The Standard - 2016 March 23- Wednesday

VOL. XXX NO. 42 3 Sections 32 Pages P18 WEDNESDay : MaRCH 23, 2016 www.thestandard.com.ph editorial@thestandard.com.ph

21 killed in bomb blasts in Brussels

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duterte ties poe

Binay, Roxas close behind in new Pulse Asia survey

By Sandy araneta, Macon Ramos-araneta, Rio n. araja and John Paolo Bencito

SENATOR Grace Poe and Davao City Mayor Rodrigo Duterte are statistically tied as the preferred candidate for president, the latest survey by Pulse Asia said Tuesday.

“The May 2016 presidential elections is shaping up to be a very tight race involving four contend-

ers,” Pulse Asia said.

Sharing the top spot were Poe and Duterte at 26 percent and 25

percent, respectively.

Close behind them were Vice President Jejomar Binay at 22 percent and administration candidate Manuel Roxas II at 20 percent.

In third place was Senator Miriam Defensor Santiago, with 3 percent.

The survey, commissioned by ABS-CBN, was conducted from March 8 to 13, had over 4,000 respondents and a margin of error of 1.5 percent.

The most favored presidential candidates in Metro Manila were Poe (30 percent), Duterte (29 percent), and Binay (23 percent).

Poe scored the highest voter preference in the rest of Luzon (34 percent).

Roxas was the top pick for president in the Visayas (36 percent), while Duterte led not only in Mindanao (46 percent) but also in Class ABC (35 percent).

Poe and Duterte are the

leading presidential bets in Class D (26 percent and 25 percent, respectively).

In Class E, four presidential candidates enjoy basically the same voter preferences—Poe (27 percent), Binay (25 percent), Duterte (23 percent), and Roxas (21 percent).

The leading alternative presidential candidate is Poe as 30 percent of those with a first choice for

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On suspicious transactions. Julia Bacay-Abad, executive director of the Anti-Money-Laundering Council Secretariat, explains how the council tracks down suspicious bank transactions at the central bank building on Tuesday. Danny Pata

There will be no issue of The Standard beginning Thursday (March 24) in keeping with the Holy Week break.

We will resume publication on Easter Sunday (March 27).

RCBC manager turns down govt protection

By Macon Ramos-araneta THE dismissed manager of RCBC Jupiter branch in Makati, Maia Santos Deguito, has turned down a government offer to enter the witness protection program despite the money laundering charges being filed against her, Senator Sergio Osmeña III said Tuesday.

“We offered Maia the WPP but she turned it down,” Osmeña, chairman of the Senate committee on banks and financial institutions, told radio dwIZ. Osmeña’s committee, together with the Senate Blue Ribbon Committee chaired by Senator Teofisto Guingona III, has conducted two hearings into the

scandal involving $81 million stolen by hackers from the Bangladesh Bank that was channeled through RCBC and local casinos.

RCBC on Tuesday said it has fired Deguito and her former customer relations officer, Angela Torres, for violating bank policies and procedures and falsification of commercial documents. Next page

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Duterte...

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president say they will vote for her in the event that their original candidate for the post backs out of the May 2016 elections for whatever reason.

In solo second place was Binay (19 percent), while Roxas and Duterte shared the third spot (14 percent and 13 percent, respectively).

Santiago registered a single-digit second-choice voter preference (7 percent).

Almost two in 10 registered voters with a first choice for president were not inclined to name an alternative candidate for the position (16 percent).

Poe scored the highest second-choice voter preference in Metro Manila (28 percent), the rest of Luzon (32 percent), the Visayas (29 percent), Mindanao (30 percent), Class D (30 percent), and Class E (32 percent).

In Class ABC, the lead was shared by Poe (25 percent), Duterte (22 percent), and Binay (19 percent).

Across geographic areas, levels of non-support for an alternative presidential candidate range from 11 percent in Mindanao to 22 percent in the Visayas.

In terms of socio-economic classes, essentially the same levels of non-support were posted (15 percent to 17 percent).

Should Poe end up not pursuing her presidential bid in May 2016, about the same percentage of her voters would back either Binay (27 percent) or Roxas (25 percent).

Poe thanked the public for choosing her as their top choice.

“We owe it to them for making their voices heard on their choice for the next president,” she said.

With about a month and a half remaining in the campaign period, she said there will be no letup in their efforts to explain to the people what her administration could do for them.

“We will be steadfast in connecting with the people and earning the highest mandate come May 9,” she added.

As the local campaign starts, the senator’s spokesman, Valenzuela Mayor Rex Gatchalian, said Poe is confident that her supporters running for various local positions will help relay her message to the voting public.

After learning of the latest survey results, Duterte’s camp vowed to work doubly hard to cover more ground and gain more voters.

“We are where we are comfortable right now. We expect to gain more points as we move toward the second half of the campaign,” said Duterte’s campaign manager, Mayor Leoncio Evasco.

“With a margin of error of 1.5 percent, Duterte is finally catching up with the poll leaders for the first time since the presidential campaign period started on Feb. 9,” he added.

Evasco attributed Duterte’s rise to the clamor among the people for genuine change in the national leadership.

“There is this growing groundswell of discontent among the people and they see in Duterte the strong leadership that the country has been wanting over the last decade,” he said.

Roxas said he remained hopeful that his rating would soon surge as the campaign for local candidates begins next week.

“This is good. The results just mean that this is a tight race and after the Holy Week, the local campaign will start and we think that we have an advantage because many allies are supporting the straight path,” Roxas told reporters at a leather goods factory in Pampanga.

His spokesman, Rep. Barry Gutierrez, said Roxas’ performance during the second presidential debate in Cebu on Sunday would benefit the administration candidate.

RCBC...

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Other branch and bank officials are expected to be meted out various sanctions ranging from termination to suspension in the coming days when the internal investigation is expected to be completed, the bank said in a statement.

The bank said Deguito and Torres’ breaches facilitated the alleged laundering of $81 million that is now being investigated by the Senate and other government agencies.

The bank said it would file appropriate charges in court against Deguito and Torres by next week.

In a separate interview, Senator Aquilino Pimentel III said Deguito was a potential state witness against some people who were more guilty than she was.

But Senator JV Ejercito said it was too soon to make her a state witness.

“Being a state witness means she must not be the most guilty, but according to the testimony during the hearing, she appears to be one of the main actors in this scheme,” Ejercito said.

“In fact, aside from her former senior customer relations officer

[Torres], all other witnesses are contradicting her claim of innocence in this story,” he said.

Ejercito said some of the testimony that Deguito gave in an executive session should be made public.

“I think she already agreed to disclose parts of her testimony except those that could incriminate her,” said Ejercito.

Deguito, along with four account holders who used fictitious names to open dollar accounts with the bank’s Juliter branch, were charged with money laundering before the Justice Department.

Senate President Pro Tempore Ralph Recto said he also supported the release of the transcripts of Deguito’s closed-door testimony.

Pimentel disagreed, saying this might compromise Deguito’s constitutional right against self incrimination.

During the public hearing, Deguito invoked her right against self incrimination several times but promised to tell all she knew in an executive session.

Recto said businessman Kim Wong aka Kam Sin Wong, a known casino junket operator, referred the four accounts used to accept the sto-

Marcos wrests lead from Chiz in VP race

By Sandy Araneta

SENATOR Ferdinand Marcos Jr. pulled slightly ahead of Senator Francis Escudero in the race for the vice presidency, but the two remain statistically tied at 25 percent to 24 percent, the research company Pulse Asia said Tuesday.

Camarines Sur Rep. Leni Robredo came in second at 20 percent while Senator Alan Peter Cayetano took the third spot with 13 percent.

Senators Antonio Trillanes IV and Gregorio Honasan II registered single-digit vice presidential voter preferences (6 percent and 5 percent, respectively).

About the same percentage of voters—6 percent— did not support any of the vice presidential candidates.

The survey, commissioned by ABS-CBN, was conducted from March 8 to 13, had over 4,000 respondents and a margin of error of 1.5 percent.

In Metro Manila, Marcos beat Escudero 35 percent to 30 percent, but the two enjoyed almost the same level of support in the rest of Luzon (29 percent and 28 percent, respectively), and Class D (27 percent and 25 percent, respectively).

Robredo had the lead in the Visayas (34 percent), while Marcos was the top pick for vice president among Class ABC voters (31 percent).

Four candidates had essentially the same support figures among Mindanao and Class E voters.

A little over a quarter of registered voters with a first choice for vice president chose Escudero as their alternative candidate for the position.

Sharing second place as the alternative preference to a first choice were Marcos (16 percent), Cayetano (15 percent), and Robredo (13 percent).

Among Class ABC voters, four vice presidential bets had about the same figures—Cayetano (21 percent), Escudero (18 percent), Marcos (15 percent), and Robredo (12 percent).

If Marcos ends up not running in May 2016, 30 percent of his voters would instead elect Escudero as vice president, the Pulse Asia survey showed.

In the senatorial race, Filipinos are naming an average of seven candidates. Only 13 of the 50 senatorial candidates have a statistical chance of winning, Pulse Asia said.

Of the probable winners, five come from the Liblen dollars to Deguito.

Deguito also said Wong is a friend of RCBC president Lorenzo Tan. On the other hand, Recto said another businessman, William Go, had a lot of explaining to do.

A total of $66 million from the $81milllion in stolen funds were consolidated and channeled to an account under Go’s name.

“All of them are suspects involved in this money laundering.

There are five major persons of interest—Kim Wong, Maia Deguito, William Go, PhilRem [remittance] and other RCBC officials,” Pimenel said.

On Tuesday, the Anti-Money Laundering Council (AMLC) asked the Justice Department to criminally prosecute Kam Sin Wong alias Kim Wong and Weikang Xu for violating the AntiMoney Laundering Act. The council cited witness testimonies during the Senate Blue Ribbon Committee hearing on the case where Xu, a casino operator, was said to have received $30.5 million out of the funds between Feb. 5 and 13 last year.

Wong, president and general manager of the Eastern Hawaii Leisure Co. Ltd., a company or-

eral Party (LP), four are independent candidates, two are running under the Nationalist People’s Coalition (NPC), while one candidate each come from the United Nationalist Alliance (UNA) and the Akbayan Party List Group.

Sharing the lead in the senatorial race are Senator Vicente Sotto III (51.4 percent) and Senate President Franklin M. Drilon (49.4 percent) who have a statistical ranking of 1st-2nd places.

The next three spots are occupied by former members of the Senate: former senator Francis Pangilinan (45.7 percent, 3rd-4th places); 2) former senator Panfilo Lacson (44.9 percent, 3rd-4th places); and 3) former senator Juan Miguel Zubiri (37.4 percent, 5th-7th places). Senator Sergio Osmeña III and former Akbayan Party List congresswoman Risa Hontiveros shared 5th-11th places with voter preferences of 35.3 percent and 34.9 percent, respectively. In 6th11th places were Senator Ralph Recto (34.2 percent) and former Department of Justice secretary Leila M. de Lima (33.3 percent).

The other probable winners were former Senator Richard Gordon (32.7 percent, 6th-12th places), Sarangani Rep. Emmanuel Pacquiao (32.6 percent, 6th12th places), Valenzuela City Representative Sherwin T. Gatchalian (29.8 percent, 10th-13th places), and former Technical Education and Skills Development Authority director-general Emmanuel Villanueva (29.7 percent, 12th-13th places).

The survey fieldwork of the “Pulse Asia Research Inc.-ABS-CBN Pre-Electoral National Survey on the May 2016 Elections” was conducted from March 8 to 13,2016 using face-to-face interviews.

Based on a multistage probability sample of 4,000 registered voters 18 years old and above, with biometrics, Pulse Asia Research’s nationwide survey has a ± 1.5 percent error margin at the 95-percent confidence level.

Subnational estimates for the geographic areas covered in the survey have the following error margins at 95 percent confidence level: ± 4.6 percent for Metro Manila, ± 2.3 percent for the rest of Luzon and ± 3.4 percent for Visayas and ± 3.3 for Mindanao.

Marcos said the latest survey findings inspire him to work even harder on the campaign.

“We are happy that our message of unity resonates and is being accepted by the people. I think we are moving in the right direction. We remain focused on the campaign and we will continue to work harder to get our message across to more people,” he said.

ganized in Hong Kong and operating in Cagayan Economic Processing Zone, was accused of receiving P1 billion or $21.6 million, making several withdrawals from his personal and corporate accounts on Feb. 10 and 11 this year.

The complaint said Xu is a Chinese national and casino junket operator staying as a guest at the Solaire Resort and Casino in Parañaque City.

Four bank accounts under fictitious names were opened on May 15, 2015 at the RCBC Jupiter branch in Makati by Deguito allegedly upon the referral of Wong.

According to the AMLC, Deguito facilitated the money transfers involving the Bangladesh funds to the four accounts last February.

Another account under the name of William So Go was opened on Feb. 1, 2016. This was where the money from the four “spurious” accounts were allegedly transferred.

In his testimony before the Senate Blue Ribbon hearings, Go disowned the dollar account maintained at the RCBC Jupiter branch, including a peso account opened in July 2014.

All the funds that were credited

into Go’s account were later transferred to the account of PhilRem Service Corp., a remittance company, maintained at RCBC-Unimart Greenhills.

From Feb. 5 to 11, 2016, PhilRem transferred P1,373,474,850.77 to Bloomberry Resorts and Hotel, Inc. Solaire’s corporate secretary would later testify before the Senate that the amount was transferred to the account of Xu. “Investigation disclosed that the funds transferred to Solaire were converted into non-negotiable chips which was then issued to regular casino players,” read the complaint.

AMLC said an investigation it had conducted revealed that PhilRem transferred P1 billion to Eastern Hawaii Leisure Co., Ltd’s Philippine National Bank account.

Wong then reportedly made withdrawals amounting to P900,475,000.00 from Feb. 10 to 26, 2016. He also made a fund transfer or deposit to his personal PNB account on Feb. 10, and a cash withdrawal of P400 million on Feb. 11 from his personal PNB account.

The AMLC last week filed a similar complaint against Deguito and four John Does who owned the spurious accounts at RCBC Jupiter.

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Critic slams Roxas for insulting Muslims A STAUNCH critic of the Aquino administration on Tuesday slammed presidential aspirant Manuel Roxas II for “gravely insulting the Muslims of Mindanao” during Sunday’s presidential debate, calling him a “phony student of Mindanao’s history.”

“Calling the Muslims of Mindanao with the highly derogatory term mananakop did not only show the chauvinist attitude of Mar Roxas, it also betrayed his revisionist view of the struggle of the Bangsamoro for selfdetermination,” Rep. Carlos Zarate said.

“Mar is a phony student of Mindanao’s history and the valiant struggle of the Bangsamoro people.”

Zarate also said the Zamboanga siege was “no precision military operation” as claimed by Roxas.

“Human rights groups have raised the alarm over the human rights violations committed against the residents of Zamboanga City during the Zamboanga siege that Mar Roxas flaunted as a success,” Zarate said.

Based on the reports of human rights watchdogs, Zarate said, many civilians who were mistaken for MNLF combatants were also killed during the clearing operations.

He said there were also cases of hostage-taking, the use of civilians as human shields, summary killings, aerial bombardments, illegal arrests and detention, harassment and intimidation and food blockades.

Two hundred seventy-four people were arrested and brought to Camp Bagong Diwa in Taguig City, but most of them were innocent civilians, Zarate said.

“Truth to tell, the Zamboanga Siege and the Mamasapano fiasco were the results of how conflict resolution is being undertaken under the so-called Daang Matuwid.”

Zarate tagged Roxas as “a total failure as a Cabinet secretary.”

“The lumad killings, the Mamasapano fiasco, the Zamboanga siege, his criminal negligence during the Typhoon ‘‘Yolanda,’’ among others, are livings testimonials to his record as secretary,” Zarate said.

“He is successful, though, in self-promotion and the brazen use of the Bottom-Up Budgeting funds and other government resources for his presidential bid.” Maricel V. cruz

cebu rally. Some 30,000 people showed up Monday night to attend the political rally of presidential bet Jejomar Binay at the Plaza Independencia in Cebu City.

30,000 Cebuanos attend Binay’s rally in Cebu City CEBU CITY—Amid the dumping of presidential candidate Jejomar Binay by the influential Garcia family, some 30,000 Cebuanos showed up Monday night at Binay’s campaign rally, the biggest crowd so far that have gathered for him six weeks into the campaign.

And a day after gubernatorial bet Winston Garcia announced One Cebu was severing its ties with Vice President Binay’s United Nationalist Alliance, UNA stood firm in its commitment that Garcia remains the best bet to defeat reelectionist Gov. Hilario Davide III of the ruling Liberal Party.

“Despite the political misunderstanding, the people of Cebu deserve the best and UNA believes Winston Garcia is the candidate who will uplift the lives of the poor,” said UNA president and Navotas

Rep. Toby Tiangco.

Binay, who challenged his fellow presidential candidates to sign a waiver to allow the Anti-Money Laundering Council to open their bank accounts, welcomed any examination of his lifestyle, track record and health anytime.

Binay said he will volunteer to open his bank accounts for inspection as well as those of his family.

“He also welcomes any checks on his lifestyle, performance as a public official and health,” said UNA communications director

Joey Salgado.

Police Chief Inspector Jose Gesto of Cebu City Police Office Station 3, who was the ground commander Monday night, placed the crowd who came for Binay at 37,000. The organizers placed it at 30,000 to 40,000.

Binay said he remained optimistic UNA and One Cebu would reconcile their differences.

“Kasi ang pinag-uusapan natin dito ‘yung pangyayari sa field among our people,” Binay said in a press conference in Cebu on Monday.

He said Cebu Rep. Gwen Garcia, Winston’s sister, remained a member of UNA. Garcia and Binay were together during a meeting of barangay health workers in Balamban town Monday afternoon.

Former Cebu City mayor Alvin Garcia, cousin of Winston and Gwen, was also present at the UNA rally in Cebu City Monday night.

“The United Nationalist Alliance continues to stand by One Cebu standard bearer Winston Garcia. He is still the best candidate to lead Cebu,” Tiangco said.

He expressed his “unconditional support” for the Garcias.

During the campaign rally at the Plaza Independencia, Cebu City Mayor Michael Rama said the huge turnout at the plaza was testimony to the Cebuanos’ clamor to change Davide, a party mate of President Benigno Aquino III and LP standard bearer Manuel Roxas II. Binay said he and Rama were “super best friends” and that he had the full backing of the reelectionist-mayor.

Sources from the Binay camp said Binay and Gwen discussed the “misunderstanding” brought about by the “people in the field” and that Garcia vowed to “keep the lines open.” christine F. herrera and Vito Barcelo

Comelec urges Supreme Court to reconsider decision on Poe THE Commission on Elections on Tuesday urged the Supreme Court to reconsider its March 8 decision declaring Senator Grace Poe is qualified to run for president in the May 9 general elections.

The poll body also sided with the dissenting opinions on Poe’s cases, saying there was no majority vote finding Poe a natural-born Filipino.

“Hence, there is no factual or legal basis for the ruling that the petitioner [Poe] is a qualified candidate for president in the 9 May 2016 national elections,” the Comelec said in its motion.

“There is therefore a need for the court to re-deliberate and re-vote on the issue of

citizenship to avoid the dire repercussions that the majority decision has brought in its wake.”

The Supreme Court had granted Poe’s petitions asking it to dismiss the Comelec’s ruling disqualifying her to run for president because she lacked residency and that she was not a natural-born citizen.

But in seeking a revoting on Poe’s cases, the Comelec said: “With due respect, the court should re-examine its majority decision for its legal and constitutional infirmities and more importantly, for having heightened political passions in the country that

could ignite civil strife.”

Associate Justice Antonio Carpio had dissented against the high court’s decision favoring Poe, claiming only seven of his colleagues ruled that Poe was a natural-born Filipino while he and four others voted against her. The remaining three justices chose not to decide on Poe’s citizenship.

However, Chief Justice Maria Lourdes Sereno rejected Carpio’s position, saying there was a majority vote resolving Poe’s citizenship because only 12 justices opted to participate in the voting. She stressed that a vote of 7-5 was clearly constituting a majority. Rey E. Requejo

Visit. Administration presidential bet Manuel Roxas II visits a leather goods factory in Bacolor, Pampanga, on Tuesday. John Paolo BEncito

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Local campaign set Mar 26

By Ferdinand Patinio ALTHOUGH the start of the campaign period is set on March 25, which falls on Good Friday, the Commission on Elections reminded candidates running for local positions to start campaigning only on Saturday, March 26.

Causes of suffering. Activists dressed as Roman soldiers stab Jesus Christ, signifying the Filipino people, with spears symbolizing the causes of the country’s suffering, such as job contractualization, low wages, poor benefits, the high cost of living, demolition of urban poor communities, inefficient public transport system and traditional politics. LINO SANTOS

3 PH satellite set to orbit rd

AFTER Mabuhay and Agila, the first Filipino-made micro-satellite, called Diwata, will finally be launched into orbit before noon of Wednesday, the state-owned Philippines News Agency reported Tuesday.

Officially called Diwata-1, weighing 50 kg and about the size of an airplane shipping box, was assembled by nine young Filipino engineers with the assistance of engineers from the Hokkaido University and Tohoku University in Japan.

Diwata will be launched from the Cape Canaveral Air Force Station in Florida at 11 a.m. Wednesday and brought to the International Space Station where it will be stored in the Japanese Experiment Module (JEM), called “Kibo.”

Towards the end of April, the JEM Small Satellite Orbital Deployer will release Diwata-1 into space at an altitude of 400 kilometers from the earth’s surface where it is expected to stay in orbit for about 18-20 months and will be imaging the country twice daily.

Carlos Primo David, executive director of the Department of Science and Technology’s Philippine Council for Industry, Energy and Emerging Technology Research Division said Diwata-1 has four cameras that would continuously take pictures for weather research and remote sensing.

“The pictures that will be taken by Diwata-1 can also be used for tourism, as we

Army marks 119th year WITH only 100 days left in his term, President Benigno Aquino III on Tuesday thanked the military for its professionalism and said he was proud to be leaving an armed forces with “high morale, high recognition and high respect from the people.”

“Here is the Army and AFP which we will pass on, as I bid goodbye as commander-in-chief: A military with high morale and fully prepared for any challenge; a military with high recognition, and high respect from the people; a professional military with strong principles,” Aquino said during the 119 th anniversary of the Philippine Army in Taguig City.

During his speech, Aquino also said that his administration was able to implement 68 big-ticket projects worth P58.43 billion for the modernization of the entire AFP. Of these, 26 projects estimated to cost P7.79 billion went to the Army.

Aside from the AFP modernization, Aquino also cited the 61,000 units completed for the AFP-PNP Housing Program, the livelihood programs for active and retired members of the AFP, and the increase in monthly combat pay and subsistence allowance.

At the same time, PA commander Lt. Gen. Eduardo Ano lauded the country’s leaders for helping bring about the military services muchneeded modernization.

Ano said the PA, in 2015, has already received 56,844 R-4 carbine units, which were replacement of the Vietnam-era M-16 automatic rifles, 124 additional armored vehicles, six armored personnel carriers fitted with .50 caliber remote-controlled weapon systems, 60 field ambulances and 300 light utility vehicles.

Ano said these additional equipment will make the PA more responsive and capable in its security and disaster alleviation missions.

could pick an image of the day and share it with you,” David said.

While still in orbit, the same Filipino research team who assembled Diwata-1 targets to launch the second micro-satellite, called Diwata-2, in late 2017 or early 2018.

David said a ground receiving station in Subic is tasked to receive imagery from Diwata-1 as well as from selected commercial satellites.

He said another facility is currently being constructed at the University of the Philippines in Diliman, Quezon City and will be called Microsatellite Research and Instructional Facility which will be the hub of training for future space technology research and development activities.

Busted. Customs Commissioner Alberto Lina (left), Naia Customs district collector Edgar Macabeo, Deputy Customs Commissioner Ariel Nepomuceno and Customs police chief Reggie Tuason inspect the bicycle frame bound for Saudi Arabia that was found to contain 53 grams of shabu and the 960 tablets of the designer drug Ecstasy found in a parcel from Germany that were recently intercepted by airport authorities.

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“Local campaigning starts March 25, but they should actually start campaigning on March 26 [Holy Saturday] because campaigning is prohibited on Good Friday,” Comelec Spokesperson James Jimenez said in an interview.

Based on Comelec Resolution No. 9981, the campaign period for local candidates, or those running for congressman, governor, vice governor, board members, mayor, vice mayor, and councilors, will run from March 25 to May 7.

It noted that campaigning on Good Friday is prohibited under Section 5 of Republic Act No. 7166.

Jimenez explained that they did not move the start of the campaign period for local candidates as they are abiding by the law.

“It is stated in the law that the campaign period is 45 days before Election Day. So, it is a mathematical formula. If you count the days, it will fall on March 25. It is part of the intention of the law that does not factor in when that date will fall, even if it is during Lent,” the poll body official said.

With this, Jimenez reminded local bets that all prohibited campaign materials must be removed 72 hours before Saturday.

“Whatever prohibited campaign materials they have now, they should have them removed or else they can be charged with election offense come March 25,” he added.

Based on Comelec Resolution No. 10049, all prohibited forms of election propaganda shall be removed or caused to be removed by concerned candidates or political parties at least 72 hours before the start of the campaign period or else face election offense cases.

At the same time, Jimenez urged the public to be vigilant against illegal campaign materials of local bets, including those that are oversize and illegally placed.

“Ultimately, we want to talk to the public. The voters should be the ones that must be angry if they see campaign violations of those running. We need the help because with the high number of those running, we expect to have a difficult time in the enforcement aspect,” Jimenez said. PNA

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Aquino boasts military upgrade

By Florante S. Solmerin

Army’s 119th. The men and Women of the Philippine Army acknowledge the men and women in uniform participate in the pass-in

review during the 119th founding anniversary of the Army at their Fort Bonifacio headquarters in Taguig City on Tuesday, March 22, 2016.

MALACAÑANG PHOTO BUREAU (Related story on A4)

Presidentiables told: Be open, transparent

By Maricel V. Cruz All presidential candidates are challenged to demonstrate their sense of transparency by disclosing their health and financial status to the public.

House speaker Feliciano Belmonte Jr. on tuesday issued the challenge as he likened the presidency to applying for a job which a presidentiable must be fully fit for. “in this case you are an applicant for a valued and critical position. Your employer is the taongbayan and to get the job you ought to prove you are fully qualified with your credentials.

And since this is a top managerial position, your leadership

experience and background and also if you are physically fit for this 24/7 job, enough to lead for six years,” Belmonte said. “disclosing their health records will show if they are physically, mentally, emotionally and psychologically fit to become president. Meanwhile, disclosing their financial status would show their actual assets, net worth, and business interests, and ease any public suspicion of illegal wealth,” the speaker said, adding that these are

facts that actually put negative allegations to rest.

Belmonte stressed that evading issues pertaining to one’s health and financial condition only makes the public doubtful about the integrity of a candidate.

“Hence, accepting the transparency challenge means that a candidate has nothing to hide nor fear because he or she is healthy and that his or her wealth or financial assets are unquestionable,” said Belmonte.

Belmonte said a candidate must be fit enough to overcome the stress resulting from the daily work challenges and activities of a president which among others involves traveling and late hours. “so this early, all presidential

candidates must be forthright enough in disclosing the true status of their health. if not, then they are doing the public a disservice. it is also doubtful that an unhealthy candidate can even withstand the rigors of the remaining weeks of the campaign.” Belmonte said.

As to a candidate’s financial disclosure, Belmonte said this is not just a must in government service but necessary in helping the public determine if a candidate has illegally enriched himself or herself especially in public office.

“We should be wary of a candidate or candidates with illegal wealth because the drive to acquire more of this could continue if the presidency is won,” Belmonte pointed out.

President Benigno Aquino iii on tuesday crowed about the military gains under his watch, saying that his administration did far better than his predecessors in upgrading the capability of the Armed Forces of the Philippines amid the emerging threat in the West Philippine sea and the undying internal security threats posed by rebellions and terrorism.

“Eksaktong 100 araw na lamang ang natitira sa aking panunungkulan…Di hamak na mas maganda ang nangyayari sa ating Hukbong Sandatahan lalo na sa Philippine Army,” Aquino said in his speech during the 119th anniversary of the Philippine Army at Fort Bonifacio in taguig City.

He said modernizing the AFP cannot be done within six years, but emphasized that the P60 billion his government earmarked for the purchase of modern military hardware was already a good start.

He went on to boast other projects for the uniformed services such as housing, subsistence allowance, livelihood training, and health benefits, among others.

Aquino thanked the AFP leadership for its solid support to his administration and as well as the full support of defense secretary Voltaire Gazmin, recalling the official’s “professional treatment being the jail guard of his late father” during Martial Law. He commended the AFP for the arrest of CPP-nPA top leaders Benito and Wilma tiamzon and other big personalities from the Communist movement.

