The Standard - 2016 April 10 - Sunday

VOL. XXX  NO. 57  3 Sections 24 Pages P18  SUNDAY : APRIL 10, 2016  www.thestandard.com.ph  editorial@thestandard.com.ph

STILL 9-6 IN FAVOR OF GRACE, SC RULES

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‘NOYNOYING’ NOY BREAKS SILENCE

By Christine F. Herrera and John Paolo Bencito

AFTER a week of silence, President Benigno Aquino III finally addressed the controversy of the deadly dispersal of 6,000 drought-stricken farmers who set up a barricade in Kidapawan City to protest government inaction and demand food aid.

But the farmers’ group Kilusang Magbubukid ng Pilipinas on Saturday dismissed Aquino’s explanation as “stupid and cheap” and accused the President of “noynoying,” or pretending to be busy while doing nothing.

Speaking at a Liberal Party campaign rally at the Makati Coliseum Friday night, Aquino said he learned of the farmers’ protest in Kidapawan

City only on April 1, or two days after The Standard first published the story along with other online news outlets.

He said he was in Cavite for the turnover of a newly-built school building and a Liberal Party campaign rally for the administration standard bearer Manuel Roxas II. “On our way home to Manila, [Interior and Local Government] Sec-

retary Mel [Senen] Sarmiento mentioned he was to fly to Kidapawan the next day so I asked, “Anong gagawin mo sa Kidapawan [What are you going to do in Kidapawan]?” Aquino said in his speech.

“The truth is, that was the first time I’ve heard there was a barricade that blocked the highway in Kidapawan and a violent dispersal Next page

THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME. President Benigno Aquino thanks the Filipino people for giving him the opportunity to serve in the highest office in the land during the 74th commemoration of the Araw ng Kagitingan in Pilar, Bataan.

ROXAS CUTS IN ON BINAY-DUTERTE ‘WORD WAR’

By Christine F. Herrera, Joel E. Zurbano and Maricel V. Cruz

LIBERAL Party presidential candidate Manuel Roxas II on Saturday joined the “word war” between Vice President Jejomar Binay and Davao City Mayor Rodrigo Duterte over Duterte’s admitted involvement in extra-judicial killings.

“What is he: judge, jury and executioner?

In his mind, only he and he alone is correct.

His views and only his views are correct.

The Philippines is not like that and Filipinos are not like that,” Roxas said.

“When there’s a problem that does not agree with his view or belief, he will just curse it. That is not the right way to lead our country and that is not the character that we want

to inculcate in our children,” Roxas said.

Roxas made the remark after Binay, in campaign speeches in Quezon province on Friday, tagged Duterte a “berdugo [executioner]” who kills only poor people, being exceedingly boastful and a king of lies.

“We do not need a leader who wantonly disregards the sanctity of human life and whose only wrong solution to the press-

ing problem of poverty is to kill the poor,” Binay said, adding that Duterte himself admitted links to the Davao Death Squad and that he had killed 1,700 people, 1,000 more than what was reported by Amnesty International.

Aside from Amnesty International, several other human rights groups have linked Next page

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ITALIAN VICTIM RELEASED

By Francisco Tuyay

AT LEAST 22 soldiers were wounded in a fresh clash with the Abu Sayyaf in Basilan, hours after the Islamic militants released a retired Italian priest who had been held hostage for six months, the military reported on Saturday.

FREED FROM EVIL. Retired Italian priest Rolando del Torchio rests while receiving treatment at a military hospital in Zamboanga City after he was found in a ferry docked at the Jolo Port on Friday evening. AFP PHOTO/ WESMINCOM

‘NOYNOYING’...

From A1 took place,” Aquino said, apparently unaware that the highway linking Cotabato and Davao had been blockaded for two days.

However, Aquino claimed that he came down with the flu on the evening of April 1 and his condition was aggravated by a bum stomach the following day, so his doctor ordered him to bed.

He claimed he wanted to resolve the Kidapawan situation and immediately sought a meeting with concerned officials that weekend.

A separate meeting with government officials about the April 2 power outage at the Naia Terminal 3 was also sought by the President last Sunday, April 3, he said.

The two meetings, however, were pushed back to Monday, April 4, since the officials were not yet ready to give their briefings, Aquino said.

“Our people only have Sunday to rest but I was really eager to start resolving all these incidents,” Aquino said.

But Executive Secretary Paquito Ochoa Jr. reported back to him and said concerned but unidentified officials were not ready to give him a

ROXAS...

From A1

Duterte to extra-judicial killings, including Human Rights Watch and the United Nations Special Rapporteur on Human Rights.

But Duterte retracted his previous admissions to the summary executions of criminals.

“I never admitted that I did an extrajudicial [killing]. What I admitted to him [was] killings,” Duterte told reporters on Friday after being told Binay’s charges in Quezon.

“When you go against criminal syndicates, do not expect a pristine and white environment. It’s always bloody, but I never said extrajudicial,” he said. “I’m a lawyer, I am a Christian and [even if you say] how bad I am, I still have my values in life.

I do not do that.”

But Binay dismissed Duterte’s denial and chided Duterte for his flipflopping response to questions on his involvement in extrajudicial killings in Davao.

briefing, so Aquino moved the meeting on Monday.

“You know, my work is really 24/7, 365 days so sometimes even my body already complains,” Aquino said without disclosing what became of the meeting that was moved to Monday, April 4.

But the day after Aquino’s explanation, KMP chairperson Rafael Mariano was not convinced at Aquino’s justification only shows incompetence and apathy to the plight of the people.

“Finally, after a week, the President broke his silence on the Kidapawan carnage. However, the President’s statement confirmed that he was ‘Noynoying’ all along,” said KMP chairperson Rafael Mariano.

“The haciendero President’s justification is a substantiation of sheer incompetence and apathy, coupled with brazen lies and cheap alibi,” Mariano added.

“Aquino’s statement betrays his weak leadership, indecisiveness, and downright stupidity,” Mariano said.

Mariano noted that as of Saturday, a week after Aquino supposedly learned of the incident, not one sack of rice has been distributed to the drought-hit farmers, who demanded 15,000 sacks of rice for as many farmer-families to alleviate their hunger.

The farmers received 700 sacks of

rice from private donors.

“It took Aquino two days to call for a meeting that he himself postponed because according to the President, ‘if they are not ready, nothing will come out of that meeting and the gathering of data will further be delayed.’ Isn’t that stupid?” Mariano asked.

“This confirms that even after being informed of the violent dispersal, the President tolerated the killings and harassments, and continuously tolerates the starvation, illegal arrest and detention of farmers,” said the KMP leader, whose members included those who survived the violently dispersed barricade.

“Until now, Aquino is silent on the impact of the prolonged drought and hunger, the just, legitimate, and moral demand for food aid, and the calls for justice,” Mariano stressed.

The KMP called on farmers and the people to continue seeking justice for the victims of Kidapawan violent dispersal and hold President Aquino and all the perpetrators accountable “The impunity promoted by Aquino underscores his accountability on the Kidapawan carnage. The President is allowing farmers to starve and die of hunger. He is guilty of incompetence, criminal negligence, and genocide,” Mariano said.

“Aquino’s days are numbered. He

will pay dearly for his crimes against the peasantry,” Mariano warned.

As this developed, Bayan Muna Rep. Carlos Isagani Zarate called on authorities for the immediate release on “humanitarian grounds” of elderly and minor detainees nabbed by police in Kidapawan, North Cotabato.

“This is not valor. This is shameful.

The detention of the pregnant, elderly, and minors and charging them as perpetrators of the violence in Kidapawan is both ludicrous and infuriating,” the Mindanao-based solon said.

“Perhaps they were most defenseless and vulnerable against the violence of the police forces that’s why they can easily throw them in jail. We demand their immediate release even on humanitarian grounds,” Zarate said.

He said the detention of the elderly and minors only proves the lies being peddled by the government and its apologist to cover up the carnage.

“When we look at these people whom the police claimed instigated and caused that bloodbath, we can see through the lies and black propaganda hurled against the hungry farmers. Are these the violent, armed rebels that the police harped about?

Elderly women and children? It is, again, ridiculous. No one with an iota of common sense would buy that blatant lie,” Zarate pointed out.

“Mayor Duterte, you are always boasting that you have already killed many people. Now, you’re denying it,” Binay said. “Make up your mind, berdugong mamamatay-tao [executioner-murderer].”

“The presidency is not for the unprincipled and the inconsistent. It is not for liars, braggarts, and most especially merciless killers,” Binay added.

Binay also taunted Duterte into changing his campaign slogan from “Tapang at Malasakit [Courage and Compassion]” to “Yabang, Kasinungalingan at Kawalang-Puso [Boastfulness, Prevarication and Ruthlessness]” since he said this would be more truthful.

Former Manila City Mayor and now Buhay Rep. Lito Atienza also joined the fray and reminded Duterte that Davao now ranks No. 4 in crime and tops the national statistics on the most number of rape cases among all major cities.

“Where is Mayor Duterte coming from? Showmanship and entertainment are not the solution, let’s be

true to ourselves. He keeps bragging about Davao, when figures and statistics show otherwise,” Atienza said.

Atienza said when he and Binay were mayor, they have cleaned up their respective cities without having to resort to extra-judicial killings. Binay served as mayor of Makati City for more than 20 years.

Binay recalled how in past interviews, Duterte admitted his links to the Davao Death Squad and that he had killed 1,700 people, 1,000 more than what was reported by Amnesty International.

Binay scored Duterte for retracting his admission after the Vice President called him out for killing only poor people, including children, through summary executions.

“We do not need a leader who wantonly disregards the sanctity of human life and whose only wrong solution to the pressing problem of poverty is to kill the poor,” Binay further said.

Several human rights groups have linked Duterte to extra-judicial killings, among them Amnesty Interna-

tional, Human Rights Watch and the United Nations Special Rapporteur on Human Rights.

Binay said millions of people who watched the presidential debate in Cebu on March 20 heard Duterte clearly when he said: “When I become elected, I will continue the killings.”

Atienza, who was Manila mayor for nine years, said, “Mayor Duterte, Vice President Binay and I shared the same experience of confronting crimes in our cities. Before my term, Manila was the most crime ridden in Metro Manila.

“After nine years of effective work of combating criminality, it became the safest city. We did this by providing jobs and economic opportunities for Manilans, lessening the number of people who turned to crime as a solution to poverty.

“We never snuffed out any life through summary executions or salvaging. We got the police to do their jobs and perform better, at the same time tapping barangay officials to help in fighting crime.”

Major Filemon Tan Jr., spokesperson for the Western Mindanao Command, said government troops clashed with large concentrations of Abu Sayyaf bandits twice in separate villages of Tipotipo town.

He said heavy fighting first broke out at about 8 a.m. while army soldiers from different units of the Army’s 44th Infantry Battalion chanced upon a still undetermined numbers of bandits while they were patrolling Barangay Sinlangkum.

Tan said the army troops engaged in heavy fighting with the terrorist groups are being led by Lt. Col. Tommy Crosby Jr. supported

by Alpha, Bravo and Charlie Companies under Lt. Licenia, Lt. Falcatan and Lt. Robles.

The second clash occurred at Sitio Bayoko where security forces were still battling with around 120 armed men at Sitio Bayoko.

The clashes occurred hours after Rolando del Torchio was found inside the ferry “KC Beatrice” at the Jolo Port around 7:30 p.m. Friday.

The 56-year-old Del Torchio spent the night at a military hospital in Zamboanga City, but was flown out of the city via a plane chartered by the Italian embassy in Manila.

“The victim is emaciated. He has lost a lot of weight compared to what we saw in his old pictures,” Tan told reporters. “He is okay otherwise.”

The Italian was held captive by the Abu Sayyaf group after he was snatched at gunpoint at his pizza restaurant in Dipolog City last October.

“The ASG was behind this kidnapping,” Tan said, adding that he did not know if any ransom was paid to secure Del Torchio’s release.

Del Torchio had worked as a missionary for the international organization PIME in the south from 1998 before retiring in 2000 to set up his restaurant, colleagues told AFP shortly after he was abducted.

The gunmen are holding nearly 20 other foreign hostages, all but one of them abducted since 2014.

The Abu Sayyaf last month posted a video of two Canadians, a Norwegian and a Filipina they kidnapped in September last year and set an April 8 deadline for ransom to be paid or the foreigners would be killed. The deadline passed Friday with no word on their fates.

The latest groups of victims were 10 Indonesian and four Malaysian crew members snatched over the past two weeks from a tugboat and a cargo ship near the southern Philippines.

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DUTERTE BERATES GOVT OVER ABAYA

By Joel E. Zurbano

AGAINST THUGGERY. Vice President Jejomar Binay tells supporters in Quezon province that he will not tolerate vigilante killings that

only victimize the poor.

SC MAINTAINS RULING ON POE QUALIFICATION

By Rey E. Requejo

MAINTAINING its vote of 9-6, the Supreme Court has ruled with finality declaring presidential frontrunner Senator Grace Poe as qualified to run for president in the May 9 general elections.

In a three-page resolution, the SC denied the motions for reconsiderations filed by the Commission on Elections and four other private respondents seeking a reversal of its March 8, 2016 decision because the appellants did not present new arguments.

Chief Justice Ma. Lourdes Sereno, along with Associate Justices Presbitero Velasco Jr., Diosdado Peralta, Lucas Bersamin, Jose Perez, Jose Mendoza, Marvic Leonen, Francis Jardeleza and Alfredo Caguioa voted to sustain the high court’s ruling finding grave abuse of discretion in Comelec decision to disqualify Poe on ground of material misrepresentations in her Certificate of Candidacy.

The six magistrates who dissented in the dis-

missal of the motions for reconsideration and earlier voted to disqualify Poe include Senior Associate Justice Antonio Carpio and Associate Justices Teresita Leonardo-de Castro, Arturo Brion, Mariano del Castillo, Estela Perlas Bernabe and Bienvenido Reyes.

Bernabe was not around during the vote since she went on official leave, “but left her vote in this case and maintained her dissent.”

“No further pleadings or motions will be entertained. Let entry of judgment be made in due course,” the full court resolution stated.

While its rare for magistrates to attach their concurring and dissenting opinions in minute resolution, Chief Justice Sereno and several justices did so to explain their votes to deny the motion for reconsideration of its March 8 decision.

“The minute resolution that denies the motions for reconsideration accurately reflects the understanding of this Court—that the motions do not raise any new substantial argument, and that all the issues that the motions raised have already been passed upon in the 8 March 2016 decision,” Sereno said, in her 28-page concurring opinion.

The SC already resolved to deny the motion for reconsideration during its en banc session on Tuesday, but it opted to delay the release of

the resolution until after all the concurring and dissenting opinions are submitted.

“Nevertheless, due to the strong feelings expressed by some of our dissenting colleagues, the Court decided to delay the release of the resolution dismissing with finality the Motions for Reconsideration and to await submission of their dissents. Some of them may believe that a minute resolution will not do justice to the motions, but that is their view, and that view remains a dissenting view,” Sereno stressed.

“The candidates must be allowed to move on; the electorate must no longer be distracted by the skirmishes before this Court. It serves no good purpose for baseless howls of protest to amplify today’s ambient noise,” she said.

“No one is benefited except those who want to ‘game’ judicial processes for political ends.

The sovereign choice on who will be the next president of the Philippines must be respected by this Court. Only after this choice has been made may we potentially step in. Needless to say, the expression of this electoral choice would necessarily affect how this Court will decide the issues brought before it. That this is the reality designed by the Constitution itself should have been by now accepted by all mature lawyers and students of the Constitution,” Sereno added.

THE camp of presidential candidate and Davao City Mayor Rodrigo Duterte chided the Aquino administration for allowing incompetent officials run the government “to the shame and detriment of the Filipino people and the country.”

Duterte’s spokesperson Peter Laviña, who is also the head of Duterte’s media team, said Aquino’s decision to keep Secretary Joseph Emilio Aguinaldo Abaya despite the major blunders that he committed as head of the Department of Transportation and Communications “speaks volumes of the government’s own incompetence and failure.”

“How unfortunate for the Filipinos to be represented by someone like Abaya whose inefficiency has brought shame to the country,” said Laviña.

“What is even more unfortunate is that Abaya, no matter how he screwed up his job, no matter how he screwed up the Filipinos, continues to enjoy the trust and confidence of Aquino,” he added.

Laviña said the five-hour power outage at Terminal 3 of the Ninoy Aquino International Airport last week would not have happened if Abaya was simply doing his job as DoTC secretary.

Another prominent figure in the Aquino circle who Laviña said is the embodiment of failure is administration bet Mar Roxas.

“The similarity between Abaya and Roxas is not a matter of coincidence with DoTC as their common denominator,” said Laviña.

“They are the poster boys of the Aquino government’s failure and ineptness.”

Roxas has been blamed for the Metro Rail Transit 3 maintenance contract mess when he was still the head of DoTC. The former general manager of MRT 3, Al Vitangcol III, accused Roxas of neglecting the procurement requests for the maintenance of MRT 3.

Vitangcol is facing criminal charges over the MRT 3 maintenance deal—which happened during the time of Roxas.

During the second leg of the presidential debates in Cebu in March, Duterte called Roxas a “fraud” and a “pretentious leader.”

Duterte has also said that the leadership of Roxas will always be haunted by the Typhoon ‘‘Yolanda’’ tragedy and questioned Roxas on how the government spent Yolanda funds.

Laviña said despite the government claims of rehabilitation of Yolanda-affected communities, traces of the tragedy remain visible across Eastern Visayas.

ANOTHER UNA BET AMBUSHED

By Vito Barcelo

THE United Nationalist Alliance condemned the ambush that wounded Marawi City Mayor Sultan Fahad “Pre” Salic, the husband of UNA senatorial candidate Alma Moreno, and his driver in Cagayon de Oro City on Saturday.

Salic, who is running for governor of Lanao del Sur under UNA, was ambushed around 2 a.m. of April 9 near the gate of the Pryce Hotel Cagayan de Oro, and sustained gunshot wounds in the hip, thigh, his right leg and in the back. His driver, Tayrudim Bunting, also sustained gunshot wounds.

