dinalupihan, Bataan and inspect the Bidding Documents at the address given below from 8:00 am to 5:00 pm, Monday to Friday.

6.

5.

A complete set of Bidding Documents may be acquired by interested Bidders on February 17-March 3, 2016 from BAC office LGU Dinalupihan, Bataan and upon payment of a nonrefundable fee for the Bidding Documents, pursuant to the latest Guidelines issued by the GPPB, in the amount of Ten Thousand Pesos (Php 10,000.00)

A complete set of Bidding Documents may be purchased by interested Bidders on February 27 to March 7, 2016 from the address below and upon payment of a nonrefundable fee for the Bidding Documents in the amount of Five Thousand Pesos (Php 5,000.00).

7.

Pre-bid Conference will be held on March 3, 2016 at 3:00 in the afternoon at BAC Office 2nd Floor Municipal Bldg, Dinalupihan, Bataan

6.

Prebid, 2 March 2016 at 10:00 in the morning.

8.

7.

Bids must be delivered to the address below on or before March 9, 2016 at 2:00pm at LGU Dinalupihan, Bataan Executive Hall. All bids must be accompanied by a bid security in any of the acceptable forms and in the amount stated in ITB Clause 18.

Bids must be delivered to the address below on or before March 8, 2016 at 3:00 in the afternoon. 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 on March 8, 2016 at 3:00 in the afternoon at BAC Office 2nd Floor Municipal Bldg, Dinalupihan, Bataan. Bids will be opened in the presence of the Bidders’ representatives who choose to attend at the address below. Late bids shall not be accepted

Bids will be opened in the presence of the bidders’ representatives who choose to attend at the address below. Late bids shall not be accepted.

8.

Relevant Requirement: PCAB License Small B The LGU Dinalupihan, Bataan 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.

9.

9.

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

For further information, please refer to:

For further information, please refer to:

Engr. ROMMEL M. SAPASAP VICE CHAIRMAN, BAC LGU Dinalupihan, Bataan San Ramon, Dinalupihan, Bataan Tel. No. 0998-989-0686

AMELITA E. PEÑAFLOR BAC Chairman San Ramon, Dinalupihan, Bataan (SGD) ARCELI SAMSON BAC Secretariat San Ramon, Dinalupihan, Bataan

(SGD EMILIA V. CARPIO BAC CHAIRMAN LGU DINALUPIHAN ( T S - F E B . 2 7, 2 0 1 6 )

( TS- F E B . 2 7, 2 0 1 6 )

S AT U R DAY : F E B R U A R Y 2 7, 2 0 16

A16

RIERA U. MALL ARI EDITOR

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

sports@thestandard.com.ph

SPORTS NLEX’s Jonas Villanueva (right) is confronted by Mahindra’s KG Canaleta and Mike Digregorio as he drives to the basket in a PBA Commissioner’s Cup game won by the Enforcers, 106-99.

Mahindra clips NLEX, claims solo 2nd place

By Jeric Lopez

MAHINDRA flexed its muscles in crunch time to notch its second straight win and gain solo second place after a 106-99 victory over NLEX in the 2016 Philippine Basketball Association Commissioner’s Cup Friday night at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.

Import Augustus Gilchrist had his finest performance so far, scoring a game-high 30 points for the Enforcers.

With the game slipping away from its hands when it saw itself down, 87-90, with just over five minutes left, Mahindra finished strong to improve to 3-1 for the sole possession of second place.

The Enforcers erected a decisive 11-2 run in a four-minute span in the last five minutes to create a criti-

cal cushion, 98-92, with under two minutes left.

That proved to be the game’s deciding factor as the Road Warriors were unable to recover from that point and Mahindra held on to continue its rousing start.

“It’s a crucial win for us,” said Mahindra coach Chito Victolero. “I told the players to play 48 minutes and go hard and we were able to do that.

The players stayed composed and we were able to stop their runs.”

It even led by Overall, MahiGames Today double-digit, 39ndra finished the (Mall of Asia Arena, Pasay City) game with a con- 3 p.m. - Phoenix Fuel vs. Tropang TNT 28, after two free 5:15 p.m. - Alaska vs. Rain or Shine throws from Gilcluding 19-9 blitz. christ around halfNino Canaleta and Chito Jaime also had splendid way the second period, but NLEX countered with a 17-9 run to end the showings for Mahindra.

Canaleta scored 21 points and first half and trim the gap to only added seven rebounds, while Jaime three, 48-45, at intermission for the surprisingly had a solid double-dou- Elite.

The third quarter saw Mahinble of 15 points and 11 boards.

Three more Enforcers tallied in dra restore a double-digit lead, but twin-digits as Mike Digregorio had NLEX quickly showed resistance 13, Aldrech Ramos added 12 and LA and once again made it a tight contest heading into the payoff period Revilla hit 10.

NLEX dropped to 2-2 and is now with the Enforcers’ lead only at four, tied for fourth with idle Blackwater, 78-74, leaving the last 12 minutes as the deciding stretch. which holds a similar mark.

Both imports had good starts as Led by the improved play of Gilchrist and the help he got from vari- Gilchrist already had 14 markers ous Enforcers, Mahindra controlled and Al Thornton 15 at the turn.

Thornton led NLEX with his most of the first half and held the team-high 29 points. lead for the most part.

Luisita hikes PAL Seniors’ Interclub lead to 12 CLARK, Angeles—Eddie Bagtas fired 50 points as Luisita hiked its lead over defending champion Canlubang by 12 points halfway through the 30th Philippine Airlines Senior Interclub golf team championships Friday at the Mimosa Golf and Country Club.

Bagtas, who topped the individual category last year in Cebu City, had one birdie against five bogeys to lead Luisita at the Acacia and Lakeside composite course.

Benjamin Sumulong, playing for Luisita for the first time, birdied the closing ninth hole for 48 points while Herminio Maravilla rounded out scoring with 44.

Bong Sison signed a wrong scorecard and was promptly disqualified.

Luisita has a two-day total of 288 points.

Luisita non-playing captain Jeric Hechanova said they will try to protect the lead.

All eight players of Luisita have now seen action and Hechanova hinted a possible reshuffle of lineup to ensure victory.

Canlubang, which had a history of comefrom-behind wins, failed to reduce the overnight eight-point lead despite fielding top gunner Tommy Manotoc.

Manotoc, still a force to reckon with at 67, shot 51 points behind three birdies against six bogeys.

No other Canlubang player, however, scored better than 44.

Rolly Viray had a tough day, posting 44 points while rookie Zaldy Villa had an embarrassing finish, needing five blasts to get out of the greenside bunker on the final hole. He picked up and limped with 43 points.

Tony Olives did not count for the second straight day with 41.

“We better do something on Saturday, hopefully reduce the deficit to six or seven,” Olives said.

While Luisita and Canlubang fight it out in the championship division, Mimosa continued its remarkable play in the Founders division.

Jr Archers stay alive

By Peter Atencio THE La Salle Zobel Junior Archers struck hard from the outside and turned the tables on the National University Bullpups, 71-60, in Game 2 of the 78th University Athletic Association of the Philippines’ junior basketball finals at the Arena in San Juan.

Marco Sario hit a game-high 16 points, including two of three triples at the start of the third period, allowing the Junior Archers to pull away by 11 before the fourth quarter got under way, 47-36.

The Bullpups, who have a thriceto-beat incentive over the Junior Archers, drew 25 points from John Lloyd Clemente, who scored 14 points in third, with his two treys, three-point play and two charities keeping NU within range, 50-55.

Clemente’s outside shots in the fourth kept NU close, 56-57, early in the fourth, but a triple from Miguel Fortuna and Markus Tongco’s layup in the last five minutes gave the Alabang-based Archers a chance to move ahead again.

“We made the unbelievers believers. They just wrote us off after Game 1. We’re out to prove that we’re worthy challengers,” said Junior Archers’ coach Boris Aldeguer.

Season MVP Aljun Melecio topscored with 14 points for the Junior Archers, making nine in the third, with his charity and triple at the start of the third shattering a 30-all halftime deadlock.

MR Romero had 14 points and 10 rebounds, with his jumper in the final 5:17 paving the way for the Junior Archers’ 51-39 spread in the last 4:36.

SATURDAY: FEBRUARY 27, 2016

RAY S. EÑANO EDITOR

RODERICK T. DELA CRUZ ASSISTANT EDITOR

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

BUSINESS

B1

Ayala Land takes over Tutuban

By Jenniffer B. Austria

AYALA Land Inc., the second-biggest property developer, said Friday it finalized the acquisition of a majority stake in Prime Orion Properties Inc., the company that owns the Tutuban retail complex in the shopping district of Divisoria in Tondo, Manila.

Ayala Land and POPI said in separate disclosures to the stock exchange they signed a sale agreement, in which Ayala Land subscribed to 2.5 billion common shares of stock of POPI, or equivalent to a 51.06-percent stake in the company.

The transaction, priced at P2.25 per share, totaled P5.625 billion.

Ayala Land said it initially paid P1.406 billion, or 25 percent of the total subscription price. The company will pay the balance of 75 percent after the fulfillment of certain terms and conditions.

To implement Ayala Land’s subscription, POPI will file with the Securities and Exchange an application to increase its authorized

capital stock from P2.4 billion to P7.5 billion, divided into 7.5 million common shares of stock, with a par value of P1 apiece.

The public float of POPI will drop to 32.16 percent from the current 65.62 percent after the transaction.

Ayala Land earlier said the acquisition of POPI was part of the company’s strategy to expand its leasing business.

Tutuban Center is a bargain retail complex on a 20-hectare property that will be location of the North South Railway Project Transfer Station, which will interconnect with the LRT 2 West Station.

Tutuban Center currently has 60,000 square meters of gross leasable space. Ayala Land plans to expand the retail complex by

adding another 40,000 square meters of leasable space over the next two to three years.

Ayala Land has been strengthening its recurring income business by developing more shopping malls, office and hotels.

Ayala Land by 2020 aims to secure 50 percent of total revenues from recurring business and the other half from residential sales.

Ayala Land plans to achieve the target by tripling the size of shopping malls to 3.6 million square meters, office space to 1.8 million sq. m. of gross leasable area and hotel and resorts to 6,000 room keys.

Share price of Ayala Land on Friday declined 1.4 percent to P32.05, while POPI fell 7.4 percent to P2.01.

Tetangco sees 0.9% inflation BANGKO Sentral ng Pilipinas Governor Amando Tetangco Jr. said Friday inflation likely slowed to as low as 0.9 percent in February from 1.3 percent in January, on lower food and gasoline prices. “[The] February inflation could settle within the 0.9 percent to 1.7-percent range. The fall in rice, gasoline and LPG [liquefied petroleum gas] and provisional rollback in jeepney fares in certain regions are seen to dampen inflation pressures for the month,” Tetangco said in a text message.

“This February inflation forecast supports the within-target inflation outlook over policy horizon. BSP will continue to monitor price trends and take necessary measures towards its commitment of price stability,” Tetangco said. Julito G. Rada

PSe comPoSite index Closing February 26, 2016

8000 8340 7880 7420 6960 6500

6,771.30 2.04

PeSo-dollar rate

Closing February 26, 2016 48.00 46.00 45.00

P47.515

44.00

CLOSE

43.00

HIGH P47.515 LOW P47.600 AVERAGE P47.560 VOLUME 355.300M

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

oPriceS il P today

Illicit trade. Crime Stoppers International president Alexander Macdonald (left) and Federation of Philippine Industries chairman and Fight

P20.40-P23.80 Diesel

Illicit Trade Movement lead convener Jesus Lim Arranza agree to work together to fight criminality, especially on illicit trade and smuggling. CSI, the leading global citizen crime-solving organization with presence in 26 countries, works through an anonymous crime-reporting network that leads to high rate of crime solutions. Arranza said the partnership between FIGHT IT and CSI will be vital to law enforcement and intelligence gathering, since the identification of sources will not be compromised with CSI’s guarantee of anonymity. While in Manila, CSI met with top officials of National Bureau of Investigation and Philippine National Police.

P34.55-P39.15 Kerosene Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas Friday, February 26, 2016

F oreign e xchange r ate Currency

Unit

US Dollar

Peso

United States

Dollar

1.000000

47.6770

Japan

Yen

0.008860

0.4224

UK

Pound

1.396500

66.5809

Hong Kong

Dollar

0.128712

6.1366

Switzerland

Franc

1.010305

48.1683

Canada

Dollar

0.738552

35.2119

Singapore

Dollar

0.713929

34.0380

Australia

Dollar

0.720513

34.3519

Bahrain

Dinar

2.656748

126.6658

Saudi Arabia

Rial

0.266731

12.7169

Brunei

Dollar

0.711389

33.9169

Indonesia

Rupiah

0.000075

0.0036

Thailand

Baht

0.028027

1.3362

UAE

Dirham

0.272287

12.9818

Euro

Euro

1.103300

52.6020

Korea

Won

0.000808

0.0385

China

Yuan

0.153036

7.2963

India

Rupee

0.014530

0.6927

Malaysia

Ringgit

0.237192

11.3086

New Zealand

Dollar

0.669299

31.9102

Taiwan

Dollar

0.030128

1.4364 Source: PDS Bridge

Meralco registered P18.9-b net income in 2015

By Alena Mae S. Flores MANILA Electric Co., the largest electricity retailer, reported Friday a consolidated core net income of P18.9 billion in 2015, up four percent from P18.1 billion in 2014.

Meralco said in a disclosure to the Philippine Stock Exchange consolidated reported net income also rose six percent to P19.1 billion from P18.053 billion in 2014.

Reported net income is adjusted to exclude the effect of foreign exchange gains or losses, markto-market adjustments, gain on disposal of investment and other

one-time, exceptional transactions.

Meralco officials attributed the higher income in 2015 to the unprecedented growth of energy sales in the second half of 2015, with new system peak reaching 6,298 megawatts in August.

Meralco said sales volume growth was close to six percent in 2015, driven by warmer temperatures, low inflation and electricity rates and a healthy economic growth spurred by remittances and revenues from the business process outsourcing sector.

Consolidated sales volume climbed to 37,124 gigawatt-hours

in 2015 from 35,160 gWh in 2014.

“Strong consumer demand supported by overseas Filipino remittances and increasing BPO revenues, excess liquidity and aggressive lending appetite in the banking system and the vibrant growth in the real estate, entertainment, tourism, retail trade and infrastructure appear sustainable,” Meralco chairman Manuel Pangilinan said.

“These provide the fundamentals for continued healthy demand for power in the commercial and residential sectors. Vertical and horizontal structures continue to be built and absorbed by the mar-

ket, which are leading indicators of future energy demand,” he said.