Army chief Lieutenant General eduardo Ano for his part said the Philippine Army continues to develop in terms of capability building and in the next few years it would eventually transform into a worldclass Army.

Ano said the Army had already issued to the troops a total of 56,843 modern M4 rifles as replacement for the Vietnam warera M16 rifles.

Shabu seized at Pasay mail hub

By Joel E. Zurbano CustoMs bureau operatives seized P2 million worth of party drug ecstasy and methamphetamine hydro-chloride (shabu) at the Central Mail exchange Center in Pasay City.

A parcel, supposed to be containing amino supplements, was found containing 960 ecstasy tablets valued at P1.44 million. “this inbound parcel that originated from Germany was consigned to a Cavitebased recipient,” said Customs naia Collector edgar Macabeo.

Macabeo said members of the drug syndicate also used a bicycle part to conceal the 53 grams of shabu from Quezon City, bound for saudi Arabia, while another 16 grams were discovered inside a leather shoes bound for europe.

“We have recommended the immediate issuance of a summary decision of Forfeiture against the shipments. Parallel investigation is ongoing and, consequently, the filing of criminal charges against the

perpetrators and their cohorts, if warranted,” he said. the seized items were turned over to the Philippine drug enforcement Agency. “illegal drug traders have attempted to use the postal service repeatedly to move various types of drugs because of the anonymity and the perception of lower risk,” said Customs Commissioner Albert Lina, who praised his men from the enforcement Group for the latest apprehension.

Police said ecstasy is a Class-A drug, which is an artificial stimulant, popular among clubbers. they added those who take the drug can have a rush of energy which makes them alert, excited and happy. those taking the drug can feel anxious or getting panic attacks, and developing confused episodes, paranoia or even psychosis. there were 200 ecstasy-related deaths reported in the united Kingdom since 2006.

Survivors. Families live in concrete pipes used as makeshift dwellings along a street in Manila on March 22, 2016. Roughly one quarter of the Philippines’ 100-million people live in poverty, which is defined as surviving on about a dollar a day, according to government data.

AFP

W E D N E S D AY : M A R C H 2 3 , 2 0 1 6

A6 Romualdez batting for women’s rights and welfare LEGISLATION aimed at enhancing women’s empowerment and gender equality will be among his priorities if given the mandate by the people in the May elections, according to senatorial candidate Martin Romualdez. In remarks during the celebration of Women’s Month in San Fernando, Pampanga, Romualdez emphasized: “Behind every successful man is a strong woman. I would not be where I am today, if it were not for the most important women in my life: my mother, my wife and my daughters.”

The three-term Leyte congressman said he “I can personally attest to the virtues of the Kapampangan woman, having been brought up by one such woman.”

The lawmaker was referring to his mother, Juliet Gomez Romualdez, who was recently conferred the Most Outstanding Kapampangan Award in the Parenthood category.

Romualdez said that to empower Filipino women, there should be enough laws to protect them from abuse and exploitation. He suggested that the government and the private sector should create more gendersensitive jobs for working mothers and livelihood opportunities for mothers at home.

According to Romualdez, he would also pursue the enactment of the Conditional Cash Transfer program, also known as 4Ps or Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program.

Cash transfers to the poorest of the poor, he explained, will have many benefits, such as helping women with their management of their household budgets, increasing live births in safer facilities, improving prenatal and postnatal care, and promoting regular growth monitoring of children during critically important early ages.

NEWS

editorial@thestandard.com.ph

Solon slams the brake on run-down vehicles

By Maricel V. Cruz

A HOUSE leader on Tuesday urged the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board and the Land Transportation Office to launch a crackdown against poorly maintained public utility vehicles, closed vans, hauler or cargo trailers, shuttle services and tanker trucks.

Iloilo Rep. Jerry Trenas said that only last Monday, at least 10 people were injured when a truck mowed down three vehicles along the Marcos Highway in Antipolo City. The driver of the wayward 24-wheeler Isuzu truck

claimed he lost his brakes causing the road mishap.

Trenas, the principal author of the proposed law requiring speed limiters for PUVs and trucks, said as a rule, operators and owners should conduct regular

maintenance and make sure that their vehicles are roadworthy at all times.

“It’s just sad that these speed demons always blame their vehicles every time they are involved in accidents. Isn’t it part of their duty to make sure that the vehicles they are driving are safe?” Trenas said.

“We cannot just allow irresponsible drivers and vehicle owners to get away with their recklessness without taking any criminal liability. Accidents happen but accidents can be also avoided if every one is responsible on the road,” Trenas, vice chairman of the House committee on good government and

public accountability, added.

Trenas said that he would propose a law that imposes penalties not just on the drivers but their operators as well each time the PUVs and trucks that they drive or own are involved in accidents caused by mechanical failure due to lack of proper maintenance.

“The overall safety of our roads does not just involve having responsible drivers.

We have to make sure that all vehicles that ply our streets are safe and roadworthy at all times,” Trenas said.

Trenas, who introduced the speed limiter concept in the Philippines following a series

of deadly accident involving public utility buses, said that he would file a bill proposed “Road Users’ Code” which provides safety guidelines for all motorists, pedestrians and even cyclists, including possible penal provisions.

Such code would include, Trenas said, specific provisions that would require regular maintenance of all vehicles particularly on the brake and clutch systems. Service receipts and certifications can be issued by any auto shop to prove that a vehicle has undergone regular maintenance as would required by the proposed “Road Users’ Code.”

Women’s month. Senatorial candidate and Leyte Rep. Martin Romualdez draws a warm welcome from thousands of women supporters during the Women’s Month celebration at Barangay Malanday Covered Court in Marikina. Romualdez vows to support and protect the women’s rights and create more livelihood programs for the housewives and single mothers. VER NOVENO

Tollways brace for traffic surge

Drug test. A provincial bus driver at the Araneta Center Bus Terminal in Cubao, Quezon

City submits his urine sample during a surprise drug testing, part of the measures being carried out by transport authorities to ensure safe trips for passengers going to the provinces for the Holy Week. MANNY PALMERO

ALL systems are in place for the Manila North Tollways Corp. as they expect the surge in traffic this week.

MNTC president and CEO Rodrigo Franco said they are all set to implement their yearly program, “Safe Trip Mo Sagot Ko” along the NLEX, the SCTEX and the Cavitex to manage the 10 percent-15 percent increase in traffic on Holy Week.

SMSK is the motorist assistance program of the Metro Pacific Tollways Corp. to ensure hassle-free travel during the Lenten Season and other holidays. It is implemented in all three of

MPTC’s expressways— the NLEX, the SCTEX and the Cavitex.

From March 18 to 28, additional patrol vehicles and enforcers will be fielded to immediately respond to distressed motorists. Ambulant toll tellers, equipped with portable toll collection gadgets,will be deployed and additional traffic informatory signs will be installed in strategic areas.

To ensure smooth traffic flow, road works will be suspended during this period unless urgent safety repair is required.

Layered toll collection scheme and spare lanes with portabooths will be opened to speed up trans-

actions at the NLEX Balintawak, Mindanao and Bocaue toll plazas. For SCTEX, additional collection points will be opened at Tarlac and Tipo Toll Plazas.

Ambulant tellers will be deployed at the Dau Interchange, Sta.Ines, San Miguel and Dinalupihan Toll Plazas.

This program is implemented on top of the integration of the NLEX and SCTEX, which is expected to lessen travel time to the north by 40 minutes.“We are continually thinking of ways to make our road networks more seamless,” says Rodrigo Franco, MNTC president.

w e d n e s d ay : m a r c h 2 3 , 2 0 1 6

A7

news

editorial@thestandard.com.ph

Police nab suspected drug pushers in S. Cotabato GENERAL SANTOS CITY— South Cotabato police arrested four alleged big-time drug pushers in a checkpoint along the national highway in Koronadal City on Monday night.

Chief Insp. Arnold Carino, chief of the South Cotabato police’s highway patrol group, identified the suspects as Taks Palti Buhisan, 45; Amilil Bayao Ambilong, 31; Salahudin Abdullah Emblawa, 29; and, Rhojan Manampad Kuit, 18.

Buhisan was listed as a resident of Barangay Salvo in Esperanza, Sultan Kudarat, Ambilong of Barangay Matagobong in Ampatuan, Maguindanao, and Emblawa and Kuit of Barangay Talisawa in Datu Abdullah Sangki Maguindanao.

The official said the suspects were about to enter the vicinity of Barangay Morales in Koronadal City aboard a green sedan when they were stopped by their operatives.

He said the operation was witnessed by officials of Barangay Morales and media workers, and backed by elements from the Koronadal City police station.

Carino said they recovered during a search five large plastic packs containing suspected metamphetamine hydrochloride or shabu, a caliber 9mm handgun with 11 live bullets, mobile phones and P3,800 in cash.

“We initially received a tip from our informant about a shabu delivery, with the suspects aboard a green vehicle. So we immediately set up the checkpoint,” Carino said.

He said the suspects entered the area from the direction of Tacurong City in Sultan Kudarat and might have originated from shabu suppliers based in Maguindanao.

Carino said they immediately sent the recovered evidences to the Police Regional Office 12’s crime laboratory here for examination and valuation.

He said the results of the examination will back up the charges that would be filed against the suspects, who are currently detained at the highway patrol group’s lockup.

The suspects would be charged for violation of Republic Act 9165 or the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act and the firearms ban set by the Commission on Elections in connection with the May 9 local and national elections. PNA

Débutante. One hundred girls in San Fernando City, La Union were given an all-expense paid 18th-birthday celebration by the city government.

San Fernando, the capital city of La Union province, is celebrating its 18th Cityhood Anniversary this year. JOHN PAOLO BENCITO

South Luzon unit prepares bigger operations vs Reds

By Florante S. Solmerin

The Southern Luzon Command is preparing for bigger and intensive military operations against the New People’s Army to thwart and isolate the rebels from the civilian communities as the local campaign is about to start for the May 2016 polls.

Solcom chief Lieutenant General Ricardo Visaya, however, clarified that all operations will be “focused and temporary only” based on confirmed and verified intelligence operations.

“I have issued marching orders to the troops to continue the fight and hit deeper the NPA in their lairs and neutralize them. I’m optimistic that the ongoing operations will yield positive results,”

Visaya said.

“Also key to the success of the operations is the cooperation of the masses,” he added.

Just last week, the NPA launched tactical operations in different parts of the Bicol region killing and wounding almost a dozen soldiers and scores of wounded.

But on Monday, government troopers also killed 3 communist fighters and recovered 8 high-

powered firearms that include 2 M60 machine guns and 34 Improvised Explosive Devices in separate encounters in Camarines Sur and Oriental Mindoro.

According to 902nd Infantry Brigade commander Brigadier General Amador Tabuga, his troops had encounter an undetermined number of NPA rebels believed to be planning an attack on a military patrol base in Barangay San Rafael Norte, Lupi, Camarines Sur. “It was a 45-minute firefight between the troops of the 49th Infantry Battalion and the rebels.

Two rebels were killed, an M60 machine gun and an M16 rifle including several rounds of ammunition were recovered,” Tabuga said.

During pursuit, the soldiers recovered an M14 rifle in Barangay Belwang, Lupi. On Tuesday, the pursuing soldiers also recovered a KG9 rifle and 28 IEDs. Another encounter by elements of the 901st Infantry Brigade under Brig. Gen. Claudio L. Yucot in Caramoan town killed a rebel and the recovery of 2 M16 rifles, a grenade launcher and 6 IEDs. Yucot said the encounter against the rebels lasted for 15 minutes that were also joined by a squad of Cafgu Active Auxiliaries in Barangay Antolon.

Meanwhile, the clearing operations of the 203rd Infantry Brigade under Colonel Gavin Edjawan yielded an M60 machine gun in Barangay Morente in Bongabon, Oriental Mindoro.

Electrification body suspends co-op manager for hiring relatives

By A. Perez Rimando

Beauties. 1st Runner-Up Nita Sastrodemedjo (left) and Miss Barangay 2016 Shaira Mae Caasi (right) congratulate Miss City of San Fernando 2016 Alyanna Berline Choo during the coronation night in La Union. CHRISTINE JUNIO

DIPOLOG CITY, Zamboanga del Norte—For hiring his close relatives, Zamboanga del Norte Electric Cooperative general manager Adelmo Laput was recently suspended without pay for six months by the National Electrification Administration.

NEA’s decision, received here last week, was based on the joint complaint of 13 members of the ZaNECo Retirees Association, namely, Jelina Abad, Alex Gudmalin,

Alec Cantela. Hilarion Tajada, Levy Lagutin, Sr., Apolonio Zamoras, Patrick Patrocinio, Rodrigo Omita, Romeo Culanculan, Efren Bunao, Felipe Buca, Eduardo Castor, and Teresita Corporal.

The complainants claimed that Laput had allegedly employed in ZaNECo his brother-in-law, niece and nephews and allowed them to hold key positions in violation of the cooperative’s policy bulletin No. 3-1b which strictly prohibits coop officer or employee from hir-

ing relative-applicants up to the fourth degree.

The 12-page NEA decision, among others, said, “Wherefore, in view of the foregoing premises, judgment is hereby rendered finding respondent general manager Adelmo P. Laput guilty of conduct [nepotism] prejudicial to the interest of the cooperative and member-consumers and meted the penalty of suspension for 31 days, with a warning that a repetition of similar act will be dealt with more severely.”

W E D N E S D AY: M A R C H 2 3 , 2 0 1 6

A8

OPINION

ADELLE CHUA EDITOR

lettertotheeditor@thestandard.com.ph

OPINION

BACK CHANNEL ALEJANDRO DEL ROSARIO

MISSING

[ EDI TORI A L ]

PANDERING TO THE POOR TO A person, the presidential candidates this year are tripping over themselves to pronounce their support for the 4Ps, the government’s P60-billion dole program that gives poor families a monthly stipend for keeping their children in school. That none of them have questioned the basic premise of the program—taking money from hardworking taxpayers and giving it away to unproductive members of society who do not have to earn it—is a measure of how much they are pandering to the poor in the hopes of winning their votes.

The claims by the administration that the program is not being politicized is about as tall a tale that anyone can construct.

The ruling Liberal Party, in fact, has used the 4Ps as a bludgeon against those running against the administration’s standard bearer, Manuel Roxas II, suggesting during campaign sorties that the poor should not vote for the opposing candidates who will kill off the program.

Early this year, Vice President Jejomar Binay denied rumors that he would abolish the 4Ps if he is elected, and has promised to increase its coverage to senior citizens.

At about the same time, a spokesman for Senator Grace Poe denied a Liberal Party claim that the senator had done nothing to support the program when its budget was being deliberated in the Senate.

“Senator Poe is a staunch advocate of the 4Ps program,” the spokesman said. “She has stated on record that if given the chance to serve as president, she will make sure to expand and enhance the 4Ps program and see to it that system losses are plugged.”

Davao City Mayor Rodrigo Duterte, too, said he would continue the program, and promised to add a sack of rice to the monthly stipend.

Senator Miriam Defensor Santiago focused on operational shortcomings of the program and said she would work to plug the leaks and get local governments involved— statements that clearly indicate that if she were elected president, she too would continue the government doles.

The Aquino administration pitches the 4Ps as a poverty-alleviation program but the law of unintended consequences tells us that the poor will remain poor to stay on the dole (one must by definition be unemployed to qualify for the monthly stipends) and that they will come to see the payments as their entitlement—what is due them, even if they have not worked a single hour for the money.

The random interview at campaign rallies already exposes this reality. One woman says the 4Ps really helps her with the bills—and helpfully suggests that the dole be written into the law.

4Ps stands for Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program, which roughly translates to a bridge for poor Filipino families to cross over to something better.

But throwing money at a problem never solved anything—and it will not fix poverty.

The idea of easy money degrades the value of that money and diminishes the worth of an honest day’s work.

Unless someone addresses this basic flaw in the 4Ps, it might just come to mean Pandering to the Poor is a Prescription for Peril.

A ‘DEBATE’ PROPOSAL LOWDOWN JOJO A. ROBLES OKAY, we’ve had our fun.

Now, perhaps, it’s time to really find out about the people applying for the job of president.

Political science professor Antonio “Tonton” Contreras of De La Salle University has proposed a format for the third and final debate of presidential candidates

A9

which will give voters the opportunity to find out more about the would-be presidents’ views and programs without the distraction of watching them figuratively tear each other apart. What Contreras has suggested, actually, is to forget about “debating” altogether and to listen to the candidates one by one as they explain their positions on various issues at length and in depth.

Contreras said all it would take is for the candidates to spend four hours or five,

depending on how many of them are available in one day. Each candidate would be given one hour to answer the same set of questions previously prepared by the organizers but kept secret from them until they get together on the day of the “debate.”

Lots would be drawn to find out who goes first before the cameras and perhaps before a live audience. While the first candidate is being questioned, all the others will be kept in a room where

If we give them enough time and remove the distraction of oneupmanship, the voters will be better served.

they cannot hear that person’s answers; none of them will be allowed to have cellular phones or other equipment that would allow them to find out the responses of the candidate being grilled is saying.

“It would only take some hours of the candidates’ time, and they will be able to reach a big audience through television,” Contreras explained. “The viewers will certainly want to watch them; I know I’d watch them in this format.”

Because the candidates will not be facing off with their rivals, they will not be

given the opportunity to beat each other up. What’s more, they will finally get a chance to expound at length on real issues that need to be discussed, like food security, corruption, jobs and unemployment, to name just a few of the really important matters that most Filipinos care about.

The organizer of the final “debate” can also compile all four or five candidates’ responses to the same questions and present them

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-

like they were being asked simultaneously and being asked to reply in turn. The edited (but unexpurgated) videos can then be uploaded on sharing sites like YouTube, for easy reference.

“The problem with the debate format in the first two episodes is that we never got to hear the candidates explain themselves fully on the issues,” Contreras told me.

“If we give them enough time and remove the distraction of one-up-

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

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manship, the voters will be better served.”

I agree wholeheartedly with Contreras’ proposal. At the very least, this format will surely be acceptable to Mar Roxas, who can no longer complain that his rivals are taking away his time from him. *** The Vietnamese know how to punish erring bankers: They sentence them to death by firing squad.

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

THERE’S someone missing in last Sunday’s second presidential debates in Cebu City. No, I’m not talking about Senator Miriam Defensor Santiago who begged off for being indisposed. At this stage, she should already be stricken off the race. Her consistent single-digit point in the poll surveys has not ticked up, an indication that voters have given up on her. We wish her well and pray for a miracle that she beat the odds against the big C. The one who’s missing in the Cebu contest is the one person this country direly needs. I thought this candidate might be one of the four appearing in Cebu for the second presidential debates held under the aegis of the Commission on Elections in the run-up to the May 9 national elections. After a lackluster first debate in Davao, the candidates only got feistier. While the Cebu crowd as well as those who watched the live nationwide TV coverage might have relished the heated exchange among the candidates, civility also went missing.

Personal attacks and name-calling flew thick with Davao Mayor Rodrigo Duterte calling Mar Roxas “ pretentious and a fraud,” in a nonsequitur response to the issue at hand which was Davao’s drug problem. Duterte may be gaining ground in the poll surveys but he’s looking less and less presidential with his demeanor. He insists on his outlandish claim that he can wipe out crime in just three to six months, even adding that he can do the same with endemic corruption in this country.

The man is delusional.

While Duterte is burdened with tall claims, Vice President Jejomar Binay came up short in defending himself from corruption charges during his and his family’s 30-year rule in Makati. Binay delayed the debate because he wanted to bring to the podium a sheaf of documents, purportedly to belie all the allegations of corruption against him.

Roxas, Duterte and Poe opposed Binay’s insistence to bring his notes.

Finally, Comelec Chairman Andres Bautista ruled that at the outset, the candidates had not been allowed to bring their notes. That left Binay vulnerable to the corruption issue hounding him since a Senate hearing looked into spurious Makati City contracts exposed by former vice mayor Ernesto Mercado.

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

W E D N E S D AY: M A R C H 2 3 , 2 0 1 6

A8

OPINION

ADELLE CHUA EDITOR

lettertotheeditor@thestandard.com.ph

OPINION

BACK CHANNEL ALEJANDRO DEL ROSARIO

MISSING

[ EDI TORI A L ]

PANDERING TO THE POOR TO A person, the presidential candidates this year are tripping over themselves to pronounce their support for the 4Ps, the government’s P60-billion dole program that gives poor families a monthly stipend for keeping their children in school. That none of them have questioned the basic premise of the program—taking money from hardworking taxpayers and giving it away to unproductive members of society who do not have to earn it—is a measure of how much they are pandering to the poor in the hopes of winning their votes.

The claims by the administration that the program is not being politicized is about as tall a tale that anyone can construct.

The ruling Liberal Party, in fact, has used the 4Ps as a bludgeon against those running against the administration’s standard bearer, Manuel Roxas II, suggesting during campaign sorties that the poor should not vote for the opposing candidates who will kill off the program.

Early this year, Vice President Jejomar Binay denied rumors that he would abolish the 4Ps if he is elected, and has promised to increase its coverage to senior citizens.

At about the same time, a spokesman for Senator Grace Poe denied a Liberal Party claim that the senator had done nothing to support the program when its budget was being deliberated in the Senate.

“Senator Poe is a staunch advocate of the 4Ps program,” the spokesman said. “She has stated on record that if given the chance to serve as president, she will make sure to expand and enhance the 4Ps program and see to it that system losses are plugged.”

Davao City Mayor Rodrigo Duterte, too, said he would continue the program, and promised to add a sack of rice to the monthly stipend.

Senator Miriam Defensor Santiago focused on operational shortcomings of the program and said she would work to plug the leaks and get local governments involved— statements that clearly indicate that if she were elected president, she too would continue the government doles.

The Aquino administration pitches the 4Ps as a poverty-alleviation program but the law of unintended consequences tells us that the poor will remain poor to stay on the dole (one must by definition be unemployed to qualify for the monthly stipends) and that they will come to see the payments as their entitlement—what is due them, even if they have not worked a single hour for the money.

The random interview at campaign rallies already exposes this reality. One woman says the 4Ps really helps her with the bills—and helpfully suggests that the dole be written into the law.

4Ps stands for Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program, which roughly translates to a bridge for poor Filipino families to cross over to something better.

But throwing money at a problem never solved anything—and it will not fix poverty.

The idea of easy money degrades the value of that money and diminishes the worth of an honest day’s work.

Unless someone addresses this basic flaw in the 4Ps, it might just come to mean Pandering to the Poor is a Prescription for Peril.

A ‘DEBATE’ PROPOSAL LOWDOWN JOJO A. ROBLES OKAY, we’ve had our fun.

Now, perhaps, it’s time to really find out about the people applying for the job of president.

Political science professor Antonio “Tonton” Contreras of De La Salle University has proposed a format for the third and final debate of presidential candidates

A9

which will give voters the opportunity to find out more about the would-be presidents’ views and programs without the distraction of watching them figuratively tear each other apart. What Contreras has suggested, actually, is to forget about “debating” altogether and to listen to the candidates one by one as they explain their positions on various issues at length and in depth.

Contreras said all it would take is for the candidates to spend four hours or five,

depending on how many of them are available in one day. Each candidate would be given one hour to answer the same set of questions previously prepared by the organizers but kept secret from them until they get together on the day of the “debate.”

Lots would be drawn to find out who goes first before the cameras and perhaps before a live audience. While the first candidate is being questioned, all the others will be kept in a room where

If we give them enough time and remove the distraction of oneupmanship, the voters will be better served.

they cannot hear that person’s answers; none of them will be allowed to have cellular phones or other equipment that would allow them to find out the responses of the candidate being grilled is saying.

“It would only take some hours of the candidates’ time, and they will be able to reach a big audience through television,” Contreras explained. “The viewers will certainly want to watch them; I know I’d watch them in this format.”

Because the candidates will not be facing off with their rivals, they will not be

given the opportunity to beat each other up. What’s more, they will finally get a chance to expound at length on real issues that need to be discussed, like food security, corruption, jobs and unemployment, to name just a few of the really important matters that most Filipinos care about.

The organizer of the final “debate” can also compile all four or five candidates’ responses to the same questions and present them

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-

like they were being asked simultaneously and being asked to reply in turn. The edited (but unexpurgated) videos can then be uploaded on sharing sites like YouTube, for easy reference.

“The problem with the debate format in the first two episodes is that we never got to hear the candidates explain themselves fully on the issues,” Contreras told me.

“If we give them enough time and remove the distraction of one-up-

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

manship, the voters will be better served.”

I agree wholeheartedly with Contreras’ proposal. At the very least, this format will surely be acceptable to Mar Roxas, who can no longer complain that his rivals are taking away his time from him. *** The Vietnamese know how to punish erring bankers: They sentence them to death by firing squad.

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

THERE’S someone missing in last Sunday’s second presidential debates in Cebu City. No, I’m not talking about Senator Miriam Defensor Santiago who begged off for being indisposed. At this stage, she should already be stricken off the race. Her consistent single-digit point in the poll surveys has not ticked up, an indication that voters have given up on her. We wish her well and pray for a miracle that she beat the odds against the big C. The one who’s missing in the Cebu contest is the one person this country direly needs. I thought this candidate might be one of the four appearing in Cebu for the second presidential debates held under the aegis of the Commission on Elections in the run-up to the May 9 national elections. After a lackluster first debate in Davao, the candidates only got feistier. While the Cebu crowd as well as those who watched the live nationwide TV coverage might have relished the heated exchange among the candidates, civility also went missing.

Personal attacks and name-calling flew thick with Davao Mayor Rodrigo Duterte calling Mar Roxas “ pretentious and a fraud,” in a nonsequitur response to the issue at hand which was Davao’s drug problem. Duterte may be gaining ground in the poll surveys but he’s looking less and less presidential with his demeanor. He insists on his outlandish claim that he can wipe out crime in just three to six months, even adding that he can do the same with endemic corruption in this country.

The man is delusional.

While Duterte is burdened with tall claims, Vice President Jejomar Binay came up short in defending himself from corruption charges during his and his family’s 30-year rule in Makati. Binay delayed the debate because he wanted to bring to the podium a sheaf of documents, purportedly to belie all the allegations of corruption against him.

Roxas, Duterte and Poe opposed Binay’s insistence to bring his notes.

Finally, Comelec Chairman Andres Bautista ruled that at the outset, the candidates had not been allowed to bring their notes. That left Binay vulnerable to the corruption issue hounding him since a Senate hearing looked into spurious Makati City contracts exposed by former vice mayor Ernesto Mercado.

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

W E D N E S D AY: M A R C H 2 3 , 2 0 1 6

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OPINION

lettertotheeditor@thestandard.com.ph

TWO TALES TO THE POINT EMIL P. JURADO AS THE holiest days of the Holy Week approach, I am recounting two tales we can reflect on. One tale is spiritual, and the other one, temporal in nature.

First is the story of The Son. A wealthy man and his only son loved to collect rare works of art. They had everything in their collection, from Picasso, Da Vinci, Van Goghs, Rembrandts to Raphael.

They would often sit together and admire the great works of art.

When the Vietnam conflict broke out, the son went to war. He was very courageous and died in battle while securing another soldier. The father was notified and grieved deeply for his only son.

A month later, just before Christmas, there was a knock at the door.

Here are two stories to reflect on during this Lenten Season.

A young man stood at the door with a large package in his hands. He said: “Sir, you don’t know me, but, I am the soldier for whom your son gave his life. He saved many lives that day, and while he was carrying me to safety when a bullet struck him in the heart and he died instantly. Your son often talked about you, and your love for art.”

The young man held out his package. “I know this isn’t much. I’m not really a great artist, but I think your son would have wanted you to have this,” the young man said.

The father opened the package. It was a portrait of his son, painted by the young man. He stared in awe at the way the soldier had captured the personality of his son in the painting.

The father was so drawn to the eyes of the son that his eyes welled up with tears. He thanked

the young soldier and offered to pay him for the portrait. “Oh, no sir, I could never repay what your son did for me that day,” the young man said.

He added: “It’s a gift.”

The father hung the portrait of the son over his mantle. Every time visitors came to his home, he took them to see the portrait of his son before he showed them any of the other great works of art he had collected.

The father died a few months later.

There was to be a great auction of his paintings.

Many rich and influential people gathered, excited about seeing the great paintings and having an opportunity to purchase one for their own collection.

On the platform sat the portrait of the son.

The auctioneer pounded his gavel, and said: “We will start the bidding with portrait of the son. Who will bid for this painting?”

There was silence. Then a voice at the back of the room shouted. “We want to see the famous paintings. Skip this one.”

But, the auctioneer persisted. “Will someone bid for this portrait? Who will start the bidding? $100, $200?”

Another voice shouted angrily. “We didn’t come to see this portrait.

We came to see the Van Goghs, the Rembrandts.

Get on with the real bids.”