“There is no doubt the attempted assassination of Marawi Mayor Pre Salic is related to politics,” said UNA spokesperson Mon Ilagan.

“While we are thankful that

the mayor is now in stable condition, we continue to appeal to the [Commission on Elections and the Philippine National Police] to step up security now that the election is near,” Ilagan said.

With 30 days left before elections, UNA also called on the Comelec to urge local candidates into signing peace covenants with each other to at least dissipate the growing tension in the provinces particularly in “hot spot” areas identified by the PNP and the military.

“Vice President Jejomar Binay is urging the Comelec and the Philippine National Police to speedily act on the assassination attempt against Marawi City Mayor Sultan Fahad Salic so that those responsible for the crime be brought to justice,” Ilagan reiterated.

He said UNA is deeply disturbed at the successive acts of

violence directed at supporters of the opposition.

“Within two weeks, there have been two ambush incidents. The first was against Calauan, Laguna Mayor George Berris and now Marawi Mayor Pre Salic.

We hope the Comelec will become serious in implementing peace covenants in the countryside,” Ilagan added.

Two weeks ago, UNA youth leader Eman Peña of Calauan, Laguna was killed when the vehicle of Berris was attacked by still unidentified armed men.

Peña is the fourth UNA member killed since the start of the campaign, following the assassination of Sto. Tomas, Batangas councilor Damasino Mabilangan Jr., former Pangutaran, Sulu mayor Ahmad Nanoh and former Banisilan, North Cotabato mayor Floro Allado.

PROJECT SERENDIPITY. Presidential candidate Grace Poe and her running

mate Francis Escudero sign a pledge to set aside 20 percent of the country’s wealth and resources in Project Serendipity, a movement led by Sorsogon Bishop Arturo Bastes.

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OPINION

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TRUMP’S PATH GETS A LOT ROCKIER

By Jonathan Bernstein

[ EDI TORI A L ]

COLORADO Republicans are busy this weekend making it harder for Donald Trump to get 1,237 bound and committed delegates

by June 7, when the final primaries are held.

Colorado’s initial caucuses were held on March 1, but only now has a state party convention gathered to choose its 37 delegates for the national convention in July. Those delegates will be bound to a candidate if they announce their support before the final vote. If not, they’ll be free to choose whom to support.

And with a huge gap between the organizational incompetence of the Trump campaign and the solid Ted Cruz effort, Cruz is dominating.

Of the 37 delegates, 21 are being selected from Colorado’s seven congressional districts (three each), with the remaining 16 chosen statewide. Cruz-backed slates have already swept several congressional-district votes, and by all accounts he’ll win the rest.

Colorado was expected to be good for Cruz, but not quite this good. The expert panel put together by FiveThirtyEight projected Trump to win seven delegates in the state. If he’s shut out, as appears likely, he’ll fall further behind the pace he needs to wrap up the nomination. That would put him on a path to reach only 1,175 delegates—62 shy of a majority for the nomination.

Even if he hits the winner-take-all targets in the primaries he is expected to win—in New York (which votes on April 19) and in Connecticut, Delaware, Maryland, Pennsylvania and Rhode Island (April 26)—he could at best beat projections by about 40 delegates.

And the only other states where he has a reasonable chance of exceeding expectations are Indiana and delegate-rich California.

So while Trump can still win by June 7 (as Nate Cohn argued today at the Upshot), he’s run out of a margin of error. He has to maximize victories on April 19 and April 26 in the Northeast; win in Indiana on May 3, and win big on June 7 in California.

If he doesn’t win by then, he’ll go into the pre-convention period needing to make up the difference. That’s possible if the party chooses to close ranks around him—especially if the party can push either Marco Rubio or John Kasich to urge their delegates to switch to Trump. But if the party instead continues to oppose him, he’ll be fighting an uphill battle to get more than a handful of the 150 or so unbound delegates.

Meanwhile, Trump’s national lead over Cruz continues to slump. His campaign has also been uncharacteristically quiet since losing in Wisconsin on Tuesday, and we have yet to see what will happen to his vote share if he can’t command media attention.

It’s of course possible he’ll rebound—he’s still polling well in New York—but the hard delegate numbers are starting to look tough for him. Bloomberg

THE VICES ARE OUT VICE presidential candidates will face each other at the Commission on Elections-sponsored debate to be held at the University of Santo Tomas this afternoon.

The event promises to be riveting, given the variety in the personalities and initial showing of the candidates for the second highest post in the land.

During the election period, the two figures are often inseparable. The presidential bet chooses the vice presidential bet for the latter’s supposed qualities. The person should also approximate, if not entirely echo, the kind of leader the former packages himself to be. They must at least not find each other insufferable in their principles. Together they campaign, presenting to the people not just their individual merits but the benefits of their getting elected as a team.

Alas, everyone and his uncle knows this is not what usually happens.

Courting a vice presidential bet especially if one is unpopular is a long and sometimes difficult process for the presidential candidate. One stands to be rejected but must persevere until somebody says yes. Sometimes, it is the vice presidential bet offering himself up but there are no takers.

The partnerships are usually deals of convenience, more than anything else —a sad testament of how clear-cut, party-defined ideologies just do not exist in this country.

The people know better than evaluate a candidate based purely on who the presidential running mate is, too. In other countries, the veep does not get elected at all, and whoever gets to be president simply brings his running mate along to office. Here, it’s a circus on its own. The vice presidency is for the most part seen as stepping stone to the higher office altogether. It’s not appreciated as a real office, at least not as much as the other offices are.

But the bets do deserve a long, hard look themselves, and for this reason we must stay tuned to the debates this afternoon as if our lives depended on it.

Yes, the vice president just may get marginalized in the Cabinet if the President does not turn out to be his ally. Hardly has a vice president actually worked closely with the boss.

Remember, though: Should anything—legally, physically—happen to the chief executive, it’s the veep who must step up and lead. It’s important he or she is more than a sidekick, wingman or puppet.

WHY WOMEN PUT ON THE SUICIDE VEST

By Tobin Harshaw ON a list of history’s most notorious assassins, alongside John

Wilkes Booth, Lee Harvey Oswald and Gavrilo Princip, the name Thenmozhi Rajaratnam would probably draw mostly blank stares.

But in her way, the Tamil Tiger terrorist—who blew up herself, the Indian leader Rajiv Gandhi and 13 others in May 1991—has perhaps had the largest lasting influence.

Since that terrible day, women are known to have carried out at least 185 suicide attacks, killing 2,130 people and wounding nearly 5,000 others. According to the University of Chicago’s Project on Security and Terrorism, a vast majority have been related to five conflicts: the Sri Lankan civil war that ended in 2009; the fight against

the Russian military in Chechnya; the insurgency following the 2003 US-led invasion of Iraq; the IsraeliPalestinian conflict; and, most recently, the Boko Haram terrorist movement in West Africa.

This week, the New York Times shed new light on that last struggle, profiling Rahila Amos, a 47-yearold Nigerian Christian woman who says she was abducted by the Islamist rebels and forced to train for a suicide attack.

The article explains the many ways in which female bombers are “ideal weapons”— “At security points run by men, they are often searched less thoroughly, if at all.

Tucked under the bunched fabric of dresses or religious gowns, explosives are easy to conceal.”

Indeed, it is thought that Gandhi told his security detail to allow

In the world of female suicide terrorism, it is increasingly clear that coercion is not the norm.

Rajaratnam to approach him with a flowered garland.

Boko Haram seems to have made a science of preparing women for this ultimate sacrifice. But all the anecdotal evidence leaves one question largely unexplored: Why

do the women do it? “One soldier who has engaged with Boko Haram said he believed that fighters must drug the girls’ food,” notes the Times article’s author, Dionne Searcey. She adds that the women may not truly be blowing themselves up, because the bombs might be remotely detonated.

But this idea that women are reluctant to kill themselves for a cause—instead tricked or brainwashed or forced by husbands or male family members—is being gradually debunked by researchers looking at the phenomenon on a global scale. Yes, schoolgirls kidnapped by Boko Haram certainly cannot be considered independent actors. But in the world of female suicide terrorism, it is increasingly clear that coercion is not the norm.

Consider the aforementioned

Rajaratnam, who went by the nom de guerre Dhanu. The Indian government investigation of the Gandhi assassination discovered a plan of striking sophistication plotted over many months.

Assassinations of high-level officials are far harder to carry out than random attacks on marketplaces or transportation hubs, and Dhanu worked with a large team of accomplices that carried out dry runs at the site. Terrorism experts insist that anyone in such an involved conspiracy is acting of her own volition.

“They are not cannon fodder just being thrown away,” Robert Pape, the director of the University of Chicago center, says of such female bombers. In terms of competence, he said, “coercion brings the worst you have to offer.” In contrast, many

of these women are—like Dhanu— highly capable. Pape adds that relatively small organizations such as the Tigers and Chechen rebels deployed a large number of female bombers—more than could have been controlled through sustained coercion alone.

Indeed, time and again, the female terrorists in these struggles appear highly motivated. Sana’a Mehaidli, a Syrian who blew herself up next to an Israeli convoy in Lebanon in 1985, was not only the first female suicide bomber but also one of the first terrorists to make a so-called

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martyr video, now the de rigueur way of expressing one’s devotion to the cause posthumously. The grainy tape shows not a pawn but a woman eager to kill Israelis.

The so-called Chechen Black Widows, who have carried out more than 20 attacks since 2000, are certainly motivated in part by the deaths of their husbands at the hands of the Russian military. But by all accounts they appear to be just as committed as male rebels to freeing their homeland from what they see as foreign subjugation.

They have also been far more deadly, killing an average of 21

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people per attack in the first decade of their insurgency, compared with 13 for males.

Globally, the particular circumstances that lead terrorist movements to take up suicide bombings are well-known.

According to Pape and his team, they are most prevalent in situations where a population feels that its homeland is being occupied by an invading force, usually of a different ethnicity or religion. Destruction of homes, deaths of family members and squalid conditions at refugee camps are multiplying effects.

Thus the rise in attacks by

Boko Haram—the Times reported that the group has used at least 105 women and girls in attacks over the last 22 months—should be no surprise. Troops from Cameroon, a largely Christian country, and Chad last year crossed their borders into Boko Haram’s Nigerian stronghold, cracking down on the extremist group but also allegedly committing atrocities that engendered a backlash among the local population. It’s a familiar cocktail seen in the previous conflicts riven by suicide attacks.

To some degree, the Boko Haram incidents break with the pattern

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from Sri Lanka and Chechnya.

A high proportion of the female bombers are in their mid- or even early teens, perhaps some of them survivors of the mass abduction of schoolgirls in the town of Chibok two years ago. Clearly, they are too young to be considered acting of their own volition.

Yet Amos, the escapee profiled by the Times, said that seven of the 30 trainees in her group were avidly anticipating their suicide missions: “It was a direct path to heaven.”

And like the men who take that path, many of the women choose it for themselves. Bloomberg

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

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A4

OPINION

ADELLE CHUA EDITOR

lettertotheeditor@thestandard.com.ph

OPINION

A5

TRUMP’S PATH GETS A LOT ROCKIER

By Jonathan Bernstein

[ EDI TORI A L ]

COLORADO Republicans are busy this weekend making it harder for Donald Trump to get 1,237 bound and committed delegates

by June 7, when the final primaries are held.

Colorado’s initial caucuses were held on March 1, but only now has a state party convention gathered to choose its 37 delegates for the national convention in July. Those delegates will be bound to a candidate if they announce their support before the final vote. If not, they’ll be free to choose whom to support.

And with a huge gap between the organizational incompetence of the Trump campaign and the solid Ted Cruz effort, Cruz is dominating.

Of the 37 delegates, 21 are being selected from Colorado’s seven congressional districts (three each), with the remaining 16 chosen statewide. Cruz-backed slates have already swept several congressional-district votes, and by all accounts he’ll win the rest.

Colorado was expected to be good for Cruz, but not quite this good. The expert panel put together by FiveThirtyEight projected Trump to win seven delegates in the state. If he’s shut out, as appears likely, he’ll fall further behind the pace he needs to wrap up the nomination. That would put him on a path to reach only 1,175 delegates—62 shy of a majority for the nomination.

Even if he hits the winner-take-all targets in the primaries he is expected to win—in New York (which votes on April 19) and in Connecticut, Delaware, Maryland, Pennsylvania and Rhode Island (April 26)—he could at best beat projections by about 40 delegates.

And the only other states where he has a reasonable chance of exceeding expectations are Indiana and delegate-rich California.

So while Trump can still win by June 7 (as Nate Cohn argued today at the Upshot), he’s run out of a margin of error. He has to maximize victories on April 19 and April 26 in the Northeast; win in Indiana on May 3, and win big on June 7 in California.

If he doesn’t win by then, he’ll go into the pre-convention period needing to make up the difference. That’s possible if the party chooses to close ranks around him—especially if the party can push either Marco Rubio or John Kasich to urge their delegates to switch to Trump. But if the party instead continues to oppose him, he’ll be fighting an uphill battle to get more than a handful of the 150 or so unbound delegates.

Meanwhile, Trump’s national lead over Cruz continues to slump. His campaign has also been uncharacteristically quiet since losing in Wisconsin on Tuesday, and we have yet to see what will happen to his vote share if he can’t command media attention.

It’s of course possible he’ll rebound—he’s still polling well in New York—but the hard delegate numbers are starting to look tough for him. Bloomberg

THE VICES ARE OUT VICE presidential candidates will face each other at the Commission on Elections-sponsored debate to be held at the University of Santo Tomas this afternoon.

The event promises to be riveting, given the variety in the personalities and initial showing of the candidates for the second highest post in the land.

During the election period, the two figures are often inseparable. The presidential bet chooses the vice presidential bet for the latter’s supposed qualities. The person should also approximate, if not entirely echo, the kind of leader the former packages himself to be. They must at least not find each other insufferable in their principles. Together they campaign, presenting to the people not just their individual merits but the benefits of their getting elected as a team.

Alas, everyone and his uncle knows this is not what usually happens.

Courting a vice presidential bet especially if one is unpopular is a long and sometimes difficult process for the presidential candidate. One stands to be rejected but must persevere until somebody says yes. Sometimes, it is the vice presidential bet offering himself up but there are no takers.

The partnerships are usually deals of convenience, more than anything else —a sad testament of how clear-cut, party-defined ideologies just do not exist in this country.

The people know better than evaluate a candidate based purely on who the presidential running mate is, too. In other countries, the veep does not get elected at all, and whoever gets to be president simply brings his running mate along to office. Here, it’s a circus on its own. The vice presidency is for the most part seen as stepping stone to the higher office altogether. It’s not appreciated as a real office, at least not as much as the other offices are.

But the bets do deserve a long, hard look themselves, and for this reason we must stay tuned to the debates this afternoon as if our lives depended on it.

Yes, the vice president just may get marginalized in the Cabinet if the President does not turn out to be his ally. Hardly has a vice president actually worked closely with the boss.

Remember, though: Should anything—legally, physically—happen to the chief executive, it’s the veep who must step up and lead. It’s important he or she is more than a sidekick, wingman or puppet.

WHY WOMEN PUT ON THE SUICIDE VEST

By Tobin Harshaw ON a list of history’s most notorious assassins, alongside John

Wilkes Booth, Lee Harvey Oswald and Gavrilo Princip, the name Thenmozhi Rajaratnam would probably draw mostly blank stares.

But in her way, the Tamil Tiger terrorist—who blew up herself, the Indian leader Rajiv Gandhi and 13 others in May 1991—has perhaps had the largest lasting influence.

Since that terrible day, women are known to have carried out at least 185 suicide attacks, killing 2,130 people and wounding nearly 5,000 others. According to the University of Chicago’s Project on Security and Terrorism, a vast majority have been related to five conflicts: the Sri Lankan civil war that ended in 2009; the fight against

the Russian military in Chechnya; the insurgency following the 2003 US-led invasion of Iraq; the IsraeliPalestinian conflict; and, most recently, the Boko Haram terrorist movement in West Africa.

This week, the New York Times shed new light on that last struggle, profiling Rahila Amos, a 47-yearold Nigerian Christian woman who says she was abducted by the Islamist rebels and forced to train for a suicide attack.

The article explains the many ways in which female bombers are “ideal weapons”— “At security points run by men, they are often searched less thoroughly, if at all.

Tucked under the bunched fabric of dresses or religious gowns, explosives are easy to conceal.”

Indeed, it is thought that Gandhi told his security detail to allow

In the world of female suicide terrorism, it is increasingly clear that coercion is not the norm.

Rajaratnam to approach him with a flowered garland.

Boko Haram seems to have made a science of preparing women for this ultimate sacrifice. But all the anecdotal evidence leaves one question largely unexplored: Why

do the women do it? “One soldier who has engaged with Boko Haram said he believed that fighters must drug the girls’ food,” notes the Times article’s author, Dionne Searcey. She adds that the women may not truly be blowing themselves up, because the bombs might be remotely detonated.

But this idea that women are reluctant to kill themselves for a cause—instead tricked or brainwashed or forced by husbands or male family members—is being gradually debunked by researchers looking at the phenomenon on a global scale. Yes, schoolgirls kidnapped by Boko Haram certainly cannot be considered independent actors. But in the world of female suicide terrorism, it is increasingly clear that coercion is not the norm.

Consider the aforementioned

Rajaratnam, who went by the nom de guerre Dhanu. The Indian government investigation of the Gandhi assassination discovered a plan of striking sophistication plotted over many months.

Assassinations of high-level officials are far harder to carry out than random attacks on marketplaces or transportation hubs, and Dhanu worked with a large team of accomplices that carried out dry runs at the site. Terrorism experts insist that anyone in such an involved conspiracy is acting of her own volition.

“They are not cannon fodder just being thrown away,” Robert Pape, the director of the University of Chicago center, says of such female bombers. In terms of competence, he said, “coercion brings the worst you have to offer.” In contrast, many

of these women are—like Dhanu— highly capable. Pape adds that relatively small organizations such as the Tigers and Chechen rebels deployed a large number of female bombers—more than could have been controlled through sustained coercion alone.