Revenues amounted to P249.8 billion, down five percent from a year ago due to low fuel prices, switch of captive costumers to retail electricity suppliers, and Meralco’s implementation of lower distribution rate.

Pangilinan, meanwhile, said while distribution rates were lower for most of 2016, “we expect Meralco’s core earnings for the year to be broadly similar to 2015 core income.” He said the lower distribution rates would have an impact of around P7 billion in the company’s revenues in 2016.

SATURDAY: FEBRUARY 27, 2016

B2

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

The STandard BuSineSS daily STockS review Friday, February 26, 2016

52 Weeks

Previous

High Low 7.88 75.3 124.4 107 56.5 2.49 4.2 17 30.45 2.6 890 1.01 100 1.46 30.5 91.5 137 361.2 57 180 1700 124 3.26 47 5 1.46 2.36 15.3 148 20.6 125 85 36 65.8 2.97 4.14 21.5 21.6 11.96 9.13 11.8 31.8 109 15.3 9.4 0.98 241 79 4 33.9 90 13.26 293 5 5.25 12.98 15 7.03 3.4 4.5 6.3 238 5.5 3.28 0.315 2.18 2.65 234 5.28 1.3 2.17 0.59 59.2 30.05 2.16 7.39 823.5 10.2 84 3.35 3.68 4.92 0.66 1455 7.5 76 9.25 0.85 17.3 5.53 0.0670 1.61 84.9 974 1.66 1.39 156 0.710 0.435 0.510 10.5 26.95 1.99 1.75 0.375 41.4 5.6 5.59 1.44

STOCKS

Close

High

Low

FINANCIAL 2.95 2.88 44.8 44.5 99.00 97.05 85.00 83.80 36.1 36 3.20 2.90 1.39 1.34 14.4 14 16.2 15.92 1.91 1.67 660.00 660.00 0.550 0.500 75.3 74.6 0.92 0.92 15.00 15.00 52.50 52.00 102.9 97.9 275 273 34 32.8 141.1 140.4 1899.00 1331.00 55.30 55.00 1.54 1.54 INDUSTRIAL 35.9 Aboitiz Power Corp.

42.95 43.2 42.75 1.11 Agrinurture Inc. 5.4 5.75 5.29 1.01 Alliance Tuna Intl Inc. 0.65 0.69 0.65 1.86 Alsons Cons.

1.45 1.54 1.45 7.92 Asiabest Group 10.5 10.7 10.4 32 C. Azuc De Tarlac 190.00 185.00 185.00 15.32 Century Food 17.5 17.7 17.5 62.5 Chemphil 107 97 96.2 20.2 Conc. Aggr. ‘A’ 68 68 65 10.08 Cirtek Holdings (Chips) 18 19 18.22 29.15 Concepcion 40.5 40 40 1.5 Crown Asia 2.27 2.3 2.12 1.5 Da Vinci Capital 2.55 2.77 2.57 10.72 Del Monte 11.4 11.46 11.4 9.55 DNL Industries Inc. 8.300 8.450 8.200 9.04 Emperador 7.29 7.31 7.29 6.02 Energy Devt. Corp. (EDC) 5.65 5.73 5.50 8.86 EEI 7.01 7.15 6.87 20.2 First Gen Corp.

20.25 20.5 20 71.5 First Holdings ‘A’ 59.3 60.5 58.1 13.24 Holcim Philippines Inc. 13.64 13.80 13.60 5.34 Integ. Micro-Electronics 5.58 5.31 5.59 0.395 Ionics Inc 2.300 2.520 2.330 173 Jollibee Foods Corp.

220.00 223.80 219.60 LBC Express 8.02 8.5 8.1 34.1 Liberty Flour 27.00 29.50 27.00 1.63 Mabuhay Vinyl 3.09 3.2 3.04 23.35 Manila Water Co. Inc. 26.9 26.9 26.4 17.3 Maxs Group 16.18 16.2 16 5.88 Megawide 5.8 5.9 5.8 250.2 Mla. Elect. Co `A’ 319.00 332.00 320.00 3.37 Panasonic Mfg Phil. Corp. 4.09 4.05 4.01 3.87 Pepsi-Cola Products Phil. 3.27 3.25 3.15 8.45 Petron Corporation 9.02 8.99 8.67 10.04 Phinma Corporation 11.50 11.50 11.20 3.03 Phoenix Petroleum Phils. 3.69 3.75 3.70 1.95 Phoenix Semiconductor 1.77 1.84 1.75 1 Pryce Corp. `A’ 2.76 2.88 2.76 4.02 RFM Corporation 3.82 3.88 3.84 161 San Miguel’Pure Foods `B’ 142 142 142 4.1 SPC Power Corp.

4.05 3.9 3.9 1.55 Splash Corporation 2.4 2.5 2.41 0.138 Swift Foods, Inc. 0.154 0.166 0.152 1.02 TKC Steel Corp.

1.35 1.38 1.21 2.09 Trans-Asia Oil 2.17 2.25 2.18 152 Universal Robina 194 196.5 191 4.28 Victorias Milling 4.7 4.79 4.6 0.640 Vitarich Corp.

0.62 0.64 0.62 1.2 Vulcan Ind’l.

1.08 1.24 1.09 HOLDING FIRMS 0.44 Abacus Cons. `A’ 0.320 0.340 0.315 48.1 Aboitiz Equity 58.0000 58.0000 57.4500 20.85 Alliance Global Inc. 14.58 14.56 14.46 1.6 Anglo Holdings A 1.07 1.16 1.07 6.62 Anscor `A’ 6.05 6.00 6.00 634.5 Ayala Corp `A’ 695 690 680 7.390 Cosco Capital 7.19 7.25 7.18 12.8 DMCI Holdings 12.48 12.60 12.14 2.6 F&J Prince ‘A’ 4.5 4.84 4.51 1.15 F&J Prince ‘B’ 5.42 4.36 4.36 2.26 Filinvest Dev. Corp.

4.70 4.80 4.60 0.152 Forum Pacific 0.227 0.235 0.226 837 GT Capital 1280 1289 1269 5.3 House of Inv. 5.85 5.85 5.85 IPM Holdings 9.50 9.80 95.00 49.55 JG Summit Holdings 68.50 68.70 66.65 4.84 Lopez Holdings Corp.

5.28 5.37 5.22 0.59 Lodestar Invt. Holdg.Corp. 0.68 0.75 0.66 12 LT Group 16.06 16.1 16.02 4.2 Metro Pacific Inv. Corp. 5.74 5.86 5.7 0.030 Pacifica `A’ 0.0330 0.0330 0.0310 0.550 Prime Orion 2.170 2.250 2.010 59.3 San Miguel Corp `A’ 70.00 72.00 68.75 751 SM Investments Inc. 838.00 847.00 830.00 1.13 Solid Group Inc. 1.06 1.06 1.05 0.93 South China Res. Inc. 0.77 0.77 0.74 80 Top Frontier 151.000 158.000 148.000 0.211 Unioil Res. & Hldgs 0.3000 0.3150 0.3000 0.179 Wellex Industries 0.2000 0.2000 0.1960 0.310 Zeus Holdings 0.295 0.285 0.285 PROPERTY 6.74 8990 HLDG 6.900 6.970 6.900 12 Anchor Land Holdings Inc. 7.00 7.05 7.05 0.65 A. Brown Co., Inc. 0.85 0.86 0.84 1.2 Araneta Prop `A’ 1.380 1.410 1.330 0.192 Arthaland Corp.

0.219 0.230 0.219 30.05 Ayala Land `B’ 32.500 32.400 31.900 3.36 Belle Corp. `A’ 3.12 3.15 3.09 4.96 Cebu Holdings 5.2 5.29 5.2 0.79 Century Property 0.570 0.57 0.560 2.5 66 88.05 88.1 45.45 1.97 1.68 12.02 19.6 1.02 625 0.225 78 0.9 17.8 62 88.35 276 41 118.2 1200 59 2.65

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

MEDCO Holdings Metrobank Natl. Reinsurance Corp.

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

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

SHARES 16,056,101 104,106,117 151,699,737 97,647,823 242,674,758 279,003,920 891,564,190

2.95 44.8 98.95 85.25 36 2.95 1.35 14.04 16.2 1.74 560.00 0.500 75.3 0.94 15.02 52.20 102.9 274 34 141.3 1330.00 55.30 1.54

Close

%

Net Foreign

Change Volume

Trade/Buying

2.95 44.8 99.00 84.20 36.1 3.15 1.39 14.12 15.92 1.78 660.00 0.520 75.3 0.92 15.00 52.10 98 273 33 140.7 1331.00 55.30 1.54

0.00 0.00 0.05 -1.23 0.28 6.78 2.96 0.57 -1.73 2.30 17.86 4.00 0.00 -2.13 -0.13 -0.19 -4.76 -0.36 -2.94 -0.42 0.08 0.00 0.00

85,000 7,800 2,501,920 3,441,680 191,700 253,000 30,000 33,600 259,300 902,000 50 2,679,000 4,120,190 25,000 14,700 12,210 620 600 37,400 580,320 10 1,560 60,000

43.05 5.73 0.69 1.54 10.52 185.00 17.6 97 65 18.9 40 2.18 2.74 11.46 8.450 7.30 5.60 7.10 20.2 59.9 13.80 5.48 2.480 222.00 8.49 29.50 3.04 26.6 16 5.9 330.20 4.01 3.15 8.70 11.50 3.70 1.75 2.88 3.86 142 3.9 2.5 0.165 1.25 2.23 195.9 4.79 0.64 1.17

0.23 6.11 6.15 6.21 0.19 -2.63 0.57 -9.35 -4.41 5.00 -1.23 -3.96 7.45 0.53 1.81 0.14 -0.88 1.28 -0.25 1.01 1.17 -1.79 7.83 0.91 5.86 9.26 -1.62 -1.12 -1.11 1.72 3.51 -1.96 -3.67 -3.55 0.00 0.27 -1.13 4.35 1.05 0.00 -3.70 4.17 7.14 -7.41 2.76 0.98 1.91 3.23 8.33

1,984,400 2,779,600 508,000 2,364,000 3,700 250 160,100 20 500 418,400 600 1,127,000 9,043,000 12,000 11,169,100 740,600 4,948,300 512,700 684,900 145,780 1,355,100 41,700 10,269,000 2,039,580 19,800 9,600 22,000 1,986,700 585,500 1,000 730,350 3,000 511,000 11,270,200 45,500 72,000 462,000 598,000 147,000 660 34,000 580,000 21,960,000 606,000 8,497,000 1,858,200 7,000 941,000 2,626,000

0.315 57.8000 14.50 1.13 6.00 687 7.2 12.30 4.55 4.36 4.80 0.226 1288 5.85 9.80 68.50 5.26 0.7 16.1 5.86 0.0320 2.010 72.00 845.00 1.05 0.77 158.000 0.3100 0.1980 0.285

-1.56 -0.34 -0.55 5.61 -0.83 -1.15 0.14 -1.44 1.11 -19.56 2.13 -0.44 0.63 0.00 3.16 0.00 -0.38 2.94 0.25 2.09 -3.03 -7.37 2.86 0.84 -0.94 0.00 4.64 3.33 -1.00 -3.39

100,000 695,100 9,162,900 32,000 500,000 278,480 923,100 8,657,800 9,000 1,300 313,000 500,000 182,360 10,000 2,410,900 2,698,230 3,786,800 2,896,000 538,500 58,640,000 33,900,000 11,919,000 501,270 166,050 310,000 200,000 2,191,970 6,810,000 1,610,000 50,000

6.900 7.05 0.86 1.400 0.230 32.050 3.15 5.29 0.560

0.00 0.71 1.18 1.45 5.02 -1.38 0.96 1.73 -1.75

3,964,400 1,100 560,000 476,000 30,000 15,295,800 1,349,000 1,320,800 1,128,000

317,270.00 -58,297,379 -67,253,367.00 -28,880.00

-3,872,726.00 -96,720.00 -42,280.00 -5,105,550.50 -76,730.00 -19,600.00 -62,480 -44,472,920.00

38,232,295.00 -243,452.00 -3,040.00 136,354.00 -150,400.00 -24,000 6,858,370.00 -114,600.00 -4,143,329.00 1,344,869.00 10,340,460.00 680,105.00 -6,646,315.00 1,656,647.00 -352,620.00 5,310.00 -637,170.00 12,526,116.00

-8,724,620.00 4,652,554.00 -14,755,182.00 -81,010.00 -18,105,456.00

-34,700.00 2,840.00 -89,170.00 137,820.00 6,750.00 -2,648,800.00 -35,954,365.00 23,000.00 44,200.00 5,698,064.50 -44,484,662.00 -4,919,490.00 1,917,673.00 -74,379,306.00 602,010.00 13,754,490.00 -125,674,073.00 -12,233,983.00 -1,900,496.00 10,246,282.00 146,230.00 -4,518,973.50 76,056,145.00

52 Weeks

Previous

High Low

STOCKS

1.48 0.201 0.69 10.96 0.97 0.305 2.22 2.1 1.8 5.94 0.180 0.470 0.72 8.54 31.8 2.29 4.9 21.35 1.06 7.56 1.62 8.59

0.97 0.083 0.415 2.4 0.83 0.188 1.15 1.42 1.27 4.13 0.090 0.290 0.39 2.69 22.15 1.6 3.1 15.08 0.69 3.38 0.83 5.73

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

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

Phil. Realty `A’ Primex Corp.

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

10.5 66 1.09 14.88 15.82 0.1430 5.06 99.1 12.3 7.67 1700 2720 8.41 1.97 119.5 12.5 0.017 0.8200 2.2800 12.28 3.32 3.2 1 2.46 15.2

1.97 35.2 0.63 10.5 8.6 0.0770 2.95 56.1 10.14 4.8 830 1600 5.95 1.23 102.6 8.72 0.011 0.041 1.200 6.5 1.91 1.95 0.650 1.8 6

0.62 1.040 6.41 22.9 3486 0.760 2.28 46.05 90.1

0.335 0.37 3 4.39 2748 0.435 1.2 31.45 60.55

11.6 0.85 2.95 10 1.9

7.59 0.63 1.71 5 1.14

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

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

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

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

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

SSI Group STI Holdings Transpacific Broadcast Travellers Yehey

0.0098 5.45 17.24 0.330 12.8 1.19 1.62 9.5 4.2 0.48 0.420 0.440 0.022 0.023 8.2 49.2 4.27 1.030 3.06 7.67 12.88 10.42 0.040 420 9

0.0043 1.72 6.47 0.236 5.11 0.85 0.77 5.99 1.17 0.305 0.2130 0.2160 0.013 0.014 3.240 18.96 2.11 0.365 1.54 5.4 7.26 2.27 0.015 115.9 3.67

Abra Mining Apex `A’ Atlas Cons. `A’ Basic Energy Corp.