Still the auctioneer continued: “The son! The son!Won’t anybody take the son?”

Finally, a voice came from the very back of the room.

It was the long-time gardener of the father and the son. “I’ll give $10 for the painting.” Being a poor man, it was all he could afford. “We have $10, who will bid $20?”

Give it to him for $10, we want to see the masters, the people shouted. “$10 is the bid, won’t someone bid $20?” the auctioneer asked once more.

The crowd was becoming angry. They didn’t want the painting of the son. They wanted the worthy investments for their own collections. The auctioneer finally pounded the gavel, and said: “Going once, twice. SOLD for $10!” the auctioneer asked once more.

The auctioneer laid down his gavel, and said: “I’m sorry, the auction is over. When I was called to

CANDIDATES, CHARACTER, CORRUPTION SUNDAY March 20’s second presidential debate was like a Plaza Miranda verbal tussle of the old days—a no-holds barred, insultand sarcasm-laden talkathon on nationwide radio and television. The three-hour debate focused on the character of the candidates, competence, and corruption.

Vice President Jejomar Binay, once the undisputed frontrunner (Grace Poe and Rodrigo Duterte are now, with a quarter of the votes each), received most of the unfettered mudslinging and personal attacks which centered mostly on alleged corruption during his family’s 29-year ascendancy holding the mayorship of Makati, the Philippines’ premier business and upscale residential district.

Binay brought along documents that would have proven his innocence or presumption of his innocence, before a final ruling by a competent court, the antigraft court Sandiganbayan. But Comelec’s rules did not allow him to bring notes and documents to the debate.

Binay had explained, lamely, that he wanted to present a waiver on his bank accounts, challenging close rival Davao Mayor Rodrigo Duterte to sign the same document. Duterte agreed but the two were prevented by debate moderator Luchi Cruz-Valdez of TV5 to do the ceremonial signing.

The beleaguered Binay promised to sign a Freedom of Information executive order as soon as he takes office as president. “Trust me. I am a man of action,” he assured.

Binay then jabbed at Grace Poe, the frontrunner candidate in both the Pulse Asia and Social Weather Stations polls in March. “You are not a true Filipino!” Binay blasted Poe. “You pledged allegiance to America. You abjured your Filipino citizenship. You are ashamed of where you came from.”

Eyes blazing, Poe counterpunched. “What’s the difference [in staying in the Philippines] if you stole money anyway?” conduct this auction, I was told of a secret stipulation in the will of the father. I was not allowed to reveal the stipulation until this time. Only the painting of the SON would be auctioned. Whoever bought that painting would inherit the entire estate, including the paintings of the masters. THE MAN WHO TAKES THE SON GETS EVERYTHING.” With this thought to reflect on, we should not forget that God gave his son, Jesus Christ to mankind some 2,000 years ago, only to die on a cruel cross for our salvation.

Much like the auctioneer, His message today is, “THE SON, THE SON,

WHO’LL SON?”

VIRTUAL REALITY TONY LOPEZ “You sound like I have been convicted of stealing,” Binay snapped back. “I was not exactly referring to you,” Poe retorted.

The senator added that Binay’s making it appear as a crime for a Filipino going abroad is like accusing some 10 million overseas Filipino workers of disloyalty to their country. “More than 10 million Filipinos live abroad. They have dual citizenship,” she argued.

“It’s better to leave and work honorably abroad than stay here in the Philippines and keep on stealing,” she added.

Binay accused the Liberal Party’s Mar Roxas of inaction and paralysis by analysis. He said the former MRT3 general manager Al Vitangcol had implicated Roxas of complicity in the corruptiontainted maintenance contract for the 16-kilometer elevated train line on Edsa. Roxas denied the allegations.

Binay likened Roxas to the dreaded Nazi propaganda chief Joseph Goebbels who once said if you told a lie big enough and kept repeating it, people would eventually come to believe it. He accused Mar of leading the demolition job against the vice president.

Roxas came under vicious attack from his rivals for the incompetence and corruption in the two departments he headed under President Aquino III—the Department of Transportation and Communications, and the Department of Interior and Local Government. His men kept running the DoTC despite its being handed over to former Congressman Joseph Emilio Aguinaldo Abaya who by now will go down in history as the most incompetent and corrupt DoTC secretary ever.

The DoTC failure is epitomized TAKE

THE

*** The second tale is about a man who chose hell instead of heaven. Much like now when we are given the choice on who will lead this nation for the next six years.

It’s a choice among four: one who wants us to tread the straight path, which is actually a road to perdition; another, a neophyte as a legislator, but with a burning ambition to become president, using her adoptive father’s name, thinking people are so stupid that they cannot see the difference between real and reel.

This is a candidate with

by almost daily breakdowns in the train service of the MRT-3 and the long queues commuters endure daily so that one commute takes three hours, one way. The breakdowns have been traced to a virtual lack of maintenance, which absence was traced to corruption, and which corruption was traced to a cabal of Roxas and Liberal Party partisans grabbing lucrative renewable maintenance contracts without public bidding.

The DILG failure is epitomized by the rising incidence of crime in the country and by the growing menace of drugs. Even when drug lords are sent to the national penitentiary, they continue their pernicious racket by converting the penitentiary into one huge drugs laboratory, and in crime-fighter Mayor Rodrigo Duterte’s words, “to cook shabu.”

To those charges, Roxas clarified that the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency “is not under the DILG. It’s under the Office of the President.” But that was like passing the blame on the drugs menace to Aquino III. “You are a fraud, a pretender,” Duterte kept on pummeling Roxas.

“If you don’t know how to kill and are afraid to die, you cannot be president.” To which Mar Roxas replied: “You cannot kill people without due process.”

“You are like a moron who doesn’t know what to do,” he told Roxas, accusing him of incompetence. Binay chimed in: “Mar Roxas doesn’t know anything about local government.”

Roxas recited his achievements.

Crime incidents, he said, were reduced from 919 daily to 253 daily (that was because the police were told to blotter only notable crimes, not the petty ones like phone snatchings). About 4.5-million families enjoy the Pantawid Pamilya anti-poverty cash doleout program.

To which Poe replied, “25-million Filipinos are poor and 15 million are hungry.”

Continued on A11

questionable citizenship, having abjured Filipino citizenship to become an American.

There’s also this selfconfessed killer and womanizer who takes us for idiots to believe he can solve criminality, the illegal drugs problem and corruption.

And there’s the candidate with unquestionable credentials in governance, but who has been accused of corruption, but has not been convicted by a court of law.

Whom shall we choose?

The tale goes: A man died and found himself at the pearly gates of heaven with St. Peter holding the keys. St. Peter

told the man that before he could enter Heaven, he could still choose between Heaven and Hell. “I want to see Hell first,” the man said, and St. Peter told him to take the elevator.

Down, down the elevator went. As the door opened, a pretty girl in bikini met him, and said, “Sir, welcome to Hell.”

As the man was accompanied by a bevy of beautiful women in bikinis, he saw Hell so different from what he was told. Naked woman cavorting with naked men, and there were feasts everywhere. The man also saw many of his friends all laughing and smiling like they enjoyed Hell.

Continued on A11

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OPINION lettertotheeditor@thestandard.com.ph

THE VALUE OF THAT P-VALUE Bloomberg Editorial DECISIONS affecting the lives and livelihoods of millions of people should be made using the best possible information. That’s why researchers, public officials and anyone with views on social policy should pay attention to a long-running controversy in the world of statistics.

The lesson to be drawn from this debate: Whenever you see a claim of the form “x is significantly related to y,” watch out.

At issue is a statistical test that researchers in a wide range of disciplines, from medicine to economics, use to draw conclusions from data.

Let’s say you have a pill that’s supposed to make people rich. You give it to 30 people, and they wind up one percent richer than a similar group that took a placebo.

Before you can attribute this difference to your magic pill, you need to test your results with a narrow and dangerously subtle question: How likely would you be to get this result

if your pill had no effect whatsoever?

If this probability, or so-called pvalue, is less than a stated threshold —often set at five percent—the result is deemed “statistically significant.”

The problem is, people tend to place great weight on this declaration of statistical significance without understanding what it really means. A low p-value does not, for example, mean that the pill almost certainly works. Any such conclusion would need more information—including, for a start, some reason to think the pill could make you richer.

In addition, statistical significance is not policy significance. The size of the estimated effect matters, too. It might be so small as to lack practical or explanatory value, even though it’s statistically significant. The converse is also true: An estimated effect might be so strong as to demand attention, even though it fails the pvalue test.

These reservations apply even to statistical investigation done right.

Unfortunately, it very often isn’t—as

the American Statistical Association made clear earlier this month in what amounts to an academic cri de coeur.

Researchers commonly engage in “p-hacking,” tweaking data in ways that generate low p-values but actually undermine the test. Absurd results can be made to pass the p-value test, and important findings can fail.

Despite all this, a good p-value tends to be a prerequisite for publication in scholarly journals. As a result, only a small and unrepresentative sample of research ever sees the light of day.

Why aren’t bad studies rooted out?

Sometimes they are, but academic success depends on publishing novel results, so researchers have little incentive to check the work of others. One rare replication project managed to confirm the results of only 11 out of 18 papers published in leading economic journals. That looks pretty good compared with psychology, where a similar (albeit contested) study of 98 papers produced a replication rate of less than half.

and basic services rendered.

Duterte promised to stop corRoxas went back to Binay. ruption. “If you cannot stop corCiting Commission on Audit ruption, you cannot stop crimifigures, he said in Makati dur- nality,” he said. He said 30 percent ing Binay’s time, a P220-million of the national budget is eaten up parking building eventually cost by corruption, money that could 10 times, at P2 billion. Hospital have been used to alleviate the beds should cost only P34,000 but plight of the poor.

He promised to stop criminalwere procured at P500,000 each.

Sterilizers that go for P16,000 ity and corruption in three to six apiece cost P1.5 million at the months but failed to say how he would do it. “I have to provide city-run Ospital ng Makati.

In his closing remarks, Binay security for the next generation,” accused his rivals of mendicancy he vowed. “We need to provide and ignorance, of talk and no leadership, not just a platform.”

Poe stressed she is from the action, of promises instead of Visayas, being a foundling from performance.

The vice president recited what Iloilo. She bewailed that 25-milhe did in Makati. From P240 mil- lion Filipinos earn P330 a year lion in bankruptcy to P11 billion per capita and that 15 million are in revenues, assistance to the poor, hungry.

She said she will expand the national penitentiary to accommodate prisoners convicted of corruption. She will appoint the bemedalled Marine Colonel Ariel Querubin as her anti-crime czar to go after drug lords and criminal syndicates. “I can do it,” she assured, rebutting criticisms of incompetence and inexperience by the candidate whose only stint in government was being chair of the government movie and television censors board from 2010 to 2012 before her being elected as the No. 1 senator in 2013.

Mar Roxas decried the loss of decency and vowed to bring it back. Whatever decency meant he did not define. He bewailed one must be a “sipsip” (lick ass) and make “singit” (jump the line)

The man was bored.

Thus, when the man went back to the Pearly Gates, he told St. Peter, “I choose Hell.”

When the door opened, he saw Satan laughing and smiling at him. They took his hand and led him all over Hell where he heard moans. Even his friends were being tortured. He also saw utter desolation.

“What happened?” he asked

Satan. When I was here yesterday, everything was different. “Well,” Satan with maniacal laughter said: “Yesterday we were campaigning, but today you voted. Welcome to Hell.”

I wish all a Blessed Easter Sunday, the biggest and holiest event in Christendom!

Just remember, if there is no Good Friday, there would be no Easter Sunday!

Candidates... From A10

Two... From A10 The man told his escorts: “I want to see St. Peter.” So, up he went on the elevator, and told St. Peter that he also wanted to see Heaven. So, St. Peter opened the Pearly Gates, and the man was accompanied by an angel to tour the place.

Everything was so peaceful.

There were angels everywhere.

A ‘debate’... From A9 A report in the Washington Post published in 2014 reported that in just five months of that year, “at least three Vietnamese bankers have been sentenced to death—though their crimes amount to just 1 percent of Bernie Madoff ’s haul” of $18 billion in a Ponzi scam.

“Last month, a 57-year-old director of a Vietnam development bank was sentenced to death after he and 12 others approved counterfeit loans in the amount of $89 million. For inking those contracts, he got a BMW, a diamond ring, and $5.5 million in kickbacks.

“His death sentence follows similar punishments meted out to two other bankers: One was sent to

death row in November for his part in a $25-million scam, and the other, banker Duong Chi Dung, got his in December. “In 2003, the business of sentencing corrupt bankers to death was booming. That year, seven financiers got that punishment. Over the next three years, five other bankers were executed.

“One man failed to repay $6 million in loans.

Another woman got it because she embezzled $658,000. Another man was sent to death row for just $90,000.”

Hereabouts, of course, the death penalty is no longer allowed. But even if it were, I doubt if it would ever be imposed on white-collar criminals like those who helped in the theft of $81 million from the Bank of Bangladesh that disappeared upon reaching the Philippines.

What to do? Journals that publish research, and institutions that fund it, should demand more transparency. Require researchers to document their work, including any negative or “insignificant” results produced along the way. Insist on replication. Supplement p-values with other measures, such as confidence intervals that indicate the size of the estimated effect as well as its statistical precision.

Most important, users of statistics need to wise up to the limits of the science. Empirical studies are a vital guide to policy, but must be used carefully. Look at the evidence as a whole, and beware of results that haven’t been repeated, or that depend on a single method of measurement.

Hold findings to a higher standard if they conflict with common sense.

Policy makers can’t ask statistical analysis for certainty.

That’s unattainable. But they can and should demand conclusions that are clear and realistic enough to withstand scrutiny.

Missing... From A9 Binay should have brought his documents to the Senate Blue Ribbon Committee which was then investigating the allegedly anomalous contracts in the construction of the Makati parking building, the Makati science school, and the overpriced medical equipment and patients beds in the Ospital ng Makati. But he did not. When the issue was raised anew during the debate, Binay again dismissed these allegations as “political demolition” meant to derail his presidential run.

Former Interior and Local Government Secretary Mar Roxas, on the other hand, continued to mouth President Aquino’s spiel of “tuwid na daan” even if the straight-path mantra had seen too many bumps, twists and turns on the road. Mar wants a continuity of Aquino’s policy, not realizing this is the rear axle dragging him in a slow waltz. Duterte dissed Roxas for his dismal handling of the Zamboanga siege when Moro rebels terrorized the city’s residents for almost a month.

Mar defended his action , pointing out he was preventing civilian casualties and the more than 200 hostages held by the rebels.

Grace Poe continued her siren song of meaningful

change if elected president even as she was questioned for defending industrialist Eduardo “Danding” Cojuangco’s role in the coconut levy funds.

Cojuangco’s Nationalist People’s Coalition, the biggest political party after the ruling Liberal Party, is supporting Poe’s bid for the presidency. She blamed the continuing drug problem on the DILG which was then under Roxas, not knowing the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency is under the Office of the President .

Show-of-hands questions on divorce and the death penalty were asked.

All four candidates rejected divorce but Duterte and Poe favored the return of capital punishment. Voters and viewers, however, wondered why the biggest and most recent scandal to rock the country—the $81-million money laundering scam— was not brought up during the debate. It would have been interesting to find out how the candidates stand in amending the bank secrecy law that has proven to be a major stumbling block in the prosecution of corrupt government officials. Some senators are opposed to amending the law. Instead, Duterte, in his usual attack mode, chose to impugn the Wharton business school degree of Mar Roxas, a former investment banker.

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sports sports@thestandard.com.ph

Indian Wells boycott looms MIAMI—Top tennis bosses defended prize money equality for men and women Monday while the specter of an Indian Wells boycott was raised ahead of the ATP and WTA Miami Open.

‘Spiderman’ scales Paris skyscraper PARIS—Security services looked on helplessly on Monday as France’s “Spiderman” Alain Robert, who holds a world record for urban climbing, scaled the Total skyscraper in Paris’ La Defense business district.

Despite an icy wind the 53-year-old easily climbed—bare-handed and without ropes—up the 187-metre (614-feet) building in less than 45 minutes, delighting passers-by.

“I am happy because yesterday it was grey all day. Now it is cold, there will be wind, but at least it will not rain,” Robert said before heading up the tower, which he has previously climbed.

The urban climber has scaled more than 100 structures without ropes or other safety equipment, setting a record for “most buildings climbed unassisted” according to Guinness World Records.

Nicknamed the “Spiderman”, he has conquered many of the world’s tallest skyscrapers and iconic buildings, such as the Eiffel Tower, the Sydney Opera House, the Petronas Twin Towers in Kuala Lumpur and the Burj Khalifa in Dubai.

While known for climbing with nothing but his bare hands and a bag of chalk, he used suction devices and a safety rope on the Burj Khalifa, the world’s tallest building, which had no hand or footholds.

As usual the location of his climb was kept secret until the last minute.

“I have never seen him in person, too bad for work,” said Marie, 43, a Total employee.

“To me it is the symbol of freedom, it is his personal pleasure and no one can stop him.”

Security officials stood by helplessly.

“What do you want us to do? We are less strong than him, we can’t climb the facade,” said the head of Total’s building security.

Robert has suffered several severe falls while climbing and estimates his accidents have left him 66 percent disabled. AFP

Alain Robert, the French urban climber dubbed Spiderman, climbs a building hosting the headquarters of French oil giant Total at La Defense business area, on March 2l, 2016 in Courbevoie, Paris suburb. AFP

IOC monitors Brazil crisis ahead of Olympics LAUSANNE, Switzerland—The International Olympic Committee (IOC) told AFP on Monday it was monitoring very closely the political crisis in Brazil five months ahead of the Rio Olympic Games.

“Naturally we are closely monitoring the political developments currently affecting the country and we’re working in solidarity with the organising committee,” an IOC spokesman told AFP. “We’re very confident that

through this joint effort by the Brazilians and the Olympic movement, Brazil will offer an excellent Olympic Games to the world, which the whole country can be proud of,” he added.

Brazil has Latin America’s largest economy and will host the Olympics Games from August 5-21. But the country is currently plunged into its deepest recession in 25 years, with it’s ruling leftist Workers Party (PT) of President

NZ Warriors rule Manila tilt DOMINANT all the way, the JML New Zealand Warriors made quick work of opponents to capture a fourth straight crown in the 2016 Etihad Airways Manila 10s International Rugby Festival last Sunday (March 20) at Nomad Sports Club in Parañaque City.

The Warriors, who tapped two Filipino youth standouts, whipped B2Gold Larrikins, 28-14, in the title match to emerge as Cup champions.

At the half, the Warriors already set the tone for the lopsided finish with a 21-0 blanking of the Larrikins as New Zealand’s North Harbour club players teamed up with Philippine Under-19 members Kai Stroem and Ryan Santos.

The Warriors and the Larrikins advanced to the title round after overwhelming separate foes in the semifinals of the tournament that kicked off Saturday with 36 teams from 12 countries.

Dilma Rousseff embroiled in a corruption scandal concerning an embezzlement scheme at state oil company Petrobras.

A congressional impeachment committee was to hold its second session Monday to weigh allegations that Rousseff fudged the government’s accounts to boost public spending during her 2014 re-election campaign and downplay bad news on the Latin American giant’s sinking economy.

“The Brazilian people will deliver a memorable Olympics, full of passion for sports which has made them famous globally,” the IOC spokesman continued, adding: “The Games will leave a great legacy for the citizens of Rio and the entire country.”

As well as the political and economic crisis, Brazil has also been confronted with the Zika virus epidemic, with 1.5 million cases since 2015. AFP

After topping the round-robin pool games, the Warriors also coasted the semifinal round with a 28-5 blasting of the Austen Morris Barbarians.

The Larrikins emerged triumphant in the other pairing with a 38-0 shutout of last year’s runner-up Alabang Eagles, the lone Philippine club team that advanced to the semifinals.

But the Eagles settled for the fourth spot after bowing to the Barbarians, 29-0, in the battle for third place.

“This is the biggest, most exciting, most well-attended edition, so we’re very happy,” said Philippine Rugby Football Union president Rick Santos.

“We see the level of play has grown.”

The RMD Tigers also emerged as Plate champions after downing KK Sharks, 27-12, in the finals match.

In the Veterans division, the SCC Growlers ruled after avenging last year’s title-round loss to Flatplanet Fiji Adrian Smith leads his team New Zealand Warriors to victory.

Golden Oldies in a 10-7 decision.

World number one Serena Williams, a loser in back-toback finals for the first time since 2004, seeks a fourth consecutive Miami crown and ninth overall while top-ranked Novak Djokovic seeks his sixth Miami title and a record 28th ATP Masters crown.

But turmoil continued across the sport in the wake of disparaging comments about women’s tennis by Indian Wells tournament director Raymond Moore.

Men’s world number one Novak Djokovic subsequently fanned the flames of controversy by suggesting that the disparity in pay was justified.

“What a mess,” tweeted women’s tennis legend Martina Navratilova. “Moore totally blew it and Novak -- really?”

In comments to the BBC, Navratilova raised the notion of a women’s boycott of Indian Wells if Moore kept his job.

“It was really disheartening to see Ray Moore offer the extremely prejudiced and very old-fashioned statements regarding women tennis players,” she said. “We have made it this far on our own, without help from male players, and will continue to do so in the future.

“It would be hard to imagine any women to want to go and play at Indian Wells if Moore stays as the tournament director.”

WTA Tour chief executive Steve Simon on Sunday called Moore’s comments “extremely disappointing and alarming” and added, “The WTA stands on its own and was founded on the principles of equality and empowerment.”

ATP president Chris Kermode supported his fellow tour chief on Monday, backing the principle of prize money equality for men and women while admitting those decisions were in the hands of tournament directors.

“Ray Moore’s comments towards women’s tennis were disparaging and made in poor taste, as Ray has subsequently acknowledged,” Kermode said.

“The ATP fully supports equality across society while at the same time acknowledging that we operate in the sports and entertainment business.

The ATP seeks to achieve fair compensation for its players by setting minimum prize money levels for ATP events in accordance with the revenues that are generated from men’s professional tennis. AFP

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sports sports@thestandard.com.ph

Champ tests positive for banned drug AUSTRALIA’S first world heavyweight boxing champion Lucas Browne has reportedly tested positive for the banned substance clenbuterol and may possibly be stripped of his WBA heavyweight belt.

However, The Melbourne Age newspaper reported that Browne has gotten a lawyer and is set to defend himself against doping allegations following his knock-out victory over Ruslan Chagaev in Chechnya earlier this month.

The Age report indicated the Sydney-based West Australian now stands to be stripped of the WBA belt after the urine A Sample came back as positive following testing by the Las Vegas based VADA (Voluntary Anti-Doping Association) agency.

In an email to those involved with Browne, including his management team of Matt Clark and retired English great Ricky Hatton, VADA wrote: “This letter is to advise you that the ‘A’ sample urine specimen number 2998060 collected from Lucas Browne ... has been analyzed for anabolic agents, diuretics, beta-2 agonists and stimulants. The results of the analysis are as follows: Adverse. Urine specimen contains clenbuterol.” AFP

Kiteboard champ. Christian Tio hoists his trophy as he poses with (from left) Doque delos Santos, runner-up Louis Hutter of

France, third placer Simon Hierner and Eddian Manuel after winning the men’s Freestyle crown with a flawless performance in the final leg of the ICTSI Philippine Kiteboarding Tour Season 3 at Cuyo Island in Palawan recently.

Petron tossers battle Hogan gets $140m in sex-tape case mighty Bangkok Glass ST. PETERSBURG—Jurors on Monday awarded wrestling star Hulk Hogan a total of $140 million -- $25 million more than he was granted last week over a sex tape posted by entertainment website Gawker.

The 62-year-old Hogan, whose real name is Terry Bollea, successfully argued that the posting of the secretly recorded video featuring him and a friend’s wife -- which is less than two minutes long -- invaded his privacy and humiliated him.

Hogan burst into tears Friday after the sixmember jury announced its decision of the mammoth award in a court in St. Petersburg, Florida, after just six hours of deliberation. It was more than the $100 million Hogan had requested.

Yet Florida laws allow up to three times the compensatory amount in a case like this -- meaning another $345 million more could have been awarded as punitive damages.

Instead, jurors added $25 million in punitive damages to the $115 million original award for violating Hogan’s privacy.

Hogan’s lawyer has said the video -published in October 2012 -- was viewed around seven million times.

Gawker, which could face bankruptcy, intends to appeal. AFP

BANGKOK—The Petron-Philippine Superliga All-Star team gets a taste of world-class action as it battles a strong Bangkok Glass side in the opening day of the Thai-Denmark Super League women’s volleyball tournament Wednesday at the MCC Hall at The Mall Bangkapi here.

Games Today (MCC Hall at The Mall Bangkapi) 4 p.m. -- Bangkok Glass vs Petron-PSL All-Stars 6 p.m. -- Supreme Chonburi E Tech vs Hong Kong

The PSL stars test the power of the world-class Thais at 4 p.m., followed by the clash between Supreme Chonburi and Hong Kong at 6 p.m.

Bannered by Rachel Anne Daquis of RC Cola-Army and

Cha Cruz of F2 Logistics, the PSL Selection marched to this prestigious inter-club tourney facing a daunting task of completing a miraculous upset of fancied Thai foes.

“We draw strength from the depth of our bench,” said Petron-PSL All-Star coach George Pascua, who steered the Tri-Activ Spikers to backto-back PSL titles last year.

“Their talent is there. We’re now looking to improve their chemistry and familiarity

with each other, especially with our setters.”

But it will take gigantic effort before pulling the rug from under Bangkok Glass.

With prized middle blockers Pleumjit Thinkaow and Jarasporn Bundasak as well as playmaker Pornpun Guedpard at the helm, the Thais are expected to give the FIlipinos a serious fight as they are loaded with skills, talent and experience in the international stage.

Thinkaow and Bundasak, in fact, campaigned for the Thai national team in the Asian Games, Asian Championship and FIVB World Grand Prix while Guedpard was part of the squad that saw action in the Asian U23 Women’s Championship in Manila last year.

Bangkok Glass also copped the title in the AVC Asian Women’s Club Championship over

a powerful Hisamitsu Springs of Japan with Thinkaow taking home the Most Valuable Player honors in convincing fashion in Phu Ly, Vietnam last year.

Daquis, Aby Marano, Jen Reyes, Mina Aganon, Frances Molina and the rest of the Petron Tri-Activ Spikers also competed in that Asian tourney with Brazilians Rupia Inck and Erica Adachi serving as reinforcements.

They finished at seventh.

Still, Cruz believes that winning over the Thais is not impossible.

“But I’m pretty sure na kapag nakita na namin ‘yung aura namin sa game, everything is contagious. Lahat mag-i-step up, lahat mamomotivate na ibigay lahat,” said Cruz, who will be seeing action in the international tourney for the first time. AFP

Crosby Sports Festival slated in September

The team behind The Gemmalyn Crosby Sports Festival, which will add the Philippine Fitness and Wellness Expo this year at the SMX Convention Center on Sept. 3: They are (from left) Agnes C. Pacis, Vice President for Sales and Marketing; Karen C. Nicolas, National Sales Manager; Gemmalyn Crosby, the first and only Filipina International Federation of Bodybuilding and Fitness Pro, founder of the Gemmalyn Crosby Sports Festival; Rowena Garcia, in-charge for Manila events; and Walid Wafik, Vice President/General Manager.

GET ready to be fit!

The Gemmalyn Crosby Sports Festival this year will take a different twist. On Sept. 3, on top of the annual bodybuilding and martial arts competitions, the festival will add the Philippine Fitness and Wellness Expo.

“The year 2016 is going to be bigger than ever with the Fitness Expo being added to the event,” says founder Gemmalyn Crosby, the first and only Filipina International Federation of Bodybuilding and Fitness Pro. The Fitness and Wellness Expo will feature exhibitors, health and fitness enthusiasts, celebrities, kids’ sports, athletes and sporting events and competitions at the SMX Convention Center at the Mall of Asia Complex, Manila.

“Join us and be a part of the Philippine Fitness Expo by being a booth sponsor where you can highlight your company’s products and conduct promotional activities and more,” invites Crosby.

The Gemmalyn Crosby Sports Festival is an independent undertaking and not affiliated with other organizations. The expo is an independent event to reach out to all sports, fitness, health and wellness athletes and enthusiasts. AFP

W E D N E S D AY : M A R C H 2 3 , 2 0 1 6

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SPORTS sports@thestandard.com.ph

Nietes-Estrada duel in the works

By Ronnie Nathanielsz

ALA Promotions president Michael Aldeguer has confirmed that negotiations are ongoing for a possible title fight for WBO light flyweight champion Donnie Nietes against WBA/WBO flyweight world champion Francisco ‘El Gallo’ Estrada (33-2, 24 KOs), who has not seen any activity since September of 2015, due to an injury to his right hand that required surgery.