Indeed, time and again, the female terrorists in these struggles appear highly motivated. Sana’a Mehaidli, a Syrian who blew herself up next to an Israeli convoy in Lebanon in 1985, was not only the first female suicide bomber but also one of the first terrorists to make a so-called

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martyr video, now the de rigueur way of expressing one’s devotion to the cause posthumously. The grainy tape shows not a pawn but a woman eager to kill Israelis.

The so-called Chechen Black Widows, who have carried out more than 20 attacks since 2000, are certainly motivated in part by the deaths of their husbands at the hands of the Russian military. But by all accounts they appear to be just as committed as male rebels to freeing their homeland from what they see as foreign subjugation.

They have also been far more deadly, killing an average of 21

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people per attack in the first decade of their insurgency, compared with 13 for males.

Globally, the particular circumstances that lead terrorist movements to take up suicide bombings are well-known.

According to Pape and his team, they are most prevalent in situations where a population feels that its homeland is being occupied by an invading force, usually of a different ethnicity or religion. Destruction of homes, deaths of family members and squalid conditions at refugee camps are multiplying effects.

Thus the rise in attacks by

Boko Haram—the Times reported that the group has used at least 105 women and girls in attacks over the last 22 months—should be no surprise. Troops from Cameroon, a largely Christian country, and Chad last year crossed their borders into Boko Haram’s Nigerian stronghold, cracking down on the extremist group but also allegedly committing atrocities that engendered a backlash among the local population. It’s a familiar cocktail seen in the previous conflicts riven by suicide attacks.

To some degree, the Boko Haram incidents break with the pattern

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from Sri Lanka and Chechnya.

A high proportion of the female bombers are in their mid- or even early teens, perhaps some of them survivors of the mass abduction of schoolgirls in the town of Chibok two years ago. Clearly, they are too young to be considered acting of their own volition.

Yet Amos, the escapee profiled by the Times, said that seven of the 30 trainees in her group were avidly anticipating their suicide missions: “It was a direct path to heaven.”

And like the men who take that path, many of the women choose it for themselves. Bloomberg

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

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OPINION

lettertotheeditor@thestandard.com.ph

CUBANS ON THE EDGE

By Sebastian Smith HAVANA—Some call the Malecon, Havana’s magnificent, decaying seafront and favorite gathering place, a window on the soul of Cuba.

So during US President Barack Obama’s recent historic visit to the communist island I went to have a look—and found the soul troubled, excited, and restless.

Residents of Havana have all sorts of reasons to flock to the Malecon. Most come simply because in a crowded city the wall jutting out into the Caribbean offers space, fresh air, and the pleasure of hanging out with lots of other people with nothing more on their minds than relaxing. In a Cuba where people earn $20 on average every month and often live in tiny, sub-divided apartments, they go to the Malecon because they have little else to do.

Fishermen, prostitutes and dreamers Then there are the fishermen and the prostitutes. The former sit on the wall, trying to pluck a little extra food or income from the sea.

The latter patrol the wave-battered sidewalk, with an eye for the growing number of foreign tourists.

And finally there are the dreamers who come to gaze out to sea.

In Cuba, that sparkling view comes loaded with hope—and cruel realities. For decades, Havana residents would lean on the Malecon’s parapet fantasizing of escape across the Florida Straits to a new life, away from political repression, poverty, and the crippling isolation resulting from the US embargo. Many thousands risked everything, some taking to boats made of little more than inner tubes or Styrofoam. Some were caught, some drowned or were eaten by sharks.

Today, Cubans see something else out there: the prospect that improving relations with the United States will revitalize their country, so that instead of refugees

Obama greets tourists and Cubans outside the Havana Cathedral on March 20, 2016. AFP fleeing, tourists and potential investors will come flooding in.

An eerie silence When Obama arrived two weeks ago, I expected the Malecon to be filled with people straining to glimpse the president’s huge armored limousine, “the Beast,” as it raced along the seafront to his first event, a walkabout in the old town. But the Malecon was empty. Not just quiet—deserted, as if in a post-apocalyptic scene.

At first I put this down to the unusual rain falling that afternoon, but that couldn’t explain why a city buzzing with excitement ahead of the first visit by an American president in 88 years was suddenly so somber.

Then I looked more closely at the few little knots of people that had made it out. A few were the inevitable foreign tourists, but the rest, down to a man, were plainclothes police. With their hard stares and athletic builds, they stood out. And they were everywhere, in ones and twos, in clusters of four or five—at every

street entrance and every corner.

Desperately looking around for non-policeman Cubans to interview, I spotted a group of around 20 people sheltering from the rain under a bus stop.

I discovered Americans, French, Spaniards. Plus two more secret policemen. But I also ran into Ariel Hernandez, a 42-year-old civil engineer—and an actual Cuban.

“They don’t want us to be anywhere near the visit,” Hernandez said, and by “they” he meant not just the police but President Raul Castro himself.

“Maybe they let me come here because they think I’m a tourist with my backpack.”

The government’s attempt to separate Obama from real Cubans persisted through the three days of his visit. He did meet crowds— outside the historic cathedral and at a US-Cuban baseball game, for example. But these were approved crowds, playing a role in the stagemanaged events that left them as little better than decoration.

Even if the measures were not surprising, they were still sad.

After all, this government was founded in armed revolt against a dictatorship, a high-minded revolution still mythologized daily in the state media.

But while Raul Castro demonstrated his ability to control the streets, his attempt to control his people’s mood failed utterly. Hernandez, hiding both from the rain and his own police, was ecstatic that Obama had broken almost 60 years of standoff and propaganda by coming to Havana.

“Since I was a child I’ve heard the story of the revolution and this was really the story of being against the United States,” Hernandez said. “It’s truly a historic moment, it’s huge.”

That optimism—even joy—at the prospect of reconciliation with the old enemy was impossible to suppress.

When Obama and Castro held a joint press conference, broadcast for the first time ever live on state

television, Cubans were treated to the astonishing contrast of the US president smoothly, often humorously fielding questions, while their own leader resembled an increasingly grumpy old man.

Later, Obama gave a speech, again broadcast live, in an ornate theater. When he called for democracy, parts of the audience, even if was handpicked, burst into applause. Sitting stony faced up in a box, Castro could do nothing to prevent that.

‘Like the Messiah’ No sooner had Obama left, another potent herald of change flew in: the Rolling Stones.

In Europe and the United States, the elderly Stones may border on self-parody as they trot out decades-old, if still hugely popular hits. But in Cuba—where they had never been able to play before and where fans were once forced to listen to rock music behind closed doors—they were dynamite.

“Like the Messiah,” one Cuban rocker told me. And the night the Stones played Havana, the all-powerful, all-seeing Cuban government had never looked less relevant.

The concert was free of charge and so many people turned up that the crowd filled the complex of playing fields, then spilled out, right onto the surrounding rooftops. When Mick Jagger— once branded part of the Englishspeaking, capitalist world’s plot to ruin the Cuban revolution—said “finally the times are changing,” the crowd jumped up and down.

Of course, Obama flew out and so did the Stones, leaving Cubans and their sputtering revolution to themselves. But as business got back to usual on the Malecon, where hundreds upon hundreds gathered late into the nights to chat, flirt, play music, and look out to sea, it seemed clear that the island would never be the same.

The last Cuban revolution, as every child here is taught, got going in the Sierra Maestra mountains.

Who knows? The next one might just start among all those people with big dreams and nothing to do on the Malecon. AFP

HOW BAD IS CHINA’S DEBT PROBLEM, REALLY?

By Christopher Balding FOR months now, China’s regulators have been warning about the dangers of rapidly expanding credit and the need to deleverage. With new plans to clean up bad loans at the country’s banks, you might conclude that the government is getting serious about the risks it faces.

But there’s reason to doubt the effectiveness of China’s approach.

In fact, it’s running a serious risk of making its debt problems worse.

After the financial crisis, China embarked on a credit binge of historical proportions.

In 2009, new loans grew by 95 percent. The government offered cheap credit to build apartments for urban migrants, airports for the newly affluent and roads to accommodate a fleet of new cars.

Yet as lending grew at twice the rate of gross domestic product,

problems started bubbling up.

Companies gained billion-dollar valuations, then collapsed when they couldn’t profit. Enormous surplus capacity drove down prices.

Excessive real-estate lending led to the construction of “ghost cities.” Asset bubbles popped and bad loans mounted.

China’s policy makers say they recognize these problems. The government’s most recent fiveyear plan, released in December, notes the need for deleveraging.

The People’s Bank of China has talked up the party line about slowing credit growth and making high-quality loans.

Yet officials still say that only about 1.6 percent of commercial-banking loans are non-performing. Some analysts put the real figure closer to 20 percent. And Beijing’s primary plan to address the problem— allowing companies to swap their

debt with banks in exchange for equity—actually creates new risks.

For one thing, while a debt-forequity swap may help excessively indebted firms, it will wreak havoc with banks. Directly, a given bank will no longer receive the cash flow from interest and principal payments. Indirectly, it won’t be able to sell equity to the PBOC or to other banks as it could with a loan.

Valuing the equity could present a bigger problem. In China, banks must count 100 percent of loans made to nonfinancial companies against their reserve requirements. When they invest in equity, however, they must set aside 400 percent of the value of the investment. If the debt isn’t worth face value to the bank, it seems unlikely that the equity is worth far more— suggesting that large write-downs will be required.

The swaps program also creates a number of big-picture problems.

Consider the tight relationship between banks and large government-linked companies. If banks were under pressure to roll over loans when they were creditors hoping to get repaid, what will their incentive be when they own the firm and have essentially unlimited lending capacity?

Another problem is that Chinese industry exists in a deflationary debt spiral: Prices have been falling for years, raising the real cost of repaying loans. If companies are relieved of their debt, they’ll have an incentive to reduce prices to gain market share, thus worsening one of the primary causes of the current malaise.

All this leads one to think that the government doesn’t recognize the severity of the problem.

Debt-for-equity swaps and loan

rollovers simply aren’t long-term solutions for ailing companies on the scale China faces.

While the government will probably approve a 1 trillion yuan plan to address bad debts, for instance, this should only be considered a down payment: Solving the problem will likely require recapitalizing the banks.

Likewise, if failing firms are relieved of their debts but allowed to stay in business, it will only perpetuate the problems of excess capacity and moral hazard. Until firms are allowed to fail, they’ll keep coming back, hats in hand, asking for more bailouts—thus increasing the debt and ultimately the cost of restructuring.

In short, China needs to face up to its debt addiction. It was able to outgrow a similar problem a decade ago. It’s unlikely to catch lightning in a bottle twice.

Bloomberg

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A7

red tape haMpers el niÑo fund flow

CompliCated rules and cumbersome requirements governing the request, release and use of national calamity funds are equally liable for the trickle down of aid to el Niño-hit areas, according to a Senate official.

“Red tape and rules are the main culprits why aid is moving at a very slow pace,” Senate president pro-tempore Ralph Recto said. “if we want to turbocharge the release, then we must first change the rules,” Recto said in calling for the review of the procedures on how disaster-hit areas can access the Calamity Fund, or what is officially called National disaster and Risk Reduction and management Fund.

“Kung i-diagram mo yung proseso, parang wiring ng kuryente. From request to release to procurement to delivery of reconstruction materials, easily one hundred steps. Kawawa talaga ang mga local governments,” Recto lamented.

For this year, p39 billion has been allocated as National disaster Risk Reduction and management Fund in the 2016 national budget. a lump sum fund, the Calamity Fund covers aid, relief, and rehabilitation services to areas hit by man-made and natural calamities. it also funds pre-disaster projects and operations. the release involves ”the interplay and layers of approval” of many agencies including the National disaster and Risk Reduction and management Council, the office of the president, and the department of Budget and management, Recto said.

He said a local government unit f lattened by a typhoon will have to submit documentary requirements “through a gauntlet of agencies.”

RefReshing dip. local tourists on saturday, april 9, 2016 take a plunge into the seawater of the historic corregidor island. dAnnY pATA

PH overseas voting begins By sara susanne d. fabunan

Despite issuing the general instruction at the last minute before the start of a monthlong overseas absentee voting, the Commission on elections was able to conduct a smooth voting exercise among 1.3 million Filipinos working and living abroad. in a press conference, Comelec chairman andres Bautista expressed confidence that the voter turnout for the overseas Filipino workers will have a greater number than the 16.11 percent or 118,823 figures in 2013.

“The turnout in 2013 was only 16.11 percent and again this is one of the key performance indicators and result areas by which we will measure the success of elections. and we are hoping to increase the 16 percent turnout,” Bautista told the reporters yesterday. during the first day of the monthlong automated oaV, Bautista said the

Comelec and the philippine embassies were able to open the voting period at exactly 8 o’clock and were able to print voter’s receipt among 30 posts that are set to conduct an automated polls.

“The first post that started the voting was in Wellington, New Zealand,” the poll chief said.

Comelec Commissioner arthur lim who heads the oaV office was able to cast his vote at the philippine embassy in Hong Kong around 8:40 a.m. in an online interview, 30-year-old Bien Canilao, an oFW in Singapore, was among the first to have voted saying that the process has gone on smoothly so far. “the election here in Singapore is smooth, hassle-free, and efficient,” Canilao said, adding that the Board of election inspectors were courteous and straightforward in giving them instructions.

He said that the printing of voter’s receipt was accurately executed. “i was told to feed the ballot into the machine and after a few seconds the machine will print the receipt and you will be asked [by the Beis] to verify if the names printed are correct,” Canilao

said who cast his vote for president, vice president, senators and partylist organization at the philippine embassy in Nasim Road, Singapore.

Canilao added that they were five in the polling precinct when he voted at noon but other oFWs started to come in. lawyer ma. Victoria Florido, chief of staff of Comelec Comissioner arthur lim, said they expected the number of oFWs to increase on Sunday when majority of Filipinos take their dayoff.

“Usual day off ng mga kababayan abroad is Sunday so we are expecting a larger turnout on Sunday,” Florido said.

Bautista said they have deployed technical support teams to various posts where Beis and Comelec staff can call or email through skype any technical difficulties that they may encounter. the poll chief also encouraged all Filipinos working and residing abroad to take advantage of the 30-day oaV election.

“We recognize the large impact that the overseas Filipinos play in our economy so they deserve to be heard and we would like to hear what they think in respect to who we should elect as our leaders in 2016,” he added.

Marcos ready to lock horns with rivals

By Macon Ramos Araneta ViCe presidential candidate Senator Ferdinand “Bongbong” R. marcos Jr. says he is prepared to engage in all intellectual discussions and antagonistic exchanges in today’s vice presidential debate organized by the Commission on elections at the University of Santo tomas.

The frontrunner in the vice presidential race said he is preparing for all possibilities especially antagonistic exchanges as he expected immense mudslinging during the debate.

He says he expects to bear the brunt of the mudslinging given the peculiar attention his campaign has been getting the past two months and the public pronouncements of his rival candidates against him.

But he was quick to concede that it is all part of politics.

“But i guess these are all part of politics and we all hear these things during the campaign. We are preparing,” he pointed out. marcos has been the subject of attacks and tirades raised by his detractors led by president Benigno aquino iii.

However, the senator vowed to stick to his campaign policy of keeping it centered on his call for unity and platform of government and not engage in mudslinging just to stay ahead of his rivals. “it has always been my belief that mudslinging will not do our country any good.

We have been polarized by our leaders long enough and look where it brought us. instead of trying to put each other down, we should just present our plans and programs to the people so that they will have an informed choice on who to vote come may 9,” he pointed out.

A8

PH, OTHERS RUN TO U.S. AMID CHINA EXPANSION WASHINGTON—Asian countries are seeking to strengthen military ties with the United States in the face of Beijing’s expansionist ambitions in the South China Sea, Pentagon chief Ashton Carter said Friday ahead of a regional visit that will not include a China stop.

“Almost all the nations there are asking us to do more with them... bilaterally and multilaterally,” Carter told the Council on Foreign Relations think tank in New York, before he heads off on a trip next week that includes India and the Philippines.

“Indeed, in the South China Sea, China’s actions are raising regional tensions,” added Carter, who was invited to Beijing and accepted a visit sometime in the spring.

But the trip was shelved several weeks ago because of what a US defense official called a scheduling problem.

“Countries across the AsiaPacific are voicing concern with militarization, and especially with China’s actions, which stand out in size and scope,” Carter said.

He added: “That’s why many of those countries are reaching out anew to the United States to uphold the rules and principles that have allowed the region to thrive.”

China lays claim to almost all of the contested South China Sea, which is important for international shipping and believed to hold valuable mineral and energy deposits.

Neighboring countries and Washington fear China could impose military controls over the entire South China Sea, and Beijing has in recent months built massive structures including radar systems and an airstrip over reefs and outcrops.

Carter reiterated the US line urging a diplomatic solution to ease tensions in the South China Sea, where the Philippines, a US ally, is among the claimants.

Ties between Washington and Beijing have been prickly over a range of issues, the South China Sea prime among them.

Bill Urban, a Pentagon spokesman, said officials were “actively looking” for Carter to visit China later this year. AFP

SUNDAY: APRIL 10, 2016

NEWS editorial@thestandard.com.ph

ZAMBO SWING. Senatorial candidate and Leyte Rep. Martin Romualdez (center, seated) answers questions from local media during his visit

in Zamboanga City to meet and listen to the concerns of local leaders. Romualdez bares his ‘Malasakit’ platform on education, health, job creation, agriculture, PWDs, disaster preparedness and energy. Looking on are (from left, seated) Councilors VP Elago, Pers Ramos, Zamboanga City (first district) Rep. Lilia Nuno, second district Rep. Celso Lobregat, Councilors BG Guingona and Charlie Mariano as well as barangay chairmen.

VER NOVENO

ROMUALDEZ: MAKE PH RESILIENT TO DISASTERS SENATORIAL candidate Ferdinand Martin Romualdez has called on government agencies to make the Philippines more resilient to economic shocks and natural disasters.