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

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

TA Petroleum

70 553 525 120 515 8.21 12.28 111 1060 1047 78.95

33 490 500 101.5 480 5.88 6.5 101 997 1011 74.5

ABS-CBN Holdings Corp.

Ayala Corp. Pref `B1’ Ayala Corp. Pref ‘B2’ First Gen G GLOBE PREF P GMA Holdings Inc. Leisure and Resort MWIDE PREF PCOR-Preferred A PF Pref 2 SMC Preferred B SMC Preferred D SMC Preferred E SMC Preferred F

-63,293.00 7,755.00

6.98

0.8900 LR Warrant

134,000.00 -2,300.00 -35,759,145.00 -1,649,200.00

15

3.5

12.88

5.95

130.7

105.6 First Metro ETF

229,600.00

Close

Alterra Capital Makati Fin. Corp.

Italpinas Xurpas

High

VALUE 1,006,460,610.92 1,645,597,768.532 1,871,415,686.48 826,633,944.51 944,908,183.979 154,509,140.136 6,457,734,742.441

FINANCIAL 1,498.57 (down) 6.50 INDUSTRIAL 11,090.96 (up) 75.75 HOLDING FIRMS 6,427.11 (up) 13.21 PROPERTY 2,693.00 (down) 15.96 SERVICES 1,535.75 (down) 3.17 MINING & OIL 10,621.72 (up) 27.94 PSEI 6,771.30 (up) 2.04 All Shares Index 3,905.76 (up) 4.18 Gainers: 94; Losers: 83; Unchanged: 42; Total: 219

Close

0.970 0.128 0.415 24.4 0.840 0.161 0.91 1.52 1.25 3.47 0.086 0.2300 0.440 8.47 25.20 1.49 3.06 20.50 0.78 5.85 0.950 4.400

%

Net Foreign

Change Volume

Trade/Buying

0.970 0.950 0.970 0.134 0.127 0.132 0.430 0.415 0.425 24.7 24.05 24.3 0.840 0.830 0.830 0.155 0.155 0.155 0.92 0.90 0.91 1.54 1.50 1.52 1.28 1.22 1.28 3.52 3.46 3.49 0.088 0.085 0.085 0.2300 0.2280 0.2280 0.450 0.410 0.450 8.5 8.48 8.5 25.20 24.80 24.95 1.5 1.47 1.49 3.07 2.95 3.07 20.75 20.05 20.50 0.79 0.77 0.79 5.85 5.51 5.85 0.990 0.950 0.960 4.420 4.380 4.400 SERVICES 6.84 7.05 6.9 6.95 54.2 54.2 54.05 54.1 0.500 0.500 0.500 0.500 10.06 10.1 10.1 10.1 4.30 4.33 4.15 4.15 0.0530 0.0550 0.0530 0.0540 3.15 3.23 3.11 3.11 81.8 81.85 81.5 81.8 10 10 10 10 5.93 5.90 5.73 5.73 958 960 960 960 1816 1817 1800 1811 6.68 6.61 6.55 6.58 1.21 1.17 1.17 1.17 60.95 62.75 60.9 62 11.24 11.2 11.2 11.2 0.0095 0.0095 0.0094 0.0095 0.206 0.240 0.207 0.237 1.1800 1.2000 1.1600 1.1900 7.50 7.57 7.50 7.57 4.04 4.04 3.97 4.04 2.47 2.47 2.40 2.45 0.560 0.590 0.560 0.580 1.96 1.9 1.9 1.9 2.07 2.1 2 2.05 3.50 3.51 3.48 3.49 0.280 0.270 0.270 0.270 0.750 0.770 0.730 0.730 4.50 4.50 4.46 4.50 24.80 24.90 22.00 22.00 2230.00 2252.00 2220.00 2228.00 0.400 0.410 0.390 0.410 0.880 0.890 0.860 0.890 33.60 34.10 33.60 33.75 60.50 60.50 59.60 59.80 4.98 5.00 4.90 4.95 3.71 3.76 3.62 3.62 0.495 0.500 0.490 0.495 1.51 1.51 1.51 1.51 3.75 3.75 3.74 3.74 4.650 4.630 4.610 4.610 MINING & OIL 0.0043 0.0040 0.0043 0.0043 2.10 2.15 2.07 2.09 4.36 4.40 4.35 4.36 0.245 0.250 0.239 0.239 4.8400 5.0000 5.0000 5.0000 0.59 0.58 0.58 0.58 0.430 0.435 0.430 0.435 7.26 7.44 7.26 7.26 0.720 0.720 0.680 0.690 0.285 0.295 0.285 0.285 0.295 0.305 0.295 0.300 0.305 0.310 0.300 0.305 0.0120 0.0130 0.0120 0.0120 0.013 0.013 0.013 0.013 1.85 1.89 1.82 1.87 4.97 5.1 4.96 5.03 2.46 2.5 2.38 2.46 0.5600 0.5500 0.5500 0.5500 1.2500 1.2400 1.2000 1.2400 3.39 3.56 3.56 3.56 5.70 5.86 5.71 5.80 1.84 1.91 1.75 1.77 0.0110 0.0110 0.0110 0.0110 122.70 123.00 122.60 122.80 2.38 2.38 2.34 2.36 PREFERRED 54 54 53.5 54 535 540 535 540 535 540 539 540 117.8 114 114 114 529 545 533 535 6.78 6.77 6.77 6.77 1.08 1.08 1.08 1.08 112.8 115 112.9 115 1080 1080 1079 1080 1040 1047 1040 1040 80.5 79 79 79 79 78 78 78 77 77 77 77 78 78 78 78 WARRANTS & BONDS 2.400 2.470 2.300 2.310 SME 3.7 3.7 3.7 3.7 2.82 2.95 2.95 2.95 2.5 2.56 2.49 2.53 13.3 13.68 13.4 13.5 EXCHANGE TRADED FUNDS 110.7 110.1 109.2 109.5

T op g ainerS STOCKS

Low

0.00 3.13 2.41 -0.41 -1.19 -3.73 0.00 0.00 2.40 0.58 -1.16 -0.87 2.27 0.35 -0.99 0.00 0.33 0.00 1.28 0.00 1.05 0.00

33,000 27,180,000 920,000 418,400 1,120,000 10,000 1,532,000 16,651,000 609,000 9,165,000 1,310,000 140,000 820,000 27,000 2,256,000 161,000 25,000 6,015,900 991,000 14,700 778,000 2,445,000

1.61 -0.18 0.00 0.40 -3.49 1.89 -1.27 0.00 0.00 -3.37 0.21 -0.28 -1.50 -3.31 1.72 -0.36 0.00 15.05 0.85 0.93 0.00 -0.81 3.57 -3.06 -0.97 -0.29 -3.57 -2.67 0.00 -11.29 -0.09 2.50 1.14 0.45 -1.16 -0.60 -2.43 0.00 0.00 -0.27 -0.86

44,000 43,320 132,000 100 3,828,000 -8,063,610.00 13,790,000 46,000 76,510 -1,619,406.00 200 81,300 400 139,945 -77,020,875.00 52,300 57,000 66,690.00 1,145,680 -7,284,525.00 2,200 4,000,000 149,540,000 -17,800.00 1,035,000 47,200.00 67,100 27,750.00 99,000 0.00 63,000 45,600.00 11,000 10,000 16,904,000 1,273,080.00 260,000 160,540.00 210,000 3,791,000 109,500.00 26,000 200,300 -1,263,660.00 137,060 -100,030,180.00 21,520,000 15,130,000 3,084,850.00 2,018,300 398,545.00 554,010 -24,926,645.00 48,000 -20,000.00 2,853,000 -839,750.00 2,820,000 -9,900.00 3,000 212,000 -389,900.00 27,000

0.00 -0.48 0.00 -2.45 3.31 -1.69 1.16 0.00 -4.17 0.00 1.69 0.00 0.00 0.00 1.08 1.21 0.00 -1.79 -0.80 5.01 1.75 -3.80 0.00 0.08 -0.84

95,000,000 234,000 90,000 370,000 2,000 3,000 380,000 33,300 12,794,000 40,000 28,270,000 7,990,000 37,600,000 61,000,000 499,000 2,485,000 6,000 3,000 271,000 1,000 1,912,200 3,845,000 25,200,000 807,640 152,000

0.00 0.93 0.93 -3.23 1.13 -0.15 0.00 1.95 0.00 0.00 -1.86 -1.27 0.00 0.00

66,150 6,380 15,750 37,500 20,410 100 200,000 7,260 11,070 11,420 10,000 95,320 25,980 31,250

-3.75

438,000

0.00 4.61 1.20 1.50

23,000 1,000 156,000 142,700

-1.08

52,940

-131,000.00 193,050.00 -925,055.00 36,400.00 -18,966,190.00 371,450.00 -6,884,000.00

76,420.00 -12,337,420.00 14,610.00 -17,234,895.00

-2,969,280.00

133,200.00 17,380.00

-147,600.00 -15,780.00 -471,200.00 -36,700.00 1,568,060.00

-3,690,546.00 -292,550.00 -11,365,353.00 93,750.00 -238,025.00

-270,000.00 -790,000.00 1,560,000.00

2,540.00 813,520.00

T op L oSerS Close (P)

Change (%)

STOCKS

Close (P)

Change (%)

Manulife Fin. Corp.

660.00

17.86

F&J Prince 'B'

4.36

-19.56

Island Info

0.237

15.05

Philweb.Com Inc.

22.00

-11.29

Liberty Flour

29.50

9.26

Chemphil

97

-9.35

Vulcan Ind'l.

1.17

8.33

TKC Steel Corp.

1.25

-7.41

Ionics Inc

2.480

7.83

Prime Orion

2.010

-7.37

Da Vinci Capital

2.74

7.45

Phil. Savings Bank

98

-4.76

Swift Foods, Inc.

0.165

7.14

Conc. Aggr. 'A'

65

-4.41

BDO Leasing & Fin. INc.

3.15

6.78

Ferronickel

0.690

-4.17

Alsons Cons.

1.54

6.21

Crown Asia

2.18

-3.96

Alliance Tuna Intl Inc.

0.69

6.15

PhilexPetroleum

1.77

-3.80

SATURDAY: FEBRUARY 27, 2016

B3

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

Stock mart up slightly; Meralco, MPIC rise STOCKS rose slightly Friday, after gains in equities around the world lifted the mood hours before a meeting of G20 officials kicked off in Shanghai.

The Philippine Stock Exchange index, the 30-company benchmark, added 2 points to close at 6,771.30 Friday. The bellwether, however, was still down 2.6 percent since the start of the year.

The heavier index, representing all shares, rose 4 points, or 0.1 percent, to settle at 3,905.76, on a value turnover of P6.5 billion. Advancers led losers, 94 to 83, while 42 issues were unchanged.

Nine of the 20 most active stocks ended in the green, led

by Top Frontiers Investment Holdings Inc., the parent company of San Miguel Corp., which climbed 4.6 percent to P158.

Power retailer Manila Electric Co. gained 3.5 percent to P330.20, while Metro Pacific Investments Corp. rose 2.1 percent to P5.86. Food manufacturer Universal Robina Corp. advanced 1 percent to P195.90.

Meanwhile, global equities looked set for their second straight week of gains, with major bourses across Asia higher in early deals after US and European stocks rose overnight.

The rally came as officials from the Group of 20 industrialized nations gathered for a twoday meeting in Shanghai, with China’s slowing growth expected to loom over the discussions.

Chinese stocks gained after the head of the central bank said the world’s number two economy is strong, and promised it still has enough monetary policy firepower to keep it on track.

Tokyo also rose in early deals, helped by a weaker yen, after government data showed Japan’s inflation rate fell to zero in January.

“The tone across equity markets was generally better overnight,” Cameron Bagrie, chief economist at ANZ Bank New Zealand, was quoted saying by Bloomberg News.

“Amidst market turbulence there is a call to arms for the G-20 to get the global economy back on track. Markets are stressed and vulnerable but it’s not yet a crisis.” With AFP

Globe’s ISO. Globe Telecom’s Data Center is assessed and certified in accordance to new requirements of the latest version of Information

Security Management System. This forms part of the telco’s strengthened approach in managing sensitive enterprise information for a fully-digital and fully-secure enterprise community in the country. Shown is Globe senior advisor for enterprise and IT enabled services group Mike Frausing (second from left) receiving the ISMS registration certificate from AJA Registrars Inc. vice president Paul Bagatsing (second from right). With them are Globe vice president of delivery and support for IT enabled services group John Manoloto (left) and Globe product manager for data center Rhock de la Cruz.

CebuPac expands China operations

By Darwin G. Amojelar

CEBU Pacific plans to expand its operations in China amid the recovery of the tourism market between Beijing and Manila.

The Civil Aeronautics Board said Cebu Air Inc., the operator of Cebu Pacific, filed an application for designation as official Philippine carrier under the air transport agreement between Asean and the People’s Republic of China.

The air transport agreement aims to increase tourist traffic and trade between Asean and China.

“Parties opposed to the granting of this application must file their written opposition… Failure on the part of any party to register its opposition shall be con-

strued as a waiver of its right to be heard,” CAB said.

“Thereupon, the board shall act upon the application on the basis of the records and evidence presented by the petitioner, unless the board deems it necessary to receive additional documentary and or testimonial evidence,” the regulator said.

Cebu Pacific currently flies to Beijing, Guangzhou (Canton), Haikou, Lijiang, Ningbo, Shanghai, Shenzhen, Xiamen and Xian.

Data from the Tourism Department showed that Chinese visi-

tors to the Philippines climbed 24.3 percent in 2015 to 490,841 from 394,951 in 2014.

Visitors from Asean countries went up by 4.4 percent to 481,567 last year from 461,486 visitors in 2014.

The Philippines signed a multilateral agreement on unlimited flights to neighboring countries early this month that would pave the way for cheaper travel within the Asean region this year.

Under Protocols 5 and 6 of the Asean Multilateral Agreement in Air Services, Philippine air carriers will be allowed to fly unlimited frequencies to and beyond the capital cities of other Southeast Asian nations, leading to better connectivity and translating into more competitive fares and services.

MAAS is a part of Asean’s Roadmap for Integration of Air

Transportation Services, essentially laying down the foundation for the envisioned Asean Single Aviation Market, which would in turn foster seamless connectivity within the region.