Estrada, who won the title from Brian Viloria and then successfully defended it against Milan Melindo in Macau, said he is very eager to get into the ring against

undefeated WBO junior flyweight champion Nietes, although he will be required to wait until the second half of the year.

Aldeguer told The Stan-

dard that negotiations are going on and he is actually looking for an Estrada-Nietes fight at the StubHub Center in California on Sept. 24.

The ALA chief revealed that he had already spoken to WBO president Francisco “Paco” Valcarcel if he would allow Nietes, who enjoys the privilege of being a Super Champion, to face Estrada.

“If he wins, he will retain the title at 112 pounds, but if he doesn’t, we honor the mandatory title defense against Moises Fuentes after 90 days,” Aldeguer said.

The ALA Promotions president said he had spo-

ken with Zanfer Promotions, headed by Fernando Beltran.

“We are hoping that HBO will come in. We have started talking with the Estrada camp about the possibility.

WBO president ‘Paco’ Valcarcel is open about it. We hope we can make it happen,” he said.

Aldeguer cited the case of super champion Omar Andres Narvaez, the flyweight super champion who fought Nonito “The Filipino Flash” Donaire in a super bantamweight title bout and lost, but retained his flyweight crown.

“The doctor ‘s order on Dec. 28 indicated that ap-

proximately four to six months of recovery would be required. I have not trained nor can I use the hand to punch because in fact I still have some swelling,” Estrada said.

Estrada had to undergo surgery to repair a torn ligament and remove a cyst from his right hand (an injury lingering for the last three years), and the hand is inflamed and swollen.

He told Boxing Scene: “I decided to have surgery after last fight because up to 80 percent of my ability was being affected. And sometimes, I fought through pain and after the fighting needed therapies.”

Pague extends win run in tennis meet PICKING up from where he left off from the Cagayan de Oro leg of the 2015 Cebuana Lhuillier Age-Group Tennis Championship Series, where he dominated the boys’ 16-under and 18-under, Zamboanga, Sibugay native Jose Ma. Pague repeated at the recently concluded Lala, Lanao del Norte leg.

Pague beat local bet Andre Cuevas in the 16-below finals and disposed of another local player in John Ernest Sonsona in the 18-under championship match, winning 8-1 and 8-5, in the two matches to emerge as the leg’s only double winner.

In a show of force by Lanao del Norte’s young players, Richard Bautista defeated provincemate Brent Sigmond Cortes, 8-5, to win the boys’ 14-under title, while Cortes consoled himself with his 8-6 victory over Oroquita City’s Nash Agustines in the 12-under finals.

Hometown player Heinz Asian Carbonilla, who hails from host town Lala, won over Kurt Gervan Bandolis, also

from Lanao del Norte, 4-1, 4-0 to take the 10-under unisex crown.

“What we are seeing are provincial players developing their skills continuously and we are already identifying those who have the potential to make it to the future national teams. Pague is one of them definitely,” said Jean Henri Lhuillier, President/ CEO of the sponsoring Cebuana Lhuillier, and is also the current Philippine Tennis Association Chairman.

The girls’ side had Ozamis City’s Carmeville Gervacio, a perennial winner in the circuit, and citymate Janmarie Anghag exchanging favors of sorts as Gervacio won 8-5 over Anghag for the 16-under title, while Anghag had her turn in the 18-under, where she defeated Gervacio, 8-5, in the championship match.

Another Lanao del Norte player, Gerly Mae Insong emerged the girls’ 12-under champion after beating Zamboanga del Sur’s Afea Rose Tabudlong, 8-2, in the finals.

National Paragames. Disabled athletes from 22 provinces throughout the country are

taking part in the 5th Philippine Sports Association for the Differently Abled National Para Games 2016. Philspada president Mike Barredo (left) said on Tuesday that the athletes who are joining will take part in the 10 sports disciplines when action begins on March 27 at the Marikina Sports Complex. Barredo is joined by Atty. Jay Alano, Head, National Event Competition of the Philippine Sports Commission. LINO SANTOS

Tata...

From A15

(nearly 25% of all participants), as well as providing the official smartphone app for the race.

“The Clark Animo 7 is a fantastic platform for TCS Philippines in a number of ways. The race is a great opportunity for TCS to support a superb local fitness initiative in a key focus growth market, Pampanga, where TCS is expanding quickly and has a strong commitment to create more employment opportunities and build IT and Business Process capabilities in the region,” Vikram Singh, Country Manager of TCS Philippines said.

Singh added: “TCS is committed to bringing in new technology to the sport of running and our Digital Enterprise unit developed the official event mobile application for the Clark Animo 7, which enhanced the digital experience of the event for both runners and their supporters. Additionally, Clark Animo 7 creates a wonderful local platform for TCS to expand our global marathon partnership footprint, with the race joining the likes of the TCS NYC Marathon and other leading races we sponsor and/or provide digital solutions for.”

Aside from strengthening the community of running enthusiasts in the country, the marathon served an ecofriendly purpose. The proceeds of the event will go to the Angeles City Watershed as part of their project dubbed as “Green Run for a Cause”.

Clark Animo 7 is the latest of a global running and wellness agenda at TCS. The company has developed a global emphasis on health education and environment as part of corporate focus to promote wellness and community development through partners.

Picson: PH boxers are focused to be dominant in Olympic qualifying tilt

Ed Picson, Executive Director of the Association of Boxing Alliances of the Philippines, responds to questions from sportswriters during the PSA Forum regarding boxing in the Rio Olympics. LINO SANTOS

THE Association of Boxing Alliances in the Philippines has laid out a simple battle plan for the six boxers seeing action in the AsiaOceania Olympic qualifying tournament in Qian’an, China from March 25 to April 2.

“Our boxers are focused on being dominant. They should be the ones to carry the fight,” said ABAP executive director Ed Picson during Tuesday’s Philippine Sportswriters Association Forum at Shakey’s Malate.

“The judges are looking for dominance and aggressiveness,” said head coach Pat Gaspi.

The Philippines will send five male and one female boxer to the China event, each one of them hoping to nail slots in the Rio Olympics in August.

Picson said in the men’s division, the top three boxers will earn Olympic slots, while in the women’s division, only the gold and silver

medalists will advance.

The two bronze medalists in the men’s side will figure in a box-off to determine the third qualifier.

Representing the Philippines are lightfly Rogen Ladon, flyweight Roldan Boncales, bantamweight Mario Fernandez, lightweight Charly Suarez and welterweight Eumir Felix Marcial in the men’s side, and flyweight Nesthy Petecio in the women’s category.

Coach Boy Velasco, who joined 15 ABAP boxers to a three-week training camp in the United States recently, said hopes are high on all six boxers.

“They are our top contenders.

These boxers are all ready to qualify to the Olympics,” he said in the forum backed by San Miguel Corp., Shakey’s, Accel, and the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corp.

The team, including coaches Roel Velasco and Romeo Brin,

leaves this morning for Qian’an.

After failing to clinch Olympic slots in the World Championships in Doha, Qatar last October, Ladon and Marcial are more determined to make it.

Suarez, a silver medalist in the 2014 Asian Games and current standout in the AIBA Pro Boxing tournament, Boncales and Petecio are equally determined.

But Picson said it’s not getting easier to qualify.

“Our boxers are going through the eye of the needle. But we are happy with our preparation. Our training camp in the United States was very productive,” said the ABAP official.

“We are very excited with this group. This is the best team we’ve had in seven years and hopefully it will translate to more qualifiers and eventually medals in the Olympics,” Picson added.

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SPORTS sports@thestandard.com.ph

Sulaiman is special guest at OPBF convention WORLD Boxing Council president Mauricio Sulaiman will undertake a whirlwind trip to the Philippines late March to be special guest at the Gabriel “Flash” Elorde Annual Awards at the Sofitel Hotel on March 29 and will also attend the Oriental Pacific Boxing Federation Annual Convention which opens in Bacolod City the following day.

Sulaiman will be able to watch

newly crowned WBC international champion Giemel Magramo, who will face John Najawa in a supporting bout at the Elorde awards, while top WBC junior fly contender and OPBF champion Jonathan Taconing will also see action in an exhibition bout as he prepares for a world title fight against Ganigan Lopez of Mexico.

The event will also honor Boxers of the Year in light flyweight

champions Rey Singwancha Loreto and Randy Petalcorin.

Another highlight of the prestigious event will be the “Casting of Fists,” where the first batch of all-time Philippine greats will have their fists cast in stone.

The first batch will include eight-division champion Manny Pacquiao, light flyweight champion Donnie Nietes, super bantamweight king Nonito Donaire Jr., former

two-division world champion Gerry Penalosa, former would junior lightweight champions Rene Barrientos and Rolando Navarette and world flyweight champion Erbito Salavarria.

The two grandsons of “Flash” Elorde, lightweight Juan Martin Elorde and featherweight Juan Miguel Elorde will see action on the card and are expected to overcome their Indonesian opponents. Ronnie Nathanielsz

LOTTO RESULTS

6/49 00-00-00-00-00-00 6/42 00-00-00-00-00-00 6 DIGITS 0-0-0-0-0-0 3 DIGITS 0-0-0 2 EZ2 0-0

P0.0 M+ P0.0 M+

Floyd still makes $1m a month

By Ronnie Nathanielsz

FLOYD Mayweather Jr. revealed that he still makes $1millon a month and is happy to stay retired.

Race sponsorship expands TCS’ fitness and global marathon sponsorship program into the Philippines, while promoting local causes in Pampanga.

Tata Consultancy, Clark Animo 7 ink pact TATA Consultancy Services, a leading IT services, consulting and business solutions firm, is proud to announce the successful partnership with the Clark Animo 7 Marathon, held March 6 at the Clark Freeport Zone.

TCS was the title sponsor of Clark Animo 7, which set a record for the biggest ever participation with over 3,300 run-

ners. Clark Animo 7 is the first running event sponsorship for TCS in the Philippines, and supports TCS’ plans for expansion in Pampanga.

The Clark Animo Run 7 is an annual running event organized by the De La Salle Alumni Association. It has categories such as the 5 kilometer, 10 kilometer, 21 kilometer and the full

marathon 42 kilometer run.

This years’ running activity also featured the route leading to the Clark International Airport Passenger Terminal Building, wherein the participants had a chance to see the airport’s facilities. This was done to exhibit the event organizers’ support for the Clark International Airport Corporation’s efforts in promoting

the Clark Airport.

TCS became the title sponsor for the event in 2016, which also featured Cherifer, New Balance, Globe Telecoms, Nepo Center, Nepo Mall as major sponsors. TCS also had a large presence at the race, with over 700 TCS employees registered to run Clark Animo 7

Turn to A14

The former pound-forpound king retired after beating eight-division world champion Manny Pacquiao in a disappointing “Fight of the Century” last May 2. He then scored a lopsided decision over Andre Berto in September, ending his glittering career undefeated at 49-0.

Sky Sports in Britain reported that plenty of fighters have tried to tempt Mayweather (49-0-KO 24) out of retirement, including long-time rival Manny Pacquiao, who returns to the ring to take on Timothy Bradley in Las Vegas on April 9.

But the 39-year-old Mayweather is now focused on promoting and is happy with the decision to hang up his gloves.

In a post on Instagram, Mayweather said: “Making seven figures monthly without moving a finger, just further proves that I’ve made brilliant investments and decisions that allow me to walk away from the ring. They say ‘life is what you make it’ and to that, I’ll agree wholeheartedly!”

He added: “As I sit here acknowledging how blessed

I am to be retired a year shy of my 40th birthday, it’s nearly impossible to say that I am not living the ‘American Dream’. Without my usual six-pack or muscle tone in sight, I can sit back and get the last laugh, knowing that I put in the ‘Hard Work & Dedication’ to be 49-0. I’m blessed to wake up every morning, certain that my bank accounts are growing. I’m proud to be a King.”

Mayweather, who recently completed an European media tour, which included several shows in Britain with Sky Sports Johnny Nelson hosting a number of them, said he will not be making a return to boxing.

“The one thing that hasn’t surprised me is the way he has been mobbed wherever he’s gone. You could see people getting itchy in their seats— moaning and groaning— but as soon as he walked in, all that disappeared.

People were all over him.

They wanted autographs, pictures, questions, everything. He apologized for being late but it was completely forgotten as soon as they saw him,” Nelson said.

Space Needle soars in Philracom 3YO Stakes THE HOARSE WHISPERER JENNY ORTUOSTE

STONY Road Horse Farm’s Space Needle scored an upset over seven others to win the Philippine Racing Commission 3YO Fillies and Colts stakes last Sunday (Mar. 20) at Metroturf Racecourse.

Space Needle, sent off as the far fourth favorite, was ably guided by jockey Jeffril T. Zarate to a onelength win over second placer Guatemala.

Total time for 1,400 meters: 1:24.8 (12.8-22.4-23-26.6).

Johnny Be Good 3rd, Sippin

Beauty 4th. Zarate was fined P1,000 for grandstanding under PR (Philippine racing rule) 76-L. *** Philracom’s next stakes race, for 4YO and older over a 1,500-meter distance, is on Sunday (Mar. 27) at San Lazaro Leisure Park. The bolahan (drawing of post positions) for this race is today.

Philracom also reminds racing fans that Maundy Thursday and Good Friday (Mar. 24 and 25) are no-race days.

Likewise, the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office, another government agency that supports horseracing, will not hold Lotto draws nor sell tickets during those two days.

*** Philracom recently amended the rule on the retirement age of horse in an effort to address the issue of the declining racehorse population The Commission resolved last March 2 to amend Resolution No. 15 of 2014, which extends the retirement age of local racehorses from 12 to 14 years, by addition of the following conditions: that such horses “can run only one official race…every 30 days,” and that the rule “shall also apply even to those horses that had been retired at the age of 12 years.”

Horses that have reached their 14th year as reckoned from their date of foaling shall be retired on January 1 of the succeeding year.

“This amended rule that extends the retirement age allows older horses to race safely,” said Philracom Chairman Andrew A. Sanchez, “while at the same time allowing for the augmentation of the pool of active racehorses.”

While there are some 2,000 or so registered horses each year, only about two-thirds are available to race at any given time, with the rest temporarily sidelined and others no longer running. *** My sincere thanks to the National Book Development Board for awarding me a writing grant that will support my research into the culture and communication of Philippine horseracing.

The grant is for the pur-

pose of converting my PhD dissertation into a publishable manuscript.

One of the interesting aspects of my project is my compilation of a salitang karera lexicon. The more words I add, the more words I remember, or that others submit for inclusion!

It seems a never-ending task, but one that I am excited to perform, along with writing context-specific defintions for the salita. I don’t rely on the English equivalent, but create my own that situate the meanings in this particular environment.

Here are a few examples: “Kaladkád. In betting, to pair one horse in a race to all entries in the next race.

Kalahók. A participant or

entry; the entries or starters in a field; the horses competing in a race. Kalmadúra.

In horses, dandruff or dead skin cells.”

While these words have meanings in mainstream culture, they also have meanings specific to the racing community, and that’s where the interest lies.

It’ll probably be a year or so before this book will be out, and I’ll still be compiling salita until the manuscript goes to press. It’ll be the first study and book on this particular topic as seen through the lens of subcultural studies. *** Facebook: Gogirl Racing, Twitter: @gogirlracing, Instagram: @jensdecember

A16

W E D N E S DAY : M A R C H 2 3 , 2 0 16 RIERA U. MALL ARI EDITOR

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

sports@thestandard.com.ph

SPORTS

Jeremy Lin (7) of the Charlotte Hornets celebrates during the game against the San Antonio Spurs at Time Warner Cable Arena in Charlotte, North Carolina. AFP

Spurs stung as Lin leads Charlotte 5’s fightback LOS ANGELES—Jeremy Lin inspired a stunning fightback as the Charlotte Hornets rallied from a 23-point deficit to upset the San Antonio Spurs 91-88 on Monday.

Lin drained 29 points including four three-pointers as the Hornets shocked the in-form Spurs, who were brought crashing back down to earth two days after beating the allconquering Golden State Warriors.

Lin’s points haul included a superb fallaway jump shot with 48.4 seconds left which gave the Hornets the lead at 89-88 before adding two free throws with 18.3 seconds on the clock to complete the scoring.

“He’s a very committed player,” Hornets coach Steve Clifford said.

“He comes in and he works so

Spiderman scales Paris skyscraper TURN TO A12

hard. You’re going to get his best effort every night.

“He obviously came in and picked our energy up tonight, in both halves. He was the catalyst.”

The victory saw the Hornets improve to 40-30, easing the sting of a disappointing home defeat to the Denver Nuggets at the weekend.

“We just turned it up,” Lin said.

“I can’t even think, man. We just played hard. I’m just thankful to God. I’ve been struggling so much and we lost one the other night that we felt we shouldn’t have lost, so to come out here and get this

win is a huge boost for us.”

‘Please try harder’ The Spurs looked to be racing away to a blowout win after leading 28-7 after the first quarter.

But Lin added 12 points in the second to chip away at the Spurs’ lead. Charlotte then took the lead for the first time at 75-74 with 9:10 remaining after a Lin three-pointer.

Clifford joked that he had given his team candid advice as he attempted to rally them after their disastrous first quarter.

“I told them, ‘Please try harder, please,’” Clifford said. “’I’m begging you, please. I know you make more money than me, I know most of you could get me fired. I’m just saying please, so I can sleep on the plane tonight, please just try a little bit harder.’”

Spurs coach Gregg Popovich

PH boxers focused to be dominant TURN TO A14

blamed the defeat for a sloppy second quarter when the bench failed to ram home the advantage built up in the first quarter.

“In the second quarter, I thought our second team was basically out to lunch,” Popovich said. “It was one-on-one, turnovers, gave up 29 points in the quarter. That sealed the fate right there.”

Dubs bounce back While the Spurs slumped, Golden State recovered from their weekend defeat with a 109-104 win against the Minnesota Timberwolves.

Stephen Curry had a modest night by his standards, but still contributed 19 points as the Warriors moved to 63-7—just 10 wins away from setting a new record for the best regular season in NBA history. AFP

La Salle, NU bag chess titles UAAP Season 78 chess: Bersamina powers NU to men’s title, DLSU lady woodpushers win back-to-back Final standings after 14 rounds: Men—NU 42.5, UST 36, DLSU 29.5, FEU 28, UE 26, AdU 25, Ateneo 21.5, UP 15.5 Women—DLSU 42.5, FEU 38.5, UP 34, NU 29, UST 27.5, UE 22.5, AdU 21, Ateneo 8.

IM PAULO Bersamina powered National University in ending a threedecade title drought in the men’s division, while De La Salle won a second straight women’s crown at the end of the UAAP Season 78 chess tournament.

The Bulldogs pooled 42.5 points to defeat University of Santo Tomas, which placed second with 36 points, and the Green Archers, who tallied 29 points in third at the end of the 14th round at the Henry Sy Sr. Hall inside the De La Salle campus.

NU won its third men’s chess title overall, but the first since 1986, thanks to the brilliant efforts of Bersamina, the Cavite native, who took home the Rookie-MVP honors.

Last season’s titlist Far Eastern University crashed out of the podium as it settled for fourth with 28 points.

De La Salle, meanwhile, had 42.5 points to bag its second straight title and sixth overall, the most in the league.

The Lady Archers were led by WIM Bernadette Galas, who took home the season MVP honors, and WFM Marie Antonette San Diego, who captured the Rookie of the Year honors, as they overcame the Lady Tamaraws, who were bridesmaids for the second consecutive season with 38 points.

B1

WEDNESDAY: MARCH 23, 2016

RAY S. EÑANO EDITOR

RODERICK T. DELA CRUZ ASSISTANT EDITOR

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

BUSINESS

MPIC to sign Cebu bridge deal

By Darwin G. Amojelar

THE tollway unit of Metro Pacific Investments Corp. expects to sign within the month the joint venture agreement with Cebu government for the P27.9-billion third bridge between Mactan Island and mainland Cebu after the provincial council approved it.

“We were in Cebu City [Thursday last week], we presented to the Cebu City council and actually in the meeting, the Cebu City council approved the project and granted the mayor the authority to sign the joint venture agreement,” said Metro Pacific Tollways Corp. president Rodrigo Franco.

Franco said the company ex-

pects to sign the joint venture agreement with the Cebu City government within the month.

“After the signing, we have to fulfil approval from the PRA [Philippine Reclamation Authority], TRB [Toll Regulatory Board] and we have until the end of the year to secure that,” he added.

Franco said the company

planned to start the construction of the Cebu-Codova Bridge in the second half of next year and complete it by 2020.

Metro Pacific Tollways Development Corp. secured the notices of award from both the City of Cebu and the Municipality of Cordova for the financing, design, construction, implementation, operation and maintenance of the Cebu-Cordova Bridge tollroad subject to compliance with conditions.

MPTC obtained the original proponent status for the proposed Cebu-Cordova bridge project from Cebu City and the municipality of Cordova in January 2015.

The project spans 8.3 kilometers, which will link the island of Mactan to mainland Cebu

through the municipality of Cordova.

The Metro Pacific Group, which corners 60 percent of the Philippines’ toll road industry, operates North Luzon Expressway, Subic Clark Tarlac Expressway and the Manila Cavite Expressway.

The Metro Pacific Group is also the proponent of a road link project, which involves the construction of an eight-kilometer, fourlane toll road that will link the existing NLEx and SLEx, passing through Metro Manila and using the existing Philippine National Railway alignment as its route.

The Public Works Department will implement the project, which has a total estimated cost of P23.2 billion and a concession period of

35 years.

The Swiss Challenge for the project is scheduled in the third quarter of 2016.

Citra Metro Manila Tollways Corp., which is separately constructing the P26.7-billion Skyway Stage 3 Project, will construct the five-kilometer common alignment from Polytechnic University of the Philippines in Sta. Mesa, Manila to Buendia in Makati City of the NLEx-SLEx project.

MPIC also won the P35.4billion Cavite-Laguna Expressway project, which involves the financing, design, construction, operation and maintenance of a four-lane, 47-kilometer closedsystem toll expressway connecting Manila-Cavite Expressway and South Luzon Expressway.

PSe comPoSite index Closing March 22, 2016

8300 7840 7380 6920 6460 6000

1

7,342.03 34.38

PeSo-dollar rate

Closing March 22, 2016 48.00 46.00 45.00

P46.290

44.00

CLOSE

43.00

HIGH P46.170 LOW P46.395 AVERAGE P46.256 VOLUME 644.500M

P400.00-P620.00 LPG/11-kg tank

GMA expansion. GMA Network Inc. extends its global footprint with the launchings of new carriers in the Middle East and Singapore this month. The

network through unit GMA International on March 16 rolled out its three international channels in the Middle East and North Africa through OSN, the dominant pay-TV network in the region. At OSN’s courtesy call at the GMA Network Center in Quezon City are (from left) Chuck Silva, OSN Pinoy director; Emad Morcos, OSN senior vice president for media partners, affiliate channels and digital content; GMA Network president and chief operating officer Gilberto Duavit Jr.; GMA first VP and head of international operations Joseph Francia; and Kapuso host Willie Revillame. Related story on B5.

Sin tax collection rose 37% to P18.5b in 2 months

By Gabrielle H. Binaday EXCISE tax collection from the so-called ‘sin products’ climbed 37 percent in the first two months of 2016 to P18.46 billion from a year ago, on the back of higher consumption and tax adjustments this year, the Bureau of Internal Revenue said Tuesday.

Latest data from BIR showed excise tax collection from tobacco and alcohol products increased from P13.44 billion collected in the same period in 2015.

Actual collection also exceeded the P16.19-billion target for the two-month period by 14 percent.

The sin tax law, or Republic Act No. 10351, restructured the ex-

cise taxes on alcohol and tobacco products, which started in January 2013 with the goal of shifting to unitary taxation by 2017.

Excise tax rate on a pack cigarettes with a net retail price of up to P11.50 increased to P25 in 2016 from P21 in 2015. The tax rate on a pack of cigarettes with a net retail price of more than P11.50 was also adjusted to P29 from P28. Both low-priced and premium brands will have a uniform tax rate of P30 per pack.

Tax on alcohol beverage included an ad valorem tax rate of 20 percent of the net retail price per proof and specific tax of P20.80 per proof liter this year.

BIR said excise tax collection

from tobacco products in the January-February period increased 48.91 percent to P10.86 billion from P7.29 billion a year ago.

Collection from tobacco products were also 9.35 percent higher than the P9.93-billion target collection.

Collection from alcohol products also climbed 23.74 percent to P7.61 billion from P6.15 billion and topped the P6.26-billion target by 21.6 percent.

Data showed that of the total remittance of alcohol products, P5.55 billion were from fermented liquors while the remaining P2.06 billion were from distilled spirits and compounded liquors.

The volume of withdrawals of tobacco products in the January

to February period rose almost 33 percent to 400.86 million packs from t301.59 million packs a year earlier.

Total volume of withdrawals of fermented liquors also increased 19.18 percent to 258.33 million liters from the 216.22 million liters in the same period last year.

Withdrawals of distilled spirits and compounded liquors also grew 6.20 percent to 58.650 million liters in the two-month period.

The BIR, the largest tax collecting agency of the country, aims to collect P170.72 billion from excise tax this year or 8.43 percent of the agency’s P2.025-trillion total target collection.

P30.00-P39.32 Unleaded Gasoline

oPriceS il P today

P19.25-P22.75 Diesel P34.55-P39.15 Kerosene Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas Tuesday, March 22, 2016

F oreign e xchange r ate Currency

Unit

US Dollar

Peso

United States

Dollar

1.000000

46.4930

Japan

Yen

0.008934

0.4154

UK

Pound

1.437500

66.8337

Hong Kong

Dollar

0.128994

5.9973

Switzerland

Franc

1.030609

47.9161

Canada

Dollar

0.763534

35.4990

Singapore

Dollar

0.735294

34.1860

Australia

Dollar

0.757900

35.2370

Bahrain

Dinar

2.655337

123.4546

Saudi Arabia

Rial

0.266688

12.3991

Brunei

Dollar

0.732601

34.0608

Indonesia

Rupiah

0.000076

0.0035

Thailand

Baht

0.028670

1.3330

UAE

Dirham

0.272309

12.6605

Euro

Euro

1.124200

52.2674

Korea

Won

0.000862

0.0401

China

Yuan

0.154083

7.1638

India

Rupee

0.015040

0.6993

Malaysia

Ringgit

0.246396

11.4557

New Zealand

Dollar

0.676500

31.4525

Taiwan

Dollar

0.030950

1.4390 Source: PDS Bridge

WEDNESDAY: MARCH 23, 2016

B2

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

The STandard BuSineSS daily STockS review Tuesday, March 22, 2016

52 Weeks

Previous

High Low 7.88 75.3 124.4 107 56.5 4.2 17 30.45 2.6 890 1.01 100 1.46 30.5 75 91.5 137 361.2 57 180 1700 124 3.26

2.5 66 88.05 88.1 45.45 1.68 12.02 19.6 1.02 625 0.225 78 0.9 17.8 58 62 88.35 276 41 118.2 1200 59 2.65

47 5 1.46 2.36 15.3 148 20.6 36 65.8 2.97 4.14 21.5 21.6 11.96 9.13 11.8 31.8 109 20.75 15.3 9.4 0.98 241

35.9 1.11 1.01 1.86 7.92 32 15.32 10.08 29.15 1.5 1.5 10.72 9.55 9.04 6.02 8.86 20.2 71.5 13.86 13.24 5.34 0.395 173

79 4 33.9 90 13.26 293 5 5.25 12.98 6.75 15 7.03 3.4 4.5 6.3 7.34 1450 3.28 0.315 2.18 2.65 234 5.28 1.3 2.17

34.1 1.63 23.35 17.3 5.88 250.2 3.37 3.87 8.45 3 10.04 3.03 1.95 1 4.02 5.9 801 1.55 0.138 1.02 2.09 152 4.28 0.640 1.2

0.59 59.2 30.05 7.39 3.4 3.35 823.5 10.2 84 3.35 4.92 1455 7.5

0.44 48.1 20.85 6.62 0.23 0.23 634.5 7.390 12.8 2.6 2.26 837 5.3

76 6.5 5.29 9.25 0.85 17.3 0.71 5.53 0.0670 2.31 1.61 84.9 3.5 974 1.66 156 0.710 0.435

49.55 3.43 3 4.84 0.59 12 0.580 4.2 0.030 1.23 0.550 59.3 1.5 751 1.13 80 0.211 0.179

10.5 1.99 1.75 0.375 41.4 5.6 5.59 1.44 1.48

6.74 0.65 1.2 0.192 30.05 3.36 4.96 0.79 0.97

STOCKS

High

Low

FINANCIAL 3.06 2.96 46.25 46.2 105.80 104.50 91.40 89.50 38.8 38.2 1.32 1.32 14.34 14.3 15.36 15.18 1.75 1.71 649.50 620.00 0.580 0.570 87.35 86.15 0.95 0.94 14.50 14.50 23.60 23.60 53.90 53.50 103 103 294 285 30 28.75 163.4 157 1350.00 1345.00 58.00 57.45 1.54 1.53 INDUSTRIAL Aboitiz Power Corp.