The three-term Leyte lawmaker issued the call following the release of a report by a think tank, the Philippine Institute for Development Studies, showing that the Aquino administration has failed to come up with the appropriate policies and adequate funds to prepare the country to counter the adverse impacts of interconnected risks and adverse shocks.

“I concur with the view that we should accelerate efforts to enhance our ability to cope

with both natural disasters and economic crisis,” Romualdez said.

“We owe it to our people, particularly those living in poverty, that they are shielded from the negative impact of disasters, whether natural or man-made,” he added.

The 2014 World Risk Report cited by the government study said the Philippines is ranked third worldwide in terms of its vulnerability to economic shocks and natural hazards.

The report also said the

Philippines is ranked second globally in terms of risks, such as exposure to climate change and global warming, a fact made evident by the onslaught of Super Typhoon “Yolanda” that ravaged Eastern Visayas particularly Tacloban in Leyte where tens of thousands of people perished and billions in pesos of property damaged.

Romualdez pointed out that he has already filed a bill seeking to create a separate department for disaster preparedness and emergency response to streamline government efforts in coping with natural disasters.

The senatorial bet, who is the leader of the Independent Minority Bloc in Congress, has also filed another bill

seeking to institutionalize and expand the coverage of the Conditional-Cash Transfer, known as the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps). The CCT, which began in 2008, provides a monthly allowance to poor families in exchange for sending their children to school, visiting health centers and attending family-development sessions.

Since the program’s inception, the number of CCT partnerbeneficiaries has increased from 340,000 to more than 4.4 million at the end of last year. Romualdez is running for a seat in the Senate on a platform of compassionate governance anchored on job creation, health, education and disaster resilience.

FARIÑAS: LAOAG SCHOOLS TO GO HI-TECH

PEOPLE’S PRINCESS.

Ria Christina G. Fariñas

IN LAOAG City, Ilocos Norte, Ria Christina G. Fariñas is known as the “People’s Princess” for her grassroots development and various charity efforts to uplift the youth in her province. “I am in a position to do more for them,” the comely daughter of a congressman says.

As a senior board member of the 1st District of Ilocos Norte, “Ria” as she is popularly known, has always been at the forefront of local politics and down the years, she has kept the pulse of the people close to her heart. “I plan to do more things for my home province,” says Fariñas, who is also the former representative of Congressman Sonny Angara in the Board of Regents of Mariano Marcos State University.

As an advocate of new technology, among her plans is the computerization of all Laoag primary and secondary public schools and to connect to the Internet the barrios in Laoag. “I want the children to enjoy and explore the Internet and to expand their educational horizons.

“My goal is to establish an Internet classroom in all public schools in Laoag, and an Internet base in all barangays. I am sure residents would want to chat or see their OFW loved ones online. The children should have more technology at their disposal.”

SUNDAY: APRIL 10, 2016

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

BUSINESS

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FILIPINO ENTREPRENEUR BUILDS A COMPANY TO SAVE LIVES

A HOUSEMAID in a Quezon City subdivision administered cardiopulmonary resuscitation or CPR on a grandmother who fainted and stopped breathing one afternoon in early March this year. Within five minutes, the victim regained consciousness and started breathing again.

The patient—a former doctor—survived and upon waking up, wondered how her housemaid learned how to conduct CPR. The housemaid said she had received detailed instructions through the phone from the staff of Pilipinas911 to help revive the unconscious victim, while the ambulance was on the way along the traffic-choked Katipunan Ave. The housemaid called the Pilipinas911 hotline,

Pilipinas911 Inc. managing director Ruel Salud Kapunan.

when the victim collapsed.

“It has made all the difference,” says Ruel Salud Kapunan, the 44-year-old founder and managing director of Pilipinas 911 Inc., a privately-owned emergency dispatch company whose employees are internationally-trained and certified for emergency management.

Kapunan is in the business of saving lives.

His company professionalizes emergency response by using the right communication technology, equipment, skills and know-how in dealing with medical emergencies and natural disasters.

Kapunan grew up in a family of lawyers, studied Political Science at Ateneo de Manila University, worked at the National Economic and Development Authority, established a company providing technology services, sold that company and with its proceeds brought the 911 service of the US to the Philippines.

“The 911 service is used in 54 countries.

But we are only one of maybe three in the world which are private. It is now a model of privatized 911 service,” Kapunan says in an interview at a restaurant in Makati City.

Kapunan, who trained to become a licensed

medical emergency technician and is accredited by the International Academy of Emergency Dispatch, says his company was able to help the victim because the victim’s daughter—a manager at a travel agency in Makati City—is a subscriber of Pilipinas911. Most of Kapunan’s clients are companies that provide Pilipinas911 service as a benefit package, at a cost of P800 a year per employee. Employees have the opportunity to include their family members in the package.

Pilipinas911, with a single hotline, is available 24-hours a day, including holidays, according to Kapunan. It features a computeraided system manned by certified and skilled call-takers, with medical background.

Pilipinas911 now has more than 20,000 cardholders, including family members, up from 6,000 members when it began operations in June 2013. “Our first client is an international foundation, with 2,000 cardholders, including employees plus family members.

That’s when I proved that companies are willing to pay for emergency response coverage,” he says.

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SUNDAY: APRIL 10, 2016

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

FIFTEEN of the country’s young, tech-savvy and promising entrepreneurs flew to Silicon Valley in California, USA and immersed themselves for a week of learning sessions with officials from the world’s leading tech companies.

The first batch of #BeTheBoss finalists, a delegation of Filipino entrepreneurs, visited the head offices of tech giants Google, Twitter, AirBnB and Amazon in February, and toured the Singularity University in the San Francisco area.

The tour is part of the program of the US Philippine Society and the Silicon Valley Science and Technology Advisory Council to support and mentor Filipino technologyenabled entrepreneurs in a weeklong immersion to different tech companies located in Silicon Valley.

“The difference is the mindset of the people. People in the Valley think differently. They don’t see limitations as problems, but as opportunities to make things happen,” said #BeTheBoss finalist Gian Javelona of OrangeApps at the end of the tour.

Organized by PLDT Smart SME Nation, the #BeTheBoss Awards recognizes young entrepreneurs who harness the power of digital tools and platforms to grow their businesses. Launched last year, 15 finalists were selected among the roster of promising entrepreneurs – with the five winners bring awarded the grand prize of the week-long tour in Silicon Valley.

PLDT chairman and chief executive Manuel Pangilinan, however, decided to send all 15 finalists to the trip and “changing mindsets” was very much on his mind.

“There has to be a change in our mindset in the country. Our education system needs to be more science-oriented. More recognition must be given to scientific achievements. That’s what made Silicon Valley what it is, because of the intellectual incubation nurtured by Stanford University,” Pangilinan said.

“Our entrepreneurs need to be exposed to what is out there. We need to look beyond the domestic setting and apply our solutions to the global market. Competition is not just here in the country, it’s around the world,” he said. #BeTheBoss finalists who formed part of the week-long immersion program were Kim Lato of Kimstore.com, Reese Fernandez-Ruiz of Rags2Riches, Jacqueline Yengtian-Gutierrez and Rissa Mananquil-Trillo of Happy Skin, Danella Yaptinchay of Homegrown, Kris-

The pioneering batch of the Silicon Valley immersion program for Filipino entrepreneurs together with officials from PLDT Smart SME Nation take a photo opportunity at the receiving area of the Google Headquarters in Silicon Valley.

YOUNG ENTREPRENEURS FLY TO SILICON VALLEY

tine Reyes-Lopez of Messy Bessy, Denise Gonzales of Indigobaby, Carlo Calimon of Mobkard, Paolo Hilario of Lay Bare Waxing Salon, Gian Javelona of OrangeApps, Tina Sambalido of Renegadefolk, and Brian McClelland of Bambike.

The awardees were taken to “power positioning workshops”, educational tours, community meetings and seminars from breakfast to dinner in different locations in the San Francisco area.

Happy Skin’s Rissa MananquilTrillo said the workshops opened up new perspectives for her on how entrepreneurs should integrate digital strategies in their business.

“Whether you’re a global brand or a shop around the corner, the big shift to mobile phones is really changing consumer behavior in and out of the store. I read that 75 percent of searches happen on mobile devices, and I realized it’s crucial that your business is ready for those moments. Without a strong digital presence, you could be missing out on connecting with

potential customers during that exact moment that they’re interested.

During those moments, consumers aren’t just getting information, they’re also making decisions and often heading straight to the stores,” said Mananquil-Trillo.

“In our own store surveys, probably four out of five women shared that they found out about Happy Skin through social media on their phones. It’s really during these mobile phone searches where hearts and minds are being won and lost.

Being there is the first step in winning them,” she said.

The workshops were particularly interesting because these featured speakers who were Filipinos who had made their mark in Silicon Valley. Aireen de Peralta, a digital marketing consultant based in California, stood out.

“Her talk focused on website performance and I think she had the most impact on me. She shared with us industry secrets and valuable tools geared for start-ups like us who didn’t have a lot of money,

time, and resources to analyze our website,” said Mananquil-Trillo.

They also met up with other Filipino-Americans in their trip to visits to Google headquarters where the group was introduced to members of the Filipino Googlers Network and to Twitter headquarters where they met with a Fil-Am group.

AirBnB’s Dolores Bernardo gave a talk about making it big for entrepreneurs despite competition.

She explained how a digital company such as AirBnB can compete against a well-established hotel industry.

“One of the most important things that I have learned during this trip is that even if the competition is strong, the market is big. A good example is AirBnB, a simple lodging and accommodation idea to welcome guests to your place.

It was an idea that the founders were passionate about. Because of hard work and determination, no matter how competitive the hotel and lodging businesses were, they

figured it out and they succeeded.

They have even made an impact on the society,” said Kim Lato, the boss for e-commerce and founder of online gadget retailer Kimstore.com.

Mobkard’s Carlo Calimon, Bozz winner for mobile readiness, also took note of the way Silicon Valley companies invest and nurtured their people to help drive innovations in their business.

“The companies that we visited took care of their people. They created a conducive environment where people would like to work and contribute to the organization,” he said.

“We have a lot to learn from the Silicon Valley experience. We can create something similar here in the Philippines. It is indeed something we can aspire for. However, we should keep in mind that we should also create something that is relevant to us and fits the Philippines.

We cannot just copy something – we need take their best practices, learn from their experience and develop our own,” Calimon said.

SAFETY ADVOCATES WARN AGAINST FIRE RISKS

DATA from the Philippine Statistics Authority show that from 2010 to 2013, about 30 percent of house fires were caused by faulty electrical wiring.

The main causes of these fires ranged from exposed wiring, defective cords and wire, defective appliances and even lightning strikes.

Upon closer inspection, preventing electrical fires is well within one’s control, according to Schneider Electric Philippines.

Schneider Electric, the global specialist in energy management and automation, launched the ‘Bahay Safety, Buhay Safety Campaign,’ an advocacy to raise awareness about electrical safety at home.

Schneider Electric, along with safety advocates TxtFire Philippines Inc., said fires and personal injury could be prevented simply by

following simple safety precautions and investing in the right electrical fittings.

“It takes very little electricity to cause harm,” said Jones Lim, public safety director of TxtFire. “But as with anything, as long as we know how to handle it, electricity can help power our lives with minimal risk.”

TxtFire is a group of volunteers, who initially offered immediate response to reported fires within their areas of jurisdiction. Now, they are more proactive in their approach by going to different provinces to educate people how they can prevent fires.

Lim said the most common cause of house fire is faulty electrical wiring, which can be prevented simply by ensuring that home wires, switches, plugs and appliances are well insulated and properly

grounded.

Schneider Electric retail sales director Erwin Creencia cited global statistics on electricity-related injuries and fatalities at home. According to the French Ministry of Ecology, Sustainable Development, Transport and housing, 4,000 people get serious electric shocks every year in France where 100 of those incidents are fatal.

More data from an independent study from Gresel, a French voluntary research group, revealed that 40 percent of the incidents happen to children under 9.

In the US, a 2012 study from the University of Oklahoma stated that electrocutions are the fourth most common causes of industry fatalities. Over 3,600 suffer from disabling injuries and 600 people die every year from electrocution.

“Even in developed countries in Europe, a lot of homes are potentially electrically unsafe,” Creencia said. “But we can prevent the worst from happening. We just need to know more about how we can better protect our home and of course our family,” he said.

Creencia said Schneider’s ‘Bahay Safety, Buhay Safety’ campaign focuses on three key elements: 1.)

Safety for property, which starts with protection against overloads; 2) Safety for family, which aims to protect loved ones against electrocution and other electrical dangers; and 3) Safety for electrical appliances, which protects expensive devices from malfunctions due to overvoltage.

He said starting with the correct equipment is a crucial investment.

Schneider

Electric presents a solution for Bahay Safety, Buhay Safety. These include the residual current devices, which automatically turns off the current when it senses a short or electric shock, preventing further injury.

Schneider’s miniature circuit breakers protect against short circuits and overloads from appliances, thus preventing fires. Its surge protection devices, protect expensive appliances from overvoltage caused by inconsistent power currents and lightning strikes.

“By following a few simple safety protocols such as making sure your electrical wiring are not faulty and damaged, investing in the right equipment and ensuring their proper installation, the risks of electrical fire, damage, injury can be greatly reduced,” Creencia said.

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

FILIPINO ENTREPRENEUR BUILDS...

Since then, Pilipinas911 has handled 2,200 cases and dispatched ambulance or emergency response teams 600 times. “Out of those 2,200 calls, half or 1,100 were police-related. About 600 are medical emergencies. We expect the numbers to increase, along with the rise in number of subscribers,” he says.

“The government supports it, because they know there is a gap [in emergency response]. It just has to be understood by businesses on how we can complement other medical services. We are not HMO [health maintenance organization] or insurance company. Others call our service employee safety program or private emergency service,” says Kapunan.

Kapunan says Pilipinas911 has the equipment and expertise to handle emergency cases, which the human resources department of a company does not necessarily have.

“Employers do not have to handle the emergency cases of their employees, because that might not be their core competence. So why not leave it to us. Let us be their partner to handle the emergencies of their employees,” he says.

Medical emergencies are among the leading causes of death, according to the World Health Organization. “Data show that 300,000 die every year from medical emergencies or non-communicable diseases in the Philippines. How many of them could have been saved, if they had professional medical response.

The WHO calls it premature deaths.

It means they could have had a chance if they had appropriate medical intervention on time. That would have meant 800 Filipino lives saved every day,” he says.

“Ultimately, I want to be a driving force to reduce the number of deaths caused by medical emergencies and disasters. That’s what I want to do, to be able to reduce that number. To me, that is the end goal,” says Kapunan.

“The stress of dealing with employee emergency is now transferred to us, because the expertise is definitely with us, as compared to HR department. Our goal is to

support businesses in terms of employee safety, especially during lifethreatening situations. Secondly, the service expands to families. An employee distraught because of a family emergency will not be productive. It is cheap enough for an employee to shoulder the family coverage,” he says.

Kapunan developed the idea for Pilipinas911 in 2009, when tropical storm Ondoy ravaged Metro Manila. “My business in the past was more of security. We installed tracking devices or GPS on delivery trucks, so that the owners can monitor them and report to police if the vehicles are stolen or hjjacked.

That company was called CityWatch. But I decided to go into a life-saving business, when Ondoy struck in 2009. I had eight employees at CityWatch who almost died in Marikina, Antipolo, Cainta.

That’s when I realized, there was no 911 service, no one you could call, and there was no professional emergency response,” he says.

He presented the idea to the Department of Health to verify if the agency had no objection to the use of 911 standards. Once permitted, Kapunan bought the same software used by US 911. “When I started this company, I wrote to US 911.

I said I am not government. I am a private company. To be able to use the software, you have to buy it and you have to be accredited.

That’s what I did. We were accredited by the International Academy of Emergency Dispatch. We went through that certification,” he says.

Kapunan also bought three private ambulances, but he also talked to all ambulance providers to become Pilipinas911 partners. “I teamed up with ambulance providers, and I will pay them when we need their service.

That’s how the network grew. In islands such as Boracay, where there is no ambulance, we know the numbers of the Red Cross, who helped in a recent heat stroke incident. That’s how important our database is. We know who to call,” he says.

Kapunan says Pilipinas911 provides a single number to call, in emergency cases such as policerelated incidents, fire, accidents or medical situation. “There are 7,000 emergency numbers in the Philippines. That is just too many numbers on fire, police, ambulance. If you are the HR director of a company, and you receive a call from an employee deployed to another city, who will you call? That’s the first thing I address. We have a database of 7,000 numbers and we even included the contact numbers of volunteer groups,” he says.

What makes Pilipinas911 unique is its use of ID number, which eliminates prank calls. “About 96 percent of emergency calls to the police are prank calls. This is not limited to the Philippines. In Malaysia,

about 90 percent are prank calls and in the US, about 60 percent of all calls should have not been accepted by 911,” he says.

Kapunan says with Pilipinas911, the first thing the caller provides is the ID number. “Once they give the ID number, we immediately establish that they are cardholders. So, we have zero prank calls,” he says.

Pilipinas911’s first customers are multinational companies such as Unilever and Johnson & Johnson, which were also clients served by Kapunan’s former GPS business. “We came out with a family package that through the company, employees could also cover their family members, either through salary deduction or direct payment. A company would pay me P800 a year for every employee, including private ambulance dispatch. Our family package costs P1,800 for five cards,” he says.

On how the companies view Pilipinas911’s performance, Kapunan says he has a simple way of confirmation. “If clients renew and stay in, that’s how I assess our performance. So far, all our clients from the start are still with us. They renewed the subscription every year.

That is my best indicator if they are satisfied,” he says.

Pilipinas911 now has an organic team of 12 professionals and another 14 part-time employees. “Right now, I have six internationally certified staff,” he says.

Kapunan says his target is to have 100,000 cardholders this year, a number that is possible if 20 large companies get on board.

Kapunan also volunteers as a medical emergency technician at local government units. He himself administered CPR on six victims, mostly from traffic accidents. On why he still does volunteer work, Kapunan says he wants to help even those who are not Pilipinas911 cardholders. “That’s the only way I can help them,” he says.