The ratification of Protocols 5 and 6 provides unlimited access to any point within Asean, more competitive and better airline services as well as lower fares and broader options for passengers.

It highlights the Philippines’ commitment to the realization of the Single Aviation Market, and in creating a unified Asean Economic Community with an efficient and fully-integrated transport network.

Moreover, the development presents an opportunity for growth of the aviation sector, which will compete directly with other Asean carriers.

PSE’s income fell 21% to P683m in 2015 amid volatility

By Jenniffer B. Austria THE Philippine Stock Exchange said Friday net income fell 21 percent in 2015 to P683 million from a year ago, as volatilities in the global equities market tempered capital raising activities.

The PSE said in a statement total revenues in 2016, including operating revenues and other income, declined 15 percent yearon-year to P1.4 billion.

Listing-related income, which accounted for 40 percent of operating revenues, dropped 41 percent

year-on-year to P483 million.

“Last year was a challenging year not only for the Philippine stock market but to the global equities market in general. Our local market was not spared from the backlash of China’s economic slowdown and the US Federal Reserve’s decision to start gradually raising interest rates.

These developments affected both liquidity and capital market deals particularly in the latter part of the year,” PSE president and chief executive Hans Sicat said.

Sicat said he expected capital raising activities to pick up this

year, after the Philippine elections.

“Volatility has persisted early in 2016 but we are hopeful that the country’s sound economic fundamentals will help temper these and will cause investors to continue having the Philippines in their investment radar,” Sicat said.

“We hope the volatility becomes more tempered as investors get more clarity on the impact of the global developments in our market,” Sicat said.

Data showed that while capital-raising activities increased in

2015, other listing activities arising from other market deals were slower compared to 2014.

The average daily turnover in 2015 increased 2 percent to P8.9 billion from P8.8 billion in 2014, despite volatilities in the second half.

Daily average turnover in 2016 went down by 31 percent to P6.2 billion as of Feb. 23, from P8.96 billion a year ago.

PSE said total expenses rose 2 percent to P602 million in 2015, as the exchange invested in new trading system.

The construction of PSE’s new

office building in Fort Bonifacio Global City also contributed to the increased spending, it said.

The PSE is scheduled to transfer to its new office in the first half of 2017.

“A big part of the spending increase was due to investments that are being made by the company in line with its strategy of creating a bigger exchange offering more products and services. Despite these, we were able to manage our expenses to help mitigate the impact of slower market activity in our financials,” Sicat said.

SATURDAY: FEBRUARY 27, 2016

B4

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

IN BRIEF Davao Water deal MANILA Water Company Inc. said Friday Tagum Water Company Inc. and the Tagum Water District signed an agreement to supply of bulk water to TWD for a period of 15 years.

Tagum Water is a joint venture between Davao Del Norte Water Infrastructure Co. Inc. and the TWD, with Davao Water owning a 90-percent equity interest and TWD holding 10 percent.

Davao Water is a joint venture between Manila Water and iWater Inc., in which Manila Water owns 51 percent of the issued and outstanding capital stock.

Manila Water in 2015 announced the awarding of the Tagum City Bulk Water Supply Project to the joint venture of Manila Water and iWater.

The project includes the construction and establishment of a water treatment plant with a capacity of 38,000 cubic meters per day.

Construction of the treatment will start early this year and is expected to be completed by 2018.

The project also involves the construction of a treated water transmission pipeline and a water reservoir with a 5,000 cubic meter capacity.

Anna Leah E. Gonzales

PXP reduces loss PHILEX Petroleum Corp., the oil and gas exploration unit of Philex Mining Corp., on Friday reported a net loss attributable to equity holders of the parent company of P87.5 million in 2015, down from P225.6 million in 2014.

The company said reported consolidated net loss amounted to P144 million from a loss of P448.7 million in the previous year.

“The net loss primarily resulted from lower petroleum revenues contributed by its subsidiary, Forum Energy Ltd., following a steep decline in crude oil prices and a lower production from Service Contract 14C1 Galoc,” it said.

Net loss decreased year-on-year due to a charge in impairment in Service contract 6a (Octon block) of unit Pitkin Petroleum Plc in 2014.

Pitkin on Nov. 20, 2015 did not pursue exploration sub-phase 2 in Peru Block XXVIII in onshore Peru and surrendered its interest to the Peruvian government.

“The company will continue its efforts to reduce operating expenditures through the rationalization of the company’s business structure and asset portfolio, particularly in the current low oilprice environment,” it said.

Alena Mae S. Flores

Firms less upbeat st in 1 quarter—BSP

By Julito G. Rada

BUSINESS sentiment remained positive in the first quarter this year but lower compared with the last quarter of 2015, results of the latest survey conducted by the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas show Friday.

The Business Expectations Survey for the first quarter showed that sentiment dropped to 41.9 percent from 51.3 percent in the fourth quarter last year.

Reasons cited for the decline were the usual slowdown in business activities and moderation of consumer demand after the Christmas season, decline in global commodity prices, continued weakness in Chinese econo-

my, and the prevailing wait-andsee attitude of most businesses before the results of the national elections in May. Other reasons were the adverse effects of El Niño dry spell, strong market competition and the bearish trend of the domestic stock market.

However, the second-quarter outlook turned more bullish compared to a quarter ago. Data

showed that business sentiment stood at 49.6 percent. This was due to the expected robust election-related spending in the run-up to the elections in May, sustained increase in orders and projects leading to higher volume of production, and anticipated increase in demand during the summer season with the expected influx of both local and foreign tourists.

Other reasons were the enrollment periods, introduction of new and enhanced business strategies and processes and expansion of businesses and new product lines.

Across different types of businesses, the sentiment was mixed for the first quarter. The outlook of importers and domestic-oriented firms was less sanguine,

while exporters and dual-activity (both importer and exporter) firms’ outlook was more positive.

Bangko Sentral conducted the nationwide survey from Jan. 5 to Feb. 17 involving 1,539 firms.

Economists from the First Metro Investment Corp. and University of Asia and the Pacific, meanwhile, said in a joint report Friday economic growth was expected to accelerate further in the first quarter this year from 6.3 percent in the last quarter of 2015 due to robust consumer and election spending.

“As expected, the second half of 2015 GDP growth accelerated, giving us greater optimism that 2016 would even be better, especially considering that it is an election year,” the report said.

Phoenix nets P906m PHOENIX Petroleum Philippines Inc. posted a 47-percent increase in net income in 2015 to P905.9 million from P616.4 million in the previous year on higher sales volume.

Phoenix Petroleum disclosed to the Philippine Stock Exchange fuel sales volume rose 27 percent in 2015, while units performed well .

It said subsidiaries reported a combined net income of P319 million from Phoenix Petroterminals and Industrial Park Corp. and Chelsea Shipping Corp., higher than P134 million in 2014.

The industrial park contributed P190 million in income from park operations and sale of land in its industrial park in Calaca, Batangas, while Chelsea Shipping contributed P129 million from its ship chartering operations.

PPIPC owns and operates an industrial park in Calaca, Batangas, which houses several companies in industries such as petroleum, chemicals, steel, power and salt. Alena Mae S. Flores

E-jeepneys in Cavite A GROUP of electric vehicle manufacturers has gained headway to the mainstream e-vehicle usage in the public mass transport.

Vehicle Association of the Philippines president Rommel Juan said his group started serving the Las Piñas-Cavite route.

“We are happy that Las Piñas is very aggressive in promoting green transport.

The extensive use of e-jeepneys as an environment-friendly alternative to traditional diesel-fueled PUJs is a testament to this commitment. We just hope more LGUs will follow suit,” he said.

Electric jeepneys will ply the new alternate route from Las Piñas to Cavite, or the Zapote River drive.

The new three-kilometer road stretches from Lundos and Pamplona I and transverses the Zapote River drive.

Motorists and commuters are given another option to avoid the perennial heavy traffic along Zapote Road.

MetroExpress Connect Inc., a transport operator in Las Piñas, is one of several ejeepney operators that will provide pollution-free ride to commuters using the new route. Othel V. Campos

Investment conference. Maybank Kim Eng, one of Asean’s leading investment banks and equity franchises, kickstarts its 2016 Invest Asean conference series across the region with Invest Asean Philippines. Attending the conference are (from left) BDO Unibank senior vice president Frederic Ocampo, Maybank ATR Kim Eng Capital Partners president and chief executive Manuel Tordesillas, Maybank ATR Kim Eng Capital Partners chairman Ramon Arnaiz, former Senate President and Speaker of the House of Representatives, and Vista Land & Lifescapes chairman Manuel Villar Jr., and Maybank ATR Kim Eng Securities chairman and president Lorenzo Roxas.

Trade agreement with EFTA nations seen in June

By Othel V. Campos THE Trade Department concluded the fifth and latest round of negotiations for a Philippines-European Free Trade Association agreement, raising hopes for increased trade with the European bloc.

“We have made substantial progress in key areas of complementation and are optimistic that we can sign the agreement before June this year,” said Trade Undersecretary Ceferino Rodolfo.

EFTA, composed of Switzerland, Liechtenstein, Norway and Iceland, concluded their negotiations with the Philippines earlier this month.

Prior to the negotiations, Trade conducted eight consultations for a possible Philippines-EFTA free

trade agreement.

Rodolfo said with the negotiations nearing their conclusion, the Philippines was developing a work program to encourage and promote free trade agreements to enable local industries benefit from the opportunities.

“Right now, most Philippine products have duty-free access to the EU [European Union] through the European Union’s Generalized Scheme of Preferences Plus. We are targeting a more permanent and long term relationship through the ongoing negotiations with EFTA,” he said.

He added establishing a strong foothold in the European market was a key component of the country’s trade strategy.

Top Philippine exports to the EFTA member states in 2004 include gold in semi-manufactured forms, digital monolithic integrated circuits, aircraft parts, printed circuits, artificial teeth and silver. Leading imports from EFTA were medicaments, diagnostic or laboratory reagents, parts of airplanes or helicopters and wrist watches.

Rodolfo noted that improving market access with Europe through the EFTA would encourage investments in the services and non-services sector and bring in high value added products, technological knowhow and capital from highly developed economies.

The Philippines is also actively participating in negotiations on

the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership, where Trade will continue technical consultations with the rest of the Trans-Pacific Partnership member countries, including Chile, Peru, Japan, and Vietnam.

Technical consultations in 2015 were held with Canada and Mexico after similar negotiations with the United States, Malaysia, Australia and New Zealand were concluded in 2014.

“The country’s sectors and industries stand to benefit greatly from these trade initiatives.

These will, as well, further improve the country’s global standing as we engage in freer trade and attract more foreign direct investments,” Rodolfo said.

S AT U R D AY : F E B R U A R Y 2 7, 2 0 1 6

B5

CESAR BARRIOQUINTO EDITOR

editorial@thestandard.com.ph

WORLD

Four dead, 14 hurt in shooting in Kansas LOS ANGELES—Four people were killed Thursday and 14 were wounded, several of them critically, when an employee opened fire at a lawn mower factory in a small Kansas town, police said.

Harvey County Sheriff T. Walton said the dead included the gunman, an employee at Excel Industries in a tight-knit community north of Wichita.

Walton said the first officer to arrive at the scene shot the gunman, saving “many, many lives.”

“This is a horrible situation, just terrible,” Walton said, adding that his department received a call from the White House after the incident.

Walton said authorities had information on “some things that triggered this individual,” but he would not elaborate.

The sheriff initially had said that up to seven people had been killed and up to 30 wounded but later revised the toll downwards.

The carnage was the latest in a string of mass shootings in the United States, where such attacks have become commonplace.

Walton said the gunman, who he declined to identify, first fired at two motorists from his car, stealing one of the victims’ pickup truck before heading to the factory.

He shot a woman in the parking lot with an assault rifle and then entered the facility, unleashing a volley of bullets as people ran for their lives screaming “run, fire, fire,” according to one witness.

Local media identified the gunman as Cedric Ford, 38, who worked as a painter at the factory and had posted a picture of himself on Facebook with an assault rifle.

Ford recently moved to the area from Miami and had an extensive criminal record, including a history of prowling, loitering and illegal weapons possession, media reports said.

Walton said police surrounded the gunman’s home after the shooting but his male roommate refused to allow them in, resulting in a standoff that continued unresolved late Thursday. AFP

Elections. An Iranian woman casts her ballot in a box designated for the Assembly of Experts at a polling station in the holy city of Qom on February 26, 2016. Iranians will vote for both parliamentary elections and the Assembly of Experts in the elections billed by the moderate president as vital to curbing conservative dominance in parliament and speeding up reforms after a nuclear deal with the world powers. AFP

Iran votes in vital election after nuke deal with west TEHRAN—Iranians began voting across the country Friday in elections billed by the moderate president as vital to curbing conservative dominance in parliament and speeding up domestic reforms after a nuclear deal with the world powers.

A pro-government coalition called “The List of Hope” is representing President Hassan Rouhani’s ambitions in the polls.

Almost 55 million people are eligible to cast ballots that will ultimately elect 290 lawmakers.

They will also vote in a second election to select the Assembly of Experts, a powerful committee of 88 clerics that monitors the work of supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.

While MPs are elected for four years the assembly will be granted an eight-year term. Should Khamenei, who is 76, die during that time its members would pick his successor.

Voting started at 8am (0430

GMT) and will close at 6pm although officials say polling stations could stay open if there are queues and more time is needed to cast ballots.

Supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei cast his vote early Friday morning in a televised ceremony and urged everyone to do so “quickly, as it’s both a duty and a right”.

“Everyone must vote, those who love Iran, those who like the Islamic Republic, those who love the grandeur and glory of Iran,” he told a state television reporter after casting his vote.

“We have enemies. Elections should be such that make the enemy disappointed. We must vote

with insight and open eyes.”

As Iran’s ultimate authority, Khamenei’s powers outrank those of Rouhani, but the president is looking for gains in parliament to allow him to build on the nuclear deal by bringing improvements at home.

The economy has featured strongly during the election campaign as Iran faces a stubborn challenge to overcome the damage that almost a decade of sanctions caused.

The elections will be a crucial indicator of the future direction Iranians want for their country.

“I expect the situation of the country to improve through reforms,” Atefeh Yousefi, 38, told AFP while waiting in line at a polling station in Tehran, adding that she regretted boycotting elections in the past.

Rouhani has played up the potential for foreign investment which he says will bring jobs, particularly for Iran’s youth whose unemployment rate of 25 percent is

two-and-a-half times the national average.

However, conservatives say strong economic growth will only be possible if an emphasis is placed on domestic production under a “resistance economy” model more in tune with the ideals of Iran’s 1979 Islamic revolution.