43.45 44.5 43.1 Agrinurture Inc. 4.93 4.97 4.84 Alliance Tuna Intl Inc. 0.73 0.77 0.73 Alsons Cons.

1.45 1.45 1.4 Asiabest Group 10.42 10.6 10.2 C. Azuc De Tarlac 188.00 188.00 180.00 Century Food 18.98 18.98 18.5 Cirtek Holdings (Chips) 17.8 18.2 17.5 Concepcion 42.4 43.5 42 Crown Asia 2.55 2.55 2.42 Da Vinci Capital 5.95 6.05 5.76 Del Monte 11.48 11.48 11.36 DNL Industries Inc. 9.310 9.390 9.210 Emperador 7.20 7.36 7.20 Energy Devt. Corp. (EDC) 5.93 6.00 5.93 EEI 7.18 7.20 7.09 First Gen Corp.

20.75 21.25 20.4 First Holdings ‘A’ 64 64.25 63.95 Ginebra San Miguel Inc. 11.40 12.34 11.42 Holcim Philippines Inc. 13.90 13.82 13.80 Integ. Micro-Electronics 5.68 5.8 5.63 Ionics Inc 3.060 3.240 2.800 Jollibee Foods Corp.

230.00 233.80 229.40 LBC Express 10.5 10.7 10 Liberty Flour 29.00 32.00 29.00 Mabuhay Vinyl 3.1 3.04 3.04 Manila Water Co. Inc. 26.75 26.8 26.5 Maxs Group 21.3 22 21.1 Megawide 6.3 6.35 6.3 Mla. Elect. Co `A’ 321.20 325.00 318.00 Panasonic Mfg Phil. Corp. 4.10 4.17 4.10 Pepsi-Cola Products Phil. 3.99 4.03 3.9 Petron Corporation 10.30 10.62 10.20 Phil H2O 3.36 3.36 3 Phinma Corporation 11.48 11.52 11.48 Phoenix Petroleum Phils. 4.34 4.35 4.29 Phoenix Semiconductor 1.75 1.80 1.72 Pryce Corp. `A’ 2.65 2.79 2.66 RFM Corporation 4.15 4.20 4.16 Roxas Holdings 4.8 5.15 4.8 San Miguel ‘Pure Foods `A’ 169.1 169 161 Splash Corporation 2.45 2.5 2.47 Swift Foods, Inc. 0.161 0.159 0.157 TKC Steel Corp.

1.33 1.29 1.21 Trans-Asia Oil 2.70 2.73 2.65 Universal Robina 210 211 207 Victorias Milling 4.6 4.68 4.6 Vitarich Corp.

0.77 0.78 0.7 Vulcan Ind’l.

1.15 1.19 1.14 HOLDING FIRMS Abacus Cons. `A’ 0.350 0.355 0.355 Aboitiz Equity 64.25 64.60 61.10 Alliance Global Inc. 16.00 16.10 15.98 Anscor `A’ 6.12 6.20 6.13 ATN Holdings A 0.285 0.285 0.280 ATN Holdings B 0.290 0.295 0.280 Ayala Corp `A’ 747.5 752.5 745 Cosco Capital 7.31 7.48 7.3 DMCI Holdings 13.74 13.86 13.28 F&J Prince ‘A’ 5.04 5.15 4.91 Filinvest Dev. Corp.

5.00 5.04 4.95 GT Capital 1435 1445 1420 House of Inv. 5.96 6.10 6.10 IPM Holdings 9.55 9.75 9.55 JG Summit Holdings 82.00 81.95 79.45 Jolliville Holdings 4.18 4.8 4.2 Keppel Holdings `A’ 4.66 5.89 5.89 Lopez Holdings Corp.

6.48 6.55 6.34 Lodestar Invt. Holdg.Corp. 0.7 0.71 0.69 LT Group 15.9 15.94 15.78 Mabuhay Holdings `A’ 0.500 0.510 0.510 Metro Pacific Inv. Corp. 5.99 6 5.92 Pacifica `A’ 0.0340 0.0350 0.0330 Prime Media Hldg 1.370 1.360 1.230 Prime Orion 1.990 2.010 1.960 San Miguel Corp `A’ 77.50 77.45 76.65 Seafront `A’ 2.2 2.30 2.30 SM Investments Inc. 994.50 997.00 988.00 Solid Group Inc. 1.12 1.12 1.10 Top Frontier 165.000 169.100 157.100 Unioil Res. & Hldgs 0.3100 0.3100 0.3050 Wellex Industries 0.1930 0.1950 0.1930 PROPERTY 8990 HLDG 7.800 7.750 7.500 A. Brown Co., Inc. 0.84 0.88 0.84 Araneta Prop `A’ 1.630 1.630 1.540 Arthaland Corp.

0.226 0.230 0.225 Ayala Land `B’ 36.950 36.850 35.650 Belle Corp. `A’ 2.89 2.97 2.88 Cebu Holdings 5.16 5.18 5.18 Century Property 0.560 0.56 0.550 Cityland Dev. `A’ 0.980 1.020 1.000 AG Finance Asia United Bank Banco de Oro Unibank Inc. Bank of PI China Bank Bright Kindle Resources COL Financial Eastwest Bank I-Remit Inc. Manulife Fin. Corp.

MEDCO Holdings Metrobank Natl. Reinsurance Corp.

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

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

Close

SHARES 11,166,102 121,655,649 124,305,310 141,682,896 525,124,455 235,491,704 1,161,775,786

3 46.25 104.90 90.00 38.3 1.32 14.38 15.28 1.79 649.50 0.580 87.35 0.96 14.64 25.45 53.80 103 292.8 29.8 162.3 1345.00 58.00 1.53

Close

%

Net Foreign

Change Volume

Trade/Buying

2.97 46.25 105.00 91.40 38.2 1.32 14.34 15.24 1.75 620.00 0.570 87.2 0.95 14.50 23.60 53.90 103 289.8 29.1 162 1350.00 57.50 1.54

-1.00 0.00 0.10 1.56 -0.26 0.00 -0.28 -0.26 -2.23 -4.54 -1.72 -0.17 -1.04 -0.96 -7.27 0.19 0.00 -1.02 -2.35 -0.18 0.37 -0.86 0.65

47,000 4,700 2,424,500 1,056,290 150,300 59,000 1,400 187,600 15,000 480 540,000 2,320,930 241,000 87,100 1,000 46,830 2,010 16,550 1,765,600 976,450 20 27,630 1,193,000

43.5 4.94 0.76 1.42 10.3 188.00 18.6 17.5 42 2.47 5.83 11.4 9.390 7.20 5.95 7.19 20.75 64.05 11.50 13.80 5.63 2.890 230.00 10.6 31.90 3.04 26.8 21.6 6.3 318.00 4.17 3.99 10.58 3.36 11.52 4.34 1.75 2.7 4.17 4.8 166 2.47 0.157 1.26 2.70 209 4.68 0.7 1.14

0.12 0.20 4.11 -2.07 -1.15 0.00 -2.00 -1.69 -0.94 -3.14 -2.02 -0.70 0.86 0.00 0.34 0.14 0.00 0.08 0.88 -0.72 -0.88 -5.56 0.00 0.95 10.00 -1.94 0.19 1.41 0.00 -1.00 1.71 0.00 2.72 0.00 0.35 0.00 0.00 1.89 0.48 0.00 -1.83 0.82 -2.48 -5.26 0.00 -0.48 1.74 -9.09 -0.87

3,492,900 1,272,000 29,000 1,497,000 8,100 40 363,400 456,200 900 1,023,000 1,551,200 97,000 926,800 2,702,100 20,620,300 177,900 5,684,100 290,150 800 2,200 100,800 41,221,000 1,007,070 14,500 3,100 4,000 482,600 1,398,400 1,357,900 250,740 16,000 170,000 14,187,200 17,000 500 224,000 338,000 102,000 325,000 3,000 2,630 610,000 1,050,000 461,000 5,455,000 2,088,110 30,000 10,443,000 12,000

0.355 63.80 16.06 6.20 0.285 0.280 749.5 7.35 13.40 5.03 5.04 1434 6.10 9.75 80.80 4.5 5.89 6.5 0.69 15.8 0.510 5.95 0.0330 1.360 1.970 76.90 2.3 989.50 1.10 169.100 0.3100 0.1950

1.43 -0.70 0.37 1.31 0.00 -3.45 0.27 0.55 -2.47 -0.20 0.80 -0.07 2.35 2.09 -1.46 7.66 26.39 0.31 -1.43 -0.63 2.00 -0.67 -2.94 -0.73 -1.01 -0.77 4.55 -0.50 -1.79 2.48 0.00 1.04

20,000 1,620,310 13,367,700 7,000 80,000 110,000 271,250 967,800 6,335,500 201,400 106,400 136,215 300 280,700 3,629,490 5,000 1,000 5,810,000 128,000 17,404,600 20,000 22,508,100 47,700,000 36,000 384,000 180,350 1,000 349,280 80,000 46,920 1,500,000 520,000

7.720 0.86 1.620 0.225 36.200 2.97 5.18 0.550 1.020

-1.03 2.38 -0.61 -0.44 -2.03 2.77 0.39 -1.79 4.08

113,700 706,000 175,000 290,000 11,795,800 2,092,000 5 2,685,000 14,000

-15,150.00 180,280.00 38,433,500 68,017,932.00

-1,764,460.00 124,000.00 87,014,949.00 95,000.00 -1,132,450.00 141,527.00 2,777,576.00 -18,495,405 21,759,940.00 5,750.00 8,892,650.00 123,050.00

-184,812.00 8,700 2,450.00 88,500.00 -34,340.00 5,538,052.00 -10,735,528.00 11,023,796.00 771,770.00 -14,137,585.00 10,957,162.00 11,260.00 -840,390.00 -94,064,184.00 5,350.00 -3,743,305.00 -1,414,310.00 8,530,690.00 20,989,568.00 465,080.00 -8,257,132.00

481,870.00 81,220.00

133,500.00 88,880,440.00 92,000.00 105,000.00

24,093,674.00 -77,827,848.00 -28,000.00 74,940,395.00 2,866,449.00 9,486,944.00 503,392.00 -28,222,730.00 113,275,419.50 9,000.00 4,891,959.00 -155,868,298.00 -26,804,312.00 0.03 1,783,752.00 44,424,810.00 47,130.00

352,617.00

-69,467,435.00 -107,310.00 25,900.00 -27,440.00

52 Weeks

Previous

High Low

STOCKS

Close

High

%

Net Foreign

Change Volume

Trade/Buying

0.083 0.415 2.4 0.83 0.188 1.15 1.42 1.27 3.1 4.13 0.090 0.290 23 2.69 22.15 1.6 3.1 15.08 0.69 3.38 0.83 5.73

Crown Equities Inc. 0.129 Cyber Bay Corp.

0.495 Double Dragon 39.5 Empire East Land 0.870 Ever Gotesco 0.153 Global-Estate 1.04 Filinvest Land,Inc. 1.81 Interport `A’ 1.31 Keppel Properties 3.74 Megaworld 4.11 MRC Allied Ind. 0.093 Phil. Estates Corp.

0.2300 Phil. Tob. Flue Cur & Redry 19.60 Primex Corp.

8.68 Robinson’s Land `B’ 28.65 Rockwell 1.5 Shang Properties Inc. 3.03 SM Prime Holdings 22.15 Sta. Lucia Land Inc. 0.84 Starmalls 5.9 Suntrust Home Dev. Inc. 1.040 Vista Land & Lifescapes 4.680

-0.78 -1.01 -0.38 2.30 0.00 0.00 -3.31 2.29 -6.42 0.24 4.30 2.17 -47.35 0.23 -0.35 0.00 0.66 1.81 2.38 0.00 16.35 -1.92

0 1,600,000 711,400 887,000 700,000 5,317,000 6,700,000 1,077,000 1,000 36,908,000 4,470,000 270,000 100 2,400 2,218,800 75,000 17,000 20,375,200 1,708,000 105,600 18,127,000 4,558,000

10.5 66 1.44 1.09 15.82 0.1430 5.06 99.1 12.3 2.6 7.67 2720 8.41 1.97 119.5 7 5.8 0.017 0.8200 2.2800 5.93 12.28 3.32 2.53 3.2 95.5 1 15.2

1.97 35.2 1 0.63 8.6 0.0770 2.95 56.1 10.14 1.6 4.8 1600 5.95 1.23 102.6 3.01 4 0.011 0.041 1.200 2.34 6.5 1.91 1.01 1.95 3.1 0.650 6

0.62 1.040 6.41 4 185 22.9 3486 0.760 2.28 46.05 90.1

0.335 0.37 3 2.28 79 4.39 2748 0.435 1.2 31.45 60.55

11.6 0.85 10 0.490 1.9

7.59 0.63 5 0.315 1.14

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

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

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

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

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

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

SSI Group STI Holdings Travellers Waterfront Phils.

Yehey

-0.54 0.17 -1.61 -1.75 -0.19 10.61 -1.74 -0.50 -1.72 -1.94 0.96 -2.87 -0.14 -0.79 -0.43 43.06 42.27 0.00 3.57 -4.38 -0.47 -0.25 0.28 -2.38 1.82 0.00 0.00 -2.52 0.52 -5.26 -1.14 0.00 3.75 -4.31 -0.23 -2.14 0.00 -1.03 -1.62 -2.19 0.16 0.29 1.89 2.62 0.00 -1.05

71,800 54,720 1,000 60,000 28,000.00 2,243,100 -4,600,450.00 255,980,000 -147,000.00 911,000 -14,670.00 236,280 5,892,721.50 3,000 22,000 26,000 190,065 2,201,020.00 57,700 159,000 66,540.00 699,180 10,471,990.50 93,200 2,100 101,200,000 -990,000.00 87,240,000 -104,800.00 3,604,000 131,890.00 5,000 53,000 116,000 18,000 61,000 13,900.00 300 32,000 20,995,000 9,525,930.00 1,091,000 255,870.00 1,300,000 -265,000.00 21,554,000 438,700.00 20,000 31,000 7,470.00 2,710 51,200 212,315 -102,143,015.00 4,220,000 -328,950.00 8,041,000 634,220.00 1,181,500 -2,349,965.00 473,970 -3,529,314.00 404,600 2,372,000 35,630.00 1,497,000 7,895,000 -518,790.00 20,000 12,000

0.0098 5.45 17.24 25 0.330 1.19 1.62 9.5 4.2 0.48 0.420 0.440 0.022 8.2 49.2 4.27 3.06 0.020 7.67 12.88 10.42 0.040 420 9

0.0043 1.72 6.47 9.43 0.236 0.85 0.77 5.99 1.17 0.305 0.2130 0.2160 0.013 3.240 18.96 2.11 1.54 0.012 5.4 7.26 2.27 0.015 115.9 3.67

Abra Mining Apex `A’ Atlas Cons. `A’ Atok-Big Wedge `A’ Basic Energy Corp.

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

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

TA Petroleum

2.27 0.10 -2.86 -0.63 0.00 0.00 -3.06 1.40 -1.20 0.00 0.00 -1.67 0.00 -1.88 -0.54 -3.47 -2.31 1.02 -3.42 -0.51 -1.78 8.33 -1.28 -1.54

61,000,000 50,000 499,000 -774,540.00 1,400 440,000 40,000 740,000 31,700 -8,080.00 9,564,000 -159,610.00 530,000 16,110,000 1,100,000 -79,650.00 7,400,000 194,000 1,467,400 -1,553,860.00 399,000 25,300.00 94,000 0.00 1,000,000 8,000 1,581,800 -558,773.00 11,295,000 -1,361,510.00 119,800,000 36,000.00 1,132,100 -121,628,527.00 463,000 -139,280.00

70 553 525 120 8.21 12.28 111 1060 1047

33 490 500 101.5 5.88 6.5 101 997 1011 75

1072

1000

0.09 -1.79 -0.93 -3.93 -0.29 -0.91 -0.55 -0.65 0.00 0.96 0.06 -0.13 0.26 0.39

325,660 8,060 10 45,830 400 10,000 26,500 10 2,500 1,810 61,000 50,150 250 65,110

3,474,090.00

84.8

ABS-CBN Holdings Corp.

Ayala Corp. Pref `B1’ Ayala Corp. Pref ‘B2’ First Gen G GMA Holdings Inc. Leisure and Resort MWIDE PREF PCOR-Preferred A PF Pref 2 PNX PREF 3A SMC Preferred C SMC Preferred D SMC Preferred E SMC Preferred F

6.98

0.8900 LR Warrant

1.12

227,000

28,720.00

-0.27 0.86 0.24

19,000 1,689,000 632,800

174,240.00 420.00

-0.66

8,670

-2,408.00

Alterra Capital Italpinas Xurpas

12.88

5.95

130.7

105.6 First Metro ETF

STOCKS

FINANCIAL 1,632.44 (up) 4.75 INDUSTRIAL 11,612.61 (down) 13.08 HOLDING FIRMS 7,198.80 (down) 40.51 PROPERTY 3,015.08 (down) 13.77 SERVICES 1,540.64 (down) 24.20 MINING & OIL 11,124.81 (down) 108.92 PSEI 7,342.03 (down) 34.38 All Shares Index 4,208.61 (down) 17.15 Gainers: 79; Losers: 113; Unchanged: 32; Total: 224

Close

0.201 0.69 10.96 0.97 0.305 2.22 2.1 1.8 8.4 5.94 0.180 0.470 27 8.54 31.8 2.29 4.9 21.35 1.06 7.56 1.62 8.59

0.128 0.128 0.128 0.500 0.485 0.490 39.45 38.8 39.35 0.890 0.870 0.890 0.153 0.153 0.153 1.07 1.02 1.04 1.82 1.74 1.75 1.35 1.32 1.34 3.50 3.50 3.50 4.19 4.02 4.12 0.097 0.092 0.097 0.2350 0.2300 0.2350 10.32 10.32 10.32 8.7 8.7 8.7 29.50 28.35 28.55 1.5 1.5 1.5 3.1 3.05 3.05 22.55 22.05 22.55 0.86 0.82 0.86 5.9 5.7 5.9 1.210 1.040 1.210 4.690 4.590 4.590 SERVICES 7.38 7.49 7.32 7.34 59.2 59.7 59 59.3 1.24 1.22 1.22 1.22 0.570 0.560 0.560 0.560 5.30 5.39 5.15 5.29 0.0660 0.0750 0.0660 0.0730 3.44 3.55 3.36 3.38 89.25 89.3 88.05 88.8 9.9 9.73 9.73 9.73 1.55 1.53 1.52 1.52 6.24 6.30 6.25 6.30 2230 2210 2102 2166 6.93 6.95 6.92 6.92 1.26 1.25 1.20 1.25 69 69 67.1 68.7 6.99 10.00 63.00 10.00 48.5 69 50 69 0.0110 0.0110 0.0099 0.0110 0.280 0.300 0.280 0.290 1.3700 1.3500 1.2900 1.3100 2.15 2.14 2.1 2.14 8.00 7.98 7.83 7.98 3.62 3.63 3.56 3.63 1.26 1.23 1.15 1.23 2.75 2.80 2.75 2.80 24.90 24.90 24.90 24.90 0.550 0.550 0.550 0.550 2.78 2.83 2.71 2.71 3.88 3.96 3.86 3.90 0.285 0.270 0.265 0.270 0.880 0.940 0.870 0.870 4.90 4.90 4.90 4.90 2.4 2.6 2.49 2.49 104.50 104.50 100.00 100.00 22.20 22.20 22.00 22.15 1962.00 1964.00 1888.00 1920.00 0.450 0.450 0.430 0.450 0.970 0.970 0.950 0.960 37.00 37.10 36.00 36.40 70.80 71.00 69.00 69.25 6.15 6.20 6.12 6.16 3.41 3.45 3.41 3.42 0.530 0.540 0.530 0.540 3.82 4.05 3.84 3.92 0.325 0.325 0.325 0.325 4.770 4.770 4.720 4.720 MINING & OIL 0.0044 0.0045 0.0044 0.0045 2.06 2.08 2.06 2.06 4.54 4.56 4.40 4.41 12.76 12.68 11.52 12.68 0.240 0.250 0.236 0.240 0.62 0.62 0.62 0.62 0.490 0.480 0.475 0.475 7.88 8.08 7.90 7.99 0.830 0.850 0.820 0.820 0.285 0.290 0.285 0.285 0.285 0.290 0.280 0.285 0.300 0.295 0.295 0.295 0.0120 0.0120 0.0120 0.0120 2.13 2.13 2.09 2.09 5.58 5.62 5.5 5.55 2.59 2.61 2.46 2.5 1.3000 1.3200 1.2700 1.2700 0.0098 0.0099 0.0099 0.0099 3.80 3.80 3.67 3.67 5.89 5.99 5.76 5.86 2.25 2.45 2.19 2.21 0.0120 0.0130 0.0120 0.0130 132.50 133.50 127.80 130.80 2.6 2.55 2.56 2.56 PREFERRED 58.45 59 58.5 58.5 529.5 529.5 520 520 535 530 530 530 117 114.7 112 112.4 6.9 6.88 6.88 6.88 1.1 1.09 1.09 1.09 108.5 107.9 106.5 107.9 1077 1070 1070 1070 1010 1010 1010 1010 104 105 103.5 105 81.95 82 81.9 82 75.6 75.7 75.5 75.5 75.5 75.7 75.7 75.7 76.2 76.5 76.2 76.5 WARRANTS & BONDS 3.560 3.650 3.510 3.600 SME 3.7 3.69 3.69 3.69 3.5 3.65 3.48 3.53 16.98 17.16 16.92 17.02 EXCHANGE TRADED FUNDS 120.8 120.7 120 120

T op g ainerS VALUE 783,461,652.72 1,591,358,238.68 2,195,485,335.193 1,316,818,045.00 1,185,432,783.09 235,053,574.8172 7,325,511,045.497

Low

37,120.00 2,108,725.00 -1,020,330.00 666,940.00 -241,200.00 -3,500.00 -12,352,950.00

772,790.00 -9,000.00 106,393,390.00 96,500.00 -8,364,100.00

754,347.00

-3,775,320.00

T op L oSerS Close (P)

Change (%)

STOCKS

Close (P)

Change (%)

Imperial Res. `A'

10.00

43.06

Phil. Tob. Flue Cur & Redry

10.32

-47.35

Imperial Res. `B'

69

42.27

Vitarich Corp.

0.7

-9.09

Keppel Holdings `A'

5.89

26.39

Phil Bank of Comm

23.60

-7.27

Suntrust Home Dev. Inc.

1.210

16.35

Keppel Properties

3.50

-6.42

Boulevard Holdings

0.0730

10.61

Ionics Inc

2.890

-5.56

Liberty Flour

31.90

10.00

TKC Steel Corp.

1.26

-5.26

Philodrill Corp. `A'

0.0130

8.33

MG Holdings

0.270

-5.26

Jolliville Holdings

4.5

7.66

Manulife Fin. Corp.

620.00

-4.54

Seafront `A'

2.3

4.55

ISM Communications

1.3100

-4.38

MRC Allied Ind.

0.097

4.30

Phil. Seven Corp.

100.00

-4.31

WEDNESDAY: MARCH 23, 2016

B3

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

PH to outperform neighbors

By Julito G. Rada

GLOBAL debt watcher Moody’s Investors Service expects the Philippines to outperform most of its peers in the region, with a 6-percent gross domestic product growth in 2016 and 2017, driven by sustained robust domestic demand.

Moody’s said in a report that among the members of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, only Vietnam was expected to grow faster than the Philippines this year. It said Vietnam would likely grow 6.2 percent in 2016 and 6 percent in 2017.

Indonesia is seen growing 4.8 percent this year and 5.6 percent next year; Malaysia, 4.3 percent and 4.5 percent; and Thailand, 2.5 percent and 3 percent.

“Against a backdrop of subdued global demand, the growth prospects of Asean’s major export-orientated economies, Singapore, Malaysia and Thailand will remain weaker than those of more domestic demand-driven economies—Indonesia and the Philippines in 2016 and 2017. Vietnam, meanwhile, will remain a regional growth outperformer on the back of robust manufacturing activity and strong foreign direct investment flows,” Moody’s said.

“While we expect growth recoveries in Singapore, Thailand and Malaysia to be shallow, Indonesia, the Philippines and Vietnam will post growth on par with, or exceeding, long-term averages by 2017,” it said.

The Philippine economy grew 5.8 per-

cent in 2015, slower than 6.1 percent in mies are susceptible to a prolonged period flows, as foreign investors look to tap into 2014, but remained one of the best growth of subdued global demand via both the a large and competitive labor force, as well in the Asean region. However, the 2015 export channel and weaker investment de- as greater market access for Vietnamese exexpansion was below the government’s of- mand,” Moody’s said. ports resulting from preferential trade arficial target of 7 percent to 8 percent for the Vietnam will remain the region’s growth rangements such as the Trans-Pacific Partyear. outperformer this year and next. Moody’s nership Agreement, it said.

The government expects the economy to said Vietnam was something of an outlier, “Nevertheless, growth in Asean as a grow between 6.8 percent and 7.8 percent given that total trade accounted for 181 whole in 2016 and 2017 is unlikely to benin 2016, anchored on robust domestic de- percent of GDP. efit significantly from ongoing regional mand and stronger fiscal spending.

Vietnam is benefitting from strong and global economic integration efforts,” Moody’s said gross fixed capital forma- manufacturing activity and rising FDI in- Moody’s said. tion growth was accelerating rapidly in the Philippines, and picking up pace in Indonesia.

Republic of the Philippines Public investment contributed Department of Finance to the pickup as governments Securities and Exchange Commission SEC Bldg. EDSA, Greenhills, Mandaluyong City, 1554 in both countries sought to gain further traction in deCORPORATE GOVERNANCE AND FINANCE DEPARTMENT veloping much-needed infraIN THE MATTER OF THE : structure. : Amended Registration of Securities “Lower oil prices have proCENTURY ACQUA LIFESTYLE CLUB CORP. : : vided greater lift to economic xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx growth in the Philippines, with NOTICE household consumption growNotice is hereby given that on November 25, 2015,a sworn Amended Registration Statement was filed with the Securities and Exchange ing in excess of 6 percent for Commission on behalf of Century Acqua Lifestyle Corporation last November 25, 2015 reflecting therein changes to its Registration Statement which only the second time over the was rendered effective on June 17, 2015: past 25 years,” Moody’s said.

1.) Sell the Preferred Shares of stock of the Corporation in Five (5) tranches at the following prices: Moody’s said export growth FROM was slumping across the reNo of Shares per Type of Share No of Board Price per Share Price per Board Lot gion, but the overall economic Shares Board impact would vary, based on Preferred A 6,344 13 488 PHP 166,667 PHP 2,166,671 the relative importance of Preferred B 520 13 40 PHP 238,889 PHP 3,105,557 Preffered C 520 13 40 PHP 383,333 PHP 4,983,329 trade to GDP. Preffered D 520 13 40 PHP 444,444 PHP 5,777,772 Data showed that total Total 7,904 608 trade (the sum of exports and TO imports) accounted for 346 Tranche 1 percent, 131 percent and 130 No of Shares per Type of Share No of Board Price per Share Price per Board Lot percent of GDP in Singapore, Shares Board Preferred A 1,508 13 116 PHP 166,667 PHP 2,166,671 Malaysia and Thailand, rePreferred B 221 13 17 PHP 238,889 PHP 3,105,557 spectively, much higher than Preffered C 65 13 5 PHP 383,333 PHP 4,983,329 Indonesia (41 percent) and the Preffered D 65 13 5 PHP 444,444 PHP 5,777,772 Philippines (58 percent).

Total 1,859 143 “As such, these three econoNOTE: Tranche 1 will be sold until approval of new Prospectus. Upon approval of new Prospectus, Tranche 2 will be launched.

Tranche 2

Stock mart retreats; SM Prime, Petron up STOCKS retreated Tuesday, ending a three-day advance as investors took profit ahead of the Lent holiday.

The Philippine Stock Exchange index, the 30-company benchmark, shed 34 points, or 0.5 percent, to close at 7,342.03. The bellwether, however, was still up 5.6 percent since the start of the year. Trading will be closed Thursday and Friday.

The heavier index, representing all shares, also dropped 17 points, or 0.4 percent, to settle at 4,208.61, on a value turnover of P7.3 billion. Losers outnumbered gainers, 113 to 79, while 32 issues were unchanged.

Seven of the 20 most active stocks ended in the green, led by oil player Petron Corp., which climbed 2.7 percent to P10.58. SM Prime Holdings Inc., the real estate arm of tycoon Henry Sy, gained 1.8 percent to P22.55. Alliance Global Group Inc., the investment company of tycoon Andrew Tan, added 0.4 percent to close at P16.06.