His team also operates in disaster zones, not as a part of the business, but simply to help. Pilipinas911 team was often among the first at ground zero, where major disasters struck such as in Tacloban City, just a few

FROM B1

days after typhoon Yolanda hit central Philippines. International organizations recognized Kapunan’s team for coordinating disaster response in the badly damaged city.

He also deployed a medical emergency team for major public events such as the Black Nazarene procession and papal visit.

“By operating in disaster zones, we can provide companies proper advice. I also partner with the government, the police and the military such as the Air Force to have access to disaster zones. Then, I have a way to help them,” he says.

“To the government, as we grow, we are able to augment their capabilities by rendering free services especially during disasters. Aside from helping the marginalized sector, we provide training. We learn so much from operating in disaster zones and we are able to bring it to day-to-day emergency in terms of skills set,” he says.

Kapunan says his team is trained to be where it is needed. “For me, it is about embracing it. We have a mantra in life saving. It is called the greatest good for the greatest number. We simply cannot save all, but you can definitely save more if you have the skills, the equipment, the manpower, the network. We try to train as many as possible. With companies, I also do disaster response training. At least I know I have given them something to work with,” he says.

Kapunan was invited to speak at the 911 Conference in Washington D.C. on April 29. He says he will discuss the future of emergency services and his company’s plan to develop a new mobile app on emergency response and use drones to deliver emergency equipment and medicines to remote areas.

“From the very beginning, no doubt I wanted it to be really big financially. Of course, we are making money, but a big chunk of it goes to free training. That’s the characteristics of Pilipinas911. I want it to be big so I can have a bigger impact.

And that biggest impact, I will measure by the number of deaths we are preventing,” says Kapunan.

Roderick T. dela Cruz

COMPANIES MOVE TO ERADICATE MALNUTRITION A SUPPLEMENTAL feeding program initiated by Odyssey Foundation Inc., the corporate social responsibility arm of meat processing company CDO Foodsphere Inc. aims to put an end to malnutrition, one child and community at a time.

For the last 10 years, ‘Gabay Nutrisyon,’ the supplemental feeding program of OFI has pursued its mission of saving underweight and severely malnourished children all over the country.

Malnutrition is one of the leading causes of death among children under five years old. Three million children die each year because of malnutrition, which is a condition when the body does not get the right amount of nutrients, minerals and vitamins that it needs.

Such is the magnitude of malnutrition worldwide that improving nutrition is a key component of the second of the 17 proposed Sustainable Development Goals or SDGs. In particular, the goal by 2030 is to “end all forms of malnutrition, including achieving by 2025 the internationally agreed targets on stunting and wasting in children under five years of age.”

Based from the latest anthropomorphic study conducted by the Food and Nutrition Research Institute, about 20.2 percent of Filipino children, 0 to 6 years old are under-

weight for their age, a sign that they have suffered or are suffering from acute malnutrition. Moreover, seven out of 100 children of the said age are wasting or underweight for their height.

“Urgent interventions are needed to reverse the health condition of those Filipino children. And a directly administered and closely monitored feeding program such as what we do in ‘Gabay Nutrisyon’ brings the needed results,” said Jerome Ong, president of Odyssey Foundation.

Gabay Nutrisyon, a communitybased supplemental feeding program, provides nutritious heavy meals for 90 days to malnourished and severely underweight children to restore their health. The most recently completed supplemental feeding program was conducted in Tatalon, Quezon City in partnership with United Laboratories Inc. and the Great Lighthouse Foundation. The first batch started in October 2015. The program ended in February this year.

“Besides food-related problems such as hunger and malnutrition, we are also looking at the health profile of the family of the participants as well as the social aspect of the malnutrition problem in the area,” said Claire Papa, external affairs director of Unilab.

“It is important that a holistic ap-

Students graduate from a supplemental feeding program in Tatalon, Quezon City. Shown with the students are (from left) feeding coordinator Antonette Hernandez, Odyssey Foundation Inc. executive director, Dindo Danao, United Laboratories external affairs executive director Claire Papa and The Great Lighthouse Foundation executive director Enrico Torres. proach is considered in addressing health issues so that the interventions are sustainable,” he said.

The partnership of the CSR arm of a leading food manufacturer and the country’s leading pharmaceutical and healthcare company can be considered as an ideal one, given their common thrust in advocating for the health and well-being of Filipino families. They have been serving the nutrition and healthcare needs of

impoverished communities for over a decade now.

The Great Lighthouse Foundation, the community-centered arm of Lighthouse Bible Baptist Church, which has been at the forefront of community engagements in Tatalon as part of its ministry, ensured the efficient implementation of the feeding program on a daily basis. It mobilized its network of volunteers to help out.

“We engage the whole communi-

ty—from the children to their mothers, who need to be educated about the importance of good nutrition. The preparation of food is done by our community members and volunteers, which enabled us to closely supervise the implementation. All of them played a part in making the program a success,” said Antonette Hernandez, nutritionist of Lighthouse Foundation. “The barangay nutrition workers and the barangay health workers were also our partners in monitoring the participation of the kids.”

“Just as it takes a village to raise a child, it takes an entire community to nourish a child back to good health,” said Bishop Reuben Abante of Lighthouse Foundation. At the end of the 90-day program, the children should reach the normal nutritional status in terms of appropriate weight for their respective ages. Thus, they can proudly declare, “Malusog na po kami” (We are healthy again), in the culmination of the program.

During the feeding program, the children were provided with nutritious heavy meals carefully planned and provided by Odyssey Foundation in partnership with the Department of Social Welfare and Development and the Nutrition Council of the Philippines. To complete the restoration of the children’s health, Unilab provided the daily vitamin supplements.

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WORLD

PANAMA REJECTS TAX HAVEN BLACKLIST

AGONY. Yana Galang, the mother of Rifkatu Galang, one of the abducted Chibok girls, wipes tears from her cheek after Boko Haram militants kidnapped 276 schoolgirls from their in Chibok town, drawing global attention to the Islamist insurgency in northeastern Nigeria. Fifty-seven girls managed to escaped in the hours that followed the attack but two years on and despite international involvement in the search, 219 are still being held captive. AFP

5 NABBED FOR PARIS, BRUSSELS BOMBINGS BRUSSELS—Paris attacks suspect Mohamed Abrini was arrested along with four other people in a series of raids Friday linked to the deadly Brussels airport and metro bombings, federal prosecutors said.

The arrests mark an important step in the investigation into the cell believed to have carried out both the November 13 attacks that killed 130 people in Paris and the March 22 bombings that left 32 dead in Brussels.

Both attacks were claimed by the jihadist group Islamic State based in Iraq and Syria, sending alarm bells across Europe.

“Mohamed Abrini was arrested in Anderlecht,” a gritty Brussels neighbourhood, a spokesman for the federal prosecutor’s office told a news conference in the Belgian capital.

The spokesman said Abrini was arrested along with two other unidentified people.

The police operation in Anderlecht ended shortly

before 11 pm (2100 GMT), according to media reports.

RTL television showed footage of what it said was likely Abrini’s arrest, with a man pinned down on the sidewalk by several armed plain-clothed police wearing facemasks and then being bundled into a grey civilian car.

Abrini, a Belgian of Moroccan origin, was seen at a petrol station north of Paris two days before the attacks with other top suspect Salah Abdeslam, who drove one of the vehicles used in the November 13 bomb and gun assault across the French capital.

Abdeslam, whose brother Brahim blew himself up in Paris, fled back to Brussels immediately afterwards and was finally captured March 18 in the capital, just round the corner from his family’s home in the Molenbeek district.

He is now awaiting extradition to France.

Immediately after the Brussels attacks there was intense speculation that Abrini was the third man seen on CCTV with the two suicide bombers at the airport shortly before they blew themselves up.

The two bombers were identified as Ibrahim El

Bakraoui and Najim Laachraoui, believed to be the bomb maker.

A police video released Thursday showed this third man, wearing a hat and light-coloured jacket, fleeing the scene and making his way back on foot into central Brussels where he disappeared from view.

“At the moment, the investigators are verifying whether Abrini can be positively identified as being the third person present during the attacks in Brussels National Airport (Zaventem), the socalled ‘man with the hat’,” the spokesman said. AFP

FRANCE’S decision to put Panama back on its list of tax havens in the wake of the Panama Papers revelations is “wrong,” Panamanian President Juan Carlos Varela said Saturday.

“I want to be very clear that the decision taken by France’s government is a wrong and unnecessary step, even more so given the communication between both heads of state and the fact the world needs multilateral cooperation from all countries to tackle global problems,” he told reporters.

He added that his finance minister, Dulcidio de la Guardia, would travel to Paris on Tuesday next week to stress that Panama was a country that was “dignified, respectful and open to dialogue,” as well as one committed to greater transparency.

France’s finance minister, Michel Sapin, had said his government would put Panama back on its list of “uncooperative countries” in terms of sharing tax information.

France removed Panama from the list of Uncooperative States and Territories (ETNC) in 2012 after the two countries reached a bilateral accord on fighting tax evasion.

A new ETNC designation means France would view all transactions with Panama with suspicion, presuming tax fraud unless there is evidence to the contrary.

France also urged the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development to follow suit.

Panama’s government immediately reacted by warning it could take retaliatory measures against France, including blocking French investment and withholding public tenders.

Asked about retaliating against France, Varela said he did not want to talk about that right now, that dialogue was the priority. AFP

SOMALI PIRACY STILL A PROBLEM

RAID. Salvadorean Prosecutor General Douglas Melendez speaks to the press as the Mossack Fonseca offices are raided by the police in San Salvador City. Police on Friday raided the El Salvador offices of the Panama-based law firm at the heart of the “Panama Papers” scandal that has revealed how the wealthy in many countries stashed their riches offshore. AFP

NAIROBI—The pirates who once ruled the seas off Somalia are little more than a memory now, but while they are forgotten they are not gone.

The trial in Paris of seven men accused of killing a French sailor and kidnapping his wife during the height of Somali piracy in 2011 is a reminder of the deadly terror the pirates once spread.

However, experts and former pirates alike warn the scourge may yet return.

“There hasn’t been a proper pirate attack on a commercial vessel in over two years,” said John Steed, Horn of Africa manager for the US-based non-profit

Oceans Beyond Piracy. “But the guys haven’t gone away and nothing’s changed on the ground.”

Anti-piracy patrols by international warships and armed guards aboard commercial vessels which continue to chug fast and far past the Somali coast, have suppressed piracy, not stopped it.

The last wave of piracy began in 2005 and reached its peak six years later when Somali pirate gangs attacked 237 vessels and, at year’s end, held 11 vessels and 216 hostages, earning on average more than $2 million (1.8 million euros) for every ship ransomed. Back then the to-

tal economic cost of Somali piracy was estimated at $6.9 billion (6.1 billion euros).

Much of that cost was down to counter-piracy actions including the deployment of warships, the extra fuel burned by vessels racing through the pirate ranges and the hiring of private armed security teams aboard ships. These costly measures worked and Somali piracy dropped off dramatically so that by 2013 no commercial vessels were successfully boarded.

Now some Somali pirates have turned to a new activity, fishing, and are finding themselves up against a new enemy: foreign trawlers. AFP

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WORLD editorial@thestandard.com.ph

INDIA’S ENERGY BINGE RISES

IN the energy world, India is becoming the new China.

The world’s second-most populous nation is increasingly becoming the center for oil demand growth as its economy expands by luring the type of manufacturing that China is trying to shun.

And just like China a decade ago, India is trying to hedge its future energy needs by investing in new production at home and abroad.

India may have one ad-

vantage its neighbor to the northeast didn’t. While China’s binge came during a commodity super-cycle that saw WTI crude reach a high of $147.27 a barrel in 2008—due in no small part to its demand—India’s spurt comes during the biggest energy price crash in a generation. While oil has tumbled more than 50 percent from mid-2014

levels, the South Asian nation spent $60 billion less on crude imports in 2015 than the previous year even while buying 4 percent more.

“In addition to the boost from low oil prices, structural and policy-driven changes are under way which could result in India’s oil demand taking off in a similar way to China’s during the late 1990s, when Chinese oil demand was at levels roughly equivalent to current Indian oil de-

mand,” said Amrita Sen, chief oil analyst for Energy Aspects Ltd. in London.

In 1999, China’s economy was less than a 10th of its current size of more than $10 trillion, and bicycles vied for space with taxis and buses on crowded streets in major cities like Shanghai.

In the ensuing 17 years the economy, spurred on by foreign investment in manufacturing, grew from the seventh largest in the world to No. 2. Vehicle sales surged and oil demand has nearly

tripled since then, positioning the country to overtake the U.S. as the world’s largest crude importer this year.

China’s thirst for energy sent its companies on an unprecedented buying binge on every continent (except Antarctica), scooping up $169 billion worth of energy assets overseas in the past 10 years, according to data compiled by Bloomberg.

India’s rise dovetails with a reopening by Iran, once the second-biggest producer in OPEC until sanctions

choked output and investments. Indian Oil Minister Dharmendra Pradhan will lead a delegation this month to the country, he said in an interview. India is working with the Persian Gulf state to develop a port in Chabahar, near Iran’s border with Pakistan and about 800 kilometers from India’s west coast. The two countries are also discussing economic zones and joint projects on fertilizer plants and petrochemical projects, Pradhan said. BLOOMBERG

ICBM ENGINE TEST A SUCCESS—NOKOR SEOUL—North Korea said Saturday it had successfully tested an engine designed for an inter-continental ballistic missile (ICBM) that would “guarantee” an eventual nuclear strike on the US mainland.

It was the latest in a series of claims by Pyongyang of significant breakthroughs in both its nuclear weapons and ballistic missile program.

Outside experts have treated a number of the claims with skepticism, suggesting the North Korean leadership is attempting to talk up its achievements ahead of a showcase ruling party congress next month.

According to the North’s official KCNA news agency, the ground engine test was ordered and personally monitored by leader Kim Jong-Un. As soon as Kim flagged off the test, “the engine spewed out huge flames with deafening boom”, KCNA said.

“The great success... provided a firm guarantee for mounting another form of

nuclear attack upon the US imperialists and other hostile forces,” Kim was quoted as saying.

Now North Korea “can tip new type inter-continental ballistic rockets with more powerful nuclear warheads and keep any cesspool of evils in the earth including the US mainland within our striking range,” he added.

Military tensions on the divided Korean peninsula have been rising since the North conducted its fourth nuclear test in January, and a longrange rocket launch a month later that was seen as a disguised ballistic missile test.

The UN Security Council responded with its toughest sanctions to date over the North’s nuclear program, and Pyongyang accused Seoul and Washington of spearheading the sanctions drive in New York.

In recent weeks, the state media has carried repeated threats of pre-emptive nuclear strikes against both the South and the US mainland. AFP

DOCTRINE UPHELD. Defining his mission to create a more merciful church, Pope Francis published Friday a much-

anticipated exhortation on love and marriage, easing the way for remarried, divorced Catholics to rejoin the faith but reiterating limits on same-sex unions and the ban on contraception and abortion. AFP

VIETNAMESE PARLIAMENT ELECTS NEW PRIME MINISTER

FULL BLOOM. Visitors look at cherry-blossoms in Satte, about 50 kilometers North of Tokyo. Viewing cherry blossoms is a national pastime and cultural event in Japan, where millions of people turn out to admire them annually. AFP

HANOI—Vietnam’s parliament approved Nguyen Xuan Phuc as the communist country’s new prime minister Thursday, handing him a five-year term and a range of tough challenges from domestic economic reforms to a simmering maritime dispute with China.

Phuc, a former deputy prime minister, was the only candidate nominated for the position by party officials earlier this year and won 90.26 percent of the votes in the rubber stamp parliament, according to state-run VTV. “I will do my best to serve the country and people,” said the 61-year-old, whose election marks the completion of a fiveyearly reshuffle of the Communist Party’s top brass.

Phuc takes over from former Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung, a charismatic leader who championed a reformist pro-business agenda and talked

tough to Beijing over a territorial dispute in the contested South China Sea. Dung lost out in internal party elections in January, which analysts called a move back towards more consensus-based rule by the party’s conservative wing.

“Dung was an individualist working within a conservative system of collective leadership.

His demise is evidence that Vietnam is not yet ready for a modern, world savvy, prime minister,” Vietnam expert Carl Thayer told AFP. Authoritarian Vietnam is run by the Communist Party and officially led by a triumvirate of the party secretary general, president, and prime minister, with key decisions being made by the 19-member politburo.

Top communist leader Nguyen Phu Trong was reelected in January as party secretary general in a victory for the party’s old guard. AFP

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SPORTS

reuel vidal EDITOR

sports@thestandard.com.ph

Meralco bolts froM last to first

Four Meralco Bolts defenders, from right: import Arinze Onuaku, big man Reynel Hugnatan, rookie Baser Amer and swingman Ryan Buenafe, surround Alaska Aces point guard Chris Banchero (2).

By Reuel Vidal

MERALCO has struck like a thunderbolt to shock all comers and vault to the top of the standings of the 2016 Philippine Basketball Association Commissioner’s Cup. Although there is still a full week’s worth of elimination round games, the Bolts (8 wins, 2 losses) formally clinched the top spot, along with a twice-to-beat advantage, going to the quarterfinals.

The Bolts received a big lift from veteran Jimmy Alapag, who turned back the hands of time, to help his team survive the last-ditch rally by the Alaska Aces and post a 107-101 victory last Friday, April 8.

Meralco Bolts back ahead by two points, 100-98, after two free throws, with 1:50 to go in the game.

Alaska could have tied the score at 100-all after a layup by Vic Manuel. But he stepped on the baseline before the shot.

Alapag then extended the Meralco lead on two free throws, 102-98, as Alaska trailed by four points. Alaska could not score in the next possession. Alapag then virtually sealed the outcome of the match by eluding a double-team by Alaska big men Shane Edwards and Sonny Thoss and then going on to score a layup as the Bolts forged ahead by six points, 10498, with just 1:05 to go in the game.