Although he returned the economy to growth after inheriting a recession, the president remains vulnerable as the benefit of sanctions relief and a return of international business will take time.

If voters support the pro-Rouhani list, a coalition of moderate and reformist candidates, the president could swing the balance of power in parliament, creating an opening for social and political reforms on which he has so far been blocked by lawmakers.

But a one-week official campaign for the parliamentary election has been largely overshadowed by controversies over who was allowed to run for office. AFP

UN: Decline of bees poses crop risks

Dinner. Actress Patricia Arquette attends The Dinner For Equality cohosted by Patricia Arquette and Marc Benioff on February 25, 2016, in Beverly Hills, California. AFP

KUALA LUMPUR—Populations of bees, butterflies and other species important for agricultural pollination are declining, posing potential risks to major world crops, a UN body on biodiversity said Friday.

“Many wild bees and butterflies have been declining in abundance, occurrence and diversity at local and regional scales in Northwest Europe and North America,” said an assessment by the Intergovernmental SciencePolicy Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services.

It said declines had also been detected elsewhere in the world

and that the possible causes include habitat loss, pesticides, pollution, invasive species, pathogens and climate change.

The report by the IPBES, which was established under UN auspices in 2012 to assess the state of ecosystems and biodiversity, stopped short of declaring a fullscale threat to food supplies.

But it stressed the importance of protecting pollinators to ensure stable fruit and vegetable output, amid concern over the challenge of feeding the world’s growing population in the coming decades.

It said animal pollination is direct-

ly responsible for between five and eight percent of the global agricultural production by volume, amounting to between $235 billion and $577 billion worth of annual output.

In addition, more than threequarters of the “leading types of global food crops” rely to some extent on animal pollination for yield and quality.

“Pollinator-dependent species encompass many fruit, vegetable, seed, nut and oil crops, which supply major proportions of micronutrients, vitamins, and minerals in the human diet,” the IPBES said. AFP

B6

S AT U R D AY : F E B R U A R Y 2 7, 2 0 1 6

WORLD

CESAR BARRIOQUINTO EDITOR

editorial@thestandard.com.ph

Backers of peace process in Syria to fine-tune deal BEIRUT—US President Barack Obama has warned Moscow and Damascus the “world will be watching” their commitment to a looming ceasefire, as the 17-nation group backing the Syria peace process prepared to fine-tune the deal.

Obama said the next few days would be critical for the partial truce brokered by Moscow and Washington—due to begin at midnight Friday—which has been agreed by both President Bashar alAssad’s regime and

Syria’s top opposition grouping.

The deal—which excludes the Islamic State jihadist group and other extremists—marks the biggest diplomatic push yet to help end Syria’s violence, but has been plagued by doubts

after the failure of previous peace efforts.

The members of the 17-nation group backing the process are to meet in Geneva on Friday to work out further details of the agreement, which is expected to be endorsed by the UN Security Council on the same day, diplomats said.

There are hopes a successful “cessation of hostilities” will lead to the resumption of the peace talks that collapsed in Geneva earlier this month.

“Tomorrow is going to be a very important,

I will say a crucial day,” the UN’s Syria envoy Staffan de Mistura told reporters at the UN’s European headquarters in Geneva Thursday.

The agreement allows military action to continue against IS, which seized control of large parts of Syria and Iraq in 2014, as well as against the Al-Qaeda affiliated Al-Nusra Front and other jihadist groups.

Obama said he was certain those groups would continue to fight, but stressed the US-led coalition was winning the war against IS, cit-

ing territorial gains.

He also said he was not “under any illusions” about possible pitfalls, but that the ceasefire could help bring about an end to the war.

“A lot of that is going to depend on whether the Syrian regime, Russia, and their allies live up to their commitments,” Obama said.

“The coming days will be critical, and the world will be watching.”

Russian President Vladimir Putin has promised to do “whatever is necessary” to ensure the ceasefire is

London streets emptied of punks

implemented.

Russia and the United States are on opposing sides of the conflict, with Moscow backing Assad and Washington supporting the opposition, but the two powers have been making a concerted push for the ceasefire to be respected.

Iran is also a supporter of Damascus, and US Secretary of State John Kerry said Thursday that Tehran had withdrawn a “significant number” of its elite Revolutionary Guards troops from Syria. AFP

Republic of the Philippines CITY OF SAN PEDRO Province of Laguna BIDS AND AWARDS COMMITTEE

Republic of the Philippines CITY OF SAN PEDRO Province of Laguna BIDS AND AWARDS COMMITTEE

INVITATION TO BID

INVITATION TO BID

The City Government of San Pedro Laguna through the 2016 LSB Budget Approved

by Sangguniang Panglungsod intends to apply the sum of Php 14,037.043.92 being the Approved Budget for the Contract (ABC) to payments under the contract for the hereunder project:

The City Government of San Pedro Laguna through the 2016LSB Budget Approved

by Sangguniang Panglungsod intends to apply the sum of Php 21,660,431.44 being the Approved Budget for the Contract (ABC) to payments under the contract for the hereunder project:

NAME OF PROJECT LOCATION ABC SOURCE OF FUND

: : : :

CONTRACT DURATION :

Proposed 3 Storey 6 Classrooms School Building San Roque Elementary School, Brgy. San Roque Php 14,037,043.92 LSB Budget Approved by the Sangguniang Panglungsod 180 Calendar Days

The City Government of San Pedro, Laguna now invites contractors registered with and classified by the Philippine Contractors Accreditation Board (PCAB) to apply for eligibility and if found eligible, to bid for the above-mentioned projects. Completion of the Works is required on or before the contract duration.Bidders should have completed, two (2) calendar years from the date of submission and receipt of bids, a contract similar to the Project. The description of an eligible bidder is contained in the Bidding Documents, particularly, in Section II. Instructions to Bidders. Bids received in excess of the Approved Budget for the Contract shall be automatically rejected at bid opening Bidding will be conducted through open competitive bidding procedures using nondiscretionary pass/fail criterion as specified in the Implementing Rules and Regulations (IRR) of Republic Act 9184 (RA 9184), otherwise known as the “Government Procurement Reform Act”. Bidding is restricted, unless otherwise stated, to Filipino citizens/sole proprietorships, partnerships, or organizations with at least seventy five percent (75%) interest or outstanding capital stock belonging to citizens of the Philippines, and to citizens or organizations of a country the laws or regulations of which grant similar rights or privileges to Filipino citizens, pursuant to Republic Act 5183 (RA 5183) and subject to Commonwealth Act 138 (CA 138).Only bids from eligible bidders will be opened. In accordance with the IRR-A of R.A 9184, the contract/project shall only be awarded to the Lowest Calculated and Responsive Bidder who was determined as such during post-qualification.

Interested bidders may obtain further information from the City Government of San Pedro, Laguna and inspect the Bidding Documents at the address given below from 8:30AM to 9:30 AM only.

Office of BAC Secretariat 4/F Conf.Rm. City Administrator’s Office San Pedro City Hall A complete set of Bidding Documents may be purchased by interested Bidders from the address above and upon payment of a non-refundable fee for the Bidding Documents in the amount of PESOS: 25,000.00.

Bids must be delivered to the address below on or before March 11, 2016 at 10:00AM: Office of BAC Secretariat 4/F Conf.Rm. City Administrator’s Office San Pedro City Hall

NAME OF PROJECT LOCATION ABC SOURCE OF FUND CONTRACT DURATION

: Proposed 3 Storey 9 Classrooms School Building : Sampaguita National Highschool, Adelina I-A Annex Brgy. San Antonio : Php 21,660,431.44 : LSB Budget Approved by the Sangguniang Panglungsod : 240 Calendar Days

The City Government of San Pedro, Laguna now invites contractors registered with and classified by the Philippine Contractors Accreditation Board (PCAB) to apply for eligibility and if found eligible, to bid for the above-mentioned projects. Completion of the Works is required on or before the contract duration. Bidders should have completed, two (2) calendar years from the date of submission and receipt of bids, a contract similar to the Project. The description of an eligible bidder is contained in the Bidding Documents, particularly, in Section II. Instructions to Bidders. Bids received in excess of the Approved Budget for the Contract shall be automatically rejected at bid opening Bidding will be conducted through open competitive bidding procedures using nondiscretionary pass/fail criterion as specified in the Implementing Rules and Regulations (IRR) of Republic Act 9184 (RA 9184), otherwise known as the “Government Procurement Reform Act”. Bidding is restricted, unless otherwise stated, to Filipino citizens/sole proprietorships, partnerships, or organizations with at least seventy five percent (75%) interest or outstanding capital stock belonging to citizens of the Philippines, and to citizens or organizations of a country the laws or regulations of which grant similar rights or privileges to Filipino citizens, pursuant to Republic Act 5183 (RA 5183) and subject to Commonwealth Act 138 (CA 138).Only bids from eligible bidders will be opened. In accordance with the IRR-A of R.A 9184, the contract/project shall only be awarded to the Lowest Calculated and Responsive Bidder who was determined as such during post-qualification.

Interested bidders may obtain further information from the City Government of San Pedro, Laguna and inspect the Bidding Documents at the address given below from 8:30AM to 9:30 AM only.

Office of BAC Secretariat 4/F Conf. Rm. City Administrator’s Office San Pedro City Hall A complete set of Bidding Documents may be purchased by interested Bidders from the address above and upon payment of a non-refundable fee for the Bidding Documents in the amount of PESOS: 25,000.00.

Bids must be delivered to the address below on or before March 11, 2016 at 10:00AM: Office of BAC Secretariat 4/F Conf. Rm. City Administrator’s Office San Pedro City Hall

Pre-Bid Conference: February 29, 2016 10:00am All bids must be accompanied by a bid security in any of the acceptable forms and in the amount stated in ITB Clause 18. Bids will be opened in the presence of the bidders’ representatives who choose to attend at the address above. Late bids shall not be accepted.

All particulars relative to Eligibility Statement and Screening, Bid Security, Performance Security, Pre-Bidding Conference, Evaluation of Bids, Post-Qualification and Awards of Contract shall be governed by the pertinent provisions of R.A. 9184 and its Implementing Rules and Regulations (IRR).

The City Government of San Pedro, Laguna 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.

Pre-Bid Conference: February 29, 2016 10:00am All bids must be accompanied by a bid security in any of the acceptable forms and in the amount stated in ITB Clause 18. Bids will be opened in the presence of the bidders’ representatives who choose to attend at the address above. Late bids shall not be accepted.

All particulars relative to Eligibility Statement and Screening, Bid Security, Performance Security, Pre-Bidding Conference, Evaluation of Bids, Post-Qualification and Awards of Contract shall be governed by the pertinent provisions of R.A. 9184 and its Implementing Rules and Regulations (IRR).

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

For further information, please refer to:

For further information, please refer to:

Mr. Merlin B. Paala Office of the BAC Secretariat San Pedro City Hall San Pedro, Laguna Telefax No. 808.2020 loc.320

Mr. Merlin B. Paala Office of the BAC Secretariat San Pedro City Hall San Pedro, Laguna Telefax No. 808.2020 loc.320

(sgd.) ENGR. FILEMON I. SIBULO Chairman Bids and Awards Committee

(sgd.) ENGR. FILEMON I. SIBULO Chairman Bids and Awards Committee (TS-FEB. 27, 2016)

(TS-FEB. 27, 2016)

LONDON—Once the crucible of youthful rebellion, London’s streets have been emptied of punks, skinheads and rude boys by the rise of the Internet, a lack of public spaces and protective parents.

Punk was born in fashion designer Vivienne Westwood’s clothes shop “Sex” 40 years ago, bringing anarchy to the posh Chelsea neighborhood.

“The police used to have to wait at Sloane Square and round up all the punks as they got off the Tube,” recalled Westwood in her memoirs.

“Once they had about 200 of them, they would escort them in a procession down the King’s Road to the shop”.

This was 1976, when Britain only had three television channels, families were large and parents wanted teenagers out of their hair and out the house.

But urban tribes are today a rare breed on the capital’s streets, a trend echoed across Britain.

“People still go out and want to be seen, they have that urge to be looked at. The only change is that people have access to a lot more media,” photographer Derek Ridgers, author of “78-87: London’s Youth” told The Daily Telegraph.

According to an Ipsos Mori survey published in December, 68 percent of British 15 year-olds spend 10 hours a day on weekends engaged in non-physical pasttimes such as watching television, playing video games, surfing the Internet or reading.

At the same time, crime and alcohol consumption have decreased significantly, although a link has not been proven.

In 2013/2014, nearly 22,400 young English people were convicted or reprimanded for the first time, a 75-percent decrease over 10 years.

“Young people still can be found on the streets and other public outdoor spaces at certain times and places, but it is probably true to say their overall presence has been reduced,” said Paul Hodkinson, a sociology professor at the University of Surrey. AFP

S AT U R D AY : F E B R U A R Y 2 7, 2 0 1 6

PROPERTY

JOEL D. L ACSAMANA EDITOR

jdlacsamana@gmail.com

B7

‘FENG SHUI’ READY

WALKING THE TALK

SEASONED, or budding entrepreneurs, are more drawn to feng shui than ordinary folks.

The best way to apply feng shui for today’s urban entrepreneurs is to update your home’s look, by adding simple embellishments.

At the 34-storey AMA Tower Residences, “feng shui” plays an important role in the development’s bid to become a benchmark for home/office living in the Philippines. It combines the comforts of a home with the

sound benefits of business. These units are showcased at the AMA Tower showroom at Highway 54 along EDSA. To know more about AMA Tower Residences, visit www. amatower.com.

UPPING THE ANTE

CONSUMERS can influence companies to be more responsible by supporting those committed to sustainable practices, Cement maker Holcim Philippines, Inc. said recently.

Addressing the Kalikasan GP3 Expo Conference, Holcim Philippines president and CEO Eduardo Sahagun said choosing green products encourages companies to continue investing in sustainability. “We follow high standards of sustainability wherever we operate,” he said.

“Viability for us means living a balance of people, planet and profit.” Sahagun said his company, whose products are recognized as environmentfriendly by the Philippine Center for Environmental Protection and Sustainable Development, Inc. (PCEPSDI), works hard for biodiversity in its rehabilitated quarries. This is validated by an independent study from the Dilliman Science Research Foundation.

He added that Holcim Philippines is committed to reduce its carbon footprint through efficiency initiatives and product innovations. The conference was organized by PCEPSDI and the Philippine Green Building Council.

MAKING IT EASY

ETON Properties, the real estate arm of the Lucio Tan Group of companies is upping the ante in townhouse living with 68 Roces, a 3.3 hectare, master-planned development it is building along Don Alejandro Roces Avenue in Quezon City.