Meanwhile, Tokyo stocks rose sharply on Tuesday, fueled by weakness in the yen, but broader Asian markets were subdued as last week’s rally waned.

A sense of stability has returned to global markets following the Federal Reserve’s decision last week to scale back its forecasts on hiking borrowing costs, after a tumultuous first two months of the year.

On Tuesday, however, most regional markets retreated in thin trading, with no clear driver ahead of the long Easter break, which starts Friday.

“We’re at a key junction where we need to see fresh news to push the market higher,” Chris Weston, Melbourne-based chief market strategist at IG, told Bloomberg News.

“Central banks have put in place measures that helped subdue market volatility,” he said.

“However, the market is at risk of going into some sort of consolidation given the extremely low volatility.”

The dollar held firm against the yen on Tuesday, changing hands at 112.10 yen from 111.94 yen late Monday in New York and after briefly touching 110.67 yen last week, its lowest since October 2014.

In Tokyo, automakers were among the biggest gainers, as the weaker yen increases the value of their profits being repatriated in March ahead of the April start of the financial year.

Tokyo’s benchmark Nikkei 225 index closed 1.94 percent higher as trading resumed after a long weekend, and Seoul was up 0.35 percent, while Singapore and Wellington were also higher.

However, China’s key Shanghai Composite Index ended down 0.64 percent, Hong Kong slipped 0.09 percent and Sydney and Taipei were in the red as well. with AFP, Bloomberg

No of Shares

Shares per Board

No of Board

Price per Share

Price per Board Lot

Preferred A

2,301

13

177

PHP 170,833

PHP 2,220,829

Preferred B

91

13

7

PHP 244,861

PHP 3,183,193

Preffered C

247

13

19

PHP 392,916

PHP 5,107,908

Preffered D

247

13

19

PHP 455,555

PHP 5,922,,215

Type of Share

Total

2,886

222

Tranche 3 No of Shares

Shares per Board

No of Board

Price per Share

Price per Board Lot

Preferred A

2,223

13

171

PHP 175,103

PHP 2,276,339

Preferred B

182

13

14

PHP 250,982

PHP 3,262,766

Preffered C

182

13

14

PHP 402,738

PHP 5,235,594

Preffered D

182

13

14

PHP 466,943

PHP 6,070,259

Type of Share

Total

2,769

213

Tranche 4 No of Shares

Shares per Board

No of Board

Price per Share

Price per Board Lot

Preferred A

156

13

12

PHP 183,858

PHP 2,390,154

Preferred B

13

13

1

PHP 263,531

PHP 3,425,903

Preffered C

13

13

1

PHP 422,874

PHP 5,497,362

Preffered D

13

13

1

PHP 490,290

PHP 6,373,770

Total

195

Type of Share

15

Tranche 5 No of Shares

Shares per Board

No of Board

Price per Share

Price per Board Lot

Preferred A

156

13

12

PHP 193,050

PHP 2,509,650

Preferred B

13

13

1

PHP 276,707

PHP 3,597,191

Preffered C

13

13

1

PHP 444,017

PHP 5,772,221

Preffered D

13

13

1

PHP 514,804

PHP 6,692,452

Total

195

15

7,904.00

608.00

Type of Share

GRAND TOTAL

The reason for the amendments in the registration statement is for the shares of initial subscribers to appreciate in value, for the succeeding subscribers to have better payment options while enjoying more benefits attached to their subscription.

According to the papers presented, the following persons are the officers/directors of the corporation: NAME TIMOTHY HALLET CARLOS BENEDICT K. RIVILLA IV DOMIE S. EDUVANE RHOEL ALBERTO NOLIDO ISABELITA C. SALES RIZA V. TUMALE MA. PAMELA D. QUIZON –LABAYEN

POSITION Chairman Director/ President Director/ Corporate Secretary Director/ Treasurer Director/ Compliance Officer Independent Director Independent Director

Said Registration Statement and other papers/documents attached thereto are open to inspection by interested parties during business hours, and copies thereof, photostatic or otherwise, shall be furnished to any party, upon request, at such reasonable fees as the Commission may prescribe. The Amended Registration Statement and Amended Prospectus dated January 13, 2016 may also be downloaded from http:www.centuryproperties.com

JUSTINA F. CALLANGAN Director (TS-MAR 23 & 28, 2016)

B4 NGCP restores power in Negros

By Alena Mae S. Flores TRANSMISSION operator National Grid Corp. of the Philippines has energized the AmlanSiaton 69kV line after suffering an interruption over the weekend due to overgrown vegetation and the refusal of landowners to grant access to the affected facility.

National Grid said in a statement a local court issued a writof-possession, giving the company possession of the property and allowing linemen to conduct maintenance activities in the affected areas in Barangay Bagacay, Dumaguete City, and energize the line.

NGCP energized the line at 11 a.m. Monday, almost 26 hours after it first tripped.

“NGCP is pleased to report that with the expedient response of the local court in issuing the writ of possession, the assistance of the local government, and support from PNP and AFP, delivery of power through NGCP’s Amlan-Siaton line has been restored to the residents of Dumaguete City, Bacong, Dauin, Zamboanguita and Siaton,” it said.

The company appealed to the public and local governments across the country to facilitate access to all transmission facilities to prevent extended power interruptions.

Portions of Southern Negros Oriental within the franchise area of Negros Oriental Electric Cooperative II, including a large part of Dumaguete City, were affected by a power interruption which began at 9:38 a.m. Sunday.

The cause of the power interruption was determined to be overgrown vegetation underneath National Grid’s AmlanSiaton 69kv line.

Immediate restoration of the line was hampered after Jaime and Violeta Ramos, owners of the property where the vegetation is located, refused access to their property.

The property of the Ramoses is the subject of a dispute with National Transmission Corp.

“It is extremely disheartening to hear that there are landowners who put personal interests above the interests of the community,” it said.

Industry road maps. Some 300 participants from the Ilocos Region’s various business sectors, local government units and agencies and the

academe gather at the ‘Industry Roadmaps and the AEC Gameplan: Roadmaps Localization for Competitiveness’ conference held in Bauang, La Union.

Shown at the gathering are Assistant Secretary Rafaelita Aldaba (third from left) and DTI Regional Director for Ilocos Florante Leal (left). With them are National Economic and Development Authority Regional Director for Ilocos Nestor Rillon (second from left) and GIZ-Promotion of Green Economic Development senior adviser Victoria Antonio.

Phinma’s net profit surged 61% in 2015

By Jenniffer B. Austria

HOLDING company Phinma Corp. said net income in 2015 surged 61 percent in 2015 to P486 million from P302 million a year ago on higher income contribution from the education, steel roofing and energy businesses.

Phinma said in a disclosure to the stock exchange consolidated revenues in 2015 reached P5.7 billion, up 5.7 percent over P5.4 billion in the previous year.

Phinma’s education unit Phinma Education Holdings Inc. in 2015 registered a 14-percent increase in revenues to P407.2 million, as total enrolment from five schools reached 51,351.

Phinma Education last year acquired Southwestern University,

a premier medication school in Cebu City. It also opened a University of Pangasinan satellite campus in Urdaneta City.

The group’s affiliate Trans-Asia Oil and Energy Development Corp., the company’s affiliate in the energy sector, benefitted in 2015 from increased demand for energy in line with the robust economic growth, as well as lower average prices on power purchases in the Wholesale

Electricity Spot Market.

Sales of the company’s energy supply group increased 31 percent to 2,216 GWh in 2015 while the wind energy sector posted sales of 108 GWh from a full years’ operation of the San Lorenzo Guimaras wind farm.

Consolidated net income of TA Oil increased to P906 million from P180 million in 2014.

TA Oil affiliate South Luzon Thermal Energy Corp. in February began commercial operation of a second 135-MW clean coal-fired power plant.

TA Oil this year is expected to complete the rehabilitation of three power barges acquired from Power Sector Assets and Liabilities Management Corp.

The three barges have a combined capacity of 96 megawatts,

bringing the total generation capacity of TA Oil to 626 MW by the end of 2016.

TA Oil has also lined up the 12-MW expansion of affiliate Maibarara Geothermal Inc., which is scheduled for commercial operation by the third quarter of 2017.

The company will continue to develop more coal, wind and geothermal projects, with an overall strategy to double existing generation capacity to 1,200 MW over the next five years.

The group’s Phinma Properties is set to start developing a new tropical-themed Hacienda Balai condominium project in Sta. Rosa, Laguna. The company is also exploring projects in Cebu, Naga, Lipa, Cagayan de Oro, and Bulacan.

ERC defers effectivity of competitive selection process to April 30 THE Energy Regulatory Commission issued a new resolution moving the effectivity of the competitive selection process on the procurement of supply of distribution utilities and electric cooperatives to April 30 this year.

ERC, in a resolution dated March 15, 2016, said since the publication of the CSP Resolution on November 6, 2015, the commission received letters from stakeholders raising concern on the constitutionally of the process.

The stakeholders sought clarification on the implementation

of the CSP and its applicability to the renewal and the extension of the power supply agreements, requested a determination of the accepted forms of CSP and submitted grounds for exemption from its applicability.

“After judicious study and the consideration of the different perspectives raised in the aforementioned letters, with the end in view of ensuring the successful implementation of the CS for the benefit of the consumers, DUs and gencos, the commission has resolved to allow a period of

transition for the full implementation of the CSP resolution...,” ERC said.

The resolution was signed by all members of the commission, namely chairman Jose Vicente Salazar and Gloria Victoria YapTaruc, Afredo Non, Josefina Patricia Magpale-Asirit and Gernimo Sta. Ana. ERC said all power supply agreements executed on or after April 30, 2016 will be required, without exception, to comply with the provisions of the CSP resolution.

The regulator said the CSP should comply with the terms of reference requirement and that there should be at least two qualified bids for the selection process to be considered successful.

It said supply agreements approved by the commission or filed with the ERC before the effectivity of the resolution may have one year automatic renewal or extension for a period of not exceeding one year from the end of their respective terms.

It added that “automatic renewal clauses or extension of

supply agreements shall no longer be permitted” upon effectivity of the resolution.

ERC, meanwhile, plans to issue the definitive guidelines for the mandatory implementation of the competitive selection process.

Taruc earlier said the definitive guidelines had not yet been released.

“We issued a resolution on November 2015. One of the sections said pending the issuance of a definitive guidelines for CSP, the DU might undertake their own CSP,” Taruc said. Alena Mae S. Flores

W E D N E S D AY : M A R C H 2 3 , 2 0 1 6

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

B5

Motorists to get help from Lakbay Alalay THOSE heading out to the provinces to observe Holy Week and celebrate Easter can expect a very heavy volume of vehicles, so instead of losing your cool at the slow pace, practice the Christian virtue of patience and say a little prayer to get your lane moving.

Motorists should also expect the unexpected so before traveling, it pays to check the condition of your car. Anticipating the heavy volume of vehicles that will pass through the entry and exit points of Metro Manila during the Holy Week, Republic Chemical’s Pioneer Automoto has partnered with Petron Lakbay Alalay to assist travelers.

An annual initiative that is also the country’s pioneer and longest-running motorist assistance program, Lakbay Alalay is a very welcome idea for public service, and the partnership with Pioneer Automoto will enable travelers to get free checks on tire pressure, oil and radiator water level, and inspection of their brakes.

From 7:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. today, Lakbay Alalay assistance and services will be conducted at major pit stops like Petron stations in NLEX Marilao and in SLEX San Pedro while the schedule for March 24 will be from 4:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Additional note to motorists: emergency roadside assistance along the major toll ways and highways will also be provided.

Motorists also have a chance to enjoy freebies like face towels, sports bottles, and loot bags containing Pioneer Automoto products upon presenting their Petron Value Card. Lakbay Alalay partner Pioneer Automoto products manufactured by Republic Chemical Industries consist of Mighty Gasket, Durasteel 5 Epoxy, Mighty Bond Xtreme and RC1 Lubricating Spray, which are all useful to prepare one’s vehicle for the long drive ahead and ensure safety.

Free samples of Mighty Bond Xtreme, Epoxy Clay Steel and product demo of RC1 Lubricating Spray will be showcased to motorists who will stop by the Pioneer Automoto booth. The booth will also provide free water refill and free cellphone charging.

Those who want to purchase Pioneer Automoto products as repair or emergency kit in their vehicles can also get them at discounted prices from the Pioneer Automoto Booth. Have a safe trip, everyone!

Globe launches 24/7 KonsultaMD hotline The hot summer weather usually brings with it several illnesses like diarrhea and vomiting, sore eyes or conjunctivitis, sunburn, skin diseases, cough and colds—and believe it or not—rabies. These are the so-called 6S or six illnesses or ailments that Filipinos should be wary about especially in the next three months.

We know swimming on the beach is fun but make sure you don’t accidentally ingest water infected with E. Coli—that dreadful bacteria coming from waste matter which causes nausea, diarrhea and vomiting. If you prefer the pool over the beach, make sure the water is sufficiently chlorinated to avoid contracting sore eyes or conjunctivitis. And if you don’t want to turn as red as a lobster, make sure your skin is properly protected from harmful ultraviolet rays. Otherwise, you could end up spending the rest of summer sporting a dreadful looking, itchy patch of painful skin that often peels off.

Another thing to watch out for aside from overexposure is dehydration because the combination could lead to heat stroke. Cough and colds also have a tendency to linger during summer while the number of dog biting incidents also increases because dogs become irritable due to the heat. Better keep children away from these furry creatures to be safe.

When these ailments occur, consulting a doctor is always warranted, but this can be costly and time-consuming, so Globe Telecom has partnered with Mexico’s leading healthcare hotline company Salud Interactiva to create KonsultaMD aimed at helping Filipinos who have no opportunity to immediately consult a doctor due to issues of time, affordability, and accessibility.

Dr. Ma. Gia Grace Sison, chief medical officer of KonsultaMD 24/7 health hotline, encourages the public to “be aware of the possible symptoms of the summer illnesses and be proactive about it. If ever we still contract the disease, we should also know what steps to take,” Sison said.

Instead of getting information from the Internet or asking friends for medical advice, people can personally talk to licensed doctors through the KonsultaMD hotline which can be reached by simply calling (02) 79880 via mobile or (02) 798-8000 via landline anytime and anywhere.

The doctors are willing to answer any medical inquiry such as pregnancy, infant and/or toddler care, fever and other general ailments, signs and symptoms, diet, mental health, and other concerns. KonsultaMD is available to Globe and TM customers at affordable subscription plans of only P150 per month for five people for Postpaid customers or even for free for Platinum Elite members.

Globe Prepaid and TM customers may subscribe for P15 a week, P60 a month, P120 every two months or P180 a quarter. All Globe consumer postpaid, prepaid and TM customers may subscribe by signing up at www.konsulta.md, by calling (02) 79880 for more information such as costs and charges. Non-Globe users may also visit a Globe Store for more details.

••• For comments, reactions, photos, stories and related concerns, readers may email to happyhourtoday2012@yahoo.com. You may also visit and like our Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/happyhourmanilastandard. We’d be very happy to hear from you. Cheers!

Asean banking integration.

Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas Governor Amando Tetangco Jr. shakes hands with Bank Negara Malaysia Governor Zeti Akhtar Aziz in Kuala Lumpur after signing the heads of agreement that provides the guidelines on the entry of qualified Asean banks between the two nations. The agreement, which allows entry of up to three qualified banks from each country, is one of the first bilateral agreements under the Asean Banking Integration Framework, which aims to foster regional development.

GMA-7 expands to Singapore, ME

By Darwin G. Amojelar

GMA Network Inc. said on Tuesday it expanded its global footprint with the launch of its international channels in the Middle East and Singapore this month.

The broadcasting network, which airs on channel 7 on free TV, said GMA International rolled out its three international channels in the Middle East and North Africa through OSN, the dominant pay-TV network in the region with 25 countries within its reach.

The linear channels are GMA’s flagship international channel, GMA Pinoy TV, Filipino lifestyle channel, GMA Life TV, and international news channel, GMA News TV International.

GMA Pinoy TV and GMA Life TV were also launched in Singa-

pore via one of the country’s major pay-TV operators, StarHub, which boasts of 536,000 households subscribed to its service.

Further strengthening its presence abroad, GMA’s availability on the OSN and StarHub platforms complements other GMA distributors in the carriers’ respective territories.

“GMA is happy to partner with OSN and StarHub in order to better address the needs of our fellow Filipinos abroad by providing them with quality programs across different platforms,” said GMA’s first vice president and head of international operations

Joseph Jerome Francia.

“Specific to OSN, there are segments of our target market that want to see the GMA international channels added to their current OSN subscription,” he added.

GMA in 2015 launched its broadcast services in Europe through LycaTV covering over 16 European countries.

GMA’s international channels are now available in 60 countries and 50 States of US and District of Columbia through partnerships with the biggest carriers in the international broadcast industry.

The network’s net income reached P1.804 billion in the January-to-September period, up by almost 80 percent over the the same period in 2014.

GMA Network’s revenues stood at P10.31 billion in the first nine months of the year, or 16 percent higher than in 2014.

SGS likely to do tests on Montero units

By Othel V. Campos LONE bidder SGS of Switzerland will likely be tapped to conduct tests on Mitsubishi Montero units with alleged sudden unintended acceleration, a case still pending before the Consumer Protection Group of the Trade Department.

Trade Undersecretary Victorio Dimagiba said in a breifing the department had not evaluated yet the technical and fiscal components of the SGS offer.

“But if it is a good bid, if they comply with the four required tests, we will award them the contract,” he said in a briefing

Tuesday.

CPG has temporarily set the contract awarding on April 20.

SGS tendered about P8.9 million for the services.

The third party is expected to be capable of conducting four separate tests on full vehicle assessment, eletromagnetic compatibility, emissions and component testing on radio disturbance or interference to determine if there was SUA or not.

CPG and Mirsubishi Motor Philippines Corp. will bring to the third party assessor five vehicles with SUA but which have not been handled by the Mitsubishi maintenance team for

repair.

The CPG is confident the case would soon come to a resolution by mid-June 2016.

The Trade Department has alloted P9 million for testing expenses while Mitsubishi will cover the costs of transporting via air freight Montero units that will be subjected to tests.

Meanwhile, the Fair Trade Bureau disclosed it has recieved 19 more complaints for SUA as of February 17.

The department received 21 complaints from 2014 to 2016, in which 14 have been resolved while seven are still under mediation

WEDNESDAY: MARCH 23, 2016

B6 JTI wins award for global top employer GENEVA-BASED Japan Tobacco International was accorded the global top employer award for 2016, accomplishing a back-toback global certification from the same prestigious organization in two years. ΩJTI has participated in top employer certification programs for the past seven years, and in 2016 received awards in 37 entities from 35 countries, up from 33 in 2015.

In 2014, JTI Philippines Inc. was bestowed Standard Accreditation for its excellent people management practices by UK-based Investors In People.

Investors in People, which originated in 1992, is an international quality standard for people leadership and management excellence. It provides a world-recognized framework for improving business results.

Manos Koukourakis, JTIP general manager, said the IiP accreditation indicated that JTIP has high standards in managing people and that people management practices are directly contributing to achieving organizational ambitions and objectives.

“We are humbled with this IiP accreditation. We promise to endeavor more to take to another level our program on people management and employeemanagement relations,” Manos said.

Manos also said the global top employer award is another proof that JTI is an attractive working place for best talents that value good people management.

JTIP succeeded on its first try at the IiP accreditation and now holds the distinction as the 17th JTI country to be IiP-certified and the 1st IiP-certified market in Asia Pacific.

JTI has core revenue of $10.3 billion in its fiscal year ending Dec. 31, 2015.

A member of the Japan Tobacco Group of Companies, JTI markets brands such as Winston, Camel, Mevius and LD. Other global brands it manufactures include Benson & Hedges, Silk Cut, Sobranie and Glamour.

Headquartered in Geneva, Switzerland, JTI employs about 26,000 employees worldwide, with operations in more than 120 countries.

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

Govt to award 7 PPP projects before June

By Darwin G. Amojelar

THE government plans to award seven infrastructure projects under the public private partnership scheme by June, despite the postponement of several projects.

“The DOJ [Department of Justice) and DOTC [Department of Transportation and Communication] have worked hard to bring the procurement process very close to completion. The PPP Center is ready to help the DOJ and DOTC make the final push to complete the process by June 30,” PPP Center executive director Andre Palacios said.

The Justice Department moved the bid submission for the regional prisons project from March 22 to April 20.

The Transportation Department also rescheduled the bid submission for the five regional airport projects and the Davao seaport project from March 28 to an unspecified date.

The auctions of these projects are now in the advanced stage of the bidding process.

Palacios, however, expressed concern

over the postponement. “We are mindful that postponement in procurement will mean delay in delivery of public services.

Four factors together strongly justify completing the bidding for the DOJ and DOTC projects,” he said.

“First, the projects were properly reviewed and approved in 2014. Second, they have been going through a fair, transparent and credible procurement process for over a year now. Third, the government has complied with all legal requirements and has spent valuable resources to develop, approve and procure the projects,” Palacios said.

“Fourth, there is genuine competition among serious bidders, both local and foreign, which will produce the best deal for government,” he said.

Palacios cited the need to award these PPP projects so that the construction of better public infrastructure would commence in the next administration.

“Bilibid inmates live in overcrowded, dehumanizing conditions. They urgently need facilities conducive to their reformation. A modern seaport in Davao will allow Mindanao farm products to reach the global market. Further, in a few years, air passengers

will experience NAIA-type congestion in Iloilo, Bacolod, Bohol, Davao and Laguindingan airports. Expansion of these regional airports is necessary to avoid the expected congestion,” he said.

PPP projects are not covered by the election ban, which will cover March 25 to May 8 this year.

The Commission on Elections en banc confirmed this in a resolution on Jan. 19, 2016.

The government has awarded 12 projects worth P217.42 billion since 2010.

These projects were the P2.01-billion Daang Hari-Slex Link Road, P16.28-billion PPP for School Infrastructure project phase 1, P15.52-billion NAIA Expressway (phase II), P5.69-billion Modernization of the Philippine Orthopedic Center, P1.72-billion Automatic Fare Collection System, P17.52billion Mactan-Cebu International Airport Passenger Terminal Building, P64.9-billion LRT Line 1 Cavite Extension, P2.5-billion Southwest Integrated Transport project, P55.53-billion Cavite Laguna Expressway, P4-billion South Integrated Transport System project and P24.4-billion Bulacan Bulk Water Supply project.

Coca-Cola assistance. Coca-Cola Philippines teams up with the Quezon City government to make the Sari-Sari Store Training and Access to Resources or Star program available to women micro entrepreneurs in the area. Shown during the signing of the agreement are (from left) CocaCola Philippines sustainability manager Gilda Custodio-Maquilan, Coca-Cola Philippines vice president for public affairs and communications Adel Tamano, Quezon City mayor Herbert Bautista, Technical Education and Skills Development Authority – National Capital Region regional director Nenuca Tangonan, Tesda special projects executive director Sonia Lipio and Sikap Buhay Entrepreneurship and Cooperatives Office officer-in-charge Alfredo Bretana.

PLDT Home cited for its leadership in digital innovation in Asia PLDT Home, the digital services unit of Philippine Long Distance Telephone Co., has been recognized for its leadership in digital innovation in Asia for its pioneering data sharing initiative, in partnership with Smart Communications in the recent CIO Asia Awards.

PLDT Home won in the leadership category and is one of only five outstanding companies in the region included in the Roll of Honor list at the 15th Annual CIO Asia Awards.

“The PLDT Home DSL data sharing offer is just the beginning of more game-changing converged innovations from PLDT and Smart. This recognition from CIO Asia fuels our inspiration to raise the bar and continuously break new ground in digital and mobile technology,” PLDT vice president and Home marketing director Gary Dujali said.

The converged data sharing service from PLDT Home and Smart is a product of collaboration between the business and IT

teams of the country’s digital and mobile leaders.

It is the Philippines’ first data plan that enables subscribers of Home DSL service to share their data allocation with their family’s Smart-powered mobile phones.

It is offered under the Speedster Fam Plan 1299 which gives PLDT Home DSL subscribers speeds of up to 10 megabits per second and a monthly data allocation of 50 gigabytes.

By upgrading their Speedster Plan with a Smart Mobile Plan

399 or Plan 600, subscribers can share up to 6 gigabytes of their monthly allocation to their mobile phone lines which they can use even outside the home.

In its citation, CIO Asia Awards said that PLDT Home and Smart’s data sharing service is “particularly relevant in the Philippines where large, closely-linked family units are common.”

Also in the Honor Roll in this year’s awards are Singapore’s National Library Board for the innovation category, Philippines’

Manila Water for transformation, US’ Avnet Inc. for growth and Malaysia’s Fraser & Neave Holdings Berhad for performance.

The CIO Asia Awards is a “prestigious annual listing of the top Asian companies that have deployed information and communications technology to derive the highest strategic value and to yield the greatest returns for their key operations and businesses.”

It was organized by CIO Asia, a leading resource for IT and digital developments in the region.

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WORLD

CESAR BARRIOQUINTO EDITOR

editorial@thestandard.com.ph

B7

21 dead as blasts rock Brussels BRUSSELS—Twin explosions rocked the main hall of Brussels Airport on Tuesday, killing at least 21 people and wounding several others, officials said.

Interior Minister Jan Jambon announced that Belgium’s terror threat had been raised to its highest level, as witnesses told Belga news agency there had been shots and shouts in Arabic at the airport before the blasts hit the departure hall.

Federal police told Belga news agency that they could confirm one dead, amid chaotic scenes at the airport on the northwest outskirts of Brussels.

“There have been two explosions at the airport. Building is being evacuated. Don’t come to the airport area,” the airport said on Twitter.

Television images showed passengers fleeing chaotic scenes, with thick black smoke rising from the terminal building, where the windows had been shattered.

Images on social media showed collapsed floor tiles littering the floor of the terminal hall.

The airport has been shut down until further notice, Eurocontrol, the European organization for air navigation safety, confirmed on its website.

Public broadcaster RTBF said regional authorities had gone into emergency mode.

Police told Belga news agency that at least one person had been killed and several others wounded.

RTBF said the blasts at the airport on the northwest outskirts of Brussels hit shortly after 8:00am (0700 GMT).

The blasts come days after the dramatic arrest in Brussels on Friday of Saleh Abdeslam, prime suspect in the Paris terror attacks that killed 130 people in November, after four months on the run.

There was no immediate confirmation of the cause of the blasts.

Europe’s main stock markets retreated as the news broke, with London’s benchmark FTSE 100 index dropping 0.6 percent compared with Monday’s close and Frankfurt’s DAX 30 shedding 1.1 percent.

Mike van Dulken, head of research at Accendo Markets, said that the “explosion at Brussels airport... has knocked sentiment”. AFP

After the attack. Passengers who were evacuated from the airport wait in Zaventem, on March 22, 2016, after a string of explosions rocked Brussels airport of Zaventem and a city metro station, killing at least 21 people, according to media reports, as Belgium raised its terror threat to the maximum level. AFP

Victims’ kin await ruling on Karadzic SARAJEVO—Twenty years after the 44-month siege of Sarajevo, in which 1,500 children were killed, the young victims’ parents anxiously await a ruling on the man they hold responsible.

Among the range of atrocities for which wartime Bosnian Serb leader Radovan Karadzic will be judged at The Hague this week is the relentless sniping and shelling of Bosnia’s capital, from April 1992 to November 1995, which killed at least 10,000 people.

Described as a “medieval hell” by prosecutors, the city under siege saw its 350,000 mostly Muslim inhabitants struggle to get food, water and heating as they came under almost daily attack from Serbs in the surrounding mountains.

The families of the youngest victims are still struggling with their losses -- and hope Thursday’s long-awaited ruling on alleged mastermind Karadzic will finally give them a degree of closure.

“Anxiety is growing as that historic day approaches,” said Fikret Grabovica, who heads an association for parents of the dead children and plans to travel to The Hague to learn the 70-year-old’s fate.

“Our wounds still bleed, despite all these years, and I hope he will be given a deserved punishment that will bring us some peace.”

The ruling comes 23

years and four days after Grabovica’s 11-year-old daughter Irma was killed by shelling in front of their family home while playing with friends.

Spreading terror

-Bosnia’s inter-ethnic war had broken out a year earlier as Yugoslavia fell apart, and Serb forces hoped the siege would squeeze their Muslim foes into surrendering. AFP

NOTICE Notice is hereby given that the estate of the late LEONARDO C. NADAL was extrajudicially settled among his heirs as per Doc. No. 159, Page No. 33, Book No. 5, Series of 2016 under Notary Public Atty. Ramon V. Villaflor. ( T S - M A R . 11,18 , 2 3 , 2 016

LEGAL NOTICE

Notice is hereby given that the estate of the late JOSE P. ABEJERO who died intestate has been extrajudicially settled among his heirs as per Doc. No. 31, Page No. 8, Book No. VII, Series of 2015 by Notary Public Atty. Rogelia J.Bolivar of Quezon City. ( T S - M A R . 16 , 2 3 , 3 0 , 2 016)

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.