Alaska’s do-everything forward Calvin Abueva led the Aces in defeat with 27 points and nine rebounds. Vic Manuel, the other half of Alaska’s bookend frontline, finished with 13 points and seven rebounds.

Their teammates RJ Jazul, Chris Banchero and Cyrus Baguio all had identical 12 markers, the same output of their import Shane Edwards who plays less and less effectively every game.

The Bolts also managed to tally victories even during Onuaku’s worst games. Even with Onuaku contained the Bolts still managed to beat the Mahindra Enforcers.

Onuaku averaged 21.4 points going into the Mahindra game. Against the Enforcers he bled for his points before finishing with just 16 markers. The Bolts found another way to win as their other gunners led

by Cliff Hodge, who matched his season-high with 25 points on 11-of-15 shooting, waxed hot to tow their team to victory.

Onuaku, Alapag and Hodge are not the only Bolts to step up. Against Alaska Jared Dillinger came off the bench to tally 16 points and grab two rebounds for the Bolts.

Chris Newsome was his usual explosive self at both ends of the court. He finished with 11 points to go with seven rebounds. He was active at the defensive end as well even tallying a clean block against Alaska’s Abueva.

Bryan Faundo started at the power forward spot and was steady with six points and three rebounds. Hodge scored seven points and grabbed seven rebounds.

The Bolts were embarrassed during the Philippine Cup. It may be the best thing that could happen to them because this motivated team is now playing with fire, passion and drive that could only be fueled by a shameful last place finish.

Meralco Bolts point guard Jimmy Alapag (3) tries to dribble past Alaska Aces counterpart RJ Jazul (31).

The rest of the teams trailing closely – including the San Miguel Beermen (6-3), the Aces (6-4), Barangay Ginebra San Miguel (6-4) and the Rain or Shine Elasto Painters (6-4), though already qualified to the quarterfinals – will have to wait a few more playdates to determine their final placing.

The Bolts completed the electrifying turnaround after finishing dead last in the PBA Philippine Cup. They also posted the best franchise start ever ironically after their worst ever performance in the league last conference.

No doubt the players have been motivated eager to make up for the debacle. But more than anything else the Bolts benefitted from getting the right import in 6’9” Arinze Onuaku who has been their anchor at both ends of the court.

Against Alaska Onuaku finished with 28 points and 19 rebounds to power his team to victory. Additionally, the Bolts received a big lift from Jimmy Alapag who fired seven of his 16 points in the last two minutes and nine seconds of the game to defuse the Alaska rally.

Veteran guard Cyrus Baguio drilled a pressure packed triple to cap a furious Alaska rally which tied the count at 98-all with 3:14 to go in the game. But the Bolts leaned on veteran Jimmy Alapag, who scored seven of the final nine points of Meralco, to tally the hard-earned victory.

After the Baguio three pointer, Alapag pushed the

Meralco Bols import Arinze Onuaku (right) plants a forearm on the gut of a grimacing Alaska Aces center Sonny Thoss (7).

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SPORTS

ARMAN ARMERO EDITOR

sports@thestandard.com.ph

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PACQUIAO PROMISES

ACTION AS FINALE NEARS

MANNY Pacquiao promised to deliver an action-packed finale to his 21-year boxing career on Friday as he prepared to climb into the ring for the last time.

The 37-year-old Filipino boxing superstar takes on long-time rival Tim Bradley in Las Vegas on Saturday in what he says will be his final fight before retiring.

Pacquiao and Bradley squared up to each other before a raucous crowd of a few thousand fans at the MGM Grand Garden Arena on Friday for the weigh-in, with both men well within the 147-pound limit.

Pacquiao tipped the scales at 145.5 pounds, half a pound heavier than his weight for his last outing 11 months ago, his money-spinning mega-fight against Floyd Mayweather.

Bradley, 33-1-1, was a pound heavier at 146.5.

Pacquiao, 57-6-2, has made no secret of his desire to crown his career with an explosive display against Bradley, who has taken him the distance twice before.

“Expect more action that the last fights we had,” said Pacquiao, who plans to concentrate on a political career in the Philippines when he retires.

Bradley meanwhile, who beat Pacquiao via a deeply controversial split decision in 2012 before losing the rematch, looked in formidable shape as he stripped down for the cameras.

The 32-year-old from California shrugged off catcalls from the largely pro-Pacquiao crowd, telling the audience: “I think there’s going to be a lot of disappointed fans tomorrow night.”

Pacquiao, who earned a staggering $150 million from his defeat to Mayweather last year, will bank another $20 million purse for Saturday’s bout.

Although he has stated it is last fight, he has pointedly declined to definitively ruleout a return to the ring.

“I cannot say that I’m not going to come back,” Pacquiao said this week, explaining that his mindset may change once he faces up to life without the sport that has made him fabulously rich and a national hero.

“I don’t know how I’ll feel when I hang up my gloves,” he added.

Those closest to Pacquiao, including his long-time trainer Freddie Roach and the veteran promoter Bob Arum, believe he may yet return.

Arum said Pacquiao could be persuaded to prolong his career if he scores a spectacular victory over Bradley.

“I think if he wins this fight well, he’s going to find a way to continue,” Arum said.

LAS VEGAS, NV—Manny Pacquiao and Timothy Bradley Jr. pose during their official weighin at MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada. The two will meet in a welterweight fight on April 9 in Las Vegas. AFP

LAS VEGAS, NV—Manny Pacquiao waves to fans during his official weigh-in at MGM Grand Garden Arena on April 8, 2016 in Las Vegas, Nevada. The two will meet in a welterweight fight on April 9 in Las Vegas. AFP

Roach has been in Pacquiao’s corner ever since the Filipino arrived at his Hollywood gym in 2001 looking for a trainer.

“It’s been 15 years of greatness,” said Roach, who hopes Pacquiao will fight on.

Pre-fight preparations were overshadowed by controversy in February when the devoutly religious Pacquiao described homosexuals as “worse than animals”, remarks that prompted several sponsors to sever agreements with him while also drawing widespread outrage from gay and lesbian activists.

Pacquiao is adamant that the saga did not disrupt his training. “There were no distractions,” said Pacquiao, who has expressed a desire to sign off in style.

“It’s really important for me to win this fight, to win convincingly,” Pacquiao said.

“It’s part of my legacy.” =Bradley said he is preparing for an onslaught from Pacquiao.

“He’s going to come out like a bat out of hell and try to take my head off,” Bradley said.

Bradley teamed up with veteran trainer Teddy Atlas for his most recent bout in November, which ended in a ninth round technical knockout of Brandon Rios.

Atlas and Bradley have been poring over tapes of Pacquiao’s defeat to Mayweather last year, and his crushing knockout by Juan Manuel Marquez in 2012 as they attempt to concoct a gameplan to beat the Filipino.

But Atlas is under no illusions about the scale of the challenge represented by Pacquiao.

“When you’re competing against someone as good as Manny -- he wins a fight because of pure talent,” Atlas said.

“The combination of speed and power that he has is uncommon. He’s a freak.” AFP

ARIAS, GALAS COP CHESS TITLES NEWEST CAGE LEAGUE TAKES OFF JOSHUA Arias and Woman International Master Bernadette Galas topped their respective divisions to lead the winners in the 2016 National Age Group Chess Championship Grand Finals at the Mariano Marcos State Univesity campus over the weekend in Laoag, Ilocos Norte.

Arias, a member of the Arellano University varsity chess team, actually emerged tied with Vince Angelo Medina with identical 7.5 points after 11 rounds, but won the title via a superior tiebreak.

John Ray Batucan finished third, while WIM Janelle Mae Frayna of Far Eastern University dropped to fourth place after leading halfway into the tournament.

In the girls’ U-20, the 19-year old Galas settled for a draw with Mira Mirano to finish with 7.5 points, half a point ahead of WNM Jean Karen Enriquez, who was forced into a draw

by Luzon leg winner Virgenie Ruaya in

the ninth and final round.

Galas went on to win the title on five wins and four draws, with Enriquez settling for second and WFM Marie Antoinette San Diego at third.

In the 18-Under category, Shania Mae Mendoza, also of FEU, took the girls’ title, while John Merill Jacutina emerged as the champion in the boys’ side.

Other winners in the girls’ side were WFM Allaney Doroy (10 points, U-16), Kylene Mordido (6.5, U-14), Ruth Joy Vinuya (6.5, U-12), Marjeri Janapin (8.5, U-10) and Ruelle Canino (6.0, U-8).

In the boys’ division, the other winners were John Marvin Miciano (8.5, U-16), Stephen Rome Pangilinan (9.0, U-14), Daniel Quizon (10.5, U-12), Mark Jay Bacojo (11, U-10) and Chergaets Andres (11, U-8), The top three finishers in each category will represent the country in the 2016 ASEAN Age Group Chess Championship to be held later next month in Pattaya, Thailand.

THE Cosmopolitan Basketball League- the newest cage league in town takes centerstage for its grand opening presentation on April 24 at the new state of the art EJC Lucky Gym in Paranaque City.

Jimsom Pua, founding president of CBL said the league sanctioned by Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas (SBP) and supported by ADGrande, is composed by three divisions namely starter, corporate and open class which embody the leagues’ ambitious basketball program for young, corporate players and veterans.

“We organized this CBL cage tilt to help develop and promote further the sport of basketball which is unarguably the favorite pastime of basketball-loving Filipinos.We also aim to discover young talents and make their dreams to play bigtime basketball in the near future a reality. CBL will hone their talents aside from promoting sportsmanship, friendship ang camaraderie among young and veteran players

in the league” said Pula, who was a sweetshooting varsity player during his prime.

According to CBL commissioner Manuel Torralba, young players who have yet to play in collegiate and commercial leagues are qualified to join the starter division while legitimate company employees can play in the corporate class. Competitive players with top level basketball skills, meanwhile, will see action in the open division.

A Canada-based basketball team with a local line-up to be known as CWSS Flames of Dr. Chito Collantes will show its wares in the open division along with powerhose teams such as Cafe France, Centro Escolar University, Macway Travel ,Fil-Chinese cage teams among others.

Th Open class competitions will be played at the historic Rizal Coliseum while the starter and corporate divisions will see action at EJC. DANNY SIMON

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REUEL VIDAL EDITOR sports@thestandard.com.ph

SPORTS

CRAY, AIRMEN RIP 4X100 PH RECORD RIO OLYMPICS-BOUND Eric Cray anchored the Philippine Air Force team break the national record in the men’s 4x100 meter relays of the 2016 AyalaPhilippine National Open Invitational Athletics Championships at the Philsports Track Stadium in Pasig.

Cray quickly took off after taking the baton from teammate Brandon Thomas, moving away from Rizal Technological University rival Allan Paul Plana and reaching the finish line in 40.54 seconds.

It was one of two meet records which fell so far in the three-day meet, with the Airmen’s performance placed under evaluation by track officials.

Cray finished 20 meters ahead of Plana as he helped the Airmen erase the 11-year mark of the national team

composed of Arnold Villarube, Ralph Waldy Soguilon, Albert Salcedo and Henry Dagmil, who ran 40.55 seconds in the 2005 SEA Games.

“The team broke it.

It’s a blessing in disguise,” said Cray as he was given high fives by teammates during their record-breaking run on a humid Friday night.

The feat of the Airmen, also composed of Edgardo Alejan and Isidro del Prado Jr., is now being evaluated by team officials as Cray was only given the

green light to join the relays late Friday afternoon after coaches and PATAFA officials had a discussion over his unannounced plan to form a team on his own, join the relays, and skip the individual events.

“That’s his only event. He will not run the 4x400 meter relays. It might hamper his preparation for the Olympics in the 400-meter low hurdles.

He failed to communicate properly, and was not aware of procedures,” said PATAFA president Philip Ella

Juico.

Team RTU placed second to the Airmen in 42.63 seconds, while San Beda College landed third in 45.02.

Meanwhile, nineteen-year-old Aira Teodosio was hoping to reestablish the current UAAP hammer throw mark of 40.70 meters she owns, but she instead wound up breaking the national junior record she reset last March with a heave of 38.95 meters in the trackfest presented by Ayala Corp., and also backed by

Barefoot runner Emily Nilusugin (left) participates in the 5000-meters of the AyalaPhilippine National Open. LINO SANTOS Riezel Buenaventura clears the bar to clinch the gold in the women’s pole vault finals. LINO SANTOS

Milo Nutri-up, Philippine Sports Commission, Foton Philippines, PCSO, Summit Natural Drinking Water, Appeton, Asics Watch, L TimeStudio and media partners Business Mirror, Business Mirror Health and Fitness Magazine and radio station Mellow 94.7.

Her UST coach Manny Calipes said Teodosio wanted to go for a high throw, which was beyond 40 meters. But they were surprised that Aira’s feat was still beyond expectations.

Teodosio, who is from Silay, Negros Occidental, heaved 40.7 meters during the UAAP meet.

Last March, she set the new national junior mark of 38.9 meters during the Philippine National Games.

On the other hand,

Malaysian Hup Wei Lee was just 5 cms short of the Malaysian national record when he cleared 2.22 meters in the men’s high jump—a mark that was also close to the Olympic standard of 2.29 meters.

Nineteen-year-old University of Santo Tomas student Louielyn Pamatian earned her third gold medal after ruling the girls’ 400-meter run in 59.42 seconds.

Pamatian’s two other golds came when she took the top honors in the 800-meter, and then anchored the 4x100 meter relay team of UST to a gold.

Fil-American Jessica Lyn Barnard won her second gold in the 1500-meter run, finishing in 4:55.19 and beating Jeanne Rose Lanzado in 5:34.54.

Airman Mervin

Guarte bounced back from his upset loss to Elbren Neri in the men’s 800-meter run when he prevailed over his tormentor in the men’s 1500-meter action in 3:57.26. Neri was 1.54 seconds behind Guarte.

Armyman Richard Salado nailed his second gold medal by taking the 10,000-meter walk in 32:27.7. It was the second time he upset Rafael Poliquit(32:29.1).

Malaysians Noor Shahidtun Nadia Mod Zooki and Kirthana Ramamsamy shared the top honors in the women’s triple jump, clearing 13.18 and 12.77 meters, respectively.

Emily Jean Obiena ruled the girls’ pole vault with an uncontested feat of 3.1 meters.

Peter Atencio

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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 WRITER

life @ thestandard.com .ph

@lifEatStandard

S U NDAY l if E

LIFE

Merlee Cruz-Jayme writes and illustrates her experiences in the convent that have helped her enhance her creativity in her first book Everyone Can Be Creative

CREATIvITy lESSOnS fROm An Ex-nun

ADvERTISIng hOnChO mERlEE JAymE ShARES hER lEARnIngS ThAT hAvE hElpED EnhAnCE hER CREATIvITy

T

he first Filipino to be awarded The Creative of the Year for Southeast Asia in Campaign Asia-Pacific Agency of the Year Awards 2013.

The only woman in the roster of the top 20 Creative Directors in Asia. The “chairmom” and chief executive officer of a multi-awarded advertising agency, which recently merged with the world’s largest advertising company.

Merlee Cruz-Jayme is one of the prominent names in today’s advertising industry.

She is an inspirational and aspirational figure to the people working in the same field as hers, who also want to achieve the things she has achieved in her 25 years of impressive creative career. But Merlee reveals that even someone who is at the top of the food chain, especially someone who has managed to be at the top of the food chain, had to go through tough times.

“I never had it easy in this industry,” Merlee admits to The Standard Life.

That’s why one day, after 25 years in advertising, she realized that she wanted to share to others how she became better in her craft and got to where she is now.

“The gift of creativity—nurtured by faith, discipline and perseverance—all these I attribute to my past in a far-flung convent. I thought it’s time to share it with others and even to my very own creative daughters,” says the mother of four and former Benedictine Novice.

Yes, the company owner and brains behind some of the most effective campaigns has once left her home and her family to enter a convent. She was restless (and stills is), rebellious and only 13 then.

And from Merlee’s three-year experience inside the solemn confines of the cloister— sleeping in a narrow bed, caring for animals, watering trees and taking care of orphans and the elderly—she acquired valuable lessons that she believes helped her be more creative, among other things.

By BERnADETTE lunAS

Advertising executive, wife and mother Merlee Jayme

Those experiences and lessons are what she shared in her first book, Everyone Can Be Creative. “[In the book] I finally revealed the fact [that] I left at 13 to try it out as a novice in a convent. My friends were shocked!” she discloses. “I also shared my difficulties, mistakes and challenges in my career. How they toughened me up and made me braver.”

Believing that everyone, even a serious finance person or a super square lawyer, can be creative, Merlee dished out habits that can help the “Naturally Creative” and the “Learning Creative” master and fully realize the skill.

“I want readers to embrace the gift of creativity. Understand and develop it,” she says.

In addition, Merlee injected anecdotes and “Creatips” in every chapter.

The said habits and secrets, according to Merlee, are the very habits and secrets that worked well for her.

She shares, “Understanding the brief 100 percent then forgetting it is a good start. I would do chores, walk around the mall, watch a movie, then suddenly the idea comes! There are times when I

Everyone Can Be Creative aims to teach readers to embrace the gift of creativity

wake up in the middle of the night with an idea. This is when a pad and a pen come in handy. Another practice that usually works for me is people watching.

Somehow, I get to invent stories in my mind by just watching strangers.”

One of the tips she shared is to “Commit to giving yourself some silent time,” as this leads to a simpler, and more powerful output. But even she admits to struggling with this habit, considering today’s superconnected, fast-paced digital world.

“Disciplining myself from checking my phone too often is admittedly one tough habit to break,” admits Merlee. “But doing this breaks the thought process. So, I know I have to control it.”

Everyone Can Be Creative is an easy-read book, something that a reader can finish, perhaps in one seating, and would read again just to fully absorb its contents. Not everyone may share the same experience as

the author had, but the lessons are relatable and can be applied possibly even in a noncreative field.

“I want readers to be inspired that being creative will lead them into thinking solutions. And through this, they can help change the world,” she says.

The book is another feather in her cap, and Merlee, always restless and still stubborn, is not done yet in helping change the world for the better. In fact, she looks forward to writing more books in the future.