Composed of residential townhouses, single-attached house and lot units as well as a retail strip and recreational facilities, 68 Roces is near the city’s business and entertainment districts.

The development is perched on a flood-free site and maintains

DESIGN VISIONS

SECURITY, safety, a good network of resources and comfort, to name a few, are elements that make up a home.

“Besides an aesthetic appeal, a home’s design should have a vision behind it,” said Fatima Olivares-Vital, business unit head of Ovialand, Inc. “Each element should be focused on offering an integrated environment to its residents.”

Terrazza de Sto. Tomas, a masterplanned development in Sto. Tomas, Batangas, is guided by this credo.

With 54% open spaces and

329 units set in a 5.8 hectare prime land, the property marries exclusive living with urban convenience. Following the designs of old world Italian abodes, the development offers an experience that spells comfort and convenience.

Architect Melvin Patawaran, the creative mind behind the project explained: “Italian architecture is the mother of domestic building designs. We found this a fitting theme for Terraza de Sto. Tomas which values providing exclusivity and premier living to the modern Filipino family.”

exclusivity and a sense of serenity. Townhouse units available are three-and four-bedroom with sizes that range from 158sqm to 198sqm and 208,200sqm to 238sqm, respectively. Price per unit vary from P19 million to P29 million.

THE Gokongwei-led Robinsons Bank is increasing its housing loans portfolio, and help bridge the gap between the buyers and the developers. Robinsons Bank is increasing its capital to Php12 billion. To snag a larger portion of the home loan market, Robinsons Bank is aggressively marketing and introducing reduced home loan interest rates.

The bank is also provide perks for home loan applications.“A housing loan is a once-in-a-lifetime transaction for many Filipinos, and that they have to entrust with an institution they can rely on,” said Lance Gokongwei, chairman of the JG Summit group. “The demand for homes is there, especially with the growing middle class, business process outsourcing workers, and overseas Filipino workers. Developers have responded to the de-

mand and we are seeing a vibrant real estate industry in the next five years.” Buying a home in the Philippines is usually done through loans, either with banks or government financial institutions. “We want to make it easier for people to be able to own homes,” Gokongwei said.

B8

S AT U R D AY : F E B R U A R Y 2 7, 2 0 1 6

JOEL D. L ACSAMANA EDITOR jdlacsamana@gmail.com

PROPERTY EL NIDO RESORT GETS MAKEOVER

JUST WHAT THE DOCTOR ORDERED. The new Lagen provides a moving experience: lights highlight the island’s rock formation, while vintage hurricane lamps draw attention

to the breakwaters.

TROPICAL foliage against whitewashed cottages in whites, greys and touches of black now make up the signature look of Lagen Island of El Nido Resorts in Palawan.

The new look has been luring more tourists to the island, known as an eco-sanctuary framed by dramatic limestone cliffs – the backdrop for many an island-in-

spired wedding.

The contemporary look with Filipino touches in Lagen’s villas and rooms were conceptualized

by Architect Conrad Onglao.

The villas were built with high ceilings, wide open spaces, balconies under sloping roofs with broad overhangs. Some villas that are as large as 70 sqm now accommodate four people. These include bathrooms with twin vanities and a generous tub.

Rooms open up with louvered windows so guests can check out the landscape, and watch various

species in their natural habitat.

Vintage details abound—ceramic tiles with bold Mediterranean patterns popularized a century ago by tile producer Don Jose Machuca; woven-backed chairs and bed frames inspired by the solihiya; raffia walls; birthing chairs or the butaka and tribal crafts. Old botanical prints, researched by Augustinian friar, Manuel Blanco, add history.

Sheer drapery and eyelet cotton bed curtains amplify the lightness and airiness of the room with a timeless coastal charm.

At night, Onglao set up a lighting design that provides hefty doses of drama.

Lights highlight Lagen Island’s famous rock formation, while vintage hurricane lamps draw attention to the breakwaters.

GO SOUTH, WHERE THE GEMS ARE

By Joel D. Lacsamana

‘SUBURBANIZED’ SETTING. An artist’s perspective of the Westborough district city center.

FIRST JOINT VENTURE. Robert S. Lao, president of Alveo Land Corp. and Jeffrey Ng, President of Cathay Land, Inc., shake on it.

A 33-HECTARE master planned joint venture project by Alveo Land and Cathay Land will soon rise in the South of Manila— Westborough.

Perched along the Sta. Rosa-TagaytaySilang corridor, Westborough will feature three commercial areas—Westborough commercial strips, Westborough town center and Westborough park square. Alveo promises that about 40% of the latter two phases’ total land area will be dedicated to open and landscaped spaces.

Lots have been designed for SMEs, start-ups and for private investors seeking a suburban setting for their products and services. Possible commercial uses are also aimed for specialty stores, restaurants, cafes, offices and hotels.

Ayala Westgrove Heights, South Forbes and Wedgewood are a stone’s throw away, and NUVALI, Ayala Land’s fast-expanding community is a fifteen minute drive. Laguna Technopark, with over 101,000 employees, is also nearby.

Westborough nearly sold out since its launch in 2013, with an average price of P30,000 per sqm. The Alveo Land – Cathay

Land partnership has sold 85% of total commercial lot inventory in the district amounting to P3.89 billion.

“The proximity to Laguna Technopark and various business establishments and institutions around the area ensure that this is a good location for commercial use,” said Paulo Ong, division manager for the project development group of Alveo Land.

The Westborough Town Center is highlighted by a small lake surrounded by shops in a sprawling outdoor setting. A family-oriented merchant mix of upscale al fresco dining and retail options will make it a destination shopping experience.

The final phase of the development, Westborough Park Square, is based on a concept similar to the highly successful Bonifacio High Street in BGC, Taguig.

Shops will surround the linear park with arcaded walkways for pedestrian comfort.

Westborough Town Center is scheduled for turnover by Q1 2017, while Westborough Park Square will follow on Q4 2018.

Alveo Land is part of Ayala Land. Its partner Cathay Land is the developer of South Forbes Golf City, and is the real estate arm of the Cathay Group of Companies.

S AT U R D AY : F E B R U A R Y 2 7, 2 0 1 6

C1

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

P OP CU LT U RE

LIFE

The beautiful women of the aviation-tourism industry. From left: Miss Aviation Philippines 2016 2nd runner-up Trizia Abaya, Miss Aviation Philippines 2016 Kristine Micah Malicsi and 1st runner-up Reichelieu Emory Santos

TOURISM STUDENT CROWNED QUEEN OF PHILIPPINE AVIATION

C

heers and applause reverberated within the posh ballroom of The Peninsula Manila Hotel as 18-yearold Tourism Management student Kristine Micah Malicsi was crowned as this year’s Miss Aviation Philippines. Malicsi, the youngest among the candidates, bested 13 other hopefuls for the grand title in the prestigious search for the most captivating woman in the Philippine aviation and tourism industry.

The Lyceum of the Philippines University student-beauty queen wowed the audience with her standout confidence and energy, making her win the Miss Sassy Award as well during the prepageant at Camaya Coast in Bataan.

Pageant director Morena Carla Cabrera-Quimpo is optimistic that Malicsi will be a great embodiment of the aviation-tourism industry.

“We are excited to have Kristine as our new Miss Aviation Philippines. With her good looks, confidence and wit, she will represent the aviationtourism industry well.”

Joining Malicsi in the winning circle were 1st runner-up Reichelieu Emory Santos, a student pilot from Leading Edge International Aviation Academy; and 2nd runner-up Trizia Abaya, a Development Communications student from the University of the Philippines.

Santos also bagged a special award as Miss Camaya Coast, while Abaya was awarded Miss Miss Aviation Philippines 2016 Body Beautiful and Best Kristine Micah Malicsi in Catwalk.

Miss Aviation Philippines 2016 Kristine Malicsi (center) is flanked by Philippine International Hot Air Balloon Festival event director Capt. Joy Roa and pageant director Morena Carla Cabrera-Quimpo

Capt. Amado Soliman with wife Clem

Miss Aviation Philippines is the annual search that brings together the most beautiful and charming Filipinas from different sectors in the industry. The pageant, now on its third year, aims to inspire the youth to pursue a career in aviation, empower the women in the industry, and support the country’s tourism initiatives.

“We’re very proud to have a lot of beautiful and smart women who are eager to represent the country’s aviation and tourism industry,” enthused Cabrera-Quimpo. “We hope that through the Miss Aviation Philippines pageant, we will inspire more people to pursue a career in aviation and better appreciate the women’s significant role in the industry.”

Judging the event were Mrs. Philippines-Globe 2015 Sherry Lou Villaseñor, Mrs. Philippines-Globe 2012 Joyce Pascual Agsaway, Solane Mother of the Year 2013 Jessie Lou Lucero, pageant blogger and former beauty queen Joyce Ann Burton, Air Force Maj. Gen. Raul del Rosario, Civil Aeronautics Board executive director Atty. Carmelo Arcilla and Camaya Coast president Goody Ilagan.

The pageant, which coincided with the annual Aviators Ball, was attended by some of the country’s aviation luminaries headed by Philippine International Hot Air Balloon Fiesta event director Capt. Joy Roa, Capt. Meynard Halili and Capt. Amado Soliman, Jr. The international delegates of the 20th PIHABF and diplomats were also in attendance,

Pageant judge and Camaya Coast president Goody Ilagan with Camille Padilla

Maj. Gen Raul del Rosario and Atty.

Carmelo Arcilla helped select this year’s Miss Aviation Philippines

Members of the panel of judges. From left: Sherry Lou Villaseñor, Joyce Pascual Agsaway, Jessie Lou Lucero and Joyce Ann Burton

including Sri Lankan Ambassador Aruni Ranaraja, Italian Ambassador Massimo Roscigno, Turkish Ambassador Esra Cankorur, Mexican Ambassador Julio Camarena Villaseñor and German Ambassador Thomas Ossowski.

As ambassadors of major aviation-tourism events and activities across the country, Malicsi and her entourage made their first public appearance at the 20th Philippine International Hot Air Balloon Fiesta at Clark Freeport Zone in Pampanga on February 11 to 14.

S AT U R D AY : F E B R U A R Y 2 7, 2 0 1 6

C2

LIFE life @ thestandard.com .ph

@LIFEatStandard

Some people see Beyonce's portrayal of a Bollywood star in Coldplay's 'Hymn For the Weekend' music video as cultural appropriation

CULTURAL APPROPRIATION ISN’T (ALWAYS) A BAD THING THE GIST

BY ED BIADO

W

e’re almost three months into 2016 and yet, we are still throwing around the phrase “cultural appropriation” like it’s 2013. And I don’t think all of us know what it actually means.

The concept is a complicated one and scholars say it’s difficult to provide a concise definition of the same.

But at its most basic, cultural appropriation is the problematic practice of a dominant culture

borrowing cultural aspects of minority groups without the latter’s authorization and/or input. This is often committed by a borrower who lacks a thorough understanding of the borrowed culture, thus representing it in ways that are inaccurate, if not entirely wrong, which has the tendency to be offensive to members of the disadvantaged culture.

Cultural appropriation is a “trending” topic because of the pop-culture practice of exploring other – sometimes obscure and far-flung – cultures in order to enhance the latter’s visual and aural aesthetics.

It is common for people to call out celebrities for “appropriating” a certain culture in the way they dress and, in the case of musical artists, also in their concert and music video set designs.

Coldplay in the 'Hymn For The Weekend' music video

The most recent instance of cultural appropriation accusation is perhaps the most divisive one as well. It happened late January when the band Coldplay released the music video for its song, “Hymn For the Weekend,” which features Beyonce.

On the one hand, the clip is a whirlwind view of the colorful and exotic side of India, complete with peacocks, dilapidated movie theaters, the Holi festival and a child dressed as a Hindu deity. It also portrays Beyonce as a Bollywood superstar drenched in jewels, intricate fabrics and henna. The video is a visual spectacle. It really does make you want to go to India to see and experience all that. Where do I sign?

On the other hand, that’s apparently just the tip of the iceberg of Indian culture.

On teenvogue.com, PriyaAlika Elias wrote, “But

that’s just a tiny part of who we are, and that’s the only part the West ever chooses to depict. That depiction is the reason white people still ask if I’ve ever charmed a snake. The India of ‘HFTW’ is an India that bears very little relation to the real India, which is complex beyond belief.”

But then, Omise’eke Natasha Tinsley and Natassja Omidina Gunasena insist that “Beyonce as a Bollywood star is not cultural appropriation” on time.com. They write, “In fact, while folks in the South Asian diaspora point fingers at Beyonce for her inauthenticity, others expressed how empowering it is for them to see a darkskinned woman portraying a Bollywood star.”

The point of it all is that cultural appropriation is as subjective as subjective can get. Some think it’s a grave

offense while others believe it’s not a big deal. Still others say it can actually be a good thing. However comical, this definition from urbandictionary.com seems to be the one that really sums up the whole debate as it stands right now: “The ridiculous notion that being of a different culture or race (especially white) means that you are not allowed to adopt things from other cultures. This does nothing but support segregation and hinder progress in the world. All it serves to do is to promote segregation and racism.”

Depriving members of a particular culture, even a dominant and privileged one, the opportunity to pick up aspects of another culture does nothing to encourage the former to have a deeper understanding of the latter.

Instead of bridging distances and promoting global

Beyonce in the 'Hymn For The Weekend' music video

interaction, accusations of cultural appropriation only make people afraid to explore outside their own culture because of the perception being lobbied that it’s negative, when it need not be.

On theatlantic.com, Jenni Avins has this to say, “In the 21st century, cultural appropriation – like globalization – isn’t just inevitable; it’s potentially positive. We have to stop guarding cultures and subcultures in efforts to preserve them. It’s naïve, paternalistic, and counterproductive. Plus, it’s just not how culture or creativity work. The exchange of ideas, styles, and traditions is one of the tenets and joys of a modern, multicultural society.”

I’m @EdBiado on Twitter and Instagram

S AT U R D AY : F E B R U A R Y 2 7, 2 0 1 6

C3

LIFE life @ thestandard.com .ph

It’s all about denim and mastering the perfect off-duty model look

21Men combines the distressed look with a polished appeal

FOREVER 21 LAUNCHES SPRING 2016 COLLECTION That ’70s vibe: White crochettrim peasant top with fade-wash flare denims

Chic and cool: White peasant top and flared denims

@LIFEatStandard

A little sexy, a little preppy, a little grunge, and a spoonful of the ’70s

Double up and pair basic pieces with statement colored denim

Distressed denim shorts in various hues

Patchwork denim crop top and skirt

Denim is not about to go out of style, and hip American brand Forever 21 proves it once more with the launch of its Spring 2016 Collection that celebrates the iconic fabric that people especially the young ones just can’t have enough of.