N OTICE Notice is hereby given that GRUPO SAN PEDRO REALTY CORPORATION with office address at No. 34 Veloso St., Bo. Obrero, Davao City is applying for registration with the Board of Investments (BOI) as a New Developer of Economic and Low-Cost Housing Project (Las Casas de Maria) with total capacity of 332 units on a Non-Pioneer Status with project site located at Brgy. Indangan, Davao City.

Any person with valid objection/s on the abovementioned project may file his/her objection in writing, under oath, with the BOI within three (3) days from the date of this publication.

(SGD.) RAFAELITO H. TARUC Director Infrastructure and Service Industries Service (TS-MAR. 23, 2016)

REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES REGIONAL CAPITAL JUDICIAL REGION REGIONAL TRIAL COURT BRANCH 212 MANDALUYONG CITY IN RE: PETITION FOR CORRECTION OF ENTRY IN THE CERTIFICATE OF LIVE BIRTH OF VAUGHN JOSEPH PUNONGBAYAN SALAZAR AND CANCELLATION OF THE FIRST CERTIFICATE OF LIVE BIRTH OF VAUGHN JOSEPH PUNONGBAYAN SALAZAR, JOSEPH TAWATAO LISING, JR., -versus-

Petitioner, SP. PROC. NO. MC16-9813

OFFICE OF THE CIVIL REGISTRAR OF THE CITY OF MANDALUYONG AND THE NATIONAL STATISTICS OFFICE, Respondents x-----------------------------------------------------------x

ORDER Raffled to this court on February 23, 2016 is the instant Petition instituted by Joseph Tawatao Lising, Jr. seeking for, (a) the cancellation of the Certificate of Live Birth registered on June 6, 2003, with Registry No. 2003 3437 under the name of Vaughn Joseph Punongbayan Salazar; and (b) retention and correction of the Certificate of Live Birth registered on June 25, 2003, with Registry No. 2003 3809 under the name of Vaughn Joseph Punongbayan Salazar by causing the complete name of the latter to appear as ‘Vaughn Joseph Salazar Lising”, the first name being “Vaughn Joseph”, the middle name being “Salazar” and the last name being “Lising”.

Finding the instant Petition and all the annexes attached in support of its allegations to be sufficient both in form and substance, let the Petition be heard on May 16, 2016 at 2:00 o’clock in the afternoon before this court located at the 2nd Floor, Old Building, Mandaluyong City Hall, Mandaluyong City.

Notice is hereby given to anyone who has objection relative to this Petition to state his/her grounds thereto.

Accordingly, let this Order be published at the expense of the Petitioner in a newspaper of general circulation in the Philippines to be raffled at the Office of the Clerk of Court, Regional Trial Court, Mandaluyong City, once a week for three (3) consecutive weeks.

Finally, Petitioner is hereby directed to cause service of this Order together with a copy of the Petition and its annexes upon the National Statistics Office, the Office of the Civil Registrar of Mandaluyong City, the Office of the Solicitor General, and the Office of the City Prosecutor of Mandaluyong City.

SO ORDERED. Mandaluyong City, Philippines February 24, 2016.

(Sgd.)RIZALINA T. CAPCO-UMALI Judge COPY FURNISHED: ATTY. TIBERIO U. PRADO OFFICE OF THE SOLICITOR GENERAL NATIONAL STATISTIC OFFICE Counsel for the Petitioner 3/F Vibal Building, Times Street, 98 H. Bautista Street, RTC-OCC Corner EDSA, Quezon City Concepcion Uno, Marikina City Mandaluyong City OFFICE OF THE CITY PROSECUTOR Mandaluyong City

THE LOCAL CIVIL REGISTRAR Mandaluyong City

(TS - MAR. 16,23, & 30, 2016)

OFFICE OF THE PRESIDENT

NATIONAL HOUSING AUTHORITY Invitation to Bid The National Housing Authority (NHA), through the Corporate Budget approved by the NHA Board for the year 2016 intends to apply the sum of the Approved Budget for the Contracts (ABCs) to payments for the following contract:

Ref. No.

Project

2016 -03164

Supply & Delivery of One (1) Unit Elevator at Housing Technology & Research Exhibit Center Building (HTREX) (Re-bid)

ABC/ Source of Funds (P)

Duration (c.d.)

Work Description

210

Supply, Delivery and Installation of One (1) Unit Elevator & Accessories, Testing and Commissioning as well as the required supplies and equipment

2,714,796.00 Corporate Receipts

Bids received in excess of the ABC shall be automatically rejected at bid opening.

The NHA now invites bids for the above-cited contract. Delivery of the Goods is required within the duration herein cited upon receipt of Notice to Proceed. Bidders should have completed, within five years from the date of submission of bids, a single contract similar to the Project costing 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.

Bidding will be conducted through open competitive bidding procedures using non-discretionary pass/fail criterion as specified in the Implementing Rules and Regulations (IRR) of Republic Act 9184 (RA 9184), otherwise known as the “Government Procurement Reform Act”. Bidding is restricted to Filipino citizens/ sole proprietorships, partnerships, or organizations with at least sixty percent (60%) interest or outstanding capital stock belonging to citizens of the Philippines.

A complete set of Bidding Documents shall be issued only to bidders/authorized official representatives or employees of the bidder who can show proof of Notarized Authority to secure bid documents for the specific Project and Official Company ID upon submission of a Letter of Intent (LOI) and upon Cash Payment of nonrefundable fee of P2,700.00 at the Office of the NHA-BAC 2 Secretariat, 2nd Floor NHA Main Building, Diliman, Quezon City starting on March 23, 2016. For further information, the NHA BAC 2 Secretariat may be contacted at Tel/FAX. No.9288272.

The NHA will hold a Pre-Bid Conference on April 5, 2016, 10:00 a.m. at the Operations Center, 3rd Floor NHA Main Building, Elliptical Road, Diliman, Quezon City, which shall be OPEN only to all interested parties who have purchased the Bidding Documents.

Bids must be delivered at the Operations Center, 3rd Floor NHA Main Building, Elliptical Road, Diliman, Quezon City on April 19, 2016, not later than 9:00 a.m.

All Bids must be accompanied by a bid security in any of the acceptable forms and in the amount as stated in BDS. Bid opening shall follow immediately after the deadline of submission of bids at the same venue. 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.

The NHA 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.

(SGD) VICTOR C. BALBA Chairperson, Bids and Awards Committee 2 (BAC 2) NATIONAL HOUSING AUTHORITY

( T S - M A R , 2 3 , 2 016)

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B8 Obama to address Cuba’s dissidents

HAVANA—President Barack Obama was to address the Cuban people live on television Tuesday before meeting with dissidents in a challenge to the communist regime on the final day of his historic visit.

In the latest of a series of firsts during a groundbreaking trip, Obama was to start by giving a speech scheduled to be aired on Cuban state-controlled television from the Gran Teatro in the capital Havana.

The opportunity to speak directly to Cubans would have been unthinkable only recently, underlining how far Obama and his Cuban counterpart Raul Castro have gone in tearing down barriers that for more than 50 years turned the two neighbors into bitter enemies.

“The speech is very important because it’s the one chance on this visit to really step back and just speak directly to the Cuban people,” Obama foreign policy aide Ben Rhodes said.

Rhodes signaled that Obama, the first sitting US president to visit Cuba for 88 years, would touch on the tortuous US-Cuban past and opportunities for the future.

But immediately after the speech, Obama was due to host civil society and opposition figures at the US embassy, returning head on to a subject that ruffled feathers Monday.

Obama and Castro have been careful to highlight their rapprochement during the US president’s three-day trip, which was to end later Tuesday with a baseball game between the Cuban national team and Florida’s Tampa Bay Rays, symbolizing the countries’ shared love of the sport.

At a first-ever joint press conference with Castro on Monday, Obama heralded a “new day” in relations across the Florida Straits.

However, Cuba is angry over the refusal of the US Congress to take down a decades-old trade embargo, something Obama said was sure to happen eventually.

And tension erupted when the subject of human rights in the oneparty state came up, illustrating what Castro called “profound differences.” AFP

CESAR BARRIOQUINTO EDITOR

editorial@thestandard.com.ph

WORLD Transition hangs as Syria regime digs in GENEVA—Syria’s peace talks hit a fresh impasse over President Bashar al-Assad Monday, as the head of Lebanon’s Hezbollah vowed his Shiite movement would keep fighting alongside the regime until Islamic State jihadists are defeated.

Stranded. People wait in long queues to check in and get new reservations in front of the counters for Japanese carrier All Nippon Airways on the departures level of Haneda Airport in Tokyo on March 22, 2016. A computer system malfunction forced Japan’s All Nippon Airways on March 22 to cancel more than a hundred domestic flights, inconveniencing more than 15,000 travelers, the carrier said. AFP

The UN’s Syria envoy, Staffan de Mistura, said he had pressured Damascus to outline its approach to the crucial issue of a political transition, as the negotiations in Geneva entered their second week.

De Mistura said the regime’s lead negotiator Bashar al-Jaafari told him “it was... premature to talk about it. My message was [that] premature [for him] means imminent as far as we are concerned”.

Assad’s fate has been a key obstacle in the latest talks aimed at ending Syria’s devastating five-year war, which has killed more than 270,000 people and displaced millions.

A partial ceasefire brought in last month had raised hopes for an end to the violence, which were further fueled when Russia—a key backer of Assad—announced last week it would withdraw most of its troops from Syria.

But tensions have flared since, with Moscow accusing the US of “unacceptable” delays in agreeing how to punish those who break the ceasefire and warning it could resort to force against violators.

There have also been concerns about whether any peace deal could be enforced on Syria’s complex battlefields, and Hezbollah vowed to stay in Syria until the Islamic State group (IS) and Al-Qaeda’s Syria branch are beaten.

“All that has been said about our withdrawal from Syria is false,” Hezbollah’s leader Hassan Nasrallah told Lebanese channel Al-Mayadeen on Monday.

“We went to Syria to help keep the country from falling into the hands of Daesh [IS] and Al-Nusra Front... So long as we have a responsibility to be there, we will be there.”

Hezbollah first announced it was fighting alongside Assad’s troops in 2013 and has since sent thousands of fighters to battle Syria’s rebels, who are backed by its arch rival Saudi Arabia and a US-led coalition.

Its support has been crucial for keeping the regime in power, but the opposition has insisted the president’s departure must be part of any peace deal agreed at the talks. AFP

Cabbies in violent protest against Uber JAKARTA—Thousands of Indonesian taxi drivers staged a violent protest Tuesday against Uber and other ride-hailing services, blocking major roads in the capital, clashing with drivers from appbased rivals and setting tires alight.

The protesters, who also included motorized rickshaw and bus drivers, adorned their vehicles with signs saying “stop illegal taxis” and rallied in front of parliament and the communications ministry, in an upsurge of anger at apps that the drivers say are threatening their livelihoods.

As convoys of vehicles brought downtown Jakarta to a standstill, the demonstration turned violent, with

protesters jumping up and down on vehicles that refused to take part, while taxi drivers and rivals from appbased services clashed and hurled rocks on a main thoroughfare.

Commuters faced rush-hour travel chaos, with even the motorcades of President Joko Widodo and the vice president getting stuck in the gridlock, making both men late for a meeting.

Anger has been growing among taxi drivers worldwide at the challenge presented by US company Uber, one of the world’s most valuable start-ups, and a flurry of other app-based services that typically offer cheaper fares than traditional

transport operators.

Herman, a 49-year-old taxi driver involved in the Jakarta protest who goes by one name, said his earnings had dwindled from around 250,00 rupiah ($20) a day several months ago, to almost nothing due to the increased competition.

“I haven’t paid my rent, and I need to feed my three children and my wife,” he said.

The demonstration came after weeks of rising tensions between traditional public transport operators in the sprawling, trafficclogged metropolis of 10 million and a flurry of new ride-hailing services. AFP

Spring equinox. Thousands of tourists surround the Kukulcan Pyramid at the Chichen Itza archeological site during the celebration of the spring equinox in Yucatan state in Mexico on March 21, 2016. AFP

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TATUM ANCHETA EDITOR

BING PAREL

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

BERNADETTE LUNAS

life @ thestandard.com .ph

WRITER

@LIFEatStandard

H oME & L I v ING

LIFE

C1

Of EggS, BunnIES, AnD EASTER Places to visit to celebrate Easter weekend

o

ne of the most celebrated parts of Holy Week is Easter, as this special occasion commemorates Christ’s resurrection and marks one of Christianity’s most important holidays. Legend has it that the word Easter came from the goddess of spring Eastre (or Eostre), and its earthly symbol was the rabbit, also known as a symbol of fertility. For Christians, the egg symbolizes Jesus’ resurrection as they crack open Easter eggs to celebrate the empty tomb.

In Western culture, the Easter Bunny has become the most recognized symbol of Easter, and during this occasion, people in certain parts of the world practice the tradition of giving eggs, and hold events like Easter egg rolling and Easter egg hunt.

In the Philippines, our culture pretty much acquired Western practices for Easter Sunday and various commercial institutions take part in the fun celebration. For your Easter weekend, we’ve rounded up a few places you can visit to enjoy the festivities.

PORORO COnquERS nEW WORlD mAnIlA BAy

Popular Korean penguin Pororo is visiting New World Manila Hotel on Easter Sunday, and he is bringing his friends with him.

Enjoy a fun-filled Easter on Mar. 27 from 1:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. Exciting activities, an Easter egg hunt, a magic show, goodie bags and an Easter show with performances by Pororo and friends await children and the entire family. Ticket is priced at P1,500 per person.

For inquiries and reservations, call (02) 252-6888 or visit manilabay.newworldhotels.com.

EngAgIng EASTER AT CITy Of DREAmS

The integrated casino resort at Entertainment City, Manila Bay prepared activities for the Easter weekend and it’ll be a fun experience not just for your kids but also for your gastronomic pleasure.

From 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. on Easter Sunday (March 27), treat your kids to a P1,499 net DreamPlay Easter Celebration. Access 12 DreamPlay attractions and join the venue’s games and activities and win prizes and loot bags. Together with the pass, a special Easter-themed brunch is waiting for you and the little ones served from cold and hot stations – a popcorn cart, a noodles and dim sum area, and a dessert station.

An EGGstravagant egg-hunting experience will commence at DreamPlay where kid explorers can hunt for special eggs, mark their discoveries on the DreamPlay Easter map and get a chance to get four hours of park access free on their next visit.

DinoTrux Racing Competition will be held during the Easter festivities where participants can each get a certificate and the names of winners will be posted in the DinoTrux Wall of Fame. Kids can learn how to design their very first egg-shaped gingerbread cookies and dragon keychain. The event will also feature a special performance by the DreamWorks characters Po, Alex, Shrek, and Fiona, and DreamPlay’s own Dreamers dancers, wearing vibrant costumes moving to Zamba music. To reserve tickets, guests can drop by the nine-foot chocolate Easter egg garden at Café Society on the Upper Ground level and even take photos inside the egg.

For your discriminating palate, JapanesePeruvian restaurant, Nobu Manila, will be serving an Easter brunch menu highlighting a wide selection of sushi, sashimi, salads, teppanyaki, hot dishes, and desserts. On the menu are Shrimp Wasabi Pepper, Sea Bass Jalapeño Miso, Nobu Tocino, Wagyu Beef with Roasted Garlic and the Nobu-style Easter Ensaymada.

For a price of P2,880++ and P4,580++ with the beverage package, the Nobu Easter Brunch menu will be available on March 27 from 11:30 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. Café Society will have Easter treats and sweets available for sale on the Upper Ground level until the 27th of March. On March 26 and 27, dine overlooking the pool area and the famous COD Fortune Egg at Wave for some delectable comfort food grilled dishes.

For DreamPlay, Nobu Manila, Café Society, and Wave reservations and inquiries, call 8008080 or e-mail guestservices@cod-manila.com.

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LIFE life @ thestandard.com .ph

@LIFEatStandard

OF EggS, BuNNIES, AND EAStER From C1

EASTERCATIon AT EDSA ShAngRI-LA, MAnILA

CoLoRFuL CAnDY WonDERLAnD AT DIAMonD hoTEL

On March 27, delight in a sugar land playground that your kiddo will surely enjoy at the Diamond Ballroom from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. Activities during the event are face and egg painting, cupcake decorating, photo booth, glimmer tattoo, kids’ salon and a musical show. OOTDs and selfies would look cool together with Diamond Hotel’s Candy Wonderland characters, stilt walkers, mimers and the day’s confectionery expert, Executive Pastry Chef Sebastian Suarez.

Children participating in a candy wonderland-inspired costume will get a chance to win amazing prizes like the latest

EASTER ESCApADE AT hoTEL MonTICELLo

Take advantage of the Easter Escapade Promo in a new Italian-themed boutique hotel in Tagaytay City. Get your family together and beat the heat for the colder breeze in Tagaytay at Hotel Monticello. Avail of the 20 percent discount on their rooms and enjoy the luxurious and well-appointed facilities. Promo includes a complimentary buffet breakfast and 15 percent off on your restaurant bills. Stay ‘til the Easter Sunday and get your kids to a free Easter Egg Hunt in the hotel premises and expect a special Easter gift item during breakfast. For those

FAMILY CITY RETREAT AT MIDAS

iPad Pro from the hotel and its sponsors.

The pass per person costs around P1,000 net. If you feel like checking in, indulge for the Holy Week and take advantage of the Easter package at P5,000 net until the 27th.

This includes a buffet breakfast for two at Corniche, use of the swimming pool, use of the Health Club and Spa, 20 percent discount on massage, and one free ticket to the Candy Wonderland Easter event.

The room packages are applicable to local residents only. Prior reservation is encouraged.

Offers may not be availed in conjunction with any other promotions or discounts. For room reservations please call 528-3000 ext. 1141 and use the promo code 6302015.

who want to join the Easter Sunday Egg Hunt but have not checked in to the hotel, fee for kids costs about P200 each.

Take a breather and enjoy Tagaytay’s cool, fresh and clean air, the sight of cows grazing in verdant fields, the soothing fog that blankets the city towards the afternoon – all guaranteed to wipe off any form of stress.

The 41-room Hotel Monticello is located along General Emilio Aguinaldo Highway (past Km. 60). More information may be obtained from www.hotelmonticello.com. ph and reservations may be made through (046) 4131111 or (Manila Sales) 834-7672.

Dine for a quiet luxury break in a boutique style setting at Midas Hotel and Casino for only P4,750 net for Deluxe room with complimentary access to the Easter Fun-tasy event on March 27. The room includes dining in at the hotel’s international buffet breakfast spread at Midas Café for two adults and two children below 12 years of age.

Also available is a 15 percent discount for in-room massage services and 10 percent discount in spa treatments at Essenses Spa. Complete your Lenten stay with a visit to the nearby church on Maundy Thursday and Good Friday with our scheduled drop-off shuttle service to reflect on this Holy Week.

During Easter Sunday, a mass gathering will kick-off at the hotel’s Event Studio-

Instead of an Easter Bunny, a burst of yellow happiness awaits kids and their families at the minion-inspired Funtastic Eastercation party. Activities will include surprising loots for the kids, snacks and a round of beverage options. Special raffle prizes will also be given away. Ticket is priced at P2,000 net per person for kids and adults and will be sold at the Events Lounge, every day from 9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.

The hotel’s The Bakeshop will be preparing Easter treats such as colorful

chocolate Easter eggs and bunnies in a variety of flavors and sizes like decadent specialty Easter egg and bunny cakes in four flavors – praline, white chocolate raspberry, passion chocolate and super moist chocolate cake until the 27th.

For inquiries or reservations, please contact the Information Center at (63 2) 633 8888 or email esl@shangri-la.com. Visit www.shangri-la.com/manila/ or stay connected on their social media pages – Edsa Shangri-La for Facebook or follow @edsashangrila on Twitter and on Instagram.

A MYSTERIouS EASTER AT ThE MAnILA hoTEL

If you and your family are up for a more challenging Easter than the usual rounds of egg hunts and egg games, head forth to The Manila Hotel and take part of its first ever partnership with Mystery Manila on March 27. Get your thinking hats together, broaden your imagination, and prepare to solve difficult challenges as you meander along the newly renovated Fiesta Pavilion.

This is not your usual Easter egg hunt, as team work is very important so you get to enjoy and at the same time share this fun strategy game with your family as participants must first search for clues and complete different kinds of challenges such as puzzles and mysteries.

Afternoon snacks will be served during the festivity and kids can enjoy egg painting, cupcake decorating and other fun activities on the venue. Get a chance to win special prizes that include a three-days and two-nights stay with buffet breakfast for two, an overnight stay for two at one of the well-appointed rooms of the hotel plus a breakfast buffet and a dining privilege at the famed Cafe Ilang-Ilang. Mystery Manila Hotel Easter tickets sell for P1,300.00 net for kids and P1,900 net for adults. Prestige members will be entitled to special discounts.

For those who want to have a staycation, checkin and enjoy the stunning view of the bay and a large inviting swimming pool where you can relax and unwind. Enjoy a Holy Week Retreat Room Package until March 27 for P8,500 net per room per night. The package includes staying in one of The Manila Hotel’s Superior Deluxe rooms with complimentary buffet breakfast at the Café IlangIlang for two persons as well as P1,000 spending money to sample the Hotel’s restaurant offerings.

If you’re staying in at the hotel, one of your kids gets a complimentary Mystery Manila Easter pass.

For inquiries and reservations, patrons can call 527 0011 local 1175 to 1178 or email resvn@ themanilahotel.com.

Mayfair by 10:30 a.m. followed by a whimsical party for children which will be held at Station 1 of Midas Café from 11:00 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Midas will transform into an Easter Fun-tasy of the colorful, enchanting and magical world of Alice and Sheriff Woody, the lead characters of Alice in Wonderland and Toy Story which were the inspiration behind the theme. Games, magic, bubble shows, photo booths, Easter egg painting, and of course an egg hunt are just some of the activities in store for the kids.

The Midas Easter Fun-tasy tickets are priced at P600 net per kid, including children’s brunch buffet and P888 net per adult. For inquiries, call 902.0100 local 1187 or email info@ midashotelandcasino.com.

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LIFE life @ thestandard.com .ph

@LIFEatStandard

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OF EggS, BuNNIES, AND EAStER From C2

Marriott hotEl Manila’S EaStEr-riFiC FEtE

Hunting for Easter is made fun with Safari-themed activities in Marriott Hotel Manila. Get a taste of the wilderness as you wander along the café’s vast buffet offerings of international cuisines. They prepared filling choices of fresh tiger prawns, prime rib, teppanyaki and foie gras with agile chefs on standby to cook it the way you crave it. For only P2,550 net, enjoy the Safari Sunday Brunch on March 27 and the kids can join the hoard in hunting for the golden egg on the Safari field for a chance to catch a Dinner or Lunch Buffet for four at the Marriott Café and 1,000 worth of credits for Marriott Café Bakery.

Kiddos can enjoy stations with glitter tattoos, a magic show, and get to be entertained by a hopping bunny going

around the café. Marriott Café is also giving out loot bags filled with freebies for the early explorers to bring home. But if you want to get more of the hotel’s offerings and enjoy its amenities, camp in Marriott Manila’s Deluxe Room and indulge in the Easter promo of P11,800++ a night and get your 2nd room or 2nd night for only P2,888++ until March 27. The room package includes a daily breakfast for two at Marriott Café.

Marriott Rewards members or newly signed up members can enjoy MAX kids’ cooking classes on Saturday, March 26, with freebies and surprise gifts for the little ones.

GrEEn and bluE EaStEr in MovEnpiCk hotEl MaCtan iSland

For inquiries, advance orders and reservations, call (02) 9889999 or visit manilamarriott.com.

To keep up on their latest offerings, follow @marriottmanila on Facebook and Twitter and @manilamarriott on Instagram.

If you have time to hop on a plane and leave the city for a while, one of the hottest destinations to celebrate Easter would be at Mövenpick Hotel Mactan Island Cebu.

Experience traditional local Easter customs within a modern Mediterranean ambience, surrounded by the beautiful lush greenery and crystal blue waters.

A mass will be held at the Forum during Easter Sunday, and guests are invited to indulge in the hotel’s signature buffet restaurant – The Sails. Priced at P1,800 net per person inclusive of one round of Celebrus sparkling wine and P2,300 net inclusive of free-flowing wines, enjoy a delectable dinner and also get 50 percent discount for your children 6-11 years old.

available from 11:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Buffet meals are offered at 19th T, featuring daily breakfast buffet on March 24 to 27, from 6:00 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. for only P450 net per adult and P250 net for kids five to 10 years old.

During Easter Sunday, the Eucharistic Easter Mass Celebration will commence at 6:00 a.m. until 7:00 a.m. at 19th T at The Forest Lodge. From 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m., an Easter Egg Hunt will be happening at The Manor Garden for only P750 per person inclusive of Egg Hunt, Picnic Lunch, Games, Magic Show and Easter loot bags.

At The Manor at Camp John Hay, experience traditional Easter celebration and other activities that kids will enjoy at The Manor Garden with its Easter Funland featuring CandyVille Experiences and FarmVille Adventures for only P200 for kids and P50 for adults.

Another culinary haven of Chef Billy King, Le Chef at The Manor, has prepared for its daily breakfast buffet from 6:30 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. for only P720 net per adult and P360

net for kids five to 10 years old. On Maundy Thursday, Le Chef offers a lunch buffet from 12:00 noon to 2:30 p.m. for only P880 net per adult and P440 net for kids five to 10 years old. Dinner buffet is from 6:30 p.m. to 10:00 p.m. for only P1,200 net per adult and P600 net for kids five to 10 years old. You may keep your Lenten meat fast as you indulge in a Seafood Extravaganza on Good Friday with lunch and dinner buffet. You may also enjoy the international buffet spread for lunch and dinner on Black Saturday for the same rates.

Meanwhile, the Easter lunch buffet celebrates the Risen Lord on Easter Sunday for only P950 net per adult and P475 net for kids five to 10 years old. Dinner a la carte is available from 6:00 p.m. to 11:00 p.m.

If you’re looking for Easter sweets as pasalubong, Le Chef Delicatessen showcases freshly baked Easter goodies, chocolates, pastries, breads and sweets.

For live entertainment, The Piano Bar features an evening of entertainment throughout the Holy Week with performers

The Sails will whip up a spread of hearty meats at the entrée and carving stations, as well as seafood selections, fusion cuisine, seasonal fruits, crêpe station, a variety of house-made desserts, plus an assortment of sushi, sashimi and local favorites.

For guests who want to enjoy a breezy beach dining experience, the Beach Garden will cook up barbecued meats and seafood.

This Sunday special is served complete with minty lemonade and signature local treats such as halo-halo. This is also where kids can enjoy a special Easter family affair with back-to-back games and activities starting at 10:30 a.m. This year’s egg hunt and colorful entertainment comes with dining certificates and exciting prizes for lucky winners.

For reservations and inquiries, please call (02) 492 7777 or email hotel.cebu@movenpick.com.

EGGSCitinG baCk-to-baCk EaStEr CElEbration at thE ForESt lodGE and thE Manor at CaMp John hay

Another cooler place to be in is Baguio, where you can smell the pine and enjoy colder mornings at The Forest Lodge or The Manor at Camp John Hay for your Easter vacay. Room packages vary for the two hotels but you get to enjoy the same sights and sceneries, or hop back-to-back on their various activities.

Today until March 27, reflect on the passion of Jesus Christ as you venerate The Black Nazarene at the Secret Garden/Bell Amphitheater of Camp John Hay. Enjoy the breeze while participating in the traditional Visita Iglesia on Maundy Thursday from 4:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. for only P2,100 per shuttle with a tour guide, inclusive of pack snacks that are available upon request for a minimum of two persons and a maximum of eight persons for both the Manor and the Lodge.

The Forest Lodge has prepared art exhibits, giant egg painting, egg hunt, and a lot more fun activities for the whole family this Holy Week. The Art Exhibit will be greeting guests as they walk in at the Lobby and The Twist while being serenaded by harpist Holly Angel Paraiso today until the 25th from 5:00-6:00 p.m. at The Lobby area. The Eggs-pedition will start by 3:00 p.m. until 4:00 pm so you can have your kids ready to find hidden treasure eggs, solve the riddle, complete the puzzle, and win different prizes at the Lobby Area.

Registration for this is only P150 per kid and it already includes activities like PaintYour-Giant-Easter-Egg competition, Face Painting, Balloon Twisting, Cotton Candy, Popcorn, Movie at the Lobby, and Selfie with the Easter Bunny.