“I’d love to write about Filipino women’s secret weapons in the corporate world. I also want to write about the special love between a woman and her BGF: Best Gay Friend,” she shares.

“How I wish I had the time to actually write them.”

Everyone Can Be Creative is now available in bookstores and newsstands nationwide for P295.

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n the hinterlands and hard-to-reach villages, the delivery of basic healthcare services is practically non-existent, with poverty also leaving the people fending for themselves when illness strikes.

Aware of the situation facing these communities, the Foundation of Our Lady of Peace Mission Inc. (FOLPMI) introduced the Barefoot Doctors Program to train people from the indigenous communities on basic health care and first aid, enabling them to bring health services to the people who need it most.

Since its inception, the Barefoot Doctors Program has successfully helped indigenous people, with the non-government foundation receiving support from such groups as TELUS International Philippines (TIP) Community Board, which provides funding to help train individuals into becoming “barefoot doctors.”

The TIP Community Board is the corporate social responsibility foundation of the leading contact center, with the board enabling the company to fulfills its “we give where we live” philosophy by regularly supporting charities centered on youth programs and health and wellness, sports and education, as well as arts and culture.

Representatives from indigenous communities in Subic, Zambales recently took part in a 14-day workshop where they received basic health care and livelihood education, and became the eighth batch of graduates for the Barefoot Doctors program. The workshop is among the series of short courses offered under the Indigenous Peoples Community Health Workers Training program that aims to educate indigenous communities on primary health practices and reduce ailments and deaths.

The TIP Community Board partnered with the Commission on Indigenous people and the Department of Health for the implementation of the program, with 29 individuals from different indigenous groups across the Philippines became certified as Barefoot Doctors. This means that they would now be able to render first aid and bring much-needed basic health services to sick neighbors and community members. The task includes services to prevent or treat serious health conditions

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LIFE life @ thestandard.com .ph

@LIFEatStandard

IS thErE A (bArEFoot) Doctor IN thE vILLAgE?

NoN-goverNmeNt orgaNizatioN traiNs tribal commuNity members oN basic healthcare aNd first aid

(Third from left) Dr. Jason Abello, Sr. Eva Maamo and TELUS International Philippines corporate social responsibility manager Milette Belen with beneficiaries of the Barefoot Doctor program

such as tuberculosis, pulmonary disease, dengue and malaria.

“The TELUS International Philippines Community Board supports programs that address the severe lack of access to healthcare for most tribes and groups in the Philippines. Through programs that train Barefoot Doctors, we can contribute to ensuring the welfare of the indigenous community,” said Warren Tait, TIP’s VP for Marketing and Culture.

Dr. Jason Abello, FOLPMI’s primary coordinator for this year’s program, noted the key role that volunteers play in bringing health services to the marginalized sectors, underscoring that health care requires diverse solutions. “Once you teach people about health, you automatically deal with livelihood and nutrition. How would you introduce to them the importance of good nutrition when they don’t have anything to eat?

This is why you need to build their livelihood program and community as well,” he noted.

Training volunteers to bring the most basic of services to people in far-flung communities is certainly a good initiative in addressing people’s health concerns – an endeavor that the TIP Community Board is committed to support.

To apply for TELUS International Philippines Community Board funding, visit www.telus.com/community or visit www.telusinternational.com.ph.

Unilever’s Selecta Ice cream and Save the children collaborate on book bank For over three decades now, Save the Children has been helping protect and support Filipino children in need.

With the support of various brands and companies, Save the Children was able to launch numerous projects that grant children access to quality education and health services, which gives children a healthy start and the opportunity to learn and be protected from harm.

Unilever Philippines, through its Selecta brand, recently reinforced its partnership with Save the Children to support the organization’s longrunning education program, Literacy Boost, specifically to collate book banks to provide six- to eight-yearold children with quality books and literature. The project aims to collect books from known publishing houses nationwide that include titles about life skills and health and education.

The book bank project aims to benefit young students in 99 schools across three Metro Manila cities.

Unilever Foundation made a threeyear commitment in 2012 to EVERY ONE, Save the Children’s largest global campaign ever that aims to improve the lives of two million children and their mothers in 2016 by providing access to healthcare, basic nutrition and lifesaving interventions. The Selecta-Save

the Children partnership was established under this commitment.

“Save the Children believes that every child should be given the chance to learn and grow, even outside the classroom.

Our book banks and reading camps allow children to enjoy reading better and talk about topics that are important to them,” shared Cherry Villafuerte, Save the Children Philippines’ Education Program officer.

“In partnership with DepEd and other government units, we believe that this initiative could help us reach more children and create significant impact in the community,” Villafuerte added.

Unilever recently turned over books to a public school beneficiary of the Save the Children (STC) book bank project

Students from Gregorio De Jesus Elementary School in Caloocan City read one of the books from book bank project

The funds used for the turnover activity was gathered by Selecta during its Selecta Day, wherein part of the sales of its ice cream was donated to STC

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LIFE life @ thestandard.com .ph

@LIFEatStandard

Bridestory can now be downloaded from the App Store and Google Play

HErE comES tHE BrIDEStorY

O

ne of the most memorable occasions in a woman’s life is the day when she walks down the aisle and says, “I do” to the man of her dreams. However, the path to that aisle can be fraught with nerve-wracking preparations with all the details that can take the joy and anticipation out of every bride-to-be. So when the dream day starts to take on nightmarish proportions, call on Bridestory, the leading online wedding marketplace in Southeast Asia that recently launched two applications: Bridestory, an app that connects couples with over 15,000 wedding vendors worldwide; and Bridestory Pro, a business app for vendors to manage their Bridestory profile and client inquiries anytime, anywhere.

In September last year, Bridestory – which has more than 500,000 users visiting its site every month – launched its local site www.bridestory.com.ph, and since that time, over 400 local Filipino vendors have joined the community, with the site receiving increasing traffic and social media followers from Filipino audiences.

This has prompted the company to mull the idea of setting up a local team in Manila to support its ground operation.

According to Kevin Mintaraga, cofounder and CEO of Bridestory, the Philippines is one of the most exciting markets for the company to expand its business. “With the country being the second most populous country in Southeast Asia, we foresee a big potential in its wedding market. Besides, through both apps, we hope to make it easier and faster for many more engaged couples to connect with thousands of wedding vendors across the world; in alignment with our mission – to make dream weddings possible,” he says.

Bridestory also owns one of the world’s largest wedding Instagram networks, reaching out to more than two million people globally with daily wedding inspirations. With the help of the app, brides-to-be (and the prospective groom) can plan their wedding seamlessly by exploring millions of wedding inspirations from 15,000 wedding vendors across more than 50 countries listed in Bridestory. com. Couples-to-be can browse through Bridestory’s vast library of wedding

Mobile apps Make dreaM weddings happen

The Bridestory App can help make your wedding dreams possible

inspirations and filter based on country, color and category.

Doni Hanafi, co-founder and chief technology officer of Bridestory, observed that the increasing number of smartphone users contributes to the growing importance for mobile app development in a technology company.

“Our data reveals more than 60 percent of the traffic to the Bridestory site comes from mobile devices,” discloses Hanafi, adding that the Bridestory app is an ultimate solution to the tedious process of planning a wedding.

The Bridestory app’s Inspiration Board function enables users to create wedding mood boards that can be shared through email and social media. Not only does this

allow brides-to-be to search and save their wedding inspirations, it also allows them to instantly connect with the wedding professionals behind those inspirations.

Plus, users can view the price lists, previous clients’ reviews, and even send instant messages to vendors.

Bridestory Pro app on the other hand enables wedding vendors to manage their Bridestory business profile, upload new projects and promptly respond to business inquiries from their smartphones.

“Approximately 100,000 business leads are received by registered vendors monthly in our platform, and vendors who are more active in updating their profiles and uploading new projects in Bridestory received significantly higher

Bridestory Pro app enables wedding vendors to manage their Bridestory business profiles, upload new projects and promptly respond to business inquiries from their smartphones

business queries. Bridestory Pro was created for wedding professionals to access their vendor dashboard on-thego,” says Hanafi.

Mayad Studios, a wedding photographer based in Boracay, acknowledges Bridestory Pro as a very beneficial tool for wedding vendors like it as the app made it easy for the vendor to update its profile, post new photos and videos for its portfolio. “We receive more business leads and can respond to them immediately. The application has made us visible to our clients and potential clients,” the vendor said.

Bridestory and Bridestory Pro are now available in App Store and Google Play.

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Shangri-La Boracay Resort and Spa presents its beach style table set-up

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Winter Fairytale by Teddy Manuel

bridal dreams unveiled at edsa shangri-la, manila

he bridal season is near and hopeful June brides are already stressed out about their weddings, and are probably on the last planning session ticking away loose ends – “Are we still inviting this friend?” “Is this the only flower option?” “I really can’t choose a gown yet, shall I go vintage or off-therack?” “We need another option in case it suddenly rains!” #Stress.

If you’re one of these brides and have no clue on how to get started, a lot of bridal fairs are setting up as early as now for your inspiration. Last April 2 and 3, Edsa Shangri-La, Manila staged a two-day bridal affair in partnership with Wedding Treasures, StarWorld, Fashion Pulis, Wedding Essentials and Weddings at Work, together with covetable names and suppliers in the wedding industry. Over 500 soon-toweds and guests attended the event entitled “UNVEIL 2016” at the Isla Grand Ballroom.

The ballroom transformed with fairytale romantic designs and highlights on dreamy table set-ups. The Winter theme seems to be the trend as it was presented by three events organizer – “Golden Winter” by Michael Ruiz, “A Winter’s Heart” by Jo Claraval, and “Winter Fairytale” by Teddy Manuel.

The other set-ups were teeming with colors of spring and autumn with such themes as “Ode to Autumn” by Henry Pascual, “Modern Fairytale” by Nikki Chato, and “Color of Spring” by Gideon Hermosa.

Makeup artists and even barbershops like Union Station Barbershop were there to supply the groom and bridal looks. Famous photography outfits were also present to showcase their wedding coverage. Those who booked the same day during the event also availed of special discounts.

The luxe weekend affair highlighted signature weddings by Edsa ShangriLa, Manila and included the Exclusive Honeymoon that featured nine international chefs from the hotel’s culinary offerings and highlights from Summer Palace’s Chinese executive chef Tony Sum; Chinese Weddings and Ting Hun exhibit

Luxe Couture by Freego

@LIFEatStandard

curated by Nancy Farm, director of Chinese Operations; and Wedding Cakes by executive chef Martin Frowd. The package also included wedding gifts and souvenirs as well as beauty bridal treatments by CHI, The Spa. And to help the soon-to-weds get in tip-top shape, the hotel offers a special pre-wedding fitness program for the bride and groom. The best part of the affair is that couples who booked the signature package were given complimentary honeymoon stays at any Shangri-La property around the world. Talk about a honeymoon dream!

Brides-to-be were able to witness trendy bridal gowns come to life with actual models during a fashion show from the industry’s coveted bridal gown designers while being serenaded by the Bernie Pasamba Orchestra.

On the first day, Freego opened the show with Luxe Couture. If you’re a funky groomto-be and is not afraid to experiment on your wedding day (and, well, if you prepared a good six-pack before the wedding) then Freego’s couture angels, winterlike prince, earth men, and dark prince might be what your bride is dreaming of. Val Taguba opened the show with a heart stopping red number (who says you can’t wear red on your wedding day?) while Spanish brand Rosa Clara showcased its latest ready-to-wear and custom-fitted dresses. Lace, embellishments and beads ruled Jun Escario’s designs, while Veluz got the crowd’s attention with her sweet brides, especially when her muse and soon-to-be bride Cristalle Belo Henares walked to close the runway.

The second day featured designer gowns by Roullette, Elizabet Hellie Yeao, Happy Andrada, Jazel Sy, Joe San Antonio, Zandra Lim, Hanna Kong and Andorata Weddings while a live band performance

by Bloomfields played in the background.

Modern Fairytale by Nikki Chato

Golden Winter by Michael Ruiz

Ode to Autumn by Henry Pascual

If you missed this luxe wedding affair, you may contact Edsa Shangri-La, Manila at (632) 633 8888 or email events.esl@shangri-la.com for details and inquiries.

Photos by Jeremiah Peña

Val Taguba’s red gown

Veluz closes the show with muse Cristalle Belo Henares

Embellished gown by Jun Escario

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ABC-CBn Store offers a wide variety of merchandise, from collector’s items to souvenirs like bags, shirts and slippers

COlORful summER ITEms aT aBs-CBN sTORE

S

ummer is in full swing at The ABS-CBN Store as an assortment of programthemed and seasonal merchandise perfect for the season are now available.

Make your trips around the country more meaningful with Choose Philippines Slippers.

Proudly made in the Philippines, the slippers also serve as a useful souvenir for tourists visiting the country as it is splashed in lively colors and patterns of the Choose Philippines logo. Pairs are available at The ABS-CBN Store, selected Robinsons Department Stores, and provincial malls and department stores nationwide.

Brighten up your travel experience with a Weekender Travel Set from the Lifestyle channel. Each set consists of a weekender purse, cosmetic pouch, jewelry keeper, and brush case plus FREE 2 pieces cosmetic pouches. The travel sets

are made of export-quality fabrics in bright colors and are available at The ABS-CBN Store and on oshopping.com.ph.

Dress up your children in colorful summer play wear by Little Hugs! The Little Hugs brand was developed by ABS-CBN in partnership with Napoleon Wear for the recently concluded teleserye, You’re My Home. The Little Hugs collection is available at The ABS-CBN Store and in SM Stores nationwide.

Making the summer extra special is the elections this coming May. To show solidarity with ABS-CBN’s election coverage theme, “Ipanalo Ang Pamilyang Pilipino,” the ABS-CBN Store has campaign-themed shirts as seen worn by artists in the election-themed ABS-CBN Summer Station ID. The ABS-CBN Store is located at The Loop, ELJ Building and

Couple shirt. Real-life sweethearts Daniel Matsunaga and Erich Gonzales in election themed shirts

Child model in little Hugs attire

online at www.abs-cbnstore.com.

The site ships nationwide and worldwide, and offers a variety of payment options (credit card, DragonPay). Cash on Delivery

ABS-CBN Store section in selected Robinsons Department Stores nationwide.

For the complete range of products, visit www.abs-cbnstore.com

Earthday jam at MOA

ABS-CBn executive adviser to the chairman, chief content officer, and ABS-CBn university president Charo SantosConcio, winner of 2016 Rotary peace Award

Charo Santos-Concio Rotary peace awardee

ABS-CBN executive adviser to the chairman, chief content officer, and ABS-CBN University president Charo Santos-Concio was honored with the Rotary Peace Award for 2016 by the Rotary Club of Makatiin a ceremony held on April 4 at the Ayala Museum, Makati City.

In accepting the award, SantosConcio said ABS-CBN tries to make a positive influence to the lives of their viewers through their shows and programs and how media can be a channel of peace in society.

“We try to motivate people to realize their potential and find their

is also available through orders placed through The ABS-CBN Store on O Shopping. Just visitoshopping.com.ph to order.

Kapamilyas can also visit The

passion so that they can become the best that they can be, and in turn do something not just for themselves but also for the greater good,” she said. “In a conflict, the media doesn’t take sides. But it must always make a stand. We must always stand for fairness, understanding, respect for human rights and a peaceful resolution.”

Santos-Concio who contributed to the rise of the Kapamilya network as the leading media and entertainment company in the Philippines during her time as president continues to give the company recognition not only for their body of work, but for how the work is done

with her new award.

The Rotary praised SantosConcio for her “achievements as a global media leader” that has inspired the group to recognize media as a “powerful and influential tool for peace building.” She is the first media executive to be conferred with the distinct honor.

“I hope that the men and women of the company, and the country show empathy to promote peace and compassion for a better place to live in,” she added in an interview, where she also shared how she relishes the chance to mentor young blood that will help the Kapamilya network.

On April 23 at Mall of Asia, guitar-strumming, drum-beating ambassadors for Mother Earth will replace mall strollers.

It’s April and it’s Earthday Jam time. Now on its 16th year, this musical marathon celebrating international Earth Day shows no signs of slowing down. Starting at 5 p.m, 100 musicians and artists are featured in an eight-hour musical journey bound to be extremely wild and fun.

Earthday jam will feature more than 15 big names in various musical genre.

Kicking off the festivities is the premiere Afro-Brazilian percussion ensemble in the Philippines, Brigada.

Women dominate this years’ jam with Nina, Sitti, Lou Bonnevie, Kitchie Nadal, and Barbie Almalbis, Gracenote, Arci Munoz and her band Philia with, and fresh from the US, Flying Ipis and the youngest participating band, Absolute Play.

The jam brings back metal kings Slapshock, Kjwan and The Chongkeys, pop rock bands 6cycle Minds and MayonnaisE and Abra.

Admission is free. For more info, like us on facebook Earthday Jam Foundation or call 8976991.

Jamming with Earth Hour ambassadors Barbie Almalbis, lou Bonnevie and nina

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GMA nEtwoRk REGAInS nAtIonwIDE RAtInGS lEAD In MARcH

he Kapuso network regained its lead in nationwide TV ratings in March owing to its strong performance in Urban Luzon and Mega Manila based on data from Nielsen TV Audience Measurement, the industry’s trusted ratings service provider.

For the period March 1 to 31 (with the dates of March 20 to 31 based on overnight data), GMA grabbed supremacy in National Urban Television Audience Measurement (NUTAM) ratings with a 36.6 percent household audience share, beating ABSCBN’s 36.1 percent and TV5’s 8.2 percent.

Leading across all dayparts, GMA also strengthened its leadership position in the viewer-rich areas of Urban Luzon and Mega Manila, which respectively account for 77 and 60 percent of all urban TV households in the country.

GMA once again overtook its closest competitor ABS-CBN in Urban Luzon with 41.5 percent, 10.5 points ahead of the latter’s 31 percent. GMA was also ahead of TV5’s 7.3 percent by 34.2 points.

Alongside GMA’s continued leadership in Urban Luzon, GMA kept its robust performance in Mega Manila with 43.2 percent,

higher than ABS-CBN’s 28.2 percent by 15 points, and TV5’s 7.7 percent by 35.5 points.