The brand has tapped rising international models Cayley King, Courtney Eaton, Jonathan Bellini and Marloes Horst for its new global campaign for spring, which is all about pairing basic staple pieces with statement denim and accessories. All looking very cool and young, the models definitely represent a new denim generation ready to take on the world.

Los Angeles-based fashion photographer Zoey Grossman and up-and-coming stylist and blogger Ashley Glorioso collaborated to highlight updated options for styling the coveted wardrobe staple.

For its new collection, Forever 21 showcased denim in all forms – flared jeans, ’70s-inspired high-waist shorts, pencil skirts and jackets – with the pieces a little sexy, a little preppy, a little grunge.

For women, spring is all about doubling up, pairing basic pieces with statement colored denim in cream, blue, gold, khaki, olive, red, and tomato hues for an ever-so cool “off-duty” look. The collection features fade wash denim shirts paired with high-rise dark blue jeans, on-trend denim A-line zip up skirts, micro-shorts, and jeans that pay tribute to denim eras from the ’70s to the ’90s.

For men, the ’90s distressed and grungy denim look is making a comeback, and adds an exciting and unexpected twist on an otherwise polished look. The collection features ripped, frayed, and patchwork shorts and jeans in an array of washes and styles including slim-fit, skinny, and drawstring joggers.

Time to go on denim duty with Forever 21’s Spring Collection.

Forever 21’s Spring Collection launches in the Philippines on Monday, February 29 and will be available at Forever 21 in SM Megamall, SM Makati, North Wing at SM City Cebu, The Block at SM City North EDSA, SM Mall of Asia, SM Lanang Premier, SM Aura Premier, SM City Fairview, SM City Clark, SM Southmall and SM Seaside City Cebu. Get connected with Forever 21 through forever21.com, facebook.com/Forever21PH, via Twitter @Forever21PH and Instagram @f21philippines. #BlueJeanBabe.

On denim duty with a chambray dress

3 MORE LOCATIONS FOR BASKIN-ROBBINS

The heat of summer is starting to creep upon us, and one of the best ways to cool down is to have a taste of Baskin-Robbins, one of the most beloved ice cream brands. Baskin-Robbins recently added three more branches in the metropolis to cater to the growing demand of ice cream lovers who want to try the iconic brand’s classic and innovative flavors.

Try out the frozen treats at Sky Park, 5th Level of SM Aura in Taguig City; at the upper ground floor of SM Southmall in Las Piñas City and at the ground floor of Solenad in Sta. Rosa Laguna.

These three new locations round up a total of eight Baskin-Robbins stores around the Metro.

Brought into the Philippines by its exclusive licensee, IceDream Inc., Baskin-Robbins’ newly opened stores feature the brand’s latest shop design, highlighted by the distinctive pink and blue hues in a bright and modern style. Lifesize images of mouth-watering treats also deck the walls, beckoning everyone to have a taste of

happiness that only a great ice cream brand can bring.As an added treat, Baskin-Robbins will offer a 31 percent discount on all fresh packs (pint, quart and half gallon) when you visit the stores on the 31stof March, May, July, August, October and December. More reason to enjoy all of Baskin-Robbins’ 31 yummy ice cream flavors such as Jamoca™ Almond Fudge, Mint Chocolate Chip, Very Berry Strawberry and Chocolate Mousse, to name a few.

Visit Baskin-Robbins’ new stores and other branches located at Central Square, Bonifacio Global City; Greenbelt 5 and Glorietta 5 in Makati; and Fairview Terraces and Trinoma Mall in Quezon City. To get the latest scoop about Baskin-Robbins, log on to www.baskinrobbins.ph or check out its accounts: facebook.com/baskinrobbinsph, Twitter and Instagram @baskinrobbinsph.

Baskin-Robbins SM Southmall

S AT U R D AY : F E B R U A R Y 2 7, 2 0 1 6

C4 S

LIFE life @ thestandard.com .ph

@LIFEatStandard

SMART, WARNER BROS. PARTNER TO EXPAND VIDEO AND DIGITAL ARSENAL

mart Communications, Inc. (Smart) has partnered with Warner Bros.

Pictures for an awesome digital and real-life experience inspired by the most anticipated film of the year – Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice.

The action-packed adventure film features two of the world’s favorite heroes clashing on the big screen for the first time in history.

The film is directed by Zack Snyder, starring Oscar winner Ben Affleck (Argo) as Batman/Bruce Wayne and Henry Cavill (Man of Steel) as Superman/Clark Kent in the characters’ first big screen pairing.

Smart takes its subscribers into an epic adventure with Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice with an experience that transcends the film through exciting mobile content such as videos and interactive online challenges on its dedicated portal at www.smart.com.ph/ batmanvsuperman. Subscribers also get a chance to win allexpense-paid trips to Japan and Hong Kong, as well as premium items and special movie passes for every registration to Smart’s biggest mobile Internet offer yet – Big Bytes 50.

“We are thrilled to partner with Warner Bros. Pictures as the official mobile partner on Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice in the Philippines, which further widens our lead and effectively boosts our already extensive digital arsenal that is now coupled with largerthan-life perks and super-sized

Smart Communications, Inc. has partnered with Warner Bros. Pictures to deliver unparalleled Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice experience with Smart’s Big Bytes offers

treats, which our subscribers can get a chance to experience every time they subscribe to our data offers,” says Ariel Fermin, executive vice president and Consumer Business head at PLDT and Smart.

“This partnership is also the perfect vehicle to strengthen our thrust in providing every Filipino with the best mobile video experience through our fullpacked data offers and expansive network coverage all over the country,” Fermin adds.

The new Big Bytes 50 comes with 350 MB for surfing and access to top social media apps and games. Subscribers also get 600 MB of videos and music from YouTube, Vimeo, Skype

Qik, Daily Motion, Spinnr and iflix – all valid for three days for just P50. Big Bytes 50 is available by simply dialing *121# – the allaccess portal for all Smart promos.

“With Big Bytes 50, Smart subscribers are able to bring the Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice-inspired experience at their fingertips by watching exclusive videos on Smart’s dedicated Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice portal, checking out trailers on YouTube, sharing reviews on Facebook, debating who will win on Twitter and even uploading inspired photos on Instagram. It doesn’t matter whether you’re for Batman or Superman, as long as you choose Smart,” Fermin shares.

V I S UA L TA L K

FRUITFUL LOVE ILLUSTRATION BY MELISSA VIBAR

Art Director Melissa Vibar explored some funny puns and quotes about fruits and relationships for this issue of Visual Talk. It’s really “berry” punny, that’s why we want to share it with our readers.

So, are you for Batman or Superman? With Smart Big Bytes promo, subscribers can choose sides. For every top up of Big Bytes promos (50, 99, 299, or 799), Smart Prepaid, Smart Postpaid and Smart Bro subscribers can start earning and accumulating e-raffle entries and will be notified via SMS to choose their side – either TEAMBATMAN or TEAMSUPERMAN – and send this to 238. Whichever side they choose, each will have a chance to win the hero-like experience in Japan or Hong Kong.

The winner of the Batman experience will have a real life adventure driving through the streets of Tokyo with a professional

guide, and a luxurious sevencourse meal at the Tokyo Skytree, Japan’s tallest tower that offers a stunning 360-degree view of the city. The Superman experience takes the winner to an adrenalinepumping jetpack flight, as well as an exhilarating Superman-style Sky Jump from the Macau Tower.

Smart will also launch exclusive Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice-themed premium items and limited edition Smart Prepaid Call and Text Cards. And for an interactive experience, the public may visit the Smart Jump Center in Megamall and enjoy interactive games about the movie.

This action packed team up between Smart and Warner Bros.

Pictures is just one of the exciting news the telecoms company has in store for the year. Following this partnership will be a series of tie-ups with digital content and services providers such as Fox, iflix, Uber and Airbnb.

Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice will be released worldwide in 2D, 3D and select IMAX cinemas beginning March 25 from Warner Bros. Pictures, a Warner Bros. Entertainment Company. For more information on Smart’s exclusive Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice offer, visit www.smart.com.ph/ batmanvsuperman. For news and updates on offers, follow Smart’s official accounts on Facebook under SmartCommunications and @LiveSmart on Twitter and Instagram.

SAT URDAY : F EBRUA RY 27, 2016

SHOWBITZ isahred @ gmail.com

ISAH V. RED EDITOR

C5

The cast of Allegiant, the latest installment to the Divergent movie series

BREAKING BOUNDARIES IN YOUNG ADULT EPIC ACTION FLICKS

I Shailene Woodley as Tris in Allegiant

Theo James and Shailene Woodley as a young couple in the new Divergent installment

‘KUNG FU PANDA 3’ SNEAK PREVIEWS

I

nvading cinemas earlier than expected, Kung Fu Panda 3 will have sneak previews (whole day) on Feb. 29 (Monday) and March 1 (Tuesday) nationwide in 2D and 3D screens.

The latest and third installment in the global phenomenal franchise, Kung Fu Panda 3 ruled the US box-office for weeks and is tracking almost US $200 million to-date.

The latest kick-ass and hyper-action family-oriented animation brings back Jack Black as the loveable Po along with the Furious Five, Tigress (voiced by Angelina Jolie

the franchise to lend his voice to Li. Meanwhile, Po and the Furious Five have yet to encounter their ultimate nemesis, Kai (voiced by J.K. Simmons), once brothers-in-arms with Po’s father figure mentor Oogway (Randall Duk Kim), the ancient tortoise who now lives in the spirit realm. In the Spirit Realm, Kai has taken the chi from thousands of masters, collecting them as jade amulets on his belt. With this accumulated power, he defeats Oogway, breaks free from the Spirit Realm, and arrives on Earth. The only one who

n the news that circulated recently, it was revealed that the upcoming two new Divergent films would no longer be called Allegiant - Part 1 and Allegiant - Part 2. The two will now be known as The Divergent Series: Allegiant and The Divergent Series: Ascendant.

The first two Divergent films grossed more than $550 million at the global box office and are Lionsgate’s highest-grossing films outside The Hunger Games and Twilight franchises.

The third installment of the blockbuster Divergent series franchise, Allegiant takes Tris (Shailene Woodley) and Four (Theo James) into a new world, far more dangerous than ever before. Beatrice Prior and Tobias Eaton venture into the world outside of the fence and are taken into protective custody by a mysterious agency known as the Bureau of Genetic Welfare.

Robert Schwentke directed the film from a screenplay by Noah Oppenheim, Adam Cooper, Bill Collage and Stephen Chbosky.

The story background discusses how a future, ruined Chicago becomes a society that defines its citizens by strict conformity to their social and personality-related affiliations with five different factions.

This removes the threat of anyone

exercising independent will and rethreatening the population’s safety through war or another human-created catastrophe.

The factions are Abnegation to uphold selflessness, Amity to uphold peacefulness, Candor to uphold honesty, Dauntless to uphold bravery, and Erudite, to uphold knowledge.

Tris tests out for equal aptitude with three different factions: Abnegation, Erudite, and Dauntless.

This classifies her as “Divergent” and capable of independent thought beyond the restrictive nature of the factions. She is warned never to share this information with anyone for fear of her life.

Divergents are a threat to the stable society, hunted and killed by the ruthless leader of Erudite, in order to eliminate the “threat” of independent thinking. Those who fail the initiation of their particular faction are deemed factionless and treated as a lower class and a drain on society. Tris Prior is shocked by the video released to the public at the end of the Erudite headquarters raid.

The video revealed the truth about the faction system.

Allegiant (released by Pioneer Films) opens on March 9, a week ahead of its US release.

American-Chinese computer-animated action comedy martial arts film, Kung Fu Panda 3 is produced by DreamWorks Animation

Pitt), Viper (Lucy Liu), Mantis (Seth Rogen), Crane (David Cross) and Monkey (Jackie Chan) with their Master Shifu (Dustin Hoffman) who now brings the franchise into full-swing action mode as he takes on to be the Furious Five’s master.

Po, considered as the Dragon Warrior is now tasked

by Master Shifu to take on the role of being the teacher to the Furious Five, a task Po is not so ready to take on, not initially at least. Making the transition from student to teacher isn’t the only upheaval in Po’s life. His long-lost biological father, Li Chan, has made his way to the Valley of Peace and to an emotional and hilarious reunion with Po. Acclaimed Breaking Bad star Bryan Cranston joins

can defeat Kai is a master of chi, and the only teachers of chi are pandas – or so Li tells Po. Black embraced the opportunity to revisit one of his most treasured movie characters and found it easy to reclaim his inner-Dragon Warrior. “I just go back to a younger me, when I was starting my career,” he explains. “That’s how I see Po – as young lover of kung fu. My love was rock and roll and acting, but Po and I share that unreserved passion.

I, too, was a young Dragon Warrior,” he jokes.

Kung Fu Panda 3 kicks in full blast in cinemas on its regular opening day on March 9 in 2D, 3D and IMAX 3D screens nationwide from DreamWorks Animation and 20th Century Fox to be distributed by Warner Bros.

Theo James and Shailene Woodley in the upcoming Divergent movie series

C6

SAT URDAY : F EBRUA RY 27, 2016

SHOWBITZ

ISAH V. RED EDITOR

isahred @ gmail.com

GARY V AND NOVUHAIR’S NEW ENHANCED FORMULATION

S

inger GaryValenciano, or just Gary V, is the latest endorser of Novuhair, the hair-growing topical formulation that made the news after users swore that their crown of hair has grown thicker with continuous use.

Now, say goodbye to hair loss and scalp problems with the newly-enhanced formulation of Novuhair. With 19 natural ingredients, the leading medicated topical scalp lotion is now almost 100-percent natural.

“The Novuhair Topical Scalp Lotion used to only have 12 natural ingredients. Its improved formulation has a much better fragrance and a cool and minty feel. It also has anti-dandruff properties, as well as nourishing and moisturizing effects on the hair and scalp,” said Sheila Mae Velilla, CEO of Nutramedica, developer and distributor of Novuhair.

Aside from producing a more effective solution for hair growth, the changes were necessary to make the product 100 percent compliant to the ASEAN Cosmetic Directive (ACD).

“Nature has provided a safe and effective answer to hair loss and scalp disorders with Novuhair. It is the only topical scalp lotion in the market that has the highest concentration of natural ingredients,

FDA-certified and ACD-compliant. Novuhair is a homegrown, proudly Philippine-made product that is globally competitive, ” added Velilla.