Celebrity chef Billy King’s The Twist will be offering snacks that include bibingka and puto bumbong, halo-halo, special cakes, pastries, breads, sandwiches, and burgers,

that include Sonny Bugnosen and Jun Ordoñez, Los Amigos, Three Dimension, Fusion Band, On Call Band and All Time Low. Harpist Holly Angel Paraiso will likewise be serenading guests at The Manor Garden from March 23 to 25, 7:00-9:00 p.m., while Verse 2 will be playing on March 26 from 6:00-9:00 pm, also at The Manor Garden.

For inquiries, call (074) 422.2075-76/80-81, email theforestlodge@campjohnhayhotels. ph or visit their website on www.campjohnhayhotels.ph. The Forest Lodge, Camp John Hay is located at Loakan Road, Baguio City and managed and operated by Camp John Hay Leisure, Inc. The Manor Camp John Hay is located at Loakan Road, Baguio City. For details and bookings, call Baguio (074) 4240931 to 47/50-53; Baguio hotline (02) 584-4892 and (02) 584-4911. Email reservations@campjohnhay.ph or visit www.campjohnhay.ph.

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LIFE life @ thestandard.com .ph

@LIFEatStandard

OF EggS, BuNNIES, AND EAStER from c3

a hEroic stay at PaN Pacific MaNila

NEw world Makati’s fEasts aNd fuN activitiEs

Celebrate Christ’s resurrection with sumptuous meals and fun activities at New World Makati Hotel.

Sample the Easter Unlimited Yum Cha Lunch at the hotel’s Jasmine restaurant with family and friends. The special menu, prepared by executive Chinese chef Wong Kam On, includes a wide variety of xiao long bao, barbecue pork puffs and other dim sum specialties for P1,688 per person.

Or head over to Café 1228 for an Easter Sunday buffet brunch. The upgraded buffet spread comes with a salad station, imported cheese selection, gourmet appetizers, grilled specialties, local and international cuisines and desserts for P2,500 per diner.

Bond with the whole family for a night or two in one of New World Makati’s well-

rafflEs aNd fairMoNt Makati offErs dElEctablE trEats

Start the first day of Easter with a delicious brunch at Raffles and Fairmont Makati’s the Ranch, with each member of the family taken cared of in the exclusive ranch-style buffet. Spectrum, on the other hand, offers Sunday brunch from 12:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m. for P2,777 per diner (children six to 12 years old may dine for half the price).

For a more refined afternoon on Easter Sunday, indulge in afternoon tea at Writers Bar and splurge on a glass or two of teainfused vodka martinis to go with the Charriol Afternoon Tea. Inspired by Charriol’s St. Tropez 35 timepiece, the tropézien tête-à-tête is available for sharing

appointed rooms. Stay in a Superior room for P6,200 or Deluxe room for P7,200 per night. This special Easter Room Package is available today until Mar. 27.

Checked-in guests and diners at Jasmine or Café 1228 are entitled to a ticket or two (depending on terms and conditions) to the Magic Wonderland activity on Easter Sunday.

From 10:30 a.m. to 2:00 p.m., the hotel’s ballroom will transform into a whimsical wonderland, complete with snacks, classic confections and summer refreshments as children make their way through the various game booths and play areas with special prizes and giveaways. Kids will also get to enjoy a live magic show and Easter egg hunt.

Contact the hotel at (02) 811-6888 or visit newworldhotels.com/manila for more information or reservations.

for two at P1,500, while the MarTEAni upgrade is at P650 for two glasses.

Should you or the family prefer to stay a night in the hotel, Raffles offers a piece of luxury in its well-appointed suites, with rates starting at P12,700 per night. The room package includes buffet breakfast at Spectrum, Classic Afternoon Tea and Evening Cocktails and Canapés, and allday standard drinks at Writers Bar. At Fairmont Makati, rates start at P6,700 per night and comes with complimentary breakfast for two at Spectrum.

Call (02) 795-188 or (02) 795-1840 or email for inquiries, dining reservations and more to information.dining.makati@raffles.com.

The Butler hotel Pan Pacific Manila is all set for a super-charged Easter celebration with its special staycation package, dining options and fun enjoyable activities that are nothing short of heroic.

Recharge your body and soul with the hotel’s My Hero Room Package that offers a stay in a Superior Room for P6,500 net, in a Deluxe Room for P7,000 net or in a Pacific King Suite for P10,000 net. The room promo comes with buffet breakfast for two adults and two kids (age 12 and below) and two complimentary passes to the Easter

Superhero Camp on Easter Sunday.

Aside from the traditional Easter egg hunt, kids will enjoy action-packed parlor games, muffin decorating, and a superhero loot bag. The Easter egg hunter who has the best superhero costume will also receive a special award.

After the games, the whole family may partake of a sumptuous array of international and local buffet selections at Pacific Lounge for only P950 net per person.

For restaurant and room reservations, call (02) 318-0788 or email enquiry.ppmnl@ panpacific.com.

ExtraordiNary EGGs-PEriENcE at richMoNdE Eastwood

Fun Easter experiences await guests at Eastwood Richmonde Hotel this Holy Week.

The hotel’s Holy Week and Easter Celebration room packages will hatch your staycation plans during this solemn long weekend. The Holy Week room promo, whose rates start at P4,000 nett for a Superior room, comes with buffet breakfast for two and is available until March 25.

Meanwhile, the Easter Celebration room package, which is priced at P5,900 nett, is inclusive of buffet breakfast for two diners, and two tickets to the Easter Egg-citement party with merienda buffet.

The Easter party starts at 1:00 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. at the Hotel Lobby. Activities include traditional Easter egg hunt, kiddie magic show and other enjoyable

Galactic EastEr at sofitEl

Experience the delights of a tropical oasis without leaving the city courtesy of Sofitel Philippine Plaza Manila’s lush greenery and inviting turquoise waters with the Manila Bay sunset as the perfect backdrop when you reflect on Holy Week and Easter.

Sofitel’s Easter Getaway packages are attractive at P7,500 for an overnight stay inclusive of breakfast for two adults and two children 11 years old and below at Spiral, and one ticket to Galactic Adventures on

activities. Tickets are priced at P750 nett (adult or child).

For inquiries and reservations, call (02) 5707777 or email erh@richmondehotel.com.ph.

March 27 at the Grand Plaza Ballroom.

Kids will also enjoy the Galactic Easter Egg Hunt as they hunt for hidden treasures and win exciting prizes. The only limit to the fun adventure is their imagination as they escape into an interstellar urban getaway, dressed as their favorite galactic character on March 27 from 9:00 a.m. to 12 p.m. at the Grand Plaza Ballroom.

For inquiries and reservations, call (02) 8326988 or email H6308-FB12@sofitel.com.

wEDnES DAy : m A RcH 2 3, 2016

SHOWBITZ

ISAH V. RED EDITOR

isahred @ gmail.com

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JackIE ZapaTa wIns ‘FIT FOR FashIOn’

S

he came, she saw, she conquered.

The 32-year old Filipino American Jackie Zapata from New York City emerged winner of Fit for Fashion Season 2, beating 13 other contestants in a series of grueling fitness and fashion challenges over the course of 10 weeks.

Throughout the season, Fit for Fashion, the first-ever reality TV show that brings together fashion and fitness, helped Jackie cast off her insecurities, transform physically and mentally, and changed her outlook on life.

“I have changed in so many ways. With the help of the experts and the tools provided by Fitness First and ZALORA, I’ve lowered my body fat percentage, changed my composition, and improved my mobility and flexibility. I have abs too… yes, a six pack! When I look in the mirror

now, I see a strong, lean, beautiful Jackie. And that gives me confidence to channel my inner fashionista,” Jackie shares.

She came to the show with three objectives – to achieve happiness, health and confidence. Jackie’s determination saw her surpass the 13 other equally tough contestants, fueled by the burning desire to get all the help she needed to pull herself out of her midlife slump.

Jackie recalls several pivotal moments in the show, starting with the elimination night in episode one. “I walked into this competition thinking that I could tackle anything, and do it well the first time around. That evening opened my eyes to how hard and challenging it would be, and made it painfully obvious that I had a lot to learn. I remember sitting through the critique and criticism feeling scared, defeated,

vulnerable, and so very humbled.”

In her journey to transformation, some of the challenges Jackie and her fellow contestants were put through include climbing a 60-foot rope net, being hoisted up into the air for their very first fashion shoot, overcoming an obstacle course set on a narrow 1000-foot pier, to writing, directing, styling and performing their own fashion film, organizing their own photo shoot with local children, and channeling old Hollywood glamor in a classic blackand-white photo shoot.

Despite the ‘fierceness’ she displayed on the show, Jackie says that “underneath all my fierceness is a deeply-rooted insecurity that has to be explored and painfully uncovered, in order to fix what I came here to fix.” She adds, “I have a new sense of self and shed the old habits that left me stressed, tired and dull. I am final-

Zapata screams in disbelief when she was announced winner Fit for Fashion Season 2

Jackie Zapata (middle), hugged by finalist Kyle Ramirez (far right), cries tears of joy when announced as Fit for Fashion Season 2 winner, while fellow finalist Sam Gaskin (right) looks on and applaud.

ly happy because now, I’m more connected with my mind and body. I dreamed a better life and I am finally here and living it!” The grand prize money of $100,000 courtesy of Fitness First, and a year’s worth of clothing from ZALORA are just icing on the cake.

Riaz Mehta, President & Founder of Imagine Group, says, “Our motto is that we don’t just change bodies but we change lives. Jackie is a shining example of how Fit for Fashion can help the everyday person. At the start of the season, we promised that Season 2 would be bigger and better – and I believe we’ve delivered just that”.

Simon Flint, CEO of Fitness First Asia concurs, “At the heart of the show’s very premise is that fitness gives you confidence; throughout the ten episodes I am very confident that this was demonstrated consistently by all the contestants. It was a really good feeling to see them embracing their new bodies and coming to realize that with the right kind support,

tools and knowledge, it’s all there for the taking. I am proud that through this collaboration we have brought genuinely captivating and motivating stories to millions across the region and hopefully along the way we have sown the seeds of inspiration for viewers to embark on their own transformation journeys using the tools available to them, including our free CustomFit app, and the 10-Week Get Fit workout and nutrition programmes.”

Jackie summarizes her Fit for Fashion journey with a message to everyone, “I was just like you – and now I’m living proof that any regular person can make a change to improve his or her life one day at a time. Start by making a change, believe in yourself and remember the two rules in life: Rule number one: never give up. Rule number two: never forget rule number one.”

For more information on Fit for Fashion and to start your transformation journey with the help of CustomFit 3.0, please visit http://fitforfashion.tv.

BAZAAR At AlIwAn FIEStA Summer is not only the best time to escape the heat of the city and explore the islands’ more rustic charms. This is also the season when local and foreign tourists savor local delicacies and shop around for specialty products that would cost only a fraction of normal retail prices in the city.

Aliwan Fiesta, the grand cultural extravaganza produced by Manila Broadcasting Company in tandem with the Cultural Center of the Philippines to bring together the country’s major festivals in just a single venue, once again presents the perfect opportunity to showcase regional trade in its three-day Shoppers Bazaar at the CCP Complex.

Those who have outstanding products to sell from the different areas of the country are encouraged to display their wares at the booths

available during the event, which takes place on April 1416, along Sotto Street in front of Aliw Theatre.

Elevating shopping to an art form and cultural phenomenon, Aliwan Fiesta hopes to guarantee the buying public with quality “pasalubong.”

Now on its 14th staging, Aliwan Fiesta’s Shoppers Bazaar has shown that the best finds are not always at the malls, but at the traditional “tiangge” or flea market. Shop-a-holics who would normally plan an extensive shopping spree throughout the islands have had to exercise even more restraint in this onestop-shop.

For enquiries on the Aliwan Fiesta Shoppers Bazaar, please call Teray Rivas at 0917 8658699 / 0918 5918540 / 0923 6501434

the juice bottles on display at three-day Shoppers Bazaar at the ccP complex

woven mats showcased in the regional trade

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wEDnES DAy : m A RcH 2 3, 2016

ISAH V. RED EDITOR

SHOWBITZ isahred @ gmail.com

XIan LIm fEELs mORE InspIRED

K

apamilya actor Xian old actor noted that it made him Lim speaks about his quest hooked to watching movies and from being a young star to series on his mobile phone more. wIThOuT playing more serious roles.

A romcom and action fan, wang2 He appreciates that his mother he normally streams OTT connIckIE wang network already sees him as a setents in between takes. He also rious actor by entrusting him with revealed that since My Cactus important assignments.

Heart and My Binondo Girl, two This holds true for the teleof his previous projects that are vision series he currently stars in oppo- now available on HOOQ, he started findsite Kim Chiu, The Story of Us. In the pri- ing time watching again the movies and metime drama, Xian transitioned to a more series he was part of. mature route.

“I am the biggest critic of myself, watch“It’s been three years since the last time ing myself allows me to grow as an artist. I we were together in a television drama. wanted to identify what other aspects I can This kind of project makes me feel that my improve on in terms of acting,” the Kapamnetwork already sees me as a mature actor. ilya actor related.

For one, the character [I play] is very different from the roles I played before,” Xian no politics for Dingdong Dantes told The Standard during the 1st anniverKapuso star Dingdong Dantes has been sary party of HOOQ. known for promoting meaningful causes He also added that he’s very thankful that including advocacies he personally initiup until now, he’s still visible on both small ated. He’s very visible and vocal in supportand big screens. ing government projects and social works “You know, we’re in a business where that he believes can bring about change. some talents only last for a few shows.

In an exclusive interview with The StanFor me, being around up until now is an dard, during the press launch of his TVC achievement in itself. This makes me feel for Ensure, a brand he endorses together more inspired to work,” he shared. with his father, the 33-year-old actor talked As a HOOQ ambassador, the 26-year- about why he likes to be involved in well-

Xian Lim enjoys streaming ott content on HooQ and likes watching his own shows

Ensure brand ambassador Dingdong Dantes

meaning activities and why he doesn’t consider himself a political person.

“If you’d ask me for specific plans [to enter politics], wala talaga. But the fact that I am here and working for the government is something that I’m proud of,” Dingdong said.

The actor shared that he also had to put on hold some projects because of the rare opportunity to work for the government.

He is the current commissioner of the National Youth Council.

“All of us will have our fair share in nation building. It just so happens that this is my way. And this kind of opportunity won’t be given to us or to me everyday,” he explained.

Although busy with his responsibilities, he promised that he’d resume making movies and drama series after the elections. In the meantime, he will actively participate in various events and government initiatives that need his help.

LEntEn REcoLLEctIon At tEAtRIno, EAStER Egg Hunt At PRomEnADE

Fr. Larry Faraon O.P. will conduct another stirring Holy Wednesday Recollection at Teatrino today, March 23, to bring Christ’s passion and death closer to the lives of the faithful. On Easter Sunday, March 27, the Promenade hosts another fun and frolicsome Easter Egg Hunt as the Risen Christ removes the pall of gloom with the joy of His glorious Resurrection.

From 2 to 5:30 p.m. on March 23, the popular Retreat Master will take retreat participants on “A Journey of Presence, Sacrfice and Communion”, focusing on the wonder of the words “..and He dwelt among us” – the special privilege we all have because God became man, lived on earth to work wonders and redeem us from sin.

Lentern Recollection at teatrino (left) will be held on march 23, while the Easter Egg Hunt (right) will be march 27

“In this year of the Special Jubilee of God’s Mercy and Compassion, the Eucharist comes out as the perfect ex-

cROsswORD puzzLE

answer PreVIOUs PUZZLe

ACROSS 1 Can’t help but (2 wds.)

6 Powder base 10 Spinach is rich in it 14 Leering sort 15 Potpourri 16 View from an oasis 17 Classic Tierney role 18 Daybreak, in verse

19 Down Under birds 20 Private eye’s attire 22 Off. helper 23 Lettuce unit 24 Peoria’s st.

26 Make wine 30 Ground, as teeth 34 Excludes 35 Modem word 36 Suffix for press 37 Dappled horse

38 Rather 40 Mars, to Plato 41 Legal rep.

42 Reunion attendee 43 Bedside item 44 Ached for 46 Gazes into the sun 48 USN rank 49 Globetrot 50 Sergeant’s supper 53 Common fossils 59 Name in essays 60 “Othello” heavy 61 Romantic interlude 62 “Fatha” Hines 63 Pointed arch 64 — Jean Baker 65 Elbow opposite 66 Techie 67 Melancholy DOWN 1 Tim — of oaters 2 Culture dish goo 3 Veer off-course 4 Graceful seabird 5 Sibyls 6 Four-footed Romeo 7 Standoffish 8 Luigi’s dollar, once 9 Go on 10 Things to uphold 11 Sugar cane products 12 Disagreeable task

WEDNESDAY, MARCH 23, 2016

13 21 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 35 38 39 40 42 43 45 46 47 49 50 51 52 54 55 56 57 58

Treetop refuge Egg producer Stripling Raid Ham it up Gaucho’s rope Natural elev.

B-movie pistol A Great Lake Upright Work stations Fragment Wonder about Sturm — Drang MacGraw of films — Arbor, Michigan Sidewalk edge Used-car deal Flew or sang alone “— Vadis?”

Kind of lily Too mild Zest for life King’s address Come unglued Rock star, maybe Greenhorn “Blondie” kid Close violently

ample of such mercy. The abiding presence of Christ in the Eucharist is God ‘s expression of ‘being with’ his people especially in challenging times. The sacrifice on the cross of His son Jesus commemorated in the Eucharist brings forgiveness, the ultimate act of God’s mercy and compassion. In Holy Communion, which is the result of the Eucharistic activity, God’s mercy and compassion is shared in fellowship and charity. We shall share with each other the richness of God’s mercy and compassion in the retreat,” said Fr. Faraon.

“The Music Museum group started the tradition of the Lenten Recollection at Teatrino in 2010. It is our simple but meaningful way of sharing God’s word and His

love with our mall goers. It is our spiritual gift to everyone who has made us truly blessed through the years,” said MMGI President Precy M. Florentino.

“We want to spread the happiness of Easter to everyone as well. So on Easter Sunday, March 27, we will also celebrate the most important Christian feast, which is Christ’s Resurrection, via our traditional Easter Egg Hunt. Did you know that the word Easter comes from the Latin word oestre which means egg?,” she asked.

Everyone is invited. The Lenten Recollection is on a first come-first served basis and reservations may be made through 721-6726 and 722-4535 loc. 116. The Easter Egg Hunt happens right after the Easter Sunday Mass at 10:30 a.m.

wEDnES DAy : m A RcH 2 3, 2016

SHOWBITZ

ISAH V. RED EDITOR

isahred @ gmail.com

C7

Rock artist and Journey frontman Arnel Pineda in a concert at Resorts world manila’s newport Performing Arts Theater

A

SEE ARnEl PInEDA lIvE AT RESORTS WORlD MAnIlA

fter taking a leap of faith when he signed up as front man for legendary rock band Journey in 2007, Arnel Pineda is again set to make new waves in the music scene with his latest concert Voyage to Rockville at Resorts World Manila’s (RWM) Newport Performing Arts Theater (NPAT) on April 5, 2016.

For the first time, Arnel streams his live concert worldwide via Sanre Streaming, a division of Sanre Entertainment World-

wide. The innovative concert allows fans from all over the world to hear Arnel perform live onstage featuring new tracks from his upcoming solo album from Imagen Records set to launch later this year.

Voyage to Rockville also features 2016 Grammy Awards nominee for Best Metal Performance Morgan Rose and American Pop-Rock sensation Namesake. Rose is a founding member and drummer of alternative metal band Sevendust and the vice presi-

Lovi says FPJ taught Grace lessons in life In her first campaign sortie, Lovi Poe revealed a lot about presidential candidate Grace Poe, her half sister by Fernando Poe, Jr. She said that FPJ and Grace are so much alike in many ways. She’s happy that her sister is continuing what their father had done when he was still alive and that is to help a lot of needy not only in the movie industry but in other sectors as well.

She said that her sister learned a lot from their father.

“Si Papa kasi talagang ibang klase iyong pakikitungo niya sa lahat ng tao at parang nag-set siya ng example sa aming lahat na talagang dapat maging mabuti ka sa kahit sino man iyan at kahit man may hindi magandang asal, hindi magandang ipinapakita sa iyo. Kailangan hindi mo isukli ng masama. Kailangan mabuti pa rin iyong pakikitungo mo sa taong iyon,” Lovi said.

She added that the courage and the confidence Grace is showing especially when she faced the issues on her citizenship and residency were all from their father.

Lovi is glad that the Supreme Court ruled on her sister’s favor even if some of the judges are still not in favor of allowing her to run.

“Siguro po hindi talaga maiiwasan na may mga kumontra pero masaya po kami. Lalo na ako, masaya ako para sa resulta nga dahil they got vindicated. Alam naman po natin na hindi lang si Ate Grace ang dumaan dito kundi pati na rin si Papa,” Lovi said.

dent of Imagen Records which announced the unique live streaming rock event with Sanre Streaming. The young Atlanta, Georgia band Namesake on the other hand is currently making waves in the music scene with such hits as “Borders and Fences” and the controversial “World’s Away”.

The renowned Filipino rock singer returns to RWM after staging his Jam with Arnel Pineda concert in 2010 together with veteran Filipino rockers AMMO Band. Last January,

Arnel gave a surprise performance at the Araneta Coliseum as he joined timeless rockers Chicago for a rendition of the band’s hit song “You’re My Inspiration”. This April, Arnel is again all set to rock the stage worldwide live and via streaming with Voyage To Rockville.

Tickets to Arnel Pineda’s Voyage to Rockville are now available at TicketWorld with hotlines at (632) 891-9999 and mobile numbers 0917-5506997 and 0999 (9545922) www.ticketworld.com.ph.

cooking is bonding time for Heart and chiz’s twins

Actress Heart Evangelista with twins chesi and Quino

Apart from getting used to be the wife Chiz Escudero, Heart uses cooking to bond with her husband’s twins – Chesi and Quino.

While she may be busy with show business and other commitments, she tries to find time to cook for Chiz, and, at times, the twins help her out in the kitchen.

“Kung may time pero kapag nagluluto ako, na-a-appreciate din niya yun and at the same time, yung mga bata,” Heart said.

“And andiyan yung mga bata, para kaming may Science project sa kusina. Hit or miss kami kung nagkamali ba o tama ang luto pero ang importante we did it togeth-

er. At na-appreciate yun ni Chiz at ng mga bata. Yun ang mga bonding time namin,” the actress added.

Heart took up cooking lessons because she wants to improve her kitchen skills and be like her mommy who she says is a goddess in the kitchen. She also has a cooking show with chef Stefano de Medici on Starworld. It’s called Food Trip.

She said that Chiz is happy to see her with the twins.

“Tuwang-tuwa na lang siya, hindi ba? Na nag-e-effort ako at nag-ta-try, the heart is there trying,” Heart declared.

Healthy skin equals no filter selfie In this day and age, there’s a widespread obsession with digitally capturing moments and sharing them on social media. Vanity compels many to put their best foot forward. In anticipation of those perfect social media photo sharing moment, more and more people are dressing up in almost all occasions. That’s why it’s no surprise that people are becoming more fashionable.

However, when it comes to looking good, people tend to overlook skin care. With the emergence of phone photo editing apps, removing blemishes and enhancing appearances have become too easy. In real life though, there is no app to edit our skin.

Make-up can only do so much. It’s a good

thing there is a natural supplement that is packed with ingredients that produces healthy and radiant skin.

ATC Grape Seed Oil is an all-natural extract containing “Oligomeric Procyanidin,” an antioxidant 50 times more potent than Vitamin E and 20 times stronger than Vitamin C. This antioxidant, found in ATC Grape Seed Oil, is said to have the ability to protect our bodies against free radicals, which damage cells, allowing us to have healthier and more radiant skin.

Taking ATC Grape Seed Oil regularly may also help in lowering the level of bad cholesterols in the body. It also helps relieve the pain and swelling caused by

arthritis, by repairing and strengthening capacities of damaged capillaries and blood vessels. Aside from that, ATC Grape Seed Oil may help in boosting the immune system and blood circulation, but be reminded that this is not a medicinal drug and should not be used to treat the symptoms of any disease.

ATC Grape Seed Oil is to be taken two to three times a day or as prescribed by your doctor. Take ATC Grape Seed Oil every day and let it work to make you feel good on the inside and look great on the outside. At P7 per capsule, ATC Grape Seed Oil is available at Mercury Drug and other leading drugstores nationwide.

w ednes day : m a rch 2 3, 2016

C8

Isah V. red EdiTor nIcKIe wanG WriTEr

isahred @ gmail.com

SHOWBITZ

The composers and interpreters of the top 15 songs in “himig handog P-Pop Love songs 2016” worldwide OPm songwriting competition

‘Himig Handog 2016’ finals in april he highly anticipated finals night of the country’s biggest worldwide OPM songwriting competition Himig Handog P-Pop Love Songs 2016 is set to take place at the Kia Theather on April 24 featuring some of the industry’s most popular musicians.

It will be hosted by Robi Domingo, Enrique Gil, Liza Soberano, and Kathryn Bernardo and will feature special performances

by Daniel Padila and other surprise guests.

The culmination of this year’s Himig Handog will also feature the country’s most popular singers’ live performances of the top 15 songs picked out from over 6,000 entries attracted by the competition.

Exciting numbers to watch out for are the duets of Kyla and Kris Lawrence on “Monumento” composed by Jungee Marcelo, also Angeline Quinto and Michael Pangilinan on “Parang Tayo Pero Hindi” by Marlon Barnuevo, KZ Tandingan featuring Jay-R on “Laban Pa” by David Dimaguila, Janella Sal-

vador and Marlo Mortel on “Mananatili” by Francis Louis Salazar, and Bailey May and Ylona Garcia on “O Pag-ibig”

by Honlani Rabe and Jack Rufo.

Completing the list of interpreters are Barbie Almalbis for “Ambon” by Nica Del Rosario, Nyoy Volante for “Patay na si Uto” by Oliver Narag, Itchyworms for “Dalawang Letra” by Davey Langit, Kaye Cal for “Nyebe” by Aries Sales, Morissette for “Diamante” by Jungee Marcelo, Juris for “Bibitawan Ka” by Hazel Faith Dela Cruz, Klarisse De Guzman for “Sana Tumibok Muli” by Jose Joel Mendoza, Jona for “Maghihintay Ako”

by Dante Bantatua, Daryl Ong for “Minamahal Pa Rin Ako” by Rolando Azor, and Jolina Magdangal for “Tama Lang” by Agatha and Melvin Morallos.

Like its previous runs, Himig Handog will be awarding P1 million to the grand prize winner, while P500,000 for the 2nd Best Song. The composers of the 3rd, 4th, and 5th Best Songs will receive P200,000, P150,000, and P100,000, respectively.

Meanwhile, fans can support their favorite song entries and interpreters by voting for them in these special awards categories. For the MOR 101.9’s “MOR’s Choice,” just text MORHHSONG <1 to 15> and send it to 2366 for all networks.

There is also the “Onemusic.

ph Favorite Interpreter” that supporters can vote for at onemusic.ph. For the “Star Music Listeners Choice,” just buy the Himig Handog P-Pop Love Songs 2016 album, check your choice of song in the voting coupon found inside the album. Drop boxes are located at the counter of record outlets.

The top 15 songs are also featured in music videos created by students from the country’s top universities and colleges, including Ateneo De Manila University, University of Sto. Tamos, University of the East, Far Eastern University, PUP Manila, Mapua Institute of Technology, College of St. Benilde, San Sebastian College-Recoletos, Miriam College, San Beda College Alabang, St. Paul University Manila, Meridian International College, Asia Pacific College, Asia Pacific Film Institute, and iAcademy.

Don’t miss Himig Handog P-Pop Love Songs finals night on April 24 at the Kia Theater. Buy your tickets now, call TicketNet at 911-5555 or visit www.ticketnet.com.ph.

For additional information and the complete voting mechanics for the special awards, visit www.facebook.com/mor1019 and onemusic.ph/himig-handog.

To watch the recording sessions and lyrics videos of the songs, go to www.youtube.com/starrecordsinc/videos.

Jona with dante Bantatua, composer of “maghihintay ako”

Juris with hazel Faith dela cruz, composer of “Bibitawan Ka”

Kyla and Kris Lawrence, interpreters of the song “monumento” composed by Jungee marcelo

ISAH V. RED

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The annual himig handog P-Pop Love songs is set to take place on april 24 at the Kia Theater

KZ with david dimaguila, composer of “Laban Pa,” which also features Jay-r

nyoy Volante with Oliver narag, composer of “Patay na si Uto”

Klarisse de Guzman with Jose Joel mendoza, composer of the love ditty “sana’y Tumibok muli”

Barbie almalbis with nica del rosario, composer of “ambon”