During the Lenten Season (from Maundy Thursday to Black Saturday), GMA’s programming was also ahead across all dayparts including primetime. GMA secured a 44.1 percent audience share in NUTAM, up 14 points from ABS-CBN’s 30.1 percent and up 38.1 points from TV5’s 6 percent. Moreover, GMA posted even bigger margins in Urban Luzon and Mega Manila, where it also led rivals in all dayparts.

GMA also had the most number of entries in the list of top-rating shows including specials across NUTAM, Urban Luzon, and Mega Manila. The Holy Week special The Ten Commandments garnered the highest household rating among all programs in the said lists.

Meanwhile, newly launched Kapuso weekend show Lip Sync Battle Philippines emerged as GMA’s highest rating program, landing in the top 5 regular programs across NUTAM, Urban Luzon, and Mega Manila.

Nielsen has a nationwide urban sample size of 2,000 homes; while in Mega Manila, it has a sample size of 1,200 households.

“lip Sync Battle philippines” hosts Iya Villania and Michael V

Sarah Geronimo, Boy Animax amps up girl power Abunda ink new contracts as kapamilya Sarah Geronimo and Boy Abunda recently signed two-year exclusive contracts with ABS-CBN respectively.

Geronimo disclosed that she wants to do projects that allow her to impart good lessons and inspire the audience.

Boy Abunda, on the other hand, will be doing two more projects aside from his current programs Tonight with Boy Abunda and Bottomline.

After their respective contract signing events, both stated that they were happy to stay as a Kapamilya. “Aside from feeling happy, I am very much grateful to ABS-CBN knowing that up to now, the Kapamilya network still wants me to be a part of their family,” Geronimo said.

Meanwhile, Abunda shared, “There are

new things in store for me and I am just so excited.”

solid Kapamilya. Boy Abunda and Sarah Geronimo renew their ties with ABS-cBn

cROsswORD puzzlE

answer PreVIOUs PUZZLe ACROSS 1 Be bratty (2 wds.)

6 Technical details 11 Creep forth 16 Poltergeist 21 Hotel offering 22 Lake rental 23 Plugged in 24 Cup fraction 25 Web-toed mammal 26 Oak, once 27 Rented, as a limo 28 Hydrox rivals 29 Ms. Peeples of TV 30 Mope 32 Pitcher’s hope (hyph.)

34 Like prime steak 36 Hole puncher 37 The real McCoy 39 Cancel a launch 40 Uno y dos 41 Jazzy Fitzgerald 42 Vane dir.

43 Rise above it all?

44 46 49 50 51 55 56 57 58 59 60 61 62 63 64 66 67 68 69 70 71 72 73 74

Tilt with a lance Vertical Spills the beans Twinge Grommet Crew Wets thoroughly Female elephants More festive Ledger col.

Aquarium denizen Urges Key — pie Herr in Madras Trailblazers Pretoria coin Inventor — Geiger Mo. expense Dried off Not all Ant at a picnic Photog — Adams Earn Copper “rust”

76 Dog show org.

77 Knight’s gloves 80 Wind catcher 81 Square pillar 82 Read carefully 86 Black Sea arm 87 Staffer 88 Tilly and Ryan 89 Accelerator 90 British inc.

91 Tijuana tot 92 Lipstick shades 93 Leading lady Ina — 94 Yang complement 95 Mr. Nimoy 97 Seine tributary 98 Black tea 99 Draw, as a graph 100 They have 8 legs 101 Per person 102 Raw rubber 103 Fumes 104 Symphony bigwig 106 Fix the roads 107 — Paulo, Brazil 108 Lows 111 Dry wines 112 Retina cells 113 File cabinet items 117 Prince Valiant’s son 118 Nile god 119 Avoid restaurants (2 wds.)

120 Gas tank status 121 Resin 122 Kid who rode Diablo 124 More than wants 126 Social mores 128 Lucky break 130 Weed killers 131 Fairy-tale hag 132 Closes in on 133 Nash of limericks 134 Free 135 Dryden work 136 Lingerie buy

SUNDAY, APRIL 10, 2016 137 Della or Pee Wee DOWN 1 “— — of sixpence...”

2 Dollface 3 Atlas or Prometheus 4 Sporty truck 5 Keep going 6 Clean a fish 7 Stuff the suitcase 8 U2 producer 9 Tobacco pipes 10 Mexicali matrons 11 Raj title 12 Gibe at 13 Hearing aid?

14 Floor decor (2 wds.)

15 Mantels 16 Encouraging word 17 Ben- — 18 Cager Shaq — 19 Mean look 20 Physicist Nikola — 31 Half of deux 33 Lean-to 35 Admires 38 SOS receivers 39 Quench 40 Freight units 41 Kassel’s river 43 Motorist’s woes 44 Vise grips 45 Fictional governess 46 Sphinx locale 47 Math term 48 Provide capital 49 Piece of lumber 50 Frog’s hangout 52 Tallies 53 Spooky 54 Quavering sound 56 Trapshooting 57 Long, long insect 58 After-dinner candy 60 Capriati foe 61 Patio view 62 Laird’s daughter

65 66 67 68 70 71 72 74 75 76 77 78 79 80 82 83 84 85 87 88 89 91 92 93 96 97 98 99 101 102 103 105 106 107 108 109 110 112 113 114 115 116 118 119 120 123 125 127 129

More anime excitement this April on Animax makes its multitude of viewers two new shows with female protagonists namely Snow White with the Red Hair and Cross Ange: Rondo of Angels and Dragon.

Snow White With The Red Hair premieres April 14 at 8 p.m. two episodes back-to-back.

The anime adaptation of this shojo manga centers on the skilled herbalist Shirayuki, who, after being ordered by the Prince of Tanburn to be his concubine, flees from her country. On her journey, she comes across Zen who, unbeknownst to her, holds an elite position in the neighboring kingdom Clarines. As the story progresses, she trains to become a pharmacist of Clarines and develops a warm relationship with Zen. This lighthearted fantasy revolves around Shirayuki’s quest on curing disease outbreaks and preserving her relationship with Zen despite the difference in their social status.

Beersheba’s locale Steakhouse order Whodunit suspect Full-length Seeger of folk music Veep’s superior Rubber city Life in the Yucatan Rock-band bookings Condor’s abode Ernest or Julio Montezuma’s empire Beckett no-show Thoughtful Fragrant perennial Pizzazz “Silas Marner” writer Small hollows Most blithe Engage, as gear teeth Bet acceptor AutoZone rival Wealthy, to Pablo Sweater letters — de plume Boathouse items Diesel, to the diesel Cattle mover Writers on glass Indulgent Get fooled (2 wds.)

Rap session?

Go bad Our sun Incan city — Picchu Winter constellation First sign — Stengel Too exacting Shake off Croupiers’ tools Public tiff False front Best or Ferber Model T maker Dernier — Aurora, to Socrates Possessed Size above med.

Cross Ange: Rondo Of Angels And Dragon premieres April 19. 10 p.m. two episodes back-to-back.

Cross Ange: Rondo of Angel and Dragon paints a society well far into the future that finds itself free from pollution and war.

Thanks to an innovation called “Mana,” days of perfect peace seems to have been finally found. Unknown to the people who have accepted this, it is but an illusion. Those who have rejected “Mana” have continued to live in oppression and are called “Norma.” Angelise, the first princess of the Misurugi Empire is exposed as a Norma by her own brother, resulting in a backlash that drives her to a far place called Arzenal, where she becomes a soldier and finds herself in one challenge after another, with the ultimate goal of restoring real order in her world.

Animax is seen on SKYCable Channel 46, Cignal Digital TV Channel 34 and Dream Channel 07.

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Born to be Wild. Doc nielsen investigates cobra sightings in Albay

SnAkE AttAckS pREVAlEnt DuRIng El nIño?

Today, Born to be Wild explores the effect of El Niño on wildlife.

In Albay, a 10-year-old girl died she was attacked by a venomous cobra.

For fear of more deaths in the village, residents now want to exterminate cobras.

Some experts believe that the intense heat brought about by El Niño is contrib-

uting to the snakes’ emergence from their hideouts as they look for cooler areas.

Doc Nielsen and his team investigate the cobra sightings and share information that may help save lives in the event of cobra encounters.

Meanwhile, spelunking is an extreme activity that many adventurers try out during the summer months. But apart

from being places of adventure, caves are also ecosystems that serve as habitats to a diverse number of wildlife.

Doc Ferds enters a cave in Davao, which experts have been studying to determine the kinds of species present there.

Born to be Wild airs Sundays right after AHA! on GMA 7.

Heart ready for motherhood

Very pregnant? no, Heart is just in a photoshoot

Heart Evangelista said that the campaign has moved back their plans to have a baby.

“Siguro po mga next year, feeling ko kasi napaka-selfish ko naman din kung parang ang dami na niyang inaasikaso and mag-aanak pa ako. Ang laki ng puso nya, minamahal nya ang mga kababayan natin, kaming pamilya nya, hindi ko na muna dadagdagan,” Heart said during a small gathering with press at GMA Network recently.

On her Instagram account, Heart posted a photo with a bulging tummy. We assumed it was for

a scene in a teleserye she is shooting now with Dennis Trillo called Juan Happy Love Story.

“What? So this is how it feels…” was the photo caption.

Her followers in that social media had a grand time speculating whether or not Heart is on the family way. However, many said it was April Fool’s Day anyway, and Heart was merely having fun.

“Parang now is not the perfect time, gusto ko may time na talagang mabigyan namin ng panahon yung bata, at yung talagang maeenjoy ko,” Heart said.

In today’s episode of “Born to be Wild,” the host also takes a closer look into the life of spiders

What to expect in ‘iBilib’ IBilibers, here are the experiments you will watch out for today.

Dancing Needles experiment is the first of these. Don’t blink as you could miss this exciting experiment brought to you by Chris Tiu and the rest of the iBilibers.

Next is the trivia brought to you

by James and Roadfill. It is called Wave Pool and this is exactly what we need this summer.

And then there’s the floating

fire. What? This is the floating flame experiment. And how this will happen is what we all should watch out for.

Discover how you can cook without using gas or kerosene or firewood. The sun can produce the heat that can cook anything under the sun. iBilibers call this “let’s solar cooking” experiment. iBilib airs Sunday mornings on GMA 7.

Fernando Alvarez fulfills promise Mr. Puerto Rico International 2015, Fernando Alvarez, considers the Philippines his second home.

During his first visit in January, the Puerto Rican top model promised to return as soon as he gets free time from his study and work as model and public relations specialist in his hometown Coamo. While he is expected to graduate in college this year, Fernando wants to make the most of his free time.

Boricua model and Mr. puerto Rico 2015 Fernando Alvarez is the new face of psalmstre

Earlier than his previous plan in May, the Boricua hunk is arriving on April 13, braving a more-than-30hour trip just to meet all his fans and supporters in the Philippines for the second time. There are already lots of activities (fashion shows, appearances on TV, and provincial tours) lined up for him that will surely make his time in the Philippines memorable.

As a follow up to his very notable appearance at the Pilipinas Men’s Fashion Week, Fernando will be in another big fashion show in the middle of this month and join a Santacruzan as an escort to a zagala on May 1.

Fernando’s Philippine visit last January became big news in his native Puerto Rico. He was featured in several magazines and newspapers when returned in February. He also graced major trade and fashion events in and out of his country. The guy also got the chance to wear the creations of Nicholas Felizola, the famous Venezuelan fashion designer.

“The Philippines has always been an inspiration to me. I learned a lot from Filipino models with whom I worked before. They always put their heart in everything that they do. They motivated me to do the same. I think all these make me stood out in all the events that I participated here in Puerto Rico,” said Fernando in an online message.

Psalmstre chief executive officer Jim Acosta said that his company plans to bring Fernando to key cities of the Philippines as part his duties and responsibilities as New Placenta for Men ambassador.

“We will definitely bring Fernando to the provinces, especially Cebu, his personal choice, after all his commitments in Manila are fulfilled. This guy loves Cebu so much. We won’t give a specific date, because Fernando wants to surprise you,” enthused the international businessman.

iBilid host chris tiu (second from right) flanked by James and Roadfill and Alodia gosiengfiao

new favorites on Hero Hero TV brings a new wave of Japanese series to kick off summer.

The Japanese manga series Your Lie in April, which premiered on April 5, follows the story of Kousei Arima, a young pianist who loses his ability to hear the sound of his own piano after the demise of his mother.

When he meets a beautiful violinist, his world is once more shaken as he sets on a new journey to face music again.

Meanwhile, Yuki Yuna Is a Hero is a series that takes place in the Year 300, also known as the era of the gods. The heroine, Yuuna Yuuki, tries to live an ordinary life of a student. Her ordinary life becomes interesting as the club she is secretly a member of, the Hero Club, faces a mysterious being called “Vertex.”

Learn more about Yuuna Yuuki’s

secret life as the show premieres 7 a.m. on April 12.

Anime fans should watch out for the epic action-horror film, Resident Evil 3 starring Milla Jovovich on Hero Theatrixx 12 a.m. on April 10. It is the third installment in the Resident Evil film series based on the Capcom survival horror series Resident Evil.

Continuing on Hero TV are fan favorites Love Live! School Idol Project Season 1 and 2, Haikyu, The Devil Is Part Timer, Digimon Frontier, Digimon Savers, Inazuma Eleven, Karneval, Kokoro Connect, Ao Haru Ride, and Majestic Prince.

Hero TV is available on SKYcable Channel 44.

For updates, like Hero on Facebook (facebook.com/myheronation) and follow their Instagram (@herotvofficial) and Twitter (@ myHEROnation) accounts.

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SHOWBITZ WIll MaRu EnD up WITh BRaDfORD? OR can paTRIck sTEal hER hEaRT? ISAH V. RED

kapuso’s next big tandem. andre paras and Barbie Forteza’s love team is a hit among Kapuso fans

E

leven weeks on the air, Monday to Friday on the Kapuso network, That’s My Amboy is making young girls’ hearts a flutter with the unlikely romance between the main characters Maru or Maria Rosario Carreon, the personal assistant of Bryan or Bryan Christian Ford, the bratty half-breed actor.

They are played by GMA Network’s newest love team, Barbie Forteza and Andre Paras whose tandem was forged in the afternoon series that was on air from June 9, 2014 till January 15 this year. It is an unlikely pairing as Paras is much taller (he stands a little over

“That’s My amboy” cast members Kiko Estrada, Jazz Ocampo and Juancho Trivino

six feet tall) while Forteza is perhaps just a little taller than Nora Aunor. But the fans seem not to mind. They are thrilled that someone as petite as Forteza (at least in the series) will attract the tall (not dark) handsome guy like Paras.

We met the two over lunch at GMA Network’s annex building, where Bb. Joyce Bernal was taping some of the scenes for upcoming episodes.

Paras who plays the bratty actor sat with us first and said he is pleased that fans are accepting the Barbie-Bryan pairing even if in the movies he has a different love team. “I think the fans understand that quite well. But what is more important is that here in the series the fans are enjoying our tandem.’

He however brushed aside insinuations by some members of the press that there might be more than on-screen love team mode between him and Forteza. “I like Barbie because she’s very helpful to me as an actor. She gives me tips on how to go about a scene. But more than that we’re just very close friends and that friendship was developed since we were together in The Half Sisters.”

Someone asked if there would be any possibility for him to fall for Forteza.

“I don’t know, but for now my focus is work. I’d like to get better as an actor and I am glad that Barbie is around to help me with our scenes together and with other actors. I am not closing the door on whatever fate has in store for us two.”

Next to sit with us was Forteza, the bubbly actress who plays Maru in the series.

In the current episodes, Bryan has broken up with Trina (Jazz Ocampo, who is originally a Kapatid star and tried to be Kapamilya but didn’t do well and is now being molded as a villainess) and is now with Maru, although the relationship is not exactly a bed of roses.

I asked Forteza how she feels when the audience thinks that she is deeply attracted to her leading man. The actress blurted out a loud laughter echoing in the four walls of the small space on the GMA Annex building.

“Really? Is that how they think I am with Andre? Nakakatawa naman,” she said, but actually I sensed she was thrilled by that observation.

“Tell me, if you’re a girl my age, wouldn’t you have a crush on Andre?” she asked.

“The soap opera That’s My Amboy gave me the chance to know Andre well, and now that we’re sort of comfortable working with each other, some people will infer that there’s something more than professional relationship between the two of us, but…” she halted. I asked, “But what?” And she said, “But it is too early to say anything with regards to what will happen after the end of the series.”

Paras went back and sat with Forteza.

The members of the press at the table had a grand time grilling the two and trying to make them admit something. They’d pose for photographs in their sweetest of poses but those were about the things the press got.

Before Forteza sat with us, Kiko Estrada who is playing the other guy in the BryanMaru romance as Patrick joined us and said, “I don’t mind pursuing Barbie. She is after all a very loveable girl.” Someone in the table said, “Won’t anybody get mad if you did that?”

And Kiko moved his face towards a camphone recording the conversation, “For the record, wala akong girlfriend.”

It’s really going to be a circus in the coming episodes of That’s My Amboy. I heard there are fans that are more inclined to the idea of having a Pitoy-Maru romance than Bryan-Maru. Well, let the writers of this series decide that.

Another fantaserye up in the works The Kapuso network is developing another fantaserye that will star Kapuso hunk Juancho Triviño and Louise delos Reyes.

It will be called Ang Dwende at ang Herederang Gusgusin.

Apart from Louise and Juancho, the series also stars Gina Alajar, Rez Cortez, Assunta de Rossi, Maricar de Mesa, James Teng, Liezel Lopez, Marika Sasaki, Balang, Triviño said he had gone out with Delos Reyes on a date when he learned that they’d be together in a new series.

“It’s a very good opportunity to know your co-star well and be comfortable with her when the taping starts,” Triviño who has had a stint in Unang Hirit last week.

“We had gone out before and I feel we will be both relaxed working together.”

The two watched a movie together and he admitted that they jog around together, too.