Made of herbal ingredients that include moringaoleifera, panax ginseng, virgin coconut oil and the natural essences of rosemary and peppermint, Novuhair nourishes the scalp and hair by increasing the flow of nutrients and improving blood circulation to the scalp. Novuhair also helps hydrate the scalp, maintain the hair’s natural luster and prevent early hair graying, hair dryness and itching.

Nutramedica is going global and will start shipping Novuhair to the USA, Middle East, Europe and Asia.

The first batch of shipment to the USA will be available in California by second quarter of 2016. The company has obtained partnership with a distributor in Kuwait, and is currentlyfacilitatingproductregistrationinDenmark.

Novuhair has been awarded by Watsons Philippines as the Most Successful New Brand of the Year in 2012 and has been recognized as the leading Medicated Hair Care Brand from 2012 to 2015.

Novuhair Topical Scalp Lotion, Shampoo and Conditioner are available at all Mercury Drug Stores and other leading drug stores nationwide.

For more information visit www.novuhair.com, like the brand’s official Facebook Page at Novuhair Official, and follow it on Twitter at @NovuhairNatural.

You may also call the Novuhair hotlines at 4136570 and 09228830575 and order online at Gary Valenciano turns to herbal remedies to combat Lazada and regaloservice.com.

FEBRUARY 27, 2016 hair loss and scalp problems

SHARLENE, MARCO DEMONSTRATE HELPFULNESS

Sharlene San Pedro as Sisay

Wansapanataym Presents: Susi ni Sisay star Jolina Magdangal

CROSSWORD PUZZLE 46 Hansel’s sister 47 Door frames 50 Wax makers 51 The One-L Lama 52 Ex ugly duckling 54 It has a lot of pull 57 Well-versed 58 Soil aerator 61 — Haggard of country 62 Artificial locks 63 Pop up 64 Organic compound 65 Sault — Marie 66 “Blowin’ in the Wind” composer DOWN 1 Corn leftovers ANSWER FOR PREVIOUS PUZZLE 2 Time unit 3 Electrical units ACROSS 23 Coral formation 4 Gym iteration 1 Sound from a guitar 25 Girl, informally 5 Banned bug 6 Draw a bead on 26 Stockpile spray 9 Copy 29 Arrange for 6 Distant 14 — and aahed 31 Urge strongly 7 Debt memos 15 Mauna — 32 Queened it?

8 “Hot Lips” series 16 Spout rhetoric 36 “— Woman 9 Belittling 17 Pushy Blues” 10 Presses 19 “— the 37 Unopened flower 11 Jungle ruffs Barbarian” 38 Scope 12 Where Rome is 20 Almost-grads 40 Crept home 21 Grab a cookie 43 Dismay 13 Small change 22 Paid homage 45 From memory 18 Like helium

Child actor Marco Masa as Chokee

SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 27, 2016

23 Geneva’s river 24 Poet’s always 25 — tai cocktail 26 Mineral find 27 Logging tools 28 Rather you — me 29 Goody-goody 30 Directed 33 Where hackles rise 34 Was, to Ovid 35 Edit out 37 Poker stake 39 Winner’s take 41 Judge 42 Pugilist’s stat 43 Go-between 44 Before, in combos 47 Green carvings 48 Paying attention 49 Tree for autumn color 50 Flat-bottomed boat 51 Slangy lady 52 Bastes 53 Cultivate patience 54 Elbow grease 55 Bear in the sky 56 Feds (hyph.)

59 I’ve been —!

60 Sardonic

Fairy prince Chokee (Marco Masa) will use his powers to help recover Sisay’s (Sharlene San Pedro) vegetable stand and regain its customers as their adventure continues in Wansapanataym Presents: Susi ni Sisay.

While Susan’s (Jolina Magdangal) vegetable stand continues to boom, Sisay’s stall slowly loses profit and is on the verge of closing permanently. But Chokee won’t let that happen as he will take Sisay to a place where they can buy vegetables for a much lower price.

With the fairy prince’s huge help, Sisay will make sure Chokee reunites with his family by helping him find the portal’s key to their kingdom.

Can Sisay’s vegetable stand be able to recover? Will they find the portal’s key?

Joining the cast of Wansapanataym Presents: Susi ni Sisay are Jairus Aquino, Marvin Agustin, Tetchie Agbayani and Matet De Leon.

SAT URDAY : F EBRUA RY 27, 2016

SHOWBITZ

ISAH V. RED EDITOR

isahred @ gmail.com

C7

GRACE POE

APPRECIATES LGBT

A

s the daughter of the King and Queen of Philippine movies, Senator Grace Poe appreciates the contributions of the members of the LGBT (lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender) community in the society.

“Galing ako sa industriya ng show biz, kahit hindi ako artista, ang aking mga magulang ay artista, at diyan sa industriya na iyan, namamayagpag ang marami sa ating mga kababayan mula sa LGBT community,” Grace told members of the press in Iloilo recently.

“Sapagkat they are very creative, marami sa kanila ay talagang ginagalang sa lipunan,” she added.

In fact, in 2014, she and her vice-presidential candidate Senator Francis “Chiz” Escudero filed a bill against discrimination of LGBT, Senate Bill 2358 or “An Act Prohibiting Discrimination on the Basis of Ethnicity, Race, Religion or Belief, Sex or Gender

or Sexual Orientation, Language, Disability, Educational Attainment and Other Forms of Discrimination and Providing Penalties for the Purpose.”

“It’s very important natayo ay may pantay-pantay na pagtingin at respeto sa isa’t isa. Kami ni Senator Chiz ay nag-file at naglagda ng sarili naming version ng anti-discrimination bill at dito nire-recognize namin ang karapatan ng mga LGBT,” Grace said.

“SOGI (sexual orientation and gender identity), anti-bullying—lahat iyan ay kasama sa aming mga ipinaglalaban. Wala iyan sa kasarian, nasa pagkatao iyan; hindi ko papayagan na magkaroon ng diskriminasyon sa aking administrasyon, dahil lahat tayo, dukha man, mayaman, mahirap, LGBT, Pilipino tayong lahat at may pantay-pantay tayong karapatan,” she added.

Grace assures that the “Anti-Discrimination Act” will be passed if they would be given the chance to serve as president and vice president.

Sen. Grace Poe

ABS-CBN SUBSIDIARY INKS PARTNERSHIP WITH CABLE GROUP

HEART RELATES TO FEMALE STUDENTS’ CRUSH ON CHIZ

ABS-CBN subsidiary Creative Programs, Inc. (CPI) renews its ties with the Philippine Cable Television Association (PCTA) for the organization’s 24th convention themed “SHIFT”, the largest annual gathering of cable system owners and representatives on April 12-15.

CPI will be the platinum sponsor at the convention wherein over 600 cable system PCTA members nationwide will get to see all the local and foreign channels that it owns and distributes through an interactive booth display at the Grand Ballroom of Marriott Hotel, Resorts World Manila. It will also host the Appreciation night on April 12 at the Manila Ballroom of Marriott Hotel, through a much-awaited showcase of ABS-CBN’s roster of bright artists.

Creative Programs, Inc. has been a major leader in the Philippine Pay TV industry, continuously creating and distributing innovative content year by year for all the Filipinos worldwide. CPI owns local cable channels that hold a strong viewership in the country and caters to the many needs and desires of viewers including Cinema One, the number one cable channel in the Philippines, MYX, Lifestyle, Hero, and Jeepney TV. It also represents ABS-CBN channels ANC, DZMM Teleradyo, and ABS-CBN Sports + Action as well as foreign channels such as Fox Family Movies, Fox Action Movies, Ch.M, KIX, Thrill, Celestial Classic Movies, Universal Channel, and Syfy among others.

NO, she isn’t jealous, but rather finds it amusing when she sees female students feeling “kilig” when they see her husband, Senator Francis “Chiz” Escudero, in campaign sorties.’

Heart says she sees herself in these girls who have a crush on her husband. That was when she and Chiz hadn’t met yet.

“Saw a photo of Chiz today.

Kung alam lang ni Chiz, this was

(From left) PCTA convention chairperson Jose Luis Dabao and officer-incharge of CPI and head of Narrowcast marketing and channel distribution Teresita Villareal

Sen. Chiz Escudero joins some students for a selfie

me when I first met him,” the actress posted on her Instagram account of that with a female student who seems thrilled as Chiz shakes her hand.

In campaign sorties with Senator Grace Poe, girls milling around Sen. Escudero is a common sight.

Photographers even snapped girls holding a poster with “Pakiss Chiz” written on it.

Heart said that Chiz had

become her “super crush” when she firs saw him in 2007 at The Fort.

“Back in 2007, he was only someone I looked up to... the ultimate crush up to this day. I’m still so amazed at how brilliant this man is... he’s my husband now. I could really say I’m the luckiest girl ever,” Heart said in her Instagram post recently.

‘VIKINGS’ RETURNS FOR SEASON 4 History’s hit drama series Vikings is back for a gripping fourth season led by Travis Fimmel, star of the upcoming film Warcraft. It premiered last week and can be seen every Friday, at 9 p.m. (same day telecast as the U.S.) on History Channel. The network has added four episodes to its initial 16-episode order. Since its premiere, a new episode will air every Friday for 10 weeks with the remaining episodes to air later in the year.

Season three culminated with the extraordinary battle in Paris, where Ragnar (Fimmel) seized victory from the jaws of defeat – but still returns to Kattegat dangerously ill. Thoughts of his death galvanize the forces that seek to succeed him as king, including his wife Queen Aslaug (Alyssa Sutherland) and his oldest son, Bjorn (Alexander Ludwig). Meanwhile, Lagertha (Katheryn Winnick) continues power struggles with her calculating, former second in command, Kalf (Ben Robson); Rollo (Clive Standen) betrays his Vikings heritage by remaining in Frankia and Floki (Gustaf

Skarsgård) is seized for his brutal actions to the Christian priest Athelstan.

Joining the stellar cast this season is Peter Franzén (The Gunman) as “King Harold Finehair,” a complex character that seeks to be King of Norway and a potential threat to Ragnar; Jasper Pääkkönen (Jet Trash) as “Halfdan The Black,” King Harold’s violent younger brother; and Dianne Doan (Descendants) as “Yidu,” a completely different character within the world of the Vikings who fascinates Ragnar.

Vikings is the critically acclaimed series from creator and sole writer Michael Hirst (Academy Award® winning film Elizabeth and the Emmy® and Golden Globe® nominated series The Tudors) and is a family saga that tells the remarkable tales of the lives and epic adventures of the raiders and explorers of the Dark Ages.

History™ is available on SKYCableCh 67; Cable Link Ch. 43; Dream Satellite Ch 30; Destiny Cable Ch 57; and CignalCh 125.

SAt uRDAy : F EbRuA Ry 27, 2016

C8

ISAH V. RED EDITOR isahred @ gmail.com

SHOWBITZ All-male vocal group DBD

American Daniel Herrington

I Love OPM co-host Eric Nicolas I Love OPM host Anne Curtis

Another American tourist turned expatriate Jerome McCuin

American missionary Sumner Mahaffey

SIx mORE TOuRISTaRS mOvIng On TO ThE nExT ROunD¼

S

ix “Touristars” again made the cut this week and got the approval from the judges to proceed to the second round of competition in ABS-CBN’s newest singing contest for 100 percent non-Filipinos who love Pinoy music, I Love OPM. Missionary Sumner Mahaffey, tourist-turned-expatriate Jerome McCuin and newly-wed Daniel Herrington, all hailing from America, were able to impress “Himigration Officers” Martin Nievera, Lani Misalucha, and Toni Gonzaga with their respective renditions of Yeng Constantino’s “Pag-ibig,” Fred Panopio’s “Kawawang Cowboy,” and Janella Salvador’s “Mahal Kita Pero.”

Stealing the show, however, was the charismatic all-male trio vocal group DBD, composed of Korean Dae Lee, Nigerian Bobby Skyz and Australian Dwaine Mooley. The three pumped up the audience singing “Magda” by Gloc 9 featuring Rico Blanco and also charmed them even more when they showed how fluent they are in speaking Filipino.

I Love OPM judges Toni Gonzaga, Martin Nievera and Lani Misalucha

Hosted by Anne Curtis with Eric Nicolas, I Love OPM continues to be well received by audiences weekly. It got a national TV rating of 23.8 percent on Feb. 20 and 17.1 percent on Feb. 23 compared to their rivals, which only received 11.8 percent and 15.8 percent, respectively, according to data from Kantar Media.

What OPM hits will be showcased next?

Who will have the best love story on how they fell in love with the Philippines and Filipino

music? Which country will be able to produce the foreigner whom can sing OPM the best?

I Love OPM is a first-of-its-kind singing contest for 100% non-Filipinos who love OPM music. It is an original concept by ABS-CBN. I Love OPM airs every Saturday right after MMK, and every Sunday after Rated K on ABS-CBN. For updates, follow @iloveopmtv on Instagram and Twitter or like https://www.facebook.com/iloveopm on Facebook.

****

A

50 SChoolS reCeive ‘MAhiwAgAng BlACk Box’

BS-CBN TVplus, together with Knowledge Channel, donated ABS-CBN TVplus boxes and new television sets to 50 schools all over Luzon to continue their shared mission to improve public education through media and technology.

Through ABS-CBN TVplus, students can now watch in crystal clear picture and sound the curriculum-based and other educational programs on Knowledge Channel, one of the four free exclusive channels offered by ABS-CBN TVplus.

The official turnover, which also marked Knowledge Channel’s 16th year, was led by ABS-CBN’s Digital Terrestrial Television (DTT) division head Chinky de Castro-Alcedo and Knowledge Channel president and executive director Rina Lopez-Bautista.

The all-educational channel also took the opportunity to unveil its contributions in shaping the country’s public education

system for 16 years until now, as well as its roster of new educational programs for teachers and students this year.

Department of Education officials, including Undersecretary Mario Deriquito, NCR Regional Director Luz Almeda, Quezon City Schools Division Superintendent Dr. Elizabeth Quezada, division heads, school administrators, teachers, and students witnessed the commemorative event.

Knowledge Channel has established a solid reputation as a channel that has brought schools nationwide access to innovative and fun multimedia learning for 16 years. As one of the free exclusive channels on ABS-CBN TVplus, more teachers and students can have a better learning experience with ABS-CBN TVplus’ rich and clear picture and sound.

For more information, visit the official website of ABS-CBN TVplus (www.abscbntvplus.com) and the official website of Knowledge Channel (kchonline.ph).

K Channel President and Executive Director Ms. Rina Lopez-Bautista and ABS-CBN Head for Digital Terrestrial Television Ms. Chinky Alcedo formally turns over a unit of the 'Mahiwagang Black Box' to one of the student recipients